A/N: Anything that rings a bell belongs to JK Rowling
French to English translations:
Poupette: Doll
Chapter Six : Morning of Madness
Daphne blinked, coming out of a confused daze, frowning at the door in front of her. She was so lost in her thoughts she didn't even realise she had walked all the way up to the Headmaster's office. She knocked once, and the wizened voice requested she come in.
"Ah Miss Greengrass." The headmaster rose, he was already in beautiful purple robes despite the early hour, "Do sit." He gestured at the seat across from him and she lowered down into it. "Would you like some tea?"
She nodded, agreeing mostly so that she can use his distraction to gather her thoughts. The headmaster busied himself with physically preparing the brew, floating a dainty lime green teacup and saucer over to her with a kind smile.
"Now, what can I help you with?"
She placed her drink on the table, "I've come to rescind my name from the Tournament."
She held her headmaster's midnight blue gaze easily, she always appreciated him for his level eye contact, never looking down at his students. Her statement didn't surprise him, perhaps her lack of enthusiasm at being chosen as champion was a tad obvious last night. She was only too glad that Theodore and Blaise had made sure there would be no celebration in her honour, she wasn't sure she could have politely put up with it, but she knew they did it for Draco's benefit as much as for hers.
"I'm sorry you are not happy with last night's outcome." He leaned back in his chair, "I… thought this may happen. I imagine familiar pressure-"
"Nobody is pressuring me to withdraw." She stated, firmly. This was her own decision, she didn't want this, and she didn't want people blaming her uncle, or her cousin, for this choice.
"I didn't mean to imply that they were. I just, understand." His half-moon spectacles sat low on his crooked nose, "I've looked over the rules, I made an educated guess as to why you requested an urgent meeting with me this morning. I am very sorry Daphne, but the Goblet of Fire is not just a receptacle, it is an ancient magical object. Placing your name in it was signing a binding runic contract, that unfortunately, I cannot get you out of."
She nodded, she had been prepared for this response, "Can someone do it in my place. Serve as my champion?"
He shook his head, "No, Daphne. The rules are quite clear." She sipped her tea. She felt exhausted, she couldn't sleep last night. She had been to Professor Snape first thing in the morning requesting this meeting with the headmaster and he was kind enough to fix it for her. "I will say however, that this very discerning, powerful object has picked you for a reason."
"What is that reason?" She asked, puzzled and tired, displaying vulnerability in front of the wizard many said was the greatest of their time. If he couldn't answer this for her, nobody could. "I'm… not trying to be humble, I know I'm not a terrible witch, but I'm not great. Hermione is said to be the most brilliant of our age, teachers are always saying this. And Draco understands things so much faster than I do, it's always been the case, even when we were little children. They're both much smarter than I am."
"If we were going by just the best grades in the school, we wouldn't need the Goblet of Fire. Perhaps such an instrument does not measure the greatness in a witch, but something far more important, the goodness."
The comment weighed heavy on her, it was kind, but it was untrue. "I've not done anything particularly good. Harry has defeated a Dark Lord when he was just a baby. Tessa Scamander comes from an American dynasty of famous witches and wizards who have been fighting the dark for centuries. Lev Karkaroff's the European duelling champion. I've not done anything, Professor."
"I disagree." He smiled, "There is a very happy hippogriff down at Hagrid's hut thanks to you. When Dolores Umbridge discovered the underground defence organisation, Dumbledore's Army, orchestrated by Miss Granger and Miss Weasley last year, I believe the fall out of that was contained because of your intervention. "
"So I convinced my uncle not to get a hippogriff killed, it's not exactly news worthy. And I just told the truth. That you weren't trying to make an army against the Ministry, that was just Umbridge's paranoia, and the Minister listened. Fudge said himself that he had no idea that she was trying to get rid of you. That she was acting out of her own accord." Daphne shook her head, last year was mental, and she was glad Dumbledore found Professor Lupin to teach Defence and didn't need ministerial help because of a teaching vacancy again. Dolores Jane Umbridge was a nightmare that she was glad they were all able to wake up from.
