A/N: Ok, here it is at last. Sorry it took so long. Now a quick explanation... a lot of you are going to think that Daphne is getting off easy, and you might be right, but remember... She didn't actually do anything wrong! All she did was make a terrible plan that she never had a chance to put into play. She's also fifteen and naive. So, cut the girl some slack. K? Cool.
B/N: I'd like to thank the James Spookie for standing by me during as rough a patch in my life as I've ever had. His patience and willingness to hold onto things as I worked things out and got functional is a debt I can never fully repay. It might have held things up by a week or two at most, but the faith he showed in me is incalculable. Thanks James, you are a true friend.
11. I'm Sorry I Ruined Your Dinner Party
Lucius Malfoy had never in his entire life suffered the insult he felt as he stormed out of the house. Stomping down the garden path, he grumbled loudly as he fought to get his cloak on properly after having it thrown at him, while trying to keep a hold of his beloved cane which served as a wand holster. He had never in his life incurred such disrespect. To make matters worse, it had been at the hands of well thought of Purebloods.
This was not how Lucius had foreseen the evening ending. It was in fact extremely contradictory to what he had thought would happen. They were supposed to see that he was an ally. A friend, who was trying to keep shame from their noble bloodline. It had been a huge mistake made by the Ministry and whatever method they had used to pair witches and wizards for their law. A mistake that Lucius had hoped they would allow him to rectify before their beautiful, pure daughter had been tainted by this blight on wizarding society.
But they had been most uncooperative. And insulting.
Lucius finally managed to win the war with his cloak and got it on properly. He stopped at the front gate and looked back up at the house, glowering as he grumbled disgustedly about their narrow mindedness. He simply couldn't understand how anyone could be so stubborn and foolish. Did they not understand what their defiance would cost them?
Lucius knew that they were going to find out, and soon. Lucius was able to calm himself slightly, knowing it would he that would be teaching them what it meant to defy him and the one he served. He didn't take a lot of pleasure in the thought of what he would do, as he would have preferred to unleash his cruelty upon more deserving targets, not a noble Pureblood family. On the other hand, after the way they had spoken to him, and how they had insulted his generous offer…
He allowed himself a small sneer as he slipped through the gate and the wards before striding into the forest that surrounded the house, not unlike his own. They were Purebloods from an old line, though they had not achieved ancient status. They were still a few generations removed from such an honor. But they had acted like Mudblood filth. Disgusting and ignorant. It had been abhorrent the way they had spoken to him.
They will learn, he said to himself, finally managing to get his cloak on properly. He stopped and turned to look through the trees to stare at the house again, glaring hard at the silhouette, and imagining his return. It would not be long, he was certain of that. And he would not be alone, nor would he be at all friendly. They'd given up their only chance to survive the coming war, and for what?
The boy?
The ignorant, egomaniacal wretch of a boy who the world would be better off without?
"Damn you Greengrass." Lucius muttered. "You're going to wish you had taken my offer. I will see to it."
They had spat in his face, and they had defied the Dark Lord, and very soon, they would learn how large a mistake they had made.
Lucius began to grin a feral smile as he imagined making the mother and father watch as he personally made their daughters suffer by his hand. When he tired of their screams, he would end the miserable lives of the two teenaged girls, and then, he would take his sweet time, experiencing the flesh of Aurora Greengrass at long last, and he would do it right in front of her impotent husband, laughing in the helpless man's face. And then he would kill her when he had finished. And then, then he would show his cruelty when he severed Jonathan Greengrass' hands and his feet and burned his eyes right from their sockets so that the very last thing he would ever see would be his dead daughters, and his dead and broken wife.
"You should have just agreed to hand over the boy, Greengrass." Lucius said out loud. "Now you must suffer."
With one last glance at the house, Lucius spun on the spot, and with a crack, disapparated.
Daphne sat wrapped in a blanket on the sofa, staring into the crackling flames, trying not to break down and cry like a child. She took a deep breath, trying for what she was sure was the fiftieth time to calm herself down. She was sure that if she at least had an idea of what was going to happen to her next, she might feel a little better, even if it was something horrible.
The last week had been the absolute worst in her life. Ever since she had blurted out all the details of her grand plan, things had gotten more and more trying. The very worst of it had been not having her best friend around. Tracey had outright refused to speak to her. Daphne understood that Tracey did not agree with some of the things that made up the plan, but she hadn't understood. None of the people who had heard the plan had understood. They hadn't even given her a chance to explain before passing judgment.
Then again, Daphne knew she had explained things pretty clearly, and she knew exactly where things had gone wrong. Her goal wasn't the problem. She was the problem. If she had listened to Tracey, especially after she learned who she would be betrothed to, then things would have been quite different. but she had ignored her best friend's warning and plowed ahead as if nothing had changed.
If she had taken Tracey's advice, and truly, genuinely gotten to know Harry, instead of trying to figure out the best way to manipulate (How she hated that word!) him, then perhaps she wouldn't be sitting up at this ungodly hour on a Sunday night wondering where her Betrothed was at and if they would be able to fix this problem.
Maybe if she'd laid eyes on him outside of class this past week, she might have been able to at least try and talk to him, but Harry Potter had been little more than an apparition over the last nine days. Not that she was counting how many days Harry had been gone…
At this time last Sunday, she had been sure Harry had made good on his threat to just leave. To give up magic all together just to get away from her. She had worried then that she would then lose her magic in turn, and had freaked out. She hadn't been able to imagine her life without her magic. It would have been like trying to imagine life after having a limb removed.
But this had been just the start to what had to have been the worst week ever imagined.
Going to breakfast without Harry on Saturday had been like a huge advertisement that she and Harry were having a problem. It felt like every single pair of eyes was on her as she ate her breakfast. It wouldn't have been so bad except Tracey and Neville chose to sit all the way at the end of the table, as far from her as they could get, and she wasn't really friendly with many of the other Betrotheds. And so she had been forced to eat alone, head down to avoid anyone who might be looking at her, internally grumbling about Harry's inconsideration.
