April 24th, 1979

Being near him again makes me feel off. Being potions partners is odd. So far this week, I've left potions in a bad mood every single class. However, today is Jack's eighteenth birthday, so I'm determined to keep my good mood the whole day.

Emmeline and I got to potions early, so by the time that Regulus got there, I had told myself to not let his presence affect me.

"Hey, McKinnon," He said, sitting down beside me.

I gave him a polite smile. "Morning, Black."

My eyes glanced up at the small scar on his forehead. It was barely noticeable, and if you didn't know that he had it, you would probably never even see it. But the tiny white scar just above his eyebrow was hard for me to ignore.

During potions, I kept my attention focused on Slughorn and his lecture. Occasionally, I would become too aware of the fact that Regulus's knee was touching mine underneath the table, and shift in my seat.

When the bell rang, I gathered my things and quickly left the classroom, Emmeline trailing behind me, as we headed towards the third floor for Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Professor Partridge was sitting behind his desk, reading through the third-years essays.

He was one of the younger professors, he couldn't be older than thirty five. Lots of girls liked to talk about how fit he is. He is quite attractive. He is also the best Defense of the Dark Arts teacher I've had in my seven years at Hogwarts.

I sat down in my seat towards the front of the class, waiting for class to start. Emmeline sat towards the back of the class with Dirk Cresswell.

Jack walked into class with a grin on his face, and sat down in his seat directly in front of me.

"How's your birthday going?" I asked.

Jack shrugged, "It's pretty good. Are we all hanging out tonight?"

"Yes," I replied. "But if there's going to be any illegal substances then I know nothing about it if anyone asks."

The class started to fill up, and it wasn't long before Pandora Volant was sitting beside me, getting her textbook out of her bag.

"Hey, Pandora," I said.

She smiled at me. "Hello, Meredith," Pandora looked at Jack, "Happy birthday!"

"Thanks, Pandora!"

Throughout the year, I've learned that Pandora is extremely good at Defense Against the Dark Arts. She also seems to be very interested in it.

Professor Partridge stood up from his desk and smoothed the non-existent wrinkles from his shirt. He had a small smile on his face as he pointed towards the chalkboard.

He was pretty fit.

"Today we will be working with the Patronus charm," He announced. "Several of you have been able to produce an incorporeal Patronus, and some of you have not tried. We will be casting the Patronus charm and trying to produce an incorporeal Patronus, or a corporeal one."

Everyone in the class listened as he spoke.

"So, who has cast an incorporeal Patronus?"

I raised my hand, along with Pandora, Jack, and about half of the class.

Professor Partridge nodded. "Okay, looks good. Just remember not to be discouraged, the Patronus charm is ridiculously advanced. It is believed that the caster has to be pure of heart, and be able to cast complex spells."

I was able to cast an incorporeal Patronus last year, but it took me a while.

"The specific animal forms that a corporeal Patronus takes, varies from person to person, and reflects each individual's innermost personality," Professor Partridge explained. "However, Patronus forms can change if the caster went through an emotional upheaval of some sort."

Pandora raised her hand.

"What type of emotional upheaval?" She asked.

Professor Partridge smiled, "It could be for a number of reasons, but most commonly, it's falling in eternal, unchanging love. Also, some Patronus's are part of a pair, signifying a solid relationship, whether romantic or platonic, between two people."

I took notes with my quill, listening to every word coming out of his mouth.

"Alright, I'll go first," Professor Partridge said. "Expecto Patronum."

A wispy blue light shot out of the tip of his wand, coming together to form an animal.

"Is that a ferret?" Jack asked.

The small animal ran around the classroom, suspended in the air.

"It's a mink," Professor Partridge explained. He let his spell drop, and the mink disappeared in a cloud of pale blue. "Who's next?"

We all scattered throughout the classroom, wands raised as everyone began to attempt to cast a corporeal Patronus.

I conjured up all of my happy memories. Winning the Quidditch Cup last year. My trip to Wales last summer with Marlene. Christmas with my family when I was little.

"Expecto Patronum," I said.

Blue wisps shot out of my wand, forming what looked like a blob of blue. When I looked at it closer, I could faintly make out the legs of an animal, and a tail.

I need to think happier.

I thought about the moments of my life that I've been truly happy. My sixteenth birthday. Sneaking out to meet Emmeline and Maggie in London. Dancing around the streets at night with Jack. Then Regulus showed up. Our first time together. Waking up with his arm wrapped around the waist. Then the ideas of him showed up. Working things out with him. Being happy with him. Being in love with him.

"Expecto Patronum," I repeated, casting the wand motion.

The blue wisps shot out of my wand again. This time they came together to form an animal. Brown and black fur, big floppy ears.

"It's a bloodhound!" Pandora chimed, looking at my Patronus. "It's very cute."

I looked over to see that she had cast her own Patronus, which was a hare.

"You cast yours too!" I exclaimed, looking at the small hare that was hopping in the air above her head. I let my spell fall, my Patronus disappearing into a cloud of blue.

Professor Partridge was walking around the classroom observing. "Good job, girls," He commented.

"Thank you, professor," I replied with a smile.

"Expecto Patronum."

I glanced over at Jack just as his Patronus started to form. Four short legs, big ears, tan, black, and white fur.

"Wicked-, mines a beagle!" Jack exclaimed, staring at his Patronus.

Professor Partridge laughed, "Good job, Jack."

Jack dropped his spell and the beagle disappeared into the air.

I looked behind me to see Emmeline frowning at the blue wisps coming from her wand. She cast an incorporeal Patronus for the first time, but she didn't look pleased.

"What's wrong, Em?" I asked.

She looked up at me. "I saw a beak, so I'm pretty sure it's a bird," Emmeline groaned.

"What's wrong with birds?" Jack questioned.

I smirked, "She's terrified of birds, remember?"

Jack laughed, "That's right! I forgot about that."

"It's not funny," Emmeline said, "Birds are no laughing matter. They could swarm you and peck you to death."

Professor Partridge interjected, "Thankfully, your Patronus will not peck you or swarm you."

Emmeline frowned, "I won't believe that until I actually see what type of bird I'm working with here."

I stifled a laugh, watching as blue wisps and the occasional animal floated about the classroom.

- - - - -

The rest of the day went by quickly, and before I knew it, I was in my last class of the day. History of Magic. Which meant that I was with Regulus again.

When I got to class, he was already there, parchment and quill out on the table.

"Hey, Meredith," He said, looking up at me.

I smiled, "Hi, Regulus."

"You cast a corporeal Patronus today?" He asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, did you?"

Regulus nodded.

"So, what was yours?" I questioned, getting my stuff out of my bag.

"Mines a fox," Regulus answered. "What about you?"

I explained, "Mines a bloodhound."

Regulus smirked at me.

"What?" I asked. "Is that bad or something?"

Regulus shook his head. "No, I just think it's ironic."

"Why?"

"Haven't you heard the story of the fox and the hound?" He questioned, leaning forward in his seat. "They're practically inseparable. The fox and the hound keep going back to each other, even after all of their indifferences."

My cheeks went red, or at least it felt like they did.

"You're lying," I said. "I've never heard of that before."

"It's true," Regulus replied. "It's a novel by Daniel Mannix. You should read it sometime."

"Shut up," I retorted, not having any better come back.

Regulus smirked, "I'm just letting you know. It's a pretty good book."