Mamihlapinatapai

Whispered Woes ⋆｡°✩

TW panic attack, mention of suicide

A tall wardrobe violently rattled in the front of the classroom. Atlas looked at it, inquisitively. "Intriguing, yes? Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what's inside?" Professor Lupin asked.

"It's a Boggart," Atlas answered.

"Very good, Mr. Lestrange. Can anyone tell us what a Boggart looks like?" Lupin continued.

"No one knows. Boggarts are shape-shifters. They take the shape of whatever a particular person fears most. That's what makes it so..." Hermione noted.

"Terrifying, yes. Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a Boggart. Let's practice it now, shall we? Without wands, please... Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" The students mimicked.

"This class is ridiculous," Draco uttered.

"Good. So much for the easy part. You see, the incantation alone is not enough," Professor Lupin explained. "What really finishes a Boggart off is laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing. Neville, come up here, will you?"

Neville walked forward, shaking.

"Right, Neville. First things first: what would you say frightens you the most?"

Neville's lips moved, but no sound came out.

"Didn't catch that, Neville, sorry," Professor Lupin apologized.

"Professor Snape," Neville repeated quietly. Nearly the whole class laughed, including all of the Slytherins. Professor Lupin looked at him with amusement.

"Professor Snape...hmmm...Neville, I believe you live with your Grandmother?"

"Er- yes. But I don't want the Boggart to turn into her either."

"No, no, you misunderstand me," Professor Lupin smiled. "I want you to picture her clothes, only the clothes, very clearly in your mind. Can you do that?"

Neville closed his eyes. "She carries a red handbag-"

"That's fine. We don't need to hear it. If you see it, we will. Now, when I open this wardrobe, Neville, here's what I want you to do..." Professor Lupin leaned down to Neville's ear and whispered something to him. Neville's eyes popped open and he looked at Lupin with uncertainty. "You can do this, Neville." Neville nodded nervously and took a deep breath. "Right then. Wand at the ready. One. Two. Three!"

Sparks flew from Professor Lupin's wand and hit the door knob of the wardrobe, making it fly open. Instantly, Snape appeared, eyes flashing hideously as he stalked forward. Neville backed away in fright. He held his wand up and pointed it at the Boggart. "R- r- riddikulus!"

There was a noise like a whip crack as Snape stumbled. His clothes changed. He was wearing a long, lace-trimmed dress, with a towering hat topped with a moth-eaten vulture, and he was swinging a vast crimson handbag. 

There was a roar of laughter from the students and the Boggart paused, confused. "Wonderful, Neville. Incredible! Okay, to the back. Everyone form a line." Lupin said, turning on an old gramophone.

Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle were shoving their way to the front, Atlas following behind. Draco shoved Nevllie out of the way with his 'injured' arm.

"I want everyone to picture the thing they fear the very most and turn it into something funny," Lupin continued. "Next, Ron!" Ron slowly walked forward, nervous. "Concentrate...face your fear, be brave."

The Boggart shifted into a ginormous Black Widow. Ron looked at it, horrified. He took out his wand and casted, "Riddikulus!" All of a sudden, the spider was on rollerskates. The class erupted in laughter.