Bab 26: 5
December 30, 1995
London, England
Last night had been a late night to talk with Hermione. Today, they were being escorted by Professor Moody - Harry hadn't spent time around him like Hermione and the Weasley's had so Daphne and him still looked at him as Professor - a Metamorphmagus Auror named Tonks, Sirius and a tall woman, Emmeline Vance.
Daphne had made them all put on their new cloaks. If they were Wards, or were going to be wards of House Black, as in Hermione's case, they were to look the part. Daphne walked tall, prim and with an air that made one believe she was a ranking member of a prestigious House. Which she was. Soon she would be Heiress Black.
Hermione walked on Harry's other side. Diagon Alley wasn't as lively as usual and most either gave them a wide berth or disappeared into stores or alleys.
Once inside, a goblin showed them into a back room. The goblins had never been overly unkind to him before, nor had they been what you call polite. Today, he felt like he was an important client that they didn't want to anger. That felt so different from all the warnings he had of goblins before. The office they were shown into was relatively large with an ancient looking goblin standing behind a desk. Three other sharply dressed goblins in black suits stood next to the desk. They all looked nervous for goblins. He didn't understand why.
Sirius walked in. He bowed and Harry copied him. Daphne curtsied while Hermione tried to copy her. She looked just as out of her element as Harry.
"Good morning, Lord Black," the goblin behind the desk greeted. "I am Senior Clan member and Account Manager Aggrot."
Harry had not seen Sirius act so formal. Daphne stood as regally as Sirius. Hermione and him tried. Harry heard the anger in Sirius' voice. "Senior Clan member Aggrot, I take it you received my missive?"
One of the goblins in the line shifted. Harry found that very odd.
"We did, Lord Black. Would you like to handle your wards first?" the goblin asked.
Sirius cast his glance over the goblins. "That is acceptable. After that, we will talk of the more serious business."
The Senior Account Manager nodded. "Yes, sir. Please be seated," the goblin indicated, and four chairs formed behind them. He cast a look to Daphne as he sat and she just looked ahead.
Once seated, the goblin took out a few sheafs of paper. When Aggrot didn't sit, Harry was starting to wonder if this had anything to do with his House. Harry was starting to miss the Potter name. He was Harry Potter, but he wasn't anymore.
"Is this a blood adoption?" Aggrot put to them.
"A partial blood adoption today for all three. They will be named Wards of House Black. Daphne and Harry will be given the name of Black and proper accounts, each with fifty-thousand galleons and a draft of up to one-thousand galleons a month. Ward Granger shall have an account with ten thousand galleons and a five hundred galleon draft limit."
The goblin nodded. "Ward Daphne will give permission for her consort to own an account and manage his own vault?"
Daphne pursed her lips. "I put no limitations on my consort. He shall have access to all my account and vaults, as well as be allowed to possess his own."
Aggrot took out a separate paper from a draw. "Understood, Ward Daphne."
Sirius went on. "Ward Daphne will be declared Heiress and Ward Granger's first child shall be next in line after Ward Daphne or any children she shall have. All other Black family members will be stricken from the record and a blood line lock put on my heirs," Sirius told them in a commanding voice.
"Of course, Lord Black."
It was disconcerting. Not one of them tried to do anything other then what they were told. There were no predatory smiles like the goblins were trying to get one over on a wizard. The three to the side didn't utter a word. The process was relatively simple. A few documents required blood seals of Sirius and the girls. When it came to him and Hermione, Daphne had to add her seal as well.
The partial adoptions required a few drops from Sirius to open wounds on their hands. They swooned for a moment. Harry felt like he was regaining a part of himself, probably because his grandmother had been a Black. They soon got over it. There was now enough blood in each of them to be part of the Black family.
Three cases of rings were brought up. Daphne was given choice of an Heiress ring. They were silver rings like he had had with Black House crests on them. Daphne offered for Harry to choose for her. He liked one with emeralds and black opals worked into the crest, and Daphne approved. Hermione was given a simple silverheir ring with the crest of the Blacks, to represent her responsibility to give another heir to the House of Black. Then Daphne was presented Wedding bands, if she wanted. This time she chose a simple goblin silver ring with a few emeralds set in it. There was an elegance in its simplicity that fit her. Lastly, a case was presented with consort rings. Daphne allowed him to select his own. He chose a braided metal rope ring that was also made of goblin silver.
If there was any doubt before, there wouldn't be once they went back to Hogwarts on Tuesday.
Once that was done, all four goblins looked a little nervous.
Sirius leaned forward, dropping his act. "Now, Aggrot, do you care to explain how my ward lost his House?"
