The evening meal was a very subdued affair for the quartet. They rushed down the moment they could in the hopes of seeing Hagrid, but there was no sign of him up at the staff table.
'They wouldn't fire him, would they?' asked Hermione as she looked nervously at Hagrid's empty seat.
'They best hadn't,' growled Y/N. 'I'll be visiting the Malfoys personally if they do.'
Once they'd finished, they returned to the common room in an attempt to start early on their Transfiguration homework, but they all kept losing focus and glancing down towards Hagrid's hut.
'There's a light on in Hagrid's window,' said Harry suddenly. All three of them looked up and Ron checked his watch.
'If we hurried we could still go and see him, it's still early,' said Ron.
'I don't know…' said Hermione, immediately looking at Harry.
'I'm allowed to walk through the grounds! Black hasn't made it past the Dementors yet, has he?' asked Harry hotly.
'Let's just go,' said Y/N. 'We can hardly leave Harry here. Quicker we go, quicker we can get back.'
The four of them packed up their stuff and headed down towards the large oak front doors that lead to the Hogwarts grounds. They crossed the grounds quickly towards Hagrid's hut, hopeful to not get caught, and knocked on his door.
'C'min,' came a quiet voice from inside.
Hagrid was sitting at his wooden table, Fang had his head in Hagrid's lap. It didn't take more than a look and slight intake of breath to see that Hagrid had been drinking. He swayed slightly as he looked at them.
''Spect it's a record,' he said. 'Don' reckon they've ever had a teacher who lasted on'y a day before.'
'You haven't been fired?' asked Hermione, looking shocked.
'Not yet,' said Hagrid miserably as he took another swig of that extremely strong-smelling alcohol, 'But 's only a matter o' time I'n't it, after Malfoy.'
'Buckbeak could have done much worse to him. One slash was him getting off easy,' said Y/N hotly.
'He's still sayin he's in agony,' said Hagrid. 'Madam Pomfrey's fixed 'im, but he's still covered in bandages and moanin'.'
'He's faking it,' said Harry, mirroring Y/N's anger. 'Madam Pomfrey can mend anything.'
'School gov'nors have bin told o' course. They reckon I started too big. Shoulda left hippogriffs fer later, done flobberworms or summat. Jus' thought it'd make a good firs' lesson.'
'It did!' cried Y/N. 'That was probably one of my top lessons from my entire time here and that's saying something. I loved every moment of that, Hagrid.'
'We could all see how Buckbeak behaved with Y/N,' said Hermione. 'There's clearly nothing wrong with Buckbeak, we can tell them what really happened.'
Hagrid beamed at them and grabbed both Hermione and Y/N pulling them into a tight hug. They both smiled bemusedly at each other as he did so.
'Come on Hagrid,' said Hermione as she pried herself out of his grip. 'Y/N, tip his drink away would you? I think he's had quite enough.'
Y/N took Hagrid's tankard and moved out into his front garden. He turned the tankard upside down and emptied the contents onto the floor. A moment later and he heard a splash behind him. He turned to see Hagrid with his face shoved into the water barrel he kept for his plants.
'What's he done?' asked Harry as Y/N walked back in.
'Shoved his head in the water barrel,' said Y/N as he moved over to Hagrid's sink and began rinsing out the tankard.
Hagrid reappeared a moment later, shaking his head like a dog and sending water everywhere.
'Tha's better,' he said. 'Listen, it was good of yeh ter come an' see me, I really-' his eyes had stopped on Harry, his mouth half open.
'WHAT D'YEH THINK YOU'RE DOIN', EH?' he yelled, so suddenly that Y/N almost went for his wand. 'YEH'RE NOT TO GO WANDERIN' AROUND AFTER DARK, HARRY! AN' YOU THREE! LETTIN' HIM!'
Hagrid strode over to Harry and seized his arm.
'C'mon I'm takin' yer all back up ter school, an' don' let me catch yeh walkin' down ter see me after dark again. I'm not worth that!' he said angrily.
The week passed by fairly uneventfully from that point. Thursday morning, Y/N and Hermione awoke early as per usual and made their way downstairs to the Great Hall for breakfast, both of them had been coping well so far with the workload, but Y/N knew it was only a matter of time. He was already losing a decent amount of time to his homework and was grateful to have dropped Divination.
