Chapter 35

The Gryffindor Common Room was in excitement. Hogsmeade weekend was approaching. Neville was afraid of going to Hogsmeade now because it didn't turn out as he had expected. He wanted to just go alone or maybe with Harry and look at some nice stuff then get back to school, but he had a crazy Slytherin chasing him and he was scared of her already. Ron was writing a long list of the sweets he wanted to buy and Hermione was writing some places of interest she wanted to visit. She kept on making noise about how The Hogshead was once the strategy room for the Goblin rebellion.

Harry however, was unconcerned. In fact he was annoyed. Professor Trelawney kept on predicting death omens anytime her eyes fell on him and each omen was different from the first. Harry for once agreed with Hermione when it came to Divination. It was a total waste of time. He was feeling dizzy now and he closed his eyes to sleep.

SOMEWHERE IN THE SCHOOL

She was alone in the unused classroom on the second floor corridor, waiting for her appointment. She had asked them a question earlier and they had promised to be there. They were late and she had four days left to perform her task. The door opened and they came in.

"Your Iciness," they said bowing down. "How may we help you?"

"I need to see someone from your House, but I need a way to track her movements so that I can get her alone."

"Don't worry your Ladyship," Fred said with a wink. "We both know its not a girl you are tracking." Daphne narrowed her eyes in annoyance and turned to leave the room.

"Ah George, she's annoyed."

"Don't worry Daphne," Fred said. "We've been watching you, and we in the Gryffindor team know of your little love for Harry. Wood would kill you if he figures this out. He always wants Harry in top shape and any distraction like love; he'll snuff it out like you. Harry's oblivious as well. Always reading his little spell book and punching anything he can find. You know, he's unaware."

"So," George continued. "We knew that you wanted us to do this so we've already prepared the food."

"However", Fred continued. "You won't be eating. Harry would. Bye now Daphne and hang around." The twins bowed their way out of the classroom and left her alone to wonder what they were planning to do.

THREE MORE DAYS TILL HOGSMEADE COMES

"Wands out, books away everyone. We're doing practicals today." The whole class whispered in excitement. There were no desks around when they entered the class and their teacher, Professor Lupin was telling them to take out their wands. "Why is he always wearing those clothes?" Draco whispered.

Professor Lupin turned around to get some things from his drawer and Harry walked over to Draco and threw a punch at his face. Lupin turned and faced the class once more and started talking. "Right. We've got the four Houses here. Gryffindors to the left, form a nice composition like you're taking a photo. Slytherins to my left do the same thing at my right. Puffs to the right far end of the class, Claws same thing but move a little to the left end of the class. Excellent!"

He stood in the centre for a while and asked a question. We'll be dealing with a Boggart today. Anyone care to tell me what it is?"

"A shape shifter sir," Hermione called out. "Five points to Gryffindor. What else can you tell me?"

"No one has seen its true form sir."

"Well done Miss Chang. Five points to Ravenclaw."

"It likes the dark."

"Excellent Miss Bones. Five points to Hufflepuff."

"It takes the form of the thing you fear most."

"Good one Miss Davies a fiver to Slytherin. Well people, there is a Boggart in this wardrobe and when I call out your name, you'll tackle it and then take your bags and go back to your Common Rooms. Ready?"

They all nodded and people started talking in fear. Harry was not bothered he had no idea what he feared. Except one thing. The Dementor. Harry groaned inwardly and tried to look sharp as always, ignoring peoples' cries.

Lupin took the register and said, "I hope you remember the notes from last time? Swish and flick and cry…"

"RIDDIKULUS!" the class roared in reply.

"Excellent! Let's start." All the students faced their fears one by one and slowly the number reduced. Hermione's fear was losing an exam test, but she turned the report to a stone slab and she took her bag and left. Ron was scared of spiders, Neville was scared of Professor Snape, Tracey was scared of dead bodies, and Malfoy was scared of a banshee. Crabbe was scared of examinations, Goyle was scared of his grandmother's fake teeth and Pansy was scared of an Egyptian mummy.

The numbers thinned down and then only two were left. Harry Potter and Daphne Greengrass. Daphne walked and faced the wardrobe and Lupin opened it with a flick of his wand. Harry expected to see a children running around her, laughing and giggling but he saw something rather funny. A clown stepped out of the wardrobe and started walking towards Daphne. Fear was in Daphne's eyes for a while and she quickly countered the Boggart, turning it into a pop corn box and she left without looking back at Harry.

"Go on Harry." Harry stood in front of the wardrobe and a Dementor attacked him. He felt the cold sensation and his mother's cries for mercy and then he saw the Boggart turn into a white ball and then it vanished.

"Not bad Harry," Lupin said. Harry looked at him for a minute and asked, "How do I beat the Dementor. Professor?"

"It's not easy Harry. It's all about thinking of a happy memory. When the memory feels you up, just shout the spell and let it flow from you. The stronger the memory, the powerful the effect on the Dementor."

"What is it?"

"It's advanced magic Harry. It's for N.E.W.T students. It's called a Patronus charm." The correct incantation is Expecto Patronum. The wand movement doesn't really matter. The memory is important.

"Can I try it now?"

"First try by saying the spell and focus on your happy thought." Harry closed his eyes and remembered the day Dobby scared the piss out of Dudley. "Expecto Patronum," he whispered a bright light filled the room for a while and then it dimmed and went out.

"I did it Professor. I did it!"

"Yes that's easy, but when you are facing the Dementor, it's a different thing all together. Ready?"

Harry nodded and Lupin released the Boggart. "Expecto Patronum!" Harry yelled, the Dementor rushed towards him and then Lupin saved him again.

"One last time Professor. This time I'll beat it and go," Harry begged.

"Let the memory fill you Harry. You've got the incantation right, just the memory and you'll have a corporeal Patronus in due time."

"What's that?"

"It's like your animal spirit. It attacks any form of danger once you produce it. Now I'm releasing it and then it's day over. Ready?"

The Bogart rushed towards Harry and Harry closed his eyes, remembering how Dobby scared Dudley and how Dudley jumped and screamed in fright. He remembered the look on Ron's face when Ginny was trapped in the chamber. He these two memories and he roared "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

The white light burst from the tip of his wand and drew the Dementor Boggart back. It went back all the way and landed in the wardrobe. Lupin closed it and clapped. "Nice one Harry. You could have brought the real thing if I let you play with it longer. Take some chocolate and go back to your dorm. Good night."

"Night, night Professor. Thank you." Harry sprinted back to his dorm feeling happy. He had almost overcome a problem in his life. He was stopped in front of his dorm entrance by the Weasely twins. "Harry a minute please," Fred asked leading the way to Harry's dorm.

"We've got you a little gift. Use it wisely and don't let it fall in the wrong hands. This is a weapon of mass destruction on its own."

"Yeah thanks guys, I've got lots of parchment in my trunk. This won't make a difference. The twins looked at each other and laughed. "This is our partner in crime. Taught us more than the teachers and showed us secrets. We know it of heart now, so we give it to you," Fred said.

"George, if you please."

George took his wand and tapped on it and whispered some words. Handwriting slowly appeared on the parchment and Harry couldn't believe it. The famous Marauders Map was about to be his. The school was in display on a parchment. "To use it, just say I solemnly swear I'm up to no good, and to lock it, just say mischief managed."

Fred and George Weasely left Harry and joined their friends. They had completed their part of the plan. It was up to Daphne and Harry now.

This chapter is a little crude but please review