My dear friends,
I wrote Daddy Potter to be and guess who's going to be a daddy too,
Daniel!
Our favourite people are growing up, so precious, congratulations Dan and so Rupert, waiting for Tom and Emma next XD
This chapter contains hidden secrets and confirmation to some stuff that were mentioned in the earlier chapters, also it contains
Fun and fluff.
Enjoy and don't forget to do reviews I kind miss that in you, one review makes me more than happy!
Love you all!
Enjoy 39
There was just something about that girl. Something that gave Lilith chills whenever those pure blue eyes hold more than she ever saw herself in her of course, normally she would have no reason to fear, no reason to doubt her power, her control over her host. But with Daphne, things were different. The girl clung to her humanity more than anything else. Everything was taken from her and yet, there she was, still grasping at the remains of her feelings and sanity, holding onto even the smallest shards of them tighter than most humans Lilith had ever met held onto their very life. And despite what she kept telling herself, she was becoming fond of that girl. And Lilith suddenly felt the cold sting of fear stabbing deep inside the very core of her being. It wasn't selfish fear of her own life, nor was it concern over simply losing her power. Both of these things were ones that nobody could take from her. She slowly came to realise it was Daphne she had been worried for. So far, she has been always able to help her out of any situation. Her body was slowly being transformed just fine and now, thanks to that Harry Potter, the girl is keeping her away, pushing her to the dark.
They lived in a fragile balance. Sharing the same body, the same mind, the same soul. Same and yet different like two sides of the same card. For most of the time, Daphne was able to keep her in check just by taking the medicine but whenever she could, Lilith would slip out of the dark corner of mind she was being kept in. And she would look behind at everything the two of them had achieved together and laugh. Sometimes, Daphne would join her, bathing in joy over her recent victories or simply getting overcome by the ridiculousness of their situation. Of her own situation. Her journey, her quest for revenge... indeed, how pitiful and ridiculous it all was. And yet, she would never stop pursuing her goal. Never would she turn around and give up. Never would she forgive. Lilith had to admit the determination was admirable.
But it was far more than just that. It was this burning desire, this strong determination, that immediately made the rest of the universe wretched and poor, unworthy of attention, unworthy of anything more than a quick glance to just confirm how worthless it was. Daphne's suffering, her pain and her torture, they all shaped her soul. Like a diamond, she too had been strained and pushed and reduced to only the hardest fragments of what she used to be. And like a diamond, she came out shining brighter than anyone else. Bright enough to attract the attention of Lilith, the one who had been searching for one like her for a millenium. And even after she found her, Daphne's constant rejection and fight only served to further convince her she made the right choice when picking her. In Daphne's eyes, in Lilith's eyes, everyone around them was either a tool they could use or a useless, pathetic lump of meat and blood, only allowed to be around because they weren't in the way of their plans.
And yet, there was now someone Daphne grew close to.
Just the fact that she let it happen, that she let Daphne create a bond with someone, was driving her crazy, forcing her to fight more and more for complete control over Daphne's body and soul. Countless nights were spent in constant fighting with Daphne's resolve. Pain was a common companion for both of them. She even lashed out at the boy Daphne held so dear. Her revenge was nearing the end.
But that boy kept pulling the girl to the light, kept giving her happiness and love, he was destroying the bond between her and the girl.
He was destroying everything she built this far.
"Why did you choose Hermione?" Remus asked her, breaking their little time of peace. He glared at her. Green boring into blue. Though she would never admit it, she liked his eyes. Forest green, filled with passion, showing fiery emotions unlike any of her former companions. Wincing at the thought, she broke eye contact, Remus once was almost broken after Sirius's death, losing the last friend of his.
Yet, he became alive again, following Harry and determined to protect his child.
"Hermione…" she murmured, " I didn't know you care that much for her, is it a wolfy thing?" Daphne smirked.
"Daphne…" Remus almost pleaded in his tune, Daphne admitted that she was giving the old werewolf hard time in the last three months with her unending demands, can't blame a girl who used to have servants at her feet even if she was watched all time, Greengrass took good care of her.
"She got the qualifications," she sighed, moving her knight, "You made me say good thing about her,"
"She is a muggleborn," Remus reminded her.
"Remus! How racist of you!" She gasped.
He gave a pointy glare and she shrugged, "Very well, A young king, surrounded by weak and selfish people, few trustworthy and less ambitious, how can we help him?" She gave a quiz, "A young girl with qualities that could break a stun even the smartest of them in the room, unfortunately she was muggleborn,how can we help her?"
She let him take a guess, " You think she is safe here, come on Remus, I did that for her own benefit," she gave a half scuff of pity.
"You meant yours," he breathed out.
"It goes both ways," She slacked her shoulders,
Remus took a sip of his mug and turned silent, he expressed, thinking of what she just filled him with, they argued a lot but when it comes to logic and science, he was a different story to tell.
Of all witches Remus met in his life, despite her young age, she was talented and self aware, well educated, he did respected her but also he express his fear of her unkind choices, she was a true Slytherin, nice but if it means you are not good to her nor loyal, she would toss you aside like garbage, "Because it wasn't a genuine proposal, you're trying to manipulate people's lives here, just like him,"
"Like who?" She innocently asked.
"You-know-who"
Daphne's smile faltered, was he wrong? No he wasn't, Daphne lives in a second hundreds of reactions and precautions, how would she react to this answer, what a joke, ever since that night when…
"Voldemort, come closer…" Harry hissed.
"That's right…Come straight at me."
The dark lord approached the mutilated Harry, scabbard in hand, and drew his wand in time with his measured and purposeful steps at Harry's grated face, sloughed in blood and maimed by Voldemort's hand, it was the only thing standing between him and his quarry.
"I will now prove who the victor is…Right here and now!"
Harry struck at this moment, blade staying true despite his trembling hand as it weaved through and sank into the dark lord's chest.
The dark lord froze to his core, stuck in place with his own wand still held high and angled down in preparation for the killing blow.
Then the dark lord shattered the sword buried in his chest with a hand as large shards and metallic dust fell from his open palm.
Daphne trembled at the sight, She couldn't tear her frightened gaze away from him.
Daphne felt the dark lord's soul flow over him once more and the familiar purple flame of the aura around him flared to life…
"Curse your fate and your parents, as you die by my wand!"
