A/N: Chapter Nine! If you find yourself confused as to the conversation between Harry and Dumbledore referenced by Snape/Harry during this chapter, it might help to refresh your memory by revisiting Chapter 12 of Part I (How to Bewitch the Mind). Enjoy!

WARNING: LANGUAGE.

DISCLAIMER: Any and all familiar characters and story lines are the property of the wonderful Joanne Rowling, in whose world I am honoured and privileged to have an opportunity to play for a while.

Chapter 9: Stretching the Core

'Wandless magic,' Severus lectured, striding back and forth across the floor in front of the sole-occupied desk, 'Is the most complex and difficult branch of magic a wizard can study. It is not a field that is generally taught at Hogwarts, even to our most promising students. Most wizards who are learned in wandless magic in this age are taught by their master when apprenticing, or by a close mentor, or even self-taught, in many cases. Why are you not copying this down?' he barked at Potter.

Jumping, the boy quickly bent to retrieve parchment and quill from his bag, scribbling a recap of Severus' speech.

'The headmaster tells me,' Severus continued, 'That he spoke with you briefly on the subject of wandless and innate magic and the source of a wizard's power, when he instructed you in the basics of Occlumency last summer.' He waited for Potter's nod of confirmation before resuming his lecture. 'I shall assume you are aware, then, that wandless magic is both more natural and more unique to an individual wizard than practising wand movements and incantations – which makes the instruction of wandless magic a highly individualised process. Moreover, the magical core is something we are born with – it can be trained and advanced, but it cannot be expanded beyond whatever capability we were meant to have. There are limits to what I can teach you – yours, and my own. You are also still very young; the magical core continues to grow and mature throughout a wizard's lifetime, but most especially before the age of seventeen. You will need to be quite careful in exercising diligence and caution in your training, or you risk permanent disability. Do you understand this, Potter?'

Potter nodded, still scribbling madly. Severus waited for him to look up so he could impress the gravity of his warning. Potter swallowed, looking nervous.

'Young witches and wizards perform what we call accidental magic – intentional magic guided by their emotions, in most cases. Most children are not aware of consciously using these abilities, although there are some exceptional cases where a wizarding child recognises what it is they can do and begins to do so consciously.'

'Yeah, Albus spoke to me about that too,' Potter put in.

'Do not interrupt me!' Severus snapped. 'And do not speak so disrespectfully of the headmaster.'

'Sorry, sir, but he did tell me to call him "Albus,"' the brat defended, going red.

Severus gave an involuntary twitch, as if brushing off an irksome fly. He felt his ire grow, but clamped firmly down upon the urge to slap the child. It would not do, if he wanted these lessons to be a success. Albus might make him stop them if he thought Harry was being unfairly treated.

How infuriating.

'You are already aware of how fields like Potions and Occlumency exemplify wandless magic,' he went on, his voice only slightly stiffer than it might have been before. 'But, of course, casting spells is something entirely different. It involves the mastery of one's own magical core, which allows the caster the discipline to use their magical abilities without the aid of a wand. The most difficult portion of this technique is learning to control your focus and precision in regards to each spell, for these are the attributes that the wand often regulates for us, at least in part. Wands can also promulgate or magnify the strength of a spell, so wizards often find they must expend different levels of energy if they are casting without the aid of a wand. This is perhaps the one advantage to learning young – for while your core is not yet magically mature, you are also having to use more force with your wand than you will as an adult, so that particular effort will not seem quite so burdensome.

'As with Occlumency, instruction can take you only so far in this field. You will need to learn on your own how best to reach into your own magical reserves – for your core is entirely different from mine. I can guide you, but that is all. Do you understand?'

'Yes, sir,' said Potter, looking a little more apprehensive.

Severus smirked a bit. 'Good,' he said simply. 'Now, before we begin, I would like to get a little more of an understanding of your general abilities.'

Potter wrinkled his forehead. 'You've taught me for two years, sir,' he pointed out. 'Surely you have an idea by now?'

Severus rolled his eyes. 'Your wandless abilities, Potter!' he snapped. 'Do try to be a little less oblivious than your usual standard, won't you? Or I am afraid this will be a very long summer for us both.'

Potter scowled, folding his arms. Severus ignored him.

'Obviously, I know about the incidents at the end of last term. And the situation with your aunt at the start of the holiday. But I wish you to tell me of any other occasions when you may have performed wandless spells.'

Potter considered. 'I… I don't really know, sir,' he admitted. 'I don't remember any other times – not like the thing in the Chamber, at least.'

'What about as a child?' Severus pressed. 'Before you came to the school.'

'I thought you said accidental magic wasn't the same, sir?'

'Just answer the question – Potter!' snapped Severus in exasperation. Potter frowned, but thought on it.

