This is my second Daphne/Harry fanfic, I'm still deciding if she should be harder with Harry or if I should add some flashbacks as to why they're so close, I will be adding more chapters to this one as I have time now.

If you guys think I should add more description or thoughts to this let me know, thanks!

The simple things in life Harry Potter always thought were the best, it could work the other way round of course the best things in life are also the simplest. Harry rested his head back against the large oak that sat by the lake outside of Hogwarts. Since his name came out of the goblet, he had spent most of his time down here

Flashback

"Harry Potter"

Harry had started in surprise and immediately looked over to Hermione and Ron, what was on their faces told him how they felt. Ron, his best mate for almost four years was looking at him practically green with envy, hate and betrayal sparked from his eyes. He turned to Hermione desperately hoping that she would at least have a glimmer of trust in them. Nothing. Only disappointment was present in her gaze.

Flashback ended

He had gone through the motions ever since, when he had returned to the common room that night everyone not one single person had believed him they all looked the same way to him and all demanded in loud voices to tell them how he had cheated his way in.

That had been a week ago and since then he had re entered hell. Shoves in the corridor in plain view of the teachers who of course did nothing as they also didn't care, Snape had been worst than ever, snide jabs about his fame, his parents and his work. This naturally encouraged the others to participate in berating him.

After the first three days he had simply ceased going to all lessons except DADA after all no one was going to go against Moody. He had avoided her he couldn't bear it if she also believed the worst of, a part of him knew she wouldn't, but another part caused him to cringe in fear of what she might say.

"Harry"

He flinched but turned his head to look up at the beauty who was Daphne Greengrass.

He looked tired. That was the first thing she noticed. He had large black bags under his eyes and his skin was paler than it was before. She wasn't sure when he had become Harry instead of Potter. It may have been when he had stood up to Draco and his goons whilst protecting her sister Astoria last year, or when she had failed to find a quill in her bag one charms lesson and he had handed one to her with a grin 2 years ago. Whenever it had happened, she hadn't be able to stop, the lion had wormed his way through the Slytherins ice queens heart.

"You've been avoiding me."

She sat next to him and he turned away to stare over the lake, he had been doing his best to avoid her he knew it couldn't last long. He wasn't even sure when they had started becoming friends until one day he found himself wanting to talk to her, to see her, have her opinion and just to talk. And now she was sitting with him when all he wanted was to break apart and staring at him with eyes that held no pity but concern and care. He tried to move his mouth into forming words but after opening and closing it a few times he gave up stayed silent. His companion signed and tucked herself closer to him.

"Harry, talk to me."

"What do you want me to say, Daph? That I'm sick of it all? I thought this year would be different, I got no warning, no help and no one is fucking listening! Dumbledore is useless, my own head of house is turning a blind eye and my supposedly best friends think that I really am a attention seeking, cheating bastard who doesn't care about anyone but himself."

His hand found Daphne's and he gripped it hard feeling her nails digging back as though proving she was still here.

"I'm scared Daph, I'm fucking terrified of what is to come and I can't…I can't even pretend otherwise…I'm so scared that I can't make it through, that you'll leave me, I can't.""

For a moment all was still, as though the world was holding its breath waiting to see if another would turn from him.

Suddenly her nails bug even deeper in his palm and he recoiled from her turning in shock and finding her still staring at him, fire blazing in her eyes.

"Harry I am still here, only a fool could see otherwise, Dumbledore has never had your best interests at heart, we both know that, McGonagall is just a lackey, she follows orders and if something makes her uncomfortable she turns away from it. Weasley and Granger…I don't know he's always wanted the limelight Harry he will always want to be you and Granger, well she has too much respect for authority, if they think something then it must be true."

She took his face in her hands.

"I am here, and I am terrified for you and we can work through this, we can practise and research and you can break apart and I will hold you just like you've held me, okay? We will get through this."

He broke. And Daphne held him. They stayed there as the sun turned the grounds gold, red and purple. The colours darkened and the shadows lengthened and still the two stayed until the moon rose above the forbidden forest and the stars came out.

It was only when Daphne started to shiver that they rose from their curled positions around each other offering warmth and comfort and headed back to the castle hand in hand.

"Daphne what do you want to do?"

She looked at him for a moment and then smirked.

"I can handle Malfoy and anyone else from the Slytherin end, you have Neville in the lions den and don't forget Dobby would do anything for you. I will not be shamed into moving from your side."

Harry squeezed her hand and smiled happily.

"Do you want me to walk you back to the snake pit?"

"Trying to procrastinate?"

"You have no idea."

Daphne laughed, the sound washing over Harry and causing his eyes to spark. She tugged on his hand and they started to wander down to the dungeons together, chatting about nonsense things and making remarks about the portraits they were walking past. They stopped round the corner from the common room.

"Okay, I will see you at dinner, please don't kill anyone before then and stay safe."

She reached up and kissed his cheek before backing away.

"I'll be good."

He watched as she turned the corner and left to, feeling indifferent rather than hurt at the Ravenclaws scowl at him as he passed.