By Monday morning, the rumor mill was hard at work. Apparently Harry hadn't been seen by anyone and it was widely believed that he had indeed left Great Britain entirely to get away from her, or the Ministry, or a number of other ridiculous stories, depending on who you listened to. Only Pansy Parkinson had approached her to try and get the real story, something Daphne was most unwilling to discuss with Slytherin's answer to Lavender Brown. Pansy had a bit of trouble taking the hint, but had fortunately been itching to tell someone about the woes of her relationship with Joshua Montague.
Unfortunately for Daphne, it hadn't only been students who noticed Harry's absence. Much to Daphne's utter embarrassment and irritation, Professor Umbridge had apparently felt compelled to address the issue.
The heavyset woman practically cornered Daphne immediately following dinner on Monday evening, just outside the Great Hall. Daphne was impressed that someone with such short stubby little legs could move so quickly from the Head Table to the Entrance Hall, especially given how Daphne had been the door from the Great Hall to begin with.
"Miss Greengrass, I would very much like a moment of your time please." Umbridge had called out to Daphne, who groaned inwardly.
"Actually Professor, I have a very important essay I really should …" Daphne tried, but Umbridge cut her off.
"It's quite important, I'm afraid." Umbridge stated. "And I don't think it will take too much of your time, provided you are cooperative. Now, please, come along."
She motioned for Daphne to walk with her, and with little choice, Daphne followed. It was only a few minutes until Umbridge was opening her office door and allowing Daphne entrance.
"Please have a seat." Umbridge encouraged.
Daphne couldn't help but be amazed at how much nicer the small sofa was when she didn't have to share it with Potter's bony hips. Umbridge took her customary seat across from the sofa, and leveled her beady eyes at the young woman.
"I couldn't help but notice the absence of your betrothed over the last couple of days. At first I thought he might have taken ill, but Madam Pomfrey has assured me that he has not been in to see her so that rules out illness. He has had no correspondence that would require him to leave the school, and the Headmaster assures me that Mister Potter has not asked for a leave of absence for any reason. So, I'm afraid I must ask you about the well-being of your Betrothed."
"So far as I can say, he is just fine." Daphne said hesitantly. The truth was she wasn't quite sure how Harry was. She had only finally seen him first hand in Potions that afternoon, and he had refused to even acknowledge her presence. At first she had been relieved to see him, as it meant he hadn't just run off. But later, after class, she had overheard tell both his friends that he hadn't entirely ruled out the option.
"Yet he is no longer accompanying you to meals?" Umbridge asked.
"We had a bit of a disagreement the other night, and now he's acting rather childish." Daphne said quickly, not bothering to hide her irritation over the situation.
"I see." Umbridge frowned. "Have you tried to resolve your differences?"
"I think that we will once we have both cooled down." Daphne stated, hoping the woman would leave it alone.
"I would like to help you." Umbridge stated. "I can respect your desire to keep things between you and your betrothed, which is how it should be. However, if you are unable to come to an understanding on your own, or one of you is unwilling to at least listen to what the other has to say, then perhaps you might benefit from an outside point of view?"
"As I said," Daphne said quickly. "We had a disagreement. That's all. We will resolve it on our own. I believe we are mature enough to handle this without outside help, thank you."
"Perhaps." Umbridge said with narrowed eyes. "Still, I think it would be best all-around if we scheduled the two of you to come see me tomorrow evening where so we could clear the air."
Daphne shuddered now as she thought back to the special counseling session. The one where Harry didn't bother to show up for. Not that she could really fault him. She hadn't been able to find him to inform him they were to meet with Umbridge.
Umbridge had been very disappointed in Harry as well, and spent two hours with Daphne pointing out what a terrible young man Harry was becoming due to some very questionable influences in his life. She didn't outright say so, but Umbridge implied that one of bad influences was the Headmaster. Something Daphne believed as well.
It was also one of the reasons Harry was now avoiding her. He hadn't liked it when she had pointed it out to him, and suggested that since he'd been manipulated by Dumbledore all his life, he would hardly be bothered if she were to do the same.
Ultimately, the two hours she had spent with Umbridge had proved the high point of her miserable week. With each day that passed without Harry returning, the more her fear grew that she as on the cusp of losing her magic. Her fear began manifesting itself in little physical ailments. Nothing serious, but little things that served to elevate her stress level.
Then there was the whispers, and the stares and the extreme loneliness she had felt all week. It wasn't so bad during classes, but at mealtimes, and especially at night all alone in her suite, Daphne felt almost as if she were a prisoner, isolated from the world.
And the absolute worst part of it had been that nagging little voice in the back of her head that incessantly reminded her just how much she had messed up and how she had been so idiotic, and how her stupid plan had been so utterly juvenile. That little voice which had berated her over and over again for not listening to Tracey all along. How stupid she had been to not treat Potter like a person instead of a means to an end.
The same voice that even now continued to ask her how she was ever going to fix it all. She and Harry were going to be married. They were going to create a family and raise them together. How were they supposed to do any of that given how things were between them now, and how could they get past this and move forward?
Maybe if Tracey had been willing to talk to her earlier today, then maybe she'd have some idea of what she was supposed to do. The only other thing she could think of doing was writing to her parents to ask for advice, but that would mean she would have to admit at least some of how she had messed up, and she didn't think she could take their disappointment on top of everything else.
Daphne knew that there was only one way she could start to put things back together, and that was to talk to Harry. She also knew that the only way that was going to happen was if she cast a body bind hex on him and forced him to listen, and that presented another set of problems, not the least of which was that Harry had proven he was more than capable using his wand, and that her aim was questionable.
On the other hand, she didn't really think that he would just listen to her. She was certain that Harry Potter hated her guts.
Because you've never given him any reason to like you. The little voice said. He doesn't know a single thing about you, except that you want to control him like some puppet.
Her inner voice had been making this point all week. Well, this and a few other really good, and irrefutable points. Yes it had been true, she had had a plan to change the government, and yes, she had planned to use Harry to accomplish that. It was also true that her plan was rather unrefined (Something everyone had completely missed) and that a lot of the things she had believed necessary to accomplish her goals were in fact rather questionable in their nature. But that didn't mean she was a bad person. She wasn't a bad person at all. She was simply ambitious and believed herself ready to do what she thought she needed to do to accomplish her goals, and maybe that had been the problem. Maybe, just maybe, she didn't actually have a clue as to what she needed to do. An idea she had only just now begun to consider in her isolation.
