“Something that copies your fears and makes you face them,” Cedric said.
Malfoy didn’t reappear in classes until late on Thursday morning, when the Slytherins and Gryffindors were halfway through double Potions.
“He probably choose that time on purpose, since he'll be able to get away with anything he wants in that class,” Hermione said.
He swaggered into the dungeon, his right arm covered in bandages and bound up in a sling, acting, in Harry’s opinion, as though he was the heroic survivor of some dreadful battle.
“Oh, please,” Luna said, rolling her eyes. “Can he be any more dramatic?”
“Probably,” Harry said.
“How is it, Draco?” simpered Pansy Parkinson. “Does it hurt much?”
“She's kind of annoying, isn't she?” Hermione said.
“Yeah. Plus she's obviously making him feel like he has to have a reason to act like he's hurt,” Cedric said.
“Yeah,” said Malfoy, putting on a brave sort of grimace. But Harry saw him wink at Crabbe and Goyle when Pansy had looked away.
“I doubt your the only one who saw him do that, as well,” Hermione said.
“Settle down, settle down,” said Professor Snape idly.
“Of course,” Harry muttered, rolling his eyes.
“Had anyone else done that, he would have taken points and given detention,” Cedric said.
Harry and Ron scowled at each other; Snape wouldn’t have said ‘settle down’ if they’d walked in late, he’d have given them detention.
“Actually, after hearing about him, he'd probably put you into detention for a week, Harry,” Hermione said.
But Malfoy had always been able to get away with anything in Snape’s classes; Snape was Head of Slytherin house, and generally favoured his own students before all others.
“Particularly Malfoy,” Harry said.
They were making a new potion today, a Shrinking Solution.
“That sounds like an interesting potion to make,” Hermione said.
“It does,” Cedric said.
Malfoy set up his cauldron right next to Harry and Ron, so that they were preparing their ingredients on the same table.
“He did that on purpose,” Luna said.
“He really is going to milk his 'injured' for all he can, isn't he?” Hermione said.
“Well, only in that class, since it's the only one he can get away with it,” Cedric said.
“Sir,” Malfoy called, “sir, I’ll need help cutting up these daisy roots, because of my arm –“
“So that's his plan, to make it so that he can basically boss Ron and I around,” Harry said.
“And, of course, Snape will let him get away with it, and even encourage it by making you or Ron do it,” Hermione said, shaking her head. How that man became a teacher, she had no idea. All she knew was that he didn't deserve to be a teacher.
“Weasley, cut up Malfoy’s roots for him,” said Snape, without looking up.
Ron went brick red.
“Did he really not expect that?” Harry asked. “I mean, why else would Malfoy sit near us, if not to complain to Snape and have him make us do Malfoy's work.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your arm,” he hissed at Malfoy.
“Doesn't matter,” Hermione said. “In that class, he can get away with anything he wants.”
Malfoy smirked across the table.
“Weasley, you heard Professor Snape, cut up these roots.”
Ron seized his knife, pulled Malfoy’s roots towards him and began to chop them roughly, so that they were all different sizes.
“Malfoy's not going to like that,” Cedric said.
“He'll most likely complain to Snape so that Ron has to switch with Malfoy,” Hermione said. “Especially if they're supposed to be set at a certain length.”
“Professor,” drawled Malfoy, “Weasley’s mutilating my roots, sir.”
“See,” Hermione pointed out.
Snape approached their table, stared down his hooked nose at the roots, then gave Ron an unpleasant smile from beneath his long, greasy black hair.
The four shuddered at that, as that wasn't a sight they'd want to see or hear about all that much.
“Change roots with Malfoy, Weasley.”
“But sir –!”
“There's no use arguing with him,” Harry said.
Ron had spent the last quarter of an hour carefully shredding his own roots into exactly equal pieces.
“Which mean that he should have known better than to give Malfoy a reason to have Snape make them exchange their roots,” Cedric said.
“Now,” said Snape in his most dangerous voice.
Ron shoved his own beautifully cut roots
“That probably suck for him,” Cedric said.
across the table at Malfoy, then took up the knife again.
“And, sir, I’ll need this Shrivelfig skinned,” said Malfoy, his voice full of malicious laughter.
“I wish I could throw something at him without getting into trouble,” Harry said.
“We wish you could as well,” Cedric said.
“Maybe you should ask the twins if they could do something about him,” Hermione said.
“I doubt that my book self will think of that,” Harry said.
“Potter, you can skin Malfoy’s Shrivelfig,”
“It sounds as if he thinks that doing so is a great honor towards you,” Hermione said, shaking her head.
said Snape, giving Harry the look of loathing he always reserved just for him.
“That's kind of weird to hear,” Harry said.
“I wonder what this special look of loathing is like,” Cedric said.
“I wonder if its the same look he gave Professor Lupin,” Harry said.
Harry took Malfoy’s Shrivelfig as Ron set about trying to repair the damage to the roots he now had to use. Harry skinned the Shrivelfig as fast as he could and flung it back across the table at Malfoy without speaking. Malfoy was smirking more broadly than ever.
'He knows that he's bothering you two,” Cedric said.
“Seen your pal Hagrid lately?” he asked them quietly.
“We probably have,” Harry said.
“None of your business,” said Ron jerkily, without looking up.
“Like that's going to keep him from saying something,” Cedric said.
“I’m afraid he won’t be a teacher much longer,” said Malfoy,
“He probably will, especially if Dumbledore wants him to be,” Luna said.
in a tone of mock sorrow. “Father’s not very happy about my injury –“
Luckily, with Lucius off of the board, the most he can do I complain,” Cedric said.
“Keep talking, Malfoy, and I’ll give you a real injury,” snarled Ron.
“He should wait until after class,” Hermione said. “Less likely that Snape will see him.”
“– he’s complained to the school governors. And to the Ministry of Magic.”
“Of course he did,” Cedric said. “Using all of his influence for something so little. It's like he's trying to flaunt that he has a lot of it.”
“Father’s got a lot of influence, you know. And a lasting injury like this –“
“Now there's an idea,” Hermione said, beginning to think of how she could do it without being caught.
