They filed into the Great Hall for their last dinner. The younger students were already seated. There was another table next to the head table which accommodated the parents of the graduating students. The parents were to remain until the dance later, when they would leave and let their kids have their last 'free' day alone. As they seated themselves, the other professors and students clapped for them

Draco settled himself between Blaise Zabini and Vincent Crabbe. Across from them sat Pansy Parkinson, Gregory Goyle and Millicent Bulstrode. The other graduating students were seated around them.

Draco tuned out Dumbledore's speech as he always did. He knew what the man would be saying; 'We need to unite as one, strong castle. Not four separate, and weaker, houses.' More or less the same things that he and Hermione had said earlier. And just because he agreed now didn't mean that he wanted to listen to the old man jabber away. His attention was, however, drawn back in at the end. As it always was.

"...and now to award the House Cup!" Dumbledore was quiet (and laughing quietly) as the students clapped. "The House Cup goes this year to the noble Hufflepuffs!"

It was the first time in overtwenty years that they had won and cheering like mad was not lost on them. The Gryffindors and Ravenclaws clapped heartily for them. The Slytherins didn't move. Draco watched a first year start clapping. Her friends stopped her. She looked down, embarrassed, with a red face.

Change isn't always bad...

Draco started clapping as loud as he could.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm stuffing a turkey, Blaise, what does it look like to you?" he smiled at Millicent when she joined him. Pansy looked morally offended. Vincent and Gregory joined him. The first year started clapping again, with a smirk at her friends.

Slowly, the Slytherin table was filled with clapping. The students from other houses were standing to congratulate the Hufflepuffs. Draco decided to see how much of an influence he had on the other students in his house. He stood up. Millicent did the same shortly after. Vincent and Greg stood. The Slytherins were standing with all the other students. Draco flashed Severus a confidant smile. Dumbledore winked at him.

Dumbledore calmed everyone down, and motioned for them to be seated. He finished his speech, and with a clap of his hands, food was served.

"Did any of you buy any of that crap the old man said this year?" Pansy asked. It was common Slytherin ritual, to make fun of Dumbledore after his End of the Year speech. Blaise was about to say something, but Draco talked over him.

"I actually thought that he had a good point," Draco said conversationally. Millicent was the only one not staring at him in shock. Her's was more a look of recognition and admiration.

"You do," Blaise's tone was dry and skeptical.

"Yes... Or did you all think that I didn't mean what Granger and I put in our speech this afternoon?"

"We thought you were doing it to suck up to Dumbledore,"

"No, I wasn't. I'm not the kind of person to say something I don't mean," he had stopped eating, as had his fellow seventh years. A few sixth years were watching intently as well. That was perfect. If Draco couldn't get people from his year to switch, he still had a chance with the younger years.

"So you agree with that mudblood and her muggle-loving friends?"

"No," Pansy looked smug. He continued louder. "I agree with Hermione and Harry that muggle-borns aren't a lesser kind of person than us." The fifth years were quiet. Some Ravenclaws were staring at him, nudging their friends to look his way.

"You call them by their first names?" Vincent asked.

"Yes, I do. They're people too you know." There was silence. Most of the Ravenclaws were looking at him. A Hufflepuff or three were turned in their seats to see.

"Have you switched sides Draco?" Millicent asked quietly. Draco looked straight in her hazel eyes.

"I have," she looked at him for a moment–and then smiled!

"Good for you,"

"Oh, I do not believe this!" Draco and Millicent looked at Pansy. The whole hall was silent now. None of them noticed.

"You don't believe what? That I want to be a good person?"

"No, that you'd betray your family like this!" When had he, Pansy, and Millicent jumped to their feet?

"I'd rather have no family than the deaths of innocent people over my head!"

"You're such a little traitor Draco!" Shouts of agreement were heard randomly down the Slytherin table. Pansy shot Draco another smug look. Severus was trying to quiet them down from his seat. He was ignored.

"So valuing people's lives makes you a traitor?"

"If you go against your beliefs and the people who raised you!"

