Chapter 12 The Patronus

kick up k raw(a) that Hermi whizzness had meant well, except that didnt give notice him from being angry with her. He had been the birther of the best ling in the world for a few short hours, and instantaneously, because of her interference, he didnt fare whether he would ever see it once more. He was positive that in that respect was cipher wrong with the Firebolt now, barely what sort of state would it be in once it had been subjected to all sorts of anti-jinx tests?Ron was furious with Hermi wiz withal. As far as he was concerned, the stripping- eat of a brand- clean Firebolt was nothing less than criminal damage. Hermi champion, who remained convinced that she had acted for the best, started avoiding the usual room. stimulate and Ron supposed she had taken refuge in the library and didnt try to persuade her to come back. totally in all, they were glad when the rest of the school returned shortly later New Year, and Gryffindor Tower became crowded and vociferous on ce more. Wood sought chivvy out on the night ahead term started.Had a goodly Christmas? he give tongue to, and hence, without waiting for an answer, he sit ware, lowe carmine his voice, and verbalise, Ive been, doing virtually look ating over Christmas, plague. After abide match, you know. If the Dementors come to the next oneI meanwe cant afford you to well Wood broke finish up, spirit awkward.Im working on it, utter ravage quickly. professor lupin verbalise hed train me to ward absent the Dementors. We should be starting this hebdomad. He state hed fuck off while subsequently Christmas.Ah, say Wood, his expression clearing. closely, in that causal agent I authenticly didnt take to lose you as Seeker, Harry. And arrive at you ordered a new broom yet?No, said Harry.What Youd better break down a move on, you know you cant ride that guessing Star against RavenclawHe got a Firebolt for Christmas, said Ron.A Firebolt? No Seriously? A a real Firebolt?Don t get excited, Oliver, said Harry gloomily. I defendnt got it anymore. It was confiscated. And he explained all closely how the Firebolt was now being go over for jinxes.Jinxed? How could it be jinxed?Sirius Black, Harry said wearily. Hes supposed to be after me. So McGonagall reckons he mightiness stupefy sent it.Waving aside the information that a famous murderer was after his Seeker, Wood said, and Black couldnt have bought a Firebolt Hes on the run The whole countrys on the sentry for him How could he besides walk into Quality Quidditch Supplies and buy a broomstick?I know, said Harry, but McGonagall still wants to strip it down Wood went pale.Ill go and talk to her, Harry, he promised. Ill collide with her see to a lower place standA Firebolta real Firebolt, on our team She wants Gryffindor to win as much as we doIll make her see sense. A Firebolt.Classes started again the next day. The work thing anyone matte like doing was spending two hours on the grounds on a raw January morning, but Hagrid had provided a bonfire safe of salamanders for their enjoyment, and they spent an unusually good lesson collecting dry wood and leaves to keep the fire blazing dapple the flame-loving lizards scampered up and down the crumbling, white-hot logs. The first Divination lesson of the new term was much less diversion Professor Trelawney was now teaching them palmistry, and she lost no clipping in informing Harry that he had the shortest life line she had ever seen.It was Defense Against the Dark Arts that Harry was keen to get to after his conversation with Wood, he treasured to get started on his anti-Dementor lessons as soon as possible.Ah yes, said lupine, when Harry reminded him of his promise at the end of class. Let me seehow about eight oclock on Thursday c returne surface? The History of conjuration schoolroom should be large bounteousIll have to think carefully about how were going to do thisWe cant bring a real Dementor into the castle t o practice on.Still looks ill, doesnt he? said Ron as they walked down the corridor, subjecting to dinner. What dyou reckons the matter with him?T present was a loud and impatient tuh from fanny them. It was Hermione, who had been sitting at the feet of a suit of armor, repacking her bag, which was so full of books it wouldnt close.And what are you tutting at us for? said Ron irritably.Nothing, said Hermione in a lofty voice, heaving her bag back over her shoulder.Yes, you were, said Ron. I said I wonder whats wrong with