The next few days passed relatively quick for Harry.
A little too quick if he was honest.
True, the revelation that he was going to break up with Ginny had definitely helped him resolve a lot of his anxieties about the situation. He now had a day in sight where all his feelings of betrayal and deceit would come to an end, which helped calm his nerves, but also gave him something to look forward to. But now that weekend was finally upon him, and he felt vastly out of depth.
He had never even been in a relationship before, how was he supposed to know how breakups worked? He knew Ginny had a temper, so he planned to do it somewhere in public. But beyond that? He was clueless.
The one thing he had going for him though, or, the one thing he hoped he had going for him was Ron. Based on the conversations he and Ron had been having about Ginny over the past week, their breakup shouldn't come as a surprise to him. Ron had made it perfectly clear he sympathized with Harry's struggles, so he wasn't expecting the two of them fall out over this. Hermione on the other hand… probably wouldn't be as forgiving. But things would be better off this way regardless, as Harry constantly reminded himself.
He hadn't seen much of Daphne since their Room of Requirement visit last Wednesday. They had occasionally exchanged an odd glance or smile across the Great Hall or a crowded classroom, but outside from that, it was the longest the two had gone without meeting. Harry had wondered why that was, but let his trust speak louder than his anxiety. The two simply hadn't been presented with an opportunity to arrange something yet, it was as simple as that.
And to be honest, the time off from his girl-drama had been a welcome one. The next DA meeting was coming up on Sunday, and now with the new Inquisitorial Squad roaming the halls, the members would need extra briefing on secrecy. That was something he had to bring up with Daphne, he reminded himself. If he could get a timetable of whose shift was when, or who was stationed where, it could be a great deal of help for them.
He hoped to arrange something with Daphne for the Sunday evening, since he would be on the Seventh Floor anyway, and she'd be roaming the nearby halls. But that would come down to if he was able to meet with her before then, which he found unlikely, since she mentioned she spent most Hogsmeade trips in the Slytherin Common Room.
But all of this was a while off, anyway.
Right now he still had to deal with the matter at hand.
To say the trip down the Hogsmeade was awkward… would have been a gross understatement.
Ginny and Harry hadn't spoken much since their argument a few nights prior, and it was obviously apparent the two were still mad at each other. The entire walk down the carriages, the carriage ride, and then the walk into the village had been taken in silence. Something which was made more awkward by the fact they were traveling with Ron and Hermione, who were very much aware of the tension between the two and because of it, didn't feel up to saying much either.
So the four of them traveled in complete silence, until two hours they were all seat in the Three Broomsticks. The atmosphere was thick.
"Soooo…" Ron placed his hands out on the table in front of him. "I reckon we should come here one year before the snowfall, innit? Bet you'd barely recognize the place."
A light sigh was heard from Hermione's corner of the table.
"The weather? Really, Ronald?"
Ron fell silent.
Harry was wondering how to play this. He'd need Ron and Hermione gone first, obviously... Even for him that was a given. Once he had Ginny on his own, he'd make his move. What that move was exactly… well, again, he was still trying to figure that part out. He had narrowed it down to two choices.
Either he was going to start an argument, a big one, and spontaneously break up with her in the heat of it, or he was just going to come right out and say it. Either way it was probably going to result with Ginny screaming at him, so the real question was, what was the least suspicious way for him to do it? Them having an argument that pushes him over the line was the most natural way to play it, but it would also require dragging a lot of attention to them and getting himself worked up. Just telling Ginny straight that he wanted to break up with her seemed… a little too easy. Suspiciously easy, in fact.
Harry was pulled from his thought train by Ron gently tapping on the table.
"I've got an idea," his ginger friend perked up. "Why don't me and Hermione go find some DA members and double check with them about tomorrow night? Up for that Hermione?"
"God yes."
Within seconds the two had dragged themselves up out of their seats and launched themselves at the exit of the building, leaving he and Ginny alone.
Harry chewed at his lip. Somehow, he didn't get the feeling he would be hearing from them for a while.
Harry turned to his soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend and took a deep breath.
Daphne usually enjoyed it whenever the Hogsmeade trips were on. The entire common room drained, and outside the occasional second or first year student, the place was entirely still. She had the pick of the lot; she was able to relax and watch the lake through the windows, study in the comfort of isolation, have tea and read a book, whatever she liked.
This weekend however, was not one of those occasions.
"Can you pass me my tea?" Astoria asked.
Daphne leaned forward from her place on the armchair, plucked Astoria's tea up from the coffee table and handed it to her.
"Thanks sis."
Daphne mumbled in response.
Astoria had fallen ill again. Which as usual, meant Daphne's life had to be put on halt so she could care for her.
Astoria had… how to put it lightly?
Occasionally, her body weakened to the point where her bones essentially became glass and her skin became paper.
