act two: little dark age
chapter thirty-four

The task had given everyone so much anxiety. And by everyone, I meant Daphne Black, the girl had nearly been biting her nails the entire time but seeing her friend ride back on his fried broom before sweeping down and grabbing the egg as the cheers roared, a smile rested on her lips as she cheered and jumped.

Harry James Potter had made it through yet another obstacle. Daphne nearly kissed the ground out of glee, she had a terrible feeling plaguing her the entire time but now she had it dismissed as she believed it had been about the dragon breaking free. The dragon that she was still unsure of where it currently resided.

The twins beside her roared with glee as well. Passing around the bets and collecting the money that belonged to them after being right about the outcome of Harry's task. Daphne found herself slipping through the crowd, to which the twins then followed her, as she tried her best to make her way towards her best friend.

Though, she paused. Her excitement slowly washed away as the twins slipped past her in Harry's direction. She became worried about what would happen if she went down to Harry. What he would say to her regarding what had happened in the tent - and she didn't want to ruin his moment of glee as he had passed to the next task with minimal injuries.

Daphne's expression faltered as she began to move back through the crowd, making her way back towards the castle while trying to keep herself calm. She would be bothered by what she had done for so long - why did she have to kiss him? Even if it was an accident, why did she put herself in a situation that could happen?

Harry was her best friend, he had always been her best friend. They were as close as the ghosts who had been stuck to each other for centuries. They had their ups and downs over the years, but nevertheless they got through it and continued on with their years and whatever mystery or plague followed after them like no other.

She didn't deny her feelings over safety, she could care less about how safe she was. She was worried for his safety with her. Her mother was insane. Her brother... there was a possibility he had gone to a side that Daphne wasn't ready for. She was a danger. She was a seer and one that Voldemort wanted. One day, they'd have to split apart.

And that one day, it would hurt them both, but Daphne feared it was coming. If he came back this year, they'd both be hunted down and the two being in the same place only increased their chances of death. A death that would cause Voldemort to win the war, no matter how much anyone else fought.

And Daphne didn't want to be the reason that Harry was found, she had to decrease his risks while she still could. Even if it meant she had to go.

"Harry! Harry!" The roars of students cheered from behind Daphne as she fought against them to walk out of the stadium.

Daphne felt as if someone bumped roughly against her, the crowd was quite overwhelming but Daphne talked down her fear as she continued to slip through, her pace quickening. She wanted to say that she was being bothered by the voices, but this was solely on herself. She was letting herself get all worked up over nothing.

"There she is!" Daphne heard the twins over the roars of the crowd, she barely turned her head back to see them pointed her out to Harry.

"Odette! Excuse me - sorry!" Harry was trying his best to slip through the crowd as easily as Daphne as she quickened her pace, "Daphne wait!"

Daphne managed to get out of the stadium as she forced herself to look forward as her breathing quickened. No, no, no. She felt as if she was going to have a panic attack and that was the last thing she wanted. She had gone all summer without having one, why break the perfect streak now?

"Daphne - wait!" Harry's voice became louder as he grabbed ahold of her arm, causing her to turn around quickly, "What's wrong? Did I do something? Did you see something?" Concern was evident over his features while the girl was lightly shaking.

"What?" Daphne breathed out as she forced her gaze to stay low as she looked at the ground, "I've got no clue what you're talking about. I'm fine. Nothing's wrong - I'm so stupid! Godric, Harry, I'm sorry..."

"Sorry? You've done nothing wrong," Harry seemed confused as to what she was upset about as he furrowed his eyebrows, "What is it, Daph?"

"It was all a mistake - I shouldn't have been in the tent... I was stupid and I don't want to ruin everything but I'm scared and I know-" Daphne cut herself off as she placed her hands over her face as she tried to breathe deeply, "I'm panicking. I'm sorry."

Harry frowned, looking slightly hurt by the girl's words, "Daphne, you've done nothing wrong. I was glad to see you before the task, you calmed me down so I didn't go in as stressed as I could've been."

"What happened... between us..." Daphne gave him a look as her face burned and her heart felt as if it was going into pieces, "Can we not talk about it? Act as if it never happened - it's a mistake. It was a mistake." She repeated more or so to herself.

She noticed the change in Harry's mannerisms, she could see the hurt that etched within his eyes as he looked away from her for a moment. Clearly lost in his thoughts which only made Daphne feel worse. This was all her fault. She ruined all of this. She ruined her friendship, everything was her fault.

"You know I'll do anything you say, Odette. Whatever makes you happy," He looked back at the girl with solemn eyes before smiling at the girl, "We've got a victory to celebrate with the Gryffindor's, we better get going before they come to find us."

Daphne let out a soft laugh despite feeling immensely guilty, "Yeah, you've got a big victory to celebrate," Her eyes fell upon the golden egg in his arms, "You worried me, I thought I was about to lose my best friend to some rouge dragon."

"You knew which one I had, didn't you?" Harry questioned as he narrowed his eyes, "You looked as if you were hiding something, so I figured that you were hiding about the dragon. That must've been what you saw when we were with them and Hagrid."

