"Working hard is important!"

Harry leapt forward and adjusted Padma's wand

"But there's something that matters even more!"

Spotting Lavender from the corner of his eye, Harry dashed quickly to her and corrected her stance. She then fired, and sent Fred spiraling across the room. There was a light cheer from the other students.

With an smirk, Harry continued.

Seeing his students working together reminded him of the photograph they had hanging in the corner. It made him think that perhaps, this was how the first Order started out too. Longbottoms, Weasleys and Potters, bringing together their friends and starting an uprising against the forces of evil… it certainly rang familiar bells.

"Think of it this way!" he exclaimed, "Every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than we are, right now: students. If they can do it, why not us?"

They worked as a team… but functioned as a family. Neville in particular, he had been struggling since lessons began but never once had Harry heard a bad word thrown his way. It caused a swelling of warmth in his heart, as it occurred to him this was perhaps similar to the pride Professors felt seeing their students achieve.

As Harry's adrenaline high reached its peak, he announced to the class.

"Okay everybody, that's enough for today!"

The class slowed down to a halt, spells disappeared, wands lowered and eyes turned to him.

"We did fantastic today, seriously, brilliant! Next lesson will be our last before we break up for Christmas. Now as you know, we don't know when it'll be yet, so keep your eyes peeled and we'll let you know as soon as we do. Any questions?"

His question was simply met with smiles.

"Right then, class dismissed! And remember, Umbridge has Flitch and the Inquisitorial Squad roaming the halls, so try and space apart your exits! Take different routes, travel in small groups, think like a snake!"

Harry nodded his group off, and one by one they began to slowly drain from the room. His friends approached him.

"That was sick man," Ron patted him on the shoulder.

"You're really getting the hang of the teacher role now, aren't you?" Hermione asked, impressed.

Ginny pulled him into a hug.

"You did great, as per."

He pulled away from her embrace.

"Ehh... Thanks, guys," he smiled. "I mean it, it means a lot."

"You coming to the common room? Fred and George got a new supply in they want to show off, reckon they'd like an audience for it," Ron laughed.

"You guys go ahead, I've gotta reset the room but I'll catch yous up!"

Each of the crew said their goodbyes and then, eager not to be caught out of bed after hours, hurriedly made their way out of the room.

Eventually Harry was left on his own. Acting quickly, he began collecting the loose bits and pieces left behind and only after every training dummy was returned to its original position, all the debris had been swept up and the room was (its version of) spotless did he make his own leave. Opening the door quietly and spying out into the corridor, he carefully stepped out, pulling the entrance closed behind him. He then did three short and simple paces back and forth before coming to back to his original position, where he allowed himself back in.

The room had changed from its grungy training area to the soft, clean room that had custom fitted to suit he and his mistresses needs.

It wasn't long before he had company.

"Potter! What are you doing here?"

Harry swirled round in a flash. His heart leapt into his mouth, but then relaxed at the sight of Daphne. She had obviously entered in silence, and stood before him smirking.

"You're out of bed after hours, that's worthy of detention!"

He smiled.

"Well?" she asked impatiently, "Anything to say for yourself?"

Harry held his hands up.

"I suppose you've caught me, fair and square."

Daphne sauntered a step closer.

"With that attitude, maybe detention isn't harsh enough… I reckon a trip to Azkaban would be more suitable."

Harry nodded solemnly.

"Completely understandable."

She came to a stop in front of him and leaned in close, whispering into his ear.

"Actually come to think of it… I can imagine a different punishment… that will be far more suited for bad boys like you."

The enthusiasm behind Harry's smile shrank away and his cheeks flushed a shiny red.

"I… er…"

Daphne cackled.

"You're so cute."

Harry forced out a laugh and scratched his head.

"It's good to see you, Daph."

Daphne shook her head, still gently took Harry by the arm and lead him deeper into the room.

They'd managed to make contact over the week. Only in the form of a small note passed between themselves during a busy lesson, but it had been all they needed.

ROR, 7.

Indecipherable nonsense to the untrained eye, but Harry had taken that leaf out of his godfathers book.

