𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐙𝐄𝐒 ☾ r. lupin

₂₈ boggarts

REMUS WALKED towards his dada class with James, Sirius, Peter, and Lily. He couldn't focus on anything they were saying because he was too busy searching the hallways for two faces. One more than the other.

"Thalia come on! I'll get you something from Hogsmeade if you'll do it!" Marya said. Remus spotted her small group of friends from a distance, watching as Marya clung onto Thalia's arm.

She was smiling.

"Remus!" A voice called. Rhiannon.

He swiveled on his heels and smiled at her, watching as she made her way through the crowd of students. Her hair was braided in two plaits going down her back. There were yellow ribbons interwoven into them, too, as a homage to her Hogwarts House.

"Off to defense?" Rhiannon asked, smiling.

Remus nodded his head, smiling at her. Rhiannon smiled back, only having to crane her neck a bit. That was a nice detail that he had never thought about, not having to crane your neck at someone you're talking to. It was a bit inevitable, considering that Remus was well above six feet tall.

Sirius smacked Remus' back, getting his attention as they approached the classroom. He raised an eyebrow and glanced at Rhiannon before gesturing behind him. "Chop chop mate," he said.

Remus nodded his head and waved him along before turning around and facing Rhiannon. He sucked in a breath before he laughed a bit, rubbing the back of his neck with his right hand. "Erm, sorry about that," he told her.

Rhiannon laughed and shook her head, waving him off. "Don't worry about it. I do have to leave though, so have fun with Merrywhether," she said, smiling.

Remus smiled back, waving at her as she turned and left. He felt his cheeks grow a bit hot before he walked inside the classroom, walking over to his seat. Sirius was already seated next to Maeve, irritation on his face as she scribbled something down on a piece of paper. Thalia wasn't there yet.

She hates you.

It didn't matter, Remus had a few other things to worry about at the moment. He set his bag down on the floor and took his seat next to the wall, leaning his elbow onto the desk. Merrywhether was sorting through papers on her desk, humming a slight tune as she waited for the remaining students to file into the class. Remus merely watched as she tapped her papers against the table.

The chair next to him skidded back and a light thud followed. He turned his head slightly as Thalia rummaged through her bag, keeping her chair at the very end of the desk. She grabbed her quill and an ink pot from it, placing them on the table. With a quick sigh she closed her bag and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest.

Remus averted his gaze and looked out the window next to them, watching as the trees swayed in the wind. It was cold that day; a chill rested over Hogwarts. Remus and Thalia both felt it, maybe a bit more than any other student did, too.

"Alright class! Today we are going to be learning about something a bit beginner," the professor started, pacing around the class. Remus watched her every step.

Professor Merrywhether stood right in front of a cabinet, leaning against it slightly as she gestured to it. "This!" She said, smacking it lightly, "could be a bit draining if not handled with properly."

Remus was immediately confused. What did she mean "a bit draining"? He missed a question because Thalia started talking.

"It's a boggart, professor," she said, leaning her arms against the table in front of them. Professor Merrywhether smiled and nodded.

"Good, ten points to Ravenclaw!" She added. Remus rolled his eyes a bit at that, of course Thalia would know about this. She knows about everything.

"Now, I want everyone to get into a single file line! Hop to it!" She said, gesturing for everyone to stand up. Thalia was out of her desk within a few seconds, but Remus felt a bit sluggish as he stood up. His limbs felt too heavy, his thoughts too muddled to do anything. He shouldn't be feeling this way, he was happy not 10 minutes ago.

"Who wants to go first?" Merrywhether asked.

A Slytherin boy raised his hand and walked to the front of the line, standing in front of the cabinet with his wand. Merrywhether smiled and nodded at him. "Good! Now, the spell I want you to repeat is riddikulous. Ready?" She asked the boy.

He nodded his head, shaking his shoulders a bit as Merrywhether opened the door. An ogre came out of the cabinet at first, tilting its head to the side before its shape changed. Remus raised his eyebrows at the mirror image of the boy standing in the front of the line. The boys doppelgänger was merely staring at him, tilting its head before it smirked. He leaned in and whispered something to the boy, its mouth still quirked up in a smirk.

"Remember Calum, riddikulous!" The professor said, nodding her head at the boy. The boy nodded his head and gripped his wand tighter, taking a deep breath before he shouted out the spell. The boggart immediately changed into Calum in a tutu, spinning around in circles.

Everyone let out a little chuckle at the image. Remus smiled a bit, watching as Calum looked more relaxed. Merrywhether congratulated him, patting his back reassuringly before she called out 'next!'

Thalia stood up to Ballerina Calum. He took a look at her before it morphed again. There stood a family ( Remus assumed it was her family. ) They were all dressed to impress, with her father dressed in a deep, navy blue tuxedo and her mother in a matching dress. Her brother was dressed in something lighter, a cream colored suit with a matching tie. Her father and her brothers hair was slicked back in pristine condition while her mothers was curled. Thalia's whole family had dark brown hair.

Remus could see Thalia suck in a breath, probably not expecting to see her family there. She adjusted her position, getting into the correct stance before she pointed her wand at her family. Remus couldn't imagine having to do this, even if it was fake. He couldn't bear it.

"Look at the traitor, honey," her mother cooed, placing a hand on her husband's bicep. He flexed his hand a bit before he looked at his daughter.

His eyes were cold, distant. Those of a monster.

Much like yours.

Remus waved the thought away and continued to watch the altercation. Thalia winced a bit, her stance still strong as her knuckles turned white from griping her wand so hard. She shook her head, closing her eyes and opening them again. Her father stepped away from her mother, taking a step closer to her.

"Have you not learned your lesson the first time? I already told you what happen-" He was cut off by the sound of Thalia shouting riddikulous! Her family spun around for a few seconds before they turned into cats, meowing at each other and pawing at the rug on the floor.

"Fantastic, Frilio!" Merrywhether said, clapping her hands a bit slower. She walked over to pat Thalia on the back, lingering for a second as she whispered something into the witches ear. Thalia nodded her head before she walked over to the table her and Remus shared. He watched her grab her stuff and walk all the way out of the classroom, not stopping for a second.

_____ A/N _____

yikes... sorry to spring it on ya but, oh ho ho this is gonna be good. trauma and a rival ? it's gonna be lovely. good morning, good afternoon, and good night

remember to eat and drink water !

<3