Chapter 54 - Patronus

OoO

The next few weeks flew by. Every weekend, the group snuck out of the castle to go shopping for the house. First, they all went into pairs, buying everything they needed for their own bedrooms. That all went rather smoothly. It was when they started looking for the furniture as a group, things got harder. They all wanted different things, all having their own style. The two who disagreed the most were James and Regulus. Which came as a surprise to everyone, seeing that James was the most easy-going guy there is. Regulus wasn't a surprise at all. Maybe it was because the two barely knew each other, well if that was the case, they would have to change that soon. But the house was slowly coming together, and the schoolyear was coming to an end.

They were now in one of their last classes of defence against the dark arts. Izzie was sitting on a desk waving her wand lazily in front of her conjuring snowflakes that James was trying to catch with his mouth. Lily was sitting next to her, her nose buried in a book. Remus and Sirius were whispering as they leaned against the wall. Remus was still pale, the full moon only passed two nights ago. She watched them with a soft smile on her lips before someone else demanded her attention.

"Come on, Iz, give me a challenge." James grinned.

Izzie looked at the professor who was still rearranging the classroom before a Slytherin smirk crept on her face. James's eyes widened and he knew a second too late what he got himself into. With a little wave of her wand, the snowflakes disappeared, and a big pile of snow fell on him. Burying him in snow up until his waist. Remus and Sirius lips twitched before they fell into a fit of laughter. Lily looked up from her book, glanced at her boyfriend, sighed with a shake of her head before diving back in her book.

"Alright, class." The professor clapped his hands. He glanced over to James, who looks like half a snowman. "Mr Potter, clean up your mess."

"But-" James spluttered, looking from the professor to Izzie.

Izzie smirked at him as she hopped off the desk with Lily. "Yeah, Potter, clean up your mess."

James grumbled a little more but cleaned it up nonetheless, Remus and Sirius were still snickering against the wall.

"So, I hope everyone did their homework and read up on the Patronus charm. Keep enough space between your classmates as you take a place."

Izzie went to stand near Remus while Sirius helped James out of the snow. Izzie hated the Patronus charm, she just couldn't master it. Just like becoming an Animagus, she has tried for years. And she knew Remus could cast it, but hated the form, a wolf. So, they hid in the corner of the classroom, letting the others try and show off. James and Sirius were going to steal the show anyways.

"Think of a happy memory. Not just a happy one but the happiest you can think of. Then start drawing circles with your wand before saying the incantation, speak it very clearly. Remember, this is an immensely complicated and extremely difficult spell, a lot of wizards and witches are never able to conjure a corporeal, so don't fret if it doesn't work. Now, please all take a stance."

Remus and Izzie leaned against each other as all the other students in the room started to shout 'Expecto Patronum'. There wasn't much to look at, nobody even got a whisk out of their wands. Izzie couldn't help but chuckle at Lily's frustration, even though it was only her first try. The second time was equally bad, and of course, that was the time Sirius and James stepped up to the plate. They moved forward with flair until they were in the middle of the room, standing back-to-back. They looked over their shoulders to each other with a grin, every eye in the classroom was on them.
Remus snorted next to her with a roll of his eyes, making her grin right before the two boys shouted.

"Expecto Patronum!"

A silvery-blue whisk came out of their wands before a large dog appeared in front of Sirius and a stag stood in front of James. Several girls gasped and practically swooned over them. Now it was Izzie's turn to snort.

"Brilliant! Just brilliant!" The professor clapped enthusiastically. "Ten points each. Care to tell us what the memory was?" He asked intrigued.

"The first time my parents took me to a Quidditch match." James beamed, stroking his stag on the head.

"Mr Black?"

Sirius glanced over to Izzie with a soft and goofy smile. "Almost every memory with Izzie works for me, sir." He answered but didn't take his eyes off her. Izzie's cheeks flushed even though she tried to push it down and she looked to her shoes with a little smile. The girls that had been swooning over Sirius, scowled in an instant. But Sirius didn't notice, his eyes still on her. His Patronus, started to walk straight to her. The dog stopped until he was right under her nose as she was still looking down. He rolled onto his back, showing of his belly as his tail wagged. She chuckled and when her gaze flickered back up again, Sirius was coming over with a grin.

"Hi." She breathed.

