A/N: To all the naysayers who somehow believe that everything is alright between Harry and Daphne. For shame. Shame on you for assuming anything. All that was said was that Harry forgave her for real. That was it. They're not back together by any stretch. Daphne and Harry still have some rough roads ahead. So...stop assuiming. It's bad for everyone.
It was nearing the end of July as Anton Greengrass sat down in a pub in Wales with an old friend. The pub itself was unremarkable in just about every way, and there was nothing suspicious or out of the ordinary about to well dressed men sitting down to enjoy a pint together while they discussed business. This sort of thing happened every day at every minute the pub was open.
Except these weren't ordinary men.
"That's all I've been able to learn." Cyrus Rushboun said heavily. He was a barrel chested man with a mane of graying black hair and small dark eyes. His face was somewhat aristocratic, and he had the bearing of a gentleman of high society. His suit was tailored and dark and his shoes had a high polish. In fact, he was much better dressed than most of the patrons, though no one batted an eyelash.
His drinking mate had very close cropped dark hair with gray at the temples. He was slim, but somehow projected an air of power. His face was thin and chiseled. His eyes were dark and narrowed as he sipped his pint, listening to the information his friend passed on.
"People are becoming very cautious with their information. It's getting hard to trust anyone." Cyrus continued.
"There seems to be a lot of that going around. Anton Greengrass sighed, thinking of his eldest daughter who was likely hidden in her bedroom pining for the young man she'd wronged. The same young man that the Daily Prophet claimed was the one who would end the war. "You're certain of the source?"
"I am indeed. Rutherford's never lied, especially when the gold is good, And it was good." Cyrus said emphatically.
"This is good. If we can get hold of Pettigrew, we can get the Wizengamot to clear Black of charges, and then, we'll finally have a voice in the government." Anton said with a sip of his brandy.
"You're positive Black will hold up his end of the deal?" Rushboun asked quizzically. Anton nodded.
"Unlike the rest of his family, Sirius is an honorable man. And fortunately, we see eye to eye on a number of topics. Not to mention it would be a nice twist of the knife to the Ministry itself, having someone they accused of a massacre turn out to be innocent." Anton smiled. Cyrus nodded in agreement.
"And what of your potential arrangement with Potter?" Cyrus asked. Anton grimaced at this and shook his head.
"That's a bit more complicated." Anton replied.
"I see." Cyrus said as he finished his pint. "I don't imagine you've given up on that, have you?"
"As I said, It's rather complicated. Though I am… hopeful that things will work out. Having both Black and Potter as allies…" Anton began.
"Will put you right in the crosshairs of He-Who-…"
"Yes, I know." Anton nodded. "It's why I haven't told my mother about it. Nor have I spoken with the boy. From what I've learned of him, He would be most reluctant to make an alliance until after the war is over. As it stands, I am unsure of how possible such an alliance will be."
"I'll keep my eyes and ears open. Pettigrew will turn up sooner or later." Cyrus said as he rose, offering his hand in friendship. Anton grasped it as he stood as well.
"You'll be joining us for Astoria's birthday next month, won't you?" Anton asked. Cyrus nodded with a wide smile.
"Miss a chance to see my nieces? Of course not." Cyrus affirmed before he led them out of the pub.
They walked into an alley, exchanged goodbyes and apparated in their own directions. Anton landed a few steps from his front door. He looked up to the second story to where his eldest daughter's bedroom was, the curtains in her window shut tightly. She'd remained in her bedroom ever since she had returned from Hogwarts. He knew from his youngest daughter that Daphne was still riddled with guilt over what had happened between her and her now ex-boyfriend, Harry Potter.
"This has to stop." Anton said as he entered the house. He was supposed to be raising an upstanding, regal, and confident witch. Not a vampire.
"Oh, I wasn't expecting you for another hour." Abigail smiled as she greeted her husband with a welcoming kiss. "You've had a letter, I placed it on your desk."
"Thank you. Has she come out?" Anton asked. Abigail shook her head and sighed, folding her arms in exasperation. "I had Darcy bring her lunch, mostly so I'd know she was still alive."
"Well, I've had enough of this." Anton said.
"Oh sweetheart, you can't barge in there and tell her to get over her heartache. She has to go through this at her speed." Abigail said, guiding her husband to his study and away from the stairs. "And, unlike normal teenage heartaches, this one has the added weight of… well what happened. I don't think a lot of relationships end because one of them hands the other to a Dark Lord."
