The next morning, double potions started. Making Zarif look at his schedule to make sure he was reading it right. "Why…double potions? Why not another class and only this?"
"I thought you liked potions," Merula says as they sat at their cauldron.
"I just find it weird that potions is the only one we are getting double on and not anything else," Zarif mentions.
"Quiet now," Snape says walking up to his desk, a flask sitting there that Zarif knew well. "Tell me, have any of you been honing your skills over the summer?" Snape asks his eyes surveying the class for any signs of changing expressions.
The entire class was silent. "No? Disappointing," Snape says before starting to pace along the front row. "Earlier this week, I got a pleasant surprise as a student came up to me and asked if I could give them my opinion on a potion they had brewed over the summer while honing their skills. It turned out to be a very pleasant surprise when I found the potion was well-brewed even though it was a few years ahead of his class," Snape says drawing their attention to the flask on the desk. "As such, at least a few of you have the drive to learn more and to better their potion skills. And as such to motivate the rest of you, I want a twenty parchment long essay on the potions you all were taught last year with at least ten sources from the library here at school and they must be relevant. It will be due by the next class. Those who brew an excellent version of the potion we will be learning today will be exempt from this assignment," Snape informs before starting to teach them about the potion they would be learning today called the Shrinking Solution.
"Oh…boy…I think I started something," Zarif whispers over.
Merula nods as the two took notes and when it was time to get to work, Zarif reached into his bag and brought out his Felix alchemist examiner and put it on, causing Snape to stop in front of their table. "Mr. Trazax. What is that?" Snape asks, making everyone of the class look up, some of Draco's gang smirking, thinking Zarif was about to get in trouble.
"My Felix alchemist examiner, sir," Zarif says causing Snape to quietly examine him for a bit longer. And then continuing on, not commenting on it much to Draco's gang's disappointment.
"You are pushing it," Merula sang quietly as she reads over all the steps a few times.
Zarif said nothing as they started to work. His Felix alchemist examiner giving him different measurements and advising him on where to start chopping and juicing.
The class was about half over when Draco came in, almost swaggered into the dungeon, his right arm covered in bandages and bound up in a sling, acting, as though he were the heroic survivor of some dreadful battle.
Zarif rolled his eyes seeing this as he kept working.
"How is it, Draco?" simpered Pansy Parkinson. "Does it hurt much?"
"Yeah," Draco says, putting on a brave sort of grimace. But Harry saw him wink at Crabbe and Goyle when Pansy had looked away. "Settle down, settle down. Mr. Malfoy, join Mr. Trazax and Ms. Snyde at their table," Snape said idly as he observed from his desk.
'Shiiittttt…' Zarif groans as he tries to quickly get most of his ingredients done.
"Sir," Draco called, "sir, I'll need help cutting up these daisy roots, because of my arm."
"Oh. Does that mean he is taken off the team? Don't they have a period of time once the bandages and cast comes off to not play? Or even resign so hardly any more trouble and pressure for him to play?" Merula spoke up, Zarif seeing a hint of a smirk on her face.
Draco was completely silent and no one dared speak a word, but the gryffindors were all smirking hearing that. "Do you require help Malfoy?" Snape asks.
"…n…n…no sir," Draco finally said, wanting so badly to play in the games.
The class was silent for the most part. Mostly everyone wanted to avoid the extra assignment, including Draco once he learned about it. At the end, Snape tested Neville's potion on Trevor and was obviously dissatisfied at those results as Trevor shrank before administering the antidote. "Five points from Gryffindor," said Snape, which wiped the smiles from every face. "I told you not to help him, Miss Granger. Those who I did not tell that they were exempt, I expect the paper on my desk by next lesson. Class dismissed," Snape says as everyone started to leave most of the class downtrodden having to do the assignment. "Mr. Trazax and Ms. Snyde, a word," Snape informs before the two could leave.
'We are dead,' Merula thinks sharply and both walk up to his desk. "Yes, sir?"
"I have heard from professor McGonagall what you two have asked from her," Snape informs. Zarif and Merula were silent at that. "I will also be evaluating your performance to see if you both are ready," Snape informs.
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," Zarif says, sounding like he was accepting that bit as Merula still seemed nervous.
"We will begin testing you tomorrow night. You are to meet us in my office for it," Snape informs.
"We won't miss it, sir," Zarif assures.
"Good," Snape says, signaling that they could leave now.
"That was scary," Merula harshly whispered once out the door and into the hall.
"Are you surprised? A potion is needed to become an Animagus," Zarif says.
"No. The judging and everything," Merula clarifies.
"I will be fine," Zarif reassures.
