September 1994
The Slytherin common room was shrouded in a darkness that seemed to swallow the flickering torch lights whole. The stone walls were slick with moisture, casting long shadows that danced ominously when hit with the faint light from the waves crashing into the windows. Daphne shifted uncomfortably underneath her blanket staring out the windows, making a fruitless attempt at avoiding excess sweating in the heavy damp air.
She should have been asleep hours ago, as Pansy grumpily reminded her after jolting awake due to Daphne searching through the few scattered books on their dresser with far too much haste and sending a rather heavy one crashing onto the floor. She really had tried to slow her mind and fall asleep, all too aware of her dire need for sleep, but all attempts were in vain. Not even the dreadfully boring books about Gringgott the Goblin’s biography was enough to put her to sleep. After an hour of tossing and turning in her bed she reached for her bottle of dreamless sleep in a last ditch effort, despite promising Blaise she would drop the habit, but even that was futile. She found the bottle only containing a few leftover drops and made a mental note to buy some new stock from Luna Lovegood whenever their paths crossed next.
This restlessness was what led her to be laying on a couch alone a quarter until three in the morning in the otherwise abandoned common room. She tried to do what she had done since first year to calm herself down on nights like these - stare out the window in hopes of catching a glimpse of a merperson passing by in the lake. In her four years of being at Hogwarts she could only recall ever actually seeing one once, and even that might have been deliria from her lack of sleep that particular night, but she still liked to believe the rumor they lived in abundance in the black lake.
Even the hopes of catching a glimpse of one of these startling creatures, though enough to cure her spouts of homesickness in first year, proved insufficient in her worries of her sister. It was a funny thing really, Astoria was the one fated to an early death, yet it felt like Daphne was the one giving up her life to nothing more than anxiety and worry.
Eventually she came to the decision that she would simply go check on her sister. It turned out this was not a simple task at all. Daphne felt her heart beat in her throat every time her feet thudded against the ground, the noise echoing through the otherwise silent corridors. Just as she was turning the corner, only steps away from the stairs that would lead her to the wing, Mrs. Norris strided past. Knowing that Filch would be trailing behind, she ducked behind a suit of armor. It was not the best spot to hide, but the moon was only a small crescent that night, meaning the small beams of light coming in and illuminating the armor were not enough to catch Filtch’s attention.
He passed by and all was good - well all should have been good - instead the edge of her shirt got stuck in the armor as she moved and the whole thing came tumbling down.
“Come on.” She muttered harshly, tugging at shirt stuck in the metal.
It came undone just as she heard Filch’s voice from around the corner calling out for the student to show themselves. She quickly ran up the stairs and entered the hospital wing panting.
Astoria was fast asleep on one of the beds and Daphne walked over to get a closer look.
“She’s doing better.”
Daphne jumped back and turned to see Neville Longbottom sitting up a couple beds down. “Merlin Longbottom.” Daphne muttered, a hand on her chest.
Neville smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his neck. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”
Daphne was about to spit out a short reply but stopped herself.
Neville stretched his arms and yawned before laying down on his side still facing the Greengrass sisters. “Pomfrey said she should be out tomorrow morning.”
Daphne would have been relieved if she had the time, but in that very moment the hospital wing door slammed open and she instinctively ducked down.
“I know you’re in here.” Filch screeched.
Daphne clutched her eyes shut, already preparing herself for the hollower she would be receiving by sunrise.
“S-sorry, there’s no one else here.” Neville said.
Daphne looked up at him in surprise but he did not dare spare her a glance. She could see just enough of Filtch to see him grimace and look around but it was too dark to see her hidden.
“I heard commotion, someone knocked down the armor.” Filch said.
Daphne watched Neville gulp before smiling apologetically at Filch. “Oh.. you know me, just clumsy sorry about that.”
Filch eyed him skeptically. “What were you doing out of bed, Longbottom?”
Neville hesitated and Daphne flinched knowing she was caught, then Neville spoke. “Was looking for Sprout, terrible flu,” He let out dramatic coughs to really sell it, “was hoping for some pepper up.”
Filch grimaced and stepped back. His nose twitched and he turned walking away muttering, “filthy kids” under his breath.
Daphne stood back up after she heard the door close and stared at Neville. If there was one person in her life that all of her years of etiquette training and countless balls attended would go down the drain for, it would be her neighbor Neville Longbottom.
She knew she should thank him but her words failed her.
