Sirius owled Dumbledore immediately after getting home in order to let him know a third horcrux was destroyed. Dumbledore came to visit after receiving the owl.
"What did you tell the Malfoys?" he wanted to know.
"That the diary has the power to bring Voldermort back to existence," Harry answered.
"How did you find it?" Dumbledore asked.
"I knew where it was," said Harry.
"How do they think you found it?" asked Dumbledore.
"I expressed interest in wards and secret rooms and went exploring with Draco. I sensed the dark magic there and decided to investigate," Harry explained.
"The Malfoys were receptive?" Dumbledore asked.
"They know they would be in trouble if Voldermort returns," said Harrry.
"Is there anything else I need to know?" Dumbledore said.
"No," Harry answered.
"I get the feeling you're not telling me everything," Dumbledore commented.
"That works both ways," Harry said.
Dumbledore fixed Harry with a piercing glare while Harry occulated. He left a few minutes later.
The rest of the holiday went by quickly. Harry had lots of fun with Sirius and wasn't too eager to return to school.
On the Hogwarts Express, Harry sat with Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, Hermione, and Neville.
"Did you see the paper?" Draco asked, proudly holding up a copy of the Daily Prophet.
The headline read "Happy Ending for the Boy who Lived". There was a picture of Sirius with his arm around Harry. The caption read, "Harry Potter with his godfather, Sirius Black". Another picture showed Harry and Draco laughing. The caption read, "Harry Potter with his Best Friend, Draco Malfoy".
"I don't think I want to read it," Harry said. "She probably twisted everything I said and wrote lots of lies."
"She wrote that you miss your parents and cry yourself to sleep every night," Draco teased. "Do you need a hankie?"
"Very funny," Harry growled.
He rolled up the newspaper and bopped Draco on the head. Hermione gave him a dirty look. Neville looked at him as if he was crazy. Harry was quiet for the most of train ride.
One night, Neville toppled into the common room. His legs were stuck together with the leg locker curse. Everyone except Harry and Hermione fell over laughing. Hermione did the countercurse.
"What happened?" Hermione asked him.
"Malfoy," said Neville shakily.
"I'll deal with him," Harry said.
He looked at Fred and George who were busy fooling around.
"Can I borrow my dad's map?" he asked.
"It's upstairs," George answered. "I'll go get it."
"I have to get something too," Harry said.
He went upstairs and came down with the invisibility cloak. George handed over the map.
"He's in the Slytherin common room," Harry said after consulting the map.
"Can we join you?" Fred asked.
"Sorry," Harry said. "I'm doing this alone."
"Maybe we'll follow you," George said. "Can't miss a good prank."
"Good luck," Harry said slipping on his cloak.
"That cloak is awesome," Fred said. "I wish I had one."
"Come back for me before you go to the room of requirement," Ron said.
"Will do," the invisible Harry said before leaving the common room.
He followed the map to the Slytherin common room. He saw the bubble with the password appear on the map and said it. The door opened. Harry cleared the map and removed his cloak.
"What are you doing here?" an older student snarled.
"I just came to visit a friend," Harry said, walking towards Draco.
"How did you know the password?" Draco asked.
"I have my ways," Harry said.
He sat down next to Draco.
"What you did to Neville was disgusting," he told him.
"I wanted to practice that hex," Draco said.
"Practice it on a death eater next time," Harry told him, "Or see if anyone wants to join you for a prank war."
"Are you interested?" Draco said.
"Definitely not," Harry answered. "I'm not good at that stuff. I used every hex I know against Voldermort and still needed Dumbledore's assistance to keep him down."
"So, what do you want to do?" Draco asked.
"I want you to apologize to Neville," Harry told him.
"What do I get if I do?" Draco wanted to know.
"What do you want?" Harry asked him.
"Can I have a turn on your broom again?" requested Draco.
"Sure," Harry said, "After you apologize."
Harry and Draco walked to the Gryffindor common room. Harry whispered the password so that Draco won't be able to use it. The fat lady hesitated before letting Draco in, until Harry explained that he was there to apologize and will be going right back out. Draco walked over to Neville who was sitting with Hermione.
"I'm sorry, Neville," he said. "It was mean of me to hex you."
Harry ran upstairs and returned with his broom.
"You going flying now?" Ron asked.
"Do you want to join us?" Harry offered.
The three boys went to quiddich pitch. Draco took his sweet time flying around before handing the broom to Ron and going back to his common room. Ron flew around the pitch once before landing.
"Are you going to the room of requirement tonight?" he asked.
"After I put my broom away," Harry said. "I should also return the map."
Harry returned the map and put away the broom. He threw the cloak over himself and Ron and they went upstairs. Ron was impressed when he saw the room full of punching bags and tackling dummies.
"This is for you, Malfoy," he said punching one of the bags.
He punched another one and said, "Here's one for Snape."
Harry and Ron spent a half hour letting off steam before going back to their room. Harry realized that the room was more fun with Ron and wondered why he never took him with him before.