Draco dragged Harry briskly through the Slytherin common room and into his dorm, where he slammed the door, shoved Harry up against it, and proceeded to snog the stuffing out of him. Harry had no fault to find with this program, and snogged back eagerly, clutching Draco's shoulders in a white-knuckled grip. He couldn't get enough of the feel and taste of Draco's tongue twining with his. It sent hot chills all over his body.

"We only have a few minutes," Draco muttered, running his lips down Harry's throat and mouthing at his Adam's apple. Harry moaned. "Why'd you say we'd go flying?"

"Sshut up," Harry groaned, throwing his head back.

"Good point." Draco's hands were busy between them, undoing Harry's trousers. Harry pulled himself together enough to attack the fastenings of Draco's, which were slightly more complicated. What had possessed him to have button flies put on his uniform trousers? With millions of fiddly little buttons? Harry's fingers felt thick and clumsy, and he kept losing track of what he was doing as Draco's mouth sent fresh waves of desire through him.

But at last he got the trousers open and greedily seized onto Draco's cock, just as Draco's hand closed on his. They devoured each other's mouths in another ferocious kiss, hands and hips moving frantically. Harry felt his mind dissolving in a white-hot rush.

"Mmm….'m gonna…" he gasped, and came suddenly with a choked cry. Draco followed a minute later, burying his head in Harry's shoulder to muffle his own yell.

"Nice," said Draco after a few minutes, catching his breath and standing back from Harry, looking him over with satisfaction. "You look delicious."

Harry was still gasping. "Th – thankss," he got out, and waved a hand weakly over his body, which was instantly clean and dry.

Draco looked envious as he waved his wand over himself. "Nice trick," he remarked, looking slightly mollified as Harry had serious trouble doing up his trousers or, indeed, standing upright. Draco smiled and did up Harry's trousers for him. "All right, then?"

"Yeah." Harry made a mighty effort and got his knees to stop shaking.

"We definitely need some time alone in bed," said Draco, rummaging in his wardrobe, and another hot thrill ran down Harry's spine. "Got my broom. Ready?"

"Okay," said Harry, still having a bit of trouble with higher cognitive functions, and followed Draco back upstairs, where Ron and Hermione were waiting.

"I got your broom, Harry," said Ron, when he caught sight of them. He looked the two of them over, and a resigned expression came over his face. "I knew it…here." He handed Harry his Firebolt.

"Thankss," said Harry, taking it and pulling himself together. He'd kill himself on the broom otherwise. "Come on, people keep looking at me."

This was true; Draco's prohibition against bothering Harry seemed to be holding, but everyone passing stared at him. Many of them looked shocked as they got glimpses of his eyes, or the way he had twisted to take the broom from Ron.

Hermione was holding a sheaf of parchments. "I'll just watch you, then," she said cheerfully, sounding just the faintest bit relieved. Ron had been on a campaign lately to get her flying more, often wheedling her onto his broom with him. To his credit, he always did fly slowly and carefully when she was riding with him.

Harry knew she was terrified of flying and tried to run interference for her; he wasn't going to stand in the way of a cast-iron excuse for her to sit safely in the stands and watch them. "Are thosse questionss?" he asked curiously.

"Yes," she said. "A lot of the expected ones and a lot of duplicates. I'll get them organised for you so you aren't repeating yourself, Harry."

"Thankss," he said, as the group headed outside and made for the Quidditch pitch.

He felt better as soon as he was in the air and showed off shamelessly, swooping and diving in his best form. Draco did the same, as did Ron.

After awhile some other kids on the various Quidditch teams came out, and an impromptu match evolved. Harry found himself scanning for the Snitch on a team that included players from all the houses, even Slytherin, as Draco opposed him with his customary determination. It was a wild game, with both sides putting on all of their best moves and the Snitch remaining elusive for quite a long time. Gradually, other students and faculty began filling up the stands.

Finally Harry spotted a glint of gold and lunged after it full-tilt, Draco a whisper behind him. They plunged over the pitch in a heart-pounding arc and veered into a dive, neither boy hesitating in the slightest.

In the end, Harry's faster reflexes won the day, as he followed the Snitch into a hairpin sideways turn away from Draco's side. By the time Draco's broom had turned, Harry was holding the Snitch, rising in the air and grinning wildly.

The stands burst into cheers, as did the members of Harry's team and even some of Draco's. One of the Chasers on Draco's team, a third-year Hufflepuff, got a good look at Harry's fangs and cried out.