There was a very visible swallow by Aggrot this time. "A patron came in with documents and blood signatures of the scion. A Junior Account Manager over saw the patron in question and enacted blood rights to transfer all blood claims and accounts."
Sirius had a look as though he wanted to kill the Manager. "So, paperwork with a blood signature was presented and you just simply enacted blood rights? I was under the impression that an account and House such as the Potters had protections against this."
The goblin in the middle shifted uncomfortably again.
Aggrot just stood there for a moment. "The paperwork included an order and Seal from the Wizengamot. The Junior Account Manager did all actions allowed by treaty, but has submitted himself and his Senior Clan members for punishment once it was determined the Scion Potter had the wrong Guardian on file."
Sirius looked shocked for a moment. "The Wizengamot gave you an order with a Seal?"
Aggrot swallowed again. "The goblin followed protocol. The scion's representative on record had a standing order to enact all orders with a Wizengamot Seal."
"That is funny, I don't remember giving that order," Sirius growled.
"Lord Black, you were not registered as the scion's Representative."
"I see," Sirius stated. Harry could see the fire in his godfather's eyes. "How are you going to reverse this?"
Aggrot grasped his hands before him. "We cannot," the goblin snarled, sounding upset.
"And why not? My husband has been robbed of his rightful property and titles. I seek satisfaction in this matter," Daphne stated in a voice steelier than Sirius.
Sirius looked at her, quirking an eyebrow. This wasn't what they had discussed.
"The House of Potter no longer exists. The patron absorbed the line and the Seal abolished the name. Three Account Keepers burned with the rights used," Aggrot told her. He looked very disturbed.
"You mean like how my ring burned up?" Harry asked. He knew he was supposed to be quiet, but he couldn't keep it in.
The goblin actually looked like he cringed. There was a sign of the bloodlust of the goblins, but also something that spoke of a great crime against them. "I am afraid it was far more severe than that, Ward Black. They were the Keepers of the accounts and vaults to the Potters. Their vows did not allow them to willingly let the transfer occur because there was a violation in the transfer."
Hermione took in a deep breath. She got the implication before he did. Harry paled a little. His House was stolen and three goblins lost their lives trying to prevent it.
"If it was not legal, reverse it," Sirius told him.
"There is nothing to reverse, Lord Black. Magic does not always care about legalities of mortal people." Aggrot replied.
"You are telling me that the Ancient House Potter had all its wards and guarantees from the goblins overridden? Then the goblins dissolved his house..."
"The goblins did nothing of the sort. The Wizengamot's Seal dissolved the Potters once the bloodline had been absorbed," Aggrot snarled back.
They all looked at the goblin for a few. "The Wizengamot can do that?" Daphne asked surprised. Harry was pleased he wasn't the only one.
Sirius frowned. "I've never heard of this before."
The goblins watched them.
"The Wizengamot should not have this power," Hermione said. "I read the original charter when we were trying to save Buckbeak. There was nothing like this in their powers."
"You read the Charter?" Daphne asked surprised.
"Of course," Hermione responded. Sirius held up his hand.
"What would other wizards say to know their Houses could be stolen like this?" Sirius asked with danger in his voice, like a dog ready to attack.
Aggrot looked really stricken. The goblin's voice quavered with disgust as he talked, as though it violated something to the goblin. "I have been asked to ask for leniency and not let this be known."
Harry felt his own blood boil. Daphne's mask dropped to look totally incensed.
"Just let this go!" Hermione screeched in her high-pitch voice she used when she was really upset.
The goblin held his ground, but the ones behind him all looked to the floor. "The Harpoonspear clan has offered some recompense for violating protocol."
"What kind of recompense?" Daphne asked.
"I have been authorized to offer the clan holdings of the offending clan. It is just under forty-percent of the value of the gold that was in the vaults," Aggrot replied. All four goblins looked like they rather die than to do such.
"How much is that?" Sirius asked.
"Three million, two hundred and eighty-seven thousand galleons," Aggrot responded.
Harry's eyes grew wide, as did Daphne's. Hermione gasped. "You would bankrupt an entire clan?" Hermione uttered in a whisper that Harry just barely heard.
Sirius nodded. "That shall be transferred to Heiress Black's accounts by tomorrow. I will give you one month to retrieve everything else."
Aggrot shifted this time. "The Goblin Nations cannot."
"That is unacceptable," Daphne protested.
"Daphne, three goblins have already died and now you are bankrupting a clan," Hermione admonished.
"Hermione, that is unacceptable. Do you have any idea what Harry has lost? It's not just the gold and vaults. He has lost anything that was in his or his family's name. If his properties and vaults held anything like my... the Greengrasses held, then Harry has lost centuries of artifacts, books, knowledge, family holdings that enhance his families magics. Harry has lost everything that would have made him a leading member in our world," Daphne clipped at Hermione.
