Chapter 4

Author's Note: Sorry for the late update, but I was extremely busy and still am as my exams are coming up and I won't be able update for quite sometime but I just wanted you to know that I haven't lost my interest in this story and will return to it as soon as possible.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

December 10th, 1994.

Saturday.

Today was the day, I had to face him. The last few days I had been lucky to avoid him. I don't know how, because up to that time I have never been able to hide from him. He had always found me, even in those secret locations that only I and Tracey knew of. Nevertheless, I'm grateful for it.

Sadly I could no longer hide from him, as today was our date. So there I stood as Professor Snape announced our names. Tracey, who was standing beside me, asked "You're still worried about that stupid kiss aren't you? Come on Daph, he's a bloke, he probably loved it." I don't know that, perhaps he did it but my nerves weren't calming down.

As the carriages came, we headed to Hogsmeade. We had agreed to meet at the Three Broomsticks. Then I gathered all my courage as we neared our destination. Tracey had some business, so I had to go there alone. We got out of the carriages and Tracey wished me good luck before leaving.

As I reached the entrance to the inn, once again I tried to gather my courage to open the door and found out the reason why I was not a Gryffindor. Just as my hand reached the door I heard an awkward 'Hey' behind me.

I turned around to meet the reason for my nerves. He was wearing blue jeans and a thick Grey jacket, with a crimson and golden scarf around his neck, with his hair just as messy as ever. In this outfit he looked so handsome and with that devilish grin of his, I was probably giving him the dreamy look. Well I would've had my reputation ruined if someone saw me at that moment. I shook myself out of the trance and replied with an awkward 'hi'.

He motioned towards the inn and asked 'Shall we?' holding out his hand. I silently took his hand as we entered the pub and took a table in the corner. If he wasn't going to mention the kiss, I wasn't either.

As usual the pub was crowded, I looked around and noticed some familiar faces. Just at the table two left of ours was Draco and his two pals. Instantly I knew I had to act a little cold towards Harry if I wanted to avoid retaliation from the Slytherin Prince. I was already having a bad time in the pit since the day Harry admitted he was taking me to the Yule ball, I didn't want to add to that. Perhaps my cold behavior can grant me some pardon. That is if he noticed and knowing Draco, he will definitely notice Harry. But then I decided if I was to have any real relationship with the kindhearted boy sitting opposite to me, I will have to stop caring about what other people think.

Harry ordered a pumpkin juice for himself and asked me 'what would you like?'

'I will love to have some coffee, Harry' I replied with a smile.

He smiled back at me and then gave the order to the waiter and then looked towards me and asked 'So Daphne, I have a question', loud enough for Draco to hear, but no too loud.

'Why would reject Malfoy's proposal in favor of mine?' he asked.

'It simple, Harry. You asked me first, so I was obliged to reject him' I answered him just loud enough for Draco to hear. I knew I was playing a dangerous game but I didn't care as long as I was with Harry, I didn't care for anything else but us.

'Well, doesn't he belong the prestigious Malfoy Family? I thought you would be more inclined to accept his proposal. I was honestly surprised when you turned him down.' he asked me curiously.

'Well, even if he belonged to the royal family, I still would've have said no, I mean who wants to go on a date with a ferret.' I said and he laughed. Across the tables I noticed Draco get red as he stood up and walked out of the inn along with his lackeys.

A few moments of laughter later, I asked 'Well let me ask you a question. Over the years, I have heard some ridiculous rumors about you, I mean some REALLY ridiculous rumors?'

'Oh really, what would they be?' He asked innocently.

'Well, is it true that you killed a Basilisk with your bare hands during second year?' I asked.

'No' he answered simply.

'Ah, I knew it. I mean how can one expect a twelve years old boy to kill a Basilisk! and with his bare hands no less' I replied.

But then he leaned forward on the table as if to tell a secret and said 'Bare Hands? No, but I did kill it with a sword.'

My eyes widened upon hearing this but a moment later I noticed the gleam in his eyes and began to laugh and he too joined me.

'Killed it with a sword. Haha, you do have a sense of humor. Killed it with a sword.' I said mimicking his serious tone. He looked at me with that strange look in his eyes.

'And is it true that you killed Professor Quirrell while he was possessed by You-Know-Who, in your first year?' I asked him with a grim look on face as if challenging him to lie.

'What would you say if I said yes' he asked.

'I'd say prove it' I replied.

'Well how can I do that... Do you remember the extra points me and my friends got at the end of that year?' he asked me.

'Well how I can forget, you took the house cup from right under our noses.'

'and I were to say, they were precisely for defeating Professor Quirrell.'

'mm' I pondered for a moment.

'So moving on, can you really cast a fully corporeal Patronas?.' I asked narrowing my eyes suspiciously.

'Mm, yes I believe I can.' he replied.

