章 2: Chapter Two - We're Baa-aaack!
A/N: Well, when I called a lot of you folks nag-merchants I hit the nail on the head. As one PM said, 'Splitting a word over chapters? How rude! Now you have to post the second chapter, just so I don't have that work hanging there for a week!" So, I've changed my mind a little, and have decided I'll update when I can without being too often and without the breaks being too long.
So, without further ado, here's 'two of fifty'.
Sinyk
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!
Chapter Two - We're Baa-aaack!
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"... iiit!" Harry exclaimed, startled and seeming to wake up.
Snapping his eyes open with his heart hammering in his chest, Harry sat almost bolt upright.
"Harry?!" exclaimed Hermione, wide-eyed from where she was sitting next to him in the taxi.
Harry quickly looked about. He was sitting in the middle in the back of a muggle taxi weaving it's way through London traffic. On his left was Hermione; on his right was Ron. Mrs Weasley was sitting in the front, and had turned around to look at him, quite curiously.
"Sorry! Sorry!" he stammered. "I think I was having a bit of a scary dream. It's gone now."
"Merlin, mate!" said Ron, a little rattled. "You near scared the life out of me!"
"Well, as long as you're alright, dear," said Mrs Weasley. "She took another long look at him before she added, "We're almost there." And turned back around in her seat.
After a long look at Harry, Ron had turned to look back out the side window on his side, so Harry used the opportunity to lightly grasp Hermione's hand where it was resting on the seat between them. He gave it a light squeeze and turned to look at her.
She was looking at him in both surprise and worry. And... something else.
Making sure neither Weasley was watching him, Harry leaned over and whispered in Hermione's ear. "I'm back," he simply and quietly said.
Pulling back, he looked for confirmation in Hermione's face. And he saw it, when she looked back at him with surprise and happiness. She gave his left hand a gentle, quick squeeze in return.
Turning to look at his so-called best mate, Harry could feel the loyalty potion in his system make him want to tell the boy everything. His Occlumency helped him out there.
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The remainder of the journey was uncomfortable, owing to how they were jammed in the back of the taxi with one of their trunks... the other two sticking out of the boot... and, owing to how both Harry and Hermione were feeling uncomfortable around the two Weasleys. Crookshanks had also taken quite a while to recover from the fireworks that had gone off earlier, as the twins' trunks were being loaded into their taxi. It also took Harry a few minutes to remember the taxi behind them carried Charlie, the twins and Ginny.
By the time they entered London, Harry, Ron and Hermione were all severely scratched. They were very relieved to get out at King's Cross, even though the rain was coming down harder than ever; and they got soaked carrying their trunks across the busy road and into the station.
Harry was very much used to getting onto Platform 9¾, by now. It was a simple matter of walking straight through the apparently solid barrier dividing platforms 9 and 10. The only tricky part was doing this in an unobtrusive way, so as to avoid attracting Muggle attention. They did it in groups today; Harry, Hermione and Ron (the most conspicuous, since they were accompanied by Hedwig, Pigwidgeon and Crookshanks) went first; they leaned casually against the barrier, chatting unconcernedly, and slid sideways through it. As they did, Platform 9¾ materialized in front of them.
The Hogwarts Express... a gleaming scarlet steam engine... was already there; clouds of steam billowing from it, through which the many Hogwarts students and parents on the platform appeared like dark ghosts. Pigwidgeon became noisier than ever in response to the hooting of many owls through the mist; while Hedwig remained quiet and aloof.
The three then set off to board the train and find seats, and were soon stowing their luggage in a compartment halfway along the train. They then hopped back down onto the platform to say goodbye to Mrs Weasley, Charlie and Bill... Bill had apparated direct to the platform.
"I might be seeing you all sooner than you think," said Charlie, grinning, as he hugged Ginny goodbye.
"Why?" Fred keenly asked. Of course, Harry and Hermione already knew but couldn't and wouldn't say anything.
"You'll see," replied Charlie. "Just don't tell Percy I mentioned it... it's 'classified information, until such time as the Ministry sees fit to release it', after all."
"Yeah, I sort of wish I were back at Hogwarts this year," said Bill, hands in his pockets, looking almost wistfully at the train.
"Why?" George impatiently asked.
"You're going to have an interesting year," replied Bill, his eyes twinkling. "I might even get time off to come and watch a bit of it."
"A bit of what?" asked a clearly confused Ron.
But, at that moment, the whistle blew; and Mrs Weasley chivvied them toward the train doors.
"Thanks for having us to stay, Missus Weasley," said Hermione as they climbed on board, closed the door, and leaned out of the window to talk to her.
"Yeah; thanks for everything, Missus Weasley," said Harry, though it grated on his nerves to do so.
"Oh it was my pleasure, dears," said Mrs Weasley. "I'd invite you for Christmas; but... well... I expect you're all going to want to stay at Hogwarts, what with... one thing and another."
Of course, both Harry and Hermione knew what they weren't saying... the Tri-Wizard Tournament and the Yule Ball.
"Mum!" said Ron irritably. "What d'you three know that we don't?"
"You'll find out this evening, I expect," said Mrs Weasley, smiling. "It's going to be very exciting. Mind you, I'm very glad they've changed the rules..."
"What rules?" asked Ron, Fred, and George together.
"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will tell you. Now, behave, won't you? Won't you, Fred? And you, George?"
The pistons hissed loudly and the train began to move.
"Tell us what's happening at Hogwarts!" Fred bellowed out of the window as Missus Weasley, Bill, and Charlie appeared to speed away from them. "What rules are they changing?"
But Mrs Weasley only smiled and waved. Before the train had rounded the corner, she, Bill, and Charlie had disapparated.
Harry, Hermione and Ron went back to their compartment. The thick rain splattering the windows made it very difficult to see out of them. Ron undid his trunk, pulled out his maroon dress robes, and flung them over Pigwidgeon's cage to muffle his hooting.
