Chapter Twelve: Mist in Sunlight

A/N – Here's an extra long chapter to hopefully brighten up your quarantine. Stay safe, my friends 3

"Right!" Harry exclaimed, raising his voice over the din for what felt like the thousandth time, "That's a good place to stop for the night! Everyone's making really great progress!"

The cacophony of sound in the Room of Requirement quieted a little, but there was still a haze of chatter and shuffling and laughter floating through the small crowd of students. Ron leapt to his feet, still beaming proudly at the silvery terrier scampering about the room, and snatched the Marauder's Map from Harry's bag.

Hermione joined him by the door after wistfully watching her otter Patronus dissipate before her. Together, they sent the students out into the hall by twos and threes when they saw the coast was clear. A couple of Hufflepuffs, then a small gaggle of Ravenclaws, followed by a trio of Gryffindors, until they were the only three left in the large, high-ceilinged room.

"Great lesson, Harry!" Ron grinned, clapping him on the back. "I've always wondered what my Patronus would be."

"I was rather hoping mine would be a cat, like Crookshenks, you know. But I have to say, I'm quite pleased with my otter. Otters have always made me feel so… well, cheery!" Hermione giggled.

It was hard not to feel cheerful with all the happy memories literally bounding around the room all evening. Harry dimpled at his friends. It had been a great lesson. Everyone had managed to produce a corporeal Patronus. Well, everyone except Neville, who Harry worried would only be able to manage a vague, misty light from the end of his wand.

His own stag had hung around most of the evening, spurred on by everyone else's joyful memories and flush success.

Overall, it was actually shaping up to be a good day.

"I reckon we should be safe to head back to the Common Room, right 'Mione?" asked Ron.

Hermione glanced at the map a moment longer before nodding.

"Coming Harry?"

Harry glanced at the clock on the wall.

He'd ended the lesson just a little early. He told himself it was because of everyone's amazing progress, but really he knew he just wanted more time with Malfoy.

"No, you two go on. I'm going to do a bit more lesson planning and practice some offensive spells."

Hermione gave him a knowing look, but shrugged and shouldered her bag without protesting.

Ron, however, wasn't so easily deterred.

"Mate, you've been putting so much work into the DA. Do you really want to risk being caught out past curfew just so you can practice a few more spells that you could just as easily do in the common room?"

Harry shrugged. "I like having the space in here to move."

"Come off it, everyone knows the only offensive spell Harry Potter needs is 'expelliarmus', anyways! It's your signature move! The same one you used to fend off You-Know-Who, twice! Why don't you take a break tonight? Come back to Gryffindor tower with us. We can have a game of Wizard's Chess before bed!"

Harry, who had tensed when Ron said his full name, simply waved him off.

"Really, I'm good here for a bit. Besides, you know I have the cloak and the Map. I can get back without running into trouble."

"But-"

"Come on, Ronald, leave it!" Hermione grabbed Ron's sleeve and shoved his bag roughly into his arms. "Harry'll be fine. You, however, have a Potions essay you've been putting off till the final moment. No, don't try to deny it! I know you snuck off to play Exploding Snap with Fred and George the other night instead of finishing it like I told you to!"

Ron groaned. He sent Harry one last commiserating glance before following Hermione out into the dark corridor.

Harry sighed in relief. Malfoy would be here any moment. He'd have to subtly thank Hermione later for getting Ron out of his hair…

When the door to the Room of Requirement opened a few minutes later, Harry couldn't stifle the smile that bloomed on his face even before he saw the white-blond hair that signified Malfoy's arrival.

"Evening, Potter," he drawled.

"All right, Malfoy?"

Malfoy only raised an eyebrow.

"Looks like someone's in a good mood. The DA meeting went well, then?"

Harry nodded. "It's going a lot better than I thought. We did Patronuses tonight."

Malfoy's eyes snapped to him. "Patronuses?"

He chuckled, responding, "Yeah, you know, that great hulking stag I sent charging at you in third year? Remember, when you were sat on Crabbe's shoulders dressed as a Dementor in order to cheat at Quidditch?"

"I did not cheat," Malfoy insisted snootily.

"Only because I bowled you over with my Patronus!"

