Chapter last modified: 25/May/2015

The background story of the two will be revealed to you.. in due time.

Song suggestion for this chapter: youtube com/watch?v=RBumgq5yVrA

Welcome, to Harry Potter and the Act of Disappearance.

~~ I LOVE LOVING YOU ~~

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

I don't love you,

I love loving you.

The year 1996 - OCTOBER

Daphne is a pure-blood witch born in the respected Greengrass family tree, known to be one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight believed truly remaining pure-blood wizarding families.

She has been attending Hogwarts from the same year as I have, wearing the symbolic colors of the proud Slytherins even in her very name.

Silvery blonde sometimes curly hair, quite tall, close to my height really, light coloured skin, dark-brown eyes and known for a long time as the Ice Queen of Hogwarts, a true beauty in the eyes of the beholder. In this case, my eyes, Harry James Potter or, as many are used to calling me, the boy-who-lived.

But it's not all about beauty. It's never just about looks. The thing about beauty is that it matters only for you to consider the rest. It's an unavoidable step, but one you eventually find yourself moving forward from.

Overall you don't put that much price on it. What I find invaluable or, in other words, priceless is intelligence and the ability to surprise others in a natural way combined with a smile that can tame armies, in which I could see myself looking forever and never be truly lost. It's about elegance and acceptance, confidence and trust. Not about one single quality in particular, but an entanglement of emotions, facts, opinions, chemistry and even a bit of magic.

She is a born Slytherin even if she has never completely identified herself with their belief system, but I trust no one is meant to be part of one house alone. If only people were that simple to categorise, they would be so much easier to read.

I must admit I have been infatuated with her for a couple of years now, never able of confessing my true feelings. I've only recently made the accomplishment of properly analysing my situation.. realise my feelings without denying them every other second. Due to the differences between our houses, the well-known timeless rivalry between Gryffindors and Slytherins, and between our own lives I haven't had very many chances to speak with her at first... and I was afraid to do it anyway.

You wouldn't believe how difficult it is to make coincidence by design, like randomly meeting in the hallway, happen. Now we are what most would call the best of friends and I am terrified that's all we'll ever be. I'm sure most if not all people can relate to my situation and that doesn't make it less hurtful by any means.

What's the catch? She has a boyfriend whom she met during the summer holiday two years ago, at the same time I started developing a.. special interest for her. Maybe I've liked her since before, but only realised it the moment I found out she began dating somebody else. Thankfully, he studies at the Magic Academy which is far enough for him not to be around Hogwarts, around Daphne. Not for long periods of time at least.

If people wouldn't have know she already has a boyfriend they'd most certainly believe there's something more than friendship on our minds judging by the way we talk and act, how open we are and how comfortable we find each other's presence. Few rumours have spread occasionally but faded away in the sea of teenage buzz.

Why do I have to be such a coward? I'm constantly misleading myself to preserve my sanity.. I keep saying I'm not afraid of refusal, but that's exactly what frightens me the most. Not only having my love thrown away in the bin, but losing her affection entirely. I'm not certain how I'd handle that and quite frankly I don't ever want to find out. Not very well, that I can say for sure.

I find myself thinking of her every second of every minute of every hour of every day of every week… you got the idea by now. And still I cannot seem to build up the confidence to talk to her about it, to find out whether she shares my feelings, despite her current predicament, in spite of her beloved boyfriend. Only thinking about him makes my heart ache in the worst of ways.

We are good friends, me and her boyfriend, believe it or not. We've met during special training sessions held at Hogwarts not so long ago and we've helped each other many times. However, my feelings for the Ice Queen have not changed, maybe just strengthened when I found out she's in love with another. Maybe it's simple psychology.. I want what I cannot have. Be it as it may, I simply cannot and will not get over her.

Sometimes, in our many talks, I get the strange sensation she's daring, testing, teasing and provoking me to recognize how I feel, to speak to her as if I am her boyfriend and not that guy so very far away. I always stop myself dead in my tracks at that point, afraid of damaging our friendship. The look on her face at those times is what I would call disappointed. I gather I'm just seeing what I chose to see, hearing what I want to hear. She's not implying anything and I'm imagining things… right?! I wish some higher power would show me exactly what is happening behind those dazzling eyes.

