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As expected, Malfoy and the rest of his 'friends' kept their mouths shut about what happened during that lesson. Hagrid had half-heartedly chided him about the use of a slur, but after the lesson ended promptly picked him up and gave him a literally bone cracking hug.
"Thank you, Blake!" he sobbed. "I was sure I'd be fired on the spot, or they'd 'ave Buckbeak put down!"
"It- It's fine, Hagrid," Blake wheezed out. "Let me down, please."
"Way to go, Blake," Harry grinned. "Malfoy's piss scared of you!"
"Really, Blake!" Hermione said crossly. "Using that word to describe yourself - and us!"
"I didn't mean it, Hermione," Blake rolled his eyes. "Besides, I'm literally muggleborn!"
"But still-"
"Oh, give him a break, Hermione!" Ron laughed. "I love seeing the annual Malfoy humbling!"
/
The next lesson was one that Blake was looking forward to the most.
Zabini nudged him. "I heard about something happening in Care of Magical-"
"Hello, Slytherin!" Lupin grinned from the front. "My name's Professor Lupin, and I'll be your Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher - hopefully for longer than one year!"
That prompted some chuckles out of the class, including Crabbe and Goyle before Malfoy looked at them sharply.
"Anyway, today we'll be learning all about…"
Lupin dragged a thumping chest over to the centre of the class.
"Boggarts!"
There was no reaction from the class, and Lupin's shoulders sagged as he sighed.
"No one knows what they are, huh? Anyone?"
As Blake expected, one person raised their hand.
"Excellent! Ms…?"
"Greengrass, sir."
"Excellent, Ms Greengrass! Please, tell us everything you know!"
What a suck up, Blake thought, rolling his eyes. She's not the only one that knows what a Boggart is. Creatures that take the form of your biggest fear. Mine'll probably be someone I know.
"I remind everyone, the incantation is Riddikulus, and you must imagine something funny. Now, who wants to go first?"
Seemingly wanting to reclaim some shred or semblance of dignity, Malfoy pompously raised his hand.
"Very well, Mr Malfoy, please step up."
As Malfoy strode forward, Lupin reminded him of what to do again.
"Ready?"
"Yes!"
"3, 2, 1, now!"
The weird looking creature came out immediately, and soon transformed itself - and everyone in the room gasped when they say what, or more precisely who, it was.
"Draco…" a taller, equally blonde and greasy haired man hissed.
Lucius Malfoy, Blake guessed.
"You've failed me for the last time-"
"Riddikulus!"
Instantly, the man grew massive teeth and ears, before springing up and down on a spring like a jack in the box.
The class roared with laughter, even Blake. He had to admit, it was certainly a funny sight to see.
"Next!"
Parkinson, Crabbe, Goyle and Bulstrode followed, each of their fears relatively normal or mundane.
"Next!"
Tracey was next - her biggest fear, apparently, were clowns?
"They're terrifying!"
"Next!"
Zabini went, but before his Boggart could take form, the boy calmly said, "Riddikulus!"
The creature instantly took the form of a hippo with massively oversized eyes.
"Excellent, Blaisei! 5 Points to Slytherin!"
Greengrass was next, and she had apparently come to the same realisation as Blake - you can dispel Boggarts before they fully take form. She too cleared it with ease, and Blake did too.
"Last but not least, Ms…"
"Rosier, sir," Charlotte said quietly. There was a slight, not even a second long moment of surprise on Lupin's face as he processed that. Order of the Phoenix member? Blake guessed.
"Please, step up, Ms Rosier!"
The girl stepped forward, facing the chest. Charlotte was trying her best not to, but Blake could see her shaking. I've got an idea of what the Boggart's going to be too.
After what seemed like ages, the chest opened, and Blake was proven right.
"You…" a woman, startlingly similar looking to Charlotte hissed. The hatred in her voice was palpable, and even Blake involuntarily took a step back.
"Calling you a disgrace would be a mercy."
"Riddikulus!" Charlotte tried, her voice shaky. Nothing happened.
"A shame on our family."
"Riddikulus!" she tried again.
"Your father and brother would be ashamed of you."
"Riddikulus! Riddikulus!" Charlotte screamed, desperation in her voice as the Biggart inched closer and closer. Blake looked towards Lupin, who looked as if he was trying very hard to refrain from getting involved.
"Come on, Ms Rosier! I know you can do it!"
"I wish you'd never been born."
Charlotte faltered mid-spell."
"In fact, I'll fix my mistake right now," the Boggart said, raising its wand.
Before anyone could react, Lupin leapt in front of Charlotte.
"Tracey, Blaise, Blake, Ms Greengrass, take care of Ms Rosier for a moment, would you?"
As they moved to comfort a silently crying Charlotte, Blake couldn't help but tear his eyes from Lupin, and the form his Boggart took.
What the hell?
Why would anyone's greatest fear be the moon?
But just as soon as he asked himself that question, realisation struck Blake as he thought back to stories he read in the Muggle world and textbooks from Hogwarts.
Of course. Werewolves. If he was afraid of werewolves themselves, his Boggart would've been one, but it's not. That can mean only one thing.
Professor Lupin is a werewolf.
/
Later that day, Blake felt deeply troubled. How do I feel about a werewolf teaching me? And more than that, how do I feel about a werewolf teaching Connor?
On one hand, Lupin saved me. He seems like a good person, and the fact that his biggest fear is the full moon shows that he hates being a werewolf, probably because he doesn't want to hurt people.
He's probably taking wolfsbane near the full moon too, so he shouldn't be dangerous either.
But still… that tiny risk that he might miss taking the potion…
Blake shook his head.
No. Lupin didn't choose to be a werewolf. He's a good person, most likely, and he's probably keeping himself in check. I won't out him and ruin his life over a risk as little as this. He saved my life.
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