Author's Note - Once again my apologies for taking so long between posts. School is school. But on the upside, my summer break starts June 19!!! Thanks to my wonderful beta Wolviesfan for her diligence, sharp eye, and suggestions. Sorry for the two uploads. Caught more mistakes.
Chapter 7 - Patronus Lessons (Part 2)
Remus shook his head and followed the two into the dining hall. The room was large and open, with only a large table capable of seating twelve occupying the center of the room.
"So, Professor, how do you want the room set up?" Tonks grinned cheekily.
"Well, Nymphadora," he emphasized, "since you're an auror, you can check behind me and Sirius and make sure nothing's going to influence the practice session.
"Ooo, someone doesn't like being called professor, do they?" She smirked, inspecting the tapestries for anything dark.
"Someone didn't mind it when they were a professor, but it seems inappropriate now," Remus replied, waving his wand to shrink the table before picking it up and placing it on a wall shelf.
"I still don't understand why you resigned," Hermione said tentatively as she picked up a chair to move it to the side, "I mean, Dumbledore would have stood up for you."
Remus smiled sadly, "That's what Harry said, but neither of you understand just how much Dumbledore has done for me. Besides, after what happened, I learned that no matter what precautions you take, it's just not safe for me to be around people at the full moon."
"But it was an accident," Hermione protested. "Something like that night could never happen again."
"No," Remus agreed, "but a different set of circumstances could bring about the same result. I could never live with myself if I bit someone, Hermione. Trust me, its better this way."
"Hermione, dear," Mrs. Weasley stuck her head into the room, eyeing Remus warily "Come get your things unpacked."
"All right, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said reluctantly and followed the elder witch from the room.
The room acquired an awkward silence after Hermione left. Remus and Tonks paced about the room, inspecting the shelves and tapestries.
"I'm excited to learn how to cast a patronus," Tonks finally said hesitantly, "I've always wondered what my animagus form might be. Now I'll know without having to learn the transformation."
"Maybe, maybe not," Remus said. "Your patronus form and your animagus form aren't always the same."
"They're not?" Tonks asked.
Remus shook his head, "Quite commonly they are, but not always. Sirius's animagus, as you know, is a large black dog, but his patronus form is a lion. Some people's patronus forms change shape when they fall in love to match the other person's patronus. Some people's change from a traumatic experience or emotional upheaval. Your animagus form never changes."
"Darn," Tonks said, "I always wondered what sort of animal I'd turn into."
Remus smiled, "Me too."
"So what's your patronus?" Tonks asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"Expecto patronum," Remus whispered softly. From the tip of his wand, silvery-gray wisps emerged and curled into a solid ball that rolled once about the room before stopping at Tonks's feet, uncurling into a small bear cub that held its hindpaws in its forepaws and rocked to and froe on its rounded bottom. The patronus gazed up at Tonks and seemed to grin and flap its ears.
"Ah, I see you've released Trouble," Sirius said, striding into the room. At the sound of his voice, Remus's patronus scampered from Tonks to circle Sirius, its ears flapping happily.
"Trouble?" Tonks asked.
"Trouble," Sirius pointed at the bear cub, "is what we named Remus's patronus."
"What is it with blokes and naming things," Tonks shook her head.
"Want to know what else I've named?" Sirius waggled his eyebrows.
"Sirius, she's your cousin!" Remus sputtered.
"My parents were cousins," Sirius shrugged, "I was only kidding with her Moony."
"Too right you were," Tonks grimaced, "Our family tree has quite a few loops in it. No reason to add more. I didn't know patronuses were so animated."
"Yeah, Remus, I don't remember your patronus moving without you directing it before," Sirius said thoughtfully, watching Trouble grin up at him.
"All depends on what you call them for," Remus said, flicking his wand. Trouble waved a forepaw and disappeared.
"What else would you call them for besides a dementor?" Tonks asked.
Remus didn't have a chance to answer as Bill and Charlie Weasley entered the dining room.
"She's got long blonde hair and these eyes that…I can't even describe them," Bill was saying.
"Bill, I told you, I saw her at the Triwizard Tournament," Charlie said, shaking his head, "Well, at least your transfer to the London branch isn't going to be as bad as you thought."
"I'm sensing it's a woman we're talking about," Sirius grinned.
"Not just A woman," Bill grinned dopily, "THE woman. But do me a favor, don't say anything to my Mum, ok? She goes a bit round the bend when one of us talks about dating someone seriously." Charlie rolled his eyes in agreement.
