thantophobia

The first week started off on a good note, in Phoebeus's opinion. Ancient Runes was already fascinating, Muggle Studies interesting, and Care of Magical Creatures was. . . Eventful. Transfiguration was the same as usual, he's always been intrigued by it. Phoebeus isn't one for plants, so Herbology isn't enjoyable. And don't get Phoebeus started on potions. Even with Professor Snape being head of Slytherin House, Phoebeus could do nothing to win his favor, making the class dreadful and unbearable. He did not get entertainment from watching Snape torture and bully the Gryffindors, unlike Malfoy and his goons.

Phoebeus was smart to stay away from Malfoy. That boy saw himself as the Slytherin prince. A self absorbed kid who has been handed everything. Phoebeus and Malfoy do not get along.

His last class for the week, and of course the one he has been dreading, is Defense Against the Dark Arts. The third year Slytherins waited in the classroom, Malfoy sitting on a desk, his goons and a couple other Slytherins sitting around him. They were talking about how poor Lupin looked. How his clothes looked baggy and patchy. Phoebeus, Theo, and Blaise sat a bit away, silent and waiting for Lupin to start the class. Phoebeus's fist was clenched on the table. Blaise and Theo glanced at him they opened their mouth to ask him what was wrong when Professor Lupin walked. He smiled at the class.

"Books away, we'll be taking class to the staffroom for today's class." He said kindly. Phoebeus was the only one with his book out, so he shut it and picked it up standing up with the other Slytherins. It was silent, and quite awkward, as they walked to the staffroom. In the back of the staffroom was a cupboard, it shook violently as they entered. The Slytherin students eyed it weirdly.

"Would anyone be able to tell me what's hiding in here?" He knocked his knuckle on the door. The cupboard jumped and rattled. No one raised their hand. Phoebeus began thinking of all the things that could be hiding in there.

Malfoy scoffed. "Cloaks?"

Professor Lupin smiled. "We'll, if your greatest fear is a bunch of cloaks, I presume then yes."

"Boggart." Phoebeus whispered. Lupin looked over at him with a proud smile and pointed.

"Indeed! Thank you Phoebeus." Professor Lupin said. "Now what is a Boggart?"

No one said anything. Professor Lupin looked back at Phoebeus with a raised eyebrow. Phoebeus shrugged. "It's a shapeshifter that takes up the form of what you fear most."

"Nicely said." Professor Lupin said. "Now, with there being so many of us, we can use that to our advantage, anyone know how?"

"Cause there's so many of us it'll get confused?" Blaise asked beside Phoebeus. The professor shook his head.

"There is something else, a charm that will repel the Boggart. It's simple and you will repeat after me." Professor Lupin instructed, pulling out his want. "When saying the charm, you need to think of something to make what you fear funny. So, without wands, Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus." The Slytherins repeated rather lazily. Professor Lupin dropped his hands at his side and tilted his head. "Now with that enthusiasm, the Boggart didn't change. You need to have enthusiasm!" He cheered. "Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!"

"There we go!" He cheered. "Now, Mr. Theodore, step forward if you will. What do you fear most?"

Theo stood frozen for a second, then looked at the ground. "Disappointing my father."

"Ah," Remus said understandingly. "Valid, now, can you think of something that would make him being disappointed in you funny?" Theo nodded. "Alright, ready then? Before I let the Boggart out, assuming Theodore can make his fear amusing, it will turn to one of us. Think of your fear and what can make it comical. Be ready."

He waited a second, checked with Theo, and opened the cupboard. A tall man dressed properly and cleanly stepped out. He resembled Theo in many ways, his brown hair combed back neatly, posture nearly perfect. Theo raised his arm immediately and waited a second, not letting the Boggart talk. "Riddikulus!" As the Boggart opened his mouth to speak, the voice that came out was a high squeaky voice. Theo burst into laughter, the whole class doing the same.

"Blaise, go!" Remus called. Blaise stepped forward and the room went pitch black. Phoebeus couldn't even see his hand.

"Riddikulus!" Blaise cried, different colored lights appeared around the room, creating a light show.

More names were called out and more fears were shown and created into something amusing. Phoebeus finally stepped forward. He didn't know what he feared. He had tried thinking of something, but truly he's never afraid of something until the moment of. The Boggart immediately transformed though. There was a person— Professor Lupin— on the ground next to him a figure of a dog that was now looking more like a person stood over Lupin laughing. Sirius Black. Phoebeus stared blankly, and slowly raised his wand. "R-Riddikulus." He breathed. The figures jumped together and began dancing around the room, until they stopped at Professor Lupin.

