Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Fifty-Five

"The Patronus Charm. This ancient and mysterious charm conjures a magical guardian, a projection of all your most positive feelings. The Patronus Charm is difficult, and many witches and wizards are unable to produce a full, corporeal Patronus, a guardian which generally takes the shape of the animal with whom they share the deepest affinity. You may suspect, but you will never truly know what form your Patronus will take until you succeed in conjuring it.'

'Today, we will be working on creating your own Patronus to protect from certain dark entities and spells. It is an extraordinarily complex and advanced form of magic. Everyone's Patronus is personal and unique to that person. A Patronus is conjured by thinking deeply about the happiest moments of your life. Your joyful energy is what conjures your Patronus. Your personality is what dictates its form. You MUST concentrate on your happiest memories. If you are distracted or let your fear of your given situation take over, then you will not conjure one and be defenseless. Does everyone understand?" Professor Hecat asked the class at large.

"Yes, Professor." We all answered in unison.

"Good. Now. The incantation is 'Expecto Patronum.' Repeat."

"Expecto Patronum." The class mumbled.

"With conviction, class." Professor Hecat called loudly to the class.

"Expecto Patronum!" Everyone called loudly.

"Good. Now you may grab your wands. Spread out. And try to conjure your own Patronus. I will be around to assist. Concentrate!" She instructed and left us to our own devices.

I took a deep breath. I went to a corner of the room to be alone. Although, I wish I could use The Collective with Will for this advanced spell, but I knew it didn't work that way. I watched him go to the other corner and our eyes met. I could tell he wanted to do this together too. Both resigned to our fate, we started our work, separately.

I concentrated, trying to find a happy memory. The hard part. All my happy memories were sullied now by the fact that things always changed so much. My happy memories of Professor Fig were sad now because he died. My happy memories of Sebastian were ruined because he broke up with me inexplicably. Any childhood happy memories weren't strong enough. I was struggling to find something....

I shot a look over to Will. He had his eyes closed. I could see a light blue wisp coming out of his wand. He was getting it. I chanced a quick look over the classroom and my eyes landed on Sebastian. His eyes met mine too. It was the first time we had looked at each other since our return. His chocolatey brown eyes were filled with concern as they met mine. I felt time stop.

I just stood there, staring at Sebastian. He stared right back. I had the strangest urge to run into his arms and lose my whole self in his warm embrace. But I knew he didn't want it. I knew if my brother and I were practicing our ancient magic and doing what he deemed as "dark magic" he would want nothing to do with me.

I forced myself to close my eyes and shook my head to break the eye contact. I didn't chance it again to look his way. I couldn't.

I closed my eyes. I needed a happy memory. I thought of the first time Professor Fig showed up at the orphanage... I had been sitting by the rainy window, reading a fiction novel. I was dreading dinner because I was due for kitchen duty afterward. There was a knock on the door. Madam Pickary squeaked the door open slightly and told me I had a visitor.

When he entered, I thought, this guy looks weird! He was dressed funny and he's so old, surely, he's not looking to adopt at his age! And especially a teenage girl. It all seemed so strange to me.