章 100: Chapter 100: The World of Stars
The Boggart froze for a moment, as if doubting its own ability for the first time. Then, with a loud bang, it transformed. Before everyone appeared a breathtakingly beautiful sight unlike anything they had ever seen: an endless expanse of a radiant starry sky, with stars flickering like droplets of light, interweaving and overlapping. Mystical runes, intricate and profound, emerged in the vastness, forming rows upon rows of enigmatic symbols that filled the entire stellar world. The scene emanated an eternal aura, embodying the infinity of creation and exuding a primordial, timeless majesty.
"What is this?" Professor Lupin murmured, his dazed gaze filled with wonder. Such a magnificent celestial vision seemed as though it belonged only in fairy tales. The intricate runes pervading every corner were indecipherable, yet their implied meaning carried a profound power, evoking a sense of reverence. These symbols seemed to have existed for millennia, each imbued with an ancient mystery. How could such a world come into existence?
Augustus's deep, silver eyes flickered with a touch of bitter amusement. The thing he had been pursuing all along was, it seemed, tied to the deepest fear in his heart. Throughout history, humanity has looked to the stars, following the footsteps of ancestors. Even in the era of primitive tools and fire, people gazed at the heavens in awe. When the first torch was lit and the first word written, humanity began its journey from ignorance to the vast, profound realm of spirit. Stepping into the world of the ancients, who could resist the urge to explore the boundless universe above?
"There are two things," Augustus reflected, "that inspire the deepest awe the more we ponder them: the starry heavens above us and the moral law within us." The countless symbols in this celestial world were, in fact, representations of the laws of the universe. For Augustus, these laws had become inseparable from his essence upon stepping into the divine realm. For a legendary mage, such a world was a source of inspiration. Mastering the laws signified a profound understanding of and harmony with the cosmos. Yet the more one comprehended these principles, the more one respected them. To a mage in pursuit of eternal magical truth, the laws were both the power that fueled their quest and the Damocles' sword hanging above, embodying both strength and the root of fear.
Augustus nodded to Lupin, signaling that the demonstration was over. By now, the entire class had been utterly absorbed in the three stunning visions. It wasn't until Professor Lupin clapped his hands that the Gryffindor and Slytherin students snapped out of their reverie. Harry wiped the sweat from his forehead and stepped forward hesitantly.
He raised his wand, prepared—but—"Stop!" Professor Lupin suddenly shouted, rushing forward.
Bang! The magnificent celestial scene disappeared. For a second, everyone looked around, trying to locate it. Then they saw a silver-white sphere floating in front of Lupin. He almost lazily muttered, "Riddikulus!"
Pop! The sphere vanished, leaving the Boggart momentarily disoriented.
"Come forward, Neville. Finish it off!" Lupin called. The Boggart fell to the floor, transforming into a cockroach. Pop! It shifted again—this time into Snape, but dressed in a frilly dress.
Neville, his face full of determination, rushed forward. "Riddikulus!" he shouted, and in less than a second, Snape, dressed ridiculously, appeared before him. Neville burst out laughing with a triumphant "Ha!" The Boggart exploded into wisps of smoke and vanished.
"Brilliant!" Professor Lupin exclaimed as the class erupted in applause. "Well done, Neville. Excellent job, everyone! Let's see… Slytherin earns ten points, and Augustus earns twenty for his clever use of Occlumency to trick the Boggart. That's a skill you'll strive to master in your fifth year."
The class buzzed with excitement as they left the staff room, most of them chattering about the three vivid scenes the Boggart had created before Augustus.
"Did you see that dragon?" Seamus exclaimed. "I bet no dragon in the world has such devastating power. That was like something out of a Muggle legend! A city spanning miles obliterated just like that. Not even in the two wizarding wars did we witness such destructive might."
"I think that demon from the abyss was more terrifying," Dean argued, waving his hand for emphasis. "It was like the ultimate evil, far more fearsome than a Dementor. Compared to that, Dementors seem as harmless as rabbits. Even the Dark Lord might pale in comparison to a being whose mere hand could summon endless terror."
"I'm more curious about the final scene—the starry sky," Lavender mused. "Even with the Astronomy Tower telescope, I've never seen anything so breathtaking. That was like an untouched sanctuary, something utterly pure and magical. To glimpse it in reality would be a dream come true."
"That was the best Defense Against the Dark Arts class we've ever had, don't you think?" Ron exclaimed as they headed back to the classroom for their bags.
"He seems like an excellent teacher," Hermione agreed. "Though I wish I could have faced the Boggart…"
"What would you have seen?" Ron teased. "Overly simple homework?"
But Harry was not as cheerful. He couldn't shake the feeling that Professor Lupin had deliberately kept him from facing the Boggart. Why? Was it because of what had happened on the train? Did Lupin think Harry couldn't handle fear? Did he think Harry might faint again?
Malfoy, meanwhile, smirked as he taunted, "Who would've thought you'd be afraid of moths? Those disgusting bugs! At worst, they make you queasy. I never imagined that's what terrifies you most."
"Oh?" Lilian retorted, her tone dripping with mockery. "And yet a Slytherin afraid of the Gryffindor mascot has the audacity to judge others? You're a real credit to Slytherin, Malfoy—afraid of a lion, how fitting!"
Malfoy's smirk vanished, replaced by a grimace. He knew that after today, his fear of lions would be the talk of Hogwarts.
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