(( Argh! Eventually someone will mirror it elsewhere, I hope, becasue it's too fun a test not to play with))

(OOC: sounds good to me :D I was hoping to be able to RP in this one, but RL just wouldn't agree it seemed :K

I covered my eyes for a few seconds after each question, as the movement in that Patronus test was driving me crazy!)

The notes were delivered to everyone in the defence club that they were meeting in the dungeon. A dungeon that even now, looked more like being outside in a cold climate. It seems Paul couldn’t help himself in taking the extra time to bewitch the place. The refreshments table to the side looked slightly out of place. It was piled high with chocolate, butterbeer, fruit and all other types of snacks.

">http://avatar.subeta.net/541114.png?s=95418[/img] “Hi everyone,” Paul said happily. His smile stretched across his scared face. “How is everyone?” He paused. “Now, just so you know, we don’t actually have a real dementor with us today. I think that might not sit too well with some of your family members. But what I do have is a rather curious device—one that I have permission to use,” he winked at the students, “but I cannot impart anything else to you save that this device will create a projection of a dementor that will act as a dementor for the most part. There’s plenty of chocolate on the table as you can see. And we can bring out our dementor after everyone’s had a bit of practice.
“But I’m getting ahead of myself. The best thing to defend oneself against a dementor is the patronus charm. In case anyone is unfamiliar with what a patronus is, it is essentially a spirit guardian. It is one of the most difficult spells known to wizard kind. When done at its fullest, it will produce a full body animal that the caster feels the most affinity towards. To make one, you think of the happiest memory you can. Visualize it, make it strong in your head and then you say the incantation Expecto Patronum,” Paul said. With a circular motion he recited the incantation and a strong bright light burst from his wand. It shot up in the air as if it was flying.

It was flying now, as it twirl and stretched its wings. The beautiful phoenix swept around the room. “Now,” he continued after a few moments when the phoenix left, “the lower non-corporal forms of the patronus will still be effective against a dementor as well. They aren’t as showy as the full body ones are of course but they will get the job done. Just remember to concentrate on your happiest memory. Let it fill you with joy. As that is the key to a patronus. You will give your joy to the spell which will send the dementor fleeing away from such pure happiness.”

(( glomps and bounces on excitedly WOO! What bg did you use for Paul?))

Katsumi arrived early, and she was pleased to see the Unspeakable there, greeting him with a wave. "Paul! It's good to see you again." She looked around for Magnus, but didn't see her housemate anywhere. But then, she'd not come from the Ravenclaw Tower, so maybe she'd just beaten him to the dungeons. "Where's Magnus? He's usually the first one to club meetings."

When everyone had arrived and Paul started explaining, the girl's jaw clenched. Dementors, or at least a projection of one. Maybe not as bad as the boggart, but not by much. They weren't symbolic, but they did have a similar effect. She'd done alright against the boggart in the end, after insisting she be let try a second time, but Katsumi wasn't satisfied with just "alright".

She let out a soft gasp at the pale phoenix. It was lovely! She wondered what her Patronus might be, and that of the others. She was glad they'd practice first -- that would make it easier to get the spell right -- but she still needed the right memory. She'd never managed more than a weak haze when she'd tried in the past.

"Paul?" Katsumi asked suddenly. "Are we focusing more on the memory, or the feeling of joy?"

(( so pretty ))

"Hello Katsumi," he said, "it is good to see you as well. How are your classes going?"

Magnus arrived just shortly after Katsumi asked where he was. He carried the large amount of food over to Paul, panting slightly. "'Ere you are, 'ouse elves didn't fink a ham sandwich was enough." He waved to his housemate now his hands were free, "'Ow are you?"

Paul laughed and took the sandwich from Magnus, "Thanks kiddo." He devoured it quickly. "Sorry," he said, "Hadn't eaten all day. Magnus here found out and rushed off to the kitchens. Anyway, its really a bit of both. My happiest moment was the day my wife said yes when I asked her to marry me. Until that is when the twins were born. I remember seeing her holding both kids in her arms and me with my arm around her. The picture is so vivid in my head and well, the feeling is impossible to forget. Whatever details you can recall, every thing bout the moment and the feelings that memory invoked. That is the making of a truly perfect patronus."

