A/N:
Hi! New chapter. I hope you continue to enjoy reading this fic :)
Ask and you shall receive - portions of this chapter were inspired by ideas left by comments. I'll leave a list of credits at the end of the chapter.
As always, feel free to leave a comment if you want to see something, tell me you like the fic, or give constructive criticism. Otherwise, just sit back and enjoy (hopefully)!
Daphne Greengrass watched as her boyfriend walked into the Great Hall that morning, wearing an uncharacteristically somber expression.
Harry Potter gave her his customary greeting, sat down in his customary seat across from her, and began eating his customary breakfast.
But he didn't give her his customary 'good morning' kiss.
Possible Emotion Detected: Panic
"Are you breaking up with me?" Daphne asked.
Harry dropped his fork. "W-what? N-no of course not!" he spluttered.
"Then where is my kiss?"
Harry turned away guiltily. "Um, Daphne? It's just, I've been wondering…"
Harry lost his nerve, and his sentence trailed off.
"I will not share you with anyone else," Daphne said firmly. "I have recently discovered that I am the jealous type."
"Oh!" Harry said, taken aback. "That wasn't what I was asking at all! I get jealous too, and I have no interest in anyone other than you anyway. What I was going to ask, well, I was just curious…"
Harry's sentence trailed off again.
"I am 5'9", 130lbs, and my measurements are 34-23-35."
Harry gawked at her, bewildered. "You use the imperial system?"
Daphne raised her hands in an approximation of a shrug. "I was built in America."
Harry shook his head to clear his thoughts of numbers that he was very interested in, but not actually asking about at the moment.
"What I really wanted to know," he began hesitantly, "was, um, how old are you?"
"What do you mean?" she asked. "I am in my sixth year, like you."
"Right, but, you're not like, six years old, are you?"
Daphne stared at her boyfriend for a moment. "Do I look like a six year old to you?" she inquired, gesturing to herself.
"Well, no," Harry admitted. "It's just, er, looks can be deceiving."
Daphne compiled all of Harry's words from that morning and cross-referenced it with what she knew of the boy in an attempt to calculate what he was getting at. In 0.64 seconds, she arrived at an answer.
"I see," she said. "You are worried that my consciousness has been around for far less time than your consciousness has."
"Yeah, basically…" Harry said nervously.
"Do not worry Harry, my appearance is reflective of the age of my sentience. I am sixteen years old, like you."
Harry sighed in relief. A thought struck him, and he turned to his girlfriend. "How does that work, exactly?"
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I mean, you don't physically grow, do you?"
Daphne shook her head so precisely it was almost hypnotic. "Not as such. But every summer, I get my appearance updated based on a simulation of a child cross-referenced by my parents' genetic code."
"Wow!" Harry exclaimed. "That's actually super cool!"
Possible Emotion Detected: Happiness
Whirrrrr
"I am glad you feel that way," Daphne said, feeling the tell-tale warmth of happiness bloom in her metal heart.
Harry gave his girlfriend an affectionate look. "So we're open about the whole robot thing now?"
Daphne paused for a moment, reflecting on her error.
Printing Thought Sequence: Oops.
Continuing Protocol: Denial
"I am not a robot. I am a perfectly normal sixteen year old girl."
Daphne Greengrass didn't hate many people. There were a few though.
"Potter," Professor Snape intoned from the front of the class. "What would I get if I mixed Faerie Dust, Mermaid Tears, Moonlit Dewdrops, and Shadowfern Leaves?"
Possible Emotion Detected: Anger
Printing Thought Sequence: That is an advanced potion that was only ever published in an obscure journal from the 19th century! How does he expect Harry to know the answer to that!?
Daphne hated bullies, and Snape was most definitely a bully. Which is why, while she also hated cheating, she didn't mind making an exception in this particular instance.
"That would be the 'Transmuter's Brew', sir," Harry replied, reading from the piece of paper that Daphne was holding covertly behind her.
Snape narrowed his eyes at the boy. "And who was it credited to?"
"Emmet Coban and Patrick Hartley," Harry replied quickly and confidently. His girlfriend had already predicted that particular follow-up, and it was printed neatly on the paper next to the name of the potion.
Snape eyes narrowed further. He knew Harry was cheating, but he just didn't know how…
"Come to the front of the class and demonstrate the correct way to brunoise a frog skin."
Snape didn't teach the students how to brunoise ingredients until 7th year, and Harry wouldn't be able to cheat if he was right in front of him.
I've got you now, Potter! Snape thought gleefully.
Daphne felt her gears overheat at the obvious display of unfair bias the potions professor was showing her boyfriend. Unfortunately, despite her best calculations, she couldn't think of a way to help Harry brunoise the frog's skin from where she sat.
Possible Emotion Detected: Uselessness
Printing Thought Sequence: Sorry Harry, but there is no way for me to assist you here…
An incredibly dejected Daphne watched her boyfriend walk up to the front of the class, accept the potioneer's knife and frog skin from Professor Snape, and…demonstrate a perfect brunoise.
