𝑰𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑳𝑳𝑨𝑹 || 𝑮. 𝑾𝑬𝑨𝑺𝑳𝑬𝒀

𝑬𝑿𝑷𝑬𝑪𝑻𝑶 𝑷𝑨𝑻𝑹𝑶𝑵𝑼𝑴

CASSIE HAD STARTED to give up on questioning her father and decided that he may have too many things to hide from his daughter. 

It hurt a little bit. 

However, Cassie knew her father was a good man, she hoped, so he had to be hiding things for a reason. The only thing Cassie disliked was she felt he was treating her much younger than she truly was. She was sixteen about to take her O.W.L. exams, not the naive first year or the orphaned toddler she once was. 

Cassie had also decided that none of this was worth pushing her father away again and had begun to head up to his classroom. When she entered, her father was not alone.

"Harry!" Cassie smiled at him and he turned around with a tight grasp on his wand.

"I'm sorry, Cassie. I'm helping Harry at the moment, could we talk after?" Her father spoke from his seat on his desk.

"She can stay." Was the only thing Harry said before turning back to the wardrobe. His knuckles were white from the rough grip on his wand and he was the most determined Cassie had ever seen him. She quietly snuck to a desk near her father and sat on it.

"You're sure about this, Harry? This is very advanced magic. Well beyond Ordinary Wizarding Level. Cassie hasn't even learned it yet. " Remus after advised Harry, eyeing the trunk as it shook.

"If he can fight the Dementors, I need to know how too," Harry responded and Cassie shared a look with her father before he spoke once again.

"Very well. The spell I'm going to teach you is called the Patronus Charm. Ever hear of it?" Harry shook his head. "A Patronus is a kind of positive force. For the wizard who can conjure one, the Patronus works something like a shield. The Dementor feeds on it instead of him." Cassie nodded along as well, intrigued by her father's lesson. 

"But for it to work, you must think of a memory. And not just any. This memory needs to be a very happy one. And powerful." Cassie began to think of her memory. Which would she choose?

 Christmas with her father? Laughing with Lee in the dorms? Maybe she would think of summers with the Weasleys or the Diggorys? Would she think of beating Ron in Exploding Snap? Braiding Ginny's hair as she complained of her brothers and Harry? Could it be reading with Hermione or speaking with Harry in the Gryffindor common room? 

Her thoughts were interrupted by the flickering of torches and Harry's voice began to get fainter and fainter.

"Expecto... Expecto..." He trailed off and began sinking to the floor. Cassie quickly rushed over to him as Remus shot the boogart back into the trunk. Her father quickly grabbed a chocolate frog from his pocket and handed it to Harry. 

Normally Cassie would have rolled her eyes at how predictable her father was being, but at this moment she was too worried about Harry. "That's one nasty Dementor." He whispered, turning his head to look back at the trunk where the dementor once was.

"You always have to give us a scare, don't you." Cassie rolled her eyes at him, smiling.

"Boggart, Harry. The real thing would be much, much worse. Just out of interest, what were you thinking of? What memory did you choose?" Remus implored as Cassie helped Harry stand up. She placed the back of her hand on his forehead before moving to stand next to her father again.

"The first time I rode a broom." He muttered, eyeing the floor. "There's another. It's not happy exactly. I mean, it is. It's the happiest I've ever felt. But it's... complicated."

"Give it a try, Harry." Cassie smiled down at him and squeezed his shoulder.

"Just think Harry-" Remus whispered. The dementor started to rise from the chest and Cassie watched as it loomed closer to Harry.

"Expecto Patronum!" Harry yelled as he stood firmly, unwavering despite his previous fear. The dementor floated away in a flash and Harry lowered his wand. 

"Riddikulus!" Remus said, his voice faltering as he stared at Harry in wonder. "Well done."

"I think I've had enough. For today." Harry's walk was slightly swayed Cassie wrapped an arm around his shoulders to stabilize him.

"Wouldn't want to overexert yourself, Harry." She squeezed him slightly as they made their way to the door.

"So you know, Harry: You'd have given your father a run for his money. And, believe me, that's saying something." Cassies father continued on their way out but Harry stopped and turned.

"I was thinking of him. And Mum. Seeing their faces. They're just talking to me. Just... talking. That was the memory I chose. I don't even know if it's real, but it's the best I have." Harry responded and Cassie put her chin atop his head as a form of comfort while they exited her father's classroom. 

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I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

comment & let me know what you guys think :)) ~ maia