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CASSIE WAS QUIETER after that, although she was never one to be loud and boisterous, something had changed. Her classmates felt pity for her, there was no doubt about that.
She couldn't tell if it was better or worse to have their pity or their fear.
Cassie entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, blinded by the newly autumn sun that streamed in through the windows. Normally she was very excited about this class, taught by her father and filled with Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students. However, ever since her father was spotted, she had been avoiding Remus.
She did not want to be pried on how she felt at the moment, only wanting to deal with it herself. She also did not want to worry him, assuming he had already been dealing with worse from the students and other professors.
"Hi, Dad." She said, quietly upon entering.
"That is Professor Lupin to you, Miss. Lupin-Black." He smirked at his daughter to which she replied with a small smile.
"What's with the wardrobe?" She nodded towards the front of the room, where a wardrobe stood rattling. "Boggart?"
"A genius you are, my star." He smiled at her and quickly turned his gaze to the door as the rest of the class began piling in. The desks were pushed towards the walls leaving the students to gather around Professor Lupin.
"Are we playing dress up, Professor?" George joked from Cassie's side, his arm across her shoulders.
"Unfortunately not, Mr. Weasley. Perhaps another time." Her father smiled at them and the twins shook their heads in dismay. Cedric smiled at their antics, while Lee appeared disappointed.
"You all are taking your O.W.L.S. this year. In my class, I aim to prepare you for the dangers that you may face once you leave Hogwarts." He stepped away from the students and stood next to the wardrobe. "Now, can anyone tell me what may be inside?"
"A Boggart, sir?" Angelina Johnson raised her hand
"Correct, 5 points to Gryffindor. " He smiled at her.
"Now can anyone tell me what a Boggart is, perhaps what they do?" Upon no one answering, Cassie raised her hand.
"Boggarts are shapeshifters who take the form of what a person fears the most." She smiled at the proud look on her father's face.
"Yes, 5 points to Hufflepuff." Professor Lupin responded.
"Spooky..." Fred muttered into Cassie's ear, to which she snorted in response.
"Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a Boggart. Let's practice it now, shall we? Without wands, please. Riddikulus!"
"Riddikulus." The class responded.
"Good. So much for the easy part. You see, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a Boggart off is laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing." He smiled and then turned towards the students once more. "Helena, what do you fear the most?" Cassie watched as her father addressed her dorm mate.
"Loaded question," Cassie murmured, and George squeezed her shoulder in acknowledgment.
"Spiders, sir," Helena replied, meekly.
"Yes, now I want you to think of the funniest spider you have ever seen."
"Spiders are not funny, sir. They are scary."
"Precisely." Helena nodded as she began to understand, and closed her eyes in thought. "Got it?" She nodded.
Helena placed her wand at the ready and Cassie watched as the wardrobe opened and a giant spider stood in front of her. "Think, Helena." Her father urged, keeping his eye on the boggart with his wand ready as well.
"R-Riddikulus!" She said and the class watched as in a flash of light the spider changed. It had now shrunk significantly, wearing a top hat and a mustache. The class laughed and suddenly a huge line erupted in front of the wardrobe.
"Who's next?" Her father smiled as the students now appeared eager to participate. Snakes turned to jellyfish, clowns began to dance, and the class became so distracted that no one noticed Cassie continuously moving to the back of the line.
She did not need her friends or her father worrying about her more than they already were and she did not need the entire class knowing her private business.
"Cass, come on. How about you?" Fred said to her after his fear turned into bright fireworks.
"I don't know, everyone else still has to go. I'll just wait my turn." She smiled at him, fidgeting with her necklace.
"Can't have you left out now, can we?" Lee smiled after his turn had been completed. She forced a smile and allowed other students to enter the line in front of her, putting her at the back once again.
Cassie found herself unable to sit still as the front of the line got closer. She attempted to turn away as she entered the front of the line, moving to the back once more before-
"Ah, Cassie. Let's see what you've got, my dear." Her father called, causing her to turn around almost cautiously.
"Are you sure? We don't have much time left in the class-"
"Nonsense, everyone gets a turn." She swallowed and shut her eyes tightly.
At this, moment she had decided that she hated her father's kind nature.
She stood in front of the wardrobe, taking a deep breath, happy that most of the class was distracted in their conversations. In front of her, the boggart shifted not into one thing, but into a group of people who she could recognize anywhere.
All her friends stood in front of her, their families behind them. They surrounded one of her fathers' wanted posters and turned to look at her. Their gazes had the indescribable sense of fear, they were terrified of her.
They backed away from her, cautiously, as if she would hurt them.
Cassie felt the familiar feeling settle in her stomach, her heart racing, her breath picking up, and the urge to run out of the room and never return. She stuttered in an attempt to make it go away, but she felt as if she could not.
"Riddikulus." She finally got out, exhaling as the group in front of her turned into a large swarm of bubbles. Remus turned towards the clock and spotted the time.
"That is all for the day, see you in class tomorrow." He announced, attempting to speak to his daughter but she swiftly walked to her bag. "Cassie?" She turned to look at him as he raised an eyebrow at her.
"I'm fine." She practically faked a smile, barely glancing at her friends before she exited the room.
