Chapter number 20! It feels nice. Sorry for the delay, but I had a resit at the university and had to study quite a lot. And thank you SO MUCH for 1400 favorites, 2200 follows, and 300000 views! First, I'd like to answer two questions that appeared in the reviews:
'Was there a deeper narrative need to humiliate Cho in Chapter 16, or is this purely for our "enjoyment"?'
Well, yes, there was. I just wanted that small scene to be like one of the foundations for the development of Harry's and Daphne's relationship. What I mean is that Harry was presented an opportunity to attend the Ball with his crush (because, at this point, he still has a crush on Cho), but, since he's an honorable man, he stuck to his previous choice of going with Daphne, while also respecting her request of being in the center of his attention during the Ball. And I didn't intend to humiliate Cho; it's just that at some point, Daphne entered the scene, and she has a mind of her own, and even I can't stop her from saying things.
'Why go with the whole Ginny love potion arc, why not just have her move on? There is nothing in canon that suggests she was disturbingly obsessive about Harry. She was just a girl who had a huge crush on her idol and struggled to reconcile the reel with the real. Why bash her when you specifically mentioned in earlier chapters that there won't be any character bashings.'
The answer is similar to the 'Cho moment' but from like Daphne's perspective. She's proud, obviously, and by no means was she going to allow someone to steal her Ball partner. At least, that's the reason she believes. Although, I think that there were deeper reasons in her subconsciousness – ones that even I am not yet aware of. Also, it's not specifically said anywhere that Ginny tried to slip Harry a Love Potion – that was only Daphne's suspicion. Hermione says that she knows what Ginny tried to do, but she doesn't say any specifics. So, in fact, it could have been anything. Also, regarding the accusation of me 'bashing' Ginny – let me clarify what I meant by not wanting to include bashing. I meant that I'm not going to include the scenes that I've read countless times in many fics – heartless, and many times brutal, slating of a specific character. That doesn't mean my characters are not going to do stupid things and later be held responsible for their choices. That's why Daphne 'bashed' Cho; that's why Daphne 'bashed' Hermione, and that's why Daphne 'bashed' Ginny. Come to think of it, Daphne is one hell of a b**** XD. And that's why later Hermione 'bashed' Ron and Ginny. So, once again, I'm not going to 'bash' characters in a way I've read on this site, but I am going to criticize them. Also, the fact that something didn't happen in canon isn't a reason for me not to include it. I mean, this is fanfiction, after all.
Last, I hoped I'd hinted at that in the last chapter, but apparently not. The reason why Remus is in such bad shape after the recent full moon is because of the Wolfsbane Potion, or rather the lack of it. I'm planning to expand on it further somewhere in the future so for now, please be patient. Damn, I talked a lot. Let's get on with the chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 19
The Christmas break ended too soon for Harry's liking. He loved being at Hogwarts, there were no doubts about that, but after spending almost two weeks with the two people who were the closest he could call family, he couldn't help but feel a certain pang of sadness somewhere deep in his heart. That feeling was only escalated with the additional knowledge that both Remus and Sirius were going to leave Britain right after dropping him at King's Cross Station. At least unlike when he was 'kidnapped' after returning from Hogwarts, Sirius was there to see him off as well, as a happy barking coming from the back of the car reminded him, causing Harry to smile weakly and turn his head around.
It was… odd to see an adult man in a dog's body, but seeing Sirius acting as a regular canine would was even more disturbing. Having never delved into an Animagus' nature, Harry wasn't sure if his godfather's behavior was dictated by instincts or countless hours of practicing. Still, he couldn't stop himself from reaching out with his hand and patting the black dog on its head; the tail started moving left and right rapidly in appreciation of the kind gesture. Dogfather would have been an appropriate title, Harry thought, recalling the older man's terrible pun. Sirius or not, there was nothing that could stop Harry from petting a happy dog. However, he wouldn't have minded if his godfather hadn't licked his hand as a form of gratitude; he furrowed his eyebrows in disgust and attempted to dry his hand against the car's seat. Hopefully, Remus wouldn't notice.
