A/N: General disclaimers and all that jazz…blah…blah…blah.
A/N 2: A big heartfelt thank you to Phillies2, daithi4377 and phhsdj for their reviews. All of you keep nitpicking and making sure that the story is fleshed out and accurate. This goes for all the reviewers and your contributions have been noted in A/N's in previous chapters.
Sleep did not come easily to the Potter-Black heir the previous night and Harry stared out onto the Hogwarts grounds from the Entrance Hall doors. As if to taunt his somber mood the sky was clear, the sun shone brightly and a warm wind for autumn blew about. All manners of animal life continued on and moved about but Harry stared without seeing any of it.
"Good morning Harry."
Daphne's soft greeting broke Harry from his melancholy thoughts and she kissed his shoulder. Harry wrapped an arm around her waist and she cuddled into his side with her head tucked into his chest. Daphne didn't know Luna as well as Harry did but the fact that his girlfriend was here and supporting him meant a great deal to Harry.
"Good morning Daphne. Did you sleep okay?"
"I slept all right. Did you?"
"No, I could feel Luna's emotions going all over the place and I tried to keep her calm. It was why I was so removed from lessons yesterday as well."
The bond between Harry and Luna easily transcended mere friendship and if Daphne had not returned to his life with such a magnetic attraction, the possibility of romantic entanglements was very real. Harry and Luna understood each other without words and mere lifts of the eyebrows or smiles could convey an entire conversation. The fact that Luna Lovegood was an exceptional sensory witch also helped a great deal and she used her talents liberally.
"Thank you for being here and trying to understand the depths of my relationship with Luna. Draco tells me that you watch our interactions closely and that you might be feeling slightly jealous."
"I'm not…I don't…you and Luna can…are…"
Harry chuckled when his normally poised and proper girlfriend stuttered and her face shone a deep pink with embarrassment. He squeezed her gently with his arm around her waist and dropped a kiss to her temple. After his illuminating conversation with Draco this morning at their daily training Harry had thought about his relationship and interactions with Luna from Daphne's perspective and Draco had good points.
"Luna Lovegood is more than she appears and we bonded over a shared childhood loneliness and neglect. Throughout my years here at Hogwarts she has been rather persistent in being friends and she came to visit Abbottsford at least once a week during my year away from Hogwarts. Over this past year our friendship has deepened and strengthened and we have no secrets from one another. Please understand that I am telling you this because Luna is as much a part of my life as you are."
Silence met Harry's brief explanation and Harry would have been nervous if he didn't know that Daphne took the time to process important information. She always chose her words carefully and Harry also knew that she was trying for him. Trying to meet him halfway and be an equal in their relationship.
"I admit that your relationship with Luna is a sore spot for me right now and I am going to smack Draco the next time I see him. I don't think you understand just how lucky of a witch I am Harry in the fact that you chose to pursue me. You are dating me out of the handful of witches here at Hogwarts that wanted to be your girlfriend."
"Daphne that doesn't-"
"Sssh Harry. I didn't interrupt you when you were speaking. I am your girlfriend Harry Potter and that is something that I take very seriously. After crushing on you since I saw how you handled yourself in the ill-fated Triwizard tournament and then seeing who you are becoming at your seventeenth birthday party, I am quite happy with myself. Your easy interactions with Luna and how easily the two of you interact is…unsettling. I cannot help the irrational jealousy I feel because our romantic relationship is so new and I am not used to a boyfriend such as you."
Harry saw Daphne wipe at her eyes as he saw the tears well up and she swallowed a lump in her throat so she could keep speaking. Harry felt her hands grab the front of his robes and saw her knuckles turn white from the tightness of her grip. She wouldn't look up at him despite him trying to catch her eye, and Harry made sure to hold her tightly.
"I want to be there for you Harry and I will. It might just take a little bit for me to have to share you with your friends."
No words came to Harry's mind after Daphne's heartfelt speech, but he knew he needed to remind Daphne that he had chosen her to be his girlfriend. He pulled Daphne around so she stood in front of him and gave her his best warm, understanding smile. After a second of deliberation because of the public place they stood, Harry kissed her forehead and lingered for a few seconds. He heard Daphne sigh and he hugged her tightly to him. Daphne went willingly again and the young couple stood there in silence for a few moments.
"Sorry to interrupt but Sirius and the others will be here soon."
