Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Happy Place

With Christmas over, I was allowed Boxing Day to recover. But it was full steam ahead after that. Flitwick was determined I learn something before the new term. Meaning the lazy days before classes resumed were non-existent for me.

We met in Flitwick's classroom right after breakfast. The morning light shining through the windows was gentle. Flitwick had a fire going in the fireplace behind his podium, so the room wasn't freezing either. Altogether, it was rather pleasant.

"What did the book teach you?" Flitwick asked as we stood across from each other in the center of the classroom.

"The Patronus Charm is a defensive type of magic", I began; holding my wand loosely at my side. "It's considered to be advanced magic because it requires two fuel sources. The first is magic, as is true with all spells. Though someone needs a strong core in order to cast a fully corporeal Patronus. The second is positive energy which must come from the caster. Without both, the charm isn't possible".

Flitwick nodded once. "Good, and?"

"Um…" Merlin, I was starting to think it would've been easier if I just wrote Flitwick an essay about it. "There are two types of patronises; corporeal and incorporeal. An incorporeal patronus has no shape. While a corporeal patronus takes the form of an animal that best represents the caster. Both can be used to ward off dementors and lethifolds. But a corporeal is more effective".

"Excellent", Flitwick praised; moving on quickly before I could dwell on it. "I trust you've memorized the incantation?"

I nodded.

"And practiced the wand movement?"

"Yes, sir". In fact, I'd started practicing drawing it in the air during dinner last night. Fred and George thought it was hysterical.

"Then you're ready to proceed", Flitwick announced. "Wand at the ready". I kept my grip loose as I raised my wand to be aligned with my nose. It only took six years, but I now knew that an overly tight grip made for poor spellcasting. "Now, focus on your happiest memory. Keep it at the forefront of your mind and, when you're ready, cast".

Closing my eyes to do just that, I tried not to get distracted by worrying about how I must look right now. Since Flitwick first mentioned learning the Patronus charm, I'd been sifting through all my memories. Holly had plenty of good things to recall; Christmas mornings, family dinners, successful pranks… pranks gone wrong. Jessie had good memories too. There was slightly less of them and they were of a… questionable quality, but they existed! …In my head. Still, it was difficult to differentiate between good and the happiest I've ever felt:

The summer before our third year, Percy became a prefect. Mum was ecstatic. "Just like Bill and Charlie", she gushed. Percy was rewarded by being allowed to purchase Hermes. He started wearing his prefect badge around the house even though the start of term was still a few weeks off. It was clearly very important to Percy. And as if his pride was blood in the water and we were sharks, Fred, George, and I had to take advantage. George swiped it first. I hid it in Bill's sock drawer. Where no one thought to look since he was in Egypt. Percy was frantic. He was on our tails constantly trying to get one of us to cave. It was great. We hadn't maintained his attention for that long in years. From that prank, we got to play the most convoluted, long, and combined game of hide and seek, and keep away. At least, until Mum used the summoning charm and then yelled at us for what felt like an hour.

Opening my eyes, I traced out the wand movement. "Expecto Patronum!" My magic reacted appropriately. I could feel it shooting up my arm as my wand acted as a conductor. However, the only thing produced was a tiny silver sliver of magic. More of a mist really. Disappointed, my shoulders drooped and I tried not to show it. "My Patronus is incorporeal", I concluded. Drat. It would have been fun to learn what animal best represented me. Kind of like those online quizzes Jessie use to take when she was a teenager.

Flitwick let out a light chuckle as he kindly disagreed with me. "It is too soon to tell, Weasley". With his own wand, he started drawing the wand movement without casting. "I have yet to meet anyone who's successfully cast the patronus charm on their first try. You shall go again. But this time, try to make your wand movement fluid instead of sharp". Flitwick demonstrated exactly that. "There are no corners or fine points in this spell. And try a different memory as well. It will take some self-reflection. Your happiest memory may not be obvious".