"Again, I disagree. Because you do it so easily, you think it's unimportant. You have such tact at navigating tense situations, and your inability to remain silent in the face of injustice has been a benefit to this school. Don't you see, Daphne ? It's easier to fight when you're ostracized, when you're attacked, when you have something to lose, but to care when you have nothing to gain for it? Daphne, it is a rare quality that you do not give yourself enough credit for."
She didn't agree, she just wrote two letters, but she could tell she wasn't going to convince the headmaster, "That's all well and good Professsor, and I'm not trying to throw a pity party, but surely you want someone better equipped to represent Hogwarts? Someone who can fight, or be quick on their feet."
"If you mean to rescind on my account, Daphne, do not. I think the Fire made an excellent choice in our champion. Is there something I can do to make you feel more comfortable with this decision? If you're afraid-"
"I'm not afraid." She answered quickly, "It just doesn't make sense."
"Does it need to?"
Just then there was a brief knock on the door but before the Headmaster could respond the it barged open.
"Uncle Lucius!" Daphne was flummoxed, not just at his appearance but for the far from polite interruption. She was beginning to get tired of the men in her family doing this, it was clear they didn't think she was owed respect or privacy.
"Sorry, Headmaster." Professor Snape gave her uncle an annoyed look, "Lucius arrived a few minutes ago and I told him Daphne was here to see you and he insisted I bring him up here."
Her uncle crossed the room in quick strides, taking the stairs that circled the headmaster's desk quickly, bending down to kiss her on her cheek, and then turning to Dumbledore, "I want her out of this tournament, now."
"Would you like some tea, Lucius?" Dumbledore was already floating a cup to Professor Snape.
Her uncle placed a hand on her shoulder, looming tall and threatening next to her, "I do not want tea. I want Daphne to be removed from this tournament, Dumbledore."
"I cannot do so, it is a binding magical contract."
"Draco can serve in her place."
"It is not a familial contract, nor a blood one. There can be no substitute, the Goblet of Fire chose Daphne."
She looked up at her uncle, his hand tight on her shoulder but she barely registed it. It was one thing to doubt yourself, but for others to do so?
"Fine." That did not sound so, "Then I formally request she be removed from Hogwarts."
"What?" She rose to her feet, his hand dropping from her shoulder, "Uncle Lucius!"
"Daphne is off-age Lucius, such a thing will be her decision to make." Dumbledore stood too, a frown below his half-moon spectacles now, "Is there something that I can help with?"
"Nothing that concerns you." Her uncle turned to her, she noticed he had a spot of shaving cream on his chin, and that his hair was untied, he almost never wore it that way for formal meetings; he left the house in a rush. He pulled her down the stairs and towards the large window, sparing a glare at the headmaster and Professor Snape, "Poupette, you don't want to take part in this tournament, it's not for you." Her uncle's face was soft, his voice steady and convincing.
Not for her?
"What is for me, then?"
His brows rose, "Oh, my sweet, anything you want. We can bring forward your summer tour of Europe, make it a year long adventure. You love to write, and what better fodder for literature than travel. We can even go somewhere in the New World for a bit like you wanted. I hear Brazil is meant to be beautiful this time of year."
"You'd rather me drop out of school than take part in this competition?" She was astounded.
"I would have rather you never entered it. Your cousin-"
"Draco did nothing wrong!" She was quick in his defence, "I didn't tell him I entered!"
"You shouldn't have had to, he should have made sure you didn't." Her uncle's voice was practically a hiss, his silver eyes flickered to the headmaster again, "Perhaps this will be better discussed at home, poupette, come."
"No!" Daphne held her ground, her uncle had gone completely mad.
He made an impatient sound, but she could tell he was trying to compose himself as he bent ever so slightly to look her in the eyes, holding her upper arms, and she felt physically pressured by this, rather than the persuasion he intended, "Daphne, you know you cannot do this."
