A/N: Howdy everyone! Check out the HAPHNE discord #fanart for the illustrations from my wife. As always, thank you to those who review, favorite, follow and PM! See you next week!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Just happy to be here!
Chapter 14
"The calming draught is taking effect," Madam Pomfrey assured with a gentle pat on Daphne's back.
"Is she going to be okay?" Astoria questioned worriedly.
McGonagall shared a look with Flitwick, her lips drawn tight. Madam Pomfrey opened her mouth to respond when Daphne let out a heart-breaking sob and began bawling her eyes out.
"W-w-w-why?" Daphne cried brokenly while curling into a ball and clutching her head.
Astoria stared numbly at her older sister and slowly shook her head, wanting to deny the revelation. It didn't make sense to her. Why would father hurt Daphne? He loved them both, didn't he?
"Daphne, Astoria," McGonagall said in a surprisingly gentle tone. "Rest assured we will see justice served to all guilty parties. I would say that you both are safe here at Hogwarts…" She paused and swallowed. "But Mister Potter has proven that is a blatant falsity."
"We will do our best to ensure your safety, and that the DMLE is contacted as soon as we can," Flitwick assured and waved his wand. "I've cast a privacy ward over this area. Just give us a wave if you need anything."
Astoria blinked, still stunned speechless. Daphne continued to sob uncontrollably into her pillow and Astoria did what little she could to comfort her older sister.
Flitwick glanced over at the staff table to see Severus and Albus speaking in hushed tones. He frowned.
"Filius," McGonagall whispered, her voice strained, catching his attention. He met her eyes and gave a tiny nod.
"We need to act, Minerva."
"Poppy, can you pass a message to Septima and Bathsheda?" McGonagall turned to Pomfrey.
"Covertly," Flitwick added.
"Of course," Pomfrey shot a sympathetic glance at the Greengrass sisters.
"At the next break, I need Septima and Bathsheda to meet me in the loo," McGonagall said.
Madam Pomfrey cocked an eyebrow.
"We cannot endanger the students, Poppy," Flitwick stated. "Albus is, well, Albus."
"The greatest Wizard of our age," McGonagall said firmly. "Even in his old age, his power is second to none."
"The students though…" Pomfrey trailed off worriedly as she chewed nervously on her thumbnail.
"Septima and Bathsheda will ensure their safety," McGonagall replied. "We have a plan, Poppy."
"T-this is really happening, isn't it?" Pomfrey gasped.
Flitwick and McGonagall shared a grim look and nodded solemnly.
"On our terms," Flitwick grunted then nudged McGonagall. "Minerva, they are watching."
"Please, Poppy," McGonagall pressed.
Madam Pomfrey took a deep breath and sighed before steeling herself and giving a single nod. The three made their way back to the staff table, leaving Astoria to hold her broken sister worriedly.
"Daffy…" Astoria croaked while tenderly stroking her sister's hair.
Astoria was doing all she could to keep it together, but Daphne's sudden revelation of who had obliviated her had shaken the sickly girl to her very core.
"Tori," Daphne whimpered. "I'm scared."
"I'm here for you, Daffy!" Astoria said harshly, her own tears bursting free.
Daphne shivered and wept into her pillow before finally saying, in a warbly voice, "I can't remember what happened when we got back."
Astoria winced. "J-just watch, Daph," she pointed at the screen. "Y-you'll see."
-GU-
January 3, 1994, flashed on the screen. Harry was feeling both confusion and frustration. He was frustrated because he had made no progress on finding Pettigrew or the Marauder's Map. He'd maintained communication with Sirius, who had been in a rage over the dementor incident. Sirius had praised Harry's handling of Dumbledore and made sure to release a quite colorful tirade of verbal curses at the headmaster.
Harry was confused because Astoria, who was usually a bundle of lively energy and positivity, had been unusually subdued the previous day when she'd returned from Christmas break. Now sitting in the common room, Harry was waiting for her to arrive from her last class so they could catch up.
She trudged in and Harry caught her eyes, gesturing at the empty couch cushion expectantly. He was startled when he saw Astoria glance at the stairway to the girls dormitories, almost as if she was contemplating avoiding him. The hurt must have shown in his expression because Astoria took a deep breath and approached, plopping down next to him on the couch.
"Hey, Tori," Harry greeted tentatively. "Uh, how are you?"
He anticipated several reactions. Astoria bursting into tears was certainly not one of them. She threw herself at him and sobbed into his chest bitterly. Shocked, Harry could only pat her back soothingly until the surprise faded and he was able to comfort her properly by pulling her into a hug.
It took a good five minutes before she finally calmed enough to speak, although her shoulders bobbed with the occasional sob.
"Oh, Harry!" She sniffled. "I'm so, so, sorry! I've ruined everything!"
"Slow down, Tori. Start from the beginning."
"Well," Astoria pulled away from Harry and twiddled her thumbs, tears still leaking. "Daphne and father had a row. I've never seen them argue before. Daphne usually just does whatever father wants."
"What did they fight over?"
"You."
Harry blinked. "Come again?"
