Chapter 402: Happy Memories

As soon as the chill faded, Madam Pomfrey stood to check on the pale students, but a gentle hand stopped her.

"Not yet, Poppy. The students can handle this level of strain," Professor Lupin said with a reassuring shake of his head.

He glanced around at the discouraged faces and offered a half-smile. "Don't feel disheartened. I didn't expect you to succeed on your first try. Honestly, I'd be more than a little shocked if anyone had."

Professor Lupin continued, "Remember that sensation—the cold, the fear—and imagine everything before you as a Dementor. Try again with that feeling in mind. And for those who struggled, your emotions may not have been powerful enough. You might need to choose a different memory."

The students began practicing again, focusing on the chill they'd just experienced, their wands raised in determined concentration. The professors moved among them, offering guidance and encouragement wherever needed.

Professor Lupin made his way over to a group of Gryffindors. "Harry, how are you holding up?"

"I'm fine, Professor," Harry replied, looking slightly pale but visibly exhilarated. For the first time, he'd felt the bone-deep cold of a Dementor without blacking out, and the accomplishment gave him a fresh sense of confidence.

"Expecto Patronum!" he said, lifting his wand in front of Professor Lupin. A billowing mist of silver-white emerged, condensing briefly into a shadowy form.

"Excellent," Professor Lupin said, impressed. "Managing this on your first attempt already puts you ahead of many fourth years, Harry."

"So, Professor, when can we face a Dementor again?" Harry asked eagerly. "It feels like I'm close but... something's missing."

"Not just yet," Professor Lupin shook his head. "Even if you're not facing a Dementor directly, it's best not to repeat this too often. Take your time. Remember what I said—this is a complex Charm, and progress happens step by step. You're doing wonderfully at this level."

Though Harry looked a bit disappointed, he nodded, accepting Professor Lupin's guidance without further protest.

Nearby, Cedric had been hoping Professor Lupin might open the suitcase again. His Patronus was already taking shape with clear outlines—a pointed beak, a long neck, outstretched wings—but it still lacked a lifelike solidity. It felt as if he were shaping it from clay; the form was distinct, yet it lacked true vitality.

He could sense he was on the brink of success, just a small step away. If Professor Lupin had left the suitcase open a moment longer, he felt sure he would have managed it.

But now…

With a look of determination, Cedric raised his wand once more, focusing all his energy on his happiest memory. He summoned his Patronus again, but it remained an incomplete outline, refusing to cross that final barrier to becoming fully formed.

"Perhaps you could try a different memory," suggested Professor McGonagall, who had just walked over. "I noticed your Patronus was starting to take form but then faded again. It's clear you're not tapping into a strong enough emotion."

"Professor McGonagall," Cedric said quickly, "I think I need more pressure. Could you let me face the Dementor again?"

"I wouldn't recommend it," Professor McGonagall replied firmly. "There are other ways to learn the Patronus Charm that don't require facing a Dementor."

Though Professor Lupin had convinced the school to allow the Dementor for teaching, Professor McGonagall had only agreed to attend as a precaution. She still had her reservations, but so far, everything had gone smoothly.

Nearby, Cedric noticed Kyle was helping Kanna practice the Charm. Although she was not as advanced as Cedric, she was progressing quickly. The shadowy mist in front of her was becoming more defined.

"How did you manage that?" Cedric asked, astonished.

It had taken him nearly a month to reach this level, yet Kanna had done it in less than two hours.

"Maybe it's because my memories are happy enough," Kanna replied with a soft smile. "This Charm is incredible—each time I say the incantation, those memories seem to pour energy into me."

"That simple?" Fred blurted out. "Then why doesn't it work like that for us?"

"What memories do you think of?" asked George.

"Oh, a lot of things…" Kanna said, her expression brightening. "Getting my Hogwarts acceptance letter… making my first friend… receiving my first piece of candy… earning my first Galleon… meeting Professor Snape. Whenever I need happy memories, they just come to mind."

"That's strange—those are the exact memories we use," Fred muttered. "Our Hogwarts letter, our first Galleon… we have the same memories, but it doesn't seem to work as well for us."

"I even tried imagining us opening the joke shop," George added, "but that seemed to make it even worse. That's our dream, after all!"

"It's about memories, not fantasies," Kyle interjected.

"But thinking about the joke shop genuinely makes us happy!" Fred protested. "Sometimes we laugh ourselves awake just from dreaming about it."

"It's different," Kyle explained patiently. "Imagining food might make you hungry, but it doesn't actually feed you. For the Patronus Charm, you need the most genuine sense of fullness from your memories."

"Real… fullness?" Fred sighed, disappointed. "We thought we'd found a shortcut…"

"Can't believe we missed the mark," George agreed. "No wonder our Patronus attempts kept getting weaker."

With the right approach in mind, Fred and George started making better progress. Though their results weren't as impressive as Kanna's, they were doing better than most in the group.

Cedric waited patiently for another two hours, hoping Professor Lupin would open the suitcase again, but it remained shut.

"That's enough for today," Professor Lupin announced, clapping his hands. As everyone quieted down, he continued, "Even though you didn't face a Dementor directly, I'd recommend having some chocolate when you return to your dormitories. It'll help you feel better."

"Professor, when can we come again?" someone asked eagerly—a question on everyone's mind.

"A month from now," Professor Lupin decided after a moment. "That should give you enough time to absorb what you've learned today. I'll open the club once a month for the rest of the school year, and I'll let you know the exact dates in advance."