Kapitel 31: 10
January 15, 1995
Hogwarts, Scotland
News of Umbridge's death had been followed a few days later with the death of an Under Department Head, Jasper Howe. It couldn't be confirmed, but it seemed reasonable to them that both had their Houses stolen before turning up dead. In Howe's case, his wife and two younger children were also killed.
Malfoy and others were starting to preen around worse than when Umbridge had been here, as though him and the other children of the Dark Lord's followers knew something and were just waiting for the next victim.
Many were whispering, but most hadn't made the connections or were too afraid to say anything.
It was with these thoughts he walked the halls towards the library with Neville and a whinging Ron. "Why are we going to the library? I could have slept in," Ron told them.
"Neville and I wanted to work on our Charms and Transfiguration homework. Why didn't I do arithmancy or runes instead of Divination?" Harry complained.
"They are boring," Ron supplied.
"You were lazy," Neville provided.
Harry grunted, knowing Neville was closer to the mark. In the last week Neville had started to come out of his shell more.
"Gran sent me a letter that the Wizengamot has been having a lot of closed-door sessions, many of them only large enough to have a quorum," Neville remarked, as though his mind was thinking along the same paths Harry's was.
"That doesn't sound good. I'll have to tell Daphne," Harry responded. "How many houses are in a quorum?"
"Thirty votes. That doesn't always mean thirty Houses," Neville provided.
"You don't think they are trying to steal other houses?" Ron asked. As much as Ron didn't like this, or to do his work, his mind was sharp when it came to analyzing patterns. Harry figured it was why he was so good at chess.
"I don't know, but Gran sounded concerned in her letter."
Harry nodded. He could imagine.
Once in the library, the three boys found a table and Harry went to the indexes to look up charm books on growth and reduction charms. By the time he got back, Neville was reading the year five charms book and working on his essay. Ron was staring off to his left.
Harry followed his eyes and they landed on a fourth year with curly dark hair and dark eyes. Harry recognized her from their house, but didn't know her name. "Who is that?" Harry asked.
Ron shook himself and leaned over his paper. "Right, Growth charms grow things," Ron blurted.
Harry gave his friend a look. Neville looked up. "Who is who?"
Harry nodded. "That girl. Ron was just staring at her."
"I was not," Ron said, his neck brightening.
"Ah, huh," Harry responded.
"Vane, I think. Rosalind Vane?"
"Romilda," Ron corrected not looking up.
Neville looked at Ron as he hastily opened his own Charms book and flipped to the chapter, ignoring them. Harry figured it might be better not to take the mickey at the moment. Instead, he took one of the library books and his already half-completed essay.
"You think she would like to come to the D.A. meetings?" Harry inquired of Ron.
Ron dipped his quill in and didn't make sure to drain the excess ink off the tip. It made a big spot in his charms book. "Bloody hell," Ron cursed.
Harry chuckled and Neville looked like he wanted to. "Here," Harry said, taking his wand. "Tergeo." The ink siphoned off the page and disappeared into a light at the tip of his wand.
Ron's mouth dropped open. "Where did you learn that?"
Harry shrugged. "Had a lot of time to myself last semester."
Ron looked guilty. "Oh, right."
"You could ask Vane to the meetings," Neville said quietly.
Ron looked up and towards the rather attractive girl. "I doubt she would want to talk with me."
"You never know until you try," Harry encouraged.
"Yeah, maybe," Ron said and turned back to his paper. His best mate was uncharacteristically quiet for a while as he worked on his paper. Harry shared some of the stuff he found on the charms in the other books. This afternoon he would have to go for a walk. Harry wished he had his Firebolt back.
Harry focused on what he was doing, so he missed the many glances Ron cast towards the girl. When Ron suddenly got up, Harry looked up from his essay, which he was just rereading, checking for errors or if he should add more.
The girl and her friends had gotten up. Neville and Harry watched a very nervous Ron get her attention. The other three stopped. They cast looks at Ron, and then towards Neville and him. At a nod from Romilda, the other girls walked out of view.
Ron and Romilda talked for a few minutes. A smiling Romilda walked away and a stunned Ron came back to the table. He sat and just leaned back into his chair.
