I own nothing.
Chapter XVII
September 1992
"I'm fine, Danny, stop asking already." Harry beat back his pestering brother.
"I'll stop asking when you stop lying," Danny shot back quickly. "I know something's wrong."
Harry and Danny had just arrived at the Hogsmeade Station platform in anticipation of their next school year. Hagrid still hadn't arrived yet so the two brothers had a moment alone. So far, it was going like much the remainder of their summer after Harry had rejoined his family. Danny was constantly around him and always trying to probe Harry for hints of what was wrong with him.
"There's nothing wrong. I thought Mum and Dad explained it to you."
"They just said that you're growing up and need more time for yourself." Danny, however, wasn't buying it.
"That's right." Harry nodded, doing his best to go with the story for his prolonged exile over the summer.
"Bollocks!"
Harry grabbed Danny by the shoulders. "Trust me, Danny. Everything is going to be alright. You just worry about staying out of trouble."
"That's rich coming from you," retorted Danny with a hint of a grin.
Harry, though, didn't see the humor. "This year's going to be different."
'It has to be.'
Harry already made a number of preparations to change the outcome of his dreams. It wasn't going to be easy and there were a lot of things that Harry was going to have to change but he was ready for it. His future depended on it. The hardest part, though, was keeping it from his family, especially Danny who he shared everything with.
Harry looked towards the castle and saw Hagrid's lantern light coming their way.
"Hey Hagrid!"
Hagrid rumbled up to them with a big wave and a toothy grin.
"Hello there, Harry, Danny. Ready fer yer next year."
Harry smiled and put his arm around Danny's shoulder. "As always."
"An' how's yer mum an' pop doin'?"
"They're good. They say hello."
Hagrid smiled another big toothy grin.
"Say Harry, Professor Dumbledore wants ter see yeh before the other students arrive. I got one o' the carriages ready ter take yeh."
"What about Danny?"
"I'll look after him until the train comes." Hagrid gave Danny a big slap on the back that made Danny stumble a bit.
Harry gave Danny a wearily look.
"Go on, Harry. It's probably important."
Harry ruffled Danny's hair and made his way to the front carriage and quickly climbed inside. As the steed-less carriage rumbled along to the castle, Harry pondered what the headmaster found so urgent that he would request his immediate presences.
Once he made it to the castle, Harry quickly found his way to the headmaster's staircase and spoke the password Hagrid had given him. The door was already ajar but Harry knocked to announce his presence.
"Please enter, Mr. Potter." Harry heard from within and stepped inside. He found Dumbledore seated behind his desk, though, he rose as Harry approached.
"Headmaster," Harry greeted.
Dumbledore motioned him to take a seat as he rested into his own.
"I imagine you're curious as to why I called you here." Dumbledore interlocked his fingers and looked at Harry with a soft smile.
"Yes, Headmaster."
Dumbledore quickly grew serious. "I wished to be up front with you over a new security matter that will be in place this year."
Harry sat up a little straighter. "Go on."
"Have you read the papers recently?"
"No, we don't have a subscription."
Dumbledore opened a drawer and pulled a copy of the Daily Prophet. He placed it in front of Harry. Harry didn't have to pick it up to see the headline.
Break-In at Gringotts! Goblins Report Nothing Stolen!
There was a full-page photo of some very upset goblins holding back a sea of reporters underneath the large headline.
Harry couldn't believe it. Gringotts was supposed to be impenetrable. The goblins were methodical and even a little sadistic in their security measures. Whoever broke in must be extremely powerful. Powerful and desperate, considering that failure meant certain death.
"How did it happen?" Harry looked back up to Dumbledore but could see that he didn't have an answer.
"I'm afraid we don't know but the headline is true. Nothing was stolen."
"How do you know?"
"Because I had the contents removed from the vault in question just the other day." Dumbledore made it seem like it was obvious and Harry got the sense that there was plenty the headmaster wasn't telling him.
"What was it?"
Dumbledore looked he was anticipating the question and quickly replied. "I'm sorry Mr. Potter, the owner is an old friend of mine and has asked for my help in keeping his possession both safe and secret."
"So you've brought it here." Harry made the obvious deduction.
"I know of no place safer."
Harry gripped the arm rests of his chair tightly. "I don't know if I'm comfortable with this, Headmaster."
Dumbledore raised his hands to assure Harry. "I understand your concern, Mr. Potter, but I promise you that every security precaution has been put in place to insure that not only will the object remain safe but no one will become aware that its here."
"How are you going to keep this from the students?" It was well known how insatiable the curiosity of the student body was: secrets didn't stay secrets for long in Hogwarts.
"I've warded off the third-floor corridor on the right hand side. It's an area of the castle that's rarely in use but I'll be making an announcement at the Sorting that that area is out-of-bounds, just to be sure."
Harry didn't feel the need to question any further. It didn't seem like he had any choice, after all, it was the headmaster's school, not his.
"As long as Danny is not involved and his safety is not compromised," Harry paused as Dumbledore nodded that that was the case. "Then I have no problem with this, though, I had hoped to use that part of the school to make a new training area for me and Danny."
"I may have a place in mind, but…" Dumbledore hesitated as if uncertain if he should continue.
"Yes, Headmaster?"
"Forgive my immediacy, but I would like to take the time before the students arrive for the two of us to speak openly to one another."
"What about?" Harry had thought that they were speaking openly. He wasn't sure where Dumbledore was going to take this.
Dumbledore, once again, reminded Harry of a grandfather as he spoke. "I had the sense at the end of last year that something was troubling you. I'd feel remiss in my duty as headmaster if I did not ask."
Harry found himself in a conundrum and he didn't know what to do. He felt as if there was parasite inside him burrowing itself deeper and deeper, eating away at his sanity. All the while, he knew there was a way to make it easier to bear. If he could just find a way to talk about what he saw, maybe he could finally make sense of it all.
He couldn't talk to his parents. He couldn't talk to Danny. He needed to say something, though, and the words starting before he could stop himself.
"What-what if you found out you're capable of something horrible? That something bad was going to happen and it's your fault."
Dumbledore took a long pause before he spoke.
