And Eden was feeling really bad. She had only tried once, but she HAD produced a non-corporal patronus last term...with Lux...so she had just expected to be better able to this time. Meh.

Professor Dakest touched her shoulder, and she looked up, with wide eyes, and nodded silently. Maybe he was right....Dakest wasn't the type to be...overly coddling, but he also had a genuine concern for his students, something Eden didn't take lightly. So she sat up a little straighter and would try again. And IF she failed...she couldn't get upset. She had to stay focused and okay--and class was not CLOSE to being over. So. She couldn't let this bring her down.

She gave herself a silent pep talk in her head.

And then...she cleared her throat and raised her wand once more. She wanted to try ONE more time before moving on to the obstacle course, she did totally want to do that..it looked interesting, and she didn't want to linger on this patronus stuff too much.

She closed her eyes and thought of...something. Of Iwin...of Emmalee...and how they had managed to set up this meeting with her grandparents...and how much HOPE that gave her? It made her feel really nervous, but also very good. Very believed in, etc.

"Expecto patronum!" she cried, and she thought she saw....a sliiiiiim figure of cloudy smoke erupt from the end of her wand, but it was gone before she could really be sure. She bit her lip and ran a hand through her hair. Okay.

This was okay.

THIS WAS OKAY.