Disclaimer: I am not Jo Rowling and therefore I do not own anything you recognize from the Harry Potter universe.
Title: Learning and Lending
Time: January 2022
Dee Collins
Dee rushed through the corridors in a panic. Her sweater was wadded and stuffed into her schoolbag and one of her shoes was untied. She was going to be late to class.
Dee knew she should've put her History of Magic essay away. She had stayed up after her rounds to perfect it, when in fact it would have earned high marks if she left it the way it was. And now, because of her sodding perfectionist tendencies, she was going to be late to Defense.
She rushed into the classroom, breathing heavily. Professor Desdairio looked up at her noisy entrance and said, "You'll do well to be on time, Miss Collins. If you're late again, it's a detention."
"Yes, of course, Professor," replied Dee, properly ashamed. She scanned the room for an empty spot and noticed Rose gesturing wildly to the seat beside her. Smoothing out her skirt, she headed towards her friend.
"Why were you late?" Rose whispered. "It's unlike you."
"I overslept," Dee responded, taking out a quill and some ink. "What did I miss?"
"Well, you won't need those, for one thing," Rose said, pointing to the quill and parchment. "It's a practical lesson, apparently. Desdairio is going over the introduction right now."
Dee wasn't a huge fan of Defense. The most successful duelers were the people who acted with certainty, and she always hesitated. She wasn't terrible, by any means, but she wasn't the best. Dee was too unsure of herself.
She switched her attention to the professor, who was addressing the class. "Today we're going to begin practicing the Patronus Charm. A Patronus is meant to drive away Dark forces, which is why you learn it here and not in Charms." Desdairio picked up her wand from her desk and said, "I don't expect you to produce one today, and some of you may not ever be able to. There is nothing wrong with that. However, I do hope you all will be able to conjure a corporeal Patronus by the time you take your O.W.L. exams."
She stepped in front of her desk, adjusting her robes and lifting her wand. "Before we begin, allow me to show you what a Patronus looks like. For those of you who don't know, the incantation is Expecto Patronum." As soon as the she said the spell, a large wisp that resembled white smoke erupted from her wand and formed the shape of a hawk.
Dee gasped. Though she knew quite a bit about the Patronus Charm, she had never actually seen it performed.
Professor Desdairio's Patronus flew in circles for a few seconds before it faded away. The professor tucked her wand into her robes and smiled. "Now, who can tell me the purposes of a Patronus?"
Sav Malladi promptly answered, "It protects the caster from Dementors."
"That is the main purpose, yes. Does anyone know the second?" The class was quiet. "No one? I'm surprised. The Order of the Phoenix were notorious for this."
Dee, who hadn't wanted to answer earlier, tentatively raised her hand. "You can send messages with them."
"Correct, Miss Collins. Five points to Ravenclaw." Desdairio began to walk around the classroom, saying, "The only way to produce a Patronus is to concentrate on your happiest memory. You must say the incantation and draw circles with your wand, focusing on that memory. The happier the memory, the stronger the charm." She stopped at the front of the class and folded her arms. "You just saw that my Patronus is a hawk. When it comes to corporeal Patronuses, the animal forms will vary depending on the person. Your Patronus reflects your personality. But like I said, casting a Patronus is very difficult, and a corporeal one is even harder. Now, I'd like you all to think of your happiest memory, then split up around the room and attempt to produce a Patronus. Remember, the incantation is Expecto Patronum."
Dee propped her head up with her hands and tried to think of the moment she felt the happiest in her life. She thought of the joy she felt when she received her Hogwarts acceptance letter. She thought of her relief when she bought her wand, for she had a secret fear that one would never choose her. She thought of her Sorting, of her first friends at Hogwarts, and of her more recent friends. Dee realized she didn't have any extraordinary memories to account for, which dampened her mood considerably. She didn't feel like her so-called happy memories stood out that much, and all of a sudden, she didn't think she'd ever be able to cast a Patronus.
The lesson ended and Dee hadn't conjured so much as a wisp of silvery vapor. Despite how much she knew of the theory, and despite how hard she tried, nothing happened. Both Rose and Professor Desdairio told her to think of a happier memory, but she didn't have any.
Besides, it was easy for Rose to give her advice; she'd already produce a fully-fledged Patronus, as had Al. Dee was ashamed of how resentful she felt.
"I finally got it over the summer," Rose explained as she, Albus, and Dee exited Defense. "Uncle Harry teaches it to all the cousins. He thinks it's something everyone should be able to do."
"I wish I could. Ever since I first read about them, I've been dying to know what animal mine would be," said Dee.
