A/N 1) –Thank you all for your continued support, and to say thanks to my Beta CaskettFan5, who is attempting the impossible task of making me a better writer.

B/N 1) He's being modest, he really isn't bad at all. ;-)

A/N 2) – To help with ease of reading thoughts are in 'Italics', I hope that this helps differentiate talking and thinking.

A/N 3) – Recommended Reading, it is a Haphne story but their relationship is very much back seat to the action which is pretty much nonstop. Do yourself a favour a have a read of The Black's Resurgence – Honour Thy Blood, which has been completed not long ago.

A/N 4) – Some milestones reached for last chapter 100+ reviews for my story wow thank you all and remember reviews are like candy, please feed me J - 500+followers & 300+ favourites, I hope you all continue to like where this story goes.

A/N 5) – Big thanks to Jean11089 gave a plug in one chapter of Whispers in the Night. In addition, to anyone who came across for a read I hope you like what you have seen thus far.

A/N 6) – Sorry that this took so long to get out but RL has taken hold of me for the last couple of months, I got made redundant, found a new job, my wife fractured her ankle at basketball training, and generally I have been in a funk, but hopefully I am at the end of the tunnel and the light I can see isn't a train.

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns it all; I am just playing in her sandbox (but not very well).

Daphne walked through Hogwarts fabled halls, she was dreaming, she knew that but something was not right, something sat in her mind as being wrong about this place, not dangerous or frightening just a wrongness that she could not understand. She called out but no one answered, not that she really expected them to but she felt the effort worth it just to see what would happen. The hall opened out to the great staircase and she wondered where she should go, deciding that she might as well go to somewhere familiar she flowed down the stairs towards the dungeons.

It had only taken her about fifteen steps to understand that something was wrong with the doors of the potions classrooms, they bowed as though under pressure, reinforcements crisscrossed a few although even those beams seemed cracked as though under a terrible weight. Choosing a door at random she opened it, she had a split second to brace herself before she was sucked into the room and she was being screamed at and panicking she tried to leave only to discover she had no control of her body.

'You stupid freakish child, you idiot, look what you have done,' a long necked woman yelled at her before smacking her head with the frying pan she was holding. Her head rang like a gong and pain flooded her skull. When she could focus again she found herself being dragged on all fours across a room and being thrown into a cupboard under the stairs. She cried trying to open the door until a large man opened the cupboard door and hit in the stomach, causing bile to climb up the back of her throat. 'Stop trying to get out and shut up you worthless freak,' and then the big meaty hand connected with her temple and she knew no more.

A small tug on her magic was all she felt before another door appeared ahead of her and she moved to it in desperation to leave this place whatever it was, but once more, she was pulled into another hallucination.

She ran, breath coming hard and fast, blood pounded through her temples and she could hear the voices behind her fading slightly. She rounded the corner of the building, when an arm stretched out and took her off her feet, wind knocked from her lungs as she slammed to ground. 'Got him,' a boy cried standing above her, she could not understand, 'how was she a him couldn't he see that she was a girl?'

Four other boys appeared, 'Now we will teach you a lesson freak, teach you to make us look dumb in class,' a big rotund boy said before kicking her in the stomach. The other boys joined in as Daphne started crying, 'why were they hurting her, what had she done to them?' The beating lasted at least ten minutes, her face felt swollen and puffy, she had bitten her tongue at some point and blood pooled at the back of her throat along with what she thought might be broken teeth, making it difficult to breathe. Two of her fingers on her right hand were bent back from someone stomping on her hand, deliberate or not she didn't know. She was still cataloguing the injuries in her mind trying to identify pain from places she didn't know she had, before another kick to the jaw knocked her unconscious.

She woke and found herself on the floor, another door appeared but she scrambled away and huddled against a wall on the opposite side of the room, the wood of the door was cracked and charred as though it had been damaged by fire, and it bowed in at the top. She whimpered, she didn't want to be here anymore, wherever here was but she couldn't find her way out. She cried out but no one answered except for a small tug on her core, which seemed to emanate from behind the door.

She whimpered again but bracing herself she stood, and hesitantly approached the door, the damage was more significant up close. She flexed her fingers and closed her eyes, not sure, how much more of these hallucinations, if that was indeed what they were, she could take. Her mind was a frazzled mess, she couldn't think properly and all that she knew was that she didn't belong here. Gingerly she reached forward until she clasped the door handle, steadying herself with eyes closed she opened it, before she felt that now familiar wrenching sensation as she was ripped into another nightmare.

She was running again, this time the five boys were behind her four of them were gaining on her, whilst the fifth tubby one struggled to keep up. She kept running but in her heart of hearts she knew it was futile, they would catch her, they always did. She just wished there was some way to escape to the top of the school as she rounded another corner.

