December 31, 1995
London, England
They sat at the table. Two teens with five adults. Dumbledore had been revived and now sat with his mouth shut and glaring at Harry. To say the man was livid with the green-eyed boy would be putting it mildly. There had been accusations that Harry had 'condemned them' or 'you utter fool!'. Harry wasn't feeling particularly repentant. It wasn't the first wand he had snapped a wand in the last few months and as distraught as he knew he would be to have his own wand snapped, Ollivander or another wand maker, would be able to provide another.
Mr. Weasley broke the uneasy silence. "So, where do we go from here?" the man asked.
"I need to retrieve my old wand," Dumbledore spoke in an emotionless tone.
"You know we will never trust you again," Sirius told the Headmaster.
"I never meant to endanger any child other than the one involved in the prophecy," Dumbledore stated.
"But you did. The tests and lack of real training for Harry endangers everyone around him," Moody replied. "Albus, I have trusted you and helped you for more than sixty years. You taught me at Hogwarts and encouraged me to become an Auror. You have always said we need to protect the innocent and bring those that did wrong to justice. Why is this different? Since when do we offer the innocent for slaughter?"
Everyone waited for Dumbledore to respond.
"My goal has always been to see the least bloodshed and to save as many people as possible and our society," Dumbledore eventually told them.
"By setting up some of the brightest people in the Order to fall because of a prophecy you believed would bring the Dark Lord down?" Sirius was simmering with rage.
"No. I never setup anyone. The plan was to have you, Sirius, be their secret keeper. When Lily cast the Fidelius, she changed it and didn't tell anyone," Dumbledore told them.
"They told me. Why didn't you let me take Harry? How did Hagrid get there before me? I never would have gone after Peter if I had Harry to take care of."
"Hagrid was already on his way to see Lily. He was supposed to be picking up potions. We were running low and Poppy and other suppliers couldn't brew them fast enough with how many were being hurt in the last few months. You must remember how things were?" Dumbledore asked.
"Don't lie! Hagrid didn't know where the Potters were. Why did you kidnap Harry?!" Sirius yelled at him.
"Hagrid would meet them on the outskirts of Godric's Hollow. I thought you were still the secret keeper," Dumbledore responded. "Do you think I would send a babe that had just lost his parents to the man that just betrayed his parents?"
"Why send me to my relatives?" Harry asked in a deadpan voice.
"It was the safest place you could go, Harry. Petunia is Lily's sister. It was your only relative that would take a blood ward."
"I would have taken him," Sirius growled.
"Sirius, we all thought you had betrayed the Potters," Moody spoke up. "Albus, this still doesn't explain your actions. When was the prophecy made and how does it involve Potter?"
"Black. His name is Black," Daphne said annoyed. "I am more concerned why the Headmaster would try to curse us?"
"I was only trying to get away until cool heads could prevail," Dumbledore responded. His voice was rather harsh towards Harry. "The fact you snapped my wand will complicate things."
Harry didn't look repentant. "Like you leaving me with my relatives or telling everyone to abandon me this year?"
Dumbledore still looked upset, but sad too. "I thought you a danger and didn't want to risk Voldemort finding out about this place."
"You knew that thing was in his head and you thought what? It was going to take over Harry?" Sirius still looked extremely upset at Dumbledore.
"The night Harry came to my office after we found Crouch Jr. and Moody, there were hints. Times when I thought I saw the hint of Voldemort in his eyes. I observed it several times over the school year. It seemed better to isolate Harry until I could determine how to either remove the soul fragment or help Harry to block it," Dumbledore stated.
Daphne took his hand. "So you isolated him after seeing the Dark Lord rise again, duel You-Know-Who and watching Cedric die? It was fortunate then I was on the Astronomy tower."
The old man's face dropped some. "I assumed he would return to Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley as soon as the school year started. I planned they would help to calm him and give me the time to solve this situation."
"That didn't happen," Sirius stated.
"As I have seen."
"How didn't you notice? Why didn't you take any of our concerns seriously? You told us he was doing well and was safe!" Sirius growled.
"It was the same way he didn't notice I was captured and he was dealing with a polyjuiced version of me," Moody said. "Albus, I told you years ago your plans were usually too complex and you were doing to many responsibilities. I just never knew you were manipulating us so much."
"I have always kept an eye on the situation and stepped in when needed," Dumbledore told Moody.
