A/N: Posting tonight because I won't be home tomorrow morning. A bit of a shorter chapter because last chapter was very intense. Let's take a breather, shall we?

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any works by J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 5

Present Moment - The Leaky Cauldron

Daphne fiddled with the locket on her chest as she began to finish up her story.

"It was a portkey," she muttered. "The locket he gave me took us outside our lands. The whole time papa was just stalling until it could activate. And some time later, we ended up here, Diagon Alley. Gringotts was the first place we visited."

Looking up, she saw Harry watching her intently. Swallowing back any tears that would start to form, Daphne continued.

"The goblins couldn't give us anything. Grand…no- Lord Greengrass, had taken everything. We were practically emancipated just like you. It's why I said it wouldn't be a problem for you to take us in."

Daphne let out a deep breath as she finished up her story. "And after that…well we've been on the streets since." She gestured slightly to herself and Astoria, letting him know the story was done.

Harry's eyebrow furrowed, as he seemed to be deep in thought. Throughout the story, Daphne had watched his expressions intently. He seemed horrified at moments yet also had a total look of understanding at certain times.

They sat there in silence. Daphne finally noticed her hand was still in Harry's and blushed slightly.

"I completely forgot…I hope he doesn't notice." Daphne thought.

After some time, Harry finally spoke up.

"That's…quite a story." He muttered. A mirthless chuckle left his lips. "Quite a story indeed."

It seemed that Harry had finally made a decision, as he began to stand up, moving his hand away from hers.

Daphne stood up as well, maintaining eye contact with him to see what his next move was. Harry frowned, seeming to be in a stage of deliberation.

Was this where he told her off? Not only would he be taking in two people, but it would be two people with the head of House Greengrass after them.

And Daphne honestly couldn't blame him if he refused her offer.

"I accept."

Daphne blinked. His hand was stretched out, a grin on his face.

"Really? Just like that?" Daphne asked, her mouth agape.

"Just like that."

"You do know that Lord Greengrass is trying to come after me and Tori, right?"

"I do."

"And it's dangerous. You could be killed. And-"

"Daphne." Harry cut her off. "You suggested this in the first place."

That shut her up quickly. She mentally slapped herself on the forehead. Apparently, after retelling the story, she was starting to have second thoughts.

Worry. She was starting to worry for the boy in front of her.

For so long, the only other person she'd worried for was her little sister. Yet now she's starting to worry for him?

"Oh, don't tell me you're having second thoughts." Harry groaned. "Come on. Shake my hand."

Well, he was definitely not wrong. She was indeed, confirmed, to be having second thoughts.

"I just…I realized how dangerous it would be for you." Daphne protested meekly. "I mean…you'd be in more danger and I don't want to see you hurt."

Harry shook his head. "I would be more hurt if you left me right now." He muttered.

Daphne stared. What did he say?

A blush rose on his cheek. "Oh did I say that out loud?" He squeaked.

"You did."

"I did."

"You definitely did."

"I most definitely did." Harry agreed.

"..."

"..."

Like a knife had cut through the tension, the two of them burst into fits of giggles.

"You did." Daphne giggled.

"I did." Harry joined in, his own giggles echoing.

Daphne's smile widened and she finally took Harry's hand into her own.

"Then let's seal it. I promise to always be by your side, Harry. I'll never leave you and I'll always give my support! When you need me, I'll be there for you!" Daphne declared passionately.

Harry held onto her hand firmly as he made his own declaration.

"Then I promise I'll always look out for both you and Astoria. I'll do my best to make sure the two of you are happy, and I'll always keep you safe!" Harry declared his own promise.

Daphne beamed brightly. "Partners it is, then."

"Partners." Harry agreed.

＊＊＊

Tom the barman was kind enough to give them a room for 10 sickles that night since it was already so late. However, he told them he expected 35 sickles per night for any further nights.

The room they found themselves in was small, with only a double bed in a corner and small round table with 2 chairs in the other

"Well, can't really complain considering the price." Harry commented, as he stepped in the room. "At least it's got a window."

The boy peeked out of the curtains to see the empty street of Diagon Alley.

Daphne entered the room carrying a sleeping Astoria. She kicked the door closed and laid the girl on the bed.

"You know, for his cheapest room, it's pretty nice." Daphne said. She looked around and peeked inside the other door of the room. "It's got a good bathroom as well, Harry."

"I swear the bartender is just being nice," Harry checked out the bathroom Daphne was talking about. "There is definitely no way this is his cheapest."

"Must've taken pity on us."

"He probably did."

"Mhm."

