A far more mature and understanding Harry finally confronts Malfoy and his attitude toward the "Blood Traitors". Yes. A bit OOC. But for the bunny …. Go with it please.

It was the end of third year. Harry was a bit morose because his newly-found godfather had to go into hiding. His one hope of freedom from the Dursleys had been quashed.

His friends, Ron and Hermione, were trying their damndest to cheer him up as they sat at the Gryffindor table just a few days before the train brought them back to London.

Ron, to be truthful, was doing everything he could to avoid Hermione forcing him to the library to start working on the homework that had been assigned for the summertime. Hermione, however, was just getting over the utter exhaustion of an extra 4 hours a week and more to take more classes than any other student had taken. As a result, she was less than exhaustive in her efforts to enforce studying on her friends.

Ginny Weasley was sitting nearby, listening in the discussion between the three third years. Percy Weasley was mentally basking in the success of having completed his NEWTs with, what he was certain, outstanding results. He was reviewing the response to his application to work at the Ministry. Also nearby, the Weasley twins were quietly and gleefully concocting plans for an end of the year prank with Lee Jordon. The teachers were, for the most part, already gone from the hall so as to take care of the various duties that needed to be done at the end of the year. They only felt comfortable talking there because there was, at the moment, minimum supervision.

At the staff table, only Filius Flitwick, Septima Vector, and Bathsheba Babbling remained behind to keep an eye on the students and to ensure nothing went too far with the students in the hall. However, the three professors were engrossed in whatever discussion they were having and weren't really paying much attention.

To be truthful, many more students were lingering solely because Harry Potter was lingering. Stories of the capture and new escape of Sirius Black had been circulated and the student body almost avidly were trying to glean how the Boy Who Lived was reacting.

Harry, in his long-practiced manner, completely ignored the attention he was getting.

Over at the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy looked over at the Blood Traitors, Half-Blood, and Mudblood at the Gryffindor table. Seeing that there was a chance to rile up them up without much chance of being interrupted by the staff, his face took on a superior smirk and said, "Come on, Crabbe, Goyle. We're going to go rile up Scarhead and the Blood Traitors."

He stood up and moved over, never noticing the rolled eyes of many of the Slytherins who had heard his comment.

Yes, needling Gryffindors was a treasured Slytherin pastime, but Draco Malfoy, self-professed Prince of Slytherin, had absolutely no sense of discretion and cunning about it. Nevertheless, many watched from their places to watch the familiar action unfold.

Draco Malfoy walked up to the Golden Trio and with a supercilious smirk said, "Hey, Scarhead. Feeling down because the mangy werewolf was run off? I heard he was a friend of your father. Too bad. But that's what happens when you hang out with half-breeds and Blood Traitors."

And while the Weasleys, Hermione, and other Gryffindors all started reacting with hostility, Draco Malfoy was almost shocked that Dumbledore's pet just looked at him with a look of confusion. As a result, Draco's comments became more and more obnoxious and inflammatory. However, Potter refused to react at all.

After the Headboy Weasley had to prevent his brothers from hexing him, Potter finally spoke. "Malfoy? How are you Slytherin?"

Everyone listening suddenly stopped at that question.

"What are you going on about, Scarhead?" Malfoy asked with a pugnacious tone.

Harry shook his head. "I just don't understand it. You go on and on about how superior you are, and how wretched and unworthy I am, and Hermione is, and the Weasleys. It's like you never ever read the school Motto."

Hermione piped up with, "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus – Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon."

Harry nodded at her absently in acknowledgement. "Right. Never tickle a sleeping dragon. And you insist on picking on me and the Weasleys every chance you get. How is that Slytherin?"

Malfoy asked incredulously, "You consider yourself a sleeping dragon?" His tone was dismissive.

Harry shrugged. "Not really. I'm just Harry. Or I try to be. But I'm really talking about the Weasleys."

"These Blood Traitors?" He looked at the redheads gathered around, all watching fairly quietly and listening to what was said.

None of them were paying attention the sheer number of people listening. Even Flitwick and the other two professors were listening in via a charm.

"Yes. The Blood Traitors. Now, from what I understand, Slytherin house is supposed to stand for cunning, resourcefulness, and ambition. Slytherins like to cultivate power, and influence, and wealth. They want their names to be respected by the masses and feared by their enemies. To a Slytherin, ambition means making sure you are successful and those you hate are failures. And in going through life, you should leave the things that are dangerous alone and ensure that everything else is influenced or controlled by you. Is that generally what Slytherins think?"

Many Slytherins were quite surprised to find that Harry Potter, the ultimate Gryffindor, had such a good understanding of Slytherin drives.

Draco Malfoy objected. "That may be true, but Slytherin also knew how important being of proper blood was. It is well known that he never wanted mudbloods brought to Hogwarts."

Harry rolled his eyes even as many bristled in objection. "Oh, Merlin. I don't think you understood Slytherin at all. I mean – if it was me and I had been in Slytherin's position, I might have had the same objections he did."

