AN:
Many thanks to my great beta reader Verlor (id: 1113787)!
Chapter 32 – Meltdown
Dear Astoria,
A lot has changed in my life since my last letter. Harry and I got married last month, so I'm Daphne Potter now. If you also get married at some point, the name Greengrass will be no more. I don't know if you share my feelings, but I am deeply satisfied with it.
I also have to inform you that the ancestral home of the Greengrass family burned down due to a Death Eater attack last month. There is nothing left of the house, and I have no intention of rebuilding it. The mausoleum is still standing in case you want to visit it. However, as I have already written to you before, our parents were not buried there. You can have the property if you want, for I will never return to that place.
Today is the last day of the summer holidays. We're going to King's Cross in a moment and then it's off to Hogwarts for the very last time. Yes, Harry and I have no interest in staying at Hogwarts after our OWLs. Instead we would like to travel the world, once Voldemort is defeated of course. Maybe we will even come to visit you in France one day.
Otherwise, I hope you are fine. I would be very happy if you would reply to one of my letters for once. I know our parting wasn't the best, but I would like to know how you are. I thought about you a lot in the last few weeks. There are so many things that I would like to do differently in retrospect.
Please write to me, Tori!
Your sister Daph
As always, Harry had to smile as he watched Daphne write. He'd never told her, but he found it incredibly cute when she bit her lower lip thoughtfully and stared at the parchment in front of her, her hands stained with ink. However, the fact that she didn't look up at his thought ang give him a mocking grin only made it all the more clear how important the letter was to her. He hoped Astoria would answer her this time. Daphne kept a stiff upper lip, but he knew she was saddened that her sister was ignoring her like that.
Suppressing a sigh, Harry turned back to the trunk in front of him. Daphne had already finished packing the night before, but he just now found the time to do so, since he had talked to Remus until late in the night…
Flashback, last night, Grimmauld Place
Entranced, Harry watched the blazing flames in the fireplace, losing himself in their passionate loveplay. It was still summer and the night time thus pleasantly warm, but the sight of the flames soothed Harry's nerves, distracting him from his worries, which bored deep into him like a splinter; not unbearably painful, but omnipresent.
Today one of the regular meetings of the Order took place. Harry could probably have asked to attend – after all, he owned this house – but he preferred to stay away. He did not think that his presence would find favour with the other order members. In his mind's eye, he could imagine their disgusted, disappointed, or simply scared faces all too well.
Hagrid, whom he had once called his friend; but Harry's behavior during the Tournament had torn a wide, presumably insurmountable gulf between the two of them.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. There was so much burden between them, so many unspoken allegations, so much guilt ... and neither of them had the strength to get it out of the way. Harry hoped that Mrs. Weasley would get better, that she could be happy again someday ... He didn't know how he would react if he lost his daughter...
Tonks, whom he had initially seen as a buoyant and humorous young witch, now only glared at him whenever she saw him.
At the other end of the age range, Dumbledore's glances bore nothing but deep sadness about the prodigal boy Harry had never been, and a dream that sank deeper and deeper into darkness. So far, he hadn't contacted him about Voldemort's Horcruxes either, just sent him a short message that he was still collecting information.
And the other members of the Order? Doge, McGonagall, Jones, Longbottom's grandmother? They all avoided Harry as if his sight was causing them physical pain. It was obvious he wasn't their reason to fight against Voldemort…
The sudden creak of the wooden door pulled Harry out of his gloomy thoughts. He looked up to see Remus walk up to him, his face darkened with fatigue and his own worries. Sighing, Remus plunked down into the armchair across from Harry, his gaze also fixed on the fireplace.
"Anything new?" Harry asked, eyeing the older man carefully.
"No," Remus sighed. "You-Know-Who stays hidden. And the Ministry is still trying to downplay the mass outbreak. But there is no doubt that the Death Eaters are behind it. Many of them died in the fights at Stonehenge and Greengrass Manor. But Fudge is blinding himself from reality!" Remus groaned in frustration.
At the thought of what beasts had been unleashed on the wizarding world with the outbreak last month, a cold shiver ran down Harry's back. With that, Voldemort had the most faithful of his followers at his side again, probably more insane than ever before. Just at the thought of facing them, Harry felt his blood boil, followed by the burning desire to grasp his wand and fight.
Dazed, he shook his head.
"Will you accompany us tomorrow?" he tried to steer the conversation into safer waters.
Remus nodded slowly, the swirling flames casting dark shadows on his face. "Yes. We'll use Arthur's car again to bring you to the train station," he said. "From there I'll ride the Hogwarts Express with you two. And at Hogwarts I'm always available for you anyway."
"Speaking of Hogwarts, who will replace Snape?"
Remus gave a cheerless laugh before answering, "Horace Slughorn. He was the potions teacher when I was a student. Somehow Dumbledore convinced him to return from his retirement." Then Remus suddenly lifted his head, looking seriously at Harry. "But he won't be the only new teacher. The Ministry sent one of their own to Hogwarts. Dolores Umbridge, previously Fudge's undersecretary."