Harry looked over his shoulder and saw Draco standing a few steps behind them. He nodded and turned around with an arm around Daphne's waist. When he noticed that Hermione, Susan and Tracey were not in their usual group of friends Harry raised his eyebrows and Draco smiled weakly.
"The ladies are helping Luna get ready to return to her former childhood home."
"Draco can you take me there? I'd like to be there and support her."
Draco raised his eyebrows and looked at Harry. Harry smiled and affectionate warmth blossomed in his chest at Daphne's words. He nodded to Draco and the pale-haired wizard motioned for Daphne to walk in front of him. Harry watched them go and hurried to the Great Hall to grab the three of them breakfast. He had a feeling today would be an emotional roller coaster of a day and they would need their strength.
Daphne walked beside her former House mate and struggled whether to strike up a conversation with Draco. The two of them hadn't really interacted when they both were in Slytherin House and even outside of Hogwarts their interactions were civil. They rubbed shoulders at high-society events and kept up the minimal requirements of relations due to their standings in the Ruling Nine.
"He really likes you Daphne."
"And are you going to report this conversation with him as well Draco?"
Draco chuckled and they waited for the staircases to stop moving. Daphne rolled her eyes at Draco and followed him once the stairs stopped.
"Harry is a close friend there Daphne and he has the power to make sure my House does not fall into obscurity. The current acting regent of House Black stabilized my House but Harry, as Lord Potter-Black will allow me to make my House relevant again. I will protect him at all costs."
"I don't believe you. You are not friends with Harry simply because of his power and even if you were Harry would kick you to the curb in a heartbeat. You actually care for him."
Draco smirked and didn't say anything else. The two young magicals walked down a corridor on the fifth floor and up a winding, spiral staircase. They stopped outside a non-descript door without a keyhole or doorknob, but it had a single eagle knocker.
"An eye in a blue face
Saw an eye in a green face.
"That eye is like to this eye"
Said the first eye,
"but in low place
Not in high place."
Daphne looked confusedly at Draco but the newly minted Ravenclaw looked unperturbed and scratched his temple. After a moment he straightened and snapped his fingers.
"Sun on the daisies."
The door swung open and an impressed Daphne followed Draco. She had never been in another school House common room and her head swiveled about as she took in the blues and gold of Ravenclaw House common room. A few of the Ravenclaws started and watched with narrowed eyes as Draco led Daphne over to a corridor and motioned for her to keep going.
"Don't mind my housemates as they are an untrusting lot and I'll take the heat. I don't know which dorm room is Luna's and I'm afraid you'll just have to look around."
Daphne rolled her eyes again but kept on walking down the corridor and as luck would have it Padma Patil popped out of a doorway and into the corridor.
"Patil! Could you wait a moment please?"
The pretty Indian witch stopped and stared at Daphne with narrowed eyes. Daphne remembered Draco's comment about 'untrusting Ravenclaw's' and did her best to appear non-threatening.
"I am looking for Luna Lovegood. Could you show me where she is?"
"Why are you looking for Luna?"
"I come as her friend and I believe she is going somewhere today with Harry. Since he can't be here, I offered to look after Luna for him."
"Luna doesn't need you looking after her."
Padma Patil kept her frosty exterior and raised an eyebrow challengingly at Daphne. Daphne was well versed in the Ice Queen persona as she had garnered the nickname and normally would put the Ravenclaw witch in her place, but she remembered Luna's importance to Harry. Before she could speak again Luna herself walked out into the corridor and pulled Padma into her dorm room.
"Please come in Daphne Greengrass."
The slim blonde-haired Ravenclaw merely whispered and she floated back into her dorm room with fairy-like grace. Daphne swallowed and followed the two witches. Once inside the dorm room she saw Susan Bones and Hermione Granger in the room as well. The witches were gathered around Luna who sat in front of a small vanity and Daphne saw her dressed in a semi-formal autumn dress.
"Hey Daphne. Harry sent you?"
"I came to support Luna."
Susan nodded at Daphne's words and Granger nodded her head with a sad smile. It seemed that Granger was familiar with Harry's need to look after his friends even if he couldn't physically be there and Daphne was reminded once again of the close friendship between Hermione Granger and Harry Potter. Two thirds of the whispered Golden Trio but Ronald Weasley seemed to have fallen off the radar lately and wasn't seen around Harry nowadays.
