The Potter Timeline
Chapter 56 - Hippogriffs, Boggarts, and Werewolves
After lunch, most of the third-year Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Slytherins headed out of the Great Hall, destined for Hagrid's old hut at the edge of the Forbidden Forest and their first Care of Magical Creatures class. The lions took the lead, eager to see what the caretaker had in store for them.
"Neville, you're taking Magical Creatures with us?" Hermione asked with a glance back at the teen as the group marched down the main stairwell, "I thought you were taking Herbology."
"Um...no. I decided to take Hagrid's class instead," he replied.
"No doubt because of a certain...person's influence," Seamus said with a smirk.
He and Dean laughed, and Neville grinned. But Harry and Hermione glanced at one another in relief. When Neville originally told them he was going to take Sprout's class, the two found themselves in another quandary, Time-Turner wise. It would have been impossible for them to keep it a secret with Neville in one class, and Dean and Seamus in the other - unless Hermione and Harry dropped one of the classes. But thankfully, their concerns were now allayed.
The students exited the castle and no sooner had they walked out of the main entrance than two Dementors swooped down on either side, hovering over the group as though determining if one of them was Sirius Black...or sizing one of them up for attack.
Despite any House or personal differences, the pupils quickly bunched together, staring up at the spooky creatures wide-eyed in concern or fright. Even Malfoy gazed at the phantom-like beings with a frightened look, placing himself between Crabbe and Goyle in case one did try to attack. Harry and Hermione shook their heads. So much for the braggart's words at the start-of-term banquet. But the Dementors did nothing, and they, like their companion Dementors hovering in the distance, merely watched the students move along.
The dreary, stormy weather from the day before was gone and cool weather had replaced it, complete with gray skies and damp, soggy ground. The attendees of the Care of Magical Creatures class headed down the hill and were glad to reach Hagrid's former hut unmolested and were further relieved when the caretaker himself appeared from within the old circular cabin.
"Well, there yeh are!" he said with a broad grin, standing in the doorway.
To everyone's surprise, in place of his Hogwarts-emblazoned black sweater, Hagrid wore an enormous black school robe, underneath which he sported a slightly dirty, white dress shirt and a thick, maroon and gold striped tie - the colors of Gryffindor. But his goatee was trimmed up neat, and his hair seemed freshly cut as well, the half-giant's short ponytail still held back with a tight band at the back of his head. A few students snickered at the half-giant's attempt to look presentable for his very first class. But Harry and Hermione thought he looked smart.
"Right, then! Come closer, an' gather 'round!"
A few stragglers at the back shifted forward.
"Yeh brought yer textbooks with yeh, right?" the big man asked.
Everyone nodded, pullng out their copy of The Monster Book of Monsters. Most were bound with ropes, others were shut with spello tape, one Hufflepuff girl had hers closed with a chain and lock, and a few kept their books in tight bags, the books growling and squirming inside.
"Great! Now, hang on jus' a second," Hagrid said while reaching into his robe pocket and producing a notecard. He then cleared his throat and gazed down at it.
"Welcome teh Care O' Magical Creatures," he read mechanically without looking up, "I'm yer professor, Rubeus Hagrid."
Several snickers erupted. Hermione and Harry exchanged smirks with their fellow Gryffindors. The caretaker continued.
"In this class, yeh'll be learnin' 'bout...many fascinatin' an' wonderful creatures inhabitin' our world. An' I'll teach yeh all about how teh..."
Hagrid's brow furrowed as he brought the card closer.
"...handle...these creatures an'...even take care of 'em."
He looked at the students with a bit of embarrassment.
"Sorry 'bout that. Couldn't read me own handwritin'."
More snickers erupted and Draco groaned. Hagrid read on.
"I hope yeh'll all be...thrilled an' amazed at what yeh'll learn an' will...come away with a better 'preciation of the...magical creatures all around us."
Hagrid smiled at his little class before placing the card back in his pocket.
"Good grief!" Malfoy complained behind the others, "this place has gone to the dogs!"
Crabbe and Goyle chuckled. Harry and Hermione threw the Slytherins a severe look. While the Gryffindors were amused at Hagrid's first attempt at teaching class, the big guy needed support, not ridicule. Draco and his buddies sneered back at the two in defiance, however. Hagrid went on.
"Right, then," he said cheerily while rubbing his hands together, "fer yer firs' class, I thought we'd do somethin' special. I've a real treat fer yeh today! So, without further ado, follow me!"
Hagrid lumbered down the steps of the hut and proceeded toward the Forbidden Forest. At first, the students wondered if the wizard was actually going to take them inside the forest and whispered to one another in excitement...or fear. But he never did. Instead, they followed him along a short path that lead to a clearing none of them had seen before. In the clearing sat a fence-lined paddock with a crude barn of sorts on the back side.
Hagrid stepped over the three-foot-high fence without adjusting his gait in the slightest. The students all stopped before the fence, however, and stared at the barn. Though they couldn't see anything inside it, the sound of scratching, clomping of hooves, as well as a few loud screeches could be heard from within. The third-years exchanged puzzled looks.
"Hang on a second, an' I'll be right back," Hagrid told them with excitement before marching off toward the barn and disappearing inside it.
Remembering the dangerous creatures he'd seen in their textbook, Harry wondered with concern what Hagrid might exactly be retrieving from inside. But only a moment later, his question was answered.