"And you can't stay in that house because?" Harry asked, breaking the silence as the three men rode through the quite empty streets of London. "You've said it yourself that with that Fidelius Charm or whatever, even Wizards wouldn't be able to find it without knowing its exact location."
"Yes," Remus agreed, nodding his head. "But the Ministry knows that the Black Family has, or at least used to have, a house in London. We didn't recast the Fidelius Charms around Grimmauld Place when we were there, so it really is just a matter of time before the Ministry sends its Curse Breakers to find its location. Who knows, maybe they're already onto that? Perhaps it will happen in ten years, perhaps in ten days," he shrugged. "Or maybe never. It's better to be safe than sorry. Besides, you've spent almost two weeks in that house – would you want to live there any longer?"
Sirius barked in agreement from behind their backs. Harry didn't need another reason to understand why they were leaving Grimmauld Place. To say that the house was dark would be an understatement of the century. A few times, mostly early in the morning when both Sirius and Remus were asleep, Harry wandered through the empty halls with no particular purpose in mind. Or, at least, he thought they were empty. He would never be able to forget that dreadful morning when he stumbled upon a portrait of Sirius' mother – Walburga Black – screaming all kinds of obscenities at him. If that wasn't enough, a few seconds later, a House Elf appeared – similar to Dobby, though it looked like some shadowed and twisted version of the small creature he had met – alarmed by his mistress' discomfort. Harry shuddered unwillingly at the unpleasant memory. Ever since then, he did his best to avoid that particular corridor and Kreacher. Luckily, the old grumpy House Elf seemed not to enjoy his presence just as Harry didn't enjoy his, so both of them tried to avoid the other.
But that didn't mean Harry had no pleasant memories to think about regarding his Christmas Break. Each afternoon, he would listen to Sirius' and Remus' tales about their time at Hogwarts – whether about the pranks they pulled off as the Marauders or about his parents' relationship. Harry was sure that he could listen to those stories for weeks, if not months, and he still wouldn't have had enough. For a few precious days, he allowed himself to completely forget about the Tournament and the nightmares.
He couldn't stop a chuckle from escaping his lips when he recalled one particular conversation. One evening, when both Remus and Sirius downed a couple of glasses of alcohol, Harry's godfather seemed to have a stroke of genius. Or that's what he thought it was, at least. To Harry's amusement and slight embarrassment, the former prisoner tried to persuade his two companions to one day, when things returned to normal, find themselves a woman and try to produce a child in the same moment. His argument was to name their children - sons, of course - James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin respectively, only to see McGonagall's reaction to the 'return of the Marauders' as Sirius named it. Harry laughed at the idea slightly uncomfortably, while Remus flat-out refused, much to Sirius' displeasure. Harry didn't have the heart to remind him that even if his godfather's plan worked, there was no way the three of them would be able to see McGonagall's reaction; after all, parents weren't simply allowed into Hogwarts to accompany their children.
One day, their comfortable routine of doing absolutely nothing was interrupted by an unexpected appearance of Sirius' cousin's daughter, who introduced herself as Tonks – a young and slightly weird Auror. Although, it seemed that only Harry didn't expect her arrival as the two other men weren't surprised at all to see her there. From what little he heard, the young Auror had informed both men about the issues that came up when Remus snatched Harry up from King's Cross and that Dumbledore, apparently, took care of that. How, though, she didn't say. The point was that Harry's sudden disappearance wasn't a concern for the Ministry anymore, and it was all that really mattered.
Another positive outcome of the Christmas Break was yet another photo from his former teacher, though that one contained a much larger group of people that used to be known as 'the Order of the Phoenix' back during the War. At least, in the beginning, Harry thought it was a positive thing. His parents were in the photo, of course, just as Remus and Sirius were; Wormtail used to be there as well before Sirius cut him out with the help of a kitchen knife. Their expressions were also much more different than the ones in the picture from James' stag party – they were much more proud and serious than in the photo from his father's last days as a bachelor.