"Does someone mind braiding my hair? Daddy always liked it when I had it braided."
"I'm not good at braiding hair Luna. Padma? Susan?"
"Sorry I'm not good at it either."
"I can do it. Do you mind Luna?"
When the other three girls couldn't braid Luna's hair Daphne hesitantly stepped forward and met the younger witch's eyes in the vanity mirror. The Ravenclaw witch nodded with a small smile and Daphne ran her fingers through Luna's hair.
"My younger sister Astoria likes her hair braided and its one of the ways we bond. I can style your braids like hers if you like?"
"That would be nice. Thanks Daphne."
Not trusting herself to speak and also not knowing what to say, Daphne began braiding Luna's long blonde hair in Astoria's preferred style. Padma stepped up and finished applying some slight make up to Luna's face. The witches worked in silence and Daphne figured the death of Luna's father and the tears the dainty Ravenclaw witched refused to let fall were quite the deterrents to starting a conversation. Both Padma and Daphne finished at the same time and she suspected that Padma took as long as she did because she didn't trust Daphne around Luna but both witches stepped back all the same. Luna stood up and Susan held out a light cloak that would both accent Luna's dress and provide another layer of physical security. Luna slid it on with a quiet thanks and Susan led Luna out of her dorm room.
"Padma, I don't mean to be rude, but you cannot go with us today and even with my auntie's pull, you're still under the care of the headmaster."
"I know and I'm so sorry that I can't be there Luna."
"It's all right Padma, and Susan's right. You've helped out enough already."
The two Ravenclaw witches embraced tightly and Padma whispered words of comfort into Luna's ear. When Luna stepped away Susan took her hand again and Hermione stepped up on Luna's other side. Daphne awkwardly took up the rear and the four witches walked down from the Ravenclaw common room to the Entrance Hall in silence. Relief spread through Daphne when she saw Harry still standing in the same spot but Sirius Black, Amelia Bones, Augusta Longbottom, Neville Longbottom, Draco and her older brother Derek were with him. Professor McGonagall hurried over from another staircase and Daphne stood in between Harry and her older brother Derek.
"Good morning my lords and ladies. I believe I know why all of you are here, but I must ask."
Luna sidled up to Harry's other side and Harry took both Daphne and Luna's hands in each of his. Sirius Black stepped forward and his usual roguish smirk was replaced with a subdued frown.
"The current Lord Potter-Black is close friends with the Lady Lovegood and wants to support her in her time of great distress. I am acting as his regent and steward for the day by taking the Lord Potter-Black, Lord Malfoy and the Lady Lovegood to her former childhood home The Rook."
Amelia Bones stepped forward and shook hands with Professor McGonagall.
"I echo the regent and acting Lord Potter-Black's words and I taking am my niece with me in a show of support for House Lovegood. I believe that I can speak for the Lady Longbottom as well."
Augusta Longbottom nodded when Amelia Bones looked back at her and Derek Greengrass stepped forward. Her brother's presence was a mystery to Daphne and she had been planning on begging Harry to let her go with him today.
"House Lovegood has long been an ally of House Greengrass and we must continue to show solidarity in these dark times. My younger sister is coming with me today Deputy Headmistress."
Professor McGonagall looked flummoxed and surprised at this gathering of friends and elitists but also proud. She struggled for a moment to find her words, but she simply nodded and waved her hands.
"Thank you for taking such good care of my students and I will let the other staff members know of their absence from lessons today. Ms. Lovegood I am so sorry for your loss and if you need anything in the days to come please don't hesitate to ask."
Luna nodded her thanks at Professor McGonagall's words, Hermione waved goodbye and Sirius led the group out of the castle. Once again, no words were spoken as they walked down to the gates leading out of Hogwarts, but Daphne did notice that Luna flinched and pulled away from Draco when the Malfoy wizard attempted to walk near her. This interaction confused Daphne because from what Harry told her in their daily free periods, there might be a mutual attraction between Draco and Luna. She filed the thought away for later pondering as Hagrid opened the heavy gates for them and the group stopped a little bit outside the gates.
"Here we go kids. Take someone else's hand and touch a finger to this book as it will act as a portkey to The Rook. I'll be going with all of you as a chaperone and adult presence. Yes, many of you are of age, I get that, but the media and Aurors are not so easily impressed with those still labeled as Hogwarts students. Amelia?"
