Chapter Ten: Tri-What?
Harry and Daphne walked into the Great Hall looking a little confused for a minute "Want to eat with me?" He asked looking at her with a raised brow "You can join too Davis."
Daphne looked at Tracy who shook her head "I'll pass for now Potter, thanks though. I'll keep Nott entertained." She gave her friend a small hug before rushing over to the Slytherin table.
"So? What about you?" He asked looking at her crossing his arms.
Daphne bit her purple lip a little "Fuck it, sure." She said walking over to the Gryffindor table sitting down in front of Ron and Hermione; practically every eye was on them.
Harry looked around as they sat down "Can I help you?" He asked rather loudly, locking eyes with some of the people. Soon enough they all turned back around, muttering to each other.
He leaned over and noticed Ron was glaring at him "What?"
"She's not sitting here Harry." He hissed "This is our Table."
"Now now." Nearly Headless Nick said with a disapproving tone of voice "Any student brave enough to dine with Lions is welcome at this table Mr. Weasley." He said shaking his finger.
Hermione beamed at the House Ghost "I agree, we're happy to have you Daphne." She said reaching for a goblet of pumpkin juice.
Ron growled and buried his head under his arms in anger.
"He'll get over it." Daphne whispered to Harry, who laughed a little. Just when he thought he'd finally get to see a sorting from the crowd a voice broke his silence.
"HI Harry!" An excited voice said, before a camera flash went off.
"Hey Collin." He said dully, he didn't know what the boy saw in him; he wasn't a Hero.
"So guess what Harry?" He said with a bright smile before seeing Daphne "Oh, is she new? I haven't met her."
"Slytherin kid, leave me alone." Daphne said glaring, rule number one of women; never ever take a picture of a woman without them knowing.
Collin paled a little "Why is she here Harry?" He asked in a low whisper.
"She's a good friend of mine. So what Collin?"
"Oh right, My little brother is being sorted! I hope he gets Gryffindor." He said brightly "Keep your fingers crossed eh?"
"Sure Collin, I'll do that." He said watching the boy run off back to his spot on the other end of the table. "He thinks the world of me…"
"So do a lot of people." Daphne said leaning on her arm, looking at him "You've got Money, looks and power. It's hard to not."
"Well so do you." Harry said leaning towards her, hitting her with his shoulder lightly.
"Yeah, but I know that already." She said with a grin.
"Bloody Menace." He said rolling his eyes.
"Dipstick."
They went silent as the side door opened letting McGonagall and a heard of First Years trotting behind her into the Great Hall. A small boy was wrapped in Hagrid moleskin cloak, it made it look like a circus tent on his small form. He didn't catch what he mouthed to Collin, he looked to Daphne.
"He fell into the Lake." She said without looking up, feeling that he was looking at her.
The Sorting Hat let out a cough as it was set onto the stool, it stretch around a little and peered at most of the students. "A thousand years or more ago. When I was newly sewn, there lived four wizards of renown, whose names are still well known: Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor, Fair Ravenclaw, from glen, Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad and Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream, they hatched a daring plan to educate young sorcerers. Thus Hogwarts School began. Now each of these four founders, formed their own house, for each did value different virtues in the ones they had to teach.
By Gryffindor, the bravest were prized far beyond the rest; for Ravenclaw, the cleverest would always be the best; for Hufflepuff, hard workers were most worthy of admission; and power-hungry Slytherin loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide, their favourites from the throng. Yet how to pick the worthy ones, when they were dead and gone.
Twas Gryffindor who found the way, he whipped me off his head the founders put some brains in me, so I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug about your ears, I've never yet been wrong, I'll have a look inside your mind and tell where you belong!" The Hat paused for a second looking right at Harry and Daphne for a moment before it seemed to smile.
"Do not think that these Houses chose who you are, while your traits lay the path before you. It is up to you to walk it or forge your own path, wither through Ambition, Harkwork, Noble Deeds or Knowledge. All of us at Hogwarts are one body with different limbs! Do you attack your arm when it gets a burn? Or attack your leg should you stumble and fall! Heed my call or we all shall fall!"
