Chapter 25
When they returned to school, as they had promised, their group got together to catch up on what had happened during the vacations.
As soon as Daisy saw Theo, she jumped into his arms, relieved she was okay. The Slytherin, stumbled backward, surprised. However, he quickly recovered and held her tightly to him, pulling her into a deep kiss and giving the middle finger to all their friends, who had started making vomiting noises in retaliation.
" Where is Luna? " Daisy asked, looking around curiously once Theo let her go. She was the only one missing when she was usually among the first to show up at their small gatherings.
" We were talking about her before your horrible show. " grumbled Ron.
" I think they're cute. " blushed Astoria.
It was at that moment that a glowing Luna came prancing into the room, emptying the bag she had brought with her at their feet without even saying a word to them. There, on the floor and under everyone's shocked gaze, lay the cup of Helga Hufflepuff.
" How? " stammered Hermione, shocked.
" Goblins don't like to have such ugly things inside their bank. They helped me get rid of it. " smiled the Ravenclaw, showing them the ripple that could be seen in the cup. " Did you know they have rituals for what we did? It's complicated but it works like a charm. "
" You are magnificent Luna Lovegood. " said Ginny, snapping a kiss on the girl's lips.
" Thank you. " blushed Luna, smiling happily at the compliment. " If I can do anything to change history, I will. "
" The ridiculous thing is that you managed to unearth and destroy five of the seven Horcruxes. " Daphne said, pointing out to them that none of the adults, other than Dumbledore, knew anything about the existence of the objects. " If they had joined forces, there would probably be no war on the horizon. "
" What I always say. " nodded Daisy, gently squeezing the girl's arm. Of course, everyone had quickly realized that the adults had made too many mistakes, but Daphne's words were spot on.
If they had done things differently, they would not be in that room right now planning their next move. Their lives would have been better now. Their biggest problems would have been an unrequited crush, a fight with a friend or a bad grade and not an impending war.
" I think we should devise a plan. " Ginny spoke just as Hermione said that they had to study a way to figure out what the last Horcrux was.
" What about the snake? You-know-who always keeps it with him. " Blaise said, glaring at Theo when he told them he could infiltrate so he could kill it under everyone's noses.
" Leaving aside the fact that it would be a death sentence, do you really think we would allow you to do such an idiotic thing? " hissed Astoria, furious that one of her closest friends thought himself replaceable. As they had been repeating often since their group had begun to come together: no one was expendable. If even one of them would be taken, they would fight to bring them back.
" Not to mention that your lovely fiancée is definitely thinking about tying you to the bed so you can't do shit like that. " Blaise added, laughing when Theo, interested, promised Daisy that they would try something like this totally ignoring the horrified looks of everyone present.
" Oh God, shut up. " huffed Daisy, hiding her face in her hands. Her boyfriend had no filter but at this point she was sure he was doing it on purpose to see how much he could embarrass her. It was like a game. Theo was committed to finding out what shade of red he could make her blush.
" Let's think about destroying the Horcruxes, I will deal with Voldemort as indicated by the prophecy. " nodded Harry, trying to veer the conversation to something that didn't involve his twin sister's sex life.
" Yes, but it could also have been me or even your sister. " Neville tried to reason.
" Why not all together? " raised an eyebrow Daisy, having a silent conversation with her brother. They kept talking to each other through facial expressions making their friends a little impressed.
" Do you say they really understand each other? " Astoria asked, amused.
" Absolutely. " nodded Ron, adding that their level of understanding made his twin brothers normal people by comparison.
" My guess is that they share the same brain cell, otherwise it can't be explained. " said Hermione, amusedly telling them about the way Remus kept comparing the two brothers' relationship to the one Sirius and James had as young adults.
" We can hear you, assholes. " Harry stuck his tongue out at them before turning serious again. He looked at the faces of his friends with displeasure but in his resolute look they could tell the seriousness of the question. " So we promised not to talk about it but ... which of you is comfortable with the idea of fighting? "
" Honestly? I don't like the idea but if the opportunity arises I will defend you. " nodded Daphne, saying that she now considered them their friends and as such they were hers to defend.
" Loyal to their friends, a true Slytherin trait. " sneered Theo, teasing her.
