Harry and Bloom are getting ready in the Gryffindor Common Room for the dinner party in Slughorn's office, but Bloom is more than reluctant to go.
"Harry, can't you go without me? Say I caught a sudden cold or something, I really find this whole charade disgusting."
Bloom's lying on the couch, and Harry sits down next to her.
"I know, but Professor Dumbledore wants us to get something from him. And he said the only way that was going to happen is if we get him to like us."
"Harry, that man may be nice, he may be a good Potions professor, but I find the way he 'collects' students and plays favorites - and ignores the rest of the class for the most part - absolutely revolting. People aren't figurines to be stacked on a shelf or something!"
Harry sighs, he's known about Bloom's distaste for Slughorn since they went to visit him.
Harry takes Bloom's hand in his and squeezes it for an instant.
"Bloom, I swear, I get your point. I really do, I agree with it even. But we have to do this, we have to get whatever it is Professor Dumbledore wants."
Bloom sighs, and sits up - good thing there's nobody else in the Common room, because when she's close enough he wraps his arm around her shoulders and pulls her into a kiss.
After a minute, they break and Bloom whispers "Fine, I'll go. Honestly, this is ridiculous. All he wants is free stuff. Whatever he thinks we can give him after Hogwarts."
Harry pulls Bloom to his side, and asks "And what would that be?"
"I have no idea. I fully plan on living the quiet life after all the danger stops. We kill Snake-Face - for good, and he stays dead for good - then we move in with Sirius. Maybe insist on Professor Lupin and Nymphadora coming to join - you heard what his life's been like."
Harry nods, and says "That sounds amazing."
"We'll never have to see your wretched excuses of extended family ever again."
Harry grins at that, and says "We could invite Ron and Hermione over as well - that house is huge after all."
Bloom rolls her head so its underneath Harry's chin, and says "True, you think Sirius and Kreacher are still getting along?"
"Mm, probably. Last I saw, Kreacher had a few old Black relics Sirius gave him - and said he was proud to serve his master for as long as he lived."
"We should go, shouldn't we?"
"Shame, but yes."
"Because I'm really happy right here. We could say we both caught that cold, I know a spell to make us sneeze uncontrollably for a few days."
"Sorry, but we still have to go."
Bloom sighs, semi-good-naturedly, and they get up off the couch.
Twenty minutes later, they're all at Slughorn's party and Bloom's finding it as dull as she thought it would be.
Neville asks himself which spoon he should use for the soup, and Bloom gently taps his foot and mumbles a few words to make the correct spoon shiver slightly.
He smiles at her in thanks, as Slughorn makes a toast to the school's best and brightest.
Cormac eagerly lefts his cup, then winks at Hermione before drinking.
Hermione shifts away from his slightly, and Slughorn starts asking people about their families and connections.
Cormac is going hunting with his father and the Ministry soon - the Ministry that still has none of Bloom's respect after last year - Marcus Belby actually doesn't know what his uncle is working on as his father doesn't get along with him, something about his father only liking a stiff drink for a potion while thinking all others are nonsense, and Hermione tells them her parents are dentists when asked.
Ginny walks in, and says "Sorry, I'm not usually late, but-"
"Not to worry dear, your just in time for dessert! Assuming Belby leaves you any."
There's a nervous chuckle across the table, and Bloom gestures for Ginny to sit in the empty chair next to her.
She can tell Ginny's been crying, her cheeks are wet and her eyes are red and puffy.
After dessert, Slughorn says "Thank you everyone for a most stimulating evening. We'll have to do this again sometime, goodnight!"
Bloom is staring at the hourglass, and frowns when she notices the sands are moving at a different speed than when she last noticed it.
Slughorn tells them they have nothing to fear, but some of their classmates likely won't make his shelf.
Bloom barely bites back a retort, then forces a polite smile and says nothing - Harry's hand squeezing hers is the only reason why she hasn't snapped something she can't take back yet.
Harry asks about Tom Riddle, and there's a noticeable reaction in Slughorn.
When they think they've gone too far with the questioning, Bloom says "Sorry, but, we're more than a little curious."
Harry adds "He killed my parents, we've fought him several times…"
Slughorn relaxes at that and smiles, and says "Of course, it's only natural that you'd want to know more. I'm afraid I must disappoint you though. When I first met young Mr. Riddle, he was a young, quiet boy committed to becoming a first-rate wizard. Not unlike others I've known. In fact, not unlike…you both. If the monster he is now existed then, it was buried deep within."
Minutes later, the two of them are walking back to the Common room and Bloom's on another rant.
It was exactly like she predicted it would be, Slughorn looking for people with talent and connections.
Harry lets her rant for a few minutes - she's been prone to verbally letting off steam ever since her name was spit out of the Goblet of Fire - then quiets her by taking her hand and squeezing it.
"Bloom, you remember Slughorn's announcement of his Christmas Party he's hosting?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, would you like to go with me?"
Bloom stops dead for a minute, then Harry turns and hugs her.
"Bloom, I said this in year four and I'll say it again. I'm not afraid of you, because you're my friend. Who you are has nothing to do with the power you hold, and it's who you are that I love. Your power didn't tackle Quirrell, you did. Your power didn't choose to rush down to save me from the Basilisk, you made that choice yourself. You took a curse for Sirius, your power just kept you with me. I know what you can do, and I know you'd never do it to me."
Bloom grins into his robe, and says "I wasn't going to say that. But thanks anyway. What I was going to say is 'I hope you don't expect me to wear the robes I wore at the Yuletide ball.' Because I'm not wearing that, no matter what. Not unless everyone is dressing up that fancy."
Harry laughs into her hair, and they keep walking.
AN: Yeah, Bloom is not a fan of Slughorn's way of collecting people. She's never made a secret of the fact to her friends, but she's polite enough to not say as much in front of the professor. PS. To clear up any confusion or comments, Bloom's reasons for worrying about the Dragon Flame are slightly different from when she was 11. Then, she was 11, hadn't fallen in love with Harry, and had only just then learned about the Dragon Flame being inside her - she was a little more worried about losing control in a fight or getting angry at the Dursleys and burning the place down. Now, she's very much in love with Harry, has been brought back to life with no kind of spell from herself or any kind of direction to her magic, and it's not exactly a secret that Harry's important to her. Voldemort's exactly the kind of person who would hurt someone close to her in order to get to her, or have Draco do it, we've established that he's been ordered to kill Dumbledore already. So now, she's worried about losing control over her own emotions entirely and her magic reacting from there - say, if Harry were killed or something like that. So please, don't think that the psychological shock of dying and coming back to life means she's basically 11 in her mental state or anything.