Magical Origins
Year 3: Lupin and the Boggart
Harry said nothing as he entered the classroom. Almost everyone was in, as they were all seated down. Draco walks in his arm out of the sling. Harry's threat was still ringing in his ears.
"Are you okay, Draco? Does it hurt?" Pansy asks as Draco walks into Potions.
"I'm okay, Madam Pomfrey healed me up," Draco responded. Usually, Draco would attempt to make a big scene over his injury. However, as Harry had threatened to really shatter Draco's arm if he kept up with his fake injury, he had to be more honest about what happened. Draco knew first hand that Harry didn't make idle threats. Harry always follows through them.
"Settle down," Snape said as Draco took his seat. Ron, Hermione, and Lily groaned. They knew that if THEY walked in late, they would get detention or maybe even two.
"Today, you'll be learning a new potion. The Shrinking Solution. This is a common potion use by countless Giants and Half-Giants who need to shrink down to appear… muggle-ish." Snape said.
Draco set up his potion next to the Gryffindor trio. So they were all sharing a table.
"Professor, I need help with my ingredients. My arms haven't fully healed…" Draco said slowly.
"Weasley cut up Malfoy's ingredients," Snape said.
"But, sir…" Ron protested.
"Now," Snape growled.
Ron grumbles as he begins to cut up Draco 's ingredients.
"Sir, Weasley is mutilating my roots," Draco called out.
"Change roots with Malfoy, Mister Weasley." Snape hissed.
"But sir," Ron protested.
"Now," Snape snaps. Ron grabs his neatly cut roots and throws them into Draco 's cauldron. He sets his tray down and looks very angry.
"Sir, I'm going to need this shrivelfig skinned," Draco said as he tried to contain his laughter.
"Miss Morris, you can skin Malfoy's shrivelfig," Snape said as he didn't even bother to look at her.
Lily's eyes turn orange as they blazed with fury. She turns to stare at Draco, who suddenly gulps at her anger. He knew he had pushed things too far. The only thing that kept him safe was that Professor Snape was still in the classroom, once they left Draco was going to get hurt, very painfully. This was something Draco learned the hard way after he did the same thing to her last year. He was put in the hospital wing for fire burns that Madam Pomfrey had a difficult time healing due to the immense damage they caused. Lily earned herself detention from Professor Snape. It left a scar on Draco, who suddenly realized it wasn't the safest thing to push her buttons too far.
Neville Longbottom was in trouble. He failed to get his potion right again, and Snape was bullying him worse than ever.
"Tell me, boy," Snape said, sneering down upon him. "does anything get through that thick skull of yours? Didn't you hear me state clearly that only rat spleen was needed? Didn't I say plainly that a dash of leech juice would suffice? What do I have to do to make you understand the basic principles of potion-making, Longbottom?" Snape hissed down at him. Neville gave a whimper as he tries to hide in his seat.
"Please, sir," Hermione said. "I could help Neville put it right…"
"I don't recall asking you to show off you insufferable know it all." Snape hissed at Hermione, causing her to fall silent and sit back down. "Longbottom, at the end of this lesson, we are going to feed your toad with a few drops of your potion and sees what happened. Perhaps this will encourage you to do it properly." Snape said as he walks off.
Neville turns to Hermione and mouths, 'Help me!' realizing at once he was in deep trouble.
Harry said nothing as he turns to his potion and watches Lily, who was in a foul mood. Draco for once was silent, realizing he had painted a target on himself, and Lily was going to burn him again. Punishment wouldn't stop Lily, despite being warned by Professor Snape that he'll expel her for harming Mister Malfoy again, she would still burn him to the point he wouldn't be recognizable. All Draco could do, was sit in his seat quietly and pray Lily would show mercy. He knew if he told Professor Snape, then Lily would only get angrier. It was like facing a fierce dragon getting ready to unleashed fire upon you. You could only pray to your fortune that you get away safely. Pushing Lily around, was a dangerous gamble. She wasn't just a powerful and skilled duelist, she was lethal and had a short temper if you got on her nerves.
The hour tick by, and Snape scoops up some of Neville's potion.
