Disclaimer: Anything that's familiar doesn't belong to me.

A/N: Some people have said the last chapter I uploaded earlier today didn't give them an alert, so just a heads up to make sure you've read chapter eight first if you haven't already :)

Chapter Nine: Britain's Best Dish

The distant sound of rainfall permeated Daphne's dreams and she blinked, once, twice and then shot up.

She had fallen asleep in the Hogwarts Library. She wiped at her mouth, mortified as she stared about to see if anybody had noticed her and then frowned in confusion as a soft thin blanket pooled at her feet and she just noticed that there was a small cushion on the table with a head-shaped dent, she must have been sleeping on this, but she didn't remember conjuring either object?

She spotted a roll of parchment with her name on it, glanced around but not finding anybody for feet, the dark wet evening visible through the window next to her.

Dear Sleeping Beauty,

I hope you're reading this feeling resplendent from a good rest. I suppose Slytherin house partied too hard in celebration of you last night? I didn't want to disturb your peaceful slumber, so thought it best to just get you warm and comfortable. I'm free for dinner tonight if you'd like to join me? If so, I'll pick you up from outside your common room whenever you're ready. Please take your time, I'm in no rush.

Your Prince (of) Charming

P.S. Don't you fret, you looked adorable asleep. Especially whatever those little nose twitches were!

Daphne's face morphed into equal parts embarrassed and amused as she rose to her feet. Harry found her asleep! Sweet Salazar, she had been drooling a bit, how humiliating!

She vanished the cushion and the blanket and made her way quickly down to her common room, practically running to her dorm to shower and change. She had been working on her potions assignment whilst waiting for Harry and clearly the lack of sleep caught up with her, but now she was grateful for it. She at least felt a bit fresh, and considering the morning she had, any positive feeling should be latched onto.

She glanced at the clock, it was almost five, and her tummy panged with hunger, she couldn't believe she slept through lunch, and she had skipped breakfast. What did one do if they needed food? How in six years has that never been a problem before?

She magically dried her hair with her wand as she threw some outfit options onto her bed, wondering how Harry was going to know when she was ready? How would he even know where her common room was?

Pansy and Tracy walked into the dorm as she was leaving, giving her a once over with a raised brow, instantly curious as to why she was so dressed up, and Daphne suddenly pondered if she was too dressed up?

Harry did say 'it's a date' earlier, and it's only polite to dress appropriately. She ignored the prying stares as she crossed the common room, perhaps it wasn't the best time to draw attention to herself…

She walked out of their snake pit, heading towards the Great Hall, not expecting Harry to actually be waiting outside her common room, but…

There he was.

She smiled at him in greeting, he wore the same shade of green as she did, his a sweater, hers a short strappy silk dress. His eyes sparkled in the dimly lit corridor as he walked over to her, pushing a folded parchment into the back pocket of his black trousers. She was glad that he had dressed up as well.

This was a date.

She was on a date with Harry Potter.

"Hello, Twitchy." He playfully flicked her nose at that and she mock gasped.

"That's not very charming, my prince. And if I must have a nickname, I much prefer Sleeping Beauty."

"Oh don't underestimate those nose twitches. I was pretty sure I was having the worst day ever until I was confronted with your utter adorableness."

She tilted her head at him at the mention of him having a terrible day, in her heels he was just a few inches taller than her, "Are you okay?"

He pondered her question, and Daphne took him in properly. She didn't know Harry well, barely at all, but there was a heaviness that radiated off him that she never felt before.

"I suspect nothing five minutes in your company won't fix." He smirked at her but she could tell that it was forced, and she frowned, and he let out a sigh, "Always so discerning." He didn't elaborate, but offered her a sincere smile, "You do look lovely, Daphne."

"Thank you." She returned his smile, "As do you. I like this on you." She patted the sweater at his chest, a much too familiar and daring action.

"Oh, you should see it off me. Much better." He grinned, and she shook her head, feigning exasperation but enjoying his playfulness, "Shall we?"

Daphne let him take her hand, so utterly distracted by him that she hadn't realised they were flirting right outside her common room entrance. She made to walk towards the Great Hall and Harry tugged her in the opposite direction.

"Oh, we're not dining in the hall tonight, if that's okay?"

She grew curious, "Of course." He walked further into the dungeons, and then towards the basement, and she quietly followed next to him, enjoying how they naturally fell into step, how his fingers interlocked with hers, how he somehow managed to navigate her but at the same time not make her feel like she was being dragged along.

"Okay, I think it's here." He pulled out the large parchment to double check and she looked down curiously.

"Is that a map of Hogwarts? Wait." She leaned forward, catching her own name on the spot Harry was staring at. "Sweet Salazar. This is incredible."

