Chapter 16. Patronus
Hermione sat in potions, fully expecting Ron or Harry to take up the place beside her as she was certain they would be berating her with even more questions since breakfast. They were hung up on determining what exactly she remembered from the incident and making her promise to come to them the moment anything should come back to her. It was highly unlikely, though, that she would remember anything, given the severity of her coma-like state and the lack of actual awareness at the time. When someone did finally take the spot beside her, she was beyond shock to find it was Draco sodding Malfoy.
"Malfoy," Hermione hissed through gritted teeth. If she were to believe her friends' version of events, the boy standing next to her was to blame for her special treatment and missed classes.
"Granger," he retorted with a lick of humour in his tone. His confidence made her blood boil but before she could react to him, Slughorn entered the room, quickly followed by her two best friends. Harry registered her first, gripping Ron's arm tightly as the red-head took in the sight of Hermione and Draco standing beside one another. Harry held back the hot-headed boy and wrangled him into another station before class started.
They stood in silence through the lecture, but the witch was highly aware of her friend shooting glares at the pair nearly every other minute for the entire hour of Slughorn speaking. When it was finally time for them to begin brewing, Hermione couldn't help but glance up to see if Ron was still shooting daggers at her. He was.
After a while of brewing in silence and receiving death threats through the ginger's eyes, Hermione was glad Draco had decided to take up the seat beside her. Ron's continued rage with the blond may make him back off a bit, simply by association if Hermione can make it seem as though she were willing to forgive Malfoy for his hex. Swallowing her pride, she glanced over at her brewing partner and observed his technique for a few moments before she could find something to interject. When she was satisfied he'd made an error, she looked back at her own work.
"You only need to stir four times anti-clockwise before adding the peppermint, not six," Hermione criticized, finishing her four stirs and adding in the peppermint. She could feel the pureblood's eyes on her as she continued adding the ingredients to her brew but refused to meet his gaze.
"Thanks, Granger," Draco replied. "How should I fix it since I've done one extra?" His response was nearly baffling the witch and this made her finally break focus and frown up at her partner. How on earth can he be so bloody polite all of a sudden? She pondered, righting herself then adding the final bit of wormwood.
"Well, I don't exactly- I guess you could add a touch more peppermint, then the rest of your ingredients and stir it until it turns the bright yellow colour. That may right it, though it might involve more than six passes anti-clockwise at the end," Hermione offered, attempting to come up with a solution Severus would provide. When she had made a similar error in her brewing, he always recommended more peppermint, as it tended to offset side effects and relax brews some. Of course, she wasn't sure it would work in this case, she was no potions mistress and it felt like forever since she was last tutored by the expert. Her heart hurt at the thought.
"I'll give that a shot," Draco's calm and respectful demeanour was off-putting but somehow extraordinarily pleasant to experience. It was as if he had been replaced with a far more considerate wizard that was attempting to gain favour with her or make up for nearly killing her. While the former seemed like a bit of a stretch, especially since the Mad-eye plight, she was beginning to believe that perhaps Draco was using this as an opportunity to extract information from her.
Curiosity overcame her as she finished the final stir of her cauldron and began bottling the sunshine yellow solution. "Is it working?" the witch asked offhandedly, determined to focus on her own task and not allow the bully the satisfaction of her full attention.
"I believe so. Thanks again, Granger." Never once, in the entire time she had known the boy, had he ever thanked her for anything, let alone remained so civil and polite in her company. Even by the lake when he demanded to speak with her, he had been on the defensive. The defensive, she noted, her gaze suddenly shifting to Ron and Harry who were whispering frantically. It seemed as though they were worried about something, about being caught in a lie perhaps? She mused as she stepped towards Professor Slughorn with her bottle in hand.
"Well done Miss Granger, a fantastic Elixir! I dare say it would induce Euphoria in even the darkest wizard," her professor joked, but the quip only made her wince as she forced a smile to remain in his good favour. Turning on her heel, she shuddered and returned to her position to gather her items to get a head start before Arithmancy.
As she strolled through the halls up to her class on the seventh floor, her notebook clutched to her chest, she pressed herself to remember all that she could of the events by the Great Lake. I was reading the book that Severus had given me, then Ron and Harry joined me after their Quidditch game. We talked a bit, but then Draco arrived, practically storming down the snowy hill towards us. Did he have his wand out? She attempted to picture his hands as his form drew closer to her but the memory was far too blurry. What happened next? He asked to speak to me, alone. What did he want? Does it have to do with how nice he's being to me? What in Merlin's beard is going- "Oof!" She exclaimed as she walked head-on into a dense figure. The sensation was oddly familiar and as she looked up to see who it was she had stormed into, she knew why it was.
