Chapter 51 "Expecto Patronum Class"

On the evening of October 16th, Skyler arrived at the empty classroom one hour before the Patronus Class Exchange event was scheduled to begin.

He busily made preparations for this event, which held immense importance in his heart as it presented an opportunity for Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.

For quite some time, a sense of rivalry had persisted between Slytherin and Gryffindor, while Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw often maintained a facade of neutrality.

However, students from the latter two houses were more inclined toward Gryffindor, which was influenced by a couple of factors.

Firstly, both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw included wizards from Muggle families who held reservations about Slytherin's emphasis on blood purity.

Secondly, the Slytherin Quidditch team had earned a reputation for winning through underhanded tactics, such as various fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct, which further tarnished the image of Slytherin.

While there were exceptions, and a few students from other houses were willing to befriend Slytherin students, it was an undeniable fact that Slytherin was the least popular of the four houses.

The proud Slytherins didn't appear to mind their unfavorable reputation.

Skyler, however, had a different perspective on this arrogant and narrow-minded mentality.

Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw had their own strengths, with students from renowned families and influential figures among them.

For instance, in Hufflepuff, Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott hailed from the respected Holy 28 pure-blood families.

The Smith family, supporting Zacharias Smith, was one of Hufflepuff's notable descendants, and Zacharias's aunt was Hepzibah Smith, who had been deceived by Voldemort for her family's gold cup.

Susan Bones came from a once-famous family, although she had suffered losses during the Second Wizarding War, leaving only her aunt, Amelia Bones, who served as the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic.

Ravenclaw had its own overlooked individuals, such as Anthony Goldstein, whose family wasn't mentioned in the original book but was later featured in the Fantastic Beasts movie.

The Goldstein family in North America included Tina Goldstein, an Auror in the Magical Congress of the United States, who later married Newt Scamander.

Her sister, Queenie Goldstein, possessed a natural talent for Legilimency, which was akin to the "mind reading" or "electrocardiography" of Muggle science fiction novels.

This was quite distinct from the original interpretation of Legilimency.

Ravenclaw also had a lesser-known figure, Terry Boot.

The British Boot family originally had roots in North America. Their ancestor, Webb Boot, was the adopted son of James Steward and Isolt Sayre, founders of the Ilvermorny School.

He was also the younger brother of Chadwick Boot, who authored "The Book of Charms."

Before the establishment of the Magical Congress of the United States, the New World lacked stringent wizarding laws, and Webb Boot served as an enforcer (predecessor to Aurors).

During the repatriation of a dark wizard back to London, he fell in love with a Scottish witch who worked at the Ministry of Magic.

A part of the Boot family subsequently returned to England.

Irrespective of the British Boot family, the North American branch alone had established a strong presence among notable wizarding families.

Skyler had heard that the branches of the family in the two regions maintained friendly relations over the centuries.

The characters mentioned earlier all eventually joined the cast to play their role as a supporting character meant for Harry.

They might have had the potential to become well-known figures in their own right. Still, they ended up as relatively insignificant supporting characters in Dumbledore's efforts to nurture Harry, with the exception of Hanna Abbott, who eventually married Neville Longbottom.

For the others, their names barely received a mention in the conclusion of the story.

The turnout for the event was even more substantial than Skyler had expected.

Nearly all the Slytherin students from the lower grades attended, amounting to almost sixty students.

Hufflepuff was well-represented, with more than ten attendees, led by Cedric Diggory.

Ravenclaw had over twenty students in attendance, led by Penelope Clearwater, which included some individuals Skyler was more familiar with, such as Marietta Edgecombe and Luna Lovegood, as well as characters from the original story like Zacharias Smith.

However, Gryffindor's representation was notably lacking, with only one student present—Hermione Granger.

Hermione appeared to anticipate this situation and took the initiative to integrate into Hufflepuff's group.

She joined the usually close-knit circle of students led by Hannah Abbott.

Skyler had anticipated Gryffindor's response and remained unfazed.

He was quite pleased with the nearly 100% attendance rate.

He initiated the event by introducing himself from a temporary elevated platform and then began explaining the various characteristics of Dementors.

Many of the insights he shared came from "The Fall of the Dementor."

His engaging narrative and clear summaries captivated the students' attention.

Subsequently, he delved into the Patronus Charm, starting with the history and theory of the spell as detailed in the book.

He then shared his personal experiences in casting the Patronus Charm, leaving no detail untouched, from the structure of the incantation to the precise pronunciation of syllables and the intricate wand movements.

The final part of the presentation was the practical demonstration.

Skyler decided to invite an assistant to help him demonstrate the Patronus Charm.

Those who knew Skyler well might have expected him to choose Daphne or Meredith, but his choice left everyone, including Hermione, surprised.

Skyler invited Hermione to assist him, which was entirely unexpected.

Daphne, who had been groomed and worked quite strategically, appeared deep in thought.

Hermione was slightly taken aback when she was called to the stage.

Skyler couldn't resist teasing her, saying, "Miss Granger, don't worry. I chose you to assist me because I noticed that you were taking notes diligently during the lecture, and it convinced me that you are the most suitable person to help me demonstrate the spell. I didn't make the decision lightly."

Hermione felt a mixture of pride from Skyler's praise and a tinge of disappointment.

Her emotions were indeed mixed.

Skyler asked Hermione to stand in the middle of the elevated platform and continued with the instruction: "The Patronus Charm has many key points, but the most essential one is to harness your strongest, most positive emotions during the casting. Let your emotions erupt."

Hermione couldn't help but ask, "What should I do, then?"

