AN:

Many thanks to Verlor (id: 11113787) for beta reading this chapter! His help has greatly improved the chapter. Any mistakes that may remain belong to me alone.

Many thanks also to everyone else who has offered to proofread my chapters. I really appreciate that!

Furthermore, many thanks to everyone who gave me feedback on the last chapter, be it in comments or private messages. Most were friendly and civilized xD I am happy that so many like my story, even though I know that not all of my past and future decisions will be made for everyone. I read every single one of your reviews and try to keep improving. Your comments really motivate me.

Some mystery, drama, self-doubt and confrontation in this chapter. Sounds like my teenage years ^^


Chapter 13 – The Rediscovered Couple

When Harry woke up the next morning, he briefly wondered why his face was full of hair, before noticing something warm and soft pressing comfortably against his groin area –

Suddenly he remembered everything! Embarrassed, he moved his body back a little, bringing a slightly less arousing distance between himself and Daphne.

Daphne, however, didn't seem to like the sudden loss of contact, because now she also moved back, huddling up to Harry's hug, who still had his arms around her, trying to at least turn his lower body away from Daphne.

"Daphne, are you awake?" Harry whispered, his breath brushing her face.

Daphne grumbled softly. "Now I am," she replied, tired and somewhat annoyed, but then she turned around, looking straight into Harry's face. She was already less pale than yesterday, her dark circles no longer so ubiquitous, and her blue eyes shone with joy.

Harry smiled at his friend, which she returned. "Did you sleep well, princess?" he teased.

"Better than usual lately. Only in the middle of the night I was piqued by something." A mischievous smile had crept across Daphne's face.

Harry felt the blood shoot into his head. Daphne, however, had now put her head on his chest. "I've slept better than ever, Harry," she said genuinely, before suddenly her stomach began to growl loudly.

"Sounds like someone's hungry," laughed Harry.

"Someone hasn't eaten anything for a long time," Daphne replied with mock indignation. "Madam Pomfrey's artificial-nutrition spells are all well and good, but they just don't replace proper food!"

"Then it's best to go for breakfast. I am hungry too."

"Just let me refresh myself." And with a gentle kiss on his lips, Daphne got up and disappeared into an adjacent bathroom, which the Room of Requirement had created at that very moment. Harry stayed behind, stroking his lips with a smile. He could get used to such a farewell.

He realized that he should also use a bathroom before going to breakfast. And as if on cue, a door to another bathroom appeared in the wall. Harry just loved this room!

When the two children had finished their respective morning hygiene, they made their way to the Great Hall. Harry held out his hand to Daphne and after a brief hesitation Daphne took it. They smiled at each other and Harry felt the familiar, pleasant warmth fill him. How much could change in a day.

They did not meet a single soul on the way down, but that changed as soon as they entered the entrance hall. Dozens of pairs of eyes looked at them, partly with fear and partly with disgust, and a loud murmur went through the hall.

"All idiots," whispered Daphne, proudly raising her head. Harry felt her hand squeezing his, and Harry smiled gratefully at his partner. He was already acquainted with the behavior of the other students. Now, however, that he knew he had Daphne by his side again, he did not care whether the other students despised him.

Proudly, the couple walked through the entrance hall and the students willingly made room for them. In the Great Hall, they sat down in their usual seats at the very end of the Slytherin table. The hall was already filled with students, and Harry saw that Dumbledore was also sitting in the middle of the teacher's table again, nodding to Harry, which Harry returned. He glanced over the Slytherin table. Most avoided his eyes. Parkinson, however, looked at Daphne with a curious expression on her face, but quickly looked away as Harry sneered at her.

"Have your roommates tried to do anything to you in the past few months?" Harry asked quietly.

"No," said Daphne, placing her hand on his. "But thanks for worrying."

Before Harry could answer, Dumbledore rose from his seat, commanding silence.

"Dear students, I'm happy to be back at Hogwarts. Since today I've been reinstated as headmaster." Many people clapped. "But my joy goes along with infinite sadness. Professor McGonagall has already told you about the death of Ginny Weasley." Especially at the Gryffindor table, many students bowed their heads with sorrow. "I'm devastated too. With Ginny Weasley, the wizarding world is not only losing an eager, promising student and brilliant witch who would surely have achieved great things. Above all, we have lost a loving, young girl. A girl with dreams and hopes ... She left us much too early." At this point Dumbledore's voice trembled and Harry felt the guilt. There had simply been no way he could have saved both Daphne and her, he tried to convince himself. "The only thing that gives me some comfort is that Ginny's death has not been in vain. The Chamber of Secrets is closed. Hogwarts is safe again!"

Harry noticed a lot of eyes on him, but he had put on an emotionless expression. "Damn idiots," he heard Daphne whisper next to him again.

Dumbledore continued in an insistent voice, "I just want to ask you that when her brothers return, you will treat them with all your compassion. If they need you, be there for them. And if they want to be alone, please respect that too." Dumbledore cleared his throat. "In the light of these terrible events, the exams have been canceled. Classes, however, will continue as usual. So eat now and then off to class."

Normally, cancelling the exams would have caused a burst of joy among the students, but no one laughed or rejoiced. A depressing atmosphere had gripped the hall, and nobody took more time than necessary for breakfast.

Harry and Daphne also ate quickly without talking to each other. In the dead silent hall, they would have worried too much about unwanted attention.

When they finally got up and left the great hall, they were approached by Professor McGonagall.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Greengrass, please wait a moment."

With that, she led them outside the front gates, waving her wand. "Here we should be undisturbed. And besides, nobody can listen to us anymore."

"Thank you, Professor," said Harry. "We really appreciate that."

"Anytime, Mr. Potter. Well, then I would like to start right away. First of all, I want to tell you that of course we noticed that you didn't spend the night in your dorms." Harry and Daphne looked guiltily on the ground, but did not regret anything. A slight smile appeared on McGonagall's face. "But since you didn't get caught, I'll let it pass. However, twenty points from Slytherin, respectively ... I guess you had a lot to talk about and catch up on. Please allow me to say that I am glad to see you both together again. You both look a lot happier." She pointed to the still intertwined hands of Harry and Daphne. Harry was a little embarrassed at McGonagall's words, but he still lightly squeezed Daphne's hand.

