Professor Merrythought stood at the front of the class, dressed in golden and purple robes, stars and half-moons scattered in the threading. Evan Rosier leaned against the wall in boredom, snickering. "Now," said the professor. "A Patronus Charm is a protective spell used against dementors. as dementors feed off of negative emotions, a patronus charm counters a dementor by creating a force of hope and happiness strong enough that it cannot feed on. To do this, the witch or wizard casting the spell must be sure to focus on a positive memory, experience, or feeling. I want each and every one of you to come forward and cast the spell - like this. Loop and curl. Everybody, now, Expecto Patronum."

Pandora was the first to cast the spell. You weren't surprised. She was a sweet, kind girl without a single bad bone in her body. The hare danced around the classroom and the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins alike clapped in awe. Dorcas next. Grown up half-blood and raised in muggle London, Dorcas lived a charmed life compared to most pureblood witches and wizards. With a practiced loop and curl of her wand in her pretty chocolatey hand, she formed a beautiful black mamba and gained five house points.

It was Evan's turn now, and he produced a snowy owl with ease from the tip of his ivory wand, retreating to the back of the class to resume his boredom.

And Barty... Barty created something as chaotic as himself - a huge, fine dragon. A Hungarian horntail patronus. You couldn't help but laugh despite your nerves as the silvery misty dragon soared through the classroom, earning a rupture of applause and laughter from Professor Merrythought and the rest of the class. You could see Evan looking at him from where he leaned against the wall.

Regulus went last of the group. He stood there with his wand half-raised, posture perfect, gaze icy to those across the room. "Come now, Mr. Black." Said Professor Merrythought. Regulus sighed. With a Loop and curl, he wove his wand, and produced...a sliver of silver.

The class, who usually, would have been terrified of him, began to snicker. "Bloody hell," said Barty, ever the instigator. "I didn't know there was a spell Black couldn't perform." Dorcas whacked him on the head. Nothing showed on Regulus's face that proved he cared what Barty had just said, but you knew he probably did. Regulus had always been good at hiding his feelings. Perhaps too good. "Something happy, Mr. Black." Said Professor Merrythought cheerfully.

Regulus breathed through his nose. "Expecto Patronum." And slowly, far, far too slowly, the creature formed. Both Hufflepuff and Slytherin house were holding their breaths now - waiting to see what dark creature Regulus Black's Patronus would be. A Thestral, perhaps. Or a raven. But wings did not form. No.

What did made the entire class gasp. It was not some gothic, dark creature. It wasn't a Thestral or a raven. Instead, it was a lamb. A small, innocent, lamb. Your heart stopped. Pandora tilted her head. Regulus glared at the patronus as if it had seriously offended him, and Merrythought clapped loudly, enough to make you jump. "Ten points, Mr. Black!"

She turned to you. "Your turn now. It's easy, see? Your friends have done it, you can too. Think of something happy."