Harry Potter and the Sword of Gryffindor - 20. Chapter 20

Naturally, a nice night of blissful sleep caused them to wake up late the next morning. While Draco was cursing all the known gods about his hair, Harry contemplated getting dressed in the expensive robes he now wore and went into the front room to see his daily schedule. All it took was one glance to make him groan.

He sat down in one of the armchairs and put his heads in his hands. He had an absolute mess of logistical nightmares today; not only his regular classes, including two that he was teaching, but a meeting with Lupin to go over some the proficiencies of students who would enter their second year after the summer holidays, a meeting with Professor McGonagall about his own wishes for course selection next year, a late afternoon meeting with the Defenders, and also a meeting at the Ministry after dinner! He probably wouldn't be back at Hogwarts until late at night! He didn't even know what his return time would be…everything from seven p.m. until the end of the day was blocked off on his schedule!

It felt like it was too much to handle. As he sat there, head in his hands, he groaned in despair. Between everything that had happened so far this year - from damn prophecies telling him only that he could kill the dark lord, to dealing with idiots at the Ministry whose first priority was making themselves look good, Harry wondered why he hadn't gone insane yet.

"I'm only 16!" Harry moaned aloud, not realizing that Draco had already finished his shower and was now getting dressed.

"So am I, love." Draco called out from the bedroom. "But you don't hear me groaning about it all the time."

"It's fine for you, Draconis Malfoy." Harry snapped back. "You were raised in a castle, taught to be a Malfoy, and taught all of this crap that we're doing. Me? I was raised in a cupboard under the stairs and the most I had to worry about was keeping the spiders out of my socks! That's nothing like this crap!"

"You can handle it, Harry." Draco said calmly, fixing his tie before pulling on his robes and looking back at Harry who was now standing and staring at him. "You're a natural at handling people."

"So you say." Harry fumed, crossing his arms. "I still feel like I'm flying blind and the snitch is teasing me constantly out of my reach!"

"So do I, most of the time." Draco said, adjusting his robes a little. "It's just that I'm used to it by now and follow my instincts. Give it some time."

"Arggghhh!" Harry exclaimed in frustration. Draco just laughed, pulling Harry's clothes for the day with him. There was something special about those times that Draco dressed him as if he was a child. Maybe some people would think that it was humiliating, but Harry found it comforting. No one had ever seen this private ritual and neither of them wanted that to ever happen. It was something just for them. By the time Draco was satisfied with Harry's attire, they were late for breakfast. Naturally, they sauntered into the great hall together, separating to their own tables with a fond glance.

Harry had just begun to fill his plate after saying hello to Ron and Hermione when the morning post arrived. Most of Harry's mail was now going directly to his assistant, Jeremy, only mail from specific people went directly to him. Today he received one piece of mail, carried by a magnificent eagle owl and written on rich parchment, which clearly announced that it was from the Malfoy residence. While eating with one hand he opened the letter and began to read what Lucius Malfoy had written.

My New Son,

I know that as the school year ends you must be very busy, so I will keep this as short as possible. Things here at Malfoy Manor proceed calmly for the most part, despite my wife's continuing despair of planning a proper End of Year Feast for you and your friends. The good news is that the Ministry has finally given their approval not only for the Feast but the guest list as well. I must admit that I never entertained the idea of Albus Dumbledore as an honored Malfoy guest, but I hope that it will be a sign of a new era for the Malfoy Family. Minister Fudge has been added to the list along with a few select Ministry Officials, something I am sure you will not mind too much.

Do not despair of a boring party though. We older folk will retire shortly after eleven at night and allow you younger folk to enjoy a more lively party.

Knowing of your close relationship with the Weasley family, I have endeavored to end the long-standing feud between myself and Arthur Weasley. To that end, Arthur and his lovely wife were our guests for dinner recently and much of our past enmity has been laid to rest. I regret to inform you however, that Narcissa was quite taken with Molly Weasley and has enlisted her assistance in preparing not only your Feast but your wedding as well. I fear they have also begun to prepare a list of names for suitable young woman to bear children for Draco and you. I believe it was mentioned holding the fertilization ceremony soon after your wedding. While I look forward to being a grandfather, I must agree with your previous statements urging restraint until other matters have been concluded.

The continued excellence shown by both of you, not only in academics but in all areas of your lives is most gratifying and maintains the Malfoy and Potter names well. As always, please share this letter with Draco, for together you two are complete. I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Lucius Malfoy

Harry couldn't help but grimace and smile as he read through the letter. The thought of Narcissa and Molly teaming up to plan his life with Draco was nerve wracking in the extreme. Putting aside thoughts of children for the moment, Harry concentrated on the peculiarities of Lucius Malfoy's handwriting and the second letter imbedded in the Malfoy family code began to coalesce into a second letter. It took him longer to translate than it would take Draco, but he did get the second letter after a few minutes.

