Defiance and Daring

The last class of the year just happened to be Potions and Draco Malfoy was still smarting from Potter and Granger making a fool of him the previous night. He could see the mudblood talking to Potter and decided to incite a bit of panic into her. With a sneer at Hermione he leaned over to Crabbe and Goyle and said loudly "Of course, it's not what you know, it's who you know. Now, father's been friendly with the head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority for years ‐ old Griselda Marchbanks ‐ we've had her round for dinner and everything…"

"The same exact words he used last time," Hermione grumbled as she remembered the panic that had coursed through her two years ago when he'd said them. "You'd think with what we've changed they would be a little different. Then again small minds have little imagination."

Harry glanced at the ferret and turned back to his wife. He could feel her anger at Malfoy.

Hermione had to bite down the retort she wanted to say to the pompous Slytherin. She knew it wasn't time yet. "I really really hate that Ferret," She growled to her husband. Neville placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled at her in support. Hermione smiled back. One of the things they had talked about Tuesday night after Umbridge and Malfoy had left the Gryffindor common room was how nice it would be when Neville did better than Malfoy on his OWLs.

"How about if I put him on the spot by betting him you, a muggleborn, will do better than he does on the tests?" Harry asked Hermione.

Hermione was about to agree when a reason not too struck her, "No you better not. His father might be able to bribe someone to make a difference in yours or my grades if his son's honor is on the line."

"Lucius wouldn't do that," Harry replied.

"Do you really want to take that chance over something as petty as this?" Hermione chided him. "Besides by the time he gets the results he will have most likely taken the mark and he won't care."

"Do we try to save him?" Harry asked. "Keep him from taking the mark this time?"

"If you have some brilliant plan to do so I'll listen, but he's not high on my caring about list at the moment," Hermione huffed as she shot another glare at the blond-haired idiot. "There are too many other people who suffered because of him and his father; those are the ones I'm more concerned about. I'd prefer to see him under the same curse his aunt performed on me," Harry could feel her anger surge and then it subsided. "Being the target of his crap again after all we did just brings back all the wrong he did. Think of Bill. Remember his face? Just because the ferret thought his family was more important than the whole wizarding world. He's a coward and I'm not going to waste effort on keeping his arse alive."

"Wow Hermione, language. His mother did save me in the forest."

"Only to save her son, which only proves his mother cares for him even if he is lower than scum," Hermione retorted. "Remember how much your aunt loves your cousin; it doesn't mean he or she is a good person does it? If your Aunt had saved your life for the sole reason of protecting your cousin would that have made up for all the years previously?"

"I..." Harry stopped to think about the analogy and realized the truth of the statement. "True, but let's see where that one leads. If we have some way to keep the mark off Draco without too much effort, we'll try it."

"Fair enough, let's get through this class and get things rolling. You and Neville to Ollivanders after class, and then you and I to Sirius' later today."

"Then dinner with your husband?"

"Don't forget the dancing."

"I would never forget. Give me any reason to have you in my arms."

The thought of being in Harry's arms again shot a shiver of delight through Hermione as she gave him a smile. "You don't need a reason Harry."

The smile Harry had on his face the entire potions class infuriated Snape. It was the same smile James Potter had during the seventh year when he was dating Lily. Knowing Potter was now dating the intelligent muggleborn brought back those painful memories of his father even more. "The only good thing is Mr. Potter has no chance to get an O in Potions so this is the last class I have to deal with him," The Potion Master thought and then he turned to the black haired youth "Twenty points from Gryffindor Mr. Potter for staring at Miss Granger. Unfortunately for you, she's not going to be able to help you in your OWL. Without her help I presume you'll have a T waiting for you at the bottom of your cauldron," The whole Slytherin side of the classroom laughed at the comment.

"Yes sir," Harry replied continuing his smile. "Sir, I was thinking of getting her some flowers, do you think she would like lilies?" The last stated as he stared straight at the Potions Master daring him to try legilimency again.

"Harry what are you doing?" Hermione said. "I don't need flowers? Oh and you really shouldn't pick on Snape, well too much anyway."

"Yes dear."

"Your love life is no concern of mine Mr. Potter," Snape sneered. "Just keep it out of my classroom."

"Really sir?" Harry asked in a confused voice. "I thought my love life was part of your class. I mean you read that article in Witch Weekly out loud last year. I thought you'd be happy for me. I mean I'm dating the smartest witch who happens to be a muggleborn in the school aren't I? In fact I've had several people tell me how much she's like my mother."

The abrupt change in Snape silenced the entire class. Even the very air seemed to freeze as Snape advanced on Harry's desk with anger seemingly pouring off of him in waves. "Thirty points for that cheek Potter," He said quietly, obviously trying to contain his anger. "I'd give you detention but I really don't want to see your face ever again," Snape snarled.

Harry just smiled at Severus in return. Finally with a swish of his cloak Snape turned and walked back to the front of his class. For the rest of class Harry continued to smile at Snape. "Wish I'd realized how much more fun it is to smile at Snape than glare at him years ago."

"It does seem to get on his nerves," Hermione agreed as her own smile joined Harry's. Unlike the previous class, now Snape would not look at Harry. Every time he did, his jaw muscle seemed to flex and he'd look away quickly.