Chapter 14 - MORE THAN JUST A FRIEND?

Tracey POV

Oh that lucky little bitch, Hahaha.

The moment I saw her push her desk to the side after Harry did, I knew they were going to be paired.

Well played Daph, Well played… I watch them walk off with the professor to start them in their duel, or should I say 'lovers quarrel'. I inwardly laughed at my own joke and jibe. Although Daph was not showing it on her face, I knew she probably was squirming with delight on the inside.

Oh, how lucky she was to get paired with prince charming while I got paired with the troll face. I looked at my dueling partner, Goyle, as he dimwitingly stared at me like I was a steak on a plate.

Disgusting!

Our dueling session mainly consisted of me launching him on the floor over and over again. Eventually, I got bored and this time shot a more powerful flipendo, launching Goyle into the desks. I turned around only to find Daph on her bum as well. Then I saw Harry rush over and gush all over her, asking if she was okay. It was as if Daphne was a fragile piece of glass.

And she says she doesn't know if he likes her...yeah...good one Daph.

I then returned my lackadaisical focus to Goyle who came back, we then resumed our duel.

Hermione POV

I looked over at Harry, he was dueling that Slytherin girl, Daphne Greengrass. I must admit, I was slightly worried when he got paired with someone in Slytherin, but it seems my worries were for naught. Harry easily dodged her first spell, then carefully absorbed one of the next three spells sent at him before shielding and deflecting the final one. It took me a while to realize he, in fact, had done it non-verbally!

He did it so fast that I didn't realize!

I then turned my attention back to Ron. Inspired by Harry's improvement in magic, I casted a string of spells at Ron. My petrificus totalus ended up catching him and he dropped to the floor with a thud.

I turned around and saw Harry chuckled slightly as he just saw me body bind Ron. Then the most peculiar thing occurred. He resumed his duel with Greengrass but then started to walk over and explain something.

He must be teaching her the shielding charm!

I looked at them in envy for a bit when I realized Harry's expression. He was...happy. He seemed very calm and patiently explained to Greengrass how to do it. I wasn't able to properly focus for the rest of the class. My thoughts taken over by Harry's relationship with Greengrass.

Does he like her? No Harry isn't like that! But he clearly trusts her to act like that around her!

I decided I needed to get to the bottom of this. I looked over at Ron after I bested him again, he lay on the floor like a starfish after I knocked him off his feet with a flipendo.

Yeah, best if I talk with Harry alone about this, Ron wouldn't take kindly to Harry associating with Slytherins, he was already jealous of Harry's connection with Godric Gryffindor, better keep this between Harry and me…

Harry POV

A month had passed by, breakfast this morning was fantastic as usual until it got interrupted today by the pompous ponce of Slytherin, Malfoy.

"Think you are so great scar-head? I know it was you who banished the food at me!"

I snorted as Draco opened up with this statement.

Is he still holding onto this grudge after one month?

I had to refrain from blurting out "yeah it was me, I wandlessly banished the food towards you and turned you into a Hogwarts dessert delicacy". I then looked at Draco.

"What makes you say that?"

He then promptly replied while stuffing his chest out.

"I know it was you, professor Snape certainly thought so, if you ask me he should have snapped your wand right there".

I then glared hard at Draco and he faltered a bit under my temperamental gaze.

"Are you an idiot Draco? Professor Snape checked my wand for banishing charms and they weren't cast..."

I then inwardly smirked as I thought of a good retort.

Technically it was no less than the truth, but he didn't need to know that did he?

"...Unless you think I am a really powerful wizard that did wandless magic to banish the food at you?"

Draco then stopped and mumbled something incomprehensible, he then flushed with embarrassment as he turned on his heel and walked off to the Slytherin table. After the little confrontation, Hermione and I said goodbye to Ron and left to arithmancy class for first period. Although Ron didn't really say goodbye as he was more interested in stuffing his face with food.

The second we left the great hall, Hermione stopped all of a sudden.

"Harry? What's your relationship with Daphne Greengrass?"

Of all the things I thought she would say, I didn't think that would be one of them. Godric howled with laughter inside my head. I smacked my head slightly to shut him up. I nervously responded.

"Were...um...friends?"

I diverted my eyes away from Hermione as my shoes suddenly became really interesting. I stood in silence with Hermione for a long time.

"Harry, look at me".

I raised my head to see Hermione smiling at me.

"It is okay, I don't mind you being friends with a Slytherin, I am not Ron you know… I am just worried about you. You are one of my few real friends here at Hogwarts".

I nodded my head in relief. Hermione then sharply asked.

"Do you trust her?"

I then without hesitation stated.

"Yes, I do". Hermione then beamed at me.

"If you trust her Harry, then I will trust your judgment… but you need to tell me how this all came about...NOW!"

She then quickly added, "I won't tell Ron if you don't want me too… I know how he can get…"

I detected a bit of a sad tone in her voice. As we walked to professor Vector's classroom, I told her about how I met Daphne, how it was her sister that I saved on the train before coming back to save her, and revealed the part I hid from her about going into the chamber with Daphne. Hermione seemed cross at first that I kept that part from the chamber from her, but then relaxed as she understood my concerns. However, as our conversation continued, Hermione's smile just kept getting wider and wider.

