HIDDEN DEEP INSIDE
Mrs Curtis went down the steps carefully, hands on both sides of her enormous belly. She was a little witch with brown hair properly tied up under a velvet bibi, who wore a very fit dove-gray gown, short and adorned with small pearl buttons. Her high pointy collar was folded behind her neck and her black lace tights were harmonized with her mittens.
- "Hello, children", she said in her elegant Queen's accent. "Welcome to our last class together."
Some girls complained, but most students were too intrigued by the mysterious wardrobe to be concerned about the announcement.
- "Today, there will be no boring theory, but some excitement as we'll practice this spell", the professor continued, amused. "Could one of you tell me what's in the wardrobe?"
Terrence raised his hand.
- "I think it's a Boggart", he said. "A creature that lurks in dark corners and takes the shape of what scares most whoever comes across it."
The woman nodded approvingly.
- "Very good, Mr. Swanson. Five points to Gryffindor."
Samuel Flinch-Fletchey nudged Craig Finnigan behind Wendy's back.
- "How much do I like when we're not having class with Ravenclaw!" he whispered. "Swanson's smarter than Weasley, but that mouth of hers is faster than a bladderwort."
Miranda Brown turned and glared at him.
"Shut up, you dolt. D'you want to make us loose these points right away?" she mouthed silently.
Mrs Curtis took a few steps into the room, which seemed strangely empty with the desks pushed to the sides. She patted the wardrobe that continued to shake ferociously.
- "To be more precise, Boggarts take the shape of your most hidden fear", she explained. "It may be an irrational phobia or even a trauma. This is why, despite the fun side of this class, I will ask you to show the utmost respect for your classmates. We do not always know what scares us the most and you might be surprised."
An uncomfortable buzz ran through the students.
- "Do we all have to face it? asked Violet Morgensten, pursing her lips. "I don't..."
She shut up when she met the severe glance of their teacher.
- "None of you will get away from the exercise", said Mrs Curtis coldly. "It may be unpleasant, but mastering defense against a Boggart will help you learn to keep your cool in all circumstances."
She went to the window and cleared her throat.
- "Well then", she said, sitting on the edge, bothered by her big belly. "Repeat after me: Riddikulus!"
The students dutifully obeyed.
- "Can you imagine if we had had our wands in hand?" chuckled Fabius Macmillan in the ear of Emile Scarecrow, whose face split into an irrepressible smirk. "She could have suddenly found herself in her panties - or worse!"
The hubbub fortunately prevented their teacher from hearing, but Scorpius, who was next to Fabius, crushed his toes under his foot.
- "Did you swear to make us lose the House Cup, or what?" he hissed under his breath.
Macmillan merely shrugged.
- "Riddikulus", he repeated carelessly.
- "All right", said the teacher who rose again and stood in front of them. "Now, here's what will happen. You will stand one by one in front of the wardrobe and the boggart will take the shape of your worst nightmare. You will raise your wand and pronounce the incantation. Be careful, though, that's not all it takes. The only thing that can throw off a boggart is ... "
She paused and frowned, staring at Albus who was in front of her.
- "Mr. Potter, is everything all right?"
Terrence and Wendy, who were standing on each side of their friend, immediately turned their heads toward him.
The green-eyed boy lost countenance.
- Uh ... yes, yes, I'm fine. Why?"
Mrs Curtis arched her eyebrows.
- "You don't look so good. It isn't the idea of facing the Boggart that bothers you, I hope?"
Albus blushed at the muffled sneers behind him.
- "No, not at all, professor!" he said hastily. "I ... it's just that I ... I didn't eat much for breakfast this morning."
It was true, but it still looked like he was lying.
Mrs Curtis glared at him.
- "Hum. So I was saying", she went on, turning to the wardrobe which frantic shaking had increased. "The only thing that can throw off a boggart is laughter. To counterbalance your fears, imagine something totally inept."
Miranda Brown raised her hand.
- "Could you show us an example, please, Professor?"
The woman seemed about to accept, then she saw something beyond the group of students and her face darkened.
- "No", she replied dryly. "I'm no Professor Lupin, I do not think it is always necessary to facilitate learning for the students."
- "Who's that?" Finnigan muttered. "Her replacement?"
