October 14th, 1977
2 weeks had gone since the first lesson on the Patronus Charm. Harry and Ginny helped the students for one week and after that they told them to practice the spell on their own and to ask them if they needed some help.
So that was what the students did. After another week of practice, nearly all of them got their Patronuses. James got a stag, Sirius got a dog and Remus got a wolf. Peter got a rat. While to the marauders, it was cool that they got their Animagus forms as their Patronuses, to Harry and Ginny it was in a way a conformation that Peter was always like a rat and his eventual betrayal wasn't just a spur of the moment decision. Snape meanwhile got a snake, a perfect Patronus considering his slippery and sneaky nature, which was why he was such a great double agent. Marlene, Dorcas and Alice got a cat, dove and lioness as their Patronuses.
Weirdly, Lily was the only one who wasn't able to get a Patronus, which confused not only her, but her friends as well. Lily was one of the best students at the school. If Peter was able to get a Patronus, why was Lily unable to get one?
This question had been gnawing her and she decided to ask her professors for answers. After the class, she stayed behind and asked Harry and Ginny, "Professors, I needed some help with the Patronus charm. Is now a good time?" Harry and Ginny were about to answer her when they heard a loud wail coming from the small room attached to the class. It was the teacher's room and currently Teddy was in his crib, sleeping in that room. That loud wail meant he was awake and hungry. Ginny said, "You go and check Teddy. I will help Lily." Harry nodded and went to the room. Ginny meanwhile sat on one of the chairs and said, "Sit down Lily. It's ok if I call you Lily, right?" Lily said, "It's ok professor." Ginny said, "Great. So, what help do you need Lily?" Lily said, "Why can't I get my Patronus professor? Everyone else has been getting a Patronus but I haven't. Why is that? Am I doing something wrong?" Ginny said, "Patronus is a very tricky and complicated concept Lily. What we know about them is just the surface of what a Patronus is capable of. There is still a lot we don't know about it. Maybe we will know about it in time. Or maybe we will never realize it. Anything is possible. So, there are a lot of reasons why one may get the charm while some may not. Now, as for why you are not getting a corporal form, there are 2 possible reasons. First one is that the memory that you are using doesn't relate to the animal that your Patronus is. When we were learning about Patronus charm, one of my friends got it easily, because she was exactly like her Patronus. However, there was another friend who took a lot of times before he got his Patronus. And the reason for him was his animal was a lion, which indicates confidence and strength. But at that time, he was shy and unconfident. But once he got confident, he got his Patronus. So that can be a reason. The other reason is your memory is simply not strong or happy enough to make a corporal Patronus. I, however, think that your Patronus is wanting something more from you. What it is, we don't know? When you realize what it is, you would be able to do it easily. It isn't your magic fault. Something else is the problem and in time you will know it and then get your corporal form." Lily listened to it and after thinking over what Ginny had just told her, said, "That makes sense. Thank you, professor." Ginny said, "No problem, Lily. Anyways, your shield looks very strong and I can see it already taking some form. Just try different thoughts and memory. That may work." Lily nodded and then left the room, satisfied by the explanation she got from Ginny.
After Lily left, Ginny went to the room. She found Harry playing with Teddy. Seeing his godmother come into the room, Teddy lifted his arms, wanting to be lifted by his godmother. His hair, which had been black until that point, turned red. Ginny lifted him up and blew a raspberry near his ear, making Teddy laugh. He then threw his small arms around Ginny's neck and snuggled his head on her shoulder.
Seeing Ginny standing with Teddy in her arms, with him having red hair and his eyes, made Harry feel some things he had never felt before. Heat spread throughout his body. He had seen this scene many times, but something today was different. He had always felt attraction towards Ginny since his 6th year, but he had never confessed his feelings, simply because he never got the chance to do so.
With the war, dealing with the death of so many of their friends and family and then reconstruction had pushed all these thoughts to the back of his mind. But at that moment, all those had reawaken and struck him hard. He tried to push these thoughts back. Now was not the time to think about these things. He and Ginny were there for a reason. They had a job to do and at the moment, it was the thing he needed to think about and focus on.
He asked her, "So what did Lily ask?" Ginny said, "She isn't getting a corporal form." Harry said, "Sirius, Remus and Dumbledore told me that it was a doe. Remus even said that mum's doe was because of dad. Do you think that is why she isn't getting her Patronus?" Ginny said, "I think so too. Maybe once she realizes, she likes James, or once they become a couple, her Patronus will come. Her shield however looks like it is taking the shape of a doe." Harry said, "It does. Let's see what will happen in the future."