Hello! As you can see I've turned this into a multi chapter story, but it will probably only have about two or three more chapters. I didn't really know how to write this, so I hope you like how I've written it. Sorry for how long it's taken me, but I have lots of other commitments. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter. I was shocked (happily by the way) by the amount of positive feedback I got from everyone! I would like to say:
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Thank you to: Kur0Kishi for your emailed help.
Thank you to: Everyone who has read this story.
Every member of the Great Hall was shocked into silence. The Gryffindor Golden Boy, Leader of the light, The Boy-who-lived, Member of the Golden Trio and Slayer of Voldermort was with The Queen of Slytherin, The Ice Princess, and an almost certain Death Eater? It just couldn't happen. It was impossible.
"Mr Potter, Miss Greengrass" McGonagall choked out, bringing everyone out of their stupor. "I hope you don't mind my intrusion, but how? Why? When?" she questioned in an incredulous voice.
"Yeah Harry, why don't you tell us," Ron growled in a menacing voice, "What you're doing with that… that… bitch!" In a flash, Harry had released Daphne, and started to lunge for Ron, his eyes pure green fire, that burned with a passion that no one had ever seen before. Some of the nearby students discreetly shivered in fear at the raw emotion displayed in the glowing emerald orbs. But before Harry could move, Daphne had grabbed his arm, and started to whisper into his ear. After a few moments, Harry grinned, and looked back at her dancing blue eyes in pure love, before leaning down and pressing a short and tender kiss to her lips. A few girls sighed in jealousy at the exchange, whilst Ginny flushed red in anger.
"Anyway, where were we before the Weasel butted in?" smirked Daphne, stepping back into Harry's embrace and leaning her head back on his chest, causing Harry to smother a smirk of his own. "Ah yes," she started, "Well, we had anticipated this moment since we started this relationship, so we decided to write down how we first met in a sort of book like format. The book had been charmed to read itself. It will pause if someone speaks." Flitwick looked very impressed.
"That's very advanced charming Mr Potter and Miss Greengrass. Very well done. For what it's worth, ten points to Gryffindor and Slytherin," Hermione scowled at Harry, Daphne and Flitwick.
"We put in Harry's point of view, because it was more entertaining," she finished of giggling at Harry's look of disgust. She pulled out a shrunken book from her pocket, and enlarged it, before tapping it with her wand. It opened itself to the middle pages and floated into the air. Daphne quickly cast a 'Sonorous' charm on it, and walked back to Harry, who had settled on the edge of the Gryffindor bench. She opted to sit on his lap, instead of the empty bench, causing Harry to let out a huge lopsided grin that he knew she loved, before winding his arms round her slender waist and settling his head on her shoulder. Many of the girls and women cooed at the contended looks of both of their faces. They did look cute together. A hush fell over the hall as the book began.
Harry had just been deposited in the middle of the classroom. He had been carted round by Slughorn for the last hour and half meeting people he was sure he'd never heard of before. He was feeling a bit lost and confused to be honest….
"Don't you always love?" giggled Daphne, raising tentative sniggers from some members of the Gryffindor table. Harry pouted, making Daphne laugh harder.
Hermione was… in fact, he didn't really know where Hermione was to be honest. The last time he'd seen her she was running away from Cormac McLaggen, who had been standing under the mistletoe, eyes closed, lips puckered.
Hermione grinned weakly at the moment, as many others laughed at the mental image. Ron looked extremely jealous, and quickly shifted closer to Hermione and put an arm over her shoulders.
Ginny was round her somewhere he presumed, maybe she was with Luna, his 'date' for the evening. But all thoughts of Ginny flew from his head as his green eyes locked gazes with a piercing blue one.
Ginny looked outraged at that, and her brothers edged slowly away from her – even Fred and George decided it wasn't the time for jokes.
She was stunning. Her hair was a beautiful golden blonde, the same colour and texture that you only see in books. It hung loose, curling down to the centre of her back. She had a perfect face, with beautiful blue eyes, which were framed with long, thick eyelashes, a small nose, and full, pouty red lips. The rest of her body was flawless, with curves in the right places, and long legs. He noticed she was wearing a short grey muggle dress, like many of the girls had on tonight, but none of which in his eyes had pulled it off as well as she had. He remembered her from a few of his classes, Daphne Greengrass. She had to be a Veela he told himself – he didn't think she could be that perfect otherwise – or a goddess of some type. He had never seen someone so beautifully flawless and gorgeous as her. She was pure perfection.
