Thanks for the reviews everybody! I know it's been a while since I updated this. I promise I haven't forgotten.
The four friends were now making their way up to the Defense Against the Dark Arts class room. Between Sirius's whining, Peter's constant questions and Remus's freakish walking and reading stunt, James felt like he was going to implode.
"Why, Remus?! Why?!" Sirius said for the umpteenth time that afternoon. "She probably just wants us to line up some book selves and frankly, I'd like to wait till she gives me detention-"
"You're planning on serving detention already?" Remus asked, cutting Sirius off.
"Well I've served detention with every teacher here so far, except the headmaster. Oh, and Professor Binns. He never notices anything," Sirius said matter-o-factly. Remus rolled his eyes.
"Why couldn't she just use a charm to straighten the book shelves?" Peter asked confused.
"Ether because Professor Rizendale has decided that we deserve detention just by looking at us or that's not what she needs help with at all," James said, obviously annoyed.
The group had now made their way to the door and Sirius tapped smartly on it.
"Rizzy!" Sirius called playfully. "We are here!"
Professor Rizendale opened the door with the expression on one trying to hide a smile.
"Professor Rizendale, please," she said firmly. Sirius gave her big puppy-dog eyes that he usually saved for Professor McGonagall.
Professor Rizendale held his gaze with narrowed eyes while she opened the door to let the group in. Remus, Peter and James walked in, but Sirius stayed where he had been standing, still treating the new teacher to what he called his "irresistible look." Unfortunately the name wasn't true because it had no affect on Male Professors or McGonagall which was most of teachers at Hogwarts. It did have a pleasing effect on young women his age though.
Professor Rizendale was able to meet the black-haired youth's eyes for about thirty more seconds, then realizing she couldn't take it, she threw her hands up in the air.
"Oh! You can't be serious," she cried to the ceiling.
"Oh, but I am," Sirius said.
Professor Rizendale shook her head, the motioned for Sirius to enter as well.
The class room hadn't been decorated at all. There were only a couple of book selves labeled simply Years 1-3, 4-5 and 6-7. All the books were completely straight.
"Um… Professor?" Peter said timidly. Professor Rizendale looked at him kindly. "What is it that you wanted us here for?" The Professor's face broke out in a grin.
"To tell you the truth, I wanted to try out a short lesson on you boys," she said simply. "No homework I promise," she said as Peter's face paled. He nodded but didn't say anything.
"Now, do you all have your wands with you?" she asked sweetly. James's hand flew to his pocket and soon Sirius was suspended in the air by his feet.
"No, not at all," James said grinning evilly. Sirius was thrashing from up in the air.
"James! You traitor! If I ever get my hands on you- Ahhh!" with a smirk and a swish of her wand, Sirius was right side up again.
"I'll take that as a yes anyway, Mr. Potter," Professor Rizendale said. She walked over to her desk and picked up a small box on it which was shaking uncontrollably.
"Don't worry, it's just a Boggart in there," she said cheerily. Peter looked like he was going to wet himself. "Do you all know what a Boggart is?"
"A shape-shifter," Remus said lazily, as if he had memorized the passage from the book. "It takes the form of the thing that scares us most. Laughter will finish it off and the charm that will force it into something comical is Riddikulus."
"Very good!" The professor exclaimed. "If term had started by now, I would have given you points for that." Sirius snorted because saying that you deserved points and that you actually got points were two different things.
"Now, if you all think of what you are most frightened of, then think of a way to make is seem-"
"Professor?" Remus interrupted. Rizendale looked at Remus. She was slightly annoyed at being interrupted as it was a pet peeve of hers.
"Yes, Remus?" She asked.
"Can I talk to you before we start this?" He asked. Then he added, "Alone?"
Professor Rizendale looked at the other three boys then motioned for Remus to go up to her room.
Once they were up there and she had cast a silencing charm on the door Remus started talking.
"Professor, I don't think I can face my Boggart in front of my friends," Remus said.
The Professor looked at him curiously. "Aren't you in Gryffindor?" she asked.
"Yes, well… it's just. What I'm afraid of might cause my friends to not want to be friends with me," Remus tried to explain.
"You're Remus Lupin, aren't you?" Rizendale said finally. "The one with the monthly issue?"
Remus wrinkled his nose. "I wish you wouldn't describe it like that," he said. Rizendale laughed. Then her face became firm set again.
"Remus, it wont be fair if I let some students get out of this class when school starts just because they are afraid," she said simply. "If you want, I can send you away for something now and you and I can practice with you Boggart so you can face it quickly enough so no one will notice what it is when class starts."
Remus looked at the floor. That would make him a coward though. Knowing that he couldn't face a stupid Boggart-moon, in front of his friends or not, would haunt him the rest of his life. Dang it! Was he a Gryffindor or not?
"I'll do it," Remus said quietly. Rizendale patted his back.
"If that's your choice," she said simply. Suddenly there was an explosion from the classroom.
"I was wondering when that would happen," Remus muttered as he and the Professor hurried back to the class room.
Apparently, unable to find the key for the box, Sirius had tried a spell to open it. Unfortunately it worked.
Sirius's father was pacing up and down in front of Sirius. Apparently that was the form his Boggart took.
Sirius's face was set as he pulled out his wand and pointed it at the dark haired, dark eyed man pacing in front of him.
"Riddikulus!" Sirius said at his Boggart-Father. When Mr. Black turned and started pacing the other way, he trip on his shoe laces and fell to the floor with a high pitched scream.
"Ha!" Sirius cried, pointing at the figure on the ground as if he had just tripped his real father.
Professor Rizendale and Remus had joined the other three. The professor rolled her eyes then motioned for James to go next. Remus was brainstorming for a way he could make the moon that he dreaded so much funny.
James was facing the Boggart now it had taken the form of Severus Snape and Lily Evans… making out. James jumped forward and yelled "Riddikulus" at the two figures. Snape's hair turned into slimy seaweed that started moving in every direction. Lily screamed and launched herself into James's arms. James let out a hearty laugh before letting Peter have a go.
At first the Boggart was confused on what is should turn into with Peter. Remus guessed it was because Peter was afraid of so many things. Finally is decided and a great fat cat. It had an ugly face and looked completely grumpy. Suddenly it lunged at Peter, mouth open and claws out.
"Riddikulus," Peter squeaked. The cat hit and invisible glass wall between it and Peter and slowly slid to the floor.
"You're up, Remus," James said.
Remus stumbled towards the Boggart. As expected, it took the form of the moon instantly. It was big and full. Remus felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. No! He felt the hairs growing! What if the Boggart moon caused him to transform completely?
"Riddikulus!" Remus screamed. The moon shattered like it was nothing more than a plate and fell to the floor. Remus looked down at his hands and saw a tiny bit of fur starting to disappear.
"And I wondered why the hat didn't put me in Ravenclaw," Remus muttered. With out even looking up at his friends, Remus turned and hurried out the door. And he ran. He didn't know where he was going to go but he had to get away.
He would have never agreed to face the Boggart if he thought he was going to start transforming. What if he had transformed all the way? He could have hurt his friends….
His friends…. If they were still that. There was no doubt about what Remus had been hiding from them now. He figured they would just see that the Boggart was a moon and ask why he was afraid of it.
Remus found himself by the Whooping Willow. Without even knowing why, he waved his wand and caused a stick to his the hidden knot. When the branches froze, he ducked into the hidden passage way and headed to the Shrieking Shack.
Alright, how did everyone like that? Just so you know, the Boggart wouldn't have affected Remus's mind. Just make him all hairy…. He'll have to be quicker next time. Read and review please!