Why didn't someone release the Boggart against Voldemort's Death Eaters during the Battle of Hogwarts?

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The Boggart being able to quickly change forms into many different people's fears would have surely been an excellent weapon against the Death Eaters.
So why didn't someone release the Boggart during the fight with Voldemort's Death Eaters to help turn the tide to Hogwarts during the fight at Hogwarts?










share|improve this question



















  • 50





    Can you control a boggart? If not, how could they have been sure that it would have attacked only the deatheaters? That would have caused chaos in both parties

    – Lyzvaleska
    Jan 20 at 10:16






  • 49





    Since the students learn how to defeat a bogart in school, I don't expect that a boggart would really present all that much of a threat to a fully trained death-eater. Also you could not guarantee that the boggart wouldn't turn the tide against the heros instead, as it does not appear to ever do anyone's bidding, it could well attack the Hogwarts defenders instead, aiding the death-eaters.

    – Andrew
    Jan 20 at 10:16






  • 17





    Hogwarts doesn't have a Boggart, the one in POA had only just moved in and was kept briefly for the third years to practice on. The implication is that ordinarily any Boggart that showed up would be promptly destroyed.

    – Harry Johnston
    Jan 20 at 13:56






  • 7





    Even if a Boggart could be made to target only the Death Eaters, I'm sure some of the them were actually terrified of Voldemort himself. Most students would have had quite a shock seeing Voldemort suddenly appear in the castle's corridors :P

    – omijn
    Jan 21 at 8:40











  • @Andrew Indeed, I doubt an Avada Kedavra couldn't do the job quickly. And boggarts like enclosed, dark spaces - how exactly would you get out into the open in the first place?

    – Luaan
    Jan 21 at 8:52















46















The Boggart being able to quickly change forms into many different people's fears would have surely been an excellent weapon against the Death Eaters.
So why didn't someone release the Boggart during the fight with Voldemort's Death Eaters to help turn the tide to Hogwarts during the fight at Hogwarts?










share|improve this question



















  • 50





    Can you control a boggart? If not, how could they have been sure that it would have attacked only the deatheaters? That would have caused chaos in both parties

    – Lyzvaleska
    Jan 20 at 10:16






  • 49





    Since the students learn how to defeat a bogart in school, I don't expect that a boggart would really present all that much of a threat to a fully trained death-eater. Also you could not guarantee that the boggart wouldn't turn the tide against the heros instead, as it does not appear to ever do anyone's bidding, it could well attack the Hogwarts defenders instead, aiding the death-eaters.

    – Andrew
    Jan 20 at 10:16






  • 17





    Hogwarts doesn't have a Boggart, the one in POA had only just moved in and was kept briefly for the third years to practice on. The implication is that ordinarily any Boggart that showed up would be promptly destroyed.

    – Harry Johnston
    Jan 20 at 13:56






  • 7





    Even if a Boggart could be made to target only the Death Eaters, I'm sure some of the them were actually terrified of Voldemort himself. Most students would have had quite a shock seeing Voldemort suddenly appear in the castle's corridors :P

    – omijn
    Jan 21 at 8:40











  • @Andrew Indeed, I doubt an Avada Kedavra couldn't do the job quickly. And boggarts like enclosed, dark spaces - how exactly would you get out into the open in the first place?

    – Luaan
    Jan 21 at 8:52













46












46








46


4






The Boggart being able to quickly change forms into many different people's fears would have surely been an excellent weapon against the Death Eaters.
So why didn't someone release the Boggart during the fight with Voldemort's Death Eaters to help turn the tide to Hogwarts during the fight at Hogwarts?










share|improve this question
















The Boggart being able to quickly change forms into many different people's fears would have surely been an excellent weapon against the Death Eaters.
So why didn't someone release the Boggart during the fight with Voldemort's Death Eaters to help turn the tide to Hogwarts during the fight at Hogwarts?







harry-potter






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edited Feb 3 at 3:24









Bellatrix

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asked Jan 20 at 10:09









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243123







  • 50





    Can you control a boggart? If not, how could they have been sure that it would have attacked only the deatheaters? That would have caused chaos in both parties

    – Lyzvaleska
    Jan 20 at 10:16






  • 49





    Since the students learn how to defeat a bogart in school, I don't expect that a boggart would really present all that much of a threat to a fully trained death-eater. Also you could not guarantee that the boggart wouldn't turn the tide against the heros instead, as it does not appear to ever do anyone's bidding, it could well attack the Hogwarts defenders instead, aiding the death-eaters.

    – Andrew
    Jan 20 at 10:16






  • 17





    Hogwarts doesn't have a Boggart, the one in POA had only just moved in and was kept briefly for the third years to practice on. The implication is that ordinarily any Boggart that showed up would be promptly destroyed.

    – Harry Johnston
    Jan 20 at 13:56






  • 7





    Even if a Boggart could be made to target only the Death Eaters, I'm sure some of the them were actually terrified of Voldemort himself. Most students would have had quite a shock seeing Voldemort suddenly appear in the castle's corridors :P

    – omijn
    Jan 21 at 8:40











  • @Andrew Indeed, I doubt an Avada Kedavra couldn't do the job quickly. And boggarts like enclosed, dark spaces - how exactly would you get out into the open in the first place?

    – Luaan
    Jan 21 at 8:52












  • 50





    Can you control a boggart? If not, how could they have been sure that it would have attacked only the deatheaters? That would have caused chaos in both parties

    – Lyzvaleska
    Jan 20 at 10:16






  • 49





    Since the students learn how to defeat a bogart in school, I don't expect that a boggart would really present all that much of a threat to a fully trained death-eater. Also you could not guarantee that the boggart wouldn't turn the tide against the heros instead, as it does not appear to ever do anyone's bidding, it could well attack the Hogwarts defenders instead, aiding the death-eaters.

    – Andrew
    Jan 20 at 10:16






  • 17





    Hogwarts doesn't have a Boggart, the one in POA had only just moved in and was kept briefly for the third years to practice on. The implication is that ordinarily any Boggart that showed up would be promptly destroyed.

    – Harry Johnston
    Jan 20 at 13:56






  • 7





    Even if a Boggart could be made to target only the Death Eaters, I'm sure some of the them were actually terrified of Voldemort himself. Most students would have had quite a shock seeing Voldemort suddenly appear in the castle's corridors :P

    – omijn
    Jan 21 at 8:40











  • @Andrew Indeed, I doubt an Avada Kedavra couldn't do the job quickly. And boggarts like enclosed, dark spaces - how exactly would you get out into the open in the first place?

