Jack In The Box
A mix of the Hogwarts houses stood frozen inside the classroom, their eyes locked on the rattling cupboard at the front of the classroom. A collective unease filled the air as the cupboard shook violently as if something inside was desperately trying to escape.
Professor Lupin’s calm voice cut through the tension, “Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what’s inside?”
Dean Thomas hesitated before nodding, “That’s a boggart, that is.”-
“Very good, Mr Thomas. Now, can anyone tell me what a boggart looks like?” Lupin’s question hung in the air. The cupboard rattled again, louder this time, causing everyone to jump.
“No one knows,” Hermione answered quickly with confidence, though it startled Ron.
“When did she get here?” He whispered to Harry, who remained silent, his eyes fixed on the trembling cupboard.
Hermione continued, unfazed by Ron, “Boggarts are shape-shifters. They take the form of whatever a person fears most. That’s what makes them so-”
“So terrifying, yes,” Lupin interjected, moving closer to the cupboard, “Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a boggart. Let’s practise it now - without wands, please. After me: Riddikulus!”
The students repeated his words, their voices flat and lacking confidence.
“Louder, now. Be clear. Riddikulus!”
The class repeated the incantation, this time with more vigour. Draco Malfoy, standing with his usual sneer, muttered a snarky comment to his friends, earning a sharp glare from Jess, who hissed at him to shut up. Draco snickered at her response.
Lupin addressed the class once more, “The incantation alone is not enough. What truly defeats a boggart is laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing. Let me demonstrate,” he paused, scanning the room, “Neville, would you join me, please?”
Neville’s face paled as he looked around, searching for a way to avoid the situation. With reluctance, he stepped forward, his eyes wide with fear.
“Come on, don’t be shy,” Lupin encouraged, “Neville, what frightens you most of all?”
Neville’s voice was barely a whisper as he mumbled his response. Lupin leaned in, his expression focused on picking up Neville’s words.
“Professor Snape,” Neville repeated, louder this time, his voice trembling.
A faint smile tugged at Lupin’s lips, “Ah, yes. Professor Snape frightens all. Do you live with your grandmother?
Neville nodded, his face flushed, “I don’t want it to turn into her either!”
Lupin reassured him, “It won’t. I want you to picture her clothes - only her clothes - very clearly in your mind. As long as you can see it, we will see it. Now, when I open the wardrobe, here’s what I want you to do….” Lupin leaned closer and whispered instructions to Neville.
“Can you do that?” Lupin asked, stepping back. Neville nodded, though his hands were shaking.
Lupin positioned himself next to Neville, raising his wand. Neville mirrored his movements with his heart pounding in his chest. Lupin counted down and with a flick of the wrist, the wardrobe unlocked. Slowly, a hand emerged and pushed the door open wider. Out stepped Professor Snape, his dark robes following behind him as he advanced towards Neville.
Neville didn’t hesitate. With a trembling voice, he uttered the spell, “Riddikulus!”
In an instant, Snape’s imposing figure was transformed. His robes shifted into a garish dress, complete with a vulture-topped hat, oversized handbag and ridiculous high-heeled shoes. The class erupted in laughter, the tension breaking as they giggled at the absurd sight.
Lupin chuckled along with them, “Very good! Now, everyone, form a line.”
Chaos ensued as the students scrambled to be next, pushing and shoving with eagerness. The disorder reached its peak when Crabbe pushed the back of the group, causing all of them to stumble forward. This ended up with Jess and her friends at the front.
Jess found herself face-to-face with the boggart. As Snape’s form shifted, it morphed into a giant, fluttering moth. Jess’ stomach twisted but she raised her wand, forcing herself to focus. The moth took a step towards her, its wings beating heavily. Without wasting another second, Jess shouted the incantation.
The moth crumpled, shrinking and twisting until it transformed into a harmless jelly slug. Jess let out a relieved laugh as the creature squirmed pathetically.
“A jelly slug?” Alisa spoke, her voice tinged with confusion but she laughed regardless.
“I’m hungry,” Jess admitted with a shrug, she stepped aside to let Katia take her turn.
Katia stepped forward with a determined expression. As soon as she stood infront of the boggart, it shifted once more. This time it took the form of a young woman - Jessica Pennington. The transformation silenced the room.
The tension in the room grew heavy as an eerie echo filled the space, the word “Crucio” repeated in everyone’s ears. Suddenly, the boggart crumpled to the floor, her body convulsing in agony. Screams tore from her throat, her face contorted in pain as she writhed helplessly. The sound of her suffering pierced the room.
Alisa gasped, hands coming to cover her mouth, utterly shocked at the sight.
“What the fuck?” Jess whispered, her voice barely audible as she turned to Katia, whose face was as shocked as hers.
Katia’s entire body stiffened. The classroom seemed to close in on her while the boggart twisted and convulsed as the image she dreaded most. The sight of someone undergoing the unforgivable curse always haunted Katia’s mind... Her memories. Her breath hitched and she began to feel like she was suffocating, the room was spinning around her. Every scream from the boggart was like a knife being driven through her heart which twisted with each cry.
"Katia..." Jess eyed her friend's frozen stance and petrified expression.
Jess’ whisper cut through the haze and snapped Katia out of her spiralling thoughts. She felt Jess’ gaze on her but she couldn’t bring herself to meet her friend’s eyes. Instead, she lifted her wand, anger flared within her, such weakness she had displayed to everyone.
She recited the incantation: "Riddikulus!”
The tortured girl transformed instantly; the agonizing screams were replaced with silence. The figure on the floor was still Jessica, with the same pained expression, but now she was dressed in a ridiculous clown suit. The curly red hair, oversized shoes and exaggerated makeup were absurdly out of place on her familiar features. The sight was so bizarre that laughter rippled through the room.
But Katia couldn’t laugh, instead, she forced a smirk onto her face. As Jess playfully nudged her shoulder, trying to ease the tension, Katia managed a weak smile in return while the image of the boggart lingered in her mind.
Alisa stepped forward with her heart pounding. She knew what was coming.
She took a deep breath as the boggart shifted once more, this time into a hunching, tall, grotesque figure with pale, bare skin. Its stringy, greasy hair hung limply down its back, and its wide, lidless eyes started unblinkingly at her. It's mouth twisted into a larger-than-possible smile. The sight of its noseless face made all the students shudder, their discomfort obvious.
Its voice is deep and gutteral as it starts leaning forward, "I'm going to find you, I'M GOING TO FIND YOU."
Alisa flinched, her eyes darting to the side, unable to look at the creature as she spoke quickly, “Riddikulus!”
The creature’s hair began to thin as its body became more human-like. Its face was now replaced with Gilderoy Lockhart’s, but bald. The class instantly burst into laughter at the humiliating sight. The Boggart frantically reached to its head as it went wide-eyed infront of the class.