The inclusion of Daphne Greengrass in Harry Potter's reclusive presence had spread like wildfire. The reaction to this inclusion was both drastic and diversified. The senior Gryffindors had a mix of jealousy and envy on their faces, knowing very well what it meant that the hottest girl in school was now out of their league. Knowing what they did about the elder Greengrass, they could not help but wonder what Potter might have done to achieve what he did. The younger Gryffindors, including the fourth-years, had a mix of dread and envy on their faces. Dread because some feared it as an indication that Potter was going dark, and envy because he had the gorgeous girl with him almost all the time.
The Slytherins too were downright furious and envious of what had happened. For a wands-on girl who cursed first and asked questions later, Daphne Greengrass was the last person at Hogwarts whom they could ever imagine hanging out with a Gryffindor, forget Potter of all people. Malfoy was downright infuriated, so much as to openly insult said girl, after making sure to include some line including 'My father will hear about this', and some more. Daphne had sat the entire noisy session before getting bored and walking away to her dorms, much to Malfoy's consternation. Of course, the fact that Malfoy somehow slipped down the stairs and ended up in the Hospital Wing for a week was just a coincidence. A few of the more 'ambitious' Slytherins, like Theo Nott, Blaise and his elder sister Amanda Zabini had completely supported her, congratulating her for being 'Slytherin' enough to enter into an alliance with someone powerful like Potter. The fact that the Potter family was one of the oldest and richest in Britain just sweetened the deal.
The Hogwarts Rumor Mill had worked overtime and the news had become a national sensation in one single day as the first page of the Daily Prophet demonstrated it the very next morning.
POTTER AND GREENGRASS ALLIANCE!
The latest sensational story that has come out into the wild is the newest alliance pact made by the House of Potter and the House of Greengrass. A few days ago when this reporter extracted the news from her potential sources, she had discarded it as mere falsification, but no, my readers, when I personally checked in with the newest entries with the Wizengamot, there was indeed a new alliance made between the Ancient House of Potter and the Noble House of Greengrass. A détente alliance, which effectively means that the two Houses shall not stand against each other. While it is not an alliance of mutual aid and support, but a détente agreement between the leader of the Neutral faction and an Ancient Family could have severe repercussions.
What does this mean about our cherished hero Harry Potter? Is this one of the distinct indications that the Boy-who-lived has been disillusioned with the Light and is embracing the dark? Is this the point, which marks a divergence of a person from being a hero to a wannabe-dark lord? Potter already has a history of being a Parselmouth coupled with a black record for using magic in presence of Muggles. Is this another indication that something is indeed wrong with the Boy-who-lived?
My research took me to Gringotts from where I verified the claims. Harry Potter has indeed taken upon himself the mantle of Headship of his family—this new alliance being the very first of his new policies on taking the mantle. Does this mean that the House of Potter will not be in the Light faction as it has been since the last thirty years?
Albus Dumbledore, the chief Warlock of the Wizengamot had to say—"Being the Magical Guardian of Mister Potter, I was surprised to know that Mr. Potter has taken up the mantle in silence and has moved forward to establishing his own ties and alliances. I personally feel that it is a bit too young for him to take up Headship. Harry needs to enjoy and study, not play in the grounds of adult wizards and witches. I will personally talk to him and implore him to take off the mantle."
At present, Elphias Doge is occupying the position of the Proxy for the seat of Potter, as requested by Albus Dumbledore as Potter's guardian, voting for the Light faction the Wizengamot. What the change of Headship means for the Light faction remains to be seen. The Greengrasses have been a predominantly neutral family with connections to the dark families. Derrick Greengrass, uncle to Daphne Greengrass was convicted of being a Death eater though he had gotten off on the Imperius Defense. While Lord Greengrass was unavailable for comment, we hope to get a one-on-one interview with Harry Potter himself regarding the situation.
Harry lowered the paper, throwing it over on the table as he had his breakfast silently. Ron as expected had had a huge row with him over the entire issue. For one proclaiming to be Light, Ron always had a lot of bigotry in his mind, especially towards Slytherins. It had led to one of the more one-sided yelling inside Gryffindor tower, leading to one of the more odd moments. Ron had shouted and yelled his arse off, while Harry just sat and sipped pumpkin juice. It was only when Ron had gotten infuriated and cast the slug-eating curse at him that things had taken an interesting turn.
FLASHBACK
"Don't you ignore me, Potter!"
