Chapter Twenty-One
Two figures stood upon a cliff under a dark, cloudy sky, looking on at the dark island in the distance that housed Magical Britain's worst criminals. They could practically feel the impact of the raging sea as it crashed against the rocks below them.
Medusa nervously dragged her black hair away from her face with her spindly, tanned fingers, revealing the small brown eyes hidden underneath. Not even the supportive silence and companionship of Jormungandr was enough to relax her. It wasn't like her trepidation was unjustified, of course. They were about to invade the maximum-security prison, which was also home to dozens of dementors. She had no idea how her companion could stand there without showing a single sign of apprehension.
Behind them stood their third companion, dubbed Quetzalcóatl. Medusa sighed at their assigned code names; she really should have come up with some herself. Quetzalcóatl, the elf, was to remain unseen and stand ready in case they needed a quick extraction.
"Ready?" Jormungandr asked softly.
Medusa's brain wanted to shout, "No way," but instead she took a deep breath and gave her companion a stiff nod. Jormungandr drew the Invisibility Cloak from his moleskin pouch and wrapped it around the two of them.
"Don't worry, I'll have your back," he said.
"I know, but I'm still nervous."
Jormungandr wrapped his arms around her, and she leaned into him as she felt the sensation of fading wash over them. She looked around to see where they wound up, but it was so dark that she couldn't get her bearings.
"Where are we?" she asked, while making sure they were still concealed under the Cloak.
"A storage room on the third floor," Jormungandr replied. "The higher up in the fortress we go, the less likely we are to run into dementors."
"And the Death Eaters are on the first floor?"
"Bellatrix Lestrange is."
"Alright, you're the muscle of the operation, so you go in the front," Medusa said, only half kidding.
"Of course, Mistress," Jormungandr replied, drawing his wand.
They made their way forward under the Cloak, slowly, and under Silencing Charms to ensure they made as little noise as possible. They passed by several cells, some occupied and some empty, and Medusa noticed that most of the prisoners weren't as haggard as she'd expected. If Jormungandr was right, and he usually was in these matters, these prisoners had far less exposure to dementors compared to those on the lower levels.
They found the stairs and descended to the second floor. Instead of having a single staircase, the prison was designed so that you had to wind your way between floors. They made their way through the corridor, and there was a noticeable difference between these prisoners and those on the third floor. Some showed signs of madness, while others shouted or cried to themselves. There were Aurors stationed on this floor, but they took no notice of them.
A familiar cold descended on them, making Medusa's skin crawl. She grabbed Jormungandr's arm, and he pulled her into the shadows to wait for the dementor to pass them by. It glided past them without seeming to notice their presence, and Medusa exhaled the breath she didn't even realise she was holding.
"Why didn't he feel us? Is it the Cloak?"
"The third brother hid from Death under it," Jormungandr replied. "Why shouldn't we be able to hide from a dementor?"
Medusa shrugged, and then they slowly made their way through the corridor and down the stairs to the first floor, luckily without coming across any more dementors. There were four Auror guards on this floor, but two of them were asleep in their chairs while the other two were playing cards in an empty cell. Otherwise, the floor was eerily silent; not even the prisoners were making a sound.
"Ready?" whispered Jormungandr, and Medusa nodded. They each chose two targets and simultaneously raised their wands. In a flash, all four guards were stunned and unconscious. Down the corridor, the occupants of the cells started emerging from the shadows, the bright flash and sound of spellfire having roused them from their apathy.
"Who's there?" a raspy voice called from one, and Jormungandr gestured at Medusa to proceed. They removed the Cloak and revealed themselves to some of the most dangerous men and women in the magical world.
Death Eaters - and most of Voldemort's inner circle, from the looks of it.
Jormungandr packed the Cloak in the moleskin bag and waved his wand to close the door to the cell block they had just entered. Medusa stepped forward and peered into a few of the cells, ignoring the prisoners and doing her best not to appear afraid.
"There's nothing to be afraid of, you have Har… Jormungandr," she told herself, attempting to slip back into her once-familiar Ice Queen persona.
"Well?" Antonin Dolohov asked curiously, but with a hint of impatience. "Are you going to open the cells or what?"
"We are searching for Madam Bellatrix Lestrange," she proclaimed, looking down her nose at the older man. "You can wait."
"Bella?" a man they recognised as Rodolphus Lestrange asked. "What of her?"
"Madam Lestrange!" Medusa called again, ignoring the question. "The Dark Lord has need of your services once again."
Gasps were heard up and down the corridor.
"The Dark Lord lives?" a man asked in awe.
"My lady, we're losing precious time," Jormungandr said in a raspy voice as he reappeared next to Medusa, having secured the perimeter.
"Are you certain Madam Lestrange is on this floor?" Medusa asked her companion frostily, and he nodded deferentially.
"Madam Lestrange, you either come forward or we will make you," she called again. "The Dark Lord entrusted us with a mission critical to his return, and by Merlin, I will not fail him because of you, or anybody else."
"His return?" a raspy feminine voice questioned from the shadows.
"Have you not seen the mark you wear on your arm growing darker and darker? Have you not felt it? Or have you also forsaken him, just like the weak-minded fools who abandoned him after his...setback?"
Out from the shadows came an exceptionally thin woman with steely eyes and matted black hair, streaked with grey. Medusa and Jormungandr were taken aback by her appearance. They had been expecting an insane witch, not the clearly unbroken woman standing before them with cold, calculating eyes.
"What does the Dark Lord require of me?" Bellatrix asked with a dangerous grin. Jormungandr wasn't sure, but he almost thought he detected a hint of anger in the woman's voice.
"Many years ago, the Dark Lord entrusted you with an artefact. He did not tell me what it was, but he assured me you would know. The Dark Lord requires it in order to return to his full power, and he commands you to retrieve it for him at once."
"Ah... And why should I believe you?"
"You shouldn't," Medusa replied. "Not without proof."
She pushed up her left sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark in all its splendour.
"Are you going to get me out of here, then?" Bellatrix asked, a wisp of hope in her voice.
"Wait a minute, why only her?" Rabastan Lestrange complained angrily. "We are the Dark Lord's most loyal supporters, are we not worthy of rescue?"
"The Dark Lord's orders were to remove Madam Lestrange from Azkaban," Medusa replied frostily, glaring at the man. "I do as he commands."
"How is it even possible for two people to break into Azkaban?" Rabastan argued. "How can we be sure this bitch and her dog..."
Rabastan screamed in pain as Jormungandr cursed him.