Of course, other people were there as well, with Professor Dumbledore standing in the middle. Even though that photo was taken fourteen years earlier, the Headmaster still looked just as old as Harry remembered. However, Professor McGonagall looked much, much younger and, given Sirius' and Remus' stories, was standing far too close to his father to Harry's liking. For a few moments, he wondered if his mother knew about the Transfiguration Professor's infatuation with one of her cubs.
It was also the first time he saw Neville's parents – amongst other people he didn't know and would never meet, as many of them were already dead. Each unfamiliar face had its own story, told either by Remus or Sirius. Usually, those stories didn't have happy endings: ambushed and murdered by the Death Eaters, tortured to the point their bodies were practically unrecognizable, or simply gone missing until that day. Or, like in the Longbottoms' case, tortured to insanity, sentenced to exist as nothing more than empty shells, unable to see their only child growing up. You weren't the only one to lose parents all those years ago, Neville's words echoed in his mind once more. It was one thing to hear those words about someone, but it hit much harder when Harry could actually put a face to the people who suffered such a fate. He had truly no idea whose fate was worse – his or Neville's. Harry often wished for a miracle that would allow his parents to live, but he wasn't sure if he would have traded his parent's fate over Neville's.
The old car they traveled with came to a stop in the busy parking lot. For the first time in Harry's life, except when he was to board the Hogwarts Express for the first time, his arrival at King's Cross wasn't accompanied by happiness. The train was about to take him away from his surrogate family back to the reality of the Triwizard Tournament. And the badges, Harry thought as he recalled the morning after the Yule Ball.
And Daphne, a soft voice whispered in his mind as his memories reminded him about the Ball. Harry blinked twice in confusion. He had to admit that during his stay at Grimmauld Place, he practically forgot about the Slytherin beauty he spent the evening with. But at that moment, with Hogwarts being closer and closer with every minute, he realized that he missed his unexpected friend. He could only wonder what he would be doing in the Castle with her being away for almost two weeks.
"We'll be in touch," Remus promised, seemingly sensing Harry's discomfort. He glanced up at his former teacher with a thankful smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Sirius barked in agreement, causing the young boy to once again reach behind and scratch the black dog's head. "I'll try to figure out the Egg once we're somewhere safe," he added. "I feel like I have the answer at the back of my tongue. I just need time."
"Thanks," Harry muttered, opening the car's door. Delaying the inevitable wouldn't give him anything, and the Hogwarts Express was about to leave the station in no time. "Be careful," he added, unsure what else he could possibly say. Remus nodded his head while Sirius barked again, leaning against the window. Harry couldn't help but smile at his godfather's antics. With one final wave of his hand, he removed his trunk from the car and watched as the two men rode away from the parking lot.
With Christmas being over not only for the Hogwarts Students but for all people of Britain in general, the King's Cross Station was crowded even more than at the beginning of September. Countless men, dressed in suits and carrying briefcases, and elegant women speaking on the phones, were walking in every direction, forcing Harry to squeeze himself through the masses. Yet, as always, despite the crowd, no one paid any attention to the small boy who suddenly vanished after walking into a pillar.
The Magical side of the Station wasn't nearly as crowded as the Muggle one. Not many students returned after the Yule Ball, after all, and with the clock showing that the train would depart in five minutes, most of them were already on board.
Harry's original goal was to find Neville; his Dormmate was undoubtedly somewhere on the train. However, that thought escaped him when he walked past the compartments – some empty, some filled with two or three people at best - and he caught a glimpse of blonde hair and Slytherin silver and green in one of the compartments near the end of the train. Harry's heart skipped a beat for a split second – something it only used to do when he saw Cho.
