Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K.R!

This story is a collaboration's work between Avoranger and Cal the Wandcrafter!

.

Hope you like this chapter!

Enjoy! \(OvO)9

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Their plan to investigate Wally Wimbles in Hogsmeade remained unrealized amid the chaos of their busy lives—classes, mounting homework, and their clandestine study group consumed much of their time. January flew by, unnoticed, as they found themselves immersed in their commitments. February, however, ushered in a sense of anticipation. The long-awaited Hogsmeade weekend coincided with Valentine's Day, a prospect that both excited and worried Harry. Memories of his disastrous date with Cho Chang still haunt whatever part of his brain was responsible for conjuring up embarrassing memories from years ago, but this time, he was determined to avoid such mishaps. However, Hermione's failure to arrange the interview with Skeeter left Harry questioning their upcoming future - despite literally trying to rewrite history, uncertainty of outcomes still worried him. But more than that, Hermione's still cautious demeanour around him only added to his confusion. He remembered somewhat fondley, the interview he had done with Luna and Skeeter… more so the Luna half than the Skeeter part… and wondered if it would be possible to arrange something else this time around. Yet, with The Quibbler banned from the castle, Harry pondered the significance of revealing the truth about the graveyard incident. Would it have made a difference? The mixed responses from readers left him uncertain. As he mulled over these thoughts, he realised the importance of discussing them with Hermione, hoping to reassure her and restore her confidence. Despite his internal turmoil, Harry's face lit up with a broad smile as he devised his plan.

"Harry!" Daphne's voice interrupted his musings, bringing a smile to his face as he greeted his girlfriend's arrival. "What's with that grin? Do you like it?" she asked, doing a spin as she showed off the swish of her short green skirt cutting off definitely too short for normal Hogwarts dress code, and DEFINITELY too short for Umbridge's rules, pulling attention to the black thigh high stockings stretching the length of her toned legs, matching the black knit jumper she had covering her button down shirt and tie (slightly unbuttoned and loose around her neck in a fractionally dishevelled fashion she knew drove Harry mad) she was wearing. Despite knowing she looked like the best woman in all of Britain, her tone was a mix of concern and shyness. "Astoria convinced me to wear it, so I know it's probably… well, Astoria."

Harry chuckled, once again thankful to his future sister-in-law and her obsessive love of muggle fashion. "You look absolutely gorgeous… But I think I am a bit biassed." Watching her amused grin he explained, "You always look beautiful to me, no matter what you wear. Even if you wore that garish canary yellow jacket that Astoria was so fond of, you would still make it look amazing." he reassured her.

"Would I really look that good? How about when I'm not wearing anything?" Daphne teased, her cheeks flushing.

Harry grinned mischievously. "That's definitely one of my favourite outfits for you," he replied, his eyes twinkling. "But let's save that for later. We've got a mission to tackle today," he added, squeezing her hand as they made their way towards one of the thestral carriages.

"So… You were thinking about something?" Asked Daphne when saw Harry lost in thought while seeing the thestral. Harry shook his head, his mind dwelling on the events of the past. Daphne arched an eyebrow, her smile masking a hint of danger in her voice as she spoke, "Was dating Chang that unforgettable?"

Harry's smirk hinted at teasing as he replied, "Not in the way you'd imagine… or maybe it is, I heard all of Hogwarts could tell it was a train wreck in motion, except for me. Are you feeling jealous?"

With arms folded, Daphne's tone turned serious, "Jealous, no. Annoyed by her constantly hopeful glances your way, yes"

"Really?" Harry grimaced. "She's still doing that?" He sighed and rubbed at the temples for a second " I know it's not polite conversation for Valentine's day, but dating Cho was a disaster. I shouldn't have asked her out in the first place."

"You had a crush on her, right?" Daphne prompted.

"Yeah, sort of. Third year I noticed she was pretty in passing and was a skilled seeker, so fourth year... I asked her to the Ball, but she was already going with Cedric instead," Harry shrugged. "Instead of getting to know each other on our date, she kept asking about Cedric, as if he had some last words before his death. How do you tell someone his last words were as a disembodied soul, offering to distract the man who killed him so I could return his body to his father? I may have been a bit dense back then, but even I realised the relationship was doomed to fail." he explained, frustration evident in his voice. "She's a sweet girl, but… I know I've been coming off as mean to her when she tries to approach me, and I'm not trying to… but it's just. Well, I can't think of anything else to do besides brush her off. If she insists on talking to me again, I want you there," he added.

