That night I fished another chunk of wood out of one of my miniature cauldrons: juniper that had soaked in an infusion of water, cider vinegar, vervain, dill, and ground crystal. I expected the wood to dry soft, having been infused with plenty of vinegar, but it dried harder than I expected, with small glassy sections deep in the natural grain of the wood that caught the light with little sparkles. The smell, as one might have expected, was rather noxious.
"Ugh," Mary groaned. She looked up at me from her revisions (Lily was still on her to study constantly), "what is that? It smells horrid."
"Can you throw it out?" Linda asked from the bathroom door, sounding almost like her old self.
I grimaced. It was pretty horrible. But still, I had an idea that was so hare-brained and unfounded it couldn't possibly work.
"Lily, what do you think it would take to boost a spell?" I asked the smartest of our group.
"There've been so many studies on it, I don't know where to start. There are, of course, objects of power that are magically created objects usually used to either store energy for specific types of magic, usually only at the bequest of a witch or wizard; and certain potions mimic the effects of power boosts but these are usually short-lived and according to Professor Slughorn's research, they actually seem to create an imbalance that can take anywhere from hours to decades to fix; and I just recently read about -"
"Did you swallow an encyclopedia, Lils?" Mary asked drily. Linda snorted, twisting a towel around her wet hair.
"Only the odd pages," Lily said just as drily. "Why do you ask, Genre? About boosting power, I mean."
I hefted the stinky chunk of wood in my palm, realizing that my nose was quickly becoming numb to the smell.
"I want to try an experiment. Anyone up for it?"
"What kind of experiment?" Linda asked, stepping further into the room.
"Boosting the strength of a Patronus charm," I answered. "Mary, I thought we could try to see if we can make a corporeal one. And Linda, you weren't in class today - we can practice so you don't fall too far behind." Not, I thought privately, that practicing was going to help Linda. She was honestly trying to make it to class more frequently, but some days it was all she could do to get out of bed.
"Does this experiment involve holding that stinkbomb you've got in your hand?" Mary asked.
"Of course," I answered.
Mary sighed heavily, rolled her eyes, and put her left hand out. I deposited the stinky juniper into her hand. Mary breathed in deeply (brave of her, I thought), and closed her eyes to concentrate.
"Expecto patronum," Mary breathed, opening her eyes as she twisted her wand. The same silver cloud that she had created in class exploded from the tip of her wand, glowing brighter as it grouped together. For a moment, what looked to be four large legs formed.
"Woah," Mary gasped in excitement, "I almost had something that time!"
"Pass it to Linda," Lily suggested. "Let her give it a go."
Linda held the wood tentatively, letting it dangle from her fingertips. "Expecto patronum," she muttered. Nothing happened.
"Linda," Lily said in exasperation, "you have to actually try."
Linda passed the wood back to Mary. "I'll try again in a bit," she said.
Mary, looking even more determined than before, clasped the wood closer to her chest. She stared straight ahead and forcefully whipped her wand through the air.
"Expecto patronum!" she yelled.
There was no silver cloud this time - instead, a sleek silver bear stared us in the face, it's sides rippling as though it were breathing. Mary's mouth popped open and she stared at the bear slack-jawed. Even Lily and I were speechless. The bear faded slowly, turning its head to examine each of us as it disappeared.
"Genre," Lily whispered, "what is that?"
I took the wood back from Mary and held it out in front of me so we could all examine it. About the size of my thumb, both in length and width, it was really nothing special if you discounted the smell. I clenched my fist closed over it, and whispered the Patronus charm softly under my breath, focusing on the memory of togetherness in the snow. A fox seemed to drip out of the tip of my wand, landing daintily on transparent paws before fading away as I opened my fist and let Lily take the wood.
"I started thinking about this solution when we were in class, because Savage kept stressing how this was a protection charm and a defensive spell, not just a protection charm," I explained. "This is juniper that Octavius sent me to experiment with, and juniper is used in some of those old superstitious charm bundles. We read about them in History of Magic, remember?"
"No," Mary snorted. I continued.
