Hi guys! I just wanted to thank you all again for reading this fic, it means a lot to me. Sadly, the next few updates will be slower than usual for i'm starting my summer job tomorrow and it will take most of my time.
Thank you for your patience!
Love, Truc.
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Rohini wasn't surprise when the day after Christmas, she heard that Professor McGonagall had taken Harry's new broomstick to make sure it hadn't been jinxed. She tried her best to reconcile Harry and Ron with Hermione, in vain; the boys seemed convinced that Hermione had betrayed them in the worst possible way.
"Drama queens." Rohini sighed while eating breakfast, eyeing the Great Hall's open gates in case Padma was coming back today. A few students had already returned, but the Patil twins weren't ones of them.
"I think the boys are being silly," Hermione told her on the 31th of December as they sat in the library, going through dusty books to figure out a good defence for Buckbeak's trial. "I mean, I'm sure I made the right decision. And I'd rather have them upset at me than Harry being injured, or worse…"
"I know, Hermione." Rohini said, writing down a paragraph that seemed interesting. "You know how they are. They'll forgive you, eventually."
"At least I didn't talk about the map." Hermione kept going. "I still believe you should hand it back to Professor McGonagall or Professor Flitwick."
"It's just a map, Hermione. " Rohini sighed, "And since the twins had been using it for years, I doubt Sirius Black could have jinxed it."
"Yeah, but… Nevermind. You're just as stubborn as Harry." Hermione said and Rohini raised an eyebrow. She was pretty sure Harry was more stubborn than her, actually.
"If that can make you feel better, Hermione, neither Harry or I have used the Marauders' map again."
"But you're using their journal, aren't you?" Hermione said and Rohini groaned. "Fine. But don't come complaining if something goes wrong with it!"
"Nothing will go wrong." Rohini assured her. "Here, read this part. I think it might be useful…"
She handed a massive book to Hermione and the Marauders topic wasn't brought again for the rest of the afternoon.
Classes started again the next week. Padma came back during breakfast, looking prettier than ever.
"I missed you!" She told Rohini while hugging her. "Did you start reading the book I sent you?"
"I've already read it twice." Rohini said and Padma huffed, calling her a show off. "Also, tell your dad he's the best cook I've ever met."
"You should come eat at our place during summer vacation. He can't wait to show you his real skills with a proper meal, not just pastries."
"Who knows, maybe the Dursleys will actually let me come over…" Rohini sighed before waving at Luna who had just entered the Great Hall, wearing funny sparkling glasses. They spent the rest of the hour talking about the Lovegoods' trip to Scotland.
"Dad almost got eaten by a funny looking creature called Nessie." Luna explained while biting in a toast.
"What?!" Rohini said, "You mean, Nessie is real?! So cool…"
"What is Nessie?" Padma asked, puzzled.
"A Muggle legend. Well, it was supposed to be a legend." Rohini said before checking the time and frowning. "Oh, it's time to go… I'm really not looking forward to ¨facing Snape's ugly face again." She sighed and Luna gently patted her shoulder.
"Let's go, then." Padma said, looking just as unmotivated as Rohini.
As they sat in front of their cauldron, Rohini told Padma about the journal and they decided to follow its indications about the Confusing Draught. To their surprise, it did make the whole process easier. They even finished five minutes before the rest of the class.
"Whoever sent you this journal must really like you." Padma said as they headed to the Transfiguration classroom. "It's still a bit odd that they didn't leave a card, but I doubt they have bad intentions…"
Since they had the whole afternoon free, Rohini asked Padma if she wanted to help her with her research about Hippogriffs trials. Padma agreed and they both spent the afternoon inside the library, sitting as close as possible to gain some warmth.
When Rohini's hands got so cold she could barely turn the pages of the books, the two friends agreed to go back to their Common Room where they sat until dinner. Judging by their expressions, the boys hadn't forgiven Hermione yet.
Tuesday had been quite interesting; Hagrid seemed to be feeling slightly more confident about his teaching skills again and they all sat comfortably around a bonfire full of salamanders and sometimes stood up to collect dry wood and leaves to keep the fire blazing while the flame-loving lizards scampered up and down the crumbling, white-hot logs.
As for Divination, Professor Trelawney was now teaching them palmistry, and she lost no time in informing Rohini that she had the shortest life line she had ever seen. Rohini wasn't surprised at this point; considering how dangerous the past years had been, it was already surprising she's lived for so long.
As they head to Potions, Rohini spotted Professor Lupin who waved at her to come closer.
