Author's Notes:
If I didn't respond to your review last chapter, I'm sorry. I've been traveling a lot without access to good internet connections.
Standard Disclaimer: It all belongs to JKR. That you JKR for letting us play with your toys.
I will continue to use the occasional song lyric in the story and will give credit at the time when needed.
This is the fifth book in my Slytherin Harry series.
Book 1 Harry Potter and the Muggle's Daughter.
Book 2: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Book 3: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Book 4: Harry Potter and the Blood Traitor's Daughter
Book 5: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
If you haven't read books 1-4 you won't know what's going on. But the bonus is you've got four completed books before you even get to this one!
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE
CHAPTER XX
Five Second Warnings
HPHPHP
Harry caught movement out of the corner of his eye and threw himself at Daphne, taking her to the ground with him. A flash of red streaked over them and impacted the wall across the street. Pulling her back up the two raced for cover into the nearest building. Spell-fire exploded against the ground all around their feet. He shoved her through the door and slammed it shut.
"All right?" she asked, moving to peer out the window.
Harry barricaded the door before giving himself the once over. "Fine. See anyone?"
"No."
"Good." He cast a number of charms and traps on the door in case someone tried coming in after them. "Come on." He dashed up the five flights of stairs to the roof and she hurried to follow." He paused for a second before opening the door to the roof.
"It's the tallest building in the village," she said.
"Right," Harry said. No one would be higher than them, making it safe to exit. He opened the door. Making sure to keep low they edged to the side of the building. Cautiously he peered over the ledge. A hail of spells flew at him. "Protego!" he cried and dove to the side. He rolled to his knees and pinned himself to the wall. Feeling his mirror vibrate in his pocket, he pulled it out. "Trapped on the roof of Zonkos," he said.
"We're pinned down in Gladrags," Hermione said.
"Madame Puddifoots," Ginny whispered.
"You're in Puddifoots with my boyfriend?" Daphne exclaimed.
"Seeing he's out cold, you don't have to worry about me snogging him," Ginny retorted.
"ZONKO'S IS ON FIRE." Mr Granger's amplified voice boomed. "FIRST FLOOR IS ENGULFED. TWO MINUTES TO ESCAPE OR YOU'RE DEAD."
"Gotta go," Harry said. He glanced at Daphne.
"Rules were, no apparating," she said, answering the implied question.
He pointed behind her. She turned. Just like the real Zonkos in Hogsmeade, there was a giant water tank on the roof of the building.
"It'll just sit on the roof," she said.
"Not if we blast a hole or two in it."
Daphne pointed her wand at the roof. "Defodio Maxima!" she cried. A foot wide hole was blasted in the roof.
"Move," Harry said. Daphne backed up and he trained his wand on the roof. "Defodio Maxima!" he snarled. The whole building shook with the force of the spell and the hole it blasted was, well, it was massive. The spell was designed to bore through solid stone, a bit of wood and shingles were little more than paper to it. Especially when Harry was the one casting. She peered over the edge. His spell had smashed a three-foot hole through the next floor down as well.
"Show off," she said. Harry pointed his wand down and blasted a hole through the next two floors. There was a sudden groaning and crack from somewhere in the remaining roof. Harry looked at Daphne sharply. "Oops," he said.
"Quick, blast the water tank." Harry aimed his wand at the tank and let loose. The side of the tank imploded and a wave of water spilled across the roof and down the holes they'd created.
"That should at least buy us a way out," Daphne said.
"Better yet it bought us a diversion," Harry said.
"What?" she asked.
"Come on," he said. He started to run but she caught his arm.
"Are you insane?" she demanded, her eyes wild.
"We can make it."
"No we can't!"
"It's only like twelve feet to the next building."
"I can't jump twelve feet!"
He pried his arm from her fingers. "You can if I levitate you."
"Harry!"
"See you on the other side," he said. He took off as fast as he could and leapt. He hit and rolled and turned back. Daphne was standing at the edge of the higher roof staring at him in disbelief. He waved cheekily. She disappeared and he thought she might have decided she wasn't coming when she was suddenly flying across the open space between the buildings. Harry trained his wand on her. She was going to make it just fine but he caught her with a levitation charm to make sure she didn't land wrong. She was white as a sheet when he set her down.
"I hate you."
Harry grinned maniacally. "You think you hate me now, just wait." Without waiting for a response he ran for the edge of the roof and jumped.
"Harry!" she shrieked. They were still four stories up and he hadn't been running towards the next building.
Harry flipped over and did a half twist in the air. He spotted Tonks and Remus sheltered behind a pushcart and unleashed two stunners at them before pointing his wand at the ground and crying, "Repulso!" His plummet down slowed to barely that of having jumped off a chair. He landed in a crouch and dashed for cover. "Clear!" he shouted. Seconds later Daphne hurtled off the roof. Harry caught her with a levitation charm again and lowered her gently to the ground. She raced to join him in the entryway he'd taken cover in. She slumped against the wall. Harry smirked at her.
"I'm going to kill you."
"You could have just taken the stairs."
"There could have been hostiles in there."
