"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Parseltongue"

Writing/Reading

"YELLING"

Harry led Daphne up to his room, trying to avoid fidgeting. He figured that it would be better for him to get his clothes first before he got his school stuff. As the two entered the room, Daphne took stock of the room. Although she kept her facial expressions hidden, she couldn't help but feel disgusted at how bad the room was, though she heavily suspected that Harry was not the cause of it.

The room was relatively small and had a bed mattress sitting on the floor and looked as though the springs were sticking out. To her immediate right, was a wardrobe that looked as though it had one door about to fall off its hinges. There was a small desk next to the mattress that sat beneath the window; when Daphne looked closer at it, she noticed that it had braces for bars sitting on the outside of it. To the left of the room, was a dresser, on top of which rested Harry's faithful snowy owl, Hedwig, in her cage.

Hedwig's large amber eyes watched Daphne critically. Daphne shivered slightly, wondering if the white owl somehow might've known that she was a Slytherin student, and could potentially be a threat to her master. In many ways, she had to admire the owl's dedication, compassion, and loyalty to her owner. She even had to respect the owl, for wanting to make sure that Harry was safe; she had to imagine that any animal would be like Hedwig when it came to their owners.

"So this is where you sleep?" She asked Harry, trying to get to know him. "It looks ... well, I hope you don't take offense but, it doesn't look good."

Harry couldn't help but cringe at the words that came from the Slytherin girl's mouth. He wasn't as conceited as his school rival Draco Malfoy, who was also from Slytherin like Daphne, but he did feel a little bit of shame in regards to the way he had to grow up with the Dursleys. As best as he tried to hide the cringe, Daphne was still able to spot it, leading her to regret her choice of words, and to feel sorry for her betrothed, who was also her godbrother.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean that the way it came out." She apologized, letting her mask drop.

Harry looked at Daphne and looked at the way she held herself. She stood in front of him with a feeling of confidence and sincerity, and he also felt a sense of kindness and compassion towards him. He also saw how she regretted her words, and that she was truly sorry for saying them. This was something that surprised Harry, especially from a Slytherin. Once again, he found himself misjudging Daphne due to Malfoy's behavior.

"It's ok," He said, moving quickly to ease her feeling of regret. "My aunt and uncle made this my room sometime before the start of my First Year, in hopes that they could prevent the Hogwarts letters from arriving."

Daphne angled her head, and raised her eyebrows, a look of curiosity and interest on her face as Harry turned his back to her. She also felt confusion take root as well; Harry said that he was moved into this room sometime just before their First Year, so where did he sleep before they moved him? It was something that she knew her mother would most likely want to know, but Daphne didn't want to push Harry. They were just starting to get to know one another, and she didn't want to mess things up. Plus she didn't want their betrothal to start on a bad start, which so far it was, if just slightly. So she decided to change the subject.

"My mother is your godmother," She said to him, watching with interest that Harry turned back to her quickly, a look of shock on his face. "She was close friends with your mother in their Hogwarts years, and your mum decided to choose her as your godmother, even though my mum was a Slytherin, and yours was in Gryffindor."

Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. Not only did he have a godfather, but he also had a godmother? And his godmother happened to be the mother of the very girl that he was betrothed to? Harry guessed that Daphne thought he didn't believe her, cause she started to reach for something in her pocket. She then pulled out a picture and gave it to him.

"Here, this is a picture of my mum, holding you as a baby," She explained, as she gave him the picture. "She was about eight months pregnant with me when you were born, so that's why her belly looks big in the picture."

Harry took the picture with a shaky hand and looked at it. Sure enough, he saw his mother in the background, laying in what he guessed was a hospital bed, and himself as a baby, but what drew his eyes, was the woman, who must've been Daphne's mother and his godmother, holding him in her arms. The woman was certainly beautiful, and Harry guessed that she was an older version of Daphne, though, unlike the girl who gave him the picture, the woman didn't have as bright blue eyes as Daphne; Harry described Daphne's eyes as vibrant sapphire blue, whereas her mother, his godmother, had ocean blue eyes. The woman was smiling as she held Harry in her arms, and Harry, as a baby in the picture, smiled back at her, his little arms trying to reach out to her. The picture was obviously magical, since the individuals in the picture were moving. Harry's mother looked as though she was laughing, and Harry's arms were reaching up towards Daphne's mother, while said woman kept leaning her head back as if she was trying to keep her face out of the baby's reach.

