Boggart

After the grim defeat in his quidditch match, Harry had decided to talk to Lupin about dementers. He hated that they affected him more than others. He felt weak. He wanted to fight them. As Harry attended the classes, he had a suspicion that someone was following him around. He hoped it was not the grim but didn't tell his friends since he knew Ron would be terrifies while Hermione will scoff.

As the next Hogsmeade trip was around the corner, Harry felt the gloomy again. As Harry made his way back to the castle after biding good-bye to Ron and Hermione, he again felt that he was being followed. He turned around as he reached the third floor corridor but found no one.

"Psst — Harry!" He turned, halfway along the third-floor corridor, to see Fred and George peering out at him from behind a statue of a humpbacked, one-eyed witch.

"What are you doing?" said Harry curiously.

"How come you're not going to Hogsmeade?" "We've come to give you a bit of festive cheer before we go," said Fred, with a mysterious wink. "Come in here. . . ."

As Fred and George gave him the marauder's map, Harry felt elated and a surge of affection towards the twins. As they bade him good bye, he opened the map to see the secret pathways to Hogsmeade. He saw his name on the map. He was standing next to the one eyed witch statue that could lead him to Honeydukes. But to this utter horror, he saw another dot right behind him labeled Estella Malfoy.

Harry wheeled around to find Estella looking at the map greedily. He put the map in his pocket and stepped back leveling her with a stare that he hoped was intimidating.

"what do you want Malfoy?" he asked her angrily

"the map Potter." She said with her eyes glinting

"No way. Its mine. So shove off malfoy" Said Harry turning around.

"Ah yes.. I wonder what professor Snape would like to tell about that. I am sure that a map which can lead you to Hogsmeade is the school property" said Estella silkily.

Harry froze. If Snape got the map, his last hope to visit Hogsmeade will be gone. But he couldn't give the map to Estella also. His mind was racing. He had to get rid of her.

" I am not new to detentions malfoy" said Harry confidently.

Harry saw Estella's expression changing. He realized she was not planning to rat him out to Snape. There was something else going through her mind. For a long moment they stared at each other, not backing down.

" That would be a waste Potter. Benefits no one, even though I'd love to see you scrub the floors" said Estella carefully.

"But I am willing to make a concession for you. You can keep the map as long as you take me with you to Hogsmeade" said Estella soflty.

Harry hadn't expected that from her. He had thought she would be running to Filch or Snape. But comprehension dawned upon him. The little creature in front of him couldn't go to Hogsmeade like him. She too wanted it so badly that she had stooped down to the level of making arrangements with him.

"I don't think so Malfoy. You might rat me out once you reach Hogsmeade" said Harry disbelievingly

"Oh you are more thick than you look Potter. Do you ever listen ? I told you to take me with you. If I rat you out then I too will be in trouble since I am also not allowed to go to Hogsmeade. Moreover father will kill me for going out with you." Snarled Estella before covering her mouth in shock.

"Not that I will ever go out with you. I will rather die" said Estella promptly.

"Likewise" said Harry though he too was a bit flustered with her slip of tongue.

"So are you going to stand here forever or shall we move?" asked Estella impatiently.

Harry thought for a moment. This might be the only chance for him to visit Hogsmeade. Deciding that he will deal with the consequences later, he tapped the statue with his wand.

"One word about this to anyone Malfoy, I will hex you into next year" threatened Harry as he lead the way to Honeydukes.

Estella gave a curt nod. As almost reached the Honeydukes, Estella pulled him back.

"wait Potter. I want to do some glamour charms before we go out. I have no wish to be spotted with the boy wonder" said Estella nastily.

Harry was curious to see whether she could perform any magic at all that he didn't bother replying. After a swirl of the wand and some incantations, Harry saw Estella transform. Before him stood a girl with brown hair, brown eyes , dark caramel skin with a crooked nose. Her lips too were thinner. Harry was impressed . There was no way anyone could say this was Estella Malfoy.

"Stop staring you pervert" sneered Estella

"I wasn't staring at you. I was wondering how you managed to do that charm without blasting the entire place" sneered back Harry.

To his shock, Harry saw Estella glow with pride. "I am gifted in glamour Charms. Mother taught me. Its quite necessary for a pureblooded lady. But I don't expect you to understand our wizarding traditions"

"trophy wife" muttered Harry as they forged ahead

As they went into Hogsmeade, Harry was beginning to feel irritated. Estella was dragging him around shops. He felt like he was going out with a five year old toddler. She was almost jumping with happiness. Harry saw her look at the large barrel of Every Flavor Beans, and another of Fizzing Whizbees with longing. Harry was surprised that she hadn't bought anything while he was buying almost everything that caught his fancy. He saw her look at his ice mice packet for a second before staring in the other direction. Then an odd thought came to him. Didn't she have any money? That was impossible considering that Malfoys were known to be extremely rich. But she was the black sheep of the family. Harry's train of thoughts were halted when he saw Ron and Hermione going into the Three Broomsticks restaurant.

"Malfoy I am going to meet my friends. You can er…" Harry trailed off

"Yeah.. I am going to the wizards Ancient art gallery. . Should we go back together?" asked Estella stiffly

"Yeah it will be better. See you at three at honeydukes?" said Harry uncertainly.

"Sure" Said Estella as she turned around

"Malfoy" Harry called her back. He thrust his ice mice packet into her hands and left leaving a bewildered Estella Malfoy behind.

