An Unexpected Ally

A Stack of Toast

"That's irrelevant." Daphne stated confidently, immediately realising her mistake as Tracey gasped, putting the pieces together.

"Wait... you want me to give Harry Potter a private message from yourself... that you only trust me to do... oh my Merlin." Tracey breathed.

"Whichever conclusion you are currently reaching, it is wrong." Daphne glared at Tracey, who was beginning to beam at her.

"You want me to give Harry Potter a private message! I think Daphne Greengrass has her first crush." Tracey grinned and Daphne immediately rolled her eyes.

"I think I would know if I had harboured feelings for Harry Potter." She scoffed. "You're being ridiculous, just pass him the note in tomorrow's Transfiguration class when I've written it."

"Fine, where were you anyway? You missed the better part of Malfoy's daily Potter rant." Tracey mentioned.

"Oh, believe me, I caught enough." Daphne sighed. "I was in the library."

"Daph, the school year has just started." Tracey said exasperatedly. "Save your studying for when it needs to be done."

"It always needs to be done. I don't need Granger taking me over again because I slacked off for the first term." Daphne said darkly.

"Ah, was Granger there too?" Tracey asked knowingly. "You know, this rivalry you have with her is pointless, if you two worked together, there's nothing the both of you couldn't find out." She added. Daphne considered her words for a few moments, coming to a realisation. If she became friends with Granger, then as a result she would be around Potter more often and possibly learn more about him.

"Yes... yes, Tracey, you're brilliant!" Daphne exclaimed.

"I know I am." She said smugly.

"Wait... but then, if Potter tells Granger about the note, she'll undoubtedly become suspicious of why I have decided out of the blue to become friends with both of them at the same time." Daphne realised. "No, it's better to deal with the note first, as then if Potter relays the information to Granger, I can kill two trolls with one spell."

"You're putting a lot of effort into getting to know Potter." Tracey observed with a grin.

"I have a lot of questions for him." Daphne said stiffly.

"It's alright, I'll give him the note tomorrow." Tracey smiled.

"Thank you." Daphne smiled back at her.

"Until then, would you like me to clean your Harry Potter poster for you?" Tracey asked innocently. Daphne threw a pillow at her and she burst into a fit of giggles.

Back in the library, Harry and Hermione had finally managed to create a basic timetable of what they wanted to practise over the following months. Hermione was putting on the finishing touches.

"Alright, we have a very basic idea so far. On Monday, we will practice the Shield Charm, on Tuesday we do the Disillusionment Charm, Wednesday we can start up on the Impedimenta Jinx, Thursday is going to be stunning day, Friday we can work on the Conjunctivitis Curse, Saturday can be for Summoning Charm and on Sunday... we will rest." Harry finished off with a dramatic flourish.

"Y-Yes, I think that's a good idea." Hermione nodded, a slight blush dusting her cheeks at his organisational skills.

"I was also thinking... do you want to learn how to cast a Patronus?" Harry added. Hermione's eyes widened.

"That would be wonderful, Harry, but we don't have time in our schedule unless we trade a Sunday for it." She ran her finger across their draft.

"This isn't really learning. This is teaching. Think of it like an extra lesson." Harry smiled.