Chapter 5

"I asked- no, begged you to not embarrass me but you did more than that. You let that..." Draco paused, taking a breath before locking eyes with Harry, "textbook with hair, punch me."

"It's not like you didn't embarrass yourself in the last Quidditch Match, " Blaise said as he stabbed his fork into a carrot cake, "Besides, that was two weeks ago."

"How was I supposed to see the snitch from behind some chubby Hufflepuff? It doesn't matter Harry and I made a deal!" Draco complained, drawing curious eyes from those nearby.

Harry couldn't say he enjoyed Halloween, seeing as his parents had been killed by Voldemort on this day, but the Halloween feast usually made him a bit happier, but this year, like last, had a much more somber tone to it. Parents were dying, families were being murdered, and the W.A.A was creeping closer to being a reality for many of the students but Harry couldn't let that ruin the feast, not tonight.

Harry chuckled amusingly, "I never said yes, and if she hadn't done it, I would have. You called her a mudblood!"

Draco took a violent bite out of his pie, "It slipped."

"Just like our chances in Quidditch," Blaise replied smoothly

"It's not like you've been getting past too many keepers these days, Zabini. Might I remind you, I've been doing this for five years now versus your measly four." Draco replied.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Blaise remarked.

Harry looked around as the party began to dwindle, the music was getting quieter and quieter and the food wasn't replenishing itself as quickly as it had been.

Draco glanced at his watch, "Shit, I'm late for this stupid gathering."

"Be careful, they were harmless but I fear they'll be emboldened..." Zabini said as he took a quick glance toward Harry. "By the events of this summer."

Draco leaned in, speaking almost in a whisper, "They are, but they've always listened to me over Nott; I don't expect that to change as long as I continue to put fear in their hearts."

"Never underestimate anyone," Harry said.

"Don't you need to get there?" Blaise chimed in.

Draco huffed as he got up, "I'll see you both in the chamber tonight."

Harry watched as Draco walked away, there was never a choice for Draco. He was always going to be a death eater, and when they had become friends the end of the first year, Harry knew that. He knew the Malfoy's extreme loyalty for Voldemort and he knew that Draco could be used as a pawn, but he hadn't expected to become as close to Draco as he had become, and vice-versa.

"Are you ever going to tell us what happened at that wedding?"

Harry glanced at his watch and got up, "Maybe, but for now, prefect duties call."

"I'll see you tonight," Blaise said as he watched those remaining at the party attentively

Harry nodded, before heading out to meet Daphne in front of the common room.

"I still can't believe that dirty bitch mudblood touched Draco. When the Dark Lord wins...she'll be sorry to have touched royalty." Pansy said leaned up against the fireplace.

Daphne couldn't help but be annoyed by Pansy's mention of Draco. Ever since they had begun their fling last year, Pansy had become almost obsessed with him and Daphne couldn't help but be annoyed by it. She knew she wasn't alone in her annoyance, Bridget and Millicent didn't like it either. Nothing ruined a day faster than Pansy detailing how well Draco could use his tongue during breakfast.

"Poor little Malfoy," Daphne drawled sarcastically.

Pansy shot a cold look at Daphne, "Maybe if you knew how to hold a wand then it wouldn't have happened. Now that I'm thinking about it, maybe that's why Nott cheated on you... because he wanted a useful witch."

"Pansy, that's really too far, " Millicent gasped, sitting across from Pansy.

"I can make myself useful and show you how Granger punched Malfoy," Daphne said as she got up from the couch. Pansy was silent as Daphne looked her in the eye, "Good, if you do change your mind, let me know and I'll gladly show you."

Daphne grabbed her perfect badge, put it on, and quickly stepped out of the common room. Pansy could be a really good friend when she wanted too, but there were a lot of times Daphne could hardly stomach her, and this was one of them. She couldn't help but realize just how much she missed Nott at times; he wasn't perfect, but he understood her in a way that many people didn't. Even when things were usually rocky, she could always imagine herself ending up with him, but that stupid wedding happened. She could remember how devastated she had felt reading about it in the Prophet. The Pureblood Slayer caught red-handed in the massacre of both families by aurors, and she had never felt so guilty because she had been mad at him over something, that now, seemed so stupid.