Dear Harry,

The Ministry has finally begun to relax their guard over the Manor. I agree that we will have to be careful with Dumbledore present, but I believe using Fudge and the press attending will help with that. After the adults leave things should go more smoothly for the two of you.

While here for dinner, Arthur Weasley shocked me with providing unexpected information. He informed me that the muggle government is preparing to make demands unless the dark lord is captured or killed soon. Tonight's meeting has been called so a muggle representative can present his/her demands. My letter to Draco contains some words of advice on this situation. Please confer with him and consider my advice.

Lucius Malfoy.

As breakfast ended, Harry finished arguing with Ron and Seamus about the last Montrose Magpies match (Harry insisted that the Seeker hitting the ground after catching the snitch wasn't brave, but foolish) and left with his house mates for the first class of the day. Draco joined them as they exited the hall, and the two quietly exchanged letters. Harry would review Draco's letter during the day and then they'd talk about what it had to say later. By the time they reached the Potions classroom, Harry was relaxed by the normality of his friends' chatter.

The morning passed quickly for him after that. Severus shocked everyone by giving both Gryffindor and Slytherin 5 points when Harry and Draco produced a perfect binding potion. Of course then Seamus got 5 points taken away when he dropped a glass flask on the floor in shock. Draco just smirked.

While Draco led the first year DADA classes in revisions of their wand movements, Harry read over the letter Draco had received from his father. He shook his head slightly as he read through the letter twice. Lucius still wrote to his son in a less friendly manner than he did to Harry, and he knew that it hurt his love a little. Still, the ideas that Lucius had were interesting and they managed to discuss them between first year classes.

While they ate a private lunch in their rooms, they discussed the matter more fully, finally deciding on several approaches depending on how the meeting went. They also decided to use codes (using slight touches) during the meeting. Harry still felt a lingering doubt about his abilities to handle these types of things, but he trusted Draco, and Draco would be there beside him.

Afternoon Charms class was uncomfortable to say the least. Ron focused all his attention on Professor Flitwick's lessons, completely ignoring Harry. Hermione spent half the lesson sneaking worried glances at him. Their uncharacteristic behavior was setting off alarm bells inside him, but they only peaked when Hermione informed him after class that she and Ron wanted to talk to him and Draco. He told them to stop by for dinner in his room. He left them behind after that to head to his meeting with the Defenders.
That only made his mood worse.

Instead of talking about training routines, patrol schedules, or new ideas for how to respond to emergencies, the entire meeting was spent as a verbal sparring session over who might be spying for Voldemort. Cho Chang's legacy to Hogwarts was that there was an air of suspicion over every jilted lover, every disgruntled student who received a bad grade, and every victim of a practical joke who didn't laugh it off. No matter what Harry or Draco said to deflect the growing list of 'suspicious' students, the rest of the Defenders were not to be deterred. It had been like this at the last Hogwarts Order meeting and Harry was getting fed up with it all. He finally lost it when the Ravenclaw students proposed searching each and every student whenever they returned from any trip off campus. The search would include all their baggage as well as their bodies for any sign of a dark mark.

Since this would affect several Slytherins who had sworn the Blood Oath to them, Harry and Draco soundly denounced this proposal.

By the time they returned to their rooms for dinner Harry's frustration had reached the breaking point. Storming into their room, he practically ripped off his school robes and began changing into the robes he'd wear to the meeting after dinner. All thoughts of his two friends were long gone from his mind as he angrily sorted through the wardrobe trying to decide what to wear while Draco stood by their bed and sighed.

"I can't stand this anymore!" Harry growled as he pulled out a green and gold robe before tossing it to the floor of the wardrobe and continuing his search.

"What is it this time, Harry?" Draco sighed, moving to pick up the discarded robe and pulling out a blue and silver robe that he planned to wear. "You've been tense all morning."

"It's all this!" Harry snorted, waving one hand vaguely in the air. "I'm sorry, I know we talked about it in the morning, but I can't just keep on fooling myself! I'm not this great leader everyone is trying to make me out to be! Half the time these days I keep forgetting who knows what secret, what I can and can't say to different people, and even what the hell I want!"

"Oh, Harry." Draco said softly, trying to calm him down. Draco took Harry into his arms, and Harry tried to fight the feeling of comfort they gave him, but soon he was sobbing into Draco's shoulder. Draco continued talking to him in a soft voice.

"I know this is tough right now, love." Draco said. "Just give it some more time. It'll be second nature before too long."

"What if I don't want it to be second nature?" Harry asked sharply, pulling out of Draco's grasp. The sensation of calmness faded and his anger returned.