"Mind your tongue, scum," Jormungandr hissed, holding the curse for several seconds.
"Are you going to just let us rot in here?" Rookwood asked in disbelief. "We're as loyal as she is."
"We never said we were going to let you rot in here," Jormungandr replied, lowering his wand and reaching into his moleskin pouch. "Lady Medusa said our goal was Madam Lestrange, but the Dark Lord doesn't abandon those who are loyal to him."
"You hear that, boys?" Rodolphus laughed. "We're going to leave this hole!"
"And how are you going to get us out of here?" another asked. "We're in Azkaban! There are heavy wards surrounding the entire island and we have no wands, not to mention all the dementors and the dozen or so Aurors we'd be up against."
Jormungandr pulled a long, heavy rope out of his bag and dropped it to the floor.
"Feel free to stay, if you'd rather," he replied uncaringly, before turning to Medusa and giving her a nod.
"Are you willing to come with us, Madam Lestrange?" she asked again, and Bellatrix gave her an appraising look.
"Who are you, girl?" she asked curiously.
"I am Medusa, and I serve the Dark Lord. That's what I know and what I am."
"And him?" Bellatrix asked, indicating Jormungandr. Before Medusa could reply, they were interrupted by the loud noises coming from outside the cell block and the creeping cold of the dementors.
"Our time is up, my lady," Jormungandr insisted, as the sound of heavy banging could be heard from the other side of the door. "We have to go."
"There are wards!" one of the Death Eaters squawked again.
"Get me out of here, girl, and for your sake, I hope you have a good plan," Bellatrix hissed.
"Jormungandr!" Medusa ordered, and he raised his wand at once. As one, every single lock blew apart, leaving the Death Eaters momentarily bewildered.
"The rope is a portkey," Jormungandr informed them. "To activate it, speak the incantation for the Dark Mark."
He reached out and took hold of Medusa's arm, while she grabbed Bellatrix. At that moment, the door was blasted to pieces and a dementor glided through the opening. A spear of silver light shot from Jormungandr's wand, piercing the dementor and causing it to shriek as if it were in pain. As far as anyone knew, a dementor could not be killed, so seeing one fall to the ground oozing a black, pus-like substance unsettled many of them. Not one to waste time, Jormungandr followed that up by blocking the doorway with a transparent purple shield, separating the prisoners from the flabbergasted guards on the other side.
"MORSMORDRE!"
Jormungandr shouted the incantation and vanished from sight, along with both Medusa and Bellatrix. Emboldened by their success, Rodolphus ran from his cell and grabbed onto the rope.
"Come on, you fools!" he shouted, and they all scrambled to take hold of the portkey.
"Let's go! MORSMORDRE!"
Even from the other side of the magical shield, the frantic Aurors had to shield their eyes from the green flash that surged from inside the room. They heard the sound of several thumps, and then the purple shield vanished. The Aurors entered the room to find the bodies of the Death Eaters laying on the floor, their eyes open and vacant.
Every one of them was dead.
~BREAK~
Jormungandr, Medusa, and Bellatrix Lestrange appeared in the living room of a small house. Most of the furniture was broken or decrepit, and it had obviously not been lived in for several years.
"Where are we?" Bellatrix asked, taking in her surroundings. "Where are the others?"
"They were sent to different safe house," Medusa replied promptly. "If you go upstairs to the bedroom on the left, you'll find we've prepared some clothes and food for you. You'll also find several wands; hopefully one will be a good match."
"You're giving me a wand?" Bellatrix questioned, her surprise evident. "Aren't you afraid I'll betray you?"
"And what would you gain from doing that?" Medusa asked defiantly. "You'd still try to find the Dark Lord. Even if you were able to find him, he'd simply demand to know why you're late and why you caused his plan to fail, and then you'd still have to recover his artefact for him."
Medusa glared at the older witch.
"I believe I have proven my good will by rescuing you and the others from Azkaban. I am providing you with clothes, food, and a wand. Your suspicion may be warranted, but rest assured, the Dark Lord will have the artefact he desires.
Bellatrix cackled at that.
"I like you, girl," she replied with a predatory grin. "You remind me of myself… Oh, to be young and beautiful again!"
Bellatrix turned her attention to Jormungandr, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. His posture was relaxed, but he was obviously watching them closely.
"But tell me, he's powerful...what's he to you?"
"He's..." Medusa hesitated. "He's the brawn, and whatever else I need him to be."
Bellatrix cackled again and climbed the steps to the second floor, talking to herself all the while.
"Are you alright, my lady?" Jormungandr asked. Medusa nodded, then sat down on a couch to give her trembling legs a rest.
"Stick to the part... Stick to the part," she thought to herself.
"I'm fine, Jormungandr."
The two of them sat and waited, the tense silence broken only by Bellatrix's occasional laughs and rants. The older witch finally descended the stairs nearly half an hour later, wearing a cloak over a simple black dress and carrying a twisted ebony wand.
"Where to, Madam Lestrange?" Medusa asked, rising to her feet.
"Where else would I keep such a valuable treasure? Gringotts, of course."
Medusa snapped her fingers and Jormungandr transfigured a piece of cloth into a rope, and then turned it into a portkey.
"Mmm, he's powerful," Bellatrix whispered to Medusa. "And you have him so well trained."
"I've spent a lot of time with him," she replied offhandedly, grabbing the rope.
"Where will this take us?"
"The alley next to the bank."
"Once we arrive, Madam Lestrange will enter the bank and collect the artefact while we wait outside," Medusa instructed. Seeing Bellatrix's quizzical look, she added, "I cannot allow myself to be seen with you. The Dark Lord ordered us to be discrete."
"And what is it you have to hide, girl?" Bellatrix asked with a raised eyebrow.
"My public identity is well positioned to help our cause," she replied. "We can't afford to jeopardise that now."
"Mmph..."
"Do you agree, Madam Lestrange?"
"Very well, but once we're done, you and I are going to have a good talk, and I want answers."
"Ask your questions to the Dark Lord," Medusa replied dismissively.
Bellatrix frowned at the girl but grabbed the rope. She felt the familiar tug behind her navel and the world swirled around her, only stopping once she found herself in an alley next to the goblin bank, just like the young man had promised.
"Be quick, Madam Lestrange," Medusa advised. "We don't know if news of the breakout has already been spread."
Bellatrix scoffed, but still she pulled up the hood of her cloak and walked to the bank. The Medusa girl reminded her of herself when she was young. She was clearly the leader of the two, but there was something off about them, something that put her on edge. The young man with the unusual name was powerful enough to destroy a dementor. If the strong ruled over the weak, then how powerful must the girl be? Who was she, really?
