Boggart (Thanks to May Everything Go Your Way for the Support! Thank You)

The Potions Classroom in the crypts of Hogwarts is always shrouded in a cold and damp atmosphere.

The stone walls were darkened by years of medicinal mist, and the dim, flickering light of the oil lamps cast indistinct shadows on the rows of Magical Creatures parts preserved in glass jars. The air was thick with the mingled scents of daisy roots, leech juice, rotting herbs, and crocodile hearts, so heavy it was almost suffocating.

The Gryffindor and Slytherin students were already seated, and the classroom was so quiet that only the soft sounds of cauldrons being placed and medicine bottles clinking could be heard.

Su Yu sat next to Daphne, watching with boredom as Neville unconsciously tensed his shoulders, repeatedly checking the ingredient list on the blackboard, his eyes filled with barely concealed nervousness.

Snape emerged from the shadows, his black robes trailing on the ground. His gaze swept across the room like two cold blades, and no one dared to look him in the eye.

"Today we're making Shrinking Solution," he said coldly. "The steps are written on the blackboard. If you make a mistake at any step, the entire potion will be ruined, and you'll regret coming to this classroom."

As soon as the words were spoken, the students began to work.

Neville almost immediately lost his composure. His hands trembled violently, and he couldn't get the weight of the daisy roots right no matter how many times he weighed them. He also accidentally poured out a few drops of leech juice too much. The more anxious he became, the more sweat beaded on his forehead. His eyes darted frantically between the textbook and the cauldron. Hermione watched anxiously but didn't dare to say anything, only occasionally signaling him with her eyes to slow down.

Malfoy observed all of this, a barely perceptible sneer playing on his lips. He slowly and deliberately processed his herbs, his movements practiced yet perfunctory. He deliberately moved his table closer to Harry and Ron, ensuring his voice could reach them precisely.

"You've probably heard," he said casually, glancing at Harry as he cut a fig with a silver knife. "I heard my father's been very busy lately, running between the Ministry of Magic and the Board of Governors, submitting several formal appeals."

Ron tightened his grip on the medicine spoon. "What are you trying to say?"

"It's nothing," Malfoy shrugged. "Just a heads-up that Hagrid will be leaving Hogwarts soon. His dangerous Magical Creatures got into a fight with the students, a charge that's enough to get him fired. I'm partly to blame, but I can't directly stop my father at the school, so I can only pray for Hagrid's future. I just want to say that I really didn't do it, because I don't need to."

Harry didn't speak, but simply stirred the liquid in the cauldron, his knuckles turning slightly white. He knew Malfoy was telling the truth. Lucius Malfoy's influence in the Ministry of Magic was enough to easily crush a teacher born Half-blood- Giant. Hagrid's worried expression these past few days flashed through his mind, making him feel a tightness in his chest.

"You deliberately provoked Buckbeak," Ron said in a low voice, his tone filled with anger. "You knew perfectly well that those creatures shouldn't be offended."

"I didn't do anything," Malfoy laughed innocently. "Everyone will believe a Malfoy, not a Half-giant. You'd better accept that."

Su Yu was already asleep, lying down. He skipped class to eat hot pot, which was already a big favor. Anyway, he probably would never learn how to make Potions, and Kurama Fox was watching over his cauldron.

Seeing Su Yu giving up, Daphne was at a loss. Su Yu was outstanding in every aspect except Potions and Transfiguration. She carefully helped Kurama cut pieces of daisy root, while Kurama helped peel figs and brew potions. To be honest, Kurama's knowledge of Potions was better than Su Yu's at the moment.

Just then, Snape's footsteps stopped beside Neville.

In Neville's cauldron, the potion had turned an extremely glaring bright orange, bubbling with strange Utakata, completely different from the pale green that Shrinking Solution should have. A slightly pungent odor wafted through the air, causing the people around to unconsciously frown.

"Longbottom," Snape's voice was as cold as ice, "What have you done in your life besides mess things up?"

Neville's face flushed crimson instantly. He stood frozen in place, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

"Professor, I can help him correct it—" Hermione immediately said.

"Sit down, Granger," Snape interrupted her sharply. "This is his own stupidity, not your job to save him. Five points deducted from Gryffindor. If the error in this potion were any worse, I wouldn't mind letting your toad taste its effects for himself."

Neville's eyes instantly reddened. He lowered his head, clutching the hem of his clothes tightly, his whole body trembling slightly.

