I couldn't help but think about Buckbeak even more after my vision of him and the executioners axe. Especially in Double Potions. Not that I was really a good potions student anyway. Snape never really liked me all that much. But at least he didn't hate my guts like he did to Harry. And all because Harry's Dad gave him a hard time or something like that? Harry wasn't his Dad. Ryan was pretty much our only saving grace in the class. But he wasn't a teacher's pet. Not like Malfoy was.  

And speaking of Malfoy. He swaggered into Potions class with his arm all bandaged up and bound in a sling, and he acted like he had just killed the Nemean Lion and lived to tell the tale getting only a broken arm as a souvenir. 

"How is it, Draco?" Pansy asked. "Does it hurt much." 

Ugh. Get a room you two or something.

"Yeah." Draco answered while trying to put on what his poor excuse of a brave face was. Talk about taking the drama up to an 11.

I rolled my eyes. "Headaches." I said next to Hermione. 

"I know." Hermione replied.

"Settle down. Settle down." Snape said idly. 

You see what I mean? Snape wouldn't have said 'settle down' if we'd walked in late, he'd have given us detention. But nope. Not Malfoy. He got away with anything he wanted in Potions Class. But there really wasn't much I could do. Snape was head of Slytherin House, and he favored his own students above all others and that was that.

We were all making a Shrinking Solution today. If we were lucky, we could shrink Malfoy's brain. Malfoy set up his Cauldron right next to Harry and Ron, so that they were preparing their ingredients on the same table.

"Sir." Malfoy called. "Sir, I'll need help cutting up these daisy roots, because of my arm-" 

"Weasley, cut up Malfoy's roots for him." Snape ordered with no hesitation and without even looking up. 

Ron acted like he would rather gargle liquid nitrogen because he went brick red. 

"There's nothing wrong with his arm." I chimed in. 

Malfoy smirked across the table. 

"Quiet, Bauer." Snape hissed at me. 

"Weasley, you heard Professor Snape; cut up these roots." 

Ron grabbed his knife, pulled Malfoy's roots towards him, and began to chop them. Except they were all cut roughly, so that they were in different sizes.

"Professor." Malfoy went again. "Weasley's mutilating my roots, sir." 

Snape approached our table now. He stared that crooked nose at the roots, then he turned on Ron. "Change roots with Malfoy, Weasley." He ordered.

"But sir-" Ron tried to protest. He had just spent the last 15 minutes trying to shred his own roots into equal pieces.

"Now." Snape said in his most dangerous voice.

Ron shoved his own cut roots across the table at Malfoy, then took up the knife again. 

"Oh give me that." Anubis has taken over Ron now. And changed up the roots to make sure they were equal.

"Can we use the scales on Malfoy now and cut out his heart?" Ron asked.

"It only works if he's dead." Anubis reminded.

"He's going to be if he keeps this up." Ron shot back.

"And sir, I'll need this shrivelfig skinned." Malfoy's voice was now full of malicious laughter. This was getting ridiculous. 

"Bauer, you can skin Malfoy's shrivelfig." Snape informed me. But it was more of an order. 

"Get to work, Rat." Malfoy mocked me.

I would skin his shrivelfig alright. I skinned it and then threw it right at his face. "Better a rat then a slimy weasel like you." I said through my gritted teeth. 

Malfoy smirked at me more proudly then ever. "Seen your pal Hagrid lately?" He asked. 

"None of your business." Harry answered without looking up.

"I'm afraid he won't be a teacher much longer." Malfoy continued. "Father's not happy about my injury-" 

"Keep talking, Malfoy, and I'll give you a real injury." Ron snarled.

"And who's fault was it anyway? You were the one who insulted the Hippogriff. What did you think would happen?" I asked while trying to get back to my Potion and ignore him. "And what's your Dad going to do anyway? He's not a School Governor anymore." 

But Malfoy just charged on ahead. "He's complained to the Governors. And the Ministry of Magic. Father's got a lot of-" 

"I know what your Father has, Malfoy." I interrupted. "You don't have to rub it in to everyone's face." 

"Who knows if my arm will ever be the same again." Malfoy continued. 

I put my ingredients down. "Maybe it can serve as a reminded of what happens when you don't listen to what people try to warn you about!" I snapped almost tempted to just smash my knife on his 'good' arm. 

