Daphne made her way to the hospital wing with a bound and gagged Theodore Nott in tow, dropping him a few more times along the way for good measure. When they were a hallway down from the infirmary Daphne stopped and wheeled around to face the young pureblood that was floating behind her.
"Let me make myself abundantly clear Nott" she started with a steely glint to her voice and a dark look in her eyes. "I'm not sure what moronic notion you lodged into that dense head of yours, but I swear to Merlin that if you try anything like what you pulled earlier, what I did to you tonight will be a kindness."
The boy's eyes widened once again in fear and Daphne felt a surge of satisfaction that she allowed herself to revel in, thinking she had finally made her point. "Here's what's going to happen now" she continued after a moment. "I'm going to conjure back the clothes I vanished and remove the ropes and gag. You will get dressed and go into the infirmary to be treated. If she asks what happened, you will tell her you fell down a flight of stairs."
Theodore nodded enthusiastically and she had a feeling he wanted to be out of this predicament as soon as possible, but she wasn't done yet. "You will also go to Turner and Smith and convince them not to have us together for rounds, you will not say anything negative about me. If you do, I will write my father and let him know that he needs to have conversation with your father regarding manners when it comes to women and consent before touching them." She knew the head boy and girl usually assigned patrols to the prefects in the same house and year, but there have been plenty of times when prefects paired up with other houses, years, or both.
Theodore again nodded, his face losing any of the remaining color it had when she had mentioned their fathers. Daphne didn't flaunt it as often as Draco did, but she was also from a family of wealth and prestige and having the Greengrass family come down on the Nott's could be detrimental to them.
After allowing him to hang for a few more seconds she dropped her levitation charm, vanished the ropes and gag, and conjured him a robe to put on. He quickly scrambled to his feet and got dressed looking anywhere but at her. When he was finished, she led the rest of the short way to the infirmary and opened the door.
Madame Pomfrey looked suspicious with all the bruises and cuts he had, but Nott denied any foul play and kept insisting he was clumsy. Daphne didn't stick around to make sure he was okay, instead opting to make her way to the Slytherin common room.
She arrived not too long afterwards and found Tracey seated in a corner working over their potion's assignment. When she saw Daphne, she smiled and waved her over.
After giving her a rundown of what happened, Tracey again looked furious about what had transpired but amused at how Daphne had handled the situation. She then offered her potions assignment to Daphne so she could look it over and also to help her have an easier time when she started her own. Daphne felt grateful for her friend and soon pulled out a quill and parchment to get started on her own work.
Nott arrived a little while later, shot her one terrified look, and practically ran up to his dormitory. Causing Tracey to laugh and once again filling Daphne with a sense of satisfaction. Turning back towards her parchment she continued working.
The next week passed by in relative normalcy for Harry besides the head boy Marcus Turner stopping by and asking him if he would be willing to pick up a few extra patrols a month with someone other than Hermione as a prefect said he would be unable to partake in rounds for personal reasons. He knew he would have to actually patrol instead of using his map, but as he was caught up with his work and with Marcus' promise that he could let him know if it was ever too much, he accepted.
Harry was also staying on top of his homework, completing most of it on the same day it was assigned, giving him time to revise and review it before submitting it. He had been able to make it to the quidditch tryouts. He knew his spot was all but secured but was there to help support Ron. Afterwards Angelina had let him know she was going to name him as the starting keeper, but has asked him to not say anything yet. He had also been unwillingly sucked into Hermione's ploy to free the Hogwarts elves. All in all, Harry was pleased with his first week back to term.
The only negative so far was Defense. Harry had thankfully kept quiet in his first class thanks to his classmates voicing their outrage in his place and Hermione keeping him calm, but he knew that sooner or later he was likely to say something to get himself in trouble. From what other students had been saying she had started giving detentions without even bothering to warn students or take away points first.
Harry spent the majority of his walk up to the headmasters office pondering his first week. He was currently headed to an occlumency training session, and about halfway through his trek, he began his exercises for clearing his mind. By the time he arrived at the stone gargoyle and shouted out the password, he felt that his thoughts had been compartmentalized and organized by his efforts.
