Harry and Draco left the students outside and hurried as casually as they could up to Dumbledore's tower. The gargoyle statue had already slid aside and so they merely stepped up onto the griffin stair and rode their way to his door. When they reached it they knocked and immediately heard the Headmaster ask them in.

The office was warm from a toasty fire in the hearth and Harry could feel his cold face thawing. He unwrapped his scarf from around his neck and left it hanging over the front of his cloak. Fawkes sat on his perch again and all the many objects both strange and wonderful that Harry had come to know through many visits to the Headmaster's office were all there on the shelves or floating disturbingly around the room.

Albus Dumbledore was a congenial wizard and Harry had grown to think of him as a grandfather figure. Sometimes he scolded but most often he had shown Harry the love he sorely lacked while growing up. But today the Headmaster looked neither congenial nor scolding. He looked angry.

Draco and Harry stood before him and had the good sense not to say a word. Dumbledore said nothing either. He merely handed them a copy of The Quibbler, the newspaper Luna Lovegood's father edited. On the front page was the story Luna herself had written about them. The two of them thought it best to get the truth out before the Daily Prophet could put their spin on it. Harry and Draco looked down at the paper with trembling hands and read:

The Quibbler

A First for Hogwarts: The Interview

By Staff Writer Luna Lovegood

First of all, we are all very grateful to Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy for allowing The Quibbler this candid interview. As our readers are certainly aware, last night at the Yule Ball at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, these two professors made the unusual move to "come out" to their colleagues and students by engaging in a waltz.

Now, in their own words, the Interview:

Quibbler: Thank you for this interview, professors. Perhaps you can tell us why you chose these circumstances to reveal your secret relationship.

Malfoy: Well, we didn't exactly wake up that morning and think, "Let's 'out' ourselves?"

Potter: What Professor Malfoy means to say, is that it wasn't planned. It just…happened.

Q: Our sources say that it was you who initiated the dance, Professor Malfoy. Is this true?

M: (sighing) Well…yes. Um…Look, it just seemed like the thing to do at the time. Maybe I was a little flushed from that suit getting dropped.

(Q/N: Professor Malfoy is referring, of course, to the sexual impropriety suit brought by a female student-who in fact turned out to be the Metamorphmagus-Death-Eater Gordon Harper, presently in custody at Azkaban, along with his collaborator the Ministry official Cyrus Loengrin.)

Q: As a former Death Eater, do you worry at all that this will give the parents of Hogwarts students further reason to mistrust you?

M: (expletive)

P: May I say something? I really think it's time for past failings and mistakes to be put aside. Professor Malfoy is not a Death Eater anymore. He's an extremely competent Potions teacher and I think everyone should just give him his due.

Q: (smiling) That's very sweet, of course.

M: (expletive)

P: It's just that the parents should really worry over something else. I mean, do they really think Albus Dumbledore would allow Malfoy to teach if he didn't have the utmost confidence in him?

Q: Of course, this question may also fall to you, Professor Potter. Do you think this will affect your style of teaching?

M: Do you mean should he teach Defense Against the Dark Arts in a tutu now?

Q: (laughing) That's quite funny, Draco!

P: (something under his breath to Malfoy) My being…um…gay…has no effect whatsoever on my ability to teach my class. And neither does it affect Professor Malfoy's Potions classes.

Q: I wonder if we may be allowed to get a little more personal, gentlemen. Our readers are most interested in how you two…well…got together. It isn't a secret that you two were not the best of friends in school. Especially under the circumstances Professor Malfoy last left the school three years ago-

M: WE ARE ALL AWARE OF THAT!

Q: Yes. Well. Could you share?

(P & M in whispered discussion)

P: Well…um, Draco…um… Professor Malfoy was living as a Muggle after his trial and I just…er…ran into him one day.

Q: Was it love at first sight?

(P & M more heated whispered discussion)

M: You don't have to tell it all!

P: I wasn't going to, you git!

M: He…I…

P: You don't have to either, Draco.

M: I'm not the one who pined for nearly a decade.

P: Thanks, Malfoy.