"Hello, Harry," she placed her head on his shoulder. "How have you been?"

"I've been alright… getting on. And you?"

"Same old. Ice Queeningness."

Harry laughed.

"For this talk of you as the Ice Queen I don't really see a lot of it when you're around me. Obviously I bring out the best in you."

Daphne chuckled.

"That, or maybe I decided you're one of the few worthy enough to know real me."

"Now that's sounding more like a queen."

"Because I am the Queen," she nudged him. "Don't you forget it."

They laughed together.

"But really, sorry I was late. Astoria had fallen ill and Umbridge has us busy with the Inquisitorial Squad. I've barely had time to study, never mind see you."

"Actually you were just on time. And I'm glad your majesty was generous to grace me with her presence."

Daphne gently slapped him on the arm as they shared another giggle.

"So anyway, Mister! How did things go with the Weasley girl?"

When the response she was expecting didn't come immediately, she turned to Harry. His expression didn't fill her with confidence.

As she opened her mouth to question him he blurted out an answer.

"It didn't."

"It… didn't?" she repeated.

He sighed.

"Yeah. I mean, I tried. I told her everything I thought she ought to hear."

"You didn't tell her about us… did you?"

"No, god no! I just told her I couldn't give her what she needed from a boyfriend, that I knew I was in the wrong and that I was sorry."

"And?"

"And... that was it."

"What do you mean?"

"Well… she forgave me."

"She forgave you?"

"Yeah… I guess."

"You're gonna have to be a bit more descriptive."

"I can't! That was just it! She forgave me and said it was okay and that she understood."

"Are you still together?"

"Yeah, I mean, I think so. Honestly it was... kind of a confusing."

Daphne pulled her arm loose from his and groaned.

"Harry! You were supposed to break up with her, not patch things up!"

Harry held his hands up but couldn't find his words.

"Everyday you're with her is making me feel like shit," she told him sternly. "I have nothing against this girl, but the fact you're so willing to cheat on her is making me think less of you."

Harry frowned.

"Where's this sudden hit of conscience come from?"

"I was never a bad person, Harry. I just got caught up in the excitement… frankly, the fact you had a girlfriend just made things hotter."

"And now you've come to your senses?"

"I'm guilty of nothing that you're not. My intentions aside you're still the one who's cheating. If I'm perfectly honest, I don't care about Ginny. I should be arsed if her feelings get hurt, but at the end of the day I'm not because I don't know her. What I'm more concerned about is the fact you're so willing to cheat… it doesn't shine a good light on you."

"I'm not willing to cheat! I feel awful about it, but I know breaking up with her is gonna hurt more."

"More than finding out she's being cheated on?"

"Well… no, but…" he sighed. "But the last thing we need is anybody finding out, never mind Ginny. And I tried breaking up with her, she just… wouldn't let me."

"Wouldn't let you?" Daphne scoffed.

"It was weird, okay! I'll try again, I promise."

Daphne pursed her lips and paused for a second, before nodding.

"Okay… well, you better! Feelings aside, we really can't risk anyone getting suspicious. Tracey already figured out I'm seeing somebody so I've got her humping my leg at every opportunity over it."

"She figured it out?"

Daphne waved him off.

"The only people I know well enough to notice are her and Astoria. And Astoria's way too caught up in her own boy trouble to care about mine. You haven't told anybody, I take it?"

"Christ no."

"Professor McGonagall hasn't said anything?"

"Why would she?"

Daphne nodded to herself, confirming a mental note in her head.

"Just wondering. Snaps pulled me aside yesterday to talk about what happened. Thought maybe McGonagall would have done the same with you."

"What did he say?"

Harry sounded alarmed, so she shook her head in reassurance.

"Just making sure I was staying quiet about it. He confirmed my theory that, at the time, we were acting under the influence of the potion… not that that really matters to us now. Rest assured, he has no idea what's really going on."

Daphne was leaving out a valuable bit of information, she knew.

"Any ties he has to you are ties Dumblebore has to You-Know-Who."