Daphne smiled, reassuring him, "I'll be there, Harry. Maybe this is something to let Professor Flitwick know about. He is her head of house, so maybe he can get her someone to talk to for help. Now, enough depressing talk about your exes, let's enjoy today!" She leaned against him, and he kissed her hand before embracing her. As they parted, he opened the door to the carriage for Daphne, who took his offered arm and stepped upwards into the confines with a giggle, as she made a show of bending over to climb across the seats, and she knew Harry would appreciate the quick flash of black lace across her smooth skin underneath her skirt.

"Well this is already shaping up to be my best Hogsmeade date yet. Don't you want to share any stories of your previous bad dates?" Harry spoke with a teasing glint in his eyes.

She settled down at the far side of the carriage as Harry joined her, entwining their hands together. "Well considering my very limited dating history, here's a story about my first boyfriend. We went on a trip to Thailand once and I got food poisoning that lasted the entire week, and his pillow at the motel had fleas that even magic couldn't get rid of. I wanted to go to Spain."

"Hey! I already apologised for that!" Harry laughed indignantly. "And we went to Spain later that summer, remember?"

She leaned her head down towards him in relaxation, and swung her legs over his lap, as he began to massage the muscles of her calves. "Hmmmmm. I miss the sand on the muggle beach resort. Let's go again sometime?"

"Anything for you, Daphne dear. But speaking of the past, do you remember what else happened around Valentine's in fifth year?"

Daphne pondered for a moment. "Umbridge enforced another absurd rule about expelling students who had The Quibbler," she recalled. "I didn't read it. My housemates thought it was a joke, so no one bothered. Besides, asking students from other houses for it? Unlikely. But Astoria might have read it, considering she was friends with Luna, even back then," she added.

Harry sighed, a hint of disappointment evident. "So only hearing rumours, what did you think?" he asked, eager to hear her opinion.

Daphne sensed the shift in Harry's mood, her concern evident as she turned to face him before speaking. "Let's go back to when you returned, screaming about Voldemort's return. I was confused. Wasn't he killed years ago? Maybe Cedric died some other way. I was in denial, I didn't think you were lying; I just couldn't believe it yet. So, I wanted to know if what you said was true or made up. I needed to prove it myself."

"After I got home, I started researching. Unfortunately, I didn't find much, just bits from the Daily Prophet. I wanted to ask my father, but he was busy with family business and other duties. The Prophet was smearing your name, and I didn't like it. Then your trial... I'm sorry, but you didn't convince me with your performance in court," Daphne admitted, causing Harry to wince at the memory. He acknowledged to himself that the trial had been disastrous; he had been naive about the dangers of politics.

"During our fifth year, I started observing you more closely," she continued, prompting Harry to raise an eyebrow in curiosity. "Did you notice?"

"No, I didn't," Harry admitted. "I was a bit too broody to notice much, especially with Voldemort fucking with my brain."

"That frustrated me," Daphne confessed, a smirk playing on her lips. "Here I was, the most desirable girl in school, and you must have forgotten who I am or didn't care enough to notice," she added, squinting at him.

"I remember seeing you glaring at me a few times, but that's about it. I guess I just thought it was another student thinking I'm crazy," Harry sheepishly admitted.

Daphne looked at him incredulously. "I'm glad Susan intervened," she huffed, crossing her arms. "Men can be so thick headed sometimes."

"Wasn't it you who didn't realise we were dating until our fifth date, " Harry agreed, smiling innocently.

"How was I supposed to know that formal courtships were no longer in style! If anything, that's your fault for not telling me we were dating!"

He let out a laugh at the faux annoyed squint of her eyes, betrayed by the shine of mirth, "and I only remembered you as one of the classmates everyone feared and admired. Seamus often mentioned your name in the dorms but, I'm sure you don't want to hear about that."

Daphne buried her face in her hands at Harry's confession. "Did you enjoy talking about me?" she asked flatly.

"I just listened, I swear," Harry protested, sensing her intense gaze. "Well... maybe I answered a few questions he threw at me," he admitted sheepishly.

