Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and characters related to it. Harry Potter and its characters are the intellectual property of the talented J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Scholastic, Raincoast, and Bloomsbury books. Storyline and plot have been developed partially based on the plots, characters, and storylines of the first 5 installments of Harry Potter, The Sorceror's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire, and The Order of the Phoenix.

Author's Note: First off, thank you for the comments and the words of encouragement. Lourdes, I appreciate your reviews and LHG I appreciate your comments but unfortunately I do not know where to find the guide to writing Harry Potter. I have not heard of it until now. If you would be kind enough to enlighten me I would appreciate it. Before I continue the chapter I would like to state:

a) I did try looking up some Bulgarian folklore but it seems I found a lot of vampire stories that bear great resemblance to Russian folklore on vampires. I did not go into specifics about dark creatures as I do not want to make up something which does not have a basis for me to create upon. I do know where Bulgaria is, since I am a soccer fan =). I do not however, know the approximate Geography of the country to be able to specify the exact movement of the creatures. I apologize if I made an error.

b) I say that I am trying to emulate JKR in the introduction, what I meant is that I am merely trying to emulate her writing. I am not looking for my work to be published and I am writing this story mainly for fun but also to see if I can actually pull off writing a whole story and see if I can meet my own standards for writing a fanfic.

c) I noticed that some comments *hem*hem* are against a Harry/Ginny pairing. Well I know that I categorized my story under Harry/Ginny but I will say now that I do not intend for them to undergo a full-fledged romance as of yet. However, I believe that Ginny's role in the 6th book will increase and therefore I plan to write as such.

Again, thank you for the comments and reviews. I appreciate them a lot, even the criticisms (as long as its criticisms on how I can improve the story or what is lacking from it). Lastly, I apologize for the slow moving plot, but like I said, I am merely doing this for fun and as a challenge. I hope I can pick it up soon. On another note, to those that find my writing interesting, I would recommend Harry Potter and the Forbidden Passage by Cendrillon; I believe that she (or he) has also written a very good and entertaining piece of work.

Chapter 6

            It was a few days after attending the Order's meeting that Harry and his friends had finally been able to sit down with Remus Lupin to discuss their training with the boggart Dementor. Prior to that, Remus had been busy doing things for the Order which he had not cared to mention. Harry had asked his former professor about his doings for the Order, but it seemed like he had not cared to mention it much. He just said that it was the same as the previous year, trying to rally up support against Voldemort, and trying to prevent certain "parties" from going over to the Dark Lord's forces. Harry had been told in such a finalized tone by Remus that he knew he would not be able to get any more information regarding this issue. It seemed like Order members were always to be found at headquarters at all times since the meeting, which Harry believed were probably there for security reasons although he believed that there could not possibly be danger for him at the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Nevertheless, he understood the possibilities of danger were not to be ignored. After all, he had been attacked by Dementors the previous year at Privet Drive even under the (apparently) watchful eyes of Order members. It seemed that Bill and Charlie were around more frequently than the others, although Charlie had left the day before for France, which Harry believed was probably to recruit more foreign supporters for the Order. Tonks had also been around a couple of times, often chattering away with Hermione and Ginny, leaving Harry stranded with Ron. Not that he complained being with Ron, but he was getting quite sick of losing completely to Ron in wizards chess for the 6th year running. The twins sometimes took breaks from the shop at Diagon Alley to introduce new products to Harry, most of which he had been very reluctant to try. One particular "testing" session had turned Ron's nose so large that Harry believed, would have sank the Titanic if it had been in the ocean in place of the iceberg.

"Crazy Conker Candy," George had proclaimed proudly. "Took us a few weeks to actually get the recipe correct for it, probably one of our best inventions," he had described as Ron was bellowing in an extra funny tone at the twins for the size of his nose.

"Cheer up Ron, it'll go fine with the size of your feet," chuckled Fred.

It seemed like a normal mid morning when Harry had awaken for breakfast, and had joined Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Mr and Mrs.Weasley as well as Remus (who had taken up residence at Grimmauld Place, although he was only there for short spurts of time, being out on business for the Order). Harry had sat down at the kitchen table when Remus approached him,

"Harry, I know that I've been busy with the Order lately, but I've managed to clear up some of the more pressing matters that I've had to deal with lately. If you like, I think we can start training Ron, Hermione and Ginny with the Patronus training today," said Lupin.

