Hermione Granger and the Two Lovers

Chapter Fifteen

The trio headed to Defense against the Dark Arts after they finished breakfast. It was Hermione's first class with Lupin this year. When they walked into the classroom, Professor Lupin automatically greeted them with smiles.

"Miss Granger! It's good to have you back!" Lupin exclaimed.

"It's good to see you as a teacher again!" Hermione told Lupin. "Why did you decide to return?"

"Well, Dumbledore was having problems finding a new teacher, but that's no surprise. So, at one of the meetings for the, well, you know..." Lupin said, referring to the Order. "He cornered me and said he needed a teacher. He begged me to return, and I don't like to seen grown men beg," Lupin chuckled.

"Won't parents be a bit worried because of your, er- condition?" Hermione asked.

"Miss Granger, everyone in this room is aware that I am a werewolf; there is no need to hide it. Anyway, it's only for one year. I'm sure that someone will decide to teach next year because this year, nothing is going to happen as long as Professor Snape shuts his yap."

Hermione giggled. Lupin suddenly realized that the class was acting up, and hurried to the front to clam them down.

"Now, today we will be learning the Patronus charm," Lupin told them. Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at each other and grinned, they all knew the charm and could produce one easily. "This charm is known to repel dementors and lethifolds.

"The incantation is 'Expecto Patronum'," Lupin informed the class. "You will practice this charm during your class time and by the end of the week, all of you should be able to produce a Patronus that can withstand a dementor or a lethifolds." Lupin turned to Harry. "Harry, could you come up here please?"

Harry walked up next to Lupin.

"Harry will show you how the charm is done," he announced.

"Expecto Patronum," Harry said with a wave of his wand. A stag erupted from his wand, reared and trotted down the hall.

Everyone one in the class, except Malfoy clapped. Lupin smiled proudly.

"Very good. Thank you, Harry," Lupin said. "The Corporeal Patronus takes a different form, depending on the wizard. Does anyone else know how to produce a Corporeal Patronus?"

Neville, Ron, and Hermione raised their hands. They had learned it from Harry in their fifth year in the D.A.

"That's good, what forms do they take?" Lupin asked.

"Mine is an otter," Hermione said.

"Ron?"

"A lion."

"Neville?"

"A wolf."

"Well, as you all can see, Patronuses can take many different forms. However, I think in the beginning you all will only be able to produce a silvery substance. It won't take an actual form until you have practiced. To produce a Patronus, you will need to think of something very happy. The happy thought is what truly forms the Patronus."

Harry was looking at the floor. Hermione knew what he was thinking. He was thinking of the first time he produced his Patronus. It had been with Sirius. He had saved himself and Sirius, not realizing it until many hours later, after they had gone back in time to save Buckbeak and Sirius on Dumbledore's orders.

Lupin sent them off to work on their Patronuses. Lupin pulled Harry aside form the rest of the class. "Harry, can you help me?" he asked. Harry nodded. "Just go around and help some of your classmates."

Harry walked around, watching the rest of the class, attempting their Patronuses. Hermione and Harry both seemed to notice Malfoy having difficulty with the Patronus, but Harry passed by him, not even bothering to give him any pointers.

Hermione giggled. Hermione glanced around the classroom, noticing that Professor Lupin had vanished.

Just then. He entered the room, pushing a filing cabinet.

"Ahem," he coughed to get the class's attention.

The class gathered around the filing cabinet.

"In this cabinet, I have a boggart. We can use this to practice on. Fighting the boggart will make producing the Patronus a bit more difficult, but you need the practice."

"But, sir, the boggart shows what we truly fear the most," Hermione pointed out. Lupin nodded. "Some of our greatest fears aren't dementors."

"That is quite true, Hermione, however, there is one person in this class that is afraid of dementors," Lupin told her, glancing at Harry.

Malfoy laughed. "Oh, is little Potty afraid of the big bad dementor?" he mocked Harry.

Hermione spun around and glared at Malfoy, he was laughing like a hyena. Hermione rushed toward him and pushed him onto his back.

Draco laid on his back as Hermione pulled out her wand. Draco whimpered and tried to scoot away when she pointed her wand at him.

The classroom was silent except for the incessant shuddering of the boggart in the cabinet.

All of a sudden, Hermione shouted, "Furnunculus!"

Immediately, boils started breaking out all over Malfoy's body. The class burst into applause. Lupin looked as though he were going to burst out laughing, but calmly helped Malfoy to the hospital wing.

Hermione smirked and turned to Harry and Ron, who looked quite shocked, but very pleased.