"Whoa!"
"Wow!"
"Wicked!"
The students were awestruck as a half-dozen bird-like horses strode out of the barn into the paddock. Their front looked like the front half of an enormous hawk: piercing orange eyes, sharp beaks, and front legs with deadly-looking talons. But their back half resembled the body of a horse complete with hooves and a swishing tail. The animals were covered in a coat of feathers on the bird section which ended in similarly-colored coats of hair near the back. And on either side of their bodies sat enormous, feathered wings. Two of the beasts were chestnut, one was solid black, another was copper-colored, and the final two were silvery-grey.
Each was bound with a leather collar tethered to a chain, all of which Hagrid held in his hands as he stepped out of the barn behind the beasts. He also wore six dead rabbits connected to each other via strings hanging around his neck.
As the creatures moved forward, their wings shifted and flapped, creating strong tufts of wind which blew the students' robes backward. Everyone backed away from the fence.
"TA-DA!" Hagrid bellowed out with a huge smile, "ain't they beau'iful!"
Just then, the black one and a grey one snapped and screeched at one another, as though competing for prominence. Hagrid yanked their chains and pulled them apart.
"Blacky! Buckbeak! You two be nice now!" he scolded them.
The black one looked down at the ground, sniffing for something while the grey one stood still and peered at the students.
"What are these things, Hagrid?" Harry asked, not having come across them in their textbook.
"Hippogriffs, Harry!" the man replied while trying not to be jerked in two different directions by the beasts which had now fanned out across the paddock, "if yeh'll open yer books teh page 49, it'll tell yeh all 'bout 'em."
"And how exactly do we do that without losing a finger or two!" Malfoy complained.
The rest of the class, save Harry and Hermione, also wanted an answer to the Slytherin's question as they didn't know how to open the book either. Hagrid was befuddled.
"Yeh mean...none o' yeh've...been able teh open yer books?"
Practically everyone shook their heads. Wanting to help Hagrid, Hermione removed the rope from around her textbook.
"You stroke the spine, like this," she informed the others and demonstrated just that.
Her book tried to bite, but instantly became docile and flapped open after she ran her hand down its side.
"Oh!" the others let out in surprise and relief. Everyone carefully unbound their books and did the same. Hermione looked at Hagrid who gave her a grateful smile.
"Stroke the spine! How obvious! Why didn't we think of that?" Draco snarled sarcastically. The Slytherins laughed, but he wasn't finished.
"Of course, leave it to the know-it-all to teach us how it's done!"
"Shut up, Malfoy!" Harry let out, anger boiling in his veins.
Draco was already getting on everyone's nerves, but especially Harry's. The blond skirted right up to him with an angry expression of his own, however.
"Make me, Potter!" he snarled.
Harry stood his ground and gazed back just as fiercely.
"UH-HUM!" Hagrid bellowed out, clearing his throat loudly.
The two turned to find Hagrid glaring at Malfoy. The Slytherin gave Harry another sneer before marching back to his friends.
Hagrid now released the chains and threw each of the Hippogriffs a rabbit. Lavender and the Patils turned away, unable to watch the creatures tear the fluffy animals into bloody pieces and consume them. But this made the Hippogriffs more docile, and after eating, they slowly walked around the paddock, sniffing the ground or air and keeping to themselves.
"Right, then," Hagrid continued while stepping closer to the class on the other side of the fence, "would yeh mind readin' the first paragraph on page 49 teh the class, Hermione?"
She smiled back.
"Sure."
The girl cleared her throat.
"Here we go," Draco uttered disdainfully.
Hermione ignored him and read out loud.
"The carnivorous Hippogriff is one of the wizarding world's most unique flying creatures. Growing to the size of normal horses, and with an impressive wingspan of up to 24 feet, they are beautiful to behold, both on the ground and in the air. But behind their smart appearance, Hippogriffs are also among the most intelligent creatures we know. They have an uncanny ability to sense intention and unless approached correctly, can quickly reveal their deadly side to an unwitting soul. Hence, Hippogriffs are strictly regulated by the Ministry of Magic, and only trained, licensed gamekeepers are allowed to tame one."
Hermione looked up at Hagrid.
"Thank yeh, Hermione! Now, regardin' one part o' that paragraph, I'll explain how to approach these fine beasts with a demonstration. So, I need a volunteer. Who'd like teh come an' say 'hello'?"
Hagrid clasped his hands together and glanced at the students as though expecting every last one to rush forward excitedly. But no one did, and no one said a word. The whole class seemed apprehensive at stepping anywhere near the fearsome Hippogriffs. Hagrid became downcast.
"Anyone? Anyone at all?" Hagrid said while giving Harry a pleading look.
Realizing what Hagrid was hoping, Harry piped up.
"Oh! Um...I will," he told the professor, glad to help. The caretaker lit up.
"Good man, Harry! Now step on over the fence there."
Harry climbed over and stopped a few feet in.
"Hmm. Let's see now..." Hagrid said with a hand on his chin, trying to determine which Hippogriff to choose.
After a few moments, he walked over and led the grey Hippogriff he referred to as "Buckbeak" in Harry's direction, but stopped the creature about twenty feet from the teen.
