Next morning came up and Harry knew it wouldn't be all that pleasant. He informed Ron of the situation when he got back, the red headed boy waking up when he heard the door. If he had been much more accepting of Daphne for a while, he still wasn't looking all that happy to have the Slytherin girl here. He did soften a lot when he heard what happened but Harry could see his best friend wasn't fully convinced of her story.
Harry got out of the room pretty late in his mind. Tonks and Moody were going to get Molly at St. Mungo, if it hadn't been the case they would already be sick of running up and down the stairs of the basement at this hour. He went and knocked on the girls door, being invited to enter immediately. He took a peek, just to be sure they were decent as they might have though it was Tonks coming, but the twins were already there it seemed.
The twins were very happy to have the Ice Queen here. They were always having fun by venerating her, calling her "Majesty" or "Lady Ice", today wasn't an exception. Daphne would play along more often than not, some time even sending minor hexes at them just for kicks when they touched her shoulder or arm, simply because she knew that was exactly what they were waiting for. Masochists? No, just crazy.
By seeing her interactions with others in D.A. meetings, Harry had realized that she didn't hex people that much when somebody touched her. As long as you didn't touch her some place indecent or took her by complete surprise, it was ok. She still twitched a bit when it was somebody she wasn't that much comfortable and could still over react when she was in a bad mood, but Harry saw that the Frost-Bite was mostly exaggerated. He found it sad that she was having trouble being comfortable around people, but at the same time, it made himself feel that much more special that she was comfortable with him as much as she was.
"You ok Harry?" Asked Daphne. He had sat on her bed while she still had her legs under the blanket and had zoned out while thinking on his girlfriend reputation.
"Oh yeah, sorry, I might not be as awake as I thought." Which was true as he yawned just after saying that.
"You were so anxious about seeing me that you couldn't sleep anymore?" Asked the beauty near him.
"Why do you think its because of you?" Returned Harry with a small playful smile.
"Because its always because of me." Daphne was now running a finger on his arm while talking in a sultry voice.
"So true..." Conceded Harry before kissing her softly.
At the same time, Ron entered and rolled his eyes at the sight. He still heard what they said so he couldn't help himself. "You are so whipped, Harry."
"And you are jealous." Retorted the Boy-Who-Is-Whipped.
That had everyone laughing for a few seconds.
"I don't know if I'm supposed to find it funny that you didn't deny the statement or mad because you said I was jealous." Said Ron with a smile.
"Both is ok." Said Ginny. "As both statements are true also. At least Harry assume it."
"Its not like I have to try much also." Said Daphne, poking her boyfriend's ribs.
"Well, just put that t-shirt back to its original size and you'll have him dancing in the palm of your hand." Said Hermione while pointing toward her friend bust.
That had the couple blush a bit while Daphne unconsciously lifted the sheets more in front of her, enough to cover her up to the shoulder. She had enlarged the t-shirt after Harry had left. It wasn't really that comfortable but while she was at home, it had been at hand when she got out of the shower. She just couldn't do magic while at home so she endured its size until now. An other round of laughter erupted at the couple's embarrassment.
The group of children – it wasn't possible to see the twins as adults even if they technically were – got back into idle chatter. Harry and Daphne weren't participating much as Harry had sat side by side with his girlfriend, their back on the wall and their legs outstretched on the bed. Harry stayed over the sheet though, not wanting to give a reason to tease them to Ron or even Hermione, who was showing more and more that she could have a witty mind. Still, he held her by the shoulder and his other hand was joined with hers on his leg, effectively keeping her close and a bit leaned on him.
"Say, Harry..." She started, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Hm?" He asked.
"Do you thing we could stop hiding?" Daphne seemed a bit nervous about asking that.
Harry seemed a bit taken aback by the question. He thought about it and found wonderful the idea of being able to be with her when he wanted at school. But at the same time, he knew they would be the target of whispers and remarks from others that wouldn't be as supportive as their friends, mainly Malfoy and his clowns. Worse, as much as he would love the expression Malfoy would get from seeing her with him, he knew it could become really bad. Harry didn't mind much, he was used to mockery and whispers, even attacks from Malfoy didn't bother him, but he wanted to protect Daphne.