"Is power the only thing you care about?" the hated voice asked her, having been strangely silent since the duo appeared in Azkaban. "Or are you simply planning to trade a master for a mistress?"
"Shut up!"
"You know I'm right," the voice claimed. "Why else would I be here, acting as YOUR conscience?"
"Shut up!"
"Just give them the damn thing and leave. Get out before you get hurt, or worse. You can still live a good life with all the money in your vault."
"I am loyal to the Dark Lord."
"The Dark Lord who destroyed the family you once loved?"
"You traitors made your own choices."
"More like our choices were made for us, because of him."
"That's a lie."
"Oh, come on, Bella. Would I lie to you?"
"Yes!"
"True, but would I lie to you about this? About family?"
"To rub it in my face like you always did? To humiliate me?
"What I did had nothing to do with you."
"Don't lie to me."
"I had no choice."
"Then you're a coward."
"I couldn't, no matter how much I wanted to...I chose duty."
The voice went silent, and Bellatrix nearly tripped on a step in her distraction.
"And I both hate you and admire you for it..." she whispered to the darkness, a single tear falling as she remembered their last conversation, the emotion of it somehow mingling with her own thoughts and insecurities. The same conversation she'd been replaying in her head ever since Christmas Day.
~BREAK~
Bellatrix Lestrange exited Gringotts nearly thirty minutes later, still wrapped in her cloak with the hood up. She ducked into the alley next to the bank to reconvene with the two that brought her there.
"Let's go meet the Dark Lord," Bellatrix laughed, wrapping her hand around the handle of the handbag she had somehow acquired in the bank.
"Do you have it?" asked Medusa.
"What do you think?" Bellatrix snorted.
"Veritas Imperio," Jormungandr incanted, and Bellatrix felt herself fall into a blissful state, losing all control of her body. It was not unlike the Imperius Curse, and yet it felt stronger, more insidious.
"Where is the cup?"
"In my handbag."
"Give it to me," Jormungandr ordered, and she did as he commanded.
"Obliviate!"
"You have no memory of how you escaped Azkaban, nor of coming to Gringotts. You never met Jormungandr and Medusa."
Bellatrix eyes glazed over as the spell took hold.
"You have my permission to fulfil your heart's desire. Tomorrow morning, I want you to attack the Ministry of Magic and allow yourself to be killed. Not captured, killed."
"Yes, Master."
"Good," Jormungandr replied, then turned to Medusa. "Shall we go home?"
"Please..." she urged. "I feel filthy, and I'm not talking about dirt."
Once Jormungandr and Medusa had disappeared, Bellatrix Lestrange was left alone in the alley, a single thought dominating her mind.
~BREAK~
"Never again," Daphne grumbled, undoing her glamour and starting to remove her clothes.
"Don't look."
"Fine..." Harry agreed, as he too removed his disguise. "Dobby, get us a tea, will you?"
"Not for me!" Daphne replied.
"For me, then," Harry corrected, and Dobby popped away.
"I have a feeling that no matter how much I wash, I'll never be able to remove the stain from myself. How did I allow you to talk me into this?"
"You did phenomenally. Even Bellatrix Lestrange bought it."
"Sure, and all I had to do was pretend I was a servant of the Dark Bastard, that I too was marked like cattle...ugh."
"Whatever it takes, Daphne," Harry responded, and Daphne's shot him a look from behind the dresser.
"No. No more whatever it takes, Harry," she argued. "There are limits to what one can do with a full stomach, and this... I disgusted myself tonight."
"That means you were convincing."
"I really hated it. I never want to do it again," Daphne replied, and Harry smiled at her.
"And you won't have to," he assured her, picking up the handbag and removing Hufflepuff's golden cup. He held it up for Daphne to see, then tossed it into the chest containing the other Horcruxes.
"Only one more to go, and then Voldemort."
"The snake..." Daphne answered thoughtfully. "Do you have a plan?"
"I do, actually, but I need to let it...mature a bit first."
Daphne raised an eyebrow in confusion, but then she chuckled once she caught his meaning.
"Very well, then. Shall we discuss the second task now, or would you rather we go back to the never-ending debate of when to kill Voldemort?" she asked, and Harry rolled his eyes.
"I told you, if you can find me a way to kill him and guarantee his soul won't endure..."
"Destroy the Horcruxes first, and then kill him before he gets a new body," Daphne interjected testily.
"And what makes you so sure that would work?"
"I don't know," Daphne sighed exasperatedly. "I just think that waiting until the third task so you can do it with an audience is a bad idea."
"Perhaps, but on the other hand, we're one hundred percent certain that if I wait for him to get his body back before I kill him, he will be gone for good. Honestly, who's being the brash one here?"
Her eyes narrowed at Harry.
"All I care about is your safety, you idiot."
"I know," he replied seriously, "but maybe this isn't the best time to discuss it."
Daphne reluctantly agreed and allowed Harry to escort her to the sitting area.
"So, the second task, then. Are you sure you want to be my hostage?"
"No," Daphne replied.
"Then it's decided. If Snape comes for you on the eve of the task, make sure you refuse."
"On the other hand, it's my own pride on the line here. The idea of allowing another to be what you'll sorely miss isn't exactly appealing."
"That's true," he smiled, refraining from commenting on her Gryffindorish tendencies. "If not you, it will probably be Dobby. I have no idea who else it could be, otherwise."
"I think I'll pass as well," the elf replied with a smirk.
"I'll think about it some more," she promised. "But for now, I'm tired and I want to sleep."
"Here or in your dorm?"
"I'll go back," she replied, though her feelings on the subject were mixed. "I don't want Tracey to start in again about whether or not the two of us are having sex."
"Ooh, tell me more," he requested, flashing his best devilish grin. Daphne rolled her eyes at him, which only made him laugh.
"Fine then, I'll see you tomorrow."
"You too," she said, giving him a short kiss before popping away with Dobby.
Left alone in the room, Harry sipped his tea in silence while reflecting on the day.
"Bollocks, I forgot about the Potions homework," he realised, spilling his tea as he jumped up from his chair.
~BREAK~
The next morning, Harry and Daphne met up in the common room. Once their other friends joined them, the nine walked together to the Great Hall for breakfast, as they did almost every morning.
"So, I heard a rumour that Malfoy was resorted," Tracey announced.
"Please, let it be Gryffindor," Blaise quipped.
"It was," she confirmed with a wicked smile.