Daphne let out a soft laugh as she tucked a piece of her hair behind her ears, "It is. I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I was worried you'd freak out more but thinking about it, you might've been more prepared if I had told you."

"We may never know," Harry teased as he looked back at the crowd that was coming up their way, "Don't dwell on what you've done wrong or haven't done, Daph. It'll eat you up inside."

The girl gave him a soft smile while ignoring the pang in her chest, "I'll try, but you should take your own advice Harry Potter."

The crowd was quick to catch up to the two. Daphne laughed as the twins sweeped Harry off of his feet and placed the boy on their shoulders as they began to march up to the castle. Daphne laughed and grinned as she noticed how Ginny had caught up to her and linked arms with her. The two shared a smile before doing their best to stay behind the twins as they moved on.

It didn't take long for them to arrive in the Gryffindor Common Room. The room was filled rather quickly, not just by Gryffindor's, but people from other houses. Daphne was quick to slide over and grab one of the many bottles of Firewhiskey. She was quick to begin drinking while cheering on her friend.

Daphne watched as the room became filled to the brim and Ginny stayed close to her side. Daphne wondered if the girl was only staying close to her because someone had asked her to but she didn't mind. She'd rather be beside someone she knew than standing beside multiple strangers.

"This is amazing," Ginny spoke in wonder as she looked over at Daphne who let the bottle fall from her lips, "I know you're having a good time."

Daphne had a slight grin while she shrugged her shoulders before looking in the twin's direction as her eyes raked over the two before looking up at Harry, "I am."

Harry was placed back down in the center of the room. He was still covered in dirt and ash from the tournament and in his ragged robes. Daphne tilted her head as she watched him stand in the center of the crowd while everyone moved close to him as he lifted the egg in the air. Cheering and as happy as ever.

People crowded in and around Harry, some jumping up and down and others trying to take the opportunity to jump at Harry. And the way that Daphne kept taking sips of the bottle of Firewhiskey she wouldn't remember anything by the time the night was over. Which, she wouldn't mind.

The twins hoisted Harry up on their shoulders once again as Harry tossed the egg, Seamus caught it while Daphne rolled her eyes at their antics. Boys. She reminded herself while making sure that Ginny was still at her side and that she wasn't doing anything that she shouldn't be doing at her young age.

"Yes, Harry!" One of the twins, George, cheered as the two looked up at the boy on their shoulders.

"Knew you wouldn't die!" The other, Fred, agreed while grinning, "Lose a leg!"

"Or an arm!" George took it over once again as he looked over at his twin.

Fred looked back up at Harry as they began bouncing the boy on their shoulders, "Pack it all together!"

"Never!" They cheered at the same time while looking victorious as they cheered and laughed while Harry grinned happily.

"This isn't something you see everyday," Ginny's voice was raised over the crowd as she leaned closer to Daphne.

The girl took another sip of her drink, ignoring the burn in her throat, as she shook her head, "It really isn't."

"And you're drinking it all away," She knew that Ginny was teasing but it made her cringe, and sadly, it was her reality at the moment.

The egg became passed around by quite a few Gryffindor's as the cheers and excitement prevailed through the Common Room. Daphne swore for a few minutes that she caught a glimpse of Atticus standing near the door, staring her down, but alas, it was probably the firewhiskey talking because she never got a good sight of him.

"Shush!" Seamus yelled as he caused everyone to go silent as he kissed the top of the golden egg, "Go on, Harry. What's the clue?"

Harry took the egg in his hands before turning it around with a proud glance, pausing as he looked at everyone who rested below him, "Who wants me to open it?"

"Yes!" More cheered as they began to jump around, everyone anxious to see what clue had been given for the next task.

Harry grinned upon hearing the cheers as he opened his arms before yelling again, "Do you want me to open it?"

"Yeah!" Everyone screamed and cheered once more, trying to make sure this was the time that he finally decided to open the clue.

"I guess he's living for the applause," Daphne exclaimed as she looked over at Ginny before taking another sip as she awaited the opening of the egg.

Harry looked over at the girl for a brief moment before grinning back at the egg. Holding it out before going to twist the top, and when he did an ungodly screech was heard causing the twins to drop Harry, Daphne to nearly drop her Firewhiskey as she covered her ears, and many to bellow out shut it as they covered their ears as well.

Ouch, Daphne felt as if her ears were bleeding upon the new sound entering the atmosphere. She had never heard anything like it and she wasn't sure that she ever wanted to. Finally when the egg was closed she let go of her ears before wincing at the pain as she held onto her Firewhiskey tightly.

That is when she caught sight of him again. Atticus stood a mere few feet away from the girl with his head tilted down as he avoided her gaze. Daphne's eyes narrowed while her eyebrows furrowed while trying to figure out what he could possibly want or why he was even in the Gryffindor Common Room, he hated Gryffindor's and he hated Harry.

