(AN: I do not speak French. The French in this chapter is provided by a free translation site, so I apologize if it's not correct)
Christmas at home with her family was by far one of the worst she had ever experience. The instant that Daphne, Astoria, and Lennox entered their home via Floo Powder, they were met by the loudest French babbling of an elderly couple that was, unfortunately (and somehow) related to her.
"Astoria! Mon belle ange! Vous devenez plus charmants dans les coups d'oeil par le deuxième!" their Grandmother said in her high-pitched voice, stepping forward and taking Astoria into a tight, embracing hug. Their Grandmother had to be about 70 years old, but she still dressed like she was 40; tight navy blue robes, loads of matching sapphire jewels, and hair that was enchanted to forever stay red (like her precious daughter, Medea)
"What can we say, Cecelia? She takes after the lovely women on your side of the family." Lennox laughed heartily. Medea chuckled at the compliment and translated for her parents, who laughed a moment later at their son-in-law's flattery.
Daphne rolled her eyes and sat down on one of the empty couches of the drawing room, waiting for the Astoria-ego-boosting-session to end.
I doubt they've even noticed I'm here... as usual. She thought with a small glare at the back of her Grandparents heads. Not that I care; the last thing I want is my mother having to translate how very plain and ordinary I am... She inwardly sighed, watching her sister show off for her Grandparents.
Cecelia and Gerard did not speak a word of English, while Lennox and Astoria spoke little to no French, so had Medea to translate everything that they said. It made having a conversation take twice as long, and Daphne was convinced that Medea 'edited out' some of the details that Daphne would say in order to make her sound more pleasant and grateful. But over the years, Daphne had picked up enough French to understand main words frequently used to describe her: 'average,' 'late-bloomer,' 'somewhat intelligent'; the list went on.
"Et comment est Daphné? Elle doit être près de l'âge, elle a décidé quoi faire une fois qu'elle a terminé l'école?" Gerard asked, a man who was the definition of an old French man, which a thin white mustache and matching hair slicked back to his head... much like how Draco used to wear his hair...
"Did you understand your Grandfather?" Medea quipped smartly at her daughter, who had momentarily drifted off into her own world again. Daphne hadn't even noticed that they were all now sitting on the couches and chairs in the room, all facing the centre and chatting.
"Uh... can you repeat it, Grand-pere?" Daphne asked quietly. He did, and Daphne sat there for a few moments, attempting to translate it in her head.
"Daphne, we don't have all day." Her father chuckled from across the room, now sipping on some coffee that Astoria had gracefully brought back for the adults.
What a lovely housewife you'll make, Astoria; it's about the only thing you're naturally good at. Daphne thought with a smirk.
"Uh, I'm thinking of going into Charms." She managed after figuring out what the question was in the statement. "Something like creating concealment charms for places like Hogwarts or the Quidditch World Cup."
"Can you translate for your grandparents?" Medea smirked, knowing that she couldn't. Daphne made a small face at her mother, then shook her head slowly. With a sigh, Medea translated what her daughter said (with a notable expression of confusion or annoyance), and smiled like a cat when she finished.
"Charms? Est-ce votre meilleur sujet?" her grandfather asked with some interest that surprised Daphne.
"Oui." She replied with a small smile; she understood that much French on her own, without her mother translating. Could it be possible that her family had actually taken more than 2 seconds to acknowledge that she too was a student?
"Eh bien, vous pouvez peut-être nous montrer certaines de vos compétences? Comme un ami du ministre français de la magie, je peux peut-être mettre un bon mot pour vous après vos études." He smiled, sitting a little forward in his seat, watching and waiting.
"He wants you to perform some charms, and he says that he might be able to put a good word in for you after you graduate at the French Ministry... if you're good." Medea translated lazily.
"You want me to charm something?" Daphne repeated quietly. She pulled her wand out of her pocket and looked around for something to charm. "Well, I can do one right now..." she remarked slowly, taking one of the coffee mugs from the tray her sister brought and levitated it over onto the mantelpiece.
