Malfoy didn't reappear in classes until late on Thursday morning, when the Slytherins and Gryffindors were halfway through Potions. He swaggard into the dungeon, his right arm covered in bandages and bound up in a sling, acting, in Evergreen's opinion, as though he was the heroic survivor of some dreadful battle.
"How is it Draco?" simperd Pansy Parkinson. "Does it hurt terribly?"
"Yeah," said Malfoy, putting on a brave sort of grimace. But Evergreen saw him wink at Crabbe and Goyle when Pansy had looked away.
"Settle down, settle down," said Professor Snape idly.
Evergreen scowled. If any of the Gryffindors had walked in late, Snape would've given them detention, not a mere 'settle down.' That was one of the things Evergreen had begun to hate about Potions, though she'd only been in the class a total of ten minutes: Malfoy and all his Slytherins goons could get away with anything because Snape, being the Head of Slytherin house, favoured them greatly.
They were making a new and complicated potion today- a Shrinking Solution. Malfoy set up his cauldron right next to Harry and Ron, so that they were preparing their ingredients at the same table. Evergreen felt a huge relief that Malfoy didn't choose to sit at the table she was sharing with Hermione and the boy she had grown a soft spot for, Neville.
Evergreen had grown to realise that she wasn't that brilliant at Potions, mostly because of the teacher, but Neville was one hundred times worse, and his fear of Snape didn't help.
"You've just got to stand up to him more," Evergreen sighed as she tossed her daisy roots into her cauldron, which turned the liquid inside a bright green. "I mean- c'mon, Neville, he's just an oversized toad- no offence to Trevor," she motioned to Neville's pet toad, who was sitting patiently at the end of the table.
Evergreen looked into Neville's cauldron and sighed. His potion, which was supposed to be bright, acid green, had turned-
"Orange, Longbottom," said Snape, appearing out of thin air and laddling some up and allowing it to splash back into the cauldron, so that everyone could see. "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?"
Neville was pink and trembling. He looked as though he were on the verge of tears.
"Please, sir," said Hermione, "please, I could help Neville put it right-"
"I don't remember asking you to show off, Miss Granger," said Snape coldly, and Hermione went as pink as Neville. "L-"
"Excuse me, sir," Evergreen drawled loudly, "could you back up? The fumes from your greasy hair-"
Snape slammed his fist on the table and looked down at the girl in a look of absolute loathing and rage.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor," he hissed quietly, only loud enough for her to hear, "one more word from you, Lupin, and it'll be detention."
Evergreen simply grinned and crossed her arms, seemingly unfazed.
"Longbottom," Snape went on, "at the end of this lesson we will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see what happens. Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly."
"Help me!" he moaned quietly to Hermione and Evergreen.
"I'm shit at potions!" Evergreen whispered hurriedly, "Mione, you help him."
While Hermione whispered directions out of the corner of her mouth so Snape wouldn't notice, Evergreen began to think about what Hagrid had said yesterday.
Sure, she knew why he would've gone mental over Harry, Sirius bloody Black was looking for him, but her? Why had he said that Harry and Evergreen shouldn't be out past dark? It simply didn't make any sense to the young Lupin.
It's not like Black was after her.
Sure enough, when everyone was done, Snape called, "You should have finished adding your ingredients by now. 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, watching Neville sweat as he stirred his potion feverishly, Hermione telling him the last of instructions he needed to get the correct potion. Evergreen packed away all of her unused ingredients and moved to the stone basin in the back corner to wash her hands and ladle. Coincidentally, Harry and Ron were washing up as well.
"What did Malfoy mean?" Harry muttered moodily to Ron as Evergreen moved in between them. She sent him a questioning look as she stuck her hands under the icy jet that poured out of the gargoyle's mouth.
Harry shook his head as if to say, 'I'll tell you later'.
The end of the lesson in sight, Snape strode over to Neville, who was cowering by his cauldron.
"Everyone gather round," said Snape, 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."
The Gryffindors watched fearfully.
The Slytherins looked excited.
Snape picked up Trevor the toad in his left hand, and dipped a small spoon into Neville's potion, which was now green. He trickled a few drops down Trevor's throat. There was a moment of hushed silence, in which Trevor gulped; there was a small pop, and Trevor the tadpole was wiggling in Snape's palm.
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 smiles from every face. "I told you not to help him, Miss Granger. Class dismissed."
Evergreen, Harry, Ron, and Hermione climbed the steps to the Entrance Hall. Harry was quickly explaining to Evergreen what Malfoy said while Ron was practically seething about Snape.
"Why would you want to go after Black?" Evergreen asked. "Malfoy was just trying to get a reaction out of you."