"So a spy?"
"Probably. But she will also be teaching a new subject that will be compulsory for all students. Harry, it is of the utmost importance that you don't let her provoke you, no matter what she says or does. Do you hear me, Harry? The Ministry would be overjoyed if they could finally take action against you. We can't give them such an easy opening."
Harry shrugged. "I survived four years with Snape. It can't get any worse."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that…" Remus muttered, but without elaborating on his fears.
Harry felt his eyelids grow heavy, drowsiness gripping his body. Maybe he should say goodnight to Remus and –
"Do you still have nightmares?"
Harry glanced at Remus, whose eyes were fixed on him. "Sometimes," he replied cautiously. "But I often see his face. It still hurts, but I hope I can show him that I can be a better person…"
"And Daphne? Can she be a better person too?"
Remus' question pierced Harry's heart like a torch, igniting in him a searing ire. "What do you mean by that?" he hissed.
Remus sighed but didn't look away. "I think Daphne has a big influence on you," he said calmly. "More than is normal between two people, even lovers."
An expectant silence fell between them as Harry could hear his heart pounding in his chest. He had the feeling that Remus wanted to continue but didn't dare to speak his mind.
Eventually, Remus took a deep breath. Leaning forward, he stared Harry straight in the eye. "I have a question for you," he said softly but vehemently. "You and Daphne, are you somehow connected?"
Harry froze, feeling like a fist had wrapped around his heart. In the fireplace, the logs cracked as they were consumed by the hungry flames, but neither Harry nor Remus paid them any heed. Harry sensed Daphne flinch in her bedroom and jump up to come to his aid, but he sent her a signal of restraint. He would take this problem into his own hands.
"Why do you think that?" he asked cautiously.
"The way you treat each other," Remus replied. "Do you know that you hardly speak a word to each other when you're together? Yet you don't take your eyes off one another. You are constantly looking at each other, holding hands, touching each other. Sometimes I feel like you can communicate in your mind. And when you're apart, you always seem to know when the other is going to come through the door, even if no footsteps can be heard. And when you fought together at Greengrass Manor, you moved in perfect sync, as if you were one body, one living being. You can't tell me it's all normal."
Remus' words sounded like he'd read a bullet list that he'd been carrying around for a long time.
"I'm sure you are," Remus continued. "And from your sudden discomfort, I conclude that it is indeed true."
It had become so quiet in the room that one could have heard a pin drop, but Harry's mind raced. If Remus knew their secret ... would he turn away from them? Despise them? Would they have to erase Remus' memories before he could pass it on? Should he pull out his wand before he did it? Was he going to lose another friend now?
However, there was no disgust on Remus' features, nor did he reach for his wand. He just looked at Harry, his gaze truly unfathomable.
"You don't have to tell me what it is exactly," Remus said. "Just know that I'm not going to turn away from you or let you down. I promised to be there for you, and I will keep that promise. But ... Harry, I'm worried too. Your life is so full of darkness and ... and I can't help it, I just can't get rid of the feeling that this has to do with Daphne. Sometimes I wish you had chosen someone else to be your partner..." Remus' voice broke off.
Harry closed his eyes, taking several deep breaths. He knew that he had to choose his words carefully, as the continuation of their friendship might depend on them. When he opened his eyes again, he spoke with all his conviction, "We did not choose each other. We found... and saved the other. We were there for us when we had no one else. I will never leave her alone. And neither will she."
A deep sigh gripped Remus' body as he slumped back into the chair. "I expected such an answer," he whispered. "Maybe also feared it. But ... I see that you both love each other from the bottom of your hearts. And I'm sure that Daphne would never intentionally harm you ... I'm just worried that she might do it unintentionally..." Suddenly Remus straightened up again and tried to smile, even if he failed quite a bit. "I wish you both all the best in the world, Harry. Really. I wish for you two to be happy. I can only offer you my help... and my honesty, if you want it."
Harry breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Remus," he replied sincerely. "For this… and for everything else. I'm really glad you found your way back into my life..."
Yes, he was glad to have Remus in his life, Harry thought as he put several woollen pullovers in his trunk. Maybe life wasn't as lonely as he had thought so long.
"Can I borrow Hedwig?" rang Daphne's voice from the desk. Apparently she had finished the letter to her sister.
"Of course," he responded.
A moment later Harry could hear Daphne tying her letter to the snowy owl's leg and letting her outside through the window, while he put the last of his clothes in his trunk. Now only his Invisibility Cloak was lying on the bed in front of him. The fact that he still had it was also a small miracle...
Flashback, last month, Grimmauld Place
Panting, Harry wiped the sweat from his forehead. With every breath he took he felt a painful stinging in his lungs, apparently one of Daphne's spells had hit him harder than he initially suspected. But such minor injuries and bruises were not uncommon in their practice fights and nothing that couldn't be fixed with a few healing spells.
From the bathroom, he could already hear the water and Daphne's singing voice. His wife preferred to wash her hair in peace before he would also get into the shower, and the fun part of washing together would start…
A sudden, loud bang tore Harry from his indecent thoughts. Dobby had appeared in the middle of the room, jumping up and down for joy, a piece of fabric in his arms that Harry found strangely familiar.
