How much had Parkinson overheard? After two whole minutes of panicking, Harry figured there wasn't anything he could do. Might as well pretend that there was nothing to be concerned about. If she didn't think it would hurt him to share what she'd heard, she probably wouldn't bother.

Hopefully.

Harry resumed his walk back to the common room. When he walked inside, it was almost immediately that he made eye contact with Draco. They both looked away.

"Oh, hey, Potter!" Zabini greeted. "Come here."

Harry wandered over, and sat down on one of the couches. 

"Fancy a game of wizard's chess?" Zabini asked.

"Sure. But er, I'm not very good." Harry said.

"I'm not either. I just don't want to work on my Charms homework." Zabini said.

~~~

"So, did something happen between you two?" Zabini asked on their way back from dinner.

"What?" Harry's heart skipped a beat.

"You two haven't spoken a word to each other, and you purposefully don't look-"

"Nothing happened, Blaise." Draco said.

"Really? No arguments? No fights? Secret love confessions?"

"Blaise." Draco glared at Zabini warningly.

Zabini laughed.

~~~

Zabini was in the bathroom when Draco first spoke to Harry later that evening. "Where did you go?"

"The Room of Requirement." Harry said. "Why?"

Draco didn't know what that was. He asked his own question instead of answering. "What did you do?"

"I practiced magic."

"Did you make any progress?" Draco asked.

Harry held out his palm toward Draco, and the glowing orb popped into existence. There was a sharp intake of breath from Draco.

"I figured it out." Harry said quietly.

"You did." Draco said. "What else can you do?"

"So far, just this. But I figured out how to cast." Harry said. "I just have to relearn the spells from a different perspective."

Why was Harry telling him this? Did he really trust that he wouldn't betray him?

There was a pause before Draco spoke again. "Is there any way I can help?"

"I don't know. About the magic. I could use some help on the homework though."

Draco shook his head, a smile at the corner of his lips. "Extraordinary magic and you go for homework."

"Well, there's a bit of a problem with my current magical learning curve, so If I can get my homework done and have the professors off my case... I'll take what I can get."

"Alright." Draco said.

"Thanks."

~~~

Harry lay in bed, thinking. So much had happened today.  McGonagall had taken him to Ollivander, he'd been told he had a magical inheritance, Malfoy had helped him find out which one he had, he'd figured out how to use his magic.

Harry let the light of Lumos illuminate his bed, curtains drawn. It was eerie, how natural it felt. Harry extinguished it, and drifted off to sleep.

McGonagall's scream woke him. Her cry of 'No!' echoing through his memory as he sat up in bed, taking gasping breaths. Harry tried to get his heart to settle so he could turn back to sleep. It just wouldn't. His 'Danger!' sense wouldn't turn off.

Harry slipped out of bed, grabbed the Marauder's map, and left as quietly as he could. He made his way out of the castle, welcoming the fresh night air. After a few long breaths, he whistled two familiar notes. Every so often, he repeated them.

Hedwig appeared from the night with a cheerful hoot. Harry smiled, and sat down. Hedwig made his knees her perch, putting her at eye level with him. He pressed his face into her feathers, a hand lightly petting her head.

She hooted questioningly.

"Just a nightmare." Harry told her. "I wish you could stay in the dorm with me. But there isn't really a window for you underground."

She nibbled at his ear.

"Madam Pomfrey told me you got Malfoy to help me." Harry said to her.

A non-committal hoot.

"Out of everyone you could have gotten, you went for him?" Harry asked. "For all you know, he could've done the opposite of help."

She bit his ear. Not enough to draw blood, but it still hurt.

"What was that for?" Harry asked indignantly.

She looked rather stern, and the owl embodiment of 'I know more than you.' 

Harry tilted his head. "You don't think he would've hurt me. Which is really odd, considering you don't know him like I do... You've only seen us as rivals."

Hedwig's gaze left Harry.

'These inheritances can alter the way your magic interacts with the world around you. And how the magic of the world interacts with you.' Harry remembered. And he knew that the owls wizardkind used had a bit of magic about them. Was that why he understood her better than he had before? 

But that still didn't explain why she thought Malfoy was a safe rescuer. Maybe he was just reading into it too much. Malfoy was probably the first person she came across.

Harry noticed she was looking at a particular spot. When Harry looked, he saw a grey eyed Siamese cat sitting primly and watching the two of them.

"Er, hi." Harry said. 

The Siamese continued to watch them, unblinking.

"I haven't seen you around before." Harry said. The end of its tail flicked. Harry held out a hand and clicked his tongue. The cat didn't move. 

"Right. I see how it is." Harry said, and held his arm out for Hedwig to perch on. She took the cue and settled on his arm so he could stand. Then she made herself comfortable on his shoulder as he began to walk aimlessly.

After a minute, Harry noticed Hedwig was staring again. The Siamese was following them.

"Alright. Walk next to me if you're going to stick around. I really don't do well being followed." Harry said. 

The Siamese tilted its head, and trotted up to walk next to Harry. Harry blinked. He hadn't really expected the cat to understand him. Maybe the cat had some magic too.

"So. What are you doing here?" Harry asked the cat. "Are you someone's cat? I know Mione has Crookshanks..."

The cat looked at Harry blandly.

"Right. Well, unless someone tells me what your actual name is, I'll have to call you something other than 'cat'." Harry said. "I don't know if you're a boy or girl, and I don't really fancy checking... So a gender neutral name... Steel. Because of your eyes."

Steel trilled.

Harry broke into a smile. "Okay, that's probably the cutest cat voice I've ever heard. Feel free to talk whenever."

Steel made a non committal reply, and looked over the lawn they were walking across.

Eventually Harry came to a stop near the shore of the lake. "I know it won't make sense to you," Harry admitted, "But it's very strange for me. There used to be a white tomb here. Sometimes this all feels like a dream. While I miss some things... I don't want to wake up."

"I miss my godson. But if I can save his father..." Harry trailed off. "A little bit of heartache is worth it."

Steel was looking up at Harry curiously. Harry squatted down, and cautiously held a hand toward Steel. When the cat didn't back away, Harry rubbed it's head.

"Thanks for letting me talk to you, Steel." Harry said, and stood. "But I think I should get back to bed. Never know when that prefect will show up. I'd rather not have to explain nightmares to him. There's just something about him that makes me say everything I wouldn't say."

Harry shook his head. "Goodnight." He turned, and headed back to the castle, giving Hedwig a farewell before she took off into the sky.

