Chapter Seventy-Four: Keeping Your Head Down

The next morning, Daphne as usual had breakfast at the Gryffindor table. Harry seemed rather annoyed at something.

"What's wrong?" she asked when she sat down.

"Seamus believes the Daily Prophet," he said sourly.

"Well, some people are bound to," Daphne said. "You knew this from the start."

"Doesn't mean I like it," he said sulkily.

"No, it doesn't, but you can't let it get to you," Daphne said sternly. "I've been telling you, all summer long, that this is a political situation. Shouting at people and hexing them is only going to get you in trouble, and you and I both know trouble will find you even when you're not looking for it, so please don't make it worse than it needs to be.

"There are plenty of people on your side, not just in Gryffindor. You've dealt with false accusations before, and you can deal with them now. The truth will come out, eventually. Look, even in Slytherin you've got people on your side aside from me. My friends there all believe you, too."

Harry smiled faintly at her, but didn't seem very reassured.

A short while later, McGonagall came by with the course schedules, handing Daphne hers without batting an eye.

"Oof, tough first day," she said, glancing at Harry's schedule before looking at her own. "Mine's not much better, though at least I get to start with Muggle Studies…that's usually manageable…"


After Muggle Studies, Daphne made her way down to the dungeons for the first Potions lesson of the year.

Snape looked a bit more sullen than he usually did when he entered the classroom.

"This year, you will be sitting your O.W.L.," he began. "That means that many of you have a great deal of work ahead of them if they wish to have a hope of passing. As I take only the very best students into my N.E.W.T. class, I can say with utmost certainty that I will not be seeing you again after this year. But before we reach that happy moment, there is another year to go.

"Today, we will be mixing a potion that is of typical Ordinary Wizarding Level difficulty: the Draught of Peace, which calms anxiety and soothes agitation. The potion itself is not particularly difficult, as it does not involve any surprises, nor is the quality of the ingredients as vital as it is in some others.

"However, it is very subtle. The instructions must be followed exactly, and care must be taken to mind the details. Any mistakes will ruin the potion, so it is advisable to read the instructions several times in their entirety before even beginning to brew it.

"While a skilled potioneer can restore a mistake, even in a potion like this, it is always better to prevent mistakes in the first place.

"Your instructions are on the board, and ingredients are in the store cupboard. You have ninety minutes. Begin."

Daphne read the immensely detailed instructions on the board and wondered how Snape could possibly consider this potion 'not particularly difficult'.

After she head read it through a couple of times, though, she began to realize what he meant. Between many steps were several minutes of simmering, which would give her time to read the next set of instructions, provided she'd organized and prepared the ingredients properly ahead of time.

She retrieved her ingredients and began reading only the sections of the instructions that focused on their preparation. Once she'd checked her ingredients several times over, she began brewing.

"A light silver vapor should now be rising from your potion," Snape said with ten minutes left to go.

Indeed, the surface of Daphne's potion matched that description, as, of course, did Hermione's. While Snape gave Daphne five points, however, he failed to do likewise for Hermione, and Daphne gave her a guilty look. Hermione, though, simply shrugged and gave Daphne a thumbs-up for her own potion.

Harry's potion didn't look quite as good, and his silver vapor was denser than it should have been.

"You have left the temperature of your flames too low after the eighth line, Potter," Snape said. "It is an easy mistake to make. We shall be addressing the necessary attention to detail in your remedial Potions classes."

Daphne heard Malfoy sniggering, "Remedial Potions? What an idiot." This despite the fact that his own potion was emitting blue smoke, which Snape of course hadn't commented on.

"I want everyone to fill a flagon with their potion, label it clearly with your name, and bring it to my desk for testing. Homework: twelve inches of parchment on the properties of moonstone and its uses in potion-making, to be handed in on Thursday."

When they filed out of the class, Harry said, "I wonder what he meant…I mean, we don't even know when our next Occlumency class is going to be…"

"I'm still not used to Snape not being completely horrible to us anymore," Ron said with a shake of his head. "He didn't even dock any points from Neville, and his potion had solidified."


After lunch, Daphne, Harry, and Ron made their way up to Divination together, where they were informed they'd be working on dream interpretation this year. Daphne was actually moderately intrigued, as the dream she'd had last year during the second task still occasionally popped up in her mind.

As it turned out, however, the class wasn't particularly useful. According to their book, even the most mundane dreams had deep meanings, which Daphne really didn't believe.

Harry didn't seem particularly eager for it, either, and Daphne could guess why. His dreams didn't really need interpreting.

The lesson ended with Trelawney ordering them to keep a dream diary for a month, and Daphne made her way to History of Magic, where she was quickly sent into a trance by Binns's monotone voice. She wondered idly if Trelawney would want her to keep a dream diary for that too.

Then, however, the day took a bit of a turn. Rumors were going around that Harry had gotten into a shouting match with Umbridge in their first Defense lesson, and when she sat down next to him at dinner, she was dismayed to find out it was true.