    – Luaan
    Jan 21 at 8:52







50




50





Can you control a boggart? If not, how could they have been sure that it would have attacked only the deatheaters? That would have caused chaos in both parties

– Lyzvaleska
Jan 20 at 10:16





Can you control a boggart? If not, how could they have been sure that it would have attacked only the deatheaters? That would have caused chaos in both parties

– Lyzvaleska
Jan 20 at 10:16




49




49





Since the students learn how to defeat a bogart in school, I don't expect that a boggart would really present all that much of a threat to a fully trained death-eater. Also you could not guarantee that the boggart wouldn't turn the tide against the heros instead, as it does not appear to ever do anyone's bidding, it could well attack the Hogwarts defenders instead, aiding the death-eaters.

– Andrew
Jan 20 at 10:16





Since the students learn how to defeat a bogart in school, I don't expect that a boggart would really present all that much of a threat to a fully trained death-eater. Also you could not guarantee that the boggart wouldn't turn the tide against the heros instead, as it does not appear to ever do anyone's bidding, it could well attack the Hogwarts defenders instead, aiding the death-eaters.

– Andrew
Jan 20 at 10:16




17




17





Hogwarts doesn't have a Boggart, the one in POA had only just moved in and was kept briefly for the third years to practice on. The implication is that ordinarily any Boggart that showed up would be promptly destroyed.

– Harry Johnston
Jan 20 at 13:56





Hogwarts doesn't have a Boggart, the one in POA had only just moved in and was kept briefly for the third years to practice on. The implication is that ordinarily any Boggart that showed up would be promptly destroyed.

– Harry Johnston
Jan 20 at 13:56




7




7





Even if a Boggart could be made to target only the Death Eaters, I'm sure some of the them were actually terrified of Voldemort himself. Most students would have had quite a shock seeing Voldemort suddenly appear in the castle's corridors :P

– omijn
Jan 21 at 8:40





Even if a Boggart could be made to target only the Death Eaters, I'm sure some of the them were actually terrified of Voldemort himself. Most students would have had quite a shock seeing Voldemort suddenly appear in the castle's corridors :P

– omijn
Jan 21 at 8:40













@Andrew Indeed, I doubt an Avada Kedavra couldn't do the job quickly. And boggarts like enclosed, dark spaces - how exactly would you get out into the open in the first place?

– Luaan
Jan 21 at 8:52





@Andrew Indeed, I doubt an Avada Kedavra couldn't do the job quickly. And boggarts like enclosed, dark spaces - how exactly would you get out into the open in the first place?

– Luaan
Jan 21 at 8:52










5 Answers
5






active

oldest

votes


















170














Using a Boggart against many people is not a good idea:



From the lesson on boggarts:




‘This means,’ said Professor Lupin, ‘that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?’



‘Er – because there are so many of us, it won’t know what shape it should be?’



‘Precisely,’ said Professor Lupin. ‘It’s always best to have company when you’re dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake – tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.‘







share|improve this answer






























    79














    The premise of the question is incorrect. There is no "the boggart" in Hogwarts. There was a boggart four years earlier, but it is clear from Lupin's statement in Chapter Seven of Prisoner of Azkaban that it was merely a coincidence that the boggart had taken up residence in the castle at the time:




    "Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces," said Professor Lupin. "Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks — I've even met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third years some practice.




    Furthermore, that particular boggart was actually destroyed in the Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson in the same chapter:




    "Riddikulus!" he shouted, and they had a split second's view of Snape in his lacy dress before Neville let out a great "Ha!" of laughter, and the boggart exploded, burst into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and was gone.




    While there theoretically could be other boggarts, it seems that boggarts in the castle was not a common everyday occurrence. When Harry wanted Lupin to teach him how to repel dementors in Chapter Twelve of Prisoner of Azkaban, Lupin did not immediately suggest using a boggart. Instead he said that he would need to think about how they would practice. If there was always a boggart or two hanging around, Lupin could have suggested this right away:




    "Ah yes," said Lupin, when Harry reminded him of his promise at the end of class. "Let me see... how about eight o'clock on Thursday evening? The History of Magic classroom should be large enough.... I'll have to think carefully about how we're going to do this.... We can't bring a real dementor into the castle to practice on...."




    Indeed, later in the chapter they end up using a boggart but Lupin makes clear that it was not easy to find one:




    "What's that?" said Harry.



    "Another boggart," said Lupin, stripping off his cloak. "I've been combing the castle ever since Tuesday, and very luckily, I found this one lurking inside Mr. Filch's filing cabinet.




    Thus, at any given time there might not be any boggarts at all in the castle, or if there are they might be hard to find. When the most important battle against Voldemort is about to begin it would be considered a tremendous waste of time/resources to go looking for a boggart. They might not find one, and even if they did manage to find one it would be rather hard to have it only terrorize the Death Eaters and not the Hogwarts Defenders. Moreover, the Death Eaters might dispose of it in very short order, in which case it would not accomplish much.



    A much better use of time/resources was to try to defend the castle in other ways. Ways which did not involve combing the castle with the chance of not finding anything. Ways which did not involve setting something loose that could just as easily turn against them. Ways which did not involve using tactics that could possibly be overcome in an instant with a third-year level charm.






    share|improve this answer























    • >Ways which did not involve combing the castle with the chance of not finding anything. Except Harry, of course. His task was explicitly to comb the castle with the chance of not finding what he sought.

      – Adonalsium
      Jan 22 at 14:45











    • There was one put in the maze for the Triwizard Tournament, so they're not so very impossible to find.

      – Wildcard
      Jan 22 at 20:09






    • 1





      @Wildcard Not impossible. Just no reason to assume there's one lying around for easy taking at any given time.

      – Alex
      Jan 22 at 20:10











    • @Wildcard It could have come from anywhere, not just Hogwarts. The Ministry has the whole UK (and France and wherever Durmstrang is) to search

      – Azor Ahai
      Jan 22 at 21:41



















    18














    A Boggart wouldn’t be very effective.



    Releasing a Boggart to attempt to scare the Death Eaters wouldn’t be very effective. The charm to repel a Boggart is simple, it’s not an advanced or difficult one.




    “The charm that repels a Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing.”
    - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)




    Lupin is very easily able to repel the Boggart, even when it’s transformed into his own worst fear. The majority of Death Eaters would likely be able to do the same, as they’re all adult wizards and most of them would likely have some level of skill at magic.




