A fortnight later, the actual picture and the tracking charms on the map were complete. After spending the entire fortnight searching, we eventually found a suitable book on passwords which the boys and I were reading every night.
"Hey! Book worms!" James yelled loudly.
Remus and I rolled our eyes.
"It's time to practice!" Sirius called.
I glanced at my watch and cursed, we were ten minutes late.
"Coming!" Moony and I shouted and we galloped after the two cackling raven haired Marauders.
We entered our secret passage and took our wands out.
"Come on! We can do it! I know we can!" James encouraged.
We formed a horseshoe and brandished our wands.
"Expecto Patronum" We chanted. The usual warm feeling flooded my arm and a strong silver mist flooded the room. It vanished after twenty seconds once we lost concentration.
"Come on! We can do it!" Sirius said, voicing our impatience and frustration, it was impossible.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" We yelled. We all achieved the mist, but we struggled under the pressure of holding it.
Peter was first to lower his wand and flopped to the ground. Sirius and James gave up at almost the same time and they joined Peter on the floor. I collapsed to the ground ten seconds after them, but Moony held on.
His eyes were closed in concentration and small beads of sweat clung to his foreheads. He held his wand in front of him and clung to it with gusto. He could do it. I willed him on in my head, my heart pounding in my chest.
His wand shook slightly in his hand.
"Come on Moony" we whispered.
The mist intensified before flickering out and vanishing. We sighed with disappointed but suddenly a huge silver Patronus surged from Remus' wand. I caught a glimpse of four shining legs, leading to paws, a long furry tail, a noble head, two lupine eyes.
It was a wolf.
"Good man Moony!" Sirius cheered and ran forward to clap him on the back.
"Well done, mate", James congratulated.
"That was incredible" I swooned, hugging Remus.
Emboldened by Remus' success, the boys and I attacked the Patronus charm with astonishing determination.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" We bellowed in unison.
I focused on my dad's face, on his laugh, on his voice. I remembered my last Christmas with him. I recalled our birthdays and the day I got my Hogwarts letter. I remembered saying goodbye to him on Platform 9¾ and then the last time I saw him alive, in 's.
The most amazing, indescribable sensation flooded through my body. My blood had been replaced by magic and my worries disappeared. I concentrated with every particle of my brain on my father and the feeling intensified.
A shimmering silver shape burst from the tip of my wand. It floated a circuit of the passageway before turning to face me. Its eyes met mine. The eyes described my emotion, my heart better than any words could. They were full of love, sorrow, loss, hope and determination. My heart broke and I could feel tears dripping steadily down my face. I reached a hand out to touch it, but it disappeared before my fingers came into contact with it.
"Well done, Amy" Remus whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
"That was incredible!" James and Sirius commended.
"I wish I could do it" Peter moaned.
"Moony did it first", I pointed out.
My patronus was a wolf. A wolf like my father…and like Remus.
My head spun around to look at the sandy-haired boy on its own accord. I met his gaze. His chocolate eyes were wide and fearful.
The others didn't notice anything different and were chatting animatedly to each other, full of excitement. They obviously hadn't read ahead like Moony and I had.
The thing is, that Patronus' are an insight into one's soul. A couple in love will often have matching patronus'. A lion and a lioness, a fox and a vixen, two elephants…two wolves.
It may just be a strange coincidence, but then again, it may be fate.