Chapter 26: The Confrontation

Remus excused himself soon after, saying he was still very tired from his turn and I gave him a hug bye. I sat back at the window and sighed, not sure how I should feel about my adventure turning me into a ghost. Sirius said he would be watching me from afar, in case I needed him, but it was too dangerous for him to be on the grounds. He needed to stay at the shack. I went to my room and wrote a letter to him, giving it to Rain and telling her to make detours and making sure she wasn't followed.

Over the next month, I continued my classes, the one on ones with the students to determine which Element was their focus. It was time-consuming and I wasn't able to get back to see Sirius, which bugged me. I was able to avoid going to Harry's dementor training though, using my students as an excuse. It was February when Remus cornered me after my last class. "Phoebe, Harry is getting good at the charm, but I believe you can assist him further. He needs to be able to protect himself if he needs it."

I agreed to come to the next class, which was that evening and Remus took my arm, not letting me get a chance to get out of it. We walked to his classroom and Harry was already there, waiting on us. He seemed a bit surprised at seeing me, but I just smiled and went to the box that was holding the Boggart. "I understand you are getting good at defending against this Boggart. That is very good, Harry. A real dementor will be more difficult, but I believe you can hold one off for just long enough to get help."

"I want to be able to drive them off, chase them off for good." I chuckled and patted his head; he was getting to be tall, just like his father. "Even powerful witches and wizards have difficulties with those. Dementors are very powerful and that is why they guard the prison. You are doing just fine for your age and power. Do not get ahead of yourself, that's when you will get sloppy and be in danger." I explained and I faced him to the box and stood to the side, as Remus got behind it, ready to open at Harry's nod.

He tried a couple times, it was interesting to see just how far he had come, and he was so much like his mother with his spell work. He was sweating and wanting to try again, to which Remus opened it again. Harry was too weak and swayed as he was beginning to pass out and the dementor rose up and began to descend to him when I jumped in front of him. I stared into the hood of the dementor before it lost its form and turned into my worse nightmare.

There in front of me was my reflection, perfect mirror image of myself. I stared at the replica and slowly, the face began to change, the eyes went from violet to red, my nose began to vanish into my face and a snake tongue flicked out of my curled back smile. Sharp teeth glistening, my skin color fading until I was as white as a ghost. I looked at it in horror as I turned into my father, Lord Voldemort, right there in the classroom. I wasn't able to move as he began to walk toward me, his boney fingers outstretched to me, beckoning me to him.

Suddenly, a large orange fur ball launched itself in front of me, at the Boggart. "You're not real. You are gone forever! Riddikulus!" the form quickly morphed into a clown on a broomstick, upside down. I let out the shaky breath I had been holding as Remus forced it back into the box. I didn't even realize that I was crying until Remus was holding me in his arms. "C-Check on Ha-Harry. I-I'm fine." I pushed him away a bit and sniffled, shaking myself.

As he got Harry back to us and eating some chocolate, I still couldn't get the image out of my head. I was so like him in his youth, I am still like him. I could very well become him if I wasn't careful. Power was a dangerous thing to people like him…and me. I sighed and remembered why I was able to fight it off, the orange fur ball that attacked it. I looked and caught a glimpse of a tail leaving the room, a cat saved me? "Phoebe? Are you alright?" I looked back at the guys and nodded, putting a fake smile on my face.

"See, Harry? I was barely able to fight off the Boggart that formed in front of me. Even skilled wizards have trouble sometimes. I think that's enough for tonight though, don't you Professor Lupin?" he agreed and we were just about to send him off when he asked. "Hey, what did you see under the hood of the dementor?" I shook my head, telling him I didn't see anything. "Harry, no one knows. They only lower it to deliver the Dementor's Kiss." Harry asked what they were and I explained.

"It's a twisted version of a kiss, really. They will place their mouths over the victim and suck out their soul. It's a punishment worse than death." "Wait, doesn't that kill them?" I shook my head and Lupin picked up the explaining of that. "It's the fate that awaits Sirius Black. It was in the Daily Prophet this morning. The ministry gave them permission to use it if they find Black." I missed my step and tripped, falling over a chair and onto the ground. "Phoebe!" Remus called and I quickly got to my feet, brushing myself off.

