Disclaimer: As always, everything belongs to J.K.R.
Author's notes: A big thank you to Xavras for editing this story. If you haven't checked out his stories yet, do it immediately. Everything he wrote is amazing, but "Moving On" is my favourite.
11 Expectant
When Daphne later thought of the days until Dumbledore's funeral, they seemed surreal to her.
The school was covered under a shroud. All lessons were cancelled, and the students were left to their own devices. The day after Dumbledore's murder Professor McGonagall told them that school would end after the funeral, and that the Hogwarts Express would take them home immediately after the funeral.
Daphne and Tracey spent their time in their bedroom. The baby didn't react kindly to the strain of the day of Dumbledore's death, and Daphne spent the next day puking her soul out of her body. At least it seemed so to her. She was too weak to see Madam Pomfrey, and a very concerned Tracy brought the mediwitch down to the dungeons to see her. Madam Pomfrey confined her to bed rest until the funeral. Daphne was too tired to protest. At least the mediwitch didn't insist that she had to stay at the infirmary, claiming that Daphne needed absolute quiet, something she wouldn't get at the infirmary these days, with the numbers of distraught students coming for Calming Draughts.
"Be glad you have an excuse to stay here," Theodore told them two days after the horrible event. He and Blaise had come for a visit to pass the time. Theodore sat on the edge of Daphne's bed, as it was expected from a caring betrothed, while Blaise sprawled on the chair in front of Tracey's desk. 'It's unbearable in the common room. Half of the house is openly gloating about Dumbledore's death, and celebrating that the day will come soon when the Dork Lord takes over. The other half is so terrified that they almost piss themselves.'
Tracey, who lounged on her bed, shared a look with Daphne, and grinned. 'May I ask to which half you belong, Theodore?'
Blaise threw his head back and howled with laughter, while Theodore turned red with anger. 'I can tell you to which half I pretend to belong, Davis. It certainly doesn't mirror my thoughts on the subject, and I'm most certainly not pissing myself.'
Daphne put her hand on his arm. 'We all know you don't, Theodore. Don't listen to Toddy; she's got a bad case of cabin fever and she's looking for an outlet.'
'Yeah, you're always such an easy target,' Tracey agreed with a Cheshire-Cat-grin.
That had been the only light moment of the last three days, Daphne thought when she walked with her house down to the lake to attend to Dumbledore's funeral. Her eyes searched the crowd of students for Harry. There he was. The Weaslette was walking close by his side and holding his hand. He didn't look as if he was aware of that. His face was stony, and his eyes still as empty and dark as they had been on that horrible night. Daphne knew they hid an almost unbearable pain: she had experienced it through their bond ever since the realisation of Dumbledore's death had hit him. She also knew he had put his shields up to hide his pain from her, but it was so strong that it kept spilling over to her. She had no idea if he knew about that, and she kept sending comfort and love through their bond in the hope to ease his pain.
If he was aware that she was looking at him right now, he didn't let on. That was a smart move on his side; he would probably give himself away if he looked at her. Daphne knew she shouldn't look at him, either, but she reassured herself that almost all students were staring at him, so that her behaviour wouldn't raise suspicion.
However, one person noticed her looking at Harry. The Weaslette turned her head, and again gave Daphne an imperceptible nod. Daphne returned the gesture.
Tracey had also noticed the Weaslette holding Harry's hand. 'Why's she holding his hand? Are you sure there's nothing going on between them?' she whispered into Daphne's ear.
'Absolutely,' Daphne whispered back. 'I'm glad she's there to give him some physical comfort when I can't.'
Tracey didn't look convinced, but any further objections of hers were prevented by a crying Hagrid, who carried Dumbledore's shrouded body.
The funeral service passed by in a blurr. Daphne lost sight of Harry when she walked back to the castle with her housemates after the funeral. They packed, and then followed their housemates to the carriages. Tracey and Daphne shared a carriage with Blaise and Theodore. None of them spoke a word.
At the station Theodore, always mindful of his role as her betrothed, grabbed Daphne's trunk and dragged it to the train. Daphne followed her friends. They entered the train and looked for a compartment. On their way down the aisle they had to pass the compartment that was occupied by Granger, the Weasel and Harry. Granger and the Weasel sat side by side, their heads stuck together, and talking quietly. Harry sat opposite from them, facing into the direction Daphne came from. He looked out of the window, but when Daphne neared his compartment, his head turned around, as if attracted by a magnet.
