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HP: A Moment of Magic
Chapter 66: Unusual Boggart

Chapter 66: Unusual Boggart

As Adam made his way from the Great Hall to Defence Against the Dark Arts, the corridor outside the classroom buzzed with anticipation, students filing in and chattering excitedly. Upon entering, Adam notices most of the students already gathered, including Harry, Ron, and Hermione standing near the front. He waves to them, exchanging quick pleasantries as he stands next to Ron.

“Morning, Adam,” Hermione said with a brief smile, clutching the third-year Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook.

“Morning,” Adam replies before turning his attention to the front of the classroom, where the imposing wardrobe stands, covered in faint scratches and emitting a low, rhythmic thud from within.

Moments later, Professor Lupin emerges from his office, his shabby robes and calm demeanor contrasting sharply with the tension in the air. He steps down from the dais, offering the class his signature warm smile.

“Good morning, everyone,” he begins, his voice steady but commanding as he gestures toward the wardrobe. “Today’s topic is a fascinating one.”

The students lean forward slightly, their curiosity piqued. Lupin motions to the rattling wardrobe.

“Inside here is a Boggart. Who can tell me what that is?”

Hermione’s hand shoots up immediately, her eagerness unmatched.

“A Boggart is a shape-shifting non-being that takes the form of its observer's worst fear,” she recites confidently.

“Excellent, Miss Granger,” Lupin says with an approving nod. “Ten points to Gryffindor.”

He addresses the rest of the class, his tone engaging as he explains further. “No one knows what a Boggart’s true form is, because the moment it encounters someone, it transforms into what that person fears most. The good news,” he adds, pausing for effect, “is that Boggarts can be easily defeated. The best weapon against them is laughter.”

The students exchange curious glances, some looking skeptical. Adam feels a mixture of excitement and nervousness; he isn’t sure what form his fear might take, but he will find out today.

“The charm we use is called the Boggart-Banishing Spell: Riddikulus,” Lupin continues. “This spell forces the Boggart to assume a humorous form, robbing it of its power to frighten. Laughter, you see, is the greatest defense.”

With a flick of his wand, Lupin demonstrates the spell. “Riddikulus!” he says firmly, and a puff of light emits from his wand toward the wardrobe.

The wardrobe shudders slightly, the rattling growing louder. Lupin steps back and addresses the class again. “Now, we’ll take turns facing the Boggart. Form a line, and remember: focus on something funny. The more ridiculous, the better.”

The class hesitates, a few students murmuring nervously.

One by one, the students step forward, their faces a mix of nerves and determination. The wardrobe creaks open, and the Boggart springs forth, shifting and contorting as it assumes the form of each person’s deepest fear.

For one student, it took the form of a ghost, its presence menacing enough to send chills down their spine. “Riddikulus!” they shouted, and the ghost suddenly transformed into a colorful entity holding a candy. The class erupted in laughter.

Next, a snake slithers out, its fangs bared menacingly. The spell transforms it into a bright pink balloon animal, floating harmlessly in the air. Even a disapproving parent appears for another student, their stern face twisted into exaggerated features when the charm is cast.

Adam watches intently, his eyes narrowing as he studies the Boggart’s fluid transformations. The way it senses and manifests fear fascinates him. He recalls the texts he has read, detailing the creature’s amortal nature and its unique vulnerability to laughter. Despite his calm demeanor, he can’t help but wonder what form the Boggart will take for him.

When it’s finally his turn, Adam steps forward, his movements measured and deliberate. The Boggart, which had just been a monstrous bat with leathery wings, pauses mid-transformation. The room goes eerily quiet as the creature freezes, emitting a faint, eerie sound like a low hum.

The class murmurs, confusion spreading among the students.

Professor Lupin’s brow furrows as he observes the Boggart’s unusual behavior. “Interesting,” he mutters under his breath.

Adam stands still, his gaze locked on the creature. He feels no fear, only curiosity. His mind races, recalling his studies. This reaction means one thing: the Boggart cannot detect fear in him. It’s rare, almost unheard of, but not impossible.

The Boggart shifts slightly, as if testing the air, but it doesn’t take a new form. Instead, it seems uncertain, shrinking back slightly as though intimidated. Adam’s heart quickens—not with fear, but with the hope of seeing what no one has ever documented: the Boggart’s true form.

Before he can take another step, the Boggart suddenly turns and bolts toward the shadows at the back of the room, its movements erratic and desperate. Gasps ripple through the classroom as the students watch in stunned silence.

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Lupin commands, his wand moving swiftly as he casts a spell. The spell strikes, forcing the Boggart back into the wardrobe with a loud thunk. The rattling subsides, and the room falls silent once more.

“Well,” Lupin says, his tone intrigued as he turns to Adam. “That was… unexpected.”

The students exchange bewildered glances, their curiosity now focused on Adam.

Lupin’s expression softens slightly, though his curiosity remains evident. “Adam, see me before dinner. I’d like to discuss something with you alone.”

Adam nods silently, his thoughts swirling. A mixture of curiosity and disappointment brews inside him. He had hoped for more insight, for a glimpse of the Boggart’s true nature, but it seems such mysteries will remain elusive—for now.

As he returns to the students who have already faced the Boggarts, the hum of whispered speculation fills the room, but Adam keeps his thoughts to himself.

After the brief interruption, the lesson resumes. Lupin regains his calm, addressing the class once more. “Let’s continue,” he says, his tone reassuring.