The girls all looked at Harry misty eyed, while others looked at Daphne with envy at having snared Harry. Harry himself has buried his head in Daphne's neck, his face bright red. Remus smiled to himself. 'Just like James' he thought, 'Always the ladies' man'. Daphne suddenly turned in his arms so she was straddling him, and she kissed him softly.
Harry beamed at her, despite his bright red cheeks, and gave her another kiss. The girls all cooed again, this time joined in jokingly by Fred, George and Remus, arousing lots of laughing from around the hall, before Ginny stopped the twins with a hard and steely glare. The book continued.
Coming back to her face, he summoned all his courage up. 'Come on Harry, what's the worst that could happen?' he thought, at the same time remembering the unfortunate fate of the 7th year Gryffindor who had tried the very same, only to find himself lying in the hospital wing castrated four days later.
Many laughed at this horrendous tale, while Daphne grinned in memory.
Nevertheless, he decided she was the worth the risk, but mentally concluded to run if he saw her wand appear.
Daphne hit his arm, which caused Harry to wail out dramatically. Some members of the hall smiled at the exchange.
Slowly he made his way over. He hoped he looked calm and collected…
"No you didn't honey," giggled Daphne, "You at me like I'd just turned into Voldermort."
"I wasn't that bad, was I?" Harry questioned, a confused look settling in his eyes and his forehead scrunching up.
…. But really he was freaking out, and had half a mind to run away, screaming, to the Gryffindor dorms and hide under his invisibility clock and never re surface.
Awed glances were sent his way. "You have an invisibility cloak?" asked a first year Hufflepuff bravely.
"Yes he does," answered Daphne, "It's very useful for sneaking around at night time, isn't it Harry," she giggled, and Harry too let out a few giggles, before his face morphed into a very happy smile, eyes fogged over a bit, both unfazed by the incredulous and astonished looks sent their way. The professor's looked extremely thin lipped and angry. Ron and Hermione looked ill, and Ginny had turned completely red, in fact, it was now rather hard to distinguish her face from her hair. Daphne turned and winked at Ginny over Harry's shoulder, an action that went unnoticed by everyone.
In fact, he thought briefly, I'd rather have detention every day for a year with Snape….
Everyone looked horrified at the thought. "Potter, I'm touched," Snape sneered at him.
… Or go and live with Aragog….
"What's an Aragog?" asked Neville.
"He's a blind spider who lives in the Forbidden Forest, and is roughly the size of a small elephant," Harry explained calmly. Everyone looked shocked and scared.
"And how, Mr Potter, would you know of this Aragog?" asked Madame Pomfrey faintly.
"Oh, Harry and I went to see him in our second year. We thought he was the monster in the Chamber of Secrets, so we had a bit of an interview with him," Ron answered, seemingly unfazed.
"Well, I wouldn't really call it a meeting mate, we were carried there by two giant spiders," Harry laughed over his shoulder, to which Ron grinned back. Professors and students alike looked stunned at the calm manner which they joked about this. Daphne however looked furious.
"And why did this never come up?" she hissed.
"Read on!" he shouted to the book. Molly Weasley looked satisfied. 'At least the girls looking after him,' she thought to herself.
…. Or even enter a romantic relationship with Draco Malfoy.'
Draco fell off the back of his bench. "Potter! Just no! Just NO!" he screamed, slightly hysterically, his characteristically pale face tinged green, like many other students in the hall. Harry too was looking ill. "I have problems," Harry muttered to Daphne, who sniggered.
He finally reached her, and was once again taken away by her beauty.
Daphne kissed his cheek as the girls everywhere cooed again.
"H…Hello Daphne" he stammered, blushing bright red. He once again mentally prepped himself. 'What's the worst that could happen?' He quickly shut that thought, as a whole range of mental image paraded through his head.
Daphne snorted.
Her pretty blue eyes narrowed in suspicion, and Harry couldn't help but think how hot she looked.
Everyone roared with laughter at Harry's red face. Daphne's eyes narrowed again, and he sighed dreamily, before snapping out of it. The Great Hall shook with hilarity again, as Harry grinned sheepishly.
