The lesson itself passed smoothly, but points flew from Gryffindors due to Ron Weasley's sloppiness, who melted a cauldron by incorrect mixing of ingredients, and thanks to Neville. The modest chubby boy didn't spoil the potion much thanks to Hermione's timely help, but the mistake with the order of actions itself was noticed by Snape, which did not remain without consequences. Our House suffered a little too due to Hannah's hair falling into the potion. Suffered minimally, but no one was indignant; deservedly. The girl forgot to gather her hair and secure the potion from such a thing by trivially not leaning over the cauldron.
"Greengrass," I spoke to my partner almost for the first time, not counting the formal greeting. "How are things with additional Potions classes?"
I spoke, naturally, incredibly quietly and only Daphne could hear me.
"We can come on Saturday from five in the afternoon," Daphne glanced at me, at the same time checking if black strands intercepted in a tail had escaped. "As soon as ingredients are ready."
"I am working on it. Think I'll manage by Saturday."
"Excellent."
"Cease conversations," the voice of the professor appearing nearby rang out. "Since you have time for conversations, it will be found for controlling the potion preparation process too."
The lesson ended quite quickly. Handing in potion samples, students left the class and went to History of Magic. Naturally, the guys from our House and I decided to skip again for the sake of training various spells and charms from the covered program, and simply for the sake of something interesting.
In the abandoned classroom where we practiced more than once, everything remained exactly as we left it. Is it good that only we use it? I suppose so.
"Guys!" Ernie Macmillan clapped his hands mischievously as soon as we locked the door behind us. "Finally I will boast!"
"Speak already," Hannah smirked, sitting down with Susan at one of the tables. "Or else you were literally bursting all morning."
"Really?" I was surprised, sitting down at another table. "I didn't even notice."
"Guys-guys, what I found out," Ernie not particularly neatly dumped his bag onto another table standing next to mine, and immediately took out a notebook from there. "Yesterday found a very useful spell we talked about."
"And didn't even tear the page out of the book?" Justin smirked, leaning against the wall, but immediately jumping away from it. "Damn it..."
Finch-Fletchley spun on the spot, trying to see the back of his robe abundantly covered in dust.
"Well how so?"
"Help?" Susan took out her wand, correcting a strand of red hair with the other hand.
"Be so kind."
"Tergeo."
Dust from Justin's robe disappeared, returning it to a clean and well-groomed look.
"Thank you."
"Guys," Ernie with childish resentment on his face attracted the attention of those around again. "Important spell, after all! Or rather, charm."
"Speak already, we are all listening attentively."
"Patronus Charm!"
"O-o-oh! Come on faster."
Ernie put the notebook on the table and turned to the necessary page. Well, and we all got up from our seats and surrounded the guy, looking at the notes.
"What handwriting you have."
"Oh come on, Hannah," Ernie grimaced slightly. "Here, found it. Patronus Charm... Blah-blah-blah... Powerful protective spell. I didn't write word for word here, only the important stuff."
"We see," Hannah nodded. "But in general terms, I think, many know about it."
"Hector doesn't know," Ernie shook his head in my direction.
"Hector doesn't know," I nodded in agreement. "So, what's there..."
Quickly adjusting to Ernie's clumsy handwriting, I began to read information about the charm aloud.
"Designed for protection against Dementors and Lethifolds. Can have many different forms depending on the wizard, but mainly there are several, and all have a silvery-blue color: mist, shields of different forms, corporeal form, and wave form. Wave?"
"Boom-boom-boom," Zacharias showed with gestures waves diverging to the sides, like from an explosion. "Looks like a pulse."
"Clear. Corporeal form of Patronus takes the form of some animal corresponding to the wizard's character. Amusing, how does that work?" I looked around at the guys leaning over the notebook, but they, like me, had no answer. "Okay. Form and size of Patronus do not affect its strength. Some are incapable of producing a Patronus until they experience some shock, mental upheaval. Where is the instruction?"
"On the other page," Ernie turned the notebook page, pointing a finger at the wand movement scheme and verbal formula.
There were also arithmancy formulas here, which Professor McGonagall loves so much, but Ernie signed "dubious benefit." It seems to me this very inscription became the reason for bewildered glances directed at the guy.
"What? That's what was written in the book. Quote: 'Effectiveness of using the formula is not proven in practice'. Let's better try."
An hour and a half; that is exactly how much it took all of us to come to a logical conclusion. Which one? We are too weak, or our mind is weak, or we don't have the necessary happy memories. Yes-yes, precisely on "happy memories of great power rests the might of the Patronus Charm"; Ernie copied this quote verbatim. I, of course, have a theory that not memories themselves are important, not their truthfulness and strength, but rather the psychological effect from them, and along with that those reactions in the organism which they cause. Simply put, a memory can be invented, adjusting their strength for oneself, making them maximally effective. Invented, based on imagination and will. Actually, one of the strong sides of sorcery via internal energy is generally based on this; will and imagination.
But I did not use this conclusion, like my other advantages over the rest; worked and tried like everyone else, "honestly," looking for necessary memories. Later I will try my conclusions, being in proud solitude, and share results with the rest. Why so? People, and especially children, tend to relate negatively to those who succeed too well. Especially if nothing works out for everyone in general.
"Not surprising," Zacharias became dejected, leaning against the table. "This is an advanced level charm. Such is not within every adult's power."
"Now-now," I smiled. "If something didn't work out immediately, it means one just needs to try properly, work. In the end, talent is only five percent of success, and the rest? What our House is famous for. Labor, labor, and labor again."
"Labor is, of course, good," Justin smiled. "But not missing lunch would be even better."
"True enough," Hannah supported the thought, and the others perked up. "Let's go have lunch. And the spell must definitely be worked on properly. Unknown how much longer Dementors will stay around Hogwarts. And Hogsmeade visits are soon. By the way, does anyone know, will they be at all?"
"And how else!" Justin and Ernie were indignant in chorus, causing smiles from the rest.
"If they allow them, it will be somewhat... Delirious," Zacharias shook his head, but we didn't discuss the topic further, leaving the classroom.
Lunch, English and Literature, Herbology, and here evening arrived, and we with the whole friendly collective settled in the common room, doing homework assigned today.
"Hector, hi," Cedric sat next to us. "And to you, guys."
"Hi, Cedric."
"I'll steal your comrade for a short while?"
"Only if for a short while," Hannah nodded. "Still lots of homework to do."
"Agreed. Hector?"
"Let's go."
We stepped aside to one of the windows, behind which evening gloom had already thickened. A light pass with the wand performed by the prefect, and the air around us swam in a familiar way; eavesdropping prevention spell.
"Twins sold almost thirty pendants in a day," the prefect smiled sincerely. "This is a success, Hector."
"Glad to hear. But I don't need money for entertainment."
"I guessed. Coming up with and implementing a way of earning in a couple of days; such things don't happen from a good life. Have somewhere to put money?"