A/N: Last chapter of fluff guys and gals (OT: are there even any guys?) Anyhow, I know I'm updating fast, but JKR has set me a deadline. And I know its slightly perverse to want the book to take longer to come out, but there ya go. I've spent the past what, two years, begging it to be faster, so naturallyin the closing stages my writing slows up and I need longer. I'm a crazy person...Okay, I'm done - enjoy!

'Harry?' Hermione shouted across the common room.

'Uh-huh?' he asked distractedly, head bent over his work.

She walked over and stood by his chair. 'Can you give this to Nott for me? You have Defence with him this afternoon don't you?'

'What is it?'

'Notes from Ancient Runes.'

'Do I have to?' he asked beseechingly. 'I don't think Nott likes me very much.'

'He doesn't trust you very much,' she corrected. 'And apparently the feeling is mutual, so you shouldn't really complain. Plus, this work is vital for our NEWTS, Harry!'

'Fine,' Harry sighed. He reached out and took the notes.

His last class of the day was DADA, with Professor Metus. She was still neurotic, still reluctant to let them attempt anything even remotely dangerous, but Harry couldn't hate her. She wasn't like Umbridge, for all that they shared a belief in books rather than wands. She was genuinely afraid for the students, so Harry forgave her for the dullness of their classes. Besides, she let them practice a little more spell-work now. She still wrung her hands nervously as they did it, but Harry suspected that she knew they might need these spells. Above anything else, she was still here, still holding the most dangerous staff position, while knowing that Voldemort had to strike the school this year if he wanted Harry. For that he could accord her a little respect.

Harry sidled over to Nott's desk. The other boy wasn't a Death Eater, as far as he knew, so technically it wouldn't put him in danger just to speak to him, but Harry didn't want to arouse suspicion. He placed the notes on Nott's desk. 'Hermione asked me to give you these. They're from Runes I think.'

Nott picked them up without changing expression. 'Tell her thank you.'

Harry nodded and was about to walk off. But Nott looked as if he wanted to say something else. 'Is that all?' Harry asked.

'Yes. Wait. Tonight?' Nott lowered his voice to a whisper. 'Could we practice the Patronus charm?'

'Umm...tonight I was going to do shields.'

'It's fine then.' Nott answered quickly.

'We could...'

'Don't worry about it.'

Harry nodded slowly and returned to his seat.

Without there being any clear route of information, it had become common knowledge within the DA that Harry and Draco were together. Unlike Hermione and Ron, they did nothing so obvious as hug or kiss where they could be seen, but apparently they had been sitting too close, or talking too intimately, because although no one had said anything, the secret was out. All they could do was be thankful for the small miracle that something so open within the DA was entirely unknown outside it.

They were practicing shields for what seemed like the thousandth time. Harry knew that some of them, especially the younger ones, were bored by this. But while he tried to take what Snape had said about choices to heart, he wasn't taking unnecessary risks. A well-executed shield could easily be the difference between life and death. Harry suspected it probably had been for him at one time or another, but then he'd had more life-and-death experiences than he could remember with any great accuracy.

Some of them still weren't getting it.

'Mark!' Harry called. He walked over to meet the fourth year. 'You need to flick the wand down and right, not just down.' He stood behind him, and put his hand over Mark's to demonstrate.

Mark froze, and a nervous flush spread up his neck.

Harry was confused and then embarrassed. He removed his hand carefully and stood alongside Mark to demonstrate instead.

Mark's partner today was Blaise, and the tall brunet was watching proceedings with a kind of amused interest. He sauntered up to Mark. 'Don't look so worried, Cartwright.' He grinned predatorily at Harry. 'Harry only goes for the pretty boys. Alas for him, my heart belongs to another, so he had to settle for poor deluded Draco.'

Harry gaped for a millisecond, and then met Blaise's eyes. The Slytherin was watching him challengingly. Harry walked the few steps between him and Blaise, and smiled sweetly. 'Nope. I just prefer blonds.'

This startled a laugh out of the DA members close enough to hear. Blaise nodded in satisfied acknowledgement.

Harry wandered around for a few minutes and then went to the front and blew his whistle. 'Okay! Everyone's getting a lot better at those, so well done. I thought we might practice the Patronus for the last ten minutes. We haven't done it in a while, and Voldemort is almost definitely going to use Dementors, so we should be prepared.' He grinned. 'Plus, the Patronus is fun.'

The command sparked enthusiasm in the students, who always enjoyed this particular charm, difficult though it was. Nott caught his eye for a second before looking away again.

