Emily Potter-Book 3-Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 12

"I can do this," Emily said out loud, resuming her stance. Though the way she had said it made sound like she was giving herself the last bit of energy she had to sustain herself rather than encourage the professor and her brother on one more trial run on the Basilisk-Boggart. She looked at Remus and raised her brow, "One more then I'll rest. I promise."

With great hesitation, the professor tapped the latch on the chest and unleashed the Boggart from within. The great serpent loomed over them like the nightmare that it was, Emily stood before it, her jaw clenched hard against her fear and the cold that slowly encompassed her entire body. "Expecto Patronum!" She said with all her might.

She was not ashamed to admit that her performance was not up to her standards, this extra-curricular that she and Harry had certainly did not do wonders for either one's self-esteem, but still, they still saw some progress. Until this session. Emily stood horror-struck at the lack of magic she had exhibited, not wanting to accept that she couldn't even produce a spark, she tried again and again.

"Expecto – Expecto Patro – " Her knees buckled, folding her legs in until she fell to the marble floor. Professor Lupin made quick work of dismissing the Boggart before coming to his student's aid and supplying her with a chocolate pick-me-up. Harry examined their interaction, briefly intrigued at how they were quietly conversing with one another all the while her sister was being brought to the armchair by Professor Lupin's desk.

Harry thought himself paranoid to even consider that Emily and the professor kept secrets, but the manner in which they were talking reminded him of how he speaks to Ron and Hermione in the past two years when he hid information from his sister. But then again, what secrets could they keep from me?

The professor walked back to Harry's side and settled on the stone steps, handing him a piece of chocolate. "Magical Exhaustion. Bound to happen, but you only really see it in stressed individuals. Students, sure – Third years? Rarely. May Merlin help her when she's going through her OWLs." Remus Lupin remarked. "She'll be back on her feet in over an hour."

"Good. Can't imagine she'll be happy without her magic."

Remus looked over at the girl who still bore an expression that lacked any sort of emotion. "She said she recalled the near-death of Miss Weasley from last year. I take it that her second year was not kind."

"Not in the slightest."

Harry was not comfortable telling his sister's story, but knowing how she would be, he felt like he was doing her a favour by telling Remus what he needed to know from last year seeing that she was probably going to breeze through it in a funny fashion in an attempt to not let the horrific memory of it get to her. And so, Harry told him of the diary, the possession, and the near-death of not only Ginny Weasley, but also Emily. "It's becoming a bit of a trend, actually. She jokes that if it happens again this year, she's going to treat herself to a box of sweets from Honeydukes once she's risen from the dead."

Half an hour passed and a block of chocolate was gone, Emily was ready to crawl back on her feet, a certain fury in her eyes. "Let me have another go, then I'll go back to my dorm."

"Emily – "

"Sir, please." She pleaded, "I know I can do it. I know how to do it, I just need to execute it perfectly."

The professor had half a mind to tell her no and send her back to Slytherin Tower, but there was a familiarity in his student's eyes, the same kind of stupidly admirable defiance that he had witnessed years and years ago. "This'll be your last shot for the week."

"This is all I need." Emily got in position, her wand at the ready, "Go on."

Remus nodded and unlatched the chest, revealing the Basilisk that soared up to the ceiling of the office, it's hiss strong and slimy enough to thread along Emily's flesh and give her the ick.