Author's Note:

This is probably closer to the update rate you can expect from me most of the time, the first few chapters all came faster because it was break, but during school this is about what I can do. My apologies for any mistakes, I've corrected a couple from earlier chapters at reviewers' requests, and really appreciate the feedback I'm getting from all of you. Thanks for reading and please keep reviewing, it really helps!

I still own nothing, JK Rowling owns all.


The Slytherin common room that night was not a pleasant place to be that evening - not that Daphne ever felt the eerie green glow from the lake was the most pleasant environment to work in, but at least by now people generally knew to leave her alone. Unfortunately, there was one person who didn't get that memo, and she had insulted him in front of the entire school after the match that morning.

"What the hell do you think you're doing Tracey?" Draco asked.

"I was going to go to bed, is that a crime now?"

"No, but defending Potter rather than your own housemates is. Why do you and Daphne keep hanging around him in the hallway - I've seen you talking to him at least twice in the past couple of months. Besides, you two are always spending time with Ravenclaws and even Hufflepuffs - wouldn't you rather associate with wizards of class, your societal equals?"

"If there were any wizards of class in Slytherin aside from Blaise, we might just do that, but since there aren't any, we were forced to find other people," Daphne retorted. "It turns out that every other house has guys in it who aren't complete pricks."

Draco's face was turning red with fury, but he managed to calm himself enough to reply. "You. Are. Slytherins. If you don't like us, that's one thing, but turning traitor is another. Supporting Potter over us is crossing the line. Don't let me catch you doing it again, or I'll make sure you regret it." With that, he turned on his heel and marched into the boy's dormitory.

"I'd like to see him try," Daphne muttered to Tracey.

Tracey smiled back. Draco was definitely a prick, but she knew Daphne would never have fought him that hard even a week ago. She was falling hard for Harry.

"Well, you'll just have to give him a reason then," she replied.


Harry, Ron, and Hermione pushed their way through the snow to Hagrid's hut for their first Care of Magical Creatures lesson after Hagrid's return. Despite some nerves about whatever surprise Hagrid had in store for them, Harry was feeling more excited to start the week than he had since he found out Umbridge was their professor.

They were, not surprisingly, among the first to arrive, even beating Hagrid. As the class trickled in around them, Harry became steadily more nervous for Hagrid's lesson. He was certain that even if Umbridge didn't try to inspect Hagrid during this lesson, it would be soon. He was equally certain that almost any "surprise" Hagrid had come up with would not make Umbridge more approving of him.

"Alrigh' everyone. We're headin' inter the fores' today, so follow me, and stick close. We're not goin' too far in, but be careful anyways," Hagrid said as he finally arrived.

Everyone followed, as Harry's spirits plunged - going into the forest was not a good sign for the likelihood of whatever creature Hagrid wanted to show them being ministry approved, much less Umbridge approved. His fears were slightly alleviated when they stopped and he saw the creepy skeletal horse that had been pulling the carriages. At least these things were tameable. Then Harry felt even better as it meant he definitely wasn't seeing things, and was probably about to find out why his friends thought he would.

"Alrigh' then, here we are," Hagrid announced to the class. "Who here can tell me what we're lookin' at?"

Harry's friends, and most of the rest of the class, looked up at Hagrid as though he'd lost his mind, the only exceptions appeared to be Blaise and Neville, neither of whom volunteered an answer.

Hagrid tried again, "Who can at least see 'em?" As the three boys raised their hands, Hagrid nodded sadly and asked, "Now why is it that some of ya can see the thestrals and some can't?"

At the word "thestrals," Harry heard Hermione let out a sigh of understanding, as she and a few others - notably Daphne to Harry's eye - raised their hands.

"Alrigh' then Hermione."

"Thestrals can only be seen by those who've seen and processed death," she answered.

At that, Harry zoned out a little, barely listening to Hagrid as he thought about why he could see thestrals, and what had happened last June. Cedric's death still weighed heavily upon him - it was his fault for making Cedric touch the stupid cup. He forced himself to straighten up his face and listened to what Hagrid was saying, before he missed something important.

