His mum.

Max's boggart had been his own mother.

Samantha had only been able to see the boggart for a second, before Elias walked up and the woman in the dragon costume turned into a clown, but she knew it had to be Aurora Langbert. The woman had such distinct features, she was certain that was who it was.

She looked sadly at Max as he walked to the back of the classroom with his head down, and despite her anger from the previous night, she couldn't help but wonder what had gone down in those few weeks between Muggle London and their return for their fourth year at Hogwarts to change Max so much.

As she thought about it, Samantha realized she wasn't quite sure what her boggart was going to be. Lauren hurt beyond repair, possibly. But how would she ever make that funny? She pondered the question as she waited in the line, but it soon became clear she needn't have worried about that, because her turn never came.

"All right, class, I'm afraid that's all for now. You all must be off to your next lesson," Lupin said just before Lachlan's turn.

Lachlan frowned and turned to Samantha, the only person in line behind him. She furrowed her eyebrows and walked through the students to Professor Lupin.

"Er, excuse me Professor, but Lachlan and I never got a turn," Samantha pointed out.

"I'm sorry, Samantha, but we've run out of time," Lupin said.

Frowning, Samantha found Leslie and walked with her back to the Defense classroom to gather their books from where they'd been left earlier.

"Did you see Max's boggart?" Samantha whispered to Leslie.

Leslie nodded, hanging her back over her shoulder and brushing her hair out from under it. "I did, why?"

"It was his mum. Don't you think that's a bit concerning?" asked Samantha.

"I don't think it was his mum," Leslie said skeptically.

"Haven't you seen her? She looks so unlike anyone else. Not in a bad way, she's just extremely distinct. It had to be her," said Samantha.

"I don't know… how much did you actually see? Because I've seen his mum before, and the boggart just looked… a little bit off. Not that he allowed it to be seen long enough for anyone to take much in, but she didn't look exactly as I remember her."

Samantha sighed and shook her head. "Whatever. I think I left a quill in Charms, I'm going to go get it. I'll meet you in Transfiguration," she said, and dashed off in the direction of the Charms classroom. Before reaching it, she found a deserted corner, and hid behind a suit of armor while she turned back the time by an hour to attend Divination. Maybe the class would actually prove useful for once.

On the long walk to the Divination classroom, Samantha met up with Ellie and Kirsty on the stairwell. She had to refrain from talking about the Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, seeing as she was supposed to be in that class at the same time she was in Divination.

The beginning of their Divination class was the same as Samantha remembered, with Trelawney going on and on about different forms of Divination in her same old crazy way. At one point, she handed them star charts to fill out, and Samantha stared blankly at hers, thinking of other things instead.

Leslie had said Max's mother had looked off when she was a boggart, but then again, Samantha reasoned, it was a boggart after all, so could she really expect it to be a carbon copy of Aurora? Then again, what could be so scary about her, to where she would be Max's biggest fear?

Her thoughts were broken by Trelawney snapping in her face. "You're distracted, dear. What is going on in that mind of yours? I sense it's something deep and emotional."

"I'm just extremely focused on this star chart, Professor," Samantha lied, looking up at Trelawney, standing behind her, with as much innocence as she could muster.

"I can see…" Trelawney replied, eyeing Samantha's untouched parchment with the star chart not filled out at all. "Tell me, dear, is your ruling planet Jupiter?"

"Er… sure, why not?" Samantha answered, shrugging. "Yeah, let's go with that. I suppose that means I'm going to die at a young age or lose a loved one or get burned alive or so, hm?"

Trelawney huffed, folding her arms. "Get to work on that, then, will you?" she told Samantha, and stalked off, the overwhelming scent of perfume that followed her eyewear depleting some.

"I do like your necklace though!" Samantha called to her across the room, and only grinned at the annoyed look Professor Trelawney flashed back at her. It had been a hobby of hers from day one to annoy the teacher, and found it provided a lighthearted level of entertainment to contradict the death and destruction she so often predicted.

To Samantha's surprise, she found that her ruling planet actually was Jupiter as she worked on filling out the chart. Scanning the description, she found something about explorers, and that was all she took in. She felt that one word said enough about her personality without warranting further research.

After Divination was over, and a significant amount of homework had been assigned, Samantha rushed off to Transfiguration, where she met Leslie just outside the entrance, and they walked inside together.

"Miss Potter…" McGonagall said, glancing up from the papers she was sorting on her desk. "I didn't have the opportunity to ask about your hair at breakfast. Was that magic?"