“Yeah, might as well do something that makes it permanent, since he is obviously wishing it was that way,” Cedric said.
he gave a huge, fake sigh, “who knows if my arm’ll ever be the same again?”
“It would serve you right if that did happen,” Harry said.
“So that’s why you’re putting it on,” said Harry, accidentally beheading a dead caterpillar because his hand was shaking in anger. “To try and get Hagrid sacked.”
“And to cause trouble,” Harry added.
“Well,” said Malfoy, lowering his voice to a whisper, “partly, Potter. But there are other benefits, too.”
“See,” Harry said.
“No one was doubting you, Harry,” Hermione said.
“Weasley, slice my caterpillars for me.”
“Not even bothering to ask Snape to demand it for him any more, is he?” Luna said.
A few cauldrons away, Neville was in trouble.
“Somehow, I'm not completely surprised,” Harry said.
Neville regularly went to pieces in Potions lessons; it was his worst subject,
“Probably because of Snape,” Hermione said.
and his great fear of Professor Snape made things ten times worse.
“You know, the fact that one of the students fears him so badly that he has trouble in the class should tell people something,” Hermione said.
“Like what?” Harry asked.
“That he shouldn't be around children,” Hermione said. “Which makes me wonder why he is to begin with. I mean, he doesn't sound like he has ever been a pleasant man.”
“I wouldn't be surprised if that was true,” Cedric said.
His potion, which was supposed to be a bright, acid green, had turned –
“A different color,” Hermione said.
“Snape going to be bullying him again,” Harry said, sighing.
“Orange, Longbottom,” said Snape, ladling some up and allowing it to splash back into the cauldron, so that everyone could see.
“He can't be nice about, no he has to get everyone's attention so that he can show what bully he is and act like it's a good thing,” Hermione said, shaking her head.
“Orange. Tell me, boy, does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours? Didn’t you hear me say, quite clearly, that only one rat spleen was needed? Didn’t I state plainly that a dash of leech juice would suffice? What do I have to do to make you understand, Longbottom?”
Hermione and Luna both narrowed their eyes.
“He probably wouldn't have much trouble if you actually were a decent teacher, instead of a bastard,” Cedric said under his breath.
Neville was pink and trembling. He looked as though he was on the verge of tears.
“Poor Neville,” Luna said.
“Well, if Neville ends up facing this Boggart that's going to be in the chapter at some point, we know what it's going to turn into,” Harry said.
“If it does do that, can't it be used as proof that Snape shouldn't be a teacher?” Hermione asked.
“I don't think so,” Cedric said.
“Please, sir,” said Hermione, “please, I could help Neville put it right –“
“If your his partner, you are allowed to do that...I think,” Cedric said. “I know it's that way in the first two years, at the very least. Not sure about third year, though I would suspect that, while beginning to start you on only focusing on your own work, you still have partners for at the least first class.”
“I don’t remember asking you to show off, Miss Granger,” said Snape coldly,
“She's offering to help. That's not showing off, that's being nice,” Luna said.
and Hermione went as pink as Neville. “Longbottom, at the end of this lesson we will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see what happens.”
“Oh no,” Hermione said, eyes wide. “If Neville doesn't get help, then something is going to happen to Trevor.”
“How dare he say he's going to use Trevor,” Luna said, sounding outraged.
“Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly.”
Snape moved away, leaving Neville breathless with fear.
“Help me!” he moaned to Hermione.
“Of course I'll help him,” Hermione said.
“Hey, Harry,” said Seamus Finnigan, leaning over to borrow Harry’s brass scales,
“Why does he need to borrow mine?” Harry asked.
“He either forgot to bring his own, or he's using needing to borrow yours as a cover so that he could talk to you,” Cedric said.
“have you heard? Daily Prophet this morning – they reckon Sirius Black’s been sighted.”
“Where?” Hermione asked.
“Where?” said Harry and Ron quickly. On the other side of the table, Malfoy looked up, listening closely.
“I guess we should have been a bit more careful when showing interest,” Harry said.
“Not too far from here,” said Seamus, who looked excited. “It was a Muggle who saw him. ’Course, she didn’t really understand. The Muggles think he’s just an ordinary criminal, don’t they? So she ’phoned the telephone hotline. By the time the Ministry of Magic got there, he was gone.”
“So he definitely is on his way to Hogwarts, then,” Hermione said.
“Appears that way,” Cedric said.
“Darn, I was hoping that we'd be able to get rid of the Dementors sooner rather than later,” Harry said, frowning.
“You shouldn't end up in contact with them at all, though,” Luna said.
“Considering how my luck has been, and the fact that the one was a bit too attracted to me, it wouldn't surprise me if they tried to get to me at some point in time,” Harry said
“Yeah, something bad does seem to happen to you every year,” Hermione said. “The Dementors attacking you is rather likely to happen.”
“Not too far from here ...” Ron repeated, looking significantly at Harry. He turned around and saw Malfoy watching closely. “What, Malfoy? Need something else skinning?”
“No, he's just eavesdropping,” Hermione said.
“That, and he most likely knows something you don't know. I mean, his father was one of the Riddle's followers after all,” Cedric said. “Whatever it is that's being hidden from you and makes everyone certain that it's you he's going to go after, he probably has some idea of it.”
But Malfoy’s eyes were shining malevolently,
“He's going to tease you with what he knows,” Hermione said, sighing. “This is another reason why people shouldn't hide things from you, because those who know and are most likely to take pleasure in the information will also purposely say things to irritate you and will most likely make you a little curious.”
and they were fixed on Harry. He leant across the table.
“Thinking of trying to catch Black single-handed, Potter?”
“Not really. I mean, while I don't think they guy's all that great, I'd rather have a peaceful year, and trying to catch him single-handed will make it hard for the peaceful year to happen,” Harry said.
“I wonder if your book self wants the same thing,” Hermione said.
“I would hope so,” Harry said.
“Yeah, that’s right,” said Harry offhandedly.
“I'd say that your book self doesn't want the same thing,” Cedric said.
“I don't think he actually meant it, though,” Harry said. “He was probably just saying it, and didn't mean it.”
Malfoy’s thin mouth was curving in a mean smile.
“Somehow, I have the feeling that he knows that I don't mean it,” Harry said.
