Daphne took in the crowded Great Hall. Students of all four houses were stuck at their house tables, a mixture of fear running through the room. A few students looked to be happy, but even then, it was hard to tell if some of those smiles were real or forced. Daphne couldn't blame the others for pretending. It's been the worst school year yet. Every day the students could hear the screams of tortured students echoing through the castle and even the Slytherins were scared of who was next. Even though her house was better off than the other three, Daphne knew tensions were as high as ever in Slytherin.
While students were glued to their house tables, the Death Eaters walked around the Great Hall, waiting for something. What it was, Daphne couldn't say. However, they all seemed jubilant and looked ready to celebrate. Daphne took a look down to the lower year's end of the table for her sister. Astoria was a fourth year and while Daphne knew she hadn't caused any trouble with the Carrows this year, she was worried like any older sister would be. Astoria saw Daphne and gave a small smile. However, the smile immediately vanished as a phantom-like figure appeared at the top of the Great Hall.
Out of a storm of black, Voldemort appeared with Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange at his side. His top two lieutenants, they were two of the Death Eaters that Voldemort trusted the most. Because of that, they were somewhat regular sights at Hogwarts. Usually they'd be coming or going from the gates, so now that the two are here with Voldemort, something must have happened.
"Students, I have some news of some rebellious members of our society. Over the past year, we have spent much time trying to clear the wizarding world of those deemed 'unworthy'. However, with our purifying of society, there have been some ruffians trying to incite panic and discontent. But today, my young friends, we bring good news. The so-called Chosen One, the boy who lived, Harry Potter, is dead. He was caught last night by a strike force lead by Severus Snape and was killed!"
Shock coursed through the student body. Daphne took in the reactions from the crowd. Gryffindor was a mess. Already Potter's pet Weasley's were in denial with Granger in a flood of tears. The rest of Gryffindor was no better. They were either shouting denials or they were crying. No one was left unaffected. Hufflepuff reminded Daphne of her fourth year when Diggory died. They looked inconsolable now that their hero was gone. Ravenclaw seemed shocked. It was as if they never expected Potter to die. Slytherin's reaction surprised Daphne. Rather than the joy she was expecting from some members, the majority seemed resigned to the news that Potter was dead. Malfoy especially seemed disappointed, as if he was hoping Potter would defeat Voldemort.
"Now children, I understand this news may come as an upset to a lot of you. However, let us not forget the troubles caused by that dreadful Potter! He was a traitor to Magical Society. He wanted to expose us to the Muggles, have us join together, and make us more like them. He wanted us to lose our history, our heritage, our identity, just to make life easier for those animal Muggles. Yet at the end, his Muggles abandoned him. He was caught running away like a coward."
"NO! HARRY WOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT! YOU'RE LYING!" Granger was in hysterics. Daphne had to admire her willingness to shout at Voldemort in front of his minions. Most Death Eaters would have killed her on the spot for much less. Yet Weasley pulled her down immediately to make it seem like that never happened. Death Eaters ran to her position drawing their wands most likely to torture her for daring to speak out against their Dark Lord.
"Stop, my loyal Death Eaters." They all froze, some snarling, others clearly wanting to protest their lack of action. Voldemort made his way from the Head Table to the Gryffindor table. "We won't punish this girl, this child, for her misguided beliefs. Potter has been manipulating her and others for years. We cannot fault her for her warped views."
"Her views aren't warped just like how you won't win. Harry may not be alive but we won't give up!" That came from Longbottom. Daphne was impressed. A few years ago and Longbottom wouldn't have been able to finish the first few words. Yet he shouted at Voldemort as if he had no fear.
"Master, let me kill them please. No one should ever dare to think about disagreeing with you, much less argue and shout at you." Bellatrix pleaded.
"No Bella, you can't. We've spilled enough magical blood already. If we kept going, we'd be no better than animals, or worse… Muggles." Voldemort came up behind Longbottom and Granger and had the two face him. He took in their faces, blank and emotionless. If they were scared the two did a great job of keeping it in.
"Children, you know what I value more than anything?" Voldemort paused before reaching out and stroking Granger's face. He then stared down Longbottom before heading back to the Head Table podium. "Magical blood. That is the most important part of our society. Not how many spells someone knows. Not their Hogwarts house. But their blood. Now, some are better than others. Purebloods deserve more than the Mudbloods brought into our world. Yet we welcome all with open arms. As long as everyone learns their place, they can be happy here. Where might their place be?"
Daphne was shocked. This was nothing like the Voldemort she's heard about. She realized the death of Harry must have overjoyed him if he was excusing the behavior of some Gryffindors. She then checked her watch. It was half past two. "Hmmm, I wonder…" Daphne thought.
"Yes children, Purebloods are on top. Those pure of blood are the most deserving of magic. They will guide all of you into who you should be. They'll teach you how to be the most productive citizens of Magical Britian. Yet know, it is time to celebrate. Today we bring about a new age of the Wizarding World. A new era for Magical Britain. A new world for us!"
The Death Eaters started to applaud. They were cheering as if there was nothing better than their Dark Lord. Some Slytherins were hesitantly clapping along while the other three house tables were quiet, willing this to be done.
It was at that moment a series of thuds and shouts were heard from outside the Great Hall. "Finally," Daphne whispered "I was hoping it'd happen by now."
More screams of terror came from the outside. The Death Eaters were quiet, watching Voldemort and waiting for new orders.
"Bellatrix!"
"Yes my lord?"
"Take some men with you and investigate what's happening outside. I expect results. If you cannot stop whatever's happening, I cannot stop Nagini when it's her next feeding time."
"Of course my lord. We'll stop the noise my lord!"
With that, Bellatrix took ten Death Eaters, leaving Voldemort, Lucius, and two other Death Eaters left. Daphne zeroed in on Lucius Malfoy. He seemed nervous which was a far cry from the sophisticated aristocrat he was just moments ago.
More screams came from the outside. Blasting curses, bludgeoning curses, cutting curses, and killing curses seemed to be cast without hesitation. Then suddenly it was quiet. The Great Hall doors creaked open slowly, stopping after a few feet.
"Bellatrix, report!"
"I'm sorry Tom, but it looks like you're down a few servants. Hopefully, this doesn't hurt future recruitment efforts."
Daphne let go a sigh of relief she didn't realize she was holding. "Okay Harry, what's happening next? What's your next move?" The other house tables seemed excited and hopeful. She was taking in their reactions. Even the majority of Slytherin seemed happy he was alive.
"Harry Potter, the boy who lived, coming back to die again."
"Well Tom, clearly you can't kill me. How many times does this make it? Halloween as a baby, the troll, broom, and Sorcerer's Stone my first year, the Basilisk and diary my second year, the Triwizard Tournament… need I go on? Your efforts aren't sticking." Harry was defiant and egging on Voldemort. It was a clear challenge.
"How did you survive? Snape showed me your body."
"There's this marvelous thing called Transfiguration. Snape and I used Greyback's body and passed it off as mine so we could enact this plan. Now it's time we end this."
Daphne looked at Harry. He looked fine. No scratches or bruises. If she didn't know any better, Daphne would have thought Harry came from the Gryffindor Common Room rather than from a fight with eleven Death Eaters, one of which being Bellatrix Lestrange.
"So after I kill you I'll kill the traitor Severus. Then anyone else who helped you will die. But first, Potter, how did you stop my Death Eaters?"
"Oh, that was easy. I had help from my pet Basil. She's great. Want to meet her?"
Harry then started to hiss and a basilisk appeared into the entrance of the Great Hall. Students were screaming and hiding under tables while Voldemort looked on in disbelief.
"After the Chamber of Secrets fiasco my second year, I told myself I'd go back down when I needed to. Then during the Triwizard Tournamnet I needed a place to train. The Chamber was quiet and big. It just so happened that one day I met my baby Basil. She was a young basilisk who wanted some food. I gave her a snack and we bonded. The rest is history."
Voldemort hissed something and it seemed like Basil was laughing. Harry was also chuckling. "That won't work, Tom. She only listens to me and my girlfriend. She won't entertain anyone else's orders."
Voldemort screamed and threw a flurry of killing curses at Harry. Harry summoned a rock wall and blocked the curses. He then flung Basil towards Voldemort and then Voldemort froze. It was an anticlimactic ending. Dying from the gaze of a baby basilisk. Daphne started to laugh at the irony of the heir of Slytherin being killed by a snake.
After a few moments of shocked silence, the Great hall was filled with merriment and cheer. Applause and shouts filled the space. Harry had a look of shock and disbelief on his face. Clearly he couldn't comprehend Voldemort going down that easy.
Daphne watched as Granger tackled Harry in what one might describe as a hug. Weasley and Longbottom weren't that far behind. She watched them on the ground before Harry got up, as if searching for someone in particular. The female Weasley was behind the Granger, Weasley, and Longbottom, as if she was expecting something from Harry. She threw her arms up and wrapped them around his neck, going in for a kiss. However, Daphne watched Harry push her off before he came over to the Slytherin table.
"So how did I do?"
"While I say the plan was terrible, the execution somehow worked. So I'll give you an A for acceptable. But if you do something like that again, you'll wish a Dark Lord was after you."
Harry laughed before wrapping Daphne in a hug.
"I love you Daphne."
"I know Harry, I know".
And with that, Daphne kissed his forehead and broke the embrace, holding his hand and staring into his emerald-green eyes.
"WHAT?! HARRY JAMES POTTER EXPLAIN YOURSELF NOW!"
Daphne suddenly saw red as the she-Weasley got up into her face. "Tell this harlot to get away from you now since you're my boyfriend!"
"Ginny, he's been with Daphne for months at this point. It's clear to anyone with eyes that he never had a thing for you and that he was with someone." Granger cut in front of she-Weasley and stuck out her hand. "Hi, I'm Hermione, Harry's best friend. I can understand why you two didn't say anything."
Weasley and Longbottom came over and introduced themselves as well. All the while she-Weasley looked like a goldfish taking this in.
"Bu-bu-buh-but… Harry! We're supposed to be together forever!" She screamed.
"Ginny, Harry's never shown the slightest interest in you ever. I don't know where you got this delusion from but clearly it wasn't from Harry. Let him live in peace." Weasley said, trying to calm his sister.
Daphne could tell she-Weasley would get worse by the minute, so she took Harry's hand and the two left the Great Hall, ready to live in a Voldemort-free world together.
"So Harry, are you ready for NEWTS? They start in a few weeks and I can't have my boyfriend fail."
"Wait, what-"