Daphne shook her head in amusement at his embarrassment as Harry noticed her teasing expression. "Well, I guess it's safe to say that we talked about you in the Slytherin girls dorms too!" she said with a wide smile but with a dangerous gaze. Harry grimaced when still seeing her cold expression, feeling regret to bring the topic.

"Let me guess, Pansy whining about Draco obsessing after me instead of snogging her." It wasn't a question.

"Did you even have to ask? Tracey thought you were scrawny in an adorable 'I'd like to break him' kind of way, and Millicent was always scared that you would come attack us, like you could detect our thoughts across the castle. That may have been Blaise's fault, though. In second year, he started a rumour that you could spy on us using the snake statues around the house. Like one of those periscopes on a submarine, all leading to your hidden murder base in the Chamber of Secrets," The carriage halted at the designated area, and Harry assisted Daphne out before they strolled hand in hand towards the shops in Hogsmeade. Daphne sighed, recollecting their earlier conversation. "Remember what I said about the mercenaries my father hired? They were guarding the manor. When I asked why, he dismissed it, saying they were just hired guards until the war ended. Instead of feeling reassured, I grew suspicious of his actions."

"Then, during Easter break, a Death Eater attack occurred. It was then that I understood why I hesitated to believe you. It was just such a foreign idea, a concept I could not wrap my brain around until it was on my own doorstep. Since then, I no longer doubted your words," Daphne explained, her smile widening at the memory. "It was a turning point. I started believing in you, allowing Astoria to continue training with DA and began my own lessons with Tracey. Though most of the time, it's just me with Tracey accompanying me while I practised spell work in an abandoned classroom." she added.

"Very Tracey," Harry remarked with a chuckle.

She chuckled softly before offering him a slight smile. "Very Tracey, indeed," she remarked before returning to the topic at hand. "So, should we have the Quibbler publish the article again?"

"I'm still considering it. We'll need to reach out to Skeeter for the interview, since her eventual replacement at the Prophet is probably still in school," he replied.

"He's still in his seventh year at Beauxbatons, if I recall correctly. Perhaps we should consult Hermione about it, let her contribute once more," she suggested.

"That's my plan!" he affirmed.

Daphne nodded thoughtfully. "So, where exactly are the Greenhouses located? As a former Auror who patrolled extensively, you must know the layout of Hogsmeade better than I do."

"There are no Greenhouses in our future. I believe the Death Eaters destroyed them, and they were never rebuilt," he explained with a shrug.

"No wonder they're rebelling then. It seems no one cares about their plight," she said sadly.

"I suppose so, but it's not a strong enough reason to desire the destruction of the Wizarding World," he mused.

"Unless the leader of the Squib Rebellion happens to be a psychopath," she countered.

"Seriously? Calling them a psychopath seems a bit extreme. They could simply be fed up, which is a stronger motivation than mere anger over a destroyed garden," he reasoned.

"We can't dismiss the possibility, Harry. Until we have solid evidence, we must consider all potential profiles of the perpetrator," she insisted.

"I really don't think it's all because of a destroyed garden - besides, the attacks are happening now. But who knows, I've seen weird things." He paused for a minute and groaned in discomfort. "It's like we're hunting a new Dark Lord," Harry remarked, devoid of humour.

"With the level of damage they've caused, I wouldn't be surprised if they reach that status if left unchecked. Don't underestimate this, Harry. Unlike Voldemort, the identity of the Squib Rebellion leader is still unknown. The progress we've made is minimal, with the identification of the Squibs being our only significant breakthrough. I wasn't supposed to tell you this back when we were… yeah saying still in the future is always going to sound weird… but back when we were still in the future, my boss in internal affairs was about to go after the task force because he was suspecting there may have been someone magic involved in the attacks," she warned.

"I'm not taking it lightly, Daphne! Wait, seriously? He was thinking there was an insider?" Harry's eyes widened at the prospect of losing the case.

"I'm dead serious! I wasn't even supposed to know, but he suspected there was someone on the task force that was helping cover up evidence. Something about discrepancies in reports and evidence at the scene looking like it was tampered with, I'm not exactly sure," she stressed.

"It would be disastrous if the case were taken over," Harry grimaced. "And what the hell! I was practically running the task force myself, I vetted all the members, hand selected them because of their spotless records and high performance. I can promise you there's no one on the inside doing this."

