Chapter 30: Fears, Creatures and Visions

Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. I'm glad many of you are eager to see what will happen next and I hope I can deliver. In the meantime I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.

It was time to kick off classes for the new year at Hogwarts and needless to say students were hustling through the halls.

And for 3rd years like Sam and Harry that meant new classes.

His first period was Herbology and needless to say that class was still a pain. But they were teamed with Ravenclaw so some positives.

Standing next to Tulip, Sam tried to get his bouncing bulb into the soil.

As it bounced around him, Sam struggled to catch the plant and pin it down.

"You might want to try grabbing it as it goes down." Tulip said as Sam held his hands out and caught it.

"Yes. Gotcha." Sam said pinning it to the pot.

"You're not a fan of this class are you?" Daphne smirks

"Does it look like it?" Sam said as he buried it in under soil.

"Don't worry you'll handle it." Tulip said playfully shoving him.

After that class, Sam walked out to see Penny in the hall nearby.

"Hey Penny!" Sam waves but she just walks away from him leaving him confused.

The next day, Sam, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Barnaby and Liz were heading down the steps towards Care of Magical Creatures.

"I'm serious guys. I don't know what's going on. She barely says more than a sentence to me, every time I get close to her or talk to her, she walks away and she has this sad broken look on her face all the time." Sam explains.

"And she won't say why?" Harry asks.

"Nothing." Sam nods.

"I'm sorry to hear that mate. Hey, you've got Divination tomorrow maybe you'll find out something about your future." Ron said.

"Oh yeah you guys are coming back from that class. How'd it go?" Barnaby asks.

"Harry's got a death omen." Ron points.

"I could have told you that." Sam said not impressed.

"Well it's a lot worse than it sounds. Apparently, it's from the tea leaves." Harry said.

"Oh please Sam I wouldn't be worried. Divination is a wooly subject. Now Ancient Runes that's worth studying." Hermione asks.

"Ancient Runes? How many are you taking this year?" Liz asks.

"A fair few." Hermione said when Ron realized something.

"Hold on a second. Ancient Runes is at the same time as Divination. You'd have to be in two classes at once." Ron realized.

"Ron that's impossible. No one can be in two places at once." Hermione said.

"Hey Sam the man." Coming up behind him, a hand wraps around his shoulder.

Cringing Sam looks to see Jae Kim was the suspect.

"Jae?" Sam said not expecting to see him again.

"Oh Harry good you're both here." Jae smiles.

"Wait I know you. You're that guy who smuggles those things from Knockturn Alley for my brothers." Ron recalls.

"That's me. Need something? I can hook you up." Jae said proudly.

"Uh no I'm good." Harry said.

"We're not interested in anything you might have." Hermione said.

"Even so, I like to establish connections and since you two are the big guys on campus odds are you might need a guy who can hook you up with things you might need." Jae said.

"Uh we'll keep that in mind Jae." Harry said.

"That's all I ask." Jae chuckles walking ahead.

"How do you know him?" Barnaby asks.

"He might have helped me with something last year." Sam admits.

"Maybe you two should keep in contact with him." Liz smirks.

Soon the entire class was following Eric and Cole as they followed Hagrid into the forest.

"Come on people let's move! We don't want you falling behind!" Eric calls out.

"Have your books our and ready for your first lesson!" Cole calls out.

"God this place has reached a new low. Wait until my father hears this oaf and two squibs are teaching this class." Draco mocks.

"I'll have you know those two are better than you'll ever be." Sam glares.

"Wow Samuel you'll actually suck up to Tas now?" Malfoy glares.

"Back off Malfoy." Harry said.

"Watch out Potter there's a Dementor behind you." Malfoy points before walking ahead.

"Just once I'd like to take him down." Harry mumbles.

"Get in line." Sam said.

"Alright class, here it is!" Hagrid declares as a large creature with a body of a horse, the head of a bird, and large wings stepped out.

"What is that?" Ron asks.

"A Hippogriff." Liz smiles.

