Chapter Four

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Potterverse!

"Hey, do you feel warm too?" Harry asked. They had cleaned up from breakfast and were playing backgammon. Strip backgammon of course.

"Actually, yes I do," Daphne said. "Do you think it's a side effect of the antidote?"

"Maybe," he replied. "Should we ask the nurse?"

Daphne nodded and called out, "Madame Pomphrey? Are you busy?"

Her voice came down from the ceiling in a few moments, "I'm free. Are you experiencing problems?"

"We are both feeling very warm," Daphne said. "And I, at least, am starting to sweat."

"Me too," Harry added.

"That's nothing to worry about," the nurse replied. It's a common side effect. It even helps purge the toxin from your system. You may wish to take an extra shower once it stops. Just to get the residue off, you know. Otherwise make sure you are drinking enough water and you'll be fine. Call me again if you have any other symptoms. Good bye." Then there was a click to show she had ended the spell.

Harry shrugged, "I guess it will be fine then."

"I guess it's a good thing we've no trouble being naked around each other," Daphne said. "Because if this feeling continues I won't even want to wear what little I have on." She was currently wearing only her quarter cup bra and pajama pants.

Harry nodded, "I agree. In fact, I'll forfeit my shirt." He took his top off.

A few minutes later Harry looked at his sweaty arm and said, "I guess we really are sweating out the poison. My sweat's never been anything but clear before."

"This is disgusting," Daphne said. "I no longer wish I had my own clothes. Not if I'm going to sweat this thin brownish liquid. I'm sure it will stain." She sighed, "I suppose I cannot reasonably complain though. It's much better than spreading poison with my mere presence or death."

"I agree," Harry said. "Good thing the hamper is enchanted to clean clothes and return them to the wardrobe or we'd run out of clothes." He smirked then, "I don't think you want to leave here in only what I would conjure."

"It cleans normal stains but I'm not sure it will deal with this," Daphne said. "So I may have to convince you to conjure something other than lingerie." She smiled, "Can you think of anything I have that you might want in return?"

Harry grinned back, "You have a real competitive streak. Are you like this about grades as well as games?"

"I'm like this about everything," Daphne replied. "I told you that I will accept any advantage that is free. Clouding your mind with sexy thoughts is close enough to free since you are a gentleman."

"Hardly sporting though," Harry said.

"I'm not a big fan of being sporting," Daphne said. "I will follow rules but as long as life isn't fair I won't be either. I am not a gentleman after all."

"If you keep teasing me you will find that my willpower is not endless," Harry said.

Daphne considered that soberly for a few minutes then grinned, "Even if what I believe you are alluding to happens it would be a fair price for my life which you saved at high risk to your own and who knows I might like it."

Harry just gaped at her for a few seconds then muttered, "Saying things like that does not help."

"If you're rich my father might not even mind if I bring you home for winter break," Daphne said.

"What about your mum?" Harry asked.

"She'll care about that too but more about how happy I am," Daphne said. "Dad cares about how well I'm treated but I think he cares about appearances more." She shrugged, "Part of being in a deviant and secret group inside a hidden society of magic probably." She smiled, "Does this mean you would like it if I brought you home?"

"What boy wouldn't?" Harry said. "I do believe the combined Potter and Black fortunes are enough to qualify me as rich."

"Bloody hell," Daphne said. "You got all of the Black money?"

"Most of it," Harry said. "Draco got a castle in the Hebrides and all the still living people who were born with the name Black got some but I got most of it."

"Then you are definitely rich enough," Daphne replied. "You are, of course, not even a little bit neutral on the dark/light spectrum but it seems there are fewer shades of gray every year. If you remain a congenial companion throughout the rest of this quarantine I shall ask my father. He might want me to wait until after the war."

"I'll understand if he does or if you do," Harry said.

"Oh, I'm sure I can come up with some nonsense to feed Draco and the rest," Daphne said. "I can always tell him I'm planning to kill you after the wedding and inherit your money. Blaise's mum is on her seventh husband so it can't be that difficult or that rare."

"I'm not that easy to kill," Harry said.

"Ah, but no one has tried after wearing you out in bed," Daphne said with a smirk. "Unless that's what happened with Lockhart? I could see him trying that."

"No," Harry said. "If he did try that then it wasn't with me." He smirked, 'And while no one has tried it that doesn't mean it would work. Both Moody and Sirius have mentioned it and both have taught me spells they say work well in such a case."

"I guess that's why you sleep with your wand under your pillow?" Daphne said. "I'm not actually planning to do that, you know."

"I believe you," Harry said. "I've slept with my wand since third year. Just because the last person who broke into our dorm didn't mean me harm doesn't mean the next person to do it won't."

"True enough," Daphne said. "I might want to make a habit of that as well. My room is locked and warded but someone might still manage to break into it."

"And then sell your fair virginal body to a sheik?" Harry asked. "Until your inevitable rescue by a knight in shining armor?"

"If I'm lucky," Daphne said.

"Fortunately the days of viking raids are over," Harry said.

"My grandparents are from Tromso," Daphne said. "Back then my family was more likely to be the raiding party than the innocent villagers."

Harry snickered, "I see. Do you have old family weapons or armor at home? They would be fun to see."

"Weapons we have but no armor," Daphne said. "I'll be happy to show them to you if I get permission to invite you."

Harry lost the game and after looking at the stained pajama pants he said, "I'm going to dump these in the hamper then shower this stuff off." He picked up his cast off shirt and headed for the bathroom.

"I'd normally make an innuendo here but this side effect has put me off," Daphne said. "I will shower after you."

Harry didn't bother to dress after he showered, he just dried off, "I'm abiding by our rules. Until we start a new game I won't wear anything."

Daphne smiled, "I think we should do more spell practice after I shower."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Fine by me. I can practice while you shower then I can help you practice your patronus."

Daphne looked at the bra he had conjured for her, "Sadly, I don't think this stain will come out." While showering an idea came to her and after she finished and dried herself she told Harry, "If we're sweating out poison will they even try to clean the clothes we sweat in?"

"Good question," Harry said. "I guess we'll find out tomorrow when we check the wardrobe. If it has one less clean set for each of us they're just destroying them."

"I don't want to call the nurse for this," Daphne said. "So I guess I'll restrain my curiosity and put on another pair of pajamas."

"Sure," Harry said. "Do you have a good mental image for your patronus?"

Daphne nodded, "Yes, I do." She picked up her wand and started casting. Soon she had enough silver mist to form a shield.

"That's great Daphne," Harry said. 'That will protect you from Dementors, Lethifolds, and any similar creature. The next step is to produce enough to form an animal shape but many people can't manage that. Even if you can't manage the next level, you'll be able to protect yourself and shield people behind you."

Daphne fanned herself, "I think I may need to be content with that. I feel drained and I'm sweating again. Ugh, is this your nefarious plan? Make me sweat poison into all the clothes that fit me so I have no choice but to give you a show?"

"You were the one who wanted to practice, remember?" Harry said and handed her a glass of water.

"Sadly, you are correct," Daphne said. She drank all the water then sniffed herself and made a face, "Not only is this brown sweat unsightly but malodorous as well. I'm off to shower again."

While she showered Harry conjured lingerie. He told himself that he needed the practice and Daphne might need them but mostly he wanted to see if she would wear them.

When Daphne came out in a fluffy towel she saw the lingerie and smiled, "Hoping for more of a show?"

Harry said, "In all honesty, yes I was. But you did want to wear something other than the provided pajamas until we know if they are being cleaned or just destroyed right?"

"True enough," Daphne replied. "I could hope for regular clothes but I suppose beggars can't be choosers."

"If we run out of pajamas I will conjure regular clothes for us to leave here in," Harry said. "But as long as we're stuck here and playing strip variants of every game we have, well why not?"

Daphne laughed, "I guess I have told you several times that it's silly to reject an advantage you have or were freely given so I won't complain. Let's see what you came up with." She lifted a few of the bras, "All quarter cups I see. At least you did them in silk." She dropped her towel and put on a green bra. Then she held up a thong in the same color, "I have seen this at Lilith's as well but never owned one before. Can it be comfortable to wear?"

"I've no earthly idea," Harry said.

"I will skip it then, at least for now," Daphne said. She lifted one with a full cut but made of white cobweb lace, "Lovely, almost too pretty to wear. Only almost though," she said as she slipped them on. "Lunch next? Or do you need a rest before you cook?"

"I can cook," Harry said. "And I am getting hungry too. I saw a fryer in there. Do you fancy some fish and chips?"

Daphne nodded, "Sure, are you willing to talk as you cook?"

Harry agreed, "No problem, come on into the kitchen and we can chat while I cook."

Harry explained about seasoning the sliced potatoes as soon as they came out of the fryer and explained how to batter/bread either fish or poultry.

"Wait a minute," Daphne said. "Is that beer you're adding to that batter?"

Harry nodded, "Cold, dark beer is traditional. Don't worry though, any alcohol will cook off."

Daphne smiled, "If the larder will supply you with beer to cook with then will it give us beer to drink with our meal?"

"I don't know," Harry said. "Aren't we underage?"

"We're sixteen, we're not too young for a beer or glass of wine with dinner," she replied. "It's just not normally allowed at meals here for two reasons. One, they don't want to tempt the younger students or have older students giving alcohol to younger ones. And second because some students, even if technically an adult, wouldn't know when to stop and they don't want to deal with drunk magic users or students visiting the nurse for hangovers. Or rather, more students doing that. Some manage to get drunk anyhow."

"I know," Harry said. "One way is that those of age can buy it while out on the weekends. Either from Hogsmeade or they go elsewhere once they know how to apparate. I think some talk house elves into supplying it as well."

"Well I think we both have enough self control to stop after one," Daphne said.

Harry thought about it then nodded, "True enough. If the coldbox in the larder will provide it we'll each have a pint of Newcastle Brown to wash it down with."

"Is that the beer you're using in the batter?" Daphne asked.

Harry nodded, "Yes, so it should pair well."

Soon Harry had all the food served and then he said, "I'll go see if we can get more than just enough to cook with." He went into the larder and came back with two cold bottles of brown glass, "No labels so I can't be certain but so far the larder has given me exactly what I asked for."

Daphne took one bottle, "It must have taken ages to enchant this place."

"I agree," Harry said. "I'm glad they did it so well." He lifted his bottle, 'To the enchanters who made this place!"

"Here, here!" Daphne replied. Then took a sip, "That's a fine brown ale. I can't tell if it's Newcastle but it's very good." She tried the food then, "And you managed to make even basic food taste excellent so here's to you as well." She lifted her bottle, "To chef Harry, long may he cook!"

"Thank you. Don't drink it too fast though," Harry said.

"Are you planning on ravishing me if I get too tipsy?" Daphne asked.

"I'm starting to think you're hoping I'll say yes to that question," Harry said.

"Nope, I'm just checking," Daphne said. "You did say your self control has limits so I'm just making sure they haven't been exceeded."

Harry sighed, "In that case, no, I'm not planning that. I am thinking you're a terrible tease though."

Daphne laughed, "Well you're correct about that."

As Harry sipped at his own bottle he decided it was good. He hadn't drunk anything other than butterbeer and the occasional mulled cider before but he decided that maybe he might ask for ale next hogsmeade weekend.

After lunch Daphne leaned back and belched in the most ladylike fashion she could manage, "Excuse me, I guess the bubbles in that beer wanted to escape."

"Time for a stretch, as much of a walk as we can manage in here and some spellcasting," Harry said.