The Shape of Fear
All the kids had arrived at Greengrass Manor that afternoon with a single purpose: to visit Astoria. Even though she was no longer in danger, her parents insisted she remain in bed for a few more days. The room was warm and quiet, softly lit by the golden rays of the setting sun pouring in through the tall windows.
Astoria lay on a large, cushioned bed, her cheeks slightly flushed and wearing a mildly annoyed expression. Next to her, lying as if it were the most natural thing in the world, was Luna, calmly sharing a bowl of ice cream that the Greengrass family's house-elf had brought them just a few minutes earlier.
"Feeling better already?" Harry asked with a calm smile, walking up to the foot of the bed.
"Yeah, it doesn't hurt anymore," Astoria replied, putting a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. "But Mum doesn't want me getting up for a couple of days. She says I need to rest... It's boring."
Though her tone was whiny, her eyes sparkled at the sight of everyone around her, and that softened any trace of annoyance.
"I get it," Daphne said, sitting on the edge of the bed and gently running her hand through her little sister's hair. "You were in a lot of pain, Astoria… Mum just wants to make sure you're completely okay."
Daphne still remembered the scare from that day. Seeing her sister like that had been one of the most terrifying moments of her life. Luckily, they knew Wanda. Thanks to the Scarlet Witch's powerful magic, Astoria had recovered in just a few minutes, without a trace of the pain left behind. Even so, Daphne had made a quiet decision: to become strong enough to protect the people she loved without relying on anyone else.
"That's good," Hermione said softly, looking at the girl with visible relief.
"Want some ice cream?" Astoria offered, stretching her spoon toward them as if offering a treasure.
"No, thanks. You enjoy it," they all replied almost in unison, smiling kindly.
Hermione took a step back and said in a playful tone, "Come on, let her eat in peace with Luna. It's awkward when everyone's watching you while you eat…"
They all chuckled softly, and as they waved goodbye to the girls, Daphne stood up with a mysterious smile.
"Come on, I want to show you something interesting that Laki found in one of the basement closets."
The others followed right away, intrigued by her enthusiasm. They walked through long hallways lined with old tapestries and portraits that seemed to watch them as they passed, until they reached a door at the end of a dusty corridor. Daphne stopped in front of it, her expression a mixture of mischief and contained excitement.
"Ready?" she asked, not waiting for an answer, and opened the door.
The room was small but well lit. In the center stood an old trunk, protected by a dome of magical crystal that shimmered gently in the light.
The trunk jumped the moment they stepped inside, shaking violently. Draco, Hermione, and Harry took a step back in surprise, while Daphne let out a quiet giggle.
"What do you have in there?" Hermione asked, frowning.
"A boggart," Daphne replied casually.
"Oh, just that," Draco said, relaxing his shoulders with a slightly arrogant smile. "At my house, Dobby has to deal with those things all the time. They're like magical rats."
"Yeah, they show up in the Potter Manor too, and that place is packed with protections. Gris says he doesn't know how they get in," Harry added.
"So why do you have it locked up here?" Hermione pressed.
They all knew what a boggart was. Not from class—at least, not yet—but because between golem-fighting sessions, they had spent a lot of time reading about magical creatures and defense spells.
"Aren't you curious to know what you're afraid of?" Daphne asked, with a playful smile that hid a slightly sinister tone.
It was clear she wanted to have a little fun at her friends' expense. But to everyone's surprise, no one protested. The idea, while a bit unsettling, sparked genuine interest.
"Did you try it?" Harry asked.
"Yeah… I saw Astoria again…" Daphne replied, lowering her gaze for a moment. Her smile faded, and silence filled the room.
Hermione stepped forward and said with determination, "Alright. I'll go first."
Harry looked at her, a bit surprised that she volunteered so quickly. But he also felt a hint of admiration. He sometimes forgot how brave Hermione could be when it came to protecting her friends.
"Just get close to the shield. The boggart can't get out," Daphne explained, returning to her usual tone.
