It was July 1st. Monday, July 1st.

The Ministry was a massive place, filled with people, hustling and bustling all around. And yet when Draco had walked into the atrium he felt as though time had slowed. As though his presence was unheard of and unwanted. Regardless of that he pushed through, his chin held high as he headed towards the lifts. Especially considering how lucky he was his little stint with Theo didn't have any repercussions.

Draco's training letter had said to take the lifts to the eighth floor, Conference Room C. And of course he would end up in the one that had ten million people all going to a dozen floors. Yes, a dozen. The Ministry's elevators were far from normal and didn't just go up and down, but front and back and left and right. It was a good thing he'd decided to come early. Had he not he'd have to bear the scrutiny of being late and eyeballing every trainee before he could find a free seat.

"Here to see your parole Auror, Malfoy?" A voice said from beside him. The blond had to fight hard, very hard, not to immediately say something that would knock the man down a peg or two. Instead he clenched his jaw, clasped his hands tightly behind his back, and kept his head front. He didn't miss others in the lift glancing in his direction at the man's words.

"Not that it's any of your business," Draco said calmly. "But it seems that you, among many," he added for effect to everyone else in hearing range, "fail to remember that I was exonerated. Thus, no parole Auror."

"Right," the stranger drawled. "Pity,"

Draco closed his eyes and counted in his head. One, two, three…-

"I guess I should believe that you're one of the good guys." He continued. "Otherwise why else would Hermione Granger be with you? Unless she's gone mad."

The elevator's doors opened and Draco threw himself out of it. Anything to avoid punching that guy in the face or, even better, sending a curse his way. That would be just what he needed, right? To cause a scene in front of Ministry workers in the middle of the Ministry. Arresting him would be easy and then they could finally put him behind bars, albeit not for the crimes they wanted.

"You alright, Malfoy?" Harry asked once he had walked into Conference Room C.

Draco glanced up at him before taking a seat in the front row. "I'm fine."

Normally he wouldn't want to be this close to Potter on any day, but he knew when to concede and when to fight. It would be better to stick close to Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes in case anyone else tried to test his patience today.

It turned out to be a good choice on his part considering the voice that broke the atmosphere.

"What's he doing here?" Said the same voice from the elevator. Harry looked at him and casually shrugged.

"Well, seeing as this is where Auror training is taking place," Harry addressed, "I'm sure you can put two and two together, Mr…?"

"Travers," he answered. "Philip Travers,"

"Welcome to training, Mr. Travers. Have a seat."

Harry went back to organize some parchment on his desk, leaving Travers standing in the doorway with his mouth open and poised to say more. Instead he let his mouth close and his eyes travel to Draco. Draco, on the other hand, didn't look at him. He did manage to spy him from his periphery, though, and he couldn't help but smirk. That seemed to anger the man even further which would explain the stomping of his feet like a child to a desk towards the back of the room.

The other trainees –eighteen more to enter the room –were just as surprised as Travers to find the blond sitting in the room. Some paused in the doorway before entering. Others took a second glance at the door to make sure that it actually said Conference Room C. A few mouths were dropped. A couple stuttered. Others were silent. And the trainees who sat behind the source of their confusion continued to mutter to one another.

Draco breathed a sigh of relief when Harry finally addressed everyone.

"I'd like to congratulate all of you for your fantastic NEWTs scores and for what you got on your Auror entrance exam. They had to be good –better than that, really –for you to be here in Auror training." Harry smiled at everyone, his gaze lingering some on Draco before he continued. "Before we dive into anything, I wanted to talk about one thing. I'm sure you've noticed that Draco Malfoy is in Auror training with all of you."

Draco could've cursed him right then and there.

"I know you may be a bit…surprised to see him here."

There were murmurs of agreement across the room.

There'd better be a point to this, Potter. Draco sneered in his mind.

"I understand your feelings about him." Harry said. "You might even feel uncomfortable, perhaps angry, to be around him. And you have every right to have such feelings. But," he took a deep breath. "I'll have you know that Mr. Malfoy went through the same process as all of you to get here, and he's earned his seat in this room."

Harry was looking at Draco now who had begun staring at him with utter disbelief. He did look away eventually as he let his spectacled eyes wash over everyone.

"So, if his presence here bothers you that much, the door is right over there. This is a professional environment, and it'll be treated like one."

Draco didn't like debts. He didn't like knowing that someone had done something for him and said person now had something hanging over his head. And this…? Well, there was no denying that now Draco owed Potter one. The man had stood up for him. For him. He was used to Hermione doing it. He was hers and she was his. They were bound to shoot anyone down who dared to hurt or take advantage of one another. But Potter? What reasoning did he have for talking to everyone like that on his behalf?

Draco didn't know what to say. He merely caught the man's eyes once and gave a subtle nod. His nod was returned, and then silence fell. The blond was expecting someone, anyone to get up at any moment, but to surprise no one did. Potter did a not so subtle job of exhaling a sigh of relief before he clapped his hands eagerly.

"Great. So, one of the things I figured we'd do is get to know each other better since we'll be together for a month. Just mention your name and why you applied for the training program. Not all of you have to go, if you're not comfortable." Harry added. "But if you are, have at it."

Travers was the first one up on his feet and addressing the room. Because Draco was sitting up front no one but Potter could see his exaggerated eye roll.

"The name's Philip Travers," he said with a broad smile. "As for the training program, I figured I could do better, do more than just being a Senior Director for my father's company-"

Draco bit down on his tongue to suppress a groan.

"-and then it hit me! Auror!" Travers exclaimed happily. "I could help people and put my excellent skills to work. I'm sure of it."

Draco smirked some when he saw Potter murmur a "Thank Merlin," when Travers sat down. A few more people got up and introduced themselves (all a lot more tolerable to listen to), and then when they were finished everyone was standing on their feet while their instructor used his wand to make the desks vanish.

"This training is going to be half hands on, half not. Trying to get what you already know and apply it to being an Auror. So, before I start teaching you anything, I want to test you on what you've already got. Let's get two of you up to duel, yeah? Anyone want to volun-?"

"I will." Travers said eagerly. He walked to one side of the room while everyone else watched.

"Alright." Harry replied. "Now, let's get…" he paused and then smiled. "Malfoy,"

Draco cocked a brow. Can I still become an Auror if I hex him?

He held in his scowl as he emerged from the crowd. Everyone was deathly quiet and he wondered what was going on through their heads. Did they think he'd do something sneaky and underhanded during this duel? Would he use some Dark spell to take Travers out? As Draco took in his opponent –his wide, smug smile, the way he nodded to some of his peers that were already his friends –the latter option didn't seem so bad.

"You said you wanted to test us on what we know." Travers said to Harry. He eyed Draco once before asking, "How much should we show?"

Harry thought for a moment, seeming to weigh his options before saying, "No broken bones. Try to avoid a concussion. The duel is over after five rounds or until one of you concedes."

Draco kept that in mind as he took his dueler's stance. His face remained impassive while Travers' was just a wide array emotions.

Idiot.

"Wands at the ready." Harry announced. "Begin!"

Travers was quick, Draco could give him that. The man let go a spell that nicked him in the shoulder. Draco grunted angrily when he looked and saw his shirt was ripped, and a thin line of blood had appeared.

The grin he sported was all Draco needed to start off round two. He had barely heard Potter say, "Again," before the blond's wand flourished and dropped Travers to his knees. He coughed and, amusingly, two slugs slipped out of his mouth and onto the floor. Everyone in the room groaned in disgust, a few laughed, and Draco couldn't help but take a look at Potter who was giving him a look that just said, "Really?"

Draco shrugged with a smirk before releasing Travers from the hex. He glared up at him before getting to his feet.

"Figures you'd resort to something juvenile." Travers spat at him.

Draco chuckled. "Perhaps I should grow up then."

Travers scoffed. "A little late for that. Flipendo!"

"Protego!"

Travers dove out of the way as his own spell came back at him and hit the wall. He snarled terribly, "Incarcerous!"

"Diffindo!" Draco countered, effectively slashing the ropes that flew out of Travers' wand before they latched onto him.

"Locomotor Mortis!"

Draco blocked it.

"Confundus!"

Another block.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Block.

"What's the matter Malfoy?" Travers taunted with a smile. "Afraid to fight back?"

Travers laughed and that was what Draco had been waiting for. A cocky cock-up.

"Immobulus!"

Travers froze on the spot, mid-laugh. A non-verbal "Expelliarmus" wrenched his wand from him and Draco knew that it had to have hurt his fingers having been pried from a stiff hand. And then, with both wands in hand, he raised them.

"Stupefy,"

Travers' head rolled back as he continued to stand still. Draco smiled triumphantly as his fellow trainees all began to clap. He stuffed his wand aside and gave Potter Travers'.

"Not going to unfreeze him?" Harry asked with a crooked grin.

Draco shrugged. "Thought I might leave that task to you."

Author's note: Harry's my favorite. Go Harry!

Also, you all are FANTASTIC! 300+ reviews. Thank you! :)

-WP