Chapter ten

While Harry was reading up on one of the Zonko products he felt someone brush his arm but as he was in a crowded shop he didn't pay too much attention.

'Are you buying pranks to use on the other students?'

Harry turned to smile at Daphne, 'No, I'm mainly looking, there are some great things here but I figured the twins would be buying enough to prank students and Filch.'

Daphne laughed, 'Even Slytherin's like to prank Filch. I wanted to ask, I noticed you don't sit with Granger anymore when you're in the library.'

'Ron explained that the moment she realised I wasn't on the train she wanted to send word to the teachers. Ron told her not to that it had nothing to do with her. But that's Hermione, always running to the teachers, especially about me. I told her to leave me alone, but she kept bugging me, especially in the library so I finally spoke with Madam Pince. I said Hermione kept disturbing me while I was trying to do my work. Hermione was warned that if it happened again she would be banned.'

'She spends more time in the library than the Ravenclaw's, so she may finally leave you alone. If you want, you can join me when you're in there?'

'I'd like that, thanks, but don't you sit with the other Slytherin's?'

'No, just Tracy, or I'm alone.'

'Then if you and Tracy do not mind, I'd like to sit with you. Are you buying anything, maybe to prank Filch?'

Daphne laughed, 'No, like you, I'm just looking, Tracy wants something but she didn't tell me why.'

'Would you and Tracy want to join me and my friends for a Butterbeer when we're finished in here?'

'I'd like that Harry, thank you. I'll go ask Tracy, but I'm sure she will.'

Harry watched Daphne walk away, he never stopped staring at her while she spoke with her friend. He might be only thirteen but he thought Daphne Greengrass was pretty. He wondered if when they were a bit older if she would go out with him. Harry never thought he would ever find a girl who would like him for him and not the-boy-who-lived, but just maybe, he was wrong.

Harry had spoken to Ron about inviting Daphne to join them, all Ron did was shrug. Harry knew Ron was still a little immature, so he probably wasn't thinking about girls, at least not in a romantic kind of way.

Once the boys finished paying for their purchases, Daphne and Tracy joined them, 'Let's go have a Butterbeer, I'm buying,' Harry grinned then laughed as Ron, Dean, Seamus and Neville cheered.

The seven students entered the Three Broomsticks, Harry went to the bar while the others found two tables to put together. They were all getting some strange looks, even from the teachers. Normally you would not see any Gryffindor's and Slytherin's together, unless they were fighting.

Harry put the tray on the table, but it wasn't just filled with Butterbeer, it also had snacks for everyone. Harry sat between Ron and Daphne.

'Help yourselves, but Ron, make sure we get some.'

Ron punched Harry playfully on the arm before he picked up his Butterbeer, 'I might like to eat mate, but I'm not a pig.'

'Sure,' Neville smirked.

'We believe you mate,' Seamus said.

'Prats, you're all prats.'

'You do realise we're receiving some strange looks from the staff,' Daphne whispered to Harry.

'Yeah, I noticed, I suppose seeing Gryffindor's and Slytherin's together and not trying to kill each other is a bit of a surprise for them. I mean they always go on about being friendly and how to unite all the houses so you'd think they'd be happy. Snape looks like his eaten dung.'

'Oh gross Harry,' Daphne grimaced as she slapped his arm making Harry laugh.

'He's probably worried you'll give away all Slytherin's secrets to the Gryffindor's he hates most.'

'We are often told that we are to always be loyal to our house. But I will be loyal to the ones that deserve it and most Slytherin's aren't worth my time. I think I only ended up in Slytherin because my parent's and grandparents were in that house. I would have been perfectly happy in any of the other three.'

'I didn't know much when I arrived, but I was told my parents were in Gryffindor. I met Malfoy in Madam Malkins, didn't like the git, then I was told about Voldemort,' Daphne and a few others shuddered at the name, 'He was in Slytherin, so when I was being sorted I kept saying, not Slytherin. I'm not sure if it helped or not but I got Gryffindor. But it doesn't really matter, I mean I've had run in's with some Gryffindor's just like I have with kids from the other three houses. I knew you and your sister weren't like Malfoy, Crabb or Goyle, I know some of the students in the other houses that want nothing to do with him.'

'I speak to a few girls in Hufflepuff, they seem nice.' Daphne said.

'I talk to Susan and Hannah, Susan is a bit shy though.' Neville said.

