AN: 1. English isn't my mother tongue, so please expect some mistakes.
2. This is my first story ever, so please leave comments. I appreciate fair comments.
3. I don't own Harry Potter or anything in the Wizarding World. I merely play in its sandpit.
Chapter VIIAlbus Dumbledore was frustrated. He currently was sitting at his desk, consuming the seventh lemon drop in the last thirty minutes. It already was the fifth of December and Harry had yet to make a move towards the stone. He didn't seem interested at all. The Weasley boy, too couldn't steer Harry in the right direction as the boy seemed unable to befriend the Potter Heir. Well, he was about to change that.
A few minutes later, the monitoring spell over his office's entrance alerted him of Harry's arrival. The boy had proved himself quite smart but not overly so, if he could believe his Professors' words. The best, though, was that he rather seemed to stand alone, as he not often was seen in company of peers. Well he now and then would spend some time with the young Longbottom Heir or Susan Bones.
The Bones Heiress clearly because of young Sirius relationship with Amelia. Pity that he was rescued from Azkaban. Albus didn't worry about Neville Longbottom, though. The boy was rather shy and insecure What was more worrying was the fact that he'd seen the Greengrass and Davis Heiresses sitting with Harry at Dinner the day before. Well, he would stop further interactions between them. Other than that, he was confident, he could use Harry's loneliness.
"Come in!", he exclaimed happily, as usual before either Harry or Minerva could knock. The monitoring spell was a rather cheap trick, really but it seemed to always impress the pupils and helped to set him further apart from the average wizard.
The door opened and in came Harry and the Transfiguration Mistress. "Ah, thank you Minerva. You are free to go now. I think young Harry will find his way back alone."
"I don't seem to remember, to invite you to use my first name, let alone the short version.", the Potter Heir stated calmly, before Minerva could reply. "And as you surely know, it's in my rights to have my Head of House present while discussing matters with the Headmaster." He turned to Minerva. "Professor, do you find yourself able to stay at the moment. If not, I am sure we can postpone this meeting."
"No, that's quite alright, Mr. Potter. Thank you for your concern." Minerva had to fight a bemused smile.
"Well, Mr. Potter. So be it." Albus replied after holding back a groan. Where did Harry become aware of this rule?
"I believe we have a few matters to discuss.", he began speculatively. As Harry didn't speak after a moment, he continued. "Mr. Filch made me aware of recent attempts to access the currently forbidden third floor corridor. You wouldn't know anything about it by chance?" It was an utter lie, but who was about to proof it. Albus merely wanted to push the Potter boy in the right direction.
"Not at all, Professor. I have no interest in a painful death, as you put it.", the boy stated calmly.
"What is that about, Albus? Accusing one of my students without any evidence?", Minerva demanded. Albus already had suppressed her presence.
"Well, Minerva. Some pupils told me about Mr. Potter's absence from his dorm the last two nights and given to the nature of the content stored there…", Dumbledore hinted.
Harry's interest rose. Could it be his father's cloak? He was about to react to Dumbledore's knowledge about his absence from the dorm, when the door to the office burst open. It was Snape, who stormed in, closely followed by Draco Malfoy. Daphne trailed somewhere behind them. Upon entering the office, her eyes widened at seeing Harry. She had been studying with Tracey and didn't know Harry was being summoned. She quickly made her way to her betrothed and stood next to him.
"What is it, Severus? I have urgent matters to discuss at the moment."
"I am sorry, Headmaster but it seems we have a problem that needs your authority."
"Well then, speak quickly."
"Mr. Malfoy here brought it to my attention, that Ms. Greengrass didn't join her peers in the dorm last night as well as the night before."
"Is that correct Mr. Malfoy?"
"Yes, Pansy told me."
"I was absent with permission.", Daphne stated.
"That's where you come in. I didn't give permission, so it had to be you."
"I did no such thing. Although it seems similar to Mr. Potter's situation. Care to explain?" The Headmaster eyed both critically.
"Family business.", Harry shrugged.
"Well, I didn't know about your absence beforehand. Therefore I'll have to give each of you two weeks of detention with Professor Snape.", Dumbledore smiled at them grandfatherly and Snape smirked. He hadn't been successful with baiting Harry yet.