Harry was quite elated by this prospect. He had enjoyed being in the company of his friends at headquarters, despite his reoccurring aches for Sirius. He had to admit though that his stay there had been turning rather stale of late, seeing as how they did not have much to do since the place had been pretty much decontaminated. "That will be great Remus!" He looked over at Ron, Hermione and Ginny to see that they were also quite excited by the news, but at the same time also looking mildly nervous.

"So we're going to start training with a real Dementor today? I really hope I can manage it," said Ron.

"No, Ron, it's only a boggart that we will train with, but I must warn you, the effects of a boggart Dementor on a person are very similar to that of a real Dementor. Harry can tell you that. The only reassurance is that the danger is not as high if we were to face a real Dementor. Boggart Dementors cannot perform "the Kiss", said Lupin reassuring Ron.

"So when do we start?" asked Hermione. "After lunch if you are ready, Hermione. I will just have to get into Diagon Alley for a while to pick up some chocolate. I dare say that you will need it later," replied Lupin.

Later that day, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny had met with Remus in the room which contained the boggart. "Now, the boggart will turn into a Dementor when it sees Harry. This means that Harry will have to stand in front of the boggart at all times, while each of you goes in turns to try and conjure a patronus. I'm sure that you are familiar with the incantations?" asked Lupin. He was replied with silent nods and he smiled, "I'm glad to see that Harry has instructed you. Let's see now if you can manage the spell. Who would like to go first?" Hermione stepped forward. "Good Hermione. Now I am going to open the cupboard with the Dementor. Are you all ready? Good, one-two-three, NOW!" Lupin shouted as he pointed his wand at the cupboard door and there was a burst of smoke engulfing the space in front of the cupboard. Harry could feel the temperature drop dramatically as he saw the hooded figure of the Dementor slowly gliding towards him.

"EX-EX-expecto Patronum!, Expecto Patronum!, Expecto Patronum!" screamed Hermione as the Dementor slowly glided towards them and Harry, all she could manage to produce though were silvery wisps of smoke that slowed the Dementor, but did not stop it.


"NO! No! Expecto Patronum!" screamed Hermione in vain. Harry sensed that Hermione could not manage any longer and he had lifted his wand to cast the spell himself, but something he had not expected happened. He could suddenly see the final moments that he had spent with Sirius, and he watched as Sirius's face, mixed with shock and still smiling slowly disappear behind the curtains at the Department of Mysteries.

"No," he said, "NooooOo!" Remus had noticed this and was about to get rid of the boggart himself when suddenly, Harry bellowed, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" and out of his wand came the silvery stag, and it charged down the Dementor furiously.

"Riddikulus!" shouted Remus charging forward and the boggart turned into the silvery orb yet again. Remus forced the boggart back into the cupboard and turned around to look at his 4 former students. He didn't quite know what to believe. He had seen Harry's Patronus before, but never before had it ever been quite the way it was. Harry had conjured a Patronus, which in Remus's own mind could only find the words, magnificent. It no longer was the silvery-white Patronus that he was accustomed to seeing, but it was much larger than normal, and the stag shone bright silver, with what had seemed to Remus as a gold aura, outlining it. It took quite a bit for Remus to compose himself after what he saw to check on the 4 students to see how they were.

Harry was standing at the same spot that he was when the Dementor first appeared. He had lowered his wand and was sweating and shivering, a shine was visible in his eyes, yet it was full of strength and determination. "I-I- saw it again Remus, the Department of Mysteries…., Sirius," he said looking at Remus. Remus was appalled by this, but nevertheless comforted Harry,

"It's over Harry, it's in the past now, it's over," he said as he handed a piece of chocolate to Harry who took it gratefully as he turned to check on his friends.

