hello!
I apologize for my late updating
Chapter 9 here
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XOXOXOXOXOXOX
Monte Rosa, Switzerland
In a cave in the mountains, there was a small, invisible from the outside camp. The campfire was burning and it was surrounded by a group of people lurking to it from all over the cold mountain.
A number of men in thick coats were sitting around the fire, listening to one man, who was telling stories of the olds and the mighty heroes that once were the sigil of light in this world. Despite the warming charms and wards, the coldness still reached them...
And in a dark corner of the cave, Eva was sitting in front of a table full of documents and scrolls. She was studying and reading them with full focus, and fatigue was slowly encroaching upon her.
'This is not working,' Eva rubbed her eyes with annoyance and let out a sigh of restlessness. She and her squad had been camping out in the wild for months now; from cave to cave, from forest to forest...
"You should take some rest," a manly voice said in the darkness. She turned around, shocked.
.
"Kou!" the woman with red eyes exclaimed, standing up from her chair happily but with weariness, to greet the owner of the voice.
Kou, the man she'd called out, let out only a sigh of boredom, went to the chair she had been occupying, and sat down there. Eva looked at him suspiciously, narrowing her eyes, then grasped a bottle of ale and decanted some of it in two goblets to hand one to the man. She sat across him.
"You haven't changed at all, how long has it been this time?... Eight months," she said, observing him closely.
Truly, the man hadn't changed at all, except for the growing beard, which he surely was too lazy to shave as usual. Kou was a well-built man, tall, with an athletic body, square-faced with grey eyes and silver-grey hair, yet he looked in his early thirties to any eye. He'd been born in Japan yet there were no Asian features in his physiognomy.
She let a few sips of ale burn down her throat in this deadly cold.
"Aren't you cold?" she asked Kou as she looked at his outfit. He was wearing a black and grey formal hakama-and-haori combo in the cold mountains—it looked ridiculous to Eva.
Kou's eyes heavied. "It seems the coldness has iced your brain over as well," he said with an arrogant smile.
Her temper got hotter. "Narcissistic fox," she called him in a matter-of-fact tone. He only shrugged lazily and leaned down to the table's surface to take a nap.
Eva's hands squeezed into fists and her face got redder. One day she would slay this lazy old fox!
She heard her warriors, soldiers laughing at some joke. She smiled weakly at the sound. September was running out and October would roll around in just a few days. She looked up at her men, who were sitting around the fire.
'For how long? Should I wait?' she kept asking herself. She'd made sure to hand «The trust» that Eros had commanded her to deliver to his sister in England. She kept wondering how the little Rhaenys was doing; she missed playing and talking with the girl. Now this girl was a married woman... blimey.
Marriage wasn't among the options she had wanted the girl to have; what was Eros thinking, honestly. She looked in front of her at the war planner: west, east, north, or south… a few months left and civil war was soon to be declared.
The 28th were in conflict. They knew Eros was dead and Phobos had won. They wouldn't complain about his reign either. From what Sirius had told her, this Voldemort had almost won fifteen years ago and now he was back, apparently more powerful than before. If he also declared himself as Salazar Slytherin's heir, the sacred would have to choose a side, not to mention Dumbledore was raising an army against Voldemort. And the ministries couldn't split their allegiance with the crown… She stared with a big headache at the war planner. Berz hadn't given her any sign to move in ages now—since the wedding, in other words. And while the food was not a problem, she and her group couldn't stay in hiding forever: the men were true to their word and would never change their loyalty, yet they needed a safer place than this shitty hideout. She was in a soup without Berz around: sure, she was the second in command now after him, but she hated taking responsibilities. The other knight leaders had all dispersed, not bowing to Phobos willingly, except for Berz and a few others, who had decided to stay out of fear of imbalance. If she could, she would have wassails till morning, celebrating and dancing all night. Oh! and shopping—she missed fashion weeks. 'Wait, what am I thinking... behave, bitch.'
"You're thinking too much, it annoys me," Kou said, still sleeping, burying his head in his hands on the wooden desk.
