Chapter Fifteen
Jack Frost-
Jack stood with the other Slytherin First years. Professor Starling stood at the head of their group. The hall they were in was cramped and dark. They impatiently waited for the door to open so they could begin their competition.
"Now remember. None of these things are real. They are Boggarts that have transformed into what you fear most. The way to defeat a Bogart is the 'riddikulus' spell. Or you can use any of the spells, curses, charms, or potions you've been taught to drive them back and defeat them. You are relying on each other for help, but keep in mind it is a house competition. No using spells on other students or yourself. Now good luck," Professor Starling briefed them. She smiled brightly, but Jack could see the nerves behind her eyes.
"Is this dangerous?" Jasper asked.
"If anything poses a threat the teachers will jump in immediately," Professor Starling reassured them.
"And if they're not fast enough?" Tess asked.
"I hope you've been paying attention the past months," Professor Starling said.
"That's comforting," Bounder said.
"Oh come on. They wouldn't actually put us in danger," Jack said. "Right?" he glanced at Professor Starling. She had turned her back to them so that she was facing the door. Great, he thought. Slowly the door opened. Professor Starling led them into a large room in the dungeon. It was about ten times the size of the room where they had their potions duel.
It was circular and had four large doors around the edges. One of them was the door Jack was walking through. In between the doors were several large boxes that were shaking like something was trying to escape. The room was also equipped with several cauldrons and broomsticks.
Professor Starling lined them up along the wall next to the door they had entered. Then she strode into the center of the room with the other teachers.
"This is a competition to help you earn points for your team and to asses you on what you've learned this year. You've completed half of your first year. This will help us determine what else we should cover before your N.E.W.T.S." Alex said. "We will be watching you, but you will not be able to see us. So don't think you can call on us for help if you get stuck."
"Points will be awarded to each individual for their participation. At the end we will add all the individual points for a total house score. The house with the most points wins and gets an extra 100 points," Professor Durwing said.
"Good luck," Drake said. With that the teachers disappeared in a flash of light. The room was silent except for the breathing of the students. Jack took out his wand and pointed it towards the nearest box. Eventually everyone's attention shifted to the boxes.
The room grew silent as the boxes grew still. Everyone was holding their breath. Jack's heart beat slowly and calmly. He was ready for this.
Suddenly the room burst into a confused mass as the boxes opened and all sorts of things exploded out of them. Jack caught sight of cats, werewolves, dragons, banshees, and even some clowns.
The students scattered. Some running from their worst nightmares, others trying to find peace in the confusion. Jack dove out of the way of giant snake. It's eyes glittered with malice as it made its way towards Dorian who was helping Blake fight off a red dragon.
"Dorian," Jack cried. She glanced over and saw the snake. For a moment she froze, her eyes filled with fear. The snake leaned back to strike.
"Reducto," Jack pointed his wand at the giant snake. It shot away from Dorian. She took a deep breath and shook her head to clear it of that momentary grip of terror.
"Thanks," she yelled before running after the snake. Jack turned to look for his own fear, or anyone who might need help.
He heard a pounding noise and jumped out of the way just in time as a charging bull ran past him. He was next to the wall now. A broomstick was leaning up against the cracked rocks. He grabbed it and pushed off from the ground.
In the air he had a much better view of the battle raging beneath him. Blake was still fighting the fiery red dragon. Dorian had found her snake and was handling it well. Bounder was facing a banshee. His face looked dreamy, giving in to the pull of the banshee's song. Jack sent a spell his way to snap him out of it.
Then Jack saw something that caught his eye. A small house elf was creeping through the throngs of people. "Why would a house elf be here? Who's scared of them?" he wondered. He swooped lower to investigate, forgetting that somewhere out there was his greatest fear.
To his surprise Jack saw the house elf heading for Jasper. "Hey Jasper," Jack called. Jasper's face was pale and he jumped at Jack's voice.
"What?" he asked, his voice sharp with fear. Jack nodded his head at the house elf. Jasper's face paled even more. "Oh no," he gasped. The house elf stared at him with large round yellow eyes. Jasper gave a small gasp then collapsed to the floor. Jack laughed then flew back into the air.
Merida-
Merida jumped back as the boxes shot open. People around her screamed as they came face to face with their fears. She wished she had been allowed to bring her bow in, but she was happy to have her wand knowing that if she had to face something magical, her wand would be of more use than her bow.
"Riddikulus," she heard a terrified cry. She turned around expecting to see Ellen or some other girl, but to her surprise it was Liam. He had is back against the wall and looked like he was about to face. Merida looked around for what her was facing and spotted a small ginger cat sitting in front of him with its tail neatly wrapped around its paws.
As she watched it changed into a cute little kitten with wide eyes and fluffy fur. It stuck its tongue out and rolled on its back. Liam sighed and chuckled at the little thing.