"So that's why you're putting it on?" Harry asked after he accidentally beheading a dead caterpillar because his hand was shaking in anger. Not that I blame him. My hand was shaking in anger too. "To try to get Hagrid fired."

"Uh... Harry?" Ryan asked after he sliced his Caterpillar. "You were supposed to-"

"I know, Ryan." Harry answered cutting him off and not even looking at Ryan.

"Well..." Malfoy lowered his voice to a whisper. I couldn't hear what they were saying anymore.

A few Cauldrons away, Neville was in trouble too. Can't say I blame him. Potions was always hard for him like it was for me. And let me just say that Snape wasn't helping matters. 

Neville's Potion which was supposed to be a bright acid green had turned orange. 

"Orange, Longbottom." Snape snapped at him. He ladled some up and allowed it to splash back into the Cauldron so that all of us could see it. "Orange. Tell me, boy, does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours? Didn't you hear me say, quite clearly, that only one rat spleen was needed? Didn't I state plainly that a dash of leech juice would suffice? What do I have to do to make you understand, Longbottom?" 

Neville suddenly got pink and trembling. He looked on the verge of tears. A feeling I knew all too well. 

"How about, oh I don't know... not yelling at him, because you're making him feel worse?" I sarcastically asked. 

"Silence, Bauer!" Snape hissed at me. "That's 5 points from Gryffindor. Another outburst like that and you'll be in detention with another 5 house points lost." He warned me. 

I was so mad. I had to breath in deep to try and calm myself. 

"Please, sir. I could help Neville put it right-" Hermione offered.

"I don't remember asking you to show off, Miss. Granger." Snape interrupted coldly. And Hermione went as pink as Neville. Ryan just stayed silent. He never really did like confrontations. "Longbottom, at the end of this lesson we will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see what happens. Perhaps this will encourage you to do it properly."

Snape moved away. And Neville was full of fear. I could see it on his face. "Help me." He moaned to Hermione and Ryan. 

"Hey, Harry." Seamus called from another table. "Have you heard? Daily Prophet this morning- they reckon Sirius Black's been sighted."

That got our attention. "Where?" Harry, Ron, Ryan and I asked quickly. Even Malfoy looked up. I was a little skeptical though. Mater always told me to wary of what the Daily Prophet said. Especially if it was written by Rita Skeeter. Whoever that was.

"Not too far from here." Seamus answered who looked excited. "It was a Muggle who saw him. 'Course, she didn't really understand. The Muggle think he's just an ordinary criminal, don't they? So she phoned the telephone hot line. By the time the Ministry of Magic got there, he was gone." 

"Not too far from here..." Ron repeated looking at Harry. Was this because of Black betraying the Potters. "Dufftown."  He read. But he turned and saw Malfoy watching closely. "What Malfoy? Need something else skinned?" He sarcastically asked. 

"Other than you." I offered. 

But Malfoy just smirked full blast. And his eyes were the definition of evil. And they eyeballed Harry. "Thinking of trying to catch Black single handed, Potter?" 

"Yeah, that's right." Harry answered. Of course, he could've been saying that with sarcasm.

Malfoy's thin mouth was curving with a mean smile. "Of course if it was me." He said quietly. "I'd have done something before now. I wouldn't be staying in school like a good boy, I'd be out there looking for him." 

"What are you talking about, Malfoy?" I asked.

"Don't you know, Potter?" Malfoy asked Harry now. Was he referring to Sirius betraying his parents? Like when Trotsky told Ethan about Pater?

"Know what?" Harry asked. 

Malfoy let out a low, sneering laugh. "Maybe you'd rather not risk your neck." He said. "Want to leave it to the Dementors, do you? But if it was me, I'd want revenge. I'd hunt him down myself." 

"You'd probably be strung up and run like a little girl." I replied.

"I wasn't talking to you." Draco sneered.

Harry was about to ask more. Or tell Draco to stop talking crap about me. One or the other. But that was the moment when Snape called. "You should have finished adding your ingredients by now; this potion needs to stew before it can be drunk, so clear away while it simmers and then we'll test Longbottom's..."

Malaka. My Potion! I quickly stirred it up as quick as I could. And if I don't get this right, I am a dead woman. And I think Neville was too. Because Crabbe and Goyal both were laughing openly as they watched Neville sweat as he stewed his potion feverishly like I was. Hermione was mouthing instructions to Neville from the corner of her mouth, without Snape seeing. 

