*contains dialogue from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*

Harry watched the flames of the Dursleys' house shoot into the sky, higher than he thought possible as the small group of Death Eaters took Harry away from the falling building. "How does it feel, Potter?" One of them asked, though Harry couldn't tell who it was, "to be free of those bastards?"

"I'll be happier when the one responsible for putting me with those bastards is out of power," a part of him wanted to say "when he's dead" but Harry couldn't bring himself to go that far. He knew he should, given the company he kept and how Dumbledore treated him - like a pawn in a game - but he couldn't. Maybe Dumbledore treated him like a chess piece, but he was still kind to him when he had no one.

Except he was part of the reason he had no one. So was Voldemort. He would never forget that. Or forgive.

Harry side-along Apparated back to the Manor where the Malfoys' house elves had arranged his trunk and Hedwig's cage for the trip to Hogwarts. Draco sat on the parlor couch, reading a book entitled "The Mystic Arts: A History." Harry sat next to him, but not too next to him since there were others milling about. He didn't need anyone to know about them yet, especially since they didn't even fully understand what they were. Every time Harry tried to know Draco better and go a little further, the Slytherin pulled away both physically and emotionally. "Did you know," Draco said lazily, "that Hogwarts didn't always have Defence Against the Dark Arts? They just had the Mystic Arts with both focuses on light and dark magic to match students' different affinities. It wasn't until the Ministry formed a more, comprehensive government that they changed it. But it wasn't just because of the Dark part. The Minister back then thought that wizards were getting too powerful to control when they learned a skill set tailored to their magical aura."

"You're boring me to death, Malfoy," Harry jumped off the couch and leaned against his trunk. "Now c'mon, it's almost time to go."

"Why are you so excited?" Draco looked around before closing his book and setting it on the opulent table. The whole Manor screamed of wealth beyond Harry could comprehend. He himself had riches he couldn't comprehend but he knew it didn't compare to the extent of the Malfoy fortune.

"How'd you get so rich?" Harry blurted.

Draco raised a pale eyebrow. "We're very well-bread."

"So it's like I'm dating a show dog? Do you know any tricks? Roll over, Draco, be a good boy and I'll give you a bone."

"Hilarious, Potter, but I know more than several tricks. I can make you mute for a month if you don't shut up and we aren't dating, Potter, we are...fornicaitng, oh no that sounds much worse."

"Much worse," Harry agreed. "How about shagging?"

"We haven't shagged."

"Uh... Kissing a lot?"

"Sure, Potter." Draco smiled slightly, doing a quick 360 to make sure no one was looking before pecking Harry's lips. "Kissing a lot sounds good to me."

They stole one more kiss, which felt oddly romantic to Harry even though Draco insisted his reasons were simply physical. Then it was time to go back to Hogwarts. Draco told him they weren't allowed to sit together on the train or even show up at the platform at the same time, so Harry waved goodbye to Draco before taking the floo to "King's Cross Station!"

Hermione waited for him in a compartment and Harry rushed in with a grin before seeing Ron sitting across from her. "Hey 'Mione...Ron," he said, sitting next to Hermione and looking anywhere but at Ron.

"I'm going to go," Ron said, glaring at Harry, "Unlike some people here, I have a problem fraternizing with the enemy."

"I'm not the enemy, Ron," Harry called after him but he'd already gone out the door. Harry sighed. "He hasn't come 'round."

"No, give him some time," Hermione patted his knee and Harry nodded, trying to keep himself together.

"Right, time," Harry smiled at her weakly as the train started down the track.

Draco wished he could have at least skipped fifth year. And sixth year, too. He knew what awaited during that first speech Dumbledore was going to give. Sure enough, Dolores Umbridge stood in the middle of Dumbledore trying to "inspire" the student body, taking his spot by the owl podium and saying in a prim voice, "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction. The ancient skills unique to the Wiz- arding community must be passed down through the generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished, and polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of teaching."

