Hagrid's Magical Creature Lesson was very interesting. They got acquainted with the hippogriffs, and then even flew on them. But the joy of flying turned out to be a little spoilt by the view of climbing over the Forbidden Forest of Dementors as if looking for the most suitable place to build a nest.
At lunch, Harry kept his promise and went to Slytherin's table.
- Oh, my eternal rival! - Harry exclaimed, pointing to the Draco. - You are strong and powerful, but this year's victory will be mine!
Hermione noted that the students in the Great Hall and even part of the teachers, postponing their business and food, listened with interest to Harry's screams.
- I call you for a new competition! Just you and me, without teams, as last year! Animal competition!
- What? - asked Draco again with a stupid view.
McGonagall rushed to them.
- You and I - we'll be images! Whoever gets to be their first, wins!
- Mr. Potter! - Mr. Potter's outraged exclamation of Minerva was heard.
- And McGonagall-don will be a judge, as a recognized specialist! - without being embarrassed, Harry continued, bowing down to the dean of Gryffindor.
McGonagall answered and took Draco and Harry to the teachers' table. Dumbledore said something to Snape and McGonagall, pointing to Potter and Malfoy, but what exactly was it that wasn't heard, at least not at Hufflepuff's table. Hermione sighed and turned to her friends.
- Harry was right," Neville said unexpectedly, and immediately explained, "that he did not attract us. We'll all have a lot to do this year, you have Hermione - all the objects, we have Quidditch, and let's not forget about the green potion!
- Harry wanted to learn more about spells against dementia," said Hermione, who remembered flying over the Forbidden Forest and warning Dumbledore that it was better not to go outside the school.
- He's always worked harder than all of us," nodded Neville, "and I think we should help him. You and I, we'll do the mutagen, Ron will be the best in Quidditch, as promised.
- I swear on the Power of Youth! - L. Ron Hubbard exclaimed fervently. - I've been training, and I can drop a dozen dwarves and catch them all on the fly!
The next day, the lesson of the ZOTI began with the fact that Remus Lupin took everybody to another room, where he said the boggarts settled in the closet. On the way, he briefly described what this creation was, and explained that now each of the students will try their hand at fighting it.
- Professor Lockhart-san also began his practice last year, immediately released a pack of Cornish pixies on us, and cleverly pretended to be helpless! - Harry was happy to tell us. - By the way, you don't know Professor Lupin-san, how is he?
Remus Lupin smiled back at him, unwittingly remembering the last time he saw Gilderoy.
July 1993, Slanting Alley, Café Usladel
Lupin, waiting for Dumbledore, was sitting at a table in a summer cafe sipping cool juice. At that moment, a dozen women flew out of the corner like a pack of pixies.
- Where is he?
- Where did he go?
- There he is!
Remus, with all his modesty and quiet behavior, was never very timid. Neither as a magician nor as a werewolf. But here and now, even he was a little scared, so fiercely women - in the best outfits and jewelry! - rushed straight to him. While he was hesitant to take out the stick, the women rushed past, knocked down a few tables and attacked a man who had just bent over to pick something up. They grabbed the man's glasses and wigs, and then Remus recognized Lockhart.
- Aha!
- He's mine!
- Gilderoy, I'm yours!
- Let's take care of the kids right now!
Lockhart was shaken, jerked, pulled in different directions, and he was skillfully pretending to be helpless. Then a woman wearing glasses looked around the corner, and Remus was surprised to find out about Sylvia Treloni. Remus himself still wondered whether it is worth to meet in the sharing of Gilderoy, and do not inadvertently consider him a competitor? Tremonti skillfully threw a glass of ice cream, and among the women began a fight.
Gilderoy, continuing to pretend to be helpless, cleverly crawled away and fled.
- I don't think he's bored," Lupin replied, continuing to smile. - But let us return to the lesson.
After the lesson, which was very lively, he asked Potter to linger.
- Will you teach me the Patronus spell, Professor? - Harry joyfully exclaimed.
- Let's just say," Remus said thoughtfully, "that you're not a stranger to me, Harry, and I was very friendly with your father when we went to Hogwarts together. And your fearlessness in the face of Boggart impressed me very much, very rarely, so that the Boggart could not take a certain form. How did you do that?
Harry stumbled, not knowing how to explain that when it came to Boggart, Maito Gaius moved forward, and the magical creature, taking the form of your fear, was just confused, and for a long time wrinkled with a shapeless cloud, trying to find something, after which it just burst.
- There is no room for fear where the power of youth burns!
- It's an interesting concept," Lupin humbled quietly, "and I think I've heard it before in Hogwarts Express.
- I never give up on my promises! - Harry threw his head up. - If I can't master the Patronus spell in a month, I'll run around the school a hundred times!
- Then we'd better get started as soon as possible," Remus said, laughing approvingly. - Tomorrow is Saturday, right? Here, come to my office tomorrow at seven o'clock, we'll hold the first lesson.
To be continued...