"Greengrass?" Potter asked, unsurely.

Daphne blinked, realizing tears had been falling from her face. Daphne quickly wiped her tears.

"I'm fine...Let's just go." Daphne said impatiently

"Okay,"

Daphne didn't know what to do with Potter, honestly. She couldn't help feel angry when she would think about the wedding and his involvement in it. However; from her observation, he was an arsehole, but he didn't seem terrible. She didn't think he was totally innocent, but she could start to see why Hermione respected him so much. After fifteen minutes of silence, there was loud laughter above them. Potter immediately pointed his wand at the source. It was Peeves, who started laughing maniacally as he zipped back forth through the walls.

"Look who it is the slayer of Purebloods, Farry Peeder! Slay this!" Peeves said.

Peeve's dropped what seemed like a bucket. Potter flicked his wand and before the bucket could even get anywhere, it froze in the air, unmoving. Peeves looked annoyed as he tried to make it move but it wouldn't budge.

"You kill everything Hairy Pooper!" Peeves yelled as he flew away.

"I hate that ghost," Potter whispered as they kept walking.

"I think that's something we both have in common," Daphne replied.

There was silence as they continued to walk. She couldn't help but look over at her partner, who was deep in thought. She could tell he spent a lot of time thinking, maybe too much for his own good...much like Nott would.

"Do you hate that people call you that - the pureblood slayer, I mean?"

"I don't think anyone loves being called a mass murderer," Potter replied, "Besides... my father was a pureblood."

Daphne came to the sudden realization of what today was. Fifteen years ago, Potter's parents had died on this day. She felt a tinge of sadness, he had been dealing with grief far longer than she had.

"Potter, I-I don't think you're that bad of a guy," Daphne said.

They both looked at each and Potter gave a curt smile, "Thank you; I think that's the first nice thing I've heard you say about me."

It was odd. It was the first time she had seen him smile or give any other emotions besides indifference. In fact, this was the first time they had a conversation that was somewhat lighthearted; it was really odd.

Daphne grinned as she opened up a broom closet, "I wouldn't get used to it."

"I suppo-

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Daphne felt herself being slammed against the floor, as the door exploded into shards of wood pieces in front of her There was a loud crunch as her face met the coldness of the stone floor.

"AVAD-

Daphne heard what sounded like a slash, followed by a sudden drop on the floor.

"Greengrass, are you okay?" Harry asked.

It took a few seconds to even register what was said, her thoughts scrambled and disconnected. Daphne picked herself up from a pool of blood, sitting up against the wall. Just a few feet away from here was a crumpled body that was losing blood rapidly.

"Greengrass, I need you to focus...please, right now. Are you okay?" Harry repeated.

Daphne felt her hand, thoughtlessly, move to her nose which was bent in an abnormal place. There was a simple spell she could do to fix it, althou-

"Greengrass...Daphne," Harry said.

Daphne suddenly looked up noticing, her prefect partner, who looked almost scary as he looked back and forth from her to where the lifeless body lay still.

"I-I'm...fine." Daphne croaked out.

"Alright, I need to get you back to the common room; we need to go now. Can you run?"

Harry grabbed her hand, pulling her up to her feet. Daphne took out her own wand. She couldn't think and she couldn't get her hands to stop shaking. Both Harry and Daphne turned their head as they heard a pair of footsteps run toward them.

"Daphne, I need you to run to the common room or find any professor you can find. Move quickly but as silently as you can. I'll catch up with you as soon I can, I promise," Harry whispered as stared at the footsteps approaching, "Go..now."

Daphne turned and ran. She could hear everything, even the beating of her own heart. She could feel the flow of blood trickle down from her nose as she ran, and she felt she could break her wand from how tight she was holding it. As she ran from corridor to corridor, she was praying desperately that she would stumble upon the headmaster or hell, even Filch would be nice. Daphne stopped frantically as a boy ran out in front of her, his wand aimed at her. It was hard to distinguish who he was but she could tell that this boy was around their age.