"Knew you'd see things my way." He pulled his mirror from his pocket. "We're out safely. Tonks and Remus secured." No one answered but the record function would allow the others to hear their situation when they had a chance to answer their own mirrors. Shoving the mirror back in his pocket he could hear shouting and the sounds of spell-fire off in the distance. Daphne knocked him on the head with her wand; hard. "That hurt!" he protested.
"Quiet," she snapped. She disillusioned herself, grabbed his hand and pulled him over to Remus and Tonks' inert forms where she revived them.
"Errgh," Tonks groaned. She slowly sat up. "The fuck was that?"
"That was us taking you out," Harry said. With his voice as a guide, Tonks managed to focus on their blurred forms
"And this is us securing you," Daphne said.
Tonks flopped back down on the ground. "Kid fucking hits hard," she complained.
"Agreed," Remus said and laid back down as well.
Across the village Ginny and Neville were sitting in a replica of Madam Puddifoots. The six of them had been randomly paired for the day and given a schedule to follow that had each pair spending five to ten minutes in various shops before moving on to the next place on their list. They'd all been supposed to meet at Madam Puddifoots no later than half an hour from the time they'd started.
The scenario was pretty much standard. Though sometimes they started at Madam Puddifoots and went from there. Variations had them wandering the village alone, or, like today, in pairs. There had been groups of three, all six together, and once, four of them together while Luna and Neville had been off in a pair; it varied each week. And the attack could come at any time. Usually it was within the first twenty minutes, but not always. Sometimes they'd all joined up and sometimes they hadn't. Nothing they did ever seemed to have an affect on when it came. They were all just supposed to act randomly within the schedule they were given and in today's case she and Neville had decided to spend as short a time as possible in each of the three shops on their list in order to arrive at Madam Puddifoots as soon as possible. It had made it likely they'd be there when the attack occurred but wasn't a guarantee.
As luck would have it though, that's where they'd been when the first spell came flying from what she'd thought was a dummy occupying the table across from them. She'd gotten a shield up in time to block Bill's spell but bad luck had deflected it straight into Neville's face. She'd traded spells with her brother for a few seconds but then more of the dummies revealed themselves as Lord Greengrass and Sirius and joined Bill in attacking her. Ginny upended the table and ducked behind it. She tapped her wand to the table, transfiguring it to stone just as the avalanche of spells shoved it back and knocked her on her bum. "Reducto!" she snarled, blasting a hole in the wall into the kitchen. She squirmed through the hole, grabbed Neville and tugged him through. He was much bigger than her though and wouldn't fit.
"She's going through the wall!"
"After her!"
Ginny rapped Neville on the head, disillusioning him, turned and aimed at the door from the tearoom to the kitchen. "Stupefy!" Sirius was blasted in the chest and sent flying back into her brother and Lord Greengrass. She flicked her wand at a large table and floated it across to barricade the door. No sooner had she managed to transfigure the table to stone when something slammed into the door. It didn't budge even an inch.
"Bloody hell!" Bill bellowed.
"The alley!" Lord Greengrass cried.
Ginny waited, listening for a few seconds before disillusioning herself and carefully slipping back through the hole she'd blasted in the wall. She felt her mirror vibrate and pulled it from her pocket. "Trapped on the roof of Zonkos," Harry was saying when she activated it.
"We're pinned down in Gladrags," Hermione said.
"Madame Puddifoots," Ginny whispered.
"You're in Puddifoots with my boyfriend?" Daphne exclaimed.
"Seeing he's out cold, you don't have to worry about me snogging him," Ginny retorted.
"ZONKO'S IS ON FIRE." Mr Granger's amplified voice boomed. "FIRST FLOOR IS ENGULFED. TWO MINUTES TO ESCAPE OR YOU'RE DEAD."
Ginny shut the mirror down. She'd need to save herself and Neville before she could even think about helping the others. She cautiously poked her head up. Even months into this training it never ceased to amaze her how little time it took to destroy a place. She'd cast fewer than a dozen offensive spells and the place was a disaster. That said nothing for the damage to the wall behind her and the table she and Neville had been at. Figuring her brother and Daphne's father thought they'd escaped out the back into the alley she cancelled the disillusionment spells on herself and Neville. She then silenced him before trying to revive him. Silenced, Neville's groan wouldn't give them away if someone came back. It took casting Enervate twice to get a response from him. Even deflected, Bill's stunners were a stiff whack. She put her hand over his mouth. "Shush." He dazedly focused on her. "Ok?" He took a second to take stock before slowly nodding. "Can you sit up?" He nodded again and she helped lever him up. He weaved unsteadily for a second before pointing to his mouth and miming talking. She quickly canceled the silencing spell.
"Wand?" he asked.
"Accio Neville's wand," she hissed. It zipped out from under a pile of rubble into her hand. She snagged it and handed it to him. "Let them know were moving for Gringotts." He nodded and dug his mirror from his pocket.
She slipped out from behind the upended table and quickly found Sirius where he'd fallen. She silenced him before reviving him as well. "Consider yourself secured," she hissed when he blinked his eyes open. He flopped an arm over his eyes and flipped her the bird with the other. Ginny ignored him and moved back to Neville.
