Chapter 8

Afterward Harry had no thought but to leave as swiftly as possible, followed by Daphne, Neville, and Susan Bones.

They ducked into a muggle café and settled around a corner table.

"It was the right thing to do, Harry." Neville said gently.

"I hope so," replied Harry.

Susan Bones studied her menu. "It doesn't truly affect me, I'm a half-blood and so's Harry. But Neville and Daphne…"

"Blood status doesn't matter to me," Daphne said stiffly.

"Nor to me," Neville put in. "But it would be nice if everyone felt the same."

Hermione caught up to them as soon as they exited the café.

"How could you, Harry! After all we've done to prevent discrimination…"

"We didn't stop discrimination against everyone," Harry pointed out. "Now it's been turned against purebloods. I want our society to be fair to everyone."

"We've just been redressing the balance!" Hermione was not mollified. "The muggleborn have been ground down so many years that they need a hand up!"

"For how long?" Daphne didn't wish to provoke Hermione any further but felt she had to say something. "It's been four years, and purebloods can't get jobs, or marry anyone they like…"

"Ohh," Hermione sneered. "The pureblood thinks it's unfair! Did you ever concern yourself with the muggleborns who couldn't get ministry jobs for years?"

"I'm a pureblood too," Neville informed her. "And I know two wrongs don't make a right. It's time to judge people on ability and not birth."

Hermione stomped off angrily.

"Now what?"

"Harry." Neville hesitated. "Maybe, embrace it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Maybe we could arrange for a …celebration? At the Leaky?"

Daphne was instantly enthused. "Great idea, Neville! If Harry's there, everyone will fall in line! It will be seen as a positive thing instead of a step backward, no matter what Hermione says. Ron and Padma can come along too. The press will love it."

So it was arranged.

"Am I invited?" Astoria inquired.

"Why not?" Daphne pulled on a short back dress with ankle boots.

"I was wondering if…I could move in here?"

"Here?" Daphne was surprised. "Do the Malfoys want you to leave the manor?"

"No. But I feel out of place there. Like they're watching every move I make."

Daphne nodded. "Fine." She hesitated. "But I don't know if I'll renew the lease."

Astoria was on that in a flash. "Why not? Thinking about moving?"

"I've been seeing someone," Daphne admitted.

"Really? Is it serious?"

"It is for me. Not sure whether it is for him yet." She'd been out with Harry several times now, twice for dinner and once for a Quidditch match, and she felt them growing closer. But she was afraid to expect too much, in case he decided to keep things casual.

She pulled out the silk scarf Astoria had given her for her birthday and draped it over the plain neckline of the dress. The stained-glass colors glowed.

Her sister followed Daphne into the Leaky, and immediately peeled off to talk to Michael Corner.

Daphne searched for Harry and tried to do it unobtrusively. She finally spotted him, sitting with Padma, Ron, and…Ginny Weasley.

She must have made some sign, because a soft voice murmured, "Don't worry."

She whirled to find Luna Lovegood at her elbow.

"Don't worry about Ginny," repeated Luna. "That ship has sailed."

Luna then drifted away to talk to Hannah Abbott, leaving Daphne to feel inexplicably reassured.

Just then Harry looked up, saw her, and waved her over.

She hurried to his side.

For once Ron welcomed her warmly. "Thanks for your vote, Daphne. We really appreciate it."

"It will help her too," purred Ginny. "She's free to marry a pureblood."

Daphne wondered if her laugh sounded as false to the others as it did to her. "Can't think of one I'd care to marry."

Harry grinned at her. "Glad to hear it."

Emboldened by that, she reached for his hand, entwined their fingers, then wondered how she'd come to be so bold.

But he seemed pleased, and kept hold of her hand.

Daphne turned a glittering smile on Ginny. "The law might affect you too, if you ever decide to marry a pureblood."

Ginny scowled. "I really doubt that I will."

She cast a spiteful glance at Harry. "I'm already engaged, to Dean Thomas."

Daphne was able to proffer sincere congratulations.

Padma leaned forward eagerly. "Daphne, will you be one of my bridesmaids? Along with Parvati and Ginny?"

She agreed at once. For a girl who'd had very few friends at Hogwarts, she was thrilled to be asked.

Ginny Weasley didn't look nearly so happy. She immediately took over the conversation, steering it away from the wedding and onto the subject of quidditch, which Daphne knew little about.