She knew disorientation next, and the feeling of being stuffed in a tight tube, before suddenly she was standing looking over the school ground watching as the five boys below looked around bewildered. She laughed, unsure of what had happened but happy that she had postponed the beating which surely would have followed. She watched as the five boys scowled up at her before one ran off bring back an adult, who did not look impressed.

Twenty minutes later after had climbed down from the roof, the fat man picked her and the fat kid up in what she assumed was an automobile, the fat man was screaming at her about how he was going to beat the freakiness out of her whilst the fat kid smirked at her. Before she knew it the journey ended and she was being dragged out of the vehicle by her left arm. She felt it crack and break and she cried out in pain, but still the fat man pulled her and she had no choice but to try and follow.

She was tugged through the door which slammed behind her before being spun to face the fat man holding her broken arm up high. There was no warning as his right fist slammed into her unprotected ribs on her left side, again and again his fist met her rib cage, her screams of pain not halting the onslaught one iota. Her ribs cracked after the fifth blow and shattered on the eighth, the hot grip of his meaty hand on her broken arm shifted and she felt the bones in her arm separate followed by a stabbing pain as the bones rasped against her flesh.

Her vision swam as she was pushed hard into the wall, trying to catch herself with her left arm had been a bad idea, the fat man was screaming at her, 'I will beat the freakiness out of you Potter if it's the last thing I do'. A fist slammed into her back, once, twice and on the third time she knew no more and passed out. She woke what felt like moments later, but she was in a dark hole with no light. She could feel blood crusted on her lips and mouth and her breath came short and sharp and seemed to bubble at the back of her throat causing her to cough which sent fingers of white-hot pain through her ribs on her left hand side.

She knew that at some point she had lost control of her bowels, as a warm liquid sensation still seemed to be oozing out of her. She shifted and almost passed out again as the shards in her broken arm pierced her flesh causing her head to swim again. A silent tear rolled out of her right eye, the left had swollen shut, and she broke down. 'No more,' she murmured, 'please no more,' she cried into the darkness.

What seemed like an eternity as she lay in the dark hole crying, it may however have only been a moment, but once more she felt a tug on her magic, insistent but steady and infused with warmth. Not caring anymore she let go of her sense of self and felt herself pulled into a warm embrace, no longer where she had been but moments before, she relaxed and snuggled in, basking in the warmth of the embrace, and drifted off into a deep sleep.

- AFW -

Harry marvelled at the smooth dark wooden banister that ran up the grand staircase of the manor house that he had found himself in, he was puzzled as to why he was here given that he had been originally intending to do some drastically needed repairs to his occlumency shields and dreamscape, but for the life of him he could not find his way out of where he currently found himself.

The house was large and so far he had discovered nine bedrooms, four in what he was calling for want of a better name wing one, which looked as though they had not been used in years. There were five in the central wing, where he currently found himself, including what he thought was the master suite but he couldn't get in without breaking down the door. Twice during his wanderings around the house he had felt a tug on his magic, but he had ignored them. Puzzled but not worried he had continued his exploration, until he had come across this bedroom, the door was made of a rich dark wood but had an ominous feeling pulsing from within.

Harry found himself watching the door as though trying to pierce it with his gaze, he sighed to himself, he really hated mysteries. He was unsure what had happened that he found himself in this situation but he could not just sit here and wait for things to work themselves out. Decision made he reached for the door handle and strode through the opening.

The scene before him made him stiffen in shock, a small blonde boy lay in bed obviously incredibly ill, Cassandra Greengrass sat on the bed talking softly to him. She looked up and directly at him, 'it's okay honey, come in, he's not contagious anymore.'

Harry looked at her bewildered before a small blonde girl of six or seven dashed right through him and to the edge of the bed. 'Is he going to be okay,' she asked her voice quiet and solemn.

'We hope so honey, but he is very sick still,' Cassandra answered back, her voice strained and breaking slightly.

The small girl nodded, 'can I sit with him for a while?'

'I'm sure that he would like that honey, I will come back shortly okay?'

The small girl nodded, pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed, holding the hand of the boy as Cassandra left the room.

Harry waited for a few moments before turning to leave, whatever this place was he shouldn't be here, this was a private moment, the problem in leaving lay in the fact the door had vanished. 'Stuck here for the moment I guess,' he pondered out loud before turning back to the scene by the bed.

'Please Archer,' the little girl was whispering, 'please you have to get better, I don't want to lose my brother.' She sniffled, small tears tracked down her face as silent sobs wracked her small frame. 'please, I'll do whatever you want, I'll play dragons or quidditch or anything, but please you have to get better, don't leave me.' She had scarcely moved, only the shaking of her shoulders gave evidence of the trauma that she suffered almost silently.

