Disclaimer

I don't own Harry Potter. I don't own Tenchi Muyo or any of the other stories in the Tenchi universe.

I merely succumbed to the temptation of 'What if?'. This plot bunny came to me a few months ago and refused to leave me alone until I got it written.

Chapter 10

Daphne knew how to maintain control of herself and her emotions under unusual circumstances. She was a high-class pure-blood witch so it went without saying.

Still, waking up and finding something resting against her stomach, inside of her nightdress did push her self-control to her limits. She waited until only she and Tracy were left in the dorm before sealing and silencing the room and cutting loose.

"I. Am. Going. To. CASTRATE. Him." She exploded, her face flushing in anger.

"Who?" Tracy was shocked at her friend's sudden outburst.

"Potter!" Daphne spat. "He left a message for us."

She tossed it to her friend to read.

"I don't see what the problem is. I may not like meeting at the Shrieking Shack but we can guarantee being alone since no one else will be willing to get anywhere near the place. He's making sure that we arrive separately so it's unlikely anyone will see us together; he wants us there at 2pm and to wait for an hour for him, boring for us but we're approaching him. What's the problem?" Tracy was confused.

"It's not the message." Daphne ground out. "I barely even read it. It's where I found it."

"Where, it wasn't somewhere someone else could see it was it?" Tracy asked, worried.

"No!" Daphne snapped. "It was in bed with me. Inside my nightdress."

Tracy gasped and then giggled. "I wonder how he pulled that off without waking you or triggering the alarms. I hope he enjoyed the view."

Daphne pulled her wand and started firing stinging hexes at her friend who ducked and dodged madly as she tried to fight past her giggles enough the unseal the room and escape.

!HPNNfH!

"All set for your big date?" Hermione asked Harry over breakfast.

"Yes." Harry replied.

"No more details than that?"

"No."

"King of the monosyllable answer today, aren't you?"

"Yep." Harry gave her a cheerful grin.

Hermione looked around and leant forward to whisper. "Are you still going through with your plan today?"

"Yeah." Harry's mood darkened.

"You are at least all prepared for it, right?"

"Yes."

"That's something at least." Hermione returned to her breakfast.

"Where did you disappear off to this morning?" Ginny asked, looking up from where she was feeding titbits to Ryo-oh-ki.

"Owlery."

"You're not going to give anything away are you?"

"No."

"Okay, at least I got an answer of more than one syllable from you." Ginny returned to her breakfast.

"Finished?" Harry asked a short while later.

"Yes. Ginny nodded and rose. "Shall we?"

"With pleasure." The two Gryffindor's left the Great Hall.

"Why is she going with him?" Ron asked, his loaded fork pausing on the way to his mouth.

"She must be his date." Hermione said, figuring it out.

"She can't be." Ron dropped his fork in shock. "She's my little sister. She's too young to date."

"I didn't think they are 'dating' dating." Hermione replied thoughtfully. "He did say it was a friend he wanted to get to know better. Besides, it's Harry. He won't do anything."

Ron just frowned. "Let's go." He stood suddenly leaving his unfinished plate as he headed after them.

Hermione rolled her eyes but followed. "You know she's going to hex you for this, don't you?"

!HPNNfH!

Harry and Ginny had caught a carriage to the village and left before Ron had caught up to them. Ginny was grateful that she had spent so much time with Harry, helping him study Runes, otherwise she wouldn't be able to walk down the main street of Hogsmeade next to Harry without a permanent blush.

As it was she was enjoying leading, and occasionally dragging, Harry to different shops and looking at things. They chatted freely. Harry was relaxed and pointing out things he liked.

"You're doing better than I expected." Ginny complemented him.

"Thanks." Harry replied dryly before grinning. "This is much more relaxing than any trip that involves both Ayeka and Ryoko in close proximity trying to get the chance to impress Tenchi. That gets crazy."

"Who is crazier my family or theirs?"

"Mine you mean; and we have your family beaten by miles."

"Really?"

"If you make it for Christmas, you'll see it firsthand."

"Can I really come?"

"Sure. Ryoko would love it. I wouldn't mind having some of my friends visit too."

Ginny smiled and blushed a little.

"Come on." Harry smiled. "Let's look in Honeydukes and then head to the Three Broomsticks for a drink and lunch."

"It's still a little early for lunch."

"We don't have to eat immediately."

Ginny smiled then it vanished.

"When's your meeting?" She whispered.

"I'll head there about 2:30 this afternoon."

"I'm coming." Ginny stated.

