Questions about Boggarts

[confusinglyso]

No: HPFGUIDX 119720


This post has been sitting on my hard drive for a while
and now that the attack on the Longbottoms is being discussed
again I wonder if Neville's boggart sheds any light.

Questions concerning Boggarts

 Prisoner of Azkaban, "The Boggart In The Wardrobe" chapter.

   "Nothing to worry about," said Professor Lupin calmly, as a few
people jumped backwards in alarm. "There's a Boggart in there."
    Most people seemed to feel that this *was* something to worry
about. Neville gave Professor Lupin a look of pure terror, and
Seamus Finnigan eyed the now rattling doorknob apprehensively.
   "Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces," said Professor Lupin.
"Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks - I
once 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.

    "So, the first question we must ask ourselves is, what *is* a 
Boggart?"
    Hermione put up her hand.
    "It's a shape-shifter," she said. "It can take the shape of 
whatever it thinks will frighten us most."


This is all we are told about Boggarts.
It is said to be able to think, Hermione's line above, so if it is a 
sentient being explains why is it not mentioned in "Fantastic Beasts 
and Where to Find Them" ? Does this mean it is a Spirit ?

Not clear what happens after 'Riddikulus' spell, is it killed or is 
it forced to retreat to its hiding place ?
Laughter at the end of the lesson, from Neville's second turn, 
causes the Boggart to explode into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke. 
If it is a Spirit, does it reform when it finds a hiding place ?
For Harry's Patronus lessons the Boggart was kept for some time.

The Patronus lessons show the Boggart's ability to  exactly  mimic a 
Dementor in drawing Harry's 'memories' of GH from his subconcious.
The class lesson with Neville's Boggart!Snape 'Snape was bearing 
down upon him, reaching inside his robes.'
What does this imply ? Could Boggart!Snape draw a wand from his 
robes ?
Could Boggart!Snape then curse Neville ?
Could Harry's Boggart!Dementor give the Dementor's Kiss ?
Both Harry's and Neville's Boggart are threatening violence rather 
than just frightening them.
We have not been told what would happen if 'Riddikulus' failed. 
Indeed, from the reaction of Harry's classmates in the above 
extract, some must have had bad experiences, and no defence, no 
knowledge of the 'Riddikulus' counter curse. 
We are not told what happens if 'Riddikulus'is not cast. Molly's 
extended experience with the boggart did not involve an 'attack', 
only horrible visions.
A further question, why does Neville's Boggart!Snape appear about to 
draw his wand ?
Has Snape done this to Neville before ? Surely Snape was not present 
when Neville's parents were tortured ? Or was he ?



LV + Boggart at GH ? Boggart would appear as LV to James and Lily as 
they would be fearing LV's arrival.
Indeed, during Voldemort War 1, would most boggarts appear as 
Voldemort to members of the wizard world ?
Could LV's immortallity be associated with possession of a Boggart ?
Could Dumbledore's ability to be 'invisible' without use of an 
invisibility cloak have anything to do with a Boggart ?

An innocuous phrase " the only one he ever feared " referring to 
Voldemort fearing Dumbledore.
Could a boggart ( or boggarts ) be useful in a battle against 
Voldemort by fooling
Voldemort into thinking he was battling Dumbledore(s) ?

LV leaving Quirrell at the end of PS(SS) is not described in the 
book. The media that must not be named had LV leaving in a manner 
very like the boggart is described above, 'a thousand tiny wisps of 
smoke'.

As an aside, Voldemort's rebirth, did it use a mandrake, they are 
rejuvenating ?

Questions from confusinglyso.    

Phil, still trying to keep up with discussions, 
but usually too slow to join in.