Ron was sitting down in a corner, still shivering, but looked fine according to Harry as Remus handed a piece of chocolate to the redhead. Hermione however, was close to tears, "Oh, Harry, I'm sorry, I thought I could do it but it was so cold, so scary, I-I couldn't think of something happy, I didn't think it would be that difficult," she said to Harry as the tears started to flow down her cheeks. Harry felt that Hermione was not only suffering from the depressing effects of the Dementor, but the prospect of failure to perform was affecting her greatly as well.

"Shhh, don't worry Hermione, don't worry about it. Very few people get it on the first try. It took me a few tries to even produce an indistinct Patronus, and you managed to keep it away for quite a while, you don't have to be disappointed. Here, eat some of the chocolate, it helps a lot. We'll try again when you're feeling up to it," he said as he handed Hermione a piece of chocolate. Silently, Harry was not too keen on seeing what he had just saw again, but he did not show or mention it as he didn't want to distress Hermione with more than what she was already going through. Hermione remained silent as she bit the piece of chocolate slowly as Harry turned to look at Ginny.

Ginny seemed to be doing the worst amongst the three of them, she was still shivering violently and was sobbing when Harry approached her. Harry thought that the Ginny he was seeing now was a very different Ginny who had insisted on following him to the Ministry of Magic last year. Last year, Ginny had looked determined and strong when she volunteered, instead now, she reminded him of the little girl in the Chamber of Secrets, she was very pale and her face was colourless.

"Ha-Harry, i-i-it was h-h-horrible, oh Harry," she stammered as she sank into her own arms again, not daring to look up.

"It's alright Ginny, it's alright," he said trying to comfort her, he wasn't too sure of what to do but instinctively stroked her head as he said that. "It's over Ginny and it was just a boggart Dementor. At least you didn't faint like I used to do," he still wasn't too sure of what to say to Ginny as she seemed to be in the worst position of all of them present there. He handed her a piece of the chocolate and stroked her hair silently. She took the chocolate and ate it and Harry could tell that the colour had started to return to her cheeks as she ate the chocolate silently.

The four of them sat there silently for a while before Remus spoke, "I think maybe you're all not too ready to face the Dementor just yet…," he was cut off by Harry,

"Remus, if you remember I had the same problems when we first started my lessons against the Dementor, I'm sure they can do it. They just need a little time."

Hermione was next to speak up, "Harry, prof-I mean Remus is right, maybe we're not quite ready yet. I think we need some time to prepare ourselves to face this. It's quite a challenge. I understand now what you meant when you told us last year it's very different from conjuring a Patronus in a brightly lit classroom with lots of people around you." She had said this with such a disappointed tone that Harry didn't hear very often from Hermione. She was not used to not being able to perform when then time called for it.

"Yeah Harry, I think you better help me out with my Patronus before I take that on, I don't think I'll be able to do any better than Hermione since I didn't manage to even conjure a real Patronus when there wasn't a Dementor around. Maybe we should go back to basics again," said Ron who was still a little shaken but was speaking steadily.

Harry looked at his friends, looked down at Ginny, who looked up and nodded in agreement with Ron. Harry sighed and said, "Yeah I think that would be best, I'm sorry you guys I didn't mean to put you through all that."

"It's okay Harry, I'm not sure we expected it to be that difficult either," said Ron as he helped Ginny on her feet. "I think Remus will have to help us out as well, having two teachers is better than having one, not to say you were a bad teacher Harry, but I think we need all the help we can get, that is, if it's okay with you Harry, and Remus,"

Harry looked at Remus who simply nodded saying, "I'll be glad to help you out with it Ron. But I think all of you will need some rest before Molly gets back from her shopping. I think she'll have my head if she finds out what we have been up to," he smiled lightly.

As they were leaving the room to get some rest, Remus Lupin finally felt that he understood why Dumbledore had so much faith in Harry Potter. He indeed was the boy in the prophecy, and he had the potential to become far greater a wizard than he had every imagined. What bothered him though was what had set Harry off like that, and what was it that caused him to conjure a Patronus that was safe to say, was the first of its kind that he had ever seen, and if he would be able to fully harness that ability when the time came. However, he was certain that Albus Dumbledore would know the answer to his question, and that he would see to it that Harry was able to face the challenge when the time came. He only hoped that Harry was as strong as everyone believed he was.