Chapter 30: The Patronus
Y/N POV
The next day came along and due to the dementor's sudden appearance at the Quidditch match, Tina and Newt decided to teach us one of the most powerful charms to repel them: The Patronus Charm. Remus would have thought it to us, but he had to teach Harry and allowed for the two to teach us.
"This is one of the most advanced charms created," Newt said "It's above the OWL standard."
"It is very hard to master." Tina continued. "But with the power of your magic, I suspect you both will get it in a few tries."
"It is a very positive force." Newt said once more. "Think of it as.. A shield to dementors. But for it to work, you need to think of a memory. Not just any memory, but one that makes you happy."
Lana smirked and nudged me. "I think Y/N's already good in that department."
I looked at her and my eyes widened. "Lana!" I whined.
"Oh, really?" Newt asked curiously. "How so, Y/N?"
I blushed at the thought of what Lana mentioned. Hermione and her were best friends, so she must have told her about the kiss.
"I - uhh... I had my first...kiss." I stuttered.
"And with none other than the girl he fancies." Lana teased.
"Must you do this to me?" I said.
"Yes, I'm your sister." Lana said with a smile. "And I care about your happiness. She liked it too."
"Well, congrats, Y/N!" Tina said, patting me on the shoulder. "That memory will help a lot. Newt, honey, do you care to demonstrate?"
"Of course, Tina." Newt smiled and pulled out his wand. "Expecto Patronum."
From the tip of his wand, a bright, translucent Kelpie came out and flew around the room. It came back to Newt and stood next to him until it dissipated.
"Hey, Newt?" Lana asked. "What was the memory you thought about?"
"Oh, that's easy." Newt answered. "It was the first time I met Tina in New York. Before all my animals got loose from my case. I have Jacob to thank for that."
"Now it's your turn." Tina said with another kind smile. "Are you both ready?"
We looked at each other and nodded. "We're ready."
Tina chuckled. "You both remind me so much of me and my sister, Queenie. Wand at the ready."
As I held up my wand, I began to think of all of my happiest memories.
Meeting Hermione for the first time.
Adopting Snowball.
Officially becoming friends with Harry and Ron.
My time at the Burrow with Hermione, Harry and the Weasleys.
Teaching Luna the Levitation Charm.
The Hogsmeade date with Hermione.
And my first kiss with Hermione.
"Expecto Patronum!" I said as a light came out of my wand and a wolf similar to my Animagus form flooded out. From next to me, Lana did the same and a Harpy Eagle appeared.
"Woah, first try!" Tina exclaimed. "You both seem like naturals!"
"I just thought about the happy moments." I said. "More memories other than the kiss."
"I thought about our time at the Burrow." Lana said. "And every time we talked with Luna, our cousin."
"That's really good," Newt said. "You both made corporeal Patronus, they are unique to the people that cast it. It must have taken your Animagus forms. Since we have finished early, do you both want to go and see more creatures in the case?"
"Sure, but do you mind if I can bring someone?" I asked. "She's recently got interested in Magical Creatures."
"Of course, Y/N." Newt said with a smile. "Is it the girl Lana mentioned?"
"Um, yeah." I said as I blushed and Lana nodded in excitement.
Moments later, I brought Hermione to the spare classroom that Newt and Tina had set up for us. "Y/N, where are we going?" She asked curiously.
"Oh, somewhere incredible." I answered. "Lana and I have been there and let me tell you, you will absolutely love it."
As we entered the classroom again, Newt and Tina looked up as Lana waved to her. "Hermione, allow me to introduce to you, Newt and Tina Scamander."
She gasped in astonishment, looked at me and whispered. "The Newt and Tina Scamander?!"
"Yep, I had the same reaction as you too." I said.
"Hermione, was it?" Newt asked kindly as he came closer to her and shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you. Y/N's told me you got interested in Magical Creatures?"
"Y-yes, I am interested." She said excitedly in a stutter. "Y/N's told you about me?"
"Yes, he has." Tina said. "It's very nice to meet you in person."
Hermione looked like she could almost faint. Luckily, she held onto my hand tightly as I didn't mind.
"You three ready?" Newt said as he placed the suitcase down, opened it and walked in it, which stumped Hermione until she realized what Newt was doing. Lana followed after him and I led Hermione down too.
