This one is over 2,000 words, probably needed to be longer, but I'm getting there. Mainly the reason this one is short, is because I gave myself a deadline in an attempt to force myself to dedicate time to write. Action is actually coming soon, but for now I really just want to get the story established. Please leave some reviews and if you have any questions or anything about the story, feel free to DM me Eventually, I may turn this into a Dark Harry story, but that may be a sequel and after Voldemort's defeat. However, most likely expect a Harry with darker sensibilities. Not evil, but dark. I realized after writing this, people may wonder about other characters other than Harry and Daphne, I'm sort of wondering that too. They'll show up next chapter.
Harry filed into the Great Hall with all the other students. I can't wait to sleep he thought as most of the students were chatting and being normal students. It frustrated Harry that he no longer felt the same amount of joy the rest of the student body felt. Suddenly a hush fell over the great hall as Dumbledore began to speak, "I know this last year has been rough for many, but always remember that hope exists wherever and whenever a person looks for it." The speech gets cheesier every year Harry thought. Everyone knew that even though the speech applied to everyone, Dumbledore was referring to Harry. Does he have to be so dramatic? harry thought, laying his head on the table. The Great Hall never looked darker, though the candles still look the same Harry mused. If Harry would have had his head up, he might have noticed a Daphne Greengrass occasionally looking his way. She was confused about their encounter on the Hogwarts Express. It left her feeling something she had never felt before, and feeling was generally an uncommon experience in her case. She sighed internally, she could not wait to go to sleep.
Back in the Gryffindor common room Harry blew his friends off and headed straight upstairs. Eventually he knew they'd corner him, but for now he just wanted to his enjoy the fleeting feeling of being alone. As he made his way into the dorms he noticed something laying on his bed, a letter from Dumbledore. He warily walked over and opened it.
Dear Harry,
It's time you started learning how to face your destiny. I would appreciate your attendance to a meeting with me Wednesday at 6 pm.
-Dumbledore
The letter was formal, and that confused Harry. Dumbledore had never been this formal before. Concern began filling Harry, was Dumbledore starting to distance himself. Harry hated the fact that bothered him so much, Dumbledore has done nothing but assure Harry good will win out. Harry was pissed as well, he couldn't just ignore Dumbledore. He almost always gets his way, regardless of the situation, and Harry decided it'd be easier to cooperate with him, at least initially. All Harry knew for certain was that this year was going to be one of the most strenuous he's had, and he'd fought a troll his first year. Harry decided to worry about Wednesday on Wednesday, it was time to go to bed. As he laid down, he had one name repeating in the back of his head, Daphne.
The Slytherin common room was filled with nervous 1st years trying to put on a face of power, their fear made Daphne laugh on the inside. It was the small things that really cleared Daphne's mind, her encounter with the golden boy had really messed with her head. For once in her life, someone's misery had affected her in a negative way. What about Potter is different? Daphne wondered. The more she thought about him, the more torn she became. Part of her wanted to just completely ignore Harry, even going as far as actively avoiding him, and the other part wanted to get to know him, actively hanging out with him. She'd have to be careful if she decided to talk to Harry, her position among the Slytherin house would be at risk if anyone, even her core group, found out. The power hungry students would use the information to discredit her, and if it got back to her parents, it would surely make its way to the Dark Lord, and it would risk her family's life. Despite all the risk, she found it hard to not recognize that Harry Potter affected her in intriguing ways, and she felt personally obligated to understand why he was different. Daphne, in her deep thought, had ignored her friends all evening. They began to wonder what had Daphne's attention before school even started.
The next day at breakfast, Harry barely ate, but not because of his depression like the previous weeks, but because he was confused. Last night he only dreamed about Daphne Greengrass. They were in a replica of the cart from the Hogwarts express, but this cart was located in the Room of Requirement, and in the dream he felt happy. They weren't even joking or having normal conversations, they were just together. His fear bled away as he sat looking her blue eyes. "Is that a smile Harry?" Ginny blushed, snapping Harry out of his thoughts. Sure enough, he had been smiling, however he was smiling at Ginny. The smile quickly faded, as he realized Ginny now thought she was the reason Harry was happy, and Harry wasn't sure how to correct her, nor did he feel up to it. "Well, I gotta go" Harry said, quickly leaving the great hall. Ginny finally felt like Harry was on his way to reciprocating her feelings, not knowing who Harry was really thinking about. Harry didn't have a class today, no one did. So he hoped Ginny wouldn't follow him as he made his way to the Room of Requirement. If he'd be paying attention, he wouldn't have worried about Ginny following him. Someone else under a disillusionment charm was keeping their distance. As Harry made his way, he was constantly detouring to avoid his classmates. The trip took longer than he wanted, but it didn't bother him until he saw no door appearing. "What?" he asked out loud.
"It's not here, I've been trying for 30 minutes" said a voice that brought a little happiness to his situation. He let a small smile move to his lips as he turned around. There stood Daphne Greengrass, with her blue eyes and long hair. Funny, he thought. He'd just now consciously noticed what she looked like, and was amazed at how spot on his subconscious was, except on one major point. Her eyes were a hell of a lot more stunning in person. For a moment he didn't say a word, as he was drowning in her eyes. Daphne cleared her throat, snapping Harry out of his trance. How could I be so obvious he thought, assuming she'd known what had happened. Though her face never showed it. "How did you know where I was?" Harry questioned, hoping for an answer.
