I feel that I should warn you, the following is pretty dark. I mean, it is a story about people facing their worst fears, so you probably already should have been warned, but the following turned out way darker then I thought it would. So don't blame me if it gives you nightmares.

"Goldfish! wake up!"
Anthony looked up blearily, resisting the temptation rub his eyes. He ignored the sniggers from some of his classmates at the mention of Alecto Carrow's nickname for him, instead squinting at the blackboard for some clue of what Carrow had been talking about.

"Goldfish, I asked you a question." Carrow had moved up swiftly between the rows of desks while he had been reading what had been written about lighters, so that she was standing over him. "Since you have a Mudblood for a father, it's already ingrained in you to be stupid, but even you should be able to answer this.

"I'm just tired," mumbled Anthony, which was perfectly true. He had stayed up nearly the whole night putting the final touches on a plan to smuggle in some of the Weasley Twin's merchandise next Hogsmeade weekend, and before that, helping his younger sister finish her Transfiguration homework. "Late night."

"Why did you stay up so late?" asked Carrow shrewdly, and Anthony jolted awake, sitting upright. She's on to him! Stay calm Anthony told himself. Just have a good excuse, something innocent that she that she can't do anything with.

"WELL" snarled Carrow grabbing his robes and tugging him halfway across his desk.

"I had a nightmare" Anthony blurted out, regretting saying it almost as soon as it came out. Next to him, Terry groaned nearly imperceptibly and put his face into his hands; while Michael suddenly leaned much closer to his textbook then was necessary, obviously wanting to avoid watching the scene.

"A nightmare" said Carrow, and Anthony gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the mocking tone in it. "Perhaps you need to talk about it to get it off your mind."

Again, a few scattered sniggers rose from the room, as people tried to get her approval. Anthony grit his teeth even harder, so that his jaw hurt, and tried to think of something, for he didn't remember the last time he had even had a nightmare; most nights he was too tired to do anything more than collapse into a dreamless sleep.

Anthony straightened up, suddenly aware he had almost nodded off, and tried to force his tired brain into action, trying to make it stay focused in creating a nightmare, but nothing came to mind. Thinking desperately, he glanced up at Carrow, who had reached into her robes for her wand. Oh shi…

Before he had time to reach for his own wand, her spell hit him right in the chest, sending him soaring through the air for a split-second, before he unceremoniously crashed onto Padma's desk behind him, chest aching.

For a second, Anthony lay there, now wide awake, but unable to move with the wind knocked out of him. He could hear Michael's groan of sympathy, Padma's squeal of surprise, and the sound of Terry's chair being pulled back. Raising his head a half-inch, he was just in time to see Carrow's spell hit Terry as he started to rise. Terry sat back down heavily, hands going up to his face.

"Detention Goldfish" Carrow practically sang, ignoring what she had just done to Terry with complete indifference. Anthony tensed, dreading the oncoming Crucatus curse, but nothing came. Opening his eyes a half inch, he saw Carrow had turned his back to him and was now slowly walking back to the front of the class. Apparently, she had something different planned.

C'mon, let's get you back up" Anthony heard Michael mutter, then felt himself hoisted back to his feet by Michael and Padma's helping hands. Chest burning, Anthony dragged his chair upright and returned to his desk, rubbing his chest in a futile effort to make breathing easier. Behind him he could hear a slight scrape as Padma returned to her desk, and on his right side he saw Michael doing the same. On his other side, Terry had pulled out his wand and was waving it around his nose in attempt to stop the pus now pouring out of it.

Carrow had reached the front of the room again and let out a wheezy giggle of delight before turning to look right at him, smirking. "Goldfish, your detention will be at five, in this room. Now to continue. Imagine, if you can picture yourself stupid enough, that you needed to make a fire just to survive, and being a Mudblood, you have…

Anthony didn't bother paying attention to the rest, instead dwelling on what the detention would be. Usually the Carrows just preformed the Cruciatus curse, or else got someone else to do it. Five o'clock was too late for any lessons to put the Cruciatus on him, and she liked to do it in front of a audience.

Sighing deeply, Anthony knew that he would be the first to find out if they had evented some new method of punishment.

At a quarter to five, Anthony bid a gloomy Farwell to his friends and walked slowly toward the Muggle studies classroom, Stomach rumbling, Anthony hoped that he would still have time to run down to Great hall for dinner after the detention ended, though he didn't have high hopes. Having been in too many detentions already this year, he was too well acquainted with the Carrow's meaning of a detention to have any real hope that it would be over before midnight.

"Anthony!" called a girl's voice, and turning, Anthony saw his sister, Karen, fighting her way to him through a crowd of students going down to dinner. Ducking into a corridor, Anthony waited patiently for her to make her way through the crowd.

"Anthony," repeated Karen, finally reaching him. "I just heard that you were put into detention again.

"I nodded off again in class, that's all," said Anthony.

