Draco Malfoy Must Die
Chapter 21 - The Attacks Hit Home
As April neared its end Harry, Hermione and Ron received bad news from Hagrid.
"Did you hear?" Harry asked them as he jogged into the common room.
"No, what's happened?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"Aragog's dead," Harry said, waving a note in the air.
"Oh, poor Hagrid," Hermione sighed.
"Poor Hagrid?" Ron asked incredulously, "That giant beast tried to kill Harry and me in 2nd year!"
"Well he was Hagrid's pet, he must be horribly upset!" Hermione reasoned as she took the note from Harry.
"Are you going to go to the funeral?" Harry asked, once Hermione had handed him the note back.
"He's having a funeral for a giant spider?" Ron asked in disbelief.
Hermione shot a glare at Ron and grabbed her cloak, "He was Hagrid's first friend when he was lonely because he was different! Maybe you can't understand that, but I can. Are you coming Harry?"
"Uh, yeah," Harry said distractedly, "For Hagrid, not the spider. Ron?"
Ron scoffed, "I'm not going to a spider's funeral."
"Suit yourself," Hermione said as she spun on her heel and left the common room, with Harry jogging after her.
"You're really pissed off with him recently."
"He's really pissing me off at the moment," Hermione countered.
"Alright, alright, slow down," Harry said a little breathlessly, "You're not still jealous about Lavender, are you?"
"Jealous?" Hermione asked in disbelief, "Certainly not. I just have a lot on my mind, and Ron is adding to the load."
"I've noticed you've been a little distant this week, are you going to tell me what's going on?" Harry asked as he finished pulling his own cloak on.
The grand staircase was empty so Hermione said quietly, "I was going to wait and tell you at tomorrow's meeting, but I might as well tell you now. Draco's dark mark can be tracked, by Voldemort."
"So?"
"So he can't run away," Hermione replied irritably, "He's going to have to go back to his parents, he's going to have to pretend hes one of them!"
Harry frowned, "Wasn't that what he was going to do anyway?"
"Harry," Hermione hissed, "Are you really that naïve? He's risking his life to help us, he wasn't just going to return to his life after that! This was his way out, and now it's not even that!"
"There's nothing we can do about it, I mean you can't un-take the dark mark," Harry murmured.
"And you also can't burn or cut it off apparently, he's tried," Hermione said darkly.
Harry sighed, "Sorry, I didn't realise he was that desperate."
"No, neither did I," Hermione said honestly, "Look, there isn't any point going into it now. We'll talk about it tomorrow after the DA meeting."
Harry nodded, "Alright," he agreed, glancing anxiously at Hermione, "Will you be alright?"
"I'm fine," Hermione snapped.
They made their way to the grounds and stood with Hagrid for Aragog's funeral, and then they were dragged into his hut where he reminisced and cried for at least an hour. By the time they got back to the common room they were exhausted so they went to bed. Hermione was grateful, she didn't want to be questioned any further by Harry about Draco. She lay in bed tossing and turning that night, trying to think of any way to remove the mark from Draco's arm, as a result she barely got any sleep. What she didn't know was that several floors down Draco was tossing and turning in his bed trying to work out if there was any way he could sensibly have any sort of relationship with Hermione given his predicament.
Hermione couldn't concentrate much throughout the next DA meeting, and she knew the others had noticed. She kept making silly mistakes, and she couldn't even conjure her patronus when she tried. It wasn't easy when you felt as miserable as she did, she blamed herself for thinking that the plan might actually work for once.
The meeting finished, and the members trickled out as usual. When they were alone Susan fixed Hermione with a knowing look, "What's going on?"
Hermione opened her mouth to tell them but then shook her head and sat down, "We should wait for Draco."
Lilly glanced to the clock, "He'll be here in a minute, is everything alright Hermione?"
"No," Hermione said irritably, "Everything is the opposite of alright."
Before the others could question Hermione any further the door opened and Draco slipped in. All eyes were on him, and he frowned slightly as he glanced at Hermione.
"So you told them then?"
"No, I thought you should," Hermione said quietly.
Draco was silent, and Daphne shook her head in disbelief, "Alright, I'll tell them then! Draco's dark mark makes him traceable, Voldemort can find him, wherever he goes."
"Well," Susan said optimistically, "That doesn't stop you from completing your mission."
