Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K.R!
This story is a collaboration work between Avoranger and Cal the Wandcrafter!
Hope you like it!
Enjoy!
Let's join Harry/Daphne Discord!
- discord .gg/pKSdvJQvhU
.
.
Astoria was overcome by a suffocating sense of loneliness, her desire to be with her sister intensifying the boredom that had settled upon her. This year's summer event had shaken her to her core, the mere notion of losing her older sibling proving unbearable. The sight of Daphne, happily giggling with her best friend, Tracey, brought a modicum of relief, an assurance that her sister was well, yet the ordeal of her sudden illness over the summer still gripped her heart in a cold fear. Despite sharing a house, their divergent class schedules conspired to limit their interactions to brief greetings and hasty embraces before they embarked on their individual daily journeys. Sequestered within her dormitory, Astoria grappled with an overwhelming sense of isolation. The notion of visiting Daphne crossed her thoughts as a potential remedy to her solitude. Committing to an unannounced visit, she stood with a stretch and made her way down the hall. Astoria unceremoniously pushed open her sister's door without a polite knock. "DAPH!" she cheerily called out, aiming to uplift the ambiance.
The sole occupant of the room, engrossed in her activities, jolted with surprise, nearly causing a book to tumble from the reader's grasp. "Dammit you little gremlin! What do you want?" came the irritated response of one Tracey Davis.
"Tracey! Where's Daph?" Astoria disregarded the older girl's annoyance, her focus unwavering.
"Probably off in a broom-closet," Tracey murmured, but immediately regretted her choice of words, attempting to return to her book. She quickly covered her face in the pages of her novel, recognizing her inadvertent slip.
Astoria's eyes widened. "What? What did you say?"
"Uh, nothing," Tracey nervously stammered. "You misheard me. She went for a walk."
Astoria narrowed her eyes, sensing her sister's friend discomfort. "No, I didn't! I heard you quite clearly, Trace! Tell me, tell me!" Astoria's delight was unmistakable, glistening in her eyes.
Tracey wished to vanish from the scene. "I didn't say anything, Astoria. Please, just forget it," she implored.
Unswayed by Tracey's plea, Astoria's eyes sparkled with elation. "Daphne's got a boyfriend! I want to meet him! What's he like? Is he handsome? Is he smart? Is he rich? Is he a good kisser? Does he have a big-"
"TORI! Daph doesn't have a boyfriend. I was just teasing. AND HOW WOULD I KNOW ANY OF THAT!" She huffed in annoyance, "She genuinely went for a walk," she sighed.
With her arms folded, Astoria pretended to be vexed. "But why wouldn't she tell me if she was close to someone? I'm her sister, you know!"
"I don't know. She didn't tell me anything either. It was pure conjecture, and I only think I know what she's up to," Tracey moaned, every cell in her body just begging to be left alone.
"So, you DO know who she's dating?" Astoria inquired, her curiosity glistening in her eyes.
"Wait no… Damn it! I JUST SAID SHE DIDN'T HAVE… God, you are annoying. Fine! She fancies someone I guess," Tracey responded, finally just giving up.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Astoria frowned.
"I'm not entirely sure if they're officially an item, but I've often observed them exchanging meaningful glances during our shared classes," Tracey offered, silently praying for Daphne's forgiveness
"So, she kept him hidden from you as well?" Astoria concluded.
"Sort of?" Tracey persisted.
"Hmm... I'll figure out the truth!" Astoria's anticipation was palpable at the prospect of acquiring a quasi-brother through her sister's purported boyfriend.
"I'm sure she'll spill the beans if you ask nicely, Little Greengrass! Please don't mention that you got this from me, alright, Tory?" Tracey implored, anxious not to gather the ire of her friend.
"Why?" Astoria inquired innocently.
"I don't want to get into trouble. She's still upset about what Theo said a few days ago."
"What do you mean?" She asked, her intrigue now fully engaged.
"Oh, you weren't in the Great Hall at the time, so you're not aware," Tracey winced before relaying the tale to her. "He managed to piss her off, basically all but yelling to the Great Hall she was fooling around with Potter."
"So, Harry Potter, eh?" Astoria surmised, her lips curling into a smirk. "I'd heard gossip he was dating someone, but I dismissed it, assuming it had nothing to do with my sister. I shouldn't have brushed it aside!"
Desperately trying to curb the curiosity of the young Greengrass before her, Tracey pleaded, "Shh! Astoria, I really don't know, alright? It's just a guess based on my observations and her reactions. She did act strangely during our first class when Pansy and Umbridge started in on him. Granted, Pansy is a bitch, but then again your sister has never responded that way to any other boy," she mumbled, wishing she could vanish from the situation. "Look, it's probably nothing, and I'm just imagining things."
As Astoria pondered, her smile broadened.
Facepalming, Tracey realised that the young Greengrass was not heeding her words. "Look," Tracey hesitated. "Just... Please, tell her you figured it out on your own, alright? Don't mention my name in it," she implored.
Casually humming, Astoria responded, "Don't worry! I'll leave you to your book now. I'll keep you up to date next time I visit! Bye, Trace!"
"Why!" Tracey groaned in frustration, burying her face in the pillow, regretting her entire morning. Astoria Greengrass was the worst kind of annoying.
Harry let out a sigh of relief as he settled into his favourite couch in the common room, just returning from his second Occlumency lesson. The session had gone smoothly, and he was grateful that he no longer needed to hide his abilities quite as much. He intentionally held back, maintaining an appearance of being less skilled than he truly was, though it wasn't a significant issue, as now Snape thoroughly, yet begrudgingly, believed that he had some natural talent in the skill that had yet to be honed. He recalled the first time that he mastered his Occlumency technique, on a mission where he was taken hostage shortly after graduating from the Academy. His captors demanded information known only to Aurors and attempted to pry the knowledge from his mind. However, Harry skillfully misdirected them by feeding them inconsequential memories of DMLE Press Conferences and goofing off with Susan by playing paper football in their office, buying himself precious time until the rescue team arrived.
