Severus burst into the Slytherin common room, robes billowing.
"I want every student fourth year and above present now!" Snape bellowed.
There was a moment of tense silence before every student present made a mad scramble to appease their head of house by getting every student required. Roughly 17 minutes later every fourth-year student and above had been wrangled back into the common room where their head of house still waited. Confusion was the common emotion running through all the students. Luckily Snape gathered himself to speak.
"Every student fourth year and up is to follow me."
Giving no further explanation he turned and strode off. The students slowly made their way after him clumped together in small groups amongst their friends. Confusion grew to even greater heights as they followed Professor Snape down to the lake. As they reached the shore many noticed a rather tall woman standing with her feet in the water. Snape led the students up to the woman. Making a motion for the students to stop, he spoke.
"The students, madam."
"Many thanks Severus. Many thanks indeed. You may wait of to the side if you wish. I'll be but a moment or two." the woman spoke her back still turned towards the students.
Taking his chance to get as much space between himself and this woman Snape walked as fast as he could to the tree line. The students collectively turned back towards the woman everyone wondering just who she was. They watched as the woman drew her wand flicking it several times. Several quills and notepads sprung into existence around her all poised and ready to write. The woman turned and cast a calculative look at all the students.
"What is this? Lounging around like a pride of lazy lions. Are you not Slytherins? Where is the grace and poise of the neat uniform lines. Back in my day Slytherins were never so savage and barbaric. Line up now alphabetically and by year."
The students all scrambled to line up how the woman ordered. Once they were all lined up, she spoke.
"Now, I'm sure many of you are wondering who I am, why am I here and what does it have to do with you? Those answers are quite simple. First my name Tora Greengrass. I own and manage Greengrass Industries, world's largest shipping magnate. I'm here to offer you all a chance to apply to work for me over the summers and if I think you're deserving enough you may earn yourself a permanent job after you graduate. Of course you shall be paid appropriately for your work. Now before I go any further one by one, I'm going to ask you to come forward and answer a few questions."
Starting with the fourths years she had them all come up and answer three simple questions. Name, age, current class load and grades. All the quills Tora conjured up were busy scribbling away each students' answer as she built temporary portfolios. While she was genuinely offering a chance to work for her company, she had a second objective. She was using passive legilimency to scan any thoughts the students had related to her daughter. The fourth- and fifth-year students knew nothing relevant to her missing daughter. One of sixth year students provided a most helpful memory. It showed him and three seventh-year students assaulting Daphne, then Harry Potter showed up and saved Daphne.
While Tora had learned what happened the last time anyone saw her daughter it didn't help her in finding where she currently was. She was also in a bit of a predicament, while technically the boys could be punished for their actions, she couldn't do anything about it unless Daphne came forward and laid down accusations. Tora knew that her reading their minds wouldn't be valid in court as proof. Knowing all this she made special notes on the four boys' portfolio sheets to make sure they were blackballed from just about every job she had connections to.
Finishing up Tora cast a charm that would send the paperwork to her personal office at home. Paperwork now dealt with Tora spoke once more.
"I thank you all for your time today. Those of you interested in applying merely need to send an owl to Greengrass Industries. I will get back to you about you application asap. Severus once again many thanks for your help. Goodbye."
With that Tora Greengrass walked off headed for the bank. There was a certain golden goblin she needed to speak to.
Making it back to their hotel room Harry followed Daphne inside. Tossing her paperwork for the surf lessons onto the table he flopped onto his bed with a loud sigh.
"What's wrong with you?" Daphne asked
"Wrong? Nah nothing's wrong with me. Just sleepy to be honest. I could do with a nap." Happy said through a yawn.
"I thought you wanted to do something else?"
"Yeah, I did. I wanted to take a nap. Is that so wrong?"
"Well not exactly no. But if you're sleeping, what am I supposed to do?" Daphne said with a huff.
With a small sigh Harry sat up and looked over at Daphne. Taking a deep breath, he spoke.