"Bagman wanted to tell us what's happening at Hogwarts," he said grumpily, sitting down on one of the bench seats. "At the World Cup, remember? But my own mother won't say. Wonder what..."
"Yeah. Excuse me," said Harry interrupting. "I'm... umm... I need to go to the little boy's room, you know?" He turned and left the compartment with a very direct look at Hermione, as he did.
"Me, too," said Hermione. "The... little girl's room, that is." And she quickly rose from where she'd just sat down, followed Harry out, and closed the compartment door behind her, as she did.
Harry was just standing a little ways, away. "Come on," he softly said. And led the way into the next carriage to the lavatories in that carriage. Hermione followed along.
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Quickly finding the boys' lavatories, Harry quickly glanced about to make sure they weren't being watched; and pushed Hermione inside, before following her in.
As soon as he'd latched the door, Hermione threw her arms around his neck in a Hermi-hug and cried, "Oh, God; Harry!"
With his own arms around her, Harry held her tight for a few moments. "How long have you been back?" he quietly asked.
"When I woke up," she said. "I also quietly watched under a notice-me-not charm as Missus Weasley dosed the both of us and Ron. It was in our teas. "I didn't drink mine, but I knew you weren't back, yet; and couldn't stop you from drinking yours."
"That's alright," said Harry, moving to pull back so they were looking at each other. "My Grim Reaper, John, said that, as soon as I initiate the bond with either you or Daphne, the potions will be neutralised."
"Do you... want to do me, first?" she asked, a little bashful, and blushing.
"John suggested it'd be best if I initiate it with Daphne, first; don't you agree?" he asked. "That way, it won't look so odd when I kiss you mouth-to-mouth, later."
Nibbling on her lower lip in thought... which almost made Harry dive in right there and kiss her... Hermione then said, "You're right. As your best friend, it won't look so odd for me to kiss you on the lips after you've already established a soul bond with someone else. The reverse isn't true, though."
Harry nodded.
"Shall we go find Daphne, then?" she asked. "Do you want to establish the bond, with her, now?"
"I was thinking in the Entrance Hall after everyone else had already gone in," replied Harry. "That way, it'll be quite public, but... not so much."
"Thought of a way to explain the fact you, basically, snog each other in public?" she grinned and asked.
"Yeah," said Harry. "I explained to you towards the end of last year that I had feelings for Daphne; but, didn't know how to do anything about it. You dared me to just walk up and kiss her. 'Gryffindors Forward', yeah?"
"Nope," giggled the girl. "By rights, she should just slap you silly before hexing you into the next century. You leave it to us girls to figure out."
Harry nodded and said, "In that case, we'd best go find her."
They left Hedwig and Crookshanks in the compartment and prayed Ron wouldn't be stupid.
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Leaving the lavatory, Harry and Hermione headed towards the front of the train. Hermione led; as she had, at least, a basic acquaintance with Daphne through four years of Ancient Runes and Arithmancy.
They didn't have to go far. Daphne was sitting in a compartment with Tracey Davis and a couple of others. With Harry holding back and out of sight, Hermione knocked on the compartment door. A moment later, she opened it and asked, "Excuse me; Miss Greengrass? Might I have a word in private?"
Harry quickly made his way back to the lavatories in that carriage and, after checking they were both vacant, waited just outside.
Turning back, he saw Daphne come out of her compartment and turn towards him. Her eyes suddenly widened, but she otherwise didn't allow her expression to change. Quickly, she headed for Harry.
Harry quickly looked around and, not seeing anyone else, held the door to the ladies' lavatory... because it was larger... open, and ducked inside. Daphne and Hermione quickly joined him. Daphne didn't even wait for the door to close before she threw herself into Harry's arms and hugged him, similar to a Hermi-hug. She was sobbing her heart out.
That really surprised both Harry and Hermione. They didn't expect that sort of reaction from someone who didn't really even know Harry.
"Wha-?" asked Harry. "Miss Gre... errr... Daphne. Ummm... are you alright? This is not the Ice Queen of Slytherin I was expecting."
Pulling back and wiping her eyes with her blouse sleeve, Daphne replied, "Sorry. I... Do you know how I died?"
"No," replied Harry, before looking at Hermione. Concerned, Hermione replied, "Me neither, I'm afraid."
Still sniffling, but looking away, Daphne said, "I was... assaulted. That way... you know?"
Hermione got it before Harry. "Oh, Daphne," she said; her voice full of compassion. "We weren't told." Looking at Harry's expression, she said, "We were only told you'd died some time during the battle."
"It... it... I think it was Nott," she sniffled. "I'm not sure, though. He... never took his mask off.
"Wh-when he was... done; you know? He just killed me," she tried to explain. "He never said a word. And, just growled out the incantation of the killing curse; when he was... finished with me."
"God, Daphne," said Harry. "I'm so sorry that happened to you."
"When did you come back, Daphne?" asked Hermione. "Harry came back during our taxi ride to the station; and, I came back as I woke, this morning."
"Some time this morning," the Slytherin girl replied. "I woke up, screaming. My Mum and Dad came running into my bedroom, soon followed by Stori... my little sister. It took a bit, for me, to just explain to them I'd had a nightmare."
"While you have memories of that... event, Daphne," said Harry. "I promise you; I won't let it happen this time around."
The girl just nodded in his arms as she used a small, dainty handkerchief to clean her face.
"I'm surprised you agreed with your Grim Reaper to upgrade our relationship, though," said Harry. "You know what it means, don't you?"
She nodded and said, "She explained it to me, and I agree with it. It grants me protection. I don't think I would've agreed to come back without it." Looking Harry straight in the eye for the first time, she said, "You're a good man, Harry Potter. I've... always known that. I guess that had to do with the soul mates thing.
"She also explained to me that, if you'd been sorted into Slytherin, as you were meant to be, we'd have been a couple long before now."
Surprised, Harry said, "I wondered how you were supposed to be one of my two soul mates, when you were in Slytherin and I was in Gryffindor. I didn't think to ask."