"Mum said that you tended to grab her hair," Daphne explained, causing Harry to look up at her. "That's why she had to pull her head back away from you when that picture was taken."

Harry couldn't help but laugh when Daphne said that, as it made him feel as though he did have another unknown family member that would love him, like Sirius. Then a thought came into Harry's head. Did Sirius, and Remus Lupin his parent's close friend, know that Harry also had a godmother, and in extension a betrothal contract? If they did, then why didn't they say something to him? And if they knew who his godmother was, and if he was betrothed, could that mean that Peter Pettigrew knew as well?

These were undoubtedly questions that he would have to ask his godmother and when he was able to, write to Remus and Sirius and ask if they knew. He simply didn't want his godmother, and Daphne, to be in any sort of danger from Pettigrew, or anyone that he got in contact with. Harry's concern for his godmother was justified, but for now, he would have to settle with getting ready to go meet her. Thus he returned to the task of what clothes he had with him, which were simply all hand-me-downs from his fat cousin Dudley. This was something else that Harry felt ashamed of, especially in front of Daphne; he didn't have any clothes of his own and was made to wear clothes from his cousin, all of which did not fit him very well.

Daphne saw his clothes as he packed them away, noting how they were all too big to fit him. Like many others in Hogwarts, she had always seen Harry in clothes that hung off his body whenever they weren't wearing the school uniforms. While most of the other students in Slytherin House, particularly those led by Malfoy were always laughing at him about this, Daphne was always wondering why her godbrother wore clothes that didn't fit him well. She did remember seeing a whale of a boy that was a year older than Harry downstairs and wondered if these clothes were originally worn by him, only to be given to Harry to wear; though she did suspect that he was reluctantly being made to wear the clothes. Another thing to tell her mother.

"My cousin's clothes," Harry spoke, drawing Daphne's attention to him. "My aunt and uncle always gave my cousin Dudley all the attention, but when it came to me, they just choose to ignore me and give me any of Dudley's old clothes or stuff that he doesn't want anymore; although most of the stuff is usually broken by him."

Daphne looked at Harry with a look of incredulity, having a hard time understanding how someone could treat a child like what Harry said he went through. Much less that he was telling her this, especially when they were just getting to know each other.

"Why are you telling me this?" She asked, her curiosity peaked.

Harry stopped packing, as he thought hard about what he told her. In truth, what he shared with her was more than what he normally shared with Ron and Hermione. Harry was always careful not to let anyone know how he grew up, yet he told a small part about his mistreatments at the hands of his relatives to someone who he had just met. And he shared it with Daphne Greengrass, a fellow soon-to-be Fourth Year, from Slytherin, and his godsister/betrothed. He couldn't fathom how or why he was so willing to share that with her after he was only starting to get to know her.

"To be honest," He answered. "I don't know, I guess since you're my godsister, and your mum is my godmother, that makes you family. Probably my real family, since I don't view the Dursleys as my actual family."

Daphne thought about what Harry had told her, as he successfully closed the suitcase that he had placed all of his too-big clothes in. She had guessed, both on what she had observed in regards to Harry's clothes, the room overall, and the way that his Muggle relatives acted towards him in the sitting room, that he didn't have the best childhood. She then thought of how she grew up with her parents and sister and realized that, unlike Harry, she had it relatively easy; with loving parents and a caring, albeit annoying, little sister. Harry had none of that; instead, he grew up with relatives who didn't want him.

As Daphne was lost in her thoughts, Harry walked over to Hedwig's cage and opened it to let her out. The white owl flew out of her cage, and over to the girl in the room, startling Daphne out of her thoughts. Hedwig landed on Daphne's right shoulder, looked at her intently, and surprised the blonde by rubbing against her cheek. Daphne, utterly shocked by the snowy white owl, returned the gesture by stroking the beautiful white owl's feathers. This seemed to have done the trick, as the owl gently nibbled in the blonde's fingers, and then flapped back to her master.

