Why is Lupin afraid of the floating silver orb?

[cynthiaanncoe at home.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 26892

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amy Z" <aiz24 at h...> wrote:
> > Which returns us to a very interesting question:  what effect 
*does* a 
> Boggart have on people?
> 
> The Boggart-Dementor has much the same effect as a real Dementor: 
the 
> lights go out, Harry (and presumably Lupin) relives horrible 
memories, 
> etc.  Why doesn't Lupin transform when the Boggart turns into the 
> moon, then?  My theory is that he would if he didn't get rid of it 
> pretty fast.
> 
> And what does Lupin's Boggart turn into after he 
says "Riddikulus"?  
> In PoA 12 Harry sees him forcing the orb back into the box, which 
> seems like a Flint.  Or maybe Lupin's "Riddikulus" breaks down 
Harry's 
> Boggart but the Boggart instantly turns from some humorous version 
> of a Dementor, whatever that might be, to the moon--Harry is dazed 
and 
> could well miss something.  Then Lupin forces it into the case 
without 
> even doing Riddikulus again.
> 
> The weird passage in question:
> 
>   . . . though Harry's legs felt like water, he was still on his 
feet 
> . . . though for how much longer, he wasn't sure . . .
>   "Riddikulus!" roared Lupin, springing forwards.
>   There was a loud crack, and Harry's cloudy Patronus vanished 
along 
> with the Dementor; he sank into a chair, feeling as exhausted as if 
> he'd just run a mile, his legs shaking.  Out of the corner of his 
eye, 
> he saw Professor Lupin forcing the Boggart back into the packing 
case 
> with his wand; it had turned into a silvery orb again.
>   "Excellent!" Lupin said, striding over to where Harry sat.
>

Hmmm.  I never considered why Lupin doesn't transform when the 
boggart moon appears.  Maybe Lupin is able to resist because the 
Boggart moon is so small -- the size of a crystal ball, apparently.  
Had the Boggart transformed into a huge moon, perhaps Lupin would 
have transformed.  After all, I assume if the Boggart changed into a 
mini-Dementor, Harry wouldn't have been overcome.

It's weak, but it is the best I can do.

Cindy (who thinks a mini-Dementor might make a nice pet, or a handy 
portable air conditioner)