Author's Notes: Rotten Writer, here once again ladies and gentlemen. Not AS much serious progress in this chapter as I'd wanted but I felt that there was so much happening that I needed to break things up a bit, so as not to overwhelm. There's a lot of hinting at and setting up of future events here, some of which will be resolved next chapter and at least one won't really be addressed until possibly part way into the third year, we shall see.
I can't honestly remember if I'd had anything else I wanted to say at the moment so I'll leave things at that other than, for my American readers, have a great Thanksgiving and I hope everyone stays safe this holiday.
Actually, I just remembered. Some readers will note that I changed Daphne's mothers name in this chapter. I went back and adjusted it in the previous chapter where she's named as well since it was pointed out the original name I'd chosen belonged to Fleur's mother in the cannon. Ok, that is all.
Disclaimer: I still do not own Harry Potter or anything affiliated with it. Dammit.
Here's Chapter 23 of Soul Scars. Enjoy.
Soul Scars Part Two
Darkness Within
By,
Rtnwriter
November 1st dawned clear and bright after the previous evenings rains. Harry hadn't gotten much sleep and he and Daphne had a lot to tell the others as soon as he got out of there. He glanced over from his bed to the one three beds away from him where a set of privacy screens had been erected and did his level best to suppress a shudder at the memory from the previous night.
"Stop, Harry," Daphne whispered and he turned his head back in her direction where she was curled up in one of the chairs beside his bed, her arms wrapped around her legs with her chin resting on her knees, to see her cold blue eyes open, but filled with a warmth that had been missing from them for some time. A warmth he didn't see often but greatly enjoyed whenever it was present.
It had been an interesting evening, to say the least. He hadn't really noticed just how hurt she was by the growth he and Hermione were experiencing with their bond and he felt awful for not doing anything more to reassure her and Susan. Daphne had been firm though. She was adamant that if anyone could be said to be at fault in any way then that fault belonged with her and Susan rather than him or Hermione.
They weren't doing anything but what they were supposed to be, as far as they could tell. The bond was meant to grow over time and for those bonded to become closer as it did. It wasn't his fault and he shouldn't try to hold back from any of them out of fear of upsetting the others.
"We'll get there," she said when his attention was fully on her. "It'll take us time, but we'll get there. I'm starting to understand and accept that. It doesn't make it hurt any less but you shouldn't feel guilty about it." Her eyes flicked toward the privacy screens for a moment before moving back to him. "And stop thinking about that. We'll talk to the others about it, as soon as possible, but there's nothing to be done driving yourself crazy about it."
He nodded but said nothing as the sound of heels clicking against the floor drifted over to them and he turned back the other way just in time to see Madam Pomfrey come up to the bed, her wand already in hand.
"Well," she said. "Let's take a look at you." Her wand danced in her hand as she cast diagnostic charms at him, studying the results carefully as Daphne straightened out and sat up, stretching languidly in her seat. "Much better, Harry," she told him with a soft smile on her face. "That shoulder needs to be popped back into place, but after that, and after you eat, you should be okay to leave. I'll want you to use a cane for a bit today and that arm is going to be in a sling, but you're already aware of the procedure around a dislocated shoulder, aren't you?"
"I won't be stupid, this time," he promised. "I'll make sure to ask one of the girls to help with the bruise salve. I learned my lesson last time."
"Quite. Let's try not to make a dislocated shoulder a yearly occurrence, shall we?"
Harry offered her a grin as he felt the sticking charms dissipate but he remained still. "I can't make any promises. You know once it's been dislocated once it's easier for it to happen again."
She gave him a glare and huffed but said nothing and pointed her wand at his shoulder. "Deep breath and hold it…"
A moment later there was a loud, sickening pop as his shoulder was pushed back into the socket and he grunted in pain but still gave the Mediwitch a bright smile. A bout of nausea hit him and he moved quickly, his left arm swinging awkwardly with new bones and the stiffness of being immobile all night, but he was able to knock the trash bin next to his bed in Daphne's direction who grabbed it and leaned over, breathing hard and shuddering slightly.
"Oh, dear," Madam Pomfrey gasped. "I am so sorry, Miss Greengrass, I didn't even think…"
"It's okay," she interrupted and sat up, still looking a bit ill but her eyes were filled with determination. "I'm not good with medical things," she admitted. "But I guess I'll just have to get used to it with this idiot around."
Harry pouted and the two ladies shared a small laugh at his expression for a moment before Madam Pomfrey clapped her hands together sharply. "All right," she said. "I'll have an elf bring you both a tray and I expect you to eat every bit of it," she told Harry sternly. "After you're finished I'll want to give you a once over again then you can change and we'll get you fitted with a sling and a cane."
"Do I really need to use a cane?" he asked and she nodded firmly.
"Yes. For at least the day since that ankle will be a little awkward until you get used to it. You'll probably be able to do away with it by tomorrow but see how you're feeling and don't take any unnecessary risks. I really do not want to see you in here again before Sunday."
She patted his hand and bustled away, an elf popping in moments later with two trays piled with food. Harry ate somewhat awkwardly. His right arm hurt because of his shoulder, and his left was stiff and moved strangely with the new bones. It made for an entertaining meal for Daphne who did her best to distract him.
"We took a look outside that loo, last night," she told him and he gave her a stern look. "Yes, we went and looked without you. But Neville was with us as well and we weren't in any danger, it was on our way back to the tower after dinner so we stopped and looked around."
"I don't like you guys doing that," he muttered.
"I know you don't, but we're not helpless and we don't need you telling us what we can or cannot do," she told him, giving him an icy glare.
"I never said you did. I just don't like it. I worry about all of you, I can't help that."
"We know that, Harry. But we can't keep having this argument, so just let's agree to disagree on this and move on to what we found."
"You found something?"
She shrugged. "Maybe. It might be nothing. Around the loo itself, not much of interest. The message was cleaned away, obviously, and the floor outside was dry, no idea where that water came from that night. But we did notice spiders."
"Spiders?" He arched a brow at that in surprise, giving her a strange look at that. "What do spiders have to do with anything?"
"Again, maybe nothing. But there was a small gap in one of the windows, a broken piece, and there was a line of spiders going out of the castle through the window, like they were running away from something."