Exhaling through my nose, I nodded and raised my wand. More fluid and happier. I closed my eyes again:

I stood in the third-floor corridor; staring out a window. Adrian stood next to me; leaning on the window sill. Our friends were spread out around us as they searched for Luna's missing things. Emotions swirled in my gut as we looked at each other. Contentment, gratitude, appreciation, and a sense of safety. I felt them all as Adrian and I hugged. "I love you", I blurted out. It was the first time either one of us had made such a statement. Hell, it was the first time I had said that to a significant other as both Holly and Jessie. But was it too soon? Did Adrian feel the same way? Would rejection hurt as bad as I feared? Adrian had no words. In response, he kissed me deeply. And all my feelings grew.

"Expecto Patronum!" This time I kept my eyes closed until after saying the incantation; wand swirling through the air as I did so. I raised my eyelids just in time to see a slightly thicker and larger sliver of magic. Still formless.

Though Professor Flitwick acted like it was a big accomplishment. "Good show", he clapped. "Already you're seeing an improvement to your first attempt". Which I suppose is one way to look at it. "Keep your wand movement just like that", Flitwick provided feedback as I lowered my wand and relaxed my stance to listen. "And search deeper. Your memory needs to be more meaningful. Now," Flitwick clapped once more before rubbing his hands together. "Shall we try again?"

We did try again. And again, and again, and again. I thought about Mum teaching me how to cook her upside-down cake. I remembered the time Jessie got her first paycheck. Then there was the time when I was six. Mum had bragged to Dad over the dinner table about how I picked up a book that should've been too hard and read it like it was too easy; making her believe I was smarter than I actually was.

None of them were strong enough. "Keep searching", Flitwick urged me. "Your form and elocution are correct, so you may practice on your own. We will continue the day after tomorrow".

February 24th appeared a lot closer now that Christmas was over. Adrian was more anxious than ever before. His free moments were spent pacing. When he wasn't doing that, we scrambled to try to figure out the water conundrum. Now, Harry and company worked alongside us. Something Adrian was far from thrilled about. "One of the reasons I'm doing this tournament is to spare him", Adrian tried to argue.

But it was a poor argument. Especially when we were supposed to be the selling faces for Lord Flint's philosophical pillars. Harry, with his signature stubbornness and self-sacrificing nature, cut right through every protest Adrian thought of. "You'd do it for me", was Harry's favorite counterpoint.

We tried Flitwick's water-repellant Idea. Using the prefect's bath, Harry and I worked the charm until we figured out how to use it in tandem with the others looking on. Splitting the water ended up being the easy part. Keeping it from caving in over our heads and maintaining the sheer weight of it was where we hit a wall.

"This isn't going to work", Adrian said; studying Harry and me as we stood before him. Soak through. He stood by the sinks. As far away from the swimming pool-like bath as he could. A frown etched across his face and his muscles tensed.

Stealing a glance at Harry, it was clear we both agreed. "We could try the bubble head charm", Hermione suggested as she passed out towels to those who needed it. My eyes flashed nervously over Adrian. She was right. We needed to try something else. But the whole appeal of the water-repellant charm was that Adrian wouldn't have to swim. Wouldn't have to feel the water engulfing his skin.

"I don't know, Hermione", Ron piped up from where he sat perched on top of the diving board; the pant legs of his trousers rolled up and his feet dipped into the water. "Come across anything sharp and they'd be taking in water like a sunk ship".

Adrian flinched as I sent my little brother a hard stare. He wasn't wrong. But there was no need to be so descriptive. "What's your bright idea then", Hermione asked; hands on her hips as I tried to wring some of the water from my hair and Harry wrapped his towel around his shoulders.

Before Ron could reply, the door to the prefects' bathroom swung open. "'Ello" A voice greeted as all our heads snapped in her direction. Fleur stood tall as she closed the door softly behind her. All without taking her eyes off us.

