Soul Mate - Chapter 31:

No, Hermione, the power held by the Wizengamot isn’t that simple, Harry said.

While they don’t manage wizarding affairs directly,

the members of the Wizengamot are exceptional witches and wizards with immense prestige.

It wouldn’t be worth having the Ministry and the Wizengamot tear each other apart just over me.

Draco frowned. But, Harry, blindly yielding isn’t wise either.

I know, Harry replied. Asserting the Ministry’s position to the Wizengamot is necessary,

of course. But, Draco, you know this isn’t the right time.

I don’t want anyone with ill intent to catch the Ministry off guard.

Something trivial could escalate into a scandal if we’re not careful.

But… Hermione wasn’t satisfied.

Alright, Hermione, Harry said, nostalgic. Since graduating,

I’ve always missed Hogwarts. I missed everything about it.

So being able to return fills me with real happiness. I’ve even thought it through.

I’ll apply to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. I think I could be a good professor.

Draco smiled. You will be. Think of the DA back in the day you have the talent for teaching.

Though you did well as an Auror, I could always tell that deep down,

you weren’t truly happy these past years.

Indeed, Harry sighed. Such a role isn’t exactly suited to me.

Navigating the complex web of interpersonal politics,

dealing with all sorts of people I just can’t handle it.

Even with all your help, I can’t imagine how miserable the

past few years would have been without you.

After considering it, Hermione realized Harry’s choice wasn’t unreasonable.

He genuinely wanted to teach at Hogwarts, and honestly,

Harry was ill-suited for the political life of power, even as Minister of Magic.

I concede, she said. The students will be thrilled to see you among their professors.

I can already picture their adorable expressions.

I think so too, Harry replied.

Suddenly, Draco said with a scrutinizing gaze, I assume you won’t abuse your power,

torment Slytherins, or favor Gryffindors?

Like Professor Snape did back then? Harry blinked.

Like the godfather did, Draco answered.

Harry laughed. Draco, you’ve just given me a fantastic way to entertain myself.

I remember how many points I lost under Snape! Every Potions class was a nightmare!

I still wince thinking about it.

That’s because you had no talent for Potions, Draco said bluntly.

And the points deducted by the godfather were always justified.

Which made it all the more infuriating, Harry admitted.

Draco rolled his eyes. Still bitter about the godfather?

Not at all, Harry said innocently, glancing at Hermione.

I’m just recalling the feelings at the time. Draco, you have to understand,

every time you succeeded in Potions, I was enduring pure torment.

By the way, Potions was the only class where I never earned points for my house,

Hermione grumbled, still resentful.

Actually, Draco said, if you’d been a Slytherin,

I’m sure the godfather would have adored you.

I even think I might continue a few more years at the Ministry,

retire when Scorpius takes my place, and then join Hogwarts to teach Potions.

Harry welcomed the idea wholeheartedly. Absolutely, Draco.

I always thought that if you hadn’t joined the Ministry and had continued Potions research,

you would have rivaled or even surpassed Snape as a master of the craft.

Thanks, Draco offered with a half-smile.

We could even bring Hermione to teach Transfiguration.

Headmistress McGonagall has always wanted a suitable successor before retiring.

Teaching Transfiguration is indeed a good choice, Hermione replied,

though her eyes stayed locked on Draco. Only she understood that his words were just empty talk

now. We might annoy McGonagall if we all retire and flood Hogwarts as teachers.

Think of the trouble we caused her back then.

Harry laughed helplessly. Hermione, we never intended it.

Wasn’t much of it Voldemort’s fault?

Don’t shirk responsibility, Draco said deliberately.

I’m not, Harry insisted. You weren’t innocent either!

I’ve always been a model student, Draco countered.

Except when faced with a certain brainless lion, then I was forced to retaliate.

Draco, that’s shirking responsibility, Harry said, exasperated.

If only all things could flow as effortlessly as our conversation did back then,

Hermione thought countless times in the years that followed.

Soon after, the Wizengamot suddenly confronted the Ministry,

issuing a public declaration that triggered a drawn-out chaos.

The statement claimed that the Ministry was effectively under the control of a single group,

with their members occupying key positions. At the end of the document,

it subtly hinted that this group was formed years ago by Hogwarts students.

Draco and Hermione quickly countered, denouncing the accusations as baseless.

What began as a war of words in the media escalated into

a real division of positions in the wizarding world.

The wizarding world split into two factions. One, led by the Wizengamot, was conservative,

advocating for restructuring the Ministry to prevent the rise of unchecked personal power

and eliminate conspiratorial wizards, aiming to prevent another Dark Lord.

The other, led by Harry and Draco, opposed the mass purging of

Ministry officials and the invasive investigations,

promoting growth through personal ability rather than political dominance.

Conflicts quickly erupted, eventually growing into full-scale riots.

Once the Wizengamot and Ministry formally split,

Harry and Draco had to take up arms again not against dark wizards,

but against people with different convictions.

Three years of war reduced the wizarding world to ruins again.

The only place untouched was Hogwarts, carefully shielded from

battle smoke by mutual unspoken agreement, protecting the future of wizarding children.

The final battle ended on Harry’s birthday, July 31st, one of the worst of his life.

Yet they had won, though Harry felt utterly drained, incapable of enduring a third war.

Draco, it’s finally over, he said to the one person who had stood by him through every adversity,

silently supporting him all those years. Tears pricked Harry’s eyes. Only Draco…

Draco offered a pale smile. Yes, it’s finally over.

Then, in the next instant, he collapsed before Harry’s horrified gaze, never waking again.

If the war had drained Harry of energy and passion, for Draco it had taken every last bit of life.

Without this grueling conflict, he might have lasted a few more years, but now,

with the war over, so too was his life.