Chapter 19 - THE PARENTS!

Harry POV

Once we got off the carriages, Daphne went with Mcgonagall towards the great hall to meet her parents whilst Lupin took me to the gargoyle before leaving me.

Man I have been here a lot this year…

Fawks melodiously trilled. I smiled as the phoenix flew over to me. I raised my arm for her to perch on it, and I gently petted her. Dumbledore then chuckled.

"Careful Harry, you are spoiling her too much, she may expect you to come here regularly".

I then looked up from Fawks and saw Dumbledore's customary twinkling eyes.

"Harry, first, I would like to thank you for your, once again, brilliant full body patronus. If you had not cast it when you did, some people within Hogsmeade may have indeed lost their souls permanently and died today before I would have arrived…"

I nervously nodded at Dumbledore's praise again of my patronus. His eyes then dangerously twinkled as a smile formed on his face.

"And second… should I know why you were at Hogsmeade today… without your permission form signed?"

PANG! Dumbledore had caught me. I didn't know what I was more nervous about now, telling him about what he most likely alluding to… Daphne… or about admitting to breaking the rules once again. Dumbledore then chuckled at my silence.

"It is okay Harry, although it had been quite some time ago, I was once in your position, I bent the rules slightly for a person I once loved…"

Wait what, love? I mean I really like Daphne and think she is wonderful… but is this love? How am I supposed to know!

"However, although I understand why you snuck out to see Miss Greengrass…"

Crap he knows… Is he reading my mind? I know he is a legilimens…but I can't feel any probing, not even passive legilimency…How in the name of Merlin…

"...And in the process of sneaking out saved everyone in Hogsmeade from a very cruel fate, you still have to be careful Harry. Sirius Black is on the loose, you sneaking outside without any teachers and only Miss Greengrass and your friends knowing is very dangerous".

I wanted to object but Dumbledore continued on.

"I know of your quite amazing improvement in magic, I have not forgotten that a certain founder of Hogwarts resides in your head, and professor Lupin has been telling me of your amazing dueling prowess in defense against the dark arts. In spite of that, I will still caution you Harry, as going to Hogsmeade without barely anyone knowing is dangerous when there is threat looming over the area".

I then nodded at Dumbledore. I understood where he was coming from. I turned around to leave, but then Dumbledore chimed in one more comment.

"Oh, before you leave Harry, I have scheduled for us to go see what I was talking to you about last time. We will be going together during the Christmas break if that is okay with you?"

"Sure sir, how long will it take?"

Dumbledore then leaned back in his chair and pondered for a moment.

"It depends, on your interpretation of what you will be shown, I'm afraid I can't say for certain how long we will take".

I then bid Dumbledore farewell before leaving his office. I still had some time before curfew, I then remembered the row I got into with Ron. It was going to be really awkward in the dormitories. Godric then spoke up in my head.

"Why don't you go to the hospital wing, Pomfrey will most likely let you stay, it is quiet there".

Agreeing with his seemingly reasonable suggestion, I then pulled out the Marauder's Map in my back pocket. I then summoned my wand to my hand and tapped the map gently. I then searched for the quickest route to the hospital wing. I then saw a secret passageway from a nearby portrait that led to just outside the hospital wing.

I quickly whispered "Mischief Managed!"

I then shoved the map back into my back pocket of my jeans and started running off to the hospital wing.

Daphne POV

When I walked into the great hall with Mcgonagall, I saw a giant crowd of parents with their children.

The Minister is not going to hear the last of this…

Mcgonagall then left me to wonder the crowd alone. I finally caught sight of my Mum and Dad. He had the exact same blonde hair like me, whilst my mom was like Tori and had brown hair.

"Mum! Dad!" I yelled out as I ran towards them.

They then looked towards me and also started to rush towards me. I was tackled with a fierce hug by my mother first,

"Oh Daphne deer, we came as soon as we could… Once we heard there was a swarm of dementors of Hogsmeade we thought you might have… It was already a close call at the start of the year when your sister was very briefly feasted on by a dementor… That idiotic corrupted dunderhead Minister! If I ever get my hands on him I-"

"Mum… I am okay… you're crushing me!"

She then quickly let go and stared at me. I gave her a reassuring smile before also giving one to Dad. Before Dad got a chance to talk I was tackled by Tori, who came out of nowhere, in another fierce hug. She wouldn't let go as her head was tucked right underneath my breasts and arms wrapped around my waist.

