Harry Potter and the Agents of Attor

by Chromewe11

Harry's name comes out of the Goblet of Fire but no one could have foreseen that written on that same slip of paper was Draco Malfoy. Resented by their houses and forced to participate in the Triwizard Tournament together, the two once rivals form a grudging alliance in their struggle to survive the trials ahead. Rated MA.

16. Serpent's Waltz II

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction based on the book series by J K Rowling, paraphrasing and direct quotes may occur.

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Chapter 16 - Serpent's Waltz

Part II

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Pansy Parkinson was the last person Harry expected to be gliding down the stairs towards him. A girl whom he had never thought of as anything but a petty sycophant. However like Hermione, tonight she had transformed herself almost entirely into a new witch. So much so he barely recognised her.

Her scarlet gown swept around her. Long hanging sleeves of black lace, the skirt of her dress fell like petals and a gold choker embodying thorns clasped around her throat. When she arrived beside him immediately her arm hooked through his own, wrapping and constricting.

Not even McGonagall could hide her shock. Though it may have pained her she regained her composure, saying nothing she reentered the great hall in stunned silence.

Harry too remained utterly speechless. He tried to resist but found her grip had locked onto him tight. She pulled even closer to him her sweet smile faintly sinister. He met her gaze. Her eyes were dark with a hint of green shadow to contrast her red painted lips. Behind her pug-like face was a cold glare.

Harry looked around to the others helplessly. Hermione's alarm had doubled in intensity. Meanwhile, Draco's smirk vanished. He seemed he was about to protest, but before a word could escape him Daphne drew in close to whisper something reassuring to him since his glare vanished immediately.

This was all too strange for such a short amount of time. But he wasn't about to lose his head, there had to be an explanation.

"Get off me," Harry growled at her. "what do you think you are doing?"

She was very close to him. Her sweet perfume flooded his senses, a familiar scent of orange blossoms washed over him.

"I am doing you a favour, Harry. Is that not obvious?" She replied, her voice changed. It was different from how he remembered. Soft and clear, and much more appealing than person supposedly giving it life.

He began to feel dizzy. From the perfume and the odd cold feeling from the look in her eye, Harry knew that this was not the shrill tone belonging to Pansy Parkinson. Everything from her colours, her expression, to how she held herself had been off. Harry's brain finally started working properly.

She couldn't resist a smile at the relief in his expression when it clicked for him. But if this was her then just who was standing next to Draco?

"You're not really Parkinson are you?" He said under his breath.

"Pray tell, what gave it away?" She replied in a husky voice.

There was a faint mischievous smile behind her eyes. Harry's heart soared inside his chest. He denied the urge to laugh and regained himself.

"For one thing you're not looking at me like you want to hex me in the balls."

"True I can't say I feel that particular temptation Harry, but the night is young still." She cocked a brow. "I imagine you have questions."

"Oh just a few, Daphne. If that is you?"

Her eyes flashed from dark brown to cold steel grey in response. She gave him another warm smile and nodded, indicating that they should move on from hovering at the bottom of the staircase.

From inside the hall, they all heard a booming fanfare of instruments calling for them. Hermione with one last anxious glance returned her attention to Viktor. They were the first pair to follow in after McGonagall and lead the other champions. Inside they could hear the eruption of applause as the attendees welcomed them. He felt bad for how confused she looked, in any event, he'd clue her in as soon as an opportunity presented itself.

"What happened to Tracey?" He kept his voice hushed as he guided them in line behind the other champions.

Fleur and Oliver were the next to leave. More applause came, peppered with the odd boos aimed at Oliver for being the envy of the males. Harry envied him much less now.

"I don't think you have fully realised the situation you are in Harry." Daphne rolled her eyes.

No, he did not. Nor did he really care much at that second. He was still too busy being thankful that he was mistaken about her identity.

"What would that be then?" He glanced lazily back to Daphne.

"I regret to be the one to inform you but you have been stood up."

It was Cedric and Cho's turn next, the applause grew louder and thunderous for the darling Hogwarts couple.

"Oh." Harry snorted despite himself. It was a fact that been lost on him.

"Well don't act too disappointed." Daphne helped herself to a slight smile. "It was nothing personal Harry. She had no intention of being here from the start."

The two of them finally entered the great hall together. For a change, it had been decorated in an incredible fashion. There was such an abundance of silver and white it was all but blinding but Harry kept his eyes on her. Mist clung to the floor and a dazzling frost gilded the walls. The pine trees that had lined the hall were now blanketed with a layer of snow, and above the hanging garlands of ivy and mistletoe, the enchanted ceiling revealed a clear starry night.

Daphne paid them no attention. "Nor did I for that matter. Tracey does like to play tricks but this stunt was more to play with me - not you. So, on her behalf, I apologise."

"Saving me again then? That's starting to become a habit." Harry gave a grin.

"Not one I intended for either. You won't be so lucky every time."

"So we've been pranked. I don't mind too much I guess, what about you?"

"Well, the look on everyone's faces right now seeing Harry Potter and Pansy Parkinson at the Yule Ball together is quite spectacular."

Harry was so absorbed again he had failed to notice. Looking around again he saw the usual house tables had vanished and in their stead a hundred smaller tables that would seat a dozen lit by lanterns. When the students of Hogwarts saw the oddest pair of the evening their clapping staggered almost to a halt. No one could rightly comprehend the unlikely sight yet it was happening before them all the same. At once the whispers circled around them.

"And if that isn't actually you behind us it's-"

"Astoria."

"Okay, now it's starting to make some kind of sense at least." He didn't know whether to despair or laugh. "No one is going to see through you and cause any trouble are they?"

"Thank you for your concern. I think trying to hide our... association from now on would be rather fruitless," Daphne pause, something seemed to be bothering her. "My senior housemates have already taken notice and I have been given a warning to keep my distance. As far as tonight goes I can count on Dumbledore to see through me and anyone who can properly read an aura. And certainly Stephanie will have a good idea."

"Selwyn your cousin, right?" Harry didn't know what she meant by reading an aura but he safely assumed it was something to do with magical signatures similar to what they had discussed in regards to their maps.

"Mm yes, she is actually the one who made this antic possible for Astoria to pull off."

"How's that?"

"She gave her the means she shouldn't have."

Daphne didn't seem all too happy at all. Harry could only make a few educated guesses as to what she meant.

"I will enlighten you to the details of her devilry but it looks like we are out of time for the moment." She notified him as they approached the large round table where they were meant to eat with the headmasters and other Triwizard judges.

Dumbledore was smiling happily at their arrival. Karkaroff looked sour, outright glaring at Krum and Hermione. Bagman was once again jumping in his boots as he clapped them, joined by Maxime who applauded softly, her usual black satin exchanged for a floaty silk lavender gown.

It was here Harry marked that Mr Crouch was not in attendance. And so there was a surprise guest who came in the form of Percy Weasley. The redhead with a smug smile looked pointedly at the free seat next to him. Harry didn't need to take another hint, he helped Daphne into her place next to him and took the chair Percy had drawn for him.

Thankfully their seating arrangements had him and Daphne with their backs to the rest of the hall with Dumbledore to their left. A few moments later Astoria flanked Daphne, putting Draco in the last remaining seat on the other side of the headmaster. His smile remained unchanged as he cast his eyes over them if there was a hint of knowing about Daphne or Astoria he had hidden it well.

"I've been promoted." Percy didn't waste any time. He made it sound like he had been made Minister of Magic. "I'm now Mr Crouch's personal assistant."

"Well, congratulations," Harry replied as enthusiastically as he could.

"And where is the esteemed department head this evening?" Daphne asked innocently. "Being one of the key organisers missing the Yule Ball is quite the faux pas." Her now scratchy pitched voice dripped with salt.

Percy bristled slightly.

"Ah, well. I am afraid to say he is not well, not well at all. Hasn't been right since the world cup. Hardly surprising - overwork. He isn't as young as he once was, still brilliant though of course."

"Of course." Harry pretended to nod in agreement.

He shot Daphne an apologetic look. She returned an amused grin and shook her head in return, happy for him to humour the Weasley. Such small talk was practically second nature to her.

"And of course after the fiasco at the world cup, he had to dismiss that elf of his - Winky - for her misbehaviour. I'd say there has been a significant drop in his home comforts. A well-earned rest over the holidays should do him a world of good."

"Whatever happened to Winky? Do you know?" Harry found himself annoyed at tone Percy had taken with the house elf.

Percy paused thoughtfully. "If I remember correctly he sent her here to work in the kitchens."

This piqued Hermione into their conversation. She inched forward in her seat from her side of the table.

"Is that what people do when they no longer have any use for them? They don't bother freeing them and just send them onto their next master?"

