Harry lay snuggled into his girlfriend feeling the most relaxed since the events with Unspeakable's the day before. They were in the Room of Requirement, it had followed Daphne's wish and provided a cute and cosy room with comfortable sofas and soft, fluffy blankets settled around a small fire with a few windows that showed the darkening sky with the moon rising over the lake.
When Harry had returned from Grimmauld place he had barely glanced at the Headmaster and had left him spluttering and demanding answers even as Harry closed the door behind him, he had stopped short when he realised, he had no idea where to find the one person who he desperately wanted to see. In the end it was solved by his wonderful familiar as he heard a soft hoot before a white blur flew through the window and had settled on his shoulder rubbing her head against his while cooing in his hair.
"Hello Hedwig, how's my favourite?" He murmured as he reached up and gently stroked his beloved owl, he hadn't seen her in a while having been busy with getting rid of Snape and the extra work being put in to prepare for the task.
Hedwig chittered and briefly nipped his earlobe. "I know, I know, I'm sorry I've been busy." She let out a low bark and Harry winced. "Yes I realise I should have made more effort, but its not like you've been doing nothing!" His companion let out a louder cry directly into his ear. "Don't give me that! I know all about that eagle owl and your night flights!" There was silence before a softer hoot echoed through the corridor. "Yes I do know all about that….And as long as he treats you like the lady you are I wish you the best." Hedwig let out a purr and the owl and man wandered on further down the corridor before a soft giggling reached their ears. At once Harry felt his whole being relax and loudly whispered to Hedwig. "I fear some snake is listening to our private conversation, what should we do?" Hedwig made the decision for him by lifting off his shoulder and silently gliding around the corner only to reappear on the shoulder of a grinning blonde. "Traitor." He said mockingly and Hedwig barked in reply.
"Your favourite, Harry? Do I need to be worried?" Daphne asked with a raised eyebrow.
She waited as he came nearer, with a hand on her hip and the other stroking Hedwig.
Harry felt his own lips quirk before falling flat as he remembered all he had to tell her. She immediately lost her teasing expression and Hedwig hopped quickly back onto his own shoulder and started preening his hair. He reached forward and Daphne quickly settled herself into his arms winding her own around his waist.
"Do you mind if we go to the room for a bit and then I'll answer all your questions."
She gave a nodded and together the three of them moved to the welcoming corridor bearing the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. As soon as they entered Daphne pulled Harry onto one of the couches and it didn't take long before they were lounging full length, his head was resting on her chest and he had a leg between hers as an arm wrapped possessively round her waist. His eyes were closed and his breathing soft as her hand gently ran through his hair and she quietly spoke of the letter that she'd received from her mother and the tutoring she had given to Astoria over the last few days. Hedwig had moved onto the back of a high chair and tucked her head under her wing with a light nip on Harry's finger and hadn't moved since.
Eventually Harry began responding, asking questions and lifting his head once or twice to catch her eye. She kept the conversation light, focussing on Neville's perfect use of the containment charm that he couldn't wait to show him.
"Neville's grown a lot."
"Yes, you should have seen the letter his Gran sent to him couple days ago, full of pride and praise about the ideas he had for the House of Longbottom and the training and learning his been putting himself through."
"He's been pushing himself, training up." The forced lightness of his tone paused Daphne's motions before continuing.
"Yes, how he can do more than just be average and he's fought his way along, he bested me and Theo in two on one duel yesterday; got past us with a couple of stunners though he struggled against Theos blasting curse, his shield only just held."
"Stronger shield charms then."
"Yep and also Tracey has much improved her Occlumency, I can still get through her defences but she can rebound me quicker now. Though this causes her to lose focus in spell work."
"Could look at how that distraction is likely to be used in a duel." Harry's comment had Daphne glancing down at him in confusion.
"Likely to be used?"
Harry suddenly realised what he had said and immediately tensed, not wanting to rush him Daphne stayed silent and let him organise his thoughts. In the end he sat up with a sigh and started talking.
"A lot of stuff happened over the last few days, Daph. To be honest it's a lot and if you don't want to know it then that's cool because I'm not sure if I want to know it and its all very intense and I don't know if I can get through it and I'm lost and confused and I don't understand why its had to happen and I just-"
He was cut off as Daphne grabbed onto his hands and held them tightly with an open, loving expression on her face.
"Harry tell me all and whatever happens we will get through it together."
