Chapter 2 : Lupin's class




A/N: Here's chapter 2! Hope it doesn't stink.







Harry's joke had gone flawlessly. Well, except for the delay of Fred and George, but that was a minor detail. It had taken him weeks to figure it out. When he finally did, though, he had to find some people to help him pull it off.
Not only did he have to recruit only certain people, but he had to recruit them non-conspiculously.
Seamus had spent endless hours with Harry and Hermione, practicing the charms for it. He had to perfect an engorging charm, a moving charm, and a hovering charm, in only a few short days. All without Ron noticing or missing Harry and Hermione. And considering they spent so much time with Ron, it was hard to get away from him.
Fred and George had snuck into Zonko's, and bought a Sneako-speako-box. You put the box on or around the person you wanted to hear, and attached to your ear the speaker that would allow you to hear what they were saying. They had attached the box to a rubber spider that Fred had also bought.
Hermione had attached the spider to the ceiling, and had put a charm on it to allow it to mimic whatever the ceiling of the Great Hall looked like that day so it wouldn't be noticed. She had put another charm on it, so that the fake spider would seem as real as possible.
Ginny had borrowed a camera from Colin Creevy, who was more than thrilled when he found out Harry needed his assistance, to take pictures.
Hermione also found a sheilding charm, which she put on the spider, to sheild it from any of Ron's attacks. And remarkably, she found a charm that would project a hologram with sound. She put THAT charm around the Head Table. So if anything, all the teachers saw was a bunch of kids eating breakfast like any normal day, with the usual noise.
And all of this had been Harry's plan. Quite ingenious, actually. He had thought it was too complicated to pull off. So, needless to say, as he was walking down the halls of Hogwarts Castle on his way to class, and he was congradulated on his brilliant joke (even by some of the Slytherins, which he found hard to believe ), he was pleased. Though something was tugging at his conscience that he couldn't put his finger on.