"We've already had this discussion." Harry looked at her sternly.

"Yes, but how will you explain leaving me in the middle of the afternoon and disappear off?"

Harry hesitated. "We could stage a fight."

"Not unless you actually want to be hexed."

"Damn it Ginny. It could be a trap." Harry didn't quite snap at the younger girl.

"Yes, but us getting some privacy would draw less attention."

"You're right. Damn." Harry growled. "Alright, but you stay damn close to me and do exactly what I say. If we're going to use getting some privacy as cover then we're probably going to have to kiss a bit to maintain our cover."

Ginny blushed, again. "It's a steep price, but I'll do it."

Harry grinned and pushed her gently, causing her to laugh.

!HPNNfH!

Ginny claimed the corner booth that Harry pointed out while he bought some Butterbeer.

"Four?" She questioned as her joined her at the table.

"I imagine Ron and Hermione will be joining us in a minute. Ron's been watching us all day."

"Prat." Ginny grumped. "What does he think? That I'm a little girl he has to protect?"

"Probably." Harry shrugged as he took the seat next to her, keeping his back to the wall to be able to watch the entire room.

He was right, two minutes later Ron and Hermione were standing over them.

"Are you having a nice day?" Hermione asked.

Ron was looking back and forth at his friend and little sister, turning redder and redder.

"Ron, Hermione, have a seat and quench your thirst." Harry indicated the two bottles of Butterbeer still sitting unopened on the table. "You know we haven't done anything. You've been watching us the entire time."

Ron flushed, but in embarrassment instead of anger.

"Why did you ask out my sister?" He asked as he sat and grabbed the offered drink.

"She's a friend, and she asked me." Harry replied.

"You didn't have to say yes."

"No, but I did anyway."

"Let it go Ron." Hermione said.

"Yeah, before I start hexing you." Ginny glared at him.

Ron quailed under his younger sister's angry stare and dropped the subject.

The conversation turned to more mundane topics and lunch.

!HPNNfH!

Ginny was cuddling up to Harry as they took a brief wander around Hogsmeade. Her excuse, when he asked her, was to make it look real when they disappeared off.

They wandered down the village street, looking in shop windows and occasionally entering to look around, making their way towards the Shrieking Shack.

They timed it well. It was nearing time when they reached that end of the village.

"Do you want to look at the Shrieking Shack while we are down here?" Harry asked her.

"Okay." Ginny took his hand a led the way.

They stopped at the fence line and looked over at the famous shack.

"Looks desolate and haunted, even in full sunlight doesn't it?" Harry commented.

"Yeah." Ginny shivered slightly at the sight of the most haunted house in Britain.

"Want to get a closer look?" Harry asked winking at her.

"You just want to get me alone don't you?" Ginny stated accusingly.

"Guilty as charged." Harry grinned. "Was that a yes or a no?"

"Alright, but if you try anything funny I'm going to hex you."

Harry laughed and they headed towards the building, Harry feeling his wrist link vibrate briefly, signalling that his ship was monitoring. His good mood at the little by play with Ginny was evaporating.

!HPNNfH!

"Where is he?" Daphne demanded as she paced furiously.

"He's really gotten you riled, hasn't he?" Tracy commented. "It's only been half an hour."

"I'm going to hex him."

"Right before we ask him for a huge favour? Not the best move you could make."

"I 'will' get revenge for what he did."

"You don't even know that it was him that did it. How could a guy have gotten up those stairs?"

Daphne just glared.

"Well, at least you aren't worried about the murderous ghosts."

"I thought that was just exaggerated stories but seeing the damage in this place, I'm beginning to wonder."

Tracy looked out the window again. "He's coming. Ginny's with him, looks like they are playing the happy couple off to get some privacy."

Daphne grinned maliciously.

They listened to the sound of the front door opening and listened to the voices as they looked around the lower floor.

The door to the room they were waiting in opened and Harry led the way in.

"Damn you Potter." Daphne growled as she lunged for him and rebounded off the wall as she missed.

She stared at him in confusion. "How did you dodge that?"

"Easily. I guess you found my note." Harry quietly raised a Jurai shield around the room to ensure their privacy.

"Yes." Daphne glared. "Would you mind telling me how you got that note inside my nightdress while I was sleeping without me noticing?"

"Very easily. You look very cute when you're asleep. Don't worry, I neither saw nor touched any part of you."

"'Inside' her nightdress?" Ginny looked up at him, quirking an eyebrow.

"I didn't want to risk anyone else seeing it." Harry explained.

"How did you get into the Slytherin girls dorms?" Tracy asked.