"They fought over you," Astoria took a deep breath. "Daphne told father she wanted to enter a courtship with you. Father didn't like it. He was adamantly against it. They argued off and on for days. Mother even tried to intervene. I've never seen Daphne so resolved to defy father's wishes."
"I'm confused, Tori," Harry ran a hand through his hair nervously. He hoped Daphne was okay.
"Well, on the last day of December, father finally relented and told Daphne he'd give her an answer the next morning." Astoria shrugged, "Maybe he was debating starting the year off with a new outlook?"
"And?"
"And the next morning, at breakfast, I let slip that you took me flying on your Firebolt," Astoria dropped her face into her hands, sobbing. "And Daphne asked me if I had an episode. I was frazzled. I've never slipped before. I told them I did. Father was apoplectic, mother concerned, and Daphne… She went cold."
Harry swallowed nervously. "You told them that I was helping you, didn't you?"
"Y-yeah," Astoria took a stuttering breath. "Daph is, well, pissed is the only word I can use."
"Did you two fight?"
"Oh, we fought," Astoria shuddered. "But that's not the worst of it."
Having read that letter Sirius sent me, I can understand why Daphne would react the way she did, Harry mused. There is no one in Daphne's life she loves more than her sister.
Harry noted Astoria looked miserable and dropped a comforting arm around her shoulders in support.
"Father gave his demand to Daphne. If she allowed three suitors of his choice to escort her and felt they were not a good match, then he would allow her to enter a courtship with you."
Harry's stomach dropped.
"One of them was Malfoy," Astoria exhaled.
"And the other two?" Harry's throat was dry.
"Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini," Astoria whispered in a small voice.
Harry felt as if the room was spinning, his mind racing. This was not what he expected. The thought of Daphne being escorted anywhere by Draco Malfoy made his stomach churn and his blood boil. He didn't know the other two names well, but knew they were both Slytherins.
"She agreed," Astoria choked back a sob. "I'm so confused as to why she agreed. Sure, she's mad at us. But why put herself through that when she fought with father practically all Christmas break?"
Harry nodded numbly. "Should I talk to her?"
"I'd wait," Astoria sighed. "And I think it'd be best if you avoided me."
Memories of reading the letter now safely tucked in his invisibility cloak pocket flashed across Harry's mind. The promise he'd made to himself about breaking the blood curse resonated in his mind. He looked down at the girl he considered a sister. She hadn't been given a fair shake. She didn't ask for a blood curse that was slowly killing her.
All Astoria wanted was to live life like a normal kid. He knew, from personal experience, how fast one could wither away when under duress or unhappy with life. How many times had he wished for death while locked in the cupboard under the stairs? If he abandoned Astoria for Daphne, wasn't that the same as ignoring Daphne's request?
How many times had he felt his body break and fail him because he didn't have the will to go on? It was only his magic that had kept him alive. Only his magic had gotten him to Hogwarts. Astoria's magic was doing the opposite and actively attacking her. If Astoria descended into the despair of loneliness, Harry had no doubt she would fade rapidly.
Harry shook his head adamantly. "No."
"What?" Astoria looked at him in surprise.
"I won't do that to you, Tori," Harry said firmly. "I know what it's like to feel caged. We'll be more careful than ever. You can talk to Daphne about any restrictions she may want to see and, if you agree to them, I'll honor them. But I made you a promise, as a friend, to help you experience and live life. I don't go back on my promises."
Just like I've promised to keep Daphne safe, Harry thought. I desperately wished I had a way to do that now. Maybe if they knew I am Heir Lord Potter-Black I could have done something.
He looked down at his hand where the invisible rings sat. The temptation to show them to the world was there but his devotion to seeing his Godfather free overrode his selfishness.
No. Sirius deserves to be free. Not in hiding.
"But Daph-" Astoria began.
"Will forgive us," Harry nodded. "She can't stay mad forever. It may not sound optimal, but she's still agreeing to this with the end goal of there being a courtship with me." He winced. "Unless she finds one of those three to be a better match."
Astoria blanched and sniffled.
"It's a fair exchange," Harry admitted begrudgingly. "Maybe Daphne accepted it in anger, but it is a step in the direction we desire."
"Y-you're sure?" Astoria questioned with wide eyes.
"I'm sure, Little Lioness," Harry ruffled her hair playfully. "I'll give Daphne time to cool down. Trust me. It'll all work out."
Astoria hugged him fiercely.
-GU-
"Harry and I fought, didn't we?" Daphne asked in an emotionless tone, her voice husky from her tears.
Astoria nodded numbly. "You did. Several times."
"Over you?"
"Yes."
"Tori, I would never have faulted Harry for helping you," Daphne said brokenly. "Not if I had all the memories I've lost. I would have known better than anyone else why he would help you." A gut-wrenching sob escaped Daphne, doubling her over. "That's what he meant in Potions!"
"Morgana's tits, Daph," Astoria swore, her voice cracking. "What did he say?"
"He told me, 'You, of all people, should know better'," Daphne sobbed. "Harry said it with such malice, Tori! I didn't understand, how could I?"
"Daph," Astoria took a steadying breath. "Why would father do this to you?"
"I-, I-, I don't know," Daphne stammered.
