Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and events from J.K. Rowling's wonderful Harry Potter books. I am writing this for my own enjoyment and hopefully for the enjoyment of readers. Anything you recognize belongs to JKR. The rest belongs to me.
Chapter 46: Palmistry and Boggarts
"Today," croaked the elderly voice of Professor Vablatsky, "we will begin to study palmistry. You should have all read the chapter on The Chiromantic Art in your text." She paused to catch her breath, as she moved her frail body across the room. "You should know where the principle lines are and the basic interpretations. As you should know by now, the left hand will reveal one's inherited characteristics, while the right hand reveals choices to be made as well as the triumphs and tribulations that lie ahead. Over the next few months we will learn the subtleties of the art of palmistry, however today I want you to practice on each other using the principle lines only. I will make my way around the room and assist you."
As Lily studied Alice's hands Professor Vablatsky hobbled to their table and gazed at them.
"Okay Alice," started Lily, "The first line is the life line. That's this one," she indicated. "Then the second one is-" Lily glanced at her text, nervous at having the professor hovering over them, "-it's the head line." Lily paused, uncertain about how to proceed.
"Allow me, Miss Evans," said the professor. She took Alice's hands and studied them for a minute, the crow's feet around her eyes deepening as she scrutinized the lines. "Miss Lyons, you have a long life line however it is relatively straight. I would be worried about your endurance. You have a deep head line which suggests intelligence, however there is a break in the line. That could indicate a loss of focus or concentration. Your heart line is long and straight, which suggests you will have one true love in your lifetime."
Alice gazed at the elderly professor in awe. She wasn't sure if she could believe her, but when the professor looked at her Alice had the strange sensation that she was the real deal. The idea that she had one true love out there for her was comforting, and she wondered who he was. The idea of a lack of endurance or loss of focus was a mystery to her. She wasn't sure how to swallow those predictions.
As the professor was about to turn away, Alice blurted out, "What about Lily? What do you see for her?"
Lily's eyes widened at her friend, not really wanting the professor's probing eyes on her hands.
Professor Vablatsky turned back and grabbed Lily's small hands into her gnarled ones. As soon as Vablatsky made contact she made a sharp intake of breath and her eyes lost focus for a moment. When her eyes returned to normal Alice asked, "What did you see, Professor?"
After flicking her intense blue eyes toward Lily, Professor Vablatsky turned to Alice and said, "N-Nothing. My arthritis was acting up, that's all." Since she still had Lily's hands, she turned them over and started gazing at her palms. After what seemed like an eternity she finally said, "There is a strong curve in your life line which shows me that you are a strong girl. You are very intelligent and creative. You are more sensitive than most to the emotions of others. Though there are some breaks at the beginning of your heart line, I suspect you will have a strong and pure love later." She suddenly pulled Lily's hand closer to her face and traced her finger over a line down the middle of her palm. "Hmmm, interesting," she said. "Your fate line - it starts as a faint line. I suspect you feel like you don't have much control over your life right now."
Lily pulled her hand back and covered it with her left hand. Professor Vablatsky leaned toward her and whispered, "It will be alright, dear. I see that your intelligence and talent will allow you more control as you get older - you will possess the ability to do extraordinary things."
As the professor walked away Alice noticed that Lily looked like she was holding her breath. "Lily?" she asked. Lily didn't answer. Worry crept into Alice as she watched her friend. "Lily? You look like you're in shock. Are you trembling?"
Lily finally heard the words of her friend and smiled, though unconvincingly. "No…I mean I'm fine." She turned to her text and started searching through the pages. "I have the diagram of the principle lines in here somewhere…"
Alice put her hand on the pages to stop them from being turned. As Lily looked up Alice gently asked, "Are you sure you want to continue?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I?" asked Lily.
"I don't know," replied Alice. Truthfully, she didn't know. Nothing she had heard Professor Vablatsky say during her predictions made her think that Lily would become frightened by them. Overall, it was a relatively positive reading with a few bumps along the road.
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"Hey Moony! I think I have two head lines!" exclaimed James.
Remus shook his head and said, "That's not two lines, James. The second line is actually a cut you got the other day from one of the exploding snap cards."
"Hmmm," said James, disappointed. "I thought that meant I was super-intelligent."
"Sorry to disappoint you," joked Remus.
"How are you boys doing with your reading?" came the croaky voice of their professor.
James turned to her and with a sheepish smile said, "I'm afraid I only have one head line, Professor. Remus here has informed me that I am not as intelligent as I had hoped."
"Perhaps I should assist you, then?" asked the professor. Before either boy could reply she had grabbed James' hands and started her observations. "You have a long and curved life line. You are very strong." She turned his hand a little and continued, "You are intelligent, and extremely creative." She glanced at Remus before turning back to James. "You heart line is deep as runs your feelings - both the feelings for your true love as well as the feelings for your friends. Your fate line…curious…you will be at a constant battle for control of your fate, however fate has a different plan for you. The line does indicate, however, your resourcefulness with regard to your talents."