"Daphne, that is enough for the moment," Sirius demanded.
Daphne, looking as though she realized she had let her haughty demeaner down, sat tall and put her expressionless face on. "My apologies, Lord Black."
Harry and Hermione looked at her. No one had described or informed him what it really meant. How much had he lost? Was there items from his parents that had been left to him? Or just ones they had owned? He had lost any connection he might have found. The loss and blackness that had brought him to the astronomy tower came back. He started to breathe fast, his chest feeling constricted.
"Harry, just breathe," Hermione said next to him.
Daphne looked at him and her face became concerned.
"What did I really lose?" he asked.
"Everything, pup," Sirius said sadly. His godfather turned back to the goblins, his voice harsh. "Unless you find a way to reverse this and get back everything that is owed my godson, I will file a complaint to the Goblin Liaison Office and find a way to get the word out within the week."
"Lord Black, the goblins cannot, but the chaos that will occur if you bring this to the wizarding public will be catastrophic. Gringotts would never regain the trust to handle even a few knuts," Aggrot pleaded, which didn't sound good coming from the goblin.
"What about all the items in the vaults. Was there anything of my parents in them?" Harry demanded. There was a pain in his chest. Daphne leaned over and took his hand.
"I cannot say, Mr. Black. Our treaties do not allow us to talk of other patrons and what might be in their vaults," Aggrot said, sounding disturbed by that fact.
"So, I really don't have anything," Harry whispered. He hadn't really known he had all that, but now that he did, it felt like something had been ripped out of him.
"You have me," Daphne said in a hushed voice.
Harry squeezed her hand. He had Daphne. Sirius and Hermione were with him too. Daphne had lost just as much as him. He couldn't abandon her. "I have you," he agreed, trying to let her know he meant it.
"I will also be here," Hermione told him. Harry reached over to take her hand while looking at Daphne.
After a moment, Sirius spoke. "I believe you still hold accounts in the name of Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black and Narcissa Malfoy nee Black. Either them or their husbands have broken House rules and the betrothal contracts between House Black. I am closing the accounts or claiming any value from their current accounts in the Black name, as well as any dowry they were given," Sirius told them.
"Of course. You will give us the time to pull all documents and records? Gringotts will not make the same mistake again," Senior Account Manager Aggrot told them.
"I can wait. Bring us refreshments while you do your job," Sirius snarked.
The goblins bowed. "Right away."
Aggrot said something in gobbledygook and the other three walked out as fast as they could. Harry wanted to leave, but knew this needed to be handled.
"You are going to allow them to bankrupt an entire clan?" Hermione asked.
"The clan is lucky to be left alive. They have violated a treaty. Even with Umbridge using the Ministry, she should have never been able to do this. I do not know who Harry's previous Guardian was, but they had no right to allow this. Either the goblin's were tricked into accepting his Representative, was bribed, or did it willingly. I can only assume that if the clan is not annihilated yet, then the goblin in question must have been tricked."
"But that is three goblins, a clan bankrupted and Harry still doesn't have any of his inheritance back," Hermione argued.
"Aggrot did not say the clan was bankrupted. Only that they offered their holdings. Hermione, the goblins are their own people with their own customs. As blood thirsty and treasure hording as they are, they will hold any deal as a matter of honor unless they are cheated or betrayed. With the blood between our two races, that honor is almost never seen."
Daphne shifted a little. "Aggrot is correct. If we were to take this to the public, I don't doubt that every wizard in England wouldn't be crowding the atrium to figure out how to remove their valuables and then either finding another goblin bank outside of Britain or some other way. It would destroy the core of our entire monetary system," Daphne spoke in a tone that could match Hermione's when she was instructing someone.
"How do you know all this?" Harry asked her.
"My upbringing involved instruction in the herbology, import and export businesses of Lord Greengrass. To learn how to parlay with other countries and races it is important to know their cultures," she told Hermione and him.
"Daphne is correct. Learn the cultures of those around us. You are making assumptions and judgements based on your own beliefs, not the beliefs of those you are judging," Sirius agreed. "Most misunderstandings between goblins and wizards usually boil down to either side misunderstanding, or cheating, the other and making assumptions and judgements. Many goblins are not as honorable as the ones that lead Gringotts."
Hermione pursed her lips and scrunched her brow, as though deep in thought.
Without thinking about it, Harry took Daphne's hand and kissed the back of it. She looked slightly flustered. "What was that for?"
"Thank you. You have me too." He could tell she was feeling the same, as though she had nothing, even with Sirius taking them in.
