1After a late night of reconciliation between some Gryffindors and all of Slytherin, they had to admit that they needed to sleep.

By the end of the night it was a pretty amusing sight, watching Ginny and Pansy flirting like mad, and watching Ron and Blaise beginning to find an interest in one another. Harry shook his head. What about Hermione? He couldn't help but chuckle; Ron had just turned bisexual in one night. Hermione was going to flip when she found out, which she would, as it was Hogwarts. The whole school would know in an hour.

The Gryffindors and Slytherins departed, promising to return again to continue this newly developed friendship between the two houses.

"Good night, Draco."

Draco's shoulders sagged.

Harry gave him a hug, and kissed the Slytherin on the forehead, "Don't worry; when we wake up tomorrow, it'll all be the same."

"But I don't want to leave you, Harry, and you've got two beaters in your room who are ready to rip you apart."

"Don't worry about me, Draco. Why do you think I was made Seeker in my first year?"

"Because you can fly, and you can catch. Not because you can beat them up; that's what beaters are for. Are you sure you don't want to stay with us, tonight?"

"Yeah, Harry, come to Slytherin tonight," added Pansy behind Draco, obviously listening in on their last minute private conversation.

Draco looked up at Harry with hope-filled eyes, and Harry looked over at Ron. Ron smiled, and put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "I think you should; plus, I don't think Neville and I could hold the two beaters off if anything happened. I'm simply exhausted for tonight." Then he turned to Draco, and cast a fake glare at him, "Only for tonight, though, you understand? He's still Gryffindor property."

Ginny came up from behind Ron, "Yeah! He's still ours, and you can't have him!"

Draco smiled, and hugged Harry back, "I'll take good care of him, I promise!"

They broke out in a small laugh; Draco had sounded just like a little school kid taking home someone's pet for a day.

After they stopped laughing, Harry glared teasingly at Draco, "I never said I would come with you."

But it was not Draco who replied, it was Ron, "Hey! We don't want you tonight. Go away!"

They all broke into another burst of laughter.

Harry made a fake pout, and slouched, but Draco gathered him into his arms, "That's okay; we want you," Draco soothed, while grinning madly at Ron when Harry's face was buried in his chest.

When they finally broke everything up, it was deep into the night, but they still had time to catch a few hours of sleep, at the least.

Harry woke up to Pansy running into their room. It didn't matter, though, because both Draco and he still had their clothes on. They were so exhausted when they went to bed that they just fell asleep as soon as they got in.

"Wake up! We still have class today!"

"I'm not going. Tell them I've got the flu or something," Draco moaned.

Harry smiled, "Madam Pomfrey's going to come looking for you. Do you really want to be alone in your room with her?"

Draco's head bolted upright, "You mean you're not going to suffer with me?"

"I need to get to class. I don't even know how our Defense classes are going to go, now."

Draco moaned, and fell back into bed, face down.

Harry looked at Pansy to ask what he could do. Pansy smirked at him, and it clicked in Harry's head.

Harry leaned towards the sleepy mass of blonde hair beside him, and licked the blonde's cheek. He saw the smile on the Slytherin's face, even with his head buried in his pillow.

"Is that going to be my wake up call every morning? Because if it is, I'll wake up, I swear."

"Only if you're good. Now get up, sleepy-head!"

"Okay, okay."

When Harry looked at Pansy, he saw her jaw had dropped, "What? I thought you told me to..."

"I was just going to suggest a kiss or a peck of some sort, but oh dear! That was hot just watching it! I need to go find Ginny." She ran out the door, leaving the two lovers laughing at their morning wake-up call's reaction to a little tongue action.

The two entered the Great Hall. Some students still fell silent with shock at sight of the couple. They smiled, still keeping their hands together, but the students' gaze left them as soon as a hoard of Gryffindors and Slytherins came through the door behind them, laughing as though nothing was different; but, most shockingly to the other Houses, laughing together.

"See you in Transfig'. Later, Draco."

"Be careful over there, Harry. I'll be watching their every move."

Harry gave Draco one last smile, and made his way over to the practically empty Gryffindor table, along with the other Gryffindors behind him.

Hermione glared at both Harry and Ron, but didn't say anything. Dean came around, and patted her shoulder as a means of comfort.

Harry was surprised, but Ron didn't even look the least bit jealous. In fact, Harry distinctly saw Ron roll his eyes at the mass of brown curls before sitting down in front of his plate to eat.