"Well?" Harry asked after a moment.
"She doesn't want to come to some private group, but she said she would go to Hogsmeade with me when the next weekend comes up." Ron sounded shocked.
"That's next weekend, if they don't change it," Neville reminded them.
"I know," Ron replied. "Harry, you and Daphne have to come with me to make sure I don't screw this up."
Harry chuckled. "Too late," he snarked.
That seemed to get Ron out of his shock. "You bloody arse," Ron swore at him.
Neville gave a quiet laugh. Harry smiled as he went back to reread his paper when a scream suddenly rent the quiet of the library.
Harry jumped. It was a blood curdling scream of someone in great pain. His wand came out and he rushed towards the scream. Ron and Neville were just behind him.
It was just around the corner from where Ron talked with Romilda. The girl and her friends were there. One of them was on the floor, screaming. What caught Harry's attention was the ring on her finger that was flaming.
"Karen," Romilda cried out tearfully.
"Don't touch her," Harry ordered. He knew what was going on. Her screams told of how much pain she was in. Harry could only assume she had been named an heiress. Madam Pince rushed over, her boots clacking. The girl Karen doubled over, the flames slowly dying and when they stopped, Karen curled up and started to sob.
"What just happened?" one of the other girls asked scared out of her wits.
"The same thing that happened to me," Harry informed them.
Madam Pince looked besides herself, as though not knowing what to do.
"She needs to get to Madam Pomfrey," Neville told them.
Harry moved in. "Let me get her," he said kindly to the girls. Karen was crying. "Can you stand?"
Karen just shook her head. Harry knelt down and picked her up. She wasn't that light, but he was much more muscular than he had been in fourth year.
"She has to be okay," Romilda said tearfully.
"What just happened? Why was her ring burning up?" One of the other girls questioned.
"Let's get her to the hospital first," Harry directed them.
It was with slightly achy arms and a long face that Ron, Neville and Harry joined Daphne and Hermione. Daphne looked very concerned and quickly walked to his side. "What is wrong?" she asked.
"It happened again. A fourth year Ravenclaw, Karen Yates, is now a no-name," Harry told her in a strained voice.
Hermione put a hand to her mouth and Daphne slipped her hand into his. Something she avoided in public as much as possible. "I thought the goblins wouldn't do this again," Hermione said in horror.
"Harry, is that what happened to you over Christmas Break?" Ron asked.
Harry just nodded.
"Blimey," Ron said in a depressed tone as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Are you saying she was an heiress?" Daphne inquired.
"Yeah," Neville added. "I didn't know the Yates had a declared heir yet. She must have just turned fifteen lately."
"I doubt it is the Yates now," Harry said bitterly. He moved his hand to turn his wedding band on his finger. The skin was still black below it. It probably always would be. "Sirius needs to tell everyone."
"I don't know if he can. The Daily Prophet and almost every other publication is firmly in Fudge's hands," Daphne replied.
The fear that ripped through the group was palatable.
"It's a silent coup. Instead of taking over the Ministry by force, use subterfuge to take over the Wizengamot," Daphne voiced.
"Bloody hell," Ron cursed.
Parvati and Lavender drifted over to them on the cold grounds as they waited for Hagrid. The Hufflepuffs were congregating like them a good fifty feet away. Both groups usually mixed more, but not today.
"Harry, we heard a rumor?" Lavender put to him.
"That didn't take long," he snarked.
"I still don't understand how the Ministry can do this," Hermione put out there, half in deep thought, half disgusted.
"What rumors are those, Brown?" Daphne asked.
"A girl had her heiress ring burn up?" He didn't miss Lavender rubbing her left ring finger through her gloves.
"Yeah, we witnessed it," Neville told her.
"You didn't say that," Daphne said, turning her head to him.
"We were in the library. We watched it burn on her hand and then I took her to the Infirmary," Harry replied.
Lavender looked really white. "How is that possible? First you and now this girl?"
