The group made their way into the Great Hall and were amazed to see the way that the room seemed to have transformed. A heaviness weighed down on everyone in the room. The ceiling, which had been charmed to look like the night sky, showed a storm matching the moods of many. Harry separated from the rest of the group making his way to the Gryffindor table which sadly meant dealing more with Ron and Hermione.
Harry's feet seemed to drag as though they were made of lead. The entire feast seemed to drag on longer than it ever had before. Ron continued to sit down at the other end of the table sending daggers in Harry's direction wheneverhe was not in conversationwith Seamus Finnegan. Hermione sat across from him where he could hardly ignore her. Harry quickly tucked into his supper as the food appeared on the table and the usual start-of-term notices were presented.
Looking across at the Slytherin table he noticed where the attention seemed to be focused. His eyes moved seemingly of their own accord. There at the head table was the old man surrounded by the other professors. There were still two different faces at the table. The friendly, and warm albeit hairy face and head of Hagrid was missing, and in his seat was the thin and pale professor Grubly-Plank. Next to the uncomfortable and sour face of their potions master was a woman that Harry vaguely recognized from the wizegamot meeting. The woman's pink blazer and curly dark hair stood out despite the word salad that the woman had spewed all over the assembled that day.
The old man stood, this year's start of term robes even more flamboyant than the previous year. This year Dumbledore stood at the podium wearing robes of acromantula silk in colors of teal and purple. His half-moon spectacles sliding part way down his nose, "If you please, I know that we are all anxious after a long day to get to our beds, but I must ask you indulge me. As usual the full list of banned items can be found in 's office for review. The forbidden forest is in fact exactly, please be advised first years and a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." His eyes drifted over towards a pair of identical redheads at the Gryffindor table. Harry forced himself to tune back into the speech rather than consider that he might now be estranged from Fred and George as well.
The headmaster was continuing on as he forced his attention to old man rather than his own thoughts. Focusing in just in time Harry heard, "Professor Hagrid is on an extended assignment and so we are delighted to have Professor Grubly-Plank with us once more. We also have new to us this year, Professor Umbridge who will be teaching our defense against the dark arts class. Good luck Professors."
As the feast ended the students at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry were desperate to make it up or down as was the case for the Slytherins to bed. The slow winding staircases that at times moved against one's wishes as Harry had learned the hard way in his first year made it a longer process sometimes too. Then, there was the occasion shoving as students jockey to get through the halls of the school to their common rooms so that they can get some sleep before the start of classes.
By the time Harry made his way up to the common room he was made most unwelcome by those who had arrived ahead of him. There in the coziest spot in the common room right in front of the fire was Ron, standing by the mantle, while in the chair which normally Harry occupied, was Seamus. Dean sat in another. Attempting to be polite to the other boys Harry asked, "good summer?" Dean looked up the only one who appeared to be attempting neutrality in the room, "alright, better than Seamus's anyhow."
The Irish boy stood up, clenching his fist as he spoke, "that's right my mum almost did let me come back this year." Harry pretended to be surprised and raised an eyebrow at what some might still assume was a revelation to him, "and why is that?" Seamus threw a haymaker at him, "because of you. The Prophet has been saying a lot of things about you Harry." Harry hurriedly pulled his emotions back in. It would do no one any good to give into his temper.
Instead, Harry summoned his pillow and down comforter from up in the dorm room and then levitating his trunk he went to find his way up the room of requirement. As he slowly moved up the stairs trying to keep his trunk, comforter and pillow level. It was only when he reached the seventh floor that he realized that he was no longer alone. It never even occurred to him to check the map which was still hidden in his trunk.
Harry's face was nearly as bright a red as any Weasley's hair. The whole scene that had unfolded in the common room bothered him more than he would normally admit even to himself. These guys should know better after sharing a dorm for four years. He continued on toward the room or requirement planning to get just a descent night rest and hopefully come up with a plan for handling the students who were convinced that he was insane. Up ahead was one of Harry's favorite places to look out over the grounds and as he rounded towards that particular window nook he smiled.
The day had taken a toll on her from the looks of it. The normally put together girl was curled up and comfortable. Curled up in a nook looking out the window at the grounds that spread out towards the quidditch pitch was A familiar blonde head. Her curves were clad and emphasized by a pair of warm looking, soft grey sweats that hugged her hips and emphasized her rear. Tucked in was a black tank top that showed off her cleavage.
Harry approached her quietly, but apparently still had a lot to learn about stealth and cunning. The blonde's voice traveled towards him, "I thought that you might need some company." Harry moved slowly towards her, "you're not concerned about being out alone after hours with a nutter?" Daphne laughed, "the only people that matter know the truth." She stood and continued on with him to the spot in front of the tapestry with the dancing trolls and Harry passed back and forth a nervous twitching surprising him as he considered what he required.
A small wooden door appeared in the wall allowing Harry and Daphne access to the room. When they stepped inside the room, they had been provided with a beautiful replica of the suit that Harry had been using at Malfoy manor. The room had a fire lit inside of the floo allowing them to stay nice and warm. Daphne settled in on one side of the bed, and curled her legs in. Harry swallowed hard seeing the image in front of him. The beauty invited him to join her with a simple crook of her finger.
The raven-haired boy nervously moved forward hoping that this would go well. She smirked, "lay down and relax. I'll take care of the rest." She waited as Harry laid down and began to slowly work his back releasing knots. Using her fingers to sooth, going deeper as she reached his shoulders, she used her knuckles to help take out some of the larger knots. She then moved on to assist him with the removal of his shirt and pulled out a bottle of cream the smelled faintly of dittany and chamomile and worked it into placing a gentle kiss on the base of his neck.
Daphne then conjured a cup of sleepy time tea with licorice, Valarian root and chamomile. Placing it gently on the nightstand under a stasis charm before she allowed herself to lay down on the bed and wrapping him in her arms and cuddling up next to him. It was not her most strictly protocol moment, but Daphne rationalized it to herself, that this was her betrothed and he needed someone to take care of him. Besides, she had seen him in less on during his visits to the infirmary. The brilliant blonde couldn't have been more grateful for the dark at that moment so that if Harry had been looking at her it would not have been completely obvious that she was blushing at her thoughts.