Billie POV

The last day of my second year at Hogwarts I walked slowly through the corridors towards the defense against the dark arts classroom. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat but it was made harder and harder for every breath I took. And I stared down into the floor not to let anyone see the tears burning in my eyes.

"You're disappearing."

The door to the classroom had barely closed behind me when I said it. Professor Lupin stood with his back against me and flinched when I started speaking. I probably should have apologized for making him flinch like that but right then the only thought in my head was what I just had said. And well… I guess everything that had led up to where we were today.

Flashback

With the boggart of my dad standing right in front of me. That burning angry look in his eyes and clench shut jaw had me sinking down to my knees in that classroom. Everything felt so far away, as if I was seeing and hearing everything else from the other side of a wall. That dad's voice was the only one sound to break through.

"I never wanted a daughter. I just wanted your brothers. And after this I don't get how such a beautiful woman as your mum could have an as ugly child as you and…"

Professor Lupin must have stepped forward and forced the boggart back into the cupboard. Because suddenly everything was still and silent and I stared into the floor trying to shut out the sound of his voice playing over and over again in my head.

"Billie." Suddenly Professor Lupin's voice broke through my wall again and he kneeled in front of me. "If there is anyone talking to you like this then you need to tell someone else about it. Was that your dad?"

"Yes…" I was the worst liar ever and I knew it letting my voice heard only barely. "But… he doesn't say it anymore."

"What did you say? You need to speak louder."

"He can't say that anymore. He can't say anything… Because he's dead."

Still now, a year after that dreadful day the mention made a large lump rise in my throat. I swallowed it and wiped the few tears that had been rising in my eyes. Drew a deep breath and knew I had to say more.

"He was the best. Really. He would never have told me such things like he… that boggart told me now. I promise you. He'd never… I don't get why I'm being so afraid of it now."

"I think Billie…" Professor Lupin stood up and I slowly got up on shaky legs. "I think what you're afraid of…"

Neither Professor Lupin nor I could get time to say anything more than that. Suddenly the door to the classroom opened and students from sixth year class hurried into the classroom. I didn't catch more time to wonder about what to do, just quickly grabbed my bag and hurried in the other direction than the other students.

I didn't even know who it was talking to me. I didn't look up, but could still feel someone bump into me and then a word almost whispered into my ear. Because there was no way it was meant for anybody else than me.

"Mudblood."

I sniveled and hurried through the door. But barely noticed I made my own voice heard until I heard myself what I had said. Just concentrating on getting away on whoever it was talking to me.

"I never understood why I was sorted into Gryffindor."

End of flashback

After that fall day with the boggart. I had barely spoken to Professor Lupin at all. I had walked into class, done my homework, passed him in the hallway and all of that. But not once had I looked him in the eyes. And he seemed to sense what I felt so he hadn't tried to talk to me neither.

Now Professor Lupin turned towards me when I had spoken. This time I looked him right into the eyes but it must have been at least a minute and a half before he spoke. At least I didn't speak a single word until he had, until he sat down on a chair and pointed to me to sit down on the desk next to him.

"I'm not disappearing. I'm still here for another few hours and then…"

"You're disappearing." I said again. "You're a werewolf and you're disappearing." Professor Lupin sighed and held up his hands to silent me.

"I can't deny I'm a werewolf." He said, as calmly it was almost annoying me. "But I will not disappear. You have Peyton… That's your owl's name isn't it?" It was true, but I didn't respond. "You have him… and if you just send me a letter and tell me to come then I will come wherever and whenever you are. I promise you- I will not disappear."

My hands were shaking as I pushed them down into my pockets. And there was so much I wanted to say. I had barely spoken to Professor Lupin all year, but that day we had talked and he was the only one that hadn't just asked about my brothers…

"I want to try again."

When I looked up on Professor Lupin I looked him right into the eyes. And saw that look of someone whom I just knew I could trust. And I wanted… I wanted to be good enough. I wanted to finish it just this one single thing.

"Do you still have that boggart?" Professor thought for a moment, as if he took a moment to hear what I had asked. "Because I want to try again."

"Are you sure? You don't…"

"I know I don't have to. I want to try again… Please let me try again."

Professor Lupin hesitated, then nodded and gestured towards a coffin by the wall. He walked over to it and made himself ready to open it while I got myself ready. None of us said a word at first, but I should have known he should.

"Billie." I was almost surprised I heard professor Lupin at all when he spoke because I held my wand in a tight grip and watched the lock on the cupboard focused when he spoke up. "I heard you… and if you remember, I know why you were sorted into Gryffindor."

"Wh- what?"

At first I barely knew what he meant. Then I remembered that someone (and it had happened about a million times more) calling me 'mudblood' and what I had said right afterwards. But still that 'what?' remained and what on earth?

Although before I had the time to say anything Professor Lupin spoke up. And every word he said was just so true.

"I have seen students afraid of large snakes, of clowns and of huge big spiders. Some of them have been more like you… and you're one of the bravest people I know because what you fear and it's every day… is that you can't be good enough. But still, ever day you get up there and face your demons and every day you do it again and again and again and that takes bravery. Not to never be afraid but to face your fears and conquer them."

I watched Professor Lupin for a couple of seconds. Only watched, there was nothing to be said. Although I knew every word he said was true while I also knew that only him being there had me less afraid while I turned to the large wooden box on the floor and Professor Lupin opened it with magic.

While my dad- or the boggart who took the shape of my dad stood up in it and walked closer I saw him open his mouth to say something. And in front of me I pictured the way he had used to be with all of his stupid jokes.

"Riddikulus."

Dad stopped for a single second and I felt my heart beating hard in my chest. What if I had done it all wrong and we would just have history repeating itself?

"What is it that moves forward and forward but never reaches its end?"

I smiled slightly and felt some of the fear only running off. It was just one of those stupid jokes my dad would have been able to pull what felt like every other minute. When he lived they would just be annoying, but only remembering the answer to it and speaking had me smiling when I spoke the silly answer.

"The time."

Billie is portrayed by Carmen Blanchard, and her dad by Jamie Bamber

Random fact

The reason why its never mentioned how Billie's dad died is because I couldn't think of one that would make sense with the story hahaha.

Bye bye