"Unfortunately, I also have to address a less pleasant matter," said McGonagall hesitantly. "Mr. Potter, the Weasleys, want to ask you to lead them into the chamber. They would like to recover their daughter's body."

Harry felt like he had an ice block in his stomach, and Daphne looked at him worriedly. "There is no body, professor," she replied in a cool voice.

"That's right," Harry said. "I don't know how much Professor Dumbledore told you, but our fight there destroyed everything. We could only just escape. I'm sorry, professor, but there's nothing left for the Weasleys to recover. I'm really sorry ... I also don't want to go back..."

"Is there anything else?" Daphne's voice cut the silence.

McGonagall looked at them sadly. "That's of course ... unfortunate," she said in a husky voice. "But I'll tell the Weasleys. Your condolences, too. Otherwise, I have nothing more. Please take care of yourself. Your classmates are a little ... confused right now, but I'm sure that will wear off. I'll see you in class tomorrow. I hope you don't forget to do your homework. Your practical achievements are always impeccable, but you also have to show this work ethic in your written work."

"We will, professor," said Harry.

"And have a nice day," added Daphne.

With that, Professor McGonagall went back in the castle, leaving Harry and Daphne outside, the morning sun warming their faces. It was really a wonderful day.

"Let's walk a bit," suggested Daphne.

Harry nodded. "That's a good idea."

The two children walked along the lake and at some point, sat down with their backs against a large oak tree. Daphne put her head on Harry's shoulder as they watched some ducks paddling on the calm water of the lake. Daphne leaned forward, and Harry now looked into her sparkling ice-blue eyes, which were once again filled with vitality.

"Harry," she said softly, "I know you don't want to go back to the chamber. Honestly, I don't want to either. We almost died there…" Daphne paused.

Harry brushed a strand of hair from her face. "But we didn't die, Daph. And above all, we didn't give up. We fought. And we won."

"We did, Harry. Or rather you. But what I'm trying to say is that neither of us want to go back there. Still, I think we should do it one more time, going back to the chamber I mean. Not to recover any bodies, even if they hadn't been consumed by the flames. No, we should do it to get some closure. And ... we should make sure there is really nothing left there. Nothing from Slytherin or ... Voldemort. After all, there must be a reason why it's called the Chamber of Secrets, right?"

Harry thought about Daphne's words. Actually, he would like to avoid going back to the place where he almost lost Daphne, remembering holding Daphne's seemingly lifeless body in his arms there, or she spitting all that blood. A cold shiver ran down his back, before he suddenly realized that maybe it was not about what he needed, but Daphne. Perhaps she had to see the place where she almost died one more time to leave those memories behind. And her argument that they should play safe that there were not any malicious remains left also sounded logical. And if Daphne wanted to go back there, he certainly wouldn't let her go alone!

"All right, Daph," he replied. "Let's return to the chamber one more time ... Also, I think my Invisibility Cloak should still be in Moaning Myrtle's toilet. In the heat of the moment, I just left it there."

A loving shimmer appeared in Daphne's eyes, but could not prevent her mocking response. "What shall I make of you, Harry Potter? You have such a powerful magical artifact, one that some people would even kill to take possession of, and you leave it in a loo."

"In my defense, these were exceptional circumstances!" laughed Harry.


"You slid down there?!" Daphne asked in disbelief as she looked at the large pipe opening that had appeared behind the sink.

"What? Is it too dirty for you, Milady?" Harry replied, amused. "Does madam want to change before going out?"

"I hate you Harry."

"I love you too, Daph."

Daphne sighed. "At least now I understand why you wanted to borrow a broom from Madam Hooch. I also want to avoid having to climb this dirty pipe later. You actually need your own broom … Well, here goes, right?" Daphne pointed to the pipe.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Am I correct in assuming that you want me to go ahead?"

"Yes, I expect that from my boyfriend," said Daphne with a big grin. "Besides, you already know the way."

"Boyfriend, eh? Then follow me!"

With that, Harry climbed into the pipe with the broom in his hand and let himself slide down, hearing Daphne slide down the pipe just behind him. The second time, the slide did not seem to take as long as the last time. Or maybe it seemed this way because he was much more relaxed this time. Panic and fear rarely made you a patient person.

However, the sudden impact on the stone floor came as unexpected as ever. Harry had just gotten up again when Daphne was shooting out of the pipe over him. Dropping the broom to the floor, he caught Daphne, whereupon he almost collapsed.

Daphne looked at him with tousled hair and beaming eyes. "It was almost fun, wasn't it?"

"Yes, almost," Harry said hesitantly. "Um, would you mind if I dropped you off again? You are quite heavy."

Daphne slapped him indignantly against his chest, but let him drop her without protest. Both drew their wands, creating magical spheres of light to see something in the dark, and glanced at the numerous animal bones and skulls on the ground.

"Charming," Daphne said dryly.

Harry chuckled. "Now that you mention it. Last time, I didn't get around to really appreciate the interior equipment."

So, the two went along the dark tunnel. As they passed the gigantic snakeskin, Daphne's eyes widened, but neither of them said a word. Finally, the tunnel ended, and they saw a towering wall, a huge hole being there where the snakes carved into the stone used to guard the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. The Fiendfyre had left nothing but destruction here.

They climbed through the hole and were in the chamber, seeing a veritable scene of destruction. The huge stone pillars on the sides were completely destroyed, only a few boulders still lay around. The entire ground was covered with dark ash. It smoked and smoldered in several places. And it was still hot, though not as unbearable as when the blazing inferno had raged there. Nevertheless, Daphne raised her wand, placing cooling spells on both of them. Harry immediately felt more comfortable.

Slowly they walked over the ash-covered underground, Harry holding his arm in front of his mouth to avoid inhaling any of it. He was absorbed in his thoughts, remembering the past events.

"It's weird, isn't it?" he said thoughtfully. "It all seems so unreal to me. As if it all happened in another life. But it was only the day before yesterday."