"It's pretty neat. My dad and his friends came up with it when they were at school." He gestured at the back of it and Daphne caught the word Marauders featured on that side. "My godfather," She definitely sensed a hint of bitterness as he said the name, and was surprised. She of course had every reason to be angry at the man, he had attacked her uncle, but why was Harry? "- told me that it would potentially be in the caretaker's office ages ago, so I snuck in and filched it last night. It's meant to stay in this school and serve mischief makers for generations to come. Okay, what on earth is a hydrangea." Harry had been squinting at the painting of an impressive garden landscape in front of them, and she read over his shoulder on the map, 'Stop and smell the hydrangeas."

She chuckled softly, "These blue ones over here by the lake", she pointed it out to him and leaned towards the painting, surprised that it actually did smell subtly of the honey-scented flowers, the smell growing progressively stronger, "…oh!" The flowers bristled back and forth almost as if experiencing a gust of wind and then the painting swung open.

Harry and she exchanged twin grins, both embarking on their first Hogwarts adventure. She made to step through the door but he stopped her, "Let me. You can watch my back." He tactfully stated, but she didn't mind chivalry, it was chauvinism that she took offence to.

He lit his wand and they walked down the earthy, narrow corridor. Daphne thought it smelled a bit like the natural springs not too far from their house that she and Draco used to sneak off to as children, but it didn't make any sense because they were surrounded by firm grey stone. She also thought it was sweet that despite the fact that they couldn't stand next to each other, Harry still kept a firm grip on her hand.

"Well, this ought to be fun." They had reached a small room that contained a large well. There was a pail hanging atop it, for what one woud assume would be for fetching water, but it was massive, and looked more like the basket for a hot air balloon. Harry swiftly jumped into the wooden pail, and held a hand out for her which she quickly took, happily squeezing in next to him as with a tap of his wand they began their descent.

They lowered into complete darkness, and Daphne bit her lip, enjoying how nice he smelled. She'd have to ask him what was that cologne, she didn't recognise it.

"Do you get your perfume from Madame Zangara?"

Clearly her scent was also on his mind, "The lingerie store?"

"Oh, I thought they did perfume as well. I swear Selina gets everything from that place."

Daphne giggled, "I'm not surprised." Harry's little blonde friend dressed a tad more risque than the Hogwarts girls did.

"Is that judgement I hear?"

"Oh not at all. I like a girl who can get her wear out of a good garment. And why should nighties be kept just for the bedroom."

She heard his quiet chuckle, his face barely visibly now that his wand was pointing away from it, directed at their new surroundings, but it was just this never ending stone well that circled them, it was like they were being lowered down a very long tunnel, "She only did that because her father asked her to change last night. He didn't think the skirt she was wearing was appropriate for the Feast you see."

"When will you boys ever learn. Taming is for wild animals and unruly locks, not for women."

"Oh I disagree, as you can probably tell, my motto is tame nothing at all, the wilder the better." Daphne blushed as she felt his thigh against her, remembering how his dark locks always made him look like he just woke up. Her aunt would kill Draco if he walked around like that, but Harry was completely right, all that unruliness just made her want to run her hands through his hair all the more. "Ah, I think we're here."

They had stopped moving, but they were still in complete darkness except for their wands. Harry jumped over, and Daphne followed, glad she put that stability charm on her heels when she was getting dressed. They walked down a passage much like the one they had ventured through earlier, a familiar smell prickling at her senses.

"Oh my." They had stepped out of the corridor to find themselves in an underground hot spring! Daphne had only ever heard of such things, and never imagined they could exist at Hogwarts! It was a large cave like room, all the walls were made of angular rocks and the water glowed an iridescent greenish-blue that looked nothing like the black lake above, so clear she could see it's peble lined floor.

They were stood on a large bit of rock that seemed to be specifically worn down so that it was more comfortable for walking upon. The heat of the water met the cold air in steamy tendrils, and Daphne was glad she was in a sleeveless dress in the warm room.

She looked at Harry in complete awe, how on earth did he discover this? Even with the map! "This is beautiful!"

"Yeah." He nodded, taking in the large space, "My dad proposed to my mum down here."

Daphne turned away from the overwhelming scene to look at him, his eyes wide and misty. She imagined his godfather must have told him the story, and she thought it was sweet this was the very first place he sought out, and she was touched that he brought her with.

"Oh, I've just realised that's probably a little intense for a first date."

He scratched the back of his neck as he inspected the rocky walls of the cave as Daphne ventured closer to the water, curious as to where it came from? Thermal baths were meant to be groundwater, and she didn't hear of any hot springs in Scotland, but perhaps this wasn't natural, but a magical invention? They were rumours that each founder had a special room in the castle, and only a handful of students over the century 'found the four.' Perhaps this was Hufflepuff's ? She did think they were nearer to the basement, which is where their common room was, and Helga Hufflepuff was reknown for being a prodigious healer, and thermal spas were meant to be good for the health.

She noticed Harry was now staring at her nervously, and she realised that she hadn't responded.

"Well considering your godfather and my uncle practically tried to maul each other this morning, I think we deserve some intense romantic course correction. Well done you."