For what felt like the hundredth time she felt a stinging in her eyes, and rubbed at them angrily. She couldn't stop herself from wondering what would become of her if Harry had decided that he was better off without her. He would lose his magic of course, but would she? Would a more serious punishment be in store for her because she was the reason the betrothal fell apart? Would she die, or would she continue on as if nothing happened, free to live her life the way she saw fit?
And there was something else that had Daphne worrying over the failure of her betrothal to Harry Potter.
Harry's story about what had happened last June.
If Harry was to be believed, and Daphne was finding it harder and harder not to, then not only had the darkest wizard ever known risen from the grave, but he was determined to kill Harry for a rather personal insult some fourteen years ago. And even more worrying, Harry seemed to believe that he would be the only one who would be able to stop him.
Daphne was shaken from her musings at the sound of a trunk lid closing coming from the bedroom. Daphne practically leapt out of her skin at the sound, but didn't have time to wonder about it as the door opened and a rather tired and grumpy looking Harry walked in. Daphne felt a swell of relief in her chest, and before she realized it she was crossing the room towards him. She had no idea she was even doing it until Harry held up a hand to prevent her from… whatever it was she was about to do.
"I've returned all of Harry Potter's possessions as asked." Dobby squeaked brightly.
Daphne realized that the elf must have come during the week to get Harry fresh clothes. He'd probably been ordered to be silent, which would have been why she had never noticed. Or he'd come when she'd been sleeping. Either way, Harry had been taken care of. She suddenly felt very stupid for not thinking of it before.
"Thank you Dobby." Harry nodded. "Good night."
"Good night Harry Potter, sir." Dobby said. He turned to look at Daphne with something between sympathy, and disappointment before he popped away, leaving Daphne alone with her Betrothed.
Harry took a few more steps into the apartment with Daphne watching him nervously. She was expecting him to begin shouting at her, though she wasn't sure why. Harry wasn't really the shouting type. Then again, she'd never seen him really lose his temper. Usually when he was about to, he would just leave.
"You don't look too happy." She said timidly. Harry took a deep, very audible breath before turning around to look at her, his face a mask of stone.
"I'm tired." He stated. Daphne gave a short nod at that. While he did look tired, Daphne noted that he also was refusing to look at her. She wondered if he had been forced to return and was not happy about it.
"Are… Are you alright?" She stammered. "I have barely…"
Harry held up a hand to stop her from speaking any further.
The way I see it," He began, his voice low, and cold. "We could agree right now, that this is never going to work, and give up everything just so we don't have to be around each other anymore."
Daphne gasped softly, and looked petrified at his statement.
"Because the thing is, I'm always going to be wondering if you're working some angle on me. If you're saying or doing things because you're trying to get me to do something you want me to, and I just can't live like that." Harry said, finally looking at her, and Daphne recoiled at the hardness in his eyes.
"I don't want that." Daphne said after a moment, when she finally got her voice to cooperate. "Harry, I… that plan… "
"Is disgusting." Harry stated. Daphne nodded her agreement.
"I made that plan with a pureblood husband in mind. Someone who was raised to believe that anyone of lesser birth was beneath them, and I thought that was the only way to see real change happen. All this time, Tracey's been telling me I was wrong, and that I'd never be able to pull it off, and it turns out she was right."
Harry gave a slightly curious look and Daphne let out a heavy sigh before returning to the sofa. Harry followed and sat in one of the chairs, watching her closely for any signs of deception.
"If I'd been open with you from the start, which I should have done, especially given how one of your best friends is one of the people I want to help, I would have seen that I didn't need any of that stupid plan with you. I should have talked to you like a person, just like Tracey said. To be perfectly honest, it was really annoying me how the two of your were getting along so easily, and you and I were struggling. But it's because she understood you on a level that I refused to acknowledge." Daphne huffed.
She looked at Harry and flinched at his hard look. She knew he was currently trying to figure out if she was acting or not.
"We have to start all over." She said.
"How can we?" Harry asked. " Like I said…"
Harry leapt to his feet, drawing his wand as Daphne had slipped her wand out of her sleeve. But to Harry's surprise, Daphne grasped the wand with both hands as she stared at him.
"I swear on my life and magic…" Daphne started, but Harry rushed over, and grasped her hands, shaking his head.
"I told you how I felt about oaths. It's stupid, and pointless. You and I are going to figure out another way that we can trust each other." He said, but to her relief, his expression had softened.
"Then what do you suggest?" Daphne huffed. "We can't live the rest of our lives together with you unable to believe anything I say."
Harry rose to his feet and shook his head
"I don't know, but I won't have you binding yourself to me like that." He said heavily.
"We were doing so well a two weeks ago." Daphne said, her voice shaking. "I liked how we were before that stupid party and my stupid plan. I have been so miserable this past week, and I know that I'm the one to blame for it all."
"Interesting." Harry said. Daphne looked up to find him smirking.
"What's interesting?" she asked.
"Well, I know your week has been bad because Tracey has been keeping me up to date. She's quite cross with you by the way." Harry said as he sank back into his chair.
"She's made that quite clear." Daphne said bitterly.
"I've been contemplating my options all week, and I've talked with a few people about what I should do, and nearly everyone said I should try and talk to you and figure things out, although nearly everyone said you would probably blame anyone but yourself for things being how they were. Ron was adamant about it being anyone else's fault but your own."
"I'm shocked." Daphne said with a roll of her eyes. Harry sniggered. "Who was thought I would accept responsibility? Tracey?"
"No actually." Harry said. Daphne's eyes went wide at this revelation.
"What?" She asked in true shock.
"Yep." Harry nodded. "She felt you'd likely blame all of us for forcing you to spill your guts, or some rubbish like that. No, you had two people on your side. Hermione, and Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore?" Daphne asked with surprise.
"He has this horrible habit of seeing the best in people. Even people who really don't deserve it. It's pretty major flaw that he admits to having, but he says he prefers to believe in hope, whatever that means. He also says that now that we've cleared the air, so to speak, we could actually focus on things between us. And after you proved him right just now, I'm open to trying."
"You… you are?" Daphne looked up skeptically.
