"So where are we going?" Daphne asked as we made our way from the Slytherin common room to the seventh floor corridor.
"It's a surprise but you may know when we get close. Harry said almost everyone in school found out about this place last year." I said as we turned down the hall Harry said would have the entrance to the room.
I paced back and forth thinking of what I wanted but no door appeared for us to enter. "I can't figure out how to get in."
"Is this the secret room Draco talked about breaking up Potter's club last year?" Daphne asked.
"Probably, Harry said they used to have secret DADA lessons here last year." I was getting flustered staring at the blank wall.
"I wish I was part of that club last year. I learned nothing from Umbridge last year. She was the worst teacher ever. I barely got through my OWLS with an E-eek." Just as Daphne was finishing her sentence, the wall transformed into a door and was immediately opened to us by Dobby.
"Please come in friends of the Great Harry Potter. Everything is ready as Harry Potter asked of Dobby." Dobby was holding the door open and did a slight bow to both of us.
"Thanks Dobby. Ladies first." I gestured for Daphne to enter the room and I followed her into what looked like a small, elegant restaurant.
A small table for two was in the middle of the room and Dobby showed us to our seats. I pulled out the chair for Daphne and pushed it in for her as she sat down. "This is incredible Dobby, thank you so much for setting this up."
"It was no problem, Dobby is glad to be of help." With that Dobby vanished in the blink of an eye.
"So what is for dinner?" Daphne was looking around but there appeared to be no menus in sight.
"I really have no clue. I believe Dobby is going to bring whatever he has prepared and I'm hoping it is good. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess it will be delicious based off how well Dobby did on the room, it looks amazing."
The tablecloth on the table was white with fancy looking lace trim around the edges. The room was dark but there was a candle on a fancy holder in the middle of the table so Daphne and I could see each other's faces well. A few feet from the table was a stone fireplace glowing, providing most of the lighting in the room. Luckily with the room being smaller the fireplace was all the light that was needed. The door to the room was on the north wall, the fireplace was on the east wall, there was a two-seat couch that I would call a loveseat in America on the south wall, and a window with open curtains letting the stars and moon shine through on the west wall. The table sat in the middle of the room, perfectly placed for a possible romantic evening.
"This is nice Samuel. Thanks for planning this." Daphne let the corners of her mouth rise into her beautiful smile.
"You should really thank Harry; he helped ensure all of this happened tonight while also taking care of Ron." I would need to think of a way to repay him for this.
"I would probably get kicked out of Slytherin if I thanked Harry." Daphne chuckled and I couldn't help but laugh along lightly as well.
"You look pretty as always Daphne." She had put on a blue, form fitting blouse and a black skirt that hugged her hips before flowing out.
"Thank you." She couldn't hide the blush that formed on her cheeks.
"Now, you are supposed to say I'm pretty too." I grinned hoping she would play along with me.
"You look very nice as well Samuel." Daphne tried to say it with a straight face but she was still slightly laughing from my previous comment.
"I love to see you smile, I hate it when you are unhappy."
"Well, I happen to like it when I'm happy as well." Daphne continued to smile at me.
"I was so sorry to hear about you father at Christmas, I know that is a special time of year for you and I can still see the hurt it brings you some days." Daphne's smile faded and she didn't respond. "I'm sorry to bring it up, but if you want to talk about it and get some things off your chest I am here for you."
"I bet the only thing you want off my chest is my shirt the way you are always hitting on me." Daphne snapped at me.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have brought up your dad." I looked at my hands in my lap. I can't believe I ruined the date before the food had even arrived.
"No, I'm sorry Samuel. I shouldn't have responded that way. You are only trying to be nice." Daphne apologized but her good mood had clearly vanished.
So I sat there quietly hoping the food would show before she could get more upset and walk out.
"It's alright really, it's only, my family doesn't even know what happened to my father. We were having our usual Christmas morning, opening presents and sharing breakfast together as a family. When my dad got a floo call saying there was an emergency and he was needed at work. He worked as an Unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries. Not even my mom knew what he did there." Daphne stopped to collect her thoughts and probably catch her breath. She was rushing through her words and I wondered if she had been able to vent to anyone in the last couple of months about it.
"Do they know what happened?" I asked to see if she wished to say any more.
"No, some ministry official came over that evening and said there was an accident and that my father was gone. No further explanation" Daphne started to cry and cry hard.
I got out of my chair and walked around the table to her. I was unsure how to proceed so I just started to gently massage her left shoulder with one hand. Daphne stood up and started to hug me and I let her cry I my shoulder. My heart was breaking and I wanted to show her with my embrace that I cared for her.
It wasn't too long before a loud pop startled us and caused us to jump apart. Dobby had arrived with a large tray holding food and drinks. "Dinner is ready." Dobby set down a glass of water and butterbeer for each of us. Then he sat down a plate for each of us, consisting of roasted chicken and potatoes with a vegetable medley on the side. "Enjoy the rest of your evening; the door will disappear when you leave. And please don't stay later than curfew. I would hate to see Harry Potter's friends in trouble." With that Dobby vanished.
"Do you care to eat?" I asked Daphne. She responded with a small nod and we each took our seats again. We didn't talk much as we ate. The food was really good even if it is not my choice of meal. I am more of a steak and potatoes type of guy but this was a better meal for a date and I appreciated Dobby and all his help.