'Well, one time I accidentally set a boa constrictor on my cousin, Dudley,' he recalled, a faint smile crossing his face.

'And how, exactly, do you accidentally set a snake on another child?' asked Severus, pinching the bridge of his nose between two fingers. He had a feeling that this could prove to be a long and trying conversation.

'We were at the zoo for Dudley's birthday. They had to take me along, because Mrs Figg had broken her leg and couldn't watch me for the day. I was looking around the reptile house, and there was this beautiful big snake asleep in a tank. I talked to her… it was before I knew I was a parselmouth, so I didn't really realise what was going on… but she told me she'd never seen Brazil. My cousin and his friend saw me at it, and they pushed me out of the way to get a look. Then I accidentally vanished the glass. That was right before I got my letter for Hogwarts.'

'I see,' said Severus, turning the information over in his mind. 'Anything else?'

Potter shrugged. 'There were lots of little things, mostly the kind of stuff the headmaster says all magical children do. Summoning food and toys, getting out of my cot once or twice when the bars should have been too high – things like that.' Severus nodded, he remembered well enough the scene he'd watched through the window, when Potter had been little more than a year old.

'A few times, I managed to grow my hair super quickly – when Aunt Petunia gave me awful haircuts,' Harry revealed.

Severus gave him a piercing glance. 'Can you change anything else about your appearance?' he asked sharply.

Potter shook his head. 'I don't think so,' he admitted. 'Or I'd have tried to get rid of my scar ages ago. But she never could get my hair to behave properly.'

Hmm… no metamorphmagus abilities then. Pity, for Potter's potential chances at disguising himself without aide; excellent for Severus' ability to keep an eye on him.

'I've shrunk jumpers that I didn't like,' the boy added, still apparently thinking over his childhood mishaps. 'And once I turned my teacher's hair blue when I was angry with her. Sometimes locked doors have come open for me – that's why my aunt and uncle started adding extra locks to keep me in when I was being punished. Oh, and one time I jumped onto the school roof.'

'You did what?' asked Severus, startled.

'Yeah, I don't really know how that one happened. When I was little, I always thought I must have been caught by the wind or something, because I was only trying to dive behind some bins behind the school kitchen. But now, obviously, I think it was probably magic of some kind.'

'You thought it was the wind?' Severus clarified, incredulous.

'Well, yeah,' said Potter defensively. 'What was I supposed to think? I was only seven or eight at the time, I think, and I didn't know that the wizarding world existed, much less that I was a wizard myself.'

'And yet you apparated,' Severus pointed out, frowning at him.

Potter frowned back. 'No… I don't think it was apparition,' he said, looking pensive.

Severus rolled his eyes. 'You desired to be elsewhere, you were determined to be elsewhere, and then you were elsewhere. You have not, of course, learned how to apparate on your own yet, but that is the general idea.'

'Maybe,' said Potter, still sounding doubtful. 'But I didn't feel anything like how I felt the first time that I apparated with the headmaster, or with you, sir,' he recalled with a small shudder. 'I wouldn't forget that sensation in a hurry.'

'Perhaps,' Severus allowed. 'But wandless magic, as I have already explained, works differently than that practised with a wand. It is possible that you would not have the same reaction to your own apparition, or to a wandless apparition.' He thought it over in his mind's eye, picturing the young and scrawny Potter taking a flying leap in an attempt to dodge his Muggle tormentors. And then, unbidden into his mind came another image – a beautiful red-haired girl, laughing joyfully as she took a soaring leap off a Muggle swing, arching higher than any child should have been able and landing lightly as a cat.

'But perhaps,' he said, clearing his throat as he swallowed down the old memories, 'It was something else entirely.'

Potter was giving him an odd sort of look now, and Severus quickly turned away, clearing some space in the centre of the room with a sweep of his arm.

'Enough reminiscing,' he said, taking a stance at the far end of the room. 'The first thing we must do is determine how to connect you with your magical core – that is the first step in learning to manipulate it. I believe we should start with the shield charm, since you seem to have an affinity for the spell and you know you have consciously used it without your wand in the past.'

'Alright,' said Potter, jumping off his chair. 'Er – you just want me to cast it then, sir.'

Severus smirked. 'You could try that, certainly. And we shall see… other measures might be required. Lay your wand upon the desk.'

Potter did as Severus instructed, taking his place opposite the professor across the long space.

'Go on then, boy,' Severus prompted.

Potter held out his hand in front of him. 'Protego!' he shouted.

Nothing happened.

Potter frowned. He pulled his arm back and tried again. 'Protego!'

Still nothing.

Smirking again, Severus withdrew his own wand. He shot a silent stinging hex at Potter.