Though, the pair of siblings weren't the only ones causing a great amount of tension in that moment. Ron Weasley had also entered the Common Room with his ears covered as the screech of the egg had caught his attention with a small confetti gun in hand. He and Harry had made eye contact just as Daphne and Atticus had and the twin's seemed to notice this.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Ron questioned loudly as he looked at Harry while looking startled.

"What the salazar are you doing here?" Daphne questioned as she narrowed her eyes from across the room, everyone sparing each other glances.

Despite Ron looking rather shy as the attention turned towards him, Atticus did not. He stood up taller with his usual dim expression. Ron simply stood and shifted in place while looking around the room awkwardly, trying to find something to stare at that wouldn't stare back at him. Harry looked shocked while Daphne looked plain pissed.

"All right everyone, go back to your knitting," One of the twin's began to explain as someone lowered down the 'support Potter' sign, "This is going to be uncomfortable enough without all you nosy sods listening in."

Ron walked over to Harry and Daphne briefly looked at them before giving the twin's a curt nod and walking over to her brother while everyone muttered to themselves and exited the room. Daphne could hear Ron and Harry behind her as she looked at her brother who stood silently, never saying a word.

"Shall we go for a walk?" was Daphne's simple question as she let her hands clasped together in front of her while her head tilted ever so slightly to the side, "I'd rather not be in here while they talk. We deserve our own privacy, after all."

Atticus copied her actions as he tilted his head before bowing it down, "Of course," he kept it short and simple as he walked a few steps closer to the portrait before turning to her, "But we musn't be seen by Caius, there are things I wish to tell you that I am not supposed too."

"That can be arranged," Daphne tried her best to be civil with her brother, after all, they were family, but it was just so hard due to how mad she was at him deep down, "Now come on, we've got to get a move on."

"After you," Atticus watched as the portrait hole swung open, he gestured in front of him for Daphne to go along, "Ladies first."

Daphne raised her head before looking at him as if she were questioning his motives, "Then I believe you best walk through first, Atticus."

A simple snide comment wouldn't hurt, after all, he had hurt her worse with his own words not even a year prior. He knew that. She watched the way his expression changed and contorted into one of slight annoyance before it went away and he sighed before walking out first, followed by Daphne.

"What is it you wish to tell me?" Daphne asked as she looked at her brother, "And why now? You shared no interest in me over the summer and it is clear that my wellbeing is simple a convenience to you every now and then."

Atticus' hand grazed against the staircase as he kept his gaze trained forward as if he was watching out for someone, "They made me."

"Who?" Daphne questioned as she looked at her brother, "Who made you? And since when does my brother let others tell him how to act."

Atticus looked over at the girl very briefly before looking forward again, "Since your brother was given an ultimatum of his alliance or the life of his sister."

The weight of his words left a mark on Daphne as she paused momentarily, causing the boy to stop and look back at her. She swallowed thickly before trying to disregard his words as lies but his tone... his eyes... there was a sort of pain and sincerity in them that made Daphne want to believe him.

"How do I know that it isn't a lie?" She questioned while trying her best to remain as composed and unharmed as ever, "That this isn't another game, a move just to scare me."

"I wish I could say it was," Atticus responded before looking around anxiously, "I know I've said some horrible things, Daphne, and I regret them more than anything but I need you to trust me and we need to get moving."

"Fine," Daphne pushed it all aside as she took her brother's hand before the two quickly descended down the stairs, "Who are we running from?"

Atticus pursed his lips together as his eyes barely cut over to her as they stopped at the end of the stairs, he looked around while holding her behind him before pulling her rather quickly, "The beast and our cousin."

Daphne simply kept up with his quick pace as she followed him through the corridors before they came to a halt in one of the passages deep within the castle. It was dark and no one really went through it. It was a really dead area and good for sneaking around in.

"Atticus, what is happening," Daphne's voice was almost demanding as she completely stopped.

Atticus turned around and grabbed both of her arms in his hands as he looked down at her, "They know, Daphne. They know what you can do. There is no hiding it anymore, it got out. He wants you, Voldemort. He's going to return and there is nothing that any of us can do to stop it."

Daphne shook her head while laughing darkly, "No way. Atticus, he's dead. Where are you finding out this nonsense?"

"I know you can feel the danger, Daphne," Atticus' voice was almost urgent as he frowned, "I've tried so hard to hide and protect you. Even if it meant I had to hurt you, I got in this to protect you and I'm doing my best."

"No," Daphne's voice was airy as she whispered that out, realizing what he meant by that as she jerked her arm away, "No! You didn't... tell me you didn't..."

Atticus looked as if he was in pain as he tried his best to grab her hands, "Daphne... you've got to understand. Understand why - please!"

Daphne felt as tears burned her eyes as she covered her hand with her mouth as she breathed out roughly, "You're one of them, aren't you?" She asked as she tried not to believe it, feeling as if she was about to start crying at the mere thought of...

The way he looked down at his arm before looking at her as his head tilted and he sighed out as if he was struggling, "I'm so sorry... but I've got to keep you safe. Even if I have to do this."