Title:Game Without Tears
Disclaimer: I do not own, wish I did, but I don't. I only own my plot line. Full disclaimer, first chapter.
Author: ShaeLynn Teelle
All other information: See first chapter.
Polite constructive criticism welcome. FLAMES WILL BE FED TO THE DRAGON IN MY BED.
Chapter 20: Want to Be There…
The door to the corridor opened quietly, causing everyone in the room to turn towards it. They were all aware that it was hours too early for any professors to come and some wondered at what the reasoning could be for an early visitor. Gregory feared that somehow the professors had found out about what Daphne had tried to do at the beginning of the week, though he knew Harry had not said anything or they would have arrived the day after it happened.
The first person to enter the room was the Headmaster, followed by Snape. After him came a woman that none of them had ever seen before. A moment later Draco and Gregory knew who it was. They had seen her features before, though they had seen it with average brown hair rather than the dark blonde the woman sported.
Without a word spoken Gregory rose and retreated into his bedroom to reluctantly wake Daphne from her much needed nap, though he knew that if he didn't it could cause even more problems. Daphne murmured as he tried to wake her and stretched slightly on top of the coverlet. When she asked what was happening, he would only tell her that there was someone in the main room to see her. Curious and slightly worried, though her face revealed nothing, she rose, leaving her robes behind so she was only clad in worn black jeans and a dark blue sweater with one sleeve down to hide the bandage on her wrist.
She followed Gregory from the room, but stopped just outside of the doorway when she saw who it was, not even noticing that Gregory had stayed beside her. The woman looked at her, no emotions showing on her face for several long moments. It was Daphne that finally broke the silence with a barely heard whisper that nonetheless seemed to echo in the large room.
"Momma?"
The woman nodded and quickly crossed the room, taking the now teary-eyed seventeen-year-old into her arms. "Oh, Daphne."
"I'm sorry, Momma. I had to protect Selena. Father was going to make her take my place if I refused. I didn't have a choice or she—" Her rushed words stopped as her mother laid two fingers across her lips.
"I know. Sel told me what happened. I'm the one that's sorry. I couldn't be there to protect either of you like I should have. Don't ever be sorry for risking so much. I didn't have the mark, but I was good friends with Narcissa Malfoy and Amber Parkinson. I know what you risked, Daphne. You are so strong. Stronger than I was and I'm proud of you for what you've done."
There were no more words spoken between the two for a long while. They simply stood there and held each other as Daphne cried and her mother comforted her, a tear making its way down her cheek every now and again as well. The two never noticed when Dumbledore and Snape left the room, the door closing behind them and only Draco had ever noticed that Harry had entered the room behind Daphne's mother and stayed when the two Professors had left.
After several more minutes, Gregory gently led the two women over to the couch he and Daphne had claimed, sitting across from them on the other couch while the two calmed their emotions. Pansy and Vincent rose from where they had been sitting at the round table in the corner and made their way over to the fireplace, Pansy sitting in her usual spot on her couch and Vincent standing behind her since Gregory was in his place.
Daphne's mother looked at each of the other four in turn. Seeming to have decided on something she nodded to herself and looked Gregory in the eyes. She said nothing, simply stared at him with green-gray eyes that seemed endless, only relenting when Gregory fidgeted slightly in his place, surprising everyone but Daphne.
She laughed slightly at her boyfriend's discomfiture, a light returning to her eyes that had been missing since the beginning of the week, and explained quietly so everyone could hear. "Momma could make the Snake squirm in his chair if she set her mind to it and was given the chance."
"Now," Daphne's mother spoke before anyone else could, "Mr. Goyle, what are your intentions towards my daughter?"
"Momma!"
Gregory met her eyes, unflinchingly and spoke in a confident and sincere tone, "I love her, Mrs. Greengrass. I would like nothing more than to live in peace with Daphne by my side."
Daphne's mother searched his eyes for a moment before she nodded and a smile broke across her face, "Good answer, Gregory. Not that you would require it, I'm sure, but you have my consent and my blessing."
"Thank you, Momma!" Daphne exclaimed, throwing her arms about her mother's shoulders and laying her head against one.
"Thank you, Mrs. Greengrass. I want to make her happy and I'll do everything I can to protect her."
"You do make her happy, Gregory. I can tell already. And please, I don't like to be reminded of my husband and since you are going to soon be like a son to me, call me as you like. My name is Violet and that is what you other three may call me," she said, her gaze now landing on Pansy, Vincent, and Draco.
Pansy smiled at Violet while Vincent and Draco simply nodded to her. Pansy was about to speak when, with a small pop, their evening meal appeared along with Dobby. To everyone's delight and confusion, there were now seven place settings and seven chairs. Six the Slytherins could understand, but they were confused as to the seventh setting. When Daphne turned curious eyes to her mother, Violet nodded slightly towards the doorway where Harry had been standing near the shadows the entire time.
"Come in, Mr. Potter. It would appear that Dumbledore wishes for you to also dine with us."
The five Slytherins looked closely at him as Harry came out of the shadows and into the light, the four not having noticed him, and even Draco had forgotten he was there for a time. He nodded once to Violet who then rose, pulling Daphne up with her. Gregory and Draco rose next as the other two moved over towards the table, Violet's posture relaxed, while Daphne had slightly tensed.
She had been told that Harry had seen what had happened and had come to check on how she was doing several times, but she was unsure about if he would say anything while her mother was there. She knew him well enough from the DA to know he hadn't told any professors about what she tried to do, but she didn't know if he would bring it up while her mother was there.
Only when Vincent and Pansy moved over to the table did Harry come any closer. He looked at the seating arrangement the others had seemingly, without thought, taken. Violet, Daphne and Gregory sat in a line with the only empty chair remaining on Violet's other side. Next to Gregory was Vincent, then Pansy, with Draco on her other side, next to the empty chair.
Cautiously Harry sat down, though his expression gave no indication of any nervousness. Dobby unobtrusively poked Harry in the side after he had taken his place, worry evident on the little house elf's visage. Harry nodded at Dobby, thanking him silently and reassuring him with the same gesture and Dobby snapped his fingers, disappearing as usual. Harry waited to take any food, unsure of what was going to happen now that the Slytherins had a Gryffindor in their midst.
"Blessed be," Draco spoke quietly from his place at Harry's side.
Harry turned surprised eyes to the blonde and then, swung his gaze to the rest of those at the table as they all, bar Violet, repeated the words. Then, Pansy took a dish from in front of her and carefully spooned a small portion onto her plate before she passed it silently to Vincent. That's when Harry realized that Daphne had done the same and had passed her container on to her mother who calmly took a portion and handed the dish to Harry. He took a portion and handed the bowl to Draco who said no words, but accepted the container, repeating the process.
The group continued this procedure until all the food had been passed around to everyone and then placed back in front of various plates. There was no sound for several long moments beyond the sounds of seven people eating. Then, from Harry's side Violet spoke.
"How were the NEWTs this year? Dumbledore told me that you had all been allowed to take the tests you had been in classes for."
"They were difficult," Gregory began. "But they didn't seem as hard as I had thought they would be."
"That's because you only cared about two of the tests," Pansy said in reply.
"Well, you only studied on three of them," Vincent said, backing up Gregory as they both had concentrated on the same two tests.
"What did you think of them, Draco? You were the only one that actually worried about them all and you had more than the rest of us," Daphne interrupted the other three, as though it was something they all had heard before.
Draco swallowed what was in his mouth and took a drink of, what Harry thought smelled like apple cider. "They were difficult. Some were harder than others, but even I had thought they would be slightly harder than they were. It seemed like the teachers and other students made us believe they were going to be nearly impossible, but they weren't that bad. Though I didn't take the same tests as the others did, but what I had were only exhausting because of how lengthy they were."
"And what about you, Mr. Potter? What did you think of the tests this year?" Violet asked, ignoring the slight stiffening around the table.
Harry paused for a moment looking at the Slytherins surrounding him, but gathered his Gryffindor courage that had led him to check on Daphne without an excuse for arriving and answered quietly, "There were some that were harder than others, but I agree with everyone else, they didn't seem as difficult as they had been made out to be, though I definitely don't want to have to take them ever again."
This produced a small laugh from Pansy, who looked at Harry with slightly new respect in her eyes and thanks. The atmosphere around the table lightened noticeably after that, though Harry only took part in the conversations that cropped up around him when he was directly invited in. He was rather enjoying the chance he had to see the Slytherins in a different setting than he ever had before.
He could tell that they were still tense with him around, but their conversation and teasing around him was relaxed. Their manners were as polite as they were at the table in the Great Hall, but the attitude about them wasn't the arrogant one he had always seen before. Here, on their own, they were acting just like any other student would, though the maturity in most of their conversations was above what many students could accomplish, even Vincent and Gregory's input.
At the end of the meal when Dobby cleared away the remaining dishes and little remaining food, the group was still sitting around the table. The dishes disappeared with a quiet pop and another signaled the arrival of something else. Harry looked in surprise at the small cake that had appeared to one side of the table, in front of Daphne. There was a single burning candle in the middle of it and the cake had light blue frosting with violet decorations on the sides. Daphne turned to look at her mother in surprise at the cake.
"Happy Birthday, Daphne," Violet said quietly, a smile on her face for her eldest daughter.
Daphne leaned over and gave her mother a tight hug, burying her face in her shoulder. When she pulled back there was a single tear meandering down her cheek, but a bright smile was on her face and the usual light in her eyes was back again. She smiled at everyone surrounding the table, even Harry, before standing. Daphne leaned forward and blew out the single candle, her eyes closed as she concentrated on a silent wish.
\/\/\/\/\/
It was a week after Violet had visited and Daphne still remained in high spirits where her laughter could be heard more often than it had been in the past and the event at the beginning of the previous week seemed like years in the past. The last few mornings and evenings were starting to dim the laughter a bit as worry for her friend began to take its place. For the past three days, every morning that Pansy woke, she had to run for the bathroom where she would lose what little she had in her stomach. During breakfast she would have someone bring her a raisin muffin and a small glass of water as she hid in her room to escape the smells.
She was okay for lunch and ate at the table with everyone else, but at night as soon as the evening meal appeared and she saw it, she would run for the bathroom again, expelling whatever remained from her lunch and wouldn't be able to ingest anything beyond a small glass of water for the remainder of the night. No one knew what could be wrong and they were all getting anxious as no one had been in to see them since Violet had visited and Dobby never stayed long enough for any of them to talk to him.
Then, nearly a week after Pansy had begun to feel ill, the door to the corridor opened and Minerva McGonagall entered with Remus and Harry behind her. The five Slytherins stood from their various positions about the room and waited to find out what was happening.
The Transfiguration Professor cleared her throat slightly before she began to speak, "The Headmaster has granted you all permission to leave these rooms starting next week. These explorations will be for a few hours at a time only and each one of you will have a guard with you when you are out of these rooms. Are there any questions?"
The Slytherins were all silent for a few moments before Draco stepped forward one step. "Professor, I don't believe any of us have any questions at this time about the planned excursions next week, however, would it be possible for Madam Pomfrey to come here for a short time?"
"Whatever for, Mr. Malfoy? I hardly see anything that could require Madam Pomfrey's attention."
Draco answered, his face expressionless, but he couldn't keep the slight worry for his best friend from his voice, "Pansy has not been feeling well for nearly a week now. She has a hard time keeping most foods down and I am concerned for her continued health."
"Why have none of you said anything before? Leaving something like this go for a week is not beneficial to gaining our trust," McGonagall huffed.
Draco was about to answer when Harry spoke first, "Professor, no one has been to check on them since Violet Greengrass was here. Remus was indisposed, Snape had been in the infirmary after the incident ten days ago, and I was out with the Headmaster in London. They have not been given a way to contact anyone outside of these rooms since they were brought here so it would have been rather impossible for them to tell anyone that she was ill."
McGonagall's stern demeanor calmed slightly at that and she nodded quickly, "I shall inform Madam Pomfrey that her presence is required shortly. She will likely be here before the evening meal. Until then, I suggest you get some rest, Miss Parkinson. I do hope you will be feeling better soon."
McGonagall gave a tight, brief smile to the Slytherin girl before turning and leaving the room. Remus had a small frown on his face and seemed to be debating something over in his mind. Harry followed the two from the room. He walked slower and gave a last look back to the group of his peers that had yet to move since their entrance into the room. The door closed behind Harry and the Slytherins heard the portrait slide shut before they relaxed completely and returned to their seats, knowing that the mystery behind Pansy's illness would soon be revealed.
\/\/\/\/\/
It was not much later that Madam Pomfrey arrived at the Slytherins' quarters an hour before the evening meal. She entered with only Harry behind her. The medi-witch looked slightly vexed, whether at being asked to come or not having been asked sooner, the five didn't know. She approached the group that was sitting in their usual places before the fire. When she entered Pansy and Daphne stood, already having thought of how to ask what they needed to.
Before they could say anything Madam Pomfrey beat them to it, "What is this I hear that one of you is not feeling well? What are the symptoms and when did they start?"
"Madam Pomfrey," Daphne began tentatively, ignoring the question and asking one of her own. "When we first arrived and you became aware of the fact that Pansy and I had been… raped, did you test us to see if either of us was pregnant?"
Pomfrey's severe expression softened slightly, "Of course, Miss Greengrass. I checked both when you first arrived and the evening before you were released to your rooms. I am more than happy to say that neither of you were with child."
"Madam Pomfrey?" Pansy asked, stepping forward, "Would you be willing to check again? I… just need to know."
Pomfrey nodded slowly at the girl, confused, "Alright, Miss Parkinson. Come lay down on one of the couches and I will test you."
Vincent moved to sit on the opposite couch so Pansy could lay down on the other and Madam Pomfrey muttered a spell, her wand pointed at the air above Pansy when the girl was comfortable. A fine white mist spread out from the wand and hovered in the air above the lying girl. Everyone watched as the white mist began turning pale pink and darkened until it was a deep red.
Pomfrey gasped and turned to the other girl, "Miss Greengrass, take Miss Parkinson's place on the couch."
Pansy got up, careful not to touch the mist as it faded back to white and she went over to Vincent, laying her hand lightly on the back of his neck. Daphne lay down on the couch, also careful not to touch the mist and waited. It took a few moments longer than it took for Pansy, but eventually the white mist above her changed to a dark red just as it had for Pansy.
Madam Pomfrey turned to Harry whom had watched the proceedings with interest and instructed him to fetch the Headmaster immediately. She dismissed the spell as Harry left and watched the four Slytherins in front of her after Daphne had moved to stand next to Gregory. Draco stayed where he was in the armchair at the head of the furniture's grouping. He smiled softly at his four friends. Knowing that the girls had been worried that they might never be able to have children after everything they had gone through under Voldemort's rule. He also didn't miss the conflicting looks that Madam Pomfrey kept sending at those in front of her, ranging from confusion, to shock, to anger.
Soon enough, Dumbledore entered the room with Harry, "Has anything happened to someone, Poppy?"
"Yes, these young ladies are both pregnant and they most certainly weren't when they left the infirmary nearly a month and a half ago," Pomfrey said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Miss Parkinson, Miss Greengrass, do you have something you wish to tell me?" the Headmaster asked, the twinkle in his eyes glowing brighter than normal.
It wasn't Pansy or Daphne that answered the question. Instead Vincent and Gregory stood, each taking the hand of their respective partner. Vincent began quietly.
"Headmaster, during this past year me and Greg gave our betrothals to Pansy and Daphne. We are all of consenting age."
"How soon can two bonding ceremonies be arranged?" Gregory asked when Vincent was finished.
"The marriage ceremonies can be ready by tomorrow."
"Not just a regular marriage ceremony, Headmaster," Draco said quietly from his chair. "They want the complete bonding ceremony. And yes, they are fully aware of what that entails and what it will mean in the future."
"Albus, you can't possibly condone such a thing!" Pomfrey exclaimed, hands on her hips and glaring at the four Slytherins. "They are mere children, not old enough to understand the sacrifices of having children nor the seriousness of what they are asking."
"Madam Pomfrey, if I may," Draco spoke, rising and crossing to stand in front of his friends. "They would be the first to acknowledge that neither Vin nor Greg are very intellectual. Daph and Pans are much more intelligent, but even they are not as smart as many others. However, though our ages are not as extensive as yours, we, none of us, are anywhere near being mere children. We grew up many years ago."
"Of all the insubordinate, disrespectful—"
"Please, Poppy. I will handle this from here. You may return to ensuring that the Patil twins are coping with their parents' death."
"Did the Snake kill them?" Draco asked quietly and Dumbledore merely nodded in reply.
Madam Pomfrey left the room in a quiet huff. She liked neither the way Draco had spoken to her nor the condoning of allowing seventeen-year-olds to go through with bonding ceremonies. They were only performed when the participants were completely sure that they would never want to be with anyone else. It was usually performed after a couple had been married for a number of years and had grown content with their lives and never wanted to change that.
Normally this was after twenty-five years or so of living together. Some couples that tried to perform bonding ceremonies were rejected by the magic as simply being incompatible and for ones so young to attempt such a thing was almost unthinkable. Granted Molly and Arthur Weasley had only been wed a year when they were bonded, but there had been no other bonding ceremonies performed since then.
Draco waited until Madam Pomfrey had left the room, all the while looking at Dumbledore. Then, he silently turned and walked into his room, quietly closing the door. For a moment no one moved, then suddenly, Pansy ran over to the door and tried the knob, but it wouldn't turn. She knocked against the door heavily, making it echo even in the main room, but there was no sound from the other side and the door remained as it was.
"Damn it, Dragon! Don't do this!" she shouted at the door. "You can't bloody well save everyone and you know it!"
Pansy only stopped shouting when Vincent wrapped his arms about her and held tight as she tried to pull away. She turned in his arms and wrapped her own about his neck, holding on just as tightly as she cried into his shoulder. A brief minute later there was a soft click and the door opened slowly. Draco stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorjamb as though nothing could affect him. The trademark sneer was across his face for the first time since he had saved Harry and Snape.
"You always had a flare for the dramatic, Pansy. What did you think I was doing?"
The Slytherin girl turned and with it came her hand, across Draco's cheek, loud enough to echo about the silent room, the fire not even daring to crackle. When Draco turned his face back to stare at Pansy, the sneer was still there, but it was overshadowed by the blood slowly welling up on his split lip. For a moment it seemed like Draco was going to retaliate, but he never moved, just kept his sneer in place and watched her with almost empty eyes.
"Don't you dare mock me, Draconis Morgan Fay Malfoy. Don't you dare."
Then, she grabbed his left arm right where the Dark Mark was and squeezed hard. The sneer left Draco's face and there was a sudden hiss as he breathed through teeth clenched in pain. He grabbed her wrist and stared at Pansy, the light back in his eyes. She only smiled at him mockingly.
"I know what you were doing, Dragon. And since you obviously can't be trusted to take care of yourself," she continued and turned, pulling on his arm, towards her room. "I'm going to make sure that you don't kill yourself while I still live and breath. Dragon, someday someone's going to knock some sense into your head and when that day comes I'm going to s—"
Her words ended as the door closed behind the two. All the others could hear was muffled sounds from the room as Pansy kept ranting at Draco. Then, almost a minute later a not so muffled shout was heard.
"OW! Pansy that hurt!"
While Harry and Dumbledore just continued to stare at the door is surprise and confusion, the other three Slytherins started to laugh. Quietly at first until they were nearly falling over from it. A few minutes later Pansy's door opened and she walked out, followed by a nearly pouting Draco. She let a smile cross her face, but she didn't join in the laughter at what was obviously Draco expense. Said Slytherin stalked over to his usual chair in a manner reminiscent of Snape and sat. This caused the other Slytherins to begin laughing even more and Draco sank lower in his chair, slouching and sulking.
Recovering his usual manner, Dumbledore had a few more words with the other four Slytherins before taking his leave to begin preparing for the double bonding ceremony which he said would only take a few days to complete the Ministry's requirements and a day longer to perform the ceremony. He left, Harry following after him, a look of confusion still on his face as the last thing he saw was Draco, slouched in his chair, a genuine smile spreading across his face.
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