He used the same strategy on Snape, feeding him useless moments of homework assignments and losing to Ron at Chess, while occasionally letting a few carefully selected embarrassing memories slip through the cracks. Snape had hinted that if his progress in Occlumency continued in such a manner, he might not need further lessons. Harry eagerly anticipated that day.
He reached for the gift Sirius had given him over the summer—his father's journal. Its discovery had brought him immense joy, as he had never encountered it in the future-past. Flipping to the last page he read, he chuckled at his father's musings:
.
#Day 925!
Ugh! Swallowed the leaf again! Damn McKinnon Slapped me in the back of the head and I nearly choked on it! It's Sirius's fault for pranking her last week! If he's so into her, just say the word to me, I'd help! Pretending to like her friend was a dumb move!
#Day 933
Lily looked very cute today with a ponytail!
#Day 941
Just two weeks left! I hope I didn't mess up! I'll make Sirius swallow his leaf if he keeps acting foolish around McKinnon!
#Day 953
I don't know. Should I curse Remus? He made me swallow the darn leaf. AGAIN! Why?! -cry- It's just a few days left for Merlin's sake! WHY?! -Sigh- But for my friend's sake, I will keep doing it!
#Day 996
FINALLY! Is this a miracle? I must be a genius to have figured it out! Minnie would be proud if she knew! Animagus transformation, I'm coming! Write it down, write down the new recipe before I forget!
#Day 998
Apparently two months ago, Peter discovered how to throw the leaf back up into your mouth without disrupting the ritual, and nobody told me. I hate my friends. No way in hell I'm telling them how to do it without the leaf.
.
Lost in his father's quest to become an Animagus, Harry considered the idea. Daphne had already succeeded in becoming one, taking on the form of a cute silver spotted cat that he adored snuggling with. Perhaps it was time he attempted it as well. His post-war life was far from tranquil. There were still unresolved matters, such as the need to apologise for and rectify the Gringotts break-in to retrieve the Hufflepuff cup, and assisting with the cleanup of Hogwarts, and going through the Auror Academy. Lost in thought, Harry stared blankly at his father's journal until his reverie was broken by a tap on his shoulder.
"Damn, Ron!" Harry muttered, quickly stowing the journal in his jacket pocket. "What's going on?" he asked, feigning annoyance.
"Sorry! Sorry!" Ron raised his hands in surrender, sporting an unapologetic smile. He continued in a hushed tone, "Someone wants to meet you outside the dorm."
"Who? What do they want?" Harry asked, pretending to be disinterested, though he suspected the identity of the person in question. Daphne had warned him about this possibility, and initially, he had thought she was joking. Now, he sighed in acknowledgment.
"Come on! They want to meet you before curfew in thirty minutes," Ron replied with a grimace.
"I think I know what this is about… You didn't go behind my back like Hermione did, did you?" Harry inquired sceptically.
Ron vigorously shook his head. "No, Harry! I swear! She caught me when I went to the kitchen for snacks," he assured him. "I've learned my lesson from last year; won't make that mistake again, Harry," he added confidently.
Harry scrutinised Ron for a moment, then relented to his genuine smile. "Fine! Lead the way then," he said, allowing Ron to seize his hand and lead him out of the tower.
Unbeknownst to both of them, a figure sat in a shadowed corner, watching their interaction with a mixture of longing and sadness in her eyes.
Harry followed Ron into an empty classroom on the sixth floor, quietly impressed by Ron's skill in evading any eavesdroppers.
"Alright, I've got Harry." Ron declared once they were inside. One of those present swiftly sealed the door with their wand and cast several security spells, to which Harry acknowledged with a nod.
Deliberately maintaining his silence, Harry waited for one of them to initiate the conversation. In the dimly lit classroom, he recognized all six individuals. He had never anticipated that they would intentionally seek him out. He allowed a small grin to form inwardly, crossing his arms casually.
"Ha– Harry..." stammered one of them. "Thank you for coming. Sorry for bothering you this way," he said, offering an awkward smile.
"No need to apologise, Neville. It's not a problem at all. I never expected you to be the mastermind behind this," Neville blushed at Harry's compliment.
"In all honesty, it was Susan's idea," Neville admitted with a hint of shyness. "I just helped make it happen."
"Don't be too humble, Nev. This was a joint effort," Susan chimed in. "You sounded like you were expecting us," she teased.
Harry shrugged and replied, "Someone warned me that a few of the group would probably talk to me about lessons, but I thought it was a joke or just meant to cheer me up. I didn't think it would actually happen. But I still don't know about doing it by…"
Harry was about to protest farther but was cut off by Padma. "Harry, we really want to learn Defense, just not from Hermione. It's not that we underestimate her, we know she's intelligent and could be a great teacher, but… Look, you were completely right. Umbridge has a reputation that everyone who has ever spent any time in the Ministry or high society knows about. She is dangerous to those who don't obey her, and is known to use violence and threats to remove people she doesn't like. Hermione doesn't realise just how risky having a study group like this is without a boat load of precautions."
He opened his mouth again, but - "Would you consider forming another study group, Harry?" Susan asked delicately. "We're not trying to pressure you, but please, consider it. My aunt spoke highly of you after your trial, praising your qualities. While we want to know what happened to Cedric, we're more eager to avoid a fate like his."
Once more Harry was cut off as Ernie spoke up. "Initially, I hesitated because of my role as a Prefect, but this year, our O.W.L. exams are approaching. My father is keen on top grades, although I'm more interested in Law school, where Defense Against the Dark Arts isn't a requirement. However, I think this is really important, possibly more important than anything else we'll do this year, even with our O.W.L.s coming up. Just think it over, alright?"
Harry didn't even bother to try and speak as Katie Bell spoke up, brushing her finers thorough her hair in the same way she did when she was nervous before a match. "Yeah, Harry! You can cast a Patronus, and I barely scraped through Moody's class last year. If anyone can help me pass my N.E. , it's you. It was practically a miracle I passed last year!"
Harry chuckled at that.
"That's not funny, Potter!" she protested with a pout before grinning.
