Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

HP and DR: A Matrimony Made For Peace	By : Rago_Dragovian Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 4459 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter series. It is not for profit.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
After both of them were enervated, Delphini glared at Harry but grudgingly shook his hand at the end of the duel. Harry blinked at her angry mannerisms. "Did I do something that offended you again?"
Delphini shook her head. "I just hate failing . . . or, I suppose, half-failing in this instance. I really wanted to win . . ."
Harry grinned as she glared at him. The crowd was roaring with applause and chanting their names. Once they stopped shaking hands, Delphini folded her arms. "I want a rematch."
"You said no rematches, remember?" said Hermione, intruding on the conversation. She smiled at them both. "Besides, you both made a splendid performance . . ."
Hermione turned to Harry and smiled. "You were bloody brilliant, Harry! The moves you pulled and choosing to use your broom to even the odds . . . I think I learned quite a lot watching the duel."
Harry blushed. "Thanks, Hermione. I really just tried on guesswork around half the time though. It was half-luck and half-strategy for me."
Hermione's smile remained on her visage as she shook her head. "You're too bashful, Harry. You're the only one to match her to a draw. You were fantastic as far as I'm concerned."
Delphini let out a low and aggravated growl before stalking off away from them and addressing the crowd to inform them that club activities were over for the day.
The Next Day
Draco rummaged around the Room of Hidden things until he found the vanishing cabinet. He inspected it and ran diagnostic spells with his wand. Delphini looked around the various assortment of abandoned objects until she spotted what she was looking for, high above a mountain of cluttered items. Delphini shook her head at all of the abandoned items left as junk and pointed her wand at the diadem.
Wingardium Leviosa
She carefully floated the diadem to her outstretched hand. She took her bookbag off and placed the diadem within and zippered it back up. Putting the schoolbag back on, she walked back to where her cousin was to see him scowling at the vanishing cabinet. He let out a frustrated growl and reared his foot back to kick the cabinet but seemed to calm himself before letting his anger get the better of him. He glared at the offending object.
"I just got what I needed, Draco," said Delphini, frowning at the cabinet. She gazed back at her cousin. "Are you alright?"
Draco turned his attention to her. "Of course not! This stupid piece of crap isn't going to get fixed unless I do something before the end of the year and . . . how the bloody fuck am I suppose to repair the damn thing while remaining inconspicuous?! I can't even think of anything else! A bloody cursed locket and a poisoned drink aren't going to do shit against Albus fucking Dumbledore! He'll suspect . . . he'll know somehow . . . and I'll bollocks it all up and . . ."
Draco looked at the floor and his body trembled. He swiftly turned his back to Delphini. "Let's just go! I don't want to get caught here . . . if I bollocks this up . . . I . . . I . . ."
Draco let out an angry noise and stalked off to the door of the Room of Requirement. Delphini