Daphne blinked to forget that night, feeling her skin shiver just by it. She feared no one in life other than Lilith taking over her body, she feared no one but her father's tyranny and spreading chaos around; Chronos is dead and however Lilith will die with her, that was the curse, stab to the heart or curse to it and will take the queen of demons with her to the grave for good, That's what Daphne signed herself for.
Voldemort in the other hand was not, he was Vol de mort for real, whatever he was, he was undefeatable, she saw it and decided to go after it, to search for an answer, it was haunting her in her dreams every night, it terrified her and she didn't speak it outloud.
Harry didn't talk about it either and kept it all in, no man escaped death and laughed at it.
Voldemort did.
"I attend to survive Remus." She said, with all honesty in her, he gave her a sympathetic stare.
"My child and my husband… they are my life, take me as a villain if you want but I want to see them safe and happy, Hermione is a valuable person, good skills need a good push, and who else better than a king, she will be safe with brother… for Sirius too," she looked away feeling his wide stare burning a hole in her. She gave a bit of info, she wasn't lying…
Hermione Granger was a good learning witch, smart for her own age, someone to catch up the interest of Phobos and keep him distracted. She already pushed Aurelia out of the castle, Corvina is by her side now and all she needed was Potiphar, slowly she could get the palace under her control with no blood shed.
Harry was least of her concerns in that part, he will forgive her with time, once this year ends, she will have a tete-a-tete chat with the girl and see if she was interested.
"You did know about them," Remus almost lost his breath. "The youth potion!"
She smiled at him and pulled her finger to her lip, hushing him.
"Harry's godfather and his best friend, love knows no boundaries, but they were not gonna make it, Don't blame me, my turn…" she stood up and walked to the piano. Brushing her fingers on the old instrument ignoring his stare, "what is your favourite song? Allow me to please you,"
"Paravolio n°12…" he said, taking a sip of his drink, the wizard's name.
"Ah! 12 at this house," She clicked on a hard Sol. " Eva loved his symphonies, she even attended one of his concerts, we should go one day," playing over the keys.
Remus felt uncomfortable by the mention of the name, Eva was her nanny if his mind wasn't mistaken. She never mentioned her before, and Harry said to never talk about her, he shrugged those ideas off, and thought of something else, who was the man Tonks was going out with? Yes, he must warn her to be careful these days.
He heard her song change to another, another silkier, and his mind became fuzzy.
"What is your favourite colour?" She asked and he answered. Remus answered several personal questions about him, while she played those symphonies.
He cried out as he felt something forcing him to remember, pulling the thread of another memory. He was with some Hufflepuff girl back in Hogwarts, he couldn't remember her name. As soon as that one ended, another was dragged up, him with one of the marauders. And as much as Remus fought, he couldn't break away from the memories.
"I was wondering if I could ask Harry to let me bring Eva's little sister here, to be my personal maid and assistant. Eva was great and her sister learnt a lot from her, loyalty is a rare gift…" she hummed with the tone.
Eva again, why she keeps mentioning her today, she was murdered, he saw them, who killed her, and Remus came back to himself. He looked up and that was a mistake. Meeting her eyes, he froze.
Daphne just invaded his mind. She seemed extremely amused. He looked up at her, anger on his face, only to have her smiling while playing.
"You don't look well, why don't you retire for the night." She feigned concern, and he jumped off his chair to say something but she gave him no chance to say anything, the tiny pups on the sofa jumped up and looked at their mistress with fear.
Daphne on the other side, was fuming inside, the traitor! Not just him but everyone, they kept that bat's secret away, they protected him, Eva's killer, her nanny's killer, they helped him get away with what he did. And for what? For that worthless double aged wizard.
She respected that man for years, respected his brilliance and He took her secret keeper, and she wanted to crucify Remus.
Kou on the other hand followed them, he was supposed to be her hand, that fox will never change! He will pay as soon as he returns.
And Harry!? Harry was the one who told them to keep it to themselves, to cover. He hated Snape more than Voldemort, he barely handled him but he covered up for him. He knew more than anyone how much she cared for those who were loyal to her.
She brushed through her hair, and she smelled that smell. The rust and salt smell. Blood. Looking at her face in the mirror, she saw nothing out of place, until a small line of blood dripped from her nose. Bloody timing! Nosebleed.
She quickly held a handkerchief against her nose.
"Wait where are you going? What happened?" Remus asked, raising his eyebrow. He was very suspicious now. Shit.
"Nothing" she said, sounding funny because of the pressure, escaping to her room.
She walked stiffly but quickly out of the room and as she walked upstairs she could feel her legs getting heavier, not now, she straightened her back and passing Walburga, who was about to throw some unkind words to Daphne, the latter swallowed them and her reaction was full of terror and fear.
Then, Daphne reached her room and closed the door behind her, she inspected her nose. It wasn't slowing, instead it was flowing faster. The blood soaks through all the fabric. She run to the sink in the bathroom.
The blood kept raining down her face and her mind hurted like hundreds of daggers all in, her legs gave up and she fell down, holding her head.
"Stop!" She hissed it was painful to endure, and wished that her baby wasn't feeling this either.
Remus bursted into the room, covering his nose from the strong salty scent of blood and followed it to the bathroom.
After seeing Daphne's face covered in red blood, he forgot what had happened earlier and his leg started running to her side, anxiously. Remus's beast was raging inside, fighting to lash out and eat the young girl's skin.
Remus stared at her—who was writhing grotesquely—as if he just hoped the pain would end soon.
Daphne screamed in agony. When she lifted her head, he could see her staring at him with bloodshot eyes. Her red lips moved weakly.
'What was she saying?' It was difficult to read the lips in this wrecked state.
"Get… out!" She breathed
"I will take you to hospital! Mol–" He lifted her up. He was so distracted with her scent to a point that he could feel his beast rumble.
"REMUS!" She shouted, startling him, squeezing tightly on his hand. She took a deep breath, struggling to keep on her feet.
"do not… tell anyone, for once… do as I fucking say!" As she glared at Remus roughly, he closed his lips firmly, struggling to obey her request.
"No!" He refused, the stubbornily and nerves!
Daphne wrapped her fingers around his shirt and brought his face closer, "Don't…" her eyes shining like glass into his. She was using her magic to scare his beast,
Daphne didn't want anyone to know or discover a weakness about her, nevertheless a cursed body.
She saw him move to the sink and open the tap. He helped her get herself clean and move back to the bed. He remained by her side and refused to move until she was actually alright and there was no more blood.