“She uh, she’ll be at breakfast tomorrow. She already wrote your parents to update them, you really don’t need to worry.” Neville assured her.
Daphne nodded and suddenly felt stupid for even coming down in the first place. She knew she shouldn’t worry so much, it was never as serious as she believed it to be. She stared at Astoria, looking skinnier than she did when she was admitted at the beginning of the week. Astoria had color to her skin now though and wasn’t sweating through her sheets like she had been.
Eventually Daphne turned away and back towards Neville who was picking at his blanket. “Why are you here anyway?”
Neville’s cheeks turned crimson and he looked down at his blanket. “Cauldron blew up when I was trying to do the potions homework.”
Daphne stifled a laugh and held up a hand to her mouth to hide it when he looked up at her with furrowed brows.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” She said, shaking her head and trying to stop smiling.
Neville huffed and dropped the blanket, rolling over onto his back.
“Oh come on Longbottom.” Daphne rolled her eyes.
Neville didn’t respond for a few seconds but just as Daphne was turning on her heels to leave she heard him speak.
“You know, I get you being rude to me in front of everyone else really, I do. But, why do you still have to do it when it’s just us?”
The smile fell immediately from Daphne’s face. “Oh come on, it wasn’t like that.”
When Neville did not respond this time Daphne nodded and took it as her time to go. She was almost at the door when Neville called out. “I’ll tell her you stopped by.”
————-
It was seven thirty five when Daphne's mind began racing with the worst possibilities.
Theo was the first one to notice. “It’s been five minutes, Daph.”
Daphne nodded but didn’t really pay much attention. Astoria must have gotten worse over that, that had to be the explanation. She hadn’t realized she had been tapping her finger on the table until Theo grabbed her hand.
“Look, love, I know you’re worried, but she’s fine. Her friends aren’t here either, they're probably just getting ready.” He assured her.
Daphne nodded but it was clear this did not calm her down because she immediately switched to tapping her foot on the floor.
Theo closed his eyes and heaved out a sigh. “I’ll go look with you if she’s not here by the end of breakfast, but for Merlin’s sake Daph cut it out, you're looking like loony Lovegood.”
Daphne looked away from the great hall entrance to glare at him.
Theo smiled innocently. “Sorry, sorry you know I don’t mean it love. I’m just terribly hungover. And, one of these,” He paused to glare at Blaise and Draco, “absolute bellends finished my hangover potion without telling me.”
“Don’t call me that.” Draco cut in, and judging by the way he was rubbing his temples it was not him that took it.
Blaise, the only one who looked put together out of the group, smiled down at his plate and picked at his food silently.
Daphne got so distracted listening to Draco and Theo’s bickering that she did not even notice Astoria had made her way to the table until she heard Neville’s voice saying bye.
Her head shot up and she saw Astoria sitting down and waving at a now retreating Neville.
“Mudblood Granger rejected you for the ball and now you’re trying to get with a second year, huh Longbottom?” Draco sneered.
When Neville turned back towards the Slytherin table she thought he was finally going to stand up for himself. Instead he just looked at her, and when she made no attempts to come to his offense he shook his head and walked off.
“Draco, stop it.” Daphne finally said one Neville was out of ear shot.
Draco smirked and raised his eyebrows. “And what is it to you?”
Daphne bit the inside of cheek and rolled her eyes. She did not have a response, she would not defend any other Gryffindor so no reason to defend Neville.
“You forget,” Blaise smirked at Daphne. “She’s got the whole childhood love thing going with him.”
Daphne kicked Blaise underneath the table. “Shut it, he’s just my neighbor. Bully him all you want, don’t bring Tori into it though.”
Blaise got her a knowing glance but Theo cut in and went back to insulting the other boys for taking his potion.
Daphne got up and moved a couple spots down to sit next to Astoria.
“You look better.” Daphne commented.
Astoria nodded and turned away.
“What? Are you upset with me?” Daphne asked.
Astoria ignored her, laughing obnoxiously at one of her friends' jokes.
Daphne reached out to grab Astoria’s arm but Astoria pulled it away.
Barely slept for a week worrying about her sister and this was the greeting she got.
“Why are you-”
“You know you don’t have to be so mean to him.” Astoria cut her off.
“I didn’t even say anything to him.” Daphne responded.
Astoria rolled her eyes and picked at her food. “No, but you… you’re a different person since coming to school.”
Daphne knew her sister was not trying to be rude but she was growing defensive nonetheless. “What, I’m not ten anymore.”