Daphne flushed some and gave him a smile.
-oOo-
London, England
They were in the parlor looking over the furniture. It was in a dismal way, as though it had been neglected far more than any other place in the house. "This was my mother's formal meeting place. She only ever let us in when there was company and she wanted to show Regulus and I off," Sirius said morosely. "This and the formal dining room across the hall. My father used the larger Lord's study past the stairs. I still haven't stepped into that room. Only special guests were allowed up the stairs."
It was late in the day and Sirius was spending a little time with Harry.
"I didn't know you had a brother," Harry said helping Sirius move a couch to the growing pile in the middle of the room.
Sirius gave a grimace. "Until recently, I thought he had turned as bad as my cousins. Now...," Sirius looked far away for a moment. "Now, I know he was a hero greater than almost any of us."
Harry looked at Sirius. "What do you mean?"
Sirius shook his head. "Not now. Tonight or tomorrow the Blacks are having a family meeting. There are things for us to go over and I will tell you then."
Harry didn't like waiting. This sounded serious. "Sure. What about Buckbeak in your room? He should be set free," Harry told him.
"Now that I can move about, I was going to go see a preserve in Germany when I can. For now, there are other things to worry about."
They worked in silence for a bit until all the furniture was piled up. "I'll ask Kreacher to take this to our vaults later. Maybe the goblins can repair some of it. If not, I'll ask if there is any salvage value. I'll have to figure something to do with this room. Molly has been on my case for months."
"You don't like being here?" Harry could tell.
"There aren't a lot of pleasant memories. It is good to see you and Daphne here," Sirius replied.
Harry couldn't keep the smile off his face. "I don't have to go back to my relatives?"
"Never again, pup. How is it going with Daphne? Do you need to know the spells to protect yourself until you are ready for kids? Or is it too late?" Sirius had a knowing smile on his face.
Harry felt his face heat up. Except for having Daphne spooned against him the last two mornings, they had done nothing more than kiss. "I haven't slept with her like that," Harry said.
Sirius looked disappointed. "A beauty like her and you are keeping your distance, Pup?"
"I didn't say that." Harry flushed. "Until a week ago I had never done anything more than sneak a few peeks at her or other girls. I've never even been out on a date and it's not like we got together under the best circumstances," Harry retorted.
The look on his godfather's face was more pensive. "Are you telling me you never even kissed anyone? We were playing spin the wand by fourth year."
"Yeah, I was a little more concerned with surviving last year," Harry said darkly. Or any year, he thought to himself.
Sirius furrowed his brow. "I'm sorry, pup. You haven't dated or liked anyone? You never played spin the wand?"
"I don't even know what that is," he responded.
Sirius grinned as though Harry was playing with him and then dropped the grin at Harry's earnest expression. "You're serious, aren't you?"
"Mostly. I heard someone talking about it once, but don't know what you do," Harry answered honestly.
"Have you kissed anyone? You are getting close to sixteen?" Sirius questioned.
"It's been a little hard to do anything like that when you are always dealing with shite," Harry responded.
Sirius just looked at Harry and Harry shuffled his feet, feeling very self-conscious. "Have you and Daphne kissed?"
Harry felt heat in his face again and a smirk form. "She is my girlfriend," he told Sirius.
His godfather returned the smirk. "We'll make a Marauder of you yet. Has anyone given you the talk of what you should do with witches and how to protect yourself?"
Harry looked away. "I know about sex."
"Did anyone ever talk to you? Tell you what to do? How to treat a witch?"
Harry wanted to snark back at his godfather, WHO? Who would have done that! Instead, he just stayed quiet.
"Pup, I'm so sorry," Sirius sounded sad. "Let's go up to my study and I'll give you the talk my father never did."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Harry questioned, feeling apprehensive.
Sirius gave a mischievous smirk. "You have a beautiful girl and should know how to worship her."
Harry felt his neck heat up now.
-oOo-
London, England
Harry sat on the bed, Daphne was leaning her head against him with Hermione sitting cross legged across from them. Harry was holding Daphne's hand and she was tracing patterns on the back of his.
All three of them were feeling a little shocked from Gringotts and their conversation with Sirius after dinner. Dumbledore had told Sirius more than any of them expected. Harry had the added shock of having 'the talk' with his godfather.
Having Daphne leaning against him brought up some of what Sirius told him, but he was more concerned with the erumpent in the room.
"What are we going to tell Ron?" Hermione put into the silence.
"I don't know," Harry told her.
"Nothing," Daphne stated.
Hermione frowned. "He is still our friend and has been there with us," Hermione argued, though it didn't hold much heat or force.
