Chapter Two- Boggart Equals Trouble
A tall wardrobe stood rattling in the center of the class room.
"Intriguing, yes? Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what's inside?" Remus asked as he walked around the students.
"That's a Boggart, that is."
"Very good, Mr. Finnigan. Can anyone tell us what a Boggart looks like?"
"No one knows." Ron jumped, then whispered to Harry.
"When did she get here?" Harry shrugged.
"Boggarts are shape-shifters. They take the shape of whatever a particular person fears most. That's what makes it so …"
"Terrifying, yes." Remus irrupted Hermione. "Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a Boggart. Let's practice it now, shall we? Without wands, please... Riddikulus!" All the students repeated.
But Draco muttered softly, "It's this class that's ridiculous."
"Good. So much for the easy part. You see, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a Boggart off is...laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing. Neville, come up here, will you?" Neville eyed the rattling wardrobe but stepped forward. "What would you say is the thing that frightens you most?"
"Profter... Snafpt…"
"Didn't catch that, Neville, sorry."
"Professor Snape." Everyone laughed, good-naturedly. Lupin nods thoughtfully.
"Hmmm... yes. Doesn't he all." Lupin was speaking from experience. When Severus would get mad and beat him. "Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother?"
"Yes, but I don't want the Boggart to turn into her either."
Remus gave a laugh. "It won't. But I want you to picture her clothes, only her clothes, very clearly in your mind. Can you do that?"
He closed his eyes. "She carries a red handbag…"
"That's fine. We don't need to hear it. If you see it, we will. Now, when I open this wardrobe, Neville, here's what I want you to do…" Lupin leaned close to Neville, and whispered. Neville's eyes pop open in shock. "You can do this, Neville." Neville nodded nervously, and took a deep breath. "Right then. Wand at the ready. One. Two. Three!" Sparks came from Lupin's wand and strike the doorknob and the wardrobe bursts open. Instantly, Snape appears, eyes flashing hideously as he stalked forward. Neville backed away in fright. "Think, Neville. Think!"
"R-r-riddikulus!" CRACK! Snape stumbled back and appeared in a long, lace-trimmed dress, a towering moth-eaten hat, and a crimson handbag. Instantly, the class roared with laughter. If only Severus could see. Bad idea he might try to kill me. Lupin thought to himself. Neville blinked, amazed at himself and then grinned to himself. Lupin dropped the needle on an old gramophone. As a scratchy rumba filled the room, he pointed to Ron.
"Ron! Forward!" Snape dissolved into a mad whirling mass, then mutated into a giant spider. As Ron gasped, Harry and Hermione exchange an uncertain glance. Lupin put his hands on Ron's shoulders to steady him. Ron raised his wand.
"Riddikulus!" CRACK! Roller skates appear on the spider's hairy feet and it began to shuffle crazily in place. Instantly, Ron relaxed as the class' laughter rung out.
"Parvati!" As Parvati stepped up, the spider spins again into a giant cobra.
"Riddikulus!" The cobra's hooded head bobs back and forth, and transforms into a jack-in-the-box. Lupin grind.
"Next!" Remus turned to see Harry step forward expectantly. But concern flickered through Lupin's eyes. The Jack-In-The-Box pivoted on its spring, its face tumbling toward Harry, becoming more sinister, transforming into a Dementor. Suddenly the music faded. Harry started to raise his wand, then froze, transfixed. The Dementor loomed closer and closer, Lupin steped between, and snapped his wand. CRACK! The Dementor vanished and a rolling mist appeared, which became clouds. Something glowed within the clouds, white, silvery and round.
"Riddikulus!" POP! The orb deflated like a punctured balloon, and whizzed crazily about the room, then darted back into the wardrobe. The door slamed shut and the class cheered. "Well done, everyone. I think that's enough excitement for today." As the students exited, only Harry remained behind. At the doorway, Lupin glanced back, and exchanges a private glance with him. As he exited, the wardrobe gave one last rattle.
"Are you trying to make me mad, Lupin." Severus used Remus' surname to show how mad he was. Remus stood in front of Severus.
"No."
"Then what was that, that happened in your class."
"It was just a boggart. It wasn't you." Remus shut his eyes and waited for the blow.
