Harry Potter and The Last Horcrux
How To Defeat Dementors In Three Easy Steps

Ginny walked into her first Defense Against The Dark Artsclass feeling excited and a little nervous. She stopped in the doorway and took a look around in surprise at theroom’s look.

It was bright. Notblinding bright, but color bright. Therewere deep purple curtains on the windows. The rug was a multi-colored affair of reds, greens and blues. The walls were painted a cream color and notthe usual plain stone. The woodwork wasredone and shining and the desks looked as if they were brand new.

Ginny entered and went to the desk in front of theclass. As she sat down she looked andsaw that she had this class with Ravenclaw. She saw Luna walk in and hesitate too. Luna apparently was also shocked at the room’s transformation.

“This place looks amazing!” Luna said indicating the room asshe sat down next to Ginny.

“For a second I thought I was in the wrong room,” Ginnysaid.

“Ok class! Pleasehave a seat!”

Ginny looked and saw Kathryn and Hermione coming down thesteps from the upper office.

“Thank you all and welcome,” she said, “Now I know some ofyou think this job is cursed and that’s why no one seems to be able to stay init for more than a year,” she looked at her students, “I’m here to say that Ibelieve that theory to be hogwash.”

The students chuckled.

“But just to keep the rumor mill going I will say this: I will do my best in the one year I have withyou and try and teach you as much as I can.”

The students laughed and a few clapped at her comments.

“So since I have only a year here, let’s get to work,” sheclapped her hands together and rubbed them as if warming them up, “Now this isa N.E.W.T. level class and I expect you all to work very hard. I am a stern, but fair grader. If I see that you are putting in the effort,I will see that you get your deserved grade. Understood?”

At the nods of comprehension from the students she began thelesson, “Good. Now I’ve seen the notesfrom your professor from last year, Professor Lupin. He seemed very impressed with many of you andwas able to cover quite a bit with you before his death.”

Ginny felt a moment of sadness at the memory of Lupin’sdeath.

“With that knowledge I have devised a tough year for youall. So be prepared to study your buttsoff,” Kathryn paused for a brief moment before continuing, “Ok let’s getstarted. Now how many of you have heardof the spell that can conjure a patronus? For example ‘Expecto Patronum’.”

At least two-thirds of the class raised their hands.

Kathryn nodded, “Good, now how many of you have seen apatronus?”

Of those hands that were raised about half lowered theirhands.

“Ok, interesting,” she said, “Now have any of thoseremaining ever tried conjuring a patronus?”

Only two remained raised. Ginny and Luna.

Kathryn’s eyebrows went into her hairline, “Really? When?”

Ginny cleared her throat to answer her, “Last year when thedementors attacked the school.”

Hermione cleared her throat and Kathryn looked over to her,“Ginny and Luna were members of the D.A. that Harry Potter formed three yearsago when Delores Umbridge was teaching this class. He taught us how to conjure a patronus.”

“I see,” Kathryn said sounding impressed, “Mr. Potter’sabilities are more impressive than I imagined,” she looked back at Hermione inconfusion, “Us?”

“Ginny and Luna were members. As well as myself,” Hermione said proudly.

Kathryn nodded in understanding, “Very good, then you twoshould have a leg up on the rest. Nowlet’s see who can tell me what a patronus is used for? Specifically its use for the ‘ExpectoPatronum’ spell?”

Ginny’s hand went up.

“Miss. Weasley?”

“By focusing on a powerful happy thought, your patronus willnot destroy a dementor, but will drive them away.”

“Why?” Kathryn asked.

“Because dementors feed off your fearful thoughts andmemories, not your happy ones,” Ginny replied.

“Excellent Miss. Weasley, take ten points for Gryfreplaceor,”Kathryn said and began walking in front of the class, “Since this is N.E.W.T.level class it is expected that you should know how to conjure one. Now for those of you who haven’t yet, it willnot be easy, but I will aid you with a little lesson called ‘How To DefeatDementors In Three Easy Steps’.”

“Now first please stand, take your things and move to theback of the class,” she said and waited as everyone followed herdirection. When they were in the backKathryn waved her wand and sent the desks to the side neatly stacked.

“Now put your things down and come up here. Hermione, please bring the chest out.”

Hermione nodded and with a flick of her wand she levitated alarge chest from the back office. Thestudents jumped back when it started growling and shaking.

“Now for the purpose of this demonstration I will be usingthis boggart that has been magically transformed so it will only turn into adementor.”

The chest came to rest at the front of the room and Kathryncame around in front of the class in the back of the room while Hermione stoodnext to the chest.

“Step one: Think of an happy and powerful thought. This is the only way to successfully defeat adementor,” she paused, “When I mean happy, I mean happy. Some memory that truly makes you happy. For example getting a passing grade in thisclass.”

The class chuckled and Kathryn smiled at them, “Then steptwo: believe in this thought. Makeyourself believe this thought and you will feel happier not to mention makeyour patronus more powerful. Finallystep three: conjure your patronus. Thespell that does this is ‘Expecto Patronum’.”

She waved the class back and turned to the chest. She nodded and Hermione magically release thelocks. The boggart leaped out of thechest as a dementor and several students screamed in fear.

“No! Do not beafraid!” Kathryn said to them, never taking her eyes off of the dementor, whichwas slowly drifting towards her, “It knows your fear and will use it againstyou,” she paused then quickly brought her wand up, “Expecto Patronum!”

A bright white vampire bat erupted from her wand and drovethe now shrieking dementor back into the chest and Hermione slammed the chestshut and locked it.