"Easy there, Ryan. Go slow. You're doing fine." I heard Horus say to Ryan. Horus must've been guiding Ryan keeping his calm under pressure. 

"Anubis. Am I doing this right?" Ron asked. 

"You realize that I'm not a God of Potions, right?" Anubis shot back. 

"Yeah. Otherwise, you would've taken over this body and got it done right." Ron muttered. 

"If you want something done right, you have to figure it out yourself." Anubis replied. But he was glaring at Snape. "That is no way to teach someone, you know. If you're just going to put them down and tip the scales to failure for the little boy." He commented. "Two wrongs don't make a right." 

"What did Malfoy mean?" Harry asked Ron. "Why would I want revenge on Black? He hasn't done anything to me, yet." 

"He's probably just making it up. Probably to do something stupid. Again." Ron suggested. But there was a hesitant response in his voice. 

"Ron... he will find out." Anubis said. 

"Mum and Dad made me swear not to." Ron reminded. "And I'm pretty sure that you can't either." 

"You realize who I am, right?" Anubis asked. 

"Yes. And it's why you have to respect Mum and Dad's judgement." Ron answered. 

"Fine." Anubis said. "But I will remind you that he will find out." 

"Everyone gather around." Snape announced suddenly. "And watch what happens to Longbottom's toad. If he has managed to produce a Shrinking Solution, it will shrink to a tadpole. If, as I don't doubt, he has done it wrong, his toad is likely to be poisoned."

Snape wouldn't do that, would he? What did Trevor ever to him? Maybe that's what happened to Snape's heart. He took a Shrinking Solution and it shrunk his heart three sizes too small. The Gryffindors watched fearfully. The Slytherins looked excited.

"If something bad happens to the toad. It won't end well for Severus Snape." Horus commented.

"What do you mean?" Ryan asked. 

"Frogs and Toads are the symbol of fertility, water, and renewal in our culture. And you don't want to upset Heket. Not very good for farming if you do." Horus answered. 

The Gryffindors including myself watched fearfully. But the Slytherins looked excited. 

Snape picked up Trevor the Toad in his slimy left hand, and dipped a small spoon into Neville's Potion, which was now green. He trickled a few drops down Trevor's throat.

"This could end badly." Horus warned.

There was a moment of hushed silence, in which Trevor gulped, and then there was a small pop, and Trevor who was no bigger than a Tadpole was suddenly wriggling in Snape's palm.

He did it. Neville did it. I burst into applause, same with the other Gryffindors.

Snape looked sour. He pulled a small bottle from the pocket of his robe, and poured a few drops on Trevor turning him back full sized. 

"Looks like Hogwarts is spared from the wrath of Heket for now." Horus smirked. 

"I'm... pretty sure she's still imprisoned." Ryan reminded. 

"Fair enough." Horus said. 

"Five points from Gryffindor." Snape announced, ending the applause. Huh? What for? 

"I told you not to help Longbottom, Miss. Granger. If you really wanted to help someone. You should've at least attempted to help Bauer. Seeing as to how she can't even come close to what her brothers were able to do. Class Dismissed." Snape snarled at Hermione.

"She can't even come close to what her brothers were able to do." Those words from Snape's mouth, echoed in the back of my head as we left the Dungeons.

"Hey. You okay?" Harry asked me as he knew I was looking sad and lonely. 

"I know I'm not Ethan or Jacob. But I'm trying my best. It probably means I'm a failure though." I answered. "I'm a Bauer. We can't fail. Or maybe I'm not a real Bauer. I'm just pretending to be one." 

"Don't say that, Kassie." Hermione told me. "The Bauers chose you to have you be a part of their family." 

"Yeah. But I have to live up to their example. At least I can say I was adopted so my family won't be disappointed in me when I fail to meet their expectations." I replied. 

"Don't feel too bad about it Kassie. I fail to meet my Mom's expectations and I turned out fine." Ryan pointed out. "I failed to meet her expectations when I was born. She wanted a not mentally disabled kid. Instead, she got me."

"Does she tell you that?" I asked horrified.

"No. That's actually Emily that told me that." Ryan answered. 

"And Fred and George don't meet Mum and Dad's expectations either. They're doing fine." Ron added.  

"This is different." I said sadly. "Maybe Snape is right about me." 

"Oh please." Ron brushed off. "He can't judge you, Kassie. This is the same guy who took Five Points from Gryffindor because the potion was alright!" He exclaimed. "And Hermione. It doesn't hurt to lie once in a while. You could've said that Neville did it all by himself." 