She shrugged and, changing the subject, said, "Anyway, I have to get back to Tracey and the others, soon. I left her holding Midnight, my cat. What's so urgent we need to talk about this now?"
"Establishing the bonds," said Harry. "I was thinking of doing it, with you, as soon as we arrive at the castle. I had this whole plan in my head, but Hermione shot me down about it."
"Oh?" she asked, curious. "What was your plan?"
So, Harry explained it.
With a snort, she said, "Miss Grang... Hermione... is right. It wouldn't have worked, that way. However, I think I have a better idea."
"Alright," said Harry. "What's yours?"
"Using a pretty poor excuse to need to talk to me," she said turning and looking at Hermione with a wry smile, "And against her better judgement... Hermione took me to this lavatory to allow you to explain to me how much you believe you're in love with me."
Harry looked at her with not a little amusement.
Daphne, with a final wipe of her nose, tucked her handkerchief up the sleeve of her blouse, sniffed and said, "With that silly Gryffindor courage of leaping into trouble, without thinking, you did this..."
Suddenly, her two hands came up and grabbed Harry by either side of his head. As his eyes widened and his mouth dropped open a little in surprise, she pulled his head forward and down as she brought hers forward and up, tilted slightly to the side.
Before Harry even fully realised what was going on, their lips met.
As it dawned on him that Daphne was actually kissing him, her could see her eyes were closed. He closed his own and allowed the embrace, and kiss, to deepen.
"Oh... my!" breathed Hermione.
What neither Harry nor Daphne could see, was the bright silver aura that seemed to glow from their very skin and surround them both.
As the aura faded away, the two separated and looked at each other in awe. "Wow!" Harry softly said.
"Yeah; wow," said Daphne, equally softly.
As the two stood looking at each other, Hermione said, "That... was... awesome!"
Harry suddenly felt like his insides were being ripped apart. He had fire in his veins and the urgent need to dry wretch. He suddenly made a sharp little cry in pain; and his face scrunched in a rictus of sudden agony.
Doubling over, he turned to the toilet bowl and dry-heaved over it. He couldn't even cry out in further pain due to the heaves. His whole body suddenly felt as if he was burning up; and he broke out in an instant sweat.
After it finally passed, he still stood there, leaning over the bowl, one hand bracing himself against the back wall. He hadn't noticed either girl had come up on either side of him to steady him as his body reacted to the potions unknowingly consumed that morning.
"Oh, God," he moaned, when he was finally able to suck in a large enough lungful of air.
"What's happening?" asked Daphne, quite worried.
"Molly Weasley dosed him, this morning, with a love potion keyed to Ginny and a loyalty potion keyed to Ron," said Hermione. "I take it your Grim Reaper didn't tell you about Molly Weasley and her potions?"
"Yes, but I didn't hear about this," Daphne replied. "What do potions have to do with this?"
"That was his body rejecting the potions she gave him," replied Hermione. "With the first soul bond initiated, the soul bond magic just destroyed the potion's effects in his body."
Harry took another couple of lungfuls of air as she spoke, before he finally stood up, turned and nodded to Daphne. "She's right," he said. "My Grim Reaper told me it was going to happen. I just didn't know how bad it was going to be."
Shaking herself out of her slightly stunned reaction, Daphne gathered herself and said, "Alright, Hermione. Your turn."
"Wh-what?" asked Hermione, quite surprised.
"Kiss him," Daphne said again. "It's no one's business but our own as to what led to me kissing Harry; and then he, you. If we stick with that, there's nothing anyone can say about it."
"Simple and straightforward," said Hermione. With a firm nod, she said, "Alright; my turn."
Daphne stepped back and allowed Hermione to step into Harry's arms. "Let's see how successful I was in avoiding the Potion Queen's dosing of me." This time, Harry was better prepared for the kiss, and also made sure Hermione had a straight path to the bowl.
Again, Harry felt the contact and the sheer happiness he felt from kissing Daphne. And, this time, it was Daphne who was witness to the glowing silver aura.
After the aura faded, Hermione stepped a little to the side to allow Daphne to step back in and join them.
Harry found himself cuddling a witch with either arm. Still slightly stunned, he softly said, "Double wow!"
Both girls giggled as they each snuggled in. Hermione said, "It looks like I was able to completely avoid Molly's potions."
"Good," said Harry. "At least, it was only one of us who had to go through that."
Knowing friends would soon start to come looking them, Daphne cast a minor glamour on herself to hide the fact she'd been crying before she went back to her compartment and told Tracey she was going to join Hermione in another compartment to go over their summer homework for both Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. She then grabbed her robes out of trunk and told Tracey she'd see her at Hogsmeade.
Confused, Tracey didn't argue. She just said, "Be safe. Don't let yourself be alone in a compartment with Malfoy."
Daphne smiled back and said, "Don't worry; I won't."
Harry and Hermione went back to 'their' compartment where Ron and Ginny were getting worried about them and told them both they were going to join a 'few others' and go over Ancient Runes and Arithmancy homework.
Ron then tried to invite himself. "Oh, good," he said. "I need someone to go over my homework for me..."
Hermione immediately cut him off and said, "No, Ron. I'm working on Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, only. If you had homework to do, you should have done it." And, with that, she firmly closed the compartment door.
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For the rest of the trip, Harry and Hermione joined Daphne in another compartment where they immediately cast notice-me-not wards on the entire compartment, especially the door and the whole inner wall. Then they just talked to one another.
"Okay," breathed Harry. "What do we do, now?"
"We plan," said Daphne.
For the rest of the trip, Daphne went through what would happen when they arrived. For example, neither Harry nor Hermione knew that they should expect owls with notices informing them their soul bond would have been picked up by both the Ministry's and Gringotts's magical detection nets.
"So, we can expect owls to be waiting for us?" asked Harry.
