p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" align="center"January 13sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup, 1994./p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.12px; background-color: #ffffff;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"'History of magic classroom, 8 p.m. See you soon.'/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Yours,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"R.J. Lupin./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"How he had managed to get the note into her bag was a mystery, but she had her suspicions as Tarryn chattered her ears off about her Christmas holiday despite the fact they'd been back a week./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Miss Clark." The turquoise haired girl snapped to attention as Snape stood behind her, book in hand and poised to smack her in the head with it. "Cease your pointless chatter and focus on your work." Tarryn looked at her Cauldron in a panic realizing the potion was no longer the blue it had been and was now a very questionable yellow color./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""10 points from Ravenclaw for your lack of attention." There were a few dirty looks from other students in the potions lab as Tarryn set about disposing of the questionable potion./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Honestly, and you think I'm dense?" Tarryn rolled her eyes, "You are dense, you can't even see when someone is attracted to you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Who was attracted to me?" Tarryn ran a hand down her face, "Merlin, it's like I have to tell you everything. That 7sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup year from Gryffindor, Ryan Chernock. He's been asking about you since practically the start of term." Seren tried to seem like she was interested, "Shame for him I've already got someone."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""What?!" Snape looked over at her in warning, "Spill." Seren merely smiled, "Maybe someday I will, for now I want to keep it to myself."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Well, is he a student?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Not telling." Seren quickly stirred her cauldron so her potion didn't go bad, turning the heat down for it to simmer./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Come on, I know so little about you as it is, is he older, younger where did you meet?" the dark haired witch merely grinned at her friend, "I guess you could say we met before start of term, when Professor Lupin and I were at the leaky cauldron in London. And he's a couple years older than me."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Obviously he'll be a wizard if you met at the leaky cauldron, what's he like?" Seren gave her no further information as she bottled her potions sample once it was finished before bringing it up to Snape to test./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Surprisingly adequate, Miss Price." She offered the usually sullen man a soft smile, nodding her head and heading back to her seat, "Come on, Seren. I promise not to tell another soul!" Seren merely shook her head, "He's kind and considerate with a bit of a mischievous streak, we met up a couple of times over the break." This seemed to appease the girl who gave a nod of finality, "Good, because if he was an arse to you I'd kick his." Seren couldn't help the small laugh that bubbled up./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I know you would, which is exactly why I am never giving you his name, you'd give him the third degree and then I'd likely never see him again." Tarryn looked mock offended as she set about cleaning her workstation. "Me? I would never chase away your potential for happiness." Seren gave her a skeptical look, "Besides, I've seen you chase away boys with words I didn't even know existed."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"As potions class ended Seren made her way quickly to her next class./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"8 p.m. came quite quickly and she hurried from the great hall towards the history of magic classroom, pushing the door open to see Harry already seated at one of the desks./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Seren!" she gave him a small wave as she set her bag down, "Hello, Harry. How're classes now that the holidays are over?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Can't complain I suppose, just wish I could have one school year where someone wasn't out to get me."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Well, I can't honestly help much with that I'm afraid, but if you ever want to talk my door is always open. But that doesn't mean sneaking out of your dormitory, I'd rather you be safe in Gryffindor tower than loose in the halls if Black gets into the castle again."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The door pushed open at the back of the room and Seren watched in amusement as Remus hauled in a large trunk, "Honestly…you could have asked someone to help you." Harry looked at his professor who gave Seren an unimpressed look, "you could come help." He muttered pointedly as she walked over to grab the other side of the locked chest./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Carefully the set the chest on Professor Binns' desk, "What in there?" Harry asked, approaching the desk, "Another boggart." Seren felt a bit of anxiety well up inside of her, perhaps agreeing to assist in Harry's lessons wasn't such a great idea./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Lupin stripped off his cloak, "I've been combing the castle since Tuesday, "I was very fortunate to find this one hiding in Filches filing cabinet. It's the nearest we'll get to a real dementor." Remus caught Seren's nervous expression, giving her a brief look of reassurance./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""The boggart will turn into a dementor when he sees you, so we'll be able to practice on it. I can store it in my office when we're not using it. There's a cupboard under my desk he'll like." Seren quickly masked her expression as Harry's eyes flicked between the two./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Okay?" he was trying to come across as less apprehensive than he was and it was far too obvious. All parties involved were glad Remus had found a substitute to replace a real Dementor as all of them would be too easily targeted. "So," Remus drew his wand, indicating for Harry and Seren to follow. "I imagine Seren here has told you why I've asked her to assist?