lupin, and you Well, isnt it obvious? said Hermione, with a look of maddening superiority.If you dont want to tell us, dont, snapped Ron.Fine, said Hermione haughtily, and she marched off.She doesnt know, said Ron, staring resentfully after Hermione. Shes just trying to get us to talk to her again.At eight oclock on Thursday evening, Harry left Gryffindor Tower for the History of Magic classroom. It was dark and empty when he arrived, but he lit the lamps with his wand and had waited only five transactions when Professor Lupin turned up, carrying a large packing case, which he heaved onto Professor Binns desk.Whats that? said Harry. many other Boggart, said Lupin, stripping off his cloak. Ive been combing the castle ever since Tuesday, and very luckily, I found this one lurking inwardly Mr. Filchs filing cabinet. Its the nearest well get to a real Dementor. The Boggart will turn into a Dementor when he sees you, so well be able to practice on him. I can store him in my dapple when were not using him theres a cupboard under my desk hell like.Okay, said Harry, trying to sound as though he wasnt apprehensive at all and merely glad that Lupin had found such a good substitute for a real Dementor.So Professor Lupin had taken out his own wand, and indicated that Harry should do the same. The spell I am going to try and teach you is highly advance(a) magic, Harry well beyond Ordinary Wizarding Level. It is called the Patronus Charm.How does it work? said Harry nervously.Well, when it works correctly, It cites up a Patronus, said Lupin, which is a kind of anti-Dementor a guardian that acts as a shield between you and the Dementor.Harry had a sudden vision of himself crouching behind a Hagrid-sized figure holding a large club. Professor Lupin continued, The Patronus is a kind of positive force, a projection of the very things that the Dementor feeds upon hope, happiness, the desire to survive but it cannot heart despair, as real humans can, so the Dementors cant hurt it. But I must check you, Harry, that the charm might be too advanced for you. Many qualified wizards have difficulty with it.What does a Patronus look like? said Harry curiously.Each one is unique to the wizard who conjures it.And how do you conjure it?With an incantation, which will work only if you are concentrating, with all your might, on a single, very adroit memory.Harry cast his mind about for a blissful memory. Certainly, nothing that had happ ened to him at the Dursleys was going to do. Finally, he colonized on the moment when he had first ridden a broomstick.Right, he said, trying to recall as exactly as possible the wondrous, soaring sensation of his stomach.The incantation is this Lupin cleared his throat. Expecto patronumExpecto patronum, Harry repeated under his breath, appearo patronum.Concentrating hard on your happy memory?Oh yeah said Harry, quickly forcing his melodic themes back to that first broom ride. Expecto patrono no, patronum sorry expecto patronum, expecto patronumSomething whooshed suddenly out of the end of his wand it looked like a wisp of silvery gas.Did you see that? said Harry excitedly. Something happenedVery good, said Lupin, smiling. Right, then ready to try it on a Dementor?Yes, Harry said, riveting his wand very tightly, and moving into the middle of the deserted classroom. He tried and true to keep his mind on flying, but something else kept intrudingAny second now, he might f ancy his yield againbut he shouldnt think that, or he would hear her again, and he didnt want toor did he?Lupin grasped the lid of the packing case and pulled.A Dementor rose slowly from the box, its hooded face turned toward Harry, one glistening, scabbed hand clutchping its cloak. The lamps around the classroom flickered and went out. The Dementor stepped from the box and started to sweep silently toward Harry, drawing a deep, spiffy breath. A wave of piercing cold broke over him Expecto patronum Harry yelled. Expecto patronum Expecto But the classroom and the Dementor were fade outHarry was falling again through thick white fog, and his mothers voice was louder than ever, echoing inside his head Not Harry Not Harry Please Ill do anything Stand aside stand aside, female child HarryHarry jerked back to life. He was lying flat on his back on the floor. The classroom lamps were alight again. He didnt have to ask what had happened.Sorry, he muttered, sitting up and feeling col d cause trickling down behind his glasses.Are you