Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Hope you enjoy! Please review if you get a chance! =)

"The Patronus Charm is a positive force that acts like a shield against the Dementors. As you know, Dementor's will drain the happiness, hope and peace out of you. The Dementor, if it gets an opportunity, will reduce you to basically an empty shell where all you have is the worst experiences of your life." Severus began his lesson on the Patronus Charm to Harry. They were in their sitting room where Severus had moved aside the furniture to make room for the lesson.

"But it is really advanced right?" Harry asked uncertainly. "There is no way I'll be able to do it."

Severus frowned. "Not with that attitude you won't. You are bright and talented and I believe you are quite capable of at least conjuring an incorporeal Patronus and with enough practice a full corporeal Patronus."

Harry brightened at his Dad's words. "So what is the difference between an incorporeal and corporeal Patronus? Aren't they both effective?"

"They both are, though the incorporeal Patronus is to a lesser degree." Severus answered. "It will halt the Dementors, which allows you an opportunity to get away but it does not repel them like the corporeal Patronus does. An Incorporeal Patronus produces a vapour or smoke while a corporeal one will take the shape of a bright white translucent animal."

"Really? What is yours?" Harry asked curiously.

"It is a doe, the same as your Mother's." Severus said softly with a smile on his face. "To produce a Patronus, you need a very strong happy memory. As I knew Lily since we were nine, my happy memory was when we became best friends. Later it changed to when she agreed to be my wife." He looked into his son's eyes. "And now my happiest memory is being with your mother right after you were born and holding you in my arms for the first time."

Harry smiled slowly. He loved hearing things like this. "I wonder what my Patronus will be." He mused.

"Time will tell. Now, the incantation for the charm is Expecto Patronum." Severus said.

"Expecto Patronum." Harry repeated.

"Your happy thought must be incredibly strong and you need to hold on to that happy memory the whole time. Get your wand out." Severus instructed.

"Um, I'm not going to try it out on a real Dementor yet am I?" Harry asked nervously.

"No, of course not." Severus assured him. "This lesson is just in case you come into contact with a Dementor again although I am quite determined to not let that happen." He gestured towards a trunk in the corner of the room. "We will practice with a boggart."

Harry nodded and his face paled slightly. He really didn't want to hear his Mum screaming again. It was too painful.

"Harry, I will be here the whole time." Severus said quietly. He could tell his son was feeling apprehensive and he did not blame him. "Are you ready?"

Harry took a deep breath. "I'm ready Dad."

Severus opened the trunk and slowly a Dementor floated out and headed for Harry. Harry tried to think of all his happy memoires at once, getting his Hogwarts letter, flying a broom for the first time, finding out he had a Dad…but his mind couldn't hold onto just one happy thought and he was once again overcome with feelings of despair.

Severus saw this and quickly banished the boggart back into the trunk. He was glad Harry didn't see the form his boggart had started to take as it was Harry's dead body. He had already had one fear realized when he lost Lily, he wasn't going to let that happen again with his son. "Here Harry." He said gently, holding out a piece of chocolate.

Harry took the offered chocolate and sat down in his Dad's armchair. After taking a bite he immediately felt better. "Thanks." He muttered, feeling embarrassed.

Severus noticed and knelt down in front of his son. "Harry, you knew this would be difficult. It is a hard spell even for adults so do not get discouraged. What memory did you use?"

"I figured if I thought about several happy moments then I would have a better chance." Harry answered ruefully.

Severus sighed and patted him on the knee. "No Harry. It needs to be one very strong happy memory. It is too easy to be distracted when you try to think of several. Let me know when you want to try again okay?"

Harry nodded. The happiest memory he had was hands down when his Dad came and got him from the Dursley's. Nothing could top the memory of when his Dad had claimed him as his son and protected him from his horrible relatives. "I'm ready." He said in a determined voice. He stood up and pointed his wand at the trunk. He gave a nod to his Dad.

Severus opened the trunk and as before, a Dementor began floating towards Harry.

Harry concentrated on his happy memory with all of his might. "Expecto Patronum!"

A silvery wisp came out of his wand and it took all of Harry's strength to push back the boggart into the trunk where his Dad quickly closed the lid on it. "Harry that was wonderful!" Severus exclaimed as he went to his son. Harry had collapsed back into the chair in exhaustion though he had a grin on his face. "I did it right? Well, sort of. There was no actual shape was there?"

Severus handed him another piece of chocolate. "No, there wasn't. But you produced an incorporeal Patronus which is quite amazing for your age, not to mention your second try. I'm very proud of you."

