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

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

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

There was a very long pause.

"...what?"

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

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"Wizarding disease," Sirius replied. "Like the dragon pox, only more infectious. But I'm guessing 'no', by your reaction."

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

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I've only ever heard of magical poisons before coming here." Oh, Merlin. So naive and now very concerned about dragon pox.

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

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"Oh, there are plenty of magical maladies," Sirius said. "It certainly keeps the Healers at St. Mungo's busy."

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

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Where are you from?" Merlin just had to ask at that. "That magic is just so common."

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

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"London," Sirius replied helpfully.

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

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I've seen pictures of there!" So, so proud, Merlin. "I think I like the countryside pictures better, though. a bit more like home."

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

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was never going to stop being strange to hear. "Oh, we have wizards all over," Sirius said. "Some living with Muggles, some in their own wizarding villages..."

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

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Do you like it better in those sorts of villages? I hadn't really met many other wizards or witches that weren't... murderous before coming here."

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

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"I preferred the city," Sirius admitted. "Some of the village wizards are downright odd. Generally not murderous, but odd. But you can get around Wizarding London and generally avoid the Muggles altogether if you wanted to. My family certainly didn't want anything to do with them."

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

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Why is that?" He could... think of a reason for it in Camelot, of course.

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

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"They were obsessed with the purity of our bloodline," Sirius said, rolling his eyes. "We've been wizards back to, well, about your time, I supposed. The Ancient and Noble House of Black would not mingle with Muggles."

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

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"That sounds a bit silly," Merlin replied, making a face. "Though nobility is a bit barmy if you ask me."

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

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"Oh, completely," Sirius agreed. "I was the first member of my family not to be sorted into the House of Humorless Purebloods at school. That, as you may imagine, didn't go over well."

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

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin chuckled, shaking his head. "And you turned out rather well for it, I see."

Barring prison. And crazy.

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

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"Just don't ask my mother about it," Sirius said dryly.

Or, you know, her crazy screaming portrait in the family mansion.

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

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure she cares, though," Merlin said with the naive enthusiasm that really should get beaten out of him.

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

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"She blew my name off of the tapestry of the family tree," Sirius said blandly. "So...no."

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

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Oh." Awkward. "I suppose that would grant you a bit of freedom though?"

Listen to Merlin. He was wise in the way of the wizards. Truly.

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

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

Sirius thought he was quite adorable. Well, except for the ears.

"Something like that," he said with a tiny smile.

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

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

The ears gave him his magic.

"I don't even have a surname," Merlin offered like that was totally going to work on cheering him up.

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

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

"You're bloody Merlin," Sirius laughed. "You don't need one."

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

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Well, here that means something. Back home that just means I'm a fatherless peasant," Merlin pointed out. "Not that there's anything wrong with that. I love my mum."