They discussed the arachnids strange behavior while they ate but neither of them could think of anything to explain it. Eventually, even with as slow as Harry was eating, they finished and Madam Pomfrey used a switching spell to change the hospital pajamas she'd put him in the night before with a clean set of clothes that Daphne had brought for him, a pair of black slacks and a deep red button down shirt with a simple black robe over it. For a moment he tried to get his boots on but stopped when Daphne stood and came around the bed, kneeling on the floor to help him.
There was something about the action, and her behavior, that struck Harry oddly, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Before he could think too long, however, she'd finished and stood, brushing down her skirt with her hands before offering him a hand up from the bed. It was a little awkward, Harry'd grown considerably from the year before and had started putting on more muscle with his almost daily exercising, but they managed, and Harry was slightly startled, once he was on his feet, to realize that he was easily four inches taller than her.
"When did I get so much taller than you?" he blurted out in his surprise and she just gave him a small smile.
"Those potions last year, good and plentiful food, and all your exercising has been good for you. You didn't really think we'd all stay the same height, did you?"
"No, of course not. I just… I guess I just hadn't noticed how much taller I was getting."
"I for one, am grateful for it, Harry," Madam Pomfrey said as she came over with a sling in one hand and a simple wooden cane in the other. "I can't begin to explain how good it feels to see you healthy after the state you were in when we first met," she added, giving him a small, sad smile.
She placed the items on the bed and cast her wand over him again, nodding at whatever information the spell told her before the handed him the cane. He took it in his left hand, forcing Daphne to move slightly away from him to give him room to maneuver as Madam Pomfrey placed his right arm in the sling.
"Now, you know how this works. Nothing strenuous for a while. Get someone to help you with the bruise salve, and you'll be using that cane at least for today but if you feel unsteady at all tomorrow I want you to keep using it. And while it is Sunday, I think we can hold off until next week for your usual appointment."
Harry and Daphne nodded and thanked her before she sent them on their way. The journey across the castle took longer than it normally would have. Harry was slowly getting used to using the cane, and Daphne was unable to help him, particularly, so she simply kept far enough away not to trip him up, but close enough to offer her help if he needed it. When she turned away from the hall that would lead them into Gryffindor tower he paused and gave her a confused look.
"The others said they'd meet us in the Room of Requirement this morning," she told him. "Hermione wanted to get started on the Polyjuice Potion so it would be ready by the break."
"Are we staying for the break?" he asked after shrugging his good shoulder and turning to follow her. "I thought we wanted to go home so we could see the goblins about the information they have on Soul Bonds."
"We do, but Hermione wanted to at least have it ready for when we come back. The potion will keep for several months after it's finished so we don't need to worry about using it right away."
He nodded, but said nothing, concentrating on walking instead. He was suddenly very glad for his exercise routine. It was difficult enough walking already, he didn't want to think how hard it would have been if he was still as out of shape as he'd been at the start of the summer.
When they finally reached the Room, Harry was sweating and a bit out of breath as Daphne opened the door. He followed her inside to find Hermione, Susan, Neville, Hannah, Tracey, and Blaise in a setting that reminded them of a cross between a potions lab and a generic common room, with nothing to indicate it belonging to any one house.
Hermione was sitting in an overstuffed armchair, a copy of 'Most Potente Potions' open on her lap and a sullen frown on her face. In fact, she was in such a poor mood that at first she didn't even register that they had entered the Room.
That all changed when Susan looked up from her discussion with Hannah and Tracey and blurted out, "Daphne! Harry! Oh, I'm so glad Madam Pomfrey let you go, how're you feeling?"
Harry gave her a grin as the others called out their own greetings and Hermione started so violently that her book tumbled off her lap to the floor as she jerked in their direction. "Feeling a bit tenderized, to be honest," he said in response to Susan's question as he worked his way across the room. He leaned his cane against Hermione's chair and leaned down to pick up her fallen book, handing it gently to her with a soft smile.
"Ha ha," Susan drawled. "Seriously, Harry, you were hurt pretty badly." Five of them decided not to mention that he wasn't hurt as badly as he'd been once before when he'd actually died.
"Stiff and sore, mostly. Really, Susan, I'm fine," he said after he collected his cane and moved to sit on a small sofa beside Hermione's chair. He reached out with his left hand after setting the cane down and took Hermione's hand in his own, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Does someone want to tell us why Hermione is sulking?" Daphne asked after everyone had moved over to sit in a rough circle with the girls as close to Harry as they could get.
"I'm not sulking," Hermione grumbled under her breath and the rest of them, barring Harry and Daphne, laughed quietly at her sullen reaction.
"Hermione is just a touch put out," Susan told them. "Her big brain just tripped her up a little bit." She giggled when Hermione shot her a glare.
"Well, I guess not all of us can be as clever as Daphne or Harry," she said.
"I'm confused," Harry cut in after looking to Daphne to find her looking just as lost as he felt. "What clever thing did she try that didn't pan out?"
"It would have worked," Hermione muttered and crossed her arms over her chest, a frown marring her features.
"No one is really disputing that, Hermione," Susan told her. "Just that there's a better, or less risky, way to do it."
"Hermione's Polyjuice plan," Neville offered, finally saving Daphne and Harry from their confusion as he explained. "We decided to use the room here to brew the potion and we ended up remembering a couple of things."
"Such as?" Daphne asked.
"Well, number one, we can access books from the restricted section of the Library in here-"
"So I went toadying up to Lockhart for that pass to the restricted section for absolutely no reason," Hermione burst out, disgust clearly coloring her tone.
"Right," Neville said with a nod, his lips twitching as he fought not to grin. "We also realized that we don't actually need to sneak into the Slytherin common room to get any information from Malfoy."
Harry blinked and frowned as he tried to work out his friend's meaning. "All right," he said after a minutes thought. "I give up. What do you know that I'm forgetting?"
"We already know two people that currently live in the Slytherin dorms." Neville turned and looked over at a grinning Tracey and a smirking Blaise.
Harry blinked again as he realized their mistake and then groaned. "Well, don't I feel a bit foolish," he muttered.
"No more than I do," Daphne said, staring at Tracey with narrowed eyes. "Why didn't I think of that?"
"You've had other things on your mind," Tracey told her in a conciliatory manner.
"So you can find out what Malfoy knows about the Heir of Slytherin?" Harry asked.
Blaise shook his head, his smirk never falling. "I don't need to," he said. "Malfoy never shuts up, he's been going on and on about it since the night of the attack on Filch's cat."
Harry's eyes narrowed as he considered the other boy. "And will you tell us what he's been saying?" he asked, fairly certain that he already knew what the answer was going to be.