"No," Hermione said with a glare at the redhead, "It just means he's practically committing suicide by helping us!"
"Technically, we're helping him," Lilly said gently, "All we're doing is making sure events play out like they are supposed to, but preparing to fight the battle that will happen when it does."
"And what side did you think Draco was going to be on in that battle?" Daphne asked in disbelief, "Because he's going to have to fight for the Death Eaters now, and then he's going to have to go back home with them."
"And that means his memory will have to be erased," Neville said reasonably, "Because he knows too much, and Voldemort could easily use Legilimency on him."
"Exactly," Hermione said coolly, "So this does make a difference to some of us, Susan!"
"I didn't mean it like that Hermione," Susan said honestly, "And surely there must be a way to get rid of the mark? A loophole?"
"Apart from cutting my arm off, there isn't," Draco said darkly, "I've tried everything else."
"Well-"
"No, he can't cut his arm off," Neville said in disbelief before Lilly could even make the suggestion, "Do you have any idea the kind of agony that would be? And it would ruin the rest of his life!"
"Well, he's not going to have a rest of his life otherwise," Lilly said irritably.
"Yes, he is," Hermione said hotly, "If we can't find a way then Draco will just have to go back to the Death Eaters and play his part. I'll erase his memory myself, properly this time."
She looked towards the Slytherin, waiting for a nod or some kind of agreement. But he shook his head, "No, I'm not going back to them and I'm not letting you erase my memories. I'll take my chances on the run."
"They'll kill you Draco!"
"I'd rather die as the person I really am than go back to them and forget everything," Draco said calmly, but firmly, "I'm not arguing about it, that's what I want."
Hermione sunk lower into her chair, wondering if this situation really could get any worse.
"Well, in the meantime," Harry said awkwardly, "We'll look for loopholes."
"I appreciate the sympathy trip Potter, but there aren't any," Draco said, "So are we done here?"
Harry nodded, "Looks like it."
"Draco-"
He ignored Hermione and left the room, snapping the door shut behind him.
The morning after their meeting a not so welcome surprise came in the form of Katie Bell. Hermione saw her in the common room and panicked, if she remembered Draco attacking her they were in trouble.
"Hey Katie," Hermione smiled, "How are you feeling?"
Katie turned away from her friends and smiled at Hermione, "Oh hi Hermione. I'm feeling much better, Merlin knows how much of school I missed though!"
Hermione laughed, "I take it you don't remember anything from when you got attacked?"
Katie shook her head, "No, everyone's been asking, but it's all blank."
Hermione had to hide her relief at that news.
"But anyway, I better get off to breakfast. I don't want to be late on my first day back!"
As soon as she had left the common room Hermione followed her and darted down a secret passage. She had to beat Katie to the hall, because if Draco walked in and saw her there he would panic and give himself away. Her jog down the stairs was halted when she ran into Neville on the third floor.
"Hermione! What are you doing?" Neville asked in shock.
"Katie's back," Hermione said breathlessly, "If Draco sees her-"
"He'll freak out and give himself away," Neville finished with a nod, "Come on then, he'll be in the dungeons."
Hermione nodded and Neville joined her in her mad dash from the top to the bottom of the castle. When they finally emerged from behind a portrait in the dungeons they just caught Draco before he walked into the entrance hall. Neville grabbed him and pulled him into an alcove, covering his mouth before he could shout.
"It's just us Draco," Hermione said breathlessly, "We've just come from Gryffindor Tower. Katie Bell is back."
Neville took his hand off of Draco's mouth and the Slytherin shot him a glare.
"Does she know?"
Hermione shook her head, "She doesn't remember anything, it's all blank."
"So just act natural," Neville said as he ducked out of the alcove.
"Draco-"
"I need to go Granger."
"No, you don't," Hermione hissed, grabbing him and pinning him against the wall, "I need to talk to you."
Draco glared at her, "This is pointless and you know it! What do you want with a guy on a suicide mission?"
Hermione's glare bored into him, "Oh I don't know Malfoy, but maybe if you're going to die I actually want to spend the time you have left with you, not fighting you!"
Draco narrowed his eyes at her, "You know that can't happen, not here, not with Snape constantly breathing down our necks."
"Why can't it? Don't you think we can keep it a secret?" Hermione asked hotly, "Lilly and Harry have."
