"Who'll you be cheering for?" Draco asked Harry as they got ready that morning. "Gryffindor or Slytherin?"

"I don't know." Harry said, suddenly thoughtful. "I hadn't thought about it."

"Really?" Draco quirked a brow.

"My mind's been a little preoccupied with other things." Harry said. 

"What kind of things?" Draco asked.

"The future." 

"Ah. Anything I should be worried about?" 

"No, not yet." Harry said.

"Alright. I do have one more question for you. Do I get a good luck kiss?" Draco asked.

"Oh, I don't know about that," Harry smiled, leaning in. "Maybe."

They both savored the kiss, and then they made their way to the great hall for breakfast. They saw Blaise and Nimue talking, and the two boys shared a look. Stifling a laugh, they sat down to eat. 

Harry eventually lost Draco to the Slytherin quidditch team, speaking quiet strategy among themselves. Harry got up and went over to Gryffindor table, and sat down next to Ron and Hermione.

"How are you feeling, Ron?" Harry asked.

"I was mental to do this." Ron said. "Absolutely mental."

"You'll do fine, Ron." Harry said. 

"Says you!" Ron's voice cracked. "You're a damn near perfect seeker. And you're not on the team anymore."

"I'm not. But Ginny is. She'll do fine. So will you." Harry said.

"Absolutely mental. I shouldn't even be on the team- maybe I'll just go to the hospital wing instead, and then my reserve can play-"

"Ron. Shut up." Harry said. "Are you going to just give up and let Slytherin win?"

"Uh." Ron hadn't thought about it that way.

"C'mon. You'll do fine." Harry said. "Cheer up."

Hermione shot Harry a grateful look. As Harry walked away, he glanced back and saw her peck a quick kiss to Ron's cheek, which had him turn a shade as bright as his hair. Harry grinned.

But something was bothering him. What was he forgetting? As Harry was lost in thought, Draco grabbed a hold of his arm. He quickly let go, aware of them being in company. "Do you see those badges?" He asked Harry quietly.

A stone sank in Harry's gut. The Weasley is our King badges.

"Those aren't new, are they?" Draco asked.

"You made them last time." Harry said.

"This time I didn't. Parkinson looks pleased with herself, though." Draco said. "From your reaction here, they aren't good, are they?"

"No." Harry said. He reached out with his magic, and felt for the badges. As he passed by a rude individual wearing one, he sent a spark of magic toward one. He felt the spell on it break. With a satisfied grin, Harry set out to cause them all to malfunction.

"What are you doing?" Draco asked.

"Breaking them." Harry said happily.

Draco snorted, then quickly recovered his poise. "You're cute when you're happy." He whispered to Harry, who blushed brightly.

~~~

Harry found himself following Blaise up to Slytherin's section of the stands. There, he managed to find the other badges he hadn't yet ruined. It was music to his ears to hear them complain about how quickly the enchantment had worn off.

"Who do you reckon will win?" Blaise asked Harry.

"Honestly? I don't know."

"Who do you want to win?"

"Might surprise you, but it doesn't actually matter to me this time." Harry admitted.

Blaise looked at Harry with a knowing grin.

In the pitch below, the captains shook hands. Harry smiled at hearing Lee Jordan's commentary again. 

And then he heard it. The beginnings of a song creeping up among the crowd around him. 

It soon became deafening. Harry glanced at Blaise, almost relieved to find that his peer's jaw was clenched shut.

How much longer before Ron heard it? Or even the other Gryffindor players? It wasn't fair to them, they didn't need this on top of the stress of losing their preferred players.

Anger began to build up in Harry's chest. He wanted the Slytherins around him to just shut up. He wanted them to stop shouting out that stupid rhyme. It was unfair, it was mean, it was rude- they ought to just shut up. Gryffindor had been mean at times, but this was uncalled for. And this time he was right in the middle of it!

Abruptly, his area of the stadium went quiet. Not a single voice in his vicinity was heard. Harry looked around, and saw the other students with their mouths gaping and eyes wide, as if they'd all suddenly lost their voices. What was going on? Had a teacher heard and put a spell over them? 

That didn't make sense, he didn't know of any that could do such a thing. And then Harry's heart beat a little faster. Had he done this? His classmates were looking at each other and gesturing frantically, unable to speak. Harry looked to his side at Blaise, who was incredibly confused. He looked back down at his hands. He was doing this, wasn't he?

Panic began to build up in his chest. Blaise started beside him, and then took a hold of Harry's elbow, pulling him to his feet and leading him out of the crowd. Harry struggled to breathe as they wound through students and down stairs. 

Eventually Blaise stopped at a landing about halfway down, and turned to Harry. He snapped in front of Harry's face, to get his attention. Harry blinked rapidly before he could focus his gaze on Blaise.

"Breathe," Blaise mouthed, then took exaggerated breaths for Harry to mimic. Harry did his best to copy Blaise. After a while he could breathe normally again, and he sagged against the wall, drained.

Blaise sat next to him. Blaise snapped again to get Harry's attention. "You okay?" He mouthed.

"Yeah." Harry said weakly.

"You can talk?" Blaise said in surprise. "Oh. Guess it wore off, huh?"

"Guess so." 

"Well, that was certainly new." Blaise said. "I think that's enough for today. Let's go back to the common room, what do you say?"

"...Yeah. That sounds fine."

"Alright." Blaise said, standing. He offered a hand to help Harry up, which he accepted.

