Chapter Forty-Two, The Dreaded Boggart

As Wednesday morning dawned colder then what everyone was used to for September in Scotland - no thanks to the Dementors stationed all around the grounds - it was the day all the Third Year students had been eagerly waiting with eager anticipation; their first practical for Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson with Remus of that year would be that afternoon. He would be showing them how to face a Boggart. Some students were excited and almost bouncing in their seats as they ate breakfast, while others were nervous and pushing their breakfast around on their plate/bowl staring into space, and others still were terrified, refused to eat and were looking rather nauseous.

Izzy smiled up at the head table at her Dad and Papa reassuring them that she was feeling much more settled after what had transpired on the Hogwarts Express and even her nightmares had slowly faded to the background with how occupied her mind was with her new classes and the constant support of her friends - including Draco - who had surprised many with his change in behaviour and was living up to his promise to Izzy. Even Blaise, Theo and Daphne were surprised but no less pleased as they hated seeing Draco who had been their childhood friend picking on Izzy who was also their friend.

It was why all occupants of the Great Hall were surprised come Wednesday morning when the middle of the Gryffindor table was not only occupied by Izzy, Neville, Ron, Kellah, Celeste, Fred, George and Lee Jordan but also Luna Lovegood a second year Ravenclaw and Sue Li a third year Ravenclaw, two Hufflepuff third years (Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones), but also four Slytherin third years and one Slytherin first year (Daphne and Astoria Greengrass, Blaise Zabini, Theo Nott and Draco Malfoy).

"Seems you were wrong about my daughter, doesn't it Snape?" Sirius commented smugly, smirking at the scowl that the dower man sent him before he (Sirius) turned back to his breakfast smiling proudly at his daughter. Who Sirius could readily and proudly admit was so much better than what he and James and even Lily had been in school as she showcased House Unity as she chatted happily with her friends from all Houses. Izzy was definitely the best version of them all.

"Seems our House will come back united and stronger than before, doesn't it cousin?" Narcissa asked.
"It does indeed Cissy." Sirius agreed. "If you'd like, I could set up a meeting between you and Andy during the holidays. It's time the Blacks were united once more." Narcissa mulled over Sirius's words for a moment before a shy smile appeared on her face, a small nod directed to her younger cousin who knew that was Cissy shyly admitting she wanted her older sister back.

* * *

Throughout the day the excitement and anticipation for their first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson of the year seemed to have grown to such an extent that everyone could practically taste it rolling off of the third year students. Thankfully, lunch seemed to have passed rather quickly that as soon as the bell rang the third years practically flew to Remus's classroom with Izzy, Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott, Sue Li, Ron, Neville, Kellah, Celeste, Daphne, Blaise, Draco and Theo at the front.

Hermione, who had been rather displeased with Izzy for accepting Draco's apology the day before, was refusing to speak to them and was stood in the middle of the line with Lavender Brown, the Patil twins: Padma and Pavarti, Fay Dunbar, Emma Vane, Abbie Runcorn, and Sally-Anne Perks gossiping about the Slytherins who had joined them that morning; while Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Bem Kelly and a Ravenclaw student named Oliver Rivers were rolling their eyes at the girls' pettiness.

Luckily before anything could be said on the matter, the classroom door opened with Remus popping his head out with a wide welcoming grin; if a softer one was directed to Izzy no one seemed to notice or care as they all knew she was his daughter, but during term time he treated her like any other student which had always endeared the hidden werewolf to his students and colleagues (except one Severus Snape).
"Good afternoon everyone," Remus greeted happily. "Leave your bags and books at the back of the class, but make sure to have your wands on you and form a line in the middle of the room please." He instructed as he let them into the classroom.

Most were wondering what this class would entail after Izzy got to fly on the Hippogriff Buckbeak over the grounds and the lake in their first Care of Magical Creatures class; it was the first time since the disastrous end of their holiday that she got to be a teenager. She had only ever felt free, felt bliss like this when she was flying and playing Quidditch. And due to her success with Buckbeak, it had encouraged others in their year. Thankfully no one had been injured as they all had paid close attention despite Pansy acting the fool and mimicking Izzy only to be the one embarrassed when Daphne tripped her up causing her to land with a hard thud in the mud.

Despite how excited they were for this lesson the excitement was slightly overshadowed by an emergency edition of the Daily Prophet arriving during lunch, which had announced that Peter Pettigrew had been spotted in Dufftown, a small Wizarding village just south of Hogsmeade. Remus, noticing many of his students (including Izzy and her friends) were lost in thought over the contents which the Prophet had brought not ten minutes ago, decided to make this class fun and pulled their attention to the wardrobe rattling at the front of the class.
"Intriguing isn't it?" Remus asked the class, successfully distracting the class and pulling their attention to today's lesson.

"Would anyone like to guess as to what is inside?" He asked as a few hands shot up into the air. Those belonging to Izzy, Dean, Hermione, Sue Li, and Sally Smith a Hufflepuff and twin sister to the arrogant Zacharius Smith.
"Tha-"
"Miss Granger please do not call out in class and wait to be called upon. Thank you." Remus reprimanded gently causing Hermione to flush scarlet with a scowl on her face. He didn't mean to embarrass the girl, he just wanted it to be fair to all of his students and give them all an equal opportunity to answer.

"Mr Thomas?" Remus asked.
"That's a Boggart." Dean replied confidently.
"Excellent. Ten points to Gryffindor." Remus praised, smiling as those around Dean either smiled or patted him on the back.
"Now, would anyone else like to guess what a Boggart looks like?" Remus asked, once again multiple hands flew into the air with Hermione stretching her hand as tall as she could, waving her hand while the others waited patiently with their hands in the air. "Miss Potter-Black."
Ignoring Hermione's huff of annoyance Izzy answered the question excitedly as D.A.D.A was one of her favourite subjects.