Thankfully, the blood defect seemed to have skipped Daphne, but that didn't make it any easier on the older sister. Although the Hogwarts staff and students were aware of Astoria's condition, Daphne still considered it her responsibility to look after her. Whenever her illness flared up, Daphne would be right by her sister's side, night and day.
"How you feelin'?" she asked her younger sibling.
Daphne felt bad. The current Hogsmeade trip was the first one the third years had been allowed on all year, and it was intended to be Astoria's first. She had been ever so looking forward to it. She had even attempted to get dressed this morning, but since the showing signs of her illness began a few days ago, Daphne knew she would have no chance at going.
"I'm okay," Astoria said gently. "Appreciate you stayin' back for me."
Physically, Astoria looked perfectly fine, if not a bit pale. She was more popular than her older sister, which meant any other day of the year she'd be running around with her classmates. She had a similar build that Daphne had when she was her age, but stood a few inches shorter. But of course, the biggest difference between the two sisters was their painfully obvious hair color. In contrast to Daphne's almost beach blonde, practically white hair, Astoria's was a shiny jet black. It made the two sisters look quite a pair when they stood side-by-side
"Don't be daft. Why don't you try getting some sleep?"
Daphne had fashioned her a makeshift bed on one of the Common Room sofas. She felt that if Astoria couldn't go the Hogsmeade, the very least she could do is make sure she wasn't stuck in her room all day. At least this way she had a chance to be social and get things done.
Astoria moaned. She rolled over on the sofa and pulled her head beneath the covers.
Just as she did so, two second year students entered the room, chatting loudly between themselves. Astoria didn't flinch, but their lack of common decency didn't sit well with Daphne.
She let out a loud cough, catching their attention. They looked in her direction and their faces dropped.
A simple glare from her told them all they needed to know. The two fell silent, but continued to cross the Common Room floor. Only after they entered the boy's dormitory did Daphne smirk in satisfaction.
She didn't try to intimidate the younger students, but she was so good at it.
"Bullying younglings again?" A voice entered from behind.
Daphne chuckled.
"Of course not. And keep your voice down, Tori is trying to sleep."
Tracey appeared from behind Daphne and plonked herself down on the sofa beside her. Astoria poked her head out from beneath the covers.
"Hey Trace," Astoria said weakly.
"Alright dude," Tracey nodded to her, "how you feeling?"
"Rubbish."
Tracey shrugged, "You should get sent home whenever you get this bad."
"Just because she's ill doesn't means her can't focus on her studies," Daphne interjected.
Tracey waved Daphne's remark off, having heard her argument before.
It was an odd relationship the three sisters shared. Biologically, Tracey and Astoria weren't related, but they shared Daphne as a half-sister. Because Daphne and Astoria were raised together by the same father, their half-sister relationship was a lot trickier to spot; it was at the point now where they generally just saw each other as biological sisters. But due to the age difference between Tracey and Astoria, the two had never been able to attain such a relationship. As a result, they had formed more of a cousin/acquaintance relationship, despite having the same biological relationship as Daphne and Tracey.
"So Tori, you in on the big news?" Tracey asked.
"What big news?"
Daphne glared daggers at Tracey.
Tracey merely scoffed.
"Whaaaat?" Tracey grinned, "The Montrose Magpies! They just won three-one! No need for the overreaction, Daph, someone might think you're hiding something..."
"I thought you didn't like Quidditch?" Astoria asked.
Tracey shrugged. "There's a lot you don't know, sweetness."
"Are you done being a child now?" Daphne asked.
"Probably not, but live and let live. What're you two doing today?" Tracey asked.
"Dying," Astoria answered.
"Stopping her from dying," Daphne answered. "We also have that Care of Magical Creatures essay we need to study for, if you want to join us later?"
Tracey laughed.
"No offense, but I would rather be dying."
"How nice," a recognizable voice entered the room.
At this sound, the three girls all straightened up. Daphne's and Tracey's backs arched and Astoria pulled herself into sitting position. Their eyes traced the room before all falling on their new intruder.
"Professor Snape!" Tracey exclaimed.
At some point, Snape had silently entered the room and approached them. The fact none of the girls were able to tell when this was sent a shiver up each of their spines.
"Greengrass, you're ill again," Snape addressed the youngest of the sisters, who was still wrapped up on the sofa. "You should have checked in with Madam Pomphrey."
"I'm sorry, Professor," Astoria apologized. "I was hoping it would pass."
"Hmmm. Better be safe than sorry, I'd say. If you aren't feeling better by the end of the day, check yourself in, or risk detention."
Daphne almost chuckled at his wording.
Care via force.
How very Snape of him.
"Sup, Professor?" Tracey asked.
