Dragons at Hogwarts

Chapter 39

Lupins office was in the corner of the DADA classroom, reached by climbing a flight of stairs and walking through the door.

Hopefully there wasn't a werewolf in there this time.

Well, there would be a werewolf, but he wouldn't be as hairy as he was last time. Probably.

 I shook off the unexpected train of thought, and concentrated on running.

I was late.

 I ran through the classroom, avoiding the desks and a weird creature in a glass tank at the front of the classroom, shot up the stairs, and skidded to a stop in front of the open door.

Well, its one way to make an entrance.

Harry and Lupin were already inside, and staring at me with amusement.

I strolled in, like nothing had happened, and dumped my bag on the floor.

"So, what's happening?"

Harry stared at me for a moment, then shook his head and said "Well, I'm here to learn how not to faint at the threat of a Dementor, and Lupins here to teach me the aforementioned not fainting, which leaves you here for no discernible reason."

"Afformentioned not fainting, but with Death Eaters as well as Dementors."

"Speaking of Dementors..." Lupin interrupted, reminding me that this was a lesson. "... They are hard to get hold of, and even harder to control, so for now we will just practice on a boggart." He gestured to an old looking chest in the corner of the room. It rattled, and seemed to move slightly in our direction.

"First I have to teach you two the spell we use. It is called the Patronus charm, and it is usually very difficult to perform, but I feel that you two are ready, and it is the only thing known to consistently repel Dementors. Repeat after me: Expecto Patronum."

"Expecto Patronum." We chorused obediently, knowing that this would be essential to know.

"Now, this is the important bit. When you say the charm, you need to think of a happy memory. Without this, your Patronus will not appear to protect you. Now, pick a memory, any memory, and don't tell me what it is." He looked at us expectantly.

Ummm, happiness. Happy. What in my life was happy.

I thought back.

Orphanage.... No.

Street life..... Noperino.

Ummm....

Beating up Malfoy? Maybe...

Suddenly it came into my head, and I was ready. I grinned, and turned to Harry, who replied with a shaky smile.

"Ready?" Lupin asked.

"I-I think so." replied Harry, while I just nodded.

We turned to face the chest, Harry slightly in front so that the Boggart would react to his fear, Dementors, and not turn into a Death Eater.

Lupin, behind us, spoke a soft incantation and the chest opened.

A Dementor came out.It didn't climb, or walk, it hovered, like a ghost.

It was a perfect copy of the real thing. Flowing black robes barley concealing a hidden head, long, skeletal arms reaching for us, the sudden cold in the room around us... It was creepy.

Harry went pale, and I knew he was hearing screams. So was I. Anguished roars. I shook them away, but they still haunted my ears. 

I couldn't take this. I stepped forward, raising my wand and focusing, hard. 

"Expecto Patronum!"

A silver dragon, as bright as the Dementor was black, flew out of my wand, claws stretched out as she tore into the Boggart, driving it back into the chest. She then turned, fangs bared and shining, looking for other threats. Finding none, she turned back to me, looking into me with eyes like molten silver, as she dissolved into threads of silver, which drifted into my wand, like ribbons.

Lupin and Harry stared at me.

"What? I used a spell, and it worked. So?"

"So, that was high level magic, Jane. Most adult wizards can't produce a corporal patronus, and you just did it on your first try. I have to admit, I've never seen one that... ferocious before..."

"Maybe its because I'm an Elder." I spread my wings for effect.

"Maybe, but the only magic Elders are famous for doing is Divination... Which memory was the patronus made of?"

"Wait, what?"

"Patronuses are made of thoughts, the happy memories you were thinking of. The thoughts return to you once their job is done, don't worry."

I folded my wings to my back. "I was thinking about what it feels like to fly."

"I suppose that that makes sense. No humans could use flight as a patronus. Now, Harry, how about you have a go at summoning a Patronus?"

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Hi!!!

I'm not going to set any targets anymore, but all I will say is that the external link  (>>>) is of Jane's draconian Patronus. (All credit for the picture goes to Red-Wolf-Ink on deviant art.)

~The G-ster~