Glory |A. Potter|

Fifty-Three

Classes at Hogwarts were usually free of drama. If one were to rank them based on the drama caused in them, the classes where Albus Potter was would be high on the list. And Charms easily made first place.

Ramona and Jane sat next to each other, both of them appearing unimpressed as the class got into a debate on the Patronus Charm yet again, the way they had done last year when it had been mentioned. Professor Flitwick could do nothing to intervene as Albus argued his case that the Patronus Charm was overrated and a few Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs disagreed, claiming he just couldn't do it.

Some things never changed. Some, however, did.

Jane didn't feel envy or jealousy that Albus had taken all the spotlight for himself—instead, she was more than ready to support him from the sidelines if he needed her aid—and instead of Albus arguing with the others all the way to the other side of the classroom, he was sitting right beside her. And she could practically feel his frustration ebb off of him in waves as he let out a harsh sigh.

"How many more times do I have to tell you for you to realise? It's just a Charm!"

"It's not just a charm," the stubborn Gryffindor he had been arguing with for the most part of the class whined, "it's a life or death situation!"

"You would be in a life or death situation against a wizard if you didn't know Expeliarmus either!"

"Which is why all of know Expeliarmus! The Patronus Charm is a necessary Charm-"

"How often do you find Dementors in the streets?!"

Ramona and Jane exchanged a look of amusement as Albus's tone took a whole new pitch. A random Hufflepuff spoke, "You're just trying to blame your incompetence somewhere!"

Jane's eyes widened and before she could stop him, Albus had brandished his wand, the words leaving his lips the same instant the Hufflepuff had finished her sentence, "Expecto Patronum!"

The shape of a blackbird Jane had seen once before left the tip of his wand and circled around the room once, sinking the room into silence as Albus narrowed his eyes. "See, my opinion is what it is definitely because of my incompetence." And then without warning, he shot his Patronus right at the Hufflepuff who shrieked as the Patronus disappeared inches away from her face. For a moment, there was silence, and then-

"Your opinion is that because you don't have self-confidence!"

Ramona snorted, unable to keep her reaction in check while Jane beside her ducked her head, hid her smile behind the hand she raised to her lips, but her amusement couldn't be hidden if one took a glance in her eyes. Albus, beside her, stole a look at the two girls, took in their amusement before he pocketed his wand, leaned back in his seat, and with an eyebrow raised, voice deceptively calm, spoke.

"Of course. That's the motive behind everything I do."

Jane's shoulders shook with silent laughter as Ramona hummed. The students that had been arguing with Albus exchanged confused looks as finally, Professor Flitwick managed to speak up and be heard, and in the end, he managed to get the class back on track to the subject they had been learning before a comment about the Patronus Charm had sidetracked everyone. The moment the class ended, the three Slytherins gathered their things and headed to the exit. Ramona didn't wait to leave the classroom before she spoke up.

"Have you ever tried passing a Patronus through a person?"

"No," Albus looked at her over Jane's head, "I don't think that's possible."

"A pity," she sighed, "her face was hilarious, though."

"What you did was petty," Jane added as she looked up at him, "it was funny, though."