Hogwarts AU

Because I needed this scene in my life so badly.

chaoticlivi has a Hogwarts AU too! And hers is gonna be much longer and more in depth.

eisschirmchen drew for this over a year ago too. Like that is how long I've had it in my head. For this story I went with Soul in Slytherin and Maka in Gryffindor. They both fit remarkably well in any of the houses though, and I do recognize that, so please don't shoot me for that.

Big thanks to Livi and Marsh for looking this over.

Much to her chagrin, her father was the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor that year.

She couldn't decide if it was a curse or blessing that Soul was in the class too. But they'd made it this far through the year and she didn't think that her father was even aware that they were dating.

Maka had befriended the Slytherin boy after seeing Gryffindors picking on him in their first year. He was surly, crude, and a downright asshole when he wanted to be, especially when he'd first seen the red of her tie, but as they became closer and closer, Maka found that he was nothing but a clever little shit with a loyal streak that would make a Hufflepuff proud.

They were going to be learning the patronus charm today, her father loudly exclaimed while while pacing around the room. A warm spring breeze was coming in through the windows and kept ruffling Soul's hair from where he was lying across their desk, valiantly trying to sleep. "I do not expect many of you to be able to cast such an advanced spell! Except of course my precious little daughter, you can do it, baby!" His cheesy thumbs up made her sink down into her seat down and Soul sneer.

Spirit continued to go on about the charm, it's difficulty, uses, and the some of the finer details about a corporeal form versus a non-corporeal form.

Maka diligently took notes, ignoring the warm weight of Soul's hand resting on her thigh, just out of sight. The whole dating thing was still pretty new to them; years of friendship had slowly evolved into something more; stolen kisses on the grounds (or the library if he was feeling particularly brave, something Maka seemed to instill in him), late night study sessions (sometimes she would break the rules, but usually in the name of knowledge), and trips to Hogsmead that simply became dates without them ever realizing it.

He blinked up at her and pouted when she ran the feathered end of her quill against his cheek, she said with a little smile, "just making sure you were still awake." It was becoming easier and easier to let herself admit that she loved his red eyes. Soul huffed and closed them just to spite her. She still wasn't quite sure what it meant that they complimented each other so well (the colors of their robes and eyes at least, never with words) and her Divination reading were pretty much useless. The tea leaves kept suggesting something exceedingly vague about destiny and soulmates. Well, it had either been soulmates or the tea was saying she would die on a Tuesday afternoon. It was hard to tell.

"Evans! Why don't you demonstrate for us?" Spirit yelled while pointing directly at Soul.

"Haa?"

"Happiest memory. Up front, come on."

Maka sighed, her father had definitely had it out for Soul ever since they had become friends and she was not sure how he would take the news of them dating. Reluctantly, Soul got up and walked to the front of the room, scowling and slouching the entire way. She gave him an encouraging smile, which earned her a long suffering glare.

"Happiest memory. Not very cool, but whatever. Expecto patronum!" Silver light trickled out of his wand into a shield above his head. He held it for a few moments before it dimmed out.

Spirit, now subdued, nodded and motioned for Soul to go sit down again, as he explained that it had been a decent non-corporeal patronus. He had them split up into pairs to practice, scattered around the room.

She immediately grabbed Soul's hand and claimed the spot closer to the high windows. Most of the other students spilled into the hallway and down the corridor to make sure there was enough room between everyone. Her father was going from pair to pair offering suggestions and encouragement, starting with some of the bustier female students.

Despite her efforts to block him out, Maka was struggling to even cast a shield. Soul was slouched against the cool stone pillar between the windows watching her become more and more frustrated. "What are you trying to use as a happy memory?" he asked quietly after she'd failed for the third time.

"The last time I saw my mom!"

"…Maka, you know that just makes you sad."

She had immediately opened her mouth to argue, but clicked it shut. He was right. "Well…what were you thinking of when you cast it?"

If his pink cheeks were any indication, it was something good. "…It's not..it's just…well it wasn't enough," he muttered, staring at his wand. "I think…expecto patronum!" This time a huge lion jumped from his wand. It stood tall, dark blues and silvers giving it form, all starlight and hope making it shine brightly even against the windows. The students still in the room fell quiet when the great cat yawned and circled Soul protectively before laying at his feet as though he were king of the world.

Maka clapped and jumped, squealing her congratulations for casting such an advanced spell. Spirit had traveled out to the hallway but he would undoubtedly be back, she just hoped that it would be before Soul's patronus dissipated because otherwise he would never believe it. The other students returned in earnest to casting the spell, desperately wondering what form their spirit would take.

Soul just stared, taken completely by surprise by the enormous beast. He looked at it and then to Maka, trying to figure out what had happened, "I…guess that worked."

"What did you think of?"

"You," he said, blush back in full force.

A small "oh" escaped her and the lion rolled over onto his back. Set with a new determination, she straightened her back, focused, and cast the spell one more time.

A lioness stepped forward into the classroom, stretching her back pausing to lick her shoulder before going to lie with Soul's patronus. She was lighter than Soul's lion, more moonlight and sky than a star in the night. The lioness nudged her head under the other cat's and curled herself right against him, basking in the sunlight.

Neither of them said a word, but his face looked as red as hers felt. So of course when her father came running over to praise the patronus and instead found it curled up with Soul's he nearly fell flat on his face.

"You! You can't! You're a heathen! Not worthy of my sweet little girl's time!" He gripped his hair and glanced wildly from Soul to Maka to the lions still curled up together.

"What?"

"Lions! You're a Slytherin! Lions! How!?"

"Papa! That's enough!"

"But lions, sweetheart!"

It wasn't until a week later when Maka was doing her own independent research (in the restricted section of course and using Soul as a backrest) of patronuses that she realized that soulmates shared the same patronus.

Apparently those exceedingly vague tea leaves had been right.

(Soul was also feeling particularly brave and did steal a kiss while they were there. Well, it wasn't really stolen, she was more than happy to kiss him again and again until they were lying on the floor with her on top of him making out in between the stacks.)