"Why do you say that?" Draco asked, an edge to his voice as he stepped back from Harry.

"I'm scared." Harry admitted, his voice rising slightly. "All these secrets, all these meetings, all this political crap is driving me crazy! I feel so lost half the time! Why can't you handle all this crap and I just kill the bastard and his cronies?"

"I'm sorry." Draco said sharply, his voice carrying a hint of sarcasm. "But you know why we are doing things this way! No one will ever fully trust me because I'm a Malfoy, not the way they trust the bloody Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Bloody Potter!"

"Is that supposed to be my fault?" Harry demanded angrily.

"No." Draco spat back, his face flushed with anger. "But it is how things are and you know it as well as I do. We have to get used to it, which means that you have to play the game the way they play it or else we won't succeed."

"Still, I don't know." Harry said in a more gentle tone, acknowledging without words that Draco was right. "Are we even doing the right thing here?"

"You're talking about the Blood Oath, aren't you?" Draco asked in a worried tone.

"YES!" Harry spat out loudly. His voice was almost shrill as he continued. "It still feels wrong to me! I can feel them in my head, they follow our orders, and I can't help but wonder if this was how Tom Riddle started down the road to becoming Lord Voldemort!"

"I KNEW IT!" Ron Weasley's voice startled both Harry and Draco, and Harry felt his heart drop into the bottom of his shoes. They both spun around to face the opening of their bedroom and found both Ron and Hermione standing there with looks of surprise and horror on their faces. A distant part of Harry's mind cursed ever having given them the password. They must have arrived early for dinner and heard them talking in the bedroom. He knew his old friends would never give up a chance to listen in on a private conversation they thought might affect them.

"Blood Oath, Harry?" Hermione's voice was soft as she asked, simple surprise in her voice, not the horror Ron was expressing.

"I knew Malfoy would get him into Dark Magic!" Ron snarled menacingly. "He's trying to turn Harry into his own pet Dark Lord!"

"Ron, Hermione, calm down." Harry said in what he hoped was a calming voice. He moved towards his old friends, but they flinched and he stopped where he was. Luckily, no one was going for their wands yet. "Let me explain."

"Explain?" Hermione asked, cocking her head to the side and raising an eyebrow. "What explanation can there be for using dark magic?"

"The Blood Oath is not dark magic!" Harry spit out a lot louder than he intended.

"Says HIM!" Ron exclaimed, pointing at Draco. Ron started to turn and head out of the room, continuing talking in a loud voice. "We'll see what Dumbledore has to say about all of this!"

"Stupefy!" Harry's voice was filled with regret. His wand was pointed at Ron and the spell hit his first and best friend square in the back. As the red head fell to the ground, Hermione reached for her own wand, her eyes wide with shock. Barely holding in the sigh he felt, Harry took careful aim as to not hurt her baby and cast the same spell again. Draco was able to catch her before she fell to the ground. Harry stared at the unconscious forms of his two friends and he felt like crying, raging, and turning his own wand on himself as waves of guilt swept through him.

"I feel so trapped." Harry muttered into the silence that had fallen on the room as Draco checked on Hermione's condition.

"Harry," Draco said firmly as he stood up from checking Hermione. "If you had not gone down this road, you might have died at Hearly Manor. You might one day have defeated Voldemort if you survived that encounter without the support of former Death Eaters, but then seen his cause taken up by more Death Eaters and more violence a few years later. This path we are on is going to save muggles in the future as well as the wizarding world itself. You are the only person alive who has any hope of pulling this off.

"When we finally kill Voldemort, you'll be able to provide a peaceful resolution for those who supported his campaign against muggles. You will be able to provide a peace no one else can. How many lives on all sides will you be saving then? How many people will you save because you are doing this?"

"I know" Harry answered with a sigh, his shoulder's slumping. "But it's so hard to remember that when I can't see those people but I can see my two best friends lying on the floor knocked out by my own wand!"

"Bloody Gryffindors and their inability to see anything beyond their noses!" Draco growled as he crossed the room to stand nose to nose with Harry, his gray eyes burrowing into Harry's soul. They stood like that for what seemed like ages, until Harry looked down at the thin space between them.

"You're right." He whispered. "C'mon, we better get them on the couches before I use the memory charms we prepared for this situation."

"You sure?" Draco asked softly, lifting his eyebrow slightly, a look of sympathy filling his eyes.

"Yes." Harry gasped out through the clutch of emotions clogging his throat. "We are doing the right thing. It's just frustrating. I'm not used to all of this deception. It's not like sneaking down to the kitchen for a midnight snack!"

"You get Weasel." Draco said with a slight smirk. "He's too heavy for me."

