Beta: JG Nelson
Original release date: 6/17/2018
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the canon Harry Potter universe or any other universe, in addition to any references to things in the real world that currently exist. AU.
Chapter Sixty Four – An Unexpected Exit
"Greengrass, we need to speak" states Pansy crossing her arms, standing at the foot of Daphne's bed.
Looking up from the OmniPlay she had received earlier that day, Daphne replies, "About what?"
"You're dating Potter" states Pansy firmly.
"And this involves you how...?" wonders Daphne curiously.
Stamping her foot in frustration, Pansy spits back, "Because Potter is a Gryffindor!"
"And that matters only in this case due to some rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor, correct? Why should I involve myself into petty matters such as that when my own happiness and goals can be obtained through a relationship such as this?" answers Daphne.
"You need to stop seeing Potter and let him go his own way" states Pansy, voice rising.
"And what are you going to do, force me to?" jests Daphne standing up from her position on her bed and placing her tablet into a robe pocket.
Withdrawing a wand from the sleeve of her robe, Pansy points it at Daphne as a handful of other girls in the room jump into action and do the same.
Without smiling, Daphne remarks, "So this is what it comes to. Sucking up to Malfoy because he is champion and won't seriously return your affections, so you want to take it out on the girl who is dating the rival of the one who won't return your affections."
"Just make an Unbreakable Vow that you will break up with Harry Potter and will never return to him again, and then it will all be good" states Pansy, voice starting to return to normal.
"Ha! Do you think that will still solve your relationship problems by wrecking someone else's relationship? Honestly, I was hoping you'd be brighter than that, but considering the previous three years as you flock to Malfoy's side, even when getting pushed aside, it's..sad. No matter, I refuse to give into your demands and you won't be able to stop me" states Daphne coldly staring back at the six girls still pointing their wands at her.
"Then we will teach you a lesson about refusing to give into our demands. CRUCIO!" shouts Pansy and the other girls, red jets of light flying towards Daphne simultaneously.
Smirking, Daphne disappears without a trace, leaving the spells to hit the stone wall, marring the spot where Daphne had just stood. "FIND HER! SHE COULDN'T HAVE GONE FAR!" screeches Pansy hysterically.
Popping into a room, Daphne lands on a stone surface, shocking the occupants. "D-Daphne, what are you doing here?" inquiries Harry rotating off his bed beside Daphne.
"I had to escape from my dormitory. Pansy...she's gone crazy" answers Daphne, starting to lose her composure.
Picking Daphne up from the floor, Harry sets her on his bed and wraps his left arm around her before asking, "Daphne, please explain what happened, and take your time."
Taking several deep breaths, Daphne dives into her tale. As Daphne finishes, Harry gets to his feet and says, "Do you all mind accompanying me to Professor McGonagall's office so we can figure out a solution."
"Especially with an Unforgiveable Curse, bloody hell, that's a mess" remarks Ron, shaking his head.
"But how do we get to Professor McGonagall's office without getting caught?" asks Sean curiously.
Smiling, Harry pats his robe pocket and remarks, "I'll just change the cameras to not alert anyone that we are walking by and then cut out where we are on camera and put some video feed of the hallways that has already been taken, so it looks like no one has been through."
"Brillant! Simply brillant. Let's get to it" remarks Neville.
Rummaging through his robe pocket, Harry passes Daphne a silvery cloak before saying, "Put this on."
Looking over the material, Daphne asks curiously, "What is it?"
"It's my father's Invisibility Cloak. So we can at least get you out of the common room without shocking anyone why there is a girl in the guy's dormitory" answers Harry.
Less than five minutes later the procession of Harry, Ron, Daphne under the cloak, Seamus, and Neville make their way down the dormitory stairs and quietly through the deserted common room, and out of the portrait hole. Several tedious minutes later, the five person group arrives at a door, a porcelain cat hanging on the door, before knocking several times. A minute or so later a disgruntled professor opens the door, "Potter, you'd better have a good reason why you're disturbing my slumber at this hour."