"Five points from Gryffindor because the potion was all right! Why didn't you lie, Hermione? You should've said Neville did it all by himself!"
Evergreen rolled her eyes, waiting for the bickering to start again, but Hermione didn't respond.
Ron looked around. "Where is she?"
Evergreen and 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.
Malfoy passed them, walking between Crabbe and Goyle. He smirked at Harry, winked at Evergreen (which sent both boys' teeth on edge), and disappeared.
"There she is," said Harry.
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.
"How did you do that?" said Ron.
"What?" said Hermione, joining them.
"You were behind us one minute, then the next you were ahead of us," Evergreen explained, watching Hermione curiously.
"What?" Hermione looked slightly confused. "Oh- I had to go back for something. Oh, no..."
A seam had split in Hermione's bag. Evergreen wasn't surprised; she could see that it was crammed with at least a dozen large and heavy books.
"Why are you carrying all these around with you?" Ron asked her.
"You know how many subjects I'm taking," said Hermione breathlessly. "Couldn't hold these for me, could you?"
"But-" Ron was turning over the books as she handed them to him, looking at the covers- "you haven't got any of these subjects today? It's only Defense Against the Dark Arts this afternoon."
"Oh, yes," said Hermione vaguely, but she packed all the books back in her bag just the same. "I hope there's something good for lunch, I'm starving." she added, and she marched off toward the Great Hall.
"Do you ever get the feeling Hermione's not telling us something?" Ron asked Evergreen and Harry.
______________
Professor Lupin wasn't there when they arrived at his first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. They all sat down, took out their books and quills and parchment, and were talking when he finally entered the room. Remus smiled vaguely and placed his tatty old briefcase on the teacher's desk. He was as shabby as ever but looked healthier than he did on the train.
Evergreen thought this was completely normal and was glad he was getting better after the full moon; she hadn't noticed how scruffy he looked compared to the other teachers.
"Good afternoon," he said. "Would you please put all your books back in your bags? Today's lesson will be a practical lesson. You will only need your wands."
Evergreen excitedly put her stuff away and slung her bag over her shoulder, bounding up to her dad. She clung to his arm, wand in hand. Remus ruffled his daughter's hair and turned back to the class, waiting for them to gather their things.
"Right then," he said when everyone was ready, "if you'd follow me."
Puzzled but interested, the class got to its feet and followed Lupin out of the classroom. He led them along the deserted corridor and around a corner, where the first thing they saw was Peeves the poltergeist, who was upside-down in midair and stuffing the nearest keyhole with chewing gum.
Peeves didn't look up until Remus 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 unmanageable as he almost always was, Peeves usually showed some respect towards the teachers. Everyone looked quickly over at Professor Lupin to see how he would take this; to their surprise, he was still smiling.
"I'd take that gum out of that keyhole if I were you, Peeves," he said pleasantly. "Mr Filch won't be able to get to his brooms."
Filch was the Hogwarts caretaker, a bad-tempered, failed wizard, who waged a constant war against the students and, indeed, Peeves. Peeves paid no attention to Lupin's words, except to blow a loud wet raspberry.
He 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."
Remus raised his wand shoulder height and 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 loudly.
"Cool, sir!" said Dean Thomas in amazement.
"Thank you, Dean ," said Remus, putting his wand away again. "Shall we proceed?"
They set off again, the class looking at their professor with increased respect. Evergreen was blown away. She'd never really seen her dad do much magic, and when she did it was astonishing. He led them down a second corridor and stopped, right outside the staff-room door.
"Inside, please," said Remus, opening it and standing back.
The staff room, a long, panelled room full of old, mismatched chairs, was empty except for one teacher, Professor Snape was sitting in a low armchair, and he looked around as the class filed in. His eyes were glittering and there was a nasty sneer playing around his mouth.
"Dad," Evergreen said loudly, staring at Snape, "what're we doing in here?"
"You'll see in a moment," he explained as he came in and made to close the door behind him, but at that moment, Snape said, "Leave it open, Lupin. I'd rather not witness this." 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 entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear."
Neville went scarlet. Harry glared at Snape. Evergreen crossed her arms, practically seething; it was bad enough that Snape bullied Neville in his own classes, let alone doing it in front of other teachers.
She opened her mouth to shout a smart remark at Snape, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. It was Remus.
Her father raised an eyebrow.
"I was hoping Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation," he said, "and I'm sure he will perform admirably."
Neville's face went, if possible, even redder. Snape's lip curled, 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 he went to stand next to it, the wardrobe gave a sudden wobble, banging off the wall.