Mrs Curtis clapped her hands.
- "All right, children. Form a line, now! Wands at hand, ladies and gentlemen."
While everyone was pushing and pulling in an excited jabber, Terrence discreetly looked at the back.
- "Professor Longbottom's here", he whispered, leaning over to his two friends.
Wendy cast a glance toward the door, surprised.
- "Doesn't he have a class with Slytherin at this hour?"
- "Maybe he got tired of them and gave them a study on carnivorous plants", Albus said. He was leaning against the wooden pillar of the room and looked like he was trying to disappear.
Wendy cocked her head to the side.
- "She was right, you are pale", she said in a worried tone.
- "I'm perfectly fine", Albus shrugged. "It's just that I really - really – don't want to do this stupid exercise."
Terrence smiled. He crossed his arms.
- "Why? What scares you anyway? And don't tell me it's an animal, because I won't believe you..."
- "Are you ready, Mr. Finnigan?" asked Mrs Curtis in a loud voice, standing at safe distance from the wardrobe.
She waved her wand and the latch unlocked. The cabinet ceased to move and roar. For a moment, silence filled the room, then the door opened, creaking. A zombie slipped out, his face dripping with green slimy goo, dirty bandages loose on his arms.
- "Ri ... Riddikulus!" Craig mumbled.
There was a resounding CRACK! and the zombie found himself wearing a pineapple-peach melba hat.
Samuel Flinch-Fletchey, who was behind Finnigan, burst into forced laughter, then turned pale as the boggart suddenly changed into a swarm of giant wasps that chased after him.
- "Riddikulus!"
CRACK!
The wasps tumbled on the floor, bouncing, turned into gumdrops.
- "What's with wasps?" Wendy muttered, bewildered.
- "He's allergic", said Terrence, looking more and more interested in the exercise.
While the Boggart changed into a rabid dog then into a meowing dog in front of Sandie Morgensten, Albus leaned back further in his corner, sitting almost on the wooden floor.
- "I think I'm freaking out a little bit", said Wendy in a slightly pitched voice while observing Emile Scarecrow make a pterodactyl skeleton do tap dance.
Terrence's smile widened.
- "Why? You're the bravest girl I know! Or craziest, maybe."
She gave him a shove.
- "It's just that this creature gets you by surprise! Say, I'm scared of crawling bugs, but who knows, it might just change into my cousin Diana when she had her foot crushed by a car. It was horrible! I don't want to go through that again either..."
- "And I'm sure it will turn into James when it's my turn", Albus said through clenched teeth, his head down. "I hate that. The whole school will know and it'll be a living hell ..."
Terrence affectionately tousled his friend's hair.
- "Don't worry. I'm sure no one will have time to notice. Imagine him turning into a super ugly thing. A baby mandrake or a weasel."
- "You all right, Potter?" whispered Professor Longbottom, who had made his way to them. "Mrs Abbot told me she was not very pleased with you. You were supposed to return to the infirmary this morning, not to go to class. I know you're a rather conscientious student, but I have difficulty understanding why a fifteen years old healthy teenager would disregard a golden opportunity to miss school..."
There was some irritation in his tone.
- "I'm sorry, sir", Albus said, rising up awkwardly. "But I'm fine, I promise... I ..."
A scream interrupted him.
- "Do not panic, Miss Caradoc", intervened quietly Professor Curtis, while the girl slumped to the floor, shaking with chills, her bulging eyes staring at the half-vampire, half-goblin thing coming to her breathing heavily. "Think of something ridiculous. Say the incantation and believe in it strongly ..."
But Jane shook her head, tears streaming down her face, and crawled back farther.
Mrs Curtis sighed.
- "Mr. Malfoy, on to you. Step forward, please!"
Scorpius obeyed, his back straight and his face stiff.
The boggart swirled into a greenish haze of smoke, then changed into a forty years old man, tall and slim, dressed in a white shirt. His blond hair was slicked back and he had aristocratic features. He would have been handsome if his face had not been distorted by a half-desperate, half-hateful smirk.
- "Who's this?" Wendy whispered. "He looks like ..."
- "Scorpius", finished Albus. "Maybe it's his father?"
