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Chapter 139: Noah’s Fear?
🕑 Added 2025-05-06 11:56:03 +0000 UTCThe classroom for Defense Against the Dark Arts had changed once again. If Gilderoy Lockhart’s decor was considered extravagant and Professor Snape’s was overly simple, then Professor Lupin’s layout was painfully minimalistic.
In the vast room, there was only one large cabinet box. The dueling stage had been dismantled, and there weren't even chairs for the students to sit on.
As the third-year students entered the room, they instinctively separated into four groups, each representing their own house. Of course, there was one exception: Noah and his group all stood together.
No one objected. In fact, the rest of the students had silently agreed to give Noah’s group the best position, front and center.
"Alright, kids," Professor Lupin said with a friendly smile as he patted the cabinet, "this is our first Defense Against the Dark Arts class."
He stepped toward the students. “But before we begin, does anyone want to take a guess at what’s inside this box?”
"Is it a Boggart, Professor?" Hermione Granger immediately raised her hand, speaking with confidence.
"Correct, Miss Granger. Now, can anyone tell me what a Boggart actually looks like?" Lupin asked, clearly pleased.
"Professor, I don’t think anyone knows," said Evan, raising his hand. "Because no one has ever seen its true form."
A Boggart is a well-known magical creature, a shapeshifter that lives in dark and enclosed spaces. It transforms into the thing its observer fears the most. Because of this, no witch or wizard has ever seen its actual appearance.
The easiest way to deal with a Boggart is by using the Riddikulus charm. The spell forces the Boggart to turn into something comically ridiculous, and laughter is what truly destroys it.
In fact, the more people present, the easier it becomes to defeat, since the Boggart struggles to decide what form to take. It feeds on fear, not for self-defense, but seemingly for sustenance, making it classified as a Dark creature.
During the holidays, many young magicians who had recently joined the Mage Alliance had encountered Boggarts. Some defeated them easily and earned a spot in Noah’s team. Others, unfortunately, were too scared and failed the test.
"Excellent, Mr. Kane. Now, my final question, how do we deal with a Boggart? Mr. Finniel?" Lupin asked, turning to Noah.
“It’s quite simple, Professor,” Noah answered bluntly. “Depends on whether you want to kill it or just expel it.”
The students blinked, and even Lupin looked surprised.
“To kill it, all you need is a good laugh. Though, whether you can actually laugh at the time is the tricky part. As for expelling it, just use Riddikulus. Easy enough.”
"...Yes, quite right," Lupin replied with a nervous chuckle. The idea of killing a Boggart felt a little... intense. He wiped sweat from his brow and added, “But today, we’ll just learn how to expel it. No need to go that far.”
As he returned to the cabinet, Lupin swallowed hard.
To be honest, he was uneasy around Noah. He still remembered what had happened on the train. Though he fully agreed with Noah’s actions, after all, he had been good friends with James Potter, Lupin’s situation was... delicate.
Because Remus Lupin wasn’t an ordinary wizard, he was a werewolf.
And he had no idea what someone as powerful and unpredictable as Noah might think of that.
What unsettled him more was the pendant Dumbledore had handed him upon arrival. It came from Kamar-Taj, the ancient stronghold of sorcerers. The pendant was a measure of magical power.
When Lupin had bound the pendant to himself, it had revealed his strength: Level Three.
That in itself wasn’t so bad, until he found out that Noah, a student, was already Level Four.
Was this the legendary case of the teacher being weaker than the student?
It was... demoralizing.
Still, he kept a composed face. After all, many Hogwarts professors ranked between Level Two and Three, so he wasn’t exactly below average.
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden idea.
“Well, since Mr. Finniel is so knowledgeable,” Lupin said, recovering his composure, “why don’t you demonstrate how to expel a Boggart first?”
“Me?” Noah blinked in surprise. He didn’t think Lupin meant any harm, but Boggarts weren’t exactly a big deal to him.
Would the Boggart even be able to transform into his greatest fear?
Probably not.
Even the Sorting Hat couldn’t read Noah’s thoughts clearly thanks to his system’s mental protections. A Boggart? That would be even harder.
Shrugging, Noah stepped forward. He was curious to see what the Boggart would try.
“Mr. Finniel... just don’t kill it, alright?” Lupin added hastily, wand at the ready.
Noah rolled his eyes. "I won't," he muttered, as if he were some repeat offender.
Lupin waved his wand, and the cabinet creaked open.
A bloody hand reached out.
Several students gasped, recoiling in shock. Even Noah frowned.
“This hand... no way...” he murmured.
And then, she emerged.
Ms. Haifin.
She looked terrible, bloodied, in a torn mage's robe, barely standing. The image shook Noah. She staggered forward, eyes filled with sorrow and pain.
“Noah, cast the spell! Quickly!” Lupin urged.
But Noah stood frozen, not with fear, but confusion.
Ms. Haifin stopped just before reaching him, smiled sadly, and collapsed. Noah noticed something glinting on her gloved hand, six glowing Infinity Stones embedded in a golden gauntlet.
“What... the hell?”
Noah was stunned.
This wasn’t just fear. It was the realization, he cared deeply about Ms. Haifin. The idea of her being hurt, or worse, shattered him.
But... Thanos’ Gauntlet?
Was this real?
Noah couldn’t help it, he laughed. Not mockingly, but with exasperation and disbelief.
This was the system’s doing, interfering again, twisting reality to keep him safe. And it worked. The Boggart froze, trembling.
Even it was afraid of Noah.
Noah chuckled to himself. “With mental shielding this strong, not even I know what I fear anymore... Or maybe I fear too many things?”
He raised his wand, pointed at the still, trembling Ms. Haifin-Boggart, and cast: “Riddikulus!”
The image exploded into smoke, and reformed.
Into a massive purple man.
Noah stared in disbelief.
The man was huge, taller than Hagrid. He wore sunglasses, a flower necklace, a bright purple Hawaiian shirt, and oversized beach shorts.
Then... he started dancing.
Twisting his huge hips wildly on a beach, grinning like a maniac.
Everyone froze.
Noah stood there, wand in hand, face pale.
What. The. Hell.
Where was the dramatic transformation into a terrifying monster? Where was the haunting fear?
This?
This was his laugh-inducing vision?
Noah prayed to every deity that this wouldn’t be remembered.
“Er... Mr. Finniel did... exceptionally well,” Lupin finally said, voice strained as he waved his wand and dispelled the absurd image.
The purple beach dancer turned into a balloon and floated back into the cabinet, which shut with a snap.
No one spoke for a full minute.
Professor Lupin had no idea how to continue. What had just happened? Noah’s deepest fear was a dying woman. But what made him laugh was... a dancing purple hunk?
The silence was finally broken by Evan.
“Noah... that made you happy?” he asked, cautiously.
Noah, now red-faced, returned to his group.
“I-I don’t know. It just happened,” he muttered. He couldn’t even explain it to himself.
He could only pray that this beach-dancing giant never appeared in his dreams, or worse, came to life like that cursed magician once had.
“Still,” Evan said, nudging him, “it was kind of epic?”
Noah groaned.
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