Riddikulus!
The day went on, with Charms, Ancient Ruins, and then lunch I had no free periods today. But it was finally time for the best class of the day.
“Merlin how did we get roped into being friends with someone who genuinely likes school” Warrington said from next to me as the group walked to DADA. I hit his arm, “At least I’m not constantly on the verge of quidditch suspension” I said glaring at him.
“Seriously, if I write any more of your essays for you I think the professors might come sticking their nose in our arses” Pucey said from next to me.
Me and Adrian hadn’t exactly solved the issue at hand but we were on speaking terms again. It wasn’t unusual for us to brush our fights under the rug as if it hadn’t happened.
“So Cap when’s our first practice this season?” Miles asked before taking a bite of an apple. I swear to Merlin these arseholes never stopped eating.
“Fucking Wood booked Gryffindor as soon as the sheet was up so Wednesday morning before classes” I said smirking at them already calling me cap. I had somehow beat out Flint, the oldest member of the team, for captain. Probably because he was the most insufferable git in all of Slytherin, and the old captain had hated him.
We arrived to class, Everyone in our group took their seats, Me and Miles, and Cassius and Adrian. Miles and I had been DADA partners ever since we met in first year and It just made the class even more fun. Bletchley was more reserved and relaxed than the rest of our group but one on one he could be quite funny. Plus he actually did his work which was always a bonus.
Shortly after taking our seats Professor Lupin walked out of his office, “Alright alright, settle down” he said an easy going smile on his face.
As he walked down to the main part of the classroom I finally took a good look at my professor. He was tall and gangly and had a small mustache the same color as his unkept hair. He couldn’t be more than 35 but the scars and look of exhaustion seemed to age him a bit.
He observed the classroom smiling at everyone, “Today we will be diving straight into our lesson. Now if everyone would help me move the desks out of the way?” he said making everyone stand up.
After the desks had been moved he conjured a wardrobe that had been in tucked in a corner and asked us to all gather round.
The Wardrobe shook violently startling some students.“Intriguing, isn’t it? Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what is inside?” He asked walking around the group of students.
“That’s a boggart, yes?” Alicia Spinnet said from somewhere in the group. Alicia was by far the most competent on the gryffindor quidditch team, and honestly one of the only Gryffindors I didn’t immediately hate.
“Very good, miss..?” He trailed off, a silent way of asking her name.
“Spinnet, Alicia Spinnet” she answered for him.
“Now can anybody tell me what a boggart looks like?” Lupin asked coming to a stop at the side of the group.
“No one knows, the boggart takes the shape of what ever you fear most, leaving it a complete enigma to the world” I stated
“Very good miss?”
“Nott” I stated
“Yes, Yes very good, which is why the boggart is considered so terrifying.” He said stopping beside the cabinet, “Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a boggart
The wardrobe rattled again, as if it’s name caused it distress, “Let’s practice it now. Without wands, please. After me, Riddikulus!”
The class repeated the term in monotone chants, “Very good, a little louder and very clear, listen, Riddikulus!”
“Riddikulus” we all chanted after the professor.
“Very good, well so much for the easy part. See the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a Boggart is laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing. Let me explain.” Lupin said surveying the crowd, “Mr Weasley would you join me, please?”
One of the Weasley twins strutted to the front of the group, “Fred, what frightens you most?” The teacher asked, staring the ginger down with kind eyes.
“Probably,” he paused pretending to think, “Losing my outrageously charming looks” he said earning him giggles from the Gryffindors.
Lupin laughed, “Well now, when I open the wardrobe, I want you to picture something funny, the funniest thing you can think of, and say Riddikulus! Got it?” He asked stepping behind the twin, “Wand at the ready, one, two, three.” He said waving his wand.
At this motion the wardrobe opened. I had to give credit to Fred for not flinching, because I don’t think anyone was prepared for the image of him leaning over George’s corpse to appear in front of him.