"I don't know... I'd love it in fact. There would be a lot of reaction from the other students, that it doesn't really matter, but... Malfoy is never going to let it go easily, especially now that he knows he have your father approval and being with me might fuel up his actions... I don't want anything to happen to you." He said, visibly conflicted.
"I don't care... I fled my house it won't change much. In fact, I'm certain Malfoy with take every opportunity to try and finish what he started yesterday. Being with you more might in fact be a good thing." Daphne had pleading eyes while talking, they were glistering a bit with growing tears. From fear or desperation, Harry didn't know, but he couldn't say no to these eyes.
"Ok then. If Malfoy become too much to handle, you can still sleep in the Room of Requirement, I'll lend you my invisibility cloak too." Said Harry.
"I'm going to be fine Harry. I still have Tracey and Astoria with me." She said before capturing his lips with hers.
That was the time Molly decided to barge in, obviously returned from the hospital. "All right kids, breakfast is waiting for... WHO ARE YOU!"
The couple quickly ended the kiss before looking at the matriarch Weasley in the door frame, pointing a finger at Daphne.
"Well, mom, after seeing them kiss, I guess its obvious... Didn't Tonks tell you?" Said Ron.
"Tell me what? She was asked on an other last minute mission so she wasn't part of my escort." Asked the shocked and strangely angry woman.
Harry was flabbergast at that, not understanding why she seemed angry that he had a girlfriend. In fact, he had imagined the scene as her giving him a bone crushing hug, saying how she was happy for him or something like that. He even thought she would be suspicious when she learned her origins and her house in Hogwarts, but not angry like that.
"Tonks brought her yesterday night after some bad things happened at her house. Daphne is Harry's girlfriend since a bit now." Explained Ginny. She stayed vague voluntarily and was probably the only one that knew why her mother was angry. Molly had been so happy when she learned her daughter liked Harry and always tried to give her advices, or tell her things she learned on Harry. She knew her mother was trying to set them up and didn't care at the time, but since she has actively been trying to forget about him in a romantic way, she hated it.
"I never knew that!" Said Mrs. Weasley, still looking at Daphne with a bit of revulsion, though she did soften a lot.
Harry looked at Daphne with sorry eyes. She seemed kind of frightened and disillusioned. Harry had told her about Mrs. Weasley and the image she was showing wasn't up to the standards Harry had mentioned about her. He did mention how she was strict but loving, sometime passionate about things but she couldn't understand her reaction.
"Come on mom." Said Fred.
"You're frightening her." Continued George. That statement made Daphne redden and retract a bit in Harry's arm while pulling the sheet as much as she could with somebody on top of it.
"Oh... Ehm... Sorry... I was just surprised that's all..." Said Mrs. Weasley, realizing she wasn't giving a good first impression on the girl.
Daphne straightened up at that, seeing the imposing woman settle down more. "Its ok... I know you see Harry as one of your son and it must have been surprising to walk in on me, a stranger, kissing him..."
"Well... Yes, it did surprise me a lot... I thought he..." She glanced at Ginny who gave her the big eyes to try and have her mother understand she mustn't finish that phrase. She must have got the message or simply understood herself what she was going to say as she just added. "...never mind."
Ginny sighed with relieve, as did the twins and Hermione who seemed to have understood where she was going too.
"Well. Breakfast is waiting for you. I went at it since I arrived and I thought as your training was cancelled for today, you might want to visit Arthur. He looks much better now even if he's still..." She let it hang, everybody understanding that he was still in the coma. "We'll leave after that... You can of course come with us dear." She finished, looking at Daphne for the invitation.
Daphne wasn't sure if she should but a squeeze from Harry convinced her. In fact, Mrs. Weasler was still a bit cold with her, but that had to be expected, she just arrived. When she nodded, the woman smiled a bit shyly to her before leaving the room.
"Well I don't know about you, but I'm certain Tonks will work us out three times harder next time if she learns we at least didn't take a small run in the basement and the stairs." Said Ron. A series of approving nods followed after that and Harry kissed his girlfriend before leaving with Ron to put on his training clothes.
"I'm sorry about my mum..." Said Ginny, looking a bit ashamed.
