Author's Note: This one just sort of ends... and I'll admit I don't really like how it's put together. I like the general idea, and I might even expand it someday, but it just sort of jumps around
Fear
"That means the thing you fear the most is... fear." -Professor Lupin, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Fear is a powerful thing. It can be used to manipulate others. It can get in the way of achieving a dream. They say one who is in control of their fear is in control of one's universe. That is why man Wizarding schools start classes with Bogarts early in magical education.
"Ok, class today we're going to be learning about Bogarts, and how to handle them." Ms. Fowl told her class. It was a mixed group of first-timers, in and around eleven years old, and a few veteran students in their teens to show them how it's done. "Can anyone tell me what a Bogart does?" To no one's surprise, Jimmy Neutron answered without even bothering to raise his hand.
"A Bogart is a formless shape-shifter than can take the form of whatever its prey fears most. Once it has reduced you to a blubbering baby, it drains your fluids and slinks back into a dark, confined space. They've never…"
"Yes, thank you Jimmy, let's give the other students the chance to answer a few questions." Ms. Fowl interrupted him. "Now, who can tell me how to counter a Bogart?" Everyone was quite for a few seconds. The teens waiting in the back sighed. Jenny Wakeman even went so far as to raise her hand, but it was ignored. Finally, a girl in the front row got the guts to answer.
"Aren't they weak to laughter?"
"Yes, that's correct, Isabella." Ms. Fowl confirmed. "Which is why we've been learning the Ridikulous charm this week." Several students muttered, "Oh yeah, I knew that." Under their breaths.
Timmy Turner raised his hand. "Is it true that if a Bogart turns into a Dementor you can actually defeat it with a Patronus?"
"Yes," Ms. Fowl said. Many students looked very excited, "But the American Magic Educational System isn't paying me to teach you that." The students' faces dropped.
"Instead, I've asked some of the older students to give you a demonstration of how it's done. Uh, Mr. Fenton, would you like to go first?"
Danny stepped forward to the front of the classroom where an old suitcase was sitting on Ms. Fowl's desk. He pulled out his wand and opened the luggage up. A rather freaky-looking ghost with flaming white hair sprung out. Danny looked like he was about to panic, but he steeled himself and pointed his wand directly at its face.
"Ridikulous!" He shouted. The freaky ghost was shoved into a fuzzy bumblebee costume. It looked quite confused. Everyone burst out laughing, Danny laughing loudest of all, as if he was saying "Take that!" to the thing. He slammed the suitcase shut and made room for the next demonstration.
"Very good, Ms. Wakeman, if you could go next?" Ms. Fowl asked.
Jenny opened up the suitcase just like Danny had, wand drawn. A very creepy looking mechanic, covered in oil-stains, popped out. He wielded a wicked looking hack-saw, and was poised to strike. Jenny's eyes were wide with fear, but she steadied her wand.
"Ridikulous!" she exclaimed. The mechanic was washed over in a wave of bubbles. When they cleared, they revealed a sparkly clean creep in a diaper. Once again, the classroom filled with laughter. Jenny joined Danny at the back of the classroom.
"Mr. Rivera, would you like to go next?" Ms. Fowl turned to the next teen in the back.
"Sure!" Manny walked cockily up to the front of the classroom. He opened the luggage with confidence… and quickly jumped back in fear. A huge green monster with disgusting teeth and metal wrecking ball in place of one arm rose from the suitcase. It let out an ear-splitting roar. Manny closed his eyes and fired the charm off blindly. It just barely hit the monstrosity, but it was enough to set it on fire like it'd been doused in gasoline. The monster began running around in panicked circles. When the Bogart had been shut back up in the suitcase and the laughter had died down, Ms. Fowl thanked Manny.
"Just remember to aim next time!" She looked to the last two teens. "Ms. Possible, if you please."
"No big." Kim opened the case with her wand ready. A roach that barely fit in the room emerged. Kim cringed. A few other kids in the room cringed along with her. "Ridikulous!" She yelled. It shrank down to regular size and was flicked back into the suitcase by an invisible force.
After much applause for the flair of getting it back into the case, Ms. Fowl invited the last teen up. "Mr. Stoppable, it looks like it's your turn."
A murmur rushed through the class. This guy wasn't in their class, but he still had a reputation for screwing things up on a regular basis. The kids took a few steps back from the suitcase.
Ron opened the case. A huge monkey appeared. Although, to call it a monkey might not be entirely accurate. It was a disgusting, hairy monstrosity with an ear-splitting shriek and ugly yellow teeth. Its eyes glowed a disturbing yellow, and the smell that came off it was enough to make a few kids in the front row choke. Ron pointed his wand calmly, "Ridikulous!"
The demonic monkey was suddenly kicked away by another large creature. It was hairless and pink, with big front teeth and long claws.
"Boo-yah!" Ron pumped his fist in the air. The class broke into applause. Who'd have guessed the screwy guy was the one who'd mastered his greatest fear?
Let's see just how many cartoon characters I can stick into the Harry Potter Universe across the pond. Sorry, I've just been watching too much Kim Possible this last month.