Chap. 32: Daphne, Rodolphus, the Slug Club, and a make-out session before midnight.
Daphne was sitting in the library, but just could not concentrate on her book, since she was thinking about her husband and Dumbledore's meeting.
Harry had told her that night that the headmaster had tried to question him about the ritual, and he had asked Harry about joining him on a trip to find a horcrux. That worried Daphne, but her husband had told the headmaster that he only would if Gareth could come along, who knew how to handle dark magic and dark artifacts.
When Harry had asked where this was supposedly located, Dumbledore had said that it was in a seaside cave that Tom had once visited when in the orphanage. He thought it to be Slytherin's locket hidden there, and that he may need help in retrieving it.
Harry had then told the headmaster that he would set something up with Gareth, and then let him know.
Daphne knew that her husband was more cautious now over her, but he would still go, which greatly worried her. She did love the man, and it would destroy her if something happened to him just after they were married.
Finally, she sighed, picked up her book, and began to read the chapter again.
Rodolphus Lestrange was sitting in his cell on the 30th when he heard the guards approaching, but he didn't know whose cell they were visiting. Surely, he thought, there wouldn't be another "interrogation"? He even heard the guards speaking in low voices and sniggering about how the "low lives" had such a good life now.
However, he was surprised when they stopped in front of his cell, and he noticed that the guards had someone from the ministry with them.
"Lestrange," Cardiff, one of the guards growled out, "get up ya scurvy cur, you got a visitor!"
Rodolphus stood from his cot with a scowl and walked as close as he could to his cell's door, but was stopped by an ankle shackle about two feet from it. They gave him just enough chain to reach his food tray, and that was it. He was treated like a rabid cur on a chain.
"Mr. Lestrange, I am Mortimer Gouge from the DMLE, and I have something for you."
"What is it?" Rodolphus asked in a raspy voice.
"Here," Gouge said, and handed Lestrange a folded piece of parchment through the bars. "Consider yourself served."
Gouge turned and started to walk off, but Lestrange shouted at his back, "What do you mean, served?"
"You are being sued, Mr. Lestrange, over your wife's attempted line theft, her attempt at ending a wizarding family line, and over the murder of her head of house by her new head of house. She, you, and your estate are being sued for compensation.
"Good day, Mr. Lestrange."
As Mortimer turned his back, again, the guard handed Rodolphus a rolled-up newspaper.
"Here, Lestrange," Cardiff said, "something to read while you think over your family's misdeeds, and read that summons."
As the group left down the hall, and just before they started to climb the stone stairs, they heard Lestrange loudly curse out, and then yell out every obscenity in the book, including something about murdering his wife.
"What was that about?" Mortimer asked.
"I gave 'im a copy of The Magic Eye; the one abou' his wife an' You-Know-Who's buggery," Cardiff remarked, and then sniggered.
"When's his court date?" Cardiff asked after taking a step up.
"November 4th, at the ministry," Mortimer replied, which made Cardiff's eyebrows raise, and he grinned. "He's being sued for 5,000,000 Galleons, and he's only got 2,400,000. It will clean out the House of Lestrange."
"Good luck with tha', mate," Cardiff muttered after a snort. "He'll not show."
"Good to know," Mortimer replied with a smirk, but wondered how the guard could predict that.
Harry walked through the front door at Hogwarts and into the entrance hall at 6:45 PM, where he saw several students entering the great hall, or standing just outside gossiping in groups. When the door closed behind him, many turned toward the sound, and were now gawking; their mouths hanging agape.
Harry was wearing a bespoke black tux under a black Cashmere knee-length overcoat, and he had a black wool flat cap on his head, and shiny black Oxfords on his feet. The students all thought that he must be attending some VIP ministry function until they noticed Daphne just arrive from the stairs leading down to the Slytherin common room.
Daphne was dressed in a swanky navy blue and satin silk, slip midi evening dress, and she was wearing a pair of white slingback pumps. She had a strand of white pearls around her exposed neck since she had her blond hair done up in a "messy bun," and she was making sure that everyone noticed her wedding and engagement rings, it seemed, as the light seemed to catch them when she waved her left hand about.
Here, they noticed Harry untie the black belt of his overcoat, removing it, and fold it over his left forearm, along with removing his flat cap, as he quickly walked toward his wife with a huge smile.
"Darling," Harry loudly said, "you look simply amazing!"
"You clean up rather well, yourself, husband, dear," Daphne replied, as she held out her right hand to Harry.
Harry took his wife's hand, and, with a bow, he bent over to kiss it, which caused several of the younger witches to squee and squeal out as they watched. Next, he held out his right arm, which Daphne latched onto, and asked, "Where to, my dear?"
"Slughorn's quarters, honey," Daphne said as they began to walk, "and he has an office on the first floor now."
