Chapter 4: Third Hour
A/N: If you find any spelling and grammatical errors please bear with me and inform me.
Thank you all those who have added my story to their Favourites and Alerts and obviously those who reviewed.
Dinomus: yeah it was Neville instead of Harry but you get Harry this Chapter. For rest read out the chapter.
ceo55: my muse came to me so here's the new chapter.
Lord Lelouch: Actually Daphne is not scarred to approach Harry rather she's just skeptical about how their reunion will work out in rescuing Astoria.
Trogo: what can I say – I manage two stories simultaneously and balance the entire thing with my daily life. I type in the time I find myself free.
ed-hunter616: thanks for the review.
A/N: I give this story maybe a lot more time than my other story as I have to write the chapters right from scratch without anything planned before, so help me write it better by reading and Reviewing a lot and if you review, more people read this story and thus my story becomes much better as it will encourage me write better.
'thoughts'
"dialogues"
Chapter: Third Hour
10:30 A.M
The stale-aired interrogation cell was as cold and uncomfortable as it was meant to be. Her daintily trimmed nails drumming lightly against the scoured surface of the table. Her other hand was playing with her with her hair, her eyes darting every now and then at the grey metal door of the cell.
Neville had brought her here. He told he would only inform Mad-Eye about this for her convenience and not involve any other Auror for now. Mad-Eye would be needed in this mission for advice, and that was not a request from Neville even though Daphne was averse about it. Ten minutes ago he said he would be back as soon as he could find the MAN. Ten long minutes and she were still sitting on the rickety stool cum chair. Ten long minutes and not even a single person had asked her for a coffee, just a glass of water, typical of the universal trend followed in all police agencies.
What would she do until the duo arrive. She was hanging on each second passing by. The more time wasted the closer she came to lose her sister. But still what more could she do than to sit here and wait. If she could have, she would have gone with Neville to find Him, but her circumstances and the tag placed on her wouldn't allow her to leave the Ministry premises. So here she found herself sitting in a cell without a wand and only her memories to chew upon in the meantime. She had a feeling that even though not a single soul was in vicinity but somehow she was being watched, she knew that sometimes these methods of making a suspect wait for long hours would get them restless, intimidated and nervous. Her every movement from her breathing to yawning and drumming the table unconsciously and other such things were being monitored. But what was the point of that, she was not the culprit; she was the one being wronged. She sighed and returned to her own little world of reverie.
No matter what she did most of the time in past fifteen minutes her thoughts ended on the same person. Harry Potter-The Boy Who Lived-The Boy Won-The Griffindor Golden Boy-The Best Auror-The Dream Man of Every Teenage Girl and last but not least The Lion of The Snake and Lion duo her 'ex-boyfriend'. Though for many people he was still an enigma but for her he was just Harry and had been that since her sixth year at Hogwarts.
FLASHBACK
She and her little sister were at Tracy's along with the survivors of her house elves. It had been a week since her parents' departure. She was on the rug sack sipping her iced lemon tea with hint of mint. Even though she was staring out at lake in the background of the mansion, her eyes were focused on nowhere corporeal. She knew the miscreants and she knew what she had to do. But to do it she needed help.
'One should attack only when retaliation is impossible.'
'You can't fight on your own, you need an ally.'
'I believe in you that you will do what is right. Just make sure that Greengrass must be known for their achievements and not for their infringements.'
Her father's parting words still echoed in her ears. She needed to retaliate, avenge but she couldn't do it without right support. She knew now that her parents were out of path; many would try to make her and her sister an easy target. For them she would be the weak lamb in a pack of wolves. The Slytherin dorms would be now hunting grounds for her and Tori, with them as prey and Malfoy heading the hunters. Now there won't be any walls preventing him from 'gaining her or her sister.' The thought alone disgusted her. The problem wasn't like she couldn't handle Draco and his bodyguards but with most of the Slytherins now backing his absurdity it won't be an easy stay at Hogwarts. Even though she had Tracy and Blaize with her but it would take her as far as this. Now with Voldemort back in open things were not limited to Hogwarts. She needed a bigger backup a stronger protection and ally. And only Dumbledore was the best person to approach. But he already had lot on his plate so she doubted he would be a wise choice. The next option was the Gryffindor Golden Boy, though not as talented and high on the matter of thinking before moving but which Gryffindor was such, except a few. Anyways the brains department was her; all she needed was someone to execute her ideas. Whatever he did, it did keep the Slytherins at bay and with last year's success in the Dumbledore's Army he did gain some more points on the Slytherins' various hit lists. And now with him submerged in his brooding over his godfather, just a bit of moral support and little more here and there and he would be wrapped around her finger. Obviously Weasley and Granger were there for him, but you could always count Weasley out of loop as he wasn't much into emotions and Granger would simply advise him to submerge himself into books. Daphne was confident that her road was smooth.
