A/N: I'd like to thank Reddit users KFC_Junior and Lixia97 for inspiring me to figure out a Slytherin way to tackle Voldemort.
Had she heard that right? Was Voldemort really back? This wasn't good, it wasn't good at all.
She pondered over the ramifications of his return, her family had managed to stay neutral during the last war but now that wasn't a possibility, not with her younger sister head over heels in love with Draco Malfoy.
Great! She groaned inwardly, first she had had to put the fear of Merlin in Draco reminding him that there would only be hand holding till Tori was old enough to make decisions for herself. He'd been surprisingly okay with that, promising to respect Astoria.
Then she'd had to keep Pansy Parkinson at bay, who couldn't understand why Draco would choose a beautiful girl instead of a pug. And now this, honestly, why did the universe hate her so much?
Leaving wasn't an option either. Their mother had passed away when they were young leaving them in the care of their father, who'd followed her a couple of years ago. Now, they lived with their grandmother who wasn't doing too well, with Voldemort back she was sure that he'd want to recruit the Greengrass family to his cause, seeing how the family fortune would greatly help him fund his recruitment. It didn't help that her father had tripled their fortune since the last war.
Voices brought her back, she'd aimlessly wandered towards the infirmary. She quickly hid in an alcove near the infirmary doors straining to listen.
"Sirius, I suggest you get in touch with the old Order members. We have a lot to do." A few seconds later Dumbledore left the infirmary shortly followed by a black shaggy dog.
She had heard her father talking about a supposed group led by Dumbledore. He'd obviously mock them all, apparently all they did was disarm and stun and get themselves killed.
Potter, she suddenly thought, feeling nauseous at the idea but it was the only way. Tori could stay with Draco if Daphne chose the other side, then all she had to do was keep everyone safe and no matter what side won, not only would the Greengrass' stay neutral they'd be on the winning side.
Another set of voices pulled her out of her thoughts, making her groan silently.
"Now, you lot, head back to your common room. Bill and I need to talk to your father." A plump redhead woman said as she walked out of the infirmary ushering a group of teenagers out.
How could she have forgotten about the bookworm and the hog. If she needed to get to Potter, she'd have to get rid of those two and if the rumour mill was to be believed, she had to get rid of the upstart redhead as well.
Yes, the universe clearly hated Daphne Greengrass. She was honestly surprised at how she managed to keep her grades up when she was constantly surrounded by problems that needed solving.
When the coast was clear she crept out of her hiding spot and silently slipped into the infirmary. Fortunately, only two beds were occupied, one was covered by privacy curtains, according to the rumours that's where the real Professor Moody was resting.
She tiptoed to the other bed where a young fragile looking boy lay. He looked so thin and small; how could he be Voldemort's nemesis? She recognized the rags lying folded on a chair and grimaced, would she have to spend the rest of her life in a loveless relationship? She couldn't imagine herself loving the boy that lay on the bed, she wasn't even physically attracted to him and having seen his lack of intellect and lack of charm first hand, she was rethinking her initial plan.
Exiting the infirmary, she considered the option of making Astoria breakup with Draco. Their grandmother would most likely not survive the winter, the two of them could leave after Christmas, maybe head to Australia or Asia. Yet again she found her thoughts being interrupted by a set of voices.
"Moony, Fudge refused to believe him. Dumbledore is gathering the Order, the Aurors will be blissfully unaware of the situation till it's too late."
"I just can't believe that worm-Peter was behind it all. I wish I'd ripped that rat to shreds when I had the opportunity." A voice growled, she recognized it as their previous Defence Professors voice.
Sneaking closer to the empty classroom she barely managed to contain her gasp. Sirius Black, the most wanted man in wizarding Britain was in the castle. She barely managed to run into an alcove as the two men agreed on something and walked out. Once again, she watched in awe as the wanted mass murderer transformed into a big black shaggy dog and took off, followed by Lupin.
