Melody Riddle and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 6: Heartbreaking Note

Draco stayed in the hospital wing. On Wednesday, he missed our first Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Each time I came in to give him food, I felt lucky that he was asleep and left his food on the side table... of course, I know I can't stay mad at him forever. I still have to tutor him.

Vincent, Greg, Becky and I sat together as we waited for the lesson to start. Professor Lupin was at the front of the room waiting as everyone filed in.

"I wonder what we're doing today," I whispered softly.

"Hopefully nothing," Vincent said, with an agreeing nod from Greg.

"Hopefully something," Becky and I said together.

"Good morning," Professor Lupin said with a smile, looking healthier though still fairly shabby. "You don't need your books today, but you will make good use of your wands. Today I am giving you a practical lesson."

Putting our books away in our bags, I know all the Slytherins were thinking the same thing. This would be a first for a real practical lesson in Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Once we were ready, Professor Lupin said, "Right then, if you'd follow me."

We got to our feet and followed him along the deserted corridor, around a corner, and down a second corridor into the staffroom. He opened it and stepped back while the rest of us walked on in.

Professor Snape was seated in the classroom. He stood up when everyone was in the room and Professor Lupin had closed the door behind him. He went over to him and said something in a whisper to him. Professor Lupin looked impressed, "Oh really? Well, that's quite amazing, I must say. Well sure..."

"Showing you off?" Becky whispered softly to me, sniggering.

"He better not be," I said.

"Melody," Professor Lupin called to me. Of course, I thought to myself. "Professor Snape says you have already worked with boggarts before. Is it true?"

Professor Snape glared at him as though he'd said an insult about him.

I nodded, having learned how to best finish off boggarts the previous year from lessons with Professor Snape. Suddenly, I heard the wardrobe at the end of the room bang against the wall. "Is that the lesson today?" I asked awkwardly.

Everyone else's faces were filled with fear at Professor Lupin's, "Yes." He continued teaching the class, using me, "So, let's test your memory of boggarts then. What is a boggart?"

"A shape-shifter that takes the shape of whatever the person in front of it fears most."

"Correct!" Professor Lupin said, beaming, "What else do you know of boggarts?"

"No one knows what a boggart looks like when it is alone, because once seen it instantly takes the shape of whatever we fear. But... with a big class like this in front of it, it won't know what shape to take and will become confused. What finishes a boggart off is laughter." I said.

"Now, what does your boggart take shape as?"

I raised my eyebrow at him, "I'd rather not say... I didn't even let Professor Snape see it, if that tells you anything."

He smiled kindly, "Well, if that's how it must be. Then, tell the class what the spell we're going to use today does."

I sighed, "The idea of the charm is to turn it into something that makes you laugh at it. That takes away its power of fear over you."

Professor Lupin nodded with a smile, "Ten points to Slytherin! You can do a small lesson with Professor Snape while your classmates work on this."

While Professor Lupin and the rest of the class walked over to the wardrobe, Professor Snape gestured for me to sit down in an empty chair a little ways off from the door. He sat in the one next to it.