Quote:

Originally Posted by PotterHeadforLife

Hmm... Katrina's happiest memory. That's hard. How about the time her sister said she loved her after the longest argument they ever had...nah, too touchy.

Aha! Finally... the firstie raised her hand.

"My happiest memory is the time my mother stopped rejecting me as her daughter when I was four. She apologized and... it was the best thing EVER."

"That sounds very special." Althea answered. The girl must have been particularly precocious to understand the depth of a situation like that so young. She smiled encouragingly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbreeze

Eino became a little anxious when the professor announced that they would work on their patronuses today. He wasn't sure whether he wanted to know his patronus or not because it would most likely reveal something about him he knew he didn't want to know. He began fidgeting as the professor continued to speak, and then she instructed them to share a happy thought. This put him at easy. Thinking of happy thoughts made him happy, naturally, but he still wasn't as eager as the rest of the students. As for a happy thought, he raised his hand. "I had the most wonderfully delicious slice of cauldron cake this morning. I must say, it put me in quite a nice mood, too, because I couldn't find my bellybutton when I woke up this morning. I suspect my cat ate it." Just thinking about it now, he wanted another slice of that, and to find his bellybutton. Plus, it was very recent so he would be able to think about the memory with no problems. Hmmm, cake.

"... Please be serious." He had to be joking right? Suddenly the blonde woman was revising her opinions regarding the young boy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kimalia

Hmm a happiest memory? Kimalia smirked as she set her quill down to think of some. Well, there were plenty of happy events, her acceptance to Hogwarts, seeing her family, her first broomstick ride,.. Oh, now that she thought of it.. Quidditch has become such an entertaining moment in her life. Kimalia rose her hand for the first time during the lesson, "Well Professor, I think anyone will agree that winning at something could trigger a happy memory, like maybe an important game, event, prize or something." Especially the triple victory last term, but perhaps that wasn't a happy time for everyone.

"How Slytherin of you." Althea observed but didn't sound all that cut up about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CurlyPotter14

His arm flew into the air, he didn't care about people knowing his memory. "My best memory is from the day after I receive my Hogwarts letter, Proffessor." he began. "My mum came back and took me away from my father, it was the best day of my life! Was that the sort of thing you were looking for?" he asked.

"Its not about what I'm looking for." Althea answered. "Its about how strong it is for you. How happy it makes you, and yes if its a life-changing experience, there tends to be stronger memory associations."

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanialRadFAN01

A happy memory? Well that should be ok. August was thankfully fortunate enoguh to grow up in a loving home filled with a great family that he cared for deeply. Thinking hard, the happiest memory he could think of was a few years ago on Christmas. Might aswell tell the Professor.

"Professor, my memory woudl be about two years ago, before I came here to Hogwarts, before I fully knew what I was, we went to my grandparents home in the country and a huge snowstorm came and covered most of the village. The electricity was out and everything but we had a wonderful time we spent the whole night playing games and singing and just talking with each other. It was great!" he smiled again just thinking of it all.

"That sounds lovely." Althea commented. It sounded like a good one to her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Eye Touz

Aspen had waited until most of the other students were finished with the books before standing and unobtrusively borrowing one. She flipped idly through the pages, passing over all the big cats or the monkeys. Naturally, she went straight to the bat section.

It was hard to tell if the description of the bat totem fit her OR if Aspen just wanted it to fit. Either way, Aspen was hoping for a bat. A warthog might not be so bad though...

She was thinking up a memory as she flipped, and in doing so, stirred up a question, "Do you think ...," Oh.. hand up! Aspen didn't often speak in class. When she did, it was almost impulse. The whole hand thing didn't fit into that equation well, ".... Sorry. Do you think that the memory works better if it's fresher? Newer? Like...," Aspen paused and unknowingly chewed on a strand of hair while she thought, "...like I have lots of happy memories from when I was younger, but nothing like the ones say.... from this past Christmas. The older ones are half remembered and some a result from pictures and imaginings. Does that matter? Or is it only about the happy feeling with the memory?"

In other words, did the memory's legitimacy play a role in the success of the patronus?


The memory Aspen was going to use when they were allowed to cast was going to be from King's Cross. Her father and brother had simply been waiting on the platform to pick her up. It was simple, but ridiculously happy. Potent still in her memory.

"The memory is as important. If its indistinct it'll be much harder to truly hold to it in the face of a Dementor. That's one of the contributing factors as to why children usually can't cast a Patronus easily." Comparatively less to draw on and all.

