Chapter 7

Sirius

“Harry, he looks just as James did when he was his age”, he said to Bella

“Yes, and that girl I am pretty sure that James would be proud of his boy”, she said snickering

He absorbed the face of his godson, but then the image of Rat scurrying away appeared in his mind and his face immediately darkened.

“Bella, have you put that Ginger monster on Pettigrew’s trail”, he asked

His cousin rolled her eyes as if he had asked a stupid question.

“Yes dear”, she said

He snorted

 “So, we stay here?”, he asked finally

“Yeah, I doubt we have any other place to go with all the dementors looming over our heads”, Bella said

“Hrmph”

(The next day)

Harry

“Everyone in a line”, commanded Professor Lupin

“Today we will be practising the Boggart banishing spell and then attempting it directly on a Boggart”, Professor Lupin explained

“In front of everyone”, asked Greengrass

“Yes”, Professor Lupin said confused

“It would expose our deepest fear, I for once would not like to attempt it”, Greengrass said

“Me neither”

“Me neither”

“Nor me”

“I will not”

And soon enough the whole class or well the Slytherin Part of the class was loudly complaining about Professor Lupin’s teaching methods

“Are you afraid Snakes”, taunted Neville

“If you are so Brave then go and try to banish the bogart in front of us”, retorted Malfoy

“I shall”

“Now… now I understand your concerns students but Boggarts are generally weaker and have a hard time against groups so… perhaps a Slytherin group segregated from Gryffindor”, suggested Professor Lupin

“No”, many of his fellow housemates said

“Very well then I shall take a one-on-one with Slytherins, Do I need to take Gryffindors separately as well?”, asked Professor Lupin

“No, we can”

“I ain't afraid”

“Alright Alright Gryffindor’s in a group and Slytherins separately”, Professor Lupin said

“Now Practice the wand movement five times everyone and then Gryffindor’s after you complete show me and we can see how well you do against Boggart, Slytherins you shall stand outside until I call for you”, Professor Lupin said

There was a murmur of agreement before the class began practising the spell.

He himself had perfected it in his second year after encountering one in Forbidden Forest he was not afraid though, his bogart was being wandless and without magic, he personally did not wish for anyone to see his Boggart and would have requested Lupin if Greengrass had not spoken up, regardless he traced the wand movements of the spell five times and left the class to stand outside.

Soon enough Greengrass, Nott, Malfoy, Zabini, the two brutes, Lilian Moon, Bulstrode and others from his house had Joined him.

Half an Hour later as he stood alone thinking about another visit with Norberta that Gryffindor’s started to come out from the class many with troubled faces, Neville in fact was looking embarrassed.

Professor Lupin followed out as the last Gryffindor left.

“Now as you requested one by one first Mr Potter follow me”, said Professor Lupin

He followed the professor inside

“Are you sure that you can perform Boggart banishing charm successfully”, asked Lupin

“Yes Professor”, he replied

“Good then”, the professor said and pointed his wand at the closet

“Aberto” and the Closet popped open and Luna stepped out bleeding, badly burnt

“I am dead because of you- you, you failed me, Harry… You failed me…”

“No… No…”, he whispered completely taken aback by this new development

Even Professor Lupin looked shocked at the form of his Boggart

“You were not able to protect me”

He took a step towards Luna wanting to hold her say Sorry help her in any way possible… but Professor Lupin placed a hand on his shoulder bringing him back to reality.

He took a deep breath in and then intoned

“Ridikulus”

And the form of Luna turned into that of a Kappa with the dress of Father Christmas and then he banished the Boggart into Closet.

“You did well Harry, you did well and Banishing spell a sixth-year charm take twenty well-earned points, please do send Mr Malfoy inside”, Professor Lupin said Smiling

He turned and started to leave when Professor Lupin said, “Harry I knew your parents quite well in my school days if you would like to talk about them then would you like to come tomorrow after Lunch”

He stopped, no one except Hagrid had ever talked to him about his parents,

“Yes, sir I would love to”

“Do remember 5 o’clock in my office”, Professor Lupin called

“Yes sir”

(Sometime later with Luna)

Luna giggled as a Bowtruckle climbed her hand and into her hair, as she picked it up, and ruffled the little creature's leafy head, I will name you twig and then she began giggling at the protests of the young Bowtruckle

“I guess little one you are now stuck with that name forever”, he spoke

Luna laughed her contagious laugh and placed her finger on his nose playfully as he finished sketching Bowtruckle and handed him another young Bowtruckle,

“Here I think this one likes you”

“Hmm,” he fondled with the young Bowtruckle as it keek- keey- keeked!