Hermione didn't answer. Because she wasn't there. 

"Where is she, anyway?" Ryan asked.

"She was right behind us." I answered looking around. Then I saw Hermione panting slightly and hurried up the stairs. One hand clutching her bag, the other which seemed to be tucking something down the front of her robes. "Oh, there she is." 

"How did you do that?" Ron asked. 

"Do what?" Hermione asked rejoining us. 

"One minute you were right behind us, and the next moment..." Ron started.

"You pulled a Road Runner." Ryan clarified.

"What?" Hermione asked looking confused. "Oh- that. I had to go back for something. Oh no..."

There was a seam that spilt in Hermione's bad. Frankly it was miracle it hadn't as it was crammed with at least a dozen large and heavy books. 

"Why are you carrying all these around with you?" Ron asked.

"You know how many subjects I'm taking." Hermione answered in her bossy tone. 

"You need me to hold some of your books?" Ryan offered. 

"Thank you, Ryan. You're such a Gentleman." Hermione replied as she placed some of the books in Ryan's hand. 

"Hermione. It's not my place to say this, but don't you think you might be taking too many courses?" Ryan asked.

"Nonsense. I can handle it." Hermione answered shaking it off like it was no big deal. 

"I'm with Ryan on this one, Mione." I said. "You don't want to get overwhelmed with everything. It's not fun." 

"Kassie. I can handle it." Hermione repeated to me. 

Ron was looking at the covers. "You haven't got any of these subjects today. It's only Defense Against the Dark Arts this afternoon."

"Oh, yes." Hermione said vaguely, but she packed all the book back into her bag. "I hope there's something good for lunch, I'm starving." And she marched off towards the Great Hall.

"I hope she gets a more durable bag." Ryan said to us.

"Do you ever get the feeling that Hermione isn't telling us something?" I asked.

"Yes." The boys all answered. 

"Oh, good. So it isn't just me." I said. "Um, what are we going to do about Buckbeak though?" That was another thought on my mind.

"Don't worry, Kassie. We already told Hagrid that we would support him no matter what. And we knew that you would be with us." Harry assured me.

That was a relief.

Defense Against the Dark Arts. We had a new Professor almost every year. This time, we had Professor Lupin. But he wasn't in the classroom when we arrived at our First Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. We all sat down, took out our books, quills and parchment and began talking. 

"Hey, Kassie." Ryan whispered next to me while passing me a little note. I opened it to realize that was a Cartoon. It had something with a spoiled baby. "It's Baby Face Finster. But look closer."

I took a look at the drawing. It looked like Draco Malfoy. Ryan must've made a Baby Face Finster/ Draco Malfoy hybrid. It made me laugh. 

That was when Lupin entered the room. His smile was vague, and he placed his tatty old briefcase on the Teacher's desk. He looked as shabby as when we saw him last, but much more healthier than he looked on the train. Those meals at Hogwarts do a person wonders.

"Good afternoon." Lupin said. "Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today's lesson will be a practical lesson. You will also need your wands." 

This should be good. "We've never had a Practical Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson." I noted.

"And are we going to count that Pixie incident last year?" Ryan asked. 

"I don't think so. No." I answered as I took out my wand. 

"Right then. Follow me if you would." Lupin bayed us to follow him.

It was puzzling. And a little suspicious. But I don't think that Lupin would be the type to lead us to certain death. Not intentionally at any rate. Instead he led us along this deserted corridor and around a corner, where we saw Peeves, that Poltergeist who loves mischief and is also Filch's Arch Enemy. Kind of like the way Harry and Malfoy are to each other. And he was floating upside down in mid-air and stuffing the nearest keyhole with gum.

Peeves didn't even look at Lupin until he was two feet away and started to sing a song. "Loony, loopy Lupin." Peeves sang. Very offkey and horribly choreographed. "Loony, loopy Lupin, loony, loopy Lupin-" 

Lupin seemed to smile. That Peeves was rude and unmanaged. "I'd take that gum out of the keyhole, if I were you, Peeves." Lupin said pleasantly. "Mr. Filch won't be able to get to his brooms."

"I don't think that's going to work." I said.

Peeves paid no attention to Lupin. 

Lupin gave out a small sigh and took out his wand. "This is a useful little spell." He told us over his shoulder. "Please watch closely." He raised his wand and said: "Waddiwasi!" 

