Do I really need to say this again? J K Rowling IS Harry Potter. If you recognise anything from any movie, TV show, book or whatever else, it's probably because it is from them. If you want my 'full' warning, you can check out either 'Dormant Power' or 'Beginning of the End'.

If you've read both those fics, then you know how my version of it ends…but how did it begin? Again, only some names are mine, everything else is not! I've based this from the Marauders perspective so…well you'll know the story when something happens to a certain someone, even though I don't write about it in this one! Also check out 'The Apprentice', it has some info you won't find in my other two stories (wink, wink!).

As you'll find out, I was starting to run out of names, hence the need to reuse one. He's his imaginary older cousin, not his brother…you'll soon figure out who I mean. Oh, and yes it was rather easy playing on the whole 'Professor Lupin' thing!

Chapter 8 – Settling The Score

As the quartet made their way down to the pitch for their first training session with Trent, the conversation quickly turned to the Quidditch game that had been played the day before. Heating charms had been deployed around the pitch to prevent students and Professors getting sick (which was the reason Trent had said to meet there). It was Gryffindor verses Hufflepuff, and, as usual, it had been the Lions who came out on top. Despite their seeker, Aidan Lynch, not catching the snitch, the chasers, led by James, had been able to build up enough of a lead that it didn't matter.

"I still wish the snitch stayed hidden for a while longer, I didn't have the chance to beat my own record."

"Well, you did miss three shots!"

"Shut up, Padfoot. And I didn't miss them, they were saved. They have a really good keeper you know."

"True, Thomas Wood's not bad, is he" Peter remarked.

James snorted. "He's a lot better than what everyone gives him credit for. For a third year, he's amazing! I still can't believe he saved that last shot of mine!"

"You did manage to score eleven goals though" Remus reminded him.

"Which means, if I'd got those three, I would've beaten my record of thirteen from last year!"

"You can't have everything, Prongs. What do you reckon he'll have us doing tonight?" Sirius asked, changing the topic to their training.

James rolled his eyes and put on a mock thinking face. "Let's see. So far he's told us about the Patronus charm, the Patronus charm, and, oh yeah, the Patronus charm!"

"Shut up Prongs, you know what I meant! Will he get us to cast it at a target, or what?"

"No idea Padfoot. But I daresay that we're about to find out since he's coming this way" Remus answered as he spotted a figure moving towards them.

"Expecto Patronum!"

"Again"

"Expecto Patronum!"

"Think happy thoughts. Again."

"I'm trying! This isn't easy you know. EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

Again, James could only create a silvery mist and nothing more. Still, his was better than the others. Sirius and Remus could produce a very fine mist, but Peter was unable to get anything from his attempts.

James looked over at Trent and ran his hand through his messy black hair, frustrated.

"It's all about confidence, James. You have to truly believe that you can do this."

"I have confidence."

"No you don't…"

"Yes I do! I have never been unable to do any spell we've been taught, and I'm not letting this be the first!" James interrupted somewhat angrily.

Trent sighed, "and there's your problem. You say you have confidence, but you aren't fully concentrating on the task."

"How do you know James can actually do this spell, sir?"

Trent snorted, "don't call me that, it makes me feel old! My name's Trent. In answer to your question, Remus, it's quite simple. The fact that James could produce a faint mist on his first attempt indicates that he will most likely be able to produce a fully corporeal Patronus…if he concentrates."

"For Merlin's sake, I am concentrating! You're asking me to do the impossible!"

Trent arched an eyebrow. "Impossible now is it? You just finished saying that you can do any spell you've been taught, but now this one's impossible? How curious."

James glared and then sighed, "what am I doing wrong? Why can't I do this? You said I have enough power to do it, so why isn't it working?"

"Any spell is only as good as the lack of pressure on the caster" Trent said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"That it's easier to practice spells than use them in a battle, James" Remus answered.

"That's obvious. Why'd you say that?" Sirius asked.

