The next day, Daphne brought herself up from the dungeons alone after finding Tracey still locked in her room.
Yesterday had been awkward - she severely felt she had let her best friend down. Tracey had been there for her during her break down, but now, when it had been time for the goodwill to be returned, she simply hadn't known what to say. Unless she could somehow get her position in the Quidditch team reinstated, which she doubted, she didn't see much she could do. Her influences definitely didn't reach that far, Prefect privileges had absolutely no say over what happened to the schools sports team team. Offering Tracey the time alone for self reflection may not have been the most generous gesture, but it was the one she decided on. Isolation did wonders for Daphne, so maybe the emotional distancing could help Tracey this occasion as well?
When she arrived at the house table that morning she found the other members of the Quidditch team having seemingly recovered from Tracey being stole from them. They were back to their usual jovial business, cracking inappropriate jokes and laughing far louder than necessary. She spotted Astoria a few seats up, though she was with a large group of her friends and thought it best not to bother them. Dominique was nowhere in sight, but she didn't much feel like spending time with her anyways. There was a great deal of muttering as she found her seat, but with relief, none of it was directed at her. So with her usual friendship group absent, she was able to seat herself down on the furthest corner and began tucking into breakfast peacefully.
Peacefully, that was, until the owl post arrived and a large letter with a very recognisable red stamp landed in front of her. Quick as a flash, she ripped her wand from her sleeve pocket and pinned the letter against the table with it.
"Finite Incantatem!"
The letter stopped twitching under her wand and became still. She snatched it up before those around her had a chance to notice and pushed it through the gaps in her shirt.
"Zhat was a 'urleuse?" asked from behind.
Dominique had arrived from somewhere and been able to catch the action just in time.
"It's… one from my father," she answered quickly, as she finished stuffing the dead howler into her bra.
The girl settled down quite suddenly beside her.
"Est-il en colère contre toi?"
While the Prefect-side of Daphne was happy that Dominique felt comfortable talking to her in her native tongue so readily, the Daphne-side of Daphne was getting increasingly bothered by it. Deciding between the two, she nodded in agreement, but otherwise spoke in English.
"We're not on speaking terms at the minute," she answered curtly.
Though it was clear Dominique was concerned, she made it apparent it wasn't a topic she wanted to discuss further. The girl acknowledged this, settled in beside her and began to eat.
"Where iz Tracey?"
But Daphne's mind was too busy now. The thought of the howler was preoccupying her thoughts. What could her father want with her that would warrant sending a howler? She knew he had a temper, but it had never gone that far. He usually preferred to keep any and all family troubles inside the walls of the Woodhouse, lest their name in front of others. Which left a number of reasons why he would be willing to break that rule and contact her so aggressively, and none of which spelled anything good for her.
"I don't know. We should see her in Defense Against the Dark Arts," she said, though struggling.
She was fighting not to give in to the familiar anxieties making themselves known in the palms of her hands and pit of her stomach. If she were to start self-doubting now, she'd end up chasing the rabbit. And she had been doing so much better recently. This was just another part of the healing process. After lessons, the howler would be going straight to the top of the pile of unopened letters from him. He wanted her to stay away for a while and that was exactly what she was going.
"Iz she better from yezterday?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?" she repeated.
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
From the corner of her eye, she could see Dominique's eyes lingering on her. She turned to her and the two girls' met in a standoff-ish stare.
"What?"
She looked like she had a lot to say, but for some reason or another, was biting her tongue over it.
"If you have something to say, then you should most definitely say it."
"You are 'er family, no?"
"We are half sisters."
A sigh of pure loathing came quite suddenly from Dominique's throat.
"'Zhen maybe you should act like it!"
The venom in her voice stunned her so much, she wasn't able to properly respond to it until long after the french girl had gathered her things and stormed away from their table. Shocked at the outburst, she did nothing but watch the girl leave the Great Hall and take an unmistakable turning back towards the dungeons, probably going to Tracey's dorm.