"I know. That's why I I told them to go fuck off when they wanted me to gather information on you and the task force. I told them to go ahead and fire me, so I could go straight to the press about it."

"Wait, they wanted you to spy on me? What the hell!"

"That's one of the reasons I started to hate that job. Ever since Mario took over as head of Internal Affairs, he's basically just made it into his own anti-auror Gestapo and anyone who disagrees with him is obviously corrupt and has ties to the old regime under Yaxley. That actually may have been the reason why he's been so unrelenting on me and Tracey."

Harry couldn't help it as his fist clenched in anger, and Daphne couldn't help but agree with the sentiment. "I wonder if there's a way we can get someone else in charge of the DMLE and IA? Well not sure we could affect that much change to be honest, after all we are just two fifth year Hogwarts students."

"Who knows? Maybe we butterfly-affected a bunch of stuff? How about we deal with politics after we solve the issues in front of us right now. Like dealing with Voldemort, and stopping the bombings."

Harry let out a frustrated sigh. "You're always right, aren't you? I still have no clue how we're going to deal with Voldemort. It's probably going to be some big public showdown, not just quietly getting rid of his Horcruxes or sneaking up on him in the shower and stabbing him. It'd be nice to handle things without all the media attention for once."

As they reached the town square, Harry's gaze darted to a side street. "Hey, Daph. Since we're clueless about the Greenhouses, let's find someone who knows."

Daphne observed Harry's sudden enthusiasm with a smile. "Who?"

"Penny, obviously! Remember how he was friendly with Wally Wimbles?"

Daphne nodded. "You mean Penelope Clearwater? That's actually a good idea! Come on, let's head to the apothecary."

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Their arrival at Boomslang Apothecary was met with a warm welcome from the clerk. "Harry! Daphne!" she exclaimed upon recognizing them. "How are you two?" she asked, her smile wide.

"Hey, Penny. We're doing well, thanks for asking. How about you?" Harry replied on behalf of both of them.

"I've been better. The shop hasn't been doing so great since the Azkaban Breakout. Many people are still too afraid to venture out for fear of criminals. And it's not just our shop; many others are feeling the impact too. I'm even surprised Hogwarts still allows their students to roam freely without closer supervision from the Aurors," Penny lamented.

"Really? That sounds tough. I think the Hogwarts staff believed the situation was under control, so they let us go," Harry shrugged. He silently added, 'Probably only Umbridge thought that way anyway.'

"But yes, these criminals are causing a lot of trouble. It's affecting so many people. Let's hope the Aurors catch them soon," he continued.

"That's everyone's hope," Penny agreed, her spirits slightly lifted. "But I doubt it, considering how rampant corruption still is in the Ministry."

"You're not wrong, but I've heard that many of the escaped prisoners have been recaptured," Daphne chimed in, not wanting to diminish Amelia and her father's efforts.

"Is that true? Hmm... but not all of them have been caught yet, right?" Penny countered.

"Don't get me wrong, I don't support the corrupt government, but I know there are people out there doing their best to protect our country. I'm sure there are updates about it in the Daily Prophet," Daphne added.

Noticing the expressions on her young customers' faces, Penny quickly changed the topic. "Ah! Let's forget about that. So, what do you two need? Planning to spend some time together tonight, hmm? I know what day it is," she teased with a wink.

"Penny!" Daphne protested, her face turning red.

"We're not here to buy potions," Harry chimed in, also blushing.

"You two are adorable!" Penny exclaimed, grinning happily. "So, if not potions, why are you here?" she asked, crossing her arms and giving them a curious look.

"We actually wanted to ask about the greenhouses you mentioned the other day. I'm thinking of donating something to them. My aunt has a small garden, and I often help take care of it. So, I thought donating some seeds from common Muggle plants would be a good idea," Harry explained.

Penny nodded in agreement. "That's a great idea! What plants do you plan to donate?"

"Well, I was going to see if they would like anything specific, but my aunt has a few things planted that would put Hagrid's pumpkins to shame. She's quite proud of these green beans that grow up to a metre long, for example. There's also some fruit trees from a park near my aunt and uncles that make pretty good apples and pears. None of the super hard or bitter flavours. I was thinking about grabbing some clippings off of it for grafting. Do you think they'll find them useful?" Harry asked.

