"So... you and Daphne Greengrass," Ron summarized after Harry told him of his plans for the coming days. Finally, his friend whistled and said, "Wow. That's wicked."

"I know," Harry agreed.

The two boys were sitting in one of the rooms of Greengrass manor, playing chess. It was perhaps a third game in a row that Harry lost but he did not mind as he simply enjoyed the rare downtime with his best mate. "I suppose we won't get to be brothers-in-law after all, huh?" Ron then asked quietly with an unreadable expression.

Harry knew well what his friend meant. He looked up from the board and into his eyes. "It's not like I haven't thought about her at all... I did. Believe me," he said while Ron slowly nodded in acceptance.

And it was the truth. Ginny has been on his mind a lot lately. Even though they broke up, during the past few months he would occasionally fantasize about what it would be like if he got back together with her after the war was over. Sometimes, that idea was his only source of comfort, especially in the last two hopeless and miserable months before they were captured and brought to Greengrass manor.

But ultimately it was just a fantasy. He and Ginny made no promises to each other. No plans to rekindle their romance in the future. Hell, for all he knew, Ginny already had a new boyfriend. Because of that, he did not feel like he was betraying her. He did not feel guilty but rather... wistful. Although they did not make any plans, there was always a chance they could get back together someday and part of him even hoped they would. But when he imagined his hypothetical future now, he would instead see Daphne there and it just felt right.

He did not feel guilty about that because in the end, the war was not the only reason he chose to break up with Ginny. It all happened one day when he and Ginny were sitting and relaxing down by the Hogwarts lake after school. They started a conversation about the future and it finally made it clear to Harry that even though they liked each other, they both wanted very different things in their immediate lives. Namely, after finishing the school, Ginny dreamed of playing quidditch professionally for the Holyhead harpies. While Harry... well, he did not think he would survive the war but if by some miracle he did, he wanted what he never had – he wanted family.

Perhaps he could have had that with Ginny eventually but it would have to wait for many years while she focused on her career. And while Harry fully respected her decision, deep in his heart he knew that it was not what he wanted. That he didn't want to wait.

"Honestly, what... what do you think about her?" Harry tentatively asked him next. He was quite anxious for at least one of his best friends to like Daphne as he knew there was no chance in hell of Hermione ever giving him her approval for a relationship with a person who viewed her as an inferior being. He could not blame her for that but it made him desperately hope that at least Ron would be on his side and that he would understand his decision.

Finally, his friend responded. "Well, she's very lovely, obviously. You'd have to be blind or dumb not to see that," Ron smirked and so did Harry in return. "... I think the two of you could be very good together," he continued while Harry kept smiling, "and I have to admit that after you get to know her, she seems really nice. You know, at least to you and me," he finished with a sad undertone and both their smiles slowly turned into a forced rictus.

Harry sighed. "Ron, I –" he began but then stumbled, not really sure what to say. What could he possibly say to Ron to apologize for and justify what was being done to Hermione? That being treated like dirt was not what she deserved but that it was ultimately for her own good? He did not think he could do it. Perhaps he should ask Daphne to explain it to Ron instead. Every time the girl spoke of pureblood superiority she sounded so passionate. So damn confident and sure of everything that Harry almost felt foolish for questioning her in the first place. The fact Daphne truly believed in her words, coupled with the natural force of her personality, made her arguments extremely compelling and difficult to resist.

But as soon as Harry tried repeating the same arguments for himself, it all turned to ash in his mouth and he felt like the cruellest bastard in the world who was betraying his best friend. And yet, after all that happened and everything he learned... he now honestly believed that at least from her point of view, the girl was correct.

It helped that he could perceive magic now, allowing him to view the world as purebloods like Daphne do. Ever since then, the seeming lack of magic in Hermione was extremely disturbing to him. He had to consciously stop himself from scrunching his nose at her in disgust and snapping angrily whenever he was in her presence. She was his best friend but part of him felt like cursing her for every word out of her mouth, his own eyes and brain were telling him that everything about Hermione was wrong. It was maddening.

"You don't have to say anything," Ron eventually spoke, putting a temporary stop to Harry's mental torment. "Astoria explained to me her family's entire history with muggleborns. She told me of the Wild Hunt. My head is still such a mess about it but I think I get it... sort of," he said while rubbing his wrist. "And I don't want you to worry about me, Harry. You already have enough on your plate, so... I promise I am not going to do anything stupid."