His expression turned soft and vulnerable at her words. She didn't have to ask him if he was okay, she could only imagine what it must feel like being somewhere so significant to his parents. Daphne had often asked her aunt and uncle about her mother and father, and they were terribly tight-lipped. She wondered where Daniel Greengrass proposed to Aurora Malfoy? They had also married young, perhaps also at Hogwarts? Oh but that wouldn't make sense, her father was a bit older, already a healer at St Mungo's by the time her mother was done with school.

"I wish I had a camera right now. You look enchanting."

She tucked a long strand behind her ear, glancing behind her at the majestic backdrop, "Thank you." She was surprised she could even smile after the confusing day she had. She walked over to him, as he settled into a slab of stone that jutted out of the wall, a natural bench, and he patted the space next to him and she filled it.

"I probably shouldn't have taken you on such an excursion in those heels."

"Oh never let inadequate wardrobe get in the way of a good adventure. Anyway, I can do anything in heels. It's my superpower."

"Oh I don't doubt that." His green gaze traveled up her exposed legs, and Daphne crossed them, knowing doing so would hike up her silk dress, hinting at her pale thighs. She knew it was vain, but she liked her legs, she thought her arms too skinny, and her breasts a tad on the small side, but her lower limbs were strong and defined, and judging by Harry's appreciative glance, he agreed with her.

"Ah, speaking of superpowers!" He pulled out a tiny picnic basket from his pocket, enlarged and opened it.

Daphne could kiss him! Food! She was starving! She hadn't eaten all day! She had been anxious that any moment her tummy would give a tremendous grumble, positive between that, the drooling, and the nose twitches, whatever attraction Harry had for her would be doused out like sand to a fire.

He waved his wand and the basket unpacked itself, a picnic blanket spreading out as the assortment of grapes, cheese, wine and cured meats curated themselves upon it. "I didn't know what you liked so I got a bunch of different things out of the kitchens. Your house elves are so friendly."

"I don't even know where the kitchens are! You're here less than a week and you've already discovered more of this castle than I have in six years!"

"Well I cheated, I had the map."

"Oh I don't know, I reckon you're one of those annoying people with innate navigation skills. I bet you never get lost on hikes."

"Oh but that's only because Sirius…" His voice faltered, and Daphne noticed yet again he was a bit choked up at mentioning his godfather. He cleared his throat, "Anyway, my superpower is this."

He handed her a large wrapped sandwhich, and she unfolded it to find a baguette filled with some kind of meat, soft cheese and, "Are those grapes?"

"Go on, taste it?"

He looked so expectant, and it was really sweet of him to prepare this for her, so she bit into the sandwich and he laughed at her resultant expression.

"Oh, Harry!" His laughter evaporated at that, and he bit his lip as he watched her take another bite, his eyes growing heated, but Daphne didn't care if she was being unintentionally erotic, "This is the best sandwich I've had in my life."

He grinned as he bit into his own, "Told you, superpower. I make the best sandwiches. I inherited the trait from my father apparently. My mum used to say that she married him for it."

"It's amazing that you know so much about your parents." Daphne tried not to sound jealous, but she could tell she failed at the look on his face.

"Doesn't your uncle talk about your mum?"

She shook her head, "My aunt tried a few times, but he just leaves the room." She glanced at the floor as she chewed in silence for a few minutes. She wanted to ask Harry about the meeting this morning, if his godfather explained the argument with her uncle, but she didn't want to pester him. He seemed to be going through something with Sirius Black at the moment, and she wouldn't pry.

"Daphne." She looked up, she had just finished the sandwich in an embarrassing amount of time, and his serious expression wavered as he scooped up some sauce from the side of her lip and licked his thumb. She noticed crumbs on his sweater, and she dusted it, letting her hand fall onto his knee, the pale skin contrasting with his dark trousers. She felt nervous energy off him, so she looked up at him, making it clear in her body language that she wanted him to kiss her. He swallowed, and put his arm about her shoulder and she leaned into him, enjoying his closeness. "Merlin I want to." He didn't elaborate the thought, his fingers playing with her chin as he tilted her face up to him, "We should talk first." She straightened her head at that, losing contact with his smooth hands, frowning. "Actually, may I ask how your mother died?"

She blinked. Well, that came out of nowhere.

"Well, both my parents died during the war." She frowned at the painful look on his face. She stared at her knees, "My uncle said it was a matter of wrong place, wrong time. There was an attack at St Mungo's just before the Dark Lord fell, my father worked there, he was a healer." There was a hint of pride in her voice at that, Daphne didn't know much about Daniel Greengrass but she did know that. He dedicated his life to making people feel better, and she'd tried to do just that in his memory, in far smaller ways of course. "I never understood what my mother was doing there, and my uncle never spoke about it. I always imagined it was something like my father forgot his lunch, so she was the sort of doting wife that canteen food just wouldn't do for her loved one. I have this image of her, flooing into the hospital with a brown bag as he was was rushing about with a recitator in his hand, lime green robes resplendent with a look of stress on his face, that disappeared at the sight of her. They didn't have time to chat, and she'd hand him the bag of lunch and they'd kiss quickly." She was silent for a few beats, the image so clear in her minds eye, "I hope however it happened, they were at least together."

