Previously

No. No, I really don't. Can we just do something else?"

"Want to try your Patronus?"

The excitement in Hermione's eyes washed away any of Bella's lingering doubt. Of course she would try, for Hermione. Either she could do it or she couldn't but not trying would only upset Hermione.

"Ok, Pet, let's do it."

Hermione squealed.

"Jesus, Pet, volume. You're gonna deafen me, it's not that exciting…"

"Oh shush you, let me be excited! Ok so this is how it's usually taught. You need to think of a memory, a memory that is full of love, so full that the memory itself fills you with that love and then the Patronus is formed from that."

"Ye, that's never worked for me before but like I said, I lack good memories."

Hermione gave Bella her best puppy dog eyes and Bella knew that she would do whatever Hermione asked of her, weather she wanted to or not.

"Can we try it anyway? So I can see what you're working with?" She pleaded.

"Ye… just if I start producing maggots, promise you'll kill them all?" Bella shuddered.

"Maggots?" Hermione's brow furrowed as she thought hard to remember if she had ever heard that before.

"It's common knowledge amongst those of a dark nature that if someone truly dark tries to cast a Patronus, that instead they will produce a ton of maggots and those maggots will eat the caster alive." There was a note of true fear in her eyes although she mostly managed to pass it off as a joke.

"Whilst I have never heard of this, I promise if you produce maggots I won't let them eat you. Now please try."

Bella huffed but stood up and shook herself out, she pulled her wand from the holster on her arm and after rolling her shoulders she held out her wand arm.

"Ok, close your eyes. Think of a memory, as full of love as possible, something that makes you so happy you could burst. Imagine that happiness is like a bubble, filling you up until it can't be contained anymore and when you feel like it is pushing out from the edges of your body then cast your spell."

Bella closed her eyes and focused hard, after a moment she mustered the spell.

"Expecto Patronum."

A very thin wisp of smoke lazily slipped out of her wand, curling uselessly around the top before dissipating.

"I told you I couldn't do it." She sounded like a petulant child and the pout on her full lips didn't help the image.

"Well you didn't produce maggots so I take that as a win. Now let's try Harry's version. Your memory needs to be something that can grow, that has a future. For example Harry's was the day he found out he was a wizard; not only was he magical but he would be leaving his family who neglected him behind and from that day he met me, Ron and all the positive memories of Hogwarts. But they all stemmed from finding out he was a wizard, that memory was the catalyst. So think of something that makes you so happy you could burst but also something that leads to infinite possible happy futures. Let the memory of happiness fill you but also the possibility of future happiness fill it too."

"What do you think of?"

"Well, I used to think about the when me, Harry and Ron knocked out the mountain troll in our first year, it was the moment we truly became friends and I hadn't had many before that."

"Used to?" She asked, only half stalling for time.

"Oh yes, Erm... I think now I would probably think about the moment you kissed me for the first time or when I told you that we were soulmates."

"Oh." It was Bella's time to blush now. "Right. Ok, I think… I think I've got it." She once again squared her shoulders but then shook herself out. Closed her eyes and after a few moments she uttered the spell with more conviction.

"Expecto Patronum."

She produced an incorporeal Patronus. She opened her eyes at the feeling of the magic soothing her, in her shock she forgot her memory and it spluttered out of existence. The smile on her face could have lit up the whole of Hogwarts.

"I…I did it!"

Hermione jumped to her feet and took Bella in her arms.

"Of course you did. My clever, powerful witch! I never doubted you for a second."

Bella gave a chuckle through a mouthful of their combined hair.

"I did. I doubted myself for much longer than a second. I genuinely didn't think I could do it."

Hermione pulled back and looked her dead in the eyes.

"Snape could produce a Patronus, a corporeal one, if that greasy git could do it, then you can do it! I know never speak ill of the dead but Bella you are twice the witch he was… I mean… oh you know what I mean."