There was obvious tension between the few Gryffindors against the others; the ruling majority. It was obvious who was holding the upper hand, though. The ones who had 'bonded' with the Slytherins last night, were all full of chatter, laughing, and sometimes even walking over to the Slytherin table to make some comment before returning to the Gryffindor table again. Despite the lack of sleep they'd had, most of them were energized at the new day they would be having, united with their ex-rivals.

Suddenly, Professor McGonagall approached Harry with a serious expression; much different from the expression she'd had last night.

"The Headmaster would like to speak with you, Mr. Potter. Please come with me."

Harry, puzzled, stood up and followed her.

"Ah, Harry. Please take a seat. And Minerva, dear, please do not look so serious."

"Headmaster, please don't mind me saying so, but you were not the one who had to listen to the chattering of the Gryffindors and Slytherins while you tried to get some rest."

Dumbledore smiled at the head of Gryffindor, obviously amused at the uniting of the two houses.

"I'm sorry, professor; we didn't know. Why didn't you say something?" said Harry, timidly.

Professor McGonagall gave him a tired smile, "And ruin a bonding session between Gryffindor and Slytherin? Never in my life."

Harry turned his attention back to the headmaster.

"Harry, you are aware that we no longer have a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?"

Harry nodded his head.

"Well, as it always takes me the entire summer to find myself a Defense professor, I was wondering if perhaps 'you' would like to take up the position."

"WHAT?" Harry yelled, incredulously.

"I'm sure you heard me correctly, Mr. Potter."

Harry looked to Professor McGonagall for help, but she simply smiled at him.

"But I have to go to classes! I can't teach; that's simply impossible. And I'm still in school; I have no training whatsoever."

Dumbledore smiled, "Yes, you are quite right, Harry, but the thing is, that I was planning to move all of the DADA lessons until later, during the evening. I have seen your work with your DA group, and that is brilliant work, if I do say so myself."

"But what about my Quidditch practices? And then everyone's schedule will need to be changed," Harry babbled, seeking some way out of this situation.

"I am aware of that, Harry, but I am hoping that you will take us up on this offer, as we are absolutely desperate for a professor."

"What about another Auror?"

"There's no time, Harry. Please say you will do it. Your Quidditch practices will be fitted to your schedule; we understand that your Quidditch practices are very important to you."

"But," Harry looked at his Transfiguration professor for help, but none came. In fact, he thought he saw a tiny smirk form at the corners of her mouth, "I don't have the training."

"You have a great deal of training, Harry. You are an excellent teacher, far beyond our expectations for someone your age. In fact, you are very good at teaching. Of course, if you wouldn't want to stay long term, that is all right as well. We are well aware of your ambitions to become an Auror after your years at Hogwarts, but if you take this position, and even if you don't, you are promised a position here at Hogwarts after you graduate."

Harry was shocked. He hadn't even finished school yet, and he was already assured that he'd never be unemployed.

"Of course, Harry, it will come with pay. In fact, I think you deserve much more than what other professors receive, considering how you've done so much teaching already with the DA group prior to the present moment."

"But professor, I'm not..." Harry began, hopelessly.

"Mr. Potter; just take the position. Professor Dumbledore will not let you leave this room until you do," pleaded Professor McGonagall.

Harry sighed, "So basically, I never really had a choice."

Dumbledore smiled, and gave a light chuckle, "I'm afraid not, Harry. You were brought in here simply to be informed of your new position." Then a pile of parchment appeared on the headmaster's desk, "The new timetables have already been drawn up."

Harry couldn't help but smile at this. Now that the decision was made, he was in a good mood; nothing could ruin things for him now.

Harry entered the Great Hall with the two professors. When he entered, he saw that everyone was talking, and most people looked confused. The rest of the professors were trying to hold everyone in order, because they were all supposed to be in class already.

The Headmaster stood before the school, "Now, now, students; settle down. There has been a change in our regular school program due to some rather unexpected events which took place yesterday."

Harry could see Draco raise an eyebrow at him from across the Hall. Despite all the chaos around the blonde boy, he looked as calm and composed as he usually did.

"New time tables have been drawn up for each and every one of you. I must announce that professor Fentson is no longer part of our staff, due to some recent events, the details of which will not be forthcoming. This will be for the best for the students of our school. Now, your head of house is handing out your timetables at the moment. Please understand that this is all for the best."

The Headmaster waited until everyone had received their timetables before he spoke again, "You will notice that there are certain days where you have no class scheduled as you otherwise would. This is due to the fact that your Defense Against the Dark Arts classes will be taking place during the evening."

A Ravenclaw's hand shot up, "Why?"

Dumbledore smiled at the boy, "Because we have added a new member to our staff, and I am quite pleased that he has agreed, if under pressure, to take up the position as our school's new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor; which means that his timetable would not work out if the class did not take place in the evening."

