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On The Hunt: Chapter 24
🕑 Added 2023-11-02 16:30:02 +0000 UTCHarry and Daphne stared at Gabrielle for a moment, who had an uncomfortable look on her face. Suddenly, a glass of water materialized in front of her, floating in the air. Surprised, she slowly pushed herself into a sitting position and reached forward, grabbing the glass. She looked at it gingerly, bringing it close to her nose and smelling it, wondering if it was safe.
“You can drink it,” Daphne said, coming out of her stupor. Gabrielle glanced at her cousin who gave her a tentative smile. Nodding, she gulped the glass of water down, letting out a contented sigh once she was done. The glass vanished.
“Where am I?” She asked, examining the rather simple bedroom with powder-blue walls and no windows.
“It’s a secret room on the seventh floor,” Harry replied. “You don’t need to worry about anyone finding you here. Only a few people know about it, and they all are trustworthy.”
Gabrielle nodded, looking down.
“What’s going to happen to me now?” She asked, a hint of fear in her voice.
She had let her rage control her. She had attempted to kill that vile woman after everything that had happened in that class. It was not like her. She had heard those things for years and yet it had never bothered her, but this time, it felt as if she had no control over her actions. As if her baser instincts had taken over.
It had been a tumultuous few days for her, and she looked uncomfortably at Harry and Daphne, noting particularly how closely they were standing together. As if noting her gaze, they sighed walked closer, taking their seats by the bed.
“Listen,” Daphne began. “I think we need to talk.”
Gabrielle stared at her cousin who had her stoic mask on. She would be lying if she said it did not make her uncomfortable.
“You tried to kill Umbridge,” Daphne began, her voice somber. “No matter how much she provoked you or what your feelings might have been, it’s the truth we cannot escape. They will engage the DMLE in this, and she does have all the proof she needs.”
“I just…” Gabrielle sighed. “I don’t know what to say really… it all just boiled over in that moment… I…”
“You don’t need to explain,” Harry said gently, leaning forward and staring her in the eyes. “We and those in our little circle don’t hold you guilty. Umbridge deserves that and more for everything she has done over the years. What matters right now is keeping you safe.”
Gabrielle stared into Harry’s emerald pools and felt tears threaten to erupt from her eyes. She hastily blinked and looked away, clenching her jaw and fisting the bedsheet tightly.
“What is going to happen if they find me?” She asked with a shaking voice. Harry grimaced and glanced at Daphne who sighed.
“The law in Wizarding Britain is very backward, and those with any trace of creature heritage are treated as inferior beings. As such, they do not get the privilege of having a fair trial. The Minister can use the DMLE to snap the person’s wand and chuck them in Azkaban,” the blonde replied gravely. Gabrielle’s eyes widened in fear.
“But we won’t let them get their hands on you, I promise you that,” Harry said with absolute conviction. “No one will reveal this room’s existence or the fact that you are hiding here. You can stay in this room for as long as you want. You can get it to do anything. The food will come from the kitchen and you can summon any book you might want from the library. There are very few restrictions to what this room can do.”
A few drops of tears trickled down her eyes and Gabrielle wiped them away hastily.
“I tried to kill someone,” she whispered. “No matter what happened in that class, I almost killed her… does that make me evil like those Death Eaters?”
Daphne quickly hugged her cousin, who wrapped her arms tightly around her. Harry watched the younger girl crying against his fiancé’s chest, who gently caressed her back, trying to silently reassure her.
They sat in silence for several minutes and the only sound was Gabrielle’s sniffing. She pulled away shortly, pulling out her handkerchief and wiping her face with it.
“You are not evil, Gabrielle,” Harry stated firmly, an undercurrent of anger in his voice. “You were pushed over the edge after everything she put you through.”
“Insults justify murder now?” the silvery-blonde girl asked with a mirthless smile. “I didn’t expect you to believe in something like that, Harry.”
Harry’s eyes hardened slightly as he scrutinized her.
“What you did doesn’t make you evil, Gabrielle,” he replied firmly. “There’s only so much someone can take. And it was apparent that you were not fully in control of your actions.”
“Harry is right,” Daphne said, gaining the veela’s attention. “Don’t forget we were all there, and we all saw what happened.”
“What do you mean?” Gabrielle asked, a little apprehensiveness coating her voice.
“Your eyes turned amber, Gabrielle,” Harry replied in Daphne’s stead. “The veela inside you had surfaced. You don’t have full control over her yet, do you?”