"Its ok... I must really have surprised her." Said Daphne with a smile.
"No... I mean yes, you did, but the reason she looked angry was because she always thought I'd end up with Harry..." The red headed girl explained.
"Oh... And you..." Started the Slytherin, the ambiance becoming a bit awkward.
"Yes, I did like him... still like him in fact, but he only sees me like his little sister." Said Ginny. Hermione was trying to look like she wasn't listening, as if she was adamantly concentrated on dressing up, but couldn't fake much after she was fully dressed and ready.
"I'm sorry... I didn't knew..." Said Daphne, not really sure what to say.
"Don't be." Said Ginny. "Would you still have tried to get him if you knew?"
Daphne didn't really had to think about the answer but the question left her speechless for a few seconds. "...Yes. I wouldn't call it love yet, but I feel its more than just a crush."
Ginny smiled at that. Not a happy smile really, more like an acknowledging smile. "Then really, don't be sorry for me. It wasn't meant to be and I'll live. I know its a silly crush I have for the Boy-Who-Lived, the Golden-Boy, the one that saved my life in my first year. Its just that it ruled a big part of my life and my mother fuelled that with her encouragements. I don't deserve him."
Daphne just got up and hugged the fourteen year old girl. "Don't say that. You're still a good girl, you just didn't like him for the good reasons. You'll find a boy that is made for you and you'll be happy, you deserve that!"
Ginny started to cry at that, then cursed herself for every drop of the salty liquid leaving her eyes. Why was she crying? It has been a long time since she felt that good as it was like a heavy weight lifted from her heart in fact, there was no reason to cry. No, it didn't remove her feelings for Harry, but that conversation with Daphne eased an ache in her heart and she felt like she would be able to really get back to her cheery self, not just act it.
"Well, look at me being all emotive!" Said Ginny. The other two girls laughed at that. "I'm happy for you two Daphne. I can see the good you do him and that makes me glad he met you."
Daphne smiled widely, thinking it was weird how she could be only a few months older than her sister yet so much mature. Maybe it was the advantage of entering Hogwarts a year earlier by being 11 years old by September 1rst, or maybe she simply had to with six brother. Probably a combination of the two.
Ginny just stripped from her pyjamas and stared at herself in a mirror, wearing only her bright red knickers. She certainly was attractive. She was small, with a small frame, much the contrary of her mother, and while her B cup bosom couldn't compare to Daphne's C, or certainly not Tracey's D cup size, she was proud of her figure. Yeah, she was pretty, she didn't have to envy Daphne or Susan or any other girl, she was a petite girl and lots of boys liked petite girls. She didn't knew why she had to confirm that to herself, maybe just so she was sure it wasn't because Harry wasn't attracted to her, but it helped get back her confidence.
"I gotta find myself a boy. Michael was an arse-hole but damn I miss snogging!"
A few minutes later, the girls finally got down for breakfast. Daphne was lent clothes from Hermione that she sized to fit her with magic as she was taller and much bustier than the bookworm, but closer to her than Ginny. Harry couldn't help but see how much Ginny looked livelier. He looked quizzically at Daphne who just shook no with her head from behind the ginger girl. Leaving it at that, he got back to his bacon. It wasn't good to eat too much before running but running on an empty stomach wasn't good either.
"When are we leaving exactly? We'd like to train a bit so Tonks don't accuse us of slacking." Asked Ron.
"We have to wait for Alastor and Remus dear. I just got the message they wouldn't be there before noon so we have time." Answered Molly.
Harry ate a bit, just enough in fact to not feel hungry, but certainly not enough to Molly's satisfaction. "Harry, with all that running and fighting, you need more energy, you should eat more!"
"I'll eat more after the exercise, Tonks was clear that its not good to run just after eating. She told us to eat just enough to not starve, wait an hour or so, then exercise." He looked at Ron who seemed to have forgotten that exact statement from their trainer as he just stopped munching a mouthful of a mix of toast, bacon and eggs, having big eyes as he just remembered it.
Gulping, the boy looked nervous. "Don't tell her... please..."
