Hi guys! Third chapter is upon us. This chapter is a setup chapter hope you guys can read the last 2 chapters better. There were issues how the text kept updating when I copied and pasted the story from grammarly into the story editor. Hopefully the edits are better now. I tried taking Daphne coming out of her shell slowly, trying to make her and Harry's relationship more trust based. By the way, this chapter will have more Ron bashing in it. Hope you guys enjoy!
Bold=parseltoungue
italics=thoughts
chapter 3: change isn't always good
As Harry sat down at the Ravenclaw table, Harry looked to his left and his right and let out a nervous tentative breath.
I can't believe the Sorting Hat put me in Ravenclaw, maybe this is the change I need to finally take my studies seriously and become an auror. I hope I can still be Quidditch captain in a different house, maybe it'll even be better if I can win the cup with Ravenclaw. But hopefully I'll be able to spend more time with Daph-I mean Greengrass.
As Harry mulled over his thoughts, that were swirling around his head he didn't even realize that most of the students were starting to file out of the Great Hall and into the hallways. He looked back to the table and noticed Daphne Greengrass was looking at him with an eyebrow raised.
"..Potter, have you heard a word McGonogal just said?" She asked with a hint of a smirk on her face.
"What?" "Sorry Greengrass this is just a lot of change for me, I thought I'd always be a Griffyndor like my parents and friends." "I guess this is a direction I didn't see myself going in." He said with a hint of sadness
"Potter, are you asking me if you're headstrong, impulsive, stupidly brave at times or noble, I'd be right in my assessment of you." She continued as Harry's eyebrows raised with a bit of interest. "Like I previously stated, I've had a personal interest in what you'd be like and those qualities if true don't pertain to what house you've been placed in." She stated matter of factly as she got up and joined him on his side of the table. "Now since you weren't listening, McGonogal asked to see us as we're the Heads for this year." "Join me so we don't have to keep her waiting please." She got up as Harry scrambled to join her as they walked up to the Headmistress. She smiled at them as she summoned a parchment from her robes.
"It's so great that both of you accepted your head positions this year, you two are bound to inspire the change and unity I so hope to cultivate." "Now first a point for you Potter, as you were the captain for the Gryffindor Quidditch team but seeing as you've been resorted to Ravenclaw I'd like to extend the captaincy to you." Harry beamed with a goofy grin as he felt a sense of relief flooded him. "Now for the both of you, I expect a plan of how you two plan on promoting inter-House unity and rebuilding this year." She looked at them both then motioned for them to follow her. "Now follow me I'll show you to the Head's dormitory."
Harry fell in step with Daphne as they followed Headmistress McGonogal through the Main Hall up to the staircases. They walked up to the fourth floor, then as they got to just in between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor towers they stopped in front of a tapestry that had two very familiar people on it smiling. A dashing man in glasses and a bright red headed woman standing next to him. Harry had a stunned look on his face as he turned to his former professor with a far away look in his eyes.
"Profes-Headmistress, are those my p-parents in that tapestry?" He was just barely able to get out but it didn't sound like a question. She smiled at him and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Yes, it is Potter." She said proudly. "They were Heads for many years, so this tapestry was put up as the entrance for the Head's dormitories to inspire the ones that follow." As she finished Harry had a tear in the corner of his eyes as he reached out to touch the tapestry, he smiled as McGonogal tapped the tapestry with her wand as the entrance opened and revealed the entrance way. "The password for your dorms is Infertilictus, and please let the prefects know the password for the Prefect's bath is rushing spring."
They said goodbye to their old professor and Harry sat down on one of the couches to look around. They sat in a common room just smaller than the one he's used to in Gryffindor, with a large fireplace and three couches each in front of bookshelves. The drapes, curtains and tapestries in the room magically turned deep blue to match their house colors. There was a bathroom off the common room that was a copy of the ones on most floors, just smaller scale. He noticed Daphne had already ventured off to see what the bedroom for her looked like, exactly opposite sides of the common room were spiral stairways that lead up to each others rooms. He sat on the couch thinking of the tapestry of his parents, which just brought up the loss or potential loss of his two best friends.
I can't believe I might not have my best friend this year. Hermione is back in Gryffindor, probably glad she doesn't have to deal with the rift that came between Ron and I this summer. Although she's still around Ginny, so I don't know how far from the problem she can get. Hopefully she can still focus on her studies. Then there's Ron, who's already mad enough at me and in general. I mean I can't blame him for being forced to come back here after what happened to their family last year. Now he's enraged because he's been sorted into the one house he'd rather die than be in or associated with. This is gonna be a fun year.