'Ouch!' the boy complained, rubbing at his arm where Severus' spell had hit. 'What was that for?'

'Motivation,' Severus said simply. 'I will cast, you will block. On three then. One, two,'

'But that's not – OUCH!' Potter roared again, shaking his left hand this time. Severus grinned maliciously.

'You will learn quickly, Potter, that your enemies will not care whether something is fair or not. You'll learn to block – or you will get stung. Now, prepare yourself.'

They continued in the exercise for the better part of half an hour. Severus thoroughly enjoyed himself, though he could tell Potter was growing increasingly frustrated. The boy was soon covered in small red welts, and perspiring heavily from the effort of trying to repel the jinx. Even setting aside his own amusement, Severus knew that they were making little progress.

'You are not trying hard enough!' he chastised the boy, when Potter missed the deflection yet again and wound up taking the sting above his left eyebrow. Severus was particularly annoyed at this – he'd been aiming for Potter's shoulder, but the boy had moved downward for some unknown and beguiling reason. For one awful moment, he'd feared he might have to explain to Albus why the boy would need a course of eyesight restorative.

'I'm trying,' Potter grumbled through gritted teeth. 'But you aren't telling me how!'

Severus snarled. 'Weren't you listening, Potter?' he snapped. 'I can't tell you how to do it – not this first part. You have to discover it on your own!'

Potter growled in frustration, taking up his stance again, rubbing at the sting on his face. Severus paused to consider… most acts of accidental magic, and even Potter's displays thus far of deliberate wandless magic, were the product of high emotion and stress. Potter was clearly frustrated and annoyed now… but perhaps he hadn't riled him up enough.

Yet.

'You're weak, Potter,' he spat, flinging another hex in the boy's direction. 'You lack self-discipline. Weakness and laziness will be your downfall.'

'I am not weak!' the boy shouted back, trying and failing yet again to block the hex.

'You are,' Severus insisted, his voice as venomous as he could make it. 'Just like your father, content to hide behind the skirts of greater men.'

'Stop!' Potter cried, trying again to deflect. This time, Severus felt the smallest resistance – the tiniest spark of white from Potter's outstretched fingers. He smirked in satisfaction.

'If you do not block me, I will continue to hurt you,' he threatened, thinking of Potter's encounter with the Dark Lord in the Chamber.

Potter flung an arm out again, but this time nothing happened except the boy's howl of pain as the stinging jinx caught him right in the palm.

'Enough!' Severus said in exasperation. Potter took his hand down, still wringing it backward and forward to try and ease the sting. 'Enough,' he repeated, rubbing at the growing ache in his own temple.

'Sit at the desk,' Severus said curtly, sweeping away for the back of the room. Potter sat, and Severus perused his potions stores, selecting a jar and a bottle. He made his way back to the front of the classroom, and set both down on the desk.

'Take that,' he said, pointing to the phial. 'It will take away the sting.'

Potter looked dubiously down at the phial with his nose wrinkled. Severus rolled his eyes, and conjured a glass of pumpkin juice from the kitchens. 'You may wash down the taste,' he said sardonically, smirking as Potter downed the potion immediately.

'Use the balm on the welts,' he said, pointing to the jar. 'And there should be no lasting damage.'

Potter nodded his thanks, dipping his fingers into the thick paste and beginning to dab the unguent onto his many battle wounds. Severus leaned back against the wood of his own desk, watching the boy and thinking hard.

'Tell me, Potter, what is it that you felt when you confronted the Dark Lord with this spell in the Chamber of Secrets?'

Potter shrugged. 'I don't really know,' he admitted. 'Everything was happening so quickly, and I was scared.'

'Scared for your life?' Severus asked.

'Sort of,' Potter said. 'Scared he'd win, I guess. And scared that Ginny would die. I couldn't leave her – she had no chance if I couldn't beat him.'

'Hmm…' said Severus, considering. He let the boy finish applying the salve in silence, thinking over the options. At last, he had an idea.

'Get up,' he said gruffly. Potter rose quickly from the chair, and Severus banished everything back again to clear the space once more.

'Practise the spell until I return,' he said, sweeping for the door.

He left a bemused Potter in the middle of the classroom, and swept quickly for the entrance hall and the grand staircase. He met Minerva halfway up.

'Severus?' she asked in surprise. 'Aren't you supposed to be with Harry this morning?'

'I've left him to work on his own for a few minutes,' Severus said, still striding up the marble steps. 'I had to run an errand… Minerva, what is the name of Potter's owl?'

'His owl?' Minerva repeated, looking more confused still. 'She's called Hedwig, I believe.'

'And is she in the owlery?'

'I – I assume so,' Minerva replied, frowning. 'What is it that you're doing, Severus?'

