Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality

And the explosive mood had rapidly faded into a collective sentiment which might perhaps have been described by the phrase: Give us a break!

Blaise Zabini had shot himself in the name of Sunshine, and the final score had been 254 to 254 to 254.

Behind the stage, waiting to ascend, three children were glaring at each other in mingled fury and frustration. It didn't help that they were still damp from being fished out of the lake, and that the Warming Charms didn't seem quite enough to make up for the crisp December air, or maybe it was just their mood.

'That's it,' said Granger. 'I've had it! No more traitors!'

'I completely agree with you, Miss Granger,' Draco said icily. 'Enough is enough.'

'And what do you two intend to do about it?' snapped Harry Potter. 'Professor Quirrell already said he wouldn't ban spies!'

'We'll ban them for him,' said Draco grimly. He hadn't even understood what he meant by the words as he said them, but the very act of speaking seemed to crystallize a plan -

The stage really was well done, at least for a temporary structure; the makers hadn't fallen into the usual pitfall of being impressed by their own illusion of wealth, and knew something about architecture and visual style. From where Draco stood, in the obvious place for him to stand, the watching students would see him haloed in the faint glitter of emeralds; and Granger, standing where Draco had subtly motioned her, would be haloed in Ravenclaw's sapphire. As for Harry Potter, Draco wasn't looking at him right now.

Professor Quirrell had... awakened, or whatever it was he did; and was leaning upon a platinum podium bare of all gems. With evident showmanship, the Defense Professor was carefully stacking and squaring those three envelopes containing the three parchments upon which the three generals had written their wishes, as all the students of Hogwarts watched, and waited.

Finally Professor Quirrell looked up from the envelopes. 'Well,' said the Defense Professor. 'This is inconvenient.'

A slight titter of laughter ran through the crowd, with a sharp undertone.

'I suppose you are all wondering what I will do?' said Professor Quirrell. 'There is nothing for it; I shall have to do what is fair. Although first there was a little speech I wanted to make, and before even that, it appears to me that Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger have something they wish to share.'

Draco blinked, and then he and Granger traded rapid glances - may I? - yes, go ahead - and Draco raised his voice.

'General Granger and I would both like to say,' Draco said in his most formal voice, knowing it was being amplified and heard, 'that we will no longer accept the help of any traitors. And if, in any battle, we find that Potter has accepted traitors from either of our armies, we will join forces to crush him.'

And Draco shot a glance filled at malice at the Boy-Who-Lived. Take that, General Chaos!

'I agree completely with General Malfoy,' said Granger standing beside him, her high voice clear and strong. 'Neither of us will use traitors, and if General Potter does, we will wipe him off the battlefield.'

There was a susurration of surprise from the watching students.

'Very good,' said their Defense Professor, smiling. 'It took the two of you long enough, but you are still to be congratulated on having thought of it before any other generals.'

It took a moment for this to soak in -

'In the future, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, before you come to my office with any request, consider whether there is a way for you to accomplish it without my help. I will not deduct Quirrell points on this occasion, but next time you may expect to lose the full fifty.' Professor Quirrell wore an amused grin. 'And what do you have to say about that, Mr. Potter?'

Harry Potter's gaze went to Granger, then to Draco. His face appeared calm; though Draco was sure controlled would have been the better term.

Finally Harry Potter spoke, his voice level. 'The Chaos Legion is still happy to accept traitors. See you on the battlefield.'

Draco knew the shock was showing on his own face; there were astonished murmurs from the watching students, and when Draco glanced at the front row he saw that even Harry's Chaotics looked taken aback.

Granger's face was angry, and getting angrier. 'Mr. Potter,' she said in a sharp tone like she thought she was a teacher, 'are you trying to be obnoxious?'

'Most certainly not,' Harry Potter said calmly. 'I won't make you do it every time. Beat me once, and I'll stay beaten. But threats aren't always enough, General of Sunshine. You did not ask me to join with you, but tried simply to impose your will; and sometimes you must actually defeat the enemy, to impose your will on him. You see, I am skeptical that Hermione Granger, the brightest academic star of Hogwarts, and Draco, son of Lucius, scion of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Malfoy, can work together to beat their common foe, Harry Potter.' An amused smile crossed Harry Potter's face. 'Maybe I'll just do what Draco tried with Zabini, and write a letter to Lucius Malfoy and see what he thinks about that.'

'Harry!' gasped Granger, looking absolutely aghast, and there were gasps from the audience as well.

Draco controlled the anger flushing through him. That had been a stupid move on Harry's part, saying that in public. If Harry had simply done it, it might have worked, Draco hadn't even thought about that, but now if Father did that it would look like he was playing into Harry's hands -

'If you think my father, Lord Malfoy, can be manipulated by you that easily,' Draco said coldly, 'you have a surprise coming, Harry Potter.'

And Draco realized as the words finished leaving his mouth that he'd just backed his own father squarely into the corner, more or less without even meaning to. Father probably wasn't going to like this, not the tiniest bit, but now it would be impossible for him to say