"What, your mum doesn't want you to get married?" Tonks asked.
"Oh, she does, but I think she has her own idea about what sort of person we should marry and it's usually a far cry from what we think." Bill said.
"Except for Ginny," Charlie said, "Mum thoroughly approves of her choice."
Bill laughed, "What mum wouldn't? But I've told Ginny not to get her hopes up."
"Why?" Tonks asked, "Who does Ginny fancy?"
"Harry," Bill said.
"Oooo, shooting high, isn't she?" Tonks said a bit sympathetically.
"I don't know," Sirius said offhand, "His dad was sure one for redheads. Besides, Harry's just a kid like any other."
"To you, probably," Tonks said, "After all, I imagine you two changed his nappies, but I bet Harry's considered top catch at Hogwarts."
"Well, he takes after his godfather in that department."
Remus coughed something into his fist. Tonks snickered. Sirius scowled.
A half hour later, the room was full of the new members of the Order of the Phoenix, Hermione, the Weasley children, and Sirius.
"Well, as you all know, Dumbledore asked you here to learn to cast the Patronus Charm," Remus began. "As the patronus is the Order's primary means of communication, we can't allow any of you into the field until you can produce one."
Kingsley Shacklebolt raised his hand, "A question," he said, "I do not understand about this means of communication. The Patronus Charm is to ward off dementors and lethifolds."
"That is what the Patronus Charm is almost exclusively used for, yes, but actually, it has many more applications. Just the name and incantation of the charm suggest that the original creator of the spell intended it for much more," Remus began to pace to room, a familiar sight for the Hogwarts students listening by the door. He had always liked to move about the room rather than lecture from the front, interacting with each of them.
"As we all know, most incantations are rooted in ancient language. The incantation for the Patronus Charm is 'Expecto patronum.' Broken down, this means 'I expect a protector.' In ancient Roman times, a patronus was the guardian of someone who was dependent on them. The word also has some connections to pater or father, which is also a figure of protection. So why should we think that the Patronus Charm is limited only to protection against certain dark creatures?"
Without realizing it, most of the people in the room had leaned forward in their seats, soaking in Remus's words.
"Protection can come in all sorts of forms, and it is in this way that the Patronus charm can be used for other means. In the first war, Dumbledore thought to use the Patronus charm as a means of communication between Order members. The message cannot be intercepted as an owl can, and, because each person's patronus is unique and cannot be replicated, we will always know who is sending the message without the person having to state their identity.
"Now, everyone is familiar with the traditional concept of a patronus, yes?" He paused to see each head nod, "Against a dementor, the patronus acts as a positive force that shields its castor. The dementor feeds on hope and happiness and the will to live. So, in order to act as a shield against a dementor, the patronus has to be infused with happiness. This can be very difficult to do in the face of a dementor, especially if its close enough to exert is effect before you can cast the charm. Now, as lethifolds are not native to this region, most European witches and wizards aren't familiar with the casting of a patronus against one. Lethifolds attack when you're asleep, then they engulf and digest you without giving you time to react."
Molly Weasley shuddered.
"Mages of the Obutu tribe in the Congo discovered that the Patronus charm can act as a guardian while they sleep to keep lethifolds from attacking. They use the same spell, in their own language of course, but rather than infusing happiness into the spell, they infuse awareness. Basically, any spell has the potential for several uses depending upon both the incantation and the intent of the caster.
"So," Remus said, "what we're aiming for tonight is to be able to cast a patronus with the intent of sending a message. The incantation is the same of course, 'Expecto patronum,' and as you're casting, you infuse the spell with your message and how you feel about the recipient because each person in our lives touches us in a different way. You have to concentrate on the feeling that person gives you and your message, and then…Expecto patronum!" He flicked his wand and the bear cub rolled swiftly out from the tip, unfolding at Sirius's feet. Its muzzle moved, Remus's voice emerging from it.
"Sirius's fly is down."
Everyone looked at Sirius, who checked himself as the patronus slowly disappeared.
"It is not," he scowled. The twins chuckled.
Tonks raised her hand, "What if, for some reason, you don't want anyone else within earshot to hear the message?"
"It's a bit harder and takes more concentration, but you can cast it so that only the intended recipient of the message can hear it," he closed his eyes for a moment, then flicked his wand, "Expecto patronum!"
