Daphne had been waiting outside the infirmary for a long time. She had lost track of how long. Could it have been 20 minutes? 30? An hour?

She didn't know. What she did know was that she was no less nervous from when she started waiting.

After being rescued from the lake during the Second Task, Daphne had been given a check up by Madam Pomfrey. Once she was deemed good to go, she had been asked to leave to allow space for those who needed attention.

Fleur Delacour had been injured during the task, her leg slashed by one of the many creatures living in the lake. With that injury, she couldn't complete the task and was forced to exit the lake, leaving her hostage, her younger sister Gabrielle, in the lake. Fleur's injury wasn't too devastating and given proper care and a couple days rest, would be fine. What really bothered the Beauxbatons champion was that her sister was still in the lake. Fleur had been screaming once she was brought out of the lake, kicking and fighting against the officials to go back into the lake and rescue her sister.

Daphne could understand where she was coming from. If it had been Astoria at the bottom of the lake… Daphne wasn't sure she'd be much better. In fact, she knew she'd have been much worse.

Thankfully Gabrielle was brought back safely to the surface and into the arms of her sister, who crushed her sister in a tight hug. The one who had brought Gabrielle back was Hadrian.

When it had been made clear what was going on with Fleur, Hadrian had jumped back into the water with no hesitation, even though the gillyweed he had used to breathe underwater had worn off and he had an injury himself. Apparently while trying to bring his girlfriend up to the surface Hadrian had been attacked by an overzealous merperson. The merperson had launched their spear at her boyfriend and had slashed his arm.

The elder of the merpeople had already issued an apology to Headmaster Dumbledore and swore that the spear thrower would be punished.

Daphne felt her boyfriend was lucky when he returned with Gabrielle, if he didn't already have an injured arm, she would've hit him repeatedly on it for making such a brash decision. It was too Gryffindor-ish for her liking. So instead she settled for hitting him upside the head.

Her boyfriend was still in the infirmary all these hours later, and her nervousness was beginning to rise. She hoped that the injury wasn't too serious, it didn't seem like it was anything to endangering.

Just as her mind was beginning to wander down a path of horrible possibilities, the doors to the infirmary opened and the source of her worrying stepped out.

He was wearing his school uniform, and his left arm was in a sling.

Once he spotted her, Hadrian had walked over to her and the two began walking to The Great Hall for dinner.

"How bad is it?" She asked, looking at his sling.

"Not too bad." He answered. "Pomfrey said that I had to keep it in this sling for the rest of the night and that if I don't do anything strenuous with it for a couple days, I'll be fine."

Daphne let out a sigh of relief. "Good. I wouldn't be able to be angry with you if you were too badly hurt."

"Angry? Why would you be angry with me?" Hadrian asked, confused.

Daphne crossed her arms and gave him an angry pout. "You dove back into the lake with an injured arm and without any way to breathe! What were you thinking!?"

Hadrian gave her a sheepish grin and scratched the back of his head. "Ah, well…"

Daphne gave him a look that said she was waiting to hear his explanation and that it had better be good.

"What was I supposed to do? Just let her drown?"

"You could have let the officials handle it. They had an agreement with the merpeople."

"Yeah, but when has anything in this tournament gone to plan? I couldn't risk someone, let alone a little girl, getting hurt because of their neglect."

Daphne thought over his response. "I suppose I can see where you are coming from."

Hadrian let out a sigh in relief.

"However," He sighed too soon. "That was still an incredibly reckless decision to dive into the lake like that."

"You're right." He placated. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have dove back in with a plan."

Daphne let out a "Humph." Which was the most he was going to get.

"If it means anything to you, I'm getting punished for it right now."

"What do you mean?" Daphne asked.

"I was planning to have some steak and potatoes for dinner tonight."

"And why can't you?"

Hadrian gestured to his left arm. "Eating steak is a two hand job. Kinda hard to cut it with one hand."

"Well…" Daphne began, "There is a way you can still have steak tonight."

Hadrian raised his eyebrow. "How?" He asked.

Daphne's cheeks had gotten slightly more red. "I could… feed it to you…"

Hadrian stopped. His brain needed all the power it could to process what had just been offered to him.

"Are… Are you serious?" He asked.

"Y-yes." Daphne replied. She seemed more timid and flustered now. Her hands were clasped in front of her and her head was slightly tilted down, her gaze on the floor below her.

"It's just that… Um… How would we do it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we would have to sit at the same table. In front of everybody. Are you ok with that?"

Despite being seen going to the Yule Ball together, no one in the school knew the definitive status of their relationship. Once all the students came back from the holidays, the castle was abuzz with rumours and speculation on the two. Daphne had been confronted by Draco Malfoy and his clique about her relationship with Hadrian. She told Malfoy to mind his own business and when that didn't work she gave him a reminder about how she got the nickname "The Ice Queen".

Since then she had been left alone by those in Slytherin, the ones who weren't intimidated by her actions left her alone due to her status as the heiress of a powerful family. Sadly no matter how intimidating she tried to be she could not avoid both her sister and best friend. Tracy had been the one to encourage her to accept Hadrian's invitation in the first place and had helped her get ready for the ball. And acide from a couple of teases here or there Tracy left her alone. Her sister on the other hand had been relentless in her prodding.

Everyday she would have to deal with her sister's countless questions about her and Hadrian.

"Are you and Potter dating?"

"How long have you liked him?"

"When's the wedding?"

"Can I be maid of honor?"

"Name your firstborn after me?"

"Is he a good kisser?"

On and on it went.