"I don't know Daphne. You have to realize that I never intended to bring anyone with me. I've had this planned out since second year. But know you're here and I have no idea what to do. To be completely honest with you my 'Great Escape' plan was more of a loose guideline that any solid plan. It was rather simple, get away from Hogwarts, travel and do whatever I wanted and continue my studies at my own pace. Nowhere in that plan did I think I would have a guest."
"You were going to continue your studies?"
"Of course I was. I want to travel the world and experience as much as it has to offer both muggle and magical sides. Figured I'd need to be fairly educated in both unless I want to be caught out."
"But how are you going to do magic? You're still underage after all." Daphne asked, a single eyebrow raised
"Well the Goldaxe offered to help me, for a price of course. 500 galleons and in two weeks I'll be heading back to Gringotts to meet with someone Goldaxe knows so they can make me a custom wand. From there I'll be able to get all my magical studies up to at least O.W.L level as well as get caught up on my muggle schooling. After all that it'll be back to traveling and studying for N.E.W.T.S and any potential masteries I want to test for." he explained with a sheepish grin
Daphne could only stare at potter in surprise. She never would've guessed he could put so much thought and focus into his studies. It was then Daphne realized how unprepared she was to run away like she had. Once the surprise had passed, she realized she had to give potter credit, brute he still may be but at least he knew how to make an effort.
"Say potter, would it be possible for me to join you. You know so I can also continue my studies. It wouldn't do to be an uneducated woman after all."
"I don't know give me a moment."
With that potter jumped up and started rifling through his trunk. Pulling out what looked to be a small metal statue of a manticore. Holding it tightly in his hand potter closed his eyes and seemed to concentrate for a moment before opening his eyes and looking around the room.
"Ah Goldaxe there you are."
Daphne spun around only to come face to face with the massive goblin holding his namesake. With an ear-piercing shriek Daphne fell backwards only for Harry to catch her by the shoulders. Hearing potter snicker to himself at her expense made her face flush with indignant anger. Turning to face him she spoke.
"Not a word, potter. If you ever want to continue your family line, not a word to anyone." she said with what she hoped was a glare to end all glares.
"Of course, my lips are sealed." Harry said struggling to keep the laughter in
Daphne could see the sparkle of amusement in his eyes and just knew that he may not say anything, but he would never forget this. Harry watched as she huffed and sat on her bed arms crossed and most definitely was not pouting. Making a mental note to talk to Goldaxe about borrowing his pensieve for a little project he turned and spoke.
"Hey Goldaxe thanks for coming. Daphne was wondering if she could join me for when I get my wand made as well as when I take my O.W.L studies. I personally have no problem with it, but I know that if she were to join me that it might cause problems with her sudden inclusion."
"Well from a personal perspective Mr. Potter, I don't see any reason she could not be included. After all you informing me now would allow plenty of time for the necessary corrections for her attendance. But that being said that is only my personal opinion. I will need to talk to all the other parties involved first. If that is all?"
"Yea that was it. Oh, wait hold on one second." Harry said rushing back to his trunk. Pulling out a piece of paper and a pen he wrote a note for Goldaxe. Handing him the note Harry and Daphne watched as the massive goblin disappeared as quickly and quietly as he had appeared.
Harry checked his watch noticing it was nearing dinner time he spoke up.
"Come on, it's getting close to dinner. Let's go get some food. I'm starving and I still want my nap."
"Are we trying something new again?" Daphne asked with excitement lacing her words
"I don't know. We can if you want. That's the beauty of this isn't it. We can do whatever we want." He said with smile
Goldaxe entered his office set his axe back in its stand and immediately set about sending missives inquiring about the young Ms. Greengrass' inclusion. Once those were all sent out, he checked the note Mr. Potter gave him. Quickly writing another missive for someone to acquire the corresponding materials he was interrupted by a knock at his door. Finishing the note and sending it off he called for the person to enter.
"Sir, Mrs. Greengrass was here earlier asking for you. She seemed quite put out that you weren't available." said the young goblin who entered.