"Wow, that's fantastic! I don't think they have any fruit trees or any orchard space, but I know they were talking about expanding. I'm sure they'll appreciate it. Thank you both!" Penny's eyes sparkled with happiness at their thoughtful gesture.

"I just want to lend a hand. So, where do we need to go?" Harry inquired eagerly.

Penny enthusiastically explained the directions in detail, ensuring they understood. "When you get there, look for a man named Hernandez. He's the head of the squibs who manage the Greenhouses. Just tell him you were recommended by Penny from the pharmacy off of main street. Like the other Squibs, they're not always too fond of wizards."

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In the brisk afternoon breeze, Daphne clung tightly to Harry as they reached the spot Penny had mentioned. Surrounded by dense foliage, the location of the greenhouses remained concealed from casual passersby, a few hundred feet into the forest off a beaten dirt path on the far side of town. Taking cover behind a towering tree trunk, Harry cast a notice-me-not spell and a silencing charm to cloak their presence.

Daphne gestured towards several structures with curved roofs and translucent walls, resembling large semicircles. These greenhouses, though smaller than those at Hogwarts, thrived with lush vegetation even in the midst of winter - an odd occurrence in the late stages of winter, but Harry supposed it wouldn't be too difficult for a witch or wizard to cast a quick climate charm… maybe Penny had helped them out a bit.

"Somehow it's not quite what I expected. Let's go, then," Harry urged.

But Daphne hesitated. "But what about the donations? We don't really have anything to give them, do we?"

Harry pondered for a moment, realising his careless words to Penny might have implied false intentions. "I do want to help them, but I may have spoken without thinking... I'll let Winky know to gather some stuff for them. Good quality seeds, saplings and clippings."

"Smart. For now we can just introduce ourselves to the group and make it known that we are friendly faces. Then we can observe from a distance without looking too suspicious."

"Exactly."

As they approached one of the greenhouses, Harry and Daphne scanned the surroundings, nearing the entrance when a stern voice jolted them.

"What brings you here?!" a gravelly voice snapped from behind, causing them to whirl around to face a middle-aged man wielding a pitchfork, his eyes ablaze with anger. "You're Wizards, aren't you? Leave, we want nothing to do with you. You've caused us enough suffering!" he spat venomously.

"Forgive our intrusion, sir. We come in peace," Daphne interjected, attempting to defuse the tension.

"Bah, spare me your excuses! I've heard them all before!" the man retorted, his hostility unwavering.

Undeterred, Harry persisted with their mission. "Please, let us explain why we're here. We wish to donate seeds and saplings for your greenhouse garden," he implored.

The man eyed them suspiciously. "Who sent you? Was it Fudge?! We've made it clear, we won't sell this land. This place has been in Squib hands for generations. It's our sanctuary!" he declared vehemently.

Harry and Daphne exchanged surprised glances at the mention of Fudge's name, realising the gravity of the situation. They needed to tread carefully.

"We're not associated with Minister Fudge, sir. We're simply Hogwarts students informed about this greenhouse by Penny from the apothecary on the main street," Daphne explained, hoping to ease his hostility.

His demeanour softened slightly at the mention of Penny. "Penny told you about this place?" he inquired.

"Yes, sir. We heard about the greenhouse needing supplies, and we wish to contribute. However, we haven't brought the items yet, wanting assurance that our intentions are welcomed," Harry explained cautiously. "I had a bunch of muggle plants that I look after in my aunt's garden, and there are a few saplings of some fruit trees near where I live, they should be easy enough to transplant if you would like to start growing some fruit."

"Muggles?"

"Yes, sir. I live in a muggle community, and coincidentally, one of my neighbours is a Squib. You may know her; she's quite fond of her cats,"

Recognition flickered in the man's eyes. "Her name?"

"Mrs. Figg, perhaps you're acquainted?"

"Ah, Arabella!" A hint of warmth softened his features. "Yes, indeed! It's been years since our last encounter," he nodded. "So, she resides in a muggle neighbourhood now? No wonder we rarely see her here."

"Yes, sir. She's been my neighbour since childhood. She's a lovely woman. I've spent time with her when my family was occupied, so we've grown close. She's a good, brave woman. Over the summer she helped me and my cousin recover from a dementor attack."

