Chapter Three
Disclaimer: I do not own the Potterverse.
Daphne gathered the cards and shuffled, "So do you want to hear about Lilith's toy box? That's the magical store that sells bras like the one you conjured."
"Maybe after this game while we're practicing spells," Harry said. He discarded two cards and received two, "Speaking of spells, do you want to learn to cast a patronus?"
"I'm not sure I have the power for one but if I can I want to learn it," Daphne replied. She also replaced two cards, "I have three eights."
Harry showed his hand and smiled, "Three Jacks so I win."
Daphne made a face briefly then smiled back, "Well played, Harry. Will you teach me another spell if I don't have the power to cast a patronus?"
"Yes, I will," Harry said. "And you can keep the bra, as long as you don't put it on until after we're done practicing."
Daphne smiled, "Thanks, they get sore if they bounce freely for too long." She placed the bra on the bed along with her top and said, "It doesn't hide anything but it will keep them from bouncing as much." Then looking at his eager face she smiled, "And I'll stop stalling now." She slid off the bottom of the pajamas and picked up her wand, "What spell should we do first?"
"Do you want to try for the patronus first?" Harry said. "Or there's a spell I learned in fourth year that you might find handy."
"What does it do?" Daphne asked.
Harry smiled, "Hermione found it one time when she was feeling grumpy about the beauxbaton students. It tells you the target's original hair color and whether it was originally straight or curly."
Daphne laughed, "Yes, I want to learn that one too!"
Harry cast it on her, "It shows that you are a natural blond with naturally straight hair." Then he showed her how to cast it. After she cast it once he said, "You know, speaking of hair, I'm a little surprised that you haven't, you know." Harry started blushing and fell silent.
Daphne smirked, "Why no, I have no idea. Please be more specific."
"Never mind," Harry said. "It doesn't matter."
"Trimmed my garden?" Daphne asked. "Mowed my lawn? Landscaped my ladybits?"
Harry snickered then nodded, "Yes, actually. From how you were describing your family I'd have thought it was standard."
"Collette was also surprised," Daphne said. "Apparently it's all the rage in magical France. My mum does it but hasn't so much as suggested it to me. When I asked why I was told it's because I'm not of age yet. Apparently I'm still an innocent young maiden to be kept ignorant of such things and the reasons behind them."
"Fair enough," Harry said. "Let's move on to trying the Patronus. The gesture is just a point with your wand and the incantation is 'expecto patronus' you have to be concentrating on a very happy thought. Something that fills you with joy." After demonstrating he said "You won't get anything your first few tries and you'll get a white mist before you get an animal. The mist alone will shield you from dementors or lethifolds but if you want to protect others or use it to send a message then you need the animal shape."
She tried it a few times and got a puff of mist on her fourth try. Harry congratulated her as she slumped into a chair, "That was great! Don't try it any more today but do try it at least once a day until you can get a stream of mist. Once you can get that you'll at least be safe from attack by dementors."
"Once I get the shield will you show me how to move to the animal form?" Daphne said. "I want to protect Astoria too."
"Sure," Harry said. "Come find me when you get that far and I'll help."
"I think I'm getting my second wind," Daphne said. "Any other spells you want to teach?"
"Well, I know several first aid spells but I don't want to use them in case they interfere with our treatment," Harry said.
"That's probably wise," Daphne said. "What other spells did you teach in your illegal class last year?"
"I taught the shield spell," Harry said. "But I'm sure you know it."
"I do," she said. "I'm a bit surprised others needed help with that but I guess everyone has things they are bad at doing."
"True," Harry said. "I learned a spell to detect an animagus in animal form."
"That could be very useful," Daphne said.
"Especially since one of the reporters from the Prophet is a beetle animagus," Harry said.
"I knew that," she said. "Draco talked about it in fourth year. While bragging about getting you in trouble."
"Mostly he just made trouble for Hagrid and caused Hermione to get hate mail," Harry said.
"People are idiots if they think she's some sort of Mata Hari," Daphne said.
"Many people are idiots," Harry agreed and showed her the spell. "I'm going to start preheating the oven and getting the food ready for dinner. I was thinking of Beef Roast with potatoes and carrots, maybe mushy peas."
"Sounds good," Daphne said. "If you get dressed to cook, even an apron, then I'm getting dressed too."
Harry grinned at her, "I'll take my chances with grease splatter for the lovely view if you plan to come watch me cook again."
"Will you explain as you go?" Daphne asked.
"Sure," Harry replied. "It's not too often that I have an interested person on hand to chat with while I cook."
They both went into the kitchen where Harry explained about safe temperatures for meat and why you preheat an oven. Then he started preparing the meat, "It's generally chuck shoulder that's used."
"Why is that?'' Daphne said.
"It's a tough cut of meat that needs the extra time to get soft and tender, and it's cheaper so you can get a nice big one," Harry said. "I will use a good marinade to help that along." He made the marinade by hand and trimmed the beef by hand as well but he cleaned and peeled the potatoes and carrots with a wave of his wand. "Since I'm using small potatoes I won't cut them up but if they were larger I would do that so they cook all the way through in time." He added the carrots and potatoes along with some chopped celery and onion around the roast in the heavy ceramic pot then covered all with the marinade, "Once the oven is hot I will put in. Until then we can practice more magic."
"I guess it's my turn to show you a spell?" Daphne said.
"I would enjoy learning a spell from you," Harry said.
"This first one is to change your hair color," she said. "It might come in handy along with the second spell I'll show you if you want to disguise yourself." She cast it on him, changing him into a blonde. Then she showed him how to cast it.
"Thanks," Harry said. "What's the other spell?"
"It's the eye color change spell," Daphne said. She showed him how to cast it as well.
Harry conjured a mirror and practiced until the oven beeped to show it was at the right temperature, "Time to put the food in. It should be ready in about two hours. Can you wait or do you need a snack to tide you over until then?"
"I'm sure I can wait," Daphne said. "But don't let me stop you if you need one."
"I can wait as well," Harry said.
"You are an excellent cook," Daphne said after tasting dinner. "This is delicious."
"Thank you," Harry replied. "More cards after dinner or what would you like?"
"If you want to get dressed then we can switch games and play some gin rummy or bridge," Daphne replied. "Or we can trade more spells before we do either. I feel like some casting after each meal is recommended or they'll be rolling us out of here."
Harry chuckled, "I certainly won't object to sharing spells after we eat."
After an hour of spell casting and sharing a few more spells each they stopped to play gin rummy.
Daphne decided to try on the bra, "It fits well and supports the weight nicely. How does it look, Harry?"
"I think it looks great," Harry said. "I'm glad it fits. You know, there's an equivalent bottom. If I start losing again I can conjure it too."
"Well, I'll have to see it to know if it's worth it," Daphne said. "I don't exactly need support down there."
Harry chuckled, "True enough. I guess I'll just have to avoid losing then."
Daphne smirked, "Well you can try. And I never said I wouldn't wear it, just that I want to look it over first." She finished getting dressed then grabbed their deck of cards.
After three games Harry was the one left wearing his pants, "So are you going to offer me a conjuration or are we switching to bridge?"
"I thought you needed four people for bridge?" she asked.
"They list a variant for two people," Harry said. "Not up to conjuring or unsure what men's underwear look like?"
"Oh, I've seen my fair share of men's underwear Harry," Daphne replied. "I've watched more than a hundred games of strip poker after all. It's just that not everyone has your reserves. I'm tapped out until I get a good night's sleep." Then she smirked, "Or maybe I want to keep my advantage."
"Bridge it is then," Harry said. "What advantage?"
As she got dressed Daphne asked, "Isn't this called Honeymoon Bridge? And I'm now wearing three pieces of clothes instead of two. It won't keep you from seeing my nips but it should help me win more often."
Harry blushed a little but answered, "Yes, that's the name but it should work as quarantine bridge just as well. I hadn't considered that it would count as that. I guess you're even more distracting than I thought."
"I'm happy to hear it," Daphne said.
Harry lost his clothes first, "I think I'm heading to bed. I'm too tired to start a new game."
"Good night Potter," Daphne said. "Tomorrow we get to find out what sort of medicine they'll have us drinking. Hopefully it won't taste too terrible."
"Good night Greengrass," Harry said and climbed into bed.
The next morning Harry almost bumped into Daphne as he came out of the shower, "Sorry, I didn't see you through the fogged up glass."
"My fault I think," Daphne replied. "I'm still half asleep."
Harry started another classic English breakfast and by the time he was done Daphne was sitting at the table in a robe.
As he was ferrying serving plates in from the kitchen the nurse's voice interrupts, "Mr. Potter? Ms. Greengrass? Are you both awake?"
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey," Daphne said.
"I'm here too," Harry said.
"Ah good," the nurse replied. There was a small flash and two beakers of some red liquid appeared on the table, "These are your first dose of antidote. Take them after breakfast and let me know if you feel bad or odd in any way. We will check you tonight and see how many more doses you'll need. Don't worry, you'll be toxin free soon enough. If nothing untoward happens I'll talk to you again tonight." There was a loud click and she stopped speaking.
"Well, I guess we should eat first," Harry said.
Daphne sighed, "Yes, I guess we better. But I hope there's lots of tea. I may need it to kill the taste of that antidote."
After breakfast they toasted each other with the antidote and drank it down fast. Harry made a disgusted face and quickly drank more tea. Daphne made no such expression but drank tea nearly as fast.
"That was quite bad," Daphne said. "Not the worst potion I have had but far from the best."
"I sincerely agree," Harry said. He went back into the kitchen and came back with two glasses of ice water. "Here, this should help," he said and handed Daphne one glass.
"That's better," Daphne said after finishing the glass. "Thank you Potter."
"Maybe we should start calling each other by our first names?" Harry said. "Considering circumstances?"
"You mean having seen each other naked?" Daphne said.
"No, I mean having been in quarantine together," Harry said. "And hopefully become friends?"
Daphne thought for a moment, 'Well, I suppose you are correct. I will try to call you Harry and you are now officially free to call me Daphne."
Harry smiled, "Thank you, Daphne."