act two: little dark age
chapter thirty

Something haunted the back of Daphne's mind after they had gone to breakfast, everyone sitting in the Great Hall. Harry disappeared on and off for interviews or simply people pulling the boy away from the girl to talk about his mysterious entry into the tournament. Everyone was trying to find out his secret of how he had outsmarted Dumbledore.

Daphne noticed how she felt glances being thrown in her direction. She felt as if she was being watched, as if someone was waiting for her to slip up. And someone was. She wasn't sure of them yet, but she had her suspicions. Her bets were on the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher or her brother and her cousin. Something in that entire situation did not seem right.

Daphne watched as Harry talked to someone from afar as she sipped her pumpkin juice before her gaze fell on the Professor who stared in their direction. Daphne narrowed her eyes before looking away, noticing how Neville looked odd as well. Something entirely seemed to be wrong and Daphne needed to get to the bottom of what was wrong.

The girl was worried and trying her best not to act as if she was. She was tired of that. Her anxiety had killed her for years and when she finally settled, it came back almost as bad as before. She wasn't prepared for any of this. She hated being like this, she felt weak and she didn't have the time or strength to be weak in a time like this.

Her mind wandered back onto the vision that raised suspicion in her mind. She knew that her Uncle Regulus had died and his wife disappeared not too long after. That's why Atticus was taken in by her parents. But now, the whole thing felt like a lie. If her vision and beliefs were correct, they were not dead. They were very much... alive.

They had to have a good explanation for it if they were. They owed it to their sons. Daphne could hardly believe that Atticus and Caius were brothers. Part of her hated that thought, feeling jealous or simply left in the wind. As she had been in the recent months. She wondered if they knew about it all, if they understood how they were tied to one another.

The goblet had been moved back a few feet from the center of the Great Hall, now standing back where Dumbledore's podium often was. The long wooden tables were rearranged back into their previous spots as they were filled to the brim with robes adorning the four house colors. Would've, could've, should've, Daphne kept running through the fact she should've done more in her own mind.

This ability that she had, it was a curse. A curse that she never wanted but had been destined to her since the beginning of the House of Black. Daphne hated that it had to be her, but she was partially glad. She was such a contradictory in her own mind, but she didn't want anyone else to suffer under the weight of the gift.

Daphne noticed as an owl swooped down into the Great Hall. She barely recognized it before piecing together that it had been her mother's owl. It dropped a letter in front of her which caused Atticus and Caius to rise from the slytherin table while Harry even turned, while Ron and Hermione's heads turned from the other end of the table.

Everyone in the group, or even those who were close to her, they knew who it had come from and they all were aware of Daphne's experiences with the woman and how she felt about her now. Daphne resented her with every fiber of her being for how she had been treated. She hated Rosalie Lupin.

"Daph," Harry slipped away from the girls who had captured his attention as he sat down beside the girl who held the letter in her hands, "You don't have to open it."

Daphne pursed her lips together as she fiddled with the letter in her hands before looking at Harry, "I don't have too, but I want to know what the whore has to say."

Daphne waited not a moment later as she pulled apart the envelope that hid the piece of parchment from her eyes. Sucking in a harsh breath as she pulled out the folded piece of parchment before she slowly unraveled it and held it down on the table as she leaned over it while blocking anyone from reading.

Dear Daphne,

I can tell you how this is going to end. You. You're playing a dangerous game with forces you do not understand. Only when your life is out of your hands will you see it. Maybe it will do you good. Finally realizing how little you truly matter to those. You are simply a pawn in a much bigger game.

There once was a girl like you. She fell in love with a boy, a boy who was destined for her. She was reckless and played the game dangerously for such a naive girl. Much like you are. She didn't care what she should've done, what was the right thing to do. And then, her lover died and it was her fault. And she disappeared.

You are fourteen. No sense of life and no sense of true duty or purpose. Only foolish misalliances and love for the Potter boy, don't think I haven't seen the daily prophets story on it. You won't make it out of this alive, bitch. He's coming for you. They all are.

I suggest you watch your back, because they're watching you. And trust me, Daphne, what he wants... he gets. He will get you and you will suffer. You will then see whose side you should be on, only after you go through the pain and torture you will endure and I will laugh in your face.

You are no child of mine. You shameful little bitch. We'll see who the true heir is soon.

Rosalie.

Daphne's face contorted with anger as her eyes raked over the letter before her jaw clenched as she looked up, crushing up the parchment in her hand as she turned to look at the slytherin table. Sending a dark glare towards the two who were standing and staring right at her. She looked back at the bird before tossing the parchment down harshly into Harry's hands.

"She's just the bitch who gave me life," Daphne spoke roughly as she grabbed her goblet and drank some pumpkin juice, "Who says that to their fourteen year old."

