Expecto Patronum

Relationships: Draco/Hermione

Description: In the middle of sixth year, Draco changed sides in the war and joined the Order. He's been hiding out at Grimmaulds Place during the breaks but today, Draco and Hermione are alone in the old Black residence with nothing to do.

********

Draco was wandering through Number 12 Grimmaulds Place on the way to the room with the tapestry of the Black Family Tree. He liked to see the few family he had left, even though he can't see them in person. He did this often when he was bored or having a particularly bad day. Today, it was both of those things.

He was stuck in this ghastly place alone with Hermione Granger.

It wasn't as if he had a problem with the girl or that he hated her, in fact he enjoyed her company on accusations. In fact, Hermione had been one of the first to accept him and give him a second chance. However, he's never been alone with her before and he was nervous.

He never really noticed before but every other time they've interacted, there was always someone else there. Whether it be Order members, students, the rest of the golden trio, or hell even his fellow Slytherins. There was always someone, until today.

So Draco chose to sit on the floor of the room and wonder what it would be like to have gotten to know his uncle Sirius Black. From how fondly everyone else talked about him, Draco believed him and Sirius would've gotten along. And the one time they did interact, it made Draco wish they could've gotten closer.

They were alike in so many ways, ways neither of them even knew about. They carried very similar baggage from their family, they both eventually abandoned what they were raised to believe, and had similar upbringings. They were both loyal, both willing to die for those they loved and both big pains in everyone else's arse.

Then there was Draco's aunt Andromeda. While he has met and gotten along well with Nymphadora, Andromeda is the closest connection he has to his mother. He had to leave her and as far as Narcissa knows, Draco is or as good as dead.

Before he could wonder about what ifs any longer, he heard the door creak open. Draco didn't turn to see who entered though, there was only one person it could be.

Sure enough, Hermione Granger gently sat next to him on the floor. She noticed where his gaze was and smiled fondly as she went over her own memories with the Black in Gryffindor.

"He liked you, you know," Hermione said softly. Draco looked at her then with curiosity and she continued, "Sirius, he talked about you before he died."

"He-he did?" Draco asked surprised.

She nodded, "he wanted to reach out to you but he was so nervous to that he pushed it off until it was too late," she explained.

He felt a little better about this news but then he felt his heart sink. "So, if he hadn't dueled Bellatrix," he said her name with distaste, he's never liked that woman and he refused to ever call her 'Aunt Bella' again. "Then we could've gotten closer?" He asked, knowing the answer.

"Probably, but a wise man once said that it doesn't do well to dwell on dreams and forget to live. How about we go get some breakfast? I think Kreature made some food," Hermione suggested.

"I wouldn't really trust what that crazy elf makes but ok," Draco shrugged. The brunette glared at him as he knew how hard she tried to defend Kreature, but he saw how she tried not to laugh.

Then the two 16 year olds got up off of the floor and made their way into the kitchen. Just as Hermione had said, Kreature just finished putting food onto the table. As the the two of them sat down at the table, Kreature was muttering about mudbloods and blood traitors staying in 'The Noble House of Black' as he left the room.

"Definitely don't trust the food," Draco said as he pushed a plate away from him.

"Oh stop whining," Hermione said before casting a spell to test if there's food poisoning or a spell.

He raised his eyebrows at her and she nodded without looking at him. "Yes, it's safe," she confirmed before making herself a plate full of food so he followed her lead.

They then ate in silence. It wasn't a awkward silence like both of them had anticipated though, more of a comfortable one. They seemed to just be enjoying each other's company.

Right before Draco was about to start up come sort of conversation, preferably their usual banter, a patronus burst into the room. It was a wolf patronus, so that meant it either belong to Nymphadora Tonks or Remus Lupin. As soon as it spoke, there was no doubt who though.

"This is sooooooo boring," Tonks' voice drawled from the wolf's mouth. "Anyways, I was told to tell both of you there's been a delay and we won't be back for a few more hours, lucky us," the wolf informed the two teenagers before disappearing.

Draco had become used to seeing patronus' every now and then, after all he was living at the Order's headquarters. But he's never been able to conjure one himself. It's not for the lack of trying, he's even practiced for hours in private before coming to the conclusion he simply can't do it. He wasn't sure if it was because no one's really taught it to him or if he just didn't have any memories happy enough.

So as he watched Hermione cast her own patronus and speak into it, he couldn't help himself.

"How do you do that?" He asked as the transparent otter ran off do its job.

"Send messages?" She asked confused.

"No, I mean how do you..cast..a patronus," he clarified feeling insecure.

"You've never cast one before?" Hermione asked with wide eyes and he shook his head. "Well then we'll have to change that," she added determinedly, "are you finished?" She asked gesturing to his plate.

"Yes," he answered.

"Good," she responded before taking both of their plates and putting them in the sink before starting out of the room. "Come on then," she said after seeing him still sitting there.

