Hello, everyone! Been a while. I'm wrapping up my first semester at college, and boy, it's been a whirlwind. I hope all my minions are doing okay! You can always talk to me if you ever need to talk to anyone/a virtual shoulder to cry on.

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Kigen Dawn: You're welcome!

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Mandy (Guest): I don't mind bad words! I drop fuck all the time in real life. I like to imagine Draco as the uke, 'cause I think that's the one place he'd ever let Harry have the upper hand.

Scarlett (Guest); chapter 12: Thank you! Sorry for the long wait!

Thank you to those who have stuck around. This story has been around for nearly a year, and I'm so grateful for each and every one of you. Now, read on, my minions!

As always, I don't own anything affiliated with Harry Potter; our goddess, JK Rowling does.

To make matters even worse, Hagrid was now on probation. Draco was forced to listen to the arrogant boasting of Nott, whom Lucius had practically adopted in replacement of Draco, and tried to make every excuse possible not to sleep in his dormitory; however, he could never come up with a good enough excuse to not. He even debated sleeping in the Room of Requirement, but eventually decided that, if it got bad, he'd go there. Besides, it was nice to keep the room purely for the DA; made it just that little bit more special.

In other thankfully good news, however, the students had started to treat Harry better now; they were nowhere near as hostile, and they seemed to understand that maybe he had been right. Even the professors had taken to whispering in the corridors, but clammed up the moment they saw students. Hermione was the only one clever enough to realize that it was because of Umbridge, especially after Decree Twenty-six, which was quite frankly ridiculous. But Umbridge had become worse after the Azkaban breakout; she was far more controlling, and went so far as to sit in on each Divination and Care of Magical Creatures lesson, and neither Trelawney nor Hagrid were doing good jobs at putting on a good show for her.

The DA had become more relevant and more intense, and Draco couldn't have asked for a better distraction. He and Neville even took to practicing outside of the meetings, and Draco helped Neville in any way he could. The news of the breakout had awakened something within Neville, and Draco was determined to help harbor that fire within him and keep it burning.

The one thing that Draco did worry the most about was Harry, naturally. His Occlumency lessons were not going as well as hoped, and Hermione kept telling Draco that he seemed to be doing worse each time, which was never a good sign. However, Draco was furious when Ron brought up the idea that Snape wasn't trying to help Harry at all.

"How dare you," he snarled at Ron, "try to insinuate my godfather is a traitor to Dumbledore? He has been nothing but supportive of Dumbledore and me ever since I left the Dark Arts. How dare you try to say that he's not helping Harry?" And with that, Draco swept out of the room, trying desperately to calm himself.

And to add to all of that, February was arriving. Meaning Valentine's Day. Meaning that Draco was going to be absolutely miserable while Harry enjoyed himself with Cho in Hogsmeade.

Draco avoided breakfast that morning. He purposely "slept in", and wandered around the halls of Hogwarts, trying to avoid looking at disgusting displays of affection. Granted, he probably would have been more okay with it if he was at least spending the day with Harry, but he couldn't get what he wanted, now, could he?

"Draco?"

He looked up from the floor to see Professor Dumbledore standing there, staring at him. "Are you quite alright?"

Swallowing, Draco murmured a, "Yes, Professor. Thank you."

Dumbledore stared at him for a moment longer, then beckoned him to follow. Curious, and desperate to ignore the displays around him, Draco obeyed, and they walked with each other in silence to Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore motioned for him to sit down, and Draco did so, and nodded his thanks and refusal when offered some Muggle sweet.

"Draco," the old Headmaster began, "how are you feeling?"

"I'm okay, Professor." Draco fidgeted with the hem of his robe, not quite meeting the Headmaster's twinkling and worried eyes.

Dumbledore was silent for a moment, before sighing. "I understand that today is not a day you were not looking forward to, even before Mr. Potter and Miss Chang planned on going out." Draco shot his head up, a bit concerned as to how Dumbledore knew about Harry and Cho. "However, I myself have been there. It will all get better."

Draco finally met his eyes, and felt like maybe the old man was right. Still, it certainly didn't feel it. "Thank you, Professor," he mumbled.

Dumbledore gave him a gentle smile, and ushered him out, but not before forcing Draco to take a Muggle candy with a "Happy Valentine's Day".

HD

Harry, on the other hand, was feeling incredibly conflicted. He hadn't enjoyed his date with Cho at all. He had found himself wishing for someone else the entire time.

The only problem was that he didn't know who he was wishing for. That was an issue. The only thing he knew was that whoever it was, was taller than him and blonde.

Harry groaned. There really weren't any girls who met that description, so all in all he was frustrated beyond belief. He was starting to think she was a figment of his imagination.

It also didn't help that he was trying to figure it all out while giving an interview to Rita bloody Skeeter for The Quibbler. And on top of that, Luna had no idea if/when the issue with the interview was coming out. Today was becoming just absolutely fantastic.

