Chapter Thirteen: The Patronus

"One of these days we are going to get caught." Emma chuckles as she feels another wet kiss across the column of her throat.

She and Killian are currently inside a broom closet near their usual meeting place for patrol. Emma won't deny it, they are very hot and heavy in their relationship and she is scared that they are moving too fast. It is now mid-February, but they have only grown closer in their time together, and Emma finds that she very much enjoys his passionate kisses and being pressed up against a wall.

"If we do… we can get out of it. None of the teachers would dare punish me severely as they know that if they did, my father would make their lives a living nightmare." Killian mumbles before he trails a kiss along her cheek, before pressing his lips against hers again.

"Gods Emma if you keep teasing me like that I'm going to forget all about being a gentleman." Killian whispers his voice rather huskier than normal.

Emma smirks and slips her tongue into his mouth enjoying the feel of his against hers. Killian pushes her gently against the wall. Just as Emma's hands go to run down his back the door to the broom closet opens and they are met with a shocked gasp, both breaking apart instantly.

…

"Wait so let me get this straight. You and Jones were caught with your tongues down one another throat's by my mum?" Mary Margaret asks close to the point of sniggering.

Emma blushes a deep shade of red and tries to cover it. "Yes and it was very embarrassing. Your mum wasn't very happy. She deducted a couple of house points but she was too nice to hand out any serious punishments."

David rolls his eyes. "Wish she'd given him detention. I still don't like him."

"Yeah well you need to get used to it." Emma replies ignoring the surprised looks coming from Graham and Mulan.

"You're serious on this being a long-term relationship?" David asks in a rather nervous tone.

"As Killian himself would say, I'm in this for the long haul." Emma answers before looking back at her Potions homework.

David looks as though he was going to be sick.

…

The next day Emma enters the Charms classroom a little later than she normally would have. She had been caught up with Professor Hellar who was reminding her that she and Killian had Duelling Club duty that night and Emma herself had completely forgotten as she had already planned to spend the night finishing her Potions essay, or sharing a few kisses with Killian if he joined her.

"Sorry I'm late." Emma says a little breathless as Mill's eyes focus on her narrowly. "Professor Hellar had pulled me aside."

Mills doesn't look too happy but simply nods sternly and indicates for Emma to take her seat beside a grinning Killian, who already has his parchment and quill out.

"Took you long enough, Princess." He smirks as Emma hastily grabs her quill and parchment, setting her ink a few centimetres away in case she knocks it over.

"Alright everyone silence." Mills shouts glaring at Emma and Killian who are clearly lost in their own world. "And pay attention. Miss Swan and Mr Jones that includes you too. Now today we are going to start learning a new charm, which might just come up in your exams. Now as you are sixth year students you do have more free time on your hands and I suggest that you practice during those times."

The class listens intently to what Cora is saying all with curious expressions on their faces. Emma feels Killian's leg press against hers under the table and she tries to not to show how much it actually affected her. She is glad that they are sitting in the back of the classroom and that there is a big wooden panel at the front of their desk.

"Today we are going to be learning the Patronus charm. So firstly you are to all pack up your things and we will move the tables to one side of the room. Then you are going to find a space in the room and have your wand at the ready."

Emma packs up her things not stopping the small smile which spreads on her lips. She has heard of the Patronus charm and has even read about it and this is the one branch of magic she has been waiting for. Killian too has packed up his things. Ruby makes her way over with Victor Whale.

"I wonder what my Patronus will be." Ruby half wonders and half squeals. "I can't wait to see what animal it is."

Cora is moving some tables across the room as she begins to speak again. "Now there is a good chance that none of you will be able to successfully produce a full Patronus for the first few lessons. As long as you can get a wisp of silver mist coming from your wand, you are heading in the right direction. Now can anyone tell me what a Patronus is used for?"

Killian places his hand in the air and a few people look shocked at the fact that he is actually taking part in a classroom discussion.

"Mr Jones." Apparently Mills is surprised to.

"A Patronus charm is used to fend off the guards of Azkaban, the Dementors. Each witch or wizard's charm will look different as they take the form of animals. The animal form it takes is said to reflect the witch or wizard himself. For example my mother's is a doe." Killian answers.

