"YOU LOT 'AVE A GOODEN NOW, YA 'EAR!" Hagrid bellowed louder than the train's horn.
Regrettably, when Harry loaded himself and his luggage onto the Hogwarts Express, he was on his own.
He tried not to let his disappointment show, there was still no doubt in his mind this was going to be Christmas he'd ever had; lessons had been building up so much he was grateful for the time off, and a full two weeks of just he and Sirius was nothing to scoff at either. He knew when he offered her how unrealistic it was that Daphne would take him up on his offer, but there was a small hope in him that she might have changed her mind.
Unfortunately for him, his wish of not being on his own was soon granted, but not in the way he had hoped.
"It's such a shame we won't be able to spend Christmas together won-won!"
He'd finally been able to get Ron in his company, but somehow forgot he and Hermione weren't on speaking terms anymore. As such, the accidental trade resulted in Ron's leech of a girlfriend making up the third party of their usual trio.
"Yeah… absolutely…"
Harry smiled at his friends expense.
What was wrong with this girl? Granted, he didn't have a lot of experience with the opposite sex himself, but neither Cho or Daphne were ever this clingy with him. Cho held his hand and slumped against him when she had the chance, sure, but even she would turn her nose up with how much Lavender was draped across her boyfriend. Daphne, frankly, would've hexed them both on the spot for just making her witness to it.
That being said if anyone looked more uncomfortable than Harry in the carriage, it was definitely Ron.
It was going to be a long two hours back.
Hogwarts was only just beginning to disappear over the horizon and the train made its way deep into the snowy depths of the Scottish highlands.
The Slug Club had their own private carriage, Harry remembered. He'd turned down joining them on the basis he'd rather spend the time with his friends, but now he found himself regretting that decision deeply. He was stuck on quite what to talk about. There was nothing he had to say to Ron that he'd feel comfortable saying in front of Lavender, nor did she seem entirely at home sharing a carriage with Harry either. Ron's expression seemed a million miles away and he looked to be trying to phase himself out of the carriage entirely.
Mercifully, not ten minutes into their journey and salvation soon arrived in an unexpected form.
Hermione appeared at the carriage window and fumbled with the door to let herself in.
"Ronald, we've been summoned to a meeting in the lead carriage," she said like it pained her to do so, before adding a quick, "Prefects only."
Expectantly, Ron was on his feet in a hurry.
"Thank god."
He quickly tried forcing himself between Hermione and the door while never looking directly at her. She noticed Harry and flashed him a dry smile.
"Hello, Harry."
He did his best to nod in return, but was way too preoccupied waiting to see how she'd greet Lavender. When she didn't even acknowledge the girl in the compartment with them at all, Harry was outright impressed by her gaul.
Lavender watched miserably as Ron drained out of the room and she was left behind without a second glance back. It would have been schadenfreude for Harry, if he didn't just realise that now it was the two of them alone together.
A heavy, awkward silence settled over the two. Lavender's eyes slowly sank to meet his and reluctantly, she seemed to share his feelings of awkwardness.
"Lovely weather this time of year... don't you think?" she eased out.
Harry couldn't help it.
A laugh escaped his lips and he found Lavender chuckling as well.
Eventually, she too moved to her feet.
"Sorry about all that… We're a bit intense, I know," she said sheepishly.
Harry gave her a knowing smile.
"It's fine… you guys do you, I guess."
Lavender gave him another appreciative look and let herself out of the room.
Only when the door slid fully shut behind her did Harry exhale. Hermione had come as his saving grace. He had no desire to sit the long journey back on his own, but he'd willingly do twice that amount of time rather than play third wheel to won-won.
He moved to shuffle up against the window.
Nights hadn't been kind to him recently. It wasn't so much dreams that kept him awake - not like last year - now he just found it difficult sleeping all together. Thoughts about the future, drives to act and paranoid overthinking kept him up awake into the mornings. If it wasn't the coming conflict the Order was talking about, the cloud of suspicion surrounding Malfoy or the mission Dumbledore had set for him, then it was Daphne and their recent developments.
Now would be a good time to catch up. He wanted himself right and ready for the holidays with Sirius. With his family.
The window was difficult to get a good rest against. His head kept sliding off the building condensation and every time the train hit a bump, it'd smack him. So he brought his feet up on the seat and twisted to lean back against the window. That was better. Not perfect, mind, but with his arms crossed he found himself in a reasonably comfortable position to let himself drift away.
Of course he only had a few, dull seconds of this before a new noise made him stir. When Harry opened his eyes, the sight starring in on him made him do a startled double take. He hadn't fallen asleep that quickly, had he? He was dreaming, right?