"Tonks and Remus are out," he reported. "That's three down with four left.
She nodded. "Ready?"
"No." But with her help he struggled to his feet anyway. He weaved unsteadily and she pulled his arm around her shoulders. "Good," he said. They moved to the door. "Better disillusion us again."
She quickly did so. "Let's go."
Hermione and Luna were in Karlie's Curios when the dummy impersonating Karlie morphed into Mrs Tonks and started firing on them. Luna saw her moving and threw herself at Hermione, tackling her to the floor. "Protego!" Hermione cried, blindly throwing up a shield as they rolled across the ground. Luna grabbed Hermione and dragged her behind a shelf while Hermione was still casting spells at their attacker. Just then the other patron in the shop moved. Luna swept her legs, sending Daphne's mother crashing to the floor. Hermione spun. "Stupefy!" Lady Greengrass slumped to the floor.
The two girls moved to opposite ends of the isle, trying to bracket Mrs Tonks. Between the two of them attacking from opposite directions, Mrs Tonks quickly fell to a stunner from Luna. Before they could secure them though Bill and Lord Greengrass burst in through the door. Hermione toppled the shelf at them and raced for Luna. Grabbing her hand she dragged her into the back room. Luna slammed the door shut as they went past and cast a locking charm at it. It was blasted off its hinges at the same instant Hermione blasted the back door open. The two girls burst into the alley. "The dumpster!" Luna cried.
Hermione quickly summoned it and sent it crashing to block the broken doorway. "Come on!" She grabbed Luna's hand and pulled her down the alley. The two ducked around the corner just as the dumpster was sent flying into the building across the alley. "Up there!" Luna hissed. Hermione jumped, grabbed the downspout and quickly climbed to the first level of the fire escape scaffolding. "Go. Go. Go." Luna urged scrambling after her. The two dove in the window just as Bill raced around the corner.
He slid to a stop and scanned the alley. A wave of his wand sent a grey mist out in front of him. It settled on the ground, building and various items strewn about. Wherever Luna and Hermione had stepped or touched the mist turned blue. "They went up the fire escape!" he shouted. "Go back to the street." Daphne's parents and Mrs Tonks raced back through what was left of Karlie's Curios. Bill blasted out the back door and ran into the building.
Hermione crashed to a stop halfway down the stairs. "Go back!" she hissed. Luna immediately turned and pounded back up the stairs. She reached the landing and cast a charm up the next flight, making it sound like feet were continuing to pound up and ducked back into the room they'd entered from the fire escape. Hermione followed her. They ducked behind the door an instant before Bill appeared at the base of the stairs. Anders, Adrianna and Andromeda joined him a second later.
"Andi go back and make sure they don't go out a window to the street. "Adrianna, go in the alley so they don't go back down the fire escape." The two women quickly moved to do as he ordered. "Shields," Bill said, starting up. Anders raised a shield and followed him.
Hermione stopped halfway out the window to the fire escape. "Go!" Luna hissed. "Better one than two." The two scrambled onto the fire escape and flattened themselves on either side of the window.
"I'll take whomever comes in the alley," Hermione said. "You stop them coming out the window." She'd barely finished speaking when Daphne's mother moved into the alley. "Stupefy!" Hermione hissed.
Luna reached over, pointed her wand in the window and blindly sent half a dozen stunners into the room. The response was two-dozen spells impacting the other side of the wall and flying through the window. "GO!" Luna screamed.
Hermione was already dangling from the scaffolding. She let go, hit the ground and immediately launched a quick series of three stunners back up at the window. Luna hit the ground and they took off running down the alley with Bill and Daphne's father clambering down the fire escape after them.
Harry and Daphne had just reached the corner of First Street and High Street when Mrs Tonks ran out the door of the house next to Karlie's Curios. With barely a thought they both stunned her. She dropped and they quickly moved to take cover. "Sounds like a hell of a battle in there," Harry said.
"Think she was making sure no one snuck out?" Daphne asked.
"They're in the alley, Andi," Bill's voice came out of the building. "Heading for Gringotts."
"Get her wand!" Harry ordered and ran. Daphne raced to secure Mrs Tonks. Harry slid around the corner just as Hermione and Luna tore out of the alley. Harry skidded to a stop and raised his wand. Bill, Mr Greengrass, with Mrs Greengrass, quite the worse for wear from being stunned and the twice revived, stumbling after them, raced out into the street. "Stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy!" he barked. He caught Bill and Daphne's father in the back, dropping them; but Lady Greengrass stumbled and fell and his spell flew harmlessly over her head. He raced up and stepped on her hand. "Yield?"
She collapsed on her back. "Yield." Harry quickly ran over to bind both Bill and Lord Greengrass.
"EXERCISE IS OVER," Mr Granger's voice boomed. HOSTILES ARE ALL DOWN AND SECURED," he paused for a second. "AND ALL THE GOOD GUYS ARE ALIVE."
There was a moment of silence before Harry jumped up. "YES!" he bellowed joyously.
Half an hour later the group had gone over the exercise and Mr Granger had given his critique. "So what's up for next week?" Harry asked.
