Fear? Part I

Artorias Pov:

I was witnessing everything that happened, similar to the canon. I didn't really want to get involved, however, it seems fate thinks differently. When Malfoy walked up to the hippogriff saying, "You're not dangerous at all, are you, you great ugly brute!" While Hagrid mutters, "Malfoy, no…" Just before he got 'scratched' I pulled him back with my gravity. Malfoy gets up looks around and yells, "that bloody chicken, my father will hear about this." He runs off with his goons. Getting up, I head towards the castle as the class will probably end soon and no one would even notice me leaving early. I hear Ben say "where are you going?" Ah right except for him. I turn around replying, "leaving, obviously."

Before I could walk away I hear someone shout my name and see Harry Potter running in my direction. "Mr. Starscourge, wait, I wanted to have a talk if that's ok?" Shouted Harry. Waiting for Harry, he approaches me and says "thank you for what you did on the train that day, I'm not sure what would have happened if it weren't for you." I stare Potter in the eyes and reply "your worries are misplaced, no need to thank me, I'm sure professor Lupin would have stepped in to help you, I only did it for everyone else on the train. I'm not one to just sit by and watch when I have the ability to help." Harry gives me an expression of curiosity. "I see… but how did you do it? I heard from professor Lupin that he couldn't identify the type of magic used," asked Harry.

Giving Harry a smile I answer, "It was music, I'm sure professor Lupin already knows that part. But how? You might ask. Well, I'll let you guys figure that out for yourselves." Harry trying to wrap his head around about what I just said, I continue to say "Harry what is it that you want to become when all of this is over?" Hearing my words Harry answers, "what do you mean?" I reword my question replying, "I mean after Hogwarts, what are your career plans?" With an expression of realization he answers, "ah, I want to become an Auror, like my dad… what about you?" I see Ron and Hermione walk toward us and reply, "well, I'm not sure yet, maybe a Magizoologist or a Professor, and maybe even an Unspeakable, who knows."

"So not a Musician? I thought that you would–" I interrupt him answering, "chose Musician because of my skill with the violin? No, I do love the violin, however, I won't make it a career." Looking down at my watch resume said, "it's about time I go now, Harry." Before walking away I say one last thing, "Oh, by the way, I never introduced myself, the names Artorias, but you can call me Art. See you around Harry." Waving at Harry and his approaching friends, I take my leave.

Harry Potter Pov:

As I watched Artorias leave and remember that I forgot to ask him how he pulled Malfoy without a wand. Seeing my friends approach me, I hear Ron say, "so what did you two talk about?" Two minutes later of describing the conversation, Hermione mutters, "an unspeakable.." While continuing to say out loud, "the music, could possibly be a type of magic that's kept as a family secret for all we know. He obviously wants to send us on a goose chase, I already searched all about magic and its effects on music in the library and there's not a trace of anything like what happened on the train." Ron smirks at Hermione and replies, "what? for once the great all-knowing Hermione is stumped?" Hermione gives Ron an unamused expression. "Harry were you able to find anything else about him?" I shake my head and reply, "no…"

Dumbledore Pov:

On such short notice, Professor Binns had left, and I was left with no choice but to combine the classes for today, having no one else to fill in. The rest of the professors were currently busy with their own classes at that time. Sitting at my desk I flip the next page on the document and sigh. I still remember that day like it was yesterday, on Hallowe'en night in 1981, Sirius as their secret keeper betrayed his friends, and Voldemort murdered James and Lily but was unable to do the same to their son when his Killing Curse rebounded, destroying his physical form. However, that's what the public knows, I sometimes wonder if there's something more going on here, it was a little fishy.

Lily Potter sacrificed her life in order to protect her infant son, Harry from Lord Voldemort. This placed Harry under magical protection, so that when Voldemort cast the Killing Curse at Harry in turn, the spell backfired, leaving him unharmed with a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead, and Voldemort bodiless. I suspect her sacrifice gave Harry the power of love, a protection spell sealed with the blood spilled by her death. I would like to tell Harry, however, it's for the greater good.