Harry smiled weakly at that. He was thankful that Ron was not doing something dangerous like trying to set Hermione free. He supposed that Daphne gave Ron a lot of leeway and trust on the account of him being a pureblood but Harry knew things would be bad if Ron went against Daphne's will so blatantly. So on one hand, Harry was relieved by his words but at the same time, Ron's passivity also felt wrong, especially considering how furious he initially was after finding out about what was happening to their friend.

It was few days ago.

Daphne invited both him and Ron to a family dinner. Daphne's mother and sister were both there as well. At first, Ron was delighted at the prospect of a fancy feast and almost drooled when he saw all the delicious food laid on the table. However, his mood quickly soured when he noticed that Hermione was not eating with them. He questioned her absence, prompting all three Greengrass ladies to look at him like he was utterly insane. Afterwards, Daphne informed him that a muggleborn will most certainly not be attending a Greengrass family dinner. Harry had to grudgingly admit that she said it relatively tactfully, especially considering her usual attitude, but it infuriated Ron to no end. The idea that Hermione was languishing in a prison cell while they were having a luxurious feast – it was just too much for Ron to stomach and no amount of mouth watering food would placate him.

At that moment, Harry felt like kicking himself. He had been so wrapped up in his own issues that he did not even consider the fact how Ron would react to Hermione's situation. Whereas Harry loved her like a sister, he suspected that Ron's feelings for her were even deeper. As a result, he would never allow her to be treated as a lowly servant and a prisoner, even if it was meant to help her.

Fortunately, right before Ron could channel Molly Weasley and very loudly give Daphne a piece of his mind, Astoria Greengrass, who had been sitting next to him, decided to intervene. The young girl stood up, grabbed Ron's hand and literally dragged him out of the room with her. Harry had no idea where they went or what transpired between but they both returned half an hour later, with Ron much calmer. Although he looked unhappy and subdued, he was no longer shooting daggers at Daphne with his eyes. After that, the dinner proceeded in a calm albeit highly awkward manner.

"Ron... what exactly did Astoria say to you?" Harry asked cautiously. Back during the dinner, the change in Ron's mood was so sharp, which was uncharacteristic for his friend. It was almost like the younger Greengrass sister put him under a spell after they left the room. But Daphne assured him that she wouldn't do that.

"Well, for starters, she said I was being an idiot," Ron slowly answered and laughed a little. "She says that a lot."

Harry merely frowned, not sure how to react to that. He knew that before he stepped in, Astoria was not very kind to him or Hermione but Ron refused to talk about it and so he did not pressure him. As for himself, he was at times not really sure what to think of Daphne's younger sister. She seemed kind and cheerful at times but Harry could also sense the power and coldness behind her easy smiles, a reflection of the heartbreaking pain from her father's death. In any case, his instincts made it clear to him that Astoria Greengrass was not someone he wanted to cross.

She was a lot like her older sister in that regard but at the same time different. If he had to liken them to something, he would say Daphne was like a tigress – noble, proud and powerful. She could act nice and playful when it suited her but nobody could ever confuse her for anything other than the apex predator she was. In contrast, Harry had a feeling one could easily fall under the impression Astoria was no threat until it was too late. She was honest like a child but dangerous like a scorpion.

"She told me all about the views her family had on muggleborns," Ron continued. "Oh, and also, that her sister was being surprisingly nice to Hermione," he said with sarcasm while making air quotes with his fingers.

"Yeah, Daphne mentioned the same," Harry said unhappily. That was an especially difficult idea for him to swallow – that Daphne was actually being merciful with his muggleborn friend. But after reading the diaries of some of Daphne's ancestors, he had to admit that compared to them, she really was. Harry knew a lot of that was just for his sake. That Daphne was holding herself back from punishing Hermione more harshly because it would upset him. But he also knew she was genuinely giving her a second chance because she believed she deserved it.

"At first I thought everything she was saying was just a giant pile of horse shit. But then she told me something else," Ron said and looked at him seriously. "Astoria said that we were both morons for allowing them to capture Hermione. That we are damn lucky it was her sister who bought us from those snatchers and not someone else," Ron said and paused. "And you know what? She's absolutely right about that!" he cried out and rubbed his wrist again.

