In this chapter, I'm going to try to showcase the PTSD that Harry will be going through at periods throughout the story. PTSD is a horrible thing people go through but the majority of people that go through it are soldiers and victims of war. At any given moment a sound, a word, even a movement can trigger flashbacks and make them feel like they are reliving the situation. Harry will be going through that a lot as well as the others, like Hermione with her dream of Bellatrix Lestrange.

If that isn't your thing you may want to skip this chapter. However it is an important chapter in the storyline, so I'm letting you know that you may be confused later on.

Oh yeah. And Ron's favorite person will appear in this chapter too, along with someone else. I don't wanna butcher accents so I will just write out words as they are, minus the ones I know I can do.


Feeling like a freak on a leash.

Feeling like I have no release.

How many times have I felt diseased?

Nothing in my life is free... is free

Sometimes I cannot take this place.

Sometimes it's my life I can't taste.

Sometimes I cannot feel my face.

You'll never see me fall from grace

-Korn Freak On A Leash


Chapter Eight: The First Flashback

October came and with it came the chill of fall, the return of sweaters, and the anticipation of Halloween. Along with the usual Halloween feast, this year for the sixth and seventh years there was to be a special Halloween ball that was to host Durmstrang Institute as well, so witches and wizards from the school had arrived. They would be staying through the rest of the term. Along with a person that Ron had never wanted to see outside of a Quidditch match.

"Why the bloody hell is Viktor Krum here? He shouldn't be in school anymore, he's bloody ancient" grumbled Ron as he sat at dinner watching the witches and wizards walk in and sit at the Ravenclaw table.

Hermione rolled her eyes and braced herself for the rant that she knew was coming. "He's 23 Ronald..." she said in a bored voice.

"You would know now would you?" said Ron.

"He is four years older than I am. Not that hard to figure out Ron."

"Whatever. That still doesn't explain why he's here." said Ron jabbing at his steak with a knife.

"Well if you were paying attention instead of sulking you would have heard that he is a head of house there when he isn't playing." said Hermione.

"Oh." said Ron. "Well I still say he should have stayed his ass in Bulgaria. Or maybe he's only here to visit you."

Hermione sighed. "A possibility, but I. highly doubt it."

"So I guess you and him well be attending the ball for old times sake eh?" asked Ron, bracing himself for whatever was about to happen.

Hermione looked Ron dead in his eyes. She knew exactly what he wanted. Another pointless argument over Viktor. And this time, she wasn't going to give it to him.

"Not this time. I don't think my boyfriend would approve."she said smugly.

Ron opened his mouth and quickly shut it having nothing to say. He was all ready to have a go. And she had completely ruined it.

"Well played, Granger."he said missing her cheek.

Over at the Slytherin table Ginny and Daphne rolled their eyes at the other girls tearing the Durmstrang witches down and trying to figure out who they would be taking to the ball.

"They sound like a bunch of harpies." groaned Daphne as her steak disappeared as was replaced by a piece of chocolate cake.

"Ooh trade you." said Ginny as on her plate appeared a few lemon tarts, Daphne's favorite.

"Thanks" said Daphne exchanging plates with Ginny.

"And yeah I agree, it's revolting how they just tear those girls apart and then drool over the guys as if they are pieces of meat. Although that one over there is rather lovely to look at." said Ginny pointing to a boy who was sitting beside Lara Falarkin, a Ravenclaw sixth year that looked as if she was about to hyperventilate at the boy's presence.

Draco, who was sitting on the other side of Ginny looked over and glared at the boy.

Daphne looked at the boy and smiled. "Oh he's a Krum actually. His name is Luka. My father used to do business with the Bulgarian team and I would go with him in the summer and I would see him all the time helping out with his brother and the rest of the team. I guess what muggles would call a waterboy. He's pretty nice"

"Really?" said Harry who was sitting on the other side of Daphne. "Ron would just love to hear that. He hates Viktor, he would just be livid to know there are two Krums."

"Why does he hate Viktor?" asked Daphne.

"Hermione." said Harry and Ginny at the same time.

"Ah. I get it." called Daphne. "She went to the ball with him didn't she?"

"Yes. Among other things apparently." said Ginny as Harry chuckled.

"Don't let Pansy find out that that guy's a Krum." said Ginny. "She would be all over him in a second."

"And why does that matter to you?" inquired Draco.

Ginny smirked. She detected Draco's jealousy and decided to pick with him. "Oh I dunno, he seems really cute." She said innocently.

"Excuse me?"

"And he seems like a nice person to talk to." said Ginny getting up from the table.

"You better no-"

"I think I'll go introduce myself." said Ginny walking away.

Harry and Daphne watched as Draco's eyes locked on Ginny and followed her all the way over to Lukaa. He scrunched up his face as he watched Ginny introduce herself and almost stabbed the table with a fork as Luka kissed Ginny's hand.

"3, 2, 1..." whispered Daphne to Harry.