"I know what you mean, Little Love. Can't let old Snivelrus best me can we! Ok buzz off so I can concentrate. I've got to get this blasted thing corporeal before tomorrow! Or at least consistently incorporeal."

"That's more like it. The most stubborn witch I've ever met! Now dig those heels in and let's get this!"

They spent the next few hours practicing and, by the time Dinner was being served in the Great Hall, Bella was exhausted but pleased. Whilst she hadn't managed to produce a corporeal Patronus, the one she was producing has started to develop a rough form. Whatever animal it was small, Rodent-like with four thin legs and sleek fur.

Hermione couldn't help but hope that it was an Otter the same as hers. She had only heard of a few instances of matching Patronuses and most of them had been surrounding the Potters. James was a Stag after his Animagus form, that caused Lily's Patronus to change into a Doe when she fell in love with him and subsequently for Snape's to become a Doe as he was in love with Lily. Harry's Patronus was a Stag after his Father.

Then there was Nymphadora and Remus, Tonk's Patronus changed to a wolf when they began their relationship. The only other instances of matching Patronuses that she knew of were Fred and George.

The theory was that matching Patronuses meant eternal love, unchanging — part of you forever, Hermione really hoped that was what their love was but she was scared that Bella wouldn't feel the same way about her as she felt for the witch.

She was so lost in thoughts of Patronuses that she spent almost the entirety of dinner with her friends in silence.

The sharp voice of Malfoy snapped her out of it.

"Granger!"

"Oh we're back to last names, are we Malfoy?" She snapped back at him.

"No, Hermione, we're not but you weren't answering to your name from any of us. I thought maybe the old me would snap you out of your daydream and I was right."

"Oh… sorry Draco. Just lots of things going on in my head."

"Tea with my mother isn't that scary." He winked at her.

"No, I know that… going to your house might be though. If we chose the Manor would you want to come with us? It's dark and depressing but if I'm going to face that day again I want to do it with everyone who was there for…it, or at least the ones who were in the room and who I want a relationship with. Nothing in the world could make me invite your Dad or Greyback to tea!"

"I dunno, the look on my Mum's face when you asked to invite them might be worth it." He chuckled darkly. "If you go to the Manor I will, of course, come with you."

"Thank you Draco, it doesn't make the choice any easier but thank you."

"Where's my invite to this illustrious tea party?" Ginny asked in mock indignation.

"Lost in the post?" Hermione suggested.

"The dog ate it." Draco said with a smirk.

"I'm not sure, I'll check my remembrall." Neville added.

"It was the Nargles, of course." Luna said, not quite getting the joke but completely confident that anything missing was the fault of the Nargles.

"I bloody love the lot of you!" Ginny smiled.

"You're alright I guess." Draco said as he nudged Ginny with his shoulder playfully.

"Oh did I tell you Aunty Bee invited me to join your class tomorrow? I've got a free period and she said you were doing Patronus."

Ginny smirked. "Oh this is gonna be good. You're voluntarily coming to be taught light magic by the Chosen One?"

"Potters teaching? She didn't mention that, but why not? Isn't that one of the three spells he knows how to use? I thought he was the poster child for Expeliamus, Accio and Expecto Patronum…" He had a goofy smile on his face and it made Hermione break out of her little break down.

She had made it through the war and she shouldn't be losing sleep over a cup of tea. She should be enjoying these moments of joking about her best friend with their ex nemesis. This was how school was meant to be. She put on her best stern prefect voice as she admonished Draco.

"Hey, that's not fair! You know as well as I do that Harry is competent at more than just three spells!" Draco was just about to start apologising and explaining that it was a joke, when Hermione's lips turned up into a smirk. "He's also really good at Sectumsempra."

Draco let out a breath of relief which Ginny was quick to guffaw at, the others quickly released sniggers of their own.

"You really had me going for a minute there, Merlin's beard Mia…" He had his hand on his chest as if he could slow his anxious heart rate by pressing down on it.