"Merlin, you are in a mood! You're acting like you've been hit with one too many Cheering Charms!"

"What can I say? It's been a good day."

Harry couldn't keep his eyes from flicking towards Malfoy when he spoke. After all, being able to spend time with him was part of why it was a good day. A big part.

"Well," Malfoy intoned, "Based on your annoying cheerfulness, I take it that the Patronus lesson was a success? How many in your Army were able to conjure a corporeal Patronus?"

Harry practically preened. "Almost everyone!"

Malfoy cleared his throat.

"Well, that's - it explains your smugness, I suppose," he sniffed.

Harry's smile slipped a bit at his lack of enthusiasm.

"Yeah, well, I've got to take advantage of the good days when I have them," he said, a little bitterness creeping into his voice, "Between High Inquisitor Umbridge sitting in on all of our classes, and Occlumency with Snape, and Dumbledore ignoring me-"

"I didn't mean-"

"-I think I deserve a bit of annoying cheerfulness every now and then!"

Malfoy closed his eyes and drawled, "Yes, all right - you deserve to have a good day, and I am duly impressed at your ability to impart knowledge to your little Army brats."

Harry, not pacified in the least by Malfoy's mixed response, hissed, "Out with it, Malfoy."

The blond's eyebrows furrowed, full lips pursing a bit in confusion.

"Out with what?"

Harry rolled his eyes, "Well something is obviously bothering you, otherwise you wouldn't be acting like such a prat. So out with it!"

Malfoy swallowed, then said evenly, "You're right. I suppose I was regressing a bit. I just… It isn't easy for me to ask for…"

Most of Harry's anger melted away, replaced with the familiar fondness he felt towards him, along with curiosity.

"Ask for what?" he prompted.

Malfoy shook his head minutely, then proceeded in a business-like tone, "I'm unaccustomed to having to ask nicely for things, so how about a trade?"

Harry tilted his head to the side. "A trade? What do you want?"

Malfoy fidgeted for a moment, which was in general a very un-Malfoyish thing to do.

Finally, he said, "I want to learn how to conjure a Patronus."

Harry gave a crooked half-smile. "A Patronus?"

"Yes, a Patronus," he said, still a bit snappish, "And in return, I can help you with Occlumency so your lessons with my godfather will be less… upsetting."

Harry's jaw dropped.

"You… you would do that?"

Malfoy swallowed again, but held Harry's gaze. "Honestly, I was planning on offering my assistance anyways. This exchange just makes it more convenient for us both, as I suspect I'm not the only one here who wishes to preserve his pride."

Harry smirked a bit at this. "Yeah, you might be onto something there."

A few moments of awkward silence passed between the two men as they looked at one another, until Harry held out his hand.

"All right, deal. You'll teach me proper Occlumency, and I'll teach you Patronuses."

There was an indiscernible glint in Malfoy's eyes as he reached out and shook Harry's hand, solidifying their arrangement.

"Deal."

"It's settled then," Harry said, reluctantly dropping his arm back by his side, "But Malfoy, maybe next time you could just tell me what you want without the added dramatics of you being an arse?"

He added a playful smirk to his question, and Malfoy returned the expression heartily.

"Fine, yes, I know I was a dick, and I'll try to refrain from doing so in the future."

"Great. Let's get started!"

Draco blanched.

"What, get started now?"

Potter laughed, all discomfort from Draco's earlier behavior gone.

"Yes, now. I've already taught a whole lot of other students how to cast a Patronus charm tonight, why not you too?"

Draco steeled himself. Ever since third year - from precisely the moment Potter had mentioned earlier, when he'd cast his fully corporeal, brilliant stag - Draco had longed for this. He'd wanted to be able to produce something just as beautiful and formidable. He'd never had the opportunity to learn though, until now.

And he was suddenly nervous.

Still, he nodded his head and took out his wand. It wouldn't do to shy away from this in front of the Gryffindor.

"Right," Potter began, "The Patronus is basically a living shield of happiness. Dementors feed off of them instead of you. In order to cast and maintain a corporeal Patronus, you have to fully immerse your mind in the happiest memory you can think of. Does that make sense?"

Potter's explanation had started slow, then gotten faster as his confidence grew. His tone took on a businesslike air, and he looked at Draco expectantly.

