Intertwined || Percabeth Hogwarts AU

Chapter 18

"Dementors are among the darkest, foulest creatures that walk this earth. If you get too near them, they will drain you of your peace, and hope, and happiness until you become something like itself—soulless and evil."

The students listened to Harry with rapt attention, hanging on to his every word. Their Professor displayed an image of the creature and the students stared at it with trepidation in their hearts.

They had a humanoid shape and were covered in dark hooded cloaks of long ripped black cloth that resembled wraiths. A closer image of its face made the students recoil. It had empty eye sockets, covered with scabbed skin. And there was a gaping large hole where its mouth should be.

Harry pointed at its mouth. "A Dementor will suck the soul out of its victim in a process referred to as the 'Dementor's Kiss.' This is one of the worst fates that one can suffer. If one should experience this... they will be left with nothing but the worst experiences of their lives—a hollow shell of their former selves."

He shut off the projection and took in his student's fearful expressions before gracing them with a warm smile.

"But fear not. I will be teaching you one of the only certain defenses that you can use against a Dementor. It's called the Patronus Charm."

"There's nothing about this charm on the syllabus, Professor," a student spoke up.

A collective groan went around the classroom. There was always that one annoying little shit in every class.

"Settle down guys," Harry said, suppressing a chuckle himself. "That's because this isn't something that's conventionally taught. God knows why, it's not like you're going to be fighting Dementors or dark wizards with a slug-vomiting curse."

The sixth years laughed uproariously. They learned that with the right kind of teacher, school was actually fun. Despite the fact that they were literally learning magic.

"The spell I'm going to try and teach you is highly advanced magic—way beyond your OWLs. When it works, it conjures a Patronus, which is kind of like a guardian that acts as a shield between you and the Dementor. The strength of it depends entirely on you; you have to be concentrating on a single, very happy memory.

"I won't bore you with the theory behind it. You can read up on that yourself if you're curious. I think the best way to learn is by doing so who's up for a demonstration?" Harry asked, spreading his hands questioningly.

Some of the students banged their desks and eagerly nodded, yelling out their approvals. Harry laughed and rolled his sleeves up before producing his wand.

"Now the incantation is, 'Expecto Patronum.'"

"Expecto Patronum, Expecto Patronum," the class repeated.

"Very good," Harry said before clearing his throat and pointing his wand upward. "Expecto Patronum!"

The class watched in awe as a huge, dazzling silver shadow came bursting out of the end of their Professor's wand. A round of gasps went around the room when the light transformed into a silver stag that cantered around the classroom. It galloped toward Harry and stopped in front of him, bowing its head. The students' amazement lasted well after the animal dissolved into silver mist.

Harry clapped to turn their attention back to him. "Now, it's your turn. Spread around and have at it."