'Believe?' I asked again.

'Well, I don't want to brag' he replied simply.

'Fine, then show me' I challenged.

'Okay then, but first let me take you to a more secluded place' he said with determination. He got up and led me out of the inn and towards the woods.

'Why are we going towards the forest?' I asked him carefully.

'Well if you want to see it, you'll have to follow me' he answered and continued walking.

A minute or two later, we arrived at a clearing in the trees and a frozen white lake. He pulled out his wand and said 'Expecto Patronam'. Not a moment later, a huge and magnificent white Stag appeared from the tip of his wand and danced along the icy lake. It was simply beautiful.

I stood there for a moment, too enthralled to say anything and he stared at the stag along with me. Seconds later, the stag disappeared.

'Teach me' I said to him slowly.

'What?' he asked, perhaps he did not hear me.

'I said teach me'.

He was surprised for a second and then said 'Fine then pull out your wand' I did 'Now I want you to close your eyes and think of the happiest moment of your life. I want you to concentrate on it as you say 'Expecto Patronam' and move your wand like this, alright?' he said showing me the wand movements.

Happiest moment of my life, well that was a difficult one. I closed my eyes and thought hard and concentrated on the memory of the day I received my owl, Hermes, opening my eyes I said 'Expecto Patronam' but only a few wisps of white fog escaped from my wand.

'No that won't work' he said and then looked at me 'Daphne, I want you to remember the happiest moment of your life, something intense. Your first broom ride or your first pet won't do it. It has to be something intense, something strong and I want you to not only remember it but to visualize it, to experience it again and live it again. I want you to feel that happiness course through your body and then focus it on your wand as you say those words. Now do you have any memory that you can use?'

I thought for a few moments, looking for an intense moment. Then I found it, I wasn't sure it will work but I had to try.

'Okay I think I got it' I said.

'Are you sure it will work?' he asked.

'I dunno, but it is a strong moment and it is a fairly recent one, so I'll have no problem remembering it.'

'Okay then, let's give it a swish.' he said.

I focused on that singular moment and once again with a swish of my wand said the words 'Expecto Patronam'. This time more mist appeared and it seemed for a moment as though it will take the form of a four-legged creature before it faded into nothingness. I was shocked, if that didn't work then I knew none of my memories will cut it.

'Well we have to try something else but that memory almost worked. Now we need an even stronger one?' he asked me.

'No, I don't have a stronger memory than that' I replied calmly.

'Well then what are we going to do now?' he asked again.

In that moment I don't know what came over me but I wasn't going to give up and decided to prove that I had just as much courage any of the Gryffindors and said 'Then I guess we'll have to create one'.

He turned around to look at me, confused, but I didn't give him a chance to say anything as I leaned towards him and kissed him with all my might, wrapping my arms around his neck. For a moment he stood there frozen and I was scared that I had done something wrong but then he circled his hands around my waist, pulled me close and replied with just as much ferocity and poured all his passion into it.

When we pulled back, we were both out of breath, but he held me close to him with our foreheads against each other.

'Well that... makes it... official then?' he breathlessly asked.

'What?' I asked him back.

'That we're… a couple' he answered.

'I guess it does' I answered back with a bright smile.

'Well do you think it will work? The memory I mean' he asked with another of his lopsided grin that melted my heart.

'It most definitely will.' I responded with a smile.

'Okay then, let's do it together.' he said 'Close your eyes and concentrate on that memory, feel those emotions and focus it.'

'I am' I said happily.

'On one, 3,2,1.'

'Expecto Patronam!' We said in unison.

Once again a huge stag erupted from his wand but this time a beautiful white doe appeared from the tip of mine. They danced together, jumping here and there above the surface of the lake for a few moments before they came close to each other and snuggled their heads against each other. At this point I blushed but kept looking at them. We stood there until they disappeared into a white mist.

'Well that did that work' he said.

I looked at him to say something but this time he left me speechless as he kissed the daylights out of me. We stayed there for another few minutes and repeated those acts of passions before both of us decided to head back.

As we reached the inn I saw Tracey waving at me so I kissed Harry good bye and left for my friend. As I approached her, she had a skeptical look about her.

'See I told you he will like it ' she said.

'Well I guess he did' I replied happily.

'So what did you two do that has made you all smiley?' she asked with a mischievous grin.

'Well that's a story for another time. Now lets return to school before it gets late.' I said to her. Tracey and I returned to the castle. We went to feed Hermes and then returned to the common room to complete our home work. As we did our homework she kept asking me what we did? And kept shrugging her off until we went to the girl's dormitory to go to sleep.

Goodnight dear diary,

Daphne.

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And another chapter done, hope you folks will enjoy. Please review and tell me what you think.

As Ever,

Yours Truly,

Lucifer47.