“Of course, if it was me,” he said quietly, ‘I’d have done something before now.”
“Like I said, the guys not all that great but that doesn't mean I'm going to go looking for him,” Harry said.
“I wonder why Malfoy is saying he'd done something by now,” Hermione said.
“Probably because of something his father told him,” Cedric said. “I mean, they were in Riddle's circle, after all.”
“True,” Hermione said, though she frowned. “But then why would Malfoy be saying something to Harry, especially when they're supposed to be future allies, since I get the feeling that Malfoy would happily join Riddle.”
“Well, if Black was second only to Riddle, then it would make sense that some of the others would be would rather him gone so that they could have that place,” Luna said.
“True,” Hermione said.
“Well, I can see why Malfoy would want him gone, then,” Cedric said.
“I think, however, that Malfoy is hoping I'll do something that'll get me killed more than thinning the ranks so that he could have second to top spot,” Harry said.
“I wouldn’t be staying in school like a good boy, I’d be out there looking for him.”
“Yeah, he definitely wants me dead,” Harry said.
“What are you talking about, Malfoy?” said Ron roughly.
“Why does Ron answer for me a lot?” Harry asked. “I mean, if it's not him Malfoy's talking to, why does he feel a need to answer?”
“I don't know,” Hermione said, shrugging.
“Don’t you know, Potter?” breathed Malfoy, his pale eyes narrowed.
“That he's probably after me, yes,” Harry said.
“Somehow, I don't think that's what he's talking about,” Cedric said.
“I know,” Harry said, sighing.
“Know what?”
Malfoy let out a low, sneering laugh.
“I do have to wonder what he's talking about,” Hermione said.
“Maybe you’d rather not risk your neck," he said. "Want to leave it to the Dementors, do you? But if it was me, I’d want revenge. I’d hunt him down myself.”
“Why would I hunt him down myself? The only think he's done that would involve me is be a part of Riddle's followers,” Harry said.
“What are you talking about?” said Harry angrily, but at that moment Snape called, “You should have finished adding your ingredients by now.”
“That was rather good timing,” Hermione said. “I wonder if he knew what you guys were talking about.”
“Then why would he stop it?” Harry asked. “I mean, we know that he doesn't care for me. You'd think he'd want to let me get myself killed and all.”
“Who knows,” Hermione said. “I mean, we know from the first book that he was trying to save you because of the fact that your father saved him, but, I would suspect that, by now, he'd no long feel the need to save you.”
“This potion needs to stew before it can be drunk; clear away while it simmers and then we’ll test Longbottom’s ...”
Crabbe and Goyle laughed openly,
“I really wish someone would hit them,” Luna muttered.
watching Neville sweat as he stirred his potion feverishly. Hermione was muttering instructions to him out of the corner of her mouth, so that Snape wouldn’t see.
“He'll most likely know anyway, though,” Cedric said.
“True,” Hermione said. “However, at least this way, he can't stop me and Trevor doesn't get poisoned.”
Harry and Ron packed away their unused ingredients and went to wash their hands and ladles in the stone basin in the corner.
“There's a sink there? I hope that it has some warm water,” Hermione said.
“Is Snape against having anything in the room warm?” Hermione asked.
“The cauldrons are warm,” Cedric said.
“Anything else warm?” Hermione asked.
“I don't know if Snape is against having anything else warm or not,” Cedric said. “For all I know, it has something to do with his subject, since, as you've seen, it doesn't take much to ruin a potion.”
“How do you not kno-” Hermione started, only to think back to the first time Potions was mentioned in the series. “Wait, never mind. I know how you don't know the answer to that. Snape completely forgot to teach safety, didn't he?”
“Yup,” Cedric said.
“That right there shows that he's not a good teacher then, because there would probably be less problems in his class if he'd bothered to teach people what not to do, as well as why not to put certain ingredient together. I can't believe it took me this long to realize this,” Hermione said, shaking her head. “This kind of puts all Muggleborns at a bit of disadvantage, you know. I mean, most of the pure-bloods can talk to their parents about this stuff. We can't.”
“Not that all pure-bloods do, of course,” Luna said. “What's needed is a basic book on potion safety, which probably should have been on the list your first year.”
“This is another hit that he shouldn't be a professor then, isn't it?” Harry said. The other three nodded their heads. “Then this begs the question of why is he one, doesn't it?” Harry added.
“Who knows. Perhaps it'll be somewhere in these books,” Cedric said, motioning to the book in his hands. They were kind of getting away from it, after all, and he would like to finish the chapter sooner rather than later.
“Perhaps,” Hermione said, leaning back in her seat, having been leaning forward towards Luna and Harry in the discussion.
“What did Malfoy mean?” Harry muttered to Ron, as he stuck his hands under the icy jet that poured from a gargoyle’s mouth. “Why would I want revenge on Black? He hasn’t done anything to me – yet.”
“Even my book self is confused by Malfoy,” Harry muttered quietly, though everyone else still heard.
“He’s making it up,” said Ron, savagely,
“While that's true, Ron seems to have forgotten about the fact that, as they were in the same circle, and the fact that Malfoy's father most likely tells him things about it, which means that, chances are, he knows what he talking about,” Cedric said.
“he’s trying to make you do something stupid ...”
“Now that part, however, is completely true,” Harry said.
The end of the lesson in sight, Snape strode over to Neville, who was cowering by his cauldron.
“Considering how he bully's him, I don't blame Neville the slightest,” Luna said.
“Everyone gather round,” said Snape,
“He says that like it's supposed to be something of an entertainment,” Harry said, shaking his head.
his black eyes glittering, “and watch what happens to Longbottom’s toad. If he has managed to produce a Shrinking Solution, it will shrink to a tadpole. If, as I don’t doubt, he has done it wrong, his toad is likely to be poisoned.”
“I do hope that he plans on making sure that the toad is cured should it be poisoned, otherwise I will, when I get to school, do everything possibly to have him fired,” Luna said, quite fiercely. She hated it when animals were harmed – save for the basilisk, however, because it had petrified Hermione, harmed Harry, and tried to kill him as well, so it didn't get any sympathy from her.
The Gryffindors watched fearfully. The Slytherins looked excited.