Harry couldn't help but chuckle as he prepared to move his best friend's unconscious body.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It had only taken Harry a few minutes to get the two into the main room and on the couch. Harry had used his legillimancy skills to find out what it was they had come to discuss, and found it fit well with some of the ideas he'd been discussing recently with Draco. He filled Draco in on what they had wanted to discuss before planting memory charms that erased their memory of the overheard conversation and planted memories of them discussing their concerns with Harry and Draco in the main room. He pointedly ignored the image from Ron's memory of a Harry in dark robes with red burning eyes.

Harry and Draco then sat on the other couch in accordance with the memories he'd planted in the minds of his two friends. Hiding his wand in his sleeve, he cast the charm that would bring them back around in a more gentle way than the enervate spell.

"So why don't you two join us tonight at the Ministry meeting?" Harry said, continuing the conversation he had planted in their heads.

"I agree." Draco added on cue. "Having the two of you to talk things over with will be good."

"Do you think we'll be allowed in?" Hermione asked after blinking a moment as she came back to full awareness and her mind accepted the memories Harry had planted.

"Of course." Harry answered with a grin. Dobby chose that moment to appear with another elf. Both carried several trays of food for the four. As they ate, Harry and Draco continued answering questions from both Ron and Hermione about the Emergency War Committee and some of the recent changes in various Ministry Departments. Ron's dad, now considered a rising star in the Ministry, had sent Harry many letters with information that occasionally surprised both Harry and Draco. The nagging guilt he felt at what he'd done continued to worm in Harry's stomach, and the food he ate seemed to have no taste whatsoever.

Ron and Hermione rushed back to their rooms (Ron to his Head Boy room, Hermione to the Gryffindor tower) to dress in formal robes. Harry returned to the bedroom and silently picked out a crimson and silver robe for himself with a black cape. Draco remained silent as well as he watched Harry get dressed. When his two friends returned, they walked together out of the room and set out for the carriage waiting to take them to Hogsmeade.

As his two friends grew more excited the further they got from Hogwarts, the guilt Harry felt about changing their memories began to fade. Both of them were positively beaming about being included by Harry, and he couldn't help but smile in return. By the time they reached Hogsmeade and Ron took Harry's hand to apparate, the guilt had all but disappeared.

"Harry! Glad you could make it!" Fudge's voice grated on Harry's raw nerves immediately, but he faked a smile and shook the man's hand, careful to take it back before the Minister shook it apart.

"Cornelius, a pleasure as always." Harry replied once he reclaimed his hand. "I do hope you don't mind me bringing Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley. They've been helping me perform some analyses and I felt that seeing a meeting first hand will only increase their effectiveness. They've been of great help to me for many years now."

"Of course it's not a problem, my boy." Fudge said after a moment, his tone saying otherwise. He fixed both of the newcomers with steady looks before grudgingly leading them to the conference room that was being used for this meeting. He pointed the pair towards chairs along the wall while Harry and Draco took their usual seats. Minerva McGonagall was sitting in Dumbledore's place. That signaled that Dumbledore had an emergency Order meeting but would be using school business as a cover for his absence. McGonagall nodded to Harry and Draco as they sat down. On her other side, Fudge took his place at the head of the table. An older, distinguished looking man sat on Fudge's other side and Harry guessed that this was the muggle official. The man stared at Harry and Draco with open curiosity as they settled into their seats.

"Let the record show that this special meeting of the Ministry's Emergency War Committee has been called to order." Fudge said in his standard self-important tones. "Special note shall be made that Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is sitting for Albus Dumbledore. It shall also be noted that Mr. Potter has brought Ms. Hermione Granger of Hogwarts and Mr. Ronald Weasley also of Hogwarts as his assistants for this meeting. We are also honored to have Sir Edmund Fitzgerald of Her Majesty's government in attendance. Let us get started with the report from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

"Thank you, Minister." Maggie Lawton, a middle-aged witch and the new head of that department said from her spot in the middle of the table. "We have mixed news for the committee tonight. We have recently arrested five more Death Eaters. These men have been questioned intensively by Auror teams, and one of them, Andrew McKory, has confirmed that You-Know-Who has indeed fled the country and is now somewhere in Europe. Most of his supporters here have joined him in exile. For now, at least, the problem we face from him has disappeared. We have won this war."

"We have won a battle, not the war." McGonagall interjected sharply. "As long as he lives in some form or another, Voldemort will always pose a danger to this land."

"Most people thought he was dead fifteen years ago after he attacked me." Harry added, leaning forward and running his gaze across the room. "He came back though, and caught most of us off-guard. The news that he has retreated is indeed good news, but the fact that he is out there rebuilding his support is not good news. If he is allowed to operate unchallenged, he will return with enough supporters to overcome everything we have done. We cannot allow him to gain power in Europe any more than we can afford to have him gain power here."