"Righ' you are," Hagrid said. "10 poin's for Gryffindor. Now thestrals are dead useful, they've got a 'mazing sense o' direction, great fer travelin' long distances and the like. I reckon Hogwarts has one of the only domestic herds in all o' Britain."

"But Hagrid, thestrals are really unlucky omens!" Lavender protested. "Professor Trelawney talks about them all of the time and -"

"Nah, they've jus' got a bit of a reputation from all of tha' death stuff. There's nothin' unlucky about them once you've got them tamed up a bit."

Harry was impressed - sure, these probably weren't the best creatures to show 5th years, but they were worlds better than the skrewts had been. He almost wished Umbridge had decided to inspect this lesson, but he knew she'd get her comeuppance eventually. Harry would have been loyal to Hagrid regardless, but it was nice to see him put together a really good lesson - even most of the Slytherins were paying attention as Hagrid moved on to the Thestrals' preferred diet. Harry realized rather guiltily that, aside from Draco, the only people not paying attention to Hagrid were himself and - he felt a now familiar fluttering sensation in his stomach - Daphne, who was returning his gaze with a smile just curling up the corners of her lips, though her eyes looked distracted, before she turned her attention back to Hagrid.


Harry lingered after class for a bit to talk to Hagrid, who he thanked for such an amazing lesson - as well as clearing up the mystery surrounding the thestrals - before heading back towards the castle for dinner. To his surprise, he found that he wasn't the only one to have stayed back, as Daphne was waiting not far from Hagrid's hut.

"Hey Harry," she said as they began walking towards the castle, "do you mind if I ask you something?"

"Sure thing," Harry said, his heart racing. What did she want to ask him? He tried to tell himself it was just something about DA, or the lesson, but he couldn't figure out why Daphne would want to talk to him about either right then.

"It's just -" she broke off, unsure how to finish the thought. "How do you deal with that?"

Harry looked back at her confused. "Deal with what?" he finally replied.

"Seeing the thestrals. D-death," she stammered. "I know you saw Voldemort kill him last June, but how do you see that and survive it? Knowing it could just as easily have been you?"

Harry forced himself to meet her gaze, knowing this would be hard for him to say, but determined to get through it regardless, "Well, that's a lot of what the DA has been about to me. I know it could have been me, so I'm doing my best to learn everything I can, and teach those I care about so that hopefully, if there's a next time, I won't have to deal with it again. To be honest, I'm not sure that I really have dealt with it," he went on, his voice barely a whisper at this point. "I still have nightmares about it, but instead of Cedric, it's Ron, Hermione, Si- my godfather..." he trailed off. "You get the idea. I really try not to talk about it, because as much as I know they all care about me, I don't know that I could burden them with it. Hell, I'm not sure why I'm willing to tell you about it, except that you asked."

Daphne raised an eyebrow, "You mean to tell me none of your friends have asked you about it?"

"About what happened, yeah, but not about how I was dealing with it. I guess they trust that when I put up a front and say I'm okay with everything. Speaking of which, what made you think to ask me? Don't get me wrong, I definitely appreciate it, but… Why?"

Daphne blushed slightly before admitting, "Well, after Granger, I mean, Hermione, explained the death thing, your eyes clouded over, and you looked so, well, sad. I could just tell that something was off."

Harry looked back at her. "Thank you. It's nice to know that someone cares that much. I really appreciate it," he paused before adding, "but can you please keep this between us? I don't think I need the whole school knowing about my nightmares."

"Of course Harry. I make it a point not to betray my friends' trust. Your dreams are safe with me," she promised. "I just hope I have the strength you show if I'm ever having to deal with that."

"I hope you can find someone to confide in so you don't have to," he replied. "You have no idea how much just this short conversation has really helped."

"Then we ought to have more conversations," Daphne replied with a smirk. "I'm sure it would be good for both of us."

With that she turned towards the dungeons and left Harry in the entryway, mouth slightly agape as he watched her walk away, wondering what exactly Daphne thought of their friendship - and hoping it might be more than just a friendship.