"It isn't going to be easy. First thing is you have to forget everything about that stupid plan of yours. You were right before when you said we had to be united, and that can't happen if one of us is trying to manipulate the other."
"No, you're right." She nodded.
Harry got to his feet and stretched. He gave a loud yawn and Daphne got to her feet as well.
"It's really late, and we have classes in the morning." She said softly.
"We have a lot to discuss and work through before we can move forward, but you're right, it's really late." Harry agreed.
"I'd like to at least have us on the same page before we meet with Umbridge tomorrow afternoon." Daphne sighed, rubbing her arms. "She was really angry at you for missing the last meeting."
"What meeting?" Harry looked up with surprise.
"The special one she scheduled this past Tuesday. I tried to tell you, but you proved quite evasive." Daphne claimed.
There was an awkward silence that fell as Harry stared at the floor and Daphne watched him, feeling her stomach clenching. She wasn't sure, but she thought that maybe things might actually be okay between them. Or at least he wasn't planning on leaving. She let out a soft sigh and started for the bedroom, feeling a wave of exhaustion taking hold of her. However, before she had taken two complete steps, Harry cleared his throats pointedly. Daphne turned around to find Harry smirking at her.
"Actually, I'll be sleeping in there for now.' He stated, now moving past her and heading for the bedroom. She started to say something in protest when he turned back, fixing her with that same hard stare from earlier, that froze her in place. "I'm sure you're capable of transfiguring something comfortable out here, don't you?"
He gave a small smile and headed into the bedroom, shutting the bedroom door behind him, leaving Daphne staring gob smacked at the door.
As Harry slid into the delectable comfort that was the four poster bed, he couldn't believe he hadn't just passed out already. He hadn't been lying when he'd told Daphne he was tired. In fact, tired didn't even come close to describing how he felt. He was just this side of exhausted in truth.
He'd spent the entire past week and a half outside of classes holed up in the Room of Requirement working himself hard trying to learn a huge variety of spells from the books the room had provided as well as honing his technique.
He'd gone there last Friday night right after storming out of the party, though he'd been unaware of his destination until he'd arrived at the blank expanse of wall on the seventh floor. Once inside, Harry had unleashed his fury on four hapless practice dummies. With each spell he fired, he siphoned off just a bit of his anger until he was panting heavily on his hands and knees.
He hadn't even been aware that he'd passed out that first night until he woke. It was still dark, but he wasn't on the cold stone floor. In fact, he'd found himself in a small cot. He found Dobby watching him worriedly. The House Elf had then explained he had been worried for his new master, and had come to check on him, and conjured something for his master to sleep on rather than the floor.
Harry had thanked Dobby and asked the elf to retrieve some of his personal things from his trunk, the most important had been the two-way mirror, which Harry used to contact Sirius.
"I wouldn't worry too much about it all kid." Sirius had said to his godson after Harry had relayed all that had happened. "If she were any good at manipulating people, you never would have known there was a plan in the first place."
"But how can I trust her now?" Harry wondered.
"Harry, you and Daphne have known each other a grand total of two months. Before last night, I wouldn't have even called you two friends. What with her being so secretive all the time, and you already being so mistrusting of her, you two were barely acquaintances. Plus, you've got a lot of time before you have to get married still. You two need to forget all this nonsense and figure out how to act normally around each other. Work on becoming friends, rather than this weird chess game you're playing now."
"But how?" Harry asked again. Sirius shrugged.
"That's something you two need to figure out together. You were doing okay before that dinner party thing and you saw something in her that led you to trusting her with one of your biggest secrets."
"Yeah, but I hexed her before that, remember?" Harry reminded.
"I never said it was going to be smooth sailing. It took your parents six years before they could be civil to each other. I know that you and Daphne can figure this out Harry. Take some time to cool down, and let her settle down as well, and then talk it over. As for her big plan, you have to admit that her heart's in the right place. But she's also a fifteen year old girl who hasn't got a clue how the real world works yet. And beside, now you have a heads up. If she starts trying to steer you towards politics, you know what she's trying to do, and you can refuse, right?"
Harry couldn't help but laugh. It really was stupid now that he thought about it. Daphne had sabotaged herself by revealing everything, and now that he knew it all, Harry wouldn't be swayed. But he just wasn't ready to go back to the suite he shared with his Betrothed.
So he stayed in the Room all weekend. On Monday he emerged ready for classes, thanks to Dobby who brought clean clothes and breakfast.
He met up with Hermione and Ron outside of the Great Hall as students were beginning to head to their first classes.
"Harry!" Hermione said, running to hug her friend when she saw him. "We've been so worried, we haven't seen you all weekend. Where have you been?"
"I need some time to think." Harry said cryptically.
"Harry, we're sorry.' Hermione said, indicating herself and Ron. "We've been horrible these past few months. Horrible friends. The truth is, we just didn't know how to act around you. While we were still at Padfoot's house, everything was just, you know, hypothetical."
"But when we got to school, and we could all see Daphne it was real." Harry nodded.
"Exactly." Hermione said sadly. "Then you had to eat at a different table, and you weren't living in Gryffindor tower, and we didn't see you all the time, and she was always around and looked like she was interested in you…"
"Clearly for her own means." Ron grunted.
"We just couldn't get our own heads around it, and we shunned you, and that was wrong." Hermione finished as they arrived at history class.
"It's alright Hermione. I get it." Harry said. "But it was going to happen eventually. We all were bound to start dating here sometime, and we would have been pulled apart a bit. The important this is that we understand that, and try our best to keep our friendship intact as best we can. We need to be there for each other."
"You're absolutely right." Hermione agreed. Ron gave a non committal grunt as Professor Binns' ghost glided into the room and began his lecture.
"After dinner, you two should come to the seventh floor to where that painting of Barnabas the Barmy is. The one with the trolls in tutus. I have something to show you both." Harry said. Nothing else was said as they all did their best to pay attention to another boring lecture from the history Professor.
And so the rest of the week went with Harry attending classes and avoiding Daphne at all costs. He and Tracey met on Wednesday for their weekly Runes tutoring session in the library as Tracey wanted some specific books for the lesson, which quickly advanced Harry's progress. Harry also got an earful from the auburn-haired girl about her so-called best friend's appalling behavior, and idiocy. It appeared that Tracey was angrier with Daphne than Harry was, which made Harry feel bad, and made him wonder if the two girls could repair their friendship.
