After the trip to Hogsmeade, they found Neville and Hermione in the common room. "Whyy aren't you in the library?" Ron asked.
"Krum," said Hermione.
"What's he done? He doesn't seem a bad guy—bit quiet," Dean said, pulling up a chair.
"It's not that he does anything, but he always gets this gang of stupid giggling girls clustering around him so I can't concentrate," Hermione replied.
"You should see the look on her face when he stalks in," Neville said with a grin.
Dudley laughed. It was the first friendly thing Neville had said to them since the incident a couple of weeks ago. He hoped this meant that Neville was getting back to his old self.
"It's not him," Hermione repeated. "I'm sure he's perfectly fine—though, Durmstrang does have a horrible reputation. But I can't cope when those idiots turn up! Don't they have homework to do. Honestly, he's not even that good looking! They wouldn't care at all if he wasn't famous."
Deciding to change the subject, Dudley told Hermione about Lockhart's offer to teach them a patronus. "Could be useful," Dudley said.
"I don't know, Neville and I still have a lot to work on. But maybe if it's just one evening?" she looked at Neville.
Neville, however, shook his head. "I'm not going, I want to keep practicing stuff I might use during the task. Gran's hoping I don't let the side down."
Dudley shrugged. It seemed Neville still wanted to be standoffish, so he wasn't going to push him if he was still in a mood.
"Oh yeah, did you get a new wand?" Dudley asked, suddenly remembering what Ollivander had suggested.
"Yeah, Gran wasn't pleased—she wanted me to keep using dad's. But Ollivander persuaded her," Neville replied, sounding a bit like his normal self. He pulled his wand out. "Cherry and unicorn hair, 13 inches. I've already tested it and it feels more … right, you know? I could cast a summoning charm straight away."
"Cool," Dean said.
On Monday, Dudley's classes passed as normal. After the exciting lesson with the dragon, they were back to studying Skrewts again in Care of Magical Creatures. Dudley was still the only one who seemed to actually enjoy the class now, and even he was getting tired of the Skrewts. Though they did make him laugh with one's end blasted off and singed Malfoy's hat.
Lockhart's lesson on patronuses started at the end of the day.
"Now, a patronus is a very complex piece of magic. It takes a lot of skill, even to produce a non-corporeal patronus. A true patronus, takes the form of an a guardian and can even drive off Dementors," said Lockhart.
"We saw that!" Dean said, excitedly. "Dumbledore's is some sort of bird …"
"A phoenix," said Ron.
"Me and Hermione saw Snapes, too," said Dudley. "He had some sort of weird deer with no antlers."
"Is every person's patronus different?" asked Dean.
"Each reflects a person's personality—usually. Or sometimes, something close to their heart, like a loved one," Lockhart explained. "Now, this is far beyond even NEWT magic. Even casting a non-corporeal patronus is difficult. I admit, I can't cast a corporeal patronus—I would, with practice. I've just never had much use for it, what with all the Dementors being under Ministry control."
He smiled and continued. "The charm is straight forward. Expecto Patronum! Say it now, go on!"
"Expecto Patronum! Expecto Patronum! Expecto Patronum!" they all repeated.
"Jolly good," said Lockhart. "Now, the difficult—the charm requires a happy memory. The happier the memory, the more successful the charm. You need to concentrate hard on the memory, then repeat 'expecto patronum'.
He pulled out his wand. "Here, let me show you! Expecto Patronum!" A cloud of silver vapor shot out of the end of Lockhart's wand. It was entirely unimpressive.
"That's it?" Ron asked, skeptically.
Lockhart nodded. "A non-corporeal patronus. Even that will be enough to keep Dementors at bay. It could save your life … well, your soul."
"So, let's give it a try," said Lockhart. "Think hard on a memory—the happiest you can."
Dudley thought. It was difficult because he had quite a few happy memories. He selected his ninth birthday party. His mum and dad had took him to a theme park and his dad fell into the boating lake. Dudley had laughed until he cried. That was definitely a happy memory.
"All got one?" Lockhart asked.
They all nodded.
"On three—one … two … three!"
"Expecto Patronum!" they all cried.