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Just that you thought it would be best to have back up in case something went wrong." Remus looked across to her, "That's part of it, yes. The other part is that Seren appears relatively adept at Wordless incantations."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Harry's eyes flicked back to her in wonder, "You didn't mention that before the holidays."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I didn't think it relevant; you'll learn wordless magic in your upper years as well. Anyways, you should probably pay attention to Professor Lupin." Harry's eyes quickly drifted back to the man at the front of the room, "The spell I'm going to teach you is highly advanced magic, Harry. Well beyond the ordinary wizarding level. It is called the Patronus charm."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""How does it work?" Harry's nervousness was almost palpable, "Well, when it works correctly it…conjures up a patronus." Remus explained plainly, "which is a kind of…anti-dementor, a guardian that acts as a shield between you and the dementor. A patronus is a kind of positive force. A projection of the very things that a dementor feeds upon; Hope, happiness, a desire to survive, but it cannot feel despair as humans can so the dementors can't hurt it, but I must warn you Harry, the charm might be too advanced for you. Many qualified wizards have difficulty with it."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""What does the patronus look like?" his curiosity seemed to shift the mood of the room, "Each one is unique to the wizard who conjures it."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""And…how do you conjure it?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""With an incantation, which will only work if you're concentrating with all your might on a single, very happy memory." Remus quickly recalled Seren's happy memory, that day on the beach with her mother and began to wonder what Harry's happy memory was going to be./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""The incantation is this," Remus cleared his throat, "Expecto Patronum."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Expecto Patronum." Keen ears picked up harry muttering the spell and Seren couldn't help but smile at his conviction, "Concentrating hard on your happy memory?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""O-Oh, yeah." Seren only smiled as she grabbed one of the desk chairs, as harry continued reciting the spell to memorize it, watching with mild intrigue as a small silver whisp erupted from the end of Harry's wand. "Did you see that?!" Harry exclaimed in excitement, "Something happened!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Very good." Remus commended the young Gryffindor, a smile stretching across his face. "right then, ready to try it on a dementor?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Yes." Lupin grasped the top of the case, ready to open it and pulled, setting the boggart loose. "A dementor rose slowly from the box, it's hooded face turning towards Harry, one glistening scabbed hand gripping it's cloak. The lamps around the classroom flickered and even Seren began to feel sick as the lights went out completely. The dementor drifted from the box and started to sweep silently toward Harry, drawing a deep, rattling breath. A wave of piercing cold broke over the room. "E-E-Expecto Patronum!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Harry's shouts filled the room as Remus and Seren watched him, there was a brief flash of silver light as the blurry form of the boggart vanished back into the case and Remus saw to Harry./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Harry?" Seren stayed in her spot at the side, harry was flat on his back on the classrooms wooden floor. "I'm sorry." Seren latched the case until they decided to try again, "Are you alright, Harry?" his eyes briefly flicked to the dark haired witch, "y-yes."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""That doesn't sound to convincing, you know." Remus couldn't help but smile at her gentle teasing and a small smile broke out on Harry's face as he pulled himself back to his feet./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Seren, can you get me the chocolate bar from my robe?" she nodded, as she started digging through the pockets, finding the bar of Honeydukes chocolate he always seemed to carry on his person. Snapping a couple pieces off she passed them each a fragment. "eat this before we try again, you'll feel better. I didn't expect you to get it your first try, infact, I would have been astounded if you had." Harry's eyes once again flicked to Seren./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Did you get it on your first try?" she took a small bite of the chocolate, chewing and swallowing before giving an answer, "No, and to be honest I still think it was a fluke I got it at all, but it's incredibly easy once you have the right memory down."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""It's getting worse." Harry murmured as he took a bite of the chocolate. "I could hear her louder that time…and him." Lupin looked paler than usual at the revelation, "Harry, if you don't want to continue I more than understand."