"Damn, Harry, you clean up really well," Blaise whistled as Harry led Draco out of the dorm room.

"Yeah, maybe I should have gone with you instead of Draco, eh?" Theodore said, putting his arm around the blonde's waist and kissing his temple. Draco shoved him playfully.

Harry looked down at the outfit Draco had forced him to wear. It was a Muggle tuxedo, and Draco had at some point stolen his measurements and had it tailored to fit. It highlighted his muscular tone, and made him look like a proper gentleman. Pansy had apparently helped steal the measurements, because the green silk shirt he wore underneath the suit coat and silver tie fit comfortably snug. "I feel like a peacock," He said at length.

"Well you look like a very impressive peacock," Came a familiar voice. Harry looked up as the crowd of Slytherins in the common room parted to show Hermione standing in the arms of Carter Warrington, who'd graduated the year before. "I think we both understand why neither of us told the other, Harry. But I'm glad you and Neville will be at my side when Ron finds out tonight."

Harry grinned, and reached up to rub the back of his head abashedly, but Pansy grabbed his wrist, reminding him she'd spent an hour and seventeen spells to get his hair to cooperate. "I guess we should go on up. It's one thing to be fashionably late, another entirely to miss half the party," Harry said, grinning apologetically at Pansy.

The small group of friends filed out of the common room and down the corridors towards the Great Hall, chatting excitedly. Harry found himself laughing when he realized Pansy and Millicent were being escorted by Crabbe and Goyle, since their boyfriends were graduated Ravenclaws who'd had to work, and began teasing the foursome mercilessly, with Neville and Draco joking along. By the time the large group reached the doors to the Great Hall, they were all laughing at something or other, and it took them a few moments to realize the Hall was silent.

The group gave a collective glance around, all of them smirking or outright smiling at the shock on the faces of their peers and teachers. Without missing a beat, the 7th Year Slytherins, and those that stood with them, made their way to an round table larger than any of the others that dotted the room. All of the girls, or more feminine of the males, sat down while the rest went to the refreshment table Dumbledore had set up against the wall. Dumbledore clapped his hands and the music, and dancing resumed, several people still staring in shock.

Theodore leaned over and whispered in Harry's ear. "Dumbledore definitely saw us coming with that large table. Did you see the look on Snape's face?"

Harry snickered and Blaise leaned over as well. "Did you see the look on the Weasley chit's face? She looks livid."

Harry snickered a little harder. "Of course, all she ever wanted is the Gryffindor Golden Boy, must be heart-breaking to find out he's really a Slytherin."

The whole group snickered as they moved back over to the table and passed out refreshments. Harry handed a drink to Millicent and Pansy, since Crabbe and Goyle had sat down with them, then turned when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He caught a glimpse of red hair, before he saw a flash of light as his nose was crushed from the unexpected blow. When his vision had cleared, Snape was kneeling at his side, the Hall was quiet, and all of his friends that had previously been sitting were now surrounding him defensively.

"Can you never go to a party without getting punched, Mister Potter?" Snape accused.

Harry grinned behind the hand he had over his nose. "Well, at least it wasn't Skeeter this time. It's not even bleeding, let alone broken. How embarrassing for Ron," He teased. He took the pain potion his professor offered him, then let the man help him back to his feet. The young Gryffindor put a hand on two of his defender's shoulders. "Guys, I'm fine. That was actually a rather pathetic blow."

The group turned to look at him, blocking any other would-be attackers still, and Harry rolled his eyes when Hermione cast an anti-swelling charm. "Are you really alright, Harry, dearest?" Pansy simpered, wrapping her arm around his.

Harry grinned at her. "Of course, dearest. With Professor Snape's potion, I'll feel right as rain in a matter of minutes," He winked at her, turning to smile at his Professor's retreating form. "Didn't I promise you a dance?" He asked, turning back to her.

The raven haired girl stepped back and curtsied. "Oh, you do flatter me; after you, Mister Potter."

Harry bowed and offered her his hand, which she took, before leading her out onto the dance floor as a waltz began to echo in the Hall. He pulled her into the steps gracefully. "Thanks again, for teaching me to dance, Pansy. I'd hate to step on your feet."

