D.A.D.A with Professor Reynolds [class concluded]

[Nerevar Telvanni]

Professor Kenneth Reynolds
D.A.D.A - Head of Gryffindor - Auror

Kenneth moved on to the next question, presented by Eriena. "You are correct Lethifold's, also known as a Living Shroud, look like a black shroud or cloak roughly half an inch thick. it gets thicker if the Lethifold has recently digested a victim, which it attacks at night, when the target is asleep, and suffocates and digests it in its bed. The only way to fight off a Lethifold is by summoning a Patronus with the Patronus Charm. However Lethifold's are not something we generally have to worry about as they can only be found in the tropics." Once he finsihed he looked around the room and said, "next question please."

 

[Nerevar Telvanni]

Professor Kenneth Reynolds
D.A.D.A - Head of Gryffindor - Auror

Kenneth listened to Rose's questions about the Dementor's Kiss and replied with, "Once the Dementor's Kiss has been given there is no going back. Also the Kiss was ordinarily only given to those who managed to escape from Azkaban. So a normal prisoner serving time would not receive the kiss and once their time is up, they would get to leave." He turned his attention toward Lily who also had something to ask about the Kiss and said, "No a person does not die when they are "kissed." You can exist without your soul, you know, as long as your brain and heart are still working. But you'll have no sense of self anymore, no memory, no...anything. There's no chance at all of recovery. You'll just -- exist. As an empty shell. And your soul is gone forever...lost."

 

[Nerevar Telvanni]

Professor Kenneth Reynolds
D.A.D.A - Head of Gryffindor - Auror

Kenneth nodded in agreement to Lily's statement "Indeed it would, a fate that most believe is worst than death." He paused for a moment, letting that sink into the minds of his students before saying once more. "Next question."

 

[Nerevar Telvanni]

Professor Kenneth Reynolds
D.A.D.A - Head of Gryffindor - Auror

He smiled when Amelia once again raised her hand slowly, that girl was chalked full of questions. Not that it mattered to him, the only dumb question is the one not asked. "Your correct its a shield but a much more specialized one. Where as Protego just requires the witch or wizard to have the skill to cast it, as the Patronus charm requires something more. It requires the caster to think of an extremely happy memory or idea, and then say the incantation: "Expecto Patronum." Because of this, negative emotions can compromise a wizard or witch's ability to cast a Patronus. The reason it's so effective against Dementor's is because, a Patronus is comprised exclusively of positive feelings and cannot comprehend negative feelings, so the Dementor's influence cannot harm it."

Kenneth finished with the primary purpose of a Patronus and decided that he should also share with his class a second function of the Patronus Charm. After all he had used his own Patronus to send his apology to Amelia. "So what I just covered was the Patronus primary purpose, however with training a witch or wizard can use a Patronus for another purpose, one created by Albus Dumbledore. And that purpose is a means to send messages to others, in a way that is more secure than owls. As the message will only be repeated once the Patronus finds its recipient, and is Dark Magic proof." After he had finsihed answering Amelia's question he politely said, Next question please."

 

[Nerevar Telvanni]

Professor Kenneth Reynolds
D.A.D.A - Head of Gryffindor - Auror

The smile on Kenneth's got even bigger when Amelia asked about what shapes a Patronus would take. "Well one person's Patronus could be a small wolf, where as another person's Patronus would be an otter, or hare. The Patronus Charm, like Animagus forms, seem to reflect the personality or feelings of the witch or wizard. They are, however, subject to change if the caster goes through an emotional upheaval of some sort. Most Patronuses take the form of an ordinary animal, but magical creatures, such as Albus Dumbledore's phoenix Patronus, are not uncommon."

He could see the gears working behind Amelia's eyes as she put this new information together with information of how Patronuses could be used as a means of communication. "That's right Amelia I sent you a message via a smaller version of my Patronus. I thought it best to not send the larger one, well you can see for yourself." He pulled his wand from inside his robes and summoned up a powerful happy memory, then said aloud "Expecto Patronum." A large beast burst forth from the tip of his wand, it was shaped like a Dire Wolf. "He is quite large, and I didn't want to frighten you."

 

[Nerevar Telvanni]

Professor Kenneth Reynolds
D.A.D.A - Head of Gryffindor - Auror

"Well Sparrow, the Patronus Charm is some rather advance magic. There are adult wizards who have trouble casting it. Normally its something you wouldn't try until your 5th year." Kenneth paused for a moment and thought it over. "It wouldn't hurt for them to try, after all you didn't need a Dementor present to practice the spell. I think I should at least let the try." With his mind settled he continued. "You know what I think I will let you all attempt to cast this spell. I do not expect that everyone here will be able to cast the spell." He was thinking more of the first and second years, they just didn't have enough magical practice under their belts. "Alright lets devote the remaining class time to practicing the Patronus Charm. If you still have questions that don't pertain to the charm feel free to ask and I'll be more than willing to answer them." They where going to need some more space in order to practice. "Okay folks please rise from your desks, I'll need to move them out of the way in order to give us enough room to practice."