"Yes, Professor," Samantha answered, nodding.

"Did you perform it?" McGonagall demanded, her eyebrows raised slightly to show her piqued interest.

"Yeah, I did," Samantha nodded calmly.

"I have to say, I'm impressed. Self transformation is some seriously advanced magic. However, Miss Potter, it is dangerous to do those spells without any prior practice, and could have serious consequences if done improperly," McGonagall warned. Samantha nodded again. "I must ask… what possessed you to do such a thing?"

Samantha glanced at where Max was sitting in a desk at the opposite side of the room, and could see he was watching and listening to her conversation. "I just felt it was time for a change," she explained to McGonagall, smiling sweetly. "I won't do it again," she assured her, and then proceeded to take her seat at the back of the classroom.

"You got off easy," Leslie whispered to Samantha.

"I think she was more impressed than angry. She just doesn't want other students doing it as well. I am a trendsetter, you know," Samantha smirked as she lay her bag on the ground and grabbed out the parchment, quill, and book she knew would be required.


That night saw Samantha in the common room, attempting to get a start on the Divination homework they'd been assigned. She only bothered to actually research one of the planets and how it would affect her in the coming month, deciding it was too much work to do the rest.

"Huh. Says I'll break an important relationship. Maybe Divination isn't all rubbish," Samantha muttered to herself. She heard footsteps approaching and glanced up, smiling when she saw it was Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Hi, how was your day? How are you liking all of those classes, Hermione?" she asked them.

"I love them! Arithmancy is so interesting, and it made concrete sense, unlike the Divination class we had this morning," Hermione answered.

"Right, you all had Divination," Samantha said, remembering Hermione mentioning it during breakfast. "How did that go? Did you find it okay? How was Trelawney?"

"I have the grim," Harry said darkly.

"Hm?" Samantha said, taking a moment to remember what he was talking about. "Oh! You mean that dog thing? Yeah, I wouldn't worry much about whatever Trelawney said."

"But it's a death omen! Voldemort's come after me three times now, and Sirius Black is on the loose," Harry said, his bright green eyes wide.

"You don't have to worry about it, Harry. Hogwarts is safe, we've got Dumbledore and those dementors, however creepy they may be. Besides, Trelawney predicted my death at the beginning of last year, and I'm still here! Most of her predictions turn out to be complete rubbish, so don't stress over it, because it's not worth it, I promise," Samantha told Harry.

"See, Harry, that's exactly what I told you! Divination is such guesswork, it amazes me that it's still offered as a subject! I mean, really, how much can we learn from a few old tea leaves and a woman with far too many necklaces and much too strong perfume?" Hermione said.

"It can be interesting if you do it right," Samantha said. "And if not taken too seriously. Honestly, the class is a nice break from the academic work of the others. Nothing I predict in that class is truthful."

"Why'd you ever let us take the class if it's such rubbish?" Ron asked.

"Why don't you ask your brothers why they didn't stop you from taking the class?" Samantha asked. "I wanted to let you make your own decisions, alright? Anyhow, what other classes did you have today?"

"Care of Magical Creatures," Harry answered.

"Ooh, with Hagrid? How was that?" Samantha asked, interested in hearing how Hagrid had done with his first lesson.

"Awful," Harry answered glumly.

"That bad? Really? I thought Hagrid would be at least decent," Samantha commented, her eyebrows raised.

"It was bloody Draco Malfoy that ruined the whole thing," Ron said, seemingly annoyed at the blonde Slytherin.

"What did he do this time?" Samantha asked.

"Well, Hagrid had Hippogriffs for us all, and I volunteered to greet them, even though it did not seem the safest, but I trust Hagrid. I ended up flying it around, not the most enjoyable experience, may I add. Well, you aren't supposed to insult these creatures, but of course Malfoy wasn't listening, and insulted it, and it scratched him," Harry explained.

"Malfoy made a whole bloody scene out of it all, complaining that his arm will need to be amputated or something else stupid like that. It was just a scratch!" Ron complained.

"You don't think they'd fire him, would they?" Hermione asked. "I mean, it wasn't really the most responsible, what he did, but it isn't that bad, is it?"

Samantha shrugged hesitantly. "I don't think Dumbledore would fire Hagrid ever. But it isn't just up to Dumbledore, is it? The Malfoys have a lot of influence in this community. Who knows what could happen, worst case scenario," she said.

