I own nothing.
A/N: As always, please enjoy and review. And don't worry about this first scene. There is a plan for everything in this story. Trust me.
Chapter XXII
August 1993
Mick White loved working in the outdoors. Growing up in Australia for the last fifty years, Mick had a plethora of options. So it should come to no surprise that he would be a ranger in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The crown jewels of this lovely park was Uluru and Kata Tjuta sandstone formations. Both were rich in aboriginal history and carried deep spiritual meaning for the local tribes.
Mick's assignment was to watch over Kata Tjuta. The majority of his work was to guide tourists around the rock formation and tell the history of the local cultures who saw the two sites as spiritual landmarks.
It was late evening and Mick was doing his nightly inspection of the grounds before he headed home. He had an early walkabout the next morning. He was just about done when a blinding white light shot up into the sky in the distance.
"What the—?" Mick stared at the light coming up from the direction of Uluru. "No one should be there."
Uluru was over fifty kilometers away and yet the light was easily visible. Mick was the only one that did the nightly inspections. He enjoyed having the park all to himself and the freedom to walk through the scenery unencumbered. Whoever was over there was not supposed to be.
"Damn teenagers," he grumbled under his breath as he called it in to the dispatch. A couple of the local youths from Yulara had recently taken it upon themselves to add their own drawings to the ancient artwork; extremely vulgar ones at that.
He quickly hopped into his jeep and slammed on the accelerator. As he drove, he stared at the odd light. It was far too bright to stem from simple flashlights.
'How did those damn kids get their hands on floodlights?'
As he neared Uluru, it became clearer that the light was coming from the northwest side of the formation. Once he was there, he jumped out of his jeep and raced to the source of the light.
"Alright you little—" Mick stopped dead as his jaw literally dropped. There were no floodlights and no kids. What he saw, he could hardly believe possible.
The ancient drawings on the rock face were glowing brightly and moving in a circular pattern. Just above them, a great pillar of light shot out directly from the rock surface.
Mick stumbled forward, his eyes followed the tremendous light up into the heavens. He stopped in front of the rock wall and watched the ancient drawings he had seen so many times dance across the wall. He reached out to touch one of the moving figures, but as his hand made contact, a great burst of energy shot out and set Mick hurdling backwards. He landed in a dusty heap and was knocked out for a few minutes.
When his eyes opened, it was just in time to witness a gap begin to form in the center of the wall. The opening expanded until it was the size of a door and a silhouette of a man could be seen.
Mick was in complete shock and his mind could barely register the naked man that stepped out and collapsed to the ground. The man's entire body radiated the same white light as the symbols on the wall.
Maniacal laughter filled the quiet desert air just as Mick started to get up again. He watched as the glowing man rose to his feet and spread his arms to the sky in exaltation as his laughter grew. The man then brought down his arms and stared into them with deep concentration. Slowly the light emanating from his body began to dim until only his hands were lit. The man then closed his fists and breathed in deeply.
"Your power is now mine, boy," said the man in a low menacing voice before he once again laughed diabolically.
Suddenly finding his voice, Mick called out. "Sir, you're not allowed to be here."
The man looked at him. "What year is it, Muggle?"
"What did you call me?" He'd never heard of a 'Muggle' before.
The man, though, hissed impatiently. "The year!"
"1993." Mick's voice trembled as he watched patches of blistering red rashes appear randomly on the man's naked body. Chunks of hair and skin blew away with each passing breeze. It was like the man's body was breaking apart.
"Three years." The man inspected his body and the signs of his deterioration, and yet, did not seem frightened. "How so much has changed." The man started to laugh again as he peeled away layers of skin from his arm.
"Who are you?" Mick's voice trembled.
The man looked at him again and Mick saw his eyes turn completely red. "I am the Chosen One."
"Wha—"
"Avada Kedavra." A flash of green and Mick was dead.
A loud buzzing sound was ringing through Potter Cove and it was driving James crazy. He searched and searched the rather large house but found nothing. He even tried 'Accio Buzzing Thing' but apparently that wasn't good enough for magic. He finally had to resolve himself to erecting a silence ward around him and his wheelchair. James put in some ear plugs just for good measure. He now sat comfortably in the sun room with a copy of the Daily Prophet that Sirius delivered.
Given the ward, though, it took a while before James realized that Lily was yelling at him. James mimed that he couldn't hear her which only caused her to scream louder.
He managed to read her lips well enough to know she was saying, 'Put down the ward, you moron.'
James did so and took out the ear plugs.
"James! Why didn't you tell me the alarm was going off?" She yelled irately. She had been outside in her potions garden and hadn't heard the alarm.
"What alarm!?" Obviously, she was talking about the buzzing sound but not why there was an alarm in the first place.
"The alar—oh, never mind!" Lily raced out the room. James was about to follow her but she quickly returned with a single book making an awful lot of noise.
"This alarm." Lily held up the book before tapping her wand on the cover to silence it.
"What is it?" From his vantage point, the only distinguishing feature the book had was that it was purple.
Lily sat down at the dining table and started thumbing through it. "This book automatically updates with the current magical energy level at certain places around the world. The alarm goes off when there has been a drastic change."
"Sounds rare."
"Extremely rare." Lily started scribbling notes as she leafed through the pages. "There are only a few copies in the world because the spells on them are so complex."
"I didn't know my family's library had something like that." Even after thirteen years, James had yet to get through every book in their library but only because he wasn't much of a reader.
Lily looked extremely guilty as she squirmed in her chair and refused to look at James. "It didn't. I had to buy it."
"How much?" Her nervousness made him nervous.
"20,000 galleons," she replied timidly and then braced herself.
"For a book! Lily!" At the current exchange rate, that came to about ₤100,000.
