It wasn't long after the Snargaluff pods that Professor Slughorn announced his Christmas party. All of his favourite students were invited, which by this point comprised a rather lengthy list. Harry had managed to avoid the "Slug Club" parties since the Hogwarts Express, but this time was unhappy to find himself without an excuse as the event approached.

"You need to ask someone soon," Hermione was admonishing him. "Don't you see the girls looking at you? They're all hoping you'll ask them so that they can go with the Chosen One."

Harry grinned in amusement. "I've never been popular like this before."

"Watch yourself, Harry. Do you see that girl over there? That's Romilda Vane. I heard her talking to Padma Patil the other day about slipping you a love potion. Just- don't eat or drink anything unless you know no one else has touched it, alright?"

Harry nodded in agreement. "What about you? Who are you going with?"

"Oh," Hermione mumbled. "I meant to ask Ron, but since the Quidditch game…" Harry nodded in understanding. After the Gryffindor team had beat Slytherin Ron had snogged Lavender Brown in the common room. Now the two were dating.

"You know, I don't think Draco has anyone yet. Maybe you could go with him? Then that's both of you sorted."

Hermione brightened at the suggestion. "Harry, that's a brilliant idea! I'll ask him about it in Ancient Runes. But what about you?"

Harry smiled. "Actually, I have an idea."

Slughorn's Christmas party was barely tolerable. Draco had gratefully agreed to go with Hermione, and Luna was happy to be Harry's date for the evening. Slughorn had insisted on dragging the four students around the room, introducing them as his favourites to the many other guests he had gathered for the occasion. Harry had already pulled Luna away from a vampire with a hungry look in his eyes and stopped Draco from another explosive argument with Blaise Zabini when Slughorn dragged the two boys up to Rufus Scrimgeour, the Minister for Magic.

"Rufus, have you met these two fine young men?" Slughorn asked, a note of pride in his voice. "Two of the best in their year, in fact, in the school! I've rarely come across minds as bright as these. Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, Rufus Scrimgeour!"

Harry glanced around distractedly, searching for Hermione and Luna. Finally he spotted them, deep in conversation with Professor Trelawny. He started to move towards them, stopping abruptly when he felt a hand close around his arm.

"Ah yes, I've heard a great deal about these two," Scrimgeour said as he held onto Harry's arm. "In fact, I've been meaning to speak to them. Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy, would you mind coming with me for a moment?" He followed Harry's gaze towards the two girls. "I promise to return you to your lovely dates shortly."

Draco shrugged as he followed Scrimgeour into the hallway. Harry trailed behind, a worried feeling settling deep in his stomach.

"I've wanted to meet you for a long time, Harry," Scrimgeour said as he stepped into an empty classroom. "A very long time indeed. But Dumbledore has kept you close to him all along." He turned his gaze on Draco. "You as well my boy. I've been intending to speak to you ever since I heard the news of your choice this summer, but I'm afraid that this is the first chance I've had."

Harry eyed the minister suspiciously. Something about this conversation, alone in a dark, empty room, did not feel right. "What did you want to talk to us about?"

"Straight to the point." A smile played on the edge of the minister's mouth. "I appreciate a man who understands the importance of efficiency. Well, my boys, here is where we stand. These are difficult times for all of us. People are feeling discouraged and afraid. And they can't be blamed. Hope is hard to find in situations like these." He paused and surveyed the boys.

"Your point?" Draco drawled. Harry recognized his tone of false confidence.

"A small ray of hope has at last fallen upon us." Scrimgeour stared deeply at Harry. "Rumours abound that you are the Chosen One. Am I right in believing that you have discussed this with Dumbledore?" Harry nodded his head curtly and the Minister turned his attention to Draco. "And you, the Boy Who Escaped. Together you are the hope of the wizarding world. The hope that You-Know-Who can be defeated once again, and the hope that we can all escape his influence." He took a breath and continued quickly. "The Ministry wants to share that hope. It would mean a great deal to the wizarding community if you would stand beside us in this war."

A suspicious look crossed Draco's face as Harry contemplated this idea. "What exactly are you asking us to do?" Harry asked.

"Nothing burdensome, I assure you. The Ministry most certainly does not wish to interfere with your studies. Just that you would drop by once in awhile, and that, if you should be asked, you would declare your support for the Ministry. Perhaps a short article in the Prophet in the near future as well."

