Of course, that was just a joke. The Patronus Charm was simply the embodiment of a wizard's positive emotions. But for some reason, Erwin's Patronus seemed unusually... human. Just moments ago, it had trotted over and nuzzled his leg—a quirk no other Patronus possessed.
Watching the panda waddle up the stairs, Erwin shook his head with a wry smile. A panda it was, then. Cute was what mattered. Besides, Patronuses weren't set in stone. Having one like this meant he still had a sunny side, after all. Why else would it be a cuddly bear and not something slithery like a snake?
He was still that cheerful boy at heart.
But as Erwin waited for the Patronus to deliver his message to Hermione, a sharp cry rang out, followed by a resounding thud. His face fell. Something was wrong.
He bolted toward the noise, climbing the stairs two at a time. There, his Patronus had swelled into a hulking, silvery form, facing off against a blocker in the corridor. It glared fiercely, ready to charge.
Erwin's eyes followed its gaze and widened. A brown-haired witch in simple pajamas stood poised, wand raised. Her legs gleamed pale in the dim light.
"Prefect Penelope Clearwater?" he blurted.
It was the Ravenclaw prefect—Percy's future girlfriend from the books, though they weren't an item yet.
Penelope startled at the sight of him. "Erwin? What are you doing here? Get out—this is the girls' dormitory! That Patronus of yours is no joke; it's powerful!"
Erwin waved his wand hastily, banishing the spell. The massive panda deflated in a swirl of silver mist and vanished.
Penelope's eyes narrowed. "That was yours?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I needed to talk to Hermione, but I couldn't just waltz into the girls' dorm, so I sent my Patronus. Didn't mean to cause a scene. You okay, Prefect?"
She exhaled. "I'm fine. But blimey, I've never seen a Patronus that could scrap like a real fighter. If I hadn't reacted fast, it might've bowled me over!"
"Sorry about that," Erwin said, wincing.
Penelope waved it off. "No harm done. But you do realize where you are, right?"
"Erwin nodded. "Ravenclaw Tower?"
She gave him a pointed look. "The girls' dormitory."
His stomach dropped. In the rush, he'd forgotten. He was about to bolt when doors creaked open along the hall. The commotion had woken half the floor. Sleepy witches in nightgowns stumbled out, rubbing their eyes.
Erwin froze. This was a view you didn't get for free.
"What was that racket?" one grumbled.
"I was just drifting off—we've got early study sessions tomorrow!"
"P-prefect? What's going on?"
They spotted Penelope first, then turned. Their gazes locked on Erwin.
Silence crashed over the corridor like a Stunning Spell.
Then came the scream—high-pitched and piercing, echoing through the tower.
The girls scattered back to their rooms in a flurry of flannel and bare feet. Erwin hightailed it downstairs to the common room, heart pounding. He sank onto a sofa, muttering under his breath to steady himself. "At least three years' worth of detention," he thought. That sight... well, robes hid a lot during the day. Who knew?
He didn't run, though. Penelope would be down soon for a chat, and he'd earned it fair and square.
Upstairs, Penelope stifled a smirk as Erwin fled. A chill draft swept through, making her shiver. Glancing down, she realized—with the scuffle—she'd lost her robe. Her cheeks burned crimson. She darted back to her room.
Meanwhile, the Ravenclaw girls' dorm buzzed like a hive. A boy—and not just any boy, but Hogwarts' current star, Erwin—sneaking into their space? Scandalous.
Cho Chang lingered by her door, whispering excitedly.
In Hermione's room, her roommates huddled, giggling.
Hermione peeked from under her blankets, setting aside her book and wand-light. "What happened? I was reading."
One roommate bounced over. "Hermione, you missed it! Erwin—he was right there in the corridor! We all piled out in our pajamas!"
Hermione blinked. "Erwin? Here?"
"Yeah! In the girls' dorm, no less!"
Her face heated. Sneaking in at night? That was serious. She grabbed her robes. "I need to see what's going on. Go back to sleep."
She hurried out—and nearly collided with Penelope.
"Prefect!" Hermione said.
Penelope nodded. "In a rush? Perfect timing. Erwin's looking for you. Let's head down—he's probably still there."
Hermione agreed, and they descended to find Erwin on the sofa, looking sheepish.
"Erwin, you came to see me?" Hermione asked.
He looked up, spotting them both. "Yeah. Needed to talk, but... well, misunderstanding."
Penelope crossed her arms. "Misunderstanding? Hardly. Breaking into the girls' dormitory at night isn't a lark, Erwin."
Before he could reply, Hermione jumped in. "Prefect, there must be an explanation! Erwin wouldn't—"
He gently tugged her sleeve. "No, she's right. My fault entirely, Prefect."
Penelope sighed. "I'll have to report this to the professors. What they decide is up to them. Even if I stayed quiet, it's out now—too many witnesses. They all saw you."
Erwin nodded. "Understood."
She eyed him thoughtfully. "That said, I'm curious about your Patronus. Never seen one like it. You owe me a proper look—call it compensation."
He managed a grin. "Fair enough."
...
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