She pushed the thought to the back of her head.

"Good. All of my friends know I'm dating Ginny. I have nobody to talk to about this and truth be told, I'd like to keep it that way."

"You sure know how to make a girl feel special."

"You know what I mean!"

Daphne laughed, shaking her head.

"Lucky for you, I do. I admit myself I never imagined my first relationship going like this. Definitely going to give my next one high-standards to live up to."

He nodded.

"And you'd think just once I could find something normal in my life."

"You're too much of a main character for that. Nice thought, though."

"Main character?"

"They don't call you The-Boy-Who-Minded-His-Own-Business-And-Lived-A-Peaceful-Life, do they?"

"Bit of a mouth full. But The-Boy-Who-Lived-Is-Snogging-The-Ice-Queen has a nice ring to it. Sounds like a comic book."

"What's a comic book?"

"Doesn't matter."

"Promise I'll see you soon?" Harry asked, lifting his invisibility robe over his shoulders, leaving him as a simple floating head.

Daphne gave an uneasy smile at the strange sight.

"Hopefully, but I'm not sure when. Inquisitorial Squad is using a lot of my free time… but I hope to see you soon. Goodnight Harry."

The two hugged their goodbye, and then Harry vanished entirely under the cloak. If it wasn't for the fact she was listening for it, she probably wouldn't have been able to hear his footsteps as he moved away. It sent chills up her spine at how eerily useful that power must be.

After Harry's footsteps faded to nothingness, Daphne took in a long breath. Whenever she was around him things always felt so carefree, so much so she had to remind herself to slip back into her default at the end of it. The dopamine high in her head began to relax and drain away. Her posture straightened, smile vanished, face tensed, and in a few short seconds, the Ice Queen was back.

Daphne set off down the corridor the opposite way Harry had left. The Squads duty was to patrol the corridors in the times after the Prefects watch had ended but before the ghosts began. It was a boring and tiresome job, but in return for their extra effort they received extended homework dates, added marks on tests and and overall extra curricular mark at the end of the year. They also had the privileges the prefects had, so much so that they were basically glamorized prefects in everything but name.

The title gave them so much power it was almost unfair on the other students. Actually, scratch that, there was no almost about it. The balance of power had been shifted so much, Daphne suspected it was a matter of days before the Squad would be cancelled due to one of its members mistreating their privileges. All this really just solidified her feelings about Umbridge being a blind and incompetent teacher, but if it helped Daphne get better marks, then she would tolerate it.

As she reached the grand staircase, Daphne couldn't help but marvel at how empty the castle seemed this late at night.

She was on the cards to become a Prefect next year, she knew full well. When that time came patrolling the corridors afterhours would be a regular occurrence for her. But now? She'd never seen the halls this empty, and she'd be lying if it didn't make her feel the slightest bit intimidated. Not that she was scared, far from it actually, as she was probably one of the most equip in the whole school to be wandering around on her own.

"Find anything?"

"Gah!"

The sudden sound caused Daphne to spasm out in freight. She spun around quickly, ready to face her new company.

It was Millicent, one of the other members of the Inquisitorial Squad, and Daphne's part-time acquaintance.

"Sorry," Millicent apologized, "didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't scare me," Daphne defended, knowing full well she was lying. She took a heavy swallow, regaining her composure. "I just thought I was alone. And no, I haven't found anything"

Millicent nodded.

"Apparently Goyle saw some Gryffindors out of bed on the seventh floor," she gestured behind Daphne, "I'm on my way to check it out if you want to come with?"

Daphne shook her head.

"The seventh floor is just where I've come from, I didn't see anything."

"Well I'm still going to check, so do you want to come or am I going to get all the credit for reporting them?"

Daphne wasn't a fan of her wording, but decided to join Millicent anyway.

Millicent was a bigger girl, and as a result of being in a house that valued physical appearance heavily, was not one of the most popular girls. That didn't stop her from embracing the cruel spirit her house members shared, though, as she instead used her size against as a physical advantage over other students. Millicent had earned herself respect in the common room, and although she was a superior witch, Daphne definitely didn't plan on being on the receiving end of the girls wrath anytime soon.

