That evening Harry wanted to go to bed early, trying to catch up on the sleep he missed the previous night.

"Did Hermione tell you?" asked Ron when he entered the room.

"Tell me what?" asked Harry surprised by Ron's entry.

"Apparently Malfoy's birthday is in four days…" sighed Ron.

"So?" wondered Harry "It's not like we're invited, is it?"

"That's what I said! But Hermione feels sorry for the idiot…" Ron said just then realizing that he had already agreed on going.

"So she wants to go then?" Harry considered going. Considering to visit Draco Malfoy on his birthday… I wonder what he'd say to that…

"Yeah, 'fraid so" said Ron and jumped on his bed and lay down "Have you made up your mind on the Auror offer? Maybe you could put in a good word for me or something". Ron urgently tried to change the subject away from any Malfoy business.

Harry took a deep breath. He made the choice once Ginny said the right and easy speech from Dumbledore, but wasn't that sure he really made the right one. Sure, it would not be easy, but nothing really was anymore. Up untill a week ago he'd never even consider taking a trip to Malfoy Manor for Malfoy's birthday… but now? It wasn't that easy anymore. He still loathed Draco, no question there, but he agreed with Hermiones pity on him. On the other hand, Malfoy was no boy who'd accept pity.

"Earth to Harry" pressed Ron.

"Hm?" grunted Harry absently. Ginny said she'd support him either way, and Harry liked the prospect of her support in his decision. Indeed, he liked it very much and grinned like a Cheshire cat.

"Harry, have you just been put under a Confundus Charm or what?"

"Na… yeah, I made up my mind" he said blinking wildly and fell silent again.

"Aaaaand?" asked Ron eagerly.

"Aaaand" Harry continued but pausing for the tensions sake "I'll reject…"

"WHAT?!" Ron shouted in shock.

"I'll reject…" repeated Harry.

"Are you mental? You always wanted to be an Auror! And now you reject this once-in-a-lifetime chance?!"

"I don't think it's right this way… I want to earn the position…"

"Tell me one thing… Defeating the most powerful Dark Wizard of our times isn't qualification enough for you?"

"That's not my point… I just want a normal life… I want to earn the Auror post like everyone else has to…"

"You ARE mental, Harry!" exclaimed Ron. After a couple of minutes of disbelieving head-shaking from Ron in total silence, he said "Did Hermione put you up to this? She won't leave me alone with my education either"

"That's not it… It just feels like the right thing to do, Ron"

Ron sighed loudly, apparently caught up in his thoughts. After a couple of more minutes he seemed to have made up his mind "Well then… Looks like I have no choice but to attend to one last year at Hogwarts!"

"Why do you have no choice?" asked Harry curiously.

"I can't let you two wander off for a year of hall-wandering at night without me, can I? Besides, I doubt Hermione would get off my neck if I won't go back."

"I'm sure your Mum will be glad to hear that decision, too" Harry said smothering a yawn.

"Nearly forgot her, yes! I really have no choice… Well… Night, Harry"

"Night, Ron" Harry yawned and closed his eyes.

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It was June the fifth. How much Harry had dreaded that day, he could not remember. Come on, it won't be long He kept saying himself whenever he thought about staying behind. Neither of them could think of something to get Malfoy as a birthday present and Ron proved himself resilient against the argument that it would be an outstretched arm towards Malfoy.

Mr. Weasley wished the Birthday crusaders good luck before he left of for work and Harry was grateful for it, they will likely need it. They decided to go in the afternoon and to bring him a packet of chocolate frogs, since you can't do anything wrong with those, can you?

Harry sat on the couch with Ginny's head at his shoulder, Ron the same with Hermione, when it turned three p.m. and the clock-hand of Ron and Ginny moved from 'Home' to 'Travelling' Next to the family clock was a new clock with large writing on it: Extended Family. Below the writing were 4 clockhands for Fleur, Philine, Hermione and Harry. The latter two clockhands moved to travelling, too.