"It's impossible for us not gifted with the Sight to know the future, Mr. Potter. Every action we take can lead to an infinite number of possible futures. All we can control are why we make each choice. It is our freedom of choice that is the very meaning to be human."
"What if you make the wrong ones?"
"I once knew a man who spent his life seeking a way to further the prosperity of our kind. It was his belief that it was the duty of wizarding kind to help our non-magical brothers and sisters to create a world of peace. In the beginning, his ideas were radical, yes, but the potential of a world united was very appealing."
"Who was he?"
"Gellert Grindewald."
Harry looked down as began to understand Dumbledore's lesson. It's impossible to know what your decisions will wrought and that even pure intentions can lead down a dark path.
"Mr. Potter," Dumbledore leaned forward to get Harry's attention again. "We are faced everyday with the opportunity to do better, to be better. Each of us must make the choice to do what is right instead of what's easy. These definitions are not set in stone. They change with each passing day."
"How then—"
"You can't. The moment will come for all of us and nothing I say now can change what you feel is right. The hope we all must trust is that our choices are for the good of all and not just ourselves."
Harry remained silent as he contemplated Dumbledore's words. They made a lot of sense even if they didn't clear away all of his uncertainty. He still didn't know what he had to do to prevent his dreams from coming true but he would strive to remain loyal to the principals he was raised under.
"Mr. Potter, can you tell me what's troubling you?" There was a soft twinkle in Dumbledore's eye.
Harry shook his head and looked down to his lap. "It's nothing, Headmaster. I was just speaking hypothetically."
Dumbledore leaned back and intertwined his fingers again. "Very well, Mr. Potter."
"Harry. You can call me Harry." This was a big step for the two of them and Harry could feel himself growing more comfortable with the headmaster.
"Is there anything else I can do for you, Harry?"
There was.
"You said something about a place for me and Danny to train."
Harry slowly stepped off the rotating stairs and into the main hallway of the castle. His mind was moving a mile a minute with everything going back to the end of last term. He grabbed hold of the wall for support as a wave of light-headedness cascaded over him. He was still fighting some of the side-effects of his insomnia and it took a lot out of him to keep his composure during his conversation with Dumbledore. He knew of the addicting nature of the Dreamless Sleep Potions and was trying to moderate his intact. He only dosed when he absolutely couldn't withstand his exhaustion. Unfortunately, the intervals between doses were decreasing. He was already starting to feel the need to use again, despite, having just used the night before.
Harry heard the loud commotion of the students' arrival and forced himself to stand up right. He wouldn't let anyone see him struggle. He straightened his tie and strode into the Great Hall. He quickly scanned the Gryffindor table and found his brother. Danny was in his usual spot with Hermione beside him. She was talking animatedly but Danny still noticed Harry's stare and locked eyes. Harry gave him a reassuring nod to tell that everything was alright. Danny smiled and went back to his conversation with Hermione.
"Where've you been?"
Harry's attention quickly turned to the familiar voice and had to double take on what he saw.
Daphne had on the same Slytherin uniform as everyone else but Harry couldn't help but notice a change in her appearance. It was an understatement to say that Daphne had started to fill out in certain…areas. She always had had a petite figure and would never have the bust size as some of the older students but it was now very noticeable that her chest had grown a few inches. Not only that, her face had grown more womanly and defined and her lips looked soft and inviting.
Harry unconsciously swallowed a deep gulp.
It was always unmistakable that Daphne was attractive but Harry had always been able to overlook it. Daphne was always just Daphne and her crass personality made it fairly easy to ignore any physical attraction Harry may (or may not) have had.
And now…well…he was in trouble.
"What do you think you're staring at?" she asked irately.
"What!? Nothing! I wasn't staring!"
Daphne's eyes grew large at his outburst. "Okay, then. Come on, I saved us a spot down here."
"Right." Harry quickly collected himself and made to follow her.
Daphne turned and led them down towards the other end of the Slytherin table while Harry fought the urge to stare at the way her hips moved.
'Eyes up. Eyes up. Eyes up.'
She stopped abruptly and Harry couldn't help but notice that there weren't any open spots.
"Daphne—"
"You two!" A pair of third-years looked up at her. "Move! We're sitting here."
The two Slytherins then noticed Harry for the first time and scarpered out of the seats.
Harry was a bit gobsmacked as Daphne calmly sat down and turned back to Harry.
"Well sit down."
"I thought you said you had saved a spot for us."
Daphne shrugged. "I may have exaggerated."
"May have?" asked Harry as took his seat beside her.
Daphne shrugged again which made a small grin appear on the side of Harry's face. He looked over to see where the two kids had ended up. Daphne noticed and huffed annoyingly.
"Oh honestly, Harry. We've got to remind people that this is still your house. Your little check out last year didn't help us that much."
"We'll manage." Harry didn't want to talk about it right now.
"That's exactly the kind of attitude that will lose you your place here."
Harry chose not to answer, hoping that the conversation would end with his silence. His mind just wasn't in the spirit to start the year thinking about house politics. Daphne, however, seemed to have other plans.
"Not to rehash what happened last year but have you thought about your message for the first years?"
Harry leaned his arm on the table and cradled his head. "Daphne, please, can we not?"
Before Daphne could respond and it certainly looked like she was about to argue her point, Professor McGonagall began the Sorting Ceremony.
Harry kept his attention on the latest crop of students and mostly ignored Daphne as he was sure she wasn't pleased by his disinterest in their discussion. As the sorting progressed, Harry didn't catch any names of note, though, there was one boy sorted into Gryffindor who almost wet himself in excitement upon seeing that he'd been sorted into the same house as Danny. His name was Colin Creevy and had a muggle camera hanging around his neck.
'Great! Just what we need this year: a photographer.'
Once the sorting had finally ended, Professor Dumbledore took his place behind the podium.
"Good evening, students!" A hush fell over the Great Hall. Dumbledore raised his arms and smiled warmly. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!"
"First, let us welcome our new Muggle Studies professor, Professor Charity Burbage, as Professor Quirrel has graciously accepted to become our newest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." There was brief round of applause as Professors Burbage and Quirrel rose and waved to the crowd. As they retook their seats, Dumbledore continued on.
"As always, the Forbidden Forest is forbidden and our caretaker, Mr. Filch, would like to remind each of you that magic is not permitted in the hallways and that a list of all banned items are posted outside his office. I hear this year that the list has grown from just a meter long to five."
There was a soft chuckle throughout the hall and Harry caught of a glimpse of Fred and George puffing out there chests as they were no doubt responsible for the increase. Mr. Filch, meanwhile, starred daggers at them and his cat, Mrs. Norris, hissed and clawed in their direction.
"I have but a few more words to share before we enjoy our scrumptious feast. As we embark upon yet another new year and see ourselves grow wiser and older, we must acknowledge that Time is a type of magic that we can never master. As such, our beloved castle is in need of our careful attention. Therefore, I must announce that the third-floor corridor on the right hand side is out-of-bounds as to see its stones renewed. Take heed of his warning for those that ignore it will die a most painful death. Now tuck in!"
The food appeared but barely anyone started eating. It wasn't every day that the students were told they'd die if they wandered to the wrong part of the castle. Harry, though, was satisfied enough with the warning and hoped that it would be the last he hear about the mysterious circumstances that brought it about.
Eventually the students overcame their shock and their rumbling stomachs forced them to acknowledge the bounty before them. Soon the Great Hall was filled with the normal chatter and laughter that every Opening Feast entailed.
"What do you make of that?" asked Daphne as she ate a chicken breast with gravy.
"It's nothing we have to worry about." He needed to discourage any curiosity about that particular corridor.
"That is until some idiots are stupid enough to go exploring. Case in point." Daphne pointed towards the Gryffindor table. Harry looked too and saw the twins look very eager to do just that.
"I'll talk to them. They can help keep the Gryffindors from becoming too curious."
"I'm assuming you're going to make a mention of it to our house," Daphne probed as she grabbed a dinner biscuit. She obviously still wanted to talk about his speech.
'I guess now is as good a time as any.'
"No you are."
"I beg your pardon." Daphne didn't completely register what he had said, though, she had stopped eating to look at him.
"I'm stepping down. You'll be in charge from now on." He spoke calmly but knew that they were about to get into an argument. This was the first step in his plan for change; to give up his position in Slytherin.
Daphne stopped eating and calmly placed her cutlery on the table. Harry braced himself.
"Are you out of your Merlin-loving mind?" she said through clenched teeth.
"No, I'm quite sane," Harry replied wryly.
"So you're just stupid."
"I thought you'd jump at the chance like this."
"Are you going to tell me why?" It was clear that she was very agitated.
"No," Harry answered emphatically.
Daphne looked around them as if paranoid that someone was listening.
"We need to discuss this in private," she hissed in a whisper.
"There's nothing to discuss. It'll be better this way," Harry responded normally.
She still didn't look like she believed him.
"Look at it this way, we won't have as much to argue about anymore."
"You know, I was right. You're an absolute imbecile."
Harry smiled sarcastically. "Thank you, Daphne, I think you're great too."
"Just don't speak or do anything until we can talk in private." Her hands danced around her as she tried to appear that nothing was wrong.
"You're the boss."
Daphne stared dangerously at him as she pointed at him and then mimed zipping her lips.
Harry did as he was told and enjoyed the rest of the feast in silence. He knew he was making the right decision.
"You have made the absolute worst decision."
The two had secreted themselves away to an empty classroom. Outside, students were slowly moving to their respective dormitories. They didn't have much time before their absence would be noticed.
"I didn't make this choice on a whim, Daphne. It's better if I step away and let someone else be in charge. Someone like you who actually cares about this stuff." Harry raised his arms as if he was presenting an offering.
Daphne rubbed her temple. "You don't get it, do you?"
Harry flung his arms up. "What!? What don't I get!?"
"That you matter!" Her words knocked Harry back. "Do you have any idea what you've accomplished?" Daphne stared at him passionately, desperate for him to understand.
"How has scaring third years out of their seats accomplished anything?"
"Because they respect you as their leader." Daphne stepped closer and Harry was seeing something from her that he had never seen before: admiration. "None of them would dare antagonize the other houses because they know you won't allow it. You've taken away the hostility that Slytherin has had with this school ever since You-Know-Who was here. Don't you realize how huge that is?"
Daphne took another step closer, her eyes imploring him to see reason.
"Don't you realize how important you are?"
Harry could feel himself faltering as he stared into her bright blue eyes, begging him to not do this.
"Daphne—"
"If you step down, I won't accept the position," she interrupted. "And then Malfoy will have it and everything you've done will be ruined."
"You wouldn't."
Daphne just crossed her arms and gave him her trademark 'Try Me' look.
Harry didn't know what to say. He wanted to get away from the pressure of leading his house and focus on changing himself. He had spent so much time building his reputation as the tough guy who would easily strike you down if looked at in the wrong way. At first, that was what he thought was the key to how he and Danny would survive and keep their secrets. For the last four years, everything had been going as planned, despite a few bumps.
But now everything was changing and Harry wasn't so sure he was on the right path, especially since it seemed like all roads led to that graveyard.
He could feel his fatigue raising but had enough strength to last for what would come next.
"So, what are you going to do?"
"As members of the House of Slytherin, you represent the purest of the pure. None are your equal. That is why we separate ourselves from the petty rivalries that would see us lowered to substandard behavior. You will not engage in any confrontations with the other houses or seek to disrupt the peace that we have enjoyed since I have taken over this house. If, for any reason, you have any concerns or questions about my orders, then you may come to me or my partner, Ms. Greengrass."
Daphne gave the crowd of first years a smoldering glare that they should bother her at their own peril. Harry smirked.
"I suggest you all remember to address her as Ms. Greengrass."
Harry looked over the new students and didn't see many bad eggs who took exception to his decree. Most just look tired and eager to go off to bed. However, that didn't stop one voice from speaking out though it wasn't among the first years.
"You make us lie among the sludge and expect us to be grateful. Disgusting."
Harry put on a big fake smile as he addressed the newest member of his audience.
"May I introduce you all to Draco Malfoy?" Despite how light-headed Harry felt after his speech and the fact that he was currently see three Malfoys, Harry wasn't about to let the ponce usurp him. "He will come to you expecting your compliance in displacing me from my well-earned position. Don't be fooled by his promise of elevation. He only cares about his advancement and would see you all groveling at his feet for the scraps."
Malfoy snarled at him before he addressed the crowd with the same oily voice as his father.
"For any of you that know where real power lies, you would do well to heed my words and denounce this half-blood and his pet blood-traitor in favor of someone with the pedigree to lead."
The first years looked back and forth between the staring contest between Harry and Malfoy. Many noticed how Harry swayed a little but still very imposing. Harry, meanwhile, didn't care about the empty insults but he could feel himself starting to fade and didn't know how much longer he could keep this up. Thankfully, Daphne intervened.
"Well! What are you all waiting for!?" Daphne's loud proclamation startled the small group of eleven year olds. "Go to bed!"
They all scurried away after Malfoy stepped aside to allow them passage down the staircase to the dormitories.
Once they were alone, Malfoy turned back to them.
"Your time is running out, Potter. Your actions last year have given me all the time and opportunity I need to take what is rightfully mine."
As Harry and Daphne passed him down the stairs, Daphne patted him on the shoulder sympathetically.
"Keep telling yourself that Malfoy."
Malfoy just showed his trademark smirk as he watched the two disappear down the fourth year hallway. Malfoy didn't move to follow to his own dormitory, instead he waited as he heard the soft footsteps of an approaching person.
"Well done, Draco. Well done." Adrian Grey rubbed his hands together with a twisted smile.
"Don't speak to me, scum." Malfoy snarled back at him. Grey, though, didn't stop smiling as he placed a hand on Malfoy's shoulder.
"Is that any way to speak to your friend?"
Malfoy violently shrugged off Grey's hand and glared back at him. Grey just smiled playfully, his eyes twinkling with unknown intentions.
Harry was awake extremely early the next morning. Well, awake may be the wrong word. It implied he had actually gotten any sleep. Instead, he had opted to forgo feeding his addiction. The first day of the semester was always lax, so he didn't feel the need to make his condition any worse. That didn't, however, ease how exhausted he felt.
By the end of the night, Harry had ended up just sitting on the edge of his bed watching the clock slowly tick away until it was finally six-o-clock which meant the Great Hall was open for breakfast.
He slowly climbed the steps and even slipped on one because of a lack of concentration. Harry just went with it. He knew that no one else was up at the moment so he didn't have to hide anything. He stepped into the common room and was immediately startled to see a gang of Death Eaters—never mind that he only knew them from pictures—with their wands drawn and pointed towards him.
Harry instinctually triggered his wand holster and it shot into his hand. Just as he was about to launch a spell, the Death Eaters vanished in a wisp of smoke. Harry recoiled back to use the staircase as cover. His breath quickened and his heart was pounding through his chest.
'How did they get into the castle?'
Harry peeked out but found the common room still empty. Harry pulled back and gathered his thoughts. The smart thing would to go back to his room and fortify his position but if the Death Eaters had infiltrated the castle then the school needed to be warned. Harry peeked out again—still nothing. He eyed the exit wall and prepared to make a break for it.
"What are you doing?"
Harry spun around to see Daphne staring at him strangely.
"Get back." He reached out and roughly pushed her against the wall.
"Ow! The hell, Potter?" Daphne rubbed her sore shoulder as she glared at him.
Harry ignored her. "Stay behind me."
"What's wrong with you?" Daphne pushed passed him and into the common room.
"No! Wait!"
Harry rushed after her to pull her back but she was fine—everything was fine, in fact. The common room was empty. No Death Eaters anywhere.
'What's going on?' He swore the common room was filled with Death Eaters.
"What is your malfunction?" Daphne was done being ignored. She wanted answers.
Harry shook his head to try and clear it. Had he imagined the whole thing?
"Nothing. It's nothing." He leaned against the back of one of the sofas and closed his tired eyes. He took off his glasses and tried his best to rub the sleep out of them.
When he finally opened his eyes and replaced his glasses, he found Daphne right in his face and appeared to be examining him. Harry recoiled at her close proximity.
"What are you doing?" He found it very uncomfortable how close she was.
"You sure you're alright?" Harry could see her studying him and he felt even more unease.
"Why? Are you trying to say that you care?" he deflected, knowing that she'd protest the thought.
Daphne huffed indignantly. "Please."
Harry breathed a mental sigh of relief as he thought that was it, but Daphne spoke up again. This time, she sounded more concerned than confused.
"You'd tell me if something was wrong, right?"
Harry lazily rubbed his eyes and yawned. "I'm fine, Daphne."
"Good." She didn't sound all that convinced though she finally let it go. "Now I'm assuming you're going to breakfast."
Harry nodded as he yawned again. "Yep."
"After you, then."
Harry motioned ahead. "Ladies first."
"Like I said, after you," she fired back.
"You're hilarious," he replied sarcastically.
Despite her jest, Daphne led the way out of the common room. Before he exited, Harry cast a fleeting glance back and saw another Death Eater disappear in a wisp of smoke.
Harry walked behind Daphne as they made their way to the Great Hall. She was talking about something that Harry wasn't paying attention to. Harry had his head cast down and if someone had seen them they would probably assume that Harry was watching Daphne's bum. Harry wasn't, though, despite his eye line set on his friend's swaying hips, he was instead focused on what had caused his recent hallucinations.
The only culprit would have to be his most recent patch of Dreamless Sleep Potion he had brewed before coming to school. Hallucinations like the one he had just experienced would only happen if he made some kind of mistake.
This didn't bode well. If his patch was defective, he'd have to dump it and brew more. The only problem was that it took up to a week to brew the amount of potion to replace what he had. He could sneak into the hospital wing and take some but the amount he would need to take until he could replace his stock would certainly be noticeable. Madam Pomfrey kept a tight ship and would report the thief and Harry could ill afford an inquisition. He was sure he could get in and out without detection but he had already witnessed Headmaster Dumbledore's ability to track students.
It was going to be one miserable week.
"Just what do you think you're staring at!?"
"Hmmm." Harry looked up to an irate Daphne glaring at him.
"My ass is not for your viewing pleasure, Potter!"
"I wasn't staring at your ass, Daphne," he responded calmly, not wanting to get into argument.
"I just caught you!" She fired back accusingly.
Harry really wasn't in the mood so he just relented. "Fine, I was staring, though, it's not much to look at."
"What do you mean?" Daphne attempted to look behind her.
"I mean that it must be difficult to seat on such a flat arse."
He couldn't help it. He was tired and annoyed that he was going to spend the week hallucinating. Daphne was just in the line of fire.
"How dare you? My ass is perfect." She turned and pointed to her bottom.
Harry crossed his arms as he studied her (perfectly acceptable) bum before he shrugged his shoulders. "Meh."
"You're a jerk." Daphne stormed off. Her stomping feet echoing loudly in the empty hall.
The Great Hall was pretty much deserted. Harry and Daphne settled down in their usual spot at the Slytherin table and started picking out their breakfast. They ate in silence though Harry could easily tell that she was still upset with what he had said. It actually made Harry feel bad. It wasn't her fault that he was tired and grumpy.
"Okay, I'm sorry."
"It's fine. You're entitled to your opinion." She didn't look at him and kept eating but Harry could easily hear the underlying malice in her voice.
"I mean it. Your bum is really…nice."
Daphne look at him with a strange expression: confusion mixed with amusement mixed with disgust.
"Alright perv. Just remember that my eyes are up here from now on."
Harry rolled his eyes and took her statement as her accepting his apology. He went back to his breakfast and missed a quick look from Daphne that made it seem like she really did care what he thought.
Harry went to take a sip of his orange juice but ended up spraying all over the table. Right in front of him was a huge dragon that was about rear back and consume them in fire.
"What the hell, Potter!?"
Harry closed his eyes and shook his head. When he opened them again, the dragon was gone. He glanced over at Daphne to see her waiting for an answer. Thinking quickly, he faked coughed and pounded on his chest.
"Sorry, wrong tube."
"Well turn your head next time. You got orange juice all over the toast." Harry looked down and he had sprayed over the stack of toast but it soon vanished and was replaced OJ-free. Daphne grabbed one and started to butter it.
"Thank you, Hogwarts."
Eventually other students started to file into the Great Hall. Harry didn't pay attention to who was coming in. His focus was still on this new predicament he was in.
He felt a tap on his shoulder that interrupted his thoughts. He turned his head slightly to see Granger from the corner of his eye.
"Harry, nice to see you again." Harry didn't respond but braced himself for another year of awkward interactions with his little brother's friend.
There was a brief pause before Granger realized that Harry had heard her but wasn't going to reply.
"I just wanted to tell you that I'm over you." Harry perked up and finally turned to face her and, for the first time, didn't see Granger blush when speaking to him. Now that Granger knew she had Harry's full attention, she pressed on.
"I had time over the summer to realize that you are not the right person for me to be interested in."
"Great," he responded, again completely disinterested. He quickly turned back in his seat and went back to eating.
Granger huffed and stormed off though Harry could hear her mutter. "So rude."
"Don't say one word."
But Daphne couldn't resist.
"Real lady killer there."
Harry glared at her.
"That was four words," she wryly pointed out.
Harry rolled his eyes and went on the offensive.
"I don't see the guys lining up to chat you up." In fact, no one—ever—tried to strike up any kind of conversation with her. Even their housemates kept things brief when they had something they wanted her to pass along to Harry to deal with.
"Like I would want them to."
"You're going to die an old maid."
Daphne stopped eating and pondered what he said.
"I can think of worse things."
Harry put his utensils down and pushed his plate away.
"Are you done yet? I'm ready to go."
Daphne put another forkful of scrambled eggs into her mouth and swallowed slowly.
"I think I'm going to stay seated and digest for a bit."
Harry rose out of his seat. "I'll see you in class, then."
Daphne didn't say anything but her eyes wandered quizzically to the lack of consumption on Harry's plate.
As Harry walked out of the Great Hall, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. In fact, he knew he was. There were a number of people watching him leave.
They were all girls.
And they were smiling at him.
'Weird.'
Harry was confused. Really, really confused.
It seemed like everywhere he went girls would smile and blush as he walked by. Some would even shyly wave and say 'hi' to him but then run off before he could react in any way. Harry wasn't ignorant that these were displays of attraction but more as to why. Why was he suddenly so popular with the ladies?
It wasn't like he was going around performing good deeds. He never smiled unless he was with the twins or Danny. He had never spoken to any of these girls and didn't even know most of their names.
'But I shouldn't be complaining, right? I mean, I wanted this, didn't I?' he asked himself.
Harry knew not to expect an answer. That would be crazy but, then again, his life was crazy, especially now that he had such wonderful hallucinations to make things that much more interesting. He watched Death Eaters teach classes, mountain trolls walk into girl's bathrooms, and even baby dragons burst out of Hagrid's hut and fly around the school's turrets. And they weren't about to stop either.
Harry had spent countless hours huddled over cauldrons of Dreamless Sleep Potion in the hope that he could rid himself of his visual illusions. If he could just take a proper dosage of potion then all his hallucinations would disappear.
But.
Every time that he thought he had it right, he'd walk up the next in some kind swamp, war-zone, brothel…well…Harry really didn't mind those. But still, the fact remained: Harry did not have a firm grasp on reality.
Harry had even started believing that his new found popularity was really all just another illusion but he was about to find out that he was definitely wrong.
"Harry! Just the man we were looking for."
"We need to have some serious guy talk right now."
Fred and George called out to him one evening after a training session with Danny. He was already really tired and he didn't know how long he could hide the fact that he was hallucinating from his brother. Danny had given him a number of strange looks after Harry had slipped up during their duels.
"What about?" Harry asked tiredly. He really wanted to get back to his room and crash; his dreams be damned.
"Oh like you don't know," Fred replied coyly.
"No, please. Tell me what the hell is going on." If anyone could tell him, it would be these two. Harry only hoped that he could make it through this with at least some of his dignity.
Fred and George both reacted like they couldn't believe it. Small smiles began to creep onto their faces.
"You're serious?"
"You don't know what's going on here?"
Harry's face soured.
'Here it comes.'
"You're saying that we knowing something you don't?"
"Harry Potter doesn't know something," George said slowly. "I never thought I would say that."
"Guys—"
"No, no." Fred waved his finger at Harry. "We need to let this sink in."
Fred and George then went back and forth taking long drawn out breaths as if to stop themselves from hyperventilating. It was when they started checking each other's pulses that Harry had had enough.
"I can hurt you both."
Fred and George perked up.
"He gets it!"
"Finally!"
"What?" Harry was confused.
"The 'Bad Boy,' Harry!"
"You've got the whole mysterious, dark, broody thing going for ya."
Harry had to take a moment to think about this. "So you saying that the reason that pretty much every girl in this school likes me because…"
"Cuz you're tall, dark, and handsome mister," said George in a very American accent.
"Mmmhmmm," Fred hummed as he looked at Harry like a piece of meat. Harry found it very uncomfortable.
"But don't let it get to your head," said George normally.
"Or that you're the only one pulling the 'Mysterious' card."
Harry found that hard to believe. They were about as extroverted as it gets.
"How are you two mysterious?"
"We're twins, Harry," said Fred like it was secret.
"I've noticed."
"And we're identical," Fred added.
"Really?" Harry replied sarcastically.
"When we're with a girl, she doesn't know who she's really with."
Fred and George started slide shuffling back and forth, trading places to Harry's left and right.
"It could be Fred."
They switched again.
"It could be George."
And again.
"We might switch."
And again.
"She'll never know."
And again.
"Because it's a mystery." They stopped and waved their hands like a rainbow.
Harry pointed to one of them. "Fred." He pointed to the other. "George."
"Harry!" Fred's shoulders dropped and started to plead. "Come on…ok...could you not?"
"And Harry?" George suddenly grew serious. "When you say 'every girl,' that doesn't include any red-heads, does it?"
"I don't know, probably." Harry really couldn't remember.
"You keep your dirty, bad-influencing hands off our sister." They said in unison as they threateningly pointed their fingers at him.
"You guys have another sibling?" Harry, of course, knew about their sister and remembered her from the sorting. She, like all the Weasleys, had ended up in Gryffindor and Harry didn't like the lovey-dovey looks she had given his brother.
"Ginny's the last one," Fred responded defensively.
"Do your parents ever leave the bedroom?"
Fred and George flinched and looked as if they were about to hurl.
"I think I just threw up a little bit."
"I know. It tastes awful."
"Look. Guys. I don't have any interest in your sister. Now tell me how I can get it to stop." Harry needed this taken care of so he could focus on regaining his sanity.
"Stop?" That threw them for a loop.
"Why on earth would you want it to stop?"
'Because I want one girl, not a harem.' Harry said in his head.
"You've got the golden egg here, mate."
"What you should be doing is capitalizing."
"We suggest you make a list of interested parties and rank them according to their…" George made a show of cupping imaginary breasts. Harry gave him a pointed look that said he shouldn't say another word but George ignored it. "…boobies."
"And whether or not they'll let you touch them," Fred quickly added.
"And then—"
"Okay enough." Harry had heard enough of that. "What makes you two such experts?"
Fred looked almost offended. "Harry, please, we have three older brothers. You learn things."
"Technically, you have four older brothers," George corrected.
Fred then suddenly exploded and pointed his finger in his brother's face. "Mum has never told us who was first!"
"Pleeeease!" George pushed Fred's finger down. "Every time we ask she looks at me first! Just accept it!"
Fred got right up in George's face. "That's because you get right up in her face so has no choice but look at your ugly mug!"
George held his hand to his mouth to block Fred from seeing him say. "Somebody's in denial."
"Why I oughta…" Fred threw a punch which George nimbly ducked under and wrestled Fred to the ground.
They proceeded to roll around on top of each other in an attempt to get the other in a headlock. Harry sat back and let them have at it. He found it quite amusing and thought their techniques were terrible.
'I really should consider getting them out to train with me and Danny.' He watched as Fred and George started slapping each other in the face. 'This is pathetic.'
Harry gave it a few more minutes before he finally intervened when Fred tried to bite off George's nose.
"Come on, Harry, I was winning," cried Fred as he tried to back at his brother.
"Yeah right!" answered George as he tried the same.
The two of them continued to grunt as they struggled to release themselves from Harry's grasp. Harry, meanwhile, held his ground and stared blankly off into the distance as if nothing was happening.
"You two done?" asked Harry when they finally went still.
Fred and George nodded shamefully and Harry released them. The twins straightened themselves out but refused to acknowledge the other. George was the first to speak.
"Try this Harry. The next girl that approaches you, ask them to Hogsmeade. There's a visit in a few weeks."
"Maybe if you pick one, the others will back off."
Harry took a moment to think about it and ultimately decided.
"I can do that."
Two Weeks Later
Harry stepped into the Slytherin common room extremely exhausted. He had just came back from a training session with Danny and it hadn't gone well. Harry had been sluggish and clumsy and it had cost him. He and Danny were trading spells when Harry's vision was suddenly impeded by a rampaging herd of bulls. The suddenness had caused Harry to lose his focus and stumble back. In the act he had brought his hand up to protect himself which had placed it directly in the path of Danny's Cutting Curse. They were using low-level spells anyway and Harry only had a small, yet slightly deep, cut across his palm.
Danny had been distraught but Harry waved him off. In fact, a small smile crossed Harry's face at what he had just discovered. When he had applied pressure to his hand to stop the bleeding, Harry felt his vision clear. It was like the pain had neutralized the hallucinating effect of the Dreamless Sleep potion.
Danny had insisted that they go to the hospital wing but Harry just wrapped it in a bandage and said it'd let it heal naturally. He may have finally found a way to stop his hallucinations and he was going to hang on it as long as he could.
"Tired from all the shagging?"
Daphne's voice startled Harry out of his thoughts. She was seated in one of the armchairs by the fireplace and it looked like she had been waiting for him. Daphne had been less than pleased by Harry's sudden popularity and was quick to accuse Harry of foul play. Harry couldn't think of why she was so angry with him about it, but the first time a girl had approached him while he and Daphne were together hadn't been pretty. Daphne had practically yelled at the poor girl about making better life choices and then rounded on Harry about leading them on.
"I was with Danny which I know you knew."
Daphne shrugged. "I didn't realize you and your brother were that kind of close."
"Wha—Daphne that's disgusting."
Daphne held up her hands defensively. "I don't judge but I'd be sure to inform your bedfellows about what they might catch."
Harry let out a loud huff and dropped his bag. "Ok. I'm done."
"With what?" she asked, feigning ignorance.
"Go on." Harry opened his arms and presented himself. "Get it out of your system."
"It's no fun if you just let me. It makes me seem mean," Daphne replied with a pout.
Harry dropped his arms. "And you're never mean."
"Thank you," she said cheerfully.
"That wasn—" Harry stopped himself. "You know I didn't ask for this." He dropped down into the seat next to her.
"Not doing anything to stop it."
"Well don't worry, I'll find one and hopefully put an end to your suffering." He smiled sarcastically.
"Yes, I can't wait to play third-wheel," she replied wryly.
Harry let out a bark of a laugh. "Ha! I wouldn't introduce whoever I date to you. You'd chew them up and spit them out. Probably stomp on them, too, just for good measure."
Daphne pounced out of her chair and stood over him.
"Like I would want to meet whoever you—" Daphne abruptly stopped and looked deep in Harry's eyes. "Harry, your eyes are dilated."
Harry turned his head quickly and rubbed his eyes.
"I'm just tired, is all." He rose for his chair and started backing away for Daphne.
"You've been tired more than usual lately."
"Just training harder, Daphne." Harry let off a big yawn. "Now I'm going to bed. Good night."
Harry started walking towards his room. Daphne didn't say anything and watched him leave. Her face was calculating until something donned on her and she quickly made her way to her room. She had something she needed to look up.
November 1992
Harry and Danny were hanging out together outside after they had just finished a few laps around the lake. Harry was listening to Danny tell him about a strange discovery he and Hermione had made.
"So we were taking the stairs to go the library when they decided to change and then stranded us on a lone doorway. We waited like ten minutes for the stairs to change again but they wouldn't budge."
"Why were you taking the stairs to the library?" Harry interjected. There were definitely faster ways to reach the library then the main staircase.
"We were trying to avoid Malfoy. He's been trying to start fights with me every time I see him."
Harry had been wondering why he hadn't seen much of Malfoy; he usually liked to remind Harry at least once a day of what a poor excuse of a wizard he was. It was interesting that he was now targeting his brother.
"I'll handle him."
"No. I can deal with it." Danny argued back. "He's not very good at it anyway. Always tries to call me impotent and Hermione a no good mudblood."
"He shouldn't get away with calling her that." Harry hated that word. Danny, though, just shrugged it off.
"Hermione said that since she never knew what it meant that it doesn't bother her. 'You can't be offended if you don't find it offensive,' she says."
"I still don't like it."
"It's not important, Danny said, eager to get back to his story. "Not like what's sitting in the third-floor corridor."
"What were you doing in that corridor?" Harry interrupted heatedly.
"The staircase!" Danny reminded him of how his story had started. "It took us to it and wouldn't let us leave."
"Stay away from that corridor, Danny," Harry sternly warned.
"But Harry, there's a three-headed dog in there!"
Harry had made sure to have a long conversation with Danny and Hermione about staying away from the third-floor corridor. He didn't care that Hermione had noticed a trapdoor underneath the Cerberus's feet which lead her to believe that it was guarding something. He cared even less that Hagrid had let slip that it had something to do with a man named Nicholas Flamel. And cared least of all that Danny and Hermione believed that someone was after it once Hermione connected it to the break-in at Gringotts at the start of the year.
Harry had to remind them that it was none of their business and that the whole point to Dumbledore's lie was to keep the matter secret. Therefore, it would be extremely counterintuitive for the most famous wizard in Britain to be hanging around the third-floor corridor; not to mention the dangers of tangling with a Cerberus. Danny and Hermione both looked ashamed and promised not to ever go back to the corridor or investigate what the Cerberus was guarding. Harry was glad to hear it he couldn't help but notice the glint of curiosity in both their eyes. They departed with Harry giving Danny the Maruader's Map in order to alleviate their suspicions of a potential thief.
Meanwhile, Harry still trying to find a way to ask one of these girls to Hogsmeade and people were starting to get impatient; two, in particular.
"Seriously, Harry, what's taking you so long?" Fred complained.
"Yeah, it's like every girl is on pause until you decide because each of them think they'll be the one you pick." It was an embellishment, of course, but one Fred and George swore by. They claimed it was a form of motivation.
"It's not like I'm not trying," Harry defended.
"Try harder."
"We're lonely."
"Oh, please."
The twins were probably just as popular as Harry but were much more adapt at the whole process of courtship. It looked like having three (or four) older brothers did have its advantages. Harry, though, had a little more trouble at it.
'You would think growing up with Hogwart's most infamous bachelor would have rubbed off a bit.'
But not even his Uncle Sirius's tutelage took in account the presence of world-altering visions. It was difficult to hold a conversation when the girl's eyes, nose, and mouth danced all over their face.
Thankfully, Harry was still able to stop his hallucinations by applying pressure to the cut on his hand but the problem was that it kept healing. Harry was forced to routinely rip open his hand with a knife.
As Harry was talking to Fred and George, he pressed his thumb into the cut when the two of them started molding into a single person. Unfortunately, the cut had healed enough that the pain wasn't sufficient to regain his senses.
'Great, time to bleed all over my desk again.'
He needed to excuse himself so he could get it done.
"You know guys, you're right. I'm going to go and ask someone to Hogsmeade right now."
"That's our boy," said the mutated twins. Harry had to take a second to deal with two voices coming from a single person.
Harry started walking back to the Slytherin common room, avoiding contact as much as he could.
"Hello, Harry." Harry immediately recognized Daphne's voice. Harry turned to see her walking slowly up to him with her a few books pressed against her chest.
She certainly looked like Daphne but something seemed off to him. He pressed into his hand as hard as he could but nothing happened.
Realizing he hadn't answered her, Harry spoke. "Can you walk with me? I got to get back to the dormitory."
"Oh, sure. I'd love to," she replied cheerfully.
Harry screwed up his face. That definitely didn't sound like Daphne and he dug his thumb even further into his palm but she still looked like Daphne.
"I'm assuming you need me for something."
"I was just…I mean, I was wondering if ummm…" Daphne stumbled and stopped as she tried to speak.
"What?" Harry laughed. It was amusing to see her so flustered.
"Would you want to go to Hogsmeade with me?" She asked nervously.
Harry stopped in his tracks. His eyes bugged out and his mouth agape. Had Daphne Greengrass just asked him out? Harry again pushed his thumb into his hand as hard as he could.
"What?" He needed to hear her say it again, just to be sure this was actually happening.
"I know we just missed the one this month but there'll be another one before we leave for Christmas. We could go together then." She sounded much more confident this time and much more like the Daphne he was used to.
Harry was so shocked by what was happening that he answered before he had time to think about it.
"Ummm…yeah, sure."
"Great!"
And then something happened that shocked Harry even more.
Daphne smiled.
And not one of those small twitches Harry would sometimes catch but a full-blown smile from ear to ear. The first one Harry had ever seen and it terrified him. Not that it wasn't a beautiful smile but because he knew that he had just made a terrible mistake. Harry closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breathes. When he opened them again, his fears were confirmed.
This person was not Daphne. In fact, Harry didn't know who she was and before he could find out, she had raced off and disappeared around a corner towards the Great Hall.
Of all the qualities that disappointed Harry about his peers, the one he disliked the most was their insatiable need for gossip. It hadn't even been an hour after his conversation with the 'girl that wasn't Daphne,' as Harry referred to her, before the whole castle knew about it.
After Harry had finished wrapping his hand again, he was making his way to the Great Hall for dinner and already he could hear whispers and mutterings about his future date. What was strange for Harry, though, was that people stared at him with awe because of who he was going to Hogsmeade with.
But it was how Harry found out who his date was that caused him the most headache.
"Tell me you're not going out with her," Daphne (the real one) demanded heatedly as she took her seat next to him.
"Who?" He seriously wanted to know though Daphne was having none of it.
"Don't play coy with me," she fired back irritably.
"No, really Daphne, who is she?"
If possible, Daphne turned even more livid. "Are you telling me that you accepted a date with a girl and you don't even know who she is!?"
"I know she's a Ravenclaw and…Asian." 'And I thought she was you.'
"Cho Chang!" she cried before she turned sour. "The goody-good Ravenclaw princess. Little Ms. 'I'm so good and pure and sweet and everyone loves me.'" It was clear that Daphne didn't approve of such attributes.
"So her name is Cho," Harry responded innocently.
Daphne let off what Harry could only describe as a growl.
"Why are you so upset? Jealous?" Harry asked with a raised brow.
Daphne was quick to rebuff. "Yeah right! Have you even thought about what this will mean for your reputation?"
"No but I'm sure you're about to me."
"She'll soften you," she said as if it would all the difference.
"Good."
"Good?" she cried disbelievingly.
"Yeah." That was he trying to do, after all.
Daphne put up her hands and pushed away from him. "I can't be around you right now."
Harry did nothing as he watched her stormed off.
December 1992
Harry was nervous. He couldn't keep still as he waited for Cho to arrive. All around him, other couples and groups of friends were piling into the carriages to head to Hogsmeade for the final visit before the Christmas holiday. It was always one of the busier times in Hogsmeade as many students took care of their Christmas shopping. Harry was glad for it and it would undoubtedly give him and Cho something to focus on.
"Hi Harry?"
Harry spun around to see Cho wrapped up in a fox fur coat with a dark blue wool scarf in keeping with her Ravenclaw roots. She had the same soft smile he always saw when the two spoke.
"Are you ready to go?" He asked, getting straight to the point. He was never really one for small talk.
Cho smiled despite it. "Yes, I've been looking forward to it."
"Me too," he said just to be polite. To be honest he hadn't been looking forward to this all that much. It wasn't that she wasn't pretty or interesting but the whole circumstances that lead to all this was just too abnormal for him. Even still, his parents had raised him to be a gentleman and he would at least try to enjoy himself. "I was thinking we could wander the town a bit, do some shopping, and then get some butterbeers at the Three Broomsticks."
Cho's smile grew. "That sounds wonderful, Harry."
"Shall we?" Harry smiled softly as held out his arm to escort her to the carriages.
"We shall," Cho replied enthusiastically as she looped her arm with his.
Just as they were about to step through the doorway of the castle.
"Harry! Wait!"
Harry turned quickly at the sound of his brother's voice.
"What's wrong, Danny?"
"It's…" Danny trailed off at the sight of Cho but Harry noticed him grip his sleeve that hid the Devil's Grip. It didn't take much but the look in Danny's eye for Harry to recognize that something was wrong and needed his immediate attention.
"Harry, what's the matter?"
Harry turned to a concerned Cho. "I'm sorry, Cho, but I'm going to have to postpone our date."
"Oh…I guess I can go without you then," she said disappointedly.
"Great," Harry replied awkwardly. He didn't know what else to say so he just turned to his brother. "Let's go Danny."
Harry led Danny away with only a fleeting glance back to see that Cho had already run off to join some of her friends as they headed out of the Entrance Hall.
Once the two of were safely locked away inside an empty classroom, Harry grabbed Danny by the shoulders and leaned down to his eye level.
"Tell me what's wrong, Danny."
"It happened again," Danny said frightfully as he lifted up his sleeve to reveal the bracelet.
And there, right down the center of the ruby that held Danny's excess magic, a crack had split it in two.
A chill went down Harry's spine. There was nothing holding back Danny's magic now.