Chapter 23
Daphne really missed the manor. She missed home. Most of all, she missed her Mother's garden. Closing her eyes, she could see the crashing of waves against the cliff. If she kept them closed, she could even start to hear the rustling of the wind against the puffapods, and the accompanying dizziness that would follow.
Opening her eyes; all she saw was the periodic turning of her sister on her bed. Next to her sister's bed was a plate full of food that Daphne had unsuccessfully tried to get her sister to eat. Even with the dim light provided by the window, she could see the skeleton her sister had started becoming.
"It's only been a day," Daphne whispered, unsure if that provided comfort or more grief.
To make matters worse, she had kissed Harry last night. Just thinking about it now made her stomach sink. What if she had ruined their friendship, and if he wouldn't talk to her again? She felt stupid for even suggesting they drink, but she had just wanted relief from the entire shitty year had been having. Now, she was sure Harry would not talk to her again.
She would never be leaving this room anytime soon.
The knock on the door made Daphne jump. She turned her head toward Astoria, who only glanced slightly at Daphne before rolling over. Daphne felt her face heat up; She imagined it could only be Harry on the other side. She could feel the embarrassment already taking hold of her.
There was another knock, a little more forceful.
"C-coming." Daphne said as she reluctantly made her way to the door. Everything was a bit louder as she made her way to the door, each step seemed like an eternity even in their small room, and once she was within arm's reach. She felt a bit silly; why was she so freaked about this? It was a mistake. She took a breath and opened the door.
"Look Harry, I'm-" Daphne stopped as she found herself standing in front of Albus Dumbledore.
Daphne felt her face go red. Whatever she was expecting, it wasn't The Albus Dumbledore. This had been only the second time she had been so close to the larger-than-life wizard, but it still felt surreal to be doing so.
"I was hopeful that my diurnal walking would give me a more spritely figure, and I'm pleased to find it's gone above and beyond my expectations." Dumbledore said smiling, "You will have to apologize for my interruption, Ms. Greengrass, but I would like to ask you a favor. "
"A favor?" She repeated. "A favor from me?"
Dumbledore nodded, "Yes, In just a few moments, Harry will be involved in a duel. Considering that you are under the tutelage of Madam Pomfrey, your healing expertise would be much appreciated if needed."
"I…" Daphne began, unsure of what to say. Why would Harry be dueling, and why would Dumbledore need her help? He was Dumbledore!
"In truth, I thought you and your sister might desire to get away from this wretched room for a bit. As I said before, this is not intended to be a prison, although I'm assured it feels that way to someone who has lost so much." Dumbledore said. "Either way, I would like to offer you the choice."
Daphne nodded, "Of course, Hea-Dumbledore."
Dumbledore gave a warm and trusting smile that made Daphne feel like she could tell him anything.
"Excellent!" Dumbledore said jovially, "I'll give you both a few minutes to prepare and we'll leave."
Dumbledore closed the door and Daphne stood for a moment; free from whatever hold she had been in. Daphne wandered over to her sister.
"Let's get you some fresh air, Astoria"
"I'm okay," Astoria replied. "I'll stay here."
"It wasn't a request."
"Fine." Astoria said as she sat up. Her hair was a mess and Daphne could smell her sister's nonexistent hygienic routine.
"Do you have any clothes with you?"
"Manor."
"You can borrow some of mine. I know I'm taller than you, but it's fine."
Astoria didn't respond. Daphne grabbed her wand and tossed her sister a new change of clothes. Finally, they both opened the door.
"Ahh, good, I was hoping you both didn't get swallowed in there." Dumbledore said. "Shall we be off?"
Daphne nodded, unable to use her words again. Dumbleodre smiled and grabbed the both of them. As he grabbed both, Daphne felt the familiar feeling of being squeezed until she appeared on a dirt surface. Daphne looked around and noticed several people were along this grassy sideline they were on, all of which she didn't know except for ex-Professor Lupin, and the man that had accompanied them back to the hospital ward...Aberforth, he had called himself.
Daphne looked at her surroundings; while there was nothing, but grassy plains in the far horizons, just yards away was a significant and huge clearing of land that was only dirt. In the center of this clearing, was Harry, who even from here, she could see that look on his face. The look he had given her on the night they had been attacked; a particularly focused and chill gaze. This time his focus was on another taller man just a few feet away from him, who returned a gaze just as chilling as Harry's.
"Finally, Dumbledore's back with the damn death eater spies," Aberforth said as he eyed her. "Did you bring a quill and parchment so you can write down secrets?"
"Aberforth! Leave them be." Professor Lupin replied as he stepped in front of Aberforth. Aberforth huffed and wandered off. Professor gave an apologetic look toward Daphne and Astoria, "I'm sorry for what you girls have been through; I offer my sincere condolences."
Astoria simply sat on the ground, staring straight ahead.
"Thank you, Professor," Daphne replied.
Professor Lupin laughed, "Those days are far behind me. You can call me Remus or Lupin...or any variation thereof."
