The days at Hogwarts

What are you most afraid of...

Professor Lupin's words echoed in his ears, and his thoughts were brought back to the first day of summer vacation by the sound of the cabinet shaking.

The closed ward was very quiet that day. Pushing the door out, I saw Diagon Alley. From a dark path, I arrived at Knockturn Alley and walked into the basement of a black magic supply store...

Neville's lips moved, but no sound came out.

"I'm sorry, Neville, I didn't hear you clearly." Professor Lupin guided with a smile.

"Bellatrix Lestrange." A trace of fear flashed in Neville's eyes, and his voice was so low that it was almost inaudible.

Loren's eyes narrowed. He remembered that Neville's original answer should have been Professor Snape.

Neville had never had any contact with Bellatrix in real life, and the only thing that led to this change in him was the memory fantasy of the Longbottoms.

"Bellatrix! It's the escaped Death Eater from the newspaper!" Harry exclaimed in a low voice.

Almost every little wizard perked up and huddled together to discuss in a low voice.

Lupin pinched his brows with a headache.

Why are young wizards nowadays so mature? He thought they would be spiders, cockroaches, mice, or even some more extreme magical animals.

In the end, Neville gave such a serious answer. You know, making a vicious Death Eater funny is much more difficult than those things.

But thinking of Neville's last name, Lupin felt that this answer made sense. He sighed and guided thoughtfully: "Bellatrix... Well, Neville, I want to ask if you have learned to brew a potion to treat scabies?"

"Potions?" Neville was a little confused. "Yes, we learned it in first grade. In that class, I added the porcupine quills at the wrong time, and the crucible exploded. The potion got on me and I got scabies all over my body."

"Very good, better than I thought!" Lupin smiled, "Neville, do you still remember what those scabies looked like? Can you tell me about them?"

Neville said uncomfortably, "Okay, Professor. If the potion gets on your skin, it will quickly become red and swollen, festering, and you'll tremble in pain. Even if you apply the medicine, it will leave red marks."

He recalled his first year, and his speech gradually became fluent. At the end, he suddenly understood what Lupin meant, and he looked up suddenly, looking at Lupin in disbelief.

"Just do what you want, and you will succeed!" Lupin nodded at him, then turned to look at the others, "I hope everyone will take a moment to think about what you are most afraid of, and then imagine how to overcome your fear and make it funny..."

Chapter 285: The Shadow of Voldemort Appears

Bellatrix Lestrange.

She was a tall woman with thick, shiny black hair, a strong jaw, thin lips, heavy eyelids and thick, long eyelashes.

Bellatrix casually held the wand in one hand and walked slowly towards Neville with a ferocious smile on her face. Her lips moved without making any sound, but the spell she was reciting could be read through her lip shape: "Crucio"

His father's wailing, his mother's crying... painful memories kept emerging in his mind. Neville's tall body trembled. He stepped back involuntarily, his eyes full of fear of the Cruciatus Curse.

There was silence in the classroom.

Bellatrix's cruel and hideous face made Hermione shudder, and the other little wizards had a similar reaction. Even if it was just the expression and eyes of a real Death Eater, it was enough to make these little lions feel fear.

Loren's pupils glowed with a crystal blue light as he stared at the magic wand intently.

Although she appeared to be Bellatrix, the essence of the magic was still the gray mist-like magic of a Boggart, and there was no magical fluctuation ready to be cast.

Harry stared at Bellatrix, at her hideous smile, at her cruel eyes.

Death Eaters, these are the enemies I will face in the future...

"Don't retreat anymore, Neville, do as we agreed before!" Lupin's gentle and calm voice rang out, breaking the solemn atmosphere in the classroom.

"You're fake, you're fake! Even if you were real I wouldn't be afraid of you!" Neville screamed. "Slip-slip-funny!"

Snapped!

There was a loud crack, like the crack of a whip. A boiling cauldron suddenly appeared and exploded in mid-air, splashing potion in the air and all over Bellatrix.

