The Devil in Me

Let's Give 'em Hell

The chapter title is from the song:

Here's to Us by Halestorm.

"Draco! You got over your sore face yet?" Harry called, walking into the Slytherin common room.

Draco made a face but didn't look up, "Why?"

"Because I need you for a night-time sneak attack on a Scottish castle."

Draco frowned and looked up, "What?"

"We're stealing a couple of castles from the MacDougal's and giving them back to the families they were taken from," Harry said with a roll of his eyes, "It's a Robin Hood thing."

"Who?"

"Ugh," Harry complained, "You ruin the excitement when you make me explain it! Tracey – Robin Hood, what was he famous for?"

"Stealing from the rich to give to the poor, like a dumbass," Tracey replied from her spot a few armchairs away.

"Thank you!" Harry exclaimed appreciatively.

"You and your Muggle stories," Draco muttered irritably.

Daphne chuckled and looked up, expectantly, "Am I coming?"

"No," Harry replied.

Daphne glared at him, "Why?"

"Because you're my future wife, and I need you to stay alive so you can provide me with heirs?"

Daphne crossed her arms, "Try again."

"Because I care about you and don't want you to die?"

"Try again; you're getting closer to the truth," Daphne said, putting him in his place in the middle of the Slytherin common room.

Harry rolled his eyes, "Because, on the dangerous scale, it's like a 7.5 out of 10, which means there's a 6% chance that someone could get seriously maimed or killed. That's a fact, by the way, I forced Sadie to run the numbers for me. Anyway, I do care about you, I don't want you to get hurt, and one of the terms of the contract I signed with your father was that I never take you with me into conflicts."

"Damnit!" Daphne cursed.

"Sorry, love," Harry replied, holstering his wand, "Draco – you are coming, like it or not."

"Yeah, thanks for that," Draco said, pushing himself to his feet.

"Blaise, so are you," Harry added, "Tracey, you too."

"So what am I supposed to do? Sit here and knit while I wait for you?" Daphne asked irritably.

"No, you're babysitting Sadie," Harry said with a cheeky grin, "In Draco's absence – you know the rules, right? 1. Don't let her talk to anyone from the light. 2. Don't let her out of your sight in case she betrays us, and 3. Don't feed her after midnight."

Tracey snorted at that.

Harry shot her a grin, "Come on then, crew! Time to scale a castle. Man, I've always wanted to do this; it's going to be great!"

"You're insane," Draco muttered under his breath.

Tracey chuckled, "If I didn't think you were a bit unhinged before, I do now," she added.

Harry just laughed their comments off and walked towards the door with his 'soldiers' following him.

Before they could leave the common room, Daphne grabbed Harry by the wrist and forced him to look at her.

"Just remember, before you go dashing in there like the heroic Gryffindor you still are at heart, that I expect you back in one piece," Daphne said, her eyes on his.

"Is that because of your atrocious bedside manner or the fact you only inherit after you marry me?" Harry joked.

Daphne gave him a serious look, all signs of jest gone, "Both."

Harry began to pull away with a nod, but before he could, Daphne leant forward and kissed him lightly.

When she pulled back, she smiled and murmured, "For luck."

With another nod, Harry led his group of merry men out into the grounds where they met up with the rest of their 'crew' – Susan Bones and Ernie MacMillan being the two key ones because they would have to claim the castles once they were seized.

The others Harry had brought together to help were Lily, Neville and Ginny.

"Is this it?" Draco asked, "A few choice Slytherins, the deaf dude, the banshee and the competent and equally terrifying Lilith Black?"

"No, these are just the school-age members of the gang," Harry said, striding forward.

Draco jogged to catch up with him, but they didn't talk any more until they had gone through the gates and emerged on the outskirts of Hogsmeade.

"Here are our reinforcements," Harry said, grinning out at the people in question, "Good evening, frenemies!"

The 'frenemies' were Hermione (who was flanked by Fred and George, of course) and Reyna.

"Leaving the missus at home, are you?" Reyna asked sarcastically.

