The Boggart in the Wardrobe

The following Thursday, after a particularly infuriating Potions lesson, the Gryffindors were hurrying across the castle to their first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson of the year. Professor Lupin was not there when they arrived, so they sat at their desks, pulled out their books and waited. Finally, he arrived, looking a lot healthier than he had on the train.

'Good afternoon,' he said, smiling vaguely. 'Would you all please put your books back in your bags? Today's will be a practical lesson, so you will only need your wands.'

A few curious looks were exchanged as the class put away their books. They had never had a practical lesson before, except when Lockhart had released a cageful of pixies into the classroom the year before.

'Right then,' said Professor Lupin. 'If you'd all follow me.'

The class got to their feet and buzzed with excitement and interest as they followed him out and through the corridors. They encountered Peeves along the way, stuffing a wad of chewing gum into the keyhole of a broom cupboard. When he refused to remove it at Lupin's request, Lupin cast a spell that caused the gum to shoot out of the keyhole and up Peeves' nose. They set off again and Lupin led them to the staff room.

'Inside, please,' he said, opening the door.

They entered and saw a group of Ravenclaws standing at one end of the room, and Professor Snape sitting in one of the chairs. John was delighted to see Sherlock, leaning against the back wall, and Castiel standing beside him beside him. He went up to them as Lupin thanked Snape for keeping an eye on the Ravenclaws for him.

'What are you lot doing here?' John asked, grinning.

'Lupin switched a lesson with McGonagall,' Sherlock told him. 'We have Transfiguration instead of our next Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson.'

'Oh, right. Any idea why?'

'I think it's to do with whatever's in that wardrobe,' said Castiel.

Lupin walked over to wardrobe on the other side of the room as he said this, and it started banging off the walls.

'Nothing to worry about,' he said calmly. 'There's a Boggart.'

It was now rattling the doorknob.

'Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces,' Professor Lupin continued. 'Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks. I once met one that lodged itself inside a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the Headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third-years some practice.

'So, the first question we must ask ourselves: what is a Boggart?'

Hermione, as always, was the first to put her hand up.

'It's a shape-shifter,' she said. 'It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us the most.'

'Couldn't have put it better myself,' said Professor Lupin, 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 he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us fears. This means that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it yet, Harry?'

'Er- because there are so many of us, it won't know what shape it should be?'

'Precisely,' said Professor Lupin. 'It's always best to have company when dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake – tried to frighten two people at once and turned itself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.

'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 without wands first. After me, please… Riddikulus!'

'Riddikulus!' said the class together.

'Good,' said Professor Lupin. 'Very good. But that was the easy part, I'm afraid. The word alone is not enough, and this is where you come in, Neville.'

The wardrobe shook again and Neville stepped forward.

'Right, Neville. First things first: what would you say is the thing that frightens you most in the world?'

Neville hesitated, then whispered, 'Professor Snape.'

Professor Lupin looked at him thoughtfully.

'Professor Snape… hmmm… Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother?'

'Er- yes,' Neville said nervously. 'But I don't want it to turn into her, either.'

'No, no, you misunderstand me,' Professor Lupin smiled. 'I wonder, could you tell me what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?'

Neville gave him a startled look, but described his grandmother's tall, vulture-topped hat; her long, green dress; fox-fur scarf and big, red handbag.

'Right, then. Can you picture the clothes very clearly, Neville? Can you see them in your mind's eye?'

'Yes.'

'When the Boggart bursts out of this wardrobe, Neville, and sees you, it will assume the form of Professor Snape. You will raise your wand and use the charm I just taught you, whilst concentrating on your grandmother's clothes very hard. If all goes well, the Boggart will be forced into your grandmother's clothes.'

The wardrobe began to wobble more violently.

'If Neville is successful, the Boggart is likely to turn his attention to each of us in turn,' said Professor Lupin. 'I would like you all to take a moment to think of what scares you the most, and imagine how you might force it to look comical…'

John thought about it and realised with a start that he had no idea what his worst fear was. The longer he thought, the more confused he got, so he turned to Sherlock and Castiel to ask what theirs were. Sherlock was frowning, deep in concentration, but Castiel was chalky white and trying to shrink into the corner of the room.

'Everyone ready?' said Professor Lupin.

John thought he couldn't be less ready, but retreated back against the walls with the rest of the class, clearing a space for Neville to take on the Boggart.

'On the count of three, Neville,' said Lupin, pointing his wand at the handle of the wardrobe. 'One – two – three - now!'

A jet of sparks hit the doorknob. The wardrobe burst open and out stepped Professor Snape, hook-nosed and menacing. Neville backed away, but pointed his wand.

'R-r-riddikulus!' he squeaked.

There was a noise like a whip-crack. Snape stumbled and suddenly he was wearing a long, lace-trimmed dress, a towering hat topped with a moth-eaten vulture and a shiny, red bag was dangling from his arm.

There was a roar of laughter, the Boggart paused, confused, and Professor Lupin shouted, 'Parvati! Forward!'

Parvati walked forward and there was another crack. Snape turned into a bloodstained, bandage mummy. It turned and began to shuffle slowly towards Parvati.

'Riddikulus!' she cried.

The mummy tripped on its own bandages and fell over, head rolling off, the Professor Lupin called up Seamus. The Boggart transformed into a Banshee, long black hair trailing on the ground. She let out an unearthly wailing scream, and Seamus shouted, 'Riddikulus!'

The Banshee suddenly clutched her throat and stopped screaming. She had lost her voice.

'Excellent, Seamus! John up next!'

