Task number 1 accomplished. Task number 2 was a bit hard however; finding Sirius Black and getting to the bottom of the mystery. I don't know how I was going to do that but there were clues enough for me.

I had often heard Harry mentioning to Ron and Hermione that he had seen a giant black dog first at Magnolia Crescent then in the school courtyard and I wasn't ignorant enough to overlook them as mere coincidences. I knew it meant he was nearby; close to Hogwarts even.

Though how I would manage to get to him before the dementors did, seemed almost an impossibility. Quite like surviving in Outer Space without oxygen.

***

It was my first DADA lesson as I had missed the previous day's class. I heard all about it from the twins though. Seems like they absolutely adore Professor Lupin and were rather glad that Hogwarts finally found a more than capable Defence teacher.

The first class had started from a lecture on Dementors. Well it was quite appropriate that Moony began the lesson from teaching about what is currently infesting Hogwarts. Really clever. I can see why everyone is so fond of him easily though despite his overall shabby appearances.

We entered the classroom and as usual it was full of students. No big deal really because its quite our routine habit to enter a class after it is full. The students were chattering excitedly among themselves. A short while later, Moony... I mean Professor Lupin entered.

All the buzzing stopped immediately as each face turned expectantly towards him. He smiled at all of us and his brown eyes swept all over the classroom taking in eager faces. 

Those eyes stopped on me for almost a microsecond but he quickly made up for the lack of conversation, "we will begin this class with a short recap of what we have learnt in the previous lesson. Now we might need a bit silence in the classroom if you wish to understand the lesson... That's right."

He repeated all about Dementors and explained everything in perfect detail only that I wasn't much interested in the lesson. I was thinking about those ghastly creatures stationed around our school and how it was only a matter of days before a student got kissed fatally. Because like Professor Lupin said; Dementors are unable to distinguish between their allies and foes. Not that I want to be an ally, no thanks.

"Now who would tell me how to repel a dementor?" I was roused out of my reveries when Professor Lupin asked the question. 

Oh yeah, somebody from the class will answer not that I'm much interested to. I see having all these thoughts clustered up in my mind is having a negative impact on my studies. And considering it's OWLs year...

God knows how many lectures I've had to face from dear old Perce. And God forbid how many lectures and sermons he's saving up for the NEWTs. And if I flunked Astronomy...

"Miss Weasley?" I looked up immediately to find all the class staring up at me. Now what did I do? I'm quite sure I did nothing stupid. 

I mean... "Yes, Professor?"

He spoke, "do you know the answer to the question I asked?"

Oh, shit, I don't even recall what he had asked in the first place.

I bit my lip nervously, this was a situation I only had to face in Snape's class, "um... Would you please repeat the question?"

Some people at the back snickered but I chose to ignore it. I swear I could see a hint of that rare mischievous spark in Moony's eyes but he masked it completely with a genuine smile; very Moony behavior. 

"How would you repel a Dementor?" he repeated.

Oh... Of course.

"A Patronus Charm...?" I replied but it came out more as a question. Being caught unawares during class still has that effect on me.

"Indeed, five points to Gryffindor. A Patronus Charm is a positive force created by memories of happiness. This force shields the caster against the Dementor such that it begins to consume the charm rather than the caster."

Katie spoke up, "so are we going to write an essay on Patronuses?"

He nodded, "of course but later. For now we will be doing some practical work, I want you all to practice creating your own Patronuses. It is very interesting. You'll find that each of your Patronus will be different and take the shape of an animal you're most affiliated with." The class buzzed exuberantly.

"How did you know about Patronuses?" George whispered.

Well, sometimes the twins are more than just observant. "I've been reading stuff lately."

Fred piped up, "and what exactly were you reading?"

I replied vaguely, "Percy's books."

They rolled their eyes mockingly, "if we had known you would be another miniature and slightly tolerable version of Perce earlier, then we might just have never let you join our Prankster Group."

"Let's face it, half your pranks are supplied by me now," I remarked.

"Though we do wonder what kind of oh so interesting notes did you find in Perce's books."

An idea struck me, "oh yeah, if love letters to darling Penny are considered interesting, then I did. A bunch load of them. Poor Hermes." They laughed at that so I guess it's safe to assume that they aren't going to actually suspect my reading books habit.

"Now all of you repeat the incantation after me, no wands about now, please. We'll rehearse they sayings first then try to cast the spell. Now... EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

We repeated after him in chorus, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

He made us do that twice then told us to grab a point in the room to start practicing, "it will all be individual work. Focus on a single happy memory. Concentrate. Let it fill you up, then say the incantation."