"Because only once you've practiced enough, will the spell become second nature to you" Trent replied.

He then looked at James and closed his eyes. "Would you three please leave us alone for a little while? In fact, I think you've had enough for one night anyway. I'll bring James up with me soon."

Sirius, Remus and Peter looked a little disappointed, but reluctantly got up and made their way to the doors of the castle.

After the three had left, Trent walked over to where James had slumped down on the grass in frustration.

"I know it's not easy, James. Just out of curiosity, what memory are you using?"

"The first time Lily said she'd go out with me."

Trent flopped down on the grass next to the teenager and sighed, "ah yes, young love. How I remember it so."

"I'll hex you if you're not careful. Ask Sirius about it sometime."

"You hexed him for saying that?"

"No, he kept on saying it, over and over. I got fed up and hexed him. He spent two days in the hospital wing."

"Darn, remind me to not get on your bad side! You got him good then" Trent said with a smile.

"You could say that. I just wish I knew how to get her to be my girlfriend."

"You can't force someone into something they're not ready for, James."

"What do you know about it!" James snapped back.

"About Lily? Nothing. About being in love though, I know that feeling quite well."

"Oh, sorry."

"What for? You were only asking a question, that's hardly reason to apologise."

"Well, I did lash out a bit."

"Point taken, apology accepted. Do you know how I figured out I could cast my Patronus?"

"No"

"I was like you once. Thought I could do anything and everything, but this spell had me stumped. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why I couldn't do it."

"You obviously did figure it out. So how did you?" James asked.

"It's the memories you choose, James. The ones I was using just weren't strong enough."

"But that day…when Lily said yes, it was the happiest I've ever felt."

"That may be so, but it's not enough. Have a guess what memory I used when I first conjured my Patronus."

"I don't know you that well, so I can't really answer that."

"Fair call. I actually first cast it successfully against a Dementor."

"What! No way, really!" James said as he sat up.

Trent nodded, "yes, really. The memory I chose was the thought of not seeing my friends again. Just thinking about them, and all the times we shared. That is what made the difference. It wasn't just a single moment of happiness, it was a string of moments."

James hopped up and Trent looked over at him. He saw the steely determination in James' eyes, and knew he wasn't going to let this spell beat him.

"I'm going to try that then" he said.

Trent got up as well. "Hang on a tick. Let me try something first. Remember though, this isn't the real thing, alright?"

James looked confused, "what are you going to do?"

"Help you of course" Trent replied with a smirk.

Trent then walked over to a rock and muttered a charm that James couldn't quite hear. He saw the rock grow in size, and assumed that Trent was transfiguring it into something. That something soon took the shape of a person, long black robes billowing despite the fact that there was no breeze. The person then made its way over to James, who felt his insides freeze and voices start to appear within his mind.

James had never felt like this before, he couldn't remember the last time he felt so scared. He backed away, and soon found himself against one of the Quidditch posts. He panicked. He could hear Remus' anguished screams every time he was forced to transform. James raised his wand as he pictured the day they told Remus that they didn't care about him being a werewolf.

He then remembered how delighted Remus was when they perfected their animagus transformation. His friends meant everything to him. That thought firmed in his mind as he pointed his wand at the advancing figure.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" he bellowed.

With a burst of brilliant silver light, a shape leapt from the wand and advanced on the now retreating figure. Suddenly, the person disappeared and the voices inside James' head were no more.

He heard a voice from his left, "told you that you needed confidence. Well done, James."

James nodded, still shocked with what happened. "What in Merlin's name was that?"

Trent smirked at the young wizard. "That was a Dementor."

"You transfigured a rock into a Dementor?"

"Yes, I did."

"WHAT! But…why?"

"Because I knew you could do the spell. You just needed the right encouragement."

"Well, I now know what my Boggart will turn into!" James said, his heart rate slowly coming back to normal.

"That's good. You'll be able to practice more then. Have you studied Boggarts yet?" Trent asked, handing James some chocolate, which he gratefully accepted.