"You'll get it," Al assured her. "It took me ages."
Rose looked at Dee, thoughtful. "Maybe you're thinking of the wrong memories," she said.
Dee frowned. "Well I don't have any exceptionally happy memories as it is. Unless you count when I got my Hogwarts letter or when I got my wand, but those are stupid."
"They're not stupid if they made you happy," Rose said softly.
Something in Rose's voice made Dee fall silent. She hung her head, staring at her shoes as she walked.
"Anyways," Al interjected, "you have the rest of the year to get it. And you're brilliant, so stop worrying."
Dee was saved from having to form a reply when James came rushing to them. "Hey Dee, Rose," he greeted. "Al, did you use Snuffles?"
Albus shifted his schoolbag on his shoulder and nodded. "I sent a letter to Dad this morning."
James groaned, ruffling his hair in frustration. "I need to send a letter, Al. It's urgent and I hate the school owls," he huffed. "They're bloody slow and they don't like me."
Dee stifled a laugh. "You can use my owl," she offered. She looked at Rose and Al. "You two go on. I'll see you at lunch."
They nodded and continued down the corridor. "C'mon," Dee said to James, and together they set off towards the Owlery. Once there, Dee coaxed Fitzgerald, her Tawny owl, down from his perch.
"Hello, Fitz. Bet you're glad for something to do," she said as she tied James' letter to his leg. "Who's it going to, James?" she asked.
"My Uncle George," he replied.
"You got that, Fitz?" Her owl hooted in reply, nipping her finger affectionately before taking off.
"Thanks, Dee. Merlin, you have no idea how much of a help you were." James picked their bags up from the ground and brushed them off. He held Dee's out to her.
"I'm not sure I want to know, anyways," she replied, smiling and taking her schoolbag. "Especially since that letter was going to George Weasley." They walked in silence again, Dee wallowing in her earlier thoughts, until she asked a question out of pure curiosity. "What's your Patronus?"
James looked surprised. "As in what shape does it take?" She nodded meekly. "It's an eagle," he replied, and she detected a hint of pride in his voice. It made her a tad jealous. "What brought that on?"
Dee chewed on her lip. "Well, we started Patronuses in Defense today. I saw Al's and Rose's, and I was just curious."
"What's yours, then?" he asked.
"Dunno," she replied, her cheeks burning.
"Oh, I see," he grinned. "But if today was your first day, I'm sure you'll get it soon. From what I hear, you're incredibly smart." Dee's face colored even more. James noticed and said, "But if you ever want help, I'd be willing."
"Really?" she asked, a bit skeptical. James wasn't known for his enthusiasm for or attentiveness to schoolwork.
"Sure," he replied, shrugging. "If I'm good at anything besides Quidditch, it's Defense. Although you'd have to help me with Charms, or maybe Potions, just to make it a fair trade."
Dee pulled a face. "Potions is a bore. I don't know why Slughorn likes me so much." James laughed, agreeing. "But I'll help you, if you really want."
His grin widened. "Perfect," he said. "Want to start now? Flitwick assigned a two-foot long essay on Aguamenti that's due tomorrow, but I didn't take notes and Aiden was sick, so I can't copy his."
"Aiden Thomas? He's ill?" she asked, alarmed.
"Yeah. And I would copy Freddie's, except it'd be bloody stupid of me. He takes worse notes than I do, assuming he actually takes them."
Dee made a mental note to let Winnie know her brother was sick. "So basically, you want me to write your essay?"
"When you put it that way…" James trailed off, suppressing a smile. Dee rolled her eyes. "Let's go to the kitchens, yeah? We can eat while we work."
"What about Al and Rose? I told them I'd see them in the Great Hall." She was reluctant to go back on her word. Plus, she felt bad about her hard feelings regarding Patronuses, and she wanted to apologize.
"They'll be fine," James assured her. "C'mon, I'm starving."
The house-elves were bustling around them, but the noise was comforting. Dee sipped her pumpkin juice as she indicated good points for James' essay. "You should say something about the difference between natural water and what the charm produces," she advised, having just read over what he wrote. "Flitwick likes when you take the real world into account."
James furrowed his brow in concentration as he flipped through the pages of his Charms textbook. Dee's attention wavered; she scanned the room, watching the house-elves as they cleared the tables of the Great Hall above them. Lunch must have finished. It was a good thing Herbology was cancelled due to the weather, or otherwise she'd be in trouble. Being late to two lessons in one day would not be the best idea.
