After enduring two elective classes with mixed reviews, it was finally time for the most popular course—Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Professor Lupin brought everyone another engaging practical lesson as usual.
However, his complexion wasn't looking very good.
The quartet who knew the inside story understood this was the aftereffect of having just recovered from his werewolf state following the full moon.
It was precisely for this reason that Professor Lupin had missed the party held at Number 12 Grimmauld Place during the holiday.
Otherwise, given his relationship with Sirius, he would have come no matter how busy he was.
Fortunately, he had at least made it to the public trial and witnessed firsthand the downfall of that traitor, Peter Pettigrew.
After an engaging practical lesson ended, the young wizards left the classroom in small groups of twos and threes, excitedly discussing their experiences dealing with magical creatures during class.
Just then, Lupin called out to Sherlock and Harry.
After everyone had left, he smiled at the two of them.
"How does Thursday evening at eight o'clock this week sound? I think the History of Magic classroom should be large enough."
"No problem, Professor. Does this mean you've already found a boggart?"
"Found one. After the trial ended the day before yesterday, Sirius asked Moody to go to Number 12 Grimmauld Place.
Fortunately, he discovered there was indeed a boggart hiding in a bookcase.
Moody was going to destroy it on the spot, but I thought of this matter and simply brought it over."
"That's certainly quite fortunate."
"Wait!"
Listening to the conversation between Sherlock and Professor Lupin, Harry finally realized what the two were talking about.
He knew about Moody going to Number 12 Grimmauld Place after the public trial ended that day.
However, he didn't know what happened after that.
He hadn't expected there would be a follow-up.
"Professor Lupin, Sherlock, do we still need to learn this?
I mean, haven't the Dementors left and won't be stationed at the school anymore?"
Hearing Harry say this, Sherlock and Lupin immediately looked at him.
"What—what is it—"
Being stared at simultaneously by both with such scrutinizing gazes, Harry couldn't help but feel somewhat awkward.
"Harry, although the Dementors are no longer stationed at Hogwarts, that doesn't mean you won't encounter them again in the future."
Lupin looked at Harry and said gently, "Or are you saying you're unwilling to learn how to repel Dementors?"
Sherlock, performing as consistently as ever, looked at Harry and said.
"Have you already forgotten about nearly fainting during the trial?
My dear friend, you wouldn't want to be laughed at by others again because of this, would you?"
Harry: "???"
Seeing Harry's face full of confusion, Lupin was also amused by their exchange.
"Actually, I originally thought there was no need to rush into learning this, since it's extremely difficult for you both at your current level.
But just as Sherlock said, Harry, you react to Dementors much more strongly than others."
"Professor Lupin—"
"No, no need to explain—Harry, this isn't something to be ashamed of.
I said before, this precisely shows that what you fear is fear itself, which is very wise.
Although Dementors currently belong to the Ministry of Magic, but—"
At this point, Lupin frowned and paused before continuing.
"In any case, if conditions permit, it's better to learn the Patronus Charm as early as possible. This is also Dumbledore's opinion.
Of course, if you're unwilling to learn, I won't force you."
Harry thought for a moment, then nodded slowly but firmly. "I'll learn!"
He looked at Sherlock, a hint of hope showing in his eyes. "You'll be with me, right?"
"Of course, my friend."
Sherlock smiled slightly, "After all, I'm quite curious to know what I'm most afraid of."
Hearing Sherlock say this, both Harry and Professor Lupin became interested.
Indeed, for someone like Sherlock, what could he possibly fear most?
Time quickly came to Thursday evening at eight o'clock.
Sherlock and Harry left Gryffindor Tower and headed to the History of Magic classroom.
By now, curfew was nearly nonexistent for the two of them.
They didn't even need the Invisibility Cloak anymore. However, just to be safe, Harry still brought the Marauder's Map with him.
When the two arrived at the classroom, it was still pitch dark.
They weren't surprised.
After all, being late was nothing unusual for Professor Lupin anymore.
Sherlock lit the lamps with his wand, and after waiting only five minutes, Professor Lupin appeared.
In his hands, he carried a large, constantly shaking trunk.
Needless to say, what was inside was naturally the boggart he had brought from Number 12 Grimmauld Place.
"Your new home certainly welcomes your arrival, my friend," Sherlock joked. "It's already sent you a gift so quickly."
Harry forced a smile.
When he had previously agreed to Professor Lupin's proposal to learn how to deal with Dementors, he hadn't felt much, but thinking about having to face such terrifying creatures again now made him inevitably nervous.
Besides nervousness, there was also a faint trace of anticipation deep in his heart.
Encountering Dementors again—did that mean he could hear his mother's voice once more?
Professor Lupin placed the trunk on Professor Binns's lectern and explained to the two.
"After I brought it from Grimmauld Place, I've been keeping it in my office. There's a cabinet under my desk, and it quite likes it there."
Sherlock looked at the constantly shaking box. "Can we use it for repeated practice?"
"Certainly, as long as you don't laugh at it."
"That's unlikely to happen."
"Then let's begin—"
Professor Lupin got straight to the point. He drew his wand and signaled Sherlock and Harry to do the same.
"Although I've said this before, I must say it again before we officially start.
The spell I'm about to demonstrate and teach you is very advanced magic, far beyond O.W.L. level.
This spell is called the Patronus Charm. It's one of the most powerful and ancient defensive spells, a classic example of defensive magic against the Dark Arts.
I used it on the train, and Dumbledore used it on the grounds when facing Dementors.
Once successfully cast, it produces a Patronus that acts like a shield between you and the Dementors.
You could say the Patronus is the Dementor's natural enemy."
Hearing Professor Lupin say this, an image flashed rapidly through Harry's mind.