"Don't you dare knock anything off the mantel!" Her mother warned under her breath.
"Have some faith, mother," Daphne muttered as she stood up from the couch and looked at the mug. Then, she took a deep breath and called "Aguamenti!", creating a jet of water that shot straight at the mantel, which held up several crystal vases and jeweled boxed. Her mother shouted something at her, as did her father, but she ignored them, and just before the water was about to shoot the mug, she flicked her wand upward, which made the jet turn at a 90-degree angle. Her family watched with great interest as she directed the water around the room, narrowly missing her sister's head (on purpose) before she slowed it down and gently poured it into the mug.
"Bein fait, Daphne." Her grandfather said "Tres bien." He smiled at her. Daphne had never really had a conversation with her grandfather, but she was beginning to wonder if perhaps he was the most enjoyable of her mother's side of the family.
"My turn!" Astoria announced as she jumped from her seat on the couch across from her sister. Daphne rolled her eyes and flopped back onto the couch, preparing for the next 2 hours of watching her sister show off...
One thing did turn out alright for Daphne, however; there was no summon from the Dark Lord to the Malfoy Manor for another repeat of the summer's festivities."Thank God!" she laughed as she walked with Tracey up the platform of Kings Cross Station 3 weeks later, dumping their trunks in the nearby pile and climbing back aboard the Hogwarts Express. "The last thing I wanted was to spend my entire vacation sitting in that house, always on edge and worrying about that damned snake!"
"Oh come on, Daphne; Draco isn't that evil, is he?" Tracey smirked as she opened an empty car open.
"You know that's not the snake I was referring to," Daphne muttered.
"Well, how was your holiday then? I heard that your grandparents were there." She asked, her usual sly smile mocking her.
"Well, they acknowledged me once. My Grandfather, I mean," She said brightly "But then they returned to spoiling and fawning over Astoria, so nothing different I suppose. Oh, and my cousin's came over from France as well, which only made my vacation worse!"
"Oh, the French tarts? How are they?" Tracey laughed.
"Married. And one is pregnant. I'm not surprised, but at the same time, I can't believe that their father would let them get married so young... they're only just 19."
"And dare I ask how old their husbands are?"
"Oh, you know; 29 and 31..." Daphne muttered, sighing a little. "With my luck, I'll be 29 by the time I get married... and that's if I get married at all."
"What happened to you wanting to marry Draco?" Tracey asked curiously, taking a copy of Witch Weekly out of her trunk and glancing at the front cover with a sneer.
"Like I care..." Daphne muttered, leaning her head on the window absently. Tracey looked up with a smirk, clearly catching the lie, but she didn't say anything about it.
Tracey didn't bother bringing up Draco again for some time. Daphne didn't want to talk to him, and so Tracey just sat back and watched the angry glances and cold shoulders that they gave each other. And Daphne was fine with that arrangement; she wasn't in the mood to speaking with Draco, since he had yet to apologize, or even ignore the fight they had! No, he instead just continued to goad her, with snide remarks and angry glares. It drove Daphne insane, but she wasn't about to give in and call a truce; she had done nothing wrong!
It was only at the end of February that they were able to participate in the same conversation. It was the time when the Gryffindors started to lose their patience and began to outwardly defy Snape, the Carrow's, and the Slytherins. As they returned back to the dorm from dinner one night, a few of the 7th year Slytherins overheard Neville and Ginny ranting about the state of things.
"...And they expect us to be able to perform these curses on each other like we're simply levitating a book across the room!" Neville grumbled to Ginny. They obviously weren't aware that Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle were following behind them, and by Daphne and Tracey a few feet behind them.
"Wonder if next week's lesson will be the killing curse," Ginny growled in response.
"Well, if it is, I can only hope that they'll use you two as practice," Draco called to them. They stopped dead in their tracks and spun around, both of their faces reflecting the rage they felt.
"Sod off Malfoy or I may put some of those curses your friends are teaching us to use," Ginny threatened through a locked jaw.