After having Hermione fix his glasses, and having Madame Pomfrey fix his nose, they made their way to Professor Lupin's class. Outside his door, he and Hermione spotted Ron, and ran over to talk.
" Hey Ron, you weren't in the commen room, so I thought you might be here " said Harry.
He was about to say more, but a thrid year Hufflepuff came up to him and said " Excellent prank, Harry! "
" Er, thanks, but, " he said, turning to look at Ron " I'm kinda busy "
" Oh, no " scowled Ron. " I don't mind. Talk to your adoring public. I don't really give a damn "
Harry opened his mouth to argue, but Professor Lupin opened his classroom door to let them in.
Harry and Hermione took a seat, and harry gestured to Ron at the seat next to him, but Ron sat at the table in front of them.
" Is it me, " Harry whispered to Hermione " or is Ron mad at me for something? "
Hermione rolled her eyes. " Honestly, Harry, isn't it obvious? "
" Why- oh, come on! It's not cause of the joke is it? " Harry asked cynically.
" Well, " Hermione looked thoughtful, " it WAS a bit harsh. He IS mortally afraid of spiders, afterall "
" You make it seem as if you had nothing to do with this at all and it was all my fault! "
Harry argued.
Hermione shrugged.
It was then that Professor Lupin decided to start class.
" Alright, settle down, settle down "
He looked around at everyone. " Instead of continuing our discussion on the Puffskein, we're going to try a new one "
Everyone fidgeted in their seat excitebly.
" In coorporation with your Magical Creatures class, "
A couple of people stopped fidgeting.
" we're going to learn about this creature through activities, reading in the textbook, and an essay on all you've learned afterwards "
" I know you all have exams coming up, " he added a bit loudly, because a couple people looked mutinous knowing they had to leanr something new right before exams, " but you'll be happy to know that it won't be included in it "
A few cheers of appreciation. A " rats " from Hermione.
" Alright then. Our topic of discussion, is a spider "
Giggles and snickeers could be heard coming from the class. Ron shrank into his seat.
" But not just any type of spider. The spider we are going to study, is the Acromantula "
Harry knew what that was. A giant spider capable of human speech. He and Ron had met one in their 1st year.
Everyone's heads turned to get a glimpse of Ron. He shrank farther down into his seat, shuddering.
" Now, " said Lupin, looking around at the class, " who can tell me where the Acromantula originated from? "
Hermione's hand shot into the air.
" Yes, Miss Granger "
" The Acromantula originated from Borneo, where it inhabits dense jungles "
" Excellent. 5 points to Gryffindor " said Lupin, smiling.
" Now I need an assistant. Come on, don't make me choose " he added, seeing that nobody had raised their hand. Except for Hermione, who was waving her hand like there was no tomorrow.
" Alright then. Mr. Weasley, come to the front of the room, please "
Ron stood up, and walked slowly to the front.
" Right, what we are going to do, is compare the size of a commen spider to that of the Acromantula "
A few more snickers.
" Honestly, I don't see what is so funny today " said Lupin, hands on his hips. " So anyway, Mr. Weasley will you hold out your hand that you don't use your wand with? "
Ron did, a little warily.
Professor Lupin put a hand in his pocket, drew it out, and placed whatever was in his hand on Ron's hand.
Ron paled visebly.
In his hand, was a spider.
His first impulse was to drop it and scream, but wanting not so subject himself to more teasing, he held it, trembling.
Harry and Hermione exchanged a nervous glance.
" Now, Ron. I'm going to- what is SO funny?! " Lupin exclaimed, glaring at the class.
Everyone shutup.
" Good. Now as I was saying, Ron, I'm going to instruct you as you make changes to the spider. Alright? "
Ron nodded feebly.
" Right. Ok, who knows what the Acromantula looks like? " he asked.
Hermione's hand shot up like a rocket.
" Yes Miss Granger "
" Its distinctive features include the thick black hair that covers it's body-"
" Good, stop there for a sec. Ron, let's give out spider some hair. But first, let's make the spider a bit bigger so the class can see it "
He pointed his wand at the spider, and said " Engorgio! "
Ron went paler still as the spider got bigger in his hand. What with Ron's red hair, the growing spider, and the fact that he was so very very pale, it sorta gave one who was sitting in the very back of the room the impression of a very white piece of parchment on fire, with a big black ball swelling under it.
" So, Ron, the chram for giving something hair is ' toupeeous '. So, give it a try " Lupin said brightly.
Ron pointed his wand at the spider, and stuttered " T-t-toupeeous! "
The spider was now big and furry. Ron shuddered again.
" Excellent! 5 points to Gryffindor! Hermione, do continue "
Hermione hesitated a minute, then said " Um, Professor? I think it would be better, or rather preferable if, um, I took over Ron's job, because- "
" No, don't be silly Hermione! Ron's doing a great job, and he's quite capable of doing it himself "
" I'm FINE, Hermione " said Ron through gritted teeth.
" But-"
" Besides, " interupted Profeesor Lupin cheerfully, " who would give us the description of the Acromantula if you were doing Ron's job? "
Hermione sighed. " Yes, Professor "
" Good. Now continue, please "
Hermione glanced again at Ron, then said " It's legspan. It can reach up to fifteen feet "
Ron looked like he was going to keel over.
" Right then " , said Lupin, clapping his hands together. " 15 feet long. Think you can do that Ron-would anyone care to tell me what is so funny?!?!?!? " exclaimed Lupin, waving his arms in exasperation.
Nobody raised their hand, but tried hard to wipe the smirks off their faces.
" I didn't think so " said Professor Lupin.
He turned to Ron. " Ron, I'm sorry that your classmates aren't being more attentive "
" If they don't watch it, " he added warningly " all this just might show up on the final "
Everyone immediatly sat up in their seats and started taking notes.
Lupin turned back to Ron. " The lengthening charm is ' extensio '. So go, let's see some legs! "
Ron, stricken with fear, but determined to not furthur embarrass himself, grimaced, but put his wand at the spider and practically whimpered " Extensio! "
A sound like the crack of a whip filled the room as 8 legs shot out of the spider and lengthned to be the width of the classroom. The spider itself, was still in Ron's hand.
Harry glanced pitifully at Ron, who glared defiantly back.
" Wonderful! 5 more points to Gryffindor! Miss Granger, continue with the description "
She nodded and said " Uh, as I recall, it has pincers, which produce a distinct clicking sound when the Acrmantula is excited or angry "
" P-p-pincers?! " stuttered Ron.
The class almost started tittering again, but a stern glare from Professor Lupin stopped them.
" Well, of course, Ron! How else would they bite you? " he chuckled.
Harry could see that Ron had put on a very weak smile.
" Yeah " Ron said, his voice squeaking.
" Well, considering the spider already has pincers of it's own, we'll just engore the spider more so you can see them "
He pointed his wand at the spider, and said " Engorgio! "
The spider swelled in Ron's hand. It didn't stop growing, so Ron hastily put it down on the ground, where it continued to swell to over the size of a beach ball.
" Right then, our Acromantula model is done! " said Lupin. He turned to Ron. " Good job, Mr. Weasley! 20 points to Gryffindor for completing it "
He looked at Hermione. " And 20 points more to Gryffindor for Miss Grangers' knowledge "
Ron sighed a sigh of relief and turned to go back to his seat, but Lupin called out " Mr. Weasley, where are you going? "
Ron turned around. " Back to my seat, Professor "
Professor Lupin looked surprised. " Back to your seat? But we've still got another spider that we have to enlarge a bit so we can compare the two "
Ron stared at him, and promptly fainted.

Ron came to in the hospital wing, only to be greeted by Harry and Hermione.
" Ron, we came as soon as lunch started. Are you ok? " said Hermione, a concerened expression on her face.
" No. I'm not ok ". He turned to glare at Harry.
" Honestly Harry, how much of a bastard can you be? "
Harry, startled, answered " what? "
" You heard me " said Ron, glowereing at him from his bed. " I can't believe you even roped the teachers into your damn joke "
" What? No, Ron, you've got it all-"
" I mean, it was bad enough that the whole thing this morning happened, " Ron interupted, fuming, " but now, I can't even get respect from the teachers, cause they're all included in you fucking excuse for a joke! "
Harry stood stunned for a minute.
" If it helps any, I'm sorry "
" Yeah, I bet you are " Ron snapped.
" But he didn't involve the teachers " Hermione explained. " We made sure-"
" Wait a minute. WE? " Ron cut her off. " What, you knew about this, too? "
Hermione looked uncomfortable. " Um....yeah "
" I don't believe this! " Ron exploded. " My two best friends, plotting against me!"
He gave them a ' Yuy death-glare ', something he had picked up from a muggle t.v. show called Gundam Wing. " Who else was involved in this, huh? Headless Nick? Huh? My own flesh and blood maybe?!? "
Hermione and Harry looked really sheepish.
Ron looked like he could kill them.
" Actually....um....the whole of Gryffindor Tower knew " Hermione whispered.
Ron never got a chance to kill them, because Madame Pomfrey came in and ushered Harry and Hermione out.
Ron layed back on his pillow and glared at the celing.
" You're gonna pay for this, Potter. Mark my words, you're gonna pay....."









End Part 2. POOR RON! Wouldn't that suck if that happened to you?!?!?! Stay tuned for part 3!