Pansy giggled. "You already had all of the grace, Harry, you just needed the confidence." She glanced back over her shoulder where their friends had separated into dancing pairs or retaken their seats at the table. Ron stood there with his sister, staring aghast at the lack of retaliation or comment from Harry. "I think you may have shocked Weasley into a statue by not saying anything to him."

Harry shrugged and twirled her around, before dipping her. "All the better for my night," He told her with a wink. She giggled again as he swept her away into the dance.

SSHP

Harry laughed as he switched to yet another partner, this time with Luna. "I think my feet may fall off if I dance anymore, Luna," He whispered confidentially.

The younger girl giggled. "Don't worry Harry; I think Hermione is coming to your rescue." With those words, she swirled away from him directly into the waiting arms of Justin Finch-Fletchley, surprising Harry with the finesse of it all.

"That girl is full of surprises," He muttered, moving over to the table his friends had taken over. Just as he made to sit, his arm was wrapped through with another and he found himself being led to the gardens. He looked at his kidnapper and saw Hermione smiling at him.

"You looked like you could use a break, and if you stay in there you'll hardly escape the girls vying to dance with you," She told him, answering his unasked question. She handed him one of the goblets of punch from the refreshments table and sipped her own.

"Did I tell you yet tonight that you look ravishing in that dress? Blue really is your color, 'Mione. I'm sorry I've been pulling away from you this year."

The girl shrugged. "I understood, once Carter explained it to me. I was still hanging out with Ron, and the other over-bearing Gryffindors, so you were afraid I was still trying to own your life like they do. I'm just sorry I didn't tell you sooner that I'm engaged to Carter. But the Slytherins are such a romantic bunch, and Carter is such a gentleman. I wish we'd both chosen to get close to them sooner."

Harry nodded. "Imagine how much happier we'd have been, and how little strife we'd have had to deal with if we had. I might have destroyed old Snakeface sooner if I'd had them at my side. They put the Hufflepuffs to shame with their loyalty, they really do," He agreed.

Hermione nodded as well and they were silent for a moment before she spoke again. "What did Professor Snape mean earlier, about you getting punched in the nose?"

Harry looked at her with a thoughtful hum, then chuckled. "Oh, um…You remember that ridiculous, pompous party I had to attend at the Ministry last summer?" The girl nodded. "Well, Professor Snape was there and Rita Skeeter was pestering him for a story. Albus apparently ordered him to 'be nice', so he couldn't just tell her to shove off. I moved over to them, and coughed just loud enough for her to hear me. When she tried to pin me down instead, I may or may not have told her that she was nothing more than a news-hound and an ink whore, with no life outside of the one she lived vicariously through her pursuits. She walloped me rather hard for that, broke my nose. Professor Snape took me to an alcove and cleaned me up. We never really spoke about it, and I sort of figured it was repayment for rescuing him from her. As for what he did back there…well, I guess he was trying to save face with his Slytherins. After all, he can't completely disregard me if they all love me, right?"

Hermione agreed with a giggle, and they continued on through the hedge maze as their conversation turned to more frivolous things.

SSHP

They'd been walking comfortably arm-in-arm for several minutes, when they turned a corner and Harry suddenly pulled Hermione back behind him.

"What are you doing here?" He demanded of the group that stood in their path. He stiffened when Hermione grabbed the hand he'd used to push her behind him, remembering their message system from when they'd taken down Voldemort. He signed into her hand for her to get the nearest Professor, and she took off as Ron and his cronies advanced.

"If it isn't the traitor," The red-head snarled. "Did you think you would get away with betraying us?"

Harry furrowed his brow in frustration. "I really don't think my having friends is a betrayal, Ron. You didn't have any trouble with me and Draco making a truce, or Neville dating Blaise, so why is it a problem now?"

"Because you're supposed to be my friend, Harry! You're supposed to be engaged to Ginny and making plans to join the Auror corps with me, not gallivanting with that group Death Eater wanna-be's!" Ron shouted.

"Yeah!" cried Dean and Seamus in the background.