"Potter isn't trying to bring Death Eaters into the school, kill Dumbledore and help the light all at the same time," Draco hissed, "He has time to hide a relationship, I don't!"
"So you won't even try?"
"Granger," Draco muttered as he broke free from her grasp, "If I get involved with you and anyone finds out you don't know what they will do to you!"
"I can handle myself," Hermione whispered, "I have done up until now. What's the worse they can do?"
Draco glanced into the corridor and whispered, "Their idea of humiliating me would be to…they would do terrible things, and they would make me watch. I've seen it happen, and it makes me sick, I cannot let them do that to you so stop making it so hard for me to stay away from you, please."
Hermione was so shocked and disgusted by his words that once more she didn't stop him as he disappeared.
Hermione granted Draco his wish and stopped seeking him out as April rolled over into May. The sun was warm now, and the flowers were all in bloom.
She was hoping to have a quiet month, but of course that didn't happen. Everything began on the 2nd of May…Harry was the first to notice something strange in their first class, Potions.
"Where's Daphne, sir?" Harry asked when he realised he would be working alone today.
Slughorn smiled sympathetically at Harry, "She's not going to be in today's class Harry. Why don't you work in a trio with Miss Moon and Mr. MacMillan today?"
Harry frowned at Lilly who was working at the bench across from him. She shrugged and they didn't get a chance to talk throughout the rest of the class. Once it was over Harry jogged to catch up with Lilly on the way out, "Lil, have you seen Daphne today?"
"No," Lilly replied in a whisper, "She wasn't in the great hall this morning. Maybe she's sick?"
"I have a really bad feeling about this," Harry admitted.
"So do I," Susan said as she and Hermione appeared behind them in the dungeon corridor, "Daphne's never sick."
"Well, Draco might know where she is," Lilly whispered, glancing at the Slytherin boy who was walking behind them.
"I'll talk to him," Susan murmured, "No need to arouse suspicion, I'll see you guys in Transfiguration."
They walked on, and Susan hung back.
"What do you want, Bones?" Draco drawled, aware that Snape was walking down the corridor towards them.
"Where's Daphne?" Susan asked quickly, "And don't lie to me Draco, she's my best friend and I'm worried about her!"
"I don't know where she is," Draco replied, "Snape came and collected her and Astoria from the common room this morning for a private meeting, and I haven't seen them since."
Susan's face paled, "Oh Merlin, no…do you think one of their family members were hurt? Have you heard from Lareina or Cygnus recently?"
"If I knew anything more I would tell you Bones," Draco snapped, "But I don't. You'll have to owl Daphne."
"Draco-"
Snape had now reached them, and Draco said over his shoulder, "She's your friend Bones, leave me out of it."
Susan glared at him tearfully and spun on her heel as she walked away. Her heels clicked down the corridor and Snape paused in front of Draco.
"Everything alright Draco?" He asked quietly.
"I don't know, is everything alright with Daphne?" Draco asked bitterly, "That's what Bones was shouting about."
Snape lowered his voice, "Her brother was attacked, the sisters were to report to St. Mungo's immediately, to say goodbye."
Draco's eyes widened, "What?"
"You are not supposed to know, the prophet have not even reported it yet," Snape drawled, "If the news spreads around the school I will hold you responsible."
Draco nodded, still in shock, "I…I won't say anything."
"You had better hurry, or you will be late for Transfiguration," Snape said dismissively as he stalked away through the dungeons.
Draco tried to slip away after Transfiguration, but Susan knew his secret escape routes well because he had spent a fair amount of time snogging her in them last year. She cornered him and threatened to bodybind him if he tried to run.
"I saw you talking to Snape, do you know where Daphne is?" Susan asked in a quiet, but deadly voice.
Draco nodded, "She's at St. Mungo's," he whispered.
Susan loosened her grasp on him, "St. Mungo's?"
"It's Salvatore," Draco muttered.
"What's happened to him?" Susan asked desperately.
"I don't know, Snape just told me that he was told to fetch the sisters and take them to St. Mungo's, to say goodbye," Draco said in an undertone.
Susan let out a noise somewhere between a sob and a shout, and Draco instinctively hugged her.
"We grew up with Sal!" Susan half whispered, half cried, "How can you be so calm?"
"I'm not," Draco hissed, "He was like a little brother to me!"
"Don't say was," Susan said tearfully, "We don't know if…he…he might make it."