Surprised, Gabrielle stared at a softly-smiling Harry.
“We know you’ve been hurting ever since you saw me and Daph in that room,” he replied, making her eyes widen. “Your mind must’ve been in a turmoil ever since. That’s why you isolated yourself. And when Umbridge did it all in that class, the veela forced herself out, both because of your state of mind and your lack of absolute control over this entity that is a part of you now. Would you have done it if the circumstances were different? I don’t believe so. You’ve been hearing it all for years now. That’s what it all boils down to. You are not evil, Gabrielle. You just didn’t have any choice back then.”
Gabrielle sniffed and looked down. It was all true. That encounter with Hermione had enraged her beyond belief, and seeing Harry and Daphne getting intimate had not helped matters. Since then, she had been trying to suppress the veela inside her. She had been under constant stress. The veela had been threatening to take control throughout that class until finally, she burst to the surface.
She gritted her teeth in anger, frustration, and helplessness. She knew it would only get worse the longer she kept away from Harry. The veela would keep urging her, and these episodes of frustration and rage would slowly intensify. All the texts pointed toward that eventuality.
“I don’t know what to do…” she whispered.
Harry sighed.
“For now, you should try to work on keeping the veela under control. You’ve recently undergone your maturity, so I think you need to start working on developing a resistance to that entity’s rage. Also you should—”
Harry was cut off when Dobby suddenly popped into the room and cried out, “Fudgie, Harry Potter sir! Toady be bringing Fudgie and the aurors, sir!”
Harry quickly shot to his feet and turned toward Daphne who had also stood up.
“I’ll go and see what’s going on. Daph, you stay with Gabrielle here.”
Daphne wanted to refuse but he gestured toward the veela with his eyes. Daphne bit her lip and nodded in understanding.
“Okay,” she replied. Harry nodded and gave Gabrielle a small smile before grabbing Dobby’s hand who popped out of the room with him.
The two young women stared at the vacant spot where he had just stood. Daphne sighed and took her seat again.
There was a moment of terse silence as they sat awkwardly, not knowing what to say to begin addressing the elephant in the room. Both knew they needed to talk and that it had been long overdue.
Finally, Gabrielle decided to take the initiative.
“He’s changed a lot,” she remarked, staring at her lap. Daphne glanced over at her cousin.
“More like he’s been forced to change,” she replied sadly. “Whatever happened in that graveyard changed him.”
“How do you know that?” Gabrielle asked curiously. “I didn’t think you even knew him before your… engagement.”
Daphne frowned at her. Gabrielle, however, made no move to look away from her lap, and her facial expression or demeanor implied nothing.
“You’re right,” Daphne replied with a sigh. “Harry and I didn’t know each other before this past summer, but I’ve known of him and his exploits. Not to mention I’ve observed him a bit over the years – like every other student in our year perhaps – and we talk. It’s fairly easy to deduce that something changed after the third task.”
“He became more pragmatic,” Gabrielle replied evenly. “More logical, not letting his heart decide things for him.”
“You’re talking about our engagement, and how he went through with it, putting his feelings for you to the side. Feelings that had never been expressed or reciprocated,” Daphne stated explicitly, having no intention of beating about the bush.
“You know me so well, cousin,” Gabrielle replied, failing to hide the little resentment she was feeling.
“We already explained everything to you in our letters, Gabrielle,” Daphne said with a little steel in her voice. “You don’t get to act like you don’t know the reasons, or that you don’t understand them.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it, does it?” This time, her resentment was full on display, and Daphne watched with a sense of detachment as her cousin's eyes filled with unshed tears. “You have no idea how it felt when I got that letter. It felt like I was burning inside.”
Daphne bit back her retort, taking deep breaths and forcing herself to calm down. It was apparent that Gabrielle had been hurting for a long time now, and she knew she needed her to let it out.
“I believed we’d get together when I would get here,” the veela continued. “I was about to send him a letter that would tell him everything when I got your letters. Can you imagine how I felt at that moment, Daphne? It felt as if my world was taken from me and I could do nothing but sit there, heartbroken. The man I had fallen for had gone ahead and gotten engaged to my dear cousin. It felt as if I was betrayed.”
Her annoyance had given way to sadness now, and Daphne reached forward, taking her cousin’s hand in hers. The veela sniffed and squeezed faintly.
