3rd year:

"Alright, settle down class," Professor Senfer announced as the third year Slytherins and Griffindors hustle into the Defense Against the Dark Arts room. I walked in with the other students and sat down next to my friend and dorm mate, Alice Prewett. Like everyone else, I was pretty excited about class today, as we were about to learn an advanced spell that apparently most people learn in their fourth year.

"Pssst! Lily!" Alice whispered to me. "Where were you during Potions today?" It wasn't like me to miss class, so I wasn't so surprised that she was curious.

I rolled my eyes. "Potter."

She nodded knowingly, smirking at me. It was common knowledge that Potter and Sev got into fights frequently, and I was usually the one to break it up. It happens so often that its almost a routine; Potter insults Sev or Slytherin, Sev gets mad and shoots some spells at him, it turns into a duel, and I interfere by screaming at Potter or dragging Sev away. Usually both.

My other best friend, Marlene McKinnon, leans over and grins. She always gets a kick out of these stories, as a result of being close to both Potter and myself. "I still don't get why you hate him so much. It's always Snape who starts the duel, and, lets face it, he deserves most of those insult.

Oh, I forgot. Marlene and Alice happen to hate Sev's guts too.

I shake my head furiously. "Why do I hate him? Oh, I dunno, maybe because he constantly bullies and taunts other kids!"

Marlene sighs, and again begins to defend Potter, when Professor Senfer strides in and shuts the door behind him. The room quickly becomes silent once more, everyone waiting with anticipation and eagerness.

"Today you will be learning one of the most essential skill that a witch or wizard can learn, known as the..." He pauses for effect. "Patronus Charm."

A collective "whoa" fills the room. I share a look with Marlene and Alice, who have their mouths open in a circular shape.

"The Patronus Charm is a mysterious and ancient charm that conjures a magical guardian, a projection of a person's most positive feelings and memories. It evokes a partially-tangible, positive energy force known as a Patronus. Can anyone tell me and the rest of the class what a Patronus' primary purpose is?"

Of course, my hand shoots into the air, but to my surprise and confusion, Professor Senfer calls on someone else. "Mr. Potter, how about you?"

I stare across the room to where James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew are sitting. DADA and Transfiguration were the only subjects where Potter actually participated, but I didn't expect someone like him to know such an advanced question. After all, it hadn't been taught yet, and Potter didn't seem like the type to do extra research and studying.

He ruffles his uncontrollably messy black hair with one hand, and glances at the rest of the Marauders. "It's usually used to defeat Dark creatures, such as Dementors or Lethifolds, but it can also be for other tasks, such as messaging."

I glance at Sev behind me, seeing he is as shocked at Potter as I am. How does Potter know this?

Professor Senfer, on the other hand, claps and beams at Potter. "Very good Mr. Potter!"

Black claps him on the back and Peter looks at Potter as though he was a superstar. Hmp. No matter how smart Potter may be, he's still a pompous toe-rag.

Suddenly, Alice elbows me in the ribs, startling me out of my thoughts. "Ow! What was that for!"

She smirks. "Senfer finished his lecture. We are supposed to be practicing now."

Flushed and embarrassed, I look around the room, seeing if I can partner with Sev. Much to my dismay, he's already with his mean Slytherin friends, who I don't really get along with. Marlene was already partnered with Dorcas Meadows, another good friend of mine. I turned to Alice, who was watching me with an amused look on her face. "Partners?"

"Sure. Even though you were daydreaming during the lesson, you know what to do, right?"

"Duh."

"Of course you do. Silly me. Lets practice over there, yeah?"

"Okay."

We make our way to the corner of the classroom, but unfortunately for me, Potter and Black has claimed the spot next to ours.

"Hey Prewett. Evans." Black greets. Meanwhile, Potter keeps nervously glancing at Remus every once in a while. For what reason, I don't know; I don't even know why Remus is friends with blokes such as Potter and Black. Remus is studious, respectful, and responsible, while the other two are the polar opposite. As much as I hate to admit it though, their friendship makes sense, and anyone can easily tell that they are really close.

"Hi Black." Alice says back. "Got experiance with this, Potter? You sounded, Merlin forbid, mature back there," she jokes.

Potter gasps, and pretends to faint on the floor. "My dear Ally! Do not say the M-word!" Black whispers, wide-eyed.

I roll my eyes at their immaturity, and pull Alice away from the comedy-duo, back to our spot. "Ready to practice?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll go first."

She concentrates hard, probably picking a happy memory. "Expecto Patronum!"

Nothing.

Alice frustratedly blows a strand of light brown hair our of her face, and tries again. "Expecto Patronum!"

Nothing. She tries a couple more times, and gets the same result.

"Don't get too upset, class!" Professor Senfer calls as he strolls around the agitated students. "As I explained, this is very advanced magic, and I would be extremely shocked of someone actually managed to do it. Keep trying though, and remember, think of a very, very happy thought!"

As Alice repeats the charm, I scan the room. Marlene and Dorcas are both having minimal results, and from what I can tell, so is Sev. He has partnered up with Avery, and they too are unsuccessful.

Alice lets out a long sigh from behind me, and I whirl around. "I give up. You try for sometime."

I nervously ready my wand, and get into position. Okay, happy thought. You can do this, you have many happy thoughts. Mum and Dad. Petunia. Alice, Marlene, and Dorcas. Sev. Your pet goldfish. I finally chose the time when Mum, Dad, Petunia and I went out for a family ice cream, when I was nine. That was probably my happiest. "Expecto Patronum!"

Just like Alice and the rest of the class, nothing happened. After a dozen more tries, I sit down, rejected, when all of I sudden, something whitish-silver comes into my peripheral vision. A deer Patronus. The whole room falls into a silent trance, watching this majestic creature prance around. It's like nothing if ever seen. Finally it fades away into nothingness, and all eyes in the room look at the owner of this Patronus. James bloody Potter.

He awkwardly stands there as everyone stares in wonder at him. Then, a clap echoes through the silence. It's Professor Senfer.

"Excellent James! Wonderful! That was simply stunning! My, my, in all of my years of teaching, I have never seen such a young student master this! 20 points to Griffindor!"

RINGGG! The loud bell knocks everyone out of their trance.

"Class dismissed! Everyone have a nice day! And by the way, 2 scrolls on the effects of the Patronus Charm!"

The groans and mumbling of displeasure drown out whatever else the Professor has to say, so I hurry up to Sev. He is wearing a savage scowl on his face.

"Hey," I say. "How did you like today's lesson?"

He scowls even more. "It was stupid, in my opinion. And how did that idiot Potter even get it? Even I didn't get it!"

I shrug. Actually, I did respect Potter more after this lesson. Honestly, how did he do that? "Lucky try?"

Sev continues walking, and that ends our Patronus discussion for the day. But that wasn't the last time I though of Potter and his Patronus that day.

Oh, no, it was not.