"I needed it!" she defended.
"But...20,000...I..." James felt he was about to faint. While his family's vault could swallow the blow, it certainly made their pile of gold smaller...and for a book.
"It was a good thing I did. Look." Lily thrust the book into James's hands.
James looked at the page but, in his mind, it didn't bloody matter what it said. 20,000 galleons!
On the page, though, the header read, 'The Six Pillars of the Magical World,' and had detailed illustrations and to the minute readouts of the magical levels at Stonehenge, Machu Picchu, the Pyramids of Giza, the Great White Pyramid, the Pyramid of Teotihuacan, and Uluru.
The most striking thing about the page, though, was the big bold zero printed next to Uluru. The other locations, meanwhile, were steadily rising.
"Zero, James, zero. Not even after an Event does the levels reach zero." The Event she referred to was when natural magic was ejected into space once they reached too high of a level, at least, according to Lily's theory.
"What does it mean?"
Lilly pondered it for a second but nothing came to her.
"It doesn't make any sense. Uluru has had the lowest readings for the last three years. Nothing should have triggered an Event. If anything it would have been Stonehenge."
"Why there?" James looked back to the book and did notice that the Stonehenge reading was higher than all the rest.
"Well, my theory is that since Danny has such a high level of magic emissions that more magic is being pulled to that site but we're talking only a hundredth of a percent each year."
"So...?" This was all way over James's head. At best, he helped grease the wheels that turned in Lily's mind.
"So if Danny's magic causes Stonehenge to go up then something must have been causing Uluru to go down."
"Or someone."
Fear flashed across Lily's face. "All the way to zero."
September 1993
Harry was excited and nervous both at the same time. He and Danny stood on the Hogsmeade station platform waiting for the train to arrive so they could take the carriages to the castle. Harry strained his neck to look down the tracks for signs of the train.
When he still saw nothing, he relaxed a little and turned to Danny. His brother had a knowing grin and was softly chuckling. Danny knew what had his brother so jumpy.
"Eager to see your girlfriend." Danny then proceeded to making kissing noises which earned him a hard punch to the shoulder.
"Ow! Merlin, Harry, I was just joking," he said as he rubbed his shoulder.
The jokes had been going on all summer and, frankly, Harry was tired of them. His family just wouldn't leave it alone that Harry was now in a relationship with Daphne Greengrass.
"You just wait until you get a girlfriend." Danny's smile dropped slightly and didn't say anything else. Harry couldn't help but smile a little at that.
The truth was that Harry was a little nervous about seeing Daphne. Their relationship had been so new at the end of term last year and they had spent the entire summer without seeing each other. All forms of correspondence weren't allowed at Potter Cove.
'I hope she hasn't changed her mind.' They had already worked through a lot of the awkwardness that can occur when two friends decide to become something more. And while things had been going great before they both left for the summer, Daphne was still a hard person to read.
So as each day grew closer to September 1st, whispers of doubt crept into his mind.
"There she is," cried Hagrid joyfully. Harry understood that Hagrid was referring to the Hogwarts Express but, for him, it was like he was talking about Daphne. She was almost here.
A giant head of steam ushered in the Hogwarts Express as it slowly came to a stop at the station. Instantly, the doors opened a sea of students who loudly and joyously made their way to the carriages.
Harry looked every which way for dark hair and blue eyes in Slytherin green. He felt a tap on his shoulder and when he turned to Danny he saw him pointing into the crowd. Harry followed the finger to see Daphne striding towards them; her eyes set on him.
The look in her eyes erased any doubt in Harry's mind. Warm fuzzy feelings started bubbling up inside him as each second brought her closer to him.
"There's Hermione, I'll see you after the feast, Harry." Harry felt Danny tap him on the shoulder before he walked off to his own female friend.
Harry's eyes, though, never left Daphne who finally reached him.
"Take that stupid grin off your face," she said in her typical Daphne tone. "We have a reputation to uphold."
His smile grew a little bigger at her warm 'hello.' "It's nice to see you too."
Daphne rolled her eyes at him. "Well come on. If we don't hurry, we won't be able to have a carriage to ourselves." She grabbed his hand and tried to pull him with her but, instead, Harry pulled her right into his chest and lightly wrapped his arms around her.
"Not until you say hello to me." He said with a cheeky grin.
Daphne understood he didn't meant the actually word 'hello' and leaned up to give Harry a kiss on the cheek.
"Happy now?" she asked, clearly annoyed.
Harry wasn't and leaned down to give her a long kiss on the lips. She resisted a little at first, as she was not one for public displays of affection, but she eventually relaxed into it until she suddenly pulled away.
"Wait until we're in the carriage, you prick." Her eyes had a slight glaze in them which made Harry very pleased with himself. He had been thinking about that all summer.
Daphne grabbed his hand and tried again to drag him towards the carriages. Harry allowed it this time and stepped in line with her as they comfortably held hands until they reached their destination.
They quickly found an empty buggy, got in, and locked the door. Almost immediately, Daphne grabbed his face and brought him to her. Her soft lips pressed firmly to his and sent a warm current through his body. Her hands relaxed and fell to rest across the back of his neck. Merlin did he miss this and apparently so did she.
When they finally pulled apart, Daphne sighed contently. "This whole communication blackout is very annoying."
"I know but there's nothing we can do." In truth, there was, but his father wasn't comfortable giving one of their communication mirrors to someone outside the family. Daphne's continued ambivalence towards Danny also didn't help the matter all that much.
Daphne huffed and sat back in her seat. "This summer was dreadfully dull."
"Mine wasn't so bad." Despite his family's unrelenting teasing.
"No more nightmares?"
"Only a few times." The graveyard dreams had subsided for the most part. Harry subconsciously rubbed the middle of his chest where the remains of his burn scars lied. He wasn't going to tell her about his new nightmares where he lived in a world of fire.
Daphne noticed the attention he gave to his chest and reached out to place her hand over his.
"Does it still hurt?" she asked concerned.
"No." Looking at her with a smile to assure her. As he stared at her, Harry suddenly noticed a new addition to Daphne's school robes that was a tremendous surprise to him.
"How did you make prefect?" Just the thought of her listening to student complaints and being a student role model was hilarious.
"Don't get me started." Daphne irritably crossed her arms. "Percy Weasley has the biggest stick up his ass I have ever seen. He actually had the nerve to tell me to pay attention and be nice to the other prefects. I don't do nice."
Harry huffed amusingly, all the while thanking Merlin he didn't have to do any of that himself.
"I'm more surprised that they didn't make you one." She looked a little disappointed.
"I'm not complaining."
"Well I am. It would certainly have helped us."
"What did you spend all summer planning?" he chastised sarcastically.
"You joke but this year is crucial. Malfoy has the upper hand in popularity. One slip up on our part, one instant where he shows he's better—no matter how improbable that may be—and he's got it. At least with me as prefect, we can punish him. We should—"
"I already know what we can do," Harry interrupted her. A small grin started to form at her obvious disbelief.
"You do?" Daphne threw him some serious shade.
Harry hummed a 'yes.' His grin getting a little bigger.
Daphne folded her arms again. "What?"
"You'll have to wait and see," he teased cryptically.
But Daphne was having none of that. "No you'll tell me now."
Harry hummed a 'no.'
"Yes," she fired back emphatically. Her irritation growing on how little her intimidation was working on him. His smug grin certainly wasn't helping.
Harry hummed another 'no.'
"Stop humming!" she screamed.
Undeterred, Harry hummed 'no' again.
Her expression then turned suddenly calm and she sent him a seductive gaze as she scooted closer to him.
"I could just make you tell me," she said sultry.
"How are you going to manage that?" His voice cracked a little as she pressed her body into his and placed her head right beside his ear.
"I have ways." She pressed herself firmly against his body and Harry could feel...everything. Harry gulped nervously.
"What makes you think they're going to work?"
"You're a teenage boy and I have female parts." Her voice was soft and seductive. Her lips brushed softly against his ear. She then slowly brought them right in front of Harry's lips.
"You make a fair point." He definitely had to give her that. The softness of her body against his was feeling that sent his mind into a warm haze.
Their lips were now nearly touching, not to mention other parts of her that were pressing against him. Harry could feel her breath and wanted so much to taste her sweet lips again, but...
"Nope." Harry somehow managed to find the will to pull back.
Daphne punched him hard in the stomach. "You ass."
When Harry and Daphne stepped into the Great Hall, Harry casually glanced over the head table. Who he saw there, though, immediately grabbed his attention.
"What's Lord Malfoy doing here?"
"You didn't hear?" Daphne looked shock that he didn't know. "There was an empty chair on the Board of Governors and he ran unopposed—or so says the Daily Prophet. His campaign centered on his concern for the welfare of the school, especially, after what happened with you and Professor Quirrell."
That was troubling news, indeed. Harry knew they would be some kind of repercussions for what happened. A wizard was now completely comatose in St. Mungo's long-term care ward, for Merlin's sake. But this was not what Harry was expecting.
"How does he have time for that?" With all of Lord Malfoy's international dealings, Harry was surprised he could fit yet another commitment to his schedule.
"He claimed that nothing was more important than ensuring 'our future's' safety and that it was his 'parental duty' to use his influence to get involved. The Board and community were more than happy to have the powerful Lord Malfoy join them," said Daphne, accenting Malfoy's title sarcastically (though it really was true).
This was really not good. If Malfoy Senior had set his eyes on Hogwarts, there was no telling how far Malfoy Junior would go this year to gain control.
Once all the students had arrived, the first years were ushered in and the sorting ceremony began. Like in past years, Harry only casually paid attention; listening for any names of note. His focus was more on Lord Malfoy and the smug grin on Draco's face. Lord Malfoy's eyes mostly just scanned the room, though Harry noticed his gaze land on Danny on multiple occasions. He certainly wasn't interested in conversing with the person seated next to him. Harry didn't know if it was intentional or not but seeing blood-purist Lucius Malfoy seated between the half-giant Hagrid and half-goblin Professor Flitwick certainly put a small smile on Harry's face.
After the final student was sorted, Dumbledore rose to the podium.
"I have but a few announcements before we partake in our lovely feast. First off, I would like to welcome Lord Lucius Malfoy who has decided to take the time out of his busy schedule to ensure that our school year begins without a hitch." There was a brief pause as applause rang out up and down the Slytherin table. Lord Malfoy simply raised a hand in acknowledgement but didn't rise from his chair.
"I would also like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart."
A rapturous ovation, much louder than Malfoy's and mostly female, rang out as a man with flowing blonde hair and a dashing smile rose to his feet and gave a bow and a wink.
"Who?" Harry asked. He'd never heard of the man but he was clearly famous.
'Two surprises in one day,' he pondered. Clearly his communication blackout over the summers was becoming a problem.
"You don't know who Gilderoy Lockhart is?" Daphne stared at him incredulously.
"Should I?" Pop culture wasn't really his forte.
"He's only written every book we have this year on defense," she said as if it was common knowledge.
"Oh those." Harry recalled the long list of gimmicky titled books on their supply list. "Didn't read them."
"But you always read ahead." A fact Harry always scolds everyone, besides Danny and Hermione, for not doing.
Harry shrugged. "There were seven of them."
Daphne couldn't believe she had to explain this. "He's the foremost expert on dark magical creatures and has over thirty confirmed cases of stopping dangerous creatures—"
"Creatures like werewolves." Harry interrupted heatedly.
Daphne paused. The topic of werewolves and their treatment in their society was always a touchy subject. She removed the contention from her voice and spoke plainly. "Wouldn't your uncle want to be stopped if he lost control and threatened innocent people?"
Harry didn't answer the rhetorical question. The Wolfsbane Potion was a proven remedy to tame the beast inside all werewolves. The fact that innocent werewolves like his Uncle Moony, who wanted nothing more than a normal life, were still persecuted and hunted would always be a hot topic for Harry and his family.
Harry's eyes drifted back to Lockhart who continued to smile and wink at various people in the hall. A quick look around and it seemed that many of the girls couldn't take their eyes off him.
"Bloody hell, can you believe this..." Harry's voice died when he noticed Daphne with a similar expression of awe and admiration for their new Defense professor. She quickly fell back into her normal self but with a small amount of pink in her cheeks.
"You've got to be kidding me." Daphne was not a fan-girl. She did not get gooey-eye. What was going on?
"Shut up." She looked away and composed herself, slipping back into her usual persona.
The food then appeared and everyone tucked in. Harry first went for his glass of pumpkin juice. Once he picked it up, though, he noticed a small slip of paper hidden underneath.
"What's that?" Daphne asked.
"I don't know." Harry picked up the note and unfolded it.
Please meet me after the feast.
"Who sent it?" Daphne asked after reading over his shoulder.
Harry looked around and ended up staring at Dumbledore. The Headmaster raised his goblet and both of them understood.
"What does he want with you?" she asked with a slight growl. She obviously hadn't forgiven the Headmaster for the danger he put Harry in last year.
"I don't know," he answered wearily. But Harry was going to be finding out very soon.
Harry stood impatiently outside the stone gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office. The Welcome Feast had just ended and Harry was waiting for the Headmaster to arrive. He only garnered a few curious glances from the passing students on the way to their respective common rooms. Daphne had insisted on waiting with him but her prefect duties required her to patrol the halls.
It was once the hall was clear that Harry saw Dumbledore and Lord Malfoy approach. They were in a deep conversation but it stopped once they realized that Harry was standing there.
"You wished to speak with me, Headmaster." Harry kept his hands intertwined behind his back and spoke with the all-due respect both men required. Despite his disdain for Lord Malfoy, he was still a powerful man with a strong hold on the public opinion. There was no need to give him a reason to assert that the Heir Apparent of House Potter did not maintain proper decorum.
"Yes, of course." Dumbledore nodded slightly and indicated to Lord Malfoy. "Please, allow me to conclude my business with Lord Malfoy—"
"I believe I've said all I need to say, Headmaster," Lord Malfoy interrupted, making the intention to leave.
Dumbledore bowed slightly. "Very well."
The two men shook hands.
"I'll be sure to inform you of the Board's decision." Just from his tone, the simple statement sounded every bit like a threat.
"I await eagerly," said Dumbledore with a distinct falseness. "Good evening, Lord Malfoy."
"Good evening, Headmaster."
Malfoy gave a long look at Harry before he turned and left. Once he was out of sight, Dumbledore walked to stand next to Harry and ushered him to the gargoyle statue.
"After you, Harry."
They both stepped onto the revolving staircase until it reached Dumbledore's office door. Dumbledore escorted them to his desk and they both sat down.
"I'm sure you're wondering why I wished to speak with you."
Harry ignored that for a moment and asked a more pressing question. "What's going on with Lord Malfoy?"
"Lord Malfoy is just a concerned parent, Harry." Dumbledore tried and failed to deflect the question he no doubt saw coming.
"You and I both know he's more than that, Headmaster. What decision was he talking about?"
Dumbledore let off a long sigh before answering. "They're deciding on whether or not the incident last year between you and Professor Quirrell is a sign that I should retire as Headmaster."
"And you can't tell them what it was really all about." They couldn't reveal the involvement of the Philosopher's Stone or that the entire operation had become a trap for a dangerous wizard. If they did, then the Board of Governors, i.e. Lord Malfoy, may not need to wait for an excuse to give Dumbledore the sack.
"Indeed, and yet," Dumbledore paused in contemplation. "I had the distinct impression that Lord Malfoy knew more than he should."
"You think he was the benefactor." It seemed like such an obvious choice that Harry was surprised he hadn't thought of it himself.
"Lord Malfoy has and still is acquiring a considerable amount of power throughout all of Europe. With his resources, he could very well have helped Quirinus reach as far as he did."
"Shouldn't the Circle stop him at some point, that's what Uncle Sirius said?" His godfather had explained that the Circle never allows one of its members to gain more power than the Circle itself.
Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "No doubt they will try and soon, too, if my calculations are correct. What I fear, though, is what will happen when they do."
"What can I do to help?" Harry saw no other way around it. He may still be mad at Dumbledore but there were bigger things going on.
Dumbledore's brow instantly rose at his question before he smiled softly. "Thank you for the offer. I was not expecting it. I was still under the impression that you were upset with me."
"I am," Harry did not want that to be in question. "But we're still on the same side. Just as long as I don't have to drop down any trapdoors this time."
Dumbledore held up his hands. "I assure you there are none."
"Then please, what can I do?"
The mood of the conversation changed now that the elephant in the room had been addressed.
"I wonder if you noticed that the fifth year Slytherin class lacked a male prefect," the Headmaster said coyly.
Harry didn't. He never much cared about prefects and saw them as nothing more than glorified hall monitors. He was quite glad that his Hogwarts letter this year came unencumbered. But now...
"You asked me here because you want me to be prefect."
"I must say that Professor Slughorn was quite adamant about it." A soft smile told Harry that he knew about Harry's disdain for the Potion professor. "However, I would not approve the appointment without first speaking with you. I did not want you to think it was an attempt to win back your favor."
Harry wasn't going to say that that was the worst idea on how to get back into his good graces.
Dumbledore opened a draw and pulled a small badge of the Hogwarts shield with a large 'P' in its center.
Harry stared long and hard at it. Everything in him wanted to say 'no.' He didn't want to spend his time going to meetings, going on patrols, checking broom closets, etc. It would all amount to a tremendous waste of time.
'But you'd get to go on patrols with Daphne: alone.' A voice said in his mind that suddenly didn't make the idea sound so bad.
Without saying a word, Harry reached over and took the badge into the palm of his hand. He rubbed his finger over the 'P' before he looked up at the Headmaster.
"I'll do it."
"Thank you, Harry." Dumbledore looked extremely relieved. "It's important that this year runs smoothly. As prefect and your position as a student leader, this shall help solidify your authority in your house. An authority that must be maintained."
Without saying it directly, Harry understood that it was now more important than ever that Draco not overthrow his reign as leader of Slytherin House. Especially knowing that Draco's first act would be to get rid of Harry's rules and aggressively reignite the violent side of the inner-house rivalries. It would be an additional push Lord Malfoy would need to claim that Dumbledore was no longer capable of managing the youth of Magical Britain.
Harry walked into the Slytherin Common Room the next morning, his hand absentmindedly adjusting his new prefect badge. It felt strange having it there even though it didn't add any extra weight or impede his movements. What it was, was a constant reminder that he now had to put more of an effort in actually caring what his peers were doing.
"You prat!" Daphne stepped into the common room and approached him. "You were made prefect and lied to me!"
"No, I only found out last night," he explained.
Daphne cooled down a little. "That's what the Headmaster wanted with you."
Harry nodded. "Dumbledore needs my help to keep things in line because Lord Malfoy is putting pressure on him." Harry tapped the badge. "This will make it easier for me to do so."
"And you agreed!? After what he did!" she yelled irately.
"There are more important things going on." Harry held up her hand to stop another tirade. "That doesn't mean I'm happy about it or that I wanted to, but it needs to be done." Daphne started to calm down as Harry slipped his hand into hers. "Besides, now we have more of an excuse to spend time together."
She rolled her eyes. "As if we don't already." She had let it go but Harry had a distinct impression that she was still going to hold a grudge against the Headmaster.
Harry leaned down for a soft kiss. "Come on, I'm hungry."
They were just about to reach the exit wall when an annoyingly familiar voice called out to them.
"So you two are the new prefects," said Malfoy glibly. He was surrounded by his usually goons, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Which means we'll be watching you," warned Daphne.
"I'm flattered." Malfoy leered at Daphne. "You're free to watch me anytime." He finished with a snicker which Crabbe and Goyle stupidly echoed.
"Have your balls even dropped far enough to make that statement?" Daphne fired back with a belittling glare.
Malfoy smirked and wiggled his eyebrows. "Care to found out, Greengrass?"
Daphne did an exceptional impression of holding back vomit...or she actually was.
Malfoy sneered and turn his attention back to Harry. "My father will be proposing some changes at Hogwarts soon. One of which will be the clear lack of evaluation on prefect assignments. A half-blood and a blood-traitor." Malfoy shook his head regretfully. "Such a clear disrespect of Slytherin values."
"You being the expert." Harry said in a way that really said he didn't believe Malfoy was an expert in anything.
"My family has been in Slytherin for generations. Our blood has never been tainted. And my father is currently in charge of more than ten director boards." Malfoy grinned smugly as he went in to for the final word. "Which only makes it a matter of time before he controls the Board of Governors and in effect, Hogwarts."
"That's all very nice," Harry started with mock praise. "But as long as I'm here, you will control nothing."
Harry placed his hand to the small of Daphne's back and escorted them both out of the common room, ignoring Malfoy's deadly stare following them.
Harry and Daphne walked peacefully together to the Great Hall. Though it was only the first day of the year, the couple could already tell that their new relationship status had gotten around. They had kept it a secret at the end of last year. The relationship had been so new and it had been so close to the end of the year that they didn't want any added attention. Now, though, after their few brief public displays of affection, the word was out and, if possible, students were even more intimated by them. People were actually turning and walking the other way when he and Daphne walked hand-in-hand down the hall.
Daphne, particularly, seemed to enjoy the new reverence she and Harry now possessed and Harry could already see the wheels turning in her head on how to use it to their advantage. Harry, though, just didn't understand it.
"Why does it matter that we're together now?" It wasn't like they were never seen together before they became a couple.
Daphne rolled at eyes. "Because now they know we're an unbreakable force to be reckon with."
"And we weren't before?" he asked confused.
"It's different now," she insisted though didn't elaborate further.
Harry still didn't understand. "But why?"
"Just because!" She exclaimed, annoyed that he wasn't getting it.
Harry held up his hand in defeat and promised not to bring it up anymore. They made it to the Great Hall and took their normal seats. As they were beginning to eat their breakfast, Fred and George walked up to them.
"Harry, we did what you asked," George reported.
"And?"
"And they agreed," Fred said with a nod.
"What about the other houses?" That was more important than anything.
Daphne looked back and forth between Harry and the twins; becoming increasingly angry with every word spoken.
"You told them your plan," she hissed.
"Technically, I told Danny who then told them." It was obvious that that excuse wasn't going to fly, especially with the open rivalry between her and the twins. "And because I needed their help."
Fred and George smiles grew insanely large at Daphne's annoyed expression.
"Yeah, he needed our help." Fred and George smugly pointed at each other.
"We're important parts of his plan."
Daphne turned her deadly stare on them. Fred and George dropped the smiles and quickly pointed a finger at Harry. "He made us do it."
Daphne turned back to Harry. "If you don't tell me right now, I'll never..." she stopped and looked at the twins before she leaned and whispered into Harry's ear.
Harry couldn't help the small blush at what she said but wasn't deterred. "That's an empty threat and you know it."
Daphne certainly didn't look like she was. "Watch me."
They stared intently at each other but when Harry wouldn't back down, Daphne huffed indignantly.
"I can't believe you're being this childish."
"I'm fifteen aaand I'm male as you so love reminding me." It felt good to turn some of her own insults against her.
Daphne responded by folding her arms and looking away indifferently. "I just expected better from you."
"And I expect you to trust that I can handle this."
Daphne ripped her head back to face him. "So now you're making this about trust!"
As Harry and Daphne continued to bicker, Fred and George conferred.
"They're supposed to be together now, right."
"If they are, they're doing it wrong."
Harry held up a finger to stop the argument to turn back to the twins. "What did the other houses say?"
Daphne, not appreciating the finger in her face, reached out and twisted the offending appendage. Harry grimaced as he ripped his finger away from her and tried to shake the pain away.
"They agreed too."
"You just need to name the time and place."
Harry turned back to Daphne and smiled teasingly. "Where and when?"
"Oh, we're doing it tonight," she said definitively and then immediately regretted her choice of wording.
Fred and George snorted and fought back grins at the double meaning. Before Daphne could threaten their disembowelment, Danny and Hermione arrived.
Hermione astute observation skills easily noticed the tension at the table. "What's going on?"
"Apparently Greengrass and Harry are going to be getting it on tonight." Fred and George accented their statement with a few suggestive pelvic thrusts.
Daphne was not amused.
"You both know what I can do to you."
Fred and George visibly gulped.
"I'm going to just stay out of this," said Danny, going with the safest option.
"Good call." Harry nodded.
"Harry, enjoy what little time you have left in this world." Daphne got up and grabbed her bag. "I'll see you in class."
Harry watched her leave. Daphne usually wasn't the one to walk away, especially when she had the chance to threaten Fred and George more. He hoped she was just upset with him and not an attempt to avoid Danny like she had done last year.
"So when's the meet, Harry?"
"Tonight," Harry turned back to the twins. "I'll have the location to you by lunch."
"Sounds good."
Click! Flash!
Harry immediately honed in on the camera shutter and his expression darkened. Over by the Gryffindor table, the second year Colin Creevey, Hogwarts unofficial photographer, had just snapped a photo of him and his group. Last year, this had only happened a few times and Harry was convinced by Danny to let it go arguing that Creevey was harmless. This year, though, Creevey had gotten a hold of a magical camera.
Harry got to his feet and walked over to Creevey who never took a smile off his face.
"Hi, Harry! Would you and Danny mind signing—?" His question was interrupted by Harry swiping the camera from Creevey's hands.
"You like it! I saved up all summer to get a magical one. It's so cool that pictures can move."
As Creevey excitedly prattled on, Harry turned the camera around, popped open the back, and ripped out the film.
"Ummm, Harry I haven't finished the roll yet. I'll get you a copy later, if you want."
Harry dropped the film on the table, pulled his wand, and incinerated it. As he handed the camera back to a speechless Creevey, Harry leaned in and whispered.
"If I see you take a single picture of me or my brother, you will not live to take another photograph. Understand?"
"Y-y-yes, sir."
Harry looked around and noticed all the shocked faces. Thinking quickly, "No flash photography in the Great Hall. Five points from Gryffindor."
As Harry walked back to the Slytherin table and his friends, many shocked and dark looks followed him. The only person that didn't seem to care was Fred and George's younger sister, Ginny, but only because she was far too engrossed in writing in a beat-up looking diary.
When Harry made it back to his friends, though, their looks of shock were unavoidable.
"There's no rule against taking pictures, Harry," Hermione chided.
"There is now," Harry put forth.
"Magical photos move," informed Danny dourly.
What Danny meant by that dawned on her. "Which means your photo-self might reveal your secret," she said in a low whisper.
"Yeah." Danny confirmed as he grumpily turned around and left the Great Hall.
Harry watched him leave, not understanding Danny's sudden mood change.
"I'll get back to you with the details for tonight."
Harry grabbed his bag and followed his little brother. It didn't take long to find him heading towards the Main Entrance.
"Danny! Wait up!"
Danny stopped disgruntledly and waited for Harry to reach him.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." But there was clearly something. "I'm just tired of hiding. I'm tired of you and me having to watch every move I make. I'm tired that every time you have to do something just like that," Danny pointed at the Great Hall to refer to what just happened. "Everyone thinks that you're some dark wizard and I'm too weak to stand up to you."
Harry could tell Danny's anger was starting to rise. A soft glow began to emanate from Danny's hands. Harry immediately covered them with his as he looked around. Thankfully, they were alone.
Meanwhile, Danny took a few calming breaths and put his hands into his robe pockets. Harry put his arm around Danny's shoulder and led them the rest of the way out of the castle and immediately to the right to avoid being seen. Danny leaned against the castle wall as Harry finished a privacy ward around them.
Harry knew that they needed to clear the air before going back into the castle. They couldn't afford any underlying anger to spring forth and cause Danny to expose himself.
"Talk to me, Danny."
When Danny spoke, his tone much more melancholy. "It's just...the things they say about you sometimes..." Harry didn't need Danny to explain. He was well aware of some of the rumors about him, having encouraged some of them himself. "I want to yell at them, fight them sometimes for what they say, but I can't. I can't do anything."
"I know it's not fair—"
"Fair doesn't even begin to describe it, Harry."
Harry stood right in front of Danny and placed his hands on his shoulders. "One day, the world will know who we really are and you will never have to hide again. I want that for the both us so badly, but–"
"–But that day isn't today, right?" Danny interrupted heatedly. "That's what you were about to say."
"Soon, Danny. Soon."
"Welcome class to Defense Against the Dark Arts, Year Five. Taught by me, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart. Order of Merlin, Third Class, Member of the Dark Force Defense League, and five time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award." Lockhart smiled wide and winked at a few of the students. Their first lesson wasn't in the traditional classroom but in one of the larger chambers on the first floor. The last time Harry had been here was for Slughorn's Christmas party and Harry had the sinking feeling that this experience was going to be just as enjoyable.
"Oh, please," Harry said quietly under his breath. A quick look around, though, saw the entire class hanging on Lockhart's every word; even Daphne, though, she was much more subtle about it.
"Now, I've asked your class to meet here because over the course of this year, we will be studying offensive spells and how to defend yourself against a person or creature that wishes you harm." Lockhart walked towards the middle of the room and instructed the class to line along the wall.
"I shall now demonstrate for you what I expect all you will be capable of by the end of this year."
Ten life-size mannequins surrounded Lockhart with different numbers painted on their chests. Harry recognized them as combat dummies that were often used in Auror training. The numbers on the chest indicated the level of difficulty the dummy would fight at. Mostly, there were fives and sixes but there was one level nine.
Daphne leaned in to Harry. "Could you beat them?"
"There's no way. They'll destroy him." Harry even doubted if his father or Uncle Sirius could have defeated these kind of odds, and they had been some of the top Auror's in the corp.
The look in Lockhart's eyes, though, made Harry question that statement. The young professor raised his wand and in a loud confident voice cried.
"Begin!"
What proceeded was the greatest display of magic that Harry could remember seeing. The speed and sheer volume of spell work in the mere seconds it took Lockhart to eliminate each opponent was truly a sight to behold.
Once the last mannequin fell, which seemed like only seconds, the class erupted in applause. Even Harry had to pay his respect to the enormous feat that he just witnessed.
Lockhart, with a flourish of a stage actor, bowed and smiled at the admiration.
"Any questions?" Lockhart didn't even sound out of breath.
Everyone started yelling at once but none of questions had anything to do with the demonstration.
"Is that how you beat the seven trolls of Glencoe?"
"Tell us about the Mediterranean vampires."
"Can I have your autograph?"
Lockhart held his hands with a smile to quiet the class. "Now, now, I'm not here to talk about me and my past exploits."
Harry was grateful to hear it. He was here to learn, not listen to stories. It seemed like they finally had a competent teacher. Harry was so happy–
"But how can I resist all those charming little faces."
And for the next hour and a half, all they did was discuss Lockhart's first adventure against the Bandon Banshee and how the encounter with the frizzled hair specter inspired Lockhart to start his own line of shampoo which he just so happened to have samples of in his robes.
The whole time, Harry grumbly stood there with his arms crossed. Any attempt he made to turn the discussion back to Lockhart's demonstration were consistently ignored. Not even Daphne would support him. She was much more interested in the free samples of Lockhart's Occamy Egg Yolk Shampoo: not for herself, though, but for him.
"There is no excuse for you to have that hair." She held up a shampoo bottle for Harry to take.
"Your hair is more than prefect for the both of us," replied Harry as he sensually tucked a strand of Daphne's silky black hair behind her ear. The bottle remained completely untouched.
She looked more than appreciative for the compliment but was undeterred. "I'll wash it myself if I have to," she threatened.
The mental image of him and Daphne in a bath with her hands in his hair sent Harry in a slight stupor. It didn't last for very long, though, as Daphne quickly slapped him in the chest.
"In a sink, you pervert."
"No, right, I knew that." Harry came to his senses. "And there's nothing wrong with my hair."
Daphne turned away from him and muttered. "I'll just wait until he's sleeping."
"You two, Ms. Greengrass and Mr. Potter," Lockhart called over to them. "Come on over. You'll miss my demonstration of how I silenced the Bandon Banshee."
Daphne slipped her hand into Harry's and started pulling him over with the rest of the class.
"Let me guess. He used a Silencing Charm," Harry muttered so that only he and Daphne could hear. When Lockhart proved him right, Daphne dug her fingernails into his palm so he'd be quiet.
It looked like it was going to be a wasted year in Defense.
Later that evening, Harry found himself in an empty classroom on the third floor corridor. After the events of last year, people were still leery of going near that side of the castle. It was the perfect place for a secret meeting and had enough space to accommodate everyone.
"You're really going to make me wait to find out what this is all about." Daphne had been trying (unsuccessfully) to get Harry to reveal the purpose of this meeting all day.
Harry smiled and nodded his head. He enjoyed the role reversal of him teasing her instead of the usual other way around.
Daphne huffed indignantly. "I don't like you anymore."
Harry slipped his hand into hers and dropped the smile when he heard the first sounds of people arriving.
It was Fred, George, Hermione, and Danny who lead a small group of other Gryffindors into the room. Shortly after that, similar sized groups of Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws entered the room and each went to separate corners.
Harry gave a quick side glance at Daphne to see if she had figured it out yet. Her eyes darted back and forth between the groups. They seemed like a random collection of people but all of them had exactly one thing in common...
"Quidditch. Your plan is about Quidditch." Daphne rounded on Harry, seeking an explanation. She obviously wasn't convinced that this was the best course of action.
Before Harry could respond, a voice called out from the Hufflepuffs.
"Potter! Why did you ask us all here?" Asked Cedric Diggory, Seeker for the Hufflepuff team. There was a general murmuring of agreement.
"Yes, tell us Harry," Daphne added pointedly.
"Probably he wants to laugh at all us, right Potter." Cho, Ravenclaw's Seeker, called out.
"Or threaten us," one of the Gryffindor Chasers, Katie Bell, called out, clearly referring to the incident that morning at breakfast.
Harry remained stoic as he stepped forward to address the room.
"How would all of you like to beat Slytherin every match this year?"
"What!? You're can't be serious Potter," cried one of the Hufflepuffs.
"You're a Slytherin, you know." A Ravenclaw pointed out.
"I believe in fair play." Harry started pacing back and forth across the room. "It's not fair that Slytherin wins simply because Malfoy's father brought the team all Nimbus 2001's."
Harry paused to watch the different sneers everyone had over Lord Malfoy's obvious favoritism before he continued on.
"A sentiment which is also shared by my godfather, Lord Sirius Black, who has generously decided to invest his money in updating the school's broomsticks. Every one of you will be receiving the new top of the line Firebolts."
Stunned silence spread across the room. If Harry didn't have everyone's full attention before, he certainly did now.
"Are you serious?" asked Roger Davis, the Ravenclaw team captain. "That's...that's...a lot of money."
"He's a Black, they have more money than King Croesus," explained Angelina Johnson, a Gryffindor Chaser.
Cedric stepped up. "How are you going to explain why the Slytherins aren't getting them?"
"My godfather was in Gryffindor." For everyone in the room: enough said.
"Even with the brooms, how are you going to guarantee we always win?"
"And won't it hurt you if Slytherin never wins?" asked Davis with a suspicious stare. He obviously saw the political side of this arrangement.
"I'll survive." 'But Malfoy won't.' "And as for how...well...you all are better than the Slytherin team, right?"
It was true. And better yet, it would put all the pressure on Malfoy because how good a team played was always measured by the Seeker. With Diggory and Chang, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were clearly better at that position. They should have no problem out flying Malfoy now that the playing field had been made even.
'Which means Malfoy will get all the blame.'
Gryffindor, though, still did not have a new Seeker after their last one graduated, but Harry had a good idea on how to fill the roster spot.
As each team huddled together and talked among themselves, Daphne leaned in and whispered.
"I've never found you more attractive then right now."
"So you're not mad at me anymore?" He whispered back in a teasing tone.
"I'm furious," she deadpanned.
Harry chuckled softly.
The first team to agree–no surprise–were the Gryffindors followed quickly by the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. Cho and Cedric still glared at Harry but neither of them were going to give up the opportunity to defeat their heated rival on the pitch.
"Oh!" Harry forget to mention something important. "It should go without saying that you all not mention that I facilitated this arrangement or else my godfather might rethink his investment."
A look between the team captains and nods of agreement later, "Your secret will be safe with us."
"When do we get the brooms?" An eager Hufflepuff called out.
"I suggest you all make it to breakfast tomorrow." Excited whispering followed Harry's statement as each team made their way out the room. The Gryffindors were the last to leave.
"Wood!" Harry stopped the Gryffindor captain from leaving. "A moment, please."
"What is it, Potter?" Wood crossed his arms defensively as if he expected Harry to request something unreasonable.
"You're still looking for a new Seeker, right?" A glance in his periphery showed that Harry had Danny's attention.
"What?" Wood huffed. "You're offering to switch sides?"
"No," Harry looked over to Danny. "But I think you should give my brother a tryout."
Everyone still in the room was shocked. Danny couldn't quite believe what Harry had said.
"He any good?" Wood eyed Danny critically, evaluating his potential worth.
"He'll fly circles around you," Harry replied confidently.
Wood then turned to Danny and looked him over some more. "Well, he's got the right build for it. Tryouts are on Friday."
"I-I'll be there." A part of Danny was still in shock that he was going to be allowed to participate.
Wood gave him and Harry a curt nod before he left.
Now that it was only Harry and his friends left in the room, the mood relaxed.
"Thanks, Harry." Danny still didn't sound like he believed what just happened.
Harry walked over to him and placed a hand on Danny's shoulder. "Just show how them how Potters fly or else you'll have to answer to Dad."
At the mention of their father, Danny snapped out of his delirium. "Merlin! Dad! I've got to tell Dad!" Danny was practically skipping out the room with Hermione close behind him.
Harry couldn't help a small grin at his brother's enthusiasm. He hoped in some small way that it would make up for some of the things he's had to go through.
Harry felt a hand slip into his and he looked down at Daphne. The way she was looking at him right now sent very warm feelings through his body.
"That was very impressive." She actually sounded like she meant it, too. She softly pressed her body against his arm and Harry could smell her sweet vanilla scent.
"Impressive!" Fred blurted out. "That was bloody brilliant!"
We're going to get Firebolts!" George started bouncing on his feet in excitement.
The twin's outburst of excitement momentarily drew Harry's attention away from his girlfriend.
"They're not going to be yours, guys, they're the teams. You don't get to take them with you after you graduate."
Harry's statement, though, did little to deflate their giddiness.
"But Harry, buddy, we'll get to keep ours, right?"
"I mean, we're practically Padfoot's prodigies now."
"The deal is for the teams not the players." The twin's lower lips quivered which made Harry's eyes roll. "But you can ask him."
"Yes!" They cheered as if the Firebolts were already theirs.
"Harry, we should go." The look in Daphne's eye told Harry that they needed to be alone immediately.
Harry quickly turned back to the twins. "I'll see you later, guys." Daphne squeezed his hand and they were out the door with cat-calls following them.