No... Harry was very suddenly wide awake.
He shot to his feet and began fumbling to open the sliding door. It had barely been opened an inch before Daphne forced herself inside, loud crashing her a briefcase against the door-frame and seats as she moved to get in quickly. Once inside, she slammed the door shut behind and dragged the blinds down over the windows. He had barely moved from standing up, he was glued to the spot, almost unsure if his eyes were deceiving him.
"Daphne…" he said in disbelief, "I… can't believe you came."
She looked at him, he saw her face white as a sheet.
"I'm going to be sick."
She dropped her briefcase and fell limply onto the seat opposite him, burying her face behind her hands.
"I cannot believe I'm doing this," she mumbled, "I hate everything about this."
She then swiftly moved her hand to within inches of Harry's face; if he had been paying more attention he'd probably have flinched.
"I'm shaking, look at me!"
Sure enough, her hand was visibly vibrating and even looked cold to touch.
Finally his mind caught up with things.
Daphne was actually there. Here, with him. She'd actually taken him up on his offer. He'd given her an ultimatum and she'd picked him. His excitement over the bigger implications of that decision began to fill his head, but then got instantly drained out over the prospect of them spending Christmas together.
It took all he had to contain the joy spreading around him and force himself to a level-headed mindset.
"It's okay, it's okay…" he leaned forward in his seat, sitting reassuringly on the edge, "... you've made the right decision, I promise. The Order can help you."
"I'm not here for them, idiot."
Daphne made a guttural noise and leaned back, covering her face again with her hands.
"You cannot tell anybody about this. Nobody can know…" she again, spoke in a muffled voice, "Not Granger, not Weasley, nobody. I haven't even told Tracey… she thinks I'm sneaking home."
She looked like she was trying to disappear entirely behind her hands. Harry gave her a smile, which she didn't see. He tried to keep his voice as pleasant as he could, which was difficult with the excitement he was feeling.
The vibe she was giving off could only be compared to a deer in headlights, he certainly wasn't about to scare her away.
"I'm... really glad you decided to do this."
Daphne groaned.
"Yes… well... I've had enough of waiting for things to work themselves out. I'm making my own decisions now."
She moved again and it was now he could see her face properly.
She looked rough. Her makeup was smudged and her hair had frizzed out, both presumably from the amount of times she'd rubbed her face with her hands. Her eyes kept darting suspiciously around the compartment, like she was simultaneously searching for someone while also looking she'd just apparated here on accident.
What was far more noticing than state she was in, however, was the fact that she once had two eyes, but with now one adorning an eyebrow slit.
Harry smiled at her, trying to be comforting, but his attention was now on the new gap cutting her brow in half.
"I like your eyebrow," he said without thinking.
It would be good to chance to subject, right? Try and get her mind off things?
She didn't see it that way. Her nose screwed up and she shifted her hand to rub the area he was talking about.
"I hate it. It is a scar, not fashion. I look like someone from one of Astoria's bands."
Harry gave her a reassuring laugh.
"It looks good, really! I like it."
But she didn't seem convinced. Her face was just as troubled as when she had arrived, but now, he observed, she'd taken to frantically bouncing her knee up and down on the spot.
"Could I sit next to you?" she asked abruptly.
He nodded and budged back over to his place by the window.
She practically launch herself to his side. It wasn't a hug or anything as intimate as that, but their legs now pressed against each other and he could tell she was intentionally pushing against him. It was rare he saw her this uncomfortable. The physical contact probably did a lot for her. He itched to comfort her some more, but it was a conscious decision by him not to overstep his bounds.
"Run me through who I will be meeting. I need to know what to say."
At their sudden proximity, Harry could feel himself growing spicy armpits.
"Well… it'll just be me and Sirius. He's my godfather."
"Sirius Black, yes, that's right... " she said quietly, and mostly to herself, "... the one from the papers. You still need to explain to me why he is your godfather."
"I mean, we have time now?"
"I'd rather not, thanks. Does he live alone?"
"As far as I know… I mean, if you really don't want to meet the rest of the Order, it should just be us, him and the house elf."
She did not speak for a moment, but her expression hardened intensely.
"Just us… right, just us…"
Now the bouncing of her knee seemed even more intense.
He said nothing.
She had been a thousand miles away from their compartment since she entered. It was obvious there was a lot going on in her head, he almost felt like he was being left out of a clearly important conversation.