'Never mind,' he said quickly, taking the steps two at a time now. 'I wish to finish this quickly, before the brat blows up my classroom. It would not be the first time.'

Minerva huffed indignantly, but let him carry on. He made his way up to the owlery without further delay. Entering, he swiftly spotted the correct bird. She was the only snowy owl in the roost.

'Hedwig?' he called softly to her. Several feet above him, the owl opened one sleepy amber eye. 'Hedwig, would you like to see Potter?' he asked her, holding a hand out coaxingly. She opened both eyes now, but glared distrustfully down at the potion master's hand. 'Come on now, you can help him,' he urged in a velvety voice. The bird seemed to consider carefully for a moment. Then, at long last, she fluttered down to land upon his arm.

'Very good,' he crooned, carrying her gently toward the counter. With a bit more cajoling, he was able to shut her firmly in one of the school cages for the journey downstairs.

He was grateful he hadn't needed to stun her.

'What are you doing with Hedwig, sir?' Potter asked warily, as Severus re-entered the classroom with the owl in hand.

Severus set the cage down upon the teacher's desk without answering. The owl hooted a greeting at Potter, who smiled as he started toward her.

'Leave her,' Severus snapped. Potter returned to his position, still looking between the bird and his professor with anxious eyes.

'What is she doing here?' he asked again, more nervous still.

Severus smiled. 'Motivation,' he said again. 'Apparently, saving yourself from pain is not enough, Potter. So I shall have to resort to other means.'

'You – you wouldn't!' Potter cried, looking horrified.

Severus' grin widened. 'That depends entirely on you, of course,' he said lightly. He raised his wand, pointing it at the snowy owl.

'Protego!' Potter shouted, diving toward his pet. Bright white light shot from the tips of his fingers and the centre of his palm as he reached wildly to intercept the coming spell, nearly blinding them all with its intensity.

The owl gave an indignant hoot. Severus, who had not in fact intended to cast anything at all, was blasted off his feet by the force of the unimpeded shield, slamming hard into the student store cupboard. He groaned as he rubbed the back of his head, feeling an egg-sized lump already beginning to rise.

Potter, apparently horrified, dropped to his knees in front of him only seconds later.

'I'm so sorry, professor!' he said in shock, holding out a hand as though to help Severus to his feet. 'I – I should have realised you weren't actually going to cast a curse at her. Do you… er, do you want me to call someone?'

'Do not be absurd, you foolish child. I am fine,' he snapped, dragging himself laboriously to his feet again and determined not to wince. 'And the whole idea was that you would think the threat authentic. It worked, did it not?'

Potter grinned, hopping to his own feet. 'Yeah, it did!' he said enthusiastically. 'That was just like in the Chamber – I meant to do it, and it happened!'

Severus rolled his eyes. 'Do you remember the feeling? Can you access the memory clearly?'

Potter screwed up his face as he thought. 'Yeah… I think so. It's a sort of… push, I think, from right in here,' he pointed somewhere between his heart and his stomach, apparently trying to demonstrate the sensation. Severus crossed his arms.

'Can you emulate it?' he asked.

'Can I what?'

Severus sighed in exasperation. 'Can you do it again?'

'Er – I don't know,' Potter said with a shrug. 'Maybe… yeah, I think so. I think I remember how, now.'

'Try then,' said Severus, indicating that Potter should resume his position across the room. 'Only this time, aim at this,' he added, conjuring an ordinary dummy in the centre of the space. Though he would never admit it, he did not much fancy being thrown into any more furniture this morning.

Potter focused intensely on the dummy for a moment, his green eyes burning with the force of his concentration.

'Protego!' he cried again. The spell was not quite as powerful as the previous attempt, but the blast still sent the dummy wheeling into the door.

'Good,' said Severus in approval, waving his wand to replace the dummy. 'And again.'

Potter repeated the spell once more, this time a bit stronger than the second attempt. But Severus could tell the repeated effort was exhausting him. He was winded as the second dummy crashed into the door like the first.

'Once more?' the boy asked, straightening up as Severus vanished the used target. 'I think I was closer to my first spell that time.'

'No,' Severus said firmly. 'As I told you, this will be a difficult and slow process. You cannot overtax your magical core at your age, or you risk serious damage. You must remember how magical exhaustion feels – I understand you suffered from it at the end of your first year. And, of course, the tiredness you're experiencing now is a by-product of stretching your core past what it is used to dealing with. We are going to do this my way – methodically and safely; not in some reckless, rash mess of a Gryffindor disaster.'

He could swear the insolent brat nearly smiled. He must be more exhausted than Severus had thought.

'Yes, sir,' Potter said. 'Shall I practise between now and Thursday, then?'