"Don't be like that," Harry said, "We're friends, aren't we?"

"Almost," Reyna replied dryly, "Where is the love of your life?"

"Not here," Harry answered evasively.

Hermione raised an eyebrow, "Who is the love of your life this week?"

"Daphne Greengrass, his fiancé," Draco replied in a drawl.

Both of Hermione's eyebrows shot up, "Fiancé?"

"Hm, haven't you heard of it? It's a word of French origin for the person you are engaged to be married to," Harry replied sarcastically.

"I know what the word means, Harry," Hermione said irritably, "What I don't understand is why a beautiful, rich heiress who, as it so happens, is also a nice person, would want to marry you."

Harry smirked and leant against the gates, "Because I'm a rich heir who happens to be the Dark Lords right-hand man, so get off your high horse, love."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him.

"If you're going to be rude, you and your pets can head on home and enjoy a nice night in front of the fire," Harry said, giving her an overly false smile.

Hermione crossed her arms over her chest, "We're coming."

"No idea why though, considering that he's a dick," Fred muttered.

"One dick isn't a strong enough insult, Fred," George muttered, "He's a great big bag of dicks."

Harry just grinned in response, "Enough small talk, don't you think? Nobody has even congratulated me on my upcoming nuptials."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Reyna said sarcastically, "Did you expect a gift from the girl you kept on the side before you decided to marry the rich heiress?"

Hermione smirked over at Reyna.

Neville signed to Harry, "I don't know exactly what's going on, but I think you're getting the piss ripped out of you right now."

Harry nodded and signed back, "I hate girls."

Neville snorted, and Harry took a step forward, "Reyna – I'm sorry I had to stop sleeping with you. Hermione quit being judgy about something that doesn't concern you. Now! The reason you are all here, I'm sure you're wondering?"

"I expect it involves killing someone," Hermione said dryly.

"Actually, no," Harry answered, "We're going to steal a castle! Well, two castles, actually."

"Should I even ask why?" Hermione asked.

"It's a simple answer for once," Harry confessed, "The castles we're stealing didn't originally belong to the MacDougal family. One of them was once a Bones property and the other a MacMillan – hence why we are joined today by Susan and Ernie, our resident Hufflepuffs."

Ernie opened his mouth and took a breath, "I just want to thank all of you for being here to help me reclaim my ancestral-"

"Yeah, yeah, Ernie," Harry said, "We're your saviours, I get it. But no speeches, okay?"

Susan smirked and crossed her arms over her chest, "Thanks, guys," she said.

Reyna gave Susan a nod, then looked at Harry, "So we steal the castles back, and then the Bones and MacMillan families declare their loyalty? And these two get marked? Is that it?"

"Potentially," Harry replied, "At the very least, they have promised that their families will swear allegiance to the Dark Lord. Whether that means they get marked or not? Well, that's up for debate, isn't it?"

Most of them knew what Harry was really saying – Ernie was a bit weak, and therefore Harry and the Dark Lord didn't want him to be a Death Eater, but Susan? She would be a real asset.

"So," Lily said, making her presence felt for the first time, "You seem like the man with the plan."

"I am," Harry agreed importantly.

"Uh-huh. In that case, what is it?"

"It's simple, really," Harry said, "We split into two teams – the A-team, led by me, will seize Cnamhan Castle in Perthshire. It used to be a Bones stronghold, so Susan will perform the required spell to claim ownership. The A-team will consist of myself, Neville," he had been signing the plan to Neville the entire time, "Hermione and by extension, her dogs, and Ginny."

Fred gave Harry an irritated look, but Harry just grinned in response.

"The B team – led by Draco-"

"Hey," Draco interrupted, "Why are we the B team?"

"Because you don't have me," Harry replied offhandedly, "As I was saying – the B team, led by Draco, will seize Castle Mill in Tayside, and they will need Ernie to claim ownership once they gain control. Draco will be joined by Blaise, Tracey, Reyna and Lily."