Blaise shook his head and Hermione growled irritably, glaring at the still smirking Slytherin.
"Why not?" Harry asked as the rest of the group simply watched the interaction between the two of them.
"Information is its own form of currency," Blaise said. "You want information that I have. If I am going to part with that information, then I would like something in return."
Harry frowned at that, not noticing how most of the others in the room exchanged a look and sat up straighter in their seats. "This information isn't really of much worth," Harry tried.
"It isn't of much worth to me," Blaise corrected him. "But to you it is certainly of much greater value," he pointed out with a significant look in Hermione's direction and Harry found himself frowning again.
It was true, enough. They didn't know, yet, about the second attack, and so far the victims all had something in common. Hermione was the only muggleborn in the room and potentially in the most danger out of the lot of them if the attacks continued.
"And that's why I think we should still go with the Polyjuice," Hermione muttered. "I will not be used as blackmail material against my friends."
Blaise shrugged, completely immune to her accusing tone and to the fierce glare she was leveling in his direction as his eyes never left Harry's.
"There are too many ways for a plan like that to go pear shaped," Tracey cut in. "It's better, and faster, to get the information safely from us."
"Us?" Harry pounced on the apparent slip. "So you have this information too?"
Tracey nodded.
"I suppose you want something for it as well?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm fairly content, at the moment."
"Then why can't you just tell us?"
"Because I've sworn not to," she admitted.
Harry scowled at that and turned his attention to Neville who was sitting with Hannah on a sofa to his right. The Longbottom scion looked completely calm and collected, as did Daphne, Harry noted. In fact, he realized after a casual scan of the room, only Hermione looked upset by Blaise's behavior.
Understanding finally sank in and Harry leaned back in his seat, letting out an explosive sigh as he did. "Damn," he muttered.
"Harry?" Hermione asked and he looked over at her.
"Hermione, why are you and I the only two people in the room that are remotely upset by this whole situation?" he asked and she started in surprise before she turned to study everyone else.
"I honestly don't know," she admitted after a few minutes thought.
Harry nodded absently, expecting just that answer. His brow was furrowed once again in thought as he attempted to puzzle out the situation. For more than a year now, Neville, along with Daphne and Susan, had been trying to teach him some of the finer points of wizarding culture. Daphne had stuck mostly to politics, while Neville and Susan had focused on business as well as making sure he understood as much as he could about the various old or influential families.
From what Harry remembered, Zabini had power and influence, and the Lady Zabini apparently scared a lot of people. But that didn't mean they were untouchable by any means, and even with only one living member, Potter was still a much more powerful family name.
Is this a test of some kind? He thought. Why? Why now? What could he want?
"Harry?"
Harry jumped and glanced at Hermione again, who was giving him a questioning look.
Shite, he thought. I can't just stop and explain to her right now, not if this is what I think it is. This is gonna take some explanation.
He turned away, doing his best to ignore the feelings of hurt and rejection coming from his brilliant bond mate.
"Daphne?" he asked without taking his eyes off of Blaise again. Her response was immediate and confirmed for him what was going on.
"Yes, Lord Potter," Daphne said as she stood and moved over to take Hermione's hands, shushing the other girl when she made to protest. Daphne pulled her to her feet and led Hermione off to the side, close enough that they could hear and observe, but far enough that Daphne's whispered explanation wouldn't distract them.
"You've never cared much about house rivalries, so this demand has nothing to do with Slytherin and Gryffindor," Harry observed.
"No, Lord Potter, it does not," Blaise agreed, dark eyes giving away nothing of what he was feeling as he stared right into Harry's emerald gaze.
"You want something, but not from Harry Potter, or even the Boy-Who-Lived. This is a request of Lord Potter, Head of House Potter, isn't it?" he asked, wanting to be absolutely certain he had everything straight before moving forward.
"It is."
Harry did his best not to sigh in frustration or show any outward emotion. Daphne had made it very clear to him that, once word of his Lordship spread, there would be people that would want to meet or speak with him. He really hadn't expected something like this to happen so soon, though, and for the first to approach him to be a schoolmate. He determined he would do his best to remember his lessons, though, and sat up straighter in his seat, trying to project confidence and command as best he could with a cane by his left hand and his right arm in a sling.
"Is this a personal request from Blaise Zabini?" he asked and Blaise shook his head.
"I ask on House business, as Heir Zabini of House Zabini on behalf of my Head of House."
Harry managed not to wince. Invoking House business meant this could be serious. "No one here is held to family oaths," he pointed out.
"House Davis and House Zabini have long been friends, if not in any formal alliance," Blaise said. "And all of the old families know of the alliance between House Longbottom and House Potter. House Bones and House Greengrass have their own goals and reputations, but it is clear they are close to you," he added with a gesture toward Susan and Daphne. "Granger has no House affiliation, and I trust that you, Lord Potter, will impress upon her the seriousness of this matter. If you trust them not to speak of my request, then I will, of course, bow to your superior knowledge of them."
"I trust them," Harry spoke evenly. "The only ones I'm questioning right now are you and Tracey." Harry could feel Daphne's hurt at his words, but he couldn't tell if it was because he didn't trust her best friend, or because Tracey seemed to have earned that lack of trust through her own actions.
"That is completely understandable, Lord Potter."
"Since we're agreed that everyone present may remain, please, get on with your request," Harry ordered, gesturing toward Blaise with his good hand.
"Agreed." Blaise drew himself up in his seat and when he spoke, he did so with a tone of practiced formality that reminded him of the way Amelia had spoken when she made her formal request to be his guardian.
"Lord Harry James Potter," he said. "I, Heir Blaise Edward Zabini, bring a message from my mother and Head of House, the Lady Valerie Teressa Zabini. She requests that you agree to meet with her at our home at some time during the upcoming Christmas break. She wishes to discuss something with you, in person, and will, of course, extend House Hospitality toward you and one other guest of your choosing. What say you to my request, Lord Potter?"
A heavy silence fell over the room as all eyes turned toward Harry who was carefully considering the request. Some of what Blaise had said, Harry didn't fully understand but to ask for clarification would make him appear weak, and that was something the Lord of a Most Ancient and Noble house could not afford. Since the request was made to him, he knew that he could dictate the day and time and if the Lady Zabini really wanted to meet with him then she would arrange her schedule to meet his demanded meeting time.