"Harry, you're supposed to support Ronniekins, be his friend and give him what he needs," Lavender simpered. "That way he can afford my dream wedding someday!"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Why does he need me to support him? He's been stealing money from me for months."

There was a loud gasp of angry surprise behind them. "Ronald Weasley, you've been doing what?!"

Harry turned as Hermione joined him at his side. "Turns out Hogwarts had some unexpected visitors, Harry. I found more than just a Professor."

Harry squeezed her hand as Mrs. Weasley led the way into the clearing, Snape and the Weasley twins following behind closely. "Hi Mrs. Weasley, Gred and Forge," He said calmly. "What brings you to Hogwarts?"

Mrs. Weasley smiled sweetly at him, apparently forgetting her anger with her youngest son for the moment. "Albus fire-called me to tell us he'd accepted your application to be next year's DADA professor. And you've befriended the Slytherins! I'm so proud of you Harry, I had to come and tell you that in person!"

Harry scratched his neck in embarrassment. "Thanks, Mrs. Weasley. Turns out I'm not half bad at teaching, and Albus said the DA in Fifth Year was enough of an apprenticeship."

Fred and George came over and smacked him on the back simultaneously. "Congratulations, Harry!" They said in unison.

"What the hell are you congratulating him for?!" Ron demanded. "He betrayed me and Ginny, your siblings, and you're acting like he's a bloody god! I'm your brother!"

Mrs. Weasley rounded on him, her anger returning in a flash of muddy brown eyes. "I heard what Harry said, Ronald Billius Weasley. Have you really been stealing from him?!" She demanded.

Ron crossed his arms and looked away. "It's not like he'd notice. A few thousand galleons is nothing compared to what he'll receive upon graduation."

"That was money left to him by his parents, Ron! How could you?! Do I not provide enough for your greedy little hands?" Molly demanded. No one but Harry noticed as Snape disappeared back into the hedge maze.

"Ginny and I need more than you've ever been able to offer!" Ron shouted. "Do these look like the second hand dress robes you sent me? Ginny is wearing a real emerald around her neck, and she looks gorgeous. You could never afford something so glamorous! Ginny has had a private etiquette tutor, training her to become Lady Potter-Black when Harry comes to his senses, who do you think paid for that? Who do you think paid for me to bribe the Examiners for my?!"

Harry and Hermione gasped when Mrs. Weasley backhanded the boy. "Harry paid for those things, as wrong as they were to procure, with money you stole from him! How could you do it, Ron?"

"Easy enough," The boy hissed. "He sleeps in my dorm, it wasn't hard to steal his wand to seal notes I sent off to Gringotts. If you're asking why, then perhaps you should look at the pitiful paycheck father brings home. I took necessary steps to ensure mine and Ginny's future, while you sat back and lived the life of a practically homeless housewife."

Mrs. Weasley sobbed and stepped away. "Did Ginny know what you were doing?" She asked. Harry heard a touch of hope in her voice, and bowed his head knowing he'd have to stomp all over that little light, even though Ron answered in the negative.

"She has been doing her own reconnaissant theft since last November. But most of her crimes have been her late night visits to my dorm room, and the times she's tried to trap me in alcoves and abandoned classrooms," Harry said softly. "I've so far had back-up with me each time, but there was one point where she had me alone before Draco caught up with me in the dungeons, and she told me she would eventually get me alone to perform an old binding ritual, ending with her pregnant and the two of us married in the eyes of the Ministry."

Molly looked at him and pulled him into a strong hug. "I'm so sorry, Harry, dear. I don't know how I managed to raise such monstrous children," She said, soaking Harry's shoulder with her tears.

Harry hugged her close to him as Professor Snape led Kingsley Shacklebolt into their small clearing, with a few other Aurors. The three Gryffindors standing in defense of Ron were arrested as well, and Harry looked at Snape in question.

"Ginny Weasley admitted that these three little brats were in on her own plans to trap you, that it was to be carried out the night of graduation, with their help," Snape told him. "It might have helped that her Pumpkin Juice was spiked with an undetectable substance," He suggested, slipping his hand into the pocket Harry knew constantly held a phial of Veritaserum. Harry smiled and mouthed a thank you as he led the other Weasley's to the Headmaster's office.