"Harry, I told you not to go looking for trouble," she groaned.

"Look, could you not? McGonagall already gave me a lecture, okay?" Harry said grumpily, without looking at her.

Daphne made an impatient sound and grabbed Harry's shoulders. "Look at me," she said sternly.

He did so reluctantly.

"This 'lecture' is intended to keep you safe. I'm not saying you shouldn't work against Umbridge. In fact, I'm all for it. But openly calling her out is not the way to do it. Of course she's trying to goad you. She has everything to gain by you losing your patience and lashing out, because it will fuel their arguments against you. Of course she's blatantly lying about Voldemort, because she's working for Fudge. Your detention is going to put you in a room with her alone, every night of the week. If you're angry, you won't be able to use your Occlumency, and I wouldn't put it past her to know Legilimency or something similar. Being around her is dangerous, because no one can come to your aid."

"I can take her–"

"That's not the point! God damn it, Harry! This. Is. Not. An. Open. Fight. You can't go flying off the handle every time they provoke you. If you lash out, they win. If you want to fight them, keep your head down! Look at what Dumbledore did during the opening feast. He could've obliterated Umbridge with his hands tied behind his back, yet he sat down and pretended to be genuinely interested in what she had to say. Remember what he told us over the summer! I love you, but please stop being so bloody thick!"

Harry blinked stupidly. "You…love me?" he said, dazed.

Now it was Daphne's turn to blink stupidly. "I…never said that before, have I? Well, great, now Umbridge has ruined the first 'I love you'," she said uncomfortably.

It was only now that she was becoming aware that everyone nearby was looking at her. Of course they would be, given how loud she was shouting just now.

"But, anyway…yes, I love you. Obviously," she mumbled.

"I, er…I love you too…" Harry said softly, and the anger seemed to be completely gone from his voice.

Daphne and Harry exchanged an awkward grin, then went back to eating. Daphne felt that some people were still staring at them and did her best to ignore them.

"Alright, you lot, show's over," Ron said loudly. "Stop gawking or I'll start handing out detentions."

No one really believed that, of course, but they did turn away.

"Thanks, mate," Harry muttered.

Ron grinned at him. "That's what friends are for, mate."


Daphne's first class the next morning would be Defense Against the Dark Arts, and she was nervous as she and her classmates made their way there.

Umbridge was already seated behind her desk when they entered the classroom.

"Good morning, everyone," she said in her horribly saccharine voice.

To Daphne's surprise, Malfoy, Pansy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Runcorn all echoed, "Good morning, Professor Umbridge."

Everyone else remained silent.

"Some of you have proper manners, but I should like all of you to reply in such a manner, please. Now, one more time, good morning, class!"

This time, everyone replied.

Umbridge began lecturing on the goals of her class, and it immediately became clear that this year's Defense lessons were going to be just as useless as Lockhart's had been in second year.

"Now, it has come to my attention that certain people in this school have been telling some very tall tales indeed. Should any of these stories come to your attention, or should you encounter someone believing these lies, kindly direct them to me. I shall be more than happy to explain the truth of the matter."

Daphne raised her hand. She knew she'd been warning Harry against this very thing only a day before, but she saw an opportunity and she was fairly sure she'd be able to take it.

"Yes, Miss–?"

"Greengrass, Professor. I would like to ask, then, if the Ministry has found the truth about those Dementors yet," Daphne said.

Tracey looked at her sideways, while Malfoy shot her a dark look.

Umbridge smiled sweetly, but her eyes remained ice cold. "As that does not pertain to this class, I don't see how that question is relevant, Miss Greengrass."

Daphne immediately raised her hand again. "It is, though, Professor, as Dementors are Dark creatures, thus making defending against them relevant to Defense Against the Dark Arts. And if two Dementors could — randomly, I'm sure — attack two innocent people, who's to say that won't happen again?"

"The presence of these Dementors was never adequately proven–"

"And yet, the full Wizengamot acquitted Harry on his testimony, Professor, so clearly they considered their presence adequately proven. Therefore I ask you again, has the Ministry done its duty to the truth and unearthed why the Dementors were there that night?"

"Harry Potter is a highly disruptive boy who got off on nothing but the sympathies many people still feel for him. As we continue to reveal the truth about him, it shall become plain that his tall tales are nothing but that: tall tales. The Minister and I are of the opinion–"

"Opinions are not facts, Professor. Has the Ministry discovered the truth?"

"Ten points from Slytherin, Miss Greengrass, and I forbid you to talk about this again," Umbridge said, her voice finally losing some of its fake sweetness.

Daphne glared mockingly at her, but remained silent. Just in case anyone in her class hadn't known the truth yet, they should now. Of course, being a class of Slytherins, most of them were at least aware of the story, but it was always nice to feed the rumors a bit.