She felt a comforting hand on her back and she leaned into his side. Harry was that rare individual that understood exactly how she felt, what it was to have these child-like fantasies, and he was kind in indulging her.

"Daphne, when we first met I made a silly joke, that made you think I didn't know about the nature of my parents deaths, and proceeded to quickly inform me. I now understand how unbelievably kind that was. It was probably difficult to say, but you had such empathy for a complete stranger." She was frowning at him, unsure where this conversation was going. He began stroking her hair, nervous and wanting to distract himself. "I've learnt some things about your parents this morning, I don't know how to say this to you, but I think it's important that I do."

"Okay." She was glad she had eaten and slept, because even with her tummy now full and well rested, she felt as if she might faint from the haunted look on his face.

"My godfather, Sirius, he knew your mother." They were so close, he was practically whispering but she could hear him clearly, "They were together."

"Oh. At Hogwarts?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know specifics." He glanced at the ceiling, in thought, "Possibly. Definitely before your parents got married, and then… a bit after."

"What?"

"I'm going to tell you everything I learnt about your mother, Daphne, it's going to be a lot. Sirius let me see some memories this morning, and your mother, Rory, featured quite heavily in them."

She nodded, silent, the tinkling sound of water heightening her anxiety for some reason. Rory… that's what Sirius Black had said when he saw her.

Rory.

Aurora.

"After you were born, your mother ran away from your father, she brought you with her, and stayed for a while with Sirius, and my parents. They were in hiding from Voldemort at the time, who was agressively pursuing them. She said that she couldn't be without Sirius anymore. It seemed like they broke up because they were on different sides during the war."

"My mother was a death eater?"

"No. No it was clear she wasn't. But your uncle was one."

"Oh, yes, but not out of choice. The Dark Lord had him under the imperius curse."

A sympathetic look crossed his face and he brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, "Sirius made it clear that if they were to be together that she couldn't have ties with any of Voldemort's supporters, that meant her brother, and his brother as well. Your mother was best friend's with Sirius' brother, Regulus."

She nodded, that making sense to her, "Regulus Black was Head Boy when she was Head Girl. There's a picture of the two of them in the school archives, it's the only one I found of her here."

Harry nodded, "Yeah, from the memories it sounded like they were best friends. Regulus was a death eater, Sirius told me that Voldemort killed him because he tried getting out of it, and it's not the sort of thing you can quit, I guess. Anyway, your mother said she was done with your uncle, and Regulus, that she wanted to be with Sirius. That she wanted him to raise you."

"What about my father?"

Harry glanced to the floor, "I think it sounded like there's was an arranged marriage, more than a love match? I could be wrong though."

"Oh." Daphne didn't know why that disappointed her, almost every married couple she had close proximity to had been arranged. Suppose she was playing with the fantasy for years of the doting wife and noble husband, and she didn't want to let go of that just yet.

"Rory and you stayed with Sirius for a bit, but then she left. He thought she went back to your father, he was quite heartbroken. My father had a theory that she went back to help Regulus escape Voldemort."

"Your father had a theory?"

"Yeah." He offered her a small smile, "I think our parents were friends. At least our mothers were, I could tell by the way they greeted each other, there was a lot of love there. And my father clearly liked her, because he kept advocating for her."

"Advocating?" Daphne imagined she must sound very stupid, just repeating single words like this, but this night was such a surprise to her… how was Harry Potter telling her more about her mother than her family ever did ?

"Yeah, Sirius assumed she left, so he threw all his energy into fighting for the Order of the Phoenix again." He hesitated, and she looked up at him, and she could almost see him picking out the right words… what he was about to tell her was bad… "Do you know about Peter Pettigrew?"

"That man that betrayed your parents and killed all those muggles?"

"Yes." She noticed his hands tense, and she placed her own on his and she was glad to feel it soften, "Your mother, Rory." He swallowed, and she could see he was struggling to find the words.

"Harry, I can take it."

"I know. I don't know if I can." He let a strangled sound, and then a deep breath, "Okay. I saw a memory of your mother the day she died. She had apparated to Sirius, with the help of her house elf."

"The Greengrasses didn't have a house elf."

"Sorry, erm, Dobby?"

"Dobby! Wait, why would she need help apparating?"

"She was not in a good state. Daphne," Harry turned, almost facing her as she stared ahead, his arms about her tightening, "Your mother was being held captive by your father. I think for a long while, possibly since Sirius last saw her. I think you both might have actually been kidnapped by him."

Daphne's mind went numb.

Her father held her mother captive? The image of the beautiful kissing couple was shrinking right in front of her.

"Dobby rescued your mother, took you both to Malfoy Manor. But she spotted Peter at your uncle's house, so she went straight to my godfather to warn him. He understood that my parents were in danger, and she told him to go and help…even if he didn't get there in time, Daphne, your mother risked her life to save my parents. She was a remarkable, brave woman."