With a nod, Daphne said, "Exactly. Hermione and I will have two; and, you'll have four. Maybe. As a result of the bonding, we're also entitled to a private apartment. Normally, that's a two bedroom apartment... one for each of the two in the bond... for us, it'll have to be three bedrooms."
Hermione sighed and said, "For a second, there; I expected you to say we'd be expected to sleep together."
Daphne smiled and said, "Though, it is expected... just not yet. The soul bond means we will get married. And, because it's a three-way soul bond, it's accepted it will be a three-way marriage. Even the Ministry cannot overturn that. Magic... or, in our case, Heaven... has already ruled in our favour.
"It's also illegal for anyone to attempt to interfere with a soul bond. The ramifications are severe, in the least."
"I don't think that's going to stop the Potions Queen," said Hermione. "She has her plan she's been working on for thirteen years, almost."
"Let her try," Daphne firmly said. "If we... or anyone else... can catch her out trying to potion any of us through the two red-headed demons, we can bring the law down on her head."
Turning to Harry, she said, "So. Your name comes out of the Goblet of Fire. And, I've been told, we have to let that happen."
Harry nodded, "Nor, can we act against the mongrel that did it."
"No," she said, "But, I need to step you through how to make the magical oath that it wasn't you, or that you didn't organise for anyone else to do it for you. We're going to need to very careful with the wording."
"Yeah," nodded Harry. "That's what John, my Grim Reaper, told me."
"When do we go after the horcruxes?" asked Hermione.
"As soon as we can and after my name comes out of the Goblet," replied Harry. "We can get and destroy the diadem immediately because it's in the Room of Requirement. When my name comes out, the very next morning, I'm to head to Gringotts to ensure my emancipation goes through, to alert them to the presence of a horcrux in the Lestrange vault, and see if I can get them to organise a lawyer for me and Sirius if we don't do it earlier.
"This time, Sirius will not end up being knocked through the veil; and Skeeter will not get away with slandering me... or you... through the Daily Prophet, or Witch Weekly."
"So, we're not waiting for Professor Dumbledore to get off his duff and get it done, then," said Hermione.
"We know he won't, Hermione," sighed Harry.
"I know," she sadly said.
"Dumbledore is not to be trusted," said Daphne. "Least, that's what both my Mum and Dad told me. He's too... tricky. He always has his little plans and machinations going on. And he rarely, if ever, tells anyone what he's up to."
"We know," said Harry. "John told me I have to let him die. For that to happen, Dumbledore has to go after the ring horcrux no later than late June next year. Frankly, I don't have a problem with that. Actually, I'd like to 'convince' him to go after it, earlier."
Giving himself a little bit of shake, Harry went on, "By then, though, the only horcruxes that'll be still out there will be the ring and Nagini."
"Nagini?" asked Daphne.
"Riddle's familiar," said Hermione. "A big, over-sized, venomous, black and green snake. He used the murder of a Ministry employee, Bertha Jorkins, to turn the snake into a living horcrux." Thinking a bit, Hermione said, "That would have happened by now. So, Nagini would now be a horcrux."
"Hang on," said Harry. "I remember Nagini is sent to the Ministry, on her own, to... scope out... the Department of Mysteries, just before Christmas. She attacks Mister Weasley."
Hermione frowned and did the little biting of the bottom lip she always did when she was furiously thinking. "That's next year, Harry," she said. "If I remember correctly, it was late at night on the... 18th of December."
Looking a little startled, she softly exclaimed, "How did I remember that?"
"That's the Occlumency, Hermione," said Daphne. "Your mind is more ordered now. Especially, that part of future knowledge they locked away."
"So, any other time when we know where Nagini is going to be, and away from Riddle?" asked Harry.
"No, I don't think so," Hermione sighed.
"Anything else we can do that's not necessarily one of the primary tasks?" asked Daphne.
"Yes," Harry firmly said. "The bullying of Luna by the majority of her house."
"She's being bullied?" asked Daphne.
"Yes," replied Hermione. "They pick on her... and they're really horrid to her... because she doesn't fit with what they think is normal."
Harry took it up from there. "They steal and hide her clothes, what they don't steal they often put things like itching powder within, destroy her homework before she can submit it, lock her out of the Ravenclaw tower, stuff like that."
"That's," exclaimed Daphne. "That's... no! No... we fix that," she firmly said.
"Yes," said Hermione, just as firmly.
"But, how?" asked Harry.
"We'll figure it out," said Daphne. "We don't have to know the answer, to that, right now."
After they talked and got to know each other a lot better, Hermione finally said, "Time to get changed. We'll be there, soon."
Harry nodded and stood up. "I'll wait outside for you," he said.
As he started to head to the door, Daphne and Hermione looked each other, and seemed to come to an agreement.
"Harry. Stay," said Daphne.
Confused, Harry turned to look at her and asked, "You want me to get changed first?"
"No, Harry," said Hermione. "We're bonded. Please, stay."
Harry looked confused for a moment or two before his eyes widened in shock. He looked at the pair of them and said, "You... I... you... want me stay while you get changed?" And blushed bright red before looking like he wanted nothing more than to run for it.
Hermione grinned and said, "We're going to be married, Harry. The three of us."
"Bu... but... we... err..." he tried.
"If you want, you can turn around," said Daphne, taking some pity on him.
So, Harry stood up close and facing the door while the two girls changed. When they were done and said they were ready, he turned back around again. Both girls just grinned at him.
"Your turn," said Hermione.
Harry moved over to his robes and looked like he was waiting. "Are you... umm... are you going to... turn around?"
With a smirk, Daphne asked, "Do you want us to?"
Blushing crimson again, Harry took a couple of deep breaths before he said, "No... yes... no... not... if you don't want to."
Taking another deep breath he thought, 'It's alright, Harry. Just pretend they're not there.'
Turning his back to them... at least, mostly his back... he stripped off, starting with above the waist. He then pulled on his shirt and tie but... as he didn't bring his jumper with him due to the heat... he wasn't wearing it under his robes.
