One morning in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Remus Lupin stood before a newly acquired black cabinet topped with a mirror, a strange unease prickling his senses. The cabinet suddenly shuddered, startling the students huddled nearby.
Lupin, noting the mixture of fear and curiosity on their faces, chuckled softly. "Does anyone know what might be inside? Use your imaginations."
"Reporting, Professor!" Hermione Granger's hand shot up instantly. "It's a Boggart!"
"Excellent, Miss Granger!" Lupin beamed, impressed by the student's ever-present preparedness. "And can anyone tell me… what does a Boggart look like?" A slight smile played on Lupin's lips.
"Me! Professor! I know!" Hermione waved her hand even more enthusiastically.
Lupin, scanning the room for other eager participants and finding none, sighed inwardly. "Please answer, Miss Granger." Student interaction is good, but not when it's a one-woman show.
Under Lupin's somewhat weary gaze, Hermione recited confidently, "No one knows what a Boggart looks like because it's a shapeshifter! It transforms into whatever the person facing it fears most. So it's…"
"Terrifying, yes." Lupin raised a hand, halting Hermione's recitation.
Cassandra, standing slightly apart from the other students, glanced down at Tom Riddle, lounging in his usual corner. "Professor Tom, do you know what a Boggart looks like?"
Hearing his student's question, Tom Riddle's mind flickered back to his own encounter with a Boggart during his Hogwarts years. "Yes, I know." Tom Riddle nodded calmly.
Even the most skilled Occlumens would struggle against a Boggart's mind-reading abilities. But whether it was due to the System or my own mastery, the Boggart I faced was… a wisp of smoke. He couldn't possibly fear something so innocuous, so the reason was obvious.
Cassandra, of course, wasn't surprised by Tom Riddle's answer. In her eyes, he was practically omniscient. "What could it be?" she pressed.
Even Lupin, mid-lecture, and the students, rapt with attention, turned towards them. They all knew Tom Riddle's reputation. No one doubted he knew the answer. But no one had ever truly seen the Boggart's true form. Curiosity hung heavy in the air.
"In that case, I shall demonstrate." Tom Riddle chuckled, closing his book and rising to his feet. "Lupin, open the cabinet." He strode towards the ominous black box.
Lupin, while skeptical of any grand revelation, complied. He opened the cabinet.
Instantly, a chilling, eerie sound echoed from within, followed by… a wisp of blue smoke?
"What is that? The true form of a Boggart? Or is Professor Tom Riddle really afraid of smoke?"
"Idiot! Who's afraid of smoke? Isn't it obvious; he is not afraid of anything?!"
"I didn't expect the legendary Boggart's true form to be so… unremarkable."
"…"
The students examined the smoke with open curiosity, whispering theories and observations. Hermione, predictably, was already scribbling furiously in her notebook.
Lupin, watching from the sidelines, was intrigued. He'd never witnessed anything quite like it. "Since you're all settled, let's begin the lesson." Tom Riddle glanced at Lupin, then casually waved his hand. The Boggart "consciously" flew back into the cabinet, which slammed shut with a resounding "bang." Tom Riddle then resumed his seat.
Lupin, whose teaching abilities far surpassed those of the previous Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, quickly regained his composure. "Ahem… Back to our topic! Boggarts are terrifying dark magical creatures, but fortunately, there are spells to counter them."
"And this spell is quite simple. Don't take out your wands just yet. Repeat after me: 'Riddikulus!'"
As Lupin finished speaking, the classroom filled with the sounds of students chanting, "Riddikulus!" He listened intently, patiently correcting their pronunciation.
The students sighed in relief. Three years! Finally, a useful Defense Against the Dark Arts professor! Of course, this didn't include the substitute stints of Tom Riddle and Snape. Only the students knew the pain they had endured.
After the students had practiced the incantation sufficiently, Lupin instructed them to draw their wands and practice the wand movement for the Riddikulus charm. While they practiced, Lupin reminded them of a key element: "Remember, the most effective way to deal with a Boggart is to laugh! Try to make it… funny!"
"Now, let's have someone demonstrate." This time, Lupin wouldn't rely on raised hands. "Neville, you come up." He bypassed Hermione, whose hand was already in the air, and focused on the bewildered Neville Longbottom.
Seeing Neville's hesitant steps forward, Lupin felt a surge of pride in his tactical brilliance. Indeed, calling on students is the most effective method. "Come on, Neville. Don't be afraid. Stand in front of the cabinet." Lupin smiled encouragingly.
"Tell me, Neville, what are you most afraid of?"
"Professor Snape."
"What?"
"Professor Snape!"
The students erupted in laughter. Even Lupin chuckled, nodding approvingly. "Snape, yes. Everyone's afraid of him."
Hearing this, Tom Riddle, who had been engrossed in his book, looked up, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"…"
A chill ran down Lupin's spine as he realized that there was another one here…someone Snape was afraid of.
"Ahem… Alright, enough chit-chat, Neville. Are you ready? I'm going to open the cabinet." Quickly refocusing, Lupin approached the cabinet and reached for the handle.
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