On the other side of the story, Sirius was as close to James as a brother, the Potters even took him in when he ran away from home. It was highly improbable that Sirius would be the Death Eater spy due to his disdain for the Black Family, who were Voldemort supporters, and his lack of interest in the Dark Arts. At the time of putting the Potters into hiding, I suspected someone close to the Potters was a traitor, so I enlisted Severus Snape to be a double agent. When Sirius went insane I almost couldn't recognize him, it was almost too sudden. Nevertheless, what really increased my doubts was that there was no trial, I suspect he may have been framed, but I'm not quite sure. I'll have to ask Snape, Sirius was a Death Eater to confirm and would have been told that Sirius was not, but he never bothered to ask. Snape should be able to shed some light on this situation and if what I suspect is true, I'll need to formulate a plan.

Now that I think about it, the young Starscourge has yet to come to visit me, I wonder if I made a bad impression or if he just isn't curious enough. One thing that impressed me about him, was his wisdom, for such a young age to have that outlook on life. Almost like his father, when I first saw the Starscourge name in the invitation letters, I was greatly confused. I thought I would never see that name again, it was long ago I last saw the man that saved my life. Back in 1904, I was still very young, it's astonishing for him to have a son, he must be already over a thousand, in years of age, as he lived in the time of Merlin himself. It was an honor to meet the man, he taught me many things. However, he didn't like to talk about himself and we only briefly met on a few occasions over the course of two years. I still remember his last words, "Apprentice Dumbledore, now that I have taught you all that I know about magic, please.. keep this world safe… Farewell, we will most likely never meet again." He summons a blue portal and enters without a trace left behind.

Looking at the time I see that it's about time for that huge class to finish, thinking to myself, it's going to be a long day. I've been busy all day with Sirius Black on the loose and the dementors getting a little too comfortable for my liking outside the castle.

Harry Potter Pov:

In the Great Hall, I was sitting with my friends. I had a lot on my mind I asked around about Artorias, to hopefully understand him more, he's a complete mystery like Hermione said. A lot of people I've asked usually say that he's unapproachable and will usually ignore you, but he seems to not mind me I wonder why that is. Before, while on our way back to the Great Hall, I spotted him sitting alone reading and decided to ask him a question. It went something like this: "Art, sorry to disturb you I was wondering if you could answer a question of mine?" Hearing my words I see him raise his head from the book and answer, "shoot." I then proceeded to ask him "Art, I know this may be a personal question, but I was wondering why you ignore others like Ron and talk to me?" He laughs at my question and answers, "Harry, that's a good question, to be honest with you, it's because I prefer to have more meaningful conversations, so you should ask more open-ended questions and I'll most likely answer you instead of the usual ignoring treatment. It's a good way to prompt a more in-depth discussion, covering all the important points, although sometimes I don't mind a little small talk if it's to have a little fun. And about Ron, I know he was trying to get to know me by inviting me to chess, I don't mind. However, he acted like a fan from the muggle world so it was a little awkward for me, do you perhaps know the reason?"

After listening to his words trying to comprehend what he just said, I answer back after a short pause, "oh.. It's a little awkward for me to say, Ron has a book about your family and it happens to be his favorite story his mom use to read him…" He gives me an amused look and replies, "I see, so does he think the story is a myth or truth?"

"Well, I'm not sure he doesn't talk about it much, but from what I've heard he's just a fan of the story, he hasn't said anything about it being real, although he did once ask me a few questions when he witnessed you pulling Malfoy without a wand, I think that's why he became nervous around you as he thinks you're the real deal. It's the same with others that witnessed it, although I'm not sure as I wanted to ask you about it first." I see him with a thinking expression and open his mouth, then close it. A moment later he smiles replying, "how about I leave that to you guys to figure out?" Before I could ask anything else he gets up and walks out of the Great Hall saying, "see you later Harry."

