Harry hastily got ready. He had not reemerged from his dorm room after speaking with Sirius. Rather than deal with anyone's questions, he forced the night's issues from his mind and made himself do homework. He was hoping to bypass his curious friends this morning as well. As he hurried from the restroom, he collided with something solid.

He looked up into the startled face of Ron. He had not spoken to the redhead since their fight at Christmas. In all honesty, he had not even thought about the other boy in some time. Ron had taken up residence in the lives of Dean and Seamus. Harry saw him in classes and even in the D.A. meetings, but they did not speak. Looking at him now, Harry was surprised to realize he no longer held any anger towards his former friend. He had no desire to reclaim the friendship, but neither did it cause him pain.

"Sorry," he said. "I wasn't paying attention." Ron nodded tersely, but said nothing. And that was that. Harry walked up to his bunk, grabbed his things, and made his way to breakfast. The good news was that Easter break meant he didn't have classes for a week. While studying certainly had to be on the agenda, exams were only six weeks away after all, he was fully planning on utilizing some of the time to spend with a certain blond.

It would seem that blond had the same idea. As he was eating, a note found its way under his plate. He had to admire the blond's creativeness.

I thought you may want to use your break wisely. Study session in the room of requirement at 1pm?

Harry glanced Draco's way and gave him what he hoped was a subtle smile and nod before looking away. Unfortunately, he was cursed with a persistent friend. He managed to put off discussing what was bothering him until after lunch, by allowing Hermione to make he and Neville study charts for the remaining weeks. But Hermione wouldn't be deterred.

"Harry please won't you tell us what's bothering you?" Hermione asked for the 100th time. "Maybe we could help?"

Harry sighed. He was making his way to he and Draco's meeting, but Hermione and Neville wouldn't let up. "It's not important."

"Your sour attitude all day would suggest otherwise," Hermione argued.

"Normally, I'd be on your side," Neville added. "But you did seem really upset last night. Are you sure you don't want to talk?"

They had reached the room of requirement, and Harry opened his mouth to argue. Before he could speak, they heard the unmistakable sound of Filch. "Shit," Harry said, not wanting to be confronted by the caretaker. "Come on quickly." Harry opened the room he wanted and shoved Neville and Hermione inside.

"Harry what is—" Hermione began, but was caught off guard by an unusual sight. They had not, as Hermione and Neville assumed they would, entered a hiding spot. Instead, they found themselves in what appeared to be a cozy study room. Sitting on a table near the fire, with books and parchment spread out, was none other than Draco Malfoy. "Oh."

Harry had never really understood the phrase "you could cut the tension with a knife," but he did now. No one in the room seemed to know what to say.

"Uhh, you guys know Draco," Harry decided on. Hermione and Draco looked at Harry as if he was the biggest moron they had ever seen. Harry couldn't help but think that if Neville weren't so frightened he would share that same look.

"I didn't realize we would have company," Draco said.

"We didn't realize you were meeting someone," Hermione countered.

"Uh, we should leave, right?" Neville squeaked. He turned to walk out, but Harry grabbed him.

"No, don't," he said. "Stay." He looked between the three of them. "So…" he settled on Neville and Hermione. "Remember when I told you that I liked Draco?" They both nodded silently, still glancing apprehensively at the blond, who hadn't moved from his spot at the table. "Well, uh…he's sort of my boyfriend now." Harry blushed with the admission. He looked to Draco, who was also blushing, but smiling. He looked at his friends, and couldn't help but laugh at their shocked expressions.

Hermione was the first to pick her jaw up off the floor. "Oh, well…that's wonderful," she said.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Don't sound so enthusiastic," he said. Harry shot him a pointed glare. Draco lowered his eyes to the floor.

"Look, Draco and I were planning on studying together," he explained. "I didn't intend to bring you guys with me, but now that you're here, I want you to stay." All three of his companions looked up in shock. "Draco is my boyfriend." He turned to Draco. "And Hermione and Neville are my best friends. You are all important to me, and it would really mean a lot if you all tried to get along." Harry looked between the three of them, and waited to see what would happen.

Draco cleared his throat, and everyone looked towards him. "I uh…I guess I should go first," he said. "I guess…well, I'm sorry for the way I've treated you all. It's taken some time, but I've finally come to realize that…well, maybe blood and houses don't matter as much as I thought they did." Harry's eyes had widened in shock as Draco apologized, but he shot the blond a grateful smile.

"You've still been a pretty big jerk," Neville sad quietly, surprising everyone.

"He has to be," Harry interjected quickly. "He can't let people know he's on our side. Just like Snape."

"That makes sense I guess," Neville said.

"Look, I'm not saying you guys have to be immediate best friends," Harry said. "I just want you guys to try and get along, for my sake." He stared them down until all three gave him a nod. "Now," he looked towards Hermione, "do you want to know why I am upset or not?" Hermione nodded eagerly, and they made their way to the table Draco was at.

Harry and Draco explained what they had witnessed the previous night. Then, Harry filled them all in on his conversations with both Snape and Sirius and Remus.