"Alright. It should go without saying, no dark magic. The duel ends when an opponent is trapped, incapacitated, or concedes." A redheaded man said. Daphne was sure it was probably Weasley. The man continued, "You may begin on the mark of my spell. If things go too far, we will intervene."
Her inquisitive eyes must have been apparent to Lupin who interjected, "While I can't say much, this is the first time anyone has seen any capacity of Harry's ability in such a manner. Should be interesting."
"I think that sums up Harry well."
The Weasley man shot up a red spell in the air, signifying the duel had started. Without a second passing by, Harry and the other man were at each other's throat. Spell after spell were flying in such an exchange that Daphne wasn't sure who had casted them.
Either way, Daphne watched closely as she rooted for Harry to win.
Shacklebolt was speedier than any dueler Harry had faced before, casting three or four spells in the span of seconds. It was normally a strategy that allowed the aggressive attacker to both assess an opponent's magical prowess and mentally exhaust them. However, Harry was no normal opponent. Harry was at ease as he deflected spells or outright cancelled them as Shacklebolt and Harry moved in a circular motion.
"You are quite impressive," Shacklebolt yelled in between a flurry of zings and hisses that came from the connection of different spells.
"Impressive enough to be a leader." Harry retorted as he whipped his wand forward, causing a cascading chain of lightning to zip through the air at Shacklebolt.
Shacklebolt laughed as he side-stepped it before continuing to throw a string of different spells.
"You will make a great leader, but I can't follow you yet."
Harry's anger flared as he increased his casting, now putting Shacklebolt on the defensive end. Harry marched forward toward Shacklebolt as their spells began to increase in intensity. Harry knew Shacklebolt was an auror, that specific way of training would produce an opening somewhere, and he would force it out of Shacklebolt.
Harry casted three spells in succession before launching toward Shacklebolt. Shacklebolt easily disarmed the spells before sending his own toward Harry. Harry waved his wand causing the ground beneath him to rise, creating a platform above both the spells and Shacklebolt. With one fluid motion, Harry jumped from the platform, and sent a large fire ball toward Shacklebolt.
Harry rolled onto the ground upon impact, quickly getting back up to prepare for Shacklebolt's counterattack. The attack had created a large dust storm which hid Shacklebolt from view.
"What will prove to you that I can be a leader, Shacklebolt?" Harry asked in between his labored breath.
"You can't," Shacklebolt said from deep in the dust storm. "This war is bigger than you."
Harry grit his teeth. How could Shacklebolt be so wrong? How could he-
Harry dodged as one particular spell gusted through the storm toward Harry in the form of a green ball. As Harry attempted to counter it, the spell split into three smaller pieces, launching at Harry like a whirlwind.
Harry sidestepped one of the pieces before the last one made him make a sharp dodge to the ground as to avoid it's collision. As Harry tried to get up, He could hear the hiss of several spells toward him. With one concentrated hand wave, Harry brought a large gust of wind beneath the ground below him, launching him high into the air.
Harry found himself, for a just a moment, being able to glance at the sidelines where the other Order members could see him. He could see Dumbledore and Aberforth standing a few feet away from each other, and Daphne and Astoria just a little bit aways with Lupin.
Harry found himself staring at Astoria; who sat sunken and dejected.
"This war is bigger than you." Shacklebolt's voice echoed in his head as Harry reached the maximum heights of his launch, and for one moment before he had begun to descend, he had a moment of clarity. Harry knew what he had to do.
"I see," Harry said stoically as he flicked his wand. Time slowed to a crawl as Harry straightened himself in the air to face Shacklebolt, who was becoming visible now as the dust cleared. A chain of spells came sped through the settling dust toward Harry in the air.
Harry waved his wand again as time-resumed and fell to the ground, missing one the spells by a mere inch. The impact of the ground made Harry shriek in pain, it had been a bigger drop than he had expected. Harry quickly wiped the sweat from his brow as he hobbled into a run toward Shacklebolt, spells flying from his wand toward Shacklebolt.
As Shacklebolt threw one spell, so did Harry. Each spell being met with it's equal as Harry and Shacklebolt danced against each other. As they danced, Harry laughed.
Finally, as they continued to move around each other, Harry dropped his wand, "I...I concede the duel."
Harry could hear audible gasps from the sidelines as Harry sidestepped an oncoming spell.
"Shacklebolt, I concede the duel!" Harry yelled.
Shacklebolt lowered his wand, uncertainty evident on his face, "What?"
Harry looked between Shacklebolt and members on the sidelines, "You win. You will be the next leader of the Order."
Shacklebolt, uncertain but stoic, nodded slightly, "Thank you-"
As he tried to speak, the ground beneath crumbled into a large circular hole that swallowed him.
Harry smiled as he hobbled closer to the hole, "You might want to watch my non-wanded hand, next time. Auror training doesn't seem recognize the use wandless magic all that much."
Harry moved away from hole and toward the sideline, and toward his true objective. As he continued to come closer, Aberforth stepped in front of him.
"What the fuck are you doing, boy?" Aberforth yelled, anger evident on his face. "Have you lost your goats?"