Pansy was getting the younger Slytherins hyped up. They were yelling out agreements to what she had said. Millicent looked frightened. A fifth year threw a spoonful of gravy at Draco, which started an odd food fight; all the food was flying at Millicent and Draco.

Draco sighed as his graduation robes were soiled with food. He stood still and let it happen. Millicent tried to hide. Draco took out his wand and everyone stopped. The professors sat still, and the Hall was hushed with a baited breath. They thought that he would hurt the other people!

He sighed again and cleaned himself off with a wave of his wand. He turned his wand on Millicent and cleaned her off also. She mouthed 'thank you.' He nodded and walked out of the Great Hall without another word.

He climbed up a few stairs on the staircase to the second floor, then sunk down onto it. He rested his head against one rail, bent his knees on the stair. Draco sat, lost in thought, until Remus sat on the stair below his. The older man imitated his position.

"I know what you thought you could do,"

"Not could, professor, can. I can do it!"

"Remus–please–we'll be working together soon–"

"If I get in,"

"You will. You've got good people supporting you. Severus, Dumbledore, Neville, Hermione, Harry and I. We'll all account for you. While my word may not count for much in the general wizarding world, it does count for something in the Order,"

Draco sighed and nodded. "Thank you for trusting me... Truthfully, I'm surprised so many people do,"

"Do the Slytherins trust you?"

"They did... After that stunt I pulled in there, I really don't know what they think of me... But you saw what happened! You saw how I got them to clap and stand for the Hufflepuffs! And you saw how Pansy got them to go against Millicent and I! All they need is someone to follow! They're desperate for someone to follow! If I can only get them to listen to me, to my ideas!"

"How did you change your mind? What made you start thinking differently?"

"... My father being sent to Azkaban... And talking to Harry... seeing how he reacted to Ron Weasley's death. I just knew that I didn't want to cause that; making people feel pain..."

"Figure out what the other Slytherins need; what they're thinking. What their opinions are about their parents and Voldemort, and the whole 'pureblood prejudice.' You could convince them to join us... But it won't be easy,"

"But it'll be worth it, won't it?"

"If you can get them away from Voldemort and on our side, yes,"

Draco remembered something. Millicent had helped him. She supported him. Why hadn't he seen it in her before? "When did Millicent switch?"

"After that day in the Department of Mysteries... Actually, she's engaged to Terry Boot now,"

That was good news. She was a smart girl, she got out of the mess that the rest of them were still knee-deep in. Draco was going to relay those thoughts to Remus, but their conversation was cut short when the doors to the Great Hall opened. Students spilled out into the hall, followed by the professors and parents. Slowly, the group thinned out, and they were alone again.

"You should go get ready for the dance," Remus suggested. Draco couldn't see how he was ever against the calm-mannered werewolf. The man cared for almost everyone.

"Yeah, I should. I'll see you later, pro–Remus!" Remus smiled at Draco's mistake. He started to his office. Draco went into the dungeons.


When Draco reached the room designated to be their dance room, few tables on the sides of the room weren't taken by parents. He chose a large booth in one of the corners of the room,surprised that it was left open.

The decorations were nothing fancy. Hermione and Draco had requested that they weren't seated by house. Dumbledore had taken that request into consideration when he helped the other professors decorate. He had actually liked the idea himself. The tables were colored in blue, red, green, and yellow colored tablecloths that matched the upholstery in the padded booths. Streamers of those four colors were randomly strung from everything overhead.

Draco scanned the people who walked in for his new friends. Pansy... Padma Patil... Vincent... Remus... Trelawney? So the old bug does come out every once in a while, he thought. He snickered at his own joke. Susan Bones... Harry!

Draco locked eyes with him. Harry looked down and kept walking. He was beginning to believe that Harry wasn't ready to tell people about them. As if changing his mind, Harry walked pointedly toward Draco. He sat next to him in the booth.

"I was starting to think you didn't want to go through with this,"

A guilty sigh. "I almost didn't. But there's no better time than now,"

"It's going to be hard you know,"

"I know. But if they don't accept it, well, that just shows that they didn't really care about me in the first place," Draco admired Harry for taking that opinion. Harry held onto his hand with a smile. They talked through the first song. Late students were arriving in groups.