"Buckbeak here is per'aps the most tame o' the bunch, so we'll start with him. Now, sumpin' important yeh all should know 'bout Hippogriffs. Like the book says, they're right smart, they are. But they're also proud, too. Never insult a Hippogriff 'cause, like the book also says, it could be the last thing yeh do."
Hagrid walked halfway between Buckbeak and Harry.
"Now, Harry, what yeh wan' teh do firs' thing is bow."
Harry's face contorted as he looked at Hagrid.
"...Bow?" he asked in puzzlement.
"Yep. Bow, nice an' slowly. An' try not teh blink neither. They get real suspicious if yeh blink a lot."
Harry looked back at the other students. Hermione gave him a worried look. Lavender and the Patils gave him one of fright. Dean, Seamus, Neville, Ron, Sean, and Frederick all looked at him as though he was a nutter, and Malfoy rolled his eyes. Harry turned back to Buckbeak and swallowed hard. He then slowly leaned over, bowing his head, though keeping his eyes fixed on the beast while trying hard not to blink. Instantly, the Hippogriff fixed a steely gaze on him and gave out a sharp squawk. Harry jumped, and the girls all gasped. Buckbeak, still eyeing him, slowly moved in his direction, the look on the creature's face seeming perturbed. Harry's heart started pounding.
"Right, Harry, now back off! Back off!" Hagrid uttered to him wide-eyed with a sense of urgency, waving him back at the same time.
Breathing heavily, Harry slowly stepped backwards, still bowing before the creature. The next thing he knew, he bumped into the fence behind him. Glancing back briefly, he noticed all the other students had backed up as well. The Hippogriff continued stalking him, however, and everyone was on pins and needles as to what was going to happen next. But to their surprise, Buckbeak gave out a chirp, bent one of his front knees, tucking an enormous talon underneath, then bowed his head at Harry. The thirteen-year-old was amazed.
"Way teh go, Harry! Well done!" Hagrid bellowed out with a look of pride while shaking his fist.
The rest of the students, save the Slytherins, clapped and cheered. He looked at Hermione to find a grin and those soft eyes staring back as she clapped vigorously for him.
"Now, go on up teh 'em. He should let yeh pet him now," Hagrid said.
Harry stood back up and Buckbeak mimicked this while still staring at him. Swallowing hard, he slowly stepped toward the creature and raised his hand. The Hippogriff let out another chirp, then Harry reached up and stroked Buckbeak's feather-coated mane. The beast lowered his head and closed his eyes, like a mere cat or dog being petted.
"Great, Harry! Well done again! Ten points teh Gryffindor!" the half-giant uttered.
More claps and cheers ensued, especially from the lions.
"Way to go, Harry!"
"Great job, Harry!"
Harry smiled at his classmates and was about to walk back to them.
"I believe Buckbeak'll let yeh ride 'im now," Hagrid informed him while heading in his direction as though he was going to grab him and hoist him right onto the Hippogriff.
Harry backed away and stared wide-eyed at the professor.
"Wait...ride him?" he asked with uncertainty. That seemed like a scary and nutty idea.
"Oh yeah!" Hagrid answered with a grin, "yeh can..."
"Out of my way!" Draco interrupted as he rudely plowed through several students and climbed the fence. The Slytherin wasn't about to let Harry show him up.
"I'll show you how it's done!" he snarled, marching in Buckbeak's direction.
"Malfoy!" Hagrid shouted in an effort to stop him.
But the blond ignored him.
"You're not dangerous at all, are you?" Malfoy uttered at the beast who turned its attention from Harry and stared sharply at the teen marching toward him.
"You're just a big, dumb bird!" the Slytherin snarled, acting tough.
The Hippogriff tensed up, gave out an ear-splitting screech of warning and clawed the ground with a talon, snapping its wings out wide in a show of intimidation. Harry quickly backed away and the other students gasped. But Draco stupidly ignored all this. Hagrid's face turned plum red with anger.
"Oh no yeh don't!" he spat at Malfoy.
The caretaker pulled his wand and pointed it at him.
"Immobulus!"
Draco went rigid as a board, his eyes frozen wide as he fell backwards onto the ground with a thud. The other students laughed until Hagrid glared at them. They quickly fell silent. Buckbeak was still in a defensive posture, staring down at the immobilized student.
"Back, Buckbeak! Back!" Hagrid uttered to the creature with a wave of his hand.
The Hippogriff squawked at him, but lowered his wings and stepped away, becoming docile once more. Hagrid marched over to Draco and stared down at him.
"Now, I know yeh can hear me, so listen close," he said with a fierce gaze, "first, that's fifteen points from Slytherin fer not listenin' or obeyin' yer teacher. Second, that's detention fer puttin' yerself an' others in danger by bein' a right git. Third, yeh owe me thanks fer savin' yer life, yeh little twerp, and don' fergit it!"
Hagrid now looked up at the others who stared back at him in awe.
"An' let that be a lesson teh all o' yeh! Professor Dumbledore told me teh use any means teh make sure I keep yeh safe durin' me class. An' I intend teh do jus' that. No student's gonna get harmed in any o' my classes if I can help it. Understood?"
The whole class, wide-eyed, nodded vigorously. Satisfied his message had gotten through, Hagrid's face changed back to a more pleasant expression.
"Now, after Malfoy's friends take him teh Madam Pomfrey," he said with a fierce gaze at Crabbe and Goyle, "the rest o' yeh can come on in an' greet the other Hippogriffs."