Nine Slytherins laughing uproariously together in the Hogwarts corridors would have been a rare sight indeed, had anyone been there to see it. Once they reached the Great Hall, the group took great care in choosing seats that would give them the best view of the blonde ponce the moment he entered the room.
They didn't have to wait long, as the former Silver Prince of Slytherin made his appearance not fifteen minutes later. Since that self-applied moniker was no longer appropriate, the Slytherins had taken to referring to him as the Lord Idiot, which they all agreed was much more fitting.
He stormed into the hall wearing his new Gryffindor robes, which coordinated well with his hair, which had been turned a vibrant Gryffindor red, and his skin, which had been charmed golden. He marched right up to Professor Snape and started complaining, but judging by the betrayed look Malfoy gave the man, it didn't do him much good.
Apparently, he still wasn't done causing scenes, because the Slytherins could hear his obnoxious voice even over all the noise in the Great Hall.
"I am the Lord Malfoy!" he could be heard saying from the Gryffindor table. "That means I'm the leader of this house now, and things are going to change."
"Shut the hell up, you wanking arse!" shouted none other than Jason Hallys, who clearly had no patience for Malfoy's incessant prattle. It seemed that Malfoy had decided to try imposing his will on the younger years, rightfully assuming the older lions wouldn't listen to him. Unfortunately for him, Jason Hallys was not so easily bullied.
"Mr. Hallys!" scolded McGonagall, finally seeing fit to intervene. "Five points from Gryffindor for foul language. Apologise this instant."
"Alright, I apologise, your wanking lordship. Now shut the hell up! No one cares," he complained, stabbing at his eggs while the older Gryffindors laughed in appreciation at the firstie's balls of steel. On the other side of the hall, Astoria Greengrass rolled her eyes and went back to her breakfast. She was still annoyed that she hadn't been able to outperform him.
"I believe I've had more than my fill of Malfoy for the month," Harry said as he ate his toast.
"Speak for yourself, this is better than theatre," Millie countered.
A few minutes later, the post owls started to arrive. Harry gave Daphne a significant look, already having idea which story might make the front page of the Daily Prophet. They both returned to their breakfasts and mentally prepared themselves to see how their handiwork ended up being reported.
A few gasps rang out around the hall. Harry and Daphne both experienced a short moment of panic when people started turning look at him.
"What?" he wondered out loud. "Whatever it is, it wasn't me."
"No kidding, check this out!" Theo responded, handing him the paper. Harry blanched as he read the headline.
Bellatrix Lestrange Escapes Azkaban and Attacks Lord Sirius Black
Bellatrix Lestrange's Last Attack
Like many witches and wizards, Lord Black spent yesterday evening relaxing at home and tending to some family business. Much to his surprise, he received a most unexpected visitor in the form of Bellatrix Lestrange, who was thought to have been behind bars in Azkaban. All we know is that there was a short duel inside the Black ancestral home, resulting in the death of Bellatrix Lestrange and a few minor scrapes for the Lord Black.
Lord Black was unreachable for comment, but his best friend Remus Lupin, a known werewolf who resides with him, announced that the Lord Black was fine and mostly uninjured. More than anything, they want to know how and why Bellatrix Lestrange was on the run in the first place. Ministry officials have yet to respond to our requests for comment regarding any potential breakout from Azkaban.
Harry's hands started trembling as he read.
"Harry, calm down," Daphne implored, but Harry didn't hear her. All he knew was that Bellatrix had attacked Sirius, and once again it had been his fault.
"DOBBY!" he shouted, and everyone in the Great Hall turned in time to see him vanish with a pop.
Surprisingly, no one said anything about Harry's sudden vanishing from the hall. Perhaps the students had simply gotten used to his unexpected comings and goings.
Harry and Dobby popped directly into the entrance hall of Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. Harry completely ignored Kreacher and the former Lady Black's portrait and ran through the house in search of his godfather.
"Padfoot! Sirius!"
He heard two sets of steps running up the stairs from the kitchen.
"Harry?" Remus muttered. Sirius's eyes widened in confusion as Harry pulled him into a hug, after making sure he wasn't injured.
"Prongslet? What are you doing here?" Sirius asked.
"I saw the paper," Harry replied promptly. "Are you alright? What happened?"
"Look, Harry, I really don't want to talk about it," Sirius sighed. "She came, she attacked me, and I killed her. End of story. Merlin knows I've had enough of Moony and Andy trying to cheer me up."
"Why do you need to be cheered up?" asked Harry, confused by the man's dejected look. "Shouldn't you be happy? She was a dangerous witch, a convicted murderer, and a Death Eater. You're going to be a hero."
"She was also my cousin," Sirius replied grimly. For a moment, Harry thought he saw some anger in Sirius's expression, but it didn't seem like it was directed at him. No one spoke for several moments.
"He's been acting like this since I arrived last night," Remus said, trying to break the tension.
"And where the hell were you?" asked Harry in an accusing tone, making the werewolf blush.
"The man had a date," Sirius said with a grin, while Moony rolled his eyes. Harry refrained from comment and turned his attention back to Sirius.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"No, but I will be," he replied, his smile vanishing from his face.
"Well, since you're here, how about some breakfast?" Remus asked.
"That actually sounds good. I sort of took off before I finished mine."
"Come on, cub," Remus replied, waving for Harry to follow him back down to the kitchen.
"I'm glad you're alright," Harry told Sirius as he followed behind Remus.
"Dobby, go back to Hogwarts and tell Daphne I'll be back after breakfast. I'll call you when I'm ready."
"Yes, Master," Dobby replied, popping away at once.
Harry made his way down to the kitchen, but Sirius remained in place with only Kreacher and a silent portrait for company.
"Kreacher, go set another place for breakfast," Sirius ordered, and the elf vanished.
"The boy cares greatly about you," said the portrait of Walburga Black.
"What the hell are you doing?" Sirius asked, glaring at the painting.
"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.
"You hate me, you hag. You always did," Sirius barked, but with a hint of warning just beneath the surface.
"Traitor..." the painting whispered.
Clearing her throat, Walburga regained her focus and was once again able to channel her usual anger.
"Blood Traitor, kin slayer, embarrassment of my house! I should have killed you while you slept. Oh, had I known the embarrassment you'd cause me, the end of my noble line..."
The portrait continued to rant as the Lord Black turned his back on her, never seeing the two tears that fell from his mother's painted eyes.
Sirius arrived in the kitchen and sat down between Harry and Remus.
"Were you two ever close?" Harry asked. Remus looked questioningly at Harry.