As we climbed down the ladder, Hermione gasped in awe of what she saw. "Woah, this is amazing!" She exclaimed. "Do you do this all with an Undetectable Extension Charm?"
"Yes, I did!" Newt said happily. "You're right, Y/N. She is very smart."
Hermione nudged me in the elbow. "Hey, what was that for?"
She grinned. "I still can't believe you told the Newt Scamander about me!"
"Of course I would tell him!" I retorted. "You're brilliant, you know that!''
She blushed as she took my hand and we gave her a tour of the case. We took her to the Bamboo Forest Habitat, which was full of Bowtruckles, Occamys and a Demiguise. We also took her to the Earthen Habitat, the Chinese Pagoda and the Zouwu Habitat.
(A/N: The Zouwu was the creature that Newt caught In Crimes of Grindelwald. It's still alive here.)
Hermione marvelled at all the creatures and adored all of the cute ones, especially the bowtruckles. Newt had taught us how to care for most of the creatures, so I thought the same to Hermione, who giggled as she held a Bowtruckle in her hand.
"This is amazing!" She exclaimed. "I can't believe you have all these creatures in your case, Newt!"
"I've collected and cared for these creatures for many decades." Newt said. "I've never stopped. Tina comes down here sometimes to help me."
He looked down at his watch. "Oh, you three should get back. It's alright, I'll take care of everything down here. You all have a good day!"
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Hermione POV
The next day, we left for Hagrid's home since we haven't visited him in a while. It was freezing outside and the five of us decided to stay back at Hogwarts. We arrived at Hagrid's to find the place topped with snow everywhere. Ron knocked, but there was no answer.
"He's not out, is he?" I asked as I shivered while Y/N wrapped his arm around me.
Ron put his ear to the door and said. "There's a weird noise. Listen, is that Fang? Think we'd better go and get someone?"
"Hagrid!" Harry called out. "Hagrid, are you in there?"
A couple of footsteps came around as Hagrid opened the door. His eyes were swollen and he had clearly been crying.
"You've heard?" He bellowed.
"Hagrid, what is it?" I asked.
"Oh no." Y/N said. "It's about Buckbeak, isn't it?"
Harry spotted a letter on Hagrid's table, lifted it up and read out:
Dear Mr. Hagrid,
Further to our inquiry into the attack by a Hippogriff on a student in your class, we have accepted the assurances of Professor Dumbledore that you bear no responsibility for the regrettable incident.
"Then that's okay, Hagrid!" Ron said in a way to help cheer him up.
"That's not all." Y/N said as Harry passed the letter to him.
However, we must register our concern about the Hippogriff in question. We have decided to uphold the official complaint of Mr. Lucius Malfoy, and this matter will therefore be taken to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. This hearing will take place on April 20th, and we ask you to present yourself and your Hippogriff at the Committee's offices in London on that date. In the meantime, the Hippogriff should be kept tethered and isolated.
"Son of a bitch!" Y/N said. "Well, looks like I'll threaten Lucius again. And Screw the board, I bet Lucius threatened them again."
"But you said Buckbeak isn't a bad Hippogriff, Hagrid." Ron said. "I bet he'll get off."
"Yeh don' know them gargoyles at the Committee fer the Disposal o' Dangerous Creatures!" Hagrid sobbed. "They've got in in fer interestin' creatures!"
He continued to sob as Buckbeak, who was inside, ate something that bled on the floor. "I couldn' leave him tied up out there in the snow!" He bellowed. "All on his own. At Christmas."
"Well, you know what!" Y/N said. "We're gonna help you, Hagrid! You'll have to put up a good strong defense and we'll help prove that Buckbeak is safe and that Malfoy's a dickhead."
(A/N: We hate Malfoy SO FRICKING MUCH)
"You can call us as witnesses!" I said. Since I was interested in Magical Creatures now, maybe Lana, Y/N and I can ask Newt, he must have seen cases like these. "I'm sure I've read about a case of Hippogriff-baiting where the Hippogriff got off. Y/N and I'll look it up for you, Hagrid, and see exactly what happened."
Hagrid thanked us and allowed Y/N and Lana to come near Buckbeak since he liked them both. Y/N brought me out and did the same thing he did when he met Buckbeak for the first time. I bowed as well while Buckbeak did the same and Y/N looked at Buckbeak.
