Harry's Godfather (A Father and Son Fanfic) Book 3

Chapter 9: Patronus Lesson and Quidditch Practice

As December fades into January. The weather remains cold as snow covers everything as far as the eyes could see. Students returned from their holiday break. Harry had returned to the common room, the night before term started. Oliver found Harry sitting with Ron and Hermione and said, "Had a good Christmas?" Without waiting for Harry to answer, he said, "I've been doing some thinking over Christmas, Harry. After the last match, you know. If the dementors come to the next one.... I mean.... We can't afford you to you know...." Oliver went quiet, looking a bit awkward. Harry said, "I'm working on it. Snape said he'd teach me how to ward off the dementors. We should be starting this week." Oliver said, looking relieved, "Ah, well, in that case, I really didn't want to lose you as Seeker, Harry." He said thoughtfully, "Have you ordered a new broom yet?" Harry smiles, "I don't need to. I got a broomstick for Christmas, from Snape. It's a Firebolt." Oliver looks shocked as he said, "A Firebolt? No! Seriously? A real Firebolt?" Harry nods grinning, "Yeah. Want to see, Oliver?" Oliver grins as he nods. Harry runs upstairs and grabs his Firebolt. He runs back downstairs and shows it Oliver. Oliver looks over the Firebolt with a shock look on his face. Harry grins and said, "I can't wait to break in my Firebolt." Oliver said, "With you on this broomstick, we can't lose!" They grin, then talked about when Quidditch practice was going to start and discussed tactics that can help them win. After a few hours of talking, Oliver left looking hopeful, as Harry puts his Firebolt away. Class started the next day. Care of Magical Creatures had them around the bonfire on a cold day. There were many salamanders hanging around the white-hot logs as Hagrid talked about the salamanders. In Divination, Trelawney had moved on to Palmistry. She was quick to point out that Harry had the shortest life line that she had ever seen! He was glad to get out of that classroom when the bell rang. After lessons, Harry went to see Snape, who was in his office. Harry knocks on the door and waits. Snape said, "Enter." Harry enters Snape's office as Snape looks up. Snape smiles slightly, "Harry, what brings you to my office?" Harry said, "I was just wondering...." Snape finishes for him as he said, "You are wondering when we will begin your private lessons on casting a patronus, correct?" Harry nods, smiling. Snape smiles, "Let's see, I have detention to oversee in the next few days.... But.... I am free to teach you Thursday evening. Be at my office on Thursday evening at 8pm. I shall have a boggart ready for your private lessons. I can't have you facing a real dementor, Harry, since they aren't allowed in the castle. How does that sound?" Harry smiles, "That sounds good, dad. I'll be here." Snape smiles, "Good. I shall see you then." Harry said, "See you then, dad." At 8pm on Thursday evening, Harry bade his friends farewell and left the common room. He heads down to the dungeons and knocks on the door of Snape's office. Snape said, "Enter." Harry enters the office and shuts the door. On Snape's desk was a trunk. Snape stands next to it, with his wand out. The trunk shakes as Harry walks up to him. Harry said, "Dad? What's in the trunk?" Snape said, "A boggart, Harry. I've been combing the castle trying to find one for the past few days. I manage to find one in Filch's cabinet. It will be the nearest thing to a dementor as we will get." Snape goes into teacher mode as he continues, "Now, when I open this trunk, the boggart will see you and turn into a dementor. So, you can practice casting the patronus on it. When we aren't using it, I can store him in this trunk." Snape pats the trunk as Harry looks uncertain. He said, "Ok, dad."

