161 Boggart Training

After dueling class we head to lunch and talk before heading to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Luna ends up telling everyone about the animals in my suitcase that the others have yet to meet so I am forced to promise to introduce them after classes. Though I am a bit iffy about introducing them to One and Three, Oliver should be fine though since he is calmer than his 'brothers?'.

Heading to Defense Against the Dark Arts we meet back up with Neville and Dean on the way. In the classroom there is a distinct lack of desks, instead, there is a large wardrobe resting in the center of the room not far in front of the teacher's desk.

Everyone is quiet as they all stare at the wardrobe wearily, "I thought you said we would be learning about boggarts, not facing them." Ron says obviously a bit scared.

*BANG BANG BANG*

The boggart rages around inside the wardrobe as if provoked by Ron's words. Ron skittishly backs up behind me causing me to grin.

"A bit of a scaredy-cat aren't you," I ask with a snide smirk. Across the room I see Draco smirking at the scared Ron as well, as soon as I point this out to Ron he bulks up as if the fear never existed.

Rolling my eyes I pat his back, "Do you have no shame?"

Before he can answer I hear the big classroom doors close from behind us, "Shall we start class?" I hear Lupin's familiar voice as I see him quickly walk past us. The class' muttering begins to stir.

Lupin turns around as he rests his hand against the wardrobe and the class quiets instantly, "Now, can anyone tell me what we have here?"

Hermione of course raises a hand, "A Boggart, sir."

He gives a satisfied nod as he continues, "Good, today we will be learning about boggarts." His eyes sweep the room as they stop at me for a moment. I give a courteous smile as he nods back clapping his hands.

"Boggarts are creatures capable of looking deep into your heart to find your greatest fear. To fight this creature is quite easy, however, it takes courage to face it. The way to banish a boggart is by taking that fear and laughing in its face."

"Now luckily for us the charm to fight these creatures is quite easy. I want you all to repeat after me, without the wands, Riddikulus!

""""Riddikulus""" the class echos together.

"Very good, again, Riddikulus."

"""Riddikulus""" again the class echos.

"Good, good, the movement is quite easy just follow me." Pulling out his wand almost everyone follows suit. With an exaggerated motion, he draws an elongated U in the air. Everyone around me follows along to varying degrees of success.

"Now, who would like to try confronting their fears first?" His eyes immediately meet mine.

'Oh no," I think to myself.

"Soren, how about you?"

I quickly hold up my hands, "Nooo thank you, not today satan."

Professor Lupin looks surprised, "Out of anyone here I thought you would be the most suited."

I give a smile, "I know what my fear is, and if it comes out of that closet I'm doing more than Riddikulus."

Students around me begin to talk again but I ignore them as I look at Lupin seriously, "Very well, Ronald Weasley, come on up."

Ron who has been looking at me this whole time looks up shocked, "Bu- I do-" Before he can finish, Dean and Seamus have already pushed him up to the front.

"Good," Lupin smiles as he puts his hand on Ron's back bringing him forward a bit, "Now, what is it you fear most?"

"I-I don't know… Spiders?"

Lupin nods, "That's a fair fear, they can be quite scary… I want you to visualize your fear as clearly as you can. When I tell you to I want you to," I can't hear the rest as he whispers it into his ear.

Both Ron and Lupin grin as he backs up a bit and Ron nods, "Okay."

With a flick of his wand, the latch holding the wardrobe closed pops loose and the wardrobe door slowly creaks open. A long thin hairy leg slowly appears from the door as it creaks further open. I can see Ron back up but Lupin keeps him from running putting an encouraging hand on Ron's shoulder.

*BANG*

The door flies open as a three-foot-tall spider launches out of the wardrobe at Ron.

"Now!" Lupin urges Ron.

"Riddikulus!" Ron yells with his eyes closed he flicks his wand at the Spider.

The spider stops in its tracks as it falls to the ground sliding about. The spider now has a large fluffy brown hat, a purse flung around its thorax, and eight high heels on each of its legs. Looking closely I can see it also has fake lashes on every single one of its eyes and bright pink blush on its pincers.

The spider is unable to stand in the high heels and constantly falls over. The class begins to laugh as Ron hides his face laughing a bit too hard. After being unable to stand for a while the spider lays on the ground defeated.

Lupin turns around with a big smile, "Alright, form a line everyone will be giving it a try."

I nod as I walk over to the side and stand away from the line with Draco, "Never thought we'd be on the same side."

Draco grunts as he shakes his head not replying to my words. Crabbe however walks up to the line seemingly to get away from me but I don't mind.

I shrug as I watch everyone walk up to face their fears. They are what you would expect from kids, they vary from snakes to faceless figures shrouded in darkness. I'm really just waiting for Harry, my assumption is his fear is Voldemort but I will wait to see.

I begin to pay attention as Hermione steps up to the boggart. As she meets eyes with the jack in the box it twists and changes into the form of Voldemort, not the one I saw but the one from the history books.

My eyes narrow as the boggart Voldemort gets a wicked grin pulling out a wand, "Riddikulus!" Hermione casts seriously.

The wand in the boggart's hand turns into a flower and his dark black robes turn into a beautiful pink dress. Voldemort looks down at his robes aghast by the bright pink dress.

The serious look on Lupin's face is replaced by a smile as the class breaks out into laughter.

I am glad that Hermione got Voldemort as her fear first, no offense to Harry but he tends to freeze up under pressure. Now at least he will have a reference when he comes up to the wardrobe.