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I do!" Harry shouted fiercely as he finished the sliver of chocolate, "I-I've got to! What if the dementors turn up at our match against Ravenclaw? I can't afford to fall off again. If we lose this game we've lost the quidditch cup…" Seren had never quite understood why quidditch was so important./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You'd lose the cup…but at least you'll still be alive…" Seren whispered angrily, "Wood put you up to this, didn't he?" Harry looked at Seren apprehensively, uncertain how to answer without making her more upset./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Calm down, Seren." Her eyes flashed briefly at him and he stared her down, "is something wrong?" Harry had caught the brief flash of gold in his friends eyes and his worry quickly returned, "Fine." Seren replied tersely, "You might want to select another memory, a happy memory I mean. To concentrate on. That one doesn't seem to have been strong enough./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Once he had found a new memory Harry retook his place in the center of the classroom, "ready?" Lupin lifted the lid again, setting the fake dementor loose in the room, "Go!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The chill resettled in the air as the lights once again began to flicker, the dementor drifting forward once more, sucking in ragged breaths, it's rotted, skeletal hand extended towards harry once more./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Expecto Patronum!" Harry yelled, trying a few more times before inevitably falling back to the floor./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Harry, Harry wake up." Seren watched anxiously as Remus snapped harry out of his trance, a pit was starting to settle in her stomach and the cold of the room was starting to make her feel sick, "I heard my dad." Harry mumbled dazedly as Remus helped him sit up, "It's the first time I ever heard him. He tried to take on Voldemort himself…to give my mum time to run for it." there was the faintest hint of tears in Harry's eyes and Seren once again passed over some chocolate./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You heard…James?" lupin asked curiously, something in his voice changed, "Yeah. Why? You didn't know my dad, did you?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I…I did, as a matter of fact. We were…friends at Hogwarts. Listen, Harry, perhaps we should leave it here for tonight. This charm is ridiculously advanced and I shouldn't have suggested putting you through this."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""No!" said Harry quickly, getting back to his feet, "Harry." Seren shook her head and he only cast her a quick passing glance. The boy was stubborn. "I'll have one more go."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I don't advise that…you've passed out twice already, don't overexert yourself." Harry ignored her, pushing on to get Lupin to allow him a final try./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm not thinking of happy enough things, that's all. Hang on." Harry seemed deep in thought now and Seren could feel her patience wear thin as she pleaded silently for Lupin to put an end to this, Remus merely shrugged his shoulders in response as he readied to lift the top of the case once more./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"'he's determined to master this charm, nothing we say is going to dissuade him.'/span Seren jumped a bit, forgetting their telepathic link thanks to the mating mark,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"'he's going to hurt himself if he keeps on this way…I know you want to help, but you have an obligation to ensure his safety…Please, after this it's time to stop.'/span Remus only gave a nod as he lifted the case again, nodding to Seren to once again ready her wand incase things went south./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"A heavy chill filled the air for a third time as the dementor once again rose from the case, the room falling dark as the light went out, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry's shouts filled the room again, he paused briefly as if confused until a large silver shadow came bursting from his wand, hovering between himself and the dementor./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Riddikulus!" Remus recited, leaping forward Infront of Harry, sending the boggart back to the case as Seren closed and locked it inside. The cloudy patronus seemed to quickly vanish as the boggart was sealed away. She watched as Harry collapsed into one of the chairs./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Excellent!" Remus commended, striding over to where Harry was sat, "Excellent, Harry! That was definitely a start!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Can we have another go, just one more go?" Seren gave Remus a stern look./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"'You better not say yes.'/span He noted the mix of worry and irritation in her eyes, "not tonight." He leaned closer to the third year, "Between you and me…I think Seren is right and it's better not to cross her, she could hex us both into oblivion."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I might still, Professor Lupin." Seren warned, giving him a serious look which Remus only chuckled at the response, giving her a playful wink as Harry looked down at the desk, Seren merely rolled her eyes. Remus handed Harry a full bar of Honeydukes best chocolate, "Best to eat all of that if you can or Madame Pomfrey will be out for my blood. Same time next week?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Seren knew she would be unable to attend next week given her internship had begun Tuesday and was set to the schedule of Tuesdays and Thursdays for basic auror training and Saturdays for field work, the only reason she had gotten off tonight was because there was something important her guide had to see to that a student couldn't be drug along to./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Will you be here next week, Seren?" she flashed harry an apologetic look, "I'm afraid not, I have my internship, but it's only a 6 week program and I'll try and pop in when I can since curfew is at nine and my internship ends right before dinner and I have to be able to do schoolwork sometime." She sighed,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""But like I told you earlier, my door is always open. I'm not a professor but I am your senior. If you need help send me an owl and I'll let you know a good time to get together."