"What the fuck was that?!" said Draco to no one. "Who does that bastard think he is?!"

"Relax mate, he's just saying hey to her." said Blaise trying to console Draco but also laughing inside.

"He's practically snogging her fucking hand!" growled Draco.

"You sound jealous." said Blaise, trying to hold his laughter in.

Draco glared at Blaise. "Jealous? Me? Of that wanker? He doesn't have shit on me. I look better than him, I play Quidditch better than his thick skulled brother, and I know Ginny very VERY well. He doesn't even have the slightest chance." said Draco, getting up from the table.

"Come on Drayke. Let's walk it off." said Blaise pushing Draco towards the door.


Later on Harry and Daphne was walking together going nowhere in particular. "Okay what was that?" asked Harry. "Why does Malfoy care about who Ginny talks to?"

"Ginny and Draco have a history." said Daphne.

"History? What do you mean?"

"Not my business to tell Harry. Let's just say, this situation could get ugly." said Daphne.

"Does he fancy Ginny or something?" asked Harry.

"I can't tell you that."

Harry nodded knowing that be all that he would get out of her. Besides, he had a much more important thing to talk to her about.

"So what do you think of this Halloween Ball?" asked Harry, slightly nervous.

"Oh I don't know." said Daphne rubbing her arms. "Growing up in pureblood society makes you positively hate them, I've been to so many."

"Are you cold?" asked Harry taking off his cloak and handing it to Daphne.

"Are you sure? Thanks." said Daphne, blushing as she put it over her.

"No problem. I'll be fine. But anyways, this one may be fun, since we are at school and we can dress up." said Harry .

"That's true. I don't have to wear some stuffy itchy ballroom gown if I don't want to."

"Yeah and no dress robes either. Remember Ron's from the Yule Ball 4th year?" said Harry laughing as he thought back.

Daphne giggled. "How could I forget? I felt horrible for the bloke. Even Draco felt too bad for him to tease him. Which was a shock."

"Yeah. He didn't have much of a good night. That's when all that Krum mess started."

"What Krum mess exactly?" asked Daphne.

As Harry told the story of Ron, Hermione, and Viktor Krum, they had ended up walking up the the seventh floor. When Harry looked and noticed the tapestry that covered the Room of Requirement he stopped walking and got quiet.

"Harry?"

All of a sudden Daphne had disappeared and he was inside the room running with Ron and Hermione away from the fiendfyre that Crabbe had made. He could feel the heat of the flamed animals, hear the screaming of his friends, Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle. He could smell the burning furniture and papers around him.

He was on the broom with Malfoy, dodging left and right of the flames that were chasing them. Crabbe had fallen into them. He could hear his bloodcurdling screams as he was set on fire, unable to be put out.

"CRABBE!" the haunting screams of Draco calling for his friend rang in Harry's ears.

"Harry? It's okay! Calm down!" he heard faintly in the distance.

He could smell the burning flesh, how sick it made him feel combining with Draco's screams. The smoke was causing him to choke, he felt like he was suffocating.

He suddenly felt warmth all around him, not a burning warmth, more of a comforting warmth from far away.

"Harry! Harry please! It's okay! You're fine!" he heard the voice a bit closer to him.

He suddenly was out of the room, he was hearing Ron ranting about saving their enemies. He heard Draco's heavy sobs and the faraway screams of war.

"HARRY COME BACK!" he heard the voice even more cleaner.

All of a sudden he was back. He found himself on the floor, his back against the wall, her hands fanning his face vigorously. He was sweaty, he was panting, he felt as if he couldn't catch his breath.

"Harry! Are you okay? Look at me!" said Daphne grabbing his face and trying to get his eyes to focus on hers.

Harry looked in Daphne cool blue eyes, they made him feel safe, comfortable, calm. He finally was able to calm himself down and focus on everything around him.

"Crabbe, he...he fell into the fire...there was nothing...nothing...I tried to-"

"Shhh...it's okay." whispered Daphne hugging Harry tight to her, running her fingers through Harry's thick raven hair. "You're not there anymore. You're in the castle yes, but the war is over. Nothing is happening. There isn't a fire anymore okay?"

Harry sighed deep. Daphne's words were starting to make him feel better.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what happened to me. I felt as if I was back in the Room Of Requirement when Crabbe died."

"You're not Harry. You're here with me. And you're fine." said Daphne calmly.

"I feel like such a git." said Harry.

"You're not. You went through something terrible, we all did. But maybe we should go see Madam Pomfrey."

"Not tonight. I just wanna go back to my room and sleep." said Harry as he stood up.

"Are you sure? I can walk with you there."

"Can you walk with me back to Slytherin instead?" asked Harry, trying to smile.

Daphne sighed but didn't press the matter any further. She held out her hand for Harry to take instead. Harry smiled, taking Daphne's hand and walked back towards the Slytherin common room.

He didn't know what was going on with him, but he did know that whatever it was, she had saved him from it.