Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K.R!

This story is a collaboration work between Avoranger and Cal the Wandcrafter!

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Author's note:
Alright! We are back! \(≧▽≦)/
Sorry that we need time to finish this chapter. Besides I'm not satisfied with some scene of what I wrote, my co-author got Covid and needed rest. So, while waiting for him to feel better, after finished my part I continued to watch/read One Piece. The Episode that I left the last time was around 100+ until the newest LOL. That's mean I'm finally catch up to the newest Chapter *evil-smile* LOL
The most important is... Nico Robin Oneesama kawaii sugiru! (≧◡≦)
Do any of you like One Piece too? hehe (*¯︶¯*)
Oh the LA 8/10 from me btw *winked*

Hope you like this chapter!
Enjoy! °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

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.The day began as it always did for Harry, the earliest rays of dawn still a distant promise on the horizon. His mornings typically commenced with a regimen of exercise, a sacred routine that invigorated both body and spirit. But today, as he gazed out of the window, there was an unmistakable air of disappointment about him. Beyond the glass, torrents of rain cascaded from the heavens, driven by a relentless gale that punctuated the tempest with flashes of brilliant lightning. The thunder roared in chorus, shaking the very windowpane with its furious vibrations. Had it not been for the protective enchantments safeguarding the room, Harry's sanctuary might have succumbed to the elemental onslaught, torn asunder and scattered to the winds.

In the face of such extreme weather, Harry's usual exercise routine lay in ruins. A sigh of frustration escaped his lips, dissipating into the damp air. Yet, hope was not entirely extinguished, as he recalled another haven. In his future, his preference had always been to run and train in the open expanse of the outdoors, concealed by the portable wards he had meticulously crafted during his leisure hours at Grimmauld Place. But it appeared that unforeseen circumstances demanded a change in plans. Grateful that the alternative room was conveniently situated on the same floor as Gryffindor Tower, he spared himself the journey down the stairs.

However, as Harry was about to turn into the corridor leading to the Room of Requirement, his attention was drawn to an unexpected sight. Filch, the ever-watchful caretaker, accompanied by his feline companion, Mrs. Norris, was making his rounds in the early morning gloom, mumbling about students and what sounded suspiciously like "Weasley Twins". Harry couldn't help but roll his eyes at him, shaking his head in mild exasperation. But then, a nagging thought itched at the back of his head, prompting a sudden about-face. He flattened himself against the wall, concealed by shadows, to observe Filch's actions. In that moment, Harry's mind wandered to a query—did Filch know any other Squibs, perhaps even someone like Wibly?

His contemplations were rudely interrupted when a sharp, plaintive meow resonated beneath him. Glancing down, he was startled to find Mrs. Norris investigating his shoes with keen interest. In a flash, he sprinted away, evading the cat's clutches with nimble dexterity.

Continuing on his path, he reached the door leading to the Room of Requirement, only to be greeted by an unexpected surprise. The door materialised before him, as though responding to an unspoken summons. "Huh? I haven't even made a request yet," he mumbled in confusion.

Yet, curiosity got the better of him, and he pushed the door open, entering cautiously. Before he could fully step inside, a spell whizzed perilously close to his head, striking the wall with a resounding crack.

"Bloody hell!" Harry exclaimed, his reflexes conjuring a shield charm in defence.

"Harry?!" a voice called out, a tone of surprise permeating it.

"Daphne?!" he echoed in astonishment. "What are you doing here?"

He ventured further into the room, his eyes falling upon his girlfriend, Daphne, who was surrounded by a litter of shattered training dummies, perspiration glistening on her brow. After a quick scan of the surroundings, he returned his focus to her. Daphne was dressed in a crop-top t-shirt hanging loosely off her shoulders that revealed a hint of her sports bra, accompanied by shorts and sporty footwear that accentuated her slender, athletic frame. It was very reminiscent of her future customary attire for her training sessions, which made him grim in remembrance of past times yet to come.

"I should be asking you that! Don't you normally exercise by the Black Lake in the mornings?" she inquired, reaching for a towel and a bottle from a nearby bench, taking a long, satisfying gulp from the latter. To Harry's surprise, the bottle miraculously refilled itself.

She extended it toward him, and he followed suit with a grateful sip. He sighed, "I had intended to, but in case you hadn't noticed, it's pouring outside, complete with lightning. So, I couldn't. That's why I came here as an alternative. How about you, when did you start training here?"

"I've been training since the first day back," she replied with an innocent grin. "I saw you running by the lake's shore, but I didn't want to risk anyone discovering us, so I opted for this spot."

"The shore has plenty of space for both of us, you know," Harry remarked as he began to limber up, preparing for his run. "Care to join me?"

"No, I'll take a rest and wait for you to finish your run. It's been too long since we duelled, hasn't it?" she proposed, taking a seat on a conjured bench.

Harry smiled at her jab, and crossed his arms. "A duel? Are you challenging me, Ms. Greengrass?" he teased.

"Of course I am! It's been too long since I wiped the floor with you, my dear," Daphne affirmed.