There was clearly a lot more at play than she'd initially imagined. If Dumbledore knew of Black, then what was the real story? Surely, he wouldn't keep the man that caused Potter's parents death near the boy.
Making sure that the coast was clear, once again, she slipped out of her hiding spot and hurried towards the dungeons. She had a lot of planning and plotting to do.
As expected, Astoria didn't take well to her suggestion of taking a break from Malfoy.
"Tori, I'm not saying that you need to end things with him. Just take a break, as it is, long distance relationships aren't easy to handle. With Dumbledore, Voldemort and Potter, we are going to be stuck in the middle of a war. Let things sort themselves out then we'll come back and you can patch things up with Malfoy."
The younger girl glared at her sister; Daphne finally understood what Tracey meant by her glare freezing hell over. Having her sister's icy blue orbs drilling holes at her made her want to run and hide. "I wouldn't expect a heartless person like yourself to understand what loving someone else is like. You don't run away when things get tough, in fact, when things get tough you become the support your person needs. He's my person and I will not be abandoning him."
Daphne flinched at the venom in her sister's voice. "Tori…"
"No Daph, don't Tori me! I love you, I really do, but it's not the same. We are a family; we are supposed to love each other. But Draco, I choose to love him just like he chooses to love me. He confirmed Potter's story last night, his father had felt the mark getting darker and do you know what he said to me? That he understood my position and he would never make me choose between him and you. He promised to keep me away from it all, even if we are together, he wouldn't want me to choose a side."
Daphne felt a wave of emotion as tears threatened to escape.
"Daph, if you want to leave, I won't stop you. I should head down to breakfast though…"
Daphne reigned in her tears as she watched her younger doppelgänger leave, she had hoped that her sister would see reason. She now knew what she had to do; it was the only way. She just hoped that the universe didn't throw more bludger's her way, she wasn't sure if she would be able to handle them.
"Victor, I was hoping I'd run into you." She said as she caught up to the boy in question.
The Bulgarian Quidditch star turned to her with a smile, "Davne, I didn't see you at breakfast."
"I wasn't hungry this morning. Care to walk?" She asked, hoping to guide him away from curious ears. Thankfully, he nodded and they started making their way towards the Black Lake.
"Vat do you vant to talk about?" He finally asked as they neared the lake.
"I just wanted to make sure that you were doing alright. I mean finding out that you've been lied to most of the year wouldn't have been easy."
Victor's bushy brows furrowed, giving him a constipated look.
"Oh! You don't know. I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything. You know what, forget it. I-I'll just go, it's just that I'd been in a similar position and I thought you'd like to talk to someone who understood but now I just feel silly." She said, widening her eyes, feigning surprise.
She smiled inside when she felt Victor's hand on her wrist, stopping her from leaving "vat are you talking about?"
"Victor, I shouldn't. I don't want to cause problems…"
"Please, I don't vant more games. This year has been difficult enuv."
She schooled her features, widening her eyes again and parting her lips slightly. The look of pure innocence that Tracey used whenever she wanted to convince someone of something.
"I just thought that you would have found out about Gr-Hermione using you to help P-Harry."
To her utter surprise he let out a hearty laugh. "I talked to Harry, he told me that Hermioninny vas like a sister to him."
Keeping her composure, she pushed on "of course he'd say that. They were working together, you were the most competent champion, they needed to distract you." She took a breath hoping against hope that Granger had stuck to being a goody two shoes "tell me, did she let you get close to her? You know, like a girlfriend would?"
She watched as he mulled over her insinuations "da, ve kissed at the Yule ball."
She cursed inwardly, of course the girl would jump the first guy that paid her any heed. "Just at the ball though?"
Viktor's eyes narrowed and his grip on her wrist got painfully tight.
"It's just strange isn't it. She kisses you one time, just to get you hooked and then nothing. Besides, I don't remember her being worried about you last night when an unforgivable curse was placed on you. She ran straight to Harry, even spent most of the night with him." The details Daphne knew weren't important, all she needed was for the seed of doubt to be firmly placed in his mind.