"Professor, will you let us in so we can explain?" asks Harry.
Opening the door wider, Professor McGonagall watches as four students morph into five as she shuts the door. "Potter! You didn't get Miss Greengrass pregnant did you?!"
Shaking his head, Harry answers, "Professor, it is worse than that. Daphne was attacked in her own dormitory."
Turning to the lone Slytherin in her office, Professor McGonagall asks, "Miss Greengrass, please explain what Mr. Potter said."
Withdrawing her OmniPlay from her robe pocket, Daphne explains and then plays a very clear audio clip, whitening the face of Professor McGonagall. "I think Severus needs to take a listen."
Several minutes later, a full dressed Severus Snape sweeps into the room, cloak billowing behind him. "This better be worth my time, Minerva" remarks Snape coldly.
After another full explanation and playing of the audio clip, Snape pauses and remarks quietly, "I believe the Headmaster would be the one to determine consequences and steps to take to protect Miss Greengrass from such harm."
"Excuse me, I know this may not be my place to say anything, but my family has a few places nearby that Daphne could stay in safety but still remain as a student" pipes up Harry.
"Mr. Potter, your...family does not merit any mention in this conversation" remarks Snape coldly, glaring at Harry.
Removing his OmniPlay from his robe pocket, Harry swipes furiously before bringing up several diagrams and hands it to Professor McGonagall, "Professors, this is what I mean. I'm sure Sirius and Remus would allow for such circumstances."
A lone knock on the door before it swings open revealing Dumbledore stops all conversation. "I think Mr. Potter's idea for Miss Greengrass's safety is quite an interesting proposal, and one worth mentioning to Messer's Black and Lupin, alongside Director Black regarding any punishment for students using an Unforgiveable Curse on a fellow student. I believe the use on a witch or wizard is enough for a lifetime stint in Azkaban."
"Then let me get Sirius and Remus here to have Daphne granted access to a flat" remarks Harry, a hint of desperation in his voice.
"Why don't we return to my office and talk about this. Minerva, please escort those in your house back to their dormitory and join Severus, Harry, and Daphne in my office" speaks Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eyes.
Turning to Seamus, Ron, and Neville, Professor McGonagall says firmly, "Follow me back to the dormitories", before striding out of the office.
"Now if you don't mind, off to my office we go" speaks Dumbledore leading the way out of Professor McGonagall's office, with Snape closing and locking the door after himself.
Minutes later as they ascend the golden stairway to the opulent office of Dumbledore, Daphne and Harry look around at the oddities and knickknacks hanging on the walls and bookshelves. Conjuring comfortable armchairs, Dumbledore speaks, "Please have a seat Miss Greengrass and Mr. Potter while we wait for the others."
Taking a seat, the two students look around before the door behind them open and several adults enter into the room.
"Headmaster, I am curious as to why I have been summoned at this time of the day" speaks a familiar female voice sternly.
"Director Black, it will come soon enough, please simply observe for now" rebukes Dumbledore calmly.
Narrowing her eyes but staying quiet, Amelia crosses her arms and stands beside Sirius and Remus.
"Now that all heads of houses are here, we can begin. Miss Greengrass, please begin" instructs Dumbledore turning to the students.
"I bet she's pregnant" whispers Sirius to Amelia just audible enough to be heard by his wife.
Nudging him in the ribs hard, Amelia flashes daggers at Sirius before turning her heard back to the story.
"That's when Pansy cast the Cruciatus Curse at me, and I used my PRT to transport to Harry's room" finishes Daphne quietly.
"Why was your, erm, PRT set to transport to Mr. Potter's room?" inquiries Professor Flitwick curiously.
"As a backup, just in case. I knew that he'd take care of me" flushes Daphne before regaining her composure.
"Miss Greengrass, please play the clip that you played for Minerva and I for everyone else" instructs Snape coolly.
Withdrawing her tablet from a robe pocket, Daphne plays the audio clip, garnering several sympathetic eyes at the end of the clip.
