A/N: The world of Harry Potter belongs to JKRowling I'm just playing in her sand box and make no money from this.
Rating is mature for language and sexual situations.
Genera: Drama, Romance.
Time frame: mid 6th year and 7th year to end.
Ships: Harry Potter/ Daphne Greengrass, Hermione Granger/ Neville Longbottom
Characters: Harry Potter, Daphne Greengrass, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom
A/N: This story is completely AU and the timeline does not follow canon.
Betas: Herman Tumbleweeds (Vern) and Grenouille (Mike)
Chapter 2: Searching Through Memories
Harry Potter sat in his room quietly; he had not eaten in days and his owl Hedwig was beginning to worry for her human. Even his Aunt Petunia knew something was wrong. Uncle Vernon, however, smirked to himself, happy that something had upset his dratted nephew.
"Boy, get down here! There's work to be done! I'll not have you lazing about all summer."
"Leave the boy alone, Vernon, he'll be out of our hair in a few weeks when he turns seventeen."
"Until then, he'll work for his keep!" Vernon blustered. "Can't be shot of him soon enough if you ask me."
Harry trudged down the stairs, a blank look on his face. "You wanted something, Uncle Vernon?" he asked sombrely.
"Yes, boy, you can cut the grass and weed your Aunt's rose garden. After that, you can clean out the shed and paint the fence."
"Yes, Uncle Vernon," he replied defeated.
"At least have something to eat first," Petunia offered.
"Not hungry," Harry replied softly, his eyes downcast, a tear glistening in the corner of one eye.
'Why?' he thought. 'Why did she break up with me? We were both in love. Why?' He shuffled out in the yard and sullenly started on the roses. The work seemed to take his mind off his problems and as he worked, his stomach growled. 'Guess I am hungry,' he thought.
Aunt Petunia, as if sensing he must be hungry by now, brought a plate of sandwiches and a large glass of water out to him and set it down beside him without a word. Quietly leaving the boy to his troubles, she wondered what had happened. Usually she could tell his moods, but this was different somehow. He'd be gone in a few weeks and they'd probably never see him again, and she was mostly thankful for that. True, he'd saved Dudley last year, but he'd been even more trouble than she'd expected, what with all the trouble with Marge and owls and what not. She never expected Lily to dump her child on their doorstep all those years ago, but then Vernon had wanted to send him straight to the orphanage or worse. She'd just managed to talk him out of killing the baby outright. Now she felt bad for how they'd treated him. She sighed, nothing to do about it now, he'd never forgive them.
An hour later, she looked out and found the plate empty and the glass drained. Harry was busy mowing the back yard.
…
Hermione was busy studying. This year would be their NEWT year and she needed a good head start if she were to be top of the school again. Daphne Greengrass always nipped at her heels for top marks. Remarkable, really! The girl never seemed to study as hard as her and yet she was fiercely competitive, never giving ground. The one duel she had with Daphne had been close, too close, she remembered. Professor Snape had paired them as well as Harry versus Draco. Harry had easily handled Draco, practically banishing him though the classroom wall. That must have hurt. She had been distracted long enough that Daphne had almost caught her with a simple tripping jinx, before trying something more serious. Fortunately, Harry's DA lessons kicked in and she'd caught Daphne with a surprise of her own, stunning her before the second curse left her lips. Professor Snape was livid at seeing his two favourite students bested by his two most hated.
Daphne had only smiled when Hermione had revived her, and shook her hand, congratulating the bushy haired teen on a duel well fought.
The telephone rang, and answering it, she was surprised to hear her mum on the other end. "Hermione dear, there's a gentleman enquiring about you and if he may meet with you."
"Who is it Mum," she asked guardedly. Nobody in the Wizarding world knew where she lived, but then few in the Muggle world did either.
"He introduced himself as Mr Theodore Greengrass. He says you know his daughter Daphne."
