CHAPTER 22

Sirius's Boggart

Professor June had another surprise waiting for them on the Monday after the Quidditch game. He was holding a large suitcase as the class took their seats, all still congratulating James on a superb game. He smiled, mussed his hair, and kicked his feet onto the desk. Sirius laughed. "Think you're something special, eh?"

"Geroff," James said.

"Class, I would like to start our lesson," June said, struggling with the suitcase. "We will be learning about boggarts today. This one I found in my room only last night, and he gave me quite a scare. Who can tell me what a boggart is?"

No one raised their hand.

"Very well, very well," June said, setting the suitcase down on his desk. It jiggled and jumped as if it were alive. "Turn to page four seventy-two for a complete description and illustration. Mr. Lupin, could you please read the passage aloud?"

Remus opened his book and, following along with his finger, read, "Boggarts are Dark Creatures that usually lives in wardrobes, desks, drawers, or similar dark, enclosed spaces. The boggart has no form unless a being is close by. It then transforms itself into its prey's worst fear."

"Exactly," June said. "Now, the only way to properly exterminate a boggart is to confuse it. Mr. Lupin, if I could call you to the front of the class, I would like you to help me demonstrate."

Remus quietly stood and walked to the teacher's desk.

"Now, in a few moments, I will open this suitcase and a true to life boggart will appear before you. It will take the shape of your worst fear," June said. "But do not be alarmed. Laughter kills these creatures very easily. Therefore, we must somehow make it amusing. When the boggart rises up, I want you, Mr. Lupin, to raise your wand, and think of a comical way to change its form. Grip your wand and shout loudly the following spell: Riddikulus. We will begin at the back of the room, and work our way down the aisle. Therefore, you, Mr. Malfoy, will be next. Last will be Mr. Black. All understand? We must do it at a quick pace, as to confuse it. Now, on the count of three. Are you ready, Mr. Lupin? Good. Here we go then. One, two, three!"

The suitcase opened, and there floated a round, white orb, shining in Remus's eyes. He gasped. It was the full moon. How on earth was he going to make that comical? He looked back at June. The entire class would know what he was now!

"Hurry, come on now," June said.

Remus thought quickly, and then stated, "Riddikulus!"

A small figure of a cow appeared out of thin air and jumped over the orb, mooing. The class laughed.

"Next, Mr. Malfoy keep it going, let's keep it going."

Lucius stood, and the moon disappeared as Remus took his seat. The boggart turned into a cane, and Lucius raised his wand. "Riddikulus!" The cane grew hands and legs and began to do a jig.

One by one, the students ran to the front of the class, where June would compliment their efforts, and yell for the next person to come up. Finally, Peter ran to the front of the room, and raised his wand ready.

The boggart turned into Peter himself. Except this Peter was different. He was lying on the ground, eyes wide open and lifeless. Peter gasped, "Ri --- ri --- riddikulus!"

Boggart Peter didn't change.

"Riddikulus!"

The boggart still wouldn't budge.

"Good try, Mr. Pettigrew. Maybe some other day. Miss Black, care to try?"

Narcissa came forward. "Riddikulus!" she shouted before anyone could see what it had turned into. Then came Lily Evans, who took Narcissa's now flowery spider and transformed it into a tall, gangly Death Eater who was slowly removing his mask. Her eyes seemed surprised as they dashed away from the almost-revealed face, but her hand was steady as she threw the Death Eater into a masked clown.

Next was James, and the clown changed into an eerie green light. There lay the Dark Mark, staring at him. The skull with the snake between its teeth.

"Riddikulus!" James shouted, and the skull choked on the snake.

"Mr. Black, you're last. Get up here and finish it off."

Sirius ran forward, very brave, and brandished his wand. Not in time though, and the boggart roared.

Remus stared at it for a moment, and then back at Sirius, who was wide eyed and stiff.

The boggart had grown hair and a tail. It was now on all fours, and its snout sniffed the air. Then, it reared on its hind legs and clawed the air. The howl was heard through the entire room, and the students screamed.

It was the illustration of page 394. But it was a different color, and the body of the beast was smaller. The hair was the same as Remus's.

"Mr. Black, you can take your seat," June said sternly. June knew. He knew. From the look on his face, the class could tell he was angry.

But Sirius couldn't move. Remus, shocked, watched as the teacher shoved him aside, and the boggart turned into a crying, screaming child, writhing on the floor. He shoved it in the suitcase and locked it.

