act two: little dark age
chapter thirty-seven

So, a lot had come up in a short span of a few weeks and Daphne was well aware of all of the preparations that she needed to do and the short time period she had to get them done. She wasn't aware that all of the tasks and what not involved with the Triwizard Tournament would be so close together, but they were in fact very close together.

The girl had been so focused on her school work that it was the day before the Tournament, she had been writing letters back and forth on and off with both of her Uncles as she prepared herself for everything while remaining distant towards most as she became rather quiet. A quiet that she had been many years before which scared those around her.

Daphne and Hermione had planned to go to Hogsmeade, both being rather late when planning but knowing that the time for the dance was close and both girls needed dresses. Thankfully, Dumbledore was letting students go into Hogsmeade due to the ball being so close so the two could still go and get what they needed.

Hermione had been asked to the Yule ball by Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian Bonbon that Rita Skeeter had written about. Daphne almost found it quite comical, but nonetheless was fine with the pairing as long as her friend was happy. Daphne simply wanted Hermione to enjoy her time at the ball since the two had nothing but stress over the years.

Though Daphne had informed Hermione she wanted her father and Uncle Remus to help her pick out the dress. Hermione was completely okay with it and even encouraged her to write Remus to come down while she went with Daphne to invite her father, and the girls were excited for what they had planned.

But before Daphne was to go off with Hermione, she had to stop and talk to Fred and George. She had never given the two the rundown of what had happened that made things between herself and Harry so odd in the past few weeks. Daphne could hardly believe that it had almost been a month since the kiss had happened, a month of the two being strange.

It was all her fault and she knew that. If she would've known better and resisted the fact she fell on top of her friend and kissed him by accident, then maybe things would be fine. Maybe feelings wouldn't exist and maybe they'd still be doing what they always did. Maybe things wouldn't be so rigid while the two were filled with longing for one another.

Daphne hated her feelings and despite how much she tried to fight them, they were always evident. The way she would try and catch a look at Harry when he wasn't looking, the way when she knew he was looking at her she'd blush, or simply when she'd get defensive to protect him from others while many watched with curious expressions.

Lately, many questions have been raised about the pair. Some wondered if Harry and Daphne were truly dating while trying to hide it. Some wondered if the two had been dating and had gotten into some kind of huge fight that the two didn't know how to work out of, and then there was some who believed the two had fought so much that they finally had come across a break up.

Daphne ran her hands through her hair as she walked down into the Gryffindor Common Room, it was merely an hour before she needed to meet Hermione. Lucerys had already left to meet Remus in Hogsmeade so they could catch up before helping out the two girls. Leaving Daphne to sit with the twins for an hour as she retold the events from nearly a month ago.

"Bloody hell, Daph," George nearly sounded like his brother as he slid over onto the Gryffindor couch, "Are you just going to sit there and stare? Kinda creepy."

"Stalkerish," Fred joked as he followed his brother's actions on the opposite side of the girl, "Almost thought you were going bonkers."

"How funny," Daphne rolled her eyes as her tone dripped with sarcasm, "Almost thought you were handsome for a minute, guess memory was wrong," She retorted with a small smirk.

"There she is," Fred grinned as he leaned back into the couch as he placed an arm behind Daphne's head, "It's tea time, darling."

"And story time," George added as he leaned into Daphne as he muttered, "I hear you've got quite the story to share with us today, Daph."

Daphne let out a small laugh at the twin's antics. Never getting tired of how they made every situation seem like some sort of joke or hilarious mishap. It was quite refreshing. It gave her something to look forward to instead of dreading. She simply could listen to their commentary and their opinions on what she should do.

"I kissed Harry," Daphne blurted out, not knowing where to start as she looked at the fire as her own eyes widened, "I kissed him in the tent before the First Task."

Both Fred and George choked on the air in their lungs as they began to violently cough while trying to regain their breaths. Daphne made a face as she looked between the two, unsure of what to do for them. But once they got ahold of themselves and the coughing stopped, both looked shocked.

"You kissed Harry?" George questioned as he scrutinized the girl's expression, "As in lips on his and you-"

"You put your lips on his? We knew it!" Fred took over as he grinned while looking at the girl, "That's wonderful news. Well, everyones been waiting for it to happen and it seems like it finally has..."

Everyone's been waiting for this to happen? Daphne found herself slightly off guard by that statement. Who in the seven hells waited for two fourteen year olds to kiss? That's just weird, Daphne's expression contorted in many ways as she looked at the twins while processing their words carefully.

"What happened after that?" George asked eagerly, clearly wanting to know the rest of the story, "Because something had to go wrong for the two of you..."

"To be going on and acting with how you two are now," Fred finished as he nodded his head while furrowing his eyebrows, "There is more, right?"

"Not really," Daphne winced as she tried to figure out what else to tell the twins, "From there it was just weird and Rita Skeeter took a picture of us awkwardly hugging before I ran off - I said two words to him after that and I've... I've kinda avoided him?"

The way the twin's looked at her made her groan as she ran her hands through her hair. They looked at her as if she was the stupidest person alive, a look she'd rather not receive from the two. She could practically see the disappointment on their features while they resembled some sort of dad.

"You mean, that after all of these years we've heard..." Fred began as he breathed slowly while looking closely at Daphne.

"You complain about Harry and Harry complain about you..." George continued on as he spoke slowly as if trying to make sure he got his words across.

"That after you two finally become teenagers and can't fight feelings..." Fred took over once more as he mimicked his brother's slow speed while moving his hands as if directing the girl.

"And you two finally kiss to express those feelings even if it was an accident..." George had a dead expression as he looked at the girl as if she was insane while placing his hands on his face.

Then there was a moment of silence where Daphne shifted uncomfortably before both yelled, "YOU IGNORE THE BLOKE?!"

"Shush!" Daphne firmly moved her hand against her neck as if telling them to shut up, "Don't be so loud, dear Godric, I'm not trying to attract the interest of the entire castle."

"Are you bloody insane?" Both twins looked at the girl with wide eyes, "And now here we are listening to Harry complain to Ron about missing the girl he loves-"

"He doesn't love me!" Daphne exclaimed as she rose to her feet while turning to look back at the two, "Besides, even if he did, I'm no good for him. I'm more of a danger than anything and I don't understand everyone's infatuation with the idea of us dating!"

"With all of the blind jokes you make about him I'm starting to wonder if you're blinder than him, Daphne," Fred winced as he sighed, "It isn't the matter of you being no good for him, anyone would be lucky to have you."

"Because you're a free spirit and have a heart," George added onto his brother's words before sighing heavily, "As for danger, I reckon we're all in a lot of it. You can't let any of that change what you do, because no matter what you'll always have your feelings. Don't let the regret of what you didn't do linger."

"Stop acting so wise," Daphne retorted as she crossed her arms firmly across her chest, "You aren't wise."

"How nice of you," George made a face before grinning at her, "Look, tomorrow at the ball we're going to have a wonderful time and you'll see how Harry gets. I'll be surprised if he doesn't say something to you then."

"I'm putting my money on he will," Fred agreed as he looked at his brother before turning his attention back to the girl, "And I truly believe that you need to accept your feelings before tomorrow because let's not break a boy's heart while in a tournament that can kill him, eh?"

"Fine," Daphne sighed as she huffed while shaking her head, "So stubborn, the both of you."

"Right back at you, Daph."

The hour she spent with the twins was going back and forth over Harry and how the dance would go. George trying to persuade Daphne not to wear anything that could be remotely tied to slytherin's colors while Fred tried to convince her to wear green just to make his brother mad until the girl left to find Hermione.

Hermione had asked her how the meeting with the twins had gone and the girl simply said they had planned different pranks to pull after the ball while they made their way down to the carriages to Hogsmeade, though, they didn't wait long before getting on one and starting on their way.

"Daphne," Hermione grinned at the girl as she sighed, "Don't look so down. Whatever the twins said or did, you know it's all a joke. Besides, we're going to pick out dresses and you get to see your favorite Uncle."

Daphne let out a small laugh as sat beside Hermione in the carriage to Hogsmeade, "I'm excited and the twins did not upset me. I'm just trying to wrap my head around a few things."

Yeah, you're feelings, Daphne couldn't help but snicker at herself in her mind as she shifted in her seat while looking out at the woods they passed as they went over one of the bridges as Hogsmeade was in clear view. A place Daphne visited every so often, not as frequently as she wished.

Hermione held a slight smirk as she followed Daphne's gaze before humming, "You're thinking about him, aren't you?"

Something in Daphne was quick to get defensive as she looked at Hermione with a scolding look, "I'm not thinking about Harry."

"I didn't say it was Harry," Hermione looked proud as she let out a small laugh before looking down at her lap, "Let's just have a good time, yeah? Don't let any of this eat you up because we've got dresses to pick out."

"Yes, Mione," Daphne mimicked as if she were an exasperated child talking to its mother before she laughed, "Fine."

The ride to Hogsmeade had thankfully been a short one, not taking them long to arrive in Hogsmeade before the two girl's descended out of the carriage as they were met with the chill of the air. Daphne's lips quirked up into a smile before she locked arms with Hermione to find the meeting point between the girls and the men.

The snow crunched under their feet with every step they took. Snowflakes falling delicately from the sky onto their faces and their bodies. While looking for the men, Daphne couldn't help but admire the beauty of Hogsmeade in the winter. She would never truly get enough of such a sight. It was gorgeous.

"Daphne!" Remus' voice was the first to catch the girl's attention as she turned her head sharply before her face lit up, "If it isn't my favorite niece!"

Daphne let go of Hermione as she ran and hugged her Uncle tightly. Hitting him with such a force that the two nearly topped over causing Remus to let out a small laugh as he rubbed her back while reciprocating the hug. The familiar smell of chocolate filled Daphne's nostrils as she finally let go of her Uncle with a huge grin.

"It's good to see you, Professor," Hermione nodded at the man while smiling at Daphne who looked happier than she had in months.

"Please, Remus," Remus looked over at Hermione before looking at his niece, "This is a little last minute, isn't it, Firefly?"

"Just a little," Daphne grinned as she made a small motion with her gloved hands before she laughed and looked at her father, "Dad, I believe you remember Hermione from the World Cup. If not, Hermione, this is my Dad Lucerys, Dad, this is my best friend Hermione."

"I remember," Lucerys smiled down at his daughter before shaking Hermione's hand, "A bright young witch and a loyal friend."

Hermione seemed to get a little bashful over the compliment as she let out a tiny laugh, "Please, sir, I simply read and refuse to leave my friends. I hardly think that's loyalty and smarts."

"Then what is?" Lucerys sent the rhetorical question towards the girl before looking at Remus, "Let's go shopping, shall we?"

The group bounced between quite a few shops in Hogsmeade before finally settling upon a dress shop. Hermione was quick to drag Daphne through the door as they looked through the dresses that hung on racks while the two men stood and watched from afar, only saying something when one of the girl's needed them.

Hermione began to look through many dresses ranging from all sorts of soft colors. Though, it seemed as Hermione had her mind set on periwinkle and a light shade of pink as most of the dresses she began to pick away were between those two colors. Ranging from frilly to simple, which fit Hermione well.

Daphne on the other hand was not sure what she wanted. She knew that she didn't want any really soft and feminine colors like Hermione. She found herself at a loss when it came to finding what color she wanted before she could figure out a style. But where better to start than what you don't want?

"Well, I think that you are better with darker colors or more golden tones," Remus tried to pitch in upon being questioned on a color that would look good on her, "But this isn't about what we think, it's about what you think."

"Exactly," Hermione agreed as she turned and looked at her friend, "You can't keep asking us for help, of course, we can say our opinions but something truly has to capture your eye. Whether George wants to go with the color or not."

"But I simply don't know," Daphne looked stressed before finally just grabbing a handful of dresses from a wide range of styles before looking at Hermione, "Let's just try these on, okay?"

The girl's descended out of sight before loading on different dresses. Daphne struggled to get the first one she picked on by herself but she got it after a few minutes. She cringed at the sight of it, it was a simple dress with gold silk and a sheer black fabric over top with beads.

"Ready?" Hermione called out to Daphne who yelled a yes before the two came out.

Both looked at each other and shook their heads while the two wizards watched with slight grins before they disappeared again. This time, Daphne came out in a more form fitting dress that was green and sparkly. She walked out in it, showed it off and everyone agreed that it was beautiful, but it was a bit plain for Daphne's taste and she wasn't huge on glitter.

Hermione's dress on the other hand, was beautiful, it was pink with multiple little layers, but it was oddly form fitting on her body which made it a quick no. If it had been a ballgown it would've been gorgeous, but Daphne was sure that there was something like it that Hermione would fall in love with.

The next round of dresses was an immediate no from everyone. Hermione had come out in a very loose and plain red dress that didn't suit her character at all nor did it fit the standards for the girl. Daphne's dress, on the other hand, was a blue ball gown but it was really plain and did not fit Daphne's character at all either.

Finally, Hermione came out in a dress that she looked in the mirror and nearly melted at the sight of herself while everyone agreed that it was the dress for her. It had a small ball gown skirt that had multiple layers of periwinkle fabric that ranged from light to dark. It fit her beautifully and really brought out the shine in her eyes.

And then not too long after, Daphne had found her dress. Standing in the mirror in front of everyone as she looked at herself with a soft smile as she fiddled with the skirt, smoothing it out through her nerves as she looked back at Hermione, her Uncle, and her father who all shared a smile at her expression.

"It looks amazing," Hermione beamed as she grinned happily, "That is your dress, tell me it's your dress."

"I'd hope so," Daphne let out a nervous laugh as she let her hands fall limp at her sides, "Dad? Uncle Remus?"

Remus smiled softly as he looked at his niece, "You look beautiful, Firefly. Truly."

Lucerys was quiet though as he stood in front of his daughter with a smile while his eyes looked glossy, "Dad, are you crying?" Daphne asked while trying not to laugh.

"You're all grown up," Lucerys placed his hands on her arms while smiling, "I never thought I'd see you this dressed up until we managed to get you to settle."

Daphne let out a small laugh as her eyes fell to the floor before raising again as she smiled at her father, "Oh don't cry!"