"Hi." When he stepped closer, his Patronus disappeared. He cupped her cheek before he leaned down to kiss her, sweet and slow.

"Show off." She nudged his shoulder slightly when he pulled back. He winked at her before he leaned against the wall next to her.

The professor cleared his throat. "Right, well... Uhm, I think Mr Potter and Mr Black gave good examples on what kind of memory you can use. So, everyone, try again."

Sirius intertwined his fingers with hers, his silly smile still in place as he watched the other students. James was next to Lily, encouraging her to try again. Remus didn't make a move to conjure his wolf, he just kept his place next to her. In the corner with two other Slytherins was Peter, the once best friend of the two men next to her. He barely gave them a glance; he barely was in the tower anymore. She didn't know how to feel about that. Peter and the Slytherins failed to conjure anything up, even after twenty minutes. Lily was still struggling, only a few blue whisks came from her wand and was getting frustrated with James's instructions.

"I think I need to bud it before Lily tears James's head off." Izzie pushed herself off the wall. Remus and Sirius looked to the couple and sure enough, Lily's eyes were blazing as James instructed her how to move her wand. She gave Sirius a short peck and disentangled their fingers before she walked over to her best friend. Lily's eyes softened in relief when she saw Izzie come up to her. "James, do you mind if I try?"

"I -" He looked so confused behind his spectacles. "But you -" He glanced over to Remus and Sirius. "Alright." He nodded his head and took a step back.

"So, how's it going?" She asked with a smile. Lily grunted in response, making Izzie laugh. "Right. What was your memory?"

"I -" She leaned closer and whispered, with flushed cheeks. "The first time James kissed me, I mean really kissed me."

"Maybe I should try that." She laughed again when Lily slapped her arm. "Just kidding. But Lily, a happy memory doesn't have to be about who you're in love with. It doesn't have to be about love at all. I'm not saying I know what I'm doing because I never managed one but when I think of my happiest memories, it's about you, about Remus, Reggie. Of course, Sirius belongs in there, but it's not only about the time when we're together but also about the time when we weren't. When he put in the time to get to know me. It can be like James's, his first Quidditch match. Or Remus's when he found out he was able to come to Hogwarts. Can you try a memory for me? It belongs on my top shelf." She winked. Lily nodded, watching her closely, just like James and the others but they kept their eyes on each other. "Remember after our disastrous first flying class, we went to explore the castle trying to calm down and we saw a few fifth year Hufflepuff's come out of the kitchens."

Lily smiled, remembering all the way back to first year. "You demanded to know how to get in, even though they towered over us. We sat in the kitchens for hours, just eating, talking, laughing." Her eyes seemed to glaze over. "Yeah, that's a pretty amazing memory. Even better than the one from potions because that's when we really got to know each other."

"So, want to try it?"

"Yes." She smiled broadly, bouncing a little excitedly on her heels.

"Think of our time in the kitchens but think about our friendship over the years, the feeling behind it." She squeezed her shoulders before she stepped back, next to James.

Lily closed her eyes, breathing deep in and out. She held out her wand in front of her, and James clutched Izzie's sleeve in anticipation. It was cute, really.

"Expecto Patronum!" She waved her wand in circles. She opened her eyes just in time to see a large silvery-blue streak fly out of her wand. It was almost corporeal, it started as a large blob, but then it stood on four legs before it disappeared.

"Try again." Izzie said grinning and she did. Lily's Patronus became clear, it was a doe. The whole class was looking at her and James nearly fainted from the fact that her Patronus matched his. "You did it!" Izzie screamed as she hugged her tight. "That was amazing!"

"I did it." Lily whispered in shock against her shoulder. She pulled back beaming. "All thanks to you." Izzie started to shake his head. "Yes, thanks to you. Thank you." She pulled her in another hug. When they parted, Lily conjured it again, and again, and again.

"What did you say to her?" James asked, a little baffled.

"Wouldn't you like to know." Izzie wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at him. James's nearly chocked on his spit.

"What about you, Miller?" One of the swooning girls sneered at her, Lorena. Izzie's head snapped towards the girl, and James took a protective step closer. "Why haven't you tried?"

"You don't have to explain anything." James whispered.

