Chapter 3. Skeletons In Her Closet.

Sitting in the library with a lantern in front of me and my potions book open, I feel my thoughts wandering. It's so difficult to focus sometimes even when I'm only one of few in the library. My eyes skim around the room and fall on a tall, blonde boy. His hair was sandy and he had a look about him, like he's just gotten off his broom. He glances over at me and I can feel the colour rise in my cheeks. I drop my eyes down to my book and try to lose myself in potions. It didn't work before, so what on Earth makes me think it'll work now? I don't know.

A book makes a gentle thud on the table next to me and I jump slightly at the intrusion on my space. The blond boy is looking down at me with an amused expression on his face, his eyes dancing from the light of the candle. My face freezes in an awkward smile.
"Can I help you. . .?"
He sits lazily in the chair next to me, dropping his bag to the floor all in one lazy, confident, fluid motion.
"I'm Cedric."
His prefect badge practically glittered in the light below his Hufflepuff house crest.
"Emilia."
My smile spread over my lips, genuine and effortless. A perfect reflection of his own.
"So what's a pretty fourth year girl like yourself doing all alone in the library?"
A laugh leaked out of my lips.
"A Slytherin who laughs? Should I tell the hat it was wrong?"
I look at this boy, he oozes charisma and it's already easy to like him.
"I'm a third year and no, not ALL of us are mean-spirited you know."
His brows knit together and he gestures at the potions book in front of me;
"So you're a giant nerd then, getting a head start on next year?"
I laugh again.
"Yes and no. I got pushed up in potions and transfiguration. "
"So you ARE a giant nerd then!"
Laughter comes so easily around Cedric. He pulls his wand out and with a wave, he turns my quill into a beautiful pink and yellow rose. I feel my eyebrows rise in surprise. What beautiful magic!
"May I escort you to the Great Hall for dinner?"
A soft blush creeps up my cheeks and I nod, gathering my things and holding the rose tenderly.

We make our way down the halls. The silence between us wasn't loaded or awkward, but it was expecting, waiting to be filled.
"You're a Chaser for Slytherin aren't you?"
I feel another laugh rise in my chest.
"Yes, how is it you only just realised?"
Cedric scratches his chin slowly.
"Well, the other players are so…you know…and I don't really pay attention to you since you're never that way on the pitch. I'm mostly focused on the beaters. Nasty streak in Slytherin beaters."
I nod slowly. Lucian and Peregrine weren't the smartest pair but their lust for violence wasn't to be joked about.
"Chase. That's right. I was trying to remember your last name, I knew I'd seen it on your Quidditch uniform. Ha. A Chaser who's surname is Chase. Brilliant."
Cedric's eyes dance with delight as he looks down at me again.
"So, I know you like Quidditch and you're clever with potions and transfiguration. You're a rare Slytherin since you're nice and not too snobby either….what else is there to know about you Miss Chase?"
I look at him, thinking for a moment.
"I have a horse. I like being outside. I have a little brother, he'll be starting school next year. Ummm…I don't know!"
Cedric laughs, his shoulders rise and fall in rhythm and he clutches his ribs slightly.
"Do you mock me Cedric?"
He gives me a look;
"I do, but I do it with affection."
We walk into the Great Hall and pause, looking at each other. I want to talk to him for longer… but…
"We this is us I think. I look forward to bumping into you again, but not on the Quidditch pitch."
I give him a small nod and smile, he returns his lazy smile and we part ways, each to opposite ends of the hall.

"Does it hurt terribly, Draco?"
I suppress an eye roll as I take my seat at our table, hearing Pansy pour her concern and empathy onto an all too willing Draco Malfoy.

' It comes and it goes. Still... I consider myself lucky. According to Madam Pomfrey, another minute or two... and I could've, ah, lost my arm. Couldn't possibly do any homework for weeks..."

I start to load food onto my plate, thankful that Pansy is too distracted to dictate to me what I eat. Mmmm…jacket potatoes, Hungarian sausages, broccoli in cheese sauce. I hadn't realised how hungry I had gotten in the Library.
"Please- don't touch it."
Draco is really milking this for all it's worth and listening to Pansy fawn over him is making me want to vomit. A little parchment crane flutters down in front of me. I tenderly pick it up and unfold it.

Somewhere there's someone who dreams of your smile,
and finds in your presence that life is worth while.
So when you are lonely, remember it's true
Somebody somewhere is thinking of you.

Enjoy your rose,

Cedric.

I look over at the Hufflepuff table and see his sandy blonde hair, he's in deep conversation with his friends that he is sitting with. I smile at the note and tuck it into my potions book. I take out a scrap piece of parchment and a quill. I sit, thinking about what to scribble. Everything is silly and I'm not sure if he is just toying with me or not.

Staring at the parchment, all I could think was how nothing coming into my mind was right to write down. Every collection of words is too much, to strong and too forward. I mean, he's cute…and funny. But charisma isn't a reason to be tempted and honestly I don't know what to do. Finally, six words flooded into my head and they flowed out of my quill onto the parchment before I could change my mind.

