"If you want to break up with me, just say it." Harry said, looking horrorstruck that the words had left his mouth.
Daphne stared back as if she'd been slapped. She didn't understand how things had become so strained between the two of them. She wanted to explain it all to him, but the problem was, she had no idea what was going on. She was in the middle of a war with herself.
"I don't want to break up with you, Harry." Daphne sighed, clearly irritated by him.
"Then what? You've all but ignored me for the past two weeks, and I'm trying hard to figure out what I did wrong."
"Look, I just need a little space, alright?" Daphne said firmly, fighting her urge to scream at him. As she looked at him she was having trouble seeing straight. Why did she feel this way, when two weeks ago, she had trouble going an hour without him near her?
"Fine." Harry said holding up his hands in defeat. "Take all the space you need." he turned on his heel and stormed away, leaving Daphne even angrier than she was to begin with.
Daphne stomped all the way down to the Slytherin Common Room, where she was greeted by Draco Malfoy, who was now following her around like a lost puppy. He was always wanting her to share with him, like he was trying to become her best friend. It was sickening. To make matters worse, Tracey had taken Harry's side.
Her best friend had tried to get to the bottom of the issue between Daphne and Harry, but had been shouted at for her trouble. Tracey had not given up, and now things were strained between the two best friends.
"Hey Daphne, I saw Potter haul you off like a piece of meat earlier. Want to talk about it?" Draco said as she sat on the couch in front of the fire. Instantly Daphne's warning bells were ringing in her head. She turned to look coldly at the Slytherin Prince, who simply smiled gently, trying to invite the girl to open up to him.
"Are you kidding me? You really want me to just tell you me deepest secrets?" Daphne said sarcastically.
"Well, you should talk to someone." Draco shrugged, his voice calm and encouraging. "I told you Tracy would side with Potter, and I know it's eating you up. You're snapping at everyone, and frankly it's getting to be quite disconcerting."
He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, and Daphne shivered at his touch. Her skin broke out in gooseflesh, and she felt bile creep up her throat.
Daphne shook her head angrily. "Unbelievable." she rose from her seat, taking her bag with her, and stomped into her dorm. She'd been doing her homework in while sitting on her bed almost every night just to avoid Draco, but also so she wouldn't have to face Tracey either. She felt horrible for how she'd been acting lately. Not just with her best friend, but with Harry as well. She wanted to be with him, but she almost couldn't look at him anymore without feeling bitter resentment towards.
What was more irksome was the fact that there seem to be no reason for it. So everyday had been full of inner conflict. Her heart wanting to go to Harry, and let him hold her and kiss her, and make her feel special, while her mind was clouded by a growing loathing of the boy.
Somehow, she knew it wasn't natural. However, she could not figure out how it was possible. She was quite sure she hadn't been slipped anything, as she rarely accepted sweets, or anything like that from people she didn't trust. The only other thing she could think of was that she'd somehow been imperioused, though she was fairly confident that no one in the school was capable of controlling her for a long period of time.
"So what is it?" She asked herself.
"Oh, hello Greengrass." Pansy sneered as she entered the dorm. "Hiding from your problems again? If only you had a boyfriend like Draco…" The girl simpered.
"Things between me and Harry are just fine." Daphne lied. She knew things were as far from fine as they could get, but she was not about to give Pansy the satisfaction.
"That's not what people are saying. I heard he's getting a lot of attention from Patil lately. It must be sad to be unable to hold onto a boy. Of course, if you dated someone in your own house, you could probably keep better track of him." Pansy smiled wickedly. "And you could get your fix whenever you wanted."
"I'm sorry, but I don't really like the thought of letting my boyfriend whore me out to his dorm mates."
"That's a lie!" Pansy stiffened, looking murderous. "That never happened!"
"Not according to Nott, Crabbe and Goyle. In fact, the way they tell it, it's a fairly frequent occurrence. Is that why you have so much lingerie? Because those gorillas can't take it off you without tearing it to shreds trying to get at your bits?"
"You shut your face Greengrass. You don't know anything!" Pansy's face was getting redder and redder by the second, and Daphne had to admit she was taking a bit of joy in making the girl angry.
Pansy had pulled out her wand and was tapping it against her leg. Daphne could tell that Pansy wanted to hex her, but see made no move to try.
"Did I strike a nerve there, Pans?" Daphne asked coyly. She slipped off her bed and walked right up the shorter girl, a bold smile on her face.
"Are you terrified that Draco is bored with you, despite everything you do for him? Even going so far as to please his moronic friends, all in a vain hope that you'll eventually get your hands on the vast Malfoy wealth?"
"BITCH!" Pansy shouted as she balled up her fist and swung hard at Daphne, connecting with her eye. Daphne fell onto the cold stone floor, looking awe struck at what had just happened. She could not believe that Pansy Parkinson had hit her.