Mr Granger took a breath. "Well, so far everyone's told me that Death Eaters really have no strategy to speak of. They don't look after each other. Beyond the first few moments of a battle they don't work together. They basically rely on chaos and fear and everyone running away from them. Tonight you saw what happens when people actually fight back and do so with even a small bit of thought. The DEs were chaos, you lot were organized chaos. Ginny, creating an exit where there wasn't one was smart. Keeping your ears open and tricking them into thinking you'd left when you hadn't was smarter. Hermione, Luna, you two kept your ears open and adjusted on the fly. When you were trapped you went after your opponent's weakest link. Harry, Daphne," he shook his head, "that stunt you pulled, jumping four stories to the ground, that was inspired insanity."
"I'd just call it insanity and leave it at that," Daphne muttered.
"You followed me," Harry said.
"I had you to catch me. What on earth made you think you could use a Repulsion Charm like that?"
Harry shrugged. "Just came to me."
"And what if it hadn't worked?"
Harry smirked. "But it did."
Daphne rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Idiot." Harry winked at her.
"Ahem," Mr Granger cleared his throat.
"Sorry, Sir," Daphne said quickly. "You were saying?"
"My point was, that I think it's time for your opponents to start showing some intelligence."
The six friends exchanged looks. "Greaaat," Ginny said sarcastically, "because we've done so well against idiots before this."
"It was nice not having a headache after training for once," Hermione agreed.
"Speak for yourself," Neville muttered. Harry snickered. Neville flipped him off.
"All right," Mr Granger said. "I think that's enough for tonight. Let's have some hugs and you can head out."
HPHPHP
"I'll go look," Harry said. He stood from the table he and his friends were at in the library. It was the night before Valentine's and the six were desperately trying to get their work done so they could have Valentine's evening free."
"I'll come with you," Ginny said.
Daphne tugged her down. "I'll go. If we let you, the two of you will end up snogging in the stacks somewhere and it'll be hours before you come back."
"We will not!" Ginny protested. The others all gave her looks. Ginny slumped in her seat. "Fine," she sighed.
Daphne tugged Harry along. Harry mouthed later at Ginny before allowing himself to be pulled away.
"I saw that, Harry," Luna said.
"Jealous much," Ginny retorted.
"Not particularly," Luna countered. "I'd just like to get this done so all of us might have time for a snog as opposed to just the two of you getting one."
"Luna," Hermione hissed.
"Am I wrong?" she demanded.
Daphne pulled Harry around a stack so he didn't catch Hermione's response. "I'm coming, I'm coming." He batted her hand away. Some twenty minutes later Harry was flipping through a worn old tome when Daphne asked. "So are you going to do it?"
Harry fidgeted for a second. "I'm not sure."
She turned to him. "Why not?"
Harry shrugged. "Because."
She put her hand on his shoulder and turned him. "She's a wolf, Harry," she whispered. "She's made her choice."
Harry considered for a moment. Everyone knew Ginny had completed her animagus training, but the two had yet to tell the others of their success with the Patronus Charm. "I'm being stupid, aren't I?"
"It's a common occurrence."
"Right then, I'm doing it."
"Good." She turned back to the tome and flipped the page. Harry leaned in to read it with her.
"Thanks, Daph."
"You're welcome, Harry."
About a minute later he asked. "You doing all right?" She stiffened. "I'm sorry," Harry said. She took a slow breath. Harry placed his hand on hers. "Daph?"
"Sometimes," she croaked, "I'll be going along and suddenly realize it's been a day since I've even thought about her."
Harry took a slow breath. "Yeah."
"It helps, knowing you haven't forgotten."
Harry squeezed her hand. "Sister," he said.
Just then Cho Chang came around the corner. She stopped, noting Harry's hand on Daphne's. Daphne tried to pull back but Harry held tight while never taking his eyes from Cho. Wordlessly she returned a tome to the shelves and left. "Why didn't you let go?" Daphne hissed.
"Because we have nothing to hide."
"This is going to be all over the school before breakfast. You realize that, don't you?" She closed the tome they'd been looking through, placed it back on the shelf and grabbed their notes. "Come on. We can at least warn them we're cheating on them."
Ten minutes later the two had rejoined the others and told them about Cho. "Well," Luna said, "it'll be nice it isn't me for a while, and it was your turn after all."
"I've just spent the last week secretly cheating on Neville with Hermione. How is it my turn?" Daphne protested.
"Harry's been cheating with me for the last month. I'd say that makes it your turn."
"What about Hermione. When does she get a turn?"
"Ergh," Harry and Hermione said together.
"That's just ghastly," Hermione added.
"Rather kiss Neville," Harry said.
"Excuse me?" Hermione demanded. Ginny snickered.
"You stay away from me, Potter," Neville said.
"With a ten foot pole," Harry said.
Hermione kicked him. "Excuse me?"
"Ow," Harry complained. "You're the one who said it'd be ghastly."
"Well that's because I'd be kissing you. I can't imagine how Ginny can stand it."
"Back at you, Herms."
"Don't call me that," she growled.
