IT WAS DARK AND EMPTY IN THE HISTORY OF MAGIC CLASSROOM WHEN VEGA AND HARRY ARRIVED, BUT THEY LIT THE LAMPS AND WAITED.
it was only five minutes when professor lupin turned up, carrying a large packing case, which he heaved onto professor binn's desk.
"what's that?" said harry."another boggart," said lupin, stripping off his cloak. "i've been combing the castle ever since tuesday, and very luckily, i found this one lurking inside mr. filch's filing cabinet"
vega sighed, "damn, should've left it there"
lupin chuckled, "it's the nearest we'll get to a real dementor. the boggart will turn into a dementor when he sees you, so we'll be able to practice on him"
"uhh, my boggart's not a dementor, how are we supposed to do me?" vega tilted her head.
lupin nodded, "indeed, harry is just going to have to stay in it's line of sight for as long as possible. you'll just need to be quick with your spell"
vega nodded.
"i can store him in my office when we're not using him; there's a cupboard under my desk he'll like." lupin smiled.
"okay," said harry, trying to sound as though he wasn't apprehensive at all and merely glad that lupin had found such a good substitute for areal dementor.
vega was mildly nervous, but definitely happy she was not going to be delivered the kiss on that day.
"so..." professor lupin had taken out his own wand, and indicated that harry and vega should do the same. "the spell i am going to try and teach you is highly advanced magic, vega, harry -- well beyond ordinary wizarding level. it is called the patronus charm."
"how does it work?" harry asked nervously.
"well, when it works correctly, it conjures up a patronus," said lupin, "which is a kind of anti- dementor -- a guardian that acts as a shield between you and the dementor."
vega's lips formed an o'.
"the patronus is a kind of positive force, a projection of the very things that the dementor feeds upon -- hope, happiness, the desire to survive -- but it cannot feel despair, as real humans can, so the dementors can't hurt it. but i must warn you, harry, vega, that the charm might be too advanced for you. many qualified wizards have difficulty with it."