"Miss Greengrass, what would you like to do in regards to Miss Parkinson and the others casting an Unforgiveable Curse at you?" inquiries Amelia walking over to Daphne.
"U-uh, I don't know. I merely want to be away from them and to not be bothered by them" answers Daphne uncertainly.
"Mr. Potter has proposed a new living arrangement that involves Messers Black and Lupin. There is a flat that you own that Miss Greengrass that she could live in as to be away from Miss Parkinson for the duration of her sleep. However, I propose another idea that Miss Greengrass is given the option to change houses" states Dumbledore looking at everyone in the room.
"A-Albus! Surely you don't mean take a fourth year and put her into another house this late in her schooling and and-" remarks Professor McGonagall incredulously.
"Minerva, other than Mr. Potter's suggestion, what else is there?" answers Dumbledore trying to calm down Professor McGonagall.
"That we expel the students that tried to cast the Cruciatus Curse at Daphne. That should show that Hogwarts and society will not tolerate such blatant disregard to Wizarding law" Amelia chimes in sternly.
"Amelia, surely you jest" remarks Severus somewhat dumb founded.
"I do not. We know that Hagrid was expelled due to posing a threat to the students with the creatures he was taking care of and the creatures being a threat to other students. Why does that not apply in this situation?" demands Amelia, right hand on Daphne's shoulder.
"These are simply misguided stu—"begins Dumbledore before being interrupted by Amelia, "MISGUIDED?! THEY CAST AN UNFORGIVE CURSE AT A FELLOW HUMAN! THEY KNOWINGLY CAST AN UNFORGIVEABLE CURSE AT ANOTHER HUMAN FOR THE INTENT OF CAUSING PAIN! Headmaster, if you do not do something remarkable at this point to protect student's safety, then I'm afraid that the Ministry will have to step in and take some form of remedial steps to rectify your lax style of leadership. I'm not in favor of such things but to give the six students merely a slap on the wrist when there are adults who have life sentences for the same thing, simply unimaginable" exclaims Amelia angrily before taking several deep breathes and returning to a more calm state.
"I still think a few private lessons with the girls will rectify the situation" states Dumbledore calmly.
"Then Headmaster, as it is within my power to rectify unsafe living situations for underage witches and wizards, I hereby remove Daphne Greengrass from living in Hogwarts and will live in a flat on protected land where not even you can find her. She will attend classes normally, as she will also eat from the Great Hall at the same time as the others. However, she will live outside of Hogwarts where she is unable to be attacked by individuals" states Amelia staring swords at Dumbledore.
"Amelia, please, see what you're stating is going to affect Miss Greengrass negatively socially" remarks Dumbledore.
"A social life with much higher chances of being attacked, or a somewhat degraded social life but greatly decreased chance of being attacked. Either we have Miss Greengrass move her belongings into our protected flat where she will be safe or have Miss Greengrass become a Gryffindor student where it has been proven that she will be protected by my son and his friends. Those are her two options and I will allow her to choose, not you, Headmaster" responds Amelia aggressively.
"That's my wife for you. Very calm most of the time but when she needs to, she can destroy anyone's logic" whispers Sirius proudly to Professor Flitwick who gives the briefest of smiles before taking a few steps away.
"AND YOU! You thought this poor girl was pregnant! We're going to have a long talk when we get home" instructs Amelia fiercely.
"It takes one to know one" remarks Sirius offhandedly before covering his mouth with his hand, eyes wide.
"This conversation isn't over…by a long shot" growls Amelia before turning to Harry and smiling, "by the way Harry, you and Susan are going to be older siblings to our new child."
"No matter the option I chose, the outcome will be the same. My family will more than likely disown me for one of two reasons. Either I can't stand up for myself and thus weak, or I'm a Gryffindor" states Daphne firmly.