Q: Wait. Are you saying that Professor Potter has had a romantic interest in you since you both attended school?

M: Since second year.

P: MALFOY!

Q: Really, Harry?

P: Luna, you're not going to print that, are you?

Q: Oh no, Harry. My father has better taste than that…So. Starting again from scratch: Professor Potter was already attracted to you, Professor Malfoy. When did you get interested in Professor Potter?

M: Shortly after we met again. I hadn't seen Harry for at least two years prior. He was really the only person who seemed to notice that I'd changed. He gave me a chance; got me a summer job at Hogwarts that gained me my appointment as a teacher.

Q: Do you find it any sort of conflict of interest that you two engage in an intimate relationship while living at Hogwarts in close proximity to students?

M: Lovegood! You've got your nerve!

P: Draco, sit down!

M: Why did we agree to this?

P: You thought it would help clear the air for the parents.

M: Well it only seems to be getting muddier.

Q: Wait. I think you're mixing your metaphors. If it's air, it can't really get muddy, can it? It would only have to get foggier-

P & M: Shut up, Luna!

Q: Well I don't think it's any excuse for fouling the English language-

P: We don't think that our personal lives affect our professional. And we also don't think it's fair to us to put off our personal lives for the nine months we are at the school. That wouldn't be fair to expect that of anyone.

Q: So. Sex and Hogwarts. They go together?

P: Draco, get back here!

M: (from across the room) Just let me hex her! Just once!

P: No! Get back here and sit down! I'm not doing this alone.

M: (grumbling) It wouldn't be anyone's business if we were a man and a woman.

P: Yes. That's a good point. It was really one of the reasons for dancing together at the Yule Ball.

Q: And for kissing under the mistletoe?

P: (sputtering) We…that was…

M: Probably too much firewhiskey in the punch.

Q: There was firewhiskey in the punch…at a school dance?

M:

P:

Q: Gentlemen?

P: Um…there were a couple of students who…ah...spiked it.

M: It was pretty funny, actually.

Q: Sex and alcohol at Hogwarts. Things have certainly changed since I attended there!

P: Luna, you know that's not true. Not the way you're saying it.

Q: You're not leaving me with a very good impression.

P: Look, can't we start again? Draco and I weren't making a statement or anything. We just wanted there to be no more secrets, to stop sneaking around, to stop being afraid to get caught at something we don't think is wrong. We think everyone should be treated equally.

Q: Professor Malfoy? Comment?

M: I've given up. Print whatever the **** you like.

Q: I'm afraid we can't print that word.

M: Fill it in with your word of choice, then.

Q: Witnesses said there was another underage same-sex couple on the dance floor as well. Do you think that Hogwarts will become one of those alternative schools?

P: What's an alternative school? Wait-No! It's not like that. Those two brave young men decided that they didn't want their relationship to be a frightening secret. I admire them for taking the chance.

M: I think they are a couple of gits. They're in for it worse than we are.

P: Draco! How can you say that?

M: Can you honestly say they're not? You're the expert on that. You didn't come out when you were at school. Coward.

P: Neither did you.

M: Well I didn't know about myself back then, now did I!

P & M: (both fell silent and stared at Interviewer)

P: You're not going to print that, are you Luna?

Q: Don't really know at this point, Harry.

P: You're making the school out to be this den of iniquity. It's just a school where all kinds of young witches and wizards attend. Some are bound to be homosexual. They have a right to their relationships, don't they?

Q: Well put! I mean…how do you think the parents will react?

M: I know how they'll react. They'll be bloody ballistic.

P: These are their own sons and daughters. I don't think-

M: You are so naïve, Potter. It's one of the things I love about you.

P: (stops and smiles at Malfoy)

Q: Is there any way we can get the two of you to kiss for a photo?

P & M: NO!

Q: Any regrets?

M: Agreeing to this ****ing interview.

P: Only that I didn't come out earlier. And, of course, didn't do so to Professor Malfoy when we were still in school. He might never have become a Death Eater and we would have had more time together already.

Q: How long have you been together?

P: Since August.

Q: Well that's not long at all! You're still honeymooning!

