I'm Still Standing!~ Book 3

Cat vs. Rat

"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 the 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," said Professor Lupin. "Very good. But that was the easy part, I'm afraid. You see, the word alone is not enough. And this is where you come in, Neville." The wardrobe shook again, though not as much as Neville, who walked forward as though he were heading for the gallows. "Right, Neville," said Professor Lupin. "First things first: what would you say is the thing that frightens you most in the world?" Neville's lips moved, but no noise came out. 

"I didn't catch that, Neville, sorry," said Professor Lupin cheerfully. Neville looked around rather wildly, as though begging someone to help him, then said, in barely more than a whisper, "Professor Snape." Nearly everyone laughed. Even Neville grinned apologetically. Professor Lupin, however, looked thoughtful. "Professor Snape... hm... Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother?" "Er... yes," said Neville nervously. "But... I don't want the Boggart to turn into her either." 

"No, no, you misunderstand me," said Professor Lupin, now smiling. "I wonder, could you tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?" Neville looked startled, but said, "Well... always the same hat. A tall one with a stuffed vulture on top. And a long dress... green, normally... and sometimes a fox-fur scarf." "And a handbag?" prompted Professor Lupin. "A big red one," said Neville. "Right then," said Professor Lupin. "Can you picture those clothes very clearly, Neville? Can you see them in your mind's eye?" 

"Yes," said Neville wondering what was coming next. "When the Boggart bursts out of this wardrobe, Neville, and sees you, it will assume the form of Professor Snape," said Lupin. "And you will raise your wand... like so... and cry 'Riddikulus'... and concentrate hard on your grandmother's clothes. If all goes well, Professor Boggart Snape will be forced into that vulture-topped hat, and that green dress, with that big red handbag." There was a great shout of laughter from nearly all Slytherins and even a few from Gryffindor. 

The wardrobe wobbled more violently. "If Neville is successful, the Boggart is likely to shift his attention to each of us in turn," said Professor Lupin. "I would like all of you to take a moment now to think of the thing that scares you most, and imagine how you might force it to look comical..." The room went quiet. Jade thought... 'What scares her most in the world?' Her first thought was her after or mother but then she glanced over at Draco and thought about his father. 

It was then she realized if Draco or his father no longer wanted her around that thought in itself scared her more than the possible rejection of her parents. But before she'd even started to plan a possible counterattack on a Boggart-Malfoy, a horrible image came floating to the surface of her mind... A rotting, glistening hand, slithering back beneath a black cloak... a long, rattling breath from an unseen mouth... then cold so penetrating it felt like drowning... Jade shivered, then looked around, hoping no one had noticed. 

Many people had their eyes shut tight. Ron was muttering to himself, "Take its legs off." Jade Rolled her eyes she was sure she knew what that was about. His greatest fear was spiders. The only one she saw looking around was Harry who looked nervous about it. "Everyone ready?" said Professor Lupin. Jade stared at him like he was stupid as she sarcastically thought; 'How could you make a Dementor less frightening?' But she didn't want to be rude so she swallowed her fear and stayed quiet.