She watched him, sitting quietly in the corner, a book in front of him, lost in his imagination. She willed him to look up, to notice her. They were kindred spirits, him and she. Every day she saw him in the library. They were both lonely lovers of books, seeking the fulfilment of magical stories, the wholeness of the perfect tale to fall in love with, the perfect character to obsess over.
She approached. ‘We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided..’
‘Harry Potter sucks.’ He got up and left.
Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
I never got Harry Potter, or the obsession with it, but many continue to love it! The girl’s greeting is a quote from the books. Expecto Patronum is a spell that uses a happy memory to conjure something positive. Or something.
Iain Kelly 
85 responses to “EXPECTO PATRONUM”
Nice one, Iain. The character she had created in her mind was not quite the one that existed in his body
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A similar delusion I suffer from in life often too.
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Not a fan of HP!?😱
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I know, there are some who don’t enjoy it out there! 😉
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Bad taste. It means that they weren’t suited at all.
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Dear Iain,
Things aren’t always what they seem, are they? Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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HaHaHa! Unexpected and hilarious!
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Thank you 😊
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What? How can you not? I tease. To each his own. She needs to find another kindred spirit…
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Maybe the library isnt the best place to look for love in real life! Thanks Dale.
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Hey… ya never know… 😉
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Hari OM
LOL – nice one! I did, eventually, get around to reading them all, but as a devotee of both Tolkein and Pratchett, I found so much that was ’emulative’ (that is being gentle) about the first book I nearly didn’t persevere. YAM xx
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I confess to not reading the books beyond trying the first one. The films I saw I didn’t enjoy. Just not for me, and I too am a massive Pratchett fan 🙂
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Potterheads are not always recognizable at first glance. Time for her to wander out of the Chidren’s library….
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They should have a special symbol to easily identify each other 🙂
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😆😆🤓
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I read the first book and was not lured to the second. I love the way you ended your story 🙂
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Thanks Linda
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A classic case of imagination writing checks that reality can’t cash. Wonderful storytelling in just a few words.
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Thanks so much 🙂
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You’re welcome 🙂
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All I can say is that at least she wasn’t reading Twilight!! lol. She’ll find the right book nerd some day.
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Ha, another series that was lost on me!
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I’m not a fan either!
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It certainly seems to divide.
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Libraries are such interesting places. So much can be found, so much decided. Well done, Iain.
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Thanks Bill
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Oh how could he!!!
He could have just said bye or not interested…
Tragic
(I think HP deserves that hype. Especially the books. And especially if you are on of those (like me) who grew up reading these books!)
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Lol, it certainly seems to be a childhood memory for many, perhaps I was just too old when they first appeared.
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But have you actually read the books anytime or were you not able to get through the books?
It is very in the fantasy genre!
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I tried the first one once. Just not interested, never made it to the end. Not a patch on Terry Pratchett’s Discworld.
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Oh no
Oh, what’s that about?
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Oh, you need to read Pratchett if you like fantasy. I will leave it for you to investigate and discover.
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I’ll add it to my to read list! Thank you!
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Okay, so I just searched for his books.. and all of them seem like a big part of the series Discworld!
Do I have to read them in order or can I jump in anywhere?
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Either works. I would read in order, and they get better as they go along.
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Okay! I’ll do that 🙂
Thanks!
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Thank goodness she found out before wasting any time with someone so unsuitable!
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Better to know sooner! 🙂
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You built the anticipation nicely, and then punctured my lovely romantic balloon, making me grin. Nice story, Iain
PS I don’t ‘get’ Harry Potter either, although it’s done a massive amount to bring kids to be avid readers.
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It certainly has done good in that way. Glad you enjoyed Penny.
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A memorable little tale! Thank you!
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Thanks so much!
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A memorable, little tale. Thanks!
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Oh dear, perhaps she should have quoted something from 50 Shades of Grey!
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Now that’s a different story, as they say!
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Love Love Love Haryy Potter!!!!
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He was definitely not for you then!
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I am a big fan of HP.. so I can feel girl’s disappointment. I like the the story. Nicely done
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Thank you!
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I was too old really to appreciate Harry Potter, though I read all but the last two books. My era was Enid Blyton!!
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Now there is a good children’s author 😀
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I can relate to that.
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😉
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We don’t always get what we want. A most enjoyable read, Iain. I liked it very much.
Isadora 😎
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Thank you 😊
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And she learned never to judge a book by its cover. Love the ending. (Also the beginning.)
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Thank you! 😊
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Poor thing! Her bubble was burst. He wasn’t what she imagined him to be. Has happened to me a time or two. Well done!
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People rarely live up to imagined expectations! Thanks Brenda
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Ah, things not jelling one bit with this pair then. Perhaps like your MC – and definitely like some others here – I can’t compare JK’s work with the glorious other-worldly imagination of Pratchett.
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Thanks Jilly
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i could never read more than ten pages of any HP. for me Alice in wonderland is the wonder book
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An excellent choice 😀
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Looks like that was exactly the wrong quote with which to woo him 🙂
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Or exactly the right quote to rule him out as an acceptable friend! Thanks
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what a turn down. i didn’t expect it.
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No happy ending this week.
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So she’ll be more careful about judging people by what she’s longing to find. I’ve had my life nearly ruined so many times by someone imposing their expectations on me that I’m afraid I have no sympathy for her. On the other hand, he really didn’t need to be so rude about it, so she’s better off. Very thought-provoking, especially judging by some of the reactions you got.
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It was intended as humorous rather than a thought-provoker, but yes, it has provoked some interesting replies, depending on which side of the Potter debate you sit on!
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It’s interesting that rather than laughing, so many of us had memories of misguided expectations or disappointment. You struck a nerve, I think, without meaning to. But yes, a lot of the disappointments were related to friends and loved ones who just don’t get HP! 😀
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My daughter read Harry Potter and my son didn’t but enjoyed having them read to him by his Dad doing various voices. I think they’re a good read but suffer from hype – they are only books!!! These two library loners might just have got on if they’d got past the books!
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Yes, I agree, I think the over hype is part of the problem, and a fanatical fan base that won’t see past some flaws or that other books exist out there that might be better!
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Ah, apparently shared interest does not always a good enough glue make… 🙂
Well penned! 🙂
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Thank you, sometimes a shared interest can lead to conflict!
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Ouch! Her heart broken in a single moment. Well done. So he wasn’t quite as perfect as she’d imagined
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Few people ever are!
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That was fun. Poor kid though, and she went to so much trouble to pick out a good quote.
I used to be a huge HP fan, but didn’t like the later books. There’s a lot of fun and imagination in there, but also bullying, prejudice and classism of an unexpected kind. And the conclusion was simply awful, IMO.
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You can’t judge a book by its… Hmm…
I found Harry Potter entertaining, but not obsession-worthy. Outside Tolkien and Martin, I’m not a big fan of fantasy and magic.
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Haha. I have definitely been there with human interaction. Well, okay, then. Thanks for a fun read.
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Harry Potter has never appealed to me either. Maybe someday very soon each will find an available bookworm with truly compatible tastes
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Wouldn’t that be nice!
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Poor girl! So much for the dream in her head. Stupid guys ruin it all the time! 😉
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Stupid guys ruin everything! 😉
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😄😄
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