Nobody said anything further, so Harry continued, "We are going to sneak up to the castle, break the wards and then sneak in, incapacitate the inhabitants peacefully-" he looked at Reyna, "-that part is non-negotiable."

"What if they are about to kill us?" Reyna questioned.

"What part of non-negotiable did you not understand?" Harry asked in disbelief.

Reyna glared at him, "You are being a real dick right now, you know that?"

"Congratulations, you've taken off your rose-tinted glasses. I am a dick;get used to it," Harry remarked, "Once the inhabitants have been incapacitated peacefully, you disarm them and bind them. Then you have your resident Hufflepuff heir claim back their castle. Once that is done, you leave that heir at the castle, and you apparate to these co-ordinates with your incapacitated but alive people, and if you are first, you wait for the other team."

"Then what happens?" Tracey asked curiously.

Lily rolled her eyes, "Slytherins are so bloody slow. Then we take the MacDougal's back to the MacDougal stronghold as hostages and use them to get the family on our side."

"Smart," Hermione said approvingly.

Harry grinned smugly.

"It wasn't your plan, was it?"

"No," Harry admitted, "It was Daphne's, then Lily and Susan helped perfect it."

"Sounds about right," Hermione said, smirking at her former best friend.

Harry made a face at her and grabbed Lily by the wrist as they prepared to move out. He pulled her close and murmured, "The reason I've sent you with Draco is so that you can keep him alive. He's good at leading people, but he needs an ideas-person, and he always relied on Theo for that."

Lily gave a small nod, "Whose going to do that for you if I'm with Draco?"

Harry smiled fondly at her, "Have you met Hermione Granger?"

With a chuckle, Lily nodded, "Be careful out there."

"You too," Harry said, letting go of her wrist and walking towards his team, "Let's move out, guys!"

Seizing the castle was remarkably easy. They snuck up undetected and left Hermione and the twins to break through the wards.

In the meantime, Harry and the others hovered on broomsticks above the castle.

When they got Hermione's signal that the wards were down, they swept down and landed on the roof.

Once on the roof, they had to penetrate the castle's defences which was easy enough – they split off into two teams – one to go after Mungo MacDougal and his wife, and the other to go after their son, Fergus.

In both cases, the MacDougal's had barely risen from their beds and were shocked when Death Eaters barged into their bed chambers which made stunning and binding them a piece of cake.

They all reconvened on the roof with their hostages while Susan reclaimed ownership of the castle.

She spoke in Latin, her wand twirling around above her head and then when the spell was finished, she pressed the tip of her wand against the stone wall. An invisible wind picked up out of nowhere and blasted over them, re-warding the castle and encompassing it with a shimmering yellow shield.

"That was cool," Harry said when it was done.

Susan nodded and wiped the sweat from her forehead, "It's an old spell, medieval really."

"Hence why it was so difficult to perform," Ginny said.

Neville signed, "Great work, Susan."

Susan looked at Ginny, "What did he say?"

"He said 'great work'," Ginny translated with a smile, "Are you going to be okay on your own here?"

"I'll be fine, don't worry about me," Susan answered, "And Harry?"

Harry looked over, "Yeah?"

"I know I swore my family's loyalty, but if you need anything else from me, let me know," Susan said.

Harry kept his eyes on hers, "Would you consider joining our ranks as a Death Eater? You're powerful, Susan, and somehow you're a Founders heir."

Susan raised an eyebrow, "Somehow?"

"The Smiths have always been regarded as Hufflepuff's direct descendants, but they are pretty mediocre wizards, and then there is you."

Susan smirked, "While I appreciate the compliment, I don't think your fiancé will, Harry."

Harry chuckled, and Susan added, "The truth is that the Smiths are descendants of Hufflepuff but through a secondary line. The Bones are the most direct descendants; we just don't shout about it like those idiots do."

Harry smiled in amusement and stepped forward to shake her hand, "Well, the offer is on the table, should you wish to take it."

Susan nodded, "I will certainly consider it," she promised.