"I won't hit you." Severus pulled Remus toward him. "But you will be punished." He walked away from Remus. "I was going to make love to you, but since you let that happen in your class I will not." Severus sat his desk.
"Severus, please, I didn't know it would make you mad."
"But it did. Come back here this evening I need to give you your wolfsbane potion." Remus walked from the room. Severus was evil to the core. Remus sighed, he would have to wait. He need some fresh air to clear his head. He took a walk to on the bridge and came face to face with Harry.
"Hello Harry. Why aren't you at Hogsmead?"
"I don't have promotion."
"Oh. Well, don't feel too bad. I was roundly disappointed the first time I went."
"Really?"
"No. I was just trying to make you feel better. Honeydukes' sweets are the best in the world. Their Pepper Imps are so strong you smoke at the ears. And Zonko's Joke Shop may be dangerous, but you can't beat their Stink Pellets."
"Not to mention The Shrieking Shack, which, according to Hermione, is the most severely haunted building in Britain."
"Yes, that too…"
"Professor, can I ask you something?"
"You'd like to know why I stopped you from facing the Boggart. I should think it'd be obvious. I assumed the Boggart would take the shape of Lord Voldemort." Harry frowned, as Lupin studied him curiously. "But clearly...I was wrong."
"I did think of Voldemort first. But then, I remembered that night on the train...and the Dementors…"
"Well, well. I'm impressed. That suggests that what you fear most of all is fear. This is very wise.
"Before I fainted... I heard something. A woman. Screaming."
"Dementors force us to relive the worst memories of our lives. Our pain becomes their power."
"I think it was my mother. The night she was murdered." Harry looked up to find Lupin studying him.
"The first time I saw you, Harry, I recognized you immediately. Not by your scar. By your eyes. They're your mother Lily's. Yes. I knew her. She was there for me at a time when no one else was. We used to talk for hours. She was not only a singularly gifted witch but an uncommonly kind woman. She had a way of seeing the beauty in whoever she met, even…and perhaps most especially…when that person couldn't see it in themselves…" Remus eyes glaze in memory, then he blinked and smiled. "Which perhaps explains her affection for your father. James had, shall we say, a certain talent for trouble. A gift, rumor has it, he passed on to you." Lupin turned and eyed Harry affectionately. Harry smiled vaguely. "I could tell you stories…and there are many about your parents, Harry…but know this. They lived, every moment of every day. You should know that. That's how they'd want to be remembered.
Lupin went back the dungeons he didn't want to be there. He didn't want to look in to Severus black eyes, and want him. He came to the door and knock the door swung open and Severus pulled him in, closing the door and slamed Remus against the door. Severus' mouth went to Remus neck, making it is bright red.
"I thought you didn't want to make love."
"I can help myself, with you this close. On the bed, naked now." Remus did as he was told. Severus took his clothes off and helped Remus into bed. He shifted above Remus, then took Remus mouth with his lips. The kiss deepened as Remus felt Severus slid in, but there was not lubrication.
"Severus that hurts." Severus looked puzzled.
"Shit." He pulled out to quickly, making Remus hiss. "Sorry I got ahead of myself." Severus applied Lube and then push in, slowly. "Is that better." Remus nodded.
"Thought you were punishing me." Severus caught his lips again. Then pushed in and out but never broke the kiss. Remus caught his breath as he always did, heartbeat accelerating in anticipation. Remus gasped, his toes curling as Severus buried himself to the hilt, grinding his hips against Remus' ass as if trying to get even deeper.
"Yes...oh, yes...more..." Remus moaned. He clutched Severus' shoulders, nails digging in to sallow flesh as Severus drove hard and fast and deep, thrusting, pounding, filling Remus completely. He came inside Remus, which was still sore. He went down to Remus aching member and took it into his mouth. Remus let out a moan and put his hands in Severus' hair. "God Severus, more, more." He was sweating now, so was the raven-haired man. Remus eye fluttered as he came into Severus mouth. Severus would not come up until the cock was milked for all it was worth. Severus pulled himself up to Remus side.
"Stay here tonight." He cupped Remus body against his but Remus already asleep. Severus lick at the nape of his lover and then he too went to sleep.
