"Do you both want to work in the same Division?" Draco asked. He was sitting with Lydia and her husband, Uriel –the man she had been holding hands with at class two days ago.

"Absolutely not," Uriel replied. "I'd be too busy thinking someone's trying to kill her to do my job."

Lydia laughed. "He's wants to do the Magical Protection Division. I, on the other hand, would much rather Espionage. It was either that or Dark Arts."

Draco had tried to contain himself, he really did, but he couldn't help the look of surprise that had spread across his features. Lydia was…well, she just looked like such the innocent person. Fair-skinned, dirty-blonde hair that was often pulled back in a bun or a ponytail, and large librarian glasses. He didn't know if she wore makeup usually, but from what he could tell now she didn't, and her clothes were casual and loose. She reminded him of Hermione with her studious nature and he couldn't for the life of him imagine this woman in either of the Auror Department's two most dangerous Divisions.

Lydia seemed to notice his shock and exchanged a knowing look with her husband. "Don't worry, I'm more menacing than I look."

"Believe her." Uriel added and chuckled when she smacked him in the arm.

"Although not true for all, members of the Sacred Twenty-Eight do have the capacity to be quite intimidating under the right circumstances. Wouldn't you agree?"

Once again, Draco was unable to control his expression. "The Sacred Twenty-Eight? Which family?"

"Rosier," Lydia explained. "Evan Rosier was my uncle –the bloody idiot." She added in a grumble. "My mother managed to keep our family out of the mess while my uncle went back to 'fight for the cause.' And what happened to him? Dead. Serves him right."

"Huh," Draco mused. "I would've never pegged you for a Rosier." He smiled then and nodded. "Definitely stick with Espionage. No one will ever think you're dangerous."

"Which Division are you looking into?" Uriel asked.

Draco hesitated. "…Dark Arts."

Uriel nodded, then smiled. "The Division will have a good addition this year then."

Draco found himself smiling the same before Potter finally addressed the class. The blond could feel his insides twisting. No, Patronuses weren't going to be on the exam, but still, he wanted to be as proficient in them as though they were. Yesterday had been a disaster –in his mind at least. He was still only able to create wisps of light, granted it was a bit bigger and brighter than the one had created with Hermione. And Potter had been just as enthusiastic as she when the blob of light had emerged from his wand. At least he could have some satisfaction in the fact that Travers could barely even do that. The man's death stare at Draco was laughable.

As everyone got on their feet –the desks and chairs cleared away so there was ample room –Draco glanced over at Lydia and Uriel. They had gotten their Patronuses down towards the end of class yesterday, and each try afterwards produced bigger and longer-lasting ones. Lydia's was a panther while Uriel's was a horse. Such large, strong creatures for two softies as Draco depicted them in his mind. But then again, they were in the Auror Training Program and one of them a member of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. How soft could they be really?

Draco had never asked, but he figured that his new friends' happy memories were of each other. He would see them from the corner of his eye, letting their Patronuses roam free, and then giving one another a look that said, "All because of you."

It frustrated him. He always thought of Hermione when trying to perform his, but it didn't get much better. He knew that it was his fears that prevented him and he cursed under his breath. Why couldn't he set them aside? Even if just for a moment? He just wanted to get this right. Not even just for him, but for her too. Another thing to make her proud of him.

And that's when the memory of the evening in Hermione's office flashed across his vision. He recalled how excited she'd been at his barely-there Patronus. Her smile. Her joy. At his expense. He wanted her to stay that way. He wanted her to be happy for the rest of her life. And it made him happy that it was he, of all people, to give her that contentment.

Draco took a deep breath, "Expecto Patronum!"

White light.

A bright white light.

And a…a shape?

A creature did, indeed, take form out of that shimmery light, and Draco had to blink a few times to make sure he was seeing it right. It couldn't have been. It just couldn't.

"Well, would you look at that?" Harry smiled broadly as he strode close to him. "The ferret's Patronus is a ferret."

Draco scowled. "Shut up, Potter."

"That's Auror Potter to you." He corrected, although his tone held more mirth than any show of authority. "Regardless, good work."

Potter walked away then and Draco brought his attention down to his Patronus. The ferret. Shiny and shimmery as it gazed up at him.

"For Merlin's sake… You couldn't have been a dragon or something?"

The ferret merely cocked its head to one side before nuzzling its head against Draco's leg and then disappearing.

"She went to Beauxbatons, you say?"

Draco nodded. His mother had been extremely interested to learn of Lydia Rosier –now Harper. It wasn't that she was a member of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. It wasn't the fact that Evan's sister had managed to go largely under the radar and kept her family as such. No. It was the sad fact that Narcissa hadn't known any of it and let an intelligent, Auror-material pureblood worthy of her son slip through her fingers.

His mother was so predictable.

"We must invite her and…her husband," she added with undisguised contempt, "for dinner one evening."

Draco shrugged. "If you wish."

"I do. But not before dining with Miss Granger –Draco, are you alright?"

No. No, he was certainly not alright. As evidence of that he had begun choking on his food. It took at least three coughs, his fist pounding on his chest, and a long sip of his wine before he could speak.

"You what?"

Narcissa smiled. "Rules of courtship, darling. Don't think that I've forgotten. I've allowed you to pursue your relationship as you've seen fit, and, although you have appeased me with ceasing that dreadful casual dating-"

Yes, he'd told his mother that he and Hermione had labeled their relationship. She'd been thrilled.

"-It's time that you've indulged your mother."

Draco resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Instead he dabbed at his mouth with his napkin and set it aside. "Under normal rules of courtship, Hermione would've met you months ago."

Narcissa laughed softly. "Nothing about your relationship is normal. Plenty of rules have been broken already, and so the rest are allowed to be amended. I would like to meet the woman who has captured my son's time and attention. And so," she said contentedly, "Miss Granger will dine with us here at her earliest convenience."

"Here?" Draco repeated. His mouth set up in a frown as he leaned forward slightly. "Do you really think it wise for her to come here?"

Narcissa fidgeted a tad in her seat. "We can have dinner out on the lanai. It's nowhere near where that…incident happened."

"It was more than an 'incident,' Mother. It might not just be that room to pose problems for her. These halls, this Manor… It's just one huge memory."

Narcissa frowned like her son. "For her or for you?"

It was Draco's turn to fidget. "Every day of my life is a memory." He paused and then smiled to himself. "Or at least it used to be. Let's just say from past experience that I know what coming here may be like for her. I'd rather avoid it."

Narcissa picked up her wine glass and slowly nodded. "I understand. However, seeing as I am otherwise location-challenged, dinner at the Manor is our only option. Speak to Miss Granger. If she is truly averse to coming, then so be it."

"I'll ask."

"Good. Oh, you never did tell me how that Patronus Charm worked for you yesterday."

Draco put his head in his hands and groaned.

Author's note: Perhaps cliché, but I couldn't resist making Draco's Patronus a ferret. I really couldn't haha.

Also, I just checked and saw that I have over 400 follows for this. I can't express how happy I am. Thanks guys!

-WP :)