Harry bowed his head, a tear rolled down his cheek as he watched the heart of a young girl break. Suddenly an alarm pulsed through the room, the boy on the bed coughed once before beginning to convulse. Cassandra abruptly skidded into the room wand out, charms flying as she tried to stabilise the young boy, through it all the young girl held the hand of her brother, no longer crying, panic and fear now etched her face.

A second and third person entered, Harry recognised them both, Nathaniel Greengrass and Amelia Bones, they watched in utter horror as the young boys body convulsed twice more before laying still.

Cassandra's scream shattered the sombre air, before she started to collapse, fainting away to be caught by Nate, concern, horror and sadness wrestled for control of his face as he collapsed to the floor, tears streaming from a face etched in a pain that Harry was intimately familiar with.

'Amy,' his voice was hoarse and full of pain, 'can you please see to the girls and watch over them for the next few days.'

Amelia just nodded, her own tears tracked down her cheeks, 'whatever you need Nate, just ask.' She moved to where the young girl still clutched her brother's hand. 'Come Daphne, he has gone to a better place, he not in pain anymore' she tried to tug Daphne into a hug but the small girl dodged.

'No he promised, he promised he would be okay, he promised,' she shook the small boy as though trying to wake him. 'He promised, he promised,' she wailed as Amelia picked her up.

'I know sweetie, but sometime people can't keep their promises, no matter how much they want to,' Amelia hugged the girl, grief marred her face but her voice was calm and controlled. 'He has gone to a better place honey, you will see him again one day on the other side of the veil, in many years' time once you have lived your life, you will meet again, and he will be proud of the great witch that you have become, he is safe now with your Grandparents, Aunty, Uncle and cousins.'

Amelia stood, and nodded to Nate, eyes red with as yet unshed tears, and walked from the room carrying the still wailing Daphne.

The room faded away and Harry sagged against the wall and wept, tears stinging his eyes, the tears he knew were not just for the small boy who he had just seen pass in this very room, but were also for those he had lost and not been able to grieve for.

He had no idea how long he sat on that floor for, tears still rolled down his cheeks although at a far less frequent rate, it was a pulse in his magic that drew his attention from his grief. An urgent tug on his core reminding him that he was needed somewhere else. He stood on shaky legs, closed his eyes and willed himself out of the room following the tug on his core, seeking and finding warmth and comfort at the other end, as his core's pulsing slowly dimmed, he felt himself nestle into the warmth near his chest.

- AFW -

Tracey, pushed through the hospital ward doors, she had missed her best friend yesterday when she had been away with her parents, reopening their house. The Davis family had packed up and shifted to the continent the moment the war heated up. Tracey's mother a half blood from a muggleborn and halfblood parents had convinced her father that they would be targeted or at least he would be targeted for recruitment by the death eaters, being a Slytherin alumni. Only Tracey had remained, unfortunately marooned in Hogwarts, but protected by her blood status.

Gods how she hated blood politics, at least her family had escaped unscathed, the same could not be said for so many others from her class. Draco's two bookends were no longer in the land of the living, she hadn't heard what had happened to Vincent Crabbe, but the tale of Gregory Goyle passing had been known for some time now. Apparently he had been saved somehow by the Weasel of all people; Draco and he were rushing down the main staircase when the stairs shifted Goyle had missed his footing and tumbled through the gap down three flights before the next set of stairs caught him. Needless to say when he was found that he was considerably wider than tall.

Millicent had lost her life somehow that she hadn't heard just that she had, poor Millie never had much of a life pushed around by her folks and everyone in Slytherin. The final Slytherin to fall from their year had been Victoria Runcorn, she had also been identified as one of the fallen, believed to have been trying attack the defenders from behind, she had accidently been banished off the astronomy tower, along with surprisingly the Hufflepuff Roger Malone.

Only Ravenclaw had not suffered any losses since their sorting, with no one really knowing what actually happened to Sally-Anne Perks after the third year Gryffindor never turned up to school that year.

Walking around the curtains into Daphne's room she halted, 'Oh this was interesting, actually this was way beyond interesting, how the hell did this happen in a day.' Harry lay on his side spooning Daphne she appeared to have burrowed her way in as close to his chest as possible, her head resting on his outstretched left arm. His right arm was wrapped possessively over her. From her current view point, Tracey could see that both their left hands were entwined, Harrys atop curling protectively over Daphne's.

Tracey moved as quietly as she could sneaking down the left side of the bed, she was damn sure not going to wake them until she had a good picture of this in her mind to show her mum, Aunt Cass and maybe Tori. She would make a pensive photo of this too if she could, she would blow it up and give to Daph as her birthday present, "The Day She Bedded the Chosen One." She snorted quietly to herself and stiffened as they both stirred, breathing a sigh of relief as they both continued to slumber.