"I can do this! I'm not a little girl anymore. I'm not your poupette." Uncle Lucius looked as if she had slapped him, and she immediately felt guilty, but she needed him to see her as the adult that she was.
"I know, I know you're not." He forced a smile at her, but the fact that it never penetrated his eyes made it look almost threatening, "You don't understand. Those other champions… you cannot take part in this tournament, it is too dangerous for you."
Before Daphne could ask why this was particularly dangerous for her, the door flew open once more. A tall dark haired stranger entered, followed by Professor Lupin. He thundered towards the headmaster's desk in the centre of the room.
"I want Harry out of this tournament, and I want it done, now." The man spat, and Daphne would have laughed at the bizarre coincedence if she didn't feel so furious right now.
"Watch your tone when you speak to the headmaster, Black!" Professor Snape had stepped towards the man, but he ignored him, looming over the desk of Professor Dumbledore who was now calmly sat down. "Lupin, keep your dog on a leash."
Professor Lupin gave his colleague a frightened look at his words, but hastened forward as if just remembering how terribly rude this situation was.
Has the world gone absolutely raving this morning?
"Sorry Dumbledore, Sirius just arrived at my office, and he insisted on seeing you."
"Ow." Daphne jumped, her uncle's fingernails had pierced her arm where he was still holding her, his grip growing painfully tight and his face paled at the realisation and he immediately let go of her.
"Ma poupette, sorry! I'm so sorry." Guilt on his face at unintentionally hurting her whilst he was distracted by the newcomers.
The dark haired man turned his attention to them at the sound and Daphne watched his fury transform into complete astonishment, his eyes fixed on her.
"Rory." He staggered back and Daphne frowned, the man clearly mistaking her for someone else.
Did he say that he wanted Harry out of the tournament - was this his godfather, Sirius Black? Her aunt had been a Black, but she didn't look much like him, though their accents were quite similiar.
She couldn't further ponder his expression as her uncle stepped in front of her, his towering stature blocking her completely from view, "You stay away from her, Black."
Her uncle spoke so softly, the words barely escaping out of his clenched teeth.
"Sirius, NO!"
Whatever Professor Lupin stopped the man from doing, Daphne could not see. Frustrated she tried to step out from behind her uncle, but he actually extended his cane behind him to prevent her from doing so.
This was utterly ridiculous.
"You should be in prison, you blood traitor bastard!"
"ME!" Sirius Black thundered, "I'm a traitor to my blood?"
"SHUT UP!" Daphne gasped as she just managed to move out from behind her uncle, watching him throw a jet of blinding white at the man, who had a shield charm up with impressive timing, throwing a purple hex at them which her uncle easily deflected, dragging her out of the way.
"Sirius! Stop!" Professor Lupin tried to disarm his friend but the man dodged his spell.
"Ignis Sagitta!" The arrow of blue flame shot out of the man's wand, and whizzed over to her uncle, who cancelled it with an ice charm, followed by a wave of black mist directed at his opponent.
Sirius Black flicked his wand, and a gust of air blew from it, dispersing the mist away from him and back towards them. Her uncle quickly cancelled the spell, but some of the mist got to Daphne and she doubled over, coughing and gasping for air.
What was that?
Furious silver eyes found her at that, she blinked, her eyes stinging as she rasped for breath, Professor Snape directing a spell at her and she suddenly could breath again, falling weakly against her head of house as he swiftly walked over to check on her.
Her uncle raised his wand, but at that precise moment, it went whizzing out of his hand, Sirius Black had been disarmed as well, the Headmaster finally intervening.
Uncle Lucius and Harry's godfather were still for moments, glaring at each other. And then they pounced at precisely the same moment, and Professor Snape pulled Daphne out of the way as the two men physically attacked each other!
Daphne was horror struck! She had never seen her uncle this way before, he was such a controlled and respectable man, his family honour meant everything to him and he was now fighting like a common muggle on the grounds of the school he served as a governor?
They were scuffling on the floor like a pair of school boys, Professor Lupin attempting to seperate them with a spell that knocked her uncle on his back, and off Sirius Black.