"I followed you" Daphne said with a devious grin. Out of anyone else, Harry would have known the grin was a joke, but with Daphne he knew she felt an actual pleasure outwitting others. He had a feeling she was the cat in their relationship. "Plus, anyone with a brain could guess where you'd retreat to." The truth in that one stung, as he realized how predictable he was. He would never beat Voldemort unless he changed.
"I bet you'll never guess my backup hiding spot" Harry said with a half smile, desperately trying to keep the interaction going. He was internally hoping she'd accept. Luckily she was as curious about their budding relationship as he was.
"Alright, I'll bite this time. Where is it?" she asked, hoping it'd be somewhere secure. Her experiment would only work if her friends never found out, because if they did, her bridge to Harry Potter would be burnt really quickly, and that was not in her itinerary.
"Follow me and I'll take you there, only I can get in" he said, confident of that statement.
"Do you have your invisibility cloak? or at the very least know a disillusionment charm?" she asked, though she already knew the answer. "Well come here then" she said, seeing him shake his head. It took her a minute, but soon both of them were practically invisible. Grabbing her hand, Harry lead them on a trek to the only place in the castle he felt truly secure. He knew he was taking a risk showing Daphne, but she couldn't get in without him, and he may need help while he's down there. Also he knew she was playing him somehow, so he thought it was only fair that he play her to help him clear out a place for him to be wasn't going to play chess with her, knowing when it came to intrigue, she outclassed him. It wasn't long before they were in an abandoned bathroom, and Harry felt safe to speak. "Here we are" he said with a grin on his face. Daphne just frowned.
"An abandoned girls bathroom? I was really expecting more Potter"
"Just wait" Harry said, moving his way to a specific sink. "Open" He said in a language Daphne recognized at Parsletongue Damn, I totally forgot he was a Parslemouth Daphne thought frustrated. It really didn't matter, but in the world they lived in, Daphne felt safe knowing everything she could about potential threats, and being a Parslemouth is a very big thing to forget about someone. She at least knew where they were going, to the Chamber of Secrets. "I haven't been down here since my second year. I've always been too busy saving the school to actually explore it" Harry explained as he drew his wand. As soon as they were both in the passage Harry told the door to close. "Why did you do that?" Daphne exclaimed, drawing her wand defensively.
"Look, I can always open it back up, but I can't afford someone wandering in. I don't feel like being the hero," he said, as they traveled further into the chamber.
"You really don't like being the hero, do you?" She asked, thoroughly shocked. She had always thought of him as a fearless attention seeker, but looking back she must have known he would have never intentionally put his life into danger that many times, he's smarter than a lot of Slytherins give him credit for.
Harry shrugged, "I never really liked the attention, but most of the time it was my life or suffer the attention for awhile." Daphne nodded, she understood not wanting attention. "What about you? I honestly know nothing about you" he asked. He was just trying to pass the time, he didn't remember the trip to the Chamber taking this long last time, but of course last time he was saving someone, and wasn't accompanied by a lady. He wasn't in a hurry, he was enjoying his time with Daphne. Here he wasn't Harry Potter, just Harry. No pressure to be the savior, and it was a real weight off of his shoulders.
"Do you really think you can ask questions and have me open up to you Potter?" she said as she laughed. Harry just smiled, watching her laugh.
"Of course not, but maybe being stuck down in the Chamber of Secrets is a better motivator than my curiosity." That caused Daphne to stop laughing, he'd actually gotten her in a box, albeit one she wasn't too worried about. She was actually enjoying there conversation.
"Very Slytherin of you, I'm proud" Daphne grinned, "However, I'm gonna have get you back." This caused Harry to smile, it was nice not being pressured to be the golden child everyone expected him to be.
"You ready to see a dead basilisk? Y'know I'm the one who vanquished it" Harry jokingly gloated. To his surprise, the basilisk had not decayed. It makes sense, it is a magical being he thought to himself, hoping his ignorance of the magical world didn't show. He was embarrassed of the fact he was raised outside in the muggle world.
"How romantic, Harry. A first date to a Basilisk corpse" Daphne teased, causing Harry's face to turn red. He knew she was joking, of course. However, he was not in control of his cheeks, much to his disliking.
"Well," he said with a pause, "I had to attempt something memorable, and who can beat a dead Basilisk in an abandoned, damp part of a magical castle?" This caused Daphne to smile, he was genuine, something hard to find in the Slytherin. Harry conjured a few floating lights, to illuminate the room. "Those should last a bit, would you like to sit around and talk for awhile?" Harry hoped his voice didn't betray how eager he actually was to get to know Daphne a little better.
"We don't have long before curfew, but how about another day?" Daphne said, and she wasn't wrong, however she felt it was better to wait before allowing the roots of their new-found friendship to strengthen. Harry merely nodded, struggling to hide his disappointment.
"Alright, we'll head back." It didn't take long for them to make it back to the bathroom, and they were splitting up heading to their respective common rooms. Both left hoping this encounter would not be their last, but staying ignorant of the actual danger their friendship may bring.