So sorry folks… I am a full time college student now and cannot afford to type all day to my heart's content. I am sure half of you have left it out of pure irritation, and I don't blame you. But to those who still have held hope….
Thank you….
And here's the story….
The Patronus
Harry was basically cursing himself for his stupidity. 'Oh very good Harry! You were supposed to get into his good graces, not into detention. You bloody idiot! Why couldn't you just go and report to a professor!' though Harry kept saying this to himself, he knew he had done the right thing. It would have been too late to find a professor. Besides it's not like he had cursed the boy.
"Just scared him to death, more like…"said a snake discontently. Harry just then realized that he had been hissing out his rant to Wena who was currently getting pressed between his arm and torso.
"You don't understand the intensity of the situation Wena. I have to tell him about his lost memory, and make sure he doesn't take it for a joke. I am the only one who can break that charm and I have to do it, without harming him! And then there is the doubt that he would not want me…"his voice lost the conviction and became falteringly self demeaning.
"Nothing of the sort is going to happen Harry! You just have to get your head out of this stupidity and go tell him. Take this opportunity and broach the subject today!"She said.
Easy for you to say… he thought wryly before going on and trying desperately to figure out how exactly he would bring up the hidden memories. He couldn't very well barge in and say "Oh! By the way professor, I think you married my mother and I am your son, but was later blood adopted by James Potter." That would be disastrous. But Wena expected him to do just that. How the snake became the beloved familiar of Salazar Slytherin was beyond Harry.
He was so busy with his inner musings that he very nearly fell down after bumping into what seemed like a solid wall, but was saved by the quick hands of Professor Lupin, into whom he had accidentally bumped. "Are you alright Mr. Potter?" He asked setting the boy straight. "Oh! I am sorry sir. I was merely thinking. I did not see you there. I did not mean to…." Harry's babbling was cut off by the amused voice of Remus "Quite alright Mr. Potter! It happens to all of us. Though I am curious as to what would be so intriguing that you forgot your step?" he asked gently.
Harry sighed. Professor Lupin just had the right way of knowing things and enquiring about them without offending the other person. Harry quite liked the man, though he still resented that he hadn't been given a chance to face the boggart. But Professor Lupin did not belittle him in any way and applauded him for overcoming the Euryale. Professor Lupin was also one of the best DADA teachers they ever had, who was not hell bent upon killing Harry and actually knew what he was teaching. He also treated his students with respect and always lent an ear, when they wanted one. Seeing that the man was still waiting for an explanation, " I have a detention with Professor Snape." He said miserably.
"I see" He said simply. Harry did not know what the man did see, but nodded anyway. "And you think that you do not deserve the detention?"He asked. "Yes!" Harry said fiercely, before toning down and said "I mean yes sir!"He said.
"Why Harry? While I agree that Professor Snape may be very strict, I do not believe he gave an undeserved detention to a student. He is very protective of his students, as far as I know" said Lupin as he started walking towards his office and motioning to Harry to do the same. "And therein lies the problem…"grumbled Harry. Lupin just raised an interested eyebrow, and so Harry related his sob story to Professor Lupin, whose expression changed from sympathetic, to surprised, then to amused and then to a devious grin and finally settled on uncontrollable fit of laughter. "That's Lily alright! The truest marauder, never getting caught, she was the biggest prankster of Hogwarts, and used to get back at us for all her friends we pranked. James was so vexed when he couldn't prove that it was Lily that was the real rule breaker….."Lupin rambled on, when Harry said, as if by a sudden inspiration...
"You knew my dad, Professor?" he asked in awe! He was surprised to know that there was actually someone who was friends with his parents and knew more than the messy hair and green eyes they possessed. Agreed, James wasn't his father biologically, but the man had blood adopted him, given him a name, a safe haven for his mother, peace of mind to his father, and had finally died, trying to protect him. He was as much a father to Harry as his own father. And he would never shy away from the man's memory just because he found a new father! So he leaned in with interest, as Lupin collected his wits together and said" Of course! Did nobody tell you? I was rather close to both your parents while we were in school. They were both very popular and had loads of friends and I do not pretend to know them all. Both of them were extremely good natured, helpful and completely into pranks. They had friends from all houses, Slytherin included.
"Could you tell me more about them sir?"he asked, now totally forgetting about his detention.
"Sure Harry! James was brilliant at Transfiguration and Herbology, one of the reasons why McGonall was so fond of him. But Potions, he couldn't manage! I am surprised how he managed an E in his NEWTs. Probably got help from another of his obscure friends… or studied for once in his life…..
And then, your mother, I swear I haven't seen a brighter witch till date than Lily. She was a good friend of mine until….
Oh well, James and Lily were quite a pair… always fighting, but then they became friends in their 7th year. I never knew when they became a couple at all….." Lupin rambled on excitedly as if it had been ages since he talked.
'They never did' Harry thought, now confirming his suspicions that no one other than himself knew of his secret. "What was my mother good at, Professor?" asked Harry.
Lupin broke out of his self induced reverie and grinned suddenly "Lily…. Oh was there anything she was NOT good at… but on a different note, she was especially gifted at charms and defense. I think you got your skill from her."
"Oh, I bet she could face down a boggart without the fear of fainting…"harry couldn't help the vibe. He still hurt because of it. Lupin it seemed understood it but frowned as if he didn't understand it. "I am sorry Harry! But I thought you understood it. I thought if you face the boggart, it would be Voldemort, and I couldn't risk it in my first class. It was not my intention to disappoint you." He concluded sadly….
"Oh!" was all Harry could say… after all the answers he'd been expecting, this was not it. So he said lamely," Sorry sir, I didn't mean to be so rude…. I just, didn't think from your view. But Voldemort wouldn't be my boggart anyway… it would be a dementor if anything….." He said and stopped abruptly as Lupin got a strange gleam in his eye…
"That's …poetic Harry… Your greatest fear is fear itself. How very poetic. Your parents would be proud of you." He stopped again as if an idea struck him.
"I can teach you how to fight them…as a compensation for making you feel bad." He offered.
"You would?" Harry asked in surprise…. Oh he had read about patronuses and how advanced they were. He certainly did not hope to be able to do it…. And yet the man was offering.
"Oh yes!" Remus said and produced a brilliant wolf patronus. Harry watched in awe as the majestic creature circled around him as if sizing him up. He was about to touch the form when the door burst open….
~~~tbc~~~~