Daphne had no idea when she would see him again, and she tried to tell him with her eyes what she couldn't say aloud. He seemed to understand: the life returned into his eyes for the first time since that horrible night, and the love and warmth that had always been there when he looked at her encompassed her. An indescribable warmth spread in her chest, and she had to have a close grip on her shields to prevent the happy tears from spilling down her cheeks.
Then she had passed the compartment, and the short moment of bliss was gone, but the warmth still enveloped her when she entered the compartment with her friends. She feigned tiredness, and closed her eyes, leaning against Theodore's shoulder for a nap.
While the train brought them south and the moment they would have to part for an indefinite period of time drew nearer, they communicated their feelings through their bond.
Daphne was much calmer when the train arrived at platform 9 ¾: Harry eventually seemed to come to grips with Dumbledore's death. His pain was still there, but it wasn't that raw and overbearing anymore.
Like he had done at the beginning of the Christmas break, Theodore delivered her to her parents and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek in goodbye.
Her mother put an arm around her shoulder. 'Are you alright, sweetie?'
She hummed to that, her eyes scanning the crowd of students for a last glimpse of Harry. However, this time she wasn't lucky. Before she knew it, she and her mother had passed the barrier, with her father and her sister close at their heels. As always, the Grengrasses portkeyed from a side alley near the station directly into their living room.
The moment Daphne landed in the familiar room, she felt as if a huge load was taken off her. For the first time she realised under how much pressure she had been, but she also realised that she had no idea when she would see Harry again, if ever, and she broke out into tears. Her mother took her in her arms.'There, there, my little one, no need to cry. Everything's going to be alright.' It was the kind of meaningless, yet comforting talk she used to give her when she had skinned her knees as a little girl, but Daphne felt better than she had in weeks.
Her mother raised her wand and cancelled the Camouflage Charms. Daphne let out a watery sigh of relief. Isabella gave her a knowing look. 'That's better?'
'Much better,' Daphne agreed. 'These charms felt like a straightjacket lately.'
Her parents both smiled at that, but Astoria looked at her, her eyes almost bulging out of her head, and a hand clasped before her mouth.
'Daphne, you're huge! When did that happen? Why didn't you tell me?' She sounded hurt.
Cyrus Greengrass put an arm around the shoulder of his youngest. 'Not here, Tori. Your sister has a very sound reason to keep her pregnancy hidden from everyone. It can't become common knowledge, under no circumstances. So, when you return to Hogwarts, you won't talk about this, and you won't mention the baby that's going to be born around the end of next month to anyone.'
His voice commanded absolute obedience.
Astoria's eyes became even wider. 'I won't,' she promised. Though Daphne could see that the curiosity was almost killing her, she prodded no further. Instead, she stepped to her older sister and hugged her. 'Are you happy about the baby?'
Daphne smiled at her. 'It was a big surprise, but I can't be happier about it.'
'Good,' Tori replied. 'I bet Theodore is over the moon.'
Daphne and her parents shared looks, but nobody contradicted Tori. It was much safer for her not to know everything yet, Daphne thought, and apparently her parents shared her opinion.
'I promised father to bring you to him as soon as you've returned from Hogwarts,' Cyrus Greengrass directed the conversation to another topic. 'We'd better get going; you know how impatient he can get.'
The three women smiled to that, but followed him into the basement, where the hidden Portal Room was located. As an ancient Pureblood family, the Greengrass were well aware of the importance of an escape route that couldn't be closed off by Anti-Apparition-Wards or Anti-Portkey-Wards, so their ancestors had invested into a magical portal that connected the Greengrass residences - among them at least two that weren't known to the magical community - with each other. Each house had a Portal Room that was hidden under a Fidelius Charm, with the acting head of house and the heir as secret keepers. Secret passages connected each bedroom and the main rooms of the house with the Portal Room. These secret escape routes were the main reason how the Greengrass family managed to keep their neutrality over the centuries: whenever a Dark Lord came for a social call, the cat was out of the house and hid in a safe place until the storm was over.
Her father tapped with his wand tip three times against the portal. 'Domaine des Herbes Vertes.'
The dry heat of the southern France summer encompassed them as soon as they stepped through the portal. The Portal Room of the Greengrass summer home near the Cap d'Antibes in France was located in an inconspicuous garden shed. Dust danced in the rays of sunshine that fought their way through the grimy windows. Daphne, still in her black, woolen Hogwarts robes, felt suffocated. Small beads of sweat pooled between her shoulder blades, and ran down her back.
