Chapter 19

The Princess Bride

Ron and Hermione came over to Grimmauld late the next morning and Daphne decided to leave them with Harry and Sirius for a bit so she could have some alone time with her mother.

'Have you still never met Walburga?' Raquel asked as they were finishing a light snack in the kitchen.

'No, Sirius said not to,' Daphne replied.

'When is the last time you listened to him?'

'Well, I figured I should obey something he says so he can't ever say I was completely disobedient. And there's only one thing I deliberately do in open defiance.'

'I suppose that is true. And in this instance, I'm going to say your father's instructions have been obeyed long enough. It's time you met your grandmother. And I want to be there to hear it.'

'Are you sure, Mum?' Daphne asked hesitantly.

'Yes, and I won't tell if you won't,' she replied conspiratorially.

'Ok,' Daphne said with a smile.

They went to the hallway with the portrait. Raquel hid around the corner, out of view while Daphne positioned herself directly in front. She was slightly trembling as she stood there. Perhaps, another reason she had never ventured to the portrait was because she was nervous about what her grandmother would say about her.

Her grandmother.

For the longest time, she had no family outside her mother. Now, she was about to meet another.

The others could dismiss the portrait's crazy comments easily enough. Daphne didn't know if she could do that quite as simply.

She reached a shaky hand out and pulled on the drape covering the portrait causing Walburga to startle awake.

'What is the—' Her exclamation stopped short and her eyes spent a long moment taking in Daphne. Daphne held her breath as she felt as if she were going through an examination. 'Well, aren't you the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen?'

'Why thank you, grandmother,' Daphne replied with a demure smile. She never thought that a portrait would be able to make her blush, but hearing those first words from her grandmother meant more than she could explain.

'Tell me the name of my only grandchild.'

'Daphne.'

'Such a beautiful name for a beautiful pureblood.'

'I'm a bastard daughter. I'm not that pure,' Daphne stated.

'Yes, that son of mine is a bastard. Nothing like my dear Regulus. But you can't choose your parents,' Walburga said consolingly.

'I hate to break it to you, but he turned out good in the end.'

'Good?'

'Regulus, I mean. He went good in the end,' Daphne reiterated.

'Oh, my dear, he was always good,' the portrait said confidently.

'I mean he turned on Voldemort,' she said firmly. This should shake her grandmother's perception of her son.

'Ah, I never did understand his desire to affiliate with that man.'

'You didn't support him?'

'The Dark Lord? Hell no! While I did agree with much of the ideology he spouted, I saw through his words. He only said what he said to gain power. He was obviously compensating for something. One thing I learned in my day, if a man doesn't have it where it counts, he looks for other ways to assert his dominance. So with the lengths he went to gain power, it's no wonder he has no posterity.'

'Grandma!'

'Don't tell anyone I know this, but I suspect if he were a muggle, he would drive an extra-large truck,' Walburga said conspiratorially.

'You're worse than my mum!'

'Dearest, Daphne. You must understand, a woman's private persona is much different than her public one. Now that you mention it, who is your mother?'

'Raquel Greengrass.'

'Ahh, the Greengrasses were a proper pureblood family. Nothing like the blood traitors that have been cursing this house with their presence.'

'The Weasleys? They're not that bad,' Daphne countered, though not too forcefully.

'My dear, naive, grandchild. Don't get me started. The mother is a shrill. The father a wet noodle. The boys completely lack decorum. And the daughter, the redheaded tramp. I saw the way she couldn't walk straight when she returned from school. She got more than she bargained for, I suspect,' she said with a sadistic grin.

'Well, she was with Dean Thomas at the end of last year. . . He is black. But I don't think they ever—'

'Aha! I hope she truly fancies the boy then. Ol' Artucus always said, "Once you go Black, you can never go back." '

'Aah! I don't need to hear this,' Daphne cried while Walburga cackled.

From around the corner, Raquel couldn't control her own sniggering.

