AN: Really back into writing since the Quarantine kicked in. won't take all to long for chapter 28. remember i still take PM for Characters for a feature in the story. (Check Chapter 1 for more info)
Chapter 27: What do you fear the most?
Kiba returned to the castle alongside Hagrid who he had just helped prepare for the lesson the next day. The Hippogriffs had followed their alpha's lead and all bowed to Kiba, allowing him to get close to them without harm. He sat down beside Hermione who quickly questioned him on what exactly he and Hagrid had prepared, but Kiba didn't tell her. The feast went by quickly and afterwards Kiba did some homework alongside Hermione who was scribbling about Muggles during the World War. Kiba ever so often glanced onto her parchment where she was constantly crossing out words and replacing them along with heavy sighs. They soon went to bed and woke up the next morning excited for Hagrid's first lesson.
"gather 'round, come close" he said towering above the many third-years. Hagrid was tall, but added to that he stood on one of the steps to the door of his hut. "less talkin' if yer don' mind. I got a real treat for yer today, a great lesson. Follow me!" he led the way along forbidden forest to the Magical Creature Reserve. "now, i need yer all to listen to me instructions clearly. Ki- Mr. Scamander is me assistant durin' these lessons and yer need to heed his advice as you need to heed mine" Hagrid explained. He stopped at a small clearing surrounded by a fence and told them all to wait. "I'll get the Creatures, and.. erm. Open yer books to page Fourty-Two"
"And how exactly do we do that?" asked Draco with hate filling his voice
"yer stroke the spine o' course" Hagrid replied. Thanks to Kiba, most of the Gryffindor's had already figured it out except Neville who undid the rope that bound his monster book and it chomped away at his robes.
"Oh, of course. How did we not get the idea to Stroke the spine of the book!" Malfoy said loudly
"I thought they were funny" says Hagrid a bit disheartened by the Slytherin
"oh yeah, terribly funny!" Malfoy continued sarcastically "really witty, giving us books that try to rip our heads off"
"if only yours had done so" Harry said quietly. Hagrid clapped his hands together and cleared his throat.
"will now yer all have the books open.. ahem, I'll get the Creatures.. right" Hagrid walked off, clearly beaten down by Malfoy. Kiba and Harry desperately wanted Hagrid's first lesson to be a success, and the way Malfoy was talking it seemed that would be difficult.
"God this place has gone to the dogs.." Malfoy spat "wait untill my Father hears that Dumbledore has got this Oaf teaching classes"
"Shut up, Malfoy" Harry said facing the blonde. A few Slytherin ohhhhh'd as Draco stepped closer to Harry. But he suddenly stopped, looked high behind Harry as he pointed at something in the distance.
"Dementor! Dementor!" he yelled out backing away. Harry whipped around himself.. but there was nothing. He turned back to Malfoy who was standing between Crabbe and Goyle all with the hoods of their robes over their heads, making childish ghost noises. Hermione stepped over and turned Harry away from them whilst giving them a look of absolute disgust. But before anyone could say anymore Hagrid returned with the Hippogriffs, they all had different colors, sizes and pastures. Each had a metal chain attached to a collar. He tired them all to a different pole and turned to address the class.
"ain't they beau'iful?" He asked "firs' thing yer want to know abou' Hippogriffs is that they're very proud creatures, easily offended. Yer do not wanna insult a Hippogriff" he explained loudly. But Malfoy wasn't listening he wanted on about Hagrid to his fellow Slytherins. "Now how'd like ter come say 'ello ter Buckbeak?" Hagrid asked stroking the Hippogriffs beak. Everyone quickly backed away from the fence except Harry and Kiba, Neville even went so far as to dive behind a large rock nearby.
"good lad 'arry!" Hagrid replied motioning for her to climb the fence. He replicate did and waited for Hagrid's instruction. "Firs', yer need to bow. Show that you respect 'im, then yer wait and see if he bows back" Hagrid explained loudly for everyone to hear, everyone who listened. Harry bowed his head low, and after a moment of breath holding from both Hagrid and Harry's friends, so did Buckbek. "well done 'arry, well done! Yer can go an' pet 'im now"
"what?" Harry asked unsure of his own safety. Was the grim perhaps an omen for death by Hippogriff?
"Go on, don't be shy" Hagrid urged Harry forward and Harry carefully stuck out and open hand. He kept his head low and eyes closed until he felt the soft feathers of Buckbeak neck. He travels along his neck towards his head and then ultimately to is beak. "oh, well done 'arry. And well done Buckbeak!" the Gryffindors applauded Harry when Hagrid suddenly pulled Hagrid to Buckbeaks side. "now yer can please yet for here near 'is won't and seeing onto it's back" before Harry could protest he was up on Buckbeaks back. Hagrid released the chain from the collar of Buckbeak as well as from one rose Hippogriff beside him. Kiba climbed the fence, lowered his head carefully. Rosetail recognized him and lowered her head aswell allowing Kiba to approach her and mount her aswell.
