Harry sat attentively, listening to Moody's explanation.
Harry had studied the Patronus Charm with Lupin for a while, but his training had been put on hold because of the Dementors' sudden disappearance and the series of events that followed.
In reality, he didn't have a very good grasp of it right now.
He could barely manage to make it coalesce into a shape.
In fact, there were many reasons to practice the Patronus Charm, but the most important one was that Moody was keeping something hidden.
This was at Dumbledore's behest.
Even Moody himself didn't know why Dumbledore had arranged it that way.
Suddenly, the deep, resonant sound of a distant bell rang out.
It was time for class to end.
"I hope everyone can practice diligently after class. I will apply to Professor McGonagall for an empty classroom to use as an activity room."
"This spell is very important, and I hope you will master it as soon as possible.
"And it will be included in the final assessment."
Moody's speech quickened.
"And Miss Parkinson, if you're willing to generously share some of your experience, Slytherin House might earn a lot more points."
"I'm sorry, Professor. I'm not generous, and I have no interest in teaching." Pansy immediately declined Moody's request and left.
Time flies, especially in the minds of fifth-year students, who felt that once their classes were over, the week had naturally come to an end.
On weekends, many students went to the classroom Moody had mentioned to practice and pass the time, since Quidditch had also been cancelled.
The room was brightly lit.
This was the room Moody had booked for them.
Besides the strict requirements, they also felt that having a Patronus of their own was a pretty cool thing.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione huddled together in a corner, practicing.
Hermione would occasionally share her experiences with them. She had practiced Occlumency during the holidays and learned to control her emotions, so she was quite experienced.
As time passed, the room gradually filled with more people.
"Potter, what a coincidence?" a male voice rang out beside them.
It was Cedric from Hufflepuff, accompanied by his girlfriend, Cho Chang. They looked very close, and Cho Chang waved to them in a friendly manner.
"Yes, what a coincidence."
Harry answered somewhat hesitantly.
Ron was unaware of his friend's unusual behavior.
But Hermione noticed.
Occlumency and Legilimency were a pair of opposing yet interconnected disciplines.
She could sense Harry's intense emotional fluctuations, even when he wasn't consciously expressing them, and she herself was also very perceptive.
Especially after Dumbledore had specifically instructed her about Harry's situation.
"What if I can't learn it?" Cho Chang whispered to Cedric, her eyes filled with expectation. She was clearly asking on purpose, but her voice also carried a coquettish tone.
"If you encounter danger, of course you should hide behind me. I'll protect you." Cedric waved his wand and spoke in a very manly manner.
He reached out and toyed with Cho Chang's smooth, long black hair.
The two whispered sweet nothings to each other in a corner.
Cedric was now in his final year at Hogwarts, currently in seventh year, and his grades were quite impressive. If it weren't for Lord Voldemort's return, he would probably be busy thinking about finding a job right now.
However, all those plans had been disrupted, so they would have to deal with the future later.
He wanted to cherish his final moments at Hogwarts.
It was a great pity that he hadn't participated in the Triwizard Tournament, but he was magnanimous and didn't care too much.
"Can I participate too?"
Just then, a female voice suddenly appeared behind them.
Luna, wearing her strange carrot earrings, had appeared there without anyone noticing.
"Can I join too?" Luna asked politely, but her eyes seemed to be looking somewhere else, drifting toward the air in front of her rather than Harry.
"Of course." Harry nodded blankly, his attention now focused on Cho Chang and her boyfriend.
Jealousy gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.
The tip of his wand, which had vaguely begun to resemble a reindeer, immediately dispersed.
As for everyone else, their progress varied.
Hermione's roommate, Lavender Brown, was shaking her wand. Wisps of silver mist shot from its tip before drifting away uncontrollably.
"It still doesn't work!"
She said angrily.
Neville wasn't having an easy time either. He was concentrating intently, his brow furrowed, but only a few wisps of thin silver smoke emerged from the tip of his wand, attempting to gradually solidify.
"Expecto Patronum!"
A clear, hazy female voice suddenly rang out.
It shimmered with a faint silver light.
"I thought it would be a Crumple-Horned Snorkack or a Bubble-Snot Monster," Luna muttered softly, looking slightly disappointed, but a satisfied smile quickly spread across her face.
Wild rabbits were quite cute, weren't they?
Soon, the completely white rabbit began hopping around her feet, appearing docile and agile.
Then they heard the rustling sound of wings flapping, and a silver owl began circling the classroom, attracting everyone's attention.
"It looks pretty good." Hermione looked at the flying owl with delight, thinking it suited her perfectly.
As for Cedric's Patronus, it was a majestic lion. He looked at his Patronus with satisfaction.
"He's quite handsome," Cho Chang complimented.
"I think I should have gone to Gryffindor," Cedric joked.
Because the symbol of Gryffindor was a lion.
"Everyone else's lions are gold and red. How are you going to get in?" Cho Chang replied with a light laugh.
"Aren't all the creatures summoned by the Patronus Charm this color?" Cedric said.
Cho Chang's Patronus was a pure white swan with a long, elegant neck. The lion and the swan, one on land and one in the air, circled around each other as if they were dancing.
Harry forced himself to calm down and stop watching them flirt.
"I'm leaving now," he said to Hermione and Ron without explaining anything, then walked toward the door.
But then he ran into the person he hated most.
There was no one else.
"Potter? What a coincidence." Snape, with his greasy black hair, encountered Harry in the hallway.
"Professor Snape." Harry maintained basic politeness, greeted him, and then prepared to walk around him toward Gryffindor Tower.
He had finished practicing the Patronus Charm and now needed to do his homework.
But he was abruptly blocked by the wand held in front of him.
"Professor Snape?" Harry asked, barely suppressing his anger. "What do you need?"
"There are some things." Snape's dark pupils were like a stagnant pool as he stared calmly ahead and spoke coldly.
"Potter, come to my office. I have some questions for you."
Harry was extremely unwilling, but he had no choice but to obey.
Perhaps dealing with Snape and shifting his focus would make him feel better.