"I know what you mean," Daphne replied, and Harry saw how tense she was. "I'm no longer the same person as I was then."

"The thought that it was me who unleashed this destruction is also kind of scary..."

Daphne stopped, taking his hand holding his wand. "That's actually something that should make me angry with you. I had actually told you not to try again!" she said with a serious look, which relaxed with her next words. "However, I let it pass this time. Even if you almost killed both of us…" With that, she stood on tiptoe and kissed Harry on the cheek, looking at him with a mischievous smile.

"Hey! Who let herself be kidnapped into the chamber in the first place?" Harry replied with a laugh, whereupon Daphne also had to smile. Their laughter, however, quickly died out in the heavy dead silence of the chamber. Nervously, they continued on their way.

As they continued to advance into the chamber, Harry saw in the semi-darkness that there were other tunnel openings on the sides that had been hidden behind the stone pillars the last time. Maybe they could explore them later. Finally, they saw the huge metal statue of Salazar Slytherin in front of them. The Fiendfyre had not been able to destroy it. Harry looked up, glancing at the dark wizard's monkey-like face, realizing that Daphne was his descendant! So their fight here two days ago had almost been a family dispute, he thought amused.

"Harry, look there," Daphne's voice tore him out of his thoughts.

Lowering his gaze, he followed Daphne's outstretched arm, pointing to a spot between the statue's feet. Harry struggled to see something in the dim light, but it seemed like there was an opening in the metal ... an opening that definitely had not existed the last time!

"It seems there is a hole," he said, stepping closer to the statue. They realized that there was indeed a round opening in the statue. Its circular shape was perfect and the edges smooth, as if it had been deliberately placed there. The metal was still glowing reddish.

"This is not the Fiendfyre's work," Daphne said, before letting one of her spheres of light float through the opening, revealing a stone tunnel beyond. "But maybe the flames have opened that entrance. I wonder where this tunnel leads to..."

"Then let's find out!" A thirst for adventure pervaded Harry, but they also had to be careful, he reminded himself. After placing the broom on the floor in front of the statue, he held out his hand, which Daphne took eagerly.

With raised wands and watchful eyes, they followed the call of the unknown. Careful not to touch the still glowing metal, the two stepped through the opening and into the darkness that awaited them behind.

They saw that the stone that surrounded them was even darker in color than the stone walls of the chamber and that the tunnel went down steeply. Harry and Daphne exchanged a look and nodded, before descending, very carefully, taking one step at a time.

They had been walking for several minutes when they noticed that the air around them was getting colder and colder, veils of mist forming in front of their faces every time they breathed out. Harry lifted the cooling spells and replaced them with warming spells.

It went deeper and deeper into the earth. By now, the stone walls had become uneven and rugged.

"This tunnel isn't man-made," Daphne said in a low voice, as if she did not dare to break the silence, and Harry tightened the grip on her hand.

Harry felt like they had been walking down the narrow tunnel for ages when the path in front of them flattened out again. The tunnel widened and it seemed like they were entering some kind of cave, but they could only see very little in the faint glow of their magical spheres of light. With a wave of his wand, Harry sent the spheres ahead to illuminate the entire area. However, the spheres suddenly stopped in the air as if they had hit a wall. But there was nothing. Only air. Exchanging surprised look, Harry and Daphne cautiously proceeded forward.

When they reached the stopped spheres of light, Harry stretched out and actually bumped into a kind of barrier in midair. He pushed hard against it, but he just couldn't overcome it. Beside him, Daphne also tried unsuccessfully.

"What's that?" asked Harry.

"A magical barrier. A kind of force field." Daphne answered in a thoughtful tone. "We cannot overcome it."

"But what is this barrier supposed to protect?" Harry poured even more energy into the magical spheres so that they might be able to see what was behind the barrier.

They were now bathed in brilliant light. Harry focused the beams of light on the darkness behind the barrier, curiously leaning forward as far as possible. And finally, they could see something.

"Are these bookshelves?" he heard Daphne ask.

Harry, however, was captivated by something completely different. Aghast, he shrank back.

"Harry, what's wrong?"

Harry could not answer, staring stunned at the figures in front of them. The woman had closed her eyes, but he knew they were blood-red in color. Her white skin and pitch-black hair were unmistakable. That was the woman he had seen when he had touched Fawkes before Christmas! Without a doubt! The woman was sitting upright on the floor with her arms wrapped around a man Harry could only see the back of. He, too, had dark hair, though not as black as the woman's hair. Both were dressed in old-fashioned, greenish robes. And they did not move a bit as if they were petrified.

Daphne had followed his gaze and flinched as well. "There are ... people," she said in disbelief. "But what's –"

"I know who this woman is," Harry interrupted her, his heart racing. Daphne was now looking at him astonished. In a shaky voice, he continued, "This is the woman I saw when I touched Fawkes."

There was understanding on Daphne's face, followed by confusion. "But ... but if Fawkes knows this woman ... who is she? Who is the man? What are they doing here? Are they dead?"

"I ... I don't know. They seem so lifeless. But they look so real." Harry was pressing his entire body against the barrier in the empty space. Closing his eyes, he tried to Apparate behind the barrier, also unsuccessfully. "I can't Apparate here either. Is there really no way to overcome this barrier?"

"I fear not," Daphne said, knocking on the invisible field of force with her wand. "I ... I think the barrier was created so that people cannot enter the area behind it..."

No people! Harry had a flash of inspiration. In a loud voice he called, "Dobby!"

There was a loud bang and the house elf appeared in front of them, dressed in a football jersey in bright colors that was much too large and a kind of Scottish kilt.

"Harry Potter Sir called Dobby and Dobby came," his shrill voice rang out as he hopped up and down excitedly.

A little cough made Harry turn his attention back to Daphne, who was watching him with an arched eyebrow. "Anything you want to tell me, Harry?"

