Chapter 24
"I can't believe how much homework we have and it's only the first day!" Oliver said as they sat down for dinner. Meredith eagerly grabbed a couple chicken legs. She was starving. The first day back had been hectic to say the least. She already had a roll of parchment on the properties of the Puffapod for Herbology, a twelve inch essay on flobberworms for Care of Magical Creatures, two chapters in Basic Numerology to read for Arithmancy by Friday, twelve inches on the proper way to brew a shrinking potion for Snape by tomorrow, and a roll of parchment due on Animagi for Transfiguration. Her head was spinning and she hadn't even been to all her classes yet.
"If we're gonna get all of this done we should start after dinner," Meredith said. "Study session in the library?"
"I'm there," Percy said.
"Me too," Patricia said. "If I don't pull my potions mark up I'm not gonna be going home this year."
"I'll be there later," Oliver said. "I need to get some practice on the pitch first. Quidditch tryouts are Saturday."
"You've been practicing all summer," Meredith said.
"Sure in my backyard. It'll be a totally different story on the pitch. I'll see you guys in the library later." And with that he stuffed a roll in his mouth and left. Meredith shook her head.
"Does it make me a bad person if I resent the fact that his marks are better than mine?" Patricia asked sullenly.
"Not at all," Meredith said reaching for the potatoes.
"I seriously hope he makes it this year," Percy said. "I don't think I can take another year of his pouting."
"Hear, hear," Meredith and Patricia said together. After they'd filled their bellies they went to the library and spread out their books. They started on their Potions essay, Patricia pausing to scratch things out as Percy pointed out her errors. From his perch on Percy's shoulder Scabbers was watching them closely.
While Patricia struggled through her essay on puffapods, Meredith and Percy focused on Arithmancy.
"I think it's a fascinating subject really." Meredith shook her head as she read the first chapter on translating numbers into predictions about the future. Oliver joined them after a while, soaking wet and covered in mud. Madam Pince the librarian shot him a dirty look.
"Getting nasty out there," Oliver remarked. "Couldn't see the quaffles anymore.
"Whatever," Meredith said. "What do we know about Flobberworms?"
"They're pretty useless," Oliver said. "I don't know why we have to learn about them."
"What's on the schedule for tomorrow?" Patricia asked.
"Ancient Runes right after breakfast," Meredith said. She patted Patricia's hand as the other girl let out a small whimper.
"Then it's History of Magic, then Charms after lunch and Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Do you know anything about Professor Kittleman?" Patricia asked paging through her copy of Magical Beasts and Monsters.
"He and Dumbledore went to school together," Meredith said. "I heard Professor Sprout telling Hagrid. He got some trophy for special services to the school."
"Wow," Percy said. "He must use anti aging potion, or some serious concealment charms. He doesn't look old enough to be Dumbledore's grandson."
"It's too bad Professor Villevue didn't stay," Oliver said. "She was a great teacher. I don't think Professor Kittleman will be nearly as interesting."
"Or as much fun too look at," Meredith said in a mocking tone that made Oliver's ears go pink.
"I wonder what could have happened to her," Patricia wondered aloud. "You don't think it was a vampire do you?"
"Who knows?" Meredith said. "The DADA job supposedly jinxed you know."
"Shows what you know Loopy," an unfriendly snarl said behind them. They all turned to see Flint and a few of his cronies standing there. Meredith clamped a restraining hand on Oliver's wrist.
"Not worth it," she whispered. "What are you doing here, Flint? This is the library. Where the books live. You do know what a book is don't you?" Flint glared as Percy and Patricia snickered.
"You just watch yourself, Loopy. One of these days you're not gonna have your buddies here to protect you."
"You talk too much Flint," Meredith shot back. Flint and his friends turned and walked away.
"I hate those guys," Oliver said sitting back down.
"We all do," Meredith said. "But starting a fight in the library is just plain dumb."
"You think Flint really knows what happened to Villevue?" Patricia asked holding out her hand so Scabbers could jump from Percy's shoulder.
"He's all talk," Oliver scoffed.
The next day after breakfast they headed to Ancient Runes. It looked to be as difficult as everyone said it would be. Professor Blabbershot assigned them three pages of runic symbols to be translated by the next class. Patricia was nearly in tears as they left.
"I'll never be able to do this class," she said as they found seats towards the back of the class.
"I'll help you," Meredith reassured her. "C'mon we'll start now. Binns will never notice." Even as Percy scowled at them over his shoulder they started to work out the symbols.
"Ehwag," Patricia murmured as Binns droned on about the Goblin rebellions of 1862.
"Partnership?"
"No," Meredith said. "That's ehwaz. Ehwag is loyalty."
"Right," Patricia said. By the time the bell rang they had nearly the entire three pages translated.
"I can't believe you two were working on another subject's homework during class," Percy snapped as they made their way to the Great Hall for lunch.
"We made good use of the time if you ask me," Meredith said sitting down at the lunch table.
"Well just don't come crying to me when you need someone to copy your homework from."
"We won't," both girls said together.
"Where's Oliver?" Percy said as the food appeared on the table.