“Fleur explained it all to me. Tried to make me understand why it was necessary… how none of you was at fault… and I tried to see it from that perspective… but sense and feelings don’t always agree, do they?”
Daphne understood perfectly, but she said nothing, letting her cousin express her feelings.
“I tried to resent you for taking him away from me, even though I knew you did nothing wrong. I tried to resent Harry for forgetting about me so quickly, but every time I did, Fleur's screams in that maze when she was tortured would remind me just why he had done it. It wasn’t as if we ever said anything to each other about how we felt. I had no idea he felt the same, and I’m sure he believed the same. We were just two strangers who had a good time bonding while I was on a trip. So many relationships come out of such a scenario but never go any further when people part ways. Only the memories remain. Some remember them, some forget over time. I get it. But still, I wanted it all. I must sound like such a selfish little girl right now, but you can’t help feeling something, can you?”
“Gabrielle,” Daphne sighed. “I get what you’re saying… I never knew what it felt like to love someone before Harry came in my life, and the thought of losing him terrifies me. Believe me when I say that neither Harry nor I blame you for feeling that way. That’s why we’ve also been feeling guilty about it, even though we know it’s just how life works.”
“I know that now,” Gabrielle replied immediately. “You two are not to blame. Things happened. I might feel a bit resentful of it all but I don’t hold you guilty. It’s just… it’s a shame things turned out like this. Perhaps in another life… who knows…”
Daphne sighed. They sat in silence for a few moments when Daphne decided to broach the subject she had intended to talk about.
“Do you remember what I said in the letter I sent you this past summer? The one telling you about the betrothal?” Daphne asked gently.
Gabrielle seemed surprised for a moment before she bit her lip and gave a small nod.
“I guess... what about it?”
“I told you I’d like to discuss something with you, remember?”
Gabrielle furrowed her brows and tried to recall everything she could about that letter.
“I’m sorry, I don’t remember that. The fact that you and Harry were betrothed was too much to bear at that time. I only faintly remember any other contents of that letter,” she replied with a small smile.
Daphne took a deep breath and steadied herself.
“I want you to listen carefully to what I have to say, and I want you to properly think about it. Okay?”
Gabrielle looked apprehensively at Daphne who was staring back at her with utmost seriousness. All she could do was give her cousin an understanding nod.
“Harry and I were talking about our past one day… any previous relationships we’ve had and the like,” Daphne began, her gaze downward. “And he told me that he had feelings for you. He told me you two never talked about it, and perhaps you two didn’t even know what the other felt. He certainly didn’t know about your feelings, but what matters is that he did have feelings for you. There are no secrets between us, Gabrielle, apart from a few embarrassing ones which he will never know if I have anything to say about it.”
“Like the fact that you were a fan of those Harry Potter books in your childhood?” Gabrielle teased her cousin who gave her a chilling glare.
“Tell that to him and you’re a dead woman,” Daphne warned. The veela chuckled and raised her hands in surrender.
"I was no better," she replied, smiling.
“Moving on,” Daphne rolled her eyes before she regained her serious countenance. “When I asked Harry who this girl was, he told me it was you. You can only imagine how shocked I must’ve been at that moment. That was when I realized the one you’d told me you had feelings for last year must be Harry.”
“And you told him about it,” Gabrielle muttered. Daphne nodded.
“I said something else too,” she continued, making Gabrielle curious. Daphne took a deep breath and looked her cousin dead in the eyes. “Harry has two lordships, and to keep the two bloodlines separate, he needs either two heirs or take another wife. I already have the responsibility for the Potter and Greengrass lines, and you know how low the chances of more than two kids are in our world.”
Gabrielle had a feeling she knew where her cousin was going with this, and it must’ve shown on her face as Daphne smiled gently.
“Harry had promised me that I would have an equal say in who this second wife would be, if we went through with it. When he admitted to everything, I told him I had no problem if it was you.”
“Daphne…” Gabrielle whispered.
“That is what I’ve wanted to discuss with you.”
“Daphne… are you saying what I think you are?”
Daphne stared at her cousin with a small smile and nodded.
“If you want to be with Harry, then the title of Lady Black is open. As of now, Harry has decided to let the house go extinct if we don’t have three children. His godfather has no problem with it. However, if you agree, then none of us has any objections.”
Stupefied, Gabrielle sat there in silence, her eyes wide and unblinking. Her heart was thudding in her chest and she could feel her palms getting sweaty.