He nodded, still too nervous to speak.

"Okay, do you have a memory in mind?" Potter asked.

Draco searched his mind, closing his eyes, possibilities flitting by until he found one suitable enough. He focused on the image of Potter's not-so-subtly smiling face, on one of the first times they had passed notes in Defence class. It was the very beginning of their friendship, the turning point that had led them here.

Draco opened his eyes and nodded again. "Got it. What next?"

Potter enunciated very clearly, "The spell is expecto patronum. Fix the memory in your mind's eye, and then wave your wand like this."

He gave his wand a swooping swish through the air.

Draco inhaled, then breathed out slowly, imagining Harry's bright green eyes turning from suspicious to curious to amused, imagining the ice between them melting, imagining the jolt Draco felt when he was able to make him smile. He imagined the bond between them starting to change and grow into something brighter, better.

He waved his wand and proclaimed, "Expecto Patronum."

Opening his eyes, he saw his wand emit a puff of light that lingered for a moment before evaporating like mist in sunlight.

Potter gave him an impressed look. "Not bad for a first attempt, Malfoy. No, really."

Draco scoffed, "It didn't even take the shape of anything!"

Rolling his eyes good-naturedly, Potter chuckled, "What, did you expect to get it right on the first go? Honestly, it was a good try. You probably need to find a happier memory, that's all. What did you pick?"

Draco paled, then quickly said, "Winning my first Quidditch match."

Potter cleared his throat and nodded knowingly, "I tried using my first time on a broom once - wasn't strong enough for me, either. Try something else, something more significant."

Draco, still a bit pale, closed his eyes in concentration once more.

He settled on the memory of the last time they were in the Room of Requirement together. The way Potter's cheeks had flushed a bit when he'd said, "You care about me too, admit it!" The butterflies that had swarmed in Draco's stomach, the tremble of his lips, the almost unreal knowledge that Potter felt something for him, too, to some degree.

He opened his eyes again and raised his wand.

"Expecto Patronum!"

This time, the mist was brighter, stronger. It didn't dissipate as quickly, but it still evaporated after a few moments.

Potter nodded, smiling. "Better, much better. Give it another go."

Draco tried about a dozen times in a row. Each attempt was a little better than the last, until he was able to consistently conjure a full shield of light. Potter gave pointers and adjusted his wand movements, helping Draco's progress along, but still - it was like he was blocked.

Then a thought occurred to him. What if he couldn't do it?

He tried focusing even harder on his memory, feeling how it had felt to sit next to the man and know they cared about each other, at least a little. The exhilaration, the rushing feeling in his head, the uncertainty of where to go from there.

Again, he swished his wand and said the words, and a shield shot out from his wand tip. It stayed bright for a moment or two, and then blinked out of existence in a puff.

Draco huffed, managing to stop himself from stomping his foot like a child.

Potter shook his head. "You're doing everything right, Malfoy, chin up. I stand by what I said at the beginning - it's probably just the memory that you're channeling."

He opened his mouth like he was about to continue, and then he paused.

"Out with it, Potter."

"I, er, was going to ask again about the memory you were focusing on. It… it has to be pure happiness, Malfoy. You can't choose one that's affected by other emotions, especially fear. Professor Lupin told me once that it isn't sadness that chases away happiness, it's being afraid."

Potter stood somewhat awkwardly, staring at the ground.

Draco thought about his memory. It was happy, that much was certain. But there was also skepticism. Doubt. And yes, fear. Draco knew that Potter cared, but in what way? As a passing acquaintance? A friend? Could he ever feel… more than friendship?

Fear.

Frustrated, Draco growled, rubbing his forefinger and thumb into his scrunched eyes.

"How about a break, Malfoy? You've made a lot of progress."

Draco felt Potter's hand on his shoulder. The timid gesture was probably meant to be reassuring, but it was only more confusing.

"A break is a good idea," he agreed. He took a deep breath and struggled to order his thoughts.

When he felt he had a better handle on things, he opened his eyes and placed his usual haughty smirk on his lips.

"Shall we switch it up a bit? How about some Occlumency practice?"

It was Potter's turn to look uncomfortable.

He gulped, but being ever a Gryffindor, he said, "Might as well."

