enchanted • draco malfoy

Year 3: Boggart

Felicity's POV

I surveyed the shaking wardrobe with caution, my brows furrowed. I sent a questioning glance to Ron, who returned it with one of his own. "Intriguing, isn't it?" A familiar voice asked from the top of the staircase. The whole class turned to face Professor Lupin as he continued speaking. "Would anyone like to venture a guess," he said as he descended, "as to what is inside?"

"That's a boggart, that is," Dean answered. Professor Lupin nodded. "Very good, Mr. Thomas," he praised, "Now, can anybody tell me what a boggart looks like?" "No one knows," Hermione answered. My head whipped to the side in surprise. "When did she get here?" Ron whispered to Harry and me, eyes wide. I shrugged, my expression incredulous.

"Boggarts are shape-shifters," Hermione said, oblivious to our hushed murmurs, "They take the shape of whatever a person fears the most. That's what makes them so..." "So terrifying, yes," Professor Lupin finished, strolling up to the wardrobe. "Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a boggart," he informed us, "Let's practice it. Without wands, please. Repeat after me: Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" the class echoed. "Very good. Now, a little louder, and very clear," he spoke with conviction, "Riddikulus!" The class repeated the charm with more force. "Riddikulus!"

"This class is ridiculous," Malfoy spat. I turned around to see him leaning against one of the many pillars in the room, surrounded by his 'friends'. "So is your opinion," I told him, "Shut up, Malfoy." He sent me a stony glare, and I gave him a sweet smile in return.

"Now, that was the easy part," Professor Lupin announced, "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." His eyes wandered around the classroom before landing on my brother. "Neville, would you join me, please?" Neville looked around, as if there were another Neville in the class. "Come on, don't be shy," Lupin urged, "Neville, what frightens you most of all?"

I was already drifting away from my friends, towards the back of the classroom. Facing my biggest fear in front of the entire class, Gryffindors and Slytherins included? Hell no. Unfortunately for me, Hermione chose that time to grab my arm and pull me forward. "We should be first in line," she whispered enthusiastically. I opened my mouth to respond but my brother's stuttering response cut me off.

"P-Professor Snape," he mumbled under his breath. I laughed with the rest of the class. "Yes, well, he frightens all," Lupin told him, sounding thoughtful, "And I believe you live with you grandmother and sister?" Neville's eyes were filled with alarm. "I don't want that Boggart to turn into one of them, either," he said quickly.

"No, of course not," Professor Lupin agreed, hiding a smile. The wardrobe behind him shuddered again. "And it won't. But I want you to picture your Grandmother's clothes. Only her clothes, very clearly. Now, when I open that wardrobe..." he trailed off, and bent down to speak in Neville's ear. When he finished, he straightened up and asked, "Can you do that?"

Neville nodded, looking scared but determined. "Wand at the ready," Lupin ordered. Nev gulped, his hand shaking slightly as he held his wand out in front of him. Lupin flicked his wand to the right and the wardrobe unlocked and slowly creaked open. And out came Professor Snape.

"Think, Neville, think," Professor Lupin told him urgently. "Riddikulus!" Neville shouted. Suddenly, Professor Snape was wearing one of Grandmother's outfits. He was clothed in an awful dark green jacket and skirt, with a stuffed fox around his neck, a bird hat on his head, and a bulky red purse in his hand. I cringed at the sight, both embarrassed and amused.

The class roared with laughter. "Wonderful, Neville, wonderful!" Lupin shouted over the laughter. "Okay, to the back, Neville! Everyone form a line!" Hermione and Ron elbowed their way to the front, sandwiching me and Harry between them. Why they were pushing us to our biggest fear was a mystery to me.