Harry pursed his lips. Before he could have a silent conversation with Daphne, Hermione blurted, "This shouldn't be possible. The Ministry should have no right. I read the Charter and the last three major revisions. I have also read up on Seals. They should not be able to just dissolve a House like that."
Lavender's and Parvati's eyes widened. "The Ministry did this? Does this have anything to do with Lord Winters? My father says in his letters the Winters didn't have any dormant house lines," Lavender told him.
"Have you talked with Sirius yet?" Daphne asked as Hermione started to talk with Lavender. Ron still looked very shaken.
"He didn't answer his mirror," Harry told her.
"That makes three Houses. How many would the Death Eaters need to take control of the Wizengamot?" Ron was curious. Harry looked to Ron. He had a look like he did when thinking about chess.
Daphne looked pensive before swallowing. "If the counts are still the same, there are fifty-seven houses that are aligned with the Malfoys or their allies. About seventy-three, depending on the meet, that consider themselves Neutral or Grey. Then around sixty that usually align around Dumbledore and the other leading houses of the progressives and the Light. Last I knew, only eight Houses had multiple votes, making a total of two-hundred and three votes," Daphne quickly counted off as though this had been beaten into her. Harry wasn't sure it hadn't been. "So I think those that support You-Know-Who would need about forty more votes to have a majority, and seventy to override any vote or challenge."
"Merlin," Ron said rubbing his neck.
"We don't know who or even if this is related to what happened to Harry and Lord Howe," Neville said, sounding hopeful it wasn't what it looked like.
"No we don't, but it just seems too similar," Daphne voiced.
Hermione turned back to them, shaking her head. "It doesn't make sense. If this could be done, why didn't You-Know-Who or others try this before?"
"I don't know, Hermione." Daphne still looked like the gears were turning in her head. "I need to talk with Tracey. I have been trained to be more an accountant, negotiator, manage a business and how to manage properties, not the intricacies of the Wizengamot or politics. That was Astoria's role since she is going to be names Heiress when she turns fifteen."
"Have you seen Professor Hagrid?" Parvati asked. "It's almost ten minutes after start of class."
Harry looked around. "No, we haven't."
-oOo-
January 19, 1996
Hogwarts, Scotland
Harry was impressed with what the D.A. had been able to do. Most knew the basics, Hermione and a few others using the methods Moody - Crouch Jr. in disguise- had used. A few really stood out.
Neville, usually timid and a horrible caster, was showing to have some power to him. He was pretty good with his aim on moving targets and more importantly the new wand he had gotten this year was much better suited to him. Apparently, his Gran had asked him what he wanted for his birthday last year, and he had told her a second wand. His father's wand was now in a holster on his leg.
Harry had never seen one of those before and wanted to find one in Hogsmeade tomorrow. Sirius was supposed to meet them and they had been told with the Auror presence now in Hogsmeade it was safe.
Three houses had been stolen this week and the Daily Prophet ran a story on Tuesday before suddenly going quiet. It had confirmed the Yates had been stripped of their Wizengamot seat, but it couldn't confirm if anything else had been stolen. Seeing Karen's ring go up like that, Harry knew it had to be more than just their Wizengamot seat.
It made them all uneasy and probably why he had no complaints when he told everyone they would be meeting every Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights.
Next to Neville was a slight blonde girl with sky blue eyes and a dreamy expression on her face most of the time. Luna Lovegood had been his biggest surprise. The girl got everything he taught them on the first go and almost brought him down on Wednesday in a duel. The only one to come close so far. It was almost like she knew what he was going to do.
The twins were fast, creative and worked well together. If you separated them, they were not as effective.
Daphne was like something between him and Hermione. She was a little more instinctive and creative, with power like Hermione, a large repertoire of spells, but not quite as aggressive. Don't get him wrong, they could both walk him into a corner if he wasn't careful, but where Hermione was more aggressive about it, Daphne was more subtle.
Susan was wild in her casting when she got worked up, but she was just about the fastest caster in the room.
Where Susan was sloppy in her aim, Ginny was a god damned devil with hers. Her spells were small too, making it harder to block.
Ron, surprisingly, was more like his sister. Accurate, but not as quick. He could block a spell faster than almost any of them though. His shields had some strength to them too.