"Daphne's dad?" Could this be a trick? Her parents might be in danger if it was a Death Eater impersonating Daphne's dad. "Um," she stalled for time. "Uh, tell him to meet me at the park by my old school, mum. You know where it is; I don't want him to know where I live until I can check him out. There's something strange going on. Be careful."
An hour later, she sat confused on a park bench as Mr. Greengrass explained what had happened to Daphne. "But why? I mean Harry certainly wouldn't have done that, he lo…" She suddenly stopped, afraid that she'd accidentally let something slip. A second later, she realised she had.
"He loves her?" Theodore asked, stunned. "What do you know of this, Miss Granger?"
Hermione sighed. "No one was supposed to know. They'd been keeping it secret for months. I didn't know she was pregnant, though. I knew they were seeing each other secretly and for longer periods each time they could get away. When did it happen? I mean, how far along is she?"
"About six weeks or so, the medi-witch told my wife. When did Harry start seeing her?"
"Just before Christmas last year. She approached him early this school year to learn more about defence. Harry ran a covert class in fifth year and after Daphne found out, she approached him for lessons. At first he refused, but Daphne can be pretty persuasive," she smirked. "Eventually he gave in and taught her privately and they became close. I caught on after he'd let slip that he was teaching Daphne. He had a smile a mile wide on his face. That's when I knew he was in love with her. Then suddenly he couldn't find her. A note said they couldn't see each other anymore. This was almost two weeks ago. She'd been acting strangely in class, never acknowledging Harry and not even looking at him. Harry was devastated. I didn't realise anything was wrong until we were on the train back home. I just thought he was mourning over the headmaster's death. Now I realise it was much more serious than that. Harry has never known love in his life. The aunt and uncle that he lives with are terrible Muggles that hate magic. He dreads going back each summer, but the headmaster insisted since that is where the wards are strongest. He didn't tell me about the note until we were on the train. I think he cried all the way.
Theodore considered what she'd said, turning it over in his mind. Coming to a decision, he asked, "Do you think the baby is Harry's?"
"Truthfully, I can't image Harry being so careless, but I hope it is. He'd love it to death. Um, poor choice of words… The baby would be welcomed beyond your belief. Harry, who has never known love until now, would be fiercely protective of mother and child, even if it isn't his."
"Do you know how to get in touch with him? We have to find out what happened."
"Well, I did call him once, the wards where he lives protect against Death Eaters, but we should be able to visit. I'll try telephoning him. I'm sorry; we'll have to do this from my parent's office. Nobody is supposed to know where I live.
…
"Hello, Mrs. Dursley? May I please speak to Harry? It's urgent, tell him Hermione Granger is calling."
Petunia thanked God Vernon and Dudley weren't home. There would be an ugly scene otherwise. "I'll get him, dear."
'Dear?' Hermione wondered. 'When had his aunt been polite to anyone associated with Harry?' A moment later, Harry was on the line.
"Hermione? W-what's happening?" he stuttered. "Is anything wrong? Have you heard from Daphne?" he almost whispered the last.
"Something has happened, Harry. Daphne's father is here, he wants to talk to you. Can we meet you somewhere?"
Harry gasped, fearing the worst. "She's alive, isn't she? Please don't tell me she's been…" but he couldn't continue.
"She's fine, Harry, well she's not fine, but we need to talk to you. Please calm down, it's complicated."
Harry let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. "But she's alive?" he asked, not daring to hope.
"Yes, yes, calm down Harry. Mr. Greengrass can Apparate us close to you. You mentioned a park that is close to where you live. Will that be alright? You live in Little Whinging, right; on Privet Drive?"
"Yeah, number four, but don't let anyone see you, especially Dudley and Uncle Vernon. The park is a couple of blocks away on Magnolia Crescent."
"We could be there in a few minutes; are you free?"
"Yeah, I've finished my chores for today. I'll see you shortly." Harry rang off and approached his aunt. "Aunt Petunia, I'll be over in the park. My friend Hermione needs to speak to me."