"Right you lot. There will be Aurors present at the site so please don't do anything rash. Say goodbye to your loved ones and meet back here in a moment."
Derek hugged Daphne goodbye in a rare show of physical affection and when she returned to Harry's side she saw Augusta Longbottom doing the same with Neville. Amelia Bones held Susan's hand and Daphne touched the book that Sirius Black held out.
"One, two and three."
A sharp pull yanked just behind and below her belly button and the landscape blurred. A few seconds later the group appeared in a battle torn, scorched landscape. Grey storm clouds took the temperature down a few degrees and Daphne was glad that Sirius and Amelia had cast warming charms for all of them. Luna cried out, a sharp anguished sound and sprinted forward.
"Luna wait!"
Harry let go of Daphne's hand and ran off after Luna. Tears sprang up unbidden in Daphne's eyes as she saw the charred, destroyed remnants of an oddly structured house and black magical scorch marks littered the grounds for a hundred metres from Luna's childhood home. The team of Aurors standing guard and securing evidence for the DMLE tried to stop Luna but were blasted away by dark pink magic that came from Luna. Daphne stopped, surprised and confused and Amelia Bones hurried past.
"Aurors stand down!"
The Director of the DMLE's command came just in time as the Aurors had regained their footing and leveled their wands at Harry and Luna. The last remaining Lovegood didn't see what her uncontrolled magic had done as she had fallen to her knees, hands at her chest and she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Daddy! No! Daddy!"
The sorrow and anguish in Luan's cries chilled Daphne to her core and she stopped a respectable distance away. Harry knelt down next to Luna and hugged her close. Amelia Bones waved her Aurors away from Harry and Luna and spoke in quiet tones with them. This left Susan, Draco, Neville, Daphne and Sirius to stand by and watch as Luna grieved.
"The Dark Lord made a statement here. Xenophilius Lovegood was largely considered eccentric, unbalanced and a wash of a reporter. Few knew of his contributions in the first war against the Dark Lord and the level of skill and mastery Xenophilius displayed as an Unspeakable. The man had a storied career and I tell you children this as a reminder that not everything and everyone is as it seems."
Amelia Bones rejoined the group and spoke in firm, clipped tones. Suddenly, the air crackled with heavy magic and before anyone could locate it Harry cried out as he flew backwards several feet. The same pink magic that came from Luna before crackled and twisted in the air around the young witch and Luna stood up with her back still to them. The Aurors closed ranks and stood in front of them. Harry struggled back onto his feet with the help of Sirius and waved the others off.
"No! Don't! She doesn't mean it and I even doubt she's aware of what she's doing. Sirius back me up but don't get any closer to her."
"Harry wait! What's going on?"
Daphne cried out after Harry, but her boyfriend strode forward and held his hands down at and out at his sides. Sirius held Amelia back with a hand on her arm and shook his head.
"My godson is the closest living person Luna Lovegood has to family and a friend right now and he knows what he's doing. Director, you were just telling us about Xenophilius Lovegood's career as an Unspeakable and we both know that a large part of his success was due to his family magic. Luna Lovegood has those same qualities but is stronger. The familial curse still binds her, but she fights it stronger than any Lovegood in a long time."
Daphne stood both worried and spell bound. Harry had squared off with Luna, still wandless and in that non-threatening pose but Sirius Black's words intrigued her. Amelia Bones speared Sirius Black with a furious glance but didn't press forward and her wand appeared in her hand. At the same time both Sirius and Amelia shielded Harry as Luna's magic lashed out and struck him. Her magic bounced off the magical shield and Daphne bit her lip to restrain herself from dashing forward.
"…he killed my father! Don't tell me to calm down Harry Potter!"
"I can sympathize and relate Luna. The maniac killed both my parents too remember?"
"Boo hoo Harry Potter! You can hardly even remember them!"
Daphne gasped, a hot fury winding up in her gut at Luna's sharp words, but Harry appeared unfazed. He kept inching towards Luna and Sirius and Amelia kept shielding him from Luna's magic.
"Luna you are reacting strongly to your emotions and I get it. You have every right to do so but you cannot lose control like this. Please calm down and let me help you."