And with the speed of an arrow, the wad of chewing gum shot out of the key hole and straight down Peeve's left nostril; direct hit too. He whirled upright and zoomed away, cursing.

"Cool, sir!" Ryan exclaimed. "Horus. Make a note of that spell if Peeves ever annoys us." 

"Thank you, Ryan." Lupin replied as he put his wand away. "Shall we proceed?" 

We set off once again, and I think everyone had an increased respect for Lupin. They heard that Lupin was able to fend off a Dementor, but I don't think anyone had ever seen him do that before.  Now they had just witnessed what Lupin was capable of. 

As for Lupin, he led us down yet another corridor and stopped right outside the staff room door.

"Inside, please." Lupin instructed, stepping aside and opening the door.

The Staff Room was a long paneled room full of those old, mismatched chairs. Almost empty except for Snape who was sitting low in an armchair, his black eyes glistening as we all piled in. I was really hoping that I would never have to see him for the rest of the day after Potions. 

Lupin entered, and he went to closed the door, but Snape stopped him. 

"Leave it open, Lupin." Snape said, getting to his feet. "I'd rather not witness this. Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss. Granger for that matter, is hissing instructions in his ear. Or Miss. Bauer is taking pity on him." 

I was about to tell Snape to leave Neville alone, seeing as Neville had gone scarlet. But Hermione stopped me. "Kassie. No. You've already got Snape on your bad side. You don't want detention." She advised. 

I held my tongue. And I don't pity Neville. He's a friend. Friends help each other. And does Snape really have to bully Neville in front of other teachers? He already does it at class.

Lupin raised his eyebrows. "I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation." He informed. "And I am sure he will perform it admirably." 

Neville's face went even more red, and Snape's lips curled. But then his face turned to pure horror as we all heard the sound of an electric guitar being strung. 

"Oh no." Snape said.

And that was when Professor Sikander showed up dressed in black and with an electric guitar. "Oh hey, Sev! And you Remus!" Sikander greeted. "Check out this beauty right here! What you're looking at the Rickenbacker 330!" He strummed it out loud that we all had to close our ears. "We're going to Rock out!" He yelled out loud. 

And Snape was squinting one eye. "Why? Why? Why? Why?" He kept saying over and over. 

You know, it was kind of funny that I could see Snape like this. And I could tell that Harry felt the same way. 

"Um, Sikander? I know I'm going to regret asking this, but... why do you have a Rockers Guitar?" Lupin asked. 

"Muggle tastes in style and culture change faster then Defense Against the Dark Arts Professors. And now, they're into that whole Rockers style. So that's what I'm going to do! Rock out loud!" Sikander declared. 

I looked at Hermione confused. "Hermione? Is this how Wizards and Witches see the Muggles?" I asked. 

"That's what Sikander teaches us." Hermione answered. "And if it's being taught by a Professor, then it has to be true. Though I've never heard of Muggles choosing Rock as the big defacto of their selection of music and culture." 

Since my brothers are really into rock, I didn't say anything about it. Seems Muggles had great tastes in music now.

"Unless it's Lockheart teaching the class." I pointed out. I remembered Hermione being infatuated with Lockheart last year even though he was a fraud.

"That reminds me, Lupin." Sikander remembered. "I've got this new killer song I've been working on while I'm working on my golf cart to give it a motorcycle engine! I call it: Cyclone Golf! You want to hear it?" He asked.   

"Sorry, Sikander. I've got a class right now." Lupin answered politely. And then he looked at Snape and he smirked. "But I think that Professor Snape would love to hear it." 

"No! No I don't!" Snape exclaimed. 

"But Professor? Didn't you say you'd rather not witness whatever it is that we're doing?" I asked with a little giggle I threw in there.

That was when Sikander grabbed Snape. "Come on, Sev! Let's go Rock the House!" He yelled as he grabbed Snape and they flew out the door. 

"NO! WHY IS THIS NEVER ENDING?!" Snape yelled out the door in pain and horror. And I can't shake the feeling that I'm going to be in big trouble when Snape finishes. I guess I've just made Good Trouble.

"Now then." Lupin said, beckoning us towards the end of the room, where there is nothing but an old wardrobe where the teachers kept their spare robes.

Lupin went over to stand next to it, the Wardrobe gave a sudden wobble, banging off the wall. 

Neville jumped back and right into me. "Hi, Kassie." He greeted. Then he got off me. "Oh, sorry." Then he stood away a little embarrassed. Probably because he bumped into me.