Harry moved away from Aberforth and stepped in front of Astoria, who looked at him.
"You look pitiful," Harry said truthfully.
Astoria looked up at Harry, uncertainty sat on her face before she managed, "You lost."
"It happens." Harry replied as he bent down next to her, his leg causing him to grimace as he did. "Do you remember rule two?"
Astoria thought for a moment, "There are more duels than spells?"
Harry nodded, "It means more than you think."
Astoria didn't respond.
"It eats you up, doesn't it? The loss. The thought of not being strong enough. Of working hard, and still not being able to win." Harry said.
Astoria didn't respond.
"And no matter how many times you close your eyes for rest, It's just the same loss over and over repeating in your head."
Astoria looked up at him.
"I want to kill him." Astoria said coldly, "He can't get away with it. He...just can't. It's not fair."
Harry took a deep breath, "You let him win by letting him consume you."
Astoria looked surprised.
"You let him win by giving up. You let him win by letting him take away all the good things you have to look forward to," Harry said as he stood up. "The world... is bigger than him."
Harry looked over at Dumbledore; he hadn't understood before, but he did now. He looked back down at Astoria.
"And If you let him take that away from you," Harry said as he stared into her familiar eyes, "then he's already won."
With that, Harry turned to find himself standing in front of Daphne.
"Woah," He said as he scratched his head,"Hey."
"Good duel," Daphne said, "I mean...before you conceded."
"Yeah."
"Would you like me to take a look at your leg?"
"That would be great," Harry said as he looked over Daphne's shoulder at Lupin helping Shacklebolt up. "Wait, give me just a moment."
Harry bypassed Daphne to meet Shacklebolt who had just gotten back up from the hole with the help of Lupin.
"You're an excellent dueler," Harry admitted as Shacklebolt dusted himself off.
"Why did you let me win?" Shacklebolt asked, "You clearly had that hole prepared before you conceded. I would have been at your mercy."
Harry threw his hand out, "I hope... I can serve under you well, Shacklebolt. If there's anything I can do, please let me know."
Shacklebolt gave a resigned smirk as he shook Harry's hand, "They'll be plenty for you to do, Harry. "
"Of course," Harry said stoically. "I have just one request, if you don't mind."
Shacklebolt leaned in to listen.
"The Greengrass girls should be allowed to stay here at the Order Headquarters,"Harry said.
"I will think about it." Shacklebolt said, "You should go get healed up."
"Yes, Commander." Harry said as he turned to leave.
"Oh and Harry," Shacklbolt called out as Harry turned to look. "You win this round."
Harry smirked as he wandered back to Daphne. Harry could see the nervousness on her face. Truth be told, Harry felt nervous himself, but surely he was overreacting?
Harry began, "So about that-
"Kiss." Daphne interrupted, "I'm sorry about-
"Healing." Harry finished.
Daphne gave an embarrassed look as she motioned for Harry to sit on the ground.,"Sit down and extend your leg toward me."
"So about last night?" Harry asked.
"I'm sorry about what happened last night. It was inappropriate and It...didn't mean anything. We're still friends, right? "
Harry sat down and extended his leg which Daphne grabbed. Harry nodded, "Yeah, I know. It was a mistake-"
"It was a mistake! Definitely, we should have-
"And we won't," Harry finished. "I think we're on the same page."
Daphne looked visibly relieved as she moved closer to Harry.
"I'm going to cut your trousers," Daphne said as she examined his leg in a focused and procedural way. Her fingers cool against the heat of his skin.
Harry nodded as he watched Daphne work. As he looked, he couldn't but notice that Daphne really was beautiful, and as he continued to stare, he found himself staring at her lips. Even though he had been drunk, he could remember the softness of her lips. He could remember the way Daphne's hands had wandered his body the night before, how he hadn't wanted it to stop.
"Is this where you feel pain?" Daphne said as she prodded his leg causing Harry to grimace.
"You tell me." Harry replied sarcastically.
Daphne smiled and rolled her eyes as she looked at Harry, and Harry smiled back through his gritted teeth.
As she returned to his lower leg, "Okay, this is going to hurt. Brace yourself. "
"Uh-huh."
As his eyes wandered from her lips back to her entire face, Harry felt a weird sensation in his stomach. It was like kn-
"OW!" Harry yelped as he felt all his bones in his leg vibrate and crack.
"I told you it was going to hurt, you idiot."
"When did you tell me that?" Harry asked sharply as he moved his legs.
Daphne rolled her eyes as she stood up, holding her hand out to Harry. Harry grabbed her hand and allowed himself to be hoisted up. As he stood, face to face to Daphne, he continued to feel the weird sensation.
"I'm going to check up on the other guy." Daphne said. As she finished she embraced Harry in a hug, "Also...I heard what you said...to Astoria….thank you. Honestly, thank you for everything."
"Don't….Don't mention it." Harry said as he wrapped his arms around her. Daphne let go and smiled briefly at Harry before turning to leave.
Harry stood, for just a moment, before he blinked. What the hell was this feeling?
A/N THANKS TO MY BETA HAPHNE24.