'Who is the filthy eavesdropper?' Walburga exclaimed.

Raquel emerged from her hiding spot, her eyes still sparkling from laughter. 'I do not think that is what that phrase means, Walburga. I'm Raquel, by the way.'

'So you are the temptress that seduced my son,' Walburga said in accusation.

'Oh, I think we both know, your son needed no seducing,' Raquel countered knowingly.

'Yes, I suppose you are correct. And well, did you find someone else to comfort you during the years my son was in Azkaban?'

'I did not,' Raquel answered.

'My point stands then. Once a woman has had the pleasure—'

'Ok! If this is where this conversation is going, I'm going to leave,' Daphne said.

'No, no. Do stay,' Walburga said. 'We can discuss something else. Raquel, perhaps you know. Do you know how my son died? I never did discover whilst I was alive.'

'Yes, but it was Daphne that made the discovery,' Raquel said proudly. 'I'll let her tell you.'

'He died in a cave on the coast as he was searching to destroy one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.'

'The Dark Lord created Horcruxes? That monster!'

'Yea, he is.'

'And did my son succeed?'

'As of a few days ago, he did,' Daphne said with a smile.

'So his death was not for naught.'

'No, but that wasn't the only one.'

'Do you know how many of those atrocities he created?' the portrait asked.

'Yes, he made six.'

'So his soul would be in seven pieces. How very original of him,' she said sarcastically. 'How many have been destroyed? I assume that is what all these meetings at this house are about. I've already gathered that the Dark Lord has returned, now I understand how.'

'Yes, he made one from Salazar Slytherin's locket—' Daphne started.

'He defiled a historic magical artifact?!'

'Yes, he did. Next was a diary he left in the possession of Lucius Malfoy. And a Gaunt family ring hidden at his family house. Those are the ones that have been destroyed. We suspect his pet snake is one. And we think he turned Helga Hufflepuff's goblet into one. Only we have no idea where it is hidden. We don't know what the last one might be.'

'He seems to have had an affinity for the founders. Could it be Godric's sword?'

'No, that's at Hogwarts. It's definitely not a Horcrux.'

'He better not have sullied Rowena's diadem,' Walburga said threateningly.

Raquel and Daphne shared a look.

'But hasn't that been lost for centuries?' Raquel asked.

'Do you believe that would get in the way of the Dark Lord? I imagine that would only motivate him further to locate and use it,' Walburga reasoned.

'We'll have to tell Harry, that could be an option,' Raquel stated.

'You mentioned he left one in the hands of Lucius Malfoy. . .'

'Yes,' Daphne said.

'So you haven't found the one given to his lady?' Walburga asked.

'His lady?' Daphne questioned.

'Yes. Every Dark Lord has a lady. I do believe I had a niece that fit the bill.'

'But Bellatrix is married,' Raquel said.

'I don't think that would get in the way,' Walburga said.

'Do you have any ideas as to where she would hide it?' Daphne asked.

'There are two places a proper Pureblood witch would store her valuables. Her safe at home—'

'Or her vault at Gringotts,' Raquel supplied,

'Precisely,' Walburga confirmed.

'But that's so simple,' Daphne said in question.

'Don't forget dear, you aren't dealing with some brilliant wizard. Perhaps, he was at one time, but towards the end, he was nothing but a power-hungry egomaniac. Take comfort that Dumbledore wasn't a Dark Lord. You would be searching for discarded candy wrappers and the like.'

'We should talk to Harry,' Raquel said.

'How about I go get him?' Daphne suggested.

'No!' Walburga stated.

Daphne and Raquel looked at her curiously.

'Private and public persona, remember? Let me have this,' she requested.

Daphne smiled at her mother and she smiled back, adding a nod.

Raquel replaced the covering and they went to the library to discuss their ideas.

'Find anything?'

'No,' Harry said dejectedly, slamming a book shut and setting it down on the coffee table.

