The first morning of the Christmas holiday Harry and Daphne met for breakfast in the Great Hall, and saw exactly how empty the school had become. There were exactly three other students left in the castle, all of them from Ravenclaw, and all of them fourth years.
Deciding that they truly wished to enjoy as much of the holiday as possible, The two teens made it a point to finish up all of their homework, which, as it turned out, was quite easy to do. Harry silently thanked whatever deity had created Hermione Granger, as she had managed to keep them all up to date with their work. By dinner that first night, they had nothing to do but enjoy their time together.
"It's so quiet in the Common Room." Daphne sighed. It's actually a little scary."
"I don't think I've ever seen the Gryffindor Common Room so empty."
"Can I see it?" Daphne asked, looking suddenly excited. "I've never seen any of the other Common rooms, and you told me that you'd seen ours before."
Harry shrugged, and began leading her up to Gryffindor tower. He gave the password and with Daphne right behind him, lead her into his Common room. Daphne took in the décor and furniture, actually a bit disappointed, as it seemed to be so similar to her own Common Room. What did capture her attention was the window looking out onto the grounds.
"Wow, it's so peaceful looking. Like a painting or something." She sighed. "Looks like Hagrid's got a nice fire going on tonight."
"I just hope he's not trying to hatch another dragon egg." Harry chuckled.
"What?" Daphne asked shocked. Harry told the tale of Norbert the Dragon from his first year, while Daphne listened enraptured by the story.
"I heard in fourth year that Norbert is actually called Norberta, and has had a couple of babies. Hagrid really wants to go visit her one day. I hope he gets the chance."
"I still can't believe it. Although, if anyone could handle a dragon, I bet it would be Hagrid. I mean, hippogriffs, Blast ended Skrewts." Daphne gave a small shudder, "Thestrals."
"Still not used to them, huh?" Harry asked. Daphne and Hermione both had found that they were now able to see the spectral horses a week after Millicent had died, and both of them were having trouble adjusting to the fact they had seen someone die.
"I know they're harmless and all. I still think that one wants to be your personal pet." Daphne gave a weak smile and Harry ran his hand through his hair at the memory of their last visit to Hogsmeade. Ever since fifth year, one Thestral seemed to have grown quite fond of Harry, and had gotten out of the line of waiting carriages to say hello as it were. It had caused quite a mess, as the carriage had gotten its wheels caught with another and Hagrid had to come sort it out.
"But it's still so… off putting." Daphne finished, turning away from the window and going towards one of the sofas in front of the fire. She sat down, and Harry joined her a moment later.
"This is really nice." Daphne smiled as she snuggled into Harry's shoulder. She curled her legs up under her, and Harry wrapped his arms around her. Daphne couldn't help but let out a contented sigh.
"It really is." Harry agreed. Usually there's tons of people around."
"Everyone shouting to be heard." Daphne added.
"Throwing things at each other, making messes."
"Bunch of heathens the lot of them." Daphne chuckled. The lapsed into silence for a bit, simply enjoying the company of the other. Daphne tilted her head up and kissed Harry's jaw line. He responded by taking her cheek in his hand and kissing he very softly. Daphne slowly ran her hands over his chest and up around his neck, deepening the kiss.
Daphne felt the butterflies in her stomach. She had been dreaming and hoping and wishing and praying for this. She wanted to ravage her boyfriend. Her body was screaming for attention. They had barely had anytime to just be two young lovers. With all their schoolwork, and training, not to mention Harry's private lessons and Quidditch, it was so tough to get time together just to talk, but somehow they had managed. But now, they were alone, and there were no demands on their time. It was long past time to make their relationship more physical.
Daphne slipped up and maneuvered herself into Harry's lap, barely breaking their kiss. Slowly, wanting to savor every touch, Daphne slipped her hands under his robe, pulling it off his shoulders. Harry, for his part, shuffled his arms out of the offending piece of clothing and wrapped his arms around Daphne once again.
However, that was as far as things were allowed to progress, as Professor McGonagall entered the Common room at that moment. Daphne practically leapt across the Common room as the Transfiguration teacher cleared her throat. Her face felt like it was on fire, and she could see that Harry looked just as embarrassed as she felt.