“Which just goes to show how sick they are. Or, rather, the ones who did that, because you seem to group the Slytherins as all Malfoy's group, and I doubt that's completely correct,” Hermione said.
“True. We don't really hear much about them outside of that group,” Harry said. “They can't all be that bad.”
Snape picked up Trevor the toad in his left hand, and dipped a small spoon into Neville’s potion, which was now green.
“Trevor should be fine, now,” Luna said, looking relieved. “Though, I still feel like I should do everything I can to get him fired anyway. I'd rather not deal with him a whole lot, after all.”
He trickled a few drops down Trevor’s throat.
There was a moment of hushed silence, in which Trevor gulped; then there was a small pop, and Trevor the tadpole was wriggling in Snape’s palm.
“Yay, to a point, since Snape isn't going to be happy about that,” Cedric said.
“Particularly because he was most likely looking forward to having Trevor poisoned,” Hermione said.
The Gryffindors burst into applause. Snape, looking sour, pulled a small bottle from the pocket of his robe, poured a few drops on top of Trevor and he reappeared suddenly, fully grown.
“Five points from Gryffindor,” said Snape, which wiped the smiles from every face.
“Of course. Can't stand to have Gryffindors cheering, after all,” Cedric said.
“I told you not to help him, Miss Granger. Class dismissed.”
“Technically, he didn't,” Hermione said. “He only said that he didn't ask me to show off. He never said I specifically couldn't help him.”
Harry, Ron and Hermione climbed the steps to the Entrance Hall. Harry was still thinking about what Malfoy had said, while Ron was seething about Snape.
“Let me guess, he's mad that Snape dared to take points from Gryffindor, even though it should be expected,” Hermione said.
“Five points from Gryffindor because the potion was all right!”
“More like five points because Gryffindors were happy while what he wanted to happen didn't,” Harry said.
“Why didn’t you lie, Hermione? You should’ve said Neville did it all by himself!”
“Now even I wouldn't fall for that,” Luna said. “No offense to Neville, but with Snape there, he can't concentrate all that well, so there's no way he could have done that without help, especially with the threat to his toad.”
Hermione didn’t answer.
“I'm probably rolling my eyes at him,” Hermione said.
“He shouldn't expect an answer from you, either. He should just use his brain a bit more,” Cedric said.
Ron looked around.
“Where is she?”
“Or I've disappeared,” Hermione said.
“Wonder where you went,” Luna said.
“That's a good question,” Hermione said.
Harry turned, too. They were at the top of the steps now, watching the rest of the class pass them, heading for the Great Hall and lunch.
“She was right behind us,” said Ron, frowning.
“That he knows of. I obviously slipped off when he wasn't looking,” Hermione said.
Malfoy passed them, walking between Crabbe and Goyle. He smirked at Harry and disappeared.[b]
“There she is,” said Harry.
[b]Hermione was panting slightly, hurrying up the stairs; one hand was clutching her bag, the other seemed to be tucking something down the front of her robes.
“You had another class,” Cedric said. “You were hurrying to get back there so that they didn't notice right away as well. And whatever it is that your tucking out of sight is what is enabling you to get to these other classes.”
“That's probably true. Now, if only we could figure out what it wast hat I was tucking away,” Hermione said.
“I have a feeling it won't be until towards the end if we do,” Harry said.
“How did you do that?” said Ron.
“She walked, and you were just not paying attention to her,” Cedric said.
“You know, he probably wouldn't have noticed that at all if he wasn't talking to me,” Hermione said.
“True,” Luna said. “I would suspect that Harry would notice her gone before Ron did.”
“What?” said Hermione, joining them.
“You know, if I hadn't been trying to make sure something was hidden, then I would think that I'd just left something behind and gone back for it,” Hermione said.
“Which would make a good excuse, since you obviously are not supposed to let anyone know how your getting to all of your classes, which is what I suspect that think you hid is supposed to help you with,” Harry said.
“One minute you were right behind us, and next moment, you were back at the bottom of the stairs again.”
“Actually, we don't know when you left them, so he shouldn't assume that you were behind them until he turned to look for you,” Cedric said.
“What?” Hermione looked slightly confused. “Oh – I had to go back for something. Oh, no ...”
“What's wrong?” Harry asked.
A seam had split on Hermione’s bag. Harry wasn’t surprised; he could see that it was crammed with at least a dozen large and heavy books.
“I think, perhaps, you should, when you go to Diagon Alley, get a bag that's charmed to not only be weightless, but also tear resistant and has a space expansion charm on it,” Cedric said. “This way, you don't have to worry about carrying a lot of books that would hurt your back and worry about your bag breaking on you.”
“Why are you carrying all these around with you?” Ron asked her.
“I wonder if, perhaps, I made a stop at the library at some point,” Hermione mused. “I mean, unless I needed them, I shouldn't have that many books with me. However, if I stopped at the library, then it would make sense as to why I have them.”
“You know how many subjects I’m taking,” said Hermione breathlessly.
“To many,” Luna said.
“Couldn’t hold these for me, could you?”
“But –“ Ron was turning over the books she had handed him, looking at the covers – “you haven’t got any of these subjects today.”
“And he knows that...how?” Harry asked.
“Yeah, just because I'm in all of your classes doesn't mean that I don't have others of my own,” Hermione said. “Truthfully, now that I know what Divination is like, I'll most likely make sure that I'm not in that class.”
“Same here,” Harry said.
“It’s only Defence Against the Dark Arts this afternoon.”
“Again, that's for you. Hermione might have another class,” Luna said.
“Oh, yes,” said Hermione vaguely,
“I think that right there says I do, I just don't want him asking questions,” Hermione said.
but she packed all the books back into her bag just the same.
“What am I going to do, leave them where we're at?” Hermione asked rhetorically.
“I hope there’s something good for lunch, I’m starving,” she added, and she marched off towards the Great Hall.
“Bad subject change there,” Hermione said, shaking her head.
“D’you get the feeling Hermione’s not telling us something?” Ron asked Harry.
“The me in the book is probably thinking yes,” Harry said.
Professor Lupin wasn’t there when they arrived at his first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. They all sat down, took out their books, quills and parchment, and were talking when he finally entered the room.