Daphne felt like her arteries were freezing, becoming unaccommodating for the blood pumping within her and Harry's compliments didn't penetrate her hardening exterior.

"Sirius needed to help my parents, but he could tell Rory needed help so he sent Dobby for your father, the healer. When Sirius got back, your uncle was waiting for him, they got into a fight about your mother being at his appartment but they eventually went upstairs, and they saw your father standing in the room." Daphne didn't need him to say the next words, she knew it as if she always knew it, but that was irrational because she would never dream this in her worst nightmare… "Your father murdered your mother and he disapparated."

She leaned back against the cold stone wall.

"I'm so sorry, Daphne."

"How?"

"What?"

"How did he… do it?"

Harry swallowed, "Knife. I… couldn't see properly. There was a lot of blood."

"Did he slit her throat?"

"What?"

"Did he slit her throat?"

"I… Daphne?"

"I'm asking if it was slow, or was it fast. Did she…" Daphne had thought about this so much, fixated on it. How did her mother die in that attack on St Mungo's which she was now realising was a complete fabrication? Did she get caught in the crossfire of a duel? Was she smothered to death in the stampede that tried to get out of the hospital? Did she get stuck beneath a wall, or did a piece of roof fall on her? Had she reached her father, did they die together… her father…

Her father.

She slipped off the wall and she felt Harry move with her.

Her father killed her mother?

"He was a healer." She muttered, but suddenly, she saw it.

Fury.

It was absolute fury in her uncle's eyes when she asked about her father.

Hatred and anger that made him leave the room everytime he was brought up…

It's what made her scared to ask about him… some innate survival instinct that could sense whatever her uncle was giving off… scared her… prevented her from asking more questions.

"Daphne."

"It was slow then. Slow and painful." She had wandered towards the water, holding herself, suddenly cold despite the unusually warm space. "And he had her locked up before? You said she looked like it… Was she hurt?"

"She didn't have bruises that I could see. But, she had some rawness around her neck, her wrists. Your aunt, she went to the house afterwards. Visited the cellar where she was kept."

"The cellar?"

"Yes. I… do you really want to know everything?" Daphne turned to look at him, and he immediately stepped towards her, "I'm sorry, of course you do. Erm, your aunt mentioned that he had her kept like, like a, dog." He said the last word very quickly, almost as if he hoped she didn't catch it.

She clutched her tummy… like a dog?

Daphne had never heard of anything so cruel…

"I don't understand. How was he able to do that? My uncle… he barely lets me out of his sight, I can only imagine what he was like with my mother."

"It was wartime, people were more or less in hiding, on both sides. And your parents had moved to France, to keep out of it. Well that's what your family thought." He stepped closer to her, "I don't know if this makes it better, but, Sirius loved your mother. I think he still does. I've never seen him with a woman in seventeen years. I know it's awful, and nothing can make it better, but, I don't know. Her life, it wasn't just the way it ended. She was more than her death."

Daphne couldn't process his words. She kept imagining her mother, this woman who had her face, chained to walls, beaten, bloodied, bruised. By the very man whose blood ran through her own veins. She looked down at her hands, seeing them scarlet and gasping in horror, rushing forward and plunging them into the water as she heard Harry hasten after her, rubbing her hands aggressively together, the imagined blood now gone but she still felt dirty, like she wanted to peel the very skin he had given her.

She stared at her image in the now still clear water.

His green eyes.

She pushed at the reflection, falling into the water but not caring, submerged surprisingly, not expecting it to be deep but it was and she struggled to find purchase but she was brought to her feet, standing in the waist deep water and staring at Harry's shocked wet face, large drops on his black round glasses. He was holding her steady in his hands, keeping her upright as she seemed to be solvent in this hot spring, dissolving into it with each passing second.

"How did he die?" She muttered, wanting to know, feeling so confused that she still felt sadness for him. She had been mourning this man for sixteen years, she knew she must learn to hate him now, but it was currently challenging.

Harry moved his hands from her arms to her back and she was flush against him now, "I don't think he's dead, Daphne."

"Oh."

"Your aunt reported that he was to the Ministry of Magic. But he got away, and my godfather didn't mention him getting caught. It souned like she was planning to make sure that he would be, and figured saying he was dead in a duel was a good future alibi, afterall. I don't know, I'm sorry, I think you'll have to ask your aunt and uncle. I should have asked… I just…" His sentence fell away and Daphne was too distracted by this new information to pick it up.

"Your godfather spoke to Aunt Narcissa after…"

She didn't have to specify, and he nodded. "Sirius… was distraught after your mother… He went after Peter, but that bastard can turn into a rat, and everyone initially thought Sirius was the one that betrayed my parents because that git disappeared from the crime scene. And your uncle said that Sirius was the one that… to your mother and father."

"What? Why would he say that?"

"They clearly hate each other. Lucius blames Sirius for your mother, he thinks he shouldn't have left her."