A moon appeared and then turned into a ballon just as fast before being forced back into the cupboard. Phoebeus stood frozen. He looked up and saw Lupin watching him with sad— no—heartbroken —eyes. Phoebeus didn't wait any longer. He spun on his heel and ran out of the staffroom.

Phoebeus was found in the hospital wing hours later by Cedric Diggory. The older boy from Hufflepuff had walked in, delivering something to Madame Pomfrey from Professor Sprout when he saw the boy curled up in a bed at the back of the hospital wing. He then found Blaise and Theo who rushed to be at Phoebeus's side. They could tellhe was awake. His eyes were open and staring blankly forward. Theo knelt down next to Phoebeus and brushed a finger over the boys cheek. Phoebeus didn't flinch. Theo had scoffed and pulled away. The two boys decided to sit down, and wait for Phoebeus to wake up from whatever trance he was in. They didn't talk to him, but to eachother. Theo stressed his concern that it reminded him of their previous year at hogwarts, when Phoebeus was petrified.

About an hour later, Professor Lupin finally arrived. He saw Phoebeus in the bed and his breath catched in his throat. He cleared it. Blaise and Theo jumped in their chairs. "If you don't mind, I'd like to talk with Phoebeus." Professor Lupin said, his tone staying professional. The two boys glanced at Phoebeus before nodding and leaving the room. Professor Lupin took one of the chairs.

He reached out a hand, but decided against it, letting it fall in his lap. "I'm sorry." He whispered. Phoebeus just blinked. The older man let out a sigh and hung his head. "I should've told you I was teaching this year. It wasn't right of me not too." He continued whispering "And, I'm sorry that. I'm sorry that you had to see that-that you had to see it in front of your classmates. If it makes you feel better, you didn't imagine our faces. No one knows who those figures are. I believe Draco Malfoy is spreading a rumor that you fear getting attacked by a werewolf."

Phoebeus's eyes widened at that, but he made no movements otherwise. It had not occurred to him that it could have been a werewolf that he saw. He didn't realize that he hadn't put faces to the figures until Remus said so. Now, looking back he realizes they were just grey silhouettes of people.

"I'm sorry, Fee." The older man whispered. Remus stayed seated for a second, but then realizing that Phoebeus probably need space, got up.

"Dad." Phoebeus's croaked, reaching out and grabbing Remus's wrist. "Er, sorry. Professor."

Remus looked down fondly and sat back down. He reached over and pushed Phoebeus's dark hair out of his eyes. "Frankly, Phoebeus, I don't deserve to be called, dad."

Phoebeus shrugged. He laid back down, pulling the blanket over his shoulder. "I- uh. I don't normally call you dad. When talking-thinking, in my head. I usually say Remus."

"I suppose I deserve it." Remus shrugged. Phoebeus looked away. "I should have stopped the Boggart."

"I wanted to know." Phoebeus said quickly, then slower, "What my greatest fear was— is."

"You. . ."

"No I wasn't sure." Phoebeus said. "I thought for a second. Then, that image popped in my head." Remus frowned. He seemed to understand what Phoebeus was implying.

"You are alright though?"

"Suppose so. Just felt a little faint," Phoebeus began. "I've been a bit stressed with you here, what will people think? No one knows who my parents are. I'm a Slytherin. Malfoy is already talking shit— oh sorry, he's talking about how poor your clothes look. I'll get bullied by my own housemates! After last year, I don't want that."

"Phoebeus, I'm sorry." His dad muttered. "No one has to know, we don't look alike."

"That won't bother you, will it?" Phoebeus couldn't help but ask.

"No," Remus answer. "I have no right to have an opinon on wether or not you tell people."

Phoebeus fell silent and looked away. Neither of the two spoke, but it was a comfortable silence. Madame Pomfrey came over, a bar of chocolate in her hand. She smiled at the two. "Doing alright, boys?" She asked kindly, handing Phoebeus the chocolate. He took it and sat up again, opening the chocolate. He nodded, still focusing on the chocolate. Madame Pomfrey placed a hand on his forehead. "You should be fine, Mr. Lupin, you can leave when you please." Phoebeus blushed at being referred to as his true last name. Remus smiled up at the nurse. She placed a hand on his shoulder then retreated away.