"Bella?" Sirius asked with a raised eyebrow, and Harry nodded. "Once, a long time ago. Before I started Hogwarts."
"You never told us that," Remus replied in shock.
"You never asked, Moony. All you saw in school was the mean bitch she presented herself as and all the animosity between us, but I missed her."
Sirius looked contemplative, and for a moment, none of them spoke.
"She was one year older than me, that much you know. Once we were old enough to understand things, she decided she was going to take care of me. She always said she would teach me to be a proper lord and find me a proper wife suitable to be the Lady Black."
Sirius snorted at the memory.
"She had everything planned out. I was going to be sorted into Slytherin and make my alliances and friendships among my peers. But when the time came, I chose differently, and she never forgave me for it. She felt like I betrayed her, and that was unforgivable – even more so than betraying the family. From that day forward, she never stopped hating me."
As Harry listened Sirius's story, he couldn't help but think back to the battle of the Department of Mysteries in his other life, particularly how Bellatrix Lestrange had celebrated after killing Sirius. It seemed there had been more to her elation than sheer madness.
"Sometimes, I can't help but feel like everything that happened with her was because of me," Sirius said regretfully, picking up a piece of toast.
"Do you regret it?" Harry asked, and Sirius turned to Moony and his godson.
"I regret never having made my peace with my cousin. I couldn't care less about the Death Eater."
"I just want to know how she even got out," Remus muttered.
"So, kid, how are things at Hogwarts?" Sirius asked, eager to change the subject.
"As you know, Malfoy was banished from our house after the basilisk fiasco. Just this morning, we discovered he was resorted into Gryffindor."
"Ah, I bet his snobby little arse threw a fit," Sirius replied, remembering how he was received in Malfoy Manor by his cousin's shit stain of a son.
"I really don't know who I should feel sorrier for - the house, or him," Remus said, making Sirius laugh again.
"I'm also getting ready for the task," Harry continued. "Today, I'm going to jump in the lake and explore it a bit. I'm trying to make a mental map of where they may hide the one I'll miss the most. I swear, if anything happens to Daphne, I will hurt someone."
"Don't worry, I don't think they can afford to be responsible for that," Remus commented. "And that's without even considering how you already demonstrated what happens to anyone who hurts your girlfriend."
"True," Sirius agreed. "You remind me of your grandfather in that respect. Protective and deadly, much like my own."
"Really?" Harry asked.
"Absolutely. He was warm and welcoming to family and friends, but he wasn't one to be trifled with, no matter how old he got. His wand was one of the fastest I have ever seen, and he more than knew how to use it."
"You know, people always tell me how I look like my father but with my mother's eyes, and that's about as far as it goes. I know next to nothing about the rest of my family. You've mentioned my grandfather a few times now, can you tell me more about what he was like? I think I remember hearing he fought against Grindelwald."
"He did, which is partially why he never liked Dumbledore."
"Huh?"
"He always saw Dumbledore as a coward for not having the courage to stop Grindelwald before the war escalated. He never approved James signing up for Dumbledore's..."
"Sirius!" Remus warned him.
"Order of the Phoenix?" asked Harry, and both men looked at the boy in surprise. "There are diaries, you know?" It was a lie, of course, but the two older men didn't question it.
"Yes, that... Anyhow, I respected your grandfather just as much as I respected my own. They were both very much alike, hard men for even harder times – leaders and visionaries. The world needs more men like them, brave men who will defend their own convictions, yet in time of need, be able to look past their differences and work towards a common goal. The Blacks have always had their fair share of issues, but things really went downhill after my grandfather died, during my third year at Hogwarts. For all my father's boasting, he never had what it took to control the family, not that he wanted to anyway, and the less said about my mother the better."
Sirius let out an audible breath and rubbed the back of his neck.
"But enough about depressing topics," he said. "We were supposed to be talking about Mr. Potter, the eldest. There was this one day, and Remus can vouch for me on this, we marauders were hanging around at Potter Manor..."
~BREAK~
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the second task of the Triwizard Tournament!"
The magically amplified voice of Ludo Bagman echoed throughout the area surrounding the lake, loud enough to be heard all the way up to the castle. Harry stood impatiently by the edge of the lake, anxious to get underway so he could retrieve Daphne. The other champions were also aware of what was in store for them. Fleur had to rescue her little sister, Cedric his girlfriend, and Viktor his best friend, so failure was not an option for any of them.
Daphne had gone missing the previous evening. The girls in her dorm had no idea where she was, but Harry knew exactly where she had been taken. The previous evening, he had seen her on the Marauder's Map being taken to the hospital wing, which is where the hostages must have had their charms applied for the task. As of this morning, however, she and the other three hostages were all waiting for them at the bottom of the lake.
The knowledge of her whereabouts didn't make him any less concerned. He had been around Hogwarts long enough not to trust any guarantees of safety, and right now what he wanted more than anything was to get on with the bloody task.
"Valking around von't help, Harry," Viktor said, as he absentmindedly twirled his wand in his hand.
"Can't help it, I'm too nervous. What if the charm fails? What if something attacks her? What if..."
"Relax, 'Arry. You trust your 'eadmaster, non?"
"Not where people I love are involved," he replied under his breath.
"You are prepared, non?" Fleur asked again.
"Of course."
"Zen you 'ave nuzzing to worry about."
Harry nodded resignedly, and then Viktor clapped him on the shoulder.
"I understand you, my friend," he said. "Sasha is good friend, but if hostage vas someone dearest to me, I vould feel the same."
Their conversation was cut off by Bagman's booming voice.
"First, let us reintroduce our champions! From Durmstrang Institute, we have Viktor Krum!"
The audience cheered loudly for the Bulgarian Seeker.
"From Beauxbatons Academy, Fleur Delacour!"
There were more cheers, albeit slightly less enthusiastic than Krum's.
"From our very own Hogwarts School, Cedric Diggory!"
Cedric received the biggest reaction by far, with the audience practically exploding with cheers, applause, and whistles.
"And our fourth champion, Harry Potter."
Harry received a mix of cheering and booing, as he would have expected. The main difference from the first task was that the Slytherin students were vociferously supporting their champion and lord. They had created several banners displaying encouraging messages, and even a few organised chants that wouldn't have been out of place at a Quidditch match.
While Bagman was busy explaining the task to the audience, Harry ran through his mental checklist one last time.
"This should be simple," he thought to himself. "Rescue Daphne as quickly as possible, make sure she's unharmed, and dazzle everyone with impressive magic. Damn it, what is taking so long? Why am I even bothering to play along with this?"