Draco complied and followed her throughout the old house until even he didn't know where they were going. There were so many twists and turns in this huge house that was unfamiliar to him even after living here with nothing to do but wander.

Eventually they came across a room that apparently Hermione had been looking for. She opened the door and went inside with Draco on her tail, closing the door behind him. When he turned around he inspected the room.

It was dark, gloomy, big, and didn't have much light to see but Draco could tell that it was someone's bedroom, or was at least. It was oddly empty though, there was a dresser, a bed, and a nightstand with 2 pictures but that was all. Once his eyes adjusted to the lighting, he saw that the room was decorated in black and dark green with the occasional silver.

Slytherin colors.

"It was Regulus Black's bedroom," Hermione told him once she saw his confused look.

"As in Sirius' brother?" He asked finding the name familiar.

"Yes, I discovered this room awhile back and thought it'll be perfect considering how much room it has," she explained.

"Yeah, it'll work," he agreed.

"Alright let's get to it then," Hermione said with a smile before taking out her wand and indicating his to do the same.

"As you probably know, a patronus is-" Hermione began to explain to him, she went on and on but he couldn't focus on what she was saying.

Of course, he already knows just about all there is to know about the patronus charm. Hermione might be ahead of him grade wise but when Draco set his mind to something, he was very thorough. So he just focused on her, how she was so passionate and excited to teach him something she knew.

He supposed she wasn't used to it, having someone interested in what she learned. Not that Draco still had a grudge on Harry or Weasley for it. After all, he still wasn't listening to her, but Draco was at least putting in the effort to pretend.

He still didn't like Ron, but not because he was poor or anything of the like, Draco's gotten over that. He didn't like him because of how he took everyone he has for granted. But that's getting off topic.

"Now to perform the spell, you need to focus on a memory. The happiest you can think of, focus only on that memory and when you're ready, recite the incantation expecto patronum," she instructed.

"Alright," Draco sighed thinking this is useless as it's never worked before.

So he searches his mind for a happy memory. For Draco those are in fairly short supply, so he thought and thought until he decided on the memory of when he first rode a broom. His favorite house elf was teaching him as Lucius refused and Narcissa didn't know how so she was encouraging him.

Draco had done well for his age and it being his first time, but it did end with his face in the mud. This didn't deter him however, because he got back on not even an hour later even though his mother didn't want him to go back on it so soon. He was glad he did though, flying has become a big part of him as was Quiddage which was why he used to be so jealous when Harry beat him.

"Expecto patronum!" Draco recited while his focus was on the memory. Just as he suspected, there was a small wisp of light from his wand then it was gone.

"Here maybe I can tell you what memory I use?" Hermione suggested. He looked up at her intrigued and she continued.

"The memory I use is the day I found out I was a witch. I never fit in in any of the muggle schools my parents put me in so this was a fresh start, besides who wouldn't be excited about being able to use magic? Anyways my parents were thrilled, they took me to the library to research and took me out to dinner at the end of the day," Hermione explained with a sad smile.

"That sounds wonderful, I'm sorry I had to ruin it for you," Draco said feeling heavy with guilt.

"Oh don't give yourself so much credit, in the beginning Ron was a bigger swot to me than you were," she said with a wave of her hand.

He nodded before racking his brain to find a memory near as happy as he could imagine little Hermione being in hers. He searched and searched until he decided to start looking at more recent memories.

He decided on the moment he decided to change sides. The moment he sought out Hermione Granger to make it official, to completely change his life. After he had explained himself and his situation she had been slightly wary but nonetheless accepted it. She took him to Dumbledore and he switched sides.

"Expecto patronum," he tried again with more confidence then before. There was a larger whiff of white light coming from his wand than ever before...but there was no patronus.

That was when I hit him.

That moment didn't work because he wasn't happy when it happened. He was scared, intimidated, and he hated leaving himself so vulnerable. No, Draco now realized what memory he needed to focus on. He could hear Hermione saying something but he was focusing with all his might on a different memory.

This one was the memory of when Hermione Granger finally gave him a second chance.

It was right after his second official Order mission, they had stopped Death Eaters from raiding Diagon Alley. During the battle, he had saved her from being captured by a few nasty Death Eaters. After the battle was over she pulled him aside and told him that she believed he had changed and she wanted to give him a second chance.

They then 'introduced' themselves to each other and shook hands. That was the moment Draco Malfoy had discovered that he was in love with Hermione Granger.

"Expecto patronum," he said just above a whisper.

His eyes were still closed in concentration and he half way didn't want to open them again in fear of another failure.

He noticed that Hermione had stopped talking and then felt a tap on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and nearly fell to the ground in relief and excitement.

There, flying across the room, was a dragon patronus.

Draco looked at Hermione then with a bright smile. "It was you," he said in wonder, "it was always you." He told her earning a confused look from the brunette but that didn't matter to him.

Before either had time to react, he kissed her.