~~~

Harry spent Sunday morning doing his homework with Draco's help. It was oddly peaceful, except for the light banter between them. After lunch, however, was Slytherin's turn on the quidditch pitch.

"Aren't you coming?" Draco asked.

"Er, no." Harry said.

"Are you sure?" 

"You're the Slytherin Seeker." Harry said. "I'm just gonna work on some stuff. I'll see you later."

"Alright." Draco said, a slight frown on his face for a moment.

They went their separate ways, with Draco to the quidditch pitch and Harry to the Room of Requirement. Harry found that his progress was much slower. He needed to feel the spell before he could replicate it. But he needed to replicate it in order to cast it...

Harry refused to give up. If he was having trouble working on spells, well, then he'd practice and explore the accidental magic aspect. Any progress was better than none.

~~~

Monday morning at breakfast, Zabini was reading over the Daily Prophet.

"Draco, Potter, look at this!" Zabini exclaimed.

The large photo of Umbridge was unmistakable, smiling widely from beneath the headline. MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED FIRST EVER HIGH INQUISITOR.

Harry looked over across the hall, and for a moment, made eye contact with Hermione. Harry looked back down at his plate. He'd let it slip that there would be a High Inquisitor. And he didn't have any explanation he could give her.

Zabini read the article aloud, but Harry didn't pay attention. He'd heard it before.

"'The Ministry's new moves have received enthusiastic support from parents of students at Hogwarts. 'I feel much easier in my mind now that I know Dumbledore is being subjected to fair and objective evaluation,' said Mr. Lucius Malfoy, 41, speaking from his Wiltshire mansion last night. 'Many of us with our children's best interests at heart have been concerned about some of Dumbledore's eccentric decisions in the last few years and are glad to know that the Ministry is keeping an eye on the situation.'" Zabini said.

"He actually said that?" Draco scowled, taking the paper from Zabini. "If he knew what she was doing..."

"It wouldn't matter unless it was your pretty hand that was bleeding." Harry said.

"You think his hands are pretty?" Zabini asked, brow cocked.

"You know what I meant." Harry mumbled.

Zabini smirked, then finished reading the article. "So, they're just making up an excuse to take control of Hogwarts."

"Yeah. All because Fudge refuses to believe Voldemort's back." Harry said.

"What kind of trouble do you think she's going to stir up?" Zabini asked.

Draco looked at Harry.

"A lot." Harry said, for Draco, then remembered that Zabini didn't know. "I mean, practically everyone hates her already."

"You're not wrong." Zabini said.

~~~

Herbology and Potions went by without incident, Harry even received an 'A' on his Potions essay. Oddly enough, Draco was more pleased by that than Harry was. Might have been because he had essentially tutored Harry, and therefore Harry's grade also reflected Draco's skills.

Harry overheard the twins talking to Ron and Hermione about Umbridge at lunch. As the twins left, they passed by Harry.

"Hey Harry." They both said.

"Fred, George." Harry returned. "How are things going?"