Nothing happened. Lockhart, however, didn't seem perturbed. "Not to worry, you're only just beginning. Now, focus hard on the memory—shut your eyes if it helps. This time, cast it whenever you feel comfortable—don't listen to me. Just think of that memory and picture it in your mind.
Dudley closed his eyes, remembering the three ice creams he had ate, Vernon shouting for help as he waddled chest deep in water, riding the roller coaster, being sick in the car on the way home, getting 27 presents. It had been a good day.
"Expecto patronum!" he cried, opening his eyes. Once again, nothing happened. Same with Dean and Ron.
"Hmm, perhaps your memory isn't that powerful. Ron, what were you thinking of?" Lockhart asked.
"When I finally managed to prank red—put green dye in his shampoo. His hair was green for a weak," said Ron.
Dudley and Dean laughed and even Lockhart smiled.
"While good, I am sure there are happier moments. Think hard, when did you feel at your happiest—on top of the world?"
Ron was quiet for a few seconds. "When I joined the quidditch team—No! Last year! Winning the quidditch cup!"
"How about you, Dean?" asked Lockhart. "Have you won anything?"
"Not yet," Dean said. "I was thinking about going to my first football match with mum. But maybe there's something else—got it! My holiday to Disneyland Paris when I was 10!"
"What's a Disneyland?" Ron asked, but neither Dudley nor Dean replied.
"Dudley?" Lockhart asked.
Dudley thought hard. "Ok, what about the first time I flew on a broom?"
"Give it a try," said Lockhart. "On three—ready, think of your memory! One … two … three!"
"Expecto Patronum!" they all cried. Nothing came out of Dudley's wand. Ron let out an excited shout, a small cloud of silvery vapor had shot out of the end of his own wand. Dean, however had produced a bigger cloud. "Look! I swear I saw feathers!"
"Very good," Lockhart said. "Of course, it is much easier without a Dementor present. But even a small patronus is a great achievement at your age."
They practiced for 10 more minutes, Dudley failing to produce anything, whereas Ron and Dean both created silver vapor. Dean even got his to last for 10 seconds before it disappeared.
"Try thinking of something else," Ron said. "What did you try?"
"Quidditch World Cup," Dudley replied.
"Ah, but that ended with us fleeing for our lives after Death Eaters went on a riot," said Dean.
"Aunt Marge giving me money," Dudley said.
"Fleeting joy, Dudley—money like that unearned won't bring you true happiness," Lockhart said, surprisingly wisely.
"Appearing in the Daily Prophet for the first time," Dudley said.
"Wasn't that for stopping Quirrell—I dunno if that is proper happy or not," Ron said.
Dudley frowned, unable to think of a moment. While he had had happy moments with his parents, none of his memories with them seemed to be sufficient. And unlike Ron, hadn't won anything that didn't involve being in great peril. Even capturing Black, as pleased as he was when it happened, what had happened to Lupin and Snape tainted the memory somewhat.
Maybe he was looking at it all wrong. Getting presents and treats was cool, but like Lockhart said, it wasn't true happiness. And as much as he enjoyed attention and getting into the papers, that had all been because of unhappy circumstances. So, when was he happiest?
Suddenly, Dudley realized. It was the casual moments when he was relaxing in the common room with his friends. Playing wizards chess with Luna. Trading chocolate frog cards. Having a game of gobstones. Making jokes with Ron and Dean. Walking by the lake with his friends. That was when he was happiest.
"One more try," he said.
"Just one, then we need to pack it up," said Lockhart.
Dudley concentrated hard on his friends and those moments spent with them—chess with Luna, digging into a box of chocolate frogs with Neville, studying with Hermione, laughing about Ron's crush on Cho Change with Ginny, complaining about Snape with Ron, playing gobstones with Dean, getting help and advice from Lockhart.
"Expecto patronum!" Dudley shouted.
Then, out of the end of his wand, shot a cloud of silver vapour. It hovered for a few seconds before disappearing.
"I did it!" he shouted.
"Well done, mate,' Ron clumped him on the back.
"Nice one," Dean gave him he thumbs up.
Lockhart applauded. "Great job, all of you!"