The clothes made a "sizzling" sound as they were corroded, and "Bellatrix", disguised as a Boggart, became swollen all over, large patches of scabies appeared, and the epidermis broke and splashed thick water.

Bellatrix, covered in scabies, took a few steps back and wailed in pain in front of the cabinet.

Loren's eyes fell on the ground. The potions on the ground that were created by the combined effects of the "Funny Funny" spell and the Boggart dissipated and turned into wisps of gray mist that merged back into the Boggart's body.

Bellatrix was fake, and so was the misconfigured scabies potion.

Boggart is an illusion, and the effect of the "Funny" spell is also an illusion.

In that case, what was it that repelled the Boggart?

Professor Lupin said that Boggarts were afraid of laughter, but Neville's face was calm. The other young wizards were clapping and cheering for Neville, and no laughter was heard.

So, using other emotions to dispel fear is the key to defeating Bogut?

Loren nodded thoughtfully, planning to observe more cases.

"Well done, Neville!" Lupin stepped forward and patted him, then pulled him to the side. "Next, Parvati!"

Parvati, the mummy.

Seamus, the Howling Banshee.

Dean, broken hand.

……

The young wizards were amazed. They never thought that their classmates had seen so many strange dark creatures, even a rare species of howling banshee.

"Great! Ron, it's your turn!"

Ron, who had been watching for a long time, ran forward.

Snapped--

The mouse-shaped Boggart left by the previous classmate twisted, and the image of a wizard wearing a purple magic robe, a scarf, and a blurry face flashed out.

Seamus exclaimed, "Another Death Eater?"

Dean's eyes widened, and he shouted in disbelief, "It seems to be Professor Quirrell."

"Qirro?"

Loren and Hermione looked at each other, both of them with shock in their eyes.

Harry's breath hitched: "Voldemort?"

"Come on, I'm not afraid of you!" Ron pursed his lips tightly and stared straight at the Boggart in front of him.

He had faced Voldemort twice. Once, Voldemort possessed Quirrell and controlled his body, and a magical shock shattered his knight.

But that time, he also defeated Voldemort.

Later, in Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets, Voldemort's remaining soul and Crabbe were easily defeated by him and Harry.

Lupin's face was solemn. He stepped forward with his wand in hand, trying to stop what was happening next.

At this moment, the Boggart seemed to realize that Ron did not seem to be afraid of Voldemort, or was not afraid of Voldemort who could only exist by relying on others, and his shape began to change again.

Snapped!

Several classmates screamed, and a six-foot-tall eight-eyed giant spider covered with thick black hair appeared on the spot, shaking its limbs and moving towards Ron.

Loren, the other two and Lupin looked at the ferocious spider and all breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.

Ron was stunned for a moment, then shouted loudly: "【Funny funny】"

The eight-eyed giant spider suddenly wilted, lying weakly on the ground, the carapace of its limbs constantly making "bang bang" sounds, and the eight-eyed giant spider groaned, as if it was constantly being kicked by someone.

Harry, Loren and Hermione looked odd, they recognized this scene.

During the Christmas holidays last year, Hagrid was implicated in the Basilisk incident and was arrested. In order to investigate the truth of the Chamber of Secrets, they blew up the nest of the Acromantula. This is how Aragog was kicked and confessed by several people.

Loren couldn't help laughing softly, looking at Hermione with a teasing look... She was the one who kicked the hardest at that time.

boom!

boom!

The limbs of the eight-eyed giant spider kept shaking, as if a hammer was hitting its shell. Except for the four people present at the time, no one knew that this was the sound made by a girl kicking her feet.

"Stop laughing..." Hermione's cheeks flushed slightly. She tugged at Loren's clothes and muttered softly, "It wasn't that loud at the time..."

Then it was the turn of Harry, Loren and the others. After what happened with Ron, Lupin didn't dare let them try again. If Voldemort really appeared in the classroom, it would be on the front page of the Daily Prophet tomorrow.