The rest were not as memorable, so Harry made comments about how they held their wands or extra movements. He was enjoying teaching. It also helped that for the last three classes they didn't have a DADA teacher so he had used the double period the last two weeks to plan this.
It was close to eight when a knock came at the door. They all stopped.
"Hermione, didn't you say the door vanished once we started?" Harry questioned, taking his wand out of his pocket.
"Unless you know the password, but you would need a coin for that."
Harry pursed his lips and moved towards the door. "Everyone out of sight," he ordered.
There was a scurrying behind him. Hermione and Daphne moved to a wall next to the door. Ron and the twins on the other side.
Opening the doors just a hair, he met the grey eyes of a house elf. "Excuse me, Great Harry, sir, but Dobby find these misses looking for you," Dobby stated.
"Who?" Harry asked. He hadn't seen the elf since the first night they had joined the D.A. and had forgotten Daphne said she was going to hire the elf over the summer when his contract ran out.
"Black, it's Romilda Vane and my friends," a nice sounding voice said.
Harry looked to Daphne and Hermione. Hermione shrugged her shoulders while Daphne didn't look as pleased. After a second he opened the door. "Quickly."
The dark hair fourth year and two others came in. "We want to join."
"Who told you about this?" Susan questioned.
"Ron Weasley," Romilda snapped back.
"Neville and I told Ron to invite her Monday," Harry spoke up before any arguments could break out. "Sign our Charter and then line up with Ron. Harry Black, by the way," he offered a hand to her.
"Romilda Vane. I know. Thank you for helping Karen on Monday," Romilda thanked him.
Harry shrugged. "It needed doing. How is Karen?"
The three friends frowned. "She is coming back Monday. Her mother's family has adopted them. We want to learn Defense to try not to have the same issue. My younger brother is going to be scion in two years."
Harry pursed his lips before greeting the other two girls. "Doris Day," the sandy hair fourth-year Gryffindor said and then the other girl with light brown hair, "Emma Florence."
Daphne gave him a look. Harry really didn't have a thing for saving cute girls. She knew about it as soon as possible too. Ron eagerly took her over to the practice dummy after they signed while he hung back. Hermione and Daphne flanked him. "Is that the girl he asked out the other day?" Hermione inquired.
"Yeah."
Hermione nodded her head, looking impressed. "She's cute."
"Jealous?" Daphne probed.
Hermione snorted. "Hardly. I hope it works out for him. He's actually been really good as a Keeper this year and I have seen her looking at him. From what I have heard, she is a bit of a fan girl and Quidditch fanatic."
Harry had a feeling after their talk over Christmas, Hermione was moving on from her crush on Ron. It was probably better that way. He liked that they didn't seem to argue as much since that day.
"Can you ever rescue a boy?" Daphne asked quietly.
"Are you jealous?" Harry put to her.
Daphne couldn't really hide the uncertainty through their bond. "She is pretty."
"Not as beautiful as you," he responded, trying to let her know he really liked her.
After a moment, Daphne gave a small smile. "I love you," she said only loud enough for him to hear, moving even closer and wrapping her arms around his left arm.
"I love you too," he whispered back to her. "Time for some duels?"
She smirked. "You aren't going easy on me this time."
"I won't hurt you, Daph."
"I challenge Black," Daphne called out. Everyone stopped.
"Not without me, you don't," Hermione responded. The new comers looked at them curiously.
Harry grinned. "Just like last year. We'll have one run here, the other there, once the dummies are moved. Three minutes."
Everyone here knew what he was talking about and soon he was standing with Hermione and Daphne facing him. The other area was one on one. Colin and Ginny lined up first on the other side of the columns. "Disarm or stun?" Harry questioned.
"Either," Hermione offered.
"On my sparks," Alicia called out.
Harry lazily took up his place. Something Remus had told him third year had stuck with him. 'The less the threat you look, the more likely you are to get the jump on the first spells," he had told him one night after practicing his patronus charm. Last year Moody had barked at him for this, but most times Harry wasn't caught off guard. Looking at his beautiful wife and his sister, he couldn't be caught off guard.