"Because I want you to win," he heard Daphne say in his head, or at least that's what he imagined she would say.
"Dobby, get a couple of blankets for Daphne...and some hot tea, just in case."
The elf complied with the request, though he had to suppress a grin. He hadn't seen Harry this wound up since his own wedding.
"Now, let's begin the task!" Ludo announced, and Harry took a deep breath to clear his head and took his place next to the other champions.
"Good luck," Cedric said, and the other champions nodded back at him.
"Champions, take your places!" Ludo spoke again, while Dumbledore pointed his wand to the sky.
"Begin!"
Bagman's voice was drowned out by the cannon-like sound of Dumbledore's Concussion Charm. The audience cheered as three of the champions immediately dived into the water, only to fall into a stunned silence once they saw what the fourth champion had in store.
Harry Potter was running across the surface water, seemingly using his wand as a compass.
"This is unbelievable!" Ludo Bagman exclaimed. "I have never seen anything like this, and I'll bet even our illustrious headmasters and staff haven't either! What a fantastic display by our fourth champion, Harry Potter! Could this be another secret family spell?"
The other champions were so focused on their tasks, that they didn't notice Harry hadn't joined them underwater. Harry continued to sprint across the water, only stopping once he reached a place where his wand pointed straight down.
"I'll be there soon, Daph," he whispered, before diving headfirst into the water.
The excitement in the stands had peaked, and many of them were now cheering for Harry, believing him to be in the lead and the favourite to win. It was only five minutes later that Harry emerged from within the lake, once again standing on top of the water and carrying his girlfriend in his arms, bridal style.
The crowd roared in approval, with the loudest cheers coming from the Slytherin stands, but Harry paid them no mind. In that moment, all he cared about was seeing Daphne's sapphire eyes looking back at him and reassuring him she was alright.
"Good morning, Ms. What-I'd-Sorely-Miss," Harry said to Daphne as she awoke from her enchanted sleep.
"Good morning," she replied with a smile. "Did you win?"
"Almost. All I have to do now is bring you back to the shore," Harry replied as he started to walk, and Daphne's eyes shot wide open as she finally took in her surroundings.
"Harry?! You're walking on...bah, why am I surprised?"
"You know, there's a funny story behind this spell," Harry told her, a broad smile appearing on his face.
"I created it during our time together in my past life. You saw a religious movie around Easter that showed Jesus walking on water, so you decided that the real Jesus had to have been a wizard. Being the amazing and supportive husband I was, I decided to prove you right and create a spell to do just that. A few years later, I found another version of the spell in the Meharjhai's library, basically proving your theory correct."
"Really?" Daphne asked. "Then I want you to teach me the spell."
"Now or later?" he asked, and Daphne frowned slightly.
"Win the task first, of course. I happen to be quite comfortable right where I am."
"Yes, Mistress," Harry teased.
Daphne laughed softly and settled in for the rest of the ride. Harry took his time walking to the shore, taking what amounted to a leisurely stroll before finally setting Daphne down on dry land. Before Madam Pomfrey could even act, Dobby used his magic to quickly dry her off, then wrapped her in a warm blanket and handed her a steaming cup of tea.
"Thank you, Dobby," Daphne said gratefully.
"Amazing! Harry Potter finishes the task in under twenty minutes with one of the most amazing displays of magic I have ever seen," Ludo Bagman proclaimed. "I can't wait to see the scores! How will the judges evaluate this incredible performance?"
"How do you feel, Ms. Greengrass?" Madam Pomfrey asked her youngest unofficial apprentice. She waved her wand back and forth a few times, casting diagnostic spells.
"Quite well, Madam," she replied. "The warm blankets helped."
"Yes, good thinking, Mr. Potter," Madam Pomfrey replied, with an appreciative nod to the youngest champion. "Ten points to Slytherin for taking the appropriate steps to prevent hypothermia. That was a remarkable demonstration, by the way. Did you actually manage to survive it intact, or did you break something?"
"Is that a joke?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Am I laughing, boy?" Madam Pomfrey chided. "I have come to accept that with you, something always happens. So, what is it this time?"
"Well, prepare yourself to be shocked, for I am fine!" Harry replied, with a touch of dramatic flair.
Madam Pomfrey snorted and passed her wand over him a few times to confirm his story.
"I'll be... You really are fine. No physical injuries, traces of mysterious magic, or anything peculiar at all. This is highly unusual, and I'm not quite sure how to react."
"May I suggest you have a cup of tea to relax?" Harry replied cheerily, before turning to a quietly giggling Daphne.
"Spell?"
"Definitely," she responded.
Daphne dropped the blanket on the ground and drew her wand before marching back towards the water. Harry followed after her with a grin, leaving behind a bemused Madam Pomfrey.
For the next ten minutes, Harry stood on the surface of the water and instructed Daphne on the spell. The audience was able to see the look of intense concentration on her face, even if Harry had put up spells that prevented anyone from eavesdropping on their conversation. He stepped back onto the lakeshore to demonstrate the spell one more time, then allowed Daphne to try it herself.
She wisely limited her first attempts to the shallows, so only her feet got wet the first few tries. To the amazement of the spectators, it only took Daphne a half a dozen attempts before she was able to walk out and join Harry on top of the lake.
Several teachers nodded in approval, and both Professors Snape and Flitwick even awarded points for a job well done. While Ms. Greengrass had always been an above average student, none of them would have described her as exceptional. However, ever since she had started spending time with Harry Potter, her grades had skyrocketed into the high-level Outstanding range. Whatever else they may say about him, no one could deny that he had been a positive influence on Daphne's magical and academic development.
The spell was fairly complex, and it took all of Daphne's concentration to maintain it. Of course, no sooner had she started to feel like she was getting the hang of it, than did Harry start backing away and challenging her to catch him.
"Are you insane? I'm having enough trouble as it is," she retorted.
"Come on, practice makes perfect. Small steps, now. Come on, you can do it."
"Easy for you to say," Daphne mumbled.
"Daphy could do it..." Harry countered, and Daphne looked at him sceptically.
"You probably cast the spell on her yourself."
"Busted," he laughingly confessed.
Daphne laughed right along with him as she took another step towards Harry, who had already stopped backing up.
"One more."
"We're being watched, you know," Daphne told him, but Harry shrugged.
"I don't care..." he replied. "As far as I'm concerned, the rest of this hour is only about us, just you and me. Let them all be jealous."
"My, aren't we cocky?" Daphne asked, taking the last step as Harry reached out for her.
