#exolvo

Elsa nodded, but panic was starting to set in. She had never really taught before, and although this was just her sister, it almost felt like she had even more pressure to do it right. “Ok, so let’s start with the basics,” she said, “Let’s see your wand movement.”

Anna got her wand out and flicked her wand in the way Harry had taught her a couple times. After a moment Elsa nodded again, and said, “Good. You’ve got that part down. Why don’t you try actually casting it?”

Anna bit her lip slightly in concentration, focusing everything on performing the spell. After mentally preparing herself, she flicked her wand and stated, “Expecto Patronum!”

Nothing, not even the smallest bit of light, escaped her wand.

“See?” she said in dismay, “This is what I was talking about! I’ve got nothing.”

“It’s fine, Anna,” Elsa told her comfortingly, “It’s not exactly an easy spell. Remember: you need to have some kind of positive, light-filled memory or thought. Something that just…fills your whole being with joy.”

“I thought I had that, but…” Anna said with a sigh. After a slight pause, she turned to her sister and asked softly, “What do you think about?”

Elsa gulped nervously, feeling her face flush a little in her embarrassment. “I…” she stammered slightly, suddenly feeling very self-conscious, “I…think about you.”

Anna took a moment to process that information, blinking a few times in shock. “Y…you think…about me?” she questioned, “But… Why?”

Elsa sighed heavily. Unable to fully make eye contact, she revealed, “You are the only light in my life, Anna. You are…fire, life, warmth. You have always brought me so much happiness, and even in the last few years, just watching you grow and doing things that made you happy, it…” She trailed off, then. Anna caught her wipe something from her eyes. Elsa then turned to meet her sister’s gaze, and stated softly, “You are my sun. In a life that is nothing but dreary storm clouds. I couldn’t think of anything else more perfect for that spell.”

Anna merely stood there, her mouth slightly agape, stupefied by what her sister just told her. Subconsciously, she shook her head, because there was no way she meant that much to her sister…right? Elsa… She had to have had a better life that what she was describing.

“Elsa, I…” Anna couldn’t think of what to say. She had never thought she would ever mean that much to her sister. Elsa had always been so cold, so distant, and sure Anna now knew why but… It was still so much to get her head around. Learning about Elsa's sacrifice had left her feeling a million emotions at once. She was angry, saddened, confused. Knowing why still didn’t excuse all the hurt and pain she felt over those years when it seemed like Elsa wanted nothing to do with her. But at the same time, she was now able to imagine what it must have been like for Elsa. And Anna found that she was unable to think about that for long.

The longer she processed it, the longer this strange, warm feeling was starting to brew in her chest. She was Elsa’s sun. Elsa cared for her so much that she regarded her as the sun.

“I’m…I’m gonna try again,” she stated confidently, believing with her whole heart that now she had something that would make the spell work. She thought about what Elsa had just told her, about how good it felt to be Elsa’s sun. And when she was ready, she flicked her wand and cried, “Expecto Patronum!”

A bit of light burst forth, but it fizzled out quickly, and came no where near to producing anything effective.

Anna felt her heart sink in disappointment. But determination and stubbornness quickly took hold. So she tried again. And again. And again. Each time, only thin little whisps of light that didn’t even illuminate the room appeared.

“Anna, hold on for a second!” Elsa said over her sisters many and increasingly desperate attempts to produce the charm.

“No, I can do this!” Anna argued, “I…I have to do this!”

“This spell is hard, Anna. You don’t have to get it right today,” Elsa told her.

“Yes, I do! I do because I owe it to you!” Anna finally stopped after blurting that out, and she quickly slapped a hand over her mouth.

Elsa met her panicked gaze, and while she seemed confused, she still said softly, “You don’t owe me anything, Anna, especially this spell. We can get it some other time.”