"Oh, I really hope they don't fire him," Hermione said, her eyes sad. She glanced to the window, from where Hagrid's hut was visible. Samantha and the boys followed her gaze, and Samantha could see there was a light on in the small house.

"Do you think we could go visit him?" Harry suggested. "It's still light out."

"I don't know… with Sirius Black-" Hermione began.

"I'm still allowed on the grounds, Hermione," Harry said with an eye roll.

"Oh, all right," Hermione agreed, standing up. "Are you coming with us, Samantha?" she asked the brunette.

Samantha looked down at her homework, which she knew might take a while. "No, you three go yourselves. I need to get a headstart on this homework," she said.

Just after Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked away, Leslie walked over and plopped herself in a seat left empty by Hermione.

"I talked to Max," the blonde said simply.

"Did you, now?" asked Samantha, not glancing up from the small planet sketch she was doing on the corner of her Divination homework. "How is he? Saw he managed to get himself out of the leg locker charm I put him in."

"What happened last night? You leave Max abandoned in the common room in a leg locking curse, and then cut your hair in the middle of the night and avoid him all day?" Leslie said.

"We were just fighting about something. It's not any of your business anyway. Just leave it be," Samantha said.

"I'm just trying to help," Leslie said calmly.

"I don't need your help," Samantha bit back. "I'm good as is. I just want to focus on this stupid Divination homework."

"When did you have time to go to Divination? I was with you all day," Leslie said, the confusion clear on her face.

"Please, Leslie, I just want to get this done and over with so I can worry about one less thing, all right?" Samantha said.

"Fine," Leslie sighed. "Have it your way, then. Dodge my questions all you want, and good luck with all of that homework. Looks really fun."

Rolling her eyes, Samantha was able to return to making up strange predictions for what would happen to her in the coming month. That was, until Lauren approached her around five minutes later.

"He's just scared, Sam," she said softly.

"What are you talking about?" Samantha questioned, looking up from her homework, extremely confused about what her sister was talking about. "Who's scared? Scared of what?"

"Max. He's not angry at you. He doesn't hate you. He's just scared," Lauren revealed. She slid into the armchair next to Samantha, who set her quill down, realizing this might be a long conversation and she may not be able to get to her Divination homework that night after all.

"What, you got close enough to touch him?" Samantha asked, looking around the room and spotting Max talking animatedly to Damon, Elias, and Connor. "He doesn't look very scared. He looks very happy, actually."

"I didn't need to touch him. I could just… feel it. It was strong, Sam, if it was just in the air," Lauren said.

"He has nothing to be scared of," Samantha mumbled, but the image of the boggart floated back into her mind, and she couldn't shake that something bad had happened while he was back at home.

"You don't know that," Lauren softly reminded her older sister. "You haven't actually spoken to him since London, have you?"

"Well… no, but he was perfectly fine then. Things can't change that fast," Samantha said.

"I don't know," Lauren said, twirling her gloved fingers around as they rested on her lap. "Just keep it in mind while you're angry at him, alright?"

Knowing no good would come from arguing with Lauren, Samantha just sighed and nodded. "Yeah, alright," she agreed. She paused for a moment, simply looking into her sister's hazel eyes, the same ones she had, the same ones they shared with their father. "Harry rode a Hippogriff today," she said.

"What is a Hippogriff?" Lauren asked, her eyes widened with amusement.

"It's a sort of bird horse thing," Samantha explained, and a smile fought its way onto her lips as she pictured Harry on the creature she'd seen pictures of in books. "It flies."

Lauren was still for a moment before a smile flickered onto her face, and then she began to laugh. "I have not the slightest clue what that would look like, but that picture in my mind is the strangest thing," she said.

"I don't know what you're picturing, but it's honestly most likely not too far off from what the actual creature looks like," Samantha told her sister, grinning happily.

"Do you have a picture? I need to see this now," said Lauren eagerly.

"Yeah, somewhere in here there's got to be one…" Samantha said looking at the Monster Book of Monsters she had fastened together so it wouldn't attack her. "If only I knew how to get in."

"Oh! Why didn't I think of this before?" Lauren said. She pulled her right hand out of the glove that encased it and lay it gently on the furry cover of the book. "Stroke it," she said after a moment. "Stroke the spine."

Samantha unwrapped the book from the tie she'd held it shut with and it began snapping at her, but she quickly turned it and ran her fingers down the spine, petting it as she would a cat. It quickly calmed down in her hands, and she was then able to open it, flipping through until she found the page with the hippogriff.

"Huh," Lauren said, examining it.