They grinned at each other.

"I think that gives me my answer." Harry shook his head, smiling. "See you around."

After lunch was Care of Magical Creatures. Harry saw the misplaced pink, and immediately rounded on Draco. He grabbed a hold of the Slytherin boy's robes, and glared into his silver eyes.

"If you say anything that gets Hagrid sacked so help me-"  Harry hissed.

Draco swatted his hand away. "Really, you can't even keep your hands to yourself, Potter?"

"Malfoy, I mean it." Harry glared.

"Alright, alright." Draco said, rolling his eyes.

Harry stormed ahead, and did his best to ignore Umbridge's presence.

"You do not usually take this class, is that correct?" Harry heard Umbridge ask anyway.

"Quite correct," Professor Grubbly-Plank said, hands behind her back and bouncing on the balls of her feet. "I am a substitute teacher standing in for Professor Hagrid."

"Hmm," Umbridge said, dropping her voice, though Harry could still hear her quite clearly. "I wonder - the Headmaster seems strangely reluctant to give me any information on the matter - can you tell me what is causing Professor Hagrid's very extended leave of absence?" 

Harry saw Draco watching the professors closely.

"'Fraid I can't." Professor Grubbly-Plank said breezily. "Don't know anything more about it than you do. Got an owl from Dumbledore, would I like a couple of weeks' teaching work. I accepted. That's as much as I know. Well... shall I get started then?"

"Yes, please do." Umbridge said, scribbling on her clipboard.

In this class she wandered amongst the students, questioning them on magical creatures. Harry was proud that most of them answered well. When one of the Ravenclaws didn't know, they would turn to a friend and ask them, the other student being able to provide the correct answer.

At least the class wasn't letting Hagrid down. Harry side-eyed Draco. As long as Draco didn't open his big mouth...

"Overall," Umbridge said, returning to Professor Grubbly-Plank's side, "How do you, as a temporary member of staff- an objective outsider, I suppose you might say- how do you find Hogwarts? Do you feel you receive enough support from the school management?"

"Oh, yes, Dumbledore's excellent," Professor Grubbly-Plank said heartily. "Yes, I'm very happy with the way things are run, very happy indeed."

Umbridge looked politely incredulous, and made a tiny note. "And what are you planning to cover with this class this year? Assuming, of course, that Professor Hagrid does not return?"

"Oh, I'll take them through the creatures that most often come up in OWL," Professor Grubbly-Plank said. "Not much left to do. They've studied unicorns and Nifflers, I thought we'd cover Porlocks and Kneazles, make sure they can recognize Crups and Knarls, you know..."

"Well, you seem to know what you're doing, at any rate." Umbridge said, with an emphasis on the 'you' that Harry didn't like. She made an obvious tick on her clipboard. She turned her next question to Goyle. "Now, I hear there have been injuries in this class?"

Goyle grinned stupidly. Harry looked to Draco.

"That would have been me, I believe." Draco said disinterestedly. "It was my own mistake. There are simple hazards in all our classes. I did not take the proper precautions that were instructed."

Harry couldn't help the look of incredulous wonder that crossed his face.

Umbridge looked disappointed. "I see." She wrote down a note. "Well, thank you very much, Professor Grubbly-Plank, I think that's all I need here. You will be receiving the results of your inspection within ten days."

"Jolly good." Professor Grubbly-Plank said, and Umbridge set out across the lawn to head back to the castle.

After their class ended, they headed back up and into the castle for their last class of the day with Umbridge herself. Harry was in a daze as they walked, still not quite believing what Draco had said. He was so in thought that he missed Draco and Blaise's exchange.

Blaise elbowed Draco, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Draco glared back. 

"You are so whipped." Blaise whispered, grinning.

"I am not." Draco hissed.

"Potter." Blaise said, mockingly and suggestively, his voice quiet so that Harry wouldn't hear.

Draco shot a jelly-legs jinx at him, and walked ahead, ignoring Blaise's yelp and protests.

Harry startled at Blaise's yelp, and walked back to help him up.

"Thanks." Blaise said, casting the counter jinx on himself.

"No problem." Harry said. "Why'd you get jinxed?"

"I was making fun of Draco." Blaise shrugged.

"You made fun of Malfoy?" Harry asked. "That takes guts, Zabini. You share a room, after all."

"So do you, Potter." Blaise said. "And you can call me Blaise."

"Alright." Harry blinked, surprised. "But you have to call me Harry."

"But it's so fun." Blaise grinned, "Potter."

Harry burst into a laugh at Blaise's imitation of Draco.

Draco turned around at the noise. And then his agitation grew, and he marched further ahead.

A/N

Merry Christmas Eve! I hope you all have a great day.

How's the Drarry going? And seriously, Blaise is fantastic-