"Oh, you think you can beat me? If I recall right, last time we went at it, I had you pinned to the wall, floating upside down in record time. But if you want to get a whipping, then be my guest, " Harry declared, embarking on his run within the confines of the room.


"Why, Ms. Greengrass, it's the first time I've seen you use that spell chain. That's rather daring," Harry chuckled, his voice tinged with pride.

"That would be my father's doing," she replied, tossing her hair with an air of haughtiness.

"You told me you started your training on the first day back to school, right? How was your dad involved with this?" Harry inquired, his curiosity piqued.

She smiled smugly, her eyes glinting with mischief. "I never said it was the first day I returned to the castle!"

"So, you duelled with your dad?" he teased, a mischievous grin on his face. "Did you even win?"

Daphne's expression soured. "I lost spectacularly. He refused to duel with me again until I met his standards."

"Poor you," Harry commiserated, patting her back. "Don't worry, dear! I'll help you get stronger," he assured her confidently.

She chuckled at his assurance. "I never doubted it. Speaking of magic, do you feel it too? When we first arrived back in time, it was as if something was suppressing our magical power. But the more I train, the more I feel my magic returning, little by little, to its full potential. Despite this young and weak body, of course."

"I feel it too," Harry agreed. "I was already quite powerful at 15, but after experiencing how strong I will be in the future… it's frustrating being back in this 15-year-old body. "I actually noticed the first week when we got back. I tried to use one of my usual spells in a practice, but it didn't quite work out," he admitted with a grimace. "And then, Umbridge's detention made it crystal clear how vulnerable I am in this young body… I should have reacted quicker or sensed something going on, but it was like… I don't know. My brain is running slower I guess. Some of my magic is still strong, like Transfiguration, but my offensive magic is weaker. So, I've been putting in more effort, training harder, and eating better ever since."

"Well then, let's train together from now on!" Daphne suggested eagerly.

Harry smirked. "Are you sure about that?"

"Absolutely! With your rigorous training plans, I have no doubt I can regain my full magical power sooner, and I'll get my old figure back!" Daphne responded enthusiastically.

"Oh, I can't wait to see that!" Harry winked at her, causing her to blush profusely.

She cleared her throat, attempting to regain her composure. "From now on, I expect you to be here every morning!" she declared firmly, unable to hide a sweet smile.

"With pleasure!" Harry agreed, planting a happy peck on her cheek. "Oh, by the way, I saw Filch on the way here."

"Filch? Why were you watching him?" Daphne frowned.

"He's a Squib, Daph!" Harry reminded her, taking a seat on the conjured couch. "Maybe... we could ask him about Wibly?" he suggested cautiously.

"And what will we do after we ask him? Obliviate him? Because we can't risk anyone finding out about our plans and our true identities. Besides, he's under Umbridge's sphere of influence, Harry."

"It's risky, I know, but it could be the only lead we have." Harry countered.

"Are you sure he'd be cooperative? I doubt it. He was rather unpleasant to us as students. I can't imagine he'd willingly provide us with the information we need," Daphne pointed out.

"We could use the Imperius Curse on him and Obliviate him afterward," Harry proposed. "Or we could drug him, like we did to Snape?"

"Harry, we spent nearly 300 galleons on one dose. It's not worth it!" Daphne exclaimed. "Besides, won't it raise suspicion if the headmaster discovers that one of his students used the Unforgivable Curse?"

"I don't think so," Harry replied. "He didn't react to anything when Barty Crouch Jr. cast imperioused Krum last year. Plus, last year when I arrested Goyle and Nott in that Borgin and Burke's raid, I managed to pump them full of veritaserum, so I happen to know for a fact that Goyle has started dabbling in the cruciatus by this point. Crabbe's father taught him over the summer, and the two trolls would practise it on rats they found in the dungeon. Both times Dumbledore didn't even comment on it. And he hasn't reacted to Umbridge's dark wards or her collection of dark artefacts either," Harry shuddered at the memory of her office.

She hummed thoughtful, "We'd have to bring him here and obliviate him afterwards. No way we can do it in front of a bunch of portraits."

"Yeah, this is the only safe spot, and you're spot on... the paintings and ghosts actually spy for the headmaster," he said with a shrug. "I'm all in for the plan!"

"Now, how do we get him to come here?"

"Well, he was hanging around near the Gryffindor Tower before I got here."

"Did you bring the map?"

"Nah, how about later this afternoon? I've got a class this morning."

"Mine's at two, but I'm free after lunch."

"Sounds like a date, then."


"Harry! Where are you off to?" Ron asked, a puzzled expression on his face, as Harry quickly packed his books the moment the class bell signalled the end of the lesson.

"I'm going to go kidnap Filch to practise Unforgivables on," He replied with a sarcastic grin.

"Alright, hit him with a few curses for me, will you? Mrs. Norris clawed up my bookbag yesterday." Ron replied with a mock nod, gaining each of them a slap to the back of the head by Hermione. "Seriously, mate, where are you going?"

"I'm heading to check out the Room of Requirement for the study group," Harry replied, adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder.

