Harry was waiting nervously in the empty Charms classroom. In theory, no one else should turn up, but it was late in the evening, and there was always a possibility that a couple looking for privacy would show up. Or anyone planning mischief they couldn't discuss in their common room.

Draco's head peered through the doorway, before he entered cautiously. 'Are you prepared?'

'Yeah. You?' Harry asked.

'I think so. They're all going to show up here anyway. Blaise and Nott probably think I'm plotting something. Daphne might think I want to ask her out...'

'Do you like her?' Harry inquired, unthinkingly.

Draco smirked, 'She's not really my type. I doubt I'm hers anyway. Have you ever talked to her properly? She's not exactly like Pansy or Tracey.'

'You mean she's not a giggling idiot?'

'They're not idiots,' Draco corrected. 'But you're right, she doesn't giggle. You would like her though, she plays Quidditch. She's probably going to be our keeper this year.'

'I didn't think you took girls.'

'It's not a rule. It's just that certain captains have had a rather medieval towards girls in the team. But as I'm captain now, and all the old members are gone, I asked her to try out. So it's possible she thinks I want to talk to her about Quidditch. But when a boy asks a girl to an abandoned classroom late at night...you do see where I'm going with this, Potter? Or do the Gryffindors not spoil their innocence that way?'

Harry flushed slightly, 'Yes, Malfoy, I understood perfectly. I was just asking...'

'Why?'

'Because...' Harry recovered. 'I was checking that wasn't the reason you wanted her in the DA.'

Plausible as that explanation was, Draco glowered at him. 'Don't trust me?'

'Would you trust Ron to be objective about Hermione?'

Draco looked amused. 'He is rather besotted, isn't he?' Then he glared. 'Did you just compare me to Weasley?'

Harry laughed.

'If I had romantic feelings towards Daphne, I wouldn't be mooning after her like a love-struck idiot.'

'But you don't, so I guess we'll never know how Draco Malfoy looks when he's love-struck.'

Draco didn't look entirely satisfied with that either, but a look at the clock distracted him. 'You need to go - they'll be here in a minute. Not too far, we haven't established whether distance affects the magic part.'

'Okay,' Harry agreed, walking to a classroom a few doors down. He sat quietly in the darkness so as not to attract attention. Snape had assured him that there would be no one around, but you couldn't be too careful. Constant vigilance after all...

Draco was still on his own.

There was a quiet knock and Blaise Zabini entered. Blaise was tall and good-looking, with wavy black hair worn long to below his ears. He would have been more popular with the females of the school were it not for the amused-mocking look he permanently wore. Harry suspected there was slightly more to the problem than that, he never saw Blaise with a crowd, and after all, Draco's superior air didn't put the girls off. But all he really knew about Zabini was that he took Arithmancywith Hermione, and didn't fly.

Nott was the next in. He didn't fly either, but was normally at the matches. And he hung around Draco sometimes, so Harry knew him a little better. Nott was the opposite of Blaise, slender and wiry, with short mid-brown hair. He lacked Zabini's build or Draco's elegance, and watched the events around him with a curious impassiveness. He was the son of a Death Eater, and consistently turned up near the top of classes, without ever appearing to volunteer information during the class. Harry was not entirely sure he trusted Nott, but he trusted Draco, and that would have to suffice.

Daphne Greengrass entered last. Harry supposed, in an detached way, she was quite pretty. She had very short dark hair, and a tiny pointed face which gave her a rather elfin look. If nothing else, she lacked the simpering coquetry which Pansy Parkinson employed to get Draco's attention, and that could be nothing but a plus. He knew little else about her personally, except that apparently she was the Goddaughter of Tonks' blacklisted pureblood mother. That was intriguing.

Harry paid little attention to the conversation. Draco was making small talk, gradually coming to his purpose. He could handle that part; all Harry had to do was help with the Legilimency. He sensed confusion, a little suspicion, but no particular hostility. When Draco mentioned the DA, he felt the sharp shock from Blaise and Daphne, but Nott seemed to think this had resolved a problem in his head. Draco elaborated further, now that it was clear that no one was going to lynch him. Harry was getting a headache – observing the thoughts of three people with very conflicted thoughts was painful. It was interesting though, he could feel their thoughts being pulled in towards a decision.

Blaise stood up, pushing his hand through his hair. Harry could feel his thoughts rushing to catch up with the new information. Eventually he turned an amused look onto Draco, and gave his agreement.

