No matter how advanced Harry was in his studies, there were a few subjects he was pants at. Herbology was one of those, and he sighed as he walked in with his friends.
It was a class Ravenclaw shared with Hufflepuffs, and not for the first time, Harry wondered just why Gryffindor shared so many classes with Slytherins when there was so much bad blood between them.
As asked by Professor Sprout, they were in greenhouse three today, and there was an undercurrent of excitement amongst the students. They usually worked in greenhouse one – greenhouse three housed more dangerous plants. Harry wondered what they were supposed to cover today.
He was not surprised to see Neville and Hannah in their element today. The Longbottoms had been in the harvesting business for centuries, and the Abbotts owned plantations of their own, manufacturing healing potions. Harry mused that was where the two got their green thumb from.
Professor Sprout arrived for the class and she showed them what they would be working with. The usual explanations followed as the professor instructed them about the precautions they had to follow when working with Mandrakes. Apparently, those grotesque plants liked to scream, a lot.
To say that Harry was disgusted with how the process unfolded was an understatement. He had applied a silencing charm over his ears for good measure, and yet the little shit's screams were grating on his nerves. He wondered just how powerful this thing's voice truly was.
Beside him, Neville was wobbling on his feet but somehow maintaining his composure. The same could not be said about Susan though.
The redhead was, for the lack of a better word, leaning on his right as she pulled the mandrake out of one pot and quickly deposited it in an empty one.
"Do it quickly," he pleaded, the voice grating on his nerves.
"I'm trying, okay?" She replied agitatedly as she picked up the pot and all but unloaded the soil in the other.
"Well… that's one way of quickly doing it," he muttered as Susan sighed and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I feel like I'm getting sick," she whispered.
"You better not throw up on me," he warned. He was finally done with repotting the mandrake and as he looked around, he saw most of the class was also more or less finished.
It was about five minutes later when Professor Sprout deemed it safe enough for them to take their earmuffs off.
"We will be discussing the uses of Mandrakes now," the old professor began with a smile. Harry had to give it to her. Dealing with all this baggage and still the woman always remained jovial. "As Mr. Longbottom explained to us when the class began, Mandrakes are used to return people transfigured or cursed to their original state. This generally applies to a spell gone awry or contact with an artifact. As you will learn in your NEWTs, Mandrakes form a key ingredient in Wiggenweld Potion, which is?"
"An antidote to the Draught of Living Death," Hannah replied momentarily.
"Very good. Five points to Hufflepuff. Now, as you can guess, Mandrakes act as restoratives. The most common use for these plants is to reverse petrification, which mostly happens in the field of curse breaking. The rows of Mandrakes you see around you are mature ones, while the ones you potted are very young. It is my understanding that you shall be asked to prepare restoratives soon in your Potions classes, so I would recommend you read the chapters in advance."
The students looked visibly thankful for the heads-up. No one wanted to get on the bad side of Snape.
By the time the class was done, most of the students were visibly fatigued. Their clothes were covered in earth and they took a quick detour to their dormitories for a wash before getting to the Great Hall for lunch.
"Hey Nev, tell me something. Just how strong do you think the effect of mandrakes is?"
"Hmm? Pretty strong, I believe. It's used in the antidote to the Draught of Living Death, after all. Can't think of any potion that can have that kind of effect."
"I see…"
"What are you thinking, Harry?"
Harry looked at Susan and shook his head.
"Just an idea that suddenly occurred to me. Don't worry about it. I was just thinking, that's all."
The redhead nodded.
"Say, we'd like to talk to you about something."
"Hmm? What is it?" Harry asked absently. Susan could easily say that he was still thinking about whatever it was, but she didn't probe. If he wanted to tell them, he would.
"Not here. We'll talk after classes," she replied. Harry looked at her and shrugged.
-Break-
They finished their classes for the day and went outside into the evening courtyard. Daphne, Susan, Hannah, and Tracey stood in front of them as Harry and Neville leaned against the large window wall.
"Alright, then, what is it?"
"There's something we'd like you to look into," Daphne opened. Harry raised a curious eyebrow.
"It's about a girl in your house. Luna Lovegood. She's a first year," Susan continued.
