Capítulo 166: The Changing Boggart

Chris, Ginny, Hermione, Ron and Harry all looked at Mad-Eye curiously.

"It's nothing special." Moody growled, seeing the curious gazes on him. "A Boggart is a foggy creature. More like a bundle of smoke with something like a face."

"Oh!" Hermione looked very disappointed by this information.

"But if no one has seen the actual form of Boggart before then.." Chris said, looking more curious. "Then your magical eye must be something very unique, isn't it?"

Moody smiled before replying.

"One and only." He said.

"Wow." Chris said, feeling amazed.

At that moment Mr. Weasley and Bill entered. Mrs. Weasley was in such a good mood she did not even complain that they had brought Mundungus with them too; he was wearing a long overcoat that seemed oddly lumpy in unlikely places and declined the offer to remove it and put it with Moody's traveling cloak.

"Well, I think a toast is in order," said Mr. Weasley, when everyone had a drink. He raised his goblet. "To Ron and Hermione, the new Gryffindor prefects!"

Ron and Hermione beamed as everyone drank to them and then applauded.

"I was never a prefect myself," said Tonks brightly. "My Head of House said I lacked certain necessary qualities."

"Like what?" said Ginny, who was choosing a baked potato.

"Like the ability to behave myself," said Tonks.

Chris and Ginny laughed.

"What about you, Sirius?" Chris asked.

Sirius, who was right beside Harry, let out his usual barklike laugh.

"No one would have made me a prefect, I spent too much time in detention with James. Lupin was the good boy, he got the badge."

"Couldn't agree more to that, Black." Aurelia said smirking.

Sirius rolled his eyes.

"I think Dumbledore might have hoped that I would be able to exercise some control over my best friends," said Lupin. "I need scarcely say that I failed dismally."

"Lily was the other Prefect." Aurelia said smiling at Harry. "She told me, how happy her parents were when she explained about the badge."

Aurelia, Lupin and Sirius started to talk about their school days. Harry was smiling as he listened every detail of his parents' school days. Mrs. Weasley and Bill were talking to Ron. Hermione and Ginny were busy with Tonks. Only then Chris noticed Fred and George were huddled in a corner with Mundungus.

Chris went towards them out of curiosity.

Mundungus stopped talking when he saw Chris, but Fred winked and beckoned Chris closer.

"It's okay," he told Mundungus, "we can trust her. She's one of our helper."

"Look what Dung's gotten us," said George, holding out his hand.

It was full of what looked like shriveled black pods. A faint rattling noise was coming from them, even though they were completely stationary.

"Venomous Tentacula seeds," said George. "We need them for the Skiving Snackboxes but they're a Class C Non-Tradeable Substance so we've been having a bit of trouble getting hold of them."

"Ten Galleons the lot, then, Dung?" said Fred.

"Wiv all the trouble I went to to get 'em?" said Mundungus, his saggy, bloodshot eyes stretching even wider. "I'm sorry, lads, but I'm not taking a Knut under twenty."

Fred and George looked at each but before they could respond Chris stepped forward.

"I don't think Mrs. Weasley will be happy about this." Chris whispered. "And Moody will be too angry if his magical eyes find these."

Mundungus looked nervously over his shoulder.

"Good point, that," he grunted. "All right, lads, ten it is, if you'll take 'em quick."

"Really?" Chris frowned at the twins, after Mundungus had emptied his pockets into the twins' outstretched hands and scuttled off toward the food. "After Bagman, I thought you two should be careful. I don't like that Mundungus, not even a bit. His face always screams that he's going to betray you the moment he sees more profit."

"We were out of options." George shrugged. "Only he can bring this things at this rate."

"Don't worry Chris, we got this." Fred grinned.

"Fine, if you're sure." Chris sighed.

Fred and George smiled and went back to the table. Chris followed them.

Chris sat down beside a complicated looking Harry.

"Hey, you ok?" Chris asked.

"Do you think I'm arrogant like Snape says?" Harry said quietly.

Chris looked up at Sirius, Lupin and Aurelia who were still talking among them.

"What exactly were you listening?" Chris asked. "To draw that kind of conclusion?"

"I don't know... just tell me. Am I an arrogant person?" Harry said.

"Well... now that you've asked me..." Chris took a dramatical pause before answering. "Yes Harry. Everything Professor Snape says is true..."

Harry looked up very surprised then looked sickened. Chris laughed.

"Oh c'mon Harry, Snape thinks every Gryffindor is show off and arrogant. But I think Snape is more arrogant of his skills." She said. "So drop it. No, you're not arrogant... at least not like Malfoy."

"Thanks." Harry smiled.

Chris looked up and saw Sirius smiling at her.

Mrs. Weasley yawned widely.

"Well, I think I'll sort out that boggart before I turn in. . . . Arthur, I don't want this lot up too late, all right?"

Mrs. Weasley walked out as Chris joined Bill and Tonks in conversation. After sometime Chris decided to leave as she was feeling sleepy. She casually walked towards the stairs but before she could start climbing Harry came running behind her.

"What's wrong with you?" Chris asked with a annoyed tone.

"Moody was showing me a picture of former Order members." Harry breathed.

Chris didn't say anything and started climbing the stairs, but as she approached the first landing she heard noises. Someone was sobbing in the drawing room.

Chris looked at Harry, who was just behind her. He looked equally surprise.

"Hello?" Harry said.

There was no answer but the sobbing continued. They climbed the remaining stairs, walked across the landing, and opened the drawing-room door.

Someone was cowering against the dark wall, her wand in her hand, her whole body shaking with sobs. Sprawled on the dusty old carpet in a patch of moonlight, clearly dead, was Ron.

Chris looked shocked for a moment, before realising that she just saw Ron downstairs.

"Mrs. Weasley?" She called quietly, understanding the situation.

"R-r-riddikulus!" Mrs. Weasley sobbed, pointing her shaking wand at Ron's body.

Crack.

Ron's body turned into Bill's, spread-eagled on his back, his eyes wide open and empty. Mrs. Weasley sobbed harder than ever.

Chris slowly walked towards her.

"R-riddikulus!" Mrs. Weasley sobbed again.

Crack.

Mr. Weasley's body replaced Bill's, his glasses askew, a trickle of blood running down his face.

"No!" Mrs. Weasley moaned. "No . . . riddikulus! Riddikulus! RIDDIKULUS!"

Crack. Dead twins. Crack. Dead Percy. Crack. Dead Ginny . . .

"Mrs. Weasley!" Chris whispered bending beside her.

"RIDDIKULUS! RIDDIKULUS!" Mrs. Weasley screamed as Chris hold her tightly.

Crack. Dead Harry.... Crack. Dead Chris....

"Mrs. Weasley, just get out of here!" shouted Harry, staring down at Chris's dead body on the floor. "Let someone else —"

"What's going on?"

Lupin had come running into the room, closely followed by Sirius and Aurelia, Moody stumping along behind them.

Chris sighed as she sat in front of Mrs. Weasley, and looked at her own dead body.

Crack.

Her body changed into his father's... Mr. Norton's always smiling face was blank and his eyes looked fearful and still.

Before Chris could process this, a strong voice shouted, "Riddikulus!"

Mr. Norton's body vanished. A silvery orb hung in the air over the spot where it had lain. Chris looked around as Lupin waved his wand once more and the orb vanished in a puff of smoke.

"Oh — oh — oh!" gulped Mrs. Weasley, and she broke into a storm of crying, on Chris's shoulder. "Oh dear... your father... Oh.."

Chris remained frozen in Mrs. Weasley's embrace. Her biggest fear have changed.

________________________________________________

To be continued...