    “Then they saw a silvery white orb hanging in the air in front of Lupin, who said ‘Riddikulus!’ almost lazily.”
    - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)




    The Boggart-repelling charm wasn’t anything exclusive to ‘good’ wizards, so there’s no reason to think the Death Eaters couldn't cast it as effortlessly and effectively as Lupin was able to. Additionally, the battle was crowded, so the Boggart mightn’t even be able to properly turn into any one person’s worst fear.




    “Er – because there are so many of us, it won’t know what shape it should be?’



    ‘Precisely,’ said Professor Lupin, and Hermione put her hand down looking a little disappointed. ‘It’s always best to have company when you’re dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake – tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.”
    - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)




    However, even if it did, it’d likely be trivially simple for a Death Eater to repel the Boggart.






    share|improve this answer


















    • 2





      While I agree with this argument in general, I also think there could be a good small story lurking in the idea. Given that at the battle of Hogwarts we have two groups of people, both with similar fears - meeting their worst enemy (at least at the moment). It could be that this shared fear could make it actually easier for the Boggart to focus on one form and thus appear as either a duplicated Voldemort or a resurrected Dumbledore (or maybe a Harry). Could have made for a nice twist story arc wrt to the resurrection stone.

      – Darkwing
      Jan 21 at 11:48












    • I'd say even more, I don't think boggarts actually do physically attack people. We've only seen effects from their presence (the fake Dementor-boggarts) and only mental effects at that. We've never seen them press the attack, even when their prey is unable to muster up the countercharm. I think the utility of a boggart would probably be limited to demoralizing opponents.

      – Adamant
      Jan 23 at 10:47












    • I agree with most of this answer, except the assumption that adult wizards would trivially defeat a Boggart. Of course Lupin could take care of it, he was the teacher. A maths teacher who couldn't do maths would be a considered not fit to do that job. That doesn't mean all students would pick it up easily and (more importantly) retain that knowledge/skill perfectly into adulthood. Molly Weasley, for example, proves to be a formidable witch in her own right yet was still very affected by a Boggart.

      – JTPenguin
      Jan 23 at 16:14


















    13














    The majority of Death Eaters appear to be alumni of Hogwarts and we know that the Defence Against the Dark Arts curriculum has included a lesson on dealing with Boggarts since at least the 1920s.








    enter image description here



    That being the case, a loose Boggart would be trivially simple for them to deal with.






    share|improve this answer




















    • 5





      Tell that to Mrs. Weasley.

      – Alex
      Jan 20 at 18:05






    • 1





      @Alex - I always found it strange that she coped so poorly.

      – Valorum
      Jan 20 at 19:49






    • 2





      As did all readers.

      – Alex
      Jan 20 at 19:52






    • 10





      Mrs Weasley is a mom of 7, She has a lot of things to fear, and most of them cut pretty deep. Like most fears, the first challenge is to gain self-mastery in the face of it. That's where she struggled.

      – Ruadhan2300
      Jan 21 at 9:48






    • 4





      One counter-argument I'd see: They need to first know that it is a Boggart they are dealing with. In the heat of the battle that might easily not be the case for quite a while.

      – Darkwing
      Jan 21 at 11:49



















    1














    One other option is: no one wanted to watch on something that may scare Death Eater because it must be something horrible. It will scare everyone around including the person who decide to perform this trick.






    share|improve this answer

























    • To be fair, i'm pretty sure that only Voldemort himself scare Death Eater.

      – dna
      Jan 25 at 12:56










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    5 Answers
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    5 Answers
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    170














    Using a Boggart against many people is not a good idea:



    From the lesson on boggarts:




    ‘This means,’ said Professor Lupin, ‘that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?’



    ‘Er – because there are so many of us, it won’t know what shape it should be?’



    ‘Precisely,’ said Professor Lupin. ‘It’s always best to have company when you’re dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake – tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.‘







    share|improve this answer



























      170














      Using a Boggart against many people is not a good idea:



      From the lesson on boggarts:




      ‘This means,’ said Professor Lupin, ‘that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?’



      ‘Er – because there are so many of us, it won’t know what shape it should be?’



      ‘Precisely,’ said Professor Lupin. ‘It’s always best to have company when you’re dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake – tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.‘







      share|improve this answer

























        170












        170








        170







        Using a Boggart against many people is not a good idea:



        From the lesson on boggarts:




        ‘This means,’ said Professor Lupin, ‘that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?’



        ‘Er – because there are so many of us, it won’t know what shape it should be?’



        ‘Precisely,’ said Professor Lupin. ‘It’s always best to have company when you’re dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake – tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.‘







        share|improve this answer













        Using a Boggart against many people is not a good idea:



        From the lesson on boggarts:




        ‘This means,’ said Professor Lupin, ‘that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?’



        ‘Er – because there are so many of us, it won’t know what shape it should be?’



        ‘Precisely,’ said Professor Lupin. ‘It’s always best to have company when you’re dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake – tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.‘








        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Jan 20 at 10:23









        QuestionAuthorityQuestionAuthority

        2,3252725




        2,3252725























            79














            The premise of the question is incorrect. There is no "the boggart" in Hogwarts. There was a boggart four years earlier, but it is clear from Lupin's statement in Chapter Seven of Prisoner of Azkaban that it was merely a coincidence that the boggart had taken up residence in the castle at the time:




            "Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces," said Professor Lupin. "Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks — I've even met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third years some practice.




            Furthermore, that particular boggart was actually destroyed in the Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson in the same chapter:




            "Riddikulus!" he shouted, and they had a split second's view of Snape in his lacy dress before Neville let out a great "Ha!" of laughter, and the boggart exploded, burst into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and was gone.




            While there theoretically could be other boggarts, it seems that boggarts in the castle was not a common everyday occurrence. When Harry wanted Lupin to teach him how to repel dementors in Chapter Twelve of Prisoner of Azkaban, Lupin did not immediately suggest using a boggart. Instead he said that he would need to think about how they would practice. If there was always a boggart or two hanging around, Lupin could have suggested this right away:




            "Ah yes," said Lupin, when Harry reminded him of his promise at the end of class. "Let me see... how about eight o'clock on Thursday evening? The History of Magic classroom should be large enough.... I'll have to think carefully about how we're going to do this.... We can't bring a real dementor into the castle to practice on...."




            Indeed, later in the chapter they end up using a boggart but Lupin makes clear that it was not easy to find one:




            "What's that?" said Harry.