"Granger please bare an open mind," Daphne said civilly, this coming from someone in the guise as Parkinson was like a slap to the face. "house elves have no value for 'freedom' as you put, giving them work is a much more preferable option for them. An elf would have to be seriously mistreated for them to prefer the alternative. Freedom for them is a terrifying concept for them."

"Only because they've been conditioned that way." Hermione's eyes narrowed between Harry and his partner.

Draco had turned away in embarrassment and allowed himself to be distracted by a private conversation with Astoria. But still, Harry could see him turning slightly pink.

"Haven't you read yet how we came about to have this relationship with house elves? They are the last living elfkin. Wizards and witches freed them from slavery and saved them from certain genocide at the hands of goblins across Europe in the third Wizard-Goblin War which led to the Gringrott treaty. They pledged their loyalty and service to us in gratitude. They aren't just servants either, they are fierce protectors too. They chose us as their masters and we welcome them as a part of our families we entrust them with the care of our children. To reject payment and to reject freedom is their prerogative. Not to mention they are practically dependent on us for survival."

"Survival?"

It was Cedric who answered Hermione first. "Elves have extraordinarily strong magic, raw and highly advanced. Worked to death for centuries underground did a lot of damage psychologically and physically. Without bonds to us they would likely destroy themselves over time should they try to use their brand of magic too continuously."

Hermione quickly sat up. "So the nature of the house elf-master bond, the wizard acts as something like a magic-sink device that allows elves to use their magic safely because it the excess of their power flows back to the cores of their families."

"That's why they bond with families or to a place?" Harry asked.

"And one of the reasons house elves consider Hogwarts to be a prestigious place to work. The residual magic these walls soak up is unprecedented and elves contribute too, helping power the wards. Not to mention helping guard the wizards and witches of the future, it's typically considered an honour. They'd have to be very closely bonded to a family to not appreciate such a step up." Cedric continued his explanation.

Cedric was very good at this, presenting a sensible argument with context and painting a better picture of what life was like for an elf.

Hermione continued to frown. "So they shouldn't be upset when they get sent away from the families they care about because there is somewhere better?"

Dumbledore decided he too would join in the debate. "Of course not but they are at the end of the day individuals still whose wants and desires can and often do not represent others of their kind, not once in my tenure here have I turned away a house elf looking for work. Simple and deceivingly complex by nature, few wizards have tried and failed to fully understand them. It gladdens me to see this subject discussed and given proper thought."

The talk about elves made Harry realise he was actually quite hungry, especially since he had been flying for most of the day. There was no food on any of the golden plates and there were no waiters despite the hall looking like it was a very large high-end restaurant.

"Sorry to interrupt professor, but how do we er you know… order?" Harry lifted the closest menu to him.

"Quite right, allow me to demonstrate." Dumbledore peered down through his half-moon glasses at his own menu, then said very clearly to his plate, "Pork chops."

The rich smell of roasted pork and a sweet apple sauce arose around them. Soon after the rest of the table's placed orders became meals until only two of their party had yet to order anything.

Hermione looked sour and stared down at her plate with scrutiny. She was clearly struggling with her convictions and whether she wanted to dine via elf labour. However under the pressure of proper etiquette eventually she too ordered in a small voice, hiding her look of guilt behind her menu.

"Absolute nonsense," Daphne muttered under her breath. "aren't you going to order Potter? We are all waiting for you now."

He had to give it to her, her voice acting was brilliant. She sounded just like Parkinson - a near perfect imitation.

"I'm getting round to it, I apologise everyone." He glanced up again and saw that they were indeed waiting for him.

The truth was Harry was completely out of his element. The long list of meals he had barely even heard of or could even pronounce was too distracting.

"I can't decide so uh, I'm going straight for pudding. Treacle tart." He announced with a grin.

Just as it had worked for Dumbledore the treacle tart appeared immediately on his plate. Bagman laughed so heartily his belly shook the table while Hermione choked on her drink, these two reactions were mirrored by most of the table.

"Potter. You are not eating dessert instead of a proper meal." Daphne vanished the tart and gave him a cold look that was telling him to behave.

"You need to lighten up don't you know it's Christmas?" Harry gave her a cheeky grin.

"I am aware." Daphne leaned into his ear, "I might be pretending to be Pansy right now but you are still embarrassing me." she whispered to him.

She had a point, they were receiving odds looks from Hermione, and even Cedric, Cho and Oliver. They were at least somewhat aware that this wasn't their usual rapport, if they ever had one to begin with. Which they very much didn't.

"Right uh... Beef Goulash sounds good I'll have that please." He said to his golden plate. Harry had no idea what goulash was, he just read the first option from the top of the menu. "I don't think my date is very impressed with me." He said leaning across the table in a false whisper.

"Can you really blame her?" Percy coughed, he couldn't help himself either it seemed.

Daphne simply rolled her eyes earning more laughter from Bagman and diffusing any tension there might have been. Only Karkaroff remained diffident sending a piercing glare at Harry.

As they all began to eat conversations began to bubble and flow again. Harry couldn't help but give a look of admiration to the stew-like dish he had chosen. Scents of spices that he had never experienced before filled his nose and made his mouth water.

"Oh wow." He said to himself as he took his first bite. The beef slow cooked was so tender it practically melted and the flavours wholly infused his mouth.

"Good right?" Daphne asked.

"Yeah - amazing." He nodded happily, "What about yours?"

"Mm exquisite." She said with a dry tone.

But Daphne had barely touched her lamb tagine. Her eyes were busy scouring the table's occupants to be interested in food, Dumbledore and Karkaroff especially.

"Ve have a castle also, not as big as this - nor as comfortable I am thinking," Krum spoke enthusiastically, now enjoying Hermione's undivided attention. They had wasted no time diving into a comparison of their schools. "Ve have four floors, and the fires are lit only for magical purposes. But ve have grounds dat are larger than these. In vinter, ve have little daylight, so ve are not enjoying them so much. But in summer ve fly every day over the mountains-"

"Now, Now Viktor!" Interrupted Karkaroff with a hollow laugh. "If you say anymore your charming friend will know exactly where to find us."

To his credit, Krum had done a wonderful job of describing Durmstrang as how he saw it. It was a brighter perspective than what it's dark reputation usually allowed. Harry saw how Karkaroff seemed to struggle with his kind words in respects to Hermione. Annoyed, Harry clicked his tongue and glared but didn't comment.

"For all your secrecy Igor, one would think you would not want visitors." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

"Well Dumbledore," Karkaroff said as he flashed a yellow smile to his fellow headmaster, "are we not all protective of our domains? Do we not jealously guard the halls of learning that have been entrusted to us? Are we not right to be proud we alone know our school's secrets and our right to protect them?"

"Oh, I would never dream of assuming I know all Hogwarts' secrets, Igor." Dumbledore replied amicably.

Harry was certain he sent him a sly wink, then he went on to tell a tale of a bizarre bathroom filled with chamber pots he had recently discovered.

"Mm! Now zis is vairy good. Just ze perfect amount of crème in ze sauce wiz 'erbs, saffron and lemon. Très bon." Fleur praised.

She was giving another animated critique of the food to the amusement of Oliver, Cho and Cedric. Delicately she wiped the edge her mouth with a napkin, catching Harry's eye she flashed him a dazzling smile. Daphne took note.

"I 'ave to say, I am most impressed. Ze cooking tonight ees most delicious and ze decorations are fantastique." She gave an approving look around the hall with a playful smirk that could enthral legions. She gestured around her. "But zis does not compare to ze palace of Beauxbaton! We 'ave ice sculptures around our dining chamber all Noëlle. Zey do not melt, more like 'uge statues of diamond, glittering around ze place. While we eat we zere is choirs of wood-nymphs to serenade us."

Fleur was clearly very proud and had an appreciation for these things. Harry had spent every Christmas at Hogwarts and hadn't seen the school ever looking as festive as it had this year, but he supposed he could thank the guests this year for the change.

"No peeves singing dirty Christmas carols?" Harry asked.

"Certainly not!" Fleur exclaimed with a bell-like laugh.

Harry wrinkled his nose. "Hmm sounds a little tame to me." He wanted to ask her if she spent Christmas at school often too but held himself back.

"I watched your duel last night Harry." Percy turned to him bringing him out of his thoughts. "Ghastly boy that Lewis I always thought I never could get him to behave."

Despite wearing a grin Harry's insides quickly filled with dread.

Fuck off Percy

"Bad show if you ask me." Karkaroff sneered.

"Maybe you want to go a couple rounds?" Harry snapped right back at the glowering headmaster.

And you fuck off too goatman

The table had grown tense once more. Even Bagman dropped his fork. Even for him and his latent problems with authoritative figures, picking a fight the headmaster was extremely brash. McGonagall would have him detention right there and then. Harry silently cursed his big mouth and locked his jaw tight.