"Good riddance I say." Connor Tollman commented. He was an older ministry official. "Let him bother the governments over there and they can deal with him. Meanwhile we can stop this waste of resources on defense and return to what we should be doing!"

"If he would stay in Europe, I might agree with you." Draco said with a sneer for the older man. "But the chances of that happening are slim. He'll recruit more troops, and then come back. He wants us under his boot and he will be satisfied with nothing less."

"You seem quite certain of that Malfoy." Maggie Lawton said, her eyes showing her suspicion of anyone with that name.

"Probably because I am that certain." Draco answered her haughtily. "I know my father has already told you this before, but Voldemort has always planned to recruit from Eastern Europe. Those Soveeyeti people abused the non-magical communities for decades and they are ripe for his message of wizarding superiority."

"The civil authorities will be more than capable of handling him if he shows his hand there." Sir Fitzgerald interrupted, leaning forward with his hands clasped on the table. "The civil governments in those countries are not fettered in dealing with their magical communities as we here in Britain have been over the past few centuries. They have resources you cannot even dream of, much less comprehend, to use against him. Something we should have done long since."

"I wouldn't be too sure of that." Harry said firmly.

"I'm sorry young man." Sir Fitzgerald retorted in a haughty tone of his own. "You are far too young to understand these things and considering you don't live in the real world I doubt you would understand the resources at our disposal."

"A bad assumption for you to make, sir." Harry said with a smirk of his own. Several of the people around the table chuckled softly at that. "Computers that can store huge amounts of information, satellites that can look down at a man from space, airplanes with cameras in them, helicopters hovering over the forests, and all of your electronic listening devices can't help when your enemy doesn't use any of those devices and doesn't even exist in your computers. Voldemort doesn't need airplanes to move around, he can disappear before your helicopters can spot him, and your satellites couldn't even pick him out if he was floating right in front of them in space. You can't even put a picture of him on the telly like you did with Sirius Black because no one will believe in a man with red glowing eyes, skeletal features, and having a wand as a weapon. The only ones who will believe in him are those poor souls he tortures and then kills, and it will be too late for them by the time they realize that he is very real."

"Mr. Potter has spent a good part of his life in your 'real' world." McGonagall added in a stern voice as if she was lecturing a particularly recalcitrant student. "As has young Ms. Granger behind him. They are quite aware of the marvels you are so proud of, and their limitations. I dare say Voldemort is also aware of such things."

"My parents are dentists, sir." Hermione spoke up from her seat against the wall. "We didn't even believe in magic until I got my letter from Hogwarts five years ago. One of the things that freaked them out the most was how most muggle devices don't work around strong magic, something you don't seem to have considered."

"I see." Sir Fitzgerald said in a patronizing tone. "Regardless, this changes little of why the Prime Minister has sent me here."

"Pray tell why you are here, then." Minerva McGonagall said with a frown.

"Her Majesty's government is quite upset at the reemergence of this threat we were told no longer existed." He answered, frowning hard. "We will no longer accept the attacks by this man upon our citizens without taking action. While we are pleased that he appears to have fled the country, I am here to inform you that unless he and all of his supporters are eliminated within the next month, we will be forced to take action.

"What kind of action?" Fudge asked, his face becoming very pale.

"Our troops and police forces will begin searching for him and his supporters in all magical communities and establishments throughout our country." Sir Fitzgerald proclaimed. "We will search all of your kind for evidence of their support for him, and we shall take action against any of his followers we find in accordance with our own laws, not yours."

The uproar caused by this proclamation was intense and loud. Harry reacted by leaning back in his chair, reaching out to grasp Draco's hand in his. He met Draco's silver eyes and lost himself in them as his mind whirled with thoughts. These words, spoken by a muggle government representative only confirmed his worst fears about the muggle word and supported everything he'd discussed with the Slytherin students months ago. That discussion had led him to support many of their ideals, and this declaration almost made him consider Voldemort's brutal methods.

Almost, but not quite. There were other ways to keep the muggles from taking over.

Around him, the pandemonium continued as ministry officials tried to drown each others' words by shouting in louder and louder voices. With a nod to Draco, Harry stood and waited in silence. Those around him noticed his movement first, and as they fell silent and others further down the table noticed him standing, still holding Draco's hand, they too fell silent. As the last voice died down, and all eyes focused on Harry, Draco stood. Harry turned to face the muggle, a stern look on his face.

"I will kill Voldemort, as prophesied, as soon as I have the opportunity." Harry said in a cold voice. "I will do this not because of your deadline or your threats, but because he deserves the death he will receive. Your involvement, and troops, will only exacerbate an already tense situation. I suggest you leave things to those who can actually do something about it. Cornelius, we'll see you at the next regular meeting."