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""The ministry took you for an internship knowing what you are?" Seren felt herself bristle at the statement, "it's a requirement for all seventh year students to complete an internship, no exceptions." Harry nodded, "it's just surprising is all, given all the laws they put in place."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I think it's time to go, Harry, curfew is soon." Harry had grabbed his things and started for the door before pausing, turning back to look at the defense against the dark arts professor./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Professor Lupin, if you knew my dad…you must have known Sirius black as well." Lupin turned very quickly, "What gives you that idea?" his tone was sharp, "Nothing, I mean…I just knew they were friends at Hogwarts too." Remus felt himself relax, "yes, I knew him." He replied shortly, stuffing his hands into his pants pockets, "or I thought I did… You better be off Harry."/p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.12px; background-color: #ffffff;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Seren stayed in her spot beside Professor Binns' desk, "You…" Remus gave her a stern look, "I'll just…go." She muttered quietly, grabbing her things and starting for the door, "Wait." She paused, as if someone had frozen her feet to the spot./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Is there something you needed?" she asked, trying to will herself to move,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm sorry…" finally, she was able to turn and face him,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Why?" there was a guilty look on the man's face as he strode towards here, "You were right, I should have stopped im after the second attempt. I let my emotions get the better of me and I need to remind myself he's not his father. James was an incredibly talented wizard with a natural affinity for just about everything. A natural born talent."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You know…I've known you for seven months, Remus and yet know next to nothing about who you were, meanwhile I've made myself an open book to you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You know more than you think, all you have to do is span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"look./span" He leaned down to rest his forehead against her, steely blue eyes meeting green, "I know I've been less than forthcoming, Seren, and I promise to work on that…but it's like walking on eggshells. I stand to lose so much if too much about me gets out."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Seren brought a soft hand up to cup his cheek, "It doesn't have to be just your cross to bear, and I know you understand that or you'd never have let anyone in. You once told me the world doesn't have to be strictly black and white. Maybe it's time you start taking your advice before it's too late."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Being lectured by one of my students, how ironic." He dropped his head from hers to the crook between her shoulder and neck, inhaling the scent of Lilacs and Vanilla,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm not just another of your students though, am I? You're always finding me when I'm lost in the dark…maybe it's my turn to find you. " slowly he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him, "In due time I'm certain you will…and that's what frightens me."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"It felt like an eternity standing in the now darkened classroom. Remus had extinguished the lanterns as harry left, leaving himself and Seren in near darkness,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Happiness can be found even In the darkest of places, if one only remembers to turn on the light." Remus remembered Dumbledore's words from the beginning of the year as he pulled back, watching as a small orb of subtle golden light floated between the two of them,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""How did you…?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Wandless magic…I've been reading up on it." he looked truly impressed,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You truly are remarkable." Remus smiled, pulling back from her to watch the floating orb, "Wandless magic and silent spells, I dare say you may go on to do amazing things, Seren."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Only because someone saw fit to save me. It's a wonder what one can do with a little bit of hope." She stood on her tip toes and placed a chaste kiss to his cheek, "I want you to talk to me when things are bothering you, this should be an equal partnership. Do you understand?" there was a familiar look of wonder in Remus' eyes as he stared down at her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I don't regret it, you know." Now it was her turn to look bewildered, "Saving you I mean. I had my doubts when Dumbledore approached me given the fact I am not ministry trained or employed for that matter. I went into that assignment completely blind and none of us were sure what to expect however, in the end I came out with so much and now stand to lose it all if something goes wrong."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Then don't let something go wrong." Seren smiled, resting her hands on his shoulders, "the more you expect bad luck the more likely it is to find you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I think I've used all my good luck for this year." He smiled, stepping back to look at her endearingly./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Now it's all chance."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Well, sometimes chance is better than luck, just means leaving it up to fate."/p