Dumbledore called for Harry to enter when he knocked, and he saw that the headmaster was seated at his large desk with a stone basin etched with runes in front of him. Many labeled vials filled with a silver almost liquid inside of them were placed neatly in front of the basin. Harry waited politely for Dumbledore to finish what he was working on and observed as he pulled some more silver strands from the basin and placed them in a bottle. After a few moments he flourished his wand, and the basin and vials flew off to the side and organized themselves on a side table.
"Please Harry, sit down." Dumbledore instructed kindly. "I was not expecting you so soon, but I should have known you would be here earlier. I am pleased to notice that you seem to have a newfound dedication and work ethic and am proud of you." He said as Harry took a seat. Harry could feel his cheeks warming slightly under the praise he was receiving.
Desperate to change the topic Harry thanked him quietly asked him the question he had on his mind when he entered. "You were using your pensieve, sir? And those vials?"
Dumbledore chuckled and his eyes sparkled. "Yes, Harry. I find using it is a way for me to better organize and comb through my memories. If all goes well with your occlumency training, I look forward to showing you just how practical it can be. As for the vials I fill them with copies of my memories that I intend to look over again at some point." He said with a smile and Harry felt an even greater sense of determination to make sure he mastered occlumency.
"Now Harry, have you been practicing the exercises we had been working on?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry nodded "Yes, sir. Hermione and I have been practicing together in the evenings once we finish our homework. I focus on clearing and organizing my mind, I can almost visualize where my thoughts are now, and I can push away thoughts or bring others to the forefront."
"Very good, Harry. You must continue to practice, but now I will show you the basis of building your defenses. This will tire you, both mentally and physically. Are you ready?" Dumbledore asked and when Harry nodded, he began going through the theory and process of building up a defense in one's mind.
It was a few hours later and Harry was sitting in Dumbledore's office sipping at some hot chocolate that had a headache potion inside of it. The work was difficult but harry was making progress. He had begun to work through his thoughts and memories, placing them in different locations of his mind, so he could draw on them easily. He learned how to mask his thoughts and hide his memories. Dumbledore had mentioned that this would be the bulk of their lessons for the next month or two and when Harry had a strong foundation, he would begin to try to attack his mind, looking for weaknesses.
As Harry finished the rest of his drink and started to get ready to leave, Dumbledore called his name and got his attention. "Harry, I want to offer you a piece of advice and a warning. Minister Fudge is doing everything he can to discredit you. Professor Umbridge is here because of his direct involvement. I believe she will try to goad you into confrontation and use that to hers and the Minister's advantage. I ask that you stay vigilant. You are your mother's son and have the temper to prove it, but do not allow yourself to fall for the bait she will undoubtedly set out for you. Use your occlumency to clear your mind and push away any untoward emotions."
Harry heard the words and allowed himself to think on them before responding. "Sir, I can see why you're saying that, and I agree with you. But Voldemort is back. Her refusing to teach practical defensive magic will not only affect our grades, but possibly our lives as well. Something needs to be done."
"Something will be done Harry; I promise you that." Dumbledore replied sadly. "For the time being we must play by this game by their rules, but know that I am working in the background to do what I can." At Harry's nod, Dumbledore withdrew a parchment from his desk and a quill and quickly scribbled a note in his loopy handwriting. "As it is past curfew, I believe this will help if you come across anyone. I hope you have a restful night Harry, and I will see you next week."
"Thank you, sir. I'll see you then."
Dumbledore had been right, the next day in defense Umbridge had tried to goad him the entire lesson. Never mentioning him by name, but consistently implying that 'those who spout lies' were untrustworthy lunatics attempting to sew discord among the population. Harry ignored her pretending to stare at the textbook they were supposed to be reading and instead running through his occlumency practice, but he could still feel himself getting upset. The class finally mercifully ended, and Harry immediately grabbed his bag and left, Hermione and Ron struggling to keep up with him.