"I don' think so, Albus. I knew.", Minerva told the man quite angrily.
"I would appreciate, to be notified the next time. Nonetheless, that is no excuse for Ms. Greengrass. She should have told either Professor Snape or myself."
"You will find, Albus, that it certainly is an excuse. Even if I wasn't the Deputy Headmistress, which allows me clearly to acknowledge students' absence due to family business, in this case it is enough, to consent Mr. Potters Head of House."
Snape snorted. "That would mean there would be a marriage contract between House Greengrass and Potter."
"What makes you think, there isn't?", Harry smirked while taking Daphne's hand in his.
Dumbledore's and Snape's eyes widened almost comically and Malfoy's mouth fell open.
"You have no right! She belongs to me!", a red faced Draco Malfoy shouted after coming out of his stupor. "My father would never allow such a farce!"
Now it was Daphne's time to snort. "Well, dear Draco. You will find a rather nice announcement in the Daily Prophet tomorrow morning, stating my and Harry's betrothal." She flexed her fingers and her ring shimmered in the sun.
"You whore!", Malfoy screamed while drawing his wand. "Aligning yourself with that little bloodtraitor bastard. Serpensortia!"
A cobra shot out of Malfoy's wand right towards Daphne but Harry was prepared. He already had drawn his wand, twirling it and was now stepping in front of his friend. The cobra stopped in mid air and started flying back towards Malfoy, before whom she dropped on the floor, dangerously hissing at the blond boy. Before anyone could take action the snake was duplicated and in a matter of seconds Draco was surrounded by hissing cobras. By now a large dark spot was visible on Malfoy's pants.
"That's enough, Mr Potter.", Minerva demanded and with a flick of Harry's wand, the snakes were gone.
"Mr. Malfoy, I am sure, your punishment will be decided either by Professor Snape or Dumbledore. You will, however be reported to the Aurors.", she continued.
"And what about Potter? He attacked me, too.?" The Malfoy Heir was shaking visibly.
"I think you will find, that Mr. Potter only defended himself and his betrothed and made sure to prevent further attacks."
"Minerva, that step surely isn't necessary.", Albus tried.
"I believe it to be necessary. What do you think will happen, if either Charlus Potter, Cyrus Greengrass or, Merlin help, Arcturus Black come to hear you didn't report an attack on their family members?" Dumbledores eyes once again widened in shock and he could only nod dumbly.
Harry and Daphne had smirks tugging on their lips. "I believe, that concludes our meeting, Headmaster. Thank you for your time, Professor McGonagall." With that, Harry once again snatched Daphne's hand and left the office, closely followed by a ever so slightly smiling Minerva McGonagall.
[++++++++++]
"Yes, well. I'm sorry though and I'd like to be friends with you, like our parents were."
It was the day after their meeting with the Headmaster, that Harry sat at Gryffindor table. He finally had approached Neville Longbottom and was now eating dinner with the clumsy boy. Daphne sat at Slytherin table with Tracey, which didn't mean, that Harry wouldn't often send a glance her way to make sure, she was okay.
Harry had apologized for not approaching Neville sooner, but the boy waved it of.
"I'd love to.", he replied before eating a spoonful mashed potatoes. "Do you mind me asking why you haven't slept in the dormitory for three days now? But you…you don't have to tell me."
After swallowing a piece of sausage, Harry smiled at the boy. "I don't mind you asking but this must stay between us." He hoped, that Neville was as trustworthy as he thought him to be.
"Of course, Harry."
"Well, as you know the Potters recently entered a marriage contract with the Greengrasses." Neville nodded. "You see, Draco isn't very happy about that and I don't want Daphne near him, when I can't protect her."
Now Neville smirked. "Is that, why you keep looking at her every few seconds?"
"Hey, it's not every few seconds!", Harry defended.
The Longbottom Heir snorted. "Sure."
Seeing, that Daphne stood, Harry wiped his mouth. "Hey, Nev. Daphne, Tracey and I are meeting tomorrow after Charms in the library. We want to study for the end of term exams You are welcome to join, if you want." He ,too, stood but waited for Neville's response.
