Hello, everyone! It's me again. Well, since we just started Autumn Break where I live, I was so excited I decided to post a new chapter a little early. I sincerely hope you enjoy Part 2 of Ralph's Boggart!

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own anything you recognize, except the plot! :)

P.S. Please take a moment of silence to honor the anniversary of October 23, 1956. If you do not know what monumental occasion took place on this day, I suggest you take the time to Google it for more information. Suffice it to say, on this day 58 years ago, the first blow was dealt to the Soviet Union, and the first step was taken to make the Iron Curtain fall. Thank you.

Loss of Innocence

Of Boggarts and Island Boys, Part 2

Last chapter re-cap:

Ralph collapsed, dazed, and the rest of the boys used the opportunity to tie him down as best they could. They continued to chant, getting louder each time, until a group of bigger boys emerged from the trees.

The uncivilized mob quieted immediately and stared expectantly at the new group of boys, an eerie silence settling over the clearing. Ralph, who was still lying in a dazed heap, blinked a few times and shook his head, trying to regain his senses.

Harry was anxious; what were they waiting for?

Then the dark boy who had clubbed Ralph stepped forward.

"We caught him, chief!" he called out, gesturing to where Ralph had been subdued. At his words, the crowd of older boys parted to reveal a tall, lanky boy with familiar, flaming red hair.

Harry's heart sank as a horrible suspicion occurred to him. This 'chief,' could he be . . . ?

Harry's eyes slowly traced over the approaching boy, taking in his commanding aura and horrible face paint of red, black, and white. Harry's suspicions were confirmed when he saw the boy's narrowed blue eyes. Though the boy's expression was twisted with hatred and bloodlust, the so-called 'chief' was undoubtedly Jack Merridew.

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Harry's speculations were verified when the vision Ralph finally regained enough strength to look up at the red-haired boy.

"Jack," he acknowledged, sounding tired and defeated. Harry watched the poor bloke fight back bitter tears as the vision Jack turned cold eyes on his bloody, broken body.

"Ralph," the vision Jack replied, "Have you finally given up? Look around you. I'm chief; everyone follows me now." He turned to the other boys, focusing on the one who had clubbed Ralph when he tried to escape.

"Roger," he ordered, "take our prisoner to the camp."

As the vision Jack turned away to walk into the forest, one of the younger boys called after him, "Hey, chief! What're we gonna do with him?"

The vision Jack turned around and looked the vision Ralph in the eye for a moment. The blond boy stared back, looking both resigned and afraid. Finally Jack looked away and replied, "We're gonna sacrifice him to the Beast, of course."

At his words, the boys began to cheer and holler. Together they grabbed hold of Ralph and dragged him away into the forest.

Then the scene shifted and suddenly the class was standing on a sandy beach with waves crashing against the shore. A starry night sky stretched out overhead; bathing the beautiful scene in faint, gentle light. A little ways down the beach, a large bonfire had been created. Figures danced around it, whooping and hollering, their silhouettes black against the orange of the flame.

Another group of figures appeared from the forest, dragging something along the sand behind them.

Suddenly the class' point of view shifted and they found themselves standing just outside the ring of dancing boys. The firelight just barely reached the class' feet and they once again found themselves rooted to the spot, helpless to do anything but watch as the group from the forest broke through the ring around the fire. They dragged their trophy over to the foot of a makeshift throne upon which Jack Merridew sat, gazing imperiously down at them.

Roger, the dark boy from before, led the way to the throne. Once the group arrived in front of Jack, they dropped their prize - a bloody, beaten Ralph - and then retreated back into the crowd that had gathered upon their arrival. Roger, who was obviously Jack's lieutenant, took up a post to the right of Jack, far enough from the fire that he was almost swallowed up by the shadows.

The chanting ceased at a signal from Jack, and suddenly it was eerily quiet. The only sound was that of the waves crashing against the shore and the snapping of logs inside the fire.

After a moment, Jack stood from his throne and approached Ralph, who hadn't stirred at all since he'd been unceremoniously deposited on the sand.