James looked at her like she had lost her marbles. How much more vague could she get?
"And you, Mr. Lupin," said the old witch. She turned toward the werewolf and studied his hands. "Your life line is rather short, but runs deep. You have more strength than most."
Remus shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He was well aware of the strength he got from his lycanthropy. And what did she mean by his short life line?
"Like your friend you are very intelligent," continued Vablatsky. "You have a knack for solving problems. You are good at reading the emotions and relationships of those you care about except when they pertain to you. Your fate line shows many breaks early on in life however toward the end you will take your fate into your own hands and carry a great responsibility."
She let go of Remus' hand, but not before he noticed a gentle squeeze. Before Remus could question her she turned to Frank and Peter, who were at the next table. Frank was trying to show Peter how to find the Apollo line, but Peter could hardly see his.
After class as they were walking to Transfiguration James noticed that Remus was rather silent. "C'mon, Moony," he said, "you don't actually believe that stuff, do you?"
Remus looked at James, his face rather serious, and said, "I always imagined my life would be shorter due to…well, you know…" He looked around, scared that anyone could listen in. "There are many people who would want me killed for what I am."
James stopped and grabbed Remus by the arm. "The only way that stuff'll come true is if you start believing in it. Besides, do you think that Padfoot, Wormtail, or I would allow anyone to threaten our friend?"
Remus looked down and said, "You're right, I guess."
"Of course I'm right," insisted James. He then smiled and added, "After all, I've got TWO head lines, remember? Super-intelligence!"
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That afternoon in Defense Against the Dark Arts the students were surprised to see Professor Peurom dragging in a large trunk. Lily glanced at Marlene, confused. She thought that they were supposed to start hinkypunks that day. Since they were marsh creatures, she didn't expect to see one inside the trunk that now sat at the front of the room. As the students watched it with curiosity, suddenly there was a big 'CRASH' and a large jerking movement from within the trunk. The students all jumped back in their seats and Professor Peurom looked more nervous than usual.
"T-Today, students," started Peurom, "I have changed the subject matter. Earlier this year we discussed boggarts, but at the time there was no boggart around to practice on. Mr. Filch found this boggart as he was doing his nightly stroll through the castle. Although I had been planning on discussing hinkypunks today, the headmaster felt it would be best for you to get practical experience with a boggart since they are relatively common."
Professor Peurom had the students move the tables out of the way and gather around the trunk. "Now, does anyone remember what a boggart does and the incantation to stop it?" asked the professor.
Marlene raised her hand and said, "A boggart takes on the shape it thinks will scare us the most, and the incantation is 'Riddikulus!'"
Peurom nodded and said, "10 points to Gryffindor. Now, I want you to back away a little and form a line. After I let the boggart out it will assume its form. I want each of you to use the incantation while thinking of a way to make the boggart less scary, funny if possible."
A line was formed and soon the first student was facing the boggart. As Frank watched the creature spin out of the trunk he was soon faced with a mermaid - not the beautiful kind from fairy tales but the creepy looking kind with gray skin, green hair, and yellow eyes. As it approached Frank said, "Riddikulus!" and the mermaid turned into a goldfish, flopping about the floor.
Each student took a turn, changing a mouse into a wind-up toy; changing the Bloody Baron into Nearly-Headless Nick. Soon it was Sirius' turn. As the boggart turned to face him it swirled into the images of his best friends - James, Remus, and Peter. Each boy scowled at Sirius and called him a 'bloody Slytherin' and if they weren't turning their backs on him they were calling him other choice names. Sirius paled a bit before raising his wand and shouting, "Riddikulus!" Instead of insults falling out of their mouths, butterflies started started flying out.
Several students laughed, causing the boggart to jump back in pain. The real James leaned forward and said, "Butterflies, Padfoot?!"
Sirius gave James a look of mock indignation and said, "What's wrong with that? I liked them!"
Before James could reply Remus was facing the boggart. It swirled into a glowing orb. The Marauders recognized it immediately as the full moon, however the rest of the class wondered what it was that caused Remus to audibly gulp. Remus took a deep breath and said, "Riddukulus!" causing the orb to bounce around like a ball.
James watched, amused as he saw Peter turn the arms of a bully into wings. Peter smiled, proud that he was able to pull off the spell on the first try in front of the class. James was looking forward to the challenge. He figured his boggart would be similar to Sirius'.
Suddenly Lily was approaching the boggart. Curious, James paused his thinking to see how she did. The boggart sensed her presence and started whirling around. After a long moment James was shocked to find the boggart assuming the form of Lily. The real Lily froze, trembling at the sight of herself. There was an odd look about the boggart Lily as it approached.