As he finished addressing the Minister of Magic, Harry turned sharply, letting Draco's hand go as he turned, and walked out of the room. His pace was neither fast nor slow, but carefully measured. Draco was right behind him, followed soon by Ron and Hermione. Once they were out of sight of the conference room, Hermione broke out into laughter.

"Exacerbate, Harry?" She gasped out between laughs. "Since when do you know words like that?"

Her jibe and laughter caused both Ron and Draco to let out short laughs of their own, and Harry relaxed a little more as they exited the Ministry building and apparated to Hogsmeade. Since they were back early there was no carriage waiting for them, so the four began the long walk back to Hogwarts.

Hermione spent most of the journey back animatedly telling them about all of the various treaties that would prevent the muggle government from intervening, and how in the past they had violated some of those treaties. It seemed she'd read ahead to the seventh year History of Magic lessons, but no one was really surprised. Draco began a lengthy argument with her over whether the London Treaty of 1982 would work best in arguments with the muggle government because of how three Ministry wizards had helped save the lives of thousands of muggle soldiers during some war.

Harry really wished Hermione's reaction earlier this evening had been different. He wanted her intelligence to help guide him, but her reaction to the Blood Oath had been so negative that he doubted he could really trust her. It was ironic really, that he could now trust Pansy Parkinson more than Hermione, ironic and sad.

Draco was positively ecstatic at how fierce Hermione was in opposing muggle involvement in wizard affairs. Harry knew Draco had feared she, being muggle-born, would not have a problem with such meddling in wizard affairs. What Draco hadn't understood was that Hermione understood the problems of such involvement better than Draco, who had never lived in the muggle world, ever could. Hermione knew deep down inside that muggle soldiers in places like Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade would only end in disaster.

While Draco and Hermione were deep in conversation about treaties, they began to climb the steps for the main entrance of Hogwarts. The group of four came to a stop when they noticed a figure standing in the middle of the entrance. Professor McGonagall had her hands on her hips and Harry wondered exactly how she'd beaten them back.

"Mr. Potter," She said sternly. "The Headmaster and I would like a few words with you in private, if you please. The rest of you may return to your rooms."

Ron and Hermione nodded and immediately took off. Hermione headed to Gryffindor Tower and Ron to his Head Boy room. Draco stayed a moment longer, squeezing Harry's hand before making his way to the rooms they shared. McGonagall nodded her head and turned, leading Harry to the Headmaster's office in complete silence. She was obviously upset. The gargoyle stood aside as she spoke the password and they ascended into Dumbledore's office. The old man was already seated at his desk, a grave expression on his face as he motioned for Harry to sit. McGonagall moved to stand beside the Headmaster's desk.

"Tea, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, followed quickly by a proffered bowl. "Lemon Drop?"

"Yes, please." Harry said politely. It was always better to accept whatever Dumbledore offered.

"Mr. Potter." McGonagall began as Harry took a lemon drop and a cup of tea. "You have been given more freedoms, privileges, honors, and responsibilities than any other student in the history of this school. Until tonight you have done an admirable job for one so young at fulfilling all of the duties entrusted to you. However, your performance tonight was inexcusable. Storming out of a Ministry meeting, especially one as important as tonight's, and with a representative of the muggle government present, does nothing but present you as an impatient, temperamental child. What were you thinking?"

"I was ending a very dangerous conversation before anything could be decided that would harm the wizarding world." Harry said bluntly. "The Muggle Government cannot be allowed to interfere in the wizarding world, especially now, when we have Voldemort on the run instead of on the attack."

"Why do you believe that, Harry." Dumbledore asked quietly.

"Voldemort started his campaign years ago based on the idea of protecting the wizarding world from the muggle world." Harry began his answer calmly. It was time to lay certain cards on the table, he just wished Draco was here to warn him if he started to say too much. "His supporters often hated muggles and muggle borns. He used that hatred, and even fear, from ordinary witches and wizards to recruit followers who would never have joined him otherwise. Then their use of the dark arts corrupted them further until the original reasons became secondary to feeling the rush of power when they tortured or killed."

"A very astute observation," Dumbledore said with a nod. "I assume the Malfoys have explained much too you."

"Yes, they did, including their original motivations and the traps they fell into, traps they are now attempting to climb out of." Harry said. "It's not easy, but they are trying, especially Lucius, and many of their former Death Eater friends are looking to them for guidance on how to do this."

"Which is why you insist on helping them continue to see each other." Dumbledore thought out loud. "Yes, yes, I can see the value in that course of action. I will make sure to help increase their contacts from now on, but back to your explanation Harry."