Karkaroff could only stare dumbfounded for a second and then let out a cruel sounding cackle. Harry couldn't shake the feeling Karkaroff would relish nothing more than to oblige.

"Now now, Harry. I am sure he just meant that you may have overestimated yourself a little." Dumbledore interrupted their deathly staring contest.

Harry didn't understand what they were getting at. "I gave King money for a new wand. We buried the hatchet this morning, over and done."

That may have been overstating things. He had been punching above his weight far too often lately it was surely going to come back and bite him soon.

"We are speaking from a practical and academic perspective, my boy. Igor is an accomplished duellist himself. Your attempt at the non-verbal casting of the disarming spell didn't go as planned did it?"

"No, it didn't professor," Harry admitted. He could feel the others drop everything as they turned their eyes on him.

"Do you know why that was?" Dumbledore gave him an encouraging look.

"No sir."

"Vas it not just spell variation?" Krum asked.

Spell variation, the ability to alter the effects of a spell through a change of incantation, wand movement or technique while retaining the same intent. The change in Harry's disarming spell was still rather extreme.

"Indeed yes it was Mr Krum, very good observation. The crux being it was unintentional spell variation. Forgive the lecture but I am an educator first and foremost." Dumbledore chuckled. "Now this was not the first time you had tried non-verbal casting of this spell?"

"No, before during practice I could do it perfectly - obviously with the less destructive side effect."

Harry turned red with embarrassment. Cedric and Oliver both snickered and Fleur hid an amused smile behind a napkin.

"You failed to keep that temper of yours in check and you let your personal feelings towards Mr King get in the way. Overriding emotions muddled your intent and thus was reflected in your alternate disarming spell... Perhaps with a calmer mind things wouldn't have gone so awry."

"Sorry professor." Harry hung his head looking down at his plate.

"You have little to apologise for, since it was accidental I can't see a proper reason to be reprimanding you over the matter. Duelling can be dangerous - all parties are aware of that fact." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled brightly. "Forgive my pridefulness of Harry, but he can be an exceptional student when he applies himself. He may not be a natural academic like Ms Greengrass, Granger and Mr Malfoy here, but a strong and vast magical core like none other. Why just over a year ago he was still performing bouts of accidental magic."

Daphne didn't give away a single tell. As if rehearsed Astoria looked up in her stead with an appreciative smile like it was herself receiving the praise.

The headmaster chuckled again sincerely despite glossing over the fact the incident had nearly killed Marge. Murmurs were shared around the table. Even Karkaroff's sneer retreated and began looking at Harry as if he was a coveted jewel.

"Merde." Fleur frowned at her mistake she now realised thanks to Dumbledore's insight.

She completely missed Daphne's sharp gaze focus in on her. No else one seemed to notice either as it was for her own ignorance on the relationship of nonverbal casting and the nature of Harry's magic.

Please let this end already. Harry was thinking but Dumbledore was still enjoying himself far too much.

"Which brings me to my conclusion. It would be best for you to wait just a little while longer before fully trying to master non-verbal casting Harry. There is a reason it is a NEWT level art, it is not like a high-level charm that requires a taxing magical output. Your core has yet to mature which is necessary when learning these advanced techniques."

"I see - thank you, professor" Harry nodded, looking up with a fixed expression.

Once more talk turned to more mundane matters that Harry was thankful for. Hermione had started trying to teach Krum how to properly pronounce her name. To his, Daphne's and Fleur's horror, Madame Maxime began flirting with Hagrid from across the hall with the subtlety of a charging hippogryph.

And all the while Draco and Astoria had only ever interacted with each other in low voices. Harry could only wonder what the two could be talking about so secretively.

Once all the food had been eaten Dumbledore stood and asked the champions to take to the centre of the hall. One by one the lanterns all began to go out until there was only the enchanted ceiling's moon and starlight.

Harry had been so caught up with what was mostly an enjoyable and delicious meal he'd forgotten what came next. Narrowly avoiding tripping over his robes as he stood up and offered Daphne his hand.

"Thank you, Potter." She graciously accepted with a curt nod.

He tried not to take notice of the howling and grinning of Seamus and the twins that jumped out of the crowd. With deep breaths, he reminded himself of his lessons with Fleur and guided Daphne onto their positions on the dance floor.

They stood apart waiting in silence until a long mournful note floated through the hall.

Harry gave a bow and held out his hand for her. She ducked ever so slightly to pick up the train of her dress and stepped into his arms. His hand finding its way to her back and her's slid around his shoulder.

Harry had to remind himself to breathe.

"Posture and framing Harry." She said with glowing eyes.

She bit her lip, unable to ignore the cold chilling feeling of nervousness as she let herself be taken by him.

Immediately his back straightened, lifting his chest and arms up. Harry pulled her waist closer. His heart began to pound. He disliked the feeling of tension in his muscles, he felt like he being suffocated. Slowly he turned his to face outwards. Daphne matched him, stretching out her neck elegantly while shifting some of her weight to him. Alongside the low tune of a cello, a violin began to sing.

Moving in time to one another, they started with simple box steps. Thump. Thump. Thump. His heart drummed so furiously in his chest he was sure she could feel it too. An accompaniment of wind and other instruments floated from the orchestra.

Swinging forward and swaying to the side. With each box they rotated, rising and falling. Growing more and more confident with each other they rolled across the great hall.

One quarter, one, two, three, anuzzer quarter, one, two, three, quarter turn. He could hear Fleur count in his head. Oh how much he needed to find a proper way to thank her.

Harry made sure to keep his eyes peeled so he could spot the other partners. No one ever warned him dancing was going to be this hard. He'd rather be duelling, he would much rather be on his broom outflying a dragon.

He gave Daphne a quick glance - there was a ghost of a smile on her lips. He was so close he could count each one of her eyelashes. She was warm and her touch was soft and light. Whatever tension there had been had vanished, she was like a feather. Or rather the weight she entrusted to him flowed from him and back to her and back to him. The lead and the follow, like a pendulum or two parts of a whole, they were connected. Harry thought he was beginning to maybe understand the appeal of the ordeal he had found himself in. Maybe.

"You're enjoying this?" He arched a brow.

"Is that a crime?" Her eyes met his. "Surprisingly you're a more capable partner than I expected. I see you've been taking extra lessons, so it wasn't just duelling you got up to with Delacour then."

"How'd do you even know that? You've only been back a couple of days."

"Oh, you noticed?" Daphne almost blushed.

"Of course I did." Harry rolled his eyes much to her pleasure. He had barely left the map alone when he saw her nameless footprints refusing to leave the Slytherin dorms before the first round of duelling.

"I have my ways. Knowledge is everything Harry, so I'm not going to reveal my sources so easily. Besides you dance like a Frenchman, maybe I should start calling you Pierre?"

"And you would know."

"I am high society." With no more pretending her voice was cool and melodic again. "I've been going to functions like these on a global stage for as long as I've been able to stand still while wearing a dress. To think I put cushioning charms on my toes for nought."

"Don't test me, I can always start sending you pinching hexes. Can't you just appreciate my dedication to these annoying Triwizard traditions?"

Daphne snorted. "Certainly, you're doing marvellously Harry. But don't start something with me you won't be able to finish. Though a fight between us on this very dance floor might sell the story a little better."

"Wouldn't that be something." Harry chuckled, putting an awkward strain on his chest and ribcage. "I've got to admit you look the part. Your glamours are impressive. Nose, jaw, eyes, cheekbones or lack of now... the detail you've gone to. You really had me in the entrance hall for a minute there."

Essentially she had remodelled her face. He knew a few things about glamour charms, although he had never needed anything beyond blemishing, smoothing and skin tones.

"Thank you, a good eye is always appreciated, Harry. But is that the best compliment you can muster?" Daphne gave him a playful smirk.

"No offence but I'm not calling you pretty with that face on."

"Ouch, your words cut so deep. But I am pretty underneath though?" She couldn't quite help herself. "It's a good thing right now Pansy is with Millie having a girl's night; face masks, beauty treatment, that sort."

"I assumed you just spiked her with sleeping potion or something."

"Funnily enough the thought had crossed my mind." She said with sarcasm so subtle he might have missed it. "Pansy and I came to an understanding. She was actually rather accommodating. It took a grand apology from me though, I owed her that. The idea being trying to get back at Draco. Not that such a petty act would ever change things between them now."

"Damn, so cold," Harry muttered. "so are you going to tell me the rest? I know you're secretly dying to."

Daphne laughed again, her real laugh. "Perhaps a little. It goes all the way back to the Yule Ball announcement which for reasons I'd like to avoid I wasn't here for. Poor Draco was struggling to find a partner from Slytherin - not that he would admit it. According to the unwritten rules of privileged socialites he needed someone of rank; Obviously Pansy was no longer an option for him, he has too much pride and vanity to consider asking Millie, and Sally was already spoken for."