Astoria looked up at her and shook her head. “I’m fine, okay. Just go back to your friends.”
—————————
“Come on please.” Theo tugged at Daphne’s arm.
“You’ll have to take it up with Pansy.” Daphne told him, setting her bag down on the table.
“That’s fine, that's fine.” Theo assured her, taking Pansy's normal spot next to Daphne.
“Why can’t you sit in your normal spot?” Daphne asked.
Then, Draco walked in and her question was answered. His hair was slicked back and coated in gel, the look he wore everyday during first year. Daphne turned around to hide her laugh but Draco was too busy glaring at Theo to even notice Daphne’s presence.
“You shouldn’t have taken my potion.” Theo said quickly.
Theo really had not realized it was Blaise. He sure was lucky he was pretty.
With no attention on her she quickly pulled out the extra vile of potion she had made for her homework. It was meant to just be a precaution in case something happened to her but she found a better use.
“Here,” Daphne held it out to Neville.
Both Seamus and Neville looked at it skeptically.
“You said yours got messed up.” Daphne said. Even said it so nicely, she really deserved a pat on the back.
Neville slowly nodded and reached out to grab it but Seamus swatted his hand away.
“She’s probably hexed it.” Seamus exclaimed.
Daphne rolled her eyes and placed it onto the table in front of him. Neville looked between Daphne and the rest of her friends to make sure this wasn’t a prank but when he didn’t find them laughing and watching he reached out and grabbed it.
“Thanks.” He mumbled.
Daphne nodded once and turned back to her friends. Draco and Theo were still arguing so she quietly grabbed her bag and took a seat a couple of rows down next to Blaise.
“They’re idiots.” Blaise Laughed.
Daphne chuckled and nodded. “Are you going to confess?”
Blaise shrugged.
“Don’t, let’s see if they’re smart enough to figure it out on their own.” Daphne replied.
The bell rang and Snape walked through the rows collecting everyone’s samples. He stopped in front of Neville and inspected it carefully.
“Longbottom I am amazed, must have had Granger hissing instructions to you, though I admit this one was easy maybe someone even as daft as you could do it.” Snape said, still eyeing the vile.
The class broke out in snickers but Neville did not seem to notice, he just smiled across the room towards Daphne, grateful to have not failed another assignment. Daphne just looked away.
——————-
“Go on without me.” Daphne told her friends.
Blaise turned back with raised eyebrows. “Why what’s up?”
Daphne looked back at the door that Neville had just walked back in with Moody.
“I just need to ask Moody something.” Daphne explained.
Draco crossed his arms over his chest. “I wouldn’t listen to a world that comes out of his mouth, man’s crazy.”
Daphne nodded and fiddled with her wand, hoping they would just leave before Neville came back out. Pansy noticed her change in attitude and looked at her suspiciously.
Daphne gave Pansy a pleading look.
“Come on guys, we gotta get to dinner. I'm starved.” Pansy said, pulling on Draco’s arm.
The rest of the group followed and Daphne listened to their retreating footsteps.
It took a few minutes but Neville eventually came out of the classroom, jumping slightly when he saw Daphne waiting there.
“Hey..” He trailed off awkwardly, looking around.
Daphne held up a hand to wave.
Neville tried to smile back but he looked really distracted.
“Are you okay, you just, you looked really shaken up in class. Thought you were gonna be sick.” Daphne checked up on him.
Neville flinched at the mention of the class but nodded. “Yeah, fine, just… well you know.”
“Your parents.” Daphne said.
“My parents.” Neville echoed.
“That was cruel of him to make you go up there for that one, I mean he knows about it all.” Daphne said.
Neville shrugged, refusing to meet her eye.
“I think I’m just going to go down for dinner, thanks for checking up on me.” Neville told her.
“I can join you.” She quickly offered.
Neville looked over directly at her for the first time.
“Like, me, you, and Tori can sit together, just like old times.” She offered.
Neville looked away and sighed. “You’d hate that Daph.”
It was true. It would likely be awkward and cause both of their peers to complain for weeks. She just didn’t know how to be there for him anymore.
“I’m fine, really.” Neville assured her.
Daphne nodded.
“I’m gonna go.” Neville said, then he turned back and faced her. “You don’t need to keep being nice, I'll tell Tori to stop ignoring you, it's fine.”
Daphne tried to understand what he meant as he walked away but by the time she realized his implication he was out of earshot.