Everybody around the table laughed, mainly at Ron's antics but Daphne had a sort of nervous laugh. She had found Tonks to look pretty easygoing when she met her the day before, but what Harry had told her over the holidays and the reactions the other had when speaking about her training program made her anxious about being part of it.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine." Said Harry. He saw how nervous she looked so he tried to reassure her. "She's not mean, just... ehm... pushing us a lot with some harsh words... In the end, I never felt so good in my life."
"Y-yeah... I'm... sure of it..." Said Daphne.
"So... Daphne was it?" Asked Molly in a polite tone. "You're in Harry's year?"
Daphne was going to answer but they got interrupted by a voice coming from the corridor that was too loud for a certain portrait. "Oh wait for me for that discussion! Crap!"
The house was now filled with insults about blood traitors and Mudbloods coming from the portrait of Mrs. Black that Sirius's voice woke up. At that thought, Harry's eyes bulged so much it frightened Daphne a bit.
"Crap!" He imitated his godfather.
"Harry! Watch your words!" Said Molly in a strict tone.
"Sorry Mrs. Weasley, but I forgot to tell Daphne about Sirius!" Said Harry. At that statement, everybody around the table facepalmed.
"Sirius? Sirius Black? What do you have to tell me about him?" Asked Daphne, intrigued.
"He's..." But Harry was cut by said person.
"Damn woman won't shut the hell up..." Said before entering the kitchen. Upon seeing everybody watch him with either a semi-panicked look – for every one but Daphne – and a totally freaked out look – for Daphne this time, he just pointed at himself, looking around the table. "Does I have something horrible on my face?"
"Please don't scream or shoot a spell or anything!" Said Harry very fast to Daphne, actually holding her wand hand with his firmly.
"B-b-b-b-but its Sirius Black!" She whispered very loudly.
"Pup... Don't tell me she doesn't know?" Asked Sirius.
"Well... First time I had to talk about you, I didn't say your name because I didn't knew her much yet and... well... After that I just didn't think about it and the subject never came up." Explained Harry. He felt Daphne slide a bit away from him but he gave her a calming look.
"Well I'll tell her then..." Said Sirius, getting a mischievous smile before turning to a serious, hard look. "Miss Greengrass... If you hurt my godson I'm gonna hurt you!"
At that Daphne did scream before everyone around the table except Molly and Daphne sent a different spell at the man. It was a good combination to have a double tickling charm combined with a bodybind curse. Add to that three Expeliarmus to send him backward and wandless and you have one of the most efficient torture in the world.
"THAT WAS NOT FUNNY SIRIUS!" Harry shouted over the yelling portrait in the hall. Harry could see that the man was petrified with a smug smile on his face. This time it was Molly that got up to stop the yelling from Mrs. Black.
Turning to Daphne, he saw her cowering on the bench. "He... He's your godfather that you told me about? The one having SOME trouble with law so you couldn't tell me his name?"
"Ok... Sirius is innocent, he never betrayed my parents, never killed Peter Pettygrew and never killed a street full of muggles. He was never tried for the crimes, he just never denied it because he was too shocked, laughing like mad instead, breaking down mentally completely. He is an idiot though and he will pay for what he just did, but he was messing with you just now." Explained Harry. He looked as Daphne took this information and processed it.
"How are you so sure of it?" She asked.
"Pettigrew is an animagus, a rat." Said Harry. His face became dark and Daphne knew right away that he was being completely serious. "Silly thing, it was Ron's rat and it was the reason Sirius came to our school in third year. After a series of events, we actually had Pettigrew in our hands and got the real story that confirmed us that Sirius was innocent and that the bastard – Peter that is – was the real culprit for everything Sirius was blamed for. Lupin was with us too. In the end, he was able to escape while we were trying to get him to justice so Sirius would be vindicated. He's also the one that made the ritual to resurrect Voldemort."
Daphne took that pretty well all things considered. "Why didn't you tell me before? Is it also a secret under the Fidelius?"
"No... I seriously didn't think about it." Said Harry, looking really sorry and mad at himself. "The only time we spoke of my godfather was that first evening we were alone together, I didn't know you that much at the time..."
"Didn't you tell her about our trainings?" Asked Ron.
"Yeah, I told her Moody and Tonks were slave drivers, but that "the other two" were ok." Said Harry, feeling a bit irritated now.