Emma smiles proudly at him and she doesn't fail to notice that the rest of the class are also amazed at the answer.

"Excellent. Ten points to Slytherin." Mills gives a rare smile. "Now has anyone in this room ever been in close contact with a Dementor of Azkaban. If you have I want you to describe how you felt."

Emma looks around curiously and sees that no one in the classroom has raised their hands and just as Mills goes to speak again, Killian's hand goes up once more, and Emma is just as shocked as everyone.

"I remember as a child my grandfather was murdered by the wizard Blackbeard. My brother and I were witnesses. At the trial they had a Dementor subdued as they questioned Blackbeard. Once he was found guilty the Dementor escorted him away with Merlin, the Minister of Magic himself. It felt as though all the happiness had been sucked out of me and that it would never return. The air was cold and Merlin had a dragon Patronus beside him."

Emma gasps as she listens to the tale and it appears that no one had known that Killian had suffered through that as a child. Mills is looking rather sympathetic for a change and she offers Killian a softer smile.

"And did they take any measures after to make you feel happy again?"

"Aye, Liam and I were given some chocolate." Killian says his tone rather sad at the mention of his brother.

"Excellent. Another ten points to Slytherin." Cora says before turning back to everyone else. "Now the incantation is, Expecto Patronum. You have to think of your happiest and strongest memory in order for you to produce a full Patronus. If you ever come across a real Dementor you will understand why your happy memory has to be powerful. Now raise your wands and let's see how far you can get in this lesson."

Killian, Emma, Ruby and Victor all look at one another and shrug.

"Who wants to go first?" Ruby asks shuffling awkwardly on her feet.

Emma can see how hesitant the brunette is. "Well not me I have to think of a happy memory. I don't have very many."

Killian reaches out and touches Emma's shoulder in a soothing manner before looking at Victor who is shaking his head.

"Fine I'll do it." Killian mumbles and Emma can see that he is looking rather confident and also a little red in the face from a slight blush.

Emma studies her boyfriend for a few moments as he raises his wand and she sees the determined look in his eyes. It only takes her one glance to realize that Professor Mills is about to eat her words. Emma would bet her life that her boyfriend is about to produce the charm first time round and it is clear that this particular charm is something Killian has done before.

"Expecto Patronum." He calls and straight away a blinding silver light shoots out of the tip of his wand.

Every student in the classroom stops their attempts and turns to Killian. Hovering in front of him and flapping its wings is a silver swan. Everyone's attention then turns to Emma who is staring at the Patronus with a look of amazement and adoration for Killian. He himself looks slightly embarrassed as his Patronus disappeared. Instantly the entire class claps and Mills makes her way over.

"I take it that wasn't your first time producing one of those?" She is slightly breathless and it is shocking to the entire class to see the normally stern teacher look like she does as she stares at Killian with praise.

"It changed." Killian states ignoring Cora's question. "It used to be an Otter like Liam's."

Cora looks over at Emma and sighs. "You're feelings for Miss Swan has changed it. This sometimes happens. I saw one person's start off as a jack rabbit before it changed into a werewolf to match their partners. My guess is Emma's will be a Swan too."

…

Emma sighs as she sits down beside Killian under their usual tree by the lake. Immediately her head rests on his shoulder and she smiles. His head comes down to rest on hers before his left arm wraps around her waist.

"You're not freaked out that my Patronus was a Swan are you?" Killian mumbles after a moment.

"No." Emma whispers. "I loved that it became my last name."

Killian smiles and presses his lips against her temple. "I wonder if Mills will be right and yours will be the same."

"Well…" Emma says as she pulls back and looks at him. "Change of a Patronus is very rare. Usually it's down to a traumatic experience or finding a partner."

Killian stiffens at that and he knows they are both thinking about Liam. Emma's arms wrap around him, he sighs and leans against her.

"Well I did find you too, lass."

Emma smiles and she is the one to press a kiss to his temple this time.

"We found each other."

…

Emma wakes on the last Monday for their Defence Against the Dark Arts assignment and she knows that this is the week she will finally have to face the boggart. She feels comfortable enough for Killian to be there when she does but she is worried about messing up in front of De Vil.