"Miss Granger," Severus sneered at her over his nose and she whimpered. There was no tenderness at that moment, his eyes were dark and unfeeling as he regarded her with disdain. Her expression twisted as she attempted to remain composed under his scrutiny, though she felt as though she was crumbling.
"I'm sorry, Professor, I was lost in thought," she reasoned, stepping back out of his shadow. Without a word, he moved past her and a wave of coolness washed over her. How can he be so cold? How can he be so- so detached? The young witch hurried to an alcove around the corner and contorted herself in it, wrapping her arms around her knees, effectively securing her notebook between her chest and thighs. Her mind swirled with the memories she'd had since she first touched Severus, how it had been the single best time of her life, and now- now she was nothing to him but an inconvenience.
It took her a moment to realise she had passed by her classroom and that it would be starting soon. Hermione purposefully removed herself from her perch and slunk to her class, finding a seat near the back. The few students that took the course filed in and took their spots, usually pairing off with their friends and leaving Hermione to herself. That was until Draco Malfoy took up the chair next to hers at the desk. "Granger," he greeted her once more, staring straight ahead at the board as Professor Vector strode into the class. Hermione wracked her brain, attempting to think back to every Arithmancy lecture she had attended before, looking for Draco's face anywhere amongst the other students. As she thought back, she noted that she could honestly not list a single student who was in the course with her off the top of her head. How can I be so oblivious? The concern occupied her thoughts until Vector began the lesson.
She flipped open her notebook, uncovering a folded-up piece of parchment that had not been there previously. Her mind instantly flashed to her run-in with Severus outside the class. He knows my schedule; did he run into me on purpose? The idea made her grin as she tucked the note in the pocket of her school robes and poised her quill for notes.
The classed passed rather quietly, and she nearly forgot the Malfoy heir had been sitting beside her when she moved to get up. He made the same motion and opened his mouth as if to speak. Hermione offered a polite grin before pushing past him and rushing to the library. Desperate to read the note, and hoping to avoid a conversation with the blond, the young witch nearly leapt down the stairs and through the halls until she reached her destination.
She found a corner of the library that was rarely visited by students, that consisted exclusively of History texts. It was her favourite part of the entire castle, as it offered her the privacy her dorm did not and the access to information she nearly always craved. Hermione could hardly count the number of hours she had spent in this exact spot on the floor reading through Hogwarts: A History, and The Beginnings of Witches and Wizards. Now, however, she was sat cross-legged and holding onto the folded parchment which she was staring at it intently. I should open it, she concluded, willing her fingers to spread open the pages, but she didn't move. Come on, Hermione, just open it! She commanded, biting down hard on her lip. But what if it's not a good letter? What if it's his way of telling you to bugger off? Hermione's pessimistic side always had a way of working its way into her decisions.
"Oh, bloody hell," she exclaimed before unfolding the parchment. Words formed before her eyes as she began reading.
Hermione,
It has been difficult for me to act so brashly around you since you woke from your nights in the hospital wing. I have so many things I want to tell you, to discuss with you. Had it not been for Miss Brown, I supposed our conversations would have been done over tea. Unfortunately, these are the circumstances we have been given, so I must find other means of contacting you.
The room of requirements is undetectable, even by the Headmaster. I will be there at midnight tonight, waiting for you. I hope what I have to say will make this easier for the both of us.
If you do not show, I will understand. Whether it be on purpose or due to meddling witches and wizards, I will understand.
Yours,
SS
Her heart fluttered as she read. She wanted to look over it once more but before she could manage the first sentence again, the parchment burst into heatless flames in her grasp and disintegrated before her. Of course, he would have it charmed to destruct after being read, she reasoned, though it upset her, all the same, she wasn't allotted the time to reread his penmanship.
