"Don't go that way," said a fifth-year, crossing paths with Harry in the corridors. He was on his way to the dungeons for Potions.

"Why not?"

"Peeves," came the reply. "Looks like he's in a messy mood today."

"Thanks," Harry called, and took an alternate path to Slughorn's classroom.

"Hi, Harry," said Ernie Macmillan. "Have a good holiday?"

"Very relaxing," Harry replied, lying through his teeth.

"So you had time to finish that essay?"

Harry hit his head against the stone wall. "Great," he muttered, and pulled the forgotten parchment out of his bag.

Ernie smiled ruefully. "See you in class."

"Yeah, see you." Harry scratched down a quick ending, then did a quick once-over of it.

"Procrastinating?" Hermione smiled down at him.

He got up, and they turned to go into class. "Oh, just-- revising."

"Yeah, right."

"Hem, hem."

Harry stopped dead in his tracks.

Hermione watched him, watched his lips settle into a resolved, thin line.

"Hem, hem."

"You," Harry said stonily, "have no right to be here."

"Turn around and face me, Mr. Potter," said Dolores Umbridge, in a sugary-sweet voice. "We have no quarrel, now, do we?" She smiled, and Harry turned.

"You are a loathsome little toad," Harry said matter-of-factly, glaring directly at her. Hermione suppressed a laugh.

Her forced smile twitched, but she remained docile. "Oh, come now, Mr. Potter--"

Harry's Potions essay, rolled into a neat little scroll, was getting crushed in his palm. He held up the back of his hand. "I must not tell lies."

She blinked back at him.

"What are you doing here? You must really need me for something, since you didn't Crucio me after I called you a toad."

If she was annoyed, she didn't show it. Head tilted at an angle, her pink headband meticulously placed, she grinned at him once again. "We have such a fine history between us," she said kindly. "Rufus-- well, the Minister, to you-- is interested in your help."

"I've spoken with him," Harry said shortly. "We have an understanding. And not once did he mention you."

"I don't know if you're aware, but I am poised to become the advisor to the Minister." She paused, as if she expected someone to congratulate her. "Surely I would be in a position to help you. And I thought," Umbridge said, a foul smile surfacing, "maybe you'd like to help me?"

"You're very foolish," Hermione said patronizingly, "to think he would help you after all you've done."

"At least for the Ministry," she said, almost desperately. "Potter. Think of it-- the power you'd have, the influence--"

"I don't want either," Harry said.

"Potter--" She leaned forward, as if she was going to seize the front of his robes.

"Potter," said Professor McGonagall, appearing in the corridor, "must get to class. And as for you--"

Umbridge glared defiantly at her.

"You no longer have authority here," she said curtly. "I suggest you leave at once."

Attempting to keep a shred of dignity, Umbridge straightened her robes and stuck her nose in the air. As she turned to leave, Draco came around the corner.

"Draco?"

He stopped. His mouth hung open. "What are you doing here?" came his ungracious response.

"Hem, hem." She adjusted her purse. "I might ask you the same thing." With a bright smile, she marched on past.

Hermione turned to Draco. "What did she mean by that?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Never liked her anyway."

Despite himself, Harry grinned.

"So," Draco said breezily, "Veritaserum's done today." He turned to Harry. "Are we going to test it on me?"

"You?"

"Sure," he returned, dropping his books on the table. "I figured you'd have all sorts of questions for me-- what exactly went on in the courtyard at the Snowflake Ball, if my aim is to seduce Hermione and turn her into the next great female Death Eater--"

Harry didn't quite know how to respond to this, until he saw that Draco was grinning.

"You're a bastard," he said roughly.

He snorted with laughter. "Don't I know it." Tossing a vial to Harry, he greeted Ron. "Weasley," he said, slapping him on the back as if they were old friends. "It's truth day today."

Ron glowered at him. "You're a git. How's that for truth?"

Draco smiled brightly. "You're a ray of sunshine."

Shielding her face with her textbook, Hermione tried to hide her laughter.

"Welcome back!" boomed Slughorn, edging through the doorway. "Our Veritaserum is finished today, and we're going to test it out."

"Bloody hell," Draco said, as Padma brought their cauldron over, "I was only kidding."

Harry chuckled. "Are you still our volunteer?" Using the vial Draco had tossed to him, he filled it to the brim.