"Oh, hey Ron, you know that thing that burst out of my head, it's a part of Voldemort. Oh, and there are more," Harry said in a falsetto. "That's going to go over well."
"Ron already knows that thing was part of Voldemort. Ginny told him about our conversation yesterday," Hermione informed.
"Ron is a friend, but he is not family. He doesn't need to know more," Daphne argued back. "The three of us, we are family. We will keep each other's secrets. We will help each other."
Hermione frowned. "I still think we should tell Ron. He never failed you when it mattered," Hermione put to him.
"That is the point though, isn't it," Harry said, blinking. He hadn't really thought of it that way before. "He has failed me. He has failed you. You were almost killed because of Ron. Where was he when you were helping me with the dragon?"
Hermione flushed. "He has made it up since then."
"You like Ron," Daphne pointed out.
Hermione flushed more. "I don't know. Maybe. He's cute, but he is so infuriating at times."
"He is a bigot and bully," Daphne stated.
They both looked shocked at her, but she didn't move from Harry's side. He liked having her there.
"He is opinionated," Hermione defended Ron.
Daphne gave her a look as though she wasn't impressed. "Do you hold the same opinions about Slytherin?"
Hermione frowned. "Not all Slytherin, but many."
"Have the ones you think poorly of wronged you, or do you just hate all Slytherin?"
"I have valid reasons," Hermione replied.
"Does Ron?" Daphne pressed. Hermione was quiet. "You like Ron. Do you want to marry him someday?"
Hermione opened her mouth and blinked her eyes. "It's not that easy. I'm only sixteen. I mean, I want a career. I'm only sixteen."
"I am sixteen too. It's a simple question. Do you see yourself marrying Ron or having kids with him? Even the possibility?" Daphne pressed.
"I don't know," Hermione sounded uncertain.
"Did you see yourself married to anyone else?"
Harry didn't miss the quick glance towards him. "No," Hermione answered.
Daphne slumped a little. "You love Harry, don't you?"
Hermione bit her lip. "I thought I did," she confessed quietly.
Harry felt shocked. "You what?"
Daphne sighed. "I never meant to steal him from you."
Hermione just sat there for a moment. "Daphne, I did think about it. I thought about it a lot third and start of last year. When Viktor asked me to the Ball instead of Harry and then the cup chose Ron instead of me for the second task, I realized I wasn't quite the right type of girl for Harry."
It was shortly after the Yule ball, after he had seen her having so much fun with Victor, that Harry had decided he could never be with Hermione. He was too dangerous and he cared for her too much. That was about the time he started seeing her as a beloved sister, as family, and she stopped being in his dreams.
That was why it hurt so much when it felt like she abandoned him over the summer.
Hermione was his sister.
Hermione looked at him. "Harry, I love you like a brother. I want to see you happy. Daphne, never doubt that. I really do look at Harry as a brother now."
"You don't think of him at all?" Daphne questioned.
"Not since last February. I will warn you though, you treat him bad and I will come after you," Hermione warned Daphne rather fiercely.
Daphne returned the glare. "I will never put Harry through what was going to be my fate."
Hermione nodded. "So, horcruxes," she put out there and they went quiet.
"I had one in my head for years," Harry stated after a long moment. He felt concerned that he had been tainted by it and he might turn into the Dark Lord someday.
"It is gone now. As are two others. We just need to find a way to figure out how many more there are," Hermione stated. She was scared but being her normal logical self.
"The bastard," as Daphne was starting to call the Headmaster when in their company, "said he knows one other, he suspects at least one more."
Harry shuttered. Including himself that would make up to five of those things.
"Why would anyone want to split their soul so many times?" Hermione asked.
"So he would never die," Harry bluntly pointed out.
Daphne shuttered. "To kill someone once would be horrid. To do it to live forever..."
"It is horrid," Harry agreed. Daphne wrapped both hands over his. "I haven't told you what I saw the other night," Harry muttered.
Daphne shifted and they both looked at him. There was a heavy feel to the air. Hermione shuffled a little closer so that her knees were even with Daphne and his. "What did you see," Hermione prodded.
"I saw Voldemort."
Daphne stiffened. "I hope I never do. I'm sorry, Harry."
Harry shook his head. "You don't understand. He was trying to break into my mind, but I saw a small glimpse into his."
Hermione was reliably Hermione. "What do you mean you saw into his mind? Harry, that isn't right. Are you sure he didn't see into yours?"
"I don't think he got through that thing in my head. I don't know if it was that thing or Voldemort himself, but he's scared," Harry told them.
"What do you mean scared? He is the darkest wizard in centuries and he is scared?" Hermione screeched, looking at him.
