Draco sat beside him at dinner the next night too.

"You know, I had the Sixth Year Gryffindors and Slytherins today," Draco said casually.

"Okay," Harry answered, stuffing more mashed potatoes in his mouth. He had the feeling that the pompous git was going to try to one-up his comment yesterday about them liking him.

"Yes. Funny, they didn't give me any trouble at all. One of the Gryffindors even told me I was cool at the end of the lesson."

Harry snorted. "Okay, great Mal— Draco. They like you too. They probably like everyone."

"They don't just like me too, they like me better."

"Okay, well all of my students like me. Most of yours probably just cower in fear."

"They do not," Draco sounded miffed. "I'm willing to bet all of my students like me better than they like you. I'm an excellent teacher. You're just a bumbling fool who got tired of chasing bad guys for too long."

Harry let out a surprised laugh. He wasn't quite sure what it was that made Draco's insults funny to him now instead of making him angry, but it probably had a lot to do with the truce. And being tired.

"Actually, yeah, you're pretty spot-on, but that doesn't mean I'm not a good teacher. I started teaching Defence back in Fifth Year. I taught about twenty people how to do a corporeal patronus! Besides, students like me — I'm nice."

"Hmm, actually I'd forgotten about that whole Dumbledore's Army thing. But still. I can be very...personable at times."

Harry scoffed into his potatoes.

"Yeah, okay."

~*~

Harry's classes were going more smoothly, and most of his students really liked him. They were only about two weeks into the term, but he felt like he was really getting to know them already. There were a lot of students, but he had the general feel of each class and how to handle them. He and Draco would still brag to each other every time a student gave them a compliment or a class went particularly well.

The competition was a bit ridiculous, but it was really all they had. When he wasn't swamped in essays, he had to do something entertaining, and that something was brag to Draco.

By the end of October, they'd started occasionally showing up in each other's offices before dinner to try to one-up each other. Harry wasn't quite sure how it had started, but it was pretty much the norm nowadays.

The winter holidays were quickly approaching, and Harry had decided to avoid the Burrow for the second year in a row. He just wasn't ready to subject himself to that much Ginny. He was starting to realise that a lot of the reason their marriage lasted so long was probably that he hadn't often been subjected to that much Ginny, seeing as she had been away with the Holyhead Harpies so much. He knew Molly would try to guilt trip him, but he just didn't think he could do it. He'd probably force himself to go next year.

Harry was reading an essay with his feet propped up on the desk, when Draco came in.

"You know, I had a student tell me today that he was staying over winter hols because I had inspired him to practise more potions."

"Oh good, there will be at least one other person with me at the Christmas feast," Harry said distractedly as he tried to finish reading the paragraph he was on.

"You're staying? Do you not go to the Weasleys'? I was under the impression they were sort of your adoptive family."

Harry put the paper down and sighed.

"Yeah, they are; it's just, ever since Ginny and I divorced...well, I don't want to be around her that much, so I just skip out. I'll probably go next year or something, it's just still too soon."

"Oh, did it not end well?"

"No, it did — as well as it could. I guess we're still friends, I don't know, we haven't really talked and I prefer it that way."

"What happened, why did it end?"

Harry looked uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked that. That's personal." There was a long pause before he continued. "Did you get anyone telling you what an amazing teacher you are today?"

Harry grinned.

"Yes, actually. A group of Third Years told me I make my class so interesting and fun that it doesn't even feel like work— not like other classes, they said. And you know, Potions is another class."

"Well it must have slipped their minds. Or they value my class for actually teaching them instead of just being fun."

"Whatever, Draco. You're just mad because you know they all actually think my class is better than yours."