When Lupin addressed Snape, he simply said politely, "If you'd like, you can stay here."
Snape didn't reply, just leaned back on the sofa with a faint smile on his lips.
The students looked at each other in bewilderment.
Most people would feel uncomfortable being stared at like that by Snape.
Except for Morris.
All he wants to do right now is watch the drama unfold.
What exactly was the conflict between Snape and Lupin?
Come here!
Lupin clapped his hands to regain the students' attention and walked to the back of the room.
There was a wardrobe there, shaking violently and banging against the wall.
"This is our main character today," Lupin said, patting the cabinet door. " Boggart."
"So that's what it is," Morris nodded to himself.
Boggart are special creatures that can transform into what the people nearby fear most, and feed on human fears.
They are the same type of being as Dementor, only much less dangerous.
"Come closer, it's locked up now, there's no danger." Lupin smiled and waved to the crowd.
The students gathered around, both excited and nervous.
Next, Lupin began to introduce what Boggart and Morris already knew.
"It sounds scary," Neville said in a low voice.
"This thing isn't dangerous, don't worry," Morris said.
Neville felt a little relieved.
After Lupin finished his introduction, he scanned the crowd and finally focused on Morris was standing at the very edge.
" Mr. Black," he said, "Would you please come out for a moment?"
Morris paused slightly, taken aback.
All eyes turned to him, including Snape on the sofa behind him.
Morris stepped forward, puzzled, and asked, "What's wrong?"
"I've heard about your situation," Lupin said with a smile. "The principal and professors gave you special privileges; you can choose courses that interest you, you don't have to follow the schedule completely, and you can even skip a few specific courses at will, is that right?"
Morris nodded without changing his expression. "Yes."
A slight commotion broke out in the classroom; most of the students were unaware of what had happened.
Hermione remained silent, as she had already heard Professor McGonagall mention it. Neville simply blinked, finding it quite normal, after all, it was Morris.
Others are different.
While Morris did indeed achieve excellent results, this clearly failed to convince the public.
"On what grounds?"
How did he do that?
I want to too...
Similar whispers spread through the crowd.
Morris ignored them all.
Lupin ignored the voices and simply looked at Morris gently. "You must be very capable. Come on, let's see if you can handle Boggart."
He spoke casually, as if inviting Morris to play a little game.
"Yes," Morris said.
He stepped forward, stopped in front of the wardrobe, and raised his wand.
Everyone held their breath.
Morris knew how to deal with the Boggart; all it took was a simple spell, " Riddikulus," to render it harmless.
But that would be too boring.
Boggart is an alternate being born from "fear," and he happens to know a spell that can deal with these negative emotions.
What is this spell?
It's easy to guess.
That is the " Expecto Patronum," Patronus Charm.
But before that, Morris wanted to see what his Boggart would look like.
"Prepare!"
Lupin waved his wand, and the wardrobe door opened with a click.
Everyone took several steps back.
However, there was nothing inside; it was just pitch black.
Everyone was stunned.
"What happened?" someone asked in a low voice. "Where's Boggart?"
Lupin frowned slightly. He walked closer to the wardrobe, peeked inside, then stepped back and closed the door.
He turned to Morris, his expression becoming somewhat subtle. " Mr. Black, isn't there anything you're afraid of?"
Um?
Morris paused for a moment.
Then, as if remembering something, he suddenly realized, "Ah, I understand, Professor. Let me adjust myself..."
Okay, please try again.
Lupin, though puzzled, stepped aside and raised his wand again.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Anytime is fine."
Having received a reply, Lupin waved his wand again and opened the wardrobe door.
This time, it was no longer an empty, dark place.
A dark shadow surged out, quickly transforming into... a grave mound in front of Morris?
There's even a brand new tombstone.
The inscription reads, "Morris Black, a life of mediocrity."
"What does this mean?" Ron whispered, " Morris's greatest fear is a grave?"
Morris looked at the tombstone and nodded silently.
Just as I expected.
He wasn't surprised.
A life of mediocrity and inaction—that was exactly what he feared.
What he feared most was not the dangers that could be seen or touched.
Rather, it's mediocrity.
To be honest, Boggart is truly amazing.
Although Morris opened his mind, the other party only touched upon the part of his thoughts related to "fear," and did not touch upon the rest at all.
How could they be so tactful?
Lupin gazed thoughtfully at the grave that Boggart had become.
"Then," he asked again, " Mr. Black, do you know the spell to deal with the Boggart?"
"Certainly."
"Give it a try."
Lupin stepped back, making way for him.
Morris raised his wand and calmly chanted the spell. " Expecto Patronum."
Meanwhile, Snape, not far away, wore a satisfied expression.
He knew how powerful Morris's Patronus Charm was.
After all, he had seen it with his own eyes.
A silvery-white light surged from the tip of Morris's wand, turning into a mist of light that filled the entire room in seconds.
Then, the fog began to change.
One.
Two.
Three.
Silver ravens kept emerging from the mist, circling above the room.
The students were momentarily at a loss.
They didn't know what was happening, but the silvery-white ravens gave them a warm feeling, making them feel incredibly comfortable.
It should be... a good thing, right?
As for the Boggart, it had long since hidden deep inside the closet, trembling with fear.
Using Patronus to fight it is no different from using a cannon to kill a mosquito.
A third-grade student cast Patronus Charm that most adult wizards could not master.
Even though Lupin had already witnessed it on the train, he was still incredibly surprised.
However... isn't the number of these Patronus a bit odd?
At that moment, Snape suddenly stepped forward.
"Very good, Black," he said, "But don't surprise our new professor too much."
Morris obediently put away his wand.
The flock of ravens did not disappear immediately, but circled in the air once before finally turning into specks of silver light and dissipating into the air.
The room returned to calm.