For the second time this breakfast, Daphne felt herself fighting rising emotions. Now she finally had a valid reason to dislike Dominique. Who exactly did she think she was, that she had the right to tell her how to behave? She was a stranger in this castle and had absolutely no say over how it was run. It was none of her business how she and Tracey got on. Daphne took comfort in peaceful, unproblematic isolation, and was merely extending the same courtesy to Tracey right now. She saw absolutely nothing error or selfishness involved in that decision.
Though it wasn't said in specific terms as such, it was apparent that after this breakfast, whatever vague 'friendship' Daphne and Dominique had between them was now over.
Between hers and Harry's bi-weekly visits to the Room of Requirement, watching the Qudditch practise two nights a week, her new-found Prefect duties and recently reinstated nightly-runs, Daphne was left with just one night a week to get assignments done. But somehow, she wasn't feeling the strain nearly as much as before Christmas. She could feel the academics she used to hold so dear steadily slipping away and in a shocking twist of events, also found herself not much caring. She was well-versed in her subjects and still completed assignments on time, the difference was now it was without aggressively seeking the number one spot.
There were more important things to her now and when she was able to step aside from it and look at it properly, she realised she had gone way too hard, way too early. It made her cringe how much the "Best Witch in Hogwarts" badge made her happy, as though it actually meant anything. It was just a pathetic way of making herself feel better than all her peers. It was a prospect that would make her younger self faint over the thought, but she was a different person now. A better and braver one, with her morals in the right place. Now she knew where her priorities lay, and was putting all her efforts into the correct directions.
Bringing herself into their first lesson of the day, she spotted Tracey already in her seat. Charms was the only time the two of them had to themselves without Dominique lingering over their shoulder, meaning if she wanted to address what happened between them this morning, it would have to be now.
"Alright, Daffy?" Tracey asked merrily, nothing akin to her tantrum yesterday.
"Good morning. Have you spoken to Domonique?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Did she say anything?"
She looked half-hearted around them.
"That is how you have a conversation, yeah."
She narrowed her gaze threateningly at her.
Tracey didn't seem annoyed at her for starters, which would mean Dominique couldn't have said anything too bad on her behalf. In fact anything if, she seemed in a better mood than she was yesterday. So whatever had been said between the two was probably for the best. It was just a shame Dominique that had said it and not Daphne. She told herself she wasn't sour about that.
Physically, she shook the ill thought from her head. Chasing the rabbit again. Tracey was better than yesterday and that was all there was to it. If she was happy, then so was she. That's what friends did.
She settled herself grumpily into her seat and brought her book bag to the desk. Silence overtook as Professor Flitwick began the lesson.
The Christmas holidays were still fresh enough in everyone's head that nobody was fully readjusted to being back just yet. Mixed feelings of tiredness buzzed around the room, much to the Professors dismay. Everyone was either not yet fully awake or anticipating the hour-long break they had after this. The clock on the wall ticked slowly away at the time, until approximately half way through the lesson, a tumultuous, unusually-hard knocking rang through the room. A few people froze, few flinched awake, but everyone's head turned in the direction of the door. From his position on his desk, Professor Flitwick twirled his wand and allowed the door to open.
"Wotcher, Professor!"
Tonks appeared in the doorway, out of her casuals and wearing what was unmistakably an Auror's uniform, though it was adorned with a garish pink scarf. Then Sirius Black, wearing something similar but minus the colour, appeared with a fox-like grin behind her. Some of her classmates noticeably flinched as he showed himself. Identically, they both flashed very important-looking badges into the classroom.
"Hello, Professor. Don't mind us."
But Professor Flitwick quickly looked white in the face and was very out of breath.
"Just when I thought Hogwarts was free of it's two most infamous troublemakers... it appears they have teamed up!" he squeaked. "What can I do for you both today?"
Sirius edged into the room, beaming as he took a compliment out of what probably wasn't intended as such.
"Hoping we could borrow a student, actually! Ministry business."
"Very well, very well," the Professor stirred, "which student might you be hoping for?"
"Lady Daphne-Estelle of House Greengrass, please," Tonks answered for him.
There was a murmuring of laughter. All at once, Daphne debated if she could survive launching herself from the window sat ten feet away. She chanced a half glance at Tracey, who was smirking with energy rivalling Tonks.
"That should be quite alright. Miss Greengrass, you are excused."