If Sirius Black hadn't left her mother… maybe she would be alive… afterall, he left to save Harry's parents and didn't do that…So she didn't blame her uncle for his thoughts, and rationally she knew that they could never know what would have happened…but…

"He did send for help, and he got back as soon as he could. If your uncle didn't get in his way back to the appartment, maybe he'd have got there in time." There was a definitive note of defence in Harry's tone, and it would seem he could already read her so well, clearly sensing her judgment of his godfather's actions.

What did it matter now… her mother was dead.

"So how is my aunt involved in this?"

"Sirius was arrested. They were considering Azkaban without a trial. Narcissa Malfoy visited him, said that she'd send Dobby to give evidence to help him, if he helped her and said that your uncle was under the imperius curse."

"He wasn't?"

Harry shook his head, "I heard he was practically Voldemort's right hand man at the time. He was responsible for the attack on my grandfather's house, Potter Manor. Mine and Tessa's grandfathers died in that attack."

"Oh." She let out a hollow laugh and she covered her mouth, horrified as Harry frowned down at her, "I just realised that I'm all bad. It's not just my father. It's my mother's blood too." She stared again at her hands which were now on Harry's chest, and he slipped them into his own, bending to meet her eyes, to anchor her in sanity.

"No no no, evil isn't an inherited trait. Nobody is born bad, least of all you. I know we've only just met, but you've been so patient, and kind, and, today was a really fucking hard day for me, and the only thing that got me through it was this. Seeing you. You're so far from bad Daphne, you're like a lighthouse in a storm. I think I'd be utterly lost without you."

Daphne didn't know how one person could feel every emotion flooding her right now. Grief, and anger. Love, and loss. Hate and pain. Desire and confusion.

"I'm sorry you had a tough day. Do you want to talk about it?"

He let out a chuckle, "See, what a villainous woman, selfish to the bone." He tucked a wet lock behind her ear, staring into her face, she must look awful, like a drowned poodle, "One day, but not now. Now, I want to take care of you. I know this isn't exactly the ideal first date, would you like me to take you upstairs? I won't be offended if you want to be alone."

"No. I don't want that." She answered quickly, pretty sure she was only upright because Harry was physically holding her up.

"How do you feel?" His shoulders dipped, "I know that's such a stupid question."

"It's not. You've been kinder to me this past hour, treated me with more respect, and loyalty, than people who've known me all my life. None of your questions are stupid." She licked her lips, her mouth dry, "I feel like I want to break my kneecaps and gouge out my eyes and crawl out of my skin."

Harry blinked down at her.

"That's all him. My father. My height. My eyes. My complexion."

"Oh." She was frightening him, she could tell. She sounded crazy, but what he told her changed her very composition, her history.

He probably thought she was mad.

"You can go if you'd like. You don't have to be here." She desperately wanted him to stay, but she had to give him the option to get out of the mess that was now her life.

"Do…do you want me to?"

"No. But, I understand if you want to."

"Quite literally nowhere else I'd rather be, Daphne." He flexed the arm that was still cradling her back, that little gesture was enough to convince her to throw her arms around him. His hold turned to iron, clutching her to him. She focused on his heartbeat, calming her own somehow. His white tee shirt had been soaked through, and she was impressed that he had the sense to fling off his sweater before jumping into the water after her. She just noticed something black over his heart through the thin cotton.

"What's this?" She muttered against his collarbone, touching his chest so he understood what she meant.

"Oh, it's a tattoo. I used to have a runic one there, for protection, but it doesn't work anymore now that I'm an adult, so it completely disappeared. Sirius and I got these matching ones on my seventeenth, sort of as a memory of the matching runic ones we had. Well, actually Sirius had his one since I was a kid, but I got mine to match him. Do you want to see?"

She nodded, and was surprised at how her body lamented at the loss of his arms as he shrugged off his wet shirt, but holding her quickly in his arms once again. She heard his sharp intake of breath as she touched the tattoo, tracing the outline of the deers, that were seperated by a lightning bolt. There were matching paw prints where the deers hearts were.

"It's a doe and stag for my parents. It was their patronuses. The paws are for Sirius and Remus'… patronuses as well. And well the lightning bolt is me. Though I never understood why it emerged from the the sun ? Maybe he was being artistic?"

"It's dawn." She muttered, staring at the rising sun above the majestic beasts. She stepped closer, her lips were practically at his chest now, "Aurora means dawn." She glanced up at him, "It's for my mum."

"Oh, of course." Harry mumbled, but Daphne leaned forward and kissed the little sun, closing her eyes, suddenly processing that this boy somehow had a tattoo dedicated to her mother on his chest.

How bizarre.

She kissed Harry's neck, understanding his silence meant he was done with talking for now. He turned his face to her and she dived into him. Daphne had never been so forthright, she nipped at his bottom lip and when he granted her entry she slipped her tongue in, holding onto his neck as leverage as they slowly battled for dominanace.

She ran a hand up his back, firm and warm, smooth and soft and he mirrored her action and she released him, her dress already half off her weighed down as it was with water, she slipped it off completely, her shoes going with it and she shrunk in front of him but it had the opposite effect as Harry gazed at her as if this was the only thing he could see.