"Yeah, but we haven't actually faced one."

"Hmm, I know what we're doing next time then," Trent then smiled, "you really would trust Sirius with your life, wouldn't you."

"Of course! How do you know that?"

"Because ones Patronus takes the form of the thing they associate most with protection" Trent said, before gesturing to the glowing silver dog prowling around the pitch.

As James looked over, Trent quickly cast a light memory charm so James would forget that Trent knew about Sirius being an animagus.

James didn't notice the charm, his mouth hung open as he whispered "Padfoot!"

The next night had the four young wizards finally deciding how best to get Trent back for his prank on them at Halloween. James hadn't yet told them about his Patronus form, but had decided it could wait until after their revenge. They had cornered Trent during one of his patrols and Remus began phase one of their payback; the distraction.

"Why did you do that to us? You cost me a weeks worth of quality study time!"

"Remus, is that all you were worried about? Missing out on a few nights of NEWT study?"

"Darn right it was, Sirius! In case you haven't noticed, they're called Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests for a reason!"

"Alright, no need to snap at me, I was only asking!"

"Hey, I was talking to you!" Remus suddenly exclaimed as Trent used this time to try to sneak away. He stopped when Remus said this however.

"Well, you were talking to Sirius. You want to know why I got you back for the starting feast incident. Does that answer it?"

"H…how did you know that was us?" Peter asked.

Trent turned around and shrugged. "Who else could it have been? You four were trying desperately to get me to leave your carriage on the Express so you could plan something. You obviously wanted me to pay for lost time!"

"Well…um, that's not quite right."

"Oh shut up, Peter. That was the exact reason we did it."

"I didn't mean that Siri…hey, he's getting away!"

Trent groaned and decided against trying to outrun four wizards, who each were armed. He turned around and faced them again.

"What do you expect me to do? Sit around and watch you four argue amongst yourselves all night? I have more important things to do, you know."

"Don't worry, we won't keep you long. No one's ever managed to do that to us before."

"While I accept your praise, Sirius, I'll have you know that I made a fair prankster in my day."

"Really! What'd you get up to?"

"Nothing too much, James. Our best prank was similar to the one I did on you four. Only we did it to the entire school, Professors included. It took a whole day before anyone could break the spell, it was great fun!"

"Did you guys have a name?" Sirius asked.

"Well, we had nicknames…"

"What was yours?" James interrupted.

Trent smiled fondly as he remembered his days at school. "Dingo. My nickname was dingo."

"What's a dingo?" Peter asked.

"It's a cross between a dog, a wolf and a fox" Remus answered.

"Quite right. Does this end our pleasant little chat now gentlemen? I really should start my patrol."

The four students nodded and Trent walked off. James then raised his wand and pointed it at Trent. He muttered a jinx he'd found in one of Remus' books he'd borrowed from the library. He wasn't prepared for when Trent turned back around and glared.

"Alright, James, tell me. Which version of that did you use?"

James grinned back, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Trent continued glaring at him. "How long should I go down and be part of your Herbology classes. I know what jinx you used, I want to know how long you made it to last."

"Maybe a day. Dunno really, I can't quite remember which one I used now."

"For your sake, James, it had better only be one day. I might have a little chat to Lily about you wanting to…"

"NO! Don't do that! Fine, I used the day one, happy now!" James pleaded. He didn't want Lily to know how badly he wanted her to be his girlfriend, and he certainly didn't want anyone else telling her.

"Let me think. Am I happy that I'll have a tree growing out of my head for a day…hmm, NO!"

"James, just remove it."

"He can't, Peter. It's a timed jinx" Trent replied, not moving his glare from James.

"You know about it?" Remus asked.

"Of course, I did say that I was a prankster in my day, didn't I?"

Trent then glared at James for a final time before slowly turning around and starting his patrol. Fortunately for Trent, he was able to keep his face void of the laughter welling up inside him. He had wondered why it had taken the four of them this long to settle the score with him.