"Nothing to worry about." Lupin assured us calmly. "There's a Boggart in there."

Most of the others seemed to sigh in relief at that. But Neville gave Lupin a look of pure terror, and Seamus was eyeing the doorknob apprehensively.

"A Boggart?" I asked. "As in... the shape shifter that can take the shape of whatever it thinks will scare us the most?"

"Couldn't have said it better myself." Lupin answered. "Boggarts like dark enclosed spaces. Wardrobes beneath the beds, the cupboards under the sinks or stairs. I once met one that had lodged itself in a Grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and i asked the Headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third years some practice." He explained to us. "Now as Kassandra has explained to us what they are. The Boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. He does not know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a Boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears."

"They're still around?" Anubis asked. 

"You know the Boggarts, Anubis?" Ron asked.

"Of course. They were a prank by Set that went horribly wrong." Anubis answered.

"Is that it?" Hermione asked wanting to know more details.

Neville still gave that splutter of fear. "Um... Neville? You're squeezing my arm." I said.

Neville looked embarrassed. "Sorry, Kassie." He quickly apologized. 

"This means that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin." Lupin continued. "Have you spotted it with Harry?" He asked Harry.

"Because there's so many of us, it won't know what shape to take?" Harry asked. 

"Precisely." Lupin answered. "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? Even Ethan Bauer had to have company when he faced one Boggart that guarded a Cursed Vault in Hogwarts once. The Vault of Fear. But it was defeated by Ethan and his friends, Nymphadora Tonks, Tulip Karasu, and Barnaby Lee."

Oh yeah. There was a bunch of Boggarts that attacked Hogwarts once. Ethan told me the story. And there was another Boggart that appeared as a Werewolf in front of Penny. 

"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 practice with the charm without wands first. After me please... riddikulus!" Lupin instructed. 

"Riddikulus!" We all said together. 

"This class is ridiculous." I could hear Draco mutter.

"Good." Lupin said. "Very good. But that was the easy part, I'm afraid. You see the world alone is not enough. And this is where you come in, Neville." 

The Wardrobe shook again, Neville shook even harder towards it, like he was going to square toe to toe and look Medusa in the eye.

"Right, Neville." Lupin continued. "First things first; what would you say is the thing that frightens you the most in the world?" He asked.

Neville's lips moved. But I couldn't hear him. Nor could anyone else.

"Didn't catch that Neville, sorry." Lupin requested cheerfully.

"Professor Snape." Neville answered with a whimper.

Nearly all of us laugh, and even Neville grinned apologetically. Lupin looked thoughtful. 

"That's understandable, Neville." Ryan commented. 

"Yes, Professor Snape. Frightens us all. And I believe you live with your Grandmother?" Lupin asked.

"Er- yes." Neville answered. "But... I don't want that Boggart to turn into her either." 

"No, no, you misunderstand me." Lupin assured. He was smiling again. "I wonder, if you could tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?"

Neville looked startled, but he spoke. "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?" Ryan asked. "Just adding pieces to the puzzle. Because you know, it's kind of typical for old ladies to usually carry handbags." 

"A big red one." Neville answered.

"Right then." Lupin found what he was looking for it seemed. "Can you picture those clothes very clearly, Neville? Can you see them in your eye?"

"Yes." Neville replied with uncertainty. 

"When the Boggart bursts out of this wardrobe, Neville. And sees you, it will assume the form of Professor Snape." Lupin explained. "And you will raise your wand-thus and cry out '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." 

Oh my gods! Now Neville had to do that. I want to see what it looks like so bad!

"If Neville is successful." Lupin told us. "The Boggart is likely to turn his attention to each of us in turn. I would like you all to take a moment now to think of the thing that scares you most, and imagine how you might force it to look comical." 

I don't need a moment to think. I know what scares me. And it's not good. I start to think back to it. And I'm start to breath heavy now. And it suddenly feels cold in here again. Many people had their eyes shut too. And Ron was muttering to himself next to me. I'm pretty sure I know what his fear is. 

"Everyone ready?" Lupin asked. 

We all retreated to the back of the walls so Neville could get a clear shot. Neville looked so pale and frightened. "One the count of three, Neville." Lupin said as he now pointed his own wand towards the wardrobe. "One, Two, Three, Now!"

