Riley Spade is the fifth member of the marauders. Her mind is full of ideas but also filled with worry. She looks like she has the perfect life; a loving family, life-long friends, good grades... It's all until the turning point of her life, war rag...
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Riley left Dumbledore's office, going back to the common room. Lena was waiting right where she left.
"So, are you convinced that I'm not an imposter yet, Riley Spade?" she asked half mockingly.
"Yeah, as much as I hate to admit it," said Riley quietly.
"And...?"
"And I will reconsider. Also, sorry for being — harsh, I guess," said Riley.
"And if you do decide to participate in this, it won't start until February, that's when I turn seventeen," she said.
***
8th of November, 1977
The Marauders sat in Three Broomsticks, sipping their butterbeers and loudly talking. Madam Rosmerta rolled her eyes as she looked at the group.
Riley and Ralph were still dating, although they weren't as close as last year. Riley had tried talking to him, but he had run away or made up an excuse every time. Riley still hadn't said anything to Dumbledore nor Lena.
"We haven't pulled a prank in forever!" said James.
"Because you are head boy?" said Peter.
"We pulled pranks when Moony was a prefect!" he said. "We can't lose our reputation, it's far more important than classes."
"Yeah, he's got a point," said Sirius. "Our pranking abilities really are a gift."
"With that ego, people will think you are a genius or somethin'," said Remus, and Riley laughed.
"Hear me out," said Sirius. "We should do this huge prank for Christmas!" he said in excitement.
"Might not be possible —" said Remus. "It's the full moon this Christmas."
"What?! It's your last Christmas at Hogwarts but it's the full moon?!" exclaimed Riley.
"Yeah... It sucks."
***
13th of December, 1977
The seventh-year students waited as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor moved all the tables to one side of the room, opening up space in the middle of the room. He stood there with his wand out, nothing written on the board. He hadn't asked the students to bring their books, only their wands.
"Welcome everyone," he said. "Today we'll be practicing the Patronus charm."
There was chatter among the class, everyone looked excited. Riley had a little smile on her face. She had read about the Patronus charm before, she knew it was above NEWT level, but she couldn't wait.
"The incantation is 'Expecto Patronum,'" he said. "But this charm isn't all about how you flick or hold your wand, or how you say aloud, you must think of your happiest memory, it has to be strong."
And soon after the professor let everyone try casting the Patronus charm, it was hard to focus. Everyone was shouting 'Expecto Patronum,' hoping to see the silvery animal come out of the wand.
Riley didn't try casting it right away, she thought for a moment, trying to find the happiest memory she could unlock in her brain. There were many happy ones for sure, but for a very long time, there hadn't been a powerful happy memory.
"Expecto Patronum!" she said as she held her wand out. She thought about that summer, the lake, the hiking. Nothing formed.
She looked around. Lily had managed to get some kind of result, there was a silvery light coming out of her wand but there wasn't any distinguishable shape. Remus was staring at the room, he didn't have his wand out. James looked frustrated that nothing happened. Sirius was teasing him instead of doing work, Peter tried hard, but nothing happened.
Riley looked across the room and saw Ralph standing in one corner all by himself, there was light coming out of his wand like Lily's, but there was no shape or form.
Riley noticed how she didn't think of any memories she had with Ralph when she was told to think of the happiest one. She wasn't the happiest she was with Ralph.
He had changed over the summer, barely replied to her letters, refused to talk about anything besides school.
"Expecto Patronum," she said one more time. This time, she thought about the time when she got her Hogwarts letter, excited to go to the same school as her sister, excited to leave Pine Road and the bullies in school.
This was visibly a more powerful memory, a bright light was seen for a few seconds, then vanishing into the thin air without a trace. Riley's smile faded.
She looked over to the other side of the classroom. It was Kingsley Shacklebolt with a large lynx Patronus, running around the classroom.
"We have our first student to cast a Patronus! Mr. Shacklebolt!" said the professor proudly. "I must say, very majestic animals, lynxes."
"I swear this kid will become minister of magic or something one day," said James and then looked at his wand once again. Riley and Sirius laughed. Riley noticed a bright light from somewhere else. She turned around, seeing a doe walking around a red-headed girl.
"Miss Evans!" exclaimed the professor. "Well done!"
Soon, there were many people capable of casting an incorporeal Patronus charm. Some could cast a corporeal one, this included Sirius and James. Sirius's was a dog by no surprise. James's was a stag, again, this did not cause a shock among the Marauders. But it sure did make Lily blush.
Remus said "Expecto Patronum," one more time. This time, instead of just a silver ray of light, a wolf formed out of the thin light.
"For fuck's sake..." mumbled Remus under his breath. "Why can't I have peace for once?"
"You gotta admit, Moony," said Sirius. "I thought it was going to be a werewolf —"
"No shit! Wonder why..." said Remus angrily and quickly lowered his wand, making the Patronus go away. Riley smiled, but then took a deep breath, trying to focus.
She tried to think of every happy memory in the last months, years, and even minutes. Nothing worked to form a corporeal Patronus in the shape of an animal.
She then thought of something happy and rather sad for her. It made her smile to think about it, a sad smile. It was a long time ago, hard to remember each detail. Nevertheless, she took her wand once again.
"Expecto Patronum," she said quietly. The silver light came out of her wand. She thought it was going to fade away like the last time, but instead, a thick mist of light swiveled around her, forming the shape of a fox running around.
Riley watched as the fox ran around, going to different places. Riley had a small smile on her face, half shocked by her ability to cast it, half happy that she could. It surely wasn't a surprise for her Patronus to be a fox, her animagus was a fox.
"Miss Spade! Well done," the professor said. Riley had thought of the day they spent together as a family on the beach. Beach Avalon to be more specific. Ivy carrying Riley on her shoulders. The year 1967 summer. She remembered the salty breeze of the sea, her squinting her eyes to not get sand in her eyes... She remembered her dad bringing a camera to the beach, taking many pictures. She remembered her mum walking right where the waves met the beach, letting her feet get cold in the water. It was the happiest memory she had. It was the memory with her family, alive and happy.
But Riley felt her eyes stinging from the burning tears, partly because of the memory she chose. She tried not to blink to prevent them from rolling down her cheeks. She had a faint smile on her face. Even though it was not a surprise, Riley realized she never noticed why her animagus form was a fox in the first place.
