Chapter 231: The Apprentice
Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 231: The Apprentice
March 19
"Are you sure you want people to see us together?" Harry asked.
Daphne shrugged.
"It matters little anymore. And my house is terrified of you. They won't even look my way after they saw us speak the other day."
"It's not the students who worry me. The current Minister and I aren't exactly on friendly terms, as you can imagine. If he thinks he can get to me by attacking you…"
"I'm always careful…and it's not like everyone in my house is a fan of the Minister. But let's not talk about that." She clasped her hands together.
"Today, you invited me here because it's my fourteenth birthday, remember?"
"Ah…yes." It was she who insisted that he had to bring her to Hogsmeade today.
"Wait, I didn't know it was your birthday. And you want to celebrate it...here?" Harry looked around at the tacky decorations of the coffee shop. Everything but the floor was some tone of pink.
"Well…I heard the tea was really good here."
"Welcome to Madam Puddifoot's!" A very cheerful waitress with a frilly pink dress approached them.
"What would you like to drink? Perhaps an Earl Grey tea, a strawberry rose tea infused with hibiscus?...or perhaps you would be more interested in our best-selling item…the couple's special." She gave them a playful wink.
Both Harry and Daphne groaned at the same time.
"I'll take some Earl Grey tea, please, and some pastries," said Daphne.
"I'll take the same," Harry added.
Noticing that her teasing was not having the intended effect, the waitress finished their order and left.
"Sorry for bringing you here…I thought it would be too embarrassing to come alone with Tracey. Also, she has started dating Nott, so she wouldn't have time anyway…"
"It's no problem, but I would prefer a different place next time," said Harry.
A small smile appeared on Daphne's face. 'Next time?'
"But I hope you are not expecting a grand gift from me. I didn't even know it was your birthday…"
"You could have asked…"
"And I already gave you that thing." He pointed at the magicite ring on her left index finger.
It was a shield ring like the one he made for Lyra. This one came out more potent due to the higher quality materials.
Daphne clutched her ring.
"No…I don't need any more gifts. I just wanted to talk with you for a bit, that's all…"
"Okay, and was there anything specific you wanted to talk about?" Harry asked her.
"Actually, yes…" She pulled something small from a hidden pocket.
She then gave it to Harry so he could take a better look.
He recognized this piece of cardboard.
"This is what Morgana gave you so you could find her shop."
The front displayed the shop information.
"Turn it around."
Harry did that and discovered that some letters had appeared on the previously empty space.
"Give me a visit on Easter break, okay? Don't disappoint me."
"W-what do you think she wants?" Daphne asked with concern. She had done nothing that could have offended her.
"I thought she was going to wait a few more years before inviting you…she must be worried about something."
"You know why she is telling me to visit her?"
"Likely, she wants to offer you an apprenticeship…or at least test you to see your affinity with her branch of magic."
"Apprenticeship? Lady Yafel wants to teach me?!" Daphne could not believe it. If this woman was who Harry suggested, she would be taught by someone who could almost be considered the female counterpart of the Great Merlin.
"That's not an opportunity given to many. You could learn a lot from her…that woman is one of the most ancient beings in this world and one of the most dangerous ones."
Daphne looked more nervous now.
"Then…can I-"
"Here is your tea!"
Daphne almost jumped from the chair by the shock. She was so focused on the conversation that she didn't even notice the waitress approaching with their order.
"My! You look very nervous, dear…is this your first date?" The waitress asked casually while placing their drinks on the table.
"N-no, I mean yes…no! I mean it's not a date!" Daphne's cheeks started to turn pink.
"Oh, I see. It always starts like that, don't worry dear. Everything will turn out okay." The waitress gave her a grin and a wink before leaving again.
"Technically, it's our second date. Remember that day I took you to the Chamber?" Harry asked.
"How can I forget that?! And that was not a date!" Daphne wanted to smack his head but didn't want to make a scene in a place this full. She still had an image to maintain.
"I see…so what were you going to say before?"
"Ah…I was going to ask if you could accompany me to the shop…"
"I can take you to the entrance, but this is something you need to do on your own. Prove to that old hag that you are someone capable and worth teaching."
Daphne realized that Harry was right. Acting like a scared girl was not going to earn her any favors with that witch.
"Any advice?"
"Sure…don't mention Merlin…like ever, under no circumstances. It's actually better if you don't mention anyone from old Camelot. She doesn't have fond memories from back then, I believe."
"Do you know what happened to her?" she asked with interest while leaning forward.
"I don't know much. Just that at some point, the old wizard managed to tie her to the lands surrounding Diagon Alley. She can never go too far before being pulled back again."
"I wonder what happened…" Daphne said.
Harry shrugged.
"She never gave me the details…perhaps you can earn her trust more than I did."
Harry reminisced about the past. The Morgana he knew died the day that London was obliterated by a high-rank demon attack.
She only survived long enough to tell him a few things…had she been able to move around freely, she would have had no problem surviving that attack, and with her help, they may have been able to end the war a decade earlier at least.
"Mmm, Harry?"
"Yes?"
"You mentioned before that she was a…a Blood Witch, right? Isn't that magic…incredibly dark? Is that what she would want me to learn?"
"That is her specialty, but hardly the only thing she knows. However, you would be wrong to dismiss an entire branch of magic as evil, just because the Ministry says so, or because many wizards and witches have used it for nefarious purposes. At the end of the day, magic has no will of its own, it's just a tool that you can use to accomplish your goals."
"I understand…" She felt a bit better hearing Harry say that.
"Then, I've made up my mind. I will go visit her on Easter Break!"
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