Harry gave her a curt nod and looked at the others, "Good job, everyone. Let's grab these hostages and head to the rendezvous point where we will, inevitably, have to wait for Draco."

When Draco's team finally appeared at the rendezvous point, it came as no surprise that Harry and his team were already there waiting for them.

Harry patted Draco on the back, "You're all here, and you're all in one piece. Nice job, Draco."

Draco nodded in response, "Ernie was bloody useless, so we were one man down, but we got there all the same."

Harry nodded too, his eyes on Draco's hostages, "Uh, one question, though - why are your hostages practically naked?"

Blaise made a face, "Because of what they were doing when we stormed the castle."

"Oh, so while you were storming the castle, he was storming her-"

"Okay, Harry – enough," Hermione ordered.

Lily snorted in amusement, "The Dark Lord's most loyal servant," she teased, her eyes on Harry, "Silenced by Hermione Granger."

"A skill once learned, never forgotten," Hermione smirked, "And it's Crouch now, don't forget."

Harry looked away from Hermione to give Lily an amused look, "Come on – let's get this lot back to the MacDougal's. With any luck, the final part of the plan will go down a treat too."

They all apparated to the MacDougal stronghold in Argyll, and Harry felt the air get tenser.

"You had better be right about this," Harry muttered to Lily, who stood by his side.

The fortress in front of them was more than just a castle – it was designed to defend and attack. Magically activated cannons were mounted in the walls; the vast circular building was heavily defensive.

"I hope I am too," Lily murmured, "Because I don't fancy trying to fight that."

Harry nodded his agreement and threw a spell at the wards. It wasn't strong enough to break through; it would take a hell of a lot to do that on wards in a place like this. But the ripple would alert the people inside that they had company.

For good measure, Lily sent up a red flare.

It only took a few minutes for a man to appear on the ramparts of the castle, "What the bloody hell is going on?"

Harry waved to him, unable to get any closer due to the wards, "Hi! I'm going to assume that you are Laird Murray MacDougal? Head of this family?"

"Aye," Murray called, "And who the hell are you?"

"I'm Harry Potter, more commonly referred to as the Man-Who-Turned or in alternative circles, Voldemort's right-hand man," Harry called back.

"As you may know, I've been on something of a campaign to recruit neutral families before they can turn to the doomed light rebellion, led by the Jones family. To do that, I had to take a couple of castles off of you and give them back to their rightful owners; sorry about that."

Murray looked shocked and unsure of what to say.

"So I bring you some hostages," Harry called up, "We didn't kill any of your people when we took the castles. I hope you can see that it was merciful of us. It would have been far easier to do so, but the Dark Lord and I believe that no magical blood should be spilt unnecessarily."

Murray nodded, "Aye, I'll pay you for them and don't worry yourself, lad. I'm not going to join up with that doomed cause, I can't fucking stand those Welsh bastards, and I'm not interested in fighting in this English war. We'll get down on one knee to your lord if it pleases him."

Harry smiled broadly, "Great. 50 Galleons a piece for your family members."

Murray clicked his fingers and summoned a house-elf. He spoke quietly to it, then the elf disappeared with a crack and reappeared on the other side of the wards in front of Harry.

"200 Galleons, sir," The house-elf squeaked, dropping a large sack in front of Harry.

With a click of its fingers, the elf levitated four of the bodies into the air. Then it pushed them through the wards.

"I'm not wasting 50 Galleons on that one," Murray called, "He's a Muggle."

Harry looked down at the remaining body.

"I'll leave you to dispose of it," Murray finished, disappearing from the ramparts for a final time.

Harry turned to the others and shook his head, "And we're the bad guys?"

"Tell me about it," Neville signed. From his side, Ginny nodded.

"I know," Draco muttered, "What are we going to do with him?"

"Kill him, obviously," Reyna replied, "He's a Muggle – even the head of the family he married into has no use for him."

"I'm pretty sure he's Seamus Finnigan's father," Ginny cut in.