The Slytherins, looking embarrassed, stepped into the paddock and carried Draco's frozen body out and headed back to the castle. The rest rebound their books and climbed into the paddock. The Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors then paired up before one of the Hippogriffs and with their professor looking on, followed Harry's example successfully. No one got to fly on the creatures this time, but Hagrid promised them they'd do that in a future class. All in all, Hagrid's first Care of Magical Creatures class ended well and everyone headed back to the castle in high spirits. But before they did, Hagrid came up to Harry and Hermione.
"So...how'd I do, me first class?" he asked with an uncertain look.
The two lit up.
"It was fantastic! Great job!" Hermione uttered elatedly.
"Definitely! You were brilliant...Professor Hagrid!" Harry told him with equal elation.
"Now we can't wait to see what your next class is going to be about," Hermione threw in.
The half-giant's cheeks turned pink and he smiled back shyly.
"Thanks! An'...thanks teh you both fer yer help. I don' know what I would've done without yeh," he said with a grateful expression.
"Anytime," Harry told him with a smile.
Hagrid nodded, seeming very pleased.
"Well, I guess I'll see yeh both back at the castle, then."
"Later, Hagrid!" Hermione said with a wave as she and Harry rushed to catch up with the others.
The Gryffindor and Hufflepuff classmates all chatted cheerily about Hagrid's class, impressed by the caretaker's performance while also laughing over what happened to Malfoy. Once they approached the main entrance, they briskly moved into the castle, under the watchful gaze of the Dementors, and headed to Flitwick's class.
After entering the Charms classroom on the main floor, Harry and Hermione were about to take their seats when the short, white-haired professor motioned them to his desk. They placed their book satchels on their own desks and stepped up to Flitwick who was standing on a stack of books.
"So, Professor Dumbledore asked me to give the pair of you dueling lessons," he said quietly.
They nodded back.
"When would be the best time for our practice, do you think?"
The teens glanced at one another and Hermione nodded at him. Harry looked at Flitwick.
"Well, Quidditch practice is on Wednesday and Saturday evenings this term, professor. How about...Tuesday and Thursday evenings?"
The wizard nodded.
"Very well. And how about we hold the lessons in your...Spellroom?"
"That would be great, sir," Hermione replied.
"Excellent! I look forward to it, then!" the professor answered with a smile.
The teens smiled back and headed to their desks, looking at each other with excitement. Flitwick's lessons should enhance their extra spellwork practice greatly.
But as soon as they sat down, Hermione froze with a look of fright.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
She frowned at him and leaned closer.
"We got so caught up talking with the others about Hagrid's class, we forgot Herbology!" she uttered quietly.
Harry grimaced.
"Right. Well, it's too late now. We'll just have to explain what happened to Professor Sprout tomorrow," he replied.
Hermione nodded with a sour look.
The first Charms class of their third year was rather mundane as Flitwick went over the class topics for first term which included advanced lighting spells, as well as the compass spell, Point Me, and Carpe Retractum, another retrieving spell. After the class ended, Harry, Hermione, and their classmates took off for the fourth floor for Lupin's DADA class.
Everyone was excited, wondering how it would go, especially after the professor's impressive display on the Hogwarts Express. But just before reaching the classroom, the group was confronted by a recently revived Draco Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherin third-years, all of whom had apparently skipped Charms due to Malfoy's visit to the hospital wing.
Parkinson, Zabini, Bulstrode, Goyle, and Crabbe stood with angry looks behind the blond whose left eye was twitching slightly as did his left hand. Harry remembered hearing that there were nervous side-effects to getting hit by the immobilization spell that could last for days after.
Ron Weasley and his Hufflepuff buddies snickered. Dean, Seamus, and several others followed suit. Draco's face grew severe.
"S-shut it, Weaselby, F-finnigan!" he shot out with a stutter.
The students now laughed out loud and Malfoy's face turned scarlet. The other Slytherins stepped forward threateningly. But the Hufflepuffs, Gryffindors, and Ravenclaws matched them, outnumbering the snakes three to one.
"Looks like you finally got a taste of your own medicine, Draco!" Sean McManus uttered.
"Yeah, now you know how Neville felt!" Dean added.
Malfoy glared at the group but seemed stymied, trying not to look humiliated.
"J-just you wait," he said with a snarl, "when my f-father hears what that g-great oaf did to me, he'll...have the governors on it. He...won't last a d-day longer. You mark...m-my words."
"I wouldn't count on it, Malfoy," Harry said with a defiant step toward the teen, "you're the one at fault and we're all witnesses to it."
The others nodded.
"Trying to get Hagrid fired won't fly," Hermione added, "not if Dumbledore authorized him to use spells when necessary."
"Yeah, just be thankful you're still walking around and didn't get torn to shreds by that Hippogriff, you dumb twit!" Ron uttered incredulously.
The Slytherins drew their wands. The others responded in kind and a standoff ensued.
"And what's this all about?"
Everyone turned to find Professor Lupin staring at them from the door to his classroom. The students quickly lowered and pocketed their wands.
"Nothing, sir," Harry said, "just a...disagreement."
Remus chuckled.
"Well, if you're finished disagreeing, then come on in. We have a lot of ground to cover today," the man told them while turning and motioning them inside the room.