Anna sighed, deflating as she did, and admitted, “No, it’s just… Y…you think so highly of me yet I can’t perform the one spell that’s based entirely on someone’s happiness. You…you think I’m the freaking sun but… I’m just as depressing as a rain cloud. I don’t even have a happy memory that’ll make this stupid spell work.”

When she looked up, she could see it in Elsa’s eyes: guilt. Elsa bowed her head in shame, and said quietly, “I’m…I’m sorry, Anna.”

“It’s…it’s not your fault,” Anna told her.

“It is, though. Partially, at least,” Elsa sighed, “I took so much away from you.”

“And that took so much away from you, too,” Anna reminded her, “It just…sucks. What happened to us. And with everything that’s happening now, too…”

She trailed off, then, as she noticed the air around them had turned cold. Small, delicate snowflakes were forming in the air, and frost on the floor at her sister’s feet. Elsa had her eyes screwed shut, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, and she was muttering something about maintaining control under her breath. Anna looked at the snow, then around the large, empty room they had all to themselves. Just like the great room in their old house…

“You shouldn’t hold it back like that,” she said softly.

Elsa shook her head. “It’s too dangerous right now. I…I can feel it.”

“But holding it in only hurts you,” Anna protested, “What if… What if we take a break from teaching me and we work on you?”

“Me?”

“Just…just let it go. This room is meant for magic practice, after all.”

Elsa looked around the room with uncertainty. “But…what about you?” she asked slowly.

Anna proudly displayed her wand, and said, “Harry says my shield charm is top notch.” Elsa still seemed unsure, so she added, “Elsa: we’re not kids anymore. Ok, we’re still technically kids but not little kids who don’t know what we’re doing. You’re probably one of the best witches in this school and I’ve been learning a few tricks myself. You can control your magic. I know you can. And I can be careful.”

“I…I don’t know, Anna…”

“You’re helping me learn. Let me help you.”

Slowly, ever so slowly, Elsa looked down at her hands. She spent a long time just staring at them, weighing out the pros and cons of doing this kind of practice. Her magic stirred restlessly under her skin, urging her to take up her sister’s offer. But her fear was just as desperately demanding she didn’t. After an extended pause, she drew a deep breath, and said shakily, “If I tell you to run, run, ok? If things slip out of my control I don’t want you trying to help by putting yourself in danger. I’ve lost control on my own before - I can handle it. What I can’t handle is you getting hurt again.”

Anna solemnly shook her head. “You have my word,” she said simply.

Elsa took another shaky breath. “Ok,” she said, glancing around the room as if searching for a good place to start, “Ok…”

After another moment of Elsa hesitating, just looking around the room in confusion and indecision, Anna asked, “Are you…gonna do anything? Or are you thinking?”

Elsa frowned. It was the expression she made whenever she was overthinking something, when her concentration was laser-focused on her current task at hand. “I…I don’t know where to start,” she admitted quietly after another minute of thought, “I…I’ve never really… It’s been so long since…”

Anna felt her heart sink as she watched Elsa stare down at her hands with a lost and confused frown on her face. She supposed it was like learning how to use a spell that was way above one’s level. Something so complicated and intricate and immense that there was no easy approach, no clear way of getting started on learning it. Only it wasn’t, really, because there was no one around who could teach Elsa anything about using her magic. It was hers, and hers alone, one with her heart and soul and body and mind in a way most magic isn’t and the only one who’d know anything about it had forced herself to forget as much as she could about it in the hopes it would leave her body.

“Well,” Anna began slowly. She wished with all her might that she could be a better help, but her memories of Elsa’s magic were faded, gone in some places. “You said we used to play with your magic before…the accident,” she said, “What if…you start there? How’d we normally start to play?”

Elsa swallowed hard. “Well, I’d start by making it snow,” she said carefully.

“Ok! Then let’s start there!” Anna said with encouragement, “Snow indoors, huh? How’d you do it?”

