The boggart twisted and contorted, changing as the students ramped up their curiosity. Harry sat across the room, trying to make out the form- a student had shyly remarked that no one had seen Remus’ boggart, and so they were all observing as it changed to his worst fear.
The students stood back to regard the creature- or rather, the moon. Even the child who had just opened the classroom door, late with a slip from the hospital wing, stood shocked. (They had a knack for DADA, and a rather intense fixation on top of it. Remus had no doubt they knew the creature before them.)
Most stood confused. Hermione stood considerably taller than she had a moment ago, a face of deep thought overcoming her. The fresh student, the one who’d just walked in, stood pale and sweaty. Perhaps the confusion was going to cause them to faint (again), and Lupin quickly picked it out. “Ridikulus!” He swung his wand towards the creature, slinging the spell that turned it into a rubber balloon and flew it straight back to its armoire.
“Thank you, everyone, for your attention, but class is over! See you all next time!” He waved, before glancing back over to the pale student, who’d only begun to get greener since he looked away.. he quickly rushed to their side, holding out his arms lest they fall forward. Still, they steadied themselves against the wall. Harry, who had been told to sit out of the class and report back at the end, hesitantly approached, his hand shaking slightly. He was quickly nodded away though. “We’ll speak later, Harry.” The professor assured him, and he scurried off, leaving the professor and his shaking student.
“You look rather ill, are you sure you should be out of Ms. Pomferys’ care so soon?” He asked steadily, slowly moving one arm away from the student to reach for the chocolate in his pocket. It was charmed not to melt, but rather remain pleasantly warm in case of emergency.
“N- well, I mean, yes!” They gasped out. “I’m fine, I’m fine, I just-“ Remus sucked in a breath, quickly recognizing this as a panic attack. And still, this couldn’t be good- this student had chronic health conditions, one of which made them prone to fainting.
Slowly, the student slid against the wall and to the floor, as though reading his mind. Their cane clanked to the floor. Remus set down his own- the full moon was approaching, and his old bones couldn’t take it even with the potion. Slowly settling on the floor next to them, he fought his instincts to retain eye contact. It made this student particularly uncomfortable, if he recalled.
“It’s just, the boggart, that was-“
Remus offered up a piece of his chocolate with a soft smile. “I suspected you knew what creature it was. Well, you see, the moon- well, the mind can be a funny thing. I happen-“ he started with the excuses as they swallowed down the chocolate quickly. Afterall, despite his soft spot for the student, he could never imagine risking his livelyhood. Even if he trusted the oddball student wouldn’t tell a soul.
“No- I think-“ their eyes were wild, and they couldn’t seem to catch any air. “I think it was looking at me!” The student cried, tears now falling. Remus’ face softened, an expression the student couldn’t read- aside from the knowing twinkle in his eye. He knew what they were getting at. “I- I really should’ve told you sooner, I’m just- I was so-“
They were quickly cut off of their blubbering by Remus’ arms encircling them. They froze, now all but forgetting to breathe. “Please don’t kick me out,” they wheezed. Remus only took a deep breath, hoping the poor pup would follow his lead.
And they did. And the two took several deep breaths together, before Remus pulled away from them, hands on their shoulders, and sighed. “So Dumbledore doesn’t know?” He asked
“No!” The student quickly relayed, trying hard not to panic again. Remus winced.
“Right, right. Well… I can assure you, it’s the best idea. Certainly with the full moon so close- is this why your family insists you return monthly?” The faculty had been told they returned so often to receive a treatment a muggle doctor had to administer, as it was the families wishes not to rely on magical means of treatment.
They nodded, but quickly added, “we can’t tell Dumbledore. There’s no way, I’d be expelled, I’d be-“
“No.” Remus said firmly. He looked down, thumbed the tin wrapper of his chocolate. He’d only opened a new candy an hour ago, and still supposed it’d be done before his next class. “No, you wouldn’t be. Because.. I, too, am a lycanthrope.” He admitted, looking back up with a small smile, and eyes twinkling with shared secret.