Okay, small question before we begin: a couple of people have reviewed with some criticisms in common, two of which being 'the plot isn't changing much, Daphne is just taking the parts of others in them' and 'the romance is pretty slow'. Now, I'm fine with that feedback...but I said all the way back in chapter one that those things would be the case.

There will be bigger deviations from the plot and more focus on the ship, but it'll take until late in year four and throughout year five and beyond for that to happen. Most fics like this start in year five or later for that reason. I didn't, because I'm having fun writing the story like this.

So my question is...why read through ~150k words of story when it's clearly not the kind of story you enjoy? I'd ask this through PM, but every single one of the people who've commented this are either guests or have PMs disabled. What is keeping you reading? I admire and am grateful for the dedication, don't get me wrong, but when I don't like a fic's premise I tend to drop it halfway through the first chapter. Honestly, though, to anyone who has read this far while still disliking the premise, and somehow still having hope for it to improve after fifty chapters...you're amazing.

Everyone who does like the story, you're also amazing, and thank you for sticking with it for this long!

Chapter Fifty: The Secret Revealed

Early the next morning, they left the campsite. On the way back to the Portkeys, they came past Mr. Roberts's cottage, from where Mr. Roberts waved them off with a vague, "Merry Christmas."

"He'll be alright," Mr. Weasley said. "Sometimes, when a person's memory's modified, it makes him a bit disoriented for a while…and that was a big thing they had to make him forget."

Daphne shuddered, again feeling very disturbed by the very concept of Memory Charms. If the Imperius Curse was illegal, why not those?! And to think she'd considered them pretty harmless not too long ago… Lockhart, at least, had been a victim of a backfiring wand, aside from heartily deserving the fate he'd got.

Shortly afterwards, they managed to take a Portkey back to Stoatshead Hill and walk back to the Burrow, where Mrs. Weasley approached them the moment they walked onto the lane to the house.

"Arthur! I've been so worried…so worried…"

She flung her arms around Mr. Weasleys neck, and the morning edition of the Daily Prophet fell out of her hand. Daphne saw the headline: SCENES OF TERROR AT THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP. Underneath the headline was a picture of the Dark Mark.

Still fussing over Mr. Weasley and her kids, Mrs. Weasley led everyone into the kitchen, where Mr. Weasley looked over the article in the paper.

"I knew it," he said heavily. "Ministry blunders…culprits not apprehended…lax security…Dark wizards running unchecked…national disgrace…Who wrote this? Ah…of course…Rita Skeeter."

Daphne vaguely knew Skeeter's name. Neither Mum nor Dad had ever said anything positive about her, but that was as far as her knowledge went.

Mr. Weasley and Percy then left for work to help with managing the situation, while the Weasleys and Harry decided to play a game of Quidditch to get their mind off things.

Daphne had had enough Quidditch for a while and ended up in a discussion about House-Elves with Hermione. "It's exploitative!" Hermione said. "They've been thoroughly indoctrinated and they can't even imagine a free life anymore. Don't you think that's utterly revolting?"

"A lot of things in wizarding society are revolting," Daphne said. "Just like a lot of things in Muggle society are revolting. The rights, or lack thereof, of magical creatures are a pretty hot topic in the Wizengamot, and many wizards are in favor of banning corporal punishment for House-Elves, at least."

"They should be freed altogether," Hermione said stubbornly.

"Just because Dobby wanted to be free doesn't mean all of them do. Finny, indoctrinated or not, would be extremely unhappy if we set her free. We treat her as well as we can, don't ask her to do things she doesn't like to do, and if she'd ever ask for money she'd get it — but she doesn't. Even if her happiness is a result of ancient magic binding her to us, setting her free would not be an act of kindness.

"I'm all in favor of you working to get House-Elves more and more rights, Hermione, but not based on knowledge that's so incomplete. If you really want to get into the legal side of things, I'll ask Dad to send you some of the bills that have been proposed in the Wizengamot over the past decades."

"Please do," Hermione said immediately.

"You think you can even read that legal jargon?" Daphne asked. She hadn't actually expected Hermione to be so eager.

"I'll learn it," Hermione said. "Someone has to do something…"

Daphne sighed. "Don't expect too much," she said. "Even Hogwarts employs House-Elves. You're not going to get people to go along with you easily."

"There are House-Elves at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked, aghast.

"How else did you think the food was made? You know you can't just conjure it up out of nowhere, right?" Daphne asked.

"But…I've never seen them!"

"And why should you have? They're mostly in the kitchens, tending to the fires, making the beds. Filch is in charge of keeping the corridors clean."

