Despite her disappearance for the night, which extended well into the morning, no one seemed to notice that Daphne never came up to her dorm to sleep. Not even Tracey, who Daphne had expected to be waiting for her with eager questions at breakfast. Instead, Tracey remarked on how atrocious the eggs tasted this morning.
No one's figured it out? She thought, her own thoughts sounded mildly shocked. Although Daphne didn't want the repercussions of having the secret known, she felt like standing on top of the table and shouting 'I SLEPT WITH DRACO MALFOY!' at the top of her lungs.
Her heart was ecstatic. Her body itself was sore, and she found it hard to sit on the hard benches or walk anything faster than a leisurely stroll.
Had I known sex would be this painful, I would have never agreed to it... Daphne thought as she stirred her oatmeal a little with her spoon. I can't deny it was fun, but God do I hurt...and everywhere too!
She looked up and was blinded by the bright morning sun shining through the window. Having only gotten about 4 hours total of sleep, she winced and shielded her eyes from the burning light.
"Tired this morning?" Tracey remarked, moving over half a foot so that Daphne could move into her space, out of the sunlight's reach.
At last someone notices. She thought grumpily. She wanted Tracey to know; she wanted her to ask about it so she could talk about it with someone! This could very well be the biggest thing that had ever happened to her, and she was sworn to secrecy. Draco had made sure of it when they woke up only half an hour ago; he made her swear not to tell anyone since if Pansy found out, they would both suffer greatly.
No, I must not tell Tracey. Pansy will go to her first if she suspects anything... and her methods of extraction are not known to be gentle.
Now that she was no longer being blinded by the sun, she could see her other housemates much clearer. Theodore was grumbling something to Blaise, who was struggling to hear him over Crabbe and Goyle's imbecilic laughter over something Millicent said. And then, like a knife to her heart, Daphne saw Draco and Pansy, cuddled up close to each other as Pansy ate strawberries and Draco read the Prophet.
Like a happy couple... like a bloody happy MARRIED couple. Daphne thought as she ground her teeth and gripped her spoon hard enough that she may bend it. The fact that she had been in love with him for years now no longer mattered; now her goal was to keep what she had rightfully won. She would be damned before she let Pansy walk away with the grand prize of the competition, and Daphne would be left with a broken heart and sore body.
Never. I know what I want. I've had a taste of it. And you will NEVER keep him. You just wait, Pansy... you just wait.
"And a little grumpy too, I dare say," Tracey added, noting her best friend's glare of contempt. "What's the matter with you this morning?"
Daphne glared at them for a moment longer until Draco looked up from the paper and caught her eye for a mere second; Daphne instantly looked away and back to her oatmeal. "Nothing. I'm just tired. And sore; those couches are horrible things to sleep on." She said in a flat tone.
"I think that's why they give us beds to sleep on instead," Tracey teased lightly. "Well, if I hadn't been so tired from trying to learn Transfiguration all last week, I might have noticed your absence and went and got you." She smiled, nudging Daphne lightly in the side, which made her cringe and hiss lightly in pain; she had no idea how an activity that brought apparent joy to every other couple in the world could give her so much pain!
"Don't worry; next time I'll be more diligent." She promised. Daphne only nodded her head in response.
Daphne made the conscious effort to avoid any one-on-one contact with anyone in order to steer herself away from the temptation to talk. She wanted to badly to tell someone... anyone! She wanted to brag, cry, scream, and overall feel supported by someone. But if she told someone, then she risked being hexed, or worse cursed, by a very angry roommate.
If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have to hide all of this... in fact, I wouldn't have to hide anything because he would be my boyfriend!
Daphne thoughts were bitter and murderous as she etched her notes in the common room a few weeks later. Exams were coming, and the last thing she needed was to risk having her fingers paralyzed or having her lips sewn shut by Pansy. But at the same time, Daphne had the urge to act violently towards her. Every time she saw Pansy, she remembered the fight they had over a month ago, and she felt her temper rise.
