Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

79

Hermione was furious to see Malfoy and his gang in Double Potions on Thursday where Pansy was whining over him about his supposed broken arm. She really wanted to go over there and cast a thousand hexes and curses on him for being such a baby... and worse, Professor Snape wasn't helping her mood when he forced Harry and Ron to help Draco with his potion. She felt a horrible urge soar through her veins at a want to send all sort of horrible creatures at him to make him regret what he did. 

Worst part was when Snape threatened Neville with putting his poisoned potion on his toad when he had gotten the potion wrong. Hermione offered to help but Snape shot at her  about her wanting to show off. Even though Snape told her not to do it, Hermione proceeded to help Neville with making his potion right until... 

"You should have finished adding your ingredients by now; this potion needs to stew before it can be drunk, so clear away while it simmers and then we'll test Longbottom's..." Snape growled before he strode over to Neville, who was cowering by his cauldron. Snape grabbed hold of Trevor and trickled a few drops down Trevor's throat. Everyone stood and waited till they watch Trevor slowly shift into a tadpole. 

"Five points from Gryffindor," Snape said, "I told you not to help him, Miss Granger..." 

"Sir, I must insist..." Hermione started when Snape cut in. 

"Oh, you insist do you, Miss Granger? When I ask for your opinion, you will now. Another Five points from Gryffindor for Hermione's cheek," Snape grumbled. 

"Say it.... Hermione... say the words.... let us take him out...." that voice echoed in her head. She shook her head violently, trying to ignore it but it was like it was getting louder and louder with the rise of coldness surrounding her. 

"Say it... Hermione... he's not worth dealing with.... say it.... say it.... SAY IT...." 

"SHUT UP! FOR MERLIN'S SAKE SHUT UP!" Hermione shouted, earning a gasp from the entire class. Snape looked at her enraged for her screaming. 

"Miss Granger I must say your little outburst..." Snape started till his eyes widened when they latched onto something, his face twisted in a look of shock, anger, and fear, "Class dismissed. Everyone out!" 

Hermione was grabbed by both of her arms by Ron and Harry as they dragged her out of the room before Snape could get her a detention. they had gotten far down the hallway when they felt it safe to talk to her. 

"What happened Hermione? What the bloody hell were you thinking?" Ron asked her, surprised but slightly please. 

"It was that voice again. It keeps saying horrible things, telling me to say something like it's waiting for an order to do something." Hermione explained, rubbing her forehead with the back of her hand. Harry looked at her with concern as he gently patted her back. 

"Don't worry, if it gets worst, we'll have to go to Dumbledore or someone that can help you." Harry assured her while they headed to their Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. 

The whole class stood in the midst of their room as they stared at the large wardrobe that stood in front of them as they shook violently around. 

"Nothing to worry about," Professor Lupin said as she paced around the room, calmly, "There's a boggart in there. Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces. Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks-- I've even met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon and I asked the headmaster if the staff would leave it to give me third years some practice." 

"So the first question we must ask ourselves is, what is a boggart?" 

"It's a shape-shifter," Hermione said, "It takes the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us most. No one really knows what one looks like when it's alone because whenever it shows itself it shifts to our greatest fears." 

"Couldn't have put it better myself," Lupin said, "this gives us a huge advantage over the boggart before we begin. Now why is that? Harry?" 

"Er-- because there are so many of us..." Harry mumbled. 

"Precisely, it's best to have company when dealing with a boggart. It becomes confused, trying to figure out what it should become." Lupin stated, "The charm that repels a boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. The thing that really finishes a boggart is laughter. Make it take the shape that you find amusing. We will practice the charm without wands first. After me, please... riddikulus!" 

"Riddikulus!" The class recited. 

"Very good, this is the easy part of course. The word alone is not enough. That's where you come in, Neville." Lupin said, pushing Neville close to the wardrobe as he began talking to Neville of what to do with the boggart and what to do before asking if the class was ready then opening the door of the wardrobe. Just then the doorknob twisted and out came Professor Snape glaring at Neville. 

"R-- r-- riddikulus!" Neville squeaked. The boggart Snape stumbled till he was wearing a lace trimmed dress and a towering hat topped with a moth-eaten vulture and a huge crimson handbag. The room roared with laughter as Lupin began motion for people to step forward to take turns. Ron was next as the boggart didn't waste a moment in shifting into a huge black widow. Ron squeal before forcing the charm out of his mouth. The spider soon had roller blades on the ends of its feet, making it clumsy and fall onto its belly. Everyone was giggling as then it was Parvati's turn. Hers turned into a mummy that groaned as it slowly walked towards her until she mumbled the charm turning the mummy into an unentangled mess across the floor. 

"Okay! Malfoy!" Lupin suddenly shouted. Everyone jeered as they saw the supposed bandaged Malfoy making his way to the boggart. Hermione didn't know what to expect, but it wasn't what she saw. The boggart shifted violently until standing right in front of them was Barty Crouch Jr., looking as deranged as he always was. He glared at Malfoy with such hatred and malice it started to make even Hermione's skin crawl. 

"YOU WORTHLESS LITTLE GIT! HOW CAN YOU BE SUCH A SCREW UP? JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER! A STUPID COWARD!" Barty spat at Malfoy with such a harsh tone that it had the entire class taken aback from it, "YOUR MOTHER SHOULD HAVE DROWNED YOU LIKE THE LITTLE RUNT YOU ARE! YOU WOULDN'T BE SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT ANYMORE AND SURE AS HELL NOT A PAIN IN ANYONE'S SIDE! WHY CAN'T YOU DO ANYTHING--" 

The Barty boggart quickly shifted when Lupin stepped right in front of Malfoy into what appeared to be the full moon. Before she could get a clear picture of it, Lupin said the charm, making the Boggart turn into a deflated balloon and putting it back into the wardrobe. Lupin proceeded to tell them what their homework was and dismissed the class. Hermione watched as Malfoy jogged out of class without looking back and she could have swore she saw tears dripping down his face.