My Boggart?

Professor Lupin wasn't there when they arrived at his first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson.They all sat down, took out their books, quills, and parchment, and were talking when he finallyentered the room. Lupin smiled vaguely and placed his tatty old briefcase on the teacher's desk.He was as shabby as ever but looked healthier than he had on the train, as though he had had afew square meals. 

 "Good afternoon," he said. "Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today'swill be a practical lesson. You will need only your wands." A few curious looks were exchanged as the class put away their books. They had never had apractical Defense Against the Dark Arts class before, unless you counted the memorable class lastyear when their old teacher had brought a cageful of pixies to class and set them loose.

 "Right then," said Professor Lupin, when everyone was ready. "If you'd follow me." 

 Puzzled but interested, the class got to its feet and followed Professor Lupin out of the classroom.He led them along the deserted corridor and around a corner, where the first thing they saw wasPeeves the Poltergeist, who was floating upside down in midair and stuffing the nearest keyholewith chewing gum. Peeves didn't look up until Professor Lupin was two feet away; then he wiggled his curly-toedfeet and broke into song.

 "Loony, loopy Lupin," Peeves sang. "Loony, loopy Lupin, loony, loopy Lupin —"  Rude and unmanageable as he almost always was, Peeves usually showed some respect towardthe teachers. Everyone looked quickly at Professor Lupin to see how he would take this; to theirsurprise, he was still smiling. 

 "I'd take that gum out of the keyhole if I were you, Peeves," he said pleasantly. "Mr. Filch won'tbe able to get in to his brooms." Filch was the Hogwarts caretaker, a bad-tempered, failed wizard who waged a constant waragainst the students and, indeed, Peeves. However, Peeves paid no attention to Professor Lupin'swords, except to blow a loud wet raspberry. 

 Professor Lupin gave a small sigh and took out his wand. "This is a useful little spell," he told the class over his shoulder. "Please watch closely." He raised the wand to shoulder height, said, "Waddiwasi!" and pointed it at Peeves. With the force of a bullet, the wad of chewing gum shot out of the keyhole and straight downPeeves's left nostril; he whirled upright and zoomed away, cursing. 

 "Cool, sir!" said Dean Thomas in amazement. 

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

 They set off again, the class looking at shabby Professor Lupin with increased respect. He ledthem down a second corridor and stopped, right outside the staffroom door. 

 "Inside, please," said Professor Lupin, opening it and standing back. 

 The staffroom, a long, paneled room full of old, mismatched chairs, was empty except for oneteacher. Professor Snape was sitting in a low armchair, and he looked around as the class filed in.His eyes were glittering and there was a nasty sneer playing around his mouth. 

As ProfessorLupin came in and made to close the door behind him, Snape said, "Leave it open, Lupin. I'drather not witness this." He got to his feet and strode past the class, his black robes billowingbehind him. At the doorway he turned on his heel and said, "Possibly no one's warned you,Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him withanything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear." 

 Neville went scarlet. Harry glared at Snape; it was bad enough that he bullied Neville in his ownclasses, let alone doing it in front of other teachers. Professor Lupin had raised his eyebrows. "I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation," he said, "and Iam sure he will perform it admirably." Neville's face went, if possible, even redder. Snape's lip curled, but he left, shutting the doorwith a snap.