Harry glowed under the praise. "Thanks Dad! I feel so tired now though."

Severus nodded and began moving the furniture back to where it had been with a flick of his wand. "Yes, you exhausted your magical core which is why we will end our lesson for today." He smirked when Harry let out a startled yelp as the chair he was sitting in lifted up and began moving.

"Hey!" Harry laughed as the chair settled back into its proper spot. He took another bite of chocolate and jumped up. "Can I go meet with Ron and Hermione?"

"I don't know, can you?" Severus countered.

Harry suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. Parents, he thought. "May I Father?" He asked with exaggerated politeness.

"Why, yes you may son." Severus ruffled his son's hair as he walked by. "I will be working in my lab for the next couple of hours. No leaving the castle unless an adult is there with you."

This time Harry did roll his eyes, though his Dad's back was turned thankfully. "I know. Usually if we want to be outside Hagrid watches us. But I think we are going to do some research in the library in case Malfoy can't get his Dad to stop the ministry from going after Buckbeak. Hagrid is terrified that they will execute him."

"You're a good friend to Hagrid." Severus said. "I hope it all works out for him."

"Me too." Harry sighed.

HPHPHPHP

In the library, Hermione had set out three large books on magical creatures and their rights, ministry hearings, and previous cases against animals. She told Ron and Harry to write down anything that might be helpful. They had been at it for almost an hour before Harry pushed his book away and rubbed his eyes. "The words are starting to look like they are swimming on the pages."

"We need a break." Ron agreed, putting down his quill.

"No we don't. We've practically only just started." Hermione scolded quietly. "Do you want to help Hagrid or not?" She bushed her bushy hair back and rubbed her eyes tiredly. She didn't notice Ron and Harry exchange a look as they had been noticing that she had been spreading herself pretty thin lately.

"Of course we want to help but these have to be the biggest books with the smallest writing ever." Ron complained. "I don't want to overwork my brain."

"I doubt that's possible Ronald." Hermione muttered, causing Harry to laugh and Ron to glare at her.

"Wow, I didn't know you had it in you to be witty Granger." A voice drawled lazily.

The trio looked up and saw Draco standing by their table, a book in his hands. He smirked at them as he walked over to Madame Pince to hand in the book he had checked out. When he passed by their table again, he caught sight of the books they were looking at.

"Why are you reading those? The ministry is not going to kill that annoying creature." Draco said, crossing his arms.

"Oh, you mean because of your Father's influence?" Ron rolled his eyes. Harry had told him and Hermione about getting Malfoy to help with Buckbeak's case but he doubted it would work.

"Yes." Draco said with an air of superiority. "My Father is one of the most influential people in the ministry. Of course they will listen to him."

"We'll believe it when we see it. As of now, Buckbeak is still in danger of being executed and we need to be able to stop it." Harry said, pulling the book he had been reading back towards him.

"I don't get it, why do you care so much about a hippogriff?" Draco asked suddenly.

"Buckbeak is innocent and shouldn't be punished for something he didn't do." Hermione said as she copied down some information from the book she was reading.

"Especially since Nott is just being a spoiled brat about it." Ron added and he gave Draco a stare. "Of course, I'm surprised you are not siding with him since you are just as spoiled and-"

"Hagrid is our friend." Harry interrupted, not wanting a fight to break out. "We want to help him because we care about him and losing Buckbeak would devastate him."

"Oh." Draco said uncomfortably. It wasn't like he didn't have friends himself. Well, in the case of Crabbe and Goyle minions was probably a better term for it. He did have Blaise and Pansy as friends though he wondered if they would ever show the same type of loyalty and devotion Granger and Weasley and Potter showed each other or even that the trio were showing the Groundskeeper. "You're wasting your time. I wrote to my Father and expect to hear back from him soon." He said finally.

"Let's just hope Mr. Malfoy has the influence you say he does." Hermione sighed as she scribbled on her parchment. "If they do decide to go after Buckbeak, I fear there isn't much we can do."

Draco scowled. "You are underestimating the influence of my family."

Harry shared a secret grin with Ron. "I guess we'll see pretty soon huh?" He asked innocently.

Draco turned and stalked away with a loud huff, causing the three Gryffindors to giggle after he had left.

HPHPHPHP

After they had finished researching Buckbeak's case, Harry and Ron wanted to go outside and get some fresh air but Hermione insisted that she needed to stay in the library and get some studying done.