'What's up this morning?' he asked Hermione as the two of them took their seats.
'Well I've got double Muggle studies and then double Potions. So I guess for you it's pretty much just the double Potions.'
(A:N: Did some poking around and they're meant to have three instances of a subject per week. So here's the other two for Muggle Studies)
'Can we leave that till second? I'd rather learn more from Professor Lupin first,' muttered Y/N as he glanced up at Professor Snape at the staff table. He certainly didn't hate Snape as much as he had previously, but he still didn't like the favouritism that was shown during his classes. Hermione wrapped her hand in his and squeezed reassuringly.
'It'll all be fine. There's no Malfoy this time. You don't need to worry about him. Wonder what Professor Lupin is going to teach you this time,' she said thoughtfully as she ate.
'Same stuff I imagine, he promised he wouldn't use the boggart on me again though. He just wanted me to practice the feeling.'
'It'd be so fascinating to watch,' she said airily as she stared ahead of her.
'Then why don't you come with me?' Y/N asked her, suddenly getting an idea.
'What? But I can't, I've got Muggle Studies-'
'Yeah, and we've also got Double Potions and we're going to be in that? You can spin it again, once for my class, once for Muggle Studies and once for Potions.'
'I'd love to Y/N,' said Hermione, 'but I'm not even sure if that's allowed.'
'Let's go ask Professor Lupin,' said Y/N shrugging, and he moved off up towards the staff table. Most of the other staff members had left to prepare for their first lessons but as Professor Lupin only had Y/N to worry about, he was still present.
'Ah, Y/N, Hermione. A pleasure to see you both.'
'And you Professor. I was wondering, would 'Mione be okay to sit in and watch our class? She'll still be at her others obviously, but she's fascinated by what we're doing.'
Remus looked around thoughtfully at Hermione. He took a great long time to answer and when he did, he seemed to be picking his words carefully.
'I will allow it on three conditions. The first, Miss Granger does not attempt to interfere or guide you in any way, she stays on the side lines unless her assistance is requested-'
'Of course Professor,' said Hermione, her face lighting up, 'You won't even know I'm there.'
'The second, if I need you for a demonstration or something with which to drive Y/N, you will assist.'
Hermione threw Y/N a tentative gaze at this, and Y/N must have had a look of alarm on his face.
'Nothing dangerous, I assure you,' said Remus quickly, 'however, having someone he cares about there may make it easier to bring out his abilities.'
'Yes, yes of course,' said Hermione as Y/N nodded at her.
'And thirdly, much as Y/N, you will not speak a word of anything I teach you to anyone other than those who already know. We don't want this spread around the school.'
'Excellent,' he added as Hermione nodded, 'then let us away, assuming you're both done with breakfast?'
The pair nodded and together the three of them moved off towards Remus' office. The wardrobe was missing this time. Remus waved his wand as they entered and a chair and desk appeared over near the far wall which Hermione moved over to after squeezing Y/N's hand.
'Very well, Y/N. Today we will be practicing with Flipendo instead of Depulso. Your focus, as before, is to shatter my barrier. However, I want you to be on your guard. Miss Granger-' and he turned to face her. Hermione immediately sat up, looking attentive. 'I assume your spell list is as varied as Y/N's?'
'To a degree,' she said cautiously. 'I don't know as many duelling spells.'
'She's being modest,' said Y/N 'she could duel circles around me.'
'Excellent. Miss Granger, it is your job to fire spells at Y/N.'
'What?' asked both Y/N and Hermione.
'Only mildly frustrating ones,' said Remus. 'I want him getting annoyed. Your job is simple, Y/N. Break the barrier and stop her.'
'What do you mean by frustrating spells, Professor?' asked Hermione.
'Anything you deem as such, tripping jinxes, knockback jinxes, animal charms. Anything that would frustrate Y/N.'
'I'm sorry in advance, Y/N,' said Hermione as she drew her wand and took position next to Remus.
'Don't be,' said Y/N with a smirk, there was a competitive feeling in his chest now, 'this is good.'
'Very well. 3, 2, 1, Protego!' The shield sprang up between the two of them and Y/N swung into action. However, as he swung his wand up, Hermione had already cast.