"Jealousy is a hideous and violent monster, Daphne," Tracey said in a sing-song voice to her as Pansy passed them without acknowledgment. Daphne gave Tracey a dark glare and continued to write out her exam notes. "Might I suggest finding a first-year to take out your anger on? Or perhaps your sister would volunteer?" Daphne sniffed a quick laugh at this, but still held an expression of repressed rage. "I suppose you could both just act civilly for another year at least, but then again, now that you let the secret out, she's going to be convinced that you're the one he's seeing on the side," Tracey remarked lightly as she scratched something out in her notes.
Daphne looked up from her own writing and stared at her friend, every ounce of her strength fighting to keep her secret silent.
If only you knew Tracey... Damn it, I want to tell her so bad! She'd know what to do! But I can't say anything! Oh, curse Draco for getting my trapped in this mess!
At this thought, she pressed her quill to the page so hard that the tip snapped off, sending a splatter of ink on the page. She groaned in frustration and yanked her bag up onto the chair beside her and dug around for a new quill. When she finally found one and turned back to her work, there was a small paper bird fluttering in front of her. It flew around in a gentle circle around her head, and then landed on her work and ceased to move. Hesitantly, Daphne scanned the room for someone who would send the note, then picked up the origami bird and opened it slowly.
Tonight. Same place, same time. Draco
Daphne looked up, her heart now racing with excitement and surprise. She looked around the room again and once again didn't see him sitting. This time, however, she saw him standing in the doorway leading to the boys' dormitories, his grey eyes watching her intently. He nodded his head at the letter she still held in her hand. Daphne looked down and read the last line;
P.s. Burn this letter and any letters I send as soon as you've read them.
She looked up at him again and nodded her head slowly. Then she stood from her chair and walked over to the roaring fire in the fireplace. She glanced at the letter once more to make sure she had all the details correct, then tossed the piece of parchment into the flames.
"What was that?" Tracey asked, looking up from her work in time to see her tossing something into the fire. Daphne rounded very quickly and glanced at the entrance to the boys' dormitories; Draco was gone.
"Nothing, I just messed up on something." Daphne made up. Tracey nodded her head, pretending that she understood, and continued to write. Daphne let out a silent sigh of relief and returned to her seat again.
After that night, Draco and Daphne began to have their meetings much more frequently. More specifically, whenever Draco wasn't busy trying to figure out how to complete his task (of which the deadline was drawing very near). They would meet in the common room and sneak out to the room of requirement (which was different every time, depending on Draco's mood).
Daphne became increasingly more comfortable with the entire situation each time. Not only did she no longer feel the physical discomfort she did the first couple of times, but she now had as smooth of an attitude as he did. She still felt the urge to tell anyone and everyone how fantastic and special she felt for sleeping with Draco numerous times, but now she saved all the passion for him.
They also no longer stayed the entire night in the room. Usually, Draco had to go off and plan some things, or he had a Quidditch game the next day that he needed to wake up early for. Daphne would normally walk back to the common room alone, armed with a note from Draco himself (as a Prefect last year) that stated that she had a bad case of sleepwalking or something; it was a free pass to whoever might stop her and question why she was out so late.
"Sometimes I wonder how you can operate with so little sleep." Daphne pointed out once as they redressed themselves. Draco sniffed a quick laugh to himself and smiled.
"It's paid off, that's for sure," he said proudly. "I've finally figured out a way!"
"Really? Oh Draco, that's fantastic!" Daphne smiled as she pulled her shirt on began to button it up. "What did you figure out? If you don't mind me asking." She asked, a small smile on her face but eyes wide with joy; so he wouldn't be killed for failure.
"You'll hear all about it once it's done," He said, smirking a little as he did up the buttons on his shirt. Daphne smiled a little more and then looked down the finish up her buttons. She paused and held her arms out; the sleeves were far too baggy for her.
"I think this is yours." She giggled.