“He must've either been preparing something, or he he wanted everyone to have a chance at getting there before he did,” Cedric said.
“That, or he lost track of time a bit,” Hermione said.
Lupin smiled vaguely and placed his tatty old briefcase on the teacher’s desk. He was as shabby as ever but looked healthier than he had on the train, as though he had had a few square meals.
“Probably did,” Harry said. “I mean, it has been a few days since the train, after all.”
“Good afternoon,” he said. “Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today’s will be a practical lesson. You will only need your wands.”
“Well, that something that's unheard of for our year,” Harry said. “Unless, of course, you count what happened in the previous book with Lockhart. Of course, I don't think we can count the pixies, since only Hermione used her wand. Or, at least, that's what it sounded like. Ron and I were merely grabbing for them, and the rest of the class had split for it. And I don't think I remember hearing about a practical lesson in the first book.”
“We didn't,” Hermione said. “At least, we didn't read any. But, when you consider the way the teacher was – regardless of whether or not Riddle was possessing him – we wouldn't be able to understand a single word of what's being said, anyway.”
A few curious looks were exchanged as the class put away their books. They had never had a practical Defence Against the Dark Arts before, unless you counted the memorable class last year when their old teacher had brought a cageful of pixies to class and set them loose.
“I don't think it counts,” Luna said.
“Right then,” said Professor Lupin, when everyone was ready, “if you’d follow me.”
“Your not doing this practical lesson in the actually classroom," Cedric said, looking interested.
Puzzled but interested, the class got to its feet and followed Professor Lupin out of the classroom.
“I wonder where he's leading us,” Hermione said.
He led them along the deserted corridor and around a corner, where the first thing they saw was Peeves the poltergeist, who was floating upside-down in mid-air and stuffing the nearest keyhole with chewing gum.
“Filch isn't going to be happy at that, I he?” Luna said.
“Professor Lupin should be able to get him to stop it,” Cedric said. “Peeves is usually respectful towards the teachers.”
Peeves didn’t look up until Professor Lupin was two feet away, then he wiggled his curly-toed feet and broke into song.
“Loony, loopy Lupin,” Peeves sang.
“That's strange,” Cedric said. “He's usually respectful towards the teachers.”
“Loony, loopy Lupin, loony, loopy Lupin –“
“Got to admit, though, it's kind of catchy,” Luna said, humming the song under her breath.
Rude and unmanageable as he almost always was, Peeves usually showed some respect towards the teachers.
“Exactly,” Cedric muttered.
Everyone looked quickly at Professor Lupin to see how he would take this; to their surprise, he was still smiling.
“That's...strange,” Hermione said. “I wouldn't think a person would smile at something like that. Unless they have a sense of humor, of course.”
“Well, then, I'd say that Professor Lupin does have a sense of humor,” Harry said.
“I’d take that gum out of the keyhole, if I were you, Peeves,” he said pleasantly. “Mr. Filch won’t be able to get in to his brooms.”
“Which is probably why Peeves is doing it in the first place,” Cedric said.
Filch was the Hogwarts caretaker, a bad-tempered, failed wizard
“I guess that's one way to say what he really is,” Luna said.
“Sounds a bit better as well,” Hermione said.
who waged a constant war against the students and, indeed, Peeves.
“It should say mainly Peeves,” Cedric said.
However, Peeves paid no attention to Professor Lupin’s words, except to blow a loud wet raspberry.
Professor Lupin gave a small sigh and took out his wand.
“Wonder what he's going to do,” Cedric said, looking interesting.
“This is a useful little spell,” he told the class over his shoulder. “Please watch closely.”
“More like 'Please listen closely',” Hermione said.
He raised the wand to shoulder height, said “Waddiwasi!” and pointed it at Peeves.
With the force of a bullet, the wad of chewing gum shot out of the keyhole and straight down Peeves’s left nostril; he whirled right way up and zoomed away, cursing.
“Nice,” Harry said.
“That's definitely a spell to remember,” Cedric said
“Cool, sir!” said Dean Thomas in amazement.
“I think it's safe to say that the class will now respect him,” Hermione said.
“Probably,” Harry said.
“Thank you, Dean,” said Professor Lupin,
“I'd say that's another point to him,” Hermione said. “He isn't treating us like like little kids, and actually knows are names.”
putting his wand away again. “Shall we proceed?”
They set off again, the class looking at shabby Professor Lupin with increased respect. He led them down a second corridor and stopped, right outside the staff-room door.
“This must be where the Boggart is at,” Hermione realized.
“That must be where dealing with,” Harry said.
“So that's what your practical lesson is going to be, dealing with a Boggart,” Cedric said.
“That's good. I was slightly afraid that you ran into one somewhere,” Luna said. “At least in class, you'll possibly be able to deal with it better than if you ran into one outside of class.”
“Inside, please,” said Professor Lupin, opening it and standing back.
The staff room, a long, panelled room full of old, mismatched chairs,
“I would have thought they'd be able to make it full of new, matched chairs,” Hermione said.
“They probably can't decide on a color,” Harry said. “Though why they're old, I don't know.”
was empty except for one teacher. Professor Snape was sitting in a low armchair, and he looked around as the class filed in.
“Oh, please don't let him be staying,” Hermione said. “I really don't want him to watch this.”
His eyes were glittering and there was a nasty sneer playing around his mouth. As Professor Lupin came in and made to close the door behind him, Snape said, “Leave it open, Lupin. I’d rather not witness this.”
“And we'd rather you not witness it either,” Harry said.
He got to his feet and strode past the class, his black robes billowing behind him. At the doorway he turned on his heel and said, “Possibly no one’s warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear.”
“Bastard,” Cedric mumbled.
“That was uncalled for,” Hermione said.
“I'm sure Neville has the potential to be a great wizard. It's people like Snape that make him have little to no confidence,” Luna said.
Neville went scarlet. Harry glared at Snape; it was bad enough that he bullied Neville in his own classes, let alone doing it in front of other teachers.
“Though, technically, I would hope that, any other teacher would have the decency to get on his case,” Hermione said.
“You don't think Professor Lupin would,” Harry said.
“He's too new,” Hermione said.
Professor Lupin had raised his eyebrows.
“I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation,” he said, “and I am sure he will perform it admirably.”