"Well, I believe that was enough excitement for one day," June said, wiping his brow. "Maybe we'll try again another day."

The bell rang, and the class was dismissed. Remus, still in a daze, grabbed his books and headed for the door without saying a word to the other three.

"Mr. Black, can I see you for a moment?" Professor June said, tucking his suitcase away.

Sirius grabbed his bag and walked slowly to the desk. "Yes, Professor?"

"I know who your boggart was," June said, "and I don't know how you found out-"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Sirius said coolly.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," June said, his eyes ablaze. He had lost the calmness that he showed in class. "We both know. And I am warning you not to tell anyone. If I get wind that you've been poking around next to that-"

"I really don't know what you mean, sir," Sirius replied. "It was a picture from my first year text book. You can look it up for yourself if you'd like. Page three ninety-four."

June's eyes went soft, and he leaned back in his seat. "Why do you fear werewolves?"

"Can I go now, Professor?"

June reluctantly nodded his head, and Sirius walked out of the classroom, dreading Remus's reaction to his boggart.

"""""""""""""""""

"How is he?"

James shook his head sullenly and replied, "Not very good, mate. Actually, he hasn't talked to any of us for a few good hours."

The dormitory door was locked, and Remus wouldn't allow the other three to come in. There had been silence from behind the door ever since he had gone in there. Sirius had just arrived, and Peter was lying on the floor, asleep. James was leaning against the door, checking his watch.

"It's about ten, and if we don't get in there soon, one of the prefects is going to come and yell at us," James said.

"Get out of the way," Sirius said, and he banged on the door. "Remus! Oi! Open up! We've got to talk!"

No answer.

"Remus, come on now," Sirius said. "Just open the door. I'll explain -"

"I don't need an explanation," Remus shouted from behind the door.

"Look," Sirius said, coming closer, "we're tired. We want to go to sleep. Now that room is three fourths ours. Let us in. Now."

No answer.

"Blimey, Remus!" James said. "It's been three hours!"

"Stop your sulking and come out of there!" Sirius barked.

The door opened, and there stood a furious Remus. It wasn't until now that Sirius realized that Remus was about as tall as he was now. "Sulking? Sulking?!"

"Remus-"

"You're right," Remus interrupted, brushing past them and down the stairs. "It is three fourths your room. It's all yours."

"Remus, we're going to talk about this before we do anything," James said, following him down the staircase. "You two are friends, and that's not going to be ruined by some stupid boggart. All right?"

Remus didn't answer. He took a seat on the couch.

"Sirius, come here," James ordered. Sirius didn't move, he just leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms.

"I have no control over what that thing did."

Remus ignored Sirius, and looked straight at James. "I'm not sulking. Just leave me alone."

"Remus-" James started.

"Leave me alone," Remus said, quieter now, and looked into the fire.

James sighed, and then looked to Sirius. "Come on, now. We better be getting to bed."

Sirius, giving one last glance at Remus, climbed the spiral staircase leading to the dorms, dragging the sleeping Peter with him.

Remus didn't sleep that night. James could hear him pacing the floor as he drifted off into his own dreams.

""""""""""""""""

Sirius and Remus didn't speak to each other that next day, or the day after. In fact, Remus wasn't joining them on their nightly escapades either. And he had announced that he was staying behind for the Hogsmeade trip in March.

"I don't feel much like going," he said. "Full moon's coming and all." He shot a look over James's shoulder at Sirius, who was trying to look in a different direction.

This left Dung, Davey, Sirius, James, and Peter to explore the city all by themselves that Saturday. They left early that morning and found themselves in the Three Broomsticks, taking a seat next to the fireplace.

"Hello, boys," a bouncy and attractive lady said, coming over to their table. "Haven't seen you in here before. Except, I know you, don't I?"

She looked at Dung, who smiled sweetly. "Yes, ma'am. We've met before."

"Yes, we have," she said, not looking too happy about it. "Well, my name's Rosmerta, and I own this place. What can I get you?"

"Five butterbeers," James said, ordering for them all.

"That it?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said, and Rosmerta smiled. She then made her way to the bar, and out of sight.

"How come that bookworm ain't here this time?" Davey asked Sirius. Sirius shrugged.

"He wasn't feeling very well," James said, and then he turned the conversation to Quidditch. Davey was the sort of person that when put on a topic he loved, he wouldn't stop to take a breath. He ranted on and on until their tankards of butterbeer were empty, and they had to order another round to let him finish his train of thought.

