Facing the Boggarts

Summary: Harry's third-year Defense class learns about Boggarts. What is Harry's? Why is he scared of what it could be? And why is Remus shocked to see what Harry's boggart is?

AN: This fic was inspired by the scene from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban movie. This fic does contain some information from the book and the movie.

Harry entered the Defense classroom with the third-year Gryffindors. Defense Against the Dark Arts is Harry's favorite class. He wasn't the only one who enjoyed it. Other students did as well, except for the Slytherins. It was because of the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Remus Lupin. Remus was hired to replace the disaster that was Glideroy Lockhart. He was enjoying teaching. As a bonus, he got to see Harry every day. He also got to work with one of his best friends.

He had chosen Sirius as his assistant. It would be Sirius who would substitute for him after the full moon. He managed by using Lily's version of the Pepper-up potion. It allowed the drinker to stay awake for up to six hours. Doubling the dose would allow them to stay awake for twelve hours.

Harry had the job of delivering the potion to Sirius. He would get the potion from Lily and take it to Sirius and Remus's shared quarters. Sirius and Remus had shared their password with Harry and the invitation he could visit anytime. When he delivered the potion, Harry would slip into the shared quarters and leave the potion on the table in the kitchenette.

Sirius paid Harry one galleon for the delivery.

Harry knew about Remus being a werewolf. James had told Harry when he was eleven, explaining how important it was that no one knew. He repeated the conversation with Harry about keeping Remus's condition a secret after it was confirmed Remus had gotten the job. Harry promised not to tell anyone his secret. He even volunteered to help deliver the Wolfsbane potion to Remus.

Ron slid into his seat beside Harry. Hermione sat down at the desk in front of Harry.

"I wonder what we're going to be learning about today?" Hermione pondered. Harry shrugged as she looked at him as if he knew. Remus never would tell him his lesson plans. He got more out of Sirius. That was because Sirius couldn't resist Harry's puppy pout and puppy dog eyes, especially when Harry combined them.

"I don't know. Remus doesn't share his lesson plans. He wouldn't tell me even if I begged. I can get the lesson plans out of Sirius, but I didn't get to ask him."

"Are we meeting Sirius after class?" Ron whispered to Harry.

"No, he was called into the ministry this morning. That was what Mum told me at breakfast."

Sirius, like James, was an Auror, a dark wizard catcher. James pretended to be hurt when he wasn't chosen to be Remus's assistant. But everyone, including Lily, saw through it.

"When is your Dad coming to give a lecture?" Ron asked.

"Later in the year," Harry explained.

James would come in and give lectures about being an Auror. He spent more time with those fifth year and older, especially if they were interested in becoming an Auror.

"Good afternoon, class," Remus greeted as he entered the room.

"Good afternoon, Professor," the Gryffindors greeted. The Slytherins just sat there silently.

"Today, we're going to be discussing boggarts. Does anyone know what a boggart is?"

Hermione's hand went up immediately. Remus called on her.

"Miss Granger."

"A boggart is a shape-shifter non-being that takes on the form of what that particular person's worst fear," Hermione explained.

"Excellent, ten points to Gryffindor," Remus awarded. He then explained they would be doing a practical lesson, asking them to move their desks to the walls.

"I figured we're going to be studying boggarts. I've read all about them. Although I'm afraid of what mine would be," Hermione lowered her voice towards the end so no one but Harry and Ron could hear.

"Hermione, you'll be fine. Right, Harry?" Ron turned to his best friend, who seemed lost in thought.

"Harry?" Hermione and Ron said in unison.

"Uh, did you say something?" the raven-headed teen asked.

"I said that Hermione will do fine with the boggart," Ron repeated.

Harry nodded quickly, hoping to hide he had been lost in thought before. "Oh, he's right. You'll be fine," he assured his friend.

Harry had an idea of what his boggart could be. He knew what his biggest fear was. Harry knew, deep in his gut, what his boggart would be. He just hoped he was wrong.

"You can do this. It may not even be what you think it is. It might be something stupid. Maybe it would be a clown or something. We are afraid of clowns. Thanks for that, Dad," Harry thought.

"Now, a simple charm exists to repel a boggart. The charm is Riddikulus," Remus explained. "Repeat after me, Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" the class repeated.

"Good, now the charm requires a strong mind and good concentration. The incantation and wand movement alone will not affect a boggart. The correct way to perform the charm is to push past the fear and concentrate on something that will make the boggart look amusing. The charm does not repel a boggart. It just forces it to assume a shape that the caster will find amusing, inspiring laughter, which will defeat a boggart," Remus explained.

"Everyone get in a line, and we'll get started. Neville! Let's start with you."

Neville walked up to the wardrobe. Immediately, Professor Snape came out and slowly approached Neville. He raised his wand to the professor, whom he feared most.

"Riddikulus!" At Neville's command, Professor Snape was dressed in a green dress with a hat and a red handbag. The class exploded with laughter from everyone except for the Slytherins.

"Excellent, Neville! Great job!" Remus praised.

Neville switched out for Padma, whose boggart turned into a snake.

"Riddikulus!" and Padma's boggart turned into a clown.

Parvati switched with her sister. Her boggart took the shape of a bloody-looking mummy.

"Riddikulus!" and her boggart was slipping all over the place. Laughter erupted all over again in the classroom.

"Excellent, you're doing so well," Remus commented.

Ron approached the boggart slowly. To his horror, it turned into a spider.

"Come on, Ron. You can do it," Hermione encouraged.

"Wand at the ready, Ron," Remus directed.

"You can do it, Ron," Harry added his words of encouragement.

"Riddikulus!"

The spider was slipping all over the place with roller skates on its feet, once again making everyone laugh.

"Excellent, Ron!" Remus exclaimed.

"Good job Ron," Hermione told him as he passed. He held his hand out for Harry, who gave him a high five. Hermione took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"Okay, Hermione, wand at the ready!" Remus directed.

"You can do it, Hermione," Ron encouraged.

"Just breathe, Hermione," Harry added.

It was apparent that even though Hermione was the oldest of the trio, the boys were protective of her. They both knew that she a fears failure. There was a chance that Hermione's boggart would take the shape of something relating to her failing.

Then Hermione's boggart appeared in front of her. It was Professor McGonagall.

"Miss Granger, I'm sorry. You have failed all of your classes," the boggart informed Hermione. She shakily raised her wand.

"It's not real, Hermione," Ron told her.

"Riddikulus!" Hermione shouted. And the boggart turned into Professor McGonagall giving her an award.

"Nicely done, Hermione," Remus applauded.

Hermione walked to the end of the line, only stopping when she reached Harry and Ron, who had been standing next to each other, ready to step in if Hermione needed it. She wrapped her arms around them in a big group hug and walked to the side.

She and Ron stood there and watched as it was Harry's turn. The room suddenly became so quiet that if a pen fell to the floor, they would hear it.

Harry stood there, watching Hermione's boggart turn into his worst nightmare. He stood there, frozen, feeling like something had punched him in the stomach.

There in front of him were his parents, dead. His mother was lying across his father. Her was head turned towards him. Her eyes, like Harry's own, were wide open and empty. His father laid spread eagle on the floor. His eyes closed, and his mouth opened wide. Both were lifeless and ashen.

"Riddikulus!" Harry stammered. There was another pop, and Sirius and Remus joined James and Lily. Harry didn't hear Remus's sharp intake or the class's collective gasp.

"Riddikulus!" He shouted. He couldn't think of how to turn this into something amusing. He felt the walls closing in around him, suffocating him.

The room fell silent as Harry stood there, shocked, unable to take his eyes off the four people he cared about most lying there, dead.

"Sorry, I need…to….." Harry stammered before he turned around and bolted from the room.

