An Unexpected Ally

A Stack of Toast

This was not enough for Daphne, however. She needed more, and the only person who could give her the information she needed about Harry Potter was Harry Potter.

Having been a hatstall between Ravenclaw and Slytherin, the combination of her own natural curiosity and her pursuit for knowledge as well as her ambition to know more was driving her crazy. The rumours Daphne had heard, the school's attitude towards him changing like the tide to an beach, it all intrigued her so and she was determined to get to know Potter better so her questions could be answered. Had he truly slain a basilisk in only his second year? Whispers flew around the school of his ability to cast a fully corporeal patronus charm at thirteen years old. It was even briefly heard of that he had protected the Alchemist's Stone at the end of his very first year at Hogwarts.

Daphne was getting impatient. She needed to know and she needed to know now. She returned the book she was reading to its original spot, stood up from her chair and strode with purpose in the opposite direction to where Potter and Granger were studying. She nodded a goodbye to the librarian, Madam Pince, then proceeding to the Slytherin Common Room, passing Draco Malfoy, who was, of course, in the middle of a tirade concerning Harry Bloody Potter.

"I mean, it's like he wasn't even paying attention to me at all!" Draco complained. "I even mentioned his dead parents to his face and he pretended he couldn't hear me!"

"Perhaps he really didn't hear you, Draco." Pansy suggested as she rubbed his shoulders comfortingly.

"Are you insane? He clearly knew I'd be irritated at being ignored. Luckily, Weasley is as easy a target as ever, I think he misses his dear Potty." Draco mocked as Crabbe and Goyle laughed from the couch beside him. Daphne walked straight past them with her head high, silently wondering if Malfoy harboured more feelings for Potter than simply hatred.

Upon reaching her dormitory, she found her closest friend Tracey Davis, a half-blood fourth-year with dark brown hair and darker brown eyes whom she had bonded with extremely quickly over their shared appreciation of cats. It just so happened that Transfiguration was their favourite class. It also happened to be that Slytherin shared Transfiguration with Gryffindor this year.

"Tracey, I have a favour to ask of you." She remarked as she sat down on her bed, slightly creasing the well-made duvet. Her friend looked at her excitedly.

"Does this counter the favour I asked you for last year?" She questioned, grinning.

"Yes, we are even if you do this for me." Daphne rolled her eyes with a smile. "I want you to surreptitiously ensure that a message I wish to communicate to somebody reaches them without complication."

"So... you want me to pass a note for you." Tracey stared at her for a few moments. Daphne blinked.

"Yes." She answered.

"I can do that. Who to?" She asked.

"Harry Potter." Daphne said.

"WHAT?!" Tracey exclaimed, possibly alerting the entirety of the Slytherin Common Room to their conversation.

"Will you keep it down?!" Daphne hissed.

"You're asking me to pass a note to Harry Effing Potter, Gryffindor's most closely guarded and closely observed golden boy in the history of golden boys, I will scream as much as I like!" Tracey hissed back.

"Fine, then I suppose you still owe me for the Ernie Macmillan incident-" Daphne began.

"Alright! I'll do it, just as long as you never mention that agin." Tracey shivered as Daphne smirked. "What do you even want Harry Potter for anyway?"