Hesitating a moment he thought to himself, 'They're not there. They're not there. They're being real quiet for me. They're not there.'
He kicked off his shoes, then used his big toe on the opposite foot to kick his socks off. Taking a deep breath he then undid his belt and allowed his oversized pants to drop to the floor, before kicking them off. They were so large, he didn't even need to undo the button at the waist, let alone the zip.
He then reached for his school pants and pulled them on, pulling up the zip and buttoning the top button. Then threaded the belt through the loops, before doing do that up, too. All the time, he was running through his mantra, 'They're not there. You're alone. There's no one else here.'
Once his belt was done up, he breathed a huge sigh of relief. Then bent over and picked up his discarded clothes, before dumping them in a pile on the bench seat next to him.
He then sat down and proceeded to pull his school socks and shoes onto his feet. As he did so, he turned to look at the two girls. They were both smiling back at him.
"I didn't take you for a boxers man, Harry," said Hermione, her cheeks a little pink as she smiled at him.
"I think it suits him," said Daphne, her cheeks also a little pink.
Harry tried hard not to blush... and failed again... and focussed on getting his shoes and socks on and done up. "Yeah... well," he muttered. He didn't look at either of them.
Standing up, he then pulled his robe over the top and settled it about himself. "How do I look?" he asked them.
"Like a Gryffindor," said Daphne, while Hermione said, "You look very nice, Harry. But, I wish you'd make a greater effort in making sure your tie was straight and done up properly."
Harry sighed and complied. At least, he hoped he'd done a better job of it. "We need to get this stuff..." he said, gesturing at their piles of 'civilian' clothes, "... back and into our trunks."
Daphne smiled and said, "Leave them with me. I'll put them into my trunk." Then she shrunk the three piles and stuffed the lot into one of her pockets.
"I kinda forgot about that," he said with a sigh. "Just because we're not supposed to know the spells, doesn't mean we can't do them in private."
"You need to let your inner Slytherin out," said Daphne. "Both of you... We need to be very good at pretending we don't know the material, from this point on; but, it doesn't mean we can afford to forget any of it. Once in our apartment, I intend to put up sufficient wards to stop us being spied upon."
"We can help with that," said Hermione. "Harry and I both got a lot of experience setting up wards while we were on the run."
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As the train was slowing down to pull into Hogsmeade station, the three began to pull down the wards ready to disembark.
"Malfoy didn't come and annoy us, this trip," Harry said to Hermione.
"Notice-me-not ward, Harry," she replied. "He did walk past a couple of times, though. I think he was probably looking for us."
"Something you're going to need to work on, Potter," said Daphne. "Your temper. You cannot afford to lose your temper with Malfoy and his goon squad, any more."
"Back to last names, are we?" asked Harry, more amused than offended.
Daphne blushed and said, "Sorry. That's going to take some getting used to."
"It's alright," said Harry. "Those owls should be waiting for us when we get to the Great Hall. After that, it no longer matters."
Just before the train arrived, Daphne led the other two back to the compartment she shared with Tracey and a couple others.
"Trace," she said, after opening the door. "We're having guests for the few moments left."
"Oh?" asked her brunette-haired friend.
Looking back, Daphne said, "I'll explain during the sorting and feast. For now; please, just go along with this."
As Daphne walked across to pull her trunk and pet carrier from under the seats, Tracey could see past her to who these two short-term guests were. When her eyes alit on Harry and Hermione, they widened for a moment in apparent shock. However, she didn't say anything.
Daphne pulled her trunk out, opened it, and dumped in the combined clothing of herself, Hermione and Harry. Hesitating a moment, she pulled out a small bag of owl treats and dropped them into her pocket; before she slammed the lid shut again and locked it. Then she pushed the trunk back under the seat.
Watching her friend, in some amusement, Daphne said, "Yes, Harry Potter... Golden boy extraordinaire; and Hermione Granger."
Amused himself, Harry smiled and twinkled his fingers at her as a wave hello. Clearly, Hermione saw him do it because, the next thing he knew, he was copping an elbow to the ribs.
"Behave, Harry," she half-growled at him.
Neither entered as the train had already slowed down before coming to a stop. Daphne placed her white cat, Midnight, back in the pet carrier as she murmured gently to the feline. "Sorry, Midnight. I'll see you later tonight." Then, closing the cat inside, she slipped the pet carrier back under the seat.
_‗_
—==(oIo)==—
ˇ
Managing to avoid the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione joined Daphne, Tracey and the other two who shared the compartment for the ride in the carriage to the castle.
That wasn't easy to organise as they could see, through the crowds, both Ron and Ginny looking for them.
Harry immediately cast a rain repelling charm over the top of them all. "Repello Imber," he incanted. The other three, Harry was sure he remembered two of them from his year in Slytherin. But, couldn't remember their names.
Daphne pulled Harry out of his befuddlement by introducing them. "Harry... Hermione... this is Tracey Davis, Blaise Zabini and Horace Urquhart. Horace is in the year above us."
Davis was quite the attractive young witch, who now looked much better since she 'lost' the glasses she used to wear right through to the end of second year. Zabini was a tall, slender, dark-skinned boy; who just looked at the pair of them with interest. And, Urquhart softly smiled back with a slight nod. None of the three seemed to be bothered about Harry and Hermione riding in their carriage with them. If anything, they seemed amused by it.
"Not upset about riding with filthy snakes, Potter?" asked Tracey, quite amused.
"Nope," Harry replied with a shrug. "For a start, my name's not Weasley. Second; the only Slytherins I really don't like are Malfoy and his two butt-buddies, and Parkinson. I don't have a problem with many others."
Hesitating a moment, he said, "As long as they're not bigots, don't intend to don a white mask and or get a magical tattoo on the right forearm, I really don't care, to be honest."
Zabini looked back as if he was trying to hide that he was clearly amused by what Harry said. "And yet you allow Weasley to hang around you."
"Yeah, well; not for much longer," Harry sighed. "You'll see what I mean, soon enough."