She liked that. She wanted the world to disappear and for it to be just him and her. No family secrets. No drama. No evil fathers. Overbearing uncles.

She wanted to just be a girl on a date with a cute boy.

So she gathered her courage, and became just that.

"This is from Madam Zangara's." She teased, gesturing at the bra she wore, which was purely decorative, flimsy lace that left nothing to the imagination. She bit her lower lip, and slipped it off, "But these are all me."

The contrast with the heat from the water and the cold air around them had her nipples painfully hard, but she knew Harry definitely had a role to play with that, and it no longer took much effort to pretend they were two normal teenagers on a date now.

Daphne walked back to him, letting out a moan as she leaned against him, skin against skin like she wanted once he took off his shirt, and she thought this is exactly what she needed.

To feel so in her body her thoughts were silenced.

They began kissing again, this time more languid as they rubbed their hands about their naked top halves. Daphne had traced her fingers up his back, and then down his front, feeling the coarse hair at his lower abdomen, smiling into his lips as he let out little needy groans at her work, but soon it was his turn to smirk into her as when she ventured south, he wandered north.

"Oh Morgana above." She released his lips as he flicked at her left nipple, his rough thumb sending her on a sensory overload and suddenly there was wet warmth at it, as he latched at her with his lips, and she quickly clutched his strands, wetting them but enjoying how his eyes flickered up at her at the motion, amused and bright, enjoying himself. She could tell his angle was awkward so she hoisted her left leg around his waist aided by the water around them and Harry easily carried her, surprisingly strong despite his thin frame. Her limbs enclosed his waist, her thighs half in the water and she gasped as Harry's hands grabbed at her butt, supporting her.

His hands moved up to her waist, and hers were about his neck as he moved from her left breast to the right.

"Oh Harry."

"Fuck." He muttered and it fluttered across her skin, clearly enjoying her reaction to him. "You're…" She didn't find out what she was, as he had begun his work again and she gazed down at him suckling at her, enjoying just that. How perfect she fit in his lips, how arousing it was to both see and feel his tongue flicks, how his brows seemed to crease in concentration, so focused was he. She felt his stance waver, even in the water this was probably a bit of a task and she loosened her legs about him, "No." He stopped her unwrapping from him with a firy palm on her naked upper thigh, and she felt them move in the water, until they were back at the rocky shore, the surface they were stood on earlier giving him some leverage at her back.

She loosened her grip on his waist, and slipped a bit lower. Harry never breaking at her breasts which had made litte bubbles traverse her skin, centering at her core which ached to feel him.

"Ohhh." She was now properly over him, and she could feel he was hard even through his wet trousers, and he stopped his breastwork and moved his hips as she did hers, their joining just beneath the water causing little waves to trickle out. "Ah." She could hear her panting grow louder as he rubbed at her, annoyed that she couldn't feel his skin and she wanted to.

Her fingers were at his trousers, and as if that was just the permission he was waiting for, he wrenched them off with speed. They were now both just in their pants, the waistband of his just visible, whilst hers was hidden below the water.

She fingered the elastic of the top of his pants, "Calvin Klein?"

"Muggle br-aaa." She giggled at his reaction to her palm over his bulge, understanding now why he was staring at her as he played with her nipples, there was power and pleasure in this. His hand had circled her wrist, keeping it steadily there, and her smile wideneded. "Hmmm Daphne." He closed his eyes and she stroked him, he was straining against the material, and she was curious to see all of him, so she tugged at it with her other hand and his eyes opened, giving her a questioning look.

She nodded in answer and she helped him step out of his pants, the white cloth floated to the surface, just as his penis did the same. She could feel her face flush, and he looked at her, nervously. Daphne had never looked at a penis before, which may sound silly, because she had some sexual experience, but she had been more a passive participant in that, with Harry she wanted to be active, she was so curious. And she realised that came from trust…

Why did she trust him so much if she barely knew him?

"You okay?"

"Oh yes. I just…" She blushed, "I just want to look at you."

"Oh." He seemed flattered, "Okay. Oh." Daphne had begun stroking him, and she was surprised at how full he felt in her palm. His hardness made her arousal grow, and she began kissing him again, his lips faltering every few minutes as he moaned into her mouth. "A bit slower. Yes, that's it. Ohh. Ohh. Daphne, I'm going…" She nodded him on, kissing his neck, and his collarbone as he grunted and she felt him sticky on her hand, quickly washed away by the water as his breath came out in pants straight into her ears.

"Oh shit." He held the ledge, she could feel his legs trembling, he lay his cheek on her shoulder, his heart thundering against hers. She chuckled softly, and he blushed up at her, straightening up and kissing the side of her forehead, her cheek and then her lips, his hands traveling down her tummy, seeking permission. She nodded at his unspoken request to slip into her panties and let out a small gasp as she felt his fingers at her folds, and she spread her legs, granting him better access.

She hugged his shoulders, moving her hips in tandem with his strokes, she was so close, giving him pleasure had aroused her so fully, the cavernous room echoed with her moans.