Lupin looked rather shabby again - his wool suit and tie were disheveled and his hair was out of sorts. He also had rings under his eyes which made him look as though he'd not gotten a decent night's sleep in years. Harry and Hermione knew why, of course, and couldn't help but feel sympathy for the man. But despite his condition, he was very calm and gave the students not a look of anger, but one of empathy. Dumbledore was right. There was something noble about Remus Lupin that defied his unfortunate circumstances.
The Slytherins barged ahead of the others and went in. The rest filed in after and as Harry passed the professor, the man gave him a brief smile and a knowing look. He clearly didn't buy what Harry told him. Lupin had been a student here himself, after all, and no doubt well understood "disagreements" between fellow pupils.
After everyone went inside, they were surprised to find the desks all moved to either side of the room and a large, brown oak wardrobe, with a mirrored front, standing on the opposite end in front of the professor's study.
"Please place your belongings on the desks," the wizard said while walking through the crowd of students toward the center of the room, "we're starting things off with a practical lesson today. You'll only need your wands."
Everyone whispered to one another excitedly. Harry and Hermione exchanged grins. This was already good news. No boring lecture defending dark wizards by a stuttering Quirrell or a self-promoting Lockhart merely reading from one of his fake books. Thus far, Remus Lupin was proving to be the real deal and most everyone appreciated it.
The man turned and faced the class.
"Now, then. First, we'll..."
BLAM!
The wardrobe behind him violently shook and its door rattled, as though something inside desperately wanted out. The students were startled and stared wide-eyed at the object. But Professor Lupin merely gazed at his pupils with a slight smirk, unfazed by the noise. The rattling ceased and the wardrobe went silent.
"What's in there, professor?" Padma asked.
"Our lesson for today, Miss Patil. Can anyone guess what it might be?" Lupin asked.
"Is it a Boggart?" Dean asked.
Lupin was impressed.
"Very good, Mr. Thomas! And why would you guess that, if you don't mind me asking?"
"When I was little, there was a Boggart hiding in our upstairs linen closet. Mum thought it was a ghost, but my dad, who I didn't know was a wizard at the time, told her it was just the plumbing. He had a friend of his, who was also a wizard, pretend to be the plumber and I overheard them talking about getting rid of it."
Lupin nodded.
"I see. Can you tell us what a Boggart looks like then?"
Dean shook his head.
"No, sir. I never saw it," he said.
"Does anyone know?" Lupin asked.
Hermione raised her hand, naturally.
"Yes, Miss Granger?"
"No one know what it looks like."
"And why is that?"
"Because the Boggart is a shape-shifter. To defend itself, it assumes the form of that which we fear most."
Lupin was impresed again and smiled.
"An excellent answer! Very good."
Harry squeezed Hermione's hand and smiled at her. She smiled back. The wardrobe shook again and everyone's gaze fell upon it.
"Now, the standard, third-year Dark Arts lesson plan calls for us to study Graphorns, which you'll find on page 53 of your Dangerous Denizens textbook, if you wish to look later. But since this is Defence Against the Dark Arts, what better way to start off than having each of you face your fears. After all, dealing with fear in the face of danger is the first step toward confronting the dark arts successfully."
At these last words, he looked at Harry briefly, then turned his attention to the wardrobe.
"As it happens, there was a Boggart found hiding inside this wardrobe in one of the staff rooms. I asked Hagrid to bring it up here for today's lesson. So, this is what we're going to do."
The professor stepped closer to the students.
"I'll call on each of you to step forward, wand in hand. Then, I want you to imagine the thing which you fear most, or think you fear most. I'll then open the wardrobe, and the Boggart, which will no doubt sense it's cornered and will try to escape, should take the shape of that fear. You then must deal with it accordingly. Understand so far?"
Everyone nodded.
"How are we supposed to deal with it, professor?" Terry Boot asked.
Lupin walked to the blackboard near the wardrobe and took up some chalk.
"With this incantation."
He wrote a word and stepped back.
Riddikulus
The students glanced at each other, wondering if this was a joke. Lupin continued.
"Now, repeat after me: Riddikulus!"
"Riddikulus!" the students echoed.
But Lupin shook his head and smiled.
"Not quite. It's not pronounced like the English word 'Ridiculous'. And this is important in order for your wand to understand you. The k-u sound is pronounced like 'coo' rather than 'cue'. Understood?"
Everyone nodded.
"Now, once more: Riddi-ku-lus!"
"Riddi-ku-lus!"
"Excellent! That's much better," he said while stepping back closer to the students.
"Now, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a Boggart is...laughter."
The pupils stared at one another again in puzzlement. He went on.
"Keep in mind, you cannot fool a Boggart. If you are too afraid to imagine what you fear most, the creature can still sense what you really fear and will take that form accordingly. However, Boggarts are prey to suggestion. By imagining clearly in your mind something...humorous or amusing, something that might make you laugh, for example, the Boggart will respond by attempting to take that form at the same time. The result? Well...how about we see for ourselves?"
The professor gazed across the students, looking for someone to call. Most everyone shrank back, however, uncertain or downright fearful of facing the Boggart.
"Mr. Thomas. Since you've at least had a little experience with Boggarts, how about demonstrating the procedure for us?"
Thomas stared wide-eyed at Harry and the rest of his Gryffindor friends before hesistantly moving forward.