"Woah mate, slow down." Ron called after a few seconds of trying to catch up to him.
Harry slowed slightly and allowed his best friends to catch up to him before starting at a slightly slower pace towards the great hall. His ire had been building up and he didn't feel like talking, not wanting to snap at his undeserving friends.
Ron however had no such reservations "What a bloody troll she is" he said as they took their customary seats at the Gryffindor table and began to pile food onto their plates.
"Ron" Hermione weakly admonished, but they could see, that she was just as furious if not more so. Eventually her own ire won out and she started "Who does she think she is blatantly slandering you a calling you a liar and a fraud. The only fraud in that classroom is her. How much do you want to bet she didn't even pass her own OWL's! And now she's trying to teach us?" Hermione fumed.
Seeing how angry his friends were on his behalf calmed Harry down somewhat and he found himself in an odd role reversal as he was now trying to calm down Hermione. "Hey, its all right." He said "No one in the class believes her anyway. Last week I had half the Puffs in our class come and tell me that they didn't believe her nonsense, like some weird show of solidarity with me or something."
"Still Harry" Hermione started and now he could see the beginning of angry tears forming in her eyes. "You go through hell and back every year, you're the most honest person I know and last year you had to witness the unspeakable, just to have some stuck up toad" Hermione continued glaring at the head table where Umbridge was sitting down, "call you a liar and spout off all of these horrible things."
"Not to mention that the prophet is trying to convince everyone you're a nutter too." Ron added with a frown. He seemed to realize just how gloomy and thick the air around the three of them had gotten and continued "You are a nutter definitely, but not like the kind they try to make you out to be. More the jumping on trolls and fighting basilisks for your friend's sake kind of nutter"
Harry laughed in spite of himself, and Hermione swatted him on the arm after she wiped away the remaining moisture on her face. "Oh Ron, Harry isn't a nutter, except maybe when he's playing quidditch but that's only a few days of the year." Again, harry laughed at the unexpected joke and looked at his friends fondly. The anger he had felt towards them from over the summer was gone and now he was just happy that they were all back together at Hogwarts. They had fought monsters and Voldemort together, compared to those things Umbridge would be a walk in the park.
"Thank you." He told them sincerely "Both of you. I don't know what I'd do without you guys." Hermione looked ready to cry again until Ron made a gagging noise and Harry laughed once again.
They finished their meal with Ron talking about quidditch and asking Harry if he had any insight on who Angelina would be picking as starting keeper in the next couple days. Harry stayed quiet smiling at his friend and finally responded with "I'm off to drop my bag off, I have the first set of rounds tonight." While rising up from the table.
Hermione looked at him in confusion "We don't have our rounds until Wednesday Harry." She stated making it sound like more of a question.
"That's right, you were in the library when Turner found me last week at breakfast. He asked if I would be willing to pick up a few extra shifts a month because some prefect is unable to perform their duties, he was talking about how it could improve my case for head boy in a couple years or some nonsense, but I agreed anyway, because I'm mostly caught up." Harry told her "He also said I could stop any time if OWL's become too much for me, so no problems if it becomes a bit too much" He explained. Ron who had been present during the conversation with Turner just nodded and Hermione looked pleased that he was taking initiative.
"Did he say who you would be partnered with?" Hermione asked curiously.
Harry shrugged, "Nope I figure it'll probably be a Gryffindor in a year above us, but I'm not sure." Hermione nodded in thought and Harry continued. "I did my occlumency practice for the day while I was in defense Hermione, so don't wait for me to get started."
Hermione narrowed her eyes and said "So that's how you were staying calm in class. That's actually not a bad idea. Might as well work on something while we're in there." She began to look off into the distance muttering to herself while Ron looked at her with and amused expression on his face and back to Harry. When he caught his eye Harry gave him a little wave and headed up towards Gryffindor tower, leaving him with an in-thought Hermione.