"Everyone gathers around," Snape called out as he picks up Neville toad. Neville looks fearfully at his toad. Praying that he manages to get it right. "and watch what happens to Longbottom's toad. If he managed to produce a Shrinking Solution, his toad will shrink back to the size of a tadpole. If, as I don't doubt, he has done it wrong, then his toad will be poisoned with only minutes left to live." Snape said.
The class was filled with mixed reactions. Some Slytherin looks delighted, while others showed the cruelty of their Head of House was wholly disgusting. The Gryffindor's watched fearfully as they knew Neville had trouble in potions.
Snape opens the toad's mouth and puts a couple drops in the toad.
It was like watching a movie of a tree growing up in fast reel time. Only this was backward as Trevor, the Toad, slowly shrunk down to his juvenile state until he was wiggling in Snape's palm like a tadpole.
The Gryffindor's burst into applause as Neville lets out a sigh of relief. Snape, looking sour and unpleasant, pulls out a potion from his robes and places a couple of drops on Trevor the Tadpole, causing him to be fully regrown again. Snape bitterly hands Trevor the Toad back to Neville.
"Ten points from Gryffindor." Snape suddenly said as the smiles vanished from the Gryffindor's. "I told you not to help him, Miss Granger. Class dismissed."
Draco grabbed his bag and paused. He suddenly looks at Lily then bolts out the door knowing that he was fresh game. Lily grabs her purse and walks out calmly. Intent on burning Draco again.
"I'm going to stop her before she causes real damage to Draco," Pansy said as she leads Crabbe and Goyle to chase after her.
"Aren't you going to stop her?" Blaise asks as they left the dungeons and head to the Great Hall.
"No, Draco had this coming. He doesn't seem to understand not to upset those who are better than him. It's his own fault for pushing her buttons in class. Besides, do you want to be on the receiving end of her fire?"
Blaise shudders as he remembers the burns half the Slytherin's got from attempting to put Lily in her place. One Slytherin was burnt so severely he had to be sent to St. Mungo's to heal his skin that had literally sloughed off his arm from the intense heat. Snape wanted her expelled, but a teary-eyed Lily had claimed she was merely defending herself from her attackers. Professor Dumbledore quickly put a stop to it, stating if there were another attack that put the students' lives at risk, then all parties would be expelled.
A scream echoed in the corridors told Harry that Lily had finally cornered Draco and burn once again.
"Do you think Malfoy will ever learn?" Harry said as he sits down for lunch.
"I highly doubt it," Blaise said as the doors open, and Lily walks in with a smile on her face.
Harry still remembers the burns he got last year from her at the Dueling Club. It seemed Elemental Fire burned more intensely than magical fire. It took him nearly a month to heal his burns. It wasn't until the second part of the term started that he was able to walk around without any paste on his arms and face. He remembers when a group of Slytherin fifth and sixth years, as well as Marcus Flint, tried to ambush Lily in between her classes. They had second and third degrees burn all over them and weren't found until Filch came running at the sound of their agony.
Snape always threatened Lily, though it was clear she did not take the threat seriously. She continued to burn Slytherin students who thought they could hurt her or get the better of her. Harry said nothing to stop the Slytherin's from attempting to harm Lily. It finally stopped when more than half the Slytherin's were in the Healer Wing for magical burns.
Harry grabs his food shaking his thoughts clear as Lily sits down next to Neville and begins chatting away.
"Morris!" Snape shouted as he burst through the doors and walks forward.
"What is it, Professor?" Lily said in her innocent voice. However, her eyes were gleaming with happiness.
"You have detention for attacking Mister Draco!"
"Attack? What do you mean, Professor?" Lily said in her sweet voice. It was clear to Harry she was trying hard not to laugh.
"Do not play coy! You burned Mister Draco yet again!"
"How could you blame me, Professor?" Lily said in a mock voice. She pretends to grab her heart as if it had broke. "I'm a good student. I've never done anything wrong."
"Do not lie to me…"
"Severus," Dumbledore said as he walks forward.
"Headmaster. I want this girl, expelled immediately." Snape said as he stood at attention and points an accusing finger at Lily.
"Yes, I am quite aware of what has happened. However, wouldn't it be safe to say… that Mister Draco merely brought this upon himself?" Dumbledore said softly.
Lily was trying her best not to break out into a smile.
