Chapter Fifty-Five

Yesterday now seemed like a distant memory as Lucy was back to her normal self. The only thing different was the secret she and her three girlfriends now shared. Lucy had secretly sent a letter to the old witch Idris Oakby about joining her 'Society for the Support of Squibs' or ('S.S.S' for short). The snow outside was a welcome delight on this Saturday morning. Just a pity that the Hogsmeade weekend wouldn't be until next week, the third-years were very keen to get there for their first outing but found themselves delayed yet again. Though no weekend was truly frowned down upon as the students went outside to have snowball fights, make snow angels and make snowmen. Archibald was one of these students ready to go outside to have some fun as he held onto his broomstick (a Tinderblast) but he was keeping it very close to avoid another 'accident'. He wouldn't want to spend another quidditch season on a school broomstick. His team gave him flack over it. His brother Argus walking besides him as he was promised a ride as he has been quiet the last couple of weeks and was not causing further embarrassment to Archibald.

"Archie...Hold up!"

Archibald turned around to see his friends rushing up to him. Argus standing awkwardly by the side as he always did when his brother's friends turned up. He was envious of them all and they were the only other students (besides Lucy) he never felt the need to punish or scold. The Ravenclaw fifth-year lads just looked at their friend and his broomstick, looking rather exasperated.

"Alright? I'm just taking Argus out for a ride...So make it quick, he doesn't have long" Archibald responded while looking past them (not at them).

"Is this a joke, Archie? You promised us last night that you would knuckle down this year. You're missing your remedial clas-"

"Oi! First things first, you never speak about that in public. Secondarily, you aren't my parents. And thirdly, mind your business. One lousy lesson isn't going to make much of a difference" Archibald hissed quietly but clearly.

"It's the fifth-year, Archie! You know...year of the newts!"

"I don't need the newts-"

"Oh? And why is that? Listen Archie, we're telling you this because we are your friends and friends tell the truth. If you were destined to be a professional quidditch player, don't you think one of the professors would have told you by now? Professor Jacks has told you over and over that you are good but not briliant...The professional teams only accept brilliant"

Despite his friend telling him in the most respectful way possible. This still felt like a punch in the gut. His dream suddenly felt like that, just a dream. He wasn't a second-year anymore in his first quidditch match. He was a fifth-year chaser with little else going for him besides maybe helping winning the school cup. He had already dropped divination and was barely passing potions or herbology. He just scoffed as he tried to hide this sudden realization. His friends knew they hit a nerve as they watched him hurry away with Argus lagging behind.

"Tommyrot, Archibald! What do they know? You are the best chaser in the school...Look at last season-"

"We came third last season"

"Alright but Slytherin and Gryffindor use sly tactics"

"Just get on the broomstick, Argus. Let's go" Archibald responded with a lot less brevity than before.

Argus rather nervously perched himself down on the broom. Wrapping his arms around his brother's waist and waiting for lift-off. Archibald stomped his feet twice on the ground and it began to lift up into the air. A few students watching as the wizard and his squib brother went higher and higher into the air. The cold air hitting them made Archibald feel as if he was getting another slap in the face. He flew towards his beloved quidditch pitch which was currently empty besides some first-years walking about on the pitch and pretending as if their snowballs were bludgers. Archibald briefly looked towards the hoops and recalling his first game in second-year. What a high he got from beating Hufflepuff as a young twelve year old boy. He was good but not brilliant...He was never brilliant.

"It's getting cold!" Argus shouted through the snow and wind as they remained stationary for longer than usual.

"I don't know if it's worth carrying on this year!" Archibald yelled back to him.

"But you must!"

"For what purpose? My friends are right...I'm not a brilliant quidditch player! And I'm not brilliant at my studies either! I've brought you up here because I've been thinking about this for a while! My friends only confirmed what I already knew...I'm leaving Hogwarts and going into the real world!"