“Daphne I—”
“I don’t expect you to decide here and now,” Daphne interrupted. “I am well aware of the fact that it is not easy to share, and not everyone is fine with such an arrangement. It must be even more challenging for you as a veela. But I still want you to think about it. It’s quite clear that you are hurting inside, and in some way, both Harry and I feel guilty about everything. Consider it a selfish plea from your cousin if you wish. Just think about it and make a choice this time. All of us need a closure in this little mess, and this is the least we all deserve.”
Gabrielle sat in stunned silence for a long moment, staring down at her lap. She knew it was an option, but in her mind, she had always discarded it. Her inner self… her pride… all of it always objected whenever she thought about the prospect of sharing him with someone else.
Yet, the veela had already bonded with Harry, and she knew there could never be someone else for her. She had heard tales of veela who could not be with their bonded mate. None of them lived a happy and fulfilling life. They were always irritable and resentful, and she could already feel something similar happening to her. The mere sight of Harry and Daphne together – something that signified he was not hers – made her feel unpleasant, and she knew it would only worsen. The prospect of living like that terrified her.
In the end, it was as Daphne had said some time ago. We all had to make choices and live with the consequences of said choices. She had one to make right here – one that would define how her future would be like – and she had no idea what she was going to do.
“You’re overthinking right now,” Daphne said gently, breaking her contemplation. Gabrielle glanced at her cousin who was smiling gently. “Think about what you want and what would make you happy, cousin. Consider both scenarios and think about which one you’d rather have. That should make deciding easier. I know this is not a simple thing I’m asking you to do, but that’s life. We have to make our choices, and they are what define us.”
The veela watched Daphne who slowly got to her feet and smiled at her.
“I’ll leave you to think about it now. Don’t worry about what’s happening outside. We’ll handle it, I promise. Nothing will happen to you as long as Harry and I have anything to say about it.”
Gabrielle gave her cousin a shaky nod and watched as she walked over to the wall where a door materialized out of nowhere.
“Don’t get out of this room, cousin. This is right now one of the safest place for you in this castle,” Daphne called out, and with a parting nod, she walked out of the room.
The massive door shut behind her and Gabrielle watched it vanish. A solid wall replaced it and she released a breath she didn’t know she had been holding.
Signing, Gabrielle Delacour dropped on the bed and stared at the ceiling, her silvery-blonde hair spread over the bed and her mind a jumbled mess of conflicting thoughts.
XXXXX
It was no surprise that the entire school knew about what happened in the History classroom, and that was all everyone was talking about. Students walked around the castle, chattering either excitedly or in hushed whispers.
“I heard she transformed into a ten-feet tall bird and started blowing fire from her mouth!”
“I know! And then Potter used some spells and knocked her unconscious. I bet he used dark magic.”
“I think so too! No way you can take down something like that without using dark magic.”
“These losers have no life,” Tracey muttered as she and Neville walked past the group of chattering Hufflepuffs toward the courtyard for some quiet time. The school was abuzz with one outlandish tale after another and it was slowly starting to grate on their nerves.
Neville remained silent as he walked hand-in-hand with Tracey. His mind was still on the conversation they’d had in the Room of Requirement about killing people. Ever since Smith had raised his points, there was only one thing he could think of, and the realization sent a jolt through his spine.
“Nev?” Tracey asked in concern. “What are you thinking about?”
Neville lowered his eyes. The brunette cupped his cheek and made him look at her.
“You know you can tell me anything, right?” She asked in a whisper, trying to reassure him with her eyes.
Neville sighed and led them to sit in one of the massive courtyard windows.
“I was just thinking about what happened in the room, that little debate,” Neville said. Tracey sighed.
“Daphne did raise the correct points. We all will have to make the choice.”
“I think I’ve already made mind though, in my mind, at least,” Neville replied, surprising her. Neville grimaced slightly. “It’s not common knowledge, but the Lestranges took my parents from me. I just thought what I would do if I had them at my mercy.”
Tracey took his hand and squeezed reassuringly.
“You won’t be able to stop yourself. You will put them down and avenge your parents,” she said, her voice gently and devoid of any judgment.
“They deserve it,” Neville said with conviction.
“They do,” Tracey replied firmly. “Never doubt that, and never think badly of yourself for it.”
Surprised, Neville saw his girlfriend smiling up at him.