Harry spent some time with Ron and Hermione in the Room of Requirement teaching them a few things he'd picked up, and the rest of the time working hard to train himself. But in doing so, Harry was neglecting to take care of himself, which is why Dumbledore came to visit him.
It happened around six, earlier that evening. Harry had turned to find the Headmaster watching him silently, looking impressed.
"I see you are putting this room to good use." The headmaster stated with pride as he watched Harry fire a series of spells which obliterated one of the practice dummies.
"Professor?" Harry asked, panting heavily, and wiping sweat from his face. "What are you doing here? How did you even get in?"
"Our mutual little friend." The old professor remarked. "He seemed to believe that you were working yourself too hard, and mentioned that you had barely eaten all week. Your godfather was also concerned about you. He mentioned you had a bit of a disagreement with Miss Greengrass. So, I thought perhaps you and I might dine together, and talk about it."
Dumbledore motioned to a table behind him that was heavy with delicious looking food. Harry's stomach gave a loud rumble which made him grimace. He gave a nod, and slipped his wand into his pocket before coming to join the Headmaster who sat down at the table.
Harry knew he shouldn't have been surprised that Sirius had contacted Dumbledore. Harry had talked to his godfather a couple of times since he'd first decided to hide out in the Room of Requirement, and each time Sirius seemed unhappy that Harry had yet to work things out with his Betrothed. Perhaps Harry should have expected Sirius to contact Dumbledore to talk some sense into Harry.
"It would appear that Miss Greengrass is certainly ambitious." Dumbledore smirked, bringing Harry back to the present.
"She is at that." Harry confirmed.
"I also agree with Sirius' evaluation that she is not very adept at maneuvering individuals to her will, Harry." Dumbledore said.
"What about you, sir?" Harry looked up. "Daphne claimed that you've just been manipulating me for your own reasons."
Dumbledore gave a weary sigh, and placed his cutlery down as he looked at Harry with sad blue eyes.
"I am afraid that there are more than a few people who would likely agree with her assessment." Dumbledore began. "It is true that I have, in the past mind, used methods that I was never proud of to accomplish the outcomes I sought. I promise you though that those results were always for the benefit of the populace, and never for my own personal gain. I have never desired fortune or notoriety or power. I lost all hunger for that on the day my sister died."
Harry felt as if he'd just been gut checked by his cousin as he stared wide eyed at the Headmaster, who was staring off into the distance.
"I didn't know you had a sister." Harry professed. Dumbledore gave a weak smile and nodded as he regarded the young man across from him.
"Oh yes." Dumbledore nodded. "She died very young. About your age, in fact. It is the main reason why my brother and I have such a tenuous relationship."
"You have a brother?" Harry asked, feeling as if the rug had been pulled out from under him. He knew he shouldn't be surprised that the Headmaster had a family, and yet, he was stunned by the revelation.
"I do." Dumbledore smiled again. "Aberforth is three years younger than me, and is the owner of the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade. We have never been close, but since the day my sister died, things between us have been very strained."
"May I ask why, sir?" Harry felt like he was being invasive, but the Headmaster gave a soft sigh and began his story.
"He blames me for our sister's death." Dumbledore said simply. "Something that I am afraid we agree on. Arianna was not well, Harry. She had suffered a horrible attack by some muggle boys who had witnessed her perform accidental magic. It left her broken inside. After our mother died, I became responsible for her care, something I resented at the time. I loved my sister, Harry, I truly did. But I was only just eighteen and ready to see the world only to find myself shackled to someone who needed constant looking after."
Harry could not believe what he was hearing. But he didn't say anything for fear that Dumbledore would stop his tale, and Harry desperately wanted to hear it all.
"During that first summer that I was to care for my sister and brother, Arianna was killed during a fight between myself, my brother, and someone who until that time I had considered a friend." Dumbledore explained. Harry was left gaping at the man before him, whom he once believed to be almost godlike.
"Since Arianna's funeral, I have dedicated my life to the betterment of our society. It is why I pursued a career in teaching. As the years went on, I dabbled in politics, especially during the last thirteen years. Miss Greengrass and I both wish to see Muggleborns get better treatment. They are the key to our future."
Here Dumbledore paused, looking Harry in the eyes as he spoke.
"Am I guilty of manipulation? Yes I am. Was it wrong of me to do so? That is where we get into a what some might call a gray area." Dumbledore chuckled humorlessly. "The world is not black and white, light and dark. Have you yourself not done things that were clearly against the rules in order to do something good? Dare I remind you of your exploits here at Hogwarts in the last four years?"
Harry shook his head, understanding what the Headmaster was getting at. Dumbledore gave a sad sigh and paused a moment.
"From someone who did not know the reasons, I could understand how they might think I have manipulated you, and I suppose in some ways I have." The old man admitted.
Harry looked up now, feeling anger rising in his chest.
"I tried to ensure that you had a happy childhood from the moment I placed you on the doorstep of your Aunt's house. I stayed away when I should have looked in on you. I felt, given your Aunt's hatred of all things magic, that it was for the best to remain distant. It was not until you arrived here at Hogwarts that I saw my great mistake. But you were alive, and healthy. Well, healthier than you could have been."
Harry gave the Headmaster a wry look.
"Perhaps I should have told you that night after you stopped Voldemort for the second time why he came after you in the first place. I felt at the time however that you were still too young to carry the burden. Perhaps I should have told you that night you emerged from the Chamber of Secrets. But I did not wish for you to know. I wanted you to live as if you were as normal as you wished to be. But I should have recognized that you were always extraordinary. I should have known that while you would have been afraid, as would have been expected, you would have been capable of understanding. So yes Harry, I have manipulated you. I manipulated you into living as normal a life as could be possible. And I failed."
"I… I don't… " Harry tried. Dumbledore smiled weakly.
"I was certain Harry that you would inevitably have to sacrifice your life in order to stop Voldemort. Do you remember our conversation from earlier this past summer?"
Harry nodded.