"While it is not against the rules for you to visit the Common room of another house, I would very much like it if you at least abided by curfew. Ms. Greengrass, it is getting very late. I shall escort you back to your house."
Daphne could only nod and began to follow McGonagall out of the Gryffindor Common room, leaving a slightly frustrated Harry behind. He had to take a very long cold shower before he felt calm enough to go to sleep.
Daphne could not ever remember feeling so embarrassed in all her life. The entire way back to the Slytherin Common Room, McGonagall kept up a long tirade about how natural it was to feel certain things with a boy, and that while it was her choice to allow things to progress in whatever way she wished, that the professor hoped she would at least be responsible and take precautions. Daphne could only nod in mortification and occasionally agree with the Transfiguration teacher.
Once she was back in her common room, Daphne wondered if there was some sort of ward that alerted McGonagall to Daphne and Harry's situation and allowed her to come in before things had gotten more interesting.
Sulking in a chair before the fire, Daphne decided that before break was over, she and Harry would have had some real intimate time. All she needed to do was find a place that would allow them to be together, safe from teachers and comfortable at the same time. She was not about to allow Harry's hands to wander her body in a broom cupboard, for the love of Morgana.
The trouble was that they were in a school, and that left very few options open to them. Other than Slytherin, or Gryffindor House, Daphne couldn't think of anyplace. And after McGonagall interrupted, Daphne shivered to think what Snape would do.
Then it hit her like a lightning bolt. There was one place in the whole school that could be exactly what she needed.
Daphne stood up and headed to bed. Tomorrow before breakfast, she was going to go to the Room of Requirement and test it out to make sure it fit her needs. After all, she still had two weeks with Harry and she planned to make the most of it.
"Good morning Harry, and Daphne." Albus Dumbledore smiled as he approached the two teens. "If you are willing, I would very much like it if we could go to the Chamber of Secrets this morning."
Harry looked up at the old Headmaster and nodded. He had been waiting for Dumbledore to ask, as it was Dumbledore's theory that Voldemort had hidden one of his Horcruxes within the castle walls. Dumbledore had not wanted to search the castle while all the students were around in case it might reach Voldemort's ears, and they needed to keep it quiet, or the Dark Lord might retrieve and move his soul anchors.
"We can go right now, sir. I'm finished." Harry said as he stood. Daphne also stood and Dumbledore smiled.
"Very well, please lead the way."
They walked quickly to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, where the perpetually morose ghost was whining about her fate as they entered.
"Truly ingenious." Dumbledore said as they approached the sink which served as the entrance to the fabled Chamber. "To hide the entrance right where no one would ever suspect it to be." Dumbledore smiled, and motioned that Harry should unlock the entrance.
Harry spoke in Parseltongue, which he noticed made Daphne shiver slightly, and the sink began to move, revealing the entrance to the long dark tunnel down into the depths of Hogwarts.
"I should warn you, sir. It's quit disgusting down there." Harry said, wrinkling his nose. Dumbledore nodded, eyes bright blue eyes twinkling merrily.
"I can already smell what you mean, Harry. Nevertheless…" Dumbledore didn't hesitate as he stepped into the entrance and allowed gravity to take him down into the great Chamber of Salazaar Slytherin. Harry went next, and Daphne followed her boyfriend, grumbling about people interfering with her plans.
Nothing had changed. The cavern which led to the Chamber was still just as dank and dark as it had been on each of Harry's previous visits. Dumbledore seemed to be enjoying himself, and Harry didn't think he could blame the man. It was likely one of the few places in Hogwarts he'd had never seen before.
After a short walk they came to the actual Chamber itself. Harry once again asked the door to open, and Dumbledore marveled at the serpents on the door which acted as locks.
Dumbledore's face changed the moment they entered the Chamber and were assaulted by the foul stink of decay.
"The basilisk, I take it?" Dumbledore asked, not even looking at Harry or Daphne. The old man retrieved his wand, and cast a very powerful air cleansing charm. Harry and Daphne took to lighting the torches that were set into the wall, and in a few moments, Dumbledore was devastatingly disappointed to see the fabled Chamber of Secrets.
