Chapter Text
“This kind of bravery can't be taught. Gryffindor!”
“I don’t even have to think about it. Hufflepuff!”
“Mhh, you're very proud of yourself, aren't you? You could learn many, many things by being a Slytherin, but I guess it would simplify your life. Let's see ... Gryffindor!”
Finally, the day of the meeting with the Boggart.
Professor Izadora sat quietly against the desk of her Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, waiting for the students to arrive. That fresh summer morning she was ready to welcome the third year classes of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Smiling to herself, she thought about the several screams that was about to hear in a few minutes.
“I’m so excited, aren’t you excited?”
“Shut up, Tally.” Abigail and Raelle responded in chorus, then exchanged a sideways glance.
The truth was they were both nervous, thinking about how their fears were about to appear in front of their classmates. Neither of them wanted to show their vulnerabilities, although Abigail was a little more rigid in this than Raelle.
Scylla laughed, next to Tally. “You’re weird, guys. Come on, live a little!” She paused, glancing at Raelle to see if the blonde's eyes were on her. Once her doubt was confirmed, she quickly bit her lower lip, going past the others and starting to walk backwards. “Don’t be scared..” she said jokingly.
“I'm not scared.” Raelle hastened to say.
The others looked at her, making her blush.
“Of course you're not.” Scilla briefly raised her eyebrows , then laughed and turned on her heels. “See you later! Good luck!”
They had arrived in front of the classroom door, and the hearts of the three girls throbbed loudly, for different reasons.
“Guys, that's enough” Izadora raised only one hand, and it was enough to make perfect silence fall inside the room.
“Good.” Satisfied, she observed the students' expressions, enjoying a little too much some lost gaze.
“You all know what day it is. Prepare yourself to look into the eyes of your most fearful fear, and do not doubt, " she started walking slowly among the onlookers, keeping her voice calm. "Because it. Won't . Hesitate.”
Tally swallowed, suddenly feeling the enthusiasm evaporate in her.
“Let's not waste any more time. Who wants to be the first?”
Nobody moved.
Abigail took not one but three steps forward, until she was in the exact center of the room, chest out, shoulders back, feet firmly planted on the ground.
“Bellweather,” Raelle and Tally whispered in unison, one rolling her eyes, another puffing, amused.
“Bellweather. Well, we have a brave volunteer.” Izadora stared at the girl with curiosity, recognizing her mother Petra in her: a real pain in the ass. They looked the same.
“Remember, Abigail. Don't be scared as soon as you see the Boggart take shape. And the spell is”
“Riddikulus, I know.” Abigail finished the sentence for her.
Izadora smiled, raising her eyebrows. She really wanted to see her in action, so bold, facing her greatest fear for the first time. So, she simply leaned back against the desk, eyes on her, crossing her arms over her chest with an eloquent expression.
“Well, what are we waiting for, then?”
The silence fell deeper in the classroom. The professor's wand moved slowly, enchanting the wardrobe handle, opening the door with a creak.
Abigail tensed every muscle, suddenly unsure of herself. She felt the threatening presence of that black cloud, ready to pop out at any moment to terrorize her, taking the form of ...
No cloud came out of the closet. Her mother, instead, Petra Bellweather, came out.
Abigail froze.
The woman looked at her reproachfully; on her face, the image of disappointment. She approached the girl with small steps, threatening.
Izadora felt compelled to speak when she saw Abigail showing no sign of raising her wand.
“Abigail, remember she isn’t your mother. Abigail!”
It was in that moment that Abigail finally blinked, regaining control, and shouted a dry 'Riddikulus' towards the image of her mother, who began to back away laughing, evidently drunk: she tripped over her feet, falling to the ground and continuing to laugh.
The class did the same, and Abigail smiled, looking around.
It was Tally's turn.
Petra changed shape, lowering her stature but always maintaining a human form. It became a boy with amber skin, a serene and charming smile. Tally squeaked, unprepared.
Her comrades looked confused, elbowing each other lightly. "Hey, isn't that Gerit Buttonwood?" "Who?" "Hilary Saint's boyfriend!" "No, really?"
Abigail and Raelle looked at her friend in panic: she was motionless, a few steps ahead of them.
The boy in front of the wardrobe fell to the ground, immersed in a pool of blood, lifeless.
Tally was scandalized, and it was hard to believe that this was a farce created by the Boggart.
She didn’t hesitate, however, to raise her long and slender wand, pronouncing the spell. Gerit opened his eyes and immediately got to his feet, starting to dance obscenely against the closet, peeking at the rest of the class huddled in one side of the room. Everyone laughed, including Izadora.
"What do these teenagers have in their heads?"
Tally walked back, still laughing, looking happily at Raelle, but the blonde stepped back, smiling awkwardly, letting someone else go ahead.
The redhead didn't think about it too much and let it go without asking her questions.
After a dozen attempts, Raelle decided to move.
Izadora stared at her, aware of who she was, and what she had done a few days ago during Charms. She knew she wasn't an easy girl. She prepared to intervene.
The Boggart had returned to the closet after the last transformation, and the door was now ajar.
Raelle concentrated, not quite sure, and looked up at what was waiting for her.
A hand appeared out of the dark, closing its fingers around the wooden edge.
Another Raelle emerged, identical to the original, so alike that each of those present had to look at the girl standing with them to realize the Ture Raelle was still there and didn’t materialize inside the wardrobe.
No, there were really two Raelles.
The real one stared to herself, completely taken aback. The Boggart looked at her with a shrewd look, ready to sprint forward and attack her. But Raelle was faster.
“Riddikulus!” The clothes of Professor Quartermaine appeared on Raelle and she began to speak, puffing out her chest and walking with slow martial steps around the room. “I heard someone throw wind at a civilian”
The whole class exploded with laughter, and so did Izadora, covering her mouth with a hand. She really had to tell Anacostia about this.