Harry winked at his girlfriend from where he stood at the front of the class.
I hope I looked cool just then, Harry thought as he walked back to his seat, leaving the stunned professor behind.
Ultimately, while Snape didn't teach the brunoise cut until 7th year, Harry had already learned it years ago. As it were, Harry's mother Lily was a muggleborn and an excellent cook, and Harry had been helping her in the kitchen since he was old enough to walk.
But stodgy old Snivellus probably hasn't ever cooked a meal in his life, Harry thought smugly. I bet he didn't even know ingredient preparation is the same for cooking as it is for potions!
As Harry walked past her back to his seat, Daphne felt her gears overheat again.
Only this time, it wasn't due to anger.
Printing Thought Sequence: I will admit, that was very fetching.
Harry and his friend Hermione stood staring at a large announcement posted on the wall just outside of the Great Hall.
Congratulations Daphne Greengrass, for receiving the highest score ever recorded by the Ministry of Magic during the O.W.L. exams last year!
"Your girlfriend is quite impressive," Hermione said with a depressed sniffle.
"Hey, you're really impressive yourself!" Harry encouraged her.
Below the announcement of Daphne's staggering accomplishment was another, smaller one.
Congratulations Hermione Granger, for receiving the second highest score ever recorded by the Ministry of Magic during the O.W.L. exams last year!
"..."
"Second place isn't so bad-"
"Harry," Hermione cut him off. "Don't say that word."
He looked at her confusedly. "Which word? Secon-"
"Stop!"
"Oh, okay."
It's not fair! Hermione thought when they got back to the Gryffindor common room. How am I supposed to compete against Daphne Greengrass!?
In her first year, Hermione wanted to be friends with Daphne, seeing as how they both always had their heads buried in books.
In her second year, Hermione wanted to be rivals with Daphne, seeing as how they both always got the best grades in all their classes.
In her third year, Hermione started to become suspicious. She was pulling her hair out trying to stay on top of all twelve of the classes she insisted on taking, requiring extracurricular tutoring to pass the classes that conflicted with her schedule. That year, Hermione barely slept, barely ate, and was at an all time low in her life, but Daphne Greengrass maintained the same twelve class course load as her, without even batting one perfect eyelash.
Hermione eventually learned better study habits, found an improved life balance, and was able to continue taking all the classes she wanted, but she could still never get the same results as Daphne. As Hermione continued to observe her over her next few years at Hogwarts, she came to a shocking realization.
She clearly isn't human!
Harry obviously couldn't tell Hermione that his girlfriend was a robot, but he didn't want her to take her 'loss' too badly.
"Really Hermione," he started. "Your results are amazing, and I'm proud of you."
"Thanks Harry," she said dejectedly. "Not as amazing as Daphne though…"
Harry scrunched up his face as he thought about how much he could tell Hermione. "No one should be comparing themselves to Daphne," he said eventually. "She's able to do things that other people would find…impossible."
If only you knew how true that was, Hermione thought to herself.
Hermione obviously couldn't tell Harry that his girlfriend wasn't human, not when they'd finally gotten together after six years of him talking about her non-stop.
And even if I did tell him, would he even believe me? My theories at the moment are that she's either an alien or a robot, but I'm leaning towards the latter. It sounds ludicrous to say out loud, but the things she's capable of are just…impossibly improbable.
"I'm not comparing myself to her," Hermione sighed. "I just wish I was able to get a perfect score in all twelve subjects while still looking like a fashion model that's getting a full night's sleep."
Harry shrugged. "That sounds like comparing to me. Just think about all of the people that wished they could get an almost perfect score in all twelve subjects while still looking like, er, you."
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, I think you're pretty," he said. "But you definitely don't look like you're getting a full night's sleep."
Hermione looked at her reflection in the common room window, and noted her slightly frizzy hair and tired-looking eyes. Harry had a point.
"Thanks Harry," she said after a while. "I feel a bit better now."
"Don't mention it. And remember, try not to be too competitive with Daphne; she's a prodigy among prodigies and you'll just drive yourself crazy."
Oh Harry, Hermione thought. She's not just a prodigy. If you stay with Daphne, one day you'll be in for a big surprise…
"Daphne, I know you're, well, not a human. So how do you do magic?"
"With a wand."
Harry shook his head. "No, I know, but I mean, how are you able to do magic?"
Daphne quirked her head at him. Harry had noticed she was trying to act more 'human' lately with these little mannerisms.
"How are you able to do magic?" Daphne asked him eventually.
"Er, I'm not sure?"
"So why do you think I would know how I am able to do magic?"
"Hmm, you have a point."
"You ask silly questions sometimes, Harry."
"I guess I do…"
Daphne watched fondly from the stands as her boyfriend flew around the quidditch pitch with a bunch of first and second years students.
"You can't catch me!" he yelled as he flew circles around them. Occasionally he would slow down and one of the kids would almost catch him, but then he'd pull away at the last second, much to their frustration.