"—put yourself in my shoes, damnit!" she yelled with a flushed face.
"Why should I, I'm not an idiot like you," he mocked, yawning.
Her blood boiled. If anyone could get a rise out of her or play on her nerves, it was Kou.
She clenched her hands and moved forward to punch him but Kou caught the movement so he backed away and averted her, when one of her men approached. She paused and looked at him. "Captain, a man is floo-calling you from our campfire."
"Who? " she wondered, looking at Kou, who shook his head.
By the lake bank of the magical school
Daphne was in the sea of her thoughts, looking from the edge over the black lake as the moon reflected on its surface. It had been a few days since her kiss—or rather, kisses—with Harry in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
Both teenagers couldn't stop and went on for what seemed to be hours. When they parted away to take in some air but kept their foreheads pressed together, Daphne couldn't look him in the eye and kept her gaze on his chest, which was going up and down, breathing hard, just like hers.
"Wow," he said, amazed, with a laugh. She giggled too, still looking down, just cherishing the moment they had just had. And so did he.
He was taller than her so he had to bend down a little to keep their heads pressed together. He titled his head to look at his little tiny wife. She looked up at him, looking for signs of anything, and he brushed a few hair strands away from her face and cupped her cheek again.
Daphne leaned into his touch. his warm hand just let her feel safe and secure; away from the chaos outside this school, it was home.
"Daphne. Do you really want to—?" he begged without moving his gaze away from hers.
Daphne didn't hesitate a second and brushed her hand over his, squeezing in it gently, treasuring it.
"Trust—" she paused, gazing at him. His emerald green eyes were imploring.
Harry needed support, real support from someone who really understood him, wouldn't judge him. He needed her touch...
Daphne needed a shield and safety. She had trust issues.
"Together…No lies if we want this to work out... Can you— no , will you?" she asked him. Harry straightened his look at her. Eros had said he was a perfect choice for her. Harry was a true gentleman: he didn't force her to do anything, but she wanted to assure him.
"Trust," he repeated with assurance in his voice, nodding at her.
She leaned forward and their foreheads touched again.
'Trust' was their vow.
After that, Harry had asked her if she could meet up with him after three nights at the black lake by midnight all of a sudden. She had agreed so here she was, standing in the dark all alone, save for the moon and the stars. The blanket scarf she was wearing didn't keep her warm as the autumn night was getting colder.
Every time she thought of him, her lips tickled out of the blue and her face turned into a full-blown tomato, remembering his lips. She imagined Malfoy's, the Slytherins', the Gryffindors' and everyone else's reactions if they knew about Harry and her...
"Sorry I'm late," Harry said behind her in an apologising tone.
She jerked away and stepped on the skirt she was wearing and fell on her face.
He bent down, frowning, and helped her stand up, brushing the dirt off her clothes. They both sat on the grass for a while and talked about how their days were going.
Harry was delighted—extremely delighted. In the last few days, after their shared moment in the bathroom, he kept thinking about it so much that it was hard for him to focus on his studies, which were still going well anyway. Most of the teachers were impressed by his progress and even Hermione was shocked. He wasn't stupid, just lazy a bit. His famous scar hadn't hurt lately, nor had the nightmares been visiting him. The past three nights, he had been sleeping like he hadn't in forever.
When he had looked down at her after his brave kiss, he had seen her blazing icey eyes turn to purple—he wondered if that was his imagination. He had just kissed one of the hottest girls, the ice queen and the Slytherin princess. And his wife. He had no idea how he'd done it, he'd just let his inner instinct lead him, and he'd found himself kissing her eagerly. She tasted so sweet; she is something beyond imagination...she was His light.
When she had demanded trust of him, he had been appalled: since their first meeting, she had never asked anything of him or said anything, so now he was overwhelmed. 'If trust is what she wants from me, I will give it to her.'
Harry laid his back on the grass as his both hands travelled behind his head. He looked at the stars while Daphne peered at him with curiosity.
"What's wrong?" she queried.
"Well, emm, Hermione and Ron have been bugging me lately," Harry began.
She just fixed her sitting position on the grass, getting closer to him. "And?.."
"Hermione thinks I should teach them—and some other students who believe me—defence against the dark arts since Umbridge is 'teaching' it now. They think I'm good at it and we should be prepared when the time comes—" he paused and stole a glance at her from the corner of his green eyes. "I don't know if I should accept or not. The thing is, they think I'm kinda great at DADA while all the times I saved the day, it was just a fluke," Harry admitted, waiting for a reply. Daphne played with her fingers in silence.
"What do you think?" Harry added.
Daphne fell silent. Was he asking for advice from her? She inclined her head down, touched her chin, and started thinking. Granger and Weasley wanted him to train them—in other words, to guide them. She looked up to him.
"Leadership is not something to be feared, it is to be tamed. Depends on the person, of course. Leadership requires patience so do what your heart feels to be right," she explained, looking straight with seriousness in her eyes.
Harry threaded a hand through his hair. "Well, I— you see, at first I thought it was a bad idea but with the decrees Umbridge is passing on, it starts looking more and more appealing. At least in case things go pear-shaped, they can protect themselves. Hermione has calculated everything and she just needs my approval."
"Granger and Weasley and, as you said, there are a few others too, picked you?"
He nodded.
"I think you already have your answer," she said, smiling at him. He felt the wisdom of the rebound of her words.
He rubbed his chin and looked at her, wondering how he should ask. She was looking at the black lake as he was trying to find words. "There is something else, too," he murmured, licking his lips.
She raised her right eyebrow, her interest switching to him. Harry played nervously with his hair, looking at the Lake.
"The Hogsmeade weekend is in a week, and, well, emm, the meeting with those who are interested in this training, they want to meet up with me there. I would like you to attend as well, before you protest, let me finish…"
Daphne wondered with her lips hardened. He knew very well that they must not be seen together—or should she remind him? But her tongue stumbled and was silent. She sighed, impatiently waiting for him to finish; the night was getting colder, so she hugged herself.
"Just meet me in the village in Shadowy Alley before The Three Broomsticks. The moment you see me, I will tell you how, okay?"
"Fine, but don't let anyone see you or I swear—" she started, crossing her hands.
"Aha! Finally, the famous conjugal threats, we're making remarkable progress," he laughed, mockery creeping into his tone.
She jumped at him, trying to beat him, but he was faster as he got up, running away from her wrath and laughing.
A week later
Harry had been waiting for ages now. He had asked Ron and Hermione to head to Zonko's first and he would join them later, but Daphne hadn't shown up yet. What's taking her so long... He had been plotting for this day for ages now and the princess was taking her time... Now his patience was wearing thin; he thought for a second that she was not coming or that she was just retaliating because he'd been late for the Black Lake meeting.
Autumn was showing its beauty in this magical village as he looked at the cottages and shops. The fallen yellow leaves covered the streets like a rug on a floor. For a moment, Harry felt a smooth breeze blow past him and a pleasant scent of vanilla was coming with it. He turned towards the smell that had attracted him to see a blonde hiding herself under the hood of her long handmade wool coat with a skirt; she was walking in his direction.
They kept a distance between them until they reached an abandoned shadowy Alley. Daphne didn't take off her hood and asked him quickly about his plan. He searched in his bag while she was looking at the exit of the Alley to make sure no one saw them. He drew out a long cloak and wrapped it around her.
"Wear this and stay behind me, no one will see you with this on," he explained in a low voice, patting her shoulders, leaning down to her after wrapping the cloak well around her.
She looked down to see her body was now invisible except for her head. 'An invisible cloak!' Her eyes widened in surprise. Why did he have it! She could ask him later when this rendezvous ended. She felt his forehead on hers as their eyes met, ice with emeralds.
"Okay," Harry whispered to her. She only nodded as he stole a kiss to the corner of her lips as if her kisses were his Lucky charms and one kiss was enough for him to build his confidence at once.