"It's not like we chose to be captured," Harry retorted even though he knew Ron was talking about something else. Ron raised an eyebrow. "You know what I mean," he said and Harry nodded sadly. "I know."

"I mean WHAT THE HELL were we even thinking?!" Ron spoke up passionately before voicing the thought that Harry has been thinking too. Has been thinking for a while now. "We never... NEVER should have let her come with us!"

"I know, alright!" Harry agreed in defeat. "But we needed her. We wouldn't have made it without her."

Ron was not placated. "We should have tried! It was so bloody selfish of us."

"We couldn't have known this would happen," Harry protested weakly. But he knew Ron was right.

"Yes we could have, Harry! This was bound to happen sooner or later!" he spoke in a loud desperate voice. "And when it did, Hermione was always going to pay the heaviest price, no matter what," he said tiredly. "That's why I agree with Astoria on that... why I am damn glad we ended up with the Greengrasses," he said quietly.

Harry looked at him with surprise. "You are?"

"Sure I am," he confirmed. "Daphne Greengrass might not have a lot of mercy for muggleborns but she has some. And that's a lot more than I can say for some of the others," he said and leaned closer over the chessboard. "I've been talking with the guards. They told me that most snatchers take prisoners to the Malfoy manor for interrogation before handing them to You-know-who or the Ministry," Ron told him and then whispered in fright. "Can you imagine if they took us there? Can you imagine Bellatrix getting her hands on her?!"

Harry was unable to answer as he trembled at the very thought.

"And even if Lestrange wasn't there or something, Bill told me that death eaters do truly horrible things to muggleborn girls. They're either used as playthings until they grow bored of them and kill them, or – " he said until his voice betrayed him.

"Or what?" Harry asked but soon regretted that he did.

"Well, I heard the more powerful ones are kept alive. You know... so they can breed more powerful wizards and witches."

Harry closed his eyes, suddenly seeing Ron's point. Even when she still planned to hand them over to Voldemort, Harry knew that Daphne never once considered ordering her people to do that to Hermione.

"We should have just told her to go to Australia with her parents. She would have been safe there," Ron finished and Harry could not help but nod in agreement.

They stayed silent after that for a while, exchanging few more moves on the board before one of them spoke once more.

"Ron, I've been meaning to ask," Harry started. "Daphne told me all those things about muggleborns are somewhat common knowledge among pureblood families."

"And so now you wonder why I never heard about any of it?" Ron asked and Harry slowly nodded. Ron sighed and said, "Harry... you have to understand that we are not known as blood traitors for nothing."

"Don't say that..." Harry was about to protest.

"Please, just let me finish," Ron asked. "Anyway, before coming here I always thought we were doing the right thing. That all that pureblood stuff was evil and it was a good thing my family had nothing to do with it. I even took it as a badge of honor," he admitted.

"Not anymore?" Harry guessed.

Ron was silent for a while before saying, "I still sort of feel we have it right. But now I also wonder if we took it too far. I mean coming here made me realize that there is so much of the magical world that I know nothing about. That seems so crazy! And I am not just talking about muggleborns having non-magical body and all that nonsense."

"You think it's nonsense?" Harry asked in curiosity. Earlier, he recounted everything Daphne taught him on that topic. Ron's shock and disbelief at the time confirmed that despite being a pureblood, he had indeed never about any of it. Or at least did not thing it was anything more than propaganda.

"I would like to think that," Ron said wistfully but then he added, "But given that you can see it with your own eyes... kinda hard to argue with that."

Harry was very relieved to hear that. He was worried Ron would not believe him about his new ability to see the ambient magic in people and things. After all, Hermione categorically refused to believe him. Though recently, that was nothing new.

"I knew Daphne was at least right about that exercise... I heard about that," Ron told him much to his surprise. "I know mom did it with Bill when he was little... and I also know he can see magic now. Kind of like you do, I guess. He uses it for his job."

"What about you? Did your mom teach it to you?" Harry asked in curiosity.

"I don't remember... so I don't think so," Ron admitted after a moment of searching through his memories. "But here's a funny thing – I can remember my parents arguing about it. Not about me, mind you. About mom doing the exercise with Ginny. Dad was really unhappy about it. Makes me thing he might have done the same with all of us."

