Chapter 179: Ino's Fear
On the fourth floor of the castle, in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
As soon as Lupin finished his question, several students raised their hands, and the question was taken by the first Ravenclaw boy who raised his hand.
"A Boggart is a magical creature, a shape-shifter that can look into your heart and become the thing you fear the most. The purpose of a Boggart is to scare, which is why it's classified as a dark creature."
Although it was a standard answer, it clearly described the characteristics of a Boggart.
Even such a simple explanation made the students in the front rows uneasy. They realized that this new professor intended to have them face their fears directly.
"A very standard answer, five points to Ravenclaw!" Lupin lightly clapped his hands and then looked around:
"Don't worry, I won't make you face your fears unprepared. Before that, I'll teach you a spell to deal with Boggarts. Now, repeat after me: Riddikulus!"
"Riddikulus!" everyone chanted together.
"Excellent! Very good!" Lupin looked at them with satisfaction. "But knowing the spell isn't enough. You need to say it when facing your fear for it to work. I've seen too many people who knew the spell but were too scared to speak when facing their fear."
"So, who wants to try first?"
Perhaps sensing the students' reluctance, Lupin didn't force them to go in order but chose a more reasonable way to pick the first volunteer.
Amidst everyone's hesitation, a voice rang out.
"I'll go!"
Ino slowly stepped out of the crowd and approached the wardrobe.
Lupin recognized the student before him. Recent issues of the Daily Prophet had given him a more comprehensive understanding of many things, but as a professor, he still reminded him:
"When you see your fear, point your wand at the Boggart and pronounce the spell clearly."
"Thank you, I know," Ino nodded slightly, also adjusting his thoughts, remembering what Lina had advised about facing fear head-on.
On the other side, both Slytherin and Ravenclaw students wore curious expressions, eager to see what Ino's fear was.
"Remember, don't panic! I'll count to three and then open it," Lupin said as he moved to the wardrobe: "One, two, three, go!"
Lupin's wand shot out a red light, hitting the round doorknob of the wardrobe.
The wardrobe opened.
In an instant, many young wizards closed their eyes tightly, and some even clutched their robes nervously. After all, whether Ravenclaw or Slytherin, only a few were foolish.
What could make Ino fearful was likely something they would fear as well, at least logically.
However, after waiting for a while and hearing no unusual sounds in the classroom, many people cautiously opened their eyes.
...
"I didn't expect it to be you!" Ino said with a complicated expression, looking at the figure before him.
This was a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in strange attire.
His face looked somewhat weathered, with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and thick eyebrows, all seemingly telling the story of his past. Though his appearance was ordinary, his clear eyes and slightly sorrowful demeanor were unforgettable.
The middle-aged man wore a wide, plain robe with a one-foot-long winged harp tied around his waist, and nothing else.
As Ino spoke, the middle-aged man also began to speak:
"I didn't expect it either. Looking back, it seems I haven't done much else."
The man's voice echoed in the classroom, like a flowing stream, or a gentle breeze, making many people feel relaxed.
Although the voice was familiar, Ino's expression remained unmoved.
"I'm curious, is this a Boggart, or are you really here? Hans, my teacher!"
Yes, the middle-aged man before him was the bard, Hans.
"What's there to be curious about? If you think it's real, it is; if not, it's not. Many answers are already in your heart; you just need someone to give you an excuse at the right time."
The middle-aged man smiled, then added after a brief pause: "There's nothing to fear. If I really trouble you, just throw away those two dice when you get the chance."
His voice remained as gentle and calm as ever.
Ino didn't respond this time. Instead, he slightly bowed, then waved his wand: "Riddikulus!"
The middle-aged man's figure didn't turn ridiculous but gradually disappeared with a smile.
...
The Defense Against the Dark Arts class continued.
With the first example set, the rest of the young wizards gradually mustered the courage to face their fears, lining up one by one.
At the back of the crowd, Ino sat quietly on a bench placed against the wall.
The Boggart's transformation had caught him off guard, but he also had an answer in his heart. Fear stemmed from the unknown, and perhaps the mysterious aura of Hans had created a subconscious fear.
After thinking it over, that seemed the only answer.
If Hans really intended to do something, he would have done it long ago. Besides, Ino didn't think he had anything worth targeting. But what truly fascinated him was the Boggart.
This often overlooked magical creature seemed capable of doing something even the greatest psychologists couldn't—communicating with the subconscious.
Ino knew one thing clearly: Hans would never say something ambiguous. In their conversation, "what is, is; what isn't, isn't," was entirely his subconscious understanding of transfiguration and magic, simply read by the Boggart.
"It's time to catch a Boggart."
At this moment, he had a plan. Taking advantage of his unchanged fear, he could use this opportunity to communicate with his subconscious.
Wizards value the power of the mind, and 90% of the human mind is hidden in the subconscious. If he could truly communicate with his subconscious, perhaps his mastery of transfiguration or any other magic could reach new heights.
Thinking this, Ino felt genuinely fortunate. He was glad his fear was Hans. If he feared something like mummies or dragons, it would have been a disaster.
...
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