            "Another boggart," said Lupin, stripping off his cloak. "I've been combing the castle ever since Tuesday, and very luckily, I found this one lurking inside Mr. Filch's filing cabinet.




            Thus, at any given time there might not be any boggarts at all in the castle, or if there are they might be hard to find. When the most important battle against Voldemort is about to begin it would be considered a tremendous waste of time/resources to go looking for a boggart. They might not find one, and even if they did manage to find one it would be rather hard to have it only terrorize the Death Eaters and not the Hogwarts Defenders. Moreover, the Death Eaters might dispose of it in very short order, in which case it would not accomplish much.



            A much better use of time/resources was to try to defend the castle in other ways. Ways which did not involve combing the castle with the chance of not finding anything. Ways which did not involve setting something loose that could just as easily turn against them. Ways which did not involve using tactics that could possibly be overcome in an instant with a third-year level charm.






            share|improve this answer























            • >Ways which did not involve combing the castle with the chance of not finding anything. Except Harry, of course. His task was explicitly to comb the castle with the chance of not finding what he sought.

              – Adonalsium
              Jan 22 at 14:45











            • There was one put in the maze for the Triwizard Tournament, so they're not so very impossible to find.

              – Wildcard
              Jan 22 at 20:09






            • 1





              @Wildcard Not impossible. Just no reason to assume there's one lying around for easy taking at any given time.

              – Alex
              Jan 22 at 20:10











            • @Wildcard It could have come from anywhere, not just Hogwarts. The Ministry has the whole UK (and France and wherever Durmstrang is) to search

              – Azor Ahai
              Jan 22 at 21:41
















            79














            The premise of the question is incorrect. There is no "the boggart" in Hogwarts. There was a boggart four years earlier, but it is clear from Lupin's statement in Chapter Seven of Prisoner of Azkaban that it was merely a coincidence that the boggart had taken up residence in the castle at the time:




            "Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces," said Professor Lupin. "Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks — I've even met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third years some practice.




            Furthermore, that particular boggart was actually destroyed in the Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson in the same chapter:




            "Riddikulus!" he shouted, and they had a split second's view of Snape in his lacy dress before Neville let out a great "Ha!" of laughter, and the boggart exploded, burst into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and was gone.




            While there theoretically could be other boggarts, it seems that boggarts in the castle was not a common everyday occurrence. When Harry wanted Lupin to teach him how to repel dementors in Chapter Twelve of Prisoner of Azkaban, Lupin did not immediately suggest using a boggart. Instead he said that he would need to think about how they would practice. If there was always a boggart or two hanging around, Lupin could have suggested this right away:




            "Ah yes," said Lupin, when Harry reminded him of his promise at the end of class. "Let me see... how about eight o'clock on Thursday evening? The History of Magic classroom should be large enough.... I'll have to think carefully about how we're going to do this.... We can't bring a real dementor into the castle to practice on...."




            Indeed, later in the chapter they end up using a boggart but Lupin makes clear that it was not easy to find one:




            "What's that?" said Harry.



            "Another boggart," said Lupin, stripping off his cloak. "I've been combing the castle ever since Tuesday, and very luckily, I found this one lurking inside Mr. Filch's filing cabinet.




            Thus, at any given time there might not be any boggarts at all in the castle, or if there are they might be hard to find. When the most important battle against Voldemort is about to begin it would be considered a tremendous waste of time/resources to go looking for a boggart. They might not find one, and even if they did manage to find one it would be rather hard to have it only terrorize the Death Eaters and not the Hogwarts Defenders. Moreover, the Death Eaters might dispose of it in very short order, in which case it would not accomplish much.



            A much better use of time/resources was to try to defend the castle in other ways. Ways which did not involve combing the castle with the chance of not finding anything. Ways which did not involve setting something loose that could just as easily turn against them. Ways which did not involve using tactics that could possibly be overcome in an instant with a third-year level charm.






            share|improve this answer























            • >Ways which did not involve combing the castle with the chance of not finding anything. Except Harry, of course. His task was explicitly to comb the castle with the chance of not finding what he sought.

              – Adonalsium
              Jan 22 at 14:45











            • There was one put in the maze for the Triwizard Tournament, so they're not so very impossible to find.

              – Wildcard
              Jan 22 at 20:09






            • 1





              @Wildcard Not impossible. Just no reason to assume there's one lying around for easy taking at any given time.

              – Alex
              Jan 22 at 20:10











            • @Wildcard It could have come from anywhere, not just Hogwarts. The Ministry has the whole UK (and France and wherever Durmstrang is) to search

              – Azor Ahai
              Jan 22 at 21:41














            79












            79








            79







            The premise of the question is incorrect. There is no "the boggart" in Hogwarts. There was a boggart four years earlier, but it is clear from Lupin's statement in Chapter Seven of Prisoner of Azkaban that it was merely a coincidence that the boggart had taken up residence in the castle at the time:




            "Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces," said Professor Lupin. "Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks — I've even met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third years some practice.




            Furthermore, that particular boggart was actually destroyed in the Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson in the same chapter:




            "Riddikulus!" he shouted, and they had a split second's view of Snape in his lacy dress before Neville let out a great "Ha!" of laughter, and the boggart exploded, burst into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and was gone.




            While there theoretically could be other boggarts, it seems that boggarts in the castle was not a common everyday occurrence. When Harry wanted Lupin to teach him how to repel dementors in Chapter Twelve of Prisoner of Azkaban, Lupin did not immediately suggest using a boggart. Instead he said that he would need to think about how they would practice. If there was always a boggart or two hanging around, Lupin could have suggested this right away:




            "Ah yes," said Lupin, when Harry reminded him of his promise at the end of class. "Let me see... how about eight o'clock on Thursday evening? The History of Magic classroom should be large enough.... I'll have to think carefully about how we're going to do this.... We can't bring a real dementor into the castle to practice on...."




            Indeed, later in the chapter they end up using a boggart but Lupin makes clear that it was not easy to find one:




            "What's that?" said Harry.



            "Another boggart," said Lupin, stripping off his cloak. "I've been combing the castle ever since Tuesday, and very luckily, I found this one lurking inside Mr. Filch's filing cabinet.




            Thus, at any given time there might not be any boggarts at all in the castle, or if there are they might be hard to find. When the most important battle against Voldemort is about to begin it would be considered a tremendous waste of time/resources to go looking for a boggart. They might not find one, and even if they did manage to find one it would be rather hard to have it only terrorize the Death Eaters and not the Hogwarts Defenders. Moreover, the Death Eaters might dispose of it in very short order, in which case it would not accomplish much.