"Or what?"
"Or you'll find out."
"Scared," Harry retorted. "Shivers and everything."
Neville closed his book. "And it looks like we're done for the night."
Luna snapped hers shut as well. "About time." She shoved her books in her bag. "I call the north balcony."
"West," Neville blurted.
"Crud," Ginny muttered.
Fifteen minutes later Harry was sat in the large opening on the east side of the clock tower. It wasn't really a balcony at all, but it allowed him to sit just like he did in the loft back home, his back to the wall and a leg dangling out the opening. Sure it was a bit longer drop to the roof of the entry hall below, but heights didn't bother him. More importantly, they didn't bother Ginny. She was currently sat in front of him, her back to his chest, his arms wrapped around her waist and his chin resting on her shoulder. "How long before they realize this is the spot we want?" he asked. Her only answer was to raise their clasped hands and press a soft kiss on the inside of his palm.
"Always," he whispered.
HPHPHP
Sure enough, by the next morning the whole school was talking about Daphne and Harry. Somehow they'd gone from being caught holding hands to Ginny having walked in on them in the shower together after quidditch. Which was just stupid when quidditch was done for the year and Harry hadn't been on his broom in almost two full weeks.
"How do you stand it?" Rowena asked at breakfast.
"Trust," Ginny answered. "Harry would never do that to me. What's more, Daphne wouldn't. Nor would Luna or Hermione."
"Thank you, Ginevra," Daphne said.
"Trust is fine," Rowena said. "It doesn't stop what people are saying though."
"People have talked about me, Harry, Ginny and Luna since our first day," Hermione said. "Neville and Daphne have been getting it since they became friends with us. You get used to it." Further conversation was halted by the arrival of the morning post. Being it was Valentines, the next few minutes were bedlam with owls coming and going.
"Who would have sent me something?" Xui asked.
"I've no idea," Anwen said. She, Gwyneth, Jessica and Veronica were all holding small boxes wrapped with shiny red paper.
"Maybe you've got secret admirers," Harry said. The girls focused on him.
"Did you?" Veronica asked.
Harry held his hands up. "Don't look at me. I've got a girlfriend." He grinned and winked.
Almost as one the girls tore the paper from their gifts to reveal boxes of chocolate pralines from Honeydukes. Anwen let out a squeal of delight and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you, Harry!" The other girls all hugged him as well.
Harry laughed and returned their hugs. "I don't know what you're hugging me for," he said, continuing to feign innocence.
Xui stuck her tongue out at him. Anwen bit into a chocolate. "So good," she moaned.
"All I can say is, my secret admirer can buy me chocolates any time he likes," Gwyneth said.
"Could be a girl," Ginny said.
Gwyneth shrugged. "Her too then."
Harry chuckled. "Smart girl, that one."
"You got that right," Gwyneth agreed. The bell rang, signaling they had ten minutes to get to class. The five second-years jumped up. Harry and the others stood as well. He shouldered Ginny's bag and she took his hand. In the entry hall the five second-years split off for transfiguration while Hermione, Luna and Neville headed for potions.
"See you at lunch," Hermione said.
"Sounds good," Ginny agreed.
"Thank you, Harry," the five second-years chorused.
"Have a good day," he called.
"Sometimes, Harry," Daphne said, "you do something that makes me forget what an utter prat you are."
Harry raised Ginny's hand and kissed it. "No idea what you're talking about, Daph."
"Thank you, Harry," Luna said. Lunch had come and Harry's stationary sets for Hermione, Luna, Daphne and Rowena had just been delivered. There was one for Fleur as well, but it had been given to her away from prying eyes.
"Yes, thank you, Harry," Daphne said.
"You're welcompha." Harry turned just as she leaned over to kiss his cheek and instead got her lips on his. For exactly two nanoseconds they froze before springing apart. "Argh!" Harry cried. Daphne just sat, her hand covering her mouth in disbelief. Harry wiped his lips disgustedly. "I'm not even in the fucking toilet!"
Horrified, Daphne's eyes shifted to Ginny. She had been in the process of drinking when it happened and was frozen in place. "Ginny, I swear—"
Ginny spewed milk, covering Harry and Daphne. "Ergh!" they cried.
"Your face," Ginny gasped, sliding to the floor.
Luna lost it the second Ginny spewed milk all over Harry and Daphne. "Brilliant," she gasped, sliding to the floor with Ginny.
Hermione looked up just in time to see what happened. The inkbottle she was examining slipped from her fingers and went clattering to the floor. In the time between the kiss and Ginny spewing milk over Harry and Daphne she relived the nearly three and a half years since her accidental kiss with Harry. It wasn't a particularly fun experience. "Thank Nimue," she gasped when she realized Ginny wasn't mad.
Neville froze mid bite on a chicken leg. He swallowed, smacked his lips, said, "Not sure that was the best way to go about getting the rumors to stop," and went back to eating.
"Shut up, Longbottom," Harry retorted.
"You're the one who just kissed my girl."
"I'm going to kiss you in a second," Harry threatened. Hermione snickered.
"Mate, you can kiss my girl if you like, but you kiss me and I'll pound you."