Pansy was still standing over her, her chest heaving as she stared down at Daphne.
"Well, I think I should be impressed." Daphne said, toughing her eye tenderly. She was quite certain it was going to be bad, but she didn't care at the moment. She got to feet quickly and without another word, lunged at the shorted girl, who seemed to have forgotten she was a witch and had a wand in her hand.
Tracey Davis was tired. She just wanted to go have a lie down for a bit. Classes were getting harder in preparation for the OWL exams, and it was becoming difficult to keep up on homework, though, having Hermione Granger as a friend, certainly helped.
She had completed her work early tonight, and figured she would go to bed a little early. Perhaps tomorrow she could try to patch things up with Daphne, and figure out exactly what was going on between her and Harry, who was becoming more and more depressing everyday.
She opened the door to the dorm and was knocked to the ground as Daphne and Pansy, who were locked together in mortal combat slammed into her. Tracey could not understand what exactly she was seeing. It was like something out of a trashy muggle book or something. Pansy had a fistful of Daphne's hair, and was trying to pull it out of her skull, while Daphne looked intent on scratching out Pansy's eyes.
"IMMOBULIS!" Tracey shouted, freezing the two girls in place.
"What in the in the fiery depths of hell is going on here?" Tracey demanded looking solely at Daphne, who's eye were still focused on Pansy.
"Ok, I'm going to free you both, and if either of you tries anything stupid, I'll make you wish you'd never been born. Finite."
The two girls fell to the floor, and Tracey pulled Daphne up, leaving Pansy on the floor looking murderous.
"I think you should go cool off for a while." Tracey said.
"But this is my room too!" Pansy shouted.
"Fine, but keep your mouth shut, or I'll shut it for you." Tracey smiled as she guided Daphne into the bathroom. Daphne struggled a bit, but Tracey proved to be a bit stronger, and got her into the bathroom.
"Sit!" Tracey said as she ran a cloth under cool water. "You want to explain why I walked in to see you and Pansy acting like a couple of crazed griffins?"
"She started it." Daphne said sounding like a five year old.
"She always does." Tracey remarked. "What did she say?"
"She made some crack about what's going on with me and Harry, and then said it wouldn't have happened if I'd dated a Slytherin." Daphne hissed as Tracey touched the cold cloth to her eye.
"And you decided to rip her eyes out?" Tracey looked confused.
"No. I-I might have made a few remarks about her…" Daphne trailed off.
"Being an amusement ride for the boys?" Tracey asked, staring to figure out what happened.
"I don't think I put it quite so eloquently." Daphne sighed. "It's just she made me so mad, not that it took much. Harry asked me if I wanted to break up today."
"Oh gods.' Tracey said, her hands covering her mouth in horror. "What'd you say?"
"I told him I didn't, but that I needed space. I don't know what's happening, Tracey. I don't like that I want to be with him, but even hearing his name irks me."
Tracey leaned against the sink, trying to figure out what the problem was. "Do you think someone slipped you a potion, or something?
"It's possible, but I'm usually pretty careful about that sort of thing. I thought about someone trying to control me, but…" Daphne shrugged.
"You've appeared to be fine to me." Tracey admitted.
"Then what is it?"
"YOU STUPID BINT!" The shout was followed by a loud crash.
Tracey and Daphne stared at each other for a moment before rushing out of the bathroom to find Astoria with her wand out and Pansy slumped against the wardrobe.
"Tori?" Daphne asked looking between Pansy and her younger sister.
"She was dosing you." Astoria said angrily. "Look in her hand."
Tracey bent down and found what looked like an expensive perfume bottle in Pansy's slack hand.
"I saw her spraying it on your pillow. I bet it's what's making you and Harry having problems." Astoria said, finally putting her wand away. "I'm also willing to bet Malfoy is the one who gave it to her."
"I'm such an IDIOT!" Daphne shouted as she took the bottle from Tracey. Inside was a clear fluid that none of them recognized.
"Ok, first we need to find out what this is." Tracey said, trying to urge Daphne to move. But the darker haired girl stooped down and slapped Pansy awake.
"Wake up you bitch. You have some explaining to do."
Pansy came round, and look frightened when she saw the crystal bottle in Daphne's hand.
"What is this?" Daphne demanded. Pansy merely shrugged, while she looked for a way to get away. Astoria was standing firmly between her and the door, and her wand was in her hand. The second year had proven to be more than a bit fast with her wand. To make matters worse, both Daphne and Tracey were hovering over her, both with identical furious looks.
"Where did you get it, and why were you spraying it on my pillow?"
Pansy sat up a bit straighter, and put on her best indifferent look, as if she was bored. Tracey bent lower so that she was looking the girl in the eye as she spoke.