"Is that so, Weasley?" Malfoy chuckled at the threat. He had his sleeves rolled up, as usual, showing off his Dark Mark to anyone and everyone that dared challenge him. But, as expected, Ginny didn't care, nor was she scared. She just narrowed her eyes at the sight of it. "I'll bet you 20 galleons that you wouldn't have the courage to do it. That's a good amount, isn't it? Won't 20 galleons pay your family's rent for a year?"
The Slytherins laughed, including Tracey and Daphne, who had now caught up their housemates. Neville saw the change in numbers and started to inch his hand towards his back pocket, where he no doubt kept his wand. But Ginny stood her ground, not moving an inch or showing a pinch of fear.
"It's not a question of courage, Malfoy." She sneered, pulling her wand out of her robe in one swift motion. Neville did the same, but much more clumsily. "It's a question of morals, which I have!"
"More like a question of fear!" Tracey laughed, now removing her wand and twirling it on the end of her finger, which earned her a death glare from both Ginny and Neville. "After all, how are you Gryffindors going to defend yourselves without Potter to lead the way? Not to mention, even if you tried, Snape would have you in the dungeons faster than you can say blood traitor."
"Aren't you a half-blood, Davis!" Neville replied sharply.
"Better than being a Weasley or a Longbottom!" Daphne chimed in smartly. "Otherwise, we'd be as helpless and hopeless as you two are right now," She smirked.
"I see that the odds are always fair, as usual, eh Malfoy?" Ginny remarked with a glare, ignoring Daphne "5 to 2; apparently, arithmancy was never your strongest subject."
"Get used to these odds, Weasley." He smirked at her "Because that's the ratio you and the Order are up against right now; just thought you should know that."
"We don't care about the odds," Neville said in a low, angry voice. "As long as we fight for what's right, and turn this abomination of a school's teaching against you, then we'll do alright."
Tracey barked a quick laugh at that "If you hate it so much, then why not leave like the rest of your little friends? I see that the Potter Trio didn't come back, along with half your house. Your allies are starting to dwindle in numbers," she remarked smartly.
"Because someone has to stop Snape! He's a murder, and you're just as bad as him, Malfoy!" Ginny quipped back immediately. Draco just smirked at her, almost like he enjoyed the label of 'murder' being attached to his name.
"Well rehearsed, Weasley." Daphne chuckled, watching her face turn red with anger.
"I suggest you two start taking more care with what you say. We wouldn't want any accidents to happen because of your big mouth," Draco said in a patronizing voice that made Ginny try to lunge forward at him. But Neville, in a rare moment of speed, was able to catch her robes before her fist made contact with Malfoy's jaw. "Enjoy your remaining time at Hogwarts," he added with a deliberately evil smile.
Neville said something under his breath to Ginny, who glared at Malfoy and the rest of them angrily. Then she gave them a rude gesture with her finger and turned around sharply, walking away hissing obscenities at Neville, who was clearly telling her to calm down.
"You know, I'll really miss them when they're gone." Tracey sighed dramatically. The others immediately burst into laughter, and Draco turned around to look at the two girls who had helped him in his diminishing of the enemy.
"I dare say I would love to teach them a good lesson, except the Dark Lord, wants to keep them around for a little while longer. He wants to keep all of the Potter supporters around so they can first watch Potter die, then he'll wipe them out one-by-one after."
"Remind me to leave that day free in my calendar," Daphne laughed to Tracey. She giggled as well and gave her a subtle nudge in the ribs. Daphne looked at her friend, who nodded towards the boys. There she saw that Draco was staring at her, rather obviously, too. Daphne stared back at him for a moment, but then broke the gaze, embarrassed at the silence that hung while everyone else noticed. "Well, we'd better get back to the common room; we wouldn't want Slughorn to give us detention for being late."
"Oh, these rules piss me off!" Tracey grumbled, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms as they all started to walk back towards the dungeons together. "Snape is more than willing to give us freedom, but Slughorn just takes it all away!"