"If its fresher, or something that you feel really changed your life, it tends to be stronger just because its easier to focus on and hold those details and the associated feelings in your mind." Not that old memories didn't work, they just had to be stronger, more life-changing, more powerful, in order for them to still have a strong effect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Potter Weasley

William raised his hand. " My hsppiest memory is when my dad took me to San Francisco to watch him play baseball for the San Francisco Giants" Willam told the professor. " He played on the team that year and they won the World Series" William said to the professor. " I got to meet all his friends on the team and he won the last game with a homerun to give the Gaints the World seris win, 4 wins to 3 losses over the New York Yankees" Willaim explained to the professor. " He became the MVP of the World series as he had a lot of good games" Willaim smiled.

"You must have been very proud." Althea commented and smiled back at the Gryffindor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EW_FAN

Harvey put up his hand "I have many happiest memories of spending time with the one I loved. I could choose one but it would be difficult as they are all strong." he said to his professor when she asked for their happiest memories.

"You'll have to choose one when the time comes. If you focus on happiness in general it won't work at all." Althea answered. "But you don't have to share with the class."

SPOILER!!: MadAlice and dansgurl

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadAlice

Violet went through her memories hastily, looking for one that might be happy enough to produce a Patronus--getting good marks in school, brewing a really good potion, eating candied violets, sneaking out to the park to see her Muggle uncle--somehow none of these seemed really [I]happy[/I/, just sort of pleased. She wasn't sure she could think of anything really, spectacularly happy. She raised her hand. "Professor...what if you don't have a really happy memory?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by dansgurl

Sarah felt uneasy. Happy memory? That word didn't show up a lot in her life. Her memories had some good chapters, but they weren't really that happy to create a Patronus, not that given she could do it now. Owe it all to Mr.Strathmore. Her mind filled with that man's malicious smile. Oh, I just hate that guy. She was about to ask the Professor, when another girl did just that. She looked a bit relieved, maybe there's someone else too. She pipped up too. "That's what Professor. What if we don't have a real happy memory? What if they aren't that strong enough?" she asked. "Won't we be able to produce a Patronus then?" Her brows curved. That thought depressed her, she'd loved hearing her uncle describe the charm and always wanted to do it. Her face turned a little sad. Disturbed.

"Given time, you'll find something that works." Althea assured the girls. "Some people say everyone should have a happy memory to call on, a powerful memory. But sometimes that isn't the case. It doesn't mean you don't have happy experiences in your life. A theory I'm rather partial to claims that unless you've experienced great pain, tragedy, sadness or other negativity in your life, you won't be able to find a true happy memory because you won't have anything to compare it to. I think there is some merit to that argument, but in saying that, give it time. Give yourselves more time to build memories to call on, and in the meantime, for the activity we're going to do, just focus and try your best. You might stumble on something and not even know it was there." She looked between the two girls.

"And try to smile and think general happy, positive thoughts too. If you allow yourself to feel depressed or sad, you'll find it much harder to focus on a happy memory. That's like having your own personal dementor right here." She tapped her forehead and smiled encouragingly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CassiopeiaAKTF

Daichi sighed, maybe he just wasn't ready yet. "This is stupid" he said, actually out loud and crossed his arms over each other. After a few more tries he gave up. Raising a hand in the air, Daichi felt a blush creep up on his cheeks as he murmered a question which he hoped didn't got eyes focused on him. "P-professor....wh-at..what if a happy memory is...is overlapped with " he fell silent as he looked towards the bright coloured windows. "I-i don't know...nevermind" he ended and smiled at the woman.

Being as Althea had been answering a question, she didn't notice the gasp or trembling. She DID hear the 'this is stupid' comment and that got her attention. She looked over in time to see the boy's hand raised.

"Overlapped with something painful?" She suggested softly. "Oh my dear, it takes time to separate such things but you should try your best. If you have a happy memory, is it fair to that memory, fair to the memory of those you remember, to let it be overshadowed? That's another example of having your own personal dementor right there in your head. If you can't overcome it in there, overcoming one in truth won't work for you. But on the bright side, if you can face your own fears, your own personal dementors, you'll be that much more prepared and stronger if you ever have to face one in truth."

Keep trying, in other words. It was hard work, but worth it in the long run.

Quote:

Originally Posted by anolan807

Minerva thought of different memories. She could think of two that really were strong. "Well Professor one that I can really think of is my first Hockey game I went with my dad to. It was a great memory."