Draco sighed, "I don't think so Susan, it sounded serious."
Susan subconsciously hugged Draco tighter, and at that point Hermione and Harry appeared behind them, walking down the passage.
Hermione's eyes immediately widened, and Draco cleared his throat as he separated himself from Susan, "It's not what it looks like," he muttered.
"You made it clear we weren't anything anyway Malfoy," Hermione said coolly.
"No," Susan said tearfully, "It's Daphne."
Hermione's demeanor changed, "What's happened to her?"
"Not her," Susan sobbed as the tears fell from her eyes, "Her little brother is in St. Mungo's, Daphne and her sister got taken there to…to…"
"- To say goodbye," Draco finished in an undertone, "They don't think he's going to make it."
"Oh my god," Hermione said, her face paling significantly, "What happened to him?"
"We don't know," Draco said quietly, "But we all grew up together so it's just…"
"I understand," Hermione said as she swallowed, "Look, we'll just…come on Harry, I'll explain to Flitwick why you're late. I'm sure the teachers must know why the Greengrass sisters aren't at classes."
Before Draco or Susan could say anything Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and they slipped away down the passageway. They didn't talk until they emerged on the third floor.
"That's not good, Hermione," Harry whispered, "Why would they target her family? She's a Slytherin!"
"And her parents are notoriously neutral," Hermione said in an undertone, "If Voldemort tried to get them to join the Death Eaters and they refused…"
Harry sighed deeply, "What if this is my fault?"
"Don't be stupid, nobody in his circle knows you two are friends," Hermione murmured, "Don't blame yourself, just…be there for her when she comes back. If he…well, she'll need all the friends she can get."
Harry nodded weakly, "This isn't a distant worry anymore Hermione. They've attacked one of us now…this is war."
The weekend passed and there was still no sign of Daphne. They all grew anxious because the longer she was gone the more likely it was that the worst case scenario had happened, and her brother had died.
On Monday morning Hermione scanned the newspaper anxiously.
"Anyone we know?" Harry asked, expecting the worst.
Hermione gasped tearfully and nodded, "Salvatore Greengrass, the 11 year old son of politician Cygnus Hyperion Greengrass, has been reported dead after a werewolf attack. Mr. Greengrass recently stepped down as Party Leader of the Neutrals. The Auror team working on the case believe this connection to be significant in understanding the attack on Salvatore Greengrass.. The funeral will follow on Wednesday."
"11," Harry said quietly, "He'd have been coming to Hogwarts in September."
Hermione raised a shaky hand to her face, and Harry gripped her shoulder wordlessly. He turned around and saw Susan run from the hall looking like she was struggling to contain her tears.
"Nev," Harry said, grabbing his friends wrist, "It's in the paper, Daphne's brother was killed by a werewolf. Susan just ran off, you should go after her."
Neville's face paled at the news and he got to his feet wordlessly, leaving the hall as quickly as he could. He had grown up in the same circles as Susan and Daphne, he knew Salvatore as well as Susan and Draco did.
"How many more people will die before this ends Harry?" Hermione choked out.
"Too many," Harry replied as his eyes darkened.
After that the news spread around the school like wildfire and they found out from Susan that Daphne would be returning to school on Friday. When Friday morning came Daphne wasn't in the great hall for breakfast, but she was in potions.
Harry wasn't sure what to say as they stood at their work bench together in silence, "I saw in the prophet Daphne. I'm so sorry."
Daphne nodded stoically, "Thanks Potter."
"Are you okay?" Harry asked tentatively.
"I'm fine," Daphne lied, "Can I just get on with my work? I'm a week behind."
Harry nodded, "Right, of course," he said. He wasn't stupid, he could tell she didn't want to talk, so they fell into silence.
Susan managed to corner Daphne eventually, after dinner.
"Daph!" She called as she hurried after her friend.
Daphne started to walk faster but Susan jogged and caught her up easily, "Come on, don't do this isolation thing, it doesn't help."
"I'm fine Susan."
"That's bullshit," Susan said gently, grabbing her best friend's hand, "Come with me to the secret springs, talk to me. You can't just lock this away."
"I have to," Daphne said, her façade beginning to crack, "For Astoria, I'm the strong one. She…she can't cope with this."
"And neither can you on your own," Susan whispered, "Daphne please, come with me. You don't have to pretend to be strong with me."