"I agree," He said, struggling to get a button closed on a shirt that was too small for him. They both laughed lightly for a moment, then removed the shirts. Daphne tossed hers over to Draco, who caught in and hung it over his shoulder as he struggled to get the buttons undone again.
"Here, let me help," She smiled as she crossed the space that separated them and began to fiddle with the buttons, taking extra time to touch his smooth skin when she had the chance. Once the shirt was open again, she slid it off his him slowly, smiling at him all the while she did.
"I have a question for you," He teased, grabbing her waist and pulling her closer to him, "How does this," he said, holding up the sleeve of her reclaimed shirt "Fit around those?" he smirked, his eyes drawing unneeded attention to her chest. Daphne couldn't help but laugh and blush as she pulled her shirt on and started to button it up as he watched, still holding her with one arm around her waist.
"Magic, Draco." She smirked. Draco chuckled quietly, leaned down and gave her a kiss goodbye. Then he released her from his hold and dashed out the door, still, attempting to pull his clothes on correctly.
I hope no one catches him running down the halls like that... it's bound to require quite the explanation. She laughed quietly to herself as she finished dressing again, and then snuck out of the Room of Requirement and back to the Slytherin house.
Their routine, however, was disrupted shortly after. At the beginning of June, Draco was attacked by Potter in the bathroom one day. Although Snape had certainly saved his face from most injury, there were still faint lines of very light pink in certain areas of his face. Pansy was beside herself for days, swearing vengeance against Potter for what he had done.
"Does she know they're going to heal?" Daphne pointed out one day as they walked to the Great Hall for dinner. "She seems to think you've been mauled so bad that you look like a troll or something."
"Haven't I?" Draco mumbled his tone clearly one of contempt for Potter as well.
"Oh, come on Draco; no need to be so dramatic!" Daphne soothed gently. "No one can see them anyways unless they're inches away. And how many people do you let get that close to you anyway?" she eluded with a small smirk. Draco frowned and Daphne could for a moment see one of the faint pink lines stand out; she said nothing in an attempt to prove her point. "I think Snape did a good job though. It could have been much worse if he wasn't there to help so fast."
"Yes, I wonder why he was there so quick. He never seems to leave me alone!" Draco muttered, looking cautiously over his shoulder as they rounded the corner into the Great Hall. "Convinced that he can help me in my task," He muttered quietly, more to himself. "Well, pretty soon I will have completed what has been asked of me, and without his help too. He can shove that right up his ass... along with everyone who doubted me..." He continued his muttering rant.
"Have you set the date yet?" Daphne whispered, not even daring to look up at the head table, where the potential victim sat, unsuspectingly drinking from his goblet and chatting with Hagrid.
"Not exactly," he replied quietly as they waved to their housemates. Pansy immediately crossed her arms at the sight of them together. He then added in a low voice so the others wouldn't here, "I'm waiting for the right opportunity. But don't worry Daphne; you'll hear all about my triumphs as soon as they've been completed." He smirked at her and then turned to Pansy, who was now within earshot. He said something to her, but neither Pansy nor Daphne were listening; they simply glared at each other for a brief moment.
I suppose I'll have to clean up another mess on my side of the dorm tonight... Daphne thought in annoyance, sighing silently at the thought of cleaning her robes again and having to sew her pillows for the 7th time since Christmas. But, it is the price I have to pay for my happiness, I suppose...
As the school year was slowly drawing to a close, Daphne felt that she was on edge the entire time. She had yet to 'hear' anything about Draco's triumph, and she was starting to get worried. They were now in the final week of their 6th year, and she was starting to wonder if maybe Draco was lying, and he hadn't figured out a way to get Death Eaters into the school.
Fortunately for Daphne, she was busy enough studying for her exams to not think about this fact every waking moment (which she would have been without another distraction). She and Theodore had also amended their awkwardness recently after Tracey slowly reintegrated him to the conversation with her, and the pair of them kept Daphne very occupied as well. That meant the only time that she had free to worry was when she went to bed at night.