Elsa held her hands out, unable to hide how much they were trembling. “L…like this,” she said as she turned her hands over each other. A ball of shimmering magic began to manifest between them, growing brighter and spilling loose snowflakes onto the ground as it expanded in size. Anna found herself unable to look away. It was magic she had never seen before, so much more captivating and amazing than anything produced from a wand. She grew up in a world with mythical creatures, magic, and wonder but just that one orb of winter magic was otherworldly to her. But then, just when she thought it couldn’t get better, Elsa flung both arms up, throwing the orb high up toward the ceiling. There, it exploded like a massive firework, sending intricate snowflakes flying through the air. As each one landed, little piles of snow appeared, and very quickly the room was a winter wonderland.

“Amazing,” she breathed as she watched the falling snow.

Elsa observed her sister taking in her magic with as much awe as a schoolgirl and found herself suddenly pulled back to their childhood. Back when magic was magic and not some dangerous force capable of stealing away everyone she ever loved. Back when they knew no hardships and could easily find more joy in the world than trials. Back when they were free to just be themselves, no reputations or personal limits to uphold.

For the first time in years Elsa felt like a kid again. For the first time in years, she felt a real, genuine smile growing on her face.

“You think that’s good? Watch this,” she said excitedly. Without hesitation, she stomped her foot into the ground, forcing magic to spill out over the floor. As it spiralled out from around her, ice coated the stone tiles until the whole room was one large skating rink.

Anna found herself sliding around on the slippery surface without even having to move, but before she could do anything else, with another flick of Elsa’s wrist, icy magic circled around her feet, forming skates under her shoes. “Whoa, ok, that…that was really cool, Elsa,” she said nervously, “But I don’t really…”

One look down and she saw Elsa had made her own skates as well. Suddenly, without warning and most certainly without any flinching, uncertainty, or doubt, Elsa took Anna’s hands in hers. “Come on!” she cried happily, “I can teach you!”

Anna wasn’t entirely sure where this new Elsa came from but she was too overjoyed to question it, instead allowing herself to be pulled along across the ice, laughing the whole way.

What followed could only be described as fun, just pure, unadulterated fun. As they skated, Anna lost her balance and ended up in a snow pile. Before Elsa could help her up, Anna managed to nail her with a snowball, and skating turned into a massive snowball fight. After they had tired themselves out, they collapsed together in the snow, giggling and grinning in a way neither of them had in ages. Anna started to make a snow angel first, then Elsa followed her lead.

They got up to admire their work, and before Elsa knew it, Anna rushed forward and threw her arms around her. Laughter turned to something more as it started to sink in for both of them. They hadn’t done anything like this - as sisters - in years. Neither thought they’d ever do this again. Yet here, in the room that only appears when it’s needed, they proved themselves wrong. And as they embraced each other, tears of joy flowing and smiles that felt so foreign on their faces, both silently made a vow to never forget this moment.

“Thank you, Elsa,” Anna uttered, hugging her sister just a little tighter as she spoke, “It was truly magical.”

“I should be thanking you,” Elsa replied with a nervous laugh, “You reminded me how much fun my magic could be…” But then she stiffened, and pulled away slowly. She glanced around the room, a frown overtaking her smile, and in a lost little voice completely void of all the confidence she just had moments ago, she admitted, “But… I don’t know how to thaw it.”

Anna could see worry and panic slowly creeping up into Elsa’s expression. The longer she looked around at all the ice and snow covering the room, the more her hands started to tremble as she fidgeted them in front of her. Her breathing grew harder, more frantic, and, counterproductively, snow flurries she wasn’t in command of began to form around her.

Anna rushed forward and without thinking took Elsa’s hands in hers. They were ice cold, and somehow getting colder, but she didn’t let go even despite Elsa’s horrified expression staring down at her action. “Hey, look at me,” Anna said firmly, waiting until she had Elsa’s full attention. When Elsa finally pulled her eyes up to meet her sister’s, Anna told her with the utmost sincerity, “I know you can do it.”

