Chapter 427: Happy Memories
"Did you and Albus encounter a Dementor?"
Professor McGonagall's expression sharpened through the surface of the mirror. Because they were using the Magic Hand Mirrors, the figures within appeared smaller than in life. This served to dampen McGonagall's usual intimidating severity, lending the interaction a touch of novelty that Sean found quite refreshing.
"We did not, Professor," Sean replied.
He watched as the miniature McGonagall relaxed her brow.
"Then... why the sudden desire to learn the Patronus Charm? Where did you even hear of such a spell?"
Professor McGonagall was usually a woman of few words, but lately, she seemed determined to dig to the bottom of Sean's every whim.
"I read about it in Charms of Defence and Deterrence, Professor. The eighteenth-century text by Catullus Spangle. He describes the Patronus as a specific deterrent against the foulest of dark creatures... Page sixty-eight, line six," Sean recalled perfectly.
He had always been an voracious reader. In his nearly two years at Hogwarts, the sheer volume of books he had consumed could likely circle the castle turrets.
"Mmm. Then you are likely aware that it is a spell of immense difficulty," McGonagall said softly. The spark of magical obsession she saw in the boy never failed to fill her with a sense of pride.
"I suspect it wasn't particularly difficult for you, Professor," Sean said, looking into the mirror.
"Naturally. Come to my office tomorrow morning."
With a final nod, McGonagall's face vanished. The image in the glass reverted to its idle state: a tabby cat lazily grooming its fur.
Night finally brought its customary peace to the hospital wing. Aside from the soft rhythm of Sean's own breathing, the infirmary was silent. Sean used a magical lantern on the windowsill to continue reading Charms of Defence and Deterrence. After a while, he felt the light was growing too dim, and his eyes drifted toward the cold hearth at the far end of the ward.
Suddenly, his vision blurred. A translucent, silver-flecked figure seemed to overlay his own—the phantom image of Rowena Ravenclaw.
He watched as the spectral Rowena gave a lazy flick of her finger. The heavy stone fireplace seemed to "hop" off the wall, scuttling across the floor like a giant, obedient pet until it settled beside his bed. The flames flared, illuminating the yellowed pages of his book with a warm, steady glow.
Sean blinked, shaking his head. The phantom was gone. He looked back at the hearth; a portion of the stone grate had indeed detached itself and moved to his bedside.
[Alert: You have practiced Magical Transfiguration at a Master standard. Master-level Proficiency +300]
The proficiency for his sub-skill surged by a full tenth. Sean sat stunned.
Is this... a new application of the Legacy Scroll? he wondered. Is Rowena... playing for me?
It seemed his mental integration with the scroll had reached a second, more resonant stage. He wasn't sure if this phenomenon was common among those who inherited ancient knowledge, but he wasn't about to complain.
A small smile touched his lips. Just then, an owl—its feathers dusted with fresh snow—landed on the outer ledge of the window. Sean waved a hand. Under the influence of a wandless, non-verbal Levitation Charm, the latch turned and the window swung open.
A sturdy brown owl hopped cautiously onto the edge of the bed. It leaned toward the warmth of the newly relocated hearth and shook its wings, sending a fine spray of snowflakes onto the rug. Sean used a quick charm to dry the bedclothes and the floor. For the next hour, as the fire crackled, the hooting owl and the young wizard read together in silence.
[It is a visible fact that when a human is faced with an inhuman evil such as a Dementor, he or she must reach for resources they may never have realized they possessed. The Patronus is the Secret Self, lying dormant until the moment it is called upon to manifest...]
The Secret Self...
Sean mused on the forms the spell took. Snape's was a doe, Harry's a stag, and Hermione's an otter. What did these forms say about their inner nature? He made a note in his journal, his mind jumping to a more obscure fact.
Dumbledore's Patronus was a phoenix—widely known. But... Grindelwald's was also a phoenix. It was a mirroring of souls, much like the way Snape's Patronus matched Lily Potter's. Even more curious was Nymphadora Tonks; her Patronus had originally been a hare, but in 1996, it had transformed into a wolf to match Remus Lupin's.
The Patronus was a reflection of a wizard's most powerful positive memory, their "Greatest Love." It was this emotional anchor that dictated the physical law of the spell.
Sean, ever the rigorous scholar, documented every nuance. He eventually returned to the text:
[The Patronus Charm is an ancient and mysterious incantation that summons a magical guardian—the projection of a wizard's positive emotions. It is notoriously difficult; many wizards never manage to manifest a full, corporeal Patronus. Its form is typically that of the animal with which the caster shares the deepest affinity. You may not believe it, but until the moment you successfully summon it, you will never truly know what your Secret Self looks like.]
Logically, Sean's Patronus should match his Animagus form. But he had multiple forms now. The uncertainty made him even more eager for the morning's lesson.
As the owl melted the last of the snow from its feathers by the fire, Sean drifted into sleep. The brown owl tilted its head, watched him for a moment, then flew out into the night, using its talons to pull the window shut behind it.
The next morning, the weather remained damp and windy. A new notice had appeared on the house bulletin boards, announcing that Hogsmeade trips would resume the following weekend.
Inside the Transfiguration office, Professor McGonagall was staring at a small silver cat ornament on her desk. She turned as a knock sounded at the door.
"Professor," the voice called.
"Come in, child."
The lesson began without delay. Sean stood before her blackboard as McGonagall began her lecture.
"Pay close attention, Sean. The spell I am about to demonstrate is a highly advanced branch of magic—well beyond the scope of a standard education. It is the Patronus Charm. If performed correctly, it manifests a Guardian. It is the bane of dark creatures—a shield that stands between the wizard and the void."
McGonagall didn't waste time with fluff. She flicked her wand. Wisps of silver vapor erupted from the tip, coalescing into a brilliant, pearly-white cat that bounded across the room.
Sean watched the spectral feline with fascination.
"Each Patronus is unique to the wizard who conjures it," McGonagall explained. "To call it forth, you must focus with every fiber of your being upon a single, exceptionally happy memory. Without that emotional anchor, the incantation is hollow."
She flicked her wand again, and the cat dissolved into silver smoke. She turned to Sean and went silent.
She was intensely curious. What sort of happy memories does a boy like this carry? What could possibly be powerful enough to ground a wizard who has already faced so much darkness?
Minerva McGonagall waited, knowing that the next few minutes would reveal more about Sean Green than a year of conversation.
[End of Chapter 427]
☆☆☆
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you