Updated: June 19th, 2017
Chapter 10: Boggart in Narnia
Remus wasn't there when the class was supposed to start. I sat down next to Seamus and we took out our books, quills, and parchment. When Remus entered the classroom he smiled slightly. He looked shabbier than I had ever seen him, but healthier than he had been on the train. I thought that was from all the wonderful Hogwarts food.
"Welcome class," he greeted us. "Please put away your things. You will only need your wands for today."
I shot a curious look at my godfather-turned-Professor. Murmurs went all around the class. I don't think anyone had ever thought about a hands-on Defense Against the Dark Arts class before. The pixie incident with Lockhart last year didn't count. When we all stood up, Remus flicked his wand and the desks disappeared. With another flick, a wardrobe appeared at the front of the room. Remus went to stand by it and the wardrobe suddenly wobbled violently. There was something inside it. Whatever it was wanted out.
"I bet that's not Narnia," I whispered to Justin Finch-Fletchley. He turned to me, grinning like an idiot, getting my joke. Everyone gathered around the wardrobe. I moved away from Justin to join Harry and Ron. I looked around, frowning. "Where's Hermione?"
Harry looked behind his shoulder. Hermione wasn't there. Ron shrugged, pushing me and Harry to the front. He wanted to get a good look at the wardrobe and what was in it. I sighed. The wardrobe rocked again. Several people looked frightened.
"Intriguing, yes," Remus chuckled. "Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what's inside?" There's something really fishy about Hermione…
"That's a Boggart, that is," Dean stated. …I mean one minute she's here…
"Very good, Mr. Thomas. Can anyone tell us what a Boggart looks like?" …the next she's not…
"No one knows." What the hell? Hermione suddenly appeared next to Ron, making him jump.
"Where'd she come from," Ron whispered to Harry and me. I shrugged. Definitely something fishy…
"Boggarts are shape-shifters. They take the shape of whatever a person fears the most. That's what makes it so –"
"Terrifying, yes," Remus finished last. "Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a Boggart. Let's practice it now, shall we? Without wands, please…Riddikulus!"
"Riddikulus," we all repeated.
Draco, who was behind me, muttered, "This class is ridiculous."
I turned around, ready to snap at him. Hermione grabbed my arm and yanked me back around. Remus didn't notice. "Good, so much for the easy part. You see, the incantation alone isn't enough. What really finishes a Boggart off is laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you truly find amusing. Neville, come up here, will you?"
Everyone looked back at him. Neville's eyes were wide as he looked at the rattling wardrobe. He stepped to the front, nervously. He looked as if he was heading to the guillotine. Remus asked him what the thing that scared him the most was.
"Profter…Snafpt…"
"Didn't catch that, Neville, sorry."
Neville looked at all of us. It seemed as if he was begging someone to help him out of his current predicament. He swallowed and said louder, "Professor Snape."
Nearly everyone laughed. I admit, I did chuckle a bit. Remus nodded, "Hmm…yes. Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother?"
"Yes, but I don't want that Boggart turning into her either."
"It won't, but I want you to picture her clothes, only her clothes, very clearly in your mind. Can you do that?"
Neville closed his eyes, remembering, "She carries a red handbag…"
"We don't need to hear it," Remus stopped Neville. "If you see it, we will. Now, when I open this wardrobe, Neville, here's what I want you to do." He leaned close to Neville and whispered something in his ear. Neville's eyes popped open in shock. "Can you do this?" Neville nodded nervously, taking a deep breath. "Right then, wand at the ready. One…two…three!"
The doorknob slowly turned, making the door creek open. A bony hand slithered out, grabbing the edge of the door frame. Then a drab, striped grey sleeve followed; it was tattered and dirty. Long, thick, knotted hair poked out next, falling around an even bonier shoulder. I gasped, looking away. Dark, dead eyes flashed before mine. Many of my fellow students had their eyes shut. Ron muttered, "Take its legs off." I knew what his biggest fear was. I looked at Harry momentarily when he shivered next to me.
When I looked back at the wardrobe, Snape had appeared, but it wasn't Snape. It was the Boggart. Its eyes flashed wildly as it stalked towards Neville. He backed away in fright. Neville pointed his wand at the Boggart. "R – R – Riddikulus!"
There was a loud crack and a flash. The Snape Boggart stumbled back. It was wearing a long, lace-trimmed dress and a towering moth-eaten hat with a vulture on it. A red handbag swung loosely on its arm. Our roars of laughter made it stumble back again. Everyone laughed loudly, imagining the real Snape in Neville's grandmother's clothes. Neville blinked, slowly grinning to himself. The Boggart looked confused as Remus dropped the needle on an old gramophone and scratchy carnival music played, he clapped his hands, telling us to make a line.
Everyone pushed each other to get to the front. I got in behind Ron and in front of Harry and Padma Patil, who were trying to push their way behind me. I heard the protests of students getting thrown out of their spots by the Slytherins. Draco and Blaise pushed two Hufflepuffs away, getting in line five people behind me.