"I need to think." He said eventually letting go of her wrist and turning to face the lake "thank you" he added as an afterthought as she walked away, pleased at the first part of her plan working. Now if only the twenty other parts went as smoothly.
It had been two days since Daphne had enacted the first part of her plan, so far it seemed to be failing miserably. Thank Merlin for the rested look charm that Tracey had found in Witch Weekly in their third year, the constant plotting hadn't done her beauty sleep much good.
If her plan didn't work, she'd have to hope that Krum didn't spill the beans and that Granger was gullible enough to believe Daphne's new found interest in wanting to befriend her. Her stomach squirmed at the thought of having to be nice to the bushy haired girl, her bossy attitude didn't sit well with Daphne.
Krum had hardly showed up to meals and the couple of times he had come, he'd ignored her and Granger. Even Potter had been discharged and was currently sitting on the Gryffindor table looking worse than ever before. Maybe she should start brewing some lust potions to douse herself with, how on earth was she going to fake being interested in him.
Tracey elbowed her ribs "what's going on with you? You've hardly eaten in the past couple of days!"
"I'm just worried about nana; her health is getting worse." Daphne lied smoothly.
"Oh, Daph. Why didn't you say something sooner? We still have time; I can write to mom and dad and tell them that you need me. I'm sure the owl will reach them before the train…"
"Don't worry Trace, I'll see you on the weekend, I promise. I'd like to spend some time alone with her." Tracey nodded and hugged her.
The golden trio stood up to leave; from the corner of her eye, she saw Krum standing as well, his face was hard with determination, he sent a nod in her direction before following the trio out.
She quickly hurried out not wanting to miss the drama, Tracey was hot on her heels.
They saw Harry tugging the redhead who was scowling at something. Following his gaze, she spotted Krum and Granger, she couldn't help but smile.
They watched Granger say something before running down the corridor.
"Why are we following the beaver?" Tracey asked Daphne impatiently as she hurried to keep up.
"Shh, I heard a rumour, I just want to confirm it."
"Wait. Since when do you get news before me? I thought I was the information collection expert."
She heard the soft sobs coming from the first-floor girls' bathroom and stopped.
"What happened between Viktor and the beaver?" Tracey asked, getting tired of being kept in the dark.
Perfect timing, Daphne thought, as she turned to look at her friend. "The Gryffindor golden boy is apparently in love with her."
Tracey gasped before shaking her head "no, that can't be right. From what I've heard he likes pretty girls. He was crushing on that Chang girl last year; he keeps beaver around but I think he calls her a sister."
"Tracey, anyone can make themselves look good. It's what's inside that really matters." Tracey was looking at Daphne like she'd grown another head. "Granger's smart and she obviously cares about him, don't you remember our first year? There was a rumour of Potter fighting a troll to save her."
"It was the weasel that fought the troll. Trust me, my sources are very good."
"Yes, but Weasley didn't want to go, it was Potter who wanted to make sure she was safe. And now, he claims to realize that he loves her. Apparently nearly dying made him see life in a different light."
"But…"
Daphne couldn't risk Tracey ruining her speech so she pressed on. "Pansy saw it. Potter asked Krum if he had real feelings for Granger or if he was simply trying to get in her pants. Apparently, he tried to punch him; didn't you see the slight swelling around his eye? That was Potter, he told Krum that if Granger didn't return his feelings it didn't matter to him as long as she was with someone who loved her. Apparently, he thinks that in her eyes he isn't good enough for her." She knew that she was laying it on thick but the sobbing had stopped now she hoped the girl was naive enough to take the bait.
Before Tracey could open her mouth to argue, Daphne pulled her friend away "let's get our things, we can talk on the train."
"Okay fine. I was wrong, Potter has eyes and has a preference for good looking girls." Daphne said after listening to Tracey butcher her theory for half an hour citing what all her sources had said. In all honesty, she hoped Tracey was right and Potter truly thought like a teenage boy.