"Never heard of her," Harry replied.
"It doesn't matter. We met her yesterday, right after… you know…"
Harry nodded. "What happened?"
Daphne exchanged a look with the girls before turning toward Harry.
"We suspect she's being bullied," she said softly. Harry's eyes widened a bit.
"She is… odd. Her father runs this magazine named The Quibbler which publishes tales of weird creatures and phenomena. It looks like she believes those tales. Maybe she said something odd and someone started picking on her."
Harry frowned. If he understood Hannah's words correctly, this girl was different from the others and she was being bullied for it.
"I see," he sighed. "I'll see what's up with this girl."
The girls looked at him in surprise. Harry frowned at their expressions.
"What?" He asked, slightly defensive, and the girls looked away.
"N-nothing. It's just… we didn't think you'd agree so easily," Susan replied with slight hesitation.
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Harry asked.
Neville chuckled and patted his back.
"I think what they mean is that you're normally not very… charitable, shall we say… so they were surprised to see you agree to do something like this so easily for someone you don't even know."
Harry frowned.
"I might not show it, but I'm a person too, you know? It's not as if I'd just look the other way if someone innocent is suffering like that."
The girls looked at him with apologetic frowns, understanding they had screwed up here.
There was a moment of terse silence as the girls kept exchanging guilty looks with each other. The situation was not helped at all when Tracey and Hannah began giving their respective best friends certain looks to express how royally those two had screwed up in particular.
Meanwhile, Harry was staring up at the orange sky when he felt as if he was being closely watched. Looking around, he saw a very small, mousy-haired boy staring at him as though transfixed. He was carrying a large camera and the moment he saw he'd been caught, he went bright red that was in no way the work of the evening sun.
"A-alright, Harry? I uh… I'm Colin. Colin Creevey," he introduced himself breathlessly as he stepped forward. "I'm a Gryffindor. Y-you reckon… I mean… Is it alright if… CAN I HAVE A PICTURE?"
"A picture?" Harry asked blankly.
His friends stared at the boy in surprise, and Harry had to take a moment to compose himself.
"Yeah! So I can prove I met you! I've read all about you. I mean obviously I have, you're so famous, after all. And you have that cool looking scar on your forehead too!" the boy edged forward eagerly and took a shuddering breath of excitement. "It's so amazing here, isn't it? I never imagined I'd be here, or that all the odd stuff that happened around me was magic! My pa's a milkman, you see. He didn't believe either. But he was so happy when I came here. Said I had to send loads of pictures back home. So can I have one? Maybe one of your friends can help as I stand next to you?"
Colin had the misfortune that Daphne was the first person his eyes fell on, and the chilling look the blonde gave him made him step back in fear. He quickly looked at the others. Hannah and Tracey had a hard time keeping their mirth hidden, and they unabashedly grinned at Colin when he happened to look at them. That seemed to reassure the boy who looked at Harry and grinned.
"Oh wow, I think this is the first time I've seen Harry struck dumb like this," Hannah remarked in a teasing voice. "Go on Harry. No harm in taking photos, right?"
"Yeah," Tracey joined in. "Take a few photos with the poor lad, Harry. Maybe you could even sign them."
"Seriously? You're giving out signed photos, Potter?"
Unwelcome, loud, scathing, and overly obnoxious, Draco Malfoy's voice echoed around the courtyard. He had stopped right behind Colin, flanked, as he always was, by his large thugs, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Line up, people!" Malfoy shouted for all to hear. "Harry Potter is giving out signed photos! And for free as well! Or do you charge?"
Harry felt the eyes of a score of students scattered about the courtyard focus on them and he had half a mind to just curse the blonde ponce right then and there. However, that was not how he operated. He simply chose to give the boy a stare so chilling that Malfoy took a step back. Harry assumed he must be rethinking this approach, but it seemed he had given the boy a bit too much credit.
Instead of using an ounce of his brainpower and backtracking, Malfoy straightened up and stared at him. The boy even had the gall to smirk.
"How gallant of you, Potter, to finally act like the celebrity everyone thinks you are. The sheep must swoon at the prospect," he said scathingly.