In this case, it didn't matter so much who'd sent the Dementors, anyway. Either the Ministry had done it, and then they'd be in gross violation of their own laws to such a degree that not even they would be able to worm their way out of it if it ever came out, or Voldemort had done it, and then they'd have to admit he was back. The denial of the Dementors' existence would certainly have impressed on everyone in the class that there had, in fact, been Dementors.

The rest of the class passed in silence, and Daphne expected that to be the end of it. At breakfast the next morning, though, she found out that it wasn't.

She was talking to the others about the homework they'd gotten the day before, when suddenly Hermione, who sat across from her, fell silent and glowered at someone behind her.

Daphne turned around and was surprised to look into the smiling face of Umbridge.

"Good morning, Miss Greengrass," she said sweetly. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you sitting at the Gryffindor table when you are a Slytherin?"

"As the Sorting Hat sang about inter-House unity, I decided to listen to its advice and bridge the gap between the fierce rivals that are Slytherin and Gryffindor," Daphne said, thinking quickly.

"Be that as it may, I should like you to sit at your own table from now on, please," Umbridge said.

"I'm afraid I will not be doing that, Professor. It is not against the rules for me to be here. If you have issues with my having breakfast with my friends, kindly take them up with my Head of House, Professor Snape. He shall be happy to assist, I'm sure. If that is all, I would like to finish my breakfast now. A pleasant day to you," Daphne said as neutrally as she could.

She turned back to her plate and resumed eating, but she kept her attention focused behind her until she'd heard Umbridge moving away.

"So that's how you handle Umbridge, huh?" Ron said with a grin.

Daphne briefly grinned back, but then she scowled and said, "That spiteful hag. This is because I asked her about the Dementors yesterday, I'm sure of it…I will make her rue the day she came to Hogwarts, if this is how she wants to play things. I really don't like to do this, but I'm going to have to follow Malfoy's example for a change."

"Become an utter prat?" Harry asked.

"Write my father," Daphne replied. "Dad knows a lot of people at the Ministry and he has money. Someone there has to have dirt on her, and I'm going to find out all of it."

"Well…I can give you one to start," Harry said darkly.

He beckoned them to come a little closer so they wouldn't be overheard. "Last night in detention, she made me do lines, like I told you…but she made me use a special quill. When I wrote the line, the words were carved into the back of my hand and then healed again. By the end of the evening my hand was all red and inflamed…I think if she makes me do that all week it's going to scar eventually."

"What?!" Hermione said, enraged. "That's highly illegal! You should go to Dumbledore right away," she said.

"Dumbledore won't be able to do anything," Daphne said grimly. "The moment Harry tells Dumbledore, Umbridge will get rid of the quill and say he's lying. She'll use it on others eventually, but unless you barge into her office while she's using it on someone she'll be able to deny it. Remember, she doesn't need to be truthful because Fudge is on her side, although I doubt Fudge knows about this."

Then, however, she had an idea. "But if someone stole that quill from her… Harry, did you see where she stored it?"

Harry shook his head. "No, but I've got detention again tonight. I'll try to keep an eye on it then," he said.

"How do you plan on stealing it, anyway?" Hermione asked suspiciously.

Daphne grimaced. "I do have an idea, but I don't think you're going to like it much," she said.

"What is it?" Hermione asked flatly.

"Make a deal with Fred and George. They get to do their market research in return for getting their hands on that quill. Once we have it, we take it straight to Dumbledore," Daphne said.

"But what if they're caught? They might be expelled," Hermione said dubiously.

"Well, according to them they don't care much about that. Besides, I doubt they'll mind helping take Umbridge down a peg…"

Hermione still looked conflicted, but Ron said, "I'm sure they'll be up for it. Besides, we're not forcing them. They still get to say no, and then we'll need to come up with a different plan. I say we go to Fred and George and ask them."

"Ask us what?" Fred said. He and George were just walking by, having finished their breakfast.

"We're trying to get Umbridge sacked and possibly arrested," Ron said.

Fred and George exchanged a glance and sat down.

"Color us intrigued," George said.

Ron glanced at Hermione, who sighed and nodded, and Ron outlined the plan for them.

"Blimey, and here Angelina was thinking you got off light for missing the tryouts," Fred said, looking at Harry with a somewhat shocked expression. Harry grimaced in return.

"So…do you think you can do it? And more to the point, are you willing to risk it?" Daphne asked.

"You'll allow us to do our research unimpeded?" George asked Hermione.

She sighed and said, "Yes. This is more important…at least you're not trying to endanger anyone…"

"Then you've got a deal. Harry, we'll be counting on you to find out where she keeps the quill, and then we'll do the rest," Fred said. He grinned at Daphne. "Guess the 'Order of the Lightning Bolt' exists here at Hogwarts as well, doesn't it?"

In canon, of course, Harry doesn't tell his friends about the quill until later, and by then he feels that McGonagall won't be able to help, while he's angry at Dumbledore for ignoring him. Here, I'm taking a slightly different route.