'We have some ideas,' Daphne commented as she scanned the bookshelf. She had her mind set on something she'd seen before, if only she could find it again.

She found the book she was looking for and turned to the chapter that had information on Rowena Ravenclaw.

'Harry, this is what we are looking for,' Daphne said, pointing at a picture of Rowena with her diadem.

Harry snatched the book and brought it close. 'I've seen this before!'

'Well, it's probably on any portrait of her. Surely you recognize it from one of those,' Raquel said.

'Yes, but I believe I've seen the — what did you call it?'

'Diadem,' Daphne said.

'Yeah, that.'

'Where?'

'The Room of Requirement. Hogwarts.'

'That's good,' Daphne said.

'Yeah, but we still have no idea where the goblet is,' Harry countered despondently.

'We have an idea about that too. Well, a who. . . and maybe a where.'

Harry's head shot up. Sirius made his way over to the conversation, along with Ron and Hermione.

'Bellatrix,' Daphne said and Raquel nodded along.

'You think?'

'We do,' Raquel said in confirmation. 'She's as trusted as any of his followers and he left one with Malfoy.'

'Excuse me!' Ron interjected. 'I said Bellatrix two days ago and nobody even batted an eye.'

'You did?' Harry asked. Everyone else shot Ron questioning looks.

'Really? No one heard me?' Ron said in exasperation.

'Sorry, Ron. I guess we missed it. But can't change that now,' Harry said.

'So if she has it, how do we get it from her?' Ron asked.

'We thought the first and easiest place to look would be Gringotts,' Daphne said.

'Gringotts? Easy?' Ron exclaimed.

'No, they're right. At least in this case,' Sirius started. 'As the Head of House Black, I can reclaim Bella's dowry as a result of them violating parts of the marriage agreement. Getting thrown in Azkaban isn't looked on favorably by anyone, though it usually isn't acted upon.'

'So you can just waltz in and take whatever you want?' Hermione asked.

'Not exactly, I can only claim what was given but if the goblet is there. . . I could happen to stab it with one of the Basilisk fangs.'

'Will they find out?' Hermione asked.

'Oh yes. As soon as we leave, the bank notifies the family. They'll inspect their vault in all likelihood,' Sirius explained.

'That'll put everything into motion. Voldemort will know we are destroying Horcruxes,' Harry stated.

'So, we'll need to destroy the one at Hogwarts before he retrieves it,' Hermione said.

'Yes, but that may also be the best way to lure him out where I can finally destroy him. If he knows I am closing in on his Horcrux at Hogwarts he will have to confront me,' Harry said resolutely.

'Sounds like a plan,' Ron stated. 'When do we start?'

'The sooner the better,' Sirius said. 'Every day, Voldemort recruits more to his side. We can go to Gringotts straightaway.'

'I'll come with you,' Raquel said.

'I'll go let my family know what is happening,' Ron said.

'And I'll go let Professor McGonagall know,' Hermione said.

'Ok, but we aren't doing anything if the goblet isn't in the vault,' Harry added.

'Of course,' Sirius replied. 'Let's go get ready,' he said to Raquel.

They left, and Ron and Hermione were not far behind. Leaving Harry and Daphne to put away the books that were strewn around the library.

Sirius and Raquel came in only a few minutes later.

'Ok, we're off.'

'Good luck,' Harry said.

'Don't worry about us. Just hang tight, we'll be back before you know it,' Sirius said with a smile.

Raquel didn't seem so hopeful. 'We'll see about that. You know how the goblins like to make you wait. We'll be back whenever we're done.'

The two went out the floo and Harry placed the last of the books on the bookshelf.

'So, do you need a distraction?' Daphne asked, coming up to his side.

'More than ever. No offense, but I don't think snogging is going to help much,' Harry said apologetically.

'That's why I was thinking of something more than snogging. Something a little more involved,' she said suggestively.