"Mr. Harry, Mr. Harry", Dobby called, "just look what Dobby has found! Look!"
With that, Dobby handed him the piece of fabric Harry recognized as his Invisibility Cloak; the Invisibility Cloak he thought burned at Greengrass Manor, after all, flames had raged everywhere, destroying everything.
"How?" Harry put his confusion into words. "How is that possible?"
"Dobby found the cloak when he was looking for some useful remains," Dobby continued happily, clearly proud of his achievement. "Just like Mr. Harry said. The cloak was hidden under lots and lots of ash, but Dobby found it anyway! Did Dobby do well, Mr. Harry?"
"Yes, very well," Harry replied absently as he slipped the soft fabric through his fingers. He had no idea how that was possible. He had seen the destructive fire himself. So how could it be that the cloak was intact, not even a bit scorched?
Yes, it had been a miracle, Harry thought with a smile as he put the Invisibility Cloak in his backpack so that it would be ready at hand should they need it. But not only was the cloak extremely useful, it was also an heirloom from his father, which is why Harry was very happy to have it back in his possession, even if he still thought his decision back then had been the right one.
In the meantime, Daphne had shrunk Hedwig's cage to the size of a matchbox, stowing it in her jacket pocket.
Taking their trunks, they then left their bedroom. If Harry had thought that he had been late with packing, he was now proved wrong. From all over the house came the loud voices of the many members of the Weasley family who were still looking for the last bits of clothing, books, or other belongings. After several weeks of living together, Harry was no longer surprised by all of this; if their stay could even be described as living together at all. Both sides had come to the silent agreement to avoid each other as best they could, which ultimately led Harry to see the Gryffindors even less than at Hogwarts, where they sometimes had classes together or were sitting in the Great Hall at the same time. Here, however, he and Daphne had spent most of their time in the library or their room, and Merlin knew what the Weasleys, Granger, and Longbottom had been up to all day.
The only notable interaction had been when Granger had knocked on their door, visibly nervous, to ask if she could get access to the Black's library; a request that Harry had, of course, rejected outright, after all, their greatest secret was hidden there.
Unimpressed by all the noise around them, Harry and Daphne finally reached the entrance hall after passing the door to the small room where Pettigrew had been held. Remus had just told them he'd been dealt with, and Harry didn't want to know more than that.
In the entrance hall, Granger and Longbottom were already standing, laughing and apparently very amused by the behavior of the Weasley family. They hadn't noticed Harry and Daphne yet, and the pair had no intention to change that, so they just stood in a dark corner.
It took more than half an hour before everyone was finally ready to leave. Therefore, unlike previous years, they would only arrive at the platform just before the train departed. Still, Harry and Daphne were confident that they could sit in an empty compartment. Presumably, they just had to sit down somewhere and immediately all the other students would run away in panic. The idea made them both laugh, which gave them some confused looks again, but they didn't care.
"Ready for our last school year, my love?" Harry asked, the colorful contours of cars and buildings rushing past the window.
"I can hardly wait," Daphne sighed comfortably, snuggling even closer to him.
"I don't like her," Daphne commented dryly as they and the rest of the students listened to the speech of their new teacher, who would be teaching the new compulsory class "Citizenship Education" from this school year.
And just like Remus had said the night before, it was obvious that she was Fudge's agent. Her whole speech was dripping with propaganda and indoctrination; a pile of polished toad turd if you asked Harry.
"You're brooding," Daphne said indignantly, breaking her lips from Harry's.
Sighing, Harry looked apologetically at his partner. Even after all these years, the sight of the moon reflected in her blue eyes, giving them a fairy-tale, silver sheen, took his breath away.
"Sorry, my love," he said, letting Daphne feel his regret. "I just worry, you know? I was sure they'd attack us today."
Daphne gave him a warm smile. "No matter when they do it, we're vastly superior. We just have to be on guard."
Harry returned her smile, even if a queasy feeling remained. "Yes, you're probably right. Let's just wait…" He then tried to change the subject. "What do you think will be our first class tomorrow?"
"Definitely not double Potions with Snape," laughed Daphne as they made their way back to the castle after their evening stroll around the lake.
"Well, at least," Harry joined in her laugh. "It can only get better."
An assessment that wouldn't last half a day.
Harry had never been to the fourth floor classroom, but he doubted it had looked like this before. Shuddering, he glanced over the pictures of Cornelius Fudge and kittens playing with balls of wool on the wall as he and Daphne entered the room behind the other Slytherins and Gryffindors, who, as usual, kept their distance from them. If it was at all possible, they'd even developed more fear and disgust towards them over the summer. Harry had already expected the worst when Professor Slughorn had given them their timetables that morning and they had seen that their first lesson with Umbridge would be right after breakfast, but not even his worst fears had prepared him for this. He longed for their retreat in the Room of Requirement.
"Later, sweetheart," Daphne said as she squeezed his hand. "I'll love giving you a good thrashing to get your mind off things."