"I had expected… more." he admitted.
"I'm afraid there was only one secret here, sir, and I killed it." Harry shrugged.
Dumbledore walked the length of the Chamber in stoic silence while Daphne and Harry leaned up against one wall. Harry guessed that Dumbledore might be attempting to feel any traces of Voldemort's magic, as he would have been the last one to actually perform any spells in there. Harry couldn't remember if he had cast anything at the ghost of Tom Riddle, though he was quite certain he had not, as he was far to concerned with Ginny's condition at the time.
They watched in silence as Dumbledore cast several different revealing spells and was rewarded with nothing.
"I was certain that he might have hidden a horcrux here.' Dumbledore said when he finally rejoined the teens.
"Sir, I've been thinking a lot about that, and I think there might be one other place in the school that might be." Harry said, standing up. "Do you know the Room of Requirement?"
Dumbledore's eyes lit up again and a small smile broke out on his withered face. "It is where you held the secret meetings last year, if I am not mistaken."
"It is. I've heard a lot of people have found it, but were unable to find it again. Even fewer people know of its existence at all. It's very possible that Voldemort found it while he was here, and thought he was the only one who could find it again."
"That does make sense." Daphne nodded, not liking that Harry was about to reveal the location of what was supposed to be their getaway within the castle. It was true she had yet to reveal her plan to Harry, but still, it did kind of irk her.
"I think it would be wise to investigate." Dumbledore smiled, and began leading the two teens back into the castle.
Twenty minutes later, Harry was making his third pass in front of the blank stretch of wall that hid the Room of Requirement. Concentrating on finding Tom Riddle's Horcrux, Harry turned to find that no door had formed.
Harry stared at the wall for a moment, trying to figure out why the room had not formed."
"Perhaps you were being too specific.' Dumbledore suggested. "It is possible that the Room can not even tell what a horcrux is."
"So what should I ask for?" Harry asked, looking between Daphne and Dumbledore.
"Why not just ask for a place where hidden things are." Daphne shrugged. "I mean, how many things could be hidden in there right?"
Daphne nearly fainted when she got the answer to her question a moment later. The room had taken on the size of a small cathedral, piled to the rafters with books, rusty and burnt cauldrons, dirty, moldy clothing, empty vials, every kind of banned object imaginable as well loads of garbage.
"I'm thinking Voldemort wasn't the only one to try and hide something here." Harry quipped. "Less than you imagined?" He asked, looking at Daphne, who gave him a very dirty look and smacked his shoulder.
"Thankfully, I do not think we will have to go through every single item." Dumbledore smiled confidently. "Perhaps Harry, if you would concentrate and ask the room to remove anything not enhanced magically?"
Harry looked questioningly at the Headmaster, who nodded back. Harry closed his eyes, and repeated in his head for anything not charmed, cursed or hexed to disappear.
"Ah, very well done, Harry." Dumbledore smiled, and gave a soft pat on Harry's shoulder. Harry opened his eyes and saw, that while still crammed with stuff, most of the refuse had disappeared.
"At least we can walk about in here." Daphne remarked as she started off.
"Yes, however, I would advise both of you to not touch anything."
Harry and Daphne nodded, both remembering Millicent as they began trekking into the room.
"This stuff must have been piling up since the founders." Daphne remarked, pausing to examine a very ancient looking set of scales, which were moving on their own.
"Sure." Harry agreed. "You've done something and need to hide the evidence and the Room appears. The trouble is, you can't find it again to retrieve whatever it was you dumped in here. I bet the Twins would love to get the hands on some of this stuff."
"Oh I don't even want to think about what they might do with anything in here." Daphne shuddered.
They moved deeper into the Room, neither of them even knowing what they were looking for. Harry was trying to sense Voldemort's magic, but there were so many different spells, and traces of magic, he found it truly hard to concentrate.
"Hey, Harry, look at this." Daphne said. Harry saw she was standing before a marble bust of a rather horrible looking warlock with a very old and dusty wig on op of his head.