“That's going to make Neville a bit uncomfortably,” Hermione said.
“Most likely,” Harry agreed.
Neville’s face went, if possible, even redder. Snape’s lip curled,
“So he purposely said the words he said,” Harry said. “I really do not like Snape right now.”
but he left, shutting the door with a snap.
“Now, then,” said Professor Lupin, beckoning the class towards the end of the room, where there was nothing except an old wardrobe in which the teachers kept their spare robes. As Professor Lupin went to stand next to it, the wardrobe gave a sudden wobble, banging off the wall.
“Boggart in the wardrobe,” Hermione said, repeating the chapter title.
“Nothing to worry about,” said Professor Lupin calmly,
“Most people would think that there is something to worry about,” Luna said.
as a few people jumped backwards in alarm. “There’s a Boggart in there.”
Most people seemed to feel that this was something to worry about.
“See,” Luna said.
Neville gave Professor Lupin a look of pure terror, and Seamus Finnigan eyed the now rattling doorknob apprehensively.
“I'd probably be doing the same thing if I was there myself,” Cedric said.
“Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces,” said Professor Lupin. “Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks – I once met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock.”
“That sounds rather interesting,” Hermione said.
“This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the Headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third-years some practice.”
“Which is why it's still there,” Luna said.
“So, the first question we must ask ourselves is, what is a Boggart?”
Hermione put up her hand.
“That's not so surprising,” Luna said. “You do seem to be the one who answers everything so far.”
“True,” Harry said.
“It’s a shape-shifter,” she said. “It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us most.”
“Couldn’t have put it better myself,” said Professor Lupin, and Hermione glowed.
“So the Boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form.”
'Which makes me wonder what it looks like before it assumes a form,” Harry said.
“He does not yet know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a Boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears.”
“Which, if you think about, means that there's a huge advantage for us,” Hermione realized.
“What do you mean?” Cedric asked, looking up from the book towards her.
“There are a lot of us in the room, meaning that the Boggart won't know what shape to assume,” Hermione said. “While some of us might share the same fear, most of us are afraid of different things, so it can't change into something that'll scare us.”
“This means,” said Professor Lupin, choosing to ignore Neville’s small splutter of terror,
“Poor Neville,” Cedric said.
“That's not very nice to ignore it, but I suppose there really wasn't much he could do anyway,” Hermione said.
“that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?”
“It's probably what Hermione pointed out a few seconds ago,” Harry said.
Trying to answer a question with Hermione next to him, bobbing up and down on the balls of her feet with her hand in the air, was very off-putting,
Hermione winced.
“You know, I think it would be safer if, when teacher specifically asks another student, that you don't raise your hand to answer, unless otherwise specified,” Cedric said.
but Harry had a go.
“Er – because there are so many of us, it won’t know what shape it should be?”[
“Precisely,” said Professor Lupin, and Hermione put her hand down looking a little disappointed.
“Why would you be disappointed?” Harry asked.
“I think it's because I really wanted to be the person to answer the question,” Hermione said.
“You need to learn to share the spotlight, then,” Harry said. “Especially if a teacher chooses to have someone else answer a question over you. You need to except it when it happens, instead of raising your hand and expecting to be called on. In truth, it's things like that which probably don't help you when it comes to making friends.”
Hermione frowned at him.
“He's right,” Luna said. “You appear like a snobby know it all when you do that, and no one likes people like that. It's probably why you had such a hard time making friends in the first book, because of the way you came off.”
Hermione switched her frown over to Luna. She didn't come off as a snobby know it all, did she? Her frown changed to a thoughtful look at she thought about it. While she was sure she didn't come off as snobby, she could see that she did come off as a bit of a know it all, which could put people off. She deflated a bit at that realization, especially since something big would have to change if she wanted more friends.
Luna seemed to guess at the direction of her thoughts.
“All you have to do is calm down a bit when it comes to showing off your knowledge. Don't shove facts down a person's throat, give others a chance to answer a question that a teacher asks, and don't quote things you've read in a book unless it's something important,” Luna said.
“It’s always best to have company when you’re dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake – tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug.”
“That doesn't sound frightening,” Hermione said.
“Not remotely frightening.”
“Apparently, you think like Professor Lupin does, Hermione,” Harry said.
“There are worst people to think like, Harry,” Hermione said.
“True,” Harry said. “You could think like Snape, after all.”
“Please don't even joke about that,” Hermione said.
“The charm that repels a Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter.”
“I suppose that kind of makes sense,” Hermione said.
“What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing.”
“That doesn't sound exactly easy, since I imagine that you have to force what you fear to be amusing, not just imagine something funny in general,” Harry said.
“We will practise the charm without wands first. After me, please ... riddikulus!”
“That's a strange spell,” Hermione said.
“Riddikulus!” said the class together.
“Good,” said Professor Lupin. “Very good. But that was the easy part, I’m afraid. You see, the word alone is not enough. And this is where you come in, Neville.”
“It's about time for the practical part of the lesson,” Hermione said.
The wardrobe shook again, though not as much as Neville, who walked forward as though he was heading for the gallows.
“Yeah, no one really wants to face their fears, especially in front of others,” Harry said.
“Right, Neville,” said Professor Lupin. “First things first: what would you say is the thing that frightens you most in the world?”
Neville’s lips moved, but no noise came out.
“I wonder what his greatest fear is,” Hermione said.
“Didn’t catch that, Neville, sorry,” said Professor Lupin cheerfully.
“Why is he cheerful?” Hermione asked.
“Maybe he already has an idea of what he greatest fear is,” Harry said.
Neville looked around rather wildly, as though begging someone to help him, then said, in barely more than a whisper, “Professor Snape.”
“Okay, that's something that should be reported,” Hermione said. “If a teacher is a students greatest fear, then that teacher should not be around said student.”
Nearly everyone laughed.
“That's not a laughing matter,” Luna said.
Even Neville grinned apologetically.
“He shouldn't feel like he has to apologize about something he can't control,” Hermione said.
Professor Lupin, however, looked thoughtful.
“Professor Snape ... hmmm ... Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother?”
“Er – yes,” said Neville nervously. “But – I don’t want the Boggart to turn into her, either.”