Whatever it would mean for him, but for her it would be just a deal- he provides protection and she gives him whatever was moral and under her power and nothing more than friendship. And when the time was right, shoot with him as the shield.
Now she had to wait till the school reopens to implement her plan.
FLASHBACK ENDS
10:35 A.M
Still no sign of anyone approaching her door. She did have the liberty to go out of the room but not beyond the entrance to the corridor of the interrogation cell. She got up and went out. At one end of the corridor was another metal door and at other end were two wooden doors (which she guessed as washrooms) and a water-cooler; even the magical offices sometimes needed its services. Her wand had been submitted at the entrance as no one, not even an Auror was permitted to bring their wands in this room for safety of both prisoner and Auror. She went to the washroom and washed her face and stared at cold blue eyes staring back at her.
She came out of the room and had a glass of water at the water cooler and slowly went back to her seat. She glanced at her wrist watch, five more minutes were lost. Were they even serious about helping her? 'What the hell is he doing? He said it won't take more than fifteen minutes, and it is already 10:40.' She gulped her anger and waited patiently.
She never had time or rather never wanted to revisit the past and look back at what was the mistake preciously and whose it was? Now though she had nothing better to do….
FLASHBACK
It was already a month into the school and Hogwarts was back into her own colour and mood with the new addition of Professor Slughorn as Potions teacher (which was a surprise in itself, for him to return to the light side so openly right when Voldemort revealed himself) and Professor Snape getting his favorite subject Defense Against the Dark Arts. To her disappointment the Dumbledore's Army wasn't revamped so she didn't have an excuse to meet him without arousing any extra ordinary suspicion. One thing was refreshing was that he was now the champion in Potions instead of Granger and Snape didn't have much to point against him in the DADA class. He was often paired against none other than Malfoy and routinely shoved Malfoy's wand up his ass albeit solicitously. But this did not help her, she needed to get near him and there wasn't an opening visible to her, he didn't even look a bit broken or unhealthily brooding. Apparently she had underestimated Weasley and Granger or maybe Harry was good at hiding his emotions, maybe someone finally got the brains to teach him Occlumency. After all Moldypants wasn't just like that infamous for frying your brains. One more thing was that Malfoy stayed more reserved and underground now, she when at Tracy's had heard about Malfoys getting special assignment from Dark Lord (with him staying in their mansion). He had pretty much avoided her and his bodyguards looked like they would everywhere else than with him like he was marked. And not that she cared but he did look paler than usual like he not seen the sun in ages.
Right now she was walking towards her dorms from a very late dinner. The essays Snape started to demand were just horrendously long and equally difficult to find facts upon. She was just at the top of the stairwell moving down towards the dungeons.
"Well… Well… Well… Look who we finally got, The Ice Queen herself." The high nasal accent told her that she was proven wrong about someone… again. She ignored and continued without a pause, her sling bag now tighter around her shoulder. But suddenly she found her path blocked by the troll bodyguards of his.
"You know why I chose you? Because you have that attitude of the lady of a noble house. But you shouldn't forget when to show it and when to not." he was again his usual pompous and egotist Malfoy.
"I'm warning you for the last time Malfoy, leave me and you live." Daphne's monotone told that she was really not in mood to even stay and listen. "Now move aside and we follow our own paths." She took a step but the pea brained trolls didn't seem to get the simple order across.
"You shouldn't misbehave with your savior Daphne. Do you know why you breathe, because my father so pitifully asked the Dark Lord to spare you and your sister that too on my request." Draco came closer to her to touch her.
Daphne froze as her hand was already on her wand within the folds of her cloak. Draco had fully acknowledged her suspicion being wholly true. She turned and her wand was in his face within a second. "Definitely Malfoy, I WILL remember THIS." Her icy blue eyes were in a death stare with Malfoy's quivering grey ones. But Malfoy was ready for this as his wand was pointed on her chest, with the baboons aping his all his moves. Though she was entirely sure that they couldn't move fast enough for her using a close range attack, but she knew Draco had got some 'formal training' from his aunt Bellatrix. So for him she would need a distraction. Little did she know her help was close by.
"Not so fast Daphne, besides do you honestly believe you could take me down on your own? I don't think so." Draco drawled.
Daphne's eye's narrowed and she hissed, "When I'm done with you, remember you called upon this."
