Slowly, very slowly, her thoughts returned to her. Her head was pounding and she shifted with a groan. Painfully she opened her eyes, ready to squint them shut again if it was too bright. Yet her worry was nought because it was dark around her. Her vision was blurry but she could see a room, lit only by the pale light of the moon, shining through the window. She sat up, her hand shooting to her hurting head. Oh boy, what happened? She remembered blurry flames, pain on her head and nothing more. She looked around, seeing a dark bedroom, on which a bed, she was lying. A morning robe was folded on her feet, with a small piece of paper. She slid her feet out of the bed and got out. Only now she noticed her wand on the nightstand, picking it up in a hurried manner. When the eleven inches of oak was in her hand she felt a lot better. Stepping over, she was taking up the paper.
Your father is in the room to your right, your sister in the one beyond.
She grabbed the robe with a little bit of worry, just a simple piece of clothing but it seemed warm, only now noticing she was wearing a sleeping gown. A shiver went down her spine. Did...did someone put new clothes on her? She thought with a little worry, before putting on the morning robe and slipping in slippers next to the bed. Carefully she sneaked to the door, leaning against it, listening to the outside. There was no sound on the other side, just quiet. She tested the doorknob and was surprised it was open. Whoever kidnapped her, they were doing a lousy job. She stretched out her head, looking into the hall. She squinted a little because different from the room she woke up in this corridor was lid brightly. There were dark green carpets on the floor and a warm brown wooden railing to a stairwell. There was no one around only a black dog, lying on the carpet to the right. When she pulled open her door, the dog raised its head, making her flinch. Please don't bark, please don't bark. But the dog stayed quiet only watching her slowly opening the door and slipping out. She looked up and down the corridor. There was no one to be seen. She sneaked to the right stopping only at the dog to kneel down shortly rubbing him behind the ears.
"Yeah that's good, don't bark, good boy." The dog only blinked once at her, before yawning and watching her. She got up again and tried the door of the next room. It was open too. She almost jumped when she heard a noise behind herself but it was only the dog that got to his feet. She looked inside the room. It was also not lit but she could see a tall man lying on the bed. She stepped inside and hurried when she saw her father lying there. Casting her gaze to the door, she just saw the dog standing in the doorframe and leaned down.
"Pssssst, father, wake up!" She whispered, looking at the door once more. "Faaaather." She shook him slightly and with a groan he opened his eyes, staring for a moment before he focused.
"Honey w-" He started, only for his daughter to put her hand over his mouth.
"Pssssst. I don't know what is going on but I think we are kidnapped. Here take my...oh." She looked over, seeing her fathers wand on the nightstand. She quickly handed it to him. He was sitting up, also holding his head.
"Where are we?" he asked looking around for a moment. She just shrugged.
"I have no idea. I haven't seen much I came right here. The only one I saw was that dog." She pointed to the door, but there was no one there. Must have left.
"There was a note on my bed, like this one, saying you are in this room, my sister in the next one. We have to get out of here!" She whispered pulling on her father's arm. He was about to get to his feet when there was a knocking sound at the door. She was so tense she turned and immediately fired a cutting curse to the door, seeing a man duck to the side dodging it. Instead, she left a slice over the other side of the stairwell.
"Wooooh, careful!" Came a call from outside the door, before slowly two hands appeared in the doorframe.
"See, no wand. So please don't gut me." The girl stepped back a little, while her father raised his wand.
"Show yourself." He demanded after getting out of the bed, standing in front of his daughter.
A man with long black hair pulled into a ponytail and a neatly trimmed beard appeared in the doorframe. He wore expensive robes the girl thought but it was hard to see from the dark into the light. He had raised both of his hands but didn't seem to worry.
"Please calm yourself. Everything is fine, Lord Greengrass." He stated, reaching down slowly to flip the lights on. Greengrass squinted his eyes but he kept his wand at the man.
"What's the meaning of this Black. Explain quick." He said, pointing around. Sirius chuckled, keeping his hands up.