"Sorry, I couldn't help it. You gave me such an easy in." She reached over the table and gave a squeeze to the hand he had resting on the table. "I'm glad you'll be joining us. I think Harry has probably got the record for teaching the most people to successfully cast a Patronus so you'll just be another name on the list. I have full confidence that you can do it!"

"Thanks Mione, glad someone has confidence in me."

Neville clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on Draco, if I can cast one then you sure as hell can!"

Ginny and Hermione looked at Neville in shock, Luna just looked at him with pride.

"Nev, you got your corporeal? Why didn't you tell us? What is it? When did it happen?"

Neville just looked at Luna in a panic.

"Neville got his Patronus after the first time we slept together, it is a Mongoose and a while ago. He didn't tell you because he was planning on surprising you when we eventually did a lesson on them but I think supporting Draco was more important."

Hermione couldn't have been prouder. "Do you realise how fitting a Mongoose is? They are cooperative and loyal to those they love, cute and seemingly harmless but aren't afraid to stand up for what's right, no matter the consequence. Also they are famous for being deadly to snakes. I don't think you could have produced a better fitting Patronus honestly."

She did momentarily think about the fact that his Patronus didn't match Luna's and she debated asking Luna how she had coped with that; because Hermione didn't even know if her and Bella matched or not and she was definitely not coping. Luckily, Luna was one again a step ahead of them all.

"Hermione, I'm coming to yours after dinner tonight. We need some time together."

"I erm… yeah of course. I'd love to."

No one questioned it, Luna just knew these things.

"Brilliant. I hope there's apple crumble for pudding."

The two of them headed back to Hermione's room a short while later, after eating their body weight in apple crumble (Luna was always right).

- Bells, Luna is coming over for a bit so I'm gonna stay in my half for a while. Please don't earwig because I think we're going to talk about her and Neville. I don't want to break her trust just because you're a nosey so and so.

-Eugh finneeeeee I won't earwig. You're a stick in the mud sometimes Granger.

-I'm sure all this absolutely filthy sex we have counteracts my stick-in-the-mud-ness.

-Hmm yes probably. You'll just have to make it up to me.

-I'm sure you'll think of a way.

-I'm sure I will.

-Bye Belly boo

-Oh no… you may have got away with that when you were drunk but that is not sticking!

-I think it might have already stuck.

-Well bloody unstick it right now!

-I'll think about it. Bye Bells

-I swear you're gonna give me grey hair… Bye Little Love.

"I have successfully booked us some freedom for nosey soulmate's once we get to my room."

"I wouldn't have minded but I think you would. Thank you anyway."

"Oh er… yeah I guess so. I swear you always know everything a second after I've thought it myself."

"I told you the Nargles float out of your head and start gossiping with each other. If you learnt to listen, you'd know it all too."

"How do you even learn to listen to them?"

"I can teach you if you like? But not today. Today we need to talk about Patronus."

"You really do know everything I swear."

They reached Hermione's door and she let them in, sitting down on the sofa.

"What do you want to know? Don't worry, you can't upset me."

"Well… your's and Neville's Patronuses don't match, how are you ok with that?"

"For two things, many couples' patronuses don't match and it doesn't mean their love for one another isn't true, it just means the Patronus don't manifest the same way.

Plus me and Neville, we love each other but we both know we won't end up together. I'm not sure who, but there is someone out there who will be what Neville needs forever. I am what he needs for now and he is what I need but we both know it isn't forever. Our lives don't match up and they never will. One day I am going to watch him marry the love of his life and I will be proud to have been a part of it."

"Luna that's… are you sure you're not a seer?"

Luna didn't answer, just gave her a knowing smile.

"Why are you worried that Bella's Patronus won't match yours?"

"Because we're soulmates, isn't that what matching Patronus are about? An undying eternal love?"