"How did you get in here?" Ron asked; mouth slightly slacking. Even Hermione's unimpressed glare wasn't enough to break through his hard head.

"I gave her the password", I admitted, moving forward to meet her and ignoring the unimpressed expression Adrian had for me. "Did you make up your mind?" I asked, stopping a few feet away from Fleur. After all, I was wet and she didn't strike me as the type to have much patience from being splashed on.

It was a bit of a redundant question. Fleur's serious face told me it was. She wouldn't be here if she hadn't. She wouldn't be here if she had made up her mind and it wasn't in our favor. "I would like to work together", she said at a loud enough volume that all could hear her. "Ze lake, it is a better challenge for a team".

Hearing Fleur say that caused a wave of relief to wash over me. The brightened smiles on the faces of the golden trio told me they felt similar. "We better get started then". Stepping to the side, I included Harry in my next sentence. "Do you want to fill Fleur in on what we've tried?"

Harry nodded. Though it was Hermione who spoke next. "We explored the water-repellant charm. And now we're discussing the bubble head charm". Fleur paid me no further mind as she stepped closer to the two fourth-years with Ron looking on from the diving board.

As soon as they were occupied with this daunting task, Adrian moved. "Holly", he hissed lowly when he appeared at my elbow. "It's bad enough you asked Potter, but Delacour too".

With loose hair plastered to my face and waterlogged clothes, I faced Adrian; stealing myself for a battle of wills I was determined to win. "We're not getting anywhere. You can't even get your toes wet without twitching. We need help. You need help".

Adrian began shaking his head before I finished. "It's foolish. Dangerous to show weaknesses". His fingers were doing something complicated; stretching and posturing in a silent way to work out some anxiety. I wouldn't have noticed if I didn't know to look for it. "If Delacour learns of my… aversion to water, I'll- Well, she will use it against me".

"No, she won't", I argued as I glanced over my shoulder. Both Hermione and Ron were watching Fleur closely as she helped Harry work through a series of wand movements. For the bubble head charm from the looks of it. "She's a good person". Fleur had to be. Anyone who might marry one of my brothers was required to be one.

Scoffing in a disgruntled manner, Adrian turned his gaze away from me. "Good people work against others all the time. Never give power of yourself over to others. Never trust they won't use it when an opportunity presents itself".

"You know my weaknesses. And Harry's and Sirius'". I set up my argument. Adrian grunted with each example; knowing where I was going and that he couldn't refute it. "But you don't use them to your advantage". Well… mostly. And not with hurtful intentions. It was more of a competitive way. Or an 'in your best interest' sort of way. All were annoying but… This is becoming off-topic.

"That's different". Adrian tried as his grey eyes focused back on my brown.

"Why?" I pressed.

In the background, I could hear Fleur conversing with the others. "I believe ze red-'aired boy is right".

"Ron", Harry supplied helpfully.

"Ze bubble 'ead is not without risk".

Adrian pursed his lips and exhaled loudly through his nose. Placing a hand on each of my upper arms, he seemed to not mind the dripping fabric covering them. "Holly, you are one of my weaknesses". Adrian spoke quietly as if to ensure we wouldn't be overheard. "I can't use your weaknesses to my advantage without harming myself".

I blinked twice. Not sure if I should be touched or irritated by that sentiment. "This isn't any different than what Lord Flint is asking us to do", I moved on. "We're bringing in new friends and spreading his word. Why shouldn't we get something out of it by doing that?" And Adrian not having an anxiety attack while I was unconscious at the bottom of the lake sounded perfect.

Adrian added more pressure as he held his hands against my arms. "You don't know how things like this work?"

That statement earned Adrian a raised eyebrow. He's awfully lucky he's currently going through a mental upheaval. Otherwise, I'd be writing his mum for more baby pictures I could share with Sirius for that comment. "I know quite a few things actually". My nostrils flared as I shrugged his hands off me. "I know you know that I believe Lord Flint is full of it. I also know that if any of this UP stuff, or anything we have planned, is going to work we are going to have to believe his stupid pillars for a better tomorrow".