"Well, you are at House Black. First of all, let me offer you the hospitality and protection of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black. Cissy will gut me if I don't do this right. As for what you are asking, well we thought we couldn't let you stay there on the ground after we dealt with your attackers, so...yeah, we took you here."
Suddenly it came back. Lord Greengrass remembered three persons coming into his tent, masked and with raised wands. One knocked him out while the others grabbed his daughters. His hand instantly searched for Daphnes and took a hold of it.
"You...slowly. What happened?" Black pointed at an armchair in the corner, to which Greengrass nodded. He sat down, folding his hands over his knee.
"Well, what is the last you remember Lord Greengrass?" Sirius asked with a calm voice, tilting his head slightly. Lord Greengrass stayed tense, on edge. He wasn't a fool.
"Someone attacked the Quidditch Cup, explosions, burning tents and then three people came to our tent and tried taking away my girls, before knocking me out." Sirius nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, that would be about right. Luckily we came across your tent right when those tossers pulled your daughter." He pointed at a flinching Daphne. "and her sister out of the tent. Harry noticed it and we stopped them, right before Amelia and the Aurors arrived. It was considered best to bring you to House Black in case someone would try to attack your Manor while you are knocked out. So, here we are."
Greengrass stared at the man, before lowering his wand a little.
"Do we know who these people are?" Sirius sighed nodding.
"Death Eaters." Lord Greengrass flinched hard. Death Eaters? But You-know-who was dead and every one of his followers tried to avoid the appearance of ever following him or would risk Azkaban.
"Death Eaters?" He asked still not believing, to which Sirius nodded in return, folding his legs.
"Yes. Two were lower-level henchmen, not even having the Dark Mark. Not sure whether the two even were real once or just hired. Their leader sadly escaped." He shook his head sighing.
"Do you know who it was?" Greengrass asked more curiously. Again Sirius shook his head.
"No, not officially." At that answer, Lord Greengrass smirked.
"And in-official?"
Now Sirius returned the smirk, raising an eyebrow.
"Let's just say, my cousin had seen his mask before. When she was searching for something. In her ex-husband's desk." Greengrass' eyes darted up.
"Lucius Malfoy?"
"Yes, most likely. We will get confirmation when we come to the next Wizengamot meeting." Sirius winked at him, something that wasn't really lord-like but Greengrass didn't care less at the moment.
"Why is that?" He asked, turning his head now feeling safe enough to let his eyes leave the man to look at his daughter, seeing if she was all right. She looked fine a little red around the eyes, still shook, but standing tall.
Sirius laughed a little, waving his hand.
"Well, my dear cousin, at the prospect of returning a little of the pain she endured by his hands, got him with a really nasty slashing curse right across the face. We will see it because she claimed to learn it from her sister and if Bella knows one thing well it would be inflicting pain and wounds. Sadly we know he will wiggle his way out of this, too little proof you know?"
Slowly nodded Lord Greengrass looking at his daughter again.
"What happens now? What time is it?"
Sirius raised his wrist, looking at his golden watch. He would have preferred a silver one but he would never do that for Remus sake.
"About twenty minutes past midnight. Amelia Bones is downstairs, as well as Professor McGonagall, two Aurors and Remus Lupin. Amelia would like to talk to you of course. We gave your younger daughter a Draught of Dreamless Sleep, because she woke up first, screaming and thrashing. We were worried she might hurt herself. She is next door if you would like to see her." Greengrass nodded, and walked over, looking after his sweet baby girl. Astoria looked fine, just sleeping. He brushed her hair out of her face, kissing her forehead.
"Sleep well, princess." He said, placing the same spell he had used when she was a child on the room, knowing if she woke up. Then he closed the door behind himself and Daphne finding Lord Black at the stairs. The man pointed at the rooms.
"Your clothes are inside your rooms. If you would like to join us in the sitting room. Kreacher will show you the way. Kreacher!" With a pop, a house-elf appeared.