“I will call you Twine”, he said with a playful smile as it protested

Luna giggled and he began to laugh as well.

“I guess the tiny ones are quite angry”

He smiled, “I think so” fondling the leafy head of Bowtruckle

Twine giggled and squeaked as Amber popped her head out of his Robes and climbed into his hair

~~That is enough Amber don’t scare the little ones~~ he hissed

~~ I couldn’t resist, Sorry, Harrykins~~ she hissed

~~ Oh how much I love you Amber~~ he said as he tickled the head of his Yellow - Orange Adder

~~Sssss I love you to two legs ~~, she hissed as she closed her eyes and enjoyed his warm embrace

He gently took out Twine from his hair and placed it on the ground and lowered his head to see the Bowtruckle eye to eye.

“We must go now Twine of you go to your friends” and began standing up

It keeyed! in protest as it tried to hold his leg and drag him back to the tree.

“Alright you win”, he said and placed his hand onto the ground the Bowtruckle began to Keeek happily as it climbed his hand and hid itself in his head.

Luna laughed and placed Twig directly in her wild hair and began to walk with him back towards Hogwarts.

“Harry are you alright you were a little worried when you saw me today”, she asked with concern in her voice

“Luna I…I… I faced a boggart”, he said softly

Luna stopped and hugged him and asked, “Are you alright?”

“Yes Boggart was not the problem it was… the boggart… My boggart was you”, he said softly

“Harry am I so terrifying!!”, she squeaked indignantly  

“NO, not that I mean it was you… you were hurt and dying Luna I… I”

“Oh…”

She placed her head on his chest and then rubbed his back.

“Is it alright now Harry”

He held her and said nothing for a few moments savoring this moment.

“Yes”, he finally said

Luna did not leave their embrace and after another few minutes pulled away.

“Oh Harry you my sweet- sweet friend”, she said and then she began to hum a melody and he joined the melancholy mood uplifted they began to walk towards Hogwarts a lot more cheerful and closer.

Neville

He was tired… really tired, he could now understand why Slytherins had chosen not to showcase their fears in front of everyone if only he had been that far-sighted…

His fear of disappointing his mother his gran and his father was too much and on top of being unable to dispel boggart which half the class had managed to do.

He shook his head in disappointment and threw a stone into the lake in anger.

“Easy Neville, I know you are upset but you can not remain this way”, Hermione said

“Hermione I… I… failed to vanish my boggart when even Ron was able to do and such a Ridikulus Boggart that too”, he spoke in helplessness

“You are afraid Neville of what people might think about you but you must understand that you are not what people make you, you are what you want to be, stop caring about what people think and then I think we can try to have another go at boggart”, Hermione said

He took a deep breath and said, “You are right I… I will go to Lupin and ask him to help me would you come” he asked

“I will Neville I am always there for you after all that is what friends are for”, she said smiling

He smiled back

“Now let us go over your Transfiguration Homework…”, Hermione started to speak but he interrupted

“Oh come on Hermione that is it, be free and enjoy come on we will fly today”, he said

“N… No… No Neville No, I don’t fly”, she said

“Hmphf… you will love it”, he said and dragged Hermione with him to broom shed

Several screams later.

“THAT IS IT NEVILLE… OH GODS GET ME DOWN!! GET ME DOWN!! GET ME DOWN”, Hermione screeched

Several more screams later

“I AM NEVER FLYING A BROOM AGAIN AND IF YOU NEVILLE EVER FORCE ME TO I AM GONNA HEX YOUR ARSE SO BAD THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FLY FOR NEXT FIVE MONTHS”, Hermione screamed and ran away.

He rubbed the back of his head in exhaustion gods why was life so difficult.