'Tarantallegra!'
Y/N's legs began dancing around on the spot and almost sent him toppling over, he pointed his own wand at his legs and muttered, 'Finite.'
They came to a stop and he steadied himself.
'She can cast through the barrier?' he asked, looking at Remus.
Remus shrugged. 'Wouldn't work if she couldn't, would it?'
'Fine,' growled Y/N. 'Flip-'
But a second later and his legs were dancing out of control again.
'Can't take your eyes off me, Y/N,' said Hermione tauntingly, she was enjoying this far too much.
'Take your eyes off this. Flipendo!' said Y/N without removing the dancing feet, the spell hit the barrier and ricocheted off.
'I'm so scared,' smirked Hermione. 'Flipendo.'
Y/N was sent crashing onto his back, his legs kicking wildly in the air.
'Finite,' he grumbled, his legs stopped kicking and he scrambled to his feet.
Hermione was looking nervous but excited. She seemed to be enjoying it but didn't want to upset Y/N too much.
''Mione. I'd like to establish one thing before this continues. Whatever happens in this classroom is just an in this classroom thing. Anything said or done is without foundation once we leave? I don't want any frustrations causing an argument.'
'Of course Y/N, I care about you too much to want to properly hurt you, but I want you to learn.'
'Then make me learn,' smirked Y/N as he shot another knockback jinx at the barrier. They pushed on for around half an hour before finally, the constant barrage of spells and taunts from both Hermione and occasionally Remus sank in. Y/N felt like someone had lit a match in his stomach as his eyes turned upwards.
'Flipendo!' his spell soared towards the barrier-
-then shattered straight through it, hitting the wall behind them. Both Remus and Hermione turned to stare at where it had impacted, then looked back at Y/N beaming.
'You did it!' squealed Hermione, running forward and pulling him into a tight hug.
'Well done Y/N,' said Remus. 'I knew Flipendo would be your best tool. We'll take a break for a few minutes. Let you catch your breath. We weren't exactly taking it easy on you there.'
'I think I saw what you meant,' said Y/N as Remus sat opposite Y/N and Hermione, who had wrapped herself around Y/N's arm, 'for that last one, it felt like someone had lit a match in my stomach. I just felt like it had something more behind it.'
'Excellent,' said Remus happily. 'Normally it would be closer to a fire, or in certain cases even an inferno, but a match is still good. It proves you can and that's exactly what we came here to do. But there are clear signs when you're about to make it, did you see them Hermione?'
Y/N felt Hermione's heading nodding against his arm.
'He had a steely look in his eye. Before, his eyes were flicking between us and the barrier, but he was focused. Determined to take down the barrier over everything.'
'Fantastic,' beamed Remus. '5 points to Gryffindor. She's right, Y/N. Before, you were on edge, not sure where the next attack was coming from. You weren't using everything you had, but for that last one you knew your end goal was stopping me and Hermione but you had to get the barrier down first. So that's what you did.'
'I didn't consciously do that though,' said Y/N. 'I was just doing the same thing.'
'And that, is why we're having these lessons Y/N. The hope is that by the end of them, you will be able to consciously do it and can direct your emotions as you need to.'
They sat there chatting for another few minutes before Remus ordered Hermione back to his side of the barrier, and they began again. Y/N managed to shatter the barrier once more in the remaining hour and a quarter they went for, but he had a feeling Hermione had been taking it easy on him for the rest of it.
'Brilliant work today, Y/N. And Hermione, your assistance was invaluable. If you wish to attend with Y/N in the future, you are more than welcome. I shall see you both this afternoon for Defence Against the Dark Arts.'
The two of them bid Remus farewell and took their leave, Hermione immediately pulled Y/N into a nearby empty classroom and squealed with excitement.
'That was amazing!' she said, her eyes full of wonder. 'I never realised emotions could do that to someone, amplifying spells through feelings, it feels so obvious and yet so hidden.'
'Reckon you're going to be coming back then?' smirked Y/N. 'Did you get that much of a kick out of bullying me?'
Hermione's face fell.
'That wasn't…. I didn't mean…'
'I know you didn't!' said Y/N at once, wrapping his arms around her. 'I told you 'Mione, I take nothing you say in there seriously. You're there to help me.'