"So, juniper was used for protection against harm, even if it was just superstition. And vervain, according to Slughorn, is sometimes used to dispel pests. I mean, pests like creepy ghosts and maybe ghouls. It has other uses, too, but I remember he laughed about how even muggles used vervain sometimes. I can't imagine dill adds a boost, but I accidentally spilled it in when I was reaching for the cauldron next to it, so I just left it...and I don't think vinegar is protective at all either...but then I added ground crystal thinking it would help smooth the wood while the vinegar softened it."
"Of course," Lily breathed, "the crystal amplified the magical and natural properties that were already there!"
"Of course!" Mary said in a falsetto, echoing our redheaded friend.
Lily rolled her eyes, and held her hand out for the juniper. "Genre, this could literally change the way we approach defensive arts. We need to go see Savage, now. Come on, I'll take you so you don't get a detention."
"Oi," Sirius called as we walked through the common room. He was draped over an armchair, his dark hair falling half-way down the side of the arm. "Where are you off to? Prongs and Wormtail went with Moony but I had a detention and didn't get back until just now. I'm bored."
Looking outside, I saw that it was once again a full moon, just barely rising over the tops of the trees past the quidditch pitch. I felt oddly guilty that we hadn't been more supportive of Remus this term - and it was already March, so we didn't have that much more time to go.
"We're going to see Professor Savage," Lily said. "We have to show him something."
Sirius sat upright, his hair falling more normally now to his shoulders. "I'll go with you," he said in a rare bout of, well, seriousness. "When I was walking back from detention Snivellus was skulking around with Dolohov - you know, that fifth year Slytherin kid?" Lily nodded gravely and Sirius stood, twirling his wand before shoving it into his pocket. "Ironically," he told us conversationally, "I just got back from Savage's classroom. He's the one who gave me a detention."
"What for this time?" I asked curiously.
"Jinxing all the mirrors in the second floor girls' bog to spout out insults." Sirius grinned, lighting up his whole face. "It was actually Wormtail's idea, and Moony came up with the right jinx, but I took the fall. Didn't want Moony to face tonight alone, you know?"
Lily smiled fondly at Sirius, and I found myself smiling gently as well. It really was sweet, when the boys unexpectedly proved themselves to be altruistic. Sirius ruffled his hair, and then tried to pull it back in a tie. It was just too short to stick. "Fashion be damned," he muttered, "I don't care what she thinks, I'm cutting it tonight."
"Since when have you cared what any girl thinks?" Lily teased.
Sirius blushed, shoving his hands into his pockets. I grinned, maybe a little meanly, because it was unheard of for Sirius to care what any girl thought of him. For that matter, James was the only boy in the group who did care - and even then, only if the girl was Lily.
When Sirius knocked a pattern expertly onto the third brick past the DADA classroom, the outline of a door merged with the rest of the bricks and swung open. Savage sat, relaxing with a glass of firewhiskey and tea, but he didn't look angry when he looked up to see us. He did look a little perplexed, maybe, but I didn't blame him. I'd never seen this door before, or heard it talked about, so he probably didn't get many student visitors.
"Mr. Black. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you know where to find me," he sighed. "Come in, come in. How can I help you? Is it just you three, or did you bring the whole entourage?"
Savage may have been a good-looking bloke in his teen years; he had the high cheekbones and square jaw that us girls tended to admire. But now, in his forties, he had a deep crease between his eyebrows and grizzled gray hair that he refused to shave off his face. His eyes were dark and sharp. Despite all that, and his hulking height, he had a welcoming smile as he waved his wand, conjuring some goblets and plates from what I supposed was the kitchen, and transforming his area rug into a couch.
"Professor," Lily said as the two of us squeezed on the couch (it was a bit small - maybe transfiguration wasn't Professor Savage's strong suit), "Genre made something and we thought you would know best how to proceed."
"Curious," Savage said, and turned his gaze to examine me. Heat rushed into my cheeks, but I straightened my spine even as I tugged Stan's loose sweater to cover my palms. "Defense isn't your best subject," he continued, still eying me. I blushed harder. "Not," Savage said, "that you're weak in it; merely that from what I've heard you have a real knack for Potions and Transfigurations. Excuse me for my shock. Black, I would perhaps expect it from, with the help of his friends."
"I had nothing to do with this one." Sirius grinned from where he leaned against the wall. "I just came along for the ride."
"So, what is it you want to share with me?" Savage asked.
