"Explain, Mr. Potter," Penelope demanded. She wasn't the only one that was confused. Many were looking at Daphne with searching looks. What did Daphne Greengrass have to do with anything?"

Harry raised an eyebrow. "I could, but it would be easier to show you." Penelope sighed and nodded her consent. He placed a memory into the courtroom Pensieve.

Everyone watched as a fourteen year old Harry leaned slightly out the window of the Astronomy tower, taking a drag out of a cigarette. Just watching Harry smoke freaked his family out. Lily Potter wondered how she had not seen all these signs that her son was not okay. Really, what kind of mother didn't know her son smoked? She should've known, should've done something to help him, to free him, but she hadn't. Lily had been living in a fantasy world, believing her family to be perfectly fine, that her sons had been perfectly fine. She had been wrong, and Harry paid the price.

The room was startled by the voice that asked, "Come here often?"

Harry didn't seem surprised. He chuckled wryly. "Nice to see you too, Greengrass," he said, taking another drag.

Daphne Greengrass stepped out of the shadows, disbelief written all over her face. "How did you...?" From the incredulous looks of the courtroom, she wasn't the only one with that question.

"From the footsteps I could tell it was a girl, and I smelt a scent of newt eyes which means the girl was working in the potion lab very recently, and the only people Snape allows to be in the lab this late are Slytherins." Harry grinned. "And I happen to know that a certain Ice Princess likes to hang out here."

Someone audibly uttered, "Why wasn't he in Ravenclaw?", but most were too focused on the memory to notice.

The memory Daphne's face remained neutral. She raised an eyebrow. "Impressive."

Harry shrugged, stull enjoying his cigarette, something that didn't escape Daphne's notice. She walked over to the window and leaned out in a manner similar to Harry's stance. "So how does a Gryffindor Golden Boy learn to smoke?" she asked mockingly.

There was no reaction, something that surprised most. It was a well-known fact that Gryffindors were notorious for rising to the bait, but Harry just flicked the ashes of his cigarette out into the wind, his face impassive. "As enjoyable as this conversation is, why are you here, Greengrass?"

Daphne gave him a look. "Like you said, I like it up here." She looked out into the sky, seemingly savoring the view. "Why are you here?"

Harry shrugged once again, having finished his cigarette. "It's quiet," he said. "I can hear myself think."

There was a silence, but it was not awkward. All eyes were on memory Harry as he took out a small box and pulled out another cigarette. James randomly wondered how his son got the cigarettes. They definitely weren't something available at Hogsmeade. Maybe someone sent them to him...

Surprisingly, Daphne asked, "Can I try one?"

Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise but pulled one out for her. She put the cigarette in her mouth, and he lit it for her. She breathed in and started to cough uncontrollably. Harry laughed and expertly took a drag of his own cigarette. Daphne threw hers out the window and breathed in the fresh air, trying to ease the burning sensation in her lungs.

"That was vile," she stated with a wrinkle to her nose. "Why do you smoke them?"

"Calms me down," Harry answered vaguely, avoiding Daphne's gaze. Lily could see he wanted to something else but couldn't. She had always been able to tell when her sons were holding back. "By the way, Gryffindor Golden Boy? Really lame insult. You guys should work on that one."

Daphne smirked at him. "Unoriginal, yes, but accurate."

Harry just stared at her. "Greengrass, I was almost put in your House."

Jaws all across the courtroom dropped. Before his "betrayal", Harry had been the quintessential Gryffindor: bold, popular, and always ready for a good time. It was one of the reasons his betrayal had been so shocking: no one had seen it coming. Evan thought back to his own Sorting, arguing with the Hat, it mumbling about Potters who thought they could do his job better than he could. Evan had forgotten this comment in his nervousness that night, and it had only popped back up now. He remembered Harry's comforting assurances that, if he really wanted to be in Gryffindor, that was where he would end up, but that they would all love him no matter what house he was in. If Evan himself could've been a Slytherin, why was it such a big deal that his older brother was the same way? There were many sides to Harry, and Evan now knew they were only beginning to discover them.

The memory Daphne seemed sufficiently shocked, though she did her best to hide it. Harry finished his cigarette and was making his way out of the tower when Daphne shouted. "Potter!" Harry turned around. "Why did the Hat not place in Slytherin?"

Harry smirked at Daphne before answering, "Because I asked for Gryffindor." He left, leaving a contemplating Daphne at the tower. The memory faded out.

Penelope turned to Harry. "What happened after that night?" she questioned.

Harry shrugged. "Daphne decided she had to figure me out. I was enigma. Slytherins despise enigmas. They're harder to figure out and therefore harder to figure out. It's easier when you can predict someone's reaction and fit them into a neat box."

Penelope raised an eyebrow. "And you have a problem with that?"

Harry's gaze flinted over to Daphne momentarily before answering, "I don't believe people fit into boxes that easily."

"Or Houses?" Penelope couldn't help but ask.

"Especially Houses," he replied.

A few more questions were asked, and then Minister Bones dismissed the court for the day to be reconvened tomorrow. Harry Potter was taken to a holding cell in the Ministry rather than back to Azkaban. In an interview with the Daily Prophet that night, Minister Bones stated that Harry Potter's placement in said cells was only for convenience so that multiple trips would not have to be made to and from Azkaban. Few believed that story. Most assumed that Daphne Greengrass had somehow wrangled that agreement for her client.

Said lawyer was exiting the courtroom as the crowd buzzed. James and Lily chased after her. "Daphne!" James shouted. She turned around, smiling sadly at him. "How... why..."

"I don't know," she replied honestly. "I've never asked him." It was a true statement, at least partially. She had never asked Harry that question, but she didn't need to. She knew why, in her own way.

James was fuming, accusing Daphne and asking all kinds of questions, but Lily remained silent. She didn't trust herself to speak without crying. A range of emotions coursed through her. She was mad at Dumbledore, at Moody, at Severus, at everyone who had encouraged her son to continue in this crazy scheme. She was mad at Harry for not thinking this through, for not coming to them, but she was also said for him because it was clear he had suffered and she didn't know to what extent.

The only question she did ask (and the only question she wanted to) was, "Why didn't you stop him?" It was a simple question, a straightforward one, and yet infinitely complicated.

Daphne gave Lily a look. "Have you ever tried to stop Harry from doing something?" Lily and James shared a look, remembering a stubborn little boy who refused to eat his carrots and a teenager that did death-defying stunts on his broomstick even when they were specifically forbidden. Harry had had the Gryffindor courage and stubbornness in spades. "Exactly." She paused for a moment as if just deciding something. "Come to my house tonight. Bring Evan and Mark. I'll explain some things."

Lily and James quickly agreed, and they headed in one direction and Daphne in the other. Maybe, just maybe Lily let herself hope, there was a chance for Harry is Daphne was his lawyer.

The Potter family arrived at Daphne's a little after seven. Her house was in a quiet neighborhood. It was a simple but pretty English-style cottage, nothing at all like the manor she'd grown up in. The inside was warm and inviting, nothing at all like they expected from the formed Slytherin Ice Princess. Daphne led them into the kitchen, telling them to sit down. She took the boiling kettle off the stove and poured everyone a cup of tea. After offering cream and sugar, she sat down on the opposing side of the table. A lesser person would've been intimidated by the wrath of the Potter clan, but Daphne Greengrass had long ago proven to be a force to be reckoned with. "What do you want to know?"

To Daphne's surprise, it was Mark that spoke up. Then again, Harry had always said that people underestimated his youngest brother for being a Hufflepuff, that he was tougher than he seemed. Still, Daphne resolved to be gentle with Harry's brothers in a way she wouldn't be with his parents because she knew how fiercely he loved his brothers. They were the reason he had done this. "What's your relationship with my brother?"

Daphne sighed. "After that night, I couldn't stop thinking about Harry. Nothing he said fit together or made any kind of sense. I was curious so I kept going back to the Astronomy tower. He'd smoke, and I'd stand. Sometimes we'd talk, but it wasn't necessary. I grew to love these nights. They were peaceful, calming. Then one night, he leaned over and kissed me. I wasn't surprised, but I did ask him why, and he said he'd wanted to do that for a while." She paused. "Things were simple after that. We'd hook up in the tower or in an abandoned classroom. Sometimes we'd just talk, but getting information out of Harry was like pulling teeth. Neither of us wanted anything complicated, but then we fell in love and..."

"Things got complicated," Lily finished. She remembered that change, when she had fallen in love with James 7th year. Everything she had thought, everything she had believed about James and the Marauders and herself, everything she believed to be clear cut and simple, got infinitely complicated.

Daphne nodded. Evan did not seem to believe her. "Why you?" he blurted out tactlessly. "He had family, friends. Why would he only tell you?" Because, of everything that had happened, that was what had bothered Evan the most. It hadn't been hard for Evan to accept the fact his brother was a double agent. He had always trusted Harry, even when things seemed bad or he couldn't see the end result of whatever prank they were pulling. What hurt was that Harry hadn't trusted him the same way.

Daphne stared at him. Finally she replied, "Harry wanted to protect you, to keep you safe. He didn't want anyone to know. I only know because I forced his hand."

Evan glared at her. "And why should I believe you?" he challenged.

Daphne shrugged. "No reason," she said lightly. "But I can show you." She gestured for the family to follow her. They went into the living room where she opened a large oak cabinet to reveal a beautifully carved Pensieve. She put a few memories in and gestured to the Potters. "Go on," she urged.

James went in first, always cautious when it comes to his family, followed by Lily and the boys. Daphne went in last, silently praying Harry would understand why she had to show them certain things. It was essential if Harry was ever to be free and happy again, and that was the most desperate wish of Daphne's heart. At least, that's what she hoped the memories would reveal.

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