Harry looked up from his pumpkin juice at the reddened face of Ronald Weasley, who seemed to be downright infuriated by the casual way in which Harry was being indifferent to him. Realizing that he had the entire couch to himself, he relaxed himself into the softness of the couch. Ron got all red hot and whipped his wand out, yelling out-
"Sluggulus eructo!"
The faint pink curse shot out of his wand towards Harry who just parried it away with a flick of his wand at the last moment. Standing up, he looked at him in the eye and remarked coldly. "That was a freebie, Weasley. Do not think that just because you were my first friend, you can control what I do or what I want. The next time you try attack me, make sure it is fatal."
He strode towards him, the entire room silent and staring at him walk. He reached right in front of Ron, so close that they were only a few inches away from each other. "Or you will only wish it was." He whispered, "you wretched excuse of a wizard!" hissing the last part in Parseltongue, making the rest of them shiver. Striding back and looking at everyone else, he remarked. "I am my own person. I do what I like. I may be a Gryffindor but the sorting Hat chose Slytherin for me." The statement brought a shocked look from everyone, as he smirked. "I am tired of this bigotry in this House as well as in all of Hogwarts. Yes, I am a Parselmouth and yes, I was initially sorted to Slytherin. If that and my newest policies make me a dark wizard, then so be it." He hissed out the last words in Parseltongue, initiating another round of shivering among the stupefied audience. "I love this school and I love learning magic. I am not going to attack anyone, but in case anyone attacks or insults me, I will come down with overwhelming strength upon you." Whirling back, he walked out of the common room.
At least they are going to leave me alone for now. I was having a bad time anyway, dealing with the future corpses.
"What are you going to teach me?" Daphne asked. The two were sitting in the Room of Requirement, as Harry had introduced it to her. Unlike what he believed, the Room was not exactly as much a secret as he thought. His face had been a right mess when Daphne had laughed and told him that she had been visiting the Room for her private practice since second year.
"Well, there is a start to everything, isn't it?" Harry had said to her sheepishly.
He asked for a clear room for dueling practice. Standing on one end of the room, he looked back at her. "Show me what you have got, Miss Ice Queen!" he smirked.
Daphne scowled at him and whipped her hand, striking down hard and fast, just like her father had instructed her. The cutting and severing hexes rained down towards him, and he simply weaved through them, with the occasional parrying one spell into another, using Daphne's own spells to cause collisions among them.
"Neat, for a second year." Harry taunted, and Daphne increased the level of her spell fire. She ran towards him, firing as she ran. "Confringo! Reducto! Attero! Percutio!" The exploding hexes and bombarding spells struck down hard towards Harry, disappearing him into a mist of smoke. Daphne paused for a moment, waiting for a counterattack but nothing came. Confident that she had him down, she walked towards the smoke, wand tightly in hand.
"You looking for something?"
Daphne whirled around to face his green eyes before the crimson sheen of a simple stunner shook off her consciousness.
"What—what happened?" Daphne asked, waking up from the floor.
"You fell to my stunner. Too bad, you know, for someone who enjoys exploding hexes." Harry replied, standing in front of her, his hand extended. Daphne took it and stood up. "What went wrong?"
"You."
"What do you mean?"
Harry just smirked and walked back to his original position. "Your quick attacks gave you away."
Daphne scowled. "I have been the winner for two years in the dueling competitions because of my quick attacks," she defended herself. "Perhaps, but one size doesn't fit all. You were oh so eager to jump up and finish the game that you barely noticed that I simply disillusioned myself and was behind you."
"But-"
"You like to be fast, but your speed is what got you down, Princess." Harry taunted her. Daphne raised her wand towards him, snarling. "Don't call me that," she warned.
"Or what?"
"Or I will-" she whipped her wand up only to realize that she was holding a snake. With a miniature shriek, she threw her wand towards the floor, only to be bound by an Incarcerous from Harry's wand.
"Get-let me go!" she gritted, trying to shake the ropes off her.
"You know, for a Slytherin, you are quite vulnerable to taunts. Princess." Harry taunted, walking towards her. His finger running down her soft cheek, her soft angelic face now marred by a scowl.
"Dissolve yourself back into Occlumency, Greengrass. I expect a certain level of competence before I waste my time on you again." He intoned loudly, before exiting the room, leaving her bound.
"Wait, help me get off these-" Daphne began, but found herself alone in the room.