"But…Professor Dumbledore offers them pay and vacation days, right?" Hermione asked.

Daphne wanted to laugh, but controlled herself. "No. Well, I suppose he would, if they'd ask, but they don't, because they generally don't want those things. They want to please their masters, no matter what. And, again, that kind of indoctrination isn't going to go away by setting them all free. Better to treat them well and let them enjoy their jobs, and I'm sure Dumbledore is at least doing that. Look, if you want to talk to Finny, I'll call her for you. She can explain how she feels."

"O-okay," Hermione said hesitantly.

Daphne called Finny, and a moment later she appeared with a crack.

"Yes, Mistress Daphne?" she asked.

"Hermione wanted to ask you some questions," Daphne said.

Finny turned around and looked at Hermione.

"Er, yes. I was wondering…wouldn't you like to be free, instead of being bound to one house?"

Finny looked shocked. "No, ma'am, no! Finny would prefer to stay with her family, ma'am," she said.

"But what about getting paid, or vacation?"

"Finny does not need pay or vacation, ma'am. Finny enjoys working, and masters take good care of her."

"There is a House-Elf named Dobby who wants to be paid," Hermione said.

"Finny has met him after he was released," Finny said. "Dobby's masters were bad wizards. Dobby thinks that if he asks for money, only someone who really wants him would hire him. Dobby does not want to be mistreated again, ma'am."

"So…he doesn't really care about the money?" Hermione asked.

"Finny does not think so, ma'am, although she doesn't know for sure…"

"And…you're sure that you're happy doing what you do?"

Finny nodded. "Yes, ma'am! Finny is lucky to work for a nice family, ma'am, and she would like to keep working for them."

"Er, okay…I, er…thank you, Finny," Hermione said uncertainly.

Finny bowed and turned back to Daphne.

"That's all," Daphne said. "Thanks, Finny. Say hi to Mum and Dad for me."

"Yes, Mistress Daphne," Finny said, and she disappeared with another crack.

"Satisfied?" she asked Hermione.

"Not really…but I suppose Finny did seem happy enough…Maybe Crouch was just horrible…"

"Crouch is horrible, no matter how much Percy idolizes him," Daphne said. "My parents told me he was absolutely fanatical in rounding up Voldemort's followers. I heard he even sentenced his own son to Azkaban for life without any remorse, when he was accused of being a Death Eater. Do you think a person who could do that would be nice to a House-Elf?"

Hermione sighed angrily. "I guess not. Still, though, please ask your Dad about those bills. I want to read up on this as much as I can…"

Two days later, Sirius came by, telling everyone who attended Hogwarts to meet him in the garden. Mrs. Weasley didn't seem supportive of this, but Sirius said that he didn't care much, and that he'd tell everyone one way or another. Daphne got the distinct feeling he and Mrs. Weasley didn't necessarily see eye to eye on many things.

"Okay, what I'm about to tell you is, as your mother already pointed out, classified. Given the events at the World Cup and…" He glanced briefly at Harry. "…some other things, however, I feel you should be informed as soon as possible.

"This year, Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament for the first time in centuries, a competition between the three largest magic schools in Europe. It's an event that will generate a lot of attention and will necessitate many people being at Hogwarts who usually wouldn't be. There is a distinct possibility that certain elements of the disturbances at the World Cup will be among those people, and if they are, the Tournament might end up being dangerous even to people who are just watching.

"Dumbledore will keep an eye on things, and from what I've heard he's managed to get Alastor Moody out of retirement to take on the role of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but it never hurts to be prepared yourselves. Keep your eyes and ears open all year, and let me know if anything strange happens. I'm not officially an Auror, but I am a Hit Wizard, and I know some people who might be able to help, if it turns out to be necessary. I might even come to watch some of the Tournament myself, if I get the chance."

He looked around at all of them.

"So…what is this Tournament, then?" Ron asked.

"A single champion is chosen from each of the three participating schools — Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons — who will compete in three challenges against the other champions. The winner gets a lot of bragging rights and a lot of money," Sirius said. "It was canceled because too many people kept dying in it, but apparently it's been made a lot safer this year." He didn't sound like he believed much of that. "I doubt any of you will be allowed to enter, though. I think Dumbledore will restrict it to people who are of age."

He looked at Fred and George. "So if you intend to enter anyway, you'd best get started on a way to fool whatever method Dumbledore will use to keep you out," he said with a grin.

Fred and George answered his grin with two identical ones of their own.

"Why was this such a big secret?" Daphne asked.