"It's because he was Dumbledore's man," Draco answered sourly. "He and the other teachers are attempting to diminish Snape's power over the school. If I were him, I'd stand up and make them listen to me, or suffer the consequences."
"Well Draco, you are a Death Eater; why not do exactly that? Go up to his office and demand that he put Slughorn in his place?" Tracey pointed out "After all, isn't that one of the perks of being a Death Eater? That you can talk to him like an equal, not a subordinate?"
"It's not that simple, Tracey," he answered flatly. "The Dark Lord controls Snape, and I'm not about to question him just because we would like some freedom."
"I don't see why not..." Tracey muttered. "No matter, Slughorn is fighting a losing battle. I bet if we all just started walking around whenever we pleased, there wouldn't be much he could do."
"Well, for now, it only works on the nights that the Carrow's are on duty," Daphne pointed out as she looked up at the clock on the wall. "C'mon Tracey, we only have a few more months at Hogwarts, and when we will have as much freedom as we've ever wanted. I'm sure you can survive a few nights not running around the school."
"Having to work a job full time is not freedom, Daphne," Tracey grumbled.
Being out of my house forever is freedom... Daphne concluded in her head but didn't bother to say it out loud. And if Draco would get his act together, then my life would be complete... he keeps trying to catch my attention, but it's not going to work! She thought stiffly, giving him a sideways glance that caught his eye. I want him to put more effort into this... I'll be damned if he thinks he's obliged to me! She thought haughtily, and then took Tracey's arm and sped up their speed, putting a significant distance between the girls and the guys, who did not try to keep up.
On the eve of February 14th, Daphne was feeling even more frustrated and bitter towards Draco and Pansy, who had first made a show of love and affection in the common room, and then disappeared down to Hogsmeade all day, and didn't return until just before dinner.
"He was so romantic! Oh, you should see the necklace he bought for me!" Pansy raved to Millicent at dinner, well aware that Daphne and Tracey were listening as well.
"Aren't you lucky," Tracey replied with a tight smile, then turned to Daphne and whispered, "I vote we just drown her in the lake; no one will miss her!"
"Except Millicent...and probably Draco," Daphne muttered, mindlessly stirring her mashed potatoes around on her plate with her fork.
"I'm surprised you're taking this so well... did Theodore give you a box of chocolates or something?" she asked Daphne as she stuffed a piece of her dinner roll into her mouth.
"No he didn't... wait, what?" Daphne asked, shaking her head in confusion "What does Theodore have to do with this?"
"It was a joke, Daphne... wow, I guess you're not as composed as I thought you were..." Tracey said with a small smirk before she shoved more bread into her mouth.
"Whatever..."
Daphne turned her head and looking up the table curiously. Yet another rose had somehow found its way in front or Astoria. She'd received about 12 at this point, all from different boys that were trying to win her over. Each one had come with a little note tied to it, which she would read aloud to her friends, then turn the direction of the latest victim to her spell, and smile sweetly to encourage the boy to spend even more money on her.
"Ridiculous..." Daphne said under her breath, taking a chuck on her mashed potatoes and squishing it with her fork. Needless to say, as usual, Daphne had not received any roses or gifts of any kind from anyone. And although she told herself she was quite content with this, deep down it hurt her to know that, as usual, her sister always got the love and attention she didn't deserve.
Tracey had received a detention earlier that day for making a smart remark about Potter, which McGonagall did not appreciate in the slightest. So, after dinner, Daphne had to make her way back to the common room alone. In the dark hallways, there was still bits of confetti and sparkles that lingered in the air from the little cupid's that had flown around all day, delivering flowers, candy, and poems to luckier people than her.
My sister's right; I'm never going to have a boyfriend... well, aside from Blaise, but he doesn't count! He converted to the same blasphemy as the rest of them right after... she thought with a bitter sneer. Every boy in the world has their heart set on her, and no one even takes notice of me... I truly think I'm adopted...