Remus looked back at Phoebeus and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're safe." Phoebeus blushed and looked down, nodding his head. Remus squeezed his shoulder once more and stood. "I'd go get ready for dinner. Make sure to eat, it'll make you feel better." Remus winked at that and walked away. Phoebeus smiled to himself and took another bite of his new chocolate.

After that, September and October moved quickly. His classes were going well and were all enjoyable. Potions was difficult as usual for him, but he stayed out of Professor Snape's way. Defense Against the Dark Arts was a brilliant class, and Phoebeus, Theo, and Blaise loved the class. They were always more interested in learning about the magical creatures, and Remus included that in his teachings. Phoebeus may be a little biased, but Remus is the best Defense teacher they've had. They're actually learning.

When Halloween came around, the first trip to the nearby village Hogesmeade arrived. Phoebeus didn't have any plans to stay long, he wanted more chocolate and just to glimpse at the village. It was the end of October, but the start of November. The full moon was here. Phoebeus wanted to meet with Remus before the moon.

As the three Slytherin boys walked through Hogesmeade they pointed at different things and gaped. It was the only village in all of Britain that had no Muggle residents. This place was purely magic. Even though the three boys grew up around magic, they were still amazed. Theo was the first one to point out Honeydukes, Blaise made a comment about all the chocolate that must be there, and the three boys marched into the candy shop. Once they were done Phoebeus left the two alone and walked back to the castle. On his way, he noticed a large black dog laying by a line of trees. He stopped, eyeing the dog carefully. Something familiar struck him about the dog, but he couldn't place a finger on it. He looked away and continued up to the castle. He was pulling out a bar of chocolate to munch on when he bumped into someone.

"Watch where you are going, Lyall." Professor Snape's voice growled.

"Sorry, Professor." Phoebeus mumbled, looking down, shoving the chocolate into his pocket.

"Where are you heading?" The older man asked skeptically.

"To see Professor Lupin, sir. I got him chocolate from Honeydukes." Phoebeus answered honestly.

"Well then, you can bring this to him. Tell him to drink it all, I have an entire cauldron made should he need more." Professor Snape sneered, handing Phoebeus a goblet that was smoking.

Phoebeus nodded his head and took the goblet in his hands. He muttered the stuff Snape had said and made his way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Phoebeus knocked on the door and Remus called for him to enter. Harry Potter was sitting at the desk across from Remus.

"Hello, Phoebeus." Remus smiled.

"Professor Snape wanted me to give you this, he said to drink the whole thing and if you need more he made a cauldron." Phoebeus said. Remus smiled and reached for it, setting it down on the desk in front of him.

"Thank you," Remus smiled. "Did you enjoy Hogesmeade?"

Phoebeus nodded, pulling chocolate out of his pocket. "I also brought you some chocolate from Honeydukes." Remus smile brightened and he took some. He looked at the label and looked up at Phoebeus.

"My favorite, thank you Fee."

"No problem, I'll er leave you two be." He said awkwardly, shuffling out of the room. Remus waved.

That night, after the Halloween feast, Phoebeus never made it to the Slytherin Common room. The head boy, Percy Weasley, the oldest Weasley at Hogwarts and the only Weasley in Slytherin, came and stopped them just before Phoebeus, Blaise, and Theo reached the entrance. They were rushed to the Great Hall. The Gryffindor students were all there already, whispering amongst themselves. The other two houses joined them shortly after. Phoebeus bit his lip and looked around. He caught sight of Remus across the hall, and ran toward him, stopping him before he could leave.

"Dad," He asked in hushed whisper, "What's happened?"

Remus startled, he seemed dazed. "Muffliato." He whispered, casting a silencing charm around them so no one would hear their conversation. The rest of the hall fell silent to them. "Apparently Sirius Black is in the castle. Or was. He attacked the Gryffindor portrait."

Phoebeus made a noise in the back of his throat. Remus placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just stay in here, you're safe, Phoebeus, I promise. The teachers are beginning to search the castle for him, if he's here we'll catch him." Phoebeus nodded, whispered the spell to remove the muffliato charm and returned to where Blaise and Theo were huddled. He filled the two boys in as they organized their sleeping bags.

Phoebeus wasn't able to sleep that night. He stayed up staring at the start ceiling. The Canis Major constellation right above him. It took him whispering, "Canis Major" in his head over and over to fall asleep. Even then, he didn't sleep well. A black dog chasing him around the castle in his dreams made him wake up and unable to fall asleep again.