"Lead the way, dear," Harry replied, "since you know where it's located better than I do."
As the newlyweds walked by the young witches from earlier, Harry noticed some of them blush as they gave him a very coy smile. Harry almost rolled his eyes since he also noticed some of the younger wizards gaping wide-eyed at his wife as well.
On the way up the stairs, Daphne leaned in and whispered, "Everything still a go for tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow night, sweetheart," Harry muttered back, "and they'll be on the loose. It will be the biggest mistake they've ever made, as Tom is leading them to their complete ruin. Some might just decide to, well, end it all."
"Good," Daphne said as they stepped off onto the landing.
"Oh, ho! Lord and Lady Potter, please do join us," Slughorn announced just as soon as Harry and Daphne walked through the door before quickly making his way toward the two.
"Professor," Daphne said with a nod while still clutching onto Harry's forearm, but then she let go to allow Harry to shake the potion professor's hand.
"Horace," Harry said with a nod. "I see the room is filling up!"
"Oh, yes, yes, everyone is all here now. You two were the last of the invitees."
Harry quickly scanned the room and noticed Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Cormac from his old house. He also noticed that Cormac was looking nervously at his wife, and over at the Carrow twins who were in attendance.
In the next group, it was Slytherins and two Ravenclaws. There was Blaise, who Harry nodded at, Hestia and Flora Carrow, who smiled at he and Daphne, Astoria, who was looking at the newlyweds with a raised eyebrow, and Melinda Bobbin and Marcus Belby from Ravenclaw.
"Please, you two, have something to drink," Horace said as an elf carrying a silver tray walked up beside them holding glasses of oak-matured mead.
"Ah," Harry said as he handed Daphne a glass, and then took one for himself, "Odin's favorite drink, a glass of mead. The nectar of the Gods!"
"Yes, yes, correct you are, Harry," Slughorn said. "Please mingle, as supper will start in a few minutes."
"Thank you, Professor Slughorn," Daphne said as she took a drink, and started leading Harry toward Astoria.
"Did you notice Cormac?" Harry asked under his breath. "This will go over about like a turd in a punch bowl."
Daphne snorted and gently slapped Harry on his right shoulder.
"Sister and brother, dears," Astoria said as she hugged both Daphne and Harry. "You know Blaise already, Harry, but allow me to introduce you to Hestia and Flora Carrow. They're seventh-years."
"Ladies," Harry said, who then set down his drink, bowed, and gave both of their right hands an air kiss.
Once finished, Harry picked his drink back up and nodded at Blaise. "Good to see that you made it."
"Yes," Blaise said, "and allow me to also introduce you to Marcus Belby and Melinda Bobbin."
"Good to meet you," Harry said as he shook Marcus' hand, and gave Melinda's hand another air kiss. "I, for some reason, thought that there might be more here."
"No, this is it," Astoria said. "Thirteen in all, a witch's dozen counting the professor. That fills all the chairs at his table."
Harry noticed the large round dining table, which was set out with the best of china for thirteen people. It was one of those that had a central carousel to serve food from.
"Well," Harry said as he took Daphne's hand, "if you'll excuse us, we must say our hellos to the rest of the guests."
At everyone's nods, Harry and Daphne made their way toward the Gryffindors. Harry snorted when he saw Cormac step back and try to hide behind Hermione and Neville.
"Hermione," Harry said as he hugged the young witch. When she let go, he also gave Ginny a quick hug, and then shook Neville's hand.
"Good to see you ol' chap," Harry said as he gave a quick pat to Neville's shoulder. Here, though, he smirked and looked over Neville's shoulder at the other wizard.
"Hello, Cormac, long time no see," Harry said. "You seem a little jittery."
Before Cormac could say anything, though, Horace announced that supper was served, and he almost demanded that Harry take the seat to his right, with Daphne next, and then Astoria.
Beside Astoria sat Hermione, then Ginny, then Neville, then Cormac, then Marcus, then Melinda, then Blaise, and finally, both Hestia and Flora, putting Flora to Slughorn's left.
In the middle of the table were seven large roast pheasants cooked with cider, apples, and bacon, which were served with Savoy cabbage and mashed potatoes. These were kept under a warming charm as they all started with a small Caesar's salad before serving themselves from the pheasants.
With the supper, more mead was served, and finally, a dessert was served where Slughorn started his inquisition.
"Harry, my dear fellow," Horace said, "well, what can I say, they're now calling you the chosen one if the Prophet can be believed. Well, there's that and what happened in the Department of Mysteries, and I have several of you here that participated in it, do I not?"
"I wouldn't believe everything you read in the Prophet, Professor," Harry said, "even though Cuffe runs it.
"Yes, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and I were all there, and, as you know, most all of the Death Eaters were rounded up and carted off. Bellatrix Lestrange was the only one to escape, and that was over Tom."
