It is never good to walk into a sixth year class and have Neville loosely tried to a chair. I look at him, hoping he will see my pity. We were continuing D.A.; however, most people had stopped joining us, when they saw some of our punishments. Neville was frequently being used in Dart Arts, once Defense Against, to practice on. I hated it, but knew worse would be in store for me.
"Today, you scum will be making boggarts attack someone else. First do the usual Riddikulus crap, then say 'Malumious transferilaness' to make it go on to our lovely test subject," the Carrow, Amycus, tells the class. I think of what my boggart will be. It was once a dragon, breathing fire into my face, but it must of change because I now fear the unknown more than anything else.
Life is filled with things that are unknown. Everyone else can handle that, but I can't. Why? Maybe because I am in love with Harry Potter. His future is unknown, and so are all of us wizards'. Because of that darned You-Know-Who, I can't know my future is secured like my brother Bill's is. He knows he can protect Fluer. I can't protect Harry; he has to be hunting Merlin-knows-what, with Ron and Hermione. She is so lucky. She gets to be with her love. I am, meanwhile, stuck a Hogwarts, with a murderer for Headmaster, and plausible murderers for teachers. That's where I am now. Learning how to stop boggarts, and turn them on to others.
''GINNY WESLEY!" a high pitched, male voice screeches.
"What?" I ask, not evening trying to hide my distain for the Carrow.
"Your turn. Try to get the boggart attack Neville instead of you," Amycus tells me, returning the hatred in his eyes, and month that smiles on the name of my friend.
He opens the chest. I am about to say the spell when it hits me. Yeah, it punches me in the gut. Then, it taps me in the shoulder. It whispers phrases like, "He might be dead," "What if he falls for Ganger?" and "You'll never know." It drifts around me, tapping, poking, punching me; it is controlling my mind. Visions of Harry, lifeless, Hermione grabbing his hand, he kissing it, and finally, a black hole with many lives I could have are present by it. I can't help it; I scream. I scream until my voice is gone, then some more. I back into the corner, pulling my head into my legs. I can't move, my mind is going through scenario after scenario, each freighting me more. I feel a tear go down my cheek; I am too scared to be ashamed.
I hear a voice say, "Riddikulus!". I look up to see Neville, wand in hand. He looks defiantly at the evil Carrow. The jerk yells at him, while he asks if rather have me scarred for life. I don't have to hear to know it will be a 'yes.'
After class, I walk up to Neville. I ask him why he saved me.
"I… I need someone to keep me sane during this time. You help me know what we are doing is right. I… couldn't help it. You were so distressed, and in pain. I couldn't take it any longer," he replies.
I simply stare at him, amazed he feels what I feel. I need someone to help me through the unknown. Neville is a lot more likely than Harry. "Will you be my best friend?" I blurt out, than laugh at the childness of it. He nods his head, and I hug him. The unknown is less scary when you have someone,I realize, as he returns my embrace.
I walk along the hallway, glad to have someone. I reach the Gryffindor Common Room, and go inside. I look for him, and there he is. I sit down next to him, and look at his homework.
"It is 'Rowena' not Rowana,' silly," I tell him. I look at his left, free hand. I grab it, hoping I can pour all of my thanks into it. I feel almost in heaven with his hand in mine.