'That's going to take some getting used to. But I'll try. It's hard to insult you and not feel bad about it. Always worry I'm going to touch a nerve.'
'If you do, I'll tell you. But what you did today worked, I didn't break Remus' shield at all last time, but you helped me do it twice today.'
Hermione gave him one last squeeze before pulling back slightly and throwing the chain around both of their necks.
'Potions next,' she said, 'Or you'll be spending two hours waiting for me to finish Muggle Studies.'
'I could do with another two hours before Potions,' said Y/N, but Hermione shook her head and turned the dial. They listened at the door till they heard their own footsteps enter Remus' office, then stepped out and made their way down towards the dungeons, where they met up with Harry and Ron.
Snape gave them the usual welcome back to school lecture then set them all off on making a Shrinking Solution. Y/N and Hermione still weren't happy with Ron after his exaggeration over the grim, so they set up on a table separately alongside Neville. Snape swept past them taking a quick glimpse into Y/N and Hermione's cauldrons but swept off without comment, which normally meant he'd found nothing to criticise.
Then, around half-way through the lesson, the classroom door flew open and in walked Draco Malfoy, his arm wrapped in so many bandages Y/N was sure it must be cutting off circulation.
'Well, the peace was good whilst it lasted,' he muttered to Hermione who smiled sadly at him.
'How is it Draco?' simpered Pansy. 'Does it hurt much?'
'Yeah,' said Malfoy with an almost painfully forced grimace.
'Settle down, settle down,' said Snape idly and Y/N shook his head.
Y/N watched out of the corner of his eye as Malfoy set up alongside Harry and Ron and immediately began doing his best to make them do all of his work for him on account of his arm. Y/N averted his gaze. He was getting sick of lashing out at Malfoy, he clearly wasn't learning.
Malfoy spent the next few minutes calling for Professor Snape in a way that made it sound like he'd die if he didn't do it at least once every thirty seconds, but before long they went quiet.
Snape swept past their table and stopped pulling back with an evil sneer curling across his lips, his eyes locked onto Neville's potion.
'Orange, Longbottom?' asked Snape, as he scooped some of the extremely thick potion and allowing it to splash back into the Cauldron.
'Orange. Tell me boy, does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours? Didn't you hear my say quite clearly that only one rat spleen was needed? Didn't I state plainly that a dash of leech juice would suffice? What do I have to do to make you understand, Longbottom?'
Neville had gone pink in the face and he was trembling. He looked close to tears.
Hermione threw Y/N a look that quite plainly said she wanted to step in, but Y/N shook his head, it wasn't worth giving Snape ammunition.
'Longbottom, at the end of this lesson we will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see what happens. Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly,' and Snape swept away.
Neville's eyes fell downward towards the desk, but he looked up as a piece of parchment slid towards him. He read the hastily scrawled instructions Y/N had given and smiled at him as Hermione slid her chair along and began whispering additional steps to him.
They spent the next few minutes trying to help Neville sort his potion when Seamus swept past the table pretending to ask to borrow some daisy roots.
'Hey, Y/N, you heard? They say Sirius Black's been spotted.'
'Brilliant,' said Y/N darkly. 'Any idea where?'
'Not too far from here. Muggle saw him, course Muggles don't understand he's one of ours, do they? Rang the hotline for reporting him, by the time the Ministry had got there he was gone.'
'Charming,' said Y/N through gritted teeth. 'Cheers for the heads-up, Seamus.'
Neville's potion was slowly getting closer and closer to the correct shade of green as the lesson drew to a close. Y/N shoved one last ingredients list towards him before stoppering a version of his own and Hermione's perfect potions and beginning to clean up.
'Everyone gather 'round!' said Snape happily as he approached Neville's cauldron, 'and watch what happens to Longbottom's toad. If he has managed to produce a Shrinking Solution, it will shrink to a tadpole. If he has done it wrong, his toad is likely to be poisoned.'
Everyone watched on with bated breath as Snape picked up Trevor and dipped a spoon into Neville's potion.
'It looks right,' thought Y/N hopefully as Trevor gulped down the potion. Then, there was a small pop and Trevor was a tadpole, wriggling around in the palm of Snape's hand.