'She is, I notice you talk to that strange looking girl in Ravenclaw.' Tracy said.

'Luna, she's nice, a bit strange, but I find that it's just the way she is.'

'So do you see yourself with one of those girls, as your girlfriend?' Daphne asked.

Harry noticed Daphne almost whispered the last part, 'No, I like them as friends, no more, I…um, I like you.'

'I like you too,' Daphne whispered.

Before Harry knew it they were holding hands under the table, oblivious to the others at the table who had all seen the looks Harry and Daphne had given each other. So even if they boys might not understand why Harry wanted a girlfriend when he was only thirteen, Tracy did and she was happy for her friend.

When the group walked back to Hogwarts, Harry and Daphne were still holding hands, students who passed gapped at them. The Slytherin's snarled at both Harry and Daphne until Tracy hexed a few. Harry got the odd look from some of the Gryffindor's but they never said anything.

While Harry walked Daphne to the Slytherin rooms, Ron, Neville, Dean and Seamus all stood close but gave them a bit of privacy. They knew it would not be good for a Gryffindor to be alone near the Slytherin rooms.

'I had a nice time.'

'So did I, but I have to ask, officially, will…um, willyoubemygirlfriend?' Harry blushed as he blurted out the last bit making Daphne smile.

'Yes,' she smiled as she blushed then kissed Harry on the cheek, 'I'll see you after dinner.'

Harry nodded then waited until Daphne entered the Slytherin rooms before he turned to face his dorm mates. He had a huge smile on his face.

'Come on lover boy, let's get going,' Ron chuckled as he grabbed Harry's arm.

'I have a girlfriend.'

'The first of us,' Neville said.

'He also has a hot girlfriend, Greengrass is one of the best looking girls in the school,' Seamus said.

'She is, Tracy is pretty as well,' Ron said as he blushed making the other boys smirk, they knew for Ron to say that meant he liked the dark headed Slytherin, 'My parent's would probably disown me if I dated a Slytherin.'

'I'm sure they would just want you to be happy mate, go with your heart and not your head,' Harry who was still grinning slapped Ron on the shoulder.

Just after dinner Harry and Daphne spent some time alone, mainly sitting on the steps leading to the castle.

'I really like your dad and his done so much for me, you don't think he will kill me do you?'

Daphne laughed, 'No, he may give you the typical warning from a father to his daughter's boyfriend.'

'Oh, I know, don't hurt my little girl or they won't find your body, that type of warning.'

'That's about it, I think all fathers have a basic warning. When dad told us you would be his client, he did mention how you would need to learn our traditions and customs, especially for when you're older and take your seats on the Wizengamot. My mum was friends with your mother, she offered to take you through those lessons, if you want. Dad told her to wait until after all this legal stuff is sorted.'

'I do need to know and from what I found out about my mother, she was a good person. If she was friends with your mum then I know I'll be in good hands. I'll do what your dad suggested, wait until all this is over. I know I could speak with Mr Weasley but he doesn't have a seat on the Wizengamot nor is his family Nobel or Ancient, so maybe I'll speak with your mother during the holidays,' Harry couldn't tell Daphne about Sirius, not until his trial. 'Even though we're only thirteen, do you know what you want to do when you're older?'

'Dad would like us to be lawyers like him but I'm not really interested, at least not now, that might change when I get older. Right now I'm not sure what I might like to do. What about you?'

'Well, people have mentioned professional quidditch, but I hate the attention I would get. Some have said I would make a great auror, I do enjoy defence classes most. I don't know, sometimes I think I want to be a healer, or at least a medi-wizard. I doubt I would be able to though, mainly because of Snape.'

'He is ruining careers for students in other houses. There are a lot of professions where you need good potion scores, healers and aurors are two that need perfect scores in the N.E.W.T.s in potions.'

'So there will be a lot of students that have left that won't be doing what they hoped or dreamed all because of him. Maybe that's his plan to make sure no one but a Slytherin can do good in potions.'

'Hopefully dad will have that fixed very soon.'

'He will, he almost guaranteed it. If I can get my potion grades up then I might start looking into healing. I was amazed at what Madam Pomfrey was able to do, like regrow my bones last year.'

'Lockhart was an idiot.'

Harry laughed as he kissed Daphne on the cheek. He could hardly believe he had a girlfriend at thirteen and a very nice girl at that.