Reaching the side of the bed she looked at the sleeping couple again, 'Oh this just got better and better, not only were the two snuggled up together but Harry's right hand disappeared under Daph's pyjama top cupping her left breast, Daphne was so not living this down anytime in the next year, possibly lifetime if she let Tori in on it.' Tracey slowly settled back on the closest chair, before taking another look.

They looked peaceful, content even, the dark circles beneath Harry's eyes had receded somewhat, and Daphne no longer appeared to shake in her sleep from the pains of the cruciatus. Well nothing to do now but wait, she didn't want to wake them it was only 8am but if they weren't up in the next half an hour under their own steam she would rouse them, she knew they could use the sleep, especially Harry, who had been getting up like clockwork through the nights thanks to the tether as he called it.

The decision on whether to wake them was taken from Tracey's hands as she settled properly into the chair it gave a loud creak, causing first Harry and then Daphne to stir. 'well this should be interesting, if nothing else,' and she settled back to watch the show.

Daphne stretched languorously, her sleep addled brain slowly tripping into gear she halted in her stretching feeling the heat from the body next to her. Yet to open her eyes she could feel her left hand being held by another, Harry's she decided, 'but what was he doing here?'

She yawned and took further stock of her body, and that's when she felt it, her right hand was pushing another onto her left breast. The realisation that she was holding a hand against one of her most intimate parts at once froze her mind but exploded her sense of touch. She could feel the heat of his fingers searing her skin, the thumb rested around the curve at the base, whist the four fingers were splayed across the rest, cupping her as if his hand was a brassier.

She could feel her arousal pulsing now, her nipple had tightened and was stuck like a pebble between his fore and middle fingers, she shifted back subtly causing his fingers to brush ever so slightly against the sensitive flesh, sending a fresh wave of arousal through her body. She stopped moving as soon as she felt evidence of his arousal behind her and like some crazy feedback loop this sent another wave through her pooling low in her stomach like a slow pulse.

She opened her eyes, hoping at best this was some crazy dream, at worst that if it was real no one else was here to witness it. No such luck her eyes instantly fell on Tracey, groaning she attempted to get some venom in her voice only to fail miserably, 'don't even think about it Davis.'

'You wound me Daphne darling, think about what?' Tracey's light falsetto was fooling no one.

'Don't get cute with me, you know what,' Daphne's growled out.

'Ohhh you mean the fact that the Chosen One seems to have a nice firm grip on your left sweater puppy, and that he doesn't look like he's letting go anytime soon?'

'Hey,' Harry interjected in a slightly sleep addled voice, obviously now awake, 'I'd let go but someone seems to be holding my hand on the target so to speak.'

Daphne tore her hand away from Harry's and he gingerly removed his hand from under her top, leaving trails of searing heat as it trailed first over her breast and then stomach, almost making her moan from the slow torture.

'Sorry' he mumbled blushing furiously, 'I must have fallen asleep before making it back to my bed,' his voice dropped a couple of octaves and Daphne was sure that he never meant her to hear the next words, 'please don't freak out.'

The word "freak" sent a jolt through Daphne, the memories of what had happened as she dropped off to sleep resurfaced, the horror that that was his home life as a young child. The memories washed over her like a tide, threatening to break her like they had last night. She had no idea what had happened and she had absolutely no plans on discussing them with him anytime soon. She closed her eyes willing herself to be calm. She couldn't look at him not yet, the threat of her breaking down was very real, her voice was surprisingly controlled once she spoke to him, 'it's not all your fault Harry, I was just as comfortable this morning as you were, there is no blame.'

Daphne opened her eyes to a staring Tracey, trying desperately to lose her eyebrows in her hairline. Daphne silently pleaded with her not to say anything, and her friend picking up on the subtle clues did not disappoint her, clamping her mouth shut.

'Harry, I need some time this morning, do you think you can give me an hour or so to myself?'

'Sure, that will be fine, I'll just go have a shower and go and get myself some breakfast, do you want me to bring you back any or get some sent to you?'

'Thank you, if you can send an elf, I will order some for myself and Tracey.'

'No worries,' was Harry's reply as he stretched, joints popping as he got himself up and situated to begin his day, testing his injured leg at the same time, 'I will send an elf shortly, call him and let me know when you're sorted and we'll discuss the day.'

Daphne turned and looked at him for the first time, but still couldn't meet his eyes, 'thank you, I will let you know once I am ready to face the day.'

As Harry left the room and his touch cooled on her skin, Daphne felt the cold icy fog descending across her mind, however instead of the usual fraction of a second, this time it felt as if the fog were moving though a barrier slowly like treacle. She could feel her emotions shifting, her eyes flicked to Tracey, 'there is something wrong with me, I can feel it,' she tapped the side of her head with a finger. 'You were right Tracey, I am sorry, please let mum know, and when the mind healer comes make sure that Harry is with me.'