The crowd was silent for a minute or two to download what the hat had told them all, before they all started to clap and cheer. The sorting didn't take too long, from what Harry understood what would be second years now had the longest list in a while; as they were those born right after Voldemort's defeat.
When the sorting was finished Dumbledore stood slowly looking at them all, normally Harry would be in awe at the great man; now? Well now Harry's runes were glowing a blood red at the sight of him. Daphne placed her hand on his leg "Stop it." She hissed lowly, so no one could hear.
"Some of us are able to sense Magic, you're like a bloody furnace right now. Calm down." She whispered softly, tightening her grip on his leg.
Harry nodded taking a very very long breath as Dumbledore said tuck in, though the peace for him lasted only a second as he felt something basically brush along his skull. He turned to lock eyes with Snape, who was looking at him with pure loathing; the feeling happened again.
Harry didn't know what the feeling was but he had a feeling it was from Severus, so he flared his Magic for a second. The Potions master nearly fell out of his seat at the display.
Harry turned back to his meal, he noted Ron was eating like it was his last meal; an already sizable pile of Chicken bones on his plate.
"You know Ronald you're lucky we have a Feast at all today." Nick said with a small sigh, shaking his head at the boys uncivil like manner.
"W'y's at?" He asked spitting a little chunk of chicken onto his plate. Then he jumped a little, swallowing hard on his food. "OW!"
Harry looked at him with glowing green eyes "There are women present, swallow your food." He growled leaning in on the table.
Daphne sighed leaning her head on Harry's shoulder "So why is that Sir Nickolas?" She asked gently to the ghost.
"Peeves of course." He said with another sigh "We were going to give a chance to sit with us during tonight's feast but…well you know Peeves."
"Wild, Annoying, Uncontrollable and Insane?" Harry said without looking up from his steak, popping a piece in when he was done.
"Well said" Nick spoke casually, leaning lightly on the table.
"So what did Peeves do?" Daphne asked.
"The normal, caused chaos for the kitchen terrified the House-elves." Nick said without much thought.
Harry glanced up at the sound of a fork landing onto a plate "House-Elves? Here? At Hogwarts?" Hermione asked gently.
Nick looked perplexed at the question "Of course, the largest dwelling of them too as I believe. Maybe over a hundred or so." He said scratching his ghostly chin.
"I've never seen them though!"
Daphne spoke up "Well Hermione they spend most of the day in the kitchens, then at night they clean up the place." She said looking over at her a bit confused "Think about it, how else would the Common rooms be cleaned up every night?"
Hermione stopped thinking about it for a few moments "Do they at least get sick leave? Or pensions? Holidays?" She said looking the pureblooded girl.
"Look Hermione, They don't get sick and they don't get paid in the way you think, they also don't celebrate our Holidays." Daphne said with a bored look as she prodded her Sheppard's pie.
"Then how do they get paid?" Hermione said rather loudly.
"In life!" Daphne said stabbing the wooden table "If you don't know anything about the House-Elves, don't try changing them!" She went back to her food and leaning on Harry's shoulder.
Hermione didn't speak for the remainder of the meal, she didn't really eat much either continuingly muttering "Slave Labor…"
Harry was just going to let her sort herself out, give her some space for a bit then impart her with a piece of wisdom; like Sirius did with him.
As he wasn't too hungry, but Daphne could still have a small snack. He thought of something, sure it might seem lame but eh, why not?
"Hold still." He said to her as he grabbed a bowl of chocolate pudding, taking a spoonful "Say ah."
"Feeding me Dipstick?" She asked looking up at him with a raised brow "I could get used to this." She said taking a bite of the pudding "But, I think it's only fair." She took a spoon and stabbed the pudding "Say Ah."
Harry chuckled a little as he took a bite, they did this several times before Daphne said she was comfortable. They didn't noticed the confused looks of those around them, most were still confused at why the Glory Boy was with the Slytherin Queen.
"Now!" Dumbledore said rather loudly gaining everyone's attention "That we have all been fed and watered, I have some announcements for you all. Mr. Flich would like you all to know he has updated his banned items list, which I believe is somewhere between five to four hundred items." He paused for a moment looking around, from the Twins to Harry "I would also like to stress that the Forbidden forest is just that! Forbidden, as is Hogsmeade to any below third year."
