Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way into the defense classroom. Harry had to withhold a groan as he did not find Professor Lupin at the front of the room but Snape. Hermione looked undeterred but Ron seemed positively ill. He gave Harry a pained look like he just got another one of the puke flavored Bertie Bott’s Beans.
“Five points from Gryffindor for acting insufferable before the lesson has even started,“ Snape called out without even really looking up from where he was sitting at the teachers desk. Ron managed to mask his emotions but mouthed something about a certain dungeon bat at Harry. Harry agreed with Ron but kept his mouth shut. Better to not aggravate the men even more. He could only hope that this wasa one time thing. Lupin seemed really great as a defense teacher and losing him after only three weeks would be quite the tragedy. Honestly, if even Lockhart managed to keep the cursed teaching position for a whole year, professor Lupin must as well.
This year they had defense with Hufflepuff and the other students already sitting in the classroom had already claimed the seats way in the back. Luckily the trio were not the last ones coming into the room but Hermione still rolled their eyes at them as Harry and Ron hurried to the furthest table back, that was still free. The boys seemed to have the same thought though and wouldn‘t budge just because the girl thought they were acting childish. If she wants to sit at the front she can do so, but they wont sign their death wish by accompanying her there. Really, how is she in her third year and still not seeing the gigantic mass of bitter hate that makes up Severus Snape.
Last week Fred and George had told them that in the teacher conference Snape had tried to reintroduce corporeal punishment to Hogwarts. Saying that him and Filch wanted to renovate some of the old dungeon cells. Arguing they could reuse the old whips and shackles found deep under Hogwarts to discipline misbehaving students. Ron had laughed saying he believed them 100 percent. Harry had felt kinda dizzy at their conversation his mind getting hazy and his hands sweating and clamming shut. His mind had filled with fuzzy thoughts that he usually pushed to the back of his mind while he was in Hogwarts. Hermione had given him a strange look and admonished the other boys to stop it because they were scarying the first years with their made up stories. She had raised her chin high defiantly and grabbed Harry’s hand telling him he was the only normal boy out of them. She had taken him to a couch near the fire and started a game of Gobbstones with him that was lying around, even though she normally claimed to dislike it.
Seeing Snape now, Harry doubted if the girl was right to defend the man‘s honor. Hermione took the desk in front of Harry and Ron‘s, settling into her seat with a straight back like it was just any other day. Ron mouthed at him that she has gone crazy. Harry was just surprised that she didn‘t immediately head for the first row and was kinda thankful to be seated behind her because she provided him with extra coverage to the front. Slowly the room filled with the other Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. The first row remaining mostly empty, especially in front of Hermione. It was just Neville‘s luck to come to this exact lesson later than the others. He looked like he was going to suffocate as he saw Snape at the teacher‘s desk and the only free seats at the front or next to Hermione, which was equally as open. Ron gave Neville a pained smile to reassure him but the other boy didn‘t cheer up. Without even realizing what he was doing, Harry felt his body stand up and move his bag to the seat next to Hermione. Neville showed him the most grateful look and quickly took Harry‘s old seat. Hermione gave his knee a supporting squeeze and smiled at him. At least she is aware of how much he suffers under Snape even if she believes it to be childish.
Harry at least felt validated as Snape stood up and threw him a scathing look after noticing him in the front of his class.
„Professor Lupin is otherwisely preoccupied at this time so I will be taking over his classes for the following days. I hope your performance in this subject is more promising than in potions although seeing how all of you chose to hide away, I highly doubt it,“ he said, giving the students a hateful look. Harry felt relief go through the classroom. So this change up in teachers was only temporary.
„And here I had thought Gryffindors defense techniques consisted of barging in head-first rather than hiding away.“ Harry wondered if that meant the other way around that Snape had fully expected the Hufflepuff‘s to hide in the back, since he didn‘t call them out on it. But he also thinks they are more than happy at being ignored by the dour potions bat.
„Although some seem to deem themselves proficient in this context.“ He let his angry eyes land on Harry. However, Harry would like to believe that the hateful gaze also included Hermione, Ron and Neville, mostly because he could even hear the small gasp that shook through Neville.
„Let it be known that false confidence has killed even the most skilled of mages. A horror to think of what it might let happen to incompetent children.“ Harry tried to look unbothered but he could literally feel Hermione bristle at being referred to as incompetent. Maybe Snape had finally managed to make her kill list.
„Professor Lupin instructed me to teach you about boggarts. Mister Longbottom, I am sure you can enlighten us all about these creatures.“ The smirk on Snape‘s lips seemed positively evil.
