AN: Hey guys this is my first story ever and I'm open to all ideas, feedback, and criticism. I hope you enjoy reading!
I woke up with a start. Is there any other way to wake up? For me there never has been. It's always been with either a cold sweat and reeling from a nightmare or to the sound of someone screaming at me, usually a relative. I took a moment to appreciate my surroundings, I was in my comfortable four poster bed in Gryffindor Tower. I could hear the soft noises of my roommates sleeping and the loud ones of a particular red-head. I reached for my glasses and slipped them on, finally able to use my fifth sense. I made my way to the bathroom and splashed some water in my face to rid myself of the drowsiness that seemed to magically seep into anyone who entered the dorm. Considering the fact that I was inside of a magical building I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. I quickly changed in the pale glow of the still hanging moon, it was waning now and I was glad considering my newfound knowledge on a more mischievous than meets the eye Defense teacher. I knew I wouldn't be able to fall back asleep so I decided to don my invisibility cloak and explore the place that I would leave tomorrow, the place I would miss endlessly.
I was comforted by the warmth of the fire in the common room as I silently slipped out from behind the sleeping portrait. Sneaking out was not a rare occurrence for me but, tonight was different. I needed to find solace from somewhere, something, someone, before I was shipped off to a summer filled with hatred. My feet took me up the stairs to the highest point in the castle, the Astronomy Tower. I was rarely, if ever, up here and felt that it was as good a place as any to seek that solace I so craved. Once I had climbed to the top I stopped for a second to take in the view. I would never cease to be amazed by the natural, and a little bit magical, beauty of this Scottish landscape. It could be an effect of being locked in a dark closet for a number of years, but the cool air, lush trees, and shimmering sky left me in awe. The stars lit up the sky and I wondered what had possessed me to take Divination instead of Astronomy. Any more time that I could spend surrounded by the celestial fireflies would please me to no end. I could recognize a few constellations that a very bright friend of mine had shown me in a book, Orion the Hunter, Pegasus the flying horse, Perseus the Hero, and the Princess. I couldn't remember her name. While I racked my brain for the answer I was looking for, I took in a little more of the tower. There were great telescopes pointed towards the sky, ready to tell the story of a lonely star lazing through the darkness of the night. There were some other instruments I couldn't identify. Then sitting right in the middle of it all was a girl. Her shiny blonde hair glowing in the moonlight. Her back was faced towards me, but I could hear the distinct sound of her crying. Maybe a little rashly, I tore off my cloak, stashed it in my pocket, and walked to face her, to comfort her. As soon as her face came into view I remembered two names, that of the princess and one name that would never fail me again:
Daphne Greengrass
I've had few moments in my life when the music swells, the lights shine a little brighter, and everything seems to be alright with the world. Actually I probably haven't had any of those moments. Until now. When I looked deep into her sapphire blue eyes, I heard it. The music. The voices singing, the orchestra playing, I heard the sweet crescendo over everything. Then the moment, as soon as it came, was gone. The moment that I had spent lost in her eyes blinded me to the fact that I was now greeted by a sopping wet scowl.
My first instinct had been to comfort her. What am I supposed to do when someone is crying? Ignore her? But then she turned and I questioned my instincts, something I should've learned never to do years ago. Should I help her? She is a Slytherin. But why should her being a Slytherin change my reaction to helping a person in need. She was obviously wracked with grief over the contents of that letter, and a hostile run-in was not going to make her feel better. So I went with my gut. I took whatever courage I had left after the previous night's ordeals and turned it into a timid step forward. Then another. And another. Until finally I began to work up the right words to say. My lips parted, ready to speak, when I heard her voice.
"Go away Potter." It was almost a sneer but she couldn't manage it over the tears. I hadn't noticed them before, now that I was closer I could see the streams running down her pearly cheeks. The effervescent glow of her face held my gaze until she spoke again, still refusing to meet my eyes. There was a fire behind her voice this time, it wasn't the wallowing tone I'd heard before. "Just leave me be. Nobody wants you here."
That one hurt, but I could shake it off. I had expected this resistance, she was a Slytherin after all. Not just any Slytherin either, the Ice Queen of Slytherin. I had heard that one at the Gryffindor table earlier this year. I don't know who had said it but it stuck with me over the school year. I had to put up with a little resistance if I was going to help her. What person wants to admit why they're crying? So I inched a little closer and reached my hand out to her shoulder. She shuddered at my touch but didn't shy away. I don't know what possessed me to do what I did next, but I reached my other arm around and hugged her. She didn't expect it, heck I didn't even expect it, but in a night of firsts, initiating a hug wasn't an unwelcome one. She seemed to slowly melt into my hug and I was surprised to enjoy it, except the wet spot that seemed to grow the longer she rested her head on my shoulder.
"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked after we had sat for a while. I felt the weight of her head ease off my shoulder and turned to look into her eyes. I soon found myself lost in those deep blue oceans, the azure gemstones. The tower, the stars, all of it faded away. I quickly shook myself out of my trance and heard her voice, now a gentler, more musical tone.
"Okay," she managed, barely more than a whisper. She peeled herself off of me and we sat down on a bench near the edge of the tower.
"Is it about a boy?" I asked, albeit somewhat timidly once we had settled. I was acknowledged with a very dainty snort. "So not a boy then," I added sarcastically. She was finally wearing a smile, a small upturn in the corners of her mouth. Not amused at the sudden turn this had taken I tried to turn it back onto her, "So it's a girl then?" I added cheekily. This time I was rewarded with a real laugh. A throw your head back, mouth fully open, heartily enthusiastic laugh. I wanted to make that happen again. Alas, I would have to wait. Once her mirth had died down and the mood had sobered again, she started speaking.
"It's my grandmother. She passed. I found out in this letter." That was not the news that I had expected, but it certainly explained the parchment that she had held in her hand. How should I go about this? I never knew my grandparents. Maybe I should just give her an ear to talk to. After what seemed like forever she continued. "Her name was Nancy, and she was the best woman I've ever known," her voice teary and shaky now.
"I'm so sorry." I wanted to continue but I didn't know what else to say. So I just sat there on that bench next to her and tried to stay strong. It was only now that I was putting this together. Only now that I was actually digesting the fact that the reason my parents are dead is because someone they considered a friend betrayed them. Somebody who they had loved, who they thought loved them. And then all of a sudden it was too much. I couldn't hold it in anymore, and for the first time in a long time I cried. All of my emotions had washed over me and I scooched closer to where Daphne was sitting on the bench, and I put my arm around her and we cried together. For a while that's all we did. We sat, we cried, but we were doing it together. Somehow in all of the tears shed, words were exchanged, I learned about her grandma and I told her all I knew about my parents. We found solace in the memories we had of our loved ones.
We were soon greeted by a brilliant golden glow on the horizon. The sunrise broke us out of our wallowing hole, and we knew that we had to go. I was prepared for an awkward goodbye. We had bared our grief to each other, yet before that we had barely exchanged two words. What I was not expecting was what happened. We stood up and I scratched my back bashfully, hoping she would break the tension. And break it she did. She turned to face me and opened her mouth like she was going to say something and in that moment the sun's rays peered over the ledge and lit up her hair. If I had thought it was dazzling under the moon's glows, it was even more stunning in the morning sun. And in my distracted haze I missed the determined look on her face as she stood on her tiptoes and kissed me.
"Have a good summer Potter." Then she promptly walked off, leaving me dazed, confused, and alone on the Astronomy tower. It wasn't more than a peck, but once I grabbed my cloak and went slowly down the tower, it served to keep one and only one thing on my mind, Daphne Greengrass.