"Correct Ms. Tuttle. Say hello to Buckbeak." Hagrid said as Cole fed him a dead ferret.

"This is amazing." Barnaby said as he and Liz were totally geeking out.

"Now the first thing you need to know about Hippogriffs is that they are very proud creatures. Very easily offended. You do not want to insult a Hippogriff. It may just be the last thing you ever do." Hagrid warns making them a little nervous.

"So who wants to say hi first?" Eric calls out.

Immediately everyone stepped back but when Sam and Harry tried they bumped into each other causing Harry to stumble forward.

"Ah Harry way to step up." Cole said noticing him.

"Go on Harry." Barnaby said nudging him.

Gulping Harry slowly walked towards.

"Now before you do anything. Be sure to bow and wait to see if Buckbeak bows back. And if he does you can go and touch him." Hagrid instructs.

"And if not?" Harry asks.

"You better step back quickly." Eric suggests.

Not liking this more and more Harry slowly bowed to Buckbeak getting the beast's attention.

Looking at him curiously Buckbeak bows his head in response.

"Very good Harry now slowly approach Buckbeak and don't make any sudden movements." Cole instructs.

Holding his hand out, Harry walks towards Buckbeak.

Slowly Buckbeak leans in and lets Harry pet him making the class feel at ease.

"Excellent work Harry." Eric said.

"How am I doing on my first day?" Hagrid whispers.

"Brilliant…Professor." Harry smiles.

"Who's next?" Cole asks.

"Ooh! Me! Me! Me!" Liz said about to move in when Malfoy shoves her out of the way and approaches Buckbeack.

"That was easy. You're not dangerous at all are you? You great ugly brute." Malfoy said.

"No!" Eric and Cole yell trying to stop him.

But it was too late. Angered by his insult, Buckbeak stood up on his hind legs and slashes Malfoy's arm with his talons scaring everyone.

"Buckbeack!" Moving in between them, Hagrid calmed the creature down.

"It's killed me! I'm dying!" Malfoy yells in pain.

"Calm down you're not dying. Eric, Cole help me get him out of here." Hagrid said picking him up.

"Uh class dismissed." Eric calls out as they helped Hagrid get him to the Hospital wing.

"You're gonna regret this. You and your bloody chicken." Malfoy whimpers.

After the whole Hippogriff fiasco, Sam found himself in Divination with the Hufflepuffs.

As Penny walked in Sam offered her a seat but she walked right by him and sat in the back much to his disappointment.

Looking over at Malfoy's seat Sam saw that he was still gone and needless to say he was the topic for discussion.

"Aw man a Hippogriff attacks Malfoy and I missed it." Chiara groans.

"You think Draco's gonna die?" Ismelda asks.

"Doubtful." Chiara said.

"This is all Malfoy's fault." Sam said.

"Hagrid warned him not to insult that thing." Merula said.

"You agree with me?" Sam said in disbelief.

"Look I could care less about that oaf but Malfoy ignored a life or death warning. Even I'm not dumb enough to ignore those." Merula said.

"Yeah well I bet either Hagrid or Buckbeak are gonna be blamed for it." Barnaby said.

"I hope Eric and Cole bounce back from this. This was not a good first-class." Sam whispers.

"Welcome class." Entering the room, a woman with messy brown hair, large glasses and colorful robes. "In this room, you shall explore the noble art of Divination. Here we will discover if you have the Sight. I am Prof. Trelawney and I shall be guiding you through this course."

'So that's the woman Hermione called a joke.' Sam thought recalling what happened on the way to Care of Magical Creatures.

"For this term we will begin by discussing the tea leaves to help learn about your future." Prof. Trelawney said as they all grabbed their cups.

"You there." Looking up Chiara saw Prof. Trelawney approach. "There is a strong aura around you. Like the moon."

"The moon?" Chaira gulps as Prof. Trelawney looks at her cup.

"You must tread carefully. This year will reveal to others something they never knew before" She warns.

Eyes widening Chiara was not liking this.