Daphne turned tearfully to the redhead and simply nodded.
Susan sighed gratefully and didn't drop Daphne's hand as they slipped into the store cupboard, and went through the hidden door to gain access to the springs. They didn't talk until they had both kicked off their shoes, pulled off their socks and dipped their legs into the warm water.
"It was a werewolf attack," Daphne said quietly, "He was too sick to last until the full moon."
Susan knew how it worked, if someone was turned into a werewolf close enough to the full moon they would turn and heal themselves in the process. But the full moon wasn't until the 22nd of May, and Salvatore had been attacked on the 2nd.
"He was so weak Susan," Daphne whispered as tears fell from her eyes, "And so small in that hospital bed. I knew he wasn't going to make it as soon as I saw him, he was covered in scratches and he had…" she let out a sob, "He had already lost a leg, and half an arm."
Susan bit her lip hard to stop herself from sobbing, she had tears flowing down her face freely.
"I'm sorry you couldn't come to the funeral," Daphne choked out, "It was just Mother, Father, Astoria and Mother's parents. It had to be quick and small, they were scared we would be attacked."
"Why did they do this?" Susan whispered.
"To punish Father," Daphne replied in a choked sort of voice, "It was the Death Eaters…they wrote a message on the wall in…"
Susan put her arm around her friend, "Shh, you don't have to say it."
"I do," Daphne said painfully, "I have to talk about it, you're right. If I hold it in it will just…it will be like last time."
"You don't have to tell me all of it," Susan soothed, "I can read between the lines."
Daphne nodded and wiped her eyes, but there was no point because the tears were still coming, "The message said, join us or it's the girls next."
Susan gasped, "No."
"He had to pick a side Susan, this forced his hand," Daphne gasped out.
"No, no, no," Susan said quickly, "He didn't…he's not… please tell me he's not one of them."
Daphne shook her head and sucked in a long shaky breath, "He joined the order. They've given him protection, Tori and I are safe but only as long as we're in Hogwarts and then when Dumbledore dies and Voldemort takes over Tori won't even be safe here."
"Shh," Susan said as she held Daphne tighter, "She will be safe here, we'll make sure of it."
"I don't know why they did this," Daphne said in a quiet, broken voice, "Why couldn't they just have left us alone?"
"Because Voldemort hates the word neutral," Susan told her, "You know that, he wants followers or enemies, he doesn't like uncertainties."
"I just wish he'd hurt me instead of Sal," Daphne sobbed, "I'd become a werewolf if I could have him back."
"I know," Susan said, tears spilling down her own face as she held her best friend as tightly as she could, "But we are going to get through this Daph. I'm going to help, we're all going to help because we're your family. You know that, don't you?"
Daphne nodded weakly as she leant into Susan's embrace and let the tears flow freely.
"It's Daphne's birthday tomorrow," Susan whispered to Hermione and Lilly, they were working in the library together on a project for Transfiguration.
"I know," Lilly whispered back, "I've got her a gift and everything, but I don't think she'll want us to do anything."
"She's still so upset," Hermione agreed. They were now in the middle of the May, and it had only been two weeks since Daphne's brothers shock death.
"But it's her 17th," Susan sighed, "We should at least try and cheer her up."
"Don't throw a party, she'll hate that," Lilly said, "She won't want to be surrounded by lots of people, she's barely spoken to Hermione or I since she got back."
"She's spoken to me,' Susan said, "But I am her best friend."
"She'll only speak to you, Harry and Draco," Hermione whispered.
"Draco's her ex and one of her closest friends," Lilly said, "But why is she so close to Harry all of a sudden?"
"She's not trying to steal your boyfriend if that's what you're suggesting," Susan mumbled, "Harry just understands what she's going through, she saw a Thestral for the first time yesterday, it took Harry and I at least an hour to calm her down."
"Well I understand loss too," Lilly said irritably, "And she's completely shutting me out."
"You're not the only one, don't worry," Hermione said, "She's clearly struggling and Harry just lost his Godfather last year. If he can help her through it then we should be grateful, not angry."
Lilly sighed, "Well, if you don't think she can handle a lot of people…how do you think she'd cope with 6?"
"Who are you thinking?" Susan asked.
"Us three, Harry, Draco and Neville," Lilly whispered, "A party would be too much but how about a little get together, with butterbeer and cake?"