It's a beautiful autumn day outside. A blanket of coloured leaves, long separated from their parents, keeps the grounds warm. The sun is not as passionate as the summer one and thin clouds often fade out the sunlight in a spectacle of shades. A slightly cold breeze makes its curly way by those who venture for short walks outside the castle walls. The landscape is of utmost beauty, but not as beautiful as her.

At the rate things are going I'll probably go crazy. Might as well already be crazy… madly in love with her that is. This morning, at breakfast, I stole some glances and caught her looking back at me, smiling. I smiled right back like I always do and wished I could suspend time. It's a little game of ours. She gives me what I believe is a smile of friendship and I interpret it as a smile of love. For me friend is a four letter word is a lyric in a song I've listened to before coming back this year.

It's a little game of our that we more or less innocently play. She gives me what I consider a smile of friendship and I decipher it as a smile of love. For me, friend is a four letter word is a lyric in a song I've heard before coming back this year and it stuck so badly that I've been repeating the verse all the time.

Transfiguration today has been interesting.. or not as boring as usual. I don't think any of us were aware that using specific elements can improve the odds of a successful transfiguration, even when changing into an Animagus. Well… Hermione surely knew something about it before hand… having read the whole manual and all… twice.

"What are you grinning about? I hope you're not dozing off on me again"

I've been walking with Daphne during our break, immediately after Transfiguration, or Charms in her case. We are on our way to the tall Astronomy Tower, my favourite location at Hogwarts, the first place I could ever call home. Haven't had time to go there in a while and as we both have a window of about an hour before another series of dreaded classes… why not spend some time with the girl I want and cannot be with, in one of the most romantic places in the castle?… sounds fantastic. Believe me, I know how sad it sounds, how sad that is.

"Sorry, Daphne, I'm just.. thinking"

"You're doing that a lot recently... a penny for your thoughts?" she asked intrigued.

"About how Hermione seems to always know the right answer to everything"

"Ohh," she sighed. Sad to be talking about another girl? I'm just wishfully dreaming again… she can't be jealous, that is just impossible.

"Wow, this view is amazing"

We emerged at the top of the Astronomy Tower and Daphne's bewildered as soon as she catches a glimpse of the scenery. And rightfully so. The sight is truly one of a kind, I can't even put it into words without diminishing its radiance. Yellow, brown, dark red, a blanket of nuances engulfing everything.

The Black Lake seems untouched, defying the soft wind. I can never get used to this and as I watch her I feel the view is complemented by her very presence.

Yellow, brown, dark red, a blanket of nuances engulfing everything. The Black Lake seems untouched, defying the soft breeze. I can never get used to this and as I watch Daphne, I feel the view is complemented by her very presence.

"It's like our own kingdom up here," I said sitting down on the black blanket we conjured. She also took her place to my left, few inches away, our fingers almost touching.

"I wish I could steal you away and bring you to a kingdom of our own." Daphne looked up unbaffled by my sweet words and stretched her legs in the most feline way possible. She took a deep breath and sighed almost unnoticeably. I could smell her intoxicating fragrance.

"And then?" she asked.

"It's a secret. You couldn't imagine." Why ... did ... I .. say .. that? Am I freaking STUPID? I'm speaking as if we've been together for ages and I'm making allusions to Merlin knows what. And who says that, never mind the relationship status?

"Tell me. I wanna know how far your mind goes." She winked and smiled brightly. Will I ever be able to resist her smile? To refuse her something? Anything?

"You're really good with words, I'll give you that. I'm sure you caught the meaning of my unsubtle words or was that too hard for you to figure out?"

"… you're such a coward"

"That… I am." One thousand thoughts passed through my mind in that instant. Is she actually telling me to confess to her? Is she she absurd or am I going insane? Did the world just turn upside down… how can this be happening? It's not..

"I don't want to say something hurtful, Daphne"

"Then good luck, Harry, good luck living a life of what if's instead of a life of oh well's."

She turned around something I said to her some time ago. I was insinuating my feelings for her and my inability to express them... but in a subtle way… I guess she did understand me then… even then… when I told her I would rather live a life of what if's than a life of oh well's.

