Defence, Pretence, Offence (Hecatemus Book #2)

Chapter 80 - Consolidation

"The door really didn't want to open when I first came across it," he said, "but I managed to persuade it. Of course if you need it for something else I totally understand. I can keep using the Room of Requirement, I just have to remember to take everything with me when I've finished."

"No, no," Dumbledore said, "I see no reason why you may not have the room as your own, Harry. I do believe you may have found the Potions Classroom from 1824. It went missing after an accident involving a detention, two third years and an exploding cauldron. The potions master at the time managed to get the two children out, but the room vanished along with all its contents. It hasn't been seen since."

"But it was right there," was all Harry could think to say.

"For you, my dear boy, for you, it may be," Dumbledore said. "I suppose it has moved out of popularity, but in my day, many a foolhardy young student would go looking for it. One of the more harmless school legends. I would love to see it at some point, if you don't mind; I have to admit I was one of those foolhardy young people."

"Of course," Harry said and then felt rather strange about being asked to allow the headmaster to see part of his own school. "What potion were they making?"

"I am afraid that information is lost in the mists of time," Dumbledore said, "but, suffice to say, I do not believe that is what they managed to make anyway."

That made sense.

"Anyway, you are most welcome to do with the room as you wish as long it is safe for the returning students in the new school year," Dumbledore decided. "I look forward to your creations."

"Me too," Harry said.

He'd never really been one for investigation and research before his major life change, but now it seemed to be in his blood. He already had Transfering, which was going to have to be handled very carefully, but he was hoping to discover some simpler, but no less interesting things. Life without Voldemort had so many interesting possibilities.

* * *

"We really need to get back to the Ministry about that gala thing they're planning," Draco said as they walked back toward their room, "and I suspect the Order of Merlin people will be writing any day. I heard on the grapevine they've finally made a few decisions."

"I don't want to go to any gala and if they offer us an Order of Merlin I'm giving it back," Harry said and made Draco sigh.

"Do we have to go over this again?"

"I don't want an award for murdering someone, even if it was Voldemort," Harry said.

"I know, Love, but it won't be for killing him, it will be for stopping the greatest danger to our world since Grindelwald," Draco pointed out. "It's not about glorifying killing, it's about preventing a devastating war."

They had had this discussion several times since the first person had mentioned anything about awards and medals. Draco was pretty sure Harry would give in, in the end, but it was a work in progress. He was about to change the subject as they stepped onto their floor when he saw Pansy crumple a piece of paper and throw it across the hallway.

[Pansy looks upset,] Harry observed.

[I concur,] Draco said, [come on.]

They increased their pace.

"Everything okay, Pans?" Draco asked before his friend could storm off.

Pansy glared at him for a moment, but then her shoulders sagged.

"I wrote to my parents to tell them about wanting to accept another year at Hogwarts," she said, clearly upset. "Mother wrote back and mentioned the dreaded M word."

[M word?] Harry asked, clearly confused.

[Marriage,] Draco explained, before focusing on Pansy. "So soon?"

"It seems I am now a very eligible match," Pansy said, "and mother wanted to strike while the iron's hot. You know she's always been worried given some of father's questionable investments. I want to stay here, Draco, I want my own life."

It said just how much Pansy really did want it, that she admitted it out loud where anyone could here.

[Can't she just say no?] Harry asked silently.

[Pansy is a pureblood through and through,] Draco replied, [she would never go against her parents in something like this unless she had very good reason.]

"What about Seamus, he's a war hero too and wouldn't that bring all sorts of prestige?" Harry asked out loud.

Pansy frowned at Harry.

"Seamus is taken," she said.

That was news to Draco.

"Since when?" he asked, usually he was on top of these kinds of things.

"Since ... oh, you might have missed it," Pansy said. "All my plans came to nothing thanks to your two's heroics. Your dying for each other has given people romantic notions and Seamus has apparently been pining for Thomas. They have plans to meet up for the summer holidays."

"Seamus and Dean?" Harry sounded as incredulous as Draco felt.

"Some people can't see what's right in front of them until it's not there anymore," Pansy said, as if it was obvious. "Should have noticed ages ago. Seamus offered a threesome, but I'm really not into that."

Harry all but choked and Pansy almost smiled, but then her mood darkened again.

"What am I going to do, Draco?" she asked and Draco thought there might even have been a trace of tears in her eyes.

Pansy was not someone who cried unless it was to make a point. She had really grown and found herself over the past year and Draco could understand why she had no wish to go back to pureblood games. One day, no doubt, she would be the terror of the ladies of culture set, but Draco was very much certain it should be when she chose. Unfortunately, nothing sprang to mind.

"What if you had a really prestigious job with a ridiculous salary?" Harry asked.

Draco turned to look at his soulmate.

[What are you thinking?] he asked.

[You'll see,] Harry replied.

"It would have to be something like Minister of Magic," Pansy replied.

"Sorry, we're grooming Hermione for that one," Harry said, "but I can think of two people you could work for that would get your name in all the papers and give you and your family all the respect your parents could want."

"Who?" Pansy asked, still frowning.

"Us," Harry replied.

"You want me to work for you?" Pansy sounded dubious.

"Actually it's perfect," Draco said as he thought about it. "Harry is the most famous and revered wizard in Britain at the moment..."

"He means we are," Harry interrupted.

Draco gave him a short glare for that.

"How would you like to be our personal assistant and media representative," he ploughed on. "Of course we wouldn't need you all the time, so you could continue your teaching post as well, and we'd be very happy to pay you a preposterously high salary."

Pansy looked at him then at Harry and then back at him.

"You'd be willing..?"

"Of course we'd be willing, Pans," Draco said and he was sure he was channelling Harry's Gryffindorish tendencies, because he reached out and hugged his best friend.