"Seriously Liam? Cats," Merida rolled her eyes.
"They freak me out," Liam shrugged. "Don't tell anyone," he added. She laughed.
"Your secret is safe with me." She turned away from Liam and scanned the room. Ellen was crying in a corner with Alex standing over her. "Ellen," she called and ran over. When she got closer she could hear what Alex was saying.
"You've failed everything. You will have to retake this year. Actually we don't even want you back, your awfulness might rub off on the other students," the Bogart Alex said. Ellen sobbed. Merida sighed and ran to a nearby cauldron. She saw Hiccup standing nearby and called him over.
"What do you need?" he asked. She pointed to Ellen and he pushed her aside to work on the potion. He dropped in lots of peppers, and poison ivy. He turned the fire up so it was boiling the water. "Here," he said.
"Thanks," Merida used her wand to make it float. She approached the Bogart Alex then dumped the contents on him. He screamed in pain as the potion scalded his skin and melted it off. His face was bubbling and burning. Ellen stopped crying and looked up.
"Reducto," she sobbed. The Bogart Alex flew back into one of the boxes. "Thanks," Ellen said as Merida pulled her to her feet.
"Don't mention it," Merida shrugged. The ground quivered and they fell to their knees. From the corner of her eye Merida could just make out the thick, black leg of a bear. Shuddering she looked up into the badly scared face of a bear.
His body was littered with wounds and weapons that were stabbed into him. His tiny beady, black eyes stared her down with such hatred Merida thought she would faint.
"Mor'du," she whispered. Quickly she got to her feet as the bear raised itself onto its hind legs. "Stupefy," Merida cried. For a moment Mor'du paused. Merida turned and raced away. She weaved through the other students and their fears. Blinded by fear she tackled Rapunzel to the ground. "Sorry Punz," Merida panted.
"It's ok Merida. What are you running from?" Rapunzel helped her up.
"Mor'du," Merida answered. Rapunzel looked confused. "My mother used to tell me old Scottish legends when I was younger. Mor'du is a giant bear who practically can't be killed. His story always gave me nightmares," Merida explained quickly. She glanced behind her. Mor'du was dropping onto all fours. "Come on," Merida grabbed Rapunzel's hand and started to run.
She reached the wall lined with broomsticks. Grabbing one for herself she threw Rapunzel one. Together they flew into the air just as Mor'du reached them. In the air they were out of the reach of Mor'du's monstrous paws.
"Now what?" Rapunzel asked.
"We think of a way to defeat Mor'du," Merida answered.
"Need some help?" Jack flew over.
"Where have you been?" Merida asked.
"Teasing Jasper for being afraid of house elves," Jack answered. Rapunzel giggled. Merida laughed too. "So what are you two doing? Have you fought your fear or are you looking for it?" Jack asked.
"Currently we are escaping Merida's fear," Rapunzel said.
"The bear?" Jack checked, looking down at where Mordu was attempting to jump up and catch Merida. Merida nodded. "I'll help you," Jack smiled. Merida huffed.
"If you must," she said. Jack smirked.
"What's the plan?" Rapunzel asked.
"We have to get it back in the box," Merida said. "But for him to fit we'll have to shrink him," she muttered.
"If we use riddikulus maybe he'll be able to fit," Rapunzel suggested.
"Riddikulus," Merida pointed her wand at Mor'du. To her surprise he jumped out of the way. Then he turned his head up and it almost looked like he was smirking at them.
"This is a tricky one," Jack commented. "Maybe if we all do it at once," he suggested. Why didn't I think of that? Merida thought. Together they all shot at him. Mor'du jumped away from Jack's spell and right into Merida's. When it hit him he shuddered then all his fur fell off and he shrunk so that he looked like a naked mole rat. They burst into laughter.
Merida swooped down and picked him up. Mor'du opened his mouth and tried to roar, but it came out as a high-pitched squeak. Merida snorted and dropped him in the box. She looked back up to see Rapunzel facing a tall stone tower. It had ivy growing up the sides and looked like something out of a fairytale.
Merida pushed off of the ground and flew to her friend. Rapunzel's face was chalky and her eyes looked sad. She was staring into the open window. Jack was watching her with concern and wonder.
"What is it?" Merida asked.
"My home," Rapunzel answered.
Rapunzel-
Rapunzel flew closer to the tower and looked inside her room. It was just as she had left it. She sighed.
"Why are you scared of your home?" Jack asked. Rapunzel closed her eyes. For a moment she was in a memory.
**Flashback**
"Mother," Rapunzel called down the stairs. Outside her window night lay over the land like a dark blanket. The clouds blocked any light the moon and stars tried to provide. She shivered in fear. Her room resided in the tower that stood over her house. Her mother's room was in the main body of the house and she might not be able to hear.