"Looks like Hedwig likes you," Harry stated, bringing Daphne out of the remains of her stupor, as he stroked his owl's feathers. "And if there's one thing I know about Hedwig, it's that she's a good judge of character. And trust me when I say this: she doesn't usually give someone her trust so quickly as she did with you."

Daphne thought about what Harry just told her, and had to agree with what he said. She could only guess that Hedwig sensed something about her that told the owl that she could be trusted, and gave her a chance. She then watched as Harry walked over to his desk, and started writing a letter. She could only assume that the letter was going to the Weasleys, even though she had already stated that her father had informed the Weasley patriarch that Harry would be staying with them for about a week, and then that they would be bringing him to them. What confused her though, was that he wasn't just writing one letter, but he also wrote three additional letters.

Daphne was curious as to who the recipients of the four different letters were, but she decided not to ask, feeling that Harry would eventually tell her. She then watched as her god-brother/betrothed carefully enclosed each of the letters, though she did note that he put the third and fourth letters together. This made Daphne even more curious, and couldn't help but wonder why he was putting two separate letters for two different people together; unless the fourth letter is for someone that can't get it directly, or can't receive it directly at all, for some reason. Daphne then watched as Harry walked to the window and opened it, and then gave the letters to Hedwig who was sitting on his right arm.

"Now Hedwig, take each of these letters to the Weasleys, Hermione, and Remus." He instructed the white owl, before looking at Daphne, before turning back to his owl. "And when each of them gives their replies, bring them to me at ..."

Harry then turned to Daphne, a look of curiosity and confusion on his face, and Daphne knew why; he didn't know where the Greengrasses lived. She could understand that though; he never visited the Greengrass family once, and he obviously would like to know where his owl could find him. Daphne once again admired the bond between Harry and his owl and walked towards the raven-haired boy with the snowy white owl. Looking into the intelligent bird's amber eyes, Daphne made sure to keep eye contact with the intelligent bird, as she gave her family home location.

"Greengrass Manor, Northampton." She said, and maintained eye contact with Hedwig for another ten seconds, as the owl's eyes flashed, with her family address locking into place in her memory.

After that, Hedwig looked at Harry, and nodded her head, indicating that she was ready to go. Harry turned back to the window and gestured his arm out, helping Hedwig out the window, and take off out into the open air. The two teens watched as the snowy white owl flew away, seeing her disappear as a speck in the sky. After a minute, they stood in silence, each unsure of what to say next. Finally, Daphne decided to break the silence, and hurry the two along.

"We better get the rest of your school supplies," she said, looking into his eyes. "My mother is eager to meet you, and I promised her that I would bring you to her."

Harry nodded his head and grabbed the bag that he put his clothes in; though he didn't see the scowl on Daphne's face. The two thirteen-year-olds walked back down the stairs, and as Harry placed his clothes near the door, he slightly hesitated before turning towards the cupboard beneath the stairs that he used to sleep in for the first ten years he spent at Number Four Privet Drive. He noted with great displeasure that the door was still locked, and figured that neither Dumbledore nor his aunt or uncle bothered to open the cupboard.

"You alright Potter?"

Harry turned to Daphne and looked at her. He didn't want her to see where he had slept as a little boy, as he still felt shame from the way he had grown up. Plus, he had never said anything about the cupboard to anyone at Hogwarts, not even to Ron and Hermione. He was also concerned that Daphne, as his betrothed, might feel disgusted at how he grew up and could tell her parents about the cupboard.

"My school stuff is in the cupboard underneath the stairs," Harry replied, pointing at the door in front of them. "Unfortunately it's locked, so I'll have to ask either my uncle or my aunt to unlock it."

"Why not just use your wand to unlock it?" Daphne asked, her curiosity peaked.

"It's locked in the cupboard," Harry answered, scratching the back of his head. "My relatives don't like anything related to magic; or anything that they considered as freakish, as you already saw in the sitting room. So every year when I get back from Hogwarts, my uncle always made sure that my school stuff is locked away in the cupboard. The only thing I'm allowed to have in my room is Hedwig, as you saw."

