Ryan's quill scribbling across the parchment kept distracting him from Professor McGonagall's speech on Animagi. He tore his eyes away from her tiny handwriting just in time to see their Transfiguration professor turn into a grey and black tabby cat. The entire class broke out into near deafening applause as she transformed back into her human self. Susan Bones' hand immediately shot up into the air. "Professor, where do your robes go when you transform?"
A few giggles stopped quickly with her sharp look. "They turn into the covering of the animal. For me, they turn into fur."
"Do you want us to put out a saucer of milk for you tonight?" Malfoy's drawl came from the back of the class, earning him snickers from his group of friends.
Ryan shot her cousin a look, as did Professor McGonagall. "5 points from Slytherin, Mr. Malfoy."
He scowled, sinking down into his seat and Ryan's hand also shot up. "Professor McGonagall, did you know what you were going to turn into before you transformed for the first time?"
"To an extent, yes. I had an unclear glimpse of it while working the spell."
"And what, exactly, is the spell?" Ryan asked, leaning forward slightly. Elijah glanced at her; her tone was all too eager.
"That is not an appropriate spell for third-years, Ms. Black." She said, although not unkindly.
Ryan just sat back and kept taking notes until the class ended and the two parted ways. Elijah shouldered his bag and headed towards the Defense Against the dark Arts classroom, mildly worried about how it was going to go.
Oscar had two desks towards the back saved and Elijah grinned at his best friend before sliding into the desk. "How was Transfiguration?" Oscar asked.
"Pretty cool. McGonagall turned into a cat and took points from Slytherin because of Malfoy and his attitude."
"Good, he's a git."
"Good morning, class." Remus walked in behind the rest of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs trailing in, his robes shabbier than other professors. "If you all would put your books back into your bags, grab your wands, and follow me. We're having a practical lesson today." Elijah and Oscar grinned at each other, both immediately following Remus' instructions. "Right then, if everyone is ready, follow me."
The two boys led their fellow housemates out of the DADA classroom, whispers floating to the front of the line about what was going to happen. Remus walked them down two corridors, to the staffroom on the second floor. He opened the door, letting the students file in. The room, full of mismatched chairs and a single, shabby wardrobe on the other side, was colder than the classroom was. Elijah noticed he wasn't the only one shivering- even the wardrobe shivered. He scooted back, bumping into Oscar. "Did you see that?" He hissed.
"I wonder what's in there!" Oscar whispered back, eyes bright.
The wardrobe kept rattling. "Nothing to worry about. There's a boggart in there."
"Bloody hell." One of the Ravenclaw boys groaned.
"What is a boggart?" Remus asked, his wand out, eyes glancing at the students. "Yes, Mr. Rosado?"
"It's a shape-shifter, taking the form of whatever the person who finds it is most scared of." Oscar spouted off.
"Perfectly explained; ten points to Ravenclaw." He motioned back to the wardrobe. "This boggart hasn't yet assumed a form- yes?"
Mandy Brocklehurst's nasally voice came from the back of the room. "So what does it look like now?"
"We don't know, Ms. Brocklehurst, but excellent question." Remus cleared his throat. "When I let him out, he will immediately become what each of us fears. Which means, we have a huge advantage- Ms. Bones?"
"There's too many of us. How will it know what form to take?"
"Exactly my point. Ten points to Hufflepuff. It's always best to have company when dealing with boggarts. They get confused. Now, we're going to practice the charm to ward off a boggart without wands, first. This spell forces a boggart to shift into a shape you find amusing rather than terrifying because-"
"Laughter finishes off boggarts." Oscar interrupted, excited to be in a class without Granger.
Take another five points, Rosado. Now, repeat after me: Riddikulus."
"Riddikulus!" The class chanted together.
"Good, good. Now, unfortunately, the word is not enough on it's own, and this-" He pointed to Elijah, "-is where you come in." Elijah took a deep breath and started toward the shaking wardrobe. "What frightens you, most in the world, Eli?"
Elijah glanced at his father, his face paling. How was he going to look him in the face and tell him that the thing that terrified him more than anything in the world- was him? Or rather the Mr. Hyde side of Remus Lupin? "I, uh, haven't really thought about it-"
"I'll go!" Zacharias Smith volunteered pushing his way to the front. "I'm terrified of horses." He shuddered.
Elijah didn't give Remus any time to react; he quickly shrank back to Oscar's side in time for a giant horse to step out of the wardrobe. Zacharias pointed his wand at the horse and yelled the spell. The horse immediately shrank into a goofy looking mule. "Alright, next!"
Elijah kept moving toward the back of the line and watched as Oscar stepped up and the mule shifted into a wet-goblin like creature. "Riddikulus!" Oscar pointed it at the boggart and the goblin turned into a flopping fish.
Two more students faced the boggart, and right before Elijah was supposed to face it again, the bell rang, dismissing them. They went back to the classroom and grabbed their things before traipsing down into the dungeons for their Potions class. As they passed the Slytherin and Gryffindor group, Elijah waved at Ryan. She half smiled at him, looking particularly annoyed. "Wonder how many points she lost." Oscar whispered.
"Judging by her face, probably at least ten." Elijah shook his head. "Hopefully that doesn't mean Snape's in a bad mood too."
As they sat down across from one another at their usual table, the dim lighting in the dungeon classroom made Oscar's eyes look like pools of deep chocolate. When Oscar glanced at him, flashing a crooked grin, Elijah's stomach flip flopped. He realized something: he had a crush on his best friend. And this wasn't at all normal.