That would explain why I haven't slept in days... she thought one evening as her, Tracey, Theodore, and Blaise all sat in the common room, attempting to practice for their practical Transfiguration exam tomorrow morning. It was now well past midnight, and they were surprised that Snape hadn't been in the common room yet to check for any parties or louder-than-permitted students. As the clock chimed at 2:30, they finally knew the answer.
They had all heard a loud bang from somewhere in the castle, and Blaise and Theodore volunteered to go out and see what was going on. They left the common room and didn't return for almost an hour. She was starting to get worried, and her pacing in front of the fire grew faster and faster as her mind raced.
"What on earth is going on out there?" Daphne mumbled.
"Well, we could go check," Tracey suggested, her tone clearly mocking the obviousness of the solution.
"Theodore told us not to go out there until they came back..." Daphne remarked impatiently.
"And what if they're not in a position to come back?" Tracey remarked, her tone now reflecting the same fear that Daphne had. "Look, let's just go outside and see what's going on. We won't go far; we just need to find someone who will tell us what's happening."
"Alright, fine." Daphne reluctantly agreed. They picked up their wands and made their way towards the portrait door.
Silently, they snuck out the door and into the dimly lit hallways of the school. They could hear shouts echoing off the stone walls, but none were distinguishable.
"Tracey, I'm not sure if this is a good idea," Daphne whispered as she drew her wand out of her robes.
"Of course it isn't. You should have thought of telling me that before we left." Tracey remarked sharply, apparently as frightened as Daphne was by whatever they had just gotten themselves into.
There was some movement to their left. They both froze and held their wands into the darkness. Daphne swallowed hard and took a shallow breath before she demanded whoever it was to show themselves, not even aware that it could be a teacher or worse.
"What are you doing out here?" Theodore hissed as he stepped out of the shadows, taking Daphne gently by the arm and leading her back to the common room. Blaise did the same with Tracey.
"What do you mean me? Why did you take almost an hour to come back!" Daphne demanded, trying to pull her arm out of his grip, but he was surprisingly strong.
"We'll tell you in a moment. But we have to get back into the common room, now!" Blaise said in a low voice from behind her, still dragging Tracey along. Daphne gave up her struggle at his words and walked at the same pace as Theodore, who despite the lack of resistance, still did not let go of her arm until they were through the portrait hole and safe again in the common room.
They now stood in a circle in the middle of the room, the girls looking anxiously at the boys, who exchanged quick looks before they started to speak.
"There are Death Eaters in the school," Theodore stated quietly, his eyes darting around the room, clearly making sure that no one else was listening. "And the Dark Mark is above the school."
"What!?" Tracey breathed.
Daphne said nothing. She was concentrating on not crying anything out loud, staring at her shoes to avoid the gaze of the others.
Oh please let him be alright... Please tell me he was successful... Please, please, please!
"Yeah, and that's not the strangest part," Blaise added at a less concealed volume. "Apparently Draco's the one that let them in!"
"Are you serious!?" Tracey said, her jaw dropping open in shock.
Stop beating around the bush and just tell me! Is he dead or not?! Daphne tightened her fists into white balls as she anxiously waited to know if all was well.
"And apparently Dumbledore's..." he paused, and Daphne was sure that her heart was having palpitations; she couldn't breathe as she waited with literal baited breath for the next word. "Dead."
Daphne let out a huge sigh of relief and sank to the floor, first squatting down, then sitting back onto the floor to prevent herself from fainting. "Oh thank God." She breathed quietly. The others, who a moment ago were worried that she had just passed out, were now staring at her with confusion.
"This isn't exactly something that you're supposed to be relieved over, Daphne," Blaise remarked smartly. Theodore knelt down beside her, looking at her with wide, very confused eyes. He put his hand on her arm, but she shook it away and told him she was fine. Then, Daphne sighed and placed her hand on her chest to make sure her heart was still beating.
