The Boggart's Secret

On weekends, at the Room of Requirement, a room styled like Snape's office.

In the dim, eerie candlelight of the enclosed space, the Oil Lamp and candle flames on the surrounding walls flickered occasionally, accompanied by the continuous gurgling sound of the crucible on the desk.

The Wolfsbane Potion was being brewed methodically, but Loren's attention wasn't on the crucible. In front of him was a small Walnut Wood box, next to which was a black cloth that had just been removed.

Loren sat in the chair, leaning slightly forward, his fingers gently tracing the smooth surface of the wooden box. The box, generally flat but slightly rough, had a cool touch.

gurgle—

The box suddenly trembled slightly, as if the contents inside, through the wooden planks, sensed the outside world watching them.

Loren saw Boggart's gray Magic Power, like the herbal smoke in Professor Trelawney's Divination room, wafting out from the cracks in the wooden box, coating its surface with a hazy, dull color.

The gray Magic Power tried to spread upwards along his fingers, but the Magic Power was too weak and could not continue after climbing to the second knuckle.

According to what we learned in class, the Boggart in the box didn't yet have a specific shape, and it didn't know what Loren was afraid of.

The dim candlelight in the room was reflected in Loren's deep eyes, shadows shifted, and the world faded into simple, rough lines.

Seeing the gloomy, gray mist before him, Loren's eyes showed a hint of helplessness. He tried to observe the shape of the Boggart through the nature of Magic Power, but judging from the current situation, there was no result.

He couldn't be sure whether the gray mist was a manifestation of Boggart Magic Power or the shape of the Boggart itself.

Loren tapped his brow, and the black, white, and gray world in his vision returned to normal, the gray mist blocked by the Walnut Wood box.

With two soft clicks, Loren unlocked the clasps on both sides of the box. Unexpectedly, Boggart, who had been trembling inside the box, suddenly calmed down.

Loren's face lit up with interest. "You couldn't complete the Transfiguration without breaking through my Occlumency, so you're shy?"

Loren waved his wand, shooting out a string of Mars that struck the lid of the box. Just as the lid was pulled open by the Magic Power, a sudden force burst forth, and the lid slammed down with a loud crash.

"She can even be shy?" Loren exclaimed in surprise.

No wonder no one has discovered the true nature of the Boggart all these years. Occlumency isn't some kind of profound magic. Loren must have been more than just one person to discover the wonders of Occlumency against the Boggart. Apparently, when the Boggart can't Transfiguration, they will actively hide themselves.

Loren became interested; he was determined to see Boggart's true colors today.

Loren raised his wrist, causing the tip of his wand to spin slightly, and a surge of Magic Power erupted forth, carrying the wizard's will, intending to forcefully open the wooden box.

The box shook violently, and the lid opened slightly before being quickly closed again by the immense force inside.

creak—

The hinges connecting the lid and the main body of the wooden box emitted a metallic scraping sound that made one's teeth ache.

Even though the sound of the metal hinges gave him goosebumps, Loren didn't care. A slight smile appeared on his lips. He wanted to see whether Boggart's Magic Power was stronger or his Magic Power was more abundant.

Just as Loren was about to increase his Magic Power output, he suddenly realized that the object of his struggle had weakened. He saw that the gray Magic Power emanating from the gaps in the box had become thinner and more scattered.

"At this rate, the Boggart won't dissipate, will they..." Loren frowned and withdrew his wand.

Looking at the Walnut Wood box that had fallen silent again, Loren fell into thought. Although Lupin seemed to have plenty of stock, such unnecessary consumption was not worthwhile... The idea of uncovering the true nature of the Boggart had to be put on hold for the time being.

Gazing intently at the wooden crate, the tight Occlumency opened a passage according to Loren's plan, leading to the illusory memories constructed by the False Memory Charm, guiding the gray Magic Power to explore within those illusory memories.

The box suddenly opened, and a beautiful Fairy flew out, flapping her colorful wings. She tried to climb onto Loren's shoulder, but halfway there she turned into a white mouse and landed. Then came Crookshanks, Mrs. Norris, Fang... all sorts of animals.

Finally, they transformed into Red Cap, Kappa, Grindylow, Fluffy, Aragog the Acromantula, a giant monster wielding a wooden club, and Basilisk with terrifying yellow eyes...