"I don't believe that," Mr. Weasley spoke up. "My daughter almost died from a diary that was possessed by You-Know-Who. Four students and a ghost were petrified, some of them for months. You called us when Ginny was dragged into the Chamber, but you never mentioned what else happened. How were you keeping an eye on the situation and stepping in when it was two twelve-year-old boys and a thirteen-year-old girl that put the clues together? You are telling me you didn't know about it at all? Or have any suspicions after Quirrell? Molly and I talked about our concerns about Harry to you. You always told us he was just an adventurous child. How can I ever trust you again with my children or the others here?"
Dumbledore looked at Mr. Weasley. The man's placid face had returned, but he looked unsettled by Mr. Weasley.
"I do," Harry spoke up. "I believe Dumbledore. I believe he tried to protect everyone around me except me and my friends. That was why Malfoy never got into real trouble. That was why so many in the school were allowed to make fun of me or bully us or get away with stuff that they wouldn't towards another student. He said so himself, he tried to protect everyone except the child of the prophecy."
Everyone looked at Harry. It all seemed to make sense now. "Dumbledore wanted me to face Voldemort. Why else show up just as I was defeating Quirrell? Why not go down into the Chamber of Secrets before he was sacked?"
"I have told you, no one knew where the entrance was," Dumbledore spoke up.
"Portkeys are not supposed to work on Hogwarts grounds. How did the Goblet work?" Harry pressed.
Dumbledore didn't say a word. Harry raged at the Headmaster. "Why not get Sirius freed as soon as we knew the truth! How were you able to suddenly get him cleared in two days?" Harry really needed to know. "If you knew the situation, why allow Crouch Jr. to stay disguised as Moody? Every time you set me up to face Voldemort? Didn't you?"
Dumbledore glared at him. "You were destined to defeat him. The only one able too. There were plans to give you the power you needed when it was time. Plans that are irretrievable with my wand destroyed. I was training you so that you would be ready when the time really came."
"You mean after all the horcruxes were destroyed?" Daphne spoke up. "Is that why it is so 'unfortunate' that I claimed him? You thought Harry would die and what? I would also now? Or was it unfortunate that he could no longer be your puppet?"
"Mrs. Black, it would be better you not bring up the horcruxes again. Three in this room did not know about that until Sirius couldn't keep his mouth quiet earlier. It is unfortunate that you are now in the line of fire. Voldemort will want to kill you as much as Harry."
"He already wants to kill my friends. Why would you care about Daphne, but not the others?" Harry pressed.
"I never said that, Harry. It is unfortunate all the magical blood that has and may still need to be spilled to bring Voldemort to justice. I try to keep as many out of the line-of-fire as I can," the Headmaster stated.
"What was so important about the wand?" Sirius asked.
"It was important," Dumbledore snapped. The man would lose his cool almost every time his wand came up.
"Why?"
Dumbledore didn't say another word.
"Where do we go from here?" Mr. Weasley put to them. "I will not put anymore of my family intentionally at risk."
"Harry is not going back to Petunia. Lily never wanted him to go there and I have my suspicions Harry was not treated kindly there," Sirius stated. "This is his home now."
Harry stiffened.
Dumbledore shook his head. "No. He cannot go back. The wards fell the day the goblins separated him from his family."
Harry hated his relatives, but there was a small fear that passed through him. "Are they in danger?"
"With the wards down and any link of your magic to them gone, they are as safe as any other muggle would be now," Dumbledore told him.
Moody pulled out his wand. "Going forward, how can we trust you Albus? You sound like half the wizards I helped to send to Azkaban."
Dumbledore sighed. "I think we keep up the guard on the Unspeakable offices. I used many favors to get Sirius freed, so I have little hope of replacing Fudge with a Minister that would oppose Voldemort, like I had been trying to do. After that, I need to think on this."
"You seem to think you are still in charge here," Sirius deadpanned.
Dumbledore narrowed his eyes. "I am the leader of the Order of the Phoenix."
"I am not sure we will follow any order you give," Mr. Weasley stated.
"How do we go after Voldemort and these horcrux things?" Daphne asked.
Dumbledore cast Daphne a glare. "That is something I need to think on. With Harry not destined to destroy Voldemort now, anyone could. There are a few people I need to find."