Between Magnus and Paul, the reserved girl was smiling. "Twins? Whoa, that must have been interesting." Her expression returned to neutral as she turned her thoughts to what might be the right memory to use. Katsumi still tried to master the Patronus charm on her own, but while she still gave it her best, it was more in the manner that one might worry at a loose tooth.

After a few minutes she settled on one: the day she'd gotten her wand. It meant she could start really learning spells, though there was a little more wandless magic in Japan than in Europe, where almost all spells used a wand. Olivander was an ancient man, but brilliant, and when she'd badgered him with questions he'd actually been willing to answer a number of them. When she'd touched the one that was now hers, it had felt familiar, as if it had been waiting for Katsumi to come along and claim it.

Now she lifted that same wand, keeping the memory at the front of her mind. "Expecto Patronum!" Light burst out, but it formed only a hazy veil, instead of an animal, and the girl stopped the spell moments later. "Seems I still haven't found the right one," she muttered. "Or maybe it's my technique...."

(( your nose is gone again...and no, it's not just tiny. It's missing. See?))

(( its there, or at least I see a shadow, just like Paul's HA. I don't like the other nose lines so i hide it under the base so I just get the thin shadow, which lol to me still looks like a nose ;) Magnus is gonna be so disapointed in his patronus when it appears. -snickers-))

"Its the best," Paul said, "scamps the pair of them. They wear me out faster than anything else, I swear." He laughed.

"'E ain't jokin'" Magnus chimmed in, "Sat wif 'em one day, they wore me out, could've slept for a month."

Magnus' face scrunched up as he decided what his happiest memory was. He decided it was when he was adopted. He remembered how they came to the hospital and told him that he was their son. The joy that has swelled in him and happiness that someone had wanted him. He waved his wand and said "Expecto Patronum!" But he didn't even get light out of his wand. He frowned, espcially after seeing his friend get a much more vivid result. Paul gave them both a warm smile, "You're doing well, keep at it. If you had mastered it in one go, I would be astounded. This is by no means an easy spell, but I do think you will get it."

(( ah, I see. Yeah, that's just the shadow. The nose part is missing. =P

Is he? Oh no...if this was someone else she might laugh, but even if Kat's amused I doubt she'll actually laugh about it.

May or may not reply quickly. WindWaker is calling my name. But I'll definitely check in now and then. ^.^;; ))

The confirmation of the twins being a handful made Katsumi chuckle softly. Her Patronus spell had seen very little improvement, if any, but she'd spent time on it. Magnus didn't get so much as a spark, and the way his face fell, she felt bad. "It is a difficult spell. I've practiced -- ever since that boggart in my grandparents' shed." She stepped a little closer to Magnus, though where someone else might've put a hand on his shoulder, the other Ravenclaw did not. "Let me guess...the day you were adopted? You've mentioned it a few times, so I figure that's it. I really can't imagine anything beating having a family when you didn't." The corner of her mouth turned upwards in a smile. "You've got the feeling, I bet, so it's technique -- and details, like Paul said. Right?" Katsumi looked at the older wizard for confirmation. "Me...I'm not really sure. I've been happy, but overwhelming joy is, outside of a few special circumstances, marked by its contrast to a great deal of pain or sadness, and my life has been pretty easy...." She trailed off.

(( -nods- I know I'm strange lol I like the one that comes with the forgotten bride body paint but otherwise the lines on them just dont look right when I do them compared to other people's lol.

Yeah lol but I already know Paul will have best explanation for why it is he has the patronus and what it means. It makes a lot of sense lol even if it at first seems like silly one.

ooh I wanna play windkwaker lol. Been playing Majora's mask lately. But I'd popped off to work on a Christmas gift, gotta get them all done.))

Magnus gave her a weak smile. "I'd been practising too. Ever since I asked Paul if 'e'd come and 'elp with them. But just don't seem to be sticking with me. Maybe I'm just thick."

Paul's face suddenly shifted sternly. "Now I told you, Magnus, that this is a difficult spell. You cannot expect to transfigure a house into a dragon on your first go. Kastumi is right, if it is a powerful memory then it comes down to practising and technique. The devil is in the details. Is she right, your adoption day? Because you know if your mind is wandering then that will also not help."

