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The Boggart

Earlier...

She reached the Fat Lady's portrait without coming across anyone. She double-tapped the portrait three times. Just as she was about to knock again, Harry opened the door, looking at her through heavy-lidded eyes, his hair in disarray and glasses askew.

"Finally, you're here. I thought you'd be there till early morning. Well, I'm off to bed," Harry muttered. He went up the stairs, calling out behind his back, "Good night, Hermi. See you in the morning."

Hermione stared at him for a moment and sighed gratefully. "Thanks, Harry."

Continued...

Hermione's POV

"So you are telling us that you met the Founders after following a unicorn, which willingly approached you, in the middle of the Forbidden Forest." Ginny looked at me with wide eyes as she paced on the grass in front of me. Luna just looked at me calmly as if meeting the Founders was a normal occurrence. We always meet here, at the boulder by Hagrid's hut where I had encountered the unicorn yesterday, to discuss anything away from prying ears.

I looked in Luna's reassuring cloud gray eyes. I could always count on her to maintain her cool.

"Ginevra, you do know that this is Hermione we are talking about, don't you? She would never joke about something like this." Luna calmly twirled a flower stalk between her fingers.

"Well, that's true but still." Ginny dropped onto the boulder besides me. "It's just, many dark lords have tried to resurrect the Founders just to steal their power or to learn from them. If anyone comes to know about this, you are going to be in oodles of danger."

"Don't worry, Ginny, no one knows except you two. And we'll never talk of this in the castle. The portraits are the worst gossips I've ever seen. Now, you both need to promise me that the boys or anyone else won't get a whiff of this."

"Of course, you can count on us to keep this to ourselves," responded Luna.

"I simply can't wait to meet them," sighed Ginny dreamily. Luna and I exchanged glances. Ginny's mood swings were as typical as her Bat-Bogey Hex.

We split up then and went to our respective classes. During our double History of Magic lecture, Harry reminded me we had decided to see Professor Lupin after lunch. I realized the Founder's meeting conflicted with our Boggart lesson but I couldn't give that reason to Harry. Despite the time-turner, I decided to try that mind speech thing that Slytherin had told me about.

'Godric Gryffindor' I whispered in my mind. Somehow, I felt more comfortable to talk with the Founder of my house.

'Yes, Miss Granger?' replied Lord Gryffindor, his soft-spoken, disembodied voice sounding as though he stood beside me, and yet, it felt so distant.

'Sir, I apologize for the inconvenience but can we postpone the meeting one hour after lunch?'

'Of course you can. I'll inform the others. Now, do pay attention to your class, or I'll have to deduct points from my own house.' I could hear the laughter in his voice.

'Yes, sir.'

Now I'll have to inform Luna and Ginny during lunch of the change in our plans.

The sun lit up the DADA classroom brilliantly.

"Professor Lupin, may we come in?"

"Yes. Come on in. What did you want to discuss?" There were pieces of parchment scattered around on his normally impeccable desk. He folded his hands on the desk in front of him as Harry and I entered.

"Sir, we were wondering if we could practice on the Boggart? Me and Hermione don't know what our fears are, you see," Harry started explaining.

"Of course, but Harry, first I need to ask you a question. Is it Lord Voldemort?" replied Professor Lupin.

"Umm, no. Actually sir, I think it may be a Dementor." Harry ran a hand through his hair. Professor Lupin had a look of surprise on his face.

"Miss Granger, what about you? What do you suppose your Boggart is?" Professor Lupin looked at me with open curiosity as he arose from his desk.

"I've no idea." I won't be here if I knew that, would I?

"It's alright, Miss Granger. I asked so that you might know what to think of while performing the spell. Now you both remember the spell, don't you? Think of what your Boggart might be and how you're turning it to something funny." The professor moved to the door at the back of the classroom, which led to his office.

I wonder what my greatest fear could be. What if it was all books getting burned or being told I have failed in my exams by my favourite teacher? How could I turn it to something funny? Let me think. I suppose I could make the fire turn into paper that's cut such that it looks like fire (like in old movies). I don't know how to turn the second scenario funny. I know it's not possible for me to fail after all the work I'be done, but this irrational fear stemmed from the fact that if you got expelled from Hogwarts you'd be exiled to the Muggle world and get your wand snapped.

"Here you are. Who wants to go first?" Professor Lupin entered the classroom holding a huge maroon chest, breaking us out of our thoughts.

"Sir, I'd like to try first." This way, I could get it out of the way.

"Alright, Miss Granger. On the count of three, I'll open the trunk. Be prepared."

I nodded, fearing if I spoke I might back out. Some Gryffindor I am.

"One."

I adjusted my grip on the wand.

"Two."

I recited the spell in the back of my mind.

"Three."

Draco Malfoy came out the trunk, sneering, "Mudbloods like you shouldn't be allowed to enter our world." I froze.

It turned into Miranda, my childhood nemesis.

"Ooh, here comes Miss Books-are-my-best-friend Granger. Who could like such a bushy-haired, buck-toothed, irritating bookworm?" I felt my resolve breaking, as I felt the wand digging into my palm.

It turned into the Daily Prophet, announcing like a Howler, "All the Muggleborns are to be registered, have their wands snapped and their memories of the wizarding world wiped. They are hereby exiled to the Muggle world and never shall a Muggleborn step foot inside a wizarding establishment ever again. Those who are not..."

I realized then, I was in the classroom, tears streaming down my face. Harry was trying to snap me out of it. Taking a deep breath, I thought of throwing the paper into a fireplace and the fire having jaws eating the paper, and uttered, "Riddiculus."

Just as I visualized it, the paper gets thrown into a fire by an invisible hand and the fire then takes the shape of an overly animated jaws of the shark, consuming the paper. I mentally sighed.

As I took a step back, Harry squeezed my hand. He stepped forward. The boggart blurred and darkened. Swirling, it took the form of a Dementor. I could feel its depressing effect. I saw fear and hopelessness on Harry's face as l looked at him. The Dementor extended its gnarly fingers towards him. He stood frozen. I wanted to shout at him, but the words stayed in my throat. He raised his wand and I saw determination flash across his face for a second before he shouted the spell.

The Dementors hood flew up to reveal a pumpkin for a head and its cloak had turned white with pink polka dots. I smiled.

"Okay, now, Harry, slowly advance with your wand raised, forcing it back in the trunk." Professor Lupin gestured Harry as he held open the trunk's lid.

Harry did as he was told and Professor Lupin closed the trunk with a thud.

Author's note: So how was the chapter. Read and review, please! The founders meeting coming up next and some truths revealed! Stay tuned:-)

My thanks to those who took the time to read and review: samdeesingh, twin sister, Grovek26, AliceEnchanted, karima loves fanfiction dot net, Guest.