As Daphne passed by the last classroom before the dungeons, she heard a loud creak behind her, and then a strong tug back towards the door. She opened her mouth to scream, but she tripped on the doorframe, causing her to land with a thud on the stone floor, knocking the wind out of her.
"Oops. Didn't mean to pull you that hard," Draco sighed as he stood above her, shaking his head slowly but smirking. He held out his hand to help her up, and she looked curiously for a moment before taking it.
"What... do you want?" She managed as she tried to catch her breath. He didn't say anything; he just gave her a quick tug and pulled her up off the ground.
"You make it sound like I ask a lot of you." He chuckled.
"Draco, you do ask a lot of me. And until you do what I told you to do, you're not getting anything else." Daphne hissed.
"Daphne, I can't stay away from you anymore. Us fighting like this has to stop!" Draco said, his voice very quiet, but his eyes looking down away from hers. "Every time I see you, I just get a feeling so strong, and it's so hard for me to just walk away from you without grabbing you and just-" he cut himself off and looked up into her eyes. "I'm not sure what you've done to me, but I can't get you out of my mind."
"And wh-what do you want me to do about it?" Daphne breathed, her lungs feeling as tight as they did only moments before.
"Whatever you can; anything will do." He paused, taking another step forward, bringing him so close that she could feel his hot breath on her face. "I leave it for you to decide since you're the one who is indifferent about all of this."
"I am not indifferent!" Daphne breathed sharply. "Don't think that I don't care, Draco! It's just-" she cut herself off and looked at the floor. She wanted so bad to say it; she wanted to tell him right now that she loved him. But she held back. "You can't live without me, but I can't watch you living with someone else." She sighed, feeling a small tear build up behind her eye, which she hastily wiped away. "That's why I can't see you."
"What will it take for you to trust me? I'll take an Unbreakable vow if you want me too." He pleaded quietly. "I want you! Not Pansy, nor anyone else."
Daphne's head was so clouded at her fantasy world filling her imagination again that she barely understood what he was saying to her. It sounded almost as if he was confessing his love to her... except in much more complicated words.
"Oh, Draco..." she sighed
"Don't think that you have to because I ask you," He clarified very quickly. "It's just... I miss you so much," he sighed too.
"I miss you too," Daphne admitted, her eyes so clouded over with her haze of love that she could hardly see. And in an act of bravery(and perhaps insanity), she stepped the few inches forward until her lips were so close to his that they lightly touched. "What should we do?" she whispered, almost giving in completely and kissing him then and there. Draco didn't move for a second either; he just waited with baited breath for her next move. As soon as she sensed his anticipation, she leaned in the micro distance and kissed him, releasing passion that had been bottled up for almost 7 months.
Apparently, he felt the same lack of restraint, and in a matter of seconds, he pushed her body up against one of the tables, instigating yet another of their intimate encounters. But unlike the previous times, there were two emotions that were not present before; desperation and determination. They were desperate because they wanted each other so badly, and not even physical pain or moral standards could get in their way. And they were both determined to prove to the other just how badly they needed them.
By the time they were finished their tryst, Daphne had almost forgotten about the situation at hand. They hadn't come to any conclusions about what their relationship was, nor had they even discussed the topic after they started making out (among other things). It was the tolling of the school clock, telling them that it was now 8:30 pm, that sent both Daphne and Draco scurrying out of the classroom and to their common room.
Upon their arrival, Pansy's voice sent Daphne ducking out of her sight and hiding in a dark corner until they were gone upstairs to his dorm. She frowned when she realized they were going up to the girls' dormitory, but then smiled when she remembered that she had him all to herself only moments before.
He made sure to show me his affection on this special day... that's got to count for something!
Preparing for NEWTs and finally graduating Hogwarts had all the Slytherin 7th years distracted. Daphne and Draco only saw each other randomly, and often quickly, since Pansy and Draco had made a routine of studying for Defence Against the Dark Arts every night in the library. This made Daphne feel a little bit better; it meant that there was no way that Draco and Pansy could be doing anything more than studying. It also made sure that Daphne had the chance to do the same.
