Victoria was ready to try again. This time, she had high goals for herself. She doesn't want any thin, whispy, line this time. She want at least a non-corporal Patronus shooting out of her wand tip.

With wand at the ready, Victoria thought of her memory one more time, allowing it to fill her mind. Once she thought she could try again, Victoria let out a spell. "Expecto Patronum!" She wasn't sure if she was expecting this or not, because the tip of her wand once again produced a thin, silvery line.

Victoria can't say if she was filled with disappointment. Shouldn't her charm be improving instead of staying in the same spot?

Reminding herself that a Patronus needs a happy mood, not a sour mood, Victoria allowed herself to calm down. Her mind filled with the memory she was thinking of, and lifted her wand. "Expecto Patronum!" This time, the end of her wand exploded with silvery-like air...smoke? It formed in a small shape of a shield, though it looked very unstable.

Good enough, thought Victoria.

Minerva had been sitting take a little break daydreaming when she started watching all her friends trying so hard and William working hard at this. She smiled thinking of all them and how lucky she was to have them. She stood up and tried again pointing her wand "EXPECTO PATRONUM" she called out and a silver light came from her wand. It wasn't much, but it was more then she had gotten before. Minerva smiled that she finally got something even if it wasn't a real patronum it was a least something.

Ariana Smiled as she heard what the 7th year had to say then she said the incantation while letting her memory fill her up "Expecto Patronum, Expecto Patronum, Expecto Patronum. Am i saying it right?" the short Ariana said as she looked up to Lexi

Alright, finally time to try it out!

He grabbed his wand, unsheathing it from his holster. He assumed a ready stance, and began to fill his mind with the happiest memory he could summon--winning the Quidditch Cup back in his first year. After several seconds, he was finally ready to proceed.

He opened his mouth to deliver the incantation, but noticed his recruit looking at him questioningly. Realizing he was asking for help, he gave the younger boy a quick smile. "The most helpful advice I can think of so far is that you're saying the incantation incorrectly. You said 'Expecto Patronis,' but you should be saying 'Expecto Patronum. Here, watch me."

With that, he went back to letting his mind fill with no other thought than the sheer exhilaration he felt when the Snitch had finally been caught. He realized a large smile had crept to his features and decided that was a sign that he was ready to cast the charm.

Raising his wand to chest level, he spoke confidently. "Expecto Patronum!"

He began to feel a drain on his energy as a fine mist of silver vapor appeared from his wand. Still concentrating on his happy memory, he maintained the spell for several seconds before allowing it to dissipate.

He turned back to the boy. "See? I can't even do it properly. Not in the corporeal form, at least. Don't worry if you can't make anything happen. This is really advanced magic, probably NEWT level stuff. I would be shocked if you got it your first try. Just keep working at it and maybe you'll have something to show for it by the end of the lesson."

Keefer sighed inwardly. This boy was clearly not a detail person. He put his hand on the boy's shoulder to stop him before his spell unintentionally hurt someone. "No, stop. Ex-pec-to Pa-tro-num. Say it with me a few times until you get it right. Expecto Patronum. Expecto Patronum. Expecto Patronum."

William listened to the older boy. 'Expecto Patronum. " William called out again "ExPecto Patronum". " I got it, I got it" Willaim smiled. Did i get it?" William asked the boy..

Minerva watched William and Keefer. She raised her wand again "Expecto Patronum" She said with a little more confidence now. Another flicker of silver came out.

Lexi nodded at the girl as she spoke the incantation and then leaned in to whisper to the girl. "Don't be bummed out if you can't produce the charm yet. I didn't master it until last term and I practiced at it nearly everyday," she said and then gave the girl a wink.

Straightening up she smiled wider still and paced a little bit. "Now as Professor Schirmer said you simply point your wand and call the incantation out while you focus on that amazing memory. See..." Lexi then stopped her pacing and pointed her wand. After a moment of clear concentration she called out the incantation and her lynx kitten popped from the end of her wand.