By sitting together and doing something as intimate as feeding him, Daphne would be giving the Hogwarts Rumor Mill the answer to its most sought after question.

Making up her mind, Daphne grabbed her boyfriend's good hand and began leading him to the Great Hall. She pushed the doors open and once it became clear who was entering, the hall became silent.

Members from all four houses and some from the other two schools, looked at the two new arrivals who were holding hands. Eventually whispers began to start and people huddled up into groups sharing their thoughts on the young couple.

Daphne glanced at two tables, one with occupants wearing red and gold, the others wearing green and silver. Daphne knew which was the safer choice.

With her head held high, Daphne walked with her boyfriend and sat down at the Gryffindor table. Without looking at anyone else she began filling a plate with a piece of steak and some roasted potatoes.

With her plate set, she grabbed a knife and fork and began cutting a piece of the steak. She held the fork up to her boyfriend.

"Ok, open up."

Hadrian stared at the fork with a piece of steak on it. "We're really doing this, huh?"

"Yep." Daphne smiled. Being able to do something like a couple with her boyfriend without having to hide it anymore made her happy.

"Say "Ahhh"."

"Ahhh." Hadrian dutily followed, and closed his mouth when the steak had entered.

Daphne placed another piece on the fork. She began moving the fork around in the air, imitating flight. "Here comes the quaffle."

"You're enjoying this aren't you?"

"Very much."

Hadrian opened his mouth and Daphne placed the fork inside.

"Good job." She praised, sounding like she was speaking to a small toddler. Hadrian was slightly embarrassed by the fact he was enjoying this. Only slightly.

"What about Tracy?" Hadrian asked. He knew Daphne spent most of her meals in the hall with her best friend.

"Tracy is a big girl, Harry. She can handle herself." Daphne said, cutting into a potato. They both looked over to the Slytherin table where Tracy was sitting, and were given a nod and a raised glass by the girl.

The two continued their dinner, Daphne fed Hadrian while occasionally taking some food for herself.

One time she went to grab a potato when Hadrian stopped her and took the fork from her and placing it in front of her.

"Open up." He said.

"W-what are you doing?" Daphne asked.

"I'm feeding you." Hadrian answered. "It's only fair, right?"

"R-right." Daphne stuttered, her blush returning.

Hadrian was amazed that his girlfriend could find a way to make eating a potato the most adorable thing he had seen.

He let out a chuckle.

"What?" Daphne asked, annoyed.

"Nothing, it's just that you're so cute."

Daphne's blush deppened. She snatched the fork from him and began cutting the steak again, doing her best to avoid eye contact. Hadrian couldn't stop the smile that adorned his face.

"What is she doing here?" A voice asked, bringing the two out of their little world.

They both looked in the direction of the voice to see it belonged to a girl with red hair so bright it was almost orange. It was Ginny Weasley, the youngest and only girl of the Weasley family.

Daphne's mood worsened quickly. According to Hermione, Tracy and even her sister, Ginny Weasley had a massive crush on Hadrian. And after seeing her interact with her boyfriend Daphne came to the same conclusion. Which meant she did not like Ginny. Not one bit.

"Oh, hey, Ginny." Hadrian greeted.

Bless his soul, the poor boy didn't even know that the only Weasley girl had a crush on him. Or if he did he didn't realize how deep it went.

Ginny responded by folding her arms and staring directly at Daphne with a frown. She repeated her earlier question. "What is she doing here?"

Daphne gave a smile, the same polite one she had mastered and used at the many functions her family would attend. She knew it would piss Ginny off.

"I'm just having dinner with my boyfriend. He needs a bit of help since he's so reckless." Daphne pinched Hadrian's cheek, and gave him a little peck on it when he gave a little gasp of pain. The look on Ginny's face was worth it. She was turning as red as her hair.

"Sorry to break up this little… whatever, but you need to leave. This is the Gryffindor table and last I checked you're not a Gryffindor." Ginny ended her sentence with a smug smirk, thinking she'd won.

"Actually there's no rule that states that students must sit at their house tables during meal times. It's only mandatory during special feasts like the opening and closing ceremonies and during holidays like Samhain and Yule."

Ginny's smirk faded into a sneer. Just as she was about to retort, another voice spoke up.

"She's right."

All three of them turned to see Hermione walk up to them; she had entered the Great Hall with Neville and Tracy by her side.

"No rule stipulates that students must sit at their house tables. Everyone just assumes it."

"And you know what they said about assuming." Tracy taunted.

"But, but-" Ginny stammered.

"Butts are for sitting." Tracy interrupted. "Now if you don't mind, I think the lovely couple would like to finish their meal."

Ginny turned towards said couple, Daphne gave a wave goodbye, still giving her polite smile. Ginny turned towards Hadrian as if expecting him to do something. Instead he just stared at the steak on his plate. It was just laying there waiting to be eaten.

Ginny let out a groan before stomping out of the Great Hall.

"Thank you." Daphne said to her friends.

"No problem." Tracy waved off. "Anything for my favorite forbidden couple."

"Forbidden couple?" Hadrian asked.

"Don't get her started." Daphne told him. Tracy had taken great delight in comparing her and Hadrian's relationship to ones in romance novels.

"Two students kept apart by their house prejudices, coming together because their love is too strong."

Daphne would always say that Tracy read far too many novels.

"Well, enjoy your dinner." Tracy said as she walked over to the Slytherin table.

Hermione and Neville walked to the other side of the table to sit across from the happy mixed house couple.

"Now then," Daphne said as she stabbed another piece of steak onto a fork. "Where were we?"