"Hey, Beaky." He said. "May I call you that?" Buckbeak grunted softly. "I'll take that as a yes. This is Hermione." He gestured to me. "She's an amazing person, you'll love her." He looked at me and said. "He's letting you come closer."
I walked up next to him as he put his hand and gently placed it on Buckbeak's head. He looked at me and smiled. I smiled back and placed my hand on his as they both were on Buckbeak's head. He chirped a little loudly to my surprise, to which Y/N let me put my fingers in mine. From the corner of my eye, I saw Lana smile at the both of us.
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The next morning was Christmas morning, so Ginny had woken me up early and Lana came to the Common Room to join us. Soon enough, the boys came out.
"Oy, presents!" Ron exclaimed.
I had gotten a Weasley sweater with a big "H" in it, a couple books from my parents, Y/N got me a picture frame with one of our favorite pictures from Hogsmeade that was enchanted to move all the time, Lana also got me a picture of the two of us from her party. Ron, Harry and Ginny got me some other things as well.
Y/N and Lana got sweaters as well, his mum got Y/N some things for Snuffles and Lana some things for Patch. Luna got some treats for us and I gave them both comfortable hoodies I got for them when I was in Paris. The both of them immediately put theirs on, Y/N's being cyan blue while Lana was dark blue.
Snuffles dove into Y/N's arm after he saw his presents and chirped so much. Y/N giggled as I hugged him from behind.
Ron and Harry were unwrapping their presents too. They both had presents, but Harry had a strange present with no label on it.
"What's that?" Ron asked as he pointed out the strange package. Harry opened the package to reveal a brand new broomstick, which was a Firebolt. Y/N and Lana widened their eyes at the broomstick in Harry's hands.
"Who sent it to you?" Ron and Y/N asked quietly.
"Look and see if there's a card." Harry said.
Y/N looked through the Firebolt's wrapping. "There's nothing." He deduced. "But who would spend their money on a Firebolt for you?"
"Well," Harry said. "I'm betting it wasn't the Dursleys."
"Mate, just seeing them last year makes me think they aren't in the slightest educated." Y/N said.
"I bet it was Dumbledore," Ron said as he took the Firebolt as if it were made of glass, taking it in all its glory. "He sent you the Invisibility Cloak anonymously..."
"That Harry could inherit since it was his father's." Y/N said. "He can't do that for students."
"That's why he wouldn't say it was from him!" Ron exclaimed. "In case some git like Malfoy said it was favoritism. Hey, Harry -- wait till Malfoy see you on this! He'll be as sick as a pig! This is an international standard broom, this is! Not even Victor Krum has something like this yet!"
"Yeah, screw Krum, I hate him." Y/N said to Ron's surprise. "He's overrated. I don't see he has so many fans. But before you both suggest Lupin got it, you can't, he was ill. And he moves around time to time."
"It's supposed to be quite a good broom, isn't it?" I asked.
"It's the best broom there is, Hermione." Ron said.
"So it must've been really expensive..."
"Probably cost more than all the Slytherins' brooms put together!" Ron said in joy
"Well, who'd send Harry something as expensive as that, and not even tell him about it?"
"Who cares?" Ron said impatiently, "Listen, Harry, can I have a go on it? Can I?"
The broom flew out of Ron's hands and into Y/N's, who stared at it before looking back at them. "No one should ride it yet." He said.
"What d'you think Harry's going to do with it -- sweep the floor?" Ron asked.
"No, smart one." Y/N said again. "Sirius Black could have given it to Harry. He may have even jinxed to hurt him."
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Couple hours later, after the Christmas feast where Trelawney gave a vague prediction, Lana, Y/N and myself told Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt while Ron and Harry went back to admire it more. As we entered, Harry and Ron were continuing to admire it while Ron kept pestering Harry about riding it.
"So that's it, is it?" Professor McGonagall said. "Mr. Lovegood, Miss Lovegood and Miss Granger had just informed me that you have been sent a broomstick, Potter."
Ron and Harry looked at us, both staring daggers at me. However, Y/N and Lana's eye glowed in retaliation. I just started down into my book, trying to avoid Harry and Ron.
"May I?" Professor McGonagall said politely as Harry passed the Firebolt to her. She examined the broom up and down and asked, "And there was no note at all, Potter? No card? No message of any kind?"
"No." Harry said.
"I see..." She said. "Well, I'm afraid I will have to take this, Potter."