Daphne was waiting in front of the assigned classroom on the 4th floor where Prefects were supposed to meet for patrols and where they would be relived in a few hours' time. She had been early but could still feel a slight annoyance rising up as she waited for her partner. She wasn't entirely sure who it would be as Turner had found her last week and let her know that he had accepted Notts request to miss patrols, but that he was still searching for a replacement. She had started to consider that maybe she was going to be on her own and that she should just get started when she heard someone running down the hall.
Finally, the mystery person rounded the corner and she saw a head of messy black hair, a lightning bolt scar, and impossibly green eyes jogging towards her. His cheeks were pink with exertion and his glasses slightly askew. "Hullo" he said meekly while she sent him a glare.
She started walking her regular rounds and Harry quickly fell in step beside her. "Care to explain why you're late?" she asked with a frown.
"It was just a few minutes." Harry replied and she could hear the smile in his voice which only annoyed her further. Before she could retort however, he started again. "I was actually on pace to be here on time, but on my way down I ran into Fred and George." Daphne gave an involuntary shudder thinking about the red headed twin menaces that loved nothing more than pranking Slytherins. Harry noticed her reaction and chuckled as he continued. "They were trying out some new wheezes on the first years that were volunteering, but I had to stop them. I told them I'd be willing to help them test them out, but they couldn't do it on the firsties, even if they were paying them."
Daphne tried to hold back her look of surprise. Standing up to the Weasley twins was not something a lot of people did. "And they listened?" She asked, unable to totally keep the surprise out of her voice.
Harry chuckled again "They made fun of me for being an uptight prefect, but they did promise that if I tested the wheezes with them instead, that they'd leave the first years alone."
After his explanation they fell into a companionable silence as Harry took the lead and they made their way down the route he and Hermione usually walk. She was trying to think of something to say to fill the silence but before she could they ran into a crying girl. She was a first year by the looks of it and her robes indicated she was a Hufflepuff. She was sitting on the ground, her back against the wall and her head between her knees.
They rushed over and Harry took the lead. "Hey," he said wincing as she looked up with terrified eyes "It's okay, my name is Harry, this is Daphne. We're prefects. What's going on?" He asked.
The little girl sniffled and looked like she might cry again. "I was going from charms class to the great hall, but then the staircases moved, and I didn't know where I was, and I tried to go back the way I came but only got more lost. I missed dinner, and now I don't know where I am." She said her small voice cracking.
"It's alright." Harry soothed the girl. "I remember how long it took for me to learn my way along the castle, I got lost more times than I can count." He told her reassuringly. Daphne nodded her head in agreement. "You're currently on the 3rd floor. The Hufflepuff common rooms aren't too far from here, and I think I know what we can do about you missing dinner." He continued and the girl looked at him with a look of hope and thanks.
Daphne watched as Harry took her hand and lifted her to her feet. She could see him make to pull his hand away, but the little Hufflepuff held on stubbornly and Harry let her, a slight look of discomfort on his face that made Daphne smile.
Daphne spoke up now asking the little girl what her name was. She mumbled a reply of "Amy Jergins" and Harry continued to lead them down the hallways and staircases. He made polite conversation with the little girl asking about her favorite classes so far and what she was learning. The girl brightened up and began to tell him all about charms and how she loved that she could make her wand light up and how one of the Professors could turn into a cat. Harry laughed with her and listened with such intensity that the girl blushed a few times at the attention he was affording her.
When they finally made it to the other end of the dungeons where the Hufflepuff dormitories were located, Harry took a wrong turn. Daphne had been quick to let him know, but he just smiled that small smile and asked the little girl if she was hungry. She said yes and Harry led the way to a large portrait of a bowl of fruit. He reached out and appeared to tickle the pear that giggled and turned into a handle that he pulled open. Daphne had known that the kitchens were somewhere down here but never knew where exactly or how to get in. She filed this information away for later use.
Harry walked into the kitchen with little Amy still clutching his hand, he greeted some of the elves by name and asked if Dobby was around. An excitable little elf appeared wearing mismatched socks and a shirt that would put Dumbledore's flamboyant robes to shame. "Harry Potter sir be asking for Dobby?" The little elf squeaked excitedly.