Ten minutes later and half way through breakfast, she gave a panicked look to Tracey, and muttered 'shit,' as the walls snapped into place and she could feel that her mind slowly being subverted, mentally she screamed as that dark cold voice echoed in her head again, 'You are mine little dove... mine.'

- AFW -

Harry walked with a slight limp into the Great Hall, one door still hung lopsided on a single hinge, side stepping the last piles of debris, his eyes flicked upwards towards the enchanted ceiling, somehow through all the mayhem this enchantment had remained had remained unaffected, a reminder of simpler and better times.

The house tables however hadn't escaped, and only the Slytherin table remain relatively intact, Hermione waved him over to the remains of the Gryffindor table.

'You look, more rested this morning Harry, did you finally get some sleep?'

Harry gave her a rueful grin, 'you could say that, I guess.'

Hermione gave him a quizzical look, before obviously deciding it wasn't her business and moving on. 'So I have been thinking of the what Greengrass was talking about yesterday, and I was wondering if I could sit in on some of your conversations slash lessons?'

Harry seated himself as he pondered Hermione's question, did he have the authority to allow his friend to attend the lessons that Daphne was going to give him or did he have to run this past Daphne, Neville and Nate. Deciding that discretion was the better part of valour, 'I don't know Hermione, I will ask, if it's up to me then yes but I am not sure if this is just my decision, can I get back to you?'

Hermione seemed to be slightly taken back by the answer but after what felt like an eternity to Harry she nodded.

'Thanks Hermione, like I said if it was solely up to me, I would have no problem with you join whichever sessions you wanted but I need to make sure that at least Daphne is comfortable with this development.'

Hermione gave him another quizzically look, 'I understand Harry, if I can't join the lesson I then I will be able to pick your brain to understand.'

Harry nodded, 'of course, but hopefully you can be there in person, just excuse me a moment, I just need to arrange something.' Hermione nodded and busied herself with her breakfast as Harry called out 'Kreacher.'

A small pop about ten seconds later, 'Half Blood Master calls, what can Kreacher be doing for his Half Blood Master?' asked Kreacher, in a civil tone and giving a small bow of his head to Harry.

Hermione gave him a small frown that he ignored, 'Yes Kreacher, please find Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis in the Hospital ward and get them their breakfast please, and if Daphne calls you please respond she is now part of my household for the foreseeable future, and Kreacher'

'Yes Half Blood Master,' asked Kreacher, his tone still respectful despite the slight he gave Harry every time he opened his mouth.

'Just Master, will be fine from now on thank you.'

For a few seconds Kreacher watched Harry with his dark eyes, before visibly adjusting himself, 'at once Master, Kreacher lives to serve the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black,' then with a slight bow of the head he popped away.

'You could free him you know,' Hermione huffed.

'It would kill him,' was Harry's quick riposte, before he busied himself with his breakfast. After almost finishing his first mouthful he pointed his fork at Hermione, 'You should go visit Winky in the kitchens before you go off half-cocked at me Hermione.' Harry swallowed and then continued, 'I love you and your heart's in the right place but I don't think that you have quite researched this topic as much as you usually do,' Harry continued his breakfast.

Hermione gaped at him, never in their seven years of friendship had Harry ever accused her of under researching a topic, 'I'll have you know Harry that I have read everything that I can find on the topic!' she exclaimed when she finally got her voice to work.

'I am just saying Hermione, have you asked the elves themselves what they want,' Harry lazily wafted his fork in her direction again.

'Well no, but they are brain washed, they don't know what they want for themselves,' Hermione crossed her arms sitting back to see what Harry would come up with next.

'Then don't just talk to Winky, talk to some of the Hogwarts elves, before you go any further, they are well treated, I assume you would agree and they should give you an unbiased opinion.'

'What do you know that I don't Harry?' Hermione gave him a calculating look.

'Not much I am sure but, I think you will find that the elves have a difference of opinion as to why they do what they do, anyway changing topics, how did you get on with the letter to Kingsley?'

Hermione picked up her piece of toast, 'no problems, I sent it this morning before coming to breakfast.'

Harry nodded as he chewed, but decided that it was better to swallow before answering, 'Good, I look forward to hearing from Kingsley sooner rather than later…' he paused and looked at Hermione studying her face intently, her eyes were still hollow and her skin pale and pallid. 'How are you Hermione, are you getting enough rest?'

Hermione stopped eating, placing her half eaten piece of toast on her plate, her fingers twitched and moved forming and un-forming fists and she gnawed at her bottom lip, 'I'm fine Harry, nothing to worry about.'

'I call bullshit; did you even go and get a dreamless sleep potion like I told you to?'

