Harry didn't sleep well that night, and woke up groggy. He managed to pry his eyes open at breakfast, before heading to Transfiguration.

McGonagall marched into the room without any indication that she knew Umbridge was there. Despite his grogginess, Harry was in high spirits.

"That will do." McGonagall said, and silence fell immediately. "Mr. Macmillan, kindly come here and handback the homework. Miss Bones, please take this box of mice and hand one to each student."

Umbridge coughed her signature 'hem hem'. McGonagall entirely ignored her. Harry took his essay from Ernie, not caring to check his grade.

"Right then, everyone, listen closely- Miss Perks, if you do that to the mouse again I shall put you in detention- most of you have now successfully vanished your snails and even those who were left with a certain amount of shell have got the gist of the spell. Today, we shall be-" McGonagall said.

"Hem hem."

"Yes?" McGonagall said, turning to Umbridge, her brows furrowed together into a severe line.

"I was just wondering, Professor, whether you received my note telling you of the date and time of your inspec-"

"Obviously I received it, or I would have asked you what you are doing in my classroom." McGonagall replied. Many of the other students looked just as gleeful as Harry felt. "As I was saying; today, we shall be practicing the altogether more difficult vanishment of mice. Now, the vanishing spell-"

"Hem hem."

"I wonder," McGonagall said coldly, looking to Umbridge. "How you expect to gain an idea of my usual teaching methods if you continue to interrupt me? You see, I do not generally permit people to talk when I am talking."

Umbridge looked like she'd been slapped in the face. She didn't say anything, but scribbled furiously on her clipboard. Entirely unconcerned, McGonagall turned back to the class.

~~~

Hermione and Ron approached Harry during the lunch break. He split off from Blaise and Draco who were debating which desert was better.

"Hi Harry." Hermione grinned.

"I know that look." Harry said. "What are you thinking about?"

Hermione blinked in surprise. "Well, I was thinking..." She paused, and then her voice became rather firm and determined. "If Umbridge won't teach us, we should learn Defense Against The Dark Arts ourselves."

"Yeah, I think that's a great idea." Harry said.

"You do?" Hermione smiled.

"Oh, come off it. You want us to do extra work? I'm already behind as it is." Ron complained.

"But this is more important than schoolwork!" Hermione said.

"I didn't think there was anything more important than schoolwork." Ron said incredulously.

"Don't be silly, of course there is." Hermione said. "It's about preparing ourselves, like Harry said in Umbridge's first lesson, for what's waiting for us out there. It's about making sure we really can defend ourselves. If we don't learn anything for a whole year-"

"We can't do much by ourselves," Ron said, sounding defeated. "I mean, all right, we can go and look jinxes up in the library and try and practice them, I suppose."

"No, I agree, we've gone past the stage where we can just learn things out of books." Hermione said. "We need a teacher, a proper one, who can show us how to use the spells and correct us if we're going wrong."

"So what do you suggest?" Harry asked, having a good idea of where the conversation was going.

"That you teach us, Harry." Hermione said.

Yeah, there it was.

Ron frowned slightly, then nodded. "That's an idea."

Harry frowned. He'd have to catch up himself. He couldn't very well teach the others if he couldn't even do it himself.

"What do you say, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"I get where you're coming from, but I'm not sure I'm the best option." Harry said. Knowledge and experience wasn't Harry's opponent here, it was his newfound magic.

"Come off it, you've done loads of stuff!" Ron said.

Harry sighed. "I know... I'll think about it, okay?"

"Just don't take too long." Hermione said.

"Alright. I won't." Harry replied.

~~~

"Hey Harry," Blaise asked that evening. "If you were in a duel with someone, and you didn't want to beat them so much as humiliate them, how would you do it?"

"Anaticula." Harry replied. "Especially if you can get it in wordlessly."

"Wait, is that the-"

"The duck one, yeah."

"Brilliant. Thanks." Blaise said.

"Who are you wanting to duel?" Harry asked.

"Nott."

"Oh. Throw in a Quanto-Ructo." Harry said.

Blaise raised a brow questioningly. 

Harry gestured with his hand, miming the movement for the spell. "Quanto-Ructo. Like that."

"What does it do?"

"It will embarrass Nott."

"Fair point. Is it something harmful?"

"Just to his dignity."

"Excellent." Blaise grinned.

"Make sure you use Anaticula first." Harry advised.

"Noted."

~~~

The sound of ducks and concerning belching preceded Blaise's return to their dorm room.

Blaise shut the door behind him, and leaned against it. His cool victorious smile morphed into a huge grin. "Oh my Merlin, Harry, that was brilliant."

"It went well, then?" Harry asked.

"Wonderfully." Blaise said, and plopped down on his bed. "After I sent the Anaticula to him, all the spells he tried to cast, just nope. Ducks. The confusion on his face was priceless. And then I could tell the spell was wearing off, so I tried the other one."

"I'm pretty sure it worked, if I heard correctly." Harry said.

"Where did you find a spell that makes people burp uncontrollably?" Blaise asked.

"I found it in my godfather's belongings." Harry said fondly.

"Your godfather?"

"Yep."

"I didn't know you had a godfather." Blaise said.

"Sirius Black." Harry said.

Blaise's eyes went wide. "Sirius Black is your godfather?"

"He's innocent, you know." Harry said, "He didn't kill those people. Or betray my parents."

"What? Then who did?"

"Do you remember that Ron used to have a pet rat?"

"Vaguely." Blaise said after a moment. "Why?"

"It was Peter Pettigrew. An Animagus who stayed in animal shape."

"You're pulling my leg."

"No." Harry said. 

"You don't seem mad about that." Blaise noted.

"I've come to terms with it." Harry said.

Draco walked in the room then.

"What's going on out there?" Blaise asked.

"Well, they've decided to take Nott to the hospital wing. Going to try to give him a couple tonics and potions." Draco said. "They couldn't find the countercurse."

"There isn't one." Harry said.

"What?" Draco asked.

"There isn't a countercurse. You just have to wait it out." Harry said.