"Heir Zabini, I, Lord Harry James Potter, will agree to meet with the Lady Zabini on the 27th of December at eleven in the morning. To be clear, I am agreeing only to hear her out. If I do not like what I hear, I will not be staying for long, am I understood, Heir Zabini?"
"Completely, Lord Potter," Blaise said, bowing from his seat. Harry returned the bow with a slight nod of his head as the higher ranked of the two. "I would also like to add my personal thanks."
Harry glared at the other boy. "Noted," he growled. "Now tell us what you know and then leave."
"I really wish there was more to tell, but honestly, Malfoy is as clueless as everyone else in the castle."
Harry blinked. "What?" he blurted out.
Blaise shrugged. "Since Halloween night, he's been going on how he wishes he knew who the Heir was because if he did he would do everything he could to help."
"And there's no way he's lying?" Susan asked.
"No way," Tracey said. "Malfoy has always been a braggart. If he was the Heir he'd be crowing about it. I honestly have no idea how he got into Slytherin, he has no cunning or guile at all."
They considered that for a minute before Harry finally sighed. He wished they'd learned more, but at least they knew now and could avoid wasting at least two months plotting and brewing Polyjuice in order to get the same information.
"If that is all you have to say, then it is time for you to leave, and I don't imagine that we'll be seeing much of each other until the meeting with your mother." The message was clear. Blaise was no longer welcome as far as Harry was concerned.
"I understand, Lord Potter." Blaise stood and bowed once again before he turned and calmly left the Room of Requirement. When Tracey stood to follow him she gave them an apologetic smile.
"I know that seemed bad, but he really is a friend, Harry."
"Friends don't blackmail you for favors."
"No, they don't. But there were good reasons for what he did." With that she left, leaving the rest of them to think over what had just happened.
"So does anyone want to tell me what that was all about?" Hermione snapped irritably after she and Daphne had moved back over to sit with the rest of them.
"I'll let them take care of that," Hannah said as she stood and brushed down her skirt. "I've got some homework to finish and I think the more voices, the more confusing things could get. I'll see you all at lunch?"
The majority of them nodded as she moved over and hugged Susan before she left as well, leaving just the bonded quartet and Neville behind as the room shifted around them returning to a miniature version of the Gryffindor Common room with their usual seating and fireplace there to warm them.
"What exactly is it that you want explained, Hermione?" Neville asked, kicking off the discussion after they'd all moved to their usual seats. Hermione sat between the other girls while Harry and Neville occupied armchairs facing their sofa with the low table in between them.
Hermione chewed on her lower lip as she thought it all over. "I just don't understand what was going on there. What was Blaise doing? Why didn't the rest of you have an issue with him basically blackmailing Harry for useless information?"
"It's not useless," Harry pointed out. "At the very least we know not to waste time trying to find out what Malfoy knows. That will allow us to focus elsewhere."
"Okay, I can agree with that, but why did you ignore me, Harry?" she asked and he again felt a wave of hurt flowing from her.
"I didn't want to, and I didn't mean to, Hermione, I promise. But Blaise was initiating a formal situation there, and I didn't really have a choice in the matter."
"Why not?"
"Because women have no place in House business," Daphne spat. Neville and Harry both flinched and she took a deep breath to calm herself and when she spoke again she was careful to moderate her tone. "Zabini is an old family. Old families basically rule our society, and of course the Heads of those families are almost entirely male. Many of them have clauses that girls can't actually become Head of House, only a male heir can take on the title."
"That's…" Hermione trailed off.
"Disgusting and sexist?" Harry offered. "Absolutely it is, but wizarding society is patriarchal. I think it's stupid but I can't do anything about that, at least not right now. When in a formal discussion like that it is expected that only the men will be talking and if you'd interrupted Blaise might have expected me to shoot you down or reprimand you somehow. Of course I wouldn't do that but if I didn't that would get back to his mother, who would be working on learning everything she can about me for this meeting she wants."
"I'll give you a crash course tonight, Hermione, it's not all that important right this minute," Daphne offered and turned her attention back to Harry. "You felt a little confused during his request, what part didn't you completely understand?" she asked.
"Two things. One, the bit about House Hospitality. What did that mean?"
"I'll take this one," Neville said and leaned forward as Harry turned to him. "House Hospitality means that, while you are there, in their home, you are offered the protection of their House. If anything were to happen to you, in any way, their House could be held responsible. By extending House Hospitality, he's reassuring you that you will be safe while meeting with the Lady Zabini."
Harry nodded. "Okay, that makes sense, I guess. Second thing, then, why did he go through all that? Why didn't the Lady Zabini simply send me an owl requesting a meeting?"
"And we're back to the Patriarchal nature of our society," Daphne muttered. "Lady Zabini is… an aberration in our society. Almost like Madam Bones as a Ministry Department Head in an extremely male dominated field. The Lady Zabini is actually forbidden from directly contacting male Heads of House. Doing so would be considered rude, at best. So, she usually has to make contact through a male to carry her message. Also, in this case, they don't know you. For all she knows you would deny any request to meet. So I'm fairly certain she asked Blaise to use any opportunity to force agreeing to at least a meeting from you since if you said no she wouldn't have much other recourse to contact you in your capacity as Lord Potter. She has to work much harder and jump through a lot more hoops than a man in her same position would have to, simply to request a meeting."
Hermione was muttering darkly to herself but they mostly ignored her. They all felt as she did, but there wasn't a lot they could do right at that moment, so kept their focus on more immediate matters.
"So it's possible Blaise could still be serious about wanting to be a friend, he just had to do the best he could under House orders?" Harry asked and Daphne and Susan nodded.
"That's what it seems like. I very seriously doubt that Blaise would have really kept from telling us what Malfoy'd said, but he needed a bargaining chip in order to have some kind of assurances."
"I still don't like it," Harry muttered.
"No one says you need to like it, just… just don't completely write Blaise off, yet, okay?" Neville asked and Harry grudgingly nodded after giving it a bit of consideration. He would try, but Blaise was going to have to go above and beyond if he ever wanted Harry to trust him, or consider him a friend.
"I have to say, I'm proud of you, Harry," Daphne said a moment later. "You handled that all very well for how little time you've had to learn the etiquette involved with such a situation."
"Thank you," he said, giving her a weak smile. "Still not sure I'll ever get used to this stuff, but it's good to know that I didn't embarrass myself, at least."
"Far from it," Neville assured him. "You did great."
Harry's smile became a bit more confident and he nodded to Neville before glancing at Daphne.
"Before that whole thing kicked off, we had some information for you guys that we found out last night."
Neville, Susan, and Hermione shared a look. "Why don't I feel like this is good news?" Susan asked.
"Not all of it is bad, some of it is fairly neutral." The three of them groaned but motioned for him to continue.
"Remember us telling you about Dobby?" Harry asked and Neville nodded, thinking back to their discussion on the train at the start of the year. "Well, turns out he was the one that charmed the bludger yesterday."
"Is he trying to kill you?" Neville blurted out while Hermione and Susan simply stared at him in shock.
"Not according to him," Daphne said, taking up the story. "Apparently, he was hoping that Harry would be hurt badly enough that he would need to be sent home."
"Little bugger is crazy," Susan muttered.
"That's not all, either. He was also responsible for the barrier closing at Kings Cross. He really doesn't want me to be here at Hogwarts."
"Not that I can blame him for wanting you to be safe," Hermione mused thoughtfully, "but if he keeps trying to 'save' you, he might actually kill you!"
"How did you two figure all this out, anyway?" Susan asked.
"Oh, he came into the Hospital Wing last night," Harry told her. "Woke me up when he started wiping my forehead with a damp cloth."
"And Harry yelling in surprise woke me up," Daphne added. "We got him talking a bit and he let enough slip that we were able to piece it together."
"So the Chamber being opened, that was what he was warning us about, for sure?"
"Seems so, Susan. We still couldn't get any real details out of him, though."
"Yes, he ran off before we could really try though," Daphne admitted. With that said, she went on to fill them in on just why the little elf had run off so quickly.
"Colin Creevey was petrified too?" Hermione's eyes were wide, her knuckles white as she clenched her fists in her lap.
"Completely," Harry confirmed with a nod. "He had his camera up and when the Headmaster opened it this puff of smoke came out. The film had been melted by whatever it was that attacked him."
They all considered that and eventually had to admit that it really didn't tell them much in the long run.
"When word gets out that a student was attacked, won't there be a panic?" Hermione asked, almost hopefully, only to subside when Neville sadly shook his head.
"Creevey is muggleborn," he pointed out. "Most of the people in charge will claim that they're concerned and that they'll do everything in their power to get to the bottom of things, but unless a pureblood is attacked the won't really do much of anything."
Harry scowled at that but nodded and said what they were all thinking. "Looks like we're on our own, again."
#####
It only took a day for Harry to discard the cane, and over the next week and a half Daphne and Susan took turns helping him with the bruise salve. The day after Colin was attacked, Harry sent off a letter to Amelia telling her about Dobby and the attack itself.
She was absolutely livid that not one word had come from Hogwarts through any official channels, and without that, her hands were effectively tied. She cautioned them again to be extremely careful and practically begged Harry in her return letter not to do anything rash.
"She really acts like I go looking for trouble," Harry complained as they all read the letter at the breakfast table that morning.
"We're not having that discussion again," Neville muttered, a light grin twitching around his lips and he ducked when Harry threw a raisin at him.
Harry became grateful for Blaise telling them about Malfoy, though he'd never admit it. With continued homework, Quidditch practice amped up to account for the time missed while Harry was recovering from his injuries, their continued morning spell practice and his exercises which he started up again as soon as Madam Pomfrey cleared him to do so, along with his Friday meetings with Healer Gant, well, Harry was sure there would have been no time to try and brew a batch of Polyjuice.
Thus, by the second week of December when Professor McGonagall made her way around the castle with the list of students that would be staying and who would be going home for the holidays, it was with a sense of great relief that Harry and the rest signed their names for going home. Harry couldn't wait to experience another Christmas at the Boneyard, only this time as an official member of the family.
A week later saw the five of them hurrying down to the Great Hall at eight o'clock in the evening for a dueling club that had been announced before dinner.
"Think Professor Flitwick will be running things?" Harry asked as the waited in the packed hall with what looked like every single student in the school. The long dining tables had vanished only to be replaced by a large golden stage that stood along one wall. The ceiling above was a velvety black and the whole scene was lit by the light of a thousand floating candles. The faces around them all looked eager and excited and harry couldn't help but feel a little thrill himself, wondering how well his extra practice might serve him in a real duel.
"That would make sense," Hermione said. "Professor Flitwick is extremely knowledgeable and he's been a huge help during our practice sessions. I think I'll finally get that siege engine spell down in the next couple of days."
"I don't care who is running is as long as it's not-" Daphne began only to trail off into a groan as Gilderoy Lockhart walked onto the stage, resplendent in robes of a deep plum and accompanied by Snape, dressed in his customary black. Harry felt the Potions Master looked even more surly than ever, and that was really some achievement considering the mans usual disposition.
Harry tuned out as much of Lockhart's posturing drivel as he could but actually broke into a cheer, along with about half the other students in the hall when Snape sent the peacock tumbling arse over tea kettle in one direction while his wand went flying into the crowd.
Lavender Brown returned his wand, tittering when he smiled at her, which had Susan, Hermione, and Daphne rolling their eyes. "How can none of them figure out how awful he is?" Hermione hissed, glaring angrily at the now far more disheveled wizard.
In less than a minute after Lockhart had his wand back in hand, they found themselves being broken up into pairs and Harry realized that he was looking into the cold grey gaze of Draco Malfoy.
"All right," Lockhart called out. "On my count of three, cast your charms to Disarm your opponents- only to disarm them, we don't want any accidents."
After a pause Lockhart counted off and Harry quickly stepped to the side as Malfoy started casting on "two". The spell whizzed by Harry, missing by inches as his own wand came up.
"Flipendo! Expelliarmus!"
The time practicing on the firing range proved its worth as both spells struck true. The knock back jinx sent Malfoy stumbling backwards, and as his arms were waving around in an effort to keep his balance, he was struck in the chest by the disarming charm and was sent flipping through the air to land on the stage with a crunch,
Harry looked around, pleased to see that Neville and the girls all had kept hold of their wands as Snape shouted, "Finite Incantatem!" dispelling many of the curses, hexes, and jinxes that had, moments before, been flying thick and fast through the air.
As he passed by, Snape gave Harry a considering look, dark eyes glittering with some indecipherable emotion.
"I think I'd better teach you to block unfriendly spells," said Lockhart, standing flustered in the midst of the hall. "Let's have a volunteer pair-"
"Might I recommend Malfoy and Potter?" Snape said, cutting off whatever Lockhart had been about to suggest.
"Excellent idea," Lockhart practically cheered and Harry rolled his eyes. He gestured for Harry and Malfoy to move into the middle of the hall as the crowd moved to give them room.
While Harry ignored Lockhart making a fool of himself, he kept his eyes on Malfoy as Snape moved closer to his student, bent down, and whispered something in his ear. His eyes narrowed when Malfoy suddenly smirked, a far cry from the flushed and angry expression he'd worn after Harry knocked him for a loop.
The crowd fell silent as they took their positions and raised their wands.
"Scared, Potter?" Malfoy muttered and Harry simply scoffed and smirked at the other boy which brought a little color to Malfoy's cheeks as he flushed and glared angrily.
"There… two… one… go!" Lockhart shouted.
Malfoy quickly lifted his wand and bellowed, "Serpensortia!"
The end of his wand seemed to explode and Harry watched, shocked, as a nearly seven foot long black snake shot out of it, fell heavily to the floor between them, and raised itself, hissing angrily and ready to strike anyone that came near. There were screams echoing around him as the surrounding students scrambled to back up even more.
"Stay very still, Potter," Snape said, lazily. He was clearly enjoying the sight of Harry standing there, motionless, eye to eye with the angry snake. "I'll get rid of it."
"Allow me!" Lockhart shouted and Harry turned to him as he flourished his wand.
"No-" he tried to yell, but it was too late. There was a loud bang and the snake, instead of vanishing, was thrown ten feet through the air where it landed with a loud smack on the floor, right in front of a terrified Justin Fin-Fletchley. The snake raised itself again, fangs exposed to strike, when Harry's body moved almost without input from his brain. The next thing he realized, he was shouting at the snake.
§Ssstop!§ he bellowed. §Leave him alone!§
The snake whipped around, startled, and locked eyes with Harry. §You ssspeak?§ it hissed, sounding astonished.
Harry shrugged. §I guess ssso. I've only ever talked to one sssnake before.§ He motioned with one hand for the snake to approach. §Come here, pleassse, and don't bite anyone.§
§I am upssset,§ the snake hissed as it slithered quickly toward him.
§Well, I can underssstand that,§ he told it as he leaned down and let the creature climb up his arm. §I'd be annoyed too if sssomeone blasssted me ten feet through the air like that. Are you hurt?§
§I am unharmed, but it isss cold here. I do not like the cold.§
§Let me sssee if I can get sssomeone to sssend you back where you belong.§
He looked up, the snake now draped across his shoulders as it hissed in his ear and gingerly approached Snape.
"Professor?" he asked as politely as he could. "Could you please send him back where he came from?"
Harry ignored the dumbfounded expression on Snape's face as the man waved his wand and the snakes weight suddenly vanished from his shoulders in a small puff of black smoke.
"What do you think you're playing at?"
Harry turned, startled by the shout to find Justin glaring furiously at him an instant before he turned and stormed out of the hall.
Harry blinked and looked around at the sea of faces, nearly all of them staring at him with a mixture of fear and anger.
"What'd I do?"
#####
Harry stood by the fire in the Gryffindor common room, frowning and stroking the scar behind his jaw.
"So you're seriously telling me, that, just because I can talk to snakes, everyone is going to be convinced that I'm the damn Heir of Slytherin?" he asked, just for clarification.
Neville nodded, his eyes a little wild, still. "Afraid so," he said. "Slytherin himself was a well known Parselmouth, and throughout history, just about every known Parselmouth has been Dark."
Harry groaned and threw himself into his chair. "What'd I tell you?" he muttered. "Guilty until proven innocent." He paused and peered at Neville. "You don't think I'm-"
"Not on a bet, Harry," Neville cut him off. "I know you too well. There's no way you'd ever go dark, and you especially wouldn't be attacking muggleborns." He gestured to Hermione where she sat between Susan and Daphne. "One of your best friends is muggleborn. Anyone that could believe you'd do anything like that is an idiot."
Harry smiled at his friend's support, grateful for Neville's continued friendship, and turned his attention to the girls. "Are you three all right?" he asked, confused by what they were feeling.
They all blinked, as if startled from a daze and their eyes focused on him. "Oh, we're okay," Susan said as she seemed to give herself a mental shake. "Just a little confused."
"Why?" he asked.
"Harry, we could understand every word you and the snake were saying," Daphne tried to explain.
"Okay?" He was getting more confused by the moment, himself, and didn't see why this was a cause for concern. "I wasn't trying to be quiet, I'm sure everyone heard me."
"Oh, we heard you, all right. Which is why people were freaked." Neville shuddered and Harry gave him a sideways glance.
"Huh?"
Hermione almost smiled, but did her best to explain. "Harry, Parseltongue is its own language. You weren't speaking English back there."
"Wait, what?"
"Really, mate. It was these really creepy hissing noises."
Harry just gaped at Neville, his mouth hanging open.
"Are you freaking kidding me?" he burst out. "So, no one heard me telling the snake to leave Justin alone and to not bite anyone?"
"We did," Daphne said, "But I know I'm not a Parselmouth, Daddy checked when I was ten."
"We've never talked to a snake before, either," Susan spoke up for herself and Hermione. "But when you and that snake spoke, we could hear the hissing, but we also heard it in English."
Harry sighed and slumped lower in his seat. "Something else to tell Madam Pomfrey?" he asked, and they nodded in unison.
"It's getting late," Daphne said after several minutes of silence. "We should get to bed."
"I think I'll stay here and sulk a while longer. Maybe 'till the rest of the guys are asleep at least. I'd rather not deal with Ron glaring at me any more than I absolutely have to."
Susan walked over and pulled him out of his chair and into a hug. "Don't stay up too late, okay?" she asked and he nodded as he breathed in her calming scent.
"I'll try," he promised.
"We can go with you tomorrow to talk to Justin," Hermione offered as she hugged him as well. "I'm sure if you explain it, he'll understand."
"Hope so."
After Hermione moved away, Daphne hugged him, but said nothing, only offering a warm smile and her silent support before she stepped away and the three of them headed upstairs.
Neville put a hand on Harry's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "I'm not going to hug you," he said, and Harry barked out a short laugh. "Just remember, I'm with you, always."
"Thanks, Nev. See you in the morning."
"G'night, Mate."
Once Neville was gone Harry sank back into his chair with a tired sigh and stared into the fireplace, the dancing flames reflected in his eyes as he spent the next several hours considering the newest complication in his life.
#####
On December 22nd, Amelia stood on Platform nine and three-quarters, waiting for the train to arrive with the Grangers and Madam Longbottom standing with her. She'd already talked with them on what they all knew about the situation at Hogwarts and none of them were in the least bit happy about it.
Moods picked up, however, when the train pulled in and came to a stop amidst a cloud of steam. The doors opened and chattering children came pouring out onto the platform.
It was readily apparent when their kids stepped out as the other students immediately gave them a wide berth, leaving the five second years standing in a wide, clear circle as they made their way across the platform.
"That doesn't look promising," Dan muttered, noting the dark scowl on Harry's face and the way that Neville and the girls were shooting him concerned looks.
"No," Amelia agreed with his assessment. "No, it doesn't." She smiled and opened her arms as Susan ran up and threw her own arms around her aunt, squeezing particularly tightly. "Hey, Susie," she muttered to the girl as, around them, Hermione was greeting her parents and Neville was telling his grandmother how good it was to see her. "I've missed you," she said.
"Missed you too, auntie.," Susan mumbled, her voice muffled against her aunt's stomach.
Harry stood a bit off to the side, giving Susan and her aunt some space.
"Daphne, come, we need to get going. Your father is waiting for us."
Harry turned at the sound of the new voice to find Danyella Greengrass standing nearby, looking as impeccably dressed as the last time Harry had seen her.
Daphne nodded. "Coming, Mother," she said. "I will meet you all tomorrow at Gringotts," she added to them before she calmly walked over to her mother and took hold of her arm. A moment later they both vanished with a loud crack.
If he could have frowned any more than he already was, Harry would have done so. Daphne had felt… apprehensive when she heard her mothers voice. He didn't like that.
By the time he turned back to the rest of the group it was just in time to catch Hermione as she crashed into him. Her arms wrapped tightly around his middle for a moment before she pulled back and looked at him.
"It'll get better," she insisted and he nodded, but kept silent. He really didn't trust himself to speak.
In minutes, Hermione and her parents had disappeared through the barrier and Neville and his gran had made their way over to the Floo.
"Rough time?" Amelia asked as she stepped up and pulled him into a hug.
He shrugged. "Can we just go?" he asked, gruffly and she pulled back, eyeing him carefully.
"Well, it's easy enough to see that you're in a foul mood," she said. "But that's no reason to take it out on me."
She watched as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath that he held for a few seconds before slowly letting it out. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I'm just so tired of being stared at."
She rubbed his shoulders and gave him an encouraging smile. "It's okay. Come on." She led them over to the Floo and let Susan head off to the Boneyard before she took Harry by the arm and apparated them both to the Floo access room where Susan was waiting for them.
Without a word, Harry walked away, his head down and his shoulders slumped, as if a heavy weight rested on them.
"All right," Amelia said, turning to her niece. "Just what is going on?"
Susan sighed and tried to explain. "Well, the other day there was a dueling club," she started as they walked toward the sitting room. She quickly explained everything that happened and by the time she finished Amelia was forced to lean back in her seat and blow out an exasperated breath.
"Well," she said, "no wonder he's so upset."
Susan winced. "If only that was all there was to it," she moaned.
"Really? There's more?"
"And worse."
"Bloody wonderful. Well, go on then, let's get it all out on the table."
"Yesterday, Harry wanted to talk to Justin, explain to him that he was telling the snake to back off. We were going to talk to him during Herbology so the girls and I could back him up. Not sure how we thought we were going to explain how we could understand Parseltongue even though none of us can speak it, but we were going to try."
"He didn't listen?"
"We never got the chance. Herbology was canceled because of a heavy snow fall during the night. So we went looking for him. We found a table full of 'Puffs in the Library and went over to talk to the, see if they knew where Justin was." She paused and took a sip of the butter beer Binky had brought for her when they first sat down.
"Just as we were getting close we could hear them talking, and Harry stops to listen because they mentioned him." She paused again, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Oh, they were just awful!" she cried. "Ernie Macmillan kept going on how He'd told Justin to hid in their dorm since Harry had obviously picked him as his 'next target'.
"Hannah was there and she tried to defend him but Ernie went on about how Voldemort tried to kill him. Said only a really powerful dark wizard could have survived the killing curse and that was probably why he tried to kill Harry in the first place. Said he didn't want competition," she sneered the last word in a disgusted tone.
"That was about when I got fed up and walked up to their table."
They looked up to find Harry standing in the doorway, green gaze seeming to pierce them both and Amelia almost forgot how to breathe for a moment as an oppressive weight seemed to settle on the room from his barely contained power.
"Sorry to interrupt," he whispered. "I felt how upset Susan was getting and…" He trailed off and shrugged.
"Please, come sit, Harry."
He stepped the rest of the way into the room and sat on the love seat beside Susan as a butter beer appeared on the table in front of him.
"Earnie went blustering on about the Quidditch match last year," Harry said as he opened the bottle and took up the story where Susan had left off. He took one of her hands in his and held it gently as he spoke. "Said I'd shown my rue colors back then."
"He wouldn't listen to any explanation, just kept insisting that Harry had been trying to chase the snake toward Justin."
"And after arguing with the idiot for a few minutes U was going to lose my temper, so I stormed out of there."
Amelia thought carefully. "I'm not trying to make light of any of this," she said. "But none of that seems to explain how hard this has all hit you."
Harry snorted and nodded his head, taking a pull on his drink before setting it down on the table in front of him. "If that had been all there was, it wouldn't really still be bothering me," he admitted. "But what happened next just made things a hundred times worse. Since Herbology was canceled, we were in a free period but Transfiguration was next so I started back to the tower to get my books. Ran into Hagrid on the way and talked to him for a minute, something about some chickens," Harry shrugged. "Honestly I wasn't really listening too closely, I was still upset about Ernie. So, after I left Hagrid I went up stairs, turned down a corridor and it was darker than usual, a bunch of the torches has been blown out.
"About half way down I tripped over something and went sprawling on the floor and when I finally got up and looked I realized I'd tripped over Justin Finch-Fletchley. He was lying on the floor, stiff as a board, and Nearly Headless Nick was next to him but he looked all black and smokey."
Amelia groaned. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me," she muttered.
"I really wish I was," Harry growled. "I was just trying to decide if I should run or something when Peeves comes around the corner, sees what's on the floor, and goes tearing off screaming through the halls about another attack and no mortal or ghost is safe. Course, that brought students out of all the classes and there I am, standing with another petrified student right there on the floor.
"After everyone got a good look the teachers finally took Justin and Nick out of there and McGonagall took me off to see Dumbledore."
"Where were you and the girls?" Amelia asked. "Not blaming you, I'm just wondering what happened."
"We'd stayed behind when Harry left to tear into Ernie. When we heard Peeves screaming through the halls we all ran out of there. Of course, Ernie had to go yelling about Harry being caught in the act as soon as he got there. I swear I almost hexed the little idiot," she grumbled and Amelia smiled, just slightly, at her niece's ire.
"I'd have been tempted too," she admitted.
"Yeah, well things have just been downhill since," Harry said. "Practically everyone in the school is convinced I'm the one attacking students."
Amelia sighed and looked at the two of them, noting that Harry had yet to let go of Susan's hand during the entire story. They looked tired, she decided. Drawn and worn, and she really couldn't blame them after the tumultuous first term they'd already experienced.
"All right," she said, drawing their attention back to her. "Tomorrow is going to be a long day. Why don't you two head for the kitchen? Binky has dinner ready, and after you eat, you should probably turn in." She stood and drew Harry to his feet. "It's going to be okay, Harry. I promise you that. This will blow over eventually, and we'll figure it out as we go. Right now, though, this is the holidays. So take tonight to try to rest and tomorrow we'll put this all out of our minds and worry about trying to have a pleasant break with our family and our friends."
He nodded, resignedly and then he and Susan left and headed for the kitchen.
Behind them Amelia's face twisted into an expression of anger and she strode for the Floo. There had been a third attack and a second student petrified by an unknown assailant inside the school that was so often touted as the 'safest place in the world'. And, yet again, not a single word from Hogwarts to her department about it from Dumbledore. It was far past time for her to light a fire under a certain meddlesome old bastards arse.
#####
She knew she wasn't supposed to do it. Madam Pomfrey had been very clear on that point. But she did it anyway, sure that she really didn't have much choice in the matter. She couldn't let them feel what this meeting was going to do to her. She couldn't let them feel her fear. Feel her anger and the hatred she held for the man in front of her.
Ice blue eyes stared into ice blue eyes as Daphne pushed down on the link to her bond mates, she suppressed it so they wouldn't be able to sense her emotions, not until she got them back under control. She stepped into her father's study, closing the door carefully behind her before she moved across the room and sank into a simple, uncomfortable chair set before his large, imposing desk.
"You wanted to speak to me, Father?" she asked, her legs crossed primly at the ankles beneath her long skirt and her hands folded carefully in her lap, back ramrod straight and her chin held high.
Cyril Greengrass was as cold as his eyes, showing no emotion whatsoever as he stared into the eyes that so mirrored his own.
"I have had… disturbing reports given to me," he said, his deep voice seeming to fill the room.
Daphne said nothing. He hadn't asked a question, and she had long ago learned not to respond to an open ended statement like that. That was the easiest way to give away information that you didn't want to accidentally part with. When he asked something directly, she would answer.
"I should have a betrothal contract on my desk, Daughter," he hissed. "Why do I not have it?"
"Lord Potter is just twelve-years-old," she started, only to be cut off by an impatient gesture from the man.
"That means nothing," he insisted. "He is the Head of a Most Ancient and Noble House and tying our house to his would see us moving up in the world. The Potter Fortune eclipses our own wealth by several magnitudes, but more importantly is the family magic. The Potters are well known for their unique magic."
"I am already bonded to the Lord Potter," she reminded him, doing her best not to sound annoyed with the man. "It is only a matter of time."
"Time is something we do not have!" he roared and she flinched in her seat. "The Greengrass holdings are not what they once were, Daughter. If I do not see progress, I will have no choice but to offer your contract to someone else."
"You can't!" she blurted out before she could stop herself, fear shooting through her. She was bonded to three other people, did he not understand that? Did he not care what that would do to them, to her?
He surged to his feet, a leviathan rising from the depths as he towered over her and leaned over his desk, palms flat on its hard surface. "I am Lord Greengrass! I am Head of this House and as such I can do whatever I please, do you understand me?"
Daphne cursed, mentally, as she was unable to hide the shiver of fear that ran through her body. "Yes, Father," she whispered, closing her eyes against the tears that threatened to well up. "Forgive me, I misspoke."
"Yes, you did."
He sank back into his seat and eyed her coldly from across his desk.
"I am aware of your… sickness." He spoke the last word with such disgust, such complete and utter loathing that the words hung in the air like a physical presence. "If you cannot overcome it, then I will see to it that you are shipped off to someone else so it can be their problem. Maybe your sister can then do what you are obviously not capable of."
"No, Father. I swear, I am capable. I promise you. Lord Potter… he is unsure, and young. The future is far from his mind at this time and it would be a mistake for me to try to push him too far, too fast." She hated this. Daphne Greengrass did not beg. But there she was, pleading for something she didn't even want, something that had once turned her stomach just at the thought of it.
Her father regarded her coldly for several minutes as she sat there, feeling as small as she ever had under his intense glare. The mercurial nature of the man made him so difficult to deal with. Cold and in control one moment, and then incandescent with rage the next at the great… disappointment that was his eldest daughter and Heiress.
"One year," he said, finally. "I will give you until this time next year to either make progress with the Lord Potter, or I will see you gone from this family so your… your illness can no longer shame this great House."
She lowered her head, hiding her eyes from him and whispered, brokenly, "I understand, Father."
"Get out of my sight."
She rose from her seat and left the room as quickly as she could without running, closing the door carefully behind her before she broke into a mad run through the halls of the house, the prison she'd grown up in.
When she reached her room she burst through the door and fairly flew onto her bed, finally collapsing into wracking sobs as great, bitter tears rolled down her cheeks. She was not alone long when a pair of arms wrapped around her and drew her into a tight embrace.
"I am so sorry, Daphne," her mother whispered. "I wish there was more I could do for you. You are my daughter, my first born, and I cannot tell you how much I love you. It breaks my heart to see you upset, but he is our Head of House."
Daphne said nothing. She knew there was nothing her mother could do. She knew there was nothing she could do. The Lord Greengrass commanded, and it was their duty to obey his commands. Even if there was no way she could ever, truly, love Harry in the way that was needed.
Her mother held her as she cried, silent tears streaking her own cheeks until the girl in her arms exhausted herself and drifted off into a fitful, troubled sleep.