"You find these people, bring back what you know and what you want to do and we will consider it," Sirius snapped. "In the meantime, what do we do about Umbridge, the Prophet and Fudge? I will not have Harry, Daphne, Hermione or any of the others tortured by the twat. My guess is that she is going to be very dangerous to Harry knowing he is still alive and we know."
"I am still Headmaster. I will ensure she does not harm another student," Dumbledore stated.
"Yeah, right," Harry said under his breath.
"Harry, I will ensure..."
"You will forgive me if I don't trust you, Headmaster," Harry cut off Dumbledore. "Just stay away from me, my wife and all my friends. We will find our own way," Harry told the man. Getting up, he extended a hand to Daphne. She took it and he lifted her up. "We are going to our room," he told Sirius.
"If you're still up, I'll talk to you when we get done here," Sirius told him.
Harry nodded and led Daphne out of the kitchen. They went up to the first floor sitting room where the Weasleys were playing charades as they waited for midnight. Mrs. Weasley was making sure no one went to the kitchen. "Where is Hermione?" Harry asked when Ron came over to find out what was going on.
"She went to her room. It's getting close to midnight, come join us."
"I am tired. I am going to go lay down," Daphne told him.
"I am too," Harry replied.
Ron looked between them and nodded. "Hermione said something happened. Tell me what happened in the morning."
"Sure, Ron," Harry responded.
Taking Daphne's hand in his, they walked up the stairs. "I need to talk with Hermione."
"I'll be waiting for you," Daphne told him.
"I would like you to be there too," he invited. Daphne nodded.
They knocked on her door. Now that Hermione was a ward, Kreacher had cleared out another bedroom on the second floor for Hermione. Tomorrow they would need to work out everything with Ginny.
"Come in," Hermione called through the door.
Walking in, they found her at a writing desk. Books were open and some piled on top of each other. "How many have you taken from the library?"
"These are all the ones I have found to talk about soul magic so far. What did I miss?" Hermione inquired.
Daphne sat on the vanity seat and Harry on her bed. "We can't trust Dumbledore. You mentioned months ago about forming a Defense Studies group. I think we need to do it."
Hermione rose an eyebrow at him. "Harry, we already did," Hermione informed him.
-oOo-
January 2, 1996
Hogwarts, Scotland
Remus and a woman named Tonks met them at Grimmauld Place. Along with Sirius, they were to be their guards. No one trusted them to go on the Hogwarts Express, so they took the Knight Bus. The Knight Bus was Harry's least favorite form of magical transport he had found so far. He hadn't liked it that time he was running from the Dursley's and he didn't' like it now.
His morning only got better when Dumbledore met them. Harry wanted to curse the man still.
"Ah, good to see you back, Mrs. and Mr. Black," Dumbledore greeted them.
Sirius kept an even face. "Yes, Headmaster. I have my three wards. I would like to complete the paperwork for their transfer."
Harry knew this was to be the game for now. Have a united front before Umbridge and the Ministry, but Harry would never trust the Headmaster again. Personally, he wanted to keep raging at the bastard. "Of course."
The Headmaster motioned for them to go up the stairs. It was a short visit to Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore allowed Sirius to escort them to Gryffindor House.
"I am surprised Professor Umbridge didn't meet us," Hermione commented, probably thinking of the conversation with Dumbledore about disciplinary changes that the Ministry could not violate.
"I am going to kill her," Harry murmured.
"Don't touch her. Not yet," Daphne hissed at him.
He didn't like it.
"Harry, you can't touch her. Sirius will find a way for her to stand trial and to get your House back," Hermione whispered behind them.
"I don't have to touch her to get her," Harry stated.
"None of us will get her," Daphne ordered. Harry felt the pull, but she wasn't ordering him directly, so it didn't force him to obey.
"Well, if she tries to use a blood quill again, just mention the malediction," Sirius responded conversationally.
"Sirius, what malediction?" Daphne looked hesitantly at Sirius.
The man smiled a mischievous grin. "The one I put on my blood should anyone try to steal your House again."
They all looked at Sirius. "Daphne, what is a malediction?" Hermione asked.
"A very nasty curse that will pass from generation to generation along a bloodline. Each malediction manifests in a different way," Daphne responded, a hint of horror on her voice. "They can only be reversed by paying the price of the original sin. Did the Potters have a malediction?"