            A much better use of time/resources was to try to defend the castle in other ways. Ways which did not involve combing the castle with the chance of not finding anything. Ways which did not involve setting something loose that could just as easily turn against them. Ways which did not involve using tactics that could possibly be overcome in an instant with a third-year level charm.






            share|improve this answer













            The premise of the question is incorrect. There is no "the boggart" in Hogwarts. There was a boggart four years earlier, but it is clear from Lupin's statement in Chapter Seven of Prisoner of Azkaban that it was merely a coincidence that the boggart had taken up residence in the castle at the time:




            "Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces," said Professor Lupin. "Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks — I've even met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third years some practice.




            Furthermore, that particular boggart was actually destroyed in the Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson in the same chapter:




            "Riddikulus!" he shouted, and they had a split second's view of Snape in his lacy dress before Neville let out a great "Ha!" of laughter, and the boggart exploded, burst into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and was gone.




            While there theoretically could be other boggarts, it seems that boggarts in the castle was not a common everyday occurrence. When Harry wanted Lupin to teach him how to repel dementors in Chapter Twelve of Prisoner of Azkaban, Lupin did not immediately suggest using a boggart. Instead he said that he would need to think about how they would practice. If there was always a boggart or two hanging around, Lupin could have suggested this right away:




            "Ah yes," said Lupin, when Harry reminded him of his promise at the end of class. "Let me see... how about eight o'clock on Thursday evening? The History of Magic classroom should be large enough.... I'll have to think carefully about how we're going to do this.... We can't bring a real dementor into the castle to practice on...."




            Indeed, later in the chapter they end up using a boggart but Lupin makes clear that it was not easy to find one:




            "What's that?" said Harry.



            "Another boggart," said Lupin, stripping off his cloak. "I've been combing the castle ever since Tuesday, and very luckily, I found this one lurking inside Mr. Filch's filing cabinet.




            Thus, at any given time there might not be any boggarts at all in the castle, or if there are they might be hard to find. When the most important battle against Voldemort is about to begin it would be considered a tremendous waste of time/resources to go looking for a boggart. They might not find one, and even if they did manage to find one it would be rather hard to have it only terrorize the Death Eaters and not the Hogwarts Defenders. Moreover, the Death Eaters might dispose of it in very short order, in which case it would not accomplish much.



            A much better use of time/resources was to try to defend the castle in other ways. Ways which did not involve combing the castle with the chance of not finding anything. Ways which did not involve setting something loose that could just as easily turn against them. Ways which did not involve using tactics that could possibly be overcome in an instant with a third-year level charm.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Jan 20 at 16:59









            AlexAlex

            16.7k34986




            16.7k34986












            • >Ways which did not involve combing the castle with the chance of not finding anything. Except Harry, of course. His task was explicitly to comb the castle with the chance of not finding what he sought.

              – Adonalsium
              Jan 22 at 14:45











            • There was one put in the maze for the Triwizard Tournament, so they're not so very impossible to find.

              – Wildcard
              Jan 22 at 20:09






            • 1





              @Wildcard Not impossible. Just no reason to assume there's one lying around for easy taking at any given time.

              – Alex
              Jan 22 at 20:10











            • @Wildcard It could have come from anywhere, not just Hogwarts. The Ministry has the whole UK (and France and wherever Durmstrang is) to search

              – Azor Ahai
              Jan 22 at 21:41


















            • >Ways which did not involve combing the castle with the chance of not finding anything. Except Harry, of course. His task was explicitly to comb the castle with the chance of not finding what he sought.

              – Adonalsium
              Jan 22 at 14:45











            • There was one put in the maze for the Triwizard Tournament, so they're not so very impossible to find.

              – Wildcard
              Jan 22 at 20:09






            • 1





              @Wildcard Not impossible. Just no reason to assume there's one lying around for easy taking at any given time.

              – Alex
              Jan 22 at 20:10











            • @Wildcard It could have come from anywhere, not just Hogwarts. The Ministry has the whole UK (and France and wherever Durmstrang is) to search

              – Azor Ahai
              Jan 22 at 21:41

















            >Ways which did not involve combing the castle with the chance of not finding anything. Except Harry, of course. His task was explicitly to comb the castle with the chance of not finding what he sought.

            – Adonalsium
            Jan 22 at 14:45





            >Ways which did not involve combing the castle with the chance of not finding anything. Except Harry, of course. His task was explicitly to comb the castle with the chance of not finding what he sought.

            – Adonalsium
            Jan 22 at 14:45













            There was one put in the maze for the Triwizard Tournament, so they're not so very impossible to find.

            – Wildcard
            Jan 22 at 20:09





            There was one put in the maze for the Triwizard Tournament, so they're not so very impossible to find.

            – Wildcard
            Jan 22 at 20:09




            1




            1





            @Wildcard Not impossible. Just no reason to assume there's one lying around for easy taking at any given time.

            – Alex
            Jan 22 at 20:10





            @Wildcard Not impossible. Just no reason to assume there's one lying around for easy taking at any given time.

            – Alex
            Jan 22 at 20:10













            @Wildcard It could have come from anywhere, not just Hogwarts. The Ministry has the whole UK (and France and wherever Durmstrang is) to search

            – Azor Ahai
            Jan 22 at 21:41






            @Wildcard It could have come from anywhere, not just Hogwarts. The Ministry has the whole UK (and France and wherever Durmstrang is) to search

            – Azor Ahai
            Jan 22 at 21:41












            18














            A Boggart wouldn’t be very effective.



            Releasing a Boggart to attempt to scare the Death Eaters wouldn’t be very effective. The charm to repel a Boggart is simple, it’s not an advanced or difficult one.




            “The charm that repels a Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing.”
            - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)




            Lupin is very easily able to repel the Boggart, even when it’s transformed into his own worst fear. The majority of Death Eaters would likely be able to do the same, as they’re all adult wizards and most of them would likely have some level of skill at magic.




            “Then they saw a silvery white orb hanging in the air in front of Lupin, who said ‘Riddikulus!’ almost lazily.”
            - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)




            The Boggart-repelling charm wasn’t anything exclusive to ‘good’ wizards, so there’s no reason to think the Death Eaters couldn't cast it as effortlessly and effectively as Lupin was able to. Additionally, the battle was crowded, so the Boggart mightn’t even be able to properly turn into any one person’s worst fear.