"It was because of me, wasn't it?" said Karen, sounding worried. "I should have asked you to help me with my homework. I could have done by myself, but I just wasn't quite sure if I had-

"No, no it's fine," said Anthony, studying his sister. He hated seeing her like this, so worried about him. She was only fourteen; she shouldn't be scared for him. "I'll just go serve my detention real quick, and then I'll see you down at dinner, OK?

"Ok," said Karen, though she didn't look convinced.

"Go on, I'll be fine," he prodded her. She left, still looking worried. He waited until she was out of sight before starting off for the Muggle Studies classroom. She knew as well as he did that it he probably wouldn't be fine, but he appreciated her listening to him anyway. He knew it was hard for her to watch him go to detention just to get tortured, but she left him anyway, even though she was probably dying to help him. Anthony smiled to himself. He was proud of her, for knowing when to pick her fights.

Consumed by thoughts of his sister, it took Anthony a moment to realize that he was before the door that led to the Muggle studies classroom. Anthony hesitated a moment before knocking, trying to ignore how tired he felt.

Carrow opened the door, leering at him as Anthony walked in, trying to contain his rapidly growing sense of dread at the sight of the room. It was unchanged from earlier in the day, except for a rather large and intimidating packing case resting on Carrow's desk. Anthony's sense of dread only intensified when the case gave a sudden lurch, as if it was trying to reach him.

Anthony turned, his hand unintentionally going to his wand as he looked toward Carrow, whose leer had only grown wider in the few seconds that he had spent surveying the room. After an unbearable stretch of silence, in which she did nothing but continue to grin at him happily, Anthony cleared his throat, "What's my detention?

"You'll stay in this room." Carrow's voice nearly broke with happiness, and Anthony felt his stomach jolt. "You'll have stay in here for half an hour.

"What will I be doing?" asked Anthony, still keeping a close eye on the case.

Opening the bloody case, stupid," cackled Carrow. She waited a moment, than unable to contain her glee, continued. "It has a boggart in it.

A boggart? That wasn't that bad. Anthony thought to himself. He had faced one under Professor Lupin's tutelage back in his third year, and he could clearly remember making his boggart, a hippogriff, transform into a rather hilarious giant dancing cup with ease. He couldn't imagine that he would have a much harder time this time around, which meant that there must be some kind of catch.

"I'll need your wand." Carrow spoke, as though reading his mind. "It wouldn't be much fun without it.

Anthony clutched his wand tighter. His wand was his life line, his one protection and tool against anything in the Magical world, and he had always had it on his person, or at least nearby, since he had first received it, seven years ago. To give it up would mean rendering himself helpless, just as he was about to face a magical creature. His first instinct was to refuse, to draw it out and stun Carrow.

Another, wiser, part of Anthony told him that this was not the time, that stunning Carrow now would mean running for his life, abandoning the relative safety of Hogwarts. It wasn't time to fight back like that yet.

Anthony reluctantly drew out his wand, and hesitating for another moment, handed it to Carrow, who seized it before he could reconsider.

"Enjoy your stay," said Carrow, letting out another wheezy giggle. "I'm going to go eat, but I'll be back for you in a little bit."

With that, she walked out, closing the door behind her, leaving Anthony alone in the room with only a packing case containing his worst fear to keep him company.

Anthony leaned on one of the desks, trying to find a way out of his situation. He believed her when she said that she could make it worse. Rude and dim as Alecto Carrow was, she certainly didn't lack in cunning.

He was actually a little puzzled that she hadn't stayed to watch. It seemed like the kind of thing that she would enjoy, watching people being forced to helplessly look on as their worst fears came to life in front of them.

Of course, Carrow's decision to leave didn't really matter right now. He was going to have to open the case. That, or try and go on the run, which would mean breaking out of Hogwarts, getting over to the wall and apparating without being caught. That's not even thinking about leaving his sister and the D.A. behind, and Anthony would never do that.

So that just left opening the box.

Of course, his boggart wasn't going to be the same as it had been four years ago Anthony knew, This time, it would be much worse. Now it could be a hippogriff killing him. It could be Snape learning about the D.A. It could be his sister and his parents dying. Actually, now that he thought about it, it didn't matter what it was going to be, seeing as Carrow had taken away his only way of fighting it.

Anthony started for the case, then hesitated, thinking. He would have to open it, but who said that he had to open it now? Wouldn't it be better to wait he heard Carrow moving outside the door, then open the case at the last second?

Smirking to himself, Anthony started for the nearest desk, figuring he might as well make himself comfterble while he waited. This time at least, he had outsmarted her. The only hard part was going to be keeping himself awake for half an hour. If he could do that, it would be a simple matter to open the case when he heard Carrow moving outside. After all, it's not like she was exactly stealthy when she walked, not with all the giggling she did to herself.

And then, just as Anthony reached the desk, a loud Crack broke the silence, making him jump. Behind him, a short, rather old looking house–elf wearing a tea towel stamped with the Hogwarts crest had appeared, right in front of the case.