“I…” Elsa stammered. Something about her eyes was wrong. They weren’t focused, instead lost in a sight only she could see. Anna had a sinking feeling her memories from the accident in their childhood had come back to haunt her. “I…I can’t…”

“Then you don’t have to,” Anna told her, never letting go despite the biting cold, “It doesn’t have to be today, Elsa. You did amazing, what you’ve already done. So what if you can’t thaw stuff yet? That’s what the fire-making charm is for.”

Somehow, through all her panic, that joke managed to reach Elsa and she choked out a small laugh. But her smile faded away quickly. “I should…I should know how,” she said in defeat, “I used to know…”

At this, Anna frowned. “You used to know?” she asked, “What did you do before to make things thaw? Can you remember?”

Elsa shook her head quickly. “I…I don’t… I could just make the snow go away,” she replied hesitantly, “We would finish playing, and before we’d sneak back to our beds, I’d just…make it go away.”

“Did you have to think about anything in particular? What if it’s like the Patronus charm?” Anna pushed gently, “Ice seems to form on its own when you’re scared or angry, so what if it thaws by thinking happy thoughts?”

Elsa looked around the room again. “I…I don’t think it works like that, Anna…”

“Just try, for me?” Anna gave her sister’s hands a little squeeze in comfort, then released them. “If it doesn’t work, then I’ll break out the fire charm I just learned. But I really think you can do it if you do the same thing you do with your Patronus charm.”

Elsa had both hands clasped together, but slowly she let go and extended both arms out on either side. She closed both eyes tight, her face contorted slightly in her intense concentration. She thought of Anna, just as she did for her Patronus. She thought about all the joy her sister brought her, how she was always exuding light and life when Elsa’s world seemed so miserable.

It didn’t seem to be working. She could feel, very faintly, her magic that resided in the ice and snow around them, but it was like it was ignoring her. She opened one eye slightly to steal a glance at Anna, only to see her sister watching her with so much hope and encouragement in her expression. Anna’s faith in her was unyielding, stronger than it ever had been before, and Elsa felt something stir. She felt her heart warm, soaring with emotion as she realized why she always turned to thoughts of her sister when she needed it. It could be summed up in one little statement that she wished she said more often, that she will try to say more often:

“I love you, Anna.”

Suddenly it was like someone had just flicked a light switch. In an instant, she could feel every particle, every snowflake of her magic in the room. Every ounce of it was listening, now, waiting for her instruction. She hadn’t felt this in years, but it was familiar. It was truly what power felt like. It was like how she channelled magic through her wand. It was control. And with that control, she could give a command:

Thaw.

The snow and ice started to break apart, turning into glowing snowflakes rising up toward the ceiling. The higher they got, the more the light faded, until there was nothing left. No snow. No ice. It wasn’t even cold.

Before Elsa could even open her eyes or lower her arms, Anna had rushed forward to smother her in a tight hug. And for once, Elsa didn’t flinch. Instead she wrapped her arms around her sister and hugged just as hard. Anna choked out a half laugh, half sob of joy. “I knew you could do it,” she breathed, “I knew you could.”

“I…I couldn’t have done it without you,” Elsa replied, “I really couldn’t have. I can’t thank you enough.”

Anna pulled back so she could look her sister tearfully in the eyes. “I’m so proud of you, Elsa,” she said softly.

Elsa’s grin only grew, but before she could respond, a loud noise startled them apart. They both turned to look toward the source, and realized that the entrance to the room was opening up. Before either of them could do anything about hiding, the rest of Dumbledore’s Army entered the room, Harry and the gang in the lead.

Everyone stopped the moment they spotted Elsa.

“What is she doing here?” Ginny demanded as she moved around Harry.

“Look, guys,” Anna said, taking a defensive stand in front of her sister, “It’s fine. She won’t tell anyone.”

“But she’s a Slytherin,” Ron retaliated.