"What do you want Potter," she hissed, looking round in case anyone saw them interacting. Harry racked his brains. He knew he should probably say something, maybe complement her on how perfect she looked, or ask how she was, or just evoke general conversation. But somehow, his mouth no longer seemed connected to his brain, and he was unable to say anything back. Instead, he opted for the famous Potter lopsided smile, and widened his eyes. He hoped he didn't look to retarded. Unfortunately, the scared look in her eyes, and the hesitant footstep she took back proved that he probably did look like a stalker or pervert.
"You did look rather scary Harry. I was a bit weirded out to be honest," Daphne admitted. Remus snorted, his Maurader side coming through.
"Smooth Harry," laughed Tonks.
In sudden desperation for her not to go, he willed himself to say something, anything. Before he could register what had happened, he had shouted "You look pretty," into her face, and she started to look round again, not in fear, but for help.
Everyone in the hall was laughing, the people who knew Harry well had tears running down their faces. Even the Slytherin's had given up their icy facades and had joined in the laughter. Harry just buried his face in Daphne's neck.
"Just stay away from me Potter," she spat back at him before turning on her heel and walking quickly from the classroom.
"Slytherins never run," chorused Harry and Daphne, before smiling at each other. Some of the students smiled fondly at them.
Suddenly, Harry felt an adrenaline rush, and ran after her, out of the party and into the corridor, where he could see her retreating figure strutting down the corridor. As he ran after her, he couldn't help but noticed she had a very nice arse….
"HARRY!" Daphne screeched, hitting him other the head repeatedly, whilst the entire male population boomed with laughter. Fred and George Weasley actually got up from their seats and shook his hands, before skipping back to their seats. Ginny nearly hexed them. They were supposed to be on her side! The girl population however shook their heads at Harry menacingly. Daphne ceased her hitting, and, with an angry 'humph!' motioned for the book to continue.
…..before he ran into a wall. He had been so entranced he had failed to notice the corner.
The hall erupted in laughter. Even Ginny giggled a bit.
"Daphne! Oi! Daphne!" Harry shouted undeterred, but still rubbing his forehead, "Wait a sec." Daphne spun on her heel and faced him. "What do you want loser?" she hissed menacingly at him.
"Ohhhhhh burn!" hollered the Gryffindor boys, before the whole table cracked up. The other houses looked bewildered at this behaviour.
"Do you usually act like this?" asked Zacharias Smith snootily.
"Yeah, doesn't every house?" laughed Seamus.
"Errr… no. What you going to tell me next, you have wild parties?" replied Cho Chang. The whole Gryffindor house spun round and looked at the other three tables.
"What, you've never had a party?" cried Katie Bell.
"A party?" shouted the other houses.
"Yes! We have end of year parties, beginning of year parties, Quidditch match victory parties, Pre – Quidditch match parties, House cup parties, Birthday parties, Exam end parties, Christmas parties, random parties…." listed Fred. The other students and the professors' eyes widened.
"Some go on for weeks!" cried Lee.
"Do you guys even have a Quidditch victory cheer?" asked Oliver Wood faintly.
"A what?" asked a Hufflepuff chaser. The Gryffindor's looked stunned.
"And tell us, how did we never find out about these parties?" asked a thin – lipped McGonagall.
"Silencing charms," Lee said slowly, as if explaining to a 5 year old.
"Don't take that tone with me Mr Jordan! Anyway, that is not a valid excuse. How could you possibly create Silencing charms that strong?" The whole table looked at her, and chorused in perfect synchronisation, "HERMIONE."
"Of course," muttered Snape.
"Besides, McGonagall's cool with it," Ron stated to the shock of most of the hall. The professors looked at the blushing headmistress incredulously, while some students from other tables were wondering why their heads of house weren't that cool.
Harry felt a bit hurt at her words
"Sorry honey," she said, and kissed him quickly.
But refused to show it, and once again fixed his face into a lopsided grin again, and shoved his hands in his pockets, surreptitiously grasped his wand to put up some shield charms, in case she should hex him. Harry quickly went through about hundred things he could say and act, and, decided that pick-up lines and a cocky attitude was the winner.
Many girls face palmed and Daphne started giggling as Harry started to turn red, again.
He smirked, and took a step closer, just a few inches between them. "I was so entranced by your beauty that I crashed into that wall over there," he told her honestly,
"Awwww," cooed the girls again.
"That's actually really sweet," piped up Parvati Patil.
"I thought that at first as well," Daphne confined in the girl, whose face scrunched in confusion. "You'll see," Daphne giggled, and Harry hid his face in the side of her neck.