She's about to get up, but she only manages to raise herself a little from the ground before I pull her back down by her wrist and for a few seconds we remain in silence, a silence which weirdly isn't awkward. The wheels in my brain are spinning madly.

"I want to tell you something that I think will sound stupid and I'll regret doing it".. what the hell. Am I really going to do this? Here.. and now?

"Uuu, but what are you going to tell me?"

It took me a few more seconds and then..

"I like you.. more than a friend… more than a best friend… for so long… always afraid of telling you the truth"

"So you followed my piece of advice. I know… maybe I've always known.. I feel the same, but it's very complicated. Like a flower blossoming on the pick of a mountain, between many rocks. You get what I mean, don't you, Harry?.. with that I've said everything"

"I know… and yet." I found myself staring in those dazzling eyes of hers.

"I'm listening"

"We could still try… give a chance to this… I've been in love with you for so long… but.. circumstances.. and cowardice. And this last week I was wondering if you were only having fun of me, but it seems I should've caught the hint sooner.. so much sooner"

"RIGHT, Harry, you should have!"

"I'm so sorry... So what do you think, Daphne? The ball is in your court"

"I have a boyfriend, Harry.. and I'm not the type of girl that cheats… that's why I've told you a few weeks back that we could've had so much fun together… I think you know what I meant"

"I did and I do, but I couldn't accept the fact that you were talking then about what now I'm sure you were. It seemed surreal to say the least… I was sure you couldn't share the same sentiment for me that I have for you… I care so much for you, Daphne… I'm not ready to give up this easily."

I got up and approached the balustrade, throwing my hands on top of it, scouting the surroundings... thinking… thinking. It's a wonder the tower does not crash under the weight I feeling on my mind right now.

"I'm so sorry, Harry… It's all my fault. Please forgive me, Harry. The last couple of days I didn't even want to look in your eyes anymore… but I couldn't stay away… constantly thinking about what you were up to.. and when you talked about other girls it was driving me nuts! If this would've happened earlier… it might have ended up differently… maybe it's not right what we feel"

"I felt the same pain, not being able to tell you how deeply I care for you"

I grabbed Daphne's hands and stared into her eyes. Brown and Green met in an infinite connection.

"Itsonlymyfault."

The Slytherin girl has a small tear dancing down her cheek and a cloud blocks the sun and casts its shade over Hogwarts.

"Can you promise me one kiss?"

"I can promise you my friendship, not my kiss. I am not the type of girl that cheats. I don't want you to fight for me just to be hurt even more in the end"

"I'm sorry to be the type of boy that asks. You're unique, you're all I ever wanted"

"Don't say that, Harry, I've heard it so many times, I might disappoint you one day"

"That could never happen. I'm not perfect either, Daphne. And I like you just the way you have been, are and will be. I'll leave it at that … for now. Should we go back to class?"

"I'm not really in the mood… I'll go to the Slytherin's common room" (and cry my eyes out… she thought).

"Ok.. see you tomorrow then"

"Yeah… tomorrow… bye Harry"

"Goodbye.. Daphne"

I didn't follow her. I let her leave. I let her go. I hope our friendship is untainted and there's still a chance to earn her love. I can't believe we actually talked. She feels the same, she has for all this time.. I'm such an outstanding idiot.. and a coward.. the saviour of the world can't save himself. The irony.

After a few more minutes, I went to the Gryffindor's tower and skipped all the classes for the rest of the day. I sat in my bed, staring at the ceiling in silence.

Hermione and Ron are at the Gryffindor table as I enter the Great Hall at dinner time. Daphne is at her house's table, but she doesn't see me... or more likely doesn't want to see me? To feel the pain of looking at me right now after all these unspoken words have been set loose would be too much to handle, even for her.

"Hey, mate. Something wrong? Why weren't you in class earlier?" asked Ron prior to filling his mouth with food in the grossest way possible, making Hermione throw a disgusted look at him, as usual.

"Yeah, Harry, we've been worried for you," Hermione added to Ron's demand for answers.

"I'd like to know that as well, Mr. Potter."

Minerva McGonagall surprised us by suddenly making her appearance behind me.

"I haven't been feeling well professor. I'm sorry for skipping without announcing"

"I guess Miss Daphne had the same problem as you, Potter?" the professor pushed.

I didn't answer, just threw a look at the floor as if something interesting is happening down there.