"Oh Harry. Harry. Harry! Ugh!" She let out a frustrated groan as she felt the loss of his fingers, but then gasped in surprise as she was carried out of the water and plopped on the ledge.

"I want to look at you, too." And look he did, he pulled off her panties and gazed at her core and she must have been absolutely pink with embarrassment, but she didn't have much time to sink into that feeling as Harry's lips were on her and her eyes popped open in surprise as she felt him nibble at her need and lap at her arrousal.

She clutched his head to her heat as she lay flat against the stone floor, spreading her legs wider, never ever experiencing this before but Sweet Salazar she loved it. She could hear her moans shamefully loud, glad they were miles below the school, but she doubted she could be quiet even if they were able to be heard.

She felt the familiar tension in her limbs as she arched her back, feeling her heat liquify and trickle out of her as every nerve in her body seemed to be activated as she came harder than she had ever done before. Harry continued to taste her with more fervour, his emeralds shining up at her from between her legs, feasting on her reaction to him.

"Oh!" She closed her legs and he came up for air, his expression first concerned at her exclamation and then grinning at the look upon her face.

"Sensitive?" He smirked, and she nodded as it was her turn to turn to jelly.

"Oh sweet mercy." Her breathing slowed as she heard the splash of him exitting the water, and then felt herself being carried a few steps, and then lowered onto the picnic blanket. She shivered, suddenly aware of the cold out of the hot water, and she felt him trying to coax his sweater onto her, so she helped him, grateful. She looked up at him, his grin large and shy. "We've lost our clothes."

"That we have. I'll get it in a bit." She noticed him flex his jaw, clearly massaging it from overuse, and she ducked her face behind her hands, embarrassed, and he laughed, "Twitchy, you can't be shy when I've had my lips-"

"Harry!" She shoved her face into his sweater and he laughed.

"Alright. I get it. You don't like talking about sex."

"I didn't say that! I just." She groaned, "Do you think I'm a total slag?"

"What?"

"It's out first date and I made you… do that."

"Do what?"

"You know what!"

He shrugged, "We did a lot of stuff. I'm going to need you to be very specific."

"You're mean."

"I'm not mean. I like teasing you, and," He kissed her forehead, "Why do you think you're a slag? Because of the cunnilingus?"

"Sweet Merlin, don't call it that."

"What do you want to call it, Australian kissing?"

"What?"

"You know, down under." He wagged his eyebrows at her, and she gasped, slapping him lightly on his chest, "Though to be fair, I stole that from Selina. Ohhh shit." He groaned, as realisation flickered across his face, "My firebolt."

"What?"

He shook his head, letting out a large sigh, comfortably touching her breasts through his sweater as if to just feel them in his hands rather than for either of their pleasure, "Nothing. Can I say, you have the most glorious breasts I've ever seen in my life. Honestly. Delicious."

"Harry!" She giggled, "You're such a pervert!" He laughed, lying flat on his back and she covered him with her body, knowing it must be cold. "Oh, and I'd like you to call it… tasting me. I think that's more tasteful."

"Ahh. Well, then, may I say, you are by far Britain's best dish. Not that that's saying much."

She laughed and he joined her, slapping him softly for the tease to both her and her country.

He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, "In all seriousness. You are not a slag, you're beautiful, and passionate, and sexy. And cute."

"So many things." She mumbled against his chest, staring at his tattoo again, remembering their earlier conversation now that they were more in their senses.

"All the things. You're everything, Daphne." He craned his neck forward, kissing her on the forehead. She ducked her head, and kissed him, soft and slow this time.

But suddenly, he stopped kissing her, glancing about, almost as if he was trying to spot an annoying fly.

"Harry?"

"Shhh." She sat up, as he narrowed his eyes, staring at the far wall, "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Daphne listened, but all she could hear was his breathing, the water now still as they vacated it. "Are you alright?"

He nodded, still looking confused, "Yes." He caught her concerned look and quickly pecked her lips, "Sorry, it was nothing." She frowned, but he avoided her eyes by glancing at his pocket watch which he had the good sense to leave on the picnic blanket, "It's a bit late though, do you want me to walk you back to your common room?"

"Oh." She caressed the tattoo on his chest, and she could tell this was going to quickly be her favourite thing to do to him, "Do you think we could just stay down here tonight? I know it's not very comfortab-"

"Of course." He kissed her forehead, pushing her on her back and lay his head on her chest, "And I dont know what you're talking about. Most comfortable pillows in the world, these are."

She laughed, caressing his hair as she stared at the stone ceiling.

In spite of everything, this was her very best first date.

And that was truly saying something.

A/N: A bit long but I hope you enjoyed that. Was a tricky chapter to navigate, a lot of emotions, but I'm hoping I conveyed most of them well.

Also if anybody is interested, that sandwhich Harry made was duck, goats cheese and red grapes - got suggested it by a French friend so curious if anybody tried that!

As usual, feedback will be so appreciated! What do you think of them as a couple?

Thank you for reading!