"You'd better watch out that I don't give you a good thrashing, witch."
"Is that a threat or a promise?"
"Both."
Laughing, the two sat down in the last row as usual, allowing them to keep an eye on their classmates, especially those from Slytherin. Their new teacher was already standing in front of the students, next to a wooden desk with several thick books on it, wearing the same awful pink cardigan of the night before.
"Well, good morning," Professor Umbridge greeted them.
"Good morning," some students muttered back, but the majority, including Harry and Daphne, remained silent. For Harry a good morning certainly didn't include what would presumably be a very boring class.
"Tut, tut," said Professor Umbridge. "The good manners at Hogwarts have indeed lessened lately, as I feared. Manners make us civilized beings and distinguish witches and wizards from lower creatures, don't you think? So I should like you, please, to reply 'Good morning, Professor Umbridge'. One more time, please. Good morning, class!"
"Good morning, Professor Umbridge," the students chanted back at her, though Harry and Daphne were still silent, straining to suppress their laughter.
"That's better," said Umbridge sweetly. "In the future, I always expect such courtesy from you. Surely, you're all very keen on your first lesson in Citizenship Education, which is why I want to start right away."
From his classmates' bored postures Harry could tell that he was not the only less than keen to keep listening to Umbridge.
"At least one thing that we have in common with them," commented Daphne.
"In an extensive evaluation, the Ministry of Magic found a significant lack of civic maturity among students and graduates," continued Umbridge, seemingly unfazed by the lack of enthusiasm from her audience. "Therefore, the Minister has decided to release the funds to offer another class at Hogwarts that will prepare you all for your future as decent and responsible citizens so that our magical society can continue to thrive and ward off defeatist efforts that want to destroy that very society."
Harry's head was already spinning.
"In this class, you will learn the values on which every civilized society and our peaceful coexistence are based. Thus, I have a very simple question at the beginning: What do you think is the most important quality of a responsible citizen?"
Umbridge's gaze slid over the ranks of the students until she finally reached Harry, her eyes narrowed like an archer aiming at their target. Defiantly, Harry returned her look.
"Miss Greengrass," Umbridge eventually turned to Daphne though, who was staring out the window. "What do you think?"
"Mrs. Potter."
"What?" Umbridge asked, confused.
Turning her head away from the window, Daphne was now looking straight at Umbridge, a mischievous smirk on her face. "My name is Daphne Potter. So if you want to address me, please use my real name. Good manners, you know."
The other students looked back and forth between Daphne and Umbridge while Harry suppressed a toothy grin, his fingers playing with Daphne's.
It took Umbridge a few seconds to put her sweet smile back on. "I remember. You got married during the summer," she said with false kindness. "Priest Greybridge's last ceremony, as far as I know, before he mysteriously disappeared."
Already feeling a mocking remark on his tongue and his right hand twitching dangerously, Harry suddenly heard Remus' voice in his head. Don't let her provoke you. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to suppress his anger. Beside him, Daphne had also remained silent, not providing Umbridge a target.
The game went on for several seconds, during which the silence in the classroom became almost tangible before Umbridge spoke again. "Well, Mrs. Potter," she said, emphasizing Daphne's name, "what is your answer to my question? What do you think is the most important quality of a good citizen?"
"Submissiveness?" Daphne said with a shrug, but Harry could see the mischief in her eyes.
"No, you're wrong about that," Umbridge replied, turning back to the entire class. "The most important quality is respect. Respect for the elder. Respect for people who are wiser than you. Respect for the officials of the Ministry who work hard every day for the good of the wizarding world. Only with mutual respect can chaos be prevented, and law and order be maintained. And only with law and order can –"
Suddenly there was a loud, scornful snort from a few rows in front of Harry and Daphne. Surprised, Harry looked at Longbottom, the usually quiet Gryffindor, who was now sitting in his seat with clenched fists and a bright red head, giving Umbridge a look that Harry could only describe as blazing hatred.
Umbridge stopped her speech, looking at Longbottom. "Would you like to say something, Mr. –?"
"Longbottom," the Gryffindor hissed. "And yes, I would like to say something." He seemed to be deliberately ignoring the warning looks of Granger and Weasley beside him. By now all the students had turned to Longbottom. "How can you speak of law and order but not prevent Death Eaters from being freed from Azkaban? Who are you fucking kidding?!"
Harry felt as if he could hear the air crackle with tension while he waited for Umbridge's reaction. However, their teacher was apparently as astonished as all the other students, for she just stood motionless. Finally, she cleared her throat, giving Longbottom a look of feigned compassion.