But it was all just a facade. In Loren's eyes, these various creatures were filled with nothing more than the gray Magic Power of the Boggart.

Loren waved his hand impatiently, and the giant Basilisk in front of him suddenly contracted. Under Loren's gaze, a rotting, sinister hand that gleamed with a cold light stretched out, behind which was a monster shrouded in a black robe and reeking of decay.

Feeling the sudden chill, Loren shook his head. Just as he had thought, Boggart was only truly powerful when he became Dementor.

What is the connection between Boggart and Dementor?

Why Dementors of Dementor?

The chill grew heavier, Loren flicked his wand: "Patronus Charm]"

The tip of the wand emitted a smooth, silvery-white light that circled around the Dementor that Boggart had transformed into, confining it to a small space without directly destroying it.

Loren moved closer to examine the Dementor. The Dementor was a physical entity, a real and tangible one. Under the hood of the black cloak was a distorted, emaciated face, all the flesh withered away, leaving only a layer of rotting, scab-covered skin, with almost no trace of facial features.

A thick, damp smell lingered around my nose, carrying the stench of decay, as if the Dementor were a living corpse.

As Loren approached, the corpse emitted a low, gurgling sound from its throat.

Don't get me wrong, Dementor definitely don't need to breathe. It's just that their chest expands, drawing air into their chest cavity, and the sound of air passing through their throats is what they're making.

This suction force is mixed with the evil Magic Power of Dementor. If it weren't for the protection of the Patronus Charm, the Dementor ' Magic Power would have sucked the emotions and memories of the living into their bodies. Once the emotions and memories are drained, only a remnant soul remains, ultimately leaving only an empty shell.

This process is known as the Dementor's Kiss.

Here's the problem: Dementor can use memories and emotions as nourishment, absorbing them and turning them into their own Magic Power, but Boggart don't have biological characteristics. What can they do with the emotions and memories they absorb after they become Dementor?

With this curiosity in mind, Loren maintained the Patronus Charm while pressing the tip of his wand against his temple, drawing out a wisp of light silver light.

This was a fabricated memory he created on the spot, mainly about how he liked to eat potatoes and how eating potatoes made him extremely happy.

Loren approached the Dementor and casually fed Dementor the memory he was holding.

The silver beam of memory, like wisps of Dementor, drifted into the Dementor 'Dementor body as it inhaled, a faint, almost invisible layer of light washing over its entire body like flowing water.

The next second, Loren's mind went blank for a moment. Some mysterious Magic Power seemed to be drawing his gaze. Loren hesitated for a moment, then succumbed to that inexplicable pull.

A certain craving for potatoes lingers in my mind: cheesy mashed potatoes, stir-fried shredded potatoes, mashed potato noodles, fish and chips...

Cold, putrid, and scorching from the silver band of light in front of me.

Many obscure and incomprehensible sensations came from all over his body. Sluggishness, numbness, and stiffness were the feedback from his limbs. Loren frowned and opened his "eyes".

Through his blurry vision, he saw a dimly lit room, where a young wizard with black hair and black eyes stood in front of him, looking dazed.

This is... Boggart's perspective!

Loren was startled, his mind reeling, and unable to maintain this indescribable connection, he immediately returned to his own perspective.

With a flick of his wand, Loren locked the Dementor that Boggart had transformed into back into the box. It took him half a minute to calm his shock. His gaze swept over the Walnut Wood box, his eyes shifting as he pondered what had just happened.

The memory he sent to Boggart seemed to become a medium, or a bridge, through which he gained Boggart's perception... or rather, his consciousness entered Boggart's body.

The problem is whether this situation is universal or only he can trigger it.

Loren leans more towards the latter.

After all, Harry had to face the Dementor Boggart Dementors every weekend in order to practice the Patronus Charm, and Professor Lupin's Patronus Charm Teaching Class last week also used Boggart as teaching aids. No one had ever heard of anyone encountering this situation before.

Why only him?

An unavoidable unease arose in Loren's heart, related to his unspeakable secret. His soul was unique, and deep within it lay unique memories...

What is the connection between Boggart and Dementor? Who created these bizarre and grotesque dark Magical Creatures?

