Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle.

Chapter 252 Eavesdropping on Boggart

"Before the start of the school year, my parents went to St. Mungo's Hospital for a check-up. The therapist who received us was Ms. Melanie Straw, who believed that as long as my parents took their medication regularly, they could recover to normal.

"By the way, Professor, Ms. Straw asked me to tell you that Professor Lockhart is also recovering well."

"His condition has improved significantly. He reads books and newspapers in his ward every day and practices forgetting spell techniques. However, he does not believe that he and Lockhart in the newspaper are the same person. The therapist says that he cannot accept his past self."

"She asked me to ask you if you have any way to restore her memory."

Melvin shook his head at Neville's expectant gaze.

The bell had just rung, and it was time for the break. Walking on the steps at the corner of the spiral staircase on the second floor, I occasionally saw students rushing to class brushing past me. Some would immediately lower their heads and hurry past when they saw the professor, while others would stop to greet him.

Melvin was also somewhat confused.

The complex aftereffects of this magical injury are, to some extent, a result of the patient actively isolating themselves from those painful memories as a form of self-protection. Even a joint consultation between St. Mungo's healers and Dumbledore couldn't resolve the issue.

On the other hand, dark magic expert Riddle suggested using the Crucifixion Charm to inflict torture, breaking through the barriers of mind, body, and magic, which might uncover secrets deep within memories.

However, this method was not very reliable, because the Longbottoms themselves were suffering from torment that exceeded their physical and mental limits, causing them to be mentally unstable for the next thirteen years and to be confined to a closed ward in St. Mungo's.

He felt that Riddle's proposal was unreliable, or at least could not be adopted directly.

Melvin and Neville remained silent, waiting around the corner for a while. The spiral staircase turned to a platform, and the two stepped onto the stone steps of the pier. The magical staircase continued to rotate, carrying them towards the attic opposite.

Melvin vaguely grasped at something, but couldn't connect the dots:

"Memory...emotion...soul..."

After exiting the stairwell and walking along the corridor, the left corridor is closed off; that is the girls' restroom where Myrtle is located.

The right-hand aisle branched into two paths. One path led to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, with a statue of a one-eyed hunchbacked witch at the intersection. The other path led to other classrooms, with a brass suit of armor at the intersection.

Neville adjusted his schoolbag and was about to turn around to say goodbye to Professor Levent when he suddenly saw Hermione walking out of the left aisle.

Carrying a heavy backpack on one shoulder, with one shoulder hunched over, and an inconspicuous gold chain around his neck, he walked hurriedly, his forehead damp with water, as if he had just been to the restroom, heading straight for the intersection where the brass armor was located.

"Hermione, Hermione!" Neville quickly called out to his classmate, "You've gone the wrong way, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom is this way."

Hermione paused, stunned.

"Did you forget the layout of Hogwarts Castle after two months of summer vacation and get the location of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom wrong?" Neville chuckled. "It's a good thing you ran into me, otherwise you would have been late for Professor Lupin's first class."

"I'm not……"

Hermione glanced at Professor Levent beside her, who was watching them with a smile in his eyes. The little witch stammered, "I didn't go the wrong way, I'm going this way..."

She was rushing to her ancient runes class, and if she delayed any longer, she would be late.

But she couldn't tell Neville directly that he would see another Hermione in Defense Against the Dark Arts class later, and if her classmates discovered the flaw and aroused curiosity, it would cause trouble if they traced it back to the Time-Turner.

She had promised Professor McGonagall.

Just as the little witch was standing there, struggling to figure out how to get out of this, Melvin spoke up: "Hermione has something else to do. I have a book list that she needs to help me organize. It won't take too long. You can go to the classroom first, Neville."

"But……"

"I won't let her be late."

"OK then."

Neville walked toward the fork in the road, still uneasy, and glanced back at them a few times.

Melvin found it somewhat amusing that third-year students had absolutely no idea how to lie or cover up their mistakes, and he wondered how previous students had managed to conceal the time-tamper.

Hermione glanced at him discreetly and, noticing that he showed no interest in asking any questions, asked curiously, "Professor, do you know about... the converter?"

"What time converter? I don't know."

"..."

"The morning classes are packed and the break time is short, why didn't you go to the classroom earlier?" Melvin asked casually as he and the little witch walked down the other side of the aisle. "If we had waited any longer, the aisle would have been full of classmates. We might have run into Harry and Ron if we had gone any later."