With a small smile of her own, Daphne looked at Zabini and said, "Don't worry, Blaise. He's not joking. You'll see very soon what Harry's talking about."
"Harry?" asked Tracey, snapping a surprised look at her friend.
"Yes, Trace; Harry," replied Daphne.
Tracey just gave a very penetrating look right back at friend that promised Daphne would be getting a grilling about that very soon.
When the carriage finally stopped at the castle, Harry climbed down first, before offering his arm to assist Hermione, Daphne and Tracey down. Tracey looked surprised at the gesture.
"Are we ready for this?" he asked both Daphne and Hermione.
"Yes," both replied; with Daphne adding, "Definitely."
Harry escorted both witches in through the front doors, turned and led them into the Great Hall before they split to their own tables. As Harry led Hermione to the Gryffindor table and around to the wall side, both deliberately ignored Ron trying to wave them over and chose to sit further down. They also made sure to sit between two others, so neither Weasley could try and shift seat to sit next to them.
"Well, that avoids possible dosing attempts tonight," Hermione muttered to Harry.
"After supposedly being dosed this morning?" asked Harry, with a slight frown.
"True," replied Hermione, acknowledging Harry's point. "I suppose it is a little soon. I'm going to have to look up the potions and see just how often the dosings should occur. I can't see the Potions Queen telling Ron or Ginny to do it more often than that."
"That we've avoided sitting with either of them might tell them different," Harry muttered back.
With a shrug, Hermione said, "First thing in the morning, I hit the library."
Just then a small flock of owls flew in through the owl windows near the peak of the ceiling. Harry's first clue they'd come in was seeing a couple of students nearby opposite looking up in surprise.
Casting his own eyes towards the ceiling, he waited as six seemed to head right for him and Hermione, approaching in a stooping glide. The other two headed to the other side of the room.
Prepared, he had a few owl treats in his pocket that Daphne had handed to him on the train; after she collected them from her trunk.
The owls caused a bit of surprised comment from other students. Owls normally only arrived immediately after breakfast, each morning. So, these arriving at this time of night, surprised most.
Harry and Hermione quickly divested the owls of their letters and allowed each to take an owl treat before they flew off again. As Daphne intimated earlier, there were four for Harry and two for Hermione.
As the letters were removed, Hermione was making sure others would not be picking them up to see what they were.
Opening one of the Ministry letters, Harry was about to read it when he heard the voice of Dumbledore from opposite. "It is most unusual to receive correspondence at this time of day, young Harry." Clearly, the Headmaster had come down to find out why Harry had received owl mail at such an odd time.
Harry folded the letter back over and turned to see the Headmaster standing behind those sitting opposite. He said, "I'm aware of that, Sir."
"May I ask who it's from?" the old man asked.
"As I haven't had opportunity yet to read it, sir; all I can tell you is that it's from the Ministry," Harry replied.
"Of course, dear boy," said Dumbledore. "By all means, go ahead and read it."
"Thank you, Sir," said Harry. He then unfolded the letter and read.
~ # ~
Ministry of Magic
Office of Births, Deaths and Marriages
To Mister Harry James Potter,
Mister Potter, we at the Ministry offer you and Miss Daphne Anna Greengrass our congratulations on the forming of your soul bond, late this morning, at 11.23am.
As you are both underage and still studying at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, please inform your Heads of House for both yourself and Miss Greengrass of this wonderful news, so that alternate accommodation can be immediately arranged, as per Ministerial law.
Once again, you have our congratulations.
Yours in magic,
Francis Weatherby
~ # ~
Looking up at Dumbledore, who appeared to be patiently waiting for Harry to tell him what was in the letter, Harry folded the letter back up and said, "Sir, I'll need to talk with Professor McGonagall... in private... about this at her first available opportunity, tonight. For the time being, it is a confidential matter for her ears, Sir." He then placed the other mail into an inside pocket of his robes.
Dumbledore frowned a bit and said, "Very well. I shall arrange for her to meet us in my office directly after the feast."
Harry shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, sir; I don't think you understood. I meant I need to speak with Professor McGonagall as a matter of urgency. Perhaps immediately after the sorting while you're giving your announcements would be best.
"We could simply duck out to the antechamber where the new first years are currently gathering. It shouldn't be more than a few minutes, Sir."
With a frown, Dumbledore said, "Very well. However, that is only one item of mail, Harry."
"Yes, sir; it was," said Harry, not reaching to draw the other items out.
Dumbledore hesitated a few moments. When he saw that Harry wasn't going to open the other mail, he frowned again before heading back to the head table.
Once Harry was satisfied Dumbledore was gone, he reached in and drew forth the other Ministry letter. Opening that under the table, he read it.
~ # ~
Ministry of Magic
Office of Births, Deaths and Marriages
To Mister Harry James Potter,
Mister Potter, we at the Ministry offer you and Miss Hermione Jean Granger our congratulations on the forming of your soul bond, late this morning, at 11.25am.
As you are both underage and still studying at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, please inform your Heads of House for both yourself and Miss Granger of this wonderful news, so that alternate accommodation can be immediately arranged, as per Ministerial law.
Once again, you have our congratulations.
Yours in magic,
Francis Weatherby
~ # ~
He quickly refolded that letter and stuffed it into its envelope. Putting it back into his pocket, he drew forth one of the ones from Gringotts.
~ # ~
Gringotts
Office of Inheritance and Marriage
Mister Harry James Potter,
Gringotts congratulates both you and Miss Hermione Jean Granger on the forming of your soul bond at 11.25am this morning.
If you wish to have Miss Granger added to the access list for your vaults, you will need to see your Account Manager, Sharpclaw, at your earliest opportunity.
Yours in business,
Blockrig
~ # ~
Refolding the letter and putting it back into its envelope, Harry repocketted it. Turning to Hermione, he saw her pocketing her own letters. She turned and looked at him with a smile.