"No, we're confidant because we're that damn good," Harry replied with a huge smile, then lifted Daphne up by her waist and spun her around in circles. She squealed at first, then broke into laughter before grabbing his face with both hands and kissing him deeply.
"Aww…"
Many of the girls in the audience were gushing over the romantic scene unfolding in front of them. "Not again..." one Ravenclaw whispered to himself, seeing the look on his girlfriend's face. Potter and Greengrass had an annoying habit of making other couples feel inadequate by comparison. At least they'd had the decency to go off on their own this past Valentine's Day.
Back on the lake, Daphne was whispering something to Harry.
"You really should start writing down all the spells you know."
"I started two weeks ago. What do you think is in the new chest on the desk?"
She looked back at him in surprise.
"Really?"
"I'm writing one spell per page, including the wand movements and all the theoretical stuff. I figured I should add my own volume to the Potter and Slytherin Grimoires."
"Very well done, my lord," Daphne chuckled in amusement as she leaned into him, holding her head on his shoulder as the two started to walk slowly back to the shore, making sure Daphne didn't miss a step.
Up in the stands, Sirius was laughing to his companion while watching his godson in admiration.
"You see that, Moony? That boy may look like his father, but he is nothing like him. James was a complete disaster with women. I still believe Lily went on that first Hogsmeade date with him for pity's sake."
"As I recall, Lily wasn't much better," Remus chuckled.
"Clearly, he inherited his charm from his amazing dogfather," Sirius responded with delight. "Where else could it have possibly come from?"
"Maybe the two of them just match?"
"Come on, Moony, where's the fun in that?" Sirius replied, getting up from his seat. "Come on, there's not much time left. Let's go meet the two love birds at the shore before the judges announce the scores. I'm still surprised no one stopped their snogging."
Remus chuckled and followed his best friend down to the ground level.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, there appears to be some new activity in the water. Has another champion returned?" Ludo Bagman announced.
There was some commotion on the surface of the water. Something appeared to be wrong, as the tournament staff descended on the location and pulled an injured Fleur Delacour from the water. She had several cuts on her face and arms, and she looked like she was on the verge of passing out.
"Probably the grindylows," Harry whispered to Daphne, who nodded in agreement. Fleur seemed frantic, while Madame Maxime was doing her best to calm the girl down.
"Unfortunately, Ms. Delacour was injured after fighting off some grindylows and cannot continue," Bagman announced, to a chorus of boos from the Beauxbatons students.
"Harry!"
They both turned towards the voice, and Harry raised his hand to greet his godfather and his uncle.
"Good job, pup. Ms. Greengrass, I hope you are well."
"I am, Lord Black, thank you for your concern," Daphne replied with a small bow. "Mr. Lupin."
"Ms. Greengrass, congratulations on a spell well learned. I would grant you points for your achievement, but alas, I cannot."
Daphne gave him an embarrassed smile.
"It was a great show, you two," Sirius continued with a laugh. "Do you have any more surprises planned for the third task, Harry?"
"You have no idea..." Harry thought to himself before responding.
"I'm sure I'll think of something."
As the two older men were laughing at Harry's remark, Viktor Krum came up out of the water, holding his friend. Just as he had in Harry's previous life, Krum had partially transfigured himself into a shark to perform the task.
"And in second place is Viktor Krum, with a time of forty-eight minutes," Bagman declared, and the Durmstrang students cheered their champion's name. Cedric Diggory appeared with his girlfriend less than five minutes later, to raucous applause from the Hogwarts faithful.
"And with that, we conclude the second task of the Triwizard Tournament! As Ms. Delacour failed to retrieve her hostage, we will wait for the merpeople to return her before delivering the scores."
"I never asked you, how was your date?" Harry asked Remus.
"Fun," he replied without thinking. "I mean..."
"That's good," Harry snorted, while Sirius was snickering off to the side. "I'm assuming she's younger than you, because it's hard to imagine two old people like you having fun."
Sirius started laughing even harder.
"I'll have you know, young man, that I can still have as much fun as I did in my twenties," Remus responded, attempting to defend himself.
"That isn't really saying much, considering you didn't have much fun thanks to the war, and...other issues. I'd rather hear you were having as much fun as you did in your teens."
"Touché, cub, touché," Remus conceded with a smile.
"Witty today, aren't we?" the Lord Black asked in amusement. Harry just shrugged.
"I have my moments," Harry replied. "Oh look, they're getting ready to give out our scores. I wonder if I dazzled them enough."
Daphne snorted and gave him a soft elbow in the ribs, while the other two smiled at the interaction.
In the end, Harry led all scores with a forty-seven, Karkaroff being the only judge not to award him a perfect ten. Fleur was given ten points, though she was so focused on her little sister that she barely noticed. Viktor was given a thirty-seven and Cedric a thirty-five, both losing points for only finishing just inside the time limit. Harry had done well enough that he was now leading the tournament. In a stark reversal from the first task, the crowd was now loudly supporting Harry and praising his performance. He chuckled softly and pulled Daphne into a sideways hug.
"Well done, Harry," she whispered, leaning into his shoulder.
In one of the public stands, a man dressed in dark, formal business robes was closely watching the couple, his dark eyes fixed on Harry.
"So, that's Harry Potter. Very interesting...I can see why the master is so interested in him."
~BREAK~
Two days after the task, Astoria walked up to Harry at the end of their weekly Black Wands meeting.
"Have you changed your mind? Are you going to teach us the water walking spell you taught Daphne?"
"No, Astoria. I can't teach you because it's a family spell," Harry informed her once again, ignoring her pout.
"Wait, hold on a minute," Jason Hallys called out. "It's a family spell, but you taught it to Daphne, your girlfriend..."
"Correct."
"Not your wife, your girlfriend. She's a Greengrass - not a Potter, or a Slytherin, or whatever. So why did you teach her? Why are you teaching your family magic to Daphne, when you can't even be sure you'll stay together?"
"And what do you mean by that?" snapped Daphne.
Jason gulped, finding himself being glared at by a circle of angry young women and realising he probably should have just kept his mouth shut.
"I-I don't mean anything bad, it's just… I don't know, how can you know you're not going to break up? How can you be sure you'll want to stay together forever?"
Daphne relaxed after getting a better understanding what the boy was asking.
"He's got a point, you know?" Harry said, ignoring the gasps from the girls. "Maybe I'm taking you for granted. I never even considered the idea that you may one day grow tired of me."
"That won't happen," Daphne replied unconcernedly.
"Not after all that I've seen and everything you've made me feel," she added to herself. "Never."
