110 Patronus Practice

On top of all the training and studying James was doing at this time he had to try out for the quidditch team.

James had a second-year competitor who wanted to try out for Seeker, but he crushed him. William gave them a couple of tryouts, and James passed with flying colors.

Sirius also decided to try out for the team. He had originally intended to try out for the beater position but had given up on that some time ago. For the simple reason that in that position were the two Prewett brothers.

They were very good. It would be impossible to take their position away from them. So, he had trained to be in the position of chaser, and he wasn't bad at it. The difference was that you had to aim at hoops instead of people.

Sirius made the team and got a starting spot because there was a vacancy in the chaser position. One of last year's chasers was in seventh year and finished Hogwarts last year leaving the position vacant.

His grumpiness these days about his two-week punishment and having to put up with Professor Eustace improved as he was accepted into the starting quidditch team. It was only a matter of time before he could use his new broom.

As for the Dragon Club, James visited on Saturdays and Sundays. To meet up with Gwen and practice together. He also practiced with Erika, who was now in her last year at Hogwarts.

Practicing with Erika was very useful for James, as he was practicing with a seventh-year student who was very talented in dueling and defense against the dark arts.

Gwen didn't seem to like James training with Erika very much, but he didn't notice it.

One Friday night, James and Lupin were heading to the Room of Requirement to continue practicing and studying.

The room had been modified a bit. In addition to the comfortable study area and practice room, there was a large blackboard where James and Lupin could write down their ideas and understanding of different spells.

Within minutes, James and Lupin had written all over the blackboard. At the top, it read: [Patronus Charm] The rest of the board was the explanation of the charm in their own words.

It said the following: [The Patronus is a kind of positive force. A projection of hope, joy, desire to live... To invoke it you must remember a very happy memory].

[There are two types of Patronus: Incorporeal. This is not considered a full Patronus. It is a simpler and weaker version of the charm. However, being able to cast even a disembodied Patronus is considered an impressive feat]

[Then there is the Corporeal Patronus which was fully formed. This one takes the form of a glowing, silvery, translucent animal. It was the strongest form a Patronus could take]

[The main use for the Patronus is to ward off certain dark creatures, such as Dementors and Lethifolds. It was the only charm that worked against them. Both were among the most repugnant dark creatures that inhabited the magical world and very dangerous]

Why did James want to learn the Patronus when he could only ward off two types of dark creatures? Simple, because he thought Voldemort might use these super dark creatures in the war.

If he doesn't have a way to stop them, he will be in grave danger, as no offensive or defensive charm will work to ward them off.

In the attack during the Quidditch World Cup final, the Death Eaters used several trolls for the attack. It would make sense that they would want to use more creatures in their ranks to attack the Ministry and win the war.

Besides, the Ministry employs Dementors as guards in Azkaban. Why couldn't the Death Eaters use them?

"What aspects do you think your Patronus will have?" asked Lupin, looking at the large blackboard.

"According to the book. The Patronus take on forms that their casters don't expect because they had never felt a particular affinity for that animal. The most common ones are dogs, cats, and horses," said James as he thought about what animal he would like to have as a Patronus.

In terms of usefulness, it didn't seem to change much. Whether you have a cat or a unicorn both will serve to ward off Dementors or Lethifolds.

"I like eagles. They seem to have a lot of freedom. Or also... a wolf could command respect with its aura," James said and stared at Lupin to see how he reacted to the mention of a wolf.

For a few seconds, he could see a twitch on Lupin's face, but then it returned to normal.

"I-I'd like a phoenix...that'd be great," Lupin said, stammering.

"You do aim high. But it would be great to have a creature like the phoenix as a Patronus aspect," said James, agreeing.

"Let's start training," added James, heading to the practice area. It was time to put into practice everything they had learned from the Patronus these past few weeks. They had done a lot of research and learned a lot.

James and Lupin stood facing each other leaving a couple of meters distance, "Do you want to start?" asked Lupin, and James nodded as he readied his wand.

'I must remember something happy,' thought James. Certainly, nothing he had experienced as Edward Rothschild would do him any good.

At last, he remembered the first time he was told he was loved. Twelve years ago, when he was reborn and in his mother's arms.

"Expecto Patronum!" exclaimed James, making a circular motion with his wand. Nothing came out of his wand.

He concentrated even more on that memory. Trying to remember the feeling he felt that day. The first time someone loved him no matter if he was a genius or not, simply for being his son.

"Expecto Patronum!"

Suddenly, like a jet, something spurted from the end of his wand. It was like a silvery gas.

"Did you see it? I think something came out," asked James.

"Yeah, great! Only on the second try," said Lupin in amazement, though not that much since he knew how talented James was.

"Now it's my turn..." said Lupin as he concentrated on a happy memory. His childhood was not a happy one, to say the least, because of his lycanthropy. Thanks to his parents, he was able to live happily despite his condition, but he had no friends because they were constantly moving to hide that he was a werewolf.

