(A/N: Sorry for the delay since last posting. I haven't given up on any of my stories. Life just got a bit complicated. More to follow very soon, I promise!)
The Great Hall was filled with students for the Leaving Feast. Harry sat with his friends, happy even if they were not. Albus was giving his house cup speech. Then the bombshell as he award points to Ron, Hermione and Harry. Gryffindor had equalled Slytherin in points for the house cup.
"… I therefore award 10 points to Neville Longbottom" Dumbledore said as the Gryffindor table exploded with cheers.
"If my calculations are correct, a change of decoration is…" Dumbledore continued after the cheering had subsidised.
"HEADMASTER!" Harry shouted surprising everyone, "Sorry to interrupt Sir but this is important."
The entire Hall looked at the boy who lived. What had happened in the dungeons between Harry and Quirrel was a complete secret, so naturally they all knew.
Dumbledore paused and with that penetrating glaze replied, "Very well Harry, what is this about."
Harry rose from the Gryffindor table and strode across the Hall while stating loudly enough for the entire hall to hear "Headmaster, I wish to right a wrong I committed on my first day here at Hogwarts."
Harry having reached the end of the Gryffindor table turned across the hall and continued to walk as he spoke. "I rejected the hand of friendship from a fellow student and that was wrong. To Draco Malfoy I offer my apology and 5 of the house points you just awarded to me.
The entire hall was dumbstruck. Harry had just given up Gryffindor's lead to Slytherin. The two houses were tied again.
Draco was stunned. He could not figure out what this was about. Why should Potter give him anything especially house points. Potter was walking in his direction and was soon in front of Draco with his hand stuck out. "Friends?" Harry asked the blond boy.
Draco couldn't figure out what Potter was up too. On that first day of school Draco Malfoy had indeed wanted to be friends with the famous boy-who-lived, but after insulting Weasley, it had all gone wrong. Now Draco had been given a second chance but was it that simple? To a Slytherin it never could be that simple.
"It's not a trick," Harry said simply.
Draco finally decided he could not turn down the points for Slytherin to at least equal Gryffindor and he stood to take Harry's hand. What he hadn't expected was to be immediately pulled into a hug. It was a genuine show of friendship that took the wryly Slytherin by complete surprise.
Harry whispered in the blond boys ear, "Our fate is in our own hands, not our fathers. If I can ever do anything, anything at all, you have only to ask. I owe you more than you can ever know. Oh and if you are ever snotty to my other friends again, I'll give you the kick in the butt you so richly deserve!"
Harry released a confused Draco and leaving him with a smile turned to the full hall and saying, "Let both houses share the house cup this year, for we have much to learn from each other and from the other houses too. I believe a change in decoration is called for." Harry raised his hand and with a simple gesture, the Sytherin banners that were hung around the hall changed to carry the school emblem with the four houses represented. "Now on with the feast." Harry continued as he again waved his hands and the tables became ladened with food.
The students and staff alike broke into a roar of conversation at what had just occurred.
"Albus!" Professor McGonagall, "Potter just displayed extremely powerful wandless magic. What is going on?"
But Albus didn't hear her. The gaze of his blue eyes was held firmly by two green eyes. Harry stood for a moment looking at the Headmaster with an expression far beyond his tender 11 years. Albus Dumbledore Headmaster of Hogwarts, living legend of the wizarding world was stunned with what he had just seen in the boy's eyes. There was a power in the boy that was far beyond anything the headmaster had ever seen before and Albus Dumbledore had seen a lot. Albus wondered what this bode for the future but he did not wonder long.
The doors to the Great Hall swung open with a bang causing everyone to look at the men struggling into the Hall.
"Now our other guests arrive!" Harry announced loudly.