"I'm not doubting you," Astoria promised. "I just don't understand why father would let Harry escort you to Hogsmeade if he was willing to go this far to prevent you and him from courting."
Daphne forced back her tears and tried to think with her addled mind. Her head throbbed with a continual dull ache, and she was exhausted from the ordeal. Astoria had posed a good question. Daphne thought feverishly, desperate to understand, and gasped, clapping a hand to her mouth.
"The basilisk."
Astoria looked confused. "What?"
"Harry," Daphne choked back a sob as she said his name. "H-he s-saved me, remember?"
Astoria furrowed her brow, then her eyes widened.
"You see it," Daphne shivered.
"A life debt," Astoria breathed.
"That's why father allowed it."
"But how does a simple escort satisfy a life debt?" Astoria questioned tremulously.
Another good question. One Daphne was too tired to consider now.
-GU-
January 16, 1994, appeared on the screen. Harry and Astoria were in an abandoned classroom on the third floor where Harry was helping Astoria practice her Charms homework. They were currently working on the Alohomora charm. Astoria finished her incantation and the small chest they were working on clicked open. She smiled and wiped the accumulated sweat from her forehead.
Harry watched her warily, knowing that repeated casting strained the girl and could trigger a reaction. Daphne still hadn't approached him, and Harry was following Astoria's advice and keeping his distance, although he desperately wanted to speak with Daphne and explain himself.
"Teach me a third-year spell, Harry!" Astoria grinned at Harry, slightly panting from the exertion.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Tori," Harry frowned. "You're already spent."
"Then teach me an easy spell!" Astoria pushed. "I'm okay! Just a little tired is all."
Harry melted under Astoria's pout with her wide, blue puppy-dog eyes pleading at him.
"Oh, fine!" he groused. "But you can only try it once!"
Astoria stuck out her bottom lip and gave it a practiced quiver, her eyes watering.
"Gah!" Harry threw his hands in the air. "Two times then! But that's final, Tori!"
Astoria's expression immediately shifted to a bright cat that got the canary smile. "Kay!"
"For the love of Merlin," Harry muttered with a roll of his eyes.
Astoria beamed up at him, humming happily to herself and shifting from foot to foot.
"The incantation for this one is Exhilaro and you move your wand in an upward motion like this," Harry demonstrated.
"What's it do?" Astoria questioned as she readied her wand.
"It's a cheering cha-HAHAHA!" Harry roared with laughter as Astoria finished the incantation.
Seeing the successful results, Astoria clapped giddily and bounced on her heels. "I did it!"
Harry could only give a thumbs up while he was doubled over, hands on his knees, chuckling.
"I'm going to try it on myself!" Astoria preened and turned her wand inward.
Harry looked up, still giggling slightly, and feeling warm, when he saw Astoria's eyes widen in surprise and look over his shoulder. He turned around, wand at the ready and felt a shiver run up his spine. Daphne was staring at him with a murderous expression.
Ah -HAH!- shite, Harry thought. And here I am with a -HAHA!- cheering -HAH!- charm on me.
Behind him, Astoria sheepishly hid her wand behind her back and shot her older sister an innocent, confused expression.
"Hey, Daffy. Whatcha doing here?"
"Don't call me that!" Daphne snarked before growling at Harry. "And what the hell do you think you're doing, Potter?"
"I'm -HAHA!- helping Astoria revise first year -HAH!- charms," Harry gasped out.
Daphne looked over his shoulder and scowled when Astoria coughed heavily, covering her mouth with her hand. Astoria tried to hide it, but her hand pulled away wet with blood.
"YOU IDIOT!" Daphne screamed, shoving Harry who collapsed to the ground still chuckling.
"I'm -HAHAHA!- sorry!" Harry wheezed.
"You think this is funny, Potter?!" Daphne leveled her wand at him.
"HAH! No!" Harry waved his hands frantically, unable to do anything but smile.
Daphne's wand hand shook, and she opened her mouth to utter a curse, but it died on her lips. Her eyes shifted from rage to hurt, and Harry felt his heart ache for her. Daphne turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her without another word.
"Damn -HAH!- it!" Harry swore.
"Harry!" Astoria coughed and collapsed.
-GU-
"You don't remember that, Daph?" Astoria asked gently as Daphne stared at the memory.
Daphne shook her head. Her shoulders bobbed with silent sobs.
"I wish Harry caught that something was off with me, Tori. I would have never left you like that. Not when I knew you were about to have an episode," Daphne said in a voice thick with emotion with a pleading, broken expression.
Astoria grimaced. "I did think it harsh when you left like that. I just assumed since Harry was there that I was his responsibility."
-GU-
February 1, 1994, appeared on the screen. Harry hadn't spoken with Daphne since that ill-fated encounter in the abandoned classroom. She avoided him at every turn and stubbornly refused to look at him. Finally, Harry had enough and was actively shadowing Daphne beneath his invisibility cloak.
An opportunity finally, mercifully, presented itself and Harry hit Daphne with a silencing charm and jerked her into an abandoned classroom. She kicked and fought and nearly knocked his glasses off until he managed to call out her name and drop his hood, revealing himself.