Snape noticeably straightened up at this, as if he was about to recite a well-rehearsed speech. He coughed, and turned to address Daphne.
"Daphne Greengrass, I wish to speak with you in private."
Daphne felt a hot flush hit her.
She was in trouble, wasn't she?
This was because of the potion, wasn't it?
Feeling her anxieties rising, Daphne took a breath to regain her composure.
"Why is that, Professor?" she asked curtly.
Snape answered without a beat.
"It wasn't a request. My office, you have ten minutes."
With that, Snape turned and made his way out of the room.
The three sisters were left looking between each other in abrupt confusion.
"So Ginny… how've you been?" Harry broke the silence.
It took a second for Ginny to respond.
"I've been well."
Harry nodded.
"Good… Good."
When it was clear she wasn't about to following up his question, he continued.
"Look, about the other night…" Harry swallowed. "I didn't mean for it to escalate. I'm sorry. That I shouted, I mean."
Ginny's expression was blank and cold.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, Harry was wondering perhaps Ice Queen would be a title better suited to her instead of Daphne.
"I'm sorry too," she said plainly.
Harry waited another moment for her to do her own apologizes, but again a heavy silence hung in the air.
"So, erm…" he bit his lips, "I've been thinking, you know, about things?"
His words seemed to perk Ginny's interest.
He took a breath.
He had her attention, they were on their own, now was his chance.
It was now or never.
"I've been thinking and, you're right, I haven't been spending enough time with you and… well, it's not fair on you. I've not been doing my part as a boyfriend. I know we agreed our relationship wouldn't be normal, but with me I'm making it so there's barely any relationship at all. I see this now."
You could drench his words in maple syrup, because they were one-hundred percent waffle.
"I've been terrible at doing my part in all this and honestly, you deserve better, Ginny."
Ginny was silent for a moment, before her eyes met the floor.
"You really feel that way?"
Harry nodded.
"I do. Everything you've been saying is right, I don't know why but I've been finding reasons to avoid everyone recently and… well, it's not what you need. I can't provide for you what I agreed to, and I'm sorry."
Harry couldn't see Ginny's face, and for what he was about to say next, he didn't particularly want to.
"I think you'd be better off without me."
"Professor Snape?" Daphne asked, after entering the Professor's office.
Snape was sat down at his desk, head resting on his hands and deep in thought.
As she entered, he pulled back and gestured for her to sit opposite him.
"Do you have any idea why I've called you here today, Miss Greengrass?"
Daphne sat down, eyeing her Professor suspiciously.
"I have suspicions."
Snape nodded.
"And what might they be?"
Daphne bit her lip.
Obviously, a huge event to have occurred recently was him catching her and Harry. But on the off chance it wasn't that, she didn't want to risk mentioning it first and making it awkward.
"My recent failure of the Kissing Concoction?" she suggested, slipping seamlessly into her Ice Queen persona.
Snape watched the girl over the bridge of his nose. Daphne hadn't seen him like this before. He looked… uncomfortable? Shy? Whatever it was, he was bordering between that and frustration. She could see it building in his face.
"In a way. Yes." Snape sniffed and sat forward in his seat. "You realize I had half a mind to go straight to your father, after what I walked in on the other night?"
Daphne's heart jumped into her mouth. The Ice Queen shattered.
"You didn't!?" she squeaked.
Snape pursed his lips.
"I didn't… But I could have. I should have. You don't need me to explain to you why fraternizing with the Potter boy could put us all at risk."
Daphne released a breath of relief.
Provided Snape hadn't already told anyone, so she could make this work. She would make it work, whatever his conditions were. He wouldn't have just brought this up now -over a week after it happened- for no reason. He clearly wanted something.
Then, she picked up on something he just said.
"At risk?"
Snape was silent for a moment, before pulling out his wand from his sleeve. With a flick of his wand, she heard the lock clank into place on his wooden door.
"Miss Greengrass…" Snape began, "whatever ties you have to the Potter boy, are ties that Dumbledore has to… You-Know-Who…"
Oh.
Oh.
Ohhhhhh.
Now she knew where this was going.
"You need to watch your step… I don't know what rubbish the boy has filled your head with, nor do I particularly care, but he is to be treated as the enemy, need I remind you?"
Daphne bit her lip.
How did she want to play this?
Twist it around, maybe? Make Snape think he was the out-of-line one? She could make up some story about her infiltrating Harry on the Dark Lord's orders… that her mission was to make him fall in love with her and trust her, and then she'd hand him over to him? The idea was tempting to her, but then again, with Snape watching her so closely she might be expected to actually follow the plan through.
No… she had a better idea.
Daphne sighed.
"Professor I… look, I... I don't know what came over me."
Her voice cracked at the end of her sentence, causing Snape to perk an eyebrow.
