Luna's Boggart Is Unlike Anything Anyone Has Ever Heard Of / Practicing the Patronus Charm Hits a Few Snags

That's right, Harry's words just now hit the nail on the head regarding the core issue of the Patronus Charm!

Take Lupin himself as an example. His two happiest memories are those before his fifth birthday and those after he entered Hogwarts... Apart from that, his life was basically all gloomy.

Therefore, when he casts the Patronus Charm, he only seeks out happy memories during these two time periods.

So, if a young wizard is in such a happy period, his magic may not be enough to use a full Patronus, but with proper guidance, he can easily find simple joy in ordinary life.

This fulfills the prerequisite for activating the Patronus Charm.

Advanced spells are not necessarily only for powerful wizards...

Lupin carefully read Harry's words and felt that his old friend's son seemed to have completely seen through the essence of magic.

Ultimately, Lupin agreed to teach Harry, Hugh, and Lupin the Patronus Charm at the same time, and also arranged a class time with Harry.

Every other day thereafter, he would use the evening classes that started at eight o'clock to guide Harry and his two friends in practicing spells.

"Also... Uncle Lupin, there's something else I'm very curious about." Before Lupin left, Harry suddenly remembered something else, "The Man's Homonculous Charm on the Marauder's Map, is that a family heirloom?"

"Yes, that's a spell my father taught me," Lupin nodded in response. "My father, Lyle Lupin, was a paranormal researcher who tracked down ghosts, stalkers, and other 'non-beings' like Boggart."

"The Homonculous Charm was his most proficient spell, and he naturally passed it on to me. However, my father was more skilled at using the Homonculous Charm than I was. My spells only work after I have personally explored the entire area and drawn a map. But when my father went out, he only needed a blank roll of parchment to easily mark the approximate locations of the surrounding creatures."

"That powerful?" Harry was immediately surprised upon hearing this, realizing that the spell from this family with its long history was indeed extraordinary.

According to Lupin, his father's application of the Homonculous Charm was comparable to radar detection!

"Harry, if you want to learn, I can also teach you the Homonculous Charm while you learn the Patronus Charm." Lupin seemed to see through Harry's thoughts and generously offered to teach him everything he knew.

"Really?!" Harry was overjoyed.

For Harry, Lupin's Homonculous Charm was even more interesting than his Patronus Charm.

He had previously demonstrated the Marauder's Map book in his possession. Even the well-informed spirit of Andros had praised the Marauder's Map and the Homonculous Charm, considering them to be magic that could see through everything.

Of course, Andros's spirit is exaggerating a bit, because the Homonculous Charm is far from being able to see through everything. What it can really detect are the beings on earth that can be called 'humans'.

In other words, it refers to all beings that possess a 'spirit'.

"Of course it's true. Although it's a family curse, my father never said it couldn't be passed on to others..." At this point, Lupin's smile suddenly turned somewhat bitter. "Anyway, I might as well pass it on to you as well, otherwise... I don't know how to continue passing it on."

To be honest, Lupin has always had a knot in his heart about this Homonculous Charm.

When the four Marauders created the Marauder's Map together, Lupin explained how to use the spell to the other three. However, considering that it was a Lupin heirloom spell, the other three Marauders only mastered the basics of using it.

Looking back now, Lupin thinks he really should have forced them to fully master the spell back then.

Especially James; if he had mastered the Homonculous Charm and created a Marauder's Map of Godric's Hollow twelve years ago, he might have been able to detect Voldemort's invasion beforehand.

And perhaps that tragedy would never have happened...

Therefore, Lupin, who had already regretted his actions once with his old friend, did not want to regret them again with his old friend's child.

Moreover, Lupin also felt that, given his current state, it was practically impossible for him to get married and have children.

If I don't pass this curse on to Harry, am I going to take it to my grave?

Chapter 307 Luna Lovegood's Boggart image is unheard of.

After making the agreement, the next evening during class, Hahru and the other two arrived at Lupin's Defense Against the Dark Arts office as promised.

Compared to Gilderoy Lockhart last year, Lupin can truly be described as penniless.

He didn't add any decorations to the professor's office. Apart from a few worn-out coats and an old trunk, his only possessions were books prepared for teaching... and judging by their condition, these books were clearly secondhand goods he had acquired through bargain hunting.

Harry sometimes really wondered how Lupin, a wizard with such great strength, no bad habits, and most importantly, who was still unmarried, managed to get himself so poor.