They both said nothing and focused on their thoughts, each angry at the other.
Daphne didn't let her emotions take over her, she needed to collect herself first.
Remus struggled with his beast that wanted to have his way with that blood but he controlled it. And Daphne didn't like him intruding her private space, it was Kou's task to attend to her breakdowns, but she appreciated the effort on another hand.
Her body was trembling but at the same time, she felt her baby move, as if he was comforting her during her moment of struggle.
When morning came, she asked Dobby to remove all her research and books and burn them. She felt that her answer won't be found in the books soon, listening to her work destroyed while she was taking a bath next door, It was sad.
She couldn't help but feel sorry for herself, she admitted for the first time that she was incapable of reaching something…
She looked at her stomach that showed up already and felt the comfort of its company. "Daddy did bad things to mommy, he forgot what I do when I'm mad," she laughed. "Tell me, should I forgive daddy? Or should I punish him? Kick once yes kick two no…"
How beautiful to feel that something was actually growing inside of her. It kicked, yes, daddy dearest will have its punish– oh it kicked again!
"Of course you will take his side not mine," the witch pursed her lips.
The next few days, Daphne continued her usual role, waking up, eating, playing with the pups, reading, collecting Harry's mail and hers, working on them and patronising Kreacher to repair the house; she didn't even bother with her research anymore. Her health was more important, she needed to focus on her pregnancy, Tonks visits every while and then, keeping her updated with her romantic life.
The baby was all that mattered however to Daphne and the baby was growing every day, she could feel him move and could feel him feed on her magic.
But every night and then before she goes to sleep, she sit by the window and thinks while the pups lay at her feet, thinking of what happened over these months, thinking of everything right and wrong. Her mind never sleeps, did she over trusted Harry, did she lose her morals, no.
Did he even trust her, sure he talks to her daily but did he actually trust her, that was the obstacle, both of them are working behind the back of the other to protect and survive, she then thinks that it was whispers of doubt by Lilith to weaken her relationship with Harry, she doesn't hear her a lot but her demoness was always there, watching in the shadows of her soul.
Harry had his own beliefs, he do have a path to follow and asked her to side with him no matter will happened, So she prays, prays to God to help her get rid of these doubts.
The day of the match finally arrived and both Remus and Daphne found their way to the box where they were supposed to sit in, Daphne was never more excited for a quidditch game than today, she even went and wore a red oversized flannel.
Is there any better fall outfit than a pair of boots, stretchy jeans, and a perfectly undone scarlet flannel button-up?
Some may say that she lost her classy touch but for her it was a way to feel more comfortable in jeans than a skirt.
"Someone is way too excited," Remus said.
"A box just for us, I love being special," she beamed, taking a seat in the front line, followed by Remus.
"Honestly, what's in that bag?" He laughed, As she pulled out box of cookies and drinks.
"I saw this Muggle film, Mary Poppins! And the idea popped in my head," she mentioned, "–I wish Tonks was here," she whined, preparing the seat behind with food and drink, as if she was on a picnic.
"She said she had a date," he said, seeming indifferent.
"She showed me a picture, he's so good Remus I'm happy for her,"
"I don't trust him,"
"Remus, how many times do I have to say, it's not your business to judge her lovers," she huffed, " you didn't even give her a chance,"
"–There you are!" An amused familiar voice chirped behind her, jolting her.
Daphne's beam disappeared and was replaced by irritable frow, she turned with a forced smile.
"What are you doing here?" She said, unamused.
"Same as you sister, watching a game!" Phobos took a seat next to hers.
She raised a brow, unconvinced, there must be a reason behind his presence and whatever it was, it wasn't in her favour.
"I didn't know you're into… sports," she smiled.
He ignored, and Remus shared a glare with her and the werewolf retreated to sit behind her.
Jordan Lee announced the enter of the two teams and Daphne turned to Remus, "did I miss something?"
"It was a last minute arrangement," he whispered back.
Last minute my arse! She screamed.
"It seems like the entire Wizarding Europe knew," she commented, staring at the other boxes, she noticed Skeeter and other journalist, and many known public figures.
Headmaster of Hogwarts sitting next to Durmstrang's chatting happily when she saw him.
Snape was sitting behind Dumbledore, talking to McGonagall and Daphne wanted nothing but crucify him at that moment, wait patience is a virtue and all in time.
She imagined him dying by popping his organs, or throwing him into a lake, no no, bed sickness for a lifetime, to the point where worms will feed on his skin.
Too many plots of how to get rid of the potion master, yet the order needs him and Harry does need a potion master by his side, who could take his place, she needs a new list to prepare.
She was at getting rid of people, but all in time.
Your time will come Severus Snape and so who you rely on,
She was sitting next to a brother who killed the other brother of hers. She was going nuts, why always those who are around her must kill each other.
She was tired of this.
The Hogwarts and Durmstrang teams were warming up. They could hear the crowd at Hogwarts. It felt just like a home game. Circling above the field the Hogwarts team was loose. Laughing and joking they were clearly at ease.
Daphne wondered how the hell did they manage to join the four teams as one.
The Durmstrang players looked fierce in their black robes while the Hogwarts team sported their white and gold with the sigil of the house. Daphne wondered who told them to pick that colour, and they looked like bunnies facing bears, it made her laugh.
Don't laugh at your husband, woman! She scolded herself.
Harry felt his stomach twist, staring at the box where the two of the worst siblings the world has ever seen, sitting together and chatting, great.
That was bloody fantastic, he could sense the anger rising in his wife, yep, he was not gonna survive the night with her later.
He felt sick, worried that they may lose control on eachother, they may call a battle just for fun.
They had twisted ways in expressing their conflicts, he witnessed enough of the Vasilian games that were worth hundreds of Voldemort's schemes.
Daphne looked at him and he immediately shiverd, she gave him that finger.
He was fucked up, screwed up, think about something Harry! Buy her the next collection of her favourite designer, take her out!
He was in his own world and didn't notice Krum walking away from the group toward him.
They shook hands, an old acquaintance reunion.
"So, Hermione told me you're one hell of a seeker, I finally got a chance to see it," Krum said, looking up at her and winking.
"I am. Won my first quidditch game in my first year. I swallowed the snitch if you can believe that." Harry said, hearing Krum laugh. They never exchanged any kind of conversation due to the competition.
"I've seen plenty of things on many quidditch fields. That match I had last year against the Irish, that was a tough one, can you compete with it?" Krum said.