all right? said Lupin.Yes Harry pulled himself up on one of the desks and leaned against it.Here Lupin handed him a Chocolate Frog. flow this before we try again. I didnt expect you to do it your first time in fact, I would have been astounded if you had.Its acquire worse, Harry muttered, briery off the Frogs head. I could hear her louder that time and him Voldemort Lupin looked paler than usual.Harry, if you dont want to continue, I will more than say I do said Harry fiercely, stuffing the rest of the Chocolate Frog into his mouth. Ive got to What if the Dementors turn up at our match against Ravenclaw? I cant afford to fall off again. If we lose this game weve lost the Quidditch instillAll right then said Lupin. You might want to select another memory, a happy memory, I mean, to concentrate onThat one doesnt seem to have been strong largeHarry thought hard and decided his feelings when Gryffindor had won the House Champio nship last year had definitely qualified as very happy. He gripped his wand tightly again and took up his position in the middle of the classroom. organise? said Lupin, gripping the box lid.Ready, said Harry trying hard to fill his head with happy thoughts about Gryffindor winning, and not dark thoughts about what was going to happen when the box opened.Go said Lupin, clout off the lid. The room went icily cold and dark once more. The Dementor glided forward, drawing its breath one vector decomposition hand was extending toward Harry Expecto patronum Harry yelled. Expecto patronum Expecto Pat White fog obscured his sensesbig, blurred shapes were moving around himthen came a new voice, a mans voice, shouting, panicking Lily, take Harry and go Its him Go Run Ill hold him off The sounds of someone stumbling from a room a door bursting open a cackle of high- pitched laugh Harry Harrywake upLupin was tapping Harry hard on the face. This time it was a minute before Harry understood w hy he was lying on a insensate classroom floor.I heard my dad, Harry mumbled. Thats the first time Ive ever heard him he tried to take on Voldemort himself, to give my mum time to run for itHarry suddenly realized that there were tears on his face mingling with the sweat. He bent his face as low as possible, wiping them off on his robes, pretending to do up his shoelace, so that Lupin wouldnt see.You heard James? said Lupin in a strange voice.Yeah Face dry, Harry looked up. Why you didnt know my dad, did you?I I did, as a matter of fact, said Lupin. We were booster units at Hogwarts. Listen, Harry perhaps we should leave it here for tonight. This charm is ridiculously advancedI shouldnt have suggested putting you through thisNo said Harry. He got up again. Ill have one more go Im not thinking of happy enough things, thats what it ishang onHe racked his brains. A really, really happy memoryone that he could turn into a good, strong Patronus.The moment when hed first found out h e was a wizard, and would be leaving the Dursleys for Hogwarts If that wasnt a happy memory, he didnt know what wasConcentrating very hard on how he had felt when hed realized hed be leaving Privet Drive, Harry got to his feet and faced the packing case once more.Ready? said Lupin, who looked as though he were doing this against his better judgment. Concentrating hard? All right goHe pulled off the lid of the case for the third time, and the Dementor rose out of it the room fell cold and dark EXPECTO PATRONUM Harry bellowed. EXPECTO PATRONUM EXPECTO PATRONUMThe screaming inside Harrys head had started again except this time, it sounded as though it were coming from a badly tuned radio softer and louder and softer againand he could still see the Dementorit had haltedand then a huge, silver shadow came bursting out of the end of Harrys wand, to hang around between him and the Dementor, and though Harrys legs felt like water, he was still on his feet though for how much all-night , he wasnt sureRiddikulus roared Lupin, springing forward.thither was a loud crack, and Harrys cloudy Patronus vanished along with the Dementor he sank into a chair, feeling as exhausted as if hed just run a mile, and felt his legs shaking. Out of the corner of his eye, he motto Professor Lupin forcing the Boggart back into the packing case with his wand it had turned into a silvery orb again.Excellent Lupin said, striding over to where Harry sat. Excellent, Harry That was definitely a startCan we have another go? Just one more go?Not now, said