"I wished for you to live a full, happy life before that day, because I was not smart enough to figure out how to stop it. I misinterpreted a prophecy, and as such, believed in a course of action that would have resulted in your death. However, thanks to someone far more observant and perhaps even more intelligent than I, your life is your own to do as you please."
"Not yet." Harry corrected. "I still have a crazed maniac after me… and there's the girl I'm being forced to marry."
Dumbledore nodded at this and took in a deep breath.
"Harry, I would like to give you some advice. Not as your teacher, or as an authority figure, but as an old friend who has lived a long life, and witnessed many things. Will you permit me?"
"Sure." Harry shrugged.
"You are young. Miss Greengrass is also young, and the plans of the young rarely bear the fruit we imagine, if you take my meaning. I believe that your continued influence on Miss Greengrass will make her realize that she was false in assuming that not only could she control you, but that it is not the way she would wish to pursue her goal. I further believe that her continued influence on you will help to strengthen your desire to do great things. Finally, I believe that you may find it in both your hearts to find a strong bond with each other. I believe that so far, you still hold tightly to your mistrust, and your desire to protect yourselves from pain. You are going to need each other, and soon. I know that you've given her a bit of trust, especially as you've revealed one of your most closely guarded secrets. Do you now think you were wrong in doing so?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry had to think about this for a few moments. In truth, she hadn't betrayed his trust. In fact, she had been willing to swear an oath to make sure she never betrayed him.
But she had been willing to manipulate him to get what she wanted.
But she wanted people to all be equal and be treated fairly, and that was pretty noble. And, she had revealed her plan.
But she was willing to ignore her own children if they got in the way of her goals.
The plans of the young rarely bear the fruit we imagine.
Harry gave a deep sigh and ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"I don't know." Harry admitted. "She was willing to offer an oath, but I told her not to. I wanted to trust her, and she hasn't given me any reason to doubt her really, but I just don't know that I can trust her after this."
"Then perhaps you should give her the chance to earn your trust. You have a big heart Harry, and have forgiven far bigger offenses than this. I recall you and Mister Weasley having a falling out last year if I am not mistaken. It took a while, but you managed to overcome it. I believe you and Miss Greengrass will find your path as well, given time and patience, and I would be willing to help you if you require it."
Harry gave an appreciative nod and Dumbledore smiled.
"There is one other thing that I am afraid that I must address tonight." Dumbledore said, picking up his cutlery and starting in on his dinner again. "I fear that I must ask you to return to your assigned suite, as well as taking meals in the Great Hall with the rest of the students."
"But I…" Harry started to argue but Dumbledore fixed him with a serious look.
"Your absence as been noticed Harry, and I'm afraid if it continues, there could be serious repercussions for you from the Ministry." Dumbledore said evenly. "For now we must tread carefully. This is their game and we can't fight back until we understand the rules, understand?"
"I think so." Harry nodded. "But we are going to fight back, right?"
"With everything we have Harry." Dumbledore smiled. "Though I think when the truth comes out, we won't need to fight them. Especially if the whispers I'm hearing continue to grow in strength. They didn't really think things through, I'm afraid."
"That's obvious." Harry huffed.
"Indeed." Dumbledore chuckled.
Harry lay in his bed now, frowning at the top of the canopy. Tomorrow he and Daphne were going to need to have a long talk because they had a common enemy in Dolores Umbridge. Given how their last session had gone, Harry felt that things would be even tenser this time around.
Daphne felt a shiver of disgust as she and Harry entered the Great Hall together that morning as they had done nearly everyday since the start of the year. Almost as soon as they had been seen, Daphne saw people looking at them, and whispering to their closest neighbor or friend. She was certain that they were trying to figure out why they were back together after a week apart.
Daphne glanced at Harry who had either not noticed, or was ignoring it completely. Daphne guessed it was the latter as he had so often been the focal point for countless rumors and stories.
"You know, I knew when I got paired with you that I would inevitably wind up getting more notice, but, I never imagined how closely I would be observed." She said bitterly as she and Harry took seats at the Betrothal table. "How have you not gone insane from all the rumors?"
Harry merely shrugged. "You learn to tune it out and ignore it."
"Good morning Harry." Neville said cheerily. Tracey on the other hand was glaring at Daphne. Neville glanced at his Betrothed and rolled his eyes before turning his attention back to Harry.
"Good to see you back here, mate." Neville remarked as Harry buttered some toast.
"Thanks Nev." Harry smiled. "I hate to admit it, but I don't really like eating on my own."
"I can understand that." Tracey said. "But I could also see how it would be preferable to suffering the company of some."
Daphne didn't miss the barb and heaved a sigh.
"You know I'm sorry, right?" Daphne asked, looking hopeful. Tracey ignored her and Daphne grumbled.
"Would you talk to me, please?" Daphne asked. Tracey refused to look at her. Both Harry and Neville shared looks, but remained quiet for the moment. "I know you're mad at me, but would you let me explain? I was a moron, ok?"
"No kidding." Tracey mumbled.
Both boys snorted, and Daphne fixed them with a malevolent glare which they ignored.
"I'm sorry that I never listened to you. You were right all along, and I refused to accept that there could be any other way to accomplish something so meaningful. You were right about treating Harry like a thing rather than a person. You were right about how I should have forgotten my plan for a while and focused on building things up with Harry, and you were right when you told me I was stupid for putting my name into this whole business in the first place. Ok? You were right and I didn't listen, and now I see what my stupid plan could cost me if I tried to go through with it."
"Keep going." Neville mumbled, though Daphne didn't hear him. Harry smirked and continued to watch Daphne grovel.
"So I'm sorry that I never listened to you. I'm sorry for acting as if your opinion doesn't matter. I'm sorry for being a complete and utter bitch whenever we talked about that stupid plan, and I, sorry that I took you for granted." Daphne sighed sadly, but Tracey still refused to look at her. Daphne's shoulders slumped a bit and she sighed.
"I'm also sorry I ruined your dinner party."
"It's about time!" Tracey huffed.
"I thought I was going to have to write her a note." Neville smirked. Harry nodded, chuckling lightly.
"That's all I wanted." Tracey declared looking relieved and happy.