"He's truly ugly." Harry remarked.
"Look what he's wearing." Daphne said, pointing to a rather tarnished looking tiara, tangle in the wig.
"What about it?" Harry asked, feeling confused.
"I told you how my mother was a Ravenclaw, and that she wrote a biography of Rowena Ravenclaw once."
"Yeah, I remember." Harry said, still not knowing where Daphne was going with this.
"That tiara looks like Ravenclaw's lost Diadem. I've seen paintings of head she always wore a tiara that looked like that. It was supposed to grant vast knowledge to the wearer."
Harry, feeling intrigued stepped a bit closer to inspect the battered looking crown.
"Why would anyone hid such a valuable…"
Harry suddenly felt a surge of hate and coldness that washed over him as if someone had just doused him in freezing water.
"PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE!"
Half an hour later, Harry and Daphne stood in Dumbledore's office with the lost Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw sitting on the Headmaster's desk, while the old man retrieved the Sword of Godric Gryffindor from it's case upon the wall.
"I am still amazed that you were able to feel V-Voldemort's magic, Harry." Daphne said, clutching his arm. "It's so… well, it's amazing and disgusting at the same time."
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you, but Dumbledore made me swear." Harry said apologetically.
"As I must ask you to do as well." Dumbledore said as he rejoined them. It is imperative that as you all get stronger that your enemies are unaware of all you learn and master."
Daphne nodded, fully understanding what was at stake here. Dumbledore, pleased that he had made his point, handed the hilt of the sword to Harry, who looked shocked.
"Sir?"
"Harry, you have faced so many dangers, and done thing wizards twice your age will never hope to accomplish. As much as neither of us wish to admit it, you are at the very center of this war, so it only makes sense that it is you who destroys any further Horcruxes we discover. Simply cut the Diadem in two, and it will destroy it.
Daphne remembered when Dumbledore had destroyed that goblet horcrux he had made from the piece of Voldemort's soul that had been hidden inside Harry for fifteen years. It had been awful to witness, and given her bad dreams for a month. Yet, this time felt different. This was a step in defeating the most feared wizard in history and a step in Harry reclaiming a life that was by all rights his own.
Harry grasped the sword, and looked at Daphne, who smiled proudly at her boyfriend before kissing him gently and then taking a step back. Harry noticed that Dumbledore did the same as well. Harry tightened his grip on the sword's jeweled hilt and raised it in the air.
He looked at the Diadem, which had begun to shake, and then he heard it. The cold high cruel voice of his enemy. Lord Voldemort's voice.
"They will all die. You will be alone, surrounded by their lifeless corpses. You will fail them all, Harry."
In his mind he saw Ron's body, broken and bloody in front of the Weasley's home which was burning to the ground. He tried to clear the image, but more bodies appeared before him. Hermione, Neville and Tracey, all staring at him without eyes, reaching accusingly at him. Harry tried again to clear the nightmarish images and then he saw Daphne.
She was laying on the ground before him, covered in blood, eyes open wide in surprise and horror.
"She will die because of you, Harry." Voldemort's voice said to him.
"NO!" Harry screamed and with all the strength he had in his body, brought the sword down onto the Diadem, and halfway through Dumbledore's desk. There was a blast of magic, and an agonized scream that was near deafening. Black liquid poured from the two broken pieces of the diadem.
Harry was panting heavily, still clutching the hilt of the sword when he felt two very soft, gentle hands take a hold of his sweaty face.
"Harry? Harry, sweetie, it's ok. I'm ok. See?" Daphne's voice was soft, and pleading. "Nothing happened to me. I'm right here with you."
"It is alright, Harry." Dumbledore said calmly. "It was the horcruxes last defense, and you did not fall for it."
"Did you see it? Did you see what it showed me?" Harry asked, finally letting go of the sword, and wrapping his arms around Daphne tightly. She only nodded as she held him to her.
"I tried telling you I was alright, but you couldn't hear me. Oh, Harry, That was just awful."