"Hi Dobby." Harry greeted with a smile "My new friend Amy got lost and missed dinner. Is there anything leftover you might be able to give her?"
Dobby smiled and nodded his head so quickly Daphne thought he might hurt himself. "I be right back Mr. Harry Potter sir; Dobby will bring some fresh food for Harry Potters friend." When the elf had run off, Harry took a seat with Amy and beckoned for Daphne to sit as well. Within a few minutes Amy had a spread in front of her to choose from while Dobby handed Harry a plate with a slice of treacle tart, and Daphne a bowl with ice cream. How the little elf knew that ice cream was her favorite dessert she didn't know but she was grateful.
Amy dug in and before long they had all had their fill. Daphne rose to her feet and Harry followed her. Amy's hand immediately searched out Harry's and again he let her hold it as they finished the rest of their short walk back to the Hufflepuff common room. When they arrived there the little girl gave Harry and Daphne both a tight hug and thanked them kindly for helping her. After they let her know it was their pleasure, and Harry told her to find him if she ever needed any help, she whispered the password and let herself in waving bye one last time.
Daphne led them through the rest of their round walking quickly to make up for the time lost in the kitchen. She was sneaking glances at the Gryffindor walking in step with her trying to reconcile the boy Draco and all the other Slytherins described, as vain, attention seeking, and a bully, with the boy she met at the hearing and just saw go out of his way to help a first year he had never met. He had even allowed the little girl to clutch his hand in a death grip despite his obvious discomfort.
"Do I have something on my face?" He asked wiping at his cheek and Daphne internally berated herself for being so careless.
"No, you don't. I was just lost in thought." She said not completely lying.
"Knut for your thoughts?" He offered easily and she was surprised at just how much she wanted to let him know what she was thinking.
"No, it's alright" She said, "Just thinking about assignments I have due and planning ahead" she lied.
Harry nodded. As though that explained everything, and she allowed herself a moment of internal praise for coming up with a convincing lie. They spent the remainder of their round in easy conversation. Harry had mentioned something he was struggling in with Runes and Daphne was explaining it. She was top of their year in runes, beating out even Granger and she knew exactly what Harry was struggling with as she had the same problem last year with that particular rune set. Before she could finish her thought, they arrived back to the classroom on the 4th floor and she noticed that the prefects set to relieve them were already there, the 7th year puffs if Daphne remembered correctly. Harry let them know quickly that nothing was out of sorts besides a lost puff, and they thanked them for having her fed and returned safely (apparently the girl had let them know what happened), before they went off for their own rounds.
Daphne felt Harry looking at her, and when she turned to meet his gaze, he said. "Well, this evening wasn't too bad. If you have time during the week, or maybe on our next patrol, I'd love to pick your brain more about that rune set." She agreed and then he sent her that same small smile. "I hope you have a goodnight, Daphne." And before she could reply he had turned and started making his way towards a staircase that would take him to Gryffindor tower.
She didn't think he could hear her anymore, but she still muttered out a "Goodnight, Harry." Before turning the opposite direction and making her way down towards the dungeons her thoughts flying around her head before settling on this new enigma comprised of messy black hair and green eyes.
Harry returned to the common room that evening and saw that Hermione seemed to be knitting, he saw Ron sitting there with a spool of yarn and knitting needles looking miserable and couldn't help the snort that escaped. Ron glanced up at him with a scowl.
Harry made his way over and asked what was going on and Hermione explained that she and Ron had been working on their potion's assignment from earlier today. "Ron was fidgeting and asking if we could stop. He said he would be willing to do 'literally anything besides homework' so now he's helping me knit socks and other clothes for the elves so we can free them."
Harry looked over to see his friend suffering as he tried to use the knitting needles to make the base for a… scarf… or was that a sock? Regardless Harry decided to have mercy on his friend. "Hermione I actually ran into Dobby today in the kitchens." Hermione scowled but Harry quickly reminded her that he was a free elf and that he had helped Harry because he chose to not because he had to. "Anyways" Harry continued as Hermione was looking at him only slightly less put out that he went to the kitchens "I was thinking that on our rounds Wednesday we could stop by and ask Dobby the best way to help."
