Chapter 86

It was amazing how things still continued to play out like they did in J.k. Rowling's books, even after Chad messing them up to better suit his ambitions.

Remus Lupin had come out strong in his teaching methods and had made a positive first impression on his classes despite his ratty clothes and reserved demeanour. His interactive first lesson dealing with a Boggart had gone over well.

Or so Chad had heard since he had just sat down for his turn to see Lupin in action. But from the way the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students were excitedly talking to each other, they too had heard good things about the new DADA teacher.

The man in question soon walked through the door with a trunk floating behind him. Professor Lupin was wearing a shabby set of wizard's robes that had been darned in several places, and he looked quite pale, his light brown hair flecked with grey not helping his feeble image.

"Greeting class, I'm Professor Lupin. I'm sure you know by now, but today you will be learning how to deal with a Boggart. Who here can tell me what they are?" Remus announced, giving off a competent air.

Numerous Ravenclaw hands went up, and Lupin picked one at random.

"A Boggart is a shape-shifting creature that will assume the form of whatever most frightens the person who encounters it." Supplied the chosen teen that had been sorted into the House of wisdom, cleverness, and wit.

"Indeed, a textbook answer. Boggarts are non-beings, who, although they resemble living creatures, are not considered 'alive', and as a result, amortal. Amortality refers to the condition of never been alive from the beginning, never having died and being unable to die, much like a Poltergeist or a Dementor." Lupin informed the class.

Chad wanted to call bullsh*t on that. If they were unable to die, the world would be overrun by them, not to mention that Dementors would have slaughtered a good chunk of the muggle population.

If the spells only scared them off, what real fear would stop them from multiplying and then overwhelming anything capable of being a threat?

If Dementors feasted on souls, what did Boggarts eat or did they even need to?

Did Boggarts attack people with their fears, or was it just their defence mechanism?

Evidence of this train of thought was supplied in Lupin's next statement, he had no idea.

"Not much is known how Boggarts are created or if they can breed, but they are quite common in magical homes and are particularly fond of inhabiting dark, confined spaces, such as unused wardrobes.

"A Boggart who transforms into a magical being or object can replicate its abilities to an extent, this will be a weaker facsimile of the real thing. It is for this reason that they can become dangerous."

As Lupin went on to describe how to banish them and the spell needed to do so, Chad thought of methods to permanently kill them. If there were ways to scare them off, interact with them and trap them, how was there no way to snuff them out of existence?

It was actually canon Remus Lupin that had given him the idea, as the man had used a charm that had launched a piece of gum out of a door's keyhole and up Peeves the Poltergeist's nose. Canon Harry also cast a jinx that caused Peeves' tongue to stick to the roof of his mouth.

If this was enough to interact with the Poltergeist and cause it to flee, then what else could be used? Then there was Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, known after his death as Nearly Headless Nick.

If he could be petrified with the usually lethal gaze of a basilisk, what other magical means were there of disposing of hard to kill pests?

What was the point of scaring them away to continue being a threat when you could turn them to stone and smash them into dust?

Unlike Dementors, Boggarts could be seen by muggles, making them an actual threat to the Statute of Secrecy and causing the Ministry to divert time and effort into dealing with them.

"The spell that defeats a Boggart can be tricky because it involves making the creature into a figure of fun, so that fear can be dispelled in amusement. If the caster can laugh aloud at the Boggart, it will disappear at once. The incantation is 'Riddikulus', and the intention is to force the Boggart to assume a less-threatening and hopefully comical form." Instructed Lupin.

Chad was interrupted from his thoughts as the class started to line up and take turns testing the Boggart-Banishing charm, causing him to do the same. At the very back of the line.

After ten minutes of practising the charm, Lupin released the Boggart from the trunk and gave encouragement to those now facing their greatest fear.

Chad was still unsure if the Boggart-Banishing charm was actually magic since nothing came from the end of the wand and the Boggart was capable of some form of mind-reading.

Was it not just picking up on the victim's thoughts of amusement and being pacified?

Perhaps it was a form of magical defence like Occlumency, galvanising your mind with magic to fend off the Boggart with an amusing image?

If it was a spell, then it opened up some exciting paths of magic. If an attack didn't have to manifest into a visible form, like a red beam for a stunner, how much harder to dodge would it be?

Whatever it was, Chad couldn't test it now in front of other people. Hell, he didn't even want to face off with the Boggart at all, who knows what it might turn into and expose! He wasn't going to bet everything that Occlumency would protect him.

The line slowly began to shrink as those that had defeated the supposedly indestructible magical creature moved to the side so they could still watch. Chad had made sure that he was at the very end, hopefully bypassing this test that was surely for Dumble's benefit.

Alas, it was not to be.

"Your turn Harry, go on, don't be afraid." Remus encouraged him with a twinkle in his eye, reminiscent of another certain older man when gazing at children.

"I rather not sir. I'm not as brave as the other students that are fine with exposing their deepest fears for others to take advantage of. I wouldn't be surprised if the Weasley twins will be using your class to their advantage." Chad said in an offhand manner, hopefully coming off as a cool kid and not a coward.

Just like with the Sorting Hat debacle, those that had started off thinking Harry Potter was a coward slowly had it dawn on them that they had once again not thought of the consequences of their actions.

Although this time, it was mostly the pure-bloods that were worried since most muggle-borns were unaware of the harsh reality waiting for them when they graduated Hogwarts. Status was everything and valuable information like what terrified you could end a career if used correctly.

Fights had been fought over more trivial things than making someone piss themselves in fear in front of Ministry colleagues. Not to mention that in a duel, using your target's fears against them gave a massive advantage.

It worked great for Boggarts and Dementors.

"I'm sure no one would be so immature as to use someone's fears against them," coaxed Lupin, "come on, Harry, give it a try."

"I heard they once turned their younger brother's favourite toy into a massive spider, and to this day, he is still traumatised by it." Countered Chad.

Remus could only wince, he had seen Ronald Weasley's Boggart after all.

Chad had been continually backing away in preparation of Professor 'ulterior motive' Lupin forcing the situation. Luckily, Lupin had not expected a child to not follow along with his peers, and Chad had merged into the students now looking at their fellow housemates questioningly.

Could they trust them not to take advantage of the newfound knowledge of their vulnerability? The schoolyard was a brutal place, and children could be ruthless in their callous disregard of others feelings.

With the opportunity to just fling the Boggart at Harry lost, Remus tried to once again coerce him with peer-pressure.

"Surely you wouldn't let your friends face the Boggart alone? It would be unfair if you do not participate also, don't you think?"

"I'm sorry, Professor, but I firmly believe in living with your own decisions and choices, and not blaming others for them. After I had my childhood stolen from me, I vowed to never again just do what I am told." Replied Chad forcefully.

As if he was ever going to be cowered by this idiot!

Some students were looking at him judgingly, thinking it unfair he didn't stupidly announce what he feared most to everyone else like they did. But Chad cared not, what were they going to do to the most popular boy in school?

If worse came to worst, Chad could just boost his reputation by upgrading the school brooms or something equally benign. The wizarding community was quickly won over with platitudes and monetary gestures, just look at the Malfoys!

With Chad being uncooperative, Professor Lupin had no choice but to lock the Boggart away and end the class. There was no way he could forcefully attack a student with it and expect to get off scot-free.

Especially since Remus suspected Chad knew his darkest secret after falling out with Sirius. There was no way Sirius would not have told his godson that one of his teachers was a werewolf after all.