“We might be new at this, but I’ve come to know what kind of person you are, Nev,” she said, caressing his cheek. “You are a wonderful person, no matter what. I’ll always believe that, and you better do as well. You understand?”
Neville could not help but chuckle at her stern face and nodded.
“Good,” Tracey replied. “Now be a good boyfriend and kiss me.”
Neville was only too happy to oblige.
However, their little moment of comfort was cut off when they heard loud footsteps. Pulling away, they looked over and their eyes widened when a group of people led by none other than Fudge briskly walked toward the castle. The students stared at the spectacle, whispering excitedly.
“Think we should call Dobby now?”
“Please do,” Tracey nodded.
XXXXX
Dumbledore sat behind his desk, his face serene as it always was. He gazed at the new History of Magic professor, Dolores Umbridge, who was standing in front of the desk, a furious glare plastered on her face.
The door opened and Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, walked in. He was followed by a freckled, bespectacled red-haired wizard and a small group of aurors. Umbridge smirked triumphantly when Fudge entered.
The portraits watched the events occurring in the office intently, not wanting to miss out on any bit of drama that frequently unfolded in Hogwarts these days.
“Dumbledore,” Fudge started. “Just what is going on in this school of yours? Students attempting to murder their teachers in full view of the entire classroom?”
“I would very much like it if you could tell us all what has happened, Dolores,” Dumbledore said calmly, the tips of his long fingers crossed in front of him on the desk.
Umbridge puffed up and snarled, “The half-breed tried to murder me! In front of the entire classroom!”
“I would appreciate it if you refrained from using derogatory terms, Dolores,” Dumbledore said calmly, however, there was an undercurrent of warning in his tone. Umbridge bristled at the reprimand.
“I could not care less for my vocabulary, Dumbledore,” she hissed. “That creature attempted to murder a senior official of the Ministry of Magic, and she is to be sentenced to Azkaban immediately.”
Dumbledore eyed Umbridge for a moment.
“And you have the proof, I assume?”
“Of course I do!” Umbridge cried out. “The whole class saw it. Every student from the fifth year!”
Dumbledore nodded.
“And who is the perpetrator?”
“That veela girl!” Umbridge cried out. “There is no other half-breed that has been allowed to sully these hallowed walls! You have let this school go to the vultures, Dumbledore. Hiring a werewolf to teach children and now letting a veela attend classes, knowing how easily she could ensnare someone to do her bidding!?”
“That is not the concern right now, Dolores,” Fudge interjected with a firm glare toward Dumbledore. “That girl will be sentenced to Azkaban right now, Dumbledore. Call her here.”
Dumbledore sighed.
“I am afraid that is not possible, Cornelius,” he replied, much to Fudge’s ire.
“What do you mean?”
“Madam Umbridge here had her subdued, but she let her escape. I can tell you with absolute certainty that no one has seen her since that class,” Dumbledore replied.
“That is because Potter helped her escape!” Umbridge cried out shrilly.
“Aha! Did he?” Fudge jumped forward, pointing a pudgy finger toward the headmaster. “So that’s the game here. I see. He thinks he can help a criminal escape and face no consequences, aye? Summon Potter here, Dumbledore.”
Dumbledore stared at Fudge who had a triumphant gleam in his eyes. He sighed, picked up his quill from his desk, and wrote a short missive on a piece of parchment.
“Fawkes, if you would take this to Harry please,” he said, holding the parchment up. The phoenix flew down from its perch and took the note in its beak. With a reproachful stare toward the ministry personnel, it vanished in an inferno of flames.
Harry was leaning against the wall with his arms around Daphne. She had just told him what she and Gabrielle had talked about.
“You think she’d agree?” He asked.
“No idea,” Daphne replied, her forehead against his chest. “But at least we’ve done our bit. The rest depends on her.”
“Whatever she decides, at least we won’t feel that guilt anymore, hmm?”
Daphne sighed and felt him tighten his hold around her.
They were interrupted by a flash of golden light and they looked over.
“Fawkes?” Harry took the small missive that Dumbledore had sent him and clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“It’s time then?”
Harry nodded and looked at Daphne with a small smirk.
“Ready for another performance?”
Daphne’s face mirrored his smirk as she leaned up to kiss him.
“You bet.”
“Good,” Harry replied against her lips.
XXXXX
There was nothing but silence in the headmaster’s office. Umbridge and Fudge kept talking in hushed tones while occasionally glaring at the old wizard who simply smiled at them serenely, his eyes twinkling. Meanwhile, the aurors stood by the wall.