Grandfather Albion paced in front of the portal. The moment they stepped out, he whirled around. At the sight of his granddaughters he let out a relieved sigh. 'Thank Merlin!' He pulled the two young women into a hug. 'Are you alright? I was so worried about you when we heard what has happened at Hogwarts, my little angels.'
Daphne hugged him back. 'It was scary, but we were safe, grandfather. We got warned ahead, so we managed to seal the common room from intruders, and didn't venture out before it was all over.'
Her grandfather gave her a thoughtful look, but didn't ask how they got warned. Instead, he led his family out of the garden shed and towards the main house. It was an unassuming looking, low house, built in the traditional Provençal style, that sprawled around a back courtyard with access to the pool. It had only four bedrooms on the first floor; just enough to accommodate the family.
They entered the house through the French doors that led from the huge combined living and dining room into the courtyard. Daphne let out a sigh of relief when she stepped into the cool inside of the house. Even though the walk from the garden shed towards the house was short, the scorching sun had caused her a pounding headache. Without realising it, she pressed her hands against her temples and rubbed them.
Her mother wrapped her arm around her non-existing waist. 'Come on, sweetie, I think you've had enough today.' Without waiting for an answer, she walked Daphne through a door at the back of the room into the entrance hall. From here, a staircase winded up to the first floor. Daphne was thankful for her mother's support when she walked up the stairs that suddenly seemed much longer and steeper than she remembered.
Her mother helped her out of her robes and into a nightshirt, and then tucked her in as if she was a three year old girl again. Daphne was asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.
DGHPDGHPDGHP
A meddlesome sunbeam that found its way through the curtains tickled her nose. Daphne scrunched her face and snuggled into her cushions, not wanting to wake up yet. She had had such a wonderful dream: she and Harry had walked along the beach that belonged to the Domaine des Herbes Vertes, barefoot and hand in hand. In front of them ran two small children, a girl about four, with long, blonde curls streaming down her back, and a little raven haired boy of maybe two years, who in vain tried to keep up with his big sister. The toddler stumbled over his own feet and fell headlong into the wet sand, but before he could start to cry, Harry let go of her hand, scooped the little tyke up and put him on his shoulders in one swift motion. The boy laughed out loud, and Daphne felt as if her heart was going to burst when she looked at father and son: it was ridiculous how much alike they looked; except for the eyes. They were blue, like hers.
The wonderful feeling of warmth still stayed with her when she opened her eyes, and she realised that Harry was thinking of her. She could feel a slight tinge of worry coming from him, probably because she had been sound asleep during their usual time for their 'mind date' yesterday, and hurried to assure him that everything was alright.
From the glimpses she got from him she deduced that he had returned to his hated relatives. That added to her worries about him. Each year, something horrible happened to Harry at school, and each year he was locked away with these uncaring brutes, who couldn't care less if he was hurting and needed someone to support him to cope with the terrors he had been through. That he had not yet gone round the bent was amazing. Daphne suspected that it was thanks to his mother's protection on his soul. Her love had sheltered him from the worst. She could only hope that Lily's protection and the layers she had added to that would be enough to pull him through the toughest confrontation that was still to come.
The opening of the door interrupted her pleasant time with Harry. Her mother peeked her head into the room. 'Oh, you're already awake!' She came into the room and closed the door behind her. Then she walked to Daphne's bed and sat down on the edge. With her hand she tucked a stray lock of Daphne's hair behind her ear. 'How are you today, sweetie?'
'Much better,' Daphne smiled back. 'The last days have been pretty hard, and the little one here didn't like the stress at all.' She patted her meanwhile huge bump.
'I imagine,' her mother nodded, her face uncharacteristically stern. 'No expecting mother should go through what you've been through during these last months. I was so worried about you, especially after you told me about your concerns what Harry will say when you had to tell him that you entered him into a marriage ceremony. I understand that you couldn't write to us how that talk went: the less that's put on paper these days, the safer we are. But of course your father and I want to know how he took the news.'