With a grin she felt seeping deep into her soul as all of her worries faded, Hermione stood up and made for the exit. She wasn't sure she was hungry exactly, her stomach felt like it was filled with butterflies, but she knew her presence was expected in the great hall by her friends. Just before she rounded the corner to the exit, Draco appeared in front of her and made her jump back. She exhaled as he looked at her with kinder eyes than she'd ever seen him project before and hugged her books to her chest. "Malfoy, what do you want?" She demanded, more annoyed than anything. When he took a breath to speak but hesitated, the witch rolled her eyes and pushed past him but he caught her arm and gently tugged her back. A quick flash flooded her mind of him casting Petrificus Totalus in a haste before the curse slammed into her, sending her flying back into the lake. She shivered as she recalled the sensation of the deathly cold body of water enveloping her, but she brushed it off and held strong in front of the blond.
"I need to tell you something, Hermione, please. Listen to me." He begged. She turned around and dropped her shoulders, holding his eyes, ready to run at the first sign of trouble. He faltered for a moment, looking at her in shock that she had actually stopped to listen to him. Once he had composed himself, he inhaled sharply and narrowed his gaze. "Hermione. I know I've been invading your space lately, I wanted to talk to you and I couldn't figure out what to say or how to say it." He seemed to be stumbling over what to voice, making Hermione lower her defences to listen more carefully. "I- I still don't but I want you to know I had no intention of throwing you into the lake. Potter and Weasley drew their wands at me, Weasley sent a hex, and so I fought back. He moved at the last second and suddenly you were there behind him. I wanted them to stop, I tried to get to you faster but they wouldn't listen. The minute they did, I dove in to get you."
The witch took a sharp inhale at the confession. As far as she knew, Draco had been the one to start the fight and Ron had been the one to rescue her. There were inconsistencies in her friends' story and she had always had an odd feeling when Ronald gloated about it, but she dismissed the idea every time. She recalled how intent they'd been on getting down to what she remembered, making sure they were the first to hear of it if there were any developments. The notion that her best friend had rescued her was completely plausible, but somehow Draco being her saviour felt far closer to the complete truth.
"I believe you, Draco, and thank you for rescuing me." Her words seemed to send a wave of relief over the boy in front of her as he released her arm from his gentle grasp. He took a step closer and instinctively she moved back. "Draco," she started in a warning tone, which made him back off a bit. "I have to go to lunch, but-" swallowing, she glanced around the library for any gossips. "Do you want to sit next to me in Arithmancy again next week?" Her voice lowered as her mind flashed to the note from Severus. Maybe I can use Draco as an excuse to see him. They are both Slytherin, I could work something out, she mused as she watched Malfoy apprehensively.
"That sounds brilliant, Granger," he said, a smirk playing on his lips. "I'll see you, after lunch." With that, the boy disappeared from her sight. The witch paused for a moment, thinking over the scenario that had just transpired. Am I friends with Draco?
-x-
Hermione had gotten to her Defence class early, finding a spot near the front, knowing she would likely eventually be joined by the boys. They had spent the lunch hour bragging of their heroism, and how horrible Draco is. How he was the youngest Death Eater known and he would have likely killed one of them had they not stopped the fight to save Hermione. Of course, this differed from their previous recount of the event, where Harry continued fighting off Draco while Ron went in to get their friend. Details seemed to shift, and she hoped that she wasn't the only one who noticed as she examined Ginny and Neville's faces for any sign of doubt, of which there was no outward sign.
She was glad to be alone for a moment in the classroom, flipping through the notes she had made from the readings. Students began filing in, and sure enough, Harry and Ron took the bench spaces on either side of her. "Glad you're alive, 'mione," Ron teased, making Harry laugh as he pulled out his materials. Hermione managed a smile, turning to the red-head.
"Thank you for risking your life for mine Ron, truly, I'm indebted to you," she taunted, masking her sarcasm as best she could. Unfortunately, she perhaps didn't do it well enough as Ron held a bit of panic behind his eyes as he grinned at her wearily. Flashing the most genuine grin she could muster at that moment, she turned to Harry. "And you too Harry, I'm sure Ron would have had a difficult time rescuing me had you not been fending off, Malfoy." Hermione watched as Harry attempted to remember the version of events he'd recounted at lunch, his eyes flicking down. Before he could respond, however, a Hufflepuff behind them began whispering rather loudly to their partner.
She only caught snippets of it over the sound of all the other students muttering, but she swore she heard her name. "Malfoy hexed her because she cheated on him," one girl muttered, loud enough that it made her blood boil but she remained seated. "He was sitting with her in classes to make up for it," the girl continued her theory.
