Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Twilight.

List of POVs:

Bella – BPOV

Edward – EPOV

Renesmee – NPOV

Jacob – JPOV

Alice – APOV

Jasper – JasPOV

Emmet – EmPOV

Rosalie – RPOV

Harry – HPOV

Ron – RonPOV

Hermione – HerPOV

Thanks for all the amazing reviews! Hope you enjoy this chapter!!

22. Boggarts and Patronuses

BPOV

Professor Trelawney had been sacked. Professor Umbridge got rid of her in front of the whole school, but our sympathy was limited. We were all too worried that Hagrid would be next.

Harry continued having visions of Voldemort, and I could no longer block them at all, much to my anxiety. Apparently, Severus Snape had also noticed during Harry's Occlumency lessons, and was giving him a hard time over them.

We found out why Hermione had been so urgent about meeting Harry in Hogsmeade on Valentine's Day. A few days later, Harry received a copy of the Quibbler magazine in which he had given an interview, and dozens of fan and hate mail. Professor Umbridge was none too pleased about this, and it didn't take long for her to ban the magazine from the school.

I was overjoyed when Seamus Finnigan apologised to Harry about his behaviour towards him and they made up. Harry needed as many friends as he could get right then. Seamus even attended the next few DA meetings, which were getting challenging, even for us vampires.

Someone had caught a rogue Boggart and we spent a lesson practicing fighting them. Boggarts, we found out, took the form of the thing that scared its victim the most, and I was worried when it was my turn to face it. Everyone watched as I took a deep breath and stepped in front of it, raising my wand. I could tell they were curious as to what it would become for me.

CRACK!

The Boggart looked at me with Edward's sorrowful eyes. My hand trembled and I lowered my wand, losing all intention of attacking. Then the Edward-Boggart spoke.

"I'm leaving, Bella," it whispered, and I froze. "I don't want you. I never loved you and I never will." The words I had heard over a decade ago stunned me, and I slowly raised my wand again.

"R-riddikulus!" I stuttered, shaking.

CRACK!

The Boggart changed form, and I wailed in despair at the two dead bodies on the floor. Edward and Renesmee looked so human lying there, eyes blank and perfectly still. I knew it wasn't real; that it couldn't possibly happen, but the sight still chilled me. Even though I didn't need to breathe, I found myself hyperventilating. I clutched my wand tightly in my hand, and felt it start to splinter under my grip. I unclenched my fist and it clattered to the floor, but I barely noticed. The thought of picking it back up was lost on me. What was the spell again? Did it even matter? I couldn't think of anything but my husband and daughter lying lifelessly before me.

Someone stepped in front of me, and Edward's dead body was replaced with my own.

"Ridikulus!" said the person quietly, and the Boggart disappeared.

I blinked slowly and looked down at my empty hand, wondering where my wand was. I was vaguely aware of everyone still watching me.

"Bella," whispered Edward, holding my shoulders firmly.

I looked up at him, feeling dazed, and whimpered when I met his eyes. He put his arms around me and I collapsed into his embrace, sobbing tearlessly.

"Shh, Bella," soothed Edward, holding me so tightly it was almost painful, "Shh, love. It wasn't real. I'm right here. It wasn't real."

I couldn't stop crying into his chest, convulsing with dry sobs and trembling violently. Everyone was still watching us, whispering now, and Edward realised this at the same time as me. "Come on," he breathed, pulling me through the crowd and out into the corridor.

"R-Renesmee," I choked, struggling to get back into the Room of Requirement, and realising Edward was carrying me.

"She's fine, love," he assured me, "She's okay."

I met his smouldering eyes and started crying again. "It was so real!" I sobbed, "You were there! You were dead!" my voice broke on the last word.

"I know," he murmured, looking pained, "I saw it too. I saw you."

He was still carrying me, and I clutched his shirt, burying my head in his shoulder. He took me to the hospital wing. By then I couldn't cry any more, and instead stared ahead in silence.