"Wait, what?" Daphne looked aghast. "This whole time you've been ignoring me and making me feel like a pile of dragon dung because of the party? I've been a miserable wreck thinking that you hated me and we'd never be friends again!"
"That party was really important to me!" Tracey said emphatically.
"I was going out of my mind without being to talk to you."
"So was she." Neville offered.
"I was not." Tracey argued.
"Really?" Neville looked at his bride-to-be with a wry gaze. "You weren't stomping around our rooms pulling your hair out complaining about Daphne not getting her head out of her arse? That wasn't you crying on my shoulder because you felt bad for treating you best friend like rubbish all week? That wasn't you whining just last night about how much you missed your as good as sister? Oh no you didn't miss her at all."
Harry chuckled again, and shook his head. "Don't forget that you spent our whole tutoring session telling me to give her a chance, and try and make things right with her, and that while she'd been pigheaded she really did have a good heart, and she was a really good person."
"ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT!" Tracey groaned. "Yes, I missed my best friend, okay? I haven't been able to talk to her because she was being a stubborn arse, even though I knew she'd figure out she was being a moron. I haven't been able to tell her anything, or hear her complain about how Harry is being so stubborn, even though she was actually being the stubborn one. I haven't been able to talk to her about my father coming to see me, or that we ordered my ring, or how I think I'm close to choosing a dress or about how Millicent came to talk to me about Draco, which was really weird. Or how about that I'm freaking out because I'm just a week away from meeting my dad's future wife, and how stressed I am, or that Neville and I started sharing a bed and that…"
"Babe!" Neville cleared his throat and grasped Tracey's hand, his face the color of a ripe tomato. "Word vomit."
"Oh, right." Tracey said, her own face coloring slightly. "I guess no one needs to hear about us sharing…"
"We got it the first time." Harry said, holding up his hands.
Daphne heaved another sigh and felt as if a leaden weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She knew that she and Harry had a lot to work out, but at least they were speaking to each other now. And with Tracey talking to her again, Daphne felt that she could definitely turn things around for the better.
"So, are we really rid of your stupid crusade?" Tracey asked turning back to her best friend who nodded.
"I still want to try and make things better, but I'm going to find a better way to do it." Daphne said, looking to Harry.
"So are you two alright?" Tracey asked, looking hopeful. "Did you forgive her, Harry?"
Harry shook his head. "Truthfully, there wasn't really anything to forgive. She didn't do anything, and you can't be mad at people for what they think about. She made a stupid plan for her life, but she didn't really do anything, except put her name in for this abysmal law and get paired with me. However, we have a lot of things to discuss and get straight. We can't move forward so long as there is this cloud hanging over us."
"Agreed." Daphne nodded.
"Won't you always be wondering if she's trying to manipulate you, Harry?" Neville asked, looking concerned.
"I offered to make a magical oath, but he wouldn't let me." Daphne remarked.
"What?" Tracey looked stunned.
"It's too easy, and it isn't foolproof." Harry said quickly. "Anyone could phrase the oath in a way that would leave a loophole. Even if I wrote out exactly what to say, I could inadvertently leave something out. I would rather that we build a real trust between us."
So how are you two going to get past this mess?" Tracey asked. Harry and Daphne looked at each other, and at the same time shrugged their shoulders.
"You really are a risk taker, aren't you?" Tracey chuckled.
"No." Neville shook his head. "Harry just believes the best of us. We should all be more like him."
"No, that isn't it either." Harry shook his head. "I don't think I believe the best of people. I've seen too much of how cruel people can be."
Daphne perked up at this, and she remembered Hermione's words from a week ago.
"I just prefer the people around me not feel compelled or forced to be honest and loyal. I just want them to be human. To be who they are." Harry claimed.
"That's a pretty good philosophy." Tracey said. "But what if those people are jerks?"
"Then I don't have to have them in my life." Harry said simply.
"Well, we should be getting to class, and Daphne and I have quite a bit to catch up on." Tracey smiled as she rose from her seat, and gestured to Daphne that she should follow. "I'll see you in potions." Tracey smiled, kissing Neville quickly before she and Daphne headed out of the Great Hall.
"Guess we should make our way to History then." Neville sighed. "Have you told Ron and Hermione that you're back with Daphne yet?"
"They knew I was contemplating it. Ron's adamant that I'm throwing my life away. Hermione's more understanding of course. I think it's helped that she and Tracey have been talking so much lately."
"Weird isn't it?" Neville remarked, making a face of bewilderment. "Tracey told me the other day that while she never hated Hermione, she was always wary of her, you know? She just thought Hermione was rather full of herself. Like she thought she was better than everyone."
"And now she knows that Hermione is just as insecure as the rest of us. She's just better at hiding it." Harry grinned.
"Hiding what?' Hermione asked as she and Ron caught up with the two boys, who looked at each other and started smirking.
"Well," Professor Umbridge smiled politely as Harry and Daphne sat down, and fought to get comfortable on the small sofa. "It's very nice you've chosen to join us this time, Mister Potter."
"My apologies." Harry said with a grimace as Daphne's bony hip poked into his. "I was unaware that we had a session schedule. Daphne informed me that she did try to tell me, but I was rather cross with her at the time, and refused to hear anything she had to say to me."
"Indeed." Umbridge nodded, making a mark on her clipboard. "Am I to understand you two have worked things out?"
"No." Daphne stated. She turned to look at her Betrothed, and gave a soft smile. "But we're going to work on it."
"Well then, perhaps we should get it all out into the open now, hmm?" Umbridge stated. "Perhaps Mister Potter, you would like to explain what it was you did wrong?"
"Why do you assume I am to blame?" Harry asked coldly.
"Come now Mister Potter, it won't do any good if you can't be honest here." Umbridge said with a wry smile. "The only way that the two of you will be able to forge a strong, working relationship is if you stop lying to Miss Greengrass, me, and most importantly, yourself. Now why was it that Miss Greengrass asked you to leave your suite?"
"I left of my own accord." Harry insisted. "We had a… difference of opinion, and…"
"Professor, we worked it out on our own, just like two mature people would." Daphne said, trying to keep hers and Harry's personal business private.
"I understand that Miss Greengrass, but it would be best if we could all discuss it here and figure out how things got so bad that you would ask Mister Potter to leave and avoid him for more than a week. This way, we can learn from our mistakes and prevent any repeat incidents in the future." Umbridge insisted.