Snape continues, "Now, the spell that I will teach you is highly advance magic. Well beyond Ordinary Wizarding Level, Harry. It is called the Patronus Charm." Harry said, sounding nervous, "How does it work, dad?" Snape smiles slightly, "If cast correctly, it conjures a patronus. Which is something like a guardian that acts as a shield between you and the dementor. The Patronus Charm is a positive force, a projection of the very thing the dementors feed on.... Hope, happiness and the desire to live. But it cannot feel despair, like humans can, so they can't hurt it." Snape adds, "But I must warn you, Harry, the charm may be too advance for you. Many full grown wizards have difficulty producing one." Harry said, "What does the patronus look like?" Snape said, "Each one is unique to the wizard who conjures it." Harry said, "How do you conjure it?" Snape said, "With an incantation, which will only work, if you concentrate with all of your might, on a single, happy memory. The happier the memory, the more likely you can produce a patronus and the more stronger your patronus becomes, Harry." Harry said, "Ok, let me think of one." Snape nods as Harry goes thoughtful. Harry decides to go with learning that he was a wizard and that he was going to Hogwarts. He was really happy to know that he was getting away from the Dursleys, even if it was until summer break. After a few minutes, he looks at Snape and said, "Ok, I'm ready, dad." Snape said, "The incantation is: Expecto Patronum." Harry mutters the incantation under his breath for a few minutes, then looks at Snape. Snape said, "Are you ready, Harry?" Harry nods, "Yeah, as ready as I'll ever be, dad." Snape moves to the trunk and said, "Take out your wand, Harry and hold it at the ready. Concentrate on the memory you chose and enunciate the incantation, Expecto Patronum." Harry nods, pulls his wand out and holds it at the ready. Harry mutters, "Expecto Patronum!" Something silvery white came out of his wand. There was no shape to it, but it was definitely more than a mist. Harry's eyes widen as he said, "Did you see that dad!" Snape looking impressed, said, "Indeed I did, Harry. Impressive." Snape looks at Harry and said, "Are you ready to try it on a dementor?" Harry nods as he looks at the trunk, wand held at the ready. Snape grabs hold of the trunk and pulls it open. Out of the trunk, rose a dementor. Its hooded face looks at Harry as it raises its scabby, bony hand towards him. Snape watches as the torches and candles flicker before going completely out in the office. The boggart dementor begins to take deep, rattling breaths as it focuses on Harry. Harry begins to feel a wave of piercing cold break over his body. Harry concentrates on the memory of going to Hogwarts and shouts, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" The same silvery white bursts from his wand. Once again it had no form yet, but it was bright. The boggart dementor stops and tries to swipe it away. After a few minutes, the office, Snape and the dementor disappeared. He suddenly felt like he was falling through a thick white fog. A male voice was heard shouting.... "Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off!"The sounds of someone stumbling from a room was heard. His mom's screaming voice becoming louder and louder in his ear.... "Not Harry! Not Harry! Please.... I'll do anything!" Then a high pitch, cold voice that said.... "Stand aside! Stand aside, girl!" He suddenly awoke to someone shaking him and calling his name. It was Snape as he said in a worried voice, "Harry!" Harry looks at Snape and said, "Sorry, dad...." Snape's face was pale but relieved, as he pulls out a chocolate frog from his pocket. Harry notices that his shirt was sticking to his back. He was covered in a cold sweat as Snape helps him to sit up. Snape said, "Are you alright, Harry?" Harry nods, "Yeah.... I think so." Snape hands him a piece of chocolate frog and said, "Eat some chocolate, Harry. I assume you know what the chocolate does after being attacked by a dementor, correct?" Harry nods, "Yeah, I know dad. I remember Madam Pomfrey saying something about it to Professor McGonagall." Harry takes a bite of the chocolate and eats it before swallowing. He felt his extremities become warm as he said, "It's getting worse. I could hear her louder that time.... I heard dad.... He was telling mum to take me and get out, while he held him off.... I heard mum running upstairs to hide.... I also heard Voldemort too.... He was telling mum to step aside.... And was laughing." Snape sighs and said, "I am unsure on whether we should continue, Harry.... This is very advance magic and the way they affect you...." Harry said in a determined voice, "I do, dad. I have to." He finishes his piece of chocolate frog and continues, "What if the dementors turn up at our match against Ravenclaw? I can't afford to fall off again. If we lose this game dad, we lose the Quidditch Cup." Snape sighs again, "Very well, Harry. Try to find a more happier memory. The happier the memory is, the stronger your patronus becomes. The one you had chosen doesn't seem to be strong enough, Harry." Harry nods, "Ok, dad." Harry goes thoughtful for a few minutes.