She couldn't look any more different than during the Ball. Even though Daphne's face was directed toward the book in her lap, Harry could clearly see that there was no trace of makeup there. Gone was the elegant gown, replaced by her School Uniform that, in his opinion, did horrendous things to her figure now that Harry knew what her body looked like. A small smile found its way onto his lips, and before he could think again about finding Neville, he knocked on the door to Daphne's compartment.
Taken by surprise that someone was bold enough to disturb her moment of peace, Daphne glanced up from her book with a raised eyebrow. Her second eyebrow quickly joined the first one when she spotted Harry with his hand raised in a hesitant greeting. He opened the door and stuck his head inside.
"Hi," Harry said with a shy smile.
"Potter," Daphne replied, with a barely noticeable nod of her head.
"Mind if I join you?"
"If you insist," she replied, directing her gaze back to her book. "Though I'm sure you wouldn't have problems finding an empty compartment. The train isn't nearly as crowded as it is in September."
"I thought your sister would be here with you. Did she stay in Hogwarts?" he asked, ignoring her comment.
"She's in another compartment with some of her friends."
"So, how were your Holidays?" Harry asked, placing his trunk on the rack near the train's roof.
"Usual," Daphne replied, shrugging her shoulders. She cleared her throat. "I spent some time with my family. I studied a bit – nothing worthy of mentioning. Yours?"
Harry grinned as he sat down in front of Daphne. "Surprisingly peaceful," he chuckled. "Nothing extraordinary has happened. It's actually quite refreshing."
"Except for you disappearing from King's Cross," Daphne replied, closing her book before she raised her head. "You just vanished," she explained, noticing his puzzled expression. "In thin air. I must admit that for a moment, I wondered if you were kidnapped. The Aurors' reactions only reinforced that."
Harry chuckled again, recalling that situation. "I guess you can say so," he nodded his head before furrowing his eyebrows. "You were watching me?" Harry asked when his mind finished deciphering the hidden meaning of her words.
"No," Daphne replied a little too quickly. Seemingly out of nowhere, she pulled out a single Sugar Quill and popped the tip into her mouth, gently sucking at it.
"How is your Patronus going?" he asked after clearing his throat. "Any progress?"
I conjured it for a split second after the Ball, Daphne thought, though she didn't find the strength to say those words aloud. "We can't practice magic outside of Hogwarts. Have you forgotten it already? Or perhaps the rules suddenly don't apply to the Boy-Who-Lived? And since we're already talking about making progress, how are the preparations for the Second Task going? Did you learn something?"
Harry shrugged his shoulders, crestfallen by the sudden hostility in Daphne's voice; it wasn't there even during their first conversation in the Chamber of Secrets. "No," he shook his head. "I opened the Egg once – my friend asked me to do that – but nothing new happened," he explained. Daphne's teeth involuntarily clenched tightly, breaking the fragile Quill in her mouth. A gentle sound of teeth crashing sweet filled the compartment. "You seem to like those," Harry commented after a few moments of sitting in silence.
"If you're speaking simply for the sake of making small talk, then you can stop," Daphne replied, staring through the window as the Hogwarts Express steadily gained speed, traveling north. "I'm not a huge fan of it. I'm sure you've noticed it by now."
"What happened to you?"
"Be more specific."
"You're… different," Harry said, struggling to find the correct word. "Colder."
Daphne shrugged her shoulders. "Seems only fitting. I have a reputation to maintain, after all."
"You weren't behaving like that during the Ball," Harry countered. "Not towards me, at least," he added, recalling the girl's conversation with Cho and Ginny.
"Maybe, but the Ball is over, in case you haven't noticed," Daphne replied, standing up from her seat. She removed her trunk from the rack and hid her book inside before leaving the compartment.
"Where are you going?"
"Not your business."
Days passed in a blur as the beginning of January brought the beginning of the new term. Still, it seemed as if some things didn't change despite the passing of time. Ron's curtains were still covered with badges, and one of them proudly shone on his chest; not a single word was exchanged between the two. A few of his Dormmates asked him about his sudden affiliation with the Slytherin Ice Queen, but Harry didn't grace them with a response.