Draco appreciated being on more familiar ground. Occlumency was something he was good at. It was a hard-won skill, but he was proficient in it.

"Start by clearing your mind," he instructed, "Take everything else you've been focusing on and store it away."

Draco pictured his mind the way he always did, as a collection of cabinets and drawers. All of his thoughts that he'd taken out during the day lay in a jumble in the middle of the room, and he slowly began to sort through them all. Breathing deeply, he placed them on shelves and in drawers, categorizing them and locking them all away, safe and secure, until everything was in its proper place.

When he opened his eyes, he found Potter with a look of profound consternation on his face.

Draco chuckled.

Potter's eyes popped open, and a flush crept up his neck.

"Come off it, Malfoy, don't laugh!"

Draco cleared his throat. "Apologies, Potter. It's just - it was as if you were trying so hard not to think of anything that you were thinking of everything."

"I - what?"

Draco chuckled again before schooling his expression. "Oh don't scowl at me, Potter. Here, try this instead. Don't focus on thinking about nothing. Imagine something else to fill its place - something menial. Like a boring room filled with filing cabinets."

This time, Potter laughed. "Filing cabinets? Why?"

"Nevermind, just - try emptying your mind of everything except one simple, innocuous thing."

Potter closed his eyes and concentrated again, but this time it didn't appear to take quite as much effort.

"Good, that's it. Right, since you've had to jump right in with Legilimency attacks, I'm going to try and get past your defences. Don't give me that look, I've not done this much before - not like my godfather. I won't be able to put a fraction of his power behind my attempts."

His green eyes were blazing. "But-"

"Do you trust me, Potter?"

He held his gaze for a long moment.

"Yes."

Draco's breath hitched a little - he'd half expected Potter to tell him off. Instead, he gave what he hoped was a reassuring nod, and raised his wand.

Potter mirrored his motion, closing his eyes in concentration for a brief second. Then he opened his eyes and inclined his head.

Draco tilted his wand forward and reached out gently with his mind. "Legilimens."

Nothing happened. Potter's defences held firm.

Draco's eyebrows flew up in surprise. Why were his lessons going so badly? The man was obviously able to hold his own-

Suddenly, Draco felt as though he was being sucked into a tunnel filled with moving images.

A pretty Ravenclaw girl with dark hair smiled at him. A fat blond boy sneered, and he thought he heard the word "boyfriend" in a mocking tone. Umbridge giggled sickeningly behind her stubby hand.

One image in particular caught Draco's attention.

Himself.

Standing in the Room of Requirement.

He and Potter were facing each other, with Draco near the door as if he were about to leave. Based on the decorations, it must have been before the Christmas holidays. Memory Draco had turned back towards the other man and, with a masked expression, said, "Happy Christmas, Potter."

Draco remembered this moment. Had they really been standing that closely? He had seen Potter's eyes flick upwards at the time, but he hadn't thought anything of it. This time, though, Draco was seeing the scene from a different perspective - from right next to Potter. He watched Potter's eyes as they again slid up towards the ceiling and back down. And this time, Draco followed his line of sight - and saw a sprig of green floating above them. Mistletoe.

Draco quickly refocused on memory Potter's face, watching the blush form on his dark cheeks, watching him lick his lips.

Draco's heart stopped. Had he been expecting…?

Suddenly, the world shifted, and Draco was standing in a completely different part of the Room of Requirement. Potter was doubled over, hands propped on his knees, breathing deeply.

Slowly, he looked up at Draco, obviously flustered.

"How much - did you see?" he asked between breaths.

Draco, heart racing, cleared his throat.

"Nothing, really," he lied, "Just flashes."

Potter slumped in relief, plopping down on a cushion.

Still taken aback by what he'd seen, Draco sank onto the floor as well. He shook his head to clear it, knowing he should say something.

"You did well at first, Potter. I couldn't get past your defences at all. But then you got distracted and let me in."

Potter hesitated. "You're sure you didn't see anything?"

Draco shook his head. "Nothing I could make out, really."

Potter smiled. "You were right. You're much worse at this than your stupid godfather."

Draco laughed, perhaps a bit louder than he normally would have.

"Shove off, Potter. Ready for another go?"

He nodded. "Let's do it."