….gesturing behind him. Daphne lifted an eyebrow, obviously questioning the relevance, but he could see from the sparkle of mirth in her eye she had seen it. "So I'm going to need your details, for insurance purposes,"
There was an explosion of laughter, and Harry was groaning in misery. The hall soon settled down, the occasional giggle still going off from somewhere.
Disbelief reined in Daphne's eyes, and she started to turn again, but he started talking again, firing pick-up lines at her.
"Do you know Healing charms? I just scraped my knee falling for you"
"Do you have a map? I just got lost in your eyes"
"Damn if being sexy was a crime, you'd be guilty as charged!"
"I was wondering if you had an extra heart. You've stolen mine"
"Are you an interior decorator? When I saw you the corridor became beautiful"
"You must be one hell of thief because you stole my heart from across the room"
"Excuse me, but I think I dropped something. My jaw"
"Are you lost honey? Because heaven is a long way from here"
"Are your eyes the ocean? Because baby, I'm lost at sea"
As each line was read out, the hall sank deeper into laughter. Even the professors were joining in. Daphne had been pushed off Harry's lap jokingly, soshe had staggered over to sit with Hermione, and the two girls leant against each other, completely immersed in giggles. On the other end of the table, Harry had crawled under it in humiliation. As the final snickers died down, many wiping at their eyes, Daphne got up after grinning at Hermione, and went to retrieve her boyfriend.
"Come on Harry, it's all over" she snickered, reaching and arm under the table.
"Nooooo" moaned Harry, "I'm never coming out again."
"Harry, if you come out now then later…" she started, before bending down and murmuring frantically into the gap between the bench and the table. She drew back and stood up, as Harry scrambled to get out. Everyone looked slightly ill, and Ron and Hermione looked disgusted. Daphne smiled tauntingly and went to sit back on his lap, and they adopted their previous position. Smiling mischievously, Daphne wiggled and squirmed on Harry's lap.
"Stop it!" Harry said which turned into a groan half way through. Everyone tried to look anywhere but the flirtatious pair.
Daphne looked rather shell shocked.
"Right, Ok Potter, I'm going to go now," she said slowly, before turning away and strutting down the hall. But Harry had not finished his piece, and rushed after her. He had nearly reached her when she tripped on a piece of the stone flooring that was sticking up. Quick as a flash, Harry caught her round her waist before she could fall, but not before her ankle had twisted round. He turned her round and splayed his palms on her back.
"Wow Daphne, we've known each other for 10 minutes and you're already falling for me," he grinned cheekily.
There was a mixed reaction. Many of girls thought this was sweet, and were cooing at the pair who had both turned red. Some of the boys cooed as well as a joke, whilst everyone else downright laughed at another of Harry's awful pick-up's.
It was so quick he didn't know if he had seen it, but a small smile lit up her face, before it was replaced by her usual expressionless mask. Harry lifted her back up, and let her stand on her own two feet again. She self-consciously smoothed her hair and glanced round in case anyone was there.
"Thank you Potter," she said stiffly, almost painfully, as if it was to humiliating to be saved by a Gryffindor.
The Slytherins nodded in agreement.
"No problem Daph," he grinned back. She rolled her eyes and turned round, and tried to walk away, but one of her legs gave out and she crumpled to the floor. Swiftly walking to her side, Harry kneeled down and removed her shoe, and examined her ankle. It was already swelling red and the beginnings of a bruise were starting to show.
"I think you've just really badly sprained it," he told her, as he rolled it back and forth. He noticed she was shivering, she did only just have a dress on, a short one at that, and the floor was awfully cold, so he removed his blazer (he had opted to wear a muggle suit as opposed to dress robes) and helped her arms into it.
"Awwww that's so sweet," Hermione cooed at him, and everyone else nodded in agreement. Molly beamed at him. Daphne gave Harry a quick chaste kiss.
"You can be very gentlemanly when you want to can't you dear," she laughed.
She gave him a quick smile. Harry now had a predicament. She obviously couldn't walk, and needed something for her ankle. Madame Pomfrey was bound to be asleep by now, and he really didn't want to disturb her.
"Thank you Mr Potter, but I wouldn't have minded," she told him, smiling.
He also really didn't want to take her back to Slughorn's for numerous reasons. He didn't want to ruin the party, and he also had a suspicion that Slughorn had had too much to drink already.
McGonagall's lips pursed, and Slughorn blushed.
Also, he doubted Daphne would be ecstatic at the idea of being seen with him, (and he had hoped to keep all his lower regions intact and father children one day).