"Add firewhiskey to the mix and I think that's a good idea," Susan agreed.
"Where?" Hermione asked, "The room of requirement is being watched, we should try and avoid going there as much as possible."
"And the common rooms would be too busy," Lilly added.
"I know a place, but I'm not sure if anyone else knows where it is," Susan said, leaning forward so she could lower her voice further, "You know the underground harbour where the boats come in?"
"Where we came into the school in 1st year?" Lilly asked.
Susan nodded, "It's hardly watched throughout the year, and it's a great place to dip your feet in the water."
"Isn't it always locked?" Hermione asked.
"It is, but if you know where the secret entrance is…" Susan said with a small smile.
Lilly chuckled, "Alright, we'll spread the news. Can you get Daphne there?"
Susan nodded, "In the lower dungeons there's this empty hall across from the Slytherin common room. It's always open and the secret entrance is via that room. At the far back right corner of the room there's a drain in the floor, lift it up and there's a ladder inside. If you go down it and drop down a couple of feet you'll be in the harbour."
"On the ground or in the water?" Lilly asked suspiciously.
Susan smirked as she got to her feet, "That's part of the adventure Lil," she said with a wink as she turned and left.
Hermione shook her head in amusement, "Maybe I should put a bikini on under my clothes…"
"Draco would love that," Lilly teased.
Hermione scoffed, "Draco hasn't spoken to me in weeks, he made it very clear that nothing is going to happen between us."
"But he's doing it for the right reasons," Lilly whispered, "You heard what he said would happen to you if he got involved."
"I know, but knowing he's doing it for the right reasons doesn't make me miss him any less," Hermione said, also getting to her feet, "But I need to go, I'll see you tomorrow Lil."
When Daphne woke up to a pile of presents on her birthday she wanted to kick them instead of open them.
"Ooh, lots of pressies this year Daphne!" Pansy squealed.
Daphne rolled her eyes and gathered the pile, dumping it on her bed, "And it's not your business to see me open them Pansy."
Pansy glared at her, "I don't know what's happened to you and Draco this year, but you're both acting so horrible! Maybe you should just get back together!"
"Ugh, never happening," Daphne said irritably as Pansy and Millicent exchanged exasperated glances.
"Well, she's not being horrible to us," Sophie pointed out, "So maybe you're the problem Pansy."
Daphne hid a small smile at that as Sophie sat down on her double bed. Daphne glanced to the bed next to her where Tracey was watching the scene unfold, "Coming Trace?"
Tracey grinned and jumped into the bed, and Daphne pulled the curtains shut and did a silencing charm.
"The best thing about not being at Hogwarts is going to be not sharing a dorm with that," Daphne muttered.
Sophie smiled, "Oh forget about her. Go on, open your presents, they might put a smile on your face."
"And you know we've missed your smiling face, Daph," Tracey said kindly.
Daphne smiled and opened the first present on the pile, which was a lovely dress from Tracey. She then had a beautiful pair of emerald earrings from Sophie, which they both received hugs and smiles for.
"Ooh, what's this one?" Sophie asked, handing Daphne a rectangular shaped package.
Daphne laughed, "I think it's from Susan, she got Lil a Ravenclaw charm bracelet for her birthday. I think this might be a Slytherin one."
She was right, inside the box was a silver charm bracelet with the Slytherin crest, a snake, a cauldron, a locket and a miniature castle clearly meant to portray Hogwarts.
"Wow Daph, that's so neat!" Tracey said as Daphne slipped the bracelet on and opened the card that had come with the present. There were gift vouchers for Zonkos inside and a written message.
"Daph,
Happy 17th Birthday!
With everything going on I thought our plan to run away for the weekend would have to wait, but I am going to make sure you have the best day ever anyway. Nothing less for the best friend a girl could ask for.
Love, love, love you!
Suse."
Daphne smiled at the message and put the card down carefully on her bed as Sophie handed her the next present. It turned out to be a Honeydukes gift box full of sweet treats from Hermione with a little note saying "Happy 17th Daphne! Sorry, I don't know you that well yet. But everyone loves chocolate, right? - Hermione x." The next present was from Lilly, Daphne spotted her hand-writing straight away before she even read the message.
"Happy 17th Daphne! Have a great birthday - Love Lil."
Inside the box was a simple silver emerald ring, engraved on the inside were the words, "Friendship."
