Chapter 428: A Natural Sun
"Before you begin your practice, have you looked into the origins of the Patronus Charm?" Professor McGonagall asked.
Wizards' spells were never without a foundation. A wizard with a deeper understanding of the history and nature of a spell invariably possessed greater magical power when casting it. This was a truth easily observed, yet rarely applied effectively by the average student.
Only high-level wizards truly felt the weight of that connection.
If it had been any other professor, they might have simply started with the wand movements—most young wizards struggled to grasp the theory anyway. But she knew her child was different. Dumbledore was right; a boy like Sean required a more specialized form of education.
"In the library, I found several ancient woodblock prints," Sean recalled, drawing on the vast archive of his memory. "According to those records and various scrolls, the Patronus Charm has been in use since ancient times. No one is entirely certain who invented it or exactly when it first appeared. However, the spell has long been associated with those who fight for noble causes. Traditionally, wizards capable of summoning a corporeal Patronus are often the same ones elected to high-ranking positions within the Wizengamot and the Ministry of Magic."
"An insightful summary," McGonagall noted, offering him a satisfied smile. "And have you heard the legend of Illyius and Raczidian?"
She picked up her cup of tea, the steam rising to meet her spectacles.
"Yes, Professor. Legend says Raczidian was a dark wizard who desired a witch named Eliana as his wife. He wrote to her parents, demanding the marriage, but they refused him. Enraged, Raczidian threatened to send an army of Dementors to destroy their village unless Eliana was handed over. The villagers chose to resist, and a battle broke out.
"Their Patronuses—bears, wolves, and wild boars—held the Dementors at bay for a time, but they were eventually overwhelmed. The guardians grew weak, and the casters either collapsed or fled in terror. At the final moment, a shy, young orphan named Illyius stepped forward. He hadn't been allowed to fight before because the elders believed his Patronus—a mere mouse—was too weak to be of any use. But when that mouse leapt from the tip of his wand, it radiated such light that every Dementor in the valley was driven back..."
As he spoke, Sean felt a stir of realization. These stories were recorded in the Book of Charms, a practical volume with a distinctive purple cover and gold edges. Sean had memorized the entire thing.
"The power of a Patronus has nothing to do with its form," McGonagall said firmly. "It originates solely from the strength of the wizard's own spirit. Remember that always, Sean. Now, have some pumpkin juice and finish the tale."
Sean took a sip of the juice next to the silver cat ornament. He knew McGonagall wasn't usually one for sweets, but lately, her desk always seemed to have a supply of juice and candy whenever he visited.
"Raczidian was humiliated," Sean continued. "He decided to join the fray personally. He attempted to summon his own Patronus to counter Illyius's mouse. But he forgot that a Patronus requires a soul of absolute conviction in the light. Instead of a guardian, a swarm of maggots erupted from his wand and consumed him on the spot."
Sean fell into thought as he finished.
"That is the popular version of the tale," McGonagall said slowly. "In reality, it is a bit more nuanced. Even those with darker personality traits can sometimes manifest a corporeal Patronus. However, if a truly Dark wizard—one consumed by malice—attempts it, they are almost always devoured by the maggots. It is the reason so few of them ever bother to learn it. They have no need for such magic, and the magic has no need for them."
She looked at him with a gaze that was both stern and warm. "Love is the ultimate redemption, Sean. That is the source of the spell's power. To cast it, you must concentrate on the single happiest memory you possess. The stronger the joy within that memory, the more powerful the charm will be. Are you ready to try?"
Sean nodded decisively.
"Focus on the memory. The incantation is: Expecto Patronum!" McGonagall demonstrated, and her silver cat manifested once more.
The happiest memory... Sean thought.
What could it be? The moment he escaped death? The moment the owl crashed through his window with his letter? Or the day he finally left the orphanage behind?
"Expecto Patronum," Sean whispered, focusing his intent. "Expecto Patronum!"
Nothing happened. He lowered his wand, his brow furrowed. Those memories were vivid, certainly, but they were rooted in relief and survival, not pure, unadulterated joy. He wasn't a wizard who dwelled on past hardships.
McGonagall didn't interrupt. She stood by as her silver cat faded into the air.
Sean tried again. His first Herbology lesson... the first successful cauldron of potion he'd ever brewed... receiving his first Christmas gifts from his friends...
"Expecto Patronum!"
A burst of silver-white vapor erupted from the tip of his wand. It was thick and luminous, but it had no shape; it was a formless cloud of protection.
[Alert: You have practiced the Patronus Charm at an Apprentice standard. Proficiency +1]
"A non-corporeal Patronus! Well done, Sean!" McGonagall praised.
The process of casting the spell was a strange one. It forced a wizard to play back their life like a projector. Harry, he recalled, had used the first, blurry memories of his parents.
A special, truly happy memory... Sean searched deeper. Did he have one? Something strong enough to anchor a corporeal guardian?
A wave of white mist seemed to wash over his consciousness. He recalled a sensation of warmth—a quiet, steady support that had first come from the witch standing before him.
"Expecto Patronum!"
He flicked his wand in a sharp circle. A silver cat began to take shape, its form flickering, but it lacked the final spark of solidity.
Finally, his mind settled on a montage of images: a collection of grey, faded photographs, the moonlight reflecting off the floor of the hospital wing, and the tear-streaked face of Professor Quirrell.
"Expecto Patronum!" he repeated, this time without a sound.
A brilliant, silver-white cat leapt from his wand, solid and radiant. It landed on the desk and paced among the books before giving its tail a playful flick.
[Alert: You have practiced the Patronus Charm at an Expert standard. Proficiency +50]
Minerva McGonagall stood in stunned silence. Sean, however, simply looked at the cat and thought: The Patronus Charm doesn't seem all that difficult after all.
Outside the door, a tall, thin wizard with a long silver beard withdrew his gaze with a look of profound satisfaction. He turned and walked away down the corridor. In that young boy's eyes, he had seen more than just a memory.
He had seen a natural sun.
[End of Chapter 428]
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