Kathryn turned back to her class and smiled, “See? It’s difficult, but not impossible. Who’d like to go first and give it a try?”

Luna stepped out, pusher her glasses up on her nose andwaited. Hermione smiled at the firstvolunteer and magically opened the chest. Again the dementor boggart leapt out and sailed towards Luna.

“Expecto Patronum!”

Luna’s eagle-like patronus attacked and drove the dementorback into the chest in short order.

Kathryn clapped, “Excellent! Ten points for Ravenclaw! Who’snext?”

Ginny stepped forward, smiled at Hermione and nodded. Hermione smiled and nodded back and releasedthe dementor.

Ginny waited until the dementor was almost on her beforeshouting, “Expecto Patronum!”

Ginny’s tiger patronus dispatched the dementor boggartquicker than Luna’s and earned Gryfreplaceor another ten points.

Kathryn had the whole class try it and a few came close toconjuring a patronus, but the most anyone was able to do was a few wisps ofwhite smoke.

“Well done class,” Kathryn said after the last student hadattempted it, “Now don’t feel down that only Miss. Lovegood and Miss. Weasleywere only two that were able to do it. They have had training and actual practical use of this, but you allwill get it I’m sure and I will help. Questions?”

A Ravenclaw raised his hand from the back, “Professor?”Kathryn nodded at him and he asked, “How come your patronus is different thanGinny’s or Luna’s?”

“Excellent question,” she said, “Anyone care to answer?”

Ginny raised her hand and Kathryn pointed at her and Ginnyanswered, “Each is dependent upon the individual and their personalities.”

“Correct,” Kathryn said, “Yours will be unique to you andyou alone. For next class practiceconjuring your patronus and you’ll be able to try again to see how youdid. Also, I want a three-foot essay onthe patronus and its various usages for the next class. Goodbye all!”

The class quickly filed out talking excitedly about whatthey thought their patronus’ might look like. Ginny gathered up her books and turned to walk out.

“Ginny!”

She turned and saw Hermione running towards her and stopped.

“I’m free after dinner if you want to visit?” she asked.

Ginny smiled and nodded, “Sure.”

“Great. I’ll meet youon the fourth floor next to the statue of Merlin.”

“I’ll be there,” Ginny said and left.

Somewhere many miles away…

SLAM!!!

“How dare he!”

“Master please it’s not my fault!”

The tall man turned on the short, stocky man with fire inhis eyes, “Not your fault! Not yourfault! And just how is it not your faultWormtail?!”

“Because…” was all he got out before he was struckbackhanded by his master.

“SILENCE!” he roared.

Wormtail whimpered in pain and fear at his master.

“You allowed Potter to replace you! You practically gave him the location of thelast of my artifacts! Now, how is it notyour fault!”

Wormtail backed away from the oncoming man, “He’s taken overfor Dumbledore… he… he… no stop! I’msorry! I’m sorry!”

The black robed man stopped and stood tall in front of thewhimpering man at his feet. He wastreading very carefully here, as he could not let anyone know where his lasthorcrux was. If they knew what he haddone, they would demand to do it for themselves and that was something hecouldn’t allow.

“You are pathetic!” he hissed angrily, “Send for Leon andget out of my sight before I make you suffer even more.”

With a dismissive wave of his hand he turned and walked backto his chair. Wormtail whimpered theentire way out the door, but Voldemort ignored him.

Fool! He’s nearlycost me everything! He thought. He would settle his score with Wormtaillater, but now he needed to see his last horcrux and make his presence known.

Harry rubbed his scar and cursed. It was throbbing more often now than it hadbeen and every time Harry started his Occulmency the pain receded to a dullheadache. Whatever had just happened toVoldemort wasn’t something that the evil wizard liked.

Harry stood up and walked over to his window in GrimwauldPlace, which faced out onto the backyard, and looked out it. He saw a flash of movement on the ground andsmiled slightly as he saw Dobby trying to get rid of a couple of gardengnomes. The house-elf had apparentlyfound one that was a little feistier than most and was having a difficult timegetting rid of it.

He watched the house-elf and gnome fight each other for a fewmoments before he turned and picked up his old mentor’s journal. He went back to his desk and sat down. He opened the journal and began reading.

I have shown him Riddle’s beginning. He has taken it with the curiosity that Ihave come to expect from him. It will bevery interesting to see how he reacts to my offer of taking him to the cave.

Harry let out a short burst of a breath. He remembered Dumbledore coming to him aboutgoing to the cave where one of Voldemort’s horcruxes was. Harry remembered the rest of that night aswell. Vividly.

He was no closer to replaceing the last horcrux now than he wasmany months ago. He had re-readDumbledore’s journal many times over for any references or clues of where orwhat it might be. He had even used his pensiveto go through the memories of when he and Dumbledore were looking intoVoldemort’s past and still nothing.

His expedition to Edinburgh with Shacklebolt had uncoveredWormtail at the center of a recruitment for Voldemort. Not only did Wormtail get away, but Harry wasunable to get the information about the last of Voldemort’s horcruxes from thesquirrelly little man. Although Harrywas sure Wormtail knew nothing about what they truly meant to the evil wizard.

He slammed the journal shut in frustration and stood upagain. If the last horcrux were, as hismentor had predicted, not a tangible object then Harry’s responsibility ofdestroying Voldemort would be in jeopardy.

He sighed heavily and left his room. It was about time for him to meet Shackleboltat the Ministry. He walked down thestairs and into the living room. Hegrabbed a handful of Floo Powder and stood in the fireplace.

“The Ministry!”

He threw the dust down and with a flash of green fire he wasgone.