Strange Beginnings

Chapter iii.III

The large classroom felt even bigger with all the desks and chairs pushed to the either side of the room. A single Wardrobe stood in the middle of the floor that occasionally shook and jolted. Y/N's expectations for the semester were already being surpassed. A sharp elbow pressed into their back, causing them to turn and face the perpetrator. Draco Malfoy was looking utterly bothered as his brow crinkled so close together it almost looked like one line of hair. 

"You're full of porkies Y/L/N, there's no such thing as Hipparsesitus. You made me look like a fool at lunch today and you're gonna pay for that."

Crabbe and Goyle stood on either side of Y/N and grabbed their arms but just as they feared the worst, Professor Lupin emerged from his office. The two Slytherin boy's let go and the three of them briskly rushed to the other side of the classroom. Y/N was liking this professor more and more by the second. The raggedy man glanced about the students and was looking pleased at the excitement and fear that jittered about the room.

"Welcome to your first class of Defense Against the Dark Arts," he began cheerily, coming to a stop in between the class and the shaking wardrobe, "who can tell me what's in the cabinet?"

Dean Thomas replied with a quiver in his voice, "T-That's a boggart, right?"

"Correct! And can anyone tell me what a boggart looks like?"

"No one knows because it's a shapeshifter," Hermione's voice was heard near the front of the crowd, "it takes the form of whatever a person fears the most."

"Which is what makes them so terrifying," Lupin continued for her. "Neville, could you join me up here?"

The poor boy looked as though his teeth had fallen out. Hesitantly he made his way to the front of the class. He and professor Lupin faced the closet with the boggart. 

"The charm to repel a boggart is quite simple, repeat after me - without your wand - Riddikulus!"

"R-Riddikulus" Neville repeated shyly. 

"Yes very good now everyone, Riddikulus"

"Riddikulus!" Everyone repeated.

The professor went on to explain that the incantation is not strong enough to dispel the boggart alone. It's laughter that will really do in the creature. He turned to the Gryffindor boy beside him and asked what he feared the most. It was no surprise to hear Neville mumble out the Potion Master's name but it caused the other students to snicker. Before Lupin opened the closet door he whispered something to the boy and then stepped behind him. With a flick of his wrist the cupboard doors unlocked.

Slowly the black clade professor crawled out of the wardrobe looking just as menacing as the real Snape. As it started to walk toward Neville he flicked his wand with the proper charm and the boggart stumbled back having now been dressed in an ugly old hag's outfit. The students roared with laughter. They would probably never see professor Snape dressed so ridiculously nor look so confused. Lupin instructed the giddy class to form a line behind Neville.

Each student that stepped up caused the boggart to shift in a futile attempt to overcome it's prey. But each time it changed the student was ready with the charm to humiliate its efforts. Ron saw a big spider (Y/N was surprised it wasn't Aragog), Pavarti a giant cobra (which she forced it to take shape of a large Jack in the box), and next was Harry Potter. The boggart seemed to be stuck in trying to decide what to shift into to scare the boy who lived. For a moment Y/N wondered if Harry had any true fears at all. However, the large clownish toy transformed into a dementor.

It charged at the boy but professor Lupin threw himself between Harry and the boggart, forcing it to transition. A glowing sphere hovered in front of the teacher, Y/N could only catch a short glimpse of it before he recited the charm and it changed into a deflating balloon. It sputtered and flicked around the room and right into the cabinet where the professor locked it in again.