The man was pulling up his shirt's sleeve and Malfoy was blanching visibly, his eyes staring at the ghostly figure, completely petrified.
- "What does he have on his arm?" asked Terrence, rising on tiptoe to see over Fabius Macmillan's head.
There was something black, like a sort of half-erased inscription on the man's arm.
The students began to whisper: this was not scary, it was just ... weird.
Neville Longbottom made his way through the group and put his hand on Scorpius' shoulder.
- "Calm down, Mr. Malfoy", he said gently. "Take your time, you can do it."
Scorpius swallowed hard. He pointed his wand at the blonde man who winced.
- "Riddikulus!" he uttered.
CRACK!
The strange mark changed into a sailor tattoo, a red heart pierced by a roughly drawn anchor.
Mrs Curtis frowned.
- "I would be grateful if you did not intervene in my class, Neville", she said icily.
Professor Longbottom pulled away with an embarrassed smile.
- "I'm sorry, Mauritia, I meant no harm", he said while the Boggart took the shape of a hairy, wet rat in front of Violet Morgensten who began to squeal.
- "Riddikulus, riddikulus, riddikulus!"
CRACK!
The rat was suddenly wearing pink curlers.
The line of students who had not yet passed in front of the Boggart had decreased significantly. Scorpius, still in shock, sat next to Jane Caradoc who was blowing her nose as if she was trying to choke herself to death. The others looked at them from a little distance, whispering among themselves.
Albus, looking like a death row prisoner, followed behind Terrence who was getting in line with a thrill of excitement. Wendy was behind them. She was bitting her lower lip nervously.
- "What are you doing here, Neville?" gritted Mrs Curtis, keeping her eyes on the 4th year.
- "I came to get Potter", the man replied calmly. "He's sick and should be in the infirmary."
- "Since when is it your job to assist Mrs Abbot?" snorted the woman. "Don't make me laugh. Apparently Potter had fun during the night with his roommates who behave like infamous baboons, that's all. I don't know why you're so indulgent with some of your students. It will be of no use for them later on."
CRACK!
She lifted her chin, looking very much displeased, her arms crossed over her big belly like an angry chubby gerbil.
Neville Longbottom suppressed a grin despite the anxiety that seemed to gnaw at his heart.
- "Mauritia, you know I'm not doing this..." he tried again.
Terrence, who was watching the dialogue, trying to read their lips as they muttered, was forced to divert his attention when Kevin Mordecrat stepped aside.
The Boggart whirled into a cloud of gray smoke then changed into a dragon. The blond teenager suddenly felt like he was six again and watching, terrified, a giant lizard suddenly bursting out his storybook.
- "Uh-uh..."
He stepped back almost despite himself.
Shiny bronze scales, dilated nostrils, a steel tail, the spine covered with sharp quills, empty eyes like opals...
The dragon let out a torrent of flames and Terrence swallowed wrong.
It's okay. I'm fine. It's not burning for real. I'm not six, this is not the first time I see magic and I have a wand in hand.
He raised his arm.
- "Riddikulus!" he said firmly.
CRACK!
The dragon stepped on his wing and stumbled. He fell without elegance and found himself on his back, whining, making Terrence almost want to pat his belly like you'd do to a good doggie.
- "Your turn", he said with a smile, stepping aside to let Albus come forth.
Professor Longbottom got up and almost tripped over when Mrs Curtis caught him by the sleeve.
- "You will not stop Potter from doing the exercise", she hissed, outraged. "I had his brother before him and I know he will not make Voldemort appear!"
- "You don't understand, Mauritia", stammered Neville. "Albus is - different ..."
She glared at him, but he was not looking, staring at the yellow smoke that billowed above the floor.
A silhouette with messy hair began to take shape and Wendy prayed for Albus to be fast enough to cast the spell before the others would recognize his brother.
Terrence clenched his fists in his pockets as if it could have helped.
Come on, Al ... who cares for James. He's a jerk. You shouldn't compare to him, you're worth him a thousand times ... I don't know why you have this inferiority complex, but...
The figure was slowly looming out - and it was not James. It was a man of thirty, with the same mop of black hair, the same sharp features and the same way of standing with his pelvis slightly askew.
