People questioning their friendship was bound to happen sooner or later. On Daphne's side, it had been as soon as Tracey had been able to get her alone.

"What the hell was that?"

"What was what?" Daphne asked not looking at her.

"Walking up to Harry bloody Potter like that. Are you mental? You know what people are saying. What's going on this year"

The blonde snorted "you haven't got a clue. Those rumours? Absolute dragon dung."

"How would you know?" Tracey frowned "what about the others. You know how things work, you've just put a massive target on your back. And mine by association. You're never that ballsy. What's going on Daph?"

No one outside of the Greengrass family knew about their innate ability with the Animagus transformation, kept secret for generations. So that made her explaining her actions difficult, to say the least

"I...can't really explain Trace. Not in detail."

Tracey frowned, "can't? Come on, I know it's bothering you. It's why you aren't sleeping. Obviously, Potter knows something, or you wouldn't have made nice like that in front of everyone."

"Harry doesn't know anything about it." Daphne cut in silently cursing her slip as she saw Tracey grin.

"Harry? He's Harry now. Are you..ya know" she wiggled her eyebrows.

"What? No! That's disgusting. It's nothing like that. We're just friends..sort of. Listen, if you shut up and never do that with your eyebrows again I'll..try and explain Okay?"

In response Tracey mimed zipping her lips and nodded, grinning like a Chesire cat.

"Good. Honestly, I don't know where you get that from. Degenerate"

"I have a natural ability. It's a family trait. It comes easy. But we aren't supposed to talk about it. Anyway, whenever I can't sleep I would sneak out and explore. And this year I found Harry in my usual spot, where I go to relax, up the astronomy tower. And he was crying..."

Daphne went on to loosely explain that she and harry chatted. He vented and became friends. With her eventually getting up the courage to make it official. "The thing is. He doesn't know that I'm the one he's been pouring his heart out to thanks to my...family thing."

"So you're screwed." Tracey summed up.

"Kinda, yeah" Daphne sighed "I didn't think. I just went over there. He needs a friend, those two he hangs around are fine. But I just get this feeling he needs me around."

Tracey shrugged. "You do what you gotta, just watch our backs yeah?"

"Ours?' Daphne asked, making her friend roll her eyes.

"what? You catch feelings and they melt your brain? If you are throwing your lot in with the golden boy, then so am I. I think you're insane, but I'm not dumb enough to let you do it yourself"

For Harry, the interrogation was much easier, given that he had no clue what was going on. "Look, she just turned up. I'm quite happy to have a new friend, support is..well it's nice".

Ron had a few issues with it. Mainly the fact she was, as he said 'a snake'.

So there was some minor tension between Harry and Ron but for the most part, he didn't care. The little time he interacted with Daphne in lessons or in passing brightened his days considerably. And whenever he would receive a note from her he found himself saving them.

Daphne was ecstatic, it was working! Harry's mood seemed to be hugely improved since her intervention. And he still met with her in cat form most nights. She was secretly thrilled when Harry came to their tower practically gushing about making a new friend.

Happily purring as he scratched her ears.

"She's brilliant. Even if she's trying to be sneaky about it Daphne sends me notes and things, and she helped me out in charms the other day too"

Daphne couldn't help preening at his words and was incredibly touched when one by one he began pulling little pieces of parchment from his pockets. Which she soon realised were her notes. He had saved every single one.

Things couldn't be better for Harry. Ignoring everything going on of course. He wasn't even the slightest bit bothered anymore about what people said about him. He was too happy, although the Whole Dobby and his bludger of doom fiasco did put a damper on things.

The rubbery tube that was now his arm was slung across his chest. He could feel the potion- Skele-gro, Madame Pomfrey had called it- working on him. And it was, awful. His entire arm was prickly and it fluctuated between burning and freezing...

To make matters worse, the very elf that landed him in this mess had decided to come by and check on him. That little bugger had a twisted sense of judgement...

After he had left, Harry had overheard the discussion over Colin Creevey's petrified body. Completely shattering the veil of happiness that he had allowed himself to feel.

It was during his doom-filled thoughts that his next visitor found him.

Not even noticing the doors nudge open, it was only when he felt the mattress sink that he finally saw he had another late night visitor.

"Daphne? What're you doing here?" A flick to his forehead was given for that question

"Numpty. Why didn't you call a time out? "

"Huh? Why would I do that?" He asked, watching her face? Harry Potter was known to be a bit dense, but even he could see the thinning of her lips at that question.

"Maybe because then you wouldn't have had to try and outfly an obviously enchanted bludger. Trying to kill you I might add. What were you thinking? I was watching as it hit you and you fell.." She stopped herself, taking a deep breath in.

Harry was shocked. This was the most she had said to him in person. And she was worried about him? "I...um, wasn't? I was too focused on the flying death ball." He admitted. Feeling oddly enough as if he had let her down. He didn't like that feeling...

"Okay. Budge over." She said simply

"Wait what?"

"Budge over" Daphne repeated.

"Something else is bothering you and it's cold in here. I'm not going to freeze while you spill your guts"

He found himself shuffling over a bit as he was told, Daphne quickly pulling back the covers of his bed and joining him. "There now I'm all roasty toasty, what's got your wand in a knot?"

And so he found himself telling her. About Dobby and his latest visit, how it was his bludger. And what he had heard from the voice in the walls. And about Colin.

Daphne simply lay there, letting him talk, her sharp blue eyes showing not a hint of disbelief or pity. Only concern.

And when he was done, eyes heavy with sleep, she smiled. "We can figure out what it all means in the morning. You look knackered."

Nodding, he mumbled, "thanks for listening Daphne."

"Of course how can I help you if I don't listen. Just try and avoid the bludger next time okay?" She grinned.

"M'kay" Harry mumbled as he drifted off.

Daphne slowly got up and after making sure he was asleep, left the hospital wing. "What would you do without me?"

A/N. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I'll admit I'm not completely happy with it, but it's a hell of a lot better than it was when I started it last week.

thank you all for the reviews, and those of you offering advice and suggestions. know that I appreciate you greatly. anything that improves my writing is taken with the biggest of smiles.

anyone who has read my other stories. updates are in the works. as are new stories too! see you next chapter.