"What? Your dad didn't want you to learn the magic sight?" Why?" Harry asked in confusion.

Ron laughed bitterly. "That's even funnier. I forgot all about it for years. But now... I can recall him saying he was worried it would make Ginny fear muggles," he said and Harry was slowly beginning to understand. "Of course, mom put her foot down when it came to her only girl so I guess Ginny learned it too."

Harry was speechless. "Ron, did you fear muggles when you first saw them?" he finally asked, remembering how scary that experience was for Daphne. He was curious if that really was natural reaction of all magical people or just a product of her upbringing.

"Well, yeah... I did," Ron eventually admitted. "I reckon everyone did at first. Muggles can be really weird sometimes. But my parents told me it was fine and that there was nothing to fear. So eventually, I got over it I guess."

Harry could not exactly relate to that as he grew up in muggle world. However, he could not deny that even he always felt better in the magical world, among his fellow wizards and witches. Up until recently, he always thought that was simply because he hated living with Dursleys. But now he wondered if that was actually his instinctive response. The universal unease that all wizards experienced in presence of muggles and by extension, muggleborns, as Daphne claimed.

Ron's words also raised the question of whether that instinct can truly be conquered. According to Ron, he got over it thanks to his parents assurance. Could Daphne had done the same if only her father told her there was nothing to fear instead of perpetuating and imprinting their ancestor's opinions on her? Daphne once told him that to be truly comfortable around muggles and muggleborns who did not submit to purebloods, she would have to deny who she is. That she would have to irreversibly destroy part of the magic within her. Harry had no way to know if that was true but he trusted the pureblood girl. He had faith in who she was and he would never force Daphne to give up part of her magical heritage. It was one more reason why he did not push the issue of Hermione's imprisonment more vehemently.

But personally, he was curious if there was a middle way somewhere. It seemed to him like Weasley family chose to completely deny their magical instincts while purebloods like Daphne embraced them without reserve. Harry wondered if there was a third, more balanced option – to listen to one's magical instincts but not letting them rule one's behaviour all the time.

"Anyway, all of this made me think about some of the things Mom and Dad told me over the years... especially Dad," Ron quietly continued after a moment of silence. "I mean Dad once said he would never forgive us if we married purebloods. Can you believe that?"

Harry could vaguely recall Ron once mentioning it to him as a joke. He told him as much. "Yeah, that's right. And we all laughed at the time," Ron confirmed, clearly feeling confused by the memory. "But now I wonder if that really was so funny. I mean when it comes to it, is my family the same as all the pureblood bigots we always hated, only the other way around?" he said in contemplation.

"I am sure you are not," Harry said quickly. He had trouble imagining kind Mr. Weasley as a bigot. "It was just a joke. Perhaps your dad likes muggles and their things a little too much but that's it," Harry told him, remembering fondly one his first conversation with Mr. Weasley about the rubber ducks.

Ron laughed at that. "Yes... I suppose that sums us really well – we like muggle things too much," he said with a grimace as he shook his head. "Did I ever tell you about my family tree?" he suddenly asked, completely out of nowhere.

"Eh... no, I don't think you did," Harry said after trying to remember for a moment. All he knew was that Weasleys were a very old pureblood family. They were related to House Black and therefore distantly to him. But then again, so was half of magical Britain.

"That's because I have never seen it before. Not before coming here and I finding it in the Greengrass library... how insane is that?" Ron asked.

"Strange. Your parents never showed it to you?" Harry answered with another question.

"I am not even sure we have it," Ron admitted with bitterness. "Perhaps we sold it. Like everything else we had back before we started liking muggles too much," he told him, using Harry's earlier phrase. "I mean there are pureblood families who are muggle-friendly but did not become piss-poor and a laughingstock of the magical world in the process – Longbottoms, Diggories, Abbots," Ron listed angrily before going silent.

"Sorry," he said after a while. "I guess this is still a sore spot for me. I mean, just look at this place," he said while gesturing at the ridiculous luxury which surrounded them even in the sparsely decorated game room they were in. "And Astoria told me Weasleys once lived like this as well?! I can't believe it!" he said and sighed. "Sorry again. What I originally meant to say is that I now understand that I don't known as much about purebloods and the magical world as I thought I did. It makes me feel like I've been misleading you all these years."

