act two: little dark age
chapter thirty-two

Hogwarts was a place that had grown for the people to go against one another. As time had passed, it seemed that everyone had turned against one another. Leaving everyone to fend for themselves in the end against one another while trying to learn about themselves and what it was meant to be a witch or a wizard.

Daphne's visions had fallen off. Not happening very often and it seemed as though the whispers had simply gone up and disappeared. She wasn't sure why that was, but it worried her. In a way she felt as if she was unprepared for everything that was coming but then again she knew that no matter what, she couldn't change any of the outcomes no matter how much she wanted too.

The castle was filled with people against Harry, wearing pins and claiming that he stinked or that he sucked. Many even targeted Daphne, making comments about how useless she was and how she could do so much better. Though, Daphne reminded everyone that she could hex them into tomorrow if she so wished.

Classes passed by. The first task was merely a few days away and Harry grew more and more irritable as it grew closer. Snapping easily or simply being extremely quiet while Daphne tried her best to keep him at ease while fighting everyone around them off. The twins tried to help the girl, but she was very set on being the person to handle it all.

That was the stubbornness in her. She wanted to feel as if she was accomplishing something and as if she wasn't as worthless as she felt. She hated having visions - but now it seemed that she hated not having them as well. Either way, it felt like a win-lose situation to the girl. Leaving her alone and having to figure out what was happening for herself.

Daphne stayed by her friend's side through thick and thin. She acted as if she was unbothered by all of the attention she had seemed to gain recently, but everyone knew she was bothered. She kept her best to remain composed and well, but it was clear to those around her that deep down, she was bothered.

Classes were arse. Daphne absolutely hated them. She remembered why she often spent her nights sneaking around with her friends. It was fun and interesting, unlike whatever seemed to happen when she was sitting in a classroom rather boredly. Her father seemed to understand this very soon as well.

Daphne walked through the corridors alongside her friend. She knew he had been dwelling on the fact that Dragons were the first task and he was worried about what he was getting involved in. He dreaded the fact that his name was placed in the goblet. Daphne wished she could truly help, but she couldn't.

Their shoes clanked against the ground as their school bags hung behind them. Daphne's arm laced through Harry's as her eyes scanned over the architecture while she carried on a conversation. Harry seemed interested, despite how annoyed he started to grow as others yelled in their direction and continuously bumped into them.

The farther they made it through the corridor, though, the more it happened. Daphne had fallen over after being tripped by one of the slytherin's who then flashed their badge while yelling about how they hated Harry or how he was a cheat. Harry, of course, got defensive after he caught Daphne and placed her back on her feet.

"Are you alright?" Harry looked at Daphne worried as he placed his hands on either side of her arms.

"I'm fine," Daphne nodded as her stomach began to twist while her face grew red, the two then began to walk once more trying to find Cedric Diggory.

"You cheat, Potter," A student yelled and nudged Harry who tripped and for once.

"You stink, Potter!" Another yelled as they passed.

Daphne glared as she kept her arm laced tightly with Harry's. She could give two damns less about what they thought of her - but she'd never let anyone talk bad about Harry. Not if she had anything to say about it.

"Why don't you look in the mirror!" Daphne yelled back while holding up her middle finger, "Don't listen to them, Harry."

"Good luck, Potter," A few more retorted as they walked by with the exact same badges.

A few more changed theirs as well while grinning, "Potter stinks!"

"Cedric rules!" Another yelled as he ran in front of the pair.

"Thanks," Harry muttered while trying his best not to be upset as he looked at Daphne with a pointed look, "It's fine, Odette."

She gave him a tiny smile as she followed him out into the courtyard, "If it makes you happy, you never cease to impress me."

"You're just saying that," Harry shut her down as they continued to pass by students.

"I'm not," Daphne responded as he sped up, making it to the exit to the courtyard before they were stopped.

"Like the badge?" One stopped the two as they blocked the door while holding up their badges, "You're mad that Cedric could show her a better time."

"Excuse me," Harry was trying to be polite while looking down at the ground, Daphne knew that he was trying to be patient.

"Little Daphne Black, you could do better," The girl shook her head as she looked down at Harry, "Pity."

"Not likely," Daphne was quick to retort as she roughly bumped her way through them, grabbing Harry's hand as she pulled him along, "Stop shit talking my best friend!"

Harry held onto her hand while he still looked slightly let down, "Thanks," He muttered to the girl as he let her pull him up.

"Anytime," Daphne gave him the tiniest smile before she noticed Cedric, "Come on."

Harry held up his bag with his free arm. Part of his robes hanging out the back of the bag. Daphne's was tight on her back as she had the collar of her shirt down and her tie undone, a few buttons of her shirt loose but covered by the sweater.

"Harry," Someone realized as the two walked over before they started their remarks as well, "Hey! Read the badge, Potter!"