“Since Snape is his greatest fear, it'll be Snape who it turns into,” Cedric said.
“Though I'm not exactly comfortable hearing him worry that it'll turn into his grandmother,” Hermione said.
“No, no, you misunderstand me,” said Professor Lupin, now smiling.
“I think he has an idea,” Harry said. “And, if he's smiling, it's probably a good one.”
“I wonder, could you tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?”
“Why does he want to know that?” Harry and Hermione asked. Luna shrugged, but Cedric has an idea of what Professor Lupin might be getting at.
Neville looked startled,
“Understandable, since it startled us as well,” Harry said.
but said, “Well ... always the same hat. A tall one with a stuffed vulture on top. And a long dress ... green, normally ... and sometimes a fox-fur scarf.”
“And a handbag?” prompted Professor Lupin.
“A big red one,” said Neville.
“His grandmother had some interesting taste,” Hermione said.
“Right then,” said Professor Lupin. “Can you picture those clothes very clearly, Neville? Can you see them in your mind’s eye?”
“Yes,” said Neville uncertainly, plainly wondering what was coming next.
“Your not the only one, Neville, your not the only one,” Hermione said.
“When the Boggart bursts out of this wardrobe, Neville, and sees you, it will assume the form of Professor Snape,” said Lupin. “And you will raise your wand – thus – and cry 'Riddikulus' – and concentrate hard on your grandmother’s clothes. If all goes well, Professor Boggart Snape will be forced into that vulture-topped hat, that green dress, that big red handbag.”
The four laughed at the, the image coming rather easily to their mind, though Cedric has the closest picture of the actual event, since he knew that Snape looked like already.
“As much as that's going to be enjoyable to see, I have the feeling that it's not going to be the best thing in the long term,” Hermione finally said, after calming down and thinking about. “No doubt that Snape will bully Neville even more should that happen and then gets out around the castle. After all, Snape'll probably take pride in knowing that he'd Neville's greatest fear, but will hate the idea of being humiliated.”
There was a great shout of laughter. The wardrobe wobbled more violently.
“It didn't like that,” Cedric said.
“If Neville is successful,”
“And with those instructions, and the fact that Professor Lupin is nice, and will most likely interfere if needed, I have no doubt that he will be successful,” Cedric said.
“the Boggart is likely to turn his attention to each of us in turn,” said Professor Lupin. “I would like all of you to take a moment now to think of the thing that scares you most, and imagine how you might force it to look comical ...”
“Not quite as easy as it sounds,” Cedric said.
The room went quiet. Harry thought ... What scared him most in the world?
His first thought was Lord Voldemort – a Voldemort returned to full strength.
“I really hope that's not it, because that would probably freak Professor Lupin out, since most of the kids in your class probably won't know who it is,” Cedric said.
But before he had even started to plan a possible counter-attack on a Boggart-Voldemort, a horrible image came floating to the surface of his mind ...
A rotting, glistening hand, slithering back beneath a black cloak ... a long, rattling breath from an unseen mouth ... then a cold so penetrating it felt like drowning …
“Your greatest fear is Dementors,” Hermione said, frowning. “I'm not sure how you can imagine it as funny, especially if the Boggart can stimulate the effects of a real Dementor.”
“I really hope not,” Harry said.
Harry shivered, then looked around, hoping no one had noticed. Many people had their eyes shut tight. Ron was muttering to himself, “Take its legs off.”
“His fear is still spiders,” Harry said. “I would have thought it would have changed to something else by now.”
Harry was sure he knew what that was about. Ron’s greatest fear was spiders.
“Everyone ready?” said Professor Lupin.
Harry felt a lurch of fear. He wasn’t ready. How could you make a Dementor less frightening? But he didn’t want to ask for more time; everyone else was nodding and rolling up their sleeves.
“You should have spoke up,” Hermione said. “I mean, no offense to you, but it'll look bad on you if you don't mention something.”
Harry frowned, realizing that she was right.
“Neville, we’re going to back away,” said Professor Lupin. “Let you have a clear field, all right? I’ll call the next person forward ... everyone back, now, so Neville can get a clear shot –“
They all retreated, backing against the walls, leaving Neville alone beside the wardrobe. He looked pale and frightened, but he had pushed up the sleeves of his robes and was holding his wand ready.
“He can do it,” Luna said. “I'm sure of it.”
“On the count of three, Neville,” said Professor Lupin, who was pointing his own wand at the handle of the wardrobe. “One – two – three – now!”
A jet of sparks shot from the end of Professor Lupin’s wand and hit the doorknob. The wardrobe burst open. Hook-nosed and menacing, Professor Snape stepped out, his eyes flashing at Neville.
Neville backed away, his wand up, mouthing wordlessly. Snape was bearing down upon him, reaching inside his robes.
“Creepy,” Hermione said.
“R-r-riddikulus!” squeaked Neville.
There was a noise like a whip-crack. Snape stumbled; he was wearing a long, lace-trimmed dress and a towering hat topped with a moth-eaten vulture, and swinging a huge crimson handbag from his hand.
Everyone laughed again.
“I told you he would do it,” Luna said, once they'd calmed down.
There was a roar of laughter; the Boggart paused, confused, and Professor Lupin shouted, “Parvati! Forward!”
“We're going to be seeing quite a few fears these people have, aren't we,” Hermione said.
“Seems that way,” Harry said.
Parvati walked forward, her face set. Snape rounded on her. There was another crack, and where he had stood was a bloodstained, bandaged mummy;
'I wonder why she's agraid of mummies,” Harry murmured.
its sightless face was turned to Parvati and it began to walk towards her, very slowly, dragging its feet, its stiff arms rising –
“Riddikulus!” cried Parvati.
A bandage unravelled at the mummy’s feet; it became entanled, fell face forwards and its head rolled off.
There was a scattering of laughter at that, though not quite to the point it was with the Snape-Boggart.
“Seamus!” roared Professor Lupin.
Seamus darted past Parvati.
Crack! Where the mummy had been was a woman with floor-length black hair and a skeletal, green-tinged face – a banshee. She opened her mouth wide, and an unearthly sound filled the room, a long, wailing shriek which made the hair on Harry’s head stand on end –
“Riddikulus!” shouted Seamus.