There was a small note that said simply, "I've gotten Susan one for her birthday next month. Her says 'has', and Hermione and I have one each too. Hermione's says 'no' and mine says 'boundaries'. Who would have thought four girls, each from a different house, would ever have become so close? - Lil."
Daphne smiled at the sentiment and slipped the ring on her finger, it fit perfectly, but then Lilly did know her very well. The presents had already made her feel far better about the day, and she chuckled at the gift from Draco which was just a card with money inside saying,
"I promised you a great birthday present this year. Don't spend it all in one place.
Thank you, for everything,
Draco."
The money in the card was quite a substantial amount so Daphne carefully put it down next to the card from Susan.
"There are only three left," Sophie said, handing another present to her friend.
Daphne's heart sank when she opened the present and lifted out her Father's golden pocket watch. She swallowed hard, and she was dreading reading the note in the box.
"Want me to read it Daph?" Tracey asked quietly.
Daphne nodded, and Tracey unfolded the note, "Daphne - This was supposed to pass down to Salvatore. Your Mother and I will not have anymore children now, but you will have a son one day and when he turns 17 pass this down to him. Keep it safe for me, for Salvatore, and for the son you will one day hold - All my love, your Father."
Daphne swallowed back the tears that threatened to spill and placed the watch painstakingly slowly and carefully back in the box. She put the lid on and took a breath, "Pass me the next present please Trace," she said shakily.
Tracey nodded and handed her the second last present. It was a heart shaped necklace from her parents. It had 5 bands diagonally crossing the heart, and each band had a name and a stone. Daphne's breath caught in her chest. It read "Cygnus" with his sapphire birthstone, "Lareina" with her tanzanite birthstone, "Daphne" with her own emerald birthstone, "Astoria" with her amethyst birthstone and "Salvatore" with his diamond birthstone.
"Do you want help putting it on Daphne?" Sophie asked.
Daphne nodded weakly and handed the silver necklace to her friend shakily. She held up her hair and Sophie did the clasp, "There, that's it. What a beautiful gift."
Daphne nodded, and cleared her throat, "Who's the last one from?"
Tracey looked at the gift tag and raised an eyebrow, "Harry Potter."
"What?" Daphne asked in disbelief.
Sophie grinned, "I knew you'd sort of become friends with him ever since Slughorn sat you next to him in Potions, but I didn't think you were at the birthday present level."
"Neither did I," Daphne said honestly as she picked up the heavy present with a frown.
"What does the tag say?" Sophie asked.
Daphne had a look and read it out loud, "Daphne. Hope you have a good 17th. If you ever start to miss the people that you've lost, use this and you can be with them again - Harry."
"Well, open it then!" Tracey said eagerly.
Daphne opened the box and stared at the gift inside in shock. It looked like a ceramic bowl with a jar of cloudy liquid packed in next to it, but it wasn't.
"Oh Merlin, is that a pensieve?" Sophie gasped.
Daphne nodded numbly.
"Jeez, Daph!" Tracey exclaimed, "They are super expensive and rare! Wow, you clearly underestimated your friendship with him!"
"Don't be stupid, he's got a girlfriend," Daphne said, without thinking.
"Does he?" Sophie asked in surprise.
Daphne instantly realised her mistake, "Oh I don't know, I mean he must. He's Harry Potter."
"Well, if he does have a girlfriend I bet he didn't buy her a pensieve for her birthday!" Sophie said, still shaking her head in disbelief, "Are you going to try it out?"
Daphne shook her head and climbed out of her bed, "Not now, I'm going to be late for class as it is," she said.
She rushed about to get dressed, and then found Astoria waiting for her in the common room when she appeared. Her sister didn't look much like her, in fact she looked very similar to Lilly. She had dark brown hair, and the same icy blue eyes as Daphne, but she was a good bit shorter.
"Oh hey Tori," Daphne said with a weak smile.
"Happy birthday Daph," Astoria said, handing out a little box, "It's not much, but I hope you like it anyway."
Daphne smiled and opened the present quickly, it was a simple silver band with the words "Big Sister" engraved.
Astoria held up her hand, "I have the other, see," she said, showing her ring which said "Little Sister."
Daphne smiled genuinely and slipped the ring onto her left hand, "It's perfect Tori, I love it," she honestly as she hooked her arm through her sisters, "Come on, walk to breakfast with me."
TBC :)