"Professor! Did you get our Christmas Card?" She asked him and Professor Lupin chuckled.
"Yes, it was quite a surprise." He said. "I've heard you were the one suggesting it in the first place. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Rohini answered, looking away awkwardly. "So, about the personal training…"
"Ah yes," said Lupin, "Harry and I agreed to meet about eight o'clock on Thursday evening, in the History of Magic classroom. Will it be fine with you?"
"Sure!" Rohini said before Padma called her, saying they were going to be late for Potions. "Oops, I have to go or Sn- Professor Snape is going to kill us." She said, running after her best friend and waving at Professor Lupin.
"Was he ill again?" Padma asked as they walked down the stairs. "He looked a bit pale and thinner…"
"Dunno what's wrong with him…" Rohini said and Padma opened her mouth to say something, thought about it, and shrugged. "What? Do you have an idea?"
"I'm not sure." Padma said, looking bothered. "It would be pretty serious if it is what I think I is…"
"Which is?" Rohini asked but they had to stop their conversation as they arrived right in time before Snape closed the door of his classroom.
"Late again." He said, sneering. "5 points from Ravenclaw."
Rohini began to open her mouth but Padma pushed her inside before she had the chance to complain.
Rohini didn't tell Harry that she, too, will be meeting Lupin later in the week. At eight o'clock on Thursday evening, she waited for Lupin and Harry to arrive inside the History of Magic classroom. It was dark when she arrived and she decided to wait in the shadow for Harry to arrive.
The door opened again and Harry stepped in. Grinning, Rohini walked behind him and…
"BOO!" She screamed, slamming her hands on her brother's shoulders. Harry yelled and, probably by reflex, punched her in the nose.
"Outch!" Rohini hissed, one hand holding her now slightly bleeding nose. "Damn Harry, learn to take a joke!"
"Rohini, what the heck?" Harry said, trying to calm down, leaning against a table. Just at this moment, Professor Lupin arrived, lit up the candles with a wave of his wand and looked at them in surprise and confusion.
"Long story." Rohini mumbled as Professor Lupin helped her to stop the bleeding.
"She tried to scare me, and I accidentally punched her." Harry said. Professor Lupin chuckled before putting a large packing case on Professor Binns' desk.
"What's that?" said the twins.
"Another boggart," said Lupin, stripping off his cloak. "I've been combing the castle ever since Tuesday, and very luckily, I found this one lurking inside Mr. Filch's filing cabinet. It's the nearest we'll get to a real dementor. The boggart will turn into a dementor when he sees you, Harry, so we'll be able to practice on him. I can store him in my office when we're not using him; there's a cupboard under my desk he'll like."
"That's a good idea!" Rohini said and Harry frowned.
"Why are you here, by the way?" He asked.
"Wow, glad to see how happy you are to see me." Rohini grumbled and Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm here to learn how to defend myself, too. You're not the only one who fainted in the train."
"So…" Professor Lupin began, catching their attention. He then took out his own wand, and indicated that the twins should do the same. "The spell I am going to try and teach you is highly advanced magic,—well beyond Ordinary Wizarding Level. It is called the Patronus Charm."
"How does it work?" asked Harry nervously. Rohini sat on the closest chair and leaned closer, interested.
"Well, when it works correctly, it conjures up a Patronus," said Lupin, "which is a kind of anti-Dementor—a guardian that acts as a shield between you and the Dementor."
Rohini pictured some kind of armoured giant chasing the Dementor with a sword.
"Neat." She said.
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 feel despair, as real humans can, so the Dementors can't hurt it. But I must warn you 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."
"A bit like with Animagi?" Rohini asked and Professor Lupin nodded.
"To conjure it, you will need an incantation, which will work only if you are concentrating, with all your might, on a single, very happy memory. Try to think of one, right now."
"Err…" Rohini said, pinching her lips as she tried to figure out what to think of.
There was the day Harry and she learnt they belonged to the wizardly world. There was also the first time she went to Diagon Alley. How proud she had been when the Ravenclaw had won the House Cup thanks to her. How Padma had looked at her with shiny eyes and a large, beautiful smile on her face before hugging her.
"You're grinning like an idiot." Harry whispered and Rohini elbowed him, her cheeks feeling a bit hot.
"Have you found your happy memory? Good." Professor Lupin said, before clearing his throat. "The incantation is this- Expecto patronum!"
"Expecto patronum." The twins repeated.
"Professor? Is it going to work if I'm not facing the Boggart, too? Because it would get confused if I stand next to Harry."