"Still, maybe I shouldn't take you for granted so much."
"You've never taken me for granted, at least not that I've realised," she replied, now sounding slightly unsure.
"You imbecile! You loudmouthed, meddling bastard!" Astoria raged, drawing her wand on Jason. "Why did you even have to open your stupid mouth?"
She fired a spell at him, but the firstie dodged it and raised his hands in surrender.
"Hold on a minute, I only asked a question," he maintained, before being forced to dodge another spell. "Hey, stop it!"
"If they break up, I am so going to hurt you! I guarantee they will never find your body, you snotty little bastard!"
"You kiss your mother with that mouth?!" he asked cheekily, enraging Astoria even further.
"Oh crap, me and my big mouth," he mumbled to himself as he dodged one spell and leapt out of the way of another.
"A little help, please?"
"Yeah, you deal with your own problems here, kid," Theo smirked. "Think of it as a character-building exercise."
"I hate you!" Jason replied, hastily raising a shield against a minor jinx.
"Five galleons says that Jason can dodge or defend at least ten more spells before your sister hits him," Harry said to Daphne.
"You're on, Potter," she responded. "Come on, Tori! You can hit him, just be faster and smarter!"
"Keep it up, Jason," Harry told the boy as he rolled out of the way of another spell. Jason successfully defended himself eight more times, before they both cast Expelliarmus simultaneously and disarmed each other. It was Jason's bad luck that his wand landed right by Astoria's feet. She excitedly picked it up and pointed it directly at Jason.
"Stupefy!"
The wand worked perfectly for her, and the red jet of light connected with Jason's chest. Astoria raised her arms in celebration, but she paused her gloating once she noticed the surprised looks the older members were giving her.
"What?"
"His wand...does it work fine for you, or did you have to put more power into it than usual?" Millie asked.
Astoria frowned slightly and examined the wand.
"Now that you mention it, it feels almost exactly like my wand. It feels just as warm," Astoria replied, while the others traded looks.
"Why, what does it mean?" she asked nervously.
"Nothing, really," Harry responded. "I'm guessing your wands are made from the same materials. It's just unusual for a person to come across a wand that works as well as their own by chance."
"That's true, it usually takes several tries to find a compatible wand," Theo replied, thinking back to when he was eleven. "I think I went through at least ten. Ollivander was actually excited; he considered it a challenge."
"Poor you, I lost count at twenty," Justin added.
"There you have it, Astoria," Daphne assured her sister, extending her hand to ask for Jason's wand back. "It doesn't mean you two are compatible, only that his wand is compatible with you."
"Should we let him try her wand?" Harry asked.
"He could, but I don't see the point," Daphne replied, while Astoria glared at Harry. The sisters were trying to put the topic to rest, but the others were already too curious to let it go.
"Ouch..." Jason mumbled, rising from the floor after being revived by Harry.
"What happened? Oh yeah, Greengrass..."
"You cost me five galleons, Jason," Harry joked.
"Yeah? Well, gambling is a matter of chance," he grumbled.
The rest of the group laughed. They may have been sceptical at first, but by now they had all grown to appreciate Jason's resilient attitude and witty remarks. He had rapidly become well liked within the group, owing largely to his open mind and willingness to learn.
"We'd like for you to try casting a spell with Astoria's wand," Harry said, extending her wand to him.
"Why?" he asked. "Because she cast the Stunner with mine?"
"Yes, and because it worked easily for her," Harry answered. "We're just curious to see how hers will perform for you."
Jason accepted the wand and saw everyone looking at him expectantly. He flinched slightly at the look Astoria was giving him.
"This doesn't mean we're both compatible at any level, does it?" he asked, triggering a round of laughter from the group.
"Not at all, kid."
Jason sighed in relief.
"Thank heaven for small mercies," he mumbled. "Lumos."
"How does it feel?" Daphne asked.
"Familiar. Mine is cedar and dragon heartstring… Nox."
"So is mine," Astoria replied, quietly taking her wand back from the younger boy.
"Like we said, it's of no consequence at all, it's just one hell of a coincidence," Harry reassured them. "Now, since we're already out of time, thanks to Astoria and Jason's impromptu duel..."
Astoria crossed her arms and shot Jason a smug smile.
"Have a nice evening, and we'll see each other tomorrow in classes."
"See you tomorrow, guys. I still have to finish an essay for Herbology," Justin said as he jogged to the door. The others said their goodbyes and were soon on their way. Harry decided to stay behind to work on a few things, so the sisters were the last to leave the room.
"What the hell was that?" Daphne asked Astoria, the moment they entered the corridor.
"What?"
"You assaulted Hallys. May I ask why?"
"I did not..."
"Yes, you did," Daphne pressed. "You were lucky we found it amusing and decided it was good practice for both of you. Care to explain why you did it?"
"He was being an idiot and asking stupid questions," Astoria huffed.
"While it ultimately meant nothing, he actually did ask a pertinent question. He certainly didn't mean any harm by it, and your assault on him served no purpose."
"I don't believe it; you're taking his side?" Astoria asked incredulously. "Why do you defend him? He's arrogant, he's a Gryffindor, he's..."
"He's a first year trying his best. He's young and skilled, just like you," Daphne replied. "Why do you hate him so much?"
"I..." she started, then looked down at the floor.
"Astoria, look at me."
She sighed and lifted her head to look at her sister.
"I don't know what your problem with Hallys is, but it needs to end," Daphne told her.
"He's better than me," Astoria whispered sheepishly. "Everyone likes him, and all the spells seem to come easier to him. Even you and Harry seem to help him more."
"What? Are you jealous of him?"
Astoria muttered under her breath but didn't answer.
"Astoria, you're my sister. You know that if you need help, I'll always be there for you, but you need to control your temper. What if a teacher had seen it?"
"I'm sorry," Astoria replied.
"No, you're not..." Daphne sighed. "Whatever your problem with Hallys is, fix it. Just ignore the boy or whatever, but I don't ever want to see or hear about anything like what happened today, am I clear?"
"Yes, Daphne."
"Good. Now, let's get back before curfew. Nice Disarming Charm, by the way," Daphne complimented her sister.
"I think I could do better," Astoria replied, and Daphne nodded in agreement.
"You can, but you still did very well," the older sister insisted. "I'll tell you what, how about tomorrow we go back to the room and have a sister's evening? We can talk about whatever you'd like, and I'll help you with anything you need."
"That sounds great," Astoria replied happily, and the two sisters walked side by side back to the Slytherin common room.