Daphne's thoughts were less confused, but there was an anger underpinning them which Harry couldn't pin down. It didn't appear to be focussed on the DA, or even Harry himself, but it was there. She was determined, however, and peered up at Draco through her hair, quietly giving assent

Theodore Nott was working through his thoughts carefully. Harry was confused by the slight sadness in his thoughts, as none was betrayed on his face. Nott weighed up the scenarios, and then, with no further worry, simply nodded at Draco.

Draco was smiling. 'Good. Harry will be here in a few minutes. He'll be pleased.'

'Potter's coming here?' Blaise asked disbelievingly.

'Blaise, you just agreed to be part of the Slytherin contingent in Potter's army. What exactly surprises or impresses you about the fact that he and I are speaking to each other?'

'The fact that I've watched the two of you circling each other, growling, for the past six years?'

Nott smirked into his hand, and Daphne laughed.

'Point taken,' Draco conceded. 'But nevertheless, you knew what I was asking, you can't be that surprised. This is going to require a certain amount of...adaptability. We can't panic over every detail.'

'Can I panic over this one?' Daphne asked. 'How long have you and Potter been on speaking terms?'

Harry had reached the door. He swung it open, shooting a brief smile at Draco, 'We're still not some days. But on and off, about eight months now, right?'

'Nine.' Draco amended.

'Hence: "about".'

'How long have you been using ambiguity to hide the fact you can't count, Potter?' Draco responded, smirking.

Harry grinned at the stunned silence from the rest of the room. 'Welcome to the DA.'

The Room of Requirement seemed to know that this was not an ordinary meeting. Lamplight cast flickering shadows and the furniture had assumed a positively gothic air.

The members of the DA stood in a nervous huddle at one side of the room, watching the door. It opened, and Harry entered, gazing at them strangely.

He looked over at Ron and Hermione, 'We're all set up. Is this everyone?' he asked, unnecessarily. Harry always knew exactly how many members he should have.

They nodded.

'Good.' He turned to the rest of the DA. 'This is our agreement. This is a potion sealed personally by Professor Snape, and anyone can check the seal if they want. One of the Slytherins agrees to submit to questioning under Veritaserum, to vouch for all of them. Is this satisfactory?'

There was no noisy assent, but then none was expected. This was détente, not peace.

Harry pointed his wand at the four corners of the room, undoing their wards temporarily. He reopened the door, beckoning the Slytherins in. Draco Malfoy entered first. There was an audible gasp, and a rustling as various hands reached down to wands. This quieted a little when it became apparent that Draco's hands were magically bound behind his back, and Harry held his wand.

Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott and Daphne Greengrass followed after Draco. Blaise put a hand at Draco's elbow when he stumbled, the bonds around his hands preventing him from catching himself. The taller Slytherin's glare ensured any smirks died on the faces of the less charitable DA members.

Ron and Hermione separated themselves from the main body of the DA and stood with the Slytherins. Harry walked towards Draco, who met him in the middle of the room. He removed a vial of potion from his robes and held it to Draco's mouth. When the blond had swallowed half, Harry removed it, and quickly drank the rest himself. This provoked another gasp from the crowd, and a surprised look from Draco.

Harry gave an extremely un-Harry-like smirk. 'Fair's fair.'

Draco's bearing was almost exaggeratedly haughty, particularly noticeable in this position of vulnerability, but Ron was convinced he saw a smile creep at the edges of thin lips.

The two boys stood facing each other. Harry started, 'Do you have any intention to betray this group?'

'No,' he shot back. 'Do you?'

There was a hiss of indrawn breath from the people around him, but Harry answered calmly. 'No. Do you vouch for the loyalty of the people you brought with you?'

'Yes. Do you?'

'Yes. Do you vow do serve the light with all your abilities?'

'Yes. Do you?'

'Yes. One last question. You've seen inside my head.' Harry took a step closer to Draco, pointing his wand at him. 'Do you trust me?'

This was the signal. Both boys sighed quietly. Harry's dark hair melted into platinum blond, and green eyes turned grey. Draco's fair hair shortened and darkened, and the unmistakable lightening-bolt scar was drawn on his forehead.

The DA took in the scene. Harry was wandless, with his hands bound. His head was tilted back, with the tip of Draco's wand in the hollow of his neck. He still looked to be considering Draco's question. Raising voice so everyone could hear he answered simply, eyes focussed in Draco, 'With your wand at my throat.'

A/N: Reviews people, please? I like this chapter, it would be nice to know if you do too.