𝐊𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍 | 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘺

Chapter 35 - Unsettling Boggarts

"Where?" Harry and Ron asked quickly.

"Not too far from here," the boy replied, looking 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." As he finished, the boy made eye contact with the Black girl, her eyes set unblinkingly on him. "Would you know where the lunatic is? He is a relative of yours, Black."

Betelgeuse regarded him with an impassive look, "Who are you and why are you talking to me?" She asked in a callous tone. The boy opened his mouth to reply, "I do not care," Betelgeuse interrupted him, resuming her walk.

Fred and George walked silently beside her, knowing very well the only thing she needed at that moment was some peaceful silence.

After crossing the long and curved corridor that the three knew very well, they finally arrived in class. An iron chandelier hung ominously from the ceiling. On one end of the classroom stood a projector that was presumably activated by magic. A blackboard was set at the front of the classroom opposite several desks and tables.

Betelgeuse was excited about Defence Against the Dark Arts. Maybe this time they would have a decent teacher. Professor Lupin was not in class when they arrived; Fred, George and Betelgeuse sat at a desk pulling out their quills and textbooks.

Professor Lupin strolled in moments later. "Good afternoon and hello to everyone!" The tall man greeted the students with his good-natured voice. "I am Professor Lupin, and I will be your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." He looked around the class with intelligent, perceiving green eyes that, in Betelgeuse mind, had a spark of humour in their depth. "I heard you had quite a few, eh?" He joked, making the students laugh, "Right! Would you please put all your books back in your bags? Today's will be a practical lesson. You will only need your wands."

Betelgeuse exchanged elated looks with the twins as they rose to their feet. They had never had a practical DADA lesson before. Unless the disastrous class of Lockhart with the Cornish Pixies counted.

It did not.

"Good, good," Lupin said, clapping his hand, "If you'd follow me."

Intrigued, Betelgeuse followed the lanky man out of the classroom. He led them along the deserted corridor and around the corner where they encountered Peeves. He was holding several Dungbombs in his hands.

"Oi! Where did you find those?!" Fred hollered up to the poltergeist. Betelgeuse rammed her elbow in his side, making him wince, "Silence! Can you not remember?"

"We gave them to him!" George interjected in a whisper.

The girl could have sworn Professor Lupin tried to suppress a smile.

Peeves did not 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. "Loony, loopy Lupin, loony, loopy Lupin—"

Rude and uncontrollable as he almost always was, Peeves usually showed some respect toward the teachers. Everyone glanced quickly at Professor Lupin to see how he would take this; to their surprise, he was still smiling. "I'd stop trying to throw those if I were you, Peeves," he said pleasantly. "Mr Filch won't like that very much."

Peeves paid no attention to Professor Lupin's words, except to blow a loud wet raspberry. Betelgeuse scowled.

Professor Lupin gave a small sigh and took out his wand. "This is a useful little spell," he told the class over his shoulder. "Please watch closely." He raised the wand to shoulder height, "Waddiwasi!" and pointed it at Peeves. The Dungbombs shot out of Peeves' hands and proceeded to chase the poltergeist down the corridor.