"The incident you mention was an unfortunate security breach," she said, "which was probably exploited by foreign terrorist actors to disturb the peace in this country. It is therefore all the more important that we do not allow ourselves to be provoked by such machinations and continue to defend our values and our civilized way of life. I can also assure you that the security breach was closed immediately and that the fugitives will very soon be caught by our competent security authorities to bring them to justice. Your safety is and has never been endangered. For nothing is more important to the Ministry than the safety of our children who –"
"BULLSHIT!" shouted Longbottom, banging his fists on the table. "Everyone knows they were freed by Voldemort." At the mention of Voldemort's name, an anxious shiver went through the classroom. "Nobody is safe until we start fighting him and his –"
"Mr. Longbottom", Umbridge yelled. "That's a lie! A lie, do you understand me?!" Her head had turned a purple color. "Certain people try to scare you with lies like those to pursue their own defeatist goals, but be sure that –"
"He's back!" Longbottom jumped up, his chair crashing to the floor. "Just because you're too ignorant to –"
"Detention, Mr. Longbottom," Umbridge said in a high-pitched voice. "Now sit down again! I will not allow such lies to be told in my class or anywhere else at Hogwarts. From you in particular, Mr. Longbottom, I would have expected more trust in the Ministry, after all, it is public money that is currently financing your parents' stay at St. Mungo's. So you especially shouldn't be interested in dispeace, or am I wrong?"
"How dare you –" Weasley shouted but was immediately interrupted by Umbridge.
"Mr. Weasley, detention for you too. Tomorrow evening. Five o'clock. My office. And now I'd like to continue with my class, so I would ask you all to sit down again and be quiet until I allow you to speak."
Granger then grabbed her boyfriend's arm, whispering something in his ear which made him stay still even though he was still trembling angrily. This tremor, however, was no match to the violent shaking that had gripped Longbottom's body. His hands were clenched in fists, and it looked as if he was about to pounce on Umbridge's throat to tear it open with his fingernails; an act that Harry approved. Eventually, however, Longbottom lowered his head, picked up his chair, and sat down again. Apparently, Umbridge's threat had had its desired effect. Longbottom said nothing more for the remainder of the lesson.
For another half an hour they had to listen to Umbridge's Ministry propaganda, in which Harry almost fell asleep several times before the bell finally ended the lesson, putting them out of their torment.
Harry and Daphne waited for the other Slytherins to leave the classroom before stepping out as well, knowing that it was only a matter of time before their classmates would attack. Too many had lost their fathers or mothers to both of them, an attack was inevitable; the hateful looks they were given spoke volumes. But Harry and Daphne would be prepared whenever they would make their move. They hadn't faced Voldemort, his Death Eaters, and a millennia-old giant basilisk, only to be afraid of some precocious students with a daddy complex. No, Harry and Daphne were sure their fellow Slytherins would bitterly regret the day they attacked them...
They had to wait more than a week for the time to come. Harry and Daphne were on their way from the Ancient Runes classroom to the Room of Requirement when they suddenly felt a magical impulse in the hallway on the seventh floor. The next moment, a violet light curtain wrapped around them on all sides, locking them in a magical cage.
"So it begins. At last," Harry thought as he looked at the brightly glowing bars that were slowly moving towards them.
"At least they were smart enough to not rely solely on their wands," Daphne replied, her wand already in hand.
Harry let his gaze slide over the wall to which metal garnishments were attached. "But the execution seems bungled to me."
"Still, we shouldn't risk anything by holding back."
"So our strongest weapon?"
"Yes, at least to blow the cage. Better not use deadly spells after that, right?"
"Probably better. But we don't have to be too gentle if you ask me."
In the meantime, several figures had emerged from behind the heavy tapestries. Malfoy, Nott, Parkinson, Crabbe, Goyle, and an older boy whose name Harry didn't know. All the scum of Slytherin.
"Scared, Potters?" Malfoy hissed, his face a veil of hatred. "You only get what you deserve. Dumbledore can't save you now, 'cause in a few seconds you'll be dead."
Harry and Daphne did not respond to his words. The glowing bars coming closer and closer to them, they began to utter soft hissing noises, their wands vibrating in their hands. They felt the magic flow through their bodies, warm and intoxicating.
With one voice, Harry and Daphne screamed and raised their wands. There was a loud bang that had probably been heard throughout the entire castle before the cage broke into thousands of pieces like a mirror, the pieces hurling away in all directions. Malfoy and Parkinson were hit by glowing fragments and collapsed screaming on the ground. In panic, the other Slytherins lifted their wands, causing several colorful flashes to shoot towards Harry and Daphne, but they created a large magical shield in front of them, on which the curses fizzled out ineffectively.
Pathetic. Harry couldn't describe it any other way. The difference in strength was already evident. He and Daphne were far superior to their opponents; their attackers, who had grown up so sheltered. While they had enjoyed their carefree lives, Harry and Daphne had spent endless hours poring over books with unseen knowledge. While the other students had enjoyed themselves in their common rooms, they both had trained in the Room of Requirement, honing their magical abilities, dueling each other in countless practice fights, until they had almost collapsed from exhaustion. While everything had been given to their opponents, Harry and Daphne had had to pay with their blood for every bit of luck.
No, this wasn't going to be a fair fight, Harry thought with satisfaction, but an enjoyable game. And enjoy they would.
