Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of it's characters.
"Seriously?"
It was Gryffindor and Slytherin combination Defense Against the Dark Arts. They were in a cleared classroom, a shaking dresser the only piece of furniture inside. Draco Malfoy had been the one to speak, he was rolling his eyes. They were in sixth year, sixth year, mind you, and Snape thought that it would be a good idea to have them have a lesson on boggarts.
"We learned about these in third year, Professor," said Malfoy, giving Snape a disbelieving look.
"Yes, I am aware of this, Mr. Malfoy," sneered Snape. "But I believe that it's good for you students to get a good dose of fear every once in a while. For this lesson, you will not be allowed to use Ridikkulus. You shall simply just walk away from the boggart after seeing what you are most afraid of."
"Excuse me, sir," said Hermione. "But how is this supposed to help us defend ourselves against the Dark Arts?"
"I am surprised that you do not know, Miss Granger. This is a simple exercise of endurance. If we are able to walk away from our deepest fear completely mentally fine, then we are more likely to keep our heads during a fight against, oh, Death Eaters, for instance.
"You will stand with your hands at your sides and endure the boggart for thirty seconds. If you use your wand or run away, you will fail this lesson."
A rush of whispers broke out amongst the sixth years, but some just looked downright terrified. Who knew what it would be like to not be able to defend themselves against their worst fears?
"Let's get started." said Snape.
He had the sixth years form into a single file line, an unfortunate Ron was at the front of the group, looking rather fidgety. Snape looked almost pleased to see the frightened students. He reached for the bottom drawer, and with a sweeping motion, he pulled it open.
What looked like a thick black blanket flowed out of the drawer, but the sixth years who knew Ron knew better. They were thousands and thousands of small furry spiders, spreading out on the wooden floor, rushing straight towards Ron. Ron whimpered slightly as he struggled to stand still. The spiders began to climb up his legs as a particularly large spider climbed out of the drawer behind its children. Using its large, spindly legs, it walked creepily up to Ron, who looked like he might faint. The spider then got a few inches away from Ron, baring its fangs, venom dripping from the lethal-looking weapons. The small spiders had reached Ron's waist, and he looked like he might not last very much longer; he wasn't breathing.
"You may now slowly and level headedly walk away, Ronald." said Snape in what appeared to be a rather gleeful voice.
Ron, all the color drained out of his face, shaking uncontrollably, walked away from the spider, the smaller spiders dropped from his legs.
One by one, the sixth years shakily faced the boggart for the longest thirty seconds of their lives. Neville actually collapsed, Snape had to raise his body with his wand and send him to the hospital wing. Soon the classroom was full of pale, sick-looking sixth years.
Next up was Hermione, who clenched her teeth as Professor McGonagall showed her that she had failed every class. She kept taking deep breaths, her hands in fists by her hands. When Snape said that her thirty seconds was up, she was more pale than she had been at the beginning of class, but definitely looked the best out of all the sixth years that had faced the boggart.
For the sanity of the class, Harry was not allowed to face the boggart when the rest of the class was present, but Snape asked him to stay after class for a while to face what would undoubtedly be Voldemort for his thirty seconds.
The last one to go was Malfoy. As was highly predictable, he walked cockily up to the boggart, looking like he was buying Cockroach Clusters at Honeydukes. But what happened next nobody had predicted.
The boggart spun around for a second, deciding what to transform into. When it ceased to spin, a very mad-looking Hermione was facing him.
"Oh, no," Malfoy moaned.
Snape, who had not seen the boggart transform, said, "Granger, what are you doing?"
"I'm over here, Professor," said the real Hermione in a distant sounding voice. She was looking at her look-alike, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. Malfoy's greatest fear was her?
"Draco Malfoy!" the boggart Hermione screeched. Malfoy flinched. "You are the foulest creature that I have ever met! I hate you! I hate you!"
Boggart Hemione continued to scream at him, and the rest of the classroom was trying to figure out what was going on. Malfoy's greatest fear was Hermione telling him that she hated him? But he hated her…
Boggart Hermione was growing red in the face. "You are so stupid, Malfoy! Absolutely dumb! Why in the world would you ever think-"
"Hermione, please…" Malfoy started, but the boggart continued to scream at him.
"-that in a million years that I would ever love you?"
The classroom was dead silent as the boggart panted, tears of sadness were filling her eyes. "Are you seriously that vain?"
The boggart ran away crying, her face buried in her hands. She flopped down with uncontrollable tears next to the dresser, the whole classroom staring at her.
"Ridikkulus!" shouted Snape, and the boggart retreated back into the dresser drawer. Snape slammed the drawer shut. "Your homework is a twelve inch essay on how to get through your fears. Class dismissed."
The sixth years quickly got to their feet and fled, whispering fervently about the boggart's last transformation. Hermione and Malfoy were rooted where they stood. Then Malfoy quickly spun around on his heels, using long strides to exit the classroom, Hermione staring after him.
"I said that class was dismissed, Miss Granger," sneered Snape.
Hermione walked out, wondering what in the world just happened.