A/N: This is just for my (and hopefully your) amusement. I own nothing and I'm not seeking any profit from publishing this work.

Chapter 9 - Definitely, Maybe

Daphne had been working with Harry for three weeks and the initial exhilaration and excitement had well and truly worn off. The endless angry/envious/confused stares she had to endure from what seemed to be the whole of Hogwarts (including the staff!) and the seeming dead end she had been met with after thoroughly studying Harry's connection with Voldemort had sapped her energy. She had always worked hard at her studies but this was different. This meant something. This was well and truly hard.

She and Harry had spent almost every evening together either tending to their own studies or with Harry reciting and re-reciting, in excruciating detail, everything he could remember from each time he "connected" with Voldemort. Daphne had thought about it so many times...had cross referenced her observations against every book she could find on mind magics...and had reached a standstill. Based on everything she had found in the library what Harry was experiencing was truly unprecedented. Even venturing into the Restricted Section using the invisibility cloak came up with no answers. She had thought it through so much she was now going in circles.

Her thoughts always reverted back to three anomalies she could not explain:

In every book she could find these sort of connections were always one way and always required a master Legilmens. She had no doubt that Voldemort was a master at the craft and if anyone could perform such an act from a significant distance it would be him. But how to explain Harry accessing Voldemort's mind? There were many things she admired about Harry but his ability to discipline his mind was not on the list. There was something beyond Legilmency and Occlumency going on.

Excluding the false images planned by Voldemort Harry's ability to access his thoughts were all rooted in powerful emotion: anger, rage, excitement. As much as the headmaster annoyed her these days she thought he might have been on the right track. Beginning with his mother's sacrifice through the battle at the Department of Mysteries Lily Potter and Harry had consistently and definitively bested Voldemort with their emotions. It was truly fascinating...her cynical, clinical mind wanted to dispute it but there was no other explanation. They seemed to defeat Voldemort by sheer force of will and Voldemort's complete dismissal of such a thing being possible. There had to be a way to harness that emotion. She didn't totally subscribe to Dumbledore's idea that Harry could love Voldemort to death but there was something there to be honed and exploited. Lily Potter had done it once. She needed to do it again.

Then there was the snake. Harry somehow accessing Voldemort's mind was inexplicable enough but somehow seeing through the snake's eyes was another level of baffling. She kept going back to her original reaction when she realized Harry could speak Parseltongue. She was positive all three shared something. She was so close...so frustratingly close to the answer.

She was broken out of her thoughts by the warming of the coin she had been twirling unconsciously in her hand. Her initial confusion turned to panic fearing the worst for Harry's safety. She quickly read the message.

Hermione has invited herself and Ron to study with us in the library so you'll have to pretend you can stand me.

She initially smiled at his joke and quickly became unsettled. This would be her first proper time around Weasley.

She had seen him evaluating her multiple times since she and Harry had started 'dating'. He hadn't seemed angry...just thoughtful. Based on her observations over the years and Hermione's scathing comments about the boy the last couple of weeks this seemed to be uncharacteristic behavior. She could have handled the 'emotions on his sleeve' Weasley she was used to seeing but this thinking, considerate Weasley unnerved her. She was pleasantly surprised so far at how well she had handled the mumbled insults levied her way. Even the ones from her own housemates hadn't fazed her. She hated to admit it but Harry's friends were different. She wanted them to like her.

She found them in the back sitting at 'their' table. Hermione was muttering under her breath to Weasley, a look of unbridled fury on her face. Ron appeared unfazed which seemed to be infuriating her even more. Harry just looked tired. Daphne got the impression that he had been sitting through some version of this for the last six years.

"Daphne!" Harry exclaimed, a relieved expression coming over his face. To her complete and utter surprise he quickly leaped from his chair and embraced her. 'This is new,' she mused, not displeased in the least.

He whispered in her ear. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you. They've been at each other's throats all day and it's doing my head in. They just need to get on with it and shag or something."