"I can't believe she'd stoop that low," the friend retorted, forcing Hermione to physically bite her tongue to keep from snapping her neck around to glare at the gossips. "Sleeping with a professor and now this?" Clenching her fists, the brunette moved to stand but the sound of the classroom door swinging open with a bang silenced the entire room. Seething, she glanced back to watch Severus make his way to the front of the class. He was late, which was highly unusual for the stern professor, and something told her the reason wasn't one she would particularly enjoy.
"Can anyone tell me which spell can fend off a dementor?" He commanded, spinning around to face his students. A hush muted the underlying whispers, and he assessed the crowd with his typical sneer. Hermione dared to shoot her hand into the air despite the rumours still puttering through the school. After a moment, when he was obviously satisfied that no one else would be answering, he turned to face her and hissed, "Miss Granger?" Her face felt hot as she cleared her throat to answer.
"Expecto Patronum, the Patronus charm," she stated simply, holding back any further explanation, hoping that her lack of know-it-all conduct would allow her some peace from the gossipers. Unfortunately, this only seemed to egg her classmates on who once again began to whisper, making her sink into her seat. She felt Harry reach out and grab her hand where it was holding the bench with white knuckles. The brunette relaxed a bit at the touch, as Severus began a slow pace at the front of the room.
"That is correct Miss Granger. Ten points to Gryffindor, and 50 points from Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw." Silence once again fell over the room and the arm of a Ravenclaw quickly shot up to Hermione's left.
"50 points between us or each?" She demanded, the black-haired witch frowning intently at her professor. Hermione, too, was shocked at the amount that he had doled out as punishment, for the gossiping, she mused, glancing about. A part of her was thankful for the fear that Severus had instilled in the group, but she was equally worried that they would take this as a bit of favouritism and only fuel the slander against her name.
"That depends on your answer to the next question," he strode to one side of the room, his voice as stern as ever. "Tell me, Miss Pendragon, what is it that powers the Patronus charm?" Hermione noted how simple the question was, but also how vague it could be. There was plenty of room for interpretation as was evident by the Ravenclaw's answer.
"A wand, of course." She snickered, bumping into her friend's shoulder who shook her head back at the girl in disappointment. Happy memories, Hermione thought her answer, not confident enough to interject in the lesson he was attempting to instil in the chattering youth. She knew the punishment was his way of making it up to her, but she understood that it was she that had making-up to do. Had she not insisted on a defence lesson for non-verbals, perhaps they would not have been seen in the hallway and there would have been no gossip. If she had not angered Lavender by merely existing in Ron's presence, perhaps the blonde would not have had quite the vendetta against her.
"While indeed one needs a wand to conjure the charm, the Patronus charm is powered by the happiest of memories of the individual casting it." He pursed his lips and paced slowly at that front of the class. Hermione's mind began to wander to her happiest memory. She shuffled through a few from her childhood but landed on the moment Severus pulled her into that kiss in his office. How safe she was, how totally and completely elated she was with her fingers tangled in his hair. Her breathing felt heavy as she journeyed through the memory, and only snapped back to attention when Snape's volume increased slightly. "Without that, the charm is ineffective." Severus seemed to be eyeing her, but perhaps she was just imagining the thing she hoped to have been happening. Flicking her gaze away from her professor, Hermione noted the blush that crept up the cheeks of the young witch who had answered. "25 points from each house, be grateful I gave you a partial benefit, Miss Pendragon. Gossip is a waste of breath, I will not have it in my classroom," Snape finished with a hiss. Hermione smirked inwardly, knowing she would have to thank him later.
"Now, I want you to pair off and practice casting the charm. You need to be able to summon your happiest memories in even the darkest of situations, so I will pair you off with someone from another House," Snape commanded. Hermione's heart jumped into her throat as she swallowed heavily. The last thing she needed at that moment was to be paired off with someone who would tease her about what her happiest memory was. Given, they would be correct to assume it was snogging her professor, but they did not need to see that fear in her eyes. He listed off a few names, Harry was paired off with Hillary Pendragon, and Ron was with Vincent Crabbe, which made Hermione chuckle inwardly. She snapped back to attention when her name fell from Snape's lips, "Hermione Granger, with..." He paused for a moment as if considering her options, "Draco Malfoy."