Harry's eyes widened and he blinked rapidly. 'If you are taking the piss. . .'

'I'm not, Harry,' she said seductively, batting her eyelashes and taking his hand to gently guide him to his room.

'Daphne, are you sure?'

She gave him one of her glares and said, 'Harry, If all this stuff comes together as fast as is possible there's a chance—'

'Don't say it, Daphne. Just forget I asked. But we're going to make it. Both of us,' Harry stated firmly and he silently let her guide him the rest of the way.

She liked his confidence, and she let herself believe it. But deep down, she knew there were no guarantees. And that's why she'd decided what she did.

Harry started quickly stripping off his clothes once they were in his room but Daphne stopped him.

'Slow down. We have time. I don't want to rush this.' She put her arms around him and kissed him, gently at first, and slowly building in intensity and fervor. 'Have I ever told you how attractive you are when you don't talk?'

'Not explicitly, no.'

'Good.'

He gave her an expectant smile.

'Well, I'm not going to start making bad habits now,' she smirked.

'You're the worst,' he said as he pulled her face to his.

Slowly, layers of clothes came off and Daphne cursed the wizarding custom of wearing so many different articles of clothing. Yet, in her stubbornness, she didn't rush anything. They moved slowly to the bed and still had a couple of layers on as their kissing intensified and hands wandered. That proved to be for the best as a cough from the doorway put a freeze on their activities.

'Are you serious?' Harry groaned before either of them even looked to see who'd interrupted them.

'No, and we are all grateful for that.'

'Mum!' Daphne cried.

'You have got to be kidding me!' Harry moaned.

'I'm certainly glad you still have some clothes on,' Raquel said.

'Get out!' Daphne shouted.

'Yes, I know. War always had a weird way of turning me on too. Daphne is a result of that,' Raquel said casually.

'Mum! Will you stop?! Why are you back already?'

'It was easier than we thought. The goblins gave no resistance and the goblet wasn't hard to find.'

'That's just wonderful,' Harry exclaimed with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

Raquel furrowed her brow in curiosity as if she didn't expect such a reaction. Then her eyebrows shot up. 'Is this your first time?'

'Mum!' Daphne exclaimed, her face growing flushed.

'Oh my. Well, now I'm truly sorry. I thought perhaps you might've snuck into each other's rooms at night.'

'No, Mum! Just cause that's something you would do, doesn't mean we would.'

'Well, your father would be happy to hear it, so we won't tell him. We'll let him continue in ignorance and denial.'

'Whatever you say, Mum,' Daphne said with a laugh.

'You better get your clothes back on. They're rounding up everyone that is going to go with us. Time is of the essence.'

'Ok. Will you leave already. . . we're coming!' Daphne said.

'Well. . . you're not, but. . .'

'Mum!' Daphne screamed.

'Alright, I'm leaving. But just a heads up. . . Maybe close the door next time.'

'Go!' Daphne roared.

'I'm gone. I'm gone.' Her cackling laughter was heard as she walked away.

'I'm sorry, Harry,' Daphne said.

'Don't be. Now I have something to look forward to,' he said with a smile, though it was a little forced. He was as disappointed as she was.

'As if just surviving wasn't enough.'

'Never know when one might need that extra bit of motivation,' he says while pulling on his shirt.

'I guess.'

They finished getting dressed and met Raquel waiting for them in the drawing room. She gave them a knowing smile.

'Not a word,' Daphne threatened.

'Let's go, we're all meeting at Hogwarts,' Raquel said, her smile just now leaving her face.

They went through the floo to the Headmistress' office. Sirius was already there with Lupin, Tonks, and the whole Weasley clan.

'Well, Harry,' Professor McGonagall began. 'Is there anything you need from us?'

'Not really. We should probably destroy the diadem first. Then. . . I guess we wait.'

'Any idea when Voldemort is coming?' Ron asked.

'No, I don't know that he's found out yet,' Harry said. 'How about you come with to destroy this one since Sirius stole the last one from you?'

