"There's a way... I know! It's the Patronus Charm, right?" Hermione responded eagerly. "But how can we teach him how to practice the Patronus Charm when we're all the way in Castrobruzau?"
Upon hearing Hermione's words, Ryan looked at her helplessly and said, "He can always find someone else to learn it from. There are so many professors at Hogwarts—it's impossible that none of them know the Patronus Charm."
"That's true. Even if the professors don't teach it, Harry has such a good relationship with the Weasley family. He'll definitely find a way to learn it. Alright, I'll write a letter and remind Ginny now." With that, Hermione turned and hurried back to write her reply.
Ryan couldn't help but feel a little baffled—when had Hermione and Ginny become so close? But friendships between girls could sometimes form in the strangest ways. Shaking his head, Ryan returned to the dormitory. Lately, he had been consumed by an idea—integrating life magic with natural magic. It was a complex concept that demanded a great deal of time and research.
It was Saturday again, which meant practice time. As usual, it began with a magic duel. However, by prior agreement, the opening match would only allow the use of the Disarming Charm and the Shield Charm to avoid damaging the surroundings.
Hermione was first to act. She waved her wand, sending a flash of red light directly toward Ryan. After so much training, she had mastered the silent casting of these two familiar spells. Ryan dodged to the side and began offering guidance.
"You need to aim more accurately. Your opponent won't stand still like a tree," he said. "When you're gauging their movements, remember—few people on a battlefield move at a constant speed. Careful observation is key to predicting their next move."
"Not enough force. Even if I didn't block your spell with a shield, you still wouldn't have knocked my wand away."
"That roll just now was excellent—it avoided the spell nicely. Remember, since our magical power isn't very high yet, your first instinct when you see a spell should be to dodge, not block. It doesn't matter if the movement looks clumsy or ugly—as long as it helps you survive. The dead don't get to look graceful."
"Don't glare at me. Losing your wand doesn't mean the fight is over. You didn't notice how close we were just now. That kind of proximity is dangerous for a wizard. If my knife had hit you, you'd be out for the whole morning. You should know that many werewolves prefer close combat with wizards. They're far more ruthless than I am, and their injuries are usually irreversible."
After more than ten minutes of this intense drill, Ryan finally fell silent. Hermione was panting heavily, sweat dripping from her messy brown hair. It was clear that magical dueling was physically demanding—especially when mental focus was equally essential.
Following a short break, Ryan began teaching the Patronus Charm as planned. After all, they would return to Hogwarts after Christmas, and with the Dementors growing increasingly erratic, learning how to protect oneself had become crucial. The Ministry of Magic had insisted that the last incident was an isolated case, but what if next time, the incident happened to him?
At the start of the lesson, Hermione posed a question she had pondered during her private practice after learning the theory behind the Patronus Charm. "Is the Patronus Charm really the only way to deal with Dementors?"
"No," Ryan replied confidently. "I can think of at least two other ways."
"Two?" Hermione looked skeptical. "You mean there are other spells besides the Patronus Charm?"
"Of course," said Ryan. "The Patronus Charm relies on happiness and love—qualities that You-Know-Who lacked. But during the last war, he managed to control Dementors. Those creatures are evil and don't negotiate. That means he must've used a spell that was even more sinister—powerful enough to kill or dominate them."
"But compared to that, the Patronus Charm is likely the easiest method."
Of course, Ryan wasn't telling the whole truth. In his studies of Taoist thunder methods, he had found spells capable of restraining or even destroying Dementors. Not to mention, when he had faced a Dementor in combat class, he hadn't been affected the same way other students were. He remained composed and could still use his abilities.
Initially, Ryan had found that strange, but then he realized it might be linked to his mastery of Taoist mental techniques. Those techniques emphasized the cultivation of the heart and spirit. It made sense that someone trained in them could stay calm when facing Dementors.
After explaining the theory, the two began practicing the Patronus Charm. When they recited the incantation, silver mist began to appear at the tips of their wands. Ryan's mist was thicker and spread over a wider area.
"This kind of mist might only be able to hold off one or two Dementors—not a whole group," Ryan noted, attempting to mold the mist with his will. He glanced at the silver mist forming on Hermione's wand and continued, "In theory, a corporeal Patronus reflects a person's inner spirit. For many people, their Patronus never changes. Magical creature Patronuses are typically more powerful than ordinary animal ones. For example, Dumbledore's Patronus is a phoenix."
"Oh, I see," Hermione said, her eyes lighting up. "I really want to see my corporeal Patronus. Maybe it'll be a mythical creature!"
Ryan couldn't help but feel skeptical. In the fanfiction he had read in his previous life, everyone's Patronus was some kind of legendary beast. But things didn't always go the way people imagined.
After over half an hour of practice, Ryan felt as though he'd broken through some internal barrier. He focused his mind and summoned a memory filled with pure joy, then raised his wand and called, "Expecto Patronum!"
As the incantation left his lips, something began to emerge from the tip of his wand—a limb.
"Oh no… Did I kill too many spiders? Is my Patronus going to be a spider?" Ryan felt cold sweat forming. More legs emerged, and the sense of foreboding grew stronger.
Then a pincer appeared. He exhaled in relief. Not a spider. But as the full form of the creature took shape, Ryan couldn't help but wonder if he had somehow angered the gods.
Before him stood a hairy crab—the size of a dinner plate. From its underside, he could even tell it was a male crab.
Once summoned, the Patronus circled Ryan proudly, waving its claws with fierce bravado. No wonder the legs had come out first—crabs moved sideways, after all.
Hermione walked over, curious. "Hey, your Patronus is a crab! I've never seen this type before—what kind is it?"
Ryan smiled awkwardly. "It's a… hairy crab. Common where I come from."
He didn't dare say more. Of all the magical beasts in the world, of all the dignified forms a Patronus could take, his turned out to be a dinner-plate-sized hairy crab. There went his dreams of mythical glory.
Still, it was corporeal, and that was already a huge step forward.
FOR MORE CHAPTERS
patreon.com/STEPHENHART427