Daphne was far quieter. "What is he afraid of?"
"Death. His largest motivation is to live. He wants to live forever and he wants to control everything. No matter the cost."
"Why didn't you tell Sirius when we were talking earlier?" Hermione questioned.
"I didn't realize what I saw until we were just talking now," Harry told her, his voice sounding a little hard.
Daphne held his hand tight before putting her head on his shoulder again. "Can we not fight between us?"
Harry sighed and leaned his head over hers. "I'm sorry. I'm just getting tired."
"It has been a long day," Hermione agreed and then she smiled.
"What are you smiling at?" Harry questioned.
"You two. I don't know if I have ever seen you so relaxed with someone like that," she told him.
Harry hadn't even really noticed and sat up straight, disturbing Daphne. "Ow! Your shoulder doesn't fit in my ear," Daphne whinged as she rubbed her ear.
"I'm sorry."
Hermione laughed. "And there is the Harry I know. I'm going to go downstairs, maybe see how Ginny and Ron are doing." Hermione smiled again. "Harry, you looked really content with Daphne there. I do like seeing you both like that."
She rolled off the bed and left them.
Daphne leaned her head against his shoulder again. "Can you not get my ear this time?"
"I'll try not to," he said. There was an urge to kiss the top of her head. He fought it for a moment before doing so.
She shifted so that he was looking at her eyes over the top of her glasses. "Harry?"
"Yeah, Daph?"
A rather attractive smile came over her face. "I like being called Daph. Just not in public."
Harry nodded. "Why do you act so differently when others are around? You only seem to let your guard down around me, Hermione and Sirius."
"You are family. Hermione is someone you trust explicitly and she trusts you, and through you, me," she stated as though it was obvious. When he looked like he still wasn't sure, she rolled her eyes. He smiled, only seeing her do that a few times. "Harry, I have grown up to always think everyone outside of family, or one's closest friends, can be a danger or is looking for some way to take advantage of the situation. Even some family is dangerous. Most Pure-bloods are taught the same thing and many do act that way. The pecking order of Society can change with the proper alliances, secrets or blackmail."
"Like what your father was going to do?"
"I have no father. You, Sirius and Hermione are my family."
"But what if everyone isn't trying to take advantage of you? Would you relax more?" he inquired.
"I don't know. There are not many we should trust out there. I can't let my guard down. It's not just me I am protecting. It is you too."
"I still don't understand why we would be special enough to see who you really are?" Harry questioned. Maybe he was just being mental from being so overloaded today.
"Would you rather me act all 'haughty' all the time, as I heard you say to Hermione?"
"No. I prefer you like this. You have a cute smile."
She gave a shy smile now. "You really find me cute?"
"Yeah," he told her before shifting. He was finding her more than cute, especially in the shirt and night pants she was wearing tonight. Daphne moved and met his lips when he leaned towards her. He really liked kissing Daphne. Their lips seemed to find an easier movement the more they kissed and they kissed harder.
When they pulled away, both their glasses were eschewed. She giggled. "Your glasses are a little crooked."
He chuckled. "So are yours," Harry pointed out straightening his.
She reached up and took hers off. "Before we kiss again, I do have a question," she said in a more serious tone.
"You want to kiss again?"
"Nery much." Her eyes took on a light that pulled something in him he hadn't felt before. It pulled at his stomach down to his loins. It faded a little as her face became more serious. "Did you really mean you have nothing earlier?"
The fear as though he would reject her came to her eyes. He didn't like that look in her eyes. Her dark brown eyes could be so expressive. "I didn't mean I don't have you. Can I confess something?"
She nodded.
"I know it's only been a week, but I'm not sure anyone has quite gotten me like I feel you have." He started by looking in her eyes and then looked away.
Her hand came up and cupped his cheek, gently lifting his head. Her eyes were intent. The gold and green in them almost sparkled and he felt an attraction for her. It was something that started in his chest and pulled through his body. "I look into your eyes and see someone who has seen pain. Real pain. Real loss. I know how that feels. It feels like there is a hole in my chest most of the time. But when you look at me, those feelings go away. I hope I can do that for you?"
Harry smiled. "You do," he assured her.
She smiled and pulled his face towards her. This time their kiss changed. There was something different. An emotion he had no real reference for. It was like large parts of the blackness in him were burning away, filled with something that tingled where her hand lay on his cheek, where her lips met his, where his hand held her other hand.
He wanted to show her how she made him feel. Thinking about some of the mortifying conversation with Sirius earlier or the display of hormones all teens at Hogwarts got a show of at times, he flicked his tongue out. It seemed to surprise her for a moment. She didn't stiffen, but backed away.
