DADA for Muggles [Wednesday September 16, period 5]

[lycanthromoony.livejournal.com]

When the students filed into the classroom today, they'd find the desks pushed to the sides of the room again, and a wardrobe at the front of the classroom. No, Edmund, not for you. Remus stood beside it, wand actually out and arms crossed for once.


"So, for the half of you who didn't visit us in our office hours," Sirius began dryly, "today you will be facing a boggart." He pointed his wand at the wardrobe. "No one knows what one looks like in its natural state because when it is released, it takes on the form of your worst fear."

"Generally," Remus added, "in an accessible, tangible form. A spider, a ghoul, a clown for some of you -- the boggart will take what frightens you, and feed off of your fear. Today's lesson isn't about scaring you for our amusement. It's to help you face fear in its rawest form."

Sirius's eyes twinkled in rare good humor. "And if it helps, put a hat on it. Laughter is the way to defeat a boggart. So before Professor Lupin opens the wardrobe, take a few moments to take what you fear and make it look absolutely ridiculous. Because many of you are Muggles, and those of you who are magical might not be magical in the way that works against creatures in our world, Professor Lupin will be reciting the incantation that goes along with the laughter."

"But," Remus added, "as it is not my fear, but yours, it will fall to you to envision the way to make the frightening thing as absurd as possible. While I will say the incantation and my wand will work, it is up to you to make the spell work. This exercise is not about magic, and whether or whether not you can perform it. It's not even about boggarts, really."

Sirius nodded. "That said, we understand that this is an unusual school full of students from a variety of living situations. As such, we have also provided an alternative lesson for those of you who don't wish to confront your fears in a public forum."

Remus just looked over at him, all but rolling his eyes. "...yes, yes we have. Professor Black was inspired."

Sirius barked out a laugh. "A particularly inspired student at Professor Lupin's last school imagined his boggart wearing his grandmother's hat. It was a beautiful hat, with a stuffed vulture on it. So those of you who have spoken with us already will get to be haberdashers for the hour and design beautiful hats." He grinned. "They will go to an excellent cause."

Snape would love them. Really.

"...yes. However," Remus added, "I'd still like you to try to have constructive discussions while you're, er, making hats!" Oh, Remus.

To his credit, Sirius didn't laugh aloud at that, though the look he shot his friend was full of fond exasperation. "I'm sure we will," he said, nodding. "Potential hat-makers, follow me, please." He headed to the rear of the classroom, where tables were filled with a variety of hat making materials.

"And non-hatmakers, up here," Remus said, waiting until the...haberdashers were with Sirius before murmuring a charm and casting a wall between the two halves of the room, lest the boggart catch sight of the unintended students.

[co-written with the darling siriuslyscarred! waaaait for OCD, IT IS UP. ETA: and for the radio squirrels -- it's fine to say Remus chatted with George after class, but content is NFB pls.]

Comments

...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[lycanthromoony.livejournal.com]

If you talked to either teacher during his office hours, you're excused and may go make hats with Professor Black.

Sigh.

[Incidentally, if Remus told you not to come to class at all, you're still excused, but this is a fun activity if you decided to come after all!]

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

Well. Firekeeper knew her fear, and had faced it before. So she would just be over here...

Making hats. Yes.

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"Excellent, erm, hat making," Sirius said, glancing over her shoulder at her project.

Sirius wouldn't be able to tell good hatmaking from a tea cozy.

...which, frankly, had also been used as headwear.

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"You think?" Firekeeper grinned, tilting it slightly. It rather resembled a turkey made out of silk flowers.

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"It is right side up?" he checked.

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[wannabehunter]

Jo settled down to make hats.

As far from the wardrobe as possible.

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

Sirius gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "Professor Lupin has the boggart well in hand."

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[wannabehunter]

Jo shrugged. "Doesn't mean I want to be any closer to it than necessary," she said.

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"They really are very dim creatures," Sirius said. "The wall that Professor Lupin put up will have it completely confused. As will the number of students before it. It will try eventually to be absolutely terrifying for multiple people, which tends to make it look rather stupid."

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[wannabehunter]

"Dim is good," Jo agreed. "But you've got to admit that something that can just reach into your head and yank out your worst fears is pretty damn creepy."

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

Sirius nodded. "Definitely, but on the scope of some of the creatures we have at home, not that terrifying."

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[living_endless]

Didi cheerfully went to work covering a hat with crepe paper and colorful fish. It reminded her of her sister Del.

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"Nice fish," Sirius said with a grin.

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[living_endless]

"Thanks, I like fish," Didi said, smiling. "I have two in my room. They're neat little things, y'know?"

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"It's certainly a more normal choice than bowtruckles," Sirius laughed.

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin had... a rather good guess of what his fear was. So that wasn't necessary or something he'd go into willingly.

Hats were fun, though!

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

Sirius looked over Merlin's shoulder. "You don't choose to face your fear?" he asked quietly.

Sirius, don't get fanboy all over the kid.

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Just focus on the ears. You really couldn't take him seriously with those ears.

"I--already did when I got these," He replied, gesturing toward his eyes.

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"I'd been wondering about those," Sirius admitted. "So it's a permanent thing, then?"

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin nodded over to Firekeeper. "There was a--plague where she is from. It only infected people with magic."

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[ashockingbitch]

Yes. Haberdashery, of course. Jenny could do haberdashery.

Well, no, she couldn't, but with a glue gun and some fake flowers in hand she could come up with something.

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"Those are some lovely fake flowers," Sirius said with a grin. "Think the Queen would wear this if we sent it to her?"

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[ashockingbitch]

Jenny considered her masterpiece critically. It was fairly hideous, but, "She might, if you put my name on it. Liz and I always did get on quite well."

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"You've met the Queen?" Sirius asked, blinking.

Re: ...Make Hats! [DADA 9/16]

[ashockingbitch]

"Professionally, mostly," Jenny said as she attempted to frown a flower that kept trying to fall off into submission. "I was presented, but that was before her reign. I wouldn't advise actually calling her Liz."