Chapter 117
Some of the girls began to scream when they saw the bloodied figure within the Boggart wardrobe.
Professor Remus Lupin quickly stepped forward to close the wardrobe and restore order.
But before he could act, Sirius' body dissolved into a black mist, forming a tiny sky in midair. Stars twinkled faintly, clouds drifted slowly, and a luminous full moon hung above, casting an eerie glow.
Lupin was taken aback. One of his greatest secrets had suddenly manifested, and he did not want anyone to witness it.
Raising his wand, he shouted:
"Riddikulus!"
The dark vision transformed into a white balloon, expanding until it burst, falling harmlessly to the floor.
Albert remained frozen, shocked by the surreal scene inside the wardrobe. It had felt far too real.
Hermione noticed Albert's state and quickly guided him backward, helping him sit and calm himself. She understood the situation perfectly—Albert had only one close family member, his father, so his reaction was entirely natural.
"Albert," she said softly, "it's just the Boggart. It only manifests the fears that lie within you."
After a few moments, the class ended. Lupin announced that this would be the last Boggart session; next time, they would begin lessons on spells to defend against the Dark Arts.
The students returned to their common rooms to rest.
Before Hermione could join her friends from Gryffindor, Albert motioned for her to stay.
She told her friends she would return shortly, then walked over to Albert.
"Are you alright, Albert? Are you feeling better?" she asked gently.
"Yes," he replied, still shaken. "It really startled me. It felt so real… especially since I don't know where my father is right now. The Ministry is investigating him, and for a moment, seeing that… I thought they might have killed him."
Albert spoke quietly, sadness heavy in his tone. Hermione had no prior knowledge of Albert's relationship with his father, but she understood and told him to stop dwelling on it.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I kept talking without stopping," Albert said.
"Don't apologize," she replied.
Albert took a deep breath. "I asked you to come here because I wanted to tell you… the Headmaster gave me a key to the Restricted Section of the library. I want us to plan exactly when we'll go together. Professor McGonagall told me we should go together."
Hermione's eyes sparkled with excitement. She had already grown bored of the books available to third-year students. It was well-known that students were not allowed to read books above their year level. For example, Albert, now in his third year, could not access books intended for fourth-year students or above, though books from lower years were permissible.
Most of the third-year books focused on Astronomy or Potions, though a few delved into Transfiguration—one of Hermione's favorite subjects.
"Since we've finished all our classes today," Hermione said, smiling, "I think we should meet here in about three hours. What do you think?"
Hermione seemed unusually shy whenever their eyes met, often looking away, which puzzled Albert.
He knew Hermione loved books and knowledge, so her excitement over the library was natural. But her sudden shyness around him that day made him wonder… could she have a crush on him?
Albert quickly dismissed the thought, reminding himself that in the original story, Hermione liked Ron since the second year. What a fool you are, Albert! he thought, shaking his head.
The two agreed to meet in the same spot in three hours.
Within minutes, the once-crowded area was empty. Albert and Hermione parted ways, each returning to their respective common rooms.
Albert entered the Gryffindor common room. Silence fell. His friends watched him with pitying eyes, but he ignored them, throwing himself onto his bed and reflecting.
Although the school year had just begun a month ago, Albert had already experienced several major events. The two that affected him most deeply were the Boggart vision of his father's death and the mysterious message of protection he had received.
He had been thinking about that message constantly, leaving it unresolved in his mind…