The two returned up the halls that Daphne had came from mostly in silence.

"Have you seen anything?"

"Nothing tonight."

Millicent was one of the few Slytherin girls Daphne didn't mind spending time around. Tracey was probably the only one she would call her friend, and the rest she often secretly despised. Pansy Parkinson in particular, jokes aside, Daphne and her had been at odds ever since first year had began. Apparently there was something about Pansy's emotionally driven, irrational personality that clashed with Daphne's Ice Queen persona. Millicent on the other hand was…

What she lacked in intelligence, she made up for in brawn. Simple minds were often subject to influence, which meant she and Daphne had gotten along fine. She would help her study occasionally, and in return Millicent -probably unknowingly- proved to be a handy bodyguard.

"What do you actually reckon about what Umbridge is saying?" broke the silence, "That Dumbledore is building a terrorist group?"

Daphne rolled her eyes and repressed the urge to scoff.

"I think it's about as ridiculous as everything else that old hag is coming out with."

"You think?"

"The Basilisk was loose in the school for months before he did anything about it," Daphne's voice was strict and sure of herself, "and we are talking about the man who let Dementors onto school grounds. He doesn't have the wits to organize anything like that."

Millicent shrugged.

"I guess. But it does seem like something he'd do. Dumbledore is proper against the ministry, Pansy reckons that's why barely anyone has seen him since Umbridge came. She says he's just as crazy as he is foolish."

She shook her head, knowing full well she had indeed heard Pansy use that exact wording.

"It's still very unlikely, though. Dumbledore is one thing, but I doubt the students involved would stay quiet about it."

"My money's on Potter," Millicent scowled. "With what the Ministry are saying about him, wouldn't surprise me if he was the one who went to Dumbledore with the idea. And we all know he's as crazy as he is foolish."

Her stomach churned at his name. That was the first time she'd heard another Slytherin mention him since they had started their affair.

"Harry wouldn't do anything like that," she waved her off.

"Harry?"

Well, damn.

She'd walked into that one.

Daphne could feel her palms growing moist. Pushing through her rising anxieties, she coughed, and raised an eyebrow at Millicent.

"Harry," she repeated. "Harry Potter..?"

"How many other Potter's do we know?"

Daphne shook her head, "what is your point?"

She could see the cogs turning around in Millicent's head, as she was trying to work out who was questioning who.

"Don't matter," she settled on.

Daphne would forgive herself for that slip up. It was her first time and she had been caught unprepared. Millicent would casually forget her poor choice of wording and there would be no lasting consequences. But this was the only time she would allow that to happen. If she had slipped up like that to Draco or Pansy it would have caused an argument, which could have easily escalated.

She would need to be more careful from now on.

Deciding to move the conversation on, Daphne elected to put an end to Millicent's suspicions.

"Look, if Dumbledore was building an army he'd need resources, secure locations, outside funding, security and a lot of loyalty," she explained. "There's no way something that big could be kept under our noses and we wouldn't know about it."

"Didn't you just brought up the Basilisk…?"

"The Basilisk was one snake, not a group of teenage, obnoxious lions. They'd tell their friends, who would tell their friends, who would tell our friends. There's no way they could organize and then meet in such big numbers under our noses without someone seeing or hearing anything."

"They could be using the Shrieking Shack? Or Hogsmeade?"

Daphne turned her nose up.

"You must think they're really smart to be giving them that much credit."

"No, I don't, I just… I don't know, Umbridge has us doing this for a reason though, right?"

"She's doing it because she is paranoid and delusional. I'm not a fan of the Headmaster either but even I can see his buffoonery is better than her censorship. She's just a pawn being used by the Ministry, she'll be gone as soon as there is no use for her. Which will probably be any day now, the only reason I'm doing this is for the extra credit."

"So you really don't think there is anything going on?"

Daphne rolled her eyes again.

"Trust me, if Dumbledore's army was a thing, I'd know by now."