"Do you actually expect an answer?"

"Probably not." Tracy admitted.

"You asked for this meeting, what's it about?" Harry turned to business.

"Yes, before the ghosts come out and kill us too."

"What ghosts?"

"You mean you don't know? This is the most haunted house in Britain. The ghosts here are supposed to kill anyone who trespasses."

"There aren't any ghosts." Harry assured her.

"Okay, you know everything, what caused all this damage?" Daphne demanded.

"Werewolf."

"Werewolf?" Tracy looked surprised.

"Yes. This is where Professor Lupin came during the full moon while he was a student at Hogwarts."

"Wow. Do the stories about you even come close?"

"I don't know, no one tells me anything. Let's get down to business."

Tracy took a deep breath. "We need your help. Our family's work closely together due to the various business they have interests in, which is why we are such good friends, we practically grew up together. This is why we are both approaching you together."

"Okay." Harry nodded.

"We received word from our parents indicating that they are being pressured to throw their support behind someone. No one is mentioning names but it isn't hard to guess."

"Voldemort." Harry confirmed.

"Yes. Our parents wish to remain neutral, as they always have, but feel this may no longer be an option. They've told us they may need to go into hiding and they may not be able to wait for us to join them first. We actually expect that they'll use our current separation to their advantage."

"So you need protection if this happens." Harry stated.

"Yes. They'll do their best to wait until we can join them but that may not be an option. We want to be able to tell them that we'll be safe without them and they don't have to put themselves at risk to get us first."

"You want to know if I will hide you if that happens? Why me? Why not Dumbledore?"

"Why can't you stay at Hogwarts?" Ginny asked.

"We will if we can but that isn't an option over summer and may not be over Christmas. We feel you may be a better option than Dumbledore. We'll go to him if we have to but would prefer not to. We feel you will attach less strings to the deal."

Harry had been paying attention to his wrist link. So far it had confirmed everything they had said.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

Tracy and Daphne exchanged a long look before nodding to each other.

They spoke in unison as they swore a witch's oath to never betray Harry Potter or his friends and family.

Harry looked at Ginny who nodded, impressed at the trust the two Slytherin's had shown Harry.

"So you want me to take the two of you to a safe place during the holidays?"

"And my little sister." Daphne had calmed down.

"Will she swear the same oath?"

"Yes. I'll make sure of it."

"Okay. I was hoping to have some friends over for Christmas; I guess you two count, sort of."

Harry felt the single buzz. Permission to bring them had been granted.

"Hmm. How to do this?" Harry pondered.

"What happens if you are forced out of Hogwarts?" Tracy asked. "We know what Umbridge is trying to do. Malfoy is trying to help by the way."

"Really? If he's tried something so far, I haven't seen it." Harry shrugged. "I guess he's showing his usual incompetence."

Daphne giggled despite herself.

"I have a partner, someone I work with, whom I trust completely. More so than anyone else. My friends only found out of my partner's existence last night and they still don't know what my partner is called. No one else outside of my family knows of my partner's identity."

"So if something happens to you we can get in touch with him?"

"Yes. Hedwig or Ryo-oh-ki will be able to take a message."

"Hedwig is your owl, who is Ryo-oh-ki? That weird cat that's sitting on Ginny's shoulder?"

"Yes. They are the only ones you have access to who can carry a message."

"What sort of reply can we expect?"

"You will get rendezvous instruction returned to you. Follow them exactly. The note will be signed 'Mage' and will not be handwritten."

"Okay." Tracy nodded. "I hope that isn't necessary."

Harry nodded. "Me too. If someone meets you saying that they are Mage, blast them immediately. "

"So how do we make contact?" Daphne asked.

"You don't. You follow the instructions and Mage will get you. Is there anything else?"

"No. Thank you. You don't know how important this is to us." Tracy voice rang with sincerity.

"I can guess. You should be warned. Leave every expectation and prejudice behind or it will be a rough time for you both."

"Understood. We won't bite the hand that's helping us." Tracy replied. "Thank you so much."

"Thank you." Daphne echoed. "But don't think that I won't get you back for what you did."

"If you can suggest a better place to hide a message that only you can find, please let me know." Harry grinned.

"I'll get back to you." Daphne glared again but with less heat than earlier.

"Can I ask a question?" Ginny entered the conversation.

"Sure." Tracy gestured for her to continue.

"How can you be so friendly with Harry publicly but have to hide the fact that he is helping you stay safe?"