"as yer jus' saw with Kiba here, he already had aquatinted himself with this Hippogriff. In tha' case a respectful greetin' such as lowering ones head is enough"
"this is Rosetail," Kiba said loudly "she's this heards Alpha. If she bows to you, then all the others will too"
"alrigh' 'arry. Good flight!" Hagrid smacked Buckbeaks rear and before anyone realized what happens his massive wings had spread and that shot towards the sky, followed by Kiba and Rosetail. They soared above the reserve and across the castle grounds side by side, Kiba making sure that Harry had a proper grip and Rosetail making sure to keep the young Buckbeak in check.
Kiba heard Hagrid whistle loudly and he lead Harry and Buckbeak back to the ground. They landed to a massive applause, even from a few Slytherins. Hagrid helped Harry get down and Kiba descended from the Hippogriff on his own. "how am i doin' me firs' day?" asked Hagrid quietly
"Brilliant.." Harry replied "Professor" Hagrid smiled warmly at Harry not knowing what was happening just behind them.
"yeah, you're not dangerous at all" Draco had made his way through the crowd and he quickly approached Buckbeak "are you, you great ugly brute!"
"Malfoy!" Hagrid yelled but it was too late Buckbeak had already risen high on his hand legs, flashing his talons down at the boy. Buckbeak was young and unlike other Hippogriffs responded to insults with violence much quicker. The massive talon came rushing down, sure to cut Draco in half. The boy raised his arms in defence but was pulled back by his robes. He stumbled over and fell against Kiba who had pulled him away.
"Ah! It's killed me!" Draco yelled out "look what it's done" tears were flowing from his face as blood poured out of the massive scratch on his arm. His eyes were pressed shut in pain as he rocked from side to side on the ground.
"calm down.. it's, it's just a.. a scratch" Hagrid stammered, seeing his failure before him.
"Hagrid!" Kiba said loudly snapping the half-giant back to reality "he has to be taken to the Hospital"
"Righ', I'm the teacher, I'll do it" he replied as he picked up Malfoy like a feather and carried him away "class dismissed!" he called back as his massive and fast steps shook the ground beneath them.
"You'll regret this.." Malfoy said through his tears "you and your bloody chicken"
"this couldn't have gone any worse, could it?" Hermione said almost apologetically towards Kiba and Harry who stared after Hagrid in a short of trance.
"leave it to Malfoy to ruin Hagrid's first lesson" Ron added.
The four stayed behind as the rest of the class left for their common rooms and took the Hippogriffs back to their clearing in the reserve. And also returned to their common rooms. Kiba was sitting on the windowsill while the other the sat on the couch and looked at Hagrid's hut, the lights were on and he wanted to go down to see him. He decided against it until Harry too mentioned that he wanted to go see the half-giant. Against the protest of Hermione the four still went down and we're welcomed into the hut.
The small room reeked of alcohol, the smell of which was confirmed by the giant mug. Hagrid was crying loudly into a thick handkerchief that looked more like a towel then a small piece of cloth. "school Gov'ners been told o' course" Hagrid said "and Malfoy is bound ter get the news"
"they can't sack you, Hagrid!" Harry said boldly "we're witnesses. Draco didn't listen and insulted Buckbeak"
"yeah, you said that they'd respond by attacking" Ron added. Hagrid let out a loud cry and pulled the two boys into a bone crushing hug. The four comforted the giant and helped him clear his head which led to a scolding. Harry was out of the castle, and Black was still at large. He took the four all the way to the castle and back to their common room shooting about how Harry's life was worth more then his and that they shouldn't go wandering about and out for him.
Luckily for many Malfoy hadn't returned to classes the next day, however he reappeared for the Defence against the Dark Arts lesson on Thursday.
The students entered and were surprised to see the room empty. All the chairs and desks were stacked at the back of the classroom and Lupin stood by an old wardrobe which looked as shabby as he did. "welcome," he said loudly "today's lesson shall be practical. All that you need is your wands" everyone dropped their bags and stuff scattered across the room before Lupin. He walked past the wardrobe and partitioned himself beside the students. "would anyone venture a guess as to what might be inside that wardrobe?" he asked.
The wardrobe shook strongly causing the girls in front to take a step back. "that's a Boggart" Kiba said quickly
"very good Ki- ahem Mister Scamander" Lupin said as he slowly walked back towards the front of the class "now, Boggarts like dark and enclosed spaces like a closet, the gap between a bed and the floor underneath or perhaps a Grandfather clock. But what we must ask is; what is a Boggart?"
"it's a shape-shifter," Hermione said with a raised hand "it has no known form, it will appear as what we fear the most. It makes them exceptionally-"
"Terrifying." Lupin said finishing Hermione's answer "luckily we have an advantage should this one escape. An idea Mister Potter?"
"ermm… because there's so many of us?"
"Quite right, it will not know what form to take and will confuse itself. Should that happen it won't know what form to take. A flesh eating slug, a zombie, or maybe a snake" Lupin explained "there's a spell that is quite simple which helps confuse the Boggart, you see, what really finishes a Boggart is laughter. You must force it to assume a shape that you find truly amusing. Let's practice it now, without wands please. Repeat after me… Riddikulus"
"Riddikulus" the class repeated.
