Chương 99: Chapter 99: Illusions of Fear
For a moment, Lilian seemed dazed, as though recalling something distant. Snapping back into focus, she raised her wand and firmly commanded, "Riddikulus!" At once, the moth's wings snapped off, and it tumbled to the ground, transforming into a harmless cocoon.
"Well done. Next!" called Professor Lupin. "Parvati, you're up!"
Parvati stepped forward stiffly, glaring nervously at the Boggart. With another loud pop, the cocoon disappeared, replaced by a bloodstained mummy wrapped in bandages. Its blind, hollow eyes turned toward Parvati as it shuffled forward with arms outstretched, dragging its feet.
"Riddikulus!" Parvati shouted.
The mummy's bandages unraveled from its feet, causing it to trip and fall flat on its face. Its head detached and rolled away, much to the amusement of the onlookers.
Draco Malfoy sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Really, a mummy? What's so terrifying about a bundle of cloth stuffed in a coffin? Typical Gryffindor nonsense—utterly boring."
"Oh?" Harry Potter replied, feigning innocence. "I suppose a lion isn't scary either. Unless, of course, you were bitten by a particularly vicious Pomeranian as a child. Maybe it left you with a lifelong fear of anything remotely lion-like?" His tone was so earnest that Ron burst into laughter.
Malfoy's face darkened, his voice brimming with malice. "Laugh while you can, Potter. I wonder what our 'Chosen One' fears most? Dementors, perhaps? The memory of fainting like a coward must still be fresh in your mind."
Before Harry could retort, Malfoy turned his sharp gaze to Ron. "And you, Weasley? You think this is funny? Let me guess—your Boggart will be a pig, perfectly complementing your family's pigsty of a house. Fitting, isn't it?"
"Ron, you're next!" Lupin interrupted, cutting through the tension.
Ron stepped forward hesitantly.
With a loud crack, a massive, hairy spider, at least six feet tall, appeared, its hooked legs twitching menacingly as it crept toward Ron. For a moment, he froze, seemingly paralyzed by fear. Then, gathering his courage, he shouted, "Riddikulus!"
Instantly, the spider's legs disappeared, leaving it rolling helplessly on the floor. Lavender Brown screamed and darted out of the way, much to everyone's amusement.
"Oh, a spider! How terrifying," Malfoy mocked. "To think the mighty Weasleys are afraid of bugs. What's next, being terrified of ants?"
"Seamus!" Lupin called out.
Seamus hurried to take his turn.
The Boggart shifted again with a pop, morphing into a ghostly woman with long black hair trailing to the ground and a skeletal, green-tinged face. Her hollow eyes stared directly at Seamus as she let out a piercing wail, filling the room with an inhuman, bone-chilling sound.
"Riddikulus!" Seamus yelled.
The ghost clawed at her throat, her voice cutting off abruptly as she dissolved into a rat, spinning in circles after its own tail. Another crack followed, and the rat turned into a coiled rattlesnake, then into a bloody eyeball rolling across the floor.
"It's confused!" Lupin exclaimed. "We're making progress! Augustus, your turn!"
All eyes turned to Augustus as he stepped forward. The entire class, Gryffindor and Slytherin alike, held their breath. What could someone like Augustus fear? He was a figure of near-mythical stature—a man who had directly defeated Voldemort, thwarted the Dark Lord's plans twice, and led Slytherin to back-to-back House Cup victories. What could possibly frighten him?
Augustus approached the Boggart with calm, measured steps, his silver eyes glinting with amusement. His face was serene, devoid of tension.
With a deafening bang, the Boggart shifted, and a gaping abyss appeared in the classroom. From its depths emerged a gigantic black hand, its sheer presence radiating an overwhelming aura of malevolence and despair. The room was suffused with an oppressive darkness, and everyone, including Lupin, turned pale as an icy fear crept through their veins.
"An actual demon..." someone whispered, their voice trembling.
Before anyone could recover, the Boggart shifted again with another loud pop. A massive black dragon materialized, its wings stretching wide enough to blot out the room's light. The beast's golden eyes exuded an almost tangible pressure, pinning everyone in place. The illusion of its roar shook the room as it unleashed fiery devastation on a city below. The scene unfolded with terrifying clarity—buildings crumbled, flames consumed the land, and a cascade of meteors rained down, turning the world into a fiery wasteland.
Lupin gasped aloud, breaking his usual composure. "Occlumency!" he exclaimed.
The class turned to him in confusion, but he continued, his voice tinged with awe. "Augustus isn't afraid. He's using Occlumency to manipulate the Boggart, creating these visions as a ruse. These aren't his true fears—they're fabrications! But for the illusions to be this vivid... they must be based on real memories."
The students stared at Augustus, their expressions a mix of admiration and unease. If these apocalyptic visions weren't enough to unnerve him, what could possibly frighten someone like him?
Augustus smiled faintly, his demeanor unbothered. Watching the Boggart flounder, he seemed almost amused. Then, as if deciding to end the charade, his silver eyes glinted faintly.
"Let's find out, shall we?" he murmured, lowering the mental barriers he had kept firmly in place.
The room collectively held its breath, awaiting the revelation of what could truly terrify the man who seemed unshakable.
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