The same boy asked, "Who is it?"

Dumbledore's smile grew wider, if that were even possible, "Why, it is none other than Mr. Harry Potter."

Gasps could be heard throughout the entire Great Hall. Of course, none of the professors were surprised at the news, for they were obviously informed beforehand.

Hermione raised her hand, "That is impossible. He still has school, so he cannot obtain a job at Hogwarts; he is barely older than the seventh years, and will get no respect from the other students here."

"Ms. Granger, have you forgotten already? Harry has been teaching DA since his fifth year. He has been doing exceedingly well with it, also. Even in earlier years, you must have seen that age did not matter, for Mr. Potter has been able to show that he has enormous skill and talent in the area of teaching, if only in his great passion for Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"But it simply should not be! It would have been much simpler if you had just hired a new professor to take the place of the previous one," protested Hermione.

"As I told Mr. Potter, there is simply no time for such work. I will not allow my students to fall behind in their Defense classes too much. It is such a shame that things had to happen this way, but I am glad to welcome such a wonderful member to our faculty."

From the Slytherin side, a loud eruption of cheering and clapping came, and soon most of the students followed suit, causing a massive amount of noise.

"Now; so much class time has already been taken up with these announcements and discussions, that I would advise that you immediately proceed to the second classes on your schedules for today."

The Great Hall erupted in noise again while making their way to their classes. Much of the noise was for Harry, congratulating him, but Harry desperately wanted to be with his blonde-haired lover at the moment.

Today was Wednesday, but didn't feel like it at all, to Harry. So much had happened yesterday, that it was hard to believe that everything had happened in one day.

Surprisingly, their schedules were exactly the same as they were before except that, wherever there was a DADA class scheduled, it had been replaced by a space.

Harry made his way to Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid, with a large crowd following him; still congratulating him. Harry could see that Draco was glaring at whoever had touched, patted, said anything, or even attempted to say anything to Harry, which was basically the entire school except the Slytherins, because they could feel the tension radiating from Draco.

Harry gave Draco a weak smile, which seemed to cheer the Slytherin up a bit, for he stopped glaring at the individuals who were trying to get a word in with Harry. Rather, the blonde focused on the ones talking directly to Harry, and trying to get his attention.

"Congratulations, 'arry!" shouted Hagrid.

"Oh, uh, thanks, Hagrid."

"Wow! All that shock in two days, 'arry. A bit strong, for me."

Harry gave a weak chuckle.

"Now, class, we are going to be starting with spiders today."

Ron looked horrified, "Spiders?"

Hagrid looked at Ron, "S'alright Ron, y' don't need to participate today; I understand."

Ron relaxed. "Uh, professor?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I go in your hut for the remaining time? Please?"

Hagrid gave a small chuckle, and nodded. Ron quickly made his way into the hut, and shut the door behind him as quickly as he had yanked it open.

Hagrid handed each of the students a jar. Within each jar was a spider; it was quite big - about half the size of a full-grown tarantula.

"Now, class, these spiders are said to bite. They are called Backila. Do not upset 'em. If ye've become their friend they 'ill listen to y' and y' can be able to control 'em and play with 'em. Backila's are very loyal, although they may not look so nice."

A hand shot up, "What do you mean by loyal? What can they help you with?"

"Oh, for example cleaning yer house of insects and such. Spiders do that naturally, but these spiders are smart. They'll understand if y' try and get their loyalty. Very good spiders to have around the house. I have a few meself."

Harry's eyes shot open. "Ron..."

Hagrid looked at Harry, "Oh, no!"

Just then Ron ran out of the hut screaming, "SPIDERS!!!!"

The class erupted into laughter. Even the Gryffindors were laughing at the 'brave' lion from their house.

After class had ended, Harry didn't care who was trying to talk to him; he raced over to his boyfriend and gave the blonde a kiss on the cheek.

"Mm... That's more like it; I thought I would never be able to get to you, with that fan club of yours."

"Never. Always room for Drakie-poo."

Draco gaped, and stopped, "You just called me the most ridiculous name I have ever heard."

Harry smiled, "I know."

Draco shivered, "Don't do it again; it's creepy."

Harry smiled at his Slytherin, who was beyond beautiful even when he thought something was creepy.

The two made their way to lunch together, "So, Harry, we're going to have less time than we did before! Fantastic!"

"Nah, now that Dumbledore knows, I think he'll give me time to be with you. He knows he can't keep me in a classroom forever."

"I hope so, Harry."

"I know so, Draco."