Hermione mulled it over and agreed stating that she wanted to finish the socks she was working on, but she mercifully let his other best mate go. Ron stood quickly before she could change her mind and looked at Harry. "Fancy a game of Wizard's chess, Harry?"
Harry shook his head, "Sorry mate, I was hoping to talk to snuffles tonight" he said quietly. I was planning on going up now before anyone else came up." Ron made a noise of understanding and promised he'd try to keep their year mates down here if he could. Harry thanked him and bid farewell to Hermione who had also hear his plan and gave him a smile and a wave.
When Harry made it up to his dormitory he grabbed the mirror from his trunk, climbed into his fourposter and threw up a silencing charm around the drawn curtains. He held the mirror out and called out "Padfoot" clearly. The mirror vibrated for about a minute before his own reflection suddenly disappeared and he saw his godfather smiling widely into the mirror.
"Harry!" He smiled "Everything alright pup?"
"Yeah, everything is fine, I just wanted to try this thing out, make sure it worked." He said with a smile on his face.
Sirius pretended to look affronted "You doubt the ingenuity and prowess of the greatest pranksters Hogwarts has ever seen, Harry? How could you wound your godfather like this?"
Harry chuckled at Sirius' exaggerated antics and instead of dignifying him with a response, he started to tell him about everything that had happened so far. Sirius commended him for trying more and said that it had taken his father until 6th year to wise up and really buckle down, and that he was glad Harry was taking his studies, and more importantly, his occlumency seriously.
When Harry started to tell him about Umbridge, he could see that Sirius was visibly upset. "Dumbledore is right Harry; you need to do your absolute best to avoid rising to her bait. I know it can be hard but keep your head down."
Harry sighed at the advice he had been receiving from everyone before replying. "Believe me, I'll try. I don't want to give them any cause to think what they might be spouting off is true and if I make myself look like a loon arguing back it'll do just that. I just wish I could practice some practical defense. I heard a few 7th years were trying to practice in an abandoned classroom and when she found it, she docked them 20 points each and gave them detention for a week with Snape. If I didn't know any better I would think that she was a death eater and she purposely wants us not to be prepared if Voldemort attacks." Harry said hotly.
Sirius seemed to contemplate what Harry said before replying "I can see your reasoning, but I don't think she's a death eater Harry. I believe that Fudge is telling her what he wants done and she's trying to go above and beyond what even he is asking. That being said defense is important Harry, I do think you should practice it, but definitely be careful."
"How can I do that, she's already keeping a close eye on me, and is just waiting for me to step out of line." Harry complained.
Sirius barked out a quick laugh pulling him out of his self-pity "Harry, your father and I became animagi without a single instructor ever realizing what we were doing. Now, are you the son of a marauder or not? Because this sounds like a great prank to pull on Umbridge."
Harry mulled it over in his head and agreed. "You're right Sirius, thanks for that. How often do you think we should call each other to check in?" Harry asked and could see Sirius shrug.
"I wouldn't mind talking to you everyday pup, but it might be best if we don't do it so often in case someone is listening in. The last thing the prophet needs to find out is that you're consorting with a mass murderer." He scowled.
Harry nodded. "How about once a week or so? Sometime over the weekend, and then if there's ever an emergency?"
"That works for me, harry. Now before you hang up, any pretty witches catch your eye?" Sirius said with a smirk.
Harry could feel his face warm up even as he desperately tried to stop it "Oh my god, I am not talking about this with you." he muttered looking down and smiling in spite of himself, as he could hear Sirius' sharp bark of laughter come through the mirror. It was nice to have someone who cared.
A/N: First new chapter in 5 years! I apologize for any mistakes in grammar or spelling. I don't have a beta and am liable to miss things as I reread them. If you notice anything feel free to send me a PM and I'll do my best to fix it. As always, I appreciate your thoughts and ideas, so please feel free to leave them in a review or PM. Until next time 😊