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p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"'History of magic classroom, 8 p.m. See you soon.'/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Yours,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"R.J. Lupin./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"How he had managed to get the note into her bag was a mystery, but she had her suspicions as Tarryn chattered her ears off about her Christmas holiday despite the fact they'd been back a week./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Miss Clark." The turquoise haired girl snapped to attention as Snape stood behind her, book in hand and poised to smack her in the head with it. "Cease your pointless chatter and focus on your work." Tarryn looked at her Cauldron in a panic realizing the potion was no longer the blue it had been and was now a very questionable yellow color./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""10 points from Ravenclaw for your lack of attention." There were a few dirty looks from other students in the potions lab as Tarryn set about disposing of the questionable potion./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Honestly, and you think I'm dense?" Tarryn rolled her eyes, "You are dense, you can't even see when someone is attracted to you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Who was attracted to me?" Tarryn ran a hand down her face, "Merlin, it's like I have to tell you everything. That 7sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup year from Gryffindor, Ryan Chernock. He's been asking about you since practically the start of term." Seren tried to seem like she was interested, "Shame for him I've already got someone."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""What?!" Snape looked over at her in warning, "Spill." Seren merely smiled, "Maybe someday I will, for now I want to keep it to myself."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Well, is he a student?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Not telling." Seren quickly stirred her cauldron so her potion didn't go bad, turning the heat down for it to simmer./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Come on, I know so little about you as it is, is he older, younger where did you meet?" the dark haired witch merely grinned at her friend, "I guess you could say we met before start of term, when Professor Lupin and I were at the leaky cauldron in London. And he's a couple years older than me."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Obviously he'll be a wizard if you met at the leaky cauldron, what's he like?" Seren gave her no further information as she bottled her potions sample once it was finished before bringing it up to Snape to test./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Surprisingly adequate, Miss Price." She offered the usually sullen man a soft smile, nodding her head and heading back to her seat, "Come on, Seren. I promise not to tell another soul!" Seren merely shook her head, "He's kind and considerate with a bit of a mischievous streak, we met up a couple of times over the break." This seemed to appease the girl who gave a nod of finality, "Good, because if he was an arse to you I'd kick his." Seren couldn't help the small laugh that bubbled up./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I know you would, which is exactly why I am never giving you his name, you'd give him the third degree and then I'd likely never see him again." Tarryn looked mock offended as she set about cleaning her workstation. "Me? I would never chase away your potential for happiness." Seren gave her a skeptical look, "Besides, I've seen you chase away boys with words I didn't even know existed."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"As potions class ended Seren made her way quickly to her next class./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"8 p.m. came quite quickly and she hurried from the great hall towards the history of magic classroom, pushing the door open to see Harry already seated at one of the desks./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Seren!" she gave him a small wave as she set her bag down, "Hello, Harry. How're classes now that the holidays are over?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Can't complain I suppose, just wish I could have one school year where someone wasn't out to get me."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Well, I can't honestly help much with that I'm afraid, but if you ever want to talk my door is always open. But that doesn't mean sneaking out of your dormitory, I'd rather you be safe in Gryffindor tower than loose in the halls if Black gets into the castle again."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The door pushed open at the back of the room and Seren watched in amusement as Remus hauled in a large trunk, "Honestly…you could have asked someone to help you." Harry looked at his professor who gave Seren an unimpressed look, "you could come help." He muttered pointedly as she walked over to grab the other side of the locked chest./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Carefully the set the chest on Professor Binns' desk, "What in there?" Harry asked, approaching the desk, "Another boggart." Seren felt a bit of anxiety well up inside of her, perhaps agreeing to assist in Harry's lessons wasn't such a great idea./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Lupin stripped off his cloak, "I've been combing the castle since Tuesday, "I was very fortunate to find this one hiding in Filches filing cabinet. It's the nearest we'll get to a real dementor." Remus caught Seren's nervous expression, giving her a brief look of reassurance./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""The boggart will turn into a dementor when he sees you, so we'll be able to practice on it. I can store it in my office when we're not using it. There's a cupboard under my desk he'll like." Seren quickly masked her expression as Harry's eyes flicked between the two./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Okay?" he was trying to come across as less apprehensive than he was and it was far too obvious. All parties involved were glad Remus had found a substitute to replace a real Dementor as all of them would be too easily targeted. "So," Remus drew his wand, indicating for Harry and Seren to follow. "I imagine Seren here has told you why I've asked her to assist?