Damn you, Potter.
Dumbledore's office, Hogwarts.
"What do you think of young Harry, Alastor?"
Moody sipped his whiskey from his hipflask, as was usual. "The boy is gifted, in ways beyond ordinary. I have yet to see his dueling prowess." He spoke off gruffly.
"I am sure you will find something to be surprised," Dumbledore spoke out, "the boy is one of the most resourceful people I have ever met."
"If you say so."
"I assume you have done your analysis of the Hogwarts wards? The Triwizard is just at the door, and I am sure that Tom will try to do something during the course of the Tournament, considering Karkaroff is-"
"Ah, that slime ball is coming-," Moody grunted, but Dumbledore bet him to it. "Yes, Igor is the High master of Durmstrang, and thus deserves respect, Alastor. Please don't go poking him about the old days."
"I will try." Moody replied, following a mental swearing of profanities. Albus smirked at his friend's antics but his face shifted to seriousness. "I am not sure about the changes in the young Potter. Something tells me that he is involved in the incidents that have been happening ever since May, ut I have yet to make any inference out of it."
"Have you tried with Veritaserum? It always settles matters I have seen."
"Be practical Alastor. He is just a boy. I can't possibly interrogate him with Veritaserum."
"You could always obliviate him." Alastor suggested.
"Considering his strange mental facilities, I would rather hope not. No Alastor, we have to do things the old way. Veritaserum is not an option." Dumbledore defended, much to Moody's chagrin.
"The dueling tournament will set things right, I suppose. You can have your idea of the boy's skills by that." Moody suggested, taking another sip from his hipflask.
"I certainly hope so. The boy is bent on avoiding me, especially after the news report of his taking up Headship." Dumbledore confessed. Alastor looked at him with an odd expression, as if evaluating his friend.
"Are you sure you have not turned soft in your old age, Albus?"
Dumbledore chortled. "I certainly hope not. But I have failed the boy, and considering what is about to come in his future, I am not sure if I should cause him any further hardship."
Alastor did not reply.
Back in the Slytherin dorms, Tracy was sitting on Daphne's bed as the other girl busied herself in the book on counter curses. Ever the hyperactive girl, Tracy was bumbling with excitement to know about her friend's first session with Potter. To her disappointment, Daphne was keeping excessively silent for her taste.
"Are you ever going to tell me what happened?"
Daphne did not reply.
"He didn't- you know, take advantage of you or something did he?" Tracy asked, a shade of concern and anger clouding her face. Daphne nodded her head in denial.
"Then what the hell happened?"
"He humiliated me, all right?" Daphne snapped her voice louder than usual. I did one of my best moves, trying to beat him down and he put me down like it was child's play." She sat up straight, her mind too distracted to study in peace.
"What happened, Daph?"
"He- he is leagues ahead of me. I nearly cast over thirty spells and curses at him and he used just two. One being a disillusionment on himself, and the other being a simple stunner."
"So he caught you by surprise? That happens, Daph. You of all people should know that."
"I know." Daphne confessed, "It was the other thing he did that scares me."
"What?"
"He kept on taunting me and I lost my control, and whipped my wand out." Daphne turned to her friend with a blank hysteria in her eyes. "My wand suddenly turned into a snake. I threw it down in fear, and just as I did, it turned back into my wand. I tried reaching it but he bound me in ropes and left me there."
"What?"
"Yes. He told me to gain some competence-" Daphne gnashed her teeth in anger, "—before he would deign to waste his time on me again."
Tracy's expression shifted into something... inscrutable. "He is powerful. That kind of illusion, and the casual way he demonstrated it... he is something else." Her face shifted into a sly grin. "I need to get him in a closet, and fast. Who knows what other skills Potter's been hiding?"
Daphne looked at her friend blankly.
"You are incorrigible."
"Oh I love you too, Daph."
Caractacus Flint was woke up from his nap, the naked bodies of the two muggle-women on his bed. At least the muggles were good for one single thing, what with the way their minds obeyed even the weakest Imperius curse. Many of Flint's friends had died in the Quidditch world cup, something that had left him shaken when he had come to know about it. Someone had brutally killed his old mates. Considering how they were all wearing their Death eater robes, Flint believed that whoever it was held a vendetta against Death eaters. Not that he was in any trouble, after all the wards—
"Caractacus Flint, still so very casual about the Imperius, aren't you?"