A huge smile spread across Daphne's face. 'Much better than I deserved. In the beginning I thought he was mad at me, but then it turned out that he was only concerned that we had given away our relationship, and that I would be in danger because of that. As soon as I told him that we still have to be registered with the Ministry, he calmed down.' She chuckled as she remembered their conversation. 'He told me that he had already thought of proposing as soon as we'll turn seventeen, and that I've spared him a lot of anxiety and embarrassment. Obviously he was afraid of a rejection - as if ever! - and he was terrified of having to talk to father.'
Both women laughed out loud at that. 'If he thinks your father will let him off the hook that easily, he's in for a surprise,' Isabella remarked dryly.
'I didn't tell him that. There are some things he'll have to find out on his own,' Daphne replied, still chuckling. Her eyes misted over as she thought back to her conversation with Harry. 'He asked me if I'll sign the note to the Ministry with him as soon as this is all over, and I told him I'd shove a quill into his hand before the body of the Dork Lord is even cold.' A tear ran down her face, and she sighed. 'I hope he'll still be of that opinion when he finds out what else I hid from him.'
Isabella frowned. 'So, you stuck to your plan and haven't told him about the baby? He hasn't noticed until now?'
Daphne wiped her face and shook her head. 'He hasn't. I told him that we had to stop to see each other as soon as he began to notice that I was beginning to gain weight. We had talked about that before, and he has accepted there's something I can't tell him, and trusts me that I made the right decision. After that day, we only had contact through our bond. Lucky for me, I'm better at maintaining the connection than he. My shields are stronger than his, so it's unlikely I'll let leak out something I don't want him to see.'
'So, your bond is working fine?' her mother asked.
She nodded to that. 'Yeah; we can communicate feelings and pictures of what is going on around us, but no actual thoughts. Also, we can both block off the other one, if need be. Harry must not know about the baby, and he doesn't want me to know about the details of his fight against the Dork Lord. He claims that knowledge is too dangerous. On the other hand, his shields against me tend to shatter when he's under strong emotional stress, or they aren't strong enough to keep his emotions from me. It's been like that during the last couple of days. I got glimpses and information I'm sure he never wanted me to see. It's rather disturbing, especially since I don't have the whole picture.'
'I imagine,' her mother agreed, a frown on her face. 'That's rather dumb of him, I'd say. You could be his secret backup and a help in many ways.'
Daphne threw up her hands in frustration. 'That's what I told him, but he wouldn't listen. Dumbledore forbade him to talk about it to anyone except Granger and the Weasel, and Dumbledore's words are law for Harry.'
The frown on Isabella's face deepened. 'So, he's a typical Gryffindor in that regard. I don't understand why they always fail to see the manipulative side of Albus Dumbledore.'
'Yeah; I don't have the impression Dumbledore's been upright to Harry and told him everything he needed to know. I can't help the feeling that he kept important things from him, and that Harry's going to run into his doom because of that.' Her face crumpled, and she gave in to the tears that were always lurking in the background these days.
Her mother put an arm around her shoulder. 'Don't get yourself worked up about things that might not come to pass, sweetie. From everything you told us, and from what I heard about him, your Harry is a very resourceful young man. I'd not be surprised when he'll come out on top of all of this, no matter the intentions of the Dark Lord and Albus Dumbledore.'
Her mother's words did a lot to calm Daphne down, and her tears subsided.
Her mother gave her and encouraging hug. 'Come on, it's time for you to get up and dress. I've made an appointment with the midwife in Nice for you today.'
DGHPDGHPDGHP
The visit to the midwife helped a lot to calm down Daphne's fears about the impending confinement. The next couple of weeks the shock of the day of Dumbledore's death faded into the background. Harry was safe for the time being at his relative's house, though not happy, and she managed to push the fear of what would happen on his seventeenth birthday, when he would lose the protection of his mother's sacrifice, into the back while she prepared for the birth of her baby. She was sure that the people from that weird Order of the Phoenix, which she had seen in his memories, and who seemed to protect him, would think of something to get him out of there before the Dork Lord paid a visit, she thought, while she decorated the baby's baskett with a white, ruffled hanging.
The midwife had asked her if she wanted to know the gender of the baby, but she had declined. 'That's like knowing your Christmas presents before Christmas Day,' she had exclaimed. Her mother and the midwife had had a good laugh about that, but respected her wishes. Since she had no idea what to expect, she had decided on a lacy white decoration for the basket and for the baby's first clothes. After all, she was a witch, and changing the colours with a quick Colouring Spell was easy. However, a part of her felt compelled to grab for her wand and colour everything a soft pink. She resisted - barely, after telling herself that there was only a fifty percent chance that she was right.