"One guess," Meredith said rolling her eyes. Sure enough, when Oliver joined them for Charms he was damp and sweaty.
"Here," Meredith said passing him a roll under the desk.
"Thanks," Oliver said. Once Professor Flitwick's back was turned he stuffed the entire thing into his mouth.
"Can't have you starving to death for the sake of Quidditch can we?" Meredith said sarcastically.
"You're a pal, Mer," Oliver said. Meredith couldn't help grinning in spite of herself.
"Now class pay attention," tiny little Professor Flitwick shouted in his squeaky little voice.
"We will start today's lesson with the Engorgement Charm. This causes object to swell to a larger size. Now each of you has been given a small spider to practice on. The spell is "Engorgio!" The wand movement is a quick jab with the wand held at a 90 degree angle. That's 75 degrees Miss Patterson. Now everyone, with force. Engorgio!"
"Engorgio!" The class said forcefully. There were a few shrieks as spiders swelled to the size of small pumpkins. By the end of class only Percy had managed to get his pumpkin to the size of a boulder.
"You did good today," Meredith assured Patricia as they made their way to DADA their last class of the day. Patricia shrugged. Even though she'd managed to enlarge her spider, hers hadn't gotten nearly as large as everyone else's in the class.
"Is that why Flitwick assigned me homework and no one else?" Patricia said gloomily. With a huff she sat down at a desk in DADA. Meredith had no chance to respond as the door to the DADA classroom opened and Professor Kittleman entered. Meredith had to agree with Percy. Professor Kittleman certainly did not look old enough to have gone to school with Dumbledore. He looked no older than fifty and there was not a trace of gray in his dark gold hair.
"Good afternoon class," he greeted them his deep voice silencing the chatter. "You may put away your books. Today's lesson will be a practical lesson, you will need only your wands." The class exchanged glances among themselves. They had never had a practical lesson before. The put their books away and followed Professor Kittleman to the great hall. The tables had been pushed aside and there was a trunk in the middle of the room. As they got closer they saw that the trunk was rattling and shaking.
"Who can tell me what's in that trunk?" Professor Kittleman asked.
"That's a Boggart!" Percy said. Some in the class shuddered.
"Very good Mr. Weasley. Five points to Gryffindor. Boggarts are dark creatures that like small dark spaces. Cupboards, the spaces beneath beds, etc. I found this one yesterday in the staff room closet. Rather than dispose of him I put him in this trunk so we could have some practice. Now who can tell me what a boggart looks like? Miss Patterson?" Patricia jumped as Professor Kittleman addressed her.
"Um…well no one really knows. Boggarts look different to whoever faces them."
"Excellent Miss Patterson, take another five for Gryffindor." Patricia blushed.
"To be more precise," Professor Kittleman said. "A boggart assumes the form of whatever it feels will frighten the person it faces the most. Now there is a simple charm to repel a boggart. The charm is this: Riddikulus! Simple. But the charm alone is not enough. What really finishes off a boggart is laughter. So what I want you all to do now is think of what frightens you the most and think of how you make this frightening thing be funny. For instance, if your greatest fear is a vampire, you might picture the vampires teeth falling out." There was a slight chuckle around the room. Meredith thought for a moment what her worst fear was. Returning to the orphanage? Definitely. But how would a boggart show that? And how could she make it seem amusing? She glanced over at Patricia who was deep in thought.
"All right," Professor Kittleman said. "Everyone form a line." Meredith had no idea how she was going to do this, but she did not want to ask for more time. They formed a line as Professor Kittleman rolled up his sleeves.
"Now when I open the trunk the boggart will appear. Now I want you all to focus very hard on your amusing image. If all goes as planned the boggart will assume that image." Everyone ready?" Meredith wasn't but she nodded like everyone else.
"All right," Professor Kittleman said. "Here we go!" He opened the trunk and the first student a Gryffindor named David Bloom stepped forward. With a crack the boggart turned into a giant rat. David froze for a moment then screwed up his face.
"Riddikulus!" The rat chased its tail and everyone laughed a little.
"Excellent!" Professor Kittleman said. "Back of the line Bloom. Next!" Next was a Slytherin girl and the rat promptly turned into a corpse that jumped up and began to tap dance. Next it was Percy's turn. The boggart turned into Professor McGonagall.
"Mr. Weasley you have failed all your classes!" Professor Boggart-McGonagall said. Percy was trembling. Meredith was afraid that Percy wouldn't be able to do it. Then finally…
"Riddikulus!" Percy shouted through clenched teeth. McGonagall's pointed hat suddenly turned into a pink lacy bonnet.
"Not bad," Professor Kittleman said. "Next." Oliver stepped forward and the boggart turned into a bludger.
"Riddikulus!" Oliver shouted and the bludger sprouted ears and whiskers like a cat. Next it was Meredith's turn. The boggart suddenly bigger and had fur. Meredith gasped. It was the big black dog from her nightmares. She felt her breath catch as the dog started to move toward her.