Her dark eyes did sparkle this time. There was another difference in her eyes. They didn't look sad. He waited, holding his breath, praying he hadn't gone too far.
"Harry, would you lay with me as my husband tonight?"
It was his turn to be surprised. Looking at her, he knew this was what was expected of him. Her eyes didn't look like it was her expectation though. She was looking for something else. Whatever she wanted wasn't related to the bond. He could feel that. Daphne wanted something more.
He pecked her on the lips. "I don't really know how to love someone," he confessed.
"You mean you can't love me?" she asked, her eyes starting to look watery.
He shook his head, realizing it was the wrong thing to say. "No. I mean, I've never really known what love is."
Understanding lit in her eyes. "You never had anyone love you before?"
Harry looked abashed. "Maybe my parents," he told her.
"I think you are wrong. I see how Hermione loves you, and the Weasley's and Sirius. You are family to them. I just don't think you recognize love," she told him, moving in and kissing him. "Could you love me?"
Harry sat there for a moment. Perhaps she was right. If what he felt for Hermione, the Weasleys and Sirius was love, then he felt it in this moment for the girl next to him. It was stronger though. "I think I already do," he told her truthfully.
The tears that were brimming in her eyes fell as she smiled. "I think I do too."
He smiled and kissed her again. This time, when her tongue met his lips, she opened her mouth and met it with hers. They kissed like that until they were breathless. He pulled back, breathing heavily.
"Would you sleep with me as my husband?" she asked again, breathing as heavily as he was.
She wanted him to come to her of his own free will. "I haven't done this before."
"We can learn together," she offered, moving a hand to the top button of her night shirt.
Okay, maybe he was going to have to thank Sirius in the morning, instead of curse him for embarrassing him.
"I want you to know I love you," Harry told her.
Her eyes almost took on a liquid quality. "I never thought a man would say that to me." She sounded so surprised.
Harry was determined to show her and moved to kiss her. It started sweet. It didn't stay that way. Daphne wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down onto the large bed. Harry put his arm down to not crush her as he hovered over her. As nature does when it sees a good match and two like each other, the kiss became very sloppy, very hormonal.
Harry was determined to show Daphne she would be loved.
Harry needed to be loved as much as she did.
Harry shifted to his side and Daphne rolled with him, not unwrapping her arms from his neck as her tongue tried to battle his. His now freehand moved to her side. They separated to take a breath, putting their foreheads together. "You should take your glasses off," Daphne told him.
He took his glasses off and then took the ones she still had in her hands. Rolling to the side of the bed, he put them on the bed table and turned to see Daphne laying on her back, her hands at the buttons on her shirt. His breathing seemed to stop as he caught her eyes, and then he followed her fingers as they undid the buttons.
He looked back up to her eyes. "I don't want to hide my body from you," she told him.
Harry took in a deep breath. It hadn't occurred to him that she would want to do this in the light. He followed her hands as they finished. He could see the smooth pale skin between her breasts, her stomach and to her waistline in the narrow slit of the unbuttoned shirt.
"Daphne, you may not like what you see," he warned her.
She picked up on his uncertainty and sat up. Her shirt opened and he had a really nice view of half her breasts and nipples. It was exciting. Her hand touched his arm over his long sleeve and ran down to his hand. "I won't ever reject you, Harry. I can tell you haven't had a good life. Let me love you."
He had committed to this. Harry let out a breath before taking his Gryffindor courage. His hands went to the hem of the long sleeve Quidditch practice shirt he had on. Pulling it over his head, he expected some reaction from Daphne. He had scars. There were the pucker marks around his fingertips from Quirrell. There was the two marks from the basilisk's bite. There were marks from his uncle. A long thin scar on his left arm marked where Pettigrew took his blood. There were the marks from Remus on the side of this ribs to his back when he had shielded Hermione before Buckbeak saved them. There were slight burn marks on his legs from dragon fire. There was the mark from Umbridge on his hand.
He didn't open his eyes, not wanting to see her reaction to his body.
He didn't see the muscles that had been building over the last year or two. He didn't notice his flat, partially defined abs on his stomach from his workouts he started last year to survive the Tri-wizard Tournament, and that he had continued out of habit, even as his life spiraled down a black hole this year.
Harry felt a finger trace the long scar on his left arm. "Where is this from?"
Harry opened his eyes. She wasn't looking at him horrified or pityingly as he had expected. No, she looked at him with soft eyes that honestly wanted to know him, while still looking deep and exciting. It surprised him.
She looked up at him. "Harry, I am not running."
He let out a long breath. "That was when Peter Pettigrew used my blood to bring back Voldemort."