Laughing, Harry and Daphne took the offensive. Tying Parkinson's screeching figure to the floor with a huge spider web and a flick of his wand, Harry suddenly saw the unknown Slytherin fire a curse on him, but Daphne whipped around and blocked the spell before she responded with a stunner. At the same time, Harry fended off several curses from Nott and Crabbe with a shield spell that hurled the flashes back at the attackers. The two Slytherins managed to jump aside before the lightning bolts struck the wall behind them, leaving black soot trails.
Spinning around, Harry saw Daphne hit the older student directly in the chest, who then fell to the floor petrified. From another direction the next curses already shot towards Harry, but he dodged and in turn fired a curse at Goyle that missed him only by a hair's breadth. Without pausing, Harry pressed his back to Daphne's as he turned one of the tapestries into a huge snake that instantly pounced on Malfoy who was still writhing on the floor.
Suddenly Harry felt Daphne grab his free hand. "Are you having fun, my husband?" she asked him with a laugh.
"Incredibly. It's –"
He had to break off his thought when he heard a piercing sound. Malfoy had cut off the snake's head and was now back on his feet, hair disheveled, eyes shining with hate. The smell of spilled blood spread down the corridor.
"Die, you bastards!" Malfoy screamed. "Avada –"
Harry didn't let him finish, hurling three blasting spells in his direction, pulverizing the armors behind him. Malfoy gave a panicked cry.
Then the rest of the Slytherins rushed to his side so that they could fire one spell after the other on Harry and Daphne who in turn fended them off with ease. Harry knew that the two of them could end this fight in seconds if they wanted, but that would have meant some bloodshed. Plus, it was just too much fun.
Fierce magical fighting broke out. Colorful flashes flew through the corridor, ricocheting off walls, destroying armor and paintings. The air was filled with the Slytherins' screams of rage and Harry and Daphne's laughter.
It was a wonderful feeling, Harry thought with zest. Stroke, parry, counterstroke. Magic captured his entire being. Rushing in his ears. It was as if, at least for the duration of the fight, he could forget all his worries and fears, all the horrible feelings of guilt. Sirius, Voldemort, Horcruxes, Umbridge. None of that mattered, just the frenzy of magic that Harry indulged in, incapable of any clear thought. His blood boiled while everything blurred into a vortex of colors and screams.
One enemy after another fell under their wands. Shackled, Malfoy was thrown to the ground next to Parkinson, while Nott and Crabbe crawled across the floor with broken legs, their wands only a pile of smoking ash.
"Harry, Daphne!"
They had just hit Goyle in the chest with two stunners when suddenly loud shouts and footsteps came from behind them.
More enemies!
In reflex, Harry and Daphne spun around. There was a whip-like crack and two human bodies flew through the air before hitting a stone wall and collapsing on the floor. Wands rolled across the ground.
Nothing moved in the corridor, no sound could be heard except a painful groan.
Harry felt like he was waking up from a feverish dream. His heart pounding in his chest and his body covered in sweat, he squinted hard to see his surroundings. And then he realized it. Feeling as if someone had poured buckets of ice cubes over his head, he was jerked back into reality.
The men they had thrown against the wall were Remus and Dumbledore.
Instantly Harry ran off, Daphne by his side. "Remus, Professor, are you okay?" they shouted in unison "Are you hurt?"
Dumbledore groaned but managed to get up on his knees, his half-moon glasses hanging across his face. Only Remus still didn't move.
"Remus," Harry screamed in panic, grabbing his shoulders, but Remus didn't react. Blood dripped from the back of his head onto the stone floor. Fearful, Harry lifted his head to look him in the face. Remus' eyes were wide with terror, but the light in them had vanished. He was dead.
Remus was dead.
Harry felt nauseous, everything blurring before his eyes. As if a puppeteer had severed his strings, he slumped on the floor as the realization pierced his heart like an icy dagger.
Remus was dead.
And they had killed him.
It felt like thousands upon thousands hot needles were penetrating Harry's head, piercing his eyes, ears, forehead. He wanted to cry out in pain but couldn't make a sound, his throat tightening. Everything spun around him while he felt like he was losing his mind.
Then something changed.
Suddenly there was a cozy warmth inside him. The pain in his head subsided as the wonderful smell of oranges and magnificent sunflowers settled around him; a smell Harry had smelled so many times before, which for him was the most beautiful fragrance on earth.
Daphne!
"I'm with you," he heard the voice of her soul. "Everything will be fine. I'm with you. Everything will be fine."
Her words were balm for his troubled mind, comfortably warm and cool at the same time, like a mountain spring on a hot summer day.
Disconnecting himself from reality, Harry concentrated only on the feeling of Daphne's soft body pressing against his, and on her love that wrapped itself around them both like a protective cocoon. Daphne was his lifeline, his silver lining. Without her, he feared, the darkness would engulf him.
As if from far away, he heard the clatter of feet and shrill voices approaching.
"What's going on here? What –?"
"Dolores, that's not what it looks like. Let me –"
A sound of triumph. "I knew it! Murderers! The two are murderers! Dumbledore, tie them up! Immediately!"
At some point – maybe only a few seconds later, maybe hours or even days – there were more footsteps. "See? See, Minister? You were right from the start! The two are dangerous lunatics!"
