CLOUDED EUPHORIA || Draco Malfoy

X.

A/N: hi! i just wanted to be clear that I've decided to move up the Patronus D.A. session as the first D.A. meeting, for the story's sake. I understand that the first D.A. meeting was actually about disarming spells, but just go with it pls thank you!

Nia knew she was shit at the Patronus charm. Her frustration heightened as the D.A. meeting progressed. The more frustrated she was, the chances of her achieving an animal bursting from her wand was minimal. It was the first spell in a while Nia couldn't successfully conquer after a few tries, or even the first try. She tried not to get discouraged, but it was difficult not to after a handful of people were able to burst a silver animal out of their wands. This was a test coming straight from her pride; learning to try and try again until she succeeded. It should've been working. This was routine, and it wasn't working.

"C'mon, Nia," Harry tried to encourage her, "I know you can."

"I'm fucking trying!" Nia hotly shot back. It was an impulsive remark, Nia realized after she heard how rude she sounded. Her shoulders slouched and her body language softened. "Sorry."

Instead of matching her energy like he usually did with other people these days, Harry grinned. "You know if this was a spell where I could bet you wouldn't be able to achieve, you'd have done it to prove me wrong already."

For the rest of the session, Nia stood back and thought of some memories where she was happy. Finding the right wand for her that was a perfect fit. Book shopping with her mother, when they had spare funds. Her and Jolene brewing a potion to permanently remove acne back at Illvermorny. Watching the no-maj band, Nirvana, live in concert.

With each memory, she attempted the spell, and "Expecto Patronum" were the only words coming from her mouth.

None of the memories helped her.

When Harry circled back to Nia, she huffed. "Go wager with someone now. Maybe then it'll work."

Harry shook his head. "It won't, because you're not letting yourself breathe," he explained, "I know you've been happy before, Nia. Don't overthink the memory. And don't tell me you don't have one."

Harry the instructor nodded at her for confirmation before drifting off and saying out loud, "Alright everyone, settle down!"

Talk among the class ceased and wands were lowered when Harry spoke. He continued, "great work today, everyone. It's great some of you could successfully cast a Patronus, this is really advanced stuff, guys."

Nia slouched against a brick wall, but she actually wanted to bang her head against it.

"You have homework," Harry addressed the group, "I want you to think of your biggest fear. When you do, think of your happiest memory. This will determine what drives you, your fear or your happiness when casting your Patronus. Practice the spell, and see you all next session."

•

One by one, everyone in the room of requirement quietly slipped into the shadows of the hallway, their robes blending in with the darkness of the castle. Once every member of D.A. slipped past Filch's usual patrolling of that hall, some left to their common rooms in groups, a few older students walked to the library for late night studies, and a couple left the room of requirement hand in hand, off to probably snog in a closet.

Nia fell behind. She watched everyone ahead of her, friend groups ushering each other to shut up with a smile, and the couple disappearing into another hallway. To top off her horrible feelings of disappointment, failure, and anger, Nia was hit with a pang of loneliness. She wasn't alone, she knew that—she has a few friends. But she couldn't help but feel lonely.