1"Good evening, Professor."

"Harry, please; call me Audrey."

"Oh, okay."

"How was your day?"

"It was good."

"What classes did you have?"

"Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, and Potions."

"Oh, well with potions, I don't know how you could have a good day. Professor Snape is quite the negative person."

Harry didn't look at his professor, and just nodded.

"Well, let's get started then, I guess."

"Alright."

"Um, let's see... You know about the three Unforgivable curses, right?"

"Yes, we learned about them in our third year."

"Ah, yes; Alastor Moody."

Harry nodded.

"He was definitely quite the Auror; very well respected, although now he's a bit of a grouch."

Harry nodded again, without looking at his professor.

"So, can you throw off the Unforgivables? I know about the one from Voldemort."

Harry looked up at his professor, surprised.

"Well, you didn't expect me to be afraid of a name, did you? He did a lot of damage, I know, but you will never get anywhere without, at the very least, saying the name of your enemy."

Harry smiled. She was tough, to be able to say 'Voldemort' like a conversational topic.

"Well then, Harry! Well, are you able to throw them off?"

"Um, I was forced to take Occlumency lessons during my fifth year, and I've been practicing since then. I've gotten quite good, and it helps me fight off the curses, because I can concentrate much better, now."

"Well, it is very good to hear that you have been able to take Occlumency. It is quite hard to master."

"Well, I haven't mastered it yet, but I'm trying to do the best I can."

"That's very good already, especially for battle preparation."

"So, are we going to start training, now?"

"Yes. I just wanted a brief on how much you know, already."

"Okay,"

"Can I test your skills in throwing off the curses?"

"Sure."

"Okay, tell me when you're ready."

"I'm ready."

"Imperio!" shouted the professor, as she pointed her wand at Harry.

Harry stayed standing. He didn't even break out in a sweat.

"Wow, Harry; that was really good."

"That was the weakest of the three Unforgivables; try another one."

"Okay. Crucio!"

Harry stayed standing once more.

"That was good. You broke it off before it even reached you."

"But I needed to concentrate; do you think you could help me with fighting them off without me knowing when they're coming? It would be much better, since there will be Death Eaters and such around during the battle."

"As you wish, Harry."

There were a few more hours of practicing, and Harry was checking the time whenever his professor wasn't looking.

"Well, Harry, I have no idea where the time went. It has been fantastic, training with you. Is Friday okay?"

"Oh. My Quidditch practices start on Friday."

"Tomorrow?"

"I can't; DA meetings."

"Saturday, then."

"Um, okay, but not for long, I'm holding tryouts for new positions, since two players left the team last year."

"Alright, then, Saturday. Meet me here when you're ready, before or after the tryouts is fine with me."

"Okay. Goodnight, professor."

"Audrey; and goodnight, Harry."

Harry left the class, and headed for his bed. He was so tired and bored with the training. It had been beneficial, but everything was boring as long as Draco wasn't around. That's when he got the idea. He had an invisibility cloak; so why not give it to Draco, and let Draco watch. Even if he couldn't see his dragon, at least knowing he was around would be much better.

At the DA meeting the next night, Harry took note of everyone who had returned to Hogwarts that year. They were seventh years now, and so there weren't many people left. They would have to recruit some more. Cho had left, which made Harry a bit more pleased than it would have in his fifth year. He wondered if he could get things cleared out, and perhaps Draco could join. But it wouldn't happen. He couldn't, and they both knew it. The past always caught up to you at a time of pure desperation.

The DA meeting went by fairly quickly, and Harry had to stay up quite late trying to finish up his homework. As if he didn't struggle enough with his time, now, with every night basically booked, he didn't have time to do his homework much. At least Severus was easing up for him.

When Quidditch practices came, they had quite a lot to do. Harry was captain, and Seeker, while Ron remained Keeper. Even the Slytherin's had stopped teasing Ron, although that was due to a lot of help from Draco. Ginny had been made a Chaser, as she had requested at the end of her fourth year. Seamus and Dean were the Beaters after Fred and George had gone, leaving two open Chaser positions.

This was going to be rough. Harry didn't want to make any seventh years the Chasers, because that would leave Ginny hanging next year when everyone left Hogwarts. This practice was mainly looking over some applications that had come in, and making suggestions for who they would want to come in, then the next day they would hold the tryouts.

After practice, Harry had to stay up again to catch up on some homework. Sure, he had Sunday, but he wanted to be able to spend some time with Draco that day.

When Saturday came around, Harry was absolutely exhausted. When he entered the Great Hall for breakfast, he saw Draco's eyes shoot wide open with concern. Severus caught sight of Harry, as well.

Severus waited until Harry had finished his breakfast before walking up to the Gryffindor table, "Potter, I need to speak with you outside. Your last paper was absolutely abysmal."

Hermione looked like she was in shock, and Ron wanted to protest, but Harry stood up before anyone could get themselves detention. "Yes professor," he replied with no expression as he followed his professor out of the Great Hall, and into the potions room.

"Harry, are you alright? You look like hell took you over."

"Thanks, professor; I love you, too."

"Harry, seriously; you should perhaps talk to someone. Have you been getting enough sleep?"

"I can handle it, professor. Just some bags under my eyes won't kill me."

"But it will kill me!" shouted Draco, who had just entered the room, shutting the door behind him, "Harry James Potter, what do you think you're doing? Do you know how terribly tired you look?"

"Thanks, Draco. What a nice compliment from you."

"Harry, seriously; you should say something. It's only been - what - three days since you began your training?"