His boggart had thrown him for a loop. All he wanted to do was to get out of there.

Ron and Hermione only looked at each other for a split second before following Harry out the door. Remus managed to get rid of the boggart (after it turned into his own). He was shocked, and then he felt concerned. He dismissed the class before he followed Ron and Hermione to check on Harry.

Harry could see his family's corpses swimming in front of his vision. That was his biggest fear: his family dying and leaving him alone. Where would he go? He would rather die than to go live with his aunt and uncle, the aunt and uncle he hated.

His stomach lurched. He felt bile rising in his throat. He ran towards the nearest boy's restroom, slamming into the door, diving into the first stall, not bothering to shut the door, as his lunch reappeared in the toilet.

Ron, who had run ahead of Hermione, found Harry leaning against the wall of the first stall.

"Are you okay, mate?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded his head slowly. He felt sick, sweaty, and shaky.

Ron went to the sink. He got some paper towels, ran them under the faucet, and rung out the cold water. He walked back to the stall that Harry occupied.

"Here," He mumbled, sinking to the floor next to Harry, handing him the damp paper towels.

"My biggest fear is losing my family. Where would I go? Would I have to live with my aunt and uncle? I hate them, and they hate me. What kind of a life would I have? Dudley loved beating me up. I'll be his punching bag!" Harry exclaimed, his voice cracking and then rising.

"Harry, Mum wouldn't let that happen. She would take you without hesitation," Ron assured his best friend. He knew his parents would gladly invite Harry to live with them if needed.

Harry leaned his head against the wall. "Some Gryffindor am I. I bet Malfoy is gloating about this," he mumbled.

Ron placed a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. "I told him to shut it, or I would hex him. Hermione said that we would deal with him later. We needed to check on you first," he explained.

"Thanks," Harry said sincerely.

"No problem, mate. Are you going to be okay?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, but I think I'll head to the dorms," Harry replied. "Tell Hagrid I'm not feeling well."

"Okay," Ron murmured. He gave Harry a hand to help pull his best friend up from the floor.

Harry shuffled to the sink and rinsed out his mouth.

"I've probably failed the practical. The first person to do so," Harry muttered.

"Harry, Remus would let you do it again," Ron assured his best friend. He opened the door, letting Harry go out first.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked. She was pacing outside the boys' restroom, waiting for Harry to come out.

"Yeah, um….I'm not going to Care of Magical Creatures. I'm going to the dorms."

"Okay, do you need anything?" Hermione asked.

"No. I'll be okay," Harry answered. He took his rucksack from Hermione and trekked to Gryffindor tower.

"Harry!" At the sound of his name, he turned around and saw Remus approaching him.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I'm heading to the dorms."

Remus's brows drew together in concern. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Harry decided to use the excuse he used with his mother when he wanted to get out of something he didn't want to do.

"My stomach's not feeling too good. I'm going to go lay down. I asked Ron to tell Hagrid that I'm not feeling well."

Remus nodded. "That boggart must have thrown him for a loop," he thought.

"Okay. Feel better, Cub," Remus said. He watched Harry climb the stairs before he made his way back to his office. He decided to floo Lily since he didn't have time to go to the hospital wing and get back before his next class.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Harry climbed the stairs to Gryffindor tower. He piggybacked in behind a group of fifth years. George turned around and saw Harry behind him.

"Harry, are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry replied. He walked up the stairs to the third-year boys' dorm. Opening the door, Harry walked in, closing the door behind him. Sighing, he approached his bed and climbed in, laying on his stomach.

Harry didn't realize he had fallen asleep, until he felt someone shaking his shoulder.

"Harry, wake up."

Harry lifted his head, picking up his glasses. He didn't remember taking them off. He slipped them on, finding Ron standing by his bed. Apparently, it was he who woke him up.

"It's time for dinner," Ron informed him.

"I'm not hungry," Harry told him.