"She needs to at least make an attempt to move on." Anton grumbled.
"Sweetheart…how long did you pine for me after our first break up?" Abigail smiled, making Anton wince.
"That was different." He argued.
"Yes, you've often told me. But how long before you even attempted to woo me again?" Abigail asked, enjoying her husband's squirming.
"Three years." He stammered, reaching for the letter on his desk.
"That's right. Three years after our first break up that you pined for me. As I recall, you didn't bother even attempting to date anyone else, and Evelyn Harrison was very into you."
"I didn't hide in my bedroom." Anton scowled as he began reading the letter. Slowly a smile began to form on his face and he got to his feet. "And her days of hiding have just ended."
"Anton, I told you…"
"Read this." Anton smiled, handing over the letter and slipping out of the study.
Abigail watched her husband all but dance out of the study, before she turned her attention to the letter. As she read each line, the smile on her face began to grow larger. When she was finished, she looked up at the ceiling a bright, hopeful smile plastered on her face.
"Or, maybe Daphne does need to get the hell out of her bedroom." Abigail smirked.
Severus Snape continued to exam the blackened, withered hand of Albus Dumbledore who was gulping brandy from the crystal bottle. Snape grimaced as he tenderly probed the disfigured appendage.
"Such a damned fool." Snape said as he finally let go of the headmaster's hand. "Why would you put that damned thing on. Could you not tell it was cursed?"
"No, I knew that it was cursed." Dumbledore said politely. "I simply forgot for a moment."
"Forgot?" Snape asked thunderstruck. "You?"
"Yes." Dumbledore nodded. "It appears that even I am not immune to… how do they say it… Senior moments?"
Snape scowled. "You don't wish to tell me, fine. But don't lie to me. I've stopped the spread for now, but I can't halt it forever. You have… a year at most. Less if the Dark Lord's plans come to fruition."
"You finally saw him then?" Dumbledore asked interestedly. Snape glowered at the Headmaster for a moment before he gave a short nod.
"And?"
"He's tasked his newest Death Eater with killing you." Snape replied.
"And who is this assassin?" Dumbledore asked, taking another drink.
Snape turned away and began to pace.
"My godson."
"What?" Dumbledore all but leapt from his seat, forgetting his injured hand. "Why in the world would he choose to induct someone so young?"
"Does it really matter?" Snape countered. "He leapt at the chance. The boy is so obsessed with making his mark that he didn't even stop to think. Narcissa came to my home and begged me to look out for him. She made me take the Unbreakable vow."
"And his first order is to kill me?" Dumbledore asked incredulously.
"The Dark Lord expects him to fail." Snape explained. "Which is why I was summoned. The Dark Lord intends for me to do it."
"So what you're saying is that Lord Voldemort soon sees an time when he will no longer need a spy near me." Dumbledore said with a deep sigh. "Well, it appears that my time on this plane is at last coming to and end. Then I must accelerate everything. I can not leave this world while Lord Voldemort is still so strong."
"Accelerate? What are you talking about?" Snape asked.
Dumbledore sighed and sat down slowly. "Perhaps it's time for me to explain some things to you. Someone must know in case I fail."
It took most of the night, but Albus Dumbledore told Severus Snape everything he'd ever learned, suspected and done in regards to Lord Voldemort. Some Snape had suspected, but most of it had thoroughly blown his mind. Halfway through the first hour, Snape had begun pacing, and didn't stop until the sun began to rise.
"You were raising him to be slaughtered?" Snape asked incredulously. "Lily's only child? You were going to let him be killed?"
"He was killed." Dumbledore pointed out. "Just as I knew needed to happen. Though, not as I thought it would happen. However, it has happened, and now it makes the task much harder. If Lord Voldemort faces Harry again, I fear that the boy will not survive."
"Perhaps." Snape sighed. "I… have yet to mention a few rather noticeable changes. He is… that is to say, The Dark Lord has… He's like a very dangerous animal now."
"How do you mean?" Dumbledore asked curiously.
"He's become almost feral. Savage. Like his last encounter with Potter affected him deeply psychologically. Not to mention physically. He's… scarred. Or emaciated. He's been wounded, and I think it may have to do with the fact he took the boy's blood." Snape said.
"I think that is logical." Dumbledore agreed. "And now he is becoming desperate, and that I think will only serve to help our cause."
"What of Draco?" Snape asked.