"That's it," Lupin stated, "stand right here."
The professor took Dean's shoulders and had him stand on a specific spot some fifteen feet before the wardrobe.
"Wand at the ready?"
Dean pulled his wand out and held it forward. The wardrobe shook violently again, causing the teen to jump.
"Steady, there, Dean," Lupin reassured him with a hand on his shoulder.
The professor then stepped back and stood off to the side.
"Now, bring to mind that which scares you most."
There was silence as Dean concentrated while staring at the wardrobe. The others held the boy with rapt attention.
"Can you picture it firmly?"
Dean nodded. Lupin continued.
"Now, I want you to imagine something...hilarious, even sllly happening to what you are seeing. Can you do that?"
"Yes, sir," Thomas said with a gulp and nod.
"Very good. On the count of three..." the professor said while retrieving his own wand and pointing it at the wardrobe, "...one...two...three!"
With a brief flick of the professor's wand, the door to the wardrobe unlocked and creaked outward, stopping at about six inches. The entire class was on pins and needles.
At first, there was no sound or movement of any kind. Then, the door to the wardrobe slowly creaked open further. The students backed up out of reflex. Suddenly, something fell out of the wardobe and landed on the stone floor with a thud. Several gasped.
A large, disembodied hand sat palm down on the floor. It was pale, wrinkled, and its broken fingernails had dirt under them. Thomas' eyes went wide. Then, almost immediately, the hand jumped up on its fingertips and began slowly creeping toward him like a giant spider.
"Right, Mr. Thomas. When you have the humorous image in mind, then utter the incantation," Lupin said calmly.
Dean's breathing intensified at the frightening hand which was slowly closing in on him. But he took on a determined look and flicked his wand at the hand.
"Riddikulus!"
A giant mousetrap suddenly materialized and the hand walked right into it.
SNAP!
The trap shut right on top of the hand, crushing it and causing the entire thing to bounce up and down. The other students laughed and Dean grinned from ear to ear.
"Excellent! Very good!" Remus uttered with a smile.
The hand and mousetrap suddenly swirled into a black, mist-like form which quickly shot from the floor back into the wardrobe. The door slammed shut after. The Boggart had fled back into hiding.
"Miss Granger, step on up," Lupin told the thirteen-year-old.
Hermione tensed up and gave Harry a worried look as she stepped forward. Harry gave her a nod for reassurance. He knew she would do well.
"Wand at the ready," the professor said.
Hermione shifted her left foot back slightly while pointing her wand at the wardrobe. The wardrobe shook, causing her to jump a little.
"Ready?" Remus asked. She nodded.
The professor opened the wardrobe door to within six inches again. After a moment of silence, another hand appeared. But this one seemed normal as it grabbed the edge of the door and pushed it open. Everyone gasped and Hermione's eyes went wide. Out of the wardrobe stepped...Professor McGonagall!
The witch shot a steely gaze at Hermione and walked toward her.
"There you are, Miss Granger!" the thing uttered very realistically. Harry and his classmates were astonished.
The Boggart stopped and threw a stern glare at Hermione.
"You've failed all your classes, I'm afraid. Here are your expulsion papers."
The McGonagall figure reached out and shook her hand once. Several long sheets of parchment unrolled beneath it. At first, Hermione looked worried. The Boggart's form was deceptively convincing. But girl took on a look of anger.
"Riddikulus!"
The parchments exploded into a burst of multi-colored firecrackers, several of which shot off across the room with whistling noises. The McGonagall figure recoiled wide-eyed in fright, drawing her hands in. The students laughed as did Lupin. The Boggart swirled and shot back into the wardrobe, slamming the door behind it.
"Very good, Miss Granger! Well done!" Lupin uttered as he moved to one side of the room.
Hermione grinned at Harry as she stepped back to his side.
"Nice job!" he told her quietly. She took his hand warmly and turned to watch the next student come forward.
"Next! Mr. Weasley!" he uttered to the redhead.
The Boggart took the form of an enormous, black hairy spider for Ron, who, despite looking quite frightened, uttered the incantation, causing the spider's legs to fall off and the body of the beast fell flat onto the floor before swirling and disappearing back into the wardrobe. But Harry noticed that from the time Ron stepped forward, performed the spell, and then returned to the high-fives of his Hufflepuff buddies, Professor Lupin seemed to watch the teen with a careful eye, as though trying to determine something about him. Perhaps it was Weasley whom Remus was specifically staring at during the start-of-term banquet, then. This was very curious.
Several other students took their turn. Seamus' was a horrific Banshee which then lost its ear-splitting voice. Parvati's was a mummy whose head then fell off, and her twin sister Padma's was a terrifying yeti which turned into a bumbling orangutan. The Slytherins, however, refused to participate. Draco apparently didn't want to embarrass himself before the other students again with his stutter and preferred merely to watch. When Neville was called forward, Dean and Seamus both looked at one another.
"Professor Snape!" they uttered quietly together with a chuckle.
But when Lupin opened the door of the wardrobe, Professor Snape did not appear. Instead, the students gasped or screamed, quickly moving backwards as a horrific...Dementor appeared! The teen went pale-faced and his wand shook as the creature floated toward him while hissing fiercely.
"Focus Neville! It's not a real Dementor! It's only a Boggart!" Lupin told him with a glance at the others as well.