It took Argus a couple of moments to understand what this would mean. His brother wants to leave Hogwarts. Thus Argus would be left with no real protection! Lucy was a dear friend but she was his comfort; not his protection. Archibald could sense his brother thinking all this and so he flew downwards. Hitting the ground and when he did, his words hit too. Argus looked upset as his brother led him towards the stands to have a more serious chat about this. They sat down where nobody else would bother them, the first-years playing on the opposite side.

"You can't just leave because of a few bad words from your friends" Argus began with desperation in his voice.

"No. Don't be daft...My friends aren't the reason I'm dropping out. They are my friends and just told me what I already know. That's all. I've been thinking about it for a while and I got some of my owls now. I don't need my newts as well, I don't want to go into one of those fancy jobs or 'owt"

"Mother and father won't let you anyroad"

"This is it, Argus. I'm telling Professor Gutter when I get in and that's it. I'll be gone"

Argus' lip wobbled as he looked away and downwards. This terrified him as he thought about the cruel tricks the students would play on him once Archibald was gone. He was the reason why some of them left him alone. Lucy wouldn't deter them as she was just a big of a laughing stock as he was. He shook his head as he couldn't cope with this idea, he thought he had two years left with his brother in Hogwarts. Archibald knew this has upset him and he expected that.

"What are you going to do?" Argus asked him with disbelief.

"Well I'm going to go into work, aren't I? Try out for some quidditch related jobs...They are always looking for referees and commentators"

"And what about me? Eh? Did you think about me while you were thinking about pipe dreams? The stupid squib-"

"Nobody likes a pity party, Argus"

"And nobody likes me! You have left me for the dogs! You may as well have gave written permission for people to hex and jinx me!" Argus shouted as he got up.

Letting his anger and fears all out as he didn't know if Archibald had thought about it. His brother had thought about it but what is two years going to do? He was going to leave him eventually. It just come a bit sooner than expected, that was all. He watched as Argus stormed down to the ground and picked up his broomstick. The teenager picked it up and got on it. Attempting in vain to ride it as he kicked and kicked, praying for one last that he was a late-bloomer but nothing happened. Nothing was ever going to happen. Archibald pulled it off him which resulted in a bit of a tug of war between the brothers. Being older, Archibald wrestled it back.

"Listen to me, Argus! You can't just stomp your feet and think that will make me stay! I'm leaving Hogwarts and there's nothing you can do about it!" Archibald yelled a bit harsher than he intended.

"Right! Go then...Go then!" Argus yelled back as he grabbed onto his brother's collar.

Archibald pushed him onto the snowy ground. Only to be pushed back instantly as Argus got back up quickly. This resulted in a bit of a scuffle as pushes, pulls and kicks were thrown by the brothers against one another. The first-years now standing still as they watched this wandless fight between the wizard and the squib. The fight ended as Archibald gave him a wallop around the head and made him fall backwards against one of the stands.

"I hate you!" Argus shouted as he remained leaning against the stand.

"I hate you more, Argus"

"I hate you more than Walburga Black"

"Fair enough. That's an insult I will take" Archibald responded as he approached him again.

After one last attempt of a fight on Argus' behalf. The brothers finally embraced as Archibald gave his upset brother a hug. Telling him it's not the end of the world but it's his time to go. The two pulled apart and Archibald pulled up his broomstick with Argus getting on. With two kicks, the broomstick lifted back into the air and the first-years looked like ants again. They flew back towards the castle but he made a few swoops as this would be the final time he would fly over Hogwarts.

"I'm sure Lucy will give you a ride when I'm gone...Just make sure the broomstick isn't broken this time!" Archibald reminded him in the air while trying to enjoy his last ride around the castle.

The brothers landed back on the ground and walked back into the castle. Archibald giving him a gentle push and he got one back. He had a few people to inform now but he knew he had to do it despite knowing his parents will be filled with deep disappointment. The whole Filch family will be.

...

"He's really going, Lucy. He's probably talking to Professor Gutter as we speak" Argus informed a shocked Lucy later that day.