Angelina did a very small movement with her hand. He started to move, his wand up as the sparks came out. "Protego," he commanded and the shield was up before either girl had finished a word.
He stepped to his right as the first spells bounced off or dissipated harmlessly against his shield. "Wingardium Leviosa." His wand pointed towards the group of pillows and he flung them toward the girls. Hermione cast a shield while his darling wife came after him with a series of anything she could. Freezing charms. Tripping hexes. Jelly legs. Stunners. Low power blasting hexes.
Harry used the hex blocker on a few before casting a few ropes and then cursing as Hermione transfigured the pillows into rats. Lots of rats.
"Glacius Maxima," he cried out. A wind of freezing ice shot out of his wand and both girls had to shield themselves. The rats froze, icicles forming as the spell swept over them. He cast a shield a little high and dove down, just missing the stunners. This was the first time he had taken them on together and he actually felt he might lose.
A few spells hit the shield. He got a tickling charm on Daphne. It would have been a cutting or blasting hex if this had been a real fight. Hermione just barely cut the ropes before taking a stunner to her hip and spinning as she fell. Harry pulled is wand up just in time to avoid an, "Immobulus," from a laughing Daphne. Harry flicked his wand, not saying anything and Daphne was petrified. "Windgardium Leviosa," he called out, catching her before she hit the floor face first.
The rats were still frozen as he got up.
"Why are you throwing yourself to the floor," Alicia chided.
"It was the only way to get under their spells," Harry told her. A quick "Finite," and Daphne was up.
Ron and Romilda were helping Hermione. "I don't remember you having this much power last year," Hermione said rubbing her hip.
"I wasn't trying to hurt you," Harry replied.
"Help me vanish these," Daphne pulled his attention to her. They quickly had it cleaned up and Alicia lined up with Corner.
Harry stood to the side. "You went easy," Daphne accused as he took up a position to watch both duels. She was right up against his side, a hand in his arm. Hermione was talking with Luna, who was waiting to go next.
Harry smirked. "I don't like hurting people if I don't have too."
She shook her head. "You would rather us not be prepared for what is out there?"
"I would rather you get better," he responded. "How would you learn if I drop you in the first two or three spells?"
"I would learn to be faster," she countered.
"Alicia, don't move your arm so much," Harry called out watching the duel. "Daphne, I don't want to..."
"Harry, tell me what really happened that night you faced Vol... Voldemort. Tell me and then tell me you are not going easy on us," she pressed. "There is something really bad going on. I think you were just the first piece. How would I defend myself if you weren't around or we were to be separated?"
Their whispered conversation was getting a little louder and he forced himself to keep his voice low. Harry was starting to realize that in only a month it would feel like a part had been wrenched out of him if something happened to Daphne. He may belong to her, but she was feeling like she belonged to him too. He didn't want to relive all the horrors of that night though. "I told you what happened."
"Don't lie to me, Harry James Black. I can tell when you do. You said we are equals. What you told me and Hermione was not the whole truth. Please, tell me tonight and then tell me you are not going soft on us?" Daphne pressed. She wasn't commanding him, but she knew, as he did, what the true intent was to his words.
"Susan, like with the dummies, lead your spells," he corrected Susan Bones as she fought against Hannah Abbot. Harry sighed. "Tomorrow?"
"Tonight," Daphne held her ground. Her hand moved down his arm to take his hand, her fingers threading between his. "Please, my love," she said very softly. In the noise around them, no one else heard her.
He nodded and Daphne squeezed his hand.
When they were done, it was a much easier affair to have people leave without the Umbitch to worry about. Harry was happy to be sod of her. He was worried though, like everyone else. At least the three families affected this week were still alive this time.
When they got back, Ginny came in too. She took their clothes again and made sure the fire was stoked in the grate. Daphne frowned, like she always did to see Ginny like this. Harry didn't say a word.
When she left, Daphne took a bath while he sat in the sitting room, watching the fire and trying to figure out how to tell her. Daphne joined him a little while later in one of his Quidditch Jerseys. She moved behind the couch and pulled his head back, giving him an upside-down kiss.
