Lily Potter and the Potions Professor
AN: Okay so this chapter is really short but it's also really important. I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 16: Another Patronus
In contrast to her feelings before Christmas, Lily was now on cloud nine. Things were better than they'd ever been between her and Malfoy. He was still painfully hesitant with her sometimes but he was giving in a lot more now so Lily figured that she'd take what she could get and face any difficulties when they came up rather than wait for them in anticipation. She was blissfully unaware just how soon one of those difficulties would turn up.
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It had been one month since Lily had seen her parents at Christmas time and although she had initially been dreading her father's visit to Hogwarts, her good mood permitted her to be excited about the prospect of seeing him again.
She thought that she may as well take advantage of the fact that Harry had just presented a lecture to her and her fellow fifth years and approached him after he'd finished.
"Dad, what do you know about when a Patronus changes its form?" Lily asked feigning mild curiosity.
She had really just spent the last couple of hours trying to think of a way to ask him without sounding too concerned. She was really worried actually, because she had noticed that her Patronus was no longer an oversized toad as it had been for the last two years; ever since her father had taught her how to conjure one.
"Well," he said. "I know that it can happen. I have seen it before. Why? Has your Patronus changed recently?"
"It has," she said still a little worried.
"Don't worry about it," he said as he smiled at her, noticing the anxiety in his daughter's expression. "A Patronus is our protector, it is the embodiment of our happy memories and thoughts. We create it based on these feelings. So if yours no longer resembles your toad then I guess something else has come into your life that makes you feel safer, something that is more comforting to you." He looked at her questioningly.
"Oh," she said as she thought of her new Patronus.
"What does your Patronus look like now?" he asked her.
"It's..." Lily hesitated, only just realising who the Patronus might be, wondering if her father would recognise him.
"Yes?" said Harry.
Deciding it would only look suspicious if she pulled out now Lily said quietly; "It's a ferret."
"A ferret?" he repeated, somewhat surprised.
"Yeah, isn't that funny?" said Lily, laughing nervously. "Oh well, I guess it's a mystery." She attempted to make a get away but Harry stopped her.
"Is there something you aren't telling me Lily?" he enquired and now she really wished that she hadn't mentioned it at all.
"No," she answered and before he could stop her again she made her escape.
As she crossed the Great Hall and headed for the exit she passed Malfoy who had been one of the teachers supervising the students during the lecture. She looked at him and he winked at her smirking, she glanced over her shoulder at her father; who was still watching her. She gulped and hurried away as Harry looked at Draco Malfoy, a dark frown forming on his face.
AN: Have any thoughts? Feelings? Predictions? Please leave them in a review. Thank you! :)