"What is it Rapunzel dear?" her mother asked as she entered Rapunzel's room. Rapunzel let out a relived sigh that she had heard her cry. She had on her night dress and was wrapped in a bathrobe. Her hair was pulled back in a braid.
"I had a nightmare," Rapunzel said. Her mother smiled sweetly and moved to sit next to her on her bed.
"Do you want to tell me about it?" her mother asked.
Rapunzel nodded. She was younger and her face was chubby and round. Her hair was shorter, but still long for someone her age. She crawled out of the covers and towards her mother. Her mother gently wrapped her arm around her and pulled her into a warm embrace.
"I was in a strange room. It was small and dark. I could hear people breathing next to me," Rapunzel began. "There was a large glass door next to me and it opened. Someone came in dressed in a dark cloak. They picked me up and carried me out of the room. I wanted to cry out for help, but I couldn't. Something was keeping me still like I was under a spell," Rapunzel shivered.
"Where did this person take you?" her mother asked. In the dark and Rapunzel couldn't make out her mother's face, but her voice sounded almost worried.
"I don't know," Rapunzel said. "I woke up."
"It's ok dear. It was just a dream," her mother stroked her hair and Rapunzel's eyes began to droop. Gently her mother tucked her back into bed and got up to leave.
"Mummy," Rapunzel yawned. Her mother paused and looked back. "You are my mum aren't you?"
Her mother gave a shaky laugh. "Yes dear. Of course I am," she comforted her, but Rapunzel could pick up the worry laced in her words. Before Rapunzel could say anything else her mother left.
**End of Flashback**
"Rapunzel," Merida's voice brought her into the present.
"I'm sorry," she shook her head to clear it of the memory. "Riddikulus," she pointed her wand at the tower. It shuddered then shrunk so that it was almost the size of a brick. As they watched Ruben chased a clown right up to it. The clown dove behind the tower as if to hide, but Ruben shot it with another spell and it flew off.
Rapunzel giggled and flew down to grab the tower. Once she had it she dropped it in the box where they had placed Mor'du.
"What now?" Rapunzel asked.
"Help," someone screeched. They all whipped around on their broomstick's searching for the person who screamed.
"There," Merida pointed. Rapunzel looked where she was pointing and saw Gowthur rolled into a ball against the wall. A werewolf stood over him, its jaws dripping with saliva. Its eyes looked like glowing yellow pits. It growled and advanced on Gowthur.
"Come on," Jack dove towards him. Merida and Rapunzel flew after him.
Hiccup-
Hiccup rushed from student to student, offering advice or engaging in the battle. He had yet to find his own fear and he had to say he wasn't upset about it.
"Hiccup," Mason cried. He was running from a buldger that seemed intent on hitting him. "Help," he pleaded. Hiccup pulled out his wand.
"Petrificus Totalus," Hiccup shouted. The buldger froze in midair.
"Thanks," Mason panted. Hiccup nodded then moved on to help others.
"I've been looking for you Hiccup," an oddly familiar voice said. Hiccup turned around slowly, scared of what he might see. To his horror standing behind him was himself. It was the perfect mirrored image of himself.
"B-but why am I scared of myself?" he stuttered. The other Hiccup snorted.
"Because your biggest fear is that you aren't good enough," he sneered. "That you're too small, too weak, too stupid, too scared, too quiet, too friendly," the other Hiccup ranted on and on. Hiccup gripped his wand and formed a spell in his head, but he couldn't bring himself to utter the words.
"You're right," he stopped the other Hiccup. "I'm not good enough," his arm that was holding his wand dropped and he backed up. His head hung and the other Hiccup laughed and shoved him backwards.
Hiccup fell and his back and threw his arms up in defense as the other Hiccup punched him. "Hiccup," he heard someone yell. Suddenly the other Hiccup was gone. Mason had his arms around it, holding it back. "Use the spell," Mason shouted.
"Petrificus Totalus," Hiccup pointed at the other Hiccup. It froze and Mason let go of it. "Reducio," Hiccup muttered. The other Hiccup shrunk to a much smaller size. Hiccup picked him up and dropped him in a box. "Thanks," he turned to Mason. "How did you know which was the real me?"
"His eyes were glowing neon green," Mason explained. Hiccup nodded.
"Hiccup," Rapunzel ran up to his side. "We need help." She pointed behind her to where Jack, Merida, and Gowthur were facing a werewolf. "He keeps dodging our spells."
"I'll use a potion," he said. "Come help me," he grabbed her wrist and tugged her towards one of the tables.
"I'm really not that good at potions," Rapunzel said.
