September 11th, Sunny

"No… no…"

Angelina was jolted awake by Joey's soft cries. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, peering over at Joey's bed. "Joey, are you having another nightmare?"

Joey didn't respond. She was still asleep, her face streaked with tears, her hands clutching the blanket tightly. Her expression was one of pure distress.

Angelina sighed, slipping out of bed and grabbing her wand. She cast a soft "Lumos" and approached Joey's bed. This wasn't the first time this had happened. Joey had been having nightmares since the start of the term, and each time, she'd wake up crying, though she never remembered why.

The next morning, Joey woke up to find Angelina squeezed into her bed, holding her hand. Joey blinked, confused, then scratched Angelina's palm playfully. "Why are you in my bed? Did "you" have a nightmare?"

Angelina groaned, pulling her hand away. "You're the one who had the nightmare, Joey. You were crying again."

Joey sat up, frowning. "Me? Crying? No way. I don't cry."

Angelina rolled her eyes. "You've had nightmares several times this term. Every time, you cry and say 'no' over and over. Next time, I'm borrowing Colin's camera to prove it to you."

Joey scoffed, but deep down, she was unsettled. She couldn't remember the nightmares, but Angelina wouldn't lie. What could possibly make her cry in her sleep?

As they left the dormitory, Joey trailed behind Angelina, muttering to herself. "I don't cry. I'm Joey Forest. I don't cry."

Angelina, thoroughly annoyed, spotted Fred waiting in the common room. She shoved Joey toward him. "Talk to your boyfriend!" she said, then hurried off.

Fred caught Joey, steadying her. "What's going on? Did you prank Angelina again?"

Joey pouted. "She said I've been having nightmares and crying in my sleep. I don't believe her."

Fred chuckled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as they walked to the Great Hall. "It's probably just the aftereffects of the Dementor attack. Nothing to be ashamed of."

"But crying is embarrassing," Joey grumbled.

Fred kissed her forehead. "It's just a dream. None of it's real. But if you ever cry over me, I'd be honored."

Joey elbowed him. "Don't push your luck."

———

At breakfast, George leaned over to Fred and Joey, whispering, "Filch just warned me. The Ministry's doing a sweep of the dorms. They're looking for contraband. If they find anything, it's expulsion."

Joey smirked. "So you're saying you might be the first student expelled for having contraband? Cool."

George rolled his eyes. "We need to hide our stash. Any ideas?"

Fred and Joey exchanged a glance, then said in unison, "We know a place."

———

Defense Against the Dark Arts was the most anticipated class this term. Professor Lupin, despite his shabby appearance, had already won over the students with his cool demeanor and practical lessons.

"You'll see," a fourth-year Gryffindor girl gushed to Joey. "He's amazing! But it's a secret!"

Joey was skeptical, but George backed it up. "He saved us from the Dementor on the train. You were passed out, so you missed it."

Joey crossed her arms. "I'm not shallow. I don't judge people by their looks."

Fred smirked. "What about your Lockhart obsession last year?"

Joey glared at him but didn't respond.

The class gathered in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, which was empty except for a large, shabby wardrobe. Professor Lupin stood beside it, smiling warmly.

"Now that everyone's here," he said, clapping his hands, "can anyone guess what we're dealing with today?"

"A Boggart," Flami answered immediately.

"Ten points to Slytherin," Professor Lupin said, applauding.

George gave Flami a thumbs-up, but she avoided his gaze. Fred nudged George, and Joey stifled a laugh.

Professor Lupin explained how to handle a Boggart, then opened the wardrobe. "Who wants to go first?"

Fred and George immediately stepped forward, but Joey was pulled back by Angelina. "One at a time," Professor Lupin said, amused.

Fred won the rock-paper-scissors match with George and stood proudly in front of the wardrobe. The door creaked open, and out stepped Joey, who said coldly, "Let's break up."

The class erupted in laughter. Joey herself laughed so hard she had to lean on Angelina for support. "That's "exactly" how I look when I'm mad!" she gasped.

Fred, red-faced, shouted, "You're dreaming!" The Boggart shifted, turning into Ryan wearing Joey's clothes. The laughter grew louder.

When it was Joey's turn, she stepped up confidently, wand at the ready. The wardrobe door opened, and out stepped George—with only one ear.

Joey froze. The room fell silent. She couldn't hear Fred calling her name or the confused murmurs of her classmates. All she could see was George, missing an ear, looking so… wrong.

She fainted.

———

When Joey woke up in the hospital wing, Fred and George were by her side. Fred handed her a potion. "It's a calming draught. Madam Pomfrey said you needed it."

Joey drank it, then frowned. "Why am I here? What happened?"

Fred and George exchanged a look. "You don't remember?" George asked.

Joey shook her head. "The last thing I remember is the wardrobe opening. What came out?"

Fred sighed. "Your Boggart turned into George… with one ear."

Joey blinked. "What? Why would that scare me?"

George shrugged, trying to lighten the mood. "Guess I'm just that terrifying."

Joey didn't laugh. She couldn't understand why the sight of George missing an ear would make her faint. It didn't make sense.

But deep down, a small, nagging voice whispered that there was more to it—something she couldn't remember. And that scared her more than any Boggart ever could.