The Raven's Call

Riddikulus

Tuesday, September 7th 1993

Two classes this morning, happening at the same time, first up Arithmancy. Arithmancy is a branch of magic involving the study of the magical properties of numbers, sort of like maths in muggle classes. I won't bore you with the details, only that Hermione and I sit and work together. 

After class, Hermione looks over at me, motioning the action of using the time turner. I nod, knowing exactly what she means, and she sighs, pulling me aside. "How did you manage to get one, McGonagall told me there's only two in existence." She asks me, bewildered. "I.." I start, before looking down at the time turner around my neck. "I got it for Christmas, first year." I tell her. "It didn't have a name on the card. It only said 'use it well'" I recall back to my first Christmas at Hogwarts. "Well, we're very lucky to be the ones to use them." She says softly as the clock tower chimes once more. "Shoot! We've got to get to Defence Against the Dark Arts!" She spoke, without even a thought, she wrapped the chain of her time turner around the both of us and sends us back before the first class starts. "I could've done that myself, you know." I tell her with a smirk. "Sorry.." She mumbles, taking my hand before we both rush to our next class.

We sneak into class as the students are all gathered around a fancy looking wardrobe. All the desks are pushed to the sides of the room and Lupin is standing behind my classmates. "Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what is inside?" He asks, walking around the cluster of students as the wardrobe shakes violently. "That's a boggart, that is." I speak up as I sneak my way into the crowd. "Very good, Mr. Grey." Lupin praises as the wardrobe rattles once again. "Now, can anybody tell me what a boggart looks like?" He asks, turning to us. "No one knows." Hermione speaks up, having found a spot next to Ron and Harry. "Boggarts are shape-shifters. They take the shape of whatever a particular person fears the most." She explains. "That's what makes them so-" She starts before being interrupted by Lupin. "-so terrifying, yes, yes. Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a boggart." The wardrobe jolts again. "Let's practice it now. Without wands, please. After me. Riddikulus!" "Riddikulus." The class calls. "Very good. A little louder and very clear. Listen: Riddikulus." He annunciates the word. "Riddikulus!" The class speaks clearer.

 "Very good. Well, so much for the easy part. You see, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a boggart is laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing. Let me explain; Neville, would you join me, please?" The class turns to him for a moment. Neville looks around like he isn't the only Neville in this class. "Come on, don't be shy." Lupin beckons. Neville slowly makes his way to the front. "Hello. Neville, what frightens you most of all?" Lupin asks. Neville utters something we can't quite hear. "Sorry?" Lupin asks again. "P-professor Snape." Neville stutters as the class giggles. Lupin chuckles as well. "Professor Snape. Yes, frightens all. And I believe you live with your grandmother?" "Yes, but I don't want that boggart to turn into her, either." Neville speaks, frightened already. The class giggles again. "No.." Lupin smiles as the wardrobe rattles. "It won't. I want you to picture her clothes. Only her clothes, very clearly, in your mind." "She carries a red handbag.." Neville describes, though Lupin shakes his head. "We don't need to hear. As long as you see it, we'll see it. Now, when I open that wardrobe, here's what I want you to do.." He walks over to Neville and whispers something in his ear. 

"Can you do that?" He asks, loud enough for the rest of us to hear.  Neville nods. "Yes, wand at the ready. One, two, three." Lupin counts down and with a wave of his wand, the wardrobe unlocks, the door slowly swings open and out steps the boggart, already taking the shape of Professor Snape. The boggart steps closer to Neville, with a wave of his wand he calls out; "Riddikulus!" And suddenly Snape is wearing a green dress, a red handbag, a weird hat with a stuffed eagle on it and a scarf made of fox. He looks crazy and it is hilarious! We all laugh. "Wonderful, Neville, wonderful! Incredible!" Lupin exclaims. "Okay, to the back, Neville. Everyone, form a line!" He instructs as we all cram into a group, almost reaching out the door. I manage to squeeze behind Asteria, who's just behind Ron at the front of the line. Asteria turns to me and gives me a smile. "Alright, I want everyone to picture the thing they fear the very most and turn it into something funny." Lupin announces as he starts some silly music on a record player. "Next! Ron!" Ron steps forward, watching the boggart stare back at him. "Concentrate. Face your fear. Be brave!" Lupin calls. 

"Be ready!" The boggart swirls in a ball of black matter as it transforms into a large redback spider. Ron slowly pulls his wand from his robes, I can see him trembling. "Wand at the ready, Ron!" Lupin tells him. "Riddikulus!" Ron calls, waving his wand. Roller-skates materialize onto the spider, causing it to roll and have trouble standing. It's a rather funny sight, we all laugh and Lupin calls the next student. "Asteria, next!" Asteria steps up to the plate, looking towards the currently roller-slipping spider. "Show us what you see." Lupin requests. Asteria stares at the spider as it rematerialises into her own father, Lucius Malfoy. He looks down at her, pulling his wand from his cane, and raises it above his head. "Avad-" "Riddikulus!" She interrupts before he could cast the killing curse. His clothes change from his usual dark cloak into a pink tutu and ballerina outfit, and he dances around. HAHAHAHAHA. She moves to the back. 

"Next, Atticus!" Lupin calls. I step forward as I watch the dancing ballerina that is Lucius Malfoy and the boggart shifts. Into my very own brother, Cedric. But not just Cedric, a zombified corpse version of him. He tries to speak, but only groans and moans come from his mouth. "Riddikulus!" I call out, the zombie turning into normal Cedric, but wearing Neville's grandmothers clothes. The class roars in laughter. "Well done!" Professor Lupin laughs, ushering me to the back. "Next, Alex!" Alex steps forward, his wand at the ready, when Cedric turns into what I can only assume is a death eater. A man in black with a hood, and a skull-like mask. I notice Alex's knees buckle for a moment before he casts his spell. "Riddikulus!" The man turns into a clown with blue hair and a big red nose. The clown hands Alex a red balloon and he laughs. 

"And next! Step up, step up!" Lupin calls as Harry steps to the front. The clown stares at Harry, holding out a balloon, but within an instant, the clown turns into a dementor. Those things seemed freaky enough, I'm not surprised it's somebody's fear. Lupin quickly steps in between the two, the dementor quickly changing into a full moon. "Riddikulus!" He yells, the moon turning into a cream-coloured balloon and deflating itself all around the room before entering its wardrobe once more. "Right, well. Sorry about that. That's enough for today." Lupin announces, causing some of the students to sigh in disappointment. "If you'd all like to collect your books from the back of the class. That's the end of the lesson. Thank you! Sorry!" he scrambles. "Sorry, you can have too much of a good thing."