Professor Lupin opened up the trunk which held the boggart. It
emerged as a dementor, hooded and swathed in it's grey robes it proceeded
to Harry with it's cold gnarled and bony hand reaching for the boy. Lupin
stood still, watching Harry. He could see it was a trial for Harry to stand
in the same room with the dementor and wished he could battle it for the
boy. Harry raised his wand and cried "Expecto Patronum! Expecto Patronum!"
as he held it towards the dementor. Lupin marveled yet again as the wand
emitted a puff of white smoke and light that hovered between himself and
the dementor. Not many wizards could do that in so short a time let alone
third years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The boggart-dementor seemed to slow down, but Lupin could tell it's powers over Harry were mounting. A cold sweat had broken over Harry's face and he seemed to be growing more pale with each passing moment. He swayed and his eyes rolled up in the back of his head as he fell, twitching on the cold floor. Lupin's heart felt like it was being squeezed. He lost no time in leaping before the dementor to cry "Riddikulus!" causing the dementor to change to a bright silvery orb which he then forced back into the trunk.
Lupin then dashed to Harry's side as the boy continued to twitch on the floor, his face troubled. He knelt and tapped Harry's hand. "Harry!" Lupin said, holding Harry's hand in his own. He knelt closer, tracing Harry's cheek with his fingers. He was very proud of Harry for his unfailing courage and spirit in these practices. He knew that Harry heard his parents voices and Voldemort's cruel shrill laugh echoing in his head each time he faced off with the boggart-dementor or came in contact with a real dementor. He could only guess at the horror of it all.
Harry seemed to stop his twitching but had not yet opened his eyes. Lupin leaned down and wiped away the tears that had appeared in Harry's eyes. Such was his sorrow and love for this young man that he felt tears gather in his own eyes. Bending down, Lupin gently brought his lips to Harry's. He kissed him softly and quickly, like a butterfly's landing in someone's hand and fluttering away a moment later.
Harry opened his eyes and looked straight at Lupin. "Another go?" he asked. "Yes, one last time." Lupin answered.
The boggart-dementor seemed to slow down, but Lupin could tell it's powers over Harry were mounting. A cold sweat had broken over Harry's face and he seemed to be growing more pale with each passing moment. He swayed and his eyes rolled up in the back of his head as he fell, twitching on the cold floor. Lupin's heart felt like it was being squeezed. He lost no time in leaping before the dementor to cry "Riddikulus!" causing the dementor to change to a bright silvery orb which he then forced back into the trunk.
Lupin then dashed to Harry's side as the boy continued to twitch on the floor, his face troubled. He knelt and tapped Harry's hand. "Harry!" Lupin said, holding Harry's hand in his own. He knelt closer, tracing Harry's cheek with his fingers. He was very proud of Harry for his unfailing courage and spirit in these practices. He knew that Harry heard his parents voices and Voldemort's cruel shrill laugh echoing in his head each time he faced off with the boggart-dementor or came in contact with a real dementor. He could only guess at the horror of it all.
Harry seemed to stop his twitching but had not yet opened his eyes. Lupin leaned down and wiped away the tears that had appeared in Harry's eyes. Such was his sorrow and love for this young man that he felt tears gather in his own eyes. Bending down, Lupin gently brought his lips to Harry's. He kissed him softly and quickly, like a butterfly's landing in someone's hand and fluttering away a moment later.
Harry opened his eyes and looked straight at Lupin. "Another go?" he asked. "Yes, one last time." Lupin answered.