Disclaimer. See in Part One.
Hidden Bridges
Ryoko Porter
Part Four
'He who strikes terror into others is himself in continual fear.'
Claudian
'When I was young and still in school, I had my first experiences with a boggart,' Gray spoke to his seventh year's class. It was a couple of weeks into the year, and everyone was still getting used the nature of odd man. 'Lovely creatures they are. There is no faster way to understand oneself, than to look into the face of one. Time changes all things, whether we acknowledge it or not. Those things we fear most change. Yet through it all, a boggart will show you what you fear most, even when it has changed unannounced to our conscious minds.'
Everyone in the class watched as their instructor used his wandless magic to bring a trunk to him. The man never used nor even had a wand. But he was so practiced in his skills that he didn't need to even look upon whatever he was casting. Things simply happened, and a strong magical force filled the air.
'This will be very quick I expect, since you all know what to do. I simply want to get to know all of you, and for you to know yourselves,' Julian looked thoughtfully at his students as he spoke. 'Now class will be over in twenty minutes, so hurry up!'
Everyone got into line and readied him or herself for an encounter with fear. Ron proved to still be most terrified of spiders, but handled it like he had in the past. Another girl also arachnophobia, and screamed when she saw the boggart as the giant spider. A Slytherin boy made the boggart turn into a rabbit, to which everyone laughed at after the shock. Then Hermione got a vision of bad grades.
Finally though it came to the last two students, Harry and Draco. Both were unsure on how to proceed, neither wanting to reveal their greatest fear to the other. But when Julian barked at them to take their turns, they both hung their heads in defeat. The whole encounter had been silent, and without malice.
Harry went first. Stepping up to the boggart he watched it change into whatever it would be. Then it was Harry's greatest fear. A battlefield with everyone he loved lying dead, and him alone in the middle of it all, alive. Other students gasped as they saw the mutilated bodies of their fellow students, teachers past and present, and others they did not know. Harry though was powerless against the sight. There was no way to make it funny or safe for him. So he stood, transfixed upon the vision, tears leaking from his eyes.
Then Harry felt a hand upon his shoulder. It gave him a warm, safe feeling. Yet when he turned to see who it was, the sight of Draco surprised him. The boy who he'd come to know as a rival looked at him with the most heart breaking eyes. Eyes filled with pity, and were promising protection. Then gently Draco pushed Harry back, and took his turn. Forcing the horrible scene away with his fear.
Harry watched from only inches behind Draco, as the boggart changed. He could feel the tension and anxiety coming from the blonde. And as Draco breathed a deep yet shaky breath, his greatest fear took shape. It was Voldemort. No one but Harry realized this, for not even the Slytherins had seen the Dark Lord. But it was obvious that Draco had come face to face with him. Harry looked at the boy before him, and saw the hidden fear in his eyes. And as Draco raised his wand to change it to something harmless, he shook.
'I hate him,' Draco whispered, forgetting the rest of the class and Harry behind him. He whispered the spell that would free him from the sight. However even seeing Voldemort as a Muppet did not cheer him, and he thanked gods when the bell rang.
Turning Draco looked into Harry's eyes. They both had learned about the other. And a new sort of understanding was working in each boy's brain. Windows of opportunities opened for them in the other.
Everyone hurried out of the DADA classroom when Julian dismissed them a minute after the bell. Most were anxious over what they had seen, and did not want to be near either of the two boys. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were some of the last students to leave the classroom. Only Draco and Pansy were left as they joined Luna at the door.
'Potter,' Draco called out, yet not facing them at all. 'Pansy and I are going to cast memory charms on everyone in class today, your friends excluded if you wish. I can't afford that knowledge going around,' he spoke softly, finally turning to face Harry. 'I know a spell that even the Dark Lord can't break, though in truth it does cause a bit of brain damage,' he smirked. 'In the end, I will cast it on Pansy also. Voldemort can never learn of this, or I am dead for sure.'
'And this effects me how?' Harry questioned seriously. 'Other than getting you into a shit load of trouble if I wanted.'
'I will take the memory of your fear from them also, if you like.'
Shock.
'Yes and then you'll make them think that he is afraid of you!' Ron accused suddenly.
Draco just shook his head. 'I can't create new memories with this spell, only erase them.'
'Dark magic,' Hermione whispered harshly. Luna watched calmly, assessing everything in her mind, quietly.
'And what is the price for this service?' Harry asked. Indeed he was curious. Plus he could understand Draco's need to keep his secret. He was a Slytherin after all.
'Only the allowance to keep the memory of your fear,' Draco nearly whispered. They both knew it to be a fear already known to Voldemort, so of no political worth.
'All right,' Harry consented thoughtfully. He secretly smiled at Draco, and was returned the sentiment. Everything was lost to the world they had created for the moment.
Suddenly everything was interrupted. With a loud bang, the truck that the boggart was in opened. Pansy being the closest, it revealed to be a large grim dog.
'DAMN CREATURE!' Julian suddenly stormed in from the back room. The boggart immediately started to change. Julian had gotten very closed to the creature, not noticing the students still in his room. Then there was two of the teacher, the real Julian, and the boggart.
Pansy gasped very loudly at the sight of the two Julian, catching the attention of both of them. The boggart with its back to the students only turned the head slightly to them. Yet with that small move, everyone could see that the left eye was the lighter gray that was Draco's eye color.
However with only the quick look at the cloned creature, everyone was shocked to see it disappear with a flash of fire turning to dust. Julian had destroyed it.
'Don't you all have classes to get to?' Julian asked almost sweetly, though he looked more dangerous than anyone any ever seen, without looking evil.
End Part 4
AN. Must love double meaning sentences! So what did you think? Things will be picking up in the next chapter. But I had fun writing this one. PLEASE REVIEW!
Ryoko Porter