Whispers arose from all corners of the room, pairs that would never have been friends in any other circumstance opening their mouths to speak to one another about the choice. Of course, it was well known that Draco had been the one to put her in the hospital wing for the weekend, so she understood why there would be some chatter as she took her place beside the blond who appeared to be as shocked as she was. Looking up at him, he refused to give her the satisfaction of meeting her gaze and offering nothing but a twitch of a grin from the corner of his mouth. Refocusing on the Snape as he finished off the pairings, she centred her breathing and clutched her wand tightly.
"So, Granger, what is your happiest memory?" Draco asked when everyone had been paired off. She hoped that, at least with Malfoy, the fear in her eyes would be construed as a general fear attached to certain historical events and not as an admission of guilt. Her pause lingered as she came up with a suitable replacement for her encounter with Severus.
"Receiving my letter to Hogwarts, I was thrilled to find out the reason I didn't quite fit in at primary school," she explained. It wasn't a lie since that had been the favourite memory she used when casting the charm, the previous year with Dumbledore's Arm. However, Hermione recognised the difference in the emotions evoked by the memory compared to that of her more recent happiness. "And yours?"
A smirk pulled at his cheek as if he were thinking of a particularly enjoyable memory that he absolutely would not, and should not, share with Hermione. "When I was sorted into Slytherin. I was proud to follow in the footsteps of my father," he lied. She could tell by the way his eyes darted back and forth on her face. That, and the sneaky expression he had sported before held a secret behind it that was not nearly as obvious as what house one was sorted into. She took a moment to study his face, the contour of his jawline and the piercing nature of his blue eyes. Catching herself taking too much time on the topic, she glanced away.
"Being sorted into Gryffindor was a pretty proud moment for me too," she concurred, tucking her hair behind her ears and stepping back from him. "Shall we?" With a nod, Draco poised himself to cast the charm. She watched as he furrowed his brow, obviously focusing hard on the memory before eloquently speaking, "Expecto Patronum," in an even tone. A string of silver inched out of the tip of his wand, dancing for a moment before faltering and disappearing. Draco's obvious disappointment in not being able to produce the Patronus on his first go was displayed clearly in his expression. Hermione reached out and touched his hand instinctively to comfort him.
"I didn't get it the first time either, I had to search for the right memory, it takes a while sometimes," she consoled, retreating her fingers and centring herself. Her thoughts latched on to the sensation of Severus holding her close to him, lifting her up as they held an embrace more passionate and loving than any she'd experienced before. "Expecto Patronum," she asserted with a flick of her wand. The silvery glow extended from her wand, her otter prancing around her and over to Draco who seemed genuinely shocked at first, stumbling back a bit. He cracked a smile though, as the otter skittered back to her and guided her in a twirl. She laughed at the playful nature of her Patronus, before looking back to see Draco grinning fondly at her.
A blush echoed her self-consciousness, but she couldn't wipe the smile from her face as she looked at him in her periphery. "Let me try again," Draco declared, setting himself up once more and repeated the incantation. She watched as a determined string of silver and blue light entered the area before him, it took a moment, shaping itself into a creature, but as she expected it to fade away once more, an animal formed between them. A cat.
The witch attempted to hold in a laugh as the animal circled Draco, nudging up against his leg, climbing his side and perching on the wizard's shoulder. The sight of the fierce and temperamental Draco Malfoy questioning his feline Patronus made it impossible to hold in her giggles any longer, finally caving and letting out a bout of hysterics. Its eyes flicked to Hermione and let out a sharp hiss, sending her back as she calmed herself. Draco's smirk remained on his face as he stood confidently by his pet.
"A tortoiseshell cat, I wouldn't wonder, Malfoy." The commanding voice of Severus Snape made Hermione spin around to face his presence. "Chatty, strong-willed, and hot-tempered. Fiercely loyal and one of the prettiest breeds in the feline family. Yes, I daresay there isn't a better match in the world of patronuses than that for you." The older wizard turned to walk away, but not before sending Hermione a knowing glance. Guilt suddenly weighed on her shoulders, as if enjoying her time with Draco was a betrayal to her budding love for Severus. She swallowed the lump in her throat and turned back to the ever-confident blond beside her.
"Shall I go again?" She offered with a shrug, "It's good practice."
A/N Super non-canon to have the students learning the Patronus charm, and even more so by allowing Draco to procure one! I hope you liked my choice for him, I felt it was rather appropriate. The description is from MuggleNet which has a list of all the patronuses from Pottermore and their meanings if you want to check it out!