"Nothing to worry about," said Professor Lupin calmly, 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. Neville gave Professor Lupin a look of pure terror, Seamus Finnigan eyed the now rattling doorknob apprehensively, and Evergreen crossed her arms once again, inching closer to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces," said Professor Lupin. "Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds... Evergreen's room-"
The class let out a shout of laughter and the wardrobe shook. Evergreen rolled her eyes and arched a brow at her father. Remus shrugged cheekily and continued.
"I once met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the Headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third-years some practice. So, the first question we must ask ourselves is, what is a Boggart?"
Hermione put her hand up- but to everyone's shock, Evergreen's went up first.
"It's a shapeshifter," she said proudly. "It will take the shape it thinks we fear most."
"I couldn't have said it better myself," said Professor Lupin, glowing at his daughter, who was smirking at Harry.
"I could've said that myself," Harry hissed into Evergreen's ear as Lupin continued with the lesson, to which she giggled quietly and whispered back, "all right scar boy, answer the question my dad asks next."
"So the Boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form." Professor Lupin continued, "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 fears most.
"This means," said Remus, ignoring Neville's small sputter of terror, "that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?"
Evergreen elbowed Harry in the side and her words rang through his ears.
Harry was suddenly very desperate to prove himself, so he took a shot, but Hermione bouncing up and down beside him on the balls of her feet with her hand in the air was very off-putting.
"Er- because there are so many of us, it won't know what shape it should be in?"
"Precisely," said Professor Lupin as Hermione put her hand down, looking disappointed, and Harry stuck his tongue out at Evergreen.
She smiled loftily, rolling her eyes as she turned back to face her dad.
Harry stared at her a little longer than he'd've liked.
He'd never really noticed how pretty she was... But surely, everyone thought their friends were pretty, right? And he only thought about kissing her- occasionally- because she was pretty... it's not like he actually fancied her or anything... Even if he did, they couldn't date because Lupin would kill him.
Harry snapped out of his state and turned back to Professor Lupin, hoping Evergreen hadn't noticed his staring.
"It's always best to have company when dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become? A headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart that made the same mistake- tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into a half slug. Not remotely frightening.
"Now the charm that repels a Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart off is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing. We will practise the charm first without wands. After me please... Riddikulus!"
"Riddikulus!" The class said together.
"Good, 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."
The wardrobe shook again, though not as much as Neville, who walked forward as if he were headed for the gallows.
"Right Neville," said Remus. "First things first: what would you say is the thing that frightens you most in the world?"
Nevilles lips moved, but no noise came out.
"Didn't catch that, Neville, sorry," said Professor Lupin cheerfully.
Neville looked around wildly, as though begging someone to help him, then in barely more than a whisper he said, "Professor Snape."
Nearly everyone laughed; Evergreen had to grab Ron's shoulder to keep her from falling over because she was chuckiling so hard. Neville grinned apologetically. Professor Lupin however, looked thoughtful.
"Professor Snape... hmmm.... Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother, Augusta?"
"Er- yes," said Neville nervously, "but I don't want that Boggart to turn into her, either."
"No, no, you misunderstood," said Remus, now smiling, "I wonder, could you tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?"
Neville looked startled, 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?" Professor Lupin prompted.
"A big red one," said Neville.
"Right then," said Remus, "Can you picture those close very clearly, Neville? Can you see them in your mind's eye?"
"Yes," said Neville uncertainly, plainly wondering what was coming next.
"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 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, and that big red handbag."
There was a great shout of laughter. The wardrobe wobbled more violently.
"If Neville is successful, the Boggart is likely to turn his attention to each of us in turn," Professor Lupin stated, "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.
Evergreen thought... What scared her most in the world? Those Dementors were terrifying... but there had got to be something else she was afraid of. Maybe the dark? No, that couldn't be it because she loved the stars and moon. Then it hit her. Being alone. That was the one thing she hated most. Evergreen couldn't stand loneliness. But there was no way that the Boggart could create being alone... right?
She looked up and watched her classmates; she was almost positive she had heard Ron mutter, "take its legs off," and Evergreen confusedly glanced at Harry. He mouthed back, 'Spiders', and she giggled silently.
"What's your greatest fear?" Evergreen whispered into Harry's ear. He shuttered, feeling the girls' hot breath against his skin and her plump lips brush his ear.
Oh for fucks sake, he groaned internally, please tell me I don't fancy the Professor's daughter.
"Hello? I asked you what your greatest fear was, tosspot," She whispered again.
"Oh," Harry gulped, "I- er- Dementors I guess. I don't fancy them much."