Flint whirled to the side of his bed at the source of the sound. There, just beside his bed, sat a hooded figure wearing dark grey robes. He had a golden chain around his neck and his wand lay on the bed. The man let out a strange sense of confidence, one that could very easily be thought of as immaturity, but Flint knew better.
"Who are you?"
"Peverell."
"Never heard the name. I owe you money or something?"
"No." The figure spoke. A very odd voice, almost as he were hissing, reminiscent of the dark lord. "I am here because you owe me blood. Lots of blood."
Flint's face manifested a shadow of fear in them. Whoever this was, he was not a friend and had somehow entered his property without tripping the wards. He subtly tried to reach for his wand beside the pillow.
The stranger seemed to sense Flint's thoughts, and laughed. "Oh get your wand, Flint. I am not going to kill you as you killed mundanes. I am going to let you die just as a wizard should. Die fighting, after all, your half-blood bastard of a Master did nothing else."
"You-" Flint roared in anger, his wand whipped out in front of him, as he yelled, "Avada Kedavra!"
The stranger seemed to dissolve into mist as the curse phased through him, solidifying back into corporeal form just as the curse crossed him off. "As I was saying, I am here for your blood."
"Who—who are you?"
"I am wizarding Britain's reckoning, Caractacus." The stranger smiled. A cruel smile. His wand lay on the bed as he raised his left hand. A purple ball of energy seemed to manifest at the center of his palm.
"My friends, they will come for you." Flint tried, his eyes stuck to the purple energy still forming. The stranger smiled. "Of course, everyone comes to Death at the end." The purple energy flickered for a moment before it shot off like a ray into Flint's forehead, making a neat little hole as it did. The look of shock stayed on his face as he fell headfirst, straight on the pillow, deep into the eternal sleep of death.
Amelia Bones sat along with the Minister of Magic Cornelius fudge in his office. Unlike what was common belief, the Head of DMLE did not need to inform the Minister of every single dealings of the Ministry, making a couple of visits enough for a month. Right now, she along with Rufus Scrimgeour (the Head Auror) and Kingsley Shacklebolt (Head Hit-wizard) were debriefing the Minister about the recent killings that had occurred during the Quidditch World Cup. Amelia hoped that she would be able to convince the Minister to increase the DMLE Budget, but the Minister was being more than mildly difficult in this case.
"Amelia, this is just some random terrorist. We do not even know if he is British on the first place. The World Cup was a mess, and had a humongous number of people attending it. It could very well be someone from Bulgaria or France or any other nation. I am unable to understand how an increase in the DMLE budget could help the nature of things."
Amelia's eyes twitched. "Minister, this man Peverell, he killed ten British purebloods mercilessly and yet here you are telling me that-"
"AMELIA!" Fudge thundered, "Don't tell me how to do my job. You have what you need. Manage it in the limit. I cannot help it. I am getting late." Fudge was just about to get up, when he sat down again and looked at her, "I think Sirius Black is behind the killings. They were all upstanding citizens and Black has shown himself to be a deranged murderer"
Amelia's eyes twitched at the monstrous level of stupidity the Minister was displaying. "About black, Minister, I have checked with the entries and surprisingly, there are no mentions of Black having a trial. I want to open the case once again."
"Oh don't be foolish, Amelia. Black is an escaped convict and You-know-who's right hand man. He betrayed the Potters for merlin's sake. Now go and do something constructive. Lucius has arranged an important... meeting for me, and I need to attend." He got up from his chair, turned back to pick his cloak when the door to the office knocked loudly.
"Come in." Fudge intoned.
A junior Auror entered the room, standing with his head lowered. "I am sorry to disturb you Minister but," he turned to Madam Bones, "there has been a new killing reported, ma'am. Caractacus Flint has been found murdered in his own bed.
The reaction was spontaneous. Fudge stood aghast before yelling out an unholy 'WHAT!' while Amelia looked shocked at the new turn of events. She had believed that the killings were limited to the World Cup event, but now... there was a killer on the loose and he was going for ex-death eaters. She could not decide whether she should be horrified or exhilarated at the news. She looked at the idiot of the Minister who stood gaping while trying to process the information. Caractacus Flint was after all, very close to the Minister as well as Lucius Malfoy's brother in law. Understanding dawning on her, she suddenly stood up and nudged the other two to follow without question.
She had barely walked towards the door as she counted-
Three.
Two.
One...
"AMELIA!"