The vision Jack sauntered up to Ralph's prone form, considered him for a moment, and then gave him a harsh kick in the gut.

"How cruel," Hermione gasped, but none of the savage boys seemed to hear her. The firelight reflected off their wild eyes, giving them an insane look that sent shivers down the Hogwarts students' spines.

Vision Ralph grunted in pain when Jack's foot connected to his stomach. The force of the kick moved him back at least six inches and forced him to curl into a ball to protect himself from further attacks, but he didn't respond otherwise. Jack snorted and gestured to some of the more heavyset boys.

"C'mon," he ordered, "prepare the sacrifice."

At his words, the boys went wild and began to close in on Ralph. The bigger boys sneered and grabbed sharpened sticks offered to them from the crowd. They stalked up to Ralph and began to poke at him with the pointy ends of the primitive spears, gouging bloody holes in his fair skin.

Ralph's only response to their abuse was to curl himself even tighter into a ball. The fervor of the watching boys increased as the bullies failed to get a response out of Ralph. They looked on with a kind of unsettling fascination and began to stir restlessly, muttering amongst themselves.

The vision Jack seemed to sense that the crowd was getting out of control because he stood from his throne once more, "That's enough."

The boys torturing Ralph backed off immediately, leaving the blond boy with more puncture wounds than ever before. Blood dripped down his skin in rivulets onto the sand, staining it a muddy brown color. Some Hogwarts students turned away to retch. Ron especially began to look a little green.

Jack's command caused the crowd of boys to fall into an expectant silence. The skinny redhead with his horrible face paint looked around proudly, eyes glittering with malice. He spread his hands grandly to encompass his whole audience and spoke in a loud, clear voice, "Biguns, littluns, today we have achieved our goal."

He gestured at the limp, broken boy at his feet, "Today, boys, we have finally captured the one responsible for all our troubles." Some boys murmured restlessly at that, but Jack merely smiled and calmed them with a wave of his hand.

"I know he used to be our chief, but no more. He was holding us back! He tried to keep us from hunting, from getting meat! He thought we could survive on measly fruit, and he wanted us to waste all our time building shelters or keeping the fire going!" Jack's voice became high and mocking as he continued, and the audience began to holler and cheer in agreement. Jack continued, barely pausing for breath, "He wanted us to follow rules and try to be grown-ups!"

By this time the clamor had risen to a fever pitch, and Jack threw his arms wide again, gesturing to the beautiful island around them, "But this is paradise, boys! There are no grown-ups to boss us around here; we can do whatever we want!

"But," Jack suddenly paused and looked devastated, "before we can truly be free, we have to do one last thing . . . ."

He trailed off and the boys immediately went quiet, looking distinctly unhappy. Merlin, Harry wondered in horror, have they been brainwashed?

Roger spoke up from the shadows behind the makeshift throne, "What is it, chief? What do we have to do?"

The gathered boys took their cue and joined in, asking Jack what they had to do to free themselves. They're playing this crowd like Dudley plays Aunt Petunia, Harry thought in disgust.

The vision Jack silenced the group once more and nudged the boy at his feet, "In order to finally be free to do whatever we want, we have to get rid of our old chief. We have to sacrifice him to the Beast - only then will we finally be free!"

The boys began to cheer again, chanting, "Catch the pig. Cut his throat. Give him to the Beast!"

"Let the ceremony begin!" the vision Jack crowed. Immediately the boys surged forward and pulled the vision Ralph to his knees. They dragged him roughly over the sand and closer to the fire. Roger stepped forward and yanked Ralph's head back by his hair, exposing his neck.

Ralph grimaced, but otherwise didn't give any indication of his discomfort. His dazed, hazy eyes fixed on the fire, and for an instant time seemed to freeze.

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There's one more part of Ralph's Boggart after this, so stay tuned because I will update on Halloween. Until then, please take a moment to tell me what you thought. I hope I have done my job well and not made Ralph's Boggart too cliché/predictable. :)

Special thanks to Prucanisthewaytogo, Witch Hazel, and ultima-owner for their reviews and support thus far! See you all next time!

~Home By Another Way