Wandless - A Harry Potter Fanfic 34 Chapter 16 - The Patronus

"Any memory of what you were thinking?" Vincent asked at his bedside, reading a book on alchemy. He jotted down a few notes for anything he found interesting.

"Everything happened so fast, I can't remember," Harry muttered in frustration. He set his wand and gla.s.ses down on the bedside before glancing at Vincent. "Alchemy?"

"Just a bit of light reading," Vincent replied.

"Sounds like Hermione," Harry lay down in bed and turned of his light stand.

Vincent sat in the dorm with his light still on, the only sound left was the snores of several boys.

Vincent set a slip to bookmark the page he was on and placed the book at his bedside. He got up and walked to the window, noticing a familiar black dog staring up at him.

Scratching his head, Vincent took out a piece of paper and written on it: "Any sign of him?"

The sheet of paper was something Sister An had given him before leaving to contact Sirius. Whatever happens to on page happens to the other.
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Sirius from below, moved behind a tree and morphed back. In his hand, he held a similar piece of paper. Vincent's writing on the paper was erased and a new message was shown: "Not yet, Crookshanks can't seem to get a scent of him in the castle. Could he have escaped after all?"

"Keep searching, I'm sure his here," Vincent wrote back once the writing disappeared. Sirius, from the trees glanced back at Vincent before morphing back into a dog, making his way back into the darkness.

"He has to be," said Vincent under his breath. He clenched his fist. "I don't know what to do if he isn't."

The next couple of weeks flown by and all the third years were excited about the upcoming Hogsmeade trip.

"Harry, let's go visit Zonko's, you still haven't been inside Zonko's yet!"

Both Harry and Ron were talking about the trip when Hermione rushed up to them. "Harry, you can't go! Sirius Black is out there, looking to kill you!"

"Oh haven't you done enough damag—" Ron stopped himself with gritted teeth and struggled to keep himself from blowing up.

Hermione looked a little hurt and opened her mouth when she the painting opened to Vincent with Arnya trailing behind. "Vincent, say something."

"Huh?" Vincent had a momentary confusion on his face before realisation dawned on it, noticing the Hogsmeade date posted on the bulletin board. He connected the dots and got a general idea of what their arguing about.

"Sirius is still out there, waiting to kill Harry," Vincent had a complicated look on his face. "Harry doesn't even have the map anymore, meaning that it'll be even more dangerous."

"Haahhh," Vincent covered his face and took a deep breath. He couldn't just say, 'Hey, Sirius is on our side, Harry could go along and head to Hogsmeade now.'

"Harry, how's your progress on creating your Patronus?" Vincent asked, confusing the group at the somewhat random question.

"I haven't been able to do it since that day, why—?" Harry asked back.

"On the day to Hogsmeade, let's both go visit Professor Lupin," Vincent suggested.

Harry frowned and was about to speak when Vincent cut him off. "From what I see, your close to master in your Patronus, I feel like you should prioritise that."

"But why on the date of the next Hogsmeade visit in particular?" Harry asked.

"One, so you don't go," Vincent noticed the conflict in Harry's eyes. "And two, Professor Lupin seems like he's going to get sick again, I thought that we should visit him, it's the least you can do for all the help he's given you."

Harry still looked unconvinced so Vincent gave one last push. "Harry, I told you before, but you going out there to have fun while ignoring all the effort everyone has done to keep you safe, how do you think they would react? That's all I have to say, whether you go out or not is up to you."

Vincent took a look at Ron. "You shouldn't be egging him on either Ron."

Vincent hefted a bag on his shoulder and walked away, leaving Harry and Ron to exchange looks. He sat down at a table and unloaded the bag that was filled with books.

"Are you sure leaving the choice to those two is ok?" Hermione asked, taking a seat across from Vincent.

Vincent gave a wry smile. "I can't force them to stay. If Harry really wants something, nothing can stop him. Ron is another matter, he means well, but he has a hard time admitting to his mistakes. One of them is not taking a look at the general situation, it's not that he wanted Harry in danger, but that he didn't consider the possibility of Harry getting caught in trouble, believing that they won't in the first place. Given, Harry does have an invisibility cloak, but as you already know, those two are pretty impulsive and reckless, doing before thinking, that's what gets them in, and sometimes out of trouble. But you already know that don't you?"