"You like doing that, don't you?" he put to her.
She smiled down at him. "I like that you trust me so much you would leave yourself completely vulnerable to me."
Harry shook his head. "You are a snake."
"And you are a snake master," she teased.
Harry grinned. "Viper."
She laughed. "Don't you forget it, Mr. Black," she said before kissing him again. This time it was longer and he liked her tongue.
Outside of their bed, this was his favorite place to be with Daphne in the school.
She moved around the couch and snuggled into his side, pulling her legs up as she did. They sat there for a while, not really talking. It was starting to get late, but they could sleep in tomorrow. "I am going easy on you," Harry finally broke the silence.
"It doesn't do us any good," Daphne told him.
"I still think I shouldn't push you too far too fast," Harry told her.
"And what about you? There is no way you have gotten like that overnight and eight months doesn't seem like a long enough time since you saw You-Know-Who come back," Daphne responded.
He was still doing his workouts, and Daphne had joined him, saying she missed it from her dance lessons. "I had to learn to be fast and train to survive last year. I really did spend hours trying to prepare. Hermione was there with me. When I fought Voldemort, it was like I had never done anything. He countered all my spells with an ease that was terrifying. The few times he came after me, I just barely kept my leg from being severed off. It was like a tiger playing with a mouse."
"Did you keep practicing all fall?" she asked.
"I started over the summer. After I saved Dudley, he started to sneak food to me at night. I can't tell you how good it feels to have one square meal a day," Harry told her.
Daphne snuggled into him more. "Tell me about growing up with your relatives."
Harry pulled her in tight. "I will only talk about Voldemort or some of my time with my relatives tonight," he replied firmly. Both were horrid memories.
"Lord Greengrass forbade the elves or anyone to give me any food for three days once. I broke a vase that belong to my real mother while running around the manor," Daphne confessed.
"I'm sorry, Daph." Harry was all too familiar with those type of punishments and the hunger pangs it came with.
"It was only that one time when I was about six, but I never ran in the Manor again."
Harry kissed her on top of her head. "Being denied food was one of the better punishments. Usually after a day or two the pangs would go away."
Daphne took his hand. "How many times?"
"I honestly don't know," Harry told her.
She pulled back and looked at him. "What do you mean you don't know? It happened once and I thought I was going to die," Daphne responded.
"It happened many times," he stated.
There was a stormy look in her eyes. "The scars on your back, the ones you won't talk about, that was your relatives, wasn't it?"
Harry closed his eyes. "Yes," was all he said.
Her lips pursed. "I am going to kill them," Daphne said hotly.
"And go to Azkaban?"
Her anger subsided some. "Harry, the Headmaster is the cause of all that has happened. All the abuse..." Her eyes were getting watery.
Harry sighed, trying to shove his own anger down. She didn't need him all worked up right now. "Daph, Dumbledore will get his, but for now, let's just stay away from him."
Her eyes intent. "I swear that man will get his!"
Harry let out a long breath. "Let's not talk about that right now."
"I don't want any more secrets between us," Daphne insisted.
It was a long few minutes of them looking at each other. "I don't know if I am ready for that," Harry told her truthfully.
"Do you not trust me?" Daphne asked. There was still the hint of her needing to be included, wanting the intimacy that came with trust that deep. Harry trusted her.
Shaking his head, he answered, "Daph, I trust you. God, I trust you. It just isn't... easy for me to bring that stuff up."
Her eyes didn't look uncertain as she moved to put her head against his. "I can be patient. I just don't want secrets between us."
"No secrets," Harry agreed. He moved and Daphne met his lips. They kissed for a few.
"Now, can you tell me what happened the night of the last Triwizard Cup event? Please tell me everything. I want to understand what you went through and what it was to really fight," she requested before giving him a quick kiss.
"I will only tell you and I will only tell you this one time."
Daphne nodded as she pulled back, sitting on her knees, her body facing his.
Harry dragged up the memories. "I had been running through the maze. Fleur and Viktor were dueling. Fleur had this strange look over her. Not knowing what was going on, I stunned them both before they knew I was there. I sent up the sparks to have them taken out."