As everyone laughed, Ginny smiled. He had obviously meant their future children. She had already decided their names.
Suddenly an idea popped into his head.
"That must have been a shock," snorted Ron.
"Yeah, it doesn't happen often," Daphne sniggered back.
"Shut up!" Harry cried, though secretly happy they were getting on so well. They both cracked up laughing. Ron started feeling very guilty about his harsh words to Daphne. She actually seemed quite nice. In a split second, he had jumped up from his place, and pulling Hermione in tow, marched down the aisle till he came level with the couple."
"Hey Daphne, I'm really sorry about bad mouthing you before. I guess my prejudice just got in the way, but you seem really nice, and….. I really wish you and Harry all the best," he said, and Hermione nodded vigorously at the end, beaming. She had been afraid it would drive a wedge between her and Ron if she had accepted Daphne. Daphne smiled widely and launched herself at the two Gryffindor's, who were still holding hands. She wrapped them in a huge hug, and whispered,
"Thank you. I can't begin to tell you how much this will mean to him. And to me," As soon as the words had left her mouth, another body crushed into the group hug, and Harry's lean frame enveloped them.
"Thank you so much Ron, Hermione," he murmured. The quartet sat down, this time with Ron sitting next to them with Hermione on his lap, who was blushing softly. Molly and Arthur smiled proudly. Their boy had grown up in the year he had been away, and they had never been prouder of him. Ginny however was fuming. Her own brother had taken that bitches side over hers! 'Well, he can come of mine and Harry's wedding guest list,' Everyone one else however was smiling, glad to see the Golden Trio reunited, and those who didn't already know, even happier to that Ron and Hermione were finally together. Seven years of sexual tension had really been starting to get to them. Abruptly, the book started reading again.
Looking down at Daphne, he met her eyes.
"I've gone through our options," he told her. "We have one, a plan thought up by me," he grinned at her.
"Wow, I bet that made her feel better," snickered Draco Malfoy.
Daphne's eyes widened slightly in alarm, obviously having heard about how much of a fail his plans usually were.
The hall tittered; loudest were Ron and Hermione, who knew from first-hand experience how true this statement was.
"Trust me," he said softly, pleading with his eyes. Daphne made no reply for a few seconds, her eyes boring into his, and he willed himself not to blink. Finally she nodded, and spoke for the first time without malice.
"Alright, I trust you," she said softly. 'Merlin' Harry thought, 'Even her voice was perfect'.
Harry kissed her cheek, and she smiled at him in unspoken thanks.
He removed her other shoe carefully, so she was completely barefoot, and handed both shoes to her to hold. She did so with a bemused expression. He then wrapped an arm round her tiny waist and the other under her bent knees and stood up, with her delicate body cradled carefully against his chest. He grinned down at her startled expression, before glancing at his watch. 11:30pm. It was getting late. She had obviously realised the same, and he felt her head bury into the crook of his neck, her nose resting on his collarbone.
"You two are so cute together," Hermione exclaimed. The girls nodded in agreement whilst carrying out their persistent cooing, and even the boys grudgingly agreed that she had a point.
Harry smiled softly and started to walk quickly to the nearest stairway. As much as he wanted to stay like this forever, he knew she had to be in pain.
"So thoughtful," Daphne cooed down at him, and Harry blushed red again.
He finally reached the seventh floor and strode down to the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, and paced three times in front of the empty stretch of wall, and thought repeatedly, 'I need a comfy place with healing supplies.'
People who had not yet heard of the Room of Requirement looked confused. However, the other students and adults that knew of its existence nodded at Harry's logic.
The familiar door appeared and Harry opened it. It was a small sitting room, with a very long couch, a coffee table, a fluffy rug and a roaring fire. It was tastefully decoration in red and green, and on the coffee table sat an assortment of potions and bandages. On the wall was a tapestry of a snake and lion.
"Wow!" shouted all the students who had been confused before, whilst the others smiled in amusement.
Daphne lifted her head from his neck.
"I'm impressed Potter," she yawned sleepily, "The Room of Requirement I presume?" Harry nodded and walked over to the sofa, where he laid her on gently, before perching on the edge in front of her.
"Right then, let's see what we've got here," he said to her, rubbing his hands as he leant forwards, and started picking up potions at random.
"Ermmm, I don't know what that is,"
"Or that,"
"Or that either actually,"
"I'll come back to this one,"
"What the hell is that?"