"You sure? Because it felt like we went through the Ministry for this request," Merula points out. "With paperwork."
"We will need to register with the ministry if we do become Animagus," Zarif informs.
"…you know that's an easy trace…right?" Merula asks after a minute of walking.
"There are some counters. Especially if you work for something special in the wizarding world or the muggle world such as the army," Zarif shrugs at before stopping her in her tracks and looking to her with a slightly concerned look. "Do you want to hide?"
Merula's face then has shame written all over as she looks down. "Might be a little better with them having not enough information on me. Besides…who says someone might use the list to track us down just because? I know there might be a few people."
"That is one of the reasons we got to be registered," Zarif says.
"I…kinda want to remain in the dark on this," Merula admits, almost whispering.
"Nothing about changing your animal form's appearance later," Zarif informs.
"Still…" Merula starts.
Zarif smiles now. "You can be an orange animal. I know how much you like that," he says, looking to the orange highlight in her hair.
Merula gives a little laugh before stopping and playfully glaring up to him. "Don't tell anyone I did that."
"I find it very cute and only I should know about it," Zarif says.
Merula pokes his chest with a smirk. "Got that right," she notes, having a few blushes.
Zarif smiles as they head to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Stepping in, both find Lupin coming out of his office as they notice that there was no seating. Only a mirror wardrobe…that shook around once in a while.
"I think we entered the wrong class," Zarif almost humorously whispers to Merula.
"No. Right one. Welcome," Lupin says walking around the group of students and rounds up to them. "To Defense Against the Dark Arts. And today," he pauses as the wardrobe shoke again. "Is a lesson on boggarts," Lupin starts to lecture, coming to the front of the group and looking to them all.
'Boggarts…fear creatures? Makes sense. Some would fear stronger spirits and even death eaters alike and may fire off a destructive spell in the process,' Zarif thinks to himself as he imagines the stronger battle spells.
"Now, they love dark hiding places. Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks — I've even met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third years some practice. So what does one look like?" Lupin asks, looking to them.
"No one knows," Hermione spoke up and Ron seems genuinely surprised to see her there right by him. "Boggarts are shapeshifters. Taking the shape of what it thinks will frighten the person the most," Hermione continues.
"Snuck up on you, didn't she Ron?" Merula whispers to him.
"Oh quiet. Still…how…" Ron tries to make sense of as Lupin chuckles to get their attention.
"Correct. A little tricky mind you to deal with a boggart. As the best way to stop them is laughter. But how can you do that when it takes one of your biggest fears?" Lupin lectures and the wardrobe shook behind him.
'Oh great…what am I afraid of again?' Zarif thinks, trying to remember the last time he ever was frozen in fear.
"Right now, we have a spell. And that spell is Riddikulus. Say after me," Lupin says, looking to them all. "Riddikulus. Good. Let's line up. It can't take all of us on," he says, smiling as he goes over to Neville while everyone else starts to form a line. "You first Neville. Let's handle that fear of yours first. Now…what do you fear the most?"
'What do I fear? Monsters…the plague that happened?' Zarif thinks to himself and notices Merula somewhat behind him and Harry, looking heavy in thought. 'What is my fear…maybe…I don't have one…or found it yet?'
"Now then Neville," Lupin calls. "Let's give it a shot. Ready?" he asks, aiming his wand at the shaking door handle.
Neville gulps before whispering something and Lupin leans in closer to hear and the two have a quiet conversation before Lupin flicked his wand and the lock clicked, unlocking.
Everyone looked, wanting to see if the boggart had a true form before it notices Neville, but what came out was a hand that traveled out and showed itself to be Professor Snape.
"Oh. Right. Potions," Zarif remembers as he thinks back to what Neville said.
As the boggart of Professor Snape steps closer to Neville, he shakily lifts up his wand and shouts, "Riddikulus." With a flick of his wand, horrible and hilarious fur clothing of a duck hat and red handbag showed up on the shapeshifting creature.
Everyone soon erupted into laughter as the boggart became confused. Neville giving a little chuckle as Lupin laughs haughtily. "Amazing! Come on, next. Parvati!" he says as Neville heads to the back of the line.
Parvati walked forward, her face set. Snape rounded on her. There was another crack, and where he had stood was a blood-stained, bandaged mummy; its sightless face was turned to Parvati and it began to walk toward her very slowly, dragging its feet, its stiff arms rising~
"Riddikulus!" cried Parvati. A bandage unraveled at the mummy's feet; it became entangled, fell face forward, and its head rolled off.
