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.
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.
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.
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