"Listen, I'm not Harry...I'm not the one you want!"

The boy did not reply. Daphne held out her wand toward the boy, her hands shaking so much that she wasn't sure she would be able to fight him even if she had too.

"AVADA KEDAVRA," He yelled as the familiar green spell shot forward toward her.

Daphne dropped against the floor, her scattered mind only allowing her to think of one spell in retaliation,"Bombarda!"

The young boy yelled as the spell threw him against a nearby wall, Daphne felt sick as his lifeless body lay crumpled on the stone floor, but she got up and continued to run, not glancing at the body she had left. She wanted to vomit, but she knew she was close, and that was all that mattered. She so desperately wanted to hear Pansy insult her or anyone for that matter again.

"Daphne."

Daphne turned to see Harry, who had his wand pointed at her. She felt relieved.

"The Aurors are on the way. You should have been in the common room by now, why aren't you?" Harry demanded, almost in an accusatory tone

"Wait, You should of- didn't you see the...the body?" Daphne stammered out.

"I gave orders to Filch and came straight to you." Harry said.

"No, Pott-Harry, I-

Daphne didn't have time to finish as a purple spell propelled forward from the shadows, directed at Harry's back. Daphne, felt time slow down dramatically. She didn't know why and she couldn't understand it, but she felt herself moving to protect him. As the spell hit her, pain erupted through her body and the last thing she could see was an image of complete and utter shock upon Harry's face as she fell to the ground.

Harry flicked his wand and the boy blew up in his flames, lighting up the halls as his screams echoed against the stone walls. Harry knelt beside Daphne, who was twitching on the ground and began waving his wand over her. The only thing that was going through his mind was why she would sacrifice herself for him? Harry heard other footsteps behind him.

"Put your wand on the ground!"

Harry turned to see Aurors surrounding him as he was bent over Daphne. A head auror stepped out in front, he was the closest to them.

"I won't say it again, put your wand on the ground," The head auror said.

"Take her to the Infirmary, now." Harry said with the same level of authority as he finished a few spells and put his wand on the floor, immediately having it accio'd by an auror. That would hopefully slow down the curses enough for her life to be saved. Harry felt his hands arms snap behind his back and his wrists tied as two Aurors came and picked him up from the ground so he could walk. Two other Aurors lifted Daphne from the ground and took her to the infirmary.

"Follow us, Mr. Potter," An auror said as they began walking.

It was a simple five-minute walk before they entered into Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore was standing at his desk with both Kingsley Shacklebolt and Tonks next to him, a tall man stood on the other side of the desk accompanied by aurors and as they entered he turned around, revealing that it was Rufus Scrimgeour, who had aged quite considerably since the last time Harry had seen him which had been last summer.

"What's the situation, Arran?" Scrimgeour said as he began walking down the stairs followed by Dumbledore.

"Ernie Macmillan, and another boy, from Gryffindor, are confirmed dead, sir. I have aurors that are looking into the identity of the Gryffindor boy as he had been burnt beyond recognition, and a Slytherin girl is being rushed to the infirmary. She was hit with a pretty nasty curse and she hasn't been identified yet, sir," The auror Arran handed Scrimgeour Harry's wand. "Harry Potter was discovered on the scene, and his wand confirmed that he killed the two deceased boys. However, the two boys both had the killing curse on their wand, with the Macmillian boy having an additional imperius curse."

Harry looked over at Dumbledore who was pensive. It didn't make sense, Ernie was a Hufflepuff, and a Gryffindor was involved?

"It was a set-up," Harry said to himself.

Scrimgeour shook his head in disbelief, "Let me know the identities of the two unidentified as soon as you can."

"Yes, sir," Arran said as he left the group.

Scrimgeour looked over at Harry before looking at Dumbledore, "If I don't do something, the people will have my head."

