About Running Over Class

Ron had stayed behind to keep his friends company. He was currently recalling the spell he had just cast, gesturing with his wand and chanting, "Piercing Bolt! Whoosh~ Boom!"

"Damn spiders, your end is nigh!"

"Piercing Bolt! Bang bang bang!"

Watching the saliva flying in the air, Harry moved a few steps closer to Loren, wondering why Professor Lupin hadn't let him deal with Boggart.

Does Lupin think he's incapable of dealing with Boggart?

Just because he fainted upon seeing a Dementor, did Lupin consider him a coward...?

Loren and Hermione wore the same thoughtful expression. They probably understood Professor Lupin's behavior, which was why they chose to stay instead of leaving the staff lounge with the others.

Each of them imagined what they feared.

Loren recalled all the unusual things he had encountered: the Book of Abraham, the Sorcerer's Stone, Bloody Mary, Voldemort...

Although they are all kinds of strange, I wouldn't say they're scary.

"Are you afraid of Voldemort?" Hermione asked in a low voice.

The little Witch's eyes Winky, Loren could easily guess what she was thinking. He said slowly, "I'm not afraid, you're not afraid, and Professor Lupin isn't afraid either, but Professor Lupin is afraid that the other students will be afraid."

Hermione nodded in agreement.

Harry only heard what Loren said and was completely confused.

What is it?

Tongue twisters?

Lupin, with his back to them, was busy preparing to put Boggart into the cupboard.

Because right after the young wizards left, he became the closest person to Boggart, Boggart at that moment had turned into a silver-white sphere suspended in mid-air, radiating a soft glow.

Hermione frowned in confusion upon seeing this... Was Professor Lupin afraid of the crystal ball?

Lupin seemed completely unsurprised. He opened the cabinet door, waved his wand, and almost lazily uttered, "[Riddikulus]"

Boggart, now a silver-white sphere, darted into the cabinet, which shook a few times before settling down and returning to calm.

"Professor Lupin," Harry hesitated as he stepped forward, "Why won't you let us deal with the Boggart?"

"This is a decision I made on short notice. Ron's situation made me realize that if Boggart were to face you all, he might very well transform into Voldemort," Lupin said slowly. "Voldemort shouldn't manifest in the Staff Room; I think it would terrify everyone."

Harry was taken aback; Lupin had actually mentioned Voldemort's name. Aside from the others, Harry had only ever heard Dumbledore call Voldemort's name so casually.

"So we stayed, Professor," Hermione's clear voice rang out as she pulled Loren forward. "Now that it's just the few of us here, it doesn't matter if Voldemort reveals himself. Let's give it a try."

Lupin raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over the group, and chuckled softly. "It seems I'm the one who fears Voldemort, not you. Come on, show me."

He opened the cabinet door, took a few steps to the side, and cleared the space in front of the cabinet.

Hermione took a deep breath, a slight coolness flowing from her nasal cavity into her lungs through her trachea, and many things she had imagined floated into her mind.

Trolls, Voldemort, Acromantula, Basilisk...

These things, though dangerous, were not enough to frighten the little Witch. The figurative monsters were gradually left behind, and vivid human figures took their place.

During childhood, he was ostracized and isolated by his classmates.

The panic and helplessness I felt upon first entering the Wizarding World.

Professor McGonagall's scolding...

Snap!

Boggart sprang out of the darkness and transformed into a familiar figure in front of Hermione.

"Loren!"

"Hermione is actually afraid of you!"

Harry and Ron gasped in unison, their incredulous gazes shifting back and forth between him and Hermione.

Loren paused for a moment, then a smile appeared on his lips.

The Boggart, in his "Loren" form, had a cold expression and looked at Hermione with disdain. He pursed his lips and was about to speak.

"Ah!" Hermione screamed, her face flushed, and her wand flashed, leaving afterimages. "[Riddikulus]"

Snap—

Loren's gaze softened, its cold, stiff expression transforming into a friendly smile. It looked at Hermione with an ambiguous gaze, its lips slightly parted, as if it were about to speak again.

"Ah!" Hermione screamed even louder, her face turning even redder.

The little Witch retreated in a panic, waving her hands as if to push Loren forward, but when her palms touched Loren, she quickly withdrew them as if burned by fire.

She was caught between a rock and a hard place, and the "Loren" in front of her was about to speak. Hermione's face flushed redder than a rose from her anxiety.

Even the most dull-witted person could understand. Loren wasn't stupid. With a sweet smile, he took a few steps forward, separating Hermione and Boggart.

Two identical Loren stood together, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Upon closer inspection of Boggart, Loren clearly sensed a faint yet delicate Magic Power emanating from Boggart, like a thin mist enveloping his head.

This feeling of searching for the soul is somewhat similar to "Legilimency," but it is weaker and more purposeful, going directly to the fear in the brain.

As soon as Loren had the idea, he activated the Occlumency, and Magic Power and emotions built a solid defense on the surface of his brain and soul.

The faint Boggart Magic Power circled and circled, unable to find a breakthrough, and was ultimately blocked by Loren's defenses.

Boggart still maintained the appearance of "Loren," but there were some subtle jagged edges around his form, and it seemed that without Hermione's fear supply, he would not be able to maintain it.

Interesting... Loren's eyes lit up with interest as he slightly loosened his Occlumency, guiding Boggart's Magic Power to explore his memories.

It wasn't Boggart who took the lead, but Loren himself.

Snap!

Standing twelve feet tall, with dull, gray-green skin like granite, a small, bald head like a coconut, and wielding a thick, long wooden club, this giant creature emits a nauseating stench when it appears.

The Boggart in Loren form transformed into a giant.

The onlookers were somewhat stunned. Loren was actually afraid of a giant?

Snap!

Before the troll could even slow down, it transformed into Acromantula.

The Acromantula turned into a fairy, the fairy into Fang, Fang into Fluffy...

The sounds of slapping echoed through the Staff Room. Harry and the others' expressions gradually shifted from surprise to numbness. They realized that Loren wasn't afraid of the Boggart; rather, the Boggart were afraid of Loren.

In the end, the Sphinx- like Boggart transformed into Hermione with a crackling sound.