"Wow, I didn't know that was a colour,"
Everyone laughed at him as he grinned, only a slight blush on his cheeks.
"Honestly Potter, did you learn nothing in my class?" drawled Snape.
"Nope, sorry Snape," he chirped back happily
"That's Professor Snape to you Potter," he snapped back.
"That's Mr Potter to you Professor Snape," he retorted.
'Just like Lily' Professor McGonagall thought with a smile.
"Oh for goodness sakes Harry just give them to me!" she snapped at him, but he could see she was fighting a smile at his stupidity.
"You could me Harry!" he cried victoriously, pumping his fist in the air.
"Because it's your name idiot," she hissed back icily, and Harry decided not to press the matter.
Fred, George and Remus clapped approvingly at Daphne's sarcasm, and her cheeks tinged pink as she laughed at them. 'Now Fred and George!' Ginny mentally screamed.
She swiftly examined the potions, handing Harry the ones she wouldn't need. Finally she was left with two bottles, which she gave to Harry.
"These are a Swelling Solution and a Bruise-be-gone salve," she told him. "Now, do you want me to help you put them on my ankle or will you manage?"
The twins and Remus clapped again.
"Awwww, if you wanted to hold my hand you should have just asked honey," he shot back.
More clapping. 'James' Remus smirked.
She sneered at him, and crossed her arms firmly. He bit back a laugh as he shuffled backwards for he was level with her feet. Carefully he rubbed the Swelling Solution and the Bruise-be-gone salve into her ankle. He frowned in thought. The potions may have taken away the outer appearance, but he was sure her ankle must still be tender.
Madame Pomfrey nodded in agreement and approval.
He reached for one of the discarded bottles and transfigured it into a very cold icepack. He watched in amusement as Daphne leapt in the air as he placed it on her ankle, and gave a short squeak. Quietly laughing, he reached for one of the cloth bandages and wound it round her ankle, holding the ice pack in place. He finally finished with a safety pin to hold it all together.
"Voila!" he cried in triumph. "Madame Pomfrey better watch out. I think there's a new healer in school."
Daphne giggled at his antics, and Harry noticed she had a beautiful melodious laugh like bells.
"Not really, but thank you Harry," she smiled at him as he kissed her nose. Girls everywhere sighed at the interaction.
"Well then Daph, as much of an amazing companion you have been tonight, I'm going to have to take you back to your cold dreary dungeon now." He was sure he saw a flicker of sadness in her eyes as he spoke those words, but he decided it must have been his imagination.
"No, I was genuinely upset. You had been so nice and funny all evening," she muttered to him.
"Aren't I always?" he pouted at her.
Quickly thinking, he took out the Marauder's Map.
"Why are you holding a blank piece of parchment?" she sneered at him.
"I thought you said it was map?" Draco smirked at him.
"Maybe if you listened for once, you'd find out what it was," Harry retorted.
Deciding it would be better to show her, he took out his wand, touched the parchment lightly with it, and said, rather majestically; "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." He grinned at Daphne's confused expression, which soon turned to wonder as green curly writing blossomed at the top of the originally blank parchment that read, "Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present THE MARAUDER'S MAP." Underneath, the map of Hogwarts had appeared with the little dots on it.
"What are those moving dots?" Daphne said. Harry thought it was easier to give a full explanation.
"When my dad was at school, he used to go around with three others; Remus Lupin, a.k.a. Moony, Sirius Black, a.k.a. Padfoot, and Peter Pettigrew, a.k.a. Wormtail. His nickname was Prongs."
"You're a Marauder?" Fred and George exclaimed at Remus with wide eyes."And you're the son of a Marauder?"
"Yes," Remus and Harry grinned. As the twins stared at them with wide eyes, Zacharias Smith shouted
"What's a Marauder?"
Before the twins or Remus could launch into a full blown explanation, Harry shouted, "Just listen to the book!"
"Basically, they were the Fred and George of school. The Marauder's. This is the Marauders Map. It a map of Hogwarts, but it shows who is in the castle, and where they are, for instance, as you can see, our dots are here, in the Room of Requirement. Professor Slughorn is still moving in his classroom, probably tidying up, and you can see everyone else from the party walking to their dorms."
Everyone looked at Remus in awe.
"That is extremely advanced charming, Remus," exclaimed Professor Flitwick in excited squeal. The other professor's nodded in agreement.
"Thanks, but James and Sirius helped as well. The rat was useless," Remus sniffed at the end.