"Well you'll have the chance to see if it will work for you." Professor Schirmer answered.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastonionNW

Nate closed his book and raised his hand. "When I realized I was a wizard, and that I was going to come here to Hogwarts was a great memory. And being in Diagon Alley for the first time. Getting my wand was great! Oh, and there's also when I realized that--" he caught himself. Not only was he ranting, but he had also almost brought up Pam right then and there in class.

"You'll have to try to focus on one, and compare and see what is the strongest." Althea commented with a small smile.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rupert-Grint-Fan

Ronnie racked her brain for a memory. This was hard, she had so many! Suddenly, one just seemed to POP right into her head. Her hand shot up.

"Well, I do love spending time with my brother, Rupert. I've had many happy memories with him." she said.

"Maybe one in particular will come to the forefront." Althea responded.

"Alright, we're going to have a chance to test out those memories in a fun and safe way." She summoned some boxes which came whizzing into the room to settle at her feet and Althea smiled to herself.

The first box she opened contained some party decorations, like streamers and balloons and silly hats, as well as a lovely old gramophone and an assortment of records, particularly those of the most popular current Wizarding Rock groups.

The second box contained some trestle tables, which she enlarged and placed against the wall ready to be set up, but within the box itself there was also some tablecloths and paper party plates, paper cups, and plastic utensils.

The third box contained small bottles, each filled with a clear pale blue liquid, enough so that everyone could take one each. She opened it and left it at her feet as she spoke.

"We're going to have a bit of a party, and you guys are going to set it all up to make a happy environment for the rest of the lesson. The first thing I want you to do is take some party decorations from the first box and set them up. If you need to use some spells you can, levitating, sticking charms, if you know them and they are appropriate to use, go right ahead.

The second thing I'd like for you to do is work together to set up everything we need for party food, get those trestle tables set up, and ready to go.

After we have the room party-ready, comes part three! See these little bottles at my feet? We're going to test out our happy memories, see how strong they are. The bottles contain a levitation potion, activated by happy thoughts. If you take a little sip and think hard about your chosen happy memory, and its strong enough, you'll float up into the air. The strongest memories will allow you to float up to the ceiling." And she was sure those of them who were potions savvy would realise that one of the ingredients was Billywig stings, as well as the use of a cheering charm in its brewing. Giddiness and happiness would be a bit of a lingering after effect.

"To get down to the floor again, you just burp. I'll mind your manners just this once!"

And of course one other thing.

"An elf will be along shortly with party food. Plenty of chocolate and plenty of soft drink for those of you that need happy fuel and burping fuel." She smiled around at the students. "And if you're floating around enough, you might just work up a hunger anyway, do feel free to help yourselves when the food arrives." Especially because Professor Schirmer wasn't usually one to allow food in her classes.

"If you don't levitate at all, try a different memory, or focusing harder. This is your chance to experiment and see what works for you." Althea advised. "Alright, lets get everything set up, shall we?"

OOC: Activity time! For this portion of the class, you'll be marked out of TEN POINTS for participating and following instructions. You'll need to make at least five posts, the first two need to be as instructed, getting the party set up: one decorating the room somehow (by hand is fine for students that don't know useful spells) and one helping to set up the trestle tables and the things that should be on it. Please work together! Take note of what others post and build on it. Interact and have fun!

The remainder of your posts should be taking the levitation potion and experimenting with it and your character's happy memories. I'll resume the class again as soon as I'm able, it will likely continue past this activity in 24-48 hours so you have plenty of time to join in. It'd be helpful if you title your posts.

Be creative and have fun, and remember Althea is still right here watching and she won't let anyone get hurt.... and there still aren't any chairs


About the levitation potion:
Aside from what is written in the description above, please note that your character's maximum altitude is approximately their natural height, though Althea said up to the ceiling, most children won't get that high unless you know they can cast a Patronus already.

You can have your charrie move around a bit, but no silly business such as flying out windows or anything of that nature.

Moving while levitating is slow, think astronauts in a spaceship in outer space.

Your character can levitate just an inch off the ground if you decide their memory isn't happy enough, or just feel lighter even if they aren't levitating at all. Feel free to experiment with the height/memory relationship as you judge whether or not the memory will be happy enough for a patronus.

Side effects include mild giddiness and lingering happiness, so feel free to include that if you wish.


PM me if you have any further questions!