As she opened her mouth, looking panicky, Draco flew over to her and seized her arm. "Don't you scream," he said harshly. "If you have a question, give it to Granger down there, but keep it together."

She nodded and pulled her arm free with an irritated look. Then, to Harry's surprise, she flew up to Harry and said, "Great game! Like the teeth, too." As he stared, she winked and sent her broom spiralling lazily down towards the pitch.

"You just never know with Hufflepuffs, do you?" said Draco in surprised tones, flying up beside Harry as the girl landed.

"I guessss not," said Harry, sending his own broom drifting downward. "I'm for a sshower."

"Mmm, me too," said Draco. "Want to share one?"

Harry gave him a humourous look. "Right, with all the other Quidditch playerss there as well. Very romantic, Draco."

"I am very romantic," Draco defended himself as they landed.

"Please don't show us," Ron begged, landing beside them. "Let's just get a shower and then lunch, I'm starved." A chorus of agreement rose from the various other players now settling to the ground all around them. At least they now seemed focussed more on lunch than on him, Harry reflected.

Professor Dumbledore came up just then and clasped Harry's shoulder. "Excellent game, gentlemen! Most exciting. We shall have to make a point of doing this again in future." People jostled past, stealing looks at Harry as they went.

"It issn't the ssame when you do it on purposse," said Harry. "The cool thing about it wass everybody jusst ssort of sshowing up."

"Perhaps you're right," Professor Dumbledore agreed. "Well, it's definitely lunchtime. I look forward to your question and answer session afterwards, Harry. I also would like to know your plans for the press."

"He'll hold a press conference in a day or so," said Draco firmly.

Harry turned to look at him. "I will?"

"Yes," said Draco. "When you've had a chance to get yourself organised. Granger and I will set it up."

"Oh, really." Harry didn't know whether to be relieved or irritated.

Some of this must have come through in his tone, because Draco suddenly dropped his eyes and said, "I really think that would be easiest on you, Harry, but it's up to you."

"Sshower now," said Harry. "Decissions later."

"Quite right," said Professor Dumbledore. "Just keep me informed. They are of course quite eager to see you." He nodded towards the edge of the grounds. Harry looked and saw dozens of message spells bursting against the wards. Behind them was a stream of people Apparating in and out.

He picked up his pace to the showers, hunching his shoulders uncomfortably.

Lunch went by in a blur, as he was busy being nervous about having to get up and speak in front of the whole school afterwards. True to her word, Hermione had organised all the questions given to her and Ron into a cohesive list, weeding out the repeat ones. Harry took the parchment and clutched it, smiling tightly at the encouraging glances from his housemates.

At last Professor Dumbledore rose. "And now, Harry Potter will answer your questions about his defeat of Lord Voldemort. Please be quiet and give him your attention." He nodded at Harry, who started up towards the staff table.

Behind him the doors of the Great Hall flew open. Startled, Harry whirled, brandishing his wand, and barely bit back the hex that would have taken out the Minister of Magic. Fudge looked startled and took a step back, treading on the toes of the Auror standing behind him.

"Mr Potter!" he exclaimed.

"Ssorry," said Harry, lowering his wand.

"Cornelius, this is not what we discussed," said Professor Dumbledore, frowning.

Harry wavered uncertainly for a moment, and then started again for the front of the room. He hadn't liked the way Fudge peered at him. Fudge kept pace with him, followed by a full dozen Aurors. When Harry mounted the head table's dais and turned, Tonks gave him a wink and a little wave.

He twitched a nervous smile at her as Professor Dumbledore stepped down and took Fudge's arm. "This is not the best time for this," Professor Dumbledore was saying.

"Nonsense," said Fudge, shaking off the Headmaster's hand. "We at the Ministry need a full report on the events of three days ago. You should have notified me the moment Mr Potter left the infirmary. Now, Mr Potter –"

"Um – I wass going to ansswer everyone'ss questionss," said Harry, as one of Fudge's Aurors pulled his wand and aimed it at him. "Protego! What are you doing?" His voice had gone high and accusing.

"Simply a medical scan, Mr Potter," said the Auror.

"Don't jusst pull a wand on me like that!" Harry cried, echoed by protesting cries from many of the other people in the room.

"Mr Potter, just come along with us –" Fudge began, but Professor Dumbledore put his hand on his arm again.

"No, Cornelius, you cannot just sweep him away! Harry will speak to the students, and then you may meet with him and his head of house in my office." He turned to Harry. "Will that be acceptable, Harry?"

