Chapter 16
“Are you okay?” Parkinson asked as she leaned down to help Hermione off the floor.
“Huh? Oh, yeah I’m fine. I may be a little bit tipsy,” she giggled. “He didn’t push me that hard, I lost balance. He is being an arse though.” She grumbled as she brushed off the back of her dress, and the two slowly made their way to the door.
“That was really stupid.”
“I know right! Who just shoves people out of the way?”
“No, I meant telling Draco that Potter could help him learn the Patronus charm.”
“But he can?”
“Yeah, but Draco has always felt inferior around Potter. Draco’s always had his way and Potter came along and stole the spotlight from him. Everyone knows it’s a big problem for him, that’s the biggest reason why he always picked on him in school. Well... maybe not everyone but most of the Slytherins in our year knew.”
“Look Parkinson, I didn’t insinuate Harry was better than Malfoy, I just thought he’d want to learn. Like the rest of you.”
“You can call me Pansy if you’d like. I still don’t particularly like you but you lot aren’t as bad as I thought you were. Most of you anyway.” The brunette said, glaring at her fiance as they walked out into the back garden. Harry was showing Astoria and Zabini the wand work for the Patronus charm. “And it doesn’t matter if you meant it like that or not. Draco may be smart, I mean he was right behind you in school for Salazar’s sake, but he’s still a boy. Er, man. Ever since Potter told him first year that he didn’t want to be friends he’s done his best to prove he made the wrong choice. And when you suggest that Potter was, like, the youngest person ever to be able to cast a Patronus-”
“I didn’t say that-”
“Then he’s gonna take it like you’re comparing them. And he thinks you’re telling him Potter is better than him. I know, and you know, that’s not what you were saying but men aren’t very smart. It’s like they have a blind spot where rivalries are concerned. Anyway, if he wants to learn he’ll do it by himself. He’s always been like that. And I don’t think he’ll ever ask Potter for help on anything. He’s not good at asking for help in general, but especially not from boy wonde- er, Potter. Sorry, old habits.” Pansy walked over to her friends and Harry, leaving Hermione to contemplate what she’d said. She walked over and stood by where Ginny, Luna, and Katie were sitting.
“What are you doing?” She asked as she noticed Ginny staring off into space.
“She’s watching Zabini’s arse.” Katie snickered as Luna braided grass.
“This grass is very soft, perfect for Caraklacks. It’s a good thing they’re not native to Britain, or his whole yard would be overrun.” Luna mumbled to herself as she weaved in a flower.
“Mione!” Harry called from across the lawn.
“Huh?” She answered.
“Would you guys mind casting your Patronus's with me as an example?” She nodded as the others shouted their agreement. She dug deep and pulled up a memory of herself and her parents on the first yule break she’d had from Hogwarts. She was excitedly telling them about everything she’d been learning and showing off her wand work (not casting anything of course but going through the motions). Her mum had had the biggest smile on her face as she held her dad’s hand. Both of them had been so proud that they’d taken her to the sweets shop after dinner that night. That had been unheard of in the Granger house, it would surely rot her teeth if she ate sweets more than once a year! She smiled to herself and cast the spell, watching as the little white fox flew out in front of her. It turned, circled her once before trotting forward to rub against a large cheetah that was cleaning its fur. Hermione looked on at the present Patroni. Harry’s stag was standing watch on the edge of the yard, Ron’s little terrier yapping at its feet for attention, a fox and thestral were playing around in front of it with a large kingfisher soaring overhead. Most impressive of all was the beautiful, shimmery dragon sitting calmly with an owl on its shoulder. After a few moments Hermione could hear the part of the group that hadn’t cast anything cheering.
“That was fuckin’ wicked!” Lisa shouted, throwing her arms around her girlfriend. “Babe you’ve got to help me do that!”
“Quella merda was awesome!” Blaise said, holding out his fist for Harry to bump. Her green-eyed best friend looked at the offered appendage suspiciously before bumping it back.