"Neville!" Daphne cried.
"Seriously," Harry muttered, "new rule. Anytime one of you wants to kiss my cheek it's now required you announce your intentions followed by a five second delay to confirm I've heard and won't be getting your tongue down my throat."
"My tongue was not down your throat!" Daphne shrieked.
"Thank the goddess for that. Did you even brush this morning?" Daphne's mouth dropped. "Like, really," Harry said. "You might wanna add mouth wash as well." Daphne grabbed her plate and dumped it on his head. Hermione and Neville snorted and slid to the floor with Ginny and Luna. Shocked silent, Harry stared back at Daphne. She glared at him; daring him to say anything at all. His eyes moved to his plate.
"Don't you even," she warned.
Harry cracked a grin before nonchalantly reaching up and plucking a piece of fish from his hair. He tossed it on the table. "How many times do I have to tell you, I don't like fish?"
She smirked. "Be glad it wasn't the bouillabaisse." She pointed her wand at him. "Evanesco," she said. She then got herself as well
"I'm still going to make you pay for that."
"You can try."
"So you like the set?" Harry asked.
Daphne reached for a new piece of fish from the serving platter. "It's lovely, thank you." She took a bite, chewed and swallowed. "I'm going to kiss your cheek now."
Harry held his hand up, closing his fingers into a fist one by one. "Clear." Daphne leaned over and kissed his cheek. "See how easy that is?" He glanced at the rest of the group sitting around them. "What?"
"You lot are insane," Rowena said. "You know that, right?"
Daphne looked under the table. Her other four best friends were still madly giggling. She sighed. "Well, at least five of us are."
"Oi!" Harry complained.
"Well yeah. But Weasley's so poor they fight over the big chunks when one of them vomits, of course she's willing to whore herself out. But Greengrass might have more money that any of us. What does she get out of it? And why would she put up with him carrying on with Weasley? I mean she's poor. She has no title. She isn't even 80th percentile. Harry, Ginny and Daphne stopped short on coming around the corner – on their way to the library for their free period – confronted with the entirety of the worst of Slytherin's fourth-year students. Theodore smirked, but it was Pansy who spoke up.
"Well if it isn't the whore in question. Come on, Greengrass, tell us what he's giving you that you let him cavort around with the pauper like that."
Before Daphne could answer, Ginny stepped into Draco's space. He sneered down at her. "That's rich, Parkinson," Ginny taunted, focused on Draco, "coming from you. But then, how could you possibly be expected to know when I doubt even Draco has a clue what Daddy has in store for him… Do you, Draco?"
"What are you talking about Weasley?" Pansy demanded. And get away from my boyfriend; before you give him whatever disease you're carrying.
Ginny ignored her, keeping her eyes locked with Draco. The last time there'd been a real confrontation between the two groups had been when Harry and Astoria had been abducted. Draco in particular had seemed to adopt a policy of non-aggression. But while she might have missed the sudden dilating of his pupils before he regained his composure, or dismissed the increased frequency the weight of his eyes had fallen on her since Christmas, for an animagus, the sudden change in his scent was impossible to miss. Right now, he was frightened. Frightened and… he wanted her. Being poor, with no title, there was only one reason someone like Draco Malfoy would be interested in her; he knew her true RoM score. She smiled malevolently. "Tell Daddy I said hello, won't you?" she said, her voice dangerously sweet. She waited another second before pushing past them.
Daphne started after her but stopped beside Pansy. "It must be difficult, for someone of your breeding, when a near-squib pauper with no title like her consistently thrashes you in class."
"She thrashes you too," Tracey snapped.
Daphne turned to her. "Yes, but the blow is softened by the fact I also thrash you." She smiled. "I do hope professor Moody was able to help you with your Protego Charm," she said before walking off.
Harry was left by himself, silently contemplating the group. He focused on Pansy. She glared back at him. "Nice necklace, Malfoy." He smirked. "Hope you got your money's worth."
She gasped. "How dare you!"
Harry laughed and pushed past her. "God you're a hypocrite."
"Potter," Malfoy called. Harry stopped but didn't turn back. "You won't see it coming."
Harry tipped his head slightly, contemplating. Ginny and Daphne were at the end of the hall watching. Ginny gave a barely perceptible nod. Harry turned and walked back to Draco, stopping less than a foot in front of him. Draco tensed but didn't back away. The blonde was nearly a foot taller than Harry and though he was rail thin Harry could see the powerful frame of his father beginning to take shape on the boy. He then glanced to either side. Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy were on his left, Nott, Zabini and Davis his right. Harry returned his attention to Draco. Locking eyes he deliberately reached up and brushed a bit of non-existent lint from Draco's shoulder. Harry smiled malevolently at the other boy. "You will." He backed up a step. "Enjoy the rest of your day," he said before turning around and moving to join Ginny and Daphne. Without a word they turned for the library. Ginny slid her hand into his. They walked in silence for a good thirty seconds.
"Draco's grown up," Daphne observed. Harry and Ginny said nothing.