"Yes, My lord Black? How can Kreacher serve?" The elf asked with a slight bow.
"You will escort Lord and Heiress Greengrass to the sitting room once they are dressed." The elf bowed down again, before standing straight.
"Lord Black, Kreacher was asked by the young Heir Black to remind your Lordship about eating something." The elf stated, looking down a little. Sirius sighed.
"I will eat when we are done here Kreacher." Lord Greengrass looked surprised when the elf shook his head, even crossing his arms. He hadn't seen this behaviour in a house-elf before.
"No Lord Black. The young Heir stated his Lordship haven't eaten or drank since morning. The young Heir ordered Kreacher to look into that and said Kreacher should bind Lord Black to a chair if his Lordship would refuse." Sirius' eye twitched a little while Daphne did her best to suppress a slight giggle. Sirius stared down at the elf.
"Kreacher, we...you are not binding me to a chair. This...Lord Greengrass, please excuse me." He nodded towards his fellow Lord before heading down the stairs.
"PRONGSLET!" He hollered through the house while he hurried down the stairs.
An hour later, Amelia Bones finished her questioning of Lord Greengrass. They were sitting in the dining room, all of their empty plates in front of them. Harry had only started with his argument with Sirius before Professor McGonagall had cut in and set the head of the most honourable Lord of Black straight like he was an ill-behaving first year. So Sirius had turned it around, asking Kreacher to dish up for all of them. They ate a simple roast beef with mashed potatoes. While Lord Greengrass frowned slightly at the simple meal, his daughter does seem to enjoy it a little bit more, eating a second plate. Amelia rose to her feet.
"All right, I think that sums it up. Thank you for your patience, Lord Greengrass." Said Lord also rose to his feet, bowing in front of the Head of House Bones.
"We have to thank you Madam Bones."
She smiled nodding while putting on her outer coat.
"It was a pleasure. If you excuse me, I will head home, I think Susan is very nervous right now." All nodded in agreement and just before she reached the floo, a Patronus of a blue whale swam through the ground towards her.
"Madam Bones, we need you at Azkaban. We have a case Magenta."
Amelia paled at these words. She swirled around, staring at Sirius wide-eyed. The man stepped forward worry on his face.
"I...Sirius, can you take Susan in for tonight? This...oh shit." She forgot all the proper decorum at the moment. The black-haired man nodded, frowning slightly.
"Yes, of course, no problem. Code Magenta?"
Amelia conjured a Patronus, before speaking.
"Susan, come to house Black, no slacking, this is not a drill." She paced up and down for a moment, before only seconds after she sent the Patronus Susan Bones tumbled out of the green-lit hearth. Susan stared at her aunt.
"Auntie, what is going on?" She asked, pulling her jumper closer, staring at all the confused people. Amelia stepped closer, putting her hand briefly on her niece's shoulder.
"Not now Susan. Love you." Then she conjuncted a second Patronus.
"This is Amelia Bones. Mister Johnson, shut down all floo-connections immediately. Code Magenta at Azkaban." Sirius stepped forward. Everybody watched the scene in utter confusion. Remus had stepped closer to Harry, while Lord Greengrass had placed his hand on his daughter's shoulder, a worried look on his face.
"Melia what is going on, what is a Code Magenta?" He asked the witch who was searching for her robes for something. Without looking up, she answered.
"Breakout as Azkaban, from the high-security ward. Only one has ever happened. You know who that was!" Sirius swallowed. Yeah, he knew well, since he was the one in question. Amelia found what she was searching an empty bottle, before looking at everyone.
"I'm sorry, but I will have this house on Lockdown. Only hours after an attempt to kidnap Heiress Greengrass there is a breakout from Azkaban. Since there are two lords and three Heirs in this house, I ask you Sirius to block all wards only letting Patronuses through. I am sorry, but you will have to play host today. I am sorry to push this onto you." She hastily spoke, staring sternly at all the people. Sirius nodded.