"very good, yes, splendid! But I'm afraid the incantation alone is not enough. Mister Longbottom would you join me please?" Neville walked forwards timidly "hello" Lupin said once Neville stood before him. "what would you say frightens you most?" Neville muttered an inaudible response
"Professor Snape" he said quite loudly the second time. The class laughed and even Lupin chuckled lightly.
"Professor Snape… frightens all" he looked part the class absently like he was remembering something. "Neville, i believe you live with your grandmother?"
"yes, but i don't want that Boggart to turn into her either" Neville replied quickly
"It won't, here's what i want you to do Neville; picture your grandmother's clothes inside your mind very clearly"
"she carries a red-"
"We don't need to hear, just picture the clothes. And now imagine Snape wearing them" Lupin said, Neville shuddered lightly. "Wand at the ready Neville, remember picture it clearly. I'm going to release the Boggart now" Sparks shot from Lupin's wand and unlocked the wardrobe and from it emerged Snape. "your wand Neville!"
"Riddikulus!" Neville shouted and suddenly snake changed. His black robes disappeared replaced by a green dress, his hair vanished beneath a great hat with a vulture ontop, all accompanied by high heels and a red handbag. The class burst out laughing as did the teacher.
The Boggart stood before the wardrobe and send panicked. "very good Neville! Hilarious. Form a line everyone, Neville to the back. Picture the thing you fear the most, and turn it into something Funny!" Ron was the first in line to take on the Boggart. It swirled and made a strange nose before appearing as a giant spider. It's pincers snapped at Ron who still didn't hold his wand "Wand at the ready, Ron!"
"Riddikulus" he cried as he finally raised his wand. To the amusement of most of the class the spider now wore Rollerblades on each of it's feet and flopped to the ground. It tried to stand up again by failed every time as it's legs gave way, the harder the class laughed the less it tried until Parvati stepped forward, it began reshaping and suddenly a lot Hiss was heard, a large King Cobra stretched itself towards the girl revealing it's Fangs.
"Riddikulus" Parvati said before it could longer at her turning it into a bouncing Jack in the box. Padma was next and her Boggart was a mummy who's baggages entangled itself causing it to drop flat on it's face. Seamus stepped forward but the Boggart transformed into a small Rat.
"It's getting confused, keep going!" Lupin instructed quickly as the Boggart turned into a frail woman with long black hair falling to the floor. She was a banshee, she let out a menacing and high pitched wait before being silenced, Seamus had made her lose her voice. The Boggart twitched uncomfortable and swapped through multiple forms before turning into a severed hand that crawled towards Dean, he quickly pulled out his wand and the hand was stuck in a mouse trap.
Kiba stepped forward next, still questioning what it was that he feared the most. But the Boggart twisted turned and then..
Everyone in the class watched as a bouquet of flowers fell to the ground at the feet of a hooded man. None understood what it meant, none but Kiba. He pointed his wand forward and whispered "Riddikulus" and before anyone could see a face beneath the hood it was replaced by a clown. A painted white face along with a colorful suit. Kiba took a step forward and squeezed the red ball the clown wore as a nose and it squeaked to the amusement of especially Lupin who began laughing along with the class but Kiba only smiled, in his mind last the confirmation that he feared nothing more then, This.
Kiba watched as a few more students tackle the Boggart before Harry stepped forward. It took some time but the Boggart began shaping and suddenly a cold overcame him, and he knew what it was going to become before it did, and so did Harry according to the blatant terror on his face. A Dementor appeared hovering above the ground, Harry freezed and was unable to move his wand, his legs, his eyes.
"Here!" Lupin shouted as he jumped between Harry and the Boggart Dementor causing it to change. A white orb hung where the Dementor was previously "Riddikulus" the man spoke lazily and a hole popped into the other and it shot across the room like a balloon losing air quickly. It zoomed across the classroom before landing in the closet which Lupin locked behind it. "Ah, well. Sorry about that. That's enough for today" Lupin spoke hastily Harry's eyes were still fixed on where the Dementor had been. "Five points for everyone who tackled the Boggart. Homework, kindly read the chapter on Boggarts and summarise it for me.." everyone slowly headed for the back of the class where all the bags where "to be handed in on Monday. That'll be all for today, Sorry! Can only have so much of the good thing, sorry." Lupin went on now looking at Harry. Kiba walked over to his friend and shook him lightly, he snapped out of his trance and looked at Lupin, he looked like he wanted to speak but didn't he simply walked to the back of the class and left with Ron. Kiba said a quick goodbye to Lupin and followed with Hermione.
Most students talked excitedly about Lupin that day, very few even remembering how shabby appearance. "I would've liked a go at that Boggart" Hermione said
"what would it be for you? homework that only got a nine out of ten?" Ron said jokingly
"i'd like to know what Malfoy fears.." Kiba added to the surprise of the others "what? Don't you wish you could scare him sometimes?"
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