"What are you reckoning for the next match?" Davey asked Dung. "Ten Galleons on James? He scores at least forty points?"

"Forty? Nah, he's still a rookie," Dung said, his voice somewhat slurred. "No more'n twenty."

"It's a deal." Davey and Dung shook on it, and Davey quickly turned to James and whispered, "And you better get over twenty, 'cause I'm flat broke. Used up all my money on my Christmas presents."

James smiled and nodded.

"Championship game between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. I was sure that Slytherin was going to make it this year," Davey chimed back into the conversation, "but their team seemed to be going for the size and not for the smarts. Unlike us, mind you. Just look at James."

James took a swig of his butterbeer.

"Except for that Greasings Beater, he's large," Sirius said.

"Did you see the look on Graham's face when he saw how good you were, James?" Davey chortled.

"Yeah, I did. What was wrong with him?"

"Well," Dung said, "Graham entered the team in his fourth year. He had the limelight up until he knocked Betty Durster out cold with the Quaffle. Everyone was sure it was on purpose since, you know, the Quaffle ain't that easy to hurt someone with. Betty was the best damn girl that our team has ever seen. Yeah, even better than Jorkins. And she was getting all the accolades and such. So most peoples thought that he was knocking her off to get rid of the competition."

"Was he?"

"Of course," Dung said, taking a swig. "He's bloody competitive. So watch out for the Quaffle. If he ever touches it again, that is."

The table exploded with laughter, and they all ordered another round.

""""""""""""""""""""""""

When they arrived back at Hogwarts, Sirius, Peter, and James opened the door to a surprising scene. There was Remus, dressed in his scarf and mittens, shutting and locking his trunk. His belongings were all gathered. He looked at them as they came in.

"Remus, what are you-"

"I'm leaving," he said quietly, and then took hold of a handle on his trunk.

"And you weren't even going to say goodbye?" Peter asked.

"Wait, why are you going?" Sirius barked.

"Because I've decided that I wasn't fooling anyone," Remus said loudly. "Because --- it's no use, and I'll always be --- well, this just isn't the place for me anymore."

"You're out of your mind," James said. "We've been working for two years on that stupid Animagus spell, and you're just going to quit? This isn't like you!"

"Goodbye," Remus said, wheeling his trunk past them, but Sirius dangerously jumped in front of him and slammed the door with a loud bang. Remus looked at him, unsure, and then gritted his teeth.

"Move, Sirius."

"No, I'm not letting you walk out of here," Sirius said. "You are not going to let me push you out of this school."

"It's nothing to do with you," Remus retorted, and then went to move for the door, but Sirius violently pushed him back. Remus looked somewhat scared.

"Sirius!" James said, but Sirius wasn't listening.

"Look, Remus. Both you and I know that I can't change what I saw," he said. "I wish I could, but I can't. You want the truth, Lupin? I'm scared to death of that thing I saw that first night. I can't lie. I'm scared. Yeah, that's right. Sirius Black is scared of something. But you've got to show me up. You have to prove to me that I'm wrong. You can't walk away from us like this."

Remus stared at him and gripped the handle on his trunk. "The world doesn't revolve around Sirius Black and James Potter. There are other things-"

"No there aren't!" Sirius said boldly.

"Professor McGonagall is scared of me. Why do you think she treats me so sweetly? I tried to attack her! And Darryl thinks I'm some sort of monster! And now you -"

"No one thinks you're a monster, Remus," James cut in. "If we thought that, do you really think that we would be trying to get you to stay, let alone trying to prepare ourselves to go down in that tunnel with you?"

Remus's grip on the trunk loosened, and then James said, "You keep thinking that we're gonna abandon you, Lupin. And what you're gonna end up doing is abandoning us out of that fear. You're not alone, Remus."

"But I am," he whispered.

"No," Peter said, as if coming to the realization himself. "No, you're not. Remember? Something messes with you, it messes with all of us, right? Isn't that what we agreed on?"

Remus looked at Peter, and then at James, and finally at Sirius.

"Damn you all," Remus said weakly, and James smiled.

James grabbed his trunk and pulled it back to his bed. Sirius didn't budge, though, as if not sure if Remus was going to make a run for it or not. Remus gave a weak smile, and took off his scarf.

"You know, I'm very scared of black dogs," he said to Sirius. Sirius forced a very small smile onto his face.