"Oh, shit! She asked if I could meet her before or after practice, but I won't be able to make it after practice. I need to go. Bye!" and Harry ran out of the room to the Defense Against the Dark Arts room.

Harry knew Draco wasn't going to be happy about this, but he would make it up to him with what he had panned.

"Good morning, professor."

"Audrey; and good morning yourself, Harry," she looked up, took one look at her student and gasped, "Harry, have you been getting enough sleep?"

"Oh, I'm fine professor."

"Please, call me Audrey."

"Okay."

"Well, I wanted to continue training today, but we can't; you need to go back to sleep."

"Oh, I'm fine. And I'd need to get up anyway for the tryouts."

Professor Fentson didn't look too happy, "Harry, go get some sleep. We'll have a training session in a few days' time. You look terribly tired."

Harry opened his mouth to say something, but shut it again. He nodded and said his goodbyes, but instead of going to bed, he returned to the potions room.

Draco turned when he heard Harry coming, and right when he got close enough, Draco cornered him.

"Harry Potter, if you put that woman above your own health one more time, I will personally see to it that she is the least of your worries!" Draco said, sternly.

"I'm sorry, Draco. I just didn't want to seem irresponsible."

"I know, Harry, but still, that was bloody stupid of you."

Harry yawned, "Draco, I'm too tired to argue with you at the moment."

Draco embraced Harry in a strong hug, "I know; I was just worried about you. Why were you up so late, anyway?"

"I've been working on my homework."

"You have all of tomorrow to work on your homework."

"I know, but I wanted to leave Sunday free for us."

Draco hugged Harry harder. "Not if it means that you look like death, Harry."

"So I'll meet you for Hogsmead tomorrow morning?"

"Only if you don't look like this."

"Okay. Oh! And would you like to watch my training lessons?"

"How?" Draco asked, then paused before he asked the next question in fear. "Harry, you didn't tell her, did you?"

"No. I have an invisibility cloak, remember?"

"Oh, yeah; I forgot."

"So, will you?"

"Sure, if you don't mind. But why?"

"I'd just feel better, if you were around."

"Oh. Well then of course."

Severus was watching this, and if it had been two years ago, he would have given them both detentions until the cows came home; but he liked seeing the both of them so happy.

"Sorry to interrupt, but doesn't Harry have practice?"

"Yes, he does, but not for a while."

"I meant that he should be getting some rest. He can rest in my quarters."

Draco picked up his love, and carried Harry through a hidden door in a dark corner.

"Draco, you don't need to carry me; I can walk, you know."

"I know, but it's more fun this way."

Harry couldn't help but giggle at this. Draco was too cute when he was pretending to be all macho and possessive.

Draco lay Harry on Severus' bed, and covered him up with the blanket.

"I'll Accio your Quidditch stuff down so you don't need to go all the way to the tower to get your things. Don't worry; just rest, okay?"

Harry nodded, and fell asleep right away. Draco made his way to Harry and kissed his beautiful Gryffindor on his forehead. A smile crept over Harry's face, and Draco couldn't help but smile as well, then he left the room and quickly Accio'ed everything necessary for Harry's Quidditch practice today.

After everything was set for when Harry woke up, Draco started planning his life after Hogwarts - with the help of Severus, of course. It's not like he could try to leave the older man out; Severus would be furious if he wasn't included in helping with his own godson's future.

Harry had woken up and stepped out of Severus's quarters to find his Slytherin conversing secretly with his head of house. The Gryffindor smiled as he snuck up behind Draco and gave him a kiss goodbye before going out to the Quidditch tryouts. Severus had grimaced at the two but they both knew he loved seeing them together.

Surprisingly, a lot of students showed up for the Chaser positions. He quickly crossed out any of the seventh years, but wasn't going to break their hope to actually go through with demonstrating their skills.

There were some younger years that were very talented, and he gave note to them perhaps to have positions for next year's Quidditch team, and left the note with Ginny.

In the end, the team chose one boy in his fourth year and a girl in her fifth year. This way, Ginny would definitely be captain, even if she was shown up by the other two, which Harry doubted greatly anyway.

"I would like to thank you all for coming to the tryouts. We have decided on those who will be our two new chasers, and I hope there will be no grudges between anyone," announced Harry

Everyone nodded; it wasn't Gryffindor like to hold grudges against one another. Just because someone else got picked instead of them, didn't mean they were bad, and they knew it.

"I would like to welcome Aliana Crumblut and Marsico Flaput to our team!" shouted Harry.

Everyone cheered and clapped in happiness. No one was even upset that they didn't get chosen. They knew that Aliana and Marsico were very good players.

Harry didn't join the rest of them at the celebration for welcoming Aliana and Marsico onto the team, in the Gryffindor tower. Even Hermione didn't bother to pretend; she was ignoring the noise, and trying to study.

Harry sat in his room on his bed, trying to finish off the only homework he had left; a potions essay. Although he didn't have to finish it for a while, he didn't want to take advantage of the fact that his potions professor was now his friend.

When Harry was finished with the essay, it was a quarter to ten, but he needed the rest, so decided to go to bed early. Tomorrow he would be going to Hogsmead with Draco. He had told Ron and Hermione that he had some personal business he had to attend to with someone, and they didn't pursue him. He had become more and more independent as the years passed, and they were both used to all these personal businesses Harry had to attend. They both knew that Harry took his responsibilities very seriously, and the fact that this started in the middle of sixth year didn't make things more difficult now.