Could it be that... all the bosses he'd encountered in the past were heartless individuals who refused to pay his wages?

However, Lupin clearly didn't want to give Harry time to complain about these things. He placed a wardrobe in the middle of his office and gestured for Harry and the other two to stand in front of him.

"Another cabinet? So this time it was found in the Staff Room?"

Harry paused for a moment, staring at the constantly shaking cabinet in front of him, before quickly remembering where he had seen it before.

It must have been the year before last, when I was getting Severus Snape Rabies Vaccine in the Staff Room, that I saw this broken cabinet.

As for why I said "again," it's because Harry knew that Lupin had found another Boggart in that cabinet.

Boggart are a special type of Transfiguration creature. In the classification of Magical Creatures, they belong to the category of 'non-beings'. They have neither truly lived nor truly died... just like griffins and Dementor.

Lupin had recently explained them in a third-year Defense Against the Dark Arts Class. These creatures, which like to hide in dark, narrow places, are very good at reading people's minds and can transform into the image that the person they see is most afraid of.

The most effective spell to deal with them is the Boggart-Banishing Spell that Lupin explained in class, Riddikulus.

By reciting incantations and visualizing what one wishes the Boggart to become, the Boggart is forced to transform into the comical form desired by people, thus eliminating the fear it evokes.

It's also worth mentioning that while a loud, excited laugh can indeed turn Boggart into smoke, this 'disappearance' is not 'annihilation,' because often, before long, new, or even more, Boggart will appear in the same spot.

So, during class, Neville accidentally killed a Boggart. His most feared figure was Severus Snape, but in Neville's imagination, Severus Snape turned into a cross-dressing man... and he was even wearing Neville's grandmother's clothes.

Hmm... Harry thinks that if he were Severus Snape, he would definitely find a chance to poison Lupin, and while he's at it, bury Neville with his homework~

Harry also saw Hermione's Boggart at the time. Professor Flitwick was standing on a stack of books, lecturing the studious girl while holding up a report card showing all her failing grades... In a way, it was indeed quite terrifying.

Then there's himself... well, he didn't actually see his own Boggart image.

Just then, as he was about to step forward and try, Lupin blocked him with his body.

As a result, Boggart transformed into a crystal ball shrouded in mist, and with Lupin's comment of "Riddikulus," he turned into a deflated balloon...

Although he was a little frustrated, Harry knew what Lupin was worried about, so he simply let it go.

Lupin was probably worried that Boggart would turn into Voldemort and then scare the other students in no time.

"There were too many students in class before, and I was worried that your Boggart would cause panic, so I didn't let you try it. Now I've found a new Boggart, so you can take this opportunity to familiarize yourself with the Boggart-Banishing Spell."

As expected, Harry was absolutely right about Lupin's concerns.

"Harry, I hope you can try to bring out your joy during the process of banishing the Boggart; it will also help you learn the Patronus Charm."

"I will," Harry nodded earnestly.

"Alright, I'm going to open the cabinet now." Lupin solemnly instructed Harry, "Harry, promise me... whatever you see, don't be afraid!"

After that, he gently waved his wand and opened the wardrobe that had been shaking incessantly.

However, what puzzled those present was that what floated out of the wardrobe was not Voldemort or Dementor or any other terrifying creature, but rather just a simple...

"This is... a bed?" Lupin looked at the metal 'bed' covered with a white sheet in front of him, completely baffled as to why Harry was afraid of such a thing.

"Uncle Lupin ... could you stop it?" Harry's voice suddenly became tired and hoarse. "I don't want to see what happens next, and I can't imagine how ridiculous it will look..."

He knew perfectly well what he was seeing; what was in front of him wasn't a bed at all... but an operating table!

"Alright." Sensing Harry's unusual mood, Lupin hesitated for a moment, but decided to do as he was told.

But he was too late. By this time, the Boggart had completely reflected the fear in Harry's heart.

The scene he had seen in the Mirror of Erised was playing out again. Before Harry lay a cold operating table and a blonde girl whose face had lost its rosy hue...

"I said... this is enough!!"

"Yes, please stop scaring him like that, okay?" A gentle voice came from in front of Harry; Luna Lovegood had shielded him from Boggart.

However, the next second, Boggart underwent a surprising transformation... it turned into Luna Lovegood herself!