Harry gave the boy an unimpressed stare. Beside him, his friends were either surprised that the boy was really doing this, or in Daphne's case, staring at the boy with a chilling look on her face. Hannah was another matter entirely, finding the entire situation hilarious. Harry could easily spot the excitement she was holding in. That one loved drama.
"Wait a second, is little Malfoy here jealous of our Harry?" Hannah began in a singsong voice.
Malfoy's eyes fixated on her and he sneered, "Shut your mouth, you duffer. As if I'd be jealous of Scarhead here. I don't think getting sullied by a mark makes you special, thank you very much."
"Funny," Susan chimed in with a sneer of her own. "Everyone knows how a lot of people were very happy to get themselves sullied by a certain mark, thinking that made them special."
"So special that most of them are either dead or rotting in Azkaban. Shame a few traitorous shits managed to sneak away," Neville was not far behind.
"Truly a shame," Tracey let out a sigh of disappointment. "And given what everyone knows pretty much, it's in little Draco's blood to get sullied like that as well."
Malfoy glared at the Slytherin who remained unfazed.
"You better watch your mouth, you filthy half-blood," the blonde hissed. "Don't forget what house you are in. It won't do if people start questioning your loyalties, Davis."
"Back off, you ponce," Daphne interjected with a glare that would've frozen the Sahara. The blonde beauty brandished her wand and held it by her side, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. "You seem to forget things very easily, Malfoy. I warned you not even a day ago, and yet here you are, running your mouth again. You better use that piehole for something else. I'm sure your two bookends would be very happy to help you out with that."
Harry had to hide a grin at the insult, and he gave Daphne a few brownie points in his mind for a brilliant remark. His friends and even a few students watching did not bother with putting up a mask though as they openly laughed, much to the embarrassment of the Malfoy heir.
Draco looked around at the gathered masses hiding their sniggers or smiles behind their hands and he noticed a few smirking in mirth openly. His rage grew manifold and he glared at Daphne who stood, unfazed.
"Be careful, Greengrass!" the blonde hissed with his chest puffed up like the buffoon he was. "You don't want to start any trouble, considering what happened to your father this summer. He was the only one in your wretched family with any sense. It's such a shame he kicked the bucket, otherwise I would've had you under my foot, licking the dirt off my boot by now. Anyway, it's only a matter of time before it does happen. Your worthless mother has little power or choice anyway."
"You—"
Tracey didn't even bother with her wand and lunged forward with her fist poised to strike. She would have attacked Malfoy if not for Harry who stepped ahead and blocked her. He saw how Daphne was glaring at Malfoy with utter loathing. Her knuckles were gripping her wand harshly, and Harry was sure the patterns would have already embedded into her palm.
"Out of the way, Harry! I'll show this asshole!" Tracey hissed as she struggled in his grip. Harry pursed his lips and held her back firmly.
"Calm down, you," Harry chided her gently before he looked at Daphne who was glaring at Malfoy with murder. "Daphne, please hold her for me," he asked the blonde who glared but did what he asked of her.
"You should've just asked politely if you wanted your photos, Malfoy. There's no need to make a scene," Harry chuckled mirthlessly. His lips were curved into a smile but his eyes told a different story altogether. "Come on, let's get this over with."
"The hell are you—" Malfoy was cut off and his eyes widened when Harry slung his arm over his shoulder and turned toward the boy who was so thin even Crabbe's neck was visible behind him.
"Colin Creevey, was it? Go on, take a picture with my little fan over here. I hope this manages to get rid of his toxicity. Don't want him harassing me and my friends again, do I?"
Colin stared, still for a moment before he quickly moved. Malfoy was so stupefied at the sudden turn of events that he could do nothing but stand still, his face set into a shocked look as Colin snapped a picture.
"One with me now?" The boy asked hopefully. Harry hid a grimace and smiled.
"Sure. Click a picture for us, Malfoy?" He looked at the blonde with a smirk and gave him a shove, sending him skidding a few steps backward. "Oh, that was so strong for you? You should eat more, Malfoy. Where does all that blood money go if not in your belly?"