Harry steps forward after three more students have finished, his face set with determination, though his hands clench nervously at his sides. The Boggart, twisting and shifting as it locks onto Harry’s deepest fear. Within moments, it solidifies into the form of a Dementor, its tattered black cloak billowing as an icy chill spreads through the room, making most students flinch in fear.

Harry freezes, his breath hitching as the figure looms over him.

Before the Dementor can advance, Lupin steps forward swiftly, placing himself between Harry and the Boggart. The creature hesitates, then shifts again, contorting into a large, glowing full moon.

Adam watches intently, his sharp eyes catching the subtle flicker of discomfort that crosses Lupin’s face. The professor’s wand moves with practiced precision as he calls out, “Riddikulus!” The full moon warps and transforms into a balloon with a smiling face, floating harmlessly in the air before the Boggart retreats back into the wardrobe.

The students laugh nervously, but Adam’s focus lingers on Lupin. Among the most professors, it’s an open secret that Lupin is a werewolf. The fear of the full moon is understandable, even expected, but the ease with which he handles the situation earns Adam’s admiration. Lupin’s calm, controlled demeanor in the face of his own fear is a lesson in itself, and Adam admires that about him. He knows that he will die in the future during the Hogwarts battle against the Dark Lord, but Adam has a list of people he wants to save, even if it means going against fate.

As the class winds down, Lupin praises the students for their efforts, encouraging them to practice the spell in their own time. “Fear is a powerful force,” he reminds them, “but courage and humor can always diminish its hold over you.”

When the lesson ends, the students gather their things and file out of the room, chatting animatedly about their turns with the Boggart. Adam walks alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who are buzzing with questions.

“Mate, how come the Boggart didn’t change for you?” Ron asks, his eyes wide with curiosity.

“Yeah, it just froze and ran off!” Harry adds, still looking slightly pale after his encounter.

Adam shrugs, keeping his tone casual. “Maybe I’m just fearless,” he replies with a smirk, though his mind continues to turn over the events.

Hermione raises an eyebrow but laughs softly. “Fearless or not, it was fascinating. I’ve never read about anything like that happening before,” she says, clearly intrigued.

Adam chuckles lightly, brushing off their interest, but he knows he hasn’t heard the last of their questions.

After leaving Defence Against the Dark Arts, Adam along with trio and other stidnets make their way toward their next class, Astronomy. The airy tower classroom is bathed in natural light, offering a stunning view of the castle grounds and the Forbidden Forest beyond. Yet, despite the breathtaking setting, most of the students look utterly disinterested, slumping in their chairs as the professor drones on about star constellations and planetary alignments.

Even Hermione, typically the most attentive in any class, seems to struggle to remain engaged, her quill tapping absently against her parchment. Ron leans back in his seat, looking half-asleep, while Harry doodles in the margins of his notebook.

Adam, however, remains focused, his eyes scanning the intricate star charts displayed on the blackboard. The professor’s voice rises slightly as they pose a particularly challenging question about the orbital path of Saturn and its relationship to celestial events.

Without hesitation, Adam raises his hand and delivers the correct answer, detailing the planet’s unique retrograde motion and its impact on magical astrology. The professor nods approvingly, awarding Gryffindor a few house points.

“Nice one, Adam,” Harry whispers, snapping out of his distraction.

As the class wraps up, the students gather their belongings, eager to leave the tower and head to the Great Hall for lunch. The enticing aroma of freshly cooked food greets them as they step into the hall. Today’s menu features an impressive spread: savory meat pies, hearty stew, roast beef, crispy roast chicken, and, of course, treacle tart for dessert.

Adam takes a seat with the trio, savoring every bite of his meal. The warm flavors of the stew and the sweetness of the treacle tart remind him how much he enjoys these quiet, communal moments.

The trio chat animatedly as they eat. Ron can’t stop talking about wanting to try out Harry’s new broom, while Hermione occasionally interjects with her lingering thoughts about the strange Boggart incident.

“It’s just so odd,” Hermione says, her brow furrowed. “Boggarts are supposed to change based on fear. Why would one freeze like that?”

“Maybe it was scared of me,” Adam replies lightly, though he knows the answer isn’t so simple.

Adam also notices Elara, and she seems downcast. He decides he’ll try to make her happy today. He knows that Elara is usually one of the most cheerful of the four Morgan siblings, and he doesn’t like seeing her in such a gloomy mood.

Once lunch is over, they part ways for their final class of the day: Herbology. The greenhouse is warm and filled with the earthy scent of soil and herbs. Today, the lesson focuses on Valerian, a versatile plant with many magical properties.

The professor, holding up a sprig of Valerian, explains, “Valerian roots are key ingredients in the Draught of Living Death and the Draught of Peace. Meanwhile, the sprigs are used in potions such as the Forgetfulness Potion, the Sleeping Draught, and even the rare Fire-Breathing Potion.”

Adam listens intently, jotting down detailed notes. He knows how crucial this plant is in advanced potion-making and doesn’t want to miss a single detail. Some of his classmates, however, seem less enthusiastic, their eyes glazing over as the lecture continues.

Finally, the class ends, and the students disperse. Hermione heads off to one of her elective classes, while Ron and Harry eagerly rush to the courtyard, likely to play or practice Quidditch.

Adam, meanwhile, makes his way toward Elara, intent on checking in after noticing her earlier at breakfast and lunch. He suspects that the weight of her Head Girl responsibilities might be taking a toll, and he’s determined to offer her some support—he knows just the right thing to do.