Hermione shook her head no longer meeting Harry's eyes.

'Hermione, you can't keep going like this you need some rest, stop being a stubborn arse and get some help, or at least talk to me and tell me what else is wrong.'

Hermione gave him a startled look.

'I am not stupid Hermione, your issue with Ron isn't the only topic you are struggling with, so spill what's the issue.'

'My parents, I want… no I need to go find them to make sure they are safe… I've lost contact with them in Australia.'

Harry's mind froze for a moment, finally he understood why Hermione was wasting away in front of his eyes, 'How long since you knew where they were?'

'Fifteen days, they have never gone this long without a transaction,' Hermione's voice was flat and lifeless.

'Where and how have you been tracking them?'

'Mildura, Victoria, I have been watching their bank statements through Gringotts, but I haven't seen anything from the goblins since,' Hermione sighed 'I need to leave to go find them but I can't with everything hanging over our heads.'

Harry sat for a moment, and then a question popped into his head, the answer he was sure he knew, but didn't want to contemplate, 'Hermione, how many days ago did we break into Gringotts?'

'Eight days ago Harry, why?' the question hung in the air between them, begging for one of them to answer.

'I think that's your answer,' Harry said finally, 'either the goblins are still in disarray and their communication channels are down, or…' he trailed off not wanting to contemplate the next thought.

'Or, we are on their infringement list, and have ceased all business with us,' Hermione finished for him. 'I need to go see them, they want us to come in at the start of next month but maybe if I go now they won't hold it against me.'

'I don't think that's one of your better ideas Hermione,' Astoria's voice broke into their conversation. 'Sorry, we couldn't help but over hear,' she said standing near Neville.

Hermione looked at her with a slightly frazzled face, 'what, why ever not, sure they wouldn't hold what we did against us, our cause was just?'

'To the wizarding world, yes but the goblins are touchy, their treaties ensure that all crimes committed against the goblin nation are tried under goblin law,' Astoria pulled a face, 'crimes by the wizarding world against the goblin nation are what have started the three goblin wars, don't be too sure that they will be reasonable about what was effectively breaking, entering and theft.'

'You need to tell Daphne about this Harry, she needs to know so that she can start putting together a defence for you, you might want to tell Minister elect Shacklebolt too,' added Neville to the conversation. 'Given that the crime was perpetrated for the wizarding world the ministry should help mount your defence.'

Harry nodded, 'Hermione do you think…'

'Already on it I will write to Kingsley right away,' Hermione stood, purpose suddenly flooding back into her system, 'don't worry Harry leave this to me,' and with that she turned and strode away.

'Hermione' called Harry.

She turned and looked at him with a questioning gaze, 'Yes?'

'Make sure you get some rest, if you don't I will hunt you down and poor a dreamless sleep potion down your throat myself, you hear me?'

Hermione nodded, turned on her heel and walked quickly from the great hall.

'Well that went better than I hoped,' said Harry focusing on his breakfast again, 'Are you two going to join me?'

'Sure mate, sounds good. By the way Lord Greengrass wants to talk to you after breakfast about the Succour agreement, so when we are finished you might want to go and collect Daphne and meet us in the same room that we held the original meeting. We need to sign the agreement and bind our magic to it.'

Harry nodded and continued to eat his breakfast, the issue with the goblins playing on his mind as he continued to listen to the soft conversation between Neville and Astoria, true to his advice she wasn't pushing Neville's buttons at least not overtly, she still teased him softly in small ways but never in a patronizing or nasty way or so that others at the table could hear, Harry could see that Neville was relaxing into her company, a shy smile occasionally flittered across his face as they talked.

- AFW -

Harry was moving slowly back through the corridors of the school, back towards the hospital deciding that he should take Astoria and Neville's advice and discuss the goblin issue with Daphne sooner rather than later, but not wanting to impede her time with Tracey. His leg ached with a dull throb, but was nowhere near as painful as he thought it might be, thinking about his leg inevitably shifted his thinking to yesterday's attack, he needed to be more vigilant, there were still many of Voldemort's followers on the loose causing trouble and given the wards of Hogwarts were still down it mean that anyone could apparate in and out of the place meaning it most definitely was not the safest place in Britain, he should probably approach Professor McGonagall about putting the wards back in place and whether he could help with that process.

He flicked his wand in and out of the holster marvelling at the feeling as his wand seemed to leap into his hand and then back into the holster as he released his intent. He rolled his wrist up looking at the holster itself, his fingers tracing the outlines of gold lettering ACB near his wrist, his mind drifting back to the day he had found it at twelve Grimmauld Place whilst cleaning up one of the rooms. Not knowing what it was he had asked Sirius before he went to throw it out.