When we were all situated, Parvati stepped up. The Boggart rounded on my roommate. It swirled, taking the form of many different things as it assessed her biggest fear. Then, where Snape had stood, was a blood-stained, bandaged mummy. It began walking toward her very slowly, dragging its feet, its arms raised stiffly.
"Riddikulus!"
A bandage unraveled at the mummy's feet, making it become tangled. It fell face forward, its head rolled off. We all roared with laughter. I laughed more so at the fact that the head rolled away than the tripping part. Seamus was next and the Boggart swirled again. The mummy was changed into a woman with floor length black hair and a skeletal, green-tinged face – a banshee. She opened her mouth and let out an unearthly shriek. I covered my ears to muffle the horrifying sound. Seamus shouted the incantation and she clutched her throat. Her voice was gone.
Next was a Hufflepuff girl. The Boggart spun faster than before. In a blur a vampire appeared. She shouted the incantation and the vampire whipped its cloak across its eyes. When the cloak reopened I laughed harder than I had before. The vampire was dressed like Carmen Miranda, the Brazilian samba singer. It began to shimmy and shake against its will. Remus laughed with us, clapping.
Ron stepped up. The vampire snarled, dissolving back into the whirling mass. Then it mutated into a giant spider. Gasps were heard all throughout the class. I looked back at Harry. The spider reminded me of Aragog and his children when they tried to eat us last year. Ron raised his wand, arm shaking. At first it seemed as though he wouldn't be able to do it. The incantation stumbled out of his mouth. Roller-skates materialized on the spider's hairy feet and it began to shuffle, falling down in place. Ron's tense shoulders relaxed as the class roared with laughter.
"Mr. Thomas," Remus shouted. I did a double take.
"Snooze you lose," my fellow Gryffindor chuckled. I scoffed playfully, trying to grab at his robe. The Boggart turned into a rat, which chased its tail – then a rattlesnake – then a bloody eyeball.
"It's confused," Remus shouted. "We're getting there!"
Suddenly the eyeball turned into a severed hand. Just like the hand in The Addams Family, it flipped over, creeping along the floor like a crab. Dean shouted out the incantation and with a snap, the hand was caught in a mousetrap. The laughs rang out. I stepped forward, Padma Patil next to me. Remus looked at me. There was something is his eyes I couldn't read…
"Miss Patil," he shouted, beckoning the Ravenclaw forward. My mouth fell open. I was next! Why would he choose her when I was…?
The hand grew larger, the skin darkening with diamond-thatched scales. Padma whimpered at what she feared the most; a giant cobra. I heard some of the Slytherins snicker, giving the Boggart a bit more confidence. "Riddikulus," she shouted. The cobra's hooded head bobbed back and forth, becoming a huge Jack-in-the-Box.
Remus smiled, "Wonderful! Next!"
Harry passed me, stepping up expectantly. I shook my head, walking towards Ron who was standing off to the side, watching. I noticed concern flicker through Remus' face. The Jack-in-the-Box bobbed back and forth in front of Harry, getting closer to his face with each swing. The class got quiet as the face became more sinister. The music began to fade as the Boggart transformed into a Dementor. The class gasped. Harry raised his wand, then froze, transfixed. The Dementor got closer and closer.
Remus jumped in front of Harry, wand pointing at the Dementor Boggart. The Dementor vanished and a rolling mist appeared, becoming clouds. I cocked my head, squinting at the Boggart. Something glowed within the clouds. Something white, silvery, and round…just like a moon…a full moon.
"Riddikulus," the orb popped, deflating into a yellow balloon. It whizzed crazily around the room and Remus guided the Boggart back into the wardrobe, slamming the door shut. As soon as the lock clicked the wardrobe began shaking again. Remus turned back to all of us. "Well done, everyone. I think that's enough excitement for today. Homework, read the chapter on Boggarts and summarize it for me…hand it in next lesson. Class dismissed."
As the students left, chattering loudly, I stayed behind with Harry. At the doorway to his office, Remus glanced at Harry. He left, shutting the door. Harry sighed, turning around, walking out of the class. I glanced at the closed office door one last time before I ran out to catch Harry. When I caught up with him, he was walking with Dean, Seamus, Ron, and Hermione.
"Did you see me take on that banshee," Seamus puffed out his chest.
"And the hand," Dean waved his up in the air.
"And Snape in the hat!"
"Don't you mean Snape in the dress?"
The two went on about the lesson as they split off from us to go to Charms. As we walked a different path to Charms, Ron talked wildly, "That was the best Defense lesson we've ever had!"
"He seems like a good teacher," Hermione commented.
Ron and Harry nodded. I smiled, "The best."
"I just wish I could have had a turn with the Boggart."
"What would it have been for you," Ron snickered. "A piece of homework that only got a nine out of ten?"