"You sure about that. I don't think I would be helpful." Neville was now looking at his plate, head hanging.
"Bollocks, you are probably the best in Herbology in our year. We will help you, where it's necessary." Flinging his backpack over his shoulder, Harry winked at his newest friend. "See you tomorrow, Nev! That'll be fun." With that he jogged after his betrothed, leaving behind a smiling Neville.
"Hey there, Daffy.", Harry smirked, as he reached the blonde, who had been waiting for him in the Entrance Hall.
Her eyes instantly narrowed. "Who told you that?", she demanded.
"Astoria might have called you that, when I picked you up.", he grinned.
"I'll kill her…", she mumbled. "I'll kill her and nobody will ever find her body."
She shot Harry a glare, as he opened his mouth to reply, which he closed quickly. Instead he took her hand and thy began walking to their rooms. The two of them had started walking hand in hand now and then. It wasn't actually because they were betrothed but more because it felt right for some reason none of them yet understood.
"How's Tracey?", Harry asked after a few minutes of silence.
Daphne sighed. "She's alright. I think she misses talking before going to sleep but other than that she seems good." Reacting to Harry's unspoken question, she continued. "Nobody has given her a hard time yet." The both of them were concerned Malfoy could target Tracey to get to Daphne and Harry but so far they were lucky. Daphne suspected Harry's display in the Headmaster's office had given the ponce something to think about before acting again.
"Well, that's good. I hope Malfoy learned his lesson…" She had to smile at Harry's concern for her friend. Tracey and Harry weren't close or even friends. They only had started talking more during the last few days.
"Yeah. But sooner or later he will do something stupid again. We might have to teach him another lesson soon."
"And I know the right persons for this.", Harry smirked. "We might want to have dinner with Fred and George sometimes in the near future." Daphne nodded at that, she liked the twins. They were fun. For Gryffindors that is. Well, not all of them were bad. She smiled as she looked at her best friend. It was hard to admit but Harry had taken this spot from Tracey somewhere down the road of the last couple of months. She still loved Tracey but with Harry it simply felt right.
"What did Neville say?", she asked, as they approached Edward.
"Hey Ned. Sopophorus.", Harry said to open their quarters. "We have to help him to gain a little confidence, I think. But he is in for tomorrow."
"Hm I think, after helping us three with our poor Herbology, he will have gained some confidence.", Daphne laughed, plopping down on a loveseat.
Hearing Harry moan in pain, she looked up to him. He was clutching his scar and dropping to his knees. In a matter of seconds, she was beside him. Daphne was shocked, as she never had seen him having any issues with his scar.
"Harry, what's wrong?", she tried softly. When he didn't answer, she spoke again. "Harry. Hey, speak to me." By now, she had wrapped him in her arms.
"I don't know. My scar feels like somebody tried to remove my skin with a blunt knife."
Daphne was by now sitting on the ground and pulled him beside her, guiding him to lie down, with his head in her lap. As she started do run her hand through his long hair, after loosening his ever present bun, Harry started to calm down.
"Is it getting better?", she asked after he hadn't moaned in a while.
"Y...yes. Since first touched my head the pain is fading."
Before she could reply, Ned's portrait swung open to reveal Minerva.
"What's happened? Edward tells me about an emergency." The normally stern Professor appeared quite concerned.
"We don't know.", Daphne told her. "We came here after dinner and from one moment to the next Harry's scar is hurting badly."
"Is it still hurting? How do you feel, Harry?", Minerva asked the boy.
"The pain is almost gone. It's more like an headache now.", he replied.
"Well, let's get you to Madam Pomfrey. We can wonder about the reason later."
Ten or fifteen minutes later the three of them reached the Hospital Wing.
"Minerva?! What happened?" The Matron came bustling out of her office, when she heard the doors open.
"Ah, Poppy. Mr. Potter here had an issue with his scar. He said it hurt badly and that he never had something like this before. It's better now, but I would appreciate you examining it.", Minerva told her.
"Of course.", Madam Pomfrey nodded. "On this bed please, Mr. Potter."