"You didn't," Harry quickly said and Ron smiled weakly. "Thanks. Anyway, that's why I can't blame you. Why I could never blame you for being interested in Daphne Greengrass. She's beautiful, smart... and I know how much you love magic and magical world so I suppose to you, she's like an embodiment of all that. All you ever wanted but never thought existed..." he said, much to Harry's joy over the depth of his insight and understanding. He was absolutely right too. This was the reason Ron was his best friend! He just got him.

"She gives me hope," Harry said softly. "For the first time, I feel like I have a future that I look forward to. And not just surviving this war."

Ron nodded. "And you are probably right. As I said, you two are great when you work together. After all, you already got the Elder wand and we finally have a lead on another horcrux..."

Earlier

"Bellatrix Lestrange?" Harry asked with a pondering expression. "Are you sure?"

"No, of course not. There is no way to be sure. But it makes sense, don't you think?" Daphne insisted with confidence in her voice. "If he gave one of them to Malfoys, then surely he would have wished that his most devoted servants also kept one. Plus, my grandfather managed to remember one very old meeting after which both Abraxas Malfoy and Asher Lestrange received something valuable from the dark lord. He never learned what it was but the timeline fits."

Harry, Ron, and Daphne were all sitting around a table in the lady's office, discussing the possible locations of the other horcruxes. Earlier, Harry made sure that his friend could attend their strategy meetings from now on. Since Ron knew as much about Voldemort's horcruxes as Harry did, Daphne readily agreed with including him.

Sadly, the same logic apparently did not extend to his other friend as Daphne outright refused to solicit any advice from the muggleborn girl. "What would be the point?" Daphne told him when he suggested including Hermione. "She will automatically assume everything I say is a lie and I don't have time or desire to convince her otherwise. Besides, why would she believe me? She doesn't even believe you! And you are her best friend!"

Daphne's harsh words hurt him a little but Harry knew the pureblood girl was correct. Even before coming here, Hermione did not believe him. There was no chance of her just accepting anything Daphne was saying. They would end up arguing and Daphne had zero-tolerance of that type of behaviour from someone of Hermione's blood status.

Admittedly, the lack of trust between the two girls was very much mutual. Daphne reluctantly allowed Hermione out of her cell under guard each day but otherwise, she trusted her as far as she could throw her. She went so far as to ask Harry not to share any information on the war with Hermione to which he reluctantly agreed. Perhaps it was cruel to keep his friend completely out of the loop after all they've been through but Harry reckoned it was even crueller to share details with Hermione while she was unable to make any contributions herself.

"Ok," Harry said after a moment of thinking, acknowledging that what Daphne was saying was logical. Lestranges were always considered more loyal servants than Malfoys. So if Malfoys were entrusted with part of Voldemort's soul, then surely Lestranges were as well. Especially since Bellatrix was fanatically devoted to him. That, coupled with Lord Selwyn's recollection of events that occurred decades ago, made it the most solid lead they had so far. It was really ironic how the fact that multiple generations of Daphne's family were death eaters was helping them to plot Voldemort's destruction now.

"Then I suppose the only question is what it is and where is it now," he said and looked between Daphne and Ron. "Any ideas anyone?"

The blonde merely frowned in thought while Ron said quietly. "Maybe at one of their properties? Or their vault at Gringotts!"

Harry was about to agree with him but he stopped when he saw Daphne shaking her head. "After Voldemort's first fall, all properties and vaults belonging to Lestranges were confiscated by the Ministry," the girl explained.

"For supporting Voldemort?" Harry assumed and asked, "But I thought nothing was confiscated from those who went to Azkaban?" After all, the properties of House Black were intact even after Sirius was falsely imprisoned.

"You're right," Daphne agreed. "After the war, the Ministry attempted to confiscate properties of convicted Death eaters but the old families blocked them in Wizengamot," she informed them. "With a single exceptions – the Lestranges. My father and his peers decided not to protect them."

"Why?" Harry and Ron asked at the same time.

Daphne looked at them with a deadpan expression like the answer was perfectly obvious. "Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rabastan tortured two purebloods from one of the oldest magical families into insanity. You think we would have let that slide?!" she said and Harry realized she was talking about Neville's parents.

Ron realized it too. "But they were your enemies!" he protested.

"True. But they could have used less damaging methods to interrogate them," the girl answered. "And failing that, they should have given them a clean death. They were purebloods and they deserved that dignity," she said passionately.