I glanced at Lily, hoping she would explain. She raised an eyebrow at me. Damn it all to Merlin, I would have to be the one to talk. "Mr. Octavius Bliss, down in Hogsmeade, agreed to take me on as an apprentice this summer. We talked a bit about my ideas for wandmaking, and he sent me some supplies to practice with. Then he suggested I try experimenting with some of the mixtures I'd been thinking about. Sluggy - er, Professor Slughorn, rather - gave me some of those travel-sized cauldrons companies are always sending him so I could experiment with smaller bits so I'd stop wasting my supplies." I stopped, sucking in an audible breath. Sirius, sensing my nervousness, chuckled softly behind me.
"I was checking on the cauldrons tonight when Lily and Mary were working with Linda to get her all caught up - on the Patronus charm and all - when I accidentally knocked this cauldron over. We were joking because it smelled horrendous, worse than the greenhouses after mooncalf dung is spread, even, when I realized it came out different than I expected. And I started thinking about the ingredients and what they were used for in other things."
I breathed in deep again, and then leaned forward, holding out the small chunk of wood. Savage frowned, opening his palm up below mine so I could drop it into his hand.
"I'm afraid I don't understand," he said.
"Try casting a shield spell," Lily suggested.
Savage frowned at a us a moment longer, then, shrugging, cast the spell.
The shield sprang up, luminescent and pearly, so powerful it was nearly opaque. Behind me, Sirius jerked upright. I twisted my sleeve nervously, continuing my explanation while Savage examined the shield. "I can cast a corporeal Patronus with that, but you would have noted in class that I could barely create a mist."
"How long will it last?" Savage breathed.
I shrugged. "I don't know. But...when I was attacked just before winter break, I cast a shield spell that was pearly white also. Not as strong as this one, but stronger than I should have. I had a dragon scale in my hand then. I think...I'm not sure...but if I soaked dragon scales in this solution, the defensive magic would be quite strong, maybe."
"I thought she ought to tell you at once," Lily beamed. "It could really help, couldn't it? Against dementors and those wizards who are following You-Know-Who?"
"It could…" Savage said. "I will need to bring this to Professor Dumbledore. Will you come back for this before class in two days?"
"Yes," I agreed.
We left the room shortly thereafter.
"Merlin, Lion-Lass," Sirius shoved me, "you didn't tell us you were a genius!"
"I'm not!" I defended myself. "Lily's the genius! She's the one who talked with me about what ingredients should go in what cauldron. And she's the one who always plants these ideas in my head!"
"I just encourage you, Genre." Lily smiled at me, and I smiled weakly back. She might say that, but I knew who the real brains in our operation was - and it was not me.
Finnegan and I stopped writing letters around this time. It was partially my fault; I never really had the time to respond. Plus, when I did have the time I was hanging out with the other Gryffindors and couldn't abide the teasing Sirius, James, and sometimes Peter and Remus gave me over the letters. Our "odes to love" as they called them.
Professor Dumbledore arranged to meet with me, along with several professors, including Savage, after the last of exams at the end of the term. We were going to discuss a variety of things, McGonagall told me, but none of it was bad. She still practiced with me weekly, and although my skin still felt as bad as third-degree burns whenever I transformed, I was getting better and the transformations were quicker. McGonagall told me that by the end of the term, I may not even need my wand anymore for it.
As the end of sixth year neared, we were struck with an odd sense of transcendence. Fifth year had been a whirl of worry about OWLs, next year would be all about NEWTs...even though we did have exams coming up at the beginning of June, it all seemed a bit lackadaisical, as if we were just going through the motions.
Don't get me wrong - with Lily on our case, we all found the time for revisions and homework, but it was half-hearted most of the time. We had all found our niches. James and Sirius hardly needed to practice practical magic, and Remus was so good with defense spells and charms that it balanced out his admittedly mediocre skills in potions and transfiguration. Peter struggled in most of his subjects, except transfiguration and magical creatures, but he wasn't failing. Mary was in a similar position; her arithmancy and charms scores were aces, but her other classes ranged across the board. Linda refused to even discuss her scores with us. I strongly suspected that she was failing everything. The professors did try to be lenient, given everything that had happened, but honestly, she had stopped putting in the effort. Not that any of us could blame her.
Lily topped James and Sirius in written materials in every class, although she was neck-to-neck with Remus in this respect, but the only classes she was better at practical magic than the two boys was potions and charms.