Harry's eyes were going over every little detail of the letter as he tried to make sure he completely understood it before he winced. Looking at Daphne in concern before he placed the paper down as he muttered 'incendio' before the paper burst into flames and turned into ash.

"You don't think..." Harry looked concerned as he looked at the girl, "You don't think she's with them, do you?"

Daphne cut her eyes over to Harry as she slowly turned her head and leaned close to his ear as she whispered, "I wouldn't put it past her," Before she slowly backed up and rose to her feet, "I'm going to find my father. I'll meet you by the Black Lake later, we can talk then."

"Do you need me to come with you?" Harry asked awkwardly as he scratched the back of his neck, slowly rising from the spot where he sat.

Daphne chewed on her lip before looking at Harry, "You know what? Come on. We can discuss this while finding him. You can tell him about you know what," She gave him a soft look before offering him her hand.

Harry paused for a moment as he looked unsure of what to do. Daphne swallowed thickly thinking that she made the wrong move as she went to move her hand down out of embarrassment before Harry grabbed it firmly, giving her a shy smile as he stepped over the bench.

"Come on, Harry, we've got some business to attend to," She had a slight grin on her face as the two stood shoulder to shoulder before they walked out of the Great Hall together.

Daphne ignored how her stomach soared and her face reddened as she stood in close proximity with the boy as he asked, "What was bothering you last night? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to but... uh... I can try and help."

The way he grew nervous or awkward made her want to laugh. A smile tried to tug at her lips as she let out a tiny laugh while trying to figure out how to respond to the boy whose eyes were stuck on her. She couldn't help but wonder where was his father's cockiness, remembering the stories her Uncle Remus told her.

"It's just, I think the weight of everything is really hitting me," Daphne hummed as she looked at him momentarily before looking ahead, her brown eyes glossing over with something, he couldn't put his finger on it, "If I know, why can't I change it all or stop it all? I feel so... useless. Like I'm to blame for all of this. Even if I didn't do anything."

Harry furrowed his eyebrows as he peered at the girl through his glasses, "Why haven't you said anything?"

"Because I was so much of a burden these past few years with my worries - I figured that it was time I took it on my own. What fourteen year old can't handle herself?" Daphne retorted as they turned a few corners, "And I didn't need anyone to see me like this anymore."

"None of this is your fault," Harry reminded her as he frowned, "I know how you're feeling. I feel like I put all of you in danger and you'll all get hurt and that'll be my fault. You can't change what you see, the future is unpredictable, Odette. You don't have to do this on your own."

"You do," Daphne retorted as she paused her movements as she pulled away from Harry, slightly, "You do it all on your own."

Harry sighed at her words as he looked at the girl, "For a much similar reason, I'm afraid. But I'm trying, I tell you, Ron, and Hermione everything. Or well, I tell you now."

Daphne frowned slightly as she ran her hands through her hair, "I guess even the chosen one has his faults."

"Of course I do, Odette," Harry had the slightest grin and Daphne felt as if she was on cloud nine.

"Why do you call me that?" Daphne couldn't help but splutter out as she looked at him, "Sorry."

Harry looked slightly confused but let out a small laugh as he let go of her, which Daphne now realized he still had his hand with her's, "Why do I call you Odette?"

"Yes," Daphne nodded slowly as she let her arms fall limp at her sides as she tilted her head.

Harry seemed to ponder for a moment before he shrugged his shoulders, "It just kinda slips out, I guess."

"Oh."

Daphne wasn't sure how else to respond to his words. What do you say when someone says it just slips out? Make an inappropriate joke? Daphne decided that was not the best decision and so she kept silent before she began to walk again, causing Harry to try and keep up with her as she moved pretty quickly.

"Should we be telling your dad about this stuff? Does he know about..." Harry trailed off as he finally stood at her side once again as they made it to the staircases.

"He knows," Daphne kept it short and simple as she looked up, "He knows a lot more than we think, Harry. I just hope that what he does know and what he isn't telling us is for our own good and not for someones game."

Daphne walked up the stairs as Harry trailed behind her. The two making sure that the ones they were on lead them in the right direction or were changing into the right direction. Daphne continued to run up until she made it into the corridor that led towards the Astronomy tower. Hoping that is where he'd be.

Harry didn't question it as the two then began to climb the spiral stairs of the Astronomy tower while Daphne peered around before noticing how he was leaning against the railings as he stared out over Hogwarts. He seemed to have heard them coming as his head turned back in their direction.

"Daphne," Lucerys looked at his daughter before giving Harry a warm smile, "Harry, how wonderful it is to see you again. I do hope you are doing well."