“Riddikulus” he said very clearly, pointing at the horrific scene in front of him, the boggart turning into a man I’d seen around the school, the Gryffindor head boy running around the courtyard in a nightdress and makeup that was more suited to a middle aged women.
The class cracked up as the kid ran in circles, “Very good, Incredible! To the back, Fred. Everyone form a line, form a line!”
He said walking to the gramophone, “I want everyone to picture the thing they fear the very most and turn it into something funny.” He said setting the needle down, filling the room with music.
Everyone started pushing and shoving, excited to get a try with their boggart. After waiting forever it was my turn. Everyone had gone, and my group of friends who had lingered in the back, had finished up except me.
I step up to face the boggart, not sure what to expect. As exciting as hands on training was, as someone who was taught not to show weakness, letting a room full of people know my worst fear wasn’t exactly thrilling. Especially when I had no clue what my worst fear was.
I raise my wand, but as the boggart registers its new opponent, it encompassing the room in dark silence. People are staring at me, Diana, Theo, my friends from the Slytherin quidditch team, my mother. And then they start walking, leaving me. No one says a word, and suddenly I’m alone. I’m spinning in circles trying to figure out what to do, I’m confused and afraid, and it hits me then what my fear is. Being alone.
So I refocus, point my wand and yell, “Riddikulus” and the darkness fades leaving me in a room full of students looking at a crowd of people all in their underwear. A fever dream everyone has but the best I could conjure at the time I’ll admit. And the class burst out in laughter.
“Alright everyone, That’s it for the day, Class dismissed” Lupin says waving his wand, sending the boggart back to its closeted home. “Miss Nott, May I speak to you for a moment?” Lupin says as I start walking towards the door with my friends.
“Yes of course, Professor” I say, walking back towards the front of the class. “I promise I won’t keep you long” he says as he waits for the rest of the students to leave. Once the classroom is empty with a quick flip of his wand the desks are back to normal.
“Miss Nott,” he starts but I interrupt him, “Please Professor, Andrea is fine” I say propping myself onto one of the tables across from his desk.
“Andrea, do you mind if I ask what happened when you faced your boggart?” He asked cautiously, as if afraid to offend me.
This although not offensive did confuse me, “I thought you could all see my boggart, professor?” I asked confused
“Normally yes, but it was quite a strange experience, you see the room seemed to go dark, you disappeared. We could only see black around where you had once been.” He stated.
I nodded processing this information, “Well, you see professor, it was dark, and silent, and my family and friends were there. And then they sort of disappeared, and I too, could only see black.” I stated.
“I see, I see. Very brave of you, to face such an unknown.” He nodded, “I apologize, just an inquiring mind” he said pointing to his head with a comforting look, “Well off you go, I’m sure your friends are waiting for you”
“Of course, have a good evening Professor.” I said exiting the room.
The guys were waiting for my outside when I exited the classroom. Dinner wasn’t for another hour or so, so we made our way to the dungeons. When we entered the common room, I made my way up to the guys dorm with them.
The charm that kept girls and guys from entering each others room was so easy to crack, we broke it years ago and have been sneaking into each others rooms to hang for years.
“Are you guys coming to Cedric’s party with me at the end of the month?” I asked plopping down on Pucey’s bed.
“Will there be weed?” Cassius asked from his bed. I wrinkled my nose, “I don’t know, probably. The puffs are hosting.” I said because that was explanation enough. Not all the puffs were druggies but they specialize in Herbology for a reason.
“I’m down” Miles said, “Yea me too” Adrian agreed.
“Party starts at 11, don’t be late or me and D are locking your arses out.” I say before reaching for my bag. “Alright I’m starting my homework, everyone shut it”
At this the boys busied themselves in their own work and a comfortable silence developed throughout the room. Every once in a while I could hear Cassius whisper whining to Adrian about an essay he didn’t want to write, but besides that it was quiet. The hour passed by quickly and soon we headed down to the great hall for dinner.