Harry and Daphne both smirked "Like will stop me." They said rather at the same time, they looked at the other "Looks like Dipstick can break some rules."
"All the time."
"It is also…my painful duty to inform you all that the Quidditch Cup will not be taking place this year." Dumbledore said, he looked tense as he said that.
"WHAT!" Harry shouted, along with Fred, George, Ron, Malfoy and several other Quidditch players. He was quite sure he'd heard a kid faint, Daphne turned around and punched him in the shoulder.
"You're too loud." She said softly, rubbing her ear.
"Sorry."
Dumbledore waited until they had settled down "Yes, Yes I know that many of you were looking forward to the Quidditch Cup this year, however this is because of an event that will be in October and continuing for the remainder of the school year." He said calmly, looking over his post "However I know that you all will certainly enjoy the event as it is-"
The front door opened sharply, slamming it really Moody stood there; Harry had seen the man at the Trial but he looked worse for wear like he was paler than normal. He walked forward, his false leg clunked as he did and when he reached Dumbledore they shook hands.
"Daphne, what are they saying?" He whispered lowly to her.
Daphne pressed the magic into her eyes, making them look like ice pools as she watched their lips "Dumbledore wanted to know if he made the trip okay, he's more concerned over the fact that there was a disturbance earlier in the day." She paused "Moody told him that he was fine, he apperated to Hogsmeade and walked here." Here she paused again "Dumbledore is telling him to take the seat as he was about to announce the Tri-Wizard tournament."
"Tri-what?"
"Shut up and he'll tell us." Daphne snapped watching Moody with her eyes, she jumped when the electric blue landed on her. "What is he?"
"Human, just like us." He whispered "He's a friend of Dumbledore and Amelia Bones, though if he could only save one in a fire fight…it'd be Dumbledore."
"Why does he look like that?"
"He's an Auror or retired, I'm not sure." He explained with a small shrug.
"May I introduce Professor Moody! Our new Defense Professor!" Dumbledore said, other than him and Hagrid maybe two or three students clapped.
"Well, we're fucked over this year." She said softly "I miss Moon Moon already."
"Did you just call Lupin Moon Moon?" He asked with a small laugh.
"So as I was saying, we here at Hogwarts have the pleasure of hosting the Tri-Wizard Tournament this year! As some of you may be aware, it has not been hosted for over a century." He exclaimed loudly, hands at his sides.
"You're pulling us on!" Fred and George said loudly at the same time.
Dumbledore just laughed "I assure you boys, I am not pulling you on." He said gently "For those of you that don't know about what the Tri-Wizard Tournament entails, Three of the schools from around the world would get together and hold a series of tasks for their chosen champions, it was a way of showing a schools strength and power….at least until the death toll started to rise and it was discontinued." He explained slowly for each and every ear.
"Death toll?" Hermione whispered softly, she looked alarmed as did Harry; Death toll normally was a bad thing for Potters.
"The other two schools this time are Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, who will be arriving in late October with a short list of contenders or those they feel are worthy to watch the tasks." Dumbledore took a second to pause looking around the student body again "An impartial judge will choose those it feels are worthy to compete for the Tri-Wizard Cup, glory of their school and a thousand galleons."
"I'm going for it!" A few students shouted at hearing the prize.
"Ah yes, I know a fair amount of you will all like to compete in this famed tournament…however the only way we could get this tournament approved was by enacting a new rule. No one under the age of seventeen or older will be able to compete, I will be placing a warding spell around the judge so no one under seventeen can put their name into the cup." Dumbledore said in rising volume as the voices of outrage got louder.
"Thank Merlin." Harry whispered.
"What?" Daphne asked looking up at him.
"If Dumbledore places an age line around the cup, I might not be in danger this year…" He said softly, though he locked eyes with the elder wizard…he got the feeling he was thinking something different.
"So the other schools can compete in the Tournament easily, they will be staying the better part of the year. I am sure you all will give them a warm welcome." He said then clapping his hands together "I dare say it is time for bed, chop chop."
