The Life of Isabella Potter (COMPLETE)

Chapter 12

Bella's POV

"Today we will be discovering what our deepest fears are," Professor Lupin was saying.

I was sitting next to my brother at a table, bored out of my mind. My chin was resting in my hand, my elbow resting on the table. With my right hand, I was twirling a lock of hair around my finger. I looked over at Harry, only to see him looking at Professor Lupin with slight interest. I rolled my eyes and let my arm fall to the table.

Harry turned his gaze on me, a questioning look on his face. "Are you okay?" he whispered.

"No," I muttered. "I'm bored," I turned my head to look at him. Harry only smiled and shook his head, refocusing his attention on the professor.

"Now, who here knows what a boggart is?" Lupin asked us. Hermione (no surprise there) immediately threw her hand into the air. "Ms. Granger," Lupin called on her.

"It's a creature that takes the form of someone's deepest fear. No one actually knows what it looks like, because when they see it, it's what they're scared of the most."

"10 points to Gryffindor," Lupin congratulated. "If you will all follow me into the next room, we will find out what you all are afraid of."

Everyone stood up and began following Lupin. When we got there, I noticed a large cabinet in the center of the room. It had mirrors on the doors, and a golden handle on the right door. It shook every few seconds, I guessed, because the creature wanted to be let out.

Professor Lupin began giving out instructions. "Everyone in a line, please," When we had gotten into one long line, he continued on. "When your fear takes form, hold out your wand and say 'Ridikulus'. It will then turn your fear into something silly."

Hermione was in the front of the line, and she was bouncing up and down eagerly.

"Ah, Ms. Granger," Lupin smiled. "Are you ready?"

She nodded furiously. Lupin unlocked the cabinet doors and a paper with a large, red F immediately took shape. "Ridikulus!" she exclaimed, aiming her wand at the boggart. The paper began tearing itself up, taking shape of a large A instead.

"Very well done, Ms. Granger!" Lupin exclaimed. Hermione stepped out of line and watched as Ron moved forward. A big, hairy spider appeared in front of him.

"Ridikulus!" Ron's voice quivered, but suddenly the spider was wearing roller blades and trying to keep its balance. Harry was next. I was surprised (and a bit scared) to see the creature from the train floating above him. When Harry said the spell, the creature fell to the ground as a large, life-size doll.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward. Swallowing hard, I closed my fingers around my wand, not exactly sure what my deepest fear was, but hoping that it wouldn't be all bad. Lupin opened the cabinet doors and I froze.

My lips parted in shock and I could feel my wand slipping from my fingers. Uncle Vernon was suddenly standing before me, a sneer on his ugly face. He began sauntering toward me, and I could no longer breathe. I stepped backwards, wanting to put as much distance between us as possible. But I didn't get far before Uncle Vernon, I mean the boggart, was grabbing my arm and pulling me forward. My heart was pounding and I felt dizzy and light-headed. My hands were shaking uncontrollably, and I tried to make myself move, pull away from him, but it was no use. I couldn't move a muscle.

Professor Lupin pried the boggart away from me and shoved it back into the cabinet. I spun around, still unable to breathe, and was caught by Ron. His face was a look of concern and worry, his eyes confused.

Before anything else could happen, Harry was immediately by my side. "Bella," he whispered in my ear. My chest burned, and I knew it was because I wasn't breathing. I tried to breathe, but I couldn't. I was in too much shock from what I had just witnessed. "Bella," Harry repeated, spinning me around until I was facing him. 

Tears blurred my vision and I stared at my brother. He rested his hands on my shoulders, and it was then that I was finally able to breathe. Taking in large amounts of air, I began shaking my head. "Harry," I spoke softly, but my voice was quivering.

My brother glanced up at Professor Lupin. "Professor, I need to take her the Headmaster's office." Professor Lupin didn't say a word, only nodded. As we passed Ron, it was clear he wanted to come along, but Professor Lupin called him back, not allowing him to leave.

"I think that's all we'll do for today," I heard Lupin say as Harry and I disappeared out the door.

Harry's POV

Bella sat in one of the chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk, her hand clenched in mine. She was staring at the floor, and I was looking at her. Dumbledore spoke now.

"Bella," his voice was soothing, gentle. Slowly, she looked up at him. "I think it would be best if, at the end of this year, you did not return to that house. Perhaps it would be best if you stayed with Ronald for a time."

"What?" Bella leaned forward a bit, confusion on her face. "But... I'm not even very good friends with him."

Dumbledore gave her a gentle smile. "We can talk about this more later, but for now, I think it best that you be excused from the rest of today's classes."

I watched as my sister nodded, clearly relieved that Dumbledore had said so. "Should I just take her back to the Common Room then?" I wondered.

Dumbledore gave me a smile as well. "No. Let her spend the rest of the day with Mr. Malfoy. Your sister seems to have taken a strong liking to him, and him to her."

I wanted to refuse that idea, but I knew that it was probably best. Clearly, Malfoy made Bella happy. At this point, I just wanted to see her relax and calm down a bit, so I nodded in agreement. "Ok. I'll take her to him."

"I shall excuse him from classes as well," Dumbledore was saying. "You can head to class or, if you wish, you can stay with your sister."

I looked at Bella, who was watching me with a blank expression. "No, that's alright. I trust Malfoy to take care of her."

Dumbledore smiled in approval. "Very well, then. Take her to Mr. Malfoy, then head to class."

I nodded. "Thank you, Professor." Dumbledore only smiled gently and stood, probably to go inform Bella's teachers that she would be excused for the remainder of today. Looking at Bella again, I sighed. I placed an arm around her shoulders comfortingly. "I'm not letting you go back to that house, Bella. Not after today." The only response I got was her arms wrapping around me as she silently thanked me.