"Trying to marry him can be viewed as a good political move, especially since he has become the second richest wizard in the world. It doesn't necessarily indicate that we are on his side."

"So you don't really care about Harry?" Ginny looked a little angry.

"I wouldn't say that. We're flirting a little not trying to seduce him into matrimony, contrary to appearances." Tracy answered. "But there's no harm is seeing if there's anything there."

Ginny relaxed. "Okay."

"We should go." Tracy said. "You two are going to need some swollen lips to keep your cover." She teased.

"You have a point." Harry winked at Ginny causing her to blush slightly.

"Damn you Harry. Do you have to keep making me blush."

"Yes." Harry grinned.

"Is it clear out there?" He asked looking out the window.

He got a double buzz from his wrist-link. Looking carefully he spotted Malfoy watching the badly damaged house from some bushes near the fence line.

"Malfoy's out there. Do you want to hang around while I make out with Ginny?"

"I would rather not." Daphne replied. "Is there another way out?"

"Yes." Harry dropped the barrier they still hadn't noticed, led the way downstairs and opened the door that hid the tunnel.

"Where does this lead?" Tracy asked.

"Hogwarts. It comes out at the base of the Whomping Willow. There is a knot on the base of the trunk that will calm the tree for a minute so you can get out without being killed."

"Thanks. Enjoy yourselves. See you at dinner." Tracy led the way down the tunnel, followed by Daphne.

Harry closed the door and looked at Ginny. She was standing in front of a window, haloed by the light streaming through.

He stood, mesmerised by the sight for a minute, before walking slowly over to her.

"Harry?" She whispered, surprised by the look of awe on his face.

He stopped just in front of her. "You look amazing, framed by the light. Your hair looks like its glowing."

Ginny blushed, the look on Harry's face excited her and it was her that was causing it, her he was looking at.

Slowly, she reached her arms up and slid them around his neck and gently pulled his unresisting head down towards her. She leant forward as he came closer and gently, there in the shattered décor of the Shrieking Shack, captured his lips with her own.

"Wow." Harry gasped as they separated.

"Yeah." Ginny agreed.

"So, umm, swollen lips, any suggestions?" Harry asked hopefully.

"Sorry Harry. I can't just kiss a boy like that."

"Oh." Harry looked crestfallen.

Ginny resisted her laughter as she added. "A boyfriend on the other hand..."

Harry perked up so fast she burst out laughing, unable to hold it in any longer.

"So, Ginny, would you..."

Ginny nodded and grabbed him to smother her laugher against his lips.

!HPNNfH!

"Damn it, why did the link cut off?" Ryoko complained.

"I think Harry's ship want to give them some privacy." Washu answered, tapping away at her console.

"They were just getting to the good part. I'm going to have to ask her how it went."

"Oh, leave them alone." Ayeka scolded. "They don't need you butting into their private life."

"It was so romantic." Mihoshi gushed, tears running down her face. "The way they looked at each other; her framed by the light."

There were three identical thoughts by three different women. 'I wish Tenchi would look at me like that.'

!HPNNfH!

A very happy Ginny walked hand-in-hand with Harry back to the carriages to return to Hogwarts. They had spent enough time kissing to cause some swelling in their lips, not long enough in her opinion though. Kissing Harry was everything she had hoped it would be.

"Did you have a nice day?" Hermione asked as they sat down to dinner.

"Very. My boyfriend and I had a lot of fun."

"Boyfriend?" Hermione gasped and leant in to give her younger friend a hug. "Congratulations."

"Boyfriend?" Ron repeated. "You can't date her Harry. She's my sister."

"I know. I'm not going to hurt or take advantage of her." Harry replied.

"Just because I'm your sister, doesn't mean you can dictate my life." Ginny added firmly. "You're just jealous that I'm dating before you."

"You're too young." Ron stated.

"Young?" Ginny gave a harsh laugh. "See how young you feel after what I when through in my first year."

Ron shut up at that but he still didn't look happy.

!HPNNfH!

"So I hear you've taken our young seeker off the market." Angelina commented to Ginny as she and the other two chasers sat down with her that evening in the common room.

"Good news travels fast." Ginny replied.

"So? Spill. Give us some details. So far the only girl that's caught Harry's eye is Cho. It would be nice to know how you managed to catch our elusive seeker."

Ginny giggled. "Sorry. It was very nice and romantic, although the setting could have been better, and that is all you're going to get. "

The three chasers protested and tried to wheedle more details out of her.

Ginny made her apologies and retreated to her room. There was one person, other than Hermione, she did want to share the details of this with.

She began writing a letter.