„They … they are …“
„Any day now, Mister Longbottom, I would actually like to get back to the teaching within this lesson,“ Snape immediately spat the words at Neville.
„They … are monsters that take on the form of your worst fears … sir.“
„Very well, I am sure a four year old couldn‘t have given me a more elaborate answer. Open your books on page 32. I doubt any of you did the reading ahead of time. You have eight minutes to prepare yourself. I hope all of you are able to do at least that. Though seeing as I am the one grading your essays, reading must be actively painful for you. “ At least he didn‘t take points from Gryffindor. In Neville‘s books this must have already counted as a great success. The class opened their books and Harry read the text half heartedly. Leastways these would be eight minutes spared from Snape‘s dialogues.
Harry read the text, which was actually longer than what anyone, who is not Hermione, could read and comprehend within the time and she probably has already memorized it by word. He withheld a groan. What he was able to gather was that boggarts liked to hide in dark spaces and had the ability to shape-shift turning themselves into what their victims are afraid of the most and feeding off of their fear. Positive emotions however harmed the creatures and forced them to hide away again. Harry questioned whether professor Lupin actually recommended Snape to cover boggarts because it seemed just like something the other man would have actively chosen by himself to torture the students. It would give him a lot of material to taunt them. Although, maybe the potions master would have otherwisely chosen something potentially more harmful and would have delighted at seeing it tear his most hated students to shreds. Lupin probably gave him the boggarts as something more tame and safe until he returned.
Far too soon the eight minutes were up and Snape vanished the first rows of desks and chairs, giving them just barely enough of a warning to get up before the chairs poofed out of existence. Still, Harry could hear Neville tumble behind him, even though the glee in Snape‘s eyes would have been telling enough.
Even though he did it with the most amount of scornful remarks someone could possibly work into their demonstrations, he showed them how to cast Ridiculous and what to do.
Afterwards he brought out a big box and deposited it at the front of the room. All of them could hear something scratching at the walls of the box from inside and Neville suddenly looked very ill. Then they were told to form a line after which they would all face the boggart one after the other. There were two unfortunate Hufflepuffs who happened to be standing before him and Hermione at the time and now made up the front of the row before Hermione and Harry. Harry wanted to say something to Ron but as he turned around he saw that Neville must have pulled Ron to the far back of the row, well not to lie but good for them. He still took the time to glare at the other students who again hid behind him and Hermione. There were a lot of times that people just expected him to go first. Leastways todays the two Hufflepuffs were making up the first line of defense.
Snape released the boggart and out came something … slimy? A green mass of slime moved towards the Hufflepuff girl. That was what she was afraid of? She looked shaken but still called out the charm. The slime changed materials and suddenly turned into something powdery, at least that was it what it was releasing all over the floor. Snape gave it all an annoyed look. The thing suddenly seemed too dry to move. Harry thought the whole ordeal was more weird than anything. Some people released some nervous laughter unsure of how to react. Harry thinks the challenge to create something funny was severely heightened in difficulty simply through Snape‘s presence. He didn‘t quite inspire joy. He sent the girl to the back of the row and the Hufflepuff boy stepped forward. The boggart turned into Darth Vader and Harry was proud to at least know who it was. He could have already laughed just at the knowledge that this movie character was a wizard’s boggart. The thing breathed deeply and loud and advanced on them. The boy actually had a good idea and after he cast the spell the Darth Vader suddenly started talking in a very high pitched girly voice even letting out a surprised squeak after hearing himself. The boy laughed along with some a handful of students who probably were muggle raised and knew Star Wars.
The boggart took a self-conscious looking step backwards. Smiling the boy went to the back of the row. Now stood Hermione in front of it. It morphed again turning into professor McGonagall. She looked stern a crease between her eyebrows. There was also a paper in her hand which she showed to Hermione. „These grades just won‘t do, Misses Granger. You have failed in every class.“ Hermione cast the spell and the paper went up in flames. She turned around and looked fairly embarrassed. Harry thought he could even see Snape rolling his eyes.
„Oh yes, the horrors of academical failure,“ the man drawled.
Harry was surprised. So far it really hadn‘t been that bad. Having seen what kind of horror creatures the magical world provided them with he would have expected them to show up in the classroom.
„Move along Misses Granger. Let us see how our little prodigy handles a boggart,“ Snape taunts him. You know what, Harry was really glad it was only a boggart. Snape probably would have thrown him in front of another troll if he had the chance just to show everyone how he failed.
Hermione gave him a small smile before moving to the side, not walking to the back of the line just yet. Ms McGonagall looked at him sceptically.
