Ch. 21 - Patronus Practice, Pt. 2

"I've done it! I've actually done it!" Marlene shouted, celebrating the white lynx that had just made its first appearance as her corporeal patronus.

Alastor patted her shoulder. "Well done McKinnon, now you can try to achieve the same thing without the incantation. Off you go."

As it was a Saturday, the Patronus lesson was held in the morning rather than the evening. Those who had managed to produce a patronus were now practicing their ability to conjure the charm non-verbally. Lily was able to do so by the third class, and now by the fifth class her doe was prancing around James' corporeal stag. In class four, Alice discovered her corporeal patronus was a mare. Sirius and Frank succeeded in conjuring their non-verbal incorporeal patronuses, as Remus had the day before. At this point in the lessons, most everyone was able to produce some manner of patronus at least once.

Everyone except for Peter, Mundungus, and Emmeline.

Since Remus was well on his way, he spent this class trying to help Emmeline. They stood detached from the rest of the group by several feet as a result of her growing frustration.

"I think, perhaps, you're not keeping your wrist in line."

"Sturgis is over there flapping his wrist about, and he figured this out two classes ago."

"Don't look at Sturgis, or any of them. The only spell you need to focus on is your own."

"I am focusing. It's rather difficult not to look at everyone else when you're one of the only people who hasn't figured it out!"

"I'm only trying to help, why are you getting angry with me? "

"I'm not getting angry with you!"

"Vance, how's it going?" Alastor asked, intervening.

Emmeline massaged her temples. "I just don't know what I'm doing wrong." That was mostly true.

"Show me," said Alastor.

"It's not going to be any different than when I showed you last class…" she grumbled.

"Emmeline," Remus warned.

"On day one I figured it was because I haven't practiced advanced magic consistently in ages, but now I'm starting to think I just can't produce a patronus at all, and that all this effort isn't going to help anything." She was so irritated that she had to bite her bottom lip to keep from crying.

Alastor sighed and got very close to her face. "If you're wantin' to give up now and leave my class, by all means do so. I won't stop you. But if you want to figure this out, you're gonnae have to have to suck it up and show. me. the spell."

Emmeline nodded bleakly like a reprimanded child, then adjusted her posture as Alastor backed up to observe her, a tear falling from the corner of her eye. As Remus held his breath in anticipation, Emmeline closed her eyes and raised her wand. "Expecto Patronum."

Nothing.

She gritted her teeth and stuffed her wand away. "I don't think I can do this anymore today."

"Hold on a minute. Your form is fine. You're so focused on what's happening with your body that you're not focusing on what's happening with your mind, and that's the more important task." Alastor approached her again, this time with a bit more sympathy. "What memory are you picturing?"

"...Arriving back in England last month. Walking through Diagon Alley." That was mostly true.

"What did it smell like?"

"...What?"

"You heard me. What did the air smell like?"

"I dunno...like...I dunno!"

"Then you didnae pick a good enough memory."

"Ugh!" she grunted angrily before turning and kicking a tree trunk.

"Emmeline-"

"You need details Vance! Your form is good but your mental work is lazy!" he scolded her.

"I'm trying!" she shouted back.

As soon as she did, Remus pulled her back away from him. "Stop it! What's gotten into you?" The others were beginning to stare.

Deciding that his time was better spent elsewhere, Alastor turned on his heel and shouted over his shoulder. "Go home Vance, and come back tomorrow without the attitude. A happy memory is useless to you if you're gonnae act like there's a chip on your shoulder."

Searing tears of humiliation began to stream down Emmeline's cheeks. As she stormed out of the clearing, her friends exchanged concerned looks, wondering whether it would be better to send someone after her or let her go.

Remus tried to catch up to her. "Emmeline, wait."

"I didn't dismiss you Lupin! You don't get to leave just because Vance does," Alastor reprimanded him. "She's a big girl, she can get home on her own. You have work to do."

Remus felt his heart tug in two directions as he watched Emmeline disappear into the tree line.