'No!' Severus said, so emphatically that Potter nearly fell over he jumped so badly. 'No, Potter, you must never practise alone. Not until you are much more advanced and in control. You will overwork yourself too easily, and there is every chance you could hurt another if the attempt goes badly. You are to give me your word, now, that you will never use wandless magic consciously outside these lessons, unless and until I give you permission to do so.'

'Er –'

'Your word, Potter,' Severus repeated.

'Yes, alright,' the boy agreed, still looking puzzled by Severus' intensity. 'I promise.'

Severus nodded curtly. 'Very well,' he said. 'You may go. What is your schedule for the afternoon?'

'Er, I'm meeting with Remus,' Potter revealed. 'After lunch of course.' He seemed startled by Severus' interest. 'What, er, what is your schedule, professor?' he ventured.

Severus gave him a scathing look, but did not dignify the impertinent inquiry with a response. 'You will be mindful of the strenuous nature of this morning's activities in your next lesson,' he warned the boy. 'That means no new magic, nothing overly physical, and nothing that requires a great deal of magical power,' he clarified. 'Anything you covered with Lockhart,' he sneered the name, 'or last summer with the headmaster should be alright. And you are to let Lupin know immediately if you are feeling off in the slightest. Do you understand me?'

'Yes, sir,' said Potter quickly. Too quickly.

'This is not a game,' Severus warned, glaring down at the boy. 'And I will be most displeased if you do not heed my instructions.'

'I understand,' said Potter seriously. 'Truly, professor, I promise.'

Severus nodded, and jerked his head toward the door. Potter scampered quickly from the room. Severus sighed, walking over to his potions cupboard and selecting a headache draught – he really had been slammed quite hard when Potter finally got the hang of the spell.

'Classic Potter, to go nil to nuclear,' he grumbled to himself, tipping back the phial.

He ate a solitary lunch in his quarters, relishing the quiet and the calm, and then settled himself into an armchair with a fresh cup of tea to flick through the latest Daily Prophet. He hadn't had a chance at breakfast this morning.

With a dark surge of anger, he saw that Black's face still dominated the front page. God, he hated that man. And how foolish were these Ministry morons, that they still couldn't catch one madman with half the Azkaban guards and the whole of the department of magical law enforcement on the lookout? As long as Black remained on the run, they'd all have to work extra hard at Hogwarts to keep Potter from harm.

Potter… who always managed to get himself in more trouble by Hallowe'en than the whole of Slytherin house in a year.

And those blasted Dementors at every corner… who seemed to cause even more harm to Potter than most. Severus supposed this was only to be expected – the boy never could be normal. And now Albus was apparently allowing Lupin to teach him how to –

Severus froze with his tea halfway to his lips. He'd forgotten, until now.

No.

No fucking way!

He was going to kill them both.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Though Remus couldn't help a nagging concern that they were moving a little too quickly, the boy's determination to master the patronus charm caught like infection. By Tuesday, Remus was quite excited for his first practical lesson with Harry, now they had covered the basics of the charm. Harry was bouncing on his feet when Remus let him in at half past one, clearly just as thrilled at the prospect of tackling the Dementor-boggart.

'When the boggart sees you,' Remus instructed, moving over to the old trunk he'd trapped the creature in, 'It will assume the shape of the Dementor. You must not freeze, or delay in your response for even a moment, or you will begin to feel the effects as you did when you stumbled upon him this past Sunday.'

'I remember,' said Harry, who was clearly refraining from rolling his eyes. 'We went over all of this yesterday, Remus.'

'Indulge me,' said Remus with a wry smile. 'Now, concentrate hard on the happy memory, and pour all of your energy into the charm, alright?'

'Got it,' said Harry, rolling up his sleeves.

Remus hesitated. 'Are you quite sure?' he asked, a hand on the latch of the trunk. 'You do not have to do this, Harry.'

'Open it, Remus,' said Harry firmly. 'I'm ready.'

Remus nodded once, and slipped the catch on the latch. He stepped backward and out of the way as the lid of the trunk popped open, a black-hooded figure floating up out of its depths.

'Expecto Patronum!' Harry's voice called out. 'Expecto Patronum! Expectum – no, expecto. Expecto Patro… expect…'

Remus could tell Harry was tiring, his voice fading. He darted from his out-of-view position to intervene, grasping Harry under the elbows before the boy could fall. His skin was covered in a cold sheen of sweat. In one fluid movement, Remus dragged Harry backward into a chair and stepped in front. The boggart reacted at once, morphing into a bright, full moon.

'Riddikulus!' Remus called, brandishing his wand at the boggart. He forced it back into the trunk, locking the latch tightly.

'S – sorry,' said Harry, panting a bit as he wiped more sweat from his face. 'I couldn't do it.'