The Gryffindor's burst into applause and Y/N and Hermione fist bumped. This, however, had been the wrong move.
'Ten points from Gryffindor,' said Snape, which wiped the smirks off everyone's faces. 'He was to do it alone, Miss Granger and Mr L/N. Class dismissed.'
They picked up their stuff and followed out of the dungeon with Ron and Harry, but the two hung back and once they'd moved far enough off, they ducked into an empty cupboard.
'I'll see you later,' said Hermione, hugging Y/N and kissing him lightly on the cheek.
'Well not really for me,' said Y/N, returning the gesture. 'But I'll be waiting for you with open arms all the same.'
She beamed at him before spinning the Time turner and disappearing from sight.
He wandered out of the cupboard and climbed up the stairs out of the dungeon, arriving right behind Ron and Harry who were looking around.
'How did you do that?' asked Ron.
'It's easy Ron, you just put your foot down then apply pressure so you can climb up to the next one-'
'You know what I meant,' snapped Ron, 'And where's Hermione?'
'She'll be along,' said Y/N, pushing the two of them towards the Great Hall. He'd just spied Hermione hiding halfway up the marble staircase to the Entrance Hall, watching them carefully. She didn't want Harry and Ron to see her coming down. 'As will I,' he added as he pushed the two of them into the Great Hall, then turned to face his bushy haired girlfriend.
She hurried down the stairs towards him and hugged him tight.
'What would I do without my wingman?' she said as she pulled away beaming.
'Get caught,' said Y/N smugly. 'Long time no see, been a whole thirty seconds.'
'For you maybe,' said Hermione, pouting slightly. 'I had to go for two hours. It's weird not having classes with you.'
'Surely it's not that different?' he asked as the two of them broke apart and entered the Great Hall.
'You wouldn't think so,' said Hermione with a sigh, 'But I didn't realise how much I enjoyed just having you there, someone to bounce ideas off or keep things less stressful. Muggle Studies just feels so formal anyway and then without your jokes-'
'So you do miss my jokes,' smirked Y/N.
'Oh dear Merlin I'm going to regret that one,' said Hermione as they took their seats at the Gryffindor table opposite a very confused looking Harry and Ron.
Once lunch had finished, they all gathered up their stuff and made their way towards Professor Lupin's classroom for Defence Against the Dark Arts.
'Wonder what we'll be learning about,' said Hermione as they approached. 'Professor Lupin definitely seems to know his stuff off the lesson this morning.'
'We're doing Boggarts,' replied Y/N. 'He told me in Monday's class after he used it on me.'
'But wouldn't that involve practical aspects?' asked Hermione as they took their seats in the classroom.
'Probably. Which is exciting alone, never mind something with Professor Lupin.'
They were chatting about what exactly they'd be learning with the Boggart for another few minutes until Professor Lupin wandered in.
'Good afternoon,' he said quite cheerfully. 'Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today's will be a practical lesson. You will only need your wands.'
Hermione and Y/N looked at each other excitedly as the rest of the class put their books back in their bags.
'Right then,' said Lupin once everyone was ready, 'If you'd all kindly follow me.'
The class got to their feet and followed Professor Lupin out of the classroom. Y/N slid through the crowd with Hermione to wander next to him.
'Is this the Boggart by any chance Professor?'
'It will be Y/N yes, speaking of. Would you mind lending me your assistance with it? You've already seen what a Boggart can do, and an extra pair of hands wouldn't go amiss. I trust you remember how to get rid of one from Mondays lesson?'
'Of course Professor, I'd be happy to and yes I do, Riddikulus isn't it?'
'It is. I'd ask for your help too Hermione, but I dare say you may wish to face it. Y/N has already had the pleasure. Or displeasure depending on how you see it.'
At this moment, they turned down onto a corridor where Peeves the poltergeist was floating upside down in the air, stuffing chewing gum into a keyhole. As they approached, Peeves looked across and burst into song.
'Loony, loopy, Lupin,' he repeated over and over in a sing song voice. But Professor Lupin still looked happy as ever.
'I'd take that gum out of the keyhole if I were you, Peeves,' said Remus quite politely. 'Mr Filch won't be able to get in to his brooms.'
Peeves blew a very large raspberry at Remus, who gave a sigh and drew out his wand.