Harry and Daphne stayed "We need to talk with Filtwick or McGonagall." He whispered to her as she went to stand.
"Why?"
"My magic is still out of order." He said tugging on his sleeve to cover the black rune along his wrist.
"Then we go to Flitwick, if you visit McGonagall too much. People will accuse her of favoritism." Daphne said standing up with Harry and walking to the front.
"Professor Flitwick!" Harry said as the small man was walking towards the Staff room.
"Oh!" He squeaked, he was a rather short man and Harry had a feeling he might be part Goblin "How can I help you today Mr. Potter? Miss. Greengrass."
Harry rolled up his sleeve showing his runic marking "Professor, did Sirius tell you about….my issue?" He asked calmly.
"Yes, we heard you came into a wide storage of magic that was recently unlocked." He said jumping upon the table "Let me see." The small man took Harry's arm and pulled on his glasses.
Harry was silent as Flitwick examined his rune "Who did this?" He asked after a few minutes.
"Remus."
"Ah yes, Mr. Lupin was always rather skilled with runes." He said still examining "As I recall he got an O on his NEWT in the Runic studies." Flitwick pressed his thumb on his rune "Ah…I see now."
"See what sir?" Daphne asked leaning in a little.
"This isn't just one rune, it's multiple runes over lapped on each other." He explained looking up at Harry "Did he tell you what this rune does?"
"Yes, It pulls my magic into my limbs making it even across my body rather than in just my core." He said rubbing the back of his neck.
Flitwick nodded "I thought so, see that would work if you had a normal core size." The small man said with a sigh "See being your magic is so large Potter, your limbs are only able to carry so much of the weight. Thus making your core still unstable."
"How long do you think it will last?"
"Unknown….I could make blocks for you?" He asked looking up noting Harry went pale at the mention of blocks he shook his head "No that won't do….Alright Potter, I want you to come to my office once a week. I will examine your magic at each week and monitor its growth."
Harry nodded holding out his hand "Thank you Professor."
Flitwick shook his hand "No trouble Mr. Potter." He said looking over to Daphne "By the way, 10 points to you for trying new things. It is very rare to see someone eat at another house table."
Daphne felt her ears heat up "Thank you Sir."
"Off to bed to the both of you." The small man jumped from the desk "I have some paperwork to perform, See you bright and early."
"Yes Sir." They both said at the same time.
XX~XX~XX~XX
Daphne didn't get into the Common room until around midnight, her and Potter were exploring the grounds again. Going through secret passages and whispering about pranks they could perform together. When she got in she spotted three forms sitting by the fire, a blond ferret face told her who it was.
"Greengrass." Malfoy said looking over his shoulder, his trolls continued to watch the lightly dancing fire.
"What's wrong Malfoy?" She asked crossing her arms, taunting him "Nightmare?"
Draco growled "Don't speak to me like that." He snarled "You enjoy your time with Potter, because by the end of the year." He stood up, looking at her with a smug smile "You'll be all mine."
"What you think that my parents will agree to your contract?!" She hissed a scowl on her face.
"Oh no, I just think that Potter will be dead and you'll have no choice but me." He taunted running a hand through his hair "See if Potter dies, we all know your father can't say NO forever."
Daphne stood there transfixed on the blond boy "Excuse me?" She said feeling her magic swell around her feet.
"You heard me Greengrass." Malfoy took long steps towards her "You hear everything, right?"
"Fuck you Malfoy, Dipstick is much stronger than you will ever be!" She screamed at him, clinched fists held tightly at her sides.
"Who says I'll kill him?" Malfoy said with a grin "I bet he'll be in this tournament, then He'll last about five minutes tops."
Daphne turned on her heels and headed for her room, she was tired and pissed off. She knew that if she struck the Malfoy Heir, she'd be severing detention for at least the remainder of the year. Snape was the bastards God-Father after all.
She heard him call out "Don't worry, I'll be gentle!" Then his laugh sounded around her ears.
Daphne was going to murder him very slowly.