He covered her face with the cloak as soon as his lips left her sweet ones, and gestured with his hand for her to follow him, still smelling her even when she was covered in the cloak, and he wished from the bottom of his heart that no one would smell her at the meeting or feel her, especially Hermione.
Daphne, on the other hand, felt something sharp nib at her heart. She hated this kind of stuff; she didn't want him to be angry but she hated hiding, her entire life had come to revolve around hiding…
As she followed him, he and his friends approached some suspicious inn. 'How in the hell did Granger find this place?' she asked herself, staring at the golden trio from behind. This was the first time in her life being so close to the Gryffindors, hearing how they acted and talked. They didn't care about anything around them, and she smiled at that in admiration.
But that admiration soon turned into a sickness as she entered the inn, whose name was "The Hogs' head". It smelt like a dead animal and it was extremely dirty. The glass panes were so dirty, she had never seen such a dive in her entire life.
Rats were in the corner of the old place—she could hear them—and some weird people, probably criminals, were drinking. Most of them smelled like piss. 'Oh god!' She was going to throw up; her stomach kept jerking as she leaned closer to Harry, grabbing the end of his jacket. Harry felt her touch, apparently, because he leaned back.
Now she really hated her strong senses.
She covered her nose and mouth with her hand, trying to block the stench from assaulting her, and kept praying for this meeting to end soon.
Harry sensed Daphne's touch from behind him as he settled himself, waiting for those other students. Hermione rounded them up, the meeting started, and Harry really did his best to explain his attentions and the reasons for this, as Ron called it, 'Army'. He tried his best to give a proper speech without letting his temper take over him. Daphne's presence kept him in the system and full of confidence.
Daphne recognised most of the figures. Most of these students were in her year: the Weasley siblings, Lovegood, the Creevey brothers, Macmillian, Longbottom, the Patils, and others too. Most of the group were Gryffindors and Huffelpuffs. Daphne gave a bow of respect to Granger under the cloak: she truly was one of the kind, how had she even gathered all these people...more like how did all these people believe Harry despite all the rumours against him that were circulating around. Her thoughts soon were boycotted by an argument between those present about the actual return of Voldemort. Harry sat in front of them in silence and coolness. Daphne watched closely what was going on. She studied everyone's movements and reactions, especially when Neville boldly mentioned Voldemort's name.
Suddenly, a girl from the back asked about Harry's susceptibility to casting a Patronus. Harry only nodded in return.
She had heard about this rumour before. Then, another mentioned other rumours concerning Basilisk… she really was amazed by what she was hearing.
After the meeting ended with the students signing their membership, Harry said goodbye to his friends.
"Where are you going?" Hermione called after him, curious and worried.
"Ah-em, I have an urgent business to attend to. I will meet you at school," he ducked.
Ron only nodded while Hermione exclaimed, "Harry, please tell me Padfoot is not here?"
They had talked recently and Hermione had pointed out that Sirius's reckless behaviour could get them into trouble. He pressed his lips together in a thin line.
Sure, he knew that Sirius's attendance at the platform when they were about to leave for Hogwarts had been risky, so what?
He gave her a half shrug and denied her conclusion.
The moment he was out of the village, he stopped under a tree and turned around to see his wife jump out of the cloak behind the tree and throw up. Harry's eyes were terrified, and he ran towards her and started patting her back, asking her what was wrong. She waved her hand to keep him away, looking down and avoiding eye contact with him out of embarrassment. He told her not to be shy as he was rubbing soothing circles on her back, slowly and gently. After a few minutes, Daphne had calmed down, and Harry let out a sigh of relief as he helped her down under the tree.
"What happened?" Harry asked, worried, and brushed a few hairs out of her face.
"I- forgive me for my disgusting behaviour," she pleaded, embarrassed, looking away.
He cupped her cheek with his right hand, repeating the question. She confessed that she couldn't handle the smells of that inn because of her strong olfaction. He laughed so hard and her face went redder than ever as she covered her face with her hands.
Harry thought that it was cute: she was really a princess, after all... He apologised for dragging her there and asked her for her opinion about the meeting.
Daphne drew out her remarks and notes as he listened to her, focused. Harry really admired her military knowledge and wanted to know more and he found himself fond of listening to her advice; it always worked for him. He looked down at his muggle watch and yelled.
He grasped her by her wrist and told her to run as fast as she could.
They kept running until they found each other at the entrance of a cave. Daphne felt dizzy again and her stomach twisted.
"Harry, what are we doing here?" she raised her eyebrows in confusion, covering her mouth.
"Wait and you'll see," he lifted his index finger to his lips and gave her a wink, smirking at her.
They walked into the cave together. When they got closer, two people talking by a fire came into view.
The first one was obfuscated by the shadows, but she heard the second one laughing loudly; it was a man. She stared in question at Harry: he kept surprising her each time.
The man who was laughing turned around and jumped, excited, calling Harry and then hugging him tight. Harry hugged the man back in the same way. When the two parted, the man turned to greet her.
Her mouth formed into an O: it was Sirius Black! He was more lively than the last time she met him in the abandoned church back in July. She bowed her head in greeting, looking between the two men for explanation.
"Daphne, I would like you to meet my godfather Sirius Orion Black."
She was shocked at the revelation and her eyes went wide. "Forgive me, Lord Black, I had no idea that you two were that close."
Sirius let out a hearty laugh and patted her shoulder. "Lord Black is my father, I'm Sirius to you, princess, but you may also call me Padfoot," Sirius said, kissing the back of her hand in courtesy. Harry only covered his laughter.
She gave him an awkward smile as she shot Harry a questioning look, but Harry only looked to the other person. When she turned to see her or him, her lips parted and tears filled her eyes.
Eva was walking towards her with her long black hair dancing in the air.
"Where is my hug, I'm kind of jealous of Pads here," Eva said, smirking.
Daphne didn't say anything, just jumped, hugging her, fighting the tears that threatened to fall.
After a long embrace, they parted. "H-How?" was the only word that escaped Daphne's lips.
Eva glanced at Harry. "I think this part your husband should explain."
Daphne rolled her eyes, feeling the happiness dancing around this dark cave.
"Well, I don't know what you like so—" Harry said, fighting the colour that crept into his face. Her mouth fell open, speechless. "I thought that, well, em, this, maybe, jeez… Just consider it as a thanks or a wedding gift, okay?" Harry said, looking away from her.
'This was harder than I expected,' Harry thought.
After their shared time together, more than once Daphne had been there, offering a shoulder. He wanted to offer her something in return and thank her with something more than just trust. He just wanted her to know that this whole marriage was to him as much as it was to her. He liked being around her and the way she smiled, and he wanted to keep seeing that smile; it cheered him on and gave him strength. He kept thinking about it for days after she'd healed him that night and fallen sick. He was indebted to her and he felt guilty despite her reassurances. He had been pondering for weeks, then he finally got it.
One night, he was gazing at his dorm ceiling, wondering how Sirius was doing, cooped up in that weird old house alone with an annoying old elf, when an idea finally popped up. It had been there all the time: she was eager to meet her real family or someone who truly knew her and who she was, except for him. When he had given her Eva's box, she had been so delighted that her closest kin was alive and well.
He had sent an owl to Sirius, asking him to floo-call him.
"Sirius, I want you to do something for me," Harry hissed to Sirius in the common room.
"Anything, pup," his godfather assured.
"Can you bring Eva to Hogsmeade during the upcoming weekend trip, to the cave?" Harry requested in a low voice even though he had cast a silencing charm in the cosy room.
Daphne was literally speechless as Sirius was explaining. She felt happiness rising in her. She didn't move her eyes away from Harry as she was holding Eva's hands; she didn't even realise that a radiant smile was printed on her face. She wanted to take his lips in hers instantly and she would do so if the old fellas weren't around.
"By the way, I brought tea," Sirius exclaimed, breaking the heavy temptation that was building up.
Eva and Sirius shared a knowing look and smiles beamed on their faces as they headed toward the fire. Eva seated Daphne next to herself, their hands still together, as Sirius and Harry took place across them, giving them some privacy.
Eva sniffed at her as Daphne pulled away weirdly.
"Why do you smell like vomit," Eva asked, covering her nose, disgusted.
Daphne went pale as she smelled herself. 'Blimey, I smell like vomit!' She gazed at Harry and her face went red. D-did that mean— She couldn't even complete the thought in her mind, embarrassed. She had been stinking of vomit all the way here and didn't even realise it and Harry had been there all the time… She buried her face between her hands.
Eva just took out of her bag a bottle of perfume and showered her with its contents after Daphne explained the incident to Eva with her face as scarlet as a tomato.
Eva laughed hard at her and Daphne kicked her.
"So..." Eva asked in a playful voice after wiping the tears of laughter away.
"The usual nonsense, you?" Daphne said with a heavy heart.
Eva's bright smile faded at the question and she looked over her shoulder in the men's direction but now she was tongue-tied. She opened her mouth to answer but her voice disappeared. She had been prepared for Rhaenys's questions but now all her walls fell.
"That bad," Daphne noted in a heartbreaking voice.
Eva fixed her stare on the fire.
"Give me your arm," Rhaenys aka Daphne ordered her, but Eva protested, "No!" She felt insecure; she couldn't let her see... The other two raised their heads in question at what was going on but the ladies gave them no attention.
A painful thought flooded Eva's mind. 'Rhaenys may see the battle...'
Daphne took the hand firmly and brushed her both hands, using her Occulmancy on Eva.
Eva shook her hand off. "Fine, damnit. I'm gonna tell you but Berz is gonna kill me," she gritted her teeth, and Daphne rolled her eyes.
Eva informed her about all she knew, from the camping to the leaders of the knight movements, to the casualties.
Daphne found a prop in her faint heart. "May God forgive their sins," she prayed.
"On God's will," nodded Eva in agreement.
"Now tell me, did Berz say anything about the Palace?" Daphne asked directly.
Eva thought for a second, putting her index finger on her cheek. "Well...Rumours of Voldemort's return have reached the ears of Phobos, and the latter has finished his celebrations, expressed all his interests in the council, and restructured it. Aurelia is taking over all the responsibilities of the palace from The Sanctuary to the Council of Leaders and Military. She does not let ae bird fly without knowing it. She has even sent letters to all the nobles, world leaders, and even the noble demons, demanding their daughters to be chosen for the new royal court. She does as she pleases and does not respect the laws of the kings and the ancient rules," Eva said, breathing hard. This kind of information was not supposed to be shared with Daphne. 'Berz will kill me definitely.'
Daphne pressed her lips into a thin line, looking at the fire, squeezing her hands angrily into fists.
"And my sisters did not say anything?" she argued, her eyebrows knitted.
"It would be futile to argue with the king and the mother queen."
"When the lion died, the monkeys rebelled against the High Palace," said Daphne, watching the blaze, and exhaled in sorrow, for all these years her family had been the grace and the greatness but now all lay in the hands of a half-blood heir and a foreign woman, and what was worse, her sisters admitted defeat.
That's why Eros had married her off to assure the lineage and her protection and her influence.
"Your grace…you promised that you wouldn't get involved. Be a Potter, it's your Fate now," Eva said, heartbroken.
A sense of defeat was upon Daphne when she heard Eva's words. It was true, she was no longer part of the palace—she never had been and what had kept her attached to it was no longer in the world of the living. She looked up at her fate: he was sitting across her laughing with his godfather. She tilted her head to clear her mind and shrugged.
"Listen, 'that person' is our future," she pointed at Eva firmly in a warning tone. Eva's face was pale: she had never gotten threats, not from Rhaenys. She wondered if she had read the will yet. Eros's last instructions had been strictly enforced till now.
"Let Aurelia...let her enjoy her temporary power, as it will not last. Now, there is something I need you to do for me," Daphne added.
The red-eyed woman leaned forward as Daphne whispered into her ear. Eva's eyes got wide and blinked a few times as she looked straight at the blonde girl.
"It won't be difficult, but would you please tell me the reason," Eva curiously asked.
Daphne pressed her fingers to her lips. "It's a secret, a secret, like you said, this is my fate," she winked at the black-haired woman.
Eva smelt something fishy but ignored it. "Now tell me, how are things between you and Harry?" she smirked.
Daphne only blushed and Eva hummed in a mocking tone
Harry and Sirius were watching the ladies laughing from afar.
Sirius turned to his young godson. "I think there is something you didn't tell me."
Harry laughed at the comment. "Let's say that we are in harmony more than ever," he admitted, running his fingers through his messy hair.
Sirius beamed happily: seeing his godson happy was something rare these days.
"Is your scar still hurting you?" Sirius asked with seriousness crossing his face.
Harry looked him in the eye and shook his head. "Not lately," he answered.
"Harry, keep practising your Occulmency, pup," Sirius advised. Harry heard more from this advice than the ear could hear; he nodded.
"Tell me, Pads, any news about Hagrid or the order?" Harry asked his godfather with seriousness.
Time had passed, unseen.
The two men approached the women, saying that the trip time is about to be over and they needed to head to the school soon.
Daphne said nothing; she stood, a bit annoyed. Harry was apprehensive about Daphne as Sirius looked at Eva questioningly, wondering what had happened but Eva didn;t respond.
Harry said good-bye to the two while Daphne was silent, in a sea of worries and thoughts.
Curiosity was killing Harry: he wanted to know what had happened that had changed her mood suddenly. She bid the adults a silent goodbye and followed Harry out of the cave when...
"Ah! Kou is sending his regards," Eva yelled at Daphne.
The young lady in the hood turned around and let out a sarcastic laugh. "Tell him that I missed him too." As she was walking away, she turned again. "That thing, send it to me, through Harry."
"Okaaay, take care of yourself and please do something about your fashion, it's an old model," Eva admitted behind her in dislike. Daphne rolled her eyes.
As the two teenagers were out of the sight of the cave, Harry asked her, "What will she send through me?"
"I ordered a few things. Cyrus wouldn't let me have them so I asked her to send them to me through you, you don't mind, do you?" she lied.
Harry shook his head as they kept walking. After a while, he asked who Kou was. Daphne eyed him. "My spiritual Guardian, you could say."
Harry raised his eyebrows, turning to her. Daphne stopped walking and took a sharp breath.
"That was really… precious, I will never forget it, best gift I ever received...thank you, Harry, really," she said, her hands behind her back. She looked to her side, thinking, while Harry beamed.
"I'm really happy you liked it."
She bit her lower lip and closed her eyes, trying to let the words get out of her throat. "Do you remember the box you handed me at the beginning of the term?" she recalled.
Harry nodded bluntly. She moved closer to him and looked up to him. They were a few centimetres apart and could sense each other's breaths. She looked down, ashamed.
"I-I didn't dare open it yet, I don't have the courage... I-I need s-someone w-who has enough bravery that I cannot have, to be with me, I need a Gryffindor lion for it... If you can, if you want to... I will not force you to do anything, but I want to open it soon a-and I can't do it alone, I don't have the guts," she was begging, shivering, still looking down.
Daphne couldn't dare for months to open her brother's trust but seeing Eva today reminded her of the obligation. Yet she couldn't do it so she felt all her dignity depended on this plea. She closed her eyes, prepared for rejection, when she felt two hands cupping her cheeks.
She glanced up to her husband, whose emerald green eyes were gazing at her icey ones.
"My bravery is yours, you demands and your desires are all responsive, so don't be shy to request anything and I will make sure to fulfil your requests.
"This is what true couples do, they support each other, right?" Harry told her in a fruity tone.
"Are we a real couple?" she tilted her head aside in innocence, shaking her shyness off.
"Aren't we?" Harry giggled, raising a brow at her.
"Technically, we have passed the dating level by a long shot," he blurted as matter of fact.
She let out a sigh of relief and jumped, taking his lips in hers, thanking him. She laughed at the sensation: she felt free to do what she wanted, to take what she desired. The kiss was controlled by her for a moment. She had been holding back since earlier at the cave—no, since that night a week ago. The kiss he had stolen from her earlier at the village had left her unsatisfied. Seeing him in the corridors of Hogwarts with his friends made her skin dance in flames; he was like Gravity.
Harry was surprised when she jumped at him but he leaned instantly into the kiss. He didn't know he was that hungry for her touch. When he had met her in the Alley in Hogsmeade, he had wanted nothing but to take what he felt belonged to him; instead, he had kissed the corner of her lips, trying to hold back. But now he couldn't. His mouth silkily moved on hers, taking the lead as he flashed them to the nearest tree, her back hitting it and her mouth parting away from his, a gasp spilling onto Harry's lips.
Daphne felt delicious shivers run over her body and her breath hitched in her throat when Harry's lips found hers again.
He was exploring her lips; lemon taste, he had never adored lemon more than now. He could feel the cool breeze around if he left her warmed lips now. She grabbed his jacket with her both hands, pulling him closer to her. The hungry kiss became fiercer: it was clear that sudden desperation had taken them both over as Harry pinned her body harder into the tree as he bit on her lower lip and his hands were on her waist. She let out a breathy moan.
Her hand was rising slowly from his chest to his neck, feeling him, and she wrapped it around his while the other went through his messy hair, bringing him closer. His scent, his voice, his kisses were driving her crazy: for days, Tracey had been catching her zoning out... Harry let out a groan as he pushed her up the tree.
The flames of desire were running through their veins, burning them.
Harry lips descended to the side of her neck, latching onto her soft porcelain skin, just above what seemed to be her pulse point. She let out a gasp.
Harry's hot breath made her moan when he licked, nibbed, and kissed her neck, then a sudden realisation of trepidation rushed in.
"Harry… Harry…" she called his name a few times in a heavy breath.
Harry stopped, looking at her with an unsteady breath.
He had let her down.
"I'm sorry, I was moving faster than—" Harry said, embarrassed, as his face turned red.
"No, not that. We need to go back to school," she said, smiling shyly, putting her hands on his chest to shake off any misimpression he could've gotten. Her eyes were sparkling.
He gazed at her and blinked. He had forgotten about Hogwarts… He slapped his forehead, and Daphne giggled.
"Come on, let's go back," she kissed him on his cheek and grabbed his hand.
Harry's face glowed, and he smiled, nodding.
"Wait, you want to do it tomorrow?" Harry asked. She turned to him, letting go of his hand.
Harry realised what it had sounded like.
"NO! NO! Not that thing, I meant that box," he corrected himself, waving his hands in the air, his face redder than ever.
Daphne wanted to slap herself for her perverse ideas. She nodded to him bluntly.
"Where can we do it?" he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"A place Filch can't reach. I don't know what the contents of the box are."
"Hmmm..."
'A place Filch can't reach,' Harry kept thinking about every corner he learned about from the Marauders' map when an idea popped up in his mind.
He clapped his hands and told Daphne to meet with him in Myrtle's lavatory at the same time as usual.
As they continued their walk, there was a silence.
Harry broke it. "Do you think those two—"
"Definitely," Daphne cut him off. They glanced from the corners of their eyes and burst into laughter.
When they had reached the village, it felt so wrong to part.
"We should split here," Daphne said sadly. She had started to like having Harry around; too bad that they could only meet in secret.
"Yeah..." Harry whispered. He didn't want this walk to end. He leaned and kissed her hand and let her go to the school first. When he saw her body vanishing out of his sight, all of a sudden, a coldness crept up his body. She was really affecting him.
'What a weekend to remember,' he let out a groan of pain and started walking, heading back to real life.
Sooo,
how was chapter 9? hope you like it
Daphne's behaviors and Harry's gentle side.
don't forget to let your reviews ,
it makes me so happy to read them
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
stay safe