The two of them stood in the room awkwardly. Daphne wasn't sure what to say at this point. The both were staring at the bed which posed a clear problem that had to be addressed.

Of course, the snoring little sister of Daphne's on the bed didn't help matters.

"Harry…"

"Daphne…"

The two of them started at the same time. Harry quickly waved for Daphne to go first, obviously not wanting a repeat of what happened before.

"You take the bed." Daphne blurted, quickly moving to pick Astoria up. "Me and Tori - we're used to sleeping on the ground. Besides, you've already paid for dinner."

Harry was quick to stop her from picking up her little sister. "Stop. There's two of you and one of me." Harry protested. "Who knows how long it's been since the two of you had an actual bed, Daphne."

"But Harry-"

Harry cut her off. "No. No complaints. The two of you are going to take the bed and enjoy a good night's sleep."

Daphne glared at him. She was annoyed at being cut off, but her gaze soon softened until a blush appeared on her face.

"We can compromise." Daphne said quietly. "There's enough room for all of us."

She watched as Harry's jaw dropped. Whatever confidence he was starting to have seemed to have quickly evaporated at the suggestion.

"I-um…do y- what?" Harry stammered.

"We can make it work." Daphne continued. "After all, we agreed to be partners. I will not have my partner sleeping on the floor! It's completely unfair!"

"But you're a girl!" Harry argued. "It's not…it's just…not right."

Daphne rubbed her forehead frustratingly. "Please don't make this any more awkward than it needs to be." She groaned. "It's just - all we're doing is sharing a bed, Harry.

Harry looked like he wanted to say more but one look at Daphne's face pleading him to drop it seemed to have made him change his mind.

"Okay. Fine."

Daphne gave him a small grateful smile before getting into bed. She pushed Astoria towards the wall as the girl rolled over, still blissfully snoring away.

She watched as Harry slowly and nervously slid into the bed with her. Daphne did her best to lean into her little sister, trying to keep distance from Harry.

"Um, goodnight, Harry." Daphne bid softly, turning her back towards him. She pulled her little sister into a hug and closed her eyes.

"Goodnight, Daphne."

＊＊＊

Screams.

A flash of light.

"I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO LIKE THAT!"

The sound of a table smashing.

"Fire at will Lieutenant."

He felt himself falling.

"You have stolen EVERYTHING from me…"

How? What did he steal? What's going on?

"Crucio!"

Pain. Unimaginable pain.

"Step aside, girl."

"Take me! Take me instead!"

"Thump. Thump. Thump thump. Thump Thump Thump. Thump thump THUMP THUMP-"

Harry shot forward from his bed. The first thing he did was immediately to clutch his chest, trying to still his beating heart.

"It's just a dream." He muttered. "It's just a dream. It's just a dream. It's just…a dream."

Harry let out a long sigh before rubbing his eyes. The dream felt so vivid. A shiver was sent through his spine, as he thought about all the images he just saw. But the last image…just what was that?

"Harry?"

The boy in question turned his head towards the direction of the voice to find Daphne staring back at him inquisitively. She sat on the window, stretching her leg across it.

"Nightmares?" she asked sympathetically.

Harry nodded and pulled the covers off of himself. He got up and walked over towards Daphne. The girl gestured for him to take a seat at the other end of the window as he sat down.

"They never go away forever." Daphne muttered.

"What?"

"The nightmares," she clarified. "They'll always keep coming."

"Oh." Harry's voice was small, as the realization set in.

The pair of them sat together in silence across from each other, staring out into the empty streets of Diagon Alley, lost in their own thoughts.

He watched as Daphne fiddled with the locket around her neck, indicating that she was thinking about the night she lost everything.

Gone was the lively girl who had declared for him so passionately. Now in front of him sat a somber version of herself, one who seemed be very deep in her thoughts.

After some time, Harry suddenly spoke up, voicing the burning question in his mind. "How do you deal with it?" he asked.

Daphne stared emptily into the streets. "I don't." she whispered. "I don't know how. It's been almost a year now - and I still don't."

Harry could see the shadows of the night casting over her eyes. A dark look showed how defeated she was when she talked about the nightmares. The same nightmares that she must be having for her to be up in the middle of the night like this - that much was evident.

"I didn't get to properly thank you today." Daphne said softly, turning towards him. "Me and Tori…we've been on the streets for a year and no one's shown us this much kindness."

Harry turned away from her gaze, a slight guilty look on his face. "I didn't do it out of kindness." He mumbled. "I just…I just wanted someone to listen to me."

"No." Daphne immediately disagreed with him, "That doesn't matter. At the end of the day, you gave me and my sister food and set us up with a place to stay for tonight at least. You even took the time to listen to my - our story. That's what you did, and that's what mattered."

"..."

He didn't respond. He couldn't bring himself to argue with Daphne, because he knew the girl just wouldn't accept whatever argument he'd try to bring up. From the short time that he'd known her, it was obvious how stubborn she could be.

"So…as I was saying…thank you…Harry."

Unable to look away from her anymore, he turned to face her. But when his eyes glazed over to her, his heart instantly stopped.

Somehow, the moonlight had shifted onto Daphne's face. Her now messy ethereal silver blonde hair - illuminated by the moonlight, flowed gently against the wind as a small smile stared right back at him.

"Hey Daphne?"

"Mhm?"

"I think you're really pretty."

It took a moment for his words to register, as she just stared back at him strangely. Then, a blush slowly crept upon her cheeks.

"Oh umm…Harry-um-I…ah…?"

Daphne was stammering in front of him, barely able to compose herself.

Harry wanted to slap himself. Just what was he saying? Where did it even come from?

Stealing himself another glance, he came to the conclusion that it was one hundred percent something that came from the heart.

He was sure anyone else would be saying how Daphne looked a bit too pale, a bit too bony, and hair too messy.

But to him…Daphne was…pretty.

Harry would be thankful to the noise that broke them out of the awkward predicament.

Wait, noise? It sounded like…crying?

The soft muffled sobbing suddenly got louder. Harry watched as Daphne's blush instantly morphed into worry.

"Ma…mama…."

Daphne was immediately up as she quickly moved to their bed. By the time Harry was up, he was already watching her pulling Astoria into a tight hug, as the little girl sobbed into her sister's chest.

"Mama…please don't leave me!" Astoria wailed.

"Shhhhh. Mama's right here." Daphne whispered. "I'm not going anywhere, Tori. Mama's right here."

"Mama…"

The little girl softened up in Daphne's arms. Harry watched the sight in bewilderment, as Daphne rocked the little girl back and forth.

Suddenly, the girl bursted back into her fits of sobbing. "PAPA!" she cried. "DON'T! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE!"

Daphne looked surprised at the comment as she began stroking the girl's hair. "Tori. I'm right here. Mama's right here." She whispered.

"But…papa…" Astoria wailed.

The sight of Astoria's sobbing sent a knife through Harry's heart.

"Papa…please don't do this…please…" The little girl sobbed violently against Daphne, her entire body shaking.

As he watched the girl cry even harder, Harry couldn't stand to see another tear.

He didn't know where the feeling came from. All he did was react.

By making a decision. A decision to help.

"Harry?"

Daphne looked questioningly at him as he got onto the bed. Harry hesitantly moved to wrap his arms around the little girl, pausing for a second before fully committing.

"Pa…papa's here." Harry whispered nervously.

The little girl instantly softened, as her fits stopped. She held tightly onto both Harry and Daphne, unwilling to let them go.

"Papa…" Astoria muttered. "Please don't ever leave me…"

I-I…I won't." Harry made the promise as he comfortingly held the little girl. "I promise."

"I love you…papa."

The quiet sounds of her snoring was the only noise left in the room as she returned to her restful sleep.

Daphne just stared at him in astonishment.

Harry didn't know what to say. He was just as surprised as Daphne.

What he did was crossing a boundary on so many levels. A boundary he was sure would cause Daphne to take Astoria and leave in the next moment.

What would he do if she left him? What would he do if he was all alone again? He didn't have Tilly. And he never had an actual family, despite the blood ties.

So, Harry searched Daphne's face. Waiting for her fury. Preparing for it.

But it never came. Instead, her astonishment morphed into weary appreciation.

"Thank you." Was all she muttered, before collapsing next to her little sister and pulled the covers over them.

…did she just…?

Harry stared at Daphne dumbfoundedly. Instead of yelling at him, she thanked him? Then just fell asleep?

The boy rubbed his eyes tiredly. It's been a long night. And an even longer day. He'd just take the pity of whatever Fate seemed to be giving him, as he collapsed next to Astoria.

For some reason, the nightmares didn't return for the rest of that night.

And little did he know, the two sisters next to him began smiling, as it would be the first time in a long time, where no nightmares would be plaguing them that night.

A/N: Not going to change this despite some reviews from the previous story about it. Harry will become a father figure to Astoria. However, I will handle it differently and hopefully better. It'll be eased in. Full changes will still be posted Monday on the discord. Code: YesTmfQfBX

Thank you everyone for reading!