XX~XX~XX~XX
Around the same time, Harry was sitting on his bed listening to his Roommates practically yell at him "Greengrass, really!? Seamus said loudly, "Slytherin!" Ron shouted again "He could do worse" Dean reasoned and then Neville was just sitting on his own bed reading a herbology book "She's nicer than you lot think she is."
"What was that Longbottom?" Dean asked looking over.
"You guys wouldn't understand." He said looking at Seamus and Dean, then to Ron "I'm not going to try to reason with you, Slytherin." Then he looked at Harry "I'll say this, go for it. Daphne trusts very few people."
"Why wouldn't we understand?" Dean asked glancing at Seamus.
"Cause we're not Pure, they get invited to Balls and stuff." He responded dryly "Harry gets invited cause he's famous."
"Oh." Dean said moving to his bed "Night, Harry I want details mate."
Harry groaned "I will silence you all." He said rubbing his face "I'm tired!"
Ron just laughed at his friend before throwing himself into his bed, the snores soon enough told Harry that they had fallen asleep.
"Harry." Neville whispered slowly.
Harry looked over to the boy's bed "What?" He whispered back.
"Just do it….ask her, she won't say no." The source of the voice said slowly.
Harry sighed softly "I know, it's just…."
"What?"
"Part of me doesn't want to drag her into my world….the world where I'm a target…" He said turning over to his pillow.
Neville sighed, it was loud "You need to make a move soon….I've heard Malfoy is trying to converge on the Greengrass family. Either Daph or Astoria." He explained running a hand through his hair.
Harry growled, his eyes and runes glowed at the thought "Over my bloody dead body." He snarled.
Neville was silent for a few minutes "You're scary sometimes Harry…I'm glad you're not my enemy."
"I am too."
XX~XX~XX~XX
Normally Harry would be happy that the storm had blown through in the morning, but he really wasn't; truth be told he enjoyed stormy weather and snow over all other types. Harry chose to sit with Nott, Tracy and Daphne this morning instead of the normal crowd.
"Don't come crying to us when they curse you Harry." Ron said shrugging at his friend's foolishness.
Hermione pinched him sharply "Have fun Harry, we'll be over here if you need us alright?" She said with a smile, it was about time he started making more friends anyway.
Harry waved them off "You're acting like I'm on a death march." He said grimly.
"You are." Ron said before Hermione elbowed him.
Harry ignored him walking across the hall to the Slytherin table, Tracy happily slid down for Harry and Nott actually flashed him a small smile.
"Hey Theodore, Davis." He spoke as he felt Daphne's head hit his shoulder blade.
"We need to talk." She whispered lowly, only to him.
"No fair, why do you get to call him by name?" Tracy said with a huff and crossing her arms.
"Because he didn't say I couldn't." Harry said with a grin, nodding his head at Daphne.
Nott frowned for a moment, glaring at Harry the two boys locked eyes for a while before Nott nodded his head and went back to his book.
"What the Bloody Hell is this!?" Malfoy screeched as he saw Harry.
"Are you talking about me sitting a table with friends or the fact that Mummy sent you cookies?" He questioned, pointing to the eagle owl which did in fact have a box of cookies on its leg.
Malfoy was about to speak again when what seemed like a black bat stood behind him "Mr. Malfoy, I expect you to sit and Potter for you to return to your table." Snape said with venom dripping at each word to the Potter Heir.
"Why's that Sir?" He questioned again, leaning on the table; his other hand around Daphne's waist.
Snape looked annoyed at the question "Because this; Potter, is the Slytherin table. I realize your eye sight is dreadful without your glasses, perhaps you should go put them on?" He said with a smug smile.
"Don't need them, I see perfectly Professor Snape." He reached over, grabbing apple before taking a slow bite of the green fruit "You see, I don't recall any rules that say I can't sit here…Can you?" He asked with a raised brow.
Snape frowned, he was glaring at Harry again; then Harry felt that sliding along his skull. This time he flared his magic, hard. Snape was thrown to the ground like someone had punched him, as were a couple of other Slytherin students.
"POTTER" Snape roared, getting back to his feet with his wand drawn "I'll have you expelled for attacking a Professor!"
Harry rose his brow "I don't recall throwing a spell at you, Professor." He said the last word laced with malice.