“But she’s a good Slytherin,” Anna insisted, “Besides, she’s been helping me. And she might be able to help you, Harry.”

Harry didn’t seem to be one way or the other, his face relatively neutral in expression. But he was intrigued by that. “What do you mean?” he asked, speaking to Anna but eyes focusing on the shy Slytherin taking shelter behind her sister.

“Well,” Anna began, deflating slightly when she realized just how many people were glaring at the two of them. She felt Elsa take her hand in hers, and with a quick look back, she felt her confidence return. “She knows how to cast a Patronus. A really powerful one at that. She’s been teaching me.”

“Really?” Ginny scoffed incredulously, “She can cast a Patronus?” There were quite a few murmurs from the crowd, all expressing similar disbelief.

“Alright, alright,” Hermione commanded over everyone. Once she had quiet, she continued, “The Patronus charm is extremely difficult. You’re telling us that she can cast it?” While she seemed a little more convinced than the rest of the crowd, one could tell by her tone that even Hermione was skeptical.

“I believe it,” Harry stated simple, gaining shocked looks from everyone.

“What?” Ron hissed, “How can you think that someone like her can-”

“You mean someone who repeatedly rivals Hermione in grades and has an incredible way with a wand?” Harry cut in, “Yeah, it’s pretty easy.” He then turned to Elsa, and added, “But maybe you should prove it.”

Elsa felt her heart stop for a moment, and she was suddenly hyper-aware of all the judging, doubting eyes boring into her. She found herself nearly petrified in fear, but then Anna squeezed her hand. When their eyes met, Anna whispered, “You got this.” She then let go and backed up a little, to give her sister some space.

Elsa gulped nervously, but still shakily took out her wand. She could hear Ginny and the others scoffing and making comments.

‘Breathe,’ she told herself, ‘Think of Anna. Do this for her.’

Elsa shot her sister a brief glance, and then with a flick of her wand, said, “Expecto Patronum!”

Light burst forth from her wand, twisted and twirling around through the air before it formed a neat little coil on the floor at her feet. The coil moved, before revealing itself to be a small cobra, calming rearing back to get a better look at the group of students.

“Whoa,” Ron gasped despite himself, “She can produce a Patronus! …And it’s a snake.”

“A little one at that,” Ginny said with an unimpressed sigh.

“This is nothing,” Anna said excitedly, “Elsa. Can you make it bigger? Like you did before?”

Elsa looked to her sister with mild alarm. She then looked at her Patronus. The cobra looked back at her and blinked.

“That’s…impossible,” Hermione began, “I’ve never heard of someone being able to change the shape of their Patronus…”

“Well, you’re about to see it!” Anna proclaimed, “Go on, Elsa!”

“Alright, I…I can try,” Elsa stammered. She thought about Anna again, allowing herself to feel that same protective energy she felt the day she and her sister were attacked by Dementors. She felt her magic inside shift, whipping up like the wind in a winter storm. But that energy only worked with her, went into the charm, and as she waved her wand the little cobra quickly surged forward, spiralling around her and producing more and more light. The light trails spread out even further, circling around herself and Anna, until the Patronus reformed as a massive snake, towering over everyone in the room.

Everyone jumped back in alarm. Some even drew their wands for protection. The only one who wasn’t afraid was Harry, who was merely grinning from ear to ear. “You’re full of surprises, Arendelle,” he said with a small laugh, “I’d love to see a Dementor go up against that.”

“Oh, it’s really fun to watch,” Anna piped up, “You know, if Dementors weren’t also terrifying.”

Elsa felt a smile growing on her face. With another wave of her wand, the giant cobra dissolved into light trails again, which dissipated as they spun around her until they reformed back into the small little cobra from earlier. With one final flick of its tongue, it disappeared completely.

“And that’s why I asked her to teach me,” Anna stated triumphantly.

Most of the other students nodded in agreement. Ginny still seemed skeptical. Hermione appeared to be struggling to hide her shock, but despite herself gave Elsa a respectful nod. Ron muttered grumpily, “It was still a snake…”

“What it is doesn’t matter,” Harry said simply, “What matters is that she can do it. And bloody amazingly, at that.” Turning to Elsa, he added, “I’d be more than happy to have your help, if you’re willing to help, that is.”

“That means no telling anyone,” Ron interjected, “Especially anyone from your House.”

“Especially Malfoy,” Ginny added with a grimace.

Elsa cast a glance at Anna. With a smile, she assured them, “I would be more than happy to outright lie to Malfoy’s face about this.”

“Then it’s settled,” Harry declared, before turning to the rest of the Army behind him, “Let’s get started.”

Within only a few minutes, the Room was positively alive with spells as students practiced what they’ve learned. Today it was the Patronus charm, and Harry had gotten right to work in teaching everyone the proper method. As he circled the room giving instruction, Elsa was assisting individuals who were having trouble.

Anna at first merely watched her older sister giving Colin Creevey some pointers. Seeing Elsa now, so confident and warm with the other students, so comfortable in her own skin, filled Anna’s heart with pride. For the first time, Anna truly felt like she had her sister back, finally free from the fear and cold Elsa had been dwelling in for years.

Anna glanced down at her wand. She remembered all that had transpired that day, all the things she and Elsa did that only reaffirmed just how much better things were between them. She remembered Elsa’s joy. She remembered her own joy. She was Elsa’s sun, and Elsa was hers.

With that, Anna took her wand and, now with more confidence than she ever had before, said proudly: “Expecto Patronum!”

From where Elsa was, her focus was initially on Colin. The younger boy was just starting to produce streaks of light from his wand, and it was starting to take form as Elsa encouraged him. But then his - and every other student’s - concentration was broken by a single, mighty roar.

All heads turned to the source of the sound, and Elsa couldn’t hold the smile on her face when she spotted Anna standing there, partially in pride and partially in shock, staring at a large, silvery lioness still attached to her wand by a few remaining tendrils of light.

“Why am I not surprised?” Ginny commented humorously.

Elsa wasted no time to rush up to Anna and envelope her in a tight hug.

“Elsa,” Anna gasped, pointing to the lion in astonishment, “I did it!”

Elsa laughed and hugged her sister harder. “I can see that,” she said, “I’m so proud of you, Anna. I knew you could do it.”

“I have you to thank,” Anna told her, wiping away a few tears in her eyes, “I really couldn’t have done it without you.”

Elsa pulled back to cast her sister a warm smile. Anna returned the expression. Anna’s Patronus then approached them to seemingly rubbing its body against Anna’s legs, purring loudly, causing the pair to break into joyous laughter.

From across the room, Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched their reaction. Harry merely grinned, feeling his heart warm upon seeing the sisters reconnecting. Ron, meanwhile, was frowning in deep thought. “Hang on,” he muttered, “So if her Patronus is a lion, and her Patronus is a snake, and she’s in Gryffindor and she’s in Slytherin, then…”

“I’m sure it’s just a coincidence, Ron,” Hermione interrupted with a sigh.

Harry chuckled to himself. Then, in the lull, he heard something that wiped the smile off his face. It was a low thud coming from one of the mirrored walls.

Thud.

That time it was louder. More students turned to look at the wall in concern.

THUD.

Dust sprinkled down from the ceiling, and one of the ancient mirrors on the wall cracked.

Suddenly, with a little puff of stone dust and glass, a small hole appeared in the wall. Harry only had time to briefly make eye contact with the vindicated person on the other side, before there was a bright flash and the whole wall exploded.

As the dust settled, everyone in the Room groaned in dismay. There on the other side was Filch, Malfoy, and his cronies, all looking very pleased with themselves. But none were quite as smug as the woman in the fluffy, pink blazer.