"Yess, pleasse," said Harry, shooting a look at Draco, who looked incensed, and then at Ron and Hermione, who gave him encouraging smiles. "I'm not trying to hide anything, after all."

"I am the Minister for Magic!" Fudge exclaimed. "My authority –"

"-- is second to mine when on Hogwarts grounds," said Professor Dumbledore firmly. Kingsley Shacklebolt winked at Harry. "Now, if you and your escort will take seats over here, Harry can begin." He settled the mutinous looking Minister and his entourage at the end of the Slytherin table. "Harry, if you please?"

"Right." Harry cleared his throat and consulted the parchment. "First question – did I really kill Voldemort. Um – yess. He'ss really dead."

A murmur ran through the Hall.

"Ssecond – how did I kill him? Um – well, I wass transsfigured into a ssnake by accident a few dayss ago. I wass captured by Wormtail – Peter Pettigrew, I mean," he added, glaring at Fudge, who looked disturbed. "He thought I would make good potion ingredientss." His listeners laughed. "Yeah, well, Voldemort came in to check on the potion and hiss ssnake, Nagini, decided sshe wanted to play with me.

"I got mad and bit her, and she died. Voldemort freaked out – I mean, he wass really upsset. He tried to kill me, sso I bit him, too. I had to bite him a lot of timess, but eventually he sstopped getting back up. Then he ssort of exploded and disssolved in on himsself. He'ss gone for good."

He waited for the ripple of talk to run through the Hall before checking the parchment again. "What'ss wrong with my eyess and my teeth?" He sighed. "The theory iss I wass transsfigured too long and there was ssome kind of reaction with the sspellss and my magic, sso they couldn't change me all the way back…"

It wasn't as bad as he'd expected. He did end up going into his accidental transfiguration and all the events surrounding his capture and Voldemort's death in exhaustive detail, but everyone stayed quiet and let him talk, even Fudge and his minions. When Harry mentioned Snape, some of the Aurors tried to perk up, as did Fudge, only to have Tonks produce a parchment which Harry presumed was the transcript of Snape's interrogation and slap it down in front of the Minister.

At the end, everyone in the Hall was on their feet, cheering, even some of the Aurors. Harry's eyes sought out Draco. Draco was looking incredibly pleased with him, and when he caught his eye he deliberately ran a lascivious gaze over Harry and licked his lips. Harry grinned at him. He couldn't wait to be alone with Draco again.

This, alas, was not to be for awhile yet. As soon as the Great Hall had been cleared, which took a long time of people wanting to come up and shake Harry's hand or – in the case of one Slytherin girl – slap him silly for causing the decimation of her family (the Aurors took care of her), Harry had to go up to Professor Dumbledore's office with Fudge and the Aurors.

"I believe the account of the events you gave us in the Great Hall was satisfactory," said Fudge stiffly, rather to Harry's surprise. "But we need to be a bit more in-depth about your current condition. I mean to say –" His gesture encompassed Harry's whole body. "– look at you, my boy!"

Harry felt himself huddling in, and straightened angrily. God, Fudge was a git! Both the Professors were looking offended on his behalf, and some of the Aurors were looking uncomfortable. "What do you want?" he asked coldly.

The Auror who had attempted to scan Harry before came forward. "I need to do some in-depth scans of your body and magic, just to make sure there are no – aftereffects from You-Know-Who's death," he said, with a sideways look at Fudge.

"O – okay," said Harry, looking at Professor Dumbledore. Dumbledore nodded, so Harry tried to relax as the medi-Auror ran his scans, checked his teeth and eyes, prodded the fangs, and asked him to demonstrate his range of motion. Then the scans of his magic began. The Auror looked a bit disturbed, but made no comment on his readings as that proceeded.

At last it was over. "Everything all right, Hawkley?" Fudge asked.

Auror Hawkley met Harry's eyes. "He's fine, Minister," he said. "A bit drained, but nothing taking it a bit easy over the next few days won't fix."

"And his magic?" Fudge pressed. "Anything Dark left over?"

Harry scowled, and Professor Dumbledore frowned as Professor McGonagall huffed angrily.

"No, Minister, he has no taint of Dark Magic," said Hawkley. "The physical changes are just physical – unfortunate, but not signs of any more serious trouble."

I knew people would think I was Dark! Harry thought.

"Harry has never been tainted by Dark Magic, even when You-Know-Who's torments were at their worst," snapped Professor McGonagall. She was bristling. "How dare you!"