She put a hand in her aching back as she straightened up. The baby was due any day now, and Daphne felt like a whale stranded on the beach. She wished the little one would hurry, but as of yet there was no sign of an impending birth. She waddled over to her bed to lay down before her back was killing her, and took another book from the stack on her bedside table.
Ever since she had overheard the talk between Harry and Dumbledore, she had resolved to find out what Horcruxes were. She might be delegated to the background by Harry's fear for her safety and her pregnancy, but she was determined to help him in any way possible - if he would let her. It was clear that it had to be something exceptionable evil, by the way the two men had spoken about it. So, she had raided the Greengrass library for every book on Dark Magic that was there. Unfortunately, the pick was limited.
Though the Greengrass' were considered a dark family by many, that wasn't true. They simply didn't believe in the rather undiscriminating classification of spells as "dark" or "light". In their opinion only the goal pursued with the spell mattered. 'You can kill someone as effectively with a spell created for cutting bread as with the Killing Curse, while you theoretically can use the Killing Curse as a mercyful way to put a suffering animal out of its misery,' Grandfather Albion had said when he explained the family's philosophy to her. It had made sense to her, something that couldn't always been said about the decisions of the magical governmental body, or the Wizengamot. But that stance was enough to label her family at least as "grey", if not as downward dark, as some of the more narrow minded followers of the Light tended to do.
Daphne doubted she would find the answer she was looking for in a book about the dangerous magical plants of the Mediterranean, but since she had no idea what she was looking for, she turned every stone.
Her studies were interrupted by Tori calling her to dinner. She freshened up and then waddled downstairs. As always during the summer, dinner was served on covered terrace that made up one wing of the house. Daphne sat down in her usual place beside Tori and listened to her father telling their mother and grandfather about his day.
Cyrus Greengrass still spent his days in England, managing the family business and holdings, and returned through the portal to be with his family in the evening.
'It's a creepy mood in magical Britain right now,' he told his wife while they waited for the house elf to serve dinner, and twirled the stem of his wineglass between the fingers of one hand. 'On the outside, everyone goes about their business as if nothing has happened, but they're all waiting with bated breaths for the next horror to strike.'
'What about the Ministry?' Grandfather Albion asked across the length of the table.
Cyrus sighed. 'It's only a matter of days until it'll fall, I'm afraid. There are rumours that a couple of high ranking Ministry officials have been placed under the Imperius Curse lately. That's very likely in my opinion. Pius Thicknesse, for example, has been acting rather strange during the last weeks. He's made it an offense to connect the house where Harry Potter lives to the public Floo net, to Apparate and Disapparate from that property, or use a Portkey on that property, all that under the pretext of protecting the Potter boy.'
'That's humbug,' Grandfather Albion interjected. 'We've always been told that the boy's protected by family wards. They'd be in place at least until he turns seventeen, so there's no need for additional protection.'
'Exactly,' Cyrus agreed, and took a sip of his wine. 'Makes you wonder why Thicknesse took these measures.'
They were interrupted by Barillet, the house elf who cared for their summer home, putting the dinner on the table. While Daphne picked at her salad - the baby lately didn't leave her much room for food, and she always felt stuffed after a few forkfuls - she thought of what consequences Pius Thicknesses unreasonable decision might have for Harry. She didn't need long to come to a conclusion.
'You mean, Thicknesse made sure that H- Potter can't get away from where he's right now?' she asked her father.
Cyrus put his fork down. 'I'm afraid so. Whenever these family wards fall, the boy's trapped.' The look he gave his eldest was full of sympathy.
Daphne felt as if a cold hand gripped around her heart. Harry's birthday was in four days, and the wards would fall then. Did he know about the danger he was in?
'Nonsense,' Tori's voice interrupted her frantic thoughts. 'He can always escape on his broom. Potter's got a first class racing broom, and he's one of the best flyers of the last century. The Dork Lord and his minions won't know what's hit them. He'll fly circles around them, and'll make them look like the fools they are.'
Daphne barely refrained from clapping her hand to her forehead. Of course, how could she have been that blind to overlook the obvious? Now, that Tori had pointed out an alternative means of escape, her sharp Slytherin mind got into gear to find another Plan B. Inspiration came to her as soon as Barillet served the second course. She put down the cutlery and looked to her mother. 'Excuse me, mother.'