Dream a little dream of me.

Emilia.

I smile to myself and wave my wand softly, making the paper float and fold itself into a dragonfly. I watch as it floats over to Cedric and I turn my attention to Pansy and Draco so I don't stare at him as he reads my note. Pansy is still fawning over Draco and I felt my eyes roll involuntarily.
"Emilia, what do you think?"
"Hmm?"
Pansy's scowl brings me back to the conversation at the table instead of wondering what Cedric is thinking.
"Oh yes, Hagrid should get fired for that. Complete incompetence."

We all pick up our things and start to wander back to the common room. We walk past Cedric and his friends near the door. Draco and the others push past them, I slow down and smile at Cedric, he smiles back. Pansy grabs my arm and pulls me towards the common room, dragging me, most reluctantly towards to the portrait to the dungeons.

"Intriguing, isn't it? Would anyone like to venture a guess... as to what

is inside?"

We are all standing in our Defense Against The Dark Arts lesson with our new professor, we are all looking at a wardrobe.

"That's a Boggart, that is."

Surprisingly not Hermione who throws her hand in the air this time.

"Very good, Mr. Thomas. Now, can anybody tell me what a Boggart looks like?"

"No one knows. Boggarts are shape-shifters. They take the shape of whatever a particular person fears the most. That's what makes them so …"

"so terrifying, yes, yes, yes. Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a Boggart. Let's practice it now. Ah, without wands, please... after me... Riddikulus!"

We all repeat the incantation;

"Riddikulus!"

The new professor smiles at us all, obviously proud of all of us.

"Very good. A little louder, and very clear. Listen: Riddikulus!"

Again, we all repeat the incantation;

"Riddikulus!"

Draco sneers as he scratches just under the bandage over his arm. He is getting more and more irritable since he isn't his usual, comfortable self.
"This class is ridiculous."

"Very good- well, so much for the easy part. You see, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a Boggart is... laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing. Let me explain. Ah- Neville, would you join me, please? Come on. Don't be shy, come on. Come on."

We watch as Neville makes his way to the front of the class, clearly his usual nervous self.

"Hello. Neville, what frightens you most of all?"

Neville looks like he is about to cry;

"Profter... S- Snafpt..."

Neville stutters out his fear, which is entirely incomprehensible through the chattering of his teeth.

"Sorry-"

"Professor Snape."

"Professor Snape. Yes, frightens us all. And I believe you live with your grandmother?"

"Yes, but I don't want that Boggart to turn into her, either."

"No...It won't. I want you to picture her clothes, only her clothes, very clearly in your mind."

"She carries a red handbag..."

"We don't need to hear it. As long as you see it, we'll see it. Now, when I open that wardrobe, here's hat I want you to do... Excuse me..."

Lupin whispers something to Neville that none of us can hear.

"Can you do that? Yes. Wand at the ready. One. Two. Three. Think, Neville. Think!"

Neville lifts his wand,

"Riddikulus!"

Everyone started laughing as Snape was standing before us in the most stupid outfit ever, topped off with a vulture on top of an exceptionally ugly hat. Even our Professor was laughing.

"Wonderful, Neville, wonderful! Incredible! Okay! To the back, Neville. Everyone form a line. Form a line. I want everyone to picture the thing they fear the very most, and turn it into something funny. Next! Ron! Concentrate. Face your fear. Be brave!"

We all watched as the boggart turns into a spider.

"Ooh.."

"Wand at the ready, Ron. Wand at the ready!"

"Riddikulus!"

I feel the laughter rise in me again as the spider is suddenly on eight rollerskates.

'Yes! You see? Very good, very good! Marvelous! Absolutely very, very enjoyable! Parvati, next! Step up. Show us what you see. Keep your nerve. Steady..."

The spider in front of us turns into a snake;

"Riddikulus!"

Suddenly, the snake transforms into a Jack in the box.

"And next! Step up, step up! Wonderful, wonderful. Heeere!"

It's Harry's turn, I wait, anticipation rising to see what the boggart turns into. A dementor swoops down on top of him and the professor jumps in front of him. The boggart quickly changes into a glowing silver orb. Is it a moon?

"Riddikulus!"

The boggart then turns into a big balloon leaking air, it fizzles into the wardrobe and Lupin quickly shuts it.

"Right, well, sorry about that. Ah, that's enough for today. If you'd all like to collect your books from the back of the class, that's the end of the lesson. Thank you... Sorry, sorry, you've already had too much of a good thing."

Everyone is groaning as we leave the classroom. I feel quite bummed that I didn't get my turn. Draco's mood is totally foul, his arm must be quite uncomfortable. We make our way to the common room.
"Oh Draco, is there anything I can do to help?"
Pansy is still fawning over him and I'm finding it quite sickening.
"No! Pansy just….sod off…"
I quickly duck up to my dorm and grab a small vile out of my trunk.
"Here Draco, it'll help with the pain."
Draco glares at me for a moment before downing the potion. Instant relief spreads across his face.
"Thank's Em."
"Don't thank me Draco, it was purely selfish. Your attitude is pissing me off."