AN: Only four more chapters to go! I hope you enjoy this one. Well, I hope you enjoy them all, really. Thanks for all your reviews! Special thanks to DancingHorses for being an awesome beta and catching my mistakes!

Chapter 25

It was announced that fifth years were to have career counseling prior to their OWLs, so that they might better know what OWLs they need to focus on.

Draco had no idea what he planned to do after Hogwarts. He barely had any idea what he planned to do after fifth year. Maybe Professor Snape would help.

Harry was also concerned, but also a little depressed. Whatever he saw in Snape's Pensieve must have been pretty bad.

After a few days in that slump, Draco suggested he talk to Sirius about it. That seemed to be a good idea, because Harry got excited and went to do it, skipping History of Magic after lunch.

Draco himself thought maybe a call to Tonks would help him figure out what to say to Snape during his career advice session. So that night after he said goodnight to Harry, he called out to Tonks.

"Nymmie! How are you?" Draco said, as soon as she appeared.

She growled at him. "Why did I answer this damn thing, when I heard it was you calling?"

"Because you love me?" Draco said, innocently.

"Yeah, right. So what's up?" Tonks replied.

"We're having career advice soon, and I'm not sure what to say," Draco said.

"Oh, that is tough. I remember I told Sprout I wanted to be a spy, and she dropped her tea."

"You wanted to be a spy?" Draco asked.

"Yeah, could you imagine me as James Bond, but with the ability to change my face? It would have been amazing," she said.

"James who?" Draco asked, confused.

"It doesn't matter. But she suggested I be an Auror, and look, here I am."

"But I don't even know where I'll be at the end of school, how will I know if I should say "Death Eater", or "healer" or whatever?" Draco said.

"Well, I know you don't want to be a Death Eater. Have you ever thought about being a healer?" Tonks asked.

"I have thought about it, but my father would never allow it. I'm supposed to be a politician or something important," Draco said.

"Well, I would tell Snape you want to be a healer. It's not like you're locked in to this choice forever. He'll just let you know what classes to focus on."

"Okay, maybe I'll do that. Thanks Tonks!" he said.

"No problem, kiddo. But there is one thing. I'm going to be away soon. I'm going on assignment, so I'll not be reachable on the mirrors. Do you think you can stay out of trouble without me here?" Tonks asked.

"I don't know, Nymmie. I can keep myself out of trouble, but I don't think I can keep Harry out of it."

Tonks laughed and said goodbye.

The next day, Draco had his meeting with Snape about his career.

He arrived at Snape's door right on time and knocked.

"Enter," Snape said.

"Good afternoon, Professor," Draco said.

"So Mr. Malfoy, forgive my brevity, but these are not the high point of my year. What would you like to do after school?" Snape asked.

"I'm not sure, sir," Draco said, and Snape sighed. "It all really depends."

"On what, Mr. Malfoy?" Snape asked.

"On what you will be telling my father about my choice," Draco replied.

Snape rolled his eyes. "Contrary to your beliefs, I do not tell your father everything you do or say in my presence. If I did, he would be more curious about your Christmas then he had been."

"If that's true, sir, then I think I would like to be a healer," Draco said.

"Ah, a good choice and a noble profession. You are a true Slytherin, indeed."

"Sir?" Draco asked confused.

"The snake, Mr. Malfoy, has long been a sign of healing. Even among the Muggles. To pursue this career you will need NEWTs in Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology. Ancient Runes is also strongly recommended."

Draco nodded and Snape looked down at a piece of parchment on his desk. "Judging by your current grades, you are in fine shape. If you get at least E's in all of those classes, and an O in Potions on your OWLs, you will be eligible to take all of those classes."

Draco knew this, and nodded. This was an easy meeting, Draco thought.

"Very good then, Mr. Malfoy. Before you go, may I speak to you about something of a personal nature?" Snape asked.

Draco blinked. "Um, I suppose so, sir,"

"Your relationship with Mr. Potter... I wish to warn you," Snape said.

"Warn me, sir?" Draco said.

"Potters are not to be trusted. He will use you and then betray you in the end," Snape said.

Draco was getting angry. "Sir, with all due respect, you do not know anything about Harry Potter."

"Oh, I think I do, Mr. Malfoy. He is arrogant and selfish and thinks only of himself."

Draco knew he would say something he would regret if he didn't get out soon. He said, "You know nothing about him, sir. Is that all?"

"His father—" Snape said, but was interrupted.

"I don't care if his father was hippogriff and his mother was a howler monkey. I know him and he is a better person then you can ever hope to be," Draco said, enraged.

Snape had turned as white as a sheet. His voice was cutting, and sounded like it could kill. "Never speak that way about Lily Evans again. Are we clear, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Yes, sir," Draco responded, confused.

"Good. Now. Get. Out," Snape demanded.

Draco left, wondering what Harry's mom had to do with anything. He felt bad for Parkinson, who was next in line for career advice.

Later, Draco and Harry were talking about their career advice session in an unused classroom. They were snogging lightly when they weren't talking, so Draco was quite enjoying himself.

"Then Umbridge was like, 'You'll never be an Auror!' and McGonagall was all, 'He will be an Auror if it's the last thing I do. If I have to train him myself, he will be an Auror,' and then Umbridge was like, 'He'll never work for the Ministry!' and McGonagall said, 'Fudge won't always be Minister.' And then they told me to get out, but they kept arguing. It was great. I'm sure McGonagall gave her what for."

Draco smiled at his enthusiasm. "That sounded more interesting than mine was. Snape was odd."

"How so?"

"Well, I started by telling him I wanted to be a healer, and he was like, 'fine, take these classes'. I was done in like two minutes."

"That doesn't sound bad," Harry said, waiting for the rest.

"Now don't get angry, Harry, but he started telling me you can't be trusted and that you're using me because you're arrogant and selfish like your father," Draco said. He could see Harry getting angry. "I set him straight, don't worry. I'll probably be in trouble for some of what I said, but—"

"What did you say?" Harry asked.

"Fishing for compliments are we, Potter? Maybe you're as big-headed as Snape would have me believe." Harry punched him in the shoulder. "Fine, fine. I said you were a better person then Snape could ever hope to be."

Harry smiled up at him, a big beautiful smile. "And then I said I would still care for you if your father was a hippogriff and your mother was a howler monkey." Harry laughed. "And then Snape got stranger than usual. He told me to get out and to never speak of Lily Evans that way again."

Harry looked at Draco with a funny look. "Why would Snape care about my mum?"

"No idea, Harry. It was odd. But maybe mention it to him sometime and see how long it takes him to harvest your body for potions supplies," Draco said, making Harry laugh.

There was a moment of silence after Draco finished.

"I'm still having those dreams," Harry said quietly.

"The ones where you're walking down the hallway in the Ministry?" Draco asked. Harry nodded. "Are you clearing you mind before bed?"

"Yes, I try to every night."

"I don't know, Harry. What would Snape say, do you think?"

"That I'm lazy and incompetent, of course," Harry said.

"I don't know what to tell you, Harry. I wish I could stop them for you."

Harry smiled. "I know. I wouldn't want anyone else to have them, though."

"You and your hero complex," Draco said. He kissed Harry on the cheek.

They talked about other things for a while. It was a great way to spend the night. Draco hoped Harry felt the same way.