"Bella?" asked Carlisle urgently, looking up and seeing me in Edward's arms. "Edward, what's wrong with her?"

"I think she's in shock," replied Edward quietly, "She was frightened badly." He quickly explained what had happened. "Is there anything you can do for her?"

Carlisle shook his head solemnly. "Human remedies don't work on us. Normally I would suggest she slept, but obviously that isn't possible for her. Bella?" he said to me gently, "How do you feel?"

"I'm f-fine," I replied weakly, convincing nobody. I saw Carlisle almost smile. "Really, I'm okay," I said, clearer, "I just need a minute or two."

"Are you sure, love?" Edward murmured in my ear, and I nodded, forcing a smile.

"I just…freaked out. I'll be okay in a second." I drew a deep, shaky breath and tried my best to calm down. I took several more, and felt myself start to relax. Edward held me the entire time, rubbing my back and pressing his lips to my forehead every now and then. "Thanks," I breathed, "I'm okay now. Can we go back?"

Edward frowned in disapproval. "I don't think so, Bella. I don't want you to get hurt again."

I sighed. "Everyone's probably still talking about me anyway."

Edward didn't even try to disagree. "It was a bit unusual for them," he nodded, "Most of them had their Boggarts turn into spiders or monsters."

I smiled a little. "Well they all know I'm a bit crazy."

"Don't say that, Bella," Edward growled, but then he grinned, "You're a little more than a bit."

I slapped at his chest playfully, and my despair was completely over.

***

"Are you sure you want to go?" asked Edward for the ninth time.

"Yes," I told him again, rolling my eyes.

Ever since my bad experience with the Boggart last week, Edward kept suggesting that we skip the next few DA meetings. I thought he would've stopped by the time we got to the Room of Requirement, but clearly he was still foolishly overprotective.

Before he could ask again, I pushed the door open and entered, leaving him no choice but to follow me.

Harry assured us that we had finished our work with the Boggarts, and Edward seemed to finally start relaxing. We waited for the rest of the group to show up, before Harry assigned us our new task: Patronuses.

"It has to be the happiest memory you've got," he told everyone, "Otherwise, the misery takes over and the Dementor has you."

He raised his wand and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!" to demonstrate. A silvery stag burst from the tip of his wand and galloped once around the room before fading into smoke. He earned a round of applause, and then told us to start practising.

I concentrated on my happiest memories: the first time I saw Edward; the first time he told me he loved me; the moment we both said "I do"; our first night together on Isle Esme; meeting Renesmee for the first time; my first hunt as a vampire and the night that followed; the moment the Volturi left us in peace and we realised we'd all survived; I concentrated on all of it and raised my wand.

"Expecto Patronum!" I shouted. My wand emitted a small wisp of silvery smoke, but nothing more. I frowned and tried again.

"Here," said Edward, taking my hand, "This might help." He looked deeply into my eyes and held my hand tightly. "Now try."

Again, I concentrated on my memories and Edward's face before me and tried again.

"Expecto Patronum!"

This time, my Patronus had a distinct shape. It stood on the ground and looked up at me.

"It's a lamb!" I said, surprised.

Edward beamed and conjured his own Patronus.

"The lion and the lamb," he murmured, squeezing my hand.

We watched the lion walk up to the lamb and lick the top of its head affectionately.

"Well done, guys!" exclaimed Harry, coming over to us.

"Why are our Patronuses these creatures?" I asked.

"Usually they reflect the person who conjures them," he replied, "My dad was an animagus, so mine is a stag, like he was."

I thought through my dim human memories. "And so the lion fell in love with the lamb!" I remembered. How could I ever forget? It was the first time Edward insinuated that he loved me.

"And the lion still loved the lamb when she was a lioness," said Edward now, smiling at me.

We were interrupted by Alice's squeal of delight. We looked over to her and saw a swan circling her gracefully. Beside her, Jasper was watching a hawk flying over his head.

The others in our family were all staring at their own partners, and in doing this successfully conjured their Patronuses.

