°~𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝑴𝒚 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒅~°

"Intriguing, yes? Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what's inside?" asks Professor Lupin.

"That's a Boggart, that is," Seamus answers.

We snuck into class in time for Professor Lupin's lesson from Hermione's time turner, unseen and unheard next to Harry and Ron . Hopefully we were in time to understand the professor's explaintion on Boggarts , there was one inside a tall wardrobe rattling violently making several classmates warily.

"Very good, Mr. Finnigan. Can anyone tell us what a Boggart looks like?"

Noticing a tall wardrobe rattling violently, making several classmates regard it warily.

"No one knows," Hermione makes Ron jump from his place and glances to her Hermione and me unaware.

"When'd they get here?" he whispers to Harry.

"Boggarts are shape-shifters. They take the shape of whatever a particular person fears most. That's what makes it so --" Hermione continues to explain until the professor finishes the rest for her.

"Terrifying, yes. Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a Boggart. Let's practice it now, shall we? Without wands, please... Riddikulus!" the professor asks us to spell with him.

"Riddikulus!" the whole class responds.

"It's this class that's ridiculous." I glance at the voice I wanted to hear least, till he recognizes me from all the students and I quickly look back in front, to ignore his existence before he thinks of any ways to bully me.

"Good. So much for the easy part. You see, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a Boggart off is... laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing. Neville, come up here, will you?" the professor tells Neville to step forward queasily from the rattling wardrobe.

"What would you say is the thing that frightens you most?"
"Profter... Snafpt..."
"Didn't catch that, Neville, sorry."
"Professor Snape" Everyone laughs and the professor nods thoughtfully.

"Hmmm... yes. Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother?"

"Yes, but I don't want the Boggart to turn into her either."

"It won't. But I want you to picture her clothes, only her clothes, very clearly in your mind. Can you do that?"

Neville closes his eyes to describe her. "She carries a red handbag..."

"That's fine. We don't need to hear it. If you see it, we will. Now, when I open this wardrobe, Neville, here's what I want you to do..."
Professor Lupin leans close to Neville, whispers. Neville's eyes pop open in shock. He considers Lupin uncertainly.

"You can do this, Neville." Neville nods nervously, takes a deep breath.

"Right then. Wand at the ready. One. Two. Three!"

Lupin's wand strikes the doorknob, and the wardrobe opens. Instantly, Snape appears, eyes flashing hideously as he stalks forward. Neville backs away in fright.

"Think, Neville. Think!" the professor reminds him.

"R-r-riddikulus!" he says hesitantly. *Crack*!! Snape stumbles in a FLASH OF LIGHT and reappears in a long, lady-laced dress, towering moth-eaten hat, and a bright crimson handbag. Instantly making all of us burst into laughter, it was just what I needed, this is something I would love to remember. Neville blinks in surprise and amazement, then slowly grins himself.

"Wonderful Neville, wonderful. Everyone form a line," the professor asks.

The whole class to line up until each of us gets a turn.
I was about to follow Hermione's lead when someone abruptly pushed me from behind stumbling and finding myself in the middle of the line away from her. while the other Slytherins cut in instead of taking turns. I caught a whiff of a familiar scent - green apples and a hint of lavender. I knew who it was before I even saw him. The most annoying boy in our class---No ,in the whole world if you ask me. He always seemed to be around, always finding ways to bother me. He has that idiotic courage to stand behind me so close and face me after everything that has happened yesterday. I glare at him for a second to warn himself if he is gonna bother me again.

"In a bad mood, I see?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Ignore him, just pretend he is not there.

"Crowd line upsetting you?" Does he ever get tired ?.

"Deaf, aren't we? Though you liked yesterday's chit chat." He pushed my last button to turn around and scold him, just as I was about to speak, the last shove that Crabbe did at the end of the line caused me to stumble and lean in closer to Draco's face by accident. My heart raced as I found myself inches away from him, our faces almost touching.
I tried to regain my composure, but my ears were turning red with embarrassment. Draco's smirk only grew wider, and I could see the amusement in his eyes. I can't believe this , I should have never turned around, to have such an accident and him smiling at me at a time like this.

"Don't you ever think that our chit chat ever meant something to me," I said through gritted teeth, trying to hide my embarrassment. "And I will never, ever have that again with you as long as I live" Crabbe's push making me angry is the last thing I need.

Draco's smirk faded, and I could see a hint of surprise in his eyes. Standing this close could show that my eyes were tear-threatening to spill.

He simply tilts his head to the side, studying me with a smug expression. "You're the one who started it, Luminhood," holding back a smirk and leans in to talk which was more of a whisper so no one could hear him. "You're the one who took me in the infirmary."

"That was your fault for approaching a bird like Buckbeak and you own him an apology" I start to think I should just leave and stand from the back , but it was a bit crowded so I faced front instead of disregarding him.

"And you are the one who complimented my hair under the light."

My eyes widened in shock. How did he know? I didn't say a word when I was tying the bandage from the back of his arm? I was at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond.

I only thought about it but I never actually spoke. My mind raced with questions, I couldn't help but remember what happened yesterday in the infirmary. I was helping Draco bandage a wound on his arm, and as I reached around to tie the bandage from the back, I couldn't help but notice how his hair looked under the light. I had absentmindedly complimented him, not thinking much of it at the time. Is it highly impossible... that he heard me saying throughout my mind?

But now, standing here in front of him, I couldn't shake off the feeling that he somehow knew. And the worst part was, I didn't know how to explain it...

° ☾︎☆ °

~°||𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 ||'°~