~~~

Draco walked into their room proudly.

"I take it you won, then?" Harry asked.

"Of course we did. I used that trick you taught me." Draco said.

"Against Ginny?" Harry raised a brow.

"Yes, against the Weasley girl." Draco said.

Harry chuckled. "She'll remember that."

"Well," Blaise said, edging towards the door. "I'll be off then."

"Tell Nimue I said hi." Harry said.

Blaise's cheeks tinted slightly, but he grinned. Then the two were left alone. Draco sat down beside Harry, a smirk on his face as he tugged off his quidditch gloves and set them on the armrest.

"What?" Harry asked.

"I got a good luck kiss." Draco said. "Do I get a congratulations?"

Harry kissed him. "I assume this is what you meant?" He said, after pulling away enough to whisper.

"Mmm." Draco murmured. "I was hoping for more."

"More huh?" Harry smiled against Draco's lips.

Draco initiated the kiss. His hands were at Harry's hips, and as they kissed the hem of his shirt crept up, and Draco's hands were against Harry's skin. Harry's hands were in Draco's wind tousled hair, then to his neck and back to pull him closer. 

When they separated to breathe, Draco didn't pull away completely. He trailed kisses from Harry's mouth, to the hollow below his ear. Harry's hand slid from behind Draco's neck to cradle his face, thumb resting over his lips. Draco gently took Harry's hand from his face, and pressed a kiss to his palm.

Harry giggled slightly, and they both took pause to catch their breaths.

~~~

When the two of them went up to eat in the Great Hall, Harry heard that one of the Slytherin players had received a nasty bat bogey hex. Harry smirked. What had they done to piss Ginny off?

His question was answered when he saw Fred and George looking morose. So they'd gotten banned from quidditch then, hadn't they?

Draco followed Harry's line of sight. "They got banned from quidditch, I think. But you already knew that, didn't you?"

"Last time I was banned with them." 

Draco's brows rose. "Wait- you haven't flown since fifth year?"

"No, I was captain of the team sixth year." Harry said.

"That's right." Draco said to himself.

"What was that?" Harry asked.

"Nothing." Draco said.

Harry shrugged, and went over to comfort Ron.

~~~

Harry woke early Monday morning. He had trouble focusing in all his morning classes, and was distracted on the walk down to Care of Magical Creatures. Harry suddenly looked up at Hagrid's voice.

"Ruddy-" Hagrid caught himself. "I didn' believe Ron an' Hermione at first, saying you was in Slytherin, Harry." Hagrid's bruised face cast a distrusting look at Draco.

"Well, it's not a joke." Harry said.

"I know it ain't- I seen too many kids in the wrong colors already today." Hagrid said. "Now, they said you didn' talk to Dumbledore abou' fixin' it all?"

"It's complicated. Umbridge is just a lot of trouble. It's better to not let her think she's bothered you, you know?" Harry said.

"Ah, one o' those types." Hagrid said, then looked back to the other students. "Well, we're working in here today, bit more sheltered."

The students followed Hagrid into the trees, and as Hagrid gave a call Harry suddenly remembered what this lesson was starring. A smile crept on his face.

"What is it?" Draco asked in a whisper.

"Thestrals." Harry said. Draco's eyes widened.

Harry easily spotted the Thestrals as they approached. He also heard the other students whispering amongst themselves. Harry couldn't help it, he walked out of the bushes and into the clearing.

"Harry!" Draco hissed in warning.

The Thestrals looked up at Harry in surprise. 

"So, who here can see them?" Hagrid asked.

"What are we supposed to be seeing?" A Ravenclaw asked.

