Chapter seventeen
The Memoire
Assuming they wouldn't have any difficulty visiting Daphne in the infirmary, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were walking briskly down the hallway discussing Colin's story when they walked right into the last person they had expected to see. Professor Snape stood right in front of the door, like a military guard, blocking them from entering.
"What are you three doing here?' Snape growled.
Harry's and Ron's mouths hung open, so Hermione took it upon herself to do the speaking. "Professor, we just wanted to visit Daphne."
"Miss Affigo is resting and I will not allow you to bother her," He looked down his long nose at them.
Harry decided to take a chance and ask the question every one wanted answered. "Why does she need rest? I mean…what happened?"
"It would do you best, Potter," Snape sneered, "to keep your nose out of other people's business."
"Professor Snape," a voice from behind them made them all jump, "they were only curious about her condition." It was Professor Dumbledore. He walked up and stood right behind Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "I would say that, as her friends, they've been worried about her."
"Yes," said Snape in a tone that was calmer, "but she shouldn't be disturbed."
"I agree." Dumbledore turned his attention to the students. "Come, we should let Miss Affigo rest," and he motioned for them to follow him. Once they were well out of Snape's ear shot, Dumbledore told them that he would be happy to discuss Daphne's condition with them once they were in his office.
Harry had been in Dumbledore's office before, but for Ron and Hermione, this was uncharted territory. Their eyes feasted on the marvels of the room as they looked around. Dumbledore took a seat behind his neatly polished desk and Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat across from him.
Dumbledore gave a great sigh and said, "First, let me assure you that Miss Affigo is in no danger and will be back to feeling her normal self in no time." The puzzled looks coming from the three young faces before him told him that he needed to explain further.
"What I am about to tell you must not be shared with anyone else. You may discuss it with Daphne, but leave it to her to share this information with the others." Harry, Ron, and Hermione nodded and Dumbledore continued. "Daphne is a Memoire."
This meant nothing to Harry, but he could tell from Ron's gasp and Hermione's expression that it had meant something to them. Feeling foolish, Harry asked, "What is a Memoire?"
Ron turned to Harry and said, "She remembers things for other people…like fortune telling, but in reverse."
"It all makes sense," Hermione said. "I don't know why I didn't think of it myself. Colin did tell us that Daphne helped him remember all that stuff about the amulet."
Harry was still confused. "But what does it mean? Or really…how does she do it?"
"I wish I knew the answer to that myself, Harry," Dumbledore said. "All I can tell you is that it's done with a touch and a great deal of mental determination. It's a talent that is passed down through the generations."
"So, Daphne's mother is a Memoire, too?" Ron asked.
"Yes, and a very fine one at that," Dumbledore smiled. "Daphne, however, is still learning how to master her talent. It's a very difficult thing to handle at such a young age. Why, it's only recently that she has felt comfortable enough to be around large groups of people."
"How do you mean?" prodded Harry.
"Imagine, if you will, randomly bumping into strangers and being sent into their memories to relive their past moments. This was the case for Daphne as she learned to control her gift. When she was little, a single touch could trigger her talent into use, and she'd be forced into someone else's past."
"Is that why she's never been to school?" asked Hermione.
"She's been to school," Ron countered. "She told us she went to Beaubaxtons."
"But she didn't know Madam Maxime." Hermione retorted.
"As usual, Miss Granger, you are correct." Hermione beamed at Dumbledore as he continued. "I planted that little lie in order to explain Daphne's absence. She has never been to school, but she has been privately taught. Her mother instructed her on basic spells and history. The transfiguration teacher from Beaubaxtons visited her often throughout the summer months, as did Professor Snape and myself."
"Snape?" All three of them voiced their surprise.
"So that's how she knows him," Harry said.
"Yes, and I have to admit that Snape has a special place in his heart for Daphne. She is quite good at potions." Dumbledore chuckled to himself.
Harry had to wonder at this statement. He found it hard to believe that Snape had a heart at all, but he was pulled out of his thoughts as Dumbledore continued.
"Daphne is still learning about her powers as a Memoire. When she uses them, it takes most of her energy and strength. In time, she'll be able to use them whenever she wants and not even feel a bit winded. But at this point in time, it leaves her feeling quite drained."
"Professor…" Hermione sat forward in her chair. "I read in Old and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charms that Memoire's have this uncanny ability to know when someone is lying. Is that true?"
"Yes it is." Dumbledore looked pleased at Hermione. "That, in fact, is the very reason why we asked Daphne to join us this year. I have been worried recently that a threat may come to us in the form of a student. For the protection of the student body, and in particular your protection, Harry, I asked Daphne to inform me if ever she sensed that someone was not who they appeared to be. A puzzled look crossed over Dumbledore's face. "Of course, I never thought it would be Colin Creevy."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione wanted to hear more, but Dumbledore was obviously finished telling them what he knew because he said, "Well then, I suggest that you all ponder this new information back in Gryffindor tower." He smiled brightly at them and they stood to leave.
Before he left the room, Harry had one more question he needed answered. "Professor, how far back can Daphne remember?"
"As far back as you want her to remember. If it's in your head, she can find it. That is why her gift is so useful."
Harry nodded and joined his friends in the corridor.
* * * * * * * * * * * ** ** **
The common room was almost deserted. Harry and Ron had decided upon a game of chess while they waited for Daphne's return. In the corner sat several fourth year girls Harry recognized as friends of Ginny, but she wasn't with them. Hermione was reading over any information she could find about Memoires in her schoolbooks.
After a while, a very relaxed Daphne entered the room and took a seat next to Hermione. Ron and Harry stopped their game and joined the girls at the table. "I suppose Dumbledore explained everything to you," said Daphne in a very quiet voice.
Harry, Ron and Hermione nodded, not really knowing what to say. Daphne understood why and said, "You don't have to be afraid of me or anything."
Ron cautiously asked, "What happens…if we…touch you?"
Daphne giggled, "Nothing. I can control it, now."
There was a long pause before Ron asked another question. "Well…what I want to know is…if you can tell that someone is lying to you, then how can you get along with Snape?"
Daphne laughed again. "I find him fascinating. How he can keep up the pretence of being so mean, I just don't know."
"You mean, he's not mean?" Hermione asked.
"Not really. He's had a dark past, but he's not who you think he is." She looked at her friends and could tell that they didn't believe her. "When I first met him, he huffed at me and set out to make my life miserable, but I saw through all of that. It was just an act. For some reason, he wants people to think he's more ferocious than he really is."
Ron still couldn't believe it and said, "You want us to believe that Snape really doesn't hate us?"
"Well…"Daphne stammered, "I wouldn't go that far." She frowned at them and said, "he really doesn't like you. It's because you're friends with Harry." She turned to Harry. "Sorry, Harry, but he really does hate you."
Harry shrugged, "I could have told you that."
"What did you do to upset him so?" Daphne quarried.
"I happen to be the son of James Potter," Harry said evenly.
Hermione changed the subject and asked, "Daphne, when you…do what ever it is you do…can you see what is going on just as if you were there?"
"Yeah, it's a little creepy, but I'm used to it."
"So you saw Colin buy that amulet." Ron said
"Yes…and I've been worried about him. He didn't take it all that well." Daphne frowned.
"We talked to him this morning," Hermione explained. "I think he'll be all right. He just needs some time. Ginny wanted to get him a present, to let him know we didn't hold any grudges."
"That sounds like something Ginny would do. She seems to be the herald of all the lost causes around here," Daphne said.
"How do you mean?" Ron asked.
"Well, she seems to be the only one that people like Neville Longbottom and Colin Creevy really consider to be their friend. She's just… the nurturing sort I guess."
Harry thought about it and saw that Daphne was right. Ginny did seem to spend a good amount of time with those that didn't quite fit in. "I wonder if Colin had the chance to apologize to her yet." Harry said.
"I don't know," Hermione said, resting her head on her hand. "I haven't seen her all day."
"Wonder where she could have gone," Ron said.
"She's probably off with Dean somewhere," Harry said with disappointment.
"Dean Thomas?" Daphne asked. "I don't think so. He came into the infirmary with a broken arm. Said he got it playing Quidditch with the other boys. He didn't mention Ginny."
"Where else could she be?" Harry asked.
"Oi! Miranda!" Ron shouted at one of the fourth year girls in the corner. "You seen Ginny today?"
"Nope. Last I saw her, she was going to Hogsmeade to get something for Colin. But that was yesterday." Miranda turned back around and continued chatting with her friends.
"Well, she did say she wanted to go to Honeydukes, didn't she? Maybe she's off working on a surprise," Hermione added.
"Honeydukes?" Fear flashed across Daphne's face. "They didn't cancel the Hogsmeade visit?"
"No…why would they?" questioned Harry.
"Well, the shopkeeper…at Honeydukes…he's the one who gave Colin that amulet." Daphne said in a shaky voice.
"But it's the shopkeeper in Knockturn Alley that we need to worry about." Harry pointed out.
"But they're the same person," Daphne said quickly. "The man that Colin met in Knockturn Alley is the same man that sold him the amulet at Honeydukes. I'm sure of it."
"Didn't Dumbledore send Mad-eye Moody to arrest him?" Ron asked.
"Arrest who?" Harry felt a wave of panic. "From what I understood, he was going to arrest the shopkeeper in Knockturn Alley. There really wasn't a concern about the Honeydukes shopkeeper."
"What does this have to do with Ginny anyway?" Ron's face was going white.
"If Ginny went to Honeydukes…and mentioned something about Harry…" Daphne's hand covered her mouth.
"…And if the shopkeeper recognized her…you don't think…" Harry felt the blood drain from his face.
"Well, he was trying to get to you, Harry…" Hermione added, looking pale herself.
"What better way to get to Harry Potter than using his…friends," Daphne stared at Harry.
"Look," Ron stood up. "Ginny is somewhere in this castle, so there's no need to get all worried."
"But no one has seen her for over a day!" Harry stood up, too.
"No one in this room has seen her…but I'm sure someone has seen her." He headed for the portrait hole.
"Where are you going?" Hermione said.
"To look for my sister," Ron said, not even turning around.
"I'm going, too," Harry said joining him.
Daphne and Hermione, deciding to help, headed after them. They each took a different hallway and started looking for Ginny, but with each passing moment, Harry couldn't help but feel his heart sink lower in his stomach. He was convinced that Ginny was not in the castle. After a few minuets, Harry turned around and went back to the common room, up the stairs, and into his room. He took his invisibility cloak and the Marauder's Map, which verified that Ginny was not in the castle, out of his trunk and headed for the secret entrance at the stone witch. That passageway would take him right into the Honeydukes cellar, where he was sure he would find Ginny.
****Ok…so here is the updated and fixed version sent to me from Lin-z, my wonderful beta reader. I've also updated chapters 1-8 based on her suggestions. (She really helps with the British sounding dialogue!) Anyway, I wanted to thank all of the readers who have been following the story from the beginning: Kitty, California Love, Caity Critic, Amy Hermione, A-man, Zeus564, herm, Silverpen, bandy, Silvestra, Hedwig23, Rouge622, Frogstar42, and everyone else who has reviewed so far! I hope you weren't disappointed with Daphne's secret. I have lots more in store fore Harry and his friends and I hope that knowing the secret doesn't mean you won't finish the series!
****Daphne Affigo is an Alphie creation. Harry Potter and all other characters are property of J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers.
