"Okay, Malfoy." Hermione said. "Let's get rid of this. It will be fast, and effective." She added, even if she knew that it was going to take time before Draco could produce a Patronus.

Draco followed Hermione in the middle of the Room of Requirement. She had chosen the exact place where the Dumbledore's Army was training the previous year. It was the middle of the night. They had sneak out of their dormitories, and met on the 7th floor, in front of the tapestry where, behind it, the Room was hidden.

"So… What am I supposed to do ?" The Slytherin asked. "You seemed to pretend that this was not easy as pie. Is it true ?"

Hermione took a moment to think about which words she should use to explain to him the whole thing. She ran her fingers through her bushy hair, giving a quick glance to the floor, before looking back to Draco who was standing two meters from her.

"It's… You have to think about the happiest memory you have. It requires a lot of energy. You might be tired after a while."

He nodded slightly, listening carefully to every word she was saying. It was the first time that he was paying that much attention during a "class".

"You must give away everything else, and let this memory flood in your body."

Draco was staring at her. She sighed, and she did not really know which kind of sigh it was, and why she had sighed.

"Close your eyes Malfoy. It will be a lot easier to concentrate."

He complied, and started to excogitate about which memory he should chose. The room was filled with silence. He did not even heard the breathing of Hermione, or even his own. He took a long inspiration.

"You're done ? Okay, now, open your eyes, and say "Expecto Patronum". Be as convincing as possible."

Draco opened his eyes, and stared at the room in front of him. The voice of the bushy-haired girl came behind his back. "Don't mind me, Malfoy. Just go on."

He breathed in and out, and pointed his wand in front of him. He had nothing he was supposed to fight. It was a bit disturbing to point his wand at an empty room.

"Expecto Patronum !" He said frankly.

Nothing happened. He felt stupid, and already annoyed.

"With more conviction, Malfoy !" Hermione exclaimed.

He frowned, and almost yelled. "Expecto Patronum !"

Nothing happened. He sighed, and turned around to face Hermione.

"It doesn't work." He announced with a blank voice.

"Indeed." Hermione replied. "What memory did you choose ?" She inquired.

He pouted. "When the Sorting Hat told me I was in Slytherin."

Hermione shook her head, looking concentrate.

"It's not enough. Plus, it seems obvious. No one was expecting you from going in another House, anyway."

Draco nodded. It cost him another piece of self-esteem to admit that Granger was right.

"You have to think about something way more… strong." She said, staring at him from across the room, her arms crossed over her chest, small golden sparks emerging from the tip of her wand as she was doing gestures with her wrist.

"Easier said than done ; It's not like I have a whole bunch of happy memories, you know." Draco said gloomily.

Hermione felt a small pressure from under her chest.

"Er, yes, I… I'm sorry. I did not think… I -"

He cut her off. "Don't worry."

Seconds flew by in an awkward silence. After what seemed ages, Draco clapped one's hands.

"Well ! I think I'm done for tonight. I must rest a bit, in order to find a better memory tomorrow. 'Night, Granger !"

He started to walk to the door, but was interrupted by Hermione.

"To - Tomorrow ?" She stammered.

Draco chuckled, and turned around to face her.

"Of course, Granger ! What were you thinking ? That I was going to give up after one failure ?"

Hermione blushed slightly. "Hum, kind of…" She muttered.

The blond smirked. "You won't get rid of me that easier, Granger. See you tomorrow."

While walking back to their dormitories, they thought over the first training they had that night. Hermione was pleasantly surprised by Draco's behavior, who had not been rude to her for half a hour, and that was saying something. As for Draco, the Know-It-All wasn't that insufferable, after all. For both of them, the conclusion was that perhaps it was not going to be that awful to be all alone in the same place for a few times. Not that they were ready to get used to it. Oh no ; Merlin knew, they were not.