"I couldn't help overhearing, Harry. Is this about a girl? I know we've treated you badly over the years, but I hope you can forgive me at least. Vernon would have killed you as a baby until I convinced him you would be more useful alive. I'm sorry, Harry, I know my sister and you must hate me, but I had no choice. If Vernon even suspected that I didn't hate you, it would have been out the door for both of us. I couldn't survive by myself. Who is Daphne?"
Harry just stared at his aunt, unable to believe that he was talking to the same person who had made his life hell for over fifteen years. Of course Vernon was worse, and Dudley took after his uncle. "Um, Daphne… she's my girlfriend, at least I hope she still is…" Harry trailed off.
"What a pretty name, does she go to your school as well?"
"Yeah, she's in my year but a bit older and very pretty." 'What's going on? Petunia is actually civil with me,' he thought.
"Um, I have to go. I'm not sure I'll be home for supper."
Harry quickly made his way to the park off Magnolia Crescent and wasn't surprised to see Hermione and Mr. Greengrass were already there. Of course, he assumed the man was Mr. Greengrass; Daphne did show him a picture of her family once, but that was a while ago.
Harry greeted Hermione with a hug and shook hands with Mr. Greengrass. The man was frowning, which did nothing to ease Harry's fear.
"What's happened Mr. Greengrass? Is Daphne safe?"
"Mr. Potter, I'll get right to the point. Daphne has been Obliviated and is pregnant. What do you know of this?"
Harry gawked at the man as if he'd just told him Dumbledore had just arisen from the dead. "W-what? Obliviated? Pregnant? But I-I," and then he blushed a bright red, as the news that his love was pregnant sunk in.
Mr. Greengrass raised an eyebrow. "So, Mr. Potter, tell me everything," he demanded.
Harry went white at the look the man gave him. Voldemort couldn't have looked more frightening. "Sir, I… we… that is… I didn't know she was p-pregnant, we took precautions, you understand. No, I don't know who Obliviated her. Certainly not me! I love her! I'd never do anything to hurt her. Why would someone do that? I wondered why she suddenly broke up with me. I'LL KILL THE BASTARD WHO DID THAT!" he finished forcefully.
"Calm down, Mr. Potter, Harry. Who do you think would do that? By the way, Daphne wants to keep the baby," he smiled for the first time since meeting the famous boy. "Daphne is of age and I suspect you soon will be too if not already. I'll expect a marriage proposal to her, though. You will wed her according to the old laws."
Hermione gasped as she heard that, remembering a note in Hogwarts, A History she'd read once (or more than once, if truth be known). "Harry, the law states that a couple must marry if the witch is pregnant and the father is known. Rape is treated very harshly in the Wizarding world. Mr. Greengrass, Harry is a very powerful wizard, I suspect a contraceptive would be ineffective with him," she blushed at that.
Harry flinched at that, but then a smile broke out on his face as he grinned from ear to ear. "Perfect, we'd talked about that… um marriage, I mean… not a baby. We weren't quite ready for that. Well, not that I'm not happy, in fact that makes me even happier." He paused, as the rest of the story sunk in. "Wait, if she's been Obliviated, what does she remember about us?" he asked, fearful of the answer.
Theodore Greengrass sighed. "I'm afraid she doesn't remember you, Harry."
"But something can be done, can't it? I mean she's got to remember me. I taught her defence all last term. She was very good, almost as good as Hermione and Hermione topped the class this year."
Hermione blushed at the praise, but interjected, "Harry, you were the top of that class! I was second and Daphne third."
Now it was Harry's turn to blush. "Well, that doesn't solve the problem, though. Who could have done this? Snape would be my guess, but why?"
"Professor Snape, Harry," she reminded him. "I know he was angry at us for you beating Draco and me beating Daphne in that duel he set up in class, but I don't think he'd do that. Of course he killed the headmaster, so who knows."