Back to reality, I see Ron tapping my shoulder saying, "hey what's going on, you good mate?" I nod at him and the next moment he gives me a look of curiosity saying, "so what did you talk about with.. You know." I look Ron in the eyes and reply, "Ron, it's not like his name is taboo or anything, why are you so nervous around him anyway." Hearing my words he gives an embarrassing look saying, "I'm not nervous around him, and besides if the stories are true, and they seem to be from what I've seen so far. We could be in the same year as a.. demigod. Who wouldn't be nervous, in his eyes were probably just ants, so give me a break Harry." Hermione rolls her eyes and looks at Ron saying, "well, it's possible the story might be exaggerated, most legends are true stories, just with many exaggerated ideas." Hearing Hermione, I reply, "you might be right, Ron why don't you just go talk to him, maybe you can clear some things up." Ron just snorts answering my suggestion, "no thanks, I'll pass." Making me and Hermione sigh at his stubbornness. He's always been like this with his unwillingness to see a different point of view at times.

Five minutes later one of the students shout, "He's been sighted!" While another asks, "Who?" The student answers, "Sirius Black!" Hearing that name I get up from my seat to check out the newspaper he just slammed on the table. "Dufftown? That's not far from here, said Hermione, as she moves the page closer. Neville with a terrified expression speaks aloud, "You don't think he'd come to Hogwarts, do you?" As another student asks, "With dementors at every entrance?" The student that slammed the newspaper answers, "Dementors? He slipped past them once. Who's to say he won't do it again?" A black student then speaks up, "That's right. Black could be anywhere. It's like trying to catch smoke… Like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands."

The bell rang and it was time for our next class D.A.D.A with professor Lupin. We had this class with the Ravenclaws, so we'll be in the same class as Art. I wonder if I'll get the chance to speak with him again.

Remus Lupin Pov:

As I finish clearing all the desks the students gather in my classroom and I tell them to wait for the rest of the students to arrive before we start. When all the students arrived, I can see their curiosity at the shaking armoire. "Intriguing, isn't it? Would anyone like to venture… a guess as to what is inside?" I asked. Mr. Thomas had guessed a Boggart, getting it correct. "Now, can anybody tell me what a boggart looks like?" I asked. Hermione appears from thin air with a very confused Ron and answers, "No one knows. Boggarts are shape-shifters. They take the shape of whatever a person fears the most. That's what makes them so…" I interrupt, "o terrifying, yes, yes, yes...Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a boggart. Let's practice it now. Without wands, please. After me. Riddikulus!" The class chants together, "Riddikulus!"

"Very good," I said. Continuing the lecture I say, "So much for the easy part. You see,

the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a boggart is laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing. Let me explain. Neville, would you join me, please? Come on, don't be shy. Come on. Come on. Hello. Neville, what frightens you most of all?" He mutters, "Professor Snape." The class explodes in laughter and I explain in his ear what he needs to do. "Now imagine Professor Snape in your grandmother's clothes. Can you do that?" Seeing him nod I continue to say, "Wand at the ready. One, two, three. Think, Neville, think." Neville incants aloud "Riddikuls!" Seeing his success I begin speaking aloud, "Wonderful, Neville, wonderful! Incredible! Okay… to the back, Neville. Everyone, form a line… Form a line! I want everyone to picture the thing they fear the very most ...and turn it into something funny. Next! Ron!"

After a few minutes, it was that peculiar student's turn, the one with that strange magic with music. I was very curious about his fears, from what Dumbledore tells me, he is a descendant of the Starscourge family. I was a bit confused by this, as it was a fairy tail like King Arthur and Merlin himself. What would someone like that fear I wonder, back to reality I see him walk forward as the boggart twists. After a few seconds, a bizarre thing happened.