Her gaze moved to the entrance of the kitchens, where the sight of her brother startled her out of her reverie. Lee was swiftly walking towards where she sat, ignoring the house-elves as they greeted him.
"Potter," Lee spat. "What are you doing here?"
James looked up from his parchment, pausing the scratching of his quill. "Studying," he replied coolly.
"What's my sister doing, then?"
"Helping him," Dee interjected. "How are you, Lee?" she asked, trying to change the subject and avoid the impending argument.
"Fine. You weren't at lunch."
Obviously, Dee thought. She tried not to roll her eyes. "I was here. Were you looking for me?" she asked politely.
Lee cast another distrustful look at James with narrowed eyes. "Yes, actually. Mum and Dad owled me," he told her, a sly smile brightening his face. "They want to know what you want for your birthday."
"They owled you to ask me that?" Dee asked, bewildered. "Why didn't they just ask me?"
"There's no fun in that," Lee replied. "Besides, this way I know what to get you as well."
Dee sighed, twirling her quill. "You know I don't like a huge spectacle, Lee."
He shrugged. "So?" he prompted. "What do you want?"
"Browse Honeydukes or Tomes and Scrolls while you're in Hogsmeade, if you must. I'm sure you'll find something." Dee faced James again, turning the page in her book, hoping Lee got the hint to leave.
Lee scoffed but turned away. He accepted a few pastries from the house-elves before he left the kitchens. As soon as he was gone, Dee let her head fall into her hands and groaned.
"Your birthday's coming up, then?" James asked.
She looked up at him and nodded. "It's February seventh," she said. "I don't like to do much for it."
James put down his quill, eyes wide. "But it's your birthday!" he exclaimed. "You've got to celebrate."
"I do occasionally," she said. "The Ravenclaw versus Slytherin match is just after it, so if we win, I'll celebrate at the victory party. But Lee always makes a big deal out of my birthday. Last year, he had some of the house-elves sing to me at lunch. He made a cake, too, with their help." Dee smiled at the memory. No one could say her brother didn't care, not when he did so much for her. It didn't matter that she didn't particularly enjoy being the center of attention, even on her birthday, because that's exactly what Lee did enjoy. It was how he showed he loved her, and that's what made it bearable.
She shook herself from her thoughts again and picked up James' parchment. "Right," she said. "Let's get this finished."
James Potter
James was feeling quite satisfied. The essay he had Dee help him with the day before had been graded, and Flitwick was practically glowing when he returned it. "Brilliant job, Mr. Potter!" he squeaked.
Freddie took one look at the big O on the top of James' parchment and narrowed his eyes. "Who'd you pay?" he asked, suspicious.
"No one," James replied smugly. "What, you don't think I can do this on my own?"
Fred scoffed. "In Defense, maybe, but in Charms? C'mon, James, who'd you pay?"
"No one," James repeated, though more indignantly. Fred raised his eyebrows, clearly not believing a word. "I didn't pay anyone," James said again, "but I had Dee go over it for me."
"Al's friend?"
James nodded as he packed up his bag. "I'll be helping her with Defense in return, though." The bell rang to signal the end of the lesson. He and Freddie exited the classroom, beginning the long walk back to Gryffindor Tower. They greeted the Fat Lady before speaking the password. Once they entered the Common Room, Fred immediately left him to talk to Trevor Cole, so James headed to where a few of his other family members sat. "Hey, Al," he said to his brother.
Albus turned away from the chessboard. "James," he greeted.
"Did you know Dee's birthday was coming up? It's next Monday."
Al looked surprised. "I didn't know." He looked at Rose. "Did you?" he asked her, and she shook her head.
"We should do something for her," James continued. "She said she doesn't usually celebrate it much."
His brother furrowed his brow. "How did you know this?" he asked.
James fell back into one of the armchairs and ruffled his hair, saying, "I had her help me with Charms yesterday. We were in the kitchens and Collins, her brother, walked in. He wanted to know what she wanted for her birthday." He shrugged at the looks on Albus and Rose's faces. "So I think we should do something."
Rose looked at Al. "We could throw a party. Mind you, it'd have to be small. She doesn't like attention," she said thoughtfully. "Thanks for letting us know, James."
James figured their conversation was over. He got up and left the Common Room, deciding he'd find Dee and thank her for her help. He wouldn't have gotten that O without her, that's for sure.
A/N: So there was a lot of dialogue in this chapter... Also, I'm sorry again that it's taken me so long to get this written. Forgive me, please? A few things to look forward to: Dee's birthday, James' birthday, many tutoring sessions, Hogsmeade, and more.