Adrian's hands hung limply by his sides. "Holly", he sighed.

I didn't like the defeated tone in his voice. Even if that indicated an easy win for me. "A part of unity is honesty. A part of strength is accepting weakness. And unvarying consideration is a two-way street. We can't offer it to others if we don't let them do the same for us". My voice softened. Stepping forward, I wrapped my arms around Adrian's neck and held him close. His clothes would become damp. But he deserved it. "I also know that you're a stubborn idiot. And that I love you. Which is how I know that I won't let your pride destroy you".

It was a long moment of me refusing to let go before Adrian slowly raised his arms and pressed his hands against my shoulder blades. "Alright". He relented into my ear. "Potter, Delacour, and I will compete as a team".

"Thank you", I murmured; turning my head just enough so I could brush a kiss against his jawbone.

The door to the prefects' bathroom swung open a second time. "Hello", a deep voice greeted. "Hermy-own-ninny, I want to accept your offer".

"Viktor! Welcome", Hermione said in response. Sounding just as enthused as she had at the ball.

Adrian pulled back from our embrace; fixing me with a long stare. I smiled broadly at him in return. Four champions working together was better than three. It was simple logic and not something Adrian could argue.

The day before the new term started, I found myself back in Flitwick's classroom. After a few more one-to-one sessions with him, self-study, and a whole lot of soul-searching, I was prepared. "When you're ready, Miss Weasley", Flitwick said encouragingly as he stood by his podium.

Breathing once through my mouth, I nodded and closed my eyes:

It was a rainy day at the Burrow. During a weekend since Dad wasn't at work. Bill was thirteen and Charlie had just started school that year. But they were home. I couldn't remember why. Maybe it was the Easter holiday. We all resided in the living room. There was little to do. Though no one was complaining. Dad lounged in his favorite armchair with a storybook opened in his lap. A fire crackled softly in the background. Rocking in her rocking chair, Mum slowly and calmly knitted a scarf. The clicking sound her needles made served as a nice addition to the sounds of the fire. Charlie sat in the middle of the sofa. Percy on his left and Ron on his right. Everyone was still small enough that three could fit comfortably. Though Ginny had the honor of being perched on Charlie's lap with her favorite doll. His arms encasing her kept her safe. At the age of four, she was more interested in the doll than the story.

On the floor, sat me, my fellow triplets, and Bill. Bill had his legs folded and crisscrossed. Fred and George laid on their stomachs on either side of him; their sides pressed against his thighs as they kept their chins prompted up by their hands and elbows. I sat in Bill's lap. It had been a bad night for nightmares the night prior as I recalled. As such, I needed Bill's help to stay upright as I fought sleep.

As Dad read, he'd wave his hands when things became exciting. Or change his tone to fit the mood. He had a few other tricks too. A couple of times, Dad would change the words. Only for Percy to blurt out, "That's not how that part goes".

"Right you are, son", Dad would agree before rereading the line and sharing an indulgent look with his two eldest. At eleven and thirteen, Charlie and Bill weren't interested in being read to. But they put up with it and enjoyed it because the rest of us loved it so.

Other times, Dad would make up new voices for the different characters. Every attempt had us laughing. And Mum would smile softly. All without looking up from her knitting. This memory was safe and warm and precious.

I opened my eyes. "Expecto Patronum!" A jet of silver magic shot out of the tip of my wand. At first, it stayed localized as it morphed. In the blink of an eye, a fox took its place with pointy ears and an extra bushy tail. As if on the hunt, it slinked around Flitwick's classroom.

"Excellent, Miss Weasley", Flitwick cheered. As the little silver fox trotted around him before coming to investigate the hems of my robes. "I knew you could do it".

As the fox started to fade, I smiled; unable to take my eyes off it. Yeah. I can do this. The Patronus charm and much more.