Rolling his eyes, Harry turned to Luna Lovegood, who hadn't spoken yet. "Thank you for letting me speak, Luna. So what about you, Ms. Lovegood? What's your reason?"
"It sounds fun to learn with friends," she said dreamily.
Turning to Ron, Harry didn't press further on Luna's motive. "And you?"
Ron was taken aback by Harry's question. "Mate, Umbridge tried to have you arrested. That's enough of a reason for me to want to piss her off. Maybe you should invite Daphne too," he blurted out, then immediately paled "Oops! I shouldn't have said that!" he added with an innocent grin.
Before Harry could respond, someone interjected. Again.
"So, those rumours are true?" Padma asked, amused.
Harry groaned, "Yes, it is! But we'll announce it soon, so please, keep it quiet, alright?"
"No worries, Harry," Neville said, smiling broadly and expressing gratitude.
"I'll give you my decision the day after the match. For now, let's head back to our dorm before the curfew bell rings!" Harry announced, and right after he spoke, the curfew bell chimed. "Don't get caught, everyone!" he added before they quickly made their way back to the dormitories.
Daphne Greengrass, a figure revered and feared within Slytherin for her family's esteemed standing, found herself persistently provoked by her most annoying adversary, Draco Malfoy. Despite her influential background, Malfoy seemed determined to target her, and she couldn't discern his motivation—whether it was personal animosity or something more complex. In reality, their unresolved tension traced back to a childhood incident where, unintentionally, she had pushed him into a pond during a formal event. The memory lingered, evident through his lingering glares, indicating a harboured grudge. Yet, to Daphne, it appeared a juvenile grievance.
Draco, the self-proclaimed leader in Slytherin, was once again displaying the arrogance stemming from his father's political influence, which, in actuality, paled in comparison to the Greengrass family's , she ignored Malfoy's taunts, but his recent barbs about Harry before the upcoming match kindled her ire, disrupting her focus on an essay.
"Potter won't know what hit him when I grab that Snitch first!" Malfoy exclaimed, locking eyes with Daphne amidst the students—a chance he just couldn't resist. "Hey, Greengrass! Heard you're getting cosy with that filthy half-blood, Potter," he sneered, throwing her off her essay. Irritation surged through her. "It's not proper for a pureblood from your family to hang around with someone like him. Stick with your own kind, like me!" Draco boasted, proudly puffing his chest. "What's so special about him anyway? Just a scar and some luck," he went on, trying to sway her to his side. "Listen, Greengrass! Together, we could rule the wizarding world, especially with the Dark Lord's comeback," he insisted, a glint of anticipation in his eyes, but she remained unmoved. "Don't worry! Tomorrow, I'll show you how I outshine him. He'll realise he's no match for me!" Draco chuckled, thinking his performance might impress her.
His provocations had Daphne clenching her quill tightly, causing it to snap. Tracey, witnessing this, flinched, sensing trouble. Despite Tracey's efforts to deter Daphne's reaction, she couldn't hold back. Frustrated with Malfoy's disrespectful jibes at Harry, Daphne pushed Tracey aside and confronted Malfoy, risking validation of rumours about her relationship with Harry.
Daphne stepped forward, her wand at the ready, her voice carrying a challenge and her gaze filled with icy determination. The Quidditch team made way for her, and the Slytherin common room fell silent, everyone waiting to see how this confrontation would unfold.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" she questioned, her tone daring, meeting his eyes with unwavering resolve.
"I'm simply stating the truth, aren't I?" Malfoy smirked, scanning the room for reactions, finding none before returning his attention to Daphne.
"Your 'truth' may fit with people like you, but it has no place with me or my family," she retorted sharply.
"So, you'd rather be a blood traitor?" he sneered, feigning surprise.
"You're quite the comedian, Malfoy. Without your father's wealth keeping everyone in line, you wouldn't feel so powerful," Daphne scoffed, stoking the flames of anger in Malfoy.
"Don't drag my father into this!" Malfoy seethed.
"That's rich, coming from you. 'Wait till my father hears about this' Isn't that your favourite catchphrase? What would MY father say if he learned I was being perpetually harassed by you?" Daphne teased, noticing the colour rise in Malfoy's face.
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Wouldn't I?" Daphne grinned. Before Malfoy could respond, Professor Snape intervened.
"What's this? Ms. Greengrass, arguments with Mr. Malfoy are unbecoming of our house, particularly with the rumours circulating about you and Potter. Detention with Filch, starting tomorrow for three days," Snape declared in his usual stoic tone. Annoyance flashed in Daphne's narrowed eyes, but she complied. Smug at her reprimand, Malfoy was caught off guard as Snape turned his attention to him.
"Mr. Malfoy, your actions are highly inappropriate as well! I will not stand for any infighting in my house! Detention with me, Mr. Malfoy. My office. Now!" Snape's stern voice filled the room. Malfoy shot a smirk at Daphne before reluctantly following Snape into his office.
In the dimly lit corridor, Daphne arrived with an impatient huff, the flickering torch light casting shadows across the walls. Her frustration was evident as she collapsed beside Harry, a pout adorning her features. They had made plans to convene at the Room of Requirement post-dinner to discuss strategies for the impending match day and for Harry to bestow upon Daphne one of his retired Quidditch jerseys.
"I thought you forgot!" Daphne declared with a hint of reproach, her irritation evident.
Harry blinked, quickly comprehending her discontent. "Are you alri—"
But before he could finish, Daphne steered the conversation in another direction, "What are you reading, Harry?" she inquired with an almost disinterested tone, yet with an expectation that Harry would divulge without prompting.
"Just my father's journal," Harry replied nonchalantly.
"Not your mother's?" Daphne questioned, taken aback, recalling that Harry had previously possessed only Lily's journal from the Potter family vault.
His face lit up with enthusiasm, "This one's from Sirius! He handed it to me last summer!"
"Really?"
"Yep! Remember when I mentioned having to break up a black market a few years before we met?" Daphne nodded with interest.