John went up a little apprehensively. He had no idea what it would turn into, or how he would fight it. The voiceless Banshee surveyed him for a moment, then did something very strange. It melted to the ground and spread across the floorboards under his feet. It turned blue and formed the image of a ladder, stretching down through clouds and out of sight. It blew out a strong gale and John looked at Professor Lupin in confusion.

'Professor, I think it's already confused. This isn't my biggest fear.'

Professor Lupin frowned

'What is your biggest fear?'

'Er, well I don't know exactly, but it's not this. This doesn't scare me at all.'

'Odd. Whose fear is this?' Lupin asked, looking around the room. Sherlock raised his hand.

'Mine,' he said.

'You might as well come up here.'

Sherlock approached and stood on the Boggart, next to John. He pointed his wand at it and said, 'Riddikulus.'

It cracked and instead of a ladder, was showing them a tightrope directly beneath them. Sherlock swallowed hard.

'It's okay, you can do it,' John said, rubbing has arm reassuringly. 'Try again.'

Sherlock shook his head, took a deep breath and tried again. This time, the Boggart transformed ad they were stood on a low garden wall, less than a foot off the ground and a pleasant breeze wafted around them.

'Nice,' John grinned.

'Well done! Castiel!'

Castiel didn't move, but someone pushed him and he stumbled forwards. He was barely able to hold his wand in his trembling hand and whimpered as the Boggart began to change shape. It finished transforming and a man stood before him. He looked like Gabriel, only much older and face twisted in fury. Castiel took a step backwards but raised his wand.

'Riddikulus!' he cried. The man disappeared, but was replaced by a tall, attractive woman with dark hair and blue eyes. She fixed Castiel with a disappointed and betrayed look. He dropped his wand and stared at her in horror. Slowly, she closed her eyes and sighed, then suddenly burst into flames. Castiel cried out and fell over, scrambling backwards as the flaming Boggart stepped towards him. Dean Thomas jumped in between them and the woman immediately became a severed hand, flopping on the ground. Castiel sat, dazed for a moment, then fled from the room, running until he found himself in a bathroom, retching over a toilet. He regained some control and managed to get over to a sink. He splashed cold water over his face and let it run over his hands for a minute. Then he sunk to the ground, brought his knees up to his chest and buried his head in his arms. He didn't know how long he was there but after a while, he heard footsteps approaching. He didn't lift his head to look, even when they stopped right in front of him. He'd assumed it was either Sherlock or John, so was surprised when he heard an unfamiliar, American voice.

'Hey, are you all right?' he asked.

Castiel didn't move, but the boy didn't leave. Instead, he sat down beside Castiel.

'Bad lesson, huh?' he said. 'Was it Potions? I hate Potions.'

'Defence Against the Dark Arts,' Castiel mumbled, still without looking up. 'A Boggart.'

'Aw, man, those suck,' the boy said. 'Wait a minute, was that a US accent I heard?'

'Yes.'

'Awesome! I'm from Kansas. You?'

'Wisconsin.'

'Ah, well, nobody's perfect. What're you doing here, man?'

'Dual nationality.'

'No way! I'm here 'cause of my dad. We got special permission for protection, or whatever. I'm Dean, by the way. Dean Winchester.'

Castiel finally looked up and saw Dean. Light hair, sparkling green eyes and an outstretched hand.

'Hello, Dean,' Castiel said, shaking his hand.

Dean waited for a second for Castiel to introduce himself, then stretched and stood up when he didn't.

'Haven't I seen you somewhere?'

Castiel shrugged.

'Yeah, you're one of those guys that hangs out with that Harry Potter kid. I don't really know him, but apparently he's like a big deal here.'

'He's nice,' said Castiel.

'Well, anyway, we'd better get back. I'm supposed to be in Charms right now. I hate Charms,' Dean grinned. 'I can take you back to Professor Lupin if you want. You should probably let him know you're okay.'

Castiel got shakily to his feet and together they walked back to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, the others having already finished in the staff room.

'Ah, I did wonder where you'd gone,' he said, smiling. 'Thank you for bringing him back, Dean. I'll be sure to let Professor Flitwick know that you were assisting me this lesson.'

'Really? Sweet! Thanks, Prof!'

'You're very welcome.'

'Cool.'

He made to leave, but Castiel stopped him.

'Dean, wait. I'm-' he clamped his mouth shut.

Dean looked at him curiously.

'I'm – I'm… I am Castiel.'

'Oh, well, nice to meet you, Castiel.'

Castiel gave a faint smile.

'All right, you're in our common room enough, so I'll probably see you later.'

'Goodbye, Dean.'

And with that, he left the room. Professor Lupin then gave Castiel a very serious look.

'I'm not going to ask you about your Boggart, Castiel,' he said. 'I am, however, going to warn you that there will be one in the exam and you are very welcome to come and practice any time you like.'

'Thank you, Professor.'

'I'm trusting you not to tell anyone else about the exam, okay?'

'I won't.'

'Good. Oh, and Castiel?'

'Yes?'

'Your wand,' Lupin smiled, handing him the wand he'd dropped in the staff room.

'Thank you.'

'Now, off you go to dinner.

Castiel sat quietly at the dinner table, listening to everyone talking about Professor Lupin and the Boggart, and felt sure he'd fail the exam.

Welcome back everyone! A little quick, but I was excited to share this one with you guys. Thanks to TsubasaKEI and TheRedSlime (welcome back btw). And to everyone else that might have reviewed, but I didn't give enough time to.

On another note, I'm starting back at uni now and it's my dissertation year so I'm going to have to slow down a bit. I do have some time for this down on my schedule though, so I promise not to just disappear again. I'll remind you all that I have a new email address that you can all contact me on if you have any questions. nurmengardx16

See you all next time, which will hopefully be soon.