Pesky Boggarts (2)

Gasps were heard from all around the room.

In front of Evan there was a huge snake. It almost reached the ceiling of the DADA classroom. Its long, pink tongue slipped out, followed by two white fangs.

"Sssssssss" the snake's hiss filled the room. The Students were in utter silence.

"Come on Evan. 'Riddikulus'" Professor Penrose reminded him.

The snake was inching closer, looking at Evan straight in the eyes, staring right at him, as if he was going to eat him any moment. Evan's knees were shaking, he was struggling to hold his wand still. He was regretting being the first in line. He stared at the snake, eyes wide.

He held up his wand towards the snake.

The snake was getting a lot closer.

"R-Riddikulus!" Evan shouted.

The boggart started spinning and turning into a person.

It sort of looked like the younger version of Evan, like the kid could be his younger brother or something. Suddenly the kid tripped over a banana peel (which he could have clearly avoided), sending him tumbling over, he had an unusually high pitched scream (one capable of breaking glass). His face was in utter shock, his eye brows scrunched together and his mouth open. He rolled on the ground a few times before coming to a stop. He stood up in embarrassment. Evan laughed.

Then he disappeared.

Some others in the class let out a low chuckle but most at least smiled.

"You see class? Boggarts are defeated by laughter, by fun! Now, who's next?" Professor Penrose exclaimed.

People were now more eager to go, but Isabella remained at the back.

"That's what's been worrying you all day, right?" Mira asked. "Facing the boggart."

Isabella slowly nodded, but she didn't look at Mira.

She didn't ask anything else. Isabella seemed like a strong person, so if this boggart had her so distracted and shaken up, whatever her fear was, it wasn't pretty.

Throughout the lesson there were a lot of spiders, insects of sorts. The most interesting one belonged to some weird kid named Gavin, a Gryffindor (not quite that brave for a Gryffindor). His boggart turned into a duck.

"Ahhhh! No! Nope. I can't do this, Professor. I'm sorry, but I'm outta here!" He tried to run out the door. Professor Penrose used a spell to pull him back.

"You'll have to make up for this, Gavin."

"Yes ma'am... just... get rid of it... please?" He quickly replied. Whatever trauma he suffered from that duck it must have been serious.

The Professor quickly got rid of the duck and called the next in line.

After class ended, Mira sneaked to eavesdrop on Gavin. She pulled Isabella (who seemed much more calm now that class was over) along with her.

What could possibly be so bad about a duck?

"No stop laughing! You don't understand! When I was little, that thing that... duck.. (he shivered at the name of it) it did me wrong. There I was feeding them, and I wanted to touch one. So I went up to it slowly and then it jumped at me! Stop Laughing!" He hit his friend's shoulder. "It went in my hair! It scratched me and it wouldn't let go of me!! I had a bald spot in the back of my head from the hair it pulled out! It was so horrifying..." He looked genuinely scared, but Mira couldn't help but laugh.

"Gavin! Watch out a Duck!!"

"AHHHH!" He ran to hide behind something before realizing that his friend had played him. He was rolling on the floor laughing, while Gavin was grumbling.

"You wouldn't understand. Those creatures can't be trusted. They may look innocent, but they're BEASTS! MONTSERS I SAY!!" He muttered under his breath, but loud enough for people to hear.

As they started to pack their things to leave class, Mira and Isabella were still laughing over it.

"Go on ahead, I'll catch up with you in a sec." Isabella said.

"Alright, see ya." Mira called, and started heading down to the common room, since it was their last class of the day.

As soon as everyone was out of the classroom, Isabella approached Professor Penrose.

"May I face my boggart outside of class?" She asked, her voice quiet. This wasn't the first time a student had asked her this. Most of the time students asked her because they thought their fears were too embarrassing to do in front of the whole class. But there had been times when a student was truly traumatized by their fear. Isabella was one of these. She had approached Professor Penrose shakily, as if she just wanted to get something out of mind, she was just filled with nervousness.

"Why yes of course. We could do it now, if you're ready for it." the Professor said, as gently as possible. It was best to address these students with a lot of care and tenderness.

Isabella thought about it.

It'd be better to face it now.

Get it over with.

"Yes. I'll do it."

Professor Penrose nodded in acknowledgment. "Well then, come on."

They approached the wardrobe. It was rocking back and forth, shaking as it felt Isabella's fear.

"Now, Isabella. Take deep breaths. Remember the spell. Just tell me when you're ready."

Inhale

Exhale

Inhale

Exhale.

She steadied her wand. Straightened her posture. Another deep breath.

Focus.

She concentrated.

"Ok. I'm ready."

Then the Professor opened the Wardrobe.