Skyler went on to explain, "There are various types of positive emotions, but 'happiness' and 'protectiveness' are the most effective against Dementors. You can direct 'happiness' towards yourself and 'protectiveness' towards others. In either case, you need to summon your most potent, direct, and unwavering emotions. For instance, recall your happiest memories or envision someone you cherish and want to protect. Then, recite the incantation, 'Expecto Patronum,' and give it a try."

Casting the Patronus Charm, the Guardian Patronus, proved to be a challenging task.

In the next half-hour, even Hermione, known for her diligence in learning, could only manage to conjure a silvery-white mist from her wand on her fifth attempt.

Skyler nodded in approval, complimented her, and said, "Now, let's move on to a real combat exercise. Don't worry; I'll ensure your safety."

Skyler withdrew his wand, aimed it at a large box on the high platform, and, with a mere touch, made the box explode.

A real Dementor emerged from within, causing an abrupt drop in temperature, and everyone present felt like they had entered a freezing cold storage.

No one had expected Skyler to bring a real Dementor for a demonstration.

At that moment, their emotions were stifled by the Dementor's presence, making it impossible to muster any feelings of happiness. All eyes turned toward the stage.

With his back to the audience, Skyler faced the Dementor.

A green gleam flickered beneath his eyes, and the Dementor came to a halt as if it were under his control.

Turning back towards the crowd, Skyler called out, "Miss Granger, are you ready?"

Hermione tried to maintain a steady wrist posture, preventing her hands from trembling too much.

Encouraged by the supportive glances from Skyler, her initially fearful eyes grew resolute.

She raised her wand high, put all her strength into it, and shouted with all her might, "Expecto Patronum!"

A substantial amount of white mist burst forth from Hermione's wand, gradually coalescing into an intricate, swirling form.

At that moment, Skyler blinked rapidly, and the Dementor seemed to break free from some influence and started moving toward Hermione.

An intense chill seeped into Hermione's spine, and fear and despair welled up within her.

Her grip on the wand trembled once again, and the white mist she had conjured started to waver, on the verge of dissipating.

Stepping forward, Skyler seized Hermione's hand and spoke with an unyielding tone, "Remember what I told you!" His words were filled with unwavering resolve.

Hermione felt the warmth in the palm of Skyler's firm hand like a gentle flame.

This warmth traveled through her fingertips, reaching deep into her heart.

There, she felt a potent and intricate force—a mixture of security, courage, and an unexpected sense of happiness.

She became immersed in this warmth, her lips unconsciously curving into a slight smile.

Before she fully comprehended what was happening, her wand released a vast amount of white mist far exceeding her previous attempt.

The mist not only was grander but also solidified instantly—taking the form of an otter!

Surrounded by a silver-white haze, the otter leaped and bounded, driving the Dementor across the stage.

To prevent the Dementor from falling off the stage and causing chaos, Skyler opened a window and cast a white light with his wand.

Upon contact with the Dementor, the white light pushed it forcefully out of the window before he quickly closed it.

The audience members couldn't help but engage in animated conversations, openly expressing their envy of Hermione's remarkable ability to master the spell in just one meeting.

As Hermione realized her success in conjuring her Patronus, she felt a surge of astonishment and delight.

She remembered the emotions that had welled up within her heart, and her face flushed.

Skyler announced that everyone was free to practice, with Skyler instructing Slytherin, the largest group, and Hermione providing guidance to the students from the other two houses.

Skyler meticulously walked amongst the students, offering each one careful guidance.

Beyond the intricacies of the wand and the spell itself, he shared insights on how to find happy memories and channel emotions, making the spell easier to cast.

Being a junior student himself, Skyler could provide relatable examples from the daily lives of the young witches and wizards, making it easier for them to grasp the concept.

Among the many students, Daphne, who had received special attention from Skyler, was the quickest to succeed.

Her excitement was palpable as she conjured a complete corporeal Patronus.

Soon after, Meredith, Astoria, Draco, and Pansy also achieved success.

Observing even a first-year like Astoria successfully conjure her Patronus filled the others with determination, and they became more proactive in practicing.

With Slytherin well underway, Skyler took the initiative to visit students from the other houses to see if they required any assistance.

From a distance, Skyler noticed Daphne looking at him with a smile, recognizing her intelligence and understanding her motives.

By holding this event, sharing his experience with the Patronus Charm, and choosing Gryffindor's Hermione as an assistant, he aimed to convey his willingness to connect with other houses and foster greater acceptance and tolerance, including for Gryffindor.

Skyler was determined to break the isolation Slytherin had maintained for so long.

He believed that if Slytherin continued to isolate itself, the changing times would eventually leave it behind.

Under Skyler's special guidance, Luna and Morag successfully conjured complete corporeal Patronuses.

Luna's Patronus took the form of a rabbit with large front teeth, while Morag's was an elegant swan.

Following their success, Penelope and Cedric, who were already adept in their spellwork, also achieved the feat.

A total of ten students, including Hermione and the previously mentioned individuals, successfully mastered the complete Patronus Charm during the event.

This was an exceptional accomplishment.

Even in Professor Flitwick's spell class, not many students could learn a spell as quickly, including the most basic ones like the Levitating Charm.

Skyler's guidance played a crucial role, offering a unique combination of theory and practical demonstration, as well as advice closely tailored to the students' lives, which most professors lacked.

As the event drew to a close, more than half of the young wizards successfully made their wands emit a silvery mist.

Although they had yet to conjure a fully corporeal Patronus, their excitement over their achievements that night was palpable.

With gratitude in their eyes and warm applause all around, Skyler officially announced the conclusion of the event, and everyone left the scene content and fulfilled.