'This is a useful little spell,' he said to the class as a whole. 'Please watch closely.'
He pointed his wand at Peeves and said, 'Waddiwasi!'
The chewing gum shot out of the keyhole and flew straight into Peeves' nose. Peeves flipped right side up and sped away, throwing all manner of obscenities back at them as he did so.
'Cool sir!' said Dean Thomas, his voice full of amazement.
'Thank you, Dean,' said Lupin with a smirk. 'Shall we continue?'
He led them through the corridors until they arrived outside the staff room.
'Inside please' he said, opening the door and allowing them all to step in ahead of him. The staff room was empty apart from Professor Snape, who was sitting in a low armchair, and looked around as they all entered, a sneer spreading across his face.
'Hold it open Lupin, I'd rather not witness this,' said Snape as he got to his feet and swept past the class into the doorway, he then turned and said, 'Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Mr L/N and Miss Granger are within whispering range.'
Neville went red and Y/N shot a nasty look at Snape. But Professor Lupin simply raised his eyebrows.
'I was hoping that Y/N would assist me for this lesson actually, and that Neville would be the first one up. And I am sure he will perform admirably.'
Neville went even redder as Snape's lip curled and he snapped the door closed. Y/N felt some eyes on him too, but he chose this time to extract himself from the crowd and move over next to Professor Lupin who gave him an approving nod.
'Now then,' said Remus as he beckoned them all over towards an old wardrobe. It gave a loud rattle as they approached, and many people looked around in alarm.
'Nothing to worry about' said Remus, looking at them all. 'There's a Boggart in there.'
Y/N watched as many in his class threw around looks of fear and worry, apparently the idea that it was a Boggart wasn't comforting to any of them.
'Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces. Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks. I once found one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in earlier this very week and I asked if I could take control of it to give you all some practice. So, the first question, what is a Boggart?'
Y/N watched as Hermione's hand shot into the air, it was weird from this side of the group of students.
'It's a shape-shifter' she said, her eyes locked on Y/N. 'It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us the most.' Y/N gave her an approving nod.
'Couldn't have put it better myself,' said Remus and Hermione glowed. 'So, the Boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. He does not yet know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a Boggart looks like when they are alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears.'
'This is why I have brought Mr L/N up to the front. He has faced a Boggart before, and he will be showing you how it is done first of all. However, he will be missing one advantage the rest of you have. Have you spotted it, Harry?'
Hermione's hand shot into the air once again, but Harry was clearly thinking hard about his answer.
'Um, because there are so many of us, it won't know what shape it should be?' he asked more than said, but it was correct nonetheless.
'Precisely,' said Remus and Hermione lowered her hand looking slightly put out but brightened when Y/N winked at her. 'It's always best to have company when you're dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. That is why both me and Mr L/N will be on watch whilst you all go. We will be ready to step in should anything go wrong.'
'The charm that repels a Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing. We will practice the charm without wands first. After me please, Riddikulus.'
The class echoed the call back to them and Remus gave an approving nod.
'Good, very good. Y/N. You're up, show them how it's done.'
The class moved backwards as Y/N stepped forward and faced the wardrobe.
'So Y/N, when that Boggart comes out of that wardrobe, what is it going to turn into?'
'It's going to turn into Hermione after she got petrified by the basilisk.'
He heard a few girls giggle behind him, but he ignored them.
'And what are you going to turn it into?'
'Watch and see,' said Y/N smugly. Remus gave a nod then began explaining to the class.
'So, once this wardrobe opens, the Boggart will take on the appearance of the petrified Hermione. All Y/N has to do is think about whatever will be so funny, and then cast the spell. As long as his focus is on the entertaining thing, the Boggart will be forced to assume that form. Ready Y/N?'
'Ready sir.'
Remus pointed his wand at the wardrobe and it flew open with a bang. A snake like hissing noise came from inside and a moment later, as though she had been thrown, the petrified form of Hermione came flying out of the wardrobe, sliding along the floor towards him where it stopped at his feet.
'Riddikulus!' he said pointing his wand at the statue on the floor, where it split and began to separate into lots of tiny little muggle garden gnomes that all began running around, crashing into each other, and yelling obscenities. The room behind him rang with laughter and all the gnomes looked around, confused. A moment later however and as if by a hoover, they were all pulled back into the wardrobe and the door closed.