Malfoy stared at him with a slowly reddening face and Harry was sure he was going to explode any second now. He sighed but did something that came as easy as walking to him. His eyes hardened, and Malfoy froze.
"Go on, Malfoy. Take a photo," Harry repeated, and the steel in his voice was unmistakable. Students throughout the courtyard stared at the scene in surprise, all wondering how the Malfoy heir would react.
Everyone watched, shocked, as Malfoy took the camera gingerly from the thin Gryffindor and held it up.
"Good boy," Harry praised him in a way that oddly made everyone feel as if he was speaking to a pet dog. "I hope my friends can join in as well, Creevey?"
The boy looked at Harry and quickly nodded.
"I don't mind, Harry!"
"Nice," Harry smirked. "Come on, guys. Get in frame."
"Err… what's going on?" Tracey asked in surprise, having finally calmed down after the show Harry put on for everyone.
"Nothing but nature at work, Tracey," Harry replied. "Come on, pose now."
Everyone stood together, with Daphne and Tracey on his right and Susan, Hannah, and Neville on his left. Colin meanwhile happily took the spot in front of them, squatting and striking a victory pose.
As instructed by Harry, Malfoy snapped a picture. His friends stepped back once it was done, and they stared at the blonde who returned the camera to him with shaking hands. At Harry's nod, he turned around and walked away without a word. His two thuggish bodyguards stood dumbly before following suit.
Harry watched Malfoy walk away with a sneer before he turned toward the young Gryffindor. He hid a grimace at the fanatic and hoped that the boy didn't bother him too much.
"When can I expect the pictures, Creevey?" Harry asked the young boy who enthusiastically replied, "Tomorrow morning!"
Harry nodded and patted him on the back.
"Give it to me at breakfast then, alright? Now go, I'm sure you've got a lot of work to do."
The boy nodded again and ran away, almost hitting a group of students that were passing by.
"What the hell was that?" Hannah asked in a whisper when the spectacle finally ended. Harry did not reply. Instead, he began walking toward the exit, prompting his friends to follow.
They walked in silence toward the Great Hall for an early dinner, looking at Harry who stared straight ahead.
"Nothing you guys need to concern yourselves with. Just know that Malfoy is officially on my shit list now and that his days at Hogwarts are numbered."
"Did you use some magic on him, Harry?" Daphne probed. Harry glanced at her out of the corner of his eye before he looked away once again.
"I didn't use any spell," he replied with a small smile. "Daphne, could you come with me for a quick chat, please? You guys can go ahead. We'll join you soon."
Daphne looked at him in surprise but Harry stared at their friends instead. She had an idea what was coming and she sighed to herself. Harry was no doubt going to talk to her about that man, and in her mind, Daphne quickly began to arrange the facts she was going to tell him. There was no way she could tell him the truth.
There were visible frowns on everyone's faces, most notably on Susan's who stared at them with pursed lips. However, they did not object, and with a final parting glance, they walked away, leaving the pair by themselves.
Daphne looked at Harry, biting her lower lip gently when he turned toward her. He reached forward and took her hand.
"Come on, I think we've postponed this enough already," he said and began walking. Daphne followed silently. She observed he was taking her to the same broom closet and unbidden, the memory of that night came to her mind, making her blush. Tracey's words from the previous night did not help matters either.
Harry pulled the door open and led her inside. Flicking his wand, he suspended a ball of white light in the small closet as he shut the door and locked it.
"Sorry, but there are no abandoned classrooms on this floor. I hope you don't mind."
Daphne shook her head, indicating he had nothing to apologize for. She also could not help but recall the familiar setting they found themselves in. Just like last time, their fronts were fully pressed up against each other and she had to work to keep her heartbeat in check.
"I told you the first time we met that you can talk to me about it," he started. "I think you should first know just why I said it."
Daphne, who had been staring straight ahead, tilted her head up to look him in the eyes.
"I'm sure you've gotten to know a little bit about me this year, so you must know I didn't really care much about others, let alone someone I just met. Obviously that doesn't apply to someone who's helpless and suffering, but you get the meaning."
Daphne did not reply. She kept staring at him.