"So, you know, it's just really upsetting," he finished. "I've spent all this time idolizing my father and being proud when people told me I was like him. And now, well now I don't think they were complementing me."

"Don't say that Harry," Hermione insisted. "There's no excuse for your father's behavior. But there had to be good in him." Harry looked up at her in confusion. "You are nothing like the memory you described. You've never even come close to being like that, and you never will. It's not in you Harry. No one can deny the two of you share an infuriating knack for trouble, the rest of the similarities have to mean there was some good in him too."

"I agree," Draco said, surprising them all. "I've never seen you like that. If people are saying you resemble him, I don't think they meant it in a bad way. They might be biased themselves, but I don't think it was intended as an insult. Unless it was Snape of course." Harry laughed, and grabbed Draco's hand gratefully.

"You know," Neville added. "Now that I think about it. Whenever I've heard people compare you to your father, it's usually about quidditch or your appearance. You can both look alike and be good athletes but have completely different personalities."

"Exactly!" Hermione agreed. Draco nodded, and Harry felt relieved.

"Thanks guys," he said.

"What are you going to do about Sirius?" Neville asked.

Harry sighed. "I don't know," he admitted. "He doesn't seem apologetic."

"Maybe he just needs time," Hermione offered.

"Sometimes people need to think for a while before they realize they're a git," Draco suggested. "And I would know."

At that, they all shared a laugh, and finally got to work. Draco got along surprisingly well with his friends all things considered. He practically drooled over Hermione's study charts, and she graciously made one for him. Harry and Neville rolled their eyes, but said nothing. They afternoon flew by smoothly, though with much less kissing than Harry had hoped for. Still, things were looking positive.

The reprieve continued throughout the week. Harry alternated between studying with his friends and his boyfriend, sometimes in a mixture of the four. He hoped all the good times meant the worst was over. Towards the end of the week, all the fifth years received notice of career counseling. The good news continued, Harry would have to miss divination for his meeting.

Saturday evening found the four of them back in the room of requirement pouring over the career information that had been provided for them. Harry was baffled. Wizard careers were something he had thought little about. As silly as it sounds, it had not occurred to him he would have to use the skills he was learning to choose a career.

"What are you guys leaning towards?" Harry asked.

"I'm not sure," Hermione admitted. "There are so many options, and I know so little about most of them. I'll have to do some serious research before my appointment."

Harry rolled his eyes. "What about you Neville?"

"Not many options," he said. "I'm not good at anything."

"Don't say that!" Harry insisted. "You've been improving all year Neville!"

"I know," Neville said. "But I'm still only really good at herbology."

"That's really important," Draco piped up. He had been awfully quiet as they had discussed the various careers. "Everyone needs magical herbs. You should talk to Professor Sprout before you meet with McGonagall."

"That's a great idea," Hermione agreed.

Neville nodded. He even smiled a little. "Thanks guys," he said. "I'll do that."

Harry turned to Draco. "What about you?"

"I'm going to follow my father's footsteps and go to work for the Ministry," he said. But he was staring forlornly at a healer pamphlet from St. Mungo's.

"You don't sound positive about that," Harry said.

Draco pushed the pamphlet aside. "I am," he said. "It's my responsibility."

Harry sighed. "You don't have to do what they want you to," Harry said quietly. He grabbed Draco's hand. "What about healing?"

"Yes, Draco," Hermione said. "I think you'd be good at that." She picked up the pamphlet. "Potions, charms, herbology, transfiguration. You're good at all of these things. You're at the top of the class in most classes aren't you?."

"Just under you as my father loves to remind me," he said, giving her a glare they knew by now he didn't mean.

"Sorry, not sorry?" she said sheepishly.

Draco huffed. He picked the pamphlet back up. "It does sound like fun," he admitted. "But my father would never let it happen."

"You don't have to listen to him," Harry insisted.

"It's complicated."

"Well, it can't hurt to talk to Snape about it," Hermione said. "He's on our side anyway. You could just make sure you take the classes necessary for the ministry job your father wants you to have and the ones for being a healer. I'm sure they overlap."

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "Who knows, by the time you finish school, things may be different."

"Alright, alright" Draco said. "Fine." He threw the pamphlet at Harry. This started a battle of pamphlets. They got so distracted no one asked Harry what he wanted.

But he couldn't avoid the question for long. Before he knew it, his meeting with McGonagall arrived. To his disappointment, Umbridge was also there.

"Uhh…" was his reply when she asked what his thoughts were.

"Surely something caught your eye," she said. "Not one of the pamphlets sounded appealing?"

"Well…the only one that really sounded interesting was being an Auror," he said.

"Hmm," McGonagall replied.

"You disagree?" he asked.

"Not exactly," she replied. "I was thinking, giving," she paused and shot a quick glance to the back corner where Umbridge was sitting, "giving Mr. Longbottom's improvement this year, which I know you were involved with, that perhaps teaching would suit you?" She gave him a pointed look.

Harry started. He had never thought of that. But he had to admit, she had a point. And he certainly had experience. Everyone involved in the D.A. had improved over the year, and he had to admit he enjoyed it.

