The Broken Boggart

"Alone, we can render Boggart helpless, but to defeat him, we need laughter, which requires turning Boggart into someone you find funny."

It can be done with a simple spell, but it requires immense willpower.

"Now practice, but don't touch your Wand yet." Professor Lupin looked at the many students in front of him. "Say after me, Riddikulus (Riddle Yules)."

"Riddikulus!" the Gryffindor students exclaimed in unison.

"Okay, louder, say it clearly, listen carefully... Riddikulus."

"Riddikulus."

"Very good, that's enough of the simple stuff," Professor Lupin said. "Next, I will guide you through the practice."

"Neville, please come here."

"Lupin," Snape said with a hint of sarcasm, "Maybe no one has warned you, but I suggest you find someone else. Longbottom isn't capable of handling anything complicated."

Neville took a small, hesitant step back, his face flushed.

He was already rather shy, and now that Snape had pointed it out to his face, he was so embarrassed he wanted to disappear into the ground.

"I think he could do a great job," Professor Lupin said, raising an eyebrow. "Neville Longbottom is an excellent Warlock, but he lacks proper guidance."

"Neville, don't be shy, come on!"

Neville's body trembled uncontrollably as he stumbled toward Professor Lupin.

"Neville, what are you most afraid of?" Professor Lupin asked.

"Professor Snape," Neville said nervously, his voice barely audible.

"What? Sorry, I didn't hear you."

Neville swallowed hard, glanced shakily in Snape's direction, and looked so aggrieved he was almost in tears.

He might have had the courage to say Snape's name when Snape wasn't here, but now he really didn't dare.

"Oh!" Professor Lupin drawled out, as if deep in thought, "I think I understand now, Professor Snape, right? Many people are afraid of him."

"Neville, you live with your grandmother, right?"

"Yes, I don't want Boggart to become like her either."

"No, no." Lupin shook his head slightly. "Think about how Grandma dresses, just think about what she wears. Think it through."

She was carrying a red handbag...

"No need to say it aloud, as long as you see it, we see it." Lupin said meaningfully, "Alright, when I open the closet, I want you to do this: think of Professor Snape wearing your grandmother's clothes."

Upon hearing this, the Gryffindor students burst into laughter, and the Boggart in the wardrobe began to shake violently.

"This is a bit too much," Aaron said with a sullen face. He finally understood why Professor Snape had called him over to cause trouble.

If Snape represents Slytherin, then Lupin is definitely the representative of Gryffindor, practically a carbon copy of Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter.

Snape stood expressionless on the ground, simply watching indifferently, as if he had expected this all along, and showed no intention of stopping it.

Professor Lupin gestured for the others to step back, making room for Neville, leaving him alone to stand in front of the wardrobe.

"It's starting. Wand ready." Professor Lupin drew his Wand. "One, two, three."

The wardrobe doorknob turned, and Professor Snape, dressed in a black robe, strode out menacingly.

"Think quickly, Neville, think quickly," Lupin urged Neville from behind.

As Professor Snape walked towards him step by step, Neville nervously drew his Wand. "Riddikulus."

Snape staggered back a step, his black robes turning into a green dress, wearing a hat with a Vulture specimen and a brown scarf, and carrying a red handbag.

Neville breathed a sigh of relief; he knew he had succeeded.

The other Gryffindor also burst into laughter, with Lupin's laughter being the loudest.

"This is outrageous!" Aaron angrily tried to walk over, but Snape pressed his shoulder firmly.

Don't go.

"Professor Snape, how can you tolerate this?"

"It's pointless to do things that don't matter. Longbottom will pay for his actions," Snape said meaningfully. But seeing the faint black fury in his eyes, Aaron suddenly shivered and silently mourned for Neville Longbottom for a second.

You're having a good time now, but you'll definitely get what's coming to you in Potions Class later.

"Excellent, Neville, incredible!" Lupin laughed. "Everyone line up, one at a time."

Everyone showed great interest in the Boggart and spontaneously lined up. Lupin even played a piece of music to set the mood.

"Everyone thinks of what they are most afraid of, and then makes it seem ridiculous."

Next up, Ron.

Ron nervously stepped forward, and Professor Snape, dressed as an old lady, quickly flipped in mid-air, transforming into a giant spider the moment he landed.

Ron's face turned green as he backed away, drawing his Wand as he did so.

"Riddikulus."

The spider suddenly had an extra roller skate on each of its six legs, causing its legs to twitch uncontrollably, leaving it lying on the ground, convulsing.