For a moment, Anthony and the elf just started at each other. Anthony was rather taken back. Was this how Carrow was going to know if he opened the case?

"Begging your pardon sir," said the elf, breaking the silence. His voice came out as a squeak, surprising Anthony, who had expected a deep croak. "I'll be out of your way in just a moment."

Anthony continued to stare at it, still too taken back to say anything. He watched soundlessly as the elf fumbled with the latch to the case. Of course, Anthony thought to himself. Carrow was too clever by half to leave him here without making sure the case was opened.

A moment later, and the elf straightened up, his task done. Too late, Anthony started to move forward, thinking to keep the case shut. Before he had taken two steps, the elf had lifted the case's lid, and, with one more glance at Anthony, disapparating with a loud crack!

Anthony switched tactics, backing away from the case. Already he could see something, someone, climbing out of the case. Anthony closed his eyes, wildly hoping that by keeping his eyes shut, he would be able to prevent the boggart from affecting him.

"Anthony… help," came a weak voice from in front of him. Anthony felt his heart lurch. The voice belonged to Karen, and even without looking, he could tell that she was hurt. "Help me."

Anthony kept his eyes tightly shut. He knowing that it was a ploy, knowing that opening his eyes would make it a thousand times worse.

"Anthony…" his sister's voice begged again. "You got to help me."

It's not real Anthony told himself over and over, a litany to protect him. That's not Karen.

"Anthony, why does it hurt?" said his sister's voice, higher than usual with horror. "Why won't you help me?

Anthony shook his head, but the hurt in her voice was almost killing him. He could hear how much pain she was in, not just when she talked, but in the painful gurgle that came every time she breathed.

"Anthony," his sister pleaded, her voice weaker than ever. "Why won't you look at me?"

"Enough!" Anthony screamed at the boggart. "Stop it. Stop talking!"

"Anthony, please, please help me." His sister's voice sobbed.

It sounded exactly like her, down to the way she said his name. Anthony could almost see her in front of him, eyes begging him to help her.

Somewhere in front of him, Karen screamed in pain.

It was too much for him to bear. Opening his eyes, Anthony quickly looked around for his sister. Within moments, he located her, laying at the front of the classroom, too weak for her to stand up.

Anthony hurried to her, everything forgotten except for the need to help her. He reached her quickly, kneeling down beside her. There was blood in her robes, their dark color hiding it until he had gotten closer. Frantic, he tried to find where it was coming from.

"Why?" Karen asked.

"Why what?" said Anthony, still trying to find where she was bleeding.

"Why did you do it?" Karen asked, staring up at him.

"I didn't do anything." Anthony was growing more frantic. "Where are you hurt? Why can't I find it?"

"Why did you kill me?" Karen said her eyes wide with innocence. "I know you didn't meant too, but why did you hurt me?"

Anthony stared at her, looking at the conviction in her eyes. She believed what she was saying. She was so convinced that Anthony almost started to believe it as well. No he told himself. It's just a boggart. It's not real.

"Why did you curse me?" the boggart pressed.

"I didn't…" Anthony shook his head, unable to complete the thought. "It wasn't…"

"I saw you. You promised you would protect me." Karen's voice broke. "Why did you do it?"

"It wasn't me!" Anthony screamed at her, backing up until he was against the wall. "I could never hurt you."

It's a boggart. It's not real. Anthony told himself over and over again. His sister just lay there, robes bloodied, staring at him accusingly. Anthony stared right back, unable to look away. It was a nightmare, a bad dream, but it was too real. It was too real to just be a nightmare.

His sister was starting to speak again, but Anthony couldn't hear it, too horrified to make out what she was saying He just gazed at his dying sister. He never could have done this to her. He never could have hurt her. He could barely comprehend the thought. Anthony drew his knees up to his chest, curling up into a ball like an animal trying to protect itself. He could never hurt her. It was impossible. She didn't know anything. He couldn't have done this. It wasn't real. No matter how real it felt, it wasn't.

He didn't know how long he stayed like that, telling himself that it wasn't real. He didn't even notice Carrow until she banished the boggart back into the packing case.

"Well Goldfish, have you learned your lesson?" said Carrow, leering over him.

Anthony numbly nodded his head, still staring at the spot where Karen had been. He became aware that he was cold, shivering slightly in the temperate castle.

"Well what are you waiting for then witless?" Carrow said, pointing out of the door and smiling at his discomfort. "Get out of my classroom."

Anthony weakly got to his feet and started walking out of the classroom. He immediately set out for the Ravenclaw tower, not feeling remotely hungry anymore. Even as he walked, images of his sister, dead by his curse followed him, and without meaning to, he broke out into a run, trying to outrun the fear. He knew deep down, that he wouldn't be able to; that what he had witnesses wouldn't leave for a long time.

It wasn't real he kept telling himself. It never happened. No matter how real it seemed, it wasn't.

It didn't help much.

I'm planning on continuing this, but I only have so many ideas for horrible fears I can put people through. So if you have any ideas for character fears, please PM me or leave a review.