"You are an idiot, you know that, do you?" Said Hermione. "How could you forget something so important when you brought her into his house?"
"I know I'm an idiot, yeah." Said Harry. His irritation flared at that. "But do you think I had time to think about that yesterday? I was worried sick!"
Hermione was taken aback by the outburst and didn't make any comment. She could tell that he was mostly angry toward himself about forgetting something that was so important but she felt she didn't deserve to be the target of his irritation.
"Its ok..." Said Daphne, taking Harry's hand to calm him down. She knew Hermione just wanted to make a point but she should know that it wasn't good to push Harry when he felt bad about himself. "I'm not mad after you Harry. But if you have some other shocking secret I should know, like Severus being your actual uncle or that you are in fact a time traveller, please don't wait at the last minute."
Harry looked so shocked that all his frustration seemed to wash away in one go. "How can you even suggest me being related to that overgrown bat?"
"So the time traveller isn't event the most improbable thing on your mind?" Said Daphne, happy to see that her move worked good and that Harry wasn't mad anymore. She saw him smile when realization hit him.
"How can you always deflate me so easily?" He asked.
"Must be a gift from the gods." Daphne shrugged.
"Ow... That hurt you know?" Said Sirius after he was released by Hermione. "But its a good idea to combine the tickling charm with the bodybind curse."
Daphne swiftly sent those two specific spells in row at the one she still though was a mass murderer few minutes before. When the other looked at her strangely, she simply said : "What? He scared me and I wasn't fast enough for the first round of hexes, I still wanted my part in it. Still, that combination will certainly become one of my favorite Frost-Bite."
Harry and the others laughed at the statement. Daphne released Sirius who got up and walked to Harry. "Pup... That girl is perfect, don't let her go!"
"I don't plan on it." Said the raven haired boy while looking to the equally dark haired girl in the eyes. He gave a little squeeze with his hand while the Lord Black took a seat.
Molly came back from shutting off Mrs. Black and took back her seat. "So... Now that its out of the way... Would you mind talking about you dear?"
Daphne shifted on her seat but received a comforting squeeze from Harry's hand. "Well, as you may know, I'm in Harry's year, in Slytherin."
"You're in Slytherin?" Asked Molly with big eyes.
"Well ehm... Yes, though we – that means me and very few peoples – aren't thinking like most of our house." The Slytherin girl looked nervous now and moved herself a bit closer to Harry on the bench.
"What do you mean? I'm sorry but Slytherin doesn't have a good reputation." Said Sirius, Harry could tell he wasn't asking that because he really wanted to know, he already knew, he just wanted to hear her answer.
"I don't believe in blood supremacy, my best friend is Half-blood and her father was a Gryffindor. Also, as much as I may be ambitious in a way, I don't feel like its good to push others down to reach your goal." Explained Daphne.
"You're still pretty good at manipulation." Said Ron. It wasn't an accusation, simply a fact but it did make Molly frown.
"Not that much. Most of our reputation come from Tracey in fact. She's manipulative mainly for fun, yet never use her "talent", if can say that, to shun somebody or in a bad way. We're more like manipulating events in our favor, not people themselves... though Tracey do like to have fun using it to prank a bit." She rolled her eyes when thinking about her best friend.
"How did you start to like Harry?" Asked Molly.
Daphne knew the question would come so it was easy to answer. "I was intrigued at first. I kept hearing the legends, the rumors and all that about Harry and I wanted to know if any of it was true. By listening on him and his friends talk in herbology, I learned a lot. I know its not the most noble way to learn about somebody but... there's a reason I'm not in Gryffindor, which also prevented me from really talking to him. I was afraid of what my house would say at first, then it became a fear of rejection from him. Anyway, I learned of the real Harry. I did get a few confirmations about a few rumors, but it didn't interest me anymore. I found a lot more interest in the Harry that just wanted to be normal and have a regular life. That he was brave and noble was just a bonus. That's when I started to wish I could speak to him, but couldn't because I was afraid of reactions from the others and mostly from him. It became a small crush, then I became aware that it was more when I felt so worried about him at the first task of the Tournament. Then this year, a series of fortunate events got us talking and getting to know each other more. Even more fortunate and hazardous events got us confessing to each other at the end of November."