"Are you sure you don't want to wait for us? We could do it tomorrow, Harry," Hermione suggested, her brow furrowed in concern.

"If I can get it done today, why wait until tomorrow?" Harry countered with a smile.

"But—" Ron began to protest, but Harry cut him off.

"I told you yesterday, if you two are busy with homework, go finish it. I'll go ahead," Harry said, as he walked off, leaving Hermione and Ron bewildered.

"I'm pretty sure he's not just checking on this room of his," Ron muttered.

"What do you mean, Ron?" Hermione inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Ron's face reddened slightly. "I saw him with a girl in one of the corridors yesterday, just before dinner. They seemed to have come out of an empty classroom," Hermione's eyes widened in shock.

"But he was supposed to go to the Headmaster's office yesterday, right?"

"I think so, but did he need to lie to us about it? We wouldn't have been angry if he had a girlfriend," Ron grumbled, his brow furrowing.

Hermione glanced at him, "Are you sure you wouldn't be angry, especially if you found out who she is?"

"Why should I be angry?" Ron responded, his face still red and now slightly offended.

"Because you're always like that!"

"I'm not!"

"Really? What if his girlfriend is a Slytherin?" Hermione challenged. Ron opened his mouth to argue but quickly shut it.

She sighed, then slung her book bag over her shoulder. "I'm sure he has his reasons. We'll wait until he's ready to tell us about her. Until then, we'll pretend we don't know anything," she said firmly, giving Ron a stern look.

"Fine," Ron grumbled in reluctant agreement.

"Let's go finish our homework so we can join Harry."

"Stupefy!" Harry cast the Stunning Spell under his invisibility cloak, targeting Filch in one of the hallways on the seventh floor. Harry glanced around, relieved to see that Mrs. Norris was nowhere in sight, and there were no portraits in the corridor. He looked down at Filch, who had passed out on the floor. He was feeling a bit shocked, as he had managed to come across Filch twice in a day, in the exact same corridor, no less.

With a few waves of his wand, Harry made Filch's body invisible and levitated it in front of him. He then covered himself with his invisibility cloak before making his way to the Room of Requirement where Daphne was waiting.

Inside the room, Harry made his way over to her and accidentally knocked Filch over, causing a loud thud that startled Daphne, who was reading on one of her favourite couches. Harry winced and swiftly cast the Stunning Spell on Filch again, ensuring that he wouldn't wake up until they were ready to interrogate him.

"Damn it, Harry!" Daphne exclaimed, reflexively ripping off the cloak, and hitting her boyfriend on the shoulder with the book she had been reading.

"Ouch! Sorry..." Harry grinned sheepishly.

"So, what did you bring?"

"It's not 'what,' but 'who,' Daph." Daphne waved her wand to counter the invisibility spell.

"Filch?! How did you... I thought we were going to search for him together?" she protested, pouting as she folded her arms across her chest.

"Well I was planning on it. But I ran into him on the way here earlier, so why not just bring him along?" Harry answered, looking at her with an innocent expression.

Daphne was momentarily speechless, "Well, fine," she said, still pouting. Harry grinned.

"We should save as much time and effort as we can, Daph. We have a lot on our plate," he reminded her, before proceeding to tie Filch securely to a chair.

"You're right. I'm sorry," Daphne conceded.

"You're forgiven! Now, let's get this done!"

Daphne nodded, "Alright, I'll let you cast the curse, I have no talent for the Imperious." With Daphne's permission, Harry immediately cast a spell to awaken Filch, who blinked in confusion as he looked around. Before Filch could say anything upon seeing Harry, He quickly pointed his wand at the man's forehead. "Imperio!" And with that one word, Filch's previously confused eyes became blank and expressionless.

"What command did you give him?" Daphne asked. She was ready with a quill and parchment containing the questions she had prepared while waiting for Harry to return.

"I just commanded him to answer all your questions honestly. Go ahead," Harry replied.

"What's your name?" Daphne asked, making sure that Filch heard her clearly and answered all questions accurately.

"Argus Filch," his blank voice droned.

"Good. Do you know someone named Wibly?" Daphne inquired matter-of-factly.

"No, I don't," Filch responded.

"Are you a member of any sort of guild or social club for squibs?" Daphne continued.

"No, I'm not,"

"Are you aware of the existence of any squib organisations?"

"Yes."

"What do you know about them?"

"They turned down my membership application because I have a regular job as the caretaker at Hogwarts. It's a support group for unemployed squibs," Filch replied in a monotonous tone. Daphne and Harry exchanged glances.

"Where can I meet these squibs?" Daphne asked, ready to take notes on a separate piece of parchment.

Filch only seemed to frown in confusion.

"Be more specific, Daph," Harry whispered.

"Where can I find the squib support group? " she rephrased it.

"They have a small greenhouse on the outskirts of Hogsmeade, where they grow vegetables and herbs to sell," Filch answered in the same monotone.

Daphne looked at Harry and nodded. He cast the Stunning Spell on Filch once more, causing him to fall into a stupor again.