Mostly because he didn't know what he could say to them.
All in all, the second term of his fourth year carried on just as Harry expected. Some of the Professors already started pestering them about the incoming final exams, and once in a while, someone would ask him if he managed to figure out the clue for the Second Task. There was one major change, though – one that Harry didn't like in the slightest.
Daphne wasn't talking to him.
Harry tried to get her attention, though he wasn't sure how he could do that. He tried catching her after classes they shared, though Daphne always managed to slip away before he even managed to leave the classroom. A few times, Harry thought that he might catch her in the Library, but she was nowhere to be found in the seemingly endless maze of bookshelves. Even if he checked the Map before entering Madam Pince's domain to make sure Daphne was there, she always managed to leave before he caught her.
Even returning to the Chamber a few times didn't bring the results he expected. And so, he stopped visiting Myrtle's Bathroom after sitting in the Basilisk's grave a few times for hours, leaving only minutes before the beginning of the curfew. For the first few days, he hoped that it could be explained, like when Daphne didn't show up when they originally planned to go to Hogsmeade. However, the Map never showed Daphne and Astoria in the same position as it did that day; Professors Snape, Sprout, and Madam Pomfrey also didn't show up in the Slytherin Common Room. And the Map never lied.
Just as Daphne left him alone in that compartment, she seemed to have left his life as well.
Multiple nights spent on wondering what could have caused that didn't bring Harry the answers he so desperately wanted. He spent countless hours recalling their most recent conversations, primarily during the Ball, but no matter how hard he tried, Harry couldn't find a single thing that could have caused Daphne to estrange herself from him.
Nothing lasts forever, eh? He asked himself one night when he was studying the Map. Or rather, he was staring at one particular spot. The dot with Daphne's name remained unmoving in the Slytherin Dormitory, surrounded by Pansy Parkinson, Tracey Davis, and Millicent Bulstrode. He traced his finger on the fragile parchment, for a split second remembering the touch of Daphne's bare skin beneath his digits.
A pang that he knew all too well pierced Harry's heart as he continued staring at the dot. Despite having known Daphne for only a few months, the pain was similar to the one he felt when Ron and Hermione stopped talking to him after the incident with the Goblet.
That is if it wasn't stronger.
He missed her. He missed their small banters, Daphne's sharp tongue, small interrogations, and occasional insults that he knew in his heart weren't meant to hurt him. He missed spending time with her studying in the Library, talking in the Chamber, and practicing new spells. He missed that small reassurance that nestled in his mind that he had someone who believed him, even when the people closest to him didn't.
In the end, Harry simply missed his friend.
"I'm sure that a Bludger must have hit his head during one of the matches," Neville commented with a small chuckle as he and Harry were watching Viktor Krum. From their safe spot on the Viaduct, the two boys had a perfect view of the Bulgarians' boat that swayed gently on the Black Lake. The Durmstrang Champion was jumping into the ice-cold water for half an hour already, each time returning to the ship after a few minutes, only to jump in again.
Harry nodded his head in agreement.
"Maybe that's one of their customs?" he suggested, not daring to imagine the water's temperature; he wrapped his jacket more tightly around himself.
"Wouldn't the others join him then?" Neville countered.
"Then maybe he's doing it to stay in shape? I've heard that cold baths can have some health benefits."
"I think he would be okay if he simply took a cold shower," Neville replied, shuddering slightly. "Any luck with the Egg?"
"I haven't opened it in a month."
"Oh. Then how do you want to prepare yourself for the Second Task?"
I hoped Daphne would have helped me with that, Harry thought with a heavy sigh, closing his eyes. "No idea."
"Well, if you need help, I'll-"
"Oi, Potter!" someone called his name, effectively silencing whatever Neville wanted to say. Both boys turned towards the voice's source, only to find Cedric running towards them. "Man, you are difficult to find. I've been looking everywhere for you," he said, stopping for a while to catch his breath. Not as difficult as Daphne.
"Cedric," Harry said, nodding his head. Neville waved his hand awkwardly, muttering something in greeting. The Hufflepuff Seeker nodded in return, acknowledging the other Gryffindor whom he seemed not to have noticed earlier. "What brings you here?"
Cedric shrugged his shoulders. "Tournament, I guess?" Of course, what else? "Have you figured out the Egg already?" Harry rolled his eyes upon hearing the same question yet again.
"No. You?"
He shook his head. "No," Cedric sighed. "That damn Egg won't say anything other than screech each time I open it. But umm… I think I might be doing some progress," he added, scratching the back of his head.
"Should I leave, or…?" Neville trailed off, pointing at something behind his back. Harry shook his head.
"No. It's not like it's some mystery or something."
A muffled echo of cheering and splashing water reached their ears, causing the three boys to look back at the Black Lake. Just as he's been doing for the past half an hour or so, Krum once again leaped into the water, accompanied by loud cheers from his fellow Bulgarians. Harry shuddered slightly, once again imagining himself in Viktor's shoes at that moment.
"What's he doing?" Cedric asked, furrowing.
"I'd say he's losing his mind," Neville commented.
"Do you think he might be up to something?" the Hufflepuff asked, looking at Harry. "With the Second Task, I mean. Maybe he's actually figured out the Egg already and is preparing himself?"
"No idea," Harry replied, shaking his head. "I hope you're wrong, though. The Second Task is at the end of February, and I really wouldn't want to go anywhere near the Lake at that time of the year."
"Same here," Cedric agreed, nodding his head. "Anyway, as I've said, I think I might have an idea regarding the Egg, but I'll only know for sure in a couple of days. If I crack that one out, you'll be the first to know. I swear. See you, Potter."
"Why is he interested in helping you?" Neville whispered once Cedric's form disappeared from the Viaduct.
"I told him about the Dragons," Harry replied. "I guess he just wants to return the favor."
"Do you think he might have been right when he talked about Krum?"
"I hope not," Harry replied, once again observing the Bulgarian Seeker leaping into the ice-cold water. "How are things going with Luna, by the way?" he asked, attempting to move the conversation away from the Tournament. He grinned slightly when he noticed Neville's blush which he tried to cover by rubbing his cheek.
"I'm… we're going to Hogsmeade together on the next visit," he muttered. "We wrote to each other during Christmas. She's really nice, you know. Maybe you and Daphne would want to go with us?" he suggested after a moment of hesitation, effectively wiping Harry's smile from his face.
"I don't think that's possible."
"Why not? You two seemed to get along quite well at the Ball."
"Maybe," Harry nodded his head. "But the Ball is over," he muttered, echoing Daphne's words.
Harry, I think I've managed to figure out the Egg. The embroideries on the shell are a clue of their own. As I've said, they don't represent dragons or anything related to them. Actually, they don't represent any dark creature whatsoever. Well, sort of. It took me some digging, but I've finally found something remotely similar to the markings on the Egg. Those are words, written in the merpeople dialect. At least, I hope that's the case. The book I found is quite outdated, but the symbols are nearly identical. The screeching itself also makes me believe that the Egg is somehow connected to the merpeople. Their voice is incomprehensible outside of water. I suggest you try opening the Egg close to water or something like that. I believe it should work. Write to me as soon as you try it out. Moony.
The next morning, Harry read the letter a few times while chewing his breakfast, barely able to resist the urge to shout in victory. Whether he was willing to admit it or not, the constant nagging about the Second Task started making him worried, even if he still had well over a month to prepare himself. Still, the message from Lupin easily brushed off the tension that had been gathering on his shoulders as if it was nothing but dust.
Remus' theory would have to wait until evening, though, as his schedule for the day was filled with classes, well until dinner. He folded the letter and hid it in the pocket of his robe before leaving the Great Hall, oblivious to the pair of icy-blue eyes following his every move.
Also, writer's block *shrugs shoulders.* Can't do much about that. See you next time!