"I didn't see anything." Tracy said looking from her head of house to Harry.
"Nor I." Nott muttered in a low voice, looking at Harry then to Snape.
"Maybe if you showered, you wouldn't be slipping in your grease. Professor." Harry said with a cocky smile, one that James had as well.
"Twenty Points from Gryffindor! Get back to your table now Potter!" Snape yelled at the student.
"Severus!" A small joyful voice said "That is no way to speak with a student, I dare say that Mr. Potter can chose wherever he wishes to sit. As can all of the other students!" Flitwick said bright, rolling on the balls of his feet.
Snape snarled and started to pass out the timetables. "Nott, Davis, Greengrass." He said completely ignoring Potter this time around.
Harry just smirked that was when a piece of parchment hit him in the head "That would be your timetable Mr. Potter." McGonagall said loud enough for him to hear her.
"Thank you Professor!"
He opened it up, reading the lines "Great I got Herbology with Susan and Care for Magical Creatures with you lot." He said noting that Divination was still on his chart. "I'll be right back."
Harry stood up, ignoring the glare that Tracy sent him and went to where McGonagall was sitting "Something wrong Potter?" She asked not looking up from her paper.
"Yeah, I was just wondering if I could take Runes instead of Divination." He said rubbing the back of his neck.
"I'm glad you chose a proper study." She said with a small smile on her features "However you'll have to speak with Professor Babbling." The aging Professor pointed a slender finger at the red-haired woman sitting next to Moody who was currently reading a book.
"Thanks." He said brightly, walking down to the other end of the table "Excuse me Professor Babbling?"
The woman looked up, she couldn't have been more than thirty or early thirties "Yes, can I help you?" She asked with a small brow raised.
"I was wondering, is it possible for me to transfer from Divination into your Class?" He asked rubbing the back of his neck again, making his stance looser.
The Professor regarded him for a moment before spotting the rune on his wrist "Let me see that." She snapped, taking his arm rather sharply. She pulled on a pair of glasses and started to mumble to herself. "Brilliantly done…but…it's missing something." She said pulling a quill out of her pocket and her wand "May I?" She asked.
"Of course." Harry responded as she slowly drew on his wrist another very small rune along the large rune. Then she pressed her wand along the rune, making it glow a bright blue for a second. Along with his now red rune, a small blue shadow accompanied it.
"That should offer better results when using your magic." She said with a nod, then had a distant look "I'm sorry, you wanted to be switched out of Divination corrected?"
Harry nodded dumbly.
"Well, I'll have you sit in on a few of the Fourth year classes." She said slowly "I expect you to pass the Exam from last year though, so can you do that?"
Harry nodded "If I have a few weeks, I'm half way through a Beginner book for Runes."
"You'll have it then." She said taking his timetable "I'll see you tomorrow. You'll have the class with the Slytherin students." She pointed her finger to Hermione and Daphne "Follow either one of them to class."
"Thank you Professor Babbling." He said holding his hand out to her.
"Oh it's no trouble Mr. Potter." She said shaking his hand lightly "I expect you would be rather tired of Sybill predicting your death."
"I am." He said with a small laugh, going back to the Slytherin table; which he ignored the glares that were sent at him. He slid back behind Daphne "I'm in your Runes class." He whispered into her ear.
She giggled at him "Good, you shouldn't be in that idiotic class. Dipstick."
" Menace." Harry nodded with a grin and started to grab a few items for breakfast.
XX~XX~XX~XX
Hello, Hello. I noticed someone asked me If actually took Latin, sadly it was not offered at my School. Other than the few words I know from private study, I use a translation software. To Potterfanforever, I didn't want Harry to be all knowing and powerful; while Daphne had a good idea of what was going on, as I said Harry doesn't care.
Trispectrum, I suggest you read Chapter Two again. The event with the removal of the Horcrux.
OoOXylionOoO, I am well aware of the fact that Daphne and Harry was forced at first. I don't normally like to force relationships but I can't really see Harry accepting a Slytherins help.
I think that is all I really have to say, I liked writing this Chapter even if it had a lot more Cannon than normal. So have a good one guys! ~The Demon.