𝑰𝒏𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 | 𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒐 𝑴𝒂𝒍𝒇𝒐𝒚 | 𝟐

| TWENTY SIX |

Chapter 26: Where do loyalties lie?

~•~

The next few days moulded into weeks as class after class and DA meeting after DA meeting did nothing to ease Olivia's stress. Thankfully though, her letter had been received and the package had been sent for Alexis, ending one problem despite Olivia's reluctancy at first. However the girl knew it would raise eyebrows back at home.

The current subject or spell the DA were working on was casting Patronus, something Olivia was aware of that Harry learnt to preform in third year, taught to him by her own godfather. While the group had only been practicing that particular incantation for a short amount of time they had been surprised when Olivia struggled to conjure up the charm as she was normally the first to master every spell thrown their way.

Harry stood at Olivia's side along with Fred and George who tried to calm the girl enough to clear her mind fully or in the twins case, try to give her a memory to think about, "What about Egypt, try that one." Fred had suggested.

When Olivia thought of the memory and uttered the spell frowns fell upon the faces of the four as only a slight hint of mist flew from the tip of her wand.

"Maybe not Egypt then." George elbowed his brothers side.

"How about you give her a memory Georgie, after all she is making bigger progress than you." Fred replied.

Olivia and Harry ignored the bickering twins as Harry moved closer to Olivia, "Concentrate Olivia, think of your happiest memory." He encouraged, rubbing her upper arm.

"If you haven't noticed mate I haven't been having a good few years."

"It'll be there somewhere Olivia, how about when you saw Snuffles again at Grimmuald in the Christmas break." He suggested.

She bit her lip, hesitant before nodding, "Yeah, okay." Raising her wand again she took a deep breath before uttering the spell. She felt all eyes where on her as she spoke the incantation, "Expecto Partronum."

Like last time there was mist, more than the other attempts but not enough to conjure a full patronus, the girl sighed in defeat before lowering her wand again as Hermione and Ron made their way over, "The spells Expecto Patronum but it difficult to expect something when it's so goddamn hard." She said, her voice rising due to frustration slightly at the end.

"You'll get it Liv, I know you will."

"Honestly Ron, maybe I'm not the person everyone expects me to be." She muttered, running a hand through her hair.

The three exchanged glances as Ron pulled Olivia into his side for a small hug, they were worried about her change in attitude, anyone could see it. She was becoming more worried and was feeling more strain everyday and the constant chill creeping slowly up her spine was doing nothing to put her mind at ease.

"How about we move on for now yeah?" Harry asked, rubbing the girl's shoulder comfortingly.

Olivia nodded in response as Harry moved to speak to the group and changed the spell they were to work on, the stunning spell. Harry ordered boys to one side and girls to the other as Olivia frowned at Hermione, "Is this the spell you were practicing when you knocked Ron off his arse?" She whispered.

"Yes it was actually." She replied with a satisfied smile.

Olivia smirked, "Wicked."

"We touched upon this spell before Christmas but not everyone managed to grasp it so I figured we'll take a break from producing a Patronus charm for now and re-visit this." Harry announced to the group, "Now the incantation for this spell is pretty simple really, Stupefy. It's hand movement is also just as simple. ." Harry said, demonstrating the hand movement, "Now who's first?"