Hermione shook her head in frustration and put her head to the table. Arnya took a look through Vincent's bag and found a chess board. She set it up before tapping Vincent's bag front, awakening a sleepy looking Nyx and Blimp who were beckoned to come and play with her.

Hermione pulled her head with great difficulty due to exhaustion, watching the game.

"Hermione, you should really drop some subjects," Vincent advised. "That watch is not good for your health."

"I'm fine!" She snapped. After a moment of silence, she realised what she said and placed her head on the table. "I'm sorry."

Vincent looked through his small pouch rummaged around for a bit. He pulled out another sleep potion and placed it at the table. "I only have ten left, it'll take a while to restock my ingredients due to the ice pillar ruining everything so I can't make anything for some time."

"Thanks," Hermione huffed and took a glance at the books Vincent had, becoming curious. "Frankenstein, Alchemy, Homunculus."

Hermione had her eyes furrowed. "You aren't planning on creating a living creature are you?"

"No, just had a thought about something a while back, something that even I admit may be crazy," Vincent pulled out a book on incidents relating to Alchemy, starting to read through it. "Hagrid's going to London on Thursday for his trial. He hasn't been eating much, I'm really worried for him."

"We both looked through so much to help Hagrid in his case," Hermione sighed. "Hagrid can't lose, right?"

"I honestly can't say Hermione," Vincent answered sadly.

Hermione turned back to the chess game which seemed to be at a stalemate while Vincent continued on reading, jotting down notes when something of interest caught his eye.

...

"So you didn't go," Vincent gave Harry a pat on the shoulder. "Hermione said I should get you to help me with potion making as punishment, not sure why though."

Harry started sweating inwardly. "Ron, you nearly got me killed."

Along the way to Lupin, they came across Neville whose face lit up at the sight of them.

"Hey Vince, Harry," Neville called out. "Where are you guys headed too?"

"Just visiting Professor Lupin," Vincent answered. "You need help on your project?"

"Yeah, I—" Neville paused, leaving Vincent and Harry confused. Neville then shook his head. "No, I've got it all covered. I think I know what to do."

"Really? Good luck then."

Neville watched their backs disappear around the corner and scratched his head. "Can't always rely on you."

"Harry, Vincent, what a surprise," Lupin said with a raised eyebrow, with his usual messy appearance. "Whatever brings you two here?"

"Vincent wanted to talk about the Patronus charm and decided to bring me along," Harry answered with Vincent giving him an odd look. He shrugged. "I'm here, might as well listen."

"Well, come in," Lupin opened the door to his office, letting the two boys in.

Going into his office, Vincent noticed an a.s.sortment of creatures that Lupin had introduced in the past cla.s.ses. A water tank containing a Grindylow at the corner, a cage with a giant wasp of some sort, a small gla.s.s box full of bits of dust that almost seems alive, and the same cupboard containing the Boggart from the start of the year.

A desk was set out in the middle of the room with a piece of blank parchment layed out and some ink to the side. Looking to the left, Vincent noticed a worn out shelf with several books organised into neat rows.

"Contrary to his appearance, Professor Lupin seems to be pretty neat," Vincent thought as he found a chair to sit in. Harry found a seat on Vincent's left as Lupin sat on the front of his desk.

"Now then, Vincent, I'm sure you know you can't learn the Patronus, so why the sudden interest?" Lupin asked kindly.

"It's something that's been on my mind for a while, but before we get to that, can you explain to me what a Patronus is?" Vincent asked.

Lupin nodded and took out his wand. "As you know, a Patronus is a guardian of sorts against Dementors. It's appearance is unique to each Witch or Wizard, usually an animal of some sorts. Its the projection of our hope, happiness, and love, the very thing that the Dementor feeds upon."

"So why can't the Dementors, absorb, or consume it?" Vincent asked, trying to find the right words.

"Because the Patronus is made of only good, void of all negative feelings, hence, it can't be hurt," Lupin answered, waving his wand. A thin sliver of silver emitted from his wand, coiling around it. "The Patronus has two forms, non-corporeal and corporeal. Non-corporeal appears as a silver wisp, a mist of sorts, that's what I'm doing now. Now a corporeal Patronus is when it takes a form of sorts, something that looks solid, alive, complete. It's incredibly hard to do, even among expert wizards."

Lupin flicked his wand, making the mist form into a silhouette of some animal, but before it fully formed, Lupin dispersed the Patronus. "Now, with that said, is there anything that you want to ask?"