" Well, count me in otherwise who will keep an eye on that reckless idiot? " said Blaise, pointing with his head at Theo.
" Who would have expected that we would agree to participate in the war. " said Astoria, timidly. " But how will we know when the time comes to act? "
" I don't know, but something in the air is changing. " Luna told them.
" Any news about Malfoy? " Harry then asked, making Ron and Hermione groan.
" He may be up to something but we don't think he will succeed. " Astoria said, telling them about the strange behavior he had been having lately. " He didn't even come home for the Christmas vacations, which is strange for his character. "
" He doesn't eat or sleep, I think he is terrified of something. " Blaise nodded, telling them about the weight loss he had noticed from the boy. " I hear him going out at impossible times of the night and coming back the next morning. "
" Draco is often a horrible person but ... " said Daphne, weighing her words carefully. " I think he needs help. "
" There are rumors that the Dark Lord assigned Draco a task to punish him for his father's failure. Giving him something that would surely cause his death. " revealed Theo, biting his lip uncertainly. He didn't know if he had been right to speak.
" So is it true? Is he a Death Eater? " Neville asked, whitening.
" During the vacations my father would amusedly tell me about how they had taken his mother hostage so.... I don't think he had much choice in the matter, did he? " snorted Theo. " If my mother was still alive and they would have done such a thing to me...I would have made the same choice. "
" I didn't think I could say this but...how could we help him? " said Hermione, shocking Harry and Ron. " What? I'm not a horrible person. "
" He won't get help. " whispered Astoria, knowing well the boy. " He is too stubborn to admit that he needs to be rescued. He wouldn't risk his mother's life like that, and I don't think I can blame him for that. "
" Then we will end the war before it is too late for him. " Luna said, nodding toward the others. She wanted to save as many people as possible from atrocious fates, and surely her friends shared the same line of thinking.
" What if he had to kill Dumbledore? " Ginny asked, having an epiphany. " Katie and the cursed necklace might have been a botched plan to target someone. "
" You're probably right. " said Harry, thinking about how Dumbledore was the only reason Voldemort had not yet taken over the school. What would happen when Dumbledore's time was up? The school would no longer be a safe place for students; it barely was now. He tried to banish the dark thoughts swirling in his mind, asking the guys if they could deal with more tame topics.
" Like what? " Theo asked, raising an interested eyebrow.
" Like Daisy openly threatening the minister at Christmas. " snorted Ginny, loving the way almost everyone's eyes almost popped out of their sockets in surprise. " You should have seen her pointing her wand in his face. "
" I am aware that I should scold you for being so inconsiderate but ... " said Theo, looking at her hungrily as he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer to him. " Damn, I find you more attractive than usual when you do these things. "
" You are negatively affecting me. " She giggled, trying to hide her own blush against the Slytherin's chest.
" You both have problems with authority figures. " said Neville, pointing amusedly at the two brothers.
" Who doesn't? " Harry asked innocently, causing Ron to snort in assent.
" How about we ditch these losers and go to my room? " proposed Theo, completely ignoring their talk and focusing all his attention on the girl clutched to him. The only clue that he was hearing them were the warning looks he gave their friends when they began to protest and insult him for calling them losers. " We could try that string thing you suggested earlier. "
" No. " she said, laughing at her boyfriend's look of pure heartbreak. " And I didn't say anything, that was all Blaise. You could try it with him. "
" He would like that. " huffed Theo, causing Daisy to burst out laughing at his antics. " Seriously, I would do anything. "
" You were going to do it anyway, weren't you? " she smiled, touching his neck flirtatiously while holding herself back from laughing at the muffled sound she heard from her brother. He sounded like a suffering animal.
" Always. " winked the Slytherin, leaving her a gentle kiss on her forehead before turning his attention back to their friends as if nothing had happened. They seemed to look at them with a mixture of disgust and amusement.
" Please don't ever do that again. " pleaded Ron, horrified. Hermione compared their flirting to the courtship rituals of animals, making those present laugh and offending the two young lovers.
" I agree. " Blaise nodded, glaring at them. " Maybe keep these things to yourselves. "
" I am lucky to be with such a gentleman. " said Daphne, leaving a kiss in Blaise's cheek as the latter blushed at the unexpected action.
" You are just jealous. " sneered Theo.