Daphne was looking at the map in amazement.
"That's incredible!" she gasped, before groaning in horror. "Oh no, look! Filch is outside. He must have seen us go in!"
"It's fine, he'll go in a minute,"
So they waited a minute. And then half an hour.
"I don't think he's going to move. He seems hell bent on capturing us!" Harry complained loudly. "I guess we're sleeping here tonight then Daph"
Daphne groaned loudly, but obviously could not think of a better option.
"Ok, so, I'll take this end of the sofa, and you take the other?" Harry suggested.
"Well, Captain Stupid, my leg needs to be stretched out, and if I'm lying down, there won't be any room." Daphne's voice grew softer at the end.
"I'm not sleeping on the floor! It's too cold," he protested loudly.
"I wouldn't expect you too," she sighed back. "Listen, I'm fine on sharing the sofa, as long as we stay back to back, and you keep your hands from wandering, understand?" she snapped.
"Of course Daph" he grinned, whilst doing a mental fist pump.
"Owwww!" Harry yelped as he was hit round the head. Daphne laughed.
Daphne turned round so she was facing and pressed against the back of the sofa, and Harry laid by the edge facing outwards.
"Night gorgeous," he whispered
"Awwww"
"Goodnight loser," she hissed back
Everyone laughed.
Smiling, he closed his eyes, and shortly fell asleep. However, soon he was tossed from the happiness of reality and thrown into his Voldermort influenced and induced nightmares.
Daphne hugged him tightly.
This one was not like the others though. At first it was pitch black, and all he could hear was his father's last words, his mother's screams and pleas, and Voldermort's cackling laugh….and then the scene changed to Voldermort in Quirell's head… to the Basilisk and Tom Riddle… to the dementors… to the resurrection of Lord Voldermort and Cedric Diggory's death… Sirius falling through the veil….
Everyone looked at Harry in sympathy and shock, and Daphne kissed his. He smiled at her for her understanding. Ron and Hermione just patted his arm, knowing he wouldn't want a fuss.
… and suddenly a bright green flashed across his vision, and his eyes snapped open. He was sitting bolt upright, sweat running from his face, and embarrassingly tears pouring from his eyes. His face felt hot and flushed, but he was shivering, and he was panting like he had just run a mile.
"Does… this happen often Harry?" Cho Chang asked softly.
"It used to be every night or so, but it doesn't happen as often now I'm with Daphne," he admitted. Everyone looked shocked. A nightmare every night? That sounded horrible.
Daphne had sat up behind him, and was rubbing circles on his back. Before he knew what he was doing, he threw himself on top of her body and buried his face in her neck and shoulder, and started crying freely, sobs racking his body. Her movements stilled for a few seconds before she wrapped her small arms round his torso and kissed his head tenderly. Harry lost track of time as he cried into Daphne's neck, soaking her dress, but the whole time she was there, holding him, stroking the back of his head and cooing into his ear as he choked out words like, 'They're all gone', 'It's all my fault', and 'Sirius, Mum and Dad'.
Present Harry also had a few tear trailing miserably down his cheeks, and Daphne wiped them away. He gave her massive hug, as the rest of the hall looked at them in sympathy. It dawned on them just what Harry had been through.
He felt the tears start to quell and he pulled back, his hands either side of his head. She looked up at him, smiling sadly. Without fully comprehending what he was doing and why he was doing it, he had bent down and kissed her softly.
"Awwww" the girls cooed. They could just imagine how romantic that was. Squashed together on a sofa, in the warmth and dim light of the fire. The boys shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to respond, whilst Fred, George, Remus and Ron just laughed.
Her lips were soft and warm. For a few moments she was stock still, and Harry started mentally swearing and trying figure out how to extract himself and jump behind the sofa in a swift movement, before running to the door. Between an angry Daphne and an angry Filch, Harry would pick Filch any day.
"Still would," Harry said cheerfully, and Daphne hit him.
But just as he was about to put his plan into action she was kissing him back, and he weaved his hands into her hair, his mouth parting…
"Ok, Ok, let's stop there! There are innocent ears in here," Harry shouted, picking up the book and slamming in shut, blushing madly, as was Daphne. Everyone snickered.
"Well there we go," smirked Daphne.
So, I hope you enjoyed that, I'm sorry it was so long. So far I've thought I will just do two more chapters; a chapter to show everyone's reactions and an epilogue. Bye x