"Sorry, I hadn't heard that. Caught me off guard." I shot out to cover myself and darted my eyes to the windows, would they find him in the shack? Harry spoke then, "So since you knew my parents, you knew Black too, right Professor Ice?" I turned and nodded. "Yes, Phoebe was a little younger, but we were all very close. However, she and Sirius never really got along." I snorted and began to walk faster, mumbling that I needed to get something to eat, before rushing off and away from their eyes.

I slammed my room door and began to pace quickly. Sirius was going to get the kiss if the Dementors found him before we proved him innocent. Not that it matters to the Dementors, they don't care who you are. I ran through my options repeatedly, trying to figure out how to get proof, he was innocent, that way I could bring it to Dumbledore. He would help us, he would have to understand. I gave up on trying to find something tonight and went to bed, planning my lesson for tomorrow in the morning.

I entered my class and passed out the new papers with the new classes on them, grouping the students into the correct Elemental magic classes. "This will begin tomorrow. For our last day together in this group, we are going to be reviewing water again." I conjured their goblets of water and told them to do as we did the first day, before sitting behind my desk and looking down at my open book. I wasn't really reading, as I was too concerned about Sirius and how we were going to save him from the Kiss. Class went on without any accidents and when the students were gone; I sighed and opened the window, feeling the brisk air blowing around me.

Over the rest of the school year, I spent every day working with my students to get them more capable of using Elemental magic and every night I spent working on trying to prove Sirius innocent. He sent Rain with a letter back, telling me he was close to proving he was innocent and for me to stop worrying so much. I returned his letter, asking when I could come see him, but he wrote back that it was dangerous and we needed to keep our distance. By the time end of year exams were here, I was pent up with so much stress and worry, I ran from the last exam, sighing deeply as the sun was beginning to set.

I needed a break and I wanted to see Sirius. I made an excuse about needing to go to Hogsmeade to get a few things before school ended and nearly ran to the gate. Once I was in town, I blew out a breath, grabbing something to eat on the way and disappeared, heading for the shack. I disillusioned myself and used my Elemental magic to combine the wind to help keep me hidden from any prying eyes. I slid into a broken window and looked around, trying to see where Sirius might be. It seemed he was out now and I huffed, of course, I wanted to see him and he wasn't here. I went upstairs to the bedroom where we spent the winter break and sat on the bed, waiting for him to return.

I waited and waited and there were no sign that Sirius was coming back, I groaned, pushing myself from the bed. I walked downstairs and into a side room, roaming the shack for the first time since the break. The run-down kitchen had very few things that weren't trashed. Lupin truly did numbers on this place back in school. I was bent down, searching through a drawer when I heard noises from behind me. I assumed it was Sirius returning and smiled, only to see a pair of legs being dragged up the staircase. I pulled out my wand, having it at the ready as I slid into the shadows and peeked out, seeing the legs disappear into the bedroom.

I went to move but more footsteps and lights appeared from the opening from the tunnel. I backed out of view and waited, listening. "Ghosts didn't do that." I recognized the voice and watched their backs as they went up the stairs. I stepped out, just about to go after them when Remus appeared and pinned me against the half-knocked down wall, holding my wand hand above my head. "Phoebe? What are you doing here?" I went to speak, but realized I wouldn't be able to explain it. "Remus, Harry and Hermione are heading upstairs. You have to let me go." "Why? So you can attack them and assist Sirius in escaping."

I stared; he truly thought I was helping Sirius and that we were both on my father's side. I shook my head and whispered, "Remus, if I wanted to harm Harry, I could have done it last year or anytime this year. Things are not what they seem. Let's go together." he eyed me close, but released me and I exhaled, rubbing my arm. I followed him up the stairs and we entered the room to see Ron on the bed, holding a broken leg. Hermione behind Harry as he was pointing his wand at Sirius, who was bleeding and lying on the ground. I surged forward, putting myself between Harry's wand and Sirius's body. Harry's eyes went wide as he realized who was blocking him. "Professor Ice?! What are you doing?" Hermione asked as Lupin stepped forward and disarmed Harry and Hermione.