"Come, Severus, there is pudding I would like to try out," Dumbledore said as he walks to the High Table. Snape follows, clearly in a foul mood, and once more upset that Lily didn't get expelled again.
"She should have been expelled long ago," Blaise said as he stares at the Gryffindor table.
"Who is she?" Astoria Greengrass asks as she sits down.
"One Gryffindor, you don't want to face." Tracy Davis said as she sits down.
"She burned more than half the house into the Healer Wing last year. A few Slytherins had to be sent to St. Mungo's for intensive magical burns." Daphne said quietly.
"Did she..?" Astoria said, looking at Daphne.
"No, I'm smart enough to know I don't stand a chance against her, and I don't upset her. Anyone who has ever upset her ends up burned." Daphne said softly.
"Even Potter has gotten burned," Blaise said.
"Really!" Astoria said, looking at Harry.
"That attack was cheap and foul," Harry mutters. "But yes, even I got burned. I beat her in a duel in front of the school, and she didn't take that well. My right side," Harry said as he gestures his right arm and chest. "along with my right side of my face was burned by her. She's very powerful with fire magic." Harry said.
"If you meet her, be polite and don't upset her," Daphne said.
Astoria nods her head. Realizing that the House of Slytherin was wary of an insanely powerful Gryffindor.
"If you ask me, Dumbledore is a bit too soft of the muggle-born," Tracy said.
"You mean the Mudblood?" Astoria said.
Harry crushed his goblet in his hands as a chilly wind swept across the table.
"Astoria, I've told you that word is taboo in the House of Slytherin," Daphne said sharply. "I'll talk to her, I swear it," Daphne said to Harry.
"How is that a bad thing?" Astoria said softly.
"Ever since Harry Potter entered the House of Slytherin," Artemis said as she sits down. "He made it known if you use that word you're insulting his mother. If you insult his mother, you're insulting him. Many Slytherins did not take this seriously until Harry taught them the hard way. Don't believe me, ask Parkinson or Bulstrode what happened to them when they kept using that word." Artemis said with a smile on her face.
Daphne and Tracy paled, remembering full well what happened. Now that Harry was a known parseltongue, seeing a snake was something to be afraid of as they did not want to be bitten. They still remember Pansy and Millicent's screams as snakes attack them relentlessly.
"Things are changing in Slytherin," Blaise uttered in a rather, deadpan, tone.
"But is it a good change? We used to never really work with the other houses before." Daphne said slowly.
"Hogwarts houses use to stand united as a single body. Ever since Voldemort," Harry said calmly, but everyone flinches at the name. "has taken this pureblood supremacy thing too far, magical families are on the verge of dying out."
"But, we don't want mud…" Astoria began, but a cold look from Harry forced her to change her words. "muggle-borns in our world. Magic should be kept in magical families."
"From a certain point of view, you are correct. However, look at what happened in the last war. Voldemort and his Death Eaters wiped out hundreds of families. Entire family lines, many dating back for centuries, have been wiped cleanout. Do the Death Eaters really stand for making this world only for purebloods? Or is that really an excuse to carry out these acts of murder. If you truly stand for honoring magical families, then you wouldn't be so keen on wiping out entire bloodlines. Voldemort has murdered hundreds of families, some of them were Great Families! Do you truly believe, he seeks to make the magical world better?"
Few realized what Harry was saying at the moment, but his words would have a profound impact on the House of Slytherin. For generations to come.
Harry finished his plate and grabs his bag.
"I'm going to class," Harry said as he walks off. Blaise grabs his bag and follows suit.
"My mother is a big supporter of the Death Eaters," Blaise noted steadily.
Harry's eyes look at Blaise carefully.
"She's all for it; Blood Supremacy. She hates muggle-borns and half-bloods. However, you raise a valid point." Blaise said slowly, knowing that he had to speak carefully here. "Countless families have indeed been wiped out by You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters. We were struggling before he started his Blood War. Once there were over hundreds of thousands of magical families in Britain, now there is barely a hundred left. It makes you wonder what they're really fighting for. If there even was a reason to fight in the first place."
"This whole Blood Supremacy thing is stupid. If anything, people should be happy that these children are rising to join the magical world. If things are as bad as you say, then we should be preserving our culture instead of cutting each other's throats." Harry said.
