Harry Potter and the Wars of Heaven by Princess Silverstar
Disclaimer: I own nothing of HP & SM
Chapter 4: The Best Class and the Mystery.
Although Harry felt reassured by Kimberly's words, it is definitely uncomfortable to be the centre of attention…again. This was the most uncomfortable Transfiguration class ever for the whole class. They were learning about Animagus but the students were too distracted by Trelawney's prediction that they kept glancing at Harry as if he would fall dead anytime. And Harry kept glaring back at them.
A small sigh sounded from behind him and he turned back to see a bored expression on Kimberly's face and a wry smile on Serenity. He smiled in amusement, glad that someone was acting different from the rest. It reminded him of last year when everyone thought that he was the Heir of Slytherin. Fred and George were the only ones who openly joked about it, and it made him feel better.
Then, he abruptly turned back to the front of the classroom when Professor McGonagall's patience had run out and demanded to know what happened. It was Hermione who told the professor what had happened. Professor McGonagall scoffed at the report and told the class to not take it too seriously as the future is uncertain.
"I can assure you that the last student that had her death predicted is still very well and alive. And if you would please concentrate in class, you will be tested on this topic." She continued as she ignored the groans of the class. For the first time, Harry loved it when she do that, he grinned as he continued to take down notes.
On the way to the next class, his favourite subject, the Defence Against the Dark Arts, he looked around for Hermione. It was a shame that they never get an appropriate teacher for it. Where is Hermione anyway?! Then, he saw the Kensington twins ahead of him and he rushed over to them.
"Hey," he said as he fell into steps with them.
"Hey, Harry," they replied simultaneously with identical smiles.
"Did you manage to complete the notes for the Animagus?" he asked. He wanted to ask from Hermione, but she was never around lately.
"Um, yea," Kimberly said with a smile whereas Serenity gave him a sheepish smile.
"Can I borrow them? I still have some parts that I couldn't write down on time."
"Yea, sure, but you might have to give me some time. There are some important notes that I have all over my text which I want to add it into my notes before I get lazy." She said.
"How about we study together?" Someone interrupted. "There were some parts that I don't quite understand," the boy smiled charmingly. A Hufflepuff.
"Um, okay. But what's your timetable?" Kimberly asked.
"Er…Here," the boy dug his timetable out from his bag pocket and pass it to her.
"Well, we can meet up in the Great Hall since we have an hour's break after lunch, or would you prefer the library?" She suggested again.
"Erm, the Great Hall will be fine," he said suddenly nervous and pulled almost gently at his timetable, "See you, then." He called over his shoulder.
"What's wrong with him?" Harry asked.
Kimberly sighed and rolled her eyes. Serenity giggled and nodded her head to the back, "Andrew's at the back,"
Harry looked past the girls, and lo and behold, Andrew was there with his mates, glaring coldly at the place the Hufflepuff boy disappeared to. He vaguely registered that Kimberly turned to look at Andrew. Andrew's eyes suddenly darted towards them and then hastily look away and hurried away with his friends.
"Let's go," Kimberly said, shaking her head.
…………………………………
"This is the best DADA class ever!" One of the Gryffindor boys said as they were walking from their class.
The new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher was the new talk of the school. For the first time, they experienced practical classes. They were taught to defend themselves against a boggart.
It was the most interesting class throughout Harry's three years in Hogwarts. It was interesting to learn each other's fear and watch them conquer it and turned it into something funny.
"Right, good job, Miss Green. Next, Miss Kensington," Professor Lupin applaud with a huge grin and called to the next student in line.
What the boggart turned into was unexpected. A tall beautiful woman with flaming red hair, pale skin, and wearing a purple strapless gown sneered at the student.
Kimberly was not surprised that the boggart took the form of that woman, but she stepped out of her line to her sister's side to give her support. All their classmates gasped at the evil look the woman portrayed but that was not all they were shocked about. Surrounding the woman was a black shadow that seems to be the source of her power.