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Just that you thought it would be best to have back up in case something went wrong." Remus looked across to her, "That's part of it, yes. The other part is that Seren appears relatively adept at Wordless incantations."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Harry's eyes flicked back to her in wonder, "You didn't mention that before the holidays."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I didn't think it relevant; you'll learn wordless magic in your upper years as well. Anyways, you should probably pay attention to Professor Lupin." Harry's eyes quickly drifted back to the man at the front of the room, "The spell I'm going to teach you is highly advanced magic, Harry. Well beyond the ordinary wizarding level. It is called the Patronus charm."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""How does it work?" Harry's nervousness was almost palpable, "Well, when it works correctly it…conjures up a patronus." Remus explained plainly, "which is a kind of…anti-dementor, a guardian that acts as a shield between you and the dementor. A patronus is a kind of positive force. A projection of the very things that a dementor feeds upon; Hope, happiness, a desire to survive, but it cannot feel despair as humans can so the dementors can't hurt it, but I must warn you Harry, the charm might be too advanced for you. Many qualified wizards have difficulty with it."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""What does the patronus look like?" his curiosity seemed to shift the mood of the room, "Each one is unique to the wizard who conjures it."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""And…how do you conjure it?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""With an incantation, which will only work if you're concentrating with all your might on a single, very happy memory." Remus quickly recalled Seren's happy memory, that day on the beach with her mother and began to wonder what Harry's happy memory was going to be./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""The incantation is this," Remus cleared his throat, "Expecto Patronum."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Expecto Patronum." Keen ears picked up harry muttering the spell and Seren couldn't help but smile at his conviction, "Concentrating hard on your happy memory?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""O-Oh, yeah." Seren only smiled as she grabbed one of the desk chairs, as harry continued reciting the spell to memorize it, watching with mild intrigue as a small silver whisp erupted from the end of Harry's wand. "Did you see that?!" Harry exclaimed in excitement, "Something happened!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Very good." Remus commended the young Gryffindor, a smile stretching across his face. "right then, ready to try it on a dementor?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Yes." Lupin grasped the top of the case, ready to open it and pulled, setting the boggart loose. "A dementor rose slowly from the box, it's hooded face turning towards Harry, one glistening scabbed hand gripping it's cloak. The lamps around the classroom flickered and even Seren began to feel sick as the lights went out completely. The dementor drifted from the box and started to sweep silently toward Harry, drawing a deep, rattling breath. A wave of piercing cold broke over the room. "E-E-Expecto Patronum!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Harry's shouts filled the room as Remus and Seren watched him, there was a brief flash of silver light as the blurry form of the boggart vanished back into the case and Remus saw to Harry./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Harry?" Seren stayed in her spot at the side, harry was flat on his back on the classrooms wooden floor. "I'm sorry." Seren latched the case until they decided to try again, "Are you alright, Harry?" his eyes briefly flicked to the dark haired witch, "y-yes."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""That doesn't sound to convincing, you know." Remus couldn't help but smile at her gentle teasing and a small smile broke out on Harry's face as he pulled himself back to his feet./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Seren, can you get me the chocolate bar from my robe?" she nodded, as she started digging through the pockets, finding the bar of Honeydukes chocolate he always seemed to carry on his person. Snapping a couple pieces off she passed them each a fragment. "eat this before we try again, you'll feel better. I didn't expect you to get it your first try, infact, I would have been astounded if you had." Harry's eyes once again flicked to Seren./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Did you get it on your first try?" she took a small bite of the chocolate, chewing and swallowing before giving an answer, "No, and to be honest I still think it was a fluke I got it at all, but it's incredibly easy once you have the right memory down."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""It's getting worse." Harry murmured as he took a bite of the chocolate. "I could hear her louder that time…and him." Lupin looked paler than usual at the revelation, "Harry, if you don't want to continue I more than understand."