"It is all over now." Dumbledore said, inspecting the broken tiara. "Another piece of Voldemort's soul has been destroyed. There are only three more left, and I believe I am very close to discovering another resting place. You two have had a very long day, and I see that we have all missed lunch." Dumbledore sighed as he took a seat at his desk.
"Quite a good cut, Harry." Dumbledore smiled at the teen, who looked a bit chagrined.
"I'm sorry sir, I didn't mean to…"
Dumbledore waved it all off and smiled. A desk is easily repaired. Perhaps the two of you could make the best of the rest of the day, and try to take your minds off of what we have witnesses. I'm sure if you ask, Dobby would be most willing to provide you some sort of snack to tide you over until dinner time?"
Harry and Daphne smiled and bade the Headmaster a good afternoon before making their way to the kitchens, where Dobby did indeed provide them with sandwiches. Neither of them spoke about all they had seen that day, even though it was pretty much all they could think about.
Daphne didn't even bother mentioning her plan to Harry, as she didn't really want to go back into the Room of Requirement that night. Though she could make it into whatever she wanted, as she had learned early that morning, she knew she would feel dirty going back there so soon.
Daphne awoke three days later on Christmas morning to a huge pile of presents at the foot of her bed. She smiled like a child as she began tearing into all her gifts. She was more than pleased with the new clothes and books form her parents, as well as the very stunning necklace. She received a very fashionable book bag from Tracey, as well as something she could not wait to try on, which she put aside.
There was a silver bracelet from Neville, and a very fancy writing set from Hermione, with special inks and a small journal. Astoria had gotten her a locket with a picture of the two of them many years ago. Daphne was certain that Tori must have been about a year old when the picture was taken. It had come with a note from her younger sister that had made her eyes well up.
Daphne,
No matter how our lives will change, or where our paths will lead, I will always be there for you, just as you've been there for me.
Love forever,
Tori.
She had saved Harry's present until last, and was very happy she had done so. The last time they had been in Hogsmeade, She had seen a jacket made of dragonhide, that she had fallen in love with. It had been very expensive, but she had simply not cared. The jacket was black and fit her as if it had been made for her.
Daphne, mouth agape in shock, slipped the jacket on over her tank top, and closed her eyes in ecstasy at the feel of the enviable garment. She pulled it tight around her and that was when she had noticed the small box in the pocket, pushing against her left breast.
What she found simply took her breath away in an instant. She didn't think he'd even seen her looking at it. She'd thought she'd been so discreet, not wanting to frighten him, or make him feel obligated. She had simply seen it, and been entranced by its beauty. She hadn't even mentioned it, yet there it was in that tiny velvet box. The shining platinum band with the heart cut emerald, with those two sparkling white diamonds to either side.
Tears fell from her eyes as she slipped it onto her finger. He'd seen her looking at it, and somehow, when she wasn't looking, bought it for her. Daphne was so stunned, that she was having trouble breathing. It wasn't the ring, or the jacket that had her so floored. It was that he had observed, and remembered. He had always said he just wanted her happy, and she knew now, without a doubt that he would spend every knut if that's what she wanted.
Thankfully for the both of them, Daphne was not a materialistic woman, and if things went the way she envisioned them, Harry was going to learn exactly how to make her happy."
Harry waited for his girlfriend in the Entrance hall as was their custom. He couldn't help but smile as he wore his newest Weasley sweater, surprised for some reason that Mrs. Weasley would still think of him. Harry had already sent Hedwig off with a thank you note to the Weasleys for their gifts.
The rest of his gifts had been quite good as well, and he had had an opportunity to speak with Sirius that morning. Harry had learned that he was not alone, as Amelia Bones home had been attacked late the previous night. Both Amelia and Susan were perfectly fine, and were enjoying a very thankful Christmas with him Remus and Tonks.
Sirius went on to tell Harry that it was important that he not mention that the former interim minister was alive except to his friends, as the Death Eaters believed her dead, and it was an advantage the Order hope to exploit as much as possible. Sirius told Harry that the Daily Prophet had reported Amelia and Susan's deaths, and that Susan would not be returning to Hogwarts, but would be receiving tutoring to prepare her for NEWTs.
