The Spark {Book 5 in the Star of Gryffindor Series}

Chapter 24 - Boggarts

The Daily Prophet
Issue No. 102,111
29 February, 2022

Isaac Predatel Spotted Near Edinburgh!

Maisey Haughland, a resident of Edinburgh, claims she saw Isaac Predatel transform into a bird outside her house and fly away. Aurors are currently looking into the situation, but the Ministry cautions all citizens to remain at home unless absolutely necessary, and not to take any unnecessary risks...

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"As I'm sure you'll all be excited to hear," Mr. Potter said one day at the end of class, "your favorite time of the year is almost here."

We all glanced at each other uncertainly; it was late February, so he couldn't even be talking about Easter at this point, though I doubted the Easter holidays were anyone's favorite time of year. Mr. Potter grinned at us as murmurs of confusion rippled around the class. "Of course, I'm talking about boggarts." A groan from all around the room. Mr. Potter ignored it. "I've been searching since November, and I finally found a boggart in the castle! We'll be begin facing them Thursday, so be preparing yourself!"

"I don't like boggarts," Colette said shortly as we walked out.

"Does anyone really like boggarts, Colette?" Albus asked, trying not to smile.

Colette frowned at him long enough for the smile to disappear. "I can very easily make your boggart be me, Albus Potter." He held up his hands in surrender, and Colette rolled her eyes. "I think I'm just going to skip."

"You cannot skip class!" Wren exclaimed.

"I mean, I'm physically capable of it," she said sarcastically.

"Seriously, Colette," I said, sighing. "This class, of all classes? Mr. Potter will notice. And he'll come talk to you because he's our head of house."

"You really want a heart-to-heart with my dad?" Albus asked, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, if you do, skip class by all means..."

Colette glared at us. "I hate you all." Before I could make a witty reply, she'd stormed off in the direction of the Room of Requirement.

As we watched her go, Wren glanced uncertainly at me. "Does that mean she's not skipping?"

"I think so." I honestly had no idea. After four years, I still didn't understand what went on in Colette's mind. It had only gotten stranger this year, it seemed.

"She wouldn't skip boggarts, anyway," Albus said, putting an arm around Wren's shoulder. "We've all got to be there for each other then, right?"

The voice started whispering then, something about how betraying friends wasn't being there for them, but I shoved it down. I was getting better at that. "Exactly. Colette knows that."

"It's not like hers is even that bad, anyway," Albus said, rolling his eyes. "It's just heights. She knows it's not real."

"Better than a dementor."

"Or a dead body."

"Or my uncle."

We walked in silence for a few moments, each consumed in our own thoughts. Mine went as follows: If Wren's uncle really is her greatest fear still, she can't possibly be a spy for him. She wouldn't be scared of him if she was doing what he wanted, right? So this stupid voice can finally shut up. This'll be proof.

The voice had an answer. Maybe she'll use Occlumency on the boggart.

I don't think that's even possible, I thought spitefully, then I stopped in the middle of the hallway. Occlumency. I'd forgotten Wren had even learned it. Why had she? If the voice was right, she could've been already betraying us, or at least planning it, when she made Colette teach her. So why would she ever do that? She'd said she was afraid of going back. Was that true? She hadn't gone back, so if that was the reason, she'd learned it for nothing. So, maybe... Maybe she'd been planning on using it on someone else. Mr. Potter, for instance. Or maybe even Hestia Carrow.