He was truly lost on what to do. He knew he wanted to comfort her, but didn't know how to go about it without making things worse. Ron hated being touched when he was upset, Hermione liked it, Cho liked it, so he thought it was a female thing, but yesterday Daphne had told him off for hugging her. Yet, now she was pushing herself up against him? The latest in a very long list of her saying one thing but doing the other.
It was stunning this past week that he'd seen so many sides of Daphne that he didn't know existed before. Their entire first year together, she'd been seductive, demanding and confident, that was all a far cry from the shivering girl sat beside him now. He wanted to help her get back to that, but he couldn't offer her any more help than what they were both already heading towards on the train. She was so defensive that he really didn't know what, if anything, he could do to comfort her in the meantime...
Wearily, he tried offering her another encouraging smile.
"Sirius actually really wants to meet you. He knows about us… he approves. You saved his life at the Department of Mysteries."
Daphne shook her head, still staring off into oblivion.
"I did no such thing. And rest assured, if I did, it was by accident."
He waited for her to say something else, but she didn't. He waited another few seconds before speaking again.
"Daphne?"
Her head abruptly cracked upwards like she had just heard a loud noise
"Merlin's Beard, what am I doing!?" she hissed, "I can't do this. I can't do this!"
She moved and looked like she was about to make a go for the door, which made Harry finally give in. He grabbed her cold hand and wrapped it tightly in his own. To his surprise, she gripped it back even harder.
"I'll be with you the whole time, Daphne! You're completely safe with us!"
"It's not you lot I'm worried about!"
A sudden knock at the carriage door and Daphne's head snapped up in alarm. They looked at each other, long and hard. He could practically see the panic spreading across her face.
"Who is that!?"
Harry blinked.
"I don't know? Probably just someone looking for a seat!"
She threw his hand viciously away from hers and hissed at him again.
"Get rid of them!"
Alarmed by her sudden outburst, Harry felt obliged to do so. He stood up and unlocked the door, opening it just enough inches for him to fit his face out.
"Anything from the trolley, dear?"
"No, thank yo-"
"Harry!"
He sighed and brought his head back inside to carriage.
"What?"
"Can you get me a chocolate frog, please?"
Harry stared back at her, dumbfounded. Apparently she took his confusion as hesitation.
"I'll pay for it!" she pushed.
Slowly, he returned to the Trolly Lady, still processing what just happened. He made the exchange with her and purchased a single chocolate frog, then pulled the carriage door shut again between them.
He handed Daphne the chocolate and she was quick to tear open the packaging.
"Immobulus."
The frog froze on the spot and she snatched it up.
Harry blinked. He would have to remember that. Ron told him that charm wouldn't work on the frogs and he'd have to catch them himself. He'd be consulting Fred and George about retaliation.
Daphne took off the frog's head in a single bite and after chewing it, let out a disgruntled sigh.
"Mmhmm..." she nodded, chewing. "... that's… okay… I'm sorry, I'm just ratherstressed. As you can understand, I'm sure."
There was a notable change in her tone that made Harry's face light up.
"Honestly…" he shook his head, "... I didn't think you'd actually come. It's good, really. Thank you."
She gave a bitter, joyless laugh.
"I could seriously go for a glass of wine, right now. Nothing since leaving the common room feels real. I had to rush my things, I'm not even entirely sure what I've brought with me."
Harry had to mull that one over before he responded.
"Sirius has a wine cellar, I think? Three could sit down for a drink once we've get settled?"
She nodded, but looked more like she was reassuring herself of something than agreeing with him.
"That sounds nice…" she mumbled quietly, "Yes, that sounds nice."
To his surprise, it was her that moved to retake his hand. Her movements were gentle, she interlacing their fingers together, with his hand on top of hers. It instilled an automatic, almost mandatory swelling to happen in the pit of his stomach.
It felt almost childish to describe a woman of her stature as cute, but blimey, he could have scooped her into his arms and squeezed her to death at that moment. After all they had been through, really why did he still get butterflies around her?
Daphne shifted back into her seat, he moved with her and their shoulders now pushed against each other. From the corner of his eyes, Harry could see the redness on her cheeks.
She was a lot more sensitive than he had first thought. He felt like he'd gotten to know the real Daphne more this past week than all of last year. They were really going to be in uncharted territory with whatever happened once they got off this train. He'd stick with her, but he'd be lying if he said he was confident in himself to give her everything she wanted. But he would try his best, because she deserved that, and that was half the battle.
And indeed, there would be a lot of trying.
"I can't do this! No! Absolutely not!"
"Oh, Daphne! Sit down!"