Hermione made her way up to the tower in a daze. She'd been hurt when Krum accused her of using him, telling her that Potter deserved her, she hadn't known what he had meant. She'd actually spent the last few months thinking about Ron, but Harry was Harry. It irritated her that Harry had gone behind her back, but she sighed, Harry and his saving people thing, he was just looking out for her. She hadn't really noticed any swelling around Viktor's eye, but then again, she was barely looking at him, maybe she'd missed it. But why would Harry think that he wasn't good enough for her? She bit her lower lip, had he noticed her observing Ron? Of course, he had.
She had to fix this. If she had to choose between the two, she'd obviously choose Harry, it was a no brainer really. She just couldn't believe her luck, having been insecure about her looks for so long she couldn't imagine that a boy like Harry would show any interest in her.
A laugh escaped her lips. Her mother always told her that Hermione had zero knowledge when it came to how people work. Of course, Harry loved her, he always had. And now she knew it, she just hoped it wasn't too late.
She entered through the portrait hole and spotted the two boys sitting on the couch in the common room.
Ron was still in a bad mood but she ignored him and gave Harry her most dazzling smile before leaping at him and pulling him into a bone crushing hug.
"Err, I can't breathe." Harry wheezed trying to get a strand of her hair out of his mouth.
"Thank you." She said shyly, finally letting go.
"For what?"
"Just thank you." She said again and rushed up to the girl's dormitory.
Harry turned to Ron who simply shrugged "barmy I tell you."
"Okay, spill it!" Tracey snapped, they were finally alone in their compartment on the train and she knew Daphne better than Daphne knew herself; and right now, Daphne was up to something.
"Trace, I told you nana…"
"Daphne, if you don't want to tell me then fine, but at least have the decency to not lie to me."
Daphne sighed; she knew there was no point in hiding anything from Tracey. If anything, Tracey was closer to her than even Astoria.
"I'm breaking up the golden trio."
Of all the things that Tracey had thought of that certainly wasn't on the list. "Why?"
"With Voldemort, oh for Morgana's sake, it's just a bloody made-up name." Daphne snapped at Tracey who'd flinched.
"How do you know it's made up?"
"Yes Trace, it's a perfectly fitting name that loving sane parents would give their kid. Flight from death! Who in their right mind names their kid that?"
"Maybe they were not loving parents."
"Are we going to argue about the name or do you want to listen to what I'm doing?"
"Fine."
"Anyhow, with him back, he's going to come after the Greengrass fortune. He tried last time, it cost granddad his life but dad managed to hold him off. I can hold him off but not forever."
"Oh, Daph. I hadn't realized what this meant for you, especially with Tori…"
"Exactly, so I thought who better to cosy up to but the one who is the banner for the light!"
Tracey scrunched up her nose. "Ew, that's disgusting."
Daphne sighed looking defeated. "I know, but..."
"He's ancient."
"What?"
"Dumbledore."
"Not Dumbledore! Potter!" Daphne snapped at her friend.
"Oh! Well, he's not that bad."
Daphne simply gaped at her.
"What! Feed him some meat, get him proper glasses, clothes that actually fit and prey to every Druid deity that he grows taller and he isn't all that bad. But what does the trio have to do with him?"
"I can't get closer to him if the weasel and beaver are around. The weasel hates all things snake and the beaver basically runs his life for him, she'd never approve of me."
"Okay, but how did Krum fit into all this?"
"Don't you remember overhearing the Patil sisters and Brown the day after the ball?"
Tracey's eyes widened in realization "they were complaining about Potter and weasel ignoring them the entire night. Parvati had deduced that the weasel liked the beaver."
"Exactly. The initial plan is actually quite simple, I need to get the beaver to believe that Potter likes her. I think we managed to plant the seeds of hope today, she was all broken up about Krum so it was easier to manipulate her. And I saw the weasel, he wanted to hurt Krum. I think the Patil twins were right, he does have feelings for her. Once she opens up to Potter, I'm pretty sure the weasel will have a meltdown."
