When the chill disappeared, Madam Pomfrey immediately stood up, ready to check on the pale-faced students.
But she was stopped by a hand just after taking two steps.
"It's not the right time yet, Poppy. The students can handle this level of influence," Professor Lupin gently shook his head.
Then he looked around at the discouraged students and half-jokingly said, "Don't be disheartened. I didn't expect you to succeed on your first try. Honestly, if you did succeed, I'd be surprised."
Professor Lupin said, "I want you all to remember that feeling you just had, treat everything you see in front of you as if they're dementors, and try again with that mindset.
However, for those who failed just now, your emotions weren't strong enough. You might need to choose another memory..."
After that, everyone started freely practicing while thinking of the cold brought by the dementors.
The professors moved among the students, offering guidance whenever there was an error.
Professor Lupin walked around and soon arrived at the place where the Gryffindor students were, "Harry, how do you feel?"
"I'm alright, Professor." Harry's face looked a bit pale, but there was a hint of excitement.
It was the first time he felt the bone-chilling cold of the dementors without passing out.
To Harry, there was no better state than this.
"Expecto Patronum!"
In front of Professor Lupin, he waved his wand.
A mass of silvery mist rolled out, coalescing into a vague shadow in mid-air.
"Excellent." Professor Lupin said, "For a first attempt to reach this level, you've already surpassed many fourth-year students, Harry."
"So, Professor, when can we face a dementor again?" Harry asked, "I feel like I'm missing something."
"It's not the time yet." Professor Lupin shook his head, "Even if it's not directly facing a dementor, the number of experiences shouldn't be too many, take it slow.
Remember what I just said, it's a very complex charm, you need to take it step by step, and you're doing quite well so far."
Although Harry was somewhat disappointed, since Professor Lupin said so, he could only nod and say nothing more.
Not far from them, Cedric also wanted Professor Lupin to open the box again.
The outline of his Patronus was already very clear... snout, long neck, and wings, every part was very distinct, but it was just lacking something.
Like something molded from clay, no matter how vivid it was, it wasn't real.
He felt he was about to succeed, just a tiny bit more.
If only Professor Lupin had closed the box a second later, it might have worked out.
But now...
An unwilling Cedric waved his wand again... but the outline remained an outline, with no sign of transformation.
"Perhaps you could try a different memory."
At this moment, Professor McGonagall walked over and said, "I noticed that your Patronus showed signs of solidification, but then it dissipated. Clearly, your emotion wasn't strong enough."
"Professor McGonagall." Cedric quickly said, "I think I need some pressure. Could you let me face a dementor again?"
"I wouldn't recommend that." Professor McGonagall said, "There are many ways to learn the Patronus Charm, not just facing a dementor."
She didn't originally agree with Professor Lupin bringing dementors to the school, even with the box in between.
But since Professor Dumbledore agreed, she reluctantly joined to ensure safety.
Fortunately, everything had been normal so far.
Beside Cedric, Kael was teaching Conna to practice the charm.
She wasn't as good as Cedric, but she was making rapid progress; the previously blurry shadow quickly began to take shape.
"How did you do it?" Cedric asked in amazement.
It took him a month to get to this stage, while Conna took less than two hours.
"Maybe my memories are happy enough." Conna said, "This charm is really magical; every time I recite the spell, those memories provide me with endless strength."
"It's that simple?" Fred said in surprise, "Why didn't we feel that?"
"What are you thinking about?" George said.
"A lot..." Conna couldn't help but smile.
"Receiving the Hogwarts acceptance letter... making my first friend... getting my first piece of candy from him... earning my first Galleon... meeting Professor Snape...
Whenever I need to find a happy memory, they appear..."
"That's strange, we're the same," Fred muttered, "Acceptance letters, first Galleon earned... Clearly the same, but why isn't the effect as good as yours?"
"I even thought about the scene of our joke shop opening in a few years." George said, "But the effect was even worse... that's been our dream all along!"
"It's about memory, not daydreaming." Kael said.
"Opening a joke shop really makes us happy." Fred said, "Sometimes we even wake up laughing from dreaming about it."
"It's not the same." Kael said helplessly, "Imagined delicacies only stir your appetite but can never give you the feeling of being full.
The same principle applies.
The Patronus Charm requires you to find those most genuine 'feeling of fullness' in your memory."
"Genuine..."
"Feeling of fullness?"
Fred sighed in disappointment, "We thought we'd found a shortcut..."
"Didn't expect it to be wrong." George said, "No wonder our Patronus Charm training was getting worse..."
After finding the correct method, Fred and George gradually became proficient with the charm too.
Although their progress wasn't as noticeable as Conna's, they were still better than most people here.
And Cedric waited for two hours, but until the club ended, Professor Lupin never reopened the box.
"That's all for today, it's already enough."
He clapped his hands, and after everyone quieted down, he continued, "Even though you didn't directly face a dementor, I still recommend you all eat some chocolate after you go back... It should make you feel better."
"Professor, when can we come back!" someone asked.
This was a question that everyone was concerned about.
"In a month, maybe." Professor Lupin pondered and said, "This time should be enough for you to digest what you learned today.
From now until the end of the school year, I will open the club once a month, and I will notify you in advance of the specific time."
...