Serenity stood rooted by the memory of her nemesis. Fear and pain gripped her that she had difficulty in breathing.
"Usagi!" Kimberly called as Serenity vaguely registered her sister stood by her side, but she was too absorbed by the woman. "Usagi, it's not real!" Kimberly grabbed hold of her shoulders and whispered into her ear.
'Not real?' Usagi thought, choking on her own fear, 'The boggart!' she realised. Her hand tightened on her wand and with renewed strength, she shouted out, "Riddikulus!"
The woman bloated and was forced to jump around as if she was being dribbled like a basketball, and the pitiful scream of the woman cause everyone to laugh. Serenity smiled weakly as she leaned slightly on her sister for support. Kimberly was helping her back as the class applaud encouragingly.
"Good job, good job! Why don't you give a try, Kimberly," Professor Lupin said.
Immediately, the twins stopped walking. Serenity looked at her sister uncertainly as Kimberly turned pale as she turn around and stared at the bouncing evil woman/boggart. Someone pushed her to the front of the line and the boggart turned into…her. Well, a darker her. The boggart her had a high and mighty air about it that even the proudest of Slytherins couldn't rival.
"Oh, look. What do we have here?" the boggart sneered.
The whole class became silent as they didn't expect it but they were anticipating what's about to happen. They were looking at Kimberly, waiting for her to cast the spell. But she was as still as a statue. The boggart began to lose its confidence and changed into a very handsome young man in medieval clothing. It roared and marched up to her, but it bounced back with a force that caused it to crash into the desks arranged along the wall. With lighting speed, it fled back into the cupboard.
"Ka-chan! Daijoubu? [1]" Serenity quickly rushed to her as she slipped onto the ground, but was pushed back by an invisible energy.
"Hikari!" The classroom door burst opened and Andrew rushed in and hurried to her side. The others tried to come nearer but they were forced back further. Harry watched as Andrew whispered to her and apparently calmed her down and helped her up.
"Go on and take some fresh air." He said softly but audible to them. Kimberly turned swiftly and disappeared through the door. Harry realised despite the shock a moment ago that her steps are light and soundless. Well, almost soundless.
Andrew straightened up and addressed everyone, mainly the professor, "I'm sorry, this must be a shock to all of you. My sister reacts differently towards fear." He said with a smile that reminded Harry of Lockhart their last year's DADA professor. He turned to Serenity and pulled her to her feet with ease.
"Daijoubu?[1]" he asked. She nodded and made a move to follow her sister but Andrew had a firm grip on her, "Dame[2] Usagi," he said in a warning tone.
"Demo[3] Ka-chan-" Serenity started.
"Ma ma daijoubu[4]," he said reassuringly and reached up to ruffle her hair, "Your sister is strong, she'll be fine." He said with a smile and then he frowned, "But you should be more careful when she is like that."
"When she is like what?" Harry couldn't help but asked.
Andrew turned to look at him for a moment and sighed, "When she feels vulnerable. Like what you see just now, she creates a force field around herself and only selected few is able to approach her. To those who force their way through…" he paused and breathed in deeply. He looked around the classroom before approaching Harry and pulled him away from the crowd and whispered, "She could have resolved to killing." Harry's jaw dropped in surprise.
"But it's a boggart, she knows that too." Harry replied.
Andrew returned him a look as if it was obvious, "Kimmy has very strong pride, unfortunately. She'll never use that spell on her double."
"Our parents are Aurors," he then said out loud for the benefit of those around them as he walked out of the room, paying respect to the professor. "It is only natural that we were taught how to defend ourselves against danger or at least survive from it. Do excuse me, professor."
"Well, that was interesting." Lupin mused with amazement at the power the girl has portrayed as he looked at the cupboard.
[1] Daijoubu? – Are you alright?
[2] Dame – Don't
[3] Demo – But
[4] Ma ma daijoubu – It's all right/ Don't worry