"I hadn't thought of that, but I kind of like the idea," he admitted.

"Of course," she added. "It's rare that someone will go straight to teaching without some experience in their field. In which case, an Auror would likely be a good fit, but you need top marks for that." Harry listened as McGonagall instructed him of all the things he would need to do. He had to admit, the idea of putting more effort into his transfiguration and potions work, as well as additional schooling after leaving Hogwarts was not what he wanted to hear. But he couldn't help but feeling excited. Finally, he felt he was facing a career he could really do. And if it led him back to teaching, all the better.

His resolve was strengthened as he watched McGonagall and Umbridge trade verbal insults over his career choices. He was not going to let his head of house down. And he was not going to let Umbridge win. He left the room feeling more satisfied than he had in days, and determined to do whatever it took to make this work. It appeared Hermione's study schedule was going to come in useful after all.

His good mood only intensified by that evening's events. Right as he was making his way to the Room of Requirement to meet with Draco and share with him the news, he was distracted by rather loud bangs and shouts from downstairs. When he arrived to investigate, he was met with a most marvelous sight. Fred and George, it would seem, had saw fit to turn a corridor into a swamp. Several members of the Inquisitorial Squad, and even Umbridge herself were doused with sludgy water.

He watched on as the twins gleefully regained their brooms, gave Peeves a decree he'd be pleased to follow, and flew out of the castle in true Weasley Wizarding Wheezes style.

The days that followed only got better. Following in the twin's footsteps, the rest of the student body were more than happy to continue the ruckus. The other professors appeared blind to the mayhem, leaving everything for their new headmistress to deal with.

Naturally, the good times couldn't last, though if you asked Hermione, he was overreacting a bit. Harry was, of course, concerned with quidditch. While Slytherin had narrowly loss to Hufflepuff, which resulted in a wonderful night where Harry acted the proper boyfriend and consoled his partner, Gryffindor could not hope for a win. Though Harry was no longer friends with Ron, he had hoped the red-head would improve. He was still quite awful. The most they could hope for was an honorable loss.

Harry's prime concern however, was still the fact that he couldn't play. And to make matters worse, not only would he not have a cute brunette to distract him this time, but his cute blond would be on the other side actively rooting against him.

"You may be my boyfriend, but even if I didn't have to pretend to hate you I still wouldn't want Gryffindor to win," Draco had said the previous day. Harry could hardly get angry, as he was more than happy to watch Slytherin lose.

Luckily, or not depending on how you look at things, Hagrid appeared with a ready-made distraction. Though neither Harry nor Hermione could say they were pleased at entering the Forbidden Forrest with Hagrid, they were happy not to watch what was bound to be a dismal match. Much to their utter dismay, by the time Hagrid had revealed his request to them, they very well wished they had just stayed and watched the game.

"Hagrid you've got to me kidding me," Harry expressed.

"He don't need food or anythin'!" Hagrid tried to explain. "It's jus' company he needs. If I knew someone was carryin' on tryin' ter help him."

"It sounds like a lot to ask, Hagrid," Hermione said.

"I know," Hagrid said. "But it'd mean an awful lot."

Harry sighed. "Hagrid, do you realize what it's like for us right now?" Harry asked. "We have O.W.L.s. We have the threat of Voldemort. I'm trying to practice occlumency. And I'm about an inch away from being expelled. It's not that we don't want to help you Hagrid, but you have to understand what you're asking us."

"I know," Hagrid said again. "But it's just for a little while."

Harry looked at Hermione. She bit her lip, and sighed. "Oh alright," she said. "We'll try Hagrid."

Harry crossed his arms in anger, but said nothing. He couldn't say that he would make much of an effort. This was only enhanced when they actually say Grawp awake. Harry rather thought he had everything figured out on his own.

"I can't believe you agreed to that," Harry said as he and Hermione rushed to catch up with the crowd of students leaving the stadium.

"I didn't really mean it," she admitted sheepishly. "Besides, it's only if he gets sacked, and then it's only if we can manage to make it out of the castle into the forest. Those are a lot of big ifs."

"Fair enough," Harry said. "But—" Harry stopped short. The crowd had been singing what he assumed was the ever popular "Weasley is our King" anthem. They were, but it was not the version they were used too. They watched in awe as the Gryffindor's marched past carrying Ron above them.

"Hermione," Harry said. "I think we won."

"No, it can't be," Hermione protested.

"We did!" Harry exclaimed. Despite not being Ron's friend anymore, Harry felt a since of pride. He quickly joined the throng of celebrating Gryffindors, leaving all thoughts of giants behind him.

Author's Note: Yes, I titled this after the Spice Girls. I've been very stressed, and it amuses me.

Sorry this one is a bit short, but we are close to the end! The remaining chapters may not be as long as previous ones either, as there isn't much left. The events leading up to the night at the ministry aren't changing much, so I won't spend much time recounting them. So basically, only a couple chapters left!

Also, I've read several fanfics of Healer Draco and I love the idea so I ran with it here!