Himself hiding behind a giant-sized Sherlock, a strong sense of security flooding his entire body.
He subconsciously glanced at Sherlock, only to see his eyes slightly narrowed, apparently also deep in thought.
Professor Lupin continued.
"A Patronus is a positive force, an externalization of exactly those things that Dementors feed upon—hope, happiness, the desire to survive.
Because it can never feel despair like a real person, Dementors can't affect it."
"Because it can't feel despair, so it can't be affected?"
"Exactly, Sherlock—but I must warn you, and Harry as well, you need to be mentally prepared. This spell is too advanced for you.
Normally, this spell isn't taught until after you've passed your Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. examination and entered the more advanced N.E.W.T. level. Even so, many adult wizards haven't mastered it, and only very few wizards can summon a fully corporeal Patronus through the Patronus Charm."
Seeing Lupin's solemn expression, Harry couldn't help but become even more nervous.
Sherlock merely chuckled softly. "No problem, we have plenty of time now."
"Yes, fortunately you caught Peter, otherwise the Dementors would have continued to be stationed at the school, and that would have made things very troublesome."
Professor Lupin said this while glancing at Harry, making the latter feel somewhat embarrassed.
Because his original motivation for learning this spell was to avoid being affected during Quidditch matches.
"What exactly does a Patronus look like? I noticed that what Dumbledore summoned that day seemed to be a phoenix, but yours wasn't."
"Sharp observation, Sherlock!"
Professor Lupin couldn't help but praise, "Because each Patronus is unique to the wizard who produces it."
"Unique?"
"Yes, unique. So, until you successfully cast this spell, I won't know what your Patronuses will look like either.
Now, let me teach you the incantation.
You must concentrate all your thoughts on a particularly happy memory for the spell to work."
For Sherlock, this was quite easy.
Every time he solved a puzzle, he felt extremely happy.
Harry had more trouble with it.
Because most of his time up until now had been spent at the Dursleys', and all his experiences there obviously couldn't be considered.
Although he had now reconciled with the Dursleys, to call it particularly happy was still far from it.
Made somewhat nervous by Lupin's words, he wracked his brain and finally thought of a happy moment.
That was the first time he rode a broomstick.
Unrestrained, flying freely, feeling euphoric—that sensation was undoubtedly very happy.
"I'm ready."
Harry said as much.
However, after saying this, he felt something was a bit odd about it.
"Good, the incantation is—"
"Expecto Patronum."
"How did you know?"
Lupin looked at Sherlock in surprise. "Did you hear it when Dumbledore was casting it?"
"He asked me the same question."
Sherlock smiled slightly. "In fact, this was exactly what I heard you say when you drove away the Dementors on the train, sir."
"So, it was me—"
Lupin was first stunned, then became thoughtful.
He hadn't expected that his first meeting with Sherlock had already inadvertently revealed crucial information.
"Good, the incantation is Expecto Patronum. Let's begin now—Harry, you go first!"
"Okay. Expecto Patrono—no, Patronum—sorry—Expecto Patronum, Expecto Patronum—"
Because Harry was too nervous, he mispronounced it several times.
But even when he gave the correct pronunciation, there was still no reaction at all.
He couldn't help but look at Lupin questioningly, wanting to know what went wrong.
"Did you concentrate all your thoughts on that happy memory?"
"Oh—yes—"
Harry suddenly realized, quickly forced his thoughts back to the first time he rode a broomstick, and recited the incantation again.
This time, there was finally a response.
Something emerged from the tip of his wand that looked like a wisp of silvery-white vapor.
"Did you see that?"
Harry said excitedly, "Sherlock, did you see it? There was a reaction, there was a reaction!"
"Very good," Lupin smiled at Sherlock. "Now it's your turn."
Sherlock was already prepared. As soon as Lupin finished speaking, he recited the incantation.
Similarly, a wisp of silvery-white vapor shot out from the tip of his wand.
Unlike Harry's, the white vapor from Sherlock's wand was much more solid, and one could even vaguely see it was some kind of animal with four limbs and a tail.
Watching the silvery vapor disappear, Sherlock mused, "It looks like some kind of mammal—"
Lupin looked at Sherlock with some surprise.
People who could achieve this level on their first attempt at the Patronus Charm were truly few and far between.
This showed that Sherlock's inner strength was even greater than he had imagined.
"Very good, try it a few more times."
Sherlock and Harry then took out their wands and began practicing.
Next, the sound of "Expecto Patronum" rose and fell continuously in the empty classroom.
One obvious fact was that both Sherlock and Harry had considerable talent in Patronus Charm.
After multiple practices, they could both successfully cast the spell on the first try.
The images of the Patronuses they summoned became clearer and more solid—though this was only compared to their previous attempts.
To summon a truly complete Patronus was still beyond their capabilities.
Similar to Sherlock, the clearest Patronus Harry summoned also had four limbs and a tail.
However, judging by its size, it appeared smaller than Sherlock's Patronus.
"It looks like a medium-sized feline or canine."
Sherlock said, reciting the incantation again and summoning his Patronus. Compared to the previous times, although the Patronus he summoned was still somewhat blurry, this time both Harry and Lupin could tell what Sherlock's Patronus was.
A lion.
"I originally thought it would be a hound," Sherlock tilted his head somewhat puzzled. "I didn't expect it to be a lion."
"You truly are a real Gryffindor."
Watching the silver lion, whose general outline could already be made out, disappear into silvery mist, Lupin said somewhat emotionally.
"No wonder everyone calls you the Lion King. It really is well-deserved."
He smiled, then turned to Harry. "But Harry's Patronus is somewhat unexpected to me."
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