"But what about the prophecy, dear boy?" Slughorn asked with wide eyes.
"That was destroyed by Lucius' blundering about before it could ever be heard," Harry replied as he dipped into the freshly made ice cream sitting before him. That wasn't a lie, but Harry already knew what it said.
Harry noticed that Belby was being careful about eating, as he had heard that he became choked on the train.
"What about them calling you the 'Chosen One?'" Slughorn questioned.
"That's all speculation, Professor," Daphne said before taking a sip of her mead. "My husband is just Harry, the same wonderful wizard that I got to know, and who I fell in love with."
Here, Harry smiled at his wife and toasted her with his glass of mead before having a sip himself.
All the witches at the table smiled at this, besides Hermione, who just could not get over the fact that her best friend actually fell for a Slytherin after being forced into it by a betrothal contract.
Slughorn changed tactics, though, and turned to Marcus.
"Marcus, my boy, as we were speaking on the train, you mentioned that you didn't get to see your Uncle Damocles much. Such a shame that, but I do hope that when you do see him, you will tell him that I was inquiring about him, yes?"
"Er, uh, yes sir, Professor, I will," Marcus said. "He and my dad haven't gotten along well for some time, as I said, but he still comes around some. Dad said that the Wolfsbane Potion takes up all of his time, and he neglects the rest of the family over it."
"Your uncle developed that?" Harry asked.
"Yes, yes, he did," Marcus replied.
"Well, if you do see him, tell him that I'm grateful," Harry said. "A friend of my family was afflicted, and he takes the potion to keep his sanity during the full moon. I just wish there was a cure."
At this, Marcus went back to his dessert, and Horace seem to have a grimace on his face, so he turned to Cormac.
"Cormac, you said you still see a lot of your Uncle Tiberius, and you hunt nogtails in Norfolk with the minister?"
"With Bertie Higgs and Rufus Scrimgeour, yes," Cormac proudly replied, "but this was before he became the Minister for Magic."
The Carrow twins turned their gaze at Cormac, and gave him a smirk; unnerving him, while this obtained the attention of both Harry and Neville.
"Your kin to the Ogden's?" Harry asked, and Neville gave a slight nod toward Harry.
"Yes, through mum's family," Cormac proudly said, though he cowered back when Daphne glanced at him.
"Yes, I've met Tiberius in the Wizengamot, and he helped us out with a bit of legislation," Harry explained.
"Oh ho, young Harry," Horace said, "you're already rubbing elbows with the ministry's crème de la crème I see, but of course, you would, what with being Lord Potter and Black. You do carry a lot of weight in the Wizengamot!"
"I suppose so," Harry said as he took another drink of his mead. Daphne smirked at her husband over that.
Next, Horace asked Hermione about what her parents did, and when she began explaining what dentists do, she had lost everyone at the table except Harry.
Thus, the supper went on like this until everyone was ready to leave, with Horace trying to inject Harry into every conversation. Collect he and Daphne, indeed, Harry thought. Ah, well, he did tell him the number of horcruxes, which the DOM had started searching for, so he wouldn't complain, much. Besides, Horace might become useful later on, as they were thinking of asking the man to brew ten ounces of Felix Felicis for them in the future, and it would be quite expensive. A daily dose was a tablespoon, which was a half ounce, so a ten-ounce bottle would give them twenty days for one individual. They wished to use it to find the horcruxes, along with using a direction finder being made by using Tom's ear at the DOM.
As Horace was asking Neville about Augusta and Algernon, Harry and Daphne said their goodbyes, where Harry picked up his coat, placed his flat cap back on his head, and escorted Daphne out of the potion professor's quarters.
By the time Hermione had made it out of the door, over Cormac flirting with her, Harry and Daphne were already gone. Here, she huffed.
As Harry was escorting his wife back to the Slytherin common room in the dungeon, they passed a small office that had once been Horace's years ago, which she pulled Harry into by his lapel.
Once the door shut behind the two, she dragged him up to the old professor's desk, where she began to snog Harry hard enough to make his toes curl.
Next, and in a surprising move, Harry thought, she cast a locking spell on the door, a silencing spell on the room, and then cleaned the desk with a quick twitch of her wand before she sat down upon the edge, and drew the hem of her dress up.
"Like what you see, lover boy?"
Daphne's legs were barely open, but he could still see the very narrow black panties that she was wearing underneath, which made him lick his lips as he looked back at the door.
"Oh, fuck it," Harry said, as he lay Daphne back and pushed her dress the rest of the way up, where he pulled her panties aside and went to work.
Oh, it was going to be a long night, but very worth it, Harry thought.
A/N: Sorry for not posting, but I had another bout of headaches over my sinuses, and that can be a right pain.