But she decided she didn't mind, as long as Harry kept her hand in his; she stayed by his side the whole evening.

"Neville was right. Having this celebration was the best thing!"

"Yes. I only wish Hermione had come too."

"Give it time. She can't celebrate the engagement of Ron and Padma just yet but eventually she may realize it was for the best."

"I don't see where we're any further along." Taurus was glum. "So we've traced the spell to George Weasley's workshop. So what? Anyone could have accessed it!"

"He did keep it locked." Leo defended George.

"But not warded," Libra pointed out. "Anyone could have got in."

"Yes, but…who'd know George had such a thing?" Gemini said slowly. "I doubt someone went down there just to rummage around!"

"Huh." Leo hadn't thought of that. "Better talk to George again."

"Only the family," George said at once. "No one else knew I was working on such a thing."

"Did you tell Angelina?"

"Well, yes." George looked abashed. "But she is my family! Maybe she mentioned it…"

Harry could see another dead end coming. Maybe George had only spoken of his invention to the Weasleys, but how many others had they told?

Their team reconvened, and now everyone was equally depressed.

Then Libra brightened. "Don't detectives say you need means, motive, and opportunity? If we know the means, but can't narrow down the opportunity, maybe we should focus on the motive?"

"We tried that," Gemini said doubtfully. "Someone who hates purebloods, or Slytherins, or the Inquisitional Squad?"

"Also, clever enough to pull off a series of killings, right in Diagon Alley!"

"Mostly powerful muggleborns," offered Taurus. "I mean, who else would have a grudge against all those people?"

"All," Libra pursed her lips. "All? I was only thinking in terms of some but maybe, just maybe, there is a powerful witch or wizard who hates all of them!"

Leo sighed. "That could be me. Some people have accused me of disliking purebloods, although that really is not true. However, I detested Umbitch's lackeys on the Squad, and I wasn't fond of the Slytherins I knew at Hogwarts. I'd better state right now that I am not the killer!"

"Of course you're not!" Gemini scowled. "You are the last person I'd ever suspect."

"Why not? I do have means, motive, and opportunity."

She bit her lip. "But you didn't know about George's invention!"

"I said I didn't," he corrected. "What if I'm lying?"

Taurus nodded solemnly. "You've convinced me. You're under arrest!"

There was a long moment of silence.

Then Taurus, Libra, and Gemini burst out laughing.

Leo joined in. "Okay but it's still something to think about. Maybe the killer's the last person anyone would suspect!"

Hermione was waiting for him, perched on the doorstep of 12 Grimmauld Place.

Harry sighed. He knew he could order his house elves to admit her automatically, but he was reluctant to do so. Hermione had never accepted that elves needed to be bound to survive; she constantly upset them, and they dreaded her presence.

"Harry!" She gave him one of her rib-crushing hugs. "We need to talk."

He tried to ward her off. "Look Hermione, I know you're angry about the vote…"

"No, it's not that." She twisted her hands together, the way she always did when she was anxious about something, and followed him into the house.

Kreacher served tea, but Harry could tell how unhappy he was to be near Hermione.

However, for once his friend paid no mind to the elf.

"Harry, do you think that perhaps you are being potioned?"

He felt a flicker of surprise. "Of course not! Why?"

"May I check?"

Harry shrugged. She cast, then shook her head. "You're not affected by anything. But you've been spending a lot of time with Daphne Greengrass, and Padma Patil."

"I work with them," he pointed out.

"Is that the only reason?"

Harry reached for her hand. "Look Hermione, I like Daphne. A lot. And, Ron likes Padma, so…"

He felt her flinch.

"Have you thought that, maybe, you and Ron were never meant to be?" he asked gently.

Hermione's eyes filled with tears. "I counted on it. Me with Ron, you with Ginny, all part of one big family."

"Sometimes it doesn't happen the way we once thought. Ginny and I are still friends, and I'm happy about that, but I doubt we'd make a go of marriage. We both moved on. Maybe, some day…"

"I shrug my shoulders, and just move on to someone else?" Hermione's tears had dried, and her fists were clinched in anger. "I invested years in this relationship, and I'm not simply giving up!"

Hermione stomped out the door, and Harry sighed in defeat. He could only hope she'd soon realize there was no recourse.