From appearance to clothing, except for her eyes not being as ethereal as Luna Lovegood's, they are practically identical.

This change surprised even Boggart himself. He kept looking down at his clothes and even touched his face haphazardly, as if he was completely confused by the sudden situation.

"Can you go back first?" Luna Lovegood asked again, her voice calm.

After a moment's thought, Boggart, who resembled Luna Lovegood, actually nodded, then turned and went back into the closet, even closing the door behind him!

"What... just happened?"

Lupin was completely at a loss for words regarding what had just happened.

His father had studied Boggart his entire life, and as a result, he had an absolute understanding of these creatures. He had never heard of Boggart ever transforming into a person's own image.

This suggests that Luna Lovegood's greatest fear... is actually herself?

Moreover, Luna Lovegood didn't even use Banishing Charm; instead, she persuaded Boggart to go back!

This was a situation Lupin had never heard of before.

Chapter 308 The Cultivation Patronus Encountered Some Setbacks

Are you alright?

After the wardrobe closed again, Luna Lovegood turned to look at Harry, her face showing obvious concern.

"It's alright..." Harry took a few deep breaths, managing to calm himself down.

He should have known better than anyone what he was about to see.

Although he knew it was just the 'past' and not something that actually happened to him, it remained a persistent nightmare, leaving Harry feeling powerless every time he thought about it.

Compared to that scene, Harry felt that the Voldemort in his mind was nothing at all.

He was now only grateful that Lupin had shielded him during that previous class, at least preventing all the third-year students from both colleges from witnessing his 'fear' at the same time.

"So... Harry, what you feared most was Luna Lovegood's death?"

At that moment, a voice as cold as the wind sounded from behind, instantly making Harry freeze.

When he turned around, Hermione's face was as sour as could be...

"Um... Hermione, I think I can explain this."

After Hermione's lioness-like gaze for a moment, Harry immediately shrank back and cowered.

So it turns out that Hermione's anger was far more intimidating than Harry's unfortunate fate.

When the bright-eyed girl opens her almond-shaped eyes wide, Voldemort and Ouroboros all have to step aside.

"Fine, let's see what you're going to explain to me." Hermione crossed her arms, a cold smile playing on her lips.

"Well... maybe I should just forget about it."

Seeing the studious girl's obvious "I don't want to hear it" attitude, Harry realized one thing very clearly... if he were to foolishly try to explain again, he would definitely get a beating later.

Sure enough, when you're down on your luck, even drinking cold water can cause problems. He only watched a Boggart movie, but it completely blew Hermione's temper.

And it happened in front of Lupin and Luna Lovegood!

If it were just him and Hermione, Harry could easily use force to tease... no, he meant to coax Hermione into submission immediately.

But given the current situation, he couldn't very well perform in front of those two people in public.

"Fine, I can't be bothered to listen to your explanation. You can just continue practicing your spells with Professor Lupin." Hermione waved her hand dismissively, as if to say, "Just let Harry off the hook."

However, just as Harry was overjoyed, she suddenly pointed at Luna Lovegood and said, "You, come with me. Let's find a place to talk alone."

"This... Harry, aren't you going to do anything about this?" Seeing a scene of 'two women fighting over a man' about to unfold, Lupin couldn't help but awkwardly wipe non-existent sweat from his forehead.

He glanced at Harry sideways, his disapproving look quite obvious.

See? You insisted on being a player, and now you've gotten yourself into trouble, haven't you?

"I'd have to dare to do it..." Harry shook his head hurriedly upon hearing this, and even retreated behind Lupin, trembling.

Just kidding, Hermione is clearly under the 'official queen's authority' buff right now. Even if Harry activated his Obscurus, he'd be instantly annihilated. How can he possibly control her?

"Okay, let's go to the classroom next door."

Fortunately, Luna Lovegood intervened and rescued the two men, who were trembling with fear.

After the two women left, Harry and Lupin exchanged a glance and both breathed a long sigh of relief.

Girls getting angry... it's terrifying!

"Harry, do you think you're still fit to practice the Patronus Charm in your current state?" Lupin asked tentatively after calming himself down.

Tonight's dramatic ups and downs were a bit too much. Lupin thought Harry might have a hard time maintaining a positive mood and might even run into obstacles during his training.

"I have to at least give it a try."

However, Harry expressed his concern about Lupin's concerns, saying that he couldn't let things end so abruptly.