So Harry told her everything, from arriving at Grimmauld place two days ago, to going down to the Ministry and hearing he had a prophecy, to having to explain his Hogwarts years and the theory of Horcrux's. Daphne remained silent throughout, running her fingers over his hands and arms and simply remained as a constant presence by his side. By the time he had finished, the clock was ticking towards midnight and the night sky a beautiful dark blue. The first reaction Daphne had was to call for Dobby and ask for some sandwiches as well has hot chocolate. Harry watched her carefully like a scientist might watch their latest experiment when they weren't sure of the outcome. Slowly she let out a breath and gripped his hands once more.
"Okay, we can figure this out one step at a time." She received a nod in return and after a thought to the room a small desk appeared next to them with a few pieces of parchment and a quill and ink which she grabbed quickly.
"First off, training. We need to up it, clearly. Remus and Sirius must have bags of strategy and training idea's especially from the war and Sirius would have been taught it by his head of house."
"Really?"
"Oh yes, every head of house passes on a certain amount of information to their heir in order for the heir to be protected and also in case of a war. So training first, maybe we can talk to Flitwick about duelling strategies."
Harry immediately started to shake his head, although Flitwick had been granted forgiveness after his genuine apology after he had politely asked Harry for a moment a few days before the second task, Harry still didn't want much to do with the teachers and certainly not to bring them into something so delicate.
"Harry stop and please listen to me, think. This is your life! Don't let past actions stop you from using what knowledge he can give to you."
Harry swallowed the automatic refusal that was sitting on the tip of his tongue and knew he'd have to agree. This was no longer a situation of trying to take on a tournament but an immediate and very real threat to him.
"You're right, I'm sorry."
Daphne gave him a sympathetic look and moved closer.
"He is a fountain of experience and expertise, so much that we can use. Do you have any of your parent's old journals?"
"Old what?"
"Old journals, my parents have them during their years at Hogwarts. From what I understand most purebloods were told to keep them, I'm sure your father would have kept one and from what I've heard about your mother I wouldn't have put it past her to document her years either. They were both exceptional in their fields or at least that's what Remus said."
"When did you speak to Remus about my parents?"
"When we were thinking of the ways they would want to get back to the Dursleys."
Harry felt there was an implied 'duh' and rolled his eyes. "I hope you received enough information."
Daphne gave a wild grin. "Oh yes as soon as Remus mentioned how passionate your mother could be about the injustices of the world, it was quite easy to brainstorm… Anyway moving on, next is the idea of these soul containers. I'll send a letter to my father and see if he has any more understanding of what they could be and maybe Theo will have some too."
"Please do. The Unspeakables have said not to do anything until they've had time to further think about how to remove it, they've considered everything from curse-breakers, goblins and advanced occlumency. Then there's the research they want to do on more that HE might have made, Killick thinks as many as 5 might have been made but it'll be the figuring out what they could be."
"Well let's leave it for now, it's not worth doing anything that may risk you when we don't have as much information as we could have. The prophecies are the last point…" She trailed off and for once Harry felt a little discombobulated at the look of bewilderment on her face and realised, he'd have to be the one to provide a solution.
"I think we need to take Tracey's advice, and completely forget about it until everything else is under way. It could end up being nothing and I refuse to waste time worrying about it instead of focusing on more important things."
"Like what? The Tournament?"
"Like you." As soon as the words left his mouth, he cringed but watched with a smile as Daphne burst out laughing her whole face lighting up. Grabbing her legs, Harry pulled her towards him and wrapped his arms around her waist as she carried on giggling.
"It came out without permission." He tried as Daphne tried to put on a serious face before her lips twitched up. A smile broke out on his face as her eyes lit up and her cheeks became flushed, she leaned against him and let out a smile sigh as she snuggled herself further into his embrace. Hedwig seemed to rouse herself from the giggling and let out a hoot before soaring through the window and disappearing into the gloom, Daphne watched the snowy owl until she couldn't and let out a happy sigh. Although her parents had brought her up in a love match Daphne knew that a lot of her peers had been subjected to betrothal contracts and marriages of conveniences and since her declaration to Harry, she had felt a new sense of happiness and peace. She knew Harry loved her and just couldn't say the words, she'd been awake for some of his and Sirius's conversation and knew she just needed to wait until he could open himself to a new possibility rather than force anything. Over the last few days she had missed him and had been incredibly worried when he hadn't returned on schedule and had practically bitten Tracey's head off when she'd asked for help on her Astronomy. Luckily Remus had sent his owl, Athena that afternoon and she had managed to control herself from snapping at anyone else though she had been a little upset not to receive word from Harry personally. Having heard his tale now though she could well understand his need for space and comfort and with that thought in mind she reached up and connected their lips wanting the warmth as proof that he was here, with her. Alive.