Sirius shrugged. "I can remember some items that James and my aunt and uncle said were in their vaults that may have been there to protect others from using. No idea what they do. I am quite sure they were nasty and not to be handled. They also couldn't be removed except by someone of the blood. Not even the goblins."
"You want her to take something from Harry's vaults that would kill her?" Hermione gasped.
"No one messes with my wards or godson," Sirius told her. "If the goblins cannot get the vaults back, I plan to make her life a living hell, and hopefully very short."
"But the Ministry will claim everything," Daphne frowned.
"Not if the goblins think there was foul play. They could hold the accounts indefinitely until the matter is resolved."
Daphne looked apprehensive. Hermione concerned. "Will the malediction manifest on us," Hermione questioned.
"No. The malediction will only affect those not of the rightful blood. The Blacks have some interesting magic in our library. Stuff I never wanted to use."
"Then why use it now?" Hermione questioned.
Sirius turned to them. They were by the central stair well now. "Because Harry, and even Daphne, have suffered enough. I also won't risk any of you. Daphne is my heir, but you will start a new cadet line, Hermione. Your children are in line for this House. I won't have any of you nameless again, as much as I hate my name."
"Now, I am going to leave you with Minerva. Avoid Umbridge when you can. Cause as much mayhem as you can," he said with a smile.
Harry gave him a determined look. "Don't do anything mental," Harry told his godfather.
"Define mental?" Sirius asked with a grin.
"I will be very disappointed, Lord Black, should anything occur to you. I do not turn seventeen until September and would not be able to take up the responsibility of Head-of-House until then," Daphne said rather imperiously.
Sirius laughed. "See, a true Black. Already trying to get rid of me to take my spot."
"That isn't funny," Hermione said in her shrill voice when upset.
Sirius sobered. "No. It's not funny. Keep an eye on each other. Keep away from Umbridge. Cause mayhem."
They started to walk again and McGonagall met them by the portrait. After saying goodbye, Sirius headed back towards the main entrance. "It is nice to see you three back. Mrs. Black, you have now been transferred to Gryffindor. The current password is Draconis."
"This is a new student?" the fat lady asked as they came up to the portrait.
"Yes, Mrs. Black has just transferred Houses. Draconis," Professor McGonagall spoke to the painting.
"Always good to have more students," the Fat Lady responded as the painting opened.
"Friendly," Daphne whispered to him.
"That's only because she has a glass of wine in her hands," he whispered back. She rose an eyebrow at him. "She is a right down bint when you have to wake her in the middle of the night."
"Don't call her that," Hermione hissed behind him.
"This is the common room, Mrs. Black," Professor McGonagall said loudly. If she had heard them she didn't give it away. "Mr. Weasley, if I see that after the feast tonight it will become mine."
George quickly put something behind his back. "I don't know what you are talking about, Professor."
"We are trying to do our work," Fred said. The twins did have some books out. He felt a little surprised. He wasn't sure if he had ever seen them do schoolwork. Ron was sitting on the couch with a Quidditch Monthly in his hands, his bag at his feet.
Professor McGonagall eyed them for a moment. "You should look at chapter fourteen. Ms. Granger, if you would excuse us. Mrs. and Mr. Black, if you will follow me?"
They followed McGonagall to the stairs that led up to the dorms. Next to the stairs was a door Harry had seen Percy use a few times their third year. Hermione went up the stairs while Ron turned to look at them. He had been left out of a lot the last few days and Harry saw the look in his mate's eyes.
"If you would hold up your wands," McGonagall requested.
They did and then touched the door as instructed. There was a small light at the tip of their wands. "There are no restrictions as to whom is allowed into your rooms, but they must either be a Prefect or with you to get through the door."
Daphne nodded her understanding. "Professor, Ginevra Weasley is my handmaiden. Will she be allowed as needed?"
McGonagall pursed her lips. "I was not aware as such." She held up her own wand and after a second replied, "Ms. Weasley shall be allowed as well."
McGonagall led them in and down a winding stair below the boys stairs. "You shall receive the Head Girls rooms for now. Next year we shall have to see what is available."
"I will be seventeen on September eighth," Daphne informed McGonagall.
"Mr. Black will not. We will be able to find some accommodation in Gryffindor Tower should there be more than one Head." They stopped on a landing that had a window and three doors. One had a plaque that said 'Black'.