As we entered arithmancy class today, I saw Daphne sitting Tracey, there were two spare seats next to Daphne on her right. I immediately noticed Hermione not so subtly directing us towards them. I then wondered if it was a good idea to tell her… I then gave Daphne and Tracey a smile as I sat down next to her.

Over the last month, we had gotten less nervous around each other and managed to hold relatively civil and playful conversations. She returned the gesture and smiled back as well. I heard a stifled laugh from the left of Daphne. This pulled Daphne's attention to stare at the person on her left. I looked over and saw Tracey Davis with a hand over her mouth.

Did she find something funny? Huh?

I was a bit confused. The class then started shortly after. Although Godric had already taught me some of the basics, I was still quite amazed at how similar the concepts of arithmancy was with muggle mathematics as we delved deeper into the subject. A lot of the problem-solving in arithmancy was similar to algebra in maths.

After becoming familiar with the laws of magic, Hermione and I breezed through the class as we both came from muggle childhood backgrounds. It was basically formulating equations and canceling out variables, except under a different set of principles and rules, magical principles and rules. We were doing fractions today in class, how to cancel and simplify within equations. Hermione scoffed at how we were learning primary three level muggle mathematics. Honestly, I was quite amused myself.

I almost finished my question paper sheet today when I felt a nudge on my left shoulder. I looked over and saw Daphne with a slight scowl before it became a slightly nervous expression.

"Harry… could you help me please with this question, I don't quite understand… you seem to be doing well so I was hoping-".

I cut her off with a slight chuckle and glanced at her paper.

"It's okay Daphne, you almost got it. Here you just need to do this…"

I then began a simplified explanation of fractions and how to solve things algebraically. It took a while to explain and for Daphne to understand. However, once she did she breezed through it as well and just managed to finish her question paper before the end of class as well. We then walked out of class together.

"I can't believe how simple the concept was! I am such an idiot!" exclaimed Daphne.

I smiled at her harsh self-critique.

"If your an idiot, then what does that make people like Crabbe and Goyle?" I playfully asked. She then smacked me on the shoulder and giggled.

I still couldn't get used to it, it was just felt so nice… to see her smile, laugh, giggle…

I couldn't help give a wide grin back at her giggling. We exchanged small jibes and continued our playful banter until the end of the corridor. When we got to the end of the corridor, Daphne abruptly stopped in front of me and became serious.

"Hey Harry, are you busy tomorrow?"

She then glanced away and then I realized, she is nervous!

But why is she nervous?

She continued, "I was wondering if you were not busy, you would like to go to Hogsmeade with me...".

She slightly stuttered out the last part, but it didn't matter. I must have not heard her correctly.

Did Daphne want to go to Hogsmeade with me? Alone? Wait… she didn't say…

I then felt really bad, as I couldn't go to Hogsmeade. After storming out of the Dursleys, I couldn't get them to sign my blasted permission form. Although I was on good terms with Mcgonagall, she was still hard on stuff like this.

"I'd love to go with you Daphne...but…"

She beamed at first when I said I would like to go with her, but then her eyebrows creased and a worried expression formed as I continued.

"...My Hogsmeade permission forms were not signed, my guardians are a bit…"

I didn't finish that phrase, however, after hearing me out slightly, Daphne dejectedly said.

"It's okay Harry, I understand…"

I could hear her disappointment. I then thought of an idea, although I will breaking the school rules… once again…

"Actually I might be able to meet you at Hogsmeade, but I might have to take a different route".

Daphne then went wide eye as she stared at me curiously.

"If you leave an empty space on the carriage for me to Hogsmeade I can tag along".

Daphne seemed even more confused than before.

"How? What? How can you come along…"

Then something snapped within her.

"You are going to use your invisibility cloak?!"

"Shhhhh!"

I looked around the corridor, thankfully we were the only ones here as everyone else had stormed away from the arithmancy classroom.

"Sorry, so the rumors are true?" whispered Daphne.

"Yeah! I will try to sneak along, I can't take off my cloak until we get to somewhere secluded though".

Daphne nodded at what I said. She then made a good suggestion.

"Perhaps the path that leads to the Shrieking Shack? Nobody will be there, I can meet you there before we go together to explore Hogsmeade. Tracey can keep me company till then".

"Wait Tracey won't be staying with us?"

Daphne reddened slightly at this.

"She can… it's just…"

I then also reddened once I realized what she was implying. Did she want to be alone? With me? Wait… then does that make this a date? What in Morgana's name is going on!

I then sputtered out, "Oh no I don't mind going with just you, I mean going with you is fantastic, it's just I didn't want Tracey to feel left out you know? She is your friend after all…"

She then smiled at me, glanced around the corridor before leaning in and kissed me on my cheek.

She then quietly whispered, "Okay Harry, I will see you at Hogsmeade tomorrow then…"

I then watched her walk off to her next class whilst I forgot about my next class. I do not know how long I stood there frozen with a dumb smile on my face.

Doran's Ring -

Hi everyone! I thought that showing some of Harry's regular class sessions along with Daphne would be good idea after the giant bomb of Vodly's Horcrux within Harry's head got diffused! So this mini-arc was mainly about Daphne interacting with Harry in class and a bit of Malfoy interference. I also wanted to ease in Hermione more, I thought some focus on many of the other characters were important. Hope you all enjoyed these couple of chapters! I'll do my best to get the next chapters out soon!