~~~

Harry walked up to the doorstep, and turned back to see Draco lingering a few paces behind. 

"Malfoy, are you scared?"

"No, of course not." Draco replied. 

"Well, come on." Harry said, and opened the door, a soft chime sounding from inside the house. "Don't want to let the cold air in."

Draco quickly followed Harry inside. Harry hung up his coat and scarf, gesturing for Draco to follow suit. Once he had, Harry gave him a reassuring smile. 

"Andromeda! We're here." Harry called out.

When the woman came around the corner, Draco went stiff for a moment. 

"When you said you were bringing a guest, I thought you were sneakily trying to get that Lovegood girl back around." Andromeda said, momentarily surprised to see Draco. 

"There's nothing wrong with Luna." Harry said, a light frown on his face.

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that. She's a lovely girl." Andromeda said. "I just don't need to have Teddy trying to imitate those glasses of hers again."

"Again?" Draco couldn't help but ask.

"Yeah, last time Luna visited- which was the only time, actually- she wore her spectrespecs. Teddy loved them. Tried to make his eyes do the color swirly thing too." Harry said. "It was really weird."

"It was nauseating." Andromeda corrected. 

"I'll let you two catch up. Where's Teddy?" Harry asked.

"Front room."

"Thank you." Harry said, and made a beeline to the room in question. Draco heard Harry's voice. "Teddy, look who's home." A resounding giggle followed, and Harry's laughter joined.

Draco turned to Andromeda. "Well, I suppose I should say hello, then. I'd introduce myself, but I think you already know."

"I do. How is Narcissa?" Andromeda asked.

"She's doing well, considering. I'm still not sure how she and I stayed out of Azkaban, though."

"Ah. I do believe that was Harry's fault," Andromeda said, happy toddler squeals sounding from the front room. "He gave the Ministry a testimony to your allegiance during the war."

"I have-" Draco said, clenching a fist and glancing to his forearm. "How could they not think I was a Death Eater?"

"He showed them a few memories, I believe, with a pensieve. His argument was convincing enough." Andromeda said. "He was upset when he came home, though. That was also the day he decided to ask Headmistress McGonagall for the Defense Against The Dark Arts post."

"Why that day?" Draco asked.

"He realized he had too much sway in the Ministry. They were biased. Besides, I'm sure you've noticed how jumpy he is." Andromeda said.

"Yes. Most of the students are like that, but Potter's the worst." Draco said. 

Andromeda sighed, "Come sit down. Teddy's sure to be in a wonderful mood now."

Draco followed her, and they found Harry laying on the floor, stacking wooden blocks with young Teddy Lupin. Blue eyes looked up at Draco, with a head of wispy pink hair. Harry waved Draco over, and pat the floor beside him. Hesitantly, Draco sat down.

"Teddy, look. This is your cousin, Draco Malfoy." Harry said, "And Malfoy, this is Teddy Lupin, my godson."

Teddy reached a hand toward Draco's head. "What is he pointing at?" Draco asked.

Harry chuckled. "He wants to touch your hair."

"Excuse me?" Draco asked.

"He likes to play with hair. It's why I've been growing mine out." Harry said, pointing to his wild raven hair, which was long enough to tie back.

Draco blinked.

"Malfoy, let the baby touch your hair." Harry grinned.

Draco narrowed his eyes at Harry, before dipping his head so Teddy could reach. Small fingers pat at the platinum hair. Draco sat up when Harry's smirk grew. "What?" Draco demanded.

Harry jerked his chin towards Teddy. When Draco looked, he saw that the boy's tufts of hair had turned the same platinum blond as his own.

Harry burst into laughter at Draco's face. Teddy giggled, not to be left out. As Harry's laughter faded and he caught his breath, Draco smiled.

The dinner that they shared later that evening might have been the most interesting one that Draco had ever experienced. It was strange, nearly, but he also felt comfortable after a while. The tensions and nerves had disappeared. The only thing that could make this better would be if his mother could have come.

Maybe, If Harry invited him again, he'd ask if his mother would be able to join. Draco didn't get the opportunity to ask, though. After dinner, Harry had taken Teddy to get cleaned up and dressed in his pajamas. Draco had lingered at the table as Andromeda cleared the dinner dishes.

"Next time you come, you should bring your mother with you." Andromeda said. "There's plenty room at our table."

"Thank you." Draco said softly.

They found Harry dozing off with Teddy sprawled out across his chest. One of Harry's hands laid a reassuring weight on Teddy's back, holding him close. Teddy's small, stubby fingers were at Harry's nape, slowly winding through Harry's hair as they both fell asleep.

"Shouldn't they get moved to a bed?" Draco asked quietly.

"No." Andromeda replied. "It'll only wake them. Besides, they both sleep best just like that."

Draco's thoughts wandered. "He looks like a father."

Andromeda hummed for a moment. "He cares for Teddy as if he were his own. For Harry, Teddy is his last remaining family."

"They aren't related by blood." Draco noted.

"No. But Remus Lupin was... Well, it's a little complicated, and not my place to tell. But Remus was family to Harry." Andromeda said.

They were quiet for a moment. 

"Well, it's getting late. I should be going." Draco said.

"Should you ever wish to stay, or return, these doors are open to you." Andromeda said. "And to your mother."

Draco pried his eyes open, and rolled over in bed. What kind of dream was that?

A/N

What do y'all make of that 'dream'?

This is my last update of 2020. This has been an amazing year. Thank you for being here with me through it all. I'll see you next year. :)