"And?" Tracey asked, "What do we care about Finnigan?"

"No, the Weasley girl is right," Blaise mused, "From a political point of view, killing him might just gain us an enemy."

"Seamus Finnigan?" Harry scoffed, "He's already fighting for the light, and he's not exactly a powerful enemy. I could take him down while polishing my broomstick."

"Are we completely overlooking the fact he's an innocent?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," A few of them replied at the same time.

"That doesn't matter to them," Fred said.

George nodded, "He's a Muggle, therefore a second-class citizen."

"Exactly," Lily cut in, holding her wand out towards the man, "Ennervate."

He woke up and began to look around frantically, "Imperio!" Lily cried.

They all watched with morbid fascination as she looked into his eyes and said, "You cannot swim."

"I cannot swim," He repeated like a robot.

"Good," Lily said, removing his bonds and pointing to the left, "Go jump in that lake."

As the Muggle man walked away in a zombie-like trance, Lily turned to the others.

"Now, if Seamus discovers that his father drowned in the lake outside MacDougal castle, we can tell him the truth – that Murray MacDougal wouldn't pay for him because he was a Muggle, and Seamus will assume that his poor dad killed himself."

Harry gave an appreciative nod, "You know, sometimes, just sometimes, I can see why you're the Dark Lords mistress."

Lily smirked in response, "Speaking of which – someone should take that to him," she said, nudging her head in the direction of the money bag.

A loud splash sounded as the Muggle jumped into the lake.

"Well volunteered," Harry said, levitating it over to her, "Everyone else? Good work, you can go home now."

"Come on, boys," Hermione said, turning and walking into the distance with Fred and George on her heels.

"See you around, Harry," Reyna said on a parting note as she spun on her heel and disappeared.

"Back to school?" Draco asked.

"Back to school," Harry agreed.

When Harry and his Slytherin crew got back into the common room, he wasn't surprised to see Daphne sitting on the sofa.

"Hey," He said with a natural smile.

"It went well, I presume?" Daphne asked.

"It went exactly the way you said that it would," Harry said with a slight smile. He dropped down next to her on the sofa, "The castles were captured easily, and Murray MacDougal was only interested in saving his own skin, or his own kin in this case."

"Was I right about Declan Finnigan too?" Daphne asked.

"The Muggle who Lily had drown himself? Yeah, you were," Harry answered, "MacDougal wasn't interested in saving his skin."

"I didn't think he would be," Daphne mused; she leant back on the sofa, "I'm still pissed off that you didn't take me with you, though, and that you lied to me about that clause in the contract."

"Technically, I didn't lie to you. I just elected not to tell you about it until now," Harry pointed out.

Daphne gave him a sceptical look, "A white lie, I suppose, but I would rather know all the facts all the same. Why did you agree to the clause?"

"Because what your father said was completely true," Harry answered, dropping his jovial act and catching her eye, "His problem wasn't necessarily with the fact I'm a Death Eater, although he did have a slight moral quandary over that one."

"He would," Daphne agreed.

"He was more worried about the dangerous things I do and what that would mean for you, though," Harry confessed, "Which was why he suggested adding the clause that if I have to walk into a dangerous situation knowingly, I do it without you by my side. I signed because I entirely agreed."

Daphne sighed, "I want to be angry at you, but I understand why you did it."

Harry smiled half-heartedly.

"What I don't get is why you try so hard to protect me," Daphne admitted, "Why you care so much about someone you barely know."

"I don't entirely get it either," Harry said honestly, "But I can't be the only one who feels this thing between us – this pull, it's like it's-"

" – magnetic."

" – magic."

They both laughed, and Harry grinned, "Far more likely to be magic than magnetic, you're right."

Daphne leant over and kissed him on the cheek, "You can be such a half-blood sometimes," she teased, pulling back enough to kiss his lips lightly.

Harry was expecting it this time, so he brought his hand to her neck and returned the kiss briefly and softly (mainly because they were in a crowded common room), then broke it and smiled at her.