Sirius shrugged. "Normally, I'd have kept the secret as well, just to hear about your shock when it was announced," he said. "But with everything that's happening lately I don't want to take any chances. Any surprise that isn't a Christmas or birthday present should be mistrusted…and sometimes even those. I think Hermione actually did a sensible thing last year by not trusting the Firebolt I sent you, Harry."

Hermione looked strangely pleased by Sirius's praise.

"You sound almost as paranoid as Moody himself," Fred said.

"I know, but you have to realize that the riot at the World Cup isn't the only strange thing to have happened lately. I'm sure you've heard about that Ministry witch, Bertha Jorkins, disappearing, which happened in a region of Albania Voldemort is known to have been to in the past. I knew Bertha in school, and she was incredibly nosy and not very bright, so it's easily possible for her to have been lured into some kind of trap. Her disappearance might have nothing to do with anything, or it might prove to be vital, but the point is we can't afford to take risks on this. The Ministry doesn't care much, but Dumbledore does," Sirius said.

"Any other secrets you can tell us that Mum doesn't want us knowing about?" George asked.

Sirius grinned. "Plenty, but I think she'd actually kill me if I shared those. Nothing that's currently relevant, at any rate."

He looked at Harry. "Stay in touch, alright? I'm in contact with Dumbledore as well so odds are I'll know what's happening around Hogwarts, but if anything comes up I'd like to hear it from you as well. Gotta show Lily and James they were right to name me your godfather, after all," he said.

Harry grinned. "Don't worry, I'll be sure to tell you all about my homework too… Maybe we can meet up in Hogsmeade at some point."

Sirius nodded. "Good thinking. With the Yule Ball you'll probably want to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas."

Harry blinked and exchanged a glance with the others. "The what now?" he asked.

"The Yule Ball," Sirius said. "It's a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament. I think dress robes are actually on your school lists this year for it. The champions open the ball, but everyone fourth year and up can go, though younger people can attend if they're someone's date, I think. You'll understand I'm not supposed to know these things, but, er, I've never been one to let such things as rules stop me from finding things out…"

"Incidentally, Sirius, would you like some extra godsons?" Fred asked.

"Because if so, we'd gladly accept," George added.

Sirius laughed. "I don't think Molly would go for it. It took me years to get Lily to like me enough to consider it. James had promised me he'd make me godfather of his kids halfway through first year or something, but back then Lily couldn't stand either of us… But that's a story I'd rather tell Harry first, if you all don't mind, and I don't have time for it now."

With that, he raised his hand in greeting and walked off some ways before Disapparating.

"So, are you planning on entering, then?" Fred asked.

"We're not of age," Hermione said. "We won't have learned enough to–"

"Oh, who cares about that? Think of the glory!" George interrupted.

"And the money," Ron said. "I'd gladly do some challenges for money. I mean, look at what we've done every year since coming to school. I'm sure we'd be able to do it."

"I'm sitting this one out," Harry said. "I don't need or want more fame and I have money. This one's all yours."

He winced. "But if there's a tournament going on…I don't think we'll be having Quidditch this year, will we?"

Fred and George looked shocked. "I didn't even think of that," Fred said. "Surely they won't be needing the pitch, though, right? And if people from other schools are coming too, wouldn't they enjoy seeing some matches?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. I hope I'm wrong. I mean, Sirius didn't mention it, but he might not have known every detail."

"If we don't have Quidditch it'll be even more important that one of us makes it in…" George said.

Fred nodded. Both of them suddenly looked more serious than Daphne had seen them in a long time — at least when there wasn't a riot going on. The two of them quickly walked back to the house, already deep in conversation to make plans.

Daphne and the others went into the kitchen, where Mrs. Weasley was waiting for them.

"So the surprise is out, then?" she asked. She tried to sound casual, but Daphne heard the edge to her voice.

"We know about the Tournament, yes," Harry said cautiously.

"I don't know why he felt the need to ruin that, honestly…" Mrs. Weasley said with a shake of her head.

"Because he thought it might be connected to what happened at the World Cup," Daphne said.

"Even if it is, you're children. It has nothing to do with you, and you should just be able to enjoy your time at school," Mrs. Weasley said.

"Mum…have you met Harry?" Ginny asked quietly. "He doesn't seem to get quiet years."

"Well, all the more important for him to have one now, then!" Mrs. Weasley said. "I'm sure Sirius is doing what he thinks is right, Harry, dear," she went on, making it very clear that she disagreed with him. "But I'm afraid he'll…start to see you as a replacement for your father. And now Fred and George are completely taken with him for Merlin knows why…"

It didn't surprise Daphne at all that no one had told Mrs. Weasley about the Marauder's Map. Still, she couldn't fault her for worrying about Harry, even if she didn't agree with the exact way it was shown in. At least they agreed that Harry deserved a year of peace, for once.