"NO!" Professor Snape snapped, flinging a spell at Professor Lupin and Daphne didn't know where to look as now her teachers began duelling.
Just then, Sirius Black got on top of her uncle, and punched him square in the jaw, his head banging on the stone steps he had been lying across and Daphne didn't know what posessed her, but her arms were around Sirius Black's neck now, trying to drag him off her uncle.
Black, surprised by her intervention, straightened off her uncle, and Daphne did the only thing she could think in that moment and bit into his shoulder.
"Fuck!" He stood, he was so tall Daphne dangled half a foot off the floor. Uncomfortable by this she let go of his neck, landing unsteadily on her feet, and falling to the magically softened floor.
"Enough." The headmaster stated clearly, and surprisingly, Snape and Lupin stopped duelling immediately.
If he could do that the whole time, why hadn't he?
"Here. Sorry, I didn't mean for you to fall." Sirius Black held his hand out for her, to help her to her feet.
She didn't take it. Crawling over to her uncle, who was sprawled across the steps leading to the headmaster's desk. His lip was cut open and his forehead was bleeding. His grey eyes found hers and she mopped the blood on his chin with the end of her sleeve, anxiety rippling through her body.
Daphne had a phobia of blood, but she grit her teeth, wanting to help her uncle. He seemed to remember her fear, and quickly straightened up, away from her touch, a note of embarrassment on his face, looking around for his wand as he rose to his feet. Daphne spotted it, and ran over to get it, bringing it over to him, almost like a loyal dog would do a stick. She looked desperately at the Headmaster, she needed her Uncle's wounds seen to, what if he had a head injury? But she knew fussing was not what he would want right now. Her eyes burned, but crying wouldn't help anything either.
There was a knock at the door. It would seem finally civility was coming back to the world.
The Headmaster walked over to the door, opening it a fraction as Daphne glanced to Professor Snape joined them at the desk, as Sirius Black and Professor Lupin hissed at each other under their breaths near the window she was stood at a few minutes ago, clearly in an argument.
"Apologies for the interruption, Headmaster. Potter and I were just having a fly and he spotted what he thought was his Godfather through a window on the third floor. He requested I bring him up here, I hope that's okay."
Daphne recognised Draco's voice through the door and so did her uncle, his jaw clenching.
Wait did he just say he was having a fly with Harry?
Okay, that's confirmation. This was all a weird dream.
"Yes, Sirius is here, Mr Potter. If you can just give us a few minutes, I'll collect you. Thank you for bringing him over, Draco. You're dismissed." Professor Dumbledore clearly meant to calm this fraught situation down before adding two more volatile elements to it.
The door didn't shut, "If it's okay Professor Dumbledore, I'd like to talk to my Godfather before any decisions are made." Harry had pushed the door ever so slightly at that, and stepped forward, and suddenly Daphne was staring into clear emeralds. "Daphne?"
She closed her eyes momentarily, knowing that meant Draco would stick his head in, and by the time she opened them again she was staring into her cousin's confusion.
Silver and emerald swept the room, taking in its occupants. Sirius Black was next to Professor Lupin furthest away at the window, Professor Snape glaring at them from next to Daphne and her uncle at the Headmaster's desk in the centre.
Draco reacted first, rushing over to Daphne, and his father, "Are you alright?"
Uncle Lucius didn't answer, his lips thin, and Daphne suspected he didn't like his son to see him like this anymore than he liked her to. She glanced at the Headmaster again, and Dumbledore acted quickly.
"Sirius, Harry, Remus, please may you give me a few minutes with Lucius and his family."
Sirius Black was glaring at her uncle, unmoving.
"Sirius." The headmaster's tone was clear that this was no longer a request, and Professor Snape stepped forward threateningly, but Professor Lupin was already pushing the man out the door. Harry looked frozen in shock and confusion, and Daphne looked at him with pleading to step out of the room as well, and he did just that.
Professor Snape remained, standing at the back of the room, but he was one of her uncle's oldest friends, so he had no objection to that.