With a tinge of embarrassment, Harry confessed aspects he had not previously shared with Daphne. "Well, beyond my investigative role... I had also been tracking down items missing from the Black's residence, snatched by Mundungus Fletcher during the '97-'98 war. Despite our— I mean, my, Hermione's, and Ron's—cautioning him against revisiting the Black's house, he evidently didn't care too much about our threats. So when our hiding spot was compromised after we broke into the Ministry to steal Voldemort's locket off of Umbridge, we had to relocate fast. He must have broken in and raided the place sometime between then and the end of the war." Daphne winced at his explanation.
She knew about his infiltration of the ministry through her father, who had connections with undercover operatives assisting in the war against Voldemort at the Ministry. The general public had limited knowledge of these events because the media predominantly focused on the conflict at Hogwarts. The news of Harry Potter's return to the castle was broadcast via wireless, and those who supported Harry's cause rallied in strong support, overshadowing a simple break-in at the Ministry. However, Cyrus's spy had mentioned witnessing Harry Potter with two others fleeing after hexing and taking something from Dolores Umbridge in a courtroom trial involving a Muggleborn. Yet, Daphne remained unaware of the purpose of their visit to the Ministry and why they pilfered from Umbridge.
"Wait a moment, you said the Locket was at the Black family Townhouse, right? Why then infiltrate the Ministry to seize the 'Locket' from Umbridge?"
"Oh, did I forget to tell you?" He seemed surprised. She narrowed her eyes, pressing for an explanation.
"So, at present, the Locket was at Sirius' house. But back in '97, it was stolen by Dung and somehow ended up in Dolores Umbridge's possession, of all people. How in the hell she managed to be the one to get it off Dung… It has to be a fate thing. That locket was one of the darkest objects I'd ever seen. It destroys all positive emotions and draws out your own darkness and evil when you wear it. And it was like it required you to wear it. Almost like you felt perpetually itchy if it was nearby and you were not wearing it. It nearly killed me by drowning me in a lake, and made Ron go half insane. It was almost as bad as Dementors… And what is weirder, it didn't seem to affect her at all! Umbridge could cast a full Patronus charm with it, yet when I was wearing it I could barely do a Lumos. Hermione thought it was because she enjoyed being evil, so it caused her to be happy as it drew on her darkness. All I know is that we had never expected to run into Umbridge again, and it nearly got us killed."
Daphne was rendered speechless. "So how did it get to be at Sirius's house?"
"Well, initially, the Locket was hidden in a cave full of odd crystal structures and a lake full of Inferi. I think it was his own personal dumping ground for his victims. It was somewhere along the British coast. I'm not sure where... I went there with Dumbledore because he requested my presence. It was the day he passed," his tone carried a sombre note. "However, someone had already stolen the Locket before us, so what we found upon arrival was a fake Locket accompanied by a note." He sipped from the water bottle he had procured earlier from Winky.
"What did the note say?"
"It mentioned that a man with the initials 'R.A.B' stole it and forewarned Voldemort that he knew his secret, intending to destroy the Locket to render him mortal once more. Apart from not realising there was more than horcrux, he was on the right path," he sighed.
"So how does R.A.B. equate to the Locket being at Sirius' house?" she inquired, attempting to piece it all together.
"At first we had no idea where it could be either. It was dumb luck, but after we left Bill and Fluer's wedding we hid out at the place, and we put two and two together when we read the nameplate on the door of one of the rooms,"
"Regulus Arcturus Black?" Recognition dawned upon Daphne.
He nodded, "Bingo. Kreacher was ordered by Voldemort to hide the locket and was left for dead when the Inferi attacked. Well turns out elves can apparate through wards and Regulus got pissed off when voldemort tried to kill Kreacher to hide the secret. So they went back and Regulus sacrificed himself and ordered Kreacher to run and destroy the locket."
"So Kreacher safeguarded it all this time," she mused, as he confirmed. "Did you bring the Locket with you?"
"Merlin, no! We'll summon Kreacher after we retrieve the Cup from Bellatrix Lestrange's vault,"
"Wait.. you mean robbing Gringotts!?" Her eyes widened in disbelief.
He merely grinned, acknowledging her surprise knowingly.
"You don't mean… Are we going to do an Ocean's 11?!"
"Sure thing, Daphne... Sure!" Harry chuckled. "What do you think?"
The excitement on her face was contagious as her smile split lit up the room. "I get to be George Clooney! You will be my Julia Roberts!"
"Do I get to pretend to be myself?"
"No. That's Ocean's 12 The sequels are never as good. That one last year was decent, though. I mean in 2007. Stupid time travel is confusing."
Harry shook his head in amusement. "You are such a nerd, Daph." She stuck her tongue out mockingly before leaning in to give Harry a kiss. "So how are we going to pull this off? Around Christmas will probably be the best time, seeing as we will both be out of the castle then. Perhaps the day before Christmas? I could request my dad to accompany me for some last-minute shopping, and I'm certain he wouldn't refuse,"
He winced, aware that once back at Sirius' house, it was arduous to depart without someone tailing him or without Dumbledore's approval, which seemed unlikely, particularly after what would transpire with Mr. Weasley. "I'll find a way, I will be there. Maybe I can see if Sirius wants me to drop by Gringotts for him? Convince Moony to take me? Then we can run off and galavant around the vaults of Gringotts?" he said, chuckling softly. She rolled her eyes.
"Alright! That sounds like a date. We can flesh out the details later." Harry confirmed with a nod and wrapped his arms around her as she leaned into his shoulder.
"So... you mentioned Fletcher continued stealing from you despite the warnings?"
He groaned, "Yeah, I wanted to ensure Kreacher's safety after his assistance with the locket, so I told him to stay at Hogwarts for and support the students. Given that Voldemort knew we had left the house after being followed, I assumed nobody would think about going there again." he explained.
"It's not your fault, Harry," she comforted him, offering a consoling hug and a gentle rub on his back. She rested her head on his shoulder.
Harry sighed. "I know, it's just incredibly frustrating,"
"So did your search into the black markets bear any fruit?"