Sirius had looked the holster over before telling Harry that it had belonged to his Grand Father Arcturus Canis Black, and was a war holster. The holster was designed to conceal the wearer's wand making it unsummonable whilst in the holster meaning that the wearer could not be disarmed until their wand was in their hand.

The downside was that it took practice to be able to flick the wearer's wand in and out of the holster and however if the wearer was quick enough they could banish their wand back into the holster before a disarming spell hit them rendering the spell useless against the wearer. Sirius had given him the holster saying that it would do him no good he didn't have the reflexes after twelve years in Azkaban to make use of it so Harry might as well keep the thing.

Harry had taken his time to work the leather back into good repair but before he could start practicing with it Sirius had died and he had put it in his trunk forgetting about it until he was packing prior to going on the run. Deciding that the holster might come in handy he had packed it and practiced with it for the months whilst on the run, it was only the day of the last battle that he had decided that he was proficient enough with it to warrant wearing it.

Rounding the final corner before the entrance to the hospital wing he slowed, pondering whether he should sit and wait outside for a while, his musing was interrupted by Kreacher's sudden appearance.

'Master, Mistress requests your presences as soon as possible,' he intoned bowing low to Harry as he spoke.

'Very well Kreacher, I was just on my way there anyway, thank you for the message.'

Kreacher bowed again and then popped away, 'funny little bugger is actually growing on me' he thought with a wry smile before pushing the doors open and heading into the ward. As he made to go round the curtains of Daphne's ward room, Tracey intercepted him dragging him back from the curtains before he could enter.

'What the hell Tracey,' he asked stumbling off balance for a second before righting his feet and swinging round tearing his arm from her grip.

'I needed to give you the heads up before you go in there and ruin any progress that you guys have made towards an amicable relationship,' Tracey countered a no nonsense tone in her voice. Before Harry could say anything she continued. 'First, Daphne told me after you left that she can feel something in her mind, when you are touching her it short circuits it, but once you stop the fog comes down and the ice bitch comes back. Secondly, she wants you to be present when the mind healer visits her, in what capacity I don't know but please help her in any way you can,' her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she continued. 'Thirdly, why the hell did you send a House of Black elf to serve us breakfast?' She was now listing her demands on her fingers, ticking them off as she went, 'fourthly, how the hell did you get him to agree to serve us breakfast, and lastly why the hell is he calling Daphne mistress?'

Harry blinked at her trying to wrap his head around everything that Tracey had just unloaded on him, finally with a small shake of his head he held up his thumb on his left hand, 'okay firstly that's straight up concerning,' he flicked his index finger out, 'next, of course I will be there if she needs me to be, thirdly my godfather named me his heir in his will and somehow in the bargain I gained Kreacher,' his ring finger joined the others, 'Fourthly I asked him to serve you both, and lastly I have no idea why he would be calling Daphne mistress.'

It was Tracey's turn to blink owlishly at him, before a smile slowly crept across her face, 'thank you Harry,' her voice quiet before she launched herself at him and hugged him, pinning his arms to his sides.

'Ummm you are welcome,' he said awkwardly trying his best to manoeuvre his arm to pat her on her back, 'is there anything else I can do for you?'

Tracey stepped back and away from him her smile now in full bloom, 'ask your elf at some point, it could just be his peculiarity I guess, otherwise no not really…' she paused slightly. 'Just remember that she is still not herself yet, but don't let her push you away you did a great job yesterday, you just need to keep forging down that path.'

Harry gave her a small nod, 'I will do my best… I guess I better go and face the music,' he blushed slightly.

'Oh don't worry about this morning, she is just as embarrassed as you are, and she liked it a hell of a lot more than she is admitting, and don't let her tell you otherwise,' she added slightly more sternly shaking her finger at him by the end of her little pep talk.

Harry chuckled, 'aren't you supposed to be protecting her secrets?'

Tracey beamed at him again, 'at this point Harry she doesn't need any more secrets, she just needs a hunky piece of man flesh holding her sweater puppies through the night,' she laughed, swung on her heel and tossed a 'later' over her shoulder, laughing as she left a bright red Harry standing outside the curtains.

Harry stood watching her leave; a dumbfounded expression plastered across his face as he watched the bubbly brunette chortle her way to the door. Running a rueful hand through his hair he turned once again to face the curtains of Daphne's ward, he wasn't looking forward to this. How could he face a girl who was a virtual stranger, whose supple, yet firm breast he had woken up fondling. He shook his head where the hell had that thought come from and since when did he start describing things in that fashion.

Shaking himself again he waited until he had collected some small sense of calm before slowly pushing his way through the curtains, 'good morning again Daphne, how was your breakfast?' he asked with false cheer.