Harry was relieved that Susan and Madam bones were alive, but he felt worry for his friends and the hundreds of other families around Britain. Still, Harry knew they were expecting Madam Bones to be attacked. He simply wondered why it had taken so long.
Harry was broken from his ponderings when Daphne arrived, dressed in jeans, black jumper, and the jacket he'd gotten her. Before he could say anything, she was in his arms, kissing him passionately.
"You are truly amazing." She smiled when she broke their kiss. "How did you do it?"
Harry shrugged. "While you were looking at those boots, I paid the man f, and had him mail it to me." Harry shrugged bashfully.
"And this?" Daphne asked, holding up her right hand where she was wearing her new ring.
"Yeah, um…" Harry smiled nervously and ran a hand through his messy hair. "I kind of noticed you kept glancing at it while we were looking for Astoria's gift. It was either that or that rather atrocious looking necklace in the same case. I took a chance."
"I am very lucky to have you, but I want you to know that these things aren't as important to me as you are, ok? I really love that you want to do things like this for me, but it isn't necessary."
"I know." Harry nodded. "But I wanted to. Actually, I got the ring first, the jacket I just…well…you kept talking about it to Tracey and Astoria, and Hermione, and Luna, and…"
"Alright, I get it!" Daphne laughed, kissing Harry again.
After breakfast, Where Daphne learned of the attack on the Bones house, she was able to speak to her own parents with the two-way mirror that Sirius had provided her last summer. They thanked her for their gifts, and asked how well she was doing. They warned her to be very careful in the coming months. Daphne wanted to ask what they had heard, but neither her mother or father would speak any more on the matter.
Harry and Daphne visited with Hagrid afterwards, and were treated to a few tales of his time as a student at Hogwarts as well as some more colorful stories from Hagrid's travels the previous summer. Hagrid felt, as they were both nearly seventeen, and in fact had been far more mature than most witches and wizards their age, they could handle such stories.
The fact that Hagrid had already been through two bottles of Mead before they arrived was likely a factor as well.
Dinner was quite a subdued affair from Harry's previous experiences. All the teachers were present, save for Snape. Dumbledore handed out crackers to everyone, which turned into a variety of different hats. Dumbledore had traded his own pointed hat for a rather regal looking top hat, while Professor McGonagall, who was giggling like a first year, was donning a very large pirate captain's hat, complete with skull and crossbones.
In fact, Harry couldn't remember ever seeing the teachers quite so jovial. Harry guessed without Snape, the mood was somewhat cheerier.
After dinner, Daphne led Harry to the Seventh floor. Heart pounding in her chest, she paced in front of the Room of Requirement, picturing exactly what she needed. The door appeared, and Daphne took Harry's hand and led him inside.
Harry was suddenly very nervous as he looked around at the intimate little room. There was a roaring fire in front of a very large bed. Harry gulped and looked to Daphne, who could not meet his eyes. She slipped away from him and went to sit on the bed.
"I don't want to pressure you, or make you think I'm doing any of this because of your presents." She began. "I've thought about this for a very, VERY long time now. I'm not saying I'm ready to make love yet, but I'm not ruling anything out. I want to be closer to you, Harry. I've wanted to since…"
"I know, and I'm sorry that we haven't had the chance. I'm just… well to be honest, I'm a little overwhelmed here."
"I didn't mean to spring this on you, I swear."
Harry sat next to her and took her in his arms. "I know."
"Are you okay with this?" She asked, finally looking into his eyes, afraid of what she might see there.
"I am." He answered honestly. "Just promise me that if you start to feel uncomfortable, or if we're going to fast, you'll say something. I promise to do the same, alright?"
A broad smile came to her lips and she kissed him hard for a few minutes. She pulled away still smiling.
"I'll be right back. I want you to see what Tracey got me for Christmas." She jumped up from the bed and ran through a door that Harry hadn't see when he'd come in. While she was locked away, Harry took a few moments to take in the room. It was rather simple in its appointments, with just the bed and two tables on either side. The floor was wood, and quite shiny. The fireplace itself looked very familiar, and it took Harry a few minutes to realize that it resembled the one in Daphne's home.
