Harry Potter and The Jade Dragon

Chapter 23 ~ The Boggart

In the end, what made Harry's mind up was Chee Chong's announcement that Professor Snufflegint would be returning to China in a week's time, and that he wanted the Imperial scrolls restored within that period so that he could bring them back with him.

Harry received this piece of news with mixed feelings. This meant that if Snufflegint wanted to harm Jeanne, he was going to do it within the week. Or, if he didn't harm her, it meant he would soon be gone, and Harry wouldn't have to worry about him spying on Jeanne any more.

It also meant that Snufflegint had probably finished restoring Liu Pei's scroll, and had found out what he wanted to know. Was he going back to China because the Great Occurrence was going to take place there? Why had he come to Hogwarts in the first place? If he had been the one who had stolen the scroll from Liu Pei's office, he could have restored it easily enough back at Tian-Long. Unless, someone else had slipped the scroll in with the other Imperial scrolls, and Snufflegint had come to Hogwarts to retrieve it. Or had he come to Britain to spy on Jeanne?

With so little time left, Harry wanted some answers fast, and he decided that they'd better get the books from the Restricted Section, however remote the chance was that they'd find anything useful in them.

"Good luck," murmured Hermione, as they made their way to their seats during the next Divination class. Harry, unsure of producing a convincing enough performance, had asked her to step on his hand, if necessary, if he wasn't groaning loudly enough.

They had fabricated some really dismal predictions for themselves that week, and read them out as solemnly as they could, with the exception of Robert who persisted in reading his very matter-of-factly, as if it were a shopping list. Professor Trelawney seemed both surprised and moved. By the time she came to Hermione, who for once wasn't looking scornful, she was close to tears.

"My dears," she said in her misty voice, pulling out a gauzy handkerchief and dabbing her eyes, "It appears, indeed, that the portents for this month are not good ... winter is always a bleak period. But we must endure ... spring, with all its tender mercies, will eventually reign again."

She moved on to Neville. Ron, turning to look at Harry, mouthed "Now!"

Harry took a breath, and then, falling to the floor, began writhing and yelling as loudly as he could, clutching his head in his hands.

Parvati and Lavendar cried out in fright, while Professor Trelawney gave a small scream and turned around. Fatty, Chee Chong and Pixie sat where they were, startled, as Ron and Hermione jumped up and hurried over to Harry, trying their best to look worried.

"Harry!" Hermione grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him, "Snap out of it! What's the matter?"

Professor Trelawney, seeing what was happening, came rapidly over.

"Allow me, Miss Granger!" she cried, "I have experience in such matters! Potter is undoubtedly the recipient of some unworldly premonition. Let me minister to him!"

Harry had stopped yelling, and was now lying on his back, looking blearily up at them.

"Keep groaning," whispered Ron, before making way for Professor Trelawney.

Harry groaned again, but very half-heartedly. Hermione, screwing her eyes shut, brought her foot down on his left hand, which he had flung to one side so that it was hidden under a tablecloth.

Harry winced, and his groans became more convincing.

Professor Trelawney was now kneeling next to him, an eager gleam in her eyes, which looked even more enormous than ever.

"Arise, Potter!" she cried. "The dark night has passed! Relax your tense limbs, and let yourself be receptive to the clairvoyant vibrations in this room!"