Harry laughed, heartily, "Well, i can't say the same," Harry prodded. "May the best team win,"
Hermione watched as Harry and Krum were busy chatting to each other. It was nice to see them getting along well.
Although Harry would be wasting time at a Quidditch match. After all the work he was doing for the Order in addition to his unknown duties, Quidditch seemed quite trivial compared to his other tasks. Perhaps Dumbledore insisted upon it, Hermione mused.
He was supposed to set an example, after all. Still, under the circumstances Dumbledore should have realised there were more important things than open displays of inter-school camaraderie.
Inter-school bare tolerance, she corrected herself, remembering who she was thinking about.
Draco Malfoy felt something bothering him, eyes on him, he searched around nothing, he looked up at the staff box and he saw her. There she was, those devilish ice blue eyes that saw him drowning to death, coldly.
She was glaring at him, the same way she did that night. His eyes widened and he could feel his magic raising of rage, she was looking down at him, that murderer, that killer, his heartbeat fastened and his legs moved going to her.
Harry felt a sudden shift in the blond's magic, he saw him glaring up at the box, and knew at whom he was that mad. Harry walked to him in fast steps to reach him.
Harry blurred and across the pitch before Draco could make a step in the air.
He pulled Draco away from and shoved him back. Draco was going up again,
"Stay out of this Potter!" Draco hissed, in a low voice.
"Malfoy… not now come on," he replied back in the same low tone.
"She's Here, she dared to show her face here!" Draco replied, anger all on his face.
"If you do this, they won't let you play," Blaise Zabini tried to tame him back as well. Asking him for logic, They tried to keep it to themselves out of attention.
"Fuck the game!"
Daphne was worried, and obviously shaken up, but she controlled her emotions, quickly and distracted her brother with something. Harry reached her magic and she assured him back.
Draco had just almost scared the shit out of her and Harry was more than pissed off.
"Is something wrong?" Phobos asked.
"Those two were always like this in every game," she smiled, coming out with an obvious reasons.
"That was the Malfoy heir isn't it?"
She nodded, "he's coming of age, your grace."
"Call him after the game," he told his guard, when he finally noticed Remus.
"My! I almost forgot to introduce Professor Remus Lupin, previous DaDa professor in Hogwarts and an ex Auror, now he works for me, he was also at the troop of mesopotamia," Daphne introduced Remus to her brother, in monotonous tone.
Remus bowed his head, "It's an honour to meet you, Your grace,"
"We came out of the disaster victorious. You made my heart happy with your bravery Mr Lupin, how can I repay your courage," he smiled at him and Remus was taken back, he didn't expect to meet the half brother of Daphne, he saw him young and not the type that was actually ruling the hidden government of magical world.
Daphne didn't seem bothered and she even turned her back, leaving the two men to communicate on their own.
Hermione noticed something was off in the pitch, they were fighting clearly and she tried to understand what, Draco was raged but not at Harry, Harry was actually trying to calm him down,
"They're already fighting! I knew it!" Ginny sighed.
"Why are they always fighting?" Neville frowned.
"Is that Remus over there?" Ginny stared up and Hermione looked through glass at where Ginny pointed. She could just make out the teacher's box directly across the pitch from her, and the form of a certain werewolf. She hasn't seen him ever since Christmas, Remus! She missed him and his company,
Remus noticed her staring at him and waved at her before some blonde came from behind him, he immediately turned his attention to her.
That blonde? Greengrass!?Strange, Hermione thought, Her attention snapped back to the match at a sudden. "Ooooh!" from the spectators on the far side of the stands
Pansy was the second to notice why Draco suddenly reacted that way, the ice queen's arrival couldn't be any more perfect than now, she always loves attention and Pansy fumed, "That bitch! How did they allow her in!"
A burst of whispers were rising between the students about the appearance of someone.
.
Daphne felt the eyes on her and she turned and waved innocently at them, smiling.
"That's it!" Pansy Parkinson pointed her wand ready to aim at her even from afar, but Theo Nott calmed her down, Astoria and Tracey on the other hand were worried, Astoria tried to seem indifferent but Tracey on the other hand missed her best friend, the girl disappeared without a trace and all she knew the horror she spread before she left.
"I didn't know you were an unlikable person," Phobos smirked.
Daphne felt her veins boiling, "I have more enemies than you can imagine… thanks to you, they will think we are close."
"So?" He rolled his eyes, uncaring.
Daphne's jaw tightened, "Unfortunately, I cannot say to my enemies that this brother does not concern me with anything. In fact, this is a calamity in which I got involved with,"
"Looks like you ate something and you're hallucinating." Phobos frowned, looking concerned at her.
"Fucking amazing," Now Daphne was getting a headache, cursing the moment she arrived in.
"–Be polite, I consider you a human just by sitting talking to you, look at this, they call it a gun," Phobos pulled out of his jacket.
"no! And I thought it was a hairpin!" Daphne said, sarcastically.
"So you know what happens if I shoot it in your head, right," he replied with that psychotic smile of his.
Daphne huffed and glared away.
Draco was livid—enraged and just about ready to kill! He snarled at Harry and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "You son of a bitch!" he growled.
Harry was on him and he grabbed Draco by the back neck, bringing his face to his.
"If I ever see you loose your shit like this again. I'm going to forget my morals. Are we clear?" he sneered, giving Draco a little shake for good measure.
Draco chuckled darkly. One heavy brow quivered and he shook his head as if saddened. "Still trying to be the hero, huh?"
For just a second, Harry loosened his grip. It was so damned creepy to hear Draco talk like that; it kind of freaked him out, seeing Draco like this was like some twisted sense of déjà-vu, reliving the time right after the funeral.
The pureblood wizard took advantage of Harry's momentary lack of concentration and shoved him off him. "Give it up—you're not the hero in this play. Haven't you got that yet?" Draco leaned in, giving him a smirk that was eerily reminiscent of his usual one. "You're pathetic," Draco sneered, his words cutting deep, like a knife in Harry's gut. "No one loves you. Not Daphne. Not your friends. Hell, even you own godfather didn't see you more than your father's clone." He smiled cruelly and twisted the blade. "You'll never be the first choice so why do you keep trying so-damned-hard?"
Harry wanted to give a sarcastic, flippant reply, he really did, but couldn't because Draco's words echoed his own thoughts—making his worst fear a reality by bringing it into the open and saying it out loud. Harry's jaw clenched and he slammed Draco back against Zabini again. "It doesn't matter," the gryffindor growled, planting a hand on his rival's chest and holding him still. "I'll protect her." He let go and took a step back, "Smile, we have an audience."
Harry heard the familiar voice of Lee Jordan, Hogwarts Quidditch announcer, much to the chagrin of Professor McGonagall.
"At keeper," Lee belted, "Miles Bletchley, who hasn't allowed a goal in his last three matches. Fred and George Weasley , with a mean streak, will handle the Bludgers. Lead chaser Draco Malfoy blazing and striking like a flash. Second chaser, Zacharias Smith . Third chaser and team captain, everyone's favourite witch Johnson . Last the Seeker, the one and only world famous Harry Potter."
"With an introduction like that I only hope we can live up to it." Harry whispered to Ron beside him.
Ron chuckled under his breath. He was the substitute keeper in the second team. "Win for me, mate!"
"Alright Hogwarts! Let's show them who we are!" Harry shouted.
The crowd was buzzing with excitement as the players mounted their brooms, and the match got underway with the blast of the whistle.
The teams took their positions waiting for the whistle. They heard it. "And they're off," bellowed Lee, "look at Potter go, I think that Firebolt might just be slowing him down."
Durmstrang's Seeker, Viktor Krum, took off at lightning speed, determined to catch the Golden Snitch. Harry Potter, flying on his Firebolt, was hot on his tail, his eyes fixed on the tiny, fluttering ball.
Harry didn't expect to see it out this early but there was no reason to take chances. Below Draco had the Quaffle and was pushing forward.
He could easily locate her if he used his magic to feel the vibrations of her magic around, but if he did, he would make himself visible to certain people.
So Today, Harry decided to play fair with no Extra energy.
The Chasers from both teams were battling fiercely for control of the Quaffle. Durmstrang's Chasers, led by the formidable Ivanova, were putting up a tough fight, but the Hogwarts Chasers, with Angelina Johnson leading the charge, were just as determined.
"Malfoy rushes towards the Durmstrang goal, flips to Weasley narrowly avoiding a Bludger."
Fred had one more beater to pass. He roared past him, easily avoiding the Bludger. This left the keeper all alone.
Daphne wanted to laugh, a Weasley and a Malfoy, hell has frozen apparently.
"Weasleys… they still spread like parasites," Phobos commented.
"They have Prewett's blood in them," Daphne pointed out,
"Still a Weasley no matter what they achieve…" he leaned in his spot, "heard the father died,"
"Indeed, months ago. The eldest Son became head,"
"William wasn't it,"
Daphne could feel Remus shifting uncomfortably in his place, history was cruel, and cruller to blood traitors. She dug into her bag and pulled out a bottle and cups,
"Tea?" She offered.
The game was fast-paced and intense, with Bludgers whizzing through the air and narrowly missing the players. Miles Bletchley, playing Keeper for Hogwarts, made a stunning save, blocking a shot from Durmstrang,
But the real excitement was happening high up in the sky, where Harry and Viktor were locked in a fierce pursuit of the Snitch. The two Seekers circled each other, like two dragons, darting and weaving through the air, their fingers outstretched and ready to snatch the tiny ball.
The crowd held its breath as the two Seekers made a sudden dive towards the ground, both reaching out for the Snitch at the same time. There was a split-second of tension, and then Harry emerged from the tangle,
While the Chasers battled it out for control of the Quaffle, the Beaters from both teams were unleashing a barrage of Bludgers at each other, trying to knock their opponents off course and gain an advantage.
Durmstrang's Beaters, Levski and Vulchanov, were known for their powerful swings and their ability to hit their targets with deadly accuracy. They sent Bludgers flying towards the Hogwarts players with frightening force, causing several near misses and forcing the Hogwarts Beaters, Fred and George Weasley, to fly defensively.
But the Weasley twins were no pushovers. They had been playing Quidditch together for years, and they had a special bond that allowed them to anticipate each other's moves with uncanny accuracy. They worked together seamlessly, dodging and weaving through the air as they tried to take out the Durmstrang Beaters and protect their own teammates.
At one point in the game, Levski launched a Bludger straight at Harry, who was soaring towards the goalposts with the Quaffle. But before the Bludger could strike him, Fred Weasley flew in from out of nowhere and sent it hurtling towards Vulchanov, who barely managed to dodge out of the way in time.
The crowd roared with approval as the Hogwarts Beaters continued to hold their own against their Durmstrang counterparts. But it was clear that this battle was far from over, and the Bludgers continued to fly back and forth across the pitch, seeking out their targets with ruthless precision.
"Malfoy shoots, he scores. Hogwarts leads thirty, twenty!"
Daphne leaned in her seat enjoying every single moment, Proud that Draco didn't fail to show his efficiency, ignoring what happened earlier, part of her felt guilty but not to the point that she would let it affect her. He loved quidditch and she was glad that he was included in the team. From her long years of befriending him, this sport was the only place were the young rich boy's magic was actually pure and lightweight. Adding Harry in the list, relaxed and happy.
It was one of those rare moments when they were not facing a war and just being Normal people, she should enjoy it.
The two seekers, high above the chaos, watched intently. The one in white put a hand to his hair when his team's shot was blocked. He took a moment to look over at the box and located a certain blonde. The hand on top of his head started moving, unconsciously messing his already messy hair. He had a goofy grin on his face, which did not go unnoticed by the other seeker.
Daphne rolled her eyes, sometimes acting like an obvious puppy in love, she could see clearly Harry's shoulder length hair was floating softly with the wind as the seeker weaved expertly through the rest of the players.
"He's tough, that Bulgarian seeker, but his magic…" Phobos said while he was chewing a cookie.
"You really never watched a game before, he played in the world cup,"
"Poor Harry…" he sympathetically sang. "This cookie is good, give me more!"
"Really!? I baked them myself," she smiled back at him, handing him more.
"See, why don't we heat up the level a little bit," he smirked, Daphne felt a change in the weather and clouds gathering over the stadium, she gave a pointy stare at her brother who shrugged it and cheered on the teams.
Dumbledore sighed, feeling weary of the king's childish behaviour in front of him. His eyes kept roaming every while, their was something fishy about this meeting between siblings, it was the first time after the whole mistopomia incident.
Daphne was a good pawn to gain the favour of Harry to his side, her pleasure was his pleasure, Harry that was a child changed in one night, he couldn't keep up with his tracks, he couldn't even read his mind, if there was a thing in Harry's mind, it was Voldemort's head and his family's happiness.
And the influence the young witch had on him was abnormal, it was a mistake, he missed when this was all happening, he was busy with the minister and the Order and let the kid slip off his control.
The king on the other side, was pursuing Dumbledore's ideas, the king put him with the council members, he included him as if putting him whatever he liked it not in the front lines.
Now the king was sitting on the next box with his sister and Godric knew what the bloody hell are they talking about.
With the weather turning into a storm, the next ten minutes were not much the same. Harry hadn't spotted the Snitch. Durmstrang was challenging the keeper and with every goal they achieved, Durmstrang didn't hesitate to pass it, and Hogwarts had built a thirty eight to forty lead.
Then with a signal from Flint, Johnson called timeout.
"What is this about?" Draco malfoy asked in a perturbed manner.
"They are going to switch up." Wood answered. "Weasley," he said while pointing at Ron, "You will switch up with Bletchley, Malfoy you'll be a second seeker with Potter. Zabini you're in instead of George Weasley and Fred will control the Quaffle, follow the Bludgers and don't let them hit anyone."
They assumed their positions and play resumed.
"What is this?" Lee exclaimed, "Hogwarts appears to be stalling and Draco Malfoy looks to be searching for the Snitch in addition to Harry."
With this new tactic Durmstrang beaters sent both Bludgers at Malfoy. Fred was able to return one, the second clipped Fred's broom sending him into a spin. He recovered and narrowly avoided crashing into the crowd. Zabini retaliated and hit Bludger squarely at the Durmstrang seeker. It connected hitting and breaking his nose.
"Look at that, there is blood everywhere. What a hit. It looks like Potter spotted the Snitch."
"Potter keeps surprising me, never disappoints me," Her brother said, clapping bravo.
"I keep saying that," She was honest.
"Disappointment is the other face of treason you know," Phobos suddenly said, "over the years, same trials, same betrayals, this is the excitement I was looking for… Eros was the biggest disappointment for me though,"
Daphne remained calm, Phobos was using his mocking tricks on her mind, he was playing his favourite game now.
"Our brother was too many things but never was a disappointment, your grace. " She instead replied, be cool, be poise, like a breeze of spring,
"Tut tut, not in the end…" he rested his face on the back of his hand,
Daphne turned at last to look at him "You both knew how it was going to end, you were not the first ones, but both of you fell stupidly into father's trap," she breathed out. How long she waited to say those Words to Phobos.
"Is that why he killed him?" he said.
"come again?"
"Is that why Eros killed father." He spoke it clearly.
Daphne's blood turned cold and her heart skipped a beat for the words, The echo of cheering out loud from the crowd gave disbursement,
"Oh… you didn't know? No one told you then…" he gave her a full innocent glare, that she didn't buy it, she could see his smirk behind it.
Daphne felt like her breath was solidifying in her throat. Yet, she kept her cool and calm and made it seem like indifference fell from her like garment, as she shrugged her shoulders.
"–He confessed in front of the entire army, " his face became darker and colder, despite the uncaring he showed " and you know the rules," Phobos sang, looking at her with a twinkle in his eyes, saying that he enjoyed giving the sentence.
No one told her this, She asked Eva! She pleaded Kou and cried to Berz for the truth of that night.
It was a fair duel… they all said.
They all kept saying the same words, she should have pursued them but she also didn't try, she tried to forget that he was dead.
Phobos now was shaming her, disgracing her brother.
Hatred.
Revulsion.
Disgust.
Those were the emotions that Daphne expected to feel for Phobos, not sympathy, and certainly not sibling love. The boy was the living proof of Aurelia and Chronos's betrayal. They had been the two people that made Diana; her dearest mother, die of despair when she'd believed her love would never return.
She couldn't cry and mourn him in the open and she can't do it now either,
I can't leave in a world where a father neglect a son
And all of this happened, it made her connect all the dots in her brain.
Remus was behind her, listening to every word running between the siblings, she couldn't risk showing any affection.
Her brother's last words to her, ringed a bell into her memory and she shivered, holding tightly her handkerchief. Her patience was wearing thin, "is that so?'' She tilted her head to show her innocence.
The king signed to his guard and the man stood up, to come forward to them.
He kneeled in front of them and handed them a black box. No sigil, or any signature on it.
Her head skipped a beat, and her bones… her bones gave her that sensation, she immediately knew the content, "Eros?"
"I couldn't have him buried with family," he looked down at the box, "but you–"
The guard handed the box to her hand, and she felt her hands burn just by touching it.
This was not her brother's remain. This was not the violinist boy that used to bring joy to her first memories, not the sun of the family
The boy that used to protect her and gave her the comfort even from afar. She didn't feel orphan until him was gone.
She looked up at Phobos and she saw a flush in his eyes, he was expecting something in return. He wanted to see her cry, he loved that when they were children.
He used to say that she was beautiful when she cried.
"Fate played well for us, a father and a son…"
I must thank you, your grace," she smiled, "But the traitors deserve no grave," she immediately set the box in flames. Burning down the small black chest.
Phobos couldn't hold himself and burst laughing watching her little reaction amused him, "what a relief then,"
She wanted to rip off his heart, and burn his organs slowly, she stood up and walked to the reil, "Do you know what I did when I heard the news… of father's death," taking in the wind, she inhaled deeply and bowed her head low, turning her back to the game and staring at him. She really pitied him at the moment.
"I laughed…" she let out a small scuff, did he expect her to cry for the bastard that made her childhood a living hell, a man that was ready to sacrifice her to hell, the man that burned her for that Wicked wife of his!
Phobos's aura changed immediately, his glare darkened and his smile faded, Daphne heard the thunder behind her screaming out loud, it was Phobos' way to show his displeasure.
Daphne at the moment prepared herself to protect her child more than herself, his eyebrows knitted and his eyes screamed, kill her.
She saw his guard holding under his cloak his wand, or any other weapon,
— and Remus clenched tightly his wand, the latter knew he wasn't a match to the two men but he was prepared for the worst.
The storm was getting worse and worse for the players and the watchers.
Daphne remained calm, she could feel Lilith irritation, but the beads kept her ideas away.
Phobos' gaze hardened, " my dear madam Potter!"
"Don't wear yourself out, you will ruin that beautiful face… why don't we cheer you up!" He pulled out of his jacket a scroll and handed it to her.
"Your husband is stubborn, he didn't just try to convince Corvina, but even pushed her to make the council agree on this union," he rolled his eyes.
Daphne was puzzled now, what is going on, she couldn't keep up anymore, "what union?"
"But not at all madam Potter, it's all in the scroll… from day on there will be no ties between us, you are legally stripped, both you and your descendants from demanding any rights from house Vasilian. Any occurrence will be faced with death, that will be sentenced by lord Potter only…." He paused a bit.
"Fortunately… Only he could decide your fate from day on."
Daphne started down at the scroll, this is it, isn't it? The final push to freedom, all in this scroll, few signs of her freedom, it seemed like she was a broodmare for sale, and that they all agreed on it without her constant, The end of using the blood of Eden's fruit, what was the benefit to Phobos.
What did he gain, unless…
Harry Potter was flying high in the air, searching for the elusive Snitch.
Krum on the other side shot after the snitch and it swerved left, directly in front of Harry, before continuing in a straight line directly to the now on- coming Malfoy. Just as the two were about to collide, the snitch shot upwards, Krum along with it.
He passed Malfoy in his speed but when his hand catched just thin air. Harry thanked his luck.
When he noticed it again, he swore he wouldn't let Krum have it first.
He was distracted enough so that he wasn't flying as fast as he knew he could. They kept climbing up into the air, higher and higher until, at which point Harry snapped out of his trance and urged his broom faster. Just as his hand was about to close around the snitch.
Suddenly, he heard a loud thwack and turned to see a bludger hurtling towards the headmaster's box.
Draco had somehow made bludger go awry and where it was it aimed sank Harry's heart. Daphne, who was talking to her brother about something and they both seemed in their own world . Harry reacted quickly, diving towards the box and pushed the bludger to go in a different direction.
Said bludger slammed with such force into Draco's broom that it propelled him forward and off his broom.
Daphne looked up at Harry, her eyes wide with shock. Something was odd with her stare, she was not just shocked but also stunned, he noticed the golden scroll in her hands, and he got a prime idea about its content,
"Thank you, love!" Phobos thanked him.
Harry nodded, a fierce determination in his eyes. He knew that Draco Malfoy had crossed a line by targeting her, he raised a brow at her as a sign for her to leave the place at once, he will deal with the king and Malfoy.
He saw the latter of course fall off his broom and plummeting downwards, screaming. Harry considered leaving the boy, fell, and broke a few bones, the screaming of the frightened boy reminded him that in the end, he was just a boy, guided by his own emotions, he just lost his parents and found himself trapped.
"Ah, he fell…" Phobos awed.
Daphne moved without dropping an eye at the scene, she said only, " enjoy your game,Your grace, "
"Oh, you already leaving," Phobos pouted, he saw the teachers ready for act and wandlessly, stopping them.
"Fuck," Harry uttered, pulled and used all his might to force the broom to flipback down and sped downwards hoping he would be able to catch Malfoy on time, before the latter would hit the ground and surely!
"And Potter is going down!" Lee gasped.
He used more of his magic on the broom.
Dumbledore stood from his place alongside an alerted Snape.
Phobos kept his eyes in anticipation for the upcoming, listening to the anchor, commenting right away what was going on.
Closer, Closer… playing on the nerves of all gathering. Harry scooted forward on his broom and carefully placed himself under Malfoy's falling body. He felt Malfoy land on his broom, almost making him lose control of it. The slytherin began sliding off the end of the broom and quickly grabbed hold of Harry to keep himself on. The two landed with a thud on the ground and madam hooch called for a time out.
Harry saw that everything was alright and let the broom fly up in his hand, to the audience it seemed as if he lost control over the firebolt before he settled up like a chevalier on his own horse, going up.
Phobos smirked, at the scene, Harry never failed to amaze him and this one of the best he ever saw this far.
Madame Pomphrey rushed over and checked to see if it was safe to move the injured Slytherin. Since his neck wasn't broken,
Madame Pomphrey guided Draco back to the castle, Madame Hooch trotted up beside them.
Krum met up with him and asked about Draco, Harry assured him that they could keep playing by adding another player from Ravenclaw.
He signed to the team to keep on the previous strategy and at the same time, he didn't feel his wife's magic, and he could sense Remus's around, he wasn't worried perhaps she went to the bathroom or something after the sudden attack of Draco.
He hoped that she didn't go after him or else things would be complicated, he sighed in weary, it was time to finish the game, he thought.
Daphne and Remus walked side by side leaving the stands, Daphne turned to him.
"Hand this to Harry, I'm pretty sure this will be a perfect addition to his victory today, I will go back by myself,"
"Are you certain,"
"Remus, Dumbledore is eager for your detailed report." She smiled, a smile that showed instead in Remus's eyes the pale green skin and horns of Lilith.
He immediately retreated.
In the end, it was Harry who emerged victorious. He snatched the snitch out of the air with a triumphant cry, his heart bursting with joy but couldn't express it enough.
Hogwarts goal.
The crowd erupted in cheers as he soared back up into the air, his broomstick spinning in a victory lap.
The rest of the match was a blur of excitement and adrenaline. The Hogwarts team worked tirelessly to maintain their lead, and in the end, they emerged victorious with a final score of 280-230.
The team cheered and high-fived each other, basking in the glory of their hard-earned victory. And Harry turned to the king, bowing his head, 'Are you satisfied?' he asked.
"What entertainment," Phobos stretched his back and turned to leave.
Harry and the rest lined up to shake hands with the Durmstrang team. The Durmstrang team spat, then turned and left.
He didn't went with the group to the changing room, he went straight to the headmaster, but met with Remus instead waiting outside the gargoyle for him.
"What's going on?" He frowned at him, he was supposed to stay with his wife.
Remus gave him the scroll, telling him what happened in detail.
Daphne's closed the door of #12 behind her and she felt no one in, Molly left for her home for the weekend and Tonks was somewhere else, even Kreacher didn't welcome her.
Therefore, her brave pair of feet took a step forward to the kitchen.
She started the fires of the oven and pulled out all the vegetables, and started cutting it, with no wand and no magic, preparing a dish.
The mourning dish.
"Eros killed father…"
Those words kept on ringing in her ear and every word gave her a hurting pain in her heart much worse than a wound which resulted from a huge dagger slicing her heart in half.
Yes, the pain of the curse and battle wounds was nothing compared to the emotional pain that she was experiencing.
Guilt…
Her mind recalls the words of Eros's last will to her.
It all made sense now, he knew what she did but not in mesopotamia but in the castle.
She was numb.
Numb from the feeling of pain…
Numb from the feeling of cold tears gushing down her cheeks.
"Why did you have to do it you idiot," Daphne thought sadly. Tears started slowly but then grew, and soon she could not stop. She needed support and leaned back on the counter, hands holding her mouth to keep her voice low. Her mind going back in time, to a night that she would never forget.
A soul for a soul…
The sudden words popped in her head and she couldn't hold the shiver in her spin, the tragic jest that she played.
At this point, after all, it was no longer a choice. It was an inevitable outcome of things, regardless of how much one would struggle to get away,
Daphne had tricked fate. There was nothing she would let herself be tricked by to lose what she fought so hard to get. Even if she chose to struggle, that would mean nothing anymore.
Do not mourn the dead, remember that mere human's shocked face, he deserved what came to him.
Lilith was right, remember that man's face.
A sad smirk slowly spread across her face. Her hiccups of cries turned to giggles and the giggles turned in unconsciously to a maniac laughter. She couldn't stop herself, remembering the details of that memory, how could she had forgot!
Those piercy icy eyes glaring at her, with fear…
She wouldn't exchange them for anything in the world.
She spun around to see the visage of her husband in the doorway of the kitchen, still in his quidditch uniform and sweat falling down his face, holding tightly in his hand the golden scroll.
There was no words, but shared glares, he said nothing but his eyes said everything…
Will he judge her? Will he scold her? Fight with her? She was tired of those arguments, she didn't even consider to bicker with him about Snape or the deal he made behind her back, because she no longer wants to over react about those silly things.
He started moving towards her with a look befitting a sad puppy in his eyes. She registered with mild surprise what his intentions were. "Harry, if you tell me you lost, you won't lay a finger on me, I'll-" shut up,
Apparently. At least, that's what she'd done when he'd wrapped her in a strangely warm hug, different than all the hugs they shared before, Tell me he didn't lose? She asked herself,
"We do what must be done," he said, tightening his hug.
Her eyes widened and gaped at his words, did he mean it or she misheard him.
"I would've done it too, love." He caressed her hair gently with his cheek, sending his magic to her for comfort, helping her calm down.
Chronos deserved to be killed, he said to her mentally.
"It's okay…" he kissed the crown of her head, you don't need to feel guilty, Eros told you not to look back.
She sighed for the millionth time that day and returned the hug.
You have the emotional capacity of the body you're stuck in. She heard a certain voice in her head..
"I did it," she barely whispered to his chest, if there was someone left for her in this world, someone who will accept her, it would be Harry, "...it wasn't him,"
Harry said nothing, but stayed still for a while hugging her, "I know,"
She looked up at him with a frown, "won't you ask why? Or how?" He voice cracking down.
He relinquished her from his hug, rubbing his thumbs cheeks, to comfort her, searching in her eyes, He shook his head "It's okay too, you don't have to feel guilty," he smiled.
"You were brave enough to do it by yourself," he kissed her forehead. Before hugging her again and caressing her back.
She just broke down. She'd been trying to take out all of her frustrations on the cooking at the moment if he didn't show up, but she really just needed to let it all out. They'd been together long enough for her to know. She felt Harry's thoughts meeting hers.
I would've done the exact same thing to that bastard. She heard him say in her mind.
He moved and washed his hands, transferring his clothes to normal ones instead, and took the knife from the corner, He took a glance at the ingredients and called Kreacher.
"You called for Kreacher, Mr Potter?" He appeared.
"Go and buy a dozen of what your lady got here," he ordered without looking at Kreacher, he doesn't hate him but he doesn't treat him like Dobby and Winky, perhaps because the creature itself wasn't a nice company.
He simply just continued on what she began instead. "So what's the menu?"
Harry was right, she must not feel guilty, she did it to survive and both her and Eros knew that he wasn't going to win and if he fell, he fell alone.
She must live, for the miracle in her womb, she gave up on talking and instead stood next to him, and took a knife, "traditions says we feed at least fifty person,"
" Harry, The deal with phobos…" Daphne started.
"Please, it was the only way to leave us alone," he replied, sitting her down at one of the stools by the counter, "I did what I had to for our freedom." He said our like it was the most important thing in the world. He reminded her daily that this was the life they shared together.
"You don't deserve any of this, this is so fucked up," she mumbled, trying not to cry, recently she became rather emotional, putting her elbows on the counter and watching him rescue the dish.
"My passion is seeing your passion…" he replied something she says a lot, "My happiness is your happiness…"
"Well… it's not a bad deal," she played with the golden scroll.
"So let me do the cooking for now, alright? And you can talk to me about whatever has been on your mind." Daphne groaned and put her face in his arms.
"It's stupid," she apologized, not wanting to say it. She felt childish around him.
"I'm sure it isn't." Harry was comforting and supportive. She wanted to hug him again but she didn't want to get in the way.
"Fine… I just don't know how to explain it."
"Stop beating yourself up, love. Just say whatever is on your mind and I promise I won't find it weird or whiny."
"I'm mad at Eros! for never telling me before, I'm mad that Phobos forced a deal with you, I'm mad that I-" she sniffled, "-that I never got to tell that stupid brother that he will be an uncle… that I failed him in the end," It felt so good to get that off her chest. She exhaled, feeling relieved.
"That makes no perfect sense, Daphne. I would've done the exact same thing for you just so you can be safe, to be happy, I'll understand why he didn't want to tell you, and we'll never know what would happen if Chronos was stil in your life. But it's understandable to want what could have been, and it's understandable to be mad that my parents died instead of me, this life with them is out of reach." Harry set a plate in front of her, offering her a smile.
And she couldn't hold her smile either, even at times like this, he keeps that cheerful spirit.
"You're the most compassionate and loving person I know. But you have to love yourself enough to let yourself feel things. And you don't have to be ashamed if you don't understand your feelings at first. I'm always here to listen." He gazed down at her, sliding a sandwich to the side and kissing her.
She saw his eyes blazing green, he was literally doing the same thing as her, he was putting all his efforts in the game so they could survive, there is no place. For the weak, "I love you."
"I love you too." No judgement.
Satisfied, she began to eat her sandwich, "Sixteen is a weird age," she said, "we're not adults but we're not young either,"
"Well, I did win against Krum," he laughed, turning on the radio.