'Nonsense,' said Remus bracingly, coming back over to kneel beside the chair. 'It was only your first try, Harry. I would have been utterly astounded if you managed the spell that quickly. You did very well.'

Harry didn't answer, still wiping at his brow with shaking hands.

'Here,' Remus said, unwrapping a chocolate frog and holding it out to Harry. 'Eat it quickly, it'll help.'

Harry nodded gratefully, taking the chocolate. His tremors reduced immediately as the medicinal sweet revived him. 'Thanks,' he said, smiling back at Remus. 'I'm good. Let's go again.'

'Not just yet,' said Remus firmly. 'Give yourself a few minutes.'

Harry rolled his eyes but remained in the chair. Slowly, his colour started coming back.

'What memory did you choose, if you don't mind my asking?' Remus ventured.

'The first time I ever rode a broomstick,' said Harry, with a fond smile. 'Best feeling in the world – playing quidditch. I use flying in my Occlumency too.'

'A good start,' Remus acknowledged. 'Tell me, what is it that makes you happy about riding a broom?'

Harry considered a moment. 'Well, I guess it sort of… relaxes me. Not all the time, obviously. Quidditch matches are all adrenaline and excitement and everything. But just riding a broom – it's a sort of tonic, you know? Like all your worries get left back on the ground, and you can just enjoy yourself. It's peaceful.'

Remus smiled. 'I was never quite as at home on a broomstick as your father,' he admitted. 'But I can understand the sensation you're describing. I am not a particularly skilled occlumens myself, but I know enough about it to recognise that the calm, worry-free atmosphere you're describing is ideal for such meditations – you do not want distractions or high emotion to get in the way. However, the patronus charm will require a different sort of focus.'

Harry looked confused. 'What do you mean?' he asked in confusion. 'I thought you said to focus on a happy memory? That's one of the strongest I have.'

'Yes, I am sure it is,' said Remus patiently. 'But it is strong in a different sense. Perhaps "happiness" was too broad a descriptor… I do not necessarily mean a memory that holds a great deal of contentment. In conjuring a patronus, you are looking for emotions that nearly consume you in their intensity; a memory in which you felt ecstatic, overwhelming joy or the purest of love. Such a memory would not suit for creating a safe space for meditation, but it is a perfect manifestation of the feelings which a Dementor feeds on – and thus the exact thing necessary to form its counter. Many grown wizards, for example, use the birth of their child, the face of someone they love, or even a favourite meal.' He chuckled a bit. 'People can find their joy in many things, Harry, but that is the sort of emotion you should be reaching for here.'

'What is your focus?' Harry asked curiously. 'I mean – if it's not too personal a question.' He added quickly.

Remus smiled. 'Since I asked you first, I suppose I can hardly refuse,' he noted. 'I don't always use the same focus. You do not have to, once you have the hang of the spell. Sometimes I use your parents' faces,' he admitted. Harry gave a wistful smile. 'I loved them, and that love provides a wonderful basis for a patronus. But now that they are gone, that focus is sometimes too difficult to reach – too clouded by sadness or longing. Most often, I use the day that I learned I would be allowed to come to Hogwarts.'

He felt his stomach clench a bit at his own phrasing, worried it might make Harry too curious… but Harry merely smiled wider, his own eyes gleaming.

'That was one of my favourite days ever,' he confessed. 'When I found out I would be leaving the Dursleys for good. Well, almost for good,' he amended with a grimace. 'My eleventh birthday… Hagrid came all the way out to some godforsaken hut in the middle of the sea that my uncle had dragged us to – he was trying to avoid my letters,' Harry added, when Remus looked his confusion.

'I suspect there is a longer story there,' Remus said, his eyes twinkling.

Harry laughed. 'You have no idea,' he said meaningfully. 'But anyway, he told me I was a wizard, and he took me away next morning – into Diagon Alley to buy all my things. It was the most amazing day of my life. Everything was so new and fascinating – this whole world I'd never known about, with a place just for me. No more cupboard, no more Dudley… maybe even a chance at friends. I'd never been so excited in my life.'

Remus clamped down on the many questions that popped troublingly into his mind at Harry's little recollection… this was not the time. And he was, quite arguably, not the person.

Instead, he forced another smile to his lips.

'That sounds like the perfect sort of memory, Harry,' he said.

'Can I give it a try then, with that one instead?' Harry begged, already hopping up off the chair.

Remus hesitated. 'Are you sure you feel up to it?' he asked doubtfully. Harry was still paler than normal, and he looked rather drawn despite the early afternoon hour. 'There's no need to rush anything – we have months of holiday left to us.'

'No, I want to go again,' said Harry firmly. 'Just once more.'