"Surely they wouldn't—" begins Amelia before being interrupted by Snape, "Miss Greengrass, knowing your parents as I do, I will forgo judgment and say that you should unequivocally should your heart, parents one of the last items of concern. I daresay I will not say this ever again, but I think you should…join Gryffindor. There you can mature while still retaining some semblance of your youth and social life. Being forced to live on your own in flat can be both rewarding and stressful. The…miscreants that attacked you will be punished severely for their indiscretion and inability to make sound judgments."
"If I move into this flat that is being offered, then word will make it back to my family that I can't even stand up for myself, despite it being for my safety. If I stay in the Slytherin dormitories, then odds are I will be attacked again. If I change houses, no matter where to, my family will more than likely disown me, but I will be safer. There is no positive side for me, if I may speak candidly" states Daphne out loud, but not directed at anyone in particular.
"I say that you, Miss Greengrass, have exceptional intellect for puzzling out conundrums such as this. You would do well in Ravenclaw, but I daresay that your heart would lead you elsewhere" remarks Professor Flitwick.
"Only you can make this choice, not your family" remarks Amelia comfortingly.
Sighing, Daphne responds, "If I am to be disowned by one family I might as well join another. I will choose to join Gryffindor. Harry and the others have accepted without any qualms, so to forgo that acceptance would be what could be considered me thumbing my nose at them."
"Well said Miss Greengrass. I have no doubt that you would also do well in Ravenclaw, based on my short stint of teaching here. You were a reserved individual but well read and very intelligent. Not the most forthcoming with answers but you knew your material. Let's hope that your parents see the same, however, if they do not, you are always welcome with us" remarks Remus with a smile.
Clapping his hands together, Dumbledore announces with a twinkle in his eyes, "Now that has been settled, we can move to—"
"How the attackers will be punished. I will not be letting that go, Headmaster" states Amelia firmly.
"Minerva, please escort Mr. Potter and Miss Greengrass back to their dormitories before returning for further discussion regarding the punishment of the Slytherins who caused such a disturbance. Severus, please retrieve the girls, and Pomona, please fetch Miss Greengrass's belongings" requests Dumbledore, voice a little strained.
"Miss Greengrass, Mr. Potter, please follow me" requests Professor McGonagall leading the two students out of Dumbledore's office. A few minutes later, Professor McGonagall speaks up, "Mr. Potter, I want to apologize for my statement back in my classroom. You were right."
"Not like it matters now" remarks Harry snidely.
"Mr. Potter…I will accept your criticism. However, now we must turn to other matters, such as how to keep this matter from reaching the gossip mill of Hogwarts and how to not awaken the girls with an addition at this hour" remarks Professor McGonagall.
"She can sleep in my bed" remarks Harry offhandedly.
"POTTER! That is an unacceptable idea!" exclaims Professor McGonagall sternly.
"You didn't say anything about a good idea, just an idea. On a more serious note, she could sleep at the flat for the night and appear here in the morning and move her in while we are at breakfast. I think that might minimize the impact on everyone else sleeping this evening, while prolonging the inevitable senseless chatter that would occur in the morning when it comes to light that Daphne has switched houses. I'm not certain what kind of news to break to cause enough…gossip to throw people off of the trail of what has happened with Daphne, especially if Slytherin gets docked heavily for attacking Daphne. There would have been some whopper of a rumor to throw people off of that without disclosing what actually happened" comments Harry seriously.
"Harry, I'm almost perfectly capable of handling myself, so if meeting with a bunch of girls that are lacking murderous intent is what must happen so I can sleep peacefully, then I won't back down from it" states Daphne coldly.
"Well said. Let's go in and meet the girls you will be bunking with" remarks Professor McGonagall before giving the password to the Fat Lady and entering into the Gryffindor Common room.
Looking around the empty common room, Professor McGonagall turns to Daphne and points her wand at the Slytherin emblem on Daphne's robes and the green and silver snake morphs into a gold and red lion. "Potter, you have a spare tie for Miss Greengrass?" inquiries Professor McGonagall turning to Harry.
"I probably do. Do I need to go retrieve one?" responds Harry.
"Please do until such time Miss Greengrass is able to obtain one of her own" answers Professor McGonagall looking at Harry.
Climbing the steps to the dormitory, Harry returns a few minutes later holding a tie before offering it to Daphne who wordlessly takes the tie and exchanges it for her Slytherin one. "Wonderful! Now, Mr. Potter, please return to your dormitory for the rest of the evening" instructs Professor McGonagall.
"Understood professor" answers Harry before taking the stairwell back to the boys dormitories. Arriving in the now dark dormitory, Harry maneuvers slowly to his bed using the sliver of moonlight flowing into the room from the window. Eyes adjusting to the darkness, Harry eases himself into bed, gentle snores from the others quickly lulling him to sleep.
The next morning after their morning exercise routine, Harry, Ron, and Neville make their way down to the Great Hall when Neville remarks, "It's somewhat surreal that Daphne has been transferred to Gryffindor. But I think it's the best thing overall, all things considered."
"I've just never heard about someone switch houses before" comments Ron before adding, "I hope we have bacon again for breakfast."
"I'm sure the fall out from this will be quite intriguing. Serves them right" remarks a familiar female voice coming alongside the trio.
Turning to the newcomer, Harry's eyebrows rise before resuming their standard position, "So how bad are you expecting it to be? I figure there will be several people asking the same question, so we probably should get our story straight."
"Professor McGonagall said to not say anything about being the target for an unforgiveable curse as to not cause panic. Why not simply tell people it's none of their business as to cut out as much drama as possible" answers Daphne calmly.
Pausing his mouth but keeping his feet moving, Harry finally responds, "I like it. Simple yet effective. Are you intrigued by our morning exercise routine?"
"It is…something that I will continue to do until I discover if waking that early in the morning is worth it or not" answers Daphne, voice starting to drop in temperature.
"Harry and I have been doing it for several years alongside our family, even my gran, although she doesn't really lift any weights" remarks Neville with a smile.
"Consider that taken into advisement. Now the small struggle will be going to classes correctly now that my schedule has changed" remarks Daphne.
"You can just follow us" offers Harry helpfully.
"I was planning on doing so after checking my other classes such as Arithmancy" remarks Daphne coolly.
Entering the Great Hall and taking a seat at the sparsely populated Gryffindor table, the quartet are quickly met with Professor McGonagall, "Miss Greengrass, your new schedule. And all Gryffindor students are to report to the Transfiguration classroom after supper for a house meeting" before disappearing.
"I wonder what kind of meeting that we will be having since it's outside of the common room?" wonders Ron curiously.
Pondering for several moments, Harry answers, "I have a gut feeling that it has something to do with the Yule Ball."
Nodding their heads in agreement, the others eat their breakfast before a loud exclamation from the Slytherin table, "OUR HOUSE POINTS! THEY'RE ALL GONE?!"
As quiet descends upon the Great Hall as all students turn to the House Points and the lack of any points for Slytherin. Like a bat out of hell, Snape descends from the staff table to the Slytherin table, arms crossed after arriving. "It looks like Slytherin doesn't actually have any more points" remarks Ron somewhat surprised.
"I wouldn't be surprised after what occurred last night. But I'm more interested in what the cover story is for the loss of those points that Professor Snape is feeding them" remarks Daphne calmly.
"I'm sure once the gossip mill of Hogwarts gets wind of this, that it won't take too much for the information to make its way to us. I wonder if some form of anonymous application for the OmniPlay that allows people to gossip freely would be good or just a mess of thing" remarks Harry wondering aloud.
Half an hour later finishing breakfast, the quartet now being joined by others make their way to their first class of the day. Standing outside of Transfiguration, an unknown Gryffindor student remarks to one of their friends, "I hear that the Slytherins lost all of their points due to Pansy dueling other Slytherin students."
"They aren't wrong" remarks Daphne quietly to Harry after hearing this.
"Is that maybe why Daphne has switched to our house?" inquiries another student.
"I heard that she tried to stop the dueling between Pansy and the others and got caught in the crossfire and that she had go to the Hospital Wing and that's when Dumbledore stepped in and assigned her to our house" gossips another student.
Sighing a breath of relief, Daphne gives Harry a brief smile as Professor McGonagall arrives, opening the classroom door and ushering the students in. Several hours later, students begin to trickle into the Transfiguration classroom.
"Now I'm sure you all are wondering why we are holding a house meeting here instead of the common room. As you all know, the Yule Ball is bearing down upon us and I refuse to allow Gryffindor be the laughing stock of the school for an inability to dance, therefore we shall hold three practices a week with various music to make certain that everyone has the ability to perform at their best at the ball. Especially you Mr. Potter, as you are the Gryffindor Champion—" begins Professor McGonagall before Harry interrupts, "Against my will."
"Mr. Potter, it matters not if it was against your will or not, you were selected by the Goblet of Fire to represent Hogwarts and represent it you shall. As unfortunate as it is, it still constitutes a magically binding contract of which you must fulfil" states Professor McGonagall firmly.
"Professor, I am aware of such contract, being forced into it, however I do have some complaints such as how does the Quidditch team get time in to practice in addition to studying and being well rested for classes the next day. Is there a way to grant reprieve to individuals whom are able to demonstrate their proclivity in dancing in a manner befitting Gryffindor while not being roped into this three days a week?" inquiries Harry getting to his feet.
"Mr. Potter, are you inferring that you are better than the lessons that I'm offering?" remarks Professor McGonagall indignantly.
Turning to Neville, Harry asks, "Neville, you've taken dancing lessons, correct?"
"Yes" answers Neville with a smile.
"Then join me, I'll lead first and then you can lead" remarks Harry walking to the cleared section of floor with Neville following close behind.
As Filch gently places the needle of the record player onto the record, Harry and Neville face each other and begin waltzing in perfect sync. As the music changes without any interruption from either adult, Neville takes charge and dips Harry before pulling back and twirling Harry as a ballerina. Music stopping, the two bow before whistling and catcalls ring out, "Harry, I'd be honored if you would dance with me at the Yule Ball" exclaims George giving Harry a dramatic wink.
"And Neville, please grace me with your presence with being my partner at the ball" remarks Fred giving Neville a grin.
"You're going to need to sweeten the deal if I'm to choose you over Hermione" remarks Neville offhandedly.
"Two Butterbeers and I'll get mum to knit you a Weasley jumper for Christmas" offers Fred jokingly.
"Hermione, I'm sorry but you're going to need to find a new partner for the Yule Ball. That deal just is too good to pass up" jests Neville taking a seat beside Hermione, nudging her gently.
"Come on down George and I'll give you a piece of myself" smirks Harry, hand out to George.
"I'd be honored" remarks George, joining Harry on the floor.
An hour or so later and multiple couples dancing later, Professor McGonagall claps her hands together twice before announcing, "Thank you for coming, we will do this every other day until the Yule Ball is at hand. Now follow me back to the common room where you will stay for the reminder of the night."
Returning to the common room, students talk about the experience, some gather study materials while others proceed to their respective dormitory to turn in for the night.
Author note: Thanks for reading! So one of my long time friends agreed to beta some of my chapters and she remarked that there needs to be more drama, so I decided to pour a five gallon bucket of drama into the story to make it more...interesting and then of course more AU. So you can see that things are getting serious but more interesting. My original plan is being delayed with the entrant of more and more content, but the content is more of a transition I could argue, since it does help move the story along a bit more cohesively than making sudden jumps. And Happy Father's Day to all fathers out there (and I believe I missed Mother's Day in May, so Happy Belated Mother's Day to all mothers out there). One last note, I wasn't originally planning on having someone switch houses, but it made logical sense (I argued with myself over it for several days and pitched it to JG Nelson for their opinion).
-Blackangel150 – Correct, some need to grow up. I decided to throw some drama in there at the end to make things more, riveting one could say.