"Goodnight, Harry," Daphne said, the smile on her lips genuine for once rather than teasing or sarcastic.

"Night, Daphne," Harry replied.

The moment she left, Blaise made a whipping sound.

"Look whose trying the whole 'taking things slow' approach!" Draco joked.

"He's in loooove," Tracey joined in.

Harry rolled his eyes, "You – shut up, you don't even have a girlfriend yet," he said to Tracey. Then he pointed to Blaise, "You – you're a manwhore, you don't get an opinion and you," his eyes fell on Draco, "You're in love with the girl whose technically your hostage, so you don't get to judge."

The two boys snorted, and Tracey leant back in her chair, smirking, "Who says I don't have a girlfriend?"

Harry's eyes shot up, "Oh, you do, do you? Who's the unlucky lady?"

With a slightly more wicked smirk, Tracey got to her feet, "Ladies don't kiss and tell."

"Come on then, Trace, tell us," Blaise said as she walked away.

"Yeah, since you're not a lady!" Harry called.

Tracey gave them the middle finger over her shoulder and followed Daphne into the girls' dorm room.

"I bet it's Susan," Harry and Draco said in unison.

Blaise snickered, "The whole talking at the same time thing is cute and all, but you're both wrong."

"You know who it is?" Harry asked Blaise with interest.

"I've got an idea, and if I'm right, it's not Susan," Blaise said with a grin.

"Come on then, who is it?"

"I think it's someone she met at Yule," Blaise said, leaning forward in his chair, "Someone whose family have a colourful history, someone whose best friend is well acquainted with you, Harry."

Harry frowned then looked up in realisation, "Caroline Sumner?! Kingsley's step-daughter?"

"Yep," Blaise said, grinning smugly and leaning back in his chair.

"Fair play to her," Harry said, pulling out a chessboard, "Wonder if she's as crazy in the bedroom as Reyna…"

"How does Daphne rank in that department?" Blaise asked.

"Wouldn't know, would I? She's a good girl; she's waiting till marriage," Harry said.

Draco gave Harry an amused look, "So how long do you think it's going to be until she cracks now that you're officially engaged?"

"I give it another month, and she'll be falling into my arms," Harry said with a grin.

From behind them, Sadie laughed, "Wow, you really don't know Daphne that well, do you?"

Harry shot Sadie a grin, "Sadie, you knew her when she was 12, love. Don't pretend you know her now."

"Would you quit calling me love? It's worse than Rapunzel," Sadie muttered irritably, "I swear, the only person here I hate more than him," she glared at Draco, "Is you!"

Draco leant over, "That's intentional, isn't it?"

Sadie stormed away, and Harry nodded, "If she keeps hating me, maybe she'll start liking you. Reverse psychology works on dogs, so why not girls?"

Blaise burst out laughing at that comment, and Draco shook his head in amusement as he made his move.

Three families in one night – my, you have been busy.

Harry smiled. He was lying in his bed, and he had been planning out his next conquest.

You told me I had a timescale – get them on our side quickly before the Jones do.

Indeed, Tom thought back. It does seem that domesticity suits you, Harry. You are far more productive when you do not spend your nights involved in heathenry.

Wow, coming from you? I bet you're sleeping with Lily right now.

He felt a wave of amusement from Tom. Right now? Do you believe I would talk to you during such activities?

Harry made a face. No, probably not. But she is with you, isn't she?

She is asleep. She does that a lot.

Most humans do, Harry returned. You and I are unique in our dislike of sleep.

A thoughtful silence ensued then Tom's thoughts invaded Harry's mind again. Amalthea is staying in Narcissa's quarters at the castle. Do you believe she is safer here than she would be at Peverell Court?

Harry thought about that for a moment, Is Peverell Court finished then?

Yes, I had thought to move in immediately, but Narcissa is needed here.

And you don't want anyone else raising Amalthea, Harry thought back.

No, I do not trust anyone else; there is a difference.