"That she is. That's reassuring that she is doing well for herself," he smiled warmly, evidently pleased to hear of his old friend's well-being. "Ah, where are my manners? I'm Hernandez, the overseer of these greenhouses," he said, extending his hand in greeting.

"I'm Harry Potter, and this is my girlfriend, Daphne Greengrass," Harry replied, shaking Hernandez's hand as Daphne nodded in acknowledgment.

"Potter and Greengrass, quite an unexpected pairing. Are you the famous Harry Potter?"

"Yes, sir. And what do you mean by 'unexpected pairing'?"

"Well, it's not a common match. Your families have distinct traditions when it comes to finding partners. Gryffindor and Slytherin, two houses with contrasting reputations, rarely intertwine outside Hogwarts," Hernandez explained.

"You're quite knowledgeable, sir," Daphne remarked, intrigued.

He chuckled ruefully, "in my youth, before being estranged from my family, I immersed myself in British family histories. As an heir, it was expected of me to understand everything, including family dynamics—whether they could be allies, friends, or adversaries. Families as prominent as Potter and Greengrass aren't difficult to research. Fleamont Potter famed for his potion inventions, and Bernardy Greengrass for his economic prowess. Their activities were regularly featured in newspapers."

He sighed before continuing, "But that's in the past. I now enjoy the company of those who care for me. And as for you, Potter, I sympathise with how those rags have maligned you,"

Both Harry and Daphne were taken aback by Hernandez's perceptiveness. Daphne nodded, having been aware of her family's reputation, but for Harry, it was a revelation. He hadn't realised the extent of his grandfather's renown beyond inventing Sleekeazy's Hair Potion. Frustration flashed across his face; he'd need to delve deeper into his family's history later. "So, can we proceed with the donation?" he redirected the conversation, not wanting their primary purpose to be overshadowed by personal revelations.

Hernandez pondered for a moment. "Unfortunately, I can't make that decision alone. We'll need to convene a meeting. Return next week if you're still interested, or shall I convey the decision through Penny?"

"We can return next week, sir," Daphne affirmed, and Harry nodded in agreement.

"Good plan. Now, off you go. I've got plants to tend to. Until next week," Hernandez said before departing, leaving Harry and Daphne standing in the biting winter wind.

.


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A week later, Harry and Daphne returned to the Squib's greenhouses in Hogsmeade and obtained permission from the Squibs for a donation. Hernandez was accompanied by two other older Squibs named Paul and Rudd. Although not welcoming, they didn't drive them away, instead watching them with a menacing gaze like guard dogs.

Their meeting went smoothly despite the awkward and strange atmosphere. They agreed to accept donations from Harry after the Easter holidays due to various reasons they didn't elaborate on. Harry had no issue with the delay. However the most surprising part was being offered a tour of the premises, to which they eagerly accepted.

As Hernandez had described, it was a rather typical greenhouse, with long rows of radishes, beets, carrots, tomatoes and onions, fairly typical vegetables and nothing out of the ordinary as far as they could see.

As they walked around, Daphne suddenly grabbed Harry's hand to get his attention. With a subtle gesture, she pointed to another corner of one of the greenhouses they were visiting. Harry noticed Wally Wimbles yet again carrying a large bag of fertiliser in through a side entrance, unaware of their presence or nonchalantly continuing his activities. "Is this greenhouse specifically for growing vegetables?" Harry asked Hernandez, indicating the nearby greenhouse, prompting Wimbles reaction.

Hernandez turned his head to see which greenhouse Harry was referring to. "Yes, this one is for vegetables, we have a smaller one in the back for herbs and medicinal ingredients."

"This greenhouse is for us! Why should they even be here!" Their target interjected rudely without even bothering to turn towards them.

"Wally! These greenhouses are not just for your personal use! We've already agreed to let you control half of this one for your plants, but remember, you lost the vote on this a few days ago. Since the other half is free to use, it's up to us what we want to plant. Isn't that clear enough?"

Wally snorted in disgust. "How can you all easily accept gifts from those wizards? Have you forgotten how they treat us?"

"They're Penny's friends," Hernandez interjected, trying to defuse the tension.

"They must be lying!" Wally retorted angrily, finally turning to look at them with a sharp gaze of disdain.