"Seamus!" roared Professor Lupin. Seamus darted past Parvati. Crack! Where the mummy had been was a woman with floor-length black hair and a skeletal, green-tinged face, a banshee. She opened her mouth wide and an unearthly sound filled the room, a long, wailing shriek that made the hair on Harry's head stand on end~
"Riddikulus!" shouted Seamus. The banshee made a rasping noise and clutched her throat; her voice was gone.
Crack! The banshee turned into a rat, which chased its tail in a circle, then~crack!~became a rattlesnake, which slithered and writhed before~crack!~becoming a single, bloody eyeball.
"It's confused!" shouted Lupin. "We're getting there! Dean!" Dean hurried forward. Crack! The eyeball became a severed hand, which flipped over and began to creep along the floor like a crab. "Riddikulus!" yelled Dean. There was a snap, and the hand was trapped in a mousetrap. "Excellent! Ron, you next!" Ron leapt forward. Crack! Quite a few people screamed. A giant spider, six feet tall and covered in hair, was advancing on Ron, clicking its pincers menacingly. For a moment, Harry thought Ron had frozen. Then~
"Riddikulus!" bellowed Ron, and the spider's legs vanished; it rolled over and over; Lavender Brown squealed and ran out of its way.
Then it came to a halt at Harry's feet. He raised his wand, ready, but~ "Here!" shouted Professor Lupin suddenly, hurrying forward. Crack! The legless spider had vanished. For a second, everyone looked wildly around to see where it was. Then they saw a silvery-white orb hanging in the air in front of Lupin, who said, "Riddikulus!" almost lazily. The moon turned into a balloon before it flew around everyone as they all laughed before it blew up with a pop and left nothing but dust.
"Excellent!" cried Professor Lupin as the class broke into applause. "Excellent, Neville. Well done, everyone. Let me see…five points to Gryffindor for every person to tackle the boggart, ten for Neville because he did it twice…and five each to Hermione and Harry."
"But I didn't do anything," Harry says.
"You and Hermione answered my questions correctly at the start of the class, Harry," Lupin said lightly. "Very well, everyone, an excellent lesson. Homework, kindly read the chapter on boggarts and summarize it for me…to be handed in on Monday. That will be all."
'That was a short lesson,' Zarif thinks, catching the small break on the due date. 'And isn't most work due on Sunday? That's a whole extra day of work.'
Then he turns and sees Merula sigh a bit in relief. He shakes his head a bit at the same fear she is holding. 'We need to work on this…or it will eat her alive.' "Merula?" Zarif asks.
Merula jumps and quickly calms down and smiles at him. "Oh. Didn't get a chance at the boggart, huh?" she tries to laugh off, but Zarif stayed long enough with her to know.
It was fake.
Zarif looked around to see who was around before pulling her into an empty room where he hugged her tight.
Merula became surprised at the hug as this is one of the few times he has helped her. So is it because he knows the fear?
"Around me…you can tell me any problem you have. I will help. Even if it is to make a spell to grab a star from the sky," Zarif laughs at the audacity and wonders if Merlin came up with one and put it in his joke book.
Merula becomes still for a few seconds before closing her eyes and leaning into the hug. "…can we go face a boggart?"
"Sure."
"Another? I already gave Lupin one. One that found itself in that wardrobe. Finding another…" Snape drones.
"How about the one you keep for potion testing? Maybe to find out which scents could keep it calm and allow you to see it's true form?" Zarif asks as Merula stood behind him, head down and unable to look at anyone. "I know the professors here always have a project they are doing. Both for the last year student projects and your own…particularly getting funding. Got to have a case. And a potion that can actually make a boggart reveal it's true form can be used in many ways."
Snape narrows his eyes at him but then sighs. "Don't laugh and kill it. It's tough to find a boggart alone," he says getting up from his desk and goes over to the cupboard. "I hope you have learned the spell," Snape reaches in and takes out a suitcase before pushing it in front of him. "Once I open this chest, you must be ready."
Merula looks to Zarif and he in turn before he nods and she takes a few steps back. Taking both their wands out, Snape watches them closely before he opens the chest and out came a whirlwind of something before it became bright and then morphs into a large mirror. Confusing Zarif and then Snape and Merula once they realize what the boggart became.
'Can't be looks…why a mirror?' Snape thinks to himself as Zarif looks into the reflection and sees nothing wrong with it as it shows himself and the whole classroom. Wait. Himself and the whole classroom. He reaches behind himself and touches Merula's shoulder and sees his reflection touching nothing…not even his hand moving to the touch.
'Oh…it's those two days…shit…with all my magic and coming back…I forgot,' Zarif and slumps a little before pointing his wand. "Riddikulus," he says and makes the mirror become covered in sets of streamers and having a reflection of the room dressed up like the Great Hall in a festive mood. He then smiles a little as he notices a little hedgehog scampering around and dining on the meals on the tables. "Heh. Yeah. It would be that," Zarif chuckles a little and Snape glares at him. "Sorry. Merula…your turn," he says stepping back and letting her step up.