(Author's Note: It's been a while since I've read any of the books, so I don't remember if Harry did give his wand to his uncle in the summer between his third and fourth year at Hogwarts or not.)

Daphne nodded her head, understanding what he was talking about. She had indeed figured that the behavior of Harry's uncle indicated that he disapproved of anything that wasn't considered normal from a muggles point of view. She was certain that there was more than he was telling her, but she didn't want to insult Harry for how he lived and put her hand gently on his arm. Though she had nearly removed it when she felt him stiffen as if he wasn't used to someone doing that.

"It's ok," she said, looking deep into his eyes. "You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. But don't think for a second, that however you grew up was your fault; it's your relative's fault for how you were treated."

Harry looked at Daphne in shock, having a hard time believing that someone was defending him from the Dursleys. He nodded his thanks to her and started to walk back to the sitting room. Just as they were before he and Daphne left, the Dursleys were still sitting in their positions, with stiffness in their bodies, and fear in their eyes, while Dumbledore remained standing, looking at one of the Dursley family photos. Harry made a loud enough sound from his throat, getting the attention of those in the room. He then looked at his uncle, drawing upon his Gryffindor courage when he saw the hatred and anger in Uncle Vernon's eyes.

"Uncle Vernon, could you please unlock the door to the cupboard, so that I can get my school supplies, and take them with me, please?" Harry asked, doing his best to stand strong and brave as a Gryffindor should.

Daphne watched Harry's uncle with a careful eye, while also keeping her other eye discreetly on Dumbledore. She could easily tell that Mr. Dursley was not pleased that Harry was standing up to him, and while she couldn't tell for sure, she could swear that Dumbledore's eyebrow twitched. She really couldn't understand why their headmaster was finding it unpleasant in Harry's courage to stand up to his abusive relatives. It was a clear sign that despite everything that they tried to do, they wouldn't succeed in breaking Harry James Potter.

"Why don't you use your freakish abilities," Vernon retorted back, a smug grin on his face. "And open it yourself?"

Harry couldn't help but suppress a sigh. His uncle knew that he didn't have his wand, since it was in the cupboard. Harry also pretty much knew that Uncle Vernon was aware that he couldn't use magic outside of school. Otherwise, he would get in trouble with the Ministry of Magic, just like the summer before his Second Year; though technically speaking that was Dobby the house elf's fault, and Harry was the one who got in trouble.

"Because Uncle Vernon, my wand is in the cupboard," Harry began to explain, exasperation clear in his voice. "And I also can't use magic outside of school."

Daphne watched Harry's interaction with his uncle, and couldn't help but feel outraged by how her betrothed was being treated by his relatives. Harry simply needed to get his school supplies, and his uncle was purposely keeping him from doing so. She looked at Dumbledore from the corner of her eye and detested that he wasn't doing anything to help. So she decided to step in and help.

"Forgive me, Mr. Dursley," Daphne started, her training as a negotiator for the eventual inheritance of her family business kicking in. "But I think it would be beneficial if you let Harry get his school supplies."

Daphne remained unflinching, as Vernon Dursley set his eyes on her. She could see the intense level of hate he had against her due to her magical heritage, even though he didn't know her at all. She could do nothing but inwardly roll her eyes, at the arrogance of the overweight Muggle man. She did not doubt in her mind that Mr. Dursley's negative behavior and actions would one day destroy him, and it would be his fault.

"After all, if you help open the cupboard for Harry," She started, diplomatically speaking with Vernon with a business tone that she did not doubt that he would understand. "You would be able to enjoy the remaining summer and following ten months in complete normalcy. You wouldn't have any, freakishness as you put it, in your house. You'll be able to go through your days as a complete, normal, family without any problem. And Harry would be gone the entire time, and won't have to come back to get his stuff, before leaving for Hogwarts, but again, that's only if you don't help him get his school stuff out of the cupboard."