"Do not worry; you don't necessary need to face the Dementor to cast the spell. After all, the Boggart isn't a real Dementor itself."
"I see." Rohini said, nodding. "Sounds logical."
"Good." Lupin said, clasping his hands. "Go on, try it."
"Expecto Patronum!" The twins said in unison and something whooshed suddenly out of the end of their wands; it looked like a wisp of silvery gas.
"Did you see that?" said Harry excitedly. "Something happened!"
"Neat." Rohini said again, grinning.
"Very good," said Lupin, smiling. "Right, then—ready to try it on a Dementor?"
"Yes," Harry said and Rohini nodded, taking a step back to stay behind Harry as he moved into the middle of the deserted classroom.
"Stay positive." Rohini whispered to her brother. "Think about how awesome your big sis' is."
"Shhh." Harry said, though he was half smiling.
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 gripping its cloak. The lamps around the classroom flickered and went out. Rohini tensed, feeling suddenly older.
The Dementor stepped from the box and started to sweep silently toward Harry, drawing a deep, rattling breath. Rohini tried to keep Padma's smile in mind.
"Expecto patronum!" Harry yelled. "Expecto patronum! Expecto—"
"Harry, focus!" Rohini said as Harry seemed to weaken. "Expecto Patronum!" She tried but only a tiny silver gas cloud whooshed in front of her. "Shit. Expecto Patronum!" She tried again with the same result.
Harry suddenly fall on his knees and Rohini shouted his name, kneeling next to him right in time before he fainted. But by doing so, she caught the Boggart's attention and the creature turned into Lily Potter, looking just as real as the last time.
"Go away!" Rohini shouted as her mother began to scream, surrounded by a green halo. Rohini closed her eyes, refusing to look at it again. She only opened them again as Professor Lupin touched her shoulders with a sorry smile.
"Here, eat it." Professor Lupin said, handing her a Chocolate Frog.
"Thanks." Rohini said, before trying to shake Harry awake.
After a minute or two, Harry jerked back to life.
"Sorry," he muttered, sitting up with Rohini's help.
"You ok?" Rohini asked him and Harry nodded.
"Here—" Lupin also gave him a Chocolate Frog. Rohini wondered if he just walked around with his pockets filled with chocolate all the time. "Eat this before we try again. I didn't expect you to do it your first time; in fact, I would have been astounded if you had."
"It's getting worse," Harry muttered, biting off the Frog's head. "I could hear her louder that time—and him—Voldemort—"
Rohini took his hand and squeezed it. Lupin looked paler than usual.
"If you don't want to continue, I will more than understand—"
"I do!" said Harry fiercely, stuffing the rest of the Chocolate Frog into his mouth. "I've got to! What if the Dementors turn up at our match against Ravenclaw? I can't afford to fall off again. If we lose this game we've lost the Quidditch Cup!"
"Geeze Harry, you could get hurt. That's the main problem, not losing a match!" Rohini grunted. She knew Quidditch was important for Harry, but she hated how he put his own security behind winning.
"All right then…," said Lupin, sensing a sibling fight. "You might want to select another memory, a happy memory, I mean, to concentrate on… That one doesn't seem to have been strong enough…"
Harry thought about it before nodding. Rohini stood up too, standing right behind him.
"Ready?" said Lupin, gripping the box lid.
"Ready," said the twins.
"Go!" said Lupin, pulling off the lid. The room went icily cold and dark once more. The Dementor glided forward, drawing its breath; one rotting hand was extending toward Harry—
"Expecto patronum!" Harry yelled. "Expecto patronum! Expecto pat—"
"Harry, concentrate, come on!" Rohini tried to encourage him. "Expecto patronum!"
Once again, she produced a tiny silver gas cloud and this time, the Dementor stopped. It was still too close to Harry who fainted again. This time, Rohini let Professor Lupin take care of the Boggart before coming closer to her brother.
"Harry! Harry… wake up…" She said, shaking him. Harry's eyes were a bit cloudy as he stared at her.
"I heard dad," Harry mumbled. "That's the first time I've ever heard him—he tried to take on Voldemort himself, to give my mum time to run for it…"
Harry's eyes were tearful and Rohini found herself crying a bit too. Sniffing, she turned to rub her eyes with her sleeve and took a deep breath, pinching her trembling lips.
"You heard James?" said Lupin in a strange voice.
"Yeah…" Face dry, Harry looked up. "Why—you didn't know our dad, did you?"
"I—I did, as a matter of fact," said Lupin. "We were friends at Hogwarts. Listen,—perhaps we should leave it here for tonight. This charm is ridiculously advanced… I shouldn't have suggested putting you through this…"
"No!" said Harry. He got up again. "I'll have one more go! I'm not thinking of happy enough things, that's what it is… Hang on…"
Rohini said nothing, thinking about Lupin's revelation. If he was friend with their dad, then surely he knew about Sirius Black? She tried to think about the wedding photo. Was Professor Lupin on it and the twins had missed it?
But Harry got to his feet and faced the packing case once more and so Rohini did the same, trying to think of another happy memory.
She thought of their first Christmas at Hogwarts, when she received the family picture sent by Dumbledore. How happy she had been, to see what their parents looked like for the first time.
"Ready?" said Lupin, who looked as though he were doing this against his better judgment. "Concentrating hard? All right—go!"
He 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 PATRONUM!"
"Expecto Patronum!" Rohini repeated. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
The Dementor halted and suddenly a huge, silver shadow came bursting out of the end of the twins' wands.
"Wow!" Rohini gasped.
"Riddikulus!" roared Lupin, springing forward.
There was a loud crack, and the two cloudy Patronus vanished along with the Dementor. Harry sat down on a chair and Rohini looked at Professor Lupin forcing the Boggart back into the packing case with his wand; it had turned into a silvery orb again.
Again, Rohini felt like she knew something, but couldn't point out what exactly. A silvery orb… a silvery orb…
"Excellent!" Lupin said, striding over them. "Excellent, you two!"
"Can we have another go? Just one more go?" Harry pleaded and Rohini groaned, exhausted.
"Not now," said Lupin firmly. "You've had enough for one night. Here—"
He handed them a large bar of Honeydukes' best chocolate each.
"Wow." Rohini said, looking at Professor Lupin with stars in her eyes. "Professor, you're like the Willy Wonka of the Wizardly world."
Professor Lupin laughed.
"Thank you, Rohini. Next time next week?"
"Okay," said Harry. The twins ate their bars in silence.
"Professor Lupin?" Harry said. "If you knew my dad, you must've known Sirius Black as well."
Lupin turned very quickly.
"What gives you that idea?" he said sharply.
"Dad and Sirius Black were friends. We heard someone talk about it." Rohini said. "So if you were friend with dad, it would have been awkward if you weren't friend with Black either."
Lupin's face relaxed.
"Yes, I knew him," he said shortly. "Or I thought I did. You'd better be off, it's getting late."
"Thanks, Professor." Rohini said as she and Harry left the classroom, walking along the corridor and around a corner in silence.
"I'm so drained." Rohini finally admitted and Harry nodded, gulping his last bite of chocolate. "You're thinking about something stupid again, I can feel it." She then said and Harry stopped walking.
"I-" He began, looking a bit guilty about his thoughts. "The Dementors' effect on me… Hearing mum and dad's voices… I can't help but want to hear them." He finally admitted.
"Oh, Harry…" Rohini said and Harry sighed.
"They're dead and I know that. They're dead and listening to echoes of them won't bring them back."
"I would feel the same, too." Rohini said and Harry glanced at her. "I mean it. It's an understandable need, Harry."
"If you say so." Harry said, though he looked slightly better. "See you tomorrow?"
"See you tomorrow. Goodnight, little brother of mine." Rohini said, giving him a loud kiss on the cheek that made him grimace.
Heading back to the dorm, she was surprised to see that Padma had been waiting for her. Thranduil was lying on her laps, looking pleased.
"Hey." Rohini said with a tired smile.
"Hey." Padma said, patting the bed and Rohini took place next to her. "You look terrible. How did it go?"
"I'm not sure." Rohini said. "I mean, it went well. But Harry… I'm worried about him. I know he's strong, more than he seems to believe, but- I don't want him to get hurt anymore."
"I understand." Padma said, rubbing Rohini's back and Rohini sighed, resting her cheek against Padma's shoulder. "Anything I can do?"
"A hug will be nice." Rohini said and Padma chuckled before hugging her. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." Padma said before yawning. "Well, we should go to bed now. You look ready to faint."
"Alright, mum." Rohini said, rolling her eyes and Padma kicked her out of her bed. "Goodnight, Padma."
"Goodnight, Rohini." Padma said, already half asleep.
Thranduil looked at Rohini, then at Padma, then back at Rohini and made sure to held eye contact as he lay back next to Padma.
"Traitor." Rohini mumbled in her pillow.
"Meow." Was Thranduil's answer.