As Prof. Trelawney went around the class having everyone try and learn about their future, Sam seemed more interested in writing down her words.

'Man I bet if I used these in my magic acts they would be a hit.' Sam thought.

When the bell rang everyone got up to leave.

"Mr. Snape a minute." Prof. Trelawney calls out.

"Uh sure." Sam said as the class left. "Is something wrong Professor?"

"The stars show me your doubt. Your mind and your eyes show you are unsure about my class." Prof. Trelawney said.

"I'm sorry it's nothing with your class. It's just my friend told me your class was…not interesting." Sam cringed not sure how to say it.

"My dear boy, sometimes the future is not for everyone. But that is someone else's opinion. While the cosmic force tells me I will lose a student before the year is over I do not believe it is you." Prof. Trelawney said.

"I'm sorry professor I promise I'll think for myself." Sam said.

"Good. I believe that the

"I hope I can learn to like this class." Sam said.

"Glad to have your—" Prof. Trelawney stops midsentence and grabs his shoulder.

"Prof. Trelawney?" Sam asks.

"The wolf is on the hunt and his trail of blood runs long. The blood poisons all it touches. The only cure is the one who has escaped the wolf unharmed but neither knows. The wolf can be stopped." Prof. Trelawney said in a trance-like state.

"What the in?" Sam said confused and a little scared before she cleared her throat and coughed slightly snapping out of it.

"Sorry I think I zoned out for a second. The first week of the new year. A lot to think about. You say something?" She asks completely oblivious to what just happened.

"Uh no I-I'm good." Sam said.

"Well run along." Prof. Trelawney said allowing him to leave.

As he made his way out Sam looked at his new Professor. Maybe this class wasn't as ridiculous as Hermione thought after all.

It wasn't until Potions class on Thursday that Malfoy returned to classes with his right arm bandaged up and in a sling.

And of course, being Draco he milked the attention for all its worth. Including making others do his work for him.

In the great hall, Sam sat across from Harry, Ron and Hermione as they saw Draco loving all his attention.

"Does it hurt Draco?" Pansy asks.

"Comes and goes. Madam Pomfrey says I'm lucky. Another minute or two and I could have lost my arm." Draco said.

"Can you believe this guy? He's really laying it thick." Ron said.

"At least Hagrid didn't get fired." Harry said.

"Yeah but Draco's father is furious. We haven't heard the end of this." Hermione said.

"I hate him so much right now." Sam growls.

"Don't do it Sam. You hit him and you'll just give him another excuse to whine." Barnaby said.

"I can't believe this. This was all his fault and yet someone else getting all the blame. It's not right." Sam hisses.

"What do you expect Sam? Malfoy take responsibility for his actions? Not in a thousand years." Ron said.

"The only plus side to this is that he can't try to take my Quidditch spot this year." Sam said.

"You'd beat him easy even if he had both his arms." Harry assures.

"Thanks Harry." Sam smiles.

Finally it was time for Defense Against the Dark Arts with Prof. Lupin.

As the Gryffindor and Slytherins stood together something was moving from inside a cupboard.

"Intriguing, isn't it? Would anyone care to guess what's inside?" Lupin asks.

"It's a Boggart, isn't it?" Blaise asks.

"Very good Mr. Zabini. Now can anyone tell me what a Boggart looks like?" Lupin asks.

"No one knows." Hermione said appearing behind Ron and Harry.

"When did she get here?" Ron asks surprised.

"Boggarts are shapeshifters. They take the shape of whatever a particular person fears the most." Hermione answers. "That's what makes them so terrifying."

"Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a boggart. Let's practice. All of you repeat after me: Riddikulus." Lupin recites.

"Riddikulus." The class chants.

"Very good. A little louder much clearer. Riddikulus." Lupin repeats.

"Riddikulus!" The class said.

"This class is ridiculous." Malfoy mutters.

"Now that's the easy part. What truly defeats a Boggart is laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find amusing. Uh Neville come forward." Lupin gestures.

"Me?" Neville gulps not liking this.