There were three in total – all familiar faces. Kingsley and Nymphadora stood together on one side, with Dawlish standing on the other. Right beside him stood Percy Weasley with a large scroll of parchment in one hand and a quill in the other, undoubtedly to record any official proceedings that would be taking place.
Another flash of phoenix fire signaled the arrival of their guest. Or guests, Dumbledore corrected in his mind, smiling at the couple that emerged from the flames. Harry led Daphne over to the front, standing to the right of the desk and gazing at everyone.
“May I ask why I’ve been summoned here, headmaster?” Harry asked politely.
“We only asked for you, Potter. Greengrass doesn’t need to be here,” Umbridge butted in with a fierce glare. Daphne turned toward the pink-clad woman with a chilling gaze, and the woman gulped once as she faced her. The blonde’s words from their previous encounter were very fresh in her mind.
“I don’t remember asking you anything, Madam Umbridge,” Harry said firmly. “It is considered improper to insert yourself when you are not addressed. Surely you should know better, considering you are the minister’s undersecretary?”
Umbridge bristled.
“Potter,” Fudge said in a forced calm voice. His eyes were glaring at him. “I hope you know why you’re here?”
“I’m afraid your hope is in vain,” Harry replied blandly.
“I beg your pardon?” Fudge blinked.
“It means ‘no’, Minister,” Harry deadpanned. ‘Merlin, how is this buffoon the minister?’
He exchanged a glance with an amused Nym who winked at him and Daphne.
“Playing the ignorant then, are you, Potter?” Fudge laughed, pointing a finger at him. “Don’t think you can weasel your way out of it this time.”
Harry could not help but glance at Percy for a moment, who caught his eye. Understanding dawned on the redhead and he glared at him. Harry simply scoffed.
“Pray tell me what this is all about then, Minister,” Harry said in a bored tone, further riling up everyone he wanted to rile up. It was funny to see how their blood pressure rose. The veins on their faces were getting visible.
“Where is the girl?” Umbridge hissed, taking a step forward.
Harry looked at the woman, confused, before he looked at Daphne and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close.
“My girl is right here,” he replied. For her part, Daphne caressed his chest lovingly and smiled.
Harry smirked when he saw Umbridge puff up in anger.
“I’m talking about that veela girl!”
“You’re still going on with this?” Harry asked, exasperated. “Alright. What’s your proof? Or witness?”
Fudge's beady eyes darted toward Umbridge expectantly, an almost gleeful expression crossing his face.
The woman in question gritted her teeth.
“What happened, Madam Umbridge?” Daphne asked calmly. “Where is your proof? This is the second time you have accused my intended of a crime so I believe you must have some proof to back it up, right? Or is it that you think your word is proof enough? Which, I’m afraid, is both narcissistic and unrealistic.”
Harry took over from there, fully intending to twist the dagger even more.
“I told you I left with everyone else, didn’t I?” he remarked. “We all left together, and Gabrielle was stunned on the floor of your classroom, something you’ve never thanked my fiancé here for.”
“Nor has she thanked you for saving her life, love,” Daphne supplied with a disdainful glimpse toward the woman. “One would expect a bit more gratitude toward someone who you owe a life debt, and here we have a senior ministry official accusing you instead, without any basis of accusation or proof, I must add.”
Umbridge paled at the mention of a life debt. In all her haste and swirl of emotions inside her mind, the thought that Potter had indeed saved her life never even crossed her mind.
“I’m afraid you’re a bit wrong there, babe,” Harry chuckled. “It’s true that I saved her, but it was you who dealt with Gabrielle, something that would’ve surely earned you the veela’s wrath and put you in a dangerous position if you were not such a remarkable witch. I think that means it’s you who she owes a life debt to, not me.”
“Me-you, what does it matter?” Daphne replied with a loving smile as she beamed up at him. “We’re one, you and I.”
“Now, love, the wedding’s still left,” he replied, grinning at her.
“Didn’t you say it’s only a formality?” She quipped instantly.
“I do recall saying that, yeah,” he said lovingly, leaning down to kiss her.
Everyone watched with differing feelings at the couple who seemed to be lost in their little world. Kingsley maintained his professional demeanor but he was chuckling inside. The same could not be said about Tonks who was grinning unabashedly, barely succeeding in controlling her laughter. Dawlish stood stoically, but one could detect a hint of curl at the side of his lips.
