DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!
The Kid and I
Chapter 6
"Good morning, professor." Tom greeted smoothly as he leant against the wall to her classroom. Fifth year had started a few months ago and every Tuesday and Friday morning when Hermione had Gryffindor/Slytherin fifth years first, he was always waiting outside her room, ready for the lesson ahead. Hermione had been surprised at first, normally her students filed in a few minutes after the enormous clock in the courtyard had sounded, its ringing echoing through the entire castle.
"Good morning, Tom." She greeted back politely, sipping her Pepper-Up potion. She opened the door wide for him to enter and checked her watch. 8:56. He'd beat his own record of being early. She didn't help the problem either, by always letting him in. Her reasoning was that it was cold in the corridors – which it was – and she didn't want any students being cold and falling ill. Her rooms were always warm. Not too hot or too warm, but cosy and cushy.
Tom stepped into the classroom and was about to put his bag down on his desk when Hermione stopped him.
"I'm moving the desks for this lesson, we're having a practical."
"Shall I assist you, professor?" He pulled his wand out, ready.
She knew he was powerful but she doubted that he could perform the spell good enough not to damage anything and have the tables neat and tidy at the side of the room.
"No, thank you, Tom, I can manage."
"Are you sure? I'd be glad to help you."
Knowing he was not going to give in, she sighed to herself and nodded. As she watched as he waved his wand and said the incantation, she was surprised when the tables and chairs lifted themselves up and very smoothly glided to the side of the room and arranged themselves to be very space efficient.
"Well done, Tom, I must say."
"Thank you, professor." His face lit up with the delight of her praise.
"Tom, can I ask you to step outside while I set up the practical? We can't have you having a head start." She smiled. His face dropped.
"Of course, professor."
He left the room in a huff and closed the door, not slamming it but closing it louder than he would normally. She sighed to herself again and began to organise the room for what would be an interesting lesson.
!"!
It was like her third year. There was a cabinet in the middle of the room with a Boggart inside it, and the class in a group in front of it with Hermione at the back of the room. When the cabinet gave a particularly large shudder, the girls gasped and some of the boys stepped back a little but the Slytherin boys put on a brave face.
"Can anyone guess what's inside?"
"It's a Boggart, professor." Tom answered.
"Very good, Mr Riddle. Now, can anyone tell me what a Boggart looks like?"
"No one knows." Tom answered again.
"Thank you, Mr Riddle. And can anyone tell me why that is?"
Before Tom could speak, a girl from the side of the room spoke quickly. "Because they're shape-shifters and whenever someone looks at them, they always appear to be what that person fears the most."
"Thank you, Miss Hall. Ten points to Gryffindor." Tom bristled when she gave the points, annoyed due to the fact that he had answered more questions yet he had not received any points. "Okay, now put your hand up if you know how to defeat a Boggart." Only Tom raised his hand. "Anyone?" No change. "Just a guess?" Again, no change. "Okay, Tom."
"With the Riddikulus charm."
She walked around the students to stand at the front of the classroom. "Exactly. Now, hands up if you know what that charm will do." Only Tom raised his hand. "Anyone? … Anyone at all? … Come on, you must know!" Tom waved his hand impatiently. "Okay, Tom, tell us."
"It forces the Boggart to assume a form that the caster finds amusing."
"Yes. Now, let's just practice that charm, shall we? No wands, thank you. After me, Ri-di-koo-luss."
"Ridiculous."
"Not quite. Listen carefully. Ri-di-koo-luss."
"Riddikulus!"
"Wonderful. Now, can I have a volunteer?" To her surprise, Tom did not raise his hand. He probably didn't want to dive into the unknown. "It's alright, I only nibble." The boys laughed and the girls tittered. "Okay, I shall choose a volunteer for us then. Hmmm…Mr Taylor."
A boy near the back of the room tried to hide his now bright red face. One of the boys behind him pushed him forward roughly, he stumbled a little before collecting himself and walking to the front of the room.
"Nice of you to join me, Mr Taylor. Now, what frightens you most in the entire world?"
"Profedumdor."
"Pardon?"
"Professor Dumbledore." He said more clearly.
Some people laughed but Hermione simply chuckled. "Why?"
"He's weird."
She smiled. "Fair enough. Now, how can we turn him into something funny? Anyone have any ideas?"
"Make him sing!"
"Make him dance!"
"Dress him up!"
Hermione laughed. "Very good ideas! How about all three? Mr Taylor, can you try to imagine Professor Dumbledore singing and dancing in a strange outfit?"
He smiled and nodded. "I think so, professor."
"Okay then. Now, face the cabinet." She turned him gently to face it and pulled him a few feet back. "Okay, you know the charm and you know your funny thing. Are you ready?"
"Uh…I think so."
"Okay. I'm right here, you won't get hurt. You'll do fine." She squeezed his shoulders encouragingly and stepped back a little. "One. Two. Three." She clicked her fingers and the cabinet door slowly opened. There was nothing for a few seconds before the door opened wider and professor Dumbledore was seen standing inside it. He stepped out of the cabinet and advanced on the boy.
"Lemon drop?"
"Riddikulus!" He waved his wand at the Boggart, which shuddered and then began to tap-dance while singing and his robes turned into a multi-coloured suit.
Everyone in the class roared with laughter. Hermione had to hold her side with joy and wipe a tear away. The Boggart kept dancing even though Hermione had sent the boy back to his place.
"See? It works! Now, everyone, form a line and we'll tackle this thing one by one."
The students formed a line, with Tom second in line. A girl went first, the Boggart transforming into a huge spider, like one had with Ron. She waved her wand and the Boggart turned into a tiny kitten chasing its tail. Hermione smiled at the scene, the girls cooed and the boys laughed and pointed at the silly animal.
"Okay, next."
Tom stepped forward and the Boggart focused on him and then changed. Hermione hadn't known what to expect. She didn't expect something common like spiders or snakes, but when she saw what the Boggart turned into, she'd wished that Tom had had normal fears. For she had not expected to see her body lying on the floor, covered in blood and obviously dead.