The Wardrobe burst open. Hook- nosed and greasy as ever, Professor Snape stepped out, his eyes flashing at Neville.

Neville backed away, his wand up, mouthing wordlessly. Snape was bearing down upon him.

"Riddikulus!" Neville squeaked. 

There was a long noise like a whip crack. Snape stumbled, and he was wearing a long, lace trimmed dress with a towering hat and a huge crimson handbag from his hand.

"Oh my Various Gods!" I yelled out roaring laughing. 

"Don't you mean, God?" Hermione asked me as she was laughing.

"You worship your thing, I'll worship mine." I replied. 

We all roared with laugher at the sight; the Boggart paused confused, and Lupin shouted out.

"Parvati! Forward!" 

Parvati Patil walked forward, her face set. Snape rounded on her. But it transformed into another creature. A blood stained bandaged mummy; its sightless face was turned to Parvati and it began to walk towards er, very slowly, dragging its feet, it's stiff arms rose. 

"Okay... which dumbass priest messed up the mummification ritual to cause that fear?!" Anubis suddenly shouted in an outrage.

Oh, that's right. Anubis was in charge of Mummifications as well. He takes his job very seriously.  

"Riddikulus!" Parvati cried.

The Bandaged unraveled at the Mummy's feet; it became entangled, fell face forwards and it rolled its head off. 

"Seamus!" Lupin roared enjoying the show. 

Seamus darted past Parvati. 

And where the Mummy had been was replaced with a woman with floor length black hair and a skeletal, green tinged face-. I'm not sure what it was. It certainly wasn't a Siren. But she opened her mouth wide and an unearthly long wailing shriek came out which made me have to cover my ears.

"Riddikulus!" Seamus shouted.

The Banshee suddenly coughed out. "Some--someone get me a cough drop or something." It ratted out. 

The Banshee then turned into a rat, which chased it's tail in a circle, then it became a rattlesnake, which slithered and withered before becoming a single eye ball.

"It's confused!" Lupin shouted. "We're getting there! Ryan!"

Ryan surged forward. "Help me out, Horus?" 

"You got this, Ryan." Horus assured. The eyeball became what appeared to be a woman with brown hair and blue eyes. She looked just like Ryan. It must've been his Mother.

Ryan tried to take deep breaths. But he pulled himself together. He had to. "Riddikulus!" He shouted out and with the snap of the wand. 

The Boggart turned into a frog. With a Top Hat. And it started to sing a song. "Hello my baby! Hello, my honey! Hello, my ragtime gal! Send me a kiss by wire! Baby, my hearts on fire! If you refuse me! Honey, you'll lose me! Then you'll be left alone! Oh baby, telephone! And tell me I'm your own!" 

"What?!" Hermione asked trying to figure it all out. 

"Was that supposed to be some kind of stupid cartoon?" Malfoy asked. 

"You got a problem with Cartoons?" Ryan asked like he was gearing up for a fight.

"Excellent! Ron, you next!" Lupin suddenly shouted pulling our attention back to the Boggart.

Ron leaped forward. And I won't be lying that a few people did scream when they saw Ron's boggart. And who could blame them. 

It was a Giant Spider, six feet tall and covered in hair. It advanced at Ron and it clicked it's pincers menacingly. Ron looked frozen. 

"What are you doing? Take out your wand." Anubis asked. 

"But the spider-" Ron protested. 

"It's a boggart." Anubis reminded. "And you've face a Spider before, haven't you?" 

"Alright fine!" Ron caved in. "Riddikulus!" He bellowed, and the Spider's legs vanished. It rolled over and over; Lavender squealed and had to run out of the way. 

"Kassie!" Lupin yelled. 

I walked over to the Boggart. It was transforming again. I breathed in heavily. And the Spider transformed. I know what it's going to be before it even transforms. And I was right. It transformed right into a Hangman's Noose. I backed away as the shadow of the noose swung right in front of me. "No. No." Despite the fact that it didn't move, it felt like it was coming right at me. The walls around me felt like they were closing in. And pushing me closer to being hanged. I took out my wand. "R-Riddikulus!" I cried out pointing my wand at the noose. 

The noose had changed into a Cowboy ranching up some cattle with a lasso. "Yeehaw!" It shouted. The Cowboy fell off his horse right as the horse looked up and yelled out. "George! They're onto us!" 

The Cowboy fell in front of Harry. And Harry had raised his wand, only for Lupin to jump in front of Harry. 