At breakfast she was surprised to see that both Regina and Killian are sitting at the Slytherin table, even though Robin is with the Gryffindor's. Killian smiles at her across from the room before turning back to Tamara who is telling him something.

"Is there a reason they are sitting there today?" Emma asks as she plops down next to Graham.

"They don't want to break off ties with the Slytherin house completely. They come from two well-known families so they have to keep up their appearances." Robin explains as he puts some bacon and egg on his plate.

Emma rolls her eyes but she too tucks into her breakfast.

Twenty minutes later she meets Killian outside the small Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. Killian grins when he sees her approaching and once Emma was in front of him he pulls her in for a kiss.

"Morning, princess." He smiles.

Emma rolls her eyes. "Morning."

Killian pushes the classroom door open and beckons for Emma to enter. She mouths a thank you before walking into the room and she listens as Killian follows her and closes the door behind him.

"Killian I'm going to face my boggart today." Emma whispers as she turns to face him.

Killian gives her an apprehensive look before slowly nodding his head, a comforting smile appearing across his handsome features.

"I'm not going anywhere." He replies.

Emma gives him a grateful smile before she drops her bag near the window. Killian moves off to the side of the room and sits on top one of the wooden desks as he watches Emma pace backwards and forwards in the open space in front of the wardrobe. After a few moments her pacing slows and she turns towards where the boggart is resting in the wardrobe. Sneaking another quick glance at Killian, she turns back to the hidden boggart and with the wave of her wand the door opens and very slowly the boggart in the form of Lily steps out, an evil glint in its eye.

Killian sits forward on the desk he is sitting on his fingers gripping the underside of the wood watching Lily closely.

"You may feel like you belong…" Lily whispers taking another couple of steps towards Emma. "But you don't. You are still alone. Always alone. You're an orphan. No one really likes or wants you. Your friends? They only like you because you are well known in the Wizarding world. Your parents were killed in a car crash but were two of the best Auror's around. They never wanted you either. My dad, mum and I we got stuck with you. A pathetic lonesome excuse for an orphan. Your boyfriend. He doesn't care for you. Why would the Slytherin prince want to be with you? No one wants you Emma. No one will ever want you. You have always been alone and you always will be. People don't care for you…."

Emma raises her wand and her hand is shaking. Killian makes a move to go over and help her but stops when he notices the determined look in her eyes.

"Riddikulus." She shouts.

And with a loud crack Lily changes into a small dragon that can't breathe fire or fly. Despite seeing her worst fear Emma can't help but laugh at the dragon's feeble attempts to breathe fire. Killian joins in and barely a minute later the dragon explodes, the boggart defeated.

Their laughter dies down and Emma's smile disappears as she remembers the boggarts words. Killian can sense her sudden change in mood and swiftly moves to stand in front of her, his hands taking hers.

"Love don't listen to a word that boggart said. You may have been alone before you came to Hogwarts but you aren't now. Your friends love you for who you are not who your parents were. I care about you, Emma. Genuinely."

Emma looks at him and blinks away the tears. "I know… but that's my worst fear. That everyone is secretly using me because of my parents, and that you I don't know, made a stupid bet to win me over."

Emma chuckles through the tears, but Killian tenses at the word "bet". He had originally and now that he had seen her boggart, he doesn't know how she would handle it if she found out, but Killian is pretty sure she would hex him and never speak or trust him again.

"C'mere." Killian whispers.

Emma smiles at him shyly as he wraps his arms around her.

"I would never hurt you intentionally." Killian promises. "Not from this day on."

Emma goes to respond, but is stopped mid-sentence when her lips are pressed against his in a gentle kiss and all her worries from seeing her boggart vanish from her mind.

…

Two days later both Emma and Killian face their boggart in front of Professor De Vil.

And they pass their assignment with flying colours.

…

May arrives and the weather is beginning to slowly warm up again for spring. Emma finds that she no longer has to bulk up in thick woollen coats, but she still loves having Killian's arm around her waist as they walk to Hogsmeade.

"Can you believe that this year is almost up?" Emma asks as she rests her head on his shoulder.

"It's gone very quick, princess. And we graduate next year. It seems unreal." Killian replies as he playfully prods her waist.