"I just told you that I left on my own." Harry said. "Are you even actually listening to me?" Harry asked. Umbridge made two more notes on her clipboard and sighed.
"Mister Potter, you need to learn to respect your betters or I will have to assign you detention again." Umbridge sighed. "I know that you think that you are special, but I assure you that you are not better than any other student in this school."
"I have never thought that I was better than anyone else." Harry said irritably.
"Well, given your reputation, it does follow that you…" Umbridge began.
"My reputation?" Harry looked affronted.
"Yes." Umbridge nodded. "Mister Potter, it is no secret that you covet your fame. You thrive on it, as it were. What other reason could there be for you to essentially break the law and enter yourself into a tournament you were expressly forbidden to enter by the Ministry? There is only one possible way for you to have won that competition, and you found the chance within the maze and seized it. And to cover up your nefarious deeds, you made up a fantastical story about the return of a dead man."
Before Harry could retort, Daphne placed a calming hand on his shoulder and leaned forward.
"Madam Umbridge." Daphne said softly. "Are you accusing my husband-to-be of murder?"
Umbridge actually flinched as she turned to look at Daphne now.
"I would have thought that were Harry even suspected of such a heinous act he would already have been put on trial and thrown in Azkaban. I can't imagine that the Ministry didn't investigate the matter thoroughly.
"Of course it was investigated." Umbridge snapped, clearly offended at the mere idea that her beloved Ministry would drop the ball on a such a high profile matter as the death of a Tri-Wizard competitor.
"As I thought." Daphne nodded, looking relieved. "I mean imagine the embarrassment if no one even bothered to look into the situation, right? But that means that since Harry is sitting right here next to me that he was found to be innocent of any wrongdoing, which would at least lend some credibility to his story that You-Know-Who has in fact managed to rise from the dead, wouldn't it?"
"Well, I…" Umbridge stammered. "That is… I mean that it is impossible."
Her face hardened then and she fixed Daphne with a cruel glare.
"Miss Greengrass." Umbridge said coolly. "I am aware that you consider yourself quite the lucky lady. After all, how many young witches would give up everything to be in the position you find yourself in? Set to marry one, if not the most eligible young bachelor in all of the wizarding world. And it is very noble of you to want to defend your future husband. But that does not mean you have to give up your intelligence, or your good sense. I understand wishing to show unity, but there is no need to keep up appearances here with me. Here, you are safe, remember? Here you can be honest, and upfront, and if you believe your Betrothed is lying to you, I am here to help you find the truth. You do not need to fear anything from your Betrothed. I am here to help you, remember?"
"But see that's the thing." Daphne replied, looking to Harry again with soft eyes. "He's never lied to me. Sure, he hasn't told me every detail about things, but he's never lied, and I've only just realized that."
"Really?' Umbridge now looked ready to snap. "So you believe that a man dead fourteen years managed to some how miraculously return from the grave to entrap a fourteen year old boy in a ritual to restore his power to him, yet no one other than this boy witnessed any of it? I thought you were intelligent!"
"Madam Umbridge, that is my future wife you are insulting, and as I understand it, If I were to take offense to your words, I could declare a feud against House Umbridge." Harry said leaning forward, clasping his hands together. "I'd be willing to bet that such a feud would not bode well for you with the Minister. Besides, what if all of you are wrong?"
"W-wrong, Mister Potter?" Umbridge looked a little shaken at his words. "Wrong about what exactly?"
"Professor, we live in a world where we literally bend the rules of nature to our will. How can you... How can any of you be unable to even consider the possibility that someone found a way to break those rules and protect himself from true death?" Harry pressed. "The most powerful dark wizard ever known, and none of you can even for a second entertain the idea that he somehow found a way? So what happens if I am telling the truth. Eventually he's going to reveal himself, and every lost life, every drop of magical blood spilled will be on your hands."
Umbridge could only stare back in complete bewilderment. A heavy silence fell as the three just looked at each other. After several moments, Harry rose to his feet before offering his hand to Daphne.
"I think we're finished for today." Harry said politely. "Until next time, Professor."
"All you had to do," Minister Fudge huffed as he stared out of the fireplace at his Undersecretary. "Was to befriend the boy. To bring him around to our way of thinking, and you completely BOTCHED IT!"
"I'm telling you that little bastard confunded me somehow!" Umbridge argued.
"Confunded?" Fudge shouted. "CONFUNDED? He's a fifteen year old boy! He is no where near powerful enough to confund you Dolores!"
"With all due respect Minister, you were not here." Umbridge snapped. "He was spouting nonsense about... it doesn't matter. the fact is I think we're underestimating Dumbledore's influence on him, as well as how much the boy has learned from the old man."
"Then it is even more imperative that you get the boy away from the Headmaster!" Fudge snarled. "Dolores, we need the boy now more than ever. We starting to have difficulty in covering up the setbacks. Twenty, Dolores! Twenty wizards have chosen to give up their magic! Granted, they weren't from wealthy or influential families, but that is still twenty family lines that have essentially become extinct. If we can get the Boy-Who-Lived to endorse the Legacy preservation Act, then everything will settle down."
"He is obstinate, and..."
NO MORE EXCUSES!" Fudge snapped. "You either get inside his head, and turn him to our side, or the next time you step inside the Ministry, it will be to pack up your office!"
Umbridge sat down behind her desk, and pounded her fat fists into the top of it. She wanted to hurt the boy. To make him beg for mercy. He was so infuriating, and maddening. Why couldn't he just fall into line like he was supposed to.
"It's all Dumbledore's fault." She snapped to no one. "He has got some sort of hold over the boy's mind. I need to find it I need to find it and break the connection. "
She rose from her chair and began pacing about, her mind going to work at once on ways to get the boy alone without making it look as though she was singling him out. She stopped in the middle of her office as the idea came to her. It meant she would have to sacrifice a great deal of her time, but it was the only way.
She rushed around her desk once more and took some parchment out and dipped her quill in the inkwell. She had several people to write to, and more than a few things to order for her new plan. She was going to find out every one of Potter's secrets if it killed her. Then she would own the boy once and for all.