If he thought casting a patronus was tiring, he didn't know what to call the Homorphus charm. It was explained to him by both his father and Remus that it was generally a spell you needed a lot of power for, and usually you couldn't cast it by yourself. Not to say it couldn't be cast alone, it would just take a lot of force, or a very powerful wizard. Harry heard his two professors talking the night before, and apparently they thought Harry could do it; but he wasn't buying it. There was no way a thirteen year old wizard -who only just found out he was a wizard less than three years ago- could be that powerful. Even still, they taught him the spell and he practiced plenty, casting the spell on a willing Draven. Harry was assured that it would do nothing to an animal that was not an animagus, and it appeared that it was true. He waved his wand in a circular pattern and said the spell and a pale blue light shot out of his wand. It hit Draven square in the chest, but the owl simply stood on his perch and fluffed out his feathers slightly. Harry couldn't have been sure it would have done anything if the bird was and animagi, but he felt exhausted after a day of practicing. They started the day before, just after lunch and went through dinner. It was now just before lunch on Sunday and he was itching to go back to show his friends his patronus.

"I only have two essays to finish; can we play a game of chess after lunch?" Harry was watching his father make lunch in the small kitchenette in their rooms. Harry was lying on the sofa with his hands behind his head and his feet propped on the arm. The only response he got was a slight glance and an eyebrow raise. Harry shrugged and stared at the ceiling. A few minutes later he felt his feet being tossed to the floor as his father took up their previously occupied space. He sat up and scooted over to sit more comfortable and took the plate of grilled cheese and set the bowl of tomato soup on the arm of the sofa.

"What do you usually do for the Easter holidays?" It was still hard for him to imagine his professor in any place other than the dungeons. It made him wonder what his other professors did during holidays. It wasn't something he or any other student thought much of.

"Generally, I stay here and prepare for the next term. There is the occasion that I go home, but it is usually for a day or two. I like to stay around the castle though; especially if there are Slytherins that stay." Harry could have slapped himself. Of course the man would stay behind for his house. He wasn't the Head for nothing. Come to think of it, his own head was always around, no matter the time of year. He nodded to show he had listened. The two finished their lunch, and when Harry took up their plates and bowls, he heard Severus setting up the chessboard. He smiled as he heard the pieces complaining about being handled so roughly and to kindly be more gentle or else.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I'll show you guys, but I want to finish my essays, first." Ron rolled his eyes and huffed into the armchair and Hermione sat next to Harry on the couch, books and parchment layed all around the three of them.

"Ron, if you just set to do it in the first place, you wouldn't be behind now." She narrowed her eyes as Ron was mocking her and she threw a balled up parchment and hit him in the head. Harry shook his head and started writing. It was only going to take him the better part of an hour, and that would leave him plenty of time to relax in the common room before he went to bed. Ron spent the time grumbling and doing as little work as possible, Hermione was reading a different book Harry was sure came from the den. He set his parchments on the low table and flexed his fingers; they were cramped from writing so long. He was getting excited to cast his patronus, and he knew Ron was waiting, too. Actually it was more like he was looking for anything to take his mind away from Transfiguration. Hermione shook her head, but held her tongue.

"Can we see it now, Harry?" Ron was sitting on the edge of the chair in anticipation. Hermione closed her book and sat facing Harry, her back against the arm of the couch.

"Well then, go ahead. Merlin knows Ron won't shut up about it and actually do his work until you do." She gave Ron a smirk, but he waved her off. Harry turned around and climbed to his knees and leaned against the back of the couch. He looked back.

"Are you guys ready?" Ron climbed in between Harry and Hermione and copied Harry's stance. They both nodded and he waved his wand.

"Expecto Patronum!" He lifted his voice just a little to give it something extra and smiled as the ethereal leopard climbed from his wand and meandered around the room. The snow leopard walked over to the back of the couch and sat with his tail twitching, looking from Harry to his friends. Ron stood wide-eyed and slack-jawed and Hermione had her eyes narrowed in thought. Harry waved his wand again and the animal dissipated into nothingness.

"That was brilliant, Harry! It took you this long to cast it? How come you didn't need to be in front of a dementor to cast it?" Ron was still standing on his knees on the couch and Harry had vacated his position for the poufy chair.

"I was able to cast the patronus months ago, but not a corporeal one. It was just a bright white light. Once you cast a corporeal patronus, you can cast it anytime because you know just how powerful a memory you need. It'll still be difficult to cast when I'm in front of a dementor, but now I know I can do it. Besides, Remus said you can use a patronus to communicate. I don't know how to do it, but he said it was possible." Hermione was nodding along and Harry could see the gears spinning in her head, taking in all of the information.

"Just wait until you guys see what else Remus is teaching me." He had a huge smile on his face and his friends narrowed their eyes at him. He wouldn't tell until it was time.