            “Er – because there are so many of us, it won’t know what shape it should be?’



            ‘Precisely,’ said Professor Lupin, and Hermione put her hand down looking a little disappointed. ‘It’s always best to have company when you’re dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake – tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.”
            - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)




            However, even if it did, it’d likely be trivially simple for a Death Eater to repel the Boggart.






            share|improve this answer


















            • 2





              While I agree with this argument in general, I also think there could be a good small story lurking in the idea. Given that at the battle of Hogwarts we have two groups of people, both with similar fears - meeting their worst enemy (at least at the moment). It could be that this shared fear could make it actually easier for the Boggart to focus on one form and thus appear as either a duplicated Voldemort or a resurrected Dumbledore (or maybe a Harry). Could have made for a nice twist story arc wrt to the resurrection stone.

              – Darkwing
              Jan 21 at 11:48












            • I'd say even more, I don't think boggarts actually do physically attack people. We've only seen effects from their presence (the fake Dementor-boggarts) and only mental effects at that. We've never seen them press the attack, even when their prey is unable to muster up the countercharm. I think the utility of a boggart would probably be limited to demoralizing opponents.

              – Adamant
              Jan 23 at 10:47












            • I agree with most of this answer, except the assumption that adult wizards would trivially defeat a Boggart. Of course Lupin could take care of it, he was the teacher. A maths teacher who couldn't do maths would be a considered not fit to do that job. That doesn't mean all students would pick it up easily and (more importantly) retain that knowledge/skill perfectly into adulthood. Molly Weasley, for example, proves to be a formidable witch in her own right yet was still very affected by a Boggart.

              – JTPenguin
              Jan 23 at 16:14















            18














            A Boggart wouldn’t be very effective.



            Releasing a Boggart to attempt to scare the Death Eaters wouldn’t be very effective. The charm to repel a Boggart is simple, it’s not an advanced or difficult one.




            “The charm that repels a Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing.”
            - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)




            Lupin is very easily able to repel the Boggart, even when it’s transformed into his own worst fear. The majority of Death Eaters would likely be able to do the same, as they’re all adult wizards and most of them would likely have some level of skill at magic.




            “Then they saw a silvery white orb hanging in the air in front of Lupin, who said ‘Riddikulus!’ almost lazily.”
            - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)




            The Boggart-repelling charm wasn’t anything exclusive to ‘good’ wizards, so there’s no reason to think the Death Eaters couldn't cast it as effortlessly and effectively as Lupin was able to. Additionally, the battle was crowded, so the Boggart mightn’t even be able to properly turn into any one person’s worst fear.




            “Er – because there are so many of us, it won’t know what shape it should be?’



            ‘Precisely,’ said Professor Lupin, and Hermione put her hand down looking a little disappointed. ‘It’s always best to have company when you’re dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake – tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.”
            - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)




            However, even if it did, it’d likely be trivially simple for a Death Eater to repel the Boggart.






            share|improve this answer


















            • 2





              While I agree with this argument in general, I also think there could be a good small story lurking in the idea. Given that at the battle of Hogwarts we have two groups of people, both with similar fears - meeting their worst enemy (at least at the moment). It could be that this shared fear could make it actually easier for the Boggart to focus on one form and thus appear as either a duplicated Voldemort or a resurrected Dumbledore (or maybe a Harry). Could have made for a nice twist story arc wrt to the resurrection stone.

              – Darkwing
              Jan 21 at 11:48












            • I'd say even more, I don't think boggarts actually do physically attack people. We've only seen effects from their presence (the fake Dementor-boggarts) and only mental effects at that. We've never seen them press the attack, even when their prey is unable to muster up the countercharm. I think the utility of a boggart would probably be limited to demoralizing opponents.

              – Adamant
              Jan 23 at 10:47












            • I agree with most of this answer, except the assumption that adult wizards would trivially defeat a Boggart. Of course Lupin could take care of it, he was the teacher. A maths teacher who couldn't do maths would be a considered not fit to do that job. That doesn't mean all students would pick it up easily and (more importantly) retain that knowledge/skill perfectly into adulthood. Molly Weasley, for example, proves to be a formidable witch in her own right yet was still very affected by a Boggart.

              – JTPenguin
              Jan 23 at 16:14













            18












            18








            18







            A Boggart wouldn’t be very effective.



            Releasing a Boggart to attempt to scare the Death Eaters wouldn’t be very effective. The charm to repel a Boggart is simple, it’s not an advanced or difficult one.




            “The charm that repels a Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing.”
            - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)




            Lupin is very easily able to repel the Boggart, even when it’s transformed into his own worst fear. The majority of Death Eaters would likely be able to do the same, as they’re all adult wizards and most of them would likely have some level of skill at magic.




            “Then they saw a silvery white orb hanging in the air in front of Lupin, who said ‘Riddikulus!’ almost lazily.”
            - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)




            The Boggart-repelling charm wasn’t anything exclusive to ‘good’ wizards, so there’s no reason to think the Death Eaters couldn't cast it as effortlessly and effectively as Lupin was able to. Additionally, the battle was crowded, so the Boggart mightn’t even be able to properly turn into any one person’s worst fear.




            “Er – because there are so many of us, it won’t know what shape it should be?’



            ‘Precisely,’ said Professor Lupin, and Hermione put her hand down looking a little disappointed. ‘It’s always best to have company when you’re dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake – tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.”
            - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)




            However, even if it did, it’d likely be trivially simple for a Death Eater to repel the Boggart.






            share|improve this answer













            A Boggart wouldn’t be very effective.



            Releasing a Boggart to attempt to scare the Death Eaters wouldn’t be very effective. The charm to repel a Boggart is simple, it’s not an advanced or difficult one.




            “The charm that repels a Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing.”
            - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)




            Lupin is very easily able to repel the Boggart, even when it’s transformed into his own worst fear. The majority of Death Eaters would likely be able to do the same, as they’re all adult wizards and most of them would likely have some level of skill at magic.




            “Then they saw a silvery white orb hanging in the air in front of Lupin, who said ‘Riddikulus!’ almost lazily.”
            - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)




            The Boggart-repelling charm wasn’t anything exclusive to ‘good’ wizards, so there’s no reason to think the Death Eaters couldn't cast it as effortlessly and effectively as Lupin was able to. Additionally, the battle was crowded, so the Boggart mightn’t even be able to properly turn into any one person’s worst fear.