Daphne looked up for the piece of parchment she was studying with her cold, stormy eyes. But before she could answer with what Harry assumed would be some sort of scathing comment he had reached her side and gathered her hand in his. Once again the connections pushed through their bodies, and their faces flushed simultaneously as the hint of arousal flooded their bodies causing them to look away from each other.

'Thank you Harry, something very stupid was about to come out of my mouth, and I had no control over it until you touched me,' Daphne voice was quiet and subdued unlike anything that Harry had heard from her before.

Harry answered slowly as though testing his word in his mind before giving them voice, 'it's okay I wouldn't have taken it to heart anyway, Tracey cornered me on her way out and filled me in… how are you holding up?'

Daphne turned to face him, her eyes were also glistening with moisture, 'as well as I can be, I guess,' she seemed to collect her thoughts before continuing. 'Tracey tried to take my mind off it this morning, grilling me about how we ended up sleeping together after our,' she used her fingers to add quotation marks in the air, '"first date", so thanks for that by the way,' she gave him a small smile to soften the sarcasm that was clearly dripping from her last sentence.

'No worries, I am here to please,' Harry quirked a crooked smile at her, before running his free hand through his already messy locks. 'In all honesty, I am sorry that I put you in that position, that is my fault entirely.'

Daphne just gave him a level look before sighing, 'Don't worry about it, you were exhausted and injured, it's not something that you need to beat yourself up about, so you copped a feel, it wasn't deliberate on your part as far as I am aware, yes?

Harry could only nod his affirmation.

'So let's just try and forget about it and move on, however if you feel you need to make it up to me…?'

Harry again just gave her a nod of his head.

'Then you can deal with my mother, as there is no way in hell that Trace is going to keep this to herself.'

Harry gave a bark of laughter, 'no worries, your Mum loves me. So what were you reading so intently when I walked in?'

Daphne passed the piece of parchment across to him before leaning back and resting her head on her pillows, 'it's the terms of the succour agreement, my father sent them to me via elf this morning, he will set up a meeting for later this morning so that we can all to sit down and sign the official documents, its…' she hesitated.

'Just tell me Daph, its fine.'

She gave him a queer look, 'really, Daph, that's… never mind,' she sighed before settling her eyes on something in the distance, 'its as bad as I thought it might be, have a read, tell me what you think and then we can go through any questions you have.

Harry studied her face for a couple of moments before dropping his eyes to the document in his hand.

Succour covenant as agreed between the Ancient and Noble houses of Greengrass, Longbottom and Potter.

a. House Greengrass will provide their Heir (hence forth referred to as Daphne) to provide advocacy to House Potter

b. Daphne shall share her knowledge without caution, excepting family magics, for a minimum of one cycle to a maximum of three cycles

c. Daphne shall represent House Potter, without exception or favour

d. Daphne shall hold no secrets from House Potter excepting family magics, but will hold House Potters secrets unless given permission to divulge said information.

e. House Potter shall provide comfort, hospitality and safety

f. House Potter shall hold no secrets from Daphne excepting family magics, but will hold Daphne's secrets unless given permission to divulge said information.

g. Either Daphne and Lord Potter (hence forth referred to as Harry) will have the right of access to each other where ever and whenever

h. Daphne will be apart from Harry for no longer than 48hrs, unless prior agreement is reached

i. Daphne will be Harry's official escort to all functions formal & private

j. Daphne and Harry will share an abode with a common access door which cannot be barred

k. Houses Greengrass, Potter & Longbottom will deal faithfully with each other

l. House Greengrass hold first right of refusal on any betrothal for House Potter and Longbottom whilst the agreement is in force

m. Houses Potter & Longbottom, hold first right of refusal on any betrothal for the daughters of House Greengrass whilst the agreement is in force

n. The agreement will run for the three cycles unless agreement is reached by the three houses together.

Harry took his time reading the document, trying to understand if there were any nuances that he was missing. It was written in remarkably clear language, something which surprised him, his eyes flicked up to Daphne's face, but she was looking away and tears where tracking their way down her cheek. Before he realised what he was doing he had set the piece of parchment down on the bed and reached across to Daphne's face, cupping her cheek and brushing the tear away with his thumb.

Daphne seemed to move without thought; she leaned into his touch, nuzzling his hand.

Harry's voice was thick as he continued to stroke her cheek, wiping away the last of her tears, 'Hey, don't cry we will figure it out, together… why don't you take a few moments and then talk me through this, we can make it work for us… okay?'

Daphne swallowed and nodded into his hand, her eyes where closed and Harry could feel her turmoil roiling through the bond, calming himself he waited until she lifted her face from his hand, her eyes looked up tinged with red. He gave her a crooked smile, and she returned it with a small upturning at the corners of her mouth.

'Thank you Harry… so how do you feel about the fact that we have both been effectively sold to each other, and why do you have a Black family house elf?'