"My dear lady, it is my duty to look out for the safety of the Wizarding public," said Fudge sententiously.

Harry choked. "Yeah, it wass," he said, unable to let that remark pass. "And you called me a liar and gave Voldemort a whole year to get sstronger and more dangerouss!"

"Don't you take that tone with me, young man!" Fudge exclaimed. "I did my duty; there is much more to being Minister of Magic than you can possibly comprehend. It's not a matter of believing every wild tale that comes to my ears."

Harry hissed wordlessly, and Fudge took a step backward, then straightened and blustered, "Don't start thinking you're above the law, boy!"

Everyone in the room looked at him as though he'd lost his mind.

"Well, now that we know Harry is quite all right," said Professor Dumbledore swiftly, "perhaps it would be best if you excused us, Cornelius. This is Harry's first day up, and it has been quite stressful. I'm sure he could do with a rest and a chance to collect himself."

Fudge cleared his throat. "Yes, well, perhaps that's best. We will be in touch about a proper ceremony for the general public, Mr Potter."

Harry nodded. Fudge shook his hand perfunctorily and swept out. As she followed, Tonks took the time to squeeze Harry's hand and whisper, "Thank you for saving the world, Harry."

Auror Hawkley also murmured, "Thank you, Mr Potter."

That made him feel a bit better.

When the contingent from the Ministry had gone, Professor McGonagall said, "Well! That man! Harry, are you all right?"

"Yess, thank you, Professsor," said Harry. "Jusst kind of tired. May I go?"

"You may," said Professor Dumbledore. "And Harry – thank you. Thank you for saving us all."

"Um – you're welcome, ssir," said Harry, after an awkward moment. Then he headed downstairs to find his friends and Draco.

This took quite a long time, as people now felt free to stop him for conversation, or handshakes, or even requests for his autograph. Harry was a bit frazzled by the time he came upon Draco lurking on the first floor landing of the main staircase.

"There you are," said Draco. "Piss off," he added to the fifth year Slytherin tugging at Harry's sleeve. The boy gave him a nasty look and slunk off. "So, Harry, it's nearly dinnertime."

Harry contemplated eating in the crowded Great Hall, and his heart sank.

"I thought you could do with a break," said Draco, slinging an arm around his shoulders. "Come on, then."

He fended off various well wishers, although in a slightly politer way after he caught Harry's outraged reaction to his dismissal of a first year, who ran off on the verge of tears. Harry actually called that girl back and gave her a hug, while Draco tapped his foot nearby. She ran off happy and important, charged by Draco to make sure no one else bothered Harry that evening, at which she did a surprisingly effective job. The crowd thinned significantly.

"She'll go far, that one," said Draco approvingly – the girl was a Slytherin.

Soon enough the two boys arrived on the seventh floor, and Draco paced back and forth in front of the relevant tapestry. The door opened onto a comfortable dining room with a well-laden table set for two. Harry sighed with relief as the door closed behind them, shutting them in.

"You're right, I needed a break," he said.

They sat down and started on their dinner. Harry was ravenous, having not eaten much lunch. Draco watched him with an approving eye as he devoured lamb chops and buttered noodles and salad, washed down with pumpkin juice.

"You did really well with Fudge in the Great Hall," Draco said. "What did he do when you left?"

"Got an Auror to check me for Darknesss," said Harry wryly, settling back in his chair, replete.

Draco sat up straight, clearly outraged. "What?"

"Yeah, he thought the ssnakinesss meant I'd gone evil or ssomething." Harry shrugged angrily. "The Auror sset him sstraight. I'm fine."

"Did he at least say thank you for saving the world?" Draco demanded.

"No, but some of the Aurors did." Harry was in a much better mood now that he had eaten and was alone with Draco. "It doessn't matter. He's a git."

"I'll have him out of office for this," Draco muttered, then smiled at Harry. "But you're right. He's a git. Why are we talking about him? We have the Room for the whole night."

Harry's belly heated. "The whole night?"

"Yeah." Draco stood up and held out a hand, which Harry took, rising also. Draco's eyes ran over him. "To do anything – we - want…"

Shortly thereafter, admiring a naked Draco on the bed the Room had provided as he skinned out of the last of his clothes, Harry flicked out his tongue to taste the scent of desire on the air. Draco's eyes flared at the sight, and he reached out demandingly. Harry went into his arms eagerly, his blood burning.

Ministers aside, the world without Voldemort was turning out pretty damn good.