Chapter 5: The Butler, Teaching

The next three months passed in relative peace. Having been warned about the Black Quill, Daphne made sure to keep out of Umbridge's way, and kept her head down in class. Not that it really mattered, Umbridge didn't seem to have a problem with any of the Slytherin students. Ron Weasley had been heard loudly complaining about his recent detentions. Not that anyone bar Granger really cared.

Halloween was a quiet affair. Daphne had sat with Tracey and her little sister, Astoria and happily chatted away.

"You should've seen it, sis!" Astoria giggled "Pansy's face was priceless."

"Just when you thought she couldn't get anymore ugly." laughed Tracey. Daphne chuckled.

"I'm glad you two have been having fun, terrorising our dorm mates."

"It was such fun." sighed Tracey, staring dreamily, as if she were reliving it in her mind.

"We should have dropped the treacle tart on her as well." groaned Astoria. "It'd certainly be a better use for it.". Tracey took a slice as well. Biting into it, she grimaced.

"Eww, what's wrong with those elves?" she moaned. Daphne picked up the pie, which was quickly replaced with a steaming, fresh pie, beautifully decorated, and complete with one of the Greengrass families knives.

"Woah! Daphy? What was that?"

"Thank you, Sebastian."

"Sebastian? Your butler? I didn't see him."

"That's because I ordered him not to be seen."

"You have a butler now, big sis?" asked Astoria. Daphne realised that she had been with the Malfoys all summer, she hadn't yet met Sebastian.

"Yes, Tori. I have a butler."

"Can I meet him?" she asked, eagerly.

"I'm sure you will, very soon. He's going to be at the Yule Ball this year."

"You're taking your butler?" asked Tracey, astonished.

"Yes, why?" frowned Daphne

"I'm just surprised is all. Why the butler?"

"Politics." shrugged Daphne.

"Is that so?" smirked Tracey.

"What's that look for, Davis?"

"Nothing. Nothing." giggled Tracey.

"Sebastian, slow down!"

"It's a waltz, young mistress." sighed the butler "It's supposed to be danced in triple time."

"Well, it's too fast." Daphne groaned. The two were in the room of requirement, which Sebastian had found earlier in the week. He had been using the room to teach Daphne how to dance, and she was slowly making progress.

"You're improving, young mistress." nodded Sebastian.

"Do you think so?" Daphne asked, a slight blush on her face.

"Indeed, at this rate you should have no trouble on the night of the ball."

"Where did you learn to dance, anyway?"

"If I couldn't do something as simple as this, what sort of butler would I be?"

"You certainly weren't this good at last years Yule Ball. I seem to remember that you looking lost all night."

"I was unaware that you were paying such close attention to me, young mistress."

"Shut up." she said, kicking his shin. The butler chuckled.

"Sebastian, we'll meet in here on the night of the ball."

"Will people not get suspicious if you don't come from the Slytherin common rooms?"

"All the students will have to come from the same staircase to get to the Grand Hall anyway, so I don't see that it matters."

"Very well, young mistress."

"Let's see, I'll need to bathe, do my hair, makeup and get into my dress. That should take a few hours."

"Hardly, young mistress."

"What do you mean."

"We both know that with my help, those tasks will barely take an hour."

"Good point… You can make chocolate cake for later then."

"It'll rot your teeth, young mistress."

"That's an order."

"Very well, my fair lady."

The day of the ball had finally come. Daphne was lying in the bath, staring up at the ceiling. This was the night that they would expose Dumbledore to the world, for all to see him as the fraud that he truly was.

"Sebastian, we must strike at exactly the right time."

"Yes, young mistress. Perhaps if you were to approach him whilst he is talking to one of the governors, and within range of an auror."

"As long as it isn't one of his Order buddies."

"Perhaps Lucius Malfoy may come in handy, he has been desperate to see Dumbledore sacked for years."

"That's true. Yes, we might be able to use him. How are we going to explain you getting ahold of the parchment though, or even being here."

"I did tell the Headmaster that as long as you required me, I would serve you."

"That doesn't explain how you got into the castle, and moved freely about, right under his nose."

"I am simply, one hell of a butler." Sebastian smirked. Daphne rolled her eyes, and held her hand out. Sebastian gently pulled her up, and quickly dried her off.

"I'm wearing the black dress tonight, Sebastian."

"Very good, young mistress."

Sebastian fixed Daphne's hair and makeup within minutes, and was helping Daphne into her dress.

"Are you just wearing your regular suit?"

"Yes, young mistress."