Magnus wasn't used to Paul getting even remotely stern, so he cast his eyes down rather than look at the adult. "Yes, me adoption day." He was not exactly sure if she meant that had had a lot of sorrow or if she meant he had. "I know I ain't got the happiest o' childhoods and the adoption day had a bit o' mixed feelings too. It wasn't easy, going from the din o' the orphanage and 'aving to nip out so I could have some quiet time to no one but the 'ealer looking after me. Then suddenly I 'ad the Lees visiting me whilst chatting up their injured relative. But when the Lees stopped coming... it felt emptier then ever." He paused remembering how alone he had felt and depressed he had become. It had been one of the longest weeks of his life. "Told 'em to leave when they returned a week later. And that's when they told me that I'd been adopted."

"Your focusing on all the surrounding factors. Focus soley on the moment they said you are their son. Focus on how it felt to know you had a family. Go on." Paul was deliberately being stern. Especially since Magnus' feelings were too close to his fear of abandonment. The man had to force him to see just the positives. While he waited on Magnus to follow through with his command, he reguarded Katsumi's words. "Do you hear what you said, Darlin? You already admited you had a 'few special circumstances.' Well, now you need to hone in on what the strongest one of those was. Because as you just implied you aren't focusing on your strongest happy moment. Think. Close your eyes, let your mind wander. Think of being wrapped in a blanket of joy. Now see what that moment is."

Magnus in turn frowned. He didn't like that Paul had already understood what he was doing. He hadn't seperated the emotions at all. He had let it all jumble. Fear of what parents would be like...would they want him after they got back home? Every doubt that was there just seemed to keep coming back. But he would do this. So he focused on what Paul was saying to Katsumi, he closed his eyes and focused on the "feel" of the moment and he said "Expecto Patronum" this time a thin white light shot from his wand. It died shortly after but was much better results that he had had before.

"See, Magnus, much better! just keep going, you're doing fine."

"So what, a month? I've been at it for years now." Katsumi shifted to fierce even as Paul turned stern. "You're not thick," she told the other student sharply, grey eyes narrowing. And when Paul elaborated, she nodded emphatically. When the man shifted his attention to her, her eyes widened at his words. "Wha -- no, I meant things like having kids, or getting married. All the rest are attached to trouble...." Katsumi's brow knit as she trailed off. Perhaps she didn't have any of the special circumstances, but Paul's advice still held. Perhaps she was going about it wrong. What was her greatest difficulty?

The girl broke off from her musings when Magnus managed a bit of light. "Excellent, you're getting it," she enthused. There was no way he was an idiot, and she wouldn't accept him saying so. He was her friend, and even if he had been dumb she wouldn't let him put himself down like that.

Her friend. The witch's eyes lit up, though only a faint smile made it to her lips. That was it! Making close friends, connecting to people, that was what she had the most trouble with. It felt like she had to struggle to reach them, and the wall in her way bothered her more than she liked to admit. There was, however, a single shining example of when she'd met someone and just /known/, within moments, that the two would get along, that they would become the best of friends. "Liz..." she breathed, squeezing her eyes shut to better focus on the Muggle girl that was her best and longest friend.

Expression tightening, Kat opened her eyes and lifted her wand. "Expecto Patronum!" A flare, brighter this time, and the result was more solid, but it was still only a wall. "Closer," the girl muttered, frowning. She needed to home in on the feeling, on the tiny nuances of it.

Magnus was about to shoot back a reply when Paul cut him off, "Stop. I'll put you both in time out." He shot them a very father-y look. But then his continence shifted back and he said softer, "You should never compare yourselves with each other in magical prowess. Trust me, that kind of thing can never lead to anything good."

"Sorry," Magnus said. He realised he shouldn't put himself down either, especially given how fierce Katsumi looked. He thought she looked a little like a dragon right at that moment. Why did cute girls have to be so scary sometimes?

Paul gave a reassuring smile to Katsumi. and watched as her next attempt was even better then before. "See, you're doing great! Remember just because I have those experiences, Katsumi, doesn't mean they don't equal a moment in your life. Everyone's life has moments that replaces others, both the highs and the lows. The yin and the yang--push and pull."

"Great Job Kat!" Magnus said as he had been watching her more than focusing on practising again.