"It seems your auror delivered the truth to you, Minister. Mr. Potter attempted to protect his classmate and school against comprised individuals, however grim the outcome was." Dumbledore said.

"It doesn't matter! When this gets out...people will be outraged! " Scrimgeour quickly turned to look at Harry, who was watching intently, "He must have a trial! Harry Potter must have a trial."

"You think persecuting me will save your corrupt ministry?" Harry asked, coldly.

"Scrimgeour, that will not be necessary or helpful- Dumbledore, retorted, however as cut off by the Minister.

Scrimgeour turned back to Dumbledore, "Enough, Albus! You are not in control… I am! I did you a favor once and let go without a trial, but I cannot be seen as weak... not right now. We must show strength if we are to combat the Dark Lord and that means making tough-

Whatever Scrimgeour was going to say was interrupted as the auror came back in the room. "Sir, Cormac Mclaggen and Daphne Greengrass were the unnamed victims...all of Pureblood lineage, sir, " Arran said, entering the room.

Scrimgeour sighed, "As I feared, Harry Potter, you are under arres-

"I'm sorry, Minister, but there is no need for that to happen tonight," Dumbledore interjected, "There will be no trial until the conditions of Mrs. Greengrass become abundantly clear. However, because I understand the nature of politics, to show the Ministry is perdurable, I will step down as Headmaster."

There were audible gasps from the Aurors present and Tonks. Harry didn't say anything, he knew better than to get involved.

"Thus allowing you to install someone the Ministry approves of. This will make you seem tough, if even a little arrogant, for standing up to an old wizard like me," Dumbledore said, eying Scrimgeour.

Scrimgeour didn't say anything for a while, but finally, after a long period of silence, he spoke, "I do not appreciate you telling me my options, but I...approve of your offer. Effective tomorrow, you will step down as Headmaster, and when asked why, you will say that Hogwarts needs better protection that only the Ministry can provide."

Tonks blurted out, "Sir, with all due respect, Headmaster Dumbledore is the greatest wizard since-well, since, Merlin, it would be un-

"Enough! I do not care; the Ministry is more than capable," Scrimgeour turned to the Aurors, "Mr. Potter is free to go. I need some of you to patrol the halls tonight, you can divide it amongst yourself."

Harry felt his hands become free and an auror gave him his wand back.

"Arran, will you escort Mr. Potter back to his common room, please," Scrimgeour turned to face Harry, "I would be a lot more careful if I were you, ."

Harry didn't bother to speak; he didn't have much to say. Harry gave a quick glance to Dumbledore, who gave him an elderly smile before turning toward Kingsley. Harry turned and left the office, his mind spinning, trying to process everything that happened.

Once Arran had escorted him to the common room, Harry made his way to the fireplace, looking around to make sure no one was around before speaking in his crude parseltongue. The fire died as the fireplace split into two revealing a stairwell. Harry quickly descended and walked until he was in the familiar chamber.

Both Draco and Blaise were already there. Draco was pacing along the room while even Blaise looked somewhat worried. It took a few seconds before they finally noticed Harry approaching.

"Potter, the death eaters had no part in this tonight- everyone was present, we were all there until we heard aurors shuffling through the corridors. If I knew anything was going to happen, I would have stopped it." Draco said quickly.

Harry didn't say anything but he did collapse into an armchair across from Blaise.

"I killed two innocent people tonight and the only person I was supposed to protect might die," Harry said flatly as he let his hands run through his hair and his forehead rest on his palms, "Because of tonight, I basically helped make sure the war aid act becomes a reality."

Even as Harry said this, he felt numb. He knew what he was saying was heavy, but he couldn't feel the heaviness; it all felt numb. The room was silent, even Draco didn't bother to say anything. Five or ten minutes must have passed before anything was spoken again.

"Draco, Blaise... I don't care how, but find out who was responsible for this," Harry deadpanned.

"What are you going to do once you find them?" Draco asked.

Harry stood up, intensely staring at the wall in front of him for a while, "I'm going to live up to that fucking name I was given."