She had adjusted well to life without everyone staring at her all the time. Apparently, having two aurors turn up during lesson and ask to escort you out was not the correct way to do that. She swung her bag over her shoulder, got up and headed for the door. Walking through the desks, she caught eyes and snarky grins from each direction. Though she held her head high in solidarity, she was dying internally.
"Sorry about that, Daffy," Sirius said, starting to speak the moment the door closed behind her.
She didn't quite know what to expect as she emerged around the corner, but it certainly wasn't Tonks and him rocking back and forth on their heels, looking like awkward children. Her face scrunched up.
"What's happened?"
"Nothing's happened, as such," he began, scratching his head as he tried to piece together what exactly he was trying to say. "Well, nothing big anyway. And what has happened isn't necessarily an emergency, but it is relevant to you. Not relevant to you in a bad way, as such, but, well, that'll really depend on how it goes. What it is, remains to be seen."
Not knowing what to say, she stared blankly at him. A moment later, Tonks gave a clearer answer.
"Your daddy's here."
She mustered a frown, but was too alarmed at the prospect of that to formulate a dignified response.
"What!? Why!?"
"'Says you weren't responding to his messages, so he came to see you in person."
All at once, every last bit of breath was suddenly dragged from her body.
"Merlin's Beard…"
Sirius put a firm hand over her shoulder.
"Oi - don't panic. You're completely safe with us."
But the growing worry and concern she had been fighting off all day had finally taken control.
"Did he say what he wanted?" she asked quickly.
"No clue. But look, we can tell him to piss off? You're in the Ministry's witness protection now. He's not your legal guardian anymore."
"But he doesn't know that, though! I need to see him, if I don't then he'll know I betrayed him! Did he seem angry? Does he know I talked?"
Tonks crossed her arms, swaying on her feet.
"You haven't bloody talked…" she said scornfully.
Sirius pretended he hadn't heard her.
"He can't hurt you, Daffy. We'll be with you the whole time."
"Absolutely not! If he sees you with me then he'll know I've turned!"
"Told you she'd be awkward about it…"
The good-natured grin disappeared from his face for a second as he glared at Tonks, then returned as though it was never gone. He grabbed Daphne by the shoulder for a second - being one of the few people she would allow to do so - and pulled her away from the scene. There, huddled into a corner of the corridor, he studied her for a long moment and nodded reassuringly.
"Look here Daphne - In the Ministry eyes, he's not your guardian anymore. Now, granted, they can't take action against him until there's proof of his involvement with the Death Eaters, but that isn't necessary for you to receive our protection. Right now you've got an anonymous Auror protection order over you. Which means while he's a person of suspected abuse, legally, we can't let you see him without an escort."
They were talking in whispers now, though more for effect than practicality, as they were still loud enough for the corridor to hear.
"Right now he has no reason to suspect you... But if you refuse to see him, then he'll know there is something suspicious going on. It's chess we're playing, not checkers."
"If I see him with you then he'll know I betrayed my family!"
"Stop it!" he hushed. "Listen, we are here on the orders of Dumbledore and Minister Scrimgeour to protect the Hogwarts school and its students. That much is public knowledge. It's in the Profit, the ministry is on high alert, which means any visitors to the castle - family included - have to have Auror escort. He has no reason to link that to you, it's nowt to do with you for all he knows. He doesn't know you're receiving special attention, so he won't expect anything when we see him."
She was looking for holes to poke in his logic, but couldn't find anything. In theory what he was saying was true, but her anxiety was speaking far too loud for her to hear anyone's logic. When she was unable to retort his argument, with a wave of his hand they walked back to Tonks, who had been waiting idly against the corridor wall. As they approached, her eyes didn't leave Daphne.
"Alright, I'll see him. But I need to do it my way."
It was obvious his Sirius' talk was over now as he had gone back to his standard, slightly daft grin, the one that never ceased to remind her of Tracey. She thought, in hindsight, that was an image of him that she enjoyed. An older, more responsible and experienced version of her. Just as predictable and just as lovable.
"Thatta girl!"
He delivered a joyful slap onto her back, causing her to flinch in alarm. Tonks kept looking at her for a moment longer, neither saying anything or making gestures of any kind, before giving a reluctant nod.