"Um, let's see." Harry said, thinking for a moment to hide his surprise. "This time around it's a lot different. People know Voldemort hates muggles and muggle-borns, but they don't think of him as trying to protect the wizarding world like the first time. They just see the horrors he causes and the terrors attributed to him and his followers. This has helped to keep his recruitment efforts down, mostly only those who desire power, authority, and are willing to pay any price to get those things join him. That's why he's retreated to Europe where he can still recruit more easily. That all changes if muggle authorities and their troops get involved. It gives Voldemort a chance to recruit more people to his side, people who don't necessarily hold with killing muggles for pleasure but who don't want to live under muggle authority. Too many still remember all of the burnings, destroyed families, and ruined lives from muggle prejudice in the past. We learn about them here in this school as part of our history and their involvement now will only cause an increase in support for Voldemort."

"So your reactions weren't based on a dislike of muggles?" McGonagall asked sharply, looking down at him.

"Why would I do that?" Harry asked, a perplexed expression on his face. "Hermione Granger is one of my best friends!"

"Of course, Harry, of course." Dumbledore said soothingly. "Please explain why you left the meeting in the manner you did instead of saying these things there."

"Because the muggle representative was present." Harry replied. "It was obvious he supported taking more control of wizarding affairs and he wouldn't understand our politics. Fudge is crafty, but he's afraid of losing power over wizards and witches. He'd pucker up to the muggle in hopes of keeping his authority while most of the wizards and witches present wouldn't dare oppose him openly. However, without my presence at the meeting, Fudge can't really act without losing support among the people and he understands that. He'll delay the muggle authorities until he can at least make it seem like I support their intervention. I won't let that happen."

"That confident of your importance are you?" McGonagall said in a disappointed tone.

"No." Harry answered her firmly. "I am that confident in their belief of my importance."

"A most…adult perspective." Dumbledore said after a moment of silence. "I must say that you have matured far beyond my expectations in the last year."

"You gave me several years of childhood, Albus." Harry said softly. "Despite everything that happened you tried to allow me to be kid as long as you could. That time ended last year when Sirius died. I've had a lot of help from Draco and others in growing up this last year and I found that when I applied myself, I really could do more than I thought I could."

"Still, I wish you had these last few years as most children should have." Dumbledore sighed softly. "But I doubt that any child in this school will be able to fully enjoy their childhood in these troubled times."

"Which is why you have made the changes here that you did." Harry acknowledged. "The sooner Voldemort is gone, the sooner things can return to how they should be."

"I agree with you there, Potter." McGonagall said with a small smile, taking a seat at last.

"Given your explanations, I find I must agree with your reasons, Harry." Albus admitted after McGonagall sat down. "I just wish your…style would have been different. I also wish you had shared more of your thinking with myself or Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you, Albus." Harry said, letting a sigh escape from his lips. "How did the Order meeting go?"

"We received several disturbing clues as to the reasons behind the collapse in support for Voldemort." Dumbledore said, accepting the change in topic. "There are rumors that someone is attempting to take his place here in Britain and organizing a new dark group. There is mounting evidence that this is somehow connected to your future father-in-law."

"Thank Merlin." Harry said after a moment, forcing himself to relax a little in the sudden panic that seemed to grip him.

"Excuse me?" Dumbledore said with a frown. "I thought this would bother you, not make happy."

"The only reason it doesn't bother me, Albus, is that I am fully aware of what Lucius is doing." Harry said calmly. "He has my full support in this and we were only waiting to inform you specifically until we had some sign that it was working."

"What is he doing?" McGonagall asked warily.

"He is approaching his former compatriots and talking to them. He is telling them that as my father-in-law to be, he is able to influence me and forward their original goals of eliminating muggle influence without needing violence. He lets them believe I will one day enter the Ministry and have the power to make such changes without resorting to dark magic. I've given him my word that I will always listen to his advice, but have not committed to any obligation to follow that advice. He understands that, but lets the others believe what they will."

"That explains many things." Dumbledore said with a soft smile. "A plan worthy of Salazar Slytherin himself."

"Draco's idea." Harry admitted. "If we give them a reason to believe that their views will be heard without the need for violence, the only reason to continue supporting Voldemort would be because of the violence."

"This is still dangerous." McGonagall said.

"But greatly beneficial." Dumbledore added. "Most of them would not support me because of my well known support for muggle-borns. Harry on the other hand, as Draco's fiancé, has more believability. His past comforts those on our side while his marriage into the Malfoy family gives their side hopes that they can have an advocate who makes Voldemort unnecessary. Do you plan to enter politics, then?"

"No" Harry answered. "I'll keep my contacts but I still want to complete Auror training, then something else after that. I'll have some type of advisory role with the Ministry that keeps the former Death Eaters convinced I have the influence they need."

"Good, good." Dumbledore said. "You've thought this through and I assume had help from Draco and others in your planning. You must be wary, though. Lucius Malfoy and his associates are still the same people they were in your second year."