A couple of seconds after their departure, the Quartet apparated to a country lane. Harry recognized the iron gates at the foot of a long drive, just like it was when he last was here. Harry looked around, looking for a way to get past the iron gates and remembered how the snatchers shook them and were asked for their purpose. And so Harry touched the gates and shook them carefully.

The same face as before appeared "State your purpose!"

"We're here to see Draco…" Harry said carefully.

The face's eyes turned to look at him "Harry Potter… curious" and the gates swung open. They walked along the long drive between the hedges. Short burts of images of his last trip here shot through Harry's mind. He took a deep breath and shook his head to get rid of those images.

When they stood in front of the large door, a woman opened the door with a displeased mien. "We did not expect you, Mr. Potter"

"We just wanted to congratulate Draco to his birthday, Mrs Malfoy" said Hermione with an intimidated smile on her face.

"I see… Wait here, I will see if he is available" she said as she turned around and shut the door close behind her.

When Mrs Malfoy had not returned for five minutes, Ron sat down at the frontsteps and stared absently at sky. "Told you… waste of time" he said more to himself than to any of the others. Ten further minutes later Ron jumped high when the door slammed open and Draco Malfoy stood in front of them.

"My mother said you wanted to talk to me" he loathed to say something.

"Yeah, well… Just wanted to wish you a happy birthday and" started Harry.

"And give you this" Hermione finished for him. Ginny handed him the packet of chocolate frogs while Ron looked at Draco with the same loathing look on his face as Malfoy had looking at Harry. He took the packet and wanted to go back into the house as Hermione asked "So, Draco… How are you?"

Draco's hand moved towards his pocket, but refused to complete its task. He turned around to give Hermione the look that was reserved for Harry until then. "My father lost his job, thanks to you I may once again return to Hogwarts to finish school. Crabbe's dead… Goyle's family is in the same desperate situation as mine is in… You tell me how I am, Granger!" loathed Malfoy fighting to restrain himself.

"Sorry…" said Hermione immediately.

"If it wasn't for Harry, you'd be dead, too, you ungrateful git!" sneered Ron back at Malfoy.

"If that isn't dear Weasley… May I remind YOU that if it wasn't for MY mother, your precious chosen one would be dead, too?! So don't you dare to call me ungrateful, Weasley!"

"We better leave…" said Harry desperately to contain the situation. Ron immediately turned around saying "Told you it was a mistake!"

"Rohon!" Hermione shouted and ran after him.

Ginny took Harry's hand and whispered "Come on" in his ear and dragged him back to the iron gates.

"I should have known better" Harry said miserably.

"He's just angry now… It'll change eventually… Besides, at least now you know that we'll have to deal with him in Hogwarts again." Ginny said cheerfully.

"Wouldn't feel like Hogwarts without him" Harry grinned.

"Aaah! If that isn't dear Harry Potter" said a voice coming from a figure in front of them.

Oaaaaaahhh! What are the odds! Thought Harry miserably.

A woman with extravagant glasses stood in front of them. "Well, well. I could not have hoped for a better person to meet me here" she said.

I could Thought Harry looking for a way around her.

"So good to see you again, Harry" she said quickly and shook his hand.

Not really!

"Unfortunately I don't have time at the moment, but I will contact you as soon as possible. I'm sure you are so excited with such an extraordinary reporter like me at your biography!" she exclaimed happily and left off toward the Malfoy Manor.

"Ron's right… This was a mistake…" Harry said depressed. Ginny gave his hand a squeeze "I bet the hag is going to interview the Malfoys for her oh so objective Biography" she said and looked loathful in her direction.

"There's nothing we can do now, Harry…" Hermione said pleading to leave.

A/N:

This visit to Malfoy could not have gone any better, don't you think? Draco only seems to hate them more than ever - and this time for non-racial or non-house-belonging reasons! - and Rita Skeeter is going to ask him questions about Harry. Oh, and dare I forget: Draco attends Hogwarts, too! I can see the title of Rita's book before my naked eye: 'Harry Potter - The mistaken hero' with dear thanks to his fellow-student Draco Malfoy. Naaa, that'd be too rude... even for Rita. Or would it? ;)