Elegy//Harry Potter [3]

8

The four walked to their next class: Defense Against the Dark Arts. Ron was complaining the entire walk.

"What if he's like Lockhart?" Ron gasped. "What if he's worse?" Ron whispered dramatically.

"Oh, hush Ron." Hermione appeared between Autumn and Ron. "Lockhart wasn't so bad."

"Where did you come from?" Ron asked.

"Me? I've been here all this time." Hermione said. 

Autumn stared at Hermione, questioning what had happened. Then, Autumn did something -- that surprised herself.

"Seriously, Ron? She's been here this entire time. I think you're losing it," Autumn said.

Hermione looked shocked for a moment before putting her face back to its normal expression. Hermione and Autumn walked ahead to the classroom.

"What?" Ron asked, in total confusion.

The classroom looked somewhat the same as last year, but less photos of Lockhart. In fact, there were none.

"Hello, class," The professor said.

The professor looked the same as he did on the train -- but he looked healthier now. Autumn wondered where he came from.

Suddenly, a loud rocking noise echoed throughout the entire classroom. The class turned their attention to the noise, which seemed to come from a wardrobe. The wardrobe tipped side to side, making the familiar echoing noise.

"Intriguing, isn't it?" The professor asked. "Would anyone like to venture a guess. . . as to what is inside?"

Dean answered, "That's a boggart, that is."

"Very good, Mr. Thomas."

"Now, can anybody tell me what a boggart looks like?" Professor Lupin asked.

"No one knows." Hermione stated. "Boggarts are shape-shifters. They take the shape of whatever a person fears the most. That's what makes them so. . ." 

"Terrifying, yes. So the boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. He does not yet know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears. This means that we have a huge advantage over the boggart. Have you spotted it, Harry?" 

The class turned to face Harry. "Erm, because there are so many of us, it won't know what shape to turn into?"

"Exactly. I always find it helpful to have company when facing a boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a boggart make that very mistake - tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening."

The class stared at Lupin in silence.

"Luckily," Lupin started, "there is a simple charm that repels boggarts. Even though it is simple, it requires a force of mind. A thought, rather. The thing that really finishes a boggart off is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape you find amusing. We will practice the charm without wands. After me. Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" The class shouted.

"Very good. A little louder and very clear. Listen: Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" The class shouted again.

"This class is ridiculous," Malfoy muttered.

Autumn ignored him.

"That was the easy part. You see, the word enough is not enough. Neville, would you join me, please?"

Neville looked scared.

"Come on, don't be shy. Come on. Come on." 

Neville walked up to the front of class. 

"Hello. Neville, what frightens you most of all?"

Neville said something very quietly, so that no one could hear it.

"Sorry?" 

"Professor Snape," Neville said a little bit louder.

The entire class laughed, even Neville smiled.

"Professor Snape. Yes, frightens all." Lupin laughed a little. "You live with your grandmother, correct?" 

"I don't want it to turn into her, either," Neville said nervously.

"No, it won't. I want you to picture her clothes. Only her clothes, very clearly, in your mind." 

"She carries a red handbag. . ." 

"We don't need to hear. As long as you see it, we'll see it," Lupin said, leaving room for Neville to face the boggart.

"Now, when I open that wardrobe. . . here's what I want you to do." Lupin whispered to Neville. "Can you do that? Yes. Wand at the ready. One, two, three. Think, Neville, think." 

'Snape' opened the wardrobe door. He was wearing his all too familiar black robes. He turned his attention to Neville and marched intimidatingly towards him.

"R-Riddikulus!" Neville shouted, pointing his wand at 'Snape'.

As soon as the words left Neville's mouth, the black robes on Snape's body turned to a cheetah print shirt, bright red pants, a large black hat that had a peacock feather, and a large purse.

"Wonderful, Neville, wonderful! Incredible! Okay. . . to the back, Neville. Everyone, form a line. Form a line! I want everyone to picture the thing they fear the very most. . ."

The rest of what Lupin said faded in Autumn's mind. What did Autumn fear the most?

Autumn first thought of Voldemort and his return. Then Autumn thought of how many people Voldemort had killed. Did Autumn fear death? No. Next, Autumn thought of her friends. How would they react to death? Did they fear death? Then Autumn thought of Cayden. Did she fear death?

Autumn thought of Cayden. How had she died? Was it on purpose or was it natural? Autumn couldn't help but think. Did Cayden want death? Did she expect it? 

Autumn's thoughts were interrupted by Lupin speaking. "Riddikulus!"

It appeared that Lupin had stepped in front of the boggart himself -- and it turned into the moon.

"Right. Sorry about that. That's enough for today. Collect your books from the back. That's the end of the lesson." Lupin said, pointing to the pile of books near the door.

Autumn didn't move. 

Cayden was dead. And Autumn didn't do anything to stop it.

"Autumn?" 

Autumn didn't answer.

"Autumn!" 

Autumn noticed it was Ron talking. Harry and Hermione were staring at the two.

"Yeah?" Autumn asked, trying her best to sound normal.

"What happen—" Ron gasped. "Bloody hell, I didn't even think—" Ron started to say.

Harry and Hermione stood in confusion -- and it only increased when Ron grabbed her arm and yanked Autumn into the hallway.

"Hey, hey -- it's okay. It's alright." Ron tried to comfort Autumn, but Autumn just shook her head.

"I-I just want to go back to my room." Autumn pulled her bag over her shoulder. "Tell the others that I don't feel well."

Autumn found herself crying as she walked back to the dormitories.