            “Er – because there are so many of us, it won’t know what shape it should be?’



            ‘Precisely,’ said Professor Lupin, and Hermione put her hand down looking a little disappointed. ‘It’s always best to have company when you’re dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake – tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.”
            - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)




            However, even if it did, it’d likely be trivially simple for a Death Eater to repel the Boggart.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Jan 20 at 18:17









            BellatrixBellatrix

            74.2k13325373




            74.2k13325373







            • 2





              While I agree with this argument in general, I also think there could be a good small story lurking in the idea. Given that at the battle of Hogwarts we have two groups of people, both with similar fears - meeting their worst enemy (at least at the moment). It could be that this shared fear could make it actually easier for the Boggart to focus on one form and thus appear as either a duplicated Voldemort or a resurrected Dumbledore (or maybe a Harry). Could have made for a nice twist story arc wrt to the resurrection stone.

              – Darkwing
              Jan 21 at 11:48












            • I'd say even more, I don't think boggarts actually do physically attack people. We've only seen effects from their presence (the fake Dementor-boggarts) and only mental effects at that. We've never seen them press the attack, even when their prey is unable to muster up the countercharm. I think the utility of a boggart would probably be limited to demoralizing opponents.

              – Adamant
              Jan 23 at 10:47












            • I agree with most of this answer, except the assumption that adult wizards would trivially defeat a Boggart. Of course Lupin could take care of it, he was the teacher. A maths teacher who couldn't do maths would be a considered not fit to do that job. That doesn't mean all students would pick it up easily and (more importantly) retain that knowledge/skill perfectly into adulthood. Molly Weasley, for example, proves to be a formidable witch in her own right yet was still very affected by a Boggart.

              – JTPenguin
              Jan 23 at 16:14












            • 2





              While I agree with this argument in general, I also think there could be a good small story lurking in the idea. Given that at the battle of Hogwarts we have two groups of people, both with similar fears - meeting their worst enemy (at least at the moment). It could be that this shared fear could make it actually easier for the Boggart to focus on one form and thus appear as either a duplicated Voldemort or a resurrected Dumbledore (or maybe a Harry). Could have made for a nice twist story arc wrt to the resurrection stone.

              – Darkwing
              Jan 21 at 11:48












            • I'd say even more, I don't think boggarts actually do physically attack people. We've only seen effects from their presence (the fake Dementor-boggarts) and only mental effects at that. We've never seen them press the attack, even when their prey is unable to muster up the countercharm. I think the utility of a boggart would probably be limited to demoralizing opponents.

              – Adamant
              Jan 23 at 10:47












            • I agree with most of this answer, except the assumption that adult wizards would trivially defeat a Boggart. Of course Lupin could take care of it, he was the teacher. A maths teacher who couldn't do maths would be a considered not fit to do that job. That doesn't mean all students would pick it up easily and (more importantly) retain that knowledge/skill perfectly into adulthood. Molly Weasley, for example, proves to be a formidable witch in her own right yet was still very affected by a Boggart.

              – JTPenguin
              Jan 23 at 16:14







            2




            2





            While I agree with this argument in general, I also think there could be a good small story lurking in the idea. Given that at the battle of Hogwarts we have two groups of people, both with similar fears - meeting their worst enemy (at least at the moment). It could be that this shared fear could make it actually easier for the Boggart to focus on one form and thus appear as either a duplicated Voldemort or a resurrected Dumbledore (or maybe a Harry). Could have made for a nice twist story arc wrt to the resurrection stone.

            – Darkwing
            Jan 21 at 11:48






            While I agree with this argument in general, I also think there could be a good small story lurking in the idea. Given that at the battle of Hogwarts we have two groups of people, both with similar fears - meeting their worst enemy (at least at the moment). It could be that this shared fear could make it actually easier for the Boggart to focus on one form and thus appear as either a duplicated Voldemort or a resurrected Dumbledore (or maybe a Harry). Could have made for a nice twist story arc wrt to the resurrection stone.

            – Darkwing
            Jan 21 at 11:48














            I'd say even more, I don't think boggarts actually do physically attack people. We've only seen effects from their presence (the fake Dementor-boggarts) and only mental effects at that. We've never seen them press the attack, even when their prey is unable to muster up the countercharm. I think the utility of a boggart would probably be limited to demoralizing opponents.

            – Adamant
            Jan 23 at 10:47






            I'd say even more, I don't think boggarts actually do physically attack people. We've only seen effects from their presence (the fake Dementor-boggarts) and only mental effects at that. We've never seen them press the attack, even when their prey is unable to muster up the countercharm. I think the utility of a boggart would probably be limited to demoralizing opponents.

            – Adamant
            Jan 23 at 10:47














            I agree with most of this answer, except the assumption that adult wizards would trivially defeat a Boggart. Of course Lupin could take care of it, he was the teacher. A maths teacher who couldn't do maths would be a considered not fit to do that job. That doesn't mean all students would pick it up easily and (more importantly) retain that knowledge/skill perfectly into adulthood. Molly Weasley, for example, proves to be a formidable witch in her own right yet was still very affected by a Boggart.

            – JTPenguin
            Jan 23 at 16:14





            I agree with most of this answer, except the assumption that adult wizards would trivially defeat a Boggart. Of course Lupin could take care of it, he was the teacher. A maths teacher who couldn't do maths would be a considered not fit to do that job. That doesn't mean all students would pick it up easily and (more importantly) retain that knowledge/skill perfectly into adulthood. Molly Weasley, for example, proves to be a formidable witch in her own right yet was still very affected by a Boggart.

            – JTPenguin
            Jan 23 at 16:14











            13














            The majority of Death Eaters appear to be alumni of Hogwarts and we know that the Defence Against the Dark Arts curriculum has included a lesson on dealing with Boggarts since at least the 1920s.








            enter image description here



            That being the case, a loose Boggart would be trivially simple for them to deal with.






            share|improve this answer




















            • 5





              Tell that to Mrs. Weasley.

              – Alex
              Jan 20 at 18:05






            • 1





              @Alex - I always found it strange that she coped so poorly.

              – Valorum
              Jan 20 at 19:49






            • 2





              As did all readers.

              – Alex
              Jan 20 at 19:52






            • 10





              Mrs Weasley is a mom of 7, She has a lot of things to fear, and most of them cut pretty deep. Like most fears, the first challenge is to gain self-mastery in the face of it. That's where she struggled.