'Excellent, Y/N!' said Remus with an approving nod. 'Right then. Neville, front and centre please.'
Neville stepped forward, looking slightly more comfortable but still worried. Y/N stepped away and went back alongside Remus. He caught Hermione's eye and she gave him a radiant smile that made his face turn scarlet.
'Feeling more confident now you've seen it?' asked Remus.
'A little,' responded Neville.
'Well then, what will your Boggart turn into?'
Neville's response was so quiet none of them caught it, even Remus and Y/N who weren't stood that far away from him.
'Didn't catch that, Neville, sorry,' said Remus quite happily. Neville looked to Y/N, who gave him a reassuring nod.
'Professor Snape,' he said, sounding a little downtrodden but keeping his eyes on Y/N's.
'Professor Snape… hmmmm… Neville, I believe you live with your Grandmother?' asked Remus as the class behind Neville worked to hide their laughter.
'Well, yes, but I don't want the Boggart to turn into her either,' squeaked Neville.
'No no, nothing like that. Tell me, what kind of clothes does your Grandmother usually wear?'
'Well, she always has the same hat, a tall one with a stuffed vulture. A long green dress, and a fox fur scarf with a big red handbag.'
'Right then,' said Remus, 'Can you picture those clothes very clearly in your mind's eye? When the Boggart bursts out of this wardrobe it will assume the form of Professor Snape. You raise your wand, cry Riddikulus, and all going well, Professor Snape will be forced into those clothes.'
The class let out some of their previously contained laughter and the wardrobe shook aggressively.
'If Neville's attempt works, the Boggart will change its attention onto someone else. I ask you all to now spend some time thinking about what frightens you most and imagine how you'd make it look comical.'
Y/N's eyes combed his fellow classmates, most had their eyes closed and were muttering under their breath. The only one who still had her eyes open was Hermione. They were locked onto Y/N's with a sort of fury he'd never seen before.
'Everyone ready?' asked Remus after a few moments. Y/N saw the general consensus of nods and rolling up of sleeves as the class formed a line and backed away.
'The others are backing up to give you a clear field, and we're on hand should you need us, Neville,' said Y/N as he and Remus took positions either side of the wardrobe. 'You've got this.'
Neville gave him a nod, a look of determination spreading across his face as Remus pointed his wand at the wardrobe. The door flew open once again and Professor Snape stepped out. He began to bare down on Neville, his hand reaching into his robes.
'Riddikulus!' said Neville a little higher than usual. There was a loud crack and Snape staggered, he was now wearing a very long lace dress, with a large hat with a stuffed vulture atop it on his head and a giant red bag swinging from his arm.
'Brilliant Neville,' bellowed Y/N as the class behind him laughed. The Boggart froze and looked around, but Parvati, who was at the front of the line, stepped forward as Remus gestured her to.
Another crack and Snape turned into a mummy, it was covered in dried blood stains and it began to walk very slowly towards Parvati.
'Riddikulus!'
One of the Mummy's bandages unravelled and began pulling away from it at lightning speed, causing the mummy to begin spinning like a top on the spot as it unrolled in a permanent spiral of bandages.
Seamus darted forward and, with a crack, a woman with floor length black hair and a horrible, grey tinged face appeared. She opened her mouth and began to scream. Y/N had to clap his hands over his ears as it did so. He'd never heard a banshee scream before.
'Riddikulus!'
The banshee moved as if retching and clutched at her throat, her voice was gone.
The class moved forward one after another, the Boggart jumping between almost anything. Creepy, singular eyeballs, snakes, and even Aragog when Ron came forward. Y/N had to stop himself reacting sooner than he meant to.
Next up was Hermione. She stepped forward with a look of steely determination. As the legless spider caught glimpse of her, its form shimmered and changed-
Until Y/N was stood there. Wand drawn and pointing at Hermione.
'You're no witch. You don't belong here. Your friends don't want you and neither do I. Leave Granger, you were never meant to be here.'
Y/N's eyes darted straight to Hermione, he could see her mouthing the incantation but the look of determination was gone. To be replaced by one of utter horror.
