Chapter 4: Black Shadow

Hello!

I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed my last chapter. I'm so glad that you guys like this story! Thank you for taking the time to write a review, I really appreciate it. :)

And (even though she insists that I stop thanking her) I'd like to especially thank bellatrixD for being such a huge help with this chapter. She's got an amazing Fred/OC fic called Begin Again, so if you haven't read that yet, go check it out!

I'm rather proud of this chapter, so I hope you all like it!

Nope. Still don't own Harry Potter.

"He's late," Kathy muttered as we joined our class in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

"It's his first day," Megan pointed out. "Cut him some slack. He'll be here."

I couldn't help smiling at her. Always the optimist.

"'Lyssa!"

I looked around to see Elena making her way across the room toward me.

"What do you think Professor Lupin's got planned?" she asked once she'd taken the empty seat next to me.

I shrugged. "I'm not sure. Hopefully, it's something useful."

"I'm just glad he's redecorated the classroom," Megan giggled. "Remember what it was like last year?"

Elena and I shuddered at the mention of Lockhart's décor. At that moment, Professor Lupin walked through the door. He still looked a bit tired, but much healthier than he had on the first night.

"Good afternoon, class," he smiled, setting a small chest on the desk. "Today will be a practical lesson, so quills away and wands out, please."

I raised my eyebrows. We hadn't had very many practical Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons. This ought to be interesting. The chest rattled loudly, startling us. Professor Lupin chuckled.

"Who can tell me what a boggart is?" he asked. Several hands shot up, mine included. He pointed to Megan. "Yes, Miss...?"

"Megan Mitchell," she said. "A boggart is a shape-shifter. It changes shape according to what scares us most."

"Excellent," he smiled. "Five points to Ravenclaw. Now, as you've probably guessed, there's a boggart in this chest. I found him in my home a few days ago, and decided to bring him along. I want you each to take a turn facing him. The process of defeating a boggart is fairly simple. The incantation is 'Riddikulus.' Let's all try saying that without wands. After me, please... Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" we chanted back.

He nodded approvingly. "Very good. But the secret to truly finishing the boggart is to force him to change into something you find amusing."

I raised my hand.

"Miss-?"

"Alyssa Summers," I said. "If the boggart is going to change into whatever we fear most, how can we make that amusing? I mean, it's not like we're just going to laugh at our worst fears."

He stared at me for a long moment, almost as if he was trying to decide exactly who or what I was.

"That is an excellent question, Alyssa," he finally said. "Really, it depends on your imagination. Would it be better if I demonstrated first?"

"I think so," I nodded.

"Watch closely, then. You can try after me."

He unlocked the chest and a silvery orb rose out of it.

"Riddikulus!"

The orb turned into a balloon, which deflated with a loud noise. I stepped forward hesitantly and almost tripped over a desk in my hurry to get away from the boggart as it changed.

It was me.

I could hear snickering from the back of the class. I didn't turn to see who it was.

Boggart-Me was several inches taller than I was, wearing a black gown I didn't even own. Her hair was pulled back into an elaborate knot, making her seem colder and sterner. There was a terrifying hardness in her eyes, as though all other emotion had been destroyed long ago.

"What's she afraid of?" someone snorted. "Herself?"

That was one of the Weasley twins. I shook my head, trying to clear it as the twins' sniggering went on.

"It's just a boggart, Alyssa," Professor Lupin said encouragingly, although he looked concerned.

Boggart-Me drew her wand, turning toward the class, pausing as though contemplating who she wanted to curse first. I caught a glimpse of Elena's worried face. She turned to frown at Fred and George Weasley and shook her head sharply.

"Alyssa?" Professor Lupin said.

"I..can't," I whispered, shaking my head. "May I be excused?"

He gave me that long look again before nodding. I grabbed my bag and left the class before Elena or Megan or anyone else could call me back.

I stared at myself in the mirror, taking in my pale skin and red, puffy eyes. That boggart had scared me more than I would ever admit. I recognized the elaborate dress, the cold look. Although I'd never met two of them in person, I'd seen old pictures of my mother's sisters.

The Blacks.

I braided my hair back and looked down at my watch. I'd been in here for half an hour. I wasn't surprised that none of my friends had come to find me. They knew to give me my space, which was greatly appreciated, especially at the moment. But I couldn't stay in the girls' lavatory for forever. I'd already missed half of Charms. Megan would cover for me (Flitwick adored her), but I needed to go. I took one last glance in the mirror and set off down the corridor, heading for the Charms classroom. However, I had barely rounded the first corner when someone called my name.

"Alyssa! Hey, wait up!"

I turned around to see one of the twins running up the corridor toward me. I considered pretending I hadn't seen him, but he'd catch up to me eventually. So I waited for him.

"Which one are you?" I asked warily as he reached me.

"George. Listen, are you all right?"

I couldn't find it in me to say anything biting, so I just nodded.

"Are you sure?" he pressed, touching my shoulder lightly.

I shrugged him off, remembering what he and Fred had done.

"Why do you even care?" I demanded.

He stumbled back dramatically, clutching his chest like I'd seriously wounded him.

"Well, I wouldn't be much of a man, let alone a Weasley man, if I didn't check to make sure that a pretty girl was all right, would I?"

"You didn't seem to care when we were in class," I observed.

He shook his head. "That was out of line. I shouldn't have made fun of your boggart. I'm sorry." He took a deep breath. "Would you please forgive me? Because I got a lecture from Elena and I really don't want another one. Please? I'll be forever in your debt!"

I couldn't help chuckling as he clasped his hands together, pleading. "Yes, okay. You're forgiven. More or less."

"Excellent!" he beamed. "Come along, then. Flitwick'll be disappointed if you don't show up. He might even give you detention."

"Doubt it," I snorted. "Wait...is there a sticky note on my back?"

I craned my neck to try and look over my shoulder. George laughed.

"Not this time. That would be too obvious." His face suddenly became serious as we started walking to class. "Hey...your boggart. What was that about? It was you, but...not you. A different version of yourself."

"I dunno," I lied. "Maybe I'm afraid of getting taller and wearing ridiculous gowns."

He looked at me for a long moment, much the same way that Professor Lupin had. But then he shrugged.

"That makes sense. That gown was pretty ridiculous."

I nodded in agreement. We stopped for a moment outside the classroom.

"Do me a favor," George said. "Make sure you tell Elena I apologized. Maybe tell her I'm your hero or something like that."

I grinned. "Don't push your luck, Weasley."

He pushed his bottom lip out in a pout and gestured for me to walk through the door ahead of him. Professor Flitwick didn't comment on my being late as I took my seat next to Megan, so she must've come up with a reasonable excuse for me.

"What's the plan?" I heard a voice behind me whisper.

I glanced around to see Fred grinning hopefully at George, who raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" he asked. "There is no plan."

Fred's face fell.

"What'd you go after her for, then?"

"I told you, I wanted to apologize."

"Mr. Weasley, Mr. Weasley," Professor Flitwick squeaked. "Please pay close attention! This will almost certainly be on your O.W.L.s!"

Both twin immediately adopted looks of deepest interest. But George grinned when he saw me looking.