Chapter Five:

The Boggart in the Wardrobe

"Okay class, who can tell me what is in this wardrobe?" Harry asked his favorite class the next day, "Mr. Lupin?"

"That's a boggart," Remus answered.

"Good, five points to Gryffendor. Who can tell me what a boggart looks like? Miss Evans?"

"A boggart is a shape-shifter. It doesn't have a true form, but turns into whatever the person fears the most. Er-professor, we studied boggarts in third year," Lily answered.

"I know. We're going to work on the Patronus Charm, which repels dementors. I don't want to bring a real dementor into class, and luckily, my worst fear is dementors. So, when the boggart sees me, it will turn into a dementor that we can practice on. Who knows how to conjure a Patronus? Miss West?"

"You have to think of a really happy memory, concentrate on it then say the incantation, Expecto Patronum. You have conjured a real Patronus if it has a definite shape of an animal. That kind of Patronus is called a Corpeal Patronus," Ginny said.

"Very good, five points each to you and Miss Evans. Now, before we use a dementor, just try a few Patroni without, just to get the jist of it. You probably won't get more than mist, it takes a lot of time and practice to produce a Corpeal Patronus."

The class did, but only a few got even mist. "I think your problem is your memories aren't happy enough," Harry told the class with only ten minutes left, "You have to concentrate on every last detail. I'll tell you mine. My parents talking to me, and I'm surrounded by friends and family. I can see every single person's face clearly, right to the wrinkles on my grandparents' faces, and I can hear their voices to the perfect pitch. Now that I'm focused on my memory, would you like to see a real, Corpeal Patronus?" Excited whispers flew across the room. Harry chuckled, "I'll take that as a yes. Now, stand against the wall, and I'm going to conjure a shield. I don't want the boggart to get any of your fears." He did that, then opened the wardrobe.

But, it wasn't a dementor floating out; stepping out was a transparent Cedric Diggory.

"I hate you! You are such an idiot! It's all your fault that I'm dead!" The boggart-Cedric yelled.

Ginny immeadiantly knew that Harry's fear had changed. She also knew that other people would come out of the wardrobe, all blaming Harry. And, she knew who those people were.

"Harry! Fight it! You're strong! I know you can do this!" She cheered, and tried to break through the shield, but failed. Harry couldn't hear her, and to her horror, an older Sirius had stepped out with a loud 'crack!'.

"What kind of godson are you?" The boggart-Sirius snapped, "Why did you believe it? Why didn't you listen to Hermione? She's so much smarter than you are, stupid boy!"

Harry was now kneeling on the floor, crying into his hands. Once again, Ginny tried to break through the shield, but, once again, failed. With a loud 'crack!', a boggart-Remus replaced the boggart-Sirius.

The boggart-Remus began to yell like Ginny had never seen the real one do. "Harry! I hate you so much! I wish you were never born! It's all your fault that all of my friends are dead! If you weren't there, they would be!"

The boggart-Remus was replaced by a boggart-Ginny with another loud 'crack!'. "Harry! How could you? It was your best friend, girlfriend, and closest thing to a family you've ever known! You killed them all! Fred and George are probably dead now, because they were hurt! You killed them, and now you're dealing with me!" The boggart-Ginny yelled.

The real Ginny finally managed to break through the shield and stepped up to the boggart. 'Crack!' The boggart-Ginny turned into a small black book. Ginny visibly paled, which caused the whole class to look at each other, confused. Their looks clarly said, 'The fierce Ginny is afraid of a book?"

"Ri-ridiculus!" Ginny said, and a white stick that resembled a fang was stabbed through the book with one swift swipe. Black ink squirted out of it, and Ginny laughed, almost maniacly. The class all thought she was insane, she was scared of a book, then thought that ruining it was hilarious.

The boggart exploded, and Ginny composed herself. "Wingardium Leviosa," She whispered and Harry was floating in front of her. She took him to his room, calling out, "Class dismissed!"

She dug through his trunk, pulled out a calming draft, and shoved it down Harry's throat. Blankly, he blinked three times, then a look of horror appeared on his face once again. "Ginny…they didn't…did they…realize…figure it out?" He whispered.

"No Harry, they didn't. Remus might be slightly suspicious of us, but that's it. Just be thankful your parents didn't come out," Ginny said.

"Yeah. For age and Azkaban too."

"You're right."

"That was bad. Terrible. I wasn't ready. I can't believe I don't follow my own, and Moody's rule, Constant Vilagence! I feel so weak, Ginny."