Harry was shaking with rage and grief. Sirius Black was his father's best friend. The man who was a brother to him. The man who betrayed his parents. He wanted to kill Black. Harry hadn't felt so much hatred for anyone. As he walked into honeydukes, he saw Estella waiting for him. Without a word he made his way to the castle with her running to keep up with him.

"Potter…wait. Why the hell are you running? There are no dementers here" snapped Estella.

Harry suddenly remembered Draco taunting him that he would have gone after Black if he was in place of Harry. Harry felt rage coursing through his veins. He pounced on her on an instant blind with fury.

"You knew didn't you? That Black betrayed my parents. You were having quite a laugh with your brother over it I suppose" snarled Harry

Estella looked frightened of him."Yes I knew. You didn't?" she whispered

Harry kept walking ahead trying to get away. Everyone knew.. Everyone except him.

After the Christmas holidays, Harry set out to attend his Lupin for defending against dementer in the evening. Professor Lupin had managed to get boggart that took the form of dementers (the thing that Harry feared the most) when it faced Harry. Harry had trouble mastering the patronus charm. A part of him wanted to hear his parents' voice as the dementer came near him. That made it more difficult for Harry.

"Listen, Harry — perhaps we should leave it here for tonight. This charm is ridiculously advanced. . . . I shouldn't have suggested putting you through this. . . ."said Lupin after Harry fainted for the second time

"No!" said Harry. He got up again. "I'll have one more go! I'm not thinking of happy enough things, that's what it is. . . . Hang on. . . ." He racked his brains. A really, really happy memory.

He pulled off the lid of the case for the third time, and the dementor rose out of it; the room fell cold and dark — "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry bellowed. "EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM!" The screaming inside Harry's head had started again — except this time, it sounded as though it were coming from a badly tuned radio. Harry hadn't fainted but he was feeling exhausted. Just then he heard the classroom door creak open.

"Professor Lupin" said Estella Malfoy whose eyes went wide as she saw the dementer.

Harry saw the boggart turn and shift its attention to Malfoy. The boggart changed into a man with navy blue robes. He had a thick black moustache and neatly trimmed hair. Harry saw an emblem of "MoM" fixed on his chest as he advanced towards her Estella.

Estella had gone pale with shock. She dropped to her knees and opened her mouth to scream. But no voice came out. She had collapsed to the floor in a bundle. She was rocking back and forth and started shrieking. Lupin came in front of her and the boggart changed shape again.

"Riddikulus!" roared Lupin, springing forward.

There was a loud crack and Lupin was forcing the boggart back into the packing case with his wand. Harry looked over Estella to see her white in had stopped shrieking. Her eyes had bulged out and lips were trembling. Even though he hated Malfoy, at that moment Harry felt pity towards her. She looked like she was about to faint. Tears were coming down her face.

"Are you alright? " Harry asked her tentatively as he came over to her

Estella looked at him . She seemed to be confused and then she had lunged at Harry. Harry was taken by surprise as she hugged him. She was trembling in his arms. Harry was horrified. He could handle Malfoy insulting him, he could even handle Lord Voldemort. But he couldn't handle the trembling girl in his arms . He looked around Lupin pleadingly to see Lupin look bewildered. Harry wondered how they looked. A slytherin hugging a gryffindor. Lupin came towards them

"Miss Malfoy… Its alright. Just a boggart. Its alright" said Lupin in a pacifying voice. Harry felt her arms tighten around him. He wondered whether he should just push her off. But Harry didn't have the heart to do it. He would have patted her back but that didn't seem right in front of a teacher. Suddenly He felt Estella relax and then again tense up. She pulled out of his arms looking at him as though she was burnt. She looked at Harry and Lupin as realization came to her face. What had she done?

She wiped off the tears and looked at them with a cold expression. Harry was amazed at how she hadturned from a weeping mess to cold indifference within seconds.

"Yes yes a Boggart. I was overwhelmed Professor. Flint informed me that you wanted to see me Professor" Estella said coldly though Harry could still detect her voice was shaking slightly

"Oh yes Miss Malfoy. I wanted to talk to you about your DADA assignments. Harry you 'd be better off now" said Lupin pointedly at Harry.

Harry picked up his schoolbag and ran to Gryffindor tower . He couldn't wait to tell Ron and Hermione of what happened.

"So you mean she just started shrieking when she saw a man?" asked Ron curiously.

"Yeah it was like she was about to be killed. You should have seen her face. I have never seen her so frightened. I have never seen anyone so frightened" said Harry earnestly.

"but why would she be so afraid?. Who was the man?" said Hermione deep in thought.

"Dunno. Looked like a cop" said Harry

"Whats that?" asked Ron . Harry went on to explain what cops did to Ron

"Then what happened? She started screaming and you all stood there?" asked Hermione anxiously

"Of course not. professor Lupin got rid of the boggart immediately" replied Harry not looking at Hermione.

"Oh I hope she is fine. She looked much in distress. Did you comfort her?" asked Hermione.

Harry cringed. He had hoped to skip that part where the little Malfoy had clung to him like a baby. Ron snorted . "why would he comfort her? We hate her. She is a slytherin Hermione" saying as though it is the most obvious thing.

"Slytherins are also humans Ronald. She was shrieking like she was about to get killed and you are telling me that she deserved it?" snapped Hermione

"I said nothing like that. Lupin took care of her" snapped Ron. As his friends bickered , Harry tried to erase the memory of Estella's frightened eyes from his mind.