Coming back to London always felt like a short journey; that was because he'd always have the Dursleys waiting for him when he got there. It was goodbye to Hogwarts and his friends and back to the life living as his adopted families third, fourth or fifth priority. It was a journey that was never quite long enough, because he never wanted it to end.
Yet his had been, quite possibly, the longest journey of his entire life.
By the time the Hogwarts Express finally pulled into Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, he was physically and mentally drained. It had been twos hours straight of trying to calm Daphne down. Every time she was talked into believing she was doing the right thing, it'd be a matter of minutes before she panicked, tried to leave and the whole cycle started again. He'd even had to physically wrestle her back into her seat a handful of times. His joy at her decision was wearing thin and it was taking a lot for him to remain positive, for her sake. He counted his blessings as the train finally pulled up to the platform.
They waited until the majority of students had vacated the corridor before attempting to make their move.
"Walk at least ten paces ahead of me. Don't look back!"
Harry rolled his eyes. He would do what she asked, since this was on her terms, but his enthusiasm had emptied entirely.
He stepped off the train to find the platform near abandoned, with barely a few stragglers remaining. He had been hoping to see the Weasley's off before departing for Grimmauld Place; he didn't blame them for not waiting for him. Pulling his trunk behind him, he made his way down the platform and to the entrance to the muggle world.
Crossing through the hidden portal, he found it was a little more crowded on the other side, but it still felt strange doing this routine on his own.
He carried on his way, crossed through the barriers at the end of the platforms and out into the open of the train station. He stopped on the spot and did a look around, hoping to spot her following behind him, but wasn't able to glance her through the gathering crowd. He lingered in this area and hoped she hadn't lost him. They really didn't have any way of communication and he didn't exactly trust her on her own in a muggle train station… Was it bad of him for thinking like that?
Harry moved on towards the station's exit. He couldn't spot her inside and he'd stood still long enough for her to catch him up. With any luck, if she had gotten lost then she'd go outside to look for him.
The sky had grown dark and the wind had come in force, but it was to his delight he found it started snowing.
He walked a few paces away from the station and his feet crunched the fresh blanket of snow as he circled the taxi ring. He glanced around again. Still no Daphne in sight. Now he was beginning to worry. He really didn't see how they could have gotten separated so easily, especially when the station was as empty as it were.
He was no longer subtly looking for her, either. Harry placed his briefcase down beside him and brought his hands up to his eyes, squinting to make out the figures around him in the darkness. It only took a few seconds for the winter air to soak through his clothes and start making him shivering. He didn't have long out here before he'd have to go back the way he came. Really, where was she?
Just as he was beginning to debate turning around and heading back inside to look for her, he squinted again and at that moment made out a tiny blonde head coming his way out of the station.
"DAPHNE, COME ON!" he shouted to her.
The figure suddenly sped up and when it drew closer, staring daggers at him.
"Shut up!"
"Did you get lost?"
"No! I was being inconspicuous!"
He waved her off, tutting. Again, she was uncomfortable and he was determined not to snap at her. Luckily, a black taxi caught his gesture and pulled up beside them. Daphne moved back in alarm, he leaned to the window.
"Lincoln's Inn Fields, that alright mate?"
The cab driver gave him an a-okay sign and he moved them to the back.
He opened the door for Daphne, but she didn't budge, just continued glaring at the taxi suspiciously. It took a second for the dots to connect in his head; she had probably never been in a car couldn't fight it. A smile escaped onto his face at the image of the grumpy short lady in the snow. Videos of puppies growling came to mind.
"You okay with this?"
"I am… fine," she answered in the most un-fine way possible.
Harry nodded at her, still smiling.
"Just climb in. I'll show you how to put the seatbelt on."
Slowly and apprehensively, she climbed inside. She tired maintaining as much dignity as she could, which wasn't a lot as she clambered gracelessly through the car's door and across its seats. Harry picked up both their luggage and threw them to the floor inside, then joined her.
"It's called a taxi," he said under his breath.
She scrunched up her nose like he'd just called her something foul.
"I know what a vehicle is!" she spat back.
At that moment the engine started and a jolt racketed through the car. Her hand shot to his knee, where her nails embedded through his pants and into his flesh. He gave a calm and reassuring smile to her. Inside he wanted to cry.
The car moved forward and Daphne fell back in her seat, her grip still tight on his knee.
"First time?"
She nodded, breathlessly.
"In a while, yes. And I don't exactly have a… good history, with muggle cities."
He didn't catch her cryptic meaning, but pushed it from his head as the car began its journey. He didn't know how long this ride would take to his godfathers place, as he'd never actually travelled there by car before, but could tell by the rush hour it was going to be a longer one than normal.
It took awhile before Daphne settled down by his side. When she did eventually relax her shoulders and lean back against him, it was in silence. Her face was glued to the window; he didn't know whether she was in awe at the view of London or if she just felt uncomfortable in the taxi drivers presence. The grip remaining on his leg gave him a clue to the answer.
"You okay?" he whispered to her.
She nodded, still not looking at him.
"Those lights… they are gorgeous," she said, almost sounding like she was in disbelief.
Another warm feeling spread through his upper body. It hadn't occurred to him how spectacular sight of a major city covered in fairy lights would appear to someone from the wizarding world. He brought his hand down on top of hers. The rest of their journey passed in silence, he zoned out for most of it, joining Daphne in watching the Christmas lights pass them by.
It was a good half an hour before he started recognising locations through the windows. He began to fish for his wallet and Daphne was brought of her trance, alarmed by his movements. As they exited the taxi, Harry thanked the man and handed his due money, plus a small tip.
Stepping out into the snowy streets, Daphne didn't seem to notice the cold as her wandering eyes took to examining their location deeply. No sooner had they exited the car had Grimmauld Place emerged from nowhere, inflating in the centre of the Muggle apartment block like it were a balloon trapped between the cracks. He looked expectantly at her, hoping to see the same wonder on her face that he'd had seeing it for the first time, but found her still too busy looking sparing at their surrounding darkness.
He was still half on half is she was terrified of London or fascinated by it, and thought best not to ask.
He walked up the snowy steps and took out his wand, tapping against the door in the same manner he'd seen Mad-Eye Moody do a year previously. Many loud and metallic clicks sounded from the other side, which brought Daphne's attention back.
"You'll like Sirius, honestly, he's a proper laugh. He'll talk you through everything, he'll make sure you don't have to do anything that you don't want to do. You can trust him with your life."
As she sighed, a long plume of hot fog left her mouth.
"I do not place my trust in strangers... I do however, trust you, so I'll take your judgement on him into consideration."
Harry couldn't help but roll his eyes. Again.
"You ready for this?"
Daphne shook her head, breathing so loudly now that he could hear it over the nearby traffic..
"I think I am going to be sick."
"Is that a yes, or?"
She grimaced at him.
"Just open the door. Get this over with."
Turning the knob, the door creaked open and he stepped inside. He was instantly consumed by darkness and the smell of damp. Daphne filled in behind him, looking around the place in grotesque curiosity..
He suddenly felt something very hot trickling down his back. Something shifted in the darkness ahead of them before either could say a word, a shining blast came hurtling their way. It ran in slow motion, giving Harry only enough time to brace for impact.
As it hit, it blinded him instantly, but didn't fully topple him to the floor. He blinked quickly, trying to regain his sense as stars dotted in and out of his vision and he swung blindly at whatever was ahead of him. He heard a noise from Daphne, not a scream, but a kind of barbaric growl.
He fought for his ability to see, when things had finally settled enough he found himself forced head-first against the wallpaper.
"WHAT CREATURE SAT IN THE CORNER THE FIRST TIME HARRY POTTER VISITED MY OFFICE AT HOGWARTS?!"
His vision took a second to focus, then he realised it was Lupin, of all people, that had him pinned and was shouting at him. Adrenaline surged through his system suddenly. Harry scrambled to grab his hands and drag them from his throat.
"ARE YOU MAD-"
"WHAT CREATURE!?"
Another push of force from Lupin winded him. He abandoned trying to fight for an escape.
"Ah... er… GRINDLYOW!"
Lupin's eyes narrowed and after a second, he released him. He slumped to the floor entirely and his back hit the wall opposite. As he clambered to regain his feet, he felt the focus in the room switch. He looked back to see Tonks holding Daphne against the door in a painful-looking headlock.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME YOU FI-"
She didn't have time to finish the sentence, not before Tonks tore back her sleeve and dramatically revealed her Dark Mark to the entire scene.
Dust swirled slowly around Harry.
He knew what that burning feeling had been. He should have thought ahead. He was an idiot. Grimmauld Place had protection wards over it, which obviously would have been triggered by bringing a Death Eater, unannounced, through its doors.
"TONKS! LET HER GO!" he broke the stunned silence.
She didn't budge. From her position, still straining to hold Daphne down, Tonks shouted back their way.
"IS HE UNDER THE IMPERIUS CURSE?"
"It'd have worn off the second he came through!"
It wasn't Lupin that spoke, Harry turned and instead saw Sirius barrelling towards them through the living room.
"Sirius! Tell them!" Harry yelled. "Tell them we came in together! Tell them she wants asylum!"
The older man barged his way through Lupin and he and barked harshly down the corridor.
"Let her go, Nymphadora!"
"You're having a laugh, aren't you?!"
"I think we should allow her to speak for herself!"
Tonks stared at him unpleasantly for a moment before eventually conceding. When she did allow Daphne free, she seemed to make sure it was in the most undignified way she could manage. Daphne slipped awkwardly out of her grasp and leaked miserably onto the floor. Sirius crossed the hallway in a few quick strides and placed is arm on the wall, separating the two women.
Daphne got up, panting and watching Tonks deliberately over his shoulder.
"Well, Miss Greengrass?"
Daphne looked ready to kill. Harry was half-and-half on whether to shove himself between her and Sirius.
"First... she…" she stuck a harsh finger at Tonks, who looked ready to dive-bomb her again at any moment, "... isn't allowed to touch me. Second... Harry is telling the truth. I've come to seek asylum from my father and the Dark Lord."
"She's a Death Eater!" Tonks shouted.
"Tonks, please!" Sirius snapped at her, before turning back to Daphne with a gentler voice, "Are you telling us the truth, Miss Greengrass?"
She straightened up on the spot.
"Yes, I am."
Sirius nodded.
"Would you still be saying that if we put you under the effects of veritaserum? Would you submit to such willingly?"
"I would."
Sirius looked back their way and nodded to Lupin. From the corner of his vision, Harry saw Lupin put his wand away. Tonks, however, fumed harder.
"That can't be it!" she shouted again.
Sirius, still calm, raised a hand between them.
"Death Eater or not, she saved my life and as did Harry, once. I owe it to them both to hear her out."
Tonk's hair flashed a harsh red, which made Daphne do a double take in surprise.
"There is a Death Eater inside our highly classified secret base and you two are just stood around talking about it! She could have You-Know-Who leading an army here right this minute!"
Harry jumped in while he could.
"No, I invited her! I had to convince her to come!"
"You don't know what you're saying, Harry!" Tonks addressed him properly for the first time, then turned back to Lupin and Sirius. "How can the two of you be so blind?"
"SHUT IT, PAIR OF YOU!" bellowed Sirius, silencing the corridor.
Daphne moved towards Harry suddenly. She walked with such determination and aggression he almost thought she was coming at him for a second. She moved behind him, sealing herself off from the others in the cramped corridor, as though he would actually stand a chance if it came to a duel between the four of them. Even while shying behind him for protection, she someone made him feel like it was his fault he wasn't already guarding her.
Tonks glared at her over his shoulder. Sirius clapped his hands loudly together.
"Kreacher, pop the kettle on! We're not going to get any of this resolved by standing about and arguing over it. If the lass says she's willing to be subjected to veritaserum, then that should be the only thing we're doing right now."
Lupin moved forward to interject.
"If I might - we do encounter a minor problem in that, Sirius. Veritaserum stock is still recovering from Umbridge's mass recall," he shook his head. "We could request Severus for some, I'm sure he'd only be too happy to help, but Merlin knows how long that would take."
"Not Professor Snape," Daphne cut in.
Lupin frowned and craned his head around Harry to address her.
"And why is that, my dear?"
"Told you she's not what she seems..." Tonks answered before she had the chance.
Daphne sent another scowl her way before answering.
"He's a Death Eater and cannot be trusted. "
Lupin stifled a laugh.
"My dear, Dumbledore trusts Snape. Therefore, everyone in this house trusts Snape."
Harry suddenly found it his natural place to interject again.
"But Snape is helping Malfoy. They are both up to something. I overheard them talking about it."
Lupin paused and blinked at him for a moment. He looked troubled with what Harry had said, but for some reason or another, decided not to follow him up on it.
Sirius moved his hand to Lupin's side, pulling the ex-professor's attention.
"What do you suggest, Moony?"
Lupin shook his head. A troubled sigh left his lips.
"It is… difficult. A number of solutions come to mind, but not many of which one could consider ethical. A precaution to some could appear cruel and unnecessary to others. We could, say… confine her to a room and place magical wards over it, just until we can be sure-"
"Lupin, don't be-"
Harry interrupted again, but to his surprise it was Daphne that pulled him back.
"No, that is fine."
She moved to meet Lupin and Sirius, which made Tonks take a sudden step forward to them.
"That is acceptable. You would be foolish to trust me from my word alone. I respect your wishes and I will gladly be your captive until such a time that you can prove my sincerity."
Harry stared at her, while Sirius just clapped his hands together again.
"The girl has spoken! Let's get to it then!"
Tonks growled.
"You can't be serious!"
"That is literally my name."
Hours later in Grimmauld Place, Harry and Daphne sat miserably opposite one another in a kitchen, and such had been the scene for the last hour. He sat at the head of the table, closest to the door, while she sat on the side opposite, closest to the sink. They hadn't said anything between them in a while.
The kitchen was cold and it was growing colder. The candle that lit the room had since gone out and neither of them had the drive to do anything about it. They were still bundled up in their winter clothes, having not had the chance to settle down properly, and now a rising annoyed was beginning to fill both of them.
The important conversation between the adults was happening in the other room. Whatever Christmas cheer or joy at one another's presence the two had been feeling was long since worn off and a depressing silence leaked throughout the scene. Their futures were being decided for them in a separate room, a fact of which the two had become aware of far too late.
"I'm sick of this!" Daphne erupted suddenly, startling Harry.
There was a screeching noise as she pushed her chair back and rose to her feet, then the click-clacking of her shoes as she crossed the room at speed.
"I refuse to sit around while my fate is decided for me by strangers! I have just left that party and I'm in no rush to hurry back to it!"
She brought out her wand and muttered a spell Harry had never heard before, then placed her wand against the door that held Sirius, Lupin and Tonks behind it. For a moment a strange fizzing sound filling the room, then voices began to emerge from the static.
"He's a teenage lad, Sirius, of course he's going to believe anything some blonde bimbo says to him!"
That was Tonks' voice - she was yelling.
"You sound jealous, Tonks? You know you can just change your face whenever you like, right? You don't need to always shit all over pretty people."
Sirius was talking now, Harry would recognise his voice anywhere.
"I'm saying that I know the lure pretty girls have, and what teenage lads think with! Don't you think it all just works out a bit too perfectly that the gorgeous, upper-class, rich daughter of a Death Eater would be interested in Harry?"
The adults must have placed a silencing charm over the room, which Daphne had just bypassed. Harry didn't know which spell she had just used. Surely he'd have remembered one as useful as that if they'd been taught it in lesson?
He'd ask her about it at a more relevant time. He pushed his chair back to give him a better ear of the door.
"What's wrong with Harry? He's a good looking lad for his age!" he defended. "Tonks, will you sit down!? Merlin's Beard stop getting so worked up!"
"Can you blame me?! You two are willing to risk everything we've worked towards just 'cause some lil' blondie with big tits has shown up!"
His eyes snapped over to Daphne, waiting on a reaction. The girl remained stone faced, however, as though she simply hadn't heard the comment. God, how he had missed that. She kept her wand against the door.
Lupin gave a troubled noise.
"Please do not box me and Sirius in together, Tonks," he interceded in a calmer voice, marking him from the others. "I agree we need to be very careful around Miss Greengrass. How we go about it should be the issue."
"We go about it by hexing her and calling Dumbledore!"
"Oh, for the love of…"
There was some stomping noises moving away from them which Harry guess was Sirius venting his frustration. He sounded to be getting just as worked up as Tonks was.
"Look, it's good you're supportive, Padfoot, but realistically... Well, we all have somebody we know quite well that's in Slytherin. At the risk of boxing them all in together, deception seems to come more naturally to them than others."
"Mum was always good at getting us to do what she wanted... Dad never had that, being a Hufflepuff and all."
"Now, obviously I'm not saying something as trivial as her schoolhouse automatically declares her a bad person, but a relationship between the two of them would definitely be a strategic advantage to the Dark Lord. It is worth keeping our guard up to the possibility! And even if she is genuine in her feelings, it doesn't change the fact that advantage remains."
"No, that's the exact story her dad fed to Voldemort, according to Snape! He wanted to have her tortured after it got out she helped the Order at the Department of Mysteries, but they were able to turn it around and get Malfoy held responsible for it. Then he collaborated their story and got Malfoy chucked under the bus, now Benny is second in command. They wouldn't go through that many hoops unless they were deliberately trying to cover something up! Daphne fought against her father to be with Harry! Snape even said she was covered in bruises at the end of last year."
"Oh give over, Snape protects his own! If she's right about one thing, it's that he can't be trusted in the Order."
"Tonks… please… can we not have infighting between our own?"
"So, what? Snape says Benedict lied to Voldemort's face? And he got away with it? I don't believe a word of it, nobody can lie to him!"
"If it's to protect his daughter... And make himself look good, I wouldn't underestimate that man. If their relationship was really a ruse on her part, and Snape's word can be trusted - which it can - then he wouldn't have gone through all that. It's too many pieces that just don't fit together if she truly is working against Harry."
"I still don't like it. We cannot trust anybody who has the Dark Mark! I don't care if her little schoolgirl puppy-dog eyes works on you both, I'm not falling for it! She is dangerous, we need to wipe her memory and call Dumbledore!"
"I trust Harry's judgem-"
"What happens when we call Dumbledore, Tonks? You know he'll take our side and want to talk things through with her. And even then, has it occurred to you maybe bringing Dumbledore in is exactly what she wants?"
"Oh not you too, Moony!"
"I'm just being precautious, Sirius! If the Death Eaters have infiltrated the Order, their first line of action would be finding a way to take down Dumbledore. That prospect should override everything. Miss Greengrass needs to be treated as a worst-case scenario until a time her innocence can be proven."
"Exactly! So let's get rid of her!"
"Tonks!"
"If we really had a captive Death Eater right here in our kitchen, your first line of action would be to kick her out?"
For the first time, there was silence. Tonks had stopped shouting and Sirius' movements couldn't be heard either.
Harry and Daphne glanced at one another for a second. Apparently the uncomfortable position she was in had gotten to her, so she moved to place her wand on the floor and retake her seat, while still listening in on the conversation.
"Right then… now that we can talk without shouting… let's figure out what we're going to do about her. Her intentions will become clear as soon as Severus brings us what we need. Until then we need to prepare for all clauses."
Lupin was talking quietly, making them both crane to hear him. From what Harry had seen, his ex-professor was good at keeping a level-head during intense moments. In the Marauders he had been the level-headed one. The Hermione, if you would.
"If what she says is true and she is genuinely here to seek asylum, we need to be accommodating. This could be the first sign that the seeds of doubt are being spread among Voldemort's followers. If we can show a deserter can come to us and receive protection and a better life, it could go a long way to convincing any others that also have doubts. At the same time… her treachery would make her a target. We can't afford for her to go on the run because she could be a valuable asset. Hogwarts would be safe, but she'd need a protected place when terms over. Move her in here or the Burrow. Somewhere with layers of wards. Maybe even the shack Bill and Fluer found, it'd be good for her to keep a low profile."
"And what if she is dangerous? What then, Remus?"
"Honestly... I don't think much changes. If she is here as some kind of deliberate ruse, wherever she's after Dumbledore or just trying to flush us out, I think it's very obvious we can't allow her to leave. Regardless of her alliances, the information she holds will be valuable. It's just a case of making her reveal it. One of the old rooms, perhaps your brothers, could be converted into a kind of holding-cell for her."
"Is there not somewhere more secure we could hold her? Hogwarts, maybe?"
Tonks was actually discussing things now, Harry noticed, not just arguing. That was good.
"I doubt Dumbledore would take too kindly to us trying to lock up his students."
Sirius gave his recognisable cackle.
"Merlin's Beard, you bullied Flich so much you're starting to sound like him!"
Laughter sounded in the room; Harry even caught himself smiling.
"Either way, I think we can all agree that keeping her here as long as we can should be the way forward. Severus should be able to get us what we need by tomorrow, until then it's a waiting game. We should all be on our toes around her. We also should not leave her alone around Harry too much."
"Way to cockblock my godson."
"If she has manipulated her way into his heart, he could become just as big of a problem as her. The last thing we need is Harry getting turned against us. We all need to be as supportive as we can moving forward, but also keeping our guard up."
"She's not like that, Mooney. He's spoken to me about her, it's genuine with them. I trust Harry's judgement in her."
"You don't have to, but we'll all know soon enough anyway."
"Well, I'm happy with her story."
"You would be!"
"I think we've had enough childish bickering for one night, don't you two? Are we ready to go back in now?"
"Until Snape can come with the veritaserum… then yeah, I guess we're doing all we can. But I'm not speaking to her..."
"We're sorted, then. We've left them waiting long enough, they're probably freezing in there. Happy faces when we go back in, please."
Harry shifted his chair from the door suddenly and retook his position at the table.
A second later the door opened and Lupin, Tonks and Sirius spewed out, all looking more stressed than they had when they'd gone in. The three of them paused suddenly, and it took Harry a second to follow their line of sight.
Daphne was asleep with her head down on the table.
Harry's heart did a somersault.
"Well, there you have it!" Sirius cried. "We can't move her now!"
Tonks scrunched up her nose.
"We can just wake her up?"
He gasped dramatically.
"And disturb a growing, hormonal teenage girls beauty sleep? I won't hear a word of it! Mooney, fetch her a blanket won't you?"