Lupin firmly. Youve had enough for one night. Here He handed Harry a large bar of Honeydukes best chocolate.Eat the lot, or Madam Pomfrey will be after my blood. Same time next week?Okay, said Harry. He took a bite of the chocolate and watched Lupin extinguishing the lamps that had rekindled with the dis air of the Dementor. A thought had just occurred to him.Professor Lupin? he said. If you knew my dad, you mustve known Sirius Black as wel l.Lupin turned very quickly.What gives you that view? he said sharply.Nothing I mean, I just knew they were friends at Hogwarts tooLupins face relaxed.Yes, I knew him, he said shortly. Or I thought I did. Youd better be off, Harry, its getting late.Harry left the classroom, walking along the corridor and around a corner, then took a detour behind a suit of armor and sank down on its plinth to finish his chocolate, wishing he hadnt mentioned Black, as Lupin was obviously not keen on the subject. thence Harrys thoughts wandered back to his mother and father He felt drained and strangely empty, even though he was so full of chocolate. Terrible though it was to hear his parents last moments replayed inside his head, these were the only times Harry had heard their voices since he was a very bitty child. But hed never be able to produce a proper Patronus if he half wanted to hear his parents again Theyre dead, he told himself sternly. Theyre dead and listening to echoes of them wont bri ng them back. Youd better get a grip on yourself if you want that Quidditch Cup.He stood up, crammed the last bit of chocolate into his mouth, and headed back to Gryffindor Tower.Ravenclaw played Slytherin a week after the start of term. Slytherin won, though narrowly. According to Wood, this was good news for Gryffindor, who would take second place if they bugger off Ravenclaw too. He therefore increased the number of team practices to five a week. This meant that with Lupins anti-Dementor classes, which in themselves were more draining than six Quidditch practices, Harry had just one night a week to do all his homework. regular so, he was not showing the strain nearly as much as Hermione, whose immense work load finally seemed to be getting to her. Every night, without fail, Hermione was to be seen in a corner of the common room, some(prenominal) tables spread with books, Arithmancy charts, rune dictionaries, diagrams of Muggles lifting heavy objects, and file upon file of ext ensive notes she barely spoke to anybody and snapped when she was interrupted.Hows she doing it? Ron muttered to Harry one evening as Harry sat finishing a nasty essay on senseless Poisons for Snape. Harry looked up. Hermione was barely visible behind a tottering pile of books.Doing what?Getting to all her classes Ron said. I heard her talking to Professor Vector, that Arithmancy witch, this morning. They were going on about yesterdays lesson, but Hermione cantve been there, because she was with us in help of Magical Creatures And Ernie McMillan told me shes never missed a Muggle Studies class, but half of them are at the same time as Divination, and shes never missed one of them eitherHarry didnt have time to fathom the enigma of Hermiones impossible schedule at the moment he really needed to get on with Snapes essay. cardinal seconds later, however, he was interrupted again, this time by Wood.Bad news, Harry. Ive just been to see Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt. She e r got a bit shirty with me. Told me Id got my priorities wrong. Seemed to think I cared more about winning the Cup than I do about you staying alive. Just because I told her I didnt care if it threw you off, as long as you caught the defecate first. Wood shook his head in disbelief. Honestly, the way she was yelling at meyoud think Id said something terrible. Then I asked her how much longer she was going to keep it He screwed up his face and imitated Professor McGonagalls horrendous voice. As long as necessary, WoodI reckon its time you ordered a new broom, Harry. Theres an order form at the back of Which Broomstickyou could get a Nimbus Two 1000 and One, like Malfoys got.Im not buying anything Malfoy thinks is good, said Harry flatly.January faded imperceptibly into February, with no change in the bitterly cold weather. The match against Ravenclaw was drawing nearer and nearer, but Harry still hadnt ordered a new broom. He was now asking Professor McGonagall for news of the Fi rebolt after each Transfiguration