Harry smiled guiltily at Daphne, stroking his hair as he did so. "Yes, so Dobby said he would always help me if I called him. Because I somehow freed him from Malfoy, you know. I forgot to tell you…"

"Harry Potter is a great, honorable, powerful wizard! Dobby will be devoted to Harry Potter forever!" came the squeaky voice of Dobby again.

Daphne looked at Dobby with a curious look. "Then we will definitely have more to do with each other in the future," she spoke deliberately in a friendly manner. "I'm Daphne, Dobby. Nice to meet you."

Dobby's bat-like ears shook excitedly. "Friends of Harry Potter are friends of Dobby, too, Miss Daphne."

"Do you already have a new family, Dobby?" asked Daphne.

"Oh no, miss. Dobby is now a free elf!"

Daphne glanced at Harry, which told him that she had a plan, and he decided to let her do as she liked. Daphne knelt down in front of Dobby so that she could look directly into his yellowish eyes. "Dobby, what would you say if Harry hired you?" she said. "Not like the other house-elves. No, you would sign a real employment contract, which you can of course terminate in the future if you want to. And you would have rights: time off, vacation and of course a salary. I'm sure Harry can make you an extremely generous offer."

Harry nodded, having decided to adopt Daphne's plan. "Yes, Dobby. What do you think of Daphne's proposal?"

Dobby looked at them with wide eyes, before suddenly jumping forward and hugging Daphne, who was still kneeling in front of him and was now crying out in surprise. Then Dobby broke away from her and inestead pounced on Harry. Squeaking loudly, he hugged Harry's legs.

"Dobby says yes! Dobby says yes! Mister Harry and Miss Daphne are the friendliest and nicest people Dobby has ever met." Dobby had apparently forgotten the moment when Daphne indirectly threatened him with death at the beginning of the school year, Harry thought.

"Great, Dobby!" Harry said happily. "Just tell me how much you want to get. Before that, however, I have a request for you."

"It would be a great honor for Dobby to help Harry Potter! What can Dobby do?"

"There's an invisible barrier over there, Dobby. Can you maybe break through it?"

Dobby's eyes followed Harry's outstretched arm, looking at the spot Harry pointed to. Only now did Dobby seem to notice where they were, because he then gazed at the entire cave, begore walking to the invisible barrier and pushing lightly against it. So he couldn't just walk through it as well, Harry thought.

However, Dobby cocked his head and seemed to be thinking. There was another loud bang and Dobby was gone, only to reappear half a second later two meters further back in the cave. Behind the barrier! He actually made it!

Harry and Daphne rushed forward, pressing themselves against the invisible wall.

"Dobby!" Harry called excitedly. "What's there? What's going on with these two people?"

The house-elf looked around visibly uncomfortable. "Dobby feels very strong dark magic," he said, as if it were painful to speak. Dobby snapped briefly, and a shining sphere of light appeared over his head, which now illuminated the entire rest of the cave.

They could see much more than before. Harry's eyes were magically drawn to the two embraced figures that looked almost like statues. Now, however, Harry could see deep sadness and regret on the mysterious woman's face. There was a shiny trace on her right cheek, as if a tear had just slipped down there. But he still could not see anything of the man except his rear and the back of his head. Otherwise, tall shelves full of books and scrolls could be seen in the background, as well as a kind of desk and a large bed. In fact, all this would have looked very homely had it not been for the uncomfortable atmosphere that somehow seemed ubiquitous. Was that the dark magic Dobby felt?

"Dobby doesn't want to touch them," he heard the unusually serious voice of the house-elf. "Dobby doesn't want to touch anything here. But I don't hear a breath or a heartbeat from the two people. Dobby thinks they're dead. But there seems to be some kind of freshness spell over them."

"A stasis spell," Daphne said quietly next to Harry.

Dobby was now in front of the bookshelves. "Dobby feels a lot of dark magic here, too. Dobby has never felt anything like that, not even with the Malfoys. It's very ... uncomfortable for Dobby."

Suddenly, Dobby froze in motion, his long ears straightening up, and with big eyes he turned back to the motionless, hugging figures.

"Dobby, what's wrong?!" Harry asked excitedly.

"Dobby heard something," said the house-elf hesitantly. "A heartbeat. Only one. But now Dobby hears nothing anymore."

"A heartbeat?" came Daphne's surprised voice. Harry exchanged a quick look with her, noticing she was at least as excited as he was. He felt goose-bumps.

Dobby had come closer to the mysterious figures, straining his ears. Harry and Daphne also listened intently, neither of them daring to utter the slightest peep. There was nothing else they could do here on the other side of the barrier anyway.

Several minutes passed in this way while they waited for another heartbeat. Instead, Harry could hear his own pounding heart all too well. The blood roared in his ears, and Daphne had taken his hand, clutching it so tight it almost hurt.

"There it was again!" Dobby called out loud at some point. "A single heartbeat! From the woman! Dobby is sure!"

"She lives?" Daphne asked in disbelief.

"Her heart is beating," Dobby confirmed.

Harry frowned. "But at least ten minutes have passed since the last heartbeat ... How can she live?" He looked at the figures again. "And the man, Dobby?"

"Dobby doesn't hear anything from the man. He's really dead."

"Harry, we have to help her!" said Daphne, looking at him with sparkling eyes. "I ... I can't understand it, but I just know that we must ... help her! Somehow, I feel a terrible sadness when I look at them. I cannot explain it…"

"Fawkes!" Harry shouted loudly, whereupon his voice echoed through the cave. Daphne looked at him questioningly. "I told you I saw this woman when I touched Fawkes on his burning day! And then I also felt a terrible sadness that seemed to come from Fawkes. And a feeling of regret. It is exactly these feelings that I feel now, just like you, Daphne!"

"I didn't feel anything like that when Fawkes was sitting on my shoulder," Daphne said thoughtfully. "Or when he visited me in my dreams. I felt more like he wanted to protect me…"

"Maybe because it wasn't his burning day? I can't explain it otherwise."

Daphne shook her head. "We cannot sort that out now. But we still have to do something, don't we?" She looked at Harry with a desperate look.

But what could they do? Harry turned back to Dobby and asked, "Dobby, can you tell how long the two have been down here?"

