The Blood Traitor || Oc x Oc

The Trouble With Boggarts

***Sera's hairstyle for Professor Lupin's class*** 

"Does it hurt terribly, Draco?" Pansy Parkinson, a fellow third-year Slytherin, simpered. 

"It comes and it goes," Malfoy answered casually. "Still. I consider myself lucky. Another move, and Madame Pomfrey said that I could have lost my arm. Don't touch, please! It's still sore!" 

Sera, Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Dante were watching from the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. Sera shook her head in disbelief. Even Ron did not look too pleased. 

"Listen to the idiot," Ron grumbled. "He really is laying the thick off of it, isn't he?" 

"Yeah, but at least Hagrid didn't get fired," said Sera in relief. 

"But I hear that Draco's father is furious," said Hermione anxiously. "I haven't heard the end of this." 

"He's been sighted, he's been sighted!" said Seamus Finnegan from nearby. 

"Who?!" Dante insisted, his interests peaking. 

"Sirius Black!" 

At once, there was a mad scramble to where Seamus and Neville sat. Hermione grabbed the Daily Prophet before anyone else could. 

"Dufftown?!" she exclaimed in fear. "That's not far from here, is it?" 

"You don't think that he'll come to Hogwarts? Do you?" Neville asked anxiously. 

"With dementors at every entrance?" Dean Thomas scoffed. "That's very likely." 

"Dementors?" scoffed Seamus. "He may have managed to sneak past them once. But who agrees with me and says that he won't get past them again without being caught?" 

"That's right," Bem jumped in. "Black could be anywhere. It's like trying to catch smoke. It's like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands." 

****

Sera and Hermione were a few minutes late to class. But no one seemed to bother at this point. This has been going on since day one. While it was unlike the two girls to be late, they just shrugged it off. 

". . . . Can anyone please tell me what a Boggart looks like?" Professor Lupin asked as Sera and Hermione took their place in the crowd near Ron, Dante, and Harry. 

"No one knows," Sera quipped at once. "Boggarts are shape-shifters." 

"They take the fear of whatever a particular person fears the most," Hermione added. "That's what makes them so —" 

"So terrifying," Professor Lupin finished for them with a bright smile. "Thank you, Miss Potter and Miss Granger. Ten points to each of you. Now, there is a simple way to get rid of the Boggart — a simple charm. Um, without wands, please. Repeat after me: Ridikulus!"

"Ridikulus!" everyone chorused. 

The armoire that the Boggart was kept in shook violently at the term. 

"Very good. A little bit louder this time, if you will. Repeat after me — Ridikulus!" 

"Ridikulus!" everyone chorused. 

"This class is ridiculous," Sera heard Malfoy grumbling in the background. 

"Excellent! Now, I need a volunteer. Neville, can you join me, please? Don't be shy." Neville looked very hesitant before coming forward. He avoided Professor Lupin's gaze, even though Professor Lupin was being perfectly friendly towards him. "Hello. Neville, what frightens you the most."

Neville muttered his answer, but it was too quiet for everyone to hear. 

"Sorry? Didn't catch that," said Professor Lupin lightly.