Malfoy, the listening Slyherins, the non-Slytherins, the professors, and all of his friends looked at him in shock. Hermione immediately protested. "How can you say that, Harry?"

Harry sighed. "Hermione. Think about it. 1000 years ago. How literate were people? I mean .. it was the Dark Ages. How did the average person live?"

Hermione was taken aback at the question.

Lee, curious, asked, "What do you mean, Harry?"

Harry looked at the twins' friend. "What I mean is that until the invention of the printing press about 550 years ago, the average non-magical, even the Noble children were illiterate. Even Kings couldn't read. If something needed to be read, it had to be done by a scribe … or a priest." He looked around at the Weasleys and at Malfoy. "Now, just imagine you're Salazar Slytherin, a Magical Master, and you have agreed with three other Masters to bring into existence a mighty institution which would guarantee universal education for all magicals. Witches and Wizards have been recording and passing on their teachings for thousands of years, but the knowledge is all scattered. But nevertheless, in magical families, all members, Witches and Wizards, had to be taught to read so that they could learn the family spells if nothing else."

He looked around. "Now. You're Slytherin. And you want to teach all magical people and record and expand magical knowledge. And these other three bleeding hearts want to bring in Muggleborns? Young people who grew up in the muck and mud? People who have never conceived of understanding the written word?" Harry snorted. "It's no mystery where the term 'Mudblood' came from. I'm sure it's the same as Snape teaching first years."

Ron was confused. "What do you mean, Harry?"

Harry looked at Ron. "No matter how much I don't like Snape, and how much he seems to despise me, it can't be argued that he is a Potions Master. Youngest Potions Master in a century or more. He knows the subject so well he invents potions, tweaks them, makes them better."

Harry was unaware that the Potions Master himself had silently entered and stood back observing, waiting for the moment that Potter reacted so he could be punished.

"So here's this Master of Potions. And he's got to teach first years how not to melt their cauldrons? It's not hard to understand why he's so surly. I can't even imagine what reason he has for teaching. He would be far better off if he was in a private Potions Lab with unlimited access to ingredients, equipment, and time. I couldn't even imagine what he could make if he had the opportunity. And he's teaching children. I'm sure Slytherin had the same feelings about Muggleborns."

Draco said in a superior voice, "Of course the unwashed Mudbloods are beneath us."

"Malfoy? Muggles invented the printing press 500 years ago. Every Muggle child starts going to school for six to eight hours a day when they are five years old. It's mandatory. If you want to home-school your children you have to register with the government. The reasons Slytherin hated Muggleborn coming to Hogwarts is no longer valid. And the wards prevent unhappy Muggle families from finding the school and attacking. That would be the other reason why Slytherin probably hated bring Muggleborns here. Security. I'm sure that's one reason why Purebloods dislike bringing Muggleborns into the Wizarding world – every one of them means at least two Muggles, parents, finding out and possible blabbing. But overall, as long as the school staff and Ministry handle it well, that problem should be avoided."

Draco didn't have an answer for that so went with, "They have no understanding of tradition. No respect for magical culture!"

Harry shrugged. "Yeah, I don't know about that either – I grew up with Muggles. Didn't even know I was a wizard until I turned eleven. I wish someone had taken the time to teach me about things. It was only sheer chance I got here – no one told me where Platform 9 ¾ was." Harry then looked at Draco directly. "And then you go and insult the first friend I ever had."

Draco was confused. "When?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "On the train? When you came in and insulted Ron? The first thing you said to me was 'my father told me all about them' and you start insulting everything about the Weasleys. It didn't help that when I met you in Madam Malkins you insulted Hagrid – the first adult in my life who ever treated me with any real kindness. And then you offered to be my friend? I mean, how could I shake your hand when the first things you ever said in front of me were insults? And then you and those two tried to take the snacks that I had bought from the trolley with the first money of my own I ever had." Harry shook his head. "And you wonder why I begged the sorting hat not to put me in Slytherin? Right after you went there?"

Those listening were shocked. Even Snape, hidden as he was, was shocked to hear that Potter had almost been put in Slytherin.

Fred? Weasley said, "It was probably just messing with you."

Harry snorted. "No. The Hat was going on about how I could had the potential to be great and how Slytherin would help me show me the way to greatness. And all the while I'm repeating over and over, 'Not Slytherin! Not Slytherin!' I can't tell you how relieved I was when it finally said, 'No? Then better be Gryffindor!' That was a load off, I can tell you."

"And thank Merlin you made it."

"Can you imagine"

"if our Star Seeker"

"had been sent to Slytherin instead?"

"It would have been a"

Together they finished, "Nightmare!"

Harry laughed. "Yeah. Well, I'm a Gryffindor."

Ron actually sounded worried. "You almost went to Slytherin? You ever worry about that?"

Harry looked at Ron and in a friendly way said, "Yeah. Until the sorting hat gave me Gryffindor's Sword last year when I was facing the basilisk. The Headmaster said that only a true Gryffindor could have pulled it out."