Evergreen smiled wryly. "Yeah, me neither,"
"Everyone ready?" said Professor Lupin,
Evergreen hesitantly nodded and rolled her sleeves up. Truth was she wasn't ready, but everyone else was nodding confidently and grabbing their wands.
"Neville, we're going to back away," Remus continued, "let you have a clear field, all right? I will call the next person forward... everyone back, now, so Neville can get a clear shot-"
They all retreated, backing up 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.
"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 his wand and hit the doorknob. The wardrobe burst open. Hooked nosed and menacing, 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.
"C'mon Nev- you've got him!" Evergreen shouted encouragingly.
"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 red handbag from his hand.
There was a roar of laughter; the Boggart paused, confused, and Remus shouted, "Parvati! Forward!"
Parvati walked forward, her face set. Snape rounded on her. There was another crack, and where he had stood there was a blood-stained, bandaged mummy; it's sightless face was turned to Parvati and it began to walk towards her, very slowly, dragging its feet- stiff arms rising-
"Riddikulus!" cried Parvati.
A bandage unravelled at the mummy's feet: it became entangled and fell face forward, causing its head to fall off.
"Seamus!" roared Professor Lupin.
Seamus darted forward and Parvati moved out of the way.
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 filled the room which made Evergreen's fist clench.
"Riddikulus!" shouted Seamus.
Crack! The banshee turned into a rat, which chased its tail in a circle, then-
Crack! It became a rattle snake which slithered and writhed before- crack!- becoming a single bloody eyeball.
"It's confused!" Professor Lupin shouted, "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.
"Riddikulus!" yelled Dean.
There was a snap, and the hand was trapped in a mouse trap.
"Excellent!" Professor Lupin cried. "Ron! You next!"
Ron leapt forward.
Crack!
Quite a few people screamed. A giant six foot spider covered in black hair was advancing on Ron, clicking its pincers menacingly. For a moment, Evergreen thought he was 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- so it came to a halt at Evergreen's feet.
Suddenly everyone disappeared and she was left in an empty room, yet she could still hear everyone.
"What in the fucking hell is going on?" Evergreen cursed loudly.
"Watch your mouth young lady!" Remus shouted, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Oh, she realised, this is how the Boggart plays then, huh.
She raised her wand and started shooting around she room, crying the word, "Riddikulus!''
Eventually, she hit her target and the Boggart rolled on the ground as an oversized ladybug until it laid at Harry's feet.
He raised his wand, ready, but-
"Here!" shouted Professor Lupin suddenly, hurrying forward.
Crack!
The ladybug had vanished. For a second, everyone looked wildly around to see where it was. Then they saw a silvery white or hanging in the air in front of Lupin. Evergreen felt a pang of fear. What if someone realised his Boggart was a full moon?
"Riddikulus!" Remus said almost lazily-
Crack!
"Forward, Neville, and finish him off!" said Lupin, as the Boggart landed on the floor as a cockroach. Crack! Snape was back. This time Neville charged forward looking determined.
"Riddikulus!" he shouted, and they had a split-second 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.
"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 to Harry and Evergreen."
"But I didn't do anything," said Harry.
"You and Eve answered my questions at the start of class correctly," 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."
Talking excitedly, the class left the staff room. Harry, however (to Evergreen's surprise) wasn't so enthusiastic.
"What's wrong?" She asked him quietly as everyone began discussing their Boggarts.
"Professor Lupin... he didn't let me tackle the Boggart... Did he think I would fall to pieces like I did on the train? I was going to use a Dementor-"
"Harry, you're very brave," she said airily, "we both fell apart on the train and I don't know why, but I can assure you that you are still one of the strongest people in this entire castle. Besides, I can find you a Boggart no problem if you want to fight one that badly."
Harry's face broke into a grin. "No, I'm good. Can't have you firing your wand around the classroom again or you might kill someone,"
Evergreen scoffed, rolling her eyes and turning to tune in on her classmates' conversation.
"Did you see me take that Banshee?" shouted Seamus.
"And the hand!" said Dean, waving his own hand around.
"And Snape in that hat!"
"And my mummy!"
"I wonder why Professor Lupin's frightened of crystal balls?" said Lavender Brown thoughtfully.
Evergreen narrowed her eyes and spun around.
"I don't see why it's any of your concern," she hissed at menacingly, and Lavender raised her hand in defense. "Keep your nose out of my dad's bloody business."
Evergreen turned back around and caught up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"That was the best Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson we've ever had, wasn't it?" said Ron excitedly, as they made their way back to the classroom to get their bags.
"He seems a very good teacher," said Hermion approvingly, "but I wish I could have had a turn with the Boggart-"
"What would it have been for you?" said Ron, sniggering. "A piece of homework that only got nine out of ten?"