HD

Draco chose to wipe out the Quidditch match from his memory. Not only did Hufflepuff win, they slaughtered Gryffindor. It was terrible. However, the day after the match was exciting, because Harry's interview in the Quibbler arrived at Hogwarts (it had come out the day before), and Harry received a bunch of fan mail. Umbridge then proceeded to ban it, which made everyone read it, and it was brilliant. It was even better when Seamus admitted that Harry was right; it was the icing on the cake. It was all great until Harry had another dream, where Avery was being punished.

The Occlumency lessons were getting worse, too. During one of Harry's lessons, Draco was hanging around in a hall waiting for him when he heard Trelawney shrieking. He sprinted over to the noise's general direction and joined a mass of students watching Umbridge and Trelawney, who had her bags packed.

"No! NO! This cannot be happening… it cannot… I refuse to accept it!"

"You didn't realize this was coming?" Umbridge smiled sweetly. "Incapable though you are of predicting even tomorrow's weather, you must surely have realized that your pitiful performance during my inspections, and lack of any improvement, would make it inevitable that you would be sacked?"

"You c—can't! You c—can't sack me! I've b—been here sixteen years! H—Hogwarts is m—my h—home!" Trelawney sobbed.

Draco's heart sank at her cries. He ignored his feelings of contempt for the woman and ran out to her. He enveloped her in a hug and let her cry on him while glaring at Umbridge as the bitch replied, "It was your home, until an hour ago, when the Minister for Magic countersigned your Order of Dismissal. Now kindly remove yourself from this Hall. You are embarrassing us. Malfoy, release her."

Draco made no move to, and instead just glowered at the woman, who reveled in all that was occurring. He didn't release Trelawney until he saw Professor McGonagall, who brushed him away to pat Trelawney on the back while fishing for a handkerchief.

"There, there, Sybill… calm down… blow your nose on this… it's not as bad as you think, now… you are not going to have to leave Hogwarts…"

"Oh really, Professor McGonagall?" Umbridge interrupted, her tone dangerous, as she stepped forward, causing Draco to step protectively in front of the two women. "And your authority for that statement is…?"

"That would be mine."

Draco whirled around to see Dumbledore appeared from the grounds, smiling, with students scurrying out of his way. Mist crawled out from behind him, making for a very impressive shot. He approached Trelawney as Umbridge laughed, "Yours, Professor Dumbledore? I'm afraid you do not understand the position. I have here an Order of Dismissal signed by myself and the Minister for Magic. Under the terms of Education Decree Number Twenty-three, the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts has the power to inspect, place upon probation and sack any teacher she—that is to say, I—feel is not performing to the standards required by the Ministry of Magic. I have decided that Professor Trelawney is not up to scratch. I have dismissed her."

Dumbledore smiled still. "You are quite right, of course, Professor Umbridge. As High Inquisitor you have every right to dismiss my teachers. You do not, however, have the authority to send them away from the castle. I am afraid," he bowed, "that the power to do that still resides with the Headmaster, and it is my wish that Professor Trelawney continue to live at Hogwarts."

Trelawney laughed, with a little hiccup/cough combination mixed in, and Draco laid a hand on her shoulder in comfort, as she said, "No—no, I'll g—go, Dumbledore! I sh—shall leave Hogwarts and s—seek my fortune elsewhere—"

"No. It is my wish that you remain, Sybill. Might I ask you to escort Sybill back upstairs, Professor McGonagall?"

"Of course," McGonagall responded. "Up you get, Sybill…"

Professor Sprout hurried out of the crowd and clutched the Divination professor's other arm, and aided McGonagall. Flitwick followed, and with a "Locomotor trunks!" levitated Trelawney's things up after them. Dumbledore swept his hand towards Draco, and Draco came to stand next to the Headmaster, and Dumbledore placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it in thanks.

Umbridge, meanwhile, had been standing frozen in her place throughout the entirety of this. She whispered, clearly attempting to still be in control, "And what are you going to do once I appoint a new Divination teacher who needs her lodgings?"

"Oh, that won't be a problem," he replied happily. "You see, I have already found us a new Divination teacher, and he will prefer lodgings on the ground floor."

"You've found—?" Umbridge shrieked. "You've found? Might I remind you, Dumbledore, that under Education Decree Number Twenty-two—"

"The Ministry has the right to appoint a suitable candidate if—and only if—the Headmaster is unable to find one. And I am happy to say that on this occasion I have succeeded. May I introduce you?"

Draco turned to face the open doors, and started when he heard hooves. Hooves? What was in the Forbidden Forest that had hooves that could possibly teach Divination? The students dashed away from the doors to make room. Through the mist, he could make a figure out, and was surprised to see white-blond hair, stunningly blue eyes, the head and torso of a man, but the body of a palomino horse.

"This is Firenze," Dumbledore told Umbridge. "I think you'll find him suitable."