That evening, when Daphne lay on her mattress in Ginny's room she turned to her and said, "So, how about that Yule Ball then?"

"You heard Sirius, it's for fourth years and older only," Ginny said. "I don't think we have dress robes on our school lists, anyway…"

"But if someone older asked you…"

Ginny sighed. "Daphne, give it up. If Harry is going at all, it'll be with you, not me. And don't give me the whole 'just friends' thing. I think you're the only one in this entire house who still thinks anyone believes that."

"Why don't you just admit you like Harry, anyway?" Hermione asked.

"Because…I…"

Daphne hesitated. She wanted to say, 'because I don't', like she told Mum earlier in the vacation, but she didn't even believe that herself anymore. So why did she insist on denying it?

"I…I don't know," she said eventually. "It's just…I feel like I shouldn't. I mean…you've had a crush on him for ages. Your brother's Harry's best friend. It seems so…perfect, or something. And even though I don't really know you that well compared to Hermione or Ron…I like you. I'm already taking up your room. I don't…I don't want to take the guy you like too. I know how stupid that sounds, but…that doesn't make it less true."

"Don't be ridiculous," Ginny said in an exasperated tone. "You can't help who you like, and Harry clearly likes you, too. Honestly, I'd rather he was with you than someone else. At least you're not from a rival Quidditch team. If I'm the only reason you're trying to keep up this act, then I'm flattered, but don't. I'm still a Weasley. I hate pity."

In spite of herself, Daphne chuckled. "Fine, fine, I'll…be honest about it, okay?" she said.

"Prove it, then. Say it out loud," Ginny said.

"What?"

"Admit, to Hermione and me, that you like Harry."

"Please do, because Muggles have this thing called 'the Bechdel test', and I'd really, really like to pass it at some point," Hermione said.

"The what?" Daphne asked.

"Nope, not falling for it. You first, and then I'll explain," Hermione said sternly.

Daphne sighed. It seemed like there really was no way to avoid it anymore.

"Okay…"

She took a deep breath. Why was her heart beating this fast, again?

"I…"

Her mouth went dry. Merlin's beard, what would happen if she tried saying this to Harry at some point?

"I…I like Harry!" she said quickly. Somehow, she felt like she'd been struck by lightning and she got goosebumps on her arms.

"Was that really so hard?" Ginny asked.

"Says the girl who couldn't even talk to him for well over a year…"

"Got me there."

"So what's this Bechdel test, then?"

Hermione chuckled. "It's mostly a thing for movies. Basically, to pass the test, two women need to be on screen together and have a conversation about anything other than a man. Which, now that you've had your breakthrough, we might finally be able to do."

"But…we have had conversations like that, plenty of times," Daphne said.

"Our first conversation was literally about Harry," Hermione said.

"Not entirely," Daphne objected. "It was also about prejudice against Muggleborns, wasn't it?"

She sighed. "But I see your point, I guess. So…school subjects, then? What're you taking this year, anyway, Ginny?"

"Muggle Studies, Care of Magical Creatures, and Arithmancy," she said.

"Ooh, Arithmancy's good," Hermione said. "It's challenging, of course, but very satisfying…unlike Divination…"

"Yeah, we all know that's a load of rubbish, don't we?" Daphne asked.

Hermione shrugged. "Just because you have some talent for it doesn't mean Trelawney does. If anything she said all year was true, it was that you probably can't learn it without some affinity. Arithmancy, on the other hand, is much more exact. Yes, you need to interpret numbers correctly, but there are sound principles behind them and results can be independently verified. In other words, its predictions are accurate for everyone."

The image of Harry in the clearing shot through Daphne's mind. "I wish mine weren't," she said softly.

I just had to mention the Bechdel test in this chapter because it seems like most conversations between Daphne and Hermione or Ginny seem to end up being about Harry. The one about House-Elves earlier wasn't, for a change, but I'll try and pass the test more convincingly as we go along.

I know that in canon, Harry was fantasizing about entering the tournament, even though he didn't really want to enter, but in this particular case, he was warned from the start that it might have something to do with Voldemort, so he's not even thinking about it now. He also doesn't have to impress Cho, for obvious reasons.

Also, fifty chapters. This is the longest story I've ever written, including my original novel, and we're only around halfway, if that, since the doorstopper that is Order of the Phoenix is yet to come. If you've kept up with it until this point, thank you so much!