Astra || H. Potter [1]

[6] Boggarts and Bruises

[Outfit Above]

When everyone started to arrive I made my way to a cluster with Hermione, Ron and Harry. The three of us stood near the front as looked curiously at a shaking wardrobe. "Intriguing, yes? Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what's inside?" My father asked and I narrowed my eyes at the wardrobe thinking of what the creature inside was. "That's a Boggart, that is." Seamus said in a hushed whisper but he heard him thanks to his advanced hearing. "Very good, Mr. Finnigan. Can anyone tell us what a Boggart looks like?"

"No one knows." I stated "Bogarts are shapeshifters. They take the shape of whatever it is the person fears the most. That's what makes them so..." My father finished my sentence "So terrifying, yes, yes, yes..." He walked around to the front of our group and stood in front of the shaking wardrobe. "Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a boggart. Let's practice it now." He took a hand out of his pocket and gestured around slightly "Without wands, please. After me. Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" Everyone repeated and he nodded "Very good. A little louder and very clear. Listen: Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" We all repeated again only louder, from against the wall I heard Draco muttering to his goons. "This class is ridiculous." I rolled my eyes and pursed my lips to keep myself from snapping at him. "Very good." My father's praise brought my attention back towards him.

"So much for the easy part. You see, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a Boggart off is... laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing." He looked through the crowd until his eyes landed on Neville. "Uh, Neville, come up here, will you?"

Neville side glanced at me as he walked forward and spoke under his breath "Why'd he have to pick me?" Neville walked past me to stand in front of all the gryffindors "Come on, don't be shy. Come on. Come on." Neville stood shaking slightly for fear of being close to the violently rattling wardrobe.

"Hello. Neville, what frightens you most of all?" Neville looked down "Profter... Snafpt..." Dad tilted his head "Didn't catch that, Neville, sorry." Neville looked up finally meeting his eyes "Professor Snape."

I tried to hide my giggles but failed miserably which resulted in Harry laughing more along with the rest of the class. "Professor Snape. Yes, frightens all." Dad mused with a grin as he rocked on his feet. " And I believe you live with your grandmother." Neville nodded "Yes but I don't want it to turn into her, either."

Multiple students laughed at his immediate fear of his grandmother. Dad shook his head softly and I could tell he was trying to hide his own smile of amusement towards Neville. "No... it won't. I want you to picture her clothes. Only her clothes, very clearly, in your mind."

"She carries a red handbag..." Neville started but Dad shook his head again "We don't need to hear. As long as you see it, we'll see it. Now, when I open that wardrobe... Here's what I want you to do. Excuse me." He walked closer towards Neville and crouched down to his left to whisper to him leaving the rest of us confused. "Can you do that?" Dad asked his voice regular volume now as he stood up straight and started to pull his wand out of his robes just in case.

"Yes. Wand at the ready. One, two, three." He flicked his wand ever slightly just enough to unlock the wardrobe letting the door creak open and reveal a stoic Professor Snape. The boggart version of our potions professor walked right towards Neville as the wardrobe door slammed shut behind him.

"Riddikulus!" Neville shouted making 'Professor Snap' stumbled backwards in confusion as he was changed into Neville's grandmother's clothes. We all erupted into laughter from the sight of Professor Snape in a womens clothes and holding a bright red handbag.

"Wonderful, Neville, wonderful!" Dad cheered with his own proud chuckles "Incredible! Okay... to the back, Neville. Everyone, form a line! Form a line!" I had gotten shoved into Harry by multiple of our house mates that eagerly wanted to be first in line to try the spell. Thankfully Harry grabbed onto my arm steadying me from the crowd before he stood behind me. "I want everyone to picture the thing they fear the very most... and turn it into something funny."

Dad started the record player to an upbeat song and pointed to Ron who was first in line. "Next! Ron!" Ron glanced behind him to Harry, Hermione and I, we all ushered him on excitedly so he slowly walked forward. "Concentrate. Face your fear. Be brave!"

The boggart quickly changed into a large acromantula making Ron cringe in fear at the sight of the creature. "Wand at the ready, Ron." Dad instructed from the side watching as the acromantula inched closer to Ron who slowly pulled his wand out of his robes. "Riddikulus!" Ron shouted

"Yes! You see? Very good, very good! Marvelous!" Dad cheered loudly over our laughs when the Spider started to slip and slide on skates. "Absolutely, very, very enjoyable! Parvati! Next!" Parvati stepped forward to the front while Ron walked to the back with a big grin on his face. "Show us what you see. Keep your nerve. Steady." The boggart then turned into a large snake which seemed to be Parvati's fear. "Riddikulus!"

Parvati Walked around to the back leaving me front and center "Ophelia!" I walked forward to the clown jack 'n the box and watched as it turned into a masked figure standing over a dead Harry. The masked figure turned around and revealed itself as Sirius Black who grinned menacingly in my direction. Behind him was a dead version of Harry, I froze as tears pricked my eyes. Fighting through my fear I rose my wand stopping the boggart in its tracks "Riddikulus!" The boggart then turned into a Small black dog bouncing around happily.

I spun around on my toes and hid at the back of the line not wanting anyone to see my tears. Ron wrapped an arm around my shoulder brotherly "You alright?" I wiped away a stray tear on my cheek "Fine" Ron rolled his eyes but kept his tone soft "He won't touch you. And he especially won't touch Harry. Just look" He nodded to the front with his head "He's perfectly fine n't he"

Before we knew it the boggart changed into a dementor that flew right at Harry but was cut off by my father throwing himself in front of him making the boggart switch to a full moon. My eyes widened slightly and I prayed that no one would understand the meaning behind it.

Not even Ron knew what my dad was, he just knew that I would come stay with his family for a bit every month. "Riddikulus!" My dad shouted which made the moon turn into a balloon that flew around the classroom until it ended back up in the wardrobe.

"Right. Sorry about that. That's enough for today. Collect your books from the back. That's the end of the lesson. Thank you! Sorry!" Multiple whines sounded from the mixed group as they made their way to the back of the classroom to gather their things.

Pushing past the angry students I made my way toward Harry who stood shell shocked in front of the wardrobe that was shaking once more. "Harry.." The raven haired boy turned to the right his eyes meeting mine that were filled with concern. "Come on.." I said softly and took his hand in mine gently gesturing to the back of the class where Ron and Hermione stood by themselves waiting for us.

We walked over and Hermione handed me my bag while Ron handed Harry his. We exited the class but Harry eventually fell back slightly, I stopped beside him looking him over. "Harry..?" He stood up straighter more determined and looked down at me. "Why did your boggart have me in it?"

I hesitated for a moment, not sure what to say "Because you are important to me and I don't want to see you get hurt..." Harry nodded slightly in understanding "Since tomorrow is Saturday and we are allowed to go to Hogsmeade...will you go with me?" I smiled widely "I would love to"

Harry smiled back just as wide and I couldn't help but find myself getting lost in his bright eyes and the way his eyes had litten up when I said yes. Whether he asked me as more than a friend or just as a friend I would soak up as much of it as possible.

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I love the ending of this