"Say some more thing and I'll shove my foot so far up your arse you'll be praying to Helga to save you," Daphne glared at everyone to the point that everyone grew silent.

Cedric sat up from where he had been laying across the bench, horrified, "Can I have a word?" Harry asked while keeping his head low.

"All right," Cedric agreed before Daphne let go of Harry's hand as the two began to walk away.

"You stink, Potter!" One began to yell as Daphne crossed her arms tightly across her chest.

"Harry Potter smells!" Another one yelled before Daphne grabbed her wand and muttered a spell before his mouth disappeared.

"Shut the fuck up already, Godric," The girl placed her hands on her hips as she narrowed her eyes, "Did your father ever teach you about manners? Shame on you."

"You little..." One of them began to insult her as well before she did the exact same thing to him causing him to panic and tug at the place where his mouth had once been.

Horrified gasps erupted around the group of Hufflepuffs. Two out of the seven having no mouths and the others looking terrified or angry at the girl who had her wand at the ready, clearly ready to do the same to the rest of them.

"Anyone else favor no mouth?" Daphne questioned while smiling like no other, "Because I will gladly do so."

"It's sad truly, for a girl like you to have to defend a boy. He clearly doesn't love you," One of the girl's looked at Daphne as she shook her head, "Shame you can't see you're only a toy to him."

Daphne simply smirked as she looked over at Harry and Cedric to make sure they were okay, "You all are a lovely lot. And I can really admire your dedication to one another - and I am very very sure that I am a much more powerful witch than all of you combined. So I'd beware insulting me before I hex you into tomorrow," The girl glared.

"Stu-" One of the girl's began to yell a spell out at the girl.

"Expelliarmus!" Daphne was quick to disarm the girl before she waved her wand and exclaimed, "Petrificus Totalus!"

Everyone watched and laughed as the girl became stuck in stone. Everyone of the Hufflepuffs looked fearful as they were quick to run away from Daphne who tucked her wand back into her hair as she crossed her arms and rested her weight on one hip as she smirked.

Daphne turned to hear Draco calling out to Harry, noticing how Ron had walked away as had Cedric. She realized she had missed quite a bit in her time as she walked over to the tree with a firm glare on her features as she looked at her cousin in anger.

"There's Potter. Cheat," One of the slytherin's yelled as Daphne regained her spot at Harry's side.

"Why so tense, Potter?" Malfoy yelled out as he sat in the tree while looking down, "My father, brother, and I have a bet you see. I don't think you're going to last ten minutes in this tournament, Caius says twenty, but father disagrees, he believes you won't last five," Draco snickered as he jumped down from the tree.

Harry rushed forward as his anger took over, "I don't give a damn what your father thinks, Malfoy!"

Daphne rushed forward as she went in between Harry and Malfoy, giving Harry a soft look as she placed a hand on his chest, "He's not worth it."

Harry looked at Daphne for a moment before he continued on, "He's vile and cruel. And you're just pathetic."

Harry then took Daphne's arm as the two turned and walked away as Draco spoke, "Pathetic?"

"Oh, no, you don't, sonny!" Moody yelled out as he was quick to come to the rescue as he turned Malfoy into a ferret as he screamed as the two teens turned back, "I'll teach you to curse someone when their backs turned with a lady present!" Harry was grinning widely while Daphne tried not to laugh, "You stinking.. Cowardly... scummy..."

Daphne wanted to feel bad about the fact Draco was currently turned into a ferret, but she didn't care. She found it beyond funny as she laughed alongside Harry while placing a hand over her mouth. She was waiting for someone to say something, but then again, she found herself watching Moody while worried.

"Professor Moody!" McGonagall ran over as she looked at the scene in front of her.

"Back shooting!" Moody yelled as he continued to flip him around in the air.

Moody seemed more offended about the entire situation than Harry did. The boy had already been having a rough day but now he was laughing while watching his enemy be turned into an animal. Daphne had to admit, she did find it rather funny and it was nice to see Draco get bullied in return.

"What are you doing?" McGonagall then asked as she placed a hand on Daphne's shoulder.

"Teaching," Moody spoke firmly as he continued on.

The woman watched as he continued his actions before she then asked, "Is that a... is that a student?" McGonagall stuttered out while looking nervous.

"Technically it's a ferret," Moody looked over at the woman before back at the ferret in his grasp.

The ferret then was placed in Crabe's pants as it slowly disappeared in the fabric before Goyle ran over trying to help him out only to get bit and rush back as he held his hand. Cedric stood a few feet away laughing with a much smaller group of friends while Daphne smirked at this. This was just getting better and better.

Moody turned back and winked at Harry as he laughed, Daphne narrowed her eyes as she watched the man's actions in concern. Is he a pedophile? Daphne questioned in her mind before nearly gagging at the thought before noticing how the ferret slipped from the pants before McGonagall turned him back into a boy.