"W-what? Why?"
"It will need to be checked for jinxes. I'm no expert, but I daresay Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick will strip it down."
"Strip it down?" Ron asked.
"It shouldn't take more than a few weeks. You will have it back if we are sure it is jinx-free."
"There's nothing wrong with it!" Harry said. "Honestly, Professor --"
"You can't know that, Potter." Professor McGonagall. "Not until you've flown it, at any rate, and I'm afraid that is out of the question until we are certain that it has not been tampered with. I shall keep you informed."
She left the Common Room with the Firebolt as Harry stared at her leaving.
Ron turned furiously at me and yelled. "What did you go running to McGonagall for?"
Y/N stood in front of me and scowled angrily at him. "We're trying to keep Harry safe, you bloody idiot! You just want to fly the Firebolt, that's all you've been saying since Harry got the damn broomstick!"
"Grandma agrees with us." Lana said. "That broom was probably sent to Harry by Sirius Black."
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For the next couple of days, I decided to avoid going to the Common Room since Ron and Harry were mad at me. Y/N decided to join me since he said he didn't want me to be alone and told me we should go to the library instead. I did enjoy just spending time with him, even if it wasn't Hogsmeade. He did bring Snuffles with him like always, which did bring a smile on my face, seeing our little baby Niffler.
Our Baby Niffler. I like the sound of that. I love being his mother and I bet Y/N loves being his father.
We spent most of our time in the Library studying for our classes, but we also talked more about life and playing with Snuffles. But we did have to see Harry and Ron in Lupin's class, since Harry mentioned Lupin was giving him private lessons.
"Ah, yes" Lupin said. "Let me see... how about eight o'clock on Thursday evening? The History of Magic classroom should be large enough... I'll have to think carefully about how we're going to do this... we can't bring a real Dementor into the castle to practice on..."
"Still looks ill, doesn't he?" Ron said. "What d'you reckon's the matter with him?"
I did want to say something so they would forgive us, but I promised Y/N so I said, "I reckon it's none of your business, Ronald."
"If you both don't want to tell us, don't." Ron snapped at us.
"Hey, Ron?" Y/N said as he looked at him. "Remember last year how you asked to remind you to get on my bad side?"
His eye glowed again as Ron shrunk in fear. "You're on it right now. I'm warning you."
"Let's go. They don't know." Ron said to Harry. "They're just trying to get us to talk to them again."
"Sorry about that." Y/N said as he came to me. "Should we go to the Library?"
"Oh, don't worry about it." I assured him as I joined my hand with his. "Ron was being a git anyway. We do have some free time, so let's go."
Harry POV
A couple of days later, Lupin had taught me the Patronus Charm. He assured me that Y/N and Lana have learnt the same, even when Ron and I were talking to them. We had ignored the three of them for a while, but I kinda feel bad. They all had good intentions, but they took the best broomstick ever from me. But even when we were not talking, we were concerned for the three of them.
Even whenever we saw Hermione, Y/N, and Lana, they were studying for multiple subjects with books spread over tables in the library, charts for Hermione, diagrams of Muggle lifting objects and many notes for their classes. I even managed to sneak a glance at one of Y/N's papers, where he wrote about something called a Swooping Evil and a Thunderbird for someone named Newt. I think I heard that name before.
Anyways, Professor Lupin and I were talking about the dementors after I practiced the Patronus Charm over some butterbeer.
"What's under a Dementor's hood?" I asked.
"Hmmm... Well, the only people who really know are in no condition to tell us." Lupin said as he put down his Butterbeer. "You see, the Dementor lowers its hood only to use its last and worst weapon."
"What's that?"
"They call it the Dementor's Kiss." Lupin said. "It's what Dementors do to those they wish to destroy utterly. I suppose there must be some kind of mouth under there, because they clamp their jaws upon the mouth of the victim and..." He stuttered for a moment. "And suck out his soul."
I spat out some butterbeer from my mouth.
"What -- They kill --?"
"Oh no." Lupin said. "Much worse than that. You can exist without your soul, you know, as long as your brain and heart are still working. But you'll have no sense of self anymore, no memory, no...anything. There's not chance of recovery. You'll just exist. As an empty shell. And your soul is gone forever."