"No. Matching Patronus are about an unchanging eternal love, a love that will always be the same. Think about the cases that have happened in recent years. Lily and James' love didn't change over the years because they didn't get a lifetime together, neither did Remus and Tonks. Their love remained how it was the moment it was formed. It was true love, yes but it never changed.

Snape's love for Lily never changed, he was in love with her but never with her. So he will always be in love with her the same way because she never loved him back, it will always be unrequited.

Harry's love for his parents, he will always love them exactly as he does now.

And Fred and George, well I think it's a bit to do with them living near identical lives. They were by each other's sides through everything and a love between twins I think will always be something akin to platonic soulmates. George can't cast his now because it makes him too sad.

But you and Black? You are going to live an amazing life together, you're going to go on adventures, you are going to be with her when she finishes her probation and is free again. She is going to be with you when you make some magical discovery. You will grow old and grey together and a love like that will change over time because it is healthy for a love like that to change over time. So if your patronuses don't match it's because you are destined for a love worth more than matching spells."

"That's… actually really sound logic. Wow. I… I feel like you've lifted the world off my shoulders. You always know exactly what I need to hear. I love you Luna, I love you so much and I can't wait to sit and watch you walk down the aisle to your once in a lifetime love."

"Oh I won't be getting married. You can only marry one person and the future I see has many people to share my love with. Neville just needs me all to himself."

"Oh… well I look forward to meeting your great loves. However many of them there are, they will always be welcome in our lives."

"Thank you Hermione, I look forward to meeting them too. Now, I'm sure Bella will be getting antsy so off you go. I'm going to go sit and talk riddles with the eagle at Ravenclaw tower. They are awfully clever but no one else takes the time to talk to them. It's a shame really."

"Thanks Luna, for always being exactly what I need you to be. I hope you have a good time with the eagle."

"I'm sure I will, I nearly came up with a riddle they couldn't pass the other day. Goodbye."

"Bye Luna."

She stayed sat on the sofa for a while, just thinking through everything that Luna had said. She hoped that it was true, that her and Bella would be an eternal love that would shift and change as they grew. Whilst she still had a bit of hope that Bella's Patronus would be an Otter, she wouldn't be crushed if it wasn't anymore.

She headed to her bedroom, shrugging off her uniform as she went. She pulled out a set of flannel PJs and a fluffy dressing gown, she just needed to feel cozy and comfortable tonight. She grabbed the book from Andy and headed through to Bella's room.

The sight that greeted her warmed her heart; Bella was sat upside down on the sofa, feet sticking up in the air and her hair brushing against the floor. She had a book in her tight grasp and her tongue was caught between her teeth, her face was flushed as all the blood had drained into her face.

"You really are the poster child for neurodiverse, my love."

Bella's brow furrowed but she didn't appear to be planning on righting herself any time soon.

"What is neuroviverse?"

"It's a muggle term for people who have slightly different brains than most of the world. Things like Autism and ADHD fall under it, not that those will mean anything to you. I've just noticed some of the things you do are really common to my cousin, she's got ADHD and she always sits just like that, she could do it for hours; I just always felt dizzy."

"So I'm neurovivderse because I sit weird?" Her book landed on the floor by her head, hands now absentmindedly playing with her own curls.

"Well no… there's the fact that you are a constant ball of energy, the fact you're always so animated when you talk, I've seen you literally jumping round a room when you're teach. Forgetting that I was naked under my coat because you got distracted, how impatient you can get especially for things like watching me open presents but that you can spend hours with your attention focused solely on me or research when you get into a hyperfocus. You've got no sense of danger which you've proved multiple times over the years…. Honestly the list goes on. It's nothing bad, it's just different to me. I love you for everything you are."

"So what do the Muggles do with people with neurdoviderse?"

"It depends, like for ADHD in America they can be given medication but in the UK mostly they're just left to their own devices. Help with school work and sometimes talk therapy but it's nothing bad like I say, sometimes people just need some extra support."