He was wearing a jacket with fur on the hood and held his wand. Behind his round glasses, his green eyes were filled with despair.
- "Hey, it's James Potter's father, there was his picture on the front page of the Daily Prophet the day before yesterday", said Fabius Macmillan, intrigued.
Craig Finnigan gave him a nudge.
- "You dummy", he whispered. "If it's James's father, it's also Albus's, git."
- "Oh, it's Harry Potter", cried Violet. "They say he will be the next Minister of Magic!"
The whispers swelled in the room in seconds.
Albus was still standing in front of the Boggart and looked at him blankly.
Cold sweat was running down his back and his fingers trembled on his wand, but he did not know why.
It was his father.
His father whom he adored, in whom he had complete trust.
Neville tried to free his arm.
- "Oh no - nonononono ..." he muttered a broken voice.
But Professor Curtis did not let go.
Terrence looked at Scorpius who had stood up, his eyes widening too.
The man in the smoke raised his wand and opened his mouth.
- "Avada Keda ..." he yelled, just before Neville rushed to Albus and sent the boggart back in the wardrobe with a blow of magic that lit up the whole room.
The door slammed shut and the wardrobe began rumbling and shaking furiously again.
Terrence realized he had held his breath and breathed in, his heart pounding.
- "Albus!" cried Wendy, catching the green-eyed boy who was deadly pale, as he swayed on his feet.
A wand fell to the floor and rolled away slowly.
- "What does this mean?" Mrs Curtis articulated in an unsteady voice.
Professor Longbottom did not answer. He had turned to Albus and took out of his pocket a chocolate bar that he was breaking into pieces. The woman put a strand of hair behind her ear to compose herself then took a few steps towards the students that remained stunned.
- "Class... class is over", she said. "You, uh. You can take your stuff and – off you go."
Scorpius was approaching hesitantly when Albus suddenly freed the arm Wendy was holding and fled the room, clasping a hand on his mouth. Terrence hurried behind him, almost immediately followed by the girl.
Neville Longbottom watched them leave and ran a hand over his aghast face.
- "What did we do …?" he stuttered. "Oh, Harry ... What did we do ...?"
The sun was streaming into the vast almost empty room and slid over the wooden floor.
The wardrobe continued to shake like a crazy prisoner behind bars.
The students left the room one after the other in a heavy silence barely disturbed by their whispers.
Mauritia Curtis was putting away books that did not need to be tidied up on the window sill.
Scorpius Malfoy picked up the wand that had fallen to the ground and left the last, after a glance at the Herbology teacher who seemed suddenly very tired.
In the boys' bathroom, down the hall, Albus was throwing up, leaning over the sink, his knuckles white, his hands clenched on the porcelain. Wendy was at his side and rubbed his back gently, tears welling up in her eyes. Terrence was leaning back against the wall of the toilet cubicles, his arms crossed, and waited silently.
Albus finally turned on the water. His back was shivering and from the way he sputtered and half choked, you would have thought he was crying. He rinsed his mouth and copiously splattered his face.
- "You okay ...?" Wendy asked in a small worried voice, handing him a tissue.
His hair dripping, Albus turned his head toward her and she bit her lip.
His jaw was contracted, he was even paler than before and the drops rolling down his cheeks continuously had nothing to do with the cold tap water.
- "It's okay, Al", said Terrence quietly, from where he was standing.
Albus turned to him and the movement made him sway. He caught himself on the edge of the sink. His legs were shaking. His hand went up to his chest and tightened on his wet sweater.
- "Why?" he rasped. "What have I'..."
He winced and doubled over.
- "Al!" Wendy yelped helplessly. "Al, you okay? Does it hurt? Is it from yesterday?"
Terrence had jumped to them and grabbed his friend to keep him from falling.
- "Al, breathe, mate, okay? It will be fine. I promise you will be fine. We'll clear it up. There's got to be a rational explanation as to why he... why he ..."
The words had difficulty passing his lips.
His fingers clutched convulsively on his sweater, Albus looked up.
- "Why my dad tried to kill me", he finished, panting.
Next to the bathroom door, invisible, a grim Scorpius was leaning back against the wall, Albus' wand in his hand.
TO BE CONTINUED