Dobby's ears were drooping, and he looked around helplessly. "For a long time. Dobby can't say more. The spells here are very old. And Dobby feels that nobody has been here for a very long time. Maybe even for more than a thousand years."

"We have to find out what happened here. Who they are!" said Daphne, clutching Harry's hands.

"You're right, Daph," Harry agreed. "But we can't do anything at the moment. We can't even touch the two ... Do you think we should tell Dumbledore or someone else about this? Maybe they could -"

Daphne was shaking her head vehemently. "No, that wouldn't be a good idea! I just know it. Please believe me Harry. I just have the feeling that no one else should know about it except us. This dark magic here… no, no one should know about it!" At her last words, a glitter appeared in her eyes. That was the scheming Daphne Harry had missed so much in the past few months.

"Okay. But what should we do then?"

Daphne seemed to be thinking hard before finally answering. "Let's leave everything here for now. Both the two as well as all of the books and scrolls. If they've really been here for a thousand years, then a few more weeks won't matter. Then in the summer Dobby might be able to bring them to my home. Then we can deal with them there."

That sounded like a good plan, Harry thought, looking at Dobby again. "Could you do that, Dobby?"

The house-elf's bat-like ears had straightened up again. "Even if it's uncomfortable for Dobby, Dobby can do it if he only has to transport the things for a short time."

"Thanks, Dobby," said Harry, smiling.

Beside him, Daphne nodded eagerly. "You really are the best house-elf in the world, Dobby!"

Dobby leaped for joy. "Thank you very much, Mister Harry and Miss Daphne! Is there anything else Dobby can do?"

"Not for now," Harry replied. "I'll call you again in the summer. Then you can help me. And then I'll give you your salary too. Thanks again, Dobby! You really helped us a lot."

"It was a great honor for Dobby to serve Harry Potter. Farewell, Harry Potter sir." And with a loud bang, Dobby was gone.

Harry and Daphne were left, looking at each other with a thoughtful look. Then at the same time they looked back at the mysterious couple, whoever they were.

"I can't understand it," Daphne said in a low voice. "But I just feel this desire to help them, or rather her. I've never experienced that before. I want to find out what happened here, who they are."

"We will, Daphne! Just not now, but in due time. We have a plan and now I think we should go again. It's going to be a long way up." With that, Harry held out his hand, which she gladly took. And together they stepped back into the dark tunnel, going up to the Chamber of Secrets, neither of them saying a word all the way up. It was not until they stepped out of the opening in the metal statue of Salazar Slytherin that Harry felt he could breathe freely again. He realized how tense he had been before.

"Do you also feel like you've woken up from a dream?" asked Daphne.

Harry looked into his partner's face, smiling slightly. "Somehow. That was definitely not what I expected to find. It will never be boring with us, will it? Now we have another mystery to unravel."

That made Daphne smile too. "And we'll do that together. We'll get to the bottom of this. We'll find out who the man and woman are. Why and how the woman can still be alive. And what all this has to do with Fawkes." Daphne then looked around the chamber. "Do we really have to fly through the pipe now?"

"I saw more tunnels on the sides earlier," Harry replied. "Maybe one of them leads outside."

With that Harry took the broom he had previously laid on the floor and together the two began to search for an exit, entering the nearest tunnel, which was several meters wide and high. After a long bend they saw an all too familiar dark snake-shaped silhouette on the stone wall. Apart from that, nothing was left of the basilisk.

"By the way, how could the basilisk survive down here for so long?" asked Daphne.

Harry shrugged. "That's probably another secret that we can't solve now."

They continued down the tunnel, several other tunnels going off on the way. It seemed like a real underground labyrinth, but they decided to continue following the main path, which was constantly leading upwards. Eventually, they reached a towering stone wall, into which two snakes biting their tails were engraved, even if they were not as large as the ones that had guarded the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.

Harry was about to speak the opening command when Daphne put her hand on his lips. "I want to try this time," she said with a mischievous smile.

"Go ahead," replied Harry, pointing to the stone snakes.

Daphne eyed the snakes intently and let out an eerie-sounding hiss that Harry understood easily though. "Open!"

In fact, the two snakes broke apart, opening a passage through the stone wall. Harry and Daphne walked through and were greeted by bright sunshine; they had to hold their hands in front of their faces to avoid being blinded by the light.

"Ah, fresh air," Harry rejoiced, taking a deep breath.

"Yes, it was a bit musty down there," laughed Daphne, looking down at herself. "And dirty." She cast a cleaning spell on them both, similar to the one Professor McGonagall had used on them on their first day of school. In the meantime, the passage had closed behind them.

"We're near the forbidden forest," Harry remarked. "There is the castle". He indicated the tall towers of Hogwarts, which were a fair way off.

He sat down on the broom, leaving enough room for Daphne. Reluctantly, Daphne sat behind him. He knew she did not enjoy flying as much as he did. However, when they took off and soared into the air and Harry could feel the wind on his face, he just relished it. It was a wonderful feeling of complete freedom. Daphne had wrapped her arms around him but was having trouble with her long hair that blew into her face again and again.

At the castle they returned the broom to Madam Hooch, which gave them a suggestive look. She probably thought they were just coming back from some romantic rendezvous. As romantic as sewage pipes, an ash-covered scene of destruction, and a thousand-year-old mystery about what appeared to be a half-dead couple could be, Harry thought amused.

The two then walked towards the Great Gall. Soon it would be lunch time, and Harry realized how hungry he was.

"That with Dobby was a great idea, by the way," said Daphne cheerfully. "Why did you choose to free him?"

Harry's face darkened somewhat. "Nobody deserves to be treated the way the Malfoys treated him. How they tortured him." He put on a wry smile. "And it's always good to have an ally like Dobby, isn't it? He was extremely helpful today."

"How Gryffindor and Slytherin at the same time, my intriguing nobleman," Daphne replied, suddenly standing in front of Harry. With shining eyes, she moved her head to his and kissed him. Her lips were so soft, Harry thought, surrendering to the kiss, his arms wrapping around Daphne's waist and pressing her even closer to him. Daphne also put her arms around his neck. Their kiss lasted a long time but was interrupted by Harry's loud stomach growl.