Jacob and Renesmee both had wolves that prowled around them. Emmett's was a large bear that stood up on two feet and tried swiping at a bit of dust in the air. Rosalie's was a peacock, strutting around proudly.

"That's brilliant, you six!" Harry called to them, beaming with what I could only imagine was pride, "Great job!"

"Thanks, man," replied Jacob. He didn't take his eyes off Renesmee, who was stroking the head of her Patronus.

"They're really beautiful!" she exclaimed.

Hermione wandered over, followed by a silvery otter. "They are sort of nice, aren't they?" she agreed.

"That's not the point of them," said Harry, although he was smiling a little, "They're supposed to protect you. And don't forget they would be harder to conjure in front of a real Dementor."

"Oh, don't be such a killjoy," said Cho brightly, watching her own Patronus and smiling.

I nudged Harry gently in the side. "Have you two made up?" I whispered.

He shrugged. "I dunno. Sort of, maybe."

That was when Alice stiffened, looking horrified. "What on earth is that woman doing?" she hissed.

The family circled her, looking anxious, and I noticed my Patronus fade away.

"Alice? What's happened?" I asked.

"Not here," she replied, and began pulling us out of the room.

As the eight of us left, I heard Harry say, "Er, that's enough for tonight. We'll meet again next week."

We ducked into an empty classroom and Alice shut the door very deliberately behind her.

"What did you see, Alice?" asked Jasper.

She shook her head. "Umbridge…she must be out of her mind!"

"What's she done?" I wondered nervously.

"She must have got some crazy idea in her head that Albus is conspiring against the Ministry of Magic. She's contacting Cornelius Fudge as we speak. They're going to…" she broke off with a gasp, "No!"

"What?" we all asked.

"They're going to arrest Professor Dumbledore," she finished shakily.

"But they can't!" I exclaimed, "Don't they understand? The students here need Albus!"

"No, they don't understand," said Edward grimly, "They're paranoid. Their denial's made them go mad."

"We've got to warn Dumbledore!" cried Renesmee.

"There's no point," muttered Alice, "He can't do anything about it, and he won't run. He's not the kind of person to hide."

"But…" I began.

"There isn't anything we can do, Bella," said Alice, "Cornelius Fudge has just left the Ministry. He will be here by midnight and Albus will be gone by morning."

"Can't we at least talk to them; tell them he's innocent?"

Edward was shaking his head. "Umbridge may be ignorant of our kind, but I doubt Mr Fudge is. If he finds out Albus let vampires into the school, it won't help our case. And if they get rid of him, then we at least have to stay."

Alice cried out suddenly, her eyes glazing over once again. "No!" she shouted, sounding even more horrified than before, "No, no, no!"

"What is it?" six voices asked apprehensively.

She looked up at us, trembling, and I noticed Edward was frozen in horror. "It gets worse. The Volturi have made their decision."

I choked out a gasp. "They're joining Voldemort?"

Alice nodded slowly. "This is bad. This is very bad," she breathed.

The door suddenly swung open and Harry, Ron and Hermione entered.

"What's going on?" wondered Harry.

We all looked at each other. I really didn't want to give Harry something else to stress over, and if we told him he would do something stupid, I was sure of it.

"Nothing," replied Alice smoothly, "You don't need to worry."

And she was such a good liar that they believed her.

***

The next morning Harry stormed up to me and Edward, furious.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he demanded.

We tried acting innocent. "Tell you what?" I asked.

"Don't play dumb! Alice saw Umbridge get Dumbledore kicked out, didn't she?"

I sighed and Edward nodded.

"And you didn't say anything?" he yelled.

"Calm down, Harry," I told him gently, but he was too angry.

"We could've stopped them!" Harry shouted, "We could've…"

"We could've done nothing, Harry," said Edward seriously, "There isn't anything we could've done to help him."

"We didn't tell you because we knew you'd do something rash and make things worse," I said, "We know you, Harry."