"I am afraid our hands are tied. If he has taken the mark, he will have to face justice. However, we can not simply order students to reveal their arms. But, there might be another way. Draco made a very dangerous enemy of Miss Greengrass, and I think the girl deserves some kind of retribution. Would you agree?" Dumbledore asked with a slight smile.
Snape looked at the man, a scowl on his face. "I am sure that Miss Greengrass and her sister would be more than willing to help, but the boy has done nothing worthy of…"
"Do not attempt to justify his behavior." Dumbledore snapped. "You and I have both protected that child, hoping he would not follow his father's path. All we have done is enabled his cruelty and his inflated his ego. We have sown the seeds for his dark nature, and it is time we correct our mistakes. Especially before he loses his soul by murdering someone."
"You mean you." Snape smirked.
"I would of course prefer to go on to the next adventure, peacefully in my own bed, but I think fate has other ideas." Dumbledore smiled. "I had wished to accomplish certain tasks on my own, but now I think it prudent to bring together a select trustworthy few and let them in of Voldemort's secret."
"Will you swear them to secrecy?" Snape asked. "If the Dark Lord suspects you are moving to destroy these… things, he will try and hide them all again, and we will never find them." Snape pointed out.
"I know, but it can not be helped. I will not force anyone to swear an oath. It will be voluntary, of course, but… I suppose if they do not, then it would be best not to enlighten them." Dumbledore said wearily.
"Including the boy?" Snape asked.
"Harry must know everything. The time is long past to keep him in the dark. He is already receiving physical training at the hands of Alastor, Sirius and Remus. He will be taught advanced dueling and spell work when he returns to Hogwarts by myself and Filius."
"Am I to continue his Occlumency training?" Snape asked.
"Do you feel it would be to his benefit?" Dumbledore countered.
"He struggled with it, but he did make progress. It might help him in a duel, but I doubt the Dark Lord will try to read his mind during a fight, especially with as fearful of the boy he has become." Snape sighed.
"Fearful?" Dumbledore perked up.
"He has been researching methods in which to kill the boy. I don't believe he will use the killing curse on the boy again, especially after what happened the last time. I do not believe he wishes to risk more harm to himself." Snape said and Dumbledore nodded.
"It is late, or rather early, and we still have a lot to prepare. I suggest we get some rest. This afternoon, I will contact certain members of the Order, and tonight… We shall begin our offensive against Lord Voldemort. Good Morning, Severus."
Snape bowed, and left the office, his mind a jumble over all that had been revealed. The depth of the Dark Lord's madness over immortality, and what had to be done in order to rid the world of the beast once and for all, including the roll Lily Evans' son was to play in it all.
Severus Snape was not a spiritual man, but as he descended into the dungeons of Hogwarts, he prayed that the boy was truly as powerful as Dumbledore always claimed he would be.
"HA!" Tracey Davis shouted as she leapt in the air, pulling her wand from the back pocket of her jeans and aiming it at her wardrobe. She slipped the wand back into her pocket, and repeated her little jump-spin maneuver, aiming her wand at her mirror with a resounding AH HA!"
She had been doing this for at least an hour every day since the start of the summer holiday in an effort to become as fast at drawing her wand as her good friend Harry Potter, who was lightning fast at drawing his wand. She had been fascinated with how well he handled his wand work, and how fast he could cast. She had seen older students in school who were really impressive with their sped, but Harry was exceptional. Tracey guessed it had a lot to do with the messes he always seemed to find himself in.
"AH HA!" She shouted once again as she spun to take aim at her wardrobe, not noticing her bedroom door was opening and a thin woman with deep brown hair, and sparkling cinnamon eyes peeking with a mischievous smirk on her face. Slipping her wand into her back pocket again, she leapt , drew her wand, took aim and fell on her face when her mother screamed "Hi YA!"
"MOM!" Tracey shrieked as she rolled onto her back, her face a bright shining tomato red clutching her pounding heart.
Phoebe Davis roared with laughter, holding her sides and wiping at her eyes as Tracey climbed to feet looking truly horrified.
"What are you doing?" Phoebe asked her only daughter.
"I'm trying to get faster at drawing my wand. Harry can do it in the blink of an eye, and I want to be that fast. He says I just have to practice." Tracey explained, fighting to regain control of the color of her face.
"Somehow I don't think Harry shouts as he does it." Phoebe pointed out.
"Ok, so I'm adding a bit of kung fu flavor to it." Tracey shrugged. "Send me to Azkaban."
"Oh no, I think I'd rather just share this little memory with some of the witches in my charms circle." Phoebe smiled, causing Tracey's face to glow red once again.
