First of all, I have to admit that I am not a native speaker, so there might be a few mistakes, but if you were so kind as to write me a message to tell me of them, I would immediately correct them.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling and I don't earn my money with these stories.

Mr Longbottom's Greatest Fear

As soon as Severus entered the teachers' room, he noticed it: the atmosphere was joyful but also excited, which meant that something had happened. He saw Pomona, Filius, Minerva, and Septima together on the couches near the chimney while Lupin graded some essays at the large table. His colleagues on the sofas had apparently been laughing hard just a moment ago but were now looking at him expectantly. With a slight shale of his head, Severus joined Lupin rather than these immature chickens.

"Good afternoon," he greeted politely and sat down a few seats away from the werewolf. Dumbledore had asked him to be more civil, so he tried. At least a bit.

Lupin looked up from his work and smiled shortly before hastily turning his eyes back on his papers.

Severus found that behaviour quite suspicious and because he had never been someone who was beating around the bush, he asked directly: "Has something occurred that can explain this laughter over there and you avoiding me?" He raised his eyebrows dramatically and revelled in the sight of Lupin wiggling before him like a frightened first year.

"Well," the werewolf finally admitted. "I guess I should tell you. The whole school will probably know it soon anyway."

Severus merely kept on staring though he had to admit he was intrigued. What had happened that made his colleagues giggle and the student body interested?

"Today," Lupin continued and finally looked at him, "I taught the third years the Riddikulus charm which we then tried on the boggart we found here a few days ago." Lupin nodded towards the cupboard. Severus nodded. "Go on."

"When it was Mr Longbottom's turn, well…" Lupin gulped before he admitted at last: "It turned out that you are the boy's greatest fear."

"Me?" He wrinkled his forehead.

"Yes, the boggart took your shape; it was quite convincing."

Severus needed a moment before he tried to continue as if it didn't bother him. "And how did Longbottom manage to get rid of the boggart, if he did at all?" He tried his typical sneer but he could feel that it wasn't as powerful as usual.

Lupin tried to hide a smile. "He put his grandmother's clothes on you."

Augusta Longbottom was an eccentric, ancient, loud and utterly annoying woman and Severus couldn't hide his disgust at wearing her outdated clothes. "Surely not the vulture hat," he suddenly gasped.

Lupin nodded, barely containing his grin. "It was a sight to be seen."

"Serves you well," Pomona then interrupted gleefully, and Severus realised that his colleagues on the sofas had observed their conversation and his reaction. "How can you always make your students fear you so much?" she continued. "A school environment should be full of comfort and care so that the students are happy while learning. If Longbottom wouldn't fear you so much, I bet his marks would improve at once."

There was only one correct way to respond to these accusations: Severus slipped on his emotional mask as he used to in front of the Dark Lord. "Longbottom would fail any potion, no matter how much you smothered him." Before Pomona could close her mouth from shock and reply something stupid, he stood up, formally announced: "Excuse me, please, I have more important things to attend to" and left the staff room. Outside, the corridor was empty and he closed his eyes for a moment. Potions was the most complex but also most dangerous subject in Hogwarts. He needed to be strict with the students so they would concentrate. But he never meant to become a boggart for one of them. He didn't want to admit it, but that notion hurt. He didn't need to be liked by his students – there were more important things – but he also didn't want to be their nightmares. He knew he was a person no one could really like, but he wanted to be respected as a teacher that could teach his students all the knowledge he possessed if they wanted to. Unfortunately, most didn't…

He sighed, opened his eyes again and strode towards the dungeons, looking as if nothing bothered him. But maybe, just maybe, he should try to be more careful with Longbottom because fear could also be lethal…

THE END.