Everyone began trying. The classroom was gleaming with silver sparks and showers. Moony was taking a round and advising students in the meanwhile. All of this reminded me of how I had learnt to create a Patronus.

"Look, I got it right," Fred pointed beaming with pleasure. A fox patronus was now circling the room.

"Wonderful, five points to Gryffindor," Moony looked quite happy with Fred while the expression on Fred's face said: oh yeah, that's the first time I impressed a teacher academically.

Professor Lupin spoke, "now as you see, such a clear Patronus is called a corporeal Patronus. While the Patronus which doesn't take any form or there's just an outburst of silver light is non-corporeal. Watch this," he took out his wand and said the incantation.

The class oohed and aahed as there was a giant shower of light. No form. I knew why though. Moony had the habit of disguising his Patronus as a non-corporeal one in order to keep his identity secret. He felt that a wolf Patronus could give his state away so he preferred creating non-corporeals. "Keep trying, I know all of you will get it right."

Next a Ravenclaw conjured a corporeal Patronus the shape of an Abraxan Winged Horse.

I was not practicing, I don't know why. Once or twice I tried concentrating on that memory I had used before but it wasn't working. All I got were thin wisps of silver.

George succeeded in creating his Patronus and both the twins looked quite pleased with themselves.

I was standing by the window and the gusts of air were making me feel cold (which I don't particularly like) so I walked off towards the other side in front of a giant cupboard.

Most of the students were doing the charm right by now as almost everywhere non-corporeal Patronuses were erupting. A few animal like forms were also swirling about in the silvery atmosphere.

I stared down at my wand, wondering why I couldn't do it again. Something squeaked. I looked up to see that the cupboard had opened out of its own accord. I took a step back and bumped into one of the twins.

It felt as if the class was getting colder than usual and gradually the silvery glow was vanishing. Nearly everyone had turned to look up at the now wide open cupboard.

The scars on my hand began to hurt. A warning. And true enough a Dementor billowed out of the cupboard. Now of all times.

Everyone stepped back instinctively but it seemed as if I was frozen. Faint screams were reaching my ears. No, I steadied myself. Sirius did not teach me how to create a Patronus for nothing. I had to fight back. I will fight back.

My wand was held steady before me. I tried to concentrate on the memory but instead a replay of my few months stay in the past flashed through my eyes. I concentrated harder.

I saw the Marauders, Lily , Marlene and myself. The late night conversations, the Howler, the Birthday party, the almost a moment at the Astronomy Tower, the Firewhiskey scenario, the Spring Ball, the Hogsmeade weekends, the Secret Meetings, the massive blowouts and last but definitely not least the scene in the Great Hall on my last day.

It all happened so fast that it seemed to be mere seconds that had passed. I could see Sirius's face before me, his eyes alight with that characteristic spark which was replaced by surprise when... When I kissed him in front of the whole school. That was it.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

The Dementor in front of me staggered and backwards as the silver form erupted from the tip of my wand. The Thunderbird Patronus. It hurtled back in the cupboard as my Patronus swooped down at it gracefully, then flapping the enormous wings,m the Thunderbird vanished into a crackle of thunder.

Professor Lupin immediately closed the cupboard. Even though a few minutes before, the students were looking in awe at my Patronus now they were looking at Moony as if wondering what a Dementor was doing in one of his cupboards.

"Well, most of you thought that a Dementor came out of this cupboard, right?" he was still quite calm and relaxed, "don't worry then. This wasn't a real Dementor."

Angelina asked, "how come there are such realistic looking fake Dementors in your office?"

I could hear Fred and George mumbling among themselves, probably making a point to find out about the merchandise of fake Dementors.

"It's a Boggart," he resumed, "I was saving this for the third years, that happens to be the lesson after you people. There's a simple spell to finish off a Boggart and if you haven't done it yet then I'll gladly teach you in some other class."

The whole class nodded back quite excited. The chit chat among the students got reestablished as all of them were discussing their own Patronuses.

A short while later, Professor Lupin came to me, "are you okay?" 

Of course. I nodded. He seemed to have not forgotten the way Dementors scared me out of my wits. Only this time, it was different. I wasn't scared. In fact I was glad that I could fight them off as well as he could. 

"You have a very interesting Patronus," he remarked before addressing the class.

"That was all for today. I want you all to write an essay on your Patronuses. Nothing extraordinary. And any length will be acceptable. Just make sure it exceeds two sentences at least." And after that the bell rung and us students began filing out of the classroom.

***