"It's a Shape-shifter but no one knows exactly what its actual form looks like as the moment it comes into contact with someone it always assumes the form of whatever that person fears the most." Izzy replied eloquently.
"Well done Izzy, very well thought out. Ten points to Gryffindor." Remus praised ecstatic. "Now, this very unknown factor is what makes Boggarts so terrifying." Remus continued, pacing around the classroom until he came back to the front. "Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a Boggart. Let's practise it now. Without wands, please. After me. 'Riddikulus!'"

"Riddikulus!"
"Very good. Very good. Little louder and very clear. Listen: 'Riddikulus!'"
"Riddikulus!"
"Very good. Now, that is the easy part I'm afraid. You see, the incantation is not enough. What really finishes off a Boggart is laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing." Remus instructed them, but seeing some were still confused he decided to try another way. "Okay. Let's have a demonstration. Neville, will you join me please?" Remus asked.

"You can do this Neville!" Izzy coaxed, earning a grateful smile from her brother as their friends cheered along for him too, bolstering his confidence.
"What frightens you most of all Neville?" Remus asked, but before the young boy could answer Remus turned sternly towards the rest of the class. "I will not tolerate anyone laughing, bullying or taking the mickey out of someone's fears as we will be seeing everyone's fears during these lessons. If you wouldn't want someone laughing at your fear then don't do it to others. Is that understood?"
"Yes Professor." The class muttered.

"Good. Now, Neville, what is your fear?" Remus asked kindly.
"Professor Snape." Neville muttered, causing Izzy's hair to flare a blood-red and to send mild Stinging Hexes to those who had let out little laughs.
"Detention Mr Smith, Miss Parkinson, Miss Brown and Mr Boot." Remus snapped sharply, glaring at the aforementioned students. "Tonight, in my office at eight pm."

"Here's what I want you to do, Neville." Remus stated, whispering in Neville's ear while ignoring the grumbling students who had just got detention. "Wand at the ready, and three.... Two... one." Remus muttered as he opened the wardrobe with a flick of his wand. Immediately Severus Snape emerged out of the wardrobe with a menacing scowl on his face stalking towards Neville who cleared his throat and confidently - if a little shakily - uttered, "Riddikulus!"

At once Snape's black robes tunes into the clothes of Neville's great-grandmother that he's seen from the portraits at his manor. Boggart-Snape now wore a stuffed vulture hat on top of his head, a red handbag clutched in a black lace gloved hand, black boots, pink stockings, a stuffed fox scarf, and an emerald shin-length skirt with a matching jacket.

Everyone burst into laughter confusing the Boggart, its eyes rapidly jumping from one person to the next.
"Marvellous Neville, absolutely marvellous. Ten points to Gryffindor." Remus laughed. "Okay to the back Neville, and everyone else form a line." Remus instructed as he dropped the needle on the gramophone, soft upbeat music filling the classroom as one by one students faced their fears. Pavarti's Boggart was a blood-stained Mummy whose bandage unravelled until its head fell off after she cast the spell; Kellah's was Angelina severely injured from Quidditch which turned into Angelina singing and dancing goofily.

Draco's Boggart was an angry Lucius which turned into Lucius with pink hair and purple spotted skin which Remus recognised from when Sirius pranked him during Yule when he and Sirius were in their third year.

Celeste's Boggart was Izzy after she was bitten by the Basilisk last year, but this time she was dead which terrified those closest to Izzy. Seeing her lifeless emerald eyes and face frozen in agony; it was their worst nightmare. Shakily Celeste raised her wand and Boggart-Izzy turned into a smiley Izzy that held a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. Seamus faced a Banshee who lost her voice; Ron an Acromantula that had roller blades attached to its many legs causing it to fall continuously. Next was Padma who was faced with a large cobra that she calmly turned into a clown Jack-in-the-box which Izzy thought was scarier than the snake especially with its creepy smile.

As Izzy stepped up after Padma, Remus froze with an apple halfway to his lips watching her intently as the Boggart continued to spin and the smile slowly slipped off of Izzy's face leaving a terrified, pale expression behind just as a Dementor appeared looming over a frozen Izzy.
"HERE!" Remus shouted, jumping in front of Izzy. Seeing its next victim the Boggart changed to that of the Full Moon peeking through two dark clouds but it was there for only a mere moment as Remus cast the spell causing the moon to turn into a deflating balloon that zoomed around the classroom that was filled with laughter once more, before Remus sent the Boggart back into the wardrobe.

"Sorry about that. That's enough for today. Sorry but each person who faced the Boggart will receive ten points for their House." Remus called loudly over the disgruntled groans. "Make sure to collect your books from the back of the class as your homework will be an in depth essay on the effects Boggarts have, what happens if a Boggart tries to terrify more than one person and the best way to rid a dwelling of them. As that's the end of this lesson. Thank you! Sorry!" He said louder still over the groans. "There is such a thing as having too much of a good thing!"

As he was shooing his students out ten minutes early, Remus cast a glance behind him as his cub stood frozen in front of the wardrobe clearly not hearing her friends calling her nor having heard a word of what he just said. He was going to have to talk to Sirius about what happened, and if he didn't have to deal with these detentions tonight then he would be there as well. Clearly what happened on the train was still affecting Izzy and he knew they would have to get her an earlier appointment with Healer Fawley. There was nothing he wouldn't do for his cub, he just wished he could help her more.

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Author's note: DO NOT ask me to update in any way shape or form. There are other ways of telling me what you thought of this. Anyone who does will get one warning before they are blocked.