Daphne released her lips from his. "Now it's you who is hungry," she laughed. "I still have to go to Madam Pomfrey for my check-up. You can go to lunch. I will come later."

Harry smiled at her gratefully. He was really hungry. After all, they had moved a lot this morning.

So the couple split up. Daphne went to the hospital wing and Harry entered the Great Hall.


At lunch Harry immediately tucked in. At some point, however, he noticed that Daphne had not returned yet. And she did not come back for the rest of the meal either.

And that is how it came that Harry was now looking for his girlfriend. He was worried that something bad had happened. Should he go to the hospital wing? Maybe Daphne was still there. However, as he concentrated on Daphne in his mind, it suddenly seemed as if he should rather look for her on the castle grounds. He could feel Daphne, realizing that she was sad about something. Harry followed this spiritual trail that led him to the lake of Hogwarts.

There he finally found Daphne sitting on a large rock in the sun, clenching her knees, the summer wind playing with her long honey blonde strands. Harry paused to look at her. She looked beautiful, he thought, but he also noticed that something deeply grieved her.

"Here you are," Harry said, sitting down next to his partner. "What's wrong, Daphne? I feel that something is causing you sorrow. Didn't you say you that you would tell me everything from now on?"

Daphne looked up, and Harry could still see some tear marks on her face. "That's why I sat down here. I knew you would find me here," Daphne said in a low voice. "Since you have watched me here under your cloak in the last months." She sobbed loudly, and tears came to her eyes.

Harry put his arm around Daphne, looking her straight in the eyes. "What's wrong, Daphne?"

Daphne wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve. "What effect do you have on me, Harry?" she said, trying to choke back her tears. "I can't handle all these new feelings."

Harry tightened his grip. "Daphne, please tell me what's wrong. What happened?"

Her beautiful ice-blue eyes looked straight into his face. "I was with Madam Pomfrey ..." Her voice faltered.

"And?"

"She ... she told me it left its mark ... what my parents did to me. For years." Daphne closed her eyes, but tears still spilled from them. She continued in a trembling voice, "I'll never be able to have children, Harry!" As if saying these words had been the final dam break, Daphne wept freely now, her entire body trembling like crazy.

Harry hugged her, comfortingly stroking her back. His own head was a mess, but he realized that he had to be there for Daphne, who was still sobbing. Pushing her away a little, he raised her head so that he could look her directly in the eye again.

"Daphne, how old are we?" he asked in a vigorous voice.

Daphne looked at him in confusion.

"How old are we, Daphne? Tell me!"

"12 ... almost 13," Daphne replied among sobs, still confused.

"And when do you want to have children?" Harry asked further.

"I ... I don't know. When I grow up. But that's not possible –"

"So not now, is it?" Harry stared intently into her wide eyes.

"N-no," stammered Daphne.

"Then we still have time, Daphne," said Harry, hugging her again and stroking tenderly through her soft hair and across her back. "We will find a solution. As we always do. Everything will be fine. Don't worry. We'll sort it out…"

Harry kept on talking to Daphne and comforting her as her tears slowly dried up. At some point her breath calmed down, the trembling of her body stopped, and she just sat there, her head pressed against Harry's chest. Her chest rose and fell gently now. Harry was still stroking her hair, inhaling her intoxicating scent. He believed what he said to Daphne! They would find a way!

Daphne broke free from Harry's embrace. "Thank you, Harry," she said in a husky voice. "You're right. We'll do it, we're still so young ... I've been crying far too much lately."

Harry tried to smile. "Sometimes you must cry too, Daphne. Suppressed tears only hurt yourself in the end, even if it hurts me to see you cry. I wish for a future in which none of us have to shed tears other than tears of joy."

Learning forward, he kissed Daphne. And once again, the kiss tasted salty. They really had to break this repetitive cycle of pain and comfort! Was it too much? Wishing to live a happy life? Free from all the constraints and atrocities of this world? Eventually, they would be happy and carefree, Harry promised. He would do whatever was necessary to achieve that.

They ended the kiss, pressing their foreheads together. "I like our kisses better without tears," said Daphne, trying to smile, even if she failed quite a bit.

"Me too."

Daphne's sparkling eyes now looked so genuine that Harry was overcome by a feeling of love for his partner. Daphne put her hand on his cheek. "Harry, when I say that I love you, it's not just that. I love you so much! Before I met you, before I really got to know you, I had no hopes or expectations for my life. I came to terms with it long ago. With the pain. With the loneliness. With the fact that I would never find happiness. Because I had never experienced it before. I didn't even know it. Happiness, joy, love. I thought I would go through seven years of school. At home, my parents would torture me as usual. Maybe one day I would die from it. Maybe it would have even been fine with me. I thought that life had nothing to offer...

"But then I met you. You messed up my entire life, or rather my idea of it. Starting with that damn mirror you had to drag me to. I think if I looked into the mirror again today, I would see something different than I did then ... Oh Harry, I love you so much! You are always there for me. You are a better person than I am, but still you don't turn away from me. You saw so much of my dark side, of my hatred, my anger, my fear. You even found out about my parentage, but you still say that you love me! I know that because of your own past you want nothing more than a family of your own. And even if I may never be able to give you children, you won't turn away from me. No, you comfort me and give a melodramatic speech to dispel my worries.

"You are my anchor, Harry! Sometimes I feel as if all these new feelings overwhelm me. But then I feel that warmth in me when I think of you. I believe you when you say that you love me. Really! I never want to doubt us again. But I can't help it. I'm afraid that I'm not good enough for you..."

Here Daphne's voice stopped. Harry had been listening speechless the entire time. Now it was he who was almost overwhelmed by his feelings, so he simply followed his instinct and kissed Daphne again. It was a long, hard kiss whose only goal was to remove all doubts. When they broke up again, Harry felt like he had been running a marathon.

"Was that enough to show you that you are exactly the right person for me," he asked, gasping, "or do I have to give one of my – how did you say - melodramatic speeches again?"