"Okay, I'll tell Hermione." Ron left the room, leaving Harry alone in the dorm.

Harry sat up, pulling his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. He debated whether or not he should go on to dinner. Even though he told Ron he wasn't hungry, he was. He was more afraid of what everyone would say about what happened in Defense earlier.

"No doubt everyone knows what happened," He murmured.

"Hey, Kiddo, are you okay?"

Harry looked up at the voice to find Sirius standing at the door.

"I'm okay," Harry murmured. Sirius walked into the dorm, approaching Harry's bed. He sat down, putting his hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Remus told us about what happened in Defense today. Do you want to talk about it?"

Harry shook his head. "Does Mum know?" he whispered.

Sirius nodded. "Yes, she does. She sent me up here to find you. We're eating in her quarters. She gave orders to bring you even if I have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you."

Harry slid off the bed, slipping on his trainers. He didn't remember taking them off either. "Let's go before Mum sends a search party."

Sirius laughed, following Harry out of the dorm, down the stairs, and out the portrait hole.

They walked in silence to Lily's private quarters near the hospital wing.

"James," Sirius told the portrait of Nurse Helga. The portrait opened. Sirius motioned for Harry to go in first. He barely stepped into his mother's quarters before he was pulled into a tight embrace. Harry knew who it was.

"Mum, you're squishing me," Harry croaked.

Lily pulled back, holding her son at arm's length.

"Are you okay? Remus told us what happened," Lily said.

"Why didn't you tell us your fear of us dying and leaving you alone?"

Harry turned at his father's voice. "Dad? What are you doing here?"

"Your Mum flooed me and told me what happened. We figured we needed to reassure you that we're alive and everything's okay," James explained.

Harry walked over to James, letting him engulf him in a tight hug.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he whispered.

Harry knew he would be repeatedly asked if he wanted to talk until he did. It was that way last year with the 'Heir of Slytherin' thing. It wasn't until after everything had calmed down and he returned from rescuing Ginny he told them everything.

"I keep thinking that you all have dangerous jobs or with Remus, no offense, but you could be killed or die from something. Then what will happen to me? Where would I go?" Harry asked, wanting to know to ease his mind if nothing else.

Lily looked at James as if they were having a conversation mentally. Lily then turned to Harry.

"Sweetheart, your father and I have arranged that Sirius would take you if something happens to your father and me. But if something happens to all of us, Arthur and Molly would take you or Professor McGonagall. I promise you, Harry, you will not be going to my sister's. She's proven that she doesn't care for you at all."

"Would I choose who I would go with?" Harry asked.

"The Wizengamot might let you, considering your age," James replied. He was familiar with the Wizengamot proceedings and had watched a few custody cases in the courtrooms.

"I need you to know we're still here. We're alive! And we're not going anywhere," Lily assured her son.

"You promise?" Harry asked.

"We promise," the four adults replied in unison.

Lily got up, heading to the table she had set up with their dinner.

"Hungry?" she asked the men in the room.

"Let's eat!" James and Sirius replied at the same time. Remus and Harry followed them.

They sat, ate, talked, laughed, had a good time, and enjoyed each other's company. After dinner, they moved to the sitting area, where Harry curled up on the sofa next to James. He soon fell asleep.

"James, Harry fell asleep," Lily whispered.

Remus and Sirius quietly left the room, ruffling and patting Harry's head as they went by. James carefully picked up Harry and carried him to his room. Lily had an extra room in her quarters for Harry and kept some of his clothes there. He would be up early enough to return to Gryffindor tower in the morning.

James laid Harry down after Lily turned the bed down. Lily got Harry's pajamas, and between her and James, they changed him into his pajamas.

After they tucked him in and kissed him goodnight, they quietly left the room.

Harry slept peacefully that night, dreaming of his family years from now when he turned seventeen. There was only one thing that puzzled Harry about his dream. Who was the second red-headed girl in his dream?