Defense and the Boggart

Dear Diary,

Today was my second day at Hogwarts. And I'm going to have to say today wasn't as stressful as yesterday. Well okay, yesterday became stressful when I went to Double Potions. Today was actually an easy day. First off was Herbology. It was looking to be an easy day until…the God damn Mandrake Root nearly bit my FUCKING FINGER OFF!!! The assignment was to place the baby Mandrake into a smaller pot. Personally the damn thing looked happy where its roots lied. The funny thing was this morning before going down to Herbology; it was rumored that Malfoy almost lost his ear to a Mandrake Root…LOL. First it was Buckbeak then Mandy the Mandrake Root.

Then Neville Longbottum, less is heart, came over to talk to me before class. I think he likes me, he is nice but…the kid can talk about plants until the end of the world. Even then it might not get him to shut up about the plants.

After Herbology was History of Magic. The only thing that I saw in History of Magic was a whole punch of 'ZZZ'. The teacher is a ghost. A ghost teaches History of Magic, I find that very ironic. I took notes, but not as much as Hermione. She wrote a whole book in one hour and fifteen minutes class period with just notes. And today I decided Hermione and I are going to study together, do homework together, and sit together on test days. Become bestest study buddies.

Lunch was awesome as always. Until Lupin came by to meet my friends…

"Shit."

"What?" Harry asked after hearing yet again Izzie's favorite word.

"Lupin. Oh my God!"

Sure enough Lupin came up to their table, "Hello," he said smiling to Harry, Ron and Hermione, "Izzie. I hadn't had the change to ask you how your first day went."

"We had this discussion last night remember," Izzie said through clinched teeth while giving him a death glare.

Lupin acting dumb, "Oh yes, now I remember. Last night you came by my office. I'm sorry. I must have forgotten. This morning was quiet busy for me. I must have just forgotten."

"Yeah. Must of."

"Izzie dear, who are your lovely friends?"

'Bastard! I knew it!'

"Oh. This is Ron Weasley. Hermione Granger. And Harry Potter."

"How very nice to meet you three. Were you the ones showing Izzie around to her classes and around the school?"

"Yes sir," Hermione answered.

"Thank you. How very nice of all of you to help Izzie. Well, I must be going and prepare for my seventh year class. Nice meeting you three again. And I will be seeing you in class tomorrow morning."

…I almost killed him. He only did that to torchor me. All I have to say is tomorrow's Defense class better be good.

Now Charms class wasn't a snooze like History of Magic. Though it was Double Charms and with third year Hufflepuff it was still fun. Professor Flickwick is funny as Hell. He made Dean Thomas, I think that was his name, do flips in the air and told Neville perform a spell to catch Dean. But Neville was too slow and Dean landed on his head. Then it was our turn to try. Professor Flickwick partnered everyone up. Odd number of students and of course I was the odd man out (sort of speak). Ron and Hermione were together. Harry and Seamus Finnegan. I had to work with Flickwick. Not fun. I was nervous that I was going to mess up or hut the teacher. And what did I do…I nearly flow Flickwick out the window. I must have apologized a hundred times but he kept on saying, "It's okay. It happens all the time." But no one else managed to kill anyone. Then by supper time, I earned the nickname '007'.

Tomorrow has to be a better day.

XOXO

Izzie

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Wednesday

"Izzie, is Lupin any good?" Ron asked.

"At teaching? I don't know. He is very good at explaining things. He helped me understand my homework better. But teaching, I don't know. But if he sucks at teaching. DO NOT BLAME ME! Okay."

"Okay," Ron still didn't get his answer, "Fred, is Lupin any good?"

"Yes. Lupin by far is the best Defense teacher we had ever had. Way better than Lockhart."

"Dude anybody is better than Lockhart," Harry corrected.

"Izzie, I love your locket," Hermione pointed at the locket around Izzie's neck, "Where did you get it?"

"Oh," Izzie said while looking down at her locket, "Lupin gave it to me on my 5th birthday," she started to play with the locket, "I wear it all the time just under my clothing."

"What's inside?" Harry asked.

"I don't know," Izzie lied, "It never did open. It's an old family air loom of Lupin's."

Izzie didn't know why she lied about the locket. It did open. She hasn't seen the two pictures inside the locket for a long time. She doesn't even remember what they look like because it has been so long since the locket had been opened.

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Izzie, Harry, Ron, and Hermione settled down into seats. Harry and Ron sat together at a table, and Izzie and Hermione together at another table. Everybody started to get out their Defense book, parchment, quill and ink for class. Everyone waited for the teacher to arrive.

Lupin came out of his office and started down the stairs when he said, "Good morning. Put away your books and things. We will not need them today for today's lesson. If you will all follow me. You will only need your wand."

"Sir?" someone asked.

"Yes, Mister Malfoy."

