Artemis Hexley and the Figures in the Shadows

Chapter 2: Creature Discomforts

Artemis had other things to worry about than whether or not she should go looking for the rest of the Cursed Vaults. Her first priority was to find out whether or not she would be allowed to attend the Hogsmeade village trips with the rest of the third years.

Professor Sprout, in addition to being the Herbology teacher, was head of Hufflepuff house. Before the first herbology class of term, Artemis approached Professor Sprout and asked her about the Hogsmeade permission slips.

"So, your mother didn't sign the slip?" Professor Sprout said, elbows deep in a sack of  fertiliser.

"No, she forgot. And then she couldn't find it to sign it."

Professor Sprout sighed, and pulled her arms out of the fertiliser. She wiped her arms off on her robes and looked down at Artemis with her hands on her hips.

"Artemis, it isn't that I don't believe you," she said, diplomatically, "but I have heard this sort of story many times before. My mum lost the permission slip, my owl ate the permission slip, a Niffler stole my permission slip, and so on and so forth."

"A Niffler wouldn't steal a permission slip, Professor, they aren't shiny."

"Well, someone's been reading up on their magical creatures," the teacher chuckled. "But that is exactly my point; students have lied about not getting permission before. It's very serious business, letting you go off school grounds."

"I'm not lying, I swear."

"I know you aren't, Artemis, but I still can't let you go to Hogsmeade without your mother's written consent," Artemis opened her mouth, but Sprout continued talking before she could interrupt. "I'll write to your mother and send her a new permission slip for her to sign and send back."

"Thank you, Professor."

The class swiftly begun, and Artemis started to harvest valerian sprigs with Tonks, who was telling her all about the items you could purchase at Zonko's joke shop.

"Once you get your permission slip back we can go and buy some nose-biting teacups for Merula Snyde's morning coffee!" she cackled.

"Somehow I think that will go down like angry dragon at a birthday party."

Their discussion was cut short by the sound of a loud crash and a high pitched scream from the far corner of the greenhouse. The class covered their ears and turned around to see Penny Haywood, cowering away from a large werewolf, her plant pot smashed at her feet, and her shin cut open, a single drop of blood trailing its way down her lower leg.

Several other students screamed as well, and Artemis heard Tonks swear under her breath.

"Calm down everyone," Professor Sprout said in a pragmatic sort of voice, and strode over to Penny. "It's just a Boggart."

"A what?"

"A Boggart. They're shape-shifters. They take the form of a person's greatest fear," she raised her wand and pointed it at the werewolf. "Riddikukus!"

The werewolf disappeared, and it its place stood a chihuahua. Relieved, the students laughed, and the chihuahua vanished. Penny, however, did not laugh. She stood staring, her eyes wide and her face pale, at the spot where the werewolf-Boggart had been standing just seconds before.

"I really must talk to the headmaster about the Defence Against the Dark Arts curriculum," Professor Sprout mused. She bent down next to Penny, and pointed her wand at the cut on her leg. "Episkey!"

The cut on Penny's shin mended itself instantly, but the trickle of blood that had run from it was still making its way down to the top of her white sock. The colour had not returned to Penny's face, and she seemed unable to talk, or even move.