Aria walked over to the sweets table and took a piece of chocolate to eat while watching the students work on a patronus charm. She had some experience casting it, though most of her experience was unintended casting in times of great danger and need. She'd created shield and ball patronus forms before but only one time been successful at a corporeal charm.

Aria always had a difficult time coming up with a truly joy-filled moment, many of her memories were tainted with darkness. She pondered for a moment can finally found something that felt like it may be a powerful memory. After transporting her mind back not the memory as full as as she could she lifted her wand. "Expecto Patronum," she softly said while her wand and wrist flicked in the appropriate motion.

From her want a small bead of light formed that drifted up and away as it slowly formed into a small fox. The fox jumped through the air and pounced through a dungeon wall before disappearing. "I did it!" Aria exclaimed as the light from her patronus faded.

(( Bahaha, you didn't. <3))

Aria was the first to get a corporeal patronus, a tiny fox. "Nicely done," Katsumi said, watching it leap around the room. When it faded, she turned her attention back to Paul, and nodded her understanding. She was pretty sure she didn't have anything better than meeting Liz, knowing that for the first time she had someone that wasn't going to drift away, someone that really understood her. There was nothing like that feeling.

Lifting her hand again, the Ravenclaw cast the spell, and the result was brighter yet again, but still not a full Patronus. She refined her memory, recalling the uncomfortable auditorium seats, and the boy that had been in the conversation as well, the riddles they'd shared, and the jokes. With a small smile, she tried again. This time light burst forth from her wand and coalesced into a long, serpentine shape. The creature's head had a pair of spiraling horns rising from among the nest of fins and frills surrounding a rather lionish face. Her dragon circled around her, and Katsumi turned to watch it, her heartbeat increasing a bit. "Oh!" He -- it was definitely a boy dragon -- was gorgeous, and she absolutely adored dragons. They had a place in every world she fit in, Muggle and wizard, east and west. The girl glanced quickly over at Paul and Magnus, but only for a moment. A dragon! She could hardly believe it.

((hehe xD))

"Well done Aria, very nice fox!" Paul said, "Have you done one before?" Then Katsumi's dragon shot forth and Paul congratulated her as well. "A very lovely dragon."

Magnus cheered at both Aria and Katsumi's success. "That's excellent!" He hadn't meant to, but he threw his arms around Katsumi and gave her a hug. Then he inwardly groaned at his one lack of improvement. Why could he not manage this? It surely had nothing to do with being a werewolf or Paul would have said. Not to mention he had looked up other werewolf wizards in the library and had learnt about Remus Lupin. He wanted to kick the ground. If he couldn't manage this without a dementor there was no chance in hell he could with.

Lost in his own head for a few moment he finally choose a different memory. His 11th birthday--first birthday with parents. His mother had cooked a special breakfast and he'd been given several wonderful presents, then his Hogwarts letter arrived and they scurried him off to Diagon Ally to buy him a pet. The presents were nice but the day couldn't have been more perfect. He had felt so loved. And with that, he bellowed "Expecto Patronum" the bright brilliant light shot forth from his wand. It soared and the tiny body of a butterfly emerged. Magnus' mouth dropped. He was proud for all of one second until he saw the small patronus. A butterfly? Really? The little insect flew over to Katsumi almost lazily. Then it arched and fluttered to Aria and then it was gone.

"Well done Magnus! I knew you could." Paul said. Magnus was still staring at where his butterfly had disappeared.

Aria smiled when Katsumi congratulated her. "Thanks," she whispered sheepishly. She wasn't very good at being noticed by others, rather preferring to stay invisible.

At Paul's question Aria smiled and nodded. "I did have an opportunity to unwittingly use the patronus charm before entering Hogwarts, a couple of years ago. I also learned to use it and used it between semesters last year." She put her wand away and walked closer to Paul so she didn't have to talk quite so loudly. "However, I struggled maintaining a corporeal patronus untiil my final attempt last year. I am glad to see that I was successful today though."

Aria clapped her hands in shock and surprise when she saw the dragon patronus materialize from Katsumi. "Oh, how wonderful!" she whispered.

((edit we posted at the same time (*writes response to Paul)))

(( Ahaha, aww~ <3 That's so cute.))

