The next day, inside the Room of Requirement, Tom had transformed the space into a magical training ground.
His intention was to instruct everyone simultaneously, so he had gathered Harry, Malfoy, and the others.
Harry, Malfoy, Hermione, Luna—my future Death Eaters, Tom mused, a silent sigh escaping him. Though the term 'flowers of the Death Eaters' left much to be desired, the benefits were undeniable. Tom, as their leader, would occasionally share tricks of the trade, perhaps a few lessons in murder and arson, or lead them on thrilling raids. And, of course, there were moments like these… times when he might, on a whim, impart some truly useful magic.
"Wands at the ready," Tom said, his tone measured, his words enough to stir excitement in the young witches and wizards present. "Today, we will be learning the Patronus Charm."
However…
"Professor Tom, won't Cassandra be joining us?" Hermione asked, her curiosity piqued as she glanced at Cassandra, who was absorbed in a book.
Tom remained silent, but Cassandra, without missing a beat, drew her wand and intoned the spell with flawless precision, "Expecto Patronum!"
A wisp of silvery smoke erupted from her wand tip, swiftly coalescing into the form of a magnificent Recurve Quetzalcoatl – a bird celebrated as one of North America's most beautiful, and fabled as an incarnation of the feathered serpent god.
"…"
Harry and the others stared, speechless.
"I learned it three months ago," Cassandra added, her calm words striking like a hammer blow to their fragile egos.
"Alright, my little apprentice, go entertain yourself elsewhere," Tom said, reaching out to gently touch Cassandra's blonde hair. A faint blush colored her cheeks. She offered no reply, but obediently moved aside to continue reading.
"The Patronus Charm is not inherently difficult," Tom continued. "Theoretically, your age might present a challenge, but it is nothing insurmountable. I will provide guidance, and with diligent practice, you should master it within a month."
As one of the oldest and most powerful defensive spells known, the difficulty of the Patronus Charm was self-evident.
Despite this, Harry and the others remained undeterred. Even if immediate mastery proved elusive, hope remained. And who knew? Perhaps they possessed a natural affinity for the spell.
"By the way, sir, how long did it take Cassandra to learn it?" Harry asked, unable to resist challenging Cassandra's position in Tom's eyes.
At Harry's question, Cassandra's gaze lifted from her book.
"Less than two weeks," Tom replied, "Which is quite rapid by normal standards."
After all, Tom had been present, offering personal instruction and guidance throughout Cassandra's training.
For Cassandra, Tom's hands-on approach was a joy.
In such a conducive environment, mastering the Patronus Charm in short order was far from impossible.
"…"
Two weeks?
Hmph, just you wait, Harry Potter. I'll master the Patronus Charm in a week and surpass you! Harry thought, a smirk playing on his lips fueled by the possibilities that might transpire later.
Hermione and Luna instinctively took a step away from him.
Malfoy, however, remained unperturbed. He had long accepted Harry's flights of fancy, and he no longer indulged in fantasies of surpassing Cassandra's standing with Tom; surpassing Harry would suffice.
Following Harry's lead, Hermione raised her hand, struck by a sudden thought. "Professor Tom, how long did it take you to learn the Patronus Charm?"
Tom seemed somewhat surprised by her question. "Myself? I never learned it."
"Then, how did you…"
"I cast it successfully the first time I attempted it."
"…"
I shouldn't have asked. I'm such an idiot… Hermione bowed her head, her expression hidden.
...
"The incantation, as you know, is Expecto Patronum. Expecto is Latin for 'I await,' while Patronum means 'protector' or 'guardian'," Tom lectured. "Therefore, the charm can be interpreted as 'I await a protector.' It is a powerful defensive spell born purely from happiness and hope."
The key, he explained, was maintaining a positive mental state.
Harry and the others listened intently, watching Tom's demonstration with rapt attention.
Then came the time for them to try, Tom offering guidance and corrections.
"Trying it themselves" was always Malfoy's favorite part.
He closed his eyes tightly, a slight upward twitch at the corner of his mouth, as though lost in thought.
Then, Malfoy's eyes snapped open. "Harry, I am destined to be the second-in-command! … Expecto Patronum!"
And then… nothing. Not even a wisp of white smoke.
This was to be expected; not everyone possessed Tom's exceptional talent.
"Weren't you saying we need happy memories?" Harry complained, "Do you even have any?"
Malfoy retorted instantly, "I will in the future. Becoming second-in-command is inevitable. Can't I use that… in advance?"
"…"
Use it in advance?
Harry, Hermione, and Luna were all dumbfounded by Malfoy's bizarre train of thought.
But then again, all magic stemmed from emotion, even the Killing Curse, fueled by murderous intent and hatred. As long as the emotion was genuinely felt, perhaps this imaginative approach wasn't entirely unfounded.
After two and a half hours of practice, Harry managed to produce a faint wisp of white smoke, barely visible, yet undeniably there.
It seems that while this one attracts Dementors like moths to a flame, he also possesses a surprising aptitude for the Patronus Charm.
"Alright, that will suffice for today. No need to rush; you can practice more on your own time," Tom said, leading Cassandra out of the Room of Requirement.
Hermione and Luna followed.
Malfoy turned to leave, calling out to Harry, "Scarface, you coming?"
Harry, not even turning to acknowledge him, replied, "Go on ahead. I want to practice a bit more."
With no other option, Malfoy departed, leaving Harry to his relentless attempts.
"Expecto Patronum!"
"Expecto… Patronum!!!"
---