It was impressive that she didn't flinch any time he mentioned Voldemort. She continued to trace the scar before lifting his arm and kissing it. The shiver that went through him was a little thrilling. "It doesn't scare you?" He had to know.
"I've heard enough of your stories the last few days and saw you last year in the Triwizard Tournament to understand you probably had some scars. Is this where the basilisk got you?" she asked moving to trace the oval scars on his other arm. They were on both sides from when the fangs went through it.
"Yeah."
"What are these?" He shivered again, enjoying her hand on his side where the werewolf wounds were.
"Werewolf," he responded.
She leaned down and kissed them. As she sat up, her shirt opened more. His heart thumped in his chest. As apprehensive he was, her body was beautiful. When she reached for the few on his shoulders he stopped her hand. "I don't want to talk about those," he told her.
She nodded but pushed her hand towards them. He felt her fingers and let out a sigh as she touched them. He felt her magic reaching from her fingertips and the memory of the pain melted away.
"I need to show you something," Daphne said, pulling her hand away.
His heart was already beating hard at how she had touched his scars. It started to pound harder as she pulled her shirt fully open. He couldn't help but take in her perfectly rounded breast. When she slid the shirt down her arms, she took his hand and moved it to her side. Along her ribs below her right arm was a puckered scar that traced up her ribs.
"My father was a bad drunk when I was young. He threw a glass at me one day when I was seven. It broke when it hit the floor and I fell on the glass after being struck for making a mess." She moved his hand up, his fingers tracing her scar. He hadn't noticed that it curved and his fingers traced to the soft underside of her breast.
As much as his fifteen-year-old body was screaming at him for touching a girl like this, there was something intimate about it that felt like a connection he was yearning for. "Mother was out and I didn't get to St. Mungo's until the next morning. By then, they couldn't keep it from scarring because I had lost so much blood and my magic was just barely keeping me alive."
"You know you're beautiful?" he complimented her meeting her eyes. Harry had to protect her. She couldn't be hurt like that again.
If she didn't care for him before, he must have said the right thing because she didn't' hesitate to jump forward and kiss him. She put his hand over her breast and his body just took over, gently kneading her breast. He liked how it fit in his hand. She moaned and arched into his hand.
When she ran her hands over his chest and stomach his breath hitched. He deepened the kiss and he brought his other hand up. She made a really cute sound as he ran both his thumbs up her swells and over her nipples.
As they kept trying to show each other how they felt, Harry wasn't sure where the rest of their clothes went until he was over her. They had been rubbing their crotches against each other for a few minutes, both moaning and kissing any part they could. Harry was feeling like he was getting close to release as they were just grinding against each other.
He stopped when he started to slide his hardon up and down her slit then suddenly felt himself slide into something warm, slick and tight. They were both breathing hard. Harry had been trying to take it slow or do things Sirius said could make it easier for Daphne her first time. He liked how her chest heaved below him, her nipples moving on his chest.
"I need to cast a spell," he told her.
Daphne wrapped her legs around him, her arms holding his. "I am on the potion."
He lowered his head and kissed her, slowly pushing further in as she pulled her legs forward. He felt like it was the hardest thing he ever did to take it slow, but he would not hurt her. She kissed him back, her nails digging into his arm. He stopped. "Don't stop," she pleaded when he stopped kissing her.
"I don't want to hurt you," he told her.
"It usually hurts the first time." Her eyes encouraged him and Harry kept pushing. She bit her lip as he pushed past something that resisted him.
He stopped as she shook below him, her eyes closed. After a moment, she opened her eyes. "Please, I want you."
He pushed a little more before pulling out a little. It took a few minutes before she started to move with him. The pain in her face started to turn more pleasurable and she sought out his mouth with hers. He didn't think either of them lasted long. He was trying hard not to let himself go before she let out a few short squeaks and her body tightened around his shaft. Harry couldn't control himself anymore as her body quivered around him and he released inside her.
He grunted as she made little sounds that drove him to push as far in her as he could. When they were done, Harry pulled out and collapsed on her side. He hadn't noticed how sweaty they were until he hit the blankets. "Are you alright?" he asked, afraid he hadn't made it as good for her as it was for him.
She was still breathing hard, but rolled over and cupped his cheek. "I love you," she told him before kissing him.
"I love you too," he told her, kissing her again before she collapsed on her back. He lay next to her for a few.
"I want a shower," she told him. "I also want to do that again later."
Harry gave her a goofy smile. "I was afraid you wouldn't like it."
She gave him a smile that excited him. "It was really good at the end. Want to join me?"
Harry did one better, picking her up in his arms bridal style and carrying her to the bathroom.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone