McGonnagall informed the Gryffindors that all students were to report to the Great Hall during supper under the Headmaster's orders.

She blatantly ignored the mess of half-vanished butter beer bottles and guilty expressions worn among the celebratory Gryffindors as she strolled through the common room.

Upon seeing all of her previously missing students present and intact, her face visibly relaxed. Lasting only a moment, she quickly composed herself to her usual stern manner.

"I should take enough Points from you all that Hufflepuff will win the House cup this year!"

A sea of eyes met the floor at the sudden lash of scolding from the Head of House. There was a pause so infamously silent that if a pin would've dropped, it would've cracked the air like thin ice.

"Sorry Professor," Ron and Harry spoke identically, holding matching expressions of the guilt that only surfaced once they'd been caught. A true Gryffindor trait, Minerva observed, to place doing the right thing over the law-abiding one.

"But I won't do that. Because each of you has shown bravery that Godric himself would be proud of. Congratulations, my students, and those that are of other houses. I admire every one of you that played a part in protecting our school. Thank you."

Her pinched lips twisted subtly into a grateful smile. Faces brightened across the room at the rare and talented feat it had been to please Professor McGonnagal.

Harmony settled within the bones of every student, both young and older, Gryffindor and Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. There was a certain appreciation, a certain unity that came from McGonnagal's compliment. The room once more broke into cheers, and Minerva blushed before clapping herself.

"Oh, you all. Now off to the Great Hall. And every one of you better make it this time."

Dumbledore shuffled to podium, clearly planning on making some sort of announcement. All of the staff was present in conjunction with the students, who were eager to listen.

Some were still unaware of the previous night's happenings. Most were unaware of Harry's death and momentous resurrection. An even fewer number knew why it had happened.

Harry peered up from his treacle tart to steal a glance across the Hall. There, perched at none other than the Slytherin table, was an absolute mess of Draco Malfoy. He was laughing, cracking up so hard that even Harry swore over the distance he'd heard him snort.

Even better, he wasn't alone. Blaise and Pansy surrounded him in their usual arrangement, giggling and continuing on in some joke that Harry felt lucky to witness.

For once, Draco Malfoy looked happy. In his own House. At his own table. And, for Harry, it was nice.

Once the laughter died down, steel eyes flashed upward to meet a kindly jade. Harry moved his hand in somewhat of an awkward wave, and Draco's grin widened.

"I love you." He mouthed, and Harry started at the warmth that seemed to creep up his cheeks and down into the rest of his being.

Flushed red, Harry's cheeks pulled into a grin so wide it hurt. He couldn't seem to contain himself; a giddiness had followed the warmth and was threatening to escape by fits of giggling and the like. Before he was given a chance to respond, all attention became directed toward the head of the Hall.

"Students of Hogwarts," Dumbledore began, and the crowd became hushed.

"It is my duty to inform you of what occurred on school grounds last night. As you know, your heads of houses brought you to the Great Hall for safety. Many of you may still be wondering what you were guarded from." He strolled forward into the open, fiddling with his beard while he continued: "Last night, several Death Eaters were able to break into Hogwarts under the authority of Lord Voldemort. His biggest goal was to have me murdered. Thankfully, he and his Death Eaters have failed for the moment. If it were not for the work of several students last night, many lives would have been lost. As it stands, no one was severely injured."

He continued to pace forward.

"On the contrary, a number of high ranking death eaters have been arrested and taken to the ministry for trial. This is a success that words cannot hold glory to." He paused not far from the forefront of the Ravenclaw table.

"I would like to recognize the following:

Ms. Cho Chang, for her unwavering dedication to her beliefs and standing for what's right."

The cheers from Ravenclaw broke the silence and uplifted the seriousness that had settled like a fog at the mention of Voldemort.

Cho smiled and nodded humbly, mouthing a quick "thank you."

"Ms. Luna Lovegood, for her uncanny ability to see the silver lining in the darkest of skies." The sounds of hoops and hollers began to resonate from all Houses, including Slytherin.

"Ms. Susan Bones. For finding miracles in places we so often over step."

No table held a higher hooray than the Hufflepuffs, whose loyalty was by far their most defining trait.

"Ms. Hannah Abbott. For displaying House Unity and friendship amongst those who differ in a manner unseen before.

Mr. Ernest Macmillan. For fearlessly fighting what others have turned and run from." He then devoted his attention to the Slytherin table.

"Mr. Blaise Zabini. For following your own sense of right and wrong, even when you were threatened into believing otherwise."

Blaise flashed a proud grin, and Neville gave a loud whoop from across the Hall.

"Ms. Pansy Parkinson. For following your heart in an act so selfless that it has transformed you from the inside out. Not many in this world live to accomplish such a task." Several Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs gave confused and bewildered faces at Dumbledore's proclamation. Parkinson? Selfless? Even...nice, for that matter?

But Pansy only grinned, beside herself. Those who were there last night, who really knew, clapped along with the Slytherins.

Harry expected a short snippet on Draco, the boy who lived despite changing alliances, but Dumbledore turned to the Gryffindors. A pang of rejection sunk within his abdomen. Did he not want to mention him because of his father? Or did Dumbledore not truly believe that Draco was on their side?

"Ms. Ginny Weasley, for her strength and determination despite all set backs."

Harry clapped with the others, but his thoughts were distracted. Draco's face held a sense of dejection that only Harry could see.

"Mr. Dean Thomas, for collaboration and teamwork so well built that it could take down a werewolf."

At this, Dean was awarded by a mountain of Gryffindors piling over him, instilling rough pats on the back and knuckles to the head.

"Mr. Seamus Finnigan," all eyes shifted just left of Dean, "because laughter really is the best medicine. You've kept your friends' spirits in high places during these tough times.

"Mr. Neville Longbottom. You've mastered spell work that requires skill beyond your years. I've never seen someone improve so quickly." Neville's toothy grin matched the spirit of victory evident with each cheer.

"Mr. Ronald Weasley. For taking leadership into your own hands and marching an army to victory." Ron smiled at the recognition and blushed as Hermione wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.

"Ms. Hermione Granger. Your thorough knowledge and expertise and your willingness to share it has instilled a generation of students who are far beyond their years. Your wisdom and dedication to learning is a unique treasure."

Hermione's cheeks turned a rosy pink as she separated from Ron and absorbed the compliment. Her lips pulled into a soft, grateful smile.

"Mr. Harry Potter." He directed his gaze from Draco to Dumbledore, a bit offended that the old wizard would skip the love of his life in favor of himself.

"Your sacrifice and courage is beyond comparison. Your willingness to protect those you love runs deeper than magic itself. You are one of a kind, my dear boy. Don't ever allow that to change."

Harry smiled subtly at the head master, appreciative but apprehensive. Draco hooped and hollered with the rest of the Great Hall, but Harry couldn't help but remain reserved at the absence of Draco's appreciation. When the crowd settled, Dumbledore brought his hands together, lacing his fingers and turning his attention to the Slytherin table.

"Last but most certainly not least, I would like to recognize Mr. Draco Malfoy." The blonde froze, glancing at the head master and then to Harry with his brow furrowed in confusion. Apparently, he wasn't expecting to be acknowledged.

Pansy and Blaise stared at him with wide, glassy eyes. Harry felt himself physically relax and grinned expressively across the Hall.

"You have made a decision so bold that even the prospect of death did not phase you. A boy your age should not bear the weight that you have conquered and flourished beneath. I am more than just proud of you, Draco. I respect you both as a wizard and a man."

Malfoy didn't speak. No one did. His expression was one of shock worn beneath glossy, fixated eyes. Dumbledore respected...him? He was just Draco, just doing his best to make it day to day. To escape his father and Lord Voldemort. Surely he wasn't one to be respected by the only wizard to defeat Grindelwald himself.

Dumbledore lent a knowing smile in his direction, followed by an affirming nod.

Harry was shaking his head proudly. Hermione and Ron both whirled to beam excitedly at the Slytherin table. Draco was at a complete loss and held an understandably blank expression.

A silence had taken hold on the room and was broken by Dumbledore's own applause. Behind him, Minerva McGonnagal joined in a standing ovation, her face stretched into a tight grin. The rest of the staff ensued, and soon after the entire Hall had hopped up from their seats excitedly. There were hoops and hollers, hats thrown wildly in the air, embraces and jumps and... freedom.

Harry allowed himself to smile, to feel as weightless as the crowd surrounding him. To be truthful, there were plenty more perils ahead, more trials and challenges and battles against the Dark Lord. For once, however, they basked in victory.

He shared an understanding glance with Hermione, who knew that their journey was far from over. There were horcruxes to discover, Deathly Hallows to protect, and more Death Eaters to overcome. More sacrifices to be made.

She smiled and clapped with Ron, who pressed a kiss against her cheek affectionately. The way her face lit up- it was beautiful. And Harry was forever grateful for this moment.

His eyes instinctively searched for Draco but were at a loss when the boy appeared absent from the group of celebratory Slytherins.

He glanced around, checking a sea of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

Harry immediately grinned and turned to find Draco wearing his favorite smile, lips pulled up at the edges softly.

"Congratulations, love." He spoke genuinely, and Harry could feel the breeze of peppermint breath brush lightly against his face. He wanted to kiss him, to pull him forward and claim him as his own in his entirety.

Instead, he settled for the squeeze of his hand beneath robes. "I love you. This feels like a dream to me."

"It's not." He leaned even closer, and Harry felt himself begin to swoon. "But if it were, I wouldn't be waking up any time soon. I'd choose to remain comatose as long as you'd allow me to."

Harry chuckled. "Of course you would. Meanwhile I'd be stuck trying to wake your arse up." Draco smiled, teeth glinting in the floating candle light.

"To be fair, I was stuck trying to wake YOUR arse up last night."

"'Cause it's not like I was dead or anything."

"Too soon?"

Harry shook his head, laughing heartily. "Prat."