ARC V: DAPHNE COMES HOME

June 1996 Harry Potter 5th year just ended Sirius black is death after the battle of the ministry of magic, Dumbledore returns as headmaster and the wizard world is on the eve of a new blood war but we know better, the first one never really ended. Even so the Hogwarts students are getting ready to go home after a horrendous year under the toad Umbridge.

The return of the dark lord is making waves across the student body, the Gryffindor's are starting to feel the peer pressure and the reputation of their house forcing many to make a decision they would regret. The ravens are focus on which side has the better odds, the Hufflepoffs stand with the Gryffindor's, and the Slythering's are force to join their parents to help their lord save the wizard world from the blood traitors. But only a few realize what really is going to happen on the years to come.

Here we find Daphne Greengrass heir to the Greengrass family getting a compartment to go home with her closest friends Tracey Davis and Blaise Zabinini after their owl year at Hogwarts.

DAPHNE POV:

I'm looking at my reflection on the train window as it passes the countryside without a care in the world, I put a long gold blond strand behind my ear that has escaped the half bun y decided to put on this morning. Astoria must be somewhere causing havoc again with her friends such a carefree spirit she is, that is enough to drive me mad sometimes almost cracking my occlumency shields the majority of the time, but she is not the heir so she doesn`t understand the weight of the family history I carry, more specifically mothers burden. I can't judge her after all a year ago she was diagnosed with our families curse.

I'm taken out of my thoughts by my best friend Tracey who is sitting with her boyfriend Blaise also my only male friend on the entire school, they are the only ones I can be without my mask including my sister.

I trust them, but I haven't tell them my mother's secret, they think my ice queen persona is because of a bad experience with a senior Gryffindor on third year let`s better keep it that way. Sometimes I cursed the looks I inherit from mother, all those boys trying to get into my pants is enough to drive me mad acting like I'm some kind of price that they must win. One of my greatest fear is to become a trophy wife for the rest of my life. That`s why I was forced to learn occlumency from a young age. Also to stop a certain master manipulator to learn my mother secret.

``Hey Daphne you okay? You have been watching the window for the last hour`` I can't help but smile at my friend sometimes Tracey is the mother of our little slythering group.

``Yes I'm fine`` I said tapping my long nails against the train seat. A habit I pick from mom.

``I`m just worried about the news deliver this morning and our owls results and with the return of the he who must not be name people like Malfoy and Nott might get more bold in their attempts for more power in our house and conquer the ice queen. I quote with my fingers my famous Hogwarts nickname.

Father has told me he`s lost how many times Lord Malfoy and Nott have tried to make him sing a betrothal for my hand``. Then Blaise turns to look at me.

``As if you need to worry about your owls result, but about Malfoy he has really been piss off this week, it seems after our owls Potter squad of dummies manage to ruin his father plan on the department of mysteries, it seems Sirius black was involve and died facing Bellatrix Lestrange.``

``He hasn't shut up about becoming the new lord this summer, he will be a pain in the ass if he gets both the Malfoy and black lordships he might manage to pressure your father Daph.`` Blaise report with a tone of worry. Blaise is tall he has a runner build black skin and hair and a charismatic attitude, and his favorite hobby is trolling the Gryffindor's whenever he can specially the last two weasels.

``Yeah Daph we are getting worry they might try more bold things now that the return of their master is public. The common room this year was horrible. ``

It was already frustrating enough with all the power that damn toad gave them this year, how Snape thought it was a good idea to make Malfoy and Parkinson prefects is beyond me.`` Said Tracey while holding Blaise hand they began dating this year to my inner joy.

``I know trace but Dad send me a letter yesterday he says we don't have to worry about the return of the dark lord anymore, he has found a way to keep the family safe.`` I still don't know what has my father done to write with such confidence as I know neutrality is not an option this time.

``yeah yeah, write to us when you find out what his plan is. `` Then Tracey begins to smile deviously that can only mean trouble.

``So how many O+ our best student is getting this year, ready to teach Granger a lesson on humility again on this year`` Said Tracey laughing her ass off. I rolled my eyes in frustration just thinking about Hermione Granger.

``I don't know what her problem is with you, if looks could kill, the way she looks at you is enough to kill you for a couple of lifetimes.`` then Blaise lets go of Tracey hand and stands up. I get more comfortable in my seat and curl another lock of hair in my hand.

``Have fun ladies I'm going to get something from the trolley lady, I'm hungry. Also I`m also going to look for Astoria since we are getting close to London`` then Blaise leaves the compartment to let Tracey talk about her favorite topic Granger hate for me.

``You know I don't care about her enough to even acknowledge our suppose rivalry`` I said with a deadpan look on my face. As I keep playing with my hair.

``O but that's the best part Daph, that drives her crazy, I still can't believe all our year thinks she is the brightest witch of our age, when you are on the top of our year it drives me mad how superior she acts against in front of everybody`` says Tracey as she plays with some of her hair. It`s a habit we both have when we are stress of frustrated.

`` You know only housemates scores are made public on each common room, if you want to see the overall year score you have to send a letter to the ministry so most parents don't even bother to do it``

Then I take a good look at Tracey as she begins her rant of why she can't stand granger I'm better than you attitude and the muggle world is better than the middle age wizard world.

Tracey is a half-blood she is from the adoptive family that took care of my mother, so she is like a cousin to me, she has mid-back curly redhead hair fair skin and brown eyes that scream mischief for a mile away. She gets along great with Astoria when it comes to create havoc especially when it's to annoy me on my lack of boyfriend.

As I keep curling my hair in my finger Tracey looks at me specially my hair.

``You know Daph you should grow it out I know you like long hair, like your nails but hate the extra attention it would bring you`` Says Tracey with a sad expression on her face.

I wish I could tell her why I keep my hair at this length it seems I was too obvious`` I will think about it`` but I can risk it already my complexion is a dead giveaway to my mother's family. If anyone were to realize my secret our family would be in great danger.

After a while Blaise comes back with Astoria with some food to share, and we enjoy the train ride home. We didn't talk about the coming war, it is our way to try and forget about the dark times that are coming ahead of us. We enjoy the remaining time to reach London laughing, playing games and having a good time, I'm glad I can drop my ice queen mask around them, these are the times I treasure the most where I don't have to worry about mother's burden, and just being a normal student.

Then the train reach the station, we spot our fathers talking with Tracey parents, waiting for us it seems. They said Blaise mom is waiting for him on her new husband's home. We say goodbye and went home, there dad call me to his study. I could never imagine how much the news father brought me when we reach home would change my life forever.