Ariana Focused and concentrated on her memory and "Expecto Partonum." she said clear and focused and a small tiny little silver string wisp thing fell from her wand but her excitment took over her memory & it was gone faster than it came. in her excitement she said to lexi "Did you see that lexi!! Did you see that i did something!"

Oh, dear Merlin. Gaby could tell that there was no way on Earth she would be able to produce any form of Patronus. But she would have a go. Pulling her wand out from her pocket, she glanced around to make sure that no one was looking - that way no one would notice if she totally failed.

Right. 'Um... Expecto Patronum,' she muttered, thinking of the day she got her Hogwarts letter. That was a good enough memory, right? It was definitely one of the happiest ones she had. Either way, it didn't work. Not even silver smoke came from the end of her wand. Dammit, that sucked. There were other people who hadn't managed to cast one though, which made her feel a bit better. Only a bit.

Keefer smiled at the boy's success. "Yes, you're finally saying it right. Now try standing still for a minute or so and just let happiness suffuse you. Concentrate on your happy memory and try to relive it in your head. Feel the tingling joy fill you, all the way down to your toes. Only then, speak the incantation."

Merlin, this girl was quick!

He turned towards her. "I'm really impressed. I've never seen a first year have anything happen for them. But don't get surprised if you tire out and can't make it work anymore today. This is super advanced stuff." He gave her another encouraging smile.

It was time to focus on himself again. He had managed a strong vapor earlier in the lesson. If there were ever a time when he could manage a corporeal Patronus, it would be now. Though he could tell the effects of the potion were wearing off, he still felt more lighthearted than usual. Perhaps it was due to the party and food, or maybe it was from seeing his pupils' successes.

He focused back on his memory. He found himself having trouble concentrating as several side thoughts kept threatening to break his concentration. Think, Keef, think! You can do this.

He spoke the words he needed with his wand at chest level. Once again, the cloud of silvery vapor obscured those in front of him. Almost immediately, he let the mist fade into oblivion. Disappointed, he vowed to try again, and keep trying until he managed a corporeal protector.

Taking a deep breath, he consciously relaxed his mind. Once relaxed, he summoned forth the memory that had sent him soaring up to hover near the ceiling: winning that Quidditch Cup. He let the memory envelop his very being. For Keefer, nothing else existed right then, save the jubilation he had felt for days after their victory. He imagined the wind rushing through his hair, the feel of his bat making contact with a Bludger just before the match ended, and the sound of hundreds of Hufflepuffs crying out in ecstasy.

He took his own advice to the small Gryffindor and waited until his whole body was alive with the energy that his joy brought. His wand rose into the air seemingly of its own accord. Brimming with sudden confidence, he gasped "Expecto Patronum!"

He felt his wand almost come alive with a surge of warmth. Hardly daring to open his eyes, he peeked out to see what he had wrought. It was not the cloud of silver mist he was expecting, but instead a creature burst forth from his wand, so bright that the light it emitted dazzled his eyes. He let out a whoop of excitement, barely believing he had accomplished his goal. The animal continued to bound around, weaving its way amongst the students. Mentally calling it back, Keefer reached out to touch it. Just before the tips of his fingers brushed against the animal, it vanished. But Keefer still knew what it was: his favorite animal, the okapi.

William remembered a fond memory. William concentrated really hard. He callled out " Expecto Patronum ' He had his body but his head was like a wild hog. Oopd, William did not concentrate enough. " Expecto Patronum" William pointed his wand at himself and he is back to normal. "soory about that mistake" William told the boy and Minerva.

So since she was, like, an epic third year Slytherin, Tori was totes convinced that she could do one better than a mere wisp of a Patronus. She cleared her throat, cleared her mind, and summoned up her best, brightest memory, one that combined both Quidditch AND Paulie. Teehee.

"Expecto PATRONUM!" Tori cast, flicking her wand again and BEAMING as a stronger, more shapely wisp of smoke came trailing out of her wand. Ahahaha! Beautiful! She could...er... if she tilted her head just this way, and then that way, er... she could almost tell what shape it was?

"Your welcome, Alyssa." She smiled, and filed the name away. It really wasn't good to not know the names of her little badgers. "If you keep practicing in your free time, then you will have a patronus in a just a few years time." Probably earlier than most students in her year.

Arya watched the girl as she concentrated and cast the charm, grinning at the small whisp she'd conjured up. "It IS working." Hehe. "Your doing a great job!"

Minerva watched as Keefer did his Patronis. "That was amazing." She said as she watched what was that an Okapi definitely a Okapi. "Wow your really good."

"No problem William, just keep trying you will get it." Taking her own advice she pointed her wand "Expecto Patronum" this time the silver did not come, nothing happened. Minerva shrugged her shoulders it wasn't like she was actually expecting it to happen again right away. She was pretty tired from trying so hard.

Lexi was indeed watching the girl as the TINY silver whisp left her wand. Heh. Perhaps Lexi was a better teacher than she had ever imagined. Hehehehe. Nodding her head she gave the little Slytherin a round of applause. "YOu did wonderfully! Amazing. Way to go. How do you feel? Perhaps you should take a small break so as not to wear yourself out," Lexi said excitedly.

She then rummaged around in her robes to fetch a piece of chocolate. Holding the little piece out to the girl she said, "You should have a seat and eat this." YEP. Chocolate cured all. Indeed it did.

Just as Keefer's Patronus vanished, he noticed that the small Gryffindor had managed to transfigure his head. How on earth did that happen...? He didn't understand even further when repeating the spell put him back to normal. He almost wondered if an older student had seen what happened and put him right, because a second year would definitely not know how to undo that damage.

"Thanks, that took a lot of effort. I've never managed to produce a corporeal Patronus before! It left me exhausted. Let's see you have a go!"

Nothing happened. But really, she couldn't expect it to. Nothing to be ashamed of as a first year.

He noticed her looking tired. Actually, he was tired as well. Remembering what he had heard in DADA, he put a hand on the girl's shoulder and smiled. "This is really advanced stuff and tends to leave you drained. I'm tired, too. But the best way to combat it is, surprisingly, chocolate. It appears there are plenty of brownies left on the table. I'm going to go grab one if you'd like to join me."

He doubted the Professor would mind them enjoying a small pick-me-up.

Alyssa tried to hold on to the whispy thread...if you call it a patronus....for as long as she could, but after a few seconds, the whispy thread disappeared and the tip of her wand stopped glowing.

" I wasn't seeing things, Arya. You saw it too!! I'm so glad that I was able to at least produce something. Of course it wasn't like that lovely hummingbird that you did but I hope maybe when I get older and practice more, I'll be able to produce something a little more solid. I would really love to know what my Patronus is going to be. I guess time will tell. Thank you so much for your patience and guidance. I know that I couldn't have done it without your help," Alyssa smiled up at her House Prefect.

Nate was utterly confused. What were they even supposed to be doing? Oh. NOW they were allowed to try the charm. Right. So he had lost five points for prematurely attempting the charm. Not Professor Schirmer's fault by any means, but Nate sure felt stupid.
Looking around, he noticed everybody trying the charm, even the younger students. He cleared his throat. Let's try this out. he thought as he ran through the incantation. "Ex-PEC-to PA-tro-NUM. Ex-pec-TO Pa-TRO-num." Hmm, those didn't quite sound right. Time to make a call for help!

"Excuse me, can anybody help me with this incantation?" Preferably somebody who knows what they're doing....

" Yeah, yo uare right" Willaim sighed. " I should know it already" William said to Minerva. " You are really good" William told Minerva.

" I am just terrible at this spell" Willaim told the boy. " It is bad when first years are better than me" William said to the boy. " I am frustated" Willaim sighed.

"Oh William your not bad at it. It's just hard. I only got a little spark and nothing more. We are just young that's all." Minerva took her wand out again. "Expecto Patronum" nothing happened. "See"

" Mt father ,mother, cousins by marriage are great at doing this spell" Willaim explained to Minerva. " I shold get it eay" William said to Minerva. William used his wand. " EX- PEC- TO PA- TRON-UM" Nothing for Willoam this time.

Althea was about to answer and point out that he was saying the incantation wrong, but she didn't need to because a student stepped up to help. She liked how well everyone was working together. It was lovely. She smiled encouragingly at William.

"If you're sure." Althea answered and then nodded as the girl went ahead and began to try the spell.

....

Sigh.

Althea didn't make comment. Gryffindors apparently hadn't changed one bit since she was in school.

"Do you mean does a Patronus have to be corporeal to deliver a message? Yes. A non-corporeal Patronus can't. As for sending a message, you add that into your focus when you cast it, but you won't need to worry about trying that until you can actually manage a Patronus in a few years. Just practice the spell, dear and focus as best you can."

What was going on there?

"Are you alright?" Althea headed over, looking concerned.

"You're absolutely right about the chocolate." Althea commented, watching the young Hufflepuff. She smiled whimsically. "Five points for you for remembering that and recommending it."

"Ecks-PEK-toh pa-TRO-num." Althea offered up the correct pronunciation and smiled. "Just keep practising." Now that it was permitted.

-------------------------

"Alright who is still having trouble? Come over by me and we'll work on it together. If you've had a bit of a result, keep practising on your own, you're all working so hard, great job." She nodded at them.

And as for those older kids.

"Those of you who can cast a corporeal patronus are going to play a game of Patronus whispers. I want you to send messages to each other in turn and try to keep it from getting garbled, Da... Professor Scabior will start you off and I'd like you to all spread out around the room and cast a Muffliato charm, or similar around you so that the others who are playing won't be able to make out the message and cheat. We'll pass it around and see how well you can all focus so that your spirit animal can pass the secret message on. If you participate you'll earn house points, and get some practice in for your particular homework, which will be different from the students who can't yet cast a corporeal form." Althea informed them.

"Who is going to play? Evelyn Flores, Lexi Kennedy, Arya Lovegoods, Josh Carter... anyone else?"

ooc: younger students and those who can't do a corporeal Patronus should keep practising or go over to Professor Schirmer for help. There is still opportunity to earn more house points by practising and working together to help each other

If your charrie can do a corporeal Patronus its game time! Scabior (Kaos.Doodles) will start the game.

Well that was lame. Tori wasn't going to get to play the game cuz she was a third year and third years couldn't make corporeal patonuses, much less ones that were capable of sending messages.

SIGH.

She just scooted over toward the professor, kind of hovering on the edge of the students who needed help, and muttered, "Ecks-PEK-toh pa-TRO-num," under her voice several times.

She'd get there, eventually, she would. SHE WOULD.

Nate smiled. "Thank you Professor Schirmer," he said. Come over... Hmmm, maybe I could ask about private Charms lessons... That could wait, though. Nate inched slightly closer to Professor Schirmer, planning to posit his proposition later on in the class, perhaps even after. That seemed wisest. He cleared his throat. "Ex-PEC-to pa-TRO-num?" he said out loud, ending up asking it as a question. "Huh? Ok, let's try that again, shall we? Ahem, Ex-PEC-to pa-TRO-num!" he said. "Hey, that sounded right!" Nate now tried to put it more together into the full incantation instead of just running through the pronunciations. He pulled out his wand and closed his eyes tight, picking out a happy memory: the day he and Scott had jammed out on their guitars right out in the open in the Ravenclaw Common Room. Yup, that had been fun. "Expecto patronum!" he said, opening his eyes to see a very fine, wispy silver ribbon come from his wand and then fizzle away. Hmmm, this seemed normal for others his age. "I did it! Thanks, Professor!"

Ariana let out a squeak as she got her applause & approval from the 7th year. "i feel amazing! i cant wait till i can do a corporeal patronus i hope mine is a cute as yours!" she said as Lexi handed her a piece of choclate. "oh thank you! im going to go have a seat & practice the incantation some more that seemed to help!" she said before she walked away from lexi to go have a seat on the floor not to far from her.