The Only Chapter
"Riddikulus!" There was a small flash and suddenly the large snake in the front of the room turned into a large jack in the box toy. The professor smiled proudly at her student and pointed to a gryffindor girl with rainbow hair as the other girl took her seat again.
"Miss Dash, you're up next." The professor said softly. Rainbow Dash stood in front of the boggart and pulled her wand out of her robes. The Jack In The Box suddenly changed to an image of a newspaper with the headline 'Rainbow Dash, the Wonderbolts Failure'. The fifth year paled at the sight and shut her eyes as she shot her wand in front of her.
"Riddikulus," She called loudly, the newspaper suddenly taking the form of an airplane and flying wildly around the room, causing the other students to laugh brightly. The professor took the distraction and briefly looked up at the clock.
"Well class, it seems like that's all we have time for today, we'll continue this review next class. Remember to study, because this will be on your O.W.L.s," She said loudly. The class groaned but started to collect their items and leave the room.
"What was that about Dash?" Sunset Shimmer looked over at her friend with a sly grin as she spoke. "Failing to be a Wonderbolt is your biggest fear?"
"So what if it is? What's your biggest fear?" She asked with a smirk.
"That's for me to know and you to find out next class," Sunset winked playfully. Rainbow huffed and turned around to go catch up with Pinkie Pie as Sunset continued to pack up her belongings. "Hey Sunset, do you have anything after this?" A tall purple girl in Ravenclaw robes asked shyly. Sunset looked up at Twilight and shook her head with a grin.
"Nope, nothing. Why do you ask?" The red haired girl asked.
"Well I was wondering if you could help me practice the spell for our next class. We never learned this spell at my old school and I don't want people to laugh at me if I can't do it," Twilight explained awkwardly. She had transferred earlier that year from another wizarding school, and because of the different curriculums there were many things she was suddenly having to learn on the spot. Normally she would never ask another student for help (she was too prideful for that), but she and Sunset had become close friends and she trusted the girl enough to ask her. She especially wanted her help with this spell because it meant Twilight would have to face her fear, and that terrified her. Having Sunset there would help her be brave. "Will you help me?"
"Of course, Twi!" The Slytherin beamed, wrapping her arm around her best friends' shoulders. Despite their different houses the two became fast friends. In Twilights previous school, house rivalries weren't really a thing, so she didn't really pay any mind to the ones at Hogwarts. The issues between the four houses always bothered Sunset immensely since most of her friends were in different houses then her, but she never let the old rivalries stop her. "I know the perfect place to go!"
Sunset lead Twilight out of the classroom and lead her through the halls. They fell into a comfortable silence as they walked calmly through the busy halls until they reached a doorway that Twilight didn't recognize. Sunset knocked on the door loudly before opening it.
"Hello Professor Kettleburn," Sunset greeted. Twilight looked around the tiny office, noticing the clutter of books and animal food littering the various shelves and tables around the room. Behind a desk was an older man, he had salt and pepper hair that was slowly receding and was wearing deep purple robes. Twilight was slightly surprised to see that the professor had no right arm or left ear, and the way his left leg creaked as he stood made Twilight assume that that limb was missing as well.
"Hello Miss Shimmer, how are you this afternoon, studying hard for your O.W.L.s I hope?" The man winked playfully.
"Oh, of course! Twilight here is making sure I study extra hard, so I get all O's on my exams." Sunset nodded.
"Ah so you must be Miss Sparkle then. Miss Shimmer never stops talking about you during our Care Of Magical Creatures Class." The man winked. Twilight blushed and nodded, when she glanced at Sunset she was surprised to find her cheeks were turning pink as well. When she transferred Twilight decided to not take Care of Magical Creatures, so she had never met this professor before.
"Um, yes I am. I transferred here this year," She explained, adjusting her glasses nervously. "It's a bit difficult because of the different curriculum, but I'm doing fairly well I believe."
"That's good to hear Miss Sparkle." He nodded. "So Miss Shimmer, what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Well Professor, Twilight here having a bit of trouble with the Ridikkulus charm and I was wondering if that boggart you were complaining about the other day was still here?" Twilight looked down, embarrassed that she was having problems with such an easy spell.
"Ah, that is a challenging spell." Professor Kettleburn nodded, although Twilight assumed that he said that to try and make her feel better. "Unfortunately, though, yes." He motioned over to a chest in the corner of the room with a frown.
"Would it be alright if me and Twilight practiced the spell on that boggart professor?" Sunset put on a bright smile and Twilight instantly saw the professor melt.
"Well, Professor McGonagall wouldn't be happy with letting you stay in my office when I'm not here," He said slowly. "But how could I say no to my favorite student?" He chuckled. "Just make sure you put him back in there when you're done so that the DADA professor can get rid of it when she gets a chance." He grabbed his bag and limped over to the doorway. "I have to head to class now girls, if you break anything just Reparo it please."