Professor Umbridge paused here and made a little bow to her fellow staff members, none of whom bowed back. Professor McGonagall's dark eyebrows had contracted so that she looked positively hawklike, and Harry distinctly saw her exchange a significant glance with Professor Sprout as Umbridge gave another little "Hem, hem" and went on with her speech.

"Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the weighty task of governing this historic school, and that is as it should be, for without progress there will be stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress's sake must be discour- aged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering. A balance, then, between old and new, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation . . ."

Did Draco really have to hear this all over again? He decided not to listen, groaning and taking a long sip from his mug of water. Professor Umbridge did not seem to notice the restlessness of her audience. Draco had the impression that a full-scale riot could have broken out under her nose and she would have plowed on with her speech. The teachers, however, were still listening very attentively, and Hermione seemed to be drinking in every word Umbridge spoke, though judging by her expression, they were not at all to her taste.

". . . because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognized as errors of judgment. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retained, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned. Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness, and account- ability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited."

She sat down. Dumbledore clapped. The staff followed his lead, though Draco noticed that several of them brought their hands to- gether only once or twice before stopping. A few students joined in, but most had been taken unawares by the end of the speech, not hav- ing listened to more than a few words of it, and before they could start applauding properly, Dumbledore had stood up again.

"Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was most illuminating," he said, bowing to her. "Now — as I was saying, Quidditch tryouts will be held . . ."

Draco tuned out again, eyes meeting Harry's from across the hall, he jerked his head toward the door and Harry nodded affirmation. Draco quickly made an excuse to leave and scurried out before Dumbledore finished talking. Harry joined him in the first floor corridor bathroom before long and instantly started talking. "That's that wizard you showed me in the Owlery last year! The one who wants educational reform and Muggle-born registration and all that."

"They're already doing muggle-born registration. Blood status has always been important to the Wizarding world."

"I don't get why," Harry scrunched his nose which made Draco's heart flutter. "We're both human so that has to mean the first wizards were born from muggles or vice versa which just makes us the same, really. Doesn't it?"

"Yes but it's like royalty, I suppose. Some people carry a name with greater history and power. Genealogy is always a tricky subject and that's not why I called you here."

"Oh," Harry seemed confused, then shook it off, walking to Draco and placing his hands on his waist. "Then why did you call me here?" He whispered hotly.

"Not for that, either," Draco said flatly.

"Damnit."

"Calm your horny arse down, this is important. Bad things are going to happen, Harry. Don't ask me how I know, I just do. I know you've been confused about what side to go on here but just know this, what happens with Umbridge, is what the Ministry wants to do to the entire Wizarding world. They always start with education, that way they can convince young people they're right."

"How do I stop her? Umbridge. Do I have to use an Unforgivable?" Harry started pacing. "She sounds like a regular hag, jabbing on and on, I can't even remember what she said, I was busy talking to Hermione but it doesn't sound good."

"It's not, trust me."

"So what am I supposed to do?"

"Do what any person who wants to cause massive reform does, gain followers."

"How do I do that?" Harry asked, leaning against the sinks and fiddling with his Gryffindor tie.

"I'll help you. From a distance, obviously. No one would follow me willingly but you, you're Harry Potter. Everyone wants you to stand up for something. The only problem is the people on the other side see you as a threat, and if you say anything against them they'll be after you. You thought Skeeter was bad? It'll get a lot worse."

"They're already saying I'm crazy for saying the Dark Lord is back," Harry conceded.

"If you move directly against them, Harry, it's going to get a lot worse than a few bad papers."

Harry seemed torn but finally lifted his head, eyes set in determination. "I'm game."

————
Sorry it's a bit... meh, my mental health is at the bottom of a toilet right now so it was hard for me to write anything let alone anything worth reading but if I stop writing at this rate, I'll never ever finish and I refuse to do that. I already have lots of ideas I just need the strength to do anything but... things I shouldn't

Anyway, hope y'all are doing better than me, BYE!!!