"Sir, I heard some rumors going around the school."

Izzie's eyes opened wide, 'Shit,' she thought. Lupin thought the same thing but he kept his cool, "Rumors about what, Mister Malfoy?"

"Rumors that you are Izzie Timberlake's father. Is it true, then?"

"No, not exactly. I am her, as you may call it, adopted father. Is there anymore rumor control you will like me to clarify?"

"No sir."

"Good. We have an exciting lesson today."

On the way to the Defense Work Room, Hermione asked Izzie, "What was that about?"

"I have no idea. But I thought…never mind."

"You thought what?"

"If you two don't mind, I would like to start class," Lupin said over to where Izzie and Hermione were standing.

"Sorry," both girls said together, "Never mind," Izzie lipped.

"Can anybody tell me what a boggart is?"

'Of course Hermione,' Ron thought.

"Very good Miss Granger. Five points to Gryffindor. Can anybody tell me what a boggart looks like?"

"No one knows. It takes the shape of the thing a person fears the most."

"Very good Izzie. Another five points to Gryffindor. Now, Mister Longbottum will you join me up here?"

Neville looked terrified. He couldn't move from the spot he was standing at, "Come now, Mister Longbottum, we don't have all day."

Neville looked over at me, like he was looking for me to give him "the all clear sign", the one that says "don't worry he doesn't bit". I walked over to him and leaned in to whisper in his ear, "Just don't look at him directly in the eye. Other than that I think you will be okay," he looked as if all his hopes and dreams had been shattered.

Neville walked slowly to the front of the class to stand in front of Lupin. He looked down the entire time doing so. Not once meeting Lupin's eyes. Lupin looked over at me and gave me a look like "what did you say to him", when he noticed Neville couldn't look him in the eye. I looked innocent of course.

After Lupin explained to Neville what he had to do. His greatest fear came out of the wardrobe. Snape. Then Snape was wearing a dress and he had a purple purse and something dead on his head. It was the most hilarious thing I have ever seen in my life. And that is saying something.

"Well done, Mister Longbottum. Well done. Now everyone form a line. Parvati, you first."

Parvati's fear was snakes. I don't blame her. Then Ron was next, his was spiders. For me it just depends on the size of the spider, but now all I have to do is think of roller blades and smash them. After Ron, was a kid named Seamus and his was a banshee. Dude they're not even real. Then it was Hermione's turn. Is she even afraid of anything? I would think people would be afraid of her. Her fear: Professor McGonagall telling her she failed everything.

"Miss Granger, I am sorry to inform you. You have failed all your classes," the boggart McGonagall said.

"What? No. That's so unfair. We haven't even done anything yet."

"Hermione," Lupin called, "That's not really Professor McGonagall. You're the smartest witch in the class."

"Right," Hermione said, "Ridduclous."

The boggart McGonagall turned into a cat and was chased up a tree by a dog. Hermione turned into a fit of giggles as did the rest of the class. Then it was Izzie's turn but Lupin stopped her, "I'm sorry, but you can't have a turn, Izzie."

"Why not?"

"You know why. We'll talk after class."

Izzie stomped off to the side. She knew why she couldn't, but she still wanted to have a turn, "So unfair!"

Harry was up.

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"I'm sorry again that everyone didn't get a chance," Lupin said again, "Izzie a word?"

"Lupin, what was that? I mean your fear…,"

"Yes, the full moon is my fear. What else could it be considering…my condition."

"I mean yeah I guess I knew, but I didn't know for sure."

"Yes well, I didn't want to talk about me. I wanted to talk about you and…"

"I know."

"Are you sure? I just didn't want you to…face your fear and live through all of that again in front of the whole class. Do you understand?"

"Yes. I do. It's just…I wanted to try just like everyone else."

"I know you did. But if you'd like to give it a try now?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Wand at the ready."

Lupin raised his own wand to unlock the wardrobe. And in that second Izzie become afraid. Her hear started to bound against her ribs in her chest.

"Wait! I changed my mind. I…I can't. Not ever," Izzie dropped her wand and turned around. She didn't want Lupin to see her cry.

Lupin rushed over to her. He put his arms around her. She tried to run but he wouldn't let her go, "Elizabeth, you don't have to be ashamed," she then turned to cry in his chest. She held on to him for dear life, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made you."

Izzie interrupted, "You…d-didn't…make me…I-I want-ted…to."

"All the same, I don't think you are ready to face your past. When is someone ready to face a past such as yours?"

"I vote for never."

Izzie finally settled down, "It's been awhile," Lupin stated.

"What?"

"This."

Reality settled back in. Izzie released her arms and looked around. Though the room was empty of witnesses. She didn't want anybody to walk in and see them, "Oh my God," she let go all the way, picked up her wand and left the room. She could hear Lupin laughing as she left.

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