AN: Early Christmas present everyone!
(Hopefully I'll get the 2nd part out before New Years)
"I still think it's totally bogus of Snape, doing that." Ron said as they all headed to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom later, after Jack told them the detention "I mean you're right Jack, if he taught us properly like a teacher is supposed to, then Neville wouldn't make so many mistakes."
"I seem to remember a few times when you have made mistakes in Potions too, Ronald," Jack said frowning at how the way Ron said what he said made Neville stand out as the worst student in the class. "Besides it's only cleaning cauldrons. It could have been way worse. Plus since its set now, it can't be changed." he said smiling to himself "Not that I feel that I should be doing it anyway either, but if it keeps Big-Nose happy."
They entered the Defence classroom with everyone else, Hermione as usual taking a seat at the front, and the boys this year taking a seat in the second row, rather than the back.
Lupin's influence on them from the train had them sitting closer to the front than they would normally sit.
"Hey, while you were alone with Snape," Ron whispered as they took out their books and writing equipment "Did you notice Hermione sneak back to get something she left behind in the classroom?"
"No, why?" Jack asked using the pre-class-time to do some doodling of some snowflake ideas for his Snow Fairies that year.
"As we were leaving Potions," Harry said calmly "Ron was a bit upset about the five points off Gryffindor thing, so asked Hermione why she didn't say that Neville fixed the potion on his own, but she wasn't there." he paused, and carried on "We looked around and she was back at the bottom of the stairs."
"So?" Jack asked confused.
"Well she was a mix of in front of us and right next to us, before that," Ron answered "It's just strange."
"Well... girls are strange creatures," Jack said quietly to himself, looking up when the door to the living quarters opened and Lupin came in, looking better than he had that night on the train.
He placed his tatty old looking briefcase on his desk and turned to the class, smiling.
"Good afternoon," he said "Would you please put all your things away. Today will be a practical lesson. You'll only be needing your wands."
There was a few curious and nervous looks exchanged as everyone remembered Lockhart's version of a 'practical lesson' last year.
None-the-less they all put their things away and checking they had their wands lined up at the door, following Lupin out.
Quietly, so not to disturb any other classes, everyone followed Lupin through the corridors to wherever-it-was-he-was-leading-them.
It seemed they were almost there when they passed Peeves who was hanging upside down in mid-air and stuffing chewing gum into a key hole, laughing to himself quietly.
Lupin paused the class and went over to him.
Hearing him come over, Peeves turned and grinned.
"Loony Loopy Lupin!" he sang cheerfully "Loony Loopy Lupin!"
The class was amazed at this, for Peeves usually had at least some respect for the teachers here.
"Hmmm... Lupin must have been a trouble maker back in the day then," Jack said knowing that that was the only way to get personalised 'songs' from Peeves.
"What?" "No, seriously?" "Lupin, a trouble maker?" the class all whispered and asked among themselves as Lupin said to Peeves –
"I'd take that gum out of that keyhole if I were you Peeves. Mr Filch won't be able to get to his brooms."
But Peeves didn't listen and just kept singing "Loony Loopy Lupin!"
Sighing Lupin took out his wand and looked over his shoulder to his class who had all stopped whispering and were all looking at him now.
"This is a useful little spell, please watch closely." he said holding his wand at shoulder height pointing it at the keyhole and saying the spell "Waddiwassi."
Like a bullet, the wad of chewing gum flew out of the keyhole, flew towards Peeves, who was still upside down in mid air, and went down his left nostril.
Crying out in pain and frustration, Peeves righted himself and flew off, cursing, Jack hearing something about 'Moony', and 'Marauders'.
"Cool sir!" said Dean Thomas in amazement.
"Thank you Dean," Lupin said putting his wand away. "Shall we proceed?"
And they did, the class still not sure wither Lupin had once been 'bad' or not, but not really caring at the moment, all now looking forward to this practical lesson.
In time, they came to the Staff Room door.
"Inside please," said Professor Lupin, opening the door and standing back.