Harry continued, "That night, I saw a Thestral for the first time. I had no idea what those creatures were, and you can only imagine my shock when I realized why I could see them. When you told us you could see them as well and whose death you witnessed, I saw so much sadness, yet so much anger in your eyes that it reminded me of someone. Ever since then, I've been observing you, and it is the same sadness, the same anger I've seen in your eyes whenever that man is mentioned."
"Who did it remind you of?" Daphne asked softly.
"Me," he replied, and Daphne's eyes widened. "I used to be like that, a long time ago," his eyes were distant, and Daphne wondered what he was reminiscing. "I had the same look in my eyes, and just like you, I too tried to put this façade to not let my true feelings show."
Daphne stared at him in surprise and even a hint of fear. Harry took her hands and held them in a gentle grip.
"It was you who killed that man who you refuse to call your father," Harry stated, and Daphne's eyes widened. His voice was full of confidence – so much that she failed to form a word to refute the accusation.
"You don't need to admit it to me, Daphne. I know. Your eyes have the same look mine did when I killed my old matron in the orphanage."
Daphne gasped as she stared at him in shock, unable to form any words.
"I won't judge you for it, Daphne. I'll be a massive hypocrite if I did. Considering that man was a Death Eater as well as what I've come to know of you, I'm sure you had a very good reason for killing him."
"P-please d-don't—"
"You have my word that I'll never tell anyone unless you ask me to," Harry assured her in a serious voice. "In return, I ask you to do the same."
Daphne gave a shaking nod as her eyes teared up. Her breaths were coming out in short gasps and Harry knew what was happening. He had experience with this sort of episode, and without any hesitation whatsoever, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
It was the first time he was hugging someone voluntarily, and he had to admit that it felt good.
The blonde immediately clutched him to herself, burrowing her face in his chest as she sobbed. Her cries were muffled by his chest but it felt to him as if he could hear them clearly. All the while, Harry caressed her back in reassurance.
"You put such a strong front, but you are so broken inside," he whispered sadly. "I was so right about you. We are more alike than I'd thought."
Daphne said nothing. She remained as still as a statue in his embrace, and Harry assumed she must be seeking warmth and assurance that she must sorely need right now from him. He had no idea why she had done such a thing, but there was no way someone like Daphne would take such a step without a very good reason.
"There was no one for me back then," he whispered. "I was friendless my whole life. I never knew how it felt to rely on someone. But now I have people I care about, and who care about me as well. I want you to remember, Daphne, that I won't let you go through what I had to. Whenever you need me, no matter what, I'll be there for you, be it for a talk or comfort. You guys have become so precious to me that I can't do anything less."
The blonde was still sniffing in his embrace, and her hold on his shoulders had not loosened any bit. Harry sighed and buried his face in her blonde hair.
Only the sounds of Daphne's sniffs were heard inside the broom closet for a while and it was several minutes later when she finally pulled back and looked up at him. Harry gently wiped the tears off, and he was surprised when she held his hand cupped against her cheek.
"Thank you, Harry," she reached up and caressed his cheek softly. She seemed to ponder something for a few moments, staring intently at him, and Harry's eyes widened when she puckered her lips and kissed his palm. Once she relaxed her hold, he slowly pulled his hand away. However, it seemed Daphne was not done, as stood on her tiptoes. He remained still as she approached his face and he closed his eyes. Slowly, she reached up and gently kissed his chin.
Eyes opening slightly wide, he stared at her blushing face as she pulled back. However, he was quick to tame his emotions. Taking a few deep breaths, he squeezed her hand softly in reassurance.
"Can you hold me again?"
Harry sighed but gave her a genuine smile, and Daphne felt her heart skip a beat as she stared at the expression on his face.
"Sure," he whispered and wrapped his arms around her. Daphne wrapped her arms around him in return, holding him by his shoulders.
"I'll be there to listen to you whenever you are ready. And I want you to know that Malfoy will never have any sort of power over you, let alone even dare to look at you with those eyes ever again," he promised.
"What are you thinking of doing to him, Harry?" Daphne asked softly against his chest before she pulled her face back to look up at him.
Harry looked down at her with promise written all over his expression.
"I'm not a good person, Daphne. You should know that already after what I did to those Slytherins."