"I think that's enough..." Harry said, appearing frustrated that they hadn't obtained any information about Wibly. "Why didn't Filch recognize him? There aren't many squibs in Britain, after all."

Daphne sighed, "We should have expected this. There are many factors at play. For instance, it's the year 1995. We're still 15 years old. It's possible that Wibly is also quite young, but we don't know his exact age. I can't predict how young he was when he looked so shabby in 2008. Filch is probably a lot older than him, and we both know he hates younger people."

"I guess so. Still, it's disappointing. Do you want to be the one to erase his memory? You took that Oblivator course at work that month I was out with a broken leg, right?" Harry offered, uncasting the Imperius Curse.

"Alright," Daphne agreed, taking a deep breath. She pointed the tip of her wand at Filch's head and said, "Obliviate!" With her spell, she erased and modified Filch's memory of their interrogation.

"Done! He'll wake up and think Peeves hit him on the head with something, knocking him out." she declared, wiping sweat from her face with the back of her hand.

"I'll be right back!" Harry said as he waved his wand at Filch and cast the Invisibility and Levitation spells on him again. Covered by the invisibility cloak, Harry floated Filch towards a fourth-floor corridor.

Ten minutes later, Harry returned and flopped onto the couch, letting out a sigh. "I feel so old, even though this body is young."

"We are, but the fact is we're becoming almost half our age again. It's so strange... like we don't belong here, but life still goes on, and we can't return home," Daphne remarked, her eyes welling up with tears. "And it's my fault..."

"Daph! It's not your fault! We've talked about this before. If we didn't go back in time, the only other choice was death. I wasn't ready to face my parents, especially since they hoped I'd have a good life, especially with you. They knew and saw how happy I was with you," Harry assured her, wiping away her tears with his hand and offering a warm smile. "The one to blame is me because—"

"Stop right there! You were just doing your job," Daphne interrupted, her voice filled with emotion.

"Exactly! So don't blame yourself!" Harry grinned and winced when she slapped his arm, then hugged it.

"Filch's interrogation was disappointing," she said softly. Harry nodded, enjoying Daphne's embrace of his arm.

"I didn't expect it to be such a letdown. I thought we'd at least get something useful, a community garden and a therapy circle doesn't seem like much of a terrorist organisation," Harry admitted.

"Harry, do you remember what else happened this year, aside from you getting detention from Umbridge, setting up an illegal study club, helping Mr. Weasley, Occlumency lessons with Snape, and going to the Department of Mysteries? Anything else?" Daphne asked, her curiosity evident.

Harry looked uncomfortable. "Besides that..." he began, furrowing his brow in concentration, "I was grumpy a lot. Hermione and Ron were always so careful when talking to me. My scar hurt frequently, and I had endless nightmares." Daphne tightly gripped Harry's hand.

"Are you feeling grumpy this year?"

"No, not really. I just find it difficult to act like the 15-year-old Harry. I know Hermione often looks at me strangely because I seem more mature than usual, and maybe Ron has noticed something different about me too," Harry admitted, shrugging.

"Oh thank Merlin, I'm glad it's not just me!" Daphne blurted out, and both of them burst into laughter.

"I also had a bit of a hard time with Tracey being so childish. I only just realised how annoying she was at 15," Daphne said, massaging her temples. "Then there's Pansy, who acts like a child in need of constant attention. And Malfoy! I still can't figure out how he ended up married to my sister?!"

"Truly the mystery of the century," Harry joked, making a gesture like a detective stumbling across a clue. Daphne glared at him.

"Really, Harry?" she paused for a moment. "I don't know if I should still let it happen or not. Tory was happy enough with him, but it was never a marriage of true love. She told me he was quite depressed and I suspect he was having PTSD from the part he played in the war." she said, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Maybe let's see how this war with Voldemort goes? I'm sure it would have different results with all our plans to defeat him," Harry suggested, pointing to the blackboard across from them.

"You're right. So, what's next?" Daphne asked.

Harry's lips widened. "Fancy going to the Chamber of Secrets?"

As they left the Room of Requirement, Harry and Daphne headed towards Myrtle's bathroom, intending to access the Chamber of Secrets. However, on the third floor, they ran into Hermione and Ron. Harry was surprised but tried to act nonchalant, with Daphne linked to his arm.

"Hi, guys! Where are you two off to? Back to the tower?" Harry asked awkwardly. Neither Hermione nor Ron said anything at first, and Harry began to panic. Then he noticed Ron who was suppressing a smirk, and Hermione who just seemed to be staring awkwardly. Harry was baffled.

"I told you!" Ron said to Hermione, breaking the silence between them. Hermione just rolled her eyes.

Watching their interactions, Harry blinked in confusion. "What are you two talking about?" Daphne stayed silent, reading the situation and anticipating the reactions they would give her.

"You don't need to hide her anymore, Harry. We know you've been sneaking off to see some girl." Hermione said awkwardly.

"Hey, I figured it out, you didn't believe me and then thought I'd overreact to it!" Ron said, indignantly.

Harry was left speechless. He had no idea how they found out. But he quickly ushered them into the nearest empty classroom. He cast a protective charm to ensure that outsiders wouldn't hear their conversation. Daphne watched this with curiosity but didn't comment.

"I only put a protection spell in this classroom, so outsiders won't be able to hear what we talk about in this room," Harry explained in response to Daphne's unspoken question.

"How did you learn that, Harry?" Hermione asked bluntly.

Harry raised an eyebrow, expecting this question. "Sirius, summer break." He lied seamlessly. I'll tell you later. Now, what do you mean by 'we know' earlier?" he asked directly.

Hermione and Ron exchanged glances, clearly debating who would speak first. Ron ended up taking the lead.

"I saw you with someone coming out of an empty classroom last night," Ron began, his face turning a shade of red. "Even though I couldn't see who it was because it was too dark, I knew it was a girl." Ron glanced at Daphne a few times. "You've also been disappearing for a long time after dinner and coming back to our dorm room with a big smile," Ron added, making Harry grimace. Daphne covered her mouth with a book to hide her laughter.

Then Harry turned to Hermione, who had a smug smile on her face.

"Well, actually, I suspected that you had a crush on someone because you always choose seats facing the same direction when eating in the Great Hall. I found it strange, and then I saw you smiling at someone, though I couldn't see who it was," Hermione explained with satisfaction. "Also, as Ron mentioned, you often disappear after dinner and return to our dorm room with a big goofy smile."

"You're so easy to read, Harry," Daphne commented, and Harry winced.

"Even though I've been so discreet about it," Harry complained, rolling his eyes. He turned to Hermione and Ron again.

"Uh, aren't you two angry?" he asked, casting a wary glance at Daphne, who was wearing her Slytherin green jumper with a prominent Slytherin insignia.

Hermione smiled at Daphne, who smiled back, before focusing on Harry. "Harry, you don't need to hide it. We won't be angry just because you have a girlfriend," Hermione reassured him. She then turned to Ron, who seemed nervous.

"Isn't that normal?" Ron said matter-of-factly. "Out of the five people in our dorm room, you're the only one who never talks about girls you fancy at the castle. So obviously, I'm happy and curious to know who it is that makes you so happy," he admitted, glancing at Daphne with curiosity.

"Even though my girlfriend is from Slytherin?" Harry asked, still doubting it, especially in Ron's case, as he was usually quite biassed against Slytherin.

Ron nodded firmly. "Yes. And well, Greengrass never insulted the three of us and didn't go along with Malfoy. Besides, you were really cool when you slapped Pansy the other day," he praised her with a grin.

"RON!" Hermione interjected in a disapproving tone.

"What! That was so cool! I still hope you and Pansy have a catfight," Daphne laughed at Ron's candid comment.

"Thanks for the compliment, Weasley. I'd been wanting to backhand her since the opening feast," Daphne replied with a wink.

He turned his head to Daphne. "I was worried about you when you fought with Pansy! Turns out you were having fun the entire time!" Harry protested in disbelief.

Daphne just grinned. But then they all laughed.

After the laughter had subsided, Hermione couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. "So… how long have you two been together?"


A chirping from a Hogwarts owl immediately caught Cyrus's attention. He signalled for the owl to enter and deliver the letter it had brought for him. His smile widened when he saw his eldest daughter's name on the letterhead - A letter that he and his wife looked forward to every month. Astoria sent them letters as she pleased, whereas Daphne sent them regular letters every two weeks.

Cyrus eagerly opened the letter, but as he read it, his forehead furrowed in confusion. He read the contents repeatedly, even tapping his wand on the letter, but nothing happened. He was even more surprised; it was not like his eldest daughter to send this kind of letter.

"Kisses and love,

Daphne Greengrass"

The closing words in the letter were unusual for Daphne, who rarely used such affectionate language. Cyrus felt a chill run down his spine.

"You look like you've seen a ghost, dear," his wife, Issa, said as she entered his office. Her voice startled him.

"Ah, Issa!" he said, looking up and giving her a small smile. "Read it," he said, handing her the letter from Daphne.

Issa, just like Cyrus, was initially excited to read the letter from their daughter. However, her expression slowly changed to one of confusion as she read it.

"Are you sure this is from Daphne?" she asked, her brows furrowing. "This isn't Daphne's usual grammar…" Issa continued while handing the letter back.

"My thoughts exactly."

"I know it looks similar, but look at this…" Issa pointed to a paragraph, "it reads too symmetrical for Daphne's writing. I know exactly how, I taught her to write. This seems… like a template almost.," she explained.

Cyrus looked thoughtful. "I think I may need to pop into the office for a bit. Something is giving me a bad feeling about this."

"Oh! Speaking of which, Amelia floo-called earlier. She said if you have time this week, she wants you to visit her office. Your study room floo was not accessible, she said," Issa mentioned, glancing at the fireplace in the room. "Dinner is ready too, and I don't want to eat alone," she added in a sullen tone.

Cyrus was pensive when his wife mentioned his inaccessible floo network. He had locked his study room floo network after Lucius Malfoy's recent visit. Their conversation had left him disturbed, making it difficult for him to focus on work.

"Ah yes, I forgot I haven't reactivated it yet," he said with a grin. "Come on, let's have dinner," he said, taking his wife's hand and leading her towards the dining room. Along the way, his mind was still preoccupied, thinking about what Amelia wanted from him.

"You already told them where we're going to study?" Harry asked, leaning against the wall next to the door of the Room of Requirement, which had appeared for them.

"Yeah, I think they'll be here—," Hermione began to answer, but before she could finish, she noticed the students arriving one by one.

"Hi, Harry, Hermione, Ron!" greeted Neville Longbottom, who was accompanied by the Weasley twins and other Quidditch members.

"Hello, Neville!" Harry waved with a wide grin. He then turned his attention to the twins, who were chatting about the room they thought had some similarities with one they had found before.

"I don't remember there being a classroom here, right, George?"

"You're right! I think this was a broom closet before, Fred,"

Harry smirked at their comments. "Perhaps you guys have used this room before," he said with a grin.

After everyone had gathered, Harry opened the door and ushered them in.

"This is the entrance, ladies and gentlemen," he announced. From the doorway, he could hear their impressed reactions to the room Harry had provided. He quietly laughed, pleased to have impressed them. The room Harry had requested was a spacious practice area equipped with everything they needed for their studies, including different books on combat, a wide array of training dummies, and painted off circles for holding duels in. After making sure everything was in place, Harry swung his wand toward the outer area near the Room of Requirement, sealing it off to keep unauthorised individuals from approaching. Satisfied, Harry entered the room and sealed the door.

However, he soon realised that the room appeared more crowded than expected.

Harry walked through the crowd toward Hermione and Ron, who were at the centre of the attention. He counted the students and found there were twenty-three of them. Adding himself, Hermione, and Ron, there were twenty-six in total. He had initially been happy that fifteen people had joined, so why…

He glanced at Hermione, who looked guilty when Harry fixed his gaze on her. Before he could scold her, someone else entered the room. Harry's eyes widened when he saw who it was.

"I'm so sorry! Are we late?" the newcomer said, sounding guilty. "Also, is it okay if I bring my sister?" She gestured awkwardly to her big sister and her friend, who were standing next to her.

"Of cour—" Harry was about to respond, but someone expressed their displeasure at the newcomers.

"Why are there Slytherins here?" a ravenclaw student said, sounding displeased.

"Get out!" Harry immediately exclaimed, without hesitation. The room fell silent as everyone turned to look at Harry. "We don't need bigots here. I never once said that we were not going to allow Slytherins, and they are here at my personal invitation!" Harry said firmly, looking at the student with a sharp gaze. "If you didn't attend the meeting we held in Hogsmeade, let me emphasise it again: We are here to learn to defend ourselves, and anyone who is displeased at the pathetic excuse of a teacher we have been stuck with this year is more than welcome here. If that is a problem for you, then leave now."

Harry crossed his arms. "No takers?" he asked again when no one made a move to leave, although a few of them looked conflicted but remained silent.

He sighed. "Alright, please stand closer to us. Miss?" he said, gesturing for the newcomers to come closer. He offered them a warm smile.

"Astoria Greengrass," she introduced herself, slightly shocked at Harry's response, then introduced her sister and her friend. "This is Daphne Greengrass, my sister, and Viola Richmond, my best friend," she continued, before nodding. The three of them walked closer to the crowd.

Harry looked at his watch. "Well since we are now running late, can I start now?" he asked with a smile, gaining the attention of the crowd. After seeing nods from almost everyone, Harry continued.

"Thank you to those who were willing to attend the first meeting of this study group. Your enthusiasm was much appreciated, though it came as a surprise, given that the turnout exceeded our previous meeting in Hogsmeade. But before we dive into the class, I need to check something. Have all of you signed the magical contract?" Harry inquired as whispers and discussions erupted among the students. "It seems that some of you haven't signed it yet," Harry turned his gaze towards Hermione, whose guilt was palpable. "Hermione?" She reluctantly handed over the parchment, revealing that almost dozen people had yet to sign it. Harry took a deep breath, struggling to control his frustration. 'Merlin, Hermione,' he thought, annoyed.

Suddenly, a table materialised in front of Harry, seemingly in response to his thoughts. He placed the parchment and a quill on the table.

"If you want to be a part of this, sign now. Otherwise this meeting is over. We cannot risk Umbridge finding out we are doing this, and if you do not sign this parchment, then you are a risk I cannot afford to take."

"Harry… Is this really necessary? I mean, sure she might shut the club down, and we might get a few detentions, but this contract is a bit extreme. I have another version that we can use." Hermione spoke up, her voice reluctant. Behind her, the majority of the new arrivals murmured in agreement and some amount of anger.

"It's a take-it-or-leave-it situation!" Harry asserted firmly, ending the protests. He couldn't afford to be lenient with these oblivious students any longer. "We can't proceed if you keep arguing about it. If you won't sign it, then I'll leave this room, and this study group will be over before it even starts!" Harry began to head for the exit, noticing that his threat wasn't being taken seriously. Hermione, alarmed by Harry's actions, reached out to stop him.

"Harry, wait!" She grasped his hand, halting his departure. Harry deliberately didn't turn toward Hermione, who was frantically trying to persuade him to stay.

"Perhaps we can revisit the contract after the lesson. They might be more inclined to sign it once they see how effectively you teach and how it benefits them," she suggested, sounding desperate. A few murmurs of agreement with Hermione's proposal could be heard, but Harry was deeply disappointed by her breach of trust and her covert actions.

"No, you all came here because you need me to teach you. I told you I was going to have the final say in how it was run. Hermione, if Umbridge and the Ministry find out about this, the best scenario is going to be expulsion. I will not risk anyone being sent to Azkaban because security has been compromised!" Harry gently freed his hand from Hermione's grip. "Forget it, this study group is over. Figure out how to pass your exams on your own; it's not my responsibility." With that, Harry exited the room for good.

Hermione stood in stunned silence as she watched her best friend walk away. Then, Daphne whispered in her ear, driving home the gravity of her actions.

"He trusted you with this, Granger. Shame on you,"

Daphne was the second person to leave the room, leaving everyone else in a state of shock.

Daphne found Harry sitting by the shore of the Black Lake, lying on a large rock with his hands covering his eyes, blocking out the sunlight.

"Go away, Hermione!" Harry said in a cold tone when he sensed someone's presence approaching him.

"I could guess you were here," she said, then sat down next to Harry.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he realised who had come and immediately sat up, turning his head to look at her.

"Are you serious about what you said?" Daphne asked curiously.

Harry rolled his eyes and lay back down on the rock, folding his hands behind his head to use as a pillow as he stared at the sky, which was slowly starting to darken.

"I never thought Hermione would do something like that. Last time she was the one who was so insistent on security, and now she does this… I don't get it." He said in a disappointed tone. "I know her very well, and she always wants everyone to have the same opportunities, in this case, to study Defense Against the Dark Arts and get good grades together. But she should have known how risky this is. I drafted an Auror grade binding contract to keep everyone safe, and then she goes and manages to bring nearly 20 more people who haven't been sworn in to the club's meeting room. What's the point of a contract if she still goes around doing that?" he sighed again. "Besides, I don't need a study group. I should have rejected her suggestion outright so we can focus on our own missions." he said bitterly. "It feels worse than when they found out I was dating you. I don't know which side Ron will take between the two of us. It's rare for him to choose, isn't it?" he laughed mockingly.

"Would you forgive her if she apologises?" Daphne asked, as she grabbed his hand.

"I probably won't forgive her that easily," he chuckled. Daphne squeezed his hand.

"I'm sure some people will beg for you to come back and be their teacher again, showing you a parchment filled with their names," Harry raised an eyebrow at her statement. "Maybe you could still do a smaller group? I know Tori was telling me the DA was the best part of her Hogwarts years, and I know how much you loved bonding with everyone last time. I don't want to see you throw away a chance at having those friendships again."

"I'll think about it, but you know, Ron and Hermione need to start figuring things out on their own. I've... I don't know, maybe I've spoiled them by always giving in to their requests, and they probably wouldn't like some of the tactics I was planning on teaching this time, anyways." He paused and lifted her hand to his mouth, placing a kiss on her knuckles." Besides, we have more pressing matters to attend to, wouldn't you say?"

On a Monday morning, as Daphne and Tracey entered the Great Hall, they couldn't help but catch wind of the student buzz. It seemed that news of Harry's newfound romantic interest had spread like wildfire. The female population, it appeared, was once again smitten with him, while simultaneously harbouring death threats for the one who had captured his heart. Daphne's mood darkened as she eavesdropped on the chatter. Everyone seemed eager to find out who this mystery girl was and pass judgement on whether she was suitable for Harry. She inwardly scoffed, fully aware that they'd be singing for her forgiveness if they knew the truth. Their hypocrisy disgusted her – one moment they praised Harry, and the next they insulted him. Truly hypocritical.

Deliberately, Daphne chooses a seat facing the Gryffindor table, with Tracey joining her. As she made her way to her seat, fragments of conversations about Harry reached her ears. Some students still wore conflicted expressions, but bitterness seemed to dominate the general sentiment. In the crowd, she spotted Hermione, whose gaze at Harry held a mixture of hope, regret, and bitterness. Daphne also noticed students from other houses shooting disapproving glares at Harry, likely because of the previous day's incident. At least they had the sense not to spread that particular issue.

Daphne felt a wave of relief that yesterday's incident hadn't spread further, let alone reached Umbridge's ears. But why had news of their relationship spread so rapidly? She couldn't fathom that Hermione Granger would stoop so low as to spread it just to spite Harry. Within seconds, her eyes met Harry's, his expression filled with concern. Unfortunately, Daphne couldn't respond because Pansy and Theo sat across from her, engrossed in gossip about Harry Potter. Daphne sighed and tried to block out their conversation by focusing on her plate. However, Theo decided it was the perfect time to engage her in a conversation about the newest Hogwarts gossip.

Theodore Nott, often called Theo, was a tall and graceful boy with black hair that occasionally brushed his shoulders. His movements were elegant, and Daphne sometimes envied his almost veela-esqe gracefulness. He was renowned as the king of gossip in Slytherin, always quick to pick up on the latest scandal. Everyone knew him, even students from other houses who were typically hostile to Slytherin, and everyone knew he was the one to go to about the breaking news of Hogwarts.

Theo leaned in, flashing Daphne a familiar smile. "You know what, Daphne? I heard Harry Potter has a girlfriend! That's a major scoop about our celebrity. Should we tip off the Daily Prophet or Witch Weekly? It would be sensational!" He spoke with glee, clearly relishing the juicy tidbit. Daphne glanced up briefly before returning her attention to her plate. "If you happen to read that story in the papers, you'll know it came from me!" he added proudly.

"Oh?" Daphne replied casually as she sliced her sausage. "And what does that have to do with me?"

"Theo, why are you talking to Greengrass?" Pansy interjected, clearly annoyed that Theo's attention had shifted to Daphne, while Tracey attempted to blend into the background, ready to intervene and defend Daphne if necessary.

A hint of irritation crept into Theo's voice as he rolled his eyes at Pansy's protest. "Aren't you the one who insisted on trying to make Greengrass mad?" Pansy clenched her jaw, flushed with anger, and opted to join Bulstrode, who beckoned her over. Bulstrode vented her own frustration by giving Theo's shoulder a hard shove. Theo initially yelped in surprise but then chuckled at their antics as though it were all in good fun.

"Don't be uncouth, ladies!" he quipped as he nonchalantly nibbled on his salad. "Ungrateful brats!" he complained theatrically. Daphne remained silent, continuing to eat, while Tracey posed the question that had been on her mind.

"How do you know Potter has a girlfriend?" she asked bluntly. Theo leaned in closer to both Daphne and Tracey, adopting a conspiratorial tone.

"I heard it from some older Hufflepuff students, though I can't remember their names," he began. "Then I got more details from Sophie Roper, and Lavender Brown confirmed it. I also overheard a Ravenclaw student saying that Cho Chang cried all night because of it."

"Chang was crying? Wasn't she Diggory's girlfriend last year?" Tracey inquired, her curiosity piqued. Theo leaned in even closer, his tone growing even more secretive.

"The rumour is that Chang has feelings for Potter. But I wonder what her true intentions are. Does she genuinely like him, or is she using him as an emotional outlet, trying to make Potter feel guilty if he really did have a hand in Diggory's—"

The clatter of cutlery crashing onto plates abruptly interrupted Theo and Tracey's conversation. "Potter didn't have anything to do with Diggory being murdered!" Daphne hissed, her eyes narrowing at Theo. Both of them turned to her, their expressions a mixture of surprise and curiosity. Daphne struggled to maintain a stoic and composed facade, but her flushed cheeks betrayed her true emotions.

"You still believe in Potter, don't you? You're defending him," Theo teased, his dramatic gasp drawing the attention of everyone in the Great Hall. "Don't tell me it's you? You're his girlfriend?" He continued to press, his excitement growing. "Or perhaps you know who she is? Is the stoic Mrs. Greengrass jealous?" Theo prodded, stoking Daphne's anger even farther.

"Whoever his girlfriend is, it's none of your business. It's also none of your business whether I believe in Potter or not, or whether I want to defend him or not!" Daphne snapped with irritation, her anger now genuinely ignited. Theo immediately raised his hands in mock surrender, wearing a smug grin.

"If you're not involved with Potter, you wouldn't get this worked up when I talk smack about him!" he remarked innocently. Daphne, still seething with anger, stared the boy down, her eyes glinting dangerously.

"Come on, Daph! That's exactly what he's aiming for," Tracey whispered as she tried to step in and defuse the situation. She noticed that Daphne had already drawn her wand from its wrist holster, poised to cast a curse on Theo. "Daphne, don't do it…" Daphne abruptly pulled away from Tracey, shooting her an annoyed glare that screamed 'I'm not that much of a Gryffindor,' and then made the decision to leave the Great Hall.

Realising her mistake, Tracey groaned and shifted her focus to Theodore Nott, who wore a self-satisfied smirk. "You've just gained your way onto even more shitlists, Theodore," she declared with a tone of contempt. Theodore simply chuckled and elegantly sipped his pumpkin juice, observing Tracey as she hurried after Daphne.

From the nearby Gryffindor table, Harry Potter had witnessed and overheard the entire exchange. He was seething with anger, itching to hex Nott, but Ron firmly gripped Harry's shoulder, preventing him from acting recklessly in the midst of a crowd of gossiping students.

"As tempting as it is to curse the git, he's not worth it," Ron whispered. Harry took a deep breath, venting his frustration by stabbing his sausage vigorously as he tried to calm his boiling anger. It was indeed an odd day when Ron Weasley was the voice of reason against hexing a Slytherin.


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