"I didn't want to rush like this either, but there was an unexpected accident on the way."

Hermione adjusted her backpack, sighing under the weight of her studies. "Professor Snape was moving a magical wardrobe from upstairs to the staff lounge, with Peeves causing trouble beside him. I had to hide in Myrtle's bathroom, and then I ran into Myrtle."

“A magic wardrobe? What kind of magic wardrobe?” Melvin stopped outside the Runewen classroom and looked down at the girl.

Hermione spread her hands: "I don't know either. I just saw the cabinet moving, clanging and rattling. It seemed like there was something locked inside, and they said Professor Lupin needed it for his classes."

“Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching aids…” Melvin pondered as he left.

Hermione walked into the classroom, sat in the front row, took out the dazzling necklace from her collar, and revealed a complex and inscrutable expression.

……

The staff lounge was a long, rectangular hall filled with mismatched old chairs. Against the wall stood several old wardrobes, where professors and students stored their special robes, such as Professor Sprout's gardener's gown and Mrs. Hodge's flight class hat.

Melvin stood in the center of the staff break room next to an old wardrobe, watching Professor Lupin lead a group of students approach. He gave up his middle position and came to the armchair against the wall. The low chair was free of dust.

Lupin stood in front of the students with a gentle smile on his face: "Professor McGonagall told me that Professor Snape helped me move the teaching materials."

"Yes, Professor Snape was there when I arrived, but he felt that one professor was enough to look after this, so he handed it over to me and went back to his office."

Melvin turned slightly to the side, revealing the old wardrobe behind him. "I learned by chance that Professor Lupin was going to use this teaching aid to start the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class. I was curious about the things in here, so I came to sit in on it."

“I’d be happy to audit the class. But if Professor McGonagall specifically sends you here to assess my suitability for the teaching position, then I’ll have to teach behind closed doors.”

Lupin looked into the young professor's dark eyes. He had a pretty good impression of Melvin. Although the previous two Defense Against the Dark Arts professors had fallen into his hands, they deserved it. This professor hadn't listened to Snape's instigation and had a good reputation among both students and professors.

Melvin walked over to the student and indicated that he was there to listen in.

Ignoring the comical winks and grimaces of the young wizards, Lupin didn't waste any more time and went straight to the wardrobe to begin his lesson: "I'm sure you're all curious about what treasure is inside that attracted Professor Levent to come and listen in?" The wardrobe suddenly shook, its back shell hitting the wall with a thud.

Several timid students trembled in fright. The boys craned their necks, trying to see what was in the narrow gap, while the girls shrank back slightly. Lavender and Parvati moved even closer to Melvin.

Lupin found it amusing: "Don't worry, there's a Boggart inside."

"Boggarts prefer dark, enclosed spaces and often hide under closets, beds, and sinks... The first question we'll encounter in this lesson is, what exactly is a Boggart?"

While the odd jobs and part-time work were tough, the benefits became apparent. While working odd jobs required communicating with various employers, bosses, and customers, now he had to communicate with students. Lupin was able to easily capture the students' expressions and attract their attention with his words.

"Boggarts typically hide in dark, narrow spaces and possess the ability to sense human fear and transform into corresponding forms; their true form is unknown. Muggles may sense the presence of Boggarts, but usually regard them as illusions."

The book's simple and dry introduction was transformed by Lu Ping through various examples and interactive question-and-answer sessions, making the students listen with great interest.

Melvin's observation of the class was quite interesting, mainly because there were students interacting with him, whispering among themselves in class, and while Hermione was answering questions, Lavender and Parvati would ask him about Boggart-related knowledge. When they heard those terrifying cases, they would even gasp in shock to express their amazement.

Neville would also inhale. Although he had gotten rid of his inferiority complex and timidity, he was still a little cowardly. He wanted to overcome this cowardice and hunched his neck to look into the closet.

He attempted to see Boggart's true nature through a gap the size of a thumb.

Melvin sat in an armchair against the wall, listening to the lesson and maintaining classroom order, without responding to Lavender and the others' attempts to engage him in conversation.

Lupin had already begun to explain Boggart's weakness: when facing multiple wizards at the same time, he often didn't know what he should become, his mind was confused by chaotic thoughts, and he eventually became a strange creature that couldn't frighten anyone.

