366 prompt: Patronus Charm
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - Task: This weeks task will be to write a story in which the character realizes how important air is. For example, they could be having a panic attack and realize that they can't breathe. I want you to be creative in this task, and let your imaginations go wild!
An Observant Professor
Remus and Neville (not romantic)
"What is it?" Neville asked, looking at the box.
"It's a boggart," Remus explained. "It'll change into a dementor, and I'm going to use it to teach you a patronus."
"No, I'm fine. My boggart doesn't turn into a dementor."
"Well, I've had another student in here, and his does. I also have a spell that will keep the creature trapped in that one form for a while."
Neville backed away from the box nervously.
"Neville, I know about your parents - I knew them both from my days at Hogwarts. We were friends."
"But I've never seen you at the hospital?"
Remus smiled sadly. "Let's just say that I've a lifetime ban from St. Mungo's. I'm not allowed there, otherwise I would have been there. I also fear what you hear when a dementor comes near you, and the least I could do for them is to help you. Now, copy me. 'Expecto Patronum'."
Neville stared at him. How had the Professor known that Neville could hear his parents screams as they were cursed over and over again? He hadn't told a soul - not wanting people to pity him even more.
...oOo...
The trunk burst open. For a moment the boggart flickered between the image of Bellatrix Lestrange and the dementor as it tried to shift forms, but it was stuck.
The screaming began, both of his parents voices ringing in his ears, and Neville froze, unable to breathe as panic washed over him. He felt faint without air entering his body, and thought he was going to pass out. His arm shook, the wand lowering.
"You can do this," Remus assured him.
Neville pushed away the screaming in his head as much as he could, and tried to pull together a happy memory. He thought about his last grade in Herbology, the praise Madam Sprout held for him over his work, telling him that it wasn't often that she saw someone with such a natural gift with plants.
He had received a letter from his grandmother. She had been proud of him.
A wisp came from his wand - barely there, but it was something.
...oOo...
Remus handed Neville a chunk of chocolate. "This will make you feel better."
Neville ate the chocolate. "My Gran doesn't like to talk about them, it makes her sad. Do you have any stories?"
Remus smiled sadly. "I do," he said. "But I'm afraid there isn't much time to tell you. It's almost curfew. I can however, tell you that your father was a good man, and that you remind me of him so much."
"Gran says that I'm not like - my father was an Auror -"
"It wasn't Frank's Auror skills that I was talking about; more his loyalty and compassion and how he'd always do the right thing, even if he bent the rules to do so. I know if he was in better health, he would be very proud of you."
Neville moved towards the door.
"Same time next week for your next lesson."
500 Words
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