"You do realize that this could be construed as an attack on a member of an ancient house, and as such, her father could call for retribution form your family. As I understand it, The Parkinson clan isn't it that great of shape right now."
Pansy's eyes went wide, and she started to shake.
"It was Malfoy, wasn't it?" Daphne asked, starting to piece the puzzle out in her head. "It's supposed to make me hate Harry or something, isn't it."
Pansy said nothing, but her look of fear told them everything.
"Tell me Pansy, How stupid are you?" Daphne looked outraged. "What do you think Malfoy's plan was? To just ruin my relationship with Harry? Do you really think he would have been content with that alone?"
"Likely he'd try and get you to date him so he could rub Harry's nose in it." Tracey said.
"And where would that have left you?" Daphne asked coldly, her eyes becoming slits. "He would have tossed you to his buddies."
"No he wouldn't have!" Pansy shouted.
"You really think he cares about you at all?" Tracey asked. "Malfoy only cares about himself, and everyone knows that. You're just too blinded by this twisted fantasy you've imagined to realize it."
"What did he tell you to do? How does this stuff work?"
"I'm not telling either of you anything, so shove off!"
"Fine." Daphne said. "We'll take this to Professor Snape, and find out what it is, and then, I'll be sure to let my father know your part in this conspiracy."
Daphne, Tracey and Astoria left Pansy, still sitting on the floor looking more than a little fearful of what her parents would say when the Greengrass family called for retribution.
"Tori, thank you." Daphne said as the three girls headed towards Professor Snape's office. "How did you find out?"
"I've noticed you and Harry not talking, and knew that it was weird. I never thought you were the kind to string a boy along. If you didn't like him anymore you would have ended it and been done with it. Then there was Malfoy's obvious attempts to court you. Things weren't adding up, so I started watching a bit more carefully."
"And tonight?" Tracey asked.
"Luck. I was coming to ask if I could borrow a book when I saw her spraying your pillow with that stuff. I had seen her talking with Malfoy earlier, and they looked mad at each other. Then he told her to do as he told her, or else." Astoria shrugged.
"Well, hopefully we'll have answers soon." Tracey said as they knocked on Professor Snape's office.
"Enter."
Professor Snape looked up as the three girls entered the office.
"Sorry to bother you so late, professor." Tracey said, setting the bottle in front of him. "We found Pansy Parkinson spraying this on Daphne's pillow, and we wanted to know what it is."
"Could it be perfume?" Snape asked, looking bored. Tracey and Daphne had experienced a noticeable change in treatment from their head of house ever since Daphne and Harry had started dating.
"It could be, but it could also be something else. Can you please just check it, sir?" Tracey asked rather impatiently.
"I can see associating with Gryffindors has affected your manners." Snape said coldly.
"Fine." Daphne said, clutching up the bottle. "We'll just find a competent teacher to figure it out."
"I do not believe that a more competent potions expert resides at Hogwarts."
Everyone turned to see the Headmaster standing in the doorway. Snape's lip curled a bit as he held out his hand for the bottle. Reluctantly, Daphne handed the bottle back to the greasy haired man, and folded her arms over her chest.
"Did I hear correctly, Miss Davis, in that you discovered Miss Parkinson spraying this on your pillow?"
"Actually, sir." Astoria said proudly. "I saw her spraying it on Daphne's pillow. I think she was doing it on Draco Malfoy's orders."
"Quite a serious accusation. Have you any proof?"
"Woman's intuition." Astoria said slyly, causing Dumbledore to chuckle a bit.
"Strange." Snape whispered. He had emptied the bottle into a small bowl, and had waved his wand over the liquid, examining the reactions he saw. "This is a rather complicated mixture. I myself have never brewed it before." He said airily.
"And what exactly is it, professor?" Dumbledore asked patiently.
"It is similar to a compulsion charm, though it works on emotions, rather than making a person act. It is focused on the negative emotions, almost like the opposite of a love potion. However it is not meant to be drunk."
"An airborne potion?" Dumbledore asked curiously.
"So it would seem." Snape nodded. "I do not believe this is in the expertise of Miss Parkinson, and I know she would not be able to purchase such a mixture. Someone made this."
"It had to have been Malfoy." Astoria said firmly.
"Miss Greengrass," Snape glowered. "For what purpose would Mister Malfoy have to make such a potion?"
"To break up Harry and I." Daphne said indignantly. "He's been overly friendly to me for two weeks now."
"Maybe he figured with this stuff on his side he could get you to warm up to him." Tracey shrugged.
"We should not try and theorize anything. I think it prudent we speak to miss Parkinson right away." Dumbledore said. With a wave of his arm, the girls led the way back to Slytherin house, where the entire house went silent at the appearance of the Headmaster.