Theodore gasped at that. "What do you mean Severus killed Albus? I hadn't heard that!"
"It's true," Harry stated vehemently, "I watched him do it! The bastard blasted him off the Astronomy tower with the killing curse after Draco disarmed him."
Theodore cursed loudly. "Sorry, I never trusted that man and Daphne hated that little shite Malfoy. It certainly didn't make the Daily Prophet that way. Of course, everyone knew that Albus was killed, but no one said how. I wondered.
"Anyway, I know someone in the Department of Mysteries. One of the Unspeakables should be able to help. I just needed to check with you, Harry. Welcome to the family," he smiled. "You can call me Teddy, that's of course after you marry!"
Harry gulped and nervously smiled back. 'Teddy' was a man to reckon with. "Of course, sir. When can I see her?"
"Wait until she recovers her memory, then I'll come for you. We'll be leaving now,; I promised Miss Granger I'd return her forthwith."
"Take care, Harry," she hugged him tightly. "I'm sure Daphne will be alright."
And with that, they were gone.
…
"Mum, has Daddy found out anything yet?" Daphne asked.
"He's looking into it dear. I believe he's visiting Miss Granger as we speak."
"Why can't I remember?" she asked frustrated. "I never forget anything! Wait, Harry Potter taught me defence this year! Maybe he knows something."
"What about your friend Tracey? Would she know anything?"
"We haven't been close this year, I'm not sure why," Daphne replied, puzzled.
"What about your other friends?" her mother persisted.
Daphne gave a harsh laugh. "Other friends? In Slytherin? You must be joking! I'm known as 'The Ice Princess' at school. I've carefully cultivated that personality to keep the idiots away. People like Malfoy, Parkinson, Nott, Crabbe and Goyle. Tracey was the only friend I had in Slytherin House, and very few in the other houses. Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom in Gryffindor and Susan Bones in Hufflepuff. That's it, and only Hermione and Harry were very close."
"Harry Potter's name seems to come up quite often, dear. Do you have any feelings for him?"
Daphne went pale when her mother mentioned that. She started to sweat and finally collapsed crying. "Harry! What have I done?" she wailed.
"Daphne!" her mother looked alarmed at her daughter, for Daphne had collapsed screaming and holding her head. "Trixie, get our healer, quickly!"
The small house elf vanished and a few minutes later reappeared with a medi-witch.
"Adriane, Trixie said there was an emergency. What happened?"
"It's Daphne: she collapsed, holding her head and screamed. I can't rouse her!"
"Quickly, were is she?"
"I levitated her to bed. She's in her room."
Joan Thompson was a family friend who happened to be a medi-witch and worked at St. Mungo's. Joan was a very competent witch and close friend from Adriane's days at Hogwarts.
Waving her wand over Daphne, she frowned. "That's odd, there's a compulsion charm there that has been activated. What did she say, or what did you say and what was her response?"
"Um, let me think a minute. Oh yes, I asked her if she had any feelings for Harry Potter since his name kept coming up in conversation recently. She replied 'Harry, what have I done?' and then collapsed and held her head and screamed."
"Ah, so Harry Potter is central to this problem then. Anything else you can remember?"
"Well, she mentioned that she doesn't have many friends and one she has been close to for years, seems to have been absent this year."
"Hmm. That does sound suspicious. Of course, she might abandon her friends if she were deeply in love. The baby seems to be fine, although if I can't wake her, we'll have to transport her to St. Mungo's."
"NO! No one must know her condition! You I trust, but no one else in these times. A couple of people I know died for no rational reason at St. Mungo's. Broderick Bode was one of them, strangled by Devil's Snare. Broderick knew better than to fool with that. He was murdered, I swear."
"Okay, okay, Adriane, I'll see what I can do." She muttered a long string of incantations, moving her wand carefully and precisely. Half an hour later, sweating heavily, she gave a final poke and Daphne's eye's fluttered open. "Where's Harry?" were the first words out of her mouth.
…..
