"It would make sense wouldn't it? After all I took the egg from a dragon, and when Hagrid had that dragon egg in first year he kept it over a fire until it hatched."
"Hagrid had a dragon egg?! You never told me that story, Potter." Daphne said, laughing.
"I guess I forgot. He had to give the dragon up, though. Ron's brother works on a dragon preserve and he was able to come and take it there. Anyway, let me try this." Harry started by dispelling the silencing charm and as soon as he did the awful sound returned. He wasted no time in casting Incendio on the egg, but nothing happened. Realizing that the dragon egg was only kept over the fire before it hatched Harry grabbed the golden egg off of the desk and closed it. He then took a few steps back and recast the spell, but still nothing happened. Sighing in disappointment, Harry sat down and stared at the egg angrily.
"It was a good idea, even if it didn't work out." Daphne said, sitting down at a desk near his.
"Thanks. Maybe I'll just have to wait on you having another brilliant idea. I really owe you for last time."
"Don't mention it." she answered with a shrug.
"No, I mean it. If there is anything I could do to thank you just let me know."
"Anything, huh?
"Well… within reason, yes."
"There is one thing, but I'm not sure you would want to do it."
"What?" Harry asked, very interested in what he could do to help her.
"Teach me how to cast the Patronus charm. You said you can cast a corporeal Patronus, right? I want to learn it, too."
"Sure, but why?"
"My father mentioned that it was important I learn it for some reason, and you are the only person I know here that can cast one other than the teachers. Come on Potter, let's see that Patronus."
"Fine." Harry took out his wand and started thinking about which memory to use. Remembering how he felt the previous year when Sirius said he would like it if he would come live with him, Harry jabbed out his wand and yelled "Expecto Patronum!" Immediately a pale, white stag leapt from Harry's wand and began to walk around the room as if it was looking for danger. Seeing none, it turned back towards Harry and approached him. Harry noticed Daphne staring and motioned her over. "You can get closer, he isn't going to hurt you." Daphne walked towards the ghost-like stag and attempted to pet him but was disappointed when her hand went straight through.
"This is amazing, it looks so real." Daphne whispered in awe, and then turned towards Harry and demanded: "Now you've got to show me how to do it." Harry nodded and ended the spell, causing the stag to turn into mist and then dissipate.
"It took me months to learn last year when Professor Lupin taught it to me. But I think that is because the way he does it and the way I do it are a little different."
"What do you mean?" she asked curiously.
"Well, I've played around with this spell a little bit this year and I think I've figured out how it works. Professor Lupin told me to focus on a powerful, happy memory when I cast the spell but the more I think about it the more I realize it isn't the memory that is important. It is the emotion. If you could make yourself feel happy without thinking of a memory then that would work just fine, but you really have to feel the emotion for it to work."
"I think that makes sense. So I need to come up with a memory or some other way to provoke a feeling of happiness?"
"Sure, but any other positive emotion would work too. Once you've cast the spell if you lose focus on that feeling then the patronus will fade away. I have an idea about why it happens, but I don't think I really have any way to see if I'm right."
"Tell me what you think."
"My guess is that when you cast the spell you use your magic to create the white mist that can either form a shield or a true Patronus. But the mist disappears if you don't have focus on a good emotion, so the spell can't work unless you can get both parts to work together. Does that make sense?"
"That's brilliant, Potter! What you're saying is that while magic creates the mist it is the emotion that maintains and shapes it, right?" At her simplified explanation Harry's face lit up.
"Exactly. I wasn't sure how to explain it, but that is what I was trying to say." Harry replied happily. "So, do you think you are ready to try it? The wand motion doesn't really matter, and the incantation is 'Expecto Patronum'."
"I'll try, but I doubt it will work. I'm having trouble coming up with a good enough memory to trigger the emotion."
"The hardest part is getting it to work the first time. After that you don't have to doubt whether or not you can do it because you know you already have. Try it anyway."
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