"You know how to cast a corporeal Patronus."

The bizarre question — which, actually, sounded more like a statement now that she thought about it — took Astoria Greengrass by surprise. She glanced up to see Draco Malfoy standing on the other side of the desk she was seated in front of.

If he had approached her out of the blue like this last year, Astoria would've thought it odd. Though the two attended the same school, and her sister was in his house and year, the pair rarely interacted prior to this year. After all, she was a Ravenclaw sixth year, and he was a Slytherin eighth year, so there wasn't any reason for the two to interact. There was never animosity between them, but there certainly wasn't friendliness either.

This year, though, they've become somewhat friends.

She didn't know exactly how it happened — just like you can't pinpoint the exact moment summer turns into autumn. One moment, you're feeling sticky beads of sweat drip down your sunburned back, and the next, you're hearing the crunch of dead leaves under your boots. That's kind of how her friendship with Malfoy started, and how it's going now too, for that matter.

Despite her reservations, at some point over the course of their friendship — another moment she can't quite pinpoint — Astoria developed a small crush. And she wasn't sure why either.

He was the youngest ever Death Eater. His popularity in school had all but diminished with Zabini being the only one out of his former friend group still interacting with him. He wasn't known as particularly kind or noble. Her sister Daphne told her repeatedly that he was nothing but trouble, and that it would be best if she kept her distance.

But Astoria was the firmest believer in second chances. After all, it wasn't for Luna Lovegood taking a chance on her by inviting her to the DA meetings during her third year, Astoria might've still been a Blood Purist. So when she saw Malfoy eating alone over at the Slytherin table, she wordlessly picked up her tray and moved from the Ravenclaw table to the Slytherin one.

Her sister still looked horrified whenever she saw Astoria with Draco, but over the months, she's grown to accept their friendship/one-sided crush.

"Yes, Draco," said Astoria, answering his statement-question, "I can, in fact, cast a corporeal Patronus."

Draco looked at her in disbelief, his face growing pinched. He took a seat across the table from her. "How."

"Is that a statement or question?" Astoria asked, "Because you've asked me two things that should be considered questions, but you've said them like they're statements."

"Does it matter?"

"I suppose not. But I am curious."

"Fine. A question: how?"

Astoria smirked. "Come now, Draco, Slytherins are supposed to be the second only to Ravenclaw in intelligence, correct? How do you think I learned how to cast a corporeal Patronus?"

Draco looked impatient. "Your DA meetings," he said, "You learned from your DA meetings. Also, might I add that Dumbledore's Army is the stupidest name I've ever heard. I never understood why everyone at this school idolized him."

She looked amused. "I just think you hold a great disdain for anything relating to Potter." He couldn't deny the accusation, so he instead took to fiddling with his wand. "Either way, enough talk of Dumbledore and Potter,—"

"Couldn't agree more," he muttered.

"—What's the reason behind your sudden interest in my Patronus?" Astoria asked, raising a brow. Draco looked embarrassed - like this conversation was a blow to his ego. Astoria had to admit she was rather enjoying it. "Come on, Draco, out with it."

"Teach me," he said quickly, spewing it out. He met her eyes. "And that was a statement, not a question, by the way."

Astoria nodded her understanding. "I can try," she offered, "But you do realize that casting a Patronus — especially a corporeal one — is extraordinarily difficult, right? Even though Neville was one of our DA leaders, he could barely cast a non-corporeal Patronus. It took me almost an entire year before I could cast mine, and I'm not even that great at it."

"Let me at least try," he said firmly, pulling out his wand from his robe.

"Okay," said Astoria, pulling her own wand from her pocket. "Essentially, you think of the happiest memory you can imagine, and say the words Expecto Patronum whilst flicking your wand like so," she paused to flick her wand as a demonstration, "It sounds simple enough, but the problem is, most people overthink it. They can't decide on which happy memory to use or don't believe the memory they're using is in fact their happiest, therefore it doesn't work. Ginny said the trick was convincing yourself that the memory you picked is your happiest."

Draco scowled. "Well, I'm sort of limited on happy memories to use."

"Oh, don't tell me you haven't got at least one memory you can convince yourself is the happiest?" Astoria said, a smile tugging at her lips, "What about the day you got your wand?"