True, Harry thought. In any case, I would suggest that Hogwarts is safer. To be honest with you, she is safe as long as she is with Narcissa. You know how much love Narcissa feels for her. She would give her life to protect her niece.

Tom didn't think anything to Harry for a long while after that. Harry actually thought he'd given in and gone to sleep, and he was beginning to think that he needed a few hours of sleep too when Tom's voice popped into his head for a final time.

I meant what I said earlier – three families in one night; that is impressive. Will any of them join us in a more official capacity?

Harry had been expecting the question, Susan Bones might and frankly, we don't want Ernie MacMillan – he would be more of a liability than anything else. As for the MacDougal's? I doubt it; they don't want to fight in our 'English war' as Murray said.

Very well. The Bones heiress is promising, however – especially considering her displays of elemental magic. Keep me updated concerning her.

Harry nodded, even though Tom couldn't see him, Will do.

The moment Harry sat down at breakfast the next day, he felt Daphne's eyes on him.

"Good morning, Daphne – you look radiant today. Did you do something different with - "

"A month?" Daphne said, raising a single eyebrow at him.

Harry looked at her, blankly, "What?"

"You honestly think I am so easy that I would fall into your arms within a month," Daphne said, narrowing her eyes at Harry, "That I'd be so desperate? Or that my self-control is so weak? Or is it ego? Do you think so highly of yourself that you doubt I could resist you for any longer than that?"

"It's definitely the ego thing," Blaise said with a grin, "Loves himself, that one."

"Daphne, I was just having a laugh with the boys-"

"In the common room, in front of everyone?" Daphne quipped.

Harry cringed, "I mean, I didn't say it that loudly and only a couple of people were nearby."

"My source heard it, and my source said it didn't sound like a joke," Daphne cut in.

"Yeah, but your source is obviously that bitch," Harry said, glaring across the table at Sadie, "And I really don't like her. Frankly, if she were Rapunzel, I'd strangle her with her own mane of hair."

"Don't blame me for your big mouth, Potter," Sadie said slyly.

"I am blaming you because you just had to go and spread shit, didn't you?" Harry asked irritably, "You see a good thing, and you smear Hippogriff shit all over it because you're jealous."

"Jealous?" Sadie asked in disbelief, "I despise you-"

"Yeah, but you kind of wanted an English husband with an English title – you weren't just eying Theo up in second year because he was a nice guy. You might not act like it, Sadie, but you are a Slytherin," Harry said coldly.

Sadie slammed her fork down, irritably, "That's not true."

"You know that it is, so maybe stop fighting with Draco so much and take a look at the prospects he could give you, otherwise we're going to end up marrying you off to a Muggle-born," Harry snapped, "Which right now you deserve because you're being an ungrateful bitch."

"Ungrateful?" Sadie screeched, "So now you expect me to be grateful that you murdered my parents?"

"Come on, you two," Draco cut in, putting up a shield barrier between them, "That's enough."

Sadie got to her feet and left the hall, and Draco sighed, "Can you not just give her a break for five minutes, Harry?"

"No, I can't," Harry said irritably, "She's an ungrateful bitch. She needs to stop acting like the princess in the fucking tower. When she does, she'll realise that she's only alive right now because the Dark Lord has a use for her, so she should be grateful. 99% of people whose parents were traitors wouldn't get to live, but she did, and she doesn't even care! Frankly, the only reason I haven't killed her yet is because you, for some merlin-forsaken reason, like her."

Draco opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Harry got to his feet, "Daphne, I'm sorry for saying something stupid and insensitive a little too loudly in the common room; I've learned my lesson."

Daphne knew when to push him and when to leave him be, so she nodded, "I appreciate the apology."

With a nod, Harry said, "Anyway, if you lot have finished destroying my good mood, I'm going for a bloody walk," he muttered as he stalked from the hall.

"He and Sadie really don't like each other, do they?" Tracey mused.

Daphne gave Tracey a disbelieving look, and Blaise guffawed with laughter, patting Tracey on the back, "Way to state the obvious, Trace."

* TBC *