He has pulled her into the caretaker's office for their usual private conversations. Lucy's friends always ask her what they talk about during these times but she never lets on. She was shocked to hear Archibald was leaving. She knew he wasn't exactly a bookworm but leaving Hogwarts in fifth-year seemed a bit drastic. Surely he could stomach two more years (for his brother if nobody else).

"I did wonder why he wasn't in potions. Even Slughorn seemed surprised...Has he told your parents? I can't imagine they will be happy. What will he do now?" Lucy asked in disbelief.

"I'm not sure. I don't know what students who leave early have to do"

"Gosh. Well I'm going to miss him around here...I'm sorry, Argus. It was awful when me and my brother had to go our separate ways when I found out I was a witch. But you will get use to it"

"I'm worried I'm going to get hexed and jinxed more"

"I'll be here"

"I know but you don't exactly scare anybody. You get walked on as much as I do" Argus reminded her with a sigh.

She leaned back on the chair and sighed herself. He's not wrong and that irritated her. Not for lack of trying mind. She was just a mediocre student at everything that wasn't charms, history of magic or astronomy. Argus silently wondered why he was lumbered in with all the average wizards and witches. He cares deepy for his brother and best friend but he knew they weren't going to break the boundaries in the wizarding world. Argus gave a sudden short chortle to himself at his predicament...

"What's so funny?" Lucy asked with her arms crossed.

"Nothing"

"Is it about something cruel again?"

"Perhaps. I'll love you and leave you anyroad, Lucy. Go on...I got some cabbages to collect from Ogg's little patch" Argus answered as began to shoo her away.

Lucy gave another loud sigh as she was kicked out of his office. She watched as he scuttled away towards the door and no doubt went rushing towards Ogg's patch. She was left on her lonesome again as she began her walk around the castle. Seeing if she could find her other friends anywhere. Though they could be anywhere on this Saturday early afternoon. The snow was still thick outside and students have been out there all day long. She was briefly pushed past by the half-giant boy Hagrid which resulted in her being knocked a bit to the wall.

"Sorry" Hagrid muttered to her while hiding something underneath his robe.

She pondered what he could be hiding and began discreetly but casually walking behind him. Though he kept looking back and noticing she wasn't going anywhere, he picked up his speed as a result. Hagrid began going into different corridors and did manage to lose Lucy despite her best efforts. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found himself alone. Hagrid tumbled further and further down into the castle's dungeons. He came across a deserted room with spiderwebs and dust covering everything, he guessed it was an old storage room. He bent down and opened one of the boxes. Placing an unhatched egg into it after a last look behind himself and he closed the box's latch as he did so.

...

Archibald agreed to stay on until the Christmas break. His 'Head of House' Professor Ivory Gutter admitted his deep disappointment that he didn't wish to graduate past O.W.L.S but couldn't force him to stay. The Ravenclaw quidditch team had been forced to put on trials for a replacement chaser as a dozen students tried their hand at it. His departure is what Lucy and Myrtle were discussing as they walked towards the 'Defence Against the Dark Arts' classroom. The students walked in to find the tables and chairs put aside and an old looking chest stood shaking and rattling about near Professor Merrythought's desk. The mood felt a lot more heavy all of a sudden as the students were told to stand at the sides and leave an empty space in the middle of the room. The old witch looked even more serious than usual. She made the door slam shut and quiet reached the room, Eileen standing at the furthest end with her arms crossed and her eyes resting on the chest. Tom looked quietly contemplative.

"As you can recall from your last lesson. We discussed boggarts...This lesson we are simply putting into pratice what we learned. Now who can give us all a reminder of what one is and how we defeat it?" Merrythought asked and a few hands went up, including a very shaky Myrtle's..."Nott...Go ahead"

"A boggart is something you fear the most and it knows what that is. You can sometimes trick it to reveal a lesser fear but a fear nonetheless. The counter-curse is simply 'Riddikulus', Professor" Nott answered.