"We all tried; I even had a few whisks." She said with an air. "Or aren't you even capable of that? Don't you love Sirius enough to have one happy memory?" She snickered.

Izzie stiffened and James wrapped an arm around her shoulders, trying to calm her. Her breathing was becoming heavier, and she stepped forward ready to punch her right in the face, but James's arm around her stopped her.

"That's it, isn't it?" She laughed; her laugh sounded pure evil. "You don't love him, like he loves you. Maybe he should be with someone who could love him like he deserves-"

Different things happened at once. Izzie had lunged forward, coming out of James's strong grasp. Remus and Sirius were a second too late, but it wasn't Izzie who did something, she was only a step away from her when Lily strung Lorena upside down in the air before she punched her squarely on the nose.

"Lily." Izzie and James gasped in perfect unison.

"Miss Evans!" The professor was in shock, pure shock. Lily has never done anything like that, ever. "I- you- detention, miss Evans. T-tonight, my office."

"Yes, sir." Lily answered, her voice strained. The professor let Lorena lower to the floor and fixed her nose before dismissing the class. Lily ran out of the classroom and Izzie bounded after her. Ignoring the boys who called after them.

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"Lily!" Izzie caught up with her and pulled her into an alcove. "Lily." She whispered and grabbed her shoulders. The red head was breathing heavily, her eyes large and shocked. "Breathe in slowly, that's right. Now out." They stood there for about ten minutes, Izzie trying to calm her down. "How do you feel?"

"B-better." Her voice still shook but her breathing was back to normal.

"Want to tell me what happened? You never lose control like that."

Lily shook her head. "She doesn't know, none of them do. What you have been through. What she said about you not loving Sirius enough, I couldn't stand it. I – I just got so angry."

"It's okay, it's just Lorena. She's always been jealous of me and Sirius. I don't care what she said."

"But you do." Lily grabbed her hands. "I know you do. I know you, Izzie. She had no right." Izzie grabbed her in a tight hug as tears filled her eyes. Then she started laughing. "Why - why are you laughing?" Lily asked as she pulled back confused.

"Studious, prefect, head girl, Lily Evans has detention for only the second time in seven years, the first time in six years. For not only hanging a girl upside down but nearly breaking her nose."

Lily looked amused at Izzie, who was laughing hysterically, for a long moment before she started laughing alongside her. They laughed until their throats went dry, Izzie gently lifted her bruised hand.

"Let's go, I have dittany in my trunk."

"I wished you didn't."

"Me neither." She whispered back as they walked out of the alcove.

OoO

Once Lily's hand was healed, they went back down to the common room where the others were waiting for them, they all jumped up but none of them stepped closer.

"What?" Izzie grinned. "Are you all suddenly afraid of Lily? You know she's still deadlier with her wand than with her fists."

"I - uhm-" James stumbled as he looked at Lily. He was almost drooling.

"I think he's starstruck." Izzie whispered and Lily chuckled.

"That was so hot." James charged forward and kissed Lily passionately in front of everyone. Lily shocked at first, wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer. "You -" James said a little breathlessly. "You have detention." He gave her a lopsided grin, his glasses askew. And before Lily could mutter about it, they were kissing again.

Izzie stepped away from them with a smile. And that was when Remus and Sirius came out of it, Remus was in front of her in a second, placing his hands on her shoulders before pulling her in a hug.

"Lorena was way out of line." He murmured in her hair. "I know that you love Sirius more than anything and that the things you went through... Reggie can't conjure one either." He whispered. "He said if he thinks of a happy memory, there is always a grey edge around it, the things his parents did..."

Izzie squeezed his waist, burying her head in his chest. "Maybe Reggie and I need to start a club." She chuckled dryly and pulled back.

"No." Remus shook his head, his eyes were sad. "No, sad depressing, forced into marriage club. Promise me."

"Fine." She fake pouted, but her lips quirked up. She looked over to Sirius, who was frowning at the fire. "I should talk to him."

"Yeah." He said looking at him too. "I'm going to find Reg, let him know what happened." He kissed the top of her head. "I love you."

"I love you too, Remus." She watched Remus walk out of the common room, Lily and James seemed to have disappeared too. Only Sirius remained. She walked over to him, letting her hand graze over his lower back. "Hi."

Sirius didn't take his eyes of the fire when he said. "We should talk."