Harry shook his head and returned to his position behind her. "You might not be as powerful as me but I know you can be just as quick and precise", he replied genuinely, not noticing the blush that made its way to the girl's cheeks. "Let me help you".
Before Bellatrix could comprehend what was happening she felt the boy pressed gently, but solidly up her back and felt his hand glide down the length of her arm and grasp her own gently, the other holding her hip firmly, an action that sent a tingle down her spine. She herself didn't seem to notice that he had paused as she had lost herself in the moment and his surprisingly soft touch.
It was a moment of unguarded inspiration that found Harry stepping closer to the girl and taking control of her arm and posture as he had done may times with Sirius and the rest of the Marauders when he was training them. Realisation hit him as his hand closed over her own and he felt the warmth and softness of her flesh as he breathed in a vaguely familiar scent that had him hesitating thoughtfully, but he managed to compose himself once more before continuing, though his mouth was a little dry and her aroma lingered in the back of his mind his mind as he tried to remember where he had encountered it before.
"Try one of the spells like this", he instructed gently as he traced the wand movement expertly using his own hand to guide hers.
Bellatrix nodded mutely but followed the instructions perfectly.
"It worked", she whispered in disbelief as the spell careened from her wand.
Harry smiled and stepped back, leaving both of them with a hint of disappointing permeating throughout them.
"Now try with the others", he continued encouragingly. Within only a few minutes the girl was casting the same spell chains at least a second faster, something that Harry knew could be a big difference in a duel or fight.
"Much better", he pointed out. "It was more fluid and faster", he added in explanation.
Bellatrix smiled brightly, something that was strange to Harry but it was not an unwelcome sight. He even had to admit that she looked radiant when she did so, a much better expression than the insane one he had become familiar with.
"How about we pick this up again same time next week?", he offered, noting that the time seemed to have passed them by this evening.
Bellatrix too noted the time, her eyebrows raising in surprise at how much had gone but nodded her agreement. Harry turned to leave but was halted by the girl as she placed an hand on his arm, which she quickly withdrew as he turned to face her.
"Thank you", she said genuinely.
Harry smiled and nodded before turning again. This time he reached the door before he was stopped again, this time by her voice.
"Could you teach me how to do the Patronus Charm?", she blurted out, not at all used to asking people for help.
Harry nodded and approached her.
"It is a very short lesson", he shrugged as he placed his bag on the ground. "I can teach you the theory but it basically comes down to practice, but there aren't many who can produce it", he explained warningly.
Bellatrix nodded, the determination clear in her eyes. "You have to find the happiest memory you have and focus on it, but that won't be enough", he sighed. "You have to be able to replicate the feeling and truly feel it for the spell to work and you have to be able to maintain that feeling".
"Is that all?", she asked, sounding very disappointed by how easy it sounded.
"It is much more difficult than you think it will be", Harry explained firmly.
Bellatrix raised an eyebrow in disbelief and shrugged.
"How do you know what form it will take?", she asked.
"It will take the form of either your own inner animal, or something you share a connection with. It could be someone you love or someone that makes you feel safe manifested in animal form maybe both".
Bellatrix frowned but nodded. "And the incantation is Expecto Patronum", he added.
"Expecto Patronum", she whispered. "Can you show me?", she asked.
Harry shrugged and removed his wand.
"Expecto Patronum", he whispered.
Instead of Prongs erupting from his wand, an internal battle seemed to be taking place in his very wand and he frowned as the magic built up more and more. The struggle lasted only a second before a blindingly bright light exploded from the tip of it, causing both of the occupants of the room to cover their eyes and left Harry dispelling it as quickly as possible.
"Sorry", he muttered. "It's never been that bright before", he sighed.
"It's ok", Bellatrix shrugged, feeling a little amused at the look of confusion Harry was now wearing, one that she found strangely endearing. "Same time next week", she reminded him as she exited the room quickly to hide the flush she felt coming on.
"You don't blush", she chided herself internally as she headed back to her common room.
(BREAK)
It was a month later that Harry found himself settled into a somewhat comfortable routine. He would complete his own training in the morning, attend his classes, train the other students in his house and then have quidditch training also, leaving very little time for himself, but he was happy that he kept busy.
For the time being it seemed that Voldemort was keeping quiet, though Harry had no doubt that he was up to something in the shadows as was his way, but there was little Harry could do while he was in the castle but he did keep a vigilant eye on the newspaper to see if any whisper about the man and his followers was published.
There had been a few things of note that had taken place, but very few that applied to the boy. The dueling tournament at the school would be starting soon, something he was looking forward to watching and he himself had decided that he would attend the trials he had been invited to, though Dumbledore still called him to his office to discuss the matter and offer his own opinion, which was surprisingly similar to Harry's.
He decided that the pros certainly outweighed the cons and that it was not an opportunity to be missed, even if he did not get selected or intended to complete beyond this particular tournament.
Along with the start of the tournament, the date for the ball had also been announced as the 19th of May, which was also the final day of the trials for European Championships, and Harry knew which one he would rather be focusing on.
With the official date announced the castle seemed to have slipped into a strange mood of people becoming bold and initiating conversations with those of the opposite sex, stating their claim and intentions to attend the ball with those people, again something Harry tried to ignore, something that was not possible with those around him.
.
.
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