"Well not much," Vincent glanced at the spot the Patronus dematerialised before looking back. "For a Patronus to manifest, Harry told me that the wielder uses a memory, the happier the better and stronger a Patronus is."

Lupin nodded, gesturing for Vincent to continue. "I'm just wondering, how powerful can a Patronus be?"

"What brought on that idea?" Lupin asked.

"Just curious," Vincent brought his hands together. "When I saw Harry's Patronus, it looked and felt so, real, as if it was a solid being. Can a Patronus have a solid form? One that you can touch or feel?"

Lupin looked thoughtful for a bit before sighing. "I can't answer that, because even I don't know."

"What do you mean?" Harry finally spoke up, becoming intrigued.

"The Patronus charm is ancient, it's been used for centuries by both Witches and Wizards to repel against the Dementors," Lupin explained. "But there has been no other development or use of the charm. Well, not until Dumbledore came along, making a way for the charm to be used for communication and such."

Lupin looked at both Harry and Vincent and smiled. "What I'm trying to say, is that it's potential is still unknown, who knows what other uses it has, or any spell for that matter."

Vincent frowned a bit. "Is it rare for people to experiment with a singular spell?"

"Well, it's indeed rare for someone to spend so much time on one spell when they could be focussing on others," said Lupin. "I know someone that specialises in a unique form of the shield charm, in fact, even Dumbledore himself praised it as something incredible."

"Someone Dumbledore praised?" Harry said in surprise.

Lupin nodded and then looked at Vincent. "So, is that all you want to ask?"

"Just one more question, is there any other way to defend against a Dementor?" Vincent asked, a bit hopeful.

Lupin frowned and shook his head. "Unless you can make yourself devoid of all negativity, the most that you can do is annoy them."

"Now, if there's nothing else to do, let's part here,' Lupin took a pocket watch out and looked at the time. "I have a meeting with Professor Dumbledore later on, can't be late for that."

"Yes sir," Vincent and Harry walked to the door when Harry frowned.

He turned to face Lupin. "Are you feeling alright Professor? Vincent did say that you may fall sick again soon."

Both Vincent and Lupin froze and the locked eyes. Lupin had an almost fearful look while Vincent racked his brains trying to think of a way to talk out of it.

"It was more of a worry," Vincent said hastily. "Oh and Professor, I currently don't have any that the moment, but I have a potion that could perhaps help you."

Lupin nodded. "Ah, I've heard about it from Professor Snape. In that case, I apologise in the future if I disturb you."

"Does he know?" Lupin thought once the boys disappeared behind the corner. He took a deep breath. "Well, if he hasn't spread the news, he should be trustworthy."

...

Meanwhile, at the tower, a scruffy brown owl tapped the windows, making a first year open it to let the bird in. It made a beeline straight for Hermione who was currently scribbling madly on her parchment with Arnya at her side reading a book.

She looked up to see the owl land on the desk and her eyes, weary from work, unattached the letter and gave the owl a few knuts to which it happily accepted.

After flying off, Hermione opened up the note, her tired eyes widening at what was written. Arnya looked over at the letter and then back at Hermione who's eyes started reddening.

Arnya awkwardly pat Hermiones' back , unsure of what else to do as tears flowed down Hermiones face.

...

"I still don't know why you wanted me here," Harry said as they climbed the stairs. "You could have just told me not to go to Hogsmeade and left it there, but instead you decide to—"

"Hogsmeade, Potter?" A drawling voice from above stopped them in their tracks as they looked up to see Snape sneering down at Harry, his eyes glinting. "Thought of sneaking out did you? Ah, but maybe your guilty conscience persuaded you to stay behind. Think about how everyone from the Ministry of Magic would react if Harry Potter snuck into Hogsmeade, not thinking about the consequences."

The two boys stayed silent as Snape went on. "At least your not like your father, arrogant, his talent on the Quidditch field going right to his head, thinking that he was better than anyone. Strutting around the place with his friends and followers as if this place was his."

"My dad didn't strut," Vincent shook his head at Harry, who looked angered.

"I underestimated you Potter, you've shown me that you can stop yourself from breaking some rules, unlike your pigheaded father—" Snape's tone started rising, full of maliciousness.

"SHUT UP!"

Snape narrowed his eyes at Harry who had snapped as Vincent frowned. Even he felt that Snape had gone too far.

