Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. All rights go to respective owners.

Second Year: Always

"Daphne, it's beautiful," Tracey whispered. "This is the best present ever!"

As she cradled the delicate shimmering orb, Tracey felt her heart flutter madly in chest. The sparkling light of distant stars and galaxies danced in the palm of her hand. The sphere was like a snow globe, except with the universe inside it.

"Do you really like it? I-I couldn't really decide what you would like best. Everything seemed perfect, yet…" Daphne trailed off, and Tracey smirked at her out-of-character rambling. It was hard for her Pureblood friend to break out of her carefully constructed Slytherin Princess persona, but when she did — oh Morgana, it was fun.

"Not at the same time?" Tracey finished helpfully.

Daphne nodded. "Exactly," she replied softly. "I just remembered Christmas Eve last year, and I thought you would like to be able to carry the stars with you."

She seemed so hesitant and uncertain — and so unlike herself — that Tracey decided to remove any lingering doubt in her mind that this was a wonderful gift.

"Well, it's the perfect Christmas present!" Tracey declared. Lightly jumping onto the couch next to Daphne, she carefully held up the orb. The glass sphere caught the light of the fire in the hearth, adding to the illusion and tinting the stars and galaxies a burnt orange. "Don't you think it's perfect? Because I do. And as we both know, I know Christmas the best!"

Daphne muttered something under her breath.

"What was that?" Tracey asked, a touch teasingly. "I can't hear you!" She leaned her head against Daphne's shoulder, only for her friend to recoil away.

"Daphne?"

Her friend flinched again, her face twisting in pain. Tracey knew her well enough by now that she could tell it was a mixture of emotional and physical hurt.

"What's wrong?"

Heavy silence stretched over the Slytherin Common Room. With each and every passing moment, Tracey felt herself grow more and more concerned, to the point her stomach was twisted into knots.

Had she done something wrong? Was it something she had said?

Finally, Daphne curled her feet closer to her, firmly staring at the ground.

"My … My parents." She spat the word out as if it was toxic. "They didn't like me lying to them."

Tracey felt her heart squeeze painfully in her chest. She knew exactly what she was referring to — that thrice-cursed letter — and that she was ultimately the cause of pain for her friend.

"But I thought everything was okay?" she said tentatively. "They know I'm a half-blood, but they did let you stay here for the holidays."

They let you stay here with me.

Daphne was nodding, but tears were streaming down her cheeks. Tracey reached out and held her hand, which only caused her friend to let out a strangled sob.

It was in that moment, Tracy knew that the damage reached far, far deeper than she originally thought. She felt tears sting her own eyes. The pain her friend was experiencing was becoming her own.

"What happened?" she pressed gently, giving Daphne's hand a comforting squeeze.

"I did what I told you I would," the blonde cried, "I lied. I tried to "explain" away everything to them, but I guess I wasn't Slytherin enough. My father saw right through me … and I have the bruises to show for it."

"That slimy bast—" Tracey began to snarl, before being cut off by her friend.

"That's not the worst of it, Trace," Daphne whispered. "Astoria is set to inherit now. For all intents and purposes, she is the firstborn child."

"You mean you've been disowned?" Tracey yelped in shock. Daphne shook her head.

"Not really … but yeah, pretty much," she replied. "I still have the Greengrass name, and I'm allowed to return to the Manor for the summer holidays. But that's about it. Astoria will inherit everything … and be forced to marry a man of my … my father's choosing."

"I'm so, so sorry, Daphne!" Tracey proclaimed, her voice distraught. "I never wanted you to suffer like this. Not for me! I'm not worth it!" She watched as Daphne remarkably smiled up at her.

"But you are," her friend whispered. "You're worth all the stars in the sky."

Tracey felt something press into the palm of her hand. She glanced down to see the glittering orb — she must have set it down at some point — before looking back up into her friend's determined eyes.

"Promise you won't leave me," Daphne murmured. "Promise you'll stay."

Tracey felt her throat constrict with emotion. She coughed, trying to clear it.

"Of course I'll stay," she promised.

"Thank you, Trace."

Daphne sighed and gingerly arranged herself, so that she was leaning against her shoulder. Tracey sighed and brushed back Daphne's hair, so it was tucked behind her ear.

"Always, Daphne. Always."

A/N — Thank you for betaing this drabble, June (JBrocks917)!

Prompt — Day 6: (word) Present

Word count (not including title and author's notes): 806