My Mum then asked, "Who was it that saved all of you Daphne? Rumour has it was a student in Hogwarts that conjured up a full body patronus! And that they are below 5th Grade!"

Before I could respond Tori yelled out loudly at her.

"It must be Harry Potter! Remember Mum when I told you it was he who casted the one on the train!"

My mother then skeptically looked at Tori.

"Now Astoria, I don't think-"

Without thinking I then cut my Mum off.

"No it's true Mum, I watched Harry conjure his silver stag patronus that blasted away the swarm of dementors over Hogsmeade".

My mother then smirked slightly and raised an eyebrow.

Oh no, whenever Mum gets like this, something bad is going to happen...

"Really? Then you wouldn't mind if I meet Harry then Daphne?"

I squirmed slightly under her words.

Fuck, it seemed that Dad noticed as well!

My Dad then spoke up quickly after picking up on what Mum was illuding to.

"Indeed, you make an excellent point Roxanne, I would also be interested in meeting Harry".

My Dad, however, was even less subtle than my Mum, noticeably emphasizing Harry's name.

Oh god, what did I do! I just got so used to using his first name…

I then noticed Mcgonagall who was hurriedly leading two parents away from the hall. Then I recognized them, those were Tracey's Mum and Dad!

"Mum, Dad! Those are Tracey's parents, I think they might be going to the hospital wing!"

Both Mum and Dad caught onto my gaze, they both agreed and the three of us with Tori in tow, followed after them to the hospital wing.

Harry POV

These secret passageways are amazing, it barely took any time to reach the hospital wing from Dumbledore's office. I then pushed open the hospital wing doors.

"Poppy I'm-"

I then became shocked as I saw Tracey lying on my usual bed in the corner. The rest of the hospital wing was empty aside from Tracey. I quickly shut the hospital wing doors and raced over next to her.

"Tracey!" I exclaimed.

I then conjured a chair and sat next to her at her bedside. Poppy must have noticed the commotion as she barged in.

"Mister Potter! Not you as well! Miss Davis has just been through a rather traumatic experience. She was exposed to a dementor for an incredibly long duration! In fact, any longer and the dementor may have successfully administered the kiss! If you are going to be making a fuss, leave!"

I lowered my head, a little ashamed of myself, but I was also deathly pale.

The dementor's kiss? Merlin's fucking beard! Tracey almost had her soul ripped from her!

Poppy then noticed my concern.

"She will be fine Mister Potter, Miss Davis' soul is still intact, however, she will need to stay here and be monitored. She will need a lot of rest".

I looked up at Poppy and smiled at her, thankful for the reassurance. She then left and returned to her office.

Tracey then groggled out, "Is she gone? I don't want any more potions…"

I laughed slightly.

Oh Tracey you have no idea…

"Don't worry, I completely understand what you mean".

Tracey then weakly turned her head over to look at me. She looked absolutely miserable.

"Thanks Harry, I was already at the outskirts of Hogsmeade getting ready to board a carriage back when the dementors attacked. If you didn't cast that powerful patronus that covered all of Hogsmeade and slightly beyond… I might not be here right now".

I silently nodded slowly before Tracey continued on.

"I could feel it you know, the warmth and the happiness when your patronus swept over me and blasted the dementor that was feasting on me away. I was so glad when I saw the silver stag dancing in the sky. It was as if my prayers were answered…"

I still stared at her in silence when an idea clicked in my head. Although I was very exhausted still after the full body patronus, I still offered her to see my patronus and experience that warmth again.

"Would you like to see my patronus? I'm not trying to flaunt it or anything… I just… you know... thought you would feel better in its presence" I stuttered out the last part of my sentence.

Knowing Tracey's very hyperactive attitude, I was expecting some retort or joke, but instead, she warmly smiled and whispered out so quietly that I almost missed it.

"Please".

I then stood up and vanished the chair I sat in and walked to the edge of her bed. I pulled out my trusty holly phoenix feather wand and cast the patronus charm. Out came my silver stag as it stood next to Tracey. Its bright light illuminating the slightly dull hospital wing. Tracey noticeably relaxed as the stag stood next to her.

The hospital wing then opened and in came professor Mcgonagall along with two other people. Both of them coming to an abrupt stop once they noticed my stag standing behind me. However, quickly after, another four people came sprawling into the hospital wing. Among them was Tori and… Daphne! Wait are those her parents behind her?