'Yeah. That'd be great! Hermione, want to join us?' Ron asked.

'Sure,' Hermione said nonchalantly though her smile betrayed how much that meant to her. Some knowing looks were shared among the adults in the room.

'Meet us in the Great Hall. We have a meal prepared for everyone. And that is where the Aurors and our other allies will be meeting us,' McGonagall said.

Harry nodded and left with his friends.

Those remaining migrated to the Great Hall where the tables were scattered with different groups of witches and wizards. And more poured in as they sat and ate.

'Has Harry told you how he sees this going?' Lupin asked Sirius.

'I think he's gearing up for some kind of one on one duel but how that sets up is anybody's guess,' Sirius said. Then he shot Daphne a questioning glance.

'We haven't talked much about battle plans, sorry,' she said. 'But you can ask him yourself,' she added as she waved at Harry who had just walked into the hall, Ron and Hermione conspicuously holding hands right behind him.

Harry saw her wave and made his way over. No one asked verbally but everyone waited with bated breath.

'Another one down,' Harry stated calmly. 'And Voldemort is gathering his followers. I imagine they will be here before nightfall. But I also believe we may be able to avoid a full-scale battle. . . at least at first. I don't know what will happen after me and Voldemort are done with each other.'

'You don't need to worry about that,' Lupin asserted. 'And Harry, you don't have to insist on this one-on-one thing.'

'It's not so much me, as it is him. His sole focus is killing me. We can use that to set up the battle in our favor as much as possible.'

Everyone nodded and shrugged. They avoided voicing the thoughts that Harry might not survive the confrontation. Or that many of them might not survive the aftermath that was sure to follow.

After they'd finished eating, more plans and preparations were made. They made plans and backup plans and backups to their backup plans. They tried to account for every variable, even if they knew it was impossible to predict everything.

Daphne and Harry walked off, hoping for a little alone time before the action was to begin. They had only just begun when the clearing of a throat stopped them.

'Bloody hell,' Harry growled.

'Harry, I actually am sorry I have to interrupt,' Sirius said sincerely. 'For once,' he added with a grin.

Sirius held out a handful of vials with silvery hair-like wisps floating and shimmering within a clear liquid.

'Memories?' Harry asked.

'Yes, Dumbledore's. Well, I can't say for certain that they are his. But, these made their way to me in the event that he was unable to give them to you himself.'

'How do you know he didn't already? He's been showing me memories all year.'

'The message was clear that he hadn't given these to you already and I should give them to you as close to the final encounter as possible. I don't think he felt it this close when he passed, so I think you should at least look at them and see if you learn anything.'

'Alright,' Harry said, taking the vials. 'Let's go.'

'No, the message was clear that you should view them yourself,' Sirius said resolutely.

'I don't care. I'm sharing everything now. No more secrets.'

'Why don't you just look at them alone first, and then you can tell us or show us after you've seen what they are?' Daphne suggested.

'Ok.'

'Well be in the Great Hall,' Sirius said.

'I think I'll be able to find you,' Harry said with a smile. Daphne had plenty of experience with Harry finding her so she returned his smile before he left.

Thirty minutes later the first barrages were felt, impacting against the castle's defenses. There wasn't much to do at the moment but wait in position. They knew the defenses wouldn't hold indefinitely but if it wore down the opponent at all, it would be worth it.

Sirius made a point of making sure Daphne stayed towards the back. She wasn't alone, the other young people that were allowed to come were stationed by her, only Ron and Harry were missing. They could still help, but it wouldn't be from the front lines.

'Harry Potter. I know you are here. And now you know, I am here. I have no desire to shed innocent wizard blood, nor to destroy or damage this historic castle. If you give yourself up, your friends and this castle will be spared.' Voldemort's eerie voice sounded throughout the grounds.

'Looks like I'm right on time.' Harry's voice came from behind her.