“Goddess, my fiance is awesome,” she managed to hear Astoria whisper under her breath. Hermione smiled at that and caught Pansy’s excited expression as she looked over. She could see Malfoy leaning against a tree further back, a weird expression on his face that turned sour when he noticed her looking at him. She stuck her tongue out in retaliation and turned away once more as he rolled his eyes. “Is that really what they look like?” Hermione turned to notice Astoria looking in the direction of Dean’s thestral and realized for the first time that not everyone could see them now. She and her friends could see them because they’d witnessed death. Astoria hadn’t. It was relieving and unnerving that that kind of purity still existed in their generation.
“Um, yeah.” Dean answered quietly, stroking the creatures nose
“Where do we start?” Astoria asked after a few beats of silence as Hermione walked up to Harry.
“Want me to help? We could all pair up and try to show them?” Hermione asked as the patroni disappeared.
“Uh, sure. Just remember guys, you probably won’t get it right away. If you can just get the wisps of light to show up, or what’s called a non-corporeal Patronus, then you’re halfway there. It’s really hard to make it take a solid form. Um, who wants to go with who?”
“I’d like to learn from you if that’s all right Harry?” Astoria asked gently, a subtle smile on her face.
“I’ll take Zabini,” Dean told the group.
“Pretty sure Lisa is with Katie, so Pans you go with Hermione.” Astoria decided. “Last chance, Draco, do you want to learn or not?”
“No, I don’t need to learn. When am I ever going to meet a dementor?” He grumbled. Hermione walked to a spot further down the lawn so they had some room.
“Ok, so first you should do the wand movement a few times,” Hermione explained as she showed off the swirling motion. Pansy gave her an unimpressed look.
“You want me to practice making a circle?” She asked sarcastically.
“I guess you don’t have to if you don’t want to, but it’s always easier to cast a spell if you know every aspect of it.”
“Yeah, because knowing how to make a circle is going to make casting a spell easier. Just tell me what I need to do to actually cast it.”
“Fine. You need to think of a happy memory. The happiest you’ve ever been, and focus on it entirely. Remember how you felt, and really bring that forward. Don’t think of anything but that memory, and while you do that say ‘Expecto Patronum’ and let it flow through your wand.” Hermione explained. Pansy thought about it for a second before closing her eyes, taking in a deep breath and letting it out with the spell.
“Why didn’t anything happen?” Pansy whined with a pout and a foot stomp.
“What memory are you focusing on?”
“Last spring, Louis Vuitton had a ten per cent off sale on their handbags. I got four of them for really cheap! Less than $500!” Hermione snickered.
“I say happy memory, and your first thought is a purse sale?” She burst out laughing as Pansy scowled at her.
“So? I’m a fashion designer, what do you expect?”
“You’re a fashion designer? What do you design?” Mione asked curiously.
“I don’t know if I should tell you since you’re giggling over my choice of happy memory.” Pansy snarked. “But if you must know, I design gowns and other high-end dress robes. So far I’ve only been able to piece together sketches and fabric swatches. Mother and Father think it’s a ridiculous hobby and won't let me actually make my looks. Thankfully once I’m married, my husband will have my dowry and I can use that to start out with.”
“That’s pretty cool. I’m not a very creative person, so I can’t fathom anything that requires drawing or painting or whatever, but I can appreciate it like the next person.”
“I’ll have to show you sometime... If I can’t think about a sale, then what am I meant to think about?”
“It’s different for everyone, I know Harry thinks about his family. I’m not sure what Ron thinks about, but Ginny thinks about quidditch wins her team has made. I think about the time I spent with my parents or my first trip to Hogwarts. It doesn’t really matter what you think of, it’s just got to be a really strong emotional connection to you.” Pansy took a few minutes to think before getting a determined expression on her face.
“Expecto Patronum!” When nothing happened she scrunched up her face in concentration. “Expecto Patronum! Expecto Patronum! Expecto Patronum! ” Finally, the smallest sliver of light was emitted from Pansy’s wand.
“Pansy, you got it!” Hermione exclaimed excitedly.
“What?” The woman opened her eyes excitedly before frowning slightly. “I don’t see anything.”
“It was there! It was brief and pretty faint, but you managed to produce a non-corporeal Patronus.” Pansy and Mione exchanged large smiles. “Try again!”
～Edited 19th Jan, 2022