"Oh well," Hiccup shrugged. He briefly ran through the list of potions in his head until he found the one he wanted to use. "Werewolves instinctively bite whatever comes near their face. If we cote something in this and throw it at the werewolf it will bite it and be injected with the potion," he briefly explained to Rapunzel as he dumped some nightshade berries into the cauldron.
"Will it kill it?" Rapunzel asked.
"Umm," Hiccup said, "I'm not sure."
"Not sure? What do you mean?"
"Well I've never made this potion before and I haven't done much research on it. It isn't listed in the killing potions so I don't think so. Why does it even matter?"
"That's not fair to kill it. I mean it hasn't actually hurt anything," Rapunzel pointed out. Hiccup shrugged.
"Do you want me to help or not?" he snapped. He didn't mean to be mean, but in some situations you really couldn't afford to be picky about what happened.
"Yes," Rapunzel said as he got back to work. He turned the fire lower and added more ingredients. He grabbed the spoon and started to stir it. When he took the spoon out it was gone.
"I think it's ready," he said, staring at where the spoon used to be.
"Is it supposed to do that?" Rapunzel eyed the spoon.
"Umm, yeah sure," Hiccup shoved the cauldron at her and pulled out his wand. "Let's go." He headed towards his friends before Rapunzel could ask any more questions.
The werewolf had its back to them so Hiccup shot a spell at it. Its ears pricked and it dodged out of the way. It started at Hiccup with barred teeth and Hiccup ran from Rapunzel's side to draw its attention.
"Stupefy," Hiccup yelled. The werewolf ran out of the way.
"Riddikulus," Merida pointed at the werewolf as it moved. Once again it evaded the spell. Hiccup glanced around for something to soak in the potion. Not finding anything he pulled off his shoe.
"Rapunzel," he shouted. She glanced at him. "Use this," he threw his shoe at her. She caught it started dipping it in the potion.
As she did this Gowthur shot at the werewolf. It jumped out of the way and the spell hit the cauldron. The cauldron flipped over and the contents flew in the air. Rapunzel gasped in surprise.
"Look out," Hiccup warned. Rapunzel couldn't move fast enough and the potions splattered all over her hair. It was sizzling from being in contact with the spell and made her hair twitch.
Rapunzel screamed, but Hiccup didn't know if it was from surprise or pain. Suddenly she collapsed on the ground, unconscious.
"Rapunzel," Jack, Merida, and Hiccup chorused. They rushed over, but the werewolf jumped in their way.
"Incendo," Hiccup shouted. Flames burst from his wand and the werewolf yelped and backed away as they scorched his fur. The three friends ran past the werewolf and crouched next to Rapunzel.
"Punzie. Are you ok?" Jack asked. The leaned forward. Her hair was still twitching and twisting. Now it was glowing as well. Rapunzel whimpered.
"Rapunzel," Merida gently shook her. Rapunzel's eyes flew open and her hair returned to normal.
"Huh? What happened?" she asked. Blinking her eyes she sat up and looked at them confusedly.
"You got hit with the potion and a spell," Merida explained. Rapunzel's eyes widened.
"I'm I ok?" she asked.
"We're asking you that," Jack laughed. Rapunzel glanced down at herself.
"I feel ok," she said.
"You sure?" Hiccup asked. He still wasn't sure about the effects of this potion and he wanted to make sure she wasn't going to fall over and die.
"Yea, I think I'm ok," she said, trying to stand up. Jack got up and helped her to her feet. At first she was a little unstable then she was ok. "Yea, I'm fine," she decided. "We better go help Gowthur."
"I'll go make another potion," Hiccup said.
"I'll come with you this time," Merida said. "Watch Punzie," Merida told Jack. "If she gets hurt I'm going to hurt you," she tapped his neck with her wand. Jack put his hands up in a gesture of surrender.
"Ok ok. I'll look after her don't worry," Jack said.
"Come on Merida," Hiccup said, already starting for the table.
A/N:
Oh no, what will happen to Rapunzel now that she has been hit by the potion?! Hmmmmm. Also what is Jack's fear? And why is Rapunzel's fear her room? All questions will be answered in next chapter, don't worry. You can vote for who you want to win the competition if you want. YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO! watch?v=Vaf2HecoGQE I really want to write a fanfiction story thing based off of the video, but all my creative juices are flowing into this story so I'm like brain dead. If anyone would be interested in writing it with me then maybe the ideas you have will give me some great spark of inspiration! If you're interested PM me! Thanks to starskulls, AlexJohnD, XxXBlueRose23XxX, Bailey24, kairi196, Crowlet, bug349, Shara Raizel, and Clio for reviewing! Thanks for reading and please review!
PS. The boggarts are enchanted so that they seek out whatever student they were designated for.
PPS. I've been finding all these spells from Wikipedia if you wanted to know. Sorry if their spelled wrong or used in the wrong way.