Harry Potter 03 - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

fears.
    ‘This means,’ said Professor Lupin, choosing to ignore Neville’s small splutter of terror, ‘that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?’
    Trying to answer a question with Hermione next to him, bobbing up and down on the balls of her feet with her hand in the air, was very off-putting, but Harry had a go.
    ‘Er – because there are so many of us, it won’t know what shape it should be?’
    ‘Precisely,’ said Professor Lupin, and Hermione put her hand down looking a little disappointed. ‘It’s always best to have company when you’re dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake – tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.
    ‘The charm that repels a Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing.
    ‘We will practise the charm without wands first. After me, please … riddikulus !’
    ‘Riddikulus!’ said the class together.
    ‘Good,’ said Professor Lupin. ‘Very good. But that was the easy part, I’m afraid. You see, the word alone is not enough. And this is where you come in, Neville.’
    The wardrobe shook again, though not as much as Neville, who walked forward as though he was heading for the gallows.
    ‘Right, Neville,’ said Professor Lupin. ‘First things first: what would you say is the thing that frightens you most in the world?’
    Neville’s lips moved, but no noise came out.
    ‘Didn’t catch that, Neville, sorry,’ said Professor Lupin cheerfully.
    Neville looked around rather wildly, as though begging someone to help him, then said, in barely more than a whisper, ‘Professor Snape.’
    Nearly everyone laughed. Even Neville grinned apologetically. Professor Lupin, however, looked thoughtful.
    ‘Professor Snape … hmmm … Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother?’
    ‘Er – yes,’ said Neville nervously. ‘But – I don’t want the Boggart to turn into her, either.’
    ‘No, no, you misunderstand me,’ said Professor Lupin, now smiling. ‘I wonder, could you tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?’
    Neville looked startled, but said, ‘Well … always the same hat. A tall one with a stuffed vulture on top. And a long dress … green, normally … and sometimes a fox-fur scarf.’
    ‘And a handbag?’ prompted Professor Lupin.
    ‘A big red one,’ said Neville.
    ‘Right then,’ said Professor Lupin. ‘Can you picture those clothes very clearly, Neville? Can you see them in your mind’s eye?’
    ‘Yes,’ said Neville uncertainly, plainly wondering what was coming next.
    ‘When the Boggart bursts out of this wardrobe, Neville, and sees you, it will assume the form of Professor Snape,’ said Lupin. ‘And you will raise your wand – thus – and cry “Riddikulus” – and concentrate hard on your grandmother’s clothes. If all goes well, Professor Boggart Snape will be forced into that vulture-topped hat, that green dress, that big red handbag.’
    There was a great shout of laughter. The wardrobe wobbled more violently.
    ‘If Neville is successful, the Boggart is likely to turn his attention to each of us in turn,’ said Professor Lupin. ‘I would like all of you to take a moment now to think of the thing that scares you most, and imagine how you might force it to look comical …’
    The room went quiet. Harry thought … What scared him most in the world?
    His first thought was Lord Voldemort – a Voldemort returned to full strength. But before he had even started to plan a possible counter-attack on a Boggart-Voldemort, a horrible image came floating to the surface of his mind …
    A rotting, glistening hand, slithering back beneath a black cloak … a long, rattling breath from an unseen mouth … then a cold so penetrating it felt like drowning …
    Harry shivered, then looked around, hoping no one had noticed. Many people had their eyes shut tight. Ron was muttering to himself, ‘Take its legs off.’ Harry was sure he knew what that was about. Ron’s greatest fear was spiders.
    ‘Everyone ready?’ said Professor Lupin.
    Harry felt a lurch of fear. He wasn’t ready. How could you make a Dementor less frightening? But he didn’t want to ask for