alisanne

Title: Patronus Pride
Author:

alisanne
Rating: PG
Pairing: Kingsley Shacklebolt/Draco Malfoy
Summary: There's always more to teach.
Word Count: 100 x 3
Genre: Romance
Warnings: None, really.
A/N: Written for

kingsley100's prompt #80: Expecto Patronum. Also, this is continued from a couple of previous drabbles: The Art of Occlumency and Seeing Clearly. I think this stands on its own, but will make more sense if you read those first.
Betas:

sevfan and

emynn
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.

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Patronus Pride

~

“Help.”

Looking up, Kingsley smiled. “Draco. Rough day in the Unspeakables?”

Draco shut Kingsley’s office door. “Someone’s decided we all need to be able to cast a reliable Patronus.”

Kingsley narrowed his eyes, suddenly serious. “And that’s a problem?”

Draco shrugged. “It wasn’t a highly prized skill amongst Death Eaters.”

“No, I imagine not.” Kingsley studied him. They’d been lovers for months, yet they’d not made any declarations. In that moment it struck him how much he cared for Draco. “You know the spell?”

Draco snorted. “I’ve cast expecto patronum several times. Nothing happens.”

Kingsley nodded. “We’ll work on it.”

~

“So I need a pleasant, happy memory?”

Kingsley, standing behind him, pressed close. “No,” he murmured. “You need a strong memory. Happy memories are fine if strong enough, but the strength of the memory is more important.”

“Right.” Draco tensed. “Expecto patronum!”

A puff of white light emerged from his wand. Kingsley smiled. “Good. Now, can you strengthen that memory?”

“That depends.” Turning in Kingsley’s arms, Draco smirked. “Do you have time to help me work on strengthening it?”

Kingsley laughed. “Why Unspeakable Malfoy. Did you use a sexual memory?”

Draco insinuated his thigh between Kingsley’s. “Perhaps.”

Kingsley grinned. “Smart.”

~

A week later Draco entered Kingsley’s office, beaming. “I did it!”

“Naturally you did.” Kingsley smiled. “So what’s your Patronus?”

To his surprise, Draco blushed. “I thought it would be something like a peacock, or something properly Slytherin.”

“Properly Slytherin?” Kingsley coughed. “Like a snake or...something?”

“Or something,” Draco agreed. “Instead it’s--” He paused. “I’ll just show you.” Drawing his wand, he said, “Expecto patronum!”

A lynx, exactly like Kingsley’s Patronus, shot from his wand, circling Kingsley.

Kingsley smiled. I needn’t worry about his feelings. “I’m flattered.”

Draco huffed, but he was smiling, clearly relieved. “I should hope so.”

~