Harry and Daphne, along with Dumbledore and the rest of the Dursleys, watched as Vernon thought the proposal made by Daphne. It was clear that he was turning the gears in whatever small brain he had in his head, mulling the pros and cons of Daphne's offer. Finally, he looked up at her, with what looked like some modicum of respect in his eyes for her business-like demeanor in his eyes; though the hate towards her "freakishness" was still there, no matter what.

"All right, I suppose that'll be the best deal my family will get," He said, glaring at Harry. "Than having to deal with whatever stench the boy's freakishness will leave in my home. And if it helps to get you freaks, out of my house all the faster, then I'll gladly open the cupboard."

With that said, Vernon got up from his seat and walked, or in Daphne's observation waddled, out into the hallway and opened the cupboard, yelling out to Harry to get his school supplies quickly. Harry looked at Daphne with an impressed look in his eyes for how well she managed to deal with his uncle. As Harry went out to get his supplies, she quickly took a glance into the cupboard and felt disgusted by what she saw inside it.

She saw the remnants of what looked like a bed mattress sitting on the floor, and some rags that must've been used as a blanket discarded to the side. She could barely see them from the angle that she was standing from, but she noticed some shelves that had some broken toys sitting on them. She could easily tell that Harry had one point been forced to sleep in that cramped space, until he was eleven years old, just as he told her earlier.

At first, she felt shocked and horror that someone could do that to their flesh and blood, and then it quickly turned to pure anger and rage. She glared at the nearest two Dursleys, which were Petunia and Dudley Dursley who flinched from the intense look of hatred; and then she turned the glare onto her headmaster, who was conveniently looking at anything but into her rage-filled blue eyes. While her father and mother were reserved about Dumbledore, Daphne did have some respect for her school headmaster; but now that respect, and any trust that she had for him, were gone in that moment. It was no secret that Dumbledore made himself Harry's magical guardian and placed him with his Muggle relatives, but how could he put Harry in a house where he was being abused, and neglected to do anything about it?

Daphne felt even more resolved to speak with her mother about Harry's living style with the Dursleys and did not doubt that her mother would take measures to get custody of Harry. Of course, Dumbledore would undoubtedly try to prevent that, but in reality, Daphne's mother did have every right to fight for custody of Harry, since she was Harry's godmother. Daphne's thoughts were broken as Harry dragged his school trunk into the sitting room, while his uncle simply waddled in, making no effort to help Harry.

"Ok, got my school stuff," Harry said as he quickly pulled his wand out, and stuck it into his pocket, he then looked at Dumbledore. "Umm Professor Dumbledore, do you think you could shrink my trunk, so I can put it in my pocket?"

Daphne watched with contempt as Dumbledore hypocritically smiled with a twinkle in his eyes. She watched as the aged man pulled his wand out of his sleeve. Being this close to Dumbledore, she was able to get a good view of his wand for the first time.

It was a truly interesting-looking piece of wood, made from what looked like elder wood. It had, what she could tell, a small bone inlay that was inscribed with runes, and outcroppings of nodules running down its length. This gave Daphne the impression of clusters of elderberries.

"Of course Harry my boy." He replied, waving his wand, shrinking the trunk.

With the trunk now shrunk, Harry picked it up and placed it into his pocket. Daphne took a moment to look at the Dursleys and noted that their eyes were wide with fright, and there was a clear tremble in their postures. She also noticed that Harry's cousin, Dudley she believed Harry said his name was, gripped his large rear end tightly, eliciting a smirk on her face; she would have to ask Harry why he did that, though she had a sneaky suspicion that it would only make her laugh hard.

"Well, if that is all," Dumbledore said, breaking her concentration. "I think it may be best for us to take our leave, and get to Greengrass Manor. I'm sure your parents will be eagerly awaiting for the both of you to arrive."

Harry and Daphne nodded, and each took one of his arms, as he apparated away. The pop of Dumbledore's disapparition caused the Dursleys to flinch, and shook them up so much, that by the time the photographer arrived to take their family picture, they were still having a hard time staying still.

A/N: Well this surely took its time coming together, but I'm glad it did. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself as I ended the chapter in regards to the Dursleys, though I suppose it was only fair for them to get some comeuppance, if you know what I mean.

Merry Christmas!