Looking across the tables to Slytherin, he could not see the expression on Daphne's face through the crowds.
"I've already caught her eye, Harry," Hermione said, sotto voce. "She gave me a nod back."
In the same voice, Harry said, "Anyone, besides the Headmaster, on the top table notice we three all received mail?"
"Everyone did, Harry," Hermione replied with a smile. "Professor Snape doesn't look too happy. I think he might know what's going on."
"Maybe," said Harry. "That there are three of us that received mail, he might not."
_‗_
—==(oIo)==—
ˇ
Professor McGonagall led the new first years in through the doors. As she did, many were looking around with the same looks of awe Harry remembered on his own face; and from the sorting last year when he watched last years crop of 'ickle firsties' being sorted.
The Sorting Hat sang its little song, everyone clapped, and Professor McGonagall began to call up each of the little ones, one at a time, to be sorted.
Once she was done, she was in the middle of rolling up the parchment from which she called the names when Harry rose to approach her. Before he got there, though, Dumbledore had already called him to her attention.
Looking at Harry with a frown, the Professor asked, "Mister Potter? The Headmaster has informed me you have a most urgent matter you need to discuss with me."
"Yes, Professor; I do," he replied. "It's a confidential matter, Professor. Perhaps, we can go into the Entrance Hall to discuss it?"
"Very well, Mister Potter," she sighed, a little annoyed.
While they'd been talking, Daphne had also approached Professor Snape. He, also, appeared annoyed.
Professor McGonagall started to head to the main doors as Hermione joined Harry. He turned to see Daphne hurrying across, as Professor Snape came around the end of the head table to join them.
Once out in the Entrance Hall, Professor McGonagall spun about and asked, "What is so urgent it interrupted the start of the feast, Mister Potter?"
Harry reached into his inside robe pocket and withdrew the four letters as first, Hermione, and then Daphne, joined him. Professor Snape was only a few steps behind.
"I take it this applies to the three of you?" asked the Professor, looking at all three teens.
With a firm nod, Harry replied, "It does, Professor." And he handed all four letters to her.
Daphne offered hers to Professor Snape.
As the Professors read, Harry and the other two watched their expressions. Professor McGonagall first looked surprised, and then flat-out shocked. Professor Snape looked just plain angry.
The first to respond, Professor Snape snarled, "What is the meaning of this, Potter? How did this come to pass?"
Before Harry could say anything, Daphne said right back in a cold voice, "I believe that is none of your concern, Professor. You have been dutifully informed, as I was required to do. It is not your place to question it, and it was rude of you to do so."
"Professor Snape!" exclaimed Professor McGonagall. "You know better than that!"
Snape didn't even bother to apologise. But, at least he didn't throw out any further taunts or insults.
Looking back at Harry, Professor McGonagall asked, "So, you're going to be wanting an apartment with three bedrooms, then?"
"Of course, Professor," Harry replied. "I'm led to believe that is the normal course of events."
"It is," she said, with a firm nod. "I shall arrange it and have it ready for you for immediately after the Headmaster's announcements at the end of the feast. I'll then escort the three of you to it, myself.
"Now, have you agreed as to whether it will be near the Slytherin or Gryffindor dorms?"
Harry looked at the other two for answers. Daphne said, "If it must be one or the other, then it should be Gryffindor. But, is there not an apartment that could be somewhat central to the two?"
With a firm nod, Professor McGonagall replied, "I shall find out. However, if there's not, I shall have one near the Gryffindor common room entrance organised for you. Based on this, all three of you can also ask for a resorting."
Again, Harry looked to the others.
Daphne firmly said, "No; I don't think that will be necessary at this time, Professor. At least, not yet." To which both Harry and Hermione shook their heads.
"Very..." she began, just as the sound of someone walking in through the main doors was heard.
They all spun to the sound. From Harry's and the other two's perspective, they'd already been anticipating this person's arrival. It was Barty Crouch Junior, polyjuiced as Alastor Moody.
"Hello, Alastor," said Professor McGonagall. She then indicated the doors back into the Great Hall and said, "Go on in."
The fake Moody looked at all five of them before giving a grunt and walking in through the doors to the Great Hall.
After watching the man enter the Great Hall, Harry turned back to Professor McGonagall with a look indicating he was wondering what was going on.
"That was your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Alastor Moody," she said. Giving herself a little shake, she continued, "Now; I'll have the apartment organised for you, as you wished, ready for immediately after the Headmaster's announcements at the end of the feast.
"However, I'm sure the Headmaster is going to want to see you, immediately after the feast, to discuss this matter with you, anyway."
"I'm sure he will, Professor," said Harry. "He does seem to have a... shall we say... beyond the norm interest in me."
"Mister Potter," said the Professor, apparently scandalised. "What are you implying?"
"I'm implying nothing, Professor," said Harry. "I'm stating a clear fact that cannot be dissented."
The Transfiguration Professor looked back at Harry for a few moments, clearly wondering what was going on, before she gave a firm nod and said, "Since I'll be needing to escort you to your apartment afterwards, if the Headmaster does call you to his office after the feast, I shall be joining you."
"As you should as Harry's Head of House at any time he's called to the Headmaster's office, Professor," said Daphne, cutting in.
The Professor looked back with a frown before she said, "Now, I believe it's time for us to rejoin the body in the Great Hall." And she gestured for everyone to precede her back inside.
_‗_
—==(oIo)==—
ˇ
Returning to their seats, the feast had already begun. Before he started eating, or allowed Hermione to do so, Harry asked the young lass sitting opposite, "Did anyone do anything to our food, cutlery, crockery or cups while we were away?"
She simply looked back and shook her head.
Harry said, "Thank you." Then began to load his plate. As he did so, he looked to Hermione and said, in the same voice they'd been using earlier, "Something else to think about researching... detection spells for potions and poisons."
Hermione nodded back.
Harry looked up at the head table to see Professor McGonagall in earnest conversation with the Headmaster, and grunted in annoyance before sighing.
