DISCLAIMER: I would just like assure you that your reviews make a huge difference to the quality of the story. As always, I don't own Harry Potter, JKR does. If you feel you need to flame, please do. I find them amusing. Hell, just enjoy!

As the train slowed, they all began to change into their school things, and once again Hermione berated Harry on his disrespect for smartness. His tie was so short it was barely visible, and his shirt was untucked but Harry didn't care. Why was there so much hype about the house cup anyway? It didn't do anything; it just meant that Malfoy was quieter than usual for a few days at the end of the year. He'd given up giving a fuck.

In the usual hustle and bustle of getting off the train Harry had generally done a good job in previous years of sticking with Hermione and Ron, but this year was the exception. They finally did meet up again just as Harry was climbing into a carriage, making a point of not looking at the Thestrals. Hermione was blushing furiously and Ron was looking at his feet. Try as he might, however, he couldn't get anything out of either of them with respect to what had happened in the few minutes they had been separated.

On the way into the great hall they met their fellow Gryffindors, who were deep in conversation about who the next Defence teacher could be. They found seats along the Gryffindor table and peered up at the staff table, but saw no new faces. That was when Professor Dumbledore rose to address the school;

'I would usually at this time speak to you all about the year to come and current affairs in the world. I am sure you all know the seriousness of this new threat to our way of life but-' here he breathed a heavy sigh '-but I am sure that you have all already chosen a side.' Harry noticed, as he did at the end of last year, how strained and old the headmaster looked. 'Therefore I may as well just let you get on with the feast. There is but one more thing left to say; please welcome your new potions teacher...' and with that and a grand sweep of his arm he indicated a large woman at the very end of the staff table.

Hermione looked very shocked at this. Something triggered in the back of Harry's mind too-"But Snape's still here..."

''Sup 'Mione?' but before she could explain, Professor Dumbledore had continued;

'...as no doubt many of you have already deduced, this means that Professor Snape is lacking a teaching subject. There is a reason for this, however. That reason is that Professor Snape has kindly consented to become the new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher.'

A stunned silence followed this statement; almost every jaw in the Great Hall had dropped. Snape was looking very superior.

'So please give a warm hand to Professor Snape and Professor Polly Thompson.'

Everyone was quiet as they went up the stairs to bed, having stuffed themselves stupid. And it was only as Harry stopped to help Neville out of a trick step in the marble staircase that the crowd brought Harry and Hermione together.

'Why're you still here Harry? I thought that you were supposed to be in Dumbledore's office?'

'Oh, fuck! Sorry Neville, gotta go.' and with that he sped off in the direction of Dumbledore's office, knocking a throng of first-years back into the great hall, which they had spent the last five minutes fighting through the crowd to get out of.

When he reached the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance to Dumbledore's office there was no-one about, this was well away from any Great-Hall-To-Common-Room shortcuts. He faced the gargoyle and spoke purposefully to it;

'I'm not going to waste my time saying the name of every sweet under the sun, Dumbledore asked me to come here after the feast, so let me in.' The stone did not move. He began to wonder whether or not Malfoy had set him up for this, and began to curse himself for not seeing it sooner. Then he began to curse Malfoy. He continued in this vain as he began to walk back to the common room.

'You'll do what next time you see me, Potter?' Harry spun round immediately.

'I said I'll kill you, but kickin your arse'll do...' said Harry forcefully, and with this he started back towards Malfoy.

'I heard what you said, but I'm afraid that's not possible, Potter.'

'Why not? I think it's finally time to give you what's been coming to you for years, Thou Shalt Not Fuck With Me...' Harry's fist was raised and ready, he would have floored Malfoy, if it wasn't for a long set of fingers closing round Harry's wrist as he drew it back. The owner of those fingers would have had some of Harry's mind too, if he hadn't realised at the last minute that the owner was Dumbledore.

'Not today, Mr Potter' was all he said, then 'Follow me, you two.'

Dumbledore led them up the stairs to his office, after muttering 'Canary Cream' to the stone gargoyle, and deep down Harry noted an appreciation for how successful the twins seemed to be in their new business. This thought was dwarfed by all the others that had just sprung up in his mind, the most predominant of which was the fact that he had just nearly hit Dumbledore. The rage was still boiling, and he had to calm himself down, before he could speak. Thankfully, this was much easier than it could have been, mainly because Malfoy wasn't smirking at his misfortune. Probably, Harry thought, because he had just been the sole attention of his full temper. Yes, he thought, it felt good to be feared by Malfoy.

As they entered the office, Harry noticed that most of the portraits on the wall were attentive. Phineas Nigellus was out of his frame leaving a picture of a handsome leather chair. Fawkes was off on some errand and Dumbledore's office was just as Harry remembered it. Too many things had been relived in this office. Dumbledore spoke again, bringing Harry out of his reverie;

'I haven't time to drop hints, I will be direct. I know that you two have had a lot of friction in the past but this will not do. You may be completely honest to me in this office. Harry, if you could fight Mr Malfoy, where would the ideal place be? No? Mr Malfoy, do you have a place in mind?'

'Yes sir. But sir, I don't understand why...'

'All will become clear. Please place your wand tip on your temple then place the thought into this...' Dumbledore produced his Pensieve. Harry merely stood watching, completely nonplussed. Dumbledore continued in the same tone;

'Listen carefully both of you. Confrontation between you cannot stand this year, for reasons I will divulge after this little experiment. You will now have this chance to vent your angers and get it all out of your systems. You will both touch the contents of this Pensieve, then you will proceed to assault each other as far as you see fit. When you have finished I will collect you. You will speak of this to no-one. This is your only chance to do so, after which you will be civil and respectful to each other with no exceptions, understand?'

Malfoy was looking as confused and stunned as Harry felt, however he assented and touched the swirling silver in the bowl. His body stiffened but he did not fall. He turned to Dumbledore.

'Mr Malfoy's mind is waiting for you Harry.' and he gestured toward the bowl. Harry put his hand forward, careful not to touch Malfoy's, and the now-familiar navel wrench came. When he settled down, he was standing in a large tower-room, about the size of the Gryffindor common-room. Malfoy was seated on a huge four-poster double bed.

'Took your time, Potter.'

'Where are we?' Harry saw no reason to cease being cold toward Malfoy.

'You really are slow, Potter. We are in one of my memories.'

'I said where, arsehole.'

'Actually, shit-face, we're in my last memory of my bedroom at the Manor.'

'I don't fuckin wanna be 'ere!'

'Too bad Potter, you should've thought of one of your own damn memories. Anyway, I thought the floor space would come in handy.' Malfoy got up off his bed and walked to stand in the middle of the space, which was right in front of Harry.

'What for?'

'For this-' In a two-hit the speed of lightning, Malfoy shot a hand forwards and clipped Harry's face, then as Harry flung his arms up (far too late) he snapped his other fist into Harry's stomach, causing him to double-up. Harry regained his composure as Malfoy pelted the back of his head repeatedly. He flung his fist out as he straightened up, and swung it straight up into Malfoy's face. They continued in this vain for a while, neither gaining much of an advantage. When Dumbledore appeared they were apart, each fighting to remain on his feet, never taking his eyes off the other. Neither knew whether they were covered in their blood, or the other's.

'That will do, boys. I trust you are now satisfyingly exhausted?'

'For now...'

'I suppose so, sir...'

'Then shake hands and we can depart.' Maybe it was the exhaustion, but Harry wasn't as opposed to the action as he usually would have been. He had just enjoyed a good fight, with a capable opponent. When they shook, he noticed that Malfoy too, was soaked in sweat. His speech lacked a lot of hostility when he spoke next;

'It's a weird thing, but a bit of pain and total exhaustion can feel very cleansing, very satisfying, no?'

'Know what, Potter? I agree.'

'Name's Harry...'

When they came out of the Pensieve, Harry was surprised at how little he felt the pain, and the lack of blood. Malfoy was approaching him;

'Listen, Harry...'

'Save it, I think the Professor wants to talk with us' he jerked his head towards Dumbledore, then sat down.

'Indeed correct, Mr Potter. Now, to the reason you're both here. I think it best if we start with your little adventure last week, Mr Malfoy. If it's alright, I wish you to repeat it yourself, for I may myself have missed important points. Please don't worry about offending anyone here, just tell it as it was.'

'Yes sir...' Draco sighed, looking downcast and numb. He lifted his face to Harry's and then began. 'As you know, my father is deeply involved with all levels of criminal and dark proceedings. He was an old Death Eater, and when I was young he showed me the Dark Mark on his arm. He explained what it meant and why it was there. He has often said since that he missed the old days of roaming the country with the Dark Lord. He wished the Mark on his arm would burn once more, and made no secret that he would be the first to rejoin the Dark ranks. When it did, Mother says he jumped from the dinner table, gave one cry of exclamation and Disapparated. Now, the Manor has always been an evil place. I was brought up as a follower of the Dark ways; I have always known that if the Dark Lord ever returned I would have the Dark Mark burned onto me as soon as possible. Only one thing occurred to me; if my father was always so strong, why did he choose to follow someone else?' Malfoy changed his tone and continued.

'It's fun being the bad guy, but I never wanted to be evil. Father will be out of Azkaban soon, and my time away from his influence has given me the freedom to make my own choices. As soon as Father escapes, I will be collected to get Marked. I don't want to be one of those followers, fearing the Dark Lord as much as everyone else, and forced to do his bidding as well. That's why I came to Professor Dumbledore.' here, Dumbledore stood and spoke;

'I was going to let Mr Malfoy join the Order-' Harry felt a surge of jealousy, and the remains of a 5-year hatred rekindled briefly;

'But you won't let Me! Why Him?'

'His Birthday is at the beginning of the school year, today in fact. He is now of age.'

'Yes, and being 17 means I can make my own decisions.' put in Malfoy.

'But I knew you would put up an argument, so I have declined at this time. However he and you will have a task when you are both ready. This year you will both train and prepare for your first and assignment as members of the Order of the Phoenix. On Harry's birthday you will both be induced, then depart on a mission which, if successful, will be the downfall of Lord Voldemort. I will say no more now, but I would like you both to pay attention to your lessons this year, and come to meet me here on Saturday evening, say...eight o'clock? Now, off to bed both of you.'

As they all descended the moving staircase, Dumbledore gave them a few final words, then departed, leaving Harry and Malfoy standing outside the stone gargoyle.

'Remember, "Canary Cream" at eight, Saturday.'

'I know, Harry. I was there too, remember?'

'Don't get smart wi' me, Malfoy.'

'Don't worry, it's just the way I am - I usually don't mean anything by it. Anyway, if you're Harry, why'm I still "Malfoy"? I don't actually enjoy being a Malfoy, you know.'

'Oh, OK...er...Draco? -God that sounds weird- but yeah, I can take friendly teasing, if that's all it is.'

'Cool.'

'Erm...'

'Yeah?'

'How you gonna be wi' me round your mates?'

'You mean the other Slytherins?'

'Yeah'

'Dunno, just remember if I do have to insult you, I'm pissin about.'

'K, see ya, Draco.'

'See ya, Harry' They walked in opposite directions, Harry desperate to get to bed and rest his aching brain.

Wow! I never thought I'd actually finish that. Again, rr so I can improve. D'you lot think Dumbledore's in character? coz I'm not sure...

Thanks to 'Lothmeldo', I hope this fic uploads the way it was originally formatted.