"And what if I don't support the Ministry?" Draco asked. "What if my beliefs never changed? What if I still think that Mudbloods are beneath the rest of us, but don't have the guts to actually hurt anyone?" A look of alarm passed over Scrimgeour's face.

"Support the Ministry?" Harry blurted out. "Didn't I hear that Stan Shunpike had been taken into custody? Is he still being held? Has the Ministry actually done anything to find out if he's guilty, or is he being held completely on suspicion?" He turned to Draco. "Is Stan Shunpike a Death Eater?"

Draco shook his head as a mirthless laugh escaped his lips. "Of course not. Never has been, never will be. I doubt they'd even Imperius him."

Harry looked back at at Scrimgeour. "See? Was that so hard?"

The minister took a step back. "I'm afraid that the Ministry must make difficult decisions at times, decisions that you may find it difficult to understand."

"I think we understand you perfectly." Draco's voice was icy. "And neither of us is interested in being your poster boy." Harry nodded in agreement.

Scrimgeour screwed his face into a look of contempt. "You would deny the entire Wizarding community hope out of your own selfishness?"

"No. But I won't pretend to support anyone who hurts innocent people." Harry looked expectantly at Draco.

"I would be more likely to support the Ministry if I actually was a Death Eater," Draco said with a shrug. "They have spies everywhere. For me to go there would practically be suicide."

"A regretful choice, I'm afraid," Scrimgeour said, his eyes cold. "You could make a true difference to the people, and yet you choose not to."

"No," said Harry, turning towards the door, "We choose not to be used."

Luna and Hermione were standing near the door when Harry and Draco returned to the party.

"Where were you?" Hermione asked, concern written across her face.

"The Minister wanted a word with us," Harry answered in a half-whisper. "He wants us to be his mascots. He didn't like our answer much."

"My father says the Wrackspurts have been whispering to him," Luna said. "He's not the man he once was."

Draco sighed. "I don't know about Wrackspurts, but he has been listening to Death Eaters. They've been in the Ministry for ages. I gave Dumbledore all the names I know but I'm sure there's others."

Hermione glanced around at the party. "Let's get out of here," she said. "I'm tired, and Cormac McLaggen won't leave me alone. As soon as you two disappeared he came over and tried to pull me behind a curtain to snog him."

Harry felt his blood boil at this. "Where is he? That disgusting git!" Draco's face twisted into an expression that was equal parts anger and chagrin.

Hermione sighed. "I knew I shouldn't have told you. Come on, let's just leave." She grabbed one arm of each boy and hauled them out the door.

Luna stifled a yawn as they walked down the hall. "It's later than I thought," she mused. "I think I'm going to head to bed."

Draco glanced at his watch. "I'll come with you." He turned to Hermione and gently grasped her hand, the picture of dignity. "Thank you for accompanying me tonight. I had a lovely time."

Hermione smiled. "I'm glad that we could go together. My only other plan was to ask McLaggen, and clearly that would have been an awful choice." Her smile turned to a grimace.

Harry told Hermione about their conversation with Scrimgeour as they walked back to Gryffindor tower.

"You don't think he was threatening you?" she asked as the Fat Lady came into view.

Harry paused for a second. "I don't think so. He was just angry that we wouldn't do what he wanted."

Hermione said the password and the portrait swung open. The common room was still fairly busy as students spent their final night together before heading home for the holidays. Hermione spotted Lavender sitting on Ron's lap by the fire and made a quick excuse to disappear to her room.

Harry was headed towards the stairs to the boys' dormitories, eager to change out of his dress robes, when he heard a voice call his name. He turned around to see the girl Hermione had called Romilda Vane holding something out to him.

"These are for you, Harry," she twittered. "I'm going home for the holidays, but I'm not leaving until the day after tomorrow. What about you?"
Harry took the box of chocolates that she was shoving into his chest. "I'm staying here," he answered awkwardly.

Romilda beamed at him. "Well, Merry Christmas! Enjoy the chocolates!"

Harry muttered out a quick thanks and hurried up the stairs. He looked at the box in his hands, remembering Hermione's warning about love potions from the week before. He threw the box into the bottom of his trunk.