Written for the Dramione Last Drabble Writer Standing Competition - Constellations Theme
Week 2: Pavo - Peacock

"This is an outrage! I will not be mocked!" Lucius shouted as he stormed into the Conservatory. He marched past the seating area where Hermione and Draco were having tea without another word and slammed the door behind him on his way back into the Manor.

Hermione looked over at Draco and raised an eyebrow.

"What do you suppose all that was about?" she asked before taking a bite out of her crumpet and chewing thoughtfully.

"I have no idea, but I think we're about to find out," Draco replied, gesturing to the door where his mother and Harry were making their way inside from the garden.

The first thing she noticed when she glanced over at them was that Narcissa was laughing so hard she had tears rolling down her cheeks. Slightly alarmed, she stood up and made her way over to her Mother-in-law to offer her an arm.

"Are you quite alright? Can I get you something?" she asked the older woman, bewildered.

Narcissa looked over at Harry, which did nothing but renew her fit of giggles. His answering snigger did little to set Hermione at ease. She led the woman over to a chair and set to work making her tea. Narcissa took a deep breath and calmed somewhat.

"Everything is just fine, darling," she soothed. "Circe, I haven't laughed like that in years."

"Would you care to share what exactly is so funny, Mother dearest?" Draco asked.

His mother turned to Harry again and quickly pressed her lips into a straight line, her shoulders shaking slightly. Harry clapped a hand over his mouth in a misguided attempt to contain his own laughter.

"Has the whole world gone mad!" Hermione exclaimed, turning to her husband. He, rather unhelpfully, shrugged at her in response.

"I can do this," Harry muttered, taking a slow breath. "Do you know why I've been visiting every Saturday for the past few weeks?"

Hermione shook her head just as Draco nodded. She looked over at him questioningly.

"Potter has been helping my parents learn to cast a spell that has eluded them until now," Draco told her softly. "Father wouldn't hear of asking for your help, instead. He was embarrassed."

"He should know better than to worry I would judge him. He certainly has changed quite a lot in the past decade," she replied. "Has he not been successful, then?"

"The good news-" Harry answered quickly, "-is that he finally managed to cast a corporeal Patronus for the first time, just moments ago."

"That's wonderful!" Hermione declared. "But why in Merlin's name was he so angry when he came in? And what is so funny?"

"It is generally accepted that a Patronus is a good representation of your inner self, is it not?" Narcissa inquired with a mischievous smile.

"That is what the current research suggests, yes," she answered haltingly.

Harry grinned at her.

"His Patronus is a peacock!" he rushed out, setting them all laughing again.

Hermione couldn't help but join in.