"Yes, yes, Dolores. You did the right thing to notify us immediately! Amelia, you know your duty!"
"Minister, we should –"
"No, Dumbledore! Now you can't interfere anymore. Amelia, come on!"
Harry felt several hands grasp him and Daphne. Roughly they were torn from the ground, but they let it happen, still clinging desperately to each other, needing one another like the air in their lungs.
"Mr. and Mrs. Potter," came a voice Harry had heard somewhere before. "You are under arrest for the murder of Remus Lupin. Don't resist."
Harry felt like he was no longer part of his body, like he was just seeing himself in a film on television as the hands forced him and Daphne to place one foot in front of the other, down the stairs, through the entrance hall full of murmurs and frightened faces, until they eventually reached the boundaries of the castle grounds.
Then a pull, as if they were being pressed through a far too narrow tube. Bright lights, a flash, then finally darkness, accompanied by the feeling of horrible emptiness, as if his heart had been ripped out of his chest.
A bright light blinded Harry as he recovered consciousness. Blinking, he could see dark silhouettes around him and the outlines of a clinically white, otherwise empty room. From his left side, he heard heavy sobs and a feeling of despair overwhelmed him. Panicked he turned his head and saw Daphne, her trembling body sitting on a metal chair, her ankles and wrists tied to iron bonds. Instantly Harry tried to jump up to rush to Daphne's side, but he couldn't move. Only now did he realize that he, like Daphne, was strapped to a metal chair.
"Daphne!" he screamed. "Daphne, are –" Suddenly his voice fell silent. He could still move his mouth and felt the words on his tongue, but he couldn't utter a sound.
Daphne reared up in her bonds, shouting something to him, but Harry couldn't hear her. Her tear-streaked face and the terrible fear in her beautiful blue eyes broke his heart. He had to reach her! He had to help her! He had to –
"Now that you are both awake, we can start," one of the dark silhouettes spoke up.
Harry felt his head turn toward the voice as if a huge invisible hand had grabbed him. He screamed angrily, trying with all his might to defend himself against the magic, to no avail. Powerless, he had to watch as Daphne slowly vanished from his sight; only her despair could he still feel, ice-cold, cutting deep into him.
Now he recognized the several figures in front of him. In the center of the room stood Madam Bones, head of the Department for Magical Law Enforcement, her monocle sparkling menacingly. Around her were several Aurors, wands pointing at Harry and Daphne as if they were still afraid of them. However, Harry's eyes were set on Fudge and Umbridge, their faces filled with an abysmal, malicious glee.
"According to the laws of Wizarding Britain, the two of you were arrested on suspicion of the murder of Remus Lupin," Madam Bones continued in a professional tone that simply disgusted Harry. He yelled at her in hatred, but she kept a straight face. "Calm down, both of you. You'll only make it worse for yourselves. You are in the Ministry's safest interrogation room, which is protected against any kind of magical intrusion – so no house-elves come in here, for example. "
The underlying meaning of her words was only too clear to Harry. After all, Madam Bones had already seen twice how he had called Dobby.
"We will now begin the interrogation," Madam Bones continued. "This will be recorded and, if you wish, afterwards forwarded to a lawyer of your choice."
At her words, Fudge came up to her, his disgusting eyes glinting greedily. "Amelia, given the gravity of the allegations and the uniqueness of the situation, I hereby authorize the use of Veritaserum. Start with Potter."
"Which of the two Potters do you mean, Minister?" Madam Bones asked calmly.
Fudge waved in Harry's direction. "The boy, of course. Go ahead."
Madam Bones nodded to one of her Aurors, who then took a small bottle from his coat, in which a transparent liquid shimmered. The next moment, Harry felt his jaws being pushed apart by a spell, despite his resistance. Stepping up to Harry, the Auror poured the liquid down his throat, causing Harry to choke. In vain he tried to build his mental walls. He just couldn't clear his mind, his thoughts more like a storm than a serene sea.
After a few seconds, Harry felt a comforting warmth spread through his body, not unlike the feeling of the Imperius Curse. It was as if his mind was being pushed out of his own body, as if he were just a spectator in a morbid play.
"What's your name?" asked Madam Bones.
Harry didn't want to answer. He wanted to roar, curse them all, scream that they should piss off and leave him and Daphne alone, but he no longer had control over his mouth. In an emotionless voice he replied, "Harry James Potter."
"How old are you?"
"15."
"Did you kill Remus Lupin?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It was an accident."
"Explain that."
"Several of our classmates attacked me and Daphne. We defended ourselves. When Remus and Dumbledore showed up, we thought they were more enemies. We disarmed them and threw them back, but we had no intention of seriously injuring or killing them. Remus ... he must have hit the stone with his head. When I ran to him he was dead."
Remus, I'm sorry ... I'm so terribly sorry ...
"They disarmed Dumbledore?!" an Auror exclaimed in surprise.