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I do!" Harry shouted fiercely as he finished the sliver of chocolate, "I-I've got to! What if the dementors turn up at our match against Ravenclaw? I can't afford to fall off again. If we lose this game we've lost the quidditch cup…" Seren had never quite understood why quidditch was so important./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You'd lose the cup…but at least you'll still be alive…" Seren whispered angrily, "Wood put you up to this, didn't he?" Harry looked at Seren apprehensively, uncertain how to answer without making her more upset./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Calm down, Seren." Her eyes flashed briefly at him and he stared her down, "is something wrong?" Harry had caught the brief flash of gold in his friends eyes and his worry quickly returned, "Fine." Seren replied tersely, "You might want to select another memory, a happy memory I mean. To concentrate on. That one doesn't seem to have been strong enough./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Once he had found a new memory Harry retook his place in the center of the classroom, "ready?" Lupin lifted the lid again, setting the fake dementor loose in the room, "Go!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The chill resettled in the air as the lights once again began to flicker, the dementor drifting forward once more, sucking in ragged breaths, it's rotted, skeletal hand extended towards harry once more./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Expecto Patronum!" Harry yelled, trying a few more times before inevitably falling back to the floor./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Harry, Harry wake up." Seren watched anxiously as Remus snapped harry out of his trance, a pit was starting to settle in her stomach and the cold of the room was starting to make her feel sick, "I heard my dad." Harry mumbled dazedly as Remus helped him sit up, "It's the first time I ever heard him. He tried to take on Voldemort himself…to give my mum time to run for it." there was the faintest hint of tears in Harry's eyes and Seren once again passed over some chocolate./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You heard…James?" lupin asked curiously, something in his voice changed, "Yeah. Why? You didn't know my dad, did you?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I…I did, as a matter of fact. We were…friends at Hogwarts. Listen, Harry, perhaps we should leave it here for tonight. This charm is ridiculously advanced and I shouldn't have suggested putting you through this."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""No!" said Harry quickly, getting back to his feet, "Harry." Seren shook her head and he only cast her a quick passing glance. The boy was stubborn. "I'll have one more go."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I don't advise that…you've passed out twice already, don't overexert yourself." Harry ignored her, pushing on to get Lupin to allow him a final try./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm not thinking of happy enough things, that's all. Hang on." Harry seemed deep in thought now and Seren could feel her patience wear thin as she pleaded silently for Lupin to put an end to this, Remus merely shrugged his shoulders in response as he readied to lift the top of the case once more./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"'he's determined to master this charm, nothing we say is going to dissuade him.'/span Seren jumped a bit, forgetting their telepathic link thanks to the mating mark,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"'he's going to hurt himself if he keeps on this way…I know you want to help, but you have an obligation to ensure his safety…Please, after this it's time to stop.'/span Remus only gave a nod as he lifted the case again, nodding to Seren to once again ready her wand incase things went south./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"A heavy chill filled the air for a third time as the dementor once again rose from the case, the room falling dark as the light went out, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry's shouts filled the room again, he paused briefly as if confused until a large silver shadow came bursting from his wand, hovering between himself and the dementor./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Riddikulus!" Remus recited, leaping forward Infront of Harry, sending the boggart back to the case as Seren closed and locked it inside. The cloudy patronus seemed to quickly vanish as the boggart was sealed away. She watched as Harry collapsed into one of the chairs./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Excellent!" Remus commended, striding over to where Harry was sat, "Excellent, Harry! That was definitely a start!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Can we have another go, just one more go?" Seren gave Remus a stern look./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"'You better not say yes.'/span He noted the mix of worry and irritation in her eyes, "not tonight." He leaned closer to the third year, "Between you and me…I think Seren is right and it's better not to cross her, she could hex us both into oblivion."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I might still, Professor Lupin." Seren warned, giving him a serious look which Remus only chuckled at the response, giving her a playful wink as Harry looked down at the desk, Seren merely rolled her eyes. Remus handed Harry a full bar of Honeydukes best chocolate, "Best to eat all of that if you can or Madame Pomfrey will be out for my blood. Same time next week?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Seren knew she would be unable to attend next week given her internship had begun Tuesday and was set to the schedule of Tuesdays and Thursdays for basic auror training and Saturdays for field work, the only reason she had gotten off tonight was because there was something important her guide had to see to that a student couldn't be drug along to./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Will you be here next week, Seren?" she flashed harry an apologetic look, "I'm afraid not, I have my internship, but it's only a 6 week program and I'll try and pop in when I can since curfew is at nine and my internship ends right before dinner and I have to be able to do schoolwork sometime." She sighed,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""But like I told you earlier, my door is always open. I'm not a professor but I am your senior. If you need help send me an owl and I'll let you know a good time to get together."