Inside the long room with mismatched soft looking armchairs, there was only Professor Snape in one of said low armchairs, who looked up when the class walked in with Lupin, a slight sneer coming to his mouth.
As Professor Lupin was about to close the door, Snape said "Leave it open, Lupin. I'd rather not see this." he got up and walked past the class, his black robes flowing behind him. At the door he stopped, turned on his heel and said "Probably no one's told you Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I wouldn't trust him with anything too complicated if I were you. Not unless Miss Granger is there hissing instructions in his ear."
At this nearly all the class glared at Snape for his mean words towards Neville, who went bright red, and Hermione who tried to avoid eye contact from anyone.
It was bad enough that Snape bullied Neville in his own class, let alone do it in front of other teachers.
Jack was about to comment on this, but Lupin raising an eyebrow, beat him to it.
"I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first part of the operation," he said "and I'm sure he will perform it admirably."
Neville's face went (if possible) redder at this. Snape's lip curled grumpily but either way he turned and left, closing the door.
"Right then," said Lupin bringing the class to the back of the room, where there was nothing but the wardrobe where the teachers kept their spare robes. As Lupin went to stand next to it, the wardrobe gave a sudden wobble, banging off the wall.
"Nothing to worry about," said Professor Lupin calmly, as a few people jumped back in alarm "There's a Boggart in there."
Most of the class looked like this was something to worry about, Neville gave a small whimper and looked at Lupin in terror, while Seamus looked at the wardrobe door eyeing the now rattling doorknob.
Jack on the other hand was confused, never hearing of this creature before.
"Boggarts like dark enclosed spaces," said Professor Lupin beginning to explain. "Wardrobes, the space beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks – I once met one that had lodged itself inside a grandfather clock."
Hearing the explanation, Jack was starting to think of Pitch Black and his Fearlings, but he wasn't sure.
"This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the Headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third-years some practice." Lupin continued "So, the first question we must ask ourselves it, what is a Boggart?"
To no one's surprise, Hermione shot up her hand first "It's a shape-shifter. It takes the form of whatever it think will frighten us most."
As she finished that Jack put up his hand "Actually: Fearlings 'know' what scares the person they come across. It's the one thing they always know, people's greatest fears. They don't just see you and have a guess, they see you, can tell right away what you're greatest fear is, and change into it to feed off said fear."
The whole class was staring at him as he finished this. Lupin looked like he was torn between both answers.
"And how may I ask do you know this Jack?" Professor Lupin asked in a curious way "After all not even I knew Boggarts could tell what one's fear was."
"My grandfather is an... expert in handing them and told me a few tricks when I went to see him one Easter a few years ago." Jack said hoping that would do as an excuse.
"Right, well lets carry on shall we?" Lupin asked making the rest of the class to turn their attention back on him. "So, the Boggart in this wardrobe at the moment doesn't have a form. As it does not yet know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a Boggart looks like when it is alone, but when I let it out, he will immediately become whatever each one of us most fears.
'This means," said Professor Lupin, choosing to ignore Neville's small whine of terror "that we have a huge advantage on over the Boggart before we even begin. Can you spot it Harry?"
Jack looked over to Harry who seemed to be trying to ignore Hermione hopping up and down and waving her hand in the air.
"Er – because there are so many of us, it won't know what shape it should be."
"Precisely," said Professor Lupin, as Hermione put down her hand looking disappointed.
Jack rolled his eyes thinking he would have to talk to her about not having to show off how smart she was all the time, and to let other people have a go answering questions, and to not try and butt in when a teacher singles out a different student.
"It's always a good idea to have company when dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused, Which should it become? A headless corpse or a flesh eating slug. I once saw one make that exact mistake and ended up as half a slug. Not remotely frightening at all."
Jack snorted a little at this wondering just who the Fearling was trying to scare at the time.
"Now, the charm to repel a Boggart is simple, yet it needs force of mind, you see the thing that truly finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing."