"What's wrong, Harry?" asked Hermione.
"The Headmaster," he replied. "He just can't keep his beak out of my... ours now... business."
"He's the Headmaster, Harry," she said, a little annoyed; at whom, Harry didn't know. "He needs to know."
With a sigh, Harry said, "I guess you're right... on this matter. But, I'm not going to put up with him, this time, interfering with my life. I've had enough."
Hermione could only sadly nod in return.
_‗_
—==(oIo)==—
ˇ
After the feast, with its expected announcement of fake Moody as the new DADA Professor, the hosting of the Tri-Wizard Tournament and the cancellation of the school year's Quidditch competition, Harry didn't get the expected summons.
However, he had to wait until he and Hermione were joined by both Daphne and Professor McGonagall for the escort to their new apartment.
"Ready, Mister Potter; Miss Granger; Miss Greengrass?" she asked.
"Yes, Professor," all three replied.
She then led them from the hall.
As they were walking up the steps of the grand staircase, Harry asked her, "Excuse me, Professor. But, how were you able to organise this while we were all in the Great Hall for the feast?"
"The castle's house elves, Mister Potter," she replied. "I merely informed them of the need; and they organised the rest. They reported back to me during the Headmaster's announcements when they were ready, and where they could be found."
"Ah!" said Harry. "Thank you."
She merely gave a slight nod in return as she kept walking. "The elves also informed me they could only allow the use of the apartments near the Gryffindor dorms; so, that's where we're heading now."
She led them all the way up to the seventh floor and headed across to the Gryffindor tower.
Turning aside from the portrait of the Fat Lady, she led them down a side corridor, before coming to a stop in front of a portrait of another 'lady'. "Hello, Prusilla," McGonagall said to the portrait.
"Professor," the portrait replied. The portrait looked to Harry, Hermione and Daphne and asked, "I take it these three, behind you, are my new charges?"
"They are," said the Professor.
The portrait gave a nod and swung open. Professor McGonagall led the three of them, inside.
Stepping into the room and clear of the door, Harry took a look around.
The Professor said, "This is your combined common room. Through each one of those doors is each of your bedrooms. You also each have a private attached bathroom."
She turned to face the three of them. "When I leave here, you'll need to give Prusilla, the lady in the portrait, a password for you to be able to get back in. While, by law, you're allowed your own apartment to settle the bond, I expect the three of you to be on your best behaviour. I expect you to obey the rules regarding curfew; and all the rest. You're allowed guests; but they must be gone, with plenty of time to return to their own common rooms, before curfew.
"You're also not to hide yourselves away in here. You're still members of your own Houses and are expected to be part of those Houses. However, that does not mean you cannot study nor do homework in here. Am I clear?
"Yes, Professor," all three replied.
With yet another firm nod, she said, "Good. I expect all three of you to be down at the Great Hall for breakfast, no later than 8:00am, to receive your class schedules."
A final look at the three of them and she let herself out with one final word. "Goodnight," she said.
As the door closed, Harry turned to the three and said, "Well, I guess we should find out whose room is whose."
Hermione was about to say something back, when Daphne held her finger to her lips in the classic shushing gesture.
Both Hermione and Harry waited, wondering what was going on, and watched as Daphne drew her wand and muttered a few incantations about the room. Hermione's eyes widened in recognition of what she was doing, and drew her own wand and wandered about the room muttering similar incantations.
Harry just stood there and curiously watched the two of them. It took him a short while to recognise they were casting detection charms. As they appeared to be finished with the common room, he watched as they entered each bedroom, one at a time.
After they were done, both girls met Harry back in their common room. "Well?" he asked.
"Nothing," said Hermione. Daphne shook her head. "Nothing we can spot," she corrected. "However, it's early days, yet. Now, password. Any ideas?"
Harry snorted and said, "I was thinking something along the lines of, 'Keep your nose out of it, Dumbledore!'"
"A bit too obvious, don't you think?" Daphne mock-scowled. Then her face changed to one of thought. "What about... 'Double-H Dee'?" she suggested.
Hermione said, "I like it. And it's not something someone is likely to say by a lucky guess."
Harry nodded and asked, "So, who wants to go and set it."
Both girls just looked back at him with almost matching smirks.
With a sigh he said, "I guess I'll go."
"Thank you, Harry," both girls said as he turned and walked back to the door.
After surreptitiously casting a reveal charm in the corridor, and making sure no one was close enough to listen in, Harry set the password with Prusilla, and re-entered the common room. He was just in time to watch both girls put up wards and the like.
"Is that safe?" he asked them. "What if Dumbledore comes poking around and sees all this?"
"We'll just tell him we got a seventh year to put them up for us," replied Daphne. "And, I promised not to tell who."
Once both girls were happy with the wards and charms they put up, Harry asked, "Okay, which room is who's?"
Indicating to Harry's left, as he was looking from the door, Daphne said, "Those two, over there, are mine and Hermione's." She then indicated the one to Harry's right, "And that one's yours."
Hermione said, "Our trunks are already in our rooms, as is Crookshanks and Midnight."
As they all looked at each other, wondering what to do next, Harry said, "Well. I've got a full tummy from the feast, and I'm tired. We'll think better tomorrow. For now, I'm going to bed."
Just as he was about to head to his room, Daphne said, "I should send my parents a letter to let them know about the soul bond."
"You can't do it tomorrow?" asked Hermione.
Daphne thought for a few moments before she sighed and said, "That'd be for the best, I think. Like Harry, I'm just too tired, tonight."
"I'll need to send a letter to my parents, too," said Hermione. "I've no idea what I'm going to tell them about all this, you know?"
"We'll figure it out, together," said Daphne. "For now... goodnight."
Harry said goodnight to both as he walked into his room and closed the door.
_‗_
—==(oIo)==—
ˇ
クリエイターの想い 
H3llhound2dea1h
H3llhound2dea1h Once again this is not my work. Original work is written by Sinyk on fanfic.net
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