"Stop that!" She said firmly and surprised, Harry looked at her. She was looking at him sadly.
"How can you say something like that after saying all those sweet things to me?" She asked in a whisper. "I don't care what you did or what you'll do. You are a good person, Harry Potter. Nothing will ever change that for me. You'll always be my friend, no matter what happens."
Harry had a stupefied look on his face before he closed his eyes with a smile. Chuckling, he looked back at her.
"I see. Thanks for your faith in me."
Daphne shook her head and asked again, "What are you planning to do to Malfoy, Harry? His father is powerful and has the minister's ear. He is on the Board of Governors as well."
"Don't worry," he replied with a chilling stare that made goosebumps rise on her skin. "No one will be able to prove anything. I'll make sure of that."
-Break-
Harry and Daphne arrived for dinner in time, and there were very few students already present in the Great Hall. They made their way to the Hufflepuff table where all their friends were sitting. Together, they slid beside Neville as their friends looked at them.
"So… what was this little chat all about?" Tracey asked curiously. The mood was still somber after Malfoy's little outburst in the courtyard and she knew not to make any jokes right now.
All their friends were looking at them curiously, and there was an unmistakable frown on Susan's face as she looked at them. Daphne noticed it and a conflicting feeling rose inside her.
"Nothing," Harry replied with a sigh. "Remember the first night when I told Daphne that I'd be there if she wanted to talk to me? I thought after Malfoy's little stunt, she needed to talk."
The three Hufflepuffs nodded in understanding, and all three gave reassuring smiles to the blonde who smiled back.
Tracey stared at her best friend with a slack-jawed look.
"Daph… does he—"
Daphne simply nodded and flicked her eyes to the side, signaling that she would explain everything when they got back to their dormitory. Tracey looked surprised before she gave a small nod of understanding.
"We haven't seen someone die, so I don't know how useful my words would be, but if you ever want to talk to us, we're there for you, Daphne," Hannah said with a small smile on her face. "Aren't we, Sue?"
Susan nodded with a small smile.
"You can talk to us, Daphne. Pretty sure a bit of girl talk will help a lot."
Daphne smiled at the pair of Hufflepuff girls and nodded.
"What was all that with Malfoy anyway?" Neville interjected for the first time from beside Harry. "He's never talked to any of us, and he suddenly acts up like that?"
Daphne and Tracey exchanged an exasperated look with each other.
"Does it matter, Nev?" Harry said before they could reply. "That idiot thinks he has some sort of claim over Daphne and he must've decided that we were in the way."
"He just decided to have a go at you? What is he, a moron?" Hannah asked with a chuckle.
"An entitled moron who's been spoon-fed everything. I know the type."
"You're leagues above him. There's no way he can hope it will end well for him."
Everyone had to agree with Hannah's statements. Malfoy had no hope of coming on top against Harry.
"It was fine as long as he was maintaining his distance, but after what he did today, he crossed a line," Harry replied gravely. "I know he's all talk and no bite. Assholes like him always are, but what he said to you all, especially Daphne… I won't let it slide."
"You're not planning to kill him, are you?" Hannah asked with a snort. Harry felt Daphne stiffen beside him and he quickly grabbed her hand under the table. The blonde glanced at him and Harry nodded.
"Nothing like that. I'd prefer he suffers first," Harry replied easily. "Tell me, what do you think Malfoy values above all?"
"His voice?" Tracey supplied.
Everyone chuckled.
"Money," Neville said.
"I think so too. Money. Status as well. The weight of the Malfoy name and what it means," Susan remembered.
"Well, I'll have to think about the money bit, and it's not as if the Malfoy name is a particularly revered one," Harry mused. "But I'm pretty sure I can do a lot to damage this status he craves so much. After all, what use is this status when no one respects you?"
"What do you mean?" Hannah asked curiously. Harry smirked.
"You just have to wait and watch. One thing is for sure though. I'll make sure he begs to be transferred away from Hogwarts by the time I'm done with him."
Everyone apart from Daphne stared at him with wide eyes. Harry paid them no heed. He simply glanced at Daphne who nodded with a small smile.
TBC.
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