My scores, in both practical and written, were the highest they had ever been. In history and transfiguration, I nearly tied with Lily, and I was just barely behind her in Potions. I even scored higher in transfigurations practical magic than anyone else, but that wasn't too much of a shock.
One night, as I practiced watching auras at dinner per Lily's prompting, Remus commented "It's too bad you didn't take Divination - that would have been another NEWT in the bag for you."
"Hm?" I said, not really paying attention. I was busy describing the professors' auras to Lily and Mary (who weren't at all interested), starting at the end with Professor Kettleburn.
"Working with wood, he said," Sirius called over James's head, "he offered to help you practice!"
"Mm hm," I said, still mostly ignoring them. Then it hit me and I spun to glare at Sirius. "You perv!" I accused him.
"Not me!" Sirius raised his hands innocently. "Him!" Remus's cheeks were red. He reached over the table with one long arm and swatted at Sirius. When he missed, James did it for him.
"Got your back, Moony," James grinned infectiously.
"Thanks, Prongs," Remus said. He avoided my eyes.
"Padfoot was funnier." Peter announced it to the lot of us, but none of us responded. I was busy describing the next aura down the line (Dumbledore's: strong and electric blue but surprisingly hazy and dark close to his body).
Lily and I swapped parchments that night to review. Mary was giving Linda a makeover at the bed over. "We need to have one last send-off for this year," Mary said through a mouthful of bobby pins, "after the exams are done."
"What do you have in mind?" Linda asked. She looked in the small hand mirror Mary had given her, watching the results of Mary's skills. It was the first time I'd seen her face her reflection in months. It was also the first time in as long that I'd seen color in her cheeks.
"A party, of course," Mary said absentmindedly. She accidentally poked Linda in the temple with a pin and had to dodge an irate elbow. "Since we ended up scrapping the last one."
Mary spent almost a week and a half planning the party, finally sending out the invitations with only half a week to spare before our exams. After making Mary promise to keep it low-key (only the Gryffindor sixth years), I gave up the location of the special room I'd found. The boys were put in charge of alcohol. Lily was in charge of finding muggle drinking games. With nothing else to really offer the party, I volunteered to decorate the room.
Exams went surprisingly well, despite occurring only one day after the full moon (my life seemed to revolve around the lunar cycle nowadays, because Remus stalked me somewhat grumpily on those days nearest the full moon thanks to the rude twats in Ancient Runes who always tried to have a go at me). I had my three favorite sweaters of Stan's put aside for exams week in a small spat of superstition.
I was a little put-off by the written potions exam, but felt my pepper-up potion had turned out quite nicely. One Ravenclaw, according to rumour, had been so flustered that they mixed up flobberworms with wiggly roots (which admittedly look similar) and caused a minor explosion during their exam.
Professor Funke had wised up pretty quickly to the rather hostile atmosphere in his class, so as we walked in for our ancient runes exam, he separated us by house and kept a sharp eye on the lot of us. The exam consisted partially of reading Egyptian hieroglyphs (facing in two different directions) but was otherwise relatively straightforward translations. I spilled a dab of black ink onto the sleeve of Stan's old red sweater at the very end, but even that didn't upset me overly much.
Professor Funke let us leave one at a time as we turned in our parchments, and Remus had been the first to finish so I was surprised when, twenty minutes later, I stepped out and nearly ran into him.
"Steady," he said mildly, placing a hand on each shoulder to stop me from falling back. His amber eyes were right in front of mine, our noses almost touching, leaned forward as he was to catch me. My heart pattered suddenly, so irregular I felt almost faint. But then he removed his hands and nodded towards the hall. "C'mon, let's meet up with the others before they start causing trouble without us."
I let him take a few steps before following. What was going on? I'd never felt like that before, outside of the occasional panic attacks I experienced when I dreamed about the dragon attack from my childhood, but this hadn't been accompanied by the hot flashes and nausea. When Remus turned to see where I was, I hurried to catch up, feeling my cheeks. They were a little warm. And my stomach did feel like it was turning over. Exam nerves, I decided firmly. That's all it was.
There was no troublemaking, as it turns out. Lily was forcibly making the lot of us study. Sirius and Peter in particular looked ready to jinx her if she tapped on the pages in front of them one more time.