Jack grinned nodding at that. Yeah that sounded like that would do it, after all that's how he got everyone to fight back their fears that Easter – making things fun.
"We will practice the charm without wands first. After me please... reddikulus."
"Reddikulus!" the class all said together.
"Good," said Professor Lupin smiling "Very good, but that was the easy part I'm see the word alone isn't enough. And that's where you come in Neville."
The wardrobe shook again, but not as much as Neville as he walked forward a few steps looking as if he had just been sentenced to death.
"Right Neville," said Professor Lupin "First things first: what would you say is the thing that scares you most in the world?"
Neville's lips moved but nothing came out.
"Didn't catch that Neville sorry," Lupin said rubbing his ear a small grin on his face.
Something about that grin told Jack he did hear what Neville said, but he wasn't sure how.
Neville looked around at everyone, as if looking for help. Feeling slightly sorry for him, Jack moved forwards and placed a hand on his shoulder to reassure him he wasn't alone.
After taking a deep breath Neville calmed down a little and said "Professor Snape."
Nearly everyone laughed at this, even Neville had a small apologetic look on his face. Professor Lupin on the other hand looked thoughtful.
"Professor Snape... hmm... Neville, I believe you also live with your grandmother?"
"Er – yes, but I don't want the Boggart to turn into her either." Neville said nervously and quickly.
"No, no, you misunderstand me," said Professor Lupin, now smiling. "I wonder could you tell us what sort of clothes you grandmother usually wears?"
Confused Jack tried to understand why Lupin was asking this, then he worked it out and grinned, trying not to laugh before the rest of the class understood.
"Well... always the same hat," Neville began looking confused "A tall one with a stuffed vulture on top. And a long dress... green normally... and sometimes a fox fur scarf."
"And a handbag?" asked Professor Lupin smiling to himself.
"A big red one." said Neville, nodding.
"Right then," said Professor Lupin "Can you picture her clothes, only her clothes very clearly Neville? Can you see them in your mind's eye?"
"Yes," said Neville in an unsure voice, wondering where this was going.
"When the Boggart comes out of the wardrobe, it will see you, Neville, and assume the form of Professor Snape," said Lupin, explaining "You will raise your wand, said 'Reddikulus' and concentrate on your grandmother's clothes. If all goes well – as it seems Jack has worked out already – Professor Boggart Snape will be forced into that vulture-topped hat, that green dress, and that big red handbag."
There was a pause and then the room was full of laughter making the wardrobe shake some more.
"If Neville is successful, the Boggart will then turn its attention to each of us," said Professor Lupin "I would like each of you to take a moment to think of the thing that scares you the most and think of a way to make it funny."
The room went quiet. Jack tried to think of what scared him the most.
It used to be that no one would ever believe in him, but that was before Jamie Bennett and his friends. So what was he most scared off now?
"Everybody ready?" Professor Lupin asked, snapping Jack out of his thoughts.
He wanted to say he wasn't ready but seeing everyone else looking excited, rolling up their sleeves, and drawing out their wands.
Taking a deep breath and saying to himself he'll take whatever will come, Jack nodded as well, taking out his wand.
"Neville, we're going to back away," said Professor Lupin "Let you have a clear field, alright? I'll call the next person forward... everyone back, now, so Neville can get a clear shot –"
Everyone backed up until they were against the wall, leaving Neville in the middle of the room, with the wardrobe. He looked scared but took out his wand and got into a fighting pose, nodding to Professor Lupin to say he was ready.
"On the count of three Neville," said Lupin, pointing his own wand at the silver handle of the wardrobe door "One – two – three – now!"
AN (2): I would like some help with Jack's Boggart.
I know what i want it to be either...
* His sister in her skates on the lake
* Jamie Bennett saying he doesn't believe in him anymore (favouring this one more than the others)
* Or maybe shadows of the Guardians stripping him of being a Guardian for some reason that was not his fault (ie like they technically do in the movie)
.
What i need help with is - How to make them funny - Or if i should make them funny or not, meaning someone steps in and gets the Boggart to turn to them instead.