Harry glared at us and took a few deep breaths. "Umbridge and some of the students noticed us disappearing in the evenings when we had the DA meetings. She thought Dumbledore was training us to fight. It's my fault…"

"No!" I said sharply, "Don't blame yourself! It is not your fault."

Harry looked lost for a second, and I wanted to comfort him, but he spun on his heel and marched off.

Professor Umbridge named herself Headmistress of Hogwarts that morning, to the Slytherins' glee and everyone else's dismay. She formed her own little army of students, the 'Inquisitorial Squad', who strutted proudly around the school like particularly evil hall monitors. It was a great topic of gossip in the Gryffindor common room that evening.

"So have Umbridge's minions docked points from any of you yet?" asked Fred.

Harry, Ron and Hermione scowled and nodded.

"They got Emmett at lunch because he was apparently being too loud," I said, "But I think they were just hoping to impress Rose."

Edward shook his head in disgust. "It didn't work."

"Yeah," nodded George, "Montague tried to get us this morning but we shoved him in the Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor before he could finish."

"Haven't seen him since," added Fred casually.

I frowned in disapproval. "But you could've hurt him!" I scolded.

"I hope so," said Fred, "He'd deserve it."

"That's terrible," I told them coldly.

"We're sorry we can't be as ethical as the almighty vampires," answered George, rolling his eyes, and Edward and I shushed him with stern glares.

"But you'll get into terrible trouble!" exclaimed Hermione.

They shrugged. "We don't really care about getting into trouble anymore," Fred explained, "We think that now, with Dumbledore gone, a bit of mayhem is just what our new Head deserves."

"And what does that entail?" asked Ron nervously.

George winked. "You'll find out tomorrow at lunch."

"And you stay out of our heads," Fred warned Edward, wagging a finger at him.

At noon the next day we found out exactly what kind of mischief the twins had in mind. We were sitting at the Gryffindor table, talking with Ron and Hermione, when a loud BANG! echoed throughout the hall, shaking the windows.

Everyone dashed to the doors and looked out into the Entrance Hall cautiously, just as another bang sounded. It didn't take long to find the source of the noise. Someone had set off a collection of bright fireworks, and the Hall was full of coloured sparks.

"Brilliant!" shouted Ron, grinning like the Cheshire cat.

Professor Umbridge ran into the hall, shrieking threats, and Harry followed her, only to stop and laugh at the prank.

"What was he doing with her?" I asked Edward.

"She tried to slip him a truth potion," he replied quietly.

I frowned in worry, but then a few more fireworks went off and I had to laugh. Rosalie came up behind us.

"Where's Emmett?" she asked, gritting her teeth.

"Uh oh."

Edward burst out laughing. We looked around and saw Emmett running out of the hall after a flash of red.

"He is in big trouble," growled Rose, stalking off after him.

Alice, Jasper, Renesmee and Jacob joined us, and we leaned back to enjoy the show. Everyone applauded every few minutes, and clapped when Professor Umbridge unsuccessfully tried to get rid of the fireworks.

For the rest of the day, classes were interrupted by stray fireworks, and even the teachers seemed to enjoy them. Or perhaps it was just watching Umbridge running around after the crackers that amused them.

Even more amusing was watching Rosalie shout at Emmett for joining the Weasleys in their prank. In the end, he reluctantly promised not to do it again and trudged off gloomily. He seemed to cheer up by evening, though. At dinner, he stood up and shouted, "Long live the ranga twins!" to much applause. (A/N For those who don't know the term, 'ranga' is short for orang-utan, and is used in reference to red-heads where I live.)

There was a party in the Gryffindor common room that night, in which Fred and George were the centre of attention. I shouted out congratulations over the noise, and Edward clapped them on the back before we went up to the dormitory for peace and quiet.

When Harry came up to bed, he had another dream from which I couldn't block him, and Edward recited quietly in my ear. Apparently, the dream had progressed further than usual before he was abruptly woken by another firework outside. We were starting to worry that he wasn't as anxious about the visions as he probably should've been. But maybe we were making a fuss over nothing.