Isabella gave her an alarmed look, but Daphne heard her chuckle behind her when she walked to the bathroom. She couldn't blame her mother; by the amount of time she spent in the bathroom she might as well put up her bed there, she thought as she locked the door behind herself. Unfortunately, her baby loved to sprawl over her bladder. But this time she had not been driven to the bathroom by an urgent need.
'Dipsy!' she called.
The next moment her house elf appeared beside her.
Daphne cowered down until she was eye to eye with the small creature, huffing and puffing like a walrus as she did so. 'Tell me, Dipsy, can house elf Apparition be monitored by the Ministry?'
The elf shook her head. 'No, Missy Daffy. House elf Apparition bes different than wizard Apparition. The Ministry can not sense us. House elves can also go through wards wizards can not go through. House elves can not go through the Hiding Ward.' Her ears drooped at the last revelation.
'Hiding Ward?' Daphne asked, not understanding. Then it dawned on her. 'You mean the Fidelius Charm?'
Dipsy bopped her head up and down.
'Well, that doesn't matter; the destination I have in mind is not under a Fidelius Charm. Can you get Dobby for me and ask him to come here as soon as possible? Tell him he can talk freely in front of my parents and grandfather, but he must not show himself to Tori.'
'Dipsy can do,' her house elf replied. The next moment she disappeared with a resounding CRACK.
Daphne returned to her family and resumed her meal. She was relieved when Tori excused herself right after the meal and didn't join the family to spend the rest of the evening. As always, the family gathered in the lounge area of the covered terrace wing to watch the sundown over the Mediterranean Sea. Tori had just disappeared into the house, and Daphne had barely sat down beside her mother, when Dobby Apparated in front of her with a CRACK that made her parents and grandfather jump.
'What can Dobby do for the great Harry Potter's Daffy?' he exclaimed, bouncing on his feet. As always, he wore a colourful array of mismatching clothes.
Daphne cast a side glance at her family. They looked at the small creature in fascination, but she could also trace recognition on her mother's face.
'Dobby, what orders did Harry give you before he left Hogwarts?'
Dobby's ears drooped at her question, and he cast his eyes to the ground. 'The great Harry Potter Master told Dobby to work in the Hogwarts kitchens until told otherwise. He would not need Dobby for a long time.'
Daphne let out an exasperated sigh at that. She had thought that much; it would never occur to Harry to rely on the help of a creature that was dependant on him, and to whom he thought he owed protection, to make his own life better. She put a hand on Dobby's shoulder.
'Dobby, if I tell you to do otherwise, will you do as I ask you, even if it goes against the orders your master gave you?'
'Master Harry's Daffy only has to ask, and Dobby will serve.'
Daphne let out a sigh of relief; of course she could have asked Dipsy to go and help Harry, but with the baby due any moment now, she was loathe to part with the company of the elf who had raised her like a secondary mother.
'Harry's trapped at his relative's house. I have no idea where it is, but I hope you're able to find him,' she told the small elf.
Dobby bounced on the balls of his feet. 'Dobby can do. Dobby was there before.'
'Good,' Daphne beamed. 'I want you to go to Harry and Apparate him out of there when he tells you he's ready to go. Don't listen to him when he tells you to leave him alone. Just grab him and Apparate him to The Burrow. That's the house of the Weasleys.'
Dobby bowed to Daphne, and then Disapparated with a resounding CRACK.
'Wasn't that the Malfoy house elf?' Isabella asked, giving Daphne a questioning look.
Daphne nodded. 'Yes, Dobby used to belong to the Malfoys until four years ago. Lucius Malfoy set him free. Dobby worked at Hogwarts as a free elf after that, but when Harry asked him to become bonded to him a couple of months ago, he immediately agreed.'
Her father stared at her. 'I'd never have thought Lucius Malfoy will set free his personal elf. He loved to kick the poor thing around. Thought it'd make him look grand, I suppose,' he said with a derisive snort.
An angelic smile flickered across Daphne's face, while mischief danced in her eyes. 'I doubt it was voluntarily on his part, father.'
Cyrus laughed out loud when understanding hit him. 'Your Harry has more on the ball than I allowed him,' he replied, a trace of respect in his voice.