"I'm not going to ask anything else about it, Potter, but I expect you to come to me first next time, did I make myself understood?"

"Yes, professor"

The teacher left us alone, taking her place back at the staff table. For all intents and purposes Minerva is what I might call a mother-figure while inside of these stone walls.

"Are you alright, Harry?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow. Unfortunately, I'm really not in the mood to talk even with my best friends… coming to dinner at this point was a mistake. I got up and headed out. Daphne attempted to follow me and maybe talk, but she saw something that made her sit right back down, looking more like a sad puppy than a Slytherin pure-blood.

"Harry, wait up"

I stopped right next to the doors. Ginny is running towards me as if her life depends on it, making some people turn around as she passes by. She might've called a couple of times... I haven't heard her.

"Harry… I was just wondering… is it over between us?" Ginny and I have been together for a while now… about three months. We've made out a couple of times and went on walks around the castle. We kept it hidden but we knew everyone knew deep down. I've never been truly in love with her. I did feel love but not the same, not as strong, as my feelings for Daphne. Basically… I satisfied myself with what I could get… as harsh as that might sound… I made due.

"Yeah, Ginny. It's over. I'm sorry"

Ginny didn't seem that happy, but neither too sad. Her feelings for me couldn't be that strong… more like she felt she owed me for saving her back then in the Chamber of Secrets. This relationship is something we owed each other to try and see if it works out. It obviously did not. She had told me she loves me and for some reason I did the same, but now I think it was thanks to respect alone that I did so.

I found our dormitory empty and decided to sleep early so I changed into my pyjamas and threw myself on the bed making all its structure squeak in protest.

The sky outside is a shade of purple and dark orange in the distance, hence the sunset behind the clouds and mountains.

Thinking of Daphne, I quickly fell asleep. Didn't even hear the other boys coming up and going to bed.

It is well past midnight and most students are asleep except for a few Slytherins and Gryffindors who are still hanging out in their respective Common Room's. What happened next took everyone by surprise.

A shrieking, painful scream filled the castle, the entire school, every hall, every stone, every room, every dormitory. It lasted for a few seconds, but it was enough to reach every soul. Even the windows seem undecided if to tremble at the terrible sound or not. All the remaining torches have been put out instantly as if the wind blew them off.

Harry, Ron and the other boys sharing the room are fast awake when a blinding light sprung through the windows.

"Looks like someone above casted a Lumox Maxima," Seamus pointed out.

The grounds seem peaceful. It doesn't look like we are under attacked. I opened the window and fired a Lumox Maxima of my own to confirm we are ok and provide another light source across the grounds. Nothing to be seen in the distance or flying around.

"Did you hear that or was I having a nightmare?"

"I heard it, Harry. And I don't even know if I want to know what it was," Ron answered, obviously freaked out, but who am I to talk? I'm scared out of my wits as well.

Another scream filled the Gryffindor common room, audible from the dormitories. A woman's scream.

"What the…" I said running down the stairs and past the portrait entrance "That sounded like McGonagall"

When he exited the tower, the scene rendered me speechless.

"Potttteerr." The Transfiguration teacher is crawling on the floor right outside the entrance barely able to call out to me. The Fat Lady is crying her lungs out in her frame while watching the professor's desperate attempts. She looks devoid of power and she collapsed with her eyes closed before I could manage to even grab her hand.

"Professor, can you hear me? CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

I shrugged her by the shoulders to no end. Neville and a bunch of other students came out through the portrait hole a few moments later. They look afraid… not knowing what to make of the situation.

"Harry… look," Ron has a horrified expression while pointing at what Harry is holding. The teacher's arm turned half transparent and my hand is going through it as if it's the arm of a ghost. Before disappearing completely, the form of the teacher went right through the floor, out of sight or touch. McGonagall looked like she was trying to grab the stone floor before she got eaten alive by the cold floor.

Every portrait started screaming. Neville and a couple of girls fainted while others went to look for the professor bellow. I am convinced Minerva is gone for good, but I'm way too shocked to look away from where she has been just a several seconds ago.

CHAOS

I am really looking forward to receiving your reviews, it does really help an author :). Be them positive or negative make them constructive and I'll do my best to meet your greatest expectations ;).