This is probably my last post for a while. Not only is the schoolwork picking up, but I'm also nearing the end of the pre-written chapters. I'm probably going to pre-write at least one more before I update again, so it'll probably be well over a month. On top of all that, Dairy Quiz Bowl is starting again. It lasts until January, so my time for writing is cut down even more. So don't be surprised if there are no updates until February or March, but I'll try not to let things get that bad.

Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter. Never have, never will.

"Speech"
XXXXXXXX scene change

"So they agreed?" Hermione asked the next morning at breakfast.

Harry nodded his head. "It took some convincing, but they're willing to try."

Hermione stared at him, while Ron ceased shoving scrambled eggs into his mouth. Harry sighed, knowing there would soon be another explosion of Mt. Hermione.

"What kind of convincing?"

"Well, I introduced them to Aurum, showed them the location of the Room of Requirement, explained how the Room worked, gave Malfoy my wand for the duration of the meeting, told them what my plans for the D.A were this year, showed them some of what I'd been taught over the summer, and showed them the Marauders' Map," Harry listed, ticking each fact off on his fingers.

He watched in fascination as her lips thinned out more than he had ever seen McGonagall's do. Ron scooted away slowly, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire.

"In other words, you let them in on almost every secret you could think of and put yourself at their mercy."

Harry tuned her out, occasionally catching words such as "irresponsible" and "repeat of last year." He cast his eyes around the Great Hall. Inevitably, they came to rest on a certain Slytherin.

Draco looked up, glanced at the still-yelling Hermione, and smirked. Harry rolled his eyes at the blonde and glanced at Pansy, who had latched herself onto the other boy's arm. If he felt a pang of annoyance at the girl, he ignored it.

He laughed softly as Draco gently pushed Pansy away. The blonde seemed to hesitate, then glanced out the window and back at Harry, who nodded.

When Harry returned his attention to his own table, he saw that most of the Gryffindors had been watching his silent conversation. He looked up when he felt someone watching him. Draco looked away, his gray eyes glittering with suppressed laughter. Harry glanced up and down the Slytherin table and smirked, encouraging Draco to repeat the action. Draco did so and flushed lightly when he realized he was under the same scrutiny as Harry.

After this small transaction, they returned their attention to their respective housemates, not noticing that they now held the attention of many of the other students as well.

"Care to explain that, Harry?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Malfoy was watching you yelling at me and found it amusing. I pointed out that Parkinson was clinging to him like a leech, at which point he pushed her away. Just now he was laughing at the fact that most of the table was watching me. I informed him that he was in the same predicament." Harry didn't think it wise to mention that he'd accepted an invitation to go flying.

"How do you do that?" Ron asked once most of the attention had been lost.

"Do what?"

"Communicate with Malfoy across the bloody Great Hall!"

Harry thought for a moment, then shrugged. "I just do, don't really know how."

After a few more minutes of interrogation, Harry stood up and walked out of the Hall. Draco soon followed, glaring daggers at the Gryffindors on the way out. Those who saw the glare, Hermione and Ron included, blinked; it almost looked like Malfoy was defending Harry,

Said boy was waiting for Draco in the Entrance Hall, having had the feeling that he would be followed. He sighed in relief when the blonde rounded the corner.

"What's wrong, Potter? Thought they were going to jump me?"

Harry grinned. "Yes, actually."

XXXXXXXX

The strange duo had made their way to the Quidditch pitch after this brief interlude. Unbeknownst to them, they had been followed by Blaise, Hermione, Pansy, and Ron, all of whom were curious about where the two were going. The four of them hid in the bleachers while Draco and Harry retrieved their brooms from the broom shed. When they returned to the pitch, they launched themselves into the air.

"What are you doing?" Draco asked impatiently while watching Harry dig in his pockets.

"Just looking for- AHA!"

Harry pulled his hand from his pocket, revealing a Snitch. He set a dial on its side to eight and released it.

"You carry a Practice Snitch around with you?"

"Had a feeling I'd need it today."

This was the last of the conversation. The two rose into the air, chasing the golden ball that only they, because of their Seeker training, could see. After about half an hour of increasingly daring flying, Harry went into a vertical dive at full speed. Blood pounded in his ears as he dove even faster. He extended his hand and closed it in mid-air. Realizing his quick approach to the earth, he pulled up sharply, his toes grazing the ground. When he reached his previous altitude once more, it was to be met by a flustered Malfoy.

"WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?!"

"Um…getting the Snitch," Harry replied meekly, floored by this outburst.

"Getting the Snitch. GETTING THE SNITCH! And what would have happened if you hadn't pulled up in time, hm? You'd be a POTTER PANCAKE! Then what would have happened to me? I'd be fucking CONVICTED for the MURDER of the BOY-WHO-WON'T-BLOODY-DIE!"

When Draco paused to catch his breath, Harry began laughing hysterically.

"What is so bloody funny!"

"I like that title much better than the Boy-Who-Lived. It's way more accurate."

Draco though back over what he'd said, then began laughing as well when he realized what Harry was referring to.

"That's been my personal title for you for years. I can't believe it just slipped out like that!"

By this point, they had lost so much altitude that they were able to safely jump to the ground. When they did so, they looked up and noticed the four sets of eyes watching them for the first time.

"Uh, Malfoy? We're being watched," Harry stage whispered.

"I'd noticed," Draco responded dryly.

"You want to shout a little louder, Draco?" Blaise asked jokingly. "I don't think the East Side of the castle quite heard you."

Draco blushed fiercely, a sight neither Ron nor Hermione had ever witnessed.

"Malfoy's right, though," Hermione said after overcoming her shock. "You could have killed yourself!"

"Mate, that was bloody AMAZING! Why have you been holding back on us?" Ron asked slightly accusingly.

"Same reason Malfoy has."

"Which is…"

"You'll have to ask him, not me."

Ron stared at his friend. "You've been holding back for the same reason Malfoy has, but you don't even know what that reason is?"

Harry nodded with a straight face, then lost it completely when he made fleeting eye contact with Draco. The two collapsed in laughter at the same time, gasping for breath.

Pansy stared at them. "Our friends are nutters."

Looking at the two rolling on the ground laughing like maniacs, all Blaise, Hermione, and Ron could do was nod and agree with her.

Author's notes: I realize this chapter's short, but it's mostly meant to be a filler. I'm still taking animagus suggestions. However, I now have another poll. What song do you think fits best with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, Pansy, and Blaise? This is based on their personalities in this fic, not in the books. It would be appreciated if the titles (and artists if you know them) were sent in with the reviews.

Thanks to the chapter 4 reviewers:

Roxel-
melissa
Xylia Luna Orion
cyiusblack
SwarmOfFanGirls
GreenEyedCatDragon