Neville nodded, then stepped closer to the Dementor with a look of determination.
"R-riddikulus!"
The Dementor morphed into a dozen, colorful balloons which slowly floated toward the ceiling. Everyone laughed.
"Very good, Neville! Excellent!" the professor told him while giving him a pat on the back.
Neville grinned broadly as the balloons went into a colorful swirl and disappeared back into the wardrobe. The teenager rejoined his friends.
"You're next, Harry. Come on up," Remus said with a fixed gaze on him.
Hermione squeezed Harry's hand and gave him a reassuring look. He returned a look of uncertainty. Butterflies in his stomach, he stepped forward and stopped before the wardrobe. Everyone had gone silent as the grave and Harry got the distinct impression they were curious what the famous Harry Potter feared most.
Beforehand, Harry tried to think of what frightened him. Voldemort came to mind initially, though the problem was Harry didn't know what Voldemort actually looked like. He recalled Dumbledore's words the previous year about Tom Riddle becoming "twisted...into a fearsome and terrible form...", though what form that was Harry had no idea. And he had no distinct memory of Voldemort from the night the Dark Lord tried to kill him either. All he could recall was a shadow standing over his crib.
Harry then, like Neville, thought of the Dementors he and Hermione encountered on the WizEx. They were certainly frightening. But thanks to Auror James, his and Hermione's encounter only lasted briefly and neither were harmed in the process. What then was he actually scared of? He was certain there was something that frightened him more than anything else, but was stymied as to what it could be. The professor did say that you couldn't fool a Boggart. Harry then was as curious as everyone else what would appear. And only a moment later, he and the class found out.
"Wand at the ready?" Lupin said.
Harry bladed his body and raised his wand as though preparing for a duel. He nodded.
"Ready."
"On the count of three. One...two...three!"
The wardrobe door creaked open. Everyone, including the professor, held a fixed gaze upon it, intensely wondering what would appear.
Another human hand took hold of the door and pushed it outward. When the figure appeared, Harry stepped back wide-eyed in reflex.
It was...Tom Riddle himself! And holding the pale creature in his arms!
Harry's heart started hammering and several of the other students gasped, no doubt recalling the image of Tom in the memory that Dumbledore presented to the school the previous year. The young teenager looked the same with his dark, wavy hair, dark eyes, and his Slytherin House robes. He held that same piercing gaze at Harry the teen recalled from their encounter in the Chamber of Secrets. An evil sneer appeared on Riddle's face as he slowly moved forward.
"I told you, Harry. We are a part of you now and will be forever. You'll never be rid of us!" the figure uttered.
In an instant, the traumatic events Harry experienced his second year flooded his mind and soul - the nightmares, the distubances in his dorm room, seeing the phantom of Tom everywhere, the soul shards' taunting, and the frightening enounters with Tom and the Basilisk in the Chamber. Harry stood frozen as Riddle and the creature closed in on him. For a moment, the thirteen-year-old honestly wondered if this classroom and its inhabitants were merely a memory, a memory into which Riddle had once more intruded...
"Harry. Harry!" a voice called out to Harry's left.
He snapped out of his trance and glanced at Professor Lupin.
"Concentrate! Remember, they aren't real..." the man told him.
Harry looked back at the figure of Riddle who had now morphed into that demonic shape, bluring together with the pale creature. The two began taunting him again.
"Harry...Harry...Harry..."
Breathing heavily, his heart absolutely pounding, Harry did everything in his power to push aside his fear. He drummed up courage, stepped forward, and pointed his wand at the figures.
"RIDDIKULUS!" he shouted.
POP!
In an instant, both Riddle and the creature were wearing...silly clown costumes! The class burst out laughing at the image of a severe Tom Riddle sporting a red nose, a pointed hat, an enormous bow tie, and huge red clown shoes, his face painted white to boot. Harry recalled the goofy clowns at the Fun Fair years ago. They were the most amusing things he could think of at the moment. Both Riddle and the creature were astonished, glancing down at their colorful outfits. A small horn appeared in the pale creature's free hand which it then honked by accident. The class laughed even harder and Harry felt tremendous relief, laughing along with them.
"Well done, Harry!" Lupin told him, "well done!"
Professor Lupin pointed his wand at the wardrobe door. The door shut and locked. The Boggart, frantically seeking a place to retreat to, found nothing, and with the continued laughter of the students, the Riddle figure and creature shuttered.
BANG!
In an instant they dissolved into a black mist which dissipated and then dissappeared entirely. The Boggart was finished. The professor then stepped in front of the students who, save the Slytherins, were cheery and upbeat.
"I believe that will do for today. For your homework assignment, I want you to read the information on Boggarts on page 87 in your textbooks. Then, with that information and what you've learned today, write a brief essay on the creatures and how to properly dispose of them. Understood?"
Everyone nodded. Lupin smiled.
"Class dismissed," he said.
The students grabbed their belongings and began filing out of the classroom, talking to one another excitedly. This was the first real Dark Arts lesson they'd received since the practical DADA classes taught by Professor Dumbledore their first year. Respect for Professor Lupin jumped tremendously.
While the rest of the pupils exited the room, Harry and Hermione lingered as they wanted to speak with Lupin after. The professor had erased the chalkboard and was pushing it back against the wall when the teens walked up to him.
