Chapter 6

"Seriously!" Sirius laughed. "And you believed him? You are so thick sometimes Jamsie!"

"They bought me a new broom last week." James said bitterly. "Probably with the money they got from... it."

"Wow! I'd love a broom!" Peter said in awe.

"Sirius, I think it's true." Remus said quietly. "No one can fake that. No one."

Sirius fell silent. James looked at Remus carefully. There was definitely more to him than he had first thought.

"Wish I knew what your patronus is Lupin." Sirius grinned as they headed to Defence against the dark arts with Professor Quibly. A friendly man with light hair but peculiar yellowish eyes. He had spent the first few lessons talking about what they would be doing in first year.

"What's a patronus?" Peter asked.

"Yeah but that's like NEWT level!" Remus laughed.

"I bet I could do it." Sirius boasted.

"What's a patronus?" Peter asked again.

"It's an animal." Sirius said briskly. "What d'you reckon yours is Jamsie?"

"Don't call me that!" James snapped. "I dunno... Maybe a. leopard."

Sirius snorted. "Bet you anything you're a skunk. What about you two?"

"A wolf." Remus said quickly before he could stop himself. He blushed and looked down at his bag.

"I think I'd make a good goldfish." Peter said. "I don't mind small spaces, I like the colour orange..."

Sirius and James groaned. "So what about you Sirius?" James asked as they entered the classroom and took seats at the back.

"A dog." Sirius said without thinking.

"Hello first years!" Beamed Professor Quibly. "Now, today... Um..."

"Go on! Ask him!" Sirius and Peter prodded James.

"Why me?" James hissed back.

"We all know you're his favourite!"

"I am not!" James glared but raised his hand all the same.

"Ah! Excellent! Yes Mr Potter?" Professor Quibly smiled at him.

"Erm, Professor, I was wondering... could you tell us about patronuses?"

Professor Quibly stared at him. "Why would you want to know about patronuses?" He asked.

"Because they're interesting. My parents told me once that if you ever want to know who you are, look at your patronus." James' heart sank upon talking about his parents. He remembered they were murderers and lowered his head.

"Well... alright but I think I'll be wasting my time." Professor Quibly said reluctantly. "Would you like me to demonstrate?" Without waiting of an answer he raised his wand, closed his eyes and bellowed, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" He lowered his wand and a vast white camel trotted round the room before vanishing into nothing. "I could ask for volunteers but I don't think..."

"We'll do it!" Sirius shouted excitedly. "Please!"

"You've got to think of something happy!" Professor Quibly told them as they stood at the front of the classroom, wands out. "I really don't know why I'm telling you this, I'm wasting my time!"

"Got one." James said quickly.

"Me too!" Chorused Sirius and Peter.

Remus had not moved at the call for volunteers. He remained seated, watching his friends closely.

"Alright then, after three. One, two, three!"

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Shouted James and Sirius together.

"Expectant patronus!" Peter stammered. Shooting out sparks.

Sirius produced white vapour but from the tip of James' wand erupted a distinguishable shape. It was some kind of deer...

"It was a stag." James said triumphantly that evening.

"It was a deer." Sirius said in a bored voice. "A lousy deer. It means you like skipping in forests."

"Does not." James snapped. "You're just disappointed it wasn't a slug. Anyway, why don't you try again?"

Sirius pulled out his wand. "Ok, I'm thinking of that time I dyed Narcissa's new dress purple." Sirius said, grinning. "Um, what was it again? Oh yeah, EXPECTO PATRONUM!" The vapour appeared again, hovering above the ground before vanishing.

"C'mon think of something happier!" James urged. "How about the time you enchanted Snape's robes to fly up every time he came in view of that cow Lucinda Elstrotter?"

Sirius laughed and raised his wand again. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" The vapour appeared again, slightly more distinguishable than before but still unrecognisable.

"How about the time when..." James racked his brains.

"When we were sitting out by the lake. Peter was being chased round the Whomping willow by peeves, I was doing my homework and you two were chatting about all the fun you had that month. You two were so happy then. Don't you remember how James nearly fell into the lake when you told him about Snape's nose Sirius?" Remus looked up at them.

Sirius and James smiled at each other. Not grinning like Siamese cats, not smirking, not laughing, just smiling. "Yeah. That was happy Remus." James said wistfully. "Go on Sirius."

Sirius smiled again and raised his wand for the last time. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" A vast shaggy dog erupted from the end. It raced round the common room to shrieks from the students and came to rest at Sirius' heels before vanishing as James' had done.

"Wow! I wish I could do that!" Peter exclaimed.