"Professor Flitwick, please wait! There's something I'd like to ask you."
After Charms Class, Flitwick heard someone call his name. He looked down from his raised platform and spotted Jerry. "Mr. Green, do you have a question?"
"Professor, I recently read about a Dark Magical Creature called a Dementor in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The book says only the Patronus Charm can drive one away, but I couldn't find the spell in the Library. I wanted to ask you about it."
"Ah, the Patronus Charm. That's very advanced magic. It's only natural that you haven't encountered it in your first year. Come to my office after you've eaten. It's on the Seventh Floor of the West Tower, and we can sit down and talk."
Jerry was pleasantly surprised. He hurried to thank Professor Flitwick. He loved professors who were willing to give students extra help.
"Excellent students deserve a little special treatment, Mr. Green. I'll be waiting in my office." With that, he left the classroom.
Jerry didn't linger either. He jogged to the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall and sat down beside Hermione.
Seeing him start to wolf down his food the moment he sat down, Hermione asked curiously, "Jerry, I saw you go to Professor Flitwick right after class. Did something happen?"
Three days had passed since Potions Class. Neither of them had brought it up again, and things between Jerry and Hermione seemed to have returned to normal. Neither had noticed the subtle change in their relationship.
"Nothing happened. I just asked Professor Flitwick about the Patronus Charm," Jerry answered between bites.
"The spell that drives away Dementors?" Hermione asked.
Jerry gave her a thumbs-up. See? That's what a top student is like! I mention a spell, and she knows what it does. Unlike Harry and the other two across from us, who are just staring blankly, with no idea what we're talking about.
"That's wonderful! Jerry, do you know how to cast it? Could you teach me?"
"Ahem. I'm going to Professor Flitwick's office in a bit. Let me learn it first, and if I can, I'll definitely teach you."
Seeing how fast Jerry was eating, Hermione couldn't help patting his back. She handed him a glass of fresh Pumpkin Juice and said with concern, "Slow down, Jerry. Don't choke."
After drinking the Pumpkin Juice, Jerry said goodbye to Hermione. "I've got to go. See you at Flying Class this afternoon. Oh, and if Tom asks you for food, just give him some water. Don't give him anything else—I'm helping him lose weight."
Hermione nodded her agreement.
Knock, knock, knock!
Professor Flitwick's office, on the Seventh Floor of the West Tower.
"Come in!"
"Professor Flitwick, I'm here!"
"Have a seat, Mr. Green. Would you like some juice?"
Jerry shook his head. "No, thank you, Professor. I just had a big glass of Pumpkin Juice."
"All right," Professor Flitwick said. "You want to learn the Patronus Charm, Mr. Green? It's very advanced magic. I'll need to test you first and see whether you're ready to learn it."
He waved his Wand, and a practice Dummy appeared in his office.
"Don't be shy, Mr. Green. Show me the spells you know. I want to see how well you've mastered them."
Jerry nodded. He raised his Wand toward the Dummy and cast the spells on his system list one by one.
"Lumos!"
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
"Accio!"
"Petrificus Totalus!"
"Reducto!"
"Incendio!"
"Scourgify!"
More than half an hour later, Jerry finished demonstrating every spell he knew and turned to Professor Flitwick.
Flitwick stared at Jerry in shock. Good heavens, this young man!
"Mr. Green, did you... did you grow up in a wizarding family? When did you start learning magic?"
"No, Professor Flitwick. I grew up in an Orphanage. I taught myself most of these spells when I was bored during Summer Vacation."
Flitwick wiped the fine sweat from his brow and patted his chest, relief showing in his eyes. Thank goodness he asked me about the Patronus Charm and not some strange Dark Magic.
"Mr. Green, you're not only exceptionally gifted, you're also devoted to learning. Almost every time I visit the Library, I see you buried in a book. Truly, the Sorting Hat's decision was a shame. It should have placed you in Ravenclaw, not Slytherin."
Jerry nodded, agreeing with Flitwick.
"Well, Mr. Green, you've passed my test. If you want to learn the Patronus Charm, I can teach you."
"The Patronus Charm is a powerful spell that can protect you and others from harm. First, relax your body and mind. When your mind is at ease, you can think more clearly."
"Then do your utmost to recall a happy memory, or something filled with love and hope. After that, use the incantation to summon your Patronus. Remember the words: Expecto Patronum."
"Come on, Mr. Green. Try it as I've described."
"Hoo..." Jerry took a deep breath, straightened his back, and gripped his Wand. He fixed his gaze on the Phantom Dementor Flitwick had conjured in front of him and called out the incantation: "Expecto Patronum!"
Jerry felt his heartbeat fall into rhythm with his Wand. He swept it through a semicircle, as though drawing an invisible shield around himself and everything nearby.
A bright light flickered at the tip of his Wand, forming a shimmering ring. It soared into the air and became a magnificent Raven, noble and imposing as a beast from ancient myth. Under its brilliant light, the Dementor dissolved into a wisp of smoke and vanished.
"I did it!" Jerry exclaimed, delighted as he looked at the Raven. Its body was gray and translucent, but its eyes gleamed like red gemstones. It was as mysterious and arresting as a ghost wandering through the mist.
Flitwick applauded happily. "Mr. Green, I know I've praised you many times before, but I must say it again: your talent is extraordinary."
"In all my years, I've never seen anyone succeed on their first attempt at the Patronus Charm and summon a Patronus. You may now be the youngest wizard capable of casting it."