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""The ministry took you for an internship knowing what you are?" Seren felt herself bristle at the statement, "it's a requirement for all seventh year students to complete an internship, no exceptions." Harry nodded, "it's just surprising is all, given all the laws they put in place."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I think it's time to go, Harry, curfew is soon." Harry had grabbed his things and started for the door before pausing, turning back to look at the defense against the dark arts professor./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Professor Lupin, if you knew my dad…you must have known Sirius black as well." Lupin turned very quickly, "What gives you that idea?" his tone was sharp, "Nothing, I mean…I just knew they were friends at Hogwarts too." Remus felt himself relax, "yes, I knew him." He replied shortly, stuffing his hands into his pants pockets, "or I thought I did… You better be off Harry."/p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.12px; background-color: #ffffff;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Seren stayed in her spot beside Professor Binns' desk, "You…" Remus gave her a stern look, "I'll just…go." She muttered quietly, grabbing her things and starting for the door, "Wait." She paused, as if someone had frozen her feet to the spot./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Is there something you needed?" she asked, trying to will herself to move,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm sorry…" finally, she was able to turn and face him,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Why?" there was a guilty look on the man's face as he strode towards here, "You were right, I should have stopped im after the second attempt. I let my emotions get the better of me and I need to remind myself he's not his father. James was an incredibly talented wizard with a natural affinity for just about everything. A natural born talent."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You know…I've known you for seven months, Remus and yet know next to nothing about who you were, meanwhile I've made myself an open book to you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You know more than you think, all you have to do is span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"look./span" He leaned down to rest his forehead against her, steely blue eyes meeting green, "I know I've been less than forthcoming, Seren, and I promise to work on that…but it's like walking on eggshells. I stand to lose so much if too much about me gets out."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Seren brought a soft hand up to cup his cheek, "It doesn't have to be just your cross to bear, and I know you understand that or you'd never have let anyone in. You once told me the world doesn't have to be strictly black and white. Maybe it's time you start taking your advice before it's too late."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Being lectured by one of my students, how ironic." He dropped his head from hers to the crook between her shoulder and neck, inhaling the scent of Lilacs and Vanilla,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm not just another of your students though, am I? You're always finding me when I'm lost in the dark…maybe it's my turn to find you. " slowly he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him, "In due time I'm certain you will…and that's what frightens me."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"It felt like an eternity standing in the now darkened classroom. Remus had extinguished the lanterns as harry left, leaving himself and Seren in near darkness,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Happiness can be found even In the darkest of places, if one only remembers to turn on the light." Remus remembered Dumbledore's words from the beginning of the year as he pulled back, watching as a small orb of subtle golden light floated between the two of them,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""How did you…?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Wandless magic…I've been reading up on it." he looked truly impressed,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You truly are remarkable." Remus smiled, pulling back from her to watch the floating orb, "Wandless magic and silent spells, I dare say you may go on to do amazing things, Seren."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Only because someone saw fit to save me. It's a wonder what one can do with a little bit of hope." She stood on her tip toes and placed a chaste kiss to his cheek, "I want you to talk to me when things are bothering you, this should be an equal partnership. Do you understand?" there was a familiar look of wonder in Remus' eyes as he stared down at her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I don't regret it, you know." Now it was her turn to look bewildered, "Saving you I mean. I had my doubts when Dumbledore approached me given the fact I am not ministry trained or employed for that matter. I went into that assignment completely blind and none of us were sure what to expect however, in the end I came out with so much and now stand to lose it all if something goes wrong."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Then don't let something go wrong." Seren smiled, resting her hands on his shoulders, "the more you expect bad luck the more likely it is to find you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I think I've used all my good luck for this year." He smiled, stepping back to look at her endearingly./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Now it's all chance."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Well, sometimes chance is better than luck, just means leaving it up to fate."/p