Katsumi stretched out her free hand to the glowing dragon, her eyes shinging. She was taken off-guard as Magnus hugged her, half her face scrunching up as she tensed automatically. The reserved girl caught herself fast enough to keep from pulling away immediately, however, and gave a soft, self-conscious chuckle and awkwardly clapped her affable housemate on the back before disengaging.

By then her Patronus had faded, and she watched Magnus as he sifted through his memories and gave the charm another try. His triumph cheered her, though she wasn't exactly sure what to think of the form for his Patronus. A butterfly was not anything close to what she'd expected, and she watched curiously as it fluttered closer. Nor was she sure how Magnus would take it. Some people would be greatly disappointed to find they related to so fragile a creature.

Paul nodded understandingly. "When I was younger I struggled with getting a patronus. Granted, Mother never tried to teach me that one. I had only books from which to even dream of attempting it."

Magnus' face fell he looked so crushed as he kept staring in disbelief at his patronus. "Why the 'ell do I get a stupid butterfly?" He hadn't meant to say it out loud but he did.

"It doesn't matter what form it takes, Magnus," Paul said, "it will get the job done and it was a full bodied patronus."

"But it weren't even a big butterfly and I don't even care for 'em. Why didn't I get a cat, a wolf or... somefing....better?"

"Magnus, look at it this way... a butterfly emerges from its cocoon into a frightening new world. It flies for the first time, relying on its new and untested wings. A butterfly symbolizes bravery, joy for life, creativity. Can you not see why that is what your patronus is? You transform three times a month, you are a creative individual that has a zest for life despite the obstacles you face. I, for one, am not the least bit surprised."

When Paul put it that way, Magnus blushed a bit. He was right that didn't really matter what creature it was as long as it did the job. But he hadn't expected.

((hehe, even though when I first thought of the butterfly, I realised how well it suited him xD Dead curious what Katsumi expected lol.))

(( she didn't have any specific expectation but a butterfly is still unexpected.))

It seemed Magnus was just such a boy, but the watching adult had a ready answer, and Katsumi nodded agreement. "I agree about bravery and joi de vivre. But there's two other things." The Ravenclaw lifted a finger. "Firstly, in addition to internal joy, butterflies are also used to symbolize hope and bringing joy to others. And secondly," here another finger joined the first, "that looked like a monarch. Monarchs eat plants that other creatures find poisonous, and use that to protect themselves -- turning adversity into an advantage. Not only that, but they are migratory. Imagine, a tiny little butterfly, travelling hundreds of miles on those vibrant wings. They may not look like much, but they're still surprisingly strong." She tilted her head and gave her friend a smile. "Just like you."

Aria giggled in delight as the bright white butterfly fluttered in the air. She listened to Paul as he tried to comfort Magnus. Aria nodded in agreement with what Paul had said while stepping closer to Magnus.

"You know, brother, a butterfly is quite fitting actually," she said. "Butterflies undergo a drastic life change, when they metamorphose from a caterpillar to the light and delicate butterfly that flits on the wind." Aria watched Magnus's eyes to see if anything that she or Paul had said had helped him. "As Paul mentioned, you do undergo drastic life form morphing as well." After noticing a smile smile appear around the corners of his eyes, Aria smiled herself and put her arm around Magnus's shoulders.

"Good job on casting a corporeal patronus too!" She said. After a moment she stopped giving her brother a half hug and walked over to the chocolate table. Looking to make sure nobody was taking a vested interest in her activity, she picked up two pieces and slowly nibbled them. Dax watched her from under the table and shook his head slowly. "What?" she whispered in mock innocence to Dax, "Chocolate is the best." Dax just shook his head before laying down and continuing his nap.

He was still disappointed. He could think of so many other creatures that were better than a butterfly. He wondered how many boys had that... or witches even. He appreciated Aria's words and his eyes showed it. "Fanks," he said as he watched her happily procure chocolate.

It was Katsumi's words that had him blushing a little deeper. Aria and Paul were less impartial because they were family and Magnus certainly thought of Paul as an older brother. That Katsumi thought of him as all those things made him feel a lot better. His smile returned. It might not be what he would've chosen but if they saw so much good he would try to do the same. "Thanks," he said giving her a half smile, "still would've preferred a dragon, or a spider... How about a drink before we practice a few more times without the fake dementor? Fancy a butterbeer?