Friendly Competition

[9] A Mortifying Ordeal

Finally, the End-of-Term Feast had arrived.

The examinations were over and done with and they had survived, and Harry and Draco had packed up all of their things for the summer holidays.

Harry had received many well wishes for the break, as well as many thanks for his good teaching, and fun and interesting classes, which made it incredibly difficult not to break his new ceasefire with Draco under the weight of all of this praise. Although, he was sure Draco was tempted to brag as well — he didn't doubt that the students were showering him with praise as well. Harry could admit that Draco was well-liked and a good teacher, he just wasn't better than Harry.

Minerva opened the feast with the announcement that Ravenclaw had won the House Cup, and decorations of blue and bronze sprouted into existence to cover the Great Hall as loud cheers rose from the Ravenclaw table.

Minerva finished talking and the food appeared on the tables, and Harry looked out over the hall for a few moments, just taking in all of the students. He honestly couldn't quite believe it was completely the end of his first year teaching, and that his seventh years would be completely gone and graduated next year, with a whole new class of students. It was so strange to think about.

He looked over at Draco. "Can you believe it's seriously been a year already?"

"I know, it's strange, isn't it? It feels like it went by so fast. I think I'm going to miss them, you know."

"I know. I will too. It's so weird," Harry sighed glumly. "They act like nutters sometimes, and I'm positive they have some sort of secret society thing going on at this point that goes way over my head, but I'll miss them anyway."

Draco laughed. "Yeah, that's about right. But we'll get a new group of hyperactive, timid first years come September."

"And they'll probably make up some secret thing behind our backs too," Harry grumbled, reaching for a tureen of peas.

Draco laughed again. "That's just the way of things. I seem to recall you having a lot of secrets from the teachers when you were a student." He took the peas from Harry when he was done and took some for himself before putting them back.

"Hey, that was usually life and death, fighting evil, world-saving secrets!"

"Mhm. Like you wouldn't get into trouble no matter what," Draco said sarcastically

Harry huffed. "It's different."

Draco didn't even try not to sound patronising. "I'm sure."

~*~

Near the end of the meal, four of the sixth year prefects got up and approached the staff table. Two of them were Gryffindors, one was a Slytherin, and one was a Hufflepuff, and all four of them were in both Draco's Advanced Potionmaking class and Harry's Defence Against The Dark Arts class.

The Great Hall quieted down as they approached, as if in anticipation, or maybe just curiosity.

"Professor Potter, Professor Malfoy?" the Slytherin girl, Valeraine, asked.

"Er, yes?" Harry asked.

Draco merely nodded at her in acknowledgement, looking inquisitive.

"We wanted to talk to you about something." She took a deep breath, and then spoke more as if reciting something practised from memory. "It's only your first year, but we've all really liked your classes and appreciated your work. It's clear that you really care, and you've done a good job making classes interesting while still helping us feel prepared for exams and the real world. So we wanted to thank you."