The implications were too great, so Loren didn't hesitate for long. He immediately took out the Fantasy Book, tapped the picture in the center of the cover, and woke up the sleeping old wizard.

Loren looked at the human figure appearing in the air, his tone somewhat hurried. "Flamel..."

In the dimly Room of Requirement, shelves against the wall were filled with glass jars of various kinds, each containing a terrifying array of venomous snakes and lizards... A faint gurgling sound emanated from a bronze crucible on the desk, and an indescribable stench permeated the entire room.

"Consciousness entered Boggart's body?"

After hearing Loren's description, Flamel was astonished. Even with the memories of a legendary Alchemy spanning hundreds of years, he had never heard of such a thing.

"Dementor ... Boggart ..."

Flamel looked at the Walnut Wood box on the table with a somewhat sharp gaze. He couldn't help but connect the changes caused by this artificial dark Magical Creatures that was so deeply entangled with dark wizards to some ancient secrets.

It was a contingency plan left behind by a wizard who once attained immortality...

Or was it an accident created by a dark wizard seeking immortality...?

Unable to come to a conclusion, Flamel looked at Loren seriously. "Go find Albus and ask him to ensure your safety."

Loren looked at the old wizard with surprise, not expecting Flamel to be so serious, but he quickly nodded in agreement and nimbly walked towards the Headmaster's office with the box.

As the old saying goes: Listen to advice, and you'll have a full stomach.

In the Headmaster's office, all the silverware on the desk had been cleared away and moved. The Walnut Wood box sat quietly on the desk, its clasps on both sides already opened, drooping limply.

A dozen or so school principals on the wall were crammed into the largest and closest picture frame, holding their breath as they stared at the box.

Fawkes the Phoenix stood on the shelf behind, craning its neck to look at this place from afar, its Phoenix eyes filled with curiosity.

Dumbledore and Loren sat on either side of the table, resting their heads on the surface in similar positions, gazing intently at the box.

"Hiss~"

Loren sat up, touched his chin which had become cold from the icy tabletop, and looked at Dumbledore's chin resting on his thick beard, feeling utterly foolish.

He asked, "Principal, how much longer should we watch?"

"Ah, ah?" Dumbledore snapped back to reality, looked at Loren, and blinked apologetically. "Sorry, Loren, forgive me for falling asleep by accident. I'm getting old, and this happens in winter."

"I believe you, I'm Dementor..." Loren rolled his eyes, too lazy to argue with him any longer. "Headmaster Dumbledore, have you figured anything out?"

"He fed me a false memory, and then his consciousness entered the body of the Dementor that Boggart had become..." Dumbledore spoke slowly and deliberately. He reached out a finger and tried to open the lid of the box, but failed.

Unable to read the fear between the old fox and the young fox outside, the Boggart inside sealed the box tightly, refusing to come out even after the latches were unlocked.

After sorting through the clues in his mind, Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully and said, "Loren, try again, it's right here."

"Oh!" the old principals on the wall exclaimed in surprise.

"Albus— " Headmaster Black couldn't help but want to say something, but was immediately covered by others, who gestured for him to watch quietly.

"Try again?" Loren was clearly stunned for a moment, then immediately realized that Dumbledore was only saying this because he was absolutely confident in protecting him.

Without much thought, Loren immediately activated his Occlumency, and the box opened instantly, from which a terrifying Dementor emerged.

A sudden burst of silver light appeared. Dumbledore didn't chant any spells; he simply waved his hand, and a few soft silver rays of light immobilized the Dementor, before the Dementor it carried could even spread.

Loren extracted a wisp of false memory, which, like before, was about a false liking for potatoes.

As the memories were sent into the Dementor's body, Loren's mind, drawn by the reappearing pull, entered the Boggart.

My mind was filled with the textures and tastes of various potatoes, my nostrils were filled with the smell of decay and dampness, and what was even more unbearable was the burning sensation all over my body, as if I were being burned by flames.

It seems like Dumbledore's Patronus is quite different from his Patronus.

The thought inexplicably popped into Loren's mind. He felt he could exit this state at any time, but thinking of the experiment, he held back for the time being and slowly opened his eyes.

Before him stood two wizards, one large and one small. He tried to move to signal to Dumbledore, but the powerful Patronus radiance held him captive, and in the end, he could only roll his eyes, unsure if Dumbledore could even see him.