Months had passed in the same mundane manner. The rest of February brought nothing but the subtle hint that the end of school was near. In March, the snow was thick on the ground, but the anticipation grew stronger for everyone. And in April, the snow began to melt away and reveal the yellowy-green grass that had been hiding beneath. Soon enough, Daphne knew that it would be warm and the sun would be shining, and she would finally be free from this place.
In May, the NEWTs were only weeks away, and Daphne had been busy studying hard to try an pass. She had decided that she would pursue a career in charms, so she had to ensure that her marks were high enough to warrant an interview. But, before she even had the chance to get through a practice test with Flitwick, there was something more exciting in store for everyone...
Daphne turned restlessly in her bed the first night of May. All last night, she had been up doing early prep for her Charms NEWT exam, the only exam she was going to need an Outstanding mark on.
And if I don't get at least a passing grade, then I guess I'll have to settle with being a house-wife all my life... she thought solemnly as she turned again in her sleep. Her prep was with Flitwick tomorrow at 9 am, and at this rate, she was going to be running off of 2 hours sleep.
There was a loud knock at the door that made all the girls start awake. Tracey instantly whipped out her wand and shone a light towards the door; they were all very surprised to see Professor Slughorn and the prefects waiting in the now open doorway.
"Ladies, get dressed and be down in the common room in 5 minutes," He demanded, then turned on his heel and walked away. His face was very pale, and he looked as though he was also disappointed... or afraid; Daphne couldn't quite put her finger on the right emotion. All the girls stared at each other for a brief second, then scrambled out of bed, pulling on either the clothes that they had worn earlier this evening or their uniforms.
"Why on Earth are we being called down to the common room at this time of night?" Pansy complained as she pulled on her uniform pants and a black sweater. "Do you think we'll have to sleep in the Great Hall again?"
"Obviously, it must be something important," Tracey said with sarcastic speculation as she put on an old pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. Pansy gave her a sharp glare, which only made Daphne snicker under her breath.
As she too dressed, putting on a pair of jeans and her Slytherin sweater (which was laying conveniently on top of her trunk), she too couldn't help but wonder what in Merlin's name could be so important that Slughorn had woken them all up so late.
"Probably caught some more people sneaking out again, and now he wants to make an example of them." Millicent theorized aloud.
"Then why wouldn't he do it until morning?" Pansy sneered.
"The best lessons are taught to an unwilling and angry audience, I suppose," Daphne remarked lightly as she put on her trainers, tied up her hair, and tucked her wand in her pants pocket.
It was only once they were in the Great Hall, and Professor McGonagall was telling them that they had to evacuate the school, and Voldermort interrupted them with his demands for Potter, that they all understood what lied ahead of them. Daphne gave Theodore a nervous look, who caught her looking, took in a visibly deep breath and clenched his hands into fists. No one had told them what the Slytherin's would be expected to do; if Voldermort really was here, and with all his supporters, then that meant that many, if not all, of their parents, would be in that same mob.
Going against our own families would be futile. We may as well turn our wands on ourselves if we wanted to take that route!
"But he's there! Potter's there! Someone grab him!" she screamed loud enough so everyone could hear. There were a few murmurs of agreement from around her, but they had a negative effect. Practically the entire school stood up and turned to protect Potter! Daphne felt her chest tightened as she saw the looks of rage and determination in their eyes.
"Thank you, Miss Parkinson. You will leave the Hall first with Mr. Filch. If the rest of your house could follow," The head of Gryffindor said sharp voice. Daphne turned and looked in outrage at her, but then realized that it was Pansy who had just got their house kicked off the school property.
"You stupid cow..." she hissed under her breath as she stood from the table and stormed out with the rest of her ostracized house. Now, even if she wanted to avoid going to the aide of Voldermort based on her family allegiance, she had no choice; Hogwarts would no longer protect any Slytherin...