"You and Dumbledore encountered Dementors?"
Professor McGonagall's face became stern again.
Because she was in the mirror, the wizard always appeared a size smaller. Professor McGonagall's sternness not only failed to intimidate Sean but also gave him a sense of novelty.
"No, Professor."
Sean saw the miniature Professor McGonagall relax her brow.
"Then... why do you want to learn the Patronus Charm? Where did you learn about this spell?"
Professor McGonagall was never one for excessive words, but at times like this, she always wanted to get to the bottom of things.
"Defense and Deterrence Charms, Professor. An eighteenth-century Charms treatise by Catullus Spangle.
It describes the Patronus Charm, existing to banish Dark creatures... Page sixty-eight, line six."
Sean recalled.
He had always been in the habit of reading widely.
In his nearly two years at Hogwarts, the books he had read could circle the castle at least once.
"Mm, so you should know, that is a highly difficult spell," Professor McGonagall said softly. The boy's obsession with magic always pleased her.
"I imagine it shouldn't be difficult for you," Sean said, looking at Professor McGonagall in the mirror.
"Of course. Come to my office tomorrow."
Professor McGonagall's face disappeared.
The tabby cat in the mirror began to groom its fur again.
Night began to reveal its tranquility. Apart from the sound of Sean's breathing, there was no movement in the hospital wing.
Sean read Defense and Deterrence Charms by the light of the magical lantern by the window. After an unknown amount of time, he seemed to feel the light was too dim, so he turned his gaze to the fireplace.
His vision abruptly blurred—because it was overlaid with a phantom image of Ravenclaw.
He watched as Ravenclaw crooked her finger, and the fireplace hopped and skipped over, finally settling beside him to illuminate the yellowed pages.
In a trance, he blinked, and Ravenclaw had vanished.
He looked back, and a part of the fireplace was actually lying by his bed.
[You practiced Magical Transfiguration at a Master-among-Masters standard. Master Proficiency +300]
His Magical Transfiguration proficiency surged by a tenth, leaving Sean somewhat stunned.
Is this...
The second use of Ravenclaw's memories?
Ravenclaw piloting?
Mm... it's most likely that the memory integration has reached the second stage.
I wonder if this phenomenon is common.
The corners of Sean's mouth turned up. At the same time, an owl dusted with snow perched on the hospital wing window.
Sean waved his hand, and under the influence of a wandless, non-verbal Levitation Charm, the window opened.
A tawny owl cautiously hopped onto Sean's bedside. It nestled close to the fireplace and shook its wings, sending down cotton-like snowflakes with a rustle.
Sean cleaned the wet bedding and floor. Soon, accompanied by the warm firelight, the owl gave a "coo" and read alongside Sean.
[It is evident that a human confronted with inhuman evil, such as the Dementor, must draw upon resources he or she may never have needed.
The Patronus is the secret self that awakens when needed, but which must now be brought to light...]
The secret self...
Sean knew that Professor Snape's Patronus was a doe, Harry's was a stag, and Hermione's was an otter.
What qualities of the wizards do these represent?
He recorded this question in his notebook, then thought of a special part.
Dumbledore's Patronus was a phoenix, which many people knew;
But... Grindelwald's Patronus was also a phoenix.
Just as Professor Snape's Patronus was identical to Lily Potter's.
Even more interesting was that Nymphadora Tonks's Patronus was originally a jackrabbit, but in 1996, it changed into a wolf, identical to Lupin's.
The Patronus represents the wizard's happiest memories. Perhaps it is this reason that causes such peculiar patterns in wizards' Patronuses.
Sean was like a rigorous scholar, faithfully recording every aspect of magic.
Then, he opened the book again:
[The Patronus Charm, this ancient and mysterious spell, conjures a magical guardian, a projection of all the wizard's most positive feelings.
It is extremely difficult to use the Patronus Charm. Many witches and wizards are unable to produce a full, corporeal Patronus, which generally takes the shape of the animal with whom they share the deepest affinity.
You may not believe it, but you will never truly know what your Patronus looks like until you successfully conjure it.]
Logically speaking, Sean's Patronus should match his Animagus form.
But the problem was, he had many Animagus forms.
This made him look forward to tomorrow's Patronus Charm lesson even more.
While the owl melted the snow and wind by the fire, Sean had already fallen into deep sleep. The tawny owl tilted its head, flew out the window, and then, using its talons, closed it.
...
The next morning, the weather hadn't changed much, only adding wind to the dampness.
A notice was posted on the bulletin boards of all common rooms, announcing that trips to Hogsmeade were about to begin.
In the Transfiguration office, Professor McGonagall gazed at a small silver cat figurine. She turned her head as a knock sounded on the door.
"Professor," the young wizard outside said.
"Come in, child," Professor McGonagall said.
The study of the Patronus Charm began quickly. As soon as Sean stood before the blackboard in the Transfiguration office, Professor McGonagall began to explain.
"Watch closely, child.
The spell I am about to demonstrate is very advanced magic—well beyond Ordinary Wizarding Level.
It is the Patronus Charm. If done correctly, it conjures a Patronus.
It is the nemesis of certain Dark creatures—a guardian that acts as a shield between you and the Dark creature."
Professor McGonagall got straight to the point.
She waved her wand, and wisps of mist rose around her. A silvery-white cat leaped forward through the mist.
Sean watched the cat curiously, listening as Professor McGonagall continued:
"Each Patronus is unique to the wizard who conjures it.
To summon a Patronus, the wizard must incant a spell. At that moment, you must concentrate all your thoughts on a single, very happy memory for the spell to work."
Professor McGonagall waved her wand again, and the cat vanished.
She gazed at Sean, not speaking for a moment.
What happy memories would this child have?
What pleasant recollection does he possess that would allow him to summon his own Patronus?
Minerva McGonagall was intensely curious, but before the experiment, she had a few more things to elaborate on.