Lupin quickly stepped forward and stopped the demonstration. He smiled gently at the little wizards: "Great! Everyone performed very well, Neville..."

"...5 points for Neville, and 5 points each for Dean, Hermione, and Harry for answering the questions correctly!" Lupin shouted, raising his voice. "Everyone performed very well, and this class was a success. For homework, please read the chapter about Boggarts and summarize it in simple words... Give it to me on Monday, that's all."

Loren and Hermione, Harry and Ron stayed behind tacitly, waiting quietly for the young wizards to leave the staff room one after another.

"Did you see how I took down that Howling Banshee?" Seamus yelled.

"And that hand!" Dean waved his hands.

"And my mummy!"

-

Shamelessly posting one more chapter to beg for monthly votes. I only need a few votes to get 1k. I will definitely update more next month [Bow to the readers]

Chapter 286 About the delay

Ron stayed behind to keep some friends company. He was recalling the spell he had just cast, gesturing with his wand and muttering, "Thunderbolt pierces! Whoosh~bang!"

"Damn spiders, your doom has come!"

"Thunderbolt pierces through! Bang, bang, bang!"

Looking at the saliva flying in the air, Harry silently moved a few steps towards Loren, wondering in his heart why Professor Lupin didn't let him deal with the Boggart.

Did Lupin think he was incapable of dealing with a Boggart?

Just because he fainted when confronted with the Dementors, did Lupin think he was a coward?

Loren and Hermione had the same thoughtful expression on their faces. They probably understood Professor Lupin's behavior, so they chose to stay instead of leaving the staff lounge with others.

Each of them anticipated their own fears.

Loren recalled all the unusual things he had encountered, The Book of Abraham, the Philosopher's Stone, Bloody Mary, Voldemort...

Although it's weird, it can't be called scary.

"Are you afraid of Voldemort?" Hermione whispered.

The little witch's eyes sparkled. Loren could easily guess what she was thinking. He said slowly, "I'm not afraid, and neither are you. Professor Lupin is not afraid either, but Professor Lupin is afraid that other students will be afraid."

Hermione nodded in agreement.

Harry only heard what Loren said and was confused.

what?

Tongue twister?

Lupin had his back to them, busying himself with putting the Boggart away in the cupboard.

Because just after the little wizards left, he became the person closest to Bogut. At this time, Bogut turned into a silver-white ball hanging in the air, emitting a soft light.

Hermione frowned in confusion when she saw this scene... Professor Lupin was afraid of the crystal ball?

Lupin didn't seem surprised at all. He opened the cabinet door, waved his wand and said lazily, "[Funny]"

The silver-white ball that Boggart transformed into rushed into the cabinet. The cabinet shook a few times before settling down and returning to calm.

"Professor Lupin." Harry stepped forward hesitantly, "Why don't you let us deal with the Boggart?"

"This is a decision I made on the spur of the moment. Ron's situation made me realize that if Boggart faces you guys, it is very likely to turn into the image of Voldemort." Lupin said slowly, "Voldemort should not appear in the staff lounge. I think it will scare others."

Harry was stunned that Lupin actually said Voldemort's name. Apart from them, Harry only heard Dumbledore call Voldemort's name so frankly.

"So we stayed, Professor." Hermione's clear voice sounded, and she pulled Loren forward, "There are only a few of us here now. It doesn't matter even if Voldemort shows up. Let's give it a try."

Lupin raised his eyebrows, looked around at the few people, and smiled softly: "It seems that I am the one who fears Voldemort, not you. Come on, show me."

He opened the cabinet door and walked a few steps to the side to make room in front of the cabinet.

Hermione took a deep breath, and a slight coolness flowed from her nose along her trachea into her lungs. Many things she had anticipated emerged in her mind.

Trolls, Voldemort, Acromantulas, Basilisks...

Although these things were dangerous, they were not enough to scare the little witch. The concrete monsters were gradually left behind, and vivid human figures took their place.

During childhood, I was excluded and isolated by my classmates.

When I first entered school, I felt panic and helplessness in the magical world.