"Gwaaaah! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"
This time when Luna's magic struck Sirius and Amelia's shields, Daphne winced at the sound of the crack and bright flash. When she opened her eyes she saw Harry standing right in front of Luna and Daphne's heart leapt into her throat. Harry enfolded Luna in a firm hug and didn't let go when Luna went berserk. Several long tense moments later and Luna slumped in Harry's arms. Amelia and her Aurors strode forward and Harry knelt down on the ground with an unconscious Luna in his arms.
"We can help her Mr. Potter. Let me take her to St. Mungo's and place her in observation for a few days. She can be properly looked after and cared for."
"Please be lenient and gentle with her Director. She didn't mean any of it. With her emotional sensory abilities this…just tipped her over the edge. That's all."
"I know Mr. Potter. I know. I promise you that she won't be charged with anything."
Harry eventually let the Auror team take Luna from him and at a command from Amelia Bones the DMLE wizards left. Daphne couldn't wait any longer and ran over to Harry. She knelt down in the scorched earth with him and held him close to her chest. Harry's head fell over her heart and he gripped her tightly.
"She didn't mean it Daphne. She didn't mean it."
"I know Harry. I'm sure she'll apologise when she's in her right mind again. She's your friend Harry. She's still your friend."
Daphne ran her fingers through Harry's hair and whispered sweet nothings to him for a few minutes. She desperately wanted to know the details about what just happened, but she needed to comfort Harry first. Even if she did ask, Daphne was positive Harry wouldn't tell her and he would say something like it wasn't his story to tell. Her boyfriend was a good man and he protected those he cared about fiercely.
"Pup we need to get going. There is nothing more we can do here and we have other things to do today."
"Yeah, you're right Sirius. Come on Daphne."
Harry stood up and helped Daphne back up onto her feet. She wiped off her skirt and legs before grabbing Harry's hand. Harry, Sirius and Daphne returned to where Draco, Neville and Susan stood and Harry grinned weakly.
"Please don't judge Luna too harshly as she didn't mean to do or say any of that. I promise."
Daphne took in everyone's shocked faces and she knew hers was no better. Harry cleared his throat and all eyes returned to him.
"There is another reason why all of us are out of Hogwarts today and that is to catch one rather illusive and very well-informed reporter. Everyone should at least know the name Balathier Thanos and Draco and I were talking about it briefly at breakfast yesterday. If all of you are willing, there is a part for each one of you to play and we can make a power move against the media."
"Why us Harry? If this reporter is worth his salt he'll know that even though we are all Heir Apparents or related to members of the Ruling Nine, we are still students and we don't control our Houses yet. This is what Sirius and Remus handle right now."
"Yes Neville that is correct but there is more going on than what you are aware of. Sirius and Remus are working with Derek Greengrass on another highly sensitive matter and it is taking quite a bit of their time and energy to handle properly. I think it's time we flexed some of that muscle the Daily Prophet keeps warning the public about. Wouldn't you agree?"
Daphne smirked as Harry's eyes lit up with the challenge of taking on the media and he calmly but passionately rebutted Neville's argument. Daphne already knew she would help and so would Draco. Her gaze turned to Neville and Susan. Susan smirked and twirled a piece of her long red hair around her finger.
"Oh so I finally get included in the great Harry Potter's plans? Count me in."
"You know that I will help you Harry. When and where?"
Sirius clapped his hands and all eyes turned to him. His smirk matched Harry's and he had a hand on Harry's and Draco's shoulders.
"Well this is all good and all but as Harry alluded to, I do have other matters that need my attention. Each one of your guardians gave me a port key that would allow you to go back to your family homes. Chop chop. Off all of you go."
Sirius handed each of the heir apparent another portkey and Daphne took the offered pen. Harry turned to Daphne and his eyes twinkled with even more mischief. Daphne raised an eyebrow at him.
"What else are you planning oh boyfriend of mine?"
"You are getting to know me too well Daphne. As you are getting ready for this evening please make sure that Astoria comes along as well."
"Astoria? How is she going to help?"
Harry didn't answer and kissed her cheek in farewell. Daphne didn't realise that Sirius had activated the portkey until it was too late and she scowled at Harry before she vanished.
A/N 3: The teaser about Luna and the Lovegood family is an idea and shameless plug from my other HP story Potter's Hands: Ravenclaw. As always if you have questions, comments or concerns feel free to drop a review or PM me. Ja ne.