Fudge, Umbridge, and Percy, however, were staring at the couple with fierce glares, their faces sneering at the display the two were putting forth. Umbridge, in particular, was glaring at the blonde now. She did not have much grievance with the young woman, but the way she had treated her today had made her one of the people she hated the most now.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore stared at the kissing couple with twinkling eyes.
“Ah, love… truly the most powerful magic there is, and such a heartening sight as well…”
Fudge balked at Dumbledore and Harry took that as his cue to pull back, and with a wink and a final peck on his lovely girl’s lips, he turned back toward the crowd. He had to hold back a chuckle at the expressions on their faces.
“Apologies for that little display of affection, headmaster,” Harry said with a small smile.
“No apologies needed, Harry. Young love is truly a profound feeling.”
“It is, isn’t it?” Harry grinned and turned back toward the minister and his two lackeys.
“Coming to the matter at hand,” he said with a smirk. “I believe I told Madam Umbridge if she wants to involve me without any reason, she better produce a warrant. I assume you’d already had your chat with her and didn’t know about it, Minister Fudge?”
Harry’s tone, condescending as it was, made his ire increase significantly, but probably for the first time, Fudge exercised restraint and settled on a stiff nod.
“Good. Then I will let this go and won’t hold you accountable, minister. Madam Umbridge though,” Harry stared the woman down. “She is repeating the same lie about me even after I told her and she has now tried to get me involved in front of the aurors and the minister without any proof, witness, or a warrant.”
“I’d also like to add that the last person with Gabrielle was you, Madam Umbridge. Everyone in the class saw it. The aurors can go ahead and ask anyone they might want. So one has to wonder what her motive here might be,” Daphne supplied with a small smirk. “After all, given the facts and how she’s been behaving, it’s entirely possible that the truth is something much more heinous.”
Eyes widened and Umbridge stepped forward, a furious look on her face.
“You better watch your mouth, Greengrass,” she snarled.
“Have care how you speak to me,” Daphne hissed, taking a step forward as well and staring the woman down. Harry noted with slight amusement that the glaring Umbridge came up to Daphne’s lovely chest, and try as he might, he couldn’t help but let his eyes linger for a few seconds on his fiancé’s generous bust. He was pulled away from his nice staring session when Daphne continued, “And why are you getting so defensive? Do you have something to hide, Madam Undersecretary?”
He looked around and saw small smirks on several faces. Umbridge had turned into a shade of purple, and Harry feared she might explode any time now.
“I’m sure the aurors will take charge of the investigations,” Harry said, nodding toward Kingsley and Nym. The former tilted his head in acknowledgment while the latter winked at him. Harry smiled. “Nice. Then we should leave the aurors to their job. After all, it’s better to leave qualified and capable people to solve these things. Incompetent idiots are just that. Idiots.”
Umbridge was resembling a drunk Marge now, and that was never a pleasant sight. Harry wondered if he should keep pushing her buttons.
“Auror Shacklebolt,” Dumbledore said, earning himself the attention of everyone in the room. “I would like to enlist the help of the aurors to probe into the events of this afternoon and discover Miss Delacour’s whereabouts. As everyone here must be aware of, she is the daughter of a foreign dignitary, and it would create even more issues with the French if she is not found.”
It was probably the first time Fudge realized just who the girl was, as his eyes widened. Harry and Daphne watched the emotions playing out on his face with amusement. Fudge was indeed in deep waters now.
“Headmaster, if we might take our leave?” Harry asked.
“Indeed, Harry. On behalf of the minister, I apologize for wasting your valuable time and that of your lovely lady.”
“You don’t have to apologize for anything, headmaster,” Harry replied before he smiled at the majestic phoenix perched on the back of Dumbledore’s chair. “Care to drop us where you brought us from, Fawkes?”
The phoenix trilled and flew over as Harry wrapped Daphne in his arms. The last thing he saw was the look of utter fury on Umbridge’s face as they flamed away.
XXXXX
To be continued…
Comments
GhostnKC
I didn't know Harry and Daphne had it in them. To be. Such smart asses but 100% accurate and correct had me almost in tears from laughing. A most entertaining chapter.
Erinnyes
Oh it would just be beautiful poetic justice for umbridge to go to jail for kidnapping Gabrielle after having tried to frame Harry for a crime.
