The girls walked into the Great Hall to see about half of the sixth and seventh years gathered at their house tables. Alice and Amelia both walked off to the Hufflepuff table whilst Chelsea, Ivy, Jess and Rose sat down at the Gryffindor table. More students were constantly coming into the hall until almost the whole of the two grades were seated. Up the front stood, Professor Flint (Head of Hufflepuff), Professor Dippet (Head of Slytherin), Professor Chang (Head of Ravenclaw) and Headmistress Horton. Professor Forsvar walked in a few moments later followed by the final few students.
Horton cast her gaze across the room, looking across at all the students. "Well I'm sure you're all wondering why you've been gathered here on a Sunday afternoon." she began. "This is a very important matter and I need you all to listen very carefully. Dementors have been found growing in the Forbidden Forest very close to the school."At this announcement a buzz of chatter broke out in the hall. Horton waited a few moments before continuing, causing everyone to quieten down again. "The centaurs have been grieving the loss of one of their leaders and their despair has provided perfect conditions for the Dementors to grow." She paused for a moment, looking around the hall, before continuing, "After much debate, the staff have come to the conclusion that sixth and seventh years will practice casting a Patronus in their Defence Against the Dark Arts classes over the next two weeks with a special teacher being called in for this task. At the end of the two weeks eight students from each year who consistently produce the best will assist staff in ridding the forest of the Dementors."Everyone in the hall started excitedly discussing the news and Rose heard her name mentioned in several conversations along the Gryffindor table. Rose looked across to the Slytherin table where she could see Scorpius looking at her, his expression a mixture of emotions. Chelsea leaned over the table and whispered to Rose, "No doubt you'll be one of the eight." Rose knew people would expect her to easily be able to cast a Patronus again, but she wasn't so sure. What if when she'd cast the spell in the Forest it had just been a spur-of-the-moment thing and she wouldn't be able to again? Rose was saved having to reply to Chelsea as the Headmistress spoke above the chatter, saying, "Over the next two weeks all students are to stay well away from the Forest and Prefects are to inform the other students. Now, everyone, off you go!" The Headmistress finished, dismissing the students. Everyone got up from their tables, talking excitedly as they left the hall, all going in different directions. Rose, Ivy, Chelsea and Jess walked back to where they had been in the Library. Alice and Amelia walked in moments later, both sitting down on an armchair. They started talking about Patronuses and theories on who the teacher might be, but Rose hardly noticed what they were saying, her mind was full of questions about her ability to cast a Patronus again.
"Come on Rose." Alice's voice said, breaking through Rose's thoughts. She looked over at Alice sitting in the armchair opposite her. Rose had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed the other girls had left."Where'd everyone go?" she asked Alice.
"Amelia and Ivy went to find books on casting a Patronus, Jess went out to the Quidditch Pitch and Chelsea went back to her dorm." Alice explained. "Let's go." she said to Rose, getting up.
"Where?" Rose asked.
"Does it matter?" Alice replied whimsically, walking through the bookshelves to the front of the Library. Rose got up and followed her, she didn't have anything better to do.
Alice walked through the castle to the Owlery. Rose shivered slightly because of the cold wind coming in from the glass-less windows. The alcoves in the walls were filled with sleeping owls of every kind. Occasionally, an owl would fly in through a window, landing on one of the perches in an alcove. Rose noticed her own owl, Athena, who opened her eyes to look at Rose when she walked in. Alice pulled out a piece of parchment from her pocket. "Do you mind if I use your owl?" she asked Rose politely. "I'm already using Mercury to send a letter home." Alice explained, referring to her own owl. Rose nodded, still a bit confused as to why Alice had wanted Rose to follow her. "Thanks." Alice said, walking over to Athena who stood up, rustled her feathers and stuck out her leg for Alice. Once Alice had tied the letter onto Athena's leg, the owl stood and stretched out her wings before taking off and flying out of the window. "So." Alice said, looking at Rose. "I can tell you're worried about casting a Patronus."Rose sighed, of course Alice knew Rose was worried about that, they were such close friends they could pretty much read each other's minds."Don't freak out." Alice said, "I know you don't think that you'll be able to cast a Patronus again but I know you can. That spell isn't just a once off thing, once you've done it once you can do it over and over again." Alice looked out the window at the setting sun. "And so what if you can't." Alice continued, "You shouldn't have to live up to other people's expectations and no one will care if you can't produce a Patronus, they'll just see it as better chances for them to take on the Dementors."
Rose looked at Alice. "Thanks Alice."
"Anytime." Alice replied, smiling. "I hate seeing my best friend worry."
"It's getting dark. We should probably head back to our dorms before we get into trouble." Rose said.
Alice hugged Rose tightly, reassuring her again before she walked down the hallway to the Hufflepuff common room.
When Rose reached her own dorm, she got ready for bed quietly, trying to avoid everyone else. When the other girls came in, she pretended to be asleep. Rose lay awake in her bed for hours, doing her best not to worry about the DADA lesson first up the next day. Too tired to stay awake, Rose eventually fell into a restless sleep.
A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry for not posting for a while, I've been away seeing family with no wi-fi. But here it is! Please review. Happy reading!