"Come on." Lupin said as he slowly walks forward. "Now what frightens you the most?"

Slowly Neville mumbles something.

"I'm sorry?" Lupin asks.

"Prof. Snape." Neville said making the class laugh.

"What?" Sam said in disbelief.

"Yes. Frightens all. Now I understand you live with your grandmother." Lupin recalls.

"Yes but I don't want the boggart to turn into her either." Neville said.

"No. It won't. I want you to picture her clothes. Only her clothes in your mind." Lupin instructs.

"She has a red handbag and a big hat." Neville starts.

"We don't need to hear it. Think it and we will see it. Now I want you to do this." Walking over Lupin whispers something in Neville's ear. "Can you do that?"

Surprised Neville nods and took out his wand.

As the door opens we see Prof. Snape walk out it.

"Well this is awkward." Sam said.

"Remember what I told you. And now." Lupin instructs.

"Riddikulus!" Neville waves his wand and a fur coat, a ridiculous hat with a vulture on it and a red handbag appeared on Prof. Snape making everyone laugh. Well almost everyone.

"How funny is that Sam?" Ron asks as they looked to see a traumatized look on Sam's face. Seeing his role model dressed like that wasn't funny, it was frightening.

"I could have gone my whole life without seeing that." Sam cringed.

"No hard feelings Sam?" Neville asks.

"I-I-I need to sit down." Sam said.

"Yes, yes well folks Mr. Snape here as demonstrated that what we may think is funny may not be funny for all so let's try to make it really funny. Line up." Lupin instructs. "I want you to picture the thing you fear the most and make it funny."

Turning on a record player music played throughout the room as Ron stepped up first making the boggart turn into a giant spider.

"Riddikulus!" Ron waves his wand and roller skates appeared at the end of each leg making the spider wobble and tumble causing everyone to laugh.

"Excellent. Barnaby you're next!" Lupin said as Barnaby stepped up and it changed into a scary clown.

"R-Riddikulus!" Barnaby waves his wand and the clown's red nose blew up like a balloon making it float up towards the roof causing everyone to laugh.

"Very creative. Daphne you're next." Lupin said as she stepped up instantly the Boggart turned into a scary looking mummy.

"Riddikulus!" Waving her wand the Mummy's bandages unraveled causing it spin around the room wildly before falling face first on the ground.

Laughing everyone was enjoying this.

As Daphne walks to the back of the line she waves at Sam who was sitting on the sidelines surprising him.

"Parvati forward!" Lupin smiles.

Stepping up the mummy turned into a giant rattlesnake.

"Riddikulus!" Casting the spell, the snake turned into a giant clown shaped jack in the box.

Yelping Barnaby jumped back.

"Not a real clown Barnaby you're fine." Sam said trying to help his friend.

Next was Harry's turn and as the clown moved back and forth Lupin nervously watched as the Boggart turned into a Dementor forcing Lupin to move in.

Getting in front of Harry, the Boggart changed shape to resemble a moon being uncovered by the clouds.

"Riddikulus!" Casting the spell the moon turned into a balloon that sped throughout the entire class before landing back in the cupboard and slamming shut.

"What was that?" Sam mumbles.

"Yes well I believe that's enough for today. 5 points to Gryffindor and Slytherin for each student that tackled the Boggart." Lupin said as class ended.

For the first time since they enrolled they all walked out of Defense Against the Dark Arts happy.

"That was the best lesson we've ever had." Ron smiles.

"It was fun." Harry agrees.

"Speak for yourself. That's gonna give me nightmares." Sam cringed.

"Come on you gotta admit it was funny seeing Snape in that dress." Ron said.

"Not it was not." Sam said

"Yes it was." Harry snickers.

"Ugh I hope the next one is easier to stomach." Sam said.

"I wish I had gotten a turn. I wonder what my worst fear would be?" Hermione asks.

"Probably a test with only 95% right." Ron jokes.

While the first week of classes had come to an end things were certainly full of interesting and exciting twists and surprises.