"My father will hear about this!" Draco yelled after he whipped around to face Moody before he ran back.

"Is that a threat?" Moody bellowed out as he ran over to the boy, "Is that a threat?"

"Professor Moody!" McGonagall now ran after the three as she looked worried, not understanding the entirety of the situation, "Professor!"

"I can tell you stories about your father that would even curl your nasty greasy hair!" Moody yelled as he finally got back around the tree as McGonagall blocked Draco.

"Alastor," McGonagall yelled while the man continued to go wild and yell threats back at Draco as McGonagall had enough, "Stop. Alastor. We never use transfiguration as a punishment. Surely Dumbledore has told you that," The woman snapped as she looked at the man.

The man looked slightly fearful under McGonagall's wand as he looked at her, "He might've mentioned it."

"Well, you will do well to remember it," McGonagall sneered as she looked at the man as she looked back at the kids, "Away!" She shooed the other students before looking back at Daphne, "Come with me, Miss Black. I'll do well to have you back to Mr. Potter soon enough."

Daphne made a face before looking over at Harry, "I'll see you soon, then."

"Be careful," Harry muttered as he let go of the girl before she followed after the Professor.

"I will," Daphne looked over at Harry with a small smile before she let go of the boy and began to walk after the Professor.

She gained a few looks as she walked through the halls. Many uttering and whispering as soon as she passed by them. McGonagall held her head eye as she continued to walk on towards her office, occasionally checking behind her just to make sure that the girl was following. Daphne, of course, was still following after her.

Daphne followed the woman for what seemed like ages. She swore that after Hogwarts she was going to get arthritis. She felt as if her legs were about to fail on her, but she managed to keep going on and make it into McGonagall's office and plop down comfortably into one of the seats.

"Miss Black," McGonagall took her seat at her desk, sitting down on the chair as she narrowed her eyes, "I think we have a lot to discuss."

A lot to discuss? Daphne made a face as she tried to figure out what she needed to do or discuss. She did not understand what McGonagall could probably be on about despite the fact that she had hexed multiple students on school grounds when she wasn't supposed to be doing that. Maybe that's what she's on about.

"And what is that?" Daphne asked, tilting her head to the side as she tried to remain calm and trying to act as if she had done nothing wrong.

McGonagall clicked her tongue as she pursed her lips in a thin line, "There have been some concerns raised. Concerns about your safety and your wellbeing," McGonagall sipped her tea as she watched the girl's expression.

Daphne furrowed her eyebrows together while swallowing thickly, "What do you mean? Like, that I'm going to die - or I'm going bonkers?"

Well done, you've done it, Daphne resisted the urge to make a face while she looked at McGonagall while awaiting an answer. She needed information now and she was waiting for someone to tell her something. She needed to understand what was going on and what was told to the Professor.

"This is not a joke, Miss Black," McGonagall gave her a pointed look as she adjusted herself before she began again, "Your father has discussed the matters of your safety. Someone is coming for you, but is believed to be in the castle. I'd like to know if there is anyone in mind that you believe is a threat - or a danger to you, and what's given you this impression."

Daphne made a face as she looked at the woman, feeling as if she was being judged for knowing this, "My brother and cousin both told me so. So did my egg donor. I have suspicions that it is Alastor Moody, for he is far too close to me. I've also heard a few comments he made about my private life and he knows things that have happened to me that are very, very private."

McGonagall raised an eyebrow at this as she looked at Daphne through her small glasses, "And what would that be, Miss Black?"

Daphne felt as if the air in her lungs had been knocked out, the girl adjusted her posture as she inhaled sharply, "That I was tortured over the summer at the Cup with the Cruciatus curse to the point that my mind went blank and even to this day my body starts shaking uncontrollably."

"We were informed of that," McGonagall seemed slightly disappointed as she looked at the girl, "I wished that it wasn't true, but Professor Moody has been assigned to watch over both you and Harry. Without any proof, or any more raised suspicion I believe Dumbledore won't be easily swayed."

"Then I'll find something," Daphne spoke clearly as she looked at the woman, "Now, what about my sanity is in question?"

"It is noted that you space out quite frequently," The woman began to explain as she looked at the girl, "And you grow irritably or moody without a reason or you utter nonsense."

"Lies," Daphne was quick to look at the woman, "Unless having ADHD is a crime."

"ADHD?" McGonagall asked while looking confused, "Is that a muggle term?"

"Yes," Daphne spoke simply before looking offended, "Now if you excuse me, I must be off. I am needed elsewhere, good day Professor."

Daphne rose without warning and exited the classroom hearing as McGonagall muttered, "She's exactly like her father and Uncle. I don't get paid enough for a redo."