"Yeah, it was the same raid that Sue got her tit blown off. I wasn't specifically hunting down all the Black family items, mainly just Sirius' possessions, like his school trunks and other stuff. But unfortunately, I never found them. This book…" He caressed the leather cover. "Sirius mentioned it was in his trunk," he said ruefully, and Daphne tightened her grip on his hand.
"Don't be disheartened, Harry. Now you have your Dad's journal, and your mother's journal is securely stored in the Potter family vault! Does it have his animagus notes?" she pondered.
He gave her a smile, "Oh it has a few tips and tricks."
"What?" she perked up, curiosity piqued.
"Guess who won't have to choke on a leaf for a month!" he smirked at her disbelieving stare
"You absolute prat! No way! You lucky bastard! That damn leaf gave me blisters for a week!" She huffed and looked away from him in mock anger.
"Does this mean I should take my jersey back?"
She couldn't keep the grin off her face "No, you git! I'm wearing it to lunch tomorrow."
"I can't wait to see their reaction!" Harry grinned, full of wonder.
"Tomorrow will surely break the hearts of your fangirls!" she smirked mischievously.
He shook his head amusedly, before circling back to the beginning of their evening. "So what had you so upset earlier?"
"Ugh, I thought you had forgotten about that!" she huffed.
"If something is bothering you, it matters to me more than anything else. Did something happen?"
"Fucking Malfoy! We had a disagreement because he was disparaging you, and I couldn't stop myself from doing nothing any longer. He should count himself fortunate I didn't hex him!"
"I bet Snape intervened?"
"Yep!"
He kissed her on the top of her forehead. "My hero. Thank you for defending me, Daph! He's an asshole and a moron. You can get back at him tomorrow," he smirked. "I'll come out on top, Daphne! Don't worry!"
"I'm counting on you!" she sighed in relief, feeling the stress of her day evaporate off her, glad she had opened up to Harry in the end. "Before we head back to our dorms… Want to see me try on the jersey?" She bit her lip with a sly look in her eyes as she reached down to lift her shirt over her head, much to Harry's enjoyment.
Malfoy sashayed into the Great Hall, his usual air of superiority preceding him. The Slytherin table quieted a notch as he approached, his followers flanking him like loyal shadows. With a pointed look at the other Slytherin students, Malfoy's sneer curled into a wicked smile.
"Look who it is, boys! Little Tracey Davis," Malfoy announced loudly, his tone dripping with mockery, "the half-blood who thinks she's good enough for the Quidditch team."
The clatter of cutlery against plates lessened as curious gazes turned towards Tracey, who was seated a few places away, enjoying her breakfast. She kept her eyes on her plate, trying to ignore the attention.
"I heard she's been begging to join since second year," Malfoy continued, his voice intentionally carrying across the room, "but we all know she's not even close to being good enough."
A few snickers echoed among his Slytherin cohorts. Tracey felt her face heat up, the familiar sting of humiliation settling in.
"Maybe if she had some pure blood in her, she'd have a chance..." Malfoy's voice dropped, his eyes glinting with malice.
Tracey's friends shot her supportive glances, but before she could muster a response, Malfoy pressed on, his words laced with derision. "Or maybe if she let some purebloods in her, she'd be allowed to polish our broomsticks. And our Nimbus 2001s."
The Slytherin table erupted in jeers and laughter. Tracey's fists clenched under the table, her anger simmering. She hated the feeling of helplessness, the burning sensation of being publicly ridiculed.
"And even if she somehow manages to get on a team after Hogwarts," Malfoy's voice rose above the commotion, "I'd just pay them off to kick her off. My family has substantial investments in most major Quidditch leagues, after all. No one wants a half-blood polluting the game of Quidditch."
Tracey's jaw tightened, her eyes locking onto Malfoy's taunting expression.
Daphne, sitting next to Tracey, felt her temper rise like a searing flame. She clenched her fists and began to rise, her voice trembling with fury. "I've had enough of this, Malfoy! You—"
But before Daphne could escalate the situation, Tracey swiftly reached out, her hand closing firmly around Daphne's wrist. "No, Daphne, don't," Tracey whispered, her voice steady but urgent.
Daphne shot an incredulous look at Tracey, her eyes flashing with a mix of anger and confusion. "But he can't just—"
"I know," Tracey cut in, her voice unusually calm. "But trust me, it's not worth it." With a subtle but firm tug, Tracey guided Daphne to sit back down, her eyes silently pleading for her friend's cooperation.
Tracey was a whirlwind of emotions inside, but she was dead set on not giving Malfoy the satisfaction of seeing her react. She knew he was just trying to get a rise out of her, hoping she'd lose her cool right there in the Great Hall. So, she kept up this show of not caring, refusing to let him win.
Malfoy looked disappointed when she didn't give him the reaction he wanted. He kept trying to push her buttons, but Tracey just kept munching on her breakfast like his words were nothing.
When Malfoy finally got distracted, Tracey caught Daphne's eye and made a subtle gesture signalling they should bail. Without saying a word, Tracey got up, gently pulling Daphne along as they darted out of the Great Hall.
Outside, where no one could see, Daphne turned to Tracey, sounding worried. "Why'd you let him off the hook? I was so ready to curse him!"
Tracey let out a sigh, dropping the act. "Because if we'd fought back, he'd have won. He lives for getting a reaction. Let's not give him that pleasure."
Daphne slumped a bit, frustrated but agreeing reluctantly. "He's the worst. I can't just let him—"
"I get it, Daphne," Tracey interrupted, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder. "But trust me, ignoring him stings more than any curse. And, well, I don't want you landing in trouble again. Remember Snape's detention last night?"
Daphne rolled her eyes, tired of Tracey's non-confrontational stance. She wasn't surprised Tracey wasn't a Gryffindor.
"Fine, your call!" Daphne said, giving in. "Let's head to class," she added, sounding a bit cold, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
Tracey simply nodded and walked alongside her, heading to their next lesson.
The bell chimed, signalling the end of class, and Daphne hurriedly packed her things. Her heart raced; she needed to get going, and fast.
"Slow down, Daph! The match doesn't start till two," Tracey complained while stowing her books. She'd lose it if her papers got crumpled or, Merlin forbid, if the ink spilled!