"Is that what you were expecting?" Samantha asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Not too far off," Lauren grinned. "But still wildly odd. What d'you think the Dursleys would do if they ever saw one of those walking down the street?"

"Scream and run away, but in all fairness, so would I if I didn't know what they were," Samantha answered. "They're big and could be very startling on the off chance you run into one in the wild."

"Yeah… they look like they could be very sweet though, if you were nice to them," Lauren said, running her gloved fingers over the page of Samantha's book that showed off the picture of the Hippogriff.

"Of course you would think that," Samantha said. "Well, we've got to hope that other people think that as well."

"What do you mean?" Lauren asked curiously.

"Stuff happened with Hagrid today," Samantha answered. "What I heard from Harry, Ron, and Hermione is that Hagrid brought Hippogriffs for their first lesson, and Draco Malfoy played the baby card when he went against the instructions and insulted one, and then subsequently got attacked, or as Harry and Ron put it, scratched by the Hippogriff."

"Merlin, that can't be good for Hagrid. On his first day of lessons too… Do you know how Draco is? Is it really, truly serious?" Lauren asked.

"Who knows, really? Judging from what I already know about Draco Malfoy, however, it's safe to assume he's fine and just wants to cause drama and make life hard for people around him," Samantha answered.

"I wonder how Hagrid's doing," Lauren said, her gaze traveling to the window, wich looked out on the Hogwarts grounds in the direction Hagrid's hut was in.

"The three of them went down to visit him just a short while ago, so we may know soon. I hope he's alright," Samantha said.

Just on cue, Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked into the common room through the portrait of the Fat Lady, immediately walking to where Samantha and Lauren were seated.

"How is he?" Lauren asked with concern, her hazel eyes wide and swimming with emotions.

"Drowning himself in drinks," Hermione answered flatly. "He's very upset. It's sad, really."

"I want to kill Malfoy, the little git," Ron said.

"Kill is a strong word," Samantha said casually, raising her eyebrows and leaning back in her chair. She had long since given up on the idea of getting any of her homework done that evening.

"Fine. Make him suffer," Ron said.

"Now you're talking. Kill is quick and permanent. Making people suffer, though, takes time, thought, and effort," Samantha said. "Anyway, does Hagrid know anything about what could happen?"

"The school governors have been informed, and Malfoy is apparently acting as if he's been hurt beyond repair," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "Hagrid thinks he might be fired."

"Let's hope it's not that bad," Lauren said worriedly. "And he was okay with you all going down to visit him?"

"He said all of this while fairly drunk," said Ron. "After he stuck his head in a barrel of water, he was outraged that we had come to see him, especially with Black on the loose."

"Sounds about right," Samantha said, smiling lightly. "I've got Care of Magical Creatures tomorrow, so I'll tell you all how he is."


The next day of Smantha's classes seemed to drag on. Though still talking to each other, Samantha and Leslie had slight tension between them that neither wanted to address, so they spent much of their time together silent anyway. Of course, she wasn't talking to Max at all, which made the whole situation worse.

She had Care of Magical Creatures, which was not half as entertaining or eventful as Harry, Ron, and Hermione's had been. It seemed Hagrid had lost his nerve, and spent the lesson simply teaching them out of the book, having them read the page on Kneazles and then assigning a page of writing on them.

Her Potions class was no fun either, with Snape being the usual brooding jerk he had always been.

"Hey, Samantha," Lachlan whispered to her from a table away as they stirred together their Wit-Sharpening potions.

"What do you want?" Samantha whispered back, a slight temper in her voice.

"What're you doing?" he asked her.

Samantha paused what she was doing and gave him a strange look. "The same thing as you, making a Wit-Sharpening potion. Which, by the looks of it, you may need," she answered.

"Potter! Wallace! No talking during class. Detention, both of you," Snape said sharply, interrupting their argument.

Samantha flared her nostrils and huffed, angry that her stupid conversation with Lachlan had landed her in detention. "But professor-" she said.

"I expect to see you both at my office at seven tonight. Don't be late," Snape drawled, and then walked away, his cloak sweeping behind him.

Giving Lachlan one last angry look, Samantha returned to her Wit-Sharpening potion, her movements to add ingredients now slightly more aggressive than they had been before.


Been a minute, huh? I doubt people will even read this. That's not why I'm publishing it, though. I want a form of closure, I guess. I don't think I'll ever be coming back to finish this story. I just don't have the time or interest anymore. Thank you to anyone who read it, that means so much to me. Have a nice life :)