The Boggart transformed into a silvery white orb. The moon. It was hanging in the air in front of Lupin. 

"Riddikulus!" Lupin yelled. 

And the Moon transformed into a deflating balloon. 

"Forward, Neville, and finish him off!" Lupin ordered right as the Boggart landed on the ground and transformed back into Snape. 

Except this time. Neville had the confidence. "Riddikulus!" He shouted and we had a second great view of Snape in an old lady's attire.

Neville let out a 'Ha!' Laughter, and the Boggart exploded, bursting into tiny wisps of smoke. And then it was gone.

"Excellent!" Lupin praised as most of the class burst into applause. "Excellent, Neville. Well done, everyone. Let me see... five points to Gryffindor for every person who tackled the Boggart- ten for Neville because he did it twice- and ten for each to Ryan and Kassie, for tackling the boggart and knowing what a boggart was earlier in the lesson before I even explained it." 

I was still shivering from the sight of the Hangman's noose. Neville looked at me. "Kassie?" He asked. 

"No. No. That was just a boggart. Nothing more. They're not going to hang you, Kassie." That was what I told myself. 

I missed what Lupin was saying about homework. My mind was too preoccupied. "...That will be all." Lupin said. 

"What?" I asked. 

"Just some Homework on reading the chapter about Boggarts and summarizing it for Lupin to be handed on Monday." Hermione answered.

"O-Okay." I said still shivering. 

We were all talking excitedly. Or rather, Ryan and Ron were. "That was the best Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson we've ever had, wasn't it?" Ron asked excitedly.

"That's not setting the bar high, Ron. I mean... if you look at the last 2 Teachers we had. One had Voldemort. And the other was a Fraud." Ryan replied.

"He seems a very good teacher." Hermione said approving. "But I wish I could have had a turn with the Boggart-"

"What would it have been for you?" Ron asked. "A piece of homework that only got nine out of ten?"

Hermione gave a mock laugh. Knowing her, that's probably what it really was. But then she looked at me. "Kassie? Are you okay? That Boggart-" 

"I know what it was, Hermione." I interrupted. "Sorry. It's just... it was really scary." I apologized. 

"You're biggest fear is the Gallows?" Ron asked.

I nodded my head. We returned to the Common Room to a place where no one would find us. "I've seen the Gallows in action... in Greece." I said to my friends. "The sound of the floor above your feet going. The snap of the neck. And when it all e-ends. You remain lynched up and your body feed for crows and a mouth full of flies. For all the world to s-see. Please don't make me say anymore." I started to feel tears on my face.

But Ryan took my hands. And I could see Horus take over Ryan. "You nearly faced the gallows, didn't you?" He asked me. 

I nodded my head. "It would've been me hanging from that noose. After they locked me up for stealing whatever the Mistress told me to. If E-Ethan hadn't taken me with him." I answered. "But I deserve to be hanged. For what I did. I'm supposed to be a Gryffindor. But... I still get scared." 

"Oh, Kassie." Hermione gave me a hug. It felt nice. "You don't deserve to be hanged." 

"We all get scared, remember? I'm scared of my mom." Ryan pointed out. "And I'd rather be hanged then see Mom when she's angry. And Ron... he's afraid of Spiders." He then must've seen my face. "Is this not helping?" He asked. "Sorry. I'm not so good at explaining things sometimes. I can't always get what I want to say out of my head."  

"What Ryan means to say is... we're all Gryffindors, Kassie. But we still get scared of something. I'm sorry, Kassie. I should've done more. But just know that if you ever get scared. You can talk to us." Hermione clarified. 

I felt better. "You guys are the best." I said. 

"Hey... you want to see something funny?" Ryan asked. He pulled out a sketchpad. And he did some artists work on something. "Check a look." 

We all looked to see what Ryan had drawn. It was Snape but he was in Neville's Grandmother's clothes. And it made us all laugh. 

"Can I have that picture, Ryan?" Harry asked. 

"It's a drawing, Harry." Ryan corrected.

"Can I still have it?" Harry asked. 

"Sure. I'll even duplicate it and send it to Neville. You want one as well, Kassie?" Ryan asked me.

"Yeah." I answered. 

"So... why did Professor Lupin step in front of Harry?" Ron asked. 

"And why was he scared of Khonshu?" Horus asked.

"Khonshu?" Hermione asked.

"The God of the Moon." Anubis clarified. 

A good question for another time.