"I know!" Daphne snapped, impatiently tapping her foot. Tracey was taking ages with her stationery.
"I'm off, Trace," Daphne declared, already heading for the exit.
"Come on, I'm almost done!" Tracey urged, seeing Daphne on the move.
"Greengrass, wait!" someone halted them before they could leave. Taking a deep breath, Daphne turned around, folding her arms. 'Doesn't she know we're in a hurry? Lunchtime is almost over,' she thought, getting frustrated. Hermione struggled with a pile of books. 'Doesn't she know the Levitation Charm?' Daphne wondered.
Granger managed a nervous smile. "Can we talk privately, just the two of us?" She glanced at Tracey. "Sorry, Davis."
Glancing at her watch, Daphne remembered Padma's need for a re-explanation about next week's assignment. They'd probably have to spend half of lunch discussing it. With a heavy sigh, Daphne agreed to Hermione's request. "Alright, where do you want to talk? It's fine, Trace."
"Are you sure?" Tracey asked, her doubt apparent.
"Yeah, maybe grab me some sandwiches before Milly and Pansy get all the good ones?"
Tracey looked unsure, especially at Hermione, but she went along with Daphne's request.
"Okay, I'll inform Little Greengrass in case you need backup."
Daphne rolled her eyes. "Very funny. Come on, Hermoine. Time's ticking."
Hermione looked grateful and led her to an empty classroom nearby.
Daphne stood, arms folded, feeling uneasy. She wanted to change quickly and meet Harry in the Great Hall. Having a private chat with Hermione during lunch wasn't her idea of fun. Couldn't it have been later, like after the match? Besides being time-crunched, she was starving and frazzled. She watched Hermione shut the door and approach her after placing her books on a table.
'She didn't even cast a privacy charm. Is she being careless on purpose?' Daphne wondered but refrained from doing it herself.
"What's up? I don't have time for a staring contest," she said, starting the conversation impatiently. "If you want me to talk Harry into 'that' thing, it won't work, and I won't just because you want it."
Hermione seemed surprised. "Why? You're his girlfriend, you can convince him, right?" she said with a hopeful tone.
"Just 'cause I'm his girlfriend doesn't mean I can ask anything. He's his own person," she sighed. "Why not talk to him directly? I'm sure he'd love to talk to you about it if you'd just listen to what he has to say."
Hermione fidgeted nervously. "Can you ask him for me?" she asked hopefully.
Daphne blinked in surprise. "You live in the same dorm as him. You can see him more easily. Any time I want to see him, I have to travel all the way out of the dungeons. Just talk to him," she suggested, indifferent.
"I tried, but he's avoiding me," she accused Daphne, clenching her fists. "You're influencing Harry not to trust me, aren't you?"
Rolling her eyes, Daphne retorted, "What are you on about, Hermione?"
"You've made him not want to be friends with me anymore!" Hermione suddenly exclaimed.
Daphne was speechless at Hermione's accusations. "Hermione, what in the world are you talking about."
"Don't play dumb with me, all of a sudden you show up and Harry starts acting different! He doesn't listen to me, he barely spends time with me and Ron like he used to, he is constantly running off without telling us where he is going.
All of a sudden he is getting mad about me inviting people to our study group, and is obsessed with secrecy! And you are conveniently at the centre of it!"
"Is this what this is about? He is worried about your group getting found out and expelled by Umbridge, so you think I'm brainwashing him or something?" she asked carefully. "I thought you were more open-minded than Weasley. Guess I was wrong," disappointment seeped into her voice. Daphne had hoped for a closer bond this time. Previously, they hadn't been close due to Hermione favouring one of Ginny after Harry had broken up with her. He once explained that it was a kind of solidarity because she was the only close female friend Hermione had and was her sister-in-law. Unfortunately, it seemed like it was not to be this time either.
"You're probably just following Malfoy's orders and trying to hurt Harry somehow!"
"Mind your words, Granger!" Daphne's anger flared. It hadn't even been a day since she got detention from Snape for arguing with Malfoy. It seemed like today was just one problem after another.
"You want to—" Before Hermione could say something regrettable, Daphne pointed her wand at her.
"You know, Granger? I tried to be friends with both of you and Ron because I know you're important to Harry. I really value that, and I didn't want your friendship ruined just because of me. Turns out, Weasley is pretty funny and open-minded. You, however, you are petty, jealous and controlling." Disappointment coloured her words. She didn't try to hide it.
Hermione stayed silent, locking eyes with Daphne.
"I'll tell Harry you want to talk. I hope you sort things out quickly, because I am tired of this shit." Daphne said, lowering her wand and putting it away. She glanced at her watch. Lunchtime was over, and the plan to reveal their relationship to the public had failed. "And now I've missed my lunch date with Harry. Thanks a lot, Granger."
Daphne swung her bag over her shoulder and left the classroom, leaving Hermione standing there, staring at her shoe with teary eyes.
Daphne took a moment to catch her breath, leaning against a nearby pillar. Her emotions were stirred up by Hermione, making her day even more challenging as she headed towards the Great Hall.
She couldn't fathom Hermione's accusatory mindset. How could she be accused of something so nonsensical? In their time spent together, Daphne strived to maintain an open demeanour, save for the concealment of her and Harry's origins from a future untold to Hermione. Despite their spirited academic debates, the unjust accusation abruptly severed their camaraderie. To her surprise, Ron, who often harboured a staunch prejudice against Slytherins, displayed an unexpected openness. He accepted Daphne as Harry's girlfriend, especially after witnessing her confrontation with Pansy, which left him impressed. They hadn't anticipated that such an act would soften his perceptions. Daphne felt immensely let down by Hermione's actions. Perhaps her expectations were too high, and when reality didn't align with her imaginings, the disappointment hurt more than having no expectations at all. It was a mistake she vowed not to repeat in the future; a lesson learned the hard way.
She wondered about what Harry's reaction to her conversation with Hermione would be, but she had promised Hermione that she would ask Harry to meet her. Ultimately, the decision remained in Harry's hands.