"So you don't think I'm not good enough for you?"

"You're so much more than just good for me, Daphne. We complete each other. Honestly, it hurts when I see how your life has shaped you. This lack of love. It hurts me to see how much self-doubt and fear you carry around with you. And I know that if I were sincere with myself, I would find a lot of that in me too ... I can't change our past. But I can fight for our future to be better."

"We're a weird pair, aren't we?" Daphne asked with a constrained smile. "But I just can't help it. I believe you when you say all this."

She leaned forward and a much more tender kiss than the last one followed. This kiss was a promise, a promise of a happy future.

They spent the rest of the afternoon on this rock by the lake, enjoying the warm sun, nt caring that they were missing classes. Professor Binns had probably not noticed their absence anyway.

When they went back to the castle that evening, Harry felt like this day had been a real watershed in his life. They had been completely honest with each other. Some would probably think of him and Daphne as quite pathetic figures, but they were perfect for each other, even if they needed a melodramatic speech from time to time to recognize that.

After dinner, the two went to the library to do their homework because they really did not want to upset Professor McGonagall. Daphne had thought it would be a good idea to go to the library instead of the Room of Requirement so that the other students could see that they were unaffected by all of the hostility and exclusion.

When it was finally time for them to go to bed, they reluctantly said goodbye in the almost empty Slytherin common room.

"I'd much rather sleep with you again," Harry said dejectedly.

"And I with you," answered Daphne. "But I'm looking forward to being close to you again in my dreams this night."

"Then you think this connection will come back tonight?"

A grin formed on Daphne's face. "I don't just think it, I know it. After all, it was me who has been suppressing our connection for the past few months. At least, they were good Occlumency exercises, because you were quite persistent in trying to get to me."

Harry had to smile too. "Well, that's how I am."

"And that's why I love you," said Daphne, followed by a last tender farewell kiss. "Sleep well, Harry."

"Sleep well too, Daph."

When Harry lay down in his bed shortly afterwards, his thoughts revolved around today's events. Above all, the sad look of the pale, black-haired woman, while desperately hugging the unknown man, had burned in his mind. They would get to the bottom of this mystery, he decided as he fell asleep. And in his dreams, the soft feeling of honey-blonde hair and the intoxicating scent of sunflowers awaited him. If his roommates had cared, they could have seen a truly happy and smiling Harry Potter at that moment.


Ron Weasley was in a bad mood. He was angry, and that was putting it mildly. Since he came out of his kind of coma, it was getting worse and worse. Next to him, Hermione once again pored over one of her books. She said that she had to make up for the missed lessons. As if there was nothing more important! For example, that his sister had been murdered! And of all things, by the boy she had always raved about. The same boy Ron was now looking at with abysmal hatred: Harry Potter.

Potter was sitting across the hall. Sitting next to him was Greengrass, his constant companion. Ginny would have done anything to be in her place. She had admired Potter so much. And how had he thanked her? He had just killed her. It didn't matter if he had done it on his own or if he had just stood idly by. He was responsible for his sister's death! He had saved Greengrass, so why not Ginny?

Ron felt a fit of scorching anger rise again. Potter had even refused to lead them into this damn chamber so that they could at least recover Ginny's body. He had said there was nothing left of her. But Ron did not believe it. Why didn't he take them there anyway? Because he had something to hide! That was the only possible explanation!

So they had to bury an empty coffin! Ron felt his fists clench. He wanted to destroy the table in front of him.

He was also angry with his parents. They still wanted to travel to Egypt in the summer. And despite everything, they had insisted that they returned to Hogwarts for the last days of the school year. As if he could learn anything now! Instead, he had to see Potter's face every day. How he sat there with his girlfriend. Holding hands and laughing. Careless, enjoying their happy lives. They didn't even pretend to be sorry for Ginny. Merlin knew what these bastards had done to her before she died! And yet Potter was allowed to walk away scot-free.

He saw Potter and Greengrass get up from their lonely place at the Slytherin table. Not even the other snakes wanted anything to do with the two. Potter took her bag, and Greengrass kissed him on the cheek. Ron wanted to throw up. Or even better: finally punish them for what they had done!

He could not hold himself back anymore. Furious, he jumped up from his seat so that the whole table shook.

"Ron, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, surprised. Neville also looked at him in alarm. Great friends they were if they couldn't even see what was going on with him. Hermione in particular should be able to understand his hatred for the two.

Without saying anything, he hurried away, single-minded. He finally caught up with them in the entrance hall, his wand raised.

"Murderers!" he shouted.

However, only a fraction of a second later, he felt his wand thrown out of his hand. Now he looked into the utterly motionless faces of Potter and Greengrass, who were pointing their wands at him. That only intensified Ron's anger.

"Murderer! You're a murderer, Potter!" he continued shouting.

By now, dozens of pairs of eyes stared at them, and the number increased every second. Out of the corners of his eyes, Ron saw Hermione and Neville coming nearer. His brothers had to be close by, too.

"What do you mean, Weasley?" Potter finally said in a calm voice. How could the bastard stay so calm?

"You killed my sister! You murdered her in cold blood! I'll kill you, you bastard!" With that he pounced on Potter, but before he had even taken a step, thick ropes suddenly wrapped around him. Ron cried out in pain as his head hit the stone floor.

"You won't," he heard Greengrass's ice-cold voice that made his blood freeze. Meanwhile, warm blood dripped into his eyes. He must have hurt his head.

He saw Hermione's panicked face above him. "Ron! Ron!" she shrieked.

"What's going on here?" came Professor McGonagall's authoritative voice at the same time.

Ron tried to sit up, but the ropes had wrapped around his entire body. "Hermione, untie me," he hissed irately.

"Good thing you're here, professor," he heard Greengrass's voice again, this time in a completely emotionless tone. "Weasley here tried to attack Harry. He screamed that he wanted to kill him. Everyone here heard it. Then we had to defend ourselves."

"Untie me," Ron repeated irritably, but Hermione just shook her head, tears in her eyes.