"I'm with you," Blaise said as he opens the door and walks in the classroom. "If the war ever resumes, that means more bloodlines are going to die." In saying that, Blaise sits down as the class slowly begins to fill up. Professor Lupin was not present, but Harry brought out his book and parchment. Harry wondered if this was the same Lupin that Sirius Black told him about. The werewolf.
The class was filled up as the bell rang, telling the students classes has officially begun.
Then the door opened up, and Professor Lupin walks in.
Professor Lupin was nervous as he walks towards his first third-year class. It was the first class he would have with Harry Potter. James and Lily's son. He regretted that he stayed away from the boy for so long. However, with his - condition, he felt it was for the best. His somewhat recent return to the magical world brought a smile to his face.
Dumbledore told him in great detail about his adventure in his first year. How he stopped Voldemort from getting the Sorcerer's Stone. Then in his second year, how he sealed the Chamber of Secrets.
Now Sirius Black, a former friend, madman, and traitor, was on the loose. The one reason why Lupin even agreed to take the post was to watch out for Harry.
He failed James and Lily by not being there for their son. This time he would not. He would bring the traitor to justice.
At the Sorting, he was shocked to see Harry Potter sitting with the Slytherin's. Wearing green robes and rectangle glasses. He was sitting with his Vassal, Artemis Wynter. He half wondered if Miss Wynter had urged him to get sorted into Slytherin. It would make sense, as it was a house where she could keep a close eye on him. However, so many Death Eater children and families associated with Death Eaters were in Slytherin. Was Harry Potter truly safe in that house?
Lupin walks in and smiles at the classroom. He takes roll and tries to memorize the names with the faces.
Harry said nothing as he stares at Professor Lupin.
"Is Mister Malfoy going to be joining us?" Professor Lupin asks.
As if on cue, Draco walks in with paste all over the back of his neck. It was a sign that Lily got his back pretty good. Lily herself had a big smile on her face as Draco limps in class.
"Late Mister Malfoy, ten points from Slytherin," Lupin said.
Draco grumbles but walks till he sits down next to Pansy.
"You can put away your books and parchment. You will not need them for this class." Lupin said as waves his wand and a wardrobe moves forward. "I thought for our first lesson, we should have a practical lesson."
Harry narrows his eyes at Lupin's word. The only practical exam they had was last year with Gilderoy Lockhart with Doxie Pixies.
"Now, for class, I manage to capture a Boggart. Can anyone tell me what a Boggart looks like?" Lupins ask the class.
"No one really knows, since boggarts are shapeshifters and take the form of what a person fears the most," Granger said.
"Did you see her come in? Did you see her come in?" Ron said as he jumped when he realized Hermione was sitting near him.
Harry narrowed his eyes when he realized Hermione was using strange magic to appear. He doubts she had an invisibility cloak. Harry knew if she was aware that he had one, then she would scream foul and tell Percy and the teachers in a heartbeat.
"That is correct. Ten points to Gryffindor." Professor Lupin said as he leans back on his desk. "The true form of the Boggart is unknown. It takes the form of what a person fears the most. This could mean that it will face you, only to terrify you. Now since there are many of us, this is a problem. Does anyone know why?"
Hermione Granger once again raised her hand. So did Lily.
"Miss Morris?"
"Because there are multiple of us and only one of it. It doesn't know how to frighten us. It is unsure of what shape to take." Lily said.
Granger lowers her hand, looking disappointed.
"Correct, take another ten points to Gryffindor. I've seen Boggarts make that same mistake before. Sometimes it tries to do half and half. Taking the appearance of both parties fear to scare them both. Not very frightening. However, you won't be facing a Boggart in pairs. You'll be tackling it head-on alone. The spell to dispel a Boggart's power is Riddikulus. Say it together…"
The class said the spell. Lupin had them say it three times before he was satisfied.
"Very good, the spell is useless unless you are aware of its real effect. You see, to stop a Boggart in its tracks, you have turned what you fear the most into something funny. The real finisher to get rid of a Boggart is laughter. Any honest laugh that it hears will subdue it. Now, Neville steps forward."
Neville pales as he gets up and walks forward.
"Now, Neville, what is it that you fear the most?" Professor Lupin asks kindly.
Neville mutters something, too low for anyone to hear.