She snorted at his joke and noticed Hermione's expression lighten, all traces of her previous anger gone. Weasley was looking at her as well...thinking. It was unnerving.

Harry seemed to realize what he was doing and pulled back, an embarrassed expression on his face. She grabbed his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze of assurance. "Glad to see you've missed me since yesterday, Harry," she said purposely loud enough for everyone else to hear.

Harry relaxed. Hermione beamed. Weasley just sat there, evaluating.

After a bit of small talk the next two hours passed uneventfully as Daphne devoted time to catching up on her normal studies. She was slogging through her Ancient Runes translations when she heard Hermione speaking to Harry.

"Needing a bit of help then?"

She looked to see that Harry had pulled out a textbook. A very worn textbook by the looks of it. 'Must be Potions,' she mused as it did not look familiar to her. Her Potions education had mercifully ended after the required five years. She had managed an Outstanding on her OWLs but had no interest in continuing her 'instruction' under Snape. She had been furious when she learned he had taken over Defence and would be stuck with him for at least another year.

"Not now, Hermione," Harry spat out. Harry had mentioned that he and Hermione had been arguing more than usual this year and it appeared she was about to witness it first hand.

Hermione opened her mouth to speak but was cut off forcefully by Harry. "I said not now, Hermione."

Hermione closed her mouth but leveled Harry with a glare not quite as fierce as the one previously directed at Weasley. Ron seemed prepared to speak before Hermione cut in. "Not a word Ronald. I'm sick of you making excuses for-".

"Excuse us," Harry said angrily as he stood and quickly pulled Hermione from the table and into the stacks. She suddenly realized she and Weasley were alone. Best to get this over with.

"It's clear you have something to say to me. I'd appreciate it if you would just get on with it. I hope it's not about something stupid like me being a Slytherin."

Her question seemed to take him by surprise. Eventually he recovered and spoke.

"I may have already raised those concerns to Harry. Hermione then shared with me, in excruciating detail, how stupid that sort of comment was and how much she trusted you as well. I'm actually a bit worried she may have put a hex on me that activates if I call you a sn-, the 's' word that rhymes with cake."

"I'm not joking," he assured her as Daphne raised her eyebrows. He took a breath and continued.

"Look, Greengrass-"

"I prefer Daphne," she interrupted.

"Look, Daphne," he began again, "based on what Harry and Hermione have said you seem to be all right. If they trust you that's good enough for me."

She could tell there was something he still wanted to say. "But…" she prompted.

"Even though I don't think it's true there is a chance you are...I don't know...using Harry."

She began to speak but he lifted his hand for her to stop. "I'm not finished."

"Harry is a good bloke...a great bloke. He's been through a lot and deserves to be happy so...just don't take advantage. If you are just playing around I'm asking you to do it with someone else."

She nodded her head, relieved that she had passed Ron's test, even if it was provisional.

"Right," he continued, now grinning. "You wouldn't happen to have finished that Transfiguration essay due tomorrow have you?"

"Hermione already warned me you'd try this at some point so I'm sorry to say you're on your own."

"Everyone is conspiring against me," he mumbled as he smiled and shook his head, returning to his work.

Daphne laughed. "Any idea what that was about?" she asked as he gestured toward where the pair had disappeared.

"Hermione being insane. I'll let Harry tell you about it. I don't want to risk her hearing me siding with Harry again."

They worked in silence for several minutes before Harry returned and purposely began packing his bag. "Fancy a walk?" he asked her as a worried looking Hermione came into view.

"Um, yeah," she replied as she quickly packed up.

"Harry please don't-" Hermione blurted.

"Ready," Harry interrupted as he grabbed Daphne's hand and pulled her toward the exit. She gave Hermione an apologetic look as they disappeared from sight.

They walked for several minutes in silence, still holding hands. She could feel and sense Harry gradually relaxing and waited for him to speak. Eventually he pulled her into an empty classroom that was thankfully portrait free and collapsed into a nearby chair. "Sorry about that," he muttered.

"It's really no problem Harry. What's going on?" She could tell Harry did not like arguing with his friends.

He handed her the worn textbook she had spotted before. "This is what's going on."

She scanned through the book and quickly realized virtually every page had been written on. Whole passages had been marked through and handwritten notes filled the margins.

"Whoever this book belonged to originally is a potions genius. I've followed his revised instructions all year and my Potions grade has soared. Hermione has decided it's cheating and won't shut up about it."

"Well that's stupid," she blurted. She looked up from the book to see Harry was visibly relieved at her reaction.

"Thank you!" he enthused. "She is just so competitive and so stubborn sometimes. I'm not sure why but her making that comment in front of you just hit a nerve." He calmed down and continued. "Seriously, thank you. Even if you disagreed with me I value your opinion."

Harry continued, emboldened by her agreement. "I've learned a few spells in there too. This book is how I knew Muffliato."

"Suppose it was Snape's book?" she asked.

"Nah. That was my first thought when you mentioned how he taught it to you but the Prince is a much better teacher than Snape will ever be."

"Prince?"

Harry grabbed the book and turned it to a page in the front before handing it back.

"The Half Blood Prince," she read aloud. "He's a bit dramatic. Are you sure it isn't Snape?"

Harry shrugged. "If he is he's helped me loads more as a student then he ever has as a professor."

Daphne continued scanning the book and came across what looked to be a spell written in the margins. "Levicorpus...what's that one do?"

Harry seemed to become uncomfortable. "Uhh...it hangs someone by their leg in the air."

She kept reading the scribblings and did not see where that was listed. 'Idiot,' she mused. "It doesn't say anything about what it does in the book. How did you sort that out?"

He was most definitely uncomfortable now. "I...umm...tried it. But there was no harm done. It hit Ron who was in bed at the time."

"Well as stupid as Hermione is being about using it to improve your potions trying any spell without knowing what it does is incredibly stupid. And on one of your friends? What am I saying? Doing it on anyone is irresponsible."

"That's what Hermione said." At that moment he reminded Daphne of a kicked puppy.

"Still value my opinion?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered immediately. "I'm not sure why but it sounded much more reasonable coming from you. Maybe because you agreed about the potions bit." He smiled despite himself. Quickly he snapped to attention.

"I almost forgot," he said briskly as he pulled a wrapped box out of his bag.

"Happy Birthday," he blurted as he handed her the box.

"My birthday was last week Harry," she said, trying to suppress a smile, "and you weren't meant to know." She had tried to keep it from him because she knew he would want to do the noble thing and get her something.

"I know but I only found out about it a few days ago. I wanted to thank you for your help and I needed something for Winky to do so you're really doing me a favor. Besides, what kind of a fake boyfriend would I be if I forgot my fake girlfriend's birthday."

"That is some seriously flawed reasoning but I love presents so I will let it go."

As she started opening the box Harry spoke, a hint of nervousness in his voice. "We've never really talked about your hobbies so I thought I'd get you something practical."

She opened the box to find a muggle fountain pen. It was nice. Simple but nice.

"It's actually a self inking quill meant to look like a fountain pen. I thought it would be useful since your family does so much business with muggles."

"It's brilliant," she interrupted, touched by his thoughtfulness. "Thank you."

She sat down across from Harry, still looking at the gift. "I like muggle music," she said softly.

"What?"

"One of my hobbies...I picked it up from my mum. The new music players don't work so well around magic but phonographs are pretty easy to enchant...and I have a wireless that picks up muggle broadcasts as well. I miss listening to it when I'm at school. The Weird Sisters are fine but it gets a bit tiring when every song is about magic."

She looked up to see him smiling at her again...that genuine smile he seemed to be sharing with her more often.

"I've always wanted to try baking," he shared.

She laughed. "You're joking."

He shrugged his shoulders. "One of my chores when I'm at my relatives is to cook but it's always been basic meals. I'd like to try it for fun...proper baking. Biscuits, pastries, pies...it seems like it would be relaxing."

Daphne stayed quiet, willing him to share more.

"My Aunt likes to watch baking shows on muggle television. Sometimes when my Uncle wasn't home she would let me watch with her. I was younger then...six or seven. She didn't dislike me as much then."

She had realized early on in their discussions that Harry purposely avoided mentioning his relatives and was pleased to see him opening up more...even if just a bit. "Why haven't you tried it? Based on how you've described your cousin he would eat it as quick as you could make it."

"They have an aversion to messes and a strong aversion to me enjoying things so I've never risked it." He said it so matter of factly...not wanting sympathy or pity. It was normal to him. Daphne's blood boiled.

"Well once were done sorting out your problem you can come visit this summer. You can make me a cake and listen to Beatles records with me. Chocolate with buttercream icing I think."

"It's a date," he replied without a trace of belief in his voice that it would ever actually happen. It was as if he had given up ever getting his hopes up for anything nice to happen...no matter how small. She silently vowed to some day have Harry make her a rubbish cake. She would lie through her teeth about how good it was and eat every bite offered.

The responsible part of Daphne kicked in as she remembered there were a few things she needed to cover about their project. It was easy to let herself get distracted around Harry but she forced herself into action. Grudgingly she changed the topic. "Can we spend a bit of time under the oath and make some plans? If we miss dinner we could maybe make a run to the kitchen?"

"Absolutely," he replied. "Hermione and I could use a break from each other anyway. Besides, I like our trips to the kitchen 'Miss Greeny'."

"Damn Dobby," she muttered to herself as she cast Muffliato. "Anyway, has Hermione made any progress on Horcruxes?"

"No," he replied, frustration evident in his voice. "She's looked at everything she can find."

"I think I've gone over everything about your connection that I can based on what's available at Hogwarts. It's time we take my parents up on their offer. They have access to some...darker reference material that may help. We can ask them about Horcruxes as well."

He nodded his head. "Time to meet the in-laws."

"Idiot," she muttered as her stomach flipped. She stubbornly ignored it as she looked back at her gift. "Thanks to wizarding tradition they can easily justify a visit now that you are 'courting' me."

"Is it weird that I'm suddenly nervous?"

She laughed. "No need to worry. Based on what I've told them they think you're brilliant. Just do me a favor and try to pretend you care when my father discusses his progress with the basilisk."

"I knew there would be a catch," he joked.

She was nervous to ask the next question but felt she owed it to Harry. "So are you okay with telling them everything? My father is very shrewd. If he really wanted to divulge something that could make you vulnerable he could probably figure out a way."

"He would never do that though right?"

"Never."

"Then they get to know everything."

"Even the prophecy?"

"Yes."

Daphne smiled.

They quickly formulated a plan. Daphne would write to her parents and request another meeting on Saturday. It would be simple to justify Harry's absence from the castle to meet Daphne's parents. If Dumbledore protested they could easily cite Harry's status as the Potter heir and wizarding courting traditions to shut him up.

They had finished in time to make dinner in the Great Hall but both agreed the kitchen was a better option.

As they made their way down the hall Daphne was roused out of her thoughts by Harry tugging on her elbow to stop. He quickly recast Muffliato and spoke. He looked...nervous.

"Umm...I know we don't really have anything to work on until we meet with your parents but I was hoping we could...you know...keep studying together."

Her stomach lurched again and she replied. "Well I study with Hermione on Mondays and I need to spend some time with Tracey and Astoria as well...but yes. Definitely." She vaguely realized she was twirling the coin in her pocket again. "Maybe we could study one night together with them too? They'd like to meet you."

"Yes," he replied, releasing a breath as they started walking again.

'Checkers not chess,' Daphne repeated in her mind as she let go of the coin and took Harry's hand instead. She could feel Harry tense initially but he quickly relaxed, giving her hand a gentle squeeze as they continued walking.

She was rapidly becoming a fan of checkers. In the end, she realized, it all came down to who you decided to play with.