They started down the corridor in silence. The halls were quiet and still - naturally, since everyone was in class. She didn't quite know where her father would be waiting for her, but imagined the increased security wouldn't allow him too far into the castle.
He would be coming to her on her home-turf. Which meant that even if things went completely south and by merely looking at her, he was able to somehow deduce all the activities she had been up to of late, she doubted there was anything immediate he could do about it. He wouldn't even be able to roll his sleeve up without being tackled to the ground - and she had been on the receiving end of Tonks' tackle before - he would be no match for her, Sirius and Daphne all at once. Never mind if Professor Dumbledore got wind of a rogue Death Eater loose in the castle. She was in no immediate danger, so while she didn't need to panic, the way in which the next events played out would be very important to the bigger picture.
She came to an abrupt halt, feeling an impact in her back as Tonks stumbled into her back.
"What?" Tonks said, irritably.
She turned around to face them quickly.
"We need Harry."
Sirius blinked at her.
"Pardon?"
"The mission. The Dark Lord told me to get close to Harry. Last father knew, we split up and You-Know-Who had it out for me. If he can see us together…"
Her sentence was cut off as he finished it loudly for her.
"Then it'll go a long way to restoring faith in you!"
He lifted his eyebrows and gave a kind of a determined look. They both stared at each other in positive, unanimous agreement. Even Tonks' mood looked to have turned.
"Which lesson is he in?"
She thought for a second. If she and Tracey were in Charm class, that meant Harry and Dominique were both on free periods.
"He'll either be in his common room... or the Quidditch Pitch."
"I'll find him," Sirius said, beginning to walk away from them. "No fighting, you two."
"Be quick!"
Sirius rushed off quickly down the hall, leaving the two alone for the longest five minutes of Daphne's life. Nothing was said between them. Tonks stood with her hip cocked and arms crossed. She could feel the older woman's eyes creeping up and down her figure, then when she decided to noticeably catch her eye, she didn't pull back or look away. Daphne cocked a hip of her own.
"I don't know why you don't trust me."
She stated it like it was a fact and the most simplest thing in the world. The grimace on Tonks' face worsened.
"Sirius says I had to. But I know your type, and I know you're only in it for you."
She wasn't necessarily wrong, but the tone of voice brought her to disagree.
"Isn't Bellatrix Lestrange your aunt?" she asked back. "It's in your blood as well, so what makes me any different to you?"
"I don't have a Dark Mark on my arm," she shot back.
Daphne brought the arm in question out and offered it to her.
"That's the only difference you can muster? Find a way to remove this and I will happily oblige. Then we'll be equal, right? Then we will be friends?"
Her words were a lot friendlier than the tone that accompanied them. Tonks shifted her weight around, keeping up her scowl.
"I bet lads fall all over you. You're used to getting what you want. That's why you're struggling, you're not used to actually putting in the effort to get people on your side. You expect people to like you just because you're pretty. You're exactly like Bellatrix."
The words rebounded off her like balloons blown by the wind. Daphne fixed her with the glare her namesake was known for.
"I suppose a world where appearance is everything would be very difficult for you, wouldn't it?"
The woman was by no means unattractive, which made that a low-blown on her part. She wasn't ugly as such, but cut short, she could understand why Tracey was interested. And considering Tracey's history, that was not a compliment.
Tonks face contorted and she straightened up, looked like she was about to say something, then went quiet again with the sound of approaching footsteps down the corridor.
Sirius was jogging back in their direction, accompanied by a very alarmed-looking Harry. His eyes rushed around the hallway before settling on her. He approached her quickly.
"What's going on? Sirius says your dad's here? Have you seen him? What does he want?"
Words were coming pouring out of his mouth like a torrent. He was agitated - she expected him to be concerned, but this was far more than she was expecting. It was… actually somewhat attractive, seeing him rattled up and protective of her.
Physically, she shook the impure thoughts from her brain.
"It's fine - I haven't seen him yet."
Then, much to her dismay, he did apparently the only thing he could think of. He brought his arms out and swept her up into a tight hug. She tensed up instantly, very much aware of the company beside them, but decided not to fight against him. Not fight him, that was until he started patting her head like a cat, then she aggressively brought herself out from under him.