One of those listening gasped. "Basilisk? But they kill you, not petrify."

Harry looked over. "Yeah. That was Slytherin's monster – no one saw the eyes directly. Only through other things. That's why no one died." Harry then turned back to Malfoy. "Which brings me back to why I was asking if you how you could consider yourself a Slytherin."

Draco, as well as everyone else, was confused. "What does that have to do with it?"

Harry sighed. "You keep walking up and insulting me and the Weasleys. Calling them blood traitors. Going on about how much better your kind are compared to them. And of course, you learned about the Weasleys from your father, who really hates them. But, Malfoy, you're poking a dragon whenever you do that."

Draco still looked confused. Harry sighed again. "Look. Just imagine, imagine, you somehow go the better of one of them. Attacked them and got away with it. Do you really think that would go well?"

Percy finally asked, "What do you mean, Harry?"

Harry grinned at him. "Malfoy here goes on and on about how superior he is. I imagine he lives in a fancy house and gets waited on hand and foot. Never had to work a day in his life. And then he keeps insulting the Weasleys because they have less money and because your father is fascinated with Muggles."

Harry looked back at Draco. "First thing is that Arthur Weasley has one of the most important jobs in the Ministry. He directly handles the stupid things that Wizards do to endanger the Statute of Secrecy. Without him and people like him, Muggles would have found out about the Wizarding world years ago. And Malfoy, there are six billion Muggles. Six Billion. Just in the United Kingdom, there are 57 million. There are, what, 20 thousand Magicals in the UK? That means there are 2000 Muggles for every Magical. 2 thousand. Even at the most optimistic, a war against them would be catastrophic for Wizards and Witches. Arthur Weasley keeps you safe from that. I think every wizard in Britain owed the man a thank you and a pint. But that's not even what I started going on about."

Harry shook his head. "Anyway. Imagine you attacked a Weasley. Do you think any wards or protections you could possibly put together could protect you if the Weasleys decided you were the enemy and a threat? While you go on and on about how much better you are, most magical families have one child – maybe two. The Weasleys have seven. And none of them are close to being a squib. You want to protect yourself with wards? The oldest son is cursebreaker. You want to protect yourself from them with magical creatures? The second oldest son is a dragon-handler. You want to try to protect yourself with laws and the Ministry? The third oldest son," he motioned toward Percy, "is a born Ministry worker. He's probably learned all the laws and will likely be Minister for Magic in the future. You want to try to harass and send multiple attacks? The next two sons," he motioned toward Fred and George, "are probably the most accomplished pranksters in all the world. They invent prank potions, they use charms, jinxes… whatever. Give them enough time to plan – you won't know what will hit you. And let's say you decide to play the long game. This one," he put his hand on Ron's shoulder, "is a chess master. Hasn't lost a game since he was eight. And if you think he's a slacker – which he is, and I am too kind of – and so isn't a threat, Ron was the one who knocked out a troll in first year … with a spell he had failed at the same day in class. He was eleven. And he knocked out a twelve foot troll with Wingardium Leviosa." He motioned toward Ginny. "And every one of the six Weasley brothers are scared of that one – she learned from her cursebreaker brother all the spells to protect herself. You want to be on the business end of her wand? Not me, not if I can help it. And don't even start about their mother."

Hermione asked, "What about Mrs. Weasley?"

Harry snorted. "That's a woman who has raised seven Gryffindors. Kept seven Gryffindors in line. She takes care of the house and most discipline. You haven't spent time at the Burrow – I have. Mrs. Weasley is the nicest woman you ever met. Her cooking … my god, she's a wonderful cook. If I had a choice of a Hogwart's feast and the average meal that Mrs. Weasley makes – it would be a hard choice but I would probably go for Mrs. Weasley's cooking. But the thing is, she uses magic constantly. She's using magic from the beginning of the day to the end. And she doesn't take any break. Do you know of any other Witch or Wizard who can cast all day and not get too tired to cast any more spells?"

Those listening were spellbound at the description of the Weasley matriarch.

"And protective? Probably too protective. But there it is." He looked around. "Who's the scariest Witch in the world?"

One of the listeners said, "Bellatrix Lestrange. She's in Azkaban. You-Know-Who's most ardent follower."

There were murmurs of agreement with that answer.

Harry said, "Well, I never heard of her. But here's what I know. If that Bellatrix woman was facing Mrs. Weasley and threatening her family? I wouldn't give a knut for her chance at surviving. You do not want to make Mrs. Weasley angry if you can avoid it at all."

The Weasleys all shuddered at that and nodded in agreement. Every one of them agreed with Harry's statement. All the observers noted the quick agreement.

Harry looked back at Draco. "So here's what I think. Given a choice between facing an angry Weasley family and another sixty foot basilisk like I killed last year? Put me in with the basilisk. It's safer." Harry raised his head and said with a confident voice, "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus – Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon."