Lexie's POV: I could not help myself but to stare at Lupin the whole time while standing in line with the gloomiest look my face had to offer. He, however, very successfully ignored me. How on earth was it a good idea to let the whole class face their deepest fears in front of everybody. I was trembling with anger. To my frustration, I also had no idea what my Boggart would look like. I always very quickly stopped myself from thinking about those things. But now I had to face it. I swallowed.
Angelina was done with her Boggart, so it was my turn. I took a deep breath before stepping in front of the Boggart.
Within a second it had changed into a massive wolf. He fletched his teeth before making a big leap towards me.
I couldn't breathe. My heart was racing in my chest. I wanted to take a step back but my right leg gave away and I stumbled to the ground. Pain rushed through my body as I fell on my wound. A silent whimper escaped my mouth before I blacked out.
Darkness still surrounded me when I heard voices in the background. I tried to focus on what they said but everything was dull and numb. I think someone said my name, but I wasn't sure. I finally managed to open my eyes and saw two green warm eyes staring back at mine. It took me a moment to realise that I was laying on the floor, Lupin by my side and the class surrounding me.
Lupin mustered me before saying in this cold and distanced voice: "I think that's enough for today. You can all go now. Miss Hatchet, I will accompany you to Miss Pomfrey."
My eyes widened in shock. "No! I'm fine, okay." I tried to stand up but my leg gave away again and I nearly tripped on Lupin, who caught me by my arms.
"Unfortunately, it's my duty as a professor to take injured or sick students to Miss Pomfrey. Now the sooner I get you there the sooner I can go to lunch."
He gave me a cold smile before gently pushing me towards the door. Once we entered an empty corridor, I collected all my resting strength and pushed Lupin into an empty classroom. The door closed behind us and I turned around to face Lupin.
"What was that all about?"
"What was what all about, Miss Hatchet?"
"Oh, don't you play dumb with me. You changed your whole curriculum just to give me crap about our conversation yesterday."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh yeah? All this 'you have to stop living in denial and face your fear' crap?"
"Well, are you in denial?"
"No."
"Then I don't know why you feel so attacked by this statement. Unless of course, you're secretly in denial about you being in denial."
"What?"
"I don't really know how to state this any easier. What part didn't you understand?"
"Oh, shut it, what are you trying to pull here?"
"I'm just trying to fulfil my duty as professor and get you to Miss Pomfrey." He said emotionless.
I looked at him in disbelief. "You promised you wouldn't tell anyone."
His face softened. "Lexie, please. I think you're getting an infection. You need to see a doctor."
"And what are you planning on telling her?" He pushed me on the corridor and towards Madame Pomfrey.
"The truth", he finally answered.
A silent stream of tears was running down my cheeks.
"You promised." It was nothing more than a whisper.
He stopped and turned around to face me. He looked at me, with these warm green eyes. I could not do anything but just stare back. Then, he swallowed and pushed me further down the hall. Before entering the infirmary, I wiped away my tears and said as coldly as I could: "I hate you."
Nicki's POV: Even though Lupin told us to leave, nobody moved. We stood still, only a few whispers here and there. The professor helped Hatchet out of the classroom, more or less carrying her because she couldn't stand. What was wrong with her? What was wrong with her leg? Was that why she had been sitting on the ground yesterday, why she had looked so awful? Yet again I thought that I should have asked her if she was alright. She very clearly wasn't. I glimpsed at Flint who still stood beside me and just stared at the open door.
"Is Hatchet alright?"
He turned towards me so quickly that I automatically took a step back. He had a confused look on his face and shook his head.
"No, I don't think so."
"You didn't know about this?"
"Not until now." He sighed and I had to stop myself from reaching out to him. But I wanted. I would not.
"Hey, Nicks, are you coming?", Angelina said from the door. She already had her bag slung over her shoulder. I shot Flint a last look that he returned with a nod. Then I quickly stuffed my things in my bag and followed Angelina out of the classroom, where Oliver was already waiting for us.
"Now what was that all about?", Oliver asked.
"I'd like to know that as well. That was more than her fear, she was clearly hurt", I said.
"That wasn't what I meant but that is indeed curious as well. She was more than healthy two days ago", Oliver mused. Two days ago? I didn't reply anything but my mind was working at full speed. Two days ago was when I had met the Slytherins in the Entrance Hall and we fled and Hatchet was caught by Lupin. Had he hurt her? No, that was out of the question? Had she been hurt afterwards? So between two nights ago and yesterday night. What had happened? Had she hurt herself? Had someone else hurt her? I wasn't even sure why I was so interested in this but I just had to know. Had to. And I would find out. And... "Nicki? Hoohoo? Veronica?", Wood said and made gestures in front of my face. I snapped out of my thoughts.
"What?" I asked.
Angelina rolled her eyes. "Off and thinking about Flint again or what?"
"I.. what? Flint? What do you mean?", I asked, confused. "You two acted kind of weird in DADA just now", Oliver said and looked at me meaningfully. "And by weird, I meant somewhat flirty."
I gasped. "Flirty? Oliver Wood, has your brain broken? I did NOT flirt. With Flint."
"Are you sure though?", Angelina asked. "Maybe it's your subconscious or something? But it was kind of obvious."
"Obvious?!", I repeated. "No. You both are seeing things that or not there. Listen, how often am I supposed to tell you that there is nothing, and I cannot stress this enough, nothing between us. And this is the last time I want to think or talk about this."
Oliver shrugged. "Deny it all you want and honestly? If it's true, I don't understand. At all. But you do you. And as long as it doesn't interfere with quidditch, go for it. I guess."
I groaned. "Oliver, stop. Please. Let's stop right here and bury this conversation somewhere we can't find it again. And now let's have some food, I'm starving."