𝕀𝕟𝕟𝕠𝕔𝕖𝕟𝕥 ⇾ Harry Potter

Chapter Seven ✔️

Rewritten and posted on October 24th 2020

C h a p t e r S e v e n
T h e B o g g a r t

When the quadruple arrives at the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom two days after the incident with Buckbeak, they found other students waiting for the class to begin and no teacher. Hermione and Evelyn sat at a desk at the front of the class, with Ron and Harry behind them. They waited for several moments with their books, quills and parchment in front of them, before Professor Lupin entered the class. He gave the students a kind smile as he made his way to his desk, which was decorated with unusual nik-naks that the brunette Weasley had never seen before.

"Good afternoon," he greeted them, placing the same briefcase from the train on his desk. "Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today will be a practical lesson. You will need only your wands."

While Hermione looked displeased with the idea of putting her perfectly organised supplies away, Evelyn was thrilled with the news. Defence Against the Dark Arts was most certainly her favourite subject. It was by far the most interesting and exciting class, even if practical classes didn't happen as often as she hoped. Only a few more years, she told herself, then they could learn the interesting spells. The reminder of the last time they had a practical class in DADA buzzed in the back of her mind, when a certain professor had unleashed a cage full of Cornish Pixies that he had no hope of controlling.

As the group of students followed Lupin out of the classroom and though the corridors, they encountered a certain ghost; Peeves the Poltergeist. Peeves was infamous for being the troublemaker at Hogwarts, always pulling pranks and teasing students. This time, Peeves was stuffing a large clump of pink chewing gum into the keyhole of Filch's cupboard. 

"Loony, loopy Lupin," Peeves sang after spotting the Professor. "Loony, loopy Lupin. Loopy, loopy Lupin —"

Evelyn - who didn't have much patience for Peeves - couldn't resist an eye roll before her curious gaze landed on Lupin to see his reaction. Even if he was a pain, Peeves was quite respectful to staff, excluding Filch. Therefore, it was surprising to hear him mock a teacher, and even more surprising to see that the new Professor was smiling.

"I'd take that gum out of the keyhole if I were you, Peeves," he warned pleasantly. "Mr. Filch won't be able to get in to his brooms."

Peeves blow a raspberry in the direction of Lupin, ignoring his recommendation. Lupin gave a sigh at the gesture, before taking out his wand and half-turning to look at the watchful students. "This is a useful little spell," he told them with a mischievous glint. "Please watch closely."

He raised the wand to shoulder height, before casting a spell that was new to Hermione and Evelyn. "Waddiwasi!" He spoke pointing the wand at Peeves. The students laughed in amusement and stared in awe as the gum flew from the keyhole and straight into Peeves' nostril. The poltergeist exclaimed in horror, cursing as he flew down the corridor to get away from Lupin.

"That was cool, sir!" Dean Thomas exclaimed in amazement.

"Thank you, Dean," said Professor Lupin, putting his wand away again. "Shall we proceed?"

The classroom that Lupin lead them to was void of any desks. Evelyn concluded that it must have been a spare room for practical classes as there was a fair amount of space. It was a pretty basic room, with shelves of old textbooks and random objects scattered around on the window ledges. There wasn't much interesting about it, apart from the large, wooden cabinet that sat at the other side of the room.