Now, with their plan to announce their relationship out the window, she hoped Harry wouldn't be upset with her. Logically, she knew this was stupid, but trying to fight the long forgotten hormones of her fifteen year old body was a battle she knew she was destined to lose. She paused near the Great Hall's toilets, considering changing as she clutched Harry's jersey in her bag, however, with the lunch break over, there seemed little point in changing clothes now. Daphne decided to head straight into the Great Hall to search for Tracey instead. She had likely set aside a few good sandwiches, but as she took a few steps into the Great Hall, she was surprised to feel strong arms wrap around her body.
As the Quidditch match loomed just an hour away, Harry was seen joking and mingling with his fellow Gryffindor Quidditch team members during lunch. Secretly, he cast occasional glances towards the Great Hall's entrance, anxious to see if Daphne had arrived yet. His girlfriend's absence was a source of growing concern, and he braced himself for the potential consequences, especially with Umbridge sitting at the teacher's table. Harry hoped that the other professors would prevent Umbridge from unjustly giving them detention for ordinary teenage behaviour. In an attempt to quell his negative thoughts, he glanced over at Ron.
Ron, who had been looking pale and low-spirited all day, pushed his food around on his plate without enthusiasm. "I must've lost my mind," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "Completely lost it."
"Don't be so hard on yourself," Harry reassured him, passing Ron his favourite dish. "Nervousness is perfectly normal."
"I'm terrible," croaked Ron. "Hopeless. I can't play to save my life. What was I thinking?"
"Pull yourself together," Harry said firmly. "Remember that amazing save you made with your feet the other day? Even Fred and George said it was brilliant."
Ron turned to Harry, his face contorted with misery. "That was just a fluke," he whispered dejectedly. "I didn't mean to do it. I slipped off my broom, and while I was trying to get back on, I accidentally kicked the Quaffle."
"Alright," Harry said, quickly recovering from this unexpected revelation. "A few more 'accidents' like that, and we've got this game in the bag, don't we?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry noticed Tracey Davis entering the Great Hall and making her way to the Slytherin table. She skillfully stashed several sandwiches in her bag and then took a seat next to someone who looked somehow familiar to Harry. After whispering a few words to that person, she loaded her plate and started eating. The person she was talking to turned and smirked in Harry's direction, as if she had noticed him staring. They locked eyes for a brief moment before Harry instinctively looked away. He couldn't help but wonder about Daphne's whereabouts, and a sense of unease settled in.
Unbeknownst to Harry, someone had taken a seat across from him. He blinked in surprise when he looked up from his glass of pumpkin juice.
"Have you seen Hermione?" Ginny asked casually, taking her seat across from Harry. He briefly glanced at her before continuing his meal and nonchalantly shook his head. Unsatisfied with his answer, she persisted, "You should really make amends with her, Harry. She seems so gloomy and disheartened because you haven't spoken to her!" Ginny chided while serving herself, "Everything was going smoothly. I don't get why you didn't join in. It was fun! You should've been there!"
Harry nearly rolled his eyes. "Maybe she should've approached me first before breaching security? I spent a long time drafting that contract to make sure it was airtight so that nobody could get in trouble if we were caught. I'm going to stand by my decision," he replied firmly, his tone tinged with annoyance.
"I'm just making a suggestion!" Ginny retorted in an equally irritated tone.
Harry shrugged off Ginny's attempts to intervene on Hermione's behalf and continued his lunch. She sighed in frustration, genuinely concerned for her friend, and then redirected her attention to Ron, who was still staring blankly at his empty plate.
"He's just nervous," Harry explained curtly. "Don't worry about him; I'm sure he'll do his best on the pitch later. Right, Ron?" Harry nudged his shoulder reassuringly, but Ron simply nodded, lost in his own thoughts.
"Hello," a distant and dreamy voice chimed from behind them. Harry looked up to find Luna Lovegood drifting over from the Ravenclaw table. Many onlookers stared at her, a few openly chuckling and pointing; she had managed to acquire a hat shaped like a life-size lion's head, perched precariously atop her own.
"I'm here to support Gryffindor," Luna announced unnecessarily, pointing at her peculiar hat. "Look what it does..." With a tap of her wand, the hat's mouth opened wide, emitting an extremely realistic roar that startled everyone nearby.
"Isn't it neat?" Luna beamed. "I had hoped it would chew up a serpent to represent Slytherin, but time was limited. Anyway... good luck, Ronald!"
She drifted away, leaving them still reeling from the surprise of her hat, just before Angelina hurried over, accompanied by Katie and Alicia.
"Are you ready to go?" Harry asked after ensuring Ron had some snacks for later. Ron obediently followed as they walked to the entrance of the Great Hall to make their way to the pitch. As they walked, Harry glanced up and spotted someone entering the hall. Instinctively, he hastened his steps to approach her.
"Hey, you look like you've been through it. Need a hug? What's up?" he said with a smile, as silence came over the Great Hall.
"With the kind of morning I've had, I could almost cast the Cruciatus on Draco right now," she replied, thankfully speaking so that only he could hear.
Harry immediately pulled her into a tighter hug, planting a kiss on her cheek right there in public. Their actions left everyone around them in shock. "I'm in a rush, but we'll catch up after the match, alright? Meet me near the changing room," he whispered to her. Daphne just nodded. With a smile, he dashed off with Ron.
"Ms. Greengrass!" a voice echoed from the teacher's desk, prompting Daphne to hurriedly walk over to the approaching form of Umbridge, unknowingly followed by McGonagall and Flitwick.
'Ugh!' she cursed silently in her mind. Daphne's cloudy thoughts were immediately brought back to reality. She saw Umbridge and the professors heading her way.
"Um, yes, Professor?" She asked politely, noticing the curious expressions of everyone in the Great Hall fixed on her.
"Public displays of affection are - "
McGonagall wasted no time in interrupting Umbridge before she could speak any further. "Dolores, Ms. Greengrass is already assigned detention with me tonight. And if I recall correctly from our last staff meeting, your schedule is packed with detentions for the next two weeks. Come with me, Mrs. Greengrass. I need to discuss your punishment," McGonagall instructed.