He was dragged out of his thoughts by feeling another person sit down on the couch next to him. He looked over and saw Daphne sitting next to him primly on the couch. She looked over at him and saw sadness, frustration and overall defeat. There were tears behind his eyes, although he's obviously gotten used to hiding them. As soon as she saw them he blinked and they were gone. Daphnes curiously, and more importantly compassion got the better of her. She turned to Harry and began prodding gently.
"Are you alright, you seem upset?" She asked quietly. "I've noticed the change since you saw the tapestry, did it have anything to do with seeing your parents?" As soon as the question came out, she realized she may have pushed too far. He turned his head slowly to face her, emerald eyes gleaming with emotion as he ran a hand through his messy hair. He let out a sigh then decided he should answer her.
"Yes." He said shortly, but not from anger more from frustration. "Seeing my parents just brought up a bunch of things I've been thinking about since after the battle last year and the summer now too." He hesitated a second, rubbed his eyes then looked back at her.
"I know this is a lot to put on you, we don't really know each other that well and based on the fact you're stuck living with me for the next 9 months and the last thing you want to hear is my problems." He said weakly as he sat back against the couch as he huffed. As he got ready to stand up and go look at his new bedroom, his eyes nearly bugged out of his skull as he felt a small feeling of warmth on his right side. He looked down to see Daphne hugging him. He froze for a second as his emotions and brain went haywire.
Wait- Daphne Greengrass, noble heiress, noblewoman, former Slithryn, and resident Ice Queen of Hogwarts is hugging me. What the fuck is happening right now, am I dreaming or did I eat too much food at dinner? Surely this can't be real, why would she hug me? I know she agreed to be friends but this feels different.
As he shook himself free from his thoughts as he returned the hug and spoke up.
"Um, what's this for?" He asked more shakily than he intended.
He saw the intense blush on her face as she broke the hug and sat up straight again. She cleared her throat and looked at him intensely.
"I thought you could use one, and although the school thinks of me as the Ice Queen or Ice Bitch doesn't mean I'm devoid of compassion Potter." She said trying her best to avoid his gaze as the blush was still on most of her face. "You looked like you were going through a lot and I simply gave you a hug because those usually help most people." As she answered him she got up offering him her hand, which he took as he stood up.
"I'm gonna take a look at my room, then go walk around and see if they added anything new to the castle during the rebuild." He said as he started off towards his room, "do you want to join me or are you going to stay here?" He asked.
Daphne chewed her bottom lip, as if weighing her options then turned to look back at him.
"I'd love to accompany you, go see your room while I freshen up."
She then headed to her room as he walked up the stairs as he came to his new room. He was in awe at how much bigger it was than his previous setup his years prior. The room was quite large, covered with deep blue tapestries and drapes. The bed was near the windows at the back of the room, it was a rather sizable four poster bed. It was at least a king size with blue curtains to match. The room also had a desk, sizeable book shelf, private bathroom and a small couch opposite a small fireplace. His trunks and owl cage were already set near his bed, apparated by the house elves no doubt. He took a moment to let the new surroundings wash over him as he figured he shouldn't keep Greengrass waiting.
I hope we continue to get along, being friends with someone like her could be nice. She obviously can help me with homework, and maybe a fresh set of eyes on my current life could be nice.
He smiled to himself as he went to meet her, he saw the most gorgeous sight as he entered back into the common room. She had changed into her new Ravenclaw robes, the lines of deep blue directly accentuated her piercing blue eyes as her golden blonde hair flowed down over the dark black of her robes. The robes perfectly fit her curvy body and hips. The way it laid over her bust was hard to ignore too. He must've been staring for a minute, because she caught his gaze fixated on her. She smirked, then rested her hands on her hips,
"Like what you see Potter?" She said playfully as she raised her eyebrows at him. He gulped audibly as he scrambled to say something.
Fuck fuck fuck. Why does Greengrass look so- damn attractive all of a sudden. Obviously she's the most fit witch at school, how did I not notice her before? Oh yeah, Ginny. Of course Ginny is cute but Daphne? I can't believe she looks almost perfect. Shit better say something before I look like an idiot.
"What if I do Greengrass?" He finally came up with as he tried his best to seem and look confident. She smiled as she huffed.
"Interesting, well let's go, I don't want to be out too late my first night here." She held out her arm to him as to say to lead her out. Harry nervously took it as they left through the passageway to their shared dorm, as they stepped out into the mass of students exploring the halls they noticed all of them suddenly turned to stare at them.
Now the Boy-Who-Won and The Ice Queen of Hogwarts would always garner stares and hushed whispers separately, but as the two fell in step with each other making small talk the hallways were ablaze with whispers. The fact they were both Heads this year did t so much to help. As they walked and talked, Daphne made a point to ask him about his previous years and adventures at school, as all she'd heard up to now were either rumours or ramblings from Malfoy. As they walked down past the dungeons to head out towards the grounds, Harry heard a voice call after him as he turned around and his face dropped.
He looked over to the stairway that lead down to the dungeons and the Slytheryn common room and saw Ron storming over towards them. His face was red and fists clenched as he stopped right in front of Harry and Daphne.
"I been calling you Harry, think you can ignore me and pay attention to HER?!" He basically spat out at them. He sneered at Daphne as he continued to yell at Harry. "Why are you still spending time with that snake Harry?" "Ginny told me you haven't said a word to her or even looked at her since July, not even since we got to school!" "She misses you, why haven't you said something,anything?!" He was yelling loudly at this point where multiple students and even some staff were turning to look. "No, you'd rather spend all your time with her." He hissed that part out as he pointed a finger at Daphne.
Harry finally had enough, let alone the fact Ron knew that the reason he hadn't spoken to Ginny, Hermione or him all summer. Let alone for him to go after a girl who had no side in the war they had fought, let alone had never interacted with or even bothered to get to know was more than enough for Harry to break.
"RON SHUT THE HELL UP!" Harry finally roared back at him. Ron looked taken aback and he was sure Daphne did as well. Now that Ron had effectively been shut up he continued laying into him. "You really think after what Ginny did to me while I-we risked our lives for years to fight the epitome of evil and fight countless battles and lose countless friends and family I would want to talk to her, no less look her in the eye?" He spoke with scarily even tone as he eyed Ron as he absorbed Harry's words
"Mate I'm just trying to-" he tried saying but Harry swooped in and cut him off again.
"Don't mate me, you and Hermione haven't been my mates since this whole shit happened." "Just like fourth year when my name came out of the damn Goblet of Fire you two were nowhere to be found!" He was starting to feel the anger come out in waves as he continued yelling at the red haired man in front of him, he could see a look of regret on his face. "I know your family lost Fred, and I'm sorry and I've been here for you during the grieving process but what about me?" "When do I get to grieve despite what you lost you still have family and friends, during the battle I lost Remus, Tonks and even Snape who was looking out for me this whole damn time!" Harry felt the tears start to sting his face as Ron opened his mouth to try to say something.
"Harry, no one was trying to tell you can't grieve mate." He was shrinking back as addressed him. At was at this point Daphne noticed just how much taller Potter had actually gotten."All I'm saying you shouldn't have-"
Harry was too far past the point of forgiveness at this point to let him finish.
"No, you still have Hermione and your family and your friends, I have no one because your sister decided to cheat on me and my best friends left me completely alone!" "This summer I had to go through learning how to be a goddamn Lord and take over all the titles that Sirius and my parents left me, I had to come to terms I'm the only family I have left, I'm completely alone now because as far as I concerned I have no best friends anymore." "When I needed you two the most you weren't there, you didn't even try.."
That at part he was only able to choke out as he turned and walked out towards the grounds and disappeared down the path towards Hagrid's and the Black Lake. The students, faculty Ron and even Daphne all looked after him with various emotions on their faces and jaws hung open in disbelief at what had happened to the savior of the wizarding world.
As Daphne recollected herself she turned to the Weasley child with a look of anger on her face. She decided someone needed to come to his defence.
"You should be fucking ashamed of yourself Weasley." She said with the venom and anger present in her face. "How could you take your sister's side after what she did to Harry?"
Did I just refer to him as Harry? When did that happen? I know I've had a crush on him for years but still I must keep my emotions in check, no matter how awfully how "friends" treated him.
Ron began to try to formulate a response as anger started to flush back into his face. But Daphne was having none of it, fully leaning into her well known moniker she met the iciness leech out in her voice as she moved to verbally cut him off.
"I do not wish to hear your weak fucking responses Weasley, it is clear you do not care for him as he has come to care for you." She felt emotions rising in her she wasn't used to feeling as she left him standing there with one final sentence. "It seems my assumptions about you were indeed correct after all, you've only ever been jealous of Harry, not truly in it for him."
As she sneered that last thought out she turned shortly and went off to follow her new friend and make sure he was okay. She briskly walked along the path she had watched him go down, and seeing where it took her she knew exactly where he had gone. As she drew nearer to the Black Lake, she saw the silhouette of a man sitting with his back against a tree. She always went on walks past here in her earlier years to get leave and quiet from the drama in her own house and seen him there before.
She silently approached the spot he had chosen to run to, as she sat across from him. His eyes shot up to meet her soft gaze, tears fully running from the usually bright sparkling emerald eyes.