The Light

Chapter 25~ Boggarts and Bodies

The following morning Malfoy had come to breakfast with a sling on his arm. The Slytherins were crowding around him, talking as if he'd just come back from the dead.

"Does it hurt terribly Draco?" Pansy Parkinson asked, lightly touching his arm. 

Slightly flexing his hand, he shrugged, "It comes and it goes. I consider myself lucky. Thanks to Madam Pomfrey, another minute or two and I could've lost my arm!"

I shook my head, "If his nose grew from lying, it would be as long as his ego."

"He's really laying it on thick isn't he," Ron scowled.

Harry sighed, "At least Hagrid didn't get fired."

"Yeah but I hear Draco's father's furious," Hermione told us, "We haven't heard the end of this."

Seamus ran in, "He's been sighted!"

"Who?" Ron asked as Seamus slammed the morning paper on the table.

"Sirius Black!" Well that caught our attention.

Hermione read the location aloud, "Dufftown? That's not far from here!"

"You don't think he'd come to Hogwarts, do you?" Neville asked clearly nervous.

Lee shook his head, "With dementors at every entrance? Not a chance."

"Dementors, he's already slipped past them once. Who's to say he won't do it again?" Seamus challenged.

Looking at the picture of Black it was interesting to see, he was thrashing around, guards holding him back...but something there...something in his eyes told me he looked...sane.

"C'mon, we've got Defense Against the Dark Arts," Hermione grabbed my arm lightly, the rest of us got to our feet and made our way to class. Hermione turned in the wrong direction but I shrugged it off, thinking she'd forgotten her book and walked into class with the others.

The first thing we noticed was a large wardrobe in the front of the room, then it rattled...something was inside, "Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what is inside?" Professor Lupin asked.

"That's a boggart, that is," Dean answered.

Lupin nodded, "Very good, Mr. Thomas. Now can anyone tell me what a boggart looks like?"

"No one knows," Hermione's voice came from behind me, turning I saw she was standing next to Ron.

But Ron didn't seem to recall her being there, "When did she get here?"

"Boggarts are shape-shifters. It transforms into whatever a particular person fears the most. That's what makes them so-"

"So terrifying, yes," Lupin nodded, standing in front of the wardrobe to face us, "Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a boggart," The wardrobe shook again, "Let's practice it now, without wands, please. Now, repeat after me, Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" We all repeated.

He nodded, "Very good. A little louder and very clear. Listen; Riddikulus!" His diction was perfectly on point.

"Riddikulus!" We mimicked.

To my right I heard muttering, "This class is ridiculous," I turned and saw Malfoy leaned up against the wall.

"So help me Malfoy if you pull something in here too I will end you myself."

Lupin continued with his explanation, oblivious to Malfoy's rudeness or choosing to ignore it, "The incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a boggart is laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing. Let me explain- Neville would you join me please?" Neville's eyes widened as if this was already his worst fear, reluctantly he joined Lupin at the front, "Neville what frightens you most of all?" Neville's voice was barely above a whisper, "I'm sorry one more time please."