"No problem Melia. Be safe you hear." She nods and with a swirl, she uses what seemed to be an emergency Portkey.
After that, the whole room fell to silence. Everyone was too shocked to even move or think. Then Remus whispered out what all of them were thinking.
"A breakout. From...oh Merlin." Sirius nodded, turning to the gathered people.
"I'm sorry for the discomfort, of course, all of you are guests of House Black until further notice." He tapped one of the walls with his wand and everyone in the room could feel the shift of atmosphere, when powerful wards rose from deep in the walls like a drawing bridge pulled up and spikes turned to the outside. With the single tap, Grimmauld Place turned from a home into a fortress. Kreacher plopped into the room.
"Lord Black, the wards of House Black rose to their full potential." Stated the small creature with a bow. Sirius nodded.
"Thank you, Kreacher. Please make some tea, I think we will be here for a while." He then stepped closer to Harry, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder. Harry smiled thinly at his godfather, the feeling of his warm hand on his shoulder calming him down. His hands brushed over his egg, pulsating warm and calm o his chest. Sirius smiled back at him before turning to Lord Greengrass.
"Lord Greengrass, I am very sorry I trapped you in my home now, but until this situation is dissolved, I would rather not lower the wards. House Black has a lot of enemies." Lord Greengrass raised his eyebrow, nodding.
"I understand Lord Black. We thank you for your hospitality." His hand rubbed over his daughter's shoulder making her look up, with her dark green eyes.
"Yes, thank you, Lord Black, Lord Peverell." Harry felt his ears turn red a little when she looked at him. There was honest gratitude in her eyes and he was sure that was more for the things they did before than what happened now.
"Very well, please sit down, I think we will be here for a while. Bedrooms are upstairs if anyone would like to go to bed. I can gladly say we have more than enough up there." Narcissa stated, before stepping closer to Harry, placing her hand on his other shoulder. She hadn't moved far from his side the boy had noticed tonight, but all the drama and stress had taken her mind successfully of Draco and that was one good thing in this turn of events apart from the fact that everybody was fine. Together they all sat down at the table.
Harry sat down next to Daphne with Susan on the other side to him. The girl looked pale, a little worried. Her aunt was out there somewhere, probably in a dangerous situation and she kneaded her hands. He placed his hand on her shoulder like Sirius did so often with him and made her look at him.
"She will be okay. Your aunt is a strong witch, she will be fine." Susan nodded, smiling, not really convinced but feeling a little better. Remus turned to Sirius, who watched his godson with a smile while he took care of the two girls, before refocusing on his oldest friend. A sharp nod followed.
"It does seem suspicious. Like Melia said, only hours after that whole debacle, while most Aurors are still on the outside, Azkaban has a breakout. It does look strange. I hope we stopped something by saving the girls."
Lord Greengrass nodded, folding his hands on the table.
"Yes, you did. You saved my daughters, as well as me and I'm very grateful for that. We will need to discuss life-debts Lord Black." Sirius flinched at that, shaking his head.
"No need Lord Greengrass, we were happy to help." Narcissa hit him with her elbow to witch Lord Greengrass only rose his eyebrow, sitting up more straight.
"I insist Lord Black. My honour as a Lord demands it."
Sirius sighed, knowing full well this would require a lot of attention and it was these kinds of things he didn't like about the high-society. There would be so much manoeuvring and tactics, he hardly had the nerves for. But Greengrass wouldn't let it go and despite his hard shell and snobbish attire, the man loved his family and remembering this day, had a dry sense of humour he actually liked. So he nodded.
"Very well, if you insist, we will look into it, but not tonight." He would have to talk to Cissy and Remus about this, for etiquette and legal advice. Narcissa nodded to him like he had done the only sensible thing. Harry who had quietly talked to Susan trying to calm her down and also to Daphne who had stayed rather quiet, turning to his godfather.
"Why do they even wanted to try to kidnap Daphne and Astoria?" He asked, frowning a little. Sirius shrugged but Narcissa answered.