"I saw them being taken out," Daphne told him.
Harry nodded. "Soon after, I met Cedric. He looked beat up and a scratch on his face was bleeding. Two acromantula ambushed us. We just barely got away and reached the cup. I told Diggory to take it. He was the real champion and deserved it. The damned prat insisted we both take it. Cedric really didn't deserve to die. He was a good person with a good heart."
Tears were in his eyes. Daphne shifted and put a hand on his face, wiping the first tear away. She didn't interrupt him as he tried to search for the words. He had only told Dumbledore all these details.
"The goblet was a portkey." She knew this already, she didn't know what happened when he got to the destination. "When we landed in a graveyard, we were both stunned. I was stuck onto a grave, a stone scythe across my throat."
He took in a few breaths.
"It's alright, Harry," she tried to soothe him.
He shook his head violently. "As a cauldron heated up…" He took in a stuttering breath. "Daph, Pettigrew gutted him as some deformed child goaded him on to do other things to Cedric. Cedric screamed until Pettigrew used the killing curse when the potion was ready."
He couldn't stop himself from shaking. The horrified look on her face made him regret this, but he needed to tell someone. Whenever he thought about it, he felt the blackness and despair that had led him to the top of the Astronomy tower. He just hoped she didn't hate him for it when he was done.
"Merlin, Harry," she said in a quiet voice that didn't hide her disgust or fear.
"Pettigrew was told to leave everything above his chest alone, that way he could be recognizable and his parents could know what happened if his body was ever found."
When he didn't say anything, Daphne asked, "What happened then?"
"Pettigrew did the ritual. The ugly child thing was thrown into the cauldron. He took the remains of Voldemort's father from the grave below me and put it in. Then Pettigrew cut off his hand. Finally, he took my blood. I don't know how long it was before Voldemort stepped out of the cauldron. Daph, the man had no hair, no dick and his face looked more like a snake's then a man."
She looked pale. "Is that when you duelled him?"
He let out a dark laugh. "That happened after he called his Death Eaters. He was livid at most of them. I watched him torture a few with the Cruciatus and then castrate another because the man was raping and torturing some muggles when he was supposed to be with Voldemort the night he killed my parents."
She didn't know what to say.
"When Voldemort was done with that, he tortured me for a few with the Cruciatus." His body shook to remember that pain. "I thought I was being ripped apart."
"Oh, Harry," she said tearfully. She leaned in and gave him a teary kiss. He pulled back. If he stopped now, he would never tell her any of this again, even if she ordered him.
"That was when he gave me my wand. He wanted to offer me a chance to defeat him. Voldemort needed to show his servants that I couldn't beat him. It was my mother that saved me and Voldemort knew. He knew I was nothing. I was just a plaything. He tried to force me to go through the niceties of a duel, but I wouldn't yield to his Imperius curse. That was when he came after me."
Harry swallowed. "I had no chance. The man just walked after me, casting spells as though it was just a walk in the park on a Saturday. I tried. I cast shields, cutting curses, stunners, everything I could. Voldemort just laughed at me. When I was bloody and beat, he decided it was finally time to kill me. I didn't think I could lift my wand, but it rose and it cast something at Voldemort. There was a song like a phoenix, like when I was in the Chamber of Secrets. While raw magic just shot out and dripped everywhere, starting small fires. In the fray, some of Voldemort's last victims came out. I... I saw my parents. They told me to find Sirius and Remus before Fawkes was suddenly at my side."
She took him into a hug, holding his shaking body tight. "The cores of my and Voldemort's wand both come from Fawkes. He saved me and took Cedric's body back."
He started to cry, the horrors too much for him to say anything else. Daphne didn't say a word. By the wet spot that formed on his head where her face was in his hair, he could tell she was crying too.
It was a long time before either of them were in a state to talk. When he was done sobbing, but tears still leaking out of his eyes, the visions of Cedric still screaming in his mind's eyes, Daphne spoke, "Please don't keep it in if you ever need to talk."
He let out a stuttering breath. "I don't ever want to talk about this again."
She shifted and kissed the top of his head.
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