"Which left you?"

"Which left me, in our year and house at least. I was indisposed, besides I'd sooner kiss a corpse than dine and dance with him. Hesitation Harry." She gave an abrupt warning.

He paused to look ahead and see Fleur and Oliver closing in. The quarter veela witch's blue eyes briefly met his.

Poor Ollie, Harry thought. Rivers was no match for the part-veela. His gaze had glassed over as he smiled in a daze, leaving the French champion to lead him. Regardless, in that state they breezed along fine. Fleur's expression remained serene, Harry imagined it was easier for her this way. She could whisk and throwaway overswing herself to the applause of the clueless audience and no one would even notice.

He was actually going to miss their private lessons. With a decisive step back Harry changed their direction with an underarm turn.

"Not bad." Daphne approved. "As I was saying, Astoria graciously volunteered her company but there was one problem, she didn't want to appear as herself."

Harry had already figured, like her sister she must not like unwanted attention. "So her solution was to get her hands on what, polyjuice and masquerade as you?"

"Using your brain very good. Even as much as I revile Draco no one would suspect anything amiss."

She was serious. Astoria was apparently really using polyjuice to disguise herself. Harry thought carefully on this revelation. "Polyjuice has expensive ingredients and is a bitch to brew, how'd she get her hands on it? Couldn't be easy."

"And here I thought you detested potions."

"That doesn't mean I don't know things." Harry stuck out his tongue in retaliation.

After watching Hermione basically do all the work herself, he wouldn't dismiss that a second year could accomplish it but it just seemed unlikely. Hermione was one of a kind, he was certain had she not been handicapped by being a muggleborn and was given a wizarding education like that of a pureblood she would knock even Daphne into the dust.

"Well, the answer to that lies with my dearest cousin Stephanie. Doing her potions mastery gives her unrestricted access to Snape's personal store cupboard."

"Selwyn, the head girl. Right, you mentioned her earlier."

"Like most machinations going on in Slytherin, there was a trade you see. One evening's worth of polyjuice potion in exchange for some alcohol Astoria obtained. It's harder than you think to simply smuggle passed Mrs Norris' nose on a Hogsmeade weekend - so it's quite the valuable commodity among the older students. Tori must be very pleased with herself. In all likelihood she had this plan in motion before the ball was even announced. It is a tournament tradition to be expected..."

"You must be very proud." He said dryly.

"Yes and no. She has always been like this. Trying to grow up fast as if trying to keep up with Tracey and me." She said in a slightly sad tone.

"Does she annoy you?"

"Often, but she can be endearing too. Tracey is a bad influence." Daphne looked as if she wanted to say more but held herself back.

Harry couldn't help but instinctively tense up at Tracey's name. Surprised by his own ego he didn't even think he cared so much, but he couldn't deny his pride was a little wounded. A large part of him was genuinely looking forward to her company. Not that he was unhappy with the turn of events, quite the opposite.

Daphne snickered at his reaction. "Yes, she was in on it too, clued in from the very beginning. The two of them plotted together - she encourages her too much." She honestly felt a little excluded.

They hadn't told her. Astoria and Tracey had prepared her a dress and everything but did not reveal their intentions until Daphne asked what Tracey was up to after returning from the Solstice celebration. After that, she was left with the vexing choice of what to do - attend the ball with Harry or mercilessly leave him standing alone.

She felt helpless, both impressed and annoyed, she had been baited and she fell for it all too happily. Tracey knew her too well, that she wouldn't be able to resist and Astoria helped by eliminating her only excuse to refuse by stealing her identity.

"Tracey sitting out the ball out with Parkinson and Bulstrode too?"

"You've not seen her yet? Oh Harry, that won't do at all." Daphne feigned disappointment with a tut. "I assure you she is here in this hall." She enjoyed watching his eyes squint as he searched for her. "Try looking next to the high table."

On their next turn, Harry's eyes darted to the back of the hall. There behind the very place they had been eating sat the school orchestra where they had been playing all night. To the left of Flitwick conducting them, he spotted her immediately. Unable to miss her blazing red hair and emerald dress swaying along with her movements.

They could both see a veritable joy in her expression. Brandishing her bow purposefully. She was spirited and then gentle commanding the music they were dancing in time to. There was such a violent and calculated air to her Harry thought she could well have been duelling. Her temperament remained unchanged; she was smiling freely, immersed in her playing.

"Wow." He breathed, he knew next to nothing of music but it almost pained him to turn his eyes away. There was a feeling within him, a stirring emotion he could not quite define.

"She's amazing, isn't she? I told you she was a musician. It's one of her better talents." Daphne said fondly. Her memories of the two of them learning and practising together until her lessons came to halt. But Tracey persisted.

Finally with other guests approaching the dance floor so the champions were no longer the centre of everyone's attention. Dumbledore and Maxime leading the still unsure students into a sense of comfort free from judgement. Seeing them all Harry relaxed a little.

But with more people their pathing became more difficult. Harry slowed them down and made sure to keep their box tighter.

"Nice socks, Potter," Moody growled at him as he passed, doing an ugly two step by with a slightly nervous Professor Sinistra. The Astronomy teacher smiled at him and let her gaze linger upon Daphne for a moment.

"Thanks, Dobby the house elf knitted them for me." Harry gave them a grin as Moody stomped away leering at Daphne as he went.

"How terribly vile," Daphne muttered feeling a cold shiver run up her spine. "that man needs to be sent to Azkaban himself." Her head span so she could glare at Moody's back. She wondered whether his eye was strong enough to see through her charms, it was more than likely.

"Why's that? Surely you're not scared of the mean looking old man?" Harry looked at her confused.

Daphne blinked and returned her focus to her partner. "Not counting the unforgivables in our first lesson? His eye is abominable and in a school no less."

"We could start calling him Professor Peeping-Tom? I am sure Malfoy senior and board of governors would love that."

She gave a short laugh as she imagined what her father would make of that. "I shall keep calling him Mad-Eye for now but you can go right ahead if you like. The point stands though, he could be doing that and we'd never know."

Harry tried to shake off that image when he had a thought. "Want to take a break?"

He realised what a good opportunity this was to leave the dancing to those who actually wanted to break their feet.

"Please, while this has been fun for me I can see how much it is paining you." She teased.

"Hey, I'm not in pain. I just suggested a break."

Daphne laughed. "You're too easy Harry. Besides if this is just a break you can expect me to drag you back here once we've refreshed."

"Fine if you want." Harry conceded in defeat.

"Harry?" Daphne looked up to him smiling beautifully.

"Yeah?"

"Are you going to let go? Not that you have to, I can keep going all night."

"Sorry." He hadn't realised they were still holding each other rotating in their small section of the dance floor.

After what felt like a long time they separated from each other. With his fingers still linked with Daphne's, Harry pulled her away to the edge of the hall, escaping the few strained glances that trailed after them as they disappeared behind the twirling crowd. They found themselves a lonely table in a dim corner close to the entrance.

Harry noticed he was panting a little, his face was hot and his hand were damp with sweat. Instinctively he let go of Daphne in embarrassment. Looking up he saw with the rise and fall of her chest she too was slightly out of breath.

"Shall we have a drink?" She was the first to ask.

"I can get them." Harry went to stand but she stopped him in his tracks.

"It's alright, you're likely to get accosted if you go near the punch bowl. No one has seen us yet thankfully."

With an eye roll, he leant back in his chair. "Fair point."

Peacefully Harry watched the dance floor and its occupants. He spotted many of his friends still enjoying themselves, some not so much.

Fleur and Oliver were still going strong, hardly breaking a sweat and constantly turning heads. Neville wasn't quite able to keep himself from stepping on Ginny's toes, causing her to wince every now and then, but she was laughing with him the whole way. Hermione though - steered around the hall by Krum expertly, she looked like she was the one having the most fun of all.

Hermione and Krum. She looks happy. That's good. He mused to himself.

The older students who not dancing seemed to be very interested in one punch bowl. They appeared to be getting merrier and merrier. Hearing Lee Jordan's unmistakable laughter Harry could tell they were slowly getting drunk and the teachers were too busy themselves to notice, or maybe they were keeping an eye on it but not feeling the need to interfere.

Elsewhere, he noted the table with Ron and a blonde girl who must have been Luna. Much like Daphne's, her hair was the palest blonde - almost white. She looked small, dressed in an odd blue dress he thought looked like bat wings. They were engaged in a conversation, or rather Ron listened to her intently with a mix of bewilderment and fascination.

Across the hall, Daphne had made her way nearer to the entrance until she came to the tables filled with glasses and goblets of different drinks of all kinds.

"Pans!"

Daphne groaned inwardly. Of course.

It's fine this is child's play.

She turned around to see a small group of Slytherins behind her. Again she had been caught careless, rarely was she blindsided and always while she was consumed by her own thoughts.

Pansy's sister stopped in front of Daphne with a stern expression. Hovering over her shoulder stood her date for the evening Adrian Pucey and accompanying them was Lautner and Stephanie. Iris Parkinson, similar to Pansy she was nothing exceptional but a pureblood herself, though she did have a better head for politics. But she was a secondborn looking for a family to marry into. Her own ambitions were unknown save family affairs, which meant increasing their wealth and her own station.

"Tell me now, what you are playing at?" Iris grasped her wrist, her hushed voice filled with concern.

"Making Draco pay," Daphne shrugged while sticking her nose into the air. "Who better to get under his skin than Potter?" The nasal pitch in her voice raised again perfectly.

"You are out of your mind. You hate Potter."

"And tonight I'll tolerate him. I'll even suck his golden dick if it cuts deep enough." She made a note to inform Pansy of this encounter.

"This is crossing a line Pans, it won't work how you want it to." Iris made a disgusted expression, her dismay was there written in her face but she didn't raise her voice.

"It's working fine. Now leave me alone - you're being annoying and I don't need to be coddled by you." Daphne growled and pulled her wrist free from Iris.

The older girl's eyes flashed with anger. She looked like she was about to argue further.

Daphne could smell the brandy permeating from the nearby punch bowl, it seemed Stephanie hadn't let Astoria's gift go to waste and was willing to share with the school. It truly was the season of giving.

"Come on now Iris, let them have their quarrel. Didn't you say you wanted to dance?" Adrian Pucey placed his hand on Iris' shoulder. He sounded rather bored and cared little for this triviality. But it was perfect diplomacy.

Daphne knew he was just conscious of this being done out in the great hall in front of everyone. This was really something meant for the Slytherin common room. Behind them, Stephanie gave Daphne a warning look.

Iris glanced back and understood. "Very well, but you better hope daddy doesn't find out about this. I won't be covering for you - not over Potter." She warned with a pointed finger before withdrawing.

"It is just for tonight. I won't lower myself any further." Swiping two goblets from the table Daphne stormed away.

Was that the right amount of defiance?

Why do you even care?

It was hard for her to gauge - for everything she knew of the Parkinsons she didn't know their exact intimacy and consequent friction between the two. She could only make her assumptions based on her years of knowing them and own experiences with Astoria.

She let out a long breath, it would hardly matter in the long run. "I'm back." She announced dully.

"Looks like you were the one to get attacked in the end, you okay?" Harry looked a little apprehensive.

"Nothing I couldn't handle I promise. Here, for you." She passed him a goblet, thankful to have gotten away so she could stop pretending.

"Thanks." He looked at the silver goblet cautiously - intricate and opulent in design as most things from the castle seemed to be.

The drink she had given him was surprisingly warm in his hand. It had a fragrant sweet smell. "What is this?"

"Spiced wine, I thought you might enjoy something festive. I know I certainly need it."

A look of disapproval passed over Harry's face.

"I didn't lace it with anything if that's what you are thinking."

"That's not it." His reflection looked back up at him from within the dark red liquid. Harry saw her quizzical look and looked down at the goblet again. "My uncle's a drinker, more of a whiskey man though."

Hearing his dark tone Daphne nodded solemnly. "Just the one won't turn you stupid. But if you don't want it that's more than okay, Harry. If anything quite smart."

"What about you? You just don't seem like the partying type."

"Mother and father forbid indulging in excess. To lose one's wit is unforgivable." She again couldn't help smiling to herself. "But it is occasions like these that are meant for us to allow ourselves the small pleasures. There is no harm in that I think."

How old was Daphne now fourteen or fifteen? He hadn't yet asked or found out, but he had figured what it was that drew him to her. She was like him. A kindred spirit. Harry knew his life experience had made him the way he was, he could only wonder how Daphne's upbringing had made her.

"To the small pleasures then," Harry said and lifted his goblet.

With a small clink of silver on silver, the two took a long sip. Harry found it tasted just like it smelled; rich and slightly sour with spices that tickled the back of his throat.

"It's good," Harry admitted in a small voice and gave her a playful shove.

Daphne grinned back, she loved seeing him unwind and relax. She had wanted to see more of this side, someone carefree and playful, that is why she had come in the end. Even if right now was temporary and ephemeral, she would like to gift him more moments of peace. He was always going to need them.

They sat like that together for a long while, talking about simpler things, listening to Tracey and the school orchestra, watching the rest of the hall dance by.

"There you both are, we thought we had lost you."

Daphne's gentle smile vanished as their quiet isolation was disrupted. They both looked up to see the doppelganger Astoria and Draco walking over to them. Pulling up chairs, they didn't wait for either Harry or Daphne to invite them to sit.

"So Draco," Harry said with a smirk ready. "all that prancing around the castle these last few years actually turned out to be for something after all. Who would've known."

"And for all your talent on a broom you cannot dance for shit, I've seen trolls with more grace." Draco's retort came quick.

"And I'm completely fine with that." He shrugged back.

There was no chance for them to continue exchanging barbs. Since they had all been dancing the longest it was inevitable, Hermione appeared too. She was slightly flustered with her hands on her hips and a stern look pointed at them.

Harry knew that stance, even with her in an elegant knot and wearing a gown, there was no stopping her desire for knowledge.

"Someone, before Viktor arrives with our drinks, please explain what is going on. In five words or less." Her eyes fell on the pseudo-Daphne and Pansy.

"It's a prank."

"Not Daphne, I'm actually Astoria."

"Not Pansy either, actually Daphne."

"They're Slytherins - I'm innocent."

They all answered at once.

Hermione took a moment, breathed and nodded, "Okay." she pinched the bridge of her nose before letting out an exasperated sigh.

"Sit Hermione, or people will start looking over here," Harry suggested kindly pulling her into the chair next to him. "So. You and Krum hm?" He gave her a look.

Hermione saw his grin, as wicked as it could be. Her eyes widened.

"I-well it just sort of happened-"

"This is a story I'd like to hear, not to mention you've kept it from me for this long. Me of all people - I'm a little hurt."

"You are not. This is exactly why I didn't tell you."

"Get to the good part." Astoria butted in.

This earned a reprimanding gaze from Daphne, Astoria shrank back into her seat and turned quiet.

"It happened while you were out at quidditch practice and with Fleur, I was in library…"

"Standard."

"He was there most evenings too, I mean he has been coming ever since the first task. Then one night unexpectedly he just sat down with me. I think he tried to say my name... and asked me to come to the ball with him. Later he admitted he'd been coming just to see me actually - till he found the courage."

"That's actually kind of sweet," Astoria said quietly.

Hermione blushed ever harder - her cheeks turning crimson red.

"Yes yes how adorable." Draco snorted.

Astoria elbowed his ribs and gave him a sharp look. He had conveniently forgotten just how excited he had been to see Krum arrive just a few months beforehand.

Hermione composed herself again and looked up at them both. "So how exactly are you two doing this…" Her gaze shifted between Daphne and Astoria, her thoughts already filling with possible theories.

Before anyone could answer Viktor arrived with two bottles of butterbeer.

"Harry again!" He exclaimed cheerfully.

"I'll fill you in later Mione - Me again," Harry grinned at Viktor in return, "Enjoying the ball?" he welcomed him.

Like a reflex, Harry became acutely aware that their group's table was gaining more and more unwanted attention. He supposed it was inevitable.

"Da, very much, my first formal dance. And Hermy-owny is very nice to speak vith also. In de library she has helped me learn and speak English better." Viktor gave them a wide grin and a nod.

His stunted English had seemed to improve from what Harry could tell.

"She was just telling us how you asked her to the ball. You know she kept it secret even from me?"

"Sorry, dat vas for me, I ask her to keep secret." The quidditch star actually turned a little pink in the ear.

For obvious reasons it went without saying that he was a private person. It really was no one's business but theirs. Viktor had simply noticed Hermione at meals as the friend of Harry Potter, a girl who spent most of her time in books and which he found to be interesting.

It was clear to him that Viktor, like Cedric and Fleur, was a very decent person at heart. He had simply wished to spend his evening with someone who would see him for his own person, even should their interests contrast. Not the Triwizard champion, not the famed Bulgarian seeker - just Krum. Harry understood better than most.

Harry glanced at Daphne and his heart beat fast again, he noticed how she bit her lip and looked away. Under the table, she had unconsciously taken his hand. Again he felt a warm alien feeling rising in his chest.

"You should be wary and practice caution now, Hermione." Daphne decidedly warned her. "Harry may have done a good job of dousing his popularity, but Viktor's is still in full flame."

"Vhat do you mean?"

"She is likely to incur the wrath of your more... passionate fans. They are sure to feel robbed. Witches can get a tad possessive and events like these only fuel envy and rivalries."

"We still have divisions of pureblood bigotry within these walls and Granger is muggleborn, more than a few are surely willing to put a target on her back." Astoria added thoughtfully giving Draco a quick glance.

"I'd never let anything happen." Harry felt a cold flash of anger.

His fists balled and Viktor let out a low growl himself.

"Don't be arrogant Scarhead." Draco interrupted him dismissively. "You might have the twats like King backing off now but Granger can't be next to you all the time. And there are plenty of underhanded methods of harassment that can be used while getting around you."

"Please, you're overreacting. This is hardly a serious matter." Hermione argued. She did not believe she could be in harm's way over something as innocent as a ballroom dance.

"Think about your public image Hermione. Skeeta already pegged you for Harry's romantic interest, once she gets wind of this - well, Christmas will have come twice for her this year. Playing off Harry and Viktor? You'll be painted in quite the ugly fashion; golddigger, harlot, there will be no shortage of names and slurs slung at you." Daphne's matter of fact tone never changed, she could already see the headlines of Witch Weekly. "Even when completely false our kind doesn't look kindly on that sort of behaviour. Especially with the older generations. Hence why some insist on using outdated customs-"

"Draco is right though," Astoria interjected, "No one is foolish to think about a direct confrontation, they will find other means."

Harry with a scowl rested his chin on his hands. "Is there anything we can do to preemptively stop this?"

"Leave them to their folly, any effort spent on them is effort wasted. Hermione only needs to take the necessary precautions. Simply being extra careful with your post, your food and your belongings will be enough."

"We can also keep our ears open," Astoria suggested. "we know just about everything that goes on in Slytherin. Tracey can get anyone's tongue wagging, so we can count on her for information on the Huffs and Claws." Astoria said with a gentleness that soothed even Harry's anger.

"But why go to the trouble?" Hermione asked with a look of hurt and confusion.

"You have been bullied before Granger." Daphne's remark wasn't meant to be mean spirited, only a statement.

"I- yes, but-"

"Then you understand. People can be cruel when they want, when they feel wronged, when they feel small." Daphne didn't feel the need to explain further.

Harry looked on sad, for all her brilliance she still didn't understand Hermione very well just yet.

"You're a friend now, so we will help." Astoria said seriously.

"She is?" Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Potter is Queenie's friend and Hermione is Potter's friend. So she is." She gave him another sharp look.

It was a simple causality. But Hermione couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed. She gazed at the girl looking like her older sibling and saw kind eyes, there was sympathy there. Sympathy for her.

Where Daphne failed it seemed Astoria had read what was on Hermione's mind.

The muggleborn witch's interactions with most of her female peers hadn't always been positive. Girls could be difficult to deal with. She knew it well enough too, especially since she was one herself. Hermione had her quirks and that had been punishing for a lot of her school life, even at Hogwarts. Out of nowhere, her complicated feelings toward Ron sprung forth. If it wasn't for Harry's actions in their first year she could have easily continued on estranged and alienated from everyone.

"You are lucky Hermyowny. It is good to have friends dat care." Krum sensing her hesitation gave her a warm and encouraging smile.

Hermione still somewhat confused stared at the Slytherins. She had spoken to Daphne less than a handful of times before they began working on the dragons together, Astoria she had met once. And Draco was Draco, it had taken a lot of effort to swallow her pride and bury her hard feelings toward him.

It felt too surreal, against the natural order. The studious Hermione Granger friend of pureblood witches from one of the most influential families in the wizarding world?

It was not lost on her the implications of Daphne and Astoria's stance. An amicable relationship with Harry Potter and consorting with Granger as a result was different than being implicitly friends with her. For the two Slytherin girls it would mean blood traitor status to the purists.

But she couldn't deny she liked the thought of having more female friends, especially Daphne. A peer of intellect who she could share her thoughts and feelings with. Hermione quickly had to take a step back from these thoughts, they were idyllic and she shouldn't just run ahead like Harry. Rationality was her strength.

"It is no shame to rely on others for help." Even though his words were staggered, once again Viktor's smile shone through encouraged her.

"I suppose you're right, thank you Viktor." She nodded thoughtfully.

Once they had both finished their butterbeers Hermione and Viktor went up to dance again.

"Finally," Draco muttered.

"You didn't have to come and sit with us if you find such company wanting." Daphne's words cut across the table.

"It would be strange if we didn't." Draco pointed his glare back at her.

"It looks stranger that you did." She glared right back.

"Haven't you heard? Potter is dangerous and deviant. Besides someone has to make sure Pansy doesn't get her image destroyed by you two acting inappropriately and getting too close."

As if to make a point Harry shifted closer to Daphne so her leg rested up against his and his arm slid around her waist once more. Daphne made no show of surprise, naturally accepting his closeness.

"Yes precisely like that."

"Don't play the jealous ex too well, Draco. You wouldn't want to give her any false hope." Daphne's eyes glinted a little dangerously.

"So now we are sat here together and Krum is gone we might as well take this moment to discuss the upcoming second task." She turned her head to Harry. "You know the clue so you have a good idea what is to come. What is your plan?"

Harry felt his stomach jolt, taken aback by the sudden change in direction. "Er, I don't have one yet…"

He had thought he had plenty of time still left to prepare, the task was well over a month away. Apparently, this was still unacceptable from the displeased look he was receiving from Daphne.

"Honestly. What have you been up to while I've been gone?"

"Quidditch practice, homework, training, detentions, getting up to date with an entire year's worth of Ancient Runes reading." He listed off.

He had done some research into what creatures that would be residing in the lake and how to defend himself from them, but for such a weak excuse he didn't bother to explain.

Another look of annoyance. Harry felt a little shame with her judgement drowning him.

"It's not like Malfoy has anything in mind either." He muttered.

"Actually," Draco smirked.

"Seriously?" Harry banged his head down on the table in exasperation. "Tell me then."

Softly her fingers began to play through his hair as if quite fascinated by the black untamed mess. He sent a quick look to Daphne, she idly smiled back at him.

"Gillyweed," Draco said.

"Gilly-what?"

"Gilly-weed." he repeated a little slower.

"Do you smoke it?"

"No - It's a saltwater parasitic plant." Draco looked at him with absolute contempt, or perhaps he was feeling a little green from the thought.

"It will work, now we will wait to see what you come up with." Astoria gave Harry an insincere smile and lightly rubbed Draco's back.

"I'll try not to keep you waiting too long then." Harry rolled his eyes at them.

"Ignore them." Daphne leaned into Harry's ear. "Come let's take a walk?"

For a second Harry was unsure but he was in no rush to head back to the dance floor and watch the Weird Sisters play. Nor did he want to sit and make nice with Draco.

Whatever traditions were meant to be upheld had been done so already, there was nothing keeping them there. Realisation kicked in. The smallest of smiles appeared on Daphne's lips as she watched the wheels in his head turn. They could go, both of them could just leave and it would fine. It could just be them.

"Let's go." He was suddenly quick to reply.

Daphne stood up. "Well, enjoy the rest of your evening. Remember to keep an eye on the time. Draco, make sure she doesn't drink anything she shouldn't be drinking and escort her back to the dorms before it gets too late. I'm holding you personally responsible for her welfare."

"Yes, mother." Draco gave her a snide retort.

Silently Astoria watched them go, it was as if they could not escape the hall quick enough.

For Harry, each step didn't feel fast enough. They circled the edge of the hall pretending to go for more drinks. He found his hand twitching, it was a strange empty sensation like it was already missing her touch. He wanted to take her hand again but even though she was right beside him he couldn't reach out.

It didn't matter, soon enough Daphne's armed linked through his and she tightly entwined his hand with hers. With her head bowed she stared at the floor until they finally made it through the entrance hall and outside.

It was snowing softly again. The courtyard outside was now a rose garden illuminated by fairies nestling and singing in the garlands of holly. More of them fluttered on by lighting up an ornamental pathway for them. Somewhere ahead through the rose bushes Harry could hear a fountain splashing faintly.

"Sorry, I was beginning to feel a little claustrophobic in there."

"Same. Malfoy was getting on my nerves a bit, Can't say I'm much of a fan of the Weird Sisters either." He gave her a lopsided smile.

"Nor I." Daphne rolled her eyes. Then quickly she scanned the rose garden and pulled out her wand. "Finite Incantatum." She murmured with a swift wave.

The glamour charms melted away like wax; her face turned heart-shaped once again, her lips, nose, cheekbones and jaw all reverted until her original features were restored. But she looked tired, dark circles telling tales of sleepless nights.

It was her, it was Daphne. Harry felt his throat go dry. Even in the darkness, her eyes held that unmistakable colourless grey. He didn't have any doubts before but seeing her again properly was different.

Taking his arm again they began to walk along the garden path.

"Much better." Harry coughed, trying to hide the fact his heart was leaping in his chest and threatening to fly.

"Your compliments are getting worse. At least try." She playfully shouldered him.

"Beautiful then?" He noticed how there was still one last thing she hadn't dispelled. The resemblance she shared with her sister became clearer. Dark hair suited her.

Daphne looked at him curiously as he stared at her. "Acceptable, so, did you happen to miss my wonderful company?"

In his surprise Harry said nothing. He thought carefully for a moment. Save Tracey, no one else in their year had so much as mentioned her absence, nor had it been noticed by the school body to his knowledge. They had all kept on going as if Daphne Greengrass didn't even exist.

He gave her a hard look and clicked his tongue - he had missed her terribly but he wasn't going to admit it for her satisfaction.

"Aren't you going to ask?" Her expression didn't fall but her tone shifted slightly.

He hadn't questioned what was wrong and where she had been. While she felt glad, a greater part still had desperately wanted him to inquire at least. It had been bothering her all night more than it had him.

"Not if you aren't going to give me a proper answer."

Daphne pouted with a huff. Harry felt his chest tighten a little bit. She was breathtaking but he was frustrated in the knowledge that he wasn't going to get a straight answer.

"Tracey said you went home and that you were being taken care of." Harry shrugged looking away. "Are you ok?"

Daphne had lost his gaze, but with his voice so full of concern she felt saddened. "I am, thank you."

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked her slowly feeling hesitant to ask.

Her stomach turned. "No. Not right now." Daphne slowly shook her head. "I appreciate the offer Harry but not yet."

"Some kind of dark and terrible secret?" He tried to joke but as Harry said this he saw her eyes darken.

"Only the darkest and most terrible." She smiled faintly. "I hope one day I will be ready to share that part of myself with you and you won't think differently of me."

Harry raised an eyebrow as he watched her but nodded in acceptance. "Sure, I can wait."

Daphne let out a deep breath she hadn't realised she was holding.

There was motion above them and Harry glanced up.

"Mistletoe." she couldn't help but say as the vine flowered in front of their eyes.

But Harry had already interrupted all other trails of thought. Pressing his lips softly against hers.

Opening her eyes as they parted Daphne stared into space. It was brief, sweet and came entirely unexpected. She stood frozen in shock, her cheeks glowing red.

"That's payback." He smirked.

Any walls she had tried to build had been destroyed in an instant. Walls? hadn't she planted her lips on his cheek that very first night they met? She cursed herself for not seeing this coming and she cursed the mistletoe.

"Why did you do that?"

In the end, she could only ever blame her own actions. She had started this, she wanted his curiosity, his interest and now he was giving her his affection. She wondered how something that should be a good thing could leave such bad pressure hanging over her.

"I felt like it."

She saw that he wasn't facing her, but even still he was blushing just hard as she was. Hiding his mouth with the back of his hand and looking pensively across the courtyard, he was embarrassed.

"I don't understand."

In the stark cold she could feel their hands link again, she began to feel a little sick. She was so happy - yet she wanted to throw up.

"It's pretty obvious why. I've not met anyone else like you." Harry moved his hand away from his mouth. "I like that you cut through my bullshit I guess, I like that you hate my swearing. Yeah, I noticed that. You don't flinch when I say Voldemort's name, I figured you already know me for what I am and my purpose by now." His expression turned serious.

Daphne felt herself go numb. Don't. Don't say it. She thought.

But somewhere ahead through the foliage, they could hear hushed voices.

"You cannot pretend this isn't happening!"

Daphne stopped in alarm focused on trying to make out who those urgent words belonged to. Harry knew they couldn't stay there in the middle of the path, he quickly clutched her hand and pulled them to the bench in the next alcove. There was little space between them but it was out of the way of the path and they could hear more clearly.

"It's been getting clearer and clearer by the day! I am becoming seriously concerned, you can't deny it-"

The voices grew clearer and louder.

'That's Karkaroff' Harry mouthed silently.

"Then Flee." Another voice pierced through the dark. "Flee. I will make your excuses. I, however, will remain at Hogwarts."

'Snape' She mouthed back. Her brow furrowed.

Out of nowhere, there was a blast and a flash of spell light, followed by a loud yelp and a squeal.

"Ten points from Hufflepuff, Fawcett!" Snape snarled. "And ten points from Ravenclaw too, Stebbins!"

Two figures rushed past them. Stebbins was stilling fixing her dress as Fawcett buttoned up his shirt as they ran.

Daphne suddenly inched even closer to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply.

This time it was his turn to be taken by surprise. Her kiss was much different from his. Whereas his had been soft, short, sweet and wholly innocent, Daphne replied to him with passion. He could feel her hunger consume his senses, her mouth forcing entry to his.

Harry grabbed her waist and pulled her closer. Daphne's tongue brushed against his. He never thought a sensation other than flying could feel so incredible. It was like her smell, her taste, her warmth had overwritten everything.

They both soon lost all sense of time right up until Snape and Karkaroff came striding along and the rose bushes stirred around them.

Both Harry and Daphne stopped and pulled slightly apart, their lips still tingling.

Karkaroff recoiled in surprise. Like a hawk, Snape turned his head. His black and beady eyes brimming with contempt as he found them sitting there.

Harry felt his hand itching for his wand. He could feel Daphne's deep breaths ticking his neck as she hid her face. Snape remained as suspicious of him as always.

There was a long silence before Snape finally snapped. "And just what are you two doing?"

Each word uttered coloured with disdain. Daphne sat up straight, somehow once again glamoured as Pansy with an expression of wide-eyed fear at her head of house.

"Spying." Karkaroff sneered equally dubious as Snape.

"Sitting." Harry replied shortly. "Is there a problem Professor?"

Snape, however, was no longer scowling at Harry but at Daphne. "You are treading a very fine line. Make no mistakes."

With nothing else to say Snape flew by with his cloak trailing and Karkaroff hurrying at his side.

"I was found out," Daphne said to herself and got back up and began to pace in thought. "he didn't out me but he knew - I'm certain."

"Is that bad?"

"Possibly. And bigger problems it seems." She thought back to Karkaroff and Moody.

"I guess that just confirms it though." He felt very strange, his hands were shaking, and while he was still euphoric he was also angry.

"You are aware of what they were talking about?" Daphne turned back to him with a pitying glance.

"Their dark marks. Voldemort brands his most loyal followers." His eyes darkened. "They were both Death Eaters in his inner circle."

"The Dark Lord really is returning." Daphne stared again in the direction where the two men had disappeared. Her fingers started tapping together at her side.

Like Harry an instant ago she had been elated, she let herself be swept up in her emotions. She had actually shared her first kiss, what was more he had initiated it. Her lips still burned, yearning to return to his. She wanted to etch that memory into herself.

It wasn't lost on her, everything she had learnt from Harry told her that was something sincere - again brash, but entirely of his own will. She had to calm her heart, as thrilled as she was the revelation thrown upon them was already those feelings to revolt and come crashing down around her.

With her senses returning Harry was certainly going to despise her what she had to do next.

"You don't seem very surprised." Harry noted looking at from the corner of his eye. He was acutely aware of the way the air changed around her.

"Nor do you." Daphne's stone-like expression returned. "The signs are all there. Our second year, the World Cup attack and you being in this tournament is suspicious enough. Dumbledore knows too, but neither of you have spoken out."

She leaned against him like that night atop the astronomy tower. She was regretful, she knew she was going to miss this so she had decided to savour his company. Every minute and every moment.

Harry laughed a little at that. "Makes it kind of obvious when you put it like that. How long have you been suspecting this being the case?"

"The Goblet of Fire. The common denominator between you and Draco being your links to the Dark Lord."

If he was surprised he made no show of it to her.

"And our second year?" Harry asked growing a little tense. He wondered how much she knew about Voldemort whether his identity as Tom Riddle was known to her.

"The Heir of Slytherin's return. The Dark Lord prided himself on being a parselmouth. Your bloodline definitely doesn't lie nor does that gift. The both of you are descendants so which one of you was it I wonder?"

Daphne thought back to the Directory. She was now certain Harry's early Peverell ancestors relinquished the family name Slytherin after Salazar's eventual death, but the picture in her head was no clearer.

"I wasn't behind the attacks if that is what you are saying." Harry had no desire to be related to Tom no matter how distant, the thought made his stomach squirm with disgust. There would be no greater shame.

"No doubt. You are hardly a homicidal mastermind. You were in the chamber, was it truly a basilisk down there?" She drew in close intrigued and curious.

Harry smiled internally, she didn't seem interested in whether he had battled it or not. She only wanted to confirm what wished to know.

"If Hermione worked it out I shouldn't be surprised you did either... The teachers definitely knew but kept quiet about it. Yeah, a fully grown basilisk."

"Enormous threat to life, ability to petrify and aligns with the very symbol for our house. Quite a simple puzzle when you really think about it. There were rumours going around the house too. Dumbledore wouldn't want to cause any more panic. Didn't matter too much in any case. The result was sealed for me." Daphne leaned back off Harry.

"What do you mean?"

"My father pulled me out of school for my safety."

"But you're Slytherin - and a pureblood." Harry couldn't help but feel confused.

"Doesn't matter, I am an heiress. Headless Nick was but a ghost and he still found himself in the crossfire, Penelope is half-blood too. The basilisk could hardly discriminate very well, tragedies and accidents could happen at any time. Can you imagine was said about me behind my back while I was gone and when I returned? The rumours that stirred…"

Harry scowled at the thought.

"Halfbreed, half-blood, blood traitor, cursed. They tried to make a few things stick, dirty the Greengrass name and discredit my family. Things could have gotten nasty for Astoria and I had I not gone to the lengths I did to deal with it."

"I'm sorry you had to go through that." Harry's head swam.

"I may have blamed your part but you needn't apologise for it. I was shortsighted. I dealt with the real problem and I've moved on." Daphne's cold eyes drifted up the garden path as she recalled.

Harry had been listening intently and nodded. There was no emotion in her voice. He felt for her, he had no idea about these kind repercussions.

"What do mean when you say you dealt with it?" He was so distracted before he hesitated to ask about what lengths specifically.

"Necessary measures." Daphne laughed. "I've made a habit of being too open with you." She smiled and shook her head.

"Price of friendship," Harry grinned at her.

Her smile fell. "I really hate that about you too. Underneath those dark clouds, a little optimism trapped wanting to break out."

She knew how infectious hope could be to the open heart.

"Anything else?" Harry didn't know what else to say to that.

"As you said, your swearing, it's coarse and unnecessary. Regardless of all your faults, I've grown very fond of you, Harry. It is making this rather difficult actually."

"What's difficult?" Ignoring the loose insult, Harry watched her closely.

Daphne's gaze filled with sadness as she looked him in the eye.

"You didn't read my letter."

"I was waiting till I could read it in private."

"I understand, it's fine - I wrote it before knowing I'd even be standing beside you tonight. I can't say I regret that."

The books had been her idea, she wondered if he understood the message behind them. She had received a gift from Harry too, something personally crafted and beautiful. It had left her at a loss for words. Even now she couldn't really think of a way to properly thank him.

Harry locked her gaze. "What was in the letter, Daphne?"

"We need space. I don't know for how much longer I can keep this up, so I am cutting off contact with you. No more face to face meetings and no more tutoring." She said plainly almost helpless.

His stomach stirred as the realisation came that she was turning her back on him.

"Is this because I kissed you?"

"Not at all. I kissed you back. That was actually the highlight of my night. It'll be a memory I shall cherish, but a memory is all it can be."

He felt like he should have known, that voice in the back of his head after the first task had been telling him the same thing - to distance himself. But she had blindsided him again; going - coming - returning only to back off and now knocking him down.

"It seems my sister's warnings about you are accurate. For now, avoiding you is my only solution." She said so factually like it was the simplest thing in the world. She had convinced herself it was a safer decision and the smarter one.

As if she hadn't inserted herself into his life out of nowhere and could now she could simply remove herself like it was nothing too.

"Is this why you dropped quidditch?"

"In part. That was a mistake on my part, I overreached in my curiosity it was foolish of me. Just before the first task, my dear cousin gave me a choice; to either stop tutoring you in runes or quit the quidditch team. I've been blinded by you, Harry. I've come back to my senses that is all."

Even now she was half-blind, she again cursed herself for rushing in too fast. She had wanted to play a long slow game. She looked at where she was standing and still aware of this fact, she came to be beside him for the night.

We will do things right from now on. We will stick to the plan.

"And you just gave in?"

"Normally I would stand my ground but this time the wiser choice is to concede and move to the next battle."

Still, she felt more ashamed - not wise.

"Doesn't matter anyway," Harry grumbled.

"I've already risked too much reaching out to you - out of my own selfishness. Don't you understand what you are?" Her eyes narrowed at him.

She didn't want him to admit it before, but she knew.

"Of course I do." Harry snapped. "I'm Dumbledore's mascot, a figurehead."

"The Boy Who Lived is only a symbol they invented for you." Daphne drew in close. Her voice softened as she looked at him deeply, her hand reached to cup his cheek, "Make no mistake you are the Dark Lords greatest enemy. There will be times some cower behind you and times others throw you to the wolves. But in the end you get to decide who you wish to be."

Harry growled. They sounded like empty words but from anyone else at any other time he would likely have welcomed them.

"Please, I'm asking you to understand my situation. His power is returning, and I live in the same house as the majority of the spawn of his followers. When he is back what is he going to want?"

"Me - dead most likely."

"Should he be able to get to you. But here you have Dumbledore's protection. Instead, he will want information. To know everything he can about you, about the people you care about, what he can use, what your weaknesses are - who your weaknesses are."

Harry scowled, her reasoning was sound and he hated it. It wasn't anything new. 'I can't be one of those people, I can't be tied to you' He could almost hear her say.

"You're afraid." He accused her.

"Not for myself." She said shortly. "Only for those I love. This school time and again has proven more dangerous than safe. I need to protect Astoria and Tracey, and inside these walls I am the only one who can. Everything else comes second."

Harry saw there was a fire burning inside her intense her gaze that he hadn't seen before, she was deadly serious. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment in his heart, he understood. The popular pureblood doctrine - family first, always.

"You do what you have to."

Daphne felt a chill. "Don't be like that," she said pulling him back towards her. "I am still on your side, Harry. In time, when we are older I could even work the inside, I am a Slytherin and pureblood I can make those connections. I would do that for you." Her gaze bore into him.

Harry didn't know what to think now, she was even offering to spy. He didn't know if that was sheer confidence and belief in herself or some simple naivete. Daphne had never struck him as naive.

"No." His reply struck her through her like a hot iron. "Daphne, what am I to you?"

"I- I don't know yet." She answered honestly. His unexpected question lingered over her. Other than a true friend? Much more than an ally. Something more. Her mind jumped between these answers.

She knew the answer but she wasn't ready to accept it and to say aloud it would be different entirely.

"I've come to a realisation recently Daph, I've thought about it a lot. I don't want half-arsed friends, I don't want to have to worry about someone who might stab me in the back one day either. And I definitely don't want to be manipulated and used."

"I would never do that to you."

Harry scoffed. "I don't know. I'm not stupid, sometimes it feels like you have plans for me."

"Maybe I do. But you will always have a choice with me." She stood firm and looked dead him in the eye. That sharp piercing green, so beautiful but belied his much older soul awarded through hardship and tragedy.

We are akin.

"If you had been around earlier I'd have chosen to ask you to join me tonight, you Daphne."

"As happy as that makes me I would have refused you."

"Yeah, probably. But if I get to have a choice then I want the whole thing, no half measures. Sorry, given what you've said I know this is unreasonable but you're either all in or out Daph. Those are my terms." Harry gave her an apologetic look.

"You don't know what you are asking of me." Daphne stepped away from him. She wasn't fond of ultimatums, but to hear this coming from Harry, her heart broke a little.

Her eyes were wide, Harry saw the look on her face was full of pain.

"Voldemort's returning, that's the reality of my situation. Not today or tomorrow but soon. Everyone is going to have a choice to make but not me. I don't get a choice in this fight. Yours will come one day too, but you can sit on the fence a little longer."

"The world isn't black and white like that. This isn't simple school rivalries - I can't be openly involved with you."

"Then we've nothing more to talk about."

Harry turned his back and began walking down the path. He punched down the feeling of guilt snaking in his gut. He never thought he'd see Daphne look so hurt, he hated it.

"You are infuriating." She raised her voice at him. She wanted him to listen to her, that there were other options.

Harry spun around to give her another boyish smile. "Not so fun is it? If you change your mind... Well, you can find me." He waved at her disappearing from the garden and towards the viaduct.

Not at all. She thought to herself, looking up to the falling the snow.

With nothing left for her there, she was about to return to the Slytherin common room. However, from the corner of her eye, she saw something strange twitching in the rose bush next to her.

It was small, a glinting metallic green under the pale fairy light.

A beetle.

---

AN: Bit of a slog. 14k is a new record for me and again this is the cut edition. I don't why I keep doing this to myself I wanted to start with a flashback then end things with a Harry and Hermione scene and the same for Tracey and Daphne, trying to put the emphasis back on the friendships but ending it here made more sense.

Hope you enjoyed reading as always! Leave a review if you want and let me know your thoughts bad or good I appreciate them all.

Catch you next time,

Chrome