"Precisely, Nott. Well done...Ten points for Slytherin. Now it's one thing speaking about it but it's another thing putting it into pratice. The so-called boggart is in this very chest here and it's ready to feast on all your fears. Like Nott said, the way to defeat is to think of a lesser fear but it's very overwhelming and this isn't always possible. Focus, lift your wand with confidence and say riddikulus like you mean it. Understand?"

A few nods came back and a few students stepped further inwards as nobody wanted to be first. Though the way she set it up, anybody could be called first. Merrythought looked at them all, a few standing on the opposite sides one another. She declared right first to left, beginning with Eileen Prince. The black-haired girl looked like a deer caught in the headlights (as the muggles say). Lucy watched her with great nerves herself as she went into the centre of the room with her wand already out as she was ready to defend herself, it came as second nature nowadays anyway. Merrythought gave one last glance towards the student before releasing the boggart. Eileen felt her heart racing as she tried to think of a lesser fear but her biggest fear was too much and she couldn't think of another one as her heart felt as if it would jump out of her chest. The boggart transformed into an angry Irving Malfoy, shouting at her about her muggle friend. The class looking at one another as the boggart Irving then began shouting to her about about being a blood traitor and a shame to her father.

"Rid...Riddikulus...Riddikulus!" Eileen yelled at the boggart after backing away slightly.

The boggart transformed into a much calmer Irving as he had a glass of wine in his hand and was smiling. Eileen put down her wand and made her way back to the corner red-faced. A few Gryffindor students came and went next as Lucy watched the boggart turn into a snake, another angry stranger (a parent or other family member perhaps) and a chain-wearing ghost. Lucy was pushed ahead slightly by a fear-strucken Myrtle as she made her way to the dreaded middle. The boggart transformed into a pit of darkness as Lucy could suddenly hear or see nothing, her fear was isolation. She kept telling herself this wasn't real as she put her wand out. The overwhelming sense of being completely alone made her almost cry.

"Riddikulus!" Lucy shouted through the darkness and the pit soon turned into a street light.

Making her step backwards with a sigh of relief as she went back to the side. Myrtle was next and she was the student whom Merrythought had the least hope in for this lesson as the professor watched with a scowl. The streetlight turned into a gaggle of girls teasing and laughing, sounds of "You're stupid! You're worthless! Nobody likes you!" echoed around the room. Tom witnessing everybody's fear and relishing on the experience.

"Riddikulus!"

The gaggle of taunting schoolgirls turned into a gaggle of schoolgirls' falling over. Laughter came across the room as the boggart Olive Hornby and her friends tripped over whenever they tried to stand. Merrythought silently surprised that Myrtle managed it without turning into a crying mess. A couple more students came forward from Ravenclaw and Slytherin. The boggart turned into more frightful things like werewolves, trolls and banshees. Nott found himself next in the line, only second to last to Tom Riddle (who everybody was keen for, what was he afraid of?). Nott walked into the middle. The boggart suddenly switched to a lone cell in Azkaban prison, the teenager felt a knot in his stomach. He got out his wand and like everybody before him...

"Riddikulus!"

The cell turned into a quidditch store room. Nott went back to the side and finally, Tom Riddle was left. The boy well aware of all eyes on him and they looked as focused as he did. Merrythought herself was deeply invested in his fear as she watched him from afar with plans to make a mental note. The boggart latched onto his only true fear and for a short few moments. A gravestone began to form but before the name could be read. Tom shouted undeterred...

"Riddikulus!"

And before the name on the grave could even think to be read and recalled. The gravestone turned into a pile of falling rocks. Tom stepped back and admired this for a few moments before going back to the side. Nobody dared ask or look at him directly, a gravestone. Tom's boggart was an unmarked gravestone? The students began to quietly look at one another but before they ponder what this meant. Merrythought came into view and almost as quickly as Tom, her own boggart (a glimpse of a banshee) came through before being turned into a coat and forced back inside the chest.

...

TBC