Draco shook his head sharply. "Ollivander was the one who sold me my wand," he said, scowling deeper. When Astoria stared at him blankly, he continued through gritted teeth, "Ollivander was later held captive in the cellar of my house, so whenever I think of the day I got my wand, I think of that."

"Fine, then what about your first day at Hogwarts?"

He shook his head again. "The first day at Hogwarts, that Muggle Studies Teacher gave me a lolly," said Draco, "Last year, Voldemort had her killed and fed to Nagini. Over my family's dinner table. So whenever I think of my first day at Hogwarts, I think of that."

Astoria sighed. "See, that's your problem," she explained, "You're overthinking things."

"Then simplify it for me," Draco said, exasperated. "It's not that easy for all of us to just forget about the bad things and only remember the good."

"I never said it as easy to learn to cast Patronuses — I said the exact opposite actually," Astoria said patiently, "I also never said for you to forget the bad things. What you need to do is focus on the good, and learn from instead of dwelling on the bad."

Draco's expression softened, and brief silence stretched between the two. "Sorry for being short with you," he said after a moment. "I guess I was just annoyed that I don't have any powerfully happy memories."

Astoria was then struck by an idea.

"Then let's make one," she said, smiling a little. "Make a memory for you. For the both of us."

"How?" Smirking a little, he added, "That was a question, not a statement, by the way."

"Yes, I gathered," she said, her smile widening. "And, to answer your question, like this."

Before she could chicken out, she moved so that her face was an inch away from his, their lips almost touching. She hesitated for a moment, glancing up at his silver eyes. When she didn't see discomfort, she slowly leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. Astoria wasn't sure where she got the confidence from. She hadn't kissed anyone before, so she wasn't even sure how to go about doing it.

Luckily for her, after his initial surprise, he kissed her back, taking the lead. And it — his soft lips against hers, his hands brushing her cheek — it felt wonderful, sending tingles down Astoria's spine.

All too soon, she forced herself to pull away, her nerves finally besting her.

Astoria's face was already flushed when she glanced up at him tentatively, but when she looked up to see him smiling at her, her face burned even hotter.

"Was that, er,..." she cleared her throat, "Was that a good enough memory for you, Mr. Malfoy?"

His smile spread into a full-blown grin. "Indeed," he replied a little breathlessly. His grin turned mischievous. "The Malfoys never had the best memories, though. Hopefully, you could remind me later..."

Astoria smiled slyly. "Is that a statement or a question?"

"Both," he replied swiftly, the slyness in his smile matching hers.

Astoria blushed once more, nodding her head. "I can remind you as many times as you need, Malfoy," she said, grinning shyly. Feeling silly, she cleared her throat again, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "Well, let's try it, then," she said, reaching for her wand. "Hold out your wand, say the words, and flick, Like so."

Holding out her wand from in front of her, she thought of just a few minutes ago, when Draco's lips had been pressed against hers. "Expecto Patronum!"

From the tip of her wand, a silvery-blue swan emerged, fluttering its wings. She made it dance around Draco's head, and he managed a small laugh whilst swatting it away.

"Your turn," she said after several moments of antagonizing Draco.

Draco nodded, holding his wand out as she had. He scrunched up his face, and Astoria had to stifle a giggle. "Expecto Patronum!" he said strongly, and from the tip of his wand, a misty but shapeless form emerged.

He looked disappointed as his Patronus disintegrated.

"Not quite corporeal," he noted, "But definitely something."

"Yeah," Astoria said, the feel of his lips against hers still lingering in her mind. She traced a finger around the curve of her lip, feeling the flesh beneath her finger pulsate. "Definitely something."


A/N: This is actually my first ever HP fic/oneshot :D! I thought it fitting for my first fic to be a Drastoria one because of how underrated it is. Now that I think about it, I realize I have a strong affection for the underrated ships in most fandoms (e.g. Luna/Harry AND Luna/Ginny AND Luna/Neville from Harry Potter, Gale/Madge from the Hunger Games, Mai/Zuko from A:tLA, Kai/Jinora from TLoK, etc.). Either way, enough of my yapping — let me know what you think! As always, any criticism, feedback, suggestion is always welcomed!