While the nurse was running her spells over Harry's scar, Daphne sat on the chair next to his bed and hold his hand. After ten minutes or so, the Matron was finished and Minerva, Daphne and Harry looked at her expectantly.
"Well.", she began. "I think it's better to notify Lord and Lady Potter. Minerva could you call them?" At Minerva's nod, she continued. "Also I believe, it's better for Ms. Greengrass not to be present for this discussion."
"Daphne can hear everything, we are betrothed.", Harry informed her.
"Of course, dear. I'm sorry, I tend to not paying too much attention to such kind of announcements."
Shortly after Minerva had entered Madam Pomfrey's office to summon Charlus and Dorea, the Headmaster came storming through the door.
"Harry!", he began, but corrected himself quickly after seeing Daphne's icy glare. "Mr. Potter, I hear you have issues with your scar."
"I don't see, how that is any of your business.", Harry bit back, adding a lame "Sir."
"My boy, it is imperative, that you tell me exactly, what the problem entailed and how your circumstances were, when it started hurting." Pulling his wand, he added: "It might be best, if I'd examine your scar."
"I repeat. I don't see, how this is any of your business, Headmaster.", Harry growled.
"And you surely wont examine anything here, Professor.", Daphne interjected after, too, pulling her wand.
"I can only agree with this particular sentiment." Charlus, Dorea and Minerva had entered the room. None of them actually looked pleased at the moment.
"What are you doing here, Dumbledore? Get away from my grandson.", Charlus stated.
"As I am the Headmaster and it is part of my tasks to secure my pupils wellbeing."
"You are right, you are the Headmaster and you can consider yourself luck, you could worm yourself into staying Headmaster after what you did ten years ago." Dorea threatened, levelling her wand at Dumbledore's face. "Now get away from Harry, before you find yourself not so lucky this time."
Seeing, he had no chance to get to Harry right now, he slightly bowed and left the infirmary.
"How are you, dear? What happened?", Dorea asked, taking the chair next to Daphne. Charlus currently was checking, if the Headmaster had truly left.
In the next few minutes, Harry with Daphne's occasional input told his grandparents what had happened. After they had finished, Madam Pomfrey began telling them, what she'd found.
"As Mr. Potter's scar is indeed a curse scar I did expect to find a magical trace or something, but what I found was rather shocking.", the Matron began, frowning. "It isn't just a trace of magic, there is dark magic radiating from it."
When nobody said anything, she continued. "What took me aback, is that Mr. Potter never had any issues before. It seems like the reaction was triggered by something."
"Triggered by what?", Charlus piped up.
"That is indeed a rather interesting question. One I have no answer to. I would advise you to go and seek out a goblin healer as soon, as possible."
Dorea absently nodded. "And you say, it only got better, after Daphne started stroking your head?", she questioned her grandson.
"Yes, well. That's what it seemed like."
After a few moments of silence, Charlus spoke up again. "I will try to get an appointment with the goblins during the holidays, as they aren't very spontaneous. Let's hope it doesn't happen again until then."
[+++++++++]
Later that night, Harry lay in his bed, unable to sleep.
After some begging, Madam Pompfrey had allowed him to leave after making the promise to take a dreamless-sleep potion before going to bed. It was effective until about 3am, when Harry was thrown out of his sleep. He felt odd, like he had another set of memories, which weren't his own. He had the feeling, there was more, but it was like he couldn't remember. It was, too, as if he knew a lot more magic, than he had the day before. Like his knowledge, in particular of dark magic had increased a lot.
An hour or so after waking up, he left his room and settled on the couch in front of the crackling fire. He didn't know, how long he merely had been staring into the flames, when Daphne found him. She tiredly rubbed her eyes and sat next to him.
"What are you doing out here, Harry?", she asked, finally quite awake.
"I…I don't know…" He started telling her, what had happened to him since waking up.
"So you remember a childhood in an orphanage?"
"Yeah.. kind of. Some memories at least. It's odd. It feels like there is more."
"Hm, let's hope your grandfather manages to get the appointment with the goblins.", Daphne said. "What about the magic?"
"Well, we can test it in the Room of Requirement. But I think it's better, not to tell anyone of it. For now, at least."
She nodded into his chest, where she had settled her head some time before.