"I am aware of that, Albus, and I am careful." Harry replied shortly. "Is there anything else? I still have some year-end tests to prepare."

"Funny that you should mention that." Dumbledore said while McGonagall chuckled. "Tell me, have you enjoyed teaching this year?"

"To be honest, I love it." Harry said. "I may even consider it a career after Auror training."

"A fine thought." McGonagall said firmly. "I promised you to do everything I could to see you be an Auror last year. I meant it, and I think you might make a most excellent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I will make sure you are ready for such a posting if you do indeed desire it as a long-term career."

"Thank you." Harry said with a smile. "Draco would much prefer that I be a teacher than an Auror. He thinks it is safer."

"Yes, well, the staff has been having many meetings lately about next year." Dumbledore said with a nod and a smile. "The threat from Voldemort is less than it was at the beginning of the year, but we do believe that he will come back before too long. He is obsessed with controlling this country and will not leave it forever. Therefore, we have chosen to continue the extensive training we began in DADA. Professor Lupin will still be teaching extra classes next year and with some new additions we have planned, he will be even more pressed for time. We have discussed this with the Ministry, and we would like to offer you the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor for all first and second year students next school year."

"But…but I haven't even graduated yet!" Harry stuttered in surprise.

"The Ministry insisted on certain things before they would consent to granting you another teaching certificate for the year. First, you must pass the Defense Against Dark Arts, Charms, Transfigurations, and Potions N.E.W.T. exams."

"But they've already given those!" Harry exclaimed.

"Yes, they have." Dumbledore agreed. "A special testing will be arranged the second week of summer vacation. As you pointed out earlier this year, your extra courses have already prepared you for these exams. I have complete confidence that you will pass them with high marks, and your professors have all agreed with this assessment. Draco is also ready in these areas and we will meet with him tomorrow to discuss this. We will be offering him the position of Potions Assistant to Professor Snape in order to allow Severus to attend to other matters. If you accept, you will be teaching first and second year students in the DADA coursework. Passing your NEWTS will remove you from the need to take those courses during the year. You will however take Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, and your elective courses. You will also take a one hour study session with different professors each day on advanced coursework in the areas you have passed your N.E.W.T exams. I dare say that by the time you graduate Hogwarts next year you will be mostly finished with areas normally covered in Auror training."

"I…that's wonderful." Harry gasped out as Dumbledore ended. "I'll take it!"

"I had a feeling you would." Dumbledore said with a smile and that ever-present twinkle in his eyes. "Jeremy will have the papers you must sign and a schedule for your exams this summer by tomorrow morning. We'll talk with Draco before breakfast. I would appreciate it if you would wait until then to share this with him. I wish to surprise him."

"Of course!" Harry agreed with a smirk. "He'll get mad, we'll argue, then we'll have to make up. That's always fun."

"Mr. Potter, please!" McGonagall exclaimed with a small smile.

"Sorry Professor." Harry replied with a grin of his own.

"Very well, Harry." Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling on overload. "Why don't you go to bed. Tomorrow will be a very busy day."

"Yes, sir." Harry said with a grin as he got up to leave. He was in such a good mood that he all but ran back to the rooms he shared with Draco. He called out the password to his portrait and it opened just in time for him to skip inside. The room was dark, fires already banked, and he could make out Draco's slumbering form in the bed as he entered the bedroom. Quietly, he undressed and crawled into bed next to his blond lover.

As he snuggled up to Draco underneath the covers, he felt that something was wrong. Draco was shaking ever so slightly and making a whimpering sound in his throat. His good mood evaporated as concern filled him. He shook Draco slightly and whispered in his ear until those gray eyes opened. They were wide, and glistened with unshed tears as they met his own, and Harry let out a small groan.

"The nightmare again?" Harry asked, concern filling his voice.

"Yes." Draco murmured, two tears slipping down his face. Harry gently wiped them away and kissed Draco on the forehead.

"Love, you had to kill her." Harry murmured as he began to kiss every part of Draco's face. "You did the right thing."

"I know, but it hurts knowing that I took her life." Draco murmured softly.

"Bellatrix Lestrange deserved it." Harry said firmly. "You are not an evil person because you killed her. It's what you had to do and I love you for sparing me from the guilt you're feeling."

"Oh, Harry." Draco murmured as his lips met Harry's. The kiss began as a needy connection between the two. Harry let his passion and love for Draco show as the kiss deepened, and Draco's need for emotional reassurance changed into a different kind of need.

School, politics, war, death, and future teaching positions all faded from Harry's mind as passion filled him and Draco's hands began to move over his body, laying claim once more to every part of him. Several hours later, exhausted as only Draco Malfoy could make him, Harry Potter drifted off into sleep, content with his world and his life.