"You will be allowed the privilege of using the Head entrance if you do not wish to go through the Gryffindor common room. It comes out through a door on the third floor. Without the password 'Circes', it will be a broom closet. You are allowed to reset the password once a week if you chose. Now, your rooms," McGonagall told them.
Opening the door, Harry whistled, which got him a look from his wife at being so uncouth. They walked into a small sitting room with a small fireplace. It was furnished with two tall chairs, a sofa big enough for two, a small tea table with a carpet beneath and two writing desks either side a window. The room was small, but big enough not to feel too cluttered.
"An extra chair and writing desk were added. It makes it a little cramped," McGonagall told them.
"It is perfect, Professor," Daphne affirmed.
McGonagall nodded. "Mrs. Black, may I be personal with you?" Daphne nodded and McGonagall's face softened. "Lady Greengrass was a favored student of mine. I have left two letters I received addressed to me on your bed as a favor to her."
Daphne was porting herself in a regal manner, but her hand moved to seek his. Harry took it. "Thank you, Professor. I would have you take them. I have no mother."
McGonagall gave Daphne a sad look. "Mrs. Black. Esmeralda..."
"I have no mother," Daphne repeated, her voice ice cold.
McGonagall gave a truly sad look. "I will leave the missives just in case. Please, if I can do anything for you, or Mr. Black, I will."
Daphne nodded again. McGonagall looked emotional for a moment before schooling her face into the task master face she usually wore.
"Through this door you will find your bedroom. A single bed has been provided, but other accommodations could be made if needed," McGonagall remarked opening the door. There was a bed large enough for them to sleep in comfortably with both their trunks at the end of it. It dominated the room, with two wardrobes pressed on either side of a tall window and a door across from the window. "Through that door is a small bathroom. If you need, you are both allowed into the same sex bathrooms in the dorms."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry said looking around. The rooms were a quarter the size of the one they had as Grimmauld Place, but it was private and should be what they need. Harry moved to the bathroom. It had a tub big enough to fit one with a shower head over it. A sink with a mirror and an old fashion toilet with a water box above it.
"This is more than I hoped," Daphne confessed.
McGonagall nodded. "I expect you to be at the welcome back feast by six-thirty. Should anyone give you any issues, please let me know."
Harry nodded. "Does Umbridge know of this?" Harry asked. He felt the anger at the woman.
"Professor Umbridge has no business in House affairs, Mr. Black. This is a decision on my part."
Daphne nodded.
"If you excuse me, I will leave you to your own devices. Standard rules of conduct apply outside these quarters, even to married couples," McGonagall warned them.
"Yes, ma'am," Harry replied putting his bag on his trunk.
"Mr. Black," McGonagall said as she walked out of the bedroom, stopping in the door. "The Marauders were very good in covering their tracks. I would expect the same for the son and godson of two of them."
McGonagall turned and walked out of the small suite.
Daphne rose an eye at him. "Who are the Marauders?"
"The group of friends my father had. Sirius and Professor Remus were two of them. I've heard they were bigger troublemakers and pranksters than Fred and George," Harry answered.
Daphne's eyebrow quirked. "Is that possible?"
"Ask Sirius," Harry told her. "Should we stay here or go up?"
"I would like to let Hermione and Ginny know they can come down when they need," Daphne told him.
"Are you going to miss being in Slytherin?" he was curious.
She snorted. "Hardly. I will miss Tracey. At least she has some allies." Daphne looked sad. "Shall we?"
-oOo-
Welcome Back Feast, Great Hall
Daphne sat next to him at the end of the Gryffindor table with Ron and Hermione across from them. Ginny was sitting with them too, but she had said she was only waiting for her friends. George and Fred were down the table laughing at something between them. Only three other students were in the hall. A Ravenclaw and two Hufflepuff.
The head table had Professor Dumbledore, Babbling, and Vector. The other Professors were most likely overlooking the carriages and Express.
The first few in were some Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. They were talking amongst themselves and walked to their tables without looking at them. It wasn't until a few older Gryffindor came that someone did the first doubletake to see Daphne, but they didn't say anything. Daphne stiffened as Harry stared down the sixth year McLaggen. He didn't like the way the boy's eyes looked her up and down.
Daphne tightened her grip on his hand. He looked to her to see her looking at a girl that had stopped just inside the doors, a few walked around her and a group of three girls just behind her. The girl looked like she was a third year, with long light-brown hair and lighter eyes than Daphne. He couldn't make out if she had the same green and yellow speckles.