Bella flipped herself back upright.

"And you would still love me if I was?" There was a hint of insecurity in her voice and Hermione couldn't help but to sit down and wrap the woman in her arms.

"I would still love you if you had three heads. Of course, I will still love you. If you do or you don't, I will still love you. I'm not a doctor so I can't say for sure either way, just similarities I've noticed and some things I know from when I researched about Sarah, my cousin. This could all just be Bellatrix being Bellatrix and I don't care either way."

"Hmm, ok then." She shrugged. "Bed and books?"

Hermione held up her own book.

"You read my mind."

Bella stood, collected her book from the floor and held out her spare hand to Hermione.

"Not this time I didn't, just knew you would be in a book mood after all your letters."

Hermione took her hand as they headed to bed.

"I love you so much, Bells. Now don't talk to me for the next hour or so… I'm going to read about punctuation."

"I'm reading about serial killers in the UK… mine sound much more fun."

They both climbed into bed and sat so their legs were touching but they could both still read comfortably.

"Just hoping there's a chapter on you?"

"I'm not a serial killer, my love, I'm a mass murderer and serial torturer. Much more niche."

"Oh god… don't remind me."

"Why not? We both know how much it turns you on when I play mean powerful Death Eater…" She walked her fingers across Hermione's thigh as she said it and goosebumps rose on Hermione's leg in response. She flushed a deep pink.

"Just because we both know it, doesn't mean you have to say it."

"Oh no poor baby, is itty bitty Granger embawased for wanting to play with the big bad Death Eater?"

"Oh shush…. Read your murder porn and stop tormenting me."

Bella snorted. "Yes, dear." She rested her head against Hermione's shoulder. "I love you."

Hermione likewise rested her head on top of Bella's. "I love you too, my merry murderess. But seriously shush, I'm really excited to read this."

Bella chuckled and they both got comfortable and read in silence together until they both fell asleep with books still in hand.

"Hey Harry! Or should I say Professor Potter." Hermione said as she reached the DADA classroom, it was near the end of lunch and they had all agreed to meet to discuss their plans for the lesson.

"Hey Mia. Please don't call me Professor Potter, especially not in front of everyone else."

He pulled her in for a hug and she allowed herself a few moments to just exist in the familiar feeling of hugging her best friend.

"Ye, if you did want all of us to call you Professor Potter, I think I'd have to kill you. It's bad enough having to call Aunty Bee 'Professor Black' in class."

Draco spoke from on top of a desk in the front row.

"Ye but Draco, at least I don't have to call Hermione 'Aunty Mia' that's got to be worse than Professor Potter."

Draco responded. "Touché" at the same time that Hermione shouted. "Hey, that's so rude!"

Harry just snorted at her and wrapped his arms around Ginny from behind, no doubt in an attempt to use her as a human shield.

"That's gonna be my cup de grass for the rest of our lives!"

"Cup. De. Grass…. Harry, do you mean coup de grâce?"

"Ye… potato patahto." He said with a shrug.

"I've missed this." Ginny said wistfully.

"You've missed us sitting in the DADA classroom?" Neville asked from his position behind his usual desk.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "No I mean, I miss us all being together. Arguing with Malfoy, Hermione correcting us… it's nice for things to feel like they used to be."

There was a snort from the door, where Bella was casually resting against the door frame.

"If things were as they used to be I would be trying to kill you all… so I think we can agree the past isn't all that great. Now what's the plan?"

She pushed off, shut the door behind her and walked over to her desk, she sat down on top of it and pulled one leg up and hugged it to her chest. Hermione was very glad Bella was wearing trousers today because otherwise she would have flashed everyone.

"Erm I mean, I'm happy to just follow your lead Professor. I've never taught in a formal setting, it was always just friends really." Harry offered up.

