Reading Between The Lines ~ Remus Lupin ~ Book 1

chapter 4

Thursday, 23 September 1976

"With the increasing tensions in our community, it is becoming increasingly important for people to defend themselves. The best defense against the Dark Arts is the Patronus charm," Professor Carina Craven boomed. "I will demonstrate."

Craven moved his hand clockwise in a circular motion. "Expecto Patronum!" A silver fox sprung from her wand and roamed around the room. The Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students looked at the patronus in awe.

Craven continued. "The only way to cast a Patronus is to think of your happiest memory. If that's not enough, imagine something that would create a happy memory. Keep in mind, though, whatever you imagine has to be possible for the spell to work. Now, everyone, please cast the charm."

The room was filled with a chorus of Expecto Patronum's. Nothing happened.

Ava raised her right pointer finger. "Hey Professor, I think something's wrong with the spell."

Everyone laughed, even Craven. "Casting a Patronus is very difficult to achieve. Many wizards and witches are unable to cast them. You need to dig deep within yourselves."

Lena closed her eyes and imagined 20 August 1976. It was her birthday and she just turned fifteen. She and her family had gone down to Brighton for the day and played games along the pier. She won a stuffed animal badger that she keeps in her dorm room with a Hufflepuff tie around it's fluffy neck. Her family ate absurd amounts of candy floss and fish and chips. She loved skipping stones across the water, even though hers never went more than two beats. The day only got better when she arrived home to find Ava and Maggie waiting in the backyard of the Pettigrew cottage. They had set up a large tent and bonfire and adorned the trees with paper lanterns. The trio of girls spent the night toasting marshmallows and laughed before curling up in the tent and going to bed.

Lena opened her eyes and cast the spell. Large silver wisps shot of her wand, but they took no form. Lena frowned. Lena found it a bit disheartening knowing that her happiest memory wasn't enough.

She also knew that it meant there were chances for her to be much happier in the future.

Once again, Lena closed her eyes and imagined the twentieth of August. However, instead of it being 1976, it was 1977 and she was turning sixteen. She was still at Brighton with her family. This time, though, Remus was with her; not only as her friend, but also as her boyfriend. She could see herself smiling as he won a stuffed lion for her and handed it to her as he blushed. She could imagine herself placing a Gryffindor tie around its neck and sitting it next to her stuffed badger. Instead of her stones sinking, Remus would teach her how to let them fly far beyond two beats. Lena would still spend the night around the bonfire with her friends, but Remus would join them. She blushed at the thought of him kissing her forehead as she grew more tired and her waking up beside him in the morning.

As unlikely as it was, it was possible that Remus could see Lena as more than a friend and that they could be together as a couple. What could make you happier than being loved by someone you love? Lena thought.

And once again, Lena opened her eyes and uttered Expecto Patronum. Silver wisps shot out of wand, weaving together to form a wolf. Lena laughed as the wolf nuzzled its snout against her legs and pranced amongst her fellow students.

Maggie rushed over and gave her an affectionate squeeze and plethora of compliments. Ava gave her a large grin and thumbs up before turning around to chase Lena's Patronus. Raj shouted his congratulations from across the room.

"Well done, Miss Pettigrew. You're the first student of the class to cast a corporeal Patronus. 10 points to Hufflepuff!" Professor exclaimed.

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