Daphne's head hurt, but not from any physical injury. What was going on ? Draco had mentioned that her uncle did not like Harry's family, but this was beyond any sense.
"Lucius, I cannot remove Daphne from this tournament. And I don't think anyone wants her not to finish school." Draco's eyes widened at that, looking at her for confimation that his father made such a suggestion, and she nodded slightly, "I can assure you, every consideration for student safety was taken. Now, you're welcome to leave through my floo." Daphne knew this was so as to avoid further interaction with Sirius Black outside, and perhaps avoid anybody seeing him in this state, and she felt grateful to her headmaster.
"Father-"
"Potter and Scamander. I want your word they won't hurt her."
Her uncle was glaring at Dumbledore, who looked at him in disappointment, "Lucius."
"I want your word Dumbledore."
"None of the students are in danger. The tasks are different, you're on the Board, we've discussed this all before. If I recall you thought we were being too soft on the champions with all these new rules."
Her uncle scowled in response, not moving.
"Father, I wouldn't let anything happen to Daphne." She could cry at Draco's statement, not bothered that it was disregarding her ability to fend for herself, but that it was confirmation that he still cared for her. She tried to meet his gaze, but he was staring determinedly at his father.
"Like you kept an eye on her this term?" Her uncle stated bitterly.
"I'll keep an eye on her, Lucius." That was Professor Snape, "You have my word."
Draco stared at the floor, almost as if his father's disappointment physically weighed on his neck and he couldn't keep it up, and Daphne wanted to scream at her uncle in his defence but knew it wouldn't make things better.
Daphne couldn't understand why her uncle was threatened by Harry and Tessa, as if they would hurt her?
Why was he making her participation in this tournament such a big deal? As if he wasn't just annoyed that Draco wasn't chosen?
Her uncle nodded once at his friend, and then turned to her, pulling her into a quick hug and kissing her head like he would often do when she was a child. He turned to the fireplace, not acknowledging Draco. Daphne watched almost in a trance as he floo'd away, and then snapped to attention as she watched Draco heading for the door.
"Thank you for the meeting, Professor Dumbledore." She ran after her cousin. She caught Harry and his guardians sombre expressions outside, but Draco was already on the rotating spiral staircase so she dashed after him. When she reached the corridor outside the gargoyle, he was already at the end of it.
"Daphne." A steady hand was at her elbow, and she turned to find Harry, "Give him space."
She pulled herself out of his grip, he didn't even know her cousin, why would he think he'd know better as to what he wanted.
He stepped closer to her as she created distance, "I don't know what's going on, but I know he could hear you behind him, and if he wanted to speak, he would have."
Her nostrils flared, and she folded her arms about herself, sad and confused. Suddenly she was engulfed with a warmth so comforting, it felt like she had slipped into a hot bath after a long fly.
She hugged Harry back, her forehead at his chin, his fingers stroking her back, his arms unyielding. She couldn't say how long their embrace lasted, only that she was the first to pull back as she realised that the Headmaster must be waiting for him.
He stroked her hair affectionately, his face passive but sincere, "I have to go upstairs to talk to Sirius. I got a brief summary from Remus, and I honestly don't know if there can be any justification for my family's behaviour, but I'm sorry you had to experience that." She tucked an escaped lock behind her ear, nodding. "But, can I come find you once I'm done with this? Even if I won't be able to offer an explanation, I want to see you, Daphne." His face was hopeful, and Daphne understood that despite his calm exterior, Harry was afraid and anxious, waiting for her answer without breathing.
"Yes. I'll wait in the library."
He smiled, it was small but in comparison to his previous serious expression it felt larger, "It's a date."
And Harry walked up to the Headmaster's office, hopefully able to find some sanity in all this madness.
A/N: Thank you for reading. I promise there's an explanation for their behaviour. I didn't want to leave people on a sort of cliff-hanger, so I've already posted the next chapter, I just personally don't like very long chapters so I broke it here. Feedback will be very appreciated!