"Funny, make it funny," she thought. How could a big black dog with razor sharp teeth be funny? Then she remembered that she used to like dogs. Tuffy! It came to her in a flash. She concentrated all her thoughts on the stuffed toy she used to sleep with every night. Suddenly the fierce looking black dog had a silly face, and floppy ears. The class roared.
"Marvelous!" Professor Kittleman shouted. Patricia stepped forward then and with a crack…
Meredith stared in disbelief at Mr. and Mrs. Patterson.
"You're not good enough!" Mrs. Boggart-Patterson shouted.
"You shame our family!" Mr. Boggart-Patterson shouted. Meredith looked at Patricia who was frozen. Tears were streaming down her face.
"Here," Professor Kittleman said jumping in front of Patricia. What Professor Kittleman's boggart became Meredith would never know for Patricia had dashed from the room and Meredith was staring after her, wondering if going after her would be wise.
"Miss Lupin," Professor Kittleman said. "Perhaps you should go after your friend and check on her. That will do for today. For homework read the chapter on boggarts." Meredith hesitated a bit before going to find her friend. She was headed to the Gryffindor common room but stopped when she heard crying coming from the girl's bathroom. She pushed open the door and went to the stall where the sound was coming from.
"Patricia," she said softly knocking on the stall.
"Go away," Patricia's voice said from the other side. Her voice was deep as though she had a bad head cold.
"Sweetie please talk to me," Meredith said. Her heart ached for her friend. She knew that Patricia's parents were very hard on her, but she had no idea it was as bad as that.
"There's nothing to talk about," Patricia shouted. "My parents hate me, and now everyone knows it." Meredith sighed. She hated feeling helpless which was exactly how she felt right now. There would be talk of this, she knew. Now more than ever she hated that they had to have classes with the Slytherins.
"Oh sweetie," she said. "I'm sure they don't hate you." The door swung open. Patricia glared at her through red puffy eyes.
"Oh no," she snapped. "You've never heard them. You weren't there when I got my Potions mark. You don't hear them saying that if I just apply myself, like I spend my days and nights here at Hogwarts doing my nails and eating pumpkin pasties. Your dad looks at his daughter and all you see is love and pride. My parents look at their daughter and they wish that they were looking at you!" Meredith felt at that moment as though a knife had pierced her heart. She didn't know what to say. There was nothing she could say that would convince Patricia she was wrong. She wished her dad were here. He would know what to say that would make Patricia feel better.
"Well," she said finally. "They're crazy then. I mean why would they pick me over you for a daughter. Why would they want a daughter who can't even ride a broomstick? Not to mention a daughter who blows up the potions classroom. No, if I had my pick I would definitely pick you." Patricia scoffed but Meredith was able to pick up just a hint of a smile.
"I'm serious," Meredith continued. "Look at this." She pulled Patricia over to the mirror and stood beside her so both reflections could be seen.
"Oh if anyone should be jealous it should be me. Look at that. Perfect skin that doesn't freckle in the sun. The most beautiful hair that you never have to fuss with. And Merlin knows I'd do anything to have your nose." Patricia chuckled just a little.
"You have a pretty nose," she murmured.
"Are you kidding," Meredith said trying to stay in character. "It takes up half my face. No you have the perfect nose. It fits your face perfectly." Patricia laughed and turned around and hugged Meredith.
"Why are you my friend?" Patricia asked softly. Meredith smiled and kissed her cheek.
"Cause you just make it so easy," Meredith said. Patricia laughed a little.
"I don't deserve you."
"True, but here I am anyway," Meredith said making Patricia laugh harder. Once they had stooped laughing Patricia looked worried.
"What am I gonna do? All the Slytherins saw that. You know Flint and his cronies aren't gonna let me forget this."
"If those prats try anything you will ignore them," Meredith said forcefully.
"Mer…"
"No," Meredith said. "You will not give them those gits the satisfaction of knowing they're getting to you. That's exactly what they want. No, you are going to leave this bathroom with your head up. Those gits are not worth a moment of your time." Patricia sniffled and wiped her hand across her eyes.
"You're right Mer," she said. "That idiot Flint isn't worth it."
"That's the spirit," Meredith said patting her on the back. "Let's go." They stepped out of the bathroom and found Oliver and Percy were waiting for them outside.
"Are you all right Patricia?" Oliver asked her, gently.
"Yeah," Patricia said. "I'm okay now."
"Here," Percy said pulling out his wand. He touched Patricia's face and the puffy redness around her eyes disappeared.
"Concealment charm," he said.
"Thanks," Patricia said. "Was Professor Kittleman angry about…"
"Not at all," Percy said. "He said that would have been a pretty hard thing to make amusing."
"Flint and his cronies were talking about it," Oliver said. "In a way that was rather unflattering." Patricia nodded.
"Yeah," she said. "I expected as much."
"Well we shut their mouth for them," Oliver said with a proud grin. "Percy here does a mighty wicked jelly legs curse."
"You cursed someone?" Meredith asked in disbelief.
"Well," Percy said sheepishly. "It was a momentary bout of insanity. It won't happen again I assure you."
"Percy," Meredith said putting an arm around his shoulder. "At this moment I am proud to call you friend."