The Prophecy

Chapter Nine

Everyone tensed as the Voldemort-boggart advanced on Joe, its red eyes glaring menacingly. Joe took a step back, his eyes wide and fearful. He racked his mind. What could possibly be funny about Voldemort, the man who had tortured him so brutally…plagued his nightmares…

It spoke. "You killed my daughter," it said, and Joe shook his head.

"No," he whispered. He took another step back. Raised his wand. Said, "Rid—riddikulus!" Nothing happened. He couldn't do this. The fear was overwhelming; totally consuming. Voldemort reached out his skeletal hand and laughed in his terrifying, high-pitched voice. Joe closed his eyes, the fear was pounding down on him, full-force…

And then it was gone. Joe opened his eyes. Lupin had put himself between Joe and the boggart, and the Lord Voldemort specter had shifted into a full moon. Frank and Joe looked at the shiny silver orb, baffled, and then Lupin said, "Riddikulus!" The moon turned into a balloon, which deflated quickly, making a raspberry noise and flying around the room, air flying from the back. Everyone burst out laughing at the goofy noise, and the boggart landed back in the trunk, which Lupin closed and locked with magic.

Frank turned to his brother. "You alright, Joe?"

Joe nodded. "That wasn't as easy as I thought." He glanced back at Ron, Harry, and Hermione. They all looked a bit shook up themselves, but Ron was a sickening shade of green.

"Th—that was You-Know-Who!"

Joe glared at his feet. "Why couldn't I get it? I was just—paralyzed—with fear. I tried, but—"

Fenton, who had been watching the action with Laura, stepped forward and grasped his son's shoulder comfortingly. "Joe, listen to me. Voldemort is one of the worst things for the boggart to change into. It'll take some time. It's hard to imagine something funny about him."

"While you think about that, why don't we let Frank try?" Lupin suggested gently.

Joe nodded, and Frank took his place. Joe watched as top of the trunk was released. The next instant, he gasped as he saw an exact replica of himself lying on the floor in front of Frank, blood gushing from it, dead. Everyone was silent. Tears formed in Frank's eyes as he raised his wand and yelled, in a voice so strong he didn't know if it was really his, "Riddikulus!" The dead Joe-boggart shifted, almost hesitantly, and suddenly Joe saw the replica of him turn into an imitation of what Frank claimed he looked like in the morning—the blood vanished, bed-head appeared, and he was in his boxers. The real Joe blushed deeply as everyone else burst into laughter and the boggart slunk back into its dark recluse.

He glared at his brother, who hadn't laughed at all. "Very funny, Frank. Only you could make something funny out of me being dead." Everything went quiet. Joe continued, "Especially something so stupid and embarrassing."

Frank cast his eyes downward, and Fenton stepped in. "Now, Joe, that's not really fair," he said.

Frank looked up. "I'm sorry. I just couldn't look at that image of you for another second. I just went with the first thought that came into my mind—I didn't want to embarrass you at all. I just wanted to get away from my worst fear—losing you."

Joe's frown lasted for a few seconds, then he smiled. "You have to admit, that morning look really brings out my eyes."

Everyone laughed, but things seemed a little more strained than they had before.

"Reminds me of my Mum," Ron said. "We had a boggart living in the kitchen cupboards a few weeks ago. She kept seeing dead Charlies, Bills, Freds, Georges, Ginnys, Percys, and even a dead me! Saw Dad a few times, too, I think."

Joe looked at him inquiringly and he said, "My brothers and sister."

Fenton grinned. "Your dad is Arthur Weasley, isn't he?"

Ron nodded, and Fenton laughed. "I know him—is he still fascinated with muggles?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Trust me, Mr. Hardy—my aunt and uncle, who hate anything to do with anything 'abnormal'—were scared to death when he started blabbering on about his 'ekletric plug' collection. And last time, he asked me the function of a rubber duck."

Fenton laughed again. "Good old Arthur. I remember Bill and Charlie—they were just little kids last I saw of them. Where are they nowadays?"

"Bill's working for Gringotts, the Wizard Bank, in Egypt, and Charlie's working with dragons in Romania," Ron informed them.

After a few more minutes of small talk, they got around to what they had subconsciously been avoiding. Joe finally cleared his throat and said, "I think I'm ready to try again."

Lupin looked at him for a long moment, then nodded. "Got your funny thought?"

Joe nodded, but his mouth was tight. "Yeah. I think so."

"Let's do it."

An unnatural hush took over the group as the lid flipped open and Lord Voldemort stepped out. Joe raised his wand, terror in his eyes, and said, as strongly as possible, "Riddikulus!"

A surprised expression came onto Voldemort's face, and a second later, he was wearing bright make-up, and the boys' Aunt Gertrude's worst dress. He let out a high-pitched shriek and wailed in the voice of an overly fat woman, "Oh, don't look at me!"

Frank later swore that the house actually shook from all the laughter. The boggart dove back into the sanctuary of the trunk, and the lid closed behind it. Harry patted Joe on the back. "Good job, mate."

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "Kind of reminds me of—remember Neville's boggart?"

Professor Lupin chuckled. "Ah, yes. Professor Snape in his grandmother's dress and bird hat."

The doorbell rang. "I'll get it," Joe offered and sprang to the door. He came back seconds later with a black robed man with greasy black hair, a crooked nose, and beady black eyes.

Harry leaned to Ron and Hermione and whispered, "Speak of the devil."

Fenton strode forward, while Lupin, Harry, and Ron glared openly at the man. "Severus.

Albus said you might be coming."

Snape gave a curt nod. "Fenton. Remus Lupin. Hard to believe Professor Dumbledore would entrust something as important as educating the 'future savior of our world' to a werewolf."

Frank and Joe exchanged incredulous glances. Lupin glowered. "If you will remember, Severus, the Headmaster trusts me fully. It is hardly my fault that I was attacked as a child."

Snape's lip curled. "Hello, Potter."

Harry frowned at the man and muttered. "Hello, Snape."

"Professor Snape, you ungrateful little—"

"So, shall we get on with Frank and Joe's potion lessons?" Laura stepped in, and Snape eyed her with almost a kind expression.

"Laura Hardy. You are looking more beautiful than ever!"

Harry edged between Frank and Joe and snickered. "I think Snape likes your mom," he commented.

"Sick! That slime ball's hitting on mom?" Joe hissed. Even Frank looked disgusted. Snape spun at that second.

"Joe Hardy, I presume." He looked the boy up and down and sneered, "I certainly hope you have the capacity to keep your mouth shut during lessons, unlike speaking about someone behind their back, and then being stupid enough to say it loud enough where said person can hear you."

Joe rolled his eyes but said nothing more. Frank stepped in and put what he hoped was his most charming smile on his face. "Hello, Professor. I'm Frank Hardy. I can't wait to learn from you."

Snape surveyed the boy for a moment before commenting, almost inaudibly. "Wonderful. Another Granger."

Hermione sniffed haughtily. Lupin took his wand and made the trunk disappear. "I'm sorry, Fenton, Laura, kids—I can't stay any longer. It really has been fun. I'll bring some grindylows next time, perhaps."

And he disapparated. Snape turned to the others and said, "I would like everyone to leave while I tutor these two," he said in his greasy voice.

"Wouldn't have it any other way," Harry said quickly and, shooting Frank and Joe a sympathetic glance, darted into the kitchen. Hermione and Ron followed.

Fenton and Laura began to leave, but not before turning and saying, "Be good." Fenton turned his eyes to Joe and Snape, where they lingered for a moment. "All of you."

~Emachinescat ^..^