Daphne was about to reply to that, but was distracted by a feeling of surprise from Harry. With an inward grin she listened to the conversation between Harry and Dobby. At first, Harry didn't want to involve his elf, but relented when he realised that this plan offered him a way out without having to involve - and endanger - his friends. The next moment she felt how Dobby moved Harry and his beloved Hedwig from the house of his relatives to The Burrow.
Her parents and her grandfather looked at her in bewilderment when she burst out laughing.
'Will you share with us what's so funny?' her grandfather demanded to know.
She brushed away the tears of laughter that ran down her cheeks. 'Dobby did as I told him, and thankfully Harry was smart enough to listen to him. Dobby Apparated him directly to the Weasley's home. When they arrived there, Harry's friends were just about to set out to get him from his relative's house. The look on their faces when they realised he was already there was just priceless, though I think the Weasel and the twins were actually disappointed that they didn't get to risk their necks. Granger is vexed with him that he used a house elf, and gives him a piece of her mind about that.' She had to grin at the feeling of suffering patience she received from Harry while he listened to the bushy-haired witch. 'The rest are actually impressed with his resourcefulness. Professor Moody just told him he could've told them he owns a trustworthy house elf before, and thinks that Dobby will come in handy.'
Her grandfather looked up at that. 'Mad Eye Moody? He's a good man, though slightly paranoid, but I guess that's what kept him alive until now. Your Harry can count himself lucky that he's on his side.'
'I think he knows that,' Daphne replied. She suddenly felt death tired, and realised that it was the tension she had been under since her father told her of the measures of the Dork Lord to trap Harry wearing off. She yawned, and stemmed herself up from the uncomfortably low garden sofa. 'I'll go to bed,' she announced. 'Heaven knows I'll get precious little sleep soon.'
Her parents and her grandfather laughed to that and bade her good night.
While Daphne walked up the stairs, she received a feeling of thankfulness from Harry. Apparently he hadn't needed long to figure out who sent Dobby to him. Daphne undressed and stretched out on her bed, thankful that Harry was safe for the moment. Merlin alone knew what could have happened during the rescue mission his friends had planned. From the talk she had overheard, it involved several evacuation teams and Polyjuice. She shook her head at that. That was such a flamboyant Gryffindor plan: detailed, depending on a lot of what-ifs, and guaranteed to arouse suspicion. Every Slytherin worth their salt would have suspected that the Dork Lord had put someone on the lookout for any sign to get Harry out of the house, and would have gathered his forces as soon as the rescue mission had entered the house. Thirteen people arriving at that house, even if they were under Disillusionment Charms, were bound to get noticed. They would have run straight into an ambush on their way back.
She dozed off, but was ripped out of her peaceful sleep what seemed only seconds later. Harry was in pain. She gasped, and struggled to an upright position. His pain downed her like a wave, and she fought hard not to get caught in it. Then she received the echo of a vision from the Dork Lord through their bond.
He held Professor Snape under the Torture curse. While a part of her thought that it served the greasy git right for his repeated betrayal, she also was sickened at the display of cruelty she had to witness. 'You told me the brat would leave tonight, Severus,' the abomination said in a cruel, high-pitched voice. 'So, I had my faithful Death Eaters ready for him. But when the wards fell, there was no sign of the boy in that house. I hope you have a good explanation for that.' He levelled his wand, and Professor Snape crashed to the floor, where he lay at the feet of that monster, panting hard.
'Mylord,' he gasped, catching a deep breath before he could go on. 'That boy has always been as slippery as an eel to wiggle his way out of tight spots. The many times I thought I finally had him at my mercy at school… Only to find the tables turned on me yet another time the next moment. He must've left the house under his Invisibility Cloak when his relatives drove away and Portkeyed away from a place nearby.'
The monster actually looked thoughtful at that. 'Get up, Severus,' he finally said. 'It seems my servants at the Ministry have been negligent. They failed to close all the holes. I'll make sure Thicknesse will pay for that - as soon as he has outlived his usefulness.' He laughed, and the sound made goosebumps crawl over Daphne's body like an army of hideous bugs.
The vision faded away. She could feel Harry's revulsion. Merlin, she also felt as if she was going to be sick any second. With great willpower she fought back the nausea that threatened to overcome her. She laid back onto her bed, thinking of the implications of that vision.
The only possible explanation she could think of made her feel cold to the bones: the additional protection she had given to Harry was not enough to keep the connection to that monster at bay. The Dork Lord was about to overcome Harry's mind.