With a sigh Goldaxe responded, "Thank you for letting me know, you may go Silvertooth."
Sitting back in his chair Goldaxe wondered what Mrs. Greengrass could've wanted to meet with him about. Figuring he wouldn't find out unless he sent her an owl, he quickly wrote her a letter asking her to come in the day after tomorrow as he was quite busy. Getting up and walking towards the front of the bank where they kept the post owls, he sent off the letter.
The next morning found Harry and Daphne both getting ready for their surf lessons. Harry was as excited as ever while Daphne was beginning to realize the folly of her decision to accept potter's challenge. Her nervousness must have showed because potter stopped her during their walk down to the beach.
"You ok?" He asked, a look of genuine concern on his face
"Of course I'm ok. Just you watch potter, I'll be better at this surfing than you could ever dream of."
Seeing that she was putting on a brave face, Harry decided to take her mind off the upcoming lessons.
"Did you know that I was terrified before we had flying lessons back in first year."
"You? Terrified of flying? Somehow I doubt that, seeing the way you fly during quidditch one could think you were literally born on a broom mid-flight." her voice dripping with doubt and skepticism.
"Well, you have to remember that until I got my Hogwarts letter, I had no clue magic even existed. Granted I wasn't so much terrified of flying itself as I was terrified that if I somehow couldn't fly, I would be expelled and forced to return to my aunt and uncle. But then I got on a broom for the first time, and I felt free. Free of everything. Free from school, from my aunt and uncle, from the expectations that everyone seems to have for me. I was able to be myself and relax. It was exhilarating, the feeling of weightlessness, the wind biting your face. Yet no matter how amazing it is before I grabbed that broom I was as scared as can be."
"Is there a point to this?"
"Yes there is. What I'm trying to say is that it doesn't matter if you're good or not. It doesn't matter if you're scared. None of that matters as long as you're having fun. Today will be fine as long as we have fun."
And with that Harry continued walking. Daphne lingered behind for a moment taking in everything he said. She realized that he was right, yet she still couldn't shake the nervousness she felt. Catching up to potter she found him talking to Nikki about different kinds of surf boards. The next hour was Daphne learning the basics of surfing. After that she was given a board and the trio went out to the water. Nikki and Daphne watched as Harry caught a few smaller waves, while his balance was still shaky he definitely was surfing.
Then came Daphne's turn, feeling the wave start to pick her up she simply did exactly as Nikki instructed. Before she realized it, she was standing on her boarding ride the wave. Instantly she knew what potter was talking about when he talked about flying. The feeling of being so free and unattached to anything was amazing. With a laugh she relished in the joy she felt from surfing.
Several hours later it was finally lunch time. After the group had all caught several waves a piece, they made their way back to shore. Tired with sore cheeks from smiling and laughing Daphne enjoyed the feeling of the warm sand.
"Someone looks like they had fun."
"Shut up potter." Daphne snapped with no real heat as the smile never left her face, "Shouldn't you be worshipping the ground I walk upon or something."
"Oh but of course, I convince to start surfing, you have a blast and I'm still relegated to merely worshipping you. How could I forget my place next to a goddess such as yourself." Harry spoke barely keeping his laughter suppressed
"Oh my such flattery. What I wouldn't give to snatch you right up." Nikki teased
"Aren't you a bit too old for him" Daphne interjected a light frown making itself known
"Bah, too old. I'm only 16. But don't worry I won't take what's yours."
Daphne blushed brighter than a stop sign upon hearing what Nikki said
"He's not mine." she denied quickly
"Oh? Not yours you say. Well then I'm sure you won't mind me stealing Harry away for a few dates around the island. What say you Harry, up for a few dates with lil' ol' me?" Nikki said while batting her eyelashes
"Uhh, yea sure. That sounds great." Harry said blushing like crazy from being mistaken as Daphne's boyfriend then at the older pretty girl asking him out. Harry missed the look Daphne sent his way, but Nikki saw and she only smiled wider because of it.
"This is going to be so much fun." Nikki exclaimed.