Merula smiles at what he did before losing that emotion as she steps up and the boggart slowly morphs into a little whirlwind of change. And only when it stops did they all see it. A death eater outfit standing there. Merula herself shivering in fright of the sight as Zarif notice Snape flinch a little when it did the change. "Ri…" Merula's voice came up short as she tries to say it, but also realizes that she can't come up with anything funny for this…pure evil being. And it slowly made their eyes follow as the hands reach up and pull the mask off to see a familiar face.
"FLIPENDO!" Merula screams and sends it flying back into the chest as Snape closes and locks it.
Zarif sighs softly and looks to Snape as they both watch the girl before Zarif reaches up and slowly leads her arm down to her side and pulls the wand slowly out of her grasp. "Let's sit down for a bit," he says and leads her to a table in the corner of the empty class as Snape puts the chest back into the storage room.
"You ok?" Zarif asks.
Merula gives a shiver as she slowly leans against him and buries her face into his shoulder. "…I'm sorry…looks like I won't be passing the lesson…heh…" Such a sad attempt at a laugh.
"Merula," Zarif says holding her.
"…I don't want it…" Merula whispers, hugging him tighter.
"Come with me," Zarif says leading her away.
Merula gets up with him before following him, staying close the whole time. "Where are we going?"
"A secluded area," Zarif informs continuing to lead her.
Merula lets out a whisper of a laugh. "The Forbidden Forest?"
"Right here," Zarif says entering an empty room.
Merula slowly looks around before turning to him. "It's just a bigger broom closet."
Zarif says nothing and just hugs her.
Merula slowly sighs and hugs him back tightly. Closing her eyes and lays her head onto his shoulder. "I…"
"You're not a death eater. You are just Merula," Zarif informs.
"I know…I just…" Merula tries to say and tightens her grip on him.
Zarif says nothing as he kept holding her against himself.
"I just want this to end."
Zarif smiles before looking at her. "Would Morganna love you like she does if you weren't a good person?" Zarif asks.
Merula lets out a small chuckle. "No…she would just pounce on me and make me laugh."
"See. Now smile. You have so much fun things to do," Zarif says.
"Heh…" Merula tries to laugh again. "Like what?"
"Like messing with Malfoy and his backup dancers," Zarif says smirking.
Merila giggles. "I would love that."
"Also, you spoke to me about practicing to try out for quidditch next year and we are working to become animagus this year," Zarif says.
"Does that disqualify us?" Merula almost jokes.
"No, you just can't use it during a game," Zarif says.
Merula hums and starts to walk over to him. "What do you think you will become?"
"Well…the effect is a little vague on that. You don't choose the form you will take, but it will be determined by personality and inner traits," Zarif informs.
Merula reaches up and smacks him behind the head. "Stop being a book and be a real person for once."
"Sorry," Zarif apologizes, but keeps smiling, seeing as she was back to normal.
"So…what animal?" Merula asks again, smirking and crossing her arms now.
"Hum…I am hoping for some kind of bird," Zarif says thinking about it now.
"What? Want to fly with Autumn?" Merula teases.
"I like flying…and I can't afford a broom yet," Zarif informs.
Merula stares at him and looks him over. "You realize that if you end up flying, you might end up with those practice brooms. They…have a questionable history in games."
"I know, but I love flying. I am a bit disappointed our flying classes ended after year one," Zarif says remorsefully.
"I think it might be like…bi…ce…what do muggles call them?" Merula wonders herself. "Basically the idea if you need to fly away in an emergency, you would know how to fly."
"What about you? What animal do you hope to become?" Zarif asks.
Merula slowly smiles as she thinks about it. "Maybe something close to Morganna."
"A canine?" Zarif asks.
"Possibly. I hope to be a big dog at least," Merula says smiling.
"Alpha of the pack," Zarif jokes.
"Just big," Merula clarifies.
Zarif sighs. "Just want all the big dogs, huh…what's wrong with small dogs?"
"Small dogs are just cute and loveable, but I prefer a dog that I can wrap my arms around and hug," Merula admits.
Zarif smiles. "That explains a bit. Feel better now?"
"Yes. I am going to go see Morganna now," Merula says opening the door.
"If you need anything…" Zarif starts.
Merula places a finger on his lips and stops him. "Don't even try. I will demand it," she says before giggling and walking off with a bright smile on her face.
'Good. She is happy again,' Zarif thinks watching her leave before heading back to his dorm.