'Why would I ever consider even being in a relationship with someone like you? You aren't good enough for me or the wizarding world,' said the impostor Y/N with a laugh.
'Riddikulus!' said Y/N stepping between the Boggart and Hermione and it immediately began tap dancing on the spot. He grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her off to the side as Dean Thomas stepped forward to take his go.
'Take her out of class,' said Remus as Dean's Boggart turned into a severed hand.
Y/N nodded and pulled Hermione around the group of students and led her out of the room. They began walking towards the nearest door where Y/N pushed it open and dragged her inside.
''Mione,' he said, turning her towards him and shaking her a little. 'Hey, hey 'Mione.'
Her eyes landed on his, but they were out of focus, as though she was a million miles away. Y/N squeezed the Phoenix Ring on his finger and allowed the bird to take flight as he glanced around the room. It was an unused classroom, all the tables and chairs were pushed up against the walls. He pulled Hermione to the middle of the room and sat down opposite her, waiting. Pippa floated down and nuzzled its face against Hermione's cheek as Sammy unravelled from her wrist and began nudging her gently with its nose.
After a few moments, her vision clarified, and she looked at Y/N her eyes swimming with tears.
'Y/N… please…'
The tone of voice, the pleading, the voice crack, and the look in her face all coupled together and broke him immediately. He reached forward and pulled her into a hug, as tears began to threaten to burst from his own eyes.
'It was the Boggart 'Mione. It was the Boggart. I didn't say any of it. We're out of the classroom.'
It took a few seconds for Y/N's words to sink into Hermione's brain, but once they did he heard her let out a strained sob and she practically threw herself on top of him in a hug. It was all he could do to hold both of them up.
'It said… it said-' Hermione tried to get out between sobs, but Y/N shushed her, running his hand along her back as tears poured out of his own eyes. It hurt to see her like this. It hurt to see her doubt how much she meant to him.
Y/N wasn't sure how long he and Hermione stayed there for, but he didn't care. It was as long as Hermione needed. Eventually, she released herself from him and leant back, wiping her eyes.
'Sorry,' she said meekly.
'Don't you dare apologise for that,' said Y/N. 'It's what a Boggart does, that's why we don't take them alone.'
'It was saying the most horrible things. Just echoing all the doubts I've ever had about myself,' sniffed Hermione, 'but hearing them come out of you just made it worse. It felt so real.'
'I didn't realise I'd be your Boggart. That explains the look in the staff room now.'
'At first, I thought about failing my exams and being told I couldn't come back,' said Hermione quietly, 'But then I realised why that would hurt so much. It's because I'd lose all my friends, I'd lose you. I didn't think it'd be anything worse than you breaking up with me or whatever which I could have held it together long enough to deal with. But-'
'-you weren't expecting it to be able to tell you everything you've ever feared?' Y/N finished for her and she shook her head.
Y/N shimmied around so he was sitting next to her and pulled her in against him, stroking her hair.
'You made a really good teacher, you made it look so easy,' said Hermione sniffily, giving him a warm smile. 'I felt so confident because of your example.'
'Seeing Remus deal with it on Monday helped, that was actually the first time I've faced it as a Boggart. Would have been worse if that had been the first time I saw it.'
'You should teach things more often,' she said dreamily. 'It really suits you.'
'I'll consider it,' smirked Y/N, 'But I don't think you'd ever let go of my arm if I was a teacher.'
'I don't let go of your arm anyway.'
'Fair point.'
Hermione gave a very shaky laugh.
'I hope I never heard those words again.'
'It was all just the Boggart talking, 'Mione. I'm still here, you're still coming to Hogwarts, you've still got all your friends. We're still together, and we will be for as long as you want to be.'
'For as long as I want?'
'That's what I said isn't it? I'm certainly not looking for anyone else anytime soon.'
'I've already found everything I wanted,' she said dreamily as she planted a very wet kiss on Y/N's burning red cheek. 'I need to stop crying so much' she added 'I just worry about you'
'I'll be fine 'Mione. We both will be, I promise. And I'll do my best to stop getting into situations where the tears are necessary.'
Hermione shook her head.
'You need me to keep you in line. I can't go breaking down at every turn. Come on, let's get back to class.' And with a steely look in her eye Hermione got to her feet and pulled Y/N to his.
