A Little Help from a Snake // Tomarry

22: Monster in the Wardobe

Reposted: August 3, 2021 (because I have a revised part coming up and I really want you all to see it)

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Professor Lupin was late to his first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. When he finally did arrive, he looked a bit healthier than back on the train, though Harry could see he still looked rather gaunt. Nevertheless, he smiled warmly at the students.

"Good afternoon," he said. "Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today's will be a practical lesson. You will need only your wands."

Curious now, the class did as they were told. This was a bit different than normal than their previous teachers. Of course, one of them was a nervous wreck most of the time and the other was more focused on his blinding smile and fake accomplishments.

"Right then," said Lupin once everyone was ready. "If you'd follow me."

He led them into the staffroom, which was empty except for an old wardrobe where the teachers kept their spare robes toward the end. As Lupin went to stand next to it, the wardrobe gave a sudden wobble, banging off the wall.

"Nothing to worry about," said Lupin calmly as several students jumped. "There's a Boggart in there."

The class eyed the wardrobe apprehensively. Harry glanced at Lupin uneasily. What did he bring a live Boggart into the school for?

"Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces," said Lupin. "Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks— I've even met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third years some practice.

"So, the first question we must ask ourselves is, what is a Boggart?"

"It's a shape-shifter," Daphne said. "It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us most."

"Couldn't have put it better myself," said Lupin. "So the Boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. He does not yet know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a Boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears.

"This means that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?"

"Because there are so many of us, it won't know what shape it should be."

"Precisely. It's always best to have company when you're dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake— tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.

"The charm that repels a Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing.

"We will practice the charm without wands first. After me, please... riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" said the class together.

"Good. Very good. But that was the easy part, I'm afraid. You see, the word alone is not enough. Any volunteers?"

Tracey hesitantly stepped forward.

"Right, Tracey," said Lupin. "First things first: what would you say is the thing that frightens you most in the world?"

"Storms, sir."