"Daph!" Harry held out his hands as she raged silently at him. "Can we just talk?"
She huffed, folded her arms, and gestured irritably at her mouth. Harry flicked his wrist, sending his wand in hand, and silently cast the counter charm.
"What do you want, Potter?" Daphne spat.
Harry flinched as if struck. "I just wanted to talk."
"Then talk!" Daphne snarked back venomously.
"I know you're mad," Harry ignored Daphne's mocking scoff. "Tori told me about the blood curse."
"Then you know what too much strain on her body does," Daphne spat, her eyes watering.
"She asked me to help her," Harry attempted gently. "I promised her I would."
"You tried to hide it from me," Daphne pointed a finger accusingly at him. "Astoria had a bad incident from that joyride you took her on and you never said a word to me."
"She told me not to," Harry countered.
"And?" Daphne's voice was shrill. "You're just willingly going to let her kill herself?"
"It's better than putting her in a bubble, Daph!" Harry's voice rose with his frustration.
"She's not your sister!" Daphne shouted.
"I understand how much she means to you," Harry said while reaching behind him, seeking the letter he kept on his person.
"Don't!" Daphne leveled her wand at him. "You know nothing about how much she means to me!"
Harry paused and held his hands out unthreateningly, sighing heavily. He watched as her wand arm shook and she appeared to be struggling to speak. Tears spilled down Daphne's cheeks and she swallowed before speaking in a husky voice.
"Stop helping my sister die, Potter."
Harry hesitated to take a step forward and Daphne turned on her heel and was gone, slamming the door behind her.
-GU-
June 6, 1994, flashed on the screen. It had been a long five months for Harry. Sirius had long since returned to the Shrieking Shack. Harry had been unable to locate the Marauder's Map and was firmly convinced it was no longer within the school. Pettigrew hadn't been spotted again, and Ron was still bemoaning the loss.
Harry was stressed, and it showed. He constantly felt fatigued and had dark bags under his eyes. He still maintained his rigorous exercise schedule, as he knew Tonks was going to run him through the gauntlet once she got her hands on him. He was also still practicing Occlumency per Aunt Andie's instructions.
Harry was still helping Astoria with her magic or fun experiences. Astoria particularly enjoyed learning advanced spells, but they usually provoked an episode which had Harry scrambling to help the poor girl. Astoria stubbornly refused to see Madam Pomfrey, and her relationship with Daphne had been strained since she refused to acknowledge Daphne's demands that she distance herself from, as Daphne now called him, 'Potter'.
Daphne. That was what Harry stressed and fretted over the most. She had made sure to approach him again in February to ensure he knew of her agreement with her father. Unfortunately, it felt like they fought at least once a month and their relationship, or friendship, was slowly degrading with each encounter.
Just a week ago, Daphne had refused to speak to him when he had pulled her into a room. Instead, she had simply ignored him and walked out. Since then, she'd refused to look at him.
Harry knew Daphne was furious with his disregard of her demands to stop associating with Astoria. It especially showed those few times their eyes met. Having the letter in his cloak pocket, Harry could understand the reasoning for Daphne's anger. But it still hurt him.
There were small mercies, of course. Like when Draco Malfoy had escorted Daphne to the last Hogsmeade weekend of the year. Harry had followed under his cloak, ensuring Draco didn't try anything. Outside of getting handsy at one point, all seemed to be above-board. Daphne had handled Malfoy's forwardness with another freezing charm to Malfoy's bits.
Draco had left Daphne alone after that.
So, that was one down, two to go, in Harry's book. Which was great, and all, considering that had been the whole agreement Astoria had explained Daphne had made with her father. The fact she was abiding by it had to account for something, right?
After five months, Harry wasn't so sure anymore. Doubt had begun creeping into his mind and tearing down barriers he'd put up around his heart to endure Daphne being escorted by three other boys. Harry far preferred sneers, spitting, or even outright insults to the cold indifference Daphne was showing him.
But with Daphne firmly distancing herself, Harry had turned his full attention to bettering his own skills and body, as well as continuing his fruitless search for the map. The potion Aunt Andi had made him to help with the aftereffects of the Cruciatus had helped immensely. He rarely spasmed or shook, even when exhausted or straining his magical core.
Harry was also becoming quite proficient in silent casting. Hours and hours of practicing certainly helped on that front. Today was the first day of exams, and Harry had Transfiguration and Charms. Harry was confident he'd be fine, even in his fatigued state.
There was palpable tension in the school for those in fifth or seventh year. Everyone seemed on edge and irritable. The week leading up to today had been interesting. Several students had experienced full mental breakdowns in classes or during study time. Those few times Harry had been in the vicinity had rattled him, as he'd thought something bad had happened.
Of course, two straight years of near-death experiences would cause Harry to be a little jumpy. Granted, he was on a quest to find the betrayer of his parents, but outside of that the year had been, well, quiet. It felt unnatural to Harry, and he found himself, if possible, even more on edge this week, since the term was ending in less than two weeks.
So it was that Harry found himself leaving his Transfiguration exam, having successfully and silently turned a teapot into a tortoise, when he heard two words that caused him to pause and adrenaline pump through his body.
"Mischief managed."
Harry drew his hood up and cast an Hominum Revelio (Tonks had taught that one to him). Two figures stood behind a nearby closed door. They were taller, and Harry had a sneaking suspicion he'd recognized the voice of George Weasley deactivating the map.
Harry was conflicted. The twins hadn't necessarily wronged him after his encounter with Ron at the beginning of the school year. But they hadn't made any effort to befriend Harry any further, either. Deciding that action outweighed diplomacy, Harry waited just outside the door for the two to exit.
Ten minutes later, Harry was getting agitated. His Charms exam was coming up and he needed that Merlin-forsaken map! Mercifully, the door finally opened. The twins hardly had time to blink when two stunners hit them both head-on. They fell backwards, the half-shut door clanging open loudly.
Harry, cloak still on, snatched the map and made his way to Charms. He passed McGonagall on the way, who was headed toward the sound. Good. There was no way Fred and George would admit to being fleeced of a magical map that showed every inhabitant of the castle and their location.
Not having time to view it, Harry hurried along and placed the folded map in the same pocket as Daphne's letter. He couldn't wait to get back to his dorm and call Sirius with the good news!
-GU-
June 9, 1994, appeared on the screen. Harry had just finished his DADA exam and was walking back to his dorm, invisible. The Marauder's Map was in his hand, and he was studying it. Sirius had been thrilled when Harry had mirror-called and told him the good news.
Unfortunately, their shared jubilation faded rather rapidly when there had been no sign of Pettigrew on the map. Sirius had redoubled his efforts in searching the Forbidden Forest, convinced Pettigrew was there. Harry had taken every free moment to study the map.
Harry paused mid-step, just outside an abandoned classroom. The map showed a single dot within. A dot that was labeled Daphne Greengrass. A second dot labeled Draco Malfoy was a couple doors down, moving away from the room Daphne was in. He didn't think about the possible ramifications and barged in, pulling his hood down as he did. Daphne jumped and spun on him, her expression hardening as recognition flashed in her eyes.
They both stared at each other, Harry with his map and Daphne with her wand pointed at him, her hand shaking.
"Daphne," Harry croaked.
"Harry," Daphne's voice cracked.
Harry surged forward, uncaring if Daphne was going to curse or hex him. He reached Daphne as her wand lowered and threw his arms around her, hugging her brutally. He felt her shoulders bob as she leaned into him.
"I'm sorry!" Harry whispered harshly. "I don't want to fight anymore!"
"No!" Daphne choked out and continued in a watery tone," I'm sorry, Harry. Astoria means everything to me. When I found out what happened I-, I-, I lost myself. I'm still angry at you, but I admit I've taken it too far."
Harry breathed a sigh of relief.
"Will you please stop with this reckless plan you've concocted with Astoria?" Daphne pleaded.
"You know I can't," Harry shook his head and felt Daphne stiffen and pull away.
She glared at him and wiped her eyes. "You're killing her," she accused.
"Not helping her would be killing her," Harry disagreed. "You know that Daph."
Daphne huffed and pushed past him, heading for the door.
"Daph!" Harry called after her. "I.." He hesitated.
"What, Harry?" Daphne questioned tersely.
"I really want to court you."
She looked over her shoulder and her expression softened. "Two more to go, Harry."
Harry watched as she opened the door and paused one final time.
"But you need to choose whose happiness is more important, Harry," Daphne didn't turn around to look at him this time. "Mine, or Astoria's."
Harry slunk to the ground, his legs refusing to support him further, as Daphne closed the door. Choose between Daphne or Astoria? How could she say that to him? Numbly, he glanced down at the map and gasped.
The confusion, hurt, and numbness fled him immediately. There, on the map, was Peter Pettigrew. And he was right outside the Potions classroom. Anger and adrenaline surged through Harry, and he charged out of the room, leaving thoughts of Daphne and their discussion behind as he moved to, finally, catch the rat.
As the door to the classroom slammed shut behind him, Harry, in his haste, didn't catch or realize that he'd forgotten to pull his hood up.
-GU-
"Malfoy!" Daphne snarled, her face red, puffy, and wet with tears. Astoria followed Daphne's gaze to the pile of Slytherins, still stunned, in the opposite corner.
"The dot," Astoria nodded. "Hey, Daph?"
Daphne was gritting her teeth, trying to prevent further sobs. "Yeah?"
"What if…" Astoria furrowed her brow in thought. "Do you think, maybe, the reason you were shaky and almost crying when arguing with Harry was because you were fighting back against whatever Draco and father did to you?"
Daphne turned to her sister, desperate hope flashing in her eyes. "Y-you really think so?"
"I do," Astoria said vehemently, uncaring if she was potentially lying. Daphne needed a victory, no matter how small.
Daphne hiccupped and wiped her nose on her sleeve before swiping at her eyes. A brief flicker of a smile graced her features then faded as quickly as it appeared.
"I hate this, Tori," Daphne whispered. "It's like a nightmare that I can't wake up from."
"It's going to be okay, Daph," Astoria patted her hand consolingly. "You'll see."
"Do you really believe that?" Daphne asked in a broken, watery voice.
Astoria refused to answer.
-GU-
"Sirius Black!" Harry whispered into his mirror as he stood in a hollow archway. Once again, Harry was thankful for his daily runs around the lake.
A few seconds went by, and Sirius stared back at Harry. "Hey, pup, what's up?"
"He's here!" Harry hissed. "I'm about to nab him."
Sirius's face darkened. "I'm on my way. I'll be just outside the entrance in case he makes a break for it."
The mirror darkened and Harry shoved it in his inner robe pocket. Wand in hand, he bolted out of the archway and skid to a halt just outside the Potions classroom. There, cowering in a corner and trying to stay inconspicuous, was the rat. Harry wasted no time sending a bright red Stupefy right into the traitor.
There was a glorious moment of triumph as it collided, and the rat went still. With shaking hands, scarcely able to believe it, Harry lifted the stunned Peter Pettigrew by his tail and firmly circled his hand around the rat's body, clenching it probably tighter than necessary.
And then Harry froze as he heard the one single voice in all of Hogwarts he didn't need to hear in this moment.
"Potter!"
Tensing, Harry slowly turned and tried to keep the wonderment off his expression. How could Severus Snape see him with his cloak on? He tentatively reached up to his collar and felt the hood of his cloak pooled around his shoulders.
Damn! Harry swore. I must have forgotten to pull the hood up.
"Sir?" Harry asked.
Snape stalked forward, his cloak billowing behind him, every bit the personification of an overgrown bat. His hooked nose inches from Harry's face as he glared down at the boy with spiteful eyes.
"Casting spells in the hallways," Snape said silkily, eyes flickering down to Harry's hands. There was a flash of recognition in the eyes of Snape that did not go unnoticed by Harry. "And with Weasley's rat, no less?"
"I was going to return-" Harry started.
"Don't lie to me," Snape interrupted and held out his hand. "The rat, Potter."
Harry was already shaking his head. In his hands, he held his Godfather's freedom. He couldn't and wouldn't relinquish the rat.
"Fifty points for direct disobedience!" Snape snarled. "The rat, Potter!"
"I can't," Harry said, his voice strained. He tried being as respectful as he could with his next sentence, "I really can't, Professor."
"Detention, Potter!" Snape bellowed. "The rat! Or I'll make it a week's worth!"
Harry squared his shoulders and shook his head defiantly. "I'm sorry, Sir, but I really can't give you this rat. If you'd accompany me to Headmaster Dumbledore, I'll be happy to explain why." He paused and then added, "And face whatever punishment you deem worthy of my reluctance to comply."
"Don't get cheeky with me, boy," Snape pulled his wand. "The rat, or I will stun you and take it."
Harry's eyes narrowed. Snape was behaving far more vindictively than normal. Did that mean that he knew this rat? Sirius had said that Snape had overheard and told the prophecy to Voldemort. But that would mean…
Harry's eyes widened as a bright red light careened towards him. He reacted reflexively, the countless hours spent with Sirius, Tonks, and Flitwick coming to bear, and deflected the stunner into the ceiling. Snape's eyes widened in surprise as Harry snarled and sent a stunner right back at his professor.
Snape reacted in kind by deflecting Harry's stunner, and then the two were dueling, spells flashing and igniting the corridor. To his credit, Snape used nothing lethal and appeared to be measuring Harry's capabilities. Harry, on the other hand, was fighting for Sirius's life, and had no such inhibitions.
When Harry forced Snape to shield a Black Family spell, he felt the tone of the duel shift. Suddenly, Harry was on the defensive. Snape's wand wove a symphony of continual and alternating curses, hexes and jinxes, many of which Harry would have been unable to identify if Snape had not been clearly, and firmly, calling them out.
Harry found this odd and instinctively raised a shield when Snape's next wand motion was followed with a silent incantation. Nothing happened. Then Harry felt an explosion of pain in the webbing of his hand between his thumb and index finger. He relaxed his grip reflexively and gave a garbled shout of protest as Peter Pettigrew fell to the ground and took off.
"NO!" Harry bellowed and turned, only to feel the air crackle around him as Snape's next curse rocketed in.
He got a Protego Maxima up at the last possible second and the curse splashed against the shield before detonating and rocking the hallway. Harry snarled and disengaged, ripping the hood of his cloak up and sprinting down the hall in pursuit. He fumbled the Marauder's Map out of his pants pocket, thankful he hadn't deactivated it.
Peter was already almost at the great hall entrance. Harry burst through the nearest abandoned classroom door and slammed it shut, overpowering a locking charm before ripping his hood down.
"Dobby!" Harry called and was beyond grateful for the responding crack!
He didn't give the diminutive house-elf time to jubilate, instead firmly grabbing his hand. "Dobby! Hagrid's hut. Fast!"
The house-elf snapped his mouth shut and nodded, taking Harry with him with a pop!
Harry was briefly disoriented and nearly tripped off his feet as he tried to get his bearings. He looked down at the map and saw Sirius closing in on Peter's dot, both on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Harry tore off after them, once again forgetting to pull his hood up. Dusk was in full swing, and visibility was reducing rapidly.
Harry saw a large black dog barrel out of the forest in his direction and knew Pettigrew was nearby. He gasped as the pudgy man suddenly popped up, wand in hand, and cast not at Sirius but at Harry. Harry moved to raise a shield, but Pettigrew was surprisingly fast.
Pain exploded in every nerve of Harry's body. He didn't need to hear the shouted Crucio! to know what he'd just been struck with. He screamed and writhed as he heard Padfoot snarl in rage. Then the pain was gone, and Peter rounded on Padfoot and cast an Animagus reveal charm. Where there once was a large black dog there was now a haggard Sirius Black in full sprint.
Peter immediately touched his wand back to his nose and returned to his rat form as Sirius dove to tackle him, catching only air. Harry gasped as he felt the air begin chilling unnaturally fast around him.
"Dementors!" Harry gagged and spasmed before he spat out blood from where he'd bitten his tongue. "Sirius, run!"
Sirius transformed and charged after Wormtail, leaving Harry to deal with the oncoming dementors. Ignoring the pang in his heart at the thought of Daphne and their current troubles, Harry recalled that perfect day in Hogsmeade.
"Expecto Patronum!" Harry exclaimed and Prongs burst forth, prancing circles around Harry protectively.
"Let's go!" Harry panted and charged after Sirius into the Forbidden Forest, his Patronus trotting alongside.
The forest canopy dampened what little light was left as the sun receded below the horizon. Harry was grateful that his Patronus cast off so much light. He heard the barking of Sirius and sprinted forward, uncaring of the nicks and scrapes he acquired from errant branches that protested his passage.
Suddenly, there was a yelp of pain from Padfoot and a howl that chilled Harry's blood. They'd forgotten tonight was a full moon.
"Shit!" Harry swore, his breath misting as the approaching dementors sent the air temperature to below freezing. "Moony!"
Snarls and yips emanated from a blockade of trees just ahead that Harry pushed through in time to see Padfoot and Moony locked in a fight in the middle of a clearing. Both jumped and snapped at each other, wrestling and vying for dominance. Harry pocketed his map as it was no longer any use to him and cursed their luck.
There was a crack! that had Harry turning in surprise as Dobby appeared, grabbing both ears in distress.
"Master Harry!" Dobby squeaked and released an ear to point in the direction of the castle. "They is coming, Sir! The big nosed man bat sends them!"
"How many?" Harry's chest heaved from the long sprint so deep into the forest.
"More than Dobby can count," Dobby's wide tennis ball eyes gleamed in the light of Harry's Patronus.
There was a snarl and Harry turned and reactively raised his hands to defend his face as Moony was in a midair dive at him. Harry was saved as Padfoot shot out of nowhere and intercepted the werewolf, both going down in a ball of claws, teeth, and rage. Suddenly, Padfoot yelped and pulled away, clearly injured.
Then Harry heard the voices of his past, even with Prongs standing next to him, and trembled. There were too many to hold back. Prongs pulsed and began to fade with the onslaught of the unnatural fear the dementors projected. Moony, still in werewolf form, whimpered and sprinted deeper into the forest, tail between his legs.
Padfoot limped a few more steps away and then transformed back into Sirius who collapsed on the ground with a moan. Harry rushed forward, Dobby on his heels, and knelt next to his Godfather.
"Sirius!" Harry cried out in concern.
"No! Please!" Sirius sobbed. "I can't go back! Not again! I'm sorry James! I'm so sorry Lily!"
The first dementor burst into the clearing they were in, and Prongs fizzled out. Harry clutched his head and fell to his knees as the fear washed over him. Sirius cried out and went still.
Shit! Harry raised his wand and prepared to cast another Patronus, but his hand spasmed and the charm died on his lips. Fucking Cruciatus!
Harry's rage manifested in a wave of magic expelling from his body. The air rippled from the power and the smell of ozone filled the clearing.
"Sirius Black will not die here!" Harry said firmly, raging against the fear that threatened to overtake him completely. "Dobby!"
"Yes, Master Harry?" Dobby, loyal Dobby, cowered behind Harry's feet.
"Can you apparate us out of here?" Harry's chest heaved as he began building his magic, just like at the quidditch match.
"Dobby is sorry that he cannot help the Great Harry Potter!" Dobby wailed. "Dobby's magic is disrupted by the Dark Ones!"
"I'll get you an opportunity," Harry promised. "As soon as you can, take Sirius back to 12 Grimmauld Place."
"But Master-"
"That's an order, Dobby!" Harry barked.
Dobby winced. "Dobby will do as the Great Harry Potter commands."
I need help, Harry thought desperately. Please, Fawkes!
The dementors above swarmed in a circle of terror. There had to be one hundred of them. Harry felt his consciousness fade as the voice of his mother screamed in his ear, and Voldemort's high-pitched laughter followed. He stubbornly warred against it, calling mentally for Fawkes over and over and praying the noble phoenix would hear his pleas for aid.
A bright orange flash lightened Harry's heart as Fawkes trilled and appeared just above Harry's shoulder before he settled with a final flap.
"Thank you!" Harry gasped in relief. "I need your help again, buddy."
Harry pulled on all of his core, pushing every ounce of energy into his wand. He felt the link from Fawkes bolstering his magic, enhancing and morphing it into something stronger. The feeling of raw power was euphoric, and the air crackled with electricity as the first dementor dove to administer the kiss to Sirius.
Harry pointed his wand directly overhead and shouted out the spell, using his memory of Daphne to empower it.
EXPECTO PATRONUM!
This time, Harry's arm didn't shatter or recoil. He felt Fawkes' claws dig into his shoulder slightly and a pulse of magic shoot down his arm. The phoenix was preventing the backlash from the overpowered spell. There was a tremendous flash of light followed by a sonic boom that overrode the screams of the dementors.
The phoenix Patronus flared brightly, illuminating the surrounding area like a second sun. Harry blinked back tears from the stinging light as he heard loud thumps falling around him.
"Dobby! Now!" Harry shouted and heard Dobby give a squeak of understanding before a loud crack! indicated the house-elf had done his duty and gotten Sirius to safety.
Harry looked down and was shocked to see an empty cloak nearby. A cloak that looked suspiciously like…
A dementor's cloak? Harry thought in awe. Does this Patronus have the power to eliminate the foul bastards?
More cloaks fluttered out of the air to the ground and Harry continued to let his Patronus pull on his strained core, wanting to destroy as many dementors as he could. He heard Fawkes screech and suddenly the phoenix combusted and fell to the ground in ashes. Harry gasped and knelt down, frantically searching the grass.
A baby Fawkes chirruped at him from a small ash pile. Harry reverently cradled the baby phoenix in his hands and held him close. He recalled reading in Scamander's book about burning days occurring when a phoenix sheds too many tears or expends too much of its unique magic.
"You're incredible, Fawkes," Harry whispered tiredly as his Patronus, no longer aided by Fawkes, flickered sporadically.
The magical strain quickly dropped Harry to his knees, and he stubbornly held on. He heard a crackling to his left and turned as he heard a muttered spell.
A jet of red light was the last thing he saw.
-GU-
In the great hall, McGonagall stared down Snape, looking unimpressed. Snape remained impassive, knowing there wasn't enough in that memory to condemn whatever actions he may or may not have taken. Flitwick sat with steepled hands, analyzing every facet of the memory and marveling at Harry's control over his magic.
Astoria stared open-mouthed at the screen before snapping her mouth shut and looking over at her sister.
"Did Harry just destroy one hundred dementors?"
Daphne wore a similar expression to her baby sister. She nodded. "I think so, Tori."
"Have you ever heard of a Wizard or Witch using a phoenix like Harry does with Fawkes?" Astoria questioned.
"I don't think anyone has ever even thought of using a phoenix like that," Daphne shook her head in disbelief.
"Makes you wonder whom Fawkes favors," Astoria mused aloud.
Daphne, despite her swirling emotions, snorted mirthfully, causing Astoria to look mildly offended.
"What?"
"I know who the bird favors, Tori," Daphne let out a watery giggle.
"Well, yeah," Astoria waved her hand at the screen. "Sure, Fawkes likes Harry. That's obvious. But he usually hangs out in Dumbledore's office, right?"
Daphne shrugged. "Don't you remember the rumors?"
"There's a ton of rumors, Daph," Astoria rolled her eyes. "Especially these last three weeks. Pray tell, which should I be remembering."
"The Potions incident," Daphne's temporary mirth evaporated, replaced by a somber atmosphere.
"Oh," Astoria replied lamely. "What about it?"
"Harry and Dumbledore had a minor showdown in that class," Daphne said with a faraway expression. "Fawkes showed up near the end of it and Harry asked a single question to Dumbledore…"
Astoria's eyes narrowed in agitation at the dramatic pause.
"Well?"
"Do you feel in control now, Albus?" Daphne whispered shakily.
Astoria gasped. "Morgana's tits, Daph!"
"It's what Harry said!" Daphne protested.
"That boy has bigger balls than Merlin himself!" Astoria breathed in shock.
"Tori!"
"Well, he does!"
"Be that as it may, you're far too young to say such things!" Daphne scolded.
"Oh, puh-lease," Astoria rolled her eyes. "We have Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, the two biggest gossip mongers outside of Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott. You wouldn't believe the debauchery they spew to each other when they think no one is listening."
"And you just happen to be nearby, and listening, when they speak of such things?" Daphne deadpanned.
Astoria shrugged. "I can't help that the Sorting Hat forced me into Gryffindor. I told the stupid thing to put me into Slytherin. I sold every snake-like quality I have to it, but it was adamant I go to the Lions."
Daphne blinked. "Why?"
Astoria smirked. "That's for me to know, Daffy. Just know that I'm still a snake at heart and am always watching and listening so I have the proper leverage at the right time. Like a 'Little Lioness' stalking her prey."
"You're incorrigible," Daphne muttered.
"And I'm also mum's favorite," Astoria teased and poked Daphne in the ribs.
Daphne flinched away and swatted at her sister's hand. "Only because you've somehow fooled her into believing you're not the devil incarnate!"
"But Daffy," Astoria batted her eyelashes innocently. "I'm a little angel."
Daphne scoffed. "Tell that to Harry."