"Well, you two. You both performed splendidly, I must say."
"Thank you, professor," they uttered together.
"And you, Harry. It was no surprise that the Boggart's form rattled you as it did. What you went through with the specter of Tom Riddle and his monster was no doubt traumatic. I'm impressed you handled it as well as you did."
"You know about what happened last term?" Harry asked with a furrowed brow.
"Oh, yes. I read the papers, like most everyone. And while Skeeter's articles were...less than truthful, shall we say, I could read between the lines as I'm sure most informed wizards and witches do. Your heroics are commendable. Very impressive. But, then again, considering who your parents were, it came as no surprise their son would be much like them."
Harry nodded.
"You were friends with them, right?"
Lupin gave the teen a sad smile.
"Yes, Harry. James and Lily were very dear to me, to...all of us, in fact."
The professor stepped forward and gazed intently at him.
"You look so much like your father. A real spitting image. But you have your mother's green eyes."
Remus brightened up and held out a hand.
"Well. It's good we finally meet at last, wouldn't you say?"
Harry smiled and shook his hand.
"Yes. It is."
Silence came over the three before Lupin turned and began packing a satchel with various books and parchments. Harry was curious.
"No offense, professor, but after what happened at Godric's Hollow, why didn't you come visit me if you were that close to my parents? All these years I would have loved to know someone close to my dad and mum."
Remus turned and grimaced at him.
"I know, Harry. And I'm very sorry," he said while walking back toward the pair, "I did, in fact, try to visit you once, about five years ago."
"You did?" Harry asked in puzzlement.
Lupin nodded.
"I went to your relative's house on Privet Drive. But when I explained to your uncle who I was, he...slammed the door in my face, unfortunately. I never attempted it again, though perhaps I should have. I was content to know, however, you were safe and cared for, though how your relatives were treating you, I could not say."
"Not well, professor," Harry replied and Lupin nodded.
"I see. Well, I'm sorry for that too. But despite that, you've come out just fine, by the looks of it. I'm very proud of you. And I dare say James and Lily would be proud as well."
Harry smiled and Lupin continued.
"Another reason I stayed away, of course, was my...condition. I've spent most of these past years living in isolation and have rarely interacted with others until now."
"Professor Dumbledore told us about your lycanthropy," Hermione said with a look of sympathy, "and Professor Snape tasked us with producing the Wolfsbane potion for you."
Lupin smiled.
"Yes. Dumbledore informed me that he let the two of you in on my little secret. I sincerely appreciate any and all help in advance, believe me."
He resumed packing his satchel.
"One other thing the headmaster mentioned to me was that you both expressed interest in learning the Patronus Charm."
The teens nodded.
"You do know, of course, that's it rather advanced magic."
"Yes, sir," Harry replied.
"Very well. After we've gotten a few weeks of class routine under our belts, let's say we set aside a time and place to go over the charm. We'll then see whether the pair of you is up to task. Agreed?"
"Agreed," they both replied.
The man smiled once more but then looked at Harry.
"I can tell, Harry, you have more questions for me, and I'd be more than happy to indulge your curiosity. But after these last two days, quite frankly I'm exhausted and need some rest. Therefore, if the pair of you would be so kind as to meet me at the entrance to the Great Hall this Saturday morning at, let's say, ten o'clock? I'll show you the accomodations Professor Dumbledore prepared for me and how to get to them. Perhaps then, we can chat some more, and I can answer what questions you may have."
"Definitely," Harry said with a look at Hermione who nodded, "we'll be there."
Lupin then stepped closer to the pair and looked at them as though weighing something in his mind.
"There's...something else this Saturday we need to discuss as well. Something very important."
The man's visage turned quite serious at these last words and the teens were curious what he was referring to. He continued.
"Are either of you friends with...Ronald Weasley, per chance?"
Harry and Hermione exchanged furrowed brows.
"Not friends, exactly," Harry replied, "but we know him."
"I see," Lupin replied.
"Why do you ask?" Harry wondered.
The professor simply smiled.
"Just curious," he replied, though the pair could tell something about it seemed disturbing to the wizard. He picked up the satchel.
"Now then, I bid you both a good day and will see you in tomorrow's class."
"Good day, sir," Harry said.
"Good day," Hermione said as well.
The teens turned and were heading for the classroom door.
"Oh! One last thing before you go," Lupin said.
They stopped and turned back around.
"When you make the Wolfsbane potion, would you mind adding a spot of lemon to it? Wolfsbane tastes...horrific. Anything to help it go down is much appreciated."
"We will, sir," Hermione replied with a smile. He returned the expression.
"Thank you."
The wizard opened the study door and disappeared through it. Harry and Hermione left the classroom.
"Well, that was interesting," Hermione uttered as they headed down the fourth floor corridor.
"It was," Harry replied, "and it confirmed my suspicions."
"What suspicions?"
"I noticed Lupin staring at the third-year Hufflepuffs at the start-of-term banquet. I also noticed he was particularly eyeing Ron during class, when he was facing the Boggart. It was Ron he was specifically looking at during the banquet, then."
"That makes sense. Lupin had a rather disturbed look on his face when he asked us about him. I wonder what's going on?" Hermione wondered.
"No idea," Harry answered, "perhaps we'll find out on Saturday."
"Perhaps so," Hermione said.