Emma smiles and sighs happily. "We will see one another these holidays, right? I'm staying with Mary Margaret and her family due to recent circumstances with the Page's, but we can meet up in Diagon Alley and at the Quidditch World Cup."

Killian stops and turns to face her, both arms now around her waist. Emma smiles as Killian rests his forehead against hers, both of them completely oblivious to the passing Hogwarts students.

"I would happily meet up with you every day in Diagon Alley and we will spend as much time together as we can at the World Cup. I don't think the Blanchard's will want me to visit their house and I don't think I'm ready for you to meet my father properly yet, so we will have to rely on the floo network to get us to Diagon Alley when we want to see one another.

"I'm sure I can win your father over." Emma teases ignoring the darkening look in Killian's eyes. "Your mother sounds nice though."

"I love my mother a lot, Swan." Killian smiles his fingers coming to play with a loose strand of her hair.

"Come on the others will be wondering where we've gotten too." Emma chuckles as she pulls back and wraps her arm around his waist.

Killian smiles as his arm goes around hers in return and they continue to walk towards Hogsmeade. After a few moments, Killian turns his head and presses a gentle kiss to her forehead. Emma blushes.

…

"Ugh." David mutters as his eyes scan over the piece of parchment that has just been placed in front of him.

"Tell me about it." Mary Margaret replies equally as unimpressed.

"It's already exam time." Robin states. "Bugger me."

Emma sighs and looks over her piece of parchment. It is hard to believe that in a couple of weeks the Great Hall will have been changed into an exam room and that she would be there doing whatever exam it was. Emma wouldn't deny it; she hated exams and always had. It seemed that every time exams came around, everything she had learned during the year disappeared from her mind, and she had to think very hard to remember it all.

"Emma you look as though you want to be sick." Ruby comments.

Emma rolls her eyes. "You know me always messing up the smallest things in exams. This year I plan to study a lot."

"Morning," Killian smiles at the others as he plonks down next to Emma.

"Morning Jones." David answers in a somewhat civil tone.

Emma's eyes widen and she smiles slowly. "Why David are you finally warming up to Killian?"

David gives Killian a once over, and looks back at Emma. "He sure has proven that he cares for you and I know that you're happy, so it might be best if I finally put my issues with him aside and attempt to be civil."

Emma turns to face a smirking Killian who now has his arm around her shoulders.

"Well I told you we were getting along, Dave."

David's eyes suddenly narrow. "We're not that close."

Emma and Mary Margaret laugh.

…

"Concentrate on your happiest memory." Killian says in a gentle tone.

He and Emma are beside the lake and the sun is just beginning to set and curfew would be called soon. Emma is the only one in Charms who hasn't managed to produce a full Patronus yet and she is beginning to worry that she wouldn't learn in time before their exams coming up next month. Killian had taken it upon himself to help her, considering that he was the most advanced Patronus producer in their class.

"I don't know what that is." Emma answers honestly. "I've never exactly been dealt the best hand in life."

Killian rests his hand on her shoulder. "You can do this."

Emma nods her head, and she returns her thoughts to her happiest memory. And then it hits her. Her happiest memory was receiving her Hogwarts letter at age eleven. Emma will always remember the excited feeling that had overtaken her when she realized that she would be leaving the Page's. Up until this point she had been using memories such as her catching her first snitch, her first flying lesson, she and Killian kissing, her birthday's with her friends and none had worked. This was her last solution.

"Concentrate Emma." He says before stepping back.

"Expecto Patronum." She shouts.

And for the first time ever, a large Swan erupts from her wand.

"You did it!" Killian gives a loud cheer from beside her. "I knew you had it in you."

Emma laughs as she watches the silver Swan fly around her and Killian. A few seconds later Killian mutters the incantation to and his swan joins Emma's in the air around them. Emma watches in amazement as their swans fly towards one another before their necks wrap around the other in a loving embrace. Killian grins as he turns to face Emma.

"Kiss me." He says.

Emma smiles and moves towards him. Their swans have now disappeared, but neither notice as Emma leans towards him capturing his lips in a passionate kiss and the curfew bells begin to ring around them.

And maybe they are just a little late to dinner.