Tracey nodded following her friend's logic "maybe you need to add another factor into this plan of yours to make it full proof. Remember the selection of the champions? Weasel was ranting about Potter getting everything, if Potter were to somehow come into his inheritance earlier then the weasel would have another thing to be jealous of. He really is quite shallow."
"That's a great idea, I'll have to do some more thinking. Anyhow, we cannot let Granger stick around for too long either. Her acting as a bridge between the two got the three of them back together. If she is suddenly out of the equation then Potter's alone."
"So, you are hoping that she'll make her move only for Potter to turn her down."
Daphne nodded looking smug.
"Yeah, that won't be enough. Why does Granger hate you?"
"Because I showed her, her place, when she was acting like a know-it-all in Arithmancy."
"Exactly. You have weasel figured out; with his second strike I doubt Potter will want him close again but you need to work on their egos to really destroy the golden trio. The beaver won't be able to stand Potter doing better than her and she will eventually crack, besides Merlin forbid that Potter does actually fall for her, you need to have a backup. When she cracks, she'll hurt his ego and you've seen how moody he is, he's bound to show her the way out."
"Have I ever told you how much I love you?"
"Only every second day!" Tracey said with a smile. Both girls spent the rest of the trip plotting and planning.
A much happier Daphne walked out of the scarlet engine and onto platform 9 & ¾ her eyes narrowed as she observed the Weasel matriarch shower Potter with overzealous affection.
"I hope you are well Ms. Greengrass." A melodic voice said to her right.
"Mrs. Malfoy, I am doing well. Thank you."
"Call me Narcissa. The way your sister has my son wrapped around her little finger we are practically family." A genuine smile graced her face when she saw Daphne force a smile. "I am not a hypocrite, there's nothing wrong with that, a witch most certainly should have her wizard wrapped around her finger. I'm simply glad that Draco chose wisely, Malfoy men have always chosen beautiful, intelligent witches."
Daphne relaxed "Then you must call me Daphne. Tori was hoping to spend part of her summer with Draco…"
"Don't worry yourself, I'll be sure to keep an eye on both of them."
"Thank you, Narcissa."
She watched her sister kiss Draco's cheek before looking up to search for Daphne. Tracey, who'd first rushed to her parents came back to threaten Daphne, making her swear that she'd keep her posted before rushing off to her parents again.
"Tori, why don't you go ahead? I have to do something."
Astoria, who was already missing Draco, didn't question Daphne's motives and simply nodded, walking up to the floo instead.
Daphne had been keeping one eye on the group; she found it strange when the Weasels went through the magical barricade instead of using the floo. Shrinking her trunk and pocketing it, she quickly made her way towards the portal that connected the platform to the Muggle side.
It wasn't hard to spot a group of witches and wizards talking to a fat man who looked scared but livid. She was surprised when the group said their goodbyes, leaving the fat man to go with Harry Potter.
Why wasn't Potter staying with the weasel or the beaver? Hadn't he witnessed Diggory's death? As far as she knew, he didn't have any family. Maybe he stayed at an orphanage, that would explain the clothes but why would his so-called friends leave him at an orphanage. She remembered Tracey pointing Potter out with the redheads at the World Cup, she'd just presumed that he spent the holidays with them.
Following them from a distance she watched as they got into a car. Hailing a taxi, she got in and asked the driver to follow the aforementioned car. An hour later she was surprised to watch the fat man stop in front of a house, where Potter started to unload his trunk. She got the cab driver to stop at the end of the street where she got off and started walking back.
Half an hour later a thoroughly confused Daphne was walking out of the suburbs. From the conversation she'd overheard in the house she'd deduced that Potter had an aunt and uncle. But they clearly hated him, she'd spotted his cousin as well and knew who Potter's wardrobe belonged to.
She had been planning on staying longer when a rustle had caught her attention, a woman with bright pink hair was visible for a few seconds before disappearing. Daphne made a mental note to look into it later, not wanting to stick around she quickly snuck out from the back garden.