Daphne was taken by surprise as she blinked at the sudden twist of events. She obediently followed Professor McGonagall out of the Great Hall, her head spinning with bewilderment. She didn't dare look back, putting her trust in Tracey to fill her in on what was happening later.
Professor McGonagall led her to an empty classroom, and Daphne couldn't help but feel a surge of nervousness as she entered.
"You're surely aware of the trouble that woman causes," McGonagall began, shaking her head in disapproval. "It's a shame to see her targeting such a lovely young couple sharing good wishes before a Quidditch match. Do you have a jersey to wear?"
Daphne replied truthfully, "Yes, Harry gave me one."
"Good," McGonagall said with a nod, and Daphne sensed her approval. "For your 'punishment' tonight, you'll join me at the courtyard outside my office. Bring some snacks."
Daphne raised an eyebrow in confusion. "...What?"
"It's for the post-match celebration, in honour of Gryffindor's victory after the absence of Quidditch matches last year."
A brief smile crossed Daphne's face, but she quickly remembered her prior commitment. "But Professor, I actually have detention with Filch tonight on Snape's orders," she explained honestly.
McGonagall looked surprised. "Severus rarely gives detention to his own students," she murmured.
Daphne quickly clarified, "Well, it might be because I stood up for Harry. I had an argument with Malfoy last night because he insulted Harry, and I couldn't just sit there and let him insult my boyfriend."
McGonagall's eyes filled with pride, and placed a hand on Daphne's shoulder. "I will speak to Argus. Just come by later, all right?" McGonagall urged with a warm smile.
Daphne hesitated but then smiled shyly. "Are you sure I'm welcome, Professor? I mean, I'm not-"
"Don't worry about it! If anyone questions you, just tell them I invited you, and I'm certain Mr. Potter will vouch for you as well," McGonagall assured her.
"Alright then. I'll come, Professor," Daphne said, her reluctance melting away as she was taken aback by McGonagall's unexpected openness.
"Good! Now, go get changed. I'm sure Mr. Potter is looking forward to seeing you in the stands, wearing his jersey," she teased.
"Thank you, Professor. See you later!" Daphne bid her farewell.
After her conversation with McGonagall, Daphne felt a newfound lightness in her step, managing to muster a genuine smile. It was the first positive moment she had experienced all day. She hurried to the nearest restroom to change, proudly displaying whose team she was on for the day's match.
After bidding farewell to Daphne, McGonagall exited the room and was promptly greeted by Flitwick. "A party, eh? Sounds delightful!"
"Ah, hush, Fillius." She said with a small hint of a smile. "Those poor children... They need some cheer, especially in these times. I have a feeling in my bones telling me that dark days are looming ahead."
"Alas, Minerva, I share your concerns. Troubling times are on the horizon. I fear for the future of Hogwarts now more than ever." With a subtle nod towards the classroom door, Flitwick sought a moment to discuss what weighed heavily on his mind. Professor McGonagall graciously gestured, inviting him inside.
"So, what's on your mind?"
Flitwick, his usually cheerful demeanour now replaced with a more sombre one, took a moment to compose his thoughts. The weariness of age and worry marked his countenance as he tentatively joined his fingers together, his hands betraying the concern etched within his heart. "Minerva, rumours about Dolores have been circulating among our students... Some have been whispering about her detentions in hushed tones, thinking the prefects aren't paying attention. One of my first-years was utterly distraught when a sixth-year prefect assigned her a detention with Umbridge. The poor girl was on the brink of hysteria! She's an outstanding student, with only one previous detention from Dolores's class. First-year detentions can be daunting, but this seemed an extreme reaction."
McGonagall, her eyes focused intently on Flitwick, expressed genuine concern for the well-being of their students. "Did the student explain why she was so frightened?"
Flitwick shook his head, his gaze cast downward as he recalled the troubling incident. "No, she simply refused to speak. I was at a loss without a valid reason, and she wouldn't provide one. I attempted to take the detention upon myself, but that only seemed to alarm her further. Minerva, I am deeply concerned about that woman. If she's menacing or causing harm to our students..."
As the conversation delved deeper into their shared concern, McGonagall's demeanour shifted slightly. "Why did your prefect assign the detention to Umbridge? Isn't that typically your decision?"
Flitwick's features reflected a mixture of frustration and helplessness. "Apparently, it was linked to an incident in Umbridge's class. The student was avoiding her lesson for some unknown reason and was caught cutting class by my prefect. He argued that since she was skipping Umbridge's class, it was fair to assign her detention there. When he informed me, I found the decision reasonable. So, after approving the detention, I went to speak with the girl. It would be unfortunate to see such a promising student form a habit of skipping classes. But when I informed her about the detention, well... I was afraid I might have to call Poppy for help. Minerva, it's not normal for a student to react in such a manner towards a teacher!"
McGonagall's expression conveyed a sense of unease as she considered the severity of the situation. "I've heard similar tales among my students, but I tend to dismiss much of the second-year gossip. My students are more spirited than yours, and it's become a pastime in my house to invent stories about how Severus mistreats students during his detentions - and we both know the worst he does is have them clean cauldrons and prepare simple yet distasteful potion ingredients. I assumed this was more of the same, but now you've left me feeling uneasy. Such a reaction... that's deeply troubling."
Their conversation concluded with an air of determination as McGonagall laid out her plan. "Keep me informed if you discover anything, Fillius. I intend to meet with my prefects and advise them against assigning detentions to her. If necessary, I'll personally dedicate all my free time to overseeing the detentions myself."
Flitwick, his worry still etched across his features, nodded in agreement. "A prudent plan. Perhaps our seventh-year prefects and the head boy and girl could offer their support. If that foul woman is indeed doing anything to hurt our students, I will personally blast her off of the Astronomy tower."
A hardened steel glint sharpened in McGonagal's eyes. "And I'll be there when she lands to drag her all the way back up so I can have my turn."
.
.
\ Thanks for Read! /