Harry walked around the room, paying particular attention to the younger and Slytherin members, whom he hadn't seen perform it before. He paused to help several of the third and fourth formers who were getting disheartened.

'That's good, Owen.' The boy had produced a white haze. 'That's the first step. Once you've done that, all you need is practice.'

Owen smiled up at him gratefully. 'Thanks, Harry.'

Harry could see Draco pulling faces in the background, but chose to ignore him. 'You're welcome, keep up the good work. All of you!'

When he reached Theodore Nott, Harry stopped again. He was quieter this time, the older ones generally wanted less vocal help. 'You okay?'

'I'm fine.'

'Okay then.' Harry walked over to the Ravenclaw fifth years. 'Remember to sort out the happy thought in your head before trying the spell. Otherwise it won't work, no matter how good everything else is.' Behind him Harry heard Nott incant the spell again, and this time the distinctive whoosh of the Patronus Charm followed. He resisted the urge to turn around, and continued walking. When he judged himself far enough away he risked a glance in Nott's direction and saw the panther Patronus circling the Slytherin. Nott met his eyes again, and this time held them a little longer. Harry smiled to himself as he finished his tour of the room.

He stopped at the front and whistled again. 'Good! Okay, that's it for tonight. You're all doing really well. Look out for the next meeting time.' As the DA slowly filed out, Harry pulled Blaise to one side. 'About before? Thanks,' he said sincerely.

'No problem. Cartwright's muggle-born you know, that was why. No one else is going to care about the fact that Draco's a guy. The fact that he's a Slytherin is likely to be the sticking point...'

'So you're not bothered that...?'

'That Draco's taken? Not particularly, no. Granger being taken, now that is the real tragedy...'

Harry looked over at Hermione. He supposed if you looked at her objectively she had grown up to be quite pretty. But he had known her for so long...

Blaise grinned. 'Don't see it?'

'She's pretty,' Harry assured him. 'It's just...'

'I know,' Blaise responded. 'Weasley was always the threat. Trust me, there are quite a few who were hoping he would never get up the courage to ask.'

Harry laughed. 'He didn't, she asked him.'

'Well you may tell her that she broke hearts when she did it, then.' Blaise answered dramatically. 'Not as many as when you were taken though,' he finished slyly.

'That's not...I mean...anyway, thanks for before.'

'Any time, boss,' Blaise answered with a half-smile.

'You really don't need to call me that...' Harry pointed out.

'It's fun to see your face turn that colour,' Blaise replied, turning his smile into a full smirk before turning on his heel and leaving.

Harry shook his head ruefully.

Draco and Harry showed up at Occlumency separately. When Harry walked into the room Snape hadn't arrived yet, so he could sit a little closer than normal.

Draco was making faces again. When Harry glared at him, he proceeded to mock-swoon. Harry shoved him. Draco looked at Harry from between his fingers. 'What? I can't worship at the altar of the great Harry Potter, perfomer of Patronus charms, leader of men, rescuer of small children and cute furry animals?'

Harry shoved him again.

'Darling, I think we need to talk about the violence in our relationship.'

'Darling?'

'That was sarcasm, Potter, learn to pick it out.'

'Some time soon we're going to get through a whole day where you call me by my first name.'

'Not today though. I'm still seeing small children peering up at you with adoring eyes. Greedily absorbing the few words of wisdom you choose to bestow. It's sickening, you know that?'

'It's not my fault they trust me...'

'And now you've got Blaise wrapped round your little finger too!'

'He makes fun of me whenever he gets the chance!'

'Blaise adopts the traditional male approach of showing respect for someone. And you have Nott. Was this Slytherin outreach day? If you had got Daphne too I would have to be suspicious.'

'I didn't get anyone. Today just happened to be a good day.'

'I wasn't complaining.'

Harry looked incredulous. 'Yes. You were.'

'Harry, if I was complaining, you'd know about it.'

'I do!'

'No.'

'You complaining is worse than this?'

'Much.'

'Why am I still with you again?'

'I can give you one reason.' Draco leant down to kiss Harry.

'Have you two lost any ounce of wit you once had?' Snape was standing in the doorway, glowering.

Draco whispered in Harry's ear. 'I thought you said this was a good day?'

A/N2: hugs to Cithara who called me a star. blushes - I'm kinda sorry that the fluff has to end too. But Voldemort has to come back at some point...plus, h/c is my guilty pleasure and angst is great for it...
hugs to HecateDeMort too, who I'm fairly sure has reviewed every update!