"Hahaha!" Lupin laughed loudly. "Did you see that? It was so wonderful, it was absolutely hilarious!"

"Next."

The spider transformed into a giant rattlesnake, and the female student standing opposite it appeared somewhat panicked.

"Don't panic, please don't panic," Professor Lupin carefully reminded him.

"Riddikulus."

The rattlesnake turned into Clown, swaying back and forth.

After that, the laughter in the classroom never stopped.

A spectacular Transfiguration unfolds before everyone's eyes: a Scabbers mummy trips over its own bandages, a glowing green ghost transforms into a rat, and a severed hand gets caught in a mousetrap...

Snape stood silently to the side, offering no comment.

Just as he was talking about Harry Potter, he bumped his arm into a chair next to him, and Aaron, who was dozing off, groggily opened his eyes.

"Class is over?" Aaron yawned.

"What? Class dismissed?" Professor Snape said speechlessly. "You're on stage."

Aaron paused for a moment, then turned to see Harry Potter, who was eager to try, and couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Professor Snape, are you... really that serious?"

"Don't leave me hanging, or else Dumbledore..."

"I'll go," Aaron interrupted speechlessly. "Fine, I'll go."

Professor Snape nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Lupin, "Lupin, I think you wouldn't mind if my prized student cuts in line, would you?"

Mr. Gaius is quite interested in this Boggart and wants to try it out beforehand.

Professor Lupin paused for a moment, then looked at Aaron with a meaningful expression. "Really?"

Aaron:...

It's fake, please don't misunderstand.

That's what he said, it has nothing to do with me.

Seeing that Aaron did not answer, Snape quietly gave him a push from behind. Aaron nodded reluctantly, forcing a rather forced smile, "Really."

Lupin glanced at Snape behind him, seemingly understanding something, and smiled, "Okay, then you can line up after Harry. You'll still have a chance before class ends."

Aaron's smile became even more forced, because there were several Gryffindor behind Harry Potter, who were looking at him with resentful eyes.

"Professor Snape forced me to do this," Aaron consoled himself. "I am innocent."

Harry stepped forward, looking at the twitching severed hand with a hint of excitement, wondering what he should turn into his greatest fear later.

The severed hand spun around in mid-air a few times, transforming into a Dementor. Long breaths emanated from its mouth, and a chilling aura swept over you.

Harry seemed to be frightened; his body stiffened.

Aaron was hesitating whether to help when Lupin swiftly blocked Harry's path.

The Dementor transformed again, becoming a night scene, with a full moon slowly emerging from the black clouds.

Abei suddenly jumped in front of Aaron and growled at Professor Lupin warily.

Aaron stared in astonishment at the scene, then glanced at Professor Snape, who had somehow drawn his Wand and looked as if he were about to make a move.

Gollum!

Aaron swallowed hard, a ridiculous guess popping into his mind.

No wonder Abei said Professor Lupin was a ticking time bomb on the Hogwarts train. If he wasn't mistaken, he could only admire Dumbledore.

You dare to bring just anyone to the school? Aren't you really afraid of causing a teaching accident?

"Riddikulus."

Professor Lupin shouted the incantation, and the full moon turned into a deflated balloon, which kept running around in Professor Lu's lounge.

Professor Snape waved his Wand with a flourish, and the deflated balloon was locked inside the cupboard.

"Let's begin, Gaius, class is about to end."

Upon hearing this, Aaron shrugged and walked to the wardrobe.

The cabinet shook violently, then opened a crack, but nothing happened.

"What are you doing?" Snape frowned. "Think about what you fear most."

"I've thought about it," Aaron said anxiously. His past experiences flashed through his mind, but there were almost none that truly terrified him.

A dozen seconds later, the wardrobe opened completely, and a refined-looking man walked out, wearing Warlock's robe with the Slytherin insignia.

"Tom Riddle," Harry murmured incredulously. Hermione and Ron also took a half-step back in a panic, but then they thought about it and realized that this wasn't too surprising, since the You-Know-Who was a fear in the hearts of almost every Warlock.

"Get lost!" Aaron turned his face away disdainfully.

Who do you think I am? You think you can scare people with your inferior defeat?

The smile on Riddle's face froze instantly, as if he had crashed.

A moment later, Boggart transformed again, becoming a dwarf wearing a crown and adorned with gold and silver, but with lifeless eyes.

"Uh... can you choose another one?" Aaron said with some disdain. "I know I have fears, but please don't use them to insult me, okay?"