They shifted as they stayed in contact for longer until Daphne ended up straddling his lap as their lips moved in tandem and small sighs were escaping as they got closer, their hands moving over each other as clothing rustled and moved. It was a while later when they pulled themselves apart, lips red as their breathing returned to normal and their hands returned to shoulders and waist. They left the room and entered the real world again, smiles leaving their faces as they started to discuss the best ways to approach Flitwick and also trying to work out a new training strategy.
"Should we ask the others to come by?"
Harry thought about it for a moment before shaking his head and bringing her hand up to his mouth to lay a kiss on her fingers.
"We'll wait until tomorrow, no sense in making them worry about something we can't do much about."
Daphne smiled at him, glad with his decision and nodded. Knowing that as soon as the others heard they'd have far more to say but also more feelings would get involved and more time would be wasted planning and talking about what needs to be done rather than actually doing it.
As they drew close to the entrance hall Daphne stopped him by pulling him back and giving him a quick peck.
"Go back now, I can get there from here."
"Are you sure? I don't mind."
"Harry, you need to go and get some rest now, I'll be fine. I love you."
After another kiss the Boy-Who-Lived left without another word of complaint which proved Daphne's point further and she turned to go on her way, having no trouble in getting through, there was a few stragglers left behind all of whom looked up as she entered. She wasted no time in moving toward the back table near the bookcases where one Theodore Nott sat with a few books sat in front of him as the fire crackled behind him. As she neared she was struck by his presence, he had always been an imposing figure. Everyone in Slytherin knew of him, Theo played the part of the cold and aloof Slytherin; knowing what was expected of him and never allowing anything more to intrude. He had made the choice-the brave choice- to speak with Harry and he had changed but even now Daphne looked at him and wondered what he could be thinking. He looked up as she neared and smiled a genuine smile, his face softening and his eyes showing openness.
"Hello there, everything okay with the boy wonder?"
"Mostly, we have a lot to discuss but no point in going over it tonight. What are you working on?"
Although Theo allowed a questioning look to pass over his face, he let the change of subject occur and glanced down at his work.
"Technically I'm doing the potions essay that Professor Xarbar has set to see what level we are, on the other hand I am also researching the cause and effects that timings have on potions effectiveness and their ability to perform at maximum strength."
"Right. Okay then. Anything I can help with?"
"Searching for any potion to do with summer solstice could help. I've been looking in that on – Equinox Effects on Potions – help yourself."
Daphne gave a quick nod and settled down to look through the required reading, it was several minutes late before Theo spoke again.
"I was doing some alternate research earlier, into more of the dark curses that my father would have recommended. Would he go for that?"
"I'm not sure, I would advise you tell him what they were before suggesting them but I believe he would do what he never thought possible in order to stay alive. His guardians would allow nothing else anyway."
"That is true. I do not wish to force answers but I have been thinking about a new plan for the training and third task if that's okay?" He looked genuinely worried about overstepping his boundaries all of a sudden and Daphne hurried to reassure him.
"No no, we were just discussing that and if you have a plan then please share."
"Well, Neville and I have been keeping an eye on Hagrid and there is definitely a few of his 'pets' that we have decided to try and figure out how to complete their destruction."
"Tell me."
Theo gave his politician smile and started on his plan.
The next day at breakfast the five met at the Slytherin table, Harry and Neville hadn't even cast an eye over the lions before turning to the table of snakes knowing how much scrutiny they would receive if they sat under the red and gold. Neville had explained to Harry when he had arrived in the dorms that night exactly how much his presence had been missed and even though he barely had anything to do with them, he knew what could be coming. They knew the Slytherins would leave them alone and apart from the basic privacy charms they hadn't expected much interference. Which was why they were completely unprepared when a small, blonde waif like raven settled in the seat next to Tracey and immediately pulled some fruit salad onto her plate and tucked in.
"Luna what are you-"
"Sitting with you of course, we are to be family."
"Really?" He questioned.
"Of course" Here her eyes once more went slightly vacant and her voice airy. "The pack runs stronger together, the pod swims as fast as its slowest member and the herd can take down even the fiercest of foe." Just like that her eyes cleared and she went back to munching on a strawberry.
After a brief moment of silence Harry smiled, his eyes lightening and invisible to anyone but an already tipsy divination teacher who paid no attention to it, a golden line linked the raven and lion.
"Well Luna, we were starting to plan a new training regime if you'd like to join that discussion?"
"Thank you Harry, I believe that would be beneficial to get through the last bit."