Once again, the bear cub rolled out and unfolded at Sirius' feet, rocking on its round bottom while its muzzle moved before fading away. Sirius once again checked himself, "Knock it off, Remus. We outgrew putting people's flys down after first year."
"I don't believe I ever put down any one's fly. That was you and James." Remus retorted, "Anyway, are there any other questions? If not, break into pairs and practice trying to send a patronus to your partner."
Everyone paired off, Arthur facing Molly, Tonks facing Kingsley, Bill facing Charlie, and several other new Order members that didn't really know anyone well paired off. The twins attempted to join the end of the line, but a threat from Molly to send them upstairs had them trudging back to join Hermione, Ron, and Ginny.
The room was full of pinched faces and the same incantation as Remus walked down one line, gently correcting a grip or a wand flick. Sirius walked the other side, occasionally giving advice. A few hours passed with some breaks taken. Remus could tell people were getting discouraged, so he made sure to speak quietly and give encouragement, repeating stories of his and Sirius's failed attempts at the Patronus Charm.
It was Molly Weasley who first cast a patronus. Everyone stopped as silvery wisps emerged from her wandtip, Arthur encouraging her, and then the small form of a hen erupted and scurried to Arthur's feet, bellowing, "Did you remember to put the cat out?"
After everyone took their hands off of their ears, they swiftly applauded.
Molly blushed, "I think I need to work on the volume."
Very shortly, Kingsley Shacklebolt sent a lynx patronus to Tonks, telling her to turn her hair purple. Before the end of the night, Bill's falcon patronus had soared about the room shortly followed by Tonks's macaw, which Remus could have sworn had a purple tint to its silver swirls to match her current choice of hair color. Arthur had cast a weasel that wound gracefully about Molly's hen before disappearing.
The practice continued and several Order members departed in the late hour until only the Weasleys, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Tonks remained. Molly had sent the children up to bed after much protest. Kingsley was currently sitting with Sirius, working out plans for laying out a false trail for his manhunt.
"Why can't we get them to do the message?" Tonks sighed frustrated as she tried again. Only Molly's and Kingsley's were entirely successful.
"Tonks, the fact that you even cast a corporeal patronus tonight is a huge feat. It's an incredibly difficult spell to perform." Remus assured her from his place beside Charlie.
"I'll say," Charlie grumbled as wisps of silver once again came from his wandtip. A vague shape attempted to form, but would not materialize. Remus was pretty sure it would be a crocodile when it did.
"The patronus is the hard part," Remus tried to reassure him, "Keep working on it and I feel sure you'll have it."
The door to the dining room opened and Dumbledore peered in, ducking swiftly as Tonks's macaw buzzed the door, "Ah, how wonderful," he smiled, but it was strained, "Remus, how many have been successful?"
"Mrs. Weasley and Kingsley have messenger patronuses. Arthur, Bill, and Tonks are able to cast the forms, but haven't got the messages attached yet. Charlie is very close." Remus answered.
Behind Dumbledore, Moody stood, his stance anxious, "I'm afraid we're all going to be getting a bit of trail by fire tonight. There's been an attack."
Every body in the room went rigid.
"I've already dispatched the old crowd, but we're going to need more," Dumbledore said grimly.
"What's happened?" Sirius asked.
"The Death Eaters are attacking a remote muggle village in northern Yorkshire. There have already been some deaths," Moody replied, "Sirius, there's a map in the kitchen and a list of members already deployed. Go plot them out and see where the best place to insert three more groups is. We're going to group you new lot up. Lupin, is Shacklebolt's patronus sound?" At Remus's nod, Moody continued, "Good, then Shacklebolt, you and Tonks together. You're both Aurors, so you should be able to handle yourselves. Arthur, Molly, you're with me. Bill and Charlie with Lupin."
"Oh, but um…" Molly started to speak, "Surely, Headmaster, you're needed too?" She said hopefully.
"I'm afraid I am needed in another capacity, my dear," Dumbledore said, "In fact, I should hurry," he turned swiftly back out the door.
"Moony, mate, come look at this map with me, will you?" Sirius said as he left the room. Remus followed.
"Alastor," Molly began, "is there any…"
"Mum, Bill and I will be fine. Remus really seems to know what he's doing," Charlie interrupted her.
"Molly," Moody said, "if there's one person in this whole Order I'd want at my back, it'd be Lupin."
"You mean aside from Dumbledore of course," Tonks said.
"I know what I said, missy," Moody snapped before heading towards the kitchen himself.