"True but you also have more experience with Patronus than I ever will. Maybe I can take them through the theory part and then you can take over with the practical? Although I will say I don't want any of you answering questions unless I call on you, give everyone else a chance. Then we can spend the last hour and a bit practicing and you can all help your classmates."

"Sounds good to me. Forgive me for being straight but have you tried to cast one yet? Hermione mentioned in her letter that you hadn't and I don't want to say anything to the class and make you uncomfortable."

"Aw Potter, you worried about little old me. I managed to cast an incorporeal last night. So if need be I can cast it."

"Cool. Ok so that's four corporeal and two incorporeal."

Luna piped up from her seat next to Neville. "Five corporeal, Neville got his this year."

Harry's smile couldn't have been any bigger. "I'm so proud of you, Nev! Always told you that you could do it."

Neville blushed. "I… thanks, Harry."

"Okay so five corporeal and an incorporeal. My goal by the end of the class is gonna be to get your corporeal Professor, I hope you realise and Draco you will have some form of Patronus. I'm confident I can get most of the class to have some form of something."

"You're very confident there, Potter." Bella commented, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

"Sounds a bit headed but I've got a right to be. I'm really good at teaching people to cast a Patronus."

"Well then, I will sort the talking portion and then I will bow to your superior Patronus prowess."

"Erm… thanks Professor. The rest of you know how I work by now so I'm guessing you won't need anymore info?"

The previous members of Dumbledore's Army gestured that he was right and Harry nodded back. He took a quick glance up at the clock.

"Cool. Everyone should be here soon. Professor, do you mind if we open the door now? Everyone here I've known for years and I don't want to waste class time on hugs."

"Eww… whatever makes you feel better Potter but I will be in my office until class starts if that is the case." She jumped off the desk and headed towards the door at the back of the classroom that led to her office.

"Wait up Aunty Bee, I can't watch these Gryffindors get all touchy feely, I'll get sick just off the sight of it."

"Spoken like a true Black there Dragon."

After a display that would have made even the softest Slytherin blow chunks, everyone was finally sat ready for class to start. Bella swooped in from her office bang on 2pm, Draco at her heels. Draco stopped at the back of the room, leaning against the back wall next to Harry, instead of taking a seat.

"Right, have we all finished fawning over the Chosen One? Good. Potter is here to help you with your Patronus. He has single handedly taught more witches and wizards to cast the spell successfully than any other single person in recent history so I thought it made sense to use his knowledge. So, what is a Patronus?"

A Ravenclaw from Luna's year put his hand in the air, Bella nodded her head towards him.

"It is a shield- cast from love, happiness and hope. Fueled by a memory, it acts as a guardian of sorts to defend against Dementors."

"Excellent, ten points to Ravenclaw. Can anyone else tell me something a Patronus protects against?"

This time a Gryffindor girl raised her hand.

"A Lethifold, Professor."

"Which is?"

"Erm well… it's an evil cloak that eats human flesh."

"Precisely! Ten points to Gryffindor."

They spend the next half hour discussing the academic information about a Patronus; the difference between Corporeal and incorporeal, other uses for Patronus such as sending messages and the historical writings about what happened when dark practitioners attempted the spell.

Finally Bella called Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Luna and Neville to the front.

"Now, we are in a unique position to have not one but five of your classmates who can cast a Patronus. In a moment they will be each casting theirs but before they do I thought we could play a game. Each Patronus takes on the form of an animal when cast to its full potential, I would like you to guess what animal each of your classmates has. If you know, please don't ruin it for everyone. We will start with the easy one, even I know this one, so Potter?"

No one offered a suggestion as they all knew what his Patronus was, hard to hide when it was the talk of the school in their third year.

"As I thought. Together then, what is Mr Potter's Patronus?"

"A stag." Came the response from the class and moments later his silvery stag appeared in the center of the classroom, it took a quick lap around the room before Harry dropped the spell and it disappeared.

"Ok next, Miss Granger."

There were multiple shouts of suggestions; an octopus, owl, a book and (one she was confident cam from Draco) a beaver.