Shit, shit, shit, fuck what am I going to say?!

I lost concentration as these thoughts went through my head and my patronus dissolved. Before Mcgonagall or any of the adults could respond, Astoria hollered out.

"I told you so Mum!"

The older women next to Astoria, who seemed to be the spitting image of her, quickly told Astoria to shush. Mcgonagall and the two people snapped out of their daze as well and quickly walked over to Tracey. I stood aside to give them space. Tracey then was hugged by these two people, who were now obviously her parents. I then looked over at Daphne who was at first, beaming at me, then ger facial expression became concerned. She then used her eyes and pointed at her parents who were slowly inching closer towards me. I felt a bit of cold sweat down my back.

Hundred dementors or meeting your new girlfriends parents? Easy! I'd take a hundred dementors any day!

I took a deep breath and used Occlumency to calm down my nerves. Her father then approached me first.

Why did it have to be the father first?

"Cyrus Greengrass of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Greengrass, this is my lovely wife Roxanne Greengrass".

He then extended his hand. I shook it firmly. Then his wife, Daphne's mother, raised her hand. I was about to shake it when Godric yelled at me in my mind quickly.

"GENTLY TAKE THE HAND AND KISS IT ON THE KNUCKLE! DON'T SHAKE IT! DON'T SHAKE!"

I paused for a moment to have a mental battle within my mind before bowing slightly to take Daphne's mother's hand and kissed it on the knuckle before letting go and standing back straight. They then both smiled at me, and I saw a flash of recognition within their eyes. It seemed like they both wanted to say something, but were cut off when the human missile Astoria tackled me onto a spare bed next to Tracey in a vicious hug.

"Harry! I told my parents it was you who did the full body patronus! But they didn't believe me! Can you do it again? Can you get out your silvery stag?"

I chuckled slightly at Astoria's enthusiastic remark.

"Only if Tracey wants me to right now, I had my patronus out to comfort her just now, she's still recovering from her encounter with the Dementors… so unless she says so, sorry Astoria".

She then let go of me and sat up on the bed and started to pout. She stared at me with her wide glimmering eyes. I was about to give in when Daphne came to my rescue.

"Cut it out Tori, conjuring out a patronus is tiring and requires a happy memory, guilt tripping Harry like that with your pouting face won't bring out his patronus".

Tori then cut back at her sister.

"Harry? You talk like as if he is yours…"

Her eyes then widened. Shock and relization hitting her at the same time.

"NO! No way… are you dating Harry Potter? How do I not know! When did this happen?"

Daphne tried to hide it but miserably failed. Before anyone else spoke, Poppy came back in telling us to get out, we were making to much noise. Everyone but Tracey's parents got locked out of the hospital wing. The second we got outside, I immediately got interrogated by Daphne's parents.

"Now Harry, be honest with me, are you dating Daphne?" said Daphne's Dad.

I took a quick glance at Daphne and saw that she was nervous. I then mustered what courage I had and looked directly at him and confidently responded.

"I am Lord Greengrass".

Godric chimed in at the last moment and told me to use his title. I then held his gaze for a long time without blinking. He then broke into a grin.

"Please, it is Cyrus, Harry… Very well, you have my blessing to date Daphne as she seems to be clearly taken with you…"

I then blushed slightly at his statement.

"...However, if you do anything underhanded or harm Daphne in anyway, you will know pain more brutal than the cruciatus, am I understood?"

"Dad!" Daphne yelled.

I paled and nodded my head instantly.

Daphne's Mum then approached me, "Likewise, my daughters are very important to me Harry, we are putting a lot of trust in you".

"Yes, Lady Greengrass" I immediately said without hesitation.

She then smiled and waved me off, "Like Cyrus, please, call me Roxanne".

I nodded and I talked with Cyrus and Roxanne a bit more after that. Astoria chipping in from time to time, but Daphne remained silent unless spoken to. Once Tracey's parents came out and unlocked the hospital wing doors, I said farewell to Daphne's parents and walked back inside the hospital wing to check on Tracey. Daphne followed me as well back inside. We then walked over and saw a sleeping Tracey. It was oddly strange to see her so peaceful, as she is usual super energetic. I then moved away and layed down on the bed next to Tracey's without telling Poppy I would be staying overnight.