              – Ruadhan2300
              Jan 21 at 9:48






            • 4





              One counter-argument I'd see: They need to first know that it is a Boggart they are dealing with. In the heat of the battle that might easily not be the case for quite a while.

              – Darkwing
              Jan 21 at 11:49
















            13














            The majority of Death Eaters appear to be alumni of Hogwarts and we know that the Defence Against the Dark Arts curriculum has included a lesson on dealing with Boggarts since at least the 1920s.








            enter image description here



            That being the case, a loose Boggart would be trivially simple for them to deal with.






            share|improve this answer




















            • 5





              Tell that to Mrs. Weasley.

              – Alex
              Jan 20 at 18:05






            • 1





              @Alex - I always found it strange that she coped so poorly.

              – Valorum
              Jan 20 at 19:49






            • 2





              As did all readers.

              – Alex
              Jan 20 at 19:52






            • 10





              Mrs Weasley is a mom of 7, She has a lot of things to fear, and most of them cut pretty deep. Like most fears, the first challenge is to gain self-mastery in the face of it. That's where she struggled.

              – Ruadhan2300
              Jan 21 at 9:48






            • 4





              One counter-argument I'd see: They need to first know that it is a Boggart they are dealing with. In the heat of the battle that might easily not be the case for quite a while.

              – Darkwing
              Jan 21 at 11:49














            13












            13








            13







            The majority of Death Eaters appear to be alumni of Hogwarts and we know that the Defence Against the Dark Arts curriculum has included a lesson on dealing with Boggarts since at least the 1920s.








            enter image description here



            That being the case, a loose Boggart would be trivially simple for them to deal with.






            share|improve this answer















            The majority of Death Eaters appear to be alumni of Hogwarts and we know that the Defence Against the Dark Arts curriculum has included a lesson on dealing with Boggarts since at least the 1920s.








            enter image description here



            That being the case, a loose Boggart would be trivially simple for them to deal with.















            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Jan 20 at 16:25


























            community wiki





            2 revs
            Valorum








            • 5





              Tell that to Mrs. Weasley.

              – Alex
              Jan 20 at 18:05






            • 1





              @Alex - I always found it strange that she coped so poorly.

              – Valorum
              Jan 20 at 19:49






            • 2





              As did all readers.

              – Alex
              Jan 20 at 19:52






            • 10





              Mrs Weasley is a mom of 7, She has a lot of things to fear, and most of them cut pretty deep. Like most fears, the first challenge is to gain self-mastery in the face of it. That's where she struggled.

              – Ruadhan2300
              Jan 21 at 9:48






            • 4





              One counter-argument I'd see: They need to first know that it is a Boggart they are dealing with. In the heat of the battle that might easily not be the case for quite a while.

              – Darkwing
              Jan 21 at 11:49













            • 5





              Tell that to Mrs. Weasley.

              – Alex
              Jan 20 at 18:05






            • 1





              @Alex - I always found it strange that she coped so poorly.

              – Valorum
              Jan 20 at 19:49






            • 2





              As did all readers.

              – Alex
              Jan 20 at 19:52






            • 10





              Mrs Weasley is a mom of 7, She has a lot of things to fear, and most of them cut pretty deep. Like most fears, the first challenge is to gain self-mastery in the face of it. That's where she struggled.

              – Ruadhan2300
              Jan 21 at 9:48






            • 4





              One counter-argument I'd see: They need to first know that it is a Boggart they are dealing with. In the heat of the battle that might easily not be the case for quite a while.

              – Darkwing
              Jan 21 at 11:49








            5




            5





            Tell that to Mrs. Weasley.

            – Alex
            Jan 20 at 18:05





            Tell that to Mrs. Weasley.

            – Alex
            Jan 20 at 18:05




            1




            1





            @Alex - I always found it strange that she coped so poorly.

            – Valorum
            Jan 20 at 19:49





            @Alex - I always found it strange that she coped so poorly.

            – Valorum
            Jan 20 at 19:49




            2




            2





            As did all readers.

            – Alex
            Jan 20 at 19:52





            As did all readers.

            – Alex
            Jan 20 at 19:52




            10




            10





            Mrs Weasley is a mom of 7, She has a lot of things to fear, and most of them cut pretty deep. Like most fears, the first challenge is to gain self-mastery in the face of it. That's where she struggled.

            – Ruadhan2300
            Jan 21 at 9:48





            Mrs Weasley is a mom of 7, She has a lot of things to fear, and most of them cut pretty deep. Like most fears, the first challenge is to gain self-mastery in the face of it. That's where she struggled.

            – Ruadhan2300
            Jan 21 at 9:48




            4




            4





            One counter-argument I'd see: They need to first know that it is a Boggart they are dealing with. In the heat of the battle that might easily not be the case for quite a while.

            – Darkwing
            Jan 21 at 11:49






            One counter-argument I'd see: They need to first know that it is a Boggart they are dealing with. In the heat of the battle that might easily not be the case for quite a while.

            – Darkwing
            Jan 21 at 11:49












            1














            One other option is: no one wanted to watch on something that may scare Death Eater because it must be something horrible. It will scare everyone around including the person who decide to perform this trick.






            share|improve this answer

























            • To be fair, i'm pretty sure that only Voldemort himself scare Death Eater.

              – dna
              Jan 25 at 12:56















            1














            One other option is: no one wanted to watch on something that may scare Death Eater because it must be something horrible. It will scare everyone around including the person who decide to perform this trick.






            share|improve this answer

























            • To be fair, i'm pretty sure that only Voldemort himself scare Death Eater.

              – dna
              Jan 25 at 12:56













            1












            1








            1







            One other option is: no one wanted to watch on something that may scare Death Eater because it must be something horrible. It will scare everyone around including the person who decide to perform this trick.






            share|improve this answer















            One other option is: no one wanted to watch on something that may scare Death Eater because it must be something horrible. It will scare everyone around including the person who decide to perform this trick.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Jan 24 at 9:09

























            answered Jan 24 at 9:02









            talextalex

            1114




            1114












            • To be fair, i'm pretty sure that only Voldemort himself scare Death Eater.

              – dna
              Jan 25 at 12:56

















            • To be fair, i'm pretty sure that only Voldemort himself scare Death Eater.

              – dna
              Jan 25 at 12:56
















            To be fair, i'm pretty sure that only Voldemort himself scare Death Eater.

            – dna
            Jan 25 at 12:56





            To be fair, i'm pretty sure that only Voldemort himself scare Death Eater.

            – dna
            Jan 25 at 12:56

















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