Acknowledgment—The following is a work of fanfiction, written and posted solely for the enjoyment of readers. The author thanks Ms. JK Rowling for allowing writers to set work among the population and locations found in the Harry Potter series of books. Everything belongs to Ms. Rowling and the author of this story neither seeks nor receives remuneration.

Two Daughters

Chapter Thirteen

A Harry and Daphne Fanfic

By

Bfd1235813

The population of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, at least those students from Second Year on up through Seventh Year, awoke the morning after the Sorting and the subsequent Feast, ready to plunge into their next round of magical challenges. The First Years, of course, had little or no personal knowledge of the obstacles they would encounter. Even the Black cousins had learned in the looser, free-form tutorials taught by their close family members. Under Uncle Harry, Uncle Draco and the various Aunties who taught this or that, there were neither grades nor examinations. The purpose of their tutorials was to raise the young magicals' skill levels. They could turn learning into a competition some other time.

"So?"

"Scorpius. What?" asked Teddy.

"So, how did you like our lessons?"

"Pretty simple," said Teddy Lupin. "Harry was teaching a lot…higher…level magic."

"Careful," said Delphi. "Remember what they were all telling us. We don't need everyone to see us as a bunch of egotistical brats."

"No, that's for sure," said Scorpius. "What is an egotistical?"

"I think it means stuck up," said Delphi.

"Oh, right," said Scorpius. "Father doesn't want me to be stuck up. He told Mother I couldn't bring an elf to school because I would learn faster without an elf to do things for me."

"Makes sense," said Teddy. "By doing your own chores, you'll learn about what elves do. Normally."

"Y-yes, I suppose," Scorpius agreed.

He gave a credible performance, a student awakening to the fact that he had heard and grasped a truth, another cobble in the Street Toward Enlightenment. Scorpius wondered when he would find a use for his new knowledge. Probably not walking the halls of Hogwarts, looking for the library. All three were eager. The family libraries at their homes were kaleidoscopic collections but there was always that obscure detail that was, somehow, skipped over. Surely Hogwarts would be able to provide that elusive volume, the one with the answer to that still-unanswered question.

"Here it is," said Teddy Lupin. "I don't think we came the same way on the tour. I kind of got lost back there, around the corner, down the stairs…"

The tour had been informative, but it was a tour after all. The prefects who led them around had to keep moving to get to all the high points in the allotted time. There were a lot of places a scholar would need to go in Hogwarts, even if he or she was a first year. Moreover, there could be a surprising number of ways a student could go from one place to another. The castle itself was complicated enough. Add magical routes and the challenges multiplied again and again.

"Right," said Delphi. "Now, shush!"

Madame Pince looked up from the volume that lay open in front of her. Her face betrayed her disappointment that the witch and two young wizards would appear and require her to break her communion with some interesting bit of wisdom of the ages. Delphi attempted to bring the librarian out of her sea of despond with a respectful lowering of her eyes and slight nod. Madame Pince did not lose her look but neither did it shift to impending fury.

"Let me know if you see the dragon section," whispered Delphi.

Teddy and Scorpius looked at her. Teddy shifted and looked at Scorpius. Scorpius shook his head, then mouthed:

'dragons…'

Scorpius had a personal question he wanted to research. The new owner of a wand powered by a Veela pin feather needed additional background on the Veela phenomenon. He knew the Veela were a unique subset of the magical population. He knew they were a strictly female phenomenon. Beyond that, Scorpius couldn't think of any actual facts that would help him work into a relationship with this wand that had, after all, chosen him.

Teddy wanted to look for books dealing with seamanship. More accurately, he wanted to read up on magical seamanship. Teddy cherished his memories of sailing with the Potter-Blacks. Delphi had staked out the helm early on. Whenever Delphi had her hands on the wheel, Harry left her to it. Harry's own eyes scanned the horizon, looked over the rigging and continually inventoried the other passengers. Harry and Delphi formed a team that Teddy was desperate to join. Perhaps with a little outside reading he could identify a niche.

Scorpius had just checked the time when Mary Beth Olson stopped at the long library table where everyone had parked their books. Scorpius looked up, expecting one of his cousins. Mary Beth's presence was a surprise as was her face.

"Something wrong?" Scorpius whispered as he did a furtive check on the librarian.

"Can—" Mary Beth began, only to have Scorpius hold up his flat hand.

He sent a toss of his head toward the entrance while he mouthed, 'Outside.'

They reconvened in the corridor where Scorpius asked what was wrong.

"Why am I in Slytherin?" Mary Beth demanded. "Someone told me I don't belong there because all of you already think I'm damaged or unworthy. Your founder didn't even want magic taught to people whose parents aren't a witch and a wizard."

She sounded a bit demanding, Scorpius thought. Perhaps that was to be expected of someone to whom the whole blood status controversy was a surprise.

"Who said that?" he asked.

Mary Beth was silent, finally giving in, slightly.

"Someone from another house," she said.

"I'm not the expert but I'll try to explain," said Scorpius. "Salazar Slytherin thought formal magical instruction was beyond students who were not purebloods—people from magical stock. Children of a witch and a wizard. He thought they couldn't become very good witches or wizards, so why should he waste his time? The other founders were more lenient, the most lenient being Helga Hufflepuff, who seemed to want everyone who came through the doors. Hence, Hufflepuff House, a place for all, warm welcomes and a premium on cooperation. Get it?"

"A little. So why am I here?" asked Mary Beth.

"The Hat," said Scorpius.

"That ceremony? The Hat had something to do with it?"

"The Hat had everything to do with it," said Scorpius. "Look, if you want the expert answers to those kinds of questions, wait for a chance to talk to the Headmistress."

Mary Beth saw Delphi walk up. She turned a bit to indicate Delphi Black was welcome to join the discussion.

"Who has to talk to the Headmistress?" Delphi asked.

"No one," said Mary Beth. "Scorpius was explaining something and said the Headmistress would be a better person to ask."

Delphi swiveled a bit to face Scorpius, a slight wiggle coming through via her eyebrows.

"Mary Beth learned a couple of new things and wonders how she ended up sorted into Slytherin," he said.

Delphi saw the problem, whole, in a flash.

"Come," she said as she laid her arm over Mary Beth's shoulders. "Scorpius can you keep an eye on my books?"

The witches walked off down the corridor before Scorpius could answer.

"They told you about Salazar refusing to accept anyone except pureblood students, didn't they?" Delphi asked.

"Yes," said Mary Beth. "So why am I in your house?"

"The Hat," said Delphi. "That's the short answer. The Hat can get a feel for your desires, goals and personality. Then it decides where you should have the best chance to be happy. The house that would help a student have a successful school career."

Mary Beth walked on, head down, working through the new information.

"But if you guys don't like me, why am I in Slytherin?"

"Who said we don't like you? We don't even know you. I never saw you before we took the Express," said Delphi.

"But if I'm a muggle…" Mary Beth began.

"Which you aren't," said Delphi. "You don't come to Hogwarts unless you can work with magic. You are muggle-born, a muggle-born witch. If you were identified by the Book and the Quill and the Hat put you with us, we aren't going to argue. Harry would punish me severely if he found out I did something like that."

"Who's Harry?" asked Mary Beth.

"My father," sighed Delphi.

"You call your father by his first name?" Mary Beth asked. "That's odd."

"Is it?" asked Delphi, jet eyes and eyebrows deployed.

"Well, I just mean most people don't…"

"Are we most people?" asked Delphi. "That's one of Harry's favorite sayings, by the way."

Mary Beth was silent. She appeared to be thinking seriously about Delphi's rather flip question.

"I guess not," she said, finally.

"Right. We're witches," said Delphi. "Ever go sailing? I want to get my master's rating someday."

Mary Beth began to feel a little more comfortable after talking to Scorpius and Delphi. Perhaps she was in the right place. Delphi was adamant in defending the Hat. One would think that Hat was a sacred object or something similar.

"Got it? Ready to go back?" asked Delphi.

Mary Beth nodded her agreement. The two witches reversed course and turned toward the library.

"Mary Beth," said Delphi.

"Uh-huh?"

"Those people who talked about ancestry and what kind of witch or wizard belongs in which house? That's considered rude. The wizards and I have relatives who almost tore our family apart over that nonsense. If you have another question you want to ask, I'll do my best to answer, in private. I won't gossip about anyone's ancestry. Just so you know," said Delphi.

"Thank-you for being honest," said Mary Beth. "I have a lot to learn."

"S'okay," Delphi replied. "You'll get there."

Back in the stacks, Delphi resumed to her search for dragons. Dragons, she discovered, had an entire library cul-de-sac to themselves. The beasts might have invaded the stacks, conquered their private space and set up a rogue state. Many of the books, perhaps most, were too advanced for someone aged eleven. Even so, Delphi took her time looking and found there was a good selection of basic books that she could handle. She picked two and carried them to the desk.

"Everything okay?" Scorpius asked.

The cousins were sitting in leather chairs in the Slytherin Common Room. Delphi looked across at Teddy. Teddy shrugged.

"Sure. Why?" asked Delphi.

"I don't know. You're just very quiet," said Scorpius.

"Oh, my lessons are prepared and I'm ready for tomorrow and I got this book about dragons from the library so I'm reading it," said Delphi. "Logical?"

"Very," said Scorpius as Teddy nodded agreement.

Delphi looked around the common room, not seeing Mary Beth anywhere. She leaned toward the center of their little triangle of Blacks, motioning for the wizards to come closer.

"Mary Beth is feeling insecure," she whispered, not wanting any stray Slytherins to perceive the strictly-confidential background she was about to provide Teddy and Scorpius. "This house, all of you upper-crust heirs…"

"What about heiresses?" asked Scorpius, to Teddy's visible delight.

Delphi cautioned her cousins with a stern look.

"Look. You both know who my mother was."

Teddy and Scorpius looked down, mumbling "Yes," almost inaudibly. They never brought it up because they knew it hurt Delphi to think about her origins.

"I do not feel superior to anyone," she declared. "Well, perhaps to a muggle who never has a single moment of prescience in their whole life. Although that is not their fault."

Teddy and Scorpius both began to question just where Delphi was going, freestyling philosophy like a natural bard.

"All I am saying is Mary Beth was accepted so she must have the ability. She's known she's a witch ever since she got her letter. We have known what we are our entire lives. Get it?" asked Delphi.

Teddy and Scorpius looked back and forth, between themselves and Delphi.

"We have a head start?" Scorpius offered.

"Yes, Duh," said Teddy. "Delphi's right. We could help her."

"What if she doesn't want help?" asked Scorpius. "We could make her feel bad. Like she isn't smart enough."

Delphi nodded.

"I don't know if she likes it here or not but if she gets discouraged, she could withdraw. Leave, with no qualifications. Before she even gives Hogwarts a chance."

They agreed. That would be a shame. Mary Beth seemed nice, friendly, good-natured. She didn't need to become negative toward Hogwarts, and magic, over gossip.

By pre-arrangement, Delphi sat alone at breakfast the next morning. Teddy and Scorpius mingled with the other Slytherins, further up the table. When Mary Beth arrived, she walked straight to the bench across from Delphi.

"What's good?"

"I had a bit of bacon between two pieces of toast, with a hard-boiled egg," Delphi answered.

That sounded good. Hogwarts had elves so in no time, Mary Beth had toast, a boiled egg and a bit of bacon.

"I'm from the North," Mary Beth began. "Not far from York. I didn't tell you before."

"York," Delphi said.

"Not YORK-York. Nearby. Hardly anyone near us. I'm…I'm still getting used to…"

Mary Beth waved, taking in the crush in the Great Hall.

"Are you a Viking?" asked Delphi.

"Not that I know of. Why should I be a Viking?"

"Your name is Olson. You could get in a boat and sail straight to Norway. You have red hair," said Delphi. "I've read a lot about the Vikings. Best sailors of their time. They made voyages all over and their descendants still live in the towns and villages they either occupied or founded."

"How do you know all that?" asked Mary Beth.

"Harry sails. He taught me. I read books about sailing," said Delphi. "If you read about sailing, you read about Vikings."

"They say we have to have some Norse," said Mary Beth. "The parents and grandparents, because of our name. And where we're from, of course."

"That's such a nice story," said Delphi. "You're lucky to have people who know a bit of history."

"What's yours? If you can tell me," Mary Beth asked.

"It's kind of complicated," Delphi replied.

"Okay," said Mary Beth. "That's a beautiful ring. I've never seen one like it. Can you tell me about it?"

Delphi looked at the gold signet she wore on her right pinky.

"It's a family ring," said Delphi. "Harry gave it to me. It's old-time tradition."

Delphi stopped talking. She thought Harry and Mum Daphne must have known all of that nobility stuff but somehow, she'd forgotten to ask for details. She made a mental note. Teddy and Scorpius would be assigned the task of concocting an explanation story for heir rings and the other folderol that came up. Something truthful that would not sound excessively posh.

"I'm going to look for a book," said Mary Beth.

The witches had everything they needed for the rest of the morning, so they did their last wiping of hands and dabbing of lips and left the Great Hall. Scorpius and Teddy met them at the door.

"Witches," said Scorpius, Teddy joining him in a modest inclination of their heads.

"Scorpius," said Delphi, "Teddy."

Delphi bent one knee, momentarily, then bobbed back to her full height. Mary Beth's eyes widened. She'd never met anyone who was genuinely royal but her grammar school teacher had once met the Queen and delighted her students by demonstrating the curtsy she had to learn in preparation. Delphi's little dip certainly looked like a curtsy to Mary Beth.

The cousins were all well-behaved and applied themselves to their studies. The first months at Hogwarts established them, quickly enough, as students with real potential. Great things could be expected of all three if they kept to their current course. Mary Beth wondered when she would be told why Scorpius and Teddy were rendered curtsies for walking Hogwarts' corridors.

First term began in earnest. Young magicians learned to levitate feathers. They turned hedgehogs into pincushions and back to hedgehogs. The quidditch schedule was published. Delphi and Teddy shared a letter brought to their table by an owl. Scorpius got his own letter.

"That's this Saturday!" said Teddy. "Woo-hoo!"

Scorpius snickered at Teddy's enthusiasm as Delphi looked down, her hands shading her eyes.

"That's that game like football only with brooms?" asked Mary Beth.

"Yup. Ever seen it played?" asked Scorpius.

"No," said Mary Beth. "It sounds exciting!"

She looked at Delphi, almost pleading for a response. Delphi knew what she wanted—positive reinforcement.

"It can grow on you," Delphi told her with a nod.

Of course, Delphi had no intention of letting quidditch grow on her because she was already bedazzled by sailing. She planned to seek out all the courses at Hogwarts that could make her a better, more skillful, more informed sailor. She would study independently and qualify for her master's license. What happened after that was unclear, but Delphi had heard of yachts that could be chartered for private cruises. Harry might want to invest in a witch-owned cruise business in a few years.

"Are they coming?" asked Scorpius.

"Sounds like all of them," Teddy answered.

"Let's see," said Delphi.

She took the letter and scanned it, looking for the outline of the Potter-Black's travel plans.

"Yeah, Saturday, they'll come up, watch the match and go back. Well, I guess if the match is finished," said Delphi.

"IF it's finished?" asked Mary Beth.

"Quidditch isn't like other games," said Teddy. "Someone has to catch the snitch before the game can end."

"Snitch?"

"One of the balls," said Teddy. "It really doesn't make sense until you watch a match, then it falls into place."

That evening, Mary Beth and Delphi were alone in the Slytherin witch's dorm. Mary Beth thought she wouldn't feel stupid asking a quidditch question if she and Delphi were the only ones around.

"Can you explain quidditch to me?" asked Mary Beth. "I never heard of it until I read about it in one of our books."

"Well, there really isn't any reason why you would," said Delphi. "It is one of those games people play when they have to discharge a lot of energy. We use magic so someone invented a game for us. I suspect wizards, since they seem to enjoy getting the crap beaten out of themselves. You've seen football played? Of course, silly me. What is the point?"

"To score more goals than the opponents and win," said Mary Beth.

"Same principle," said Delphi. "Quidditch has some additional features. Look, if you want more information, Harry will be here Saturday. Scorpius' father, too. You'll pick him out right away, he and Scorpius look just alike, more or less. Harry and Draco, that is Scorpius, Sr., both played when they were here. Harry will talk about quidditch and let his meal get cold. Have a ball."

The conversation was very unsatisfying for both witches. Delphi saw Mary Beth's curiosity about something completely alien to her experience as actual enthusiasm for volunteering to get the crap knocked out of herself. Mary Beth didn't understand Delphi's reluctance to participate in a slightly-tamed ritual celebrating bloodlust.

The quidditch weekend was a great success, for the most part. The adults were thrilled to have the chance to visit Hogwarts and sit in the grandstand seating of the quidditch grounds. The weather was even good, a proper sunny day in late summer. Harry Potter anticipated getting his fill of quidditch for once since he was not being pursued by dementors and he wouldn't be dragged away by family members grown tired of sitting in the rain.

The Potter group, Harry, Daphne, Ane and Andromeda walked to the grounds accompanied by Draco, Astoria and Narcissa Malfoy. The cousins stood together, scanning the arriving quidditch fans. Mary Beth Olson was between Teddy and Delphi, practically vibrating in anticipation of her first quidditch match. The adults arrived and instantly sized up the situation. Mary Beth Olson was muggleborn. Eyeballs swiveled madly as the adults sought to communicate.

The hugs and kisses were dispensed with great fervor, after which Daphne took responsibility and asked, "Delphi, dear, are you going to introduce us to your friend?"

"Of course, Mum Daphne," said Delphi. "It is my honor to present Ms. Mary Beth Olson of Yorkshire. Mary Beth is our Slytherin year-mate. Mary Beth, my father, Harry Potter, my mother, Daphne Greengrass Potter-Black, my sister, Anemone Black. Call her Ane, please, she is not fond of formality. These are Scorpius' mother and father, Draco and Astoria Malfoy. Auntie Astoria is Mum Daphne's sister so sometimes we drop the Astoria and she is just 'Auntie.' Madame Narcissa is Uncle Draco's mother and we're related another way, so she is Auntie as well. Auntie Andromeda is Teddy's gran and also Auntie Narcissa's sister, so…it does seem complicated, until you learn it all."

"Thank-you, Delphi, I'll try my best," said Mary Beth as she struggled with the onslaught of names and the inevitable inspection by individual magicks.

Delphi stood still, clearly a bit puzzled by the threads that echoed those on the Black's enchanted tapestry. She looked around and found that both Scorpius and Teddy were sending her approving looks. Draco and Potter took charge before the group descended into a whirlpool of mindless syllables and fugue states.

"So, sit with the Snakes?" asked Potter.

"Thought you'd never ask," said Draco. "Think you can manage it? Emotionally, I mean."

"I shed all of that baggage, of course, learning to sail, communing with the Sirens here and there," said Potter.

A select few who were privy to the code knew who the Siren was and just how Potter had communed. Draco snorted. Andy and Narcissa looked at one another, a little sad, perhaps, for the reminder of the missing third Black sister. Astoria might have shown a bit of alarm over her sister's sensitivities, but Daphne just rolled her eyes and gave her head the most imperceptible shake.

"Harry, Mary Beth has never seen a quidditch match," Delphi said, trying to be discreet.

Somehow, Delphi managed a seating arrangement with Teddy next to Harry, Scorpius next to Draco, Mary Beth and Delphi one row below, each of the witches directly in front of a patriarch. The whistle sounded and the quaffle was thrown skyward.

"Game on," said Potter. "Now they play until someone catches the snitch."

"What's a snitch?" asked Mary Beth.

"We can't see it yet," said Delphi. "It tries to hide among the players. The snitch usually lets them play a bit before it shows itself."

Potter and Draco explained the function of chasers, beaters, keepers and seekers. The advantages of speed, flying ability and deception were obvious, even to the novice Mary Beth.

"Slytherin is playing two witches," said Potter.

"Didn't you know? There is a rule now. Minimum of two flying at all times. They changed that some time ago," said Draco.

"Sad your ancient tradition is no more," Potter said, earning him a warning look from Daphne. "All of this witch-wizard equality nonsense is bogus. My wife is clearly my superior in almost any field you can name."

Potter snuck a quick, sideways glance toward Daphne. She acknowledged his effort.

"Better," said Daphne.

Potter and Malfoy might have sat in the grandstand until the end of the match had not Ane needed a trip to the loo, followed by an attack of hunger. Potter suggested to Daphne that they could leave and get something to eat, which appealed to Astoria, Narcissa and Andromeda. The group assured the students they were free to stay as long as they wished but the young Slytherins were permitted to leave the grounds if their parents accompanied them. This might have resulted in a stroll into Hogsmeade and a stop at Madame Rosmerta's pub.

"Of course we'd love to invite you to come with us, Mary Beth," Daphne said. "It wouldn't be a quidditch weekend without a stop in Hogsmeade. Unfortunately, we don't know your parents and couldn't possibly take you off school grounds without their consent."

"That's okay, Mrs. Potter," Mary Beth replied. "I have books and such."

"Nonsense," said Delphi. "I'll stay. Scorpius, Teddy, you can go to Hogsmeade if you want."

Both looked ready and willing to make the trek when Astoria spoke up.

"No, we will skip Hogsmeade and get together in the Great Hall," she said. "The elves will be grateful for a little work. What will you have, Ane?"

"Fish and chips?" Ane asked.

"Good call," said Astoria as she set off for the castle.

Headmistress McGonagall was sitting high in the Gryffindor section when she spotted the group climbing the hill. She couldn't be in two places at once, so she decided to go back and see what the Potter-Greengrass-Malfoy-Tonks party was doing. They weren't hard to find since they had gathered in the Great Hall and were together at the Slytherin table.

"Free lunch, children?" asked the inquisitive Headmistress.

"Oh, Headmistress," said Potter. "The little one, so hungry. What would you consider fair recompense for a traditional lunch?"

"Pardon me while I do the addition…," said McGonagall. "Will the families be supporting the Yule fundraiser this year? We so depend on it."

"Absolutely," said Potter as elves began popping in with platters of fish and bowls of slaw.

"May I?" asked McGonagall, already sitting down. "Interesting cases recently?"

"The most interesting thing was representing Greengrass in the Wizengamot when Cyrus was away. I expected I'd have to debate my husband, but he saw reason for a change," said Daphne.

"What a positive development," said the Headmistress. "Quite the psychological reward for the obscure schoolteacher."

The Headmistress used her fingers to pick up her own piece of cod. She looked around at the students, trying not to linger on the muggle-born Mary Beth. McGonagall had no prejudices but did notice the phenomenon, for want of a better word. She could not have predicted there would be an affinity between the Blacks and a muggle-born from York. A cynic might say the plan was obvious. Delphine Black was cultivating a toady. Perhaps, but McGonagall had yet to see any such signs.

"You're from near York?" asked Potter, turning toward Mary Beth.

"Yes, sir! Have you been?" she asked.

"Not yet, although two of us flew down from here one night," said Potter. "We circled the spire—of the cathedral? Then we came back."

"You left the grounds on an unauthorized flying escapade and flew to York and back? Don't tell me," said McGonagall. "It wasn't the Weasley twins because you were only two? Mr. Malfoy, anything you want to divulge?"

"I would like to offer the name of Oliver Wood for consideration," said Draco.

"Correct! Currently the veteran keeper for Puddlemere United," said Potter.

Daphne looked a certain way, a combination of mild annoyance and resignation. Delphi smiled at her father. Teddy and Scorpius tried to read the room.

"So that was my only visit to historic York," said Potter. "I really need to go back."

Mary Beth liked Potter's approval of her native region. She resolved to follow that up with a suggestion, should the opportunity arise.

Fish and chips could hold the attention of the busy adults only so long. Astoria and Daphne pestered the students with questions about dorms and their other accommodations, but everything seemed to be well-kept and comfortable. Before long, it was time to leave and allow the old school to return to normal. Ane pulled Delphi into a clinch and was disinclined to let her go, until Delphi promised to come back home at every single opportunity. Delphi dropped to her knees and gave her promises, finishing with additional confirmations of love. Then Ane dried her tears and a few moments later, the visitors were gone.

"Well," said Teddy in the sudden hush.

"How did your father meet Oliver Wood?" asked Scorpius.

"I guess they were here at the same time," answered Delphi, turning around to return to the castle. "I didn't think fast enough to ask him today."

"So, we've eaten, met with the distinguished visitors and watched some quidditch," said Teddy.

"Time for some relaxation," Scorpius noted.

"Library?" asked Teddy.

"Yes, the collection is calling," Scorpius said.

The students were nearing the iron gate that marked the extent of the Hogwarts grounds when another family group appeared, coming from the opposite direction. Bill and Fleur Weasley had apparently come up for the quidditch, along with their daughters, Victoire and Dominique.

"Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley," said Teddy and Delphi.

"Teddy," said Victoire Weasley. "Did you enjoy today's match?"

"I did, thank-you for asking," said Teddy. "Was it up to your expectations, Victoire?"

"It was," said Victoire. "It was nice to see you, Teddy."

With that, Victoire turned to Fleur, her mother, with an expectant look.

"Time we were going," said Victoire's look.

"Nice to see you, Victoire," said Teddy.

Fleur and Bill smiled at the Black cousins, and the extra witch, who they did not recognize. Then the Weasleys walked on toward Hogsmeade.

Delphi wouldn't look at Teddy, instead keeping her gaze directed down at their path or glancing at Mary Beth or Scorpius.

"I need to do some reading on charms," said Delphi when they returned to the Slytherin common room.

"Not a bad idea," Mary Beth agreed.

"Fresh air, heavy lunch, emotions," said Teddy. "Time for Nap."

Thus, the four first-years each found something constructive to do with the rest of the afternoon.

They didn't know it but Ane arrived in London feeling sleepy, so she joined them in some constructive rest. That left Potter and Daphne with a bit of quiet time to use for conversation or exploring mysteries or something else.

"What is that muggle-born doing in Slytherin?" Daphne asked Potter.

"Scrambling to catch up, I imagine," said Potter. "Probably something she'll be doing for the next few years."

"My thoughts exactly," said Daphne. "The contrast was really quite striking."

"True," Potter agreed. "The Blacks seem to have adopted her. I suspect our daughter has a project. Perhaps she doesn't realize it just yet."

"I don't wish Mary Beth anything but success, but the logic escapes me, I'll admit," said Daphne. "No matter how much things have loosened up to adjust to the changes in our society, Slytherin still has a reputation. Then there are the legacies."

"Oh, like the humanitarian, Delphi Black," said Potter.

"You and Bella got lucky," snapped Daphne. "Six years with you counter-balanced five with Mrs. Rowle. I bow before your superior child-raising skills."

"It's the sailing," Potter countered. "She's a natural. I just take her out and let the wind push us around. It was the wind that taught her all that."

"False modesty is such an attractive personal characteristic," Daphne observed.

"I might change my mind after I've had some more days to think about it, but it appears to me that the Blacks saw someone who might need a little help to catch up with her peers, got together and pitched in and now have a friend with a totally different background. They can learn about the muggle world while they think they are doing their quota of altruism. Who will gain more? Is there a measurement for that sort of thing?"

Daphne looked somewhat mollified. Potter was pleased by that. He didn't see any advantage for himself or Ane in having a disgruntled wife inside their house. It occurred to Potter that it might be a good idea to observe Slytherin House closely, or as closely as he could. The Blacks were still only three first-years and prejudice could take an obscenely long time to dissipate. Potter had no idea whether the present-day Slytherins had had time to evolve updated notions of internal relations between the various categories of magical humans.

Potter didn't really want to think about it at all. To him, it was a total waste of time. He was as magical as they come, yet had been raised in the muggle world. He avoided thinking about his first days at Hogwarts. He'd wished there was some way to flatten his learning curve. Potter now thought similar thoughts about Mary Beth and any other muggle-born, first-years. He made a mental note to follow up with Delphi at Yule break.

Unlike Mary Beth Olson, Harry Potter had not benefited from the friendship and informal tutorials on magical life from an equivalent of Delphine Black. Delphi hungered for more detailed knowledge of Hogwarts, especially the physical plant and grounds. Delphi and Mary Beth got on very well so it was only natural that they would use free time, such as Sundays and holidays, for unstructured explorations. They were on such a joint walkabout when they noticed a witches' loo.

"Need a stop?" asked Delphi.

"You gonna?" asked Mary Beth. "I could, if you're going in."

Entering the restroom, Delphi sensed there was something different about it. The air seemed excessively stale, for one thing, well-beyond the usual stuffiness. There was also a feeling, that she and Mary Beth weren't the only ones in there.

"Hullo!" Delphi called.

Both witches felt a tenseness, something that seemed to be building. Mary Beth was about to ask if Delphi wanted to leave when a cubicle door creaked and a strange-looking witch popped out.

"WHAT are you doing here?" demanded the witch.

Delphi noticed the witch, her clothing, shoes and hair seemed to be missing some color and definition. Perhaps some clarification was needed.

"Are you…a student?" asked Delphi.

"What a ridiculous…of COURSE I'm a student," replied the oddly-colored witch.

The witch began to sob, talking between bouts of tears and gasping a little.

"Am I a student? Such an insult. What would I be doing at Hogwarts if I wasn't?"

The odd way the witch looked, her reaction to Delphi's question. Something clicked.

"You! My dad told me about you! I wondered if we would meet," said Delphi. "Such an honor!"

"Oh? Why is that?" asked the witch.

"Well, you are a legend, for one thing," said Delphi.

"Ah? Well, that is nice," said the witch.

"My dad's name is Harry Potter," said Daphne. "He made me promise to say hello for him if I ever met you."

"Harry Potter?! Oh, yes-yes-yes! Harry Potter was actually civil to me, unlike most of you spoiled brats. Who's that with you?" asked the witch.

"Oh, sorry, I forgot. Myrtle, this is my friend, Mary Beth Olson from Yorkshire, Mary Beth, Myrtle, a famous ghost who haunts this bathroom. Harry met her during his school days," said Delphi.

Mary Beth stiffened at the news that she was being introduced to a ghost. Even so, she managed the shock fairly well.

"Pleased to meet you," she said to Myrtle.

"Um, Myrtle, we came in to uh, use the facilities," said Delphi.

"Oh," said Myrtle. "Feel free."

The doors on the cubicles opened in unison to welcome the witches. They each chose and entered, the doors closing on their own.

"Kind of spooky, Myrtle," said Delphi.

"Thank-you! You're the first one who noticed," answered Myrtle. "Doing those little fix-up jobs helps pass the time. Not that anyone appreciates good maintenance today."

"I appreciate it, Myrtle," Delphi said. "Ahh…that's better. Are those sinks working?"

Delphi pointed toward the big marble pile with spigots.

"Of course!" said Myrtle. "What kind of witches' conveniences do you think I'm haunting? You might want to let the water run for a bit. It can sit there for months before someone comes along who needs to wash her hands."

Mary Beth and Delphi crossed to the sinks and started deciphering the snakehead plumbing. Delphi thought she asked the faucet a rhetorical question; how it was opened to get the water to flow.

'…s-s-s-ahhh…'

Mary Beth was startled by her first exposure to a parselmouth, although the water did begin to pour out of the spigots.

"How did you do that?" Mary Beth asked.

"Do what?" Delphi asked back.

"You turned on the tap but without touching it. You said something and then the water came out."

"Oh, that was just clowning around. I asked the sink how to get water. It must be charmed to respond to the witches' requests," Delphi said.

Mary Beth sent Delphi an odd look.

"What language was that?" she asked.

"English," Delphi replied.

"I don't think so," said Mary Beth. "At least, it didn't sound like any English I've ever heard."

"How many kinds have you heard?" asked Delphi.

"Two," said Mary Beth. "Regular and Geordie."

"What did I sound like?"

"It was like this: …s-s-s-ahhh. Kind of whispery. Then the water came out," said Mary Beth.

Delphi experienced an array of strange feelings. Her head felt light. Her eyes were blurred. Her heart started to pound.

"Oh, Morgana," Delphi moaned. "I have to talk to Harry. Now."

The witches called out good-byes to Myrtle as they exited the restroom.

"I need an owl," said Delphi. "Or a fireplace that is on the floo system."

"What's wrong?" asked Mary Beth.

"I'm not sure," said Delphi. "I'm also not sure you should know, but you do, so you're in, now, I guess. It's something that gets handed down, not tradition or anything, it's a thing. People in some families inherit these abilities. I don't know what that would be called."

Mary Beth was no better informed than she was at the beginning of the conversation. She decided to keep quiet and see what she could learn.

The two returned to the Slytherin common room. Delphi walked here and there, checking to see if any of the couches or stuffed chairs held a sleeping Slytherin, slouched down and invisible from this or that angle.

"No one here, good," said Delphi.

She went to the fireplace and took the floo powder box off the mantle. One of the perks of being a Slytherin was the free floo service, thanks to some long-forgotten alumnus who left behind a fund invested in bonds that returned a modest sum annually. The income was sufficient to provide floo powder for Slytherin House despite the best efforts of the wizard's survivors who were perpetually filing briefs with the goal of breaking the will and liquidating the endowment.

"Probably back at Grimmauld…" Delphi muttered as she dropped the powder on the coals glowing on the hearth.

"Number Twelve Grimmauld Place for Harry Potter," Delphi intoned as the flames flared.

"Delphi?" said a voice.

"Yes. Is that you, Harry?"

"It is. Is something wrong?"

"Can you come to school? I'd rather talk to you in person."

Delphi pictured what was going on at home. Harry would turn to Daphne. He'd say 'Delphi.' Daphne would ask if something was wrong. Harry would say he didn't think so, but Delphi sounded like it was urgent. Harry would come back and say he'd be right up and to meet him in the Great Hall because Slytherin was such a pain in the ass over outsiders knowing where their common room was even though everyone knew it was down in the dungeons and some even knew exactly where the occluded door was.

"Be right up. Head for the Great Hall, I'll check in with the Headmistress and meet you," said Potter.

He did the trip by apparition. It was too early to lock the gates and most of the faculty and staff would have waved Potter through if they had been. He tracked down the Headmistress and met Delphi in the Great Hall, as planned.

"So," said Potter.

"I met one of your old girlfriends," said Delphi.

Potter first thought of Ginny Weasley, as Ginny would have been qualified to teach flying, but he hadn't seen the redhead when he brought the family up for quidditch.

"Enlighten me," he said.

"Myrtle," said Delphi. "Ring any bells?"

"Myrtle," said Potter, shaking his head. "How is she?"

His look said he was genuinely concerned about the ghost's welfare.

"She looked great, for a ghost," said Delphi. "It was her bathroom…"

"She's still haunting that bathroom? Well, well," said Potter. "She offered to let me move in with her once. If I didn't come back from some looming confrontation, that is. I should have come to see her when we were all here. She appreciates company, as you probably know."

Delphi didn't know what to think of her father's approach to human-ectoplasm relations but that wasn't what she had demanded he come all the way back to Hogwarts to discuss.

"Harry, I had to wash my hands," she said.

"Okay," said Potter.

"I looked at the taps and just thought about getting some water and Mary Beth said that I said something in a language other than English and the water started coming out of all the taps!"

"Oh. That is very rare," said Potter. "I didn't even think to tell you about it because, frankly, we had so many other things to do before you left."

"I am a parselmouth, aren't I?" Delphi demanded, adding a slap of her hand on the tabletop. "You didn't THINK to tell me I might be a parselmouth?"

"Don't be upset, Delphi, please!" said Potter. "I don't even know what the odds are, but they're pretty slim. Got your wand?"

Delphi pulled back her left sleeve to show her dragon heartstring-powered wand. Potter's eyes focused. Some moments passed, then he spoke.

"Gorr?"

Several things happened, quickly. Delphi, staring off into the distance, began to speak. It sounded like a one-sided conversation, all S sounds, mostly whispered. She turned to Potter.

"He wants to know who you are. Also, what do you want?"

"Tell him who I am, mention our relationship, those are paramount for dragons, and thank him, for me. For watching out for you. Go ahead," Potter finished.

The parseltongue started up again. Potter was glad Delphi and Gorr kept it short. Someone had to come in the Great Hall at some point and he didn't want to have to explain why he and Delphi were conversing, just a couple of parselmouths passing the time of day.

"You're welcome. He's glad to do it," said Delphi.

"Mary Beth, you were there, in Myrtle's?" asked Potter.

"Yes, sir," she replied.

"Okay, you just saw something that is kind of rare."

Delphi snorted, loudly, staring at her father.

"Magical humans who could speak a bit of snake were once much more common than they are today. Trouble is, for those who can speak it now, even most magical people think there is something sinister about it. I mean, more sinister than Bat? Please! Those things suck blood and the vampires are always pulling those capes over their faces! But if I can speak to a snake or a dragon, oh, Merlin, watch out for that Harry Potter!" Potter said, his eyes moving to Delphi. "Right?"

"I guess so," Delphi answered.

"So, everything normal?" asked Potter. "For a witch, I mean."

"We'll manage," said Delphi as she turned her head toward Mary Beth. Not really seeing much of a choice, Mary Beth nodded her agreement.

"Now, one more thing—if you want to check on Myrtle, maybe just step inside for a quick hello/goodbye, right? You really don't want to be hanging around that bathroom," said Potter. "Are we good? Because I probably have stepped on a bunch of protocols, popping in here to personally handle something like this."

"Who else could handle it, Harry?" asked Delphi.

"Hardly anyone left but me," said Potter, "And now you, of course."

The witches walked Potter as far as the great doors that opened out to the flagstone courtyard. Delphi got an anaconda hug, which she returned.

"Thanks, Harry," she said.

"My pleasure, Delphi," Potter assured her. "Mary Beth, honored, as always."

With that, Potter bowed himself back toward Hogsmeade and home.

"Do you know anything about that?" asked Mary Beth.

"About what?"

"What your dad was talking about. There's an actual snake language?"

"Oh, yeah, some magical types could speak it, centuries ago, then it started dying out. It was a thing you had to inherit. Family lines don't continue forever. I don't know a lot about it, just some little things that were in some books. Bloody…Oh! Sorry, rude of me. Please don't go talking about this. Like Harry said, some people are very prejudiced. I don't need that right now."

"Of course," said Mary Beth. "What about Myrtle?"

"Everyone knows about Myrtle," said Delphi. "Harry's right, we can open the door and say hello when we're passing by. Make her feel she's a part of the student body."

"What happened to make her a ghost that lives in a toilet stall?"

"Not sure I ever heard," answered Delphi. "Some tragedy, I suppose, or she wouldn't even be a ghost."