Ginny glanced at her boyfriend. He'd been brooding ever since the encounter with Draco. Harry brooding wasn't all that unusual; the boy could brood for England when it struck him. But it was Valentines and he'd yet to make any sort of fuss about the day. Oh, he'd been attentive, at least he had been before Draco and his lot, but no real fuss. Not that she expected a fuss, or gifts at all. She honestly expected nothing and would never actually ask. She didn't count the little notes he'd been slipping her all day as a fuss because it wasn't unusual for him to do that on a normal day. Though she supposed they were a bit different. It had started with a card and flower in the common room before breakfast. The card had only four short lines written in it. It hadn't taken but a second to realize it was the first verse in a song he'd written for her. He'd been slipping her little notes throughout the day with another line or two. It was quite thrilling, waiting on tenterhooks to learn what came next. Come to think of it, she supposed he had been making a bit of a fuss. After all, she rather doubted a single other girl in the school had been given a song written just for them and she was just dying to hear him actually sing it.
Still, Ginny knew her boyfriend. And Harry liked giving gifts; liked it and was good at it, very good. He'd given gifts to ten different girls today. Five girls had been gifted boxes of chocolate. Five had received stationary sets. While similar, they were nuanced enough such that each of those girls knew he'd paid sufficient attention to not just walk in and pick some prepackaged thing off the shelf. Yes, he liked it, he was good at it, and given just how much she had to argue with him every time they went to Hogsmeade about not buying her things she just couldn't believe he wouldn't do something simply because he had a ready excuse to do so.
Though with dinner nearly finished, maybe she was wrong. Or maybe, with Valentines falling on Tuesday, he was planning something for Friday evening and the private dinner for fourth-years and up that was being held. She pushed her musings aside. Honestly, who knew and who cared, she had tonight, they were both caught up on everything, Harry would give her the rest of her song in good time, and she wasn't going to let Draco bloody Malfert ruin her evening… And Harry had just pushed his plate back. She wiped her mouth and set her napkin down.
"Fancy a walk?" she asked.
Harry turned and smiled at her. "With you?" he asked cheekily.
She grinned. He'd obviously pushed Malfert aside for the night as well. "Unless you'd rather with someone else."
"Yeah, nope." He stood and offered her his hand. Ginny took it and he pulled her up. "We'll eventually make it to the clock tower," he said.
"Have a nice time," Luna answered. "Watch out for the besotting plimpers."
Harry chuckled. "Bit late for that, isn't it?"
Luna grinned at him. "They do more than cause infatuation, Harry."
Harry pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Not sure if I want to avoid them, or find them."
"That is the question." She winked.
Harry chuckled. "Cheek," he said. Luna tipped her head and he pressed a kiss to her cheek. "You're brilliant, Luna."
Ginny gave him a tug to get him moving. Sometimes, between the six of them and their ability to just keep going it was almost impossible to actually separate. "Enjoy your evening," she said. Thankfully the others were just as intent on a few hours alone with their significant other and they were able to get away. She was practically giddy at the idea of near three hours private time. She was also a bit terrified of her plans for the night. She hadn't even told Luna about her gift for Harry. They walked in silence and she let him lead her aimlessly about the halls till they eventually reached the cloister they used to pass messages with Fleur. They sat down on a bench; him straddled over it, her sitting cross-legged, her knees resting on his upper thighs, facing him.
"Hi," she said.
"'Lo," he answered. She blushed. The things the boy could do to her just changing the inflection of his voice ought to have been illegal. "Good day?"
"It's had its ups and downs." She smirked. "Could have done without you snogging my best friend."
"I thought Luna was your best friend."
"Luna gets Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Daphne gets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and you've snogged her too."
"And Hermione?"
"Is your best friend. And you've snogged her as well."
"What about Neville?"
"Sunday, and if I find you've snogged him we will be having words."
"Words?"
"Words."
Harry considered. "You're really not upset?"
"Have I given the impression I was?"
"No." He looked down. "Still, can't have been easy seeing it. Especially with the rumors going around."
Ginny reached for his chin, raising his eyes to her. "I admit, the rumors aren't fun, but you're dealing with them as well. I can't even keep track of which of them I'm sleeping with, and I trust Daphne. I trust her, Luna, Hermione, Rowena, Anwen, Gwyneth, Xui, Jessica, Veronica, all of them. But most of all, I trust you, Harry. I would trust you alone with any of them. I would trust you alone with anyone; even with strumpets like Cho or that Romilda Vain tart." Harry grimaced. Romilda, a fifth-year Gryffindor, was a newer issue. But Cho, despite his plainly stated distaste for her, had taken to flashing him glimpses of things he had no interest in seeing. After almost four years of tormenting one of his best friends, why she thought she could flash a bit of cleavage and have him all hot and bothered for her he had no idea. "Enough thinking about them," Ginny said softly.
Harry gave himself a shake. Time alone with Ginny was a precious commodity. And right now he had three glorious hours and he wasn't about to waste another second of that on idiots, eejits, morons or tramps like Cho. Smiling he reached to palm her cheek. She leaned into his hand. He brushed his thumb on her cheek, marveling for a moment at how soft her skin was before taking a deep breath and starting to sing.
