The Boggart in the Wardrobe

Calendar and Dates

This takes place on a Thursday, from mid-morning until the end of afternoon class. Since the Gryffindor third-years haven't had a Defence Against the Dark Arts class yet, it will be near the start of term.

Students arrive at Hogwarts on 1 September every year. Using a real world calendar, this made their first day of classes Thursday 2 September, when Draco Malfoy was injured during Care of Magical Creatures after lunch. The next possible Thursday is a week later - on the 9th of September. Of course, magically, the first day of term always seems to be a Monday at Hogwarts.

Interesting facts and notes

In this chapter, Professor Snape's cruelty is matched by Professor Lupin's kindness. Neville Longbottom is the recipient of both.

Ron seized his knife, pulled Malfoy's roots towards him and began to chop them roughly, so that they were all different sizes.
"Professor," drawled Malfoy, "Weasley's mutilating my roots, sir."

Ron is rightly punished for trying to ruin Draco's potion ingredients by having to give Draco his perfectly prepared roots. Harry then wisely decides to do a good job with skinning the Shrivelfig that Draco needs.

"Please, sir," said Hermione, "please, I could help Neville put it right –"
"I don’t remember asking you to show off, Miss Granger,’ said Snape coldly, and Hermione went as pink as Neville. "Longbottom, at the end of this lesson we will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see what happens. Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly."

If Neville doesn't want his toad Trevor to be poisoned (rather than temporarily turning back into a tadpole), he will definitely need Hermione's help. Neville is useless at Potions, especially with the constant criticism aimed at him by Professor Snape.

"So the Boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. He does not yet know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a Boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears."

This means that each student in the class will have to face whatever they fear most - the Boggart will be able to sense this. They will also have to be able to master their fear long enough to think of something funny to be able to defeat it.

"I wonder, could you tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?"
Neville looked startled, but said, "Well … always the same hat. A tall one with a stuffed vulture on top. And a long dress … green, normally … and sometimes a fox-fur scarf."
"And a handbag?" prompted Professor Lupin.
"A big red one," said Neville.

Neville, understandably, fears Professor Snape, so Professor Lupin helps him to find something that will turn the fear into laughter - his Gran's flamboyant and old-fashioned clothing being worn by his most terrifying teacher.

Exceptional character moments

Using his injury to his advantage, Malfoy asking for help in double Potions class, and Professor Snape ordering Ron and Harry to help him prepare his potion ingredient.

Seamus telling Harry that according to the Daily Prophet, Sirius Black has been sighted by a Muggle not too far from Hogwarts.

Hermione helping Neville with his potion and Professor Snape deducting 5 points from Gryffindor because she helped Neville.

Professor Lupin's first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson on how to repel a boggart with the Riddikulus charm.

The first student to face the boggart is Neville. Neville's boggart assumes the form of Professor Snape, and he imagines Snape in his grandmother's clothes and uses the Riddikulus charm to successfully repel the boggart.

Professor Lupin's boggart takes the shape of a silvery-white orb hanging in the air.

Most of the students in class successfully repel the boggart except for Harry and Hermione who were not given a chance to face the boggart. Both are disappointed, even though they earned points for Gryffindor by answering Lupin's questions.

Memorable lines

"Keep talking Malfoy, and I'll give you a real injury." [Ron]

Speaking to Harry regarding Sirius Black: "I'd have done something before now. I wouldn't be staying in school like a good boy, I'd be out there looking for him . . . I'd want revenge... I'd hunt him down myself." [Malfoy]

To Ron: "Why would I want revenge on Black? He hasn't done anything to me -- yet." [Harry]

"Nobody knows what a boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become what each of us most fears." [Professor Lupin]

To Hermione: "What would it have been for you? A piece of homework that only got nine out of ten?" [Ron]

Words and phrases

• Wardrobe