Harry took a step forward. His wand ready in his hand.
McGonagall slowly started to morph. She got bigger, far bigger and taller. The look on her face turned hatefuller than what he would have expected possible. Harry‘s breath halted in horror as he saw a far too familiar shape take place in front of him. His heart burned in his chest.
No, it couldn‘t be. This was Hogwarts, not … there.
Vernon Dursley appeared in front of him. Harry‘s ears ringed. His body suddenly felt indescribable alarmed. The big fists of the burly man were bloodied. Harry‘s blood, his brain supplied. He could feel the ache of the punches, the bruised skin and broken bones.
A faint voice in his mind said that this wasn‘t right. He kept all these feelings in Surrey. They don‘t belong at Hogwarts. But he just didn‘t feel like he was in Hogwarts anymore. He ached, he hurt, he felt it. His eyes were locked onto Vernon‘s unable to look away he felt frozen. There was so much hate in those eyes.
Vernons mouth opened in an angry grimace, his voice bellowing out.
„Boy! How dare you point that stick at me?“ Spit was flying out of Vernon‘s mouth as he spoke. He looked towards Harry‘s wand hand even though there was no way Harry could use magic against him. It would only make things worse. Harry let the wand fall, maybe that would help relax the man a little bit. But no, he took hold of his belt quickly taking it out and holding it in a familiar way.
„You little freak! Haven‘t I beaten it out of you yet? I will just have to try again.“
His eyes are so dark and wide, wild.
‘He is going to kill me.‘
„I am sorry, uncle Vernon. I will be better,“ Harry says the words that are burned into his mind. Sometimes they please his uncle. Maybe he won‘t beat him too bad. Maybe he‘ll just throw him into his cupboard. He feels cold, shaking. Harry feels his mind go fuzzy. His heart beats wild but he just tries to go numb.
‘It‘s easier like that.‘
Vernon raises the belt and advances and Harry braces himself.
Nothing comes.
One moment there is Vernon standing in front of him and the next moment he was gone.
There is someone talking, ordering? And a lot of shuffling until it is quiet.
Where is Vernon, where is the pain? Harry stares ahead blankly. What is he doing? What happened?
Harry tries not to flinch as something touches his shoulders. Hands?He sees a black mass in front of it but cannot connect it to anything. Vernon doesn‘t wear that much black.
The hands remain, not hurting, just resting on his shoulders. They are warm? He thinks there might be something murmuring.
Slowly the hands move him backwards, his legs seeming to move automatically. They move him until he is sinking down into something soft. He feels so cold. There is something soft and warm being settled around him.
‘There is not supposed to be softness.‘
He still can hear the faint murmuring. He blinks lazily. It is strange. He knows he can see everything but at the same time everything seems just so fuzzy … so far away.
„Let‘s get you warmed up.“
There is movement at his stands. They are slightly stretched and he feels touch.
Harry remembers feeling cold but now there is also warmth. It smells like herbs and plants.
‘That‘s wrong. It always smells acidic like cleaning supplies and fake smells that made his nose burn.‘
The something black has taken his hands and presses them … massaging?
„Yes, I probably smell like plants, Harry.“
He flinches. ‚Noone calls him Harry.‘
He blinks trying to make the hazy fog leave.
„You are safe Harry. Everything is fine. You are in Hogwarts.“
He shakes his head. He cannot be anywhere else. ‚No Harry, hurts. The punishment.‘
„Ssh, Harry. Everything is alright. You are safe.“
Harry trembles he can feel the bruises. „Hurts, I‘ll die,“ he protests. The world slowly coming into more focus.
„You are safe, Harry. You are in Hogwarts. Don‘t take the blanket off,“ it says as I wriggle. It pulls the blanket tighter around me. I blink more. The person in front of me slowly comes more into focus.
„Good. You are doing so well. So good, Harry.“ I see a face and a long nose.
‘Snape‘
„Yes, good. Look to me, Harry.“
I see Snape kneeling in front of me. I blink his hands are massaging mine. My mouth feels dazed. My brain has no words. I swallow dryly.
„Am I in detention?“ I ask wondering aloud.
There is a quiet chuckle.
„No, not this time, Harry.“ I like how he calls me. I smile.
„I feel alone.“ I ache all over. I tremble even though I am wrapped in the blanket.
Snape mutters something and sits down beside me. He pulls me into his chest, still bundled in the blanket. My breath still hitches and my skin itches and burns but he holds me. He is warm and he smelly like a forest and it‘s nice.
„Hm. It will be fine, Harry.“