This was supposed to be 'Gryffindor quidditch team prospect training', but Daphne knew Harry just liked to fly around with the kids, and was using his privileges as the team captain to book the field for a fun activity day. Ultimately, half the students on the pitch weren't even Gryffindors.
When they were done, Harry walked over to Daphne, ruffling the hair of a couple first year boys on his way, and stood in front of her with a big smile on his face.
"You seem to have enjoyed yourself," she said.
Harry shrugged. "I do it for the kids."
"I think you do it just as much for yourself as you do for them."
"It could be."
Daphne looked at Harry then, and while it was impossible for anyone other than herself to tell, she grew serious. "Do you like to be around kids, Harry?"
"I love it," he replied honestly. "I have eight siblings at home - all younger. Growing up with them, I guess, really made me understand them, and how to work with them."
"You seem quite good with them..." she agreed.
"Is something the matter, Daphne?"
While her neutral expression obviously hadn't changed, over the past month of dating the robot girl Harry was starting to get a sixth sense for when something was troubling her.
Possible Emotion Detected: Anxiety
Simulating Physiological Response…
Daphne felt the circuitry in her chest contract.
Printing Thought Sequence: What will he think?
"Harry," she started. "I would like to be honest with you."
"Of course Daphne," he said earnestly, coming to sit next to her on the bench. "You can tell me anything."
She looked away from him, and manually deactivated her peripheral vision. She couldn't bear to see his reaction, just in case.
"I will never be able to have a child."
Harry looked at his girlfriend as she stared into the pitch, too scared to make eye contact with him. Her hands were placed neatly in her lap, and he could've sworn they were shaking, ever so slightly. A fierce wave of protectiveness washed over him, and he wrapped his arms around her, taking her hands in his.
"Hey, don't worry about that, alright?" he said softly. "I already knew that."
"You did?" she asked, turning her head towards him.
"I guessed," he replied, giving her a kiss. "I know we have our differences, biologically speaking, but I love you and no matter what comes up we'll make it work, okay?"
Daphne buried her face into his chest. Though she didn't know how to cry, at that moment she wished she did.
"You know, seven of my eight siblings are adopted," Harry told her later that evening.
By unspoken agreement they had spent all day in the stands, occasionally talking, but mostly just enjoying each other's company in silence.
"Really?"
"Yep. My parents had me, and my younger sister, but the rest are adopted. A lot of kids were left without homes after the war, and there's always some muggle families that realize their child is magical at a young age and give them up."
"So your parents took them in?"
Harry nodded. "They have a bit of a philanthropic streak."
"They sound like nice people," Daphne commented. "I would like to meet them one day."
"I'd be game, I'm sure they'll love you. My siblings too," he added.
"A big family sounds nice."
"It is," Harry concurred. "Do you have any siblings?"
"One," Daphne said. "My younger sister, Astoria. My younger half-sister, anyway."
"Is that complicated?" Harry asked.
"Not really. My parents…made me when they discovered my mother was infertile. She died when I was young, and a few years later my father remarried, and Astoria was born."
"Oh." Harry thought that did sound rather complicated. "So your parents made you?"
Daphne nodded her head. "My mother was an unparalleled genius at combining technology and magic; the only one in history to do so effectively, according to my records. Her work is so advanced that even I cannot understand her notes."
Harry reflected on that. "So do you think you're the only robot girl in the world?"
"According to my calculations, there is a 99.867% chance that I am the only robot girl in the world."
"I guess I'm lucky to have found you then."
Whirrrrr
Harry Potter watched as his girlfriend walked into the Great Hall the next morning, wearing a characteristically detached expression.
Daphne Greengrass gave him her customary greeting, sat down in her customary seat across from him, and began eating her customary breakfast.
But she didn't give him her customary 'good morning' kiss.
He took a sip of orange juice, wondering if she was about to break up with him.
"How many kids are we going to have, and when do we start?" she asked.
Harry spat out his orange juice. "W-what?" he spluttered.
"I thought about it last night, and I decided I want us to adopt when we are older."
"Oh, sure," Harry blushed. "I'd like that. But don't you think it's a bit early to be talking about kids?"
"Children require planning, Harry, and no planning is too early."
"Okay, I guess…" he said, taking another sip of juice.
"So how many kids do you want? Personally, I think nine is the ideal num- Harry, you really have to stop spitting out your juice!"
A/N:
Thanks for reading! Did you like it? It accidentally got a little more serious at the end there, so let me know if that wasn't your thing.
Idea Credits:
ThingsCanBeTwoThings: How would Daphne deal with people who dislike Harry, like Snape?
Anee-1 and Anon: Hermione has known Daphne was a robot for years.
Azuremane: How does a robot cast magic in the first place? (HB: Sorry for the copout lol, I'll develop it more later)
PrinceCharmingIsDead: Harry is perfectly happy with adoption, but Daphne doesn't know that and gets nervous. (HB: I might've made it a bit too heavy lol)