"I am, sir. As well as I can be," Harry wasn't sure what to say as he looked at Daphne, trying to get her to take over the conversation.

"We have some concerns," Daphne spoke up as she looked at her father, adjusting her posture as she held her head high, "And I'd like to tell you about them, as well as Harry."

Lucerys seemed interested as he looked at his daughter, "Go on."

"There's a beast within the castle. Not a literal beast, well, maybe, but metaphorically," Daphne began to explain as she laced her hands together as she held them in front of her, "I've been warned by Atticus and Caius. They were my sources, but Caius is acting strange. They're hiding something and they know a lot more than they are letting on."

"What are you suggesting?" Lucerys leaned back against the railing as he tilted his head as his eyes narrowed while he ran through the possibilities in his head.

"I'm suggesting they are around Death Eaters," Daphne felt a pang in her heart as the words left her lips, "The attack on the Cup was planned and I was targeted. Someone in the walls is targeting Harry, putting him in this tournament. But he isn't the only one that they need, Dad."

She noticed the worried look that flashed over her father's features as his grip on the railing tightened. She felt bad for him. He could've never known how much danger she would be in over the years. She knew he feared losing her and this only made it a greater possibility.

"I had a dream," Harry began to explain as he looked at Daphne before looking at Lucerys, "In the dream... we were in a house. Voldemort was there, and Wormtail. He was giving a man an order... a task. He needs us. He wants Daphne and he wants me and he sent the man after us."

Lucerys ran a hand over his jaw as he pursed his lips in a thin line, "You don't think that this man is the beast within the walls, do you?"

"I believe he is," Daphne looked between the two males as she sighed, "But I haven't seen him, Harry and I have never seen his face - or he has and we can't find him, but I have a suspicion he's hiding in the castle."

"There are many people that are new," Lucerys looked concerned as he looked at Harry, "Do you have any identifying factors?"

Harry shook his head as he looked annoyed with himself, "I wish I did, but he was at the World Cup. He was the man we saw."

"And that isn't all," Daphne looked at her father as she bit down on her bottom lip, "I received a letter from Rosalie."

There seemed to be a moment of silence between everyone there. Harry looked as if he wasn't sure if he should be there for such a personal topic as he began to shift on his feet while both Daphne and Lucerys remained as still as stone. The only movement was the wind causing their hair to sway.

"Where is it?" Lucerys asked as he looked between the two.

"I..." Harry went to talk but Daphne gave him a sharp look which caused him to go quiet.

"I burned it," Daphne remained a composed stature as she looked at her father, "But I can tell you what it said. And please, don't lecture me about burning it. I'd rather not have something she touched near me."

Lucerys sighed as he tilted his head to the side as he looked at her, "What did it say?"

"She said that soon, my life would be out of my hands. That I'm playing a dangerous game with dark forces I know nothing about. She compared me to Aunt Helaena and told me that I'd learn soon when they got me, she said that the beast always gets what he wants," Daphne explained as she clenched her jaw, "Something's coming, something much bigger than all of us."

"And we best be ready for it when it does," Harry spoke quietly as he looked at the girl in pure worry.

Lucerys pinched the bridge of his nose before raking his hand over his jaw again and placing his hands on his hips, "Have you spoken to Remus, about any of this?"

"No, I fear my mail is being watched. It might be safer for you to send something out. The only one to know a little is Uncle Sirius," Daphne explained as she noticed how his expression contorted, "He became the fire. Long story."

"I need you two to promise me, you'll keep an eye on each other. I'm fear that you may be in greater danger alone than together. If any of the three names I have heard talk to either of you, find one another and come straight to me. Do you understand?" Lucerys spoke firmly as he walked over and placed a hand on both teenagers.

"I understand, sir," Harry was the first to respond as he looked at the man before looking at Daphne, "I promise, I'll keep an eye on her."

"I don't need you keeping an eye on me, that's my job to do to you. After all, you are quite blind," Daphne couldn't help but tease before looking at her father, "I promise and I will. I have so far, haven't I?"

Lucerys nodded before backing off both teenagers as he sighed, "The Ministry has been in an uproar over Harry being in the tournament. Rita Skeeter is having a day writing about it, as well as the relationship between the two of you."

"Us?" Daphne laughed nervously as she shook her head rapidly, "Not a thing."

"Yeah, not a thing," Harry agreed as he shook his head as well as his eyes were wide, "We're best friends.

Ouch, the way her heart stung at those words before she agreed, "Best friends."

Lucerys seemed to narrow his eyes, noticing something that the two seemingly didn't before he waved it off and walked back over to the railing in which he had been previously leaning on. Harry and Daphne shared awkward and uncertain looks while both looked like tomatoes.

"Well, cheerio."