Rating: K+
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or names in this story created by J.K Rowling (who is a very talented lady.) I only own the plot, and new characters you won't recognise.
Chapter Six: The Boggart
October brought bitter winds, tearing at the students' faces as they headed down to Herbology. It was now beginning to snow, even though it was unnaturally early.
Lily and Wyona, after giving the Fat Lady the password, ("Carpet-seller") entered the stuffy Common Room with great relief, thawing off their mittens with their wands. Wyona looked up at the Notices Board and recited the new papers pinned up -
"Lily, you've got a Heads Meeting next week in the Great Hall…Gobstones club, wizard cards society, tomorrow's Muggle Studies Essay due, blah blah blah…" Her voice trailed off as she suddenly grinned. "We have a Hogsmeade trip next weekend!"
"Great!" exclaimed Anna Bones and Molly Weasly, who had both just entered the Common Room. "I was running low on ink…and I need to send Mum a letter…"
A tiny second-year walked over to Lily nervously. "Excuse me, I'm having a bit of trouble with my homework..."
Lily gave her such a warm smile that the girl's fear evaporated. "What's the problem?"
Lily helped her with the correct identification of an Animagus, and set her on the right path to complete her difficult essay. Lily then retired to bed early, feeling tired after the afternoon she spent outside. She slipped into her warm four-poster, drifting off…
A loud rattling noise broke through her pre-dream peace. Lily sat up. If it's those girls playing another trick…
The rattling sound came again, this time from her left. It was coming from an old wardrobe. Ah, she thought. A Boggart. Lily had never personally met a Boggart, and was interested in overcoming one for the first time. She put on her slippers and walked over fearlessly.
The noise suddenly stopped. Lily pulled out her wand, which was conveniently tucked behind her ear. "Alohomora!"
The wardrobe did not open. "Alohomora!" she said again, knowing that the spell would not work anyway. She then tried various opening and unlocking spells, each without success, before resorting to crude Muggle methods and kicking the door angrily. Why wouldn't it open?
She went back to bed, disappointed, drifting into an uncomfortable sleep with dreams of mysterious rattling sounds.
The Potions class the following day was as uneventful as the last. When Slughorn made his rounds, checking everyone's cauldron, he was so elated by Lily's perfect Cheering Concoction that he immediately awarded twenty points to Gryffindor.
"Why weren't you put into Slytherin?" he asked enquiringly. "You've got all the qualities!"
Lily grinned pertly. "Because, Professor, The Sorting Hat decided I was too clever!"
Narcissa Black and the other Slytherins scowled while Slughorn roared with laughter. It was obvious who was going to be a favourite with him.
During lunch, Lily and Wyona discussed the unfairness of having to walk all the way to the Greenhouses while Alice gazed dreamily at a point down the Gryffindor table. Fred Longbottom was talking and laughing with his friends, and turned to see Alice staring at him.
She looked away quickly, blushing. It was Lily and Wyona's turn that year to exchange a meaningful glance.