Bella nodded to Hermione and her Otter swam gracefully through the air before laying itself across Hermione's shoulders. Then like Harry's stag before it, it melted away.

The process was repeated for Ginny (Bat, Hippogriff, Phoenix), Neville (Mouse, Lion and Cornish Pixie) and Luna (Unicorn, Thestral, Nargle and Bowtruckle).

A Gryffindor boy stuck his hand in the air.

"Mr Midea?"

"Professor, have you tried to cast one? I know everyone says that Death Eaters can't and that they will get eaten by maggots but… have you tried?"

"I can't decide if you are incredibly brave or incredibly stupid, Mr Midea...but I will make a deal with you. If you can cast at least an incorporeal Patronus before the end of today's lesson then I will show you what happens when I cast the spell."

He nodded excitedly and multiple heads around the room perked up, clearly everyone was intrigued by what would happen when the Dark Witch cast the spell championed by the light.

"Mr Potter, the floor is yours."

Harry launched into his now well practiced lesson on how to cast a Patronus, how to choose a powerful memory and how even an incorporeal Patronus can save your life.

He explained the incantation and wand movement and then everyone was on their feet, the desks once again at the edge of the classroom.

The members of the DA walked around the offering support, listening to memories and correcting form. Most didn't even get a wisp of smoke for at least half an hour. Harry kept reminding everyone that a Patronus was a particularly tricky piece of magic and that even if they can't produce anything that they are still amazing and that every wisp of smoke they do produce is fantastic.

It was with about 45 minutes into their practice that the first true incorporeal appeared, it came from a small Ravenclaw girl who squealed in excitement as she cast, causing her Patronus to become more solid with her excitement.

"Yes, fantastic, Tilly!!" Harry shouted in excitement.

"25 points to Ravenclaw!" Bella added.

"Everyone let that be a reminder to you that you can do this, it just might take you some time. I want you all to try now but throw out all your doubt. Tilly has just proved it's possible, so try just once believing you can do it. Act like you've already done it and trust in your magic. Everyone together. 3, 2, 1."

There was at least 6 balls of light appear around the room and even more streams of smoke.

"YES! Again!"

It was about ten minutes after this that the first true Patronus appeared. I had a large head with a long, thick, muscular neck and powerful jaws; the Hyena bowed low to its caster who looked like they weren't expected it. Draco Malfoy was the first to produce a corporeal Patronus.

"Damn straight Draco!" Harry shouted, extatic for his ex enemy.

"50 points to Slytherin. Well done Draco." Bella said, a small smile showing on her face.

Tilly followed not long after with a beautiful Atlas Moth, earning Ravenclaw another 50 points.

To everyone's delight Clive Midea whooped in delight around the last ten minutes of class as he produced his first incorporeal.

"Well done Clive, guess our illustrious Professor will have to show us her attempt after all gang. Right two more attempts each!"

A couple more incorporeal popped out which meant the majority of the class, just as Harry promised, had some form of rudimentary Patronus.

With five minutes remaining everyone was back at their desks and Bella was stood up at the front. Hermione could tell she was nervous so she decided to take over.

"We don't know what Professor Black can produce but any guesses on what animal it would be if she can cast one?"

The offered suggestions were many; Black Panther, Raven, Dragon, Cat, Eagle and Wolf amongst the suggestion.

"Shall we see if any of you were right?"

Hermione looked over at Bella.

- Remember, a memory full of love with a limitless future. I love you. I believe in you.

Bella locked eyes with Hermione, focused on all their love and thought of the moment Hermione agreed to be her wife, she allowed the feeling to build inside her until it felt like it would burst out of her, readied her wand and cast.

"Expecto Patronum!"

A fully formed Patronus shot out of her wand, it circled once around Bella's legs and then scampered up her body to sit on her shoulder.

Hermione simply looked at her in awe and whispered "You did it!"