"I'm sorry?" Professor Lupin said kindly.
"Professor Snape," Neville said in a loud whisper, but it was still soft.
Quite a few students actually laugh. It was common knowledge that Neville feared Professor Snape.
"Professor Snape, fearful to almost anyone….hmmm... I understand that you live with your grandmother, is that right?" Professor Lupin said.
"Yes, but I don't want the Boggart to turn into her either," Neville said fearfully.
"You misunderstand me," Lupin said as he walks forwards and whispers into Neville.
No one heard them, but Harry had a good idea what Professor Lupin was suggesting. If this work, the whole class will roar laughter. Already the edge of Harry's mouth twitches into a smile at the thought of what he about to see. Even Lily was trying to contain herself as she realized what Professor Lupin was suggesting.
"Wand at the ready Neville," Lupin said as he gets his wand out. Neville did so and look terrified. Lupin flicks his wand, and the wardrobe opens.
"Think Neville, don't be afraid," Lupin called out quietly he hid behind Neville.
Professor Snape walks out and sneers down upon Neville. He steps forward as if he was about to lash out at Neville.
"Riddikulus!" Neville cried out as Boggart Snape was about to grab him. Snape steps back, and his robes begin to swirl about as they transform into a tacky looking dress robe with a vulture hat and a green handbag.
The class roared with laughter. Lily had fallen off her seat as she laughing so hard. She wasn't the only one, a small number of the other Gryffindor's dropped out of their seats at the sight of Miss Snape.
"Excellently done, Mr. Longbottom, now, everyone forms a line." Professor Lupin said as everyone got up and complied. "Neville to the back. Now, I will call you up one at a time, and I want everyone to think what it is what you fear the most and a way to turn it into something funny." Lupin said.
"Miss Patil! Forward!" Lupin said.
Parvati Patil walks forward, and Snape reappeared as a giant King Cobra. It hissed menacingly at her.
"Riddikulus!" She cried as a giant jack in the box appeared.
"Finnegan!" Lupin cried.
Crack, a banshee appeared.
It was clearly the most fun they've ever had in a classroom. Even Lupin looks like he was having a good time. One by one, the students walked forward-facing their fear and turning it into something funny.
There weren't many students left. Harry was behind Lily, who was behind Ron, who, for once, wasn't being a pampers dirty nappy.
Ron steps forward, and a few shrieks let out as the whole class seemingly took a long, healthy step back from what would surely be the source of some nightmares that night.
A giant Acromantula was standing before Ron, snapping its pincers at him menacingly. Ron whimpers as he pulls out his wand and points at the giant Acromantula.
"Riddikulus!" Ron shouted, and the Spider suddenly had rollerblades on each leg, comically being unable to stand as it was trying to keep its balance.
"Well done, Mister Weasley! For a moment there, I was getting a little nervous, too," Lupin announced to the now giggling class. Giving the class a moment to calm themselves, Professor Lupin moved on with the remaining students.
"Now then, Miss Morris, please come to the front," Lupin called.
Lily steps forward, and the Acromantula vanishes.
This time, everyone screamed. The room had lost all warmth and happiness. The lights had dimmed out, and all eyes were drawn to a Dementor.
"R-ri-riddiku…" Lily said, but she couldn't do it and falls on the ground twitching.
Lupin jumps forward, causing the Dementor to focus on him and instead vanishes into a silver orb just hanging there.
"Riddikulus!" Lupin said, causing a balloon to appear and squeeze out air. Lupin swipes his wand, and the Boggart flew back into the wardrobe.
"Lily," Harry said as he turns her over. Lupin bends down, and Lily slowly opens her eyes.
"Everyone, class dismissed. No homework." Lupin shouted as he hoists Lily on her feet. She was flushed and didn't look well. Everyone moans as some of them didn't get a turn at the Boggart.
Lupin grabbed her and took her out of the room.
Harry said nothing as he grabs his bag.
Like Lily, he feared the Dementor; and like her, he had no answer to counter his fear.
Author Notes: I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. I wanted to show the weakness of Harry and Lily and their steps to overcome it. Because of their adventures in the last two years, they would have gotten overconfident and arrogant since their so far ahead of their peers. Kind of a beautiful set of pace to slow them down to remind them that they still have weaknesses.
Please R&R