"Astoria?" he asked into her ear.
Daphne nodded and quickly the girl was moving off towards the Slytherin table, her head high. The knot of girls with her followed. Lavender and Parvati saw them right away. The surprise on their faces was quickly replaced with curiosity.
As they sat next to Daphne, she let go of his hand and Lavender looked at her. "I didn't know we could sit at different tables for feasts?"
"You can't," Daphne replied.
"Lav, just drop it for now," Hermione said from across the table.
"Hermione, what is that on your finger?" Parvati asked.
Hermione hid her hand. Lavender caught sight of it though. "That looked like a House ring."
"Drop it," Harry told them.
Lavender looked at Daphne's lap, where she was covering her rings. Harry wasn't quite thinking about it though and Lavender's eyes went wide to see his ring. "Harry, that's a... OW!"
Lavender suddenly grabbed her leg, tears coming to her eyes. "What was that, Granger? You think I'm after your betrothed?"
"It's not an engagement ring, it's an heiress ring," Parvati said excited. "Granger, I thought you a muggleborn? Or did you get married?"
"I am not married," Hermione responded.
"And that is a marriage band on Harry's hand," Lavender said, still rubbing her leg.
"And your problem with that is...?" Daphne's voice was cool. She was upset.
Lavender and Parvati both gasped. The hall was filling and Seamus, Dean and Neville joined them at their end of the table, as did a few other fourth years, most likely Ginny's friends.
"When did you two get married? I didn't think you could until you were seventeen," Parvati remarked to Hermione. She sounded like this was the juiciest gossip she had ever had.
Ron spoke up. "She is not married. Hermione was partially blood adopted."
Both girls' eyes went wide. Daphne glared at Ron and the two friends looked to him. "But why?" they asked together. "If Harry isn't married to Granger..." they looked to Daphne.
"Harry is my consort and Hermione is my ward," Daphne informed them, taking her hand off her rings.
Lavender put her hands to her mouth and Parvati's eyes looked as though they were going to pop out of her skull.
"I don't understand," Colin Creevey said next to Ginny.
Neville was close enough to hear and his eyes were as wide as Lavenders. Ron answered, "I just barely understand it."
"If you listened to mum then you would understand this," Ginny snapped at her brother.
Dumbledore called everyone's attention, but Lavender and Parvati kept looking at them. "Merlin," Lavender whispered to look at the rings Daphne uncovered as Dumbledore gave a short welcome back speech.
Harry had no inclination to hear the man talk so it took no effort to pay attention to the conversation at the table.
"You are Harry's wife," Lavender said with excitement.
"Does that mean you chose to become a Gryffindor?" Parvati put to her.
Daphne nodded.
"You said Harry is your consort?" Lavender asked.
Harry could tell Daphne didn't want people to see signs of their affection, but he reached out to hold her hand under the table, expecting her to pull away. Instead, she let him take it.
"So you are Heiress Potter..." Parvati started.
"Heiress Black," Daphne corrected. "This is my husband, Mr. Black."
"Wait, you are serious Harry is your consort? Why is your last name Black?" Lavender was getting on his nerves.
"Sirius Black is my godfather and has adopted us as wards," he told them. "Can we drop this?"
"Harry, why aren't you a Potter and how is Daphne a Black? That could only happen if..." Parvati trailed off.
"That is our business. Now, I am hungry," Daphne stated, letting his hand go and taking some food onto her plate.
"Lavender, did you hear the Cannons win on New Year's Eve?" Ron asked across the table.
Hermione pursed her lips.
Many up the table and around the hall were looking at them by the time the feast ended. Harry was pretty sure some of the Hufflepuff near them heard their conversation and murmurs and whispers already were spreading. Harry had learned to just ignore them, but Daphne seemed affected by it. She let him take her hand again as dessert appeared on the tables.
McGonagall had informed all the Gryffindor to report to the common room for a quick house meeting. Luckily it turned out to be short and sweet. McGonagall stated there was a new student. She expected everyone to treat her like any other Gryffindor and to leave the couple alone.
When they broke up, Harry was ready to head towards their rooms and Daphne didn't protest. About ten minutes later, a knock came on their door. Daphne had her legs curled up on the couch. Harry had an arm around her shoulders as she softly cried. Seeing her sister, her friends and how the rumors were already starting had been overwhelming for her.