"I don't suppose it matters. In fact, it may draw the Headmasters attention, that could be useful." she murmured. "Nevermind, what time is it?"

"17:39, young mistress."

"Time for a slice of chocolate cake then?"

"After all that hard work spent on your makeup and dress?"

"Are you implying that I'm a messy eater, Sebastian?" she scowled at him.

"To imply is to merely indicate the truth by suggestion."

"I'll have you know I'm an extremely dainty eater."

"Indeed, young mistress." Sebastian smiled. "Shall we be off? The ball started at 17:30 after all."

"I suppose this will count as fashionably late." she grumbled.

"I'll prepare chocolate cake and tea for your late night snack." Sebastian reassured her. Daphne perked up a bit at that.

"You'd better."

Daphne and Sebastian stepped into the Great Hall to find the Yule Ball underway. Couples were dancing in the centre of the hall, stood off to the side talking, or generally milling about. No sooner had they arrived, when they heard a voice call "Daphy!". Tracey ran over to the two. Daphne gave a little gasp. Tracey looked absolutely stunning. She was wearing a figure hugging royal blue dress.

"Tracey, you look beautiful." smiled Daphne

"Thank you, Daphy. You look pretty great yourself." Tracey grinned at her best friend. "Little Tori's around here too."

"Is she? Where?" Daphne asked looking around. She felt a little guilty for not helping her younger sister in getting ready for the ball.

"Daphne! Tracey! Hey!" Tori called, as she walked briskly over to them. "Wow, you look great, sis!"

"Thank you, Tori. You look very pretty tonight." Daphne smiled at the younger girl.

"Is this your butler?" Tori asked, eyeing Sebastian.

"Yes. Tori, this is Sebastian. Sebastian, this is Tori, my younger sister."

"A pleasure to meet you, miss."

"Pleased to meet you too Sebastian."

"Enough chatting, come on, let's dance." Tracey giggled. Daphne grabbed Sebastian's arm and led him to the dancefloor. The two assumed their positions and began to dance to the movement. However, unlike the other couples, neither were particularly focused on the other any more than was necessary. Instead, they were looking around the room.

"I can see several governors, but not the one we want." muttered Daphne, careful to avoid being overheard.

"We only need Malfoy, the other governors are in his pocket. I assume he'll intend to be fashionably late."

"Maybe not." Daphne replied "He just walked in.". Sebastian subtly glanced over his shoulder to examine the man. He was wearing his customary dark robes, and arrogant expression. He From the looks of it, he doesn't want to leave his son alone for too long, not after the events of last year."

"Or maybe, he doesn't trust the Headmaster to keep him safe."

Malfoy was headed right for Dumbledore.

"Sebastian, we wait until they've shaken hands, then we confront him."

"Yes, young mistress."

As the two men shook hands, Mistress and Butler made their way towards them.

"Daphy! Come on! We're going outside for some fresh air!"

"Come on, sis!"

"Sebastian! I order you-" Daphne began, but was cut off by Tracey's giggle.

"I order you to come outside and get some fresh air! Come on!"

Tracey and Astoria dragged the two outside into the courtyard. It was quiet, and still lightly snowing.

"I should have brought a jacket." said Tracey. "Not that it really matters, eh? Mister Butler?"

"Hmm? What ever could you mean by that, miss?"

"You know full well what I mean!" yelled Tracey, spinning to face him. Seemingly from nowhere, she drew a long blade and thrust towards Sebastian. He sidestepped it with ease, and kicked her away.

"Sebastian? What's going on?" Daphne asked, confused as to why her best friend would suddenly attack her butler. Tracey pulled herself to her feet and glared at the butler. Her eye's glowed a viscous red.

"Of course, she's a soul collector."

"Hmm? A Soul Collector?" Daphne frowned.

"Indeed, young mistress. It is the job of the soul collectors to collect the souls of the dying, before they move on to the next life. They say that a person's life flashes before their eyes before they die, that is what the soul collectors use to evaluate whether or not a person's soul deserves to be collected. They are truly most fascinating creatures."

"Stay out of this, Daphne!" yelled Tracey. "I'll protect you from this soulless demon!". Tracey ran at Sebastian, and at the last second, leapt over him, and plunged the blade into his back. "I always wondered. How did a soulless wretch like you become the butler to our fair Ice Queen?" She laughed, pushing the blade deeper. White mist began flowing from the wound, circling to form an orb in the air.

"Sebastian's memories..." Daphne murmured, under her breath.

"Now then!" laughed Tracey "Let's see just how this little union came to be!"