Worlds Collide (crossover fanfiction)

Chapter 22

Do bear in mind that I was only six years old at the time, reminded Berniss, and seeing Alistair- ugh, I don't even want to talk about it anymore. She made a puking motion, which made Alistair glance at her oddly. Poor brother dearest is wondering what we're talking about. I feel so sorry for him. Berniss waved a hand at her older brother. "It's your turn to face the boggart, Liss. Go on, don't mind us." Alistair grumbled, and Kia laughed at their sibling antics. Alistair had always hated being called Alice or Liss, which only made them more persistent to call him that.

He's ignorant. And stupid. I'm thankful that not all Gryffindors are idiots. Thea stood back as the younger girl stood forward to face her fear, arms crossed, her face an emotionless void, her inner conflict unbeknownst to any bystander, even Berniss.

Why thank you! And yes, I totally agree with you- Alistair is stupid and ignorant 110% of the time. Maybe that's an understatement. Berniss took a deep breath. "Alistair, just go already! We won't judge- okay, maybe a bit."

"Idiots first. Aren't the brave supposed to know how to deal with their fears the most? Fearless and brave, Alistair. You can do it." Thea mock clapped, with even her eyes hiding her emotions inside.

Alistair stepped forward, fists clenching. Regardless of whether Thea was reading his thoughts or not, he still thought she was a *****. He glanced at the boggart, and yelped in surprise as it turned into a version of Kia. The real Kia nudged him in the ribs sharply, ensuring that she was still right there. Boggart Kia shrieked as her shadows turned on her, dark blades slicing through the air and embedding in her skin. Real Kia shook her head disappointedly, muttering to herself. "Seriously Boggart me? You should know better than to conjure a heap of shadows at a time." Alistair rolled his eyes.

Watch your words, Alistair, or I'll clean your mouth with bleach. Thea's emotions must have been still a mess, since her normal passive, joking yet serious threats sliced through his thoughts like a cold, gleaming blade. And Kia, remember where we are. Umbrakinesis is Dark magic, and we don't deal with Dark magic in Defence against the Dark Arts.

"Been there, done that." Alistair muttered half to himself half to Thea. One of older Slytherin boys had hexed his pumpkin juice into bleach, but fortunately Alistair had spat it out in time. He'd retaliated by hexing the Slytherin's cat and made it bark for the rest of the term.

"Oh have you, Mr Selwyn?" Thea answered. "Please, deal with the boggart before you trip down memory lane." Or do you want me to personally arrange a meeting with Mnemosyne herself to help with that?

"Yeah, yeah whatever. Who in Hades is Nemo-sign or whatever her name is anyway?"

Inside voice you freaking idiot! The wizards and witches cannot know of our worlds, it'll erupt us into chaos!

"I don't have telepathy, unlike someone." Alistair snapped out the side of his mouth. Boggart Kia was currently flailing around, shadows piercing her skin. Real Kia was watching with cold amusement, scoffing and making faces every now and then.

Kia yawned. "Speed up, Liss! I'm going to die of boredom here!"

"Jeez, patience." Alistair huffed. "Ridikulus!" However, he wasn't paying much attention to the spell, and instead of it turning into something funny, Boggart Kia had changed for the worse. Real Kia flinched, a bolt of green light hitting Boggart Kia square in the chest. Kia knew it wasn't really her, but even looking at that still hurt. Alistair looked up, eyes narrowed. Jensen grinned up at him, wand pointed. Pure rage bubbled up within Alistair. He knew it wasn't real, but seeing Kia dead and Jensen being the cause of it made him furious.

"Since when has that stopped you from thinking so loudly my mind wants to erupt from my skull and smack some sense into you?" Thea retorted. "You may have been a brilliant student, please emphasise on been. You still have to try as hard as any other student if you want this to succeed." Thea was actually so done with the gryffindor idiot. He floundered around, his fear fueling his anger, and focusing her energy on the bumbling imbecile, she analyzed his heartbeat. It was beating way too fast, and she swore he was going to give himself a heart attack. She frowned, looking at his testosterone levels. Woosh, that's high. She toned down the chemicals and hormones streaming through his body, and entered his mind, before rebounding out. Okay, not going in there. That's a mess. Calm down, boy, calm down. Alistair jumped suddenly, and jerked awkwardly, before slumping down. Oops, too much. Sorry, Alice?

Kia gaped as Alistair collapsed on the floor. Instantly, she was down by his side, shaking him by the shoulders. She glared at Thea. Thea, what did you do? Alistair got up with a groan. "Kit, I'm absolutely fine." He stood up on shaky legs. "Okay, I got this. Ridikulus." He was still slightly woozy when he said the spell, but fortunately he'd managed to turn Boggart Jensen into a crazy breakdancer. He spluttered out a laugh. "Who has a camera? That was absolutely priceless."

My bad. He was about to give himself a heart attack. His heart was beating so quickly I swear it was going to flatline. And his mind was just overcome with fear and anger that he would have gone slightly insane if I didn't stop it. A boggart is a monster, so I am jurisdicted to protect his mind and soul from a psychic attack. Thea answered. But, I may have calmed him down a bit too much and quickly. Sorry again!

Kia raised an eyebrow at the young goddess. Seriously, Thea? I thought he died or something. But it's not all your fault. I'll go yell at the boggart next time it appears. Not going to risk seeing my, uh, best friend dead again.

I thought Ash was your best friend. Thea stated, before she stood before the boggart, which had this eerie, living feel to it. She reached into the creature's mind, the monster, actually, and soon enough, the boggart responded. It has been centuries since someone of powerful enough magic reached into my mind, as I reach into your mortal minds. There has been such delightful fears, like frosting on a cake, to feed on.

Why do you do this? Why find someone's fears and exploit them? Why not let them live peacefully, hoping they'll never see their deepest fears come true? Thea pressed on.

Because, what's the fun in that?