"Geez Hermione, it's like you are taking every class Hogwarts offers." Ron complained. "What's going on?"

"Nothing." Hermione answered, though she wouldn't look at him. "The classes are really challenging this year, that's all."

Harry looked at her suspiciously but ended up shrugging it off when Ron practically pulled him out of the library.

"Err Ron; I have to have an adult if I'm going to be outside." Harry said, his tone laced with annoyance and embarrassment. Since there had been no more signs of Sirius Black after the portrait issue, Harry figured Black wouldn't even bother trying to get back in.

Ron looked unconcerned. "We'll go visit Hagrid. He's an adult. I mean, surely you don't need someone to walk you down to Hagrid's hut right?" He straightened up. "After all, I'm here! If anyone tries anything I'll make them eat slugs!"

Harry snickered. "Yes, that worked out so well for you last year." Wavering only a moment, he began down the trail to Hagrid's.

"That happened only because I had a broken wand!" Ron said indignantly as he followed.

Harry stopped suddenly when he saw through Hagrid's window that he already had guests. "Oh. I guess we should go back, he has company."

Ron stretched his neck to see. "It's Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout! They look pretty serious."

Harry had turned to go back to the castle but stopped. "What if they are talking about Sirius Black? Maybe we can find out something?"

"Isn't your Dad keeping you up-to-date?" Ron asked.

"Yeah but maybe there is something new? Or information my Dad doesn't think is important but that I should know?" Harry crept closer to the hut and stood under the window which was thankfully open enough for them to hear.

"This has been such a stressful time for our students." Professor Sprout sighed as she took a sip of the tea Hagrid had given her. "My poor puffs have been so nervous since Sirius Black found a way to enter the castle."

"It is the same with my Ravenclaws, though they deal with it by sharing different theories." Professor Flitwick said somewhat fondly.

"I wish I had run into Black when he was in the castle. I would have pounded him into dust!" Hagrid seethed. "When I think of what he did…and after James and Lily died I comforted that betraying sod!" Hagrid slammed his meaty hand onto the table.

"Calm down Hagrid." Professor Sprout said gently.

"We were all fooled by Sirius Black." Professor Flitwick added. "Especially considering how James and Lily trusted him."

"If only he hadn't been made their Secret Keeper." Professor Sprout sighed. "But of course they trusted him. He was like a brother to James."

Outside Harry gave Ron a confused look. "Secret keeper?" He mouthed. He didn't think he had heard that term before. Ron's eyes had widened and he just shook his head.

"If I hadn't already received orders from Dumbledore to take little Harry to the Dursley's, I would have given him to Black." Hagrid said miserably. "I thought he had come for Harry because he cared, not because he wanted to finish You-Know-Who's job!"

"I would have done the same thing Hagrid. After all, Sirius is Harry's godfather. Or was." Professor Flitwick said thoughtfully. "Now that we know Severus is Harry's father, I don't know that Sirius would still be Harry's godfather. Not that it really matters as Sirius is a criminal who will hopefully be caught soon and sent back to Azkaban."

"Poor Harry and Severus." Professor Sprout said sadly. "They have both been through so much."

"They're strong, they'll be fine." Professor Flitwick assured her. "Especially as they have each other now."

Harry slowly backed away from the hut and started towards the castle. He stopped halfway there. "I knew Black was my Mum and James friend. And my Dad mentioned that he had betrayed their location to Voldemort." Harry said slowly.

Ron flinched at the name but nodded. "The secret is hidden inside whoever is chosen to be the Secret-Keeper. No one can find out the secret unless the keeper chooses to tell it." Ron shook his head. "Blimey Harry, why didn't you mention that Black was your godfather?"

Harry's eyes narrowed. "I didn't know." He said shortly. "My Dad never told me that. It makes it worse you know? That they trusted him so much to make him my godfather and he betrayed them." Harry became angry. He had never really let it in, the betrayal his Mum and James must have felt knowing their best friend had given their location to Voldemort. "I hate him! I want to hurt Sirius Black for what he did!" He didn't see that Snuffles had come up behind him and froze at Harry's words.

Ron bit his lip, also not seeing the black dog. "Calm down mate. They'll catch him yeah? And then everything will be okay."

"Maybe we should try to find him ourselves." Harry began pacing, still not noticing that Snuffles was staring at him with wide eyes. "I just-I just want to hex him into oblivion!"

Snuffles lowered his head and backed away from the boys, returning to the forest before either of the teenagers saw him.

TBC: