Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

...

Daphne Greengrass sat in the library, alone for what felt like the first time in a long time. Tracey, who normally stuck to her side like glue, had chosen to take part in the latest session that Triple M was holding. The bubbly girl had invited Daphne to come with but she had declined, stating that she merely wished to spend some quality time catching up on some research.

It wasn't that Daphne was behind by any stretch of the imagination, amongst the other Slytherin students in their grade she stood nearly above all of them in most fields. Her only real contest on the academic front was Blaise Zabini but given his lineage, it was understandable as to why he had to study as much as he did.

Now though, she had time to think and reflect on the year for what it was. Or more so, what it almost hadn't been. The opening month of the school term, nobody had dared bat an eyelid around the pompous woman that was Dolores Umbridge and it was a prime example of how a position of power could entice a level of fear. It had been infuriating watching everyone act as if all these wonderful things in Hogwarts didn't exist but they very well could have been disbanded were someone to step out of line.

Then of all the groups that decided to go against the grain, it had been a group of students who wished to listen and play and sing whatever songs they wanted.

That had been the start and had rejuvenated life in Hogwarts, properly bringing people out of their shells and allowing them to get back to what made life in the academy fun. Months had passed since then and the weather had gotten much colder, the warmth that every student radiated almost made it a non factor. The first trip to Hogsmeade was coming up for her year so there was definite murmurings in the air around her classes.

Undoubtedly Tracey would want to drag her around to see everything the village had to offer. To be fair, there was a certain Gryffindor student she wouldn't mind going with but she could never do it. The social consequences would be far too dire for the years to come. Although given the effect that a few select clubs had on the social circles of Hogwarts, perhaps it wouldn't be so poorly received.

It still wasn't a risk she was willing to take.

On the matter of risks, the sound of footsteps approaching her table alerted Daphne to the fact that she was still in a public area. Of all the people to actively be approaching the Slytherin student, to see a Gryffindor student in the same year as her hadn't been high on her list of possibilities.

Daphne couldn't help but feel a bit of uncertainty as Hermione sat directly opposite her without so much as a word, placing the number of books she had brought with her down on the table. Perhaps she was overthinking things, given the sheer number of books that the muggle born student had placed beside her parchment it was very possible that the Gryffindor had chosen to just do her homework with someone in the same grade. Her silence however was somewhat comforting and given Hermione's diligence regarding schoolwork, she truly believed that the student purely intended to leave her be and do her own self study.

That was all until a single minute into what Daphne had believed was a mutual understanding, Hermione did something which seemed a little out of sorts. A single piece of parchment was slid across the table. The sheer fact that nothing was written on it had peaked Daphne's curiosity but she didn't say anything. When Daphne had tried to establish some manner of eye contact, Hermione Granger had given her none, choosing solely to look down at the parchment she was writing on.

The words Hermione wrote however were appearing on the paper in front of her in a style far more familiar than what she wished to admit. This was how members of Potter Club had communicated with one another in the past and, Hermione Granger, the muggle born student with the highest grades in their year, was currently communicating with her without the use of words. Daphne couldn't help but feel somewhat uncertain as she looked down at the paper in front of her.

'Try to keep calm Daphne,' Hermione had written, Daphne now recognising the handwriting in front of her for what it was. 'While it is quiet here in the library, we still don't want to draw any attention our way.'

Daphne couldn't help but glance up at the stack of books sitting next to Hermione, realizing that the whole purpose of them was to craft the atmosphere that was natural in the setting. Anybody who knew Hermione would have been more surprised if there wasn't anything next to her. It was all for appearance's sake. 'I know this may come as a shock to you Daphne,' continued writing Hermione. 'However I have something planned and I'm going to need your assistance.'

Grabbing her quill and once more checking the teenager in front of her to confirm once more that she wasn't hallucinating. Taking a calming breath, Daphne had to also consider the fact that, while this was actually happening, it could all be some kind of test and there could very well be somebody else watching her. 'My assistance, surely there's another member more capable than I?' she responded, trying to show no hesitation in her words.

'I require you not because of your level of skill, we are only third year students after all,'' wrote Hermione. 'What we also are are third year students from Gryffindor and Slytherin and if we were to work together with a student each from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, that will mean so much more than the result of our actions.'

Daphne glanced up at Hemione who continued to make it look as if she was doing some last minute research for an assignment. Biting at the inside of her lip, Daphne reconsidered just why Hermione had targeted her. It wasn't because of what she could provide, but rather what she represented.

Hermione had seemed to sense her reaction and continued on writing. 'I know you're a powerful witch Daphne, and the people I've recruited to pull off this plan are not in a grade above us, one of them is even only in their second year at Hogwarts.'

'So you know who these members are then?' As she finished her question, Daphne looked up to stare directly at Hermione. The Gryffindor looked up at met Daphne's gaze and Daphne found herself somewhat confused by the expression that Hermione was giving her. It almost seemed as if the girl had a huge burden placed upon her and she didn't know how to properly express it properly.

"I know, because I was one of the first recruited," said Hermione in little more than a whisper.

Those words however caused a wave of understanding to sweep through Daphne. Hermione Granger, who was a muggle born student in her first weeks of Hogwarts, had been handpicked by the person who founded Potter Club. A girl who would have only learnt of her magical abilities months before hand had been one of the first chosen to join the group. Not somebody from a family with a huge history of wizardry, somebody who was very new to the scene. This knowledge sadly only opened up more questions that Daphne was somewhat afraid to ask.

Why had Hermione Granger been targeted in the first place to join Potter Club? Surely she hadn't been picked out at random, or had she been solely because of her non magical heritage? Had the founder of Potter Club wanted to send an immediate message that even those who were unfamiliar with what magic could do could still do things that would astound everybody? That those who were capable of wielding magic without any prior knowledge had the greatest imagination of what to do with said power?

Slow realization crept in as Daphne suddenly came to the realization of why Hermione Granger was telling her this information. The girl was risking everything by personally asking her to join in on a certain prank, not via some cryptic message but by literally sitting in front of her and inviting her. Then the prank itself, while what it was was still yet unknown, was to be done by four students in their third year and lower with each of the students coming from a different house. Daphne now knew why Hermione had asked her and she almost felt ashamed of how she had acted in the first place.

Hermione had been given a chance and had clearly excelled. Now she was offering Daphne something similar, to put together something with the strength of four teenage students who didn't interact with one another purely of the houses they were placed in. Would Hermione Granger interact with Daphne in any other circumstance? Highly unlikely. Would Daphne interact with a second year student from a different house? Even less likely.

Looking back down at her parchment, Daphne scribbled down two words before looking back up at Hermione. 'I'm in.'

...

"Harry, might I have a moment of your time?"

Harry turned the moment her heard the instantly recognisable sound of Luna's voice, watching the young girl rock back and forth on her feet given that she wasn't currently wearing any shoes. "Of course Luna, I will give you as many moments as you need," said Harry with a smile.

"I will only require a few," said Luna as she offered Harry a letter. "This is for you."

"Might I know what's inside before opening it?" asked Harry as he accepted the offered envelope.

"My mother has expressed interest into going to France over the coming Christmas break and wishes for you to join us. She believes that she can help you find some allies. I'm not quite sure what she meant by that but apparently my family is invited to stay at the Delacour Household and the idea of seeing Fleur again fills me with joy," said Luna, beaming brightly as she did so.

While the very tempting offer, Harry couldn't help but bite at the inside of his lip while Luna awaited his response. Gaining the advantage of an international ally was a tremendous boon, one that couldn't be ignored in the slightest. Was it too much though? He'd already taken a big gamble by bringing as many people as he had into the fold. What their movements going forward was anybody's guess, let alone the movements that could be made by somebody in a different part of the continent.

"I will write to your mother in the morning," said Harry. "I'm sure Hedwig will appreciate the flight."

"Oh, traveling together will be such a joy," said Luna, already assuming what it was that Harry was going to choose before she started to skip away. "I look forward to journeying with you to France Harry."

"Luna, I haven't said yes," replied Harry to Luna's retreating form.

"I know," called Luna, not turning to face him before she started to hum a merry tune.

Harry meanwhile said nothing more as he focused his attention to the envelope in his hand and the letter contained within. Given how close the end of the year was, it wasn't as if he had a number of months to contemplate.

There were only two Horcux left to destroy and he knew where one of them should be located. Given everything that had happened without him knowing it, he needed to get into that vault sooner than later to confirm his theory. As for the ring, he actively did not know where Dumbledore had found it. He may have mentioned it once upon a time but even then he would have been more shocked by the state of the Headmaster's hand than to actually intake the information given to him at that moment.

Had it been discovered somewhere in the United Kingdom or somewhere abroad? Because other Horcurx' had been destroyed thus far, were there specific moves in play to protect the remaining ones? Harry truly wished that he could answer these without hesitation but it really wasn't anywhere near as simple as that. Pandora was the prime example of how things had changed without his active effect.

Recruiting new allies, even if they were for a cause that had no need of them, wouldn't be the worst option in the world.

All he would have to do was to survive however long with the Delacour family. What could potentially go wrong?

...

"Ladies, the first trip to Hogsmeade is upon us and none of may fear that which is no longer here."

"You can call her by name you know."

"That would be doing her a favor. Now, for many third years, their first trip to Hogsmeade is filled with wonder and joy upon seeing the quaint little wizarding village. For most, their first trip is more about sightseeing and hanging with friends. This trip however provides us with a opportunity. I see students from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Gryffidor all here and for those of age, sorry for the younger students, it provides an opportunity. Harry Potter, the reason why we are all here, will be going to Hogsmeade for the first time and it is a perfect opportunity for one of us to offer him a tour of the village."

"Isn't this biased against those in his year who don't know the village?"

"That's a good point."

"So we don't have a chance?"

"Not necessarily. There's nothing saying that you can't ask Harry to go with you to explore Hogsmeade together. All I'm saying is that this is an opportunity for everybody here, again, sorry to the younger students, that Harry doesn't have to visit Hogsmeade alone and with the right pitch he could potentially go with anybody here."

"Do you think Harry would go with me?"

"How should I ask him? Tomorrow? Is that too soon?"

"Should I ask him by letter or in person?"

"I don't know if I'd have the courage to ask him in person."

"Now, the time limit is simple girls and remember that nobody can actively sabotage anybody else's attempt. If you're first in, you're best dressed. To the victor goes Harry. Best of luck to all!"

...

Hope you enjoyed.

This is probably my last chapter before the end of the year so to all a good season and a happy new year.