The look she gave him was one he never experienced. It was caring and very deep. That one look made him feel all mushy inside and he couldn't help himself but smile stupidly.
"Well... That explains a lot." Said Sirius. "Your feelings do look genuine, that's for sure... Unfortunately, my next question won't be about a subject as pleasant."
"Its ok, I know they are necessary." Replied Daphne. "You want to make sure I'm not gonna go tell anything to my father, right?"
"Who is her father?" Asked Molly, not sure she wanted to know the answer in fact.
Sirius ignored Molly's question and simply answered to Daphne. "No. I got the feeling that you are dependable, that I can trust you. But your father is a Death Eater..." Sirius paused to make sure the Weasley matriarch wouldn't do anything stupid but all she did was look coldly at Daphne. She didn't knew the full story of what happened to the girl last night and it was one of the things that got Sirius trusting her. "I want to know if he could get you on the Imperius, use Veritaserum or anything that would put us in danger, mainly Harry."
Daphne's head hung low. "I wouldn't put it past him to do something to me so he can get information for the Dark Lord. I plan on being extra careful from now on. And no, I don't plan on going back home, ever. I'm sorry if I'm not a noble, brave Gryffindor, I'm a Slytherin and that mean I does have a bit of selfishness in me. I... I just want to be with Harry and be safe from my father. So I hope you'll accept me at least until I'm seventeen, so that I'm free of him really."
"As if I'd throw you out. It might be the Headquarter for the Order, but its also my house." Said Sirius, looking serious. "You are an invited guest of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black. As the Head of the house, I give you my protection for as long as you need it. Any attack against you, is an attack against me." He extended his hand in a very formal way, something that looked very misplaced about him.
Harry was smiling, as did Hermione, but every Weasley and even Daphne were simply shocked.
"T-Thank you, Lord Black. As the current Heiress of the Noble house of Greengrass, I humbly accept your invitation and protection. Shall your house need any assistance in any way, I will gladly propose my service as a repayment of the immense debt I have toward you. Shall I ever willingly betray your trust, your promise will be void and I will surrender you my life." Concluded Daphhe before shaking hand with Sirius. The seriousness in their look as much as the shocked expression of the Weasley confirmed Harry that it was more than just a simple deal between them. The light-blue halo that surrounded their hands pushed him to ask the question.
"What just happened?" He asked.
"By invoking his status as the Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, his promise became a magical oath." Said Ginny. "He didn't request anything from her, he gave away freely his protection, no condition. If Daphne had simply took his hand without adding conditions, Sirius would have had no choice but protect her regardless of what she did. It was an obvious and overwhelming show of trust toward her."
Daphne had tears forming in her eyes. Sirius, seeing it, just took her in his arms, the way a father would do it for his daughter. "Thanks you..." Said the girl. "Thanks you for your trust, I won't disappoint you."
"I'm sure of it. Just take care of my godson." The Lord said. He finally released her and she just ran back in Harry's arms, snuggling in, planning to do a lot of that now that they would be able to show themselves together in public.
"What happens if you don't respect your oath?" Asked Harry, a bit worried.
"Its not a unbreakable vow. Its a promise over one's honor or its family." Explained Sirius. "Only a Head of House can make an Oath on the family's honor, she could only do it on her own honor."
"That doesn't tell me what will happen if she or you breaks it." He asked, still not relieved.
"Nothing much. The other person will know automatically and that person will lose her standing. Its something very serious in pure blood family, even more for the older ones like the Black." Explained Sirius.
"Its ok Harry." Said Daphne. "I don't plan to betray you and I already planned on helping you the best I can."
Silence fell on the room while people got back their composure, mainly Molly that just had an eye opener about the girl. She did put her life as penalty for betraying them, even if most people around the table didn't realize it. It was Ron that finally broke the silence. "Well... That's all good but... I think I'm gonna go run now. Anybody else coming?"
Looking at each others, the children shrugged as one and left the table.
Harry was hoping Daphne would be alright, it wasn't an easy situation for her. Still, she was currently smiling widely, a warm smile he didn't see often. It made him happy and he resolved to have her smile that way more often.
