Puppet Strings (Hogwarts x Reader)

Chapter 4

"So, the first question we must ask ourselves is, what is a boggart?"

Solene put up her hand.

"It's a shape-shifter," Val said, translating as Sol signed. "It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us most."

"Couldn't have put it better myself," said Professor Lupin, and Sol glowed after Val signed what he had said. "So the boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. 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.

"This means," said Professor Lupin, "that we have a huge advantage over the boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Y/n?"

Y/n jolted at being called out. "Because there are so many of us, it won't know what shape it should be?"

"Precisely," said Professor Lupin. "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. Not remotely frightening.

"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. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing.

"We will practice the charm without wands first. After me, please . . . Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" said the class together.

"This class is ridiculous," Malfoy muttered.

"Good," said Professor Lupin, either ignoring or not hearing him. "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. Emi, would you mind helping me?"

Emi looked apprehensive as she walked forward as though she were heading for the gallows.

"Right, Emi," said Professor Lupin. "First things first: What would you say is the thing that frightens you most in the world?"

Emi's lips moved, but no noise came out. She looked nervous, even for her.

"Didn't catch that, Emi, sorry," said Professor Lupin cheerfully.

Emi looked around rather wildly, as though begging someone to help her.

"Professor, can I help instead?" Val asked.

Emi looked relieved and Lupin hesitated before nodding. "Very well." Val stepped forward and Emi retreated, looking shaken. Y/n wanted to check on her, but a moment later Emi teared up and fled the room.

"Now, what is it you fear the most?"

"Spiders, for sure."

Professor Lupin nodded. "When the boggart bursts out of this wardrobe and sees you, it will assume the form of a spider," said Lupin. "And you will raise your wand — thus — and cry 'Riddikulus' — and concentrate hard on something you find amusing. If all goes well, the boggart will change based on your visualization."

Lupin now addressed the class. "If Val is successful, the boggart is likely to shift 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. . . ."

The room went quiet. Y/n thought . . . What scared her most in the world? She wasn't sure. Could a boggart scare someone if even they didn't know what they were afraid of?