P: (blushing)

Q: Any changes after the holidays when students return?

M: (under his breath) I hope there won't be any changes in staff!

P: No plans. Except…maybe to get a chamber together. It's silly to keep flooing back and forth.

M: Really? You want to?

P: Don't you?

M: Well…yeah! But do you think Dumbledore-

P & M: (looking at Interviewer)

P: (whispering) Let's discuss this later.

Q: Anything to add?

M: People should just mind their own ****ing business.

P: I think what he means to say, is that we should all live and let live.

M: Don't tell me what I mean. I meant what I said!

P: All right, all right.

Q: Professor Potter...Professor Malfoy. Thank you.

P: You're welcome.

M: Don't ever call us again, Lovegood.

Harry slowly raised his head and looked at Malfoy. He was paler than usual. Harry swallowed and turned to Dumbledore. "We didn't expect…I mean I thought she'd, you know, clean it up. We never thought-"

"This is a disaster," gasped Draco.

Dumbledore stood. "It is more than a disaster, Professor Malfoy. It is a full-blown catastrophe. Never in my years at Hogwarts have I been so appalled. Surely a certain amount of discretion was in order. I expected it from at least one of you."

Harry felt his heart fall to his stomach. It was similar to the feeling he had when he faced Voldemort for that last time and he never thought he would feel that way again.

They were doomed.

Harry's mouth felt dry, but he managed to say, "You'll have our resignations on your desk by this afternoon, Headmaster. And…I just want to say, how very sorry I am."

Draco hung his head and he shook it from side to side. "I, too, am very sorry, Headmaster. I never wanted to hurt the school. We'll be out before lunch. No one has to know."

Dumbledore glared at them over the rims of his half-moon spectacles, never once blinking his blue eyes. "I appreciate the sentiment. But you will not be allowed to tender your resignations."

"Oh," said Harry, feeling even worse (was that possible?) His voice caught in his throat. "If you need to sack us publicly, we understand. Whatever you need to do."

"Gentlemen." Dumbledore slowly sat in his chair again and clutched the edge of his desk. "I neither want your resignations or require your 'sacking'. You will indeed continue your tenure here at Hogwarts under several strict conditions. One: There is to be no discussion about a single chamber for you two. We do not have accommodations as such, not even for married couples. You will remain in your own separate chambers, and whatever you chose to do on your off hours is strictly your affair. Two: You will practice discretion when it comes to the public face of this institution. I know it seems terribly unfair and old-fashioned, but there are to be no more public expressions of affection. No hand-holding, no kissing…and no dancing. And three: You are to give an interview to the Daily Prophet in approximately five minutes in my office and under my supervision. Do you understand and agree to these conditions?"

Harry tried to breathe. And then he tried to remember all that Dumbledore said. No, it didn't really seem fair, but he wondered if it was worth the fight. He wanted to teach at Hogwarts. But would it be against his principles under these conditions?

Draco was already nodding his head vigorously, when Harry raised his hand. "Sir…"

"Oh for the love of Merlin, Potter!" hissed Draco.

Harry turned on him. "You've got to be kidding! Are you really going to go for all of this?"

"Yes! I want to keep my sodding job! I worked too long and too hard for this! You're not the one who had to live like a Muggle. I missed my wand. I missed magic, and I am bloody well not going to go back to any of that!"

"I can't believe you. You're the one who asked me to dance. Throw-Caution-to-the-Wind-Malfoy. What happened to him?"

"He's scared."

That took Harry aback and he clamped his lips shut. He looked at Draco with new eyes and then he turned to Dumbledore who was still waiting for his answer. "Are you really asking this of me?"

Dumbledore sighed. "It grieves me to, Harry. But yes, I am. I must think of the greater good of the school."

Harry looked down at his hands. He looked at Draco, then he looked at his hands again. "Very well, Headmaster. If that is what you want."

"Then sit, both of you." Two comfortable chairs appeared behind them. "The reporter will be here any moment."


On to Chapter Three
"The Daily Prophet"

Back to Chapter One
"Happy Christmas"

Chapter Index

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