"What do you think?" Daphne asked from behind him. Harry turned, and felt as if his throat had clenched shut.
Daphne stood before him wearing a very simple black slip with a green dragon embroidered on the left side. The straps were quite thin and the slip itself was cut quite low. It ended just as he thighs began, leaving barely anything to the imagination. Harry had not seen so much of Daphne since the summer in her bathing suit.
Daphne couldn't help but shiver under Harry's gaze, and took a tentative step towards him. He looked as if he couldn't swallow, and his eyes were so huge, Daphne actually thought they might pop out of his skull.
Somehow Harry's brain seemed to finally kick back into gear, and he closed the gap between them. The material felt so soft, and he guessed it might be made of silk.
"I will personally thank Tracey when she gets back." Harry smiled.
"I think I will too." Daphne smiled, feeling like the most beautiful woman in the world under his gaze. She raised up on her tiptoes and began kissing him again, loving the way his arms felt around her slender waist. After a few minutes, Daphne broke their kiss, and led him back to the bed, where she pushed him down and climbed on top of him.
Daphne was thrilled by the power she felt as she sat atop her boyfriend. She felt as if he was at her mercy, and smiled wickedly.
"What?" He asked when he saw her look.
"You're in my clutches, Potter."
He laughed at her phony evil voice, and with a quick thrust of his hips, and a roll of his shoulder, Daphne found herself underneath him.
"Now who's in who's clutches?"
"That wasn't fair." Daphne pouted, though it didn't reach her eyes, which were dancing merrily as she stared into Harry's smoldering green eyes. She pulled him down and kissed him again, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her body was on fire as he kissed her. It felt as if every nerve was tingling, and the sensation grew when Harry tore hips lips from hers and began trailing kisses down her neck.
Daphne brought her hands down to his waist and began slowly pulling his new jumper up his body. She wanted to be closer to him, with no barriers. She gasped in pleasure when his teeth grazed her collarbone. Daphne yanked hard on his shirt, and Harry pulled back and allowed her to remove his shirt altogether, before falling back onto her, and resuming to feast upon her flesh.
Daphne's eyes were closed as she allowed herself to get lost in all the sensations Harry was giving her. His hands however remained firmly attached to her waist, while the rest of her body was aching to feel them elsewhere.
"He's so damned noble." she screamed mentally. Realizing that he needed to know it was alright, she clasped left hand in her left, and began to move it up her body. She was thankful he didn't stop his ministrations on her shoulders and neck, but she wanted a bit more.
She heard a small gasp of fright from him as she placed his hand upon her breast, and held it there. She took the opportunity and reached up as much as she could to kiss his bare chest.
Daphne couldn't have asked for much better in a lover. Harry was very gentle, as he explored her breasts through the silken fabric of her negligee. He softly rubbed her chest, squeezing very gently. Daphne got a jolt of intense pleasure when his thumb rubbed over her nipple.
"Do that again." She whispered in his ear. Harry complied at once, and Daphne shuddered, moaning ever so softly.
Harry, embolden by Daphne's groans of pleasure, ran his hands back down her body and up under her slip. Her skin was so soft and smooth. With every inch that Harry's hand climbed back up Daphne's bare torso, her breathing became increasingly heavier.
Daphne couldn't believe that Harry was finally taking a bit of initiative. She had always loved the feel of his hands, but this was so much more, as there was nothing between them now. When Harry's hand ran up her left breast again, Daphne's back arched into his hand, her nipple stiffening under his palm.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him into a very deep kiss, putting everything she felt into it, hoping he would feel her desire and love for him. Months of frustration were washed away that night as they tentatively explore each other. Though it wasn't as far as Daphne was willing to go, especially as Harry did not even try to remove what little clothing she had on, she felt it was a success, and as they still had over a week left before everyone returned, Daphne did not feel rushed. After all, if Harry hadn't been so noble, and apparently just as frightened as she felt, he wouldn't be the man she loved.
Still, Now that she'd had a taste of what their relationship could be, Daphne craved more.