"Listen to me Harry, you are not weak. Remus told you, remember, after third year. If I had been through half as much as you, I wouldn't be as strong as you, heck, I'd be weaker! Now, listen to me, believe me, when I say, you are not weak Harry Potter."

Outside the door, Lily was listening. She had just wanted to make sure Harry was okay, but couldn't help but eavesdrop. When she heard Remus' name, she had gotten suspicious, but barged in when she heard Harry's real surname, Potter.

"Perfectilous Totalus!" Ginny screeched, before Lily could say anything. "I'm sorry Lily, but I don't want you to come to the wrong conclusions, so I'm going to tell you the truth. Me and Harry-we're from-from the future." Ginny paused, waiting for a sign from Harry. He nodded. "Okay, you know that Voldemort guy? Well, in our time, Harry just defeated him." Lily's eyes-the only mobile part of her body-widened. "Yeah, it's really cool, but he hates it. I don't blame him. Everyone follows him, knows him, and such. It's super annoying, even for me, being his friend. Anyway, the Dumbledore of our time sent him here to escape it all. Then he sent me. The rest is history…well, to us, everything is history, but anyway." Ginny muttered the counter curse and Lily became mobile again.

"I see. Now, what was with the boggart?" Lily asked.

"Well, I've had lots of-er-tragedies in my life. My parents died when I was one. Obviously, my dad was James. Sirius was my godfather, but he died in June. Remus is the only one left of the Marauders, and is really lonely. The other boggart-guy was Cedric, and he was murdered by a Death Eater two years ago. I was there, I saw it, I could have stop-"

Ginny cut him off. "Harry!" She yelled, "It's not your fault! None of it is! It's all Voldemort's fault! So SHUT UP!"

Harry looked taken aback, then muttered, "Okay Ginny. Thanks Ginny." Ginny folded her arms and looked satisfied.

"Who was your mother?" Lily asked.

"Ginny looked horrified, and Harry's eyes hardened as he looked down. "I can't tell you that," He muttered.

"Well, I'll be-er-going now. It's almost time for Charms. I'll tell Flitwick that you won't be there, Ginny," Lily said, and left.

Once Harry had truly calmed down, Ginny began to talk to him. "So, Harry, has there been anything interesting happening?"

"Well, the Marauders have been pranking, as usual. Fred and George were right in picking them as their idols. They're brilliant!"

"I've heard."

"And, I've found out Minerva actually has a sense of humor and a genuine smile! I was telling her about a twin prank-which, ironically was on her-and she was laughing! It was amazing! I haven't seen her so happy since we finally won the Quidditch Cup, after Charlie left. And that doesn't happen for another fifteen years, or so." A bell rang in the distance, while Ginny laughed. "Well, you have to go to your class and I have to go to mine. What do you have?"

"Care of Magical Creatures. I prefer Hagrid over Kettleburn though. You?"

"Gryffendor and Slytherin first years. Oh, and on your way out, check out the Gryffendors. There's one who I think you'll find very interesting.

"Okay."

They walked out of the office, and Ginny scanned the class. She gasped as her eyes rested on a young red-head, "Bill?"

"Yes, surprisingly, he's quite a handful. Loves my stories, especially ones full of adventure. Would you believe he listened to me for an hour and missed dinner?"

"Yes, because he did that last summer. Mom would die if she found out of either cases."

"Yeah, anyway I'll see you later."

"Bye, and, take care Harry."

"As you wish, fair maiden."

Ginny rushed up to Harry as soon as she entered the Great Hall for breakfast the next morning. "Harry!" She gasped, "You look horrible! What happened?" She asked.

"Thanks Gin," Harry said sarcastically, "I've been up all night, that's what."

"Why?"

"Well, I watched Voldemort torture about ten people, and that's always pleasant. Then the boggart came back. I woke up at 10:30."

"Lovely, I so wish I could have been there."

"Yeah, I'm sure. Listen, I've got to go, papers to grade." He sounded tired, and he ran a hand through his long hair, pulling it into a ponytail.

"Harry! It-it's back!" Ginny gasped.

"What?"

"Your-your scar. It's faint, but if you look hard enough, you can see it."

"My life will never be normal, will it?"

"Probably not. Sorry for being the bearer of bad news."

"Better than what you were in second year."

"I guess."

"So, I'll see you, then. I've got to put make-up on my forehead."

"Have fun, Harriet!"

"Sod off!" Harry yelled, then quickly walked towards his room, one question flying through his head, 'Why is it coming back?' By the time he had reached his room, he had only come up with one answer, and he was sure it was the one.

Voldemort.