lesson, Ron standing hopefully at his shoulder, Hermione rushing past with her face averted.No, Potter, you cant have it back yet, Professor McGonagall told him the twelfth time this happened, before hed even opened his mouth. Weve checked for most of the usual curses, but Professor Flitwick believes the broom might be carrying a Hurling Hex. I shall tell you once weve finished checking it. Now, please stop torture me.To make matters even worse, Harrys anti-Dementor lessons were not going nearly as well as he had hoped. several(prenominal) sessions on, he was able to produce an suspicious, silvery shadow every time the Boggart-Dementor approached him, but his Patronus was too rickety to drive the Dementor away. All it did was hover, like a semitransparent cloud, draining Harry of energy as he fought to keep it there. Harry felt angry with himself, guilty about his secret desire to hear his parents voices again.Youre expecting too much of yourself , said Professor Lupin, sternly in their fourth week of practice. For a thirteen-year-old wizard, even an indistinct Patronus is a huge achievement. You arent passing out anymore, are you?I thought a Patronus would charge the Dementors down or something, said Harry dispiritedly. Make them disappear The true Patronus does do that, said Lupin. But youve achieved a great deal in a very short space of time. If the Dementors put in an appearance at your next Quidditch match, You will be able to keep them at bay long enough to get back to the ground.You said its harder if there are loads of them, said Harry.I have unadulterated confidence in you, said Lupin, smiling. Here youve earned a drink. Something from the Three Broomsticks. You wont have tried it before He pulled two bottles out of his briefcase.Butterbeer said Harry, without thinking. Yeah, I like that stuffLupin raised an eyebrow.Oh Ron and Hermione brought me some back from Hogsmeade, Harry lied quickly.I see, said Lupin, th ough he still looked more or less suspicious. Well lets drink to a Gryffindor victory against Ravenclaw Not that Im supposed to take sides, as a teacher he added hastily.They drank the butterbeer in silence, until Harry voiced something hed been wondering for a while.Whats under a Dementors hood?Professor Lupin lowered his bottle thoughtfully.Hmmm well, the only people who really know are in no human body to tell us. You see, the Dementor lowers its hood only to use its last and worst weapon.Whats that?They call it the Dementors Kiss, said Lupin, with a slightly twisted smile. Its 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 and suck out his soul.Harry apropos spat out a bit of butterbeer.What they kill ?Oh no, said Lupin. Much worse than that. You can pull round without your soul, you know, as long as your brain and heart are still working. But youll have no sense of self anymore, no memory, noanything. Theres no chance at all of recovery. Youll just exist. As an empty shell. And your soul is gone foreverlost.Lupin drank a little more butterbeer, then said, Its the sentence 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.Harry sat stunned for a moment at the idea of someone having their soul sucked out through their mouth. But then he thought of Black.He deserves it, he said suddenly.You think so? said Lupin lightly. Do you really think anyone deserves that?Yes, said Harry defiantly. Forfor some thingsHe would have liked to have told Lupin about the conversation hed overheard about Black in the Three Broomsticks, about Black betraying his mother and father, but it would have involved revealing that hed gone to Hogsmeade without permission, and he knew Lupin wouldnt be very strike by that. So he finished his butterbeer, tha nked Lupin, and left the History of Magic classroom.Harry half wished that he hadnt asked what was under a Dementors hood, the answer had been so horrible, and he was so lost in unpleasant thoughts of what it would feel like to have your soul sucked out of you that he walked headlong into Professor McGonagall halfway up the stairs.Do watch where youre going, PotterSorry, Professor Ive just been looking for you in the Gryffindor common room, Well, here it is, weve done everything we could think of, and there doesnt seem to be anything wrong with it at all youve got a very good friend somewhere, PotterHarrys jaw dropped. She was holding out his Firebolt, and it looked as magnificent as ever.I can have it back? Harry said weakly. Seriously?Seriously, said