He remembered the time when the marauders were formed, his first friends, "Expecto Patronum!" exclaimed Lupin, but nothing came out.

He kept at it until on the sixth attempt he managed to get a jet of silver gas to shoot out of his wand. To achieve this he had to concentrate hard on the memory. He had to remember how he felt that day. The happiness of having a group of friends.

"Well done!" praised James, clapping his hands enthusiastically.

They were still a long way from achieving an Incorporeal Patronus, but they had already gotten results. Further away they were from a Corporeal Patronus, but James didn't see the day far off when they would achieve it.

Thirty minutes before the hour was up they stopped practicing the charm, 'It's time...' thought James, mentally preparing himself to talk to Lupin about his condition.

His mother's deadline was approaching. In a few days, it would be a full moon, and if he didn't confirm to his mother that the school staff was aware of Lupin's condition, his mother would come to speak to the headmaster personally.

"Hey, Lupin..." said James as he sat on top of the wooden desk and looked at Lupin, who was reading the blackboard.

"What?" asked Lupin without taking his eyes off the blackboard.

"You're a werewolf?" asked James bluntly.

Lupin's eyes that were reading a sentence stopped, and his expression turned puzzled and fearful. He turned his head and noticed that James was watching him, noticed that his expression was utterly certain. Even if he had asked him, he was sure he already knew.

"W-what's with that question all of a sudden?" asked Lupin, stuttering and with sweat on his forehead.

"I have to go now...I'm sleepy," said Lupin quickly without giving James time to continue talking. He walked to the door and tried to turn the doorknob, but it wouldn't open. It was locked.

"I locked the door. Don't be in a hurry, let's talk," said James in a calm tone.

Lupin without looking at James pulled out his wand and said, "Alohomo-".

Before he could complete the charm, James cast a swift Expelliarmus, and Lupin's wand shot upwards. With a Wingardium Leviosa, Lupin's wand flew into James' hands.

Lupin watched the whole process cursing James' Expelliarmus feat. He had no escape. He knew that leaving was not the wisest option. Especially, when someone knows about your condition, but he didn't want his friend to look at him with judgmental and scornful eyes when he confirmed that he was a werewolf.

"It's serious to accuse someone of that," Lupin said without backing down.

"Every full moon, you disappear. Isn't that too much of a coincidence? Besides that, you're always pale and limp. I've known that since last year," said James.

'Has he known for that long?' thought Lupin in surprise. Usually, if someone suspected he was a werewolf they would get away from him as quickly as possible. In this case, the person could complain to the school and get him expelled.

"Don't worry. I'm not prejudiced against werewolves. You're my friend, and that doesn't change," James said, handing the wand back to Lupin.

Lupin took his wand with a puzzled expression. His eyes were sparkling. He never thought James or any other member of the marauders would accept him if they knew his condition.

"Let's talk a bit," said James, sitting down on one of the couches. Lupin this time didn't try to run away. If James despised him for being a werewolf he wouldn't be trying to talk to him, and he wouldn't be hanging out with him either.

"How did you find out...?" asked Lupin, giving up. James told him about the Defense Against the Dark Arts book he read. In that book, they talked about werewolves, their symptoms, and stuff.

Then he told him about how one day he woke up at night and noticed that it was a full moon night, and he had disappeared. James and the other marauders had already noticed Lupin's disappearances. As roommates, it was impossible for them not to notice.

They chatted until midnight. For the first time since James started his routine, he didn't stick to it, but it was worth it.

The talk with Lupin went very well. His mother was right. Why would Lupin be reluctant to be helped and accepted by his friend? Especially when he already knew he was a werewolf and had evidence that would put his stay at Hogwarts in jeopardy.

Lupin also told James that he was bitten when he was only five years old by a werewolf that attacked his house.

From that day on he traveled from village to village. His parents did not want the neighbors to suspect that their son was a werewolf because of all the discrimination and prejudice. So he never made friends, as he moved from one place to another.

His parents didn't believe he could go to Hogwarts because of his condition, but Dumbledore showed up at their house and told them he made special accommodations that allowed Remus to attend Hogwarts.

Once a month he was taken to an abandoned hut in Hogsmeade to undergo his transformations there. The entrance to the hut from the Hogwarts grounds was the base of the Whomping Willow. James understood why they planted such a dangerous tree.

He was also able to confirm what he already thought was that Dumbledore and a select staff of the school (McGonagall and Madame Poppy) knew of Lupin's condition and had taken appropriate measures.

James convinced Lupin to tell the other marauders about this. Lupin wasn't too sure about this. He didn't know if they would all be as understanding and unprejudiced as James.

He managed to convince him, telling him that sooner or later they would find out, since they are suspicious and make guesses about their disappearances. Sirius and the others are not fools. At some point, they will realize that it is a full moon, and Lupin disappears just then.

They decide to tell them after the full moon. When Lupin regains some of his strength and is not so weak after the transformation.

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