124 Black and Red

No one able to move, nor talk, nor see. All they could do was hear, to listen to the inhumane screaming of a girl it total darkness.

Each second that passed would renew the magnitude of the scream and everyone couldn't help but shudder in terror.

Something about hearing the pain-filled agonizing screams of a women brought an indescribable fear.

Slowly, the screams became reduced to small groans and weak breathing and everyone was starting to recover from the shock when another voice appeared, this time from a man.

"What the hell did you do! What the hell did you do to my wife-"

The second voice was cut off suddenly and the screaming resumed, this time from the man.

A greater volume of crimson red started to flood the floor, they all could see a dark figure of a man twitching in the darkness.

It was all they saw, darkness, red, and black figures twitching.

Right beside the man was a still figure with a feminine figure. One of her arms were a stump.

There was a quiet sob from one of the corners of the room and everyone perked their ears.

Who was crying?

Then they realized that the voice resembled no one that they knew, which meant that the boggart had yet to finish.

The screaming became reduced, and the man was left gasping heavily. It was almost as if the man was purposely left alive.

"It seems that I've missed a little lamb. Oh well, you can stay here and watch as I torture your son."

The man on the floor let out a groan and some barely discernible words.

"Please... no..."

"Too late. Say good bye to your son-"

There was an explosion and light returned to the classroom once more.

It was Professor Lupin, who had on a pale face.

"Well... I think that was a very... dramatic first class was it?Let me see... five points to Gryffindor for every person to tackle the bogart... Homework, kindly read the chapter on boggarts and summarize it for me . . . to be handed in on Monday. That will be all. Mr. Kingscrown, Stay after class. I think we might need to talk."

Arthur has no intention of talking or moving. He blankly stared at the spot where the severed hand once lay. It was almost as if he could still see it right in front of him.

...

The class left the staffroom as if they had walked out of a funeral. Harry felt as though his heart was going to tear open.

He wasn't the only one who had lost his parents.

Harry remembered what Arth had said in his second year.

"...It's a Thestral."

"Oh," exclaimed Hermione. "No wonder we can't see it, oh..."

"What is a Threstral?"

"...An animal that you can't see unless you have experienced death." Replied Hermione.

Ron had an uncomfortable look as he stared at Arth.

"Doesn't that mean that you... you..."

"It was my family, my real ones."

At that time, Harry had a slight feeling of sympathy for Arthur as they both had lost their families. However, now he knew it was different.

"It's ok, I don't remember them all to well."

What a lie it was. Obviously, Arth still remembered clearly what had happened to his family. In comparison, Harry felt as though his situation was none to special.

Sure his parents were killed by Voldemort, but it was when he was a baby. The only thing he knew about his family was how they looked and that they were his family.

You could even say that essentially, they were strangers. It seemed childish to cry about his parents when compared to Arth.

"That was the worst Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson we've ever had, wasn't it?" said Ron quietly as they made their way back to the classroom to get their bags.

"He seems like a very good teacher," said Hermione hesitantly. "But... I never expected for... Arth to... it was honestly it would have been a great lesson..."

"Yeah, you're right. Who knew Arth..."

Harry gave a flinch as Arth appeared out a corner looking cheerful.

They all stared at him with a dumbfounded look.

"What the hell happened to you? Why are you so..."

"Cheerful?" Said Arth with a wide grin.

"Er... yeah."

Arth rolled his eye joyfully.

"Well that's because Professor Lupin put a cheering charm on me."

"What? He performed a spell on you?"

"Yeah, he offered and I thought why not. Though he did say to take a break for the day. See you later, I'm going to go sleep first."

Harry, Hermione, and Ron watched Arth walk away with sad looks. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, they could still see his left hand clenched with pain.