"Like I would give you the chance… Stup.." before Draco could understand and react to what was happening he was already crumpled at Daphne's feet. Crabbe and Goyle just gaped at their object for protection. Everything happened so fast that their minds couldn't handle it. Just as suddenly Crabbe was blasted of his feet unexpectedly down the hall and crashed into an armour. Goyle started sweating profusely with his wand shivering in the fear of the unknown. Daphne herself was alert for any surprises coming her way. A hood slowly uncovered the mess of raven black hair, hiding the lightning bolt scar and vaguely wrapping up the iridescent green eyes beneath the round framed glasses of the spects. A small smirk was playing on the lips. Beside his face only the hand holding the wand was visible.
'So he does have the invisibility cloak.' Daphne noted.
"Is he yours or mine?" Harry Potter to rescue asked.
"Mine." Daphne replied equally precisely. She swiftly turned around and struck her heels at an unwary Goyle's groin. She finished off with a single stunning spell. "Wake Malfoy, he is my target. Cover yourself, and don't interfere in my way." She commanded in rapid succession.
Harry simply stared at her for a moment the pulled his hood up and revived the ponce. Draco frantically searched for his attacker and found only Daphne waiting for him to notice her. "What hap.."
She cut in, "Your boyfriends, one over there at the end of the corridor, and the other over here." She pointed the mass spread on the floor. "Pick your wand, fast" she commanded her authority.
Draco looked at his wand then back at her, and slowly went for his wand. He paused then rapidly picked it and shot a stunner at her. Daphne easily parried it away and answered it with a stronger version of Petrificus Totalus. Draco rolled out of its path and sent a stream of fire her way. Daphne deftly produced foam which created a wall between them. Draco randomly started shooting stunners and bone breakers in every directions hoping to catch Daphne off guard.
Daphne quietly spaced herself from the foam wall and kept dodging the curses coming her way. She made herself invisible and waited for the foam to clear.
When the foam cleared Draco found himself standing alone, he surveyed for any movements around armors standing. Satisfied with the results he lowered his wand slowly only to be struck by a simple disarming spell.
"It seems dear aunt Bella ain't a good teacher, eh Malfoy?" Daphne's cold voice reeked off her disappointment and sarcasm at the fast and abrupt culmination of their little skirmish. She canceled the charm on herself. She removed the strand of hair covering her left eye and gazed Draco indifferently. "I hope this was enough for you. Next time I won't be so considerate." She waved her wand twice in anti-clock wise direction making Draco's tongue stick to his nose. Then flicked the wand upwards followed by a jab towards roof and then levitated a stunned Draco to mark on the roof. Draco might have to sacrifice some of his chest skin if he wanted to come down and also he would have to wait for week before he would be able to sit.
"Remind me never ever to cross a Slytherin's path especially The Ice Queen." Harry commented with respect. He had never seen a student move so fluidly; even in his DA this would have been an achievement.
"Thank you Mr. Potter, for both your comment and help." Daphne smiled in gratitude. She finally got the chance she wanted. "May ask what a Gryffindor is doing in the dungeons just before the curfew starts?"
"Oh… Professor Slughorn had called me… so I was just returning my way and I saw … well this." He waved his hand towards everything. "And …"
"You couldn't see a girl getting hurt so the Gryffindor came to the rescue." She completed in false mockery.
"What… No …. Yes" Harry's stammered, while Daphne enjoyed a fleeting laugh which was joined by a hesitant Harry's own laugh.
"It's okay, I needed help sincerely." She confessed.
Harry looked up towards Draco and asked with genuine interest, "What was that spell that you used on him to stick his tongue lick that?"
"A modified version of Langlock, you want to learn?" She asked hopefully.
Harry looked at her briskly and back at Malfoy in deep thought.
"These are not the only ones I know." she offered further. He looked back at her, "Why would teach me anything?"
"Why shouldn't I?" she replied with her own question.
"I don't know, with all this Slytherin Gryffindor animosity, why would you want to associate with me?" Harry retorted.
"In that case Mr. Potter, consider it as a token of thanks." She replied warmly and conjured a parchment. She handed it Harry and turned around and headed towards her dorms caring to move certain areas in an exaggerated fashion.
Harry couldn't help but stare at her swaying derriere. When she vanished around the corner he turned around the parchment and read, 'Meet me on Friday on the third floor's third classroom on the left side of the grand staircase. DG' He looked back where he had last seen the girl and smiled unconsciously. He didn't why but liked the girl more than in just friendly manner.
FLASHBACK ENDS
A/N: I know this is abrupt and maybe annoying but I got stuck on how to proceed and this was also going way too long for a single chapter. But rejoice you get one extra chapter.
And also my exams are coming up, so next update will be after Sept 5.
So Read andREVIEW A LOT (SIC) or else you won't get faster updates.
Until Then….
Au Revoir….
Shampakher….