That.....made sense. Artificial happiness wouldn't be as effective. When the spells and potions wore off, one would still be in the state they were in before consumption (or casting).

Gabriel made a note of that in his writing.

Unfortunately, it wasn't good news for the Ravenclaw...as there was no other way he could see himself being successful at this. If he could...manipulate himself into it...maybe. See, it wasn't that he didn't have happy memories. There were a few...but...Gabe didn't recall them WITH that blindly happy feeling. If that made sense. His mind...didn't work like that. Everything was dulled down and lukewarm.

...and this didn't even account for his anxiety...which had started to kick in at the first mention of patronuses. Gabe couldn't pinpoint which was more stressful: the fact that he had tried (and failed) at this charm over the summer, and was now having to revisit that failure in class....or the fact that this was most likely going to be on his NEWT tests now. Generally speaking, failure wasn't all bad. If at first you don't succeed, try again, you know?....but....there were just....reasons.......

Swallowing thickly, Gabe set his quill down on the desk and focused on his breathing; attempting to get his mind right.

There was nothing to be panicking about. Nothing at all. The professor had said it wasn't that big of a deal...if you couldn't do it. And science doesn't care about defense, anyway. This isn't mandatory for what you want to do in life.

He could...just write out...some memories...and do that, instead. There wouldn't be any attempts. Not....from him today.

Clearing his throat, Gabe pulled a clean piece of parchment and set to writing. It wasn't as surprising that most of his 'happy memories' involved Ruby. Where was she? Would she come sit with him? He needed to hold her hand for a moment.