"What did you say to me Potter?" Snape asked coldly.

"I told you to shut up about my dad!" Harry yelled. "I know the truth alright? He saved your life! Dumbledore told me! You wouldn't even be here if it weren't for my dad!"

"That's news to me," Vincent thought, seeing Snape starting to turn a frightful shade of white.

"And did the headmaster tell you the circ.u.mstances in which your father saved my life?" he whispered. "Or did he consider the details too unpleasant for precious Potter's delicate ears?"

Harry bit his lip.

"I would hate for you to run away with a false idea of your father, Potter," he said, a terrible grin twisting his face. "Have you been imagining some act of glorious heroism? Then let me correct you—your saintly father and his friends played a highly amusing joke on me that would have resulted in my death if your father hadn't got cold feet at the last moment. There was nothing brave about what he did. He was saving his own skin as much as mine. Had their joke succeeded, he would have been expelled from Hogwarts."

"Professor!" Snape snapped out of his mad trance and looked to Vincent who pointed up. "We still have an a.s.signment to finish, so if you'll excuse us."

Snape glared at the boys and stepped aside, letting them go up the stairs. After a few steps with Harry, Vincent looked back. "If I may, Professor, I don't know what happened in the past , but Harry is not his father."

Snape glanced back as Vincent and Harry disappeared up the staircase. He took a deep breath to calm himself before proceeding on his way.

Harry's angered face was replaced by a look of confusion and uncertainty, worrying Vincent somewhat.

"You going to be ok?" Asked Vincent.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," Harry decided to change the subject. "So why did you bring me along?"

Although worried, Vincent didn't push the matter.

"It's because I believe I discovered a way to further improve the Patronus," Vincent answered.

"What?! But if that's true, why not suggest it to the Professor?" Harry asked incredulously.

"I want to be sure of my theory before putting it out here, I also wanted to hear from the Professor about the Patronus personally," Vincent glanced at Harry who looked like he wanted to know and shook his head. "Not the right time to tell you. If I say anything now, it might distract you and ruin all the progress you've made. Master the patronus first, then come to me if your still interested, although, I'm not sure how effective the advice from a muggle would be."

As they reached the Fat Lady's picture, they noticed a familiar nervous looking redhead shifting around at the entrance with a bag at his side.

"Ron, you're back," Harry greeted, startling Ron. He sheepishly looked at Vincent and sighed as he held the bag out.

"What's this?" Vincent asked with confusion.

"Peace offering," Ron said, shuffling his feet. "I, may have been—" Vincent raised one eyebrow. "I think I was—" Vincent raised another eyebrow. "Ok, fine, I was a jerk, happy?"

"Not that I don't appreciate this, but what brought this on?" Vincent scratched his head as he looked into the bag to see sweets from Honeydukes and some b.u.t.terbear.

"Well, since I was alone the whole day, I had some time to think," Ron muttered as Vincent folded his arms.

"There's still one more person to apologise to you know?"

Ron nodded and looked to the painting with dread, the Fat Lady sitting there bored out of her mind.

"Well, it's about time you get in!" she remarked at Ron as the painting opened up.

Stepping inside, they found Hermione face down on a table with Arnya patting her back.

"Hey Hermione, Ron here has something to say to you," Harry said, he approached the table as Hermione shifted.

The boys all froze as Hermione looked up her eyes slightly red.

"Blimey, I'm not that sore of a sight for her right?" Ron whispered to Vincent who frowned.

"What happened?"

Hermione used her sleeves to wipe her eyes and moved a small piece of parchment towards them.

"It's over," Hermione muttered, confusing the boys. "Hagrid had just had his hearing, he's lost the case. Buckbeak is going to be executed."

...

//...AUTHORS NOTE...

Funny thing, I looked back on my earlier chapters, and holy c.r.a.p, I cringed at some parts that were too cheesy or slightly confusing dialogue.

Did think of fixing it but then decided that I should just keep it as a reminder for myself. I felt my way through the story, testing out what looked right or not. In the end, writing this is to see how I can improve as a writer.

Also, when I said that I may change some characters with personality and strength a while back, I DID NOT SAY that they'll be better than the originals. I just want to see if I can make a character progress without it seeming unnatural, but well-earned and such. Not sure how that'll go, but I'll give it my best.

Once again, thanks for reading my story, hope to see you guys soon.

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