"What is it you want?" Tracey scowled, though her red cheeks made her mother laugh a bit harder. She held up her hand, holding a letter for her daughter.
"This just arrived for you." Phoebe chuckled, wiping her eyes again.
"Thank you." Tracey snarled, snapping the letter from her mother's hand and opening it. Her embarrassment was forgotten almost at once when she began to read. When she finished she looked up and noticed her mother had slipped out.
"Always popping up when I don't want her to, can't find her when I need her." tracey said to herself exasperatedly. "MOM!"
"How many times do I need to tell you that you don't need to shriek like a banshee?" Phoebe asked from down the hall.
"I wouldn't if you didn't disappear on me all the time." tracey replied. "It's an invitation to a birthday Party tomorrow, and I really want to go."
"Who's birthday?" Phoebe asked interestedly.
"Actually it's for two people. Harry and Neville. Apparently their combining their celebrations. So can I go?"
"Are you going to go without a gift for them?" Phoebe asked as she stripped her bed sheets in preparation to wash them. "I need you to get me you sheets for the wash."
"Sure, and no, I'll need to go out shopping tonight, so would you mind taking me?" Tracey requested. Phoebe seemed to think on it for a bit, eyeing her daughter with a half smile. Tracey knew before her mother said anything that she was going to get to go. Her mother hardly denied her anything like this. Part of that was due to the fact that Tracey respected her mother enough to ask permission.
"I suppose it would be wrong of me to keep you here when your friends have requested your presence. And it would be wrong of me to deny them a few hours with such a classy young woman." Phoebe smiled. "Alright. Help me with the wash, and then will go to London to shop for gifts."
"Best mother ever!" Tracey squealed, hugging her mother tightly and racing to her room to get the laundry.
"Alright, this is the last one for the day, so I want to see you really move." Mad-Eye Moody shouted so he could be heard over the wind and the crash of the waves. "You best time so far is just under ten minutes, and I think you can do better. Prove me right."
He stared hard with both eyes at the young man next to him, readying himself for his next attempt at the obstacle course. Moody smirked as he watched the boy stretching and relaxing over and over again, his hard green eyes locked on the end of the course where a flag had been set up. The boy was promised that if he could get the flag in under ten minutes, he would be given one week off from the rather harsh training he was going through. Despite his complaints, the boy was doing far better than most third year Aurors, in Moody's not so humble opinion. Though he would not tell this to the boy, he might get complacent.
"We're not going to go easy on you either, just because it's your birthday." Moody chuckled.
The boy didn't even seem to acknowledge his comment. Moody gave one more look down the course to se if everyone was ready and then, with a flick of his wand, and a sound like a gunshot, The boy launched himself forward.
Harry Potter had run some variation of this course for two weeks now, ever since they'd arrived in Majorca. It was all apart of his physical training regime that Mad-Eye Moody assured him every Auror recruit had to go through. Tonks had told him after the first week that he'd been lied to. Moody's training was much harder than aurors received.
Harry leapt over a series of walls and launched himself flat on his belly to crawl under barbed wire. Once he was through that, Harry was back on his feet and preparing to run and leap over a series of hurtles when Remus and Sirius appeared with staffs. Harry was not allowed to use magic, and so had to rely on muggle methods of fighting, something which Moody felt too many wizards frowned upon.
"May save your life. Wizards don't like to get physical in a fight, so it'll throw them off their game if you get up close and personal like." Moody had laughed.
Harry had suffered a few less than pleasant lessons at the hands of his godfather and honorary uncle. However, thanks to his godfather, and a few kung fu movies, Harry felt ready for this.
He leapt forward and kicked his foot out, landing a foot to just above Remus' knee. The force of Harry's kick made Remus' leg want to bend in the wrong direction, and Remus had no choice but to fall to one leg. Harry knew that Sirius was already swinging at him, and rolled forward towards Remus, hoping Sirius' swing would follow. The resounding crack of wood on bone told him that his hope was fulfilled. Remus howled, and Sirius, having been thoroughly distracted by his mistake, left himself open to Harry's kick to his gut.
Harry didn't wait. He pushed forward onto the next obstacle, and three more after, pushing himself harder towards the flag at the finish line and what he felt was a well deserved respite. Harry had forgotten one small detail.
She stepped out from behind a wall wearing very, very little. Her normally short, spiky, bubblegum pink hair was now shoulder length, and silky blonde. Her chest was also bigger than normal, and looked as if the blue bikini was struggling to hold it all in.