The banshee made a rasping noise and clutched her throat; her voice was gone.
“Not quite sure how that's funny, but if it works...” Hermione said.
Crack! The banshee turned into a rat, which chased its tail in a circle, then – crack! – became a rattlesnake, which slithered and writhed before – crack! – becoming a single, bloody eyeball.
Each of these had some laughter to them, though the last one confused them a bit.
“What's with the eyeball?” Harry asked.
“It’s confused!”
“Oh,” Harry sounded.
shouted Lupin. “We’re getting there! Dean!”
Dean hurried forward.
Crack! The eyeball became a severed hand, which flipped over, and began to creep along the floor like a crab.
“He must not be a fan of the Addams family,” Hermione said. “A television show,” she added when she noticed the clueless looks on Cedric's and Luna's faces.
“Riddikulus!” yelled Dean.
There was a snap, and the hand was trapped in a mousetrap.
“Excellent! Ron, you next!”
Ron leapt forward.
Crack!
Quite a few people screamed. A giant spider, six feet tall and covered in hair,
“He just had to use an acromatula,” Luna said, shaking his head.
“Seems meeting Aragog didn't endear him to any spider,” Harry said.
was advancing on Ron, clicking its pincers menacingly. For a moment, Harry thought Ron had frozen. Then –
“Riddikulus!” bellowed Ron, and the spider’s legs vanished. It rolled over and over; Lavender Brown squealed and ran out of its way and it came to a halt at Harry’s feet. He raised his wand, ready, but –
“But what?” Harry said, though he was slightly relieved hat he didn't have to face it at the moment.
“Here!” shouted Professor Lupin suddenly, hurrying forward.
Crack!
The legless spider had vanished. For a second, everyone looked wildly around to see where it was. Then they saw a silvery white orb
“A ...moon?” Hermione muttered questioningly to herself. That's what it sounds like it is, but there could be some other silvery white orb that he's afraid of.
hanging in the air in front of Lupin, who said “Riddikulus!” almost lazily.
“I think he's used to facing Boggarts, you?” Harry said. Luna and Cedric nodded. Hermione was still thinking about Professor Lupin's Boggart, and didn't seem to hear him.
Crack!
“Forward, Neville, and finish him off!” said Lupin, as the Boggart landed on the floor as a cockroach.
“That's one way to deal with it,” Cedric said.
Crack! Snape was back. This time Neville charged forward looking determined.
“He knows that he can do it,” Luna said.
“Riddikulus!” he shouted, and they had a split second’s view of Snape in his lacy dress before Neville let out a great “Ha!” of laughter, and the Boggart exploded, burst into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and was gone.
“And it's gone,” Cedric said.
“Excellent!” cried Professor Lupin, as the class broke into applause. “Excellent, Neville. Well done, everyone. Let me see ... five points to Gryffindor for every person to tackle the Boggart – ten for Neville because he did it twice – and five each to Hermione and Harry.”
“Why are we getting points? We didn't do anything except...” Harry started to say, only to realize why he and Hermione were getting points for.
“Except answer his questions correctly at the start of the class,” Luna finished.
“I guess he decided to wait until the end of the class period to had out points,” Cedric said.
“So it was only Gryffindor who got points,” Hermione said. “I take it that those fears mentioned without an accompanied name are the other girls in Gryffindor, then. I wonder why whatever the other house Gryffindor shares with DADA didn't have any member join. At least, that's what's being implied.”
“Maybe because Professor Lupin wanted someone who had already faced it to finish it off,” Luna said.
“But I didn’t do anything,” said Harry.
“You and Hermione answered my questions correctly at the start of the class, Harry,” Lupin said lightly. “Very well, everyone, an excellent lesson. Homework, kindly read the chapter on Boggarts and summarise it for me ... to be handed in on Monday. That will be all.”
“That's not too bad for homework,” Cedric said.
Talking excitedly, the class left the staff room. Harry, however, wasn’t feeling cheerful. Professor Lupin had deliberately stopped him tackling the Boggart. Why? Was it because he’d seen Harry collapse on the train, and thought he wasn’t up to much? Had he thought Harry would pass out again?
“I guess it didn't occur to you that Professor Lupin might have thought that you would fear Voldemort,” Cedric said.
“No, it doesn't seem that way,” Harry said. “I probably should have thought that, too. I mean, it's not like he can read my mind and know what I'm thinking,”
But no one else seemed to have noticed anything.
“Did you see me take that banshee?” shouted Seamus.
“And the hand!” said Dean, waving his own around.
“And Snape in that hat!”
“And my mummy!”
“There all talking about their achievements,” Cedric said.
“I wonder why Professor Lupin’s frightened of crystal balls?” said Lavender thoughtfully.
“Is that what it was,” Hermione murmured. “But it sounded more like a moon...” Once again, she went off in thought about it, only this time, it was more noticeable, as were her words. Cedric looked at her curiously, but didn't ask her what she meant.
“That was the best Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson we’ve ever had, wasn’t it?” said Ron excitedly,
“He's excited about that class? That's a shock, considering what he said about it last year,” Hermione said, having come back out of her head when she heard Cedric reading again.
“Well, it was more like he was criticising the teacher, and, considering who it was, I think it was something that he had every right to criticize,” Harry said.
as they made their way back to the classroom to get their bags.
“He seems a very good teacher,” said Hermione approvingly.
“Only took one class for you to say that. Means your most likely bound to learn something this year,” Cedric said. “And so will I, thankfully. It's O.W.L. year for book me, after all.”
“But I wish I could have had a turn with the Boggart –“
“What do you think your Boggart would be?” Harry asked, curiously.
“I'm not quite sure. I have quite a few fears, after all,” Hermione said, thinking about it.
“What would it have been for you?” said Ron, sniggering. “A piece of homework that only got nine out of ten?”
“Considering that I don't always get everything right, just most things, I doubt it'll be that,” Hermione said. “Though, it'll make a good cover story should I not want to say what my fear is, if I'm not able to beat it. Either that, or having a Professor say I failed everything. Either or, they both make good cover stories.”
“That's the end of the chapter,” Cedric said, handing the book over to Luna.