"Miss Granger, please go away," he heard McGonagall again, before feeling the ropes loosening. He jumped up with numb limbs, just to look straight into McGonagall's serious face.

"Mr. Weasley, is it true what Miss Greengrass said?"

"Potter killed Ginny! He must -"

"I didn't kill her," Potter interrupted him. "If I could have saved her, I would have done it. I'm sorry I didn't succeed."

"Liar! You killed her yourself! Or your bitch of a girlfriend!"

"Mr. Weasley!" McGonagall said appalled.

Potter had jumped forward and was pointing his wand directly at Ron's throat. "What did you call Daphne?!"

But now the twins also rushed forward. "Hey! Don't threaten our brother!"

"It's enough!" McGonagall called in a loud voice. "Nobody threatens anyone else here. Everyone is now putting their wands away. Right now!"

Ron had already lost his wand, so he just stood there with clenched fists and a trembling body, Hermione and Neville holding him by his shoulders. Oh how he'd like to scratch out Potter's and Greengrass' eyes!

"Why do you let Potter walk around freely?" he shouted angrily at McGonagall. "Why do you support them? You should be on the side of the students from your house! You should -"

"Mr. Weasley," McGonagall interrupted him in a strict voice. "Mind your tone. And calm down! I treat all students equally."

"No, you don't! You favor them all the time. Why are two Slytherins your favorite students? Why do you support these killers? These bastards -"

Suddenly there was no sound coming out of Ron's mouth anymore. He tried to scream but could not hear anything.

McGonagall sighed, her wand in her hand. "That's enough now," she said. "Mr. Weasley, you're coming to my office now. You too, Mr. Longbottom and Miss Granger. And you too." She pointed to the twins, before looking around the now jam-packed entrance hall. "And to everyone else: Mr. Potter and Miss Greengrass are not responsible for Ginny Weasley's death. They couldn't do anything to save her. I will not tolerate them being accused or attacked. And now off you go. You have classes to attend."

Ron felt Hermione and Neville trail him. They talked to him, but he did not hear it, his blood roaring loudly in his ears. He looked back over his shoulder at Potter and Greengrass. Potter was at least pretending to be sad and grieved. Greengrass, on the other hand, looked at him with a mixture of cold hatred and absolute indifference...


Harry's and Daphne's last days at Hogwarts were extremely eventful. And that didn't even mean their confrontation with Weasley in front of the assembled school, even though it was undoubtedly a very drastic experience. However, they did not see Weasley again. Apparently, he had been sent home early.

No, otherwise they had a lot to do as well. They explored the other tunnels in the Chamber of Secrets but had not found any other secrets. Several more times, however, they visited the hidden cave deep under the statue of Salazar Slytherin to look at the hugging, mysterious figures. Who were they? And what was their story? Questions upon questions, but the answers still had to wait.

Harry also felt a strange attraction from the books and scrolls in this cave. So far, he had only experienced anything comparable with the books in the forbidden section, albeit much weaker. He could not wait for Dobby to take everything away during the summer holidays.

The rest of the time they spent mainly in the Room of Requirement. Considering their disillusioning fight against Voldemort's memory, both were more determined than ever to improve. They still had so much to learn. There was still a long way to go, more a marathon than a sprint, even if it stretched their patience immensely. Otherwise, they resumed their private lessons with Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick, which both teachers seemed extremely pleased about. McGonagall once again apologized to them for the behavior of the students of her house, but they knew it was not her fault. She was without a doubt their best teacher at Hogwarts. In any case, much better than their own head of house, who kept giving them malicious comments.

When Hagrid returned to Hogwarts, they immediately visited him. Azkaban had not done him any good, but he was happy to be back. And Fang was most happy to have his master back.

In short, the remaining days of the school year seemed to fly by. And so they found themselves again on the Hogsmeade platform. Daphne would return home and Harry would remain at Hogwarts.

The bright red train sparkled in the bright morning sun, but Harry only had eyes for the sparkling blue eyes in front of him. These beautiful eyes that captivated him every time.

Daphne had put her arms around his neck. They had just released themselves from another tender, desperate kiss. That's how it had been all day. Neither wanted to leave the other. They knew, however, that it was necessary if they wanted to be together forever in the future.

"You write me every day, right?" Harry asked insistently, clutching Daphne's waist tightly.

"Yes, Harry," Daphne said with a smile. "As I've told you at least a dozen times today. And we'll see each other again soon. Expect my letter in a week." She whispered the last words into his ear, so that he got goose-bumps. A week could be so long, but he was willing to pay the price when the reward was so tempting.

He leaned down again and kissed Daphne. This kiss was even harder than all their previous kisses that day. He put all his feelings in this kiss - Daphne should never again think that life was not worth living.

A loud whistle tore them out of their loving embrance. Reluctantly, they broke apart.

"I have to get on the train now," Daphne said with regret in her voice.

"Take good care. I love you, Daphne. Never forget that!"

"And I love you, Harry Potter. With all my heart!"

One last quick kiss and Daphne hurried to the train, which started moving as soon as she got in. Harry watched the train for a long time, even when it had long since disappeared on the horizon. At some point he turned around, walking up the path to Hogwarts alone, hopefully for the very last time.

He just hoped that everything would go well, but that was no longer in his hands.

Daphne, you really have to take care of yourself. We're playing a dangerous game here. We must not burn ourselves on our own fire...


Next chapter: Family Ties

Preview:

Harry,

something terrible has happened...


AN:

These were the last melodramatic speeches and tears for now. I promise. Maybe ^^ But Harry and Daphne have now reached a point in their relationship where they are completely honest with each other. Daphne in particular is sometimes still overwhelmed by all her unknown feelings and often full of self-doubt. But at least I enjoy seeing the journey and development of the two. I leave it to other people to answer the question of who is a good person in this story and who is not, and what it actually means to be a good person.

I found the scene with Ron especially interesting because we could see how other familiar characters see and experience our dark couple. There's quite a contrast between their behavior towards each other and their behavior towards others, isn't it?

This summer will be more eventful than the last one and will span several chapters. What do you think Harry and Daphne will experience during this time?