Lily Potter And The Hidden Room

Part Five - Patronus

This chapter is dedicated to dranconianforlife thanks for the awesome drawing of Lily (above)!
______

One month later and Lily is still working to get her Patronus charm under control. She can manage more than a wisp, and the strength of her incorporeal patronus is growing. However, she has yet to see the full form of her animal patronus. Lily paces restlessly around the large Room of Requirement, the heels of her school shoes clicking loudly on the stone floor. Her dad has still not arrived for their lesson - normally he would be there even before she was. Lily is eager to get down to work today: She can tell that this lesson will unlock her personality and show who she truly is inside. The second year turns to face the old mirror propped up in the corner of the room, and looks at herself. Her long black Hogwarts robes look tidy, her straight red hair is tucked neatly behind one ear. Everything about Lily screams order - both her and her father believe that she will have the swan patronus, one of grace and balance. But that is just from the outside opinion. Only what is inside counts when summoning a patronus animal, and Lily is beginning to fear what hers could reveal.

Finally, Harry bursts through the doors carrying a series of leather bound books and a large black suitcase. He places them wearily onto the floor, and indicates for Lily to begin. She tries the charm, forcing her happiest memory of getting the letter for Hogwarts through her mind, but the blue mist still does not resemble any animal. Harry sighs, and walks slowly over to his daughter. He circles her, sizing up the problem, before pressing his hands onto her shoulders and forcing them down.

"Relax. This is supposed to be natural. I am only teaching you the patronus in animal form as it is one of the most powerful shields you could have, such as the protego charm, but if you cannot do it today then do not worry. Nothing that will danger you enough to use the patronus charm is going to come near you before you have learnt it. You have my word." He assures, and Lily relaxes, her shoulders dropping and her muscles releasing from their stiff positioning. "Perhaps an example would help you to learn?" He suggests, brandishing his own wand.

Harry casts the spell, a stag racing from the tip of his wand and dancing around the room. It radiates power and pride, the masculinity of the creature stunning Lily. Her father stops the spell, and gestures for his daughter to try again.

"Expecto patronum." She says easily, not forcing anything through. The same blue light radiates from the end of her wand, except this time the stream separates,  and a single creature emerges.

A wolf.

"Very good Lily! Now hold it, don't let your mind wander. A corporeal patronus will only protect you while you focus." Harry instructs, watching in awe as the animal leaps and bounds around the room, its tail of light still flowing freely through his pupil's wand. Lily laughs, elated that she finally did it. She knows what her patronus is, and now she can look into becoming an Animagus. The wolf leaps into one of the columns and disappears with a tiny cloud of magic. Lily lowers her wand.

"Go on then, what does a wolf mean?" She asks eagerly, eyes bright as she grins up at her father.

"Loyalty. You have the power to lead, like a pack, and family is very important to you. You are an individual represented in a group; you are part of people, yet you are not one being. Patience and freedom will also be shown in your personality. Maybe not now," he teases, "but as you grow and develop into a young woman it will be."

Lily nods at her father, satisfied with his analysis of the creature. Some parts of it reflect her now, some - patience- obviously do not. She wishes him to have a good day and ends the lesson, heading back up to her dorm room to share the news with her friends and family before dinner. Lily finds everyone waiting for her in the common room, with huge grins on their faces. A mini celebration is set out, with a table full of party food which was no doubt retrieved from the kitchen by Fred and James, and a scattering of balloons. Music is playing the background, a new song from the radio that Lily hasn't heard before.

"Surprise!" The gryffindors cheer, clapping and setting off party poppers. Lily feels tears grow in her eyes. Hugo, Kye and Lincoln are all waiting for her at the front of the crowd, and she runs over to them, squishing them in a mega-hug.

"Congratulations on getting your patronus, Lil. All of us know you've been working really hard on it." Link beams, high-fiving her. He roams off to go get some food, and Hugo looks at him in longing, before turning his attention back to his cousin.

"How did you find out? I only got it less than ten minutes ago!" Lily elbows him, mouth agape in wonder. Hugo just shrugs and taps his nose, leaving Lily to ponder about his secretive methods.

Albus and his friend Brad call Lily over, and she releases Hugo to go and eat food before slinking over to them. They beg her for an demonstration, and though she refuses soon the whole house is demanding that she show them her amazing new charm.

"You want me to show you?" She mocks, relishing in the attention. They cheers, and she pulls her wand from her robes. "I'll show you!" They cheer even louder, some banging on the tables and stamping their feet while chanting her name. Lily recalls the memory of when she made up with her friends, and casts the spell. Her wolf spills out from her wand, pouncing gracefully on people's heads before chasing the shadows to the ceiling. Her classmates stare in amazement, silence hushing over the room while the wolf dances. Eventually, Lily lowers her wand and the animal fades just as it did before. 

"You HAVE to teach us how to do that!" One girl gasps, and then others join in. Lily shakes her head, regret etched on her features. She tells them that although she can cast the charm, she has no chance of being able to successfully teach it. Not without wasting everyone's time. They shrugs it off, and return to their celebration. Some one has sneaked in butter beer, and all of the older years grab some, even the prefects have a glass or two. Merry and drunk, the party gradually dies down as students head to bed. Lily shakes her head, chucking at her friends, and cleans up the common room until it is at a point where no one will be punished for the mess. A house elf will surely clean it up later. Lily pads upstairs to her dorm, where her cousins are all fast asleep and snoring like a herd of pigs. She slips into a pair of shorts and a long sleeved top, and gets into her bed, ready to fall into a deep and joyous sleep.