"Stop it! We just need to be seen together! You don't need to acknowledge him or speak to him. I just need him to see me with you. See things are going well."
He appeared to lighten up a little, though she was sure that wasn't through reassurance, but laughing at her embarrassment. She could definitely hear Tonks' sniggering.
"Well, I have quite a few things I would like to say to him, actually."
She glared at him and he stopped laughing.
"Only joking… mostly."
Sirius clapped his hands together, making them all jump - he really had to stop doing that - and began to lead the rest of the way. They went down the stairs onto the ground floor, where she presumed he would be waiting for them in the entrance hall. Each step, Daphne could feel her heartbeat grow quicker and quicker. Down the rest of the stairs. Around the corner. Down the corridor. Around the last corner.
"Hold my hand!" she whispered to him, harshly.
When a cold hand met hers, it made her realise how sweaty her palms had become.
"Not like that. The man needs the dominant hand."
Harry looked up at her.
"What?"
"Put yours over mine, not under it!"
"Like this?"
Annoyed, she ended up snatching her hand from his and doing the correct placement herself. Harry's face was glowing. Sirius looked a mix between sympathetic for his godson and amused at his expense. Tonks was having a very cruel time of her life.
Together, the foursome rounded the last corner and into the sight of Benedict Greengrass. He stood with his arms on his sides, looking fatigued. His expression faltered as he noticed her company, his eyes moving over each of them quizzically, but he caught himself quickly after and forced a smile.
As their eyes met, her heart was beating so fast that it felt like pure poison was being pumped into her system. This felt similar to having Harry and his friends in her house last year, only infinitely more terrifying. Putting on a false smile, she stopped approximately halfway to her father, and turned appreciatively to Harry.
"Thank you for walking me down, Harry!"
She brought his hand up and gave it an extra squeeze, making sure it was well within the view of her father's eye-line. Harry, taking the hint, smiled with equal energy.
"No problem. Actually - Hello, Mister Greengrass!"
Her father let out a bellowed laughter - one she could tell was very fake.
"Harry Potter! A pleasure to meet you, at last! I've heard a lot about you from our dear Daphne! Do hope you're treating her appropriately!"
Their hands met in the middle. There was a very pregnant pause as for a tense moment she, Sirius and Tonks all expected something dramatic to happen, but nothing did. She looked down - both their hands were turning white. Harry laughed, but likewise, it was not his genuine one. She knew all too well what that sounded like, but now there was an edge to it that made it sound bittersweet.
This was not the first time that they had met, of course. The two briefly interacted during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries late last year, where they fought on opposite sides. And by the looks on each of their faces, it was an interaction still fresh in their memories. Harry approaching him was done as a game of nerve. Though she'd be scolding him for it later, in the meantime, she was also very much fawning over it. She would be downright proud of him, if he wasn't choosing the worst possible moment to prove his manhood to her.
Harry nodded courteously to her father.
"Nothing but the best for my Daffy, sir."
There was another stillness, this time where she was quite positive her father was about to attack him, be it magically or physically. But again, it never came. Sirius seemed much more ready to break them apart this time.
"Right! Off back to class, Harry! See you later! Bye, now!"
Harry was dragged - quite aggressively - away from her father by Sirius. As he moved away around the corner, she felt the mood sinking away with him. It was as though a dark rain cloud was approaching overhead. Her father's hand came down to her shoulder. She turned to face him, and saw a very stern look staring back at her.
"You haven't been keeping in contact. I was getting worried.."
"It wasn't my intention to worry you."
She could sense the conflict raging behind his eyes. It was apparent there was a lot he wanted to say, but wasn't sure how much he could get away with in their company.
"Mister Black," he said as Sirius returned to them, "I was wondering, perhaps you could provide somewhere private for me and my daughter to catch up?"
Sirius shrugged apologetically back.
"Only so much we can do for that, unfortunately. New rules and the like. Can find you an empty classroom, but we can't leave you unaccompanied I'm afraid."
If her father was unhappy about that, he didn't let it show. Instead he gave a nod and a bow, gesturing for him to lead the way. Sirius started down the corridor with him close behind, she followed behind them at a distance, and Tonks took up the flank. As they moved, Daphne couldn't help but have the imagery in her head of her, Draco, her father and the wolf-man taking up similar positions on their way to see The Dark Lord earlier this year. She was in much better company this time around, she decided.
They settled into an empty classroom on the ground floor. It was dark and empty, and fitted the mood rather appropriately. She and her father seated themselves at the teacher's desk, while Sirius and Tonks moved to linger just out of earshot. They wanted to at least appear not to be eavesdropping. She felt extremely appreciative of them right now, as she didn't fancy being left alone with him.
"I did need to talk to you about something important..." her father began in an unnecessarily low whisper. "Our mutual... friend still hasn't been found, which would spell a problem for you, but now… I can't imagine that much matters anymore."
She nodded curtly, following his words.
"Harry and I got back together over Christmas. We were able to work things out."
"Is it going well?"
"He does not suspect anything, if that is what you mean."
He gave her a nasty sort of look as she said that, like he was wanting her to take it back.
"You know, I always dreaded the day I'd meet your first boyfriend... It's something every father fears. I imagined it a million times, but somehow, it never was quite like that," he said, offering a quite out-of-place laugh.
She did not find it as funny as he did.
"I'm going to ask you something. I want you to answer me honestly, can you do that?"
"Of course."
"Does he make you happy?"
"I'm doing what The Dark Lord told me to do."
He heaved an exasperated sigh
"No… look, sweetpea… I know what it is like to have your heart and brain in two different places at the same time. It's a decision I had to make with your mother a long time ago. But... I made that decision and I became all the more powerful for it. Betraying the people you love is one of the most difficult-"
It was as though a glass wall behind her shattered quite suddenly. She stumbled with her words, struggling to keep a cold face. She was walking on emotional eggshells.
"I don't love him," she said quickly.
His eyes narrowed again at the words. She got the feeling that wasn't the answer he was expecting, he fixed her with an icy stare. If there was any doubt she was truly his daughter, it was now resolved.
"Betraying those you love…" he continued. "... is one of the most difficult things a person can do. Only the strongest among us can do what is needed for the greater good. I want you to enjoy yourself while you can with this, it's alright. I encourage it! I'm not thrilled it's him, but it's obvious you do still care for the boy. You don't have to pretend with me. I have faith in you to still do what needs to be done when the time comes. You've always been good at getting what you wanted."
He shuffled around in his seat, his eyes leaking over to Tonks and Sirius' corner, who appeared to be talking between themselves.
"Because… because it'll hurt when it's over. It'll make you feel like your heart has been ripped straight from your chest, and I'll be there for you when it does. Choosing between your mother or getting vengeance for Jarvis and Estelle was one of the most difficult dilemmas I have ever faced. But it was black and white, and I had to choose. I chose right, and now we're in good favour with…" he lowered his voice even more,"... You-Know-Who. We're on the winning side of this war. After it is done, you'll realize how much better you have become because of it. Being able to put mind over matter is an ability very few among us has. And in a world full of locked doors, the person with the key is king."
Then, with another good natured laugh, he smiled.
"Or, should I say queen?"
She was silent.
The whole time she listened, she felt rather spellbound by him. He always knew exactly the right thing to say in exactly the right moment. Her thirst for power was one he knew about and was using directly against her. Her father's silver tongue was renowned for bringing people around to his way of thinking. He could make the most difficult thing sound simple. He was passionate about his stuff… It was what stopped her being able to entirely hate him. She could never bring herself to that point because, as much as she denied it, she respected him. Part of her wished she could have that effect on people.
But, her solidarity rang true. Unphased, she nodded in understanding.
"I will do what I must."
When it became apparent she wasn't willing to meet him on the same level of sincerity that he offered her, he looked annoyed for a minute, then continued in a more dishevelled manner.
"Well… anyway," he gave a distinct sigh of defeat. "We missed having you for Christmas, you should know. You have no idea how awkward it is Lizzy over, trying to keep the conversation going without you to mitigate it. I am sorry you couldn't join us, that whole awkward ordeal was for the best, I'm sure you understand. And it definitely shouldn't be a problem in the future, all things considering now."
That was his apology for abandoning her. Except, she didn't think she really needed it any more, at this point. She had lived through the worst night of her life a few months ago and his reward for her then had been throwing her under the bus. It wasn't great to be abandoned by her family, but now that she looked at it, it had been the final push she needed. Now it wasn't something she was worried about any more. In fact, she hadn't even taken the time to properly consider her father before the howler this morning. That all felt like a lifetime ago, and here, now, she had new things on her mind.
It annoyed her how he could say that so readily. Say something with such real affection in his voice that it makes her think he genuinely cared. He didn't mean it. He couldn't. How could he really care about her when these were the circumstances they were having to talk under? He was a master manipulator, and she was not going to allow herself to fall under his spell again.
His gaze turned thoughtful, then he grinned.
"Did you like your Christmas present?"
This time, it took her a second to respond. He was beginning to get under her skin.
"I have not opened it."
"Well, please do. I put a lot of money and effort into it. I was hoping you'd like it."
The venom that threatened to drip into her voice is controlled, but it was at this point she decided she had reached the end of her tether. It was time to go, before either she did anything she would regret, or he actually got through to her.
"Then I will be sure to. Now, if you don't mind, I have lessons to attend."
She stood up and brought her bookbag over her shoulder. She must have been doing a worse job than she thought, because he peered closely at her from his position at the desk.
"Please try and work with me on this Daffy. Progress is being made and I'm happy, but we don't have to be at odds."
Somehow, she wandered back to her dormitory. Sirius said something to her as she left, but she didn't hear it. She had needed to go back to lesson, but that wasn't where her feet took her. She went down the stairs to the dungeons, into the dark. She threw herself on the bed. Looking at one roof of her four-poster bed, she wished blissfully she would magically find the answers she needed written up there.
Her mind was doing a mile a minute, going nowhere, but very fast. She can't figure out how to process all this. She thought moving forward was a good thing. Dwelling on a situation she couldn't change just meant she suffered twice. No more living in the past, only the future. Letting the past die - killing it, if she had to. But after this... thing with her father, she wasn't sure any more. Wasn't sure about anything. Why did it feel so wrong now? He was wrong, she knew that much. Him and all his intentions were wrong. But making the decision to work against him had proved a lot easier when there was half a country between them.
Nothing had changed. She was just being anxious. She was still strong against him, he just had a certain way of getting under her skin unlike anyone else. More, possibly, than even the Dark Lord.
After a few minutes of staring into the void, a thought popped into hear head about something he said. Out of sheer morbid curiosity, she moved and decided to pick up the box delivered to her for Christmas. It was now or never, she didn't think this kite of adrenaline was going to last much longer. Lifting the lid off, she sorted through assorted tissue paper of different colours, until her hand eventually came into contact with something cold and metal. She pulled the large metallic object free, and then froze.
Staring back at her were the cold, dark, hollow eyes of a Death Eater mask. This was not one she had seen before, and was most definitely not her fathers. It had indentations and markings around the rim. It was a very pale shade of blue, and that was what made the strange markings adorned around it suddenly clicked together in her mind. The mask was designed to look as though it was frozen. This was her Death Eater mask, and it was modelled after the Ice Queen.
Then without a second thought or a moment of hesitation, she brought herself off the bed, seized the mask and launched it across the room. It landed with a very heavy clang into the rubbish bin opposite her dresser, a bullseye. Exactly where it, and him, belonged.
With the hem of her sleeve, she wiped away the tears forming in her eyes. She wouldn't let herself cry over this. Not over him. She wouldn't give him that satisfaction. She was beyond him, there was nothing he could do to her anymore.
A/N Didn't expect to receive so many aggressive messages about that BLM comment. Mad people can have such different opinions on something like racism.
Sorry for the lack of upload last week, I've recently moved in with my partner and finding the balance between my two lives was a little tricky. That, and I've always been working hard on another Youtube video, though this one not Harry Potter-related (Godzilla, if anyones interested?). The Daphne Greengrass video is still by far the most popular on the channel, thank you all for that!
Next chapter is one I think we have all been looking forward to! Do chuck us a review letting me know what you thought of this one!