'Alright,' Remus agreed, though it was against his better judgment. 'But just the once, or both Minerva and Madam Pomfrey will be out for my blood.'

Harry laughed a bit as he drew his wand. 'Don't worry,' he said with a careless smile that reminded Remus heavily of James. 'I'll protect you from them if it comes to it.'

'Curb your cheek and concentrate,' said Remus, grinning back. 'On the count of three. One, two, three.' He drew back the lid once more, and the boggart-Dementor loomed menacingly above the boy again.

'Expecto Patronum!' Harry cried, waving his wand determinedly at the looming black shape. Remus saw a wisp of dark grey smoke shoot out the end. It was not enough to stop the boggart's advance, but the creature did slow slightly.

'Excellent, Harry!' he said in approval. 'Keep trying!'

'Expecto Patronum!' Harry called firmly again. The grey smoke issued once more, though Harry's forehead was breaking out in a sweat again. 'Expect-'

But Harry was distracted as the door to Remus' study was suddenly flung ajar. Harry and Remus both whipped around to see Severus standing on the threshold of the office, taking in the scene with an expression of utter shock.

Remus whirled away just as quickly to look back to Harry, but he could already tell that the momentary lapse in attention had cost whatever chance the boy might have had. Harry was ghostly pale and swaying on his feet, his eyes rolling back in his head as his knees gave way. With a snarled oath, Severus dove past him to catch the collapsing child, while Remus stepped quickly between Harry and the boggart-Dementor.

'Riddikulus!' Remus said firmly, as the boggart morphed into the full moon before him. With some effort, he forced the creature back toward the open trunk, slamming the lid firmly shut.

Severus was shaking Harry now, trying to bring him round.

'Potter!' the Potions master growled. He sounded absolutely furious. Though he was repeatedly shaking Harry by the shoulders, the boy had yet to open his eyes. Remus hurried to help.

'Fetch some hot chocolate, you fool!' Severus spat, as Remus attempted to take over his efforts to rouse Harry. The Potions master did not relinquish the child to his hands, but instead gathered him quickly from the ground and hauled him up onto the small sofa, still trying to wake him.

'Fifi!' Remus called. A little house-elf appeared at once, her overlarge eyes widening further upon catching sight of the scene.

'Master Remus,' Fifi squeaked, bowing in greeting while her eyes remained fixed in horror on the sofa.

'Bring a mug of hot chocolate, if you would,' Remus said quickly.

The elf nodded, popping out of sight and back again before Remus could do more than blink. He took the warm mug with a muttered word of thanks, and hurried back over to the pair on the sofa.

'What the hell were you thinking, Lupin?!' Severus snarled. He had conjured an icy flannel and was attempting to rouse Harry by blotting the cold against his skin. Remus was not sure this was wise; Harry was already shivering. He put out a hand to cease the man's ministrations, but Severus drew his away at once, looking murderous.

'Just give him a moment, Severus,' Remus said, smoothing the fringe off Harry's face. 'He'll come round. It wasn't truly a Dementor – the effects will not be as severe. He's had this reaction before.'

'You are as reckless as ever, Lupin!' Severus growled in reply. 'To task him with such a complex spell at his age – most grown wizards cannot manage it, and many with more talent than Potter!'

'Harry has already shown remarkable progress in defensive magic,' Remus reasoned calmly. 'I assure you I had my own reservations, but he is quite a determined student.'

Severus gave a mirthless laugh. 'He is a child, Lupin! Headstrong and foolhardy and quite incapable of making rational decisions! The headmaster will have your hide for this.'

'Albus is aware of the lessons I had planned for Harry,' Remus said, still calm. 'He knew there would be risks. It was unfortunate timing that you happened to arrive just as he was making the attempt, but –'

'It was foolish timing to teach him such advanced magic when he has already spent the morning in learning to cast wandlessly!' Severus retorted. 'His defences will be down for some time yet, and he hasn't the energy for such imprudent –'

'What do you mean, spent the morning casting wandlessly?' Remus interrupted, growing more concerned himself. 'And stop with that,' he added, swatting at Severus' hand again where the latter was still attempting to dab the icy water across Harry's face. 'You'll freeze him to death.'

'You can warm him when he's conscious!' Severus snapped back. 'And he spent the morning in wandless lessons with me. I told him he was not to attempt anything strenuous this afternoon.'

'Well, he did not relay the message,' said Remus honestly. Severus rolled his eyes.

'He is an arrogant brat with no sense of self-preservation, Lupin!' he spat. 'He is not yet thirteen, much less thirty-three! Be the adult.'

'This is not my fault!' Remus argued back.

And really, it wasn't. How was he to know what Severus had got up to with Harry in his lessons that morning? 'You ought to have sent word yourself, if you were so concerned about it.'

