Daphne Greengrass and the Importance of Intent

The Avengers: Part 1

As Daphne prepared for the day she marvelled at how alert she was after getting so little sleep. At best she had slept four hours while sitting awkwardly with Harry's head in her lap. She had arrived back in her room at three thirty in the morning and spent the next four hours staring into the darkness, thinking about what was going to happen Wednesday night. She thanked the gods today was a Saturday as having to concentrate on her classes today would be a near impossibility.

Immediately after breakfast she would be sending her parents a letter scheduling a meeting for the next day. She had briefly thought about asking Harry to call Winky for faster delivery but quickly dismissed it. She needed to avoid doing anything out of the ordinary. Dobby had been right...any unnecessary risks needed to be avoided. She tried not to dwell on the fact she was taking advice from an elf who had thought the best way to save Harry was to repeatedly send a bludger at him.

Her next meeting with Professor Flitwick was scheduled for Tuesday. She considered asking about rescheduling it to an earlier date but quickly changed her mind again. The questions she needed to ask were about Harry's role and would most likely raise suspicion...rescheduling on such short notice for a project a year away would only increase the questioning.

As she entered the Great Hall with Tracey that morning she immediately spotted Harry at the Gryffindor table and a decision was made. "I'm going to sit with Harry," she informed her friend.

Before she could move Tracey grabbed her arm. "You're going to sit at his table? Really?"

"Yes," she said without hesitation. What Harry was facing next Wednesday had done a remarkable job of putting things in perspective. Worrying about what Harry's or her own housemates thought was one of those things. And she really wanted to sit with him.

"Well let's go then!" Tracey enthused. At Daphne's raised eyebrow Tracey continued. "I can't let you face the lions alone can I?"

Tracey was brilliant.

As she began walking she realized Harry had spotted her. She watched as he spoke to Hermione who smiled and quickly slid down the table, creating spots for the two of them.

"Good morning," she said simply as she took a seat and reached for Harry's hand. She looked to see familiar faces surrounding her and felt immediately at ease. As much as she knew how stupid it was she was still slightly nervous at sitting with the 'enemy.' "Everyone, this is my friend Tracey," she continued.

They sat companionably for several minutes without incident as Tracey quickly integrated herself into Daphne's new circle of friends. She had noticed several glares from her own housemates and Snape's standard sneer seemed a bit more pronounced but none of the nearby Gryffindors seemed bothered. Her performance at the Quidditch match and the acceptance by Harry's friends most likely kept everyone in check. Well almost everyone.

McLaggen.

She watched as he approached the table and spotted her, immediately becoming enraged. His pace quickened as he walked determinedly toward them, standing directly across from her and Harry.

"The Slytherin table is across the way. You don't belong here." he said with every bit of menace he could muster. It wasn't much. She was set to respond when another voice spoke up.

"She and her friend make for much better company than you Cormac. Bugger off," Neville Longbottom said confidently, glaring at McLaggen. She watched as McLaggen realized he was badly outnumbered and stomped to the other end of the table.

"Thank you, Neville" she said sincerely. It dawned on her that she had used his first name despite never speaking to him before.

"It's not a problem," he said, smiling shyly. "Any friends of Harry are welcome here. I've been meaning to talk to you anyway...I really appreciated the pictures and letter from your parents."