It was his obsession. No, that wasn't it. It was his craving. He knew he was going mad but still he came. Day and night. He couldn't eat nor sleep, all he did was stand before an ornate mirror and just stare at the dead form of his brother.

"Oh, Izuna. How do I bring you back? Where's Hashirama's chakra? What do I do? Send me a sign!?"

The spectre of Izuna Uchiha just continue to smile at the rapidly infuriating Madara. Just as things were literally about to get heated the door to the room of requirement began to open.

And entered Daphne Greengrass.

Blonde hair free flowed elegantly, ice blue eyes assessing him with a clarity she hadn't possessed when he had first met her. The command for the room changed, hiding Madara's desire from the pure-blood princess.

"Potter, you said you could help me with my plight?"

Madara nodded. "I can, Miss Greengrass. I've recently been emancipated. And that grants me certain benefits."

Daphne stared at him before giving an unladylike snort. "Sorry to disappoint you Potter, but your emancipation does not contribute to anything. The Wizengamot only recognises you as a Lord, if you have the necessary 100 million Galleons. And that's per house."

"But I have the Potter ring."

"Which doesn't mean squat to the people in charge Potter. Pure-blood families all have Lord rings that only denote them as leaders of their respective houses. If that was your plan to save me, then it won't work."

"I'm the boy-who-lived and Lord to the house of Potter and heir to the house of Black, surely your parents would find it beneficial to join a union between our two houses?"

Daphne shook her head, blonde hair flying everywhere. "The Greengrass name is synonymous with the grey fraction, my father being its undisputed leader. The Potter family has always followed light propaganda and the Black family is dark through and through."

"Yet your father has contracted you to a death eater? Explain to me how that works?" Said Madara as he sent more magic through his eyes, turning them to mangekyō state, as he analysed the blonde bombshell thoroughly.

"Death eater he might be, but it's the only way father can keep our house from incurring the wrath of Voldemort. And It was either me be contracted to Amycus Carrow or my younger sister Astoria. And I'd gladly sacrifice myself for her..."

Madara noted a couple of things that increased his respect for the blonde. One was her complete disdain for Voldemort (she hadn't even shuddered when she had said his name) and her love for her sister. He was painfully reminded of his own for Izuna. He made an internal vow to himself. He would help the girl with her plight, and he knew just how to go about it, it was risky but he was a known risk taker.

"Miss Greengrass, schedule a meeting with your father, I'll do what I can to change his mind and free you from your betrothal contract."

"He won't just meet anyone Potter. And even if he did, how would you manage to convince him?"

Madara smirked at her. "Why, I'd duel him of course."

Daphne's eyes widened. "No offence Potter, but you're only shown aptitude for defence, which by Hogwarts standards isn't that good, my father would beat you. And I'll still be imprisoned."

Madara internally chuckled, if there was one thing inhabiting Potter's body had wrought him, it was everyone underestimating him, which was something he could capitalise on. "Well then you shouldn't have too much of a hard time besting me in a duel."

"Huh?" Was Daphne's eloquent reply.

"It's simple Miss Greengrass, duel me. If I win, you will tell your father I want to meet him and vouch for me whilst doing so. If you win, then I'll happily grant you a favour of your choice."

Daphne thought about it for a moment before nodding her head in assent. "Fine, Potter, lets duel!"

Madara used his authority over the room of requirement as he changed its parameters to suit his needs. A vast duelling platform formed underneath them spanning the length of the room. From his newly elevated position, he could see the wonder on Daphne's face as she looked around the room.

"What is this place Potter?" She said as she climbed up wooden steps to face him directly, withdrawing her wand as she did so.

"Room of requirement. Can suit the needs of the person/people within. How about I show you how to operate it, after our duel?"

Daphne nodded and held her wand in front of her like a sword, her legs spaced apart, her dominant right leg facing forward whilst her least dominant back in a bendy position.

"We'll start when this leaf hits the ground." As she spoke, Daphne summoned a green leaf with a hole in the middle, using a burst of wind generated from her wand, the leaf was send flying into the air and began its descent to the duelling platform below.

It touched the ground and all hell broke loose.

Daphne unleashed a low powered area of effect stunner, dim pulses or red spanning the tip of her wand as she unleashed it with rapidity. Dozens of the stunning spells converged around Madara's position who anticipated them with his Sharingan, he weaved and dodged them with surprising levels of gymnastics and acrobatics.

He smirked at the blonde arrogantly as his raven black tresses weaved in his motion. "Is that the best you've got Miss Greengrass?"

Daphne frowned. `Potter has lightning fast reflexes… Such a thing surely must be impossible. ` She weaved her wand in complex gestures as she ignited a rune in the air. A fiery column of fire was ejected from the airborne rune as it sprayed towards Madara's position with impunity.

The blonde stopped feeding magic to the rune, dispelling the fire, only to see Madara nowhere in sight.

"My turn Miss Greengrass."

Daphne's eyes widened as she felt a shaft of Holly pressed lightly against her neck. A muttered incantation rendered her unconscious.

She awoke a second later to Potter's hand thrust in her face.

She grasped onto it and gingerly stood. "Good duel Miss Greengrass."

"Please, call me Daphne." She said titillatingly.

"Only if you call me Harry"

`Yes, things are going rather swimmingly. `

And that's a wrap for now.

AN:

Sorry for the small chapter, the next one is quite long and my computer has issues with format, hence I've to post it in moderation. Which will happen as soon as I've proof read it. If I toot my own horn, I can say that, you readers are in for a right treat. :v

Any questions? Review them.

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Till next time, Uzunami 669.