'I was coming up to tell –'

''fessor?' came a hoarse voice between them, and Severus broke off his rant, jumping up from the sofa and across the study so quickly, he might have apparated.

'Harry!' Remus sighed, relieved as he scooted in to take Severus' place by Harry's head. 'No, don't sit up just yet,' he said gently, as the boy looked up at his face in embarrassment and made to rise. 'Drink some of this first.' He handed Harry the mug of steaming chocolate, holding it steady for him as he sipped. Some colour slowly began to seep back into his pale cheeks.

'What happened?' Harry asked, when Remus had coaxed half the contents into him. 'Did – did I pass out again?'

'Yes,' Remus admitted. 'But you did very well, Harry. You managed to –'

'You managed to act exactly as I could have predicted, you ignorant child!' Severus all but bellowed from across the room. He had leaned himself up against the tall cabinet in the corner, arms crossed before him as he glowered down at the boy on the sofa.

'Severus, perhaps this could –' Remus started in a tone of forced reason, but the Potions master silenced him with a ferocious glare.

'No, it could not wait, Lupin,' Severus contradicted, as though he had read Remus' mind. In contrast to his previous roar, his voice was now as low and venomous as Remus had ever heard it. Harry, still supine on the sofa, shivered. Remus was sure it was not from lingering chill. He felt the boy shifting slightly as Severus advanced toward them.

'I told you, Potter, what would happen if you pushed yourself too far, did I not?' he asked coldly.

'Yes, but, profess –'

'I warned you that you must take it easy this afternoon, to allow your core the time it needs to recover?'

'Sir, you did but I –'

'But you disobeyed me, exactly as I could have guessed. As impulsive and conceited as your father. Did you think I give these instructions for my own amusement?'

'No sir,' Harry said quickly. 'Of course I didn't, but –'

'Or do you merely consider yourself so superior that you could not –'

'I'd have been fine if you hadn't startled me!' Harry cut in angrily.

'Do not take that tone with –'

'Is this quite productive?' Remus said loudly, trying to call an end to the row. Snape turned his glare in his direction instead.

'I wondered when we'd hear from you,' he spat maliciously. 'And yes, Lupin. Someone needs to pound the message into Potter's thick skull.'

'I'm not thick!' said Harry testily. Severus scoffed in disbelief.

'Drink the rest of the chocolate, Harry,' said Remus wearily.

'I don't –'

'Now!' Severus barked. Harry pressed the mug back to his lips at once, his cheeks reddening.

'I'm sorry,' he said quietly, once he had drained the last of the drink. 'I didn't mean to cause such a problem. I didn't really think –'

'That is clear,' said Severus angrily. 'You have been given the privilege this summer of studying several very old and demanding areas of magic. If you cannot show a modicum of maturity in obeying your instructors and recognising the responsibilities and limitations that will go along with these lessons, you will cease to have them. Or, at least, you will cease to have them with me.'

Harry paled a bit. 'No – I, you're right, professor. I wasn't thinking clearly. I won't do it again, I promise.'

Severus fixed him with a hard glare. 'Then let this be your only warning, Potter,' he said seriously. 'You ought to know by now that I detest repeating myself. Lupin,' he nodded at Remus, and turned for the door.

'Harry, I –'

'I know who the woman is, Remus,' Harry whispered across him, when Severus' back was to them at last. 'I could tell this time, when I heard her. It was my mum. My mum, right before Voldemort killed her.'

'Oh, Harry,' said Remus sadly, putting a hand on his knee.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Severus' shoulders stiffen, and he turned halfway round in the doorway. The Potions master's face was inscrutable as he stared back at Harry, his eyes narrowed, but not quite glaring anymore. There was a long, tense moment, as Harry looked curiously back at Severus.

'I shall send an elf with an invigoration draught,' said Severus at last in a stiff voice. 'Do not dare to complain, Potter!' he added in a growl, for Harry had opened his mouth to protest. 'You will take it. Unless you would prefer I send Madam Pomfrey up here to place you on restriction for a week!'

'No, sir,' Harry said quickly. 'I'll take the potion.'

'And then you will rest quietly until dinner,' Severus added immediately. 'I'll not have you unprepared for Potions tomorrow because you've been so supremely foolish this afternoon.'

'But –' Harry began, but Severus shot him a glare so murderous that Harry clammed up at once. He merely nodded instead.

'Verbal answers to me, Potter!' Severus snapped.

'Yes, sir,' Harry agreed with chagrin.

'Thank you, Severus,' Remus put in, with a small smile. 'Harry can stay in my quarters for now, if you don't mind sending the potion up here.'

Severus gave a predatory leer. 'Don't thank me, Lupin. I'll leave it to you to explain this mess to the headmaster and Minerva.'