Harry could not help but marvel at her words. Although she spoke in defence of Neville's friends, Daphne's main objection over their horrible fate was apparently the fact that they were purebloods. Harry's old instincts were once again screaming how horrible and twisted that was. But how could he possibly blame her for it when it was Daphne's passionate believe into pureblood supremacy that saved his life? Had she been more pragmatic about it, then she wouldn't have cared Voldemort wasn't a pureblood. And then she would have handed them over to him without a second thought.

But instead, Daphne's personal integrity not only made her spare their lives, but she was now giving him an invaluable help in his efforts to destroy the dark lord. And for that, Harry admired her greatly. 'Perhaps all happened for a reason,' Harry thought even as he touched and squeezed Daphne's hand across the table to reassure and calm her. Her cheek twitched as she smiled and looked at him with gratitude at his simple gesture.

"So... if they had it somewhere and the Ministry took, then where is it now?" Ron asked, interrupting their moment.

Daphne's eyes flicked over to him before she answered, "Everything was given as compensation to House Longbottom. Needless to say that they had curse breakers go over it before touching anything," she told them. "Which means that the horcrux was not there or otherwise Dumbledore would have known about it long ago."

Ron shook his head in disbelief and asked. "How could you possibly know all this? We were babies when it happened!"

"I read my father's journals, of course," Daphne simply answered. Upon seeing his confused look she then added, "Doesn't your family keep journals?"

Ron just lowered his eyes but Harry already knew the answer – nobody from his family kept journals like that as they considered it an archaic pureblood custom.

"Then it could be anywhere. Assuming they really had it in the first place," Harry summed up unhappily before he suddenly remembered something Daphne told him when they first met. "Wait a minute! Didn't you say Bellatrix was completely paranoid and terrorizing the goblins about the security of her vault?" he exclaimed. "How can she have a vault with something valuable in it after everything was taken from her?!"

The blonde stared at him in shock for a moment before saying, "Well, she's been free for a while now. She probably managed to acquire some valuables in that time. Besides, I imagine terrorizing goblins might just be her favourite pastime," she said and both Harry and Ron chuckled weakly. "Unless..." Daphne then said and her eyes went wide with realization. "Of course! I should have realized this before," she exclaimed. "It must be her maiden vault! Harry, you're brilliant!" she chirped happily.

Harry smiled broadly at her words and enthusiasm but he was also very much confused. "What's a maiden vault?" he asked and to his surprise, it was Ron who answered. "Before a pureblood woman marries, her family sometimes sets up a vault in her name so that she can remain financially independent of her husband," he explained and then added when Harry looked at him with the unspoken question on his face. "It's been emptied before I was even born but mom used to have one," he said with a shrug.

"Ron's right. But what's essential is that by law, a maiden vault cannot be confiscated," Daphne then took over the explaining. "The idea is that the woman's husband could be a high ranking ministry official and try to get his hands on it that way."

Harry nodded in understanding. "So... if Bellatrix has a maiden vault, it's likely she stored the horcrux in there. So how do we get our hands on it?"

Daphne smiled gleefully and said, "A maiden vault can be reclaimed by the woman's birth family if she acts in a conduct unbecoming. Definition of which differs in each family. Luckily, we have an expert on the Black family customs with us, don't we?" she said and then cried out.

"Kreacher!"

Earlier, Harry ordered Kreacher to answer calls from Daphne as well so he was not surprised when the elderly elf popped into a room. "Mistress called Kreacher?" he asked with a deep bow.

"Kreacher, are you familiar with the list of reasons for which a member of House Black may be declared a blood traitor?" Daphne asked him eagerly.

"Of course, mistress," the elf said and bowed down once more. He then muttered under his breath. "Invader from seas asks Kreacher about House of Black again. Kreacher wonders what she's up to now."

Harry shook his head at that. On one hand, Kreacher was positively giddy at the idea of serving a pureblood woman once more and so he treated Daphne like royalty. But there was also a distrust between Houses Greengrass and Black going more than two thousand years. It was mindboggling to Harry to be concerned over something that happened millennia ago but apparently, wizarding people had very long memories. In any case, Harry was used to the elf's peculiar behaviour and decided to ignore the comment. "Tell us, Kreacher."