'Harry!' Daphne exclaimed. Her cry was accompanied by many others, drawing the attention of the adults in front.

'Nice of you to decide to join us, Harry,' Sirius quipped.

'You're just in time, Potter. The defenses are just about to fall,' Professor McGonagall stated.

Harry turned Daphne to face him, his smile was forced and his eyes had a hint of redness behind them. His jaw opened and closed a couple of times but no words left his mouth. He leaned toward her but Daphne pulled away.

'There will be no kissing me goodbye, Harry,' she said firmly. 'Do you understand?'

'Yes,' he replied. 'Keep this safe for me then, just in case you need a reminder.' He put his Knut in her hand and left her with his cheeky smile. She was not ready to accept it, but something in his eyes said, "Goodbye."

Her stubbornness did not let her dwell on the implication. She slid the Knut into her pocket with her own as she trailed behind him to the front of the group. She had to shake off Sirius' hand when he tried to hold her back.

Off in the distance, Voldemort could be seen leading his forces across the grounds.

When he neared, Voldemort saw Harry at the front, so although everyone had wands in hand, no one raised theirs in attack. The battle was yet to commence.

'Here I am, Tom,' Harry said challengingly. He looked over his shoulder and indicated with his eyes for Daphne to remain by her father.

Begrudgingly, she retreated a few steps and settled in between her parents.

She surprised herself with how willing she was to stand with Harry at the moment. She'd thought she'd cower at the very thought of battle but there was something in Harry's conviction that just filled her with courage to stand up for what was right.

'You have saved many lives today. History may even remember you as a footnote someday,' Voldemort sneered.

His fellow Death Eaters laughed.

'I have my doubts that you will hold up your end of the bargain.'

'It's a shame you won't be around to witness.'

'Perhaps that is true. . . but neither will you,' Harry stated.

A blood-curdling shriek that sounded more like a hiss cracked through the air, originating from behind Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

As the group parted, a giant snake was seen writhing in agony, taking its last breaths and falling lifeless before their eyes. Upon inspection, a fang had impaled the beast just behind its head, a Basilisk fang.

'Nagini! No!' Voldemort cried out in agony.

Daphne followed Harry's eyes and caught the briefest glimpse of Ron flying away under the guise of the Invisibility Cloak.

The last of the Horcruxes was gone, Voldemort was mortal.

It was only now that Daphne realized Harry still didn't have his wand out. It made sense if he was just trying to delay the battle until the snake was taken care of. But now, it was time to fight.

She didn't have time to warn Harry though.

'You will pay for this!' Voldemort said coolly. 'Avada Kedavra!'

Harry didn't even flinch. The green spell blasted him right in the chest and Harry flew back, Daphne and Sirius catching him before he crashed into the ground. Voldemort himself was knocked backwards but his Death Eaters quickly got him to his feet.

Ice ran through Daphne's veins. Her brain refused to comprehend what had just happened. The shrieks and screams that came from those behind her went unregistered in her head.

She wasn't calm in the traditional sense, her heart was pounding, but she wasn't hysterical either.

All that she could feel right now. . . was white-hot fury.

'You bastard!' Daphne yelled at Voldemort as she left Harry's limp body in Sirius' arms.

He set Harry down and stood by his daughter's side.

'Oh, did I kill your little schoolgirl crush?' Voldemort sneered.

'No, you asshole! I was supposed to kill him!' Daphne proclaimed as she began to stalk towards the noseless atrocity, gripping her wand in the palm of her hand, more like one would grasp a dagger than a magical instrument.

'Well, if you also had desires to kill Potter, I'd say we are on the same team. We will gladly find room for you amongst our ranks. What is your name, little girl?'

'My name is Daphne Greengrass. . . You killed my lover. . . Prepare to die!'

'Your what!' Sirius shouted from behind her.

Raquel placed a calming hand on his arm and held him back. 'Shh, Voldemort's screwed. Daphne's pissed. Just enjoy it.'