"Of course, professor!" Sunset beamed. Once he was out of the room Sunset turned to Twilight and clapped her hands excitedly. "You ready Twi?" Twilight looked at the chest nervously, she really wasn't ready to face her fear but she didn't want to look like a coward in front of her friend so she just nodded her head.
"Ok then. Remember the spell ok?" Twilight nodded silently and Sunset pointed her wand at the chest. "Alohomora"
A figure in a dark cloak climbed out of the chest and towered over the girls. With a swift wave of his robes all the candles in the room went out and the shuttered slammed closed, enveloping the room in darkness. The figure loomed over the girls and made no attempt to move toward them, but despite the darkness Sunset could still see well.
"Um, Twi-?" Sunset was cut off by two thin arms wrapping tightly around her neck and a head banging against hers suddenly. "Oof." She groaned when her head collided with Twilight's, but if it hurt Twilight as well, the Ravenclaw didn't show it.
"Don't let go!" Twilight cried. "Get it away from me." Sunset looked between the figure and the girl clutching her neck, Twilight's eyes were shut tightly, and her hands were going white from holding Sunset so tightly. The Slytherins eyes widened with realization a moment later and she looked at Twilight with surprise.
"Twilight, are you afraid of the dark?" Sunset wondered. Twilight let out a whimper, which Sunset took as a yes and the red haired girl chuckled lightly. "Twi relax, I'm right here. You can do this!" She reassured her.
"Nope, no I can't. I think I'll just go fail my DADA O.W.Ls and leave it at that," Twilight announced firmly. She didn’t care about the O.W.L.s. at this moment, she would just sleep in and not go. She would do anything to get out of this room right now.
"And I think I'll go take a casual walk in the Forbidden Forrest later." Sunset laughed. She felt Twilight retract her hands from around her neck and replace themselves around Sunset's arm.
"I don't like the dark. I had some really bad experiences with the dark and I don't like it one bit and now I have to fight it," Twilight whispered, her eyes still shut tightly as tears threatened to fall. "How do you even make the dark funny?" It was a serious question and Sunset paused for a second but she had comfort her scared friend.
"Twilight, just take a deep breath ok?" Twilight did as she was told and felt Sunset pull away for a moment before grabbing her hands. The feeling of Sunset's soft slender fingers intertwining with her own made Twilight relax a tiny bit. A thumb began rubbing along the back of her hand and Twilight let out a breath. "Open your eyes now."
"Ok," Twilight agreed quietly. She slowly opened her eyes. She barely had time to let her eyes adjust to the darkness as she felt Sunset come close and, without warning, felt soft lips touch her own. Twilight instantly shut her eyes again, this time out of contentment instead of fear, and felt Sunset squeeze her hand. All too quickly, Sunset pulled away and Twilight opened her eyes once more.
"Go ahead and point your wand at the boggart ok?" Twilight was still wearing off the shock from the surprise kiss, but she nodded and pointed her wand at the dark figure. "Now say the spell."
"Riddikulus!" She cast the spell in a soft, yet firm, voice and the dark figure and darkness surrounding them turned into bubbles. Twilight's eyes widened, she was so surprised with herself that she barely registered Sunset cast a spell, making all the bubbles fly into the chest, which closed with a thud.
"You did it Twilight!" Sunset beamed and pulled Twilight in for a hug. "I'm so proud of you." She said into the girls ear.
"Um Sunset," Twilight pulled away from the hug and rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. "What was that kiss about?"
"Oh, well you said you had bad experiences in the dark, so I wanted you to have a nice experience for once. So now when you must face the dark, whether it be at night or in boggart form, you can think of that moment and it won't be as scary." Twilight couldn't help but find her friend utterly adorable with the way her head was tilted to the side, a big grin on her face, and her hands clasped behind her back. She could see why Professor Kettleburn melted when Sunset smiled, because she was doing the same right now.
"Thank you Sunset." Twilight blushed. "Please don't tell anybody about my fear though please." Twilight urged. Being 15 years old and afraid of the dark in a school full of witches and wizards was not something she wanted getting around.
"Only if you promise we can practice more tonight by the Great Lake," Sunset said smiling.
"Are there boggarts by the Great Lake?" Twilight wondered, not sure what else Sunset could have meant.
"No, I mean practice that good memory some more." Sunset winked,
"S-Sunset!" Twilight's face turned bright red, causing Sunset to laugh.
"Come on you RavenNerd, lets go study in the library" Sunset suggested, leading them out of the Professor Kettleburns office. "By the way you realize once you face the Boggort in class everyone will know your fear?" Sunset added as they walked it coming to her mind.
Twilight paused, her eyes going wide, she had completely forgotten that. "Don't worry I'll be there to protect you from any bullies," Sunset said kissing Twilight cheek real fast before walking quickly up the corridor. Twilight stood there for a moment, her cheeks going red. She couldn't help smile growing on her face though as she ran off to catch up to Sunset.
Twilight didn't have The Sight like Professor Trelawney, but she didn't need it to know that her future was looking pretty bright.