As expected, their experiment was a complete success. Even when Glenn and Hermione dispelled their protective spells one by one, leaving only Occlumency at the end, the Boggart hiding in the wardrobe still couldn't probe their thoughts or transform. It could only huddle pitifully in its indescribable state, trembling in the shadows of the wardrobe.
"From this, it seems Boggarts really are much lower in creature classification than Dementors."
Hermione waved her wand, closing and locking the wardrobe door again as she made this assessment.
"After all, a Boggart's only defensive method is transforming into the enemy's most feared image to frighten and intimidate them. It has no other real means of harm—this can only be considered a self-protection mechanism for the species."
Glenn said as much. Both Boggarts and Dementors were monsters connected to human emotions, but the former was simply too weak.
Hermione shrugged helplessly at this. As long as you protected your thoughts properly, Boggarts weren't worth mentioning at all.
In the past, most Boggarts were naturally timid creatures who would only instinctively transform into what their opponent feared most when accidentally encountering other beings, purely to scare them away. Only a small number, or those that had survived for longer periods, were more malicious—they would venture into the human world's dark streets or corners, using their abilities to frighten passing pedestrians, or simply pick a random lucky audience member and move into their house, playing ghost and pulling pranks, sometimes even scaring them into having to move.
The more frightened the people they terrorized became, the happier they were—human fear gradually became their sustenance.
The Boggarts surviving in the world now had probably grown rather arrogant.
But this still couldn't change their fundamental weakness.
"Mmm—ah~"
"Haaah~"
The girl stretched lazily and yawned.
"Let's go. We've confirmed what we needed to, and I don't really want to stay near this thing anymore. Don't you still have some devices to install? Do you want me to help?"
The two walked together toward the staff lounge exit, Hermione with her hands behind her back, asking Glenn this question.
"No need."
"Rejecting me so decisively?"
"Because if I let you help, it would be more hindrance than help—at least until you understand the structure and function of the devices I've made."
"Hey, what do you mean 'more hindrance than help'? I'm going to get angry!"
"Mm, then it would slow down my work pace."
"Isn't that still the same thing..."
"Of course, there are some other factors as well."
"...Such as?"
"Such as wanting to be close to you and things like that."
"Aww, now that's what I like to hear~"
Their voices gradually faded as they walked away. Glenn casually closed the staff lounge door behind them, and the space inside returned to quiet.
The Boggart huddled in the wardrobe, too scared to move, began making a commotion once again...
...
After Thursday's practical Defense Against the Dark Arts class that Professor Lupin brought to everyone, Professor Lupin's reputation spread completely.
If before, the young witches and wizards on the Hogwarts Express had only heard secondhand accounts of what happened, now the interesting and practical nature of Professor Lupin's hands-on class was there for all to see.
Professor Lupin's Defense Against the Dark Arts class earned praise and recognition from all the young witches and wizards.
Rave reviews all around.
The main reason was that the teaching abilities of those who had occupied the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor position in previous years had been truly abysmal—dry, boring, and most of the professors had serious personality issues. By comparison, Professor Lupin's approach of capturing magical creatures to let everyone learn magical knowledge through practice was simply too interesting.
Without comparison, there's no harm.
Snape, who had substituted last year for the disaster-prone Lockhart (who was now imprisoned in an Azkaban cell and already dead from Glenn's alchemical device taking effect), should be excluded from this comparison.
While listening carefully in Snape's classes could yield far more knowledge than what one gained in Lupin's classes, the prerequisite was being able to listen carefully.
The ultra-dense knowledge points and extremely high-pressure teaching environment meant that basically no one except the study fanatics Glenn and Hermione could sit through a complete lesson.
Though Snape's teaching methods had some flaws, this didn't mean his classes were problematic.
Thus Professor Lupin's class became the most popular Defense Against the Dark Arts course in recent years, and he himself became the most popular Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in recent years.
This left Lupin feeling somewhat overwhelmed.
The impact of his teaching methods completely exceeded his expectations before coming to Hogwarts.
However, he was also clear that this phenomenon was caused by the gap between what the young witches and wizards imagined Defense Against the Dark Arts classes should be like and the actual reality being too large, combined with them currently being in a very good learning atmosphere. His course was merely a catalyst, responsible for igniting the enthusiasm for Defense Against the Dark Arts in the young witches' and wizards' hearts.
That was all.
Remus Lupin was inherently a modest adult. Facing the fanatical adoration of the young witches and wizards, he could maintain his composure and continue teaching everyone in the same state as during his first class.
However, his originally complicated mood due to a certain matter had indeed improved considerably because he had gained everyone's affection. The young witches and wizards could see this professor's smile on his face much more frequently now.
Although only one day had passed since the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class, legends about Professor Lupin's classroom had already spread throughout Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Lupin was already having trouble handling it—where had he ever experienced such treatment?
Quite embarrassed while also marveling that times had changed, then continuing to be embarrassed.
"It seems... it seems the publicity went a bit overboard."
Hermione felt slightly embarrassed as she secretly watched from a distance. Professor Lupin, who was being enthusiastically greeted by young witches and wizards and appeared somewhat awkward and flustered, showed an awkward smile. She turned to Glenn and said this.
Behind the obviously abnormal speed of news transmission, there's often someone fanning the flames. Hermione had seized upon the key point of Professor Lupin's classroom and, at the right time and place, shared with the young witches and wizards the content of the class and the benefits this teaching model brought to everyone.
Then it spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred, resulting in the current situation where the effect was obviously better than expected, beyond her own expectations.
"This way, there will be many pairs of eyes helping us watch Remus Lupin."
Glenn nodded, affirming Hermione's actions.
"...You don't need to affirm me at times like this. I feel a bit guilty about it."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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