Hermione took a deep breath and stepped toward the crystal. The trunk began to tremble, banging against the floor until, with a sharp snap, the lid slowly creaked open.
And from within… emerged Wanda.
But she wasn't the sweet, motherly Wanda everyone knew. This one had a hard, cold expression, as if carved from ice. Her crimson eyes pierced Hermione like a spear.
"You're the worst student I've ever had," she said in a deep, distant voice. "And I haven't had many. What a disappointment. I won't teach you magic anymore."
Hermione froze. Her face, usually full of logic and control, now showed an unexpected vulnerability. Her lips trembled, and she lowered her gaze, a knot tightening in her chest.
"So that's your fear!" Daphne called from the back, with a mix of surprise and understanding.
Harry, though forcing a smile, felt a similar knot as he watched his friend face such a personal fear.
Draco stepped forward next, without a word, full of determination. As he approached, Wanda's image dissolved into a swirl, and in her place appeared Lucius Malfoy.
Draco's face turned pale instantly. His father, tall and elegant, stared at him with a mix of contempt and judgment.
"You're a disgrace to pure-bloods, Draco. You always have been. Nothing you do will—"
"It doesn't matter," Draco interrupted, his voice soft but firm. "I know. I'll always be a disappointment to you, Father… but Mother says she's proud of me. And that's enough."
With that, he turned around and calmly walked back. He had faced that fear more times than he could count. This time, he had nothing to prove to a reflection.
"Well, I guess it's my turn," said Harry as he stepped toward the false Lucius, who was still glaring at Draco with an angry expression. Then, his gaze locked onto Harry… and began to shift.
The others watched him closely. After all, Harry might be the strongest among them, and definitely the calmest. Though sometimes—especially when he was with Daphne—they ended up doing all sorts of silly things.
The boggart spun for a few moments, as if struggling to settle on the shape it wanted, until it finally completed its transformation.
It was Wanda.
But not the same Wanda who had appeared in front of Hermione.
This one had deeper, darker hair, with a crimson tiara resting on her head. Her outfit was a deep blood-red, and a cloak drifted lightly behind her. Her gaze was even colder and more emotionless than before.
Harry stared directly at his mother.
Then, she began to speak.
"You'll never be them. Even if you spend your whole life trying… you are not my—"
She never finished.
Before the words meant to hurt him could come out, a red energy flared from the boggart's chest. A surge of chaotic magic wrapped around it, as if the very fear had triggered something deeper and uncontrollable.
"HIIIIIIII!" the creature shrieked, twisting and collapsing in on itself, before exploding into hundreds of glowing red fragments. The crystal shield shattered completely, as if it had never existed.
The shards floated in the air like dust suspended in zero gravity.
Harry stood at the center.
His eyes, once green, had turned a brilliant red—strikingly similar to his mother's. His gaze remained fixed, serious, and unreadable, as he watched the fragments of the boggart slowly drift through the air.
Daphne and Hermione instinctively hugged each other in surprise, while Draco remained frozen in place.
And then… they felt it.
The air shifted, like the heavy silence before a storm.
They heard the sound of glass shattering. They followed the direction it came from… and there stood Wanda, the magical barriers of the Greengrass Manor breaking apart in her wake.
Wanda surveyed the room. The floating fragments. The silence. Then her eyes settled on Harry, who was still staring ahead with a calm, serious expression.
As if everything that had happened was perfectly clear to her.
"Harry," Wanda said softly, her voice warm and steady.
Harry turned to face her.
His pupils still glowed with a bright red, but his irises remained green—his inherited color. As if he carried the eyes of both his mothers. That made Wanda smile gently.
"It's time to go home, son," she said tenderly, stepping forward and wrapping him in a loving hug.
Harry's eyes slowly returned to normal, and he gave a small nod.
The two of them disappeared, wrapped in Wanda's red magic.
The others stood there in silence.
Several seconds passed before Daphne let out a quiet laugh.
"Okay… we have to admit it. Harry and his mom are seriously awesome," she said.
Draco and Hermione slowly nodded in agreement.
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Next Chapter: The Search for Red and the Horcrux