Then there's the special spell for Boggart. The spell is funny and the casting action is very basic; most third-year students can master it.

When the students had practiced enough, Lupin suggested that someone come forward to demonstrate. He didn't call on Hermione, who had her hands raised high, but instead called on the one who looked a little dazed.

"Okay, Neville, first thing, tell me what you're most afraid of in the world?"

Neville hesitated for a moment, then uttered an unexpected name: "Bellatrix Lestrange."

Many students looked puzzled, and only a few had heard the name before, such as Draco from Slytherin, whose face was serious and brows furrowed.

Melvin, who was listening in, remained calm; this answer was not surprising.

Having shed his timid and self-conscious nature, Neville has grown into a semi-leader of the drama club. In the last class, he discussed the relationship between teacher-student expectations and prophecies. Naturally, he will be able to break free from Snape's shadow.

Compared to the Potions professors at the school, the Death Eaters who tormented their parents to the point of madness and destroyed the entire Longbottom family were the real source of their fear.

“Bellatrix…”

Lupin paused for a moment. The student's fear of Death Eaters was a reasonable but tricky answer. He had to use humor to guide Neville out of his fear.

"Neville, have you met Bellatrix?"

"Oh, I've seen her in the newspaper."

"The photo published in the Daily Prophet should be of her when she was arrested and tried..." Lupin slowed his tone, pondering how to respond, "Are there any other people in your life who have left a deep impression on you? They acted ridiculously and without any dignity."

"Professor Lockhart from last semester?"

"I've heard of him, but what exactly makes him so ridiculous?"

Neville frowned as he recalled, "He always wore extravagant and flamboyant clothes regardless of the occasion, boasted about himself, showed off achievements that weren't his own, and always made a fool of himself when demonstrating magic. Now he's in a closed ward at St. Mungo's, practicing his signature, but he refuses to admit that he is Lockhart."

"Always trying to be in the spotlight, but always making a fool of himself."

Lupin smiled and concluded, "I don't know this Mr. Lockhart. Perhaps you can think of other ridiculous things and imagine those things happening to Bellatrix."

Some students in the audience, recalling Lockhart's behavior, scoffed with disdain.

He was frightened away by the Cornish elves, was knocked out of his slumber by Snape's spell at the Duel Club, had his arm bone removed after a Quidditch match, died while facing the Basilisk, and was killed by his own Oblivion Curse when he tried to claim credit for the victory.

“Lohart… Bella…” Neville murmured the two names.

Melvin and Lupin remained silent, waiting quietly with calm expressions, showing no impatience.

Teaching students is a slow process.

The room was quiet. Neville had prepared himself mentally for a long time. The other students were also thinking about their own fears during this process, adding funny and ridiculous things from their memories to their fears in order to overcome them.

There was an open space in front of the old wardrobe, which was originally where students stood to listen to lectures. Gradually, at Lupin's suggestion, the space was cleared out, and a stage was set up in the staff lounge. Melvin stood next to Lupin, like a professor and his teaching assistant.

Neville stood alone in front of the wardrobe, his robe sleeves rolled up, his hand gripping his wand so tightly it turned slightly white.

The demonstration has officially begun.

Lupin cast a spell, sending out a spark. The wardrobe responded, and a witch with a gloomy face emerged. Her long black hair was disheveled, she had thick eyelids and thin lips, sunken cheeks, and a withered appearance. One could vaguely see traces of her beauty in her youth, but she was more vicious and sinister.

His eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he licked his lips like a beast eyeing its prey.

"Slippery... hilarious!"

Neville called out, somewhat haltingly.

With a crisp snap, like the crack of a whip, Bellatrix staggered slightly, suddenly appearing in a crimson robe, forcing a bright smile, and wearing a purple headscarf.
"That's Quirrell's headscarf!"

A burst of laughter erupted from the students.

Bogut froze on the spot, hurriedly burying his head to avoid the laughter.

Just as the demonstration was proceeding smoothly and Lupin was about to make a substitution, someone suddenly said, "Isn't there a mysterious person hidden in Quirrell's scarf?"

Lu Ping's expression changed, and he turned to look at Neville, whose face had turned deathly pale.

Bellatrix, who was in the staff break room, suddenly looked up. She seemed like a different person. She still had a bright smile on her face, but when she licked her tongue, it was like a viper spitting its tongue. Her lips and tongue were scarlet and cruel, making people shudder.

(End of this chapter)