"And I'd give up forever to touch you.
"Cause I know that you feel me somehow.
"You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be.
"And I don't want to go home right now."
Ginny stared into Harry's eyes. The normal emerald green, as if normal could ever describe his eyes, shifted, darkening till they were almost black and she felt the familiar heat building in her middle. Enthralled seemed so insufficient a word to describe how she felt when she looked at him, and when there was nothing else around them, nothing to distract his attention and he focused on her like he was now, she believed beyond a shadow of a doubt he really would give up forever for even a single moment with her as his. What was more, was knowing she would do the same. It was heady and thrilling and more than a bit terrifying to think all he would have to do was ask and she'd give herself to him then and there. She would give up, Daphne, Luna, Charlie, Bill… she would give up ever seeing her father again to know, for even one single day, Harry had been wholly hers.
Long after the last refrain escaped his lips and silence had settled around them she sat, staring into his eyes. He slowly leaned forward. Her eyes closed and she lost herself in kissing him. Never once did things become heated, never once did his hands roam from where he held her shoulders, but it was still the most intense time she'd every spent with him. Every inch of his face touched every inch of hers as he reverently nuzzled her. Days could have passed and she wouldn't have cared. All that mattered was listening as his lips moved against hers. Each kiss was a silently spoken, "Only you." Each breath he took was a whispered, "Know me." Every beat of his heart under her hand was a softly promised, "Always." Eventually he pulled back and just rested his forehead against hers
"Wow," she whispered.
"Yeah," he breathed. He pulled her to him, turning her back to his chest his arms went around her middle and his face buried in the back of her neck. She settled into him, wrapping his arms tightly with hers.
"I love you, Harry James Potter."
He squeezed her and pressed a kiss to the back of her head. "Would you like the rest of your present?"
"That wasn't it?"
"A song?"
"I defy you to find another girl in this school who got one."
Harry chuckled softly. "Maybe." He pulled his hand from hers. A second later a small, flat, square, black velvet box was set in hers. She tried to sit up but he held her tight. "Go on." She untied the emerald green ribbon and carefully laid it on her leg. Taking a breath she slowly opened the box. She almost immediately snapped it closed again. A second latter she started shaking. He gently reached for the box. Prizing it from her fingers he opened it again.
With trembling fingers she reached to touch the necklace. Her voice quivering she whispered, "Is this what I think it is?"
"My dad gave it to my mum on their wedding day."
Ginny slowly shook her head. "I – I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything. I'm not asking for anything. It's just a gift, for a girl worth far more than a handful of shiny pebbles."
She took a slow breath. "Put it on for me?" Harry took the necklace and set the box aside. The clasp was as delicate as it looked and it took a second fiddling with it to get it open. Ginny reached up and raised her dreads so he could affix it. Settling it in place he softly kissed the back of her neck. She released her dreads and turned, sitting on her knees to face him. "How does it look?"
Harry focused on the emerald pendant surrounded by a ring of tiny rubies resting just at the top of her breastbone. "Like it belongs there."
She leaned in and pressed a long kiss to his lips. "Thank you, Harry," she whispered when she pulled back.
He reached up and dried the tear from her cheek. "Happy Valentine's, Ginny."
She bit her lip. "I've something for you as well."
Harry grinned. "All right."
She pulled a small square box from her pocket. Harry looked up sharply. She opened the box, revealing a simple silver band interlaid with Celtic knots. "This is my promise," she said softly.
"You're giving me a promise ring?" he croaked.
"To say yes, Harry…"
"To say yes?" he asked.
"To say yes, when you ask," she answered. "To spend the rest of my life, knowing who you are."
Harry grabbed her. And kissed her… Hard. Somewhere along the way she was picked up and carried across the cloister till her back was pressed to the wall. She gave as good as she got and when he finally stopped his lips looked just as swollen as hers felt. Her leg was also up around his hip. He wiped his lips. "If we don't stop I won't be able to."
She made a lunge for him. "Fine by me."
He backed away. "Not here."
She stalked him. "It's beautiful here. I can't imagine a place to make a better memory."
He caught her wrists and held her at arms length. Green eyes locked with brown. "Does your memory include barely five minutes ending when Filch walks in on us?"
Her cheek twitched. He was right. They'd been left undiscovered far too long to expect they'd be left alone much longer. Getting control of herself she asked, "Which finger."
He let go of her wrists. "Might as well be the one that matters, yeah?"
Somehow she'd kept her head enough to shove the box in her pocket when he'd come at her. She pulled it out, plucked the ring from it and reached for his hand. Eyes on his, she slid the ring on his finger. Raising his hand, she whispered, "I just want you to know who I am," and pressed a soft kiss to the ring.
Author's notes:
Well, I got a good review that convinced me it'd be a mistake to to make Ginny a Parslemouth, so that won't be happening. Thanks for the responses.
It's taken a while to get the group's battle training into the story, hope people enjoyed it.
Hopefully I've also manage to move Draco away from the joke he'd become to something a bit more dangerous.
Last, lyrics are from, Iris, by the Goo Goo Dolls.