Marlene, after recovering from the surprise of seeing Lily's boggart, noticed her friend was frozen. She leaned forward and whispered some words of encouragement.
Lily, finally realizing the proximity of the boggart, raised her wand and with a shaky voice said, "Riddikulus!" The boggart Lily now had a head of purple hair and bright pink eyes. Hearing the chuckles from her classmates, Lily backed away, sighing in relief.
James watched her, full of curiosity about the form of her boggart, until it was time for him to face the creature. James barely paid any attention to the creature until he heard a gasp from the class and turned to see his mum in front of him. She was on the floor, motionless, her eyes wide and staring at him in fear. There was no life behind those eyes, no color in her cheeks. A trickle of dried blood traced a path from the corner of her mouth to her chin. James felt the air leave his lungs and rush into his head.
Sirius was concerned for James, though not surprised at the form of his boggart. He watched his friend intently as he stood motionless in front of the form of the deceased Marianne Potter. The blood drained from James' face and it became evident that he wasn't prepared to attack the boggart.
Just as Sirius was about to approach the boggart, Professor Peurom, looking more pale and shaky than usual, beat him to it. Stepping in front of James, the boggart now focused its attention on the professor and started spinning. Sirius watched and was surprised to see it take the form of a blanket, hanging in midair fluttering. Peurom, though shaking cried, "Riddikulus!" and forced the boggart back into the trunk.
James stayed rooted in the same spot until Sirius cautiously approached him. Before Sirius could say anything James stormed out of the classroom and ran until his lungs felt like they would burst. James looked around, realizing that he had left the castle and was in the empty Quidditch pitch.
James leaned over, trying to catch his breath but instead felt something welling up in the pit of his stomach. It had been threatening to happen for almost two years but James had been too numb. The sight of his mum, dead on the floor in front of him, brought back that nagging feeling he thought had finally left. James paced around a distant corner of the pitch, trying to force the feeling back down but it was insistent, pushing its way up until the corners of his eyes started to sting. A stubborn sob escaped his throat and that was enough to force James into the tears he had not shed since learning of his father's death. As soon as he gave into the tears James collapsed onto the ground and stayed there, letting out his grief. As his sobs subsided James leaned against his knees and ran his hands through his hair, feeling exhausted.
Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. James jumped in surprise and turned to see Sirius standing behind him. Embarrassed to have his friend see him cry James quickly turned back and tried to casually dry the tears with the sleeve of his robe, hoping the dimming sunlight would provide adequate cover.
James waited, expecting to hear Sirius say something. Instead, Sirius squeezed James' shoulder and just stayed there with him. James glanced up at his friend, feeling comforted by the gesture and appreciating the fact that Sirius did not try to make things better with words. Words were all anyone said after his dad was killed. Words had never provided comfort for James. Having finally let out his grief, and having the silent support of his best mate did more in that hour than anything else from the previous two years.
They walked back to the castle in silence and as they entered James told Sirius he'd meet him in the Great Hall. He needed to go to the DADA classroom to collect his book bag, which he had forgotten during his hasty retreat.
As James entered the DADA classroom, he noticed it was much darker than during class. A few candles were lit, causing shadows to dance along the walls. James looked around until he saw his book bag propped against the leg of a chair at the far end of the room. As he turned to leave he saw Professor Peurom standing at the front of the room.
"I thought you might come back tonight…for your things," said the professor. He studied James for a moment before asking, "Are you alright now?"
James hastily replied, "Yes…er…well-"
"It's okay to be unsettled. Facing a boggart is not fun and games. For some people it can be a nightmare, especially if you've had a horrible experience in your life." Peurom shivered as he spoke.
James watched his DADA professor, again wondering about the mystery surrounding him. "Professor?" he asked. "Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?"
Peurom gulped but said, "Go ahead."
"Why was your boggart a blanket? Are you scared of being smothered or something?" he asked.
Peurom thought for a moment before replying, "Mr. Potter, the danger for me lies not in what happens on this side of the, er…blanket…but rather the other side." Before James could ask anything else Peurom said, "Good night, Mr. Potter."
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A/N: Lots of info crammed into this chapter. Sigh - I just love James and Sirius' friendship.
Answer to the previous 'bonus' question on the derivation of Peurom's last name: For those of you who speak French, you can break it down into Peur homme (translation - scared man).
Bonus question for this chapter: What is the Apollo Line? What are your theories on why Peter's is barely visible?
Thanks to the latest reviewers: Jo Bob (x2), Alicia, Anonymous, Anu, lilly flower, Nyscat (x3), nanopy, delpheena (x2), Remus'sweetie, Mani12191, mrs. padfoot, sista7.
Next chapter: More bits about the Animagus transformation. The Marauders continue their investigation of Professor Peurom.