"I've known for months," Daphne revealed at last. They all gave each other quick looks, then turned back to Daphne. "I knew all about Draco's task; that he had to get Death Eaters into the school to kill Dumbledore. He told me back in October, and I've been so worried about him..."
"Why didn't he tell us?" Blaise said indignantly, looking to Theodore for the answer. "I mean, no offense Daph, but we're his roommates."
"Don't call me Daph..." Daphne replied faintly.
"Why didn't he tell any of us?" Theodore remarked, not even looking at Blaise when he spoke.
"If he failed, he and his whole family would be killed," Daphne said quietly, looking over at Theodore, who seemed to instantly understand the steaks that Draco was playing with.
"Still doesn't answer why he didn't tell us," Blaise remarked suspiciously. Daphne heard the hidden meaning in his tone and shot him a dark glance to try and put the thought out of his mind.
"He told me because my family has served his for years. He wanted my help, and he knew he could trust me." She replied with a voice as sharp as a knife. Tracey and Theodore noticed the ferocity in her voice and gave each other quick glances, but said nothing.
"But still, why didn't he tell us?" Blaise added again, his eyes still flickering with the allusion he made.
"Blaise, if he told you, the whole school would know!" Daphne barked back, annoyed by his apparent jealousy that he wasn't let in on a secret for once.
Theodore snickered lightly beside her, and Blaise gave him a sharp look. "What? You know it's true Blaise; don't act so offended." Theodore remarked, holding his hand out to Daphne. She looked at it for a second, then gently took it and allowed her to help her up.
"Where is Draco now?" Daphne asked, a little too much desperation evident in her voice. Theodore looked at her for a moment, then glanced over at Blaise for reassurance.
"From what we heard, he and Snape took off from the grounds." He explained.
"Snape? What was he doing with him?" Daphne asked, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Apparently saving his ass! The Order of the Phoenix is here now too, and they're trying to pick up the pieces of having their leader killed off, along with the Headmaster of the School." Blaise sniffed a quick laugh.
There was a long pause where no one spoke. In silence, they all stood there, absorbing what Blaise had just said. Daphne couldn't help but feel ecstatic over the news she heard tonight; although Daphne felt the mission Draco was given was far too cruel and difficult, she was overjoyed that he actually completed it!
"So... does this mean that Draco actually killed someone?" Tracey asked quietly, saying her first words in a few minutes. Theodore and Blaise looked at each other, and then Theodore answered slowly.
"Well, we're not sure... no one seems to know who killed Dumbledore right now." Theodore said quietly. "But if he were tried at a Wizengamot court for this, he wouldn't stand a chance of escaping Azkaban, you can be sure of that."
Daphne felt a sharp chill shoot up from her feet to her head; she had never thought of that! All that she was concerned about was that Draco made it through this year alive; she never thought about the repercussions of what he did would be after! As far as she knew, neither did Draco!
"Well let us hope that no one ever figures it out..." Blaise mumbled, looking at the now visibly whiter Daphne. "I think we should get up to our dorms. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a very long day."
The others all nodded their heads and headed towards their dorms, slowly walking in a daze as they thought about a variety of things. Daphne could only think of Draco, who had now made himself a known fugitive in the wizarding world, running about the countryside, trying to hide from the Ministry.
"Wait!" Daphne said loudly as the four of them were about to separate into their respective stairwells. They all froze and turned to look at her, wide-eyed and still pale. "You can't tell anyone what I told you! If anyone finds out that Draco was behind it all, he'll be sure to go to Azkaban!"
"Oh, then he can share a cell with his father..." Blaise mumbled, but everyone still heard it.
"This isn't funny Blaise! I'm being dead serious... emphasis on the dead!" Daphne threatened, her expression clearly showing him how serious she was.
"Merlin, calm down Daphne. I was only kidding." Blaise remarked sourly. Theodore looked at him this time before Daphne could say anything else.
"Zabini shut the hell up." Theodore sighed, then looked back at Daphne.