He drank some more butterbeer and said, "It's the fate that awaits Sirius Black. It was in the Daily Prophet this morning. The Ministry have given the Dementors permission to perform it if they find him."
"He deserves it." I said to his surprise.
"You think so?" He said. "Do you really think anyone deserves that?"
"Yes. For... for some things..." I said. I couldn't let him know that I knew Black was the one who betrayed my parents, so hopefully I kept it subtle. I finished my butterbeer, thanked him and left the classroom.
I made my way to the Common Room lost in my own thoughts until I bumped into Professor McGonagall herself.
'Do watch where you're going, Potter!" She exclaimed.
"Sorry, professor --"
"I just been looking for you in the Gryffindor Common Room. Well, here it is." She said as she handed back my Firebolt. "We've done everything we could think of, and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it at all. You've got a very good friend somewhere, Potter."
I gasped. "I can have it back? Seriously?"
"Seriously." She said with a smile. "I daresay you'll need to get the feel of it before Saturday's match, won't you? And Potter -- Do try and win, won't you? Or we'll be out of the running for the eighth year in a row, as Professor Sanpe was kind enough to remind me only last night... Oh, and one more thing."
"Yes, professor?" I said.
"Do apologize to my grandchildren." She said. "They were only worried about you."
I brought the Firebolt back to the Tower. As I turned a corner, Ron grinned as he laid his eyes on it.
"She gave it back to you? Excellent! Listen, can I still have a go on it? Tomorrow?"
"Yeah.. anything..." I said happily. "You know what, we should make up with Hermione, Y/N and Lana. They were only trying to help."
"Yeah, all right." Ron said. "Y/N and Hermione were working in the common room -- for a change. Lana's with Luna somewhere."
We both entered the Common Room, where everyone fawned over the Firebolt.
"Have you ridden it, Harry?"
"Ravenclaw'll have no chance, they're all on Cleansweep Sevens!"
"Can I just hold it, Harry?"
I knew Lana and Luna were part of Ravenclaw, but I knew that they weren't sore losers, but actually good sports. After a while, the crowd went away, revealing Hermione resting on the couch with Y/N close to her and cuddling her while Snuffles rested on Hermione's lap. Y/N was reading a book as he spotted us with the Firebolt.
"I got it back." I said with a grin.
"See?" Ron said. "We told you lot there wasn't anything wrong with it."
"That's good, I suppose." Y/N said with a kind smile while Hermione stirred awake. "Hey, 'Mione, they're talking to us again." He said softly to her.
"Oh, they are?" Hermione asked. "There could have been something! I mean, at least you know now it's safe."
"Yeah, I suppose you two are right." I said. "I'd better put it upstairs."
"I'll take it!" Ron said eagerly. "I've got to give Scabbers his rat tonic." He went up the stairs holding the Firebolt carefully. I looked back at the two.
"Can I sit down, then?" I asked the two of them.
"Sure, go on." Y/N said while Hermione took something she was studying.
"How are you both getting through all this?" I asked them.
"Late nights at the library." Y/N said as Hermione got closer to him. "Sometimes we study there, sometimes here when no one's here. 'Mione falls asleep sometimes, so I end up carrying her back. Good thing Ginny's there to open the door so I can put her to bed."
"Why don't you both drop a couple of subjects? Lana too?" I suggested.
"We can't do that!" She said.
"Arithmancy looks terrible." I said as I picked up a chart.
"Oh no, it's wonderful!" Hermione said. "It's my favorite subject!"
"Hermione, Harry does have a point." Y/N said. "You've been stressing out so much, and I don't have a problem at all carrying you back here, but you could use some rest from these subjects."
"Well, yes I guess you're right." Hermione said. "I'll look which ones to-"
Before Hermione could finish, a loud scream erupted as Ron rushed out with a bedsheet in his hands.
"LOOK!" He yelled. "LOOK!" He shook the sheet in front of Hermione's face.
"Ron, what -" Y/N said.
"SCABBERS!" He shouted once more. "LOOK! SCABBERS!"
The bedsheet was covered in a red substance as Hermione leaned away from it.
"BLOOD!" Ron shouted. "HE'S GONE! AND YOU KNOW WHAT WAS ON THE FLOOR?"
"N-no." Hermione said in a scared voice as Y/N held her close.
Ron then threw something on her paper, revealing them to be several long, ginger cat hairs. All belonging to Crookshanks.
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