"Penelope has confirmed it with me. Young Mr. Potter here even saved her life once, from how she tells the story. They can be trusted." Hernandez stated firmly.

Wally spat irritably, "I still don't agree with anything you want to plant here that comes from them. Mark my words, they are not here to help us. Nothing good will come from them," he said before storming off angrily.

The atmosphere became awkward, especially for the Squibs accompanying Harry and Daphne. Harry couldn't blame them; that reaction must have been common in their community when seeing wizards openly wanting to donate without asking for anything in return. Their trust in wizards was thin.

Hernandez sighed tiredly, "Don't mind him, that brat is indeed a troublemaker! Luckily, he's a hard worker and can take good care of the plants here. You could say he's very talented in farming, it's just his behaviour..." Hernandez shook his head in defeat.

"We understand, sir," Daphne said, reassuring Hernandez that it wasn't a significant issue.

Harry nodded solemnly, giving the man a smile. "Truthfully it's not words I haven't heard before. My aunt and uncle rather dislike magic, and are not the kindest people towards wizards. I didn't even know I was one until I got my letter." He noticed the slight look of sympathy in Hernandez's eyes before Harry looked out towards the nearby door, taking note of the dimming daylight. "Ah, it looks like we both have to return to the castle,"

"Oh, yes, it's almost dusk. We're expecting your donation after the Easter holidays,"

They bid farewell, discussing what they had seen along the way.

"It's a wonder Hernandez showed us around despite the other two looking so intimidating," remarked Daphne.

"That's actually understandable, especially given their history with witches and wizards. They're going out of their way because we know Penny," Harry observed.

"That's right," Daphne nodded in agreement, then frowned, "Why did you deliberately provoke Wimbles back there?"

"Oh? Did you catch on to my plan?" Harry grinned mischievously.

"It wasn't hard to guess, but was that the reaction you were aiming for?"

"No, I just wanted to see how he'd react to us being there. I didn't expect him to react so strongly. But at least now we know what he's like. And now we can also take a guess that Hernandez is not part of whatever plot is going on. More than likely it's him acting alone," Harry explained.

"I hope his animosity is solely directed at wizards, not because he's also been sent back in time like us,"

"That's our concern. We'll keep an eye on him next week. But more discreetly."

"So, we're going to play spy! That sounds exciting," Daphne's eyes lit up with the idea. Harry chuckled at his girlfriend's enthusiasm.

.


.

"Hey Hermione, are you busy? Can we talk?" Harry asked as he sat down next to her while she was studying in their favourite spot in the Gryffindor common room.

Hermione turned to him, surprised by his sudden request for a private conversation. "Sure, Harry! I'm done with my essays for this week. What's on your mind?" she asked, closing her books, "have you finished your homework?"

"Yeah, I'm done. Can we find somewhere quieter? This is something we shouldn't discuss in the open," Harry said, lowering his voice for the last sentence.

They found an empty classroom nearby, and Harry cast a privacy spell before speaking. "So, what did you want to talk to me about, Harry? You sounded quite serious," Hermione said, intrigued.

Harry grinned before getting serious. "I need you to do something for me," he began.

Hermione's interest was piqued. "What is it, Harry? Don't keep me in suspense!" she teased.

Harry chuckled before continuing, "I've been thinking about sharing what happened last year and the truth about Voldemort's return. But printing it in the Daily Prophet seems impossible. I need an experienced journalist to attract readers as an interviewer," he explained.

"HARRY! THAT'S BRILLIANT!" Hermione exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "Actually, I had thought about that before, but then we had that argument, and it slipped my mind. And I have an idea of who the perfect journalist for the job would be," Harry could see the gears turning in Hermione's head as she began to plan.

"I'm trusting you with this, Hermione!"

"Of course, Harry! Leave everything to me!" she replied with a wide grin.

...


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By the way, for whoever wants to read three chapters ahead, it's already on my Pat-site. Besides that, there's also exclusive oneshots in the same universe as 'The Time Bomb'. Fifth oneshots already released! The newest is 'Detective Tonks'!

www. pat-reon. c-om/Avoranger88

(type the link without the space and - before you enter it. You know what to do! lol)

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Let's join in and enjoy the stay!

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Favourite & Follow & Review!

\ Thanks for Read /