As we neared the end of our meal I tried to start a new conversation with a different topic. "Tell me something about yourself? What are your hobbies? What do you like to do for fun? What would you like to do when we are done with Hogwarts?"
"We had a dance in during the Yule ball fourth year. It was a lot of fun. I don't really have hobbies though. I enjoy learning and spend a lot of time on my studies." Daphne answered.
"What about when you are at home on breaks?" I pushed her for more information.
"I like to read a bit and spend time with my mom. I cook with her and I really enjoy spending time with her. Let's see, I play the piano. I'm not great but I have some favorite songs that I like to play." Daphne seemed to perk up a little thinking of some good things back at her home.
"I would love to hear you play some time."
"You may regret saying that if you actually heard me play sometime." Daphne responded blushing, she was slightly embarrassed.
"I don't think so. I can't play any instrument and it is impressive to me if anyone can play an instrument. It is like learning another language." Daphne had put her napkin up on the table and appeared to be finished eating. "Care to join me on the couch." I stood and gestured with my hand to where it was positioned against the wall.
Daphne stood up "Sure, I'm done eating. This has been nice." Daphne sat in the chair beside me. A little further away than I would have liked.
"Even with me badgering you with questions and bringing up your father." I asked.
"I know I cried, but I think it was good for me to talk to you about it. I have barely talked to Tracey about it. Thank you for taking me on this date Samuel, I think I needed it." Daphne gave me her small smile again.
"So, would you like to do it again?" I asked hopefully. Slightly scooting myself closer to her.
"I would like that very much." Daphne responded. The blue in her eyes carried so much emotion, I could tell she was happy to be with me.
I leaned it a gently pressed my lips to Daphne's in a short kiss. Daphne tilted her head and responded by kissing me back. I wrapped her in my arms and pulled her closer. I couldn't have her close enough; I couldn't get her close enough. I needed to be close to her and it seemed she wanted to be close to me too.
After what seemed like only a couple minutes she pulled away. I couldn't tell exactly how much time had passed and Daphne seemed to have the same thought. "What time is it?" Daphne inquired.
"Don't know, don't care." I started to lean back in for another kiss when Daphne stood up.
"I don't know what time it is, and we are a long way from the Slytherin common room. If we are past curfew I will probably get caught." The worry was evident on her face.
I stood up as well. "I will walk you back to your common room; if you are caught, I want to be caught with you." I grabbed Daphne's hand and we made our way to the door.
By how deserted the hallways were, we both understood without talking, that it was past curfew. Hand in hand we made our way down the castle. Daphne led the way trying to take the safest route back.
As we made the final turn into the dungeons we saw Filch walking ahead of us. We quickly ducked into a broom cupboard without making a sound. "Do you think he heard us?" Daphne sounded worried.
I whispered into Daphne's ear "We will find out in a second if he did. No more noise." It was hard to resist the urge to start kissing Daphne but I managed it. He may hear us snogging in here and if Filch caught us making out, the punishment would surely be worse. Of course, if he caught us in here he would probably make the assumption of what we were doing without the actual evidence.
We waited for what must have been well over 10 minutes. It felt like I was holding my breath the whole time. But I knew we were both breathing by the way our bodies were forced together in the small space.
"Do you think it is safe to go out?" Daphne was the one to break the silence.
I gave her a quick kiss. "Only one way to find out." I exited out first. When I saw it was clear I reached in the closet and pulled Daphne out. "We are almost there, let's hurry and get you back."
We stopped outside the stone wall that was the door to the Slytherin common room. "Good night Samuel."
"Good night Daphne."
Daphne said the password and was about to leave when she turned back toward me. "How do you know where the Slytherin common room is?"
I leaned in for one final kiss before saying "I have my tricks, or at least Harry does." With that, I started on my way to the Gryffindor dorms. I wasn't out of the woods yet.
I decided to risk the main staircase up the castle, going for the fastest way I could think of to get to the Gryffindor tower.
"You there. What 'er doin' ou' this late." I turned around to see the giant professor I believe is named Hagrid.
Before I could say anything Harry, who was standing next to Hagrid and hermione answered. "It's okay Hagrid. This is Samuel. He was probably out checking to make sure Hermione and I were coming back from the infirmary."
"You're the one who broke up with Hermione her'." Hagrid started to glare at me.
Before I could come up with a response Filch came out of nowhere " Oho! Out of bed this late, this'll mean detention!"
"No it won', Filch. They're with me aren' they?"
"And what difference does that make?" asked Filch obnoxiously.
Filch and Hagrid started to argue and Hagrid said "Get goin'." out the corner of his mouth to us. We didn't need told twice. The three of us made a beeline form the Gryffindor tower. "You three went back to the infirmary after dinner then?" I asked as we neared the Fat Lady.
"Yes, we just left when we ran into you. Are you just getting back from your date and how did it go?" Hermione inquired.
"Yes, and it went very well. Thanks so much Harry."
When we got into the common room, Harry and I said goodnight to Hermione. We were about to head to bed when Cormac McLaggen ambushed Harry. "There you are Potter."
I didn't want to stay for that conversation so I said good night and headed for bed leaving Harry to deal with McLaggen. It wasn't very nice, especially after everything Harry had done for me earlier in the day. But I had a pretty blonde I wanted to go dream about and I would make it up to Harry another time.