Sirius nodded and went back to watching the brewing confrontation.

Daphne didn't break stride, nor did she take her eyes off her target.

'Excuse me?' Voldemort asked, ignoring Sirius' outburst as well.

'You heard me, you bastard. My name is Daphne Greengrass. . . You killed my lover. . . Prepare to die.'

Voldemort bellowed out an obnoxious laugh. 'You must have forgotten who you are talking to, little girl,' he said with emphatic disdain on the final words.

A small Cutting Charm left his wand and hit her in the shoulder just above her left breast. It seemed to be almost a tease.

Her gait didn't quicken, nor did it slow. A small circle of blood began to appear where the spell had hit.

Her eyes remained fixed on the object of her fury, while he almost ignored her approach. He held out his hands, indicating to his followers to hold back, she was nothing.

Only a handful of strides remained before she would be invading his personal space.

'My name. . . is Daphne Greengrass. . . You killed my lover. . . Prepare. . . to die!'

Her last word coincided with the last step she needed to close the remaining distance.

Voldemort's sneer hadn't left his face.

She didn't wait for another response and didn't bother with a spell of her own.

In the blink of an eye, she drew up her arm and jammed her wand through what Voldemort now used as a nose.

His eyes widened for a fraction of an instant — he had already defeated his only threat, this girl was nothing — before his body went limp and slunk to the ground in a heap.

'In the FACE!' Ron's voice carried down from his invisible perch in the air though it was drowned out by all the other cries that were sounding all around.

Screams of rage erupted from the Death Eaters and though their wands were poised for attack, the only sounds that came from their mouths were wails of pain.

Their Dark Marks had begun to singe their skin. It traveled over their bodies like an overzealous disease. Smoke turned to ash, and before Daphne could realize what was happening, all that remained of the Death Eaters were piles of blackened dust.

Daphne paid them no mind. She was too focused on returning to the body that, for anyone to see, lay lifeless on the floor.

She knelt by Harry's side.

'You dumb idiot. Why didn't you have your wand out? Why are you so stupid? I was supposed to kill you.'

Tears streaked her face, she didn't even bother to wipe them. She just let them fall off her cheek like a leaky faucet.

'I will never understand women,' Sirius said to Raquel.

'I'll be honest, I don't understand this one either,' Raquel replied.

'I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!' Her fists cascaded onto Harry's chest ever more forcefully. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the two coins that she had and threw them down on his body. 'I hate your Knuts too!'

'That's not the impression I got,' Raquel said to Sirius.

He furrowed his brows at her.

Raquel shook off his question with a smirk, then knelt down by her daughter, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. 'He's already gone, sweetheart,' she said, trying to soothe her daughter.

'You know, he was a total ass sometimes. . . but at other times he could be funny, like really funny,' Daphne said, looking over at her mother.

Raquel nodded.

'And I called him stupid. . . a lot. . . but he could be quite brilliant at times, as well,' Daphne continued, looking to Sirius.

Sirius quirked the corner of his mouth and nodded in agreement. 'He was,' he said solemnly.

'And he was the best flying partner. . . And he was terribly dense. . . but no one could ever say he wasn't brave. . . And thoughtful. . . he was surprisingly thoughtful. . . And his eyes, the way they would light up when I would insult him.'

The tears didn't stop but a smile crossed her face at the memory.

'And even though his smile is still disgusting, I will never forget kissing him. . . Oh, no one came close to the way he kissed me. It was like he would take me into another dimension.' Her voice dripped with nostalgia and longing as her head slumped and the tears continued to stream.

'Sweetheart, we should go,' Raquel said.

'Ok, mum.' She ran her hand down his arm one last time as she stood up.

'Don't stop there, it's just getting good,' Harry said softly, barely finding his voice.

'You — You're alive!?' Daphne cried in a questioning accusation.

'You're still a genius,' Harry replied sarcastically, a small smile spreading.

Daphne started kicking him in the ribs, eliciting grunt after grunt.

'Oh, you are gonna wish you were dead when I get through with you,' she snarled. She drove a foot into his side again. And she reared back for another go.

Harry caught her leg as she attempted another kick and the movement caused her to fall right beside him with a hard thud.

'Ow! That hurt, you—'

'You do not get to lecture me about pain right now,' Harry said firmly. Their eyes locked and the world stopped around them, not even a Time-Turner could give them this degree of serenity amidst such chaos. 'Have I ever told you how attractive you are when you're pissed?'

'Yeah, you actually have.' She let her scowl soften into a slight glare with the hint of a smile.

'Damn,' he muttered. The world stayed still around them. Nothing could penetrate the bubble they were in. 'You know how much I hate you, right?' he asked in a soft, sincere voice.

'There's no way it's more than I hate you!' she countered just above a whisper.

'I don't know, what was all that "lover" talk?' he asked with a smirk.

'You heard? That — that was just for effect,' she stammered. 'I didn't mean any—'

She was cut off by Harry's lips pressing against hers and she allowed herself to be absorbed completely into his kiss.

'Broom closet?' Harry suggested when they broke apart.

'Let's go!' Daphne agreed aggressively, jumping to her feet and pulling Harry up by both hands.

'Gen-tly,' Harry pleaded as his arm went across his chest.

'Do you think the Room of Requirement would be more comfortable?' she asked.

'Yeah, but there's no way I'm making it up seven flights of stairs right now. I'm pretty sure I felt a few ribs crack.'

'You willingly let someone else kill you. You always knew that was my dream. You deserve those broken ribs,' she said in rebuke.

'I wasn't talking about your weakling kicks, I was talking about the Killing Curse,' he scoffed with a satisfied smirk.

'Hmph,' she grunted as she only tugged on his hand harder, causing him to wince in pain again.

'Why'd you stop kicking him? Where are you going?' Sirius asked as he watched Daphne and Harry start walking away, hand in hand.

'Broom closet,' Daphne shouted over her shoulder.

'What!?' Sirius roared.

'Don't want to make your daughter a liar,' Harry said as they sped up to escape Sirius' potential pursuit.

Raquel caught Sirius by the wrist and held him back. 'Just let them go. Maybe if you encourage the relationship they'll break up.'

'You think?'

'No,' Raquel scoffed. 'They couldn't care less about your opinion.'

He scowled and growled.

'Sorry, dear, it's true. They're making their own decisions now.'

'I told you there was something going on there, but you didn't want to listen,' a smug Professor McGonagall said to Sirius.

'And you did nothing?' Sirius asked incredulously.

'After seeing what she did to Voldemort, you won't see me getting on her bad side. But I do agree, something should be done.'

She pulled out her wand and Sirius smiled as he waited for her to stop Daphne and Harry. She waved her wand and the doors to the castle shut, right after the pair had entered.

'There. . . Now, no one will bother them,' Minerva said resolutely. 'Ten points to Gryffindor.'

'But. . . but. . . but, but,' Sirius sputtered.

'You're absolutely right, Sirius. It's not fair. Ten points to Slytherin as well. Perhaps in the mayhem, you've somehow forgotten. . . but you owe me some money,' she said, holding out the palm of her hand.

'Hmph,' Sirius grunted in displeasure as Minerva and Raquel chuckled at his quandary. He placed a stack of Galleons in Minerva's open palm.

'He may have declined your adoption proposal, but it may be that you will be able to call him "Son" after all. It may just be "son in law," ' Minerva suggested with a small laugh.

Raquel had a grin herself.

'Not now, Minerva,' Sirius snapped.

'Oh, Sirius. If there is one thing that you taught me, it was that the best time for a joke is always now.'

The End

A/N - I do have a little epilogue in mind. What would HP without an epilogue, right? So, stay tuned for that in the next week.

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