"Quiet, Richards," Madam Bones barked before turning to Fudge. "It sounds like it was indeed an accident, as Professor Dumbledore said. They still broke various laws, but a murder charge does not seem promising in light of this statement."
"Then ask him about his other actions," spat Fudge angrily. "Do I have to explain everything to you, Bones? Hurry up!"
With a stoic expression on her face, Madam Bones turned back to Harry. "Mr. Potter," she said, "besides accidentally killing Remus Lupin, have you committed any other acts that would be considered a crime by the Ministry of Magic?"
Everything in Harry revolted against answering the question, but he had no choice. "Yes, I have," he confirmed.
"And what were these acts?"
Harry tried hard to clench his teeth, but the power of the Veritaserum was too strong. Every single word that left his mouth felt like a punch in the gut.
"Four years ago I used the Imperius Curse on Daphne. Two years ago I ambushed Ronald Weasley and last year Rita Skeeter to tie up and humiliate them. And earlier this year I killed Lucius Malfoy by piercing his heart with a spear."
The Aurors looked at each other in shock, even Madam Bones seemed shaken. Fudge and Umbridge, on the other hand, looked like it was the best day of their lives.
"I knew it!" Fudge exclaimed triumphantly. "I knew it! Potter is a killer! That brings him straight to Azkaban!"
"Did you have any accomplices?" Madam Bones asked further. "If so, who and what did they do?"
"Yes, I had accomplices," said Harry with a ghastly sense of betrayal in his heart, "It was Daphne and my house-elf Dobby. Dobby kidnapped Malfoy from his home and brought him to the basement of Greengrass Manor. There Daphne and I killed him together."
"That makes her guilty too!" Umbridge cheered. Harry wanted to cut her tongue out and make her eat it.
"Do you have any other questions, Minister?" Madam Bones turned to Fudge. "Otherwise I would next interrogate Mrs. Potter?"
"Yeah, yeah, go ahead," said Fudge with a big grin. "The two of them will definitely never leave Azkaban again. Dolores, convoke the Wizengamot for tomorrow. And inform the press!"
"Yes, Minister," said Umbridge, leaving the room.
Powerless, Harry watched the same Auror who had given him the Veritaserum pull out another vial and step over to Daphne's bound body before disappearing from his field of vision. All he could hear was Daphne drinking the potion while her body was still gripped by horrible sobs, his eyes welling up with tears of despair – and fury.
"What's your name?" Madam Bones asked Daphne as well.
"Daphne Potter," Daphne replied in an emotionless voice, even if her mind was a mess. Harry wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms, to comfort her, to tell her that everything would be fine, before laying the Ministry in ashes...
"How old are you?" Madam Bones continued, untouched by their suffering.
"15."
"Did you kill Remus Lupin?"
"Yes."
"Is there anything you want to add to your husband's statement about the circumstances?"
Daphne hesitated briefly as if trying to find the right words. "Just that Remus' face was deeply worried when he ran towards us," she said finally. "I think he loved Harry with all his heart."
Harry felt tears in his eyes, while a feeling of warmth swept over from Daphne before it was swept away again by the storm of her despair.
Madam Bones, however, only shrugged her shoulders. "Irrelevant. Have you committed any other acts that would be considered a crime by the Ministry of Magic?"
"Yes."
"And what were they?"
"Four years ago I tested the Imperius Curse on Harry. Then I put my mother Roxanne Greengrass and Morpheus Greengrass under the Imperius Curse. I forced them to change their will and make me sole heiress before I ordered them to hang themselves on the church tower in a nearby Muggle village six months later. And at the beginning of the year I killed Lucius Malfoy."
Daphne sobbed, and Harry could only imagine her petite body shaking. Each of her sobs hurt his heart.
"Ha!" said Fudge. "She's even worse than Potter! In the past, she would have been thrown through the veil for this, but that can be changed again. Dumbledore's time is over anyway. Great job, Amelia. Really excellent! Please excuse me now, I must prepare my speech! Excellent, great job..." With that, Fudge scurried happily out of the interrogation room, slamming the door behind him.
"Well then," said Madam Bones. "This is the end of the interrogation. Thank you for your cooperation. Tomorrow the Wizengamot will meet to pass judgement on you. You will spend the night in high-security cells here at the Ministry. Tomorrow morning you will have the opportunity to appoint a lawyer for the trial." She turned to her subordinates. "Aurors, take the prisoners away."
Again, Harry was grabbed by several hands. Screaming, he dealt out blows right and left, trying everything to free himself and get to Daphne, feeling hair on his face and blood in his mouth. All of a sudden, his limbs froze, and his motionless body floated through the air. He caught a glimpse of Daphne, whose face was covered by blood from a wound on her forehead.
Then Harry and Daphne were thrown into cells across from one another. Once the petrification spells were lifted, they jumped up and reached their arms through the bars to touch each other, but they were too far apart, their screams fading in silence.
At the same time, many miles away, a Dark Lord rejoiced.
Next chapter: Tears of Blood
Preview:
With trembling hands, Harry held the dagger to Daphne's throat, her dead eyes pleading with desperation.
AN:
Please don't hate me ^^