Turning halfway, she cast a quick glance at the boisterous fool she had to serve. "Yes, Minister?"
"Get me a proposition on whatever increment you require on the DMLE budget. I will see what I can do."
"Sure Minister, but is it necessary? After all, you just-"
"I know, I know!" Fudge spoke out rashly, "but I thought ove—over it. I think your idea has some point. You may go."
"Of course, Minister."
Five weeks into the term, Severus Snape slowly stirred. He moved his head slightly; the ache generated from it clouded his mind as he lay suffering in silence. Three hours later, Poppy discovered the sudden change in his situation and called for the Headmaster who immediately arrived along with Moody and Flitwick.
"How is he now, Poppy?" Albus asked, his sharp blue eyes trying to figure out something. Poppy nodded sadly and explained. "He has gained consciousness Albus, but is unable to recognize anyone or anything. He can barely speak in fact. The only think he has done is shiver in fright from time to time and yell out strange incomprehensible gibberish. I believe we should get him admitted to Saint Mungo's."
Albus sighed. "You may be correct, Poppy. Contact Saint Mungo's immediately. I will see if I can get someone to settle in as Potions master for the meanwhile. After all, it is over a month that the students did not have any potions classes."
"Whom are you going to get at this prime moment, Albus?" Mcgonagall asked briskly.
"An old friend."
Daphne had not met with Potter ever since their first session. It had been two weeks now and now that they weren't having their Potions classes due to Snape's condition; she did not have any chances to meet him either. Not that she was complaining. Potter's insinuations and her humiliation at his hands was still a sensitive affair for her. Yes, they met once a week during the Transfiguration classes, and twice in defense classes, but now that even Moody had settled down to teach them proper curses and counter-curses; it was more than difficult to initiate a conversation with the reclusive boy. Rumors were abound on how there was some kind of disagreement between the two of them though none of the students had been courageous enough to confirm them by asking either of them personally. Potter, it seemed was completely unfazed by all of it. If anything, it had become increasingly difficult to locate him. Then again, another peculiar incident had happened a week ago.
FLASHBACK
Daphne had been practicing in an unused classroom. As handy as the Room of Requirement was, it heavily reminded her of her session with Potter. She had taken a break after continuously hurling spells for thirty minutes and had reached out for a couch to elate her tired body. Suddenly there was a sound of rigorous pacing outside. Her Slytherin senses on high alert, she immediately vanished the couch away before hiding in one of cupboards in the room.
Someone stepped into the room. Daphne could hear the footsteps as the person walked towards one of the shadier corners of the classroom. . Daphne held her breath, trying to figure out the identity of the individual. Knowing the residents of the castle, there were very few people who ever entered into the unchartered rooms of the castle, Potter being one of them.
A shocked Daphne Greengrass watched with curiosity as the intruder revealed his face. It was Harry Potter, looking here and there for a while before taking out a small pouch from inside his robes. Putting his hand inside, he dragged out a gray hooded robe and a golden chain with some kind of locket in it. Daphne watched curiously, as Potter adorned the robes and pulled on the hood. Putting the golden chain on his neck, he turned away from Daphne.
Then the strangest of things happened. A sudden tinge of bluish sheen appeared around Potter and he faded away into nothingness. Daphne watched wide-eyed for the next fifteen minutes, without the slightest sound.
Absolutely nothing.
Her curiosity overcame her fear and she strode out of the cupboard, towards the place where Potter had stood some moments ago. She made it certain to cast multiple revealing charms.
Potter had vanished. He was no longer in the room.
Daphne tried a Point-Me charm. Nothing.
Potter was no longer in the castle.
Damn!
Daphne was completely out of her wits now. She might not put faith on history books, but one thing was certain. There were very powerful wards in and around the castle that prevent Apparation or portkey travel. Yet, Potter had discovered some way to break through those restrictions.
Damn!
Disappointed, she turned back and walked out of the Room, not caring where she went, her mind inundated with thoughts of Potter. She never noticed that she had walked straight on someone, resulting in a head-on collision with said person as she fell on top of him.
"Err Greengrass, I know I'm good looking and all and you like the position we're in, but I'd really appreciate it if you got off me."
Daphne opened her eyes to find staring into the very familiar emerald eyes, she knew so well. "Potter—but—you" she tried, but words failed to express the confusion inside her.
"Are you well, Greengrass?" Potter asked in a softer tone.