Draco grabbed it. "Bottoms up," he said, draining it, then turned defiantly to Ron.

"Are you or are you not the world's biggest wanker?"

"Not," Draco answered. "Matter of fact, I hardly ever--"

"Draco!" Hermione reproved, laughing, and he stopped.

Stealthily, Harry filled up another vial of potion and pocketed it.

"Harry!" Hermione gasped. "What are you--"

"Shh," he hissed. "I've been doing this all year. I thought one of them might come in handy, like Felix did last year."

Her eyes were wide. "That's against school rules, it is, you'll--"

"Oh, Hermione," Harry sighed, a smile playing on his lips. "Don't tell me you haven't broken any school rules before."

"Your turn, Potter," Draco said impatiently.

"Are you working for Voldemort?" he asked, looking sober.

"No," came the answer.

"Had to ask."

"I know."

Blaise Zabini sauntered over. "True or false: Hermione Granger is the most disgusting Mudblood to ever step foot in this castle?"

Draco leered at him. "False."

"Professor," called Zabini, "I think this group has got their potion wrong--"

But before anyone knew what was happening, Draco had reached back and delivered a sharp uppercut to Zabini's chin.

"Blaise!" shrieked Pansy, dashing to his side. She glared up at Draco.

"What's going on here?" demanded Slughorn, stepping between Zabini and Draco. "Mister Malfoy?"

"He called Hermione a Mudblood," Draco said stoutly. "He deserved it."

"Be that as it may," Slughorn replied, "physical violence is not to be used in this classroom. Ten points from Slytherin."

Draco was about to protest, but instead turned to Zabini. "We'll settle this later," he groused.

Hermione took him by the arm and brought him over to the corner. "You're still under the influence of the potion, aren't you?"

"Yes," Draco said automatically. "But-- how do you know if I'm lying?" He grinned.

She flicked him on the arm. "Did you ever have an embarrassing nickname?"

He made a face. "Yes."

"What was it?"

"My grandmother used to call me 'Little Dragon.'"

"Oh, that's not that bad," Hermione said, "I--"

"Sure it is," Draco replied. "Try hearing it when you're fifteen with Crabbe and Goyle in the room. I've never heard the end of it; do you realize the implications? Now did you have a real question, or--"

"Do you love me?" she blurted out.

Draco's face turned the color of a ripe tomato. "Of course," he said quietly.

"Even though I'm Muggle-born?"

"I thought I told you, I don't care..."

Harry joined them. "Nice punch, Malfoy," he said stiffly.

He grinned. "You think so?" Dropping onto a stool, he glanced at Hermione. "I learned from example," he said. "You never forget a good punch."

Hermione laughed.

Later that night, Harry and Ron sat with Padma Patil in the library, working furiously on the twelve inches of parchment Professor Wingfield had demanded, when an owl dropped a letter in Harry's lap.

"Thank you," Harry said to the owl, and reached for the envelope. He broke the seal-- an ornate letter "S"-- and drew out the piece of paper.

Harry--

I'm pleased to inform you that I've spoken with several retired officials and went through some old files, and I have discovered that the poison used to kill Hepzibah Smith was called Nightshade Powder.

Also, word has reached me that Dolores Umbridge came to visit with you today. I wanted to let you know that her behavior appalled me, and I have decided to hire Mr. Arthur Weasley as my advisor, whom I believe you are on quite good terms with.

I look forward to working together in the future.

Yours,

Rufus Scrimgeour,

Minister of Magic

"Ron," Harry said excitedly.

Just at that moment, Artemis flew in through the window with a letter for Ron.

"Read it," he said. "I'll bet it's your mum."

Ron unfolded the note and let out a whoop. "He got it!"

Padma jumped, startled. "Who got what?"

"My dad," he said, jumping up from his seat, "got the job!"

She was utterly confused. "I--"

"He's now the top advisor to the Minister," he explained.

"Oh, Ron," she gushed, standing up to give him a hug, "that's absolutely wonderful!"

Ron grinned, and without thinking, kissed her full on the lips.

She looked stunned.

"Oh," he stammered, "I didn't mean-- I mean, I'm-- I--"

She was blushing bright red, grinning from ear to ear. "Ron," she said flatly, "stop it." And she pulled him back towards her.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ron caught a glimpse of Harry. He was smiling. "About time," he mouthed.

Ron just beamed.