Hermione bit her lip, ultimately daring not to argue further. She could only take advantage of Snape's turn to whisper to Neville in a very light and rapid voice, prompting him to adjust the order of the ingredients and the heat. Neville hurriedly did as instructed, frantically adding a small amount of daisy root powder and carefully turning down the flame. The orange Utakata gradually subsided, and the color slowly shifted towards a pale green.

Malfoy took in the whole scene, and his desire to watch the spectacle became uncontrollable. He turned to Harry again, leaning forward slightly, deliberately lowering his voice, but with a strong sense of provocation.

"By the way, Potter, have you been reading the Daily Prophet lately?"

Harry looked up, his gaze turning colder.

"Sirius Black," Malfoy uttered slowly, carefully observing Harry's expression, "the dark wizard who betrayed your parents and killed over a dozen people. The entire Wizarding World is saying that his escape from prison had only one purpose—"

He paused, deliberately drawing out his words, enjoying Harry's increasingly tense expression.

"--I came to find you."

Harry's heart sank.

These days, rumors about Black hung over his mind like a persistent dark cloud. Dementor patrolled the campus, and everyone was on edge. He knew better than anyone that Black was inextricably linked to his parents' deaths, and fear, like a fine needle, quietly pierced his heart.

"Stop talking nonsense." Harry's voice was a little hoarse.

"Nonsense?" Malfoy scoffed, his tone a mix of threat and mockery. "He escaped from Azkaban; there's nothing he wouldn't do. He sold your parents to Voldemort himself. Now, it's your turn. Tell me, won't he sneak into the castle and stand by your bedside while you're fast asleep?"

Ron immediately glared at Malfoy: "Shut up! Don't talk nonsense again!"

"I'm just stating the facts," Malfoy said, spreading his hands innocently. "If Potter really had the guts, he should just run out of the school and find Black, see who's better. Maybe he'll be extra 'friendly' to you."

Harry stared intently at Malfoy, his chest heaving, suppressing the urge to punch him. He knew Malfoy was deliberately provoking him, and the more impulsive he became, the more he would fall into Malfoy's trap. But those words were like cold, venomous snakes, burrowing into his ears and coiling around his heart, making it almost impossible for him to concentrate.

Snape happened to walk back to the podium at that moment, unaware of the undercurrents swirling around him. He simply swept his gaze across the room and said coldly, "Continue the refining. Anyone who gets distracted again will be kept after class until midnight."

The classroom fell silent again, with only the soft bubbling of the crucible breaking the silence.

With Hermione's secret help, Neville finally managed to adjust the potion back to its normal pale green color, with fine and even Utakata, and the smell returned to normal. He let out a long sigh of relief, leaning back in his chair as if he were about to collapse, his eyes filled with lingering fear.

Snape strolled back, glanced at Neville's cauldron, his brow furrowed slightly, clearly dissatisfied, but he didn't offer any further criticism. However, when he noticed Hermione's earlier subtle action, he spoke again coldly, "Granger, unauthorized instruction and disregard for classroom discipline, Gryffindor loses another five points."

Hermione's face fell, but she could only accept it silently.

Malfoy's potion was already perfectly prepared, with a standard color and clear texture, a model indeed. When Snape walked past him, he merely nodded indifferently, without uttering a single word of criticism, a stark contrast to his harsh treatment of Gryffindor. Malfoy proudly raised his chin, deliberately shaking the cauldron slightly to show Harry his flawless achievement.

Ron was furious, but there was nothing he could do. Snape's favoritism had always been so blatant and undisguised.

For the remainder of the class, Malfoy continued to subtly probe Harry's mind, mentioning Hagrid's impending expulsion, hinting that Black was closing in on the school, and mocking Neville's clumsiness and Harry's gloom. He tirelessly observed every subtle expression on Harry's face, relishing the way the boy suppressed his anger.

Harry forced himself to focus on the Potions before him, suppressing all his frustration, anger, and unease. He knew that any impulsive action now would give Snape an excuse to punish Gryffindor and make Malfoy even more smug.

Finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of get out of class.

Snape briefly checked the potions, announced the end of class, and turned to leave the cellar first.

The students busied themselves tidying up their cauldrons and herbs, and the classroom gradually regained some of its liveliness. Neville hung his head, silently washing his cauldron, while Hermione gently comforted him, telling him that he had done a good job. Ron, however, was still furious, muttering curses about Malfoy's despicable behavior and Snape's injustice.

Harry silently packed his things, Malfoy's words echoing repeatedly in his mind.

Malfoy Earth Flow the classroom with Crabbe and Goyle, deliberately slowing his pace as he passed Harry and casting a malicious and mocking glance at him.

The castle corridors were quiet in the afternoon. Lupin was leading the Gryffindor and Slytherin students to the Staff Room for their Defense Against the Dark Arts practical lesson.

Professor Lupin, walking ahead of the students, wore his faded old wizard's robe. Compared to the first day of school, his cheeks were gradually regaining a faint rosy hue, and his eyes were much brighter, no longer as listless as they had been at the beginning of the semester.

His steps were lighter, no longer the sickly stagger. His slightly sweaty forehead gleamed, and he looked much more energetic. Even his gentle smile seemed more natural and genuine.

Just as I turned a corner in the corridor, I bumped into Peeves. He was floating upside down in mid-air, his little feet swinging wildly, intently trying to stuff a wad of chewing gum into the keyhole on the wall.

Peeves didn't look up until Lupin was only two feet away from him. He immediately twisted his body and, in a high-pitched voice, began to sing over and over again. "Lupin madman, you big idiot! Lupin, you madman, you big idiot!"

Even though Mischievous Peeves was usually somewhat wary of the professor, his open mockery made the students around him hold their breath and look at Lupin, waiting to see him get angry.

Lupin, however, maintained a gentle smile, showing no anger whatsoever, and calmly said, "Peeves, take the chewing gum out of the keyhole."

Peeves immediately spat fiercely, completely ignoring Lupin's orders, and continued to float in place, looking completely unrestrained.

Lupin gently raised his wand, and without hesitation, softly uttered the spell. "Waddiwasi!"

With a soft cracking sound, the piece of chewing gum stuck in the keyhole suddenly sprang out and went straight into Peeves's nostril.

The Peeves let out a sharp, piercing scream, flailed and spun wildly in the air, frantically trying to pick the chewing gum out of his nostrils, cursing all the while, and drifted away in a sorry state.

Lupin put down his wand, turned to the stunned students beside him, smiled gently, and said softly, "Alright, that's a very useful little spell. Let's continue on our way."

The students followed Lupin into the Staff Room.

Snape sat in a chair in the corner, watching them coldly.

Neville's face turned pale the moment he saw Snape, and he shrank into a ball.

Snape stood up to leave, but as he reached the door, he spoke again, "Perhaps no one warned you, Lupin, but Neville Longbottom is in this class. I suggest you don't let him touch anything difficult, unless Miss Granger is whispering instructions in his ear."

Neville lowered his head even further, his hands clenched tightly, while Harry glared at Professor Snape, his face flushed.

Lupin immediately raised his eyebrows and responded calmly but firmly:

"I'm hoping Neville can help me with the first demonstration. I believe he'll do an excellent job."

Snape snorted, said nothing more, slammed the door shut, and walked out.

"Everyone worked hard in Potions this morning." Lupin put down his textbook, smiled, and scanned the room. When his gaze landed on Neville, he paused deliberately. "Neville, I heard you brewed a decent Shrinking Solution today. Well done. Don't let Snape's grade make you feel bad."

Neville abruptly looked up, his eyes instantly reddening, and whispered, "Thank you, Professor. Hermione helped me..."

"Helping friends is never wrong," Lupin interrupted him, his tone gentle yet firm. "Whether it's Potions or Defense Strategy, the most important thing isn't the grade, but whether you've learned anything truly useful."

His words flowed like a warm current into the hearts of every student. Even some of the Slytherin students quietly sat up straight, their eyes filled with more admiration as they looked at Lupin —after all, in the entire Hogwarts, there were very few professors who dared to directly refute Snape and who could leave him with no faults.

"Today we're going to learn about Boggart Defense." Lupin opened his textbook, pointing to an illustration of a humanoid creature in a tattered robe, its face hidden in shadow. "Boggart is a Transfiguration monster that can transform into your deepest fear and draw power from that fear. The key to dealing with it isn't to defeat it, but to make it laughable."

Everyone's attention was focused on Neville, Lupin was patiently explaining the key points of dealing with Boggart, but Su Yu's gaze was unconsciously drawn to the old, worn-out wardrobe in the center of the room.

A faint, chilly aura emanated from the crack in the cabinet door, as if something inside was restlessly stirring within. This stirred something within him, and he took a small step forward, feeling an urge to simply pull open the cabinet door and investigate.

Lupin noticed his subtle movement immediately.

The professor's gentle gaze sharpened slightly, and almost instinctively he took half a step forward, subtly blocking Su Yu from the wardrobe. His smile remained, but his tone carried a gentle yet undeniable authority:

"Don't rush, Sue Fuli. Boggart isn't ready to face you yet. Let's take it one step at a time, okay?"

He spoke calmly and naturally, without disturbing anyone else, and just in time stopped Su Yu's actions, but a fleeting, almost imperceptible worry flashed across the depths of his eyes. Lupin knew very well that Boggart would reflect his deepest fears, and that Su Yu possessed a power and past that even he himself might not be aware of.

He couldn't imagine how out of control the situation would get if Boggart pulled something uncontrollable, something powerful enough to intimidate everyone, from the depths of Su Yu's heart in front of everyone.

For everyone's sake, and for Su Yu's own, he had to firmly stop this step before it happened.

Lupin then turned back to the wardrobe and continued teaching the class.

Neville gripped his wand tightly, and encouraged by Lupin, stared intently at the slowly opening cabinet door. A chilling aura emanated from it, Boggart instantly transformed into Snape, approaching him with a grim face.

"Don't panic, Neville! Imagine him wearing your grandmother's clothes!" Lupin shouted a reminder.

Neville was trembling, but he still mustered his courage and shouted, "Riddikulus!"

After the sharp crack, Snape appeared in a long, lace-trimmed dress, a tall hat adorned with a vulture, and carrying a large red handbag. His comical appearance caused the Gryffindor students to burst into laughter, and even the usually indifferent Slytherin students couldn't help but smirk.

"Well done, Neville!" Lupin nodded approvingly, shooed Boggart back into the closet, and then called on the next person's name.

Parvati stepped forward, and the cabinet door opened again. Boggart, transformed into a mummy wrapped in bandages, walked stiffly toward her. Parvati quickly chanted a spell, and the bandages at the mummy's feet instantly came undone, causing him to fall awkwardly, which drew another burst of laughter.

Seamus followed closely behind, and Boggart, who had transformed into a pale, long-haired female ghost, became comical and utterly intimidating with a single incantation from him.

Next up were all Gryffindor and Slytherin students. Dean faced a highly venomous snake; after casting a spell, the snake became round and wobbly. A Slytherin boy, who was terrified of giant centipedes, had his spell cast, and the centipede sprouted tiny wings, stumbling and unable to fly. A Slytherin girl faced a terrifying vampire, instantly dressing it in gaudy children's clothing, making it look both bizarre and comical.

Lupin quickly pushed Boggart back into the closet and turned to Malfoy: "Malfoy, you go."

Malfoy's face paled, and his arrogant expression froze instantly.

Lupin opened the cabinet door, Boggart immediately contorted—transforming into Lucius Malfoy, pale-faced and motionless, as if he had been dead for a long time.

Malfoy trembled, his voice shaking. "Riddikulus!"

Lucius's face instantly turned ashen, and his wand was pointed directly at his chest.

But Malfoy laughed.

Ron was in the middle of the line when Boggart appeared and transformed into the giant spider that Ron feared most. Ron shrank back in fright. With Lupin's prompting, he forced himself to imagine the spider on roller skates. After reciting the spell, the spider indeed appeared on tiny roller skates, clumsily spinning in place. Ron breathed a sigh of relief.

Next up is Hermione, whose biggest fear is failing an exam. Boggart transforms into a test paper marked "Fail," but Hermione calmly turns it into a gold-embossed answer sheet filled with perfect scores, easily overcoming the challenge.

Soon it was Harry's turn. His heart sank. He was puzzled, wondering what his Boggart would be. A suffocating fear instantly overwhelmed him.

Just as Harry was about to step forward, Lupin strode forward again, blocking Harry way, just as he had blocked Su Yu before, intercepting this round without hesitation.

He personally opened the cabinet door, Boggart twisted rapidly before him, transforming into a Dementor with its hood pulled low, radiating a chilling aura of despair. The laughter in the room instantly ceased, and even the Slytherin students looked tense.

Lupin remained calm, steadily raising his wand. "Riddikulus!"

The next second, the Dementor changed into comical floral shorts and wide-rimmed sunglasses, swaying unsteadily, completely losing its terrifying aura. Only then did everyone relax, and laughter returned.

Lupin quickly closed the cabinet door, subtly glancing at Su Yu standing in the queue. Seeing that Su Yu was still staring at the wardrobe with a probing look in his eyes, Lu Ping remained vigilant and deliberately prevented Su Yu from getting any closer.

Throughout the class, students from Gryffindor and Slytherin took turns presenting, while Lupin methodically concluded, gently summarizing the key points of the lesson. Throughout the entire session, he kept a close eye on Su Yu, preventing any possibility of things getting out of control.