"For a marriage contract!" She stated firmly. All eyes turned to her, who just looked calmly down the table.
"Well, Lucius was quite eager to get together with the Most Ancient and Noble House of Greengrass for a long time. The only thing stopping him was the marriage contract his father had set for D-Draco." Her voice only faltered slightly at the name of her son and Sirius took her hand to squeeze it for comfort.
"And Mrs Pakinson, with the specific rule that neither party could dissolve it. It had been created because Lord Parkinson had saved his life. Since Sirius wasn't part of that equation and he held primacy he could overturn the contract. Lucius now could chase the thing he ever wanted, a joined House Malfoy and Greengrass. Let me guess Lord Greengrass, my ex-husband has contacted you ever since my cousin had been freed for social get-togethers." She said with a smirk, causing Greengrass to chuckle.
"Yes, indeed Miss Black he has. Of course, there wasn't much discussed up until now and if I see his face in Wizengamot with let's say a nasty scratch, there will not be discussed much more." Narcissa raised an eyebrow and her mouth twitched slightly.
"I'm glad to hear that Lord Greengrass. Anyways, since then Sirius approached you and I think Lucius got worried you might slip through his fingers. I would tend to believe his plan was to kidnap your Heiress and force her to sign a magically binding marriage contract." You could really feel the coldness through the room when Narcissa stated that with a nasty smile.
Daphne held on to the hand of her father, turning rather pale. To think she slipped just away from being forced to marry Draco Malfoy, that vile prat, she felt suddenly ill. Harry saw the paleness and brushed over her back. The girl flinched first but then sighed. Normally she wouldn't accept being touched by someone outside of her family, but this was not normal and she would let it slide. For this one time. Still, Narcissa gave Harry a very disapproving look at that.
Professor McGonagall, now changed back from her Ireland outfit, back to her normal clothes, sneered at this, a rather uncommon look on her face.
"How disgraceful! To do such a vile thing to a child."
Lord Greengrass nodded in agreement, brushing his hand through his daughter's hair. He knew she didn't like that, him ruining her perfect hairdo but he needed it now.
"You are right Professor. While bride-theft has happened before it is a really disgraceful thing to do. A shame we can't prove it, I would have loved to crush Malfoy for that. Yet..." Now there was a small evil look in Lord Greengrass eyes. "There is more than one way to skin a cat. Lord Black, I think we will have to talk in private soon. Maybe we have common goals. In the economic sector." Both Lords smiled at each other like sharks, knowing exactly what the other thought. They couldn't get Lucius Malfoy in court or in a duel, but the possibility to harm him financially was very much open.
Daphne sighed, while she climbed the stairs in House Black. Most of the Manor was dark now, while she heard quiet talking from downstairs. Her father and Lord Black were talking about ways to hurt Lord Malfoy. She shivered slightly. To think about what could have happened to her. She was very much aware of what being married to Draco Malfoy meant. He was a cruel boy, not violet but he enjoyed showing dominance. Every day in that house would have been a fight if she had been allowed to fight at all. Some marriage contracts, the rather cruel one, were more like slavery than marriage. The contract forced the woman, or only rarely but it happened, husband, to obey his or her Lord in every form and never to speak up against him or her. It only rarely happened, mostly when someone didn't have a choice, but she had seen the defeated look in the people's eyes, who were forced to live like that. She shivered, thinking about that. It would have been awful. Thank Merlin Lord Black and Potter...lord Peverell had arrived. She sighed once more, stepping from the stairs. Except for Lord Black and her father, everyone else had gone to bed.
Last had been Lord Peverell and Heiress Bones. The girl hadn't felt too well and Lord Peverell had been a true gentlemen, offering her to bring her to her room, in case she needed anything. Daphne smiled a little. Peverell was different than the other pureblood Heirs. While he obviously knew about etiquette, at least mostly, he tended to forgo it for a warmer approach. That had never been a possibility for her. Since childhood, she had been taught how to walk, how to stand, how to speak, and how to look. And she loved it. She really did. It gave her power. She knew the ins and outs of high-society and knew how to do the right thing at the right time. But still, he was refreshingly unorthodox. And Daphne loathed the boring normal people. She had never thought about Harry Potter, the boy who lived. Famous or not he had been a boy from a halfblood family with no noble blood and therefore wasn't too interesting to her. Even his muggle-born friend had been more interesting, Hermione Granger, Daphne thought while scrunching her face. That girl was infuriating, in her tendency of getting better marks than she herself. Daphne hated being second, no matter in what.
She looked down the corridor from left to right. Right in front of her was the room her father had been in. She blinked a little confused. The room had an odd name, a small brass sign with the word Padfoot on it. Yet Lord Black was rather eccentric, for a pureblood Lord, so maybe one of his quirks. She did notice him being a little strange over the evening. He tended to fall out of etiquette quite often, referred to strange muggle words more often than not and had an easy-going attitude, at least most of the time. When the topic had turned to Lucius Malfoy, the man had turned and got the same look she imagined sharks got, when they smelled blood in the water, or maybe dogs when they were protecting her home. She looked down the corridor. She hadn't seen the dog anymore, frowning a little. While the House was large, she thought she would have seen him again. Her mind returned to Lord Black after a shrug. While he was strange, he seemed to be rather nice and warm, especially towards his godson and cousin. He was really attentive to them, making her smile. In that, he and her father had something in common.
She walked up to the next room, the one she slept in, noticing the sign with "Prongslet." What in the world were these strange names? Was there a meaning behind these? Was it a muggle word she just didn't know? She hated mystery but she didn't care enough right now to pursue it. She was vaguely aware, while yawning, that she heard a voice somewhere when she pushed open the door.
The room was not green grey like the rest of the house but bright red and golden with oak furniture and a big four-post bed. On the bed were also red and golden sheets and blankets, matching the rest of the room. A shelve was at the side full of books. On a perch by the window was a large white snow owl, sleeping with her head underneath her wing. It was a beautiful animal and Daphne had seen it a few times in the Great Hall. A few Lion heads were sprawled around the room, and there were Quidditch posters on the walls.
Also, there was already someone in the room, talking to someone she couldn't see when she froze in the door.
"Yes it has been stressful I hope you a-"
Standing in the middle of the room, only wearing pants was Harry, his head tilted down looking at his chest. Daphnes eyes trailed over barefoot, half-hidden under the low hanging pants, up said grey pants towards a slim stomach with very well-toned abs. Daphne, while never thinking about it knew, they came from Quidditch training. Up the abs her eyes got caught at the point where Harry's hand was, cradling an egg, which was tied to his chest with dark red tendrils. His hand cradled the egg and he was obviously speaking to it.
Daphne had walked in on Harry mid changing and he was half-naked. She let out a screech turning her head to the side. Harry jumped at least half a metre in the air, turning to the door.
"Greengrass!" He stared for a split second before grabbing one of the sheets and pulling it to his bare chest. His eyes were wide and he turned bright red.
"What are you doing here?!" He asked in a panic, covering his chest and the egg. His eyes were wide and he was breathing fast. He didn't even think about the fact that a girl walked in on him half-naked. She had seen the egg! Daphne, on the other hand, was flustered and taking a step back bumping into the door.
"I was...I thought this was my room and I stepped in I'm sorry I didn't."
Harry pointed to the floor still wide-eyed.
"Your room is one floor below us, this is the family floor! Didn't you hear me speak in here?" She shook her head blushing herself.
"No, no I was tired and didn't notice you were speaking and..." Her voice trailed off and turned into a curious expression.
"Who were you talking to?"
Harry was now the one stepping back, holding the sheet closer to his chest.
"N-No one. It just...I didn't speak!" He pressed out his eyes darting around the room for escape. Daphne crossed her arms, frowning.
"Don't lie to me, I know you spoke to someone and what was that on your chest?" Harry pressed the sheet closer.
"Th-That? That's a bubble form a potions acc-"
"Don't bullshit me, Potter, what is it? It looked like an egg. Why do you have an egg stuck to your chest?" For a moment she forgot that he had changed his name, forgot her manners because she was beyond curious.
"An egg? This is no you must have mistaken It is..." He looked at her panic in his mind before he sighed, nodding.
"Yes, it is an egg."
Daphne crossed her arms, stepping closer, staring at his chest.
"Wh are you carrying an egg around on your chest?" She raised an eyebrow, staring at him. He sighed again.
"Okay...Okay, I tell you but you must promise me not to tell ANYONE. Not even Hermione and Ron know about this." She tilted her head, then she nodded.
"It's a phoenix-egg." He said with a sigh, looking at her. Her face made the most curious expression, first calm then her eyes bulged out, before returning to sceptical.
"You are joking." Harry shook his head, sighing.
"Professor Dumbledore helped me acquire one, because someone, I think his own phoenix insisted on him doing it. But no one may know! Professor Dumbledore made it clear the way to get a phoenix must not get out there. I can't tell you how it is done, only that there is way more to it than sticking an egg to your chest."
She stepped closer, her eyes curiously.
"Show it to me." She demanded not caring how rude it was. A phoenix egg, this was quite possibly the only time she would ever see one. Harry sighed lowering his sheet, revealing the tiny object. Daphne stepped even closer, leaning down a little.
"It's so small...and beautiful!" She stated. Harry looked down himself. The egg was almost pitch black, with the lines of inner fiery glowing pulsing. Harry smiled.
"You think?"
She bit her lower lip, nodding.
"Yes of course. The way the fire inside is glowing to the outside, it looks like a glowing rock but it is pulsing, almost like a heart." Harry chuckled showing a little more of the awesome object on his chest.
"Yes, it does. It actually pulses in sync with my heartbeat. I think it is part of the familiar bonding." Daphne leaned down a little, before raising her hand.
"Can I touch it?"
Harry's hand flashed up cupping the egg and cradling it protectively while turning his chest away from her.
"Absolutely not!" He stated, shaking his head vigorously. Daphne shuffled closer, suddenly a needy look on her face. Her blond her swayed in the movement and her fingers with her right thumb. She looked a lot different from the Daphne Greengrass Harry knew from school and every former meeting.
"Come on Harry, pleeeeease, this might be the only time I will ever get this close to one. Just short, I will be careful." She pleaded, looking at him with big wet dark green eyes. He tried to not do it but he caved. He sat down on the edge of his bed, gesturing for her to sit down too. Then he slowly revealed the glowing orb again.
"All right, fine but really really careful with her, all right?" Daphne nodded eagerly, like a little girl, before hesitantly stretching out her hand. Her fingertips brushed over the outer shell and her eyes went wide. It was like touching a stone that had laid in the sun for a while.
"Woah, it is so...warm and...I feel like it is...I don't know it feels like..."
"A blanket that is covering you and holding you warm and safe?" Harry asked with a grin.
Daphne nodded, grinning back at him. All the aloft Ice-Queen manners were lost at the moment like she had a second person in herself the curious girl.
"Yeah, just like that. Do you feel this the whole time?" He smiled nodding.
"Most of the time. It is really awesome. She is nursing on my feeling and I nurse on hers." He stated from the book that was safely tugged away in a room only he could enter.
Daphne stroke her fingers over the shell once more.
"She?" He smiled nodding.
"Yeah, I think it's a girl. It just...it feels like it, it is hard to describe." One more time she stroked over it before pulling back her fingers.
"Thank you, Lord Peverell, that was amazing. Your secret is safe with me." Harry smiled at her nodding in appreciation for that statement. He was still worried someone would think about trying to steal phoenix eggs or getting the information in any way but the promise made him feel better.
"Please, call me Harry. All my friends do."
"Then I must insist on you calling me Daphne." She said with a smile. Harry grinned. He could agree to that.