After Potions class, Jane Yu went to visit Moaning Myrtle.
Her translucent friend was thrilled to see her, bursting out of a toilet bowl and splashing water everywhere.
"So glad to see you're still alive," Myrtle exclaimed. Jane couldn't tell if she was genuinely happy or disappointed that they hadn't become toilet-mates. "You haven't visited me in so long. Why does Hogwarts even have summer vacations?"
Floating above a faucet, Myrtle began sharing some school gossip.
"I heard you've got a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor," she said in a gossipy tone. "Peeves absolutely hates him. He's so upset... But when Peeves is upset, I'm delighted! I hope something terrible happens to him!"
Jane, having completed her usual "Eastern Secret Technique" to help Myrtle, asked curiously, "You mean Professor Lupin? Why does Peeves hate him?"
Myrtle shrugged and replied cheerfully, "Maybe because he can handle Peeves... He keeps calling him things like 'Loony Lupin the Big Buffoon.'"
Clearly, the fact that Peeves—who often bullied Myrtle—was being put in his place had greatly improved her mood.
Jane couldn't help but feel intrigued by this Professor Lupin. After all, while Peeves enjoyed pranking students, he usually respected professors. For him to despise someone so much, there had to be a story behind it.
She soon met the professor during the afternoon's Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
The lesson was about Boggarts, and an old wardrobe from the staff room had been brought in.
"Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces. No one knows what they look like when they're alone..."
"When faced with a group of people, a Boggart becomes confused, unsure of what form to take..."
"Although they are classified as 'non-being,' they can be defeated. The key to destroying them is laughter."
It had to be said—Professor Lupin was far more competent than Lockhart or Quirrell. After a brief theoretical explanation, he moved on to the practical part of the lesson.
He demonstrated first. The Boggart emerged from the wardrobe and transformed into a full moon.
With a sharp "Riddikulus!" the moon turned into a pie and fell to the ground.
Jane suddenly realized something.
Fear of the full moon... the sudden brewing of Wolfsbane Potion... coupled with Snape's hostility toward him during the opening feast...
She recalled Snape's cryptic hints that day—
Could Professor Lupin be a werewolf?
"Who wants to give it a try?" Professor Lupin asked, locking the Boggart back in the wardrobe. "First, think about what the Boggart might turn into—your greatest fear. Then imagine how to make it humorous."
The Slytherins, however, were reluctant to volunteer.
Collectively, they lowered their heads, pretending to read their textbooks.
Jane considered stepping forward, curious to see what she feared most. But Theodore Nott stopped her.
"Don't go," he whispered. "You'll expose your inner fears... Don't let others see your weakness."
However, Professor Lupin noticed their conversation and mistook Theodore's reluctance for shyness. He called on him, encouraging him to be brave.
"I'm glad someone is willing to participate in our lesson. Let's all look forward to your performance."
Caught off guard, Theodore stiffened and walked to the front with a wooden expression, clutching his wand tightly.
Professor Lupin observed him for a moment before waving his wand to open the wardrobe door.
Everyone held their breath as if the wardrobe contained a death sentence.
A hand reached out from inside, followed by a beautiful woman with blue eyes strikingly similar to Theodore's.
She appeared frail, her skin pale, and her smile faint.
Her smile vanished as she collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Theodore froze, his lips trembling violently. Yet, amidst his fear, there was a longing in his eyes as he stared at the Boggart.
"Mother..." he murmured uncontrollably.
His wand slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor.
Instead of casting "Riddikulus," he reached out, as if trying to touch her.
The atmosphere among the Slytherins was somber and silent. Their expressions were complicated.
Many knew that Theodore's mother had passed away when he was very young.
"Excuse me—"
Sensing the situation spiraling, Jane squeezed through the crowd and waved her wand at him.
"Rictusempra!"
If Boggarts feared laughter, then she would force it to happen!
Completely absorbed in his fear, Theodore didn't anticipate the sudden Tickling Charm. He took the full brunt of it, the intense itching immediately snapping him back to reality. His face contorted, and he twisted his body, trying to resist—
But he couldn't help bursting into laughter. Struggling, he managed to pick up his wand from the floor and, between fits of laughter, cast the spell:
"Riddikulus!"
The Boggart transformed from his dead mother into a snoring, unkempt man lying on the ground.
Professor Lupin was momentarily stunned.
He hadn't expected a Tickling Charm to work so effectively!
What an innovative idea!
Using joy to counteract fear, aiding in overcoming a Boggart...
No wonder Headmaster Dumbledore had instructed him to pay attention not just to Harry but also to Slytherin's Jane Yu.
First, she had cared for Dementor-affected students on the train with chocolate and potions. Now, she had helped a friend successfully fend off a Boggart in class—
It had been years since Slytherin had a student so kind and clever. Truly remarkable.
However, Jane's magically enhanced buff hadn't worn off yet. Theodore eventually couldn't take it anymore. He doubled over, clutching his stomach as he laughed uncontrollably, collapsing to the floor. Tears streamed from his eyes, though it was unclear whether they were from laughter or sadness.
Hearing such loud laughter, the Boggart exploded into countless wisps of smoke and vanished.
"Finite Incantatem!"
Professor Lupin waved his wand, ending the charm on Theodore.
The situation had deviated significantly from his expectations.
Stepping into the circle of students, he addressed them:
"Boggarts evoke your fears. I'm sorry you had to witness something so heavy."
"But these creatures are something most wizards will encounter. They could be hiding in your wardrobe, under your bed, or in a cupboard..."
"The earlier you learn to deal with them and confront your fears, the better the results compared to learning later in life."
He approached Theodore, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Well done, Mr. Nott. Five points to Slytherin."
Then he turned to Jane, giving her a warm smile.
"Excellent! That was a very clever Tickling Charm. I'm glad to see it wasn't used for mischief."
"Thank you for helping your classmate. Perhaps I'll consider incorporating this laughter-inducing charm into my teaching methods—"
"Pity the Boggart exploded—we're out of teaching material!"
He shrugged, eliciting a few light chuckles from the Slytherins.
Lupin gave Jane an encouraging look and added:
"For helping a classmate and demonstrating a deep understanding of Boggarts, ten points to Slytherin!"
Once again, Jane became the center of attention among the third-year Slytherins.
"Thanks, Jane!" they all said to her. "She used a Tickling Charm to make Theodore blow up the Boggart. I definitely wouldn't want everyone to see what I'm afraid of!"
As for Theodore, he admitted that while he wasn't sure whether laughing himself to the ground or being terrified by the Boggart was more embarrassing, the experience had helped him come to terms with his mother's death. All thanks to Jane's Tickling Charm.
In other words, she had redirected his focus away from his fear and retrained his reflexes.
From now on, whenever Theodore encountered a Boggart, he'd likely recall this day and instinctively feel itchy.
Even the Gryffindors came to thank her—
Because with the Boggart gone, no one else had to face it.
"Thank goodness... I didn't have to face a giant spider!" Ron exclaimed. "Well done, Jane!"
Harry chuckled as well. He had feared the Boggart might turn into Voldemort—or worse, a Dementor from the train.
But thanks to Jane, the problem had been solved at its root.
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