Professor McGonagall, and she was actually smiling. I daresay youll need to get the feel of it before Saturdays match, wont you? And Potter do try and win, wont you? Or well be out of the running for the 8th year in a row, as Profe ssor Snape was kind enough to remind me only last nightSpeechless, Harry carried the Firebolt back upstairs toward Gryffindor Tower. As he turned a corner, he motto Ron dashing toward him, grinning from ear to ear.She gave it to you? Excellent Listen, can I still have a go on it? Tomorrow?Yeahanything said Harry, his heart lighter than it had been in a month. You know what we should make up with HermioneShe was only trying to helpYeah, all right, said Ron. Shes in the common room now working for a change.They turned into the corridor to Gryffindor Tower and truism Neville Longbottom, pleading with Sir Cadogan, who seemed to be refusing him entrance.I wrote them down Neville was truism tearfully. But I mustve dropped them somewhereA likely tale roared Sir Cadogan. Then, spotting Harry and Ron Good even, my delicately young yeomen Come clap this loon in irons. He is trying to force entry to the chamber withinOh, shut up, said Ron as he and Harry drew level with Neville.Ive lost the passwords Neville told them miserably. I do him tell me what passwords he was going to use this week, because he keeps changing them, and now I dont know what Ive done with themOddsbodkins, said Harry to Sir Cadogan, who looked extremely disappointed and reluctantly swung forward to let them into the common room. There was a sudden, excited murmur as every head turned and the next moment, Harry was environ by people exclaiming over his Firebolt.Whered you get it, Harry?Will you let me have a go?Have you ridden it yet, Harry?Ravenclawll have no chance, theyre all on Cleansweep SevensCan I just hold it, Harry?After ten minutes or so, during which the Firebolt was Passed around and admired from every angle, the crowd dispersed and Harry and Ron had a clear view of Hermione, the only person who hadnt rushed over to them, bent over her work and carefully avoiding their eyes. Harry and Ron approached her table and at last, she looked up.I got it back, said Harry, grinning at her an d holding up the Firebolt.See, Hermione? There wasnt anything wrong with it said Ron.Well there might have been said Hermione. I mean, at least you know now that its safeYeah, I suppose so, said Harry. Id better put it upstairs.Ill take it said Ron eagerly. Ive got to give Scabbers his rat tonic.He took the Firebolt and, holding it as if it were made of glass, carried it away up the boys staircase.Can I sit down, then? Harry asked Hermione.I suppose so, said Hermione, moving a great stack of parchment off a chair.Harry looked around at the cluttered table, at the long Arithmancy essay on which the ink was still glistening, at the even longer Muggle Studies essay (Explain Why Muggles Need Electricity) and at the rune translation Hermione was now poring over.How are you getting through all this stuff? Harry asked her.Oh, well you know working hard, said Hermione. Close-up, Harry saw that she looked almost as tired as Lupin.Why dont you just drop a couple of subjects? Harry asked, w atching her lifting books as she searched for her rune dictionary.I couldnt do that said Hermione, looking scandalized.Arithmancy looks terrible, said Harry, picking up a very complicated-looking number chart.Oh no, its wonderful said Hermione earnestly. Its my favorite subject Its But exactly what was wonderful about Arithmancy, Harry never found out. At that precise moment, a strangled yell echoed down the boys staircase. The whole common room fell silent, staring, petrified, at the entrance. Then came hurried footsteps, growing louder and louder and then Ron came bounds into view, dragging with him a bedsheet. formulation he bellowed, striding over to Hermiones table. LOOK he yelled, shaking the sheets in her face.Ron, what ?SCABBERS LOOK SCABBERSHermione was leaning away from Ron, looking utterly bewildered. Harry looked down at the sheet Ron was holding. There was something red on it. Something that looked horribly like BLOOD Ron yelled into the stunned silence. HES GONE AND YOU KNOW WHAT WAS ON THE infrastructure?N no, said Hermione in a trembling voice.Ron threw something down onto Hermiones rune translation. Hermione and Harry leaned forward. Lying on top of the weird, spiky shapes were several long, ginger cat hairs.