What followed next was almost thirty minute speech from the elf that left Harry feeling sorry for Sirius and wondering just what kind of family he was related to. To his ears, it was an endless river of prejudice that made even Daphne Greengrass look fanatically pro-muggleborn. By the time they thanked him and dismissed Kreacher, Harry felt like his head was going to explode and he could see Ron experiencing similar feelings. In contrast, Daphne looked very happy. "Well that settles it. As Lord Black, you can declare Bellatrix Lestrange a blood traitor and reclaim her maiden vault," she announced happily.

"I can?" Harry asked uncertainly.

"Of course! Haven't you been listening? Serving and obeying commands of a bastard son of a muggle is grounds for immediate dismissal from House Black," Daphne said before hesitating. "The only problem with that plan is that Bellatrix will be notified by Gringotts and can choose to appeal your decision. Not to mention it will most certainly alert Voldemort to what you are doing."

"Then we can't do it," Harry said in desperation but with certainty, knowing that secrecy was still their only hope. "Maybe we should just break into her vault and steal the damn thing," he suggested but Daphne disagreed with that plan.

"That's a very bad idea, Harry. It would violate the treaties we have with Goblins and we can hardly afford another rebellion right now. Besides, it would once again let Voldemort know what you are doing," she said tiredly. "No. What we need to do is to somehow reclaim her vault and make sure she cannot appeal your decision or tell Voldemort about it. And that it cannot be traced to you."

There was a long silence as the three of them thought about a way how they could possibly do something like that.

In the end, it was Ron who broke the silence. "We could kill her," he said in a grave voice, prompting Harry to look at him with shock and Daphne with contemplation. "I mean... if she dies and seeing as she does not have any children... her maiden vault will automatically revert back to her birth family. Right?"

"Right," Daphne confirmed but did not say more, still having a deeply contemplative expression as she stared at Ron.

"Are we... are we really talking about assassinating Bellatrix Lestrange?" Harry asked, his eyes flicking between Daphne and Ron.

"Do you have a problem with that, Harry?" Daphne asked him after a while as they looked into each others eyes. There was no judgement or anger in her blue eyes, only honest curiosity. It made Harry wonder. Did he really have a problem with a known sadistic murderer being murdered? Especially if it would help them to defeat Voldemort? The answer was surprisingly simple – no, he did not have a problem with that. So what was it that was really bothering him about it?

"Actually, I figured you might have a problem with it," he told Daphne quietly.

"Because she's a pureblood?" the blonde said and raised her perfect eyebrow at him. "You are right. In an ideal world, I would look for another way but all three Lestranges are fanatics and that goes twice for Bellatrix. She will never accept the truth no matter what," she said and sighed. "Besides, this war cannot be won without sacrifices."

They stared at each other with understanding before Ron interrupted again. "So how are we going to go about that? I am not sure any of us can match her in combat. Could your guards possibly do it?" he asked.

"Greengrass household guards are primarily trained in bodyguard duties and defensive combat tactics in small groups... not in assassination," Daphne informed them. "With that said, I will check my father's list of contacts. There should be someone we can hire to do the job."

"What, you're just going to look under 'A' for assassins?" Harry asked jokingly and was about to chuckle before he saw the blonde giving him a very serious look and realized that the answer was yes.

That's exactly what she was going to do.

Present

"I think with Greengrasses on our side, we have a very good shot at ending this war. My only wish is that they'd be kinder to Hermione. None of it is her fault," Ron said, interrupting Harry's thoughts about their earlier meeting.

"I could put a stop to it, you know," Harry said in response. "But I think it will really help her in the long run. I really do. She deserves not to be limited by her birth."

"I hope you are right," Ron said as he checkmated him for a fourth time. "Because if you are not then she is never going to forgive us."

Harry took a deep breath, afraid to say what he was thinking – that Hermione was never going to forgive him even if he was right. Even if she comes to understand his reasons.

"... never going to forgive me," he corrected Ron resolutely. "After all, you did everything you could to stop it but were prevented from helping her."

"But..."

"Just in case she decides not to forgive me when I tell her the whole truth," Harry explained in pained voice. "There is no reason for her to lose both her friends, is there?"

Ron was silent for a while before saying in gratitude. "No, I suppose there's not... thank you, Harry. I just hope we will never have to find out," he said and Harry agreed. "Me too."