"I can't be bothered. Honestly, I really can't-"
"You can't be bothered? I have to be in the same class as Bulstrode-"
"Okay, you win" I mumbled to Daphne as she turned to look at me and Pansy
"Yeah, I better-"
"But you'll be with Hufflepuff's. Won't you?"
"Another reason as to why I have it worse" she muttered before we started laughing as she disappeared down the stairs while me and Pansy carried on to Lupin's class. Shutting the door behind her, a couple of people turned their heads as I looked at everyone huddled together at the front of the class as Lupin appeared in view
"Leave your bags at the back of the class with the others, if you will" he told us, a small smile as I offered a nod, slipping my bag off as I sat it down next to Pansy's and we started walking over to where the others were as a loud rattle came from the front of the room
"Intriguing, isn't it?" Lupin asked as he motioned to the wardrobe that gave another loud rattle while I leant against the wall in front of Draco as I looked at it and Pansy appeared beside me not even a moment later
"Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what is inside?"
"That's a boggart, that is"
"Very good, Mr Thomas" he told Dean as I looked at the smile on his face as the wardrobe gave another violent shake
"Can anyone tell me what a boggart looks like?"
"Trick question-" I muttered to Pansy, getting cut off almost instantly as she nodded with a small smirk
"No one knows. Boggarts are shapeshifters, they take the shape of whatever that particular person fears the most. That's what makes them so-"
"So terrifying. Yes, yes. Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a boggart. Let's practice it now- eh, without wands, please. After me: Riddikulus"
"Riddikulus" everybody else chorused together as we stayed quiet and I swapped an amused glance with Pansy
"Very good. A little louder, very clear. Listen: Riddikulus"
"Riddikulus!"
"This class is ridiculous" Draco muttered from behind us as I let out a laugh, turning my head to look at him with a grin before I turned back, still smiling to myself
"Well so much for the easy part, see, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a boggart is laughter-"
"What's it like to laugh?"
"Oh my god" I muttered to Pansy as I clamped my hand over my mouth, staring at her as we both shook with silent laughter as Lupin carried on speaking
"You need to force it to form the shape that you find truly amusing. Let me explain.... uh, Neville! Come and join me, please. Come on, don't be shy now, come on. Come on. Now, Neville, what frightens you most of all?" Lupin asked after Neville had finally walked forward and over to his side as he mumbled incoherently as Pansy turned to me confused
"What'd he say?"
"Not a fucking clue"
"Sorry?" Professor Lupin asked as I watched Neville glance up, speaking louder this time, his response sending laughter all around the room
"Professor Snape"
"Yes.... he frightens all. And I believe you live with your grandmother?"
"Yes, but I don't want that boggart to turn into her either"
"No..." he said quietly, an amused tone to his voice as he glanced away momentarily before looking back to him
"It won't. I want you to picture her clothes, only her clothes very clearly in your mind"
"She carries a red handbag-"
"We don't need to hear. As long as you see it, we'll see it. Now when I open that wardrobe, here's what I want you to do" he told him before explaining something quietly so only he would hear
"Can you do that? Yes. Wand at the ready! One... two.... three" he counted before flicking his wand, the handle of the wardrobe slowly turning and opening as the boggart version of Snape clambered out awkwardly
"Think, Neville, think-"
"Riddikulus!" Starting to laugh, I stared at Snape, who now stood in Neville's grandmothers clothes. Clamping my hand over my mouth I looked at Pansy who was trying hard to hide the grin on her face
"Wonderful, Neville, wonderful! Incredible! Okay, to the back Neville, everyone form a line! He said to us all loudly as my stomach sank slightly and I was dragged into the line by Pansy, my eyes wide as I shook my head at her and I stood behind Dean as he turned around and grinned
"Form a line! I want everyone to picture the thing they fear the very most and turn it into something... funny. Next! Ron!"
"Pansy-"
"Oh come on, what's the worst that could happen?"
"I embarrass myself even more, everybody has to see what I'm scared of, I-"
"Well at least you're not scared of spiders like Weasley-"
"Hey!"
"Or Blaise" she added on laughing as I turned my head and looked around to Blaise who was standing behind her as I turned back around, watching wide eyed as Lupin jumped in front of the dementor, shouting as it changed form. Staring at the full moon I watched as he changed it to a deflating balloon, it flying around the room before he directed it to the wardrobe, turning back to us
"Right, well, sorry about that. That's enough for today, if you'd all like to collect your books from the back of the class, that's the end of the lesson, thank you" he told us as everybody started complaining and I quickly went and grabbed my bag as I left the class
YOU ARE READING
Storms Ahead
Fanfiction**trigger warning: this story will contain scenes of a violent relationship, self harm, attempted suicide, depression and anxiety** (I understand that this may be personal and emotional towards readers and that's why I'll leave it up to you to decid...