"Mind if we sit here?"

They looked up. A flushed Millicent and Terry stood hand-in-hand in front of them.

"Not at all," Harry said right away. He looked at Draco.

"I don't mind,"

"Thanks! There's almost no seats left!" Terry slid into the booth behind Millicent. Three fast songs later, Hermione and Ginny climbed in next to Terry.

"Having fun?" Harry asked rhetorically. They watched Ginny down a glass of water.

"This is great!"

Hermione simply laughed at her excitement. Neville and Susan Bones moved everyone over and sat opposite Harry and Draco. Millicent and Terry were so close that Millicent was almost on Terry's lap. Neville had his arm around Susan's shoulders.

No sooner had they sat down, the music stopped. One of the musicians stepped forward.

"This will be our first slow song. Feel free to dance with anyone of your choice. Your mom or dad, older (or younger) siblings, best friend, favorite professor, or that special someone! After this song we'll kick the adults out and party!" she winked at them playfully. The band gave them time to find a partner.

Terry, Millicent, Susan and Neville were out of the booth almost instantly.

"This should be our time," Draco mumbled.

"Now?" Harry looked at him. Ginny asked them what they were doing. They didn't hear her.

"When would be better? We have everyone in our year, their relatives and reporters here. If we want the world to know, we're not going to get a better chance,"

"We should dance also," Harry and Draco heard Hermione that time. They looked over at her.

"Why would you?"

Hermione shrugged. "People will know about us,"

"And the spotlight will be on you!" Ginny had an innocent smile on her face. The girl had a lot of life in her. Draco wondered how she got together with Hermione.

Harry laughed, "They're just going to use this to their advantage!" Draco chuckled with him.

Harry took a deep breath and stood. He held his hand out. As if on cue, the music started. Draco took the outstretched hand silently. He followed Harry onto the dance floor. He felt, more than saw, Hermione and Ginny following them. Harry put his arms up around Draco's neck. Draco wove his arms around Harry's waist. He looked over Harry's shoulder as they moved with the music.

Lying here with you
Listening to the rain
Smiling just to see the smile upon your face

These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive
These are the moments I'll remember all my life
I found all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

"Severus and Remus are dancing," Draco whispered.

"So are Seamus and Justin Finch-Fletchy,"

Harry's warm breath trickled over his ear. Draco was almost sad that they were at this party. They could be alone in his rooms. But he enjoyed any time he could get with Harry. A flash went off. Draco started to sing along to the song quietly.

"Looking in your eyes
Seeing all I need
Everything you are is everything to me

These are the moments
I know heaven must exist
These are the moments I know all I need is this I have all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more,"

Harry started to sing softly in his ear. Draco looked over at Ginny and Hermione. Ginny smiled at him. She looked delighted to be allowed to show public affection. Draco pulled Harry closer.

"I could not ask for more than this time together
I could not ask for more than this time with you

Every prayer has been answered
Every dream I have's come true
And right here in this moment is right where I'm meant to be
Here with you here with me..."

"People are staring," Harry whispered.

"I know. Don't look at them."

Draco kissed the shell of Harry's ear. Harry let out a small, happy sigh. Another flash went off. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were torn between staring at them, Hermione and Ginny, or Remus and Severus. They seemed out of place. Draco picked up his singing again.

"These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive
These are the moments I'll remember all my life
I've got all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than this time together
I could not ask for more than this time with you
Every prayer has been answered
Every dream I have's come true

And right here in this moment is right where I'm meant to be
Here with you here with me
I could not ask for more than the love you give me
'Cause it's all I've waited for

And I could not ask for more
I could not ask for more..."

They danced out the rest of the music. Draco pulled away a little. He looked into Harry's half-closed eyes. On an impulse, Draco kissed him. Nothing too much, for those people who felt nauseous when they saw two guys kiss. When he ended the kiss he led Harry back to their booth.

They had done it. Shown everyone. Now it was their time to cower while people made up their minds about what to think.


Please Review!

Note: Edited on 12/20/04 for grammar, spelling and punctuation. A few things may be different from the original version, but nothing drastic.

:-:silver-sunn101:-: