Harry sighed as he shut the guest door behind him, as Hedwig flew in from the open window. He tugged the stupid tie from around his neck and threw it on the desk chair. The jacket followed quickly behind that. He dragged his exhausted, guilt ridden body face first onto his bed. He turned to see a happy Hedwig toying with a still live mouse within the confines of her still open cage. Harry, disgusted by both the display of predator and prey, as well as with himself, rolled over and closed his eyes. After only a few moments, the exhaustion took over and Harry was asleep.
Harry jolted upright on the bed, jerked awake by rapid knocks on the door. He sighed as he sleepily crossed the room to answer the door. Harry hesitated as his hand reached the door, his hand hovered over the handle, unsure that he wanted to see his angry and disappointed girlfriend.
Daphne pounded on Harry's door again. "Harry! Please open the door!" He heard her sobb.
Harry opened the door to see Daphne with tears trailing down her cheeks. He quickly put his hands on her waist and asked "What the hell happened?"
Daphne flung her arms around his neck, as she sobbed into his shoulder. "It - It was Umbridge. I don't even know why Daddy even invited her tonight," she sobbed uncontrollably clearly unable to speak.
"Who the hell is Umbridge?" Harry asked with a eyebrow raised. He couldn't fathom who Daphne was so upset about and why.
"She is some ministry bitch that is being put in the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor position next year," she continued to sob into his shoulder.
Harry sighed. It seemed even if he wasn't around, the people he loved got hurt. He wrapped his arms around her in hopes to calm her down. This Umbridge woman could wait.
Daphne visibly calmed a little when Harry wrapped her tighter in his arms. She pulled away slightly to explain, "I was a bit offended that she came to our formal party wearing a disgustingly pink business dress suit, not to mention that she was someone I did not know at my party. So I was a little rude when first meeting her, so Daddy corrected my attitude. It just came out naturally, I didn't meant to." Daphne defended herself, and taking a breathe, "And at first, while we talked in front of Daddy, she was being somewhat pleasant; however, she said you were being rude and disrespectful for leaving me at my own party since we were allowing you to stay here rather than at your aunt and uncle's."
"I became very defensive and told her it was none of her business what happened between you and I, and Daddy corrected my attitude for the second time. So, I excused myself and took my leave of the conversation and returned to the rest of the guests. Hours later when I had become tired of dancing with my drunken Great Uncle Ignatius, so I left the party and I found myself in a darkened corridor of my own home cornered by Umbridge." Daphne paused momentarily to conjure a handkerchief and wipe her nose, "she said we need to watch what we do next year. That she wouldn't allow things to continue the way they have been at Hogwarts. She also said that she would be in control of Hogwarts before the end of the year."
Harry looked at her anger growing at the Ministry, "First off, come into my room so you can cry in here. You can relax before you go to your room," he tempered his voice to not be angry.
Daphne nodded as he took her hand and led her inside the room shutting the door behind them.
"Come, let's sit down." Harry demanded. He felt so overwhelmed. He needed Daphne to calm down, now. He couldn't keep up with the theatrics.
Harry did not feel her resist as he led her to his bed and pulled her onto his lap hugging her tight to his body as he tried to calm her down. He felt her sigh deeply as she nuzzled her tear-stained face into his neck, her body became noticeably more relaxed as he held her. Harry continued to hold her, kissing her blonde head lightly.
Harry was silent as he rubbed her back slowly to calm her down. He didn't really mind what people said about him. He didn't understand why was she freaking out about it?
Daphne eventually stopped crying and she looked at Harry. "Why would she say that Harry?" she asked him. "I just don't understand."
"Ignore her," he said angrily, and shoved her on the bed, stood up and paced the room. Harry abruptly stopped in front of Daphne and stared at her even as she had began to argue her point.
"But Harry, why would she say we need to watch our backs? That doesn't make sense. She is meant to be a teacher, someone meant to protect us." Daphne said fearfully.
"Daphne, stop. We will deal with the issue once there. None of the teachers at Hogwarts actually protect us. Look at how McGonagall ignored the fact that I slept outside for months, rather than in our common room. They are fucking oblivious. At this point we will just ignore it." Harry stopped when he saw the side of her face, "What the bloody hell happened to your face?!" he asked her his voice raised, which caused her to jump.
He watched as she reached up and felt the side of her face, he could see the fear creep back into her face as before she angrily spoke, "She, she hit me. I told her not to go skulking around my home in the dark again because it was rude. And she struck me. I guess after she backed me up against a wall and grabbed my hair, covered my mouth, then told me I should watch my back, I was so terrified, I forgot everything but her words." Daphne told him, still holding her face.
Harry took her into his arms. "You will not leave my side at Hogwarts next year. I will be sure of that." he soothed her. He would not stand for any one laying their hands on her, for any reason. He vowed to protect her, and he'd already allowed her to get hurt. No more.
She nodded as she wiped the tears from her face. "I am sorry for freaking out Harry, she really scared me."
"Like I said, it's fine. There is no need to be scared. Don't let some paper pusher try to scare you. Let's relax for a bit, this has been a hell of a day," He pulled his shoes off, having slept with them on earlier, and laid down on the bed with a sigh.
"Okay Harry, would you like me to go?" she asked softly at his words, as she got up and walked to the door.
"I don't care what you do, Daphne." He said irritated that she didn't just decide to leave, but rather had to narrate her choices.
"If it's alright with you, I'd like to stay. I'd prefer not being alone right now," said timidly. She stood in the doorway and waited.
He nodded, "You can stay."
He watched as Daphne stood and unzipped her dress and slipped it down her arms. With a swoosh of fabric, her dress landed in a sea of emerald and gold on the floor. She stepped out of her shoes and turned around, and jumped slightly seeing that Harry was watching her, "Oh," she said as her face brightened with blush.
Daphne climbed onto the bed beside Harry and laid her head on the pillow beside his and wrapped her arm around his shoulder as he drew her nearer to him. She sighed into his touch. "I love you Harry. I'm not angry at you for leaving. I do understand that this life is entirely different from the one you came from and may be overwhelming for you."
"Thanks for saying that. Once I adjust, I will try again Daph. I will make it up to you." Harry said as he speckled kisses all across her face, paying special attention to her left cheek.
She kissed him back lightly, "I know you will, darling." She responded with a soft smile.
Harry deepened the kiss, using his tongue to swipe her lips, asking for entrance.
Daphne moaned softly as he did this allowing him to plunder her mouth with his tongue. She placed her hand upon the back of his head threading her fingers through his raven coloured hair.
He whispered as he broke away, "Good night." He laid his head on her chest and promptly fell asleep.
"Good night, my love," she whispered softly as she continued to rub his head softly until she finally fell asleep in his arms.