A few moments later, a very frightened looking Pansy was led out of the common room by Dumbledore and Snape, who gave a pointed look at Malfoy. The silence hung about the common room for several long minutes after the two teachers had left with their House mate.
"She's going to rat you out." Daphne said angrily, staring right at Draco, who looked unworried.
"For what exactly?" Draco asked.
"For that stuff you were using on me."
"What stuff? I have no idea what you're talking about."
Astoria couldn't stand it any longer. She rushed forward and kicked Draco's shin as hard as she could. Draco howled with pain and fell to the floor, clutching his wounded leg. Astoria stood above him, using words that Daphne didn't even know, and was very unclear on where her younger sister had learned them.
"You'd better control your sister, Greengrass, before I do it myself." Draco threatened.
"I'll warn you once, Malfoy." Daphne said, reaching into her robes and pulling out her wand. "if you even think for a second about hurting my sister, I will change your gender permanently."
"And I'll help her accomplish it, Right down to giving you a huge pair of breasts for your buddies to lust after." Tracey smirked. Draco could only glare at the girls for several moments. He then turned his attentions to the Second year who was still standing over him, her fists balled up, and a look of malevolence on her face.
Draco managed to get to his feet, glaring at the three girls before slinking away to the boys dormitories. The Common room began buzzing with conversation again, and Daphne, Tracey and Astoria decided to go to the girls dorms.
"Hey, what happened?" Millicent asked when they entered their dorm. "Snape and Dumbledore came and took Pansy away. They said they had some serious questions for her."
"She was using something on me that was making me have problems with Harry."
"That's what was wrong with you guys." Millie said slapping her forehead.
"Now I have to try an fix things." Daphne sighed.
"If he doesn't believe you I can kick him in the shins." Astoria said, trying to be helpful.
"I don't think you'll have to resort to that." Tracey grinned patting the younger girl on the back. "I'm sure Harry will listen, and forgive you. How could he be angry once he finds out that you weren't yourself? I'd be a little more concerned what he's going to do to Draco."
"I've ignored him for two weeks." Daphne said flopping on her bed.
"The first thing you should do is to replace that pillow. It's still got that stuff on it, and you won't be able to fix things with Harry so long as you're still breathing it in." Daphne said, grabbing up her friend's pillow.
"I wonder how long this stuff lasts?' Daphne sighed. "And why it didn't work better. I never hated Harry, I just found him annoying."
"Could it be because you love him?" Astoria asked. Tracey stared at Daphne, who looked flushed. She sat up slowly, biting her lower lip softly.
"You do, don't you?" Astoria starting grinning, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"You do." Tracey began to smile. "That's why you didn't dump him as soon as you started feeling so bothered by him."
"Oh My Gods!" Millicent grinned. "I'm so happy for you."
"Wait a minute!" Daphne said, waving her hands madly. "We've never even discussed our feelings. What if I do? What if he doesn't? What if all this stuff soured his feelings towards me. I don't even know if it is love that I'm feeling. Everything's messed up because of that stuff." she pointed at the pillow in Tracey's arms.
"Whoa, calm down girl." Tracey said, tossing the pillow away as if it were poison. "We got to slow down here."
"What if he really does want to break up with me?" Daphne's eyes starting welling up as she clutched at her chest.
"Daphne!" Astoria said, shoving her sister down onto her bed. "Calm down!"
Daphne felt as if she were being squeezed, and she couldn't breathe. Tears were now falling from her eyes, and she felt weak, and lightheaded.
"You have to calm down." Tracey said, sitting next to her friend. "Nothing is broken, here, and you've never been one to give, up, so calm down. We're going to fix this. We'll find Harry in the morning, and you two can figure this all out. You have nothing to worry about, because if I had to bet, I think Harry loves you too."
Daphne looked up at her best friend, with hope.
"You have no idea how much this has been tearing him up. He's been miserable without you, and he's been so confused on how to make things right. Now you know what's been happening, and you can fix it. He's going to listen to what you have to say, because he cares about you."
"You think so?"
"Are you kidding me?" Astoria shouted. "Of course he does. All you have to do is watch him when he looks at you. The boy's mental over you!"
The other girls laughed at Astoria's exuberance. Daphne hoped that everything was work out as they believed. She felt horrible for how she'd treated her boyfriend, and wanted nothing more than to find him at that moment to find him and snog him until they passed out. She still felt irritated as she thought of him, but knowing the reason why that was, she was now able to shove that aside, and focus on her true feelings for Harry. She wanted him. Needed him. He had become so much a part of her life, that she had been so miserable without him. Maybe Tracey and Astoria were right. Maybe it was love she was feeling, and if it was…Daphne only hoped that Harry would allow her to make up for her behavior.