Harry stopped short, taking her in, and he found himself gawking. He'd seen Tonks wearing something similar, but she had never… enhanced herself. This was fighting dirty, as Harry was reminded by a hard fist to the gut."
"Not getting the flag today." Tonks laughed.
Two can fight dirty." Harry thought as he grabbed a handful of sand, remembering Moody's advice about using the environment.. Tonks screamed as she got a face full of sand, and then found herself on her back, having been tripped.
A whistle blew as Harry raised the flag and bent over panting.
"He needs more of a challenge." Sirius said to Remus as they walked towards Harry alongside Moody.
"I've already contacted Dumbledore about that." Moody grimaced. "Fighting the four of us isn't enough, so when we get back, we're going to pit him against more members of the order. Throw him off his game by pitting him against people he isn't so familiar with."
"How'd he do?" Remus asked, looking at Moody's stop watch.
"Better. Eight minutes thirty fives seconds." Moody growled. "But we need him casting. He's damn good, but he needs to learn to fight with all of his abilities. Not just his physicality."
"Dumbledore's got something in mind?" Remus asked, still holding his head where Sirius had smacked him with a staff.
"Aye. A much bigger course that Hagrid's been helping to set up." Moody said.
"When did Hagrid get back?" Sirius asked interestedly.
"Two days after we left. Quite a successful trip from what I heard, but I'm sure we'll hear all about it when we get back." Moody remarked. "Nice distraction technique lassie."
"Didn't work." Tonks replied, still rubbing her eyes. She'd rinsed them out with an Aguamenti spell, but they were still irritated.
"Stopped him cold for a few seconds." Sirius remarked. "And Remus lost a bit of control as well."
"Wolfie's been unable to keep his little paws off me all trip." Tonks grinned as her boyfriend offered her a helping hand.
"It was a really good idea." Remus smiled, kissing Tonks on her cheek. "I think the mistake was punching him. Took him right back to reality."
"You're probably right. I should have let him drool over me for a few minutes, than clobbered him." Tonks agreed as they finally reached Harry who was sitting on the sand now, still catching his breath.
"Well?" He asked. The adults all looked from one another and then back at Harry.
"One week off." Moody growled. "You'd better enjoy it, because it's gonna get a lot tougher from here on in."
The old Auror smirked and began heading back to the house. Sirius turned around and began returning the obstacles to their original forms. Rocks, shells, driftwood and general beach detritus. Remus and Tonks followed Moody, leaving Harry and his godfather alone.
"Feeling ok?" Sirius asked. Harry got to his feet and nodded.
"Just tired." Harry replied.
"I should think so, but that's not what I meant. You've had this far away look in your eye for a week. Ever since I told you who we were inviting to your birthday party." Sirius said, sitting next to his godson and staring out towards the ocean. Harry didn't say anything for a time, and Sirius let him gather his thoughts.
"She gave me an oath. Never to betray me again. But, I still can't… I don't…" Harry stammered.
"You don't know if you can trust her." Sirius finished, and Harry nodded.
"She tricked me into the oath. I never would have asked her to make that." Harry said.
"Which is why she gave it." Sirius said. "She knew you'd never let her give it, and it would have been hanging over you both for the rest of your lives. Not a lot of people would do what she did, Harry. It's easy to make a mistake, but it's much harder to realize the mistake, and do all you can to remedy it. The two of you… Gods Harry, I wish I had some kind of words of wisdom here for you. I don't know Daphne Greengrass the way you do, But I know that she was willing to throw herself in front of what could have been a fatal curse to save you. She risked her life to get you out of Voldemort's hands. That means something."
"I wanted to hate her for what she did." Harry admitted. "I wanted to hate her and move on with my life, but I just couldn't. I couldn't stop thinking about her. About what might have been, and then when we last talked and she said she wasn't coming back to school… I didn't want her to leave, but I also couldn't tell her." Harry bemoaned.
"Life is full of opportunity, Harry. Maybe, this is just another one for you to take advantage of. If you wish to do so."
Sirius patted his godson's shoulder as he rose to his feet.
"We're not leaving until tonight. Enjoy your day here kiddo, worry about tomorrow when it gets here."
Harry smiled his thanks and watched his godfather head back to the house, likely to finish packing and preparing for their return home. Harry turned back to the ocean, reveling in the fact that his life was just like the sea. Always in some sort of turmoil.
"Why can't things ever just be simple?" He sighed.