"Harry mate, we are getting late." It was one of the Weasley twins, one of the very few people Potter actually spent time. From their appearances, it appeared they had come from Hogsmeade.
"Were you in Hogsmeade?" she asked Weasley twin number one. Fred looked at her and grinned. "Of course, we were looking for potential spots to set up a business. Young Harry is going to invest in our little project." He looked positively delighted at the prospect. Potter grinned. "Yeah, we were looking for suitable spots since the last couple of hours."
Daphne raised her eyebrows. "You were in Hogsmeade since a couple of hours?"
George answered her question. "Yeah. By the way, Harry, we need to go. Filch must be around." Potter looked at him and grinned back. Turning towards her, he spoke again. "So Greengrass, still upset over the first session?"
Daphne mumbled a 'no'.
"Well then, what do you say to another session tomorrow, after dinner?" Not waiting for an answer, he walked away, leaving a perplexed Daphne Greengrass behind.
END OF FLASHBACK
Daphne shook herself off from her musings as she approached the seventh floor. She turned a sharp bend and entered onto the main corridor. The door to the Room of Requirement was visible from far, meaning Potter had presumably just entered. She opened the visible door and entered the room.
It was a battlefield. Nearly fifteen dummies stood surrounding Potter. The dummies began moving, and firing spells at him non-stop. Blasting curses, piercing and cutting hexes, bludgeoners and bone spells alike. He weaved through them, avoiding the most powerful curses just at the last possible moment. His hand, and by extension, his wand moved automatically, as if it had developed an independent sentience of their own. Colors and bright lights consistently hurled out and radiated out of them. One moment, there would be a glow of silver, the other moment, it would vanish and several javelins and knives would fly all over the place. One moment, a large golden dome would be present, shielding him from the spells splashing against it. Another moment, there would be sounds of shields shattering and nasty looking purple spells, hitting against one or more dummies, blasting them off. Daphne was mesmerized. It was like a dance. A dance with Death. The spells he was using and fighting against, they looked and felt deadly, and Daphne was sure that most of them were at least border-line dark, if at all.
Her voice lost to time, Daphne just stood wordless and speechless, her eyes filled with awe and fear. On the one hand, she was absolutely shocked at the casual way her classmate and tutor was playing with deadly magicks, while on the other, a part of her was getting highly turned on by the dazzling display of sheer brilliance and power. She knew she was good, even better than most in the school. In Slytherin, there were hardly a number of students that could fight to a standstill with her and still, she knew that she would lose, hands-down, if he would be fighting against her. Sure, she had fought duels in the tournaments before, but the humbling realization hit her. They were indeed, duels. This, was a battle. No, a massacre.
After what seemed like eternity, she saw him slow down and move from offense to defense, when a single stray spell hit him in the leg, shattering his knee. He held back the scream, letting out a barely audible whimper though Daphne heard it all right. The force of the spell misbalanced him and he fell down with an audible thud.
"POTTER!" she screamed, before running in towards him.
"Greengrass, hey! Hang on, I will be all right in a moment." Potter let out, biting his lips and trying to ignore the pain. he tried to sit up and did so after three futile attempts. "My wand please?"
Daphne picked up his wand, feeling an odd repulsion towards it. Ignoring the propensity to throw it away, she extended it to Potter who waved it over his smashed knee and uttered, "Ossis Dispersimus."
"Potter, are you out of your bloody mind?"
He stared at her as if she had grown two heads. Daphne continued her tirade. "you just vanished the bones of your knee. You should go to Madam Pomfrey, not treat such things yourself." She admonished.
"It's all right Greengrass, I do this all the time." He reached out into his moleskin pouch and dragged out his miniaturized trunk. There in one of the extended compartments, stood a number of vials of Skele gro. Picking up one of them, he frowned before gulping down the entire contents. "Never tastes any better!" he commented, before sending the trunk back into his pouch.
"Thanks. I am afraid we cant have a duel today owing to my condition." he smirked, pointing to his bone-less knee. Daphne looked at him and taunted, "It is almost as if you did that on purpose, Potter."
"Touché Greengrass." Harry returned.
"So what am I going to learn today?" she asked, vanishing the frown off her face. Potter thought for a moment and then replied. "What would you say about a lesson in improving your magical control? It is a necessary requirement for those who want to continue with a Masters in Transfiguration or Animagus."
The Ice Queen grinned widely.
### So that was it, for this chapter I mean. As always, reviews please.