"Come in," Harry called softly.
Hermione opened the door. "Can we come in?" she inquired as Daphne tried to wipe at her face.
Harry nodded and Hermione and Ron came in. Harry didn't like that she pulled away and sat up. At least she didn't put her mask on. "I'm sorry. I should be more presentable," Daphne told them.
"You don't have to be so stiff with us," Ron told her plopping into a chair. "This is nice. Maybe I should get married?"
Hermione rolled her eyes as she sat. "You can't. You have to be seventeen, unless you meet certain conditions."
"I wasn't being serious," Ron retorted.
Daphne sniffed.
"Daphne, the rumors will die down," Hermione tried to comfort his wife. Harry was surprised he was thinking more like that.
Daphne sniffed again. "I didn't think it would be that hard to see Tori," she said more to herself than anyone else.
'Her sister,' Harry mouthed before Ron could ask.
"Can't you talk with her?" Hermione asked.
Daphne shook her head. "I was cast out of my House. I can't talk with her without endangering her. She wants to be married to Draco and he has treated her well so far."
Ron snorted. "You don't mean Draco Malfoy? When has he ever treated anyone well?"
"As a first wife, she should be treated well," Daphne said with heat. "She isn't a second wife, consort or concubine. Draco can't command her like some puppet. And even prats like Draco are taught to treat first wives with respect."
Ron held up his hands. "Oi! Alright."
Harry pulled her in and she didn't protest for once when Ron was around.
Hermione looked at them troubled and not for the first time lately. "It won't be a replacement, but I will be there for you," Hermione offered.
Daphne gave her a sad smile. "Thank you."
"We are mates. We are there for each other," Ron backed up Hermione.
Harry just nodded, remembering those times Ron hadn't.
They sat for a few. Daphne wiped at her face. "I'm going to take a bath. We need to get to bed soon."
"Sure," Harry told her.
She closed the door to their bedroom. "How bad are the rumors?" Harry asked.
"Not bad. Sounds more shocked than anything," Hermione told him.
Harry looked at her confused.
Ron chuckled at his expression. "It will blow over in time. Fred and George also warned people because of Ginny."
Harry blinked a few times. "Brilliant," he snarked.
"We are with you, Harry," Hermione told him. "The first DA meeting will be tomorrow night. I already sent the message."
Harry nodded, having felt the new coin she had given him yesterday warm in his pocket earlier. "I want Umbridge to suffer," he told them. He was done suffering.
"Daphne said we shouldn't touch her," Hermione reminded him.
Ron rolled his eyes. "The Umbitch needs to fall. There are lots of stairs here."
Harry shook his head. "No. Daphne is right. We need to be circumspect and devious about it. Do Fred and George have plans?"
A smirk came over Ron's face. "You are asking them to cause mayhem?"
"Yes, but not on their own and we can't let anyone be caught. Umbridge will never use those quills on anyone else," Harry said with disgust.
"Harry, Sirius said we should avoid her," Hermione tried to argue against them.
"He said cause mayhem too," Harry reminded her.
The door to their bedroom opened just enough for Daphne to poke her head out. "Anything you plan will include me."
Harry looked a little abashed. "Yes, Daph."
"We have potions first thing. You should all get to bed," Daphne told them.
Hermione nodded. "I agree to that. Come on, Ron"
"We have this place to hang out in and you want to go to bed?"
"It is not ours," Hermione said giving Ron a look.
Ron scrunched his brow before it looked like something dawned on him. "Oh, right. It's almost ten. We should get to bed. Night you two." Ron gave him a wink.
Harry felt his face heat a little. He liked sleeping with Daphne. Last night had been their third time. She was too sore the night before. They left and Harry lay his head back on the couch. He wanted to go to Daphne, but felt he needed a few minutes on his own.
He was startled when lips met his own. He blinked, realizing his glasses were off. His eyes quickly found Daphne's. He very much liked her dark brown eyes with the flecks of green and gold. "You coming to bed?"
"I didn't realize I fell asleep," he told her sitting up. She wrapped her arms around his neck from the back of the sofa.
"Thank you," she told him.
"For what?"
"For just being there. Come to bed. You can take a shower in the morning," she told him.
He smirked. "Sure."