"Do you all agree? You swear on your lives that we do not say anything about this. If everyone knows by morning, then there's nothing we can do, but just in case, we pretend like we had no idea what happened." Daphne spoke in a low voice. The other's all nodded her head, including Blaise, who still gave her a dark look of suspicion. "Good." She muttered under her breath, then looked at Tracey.
She was tempted to say 'goodnight' to the boys, but she thought it was rather inappropriate right now. "See you in the morning," she muttered quietly before she turned and continued up the stairs to her dorm.
When Tracey and Daphne entered their dorm, they were surprised to see Millicent and Pansy wide awake.
"What's going on!? We've been hearing all sorts of noises, but the water won't let us see what's going on." Pansy asked, her tone desperate and curious. Tracey looked at Daphne, who pursed her lips tight in defiance of speaking.
"Why didn't you get out of bed and go look for yourself?" Tracey mumbled to herself.
"Excuse me?" Pansy asked, apparently a little taken aback by her tone.
"You'll see in the morning. Trust me." Daphne said before Tracey could add anything else, thus ending the conversation. She then crossed the room and collapsed onto her bed, pulled the covers over her head, and tried to go to sleep.
The new fear of Draco being imprisoned, or worse killed, for what he had done was flowing through every inch of her, and she felt small shudders that felt like sobs trying to escape ripple through her. She fought them off with one, single bright thought; Draco's family will be spared, which means he no longer needs Pansy.
She wiped a single tear from her eye and smiled faintly to herself in the now dark dorm room. She was probably the only person in the school right now that was happy.
Daphne and Astoria were rescued from the funeral by their father, who sent Slughorn a letter saying that he was coming to collect his children. He told him that 'in light of recent events, which are very saddening to hear, my wife and I believe that our daughters should be home and away from the reminders of what happened that terrible night'.
So, at 2:30 pm, 36 hours after the incident had occurred, Lennox Greengrass walked up the gravel slope of the school and met his waiting daughters. As Daphne expected, Astoria threw herself into a fit of tears and ran into her father's arms, wailing and crying about how awful it all was. Daphne sighed at the scene and turned back to the school, only to see Tracey and Theodore standing by the door watching. Without thinking, Daphne walked back over to them, her face clearly sad to be leaving them here.
"I wish I could bring you both with me." She said genuinely.
"Don't worry about us," Tracey smiled, taking her best friends hand and patting it gently "You just concentrate on taking care of your poor grieving sister." She smirked. Daphne and Tracey both giggled at her remark, then hugged each other goodbye.
When they let go after a minute or so, Daphne looked at Theodore awkwardly, who was leaning against the stone walls of the school.
"Goodbye Theodore..." she said softly, stepping forward and holding her arms out to him. He smiled faintly and stepped away from the wall and hugged her as well, holding her closer than he ever used to. Ever since that night that he had cried in front of her, he had clearly felt much more emotionally attached to her... as clearly evident by the kiss he gave her. Although he had yet to offer an explanation for it, she thought it better not to mention it. "You know where I live if you need me." She whispered quietly as she leaned her head against his shoulder.
"Daphne," a low voice like a giant called to her from down the path. She sighed aloud and slowly released Theodore, making a face to him that showed her regret in leaving so soon.
"Coming, father..." she called flatly. She looked at her best friends again and wished them well one last time before she turned and walked back over towards her father and sister, who was waiting by her trunk.
"Ready to go home and escape all this drama?" Lennox offered half-heartedly to Daphne as he bewitched her trunk to float along behind them as they walked down to Hogsmeade.
"Somehow I doubt the drama stops as soon as we walk through the gates of the school..." Daphne muttered, glancing again at Hogwarts.
As far as any of the students knew, they might not be returning here next year. And although this thought was the worst nightmare of many of the students, Daphne looked on the bright side of it and smiled to herself as she turned back from the school; if the school was closed, then Pansy could no longer get in her way...