Crumpled Horned Plot Bunnies

A Harry Potter fanfic by Andrew Joshua Talon

DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan based work of prose. Harry Potter is the property of J. K. Rowling and Warner Brothers, please support the official release.


Harry arranged to meet Daphne by the Black Lake that Saturday, in a nice, isolated copse of trees jutting out of the Forbidden Forest. He got there first, trying to not look nervous.

It wasn't like this was a date. No, not at all. He was just helping a fellow student.

Who happened to be a gorgeous young woman.

He spotted her approaching. She had discarded her school robe for the weekend, wearing a lovely dark green cloak. It parted thanks to a light breeze, showing off her long legs encased in black leggings.

Harry quickly looked up at the sky and took a few deep breaths. He focused on calming himself.

Not a date! His brain screamed at him.

Besides, he liked Cho. Cho.

"Hello Daphne," Harry greeted her, smiling politely. Daphne stared intensely at him, and managed a nod. She was still standing ramrod straight, prim and proper as always. It looked... Frankly ridiculous, with her standing outside.

"You can relax," Harry said.

Daphne froze, like a statue. Harry chuckled.

"Really, it-it's okay," he said. He laid out a blanket, and sat down. "Come on."

Daphne slowly walked over, and just as slowly sat down on the blanket, on the corner furthest from him. She held up her wand, and quickly wrote in the air with green floating lines.

I'm sorry. I learned this spell so I wouldn't need a chalkboard.

Harry smiled and nodded.

"Very impressive," he complimented her. "You learned it in just a few days?"

Daphne nodded.

"You did very well," Harry said.

Daphne bowed her head, as her entire face bloomed into a bright blush. Shakily, she wrote in the air:

Thank you.

"Okay," Harry said, pulling out a notebook and quill, "why don't we try, uh... Listing reasons you're nervous?"

Daphne blinked. Harry shrugged.

"It's something I saw on the telly once upon a time," he explained, "some talk show where people wrote out their problems and why they're scared. I thought it might help?"

Daphne slowly nodded. Harry handed her the notepad and the quill, and sat back.

"So, go ahead," he said, "write down what makes you nervous."

Daphne wrote... And wrote... And wrote... And used a second page. And then a third. A fourth. A fifth...

She looked up at Harry, and flushed brightly. She bowed her head again, and shakily handed the notepad over.

Harry took it, and began reading. His own eyes widened.

"Wow... That's... That's a lot," Harry commented.

Afraid of failing my family. Afraid my sister's blood curse will kill her. Afraid of the Dark Lord killing everyone. Afraid of looking stupid. Afraid of being afraid. Afraid no one will like me. Afraid people will just use me. Afraid people will leave me.

On and on it went. Harry looked up, grimacing. Daphne was already shaking.

"Maybe this wasn't a good idea," Harry said, "I'm sorry, this is just making things worse. This is all pretty overwhelming..."

Daphne shook her head, and shyly wrote in the air.

I'm sorry. I just couldn't stop when I started.

"You're holding in a lot, huh?" Harry asked. Daphne nodded. "That's okay... Uh..."

Harry turned the notebook to a blank page, and began writing as well. Daphne's eyes locked onto the scarred lines on his hand, and she gasped softly. Harry looked over at Daphne, and then back at the back of his hand. He sighed.

"Yeah... Umbridge makes me write lines for 'lying'," he grunted. Daphne stared in shock. "Her 'detentions'. I have to write over and over-"

Daphne hurriedly waved her wand in the air. Her hand was shaky, and Harry thought she was scared... But a look at her eyes betrayed a different feeling.

That toad is horrible! Daphne wrote. My father said she was awful and to avoid her! I didn't know-That-She-I can't-!

She lowered her wand, shaking in anger. Harry sucked in a breath, and shook his head.

"H-Hey... It's okay, don't get upset," Harry said. He impulsively took her hand in his. That sometimes helped Hermione calm down. "It's okay... I'm here to help you, after all."

Daphne stared at Harry intensely. Harry coughed, and looked aside.

"I-I mean, she's just focusing on me... It's got nothing to do with you, you don't have to care-"

Daphne shakily took his hand in hers. She was breathing hard and fast. She looked him in the eyes, shaking all over. She slowly shook her head.

"I... C-Care," she squeaked.

Harry stared at her. She grew self conscious, then, with a deeper blush, she pulled her hand away and skittered over to the far corner of the blanket again. Harry blushed, and smiled at her.

"Thank you," he said quietly. "Um... S-So... Uh..."

Daphne slowly turned back, her face still burning bright red.

"Uh... L-Let's try..." He looked at the huge list. "Um... How about we just... Take this one at a time? We just talk about something you're afraid of... And work on ways to not be?"

Daphne slowly nodded, keeping her eyes down and her hands firmly in her lap. Honestly, the way she looked like this was so cute it-

Harry immediately forced his eyes down to the notebook.

NOT A DATE! He again reminded himself.

He got the feeling he was going to be doing that a lot...