Hagrid pointed to one of the chunks of meat, just in time for the students to see a large bite disappear. Several gasped.

"Thestrals." Hagrid said proudly. "Hogwarts has got a whole herd o' em in here. Now, who knows why some o' you can see em and some o' you can't?"

"The only people who can see Thestrals are those who've seen death." Harry said.

"Tha's exactly right, ten points ter Gryffin-" Hagrid looked back at Harry. "Ter Slytherin, then."

"Hem hem." 

Great. Umbridge.

"Oh, hello!" Hagrid said smiling, having found the source.

"You received the note I sent to your cabin this morning?" Umbridge asked, talking loud, and slowly. "Telling you that I would be inspecting your lesson?"

"Oh, yeah," Hagrid said brightly. "Glad you found the place all righ'! Well, as you can see, or I dunno, can you? We're doing Thestrals today."

"I'm sorry?" Umbridge said, loudly, moving to cup her ears.

"Surely you know what Thestrals are, Professor Umbridge?" Harry asked innocently.

"Oh, why, yes of course." Umbridge said, standing a little straighter. 

"So, how come we got a herd? Well, we started off with a male an' five females. This one," He patted the first one to enter the clearing, "name o' Tenebrus, he's my special favorite, firs' one born here in the forest-"

"Are you aware," Umbridge said loudly, "That the ministry has classified Thestrals as 'dangerous'?"

"Professor Hagrid has taken excellent care of the herd here, Professor Umbridge. You don't need to worry for your safety or ours." Harry said. "Why, I'm sure you could even pet one eventually."

Umbridge looked affronted.

Harry, on a roll, beckoned Draco over. Draco cautiously left his shrubbery cover, and walked over. The class watched eagerly as Harry walked a few paces further with Draco, before grabbing Draco's elbow to halt his progress. 

Harry held a hand up for the Thestral mare to sniff. She stuck her nose close to his hand, then to his face. The others could see Harry's hair blown from the Thestral's breath. The mare drew back, and gave a contented whinny. 

Her foal bounded up to Harry, and rubbed against his legs like a cat would. Harry hadn't expected them to be this friendly so early- he toppled over at the unexpected force of the foal. Having fallen on his rear, Harry laughed, the foal sniffing and snorting around Harry's hair like an excited dog.

Hagrid chuckled. "Well, would ya look at tha'. Haven't seen one of the foals that friendly before."

"See, Professor?" Harry said. "You don't need to be afraid. They won't harm you unless you harm them first. It's quite simple, really."

Harry could see tints of rage coloring her face, but she couldn't think of a reply. Meanwhile, the foal had practically sat itself in Harry's lap. Harry absently started picking thistles and burrs off of his coat. He looked up at Draco.

"Well, what do I do?" Draco asked.

"Jus' hold out yer hand like Harry did, they'll come to you." Hagrid said. "Specially if you can't see 'em."

Draco carefully held out his hand like Harry had, waiting carefully and patiently for something to happen. "What's it doing?"

Harry didn't answer, in a few moments the mare pressed her nose against Draco's palm. "Woah." Draco said, startled.

"Looks like she likes you." Hagrid said, puzzled. Since when was Draco Malfoy this respectful in his class? In any class?

Cautiously, Draco moved to slowly stroke her snout. If they'd had feathery wings, Harry would have said she'd ruffled them. It seemed like a happy movement, like dogs wagging their tails. The mare leaned into his touch.

"Is Malfoy petting one?" A Ravenclaw asked incredulously.

"I think so." Her Slytherin neighbor replied.

At this, a few students got excited, and approached the clearing, leaving their hiding spots behind.

"Now, just hold still and wait for em ter come ter you. They can see you, but you can' see em, so you don' wanna go walking inta them." Hagrid instructed.

Gasps and giggles sounded from the students when a Thestral brushed past them, or sniffed them.

"Now, the Thestrals here pull the carriages up to Hogwarts from the train." Hagrid informed them. 

Surprise was evident among many of the students. Harry thought it was silly just how many had known, and how many had never bothered to ask. It seemed like it would have been common information, but apparently not.

"So the rest of you hiding in the bushes don't need ter be afraid," Hagrid continued. "Since most of you have already been around them several times before. With nothin' bad happening either."

Most of the remaining students joined the others in the clearing, with only a few lingering away from the others.

Umbridge left that lesson frustrated at how little ammunition had been fed to her. But Harry knew that she would still stretch the truth into something that it no longer resembled. At least he got to see Draco and Hagrid smile, though.

A/N

surprise! this has not been carefully proof read. but you get a 2400 word chappie so