Hogwarts: Proficiency Panel

Chapter 533 534: Lupin and Snape

"Very good, Neville," Professor Lupin said encouragingly. "Now, first things

first: what would you say is the thing you fear most in this world?"

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

"Sorry, Neville, I didn't quite catch that," Lupin said mildly.

Neville looked around in a panic, his eyes darting from side to side as if

pleading for someone to rescue him. Finally, in a voice so low it was almost a

whisper, he managed to choke out:

"Professor Snape."

Nearly everyone in the room burst into laughter. Even Neville managed a small,

sheepish grin. Professor Lupin, however, looked thoughtful.

"Professor Snape... hmmm... Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother,

don't you?"

"Er—yes," Neville said nervously. "But—I don't want the Boggart to turn into

her, either."

"No, no, you misunderstand," Lupin said, a smile spreading across his tired

face. "I was wondering... could you tell us what your grandmother usually

wears?"

Neville looked surprised, but he answered readily enough. "Well... she always

wears that hat. A tall one with a stuffed vulture on top. And a long dress...

usually green. Sometimes a fox-fur scarf."

"And a handbag, I expect?" Lupin prompted.

"A big red one," Neville added.

"Right then," Lupin said. "Neville, can you picture those clothes very clearly?

Can you see them in your mind's eye?"

"Yes," Neville said, though he sounded far from certain. He was clearly dreading

whatever was coming next.

"Neville, when the Boggart bursts out of that wardrobe and sees you, it will

take the form of Professor Snape," Lupin explained. "At that moment, you will

raise your wand—like this—and shout 'Riddikulus!' while concentrating as hard as

you can on your grandmother's clothes. If all goes well, Boggart-Snape will be

forced into the vulture hat, the green dress, and the big red handbag."

The class roared with laughter. The wardrobe gave a particularly violent lurch,

as if the Boggart inside was offended.

"If Neville is successful, the Boggart will shift its attention to each of you

in turn," Lupin continued. "I want you all to take a moment now to think of what

you fear most, and then imagine how you might make it look... well, ridiculous."

Silence fell over the room.

Lupin cast a pointed look toward Sean, his eyes twinkling with expectation. He

wondered: What would a wizard like Sean Green fear?

Many students had their eyes squeezed shut. Ron was muttering under his breath:

"Take its legs off... just take its legs off..."

Sean snapped back to the present. He knew exactly what Ron was thinking

about—spiders.

"Is everyone ready?" Lupin asked.

The students nodded, many of them rolling up their sleeves.

"Neville, we're all going to back away," Lupin instructed. "We'll give you

plenty of space, alright? When the time comes, I'll call the next person

forward... Right, everyone back to the wall!"

The class retreated until they were pressed against the wood-paneled walls,

leaving Neville standing alone before the rattling wardrobe. He was deathly pale

and looked terrified, but he had his sleeves rolled up and his wand held at the

ready.

"On the count of three, Neville," Lupin said, pointing his own wand at the

handle of the wardrobe. "One... two... three... NOW!"

A spark shot from Lupin's wand and hit the brass knob. The wardrobe doors flew

open.

Professor Snape, hooked nose and all, stepped out with a predatory grace, his

eyes fixed on Neville with a look of pure loathing. Neville backed away, his

wand shaking so hard it was a blur. He tried to speak, but his voice had failed

him. Snape reached into his robes for his wand, looming over the boy.

"Am I... interrupting?"

A cold, silky voice cut through the air from the side of the wardrobe. The

students gasped at how realistic the Boggart was—but Sean sensed something

different.

He looked toward the doorway. There stood the real Professor Snape, wearing a

dark, icy smirk that made the Boggart's version look like a caricature.

"Lupin," Snape drawled, his eyes never leaving the new professor. "It seems I

have urgent business to discuss with my Teaching Assistant. Matters of actual

importance. Forgive the intrusion... or don't."

Snape's tone carried zero traces of apology. He looked at Lupin as if he were a

particularly stubborn stain on a laboratory floor.

"I'm afraid I can't—" Lupin began, his brow furrowing as he tried to protect his

lesson.

"With me. Now." Snape's gaze shifted to Sean, brooking no argument.

Lupin watched helplessly as the two wizards turned and vanished into the

corridor. With a sharp flick of his hand, Lupin sent a burst of magic that made

the wardrobe door slam shut with a resounding BANG.

"Right... well, class. Let us continue."

It wasn't until after the bell rang that Lupin managed to find Harry and the

others. They were huddled in the corridor, talking loudly about the lesson.

"Did you see how I handled the banshee?" Seamus boasted.

"And that giant hand!" Dean added, waving his own arms.

"And Snape in that hat!"

"And my mummy!"

"I still don't get it," Lavender said thoughtfully. "Why would Professor Lupin

be afraid of a crystal ball?"

"That was the best Defense lesson we've ever had, wasn't it?" Ron said excitedly

as they headed back to the classroom to retrieve their bags.

"He seems like a brilliant teacher," Hermione agreed, though she looked a bit

disappointed. "I just wish I'd had a turn with the Boggart—"

"What would it even turn into for you?" Ron grinned. "A piece of homework that

only got a nine out of ten?"

Justin chuckled, nodding along with the banter.

"Mr. Finch-Fletchley, a moment if you please."

Justin stopped at the classroom door as Lupin called to him.

"Professor Lupin? You look like you're feeling better," Justin noted.

"I am, thank you." Lupin closed the door, leaving the curious students outside.

Justin took a seat with his usual polite grace. "My mother always told me that

regardless of the circumstances, a person always holds one final trump card..."

"And what would that be?" Lupin asked, pouring two cups of tea.

"Tomorrow," Justin said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he sipped the tea. "It

brings the twin gifts of waiting and hope. In those two words, all human wisdom

is contained."

Lupin fell into a pensive silence for a moment before a soft smile returned to

his face. "You're quite right, Justin."

"I suspect you didn't call me in here just to discuss philosophy?" Justin asked,

setting his cup down.

"Indeed," Lupin said, his expression turning more somber. "It's about Mr.

Green... and Professor Snape. Their relationship... it seems..."

"I've been wanting to talk to someone about that for a long time," Justin said,

his eyes suddenly lighting up with interest. "Don't you think it's... unusual?"

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