"That night, I mean. One minute we're just doing the potion and the next… well… it kind of just… happened. It was like a trance overtook me and I-I…" Daphne closed her eyes.
"I felt dirty after it happened. It wasn't his fault, either… you mustn't blame him, Professor, I think whatever h-happened got him too, I just… it was so… We felt like we were being controlled. We weren't ourselves. We spoke about it afterwards, in the next detention. I know you told us to stay away from each other… but we just had to get things out in the open and… We agreed to never, ever speak about it ever again, Professor Snape. I've been trying so hard to forget about it."
Daphne sniffed, and her bottom lip began to tremble.
"I hate myself for it. P-Please don't tell my father, Professor Snape. He'd hate me, a-and he's all me and Astoria have. He'd disown me, tell me I'm a blood traitor and I'm not, I'm really not. I just don't know what happened… it was all one big, big massive mistake, you have to believe me, Professor."
She lowered her face, as though trying to hide her fake tears.
"And Potter has a g-girlfriend… I know you don't like him Professor, and I don't blame you but… she's done nothing wrong, she doesn't deserve this. P-Please don't tell anybody, Professor Snape. Please."
Snape leaned back in his chair, almost repulsed at this sudden expression of emotion.
"Oh do grow up, Miss Greengrass, I expected more from you. And anyway… I believe I have some news, which will be of great relief to you."
Daphne sniffed in again, harder, and looked up, meeting her Professors eyes.
"What do you mean?" she asked in her most innocent tone.
"It appears… while you and Potter failed at creating a Kissing Concoction… You may have succeeded at creating something else."
Daphne raised an eyebrow.
She had been suspicious of this, but didn't have anything concrete. She decided to let Snape say his piece.
"Professor?" she asked.
Snape sighed and looked to the floor, before standing up. He took a step away from his desk, turning his back to her.
"Near as I can deduce… the potion instilled some kind of hormonal reaction in the two of you."
"Pause for dramatic effect," Daphne thought to herself.
"W-what does that mean?"
"It means…" Snape turned back around, "that for all intents and purposes, you were under the effects of a potion you accidentally created, and thereby cannot be held responsible for your actions. Which means luckily, for both you and Potter, neither of you is to blame for the occurrence. The potion has since been drained and destroyed... I imagine the fact you were not in your right mind probably comes as some sort of consolation."
"S-so," she choked, "it really wasn't me? It was an accident?"
"An accident brought on by the equal contributions of your own, shared incompetence… but yes, it was indeed an accident. And provided it stays exactly that, a one time accident… then I will happily do my part in forgetting about this whole, ugly affair."
"Poor choice of wording," she thought to herself.
"Oh, Merlin's Beard," Daphne clutched at her chest, "thank you, Professor! This has all been so hard on me, I can't tell you how much this means to me... Thank you, so much."
Snape unlocked the door with a flick of his wand.
"Greengrass, please. I've never seen this side of you before and, I have to say, I don't like it. You're one of my prized students, I expect you to act like it. Now clean yourself up and leave," he told her.
Then, after a minute, added.
"There are tissues in the second hand drawer."
Ginny's mouth was agape. Finally, she took her cue to speak.
"Harry, I… I can't believe I'm hearing this."
"I know, Ginny. You were right. You've been right all along."
The air grew silent between the two, and Harry let his words linger in the air.
He was subconsciously patting himself on the back. His first ever breakup, and he thought he'd handled it spectacularly! No tears, no shouting, quick, clean and simple!
Wording it so it sounded like her idea, though? He was really impressed with himself for that one. He took everything she had excused him off and agreed with her. That way, her mind would be put to rest, and she'd realize he wasn't worth the effort. Bravo to him, truly, bravo. Maybe a little bit of Daphne's Slytherin was rubbing off on him.
He was so glad to have this out of the way. All the sleepless nights, the feelings of guilt -they were about to vanish without a trace. Now he and Ginny were over, he technically wasn't doing anything wrong. Yes, she was still a Slytherin and he was a Gryffindor, but that was kids' stuff. Outside from that? She already told him she had no affiliation with the Dark Arts. Which meant he 100%, no longer had anything bad to feel about.
He had officially made it into the clear.
"Harry, I'm so glad you've said this."
He turned to Ginny, and saw her smiling brightly back at him.
Wait.
What?
"This is good for us! Now you've accepted there's a problem, we can work on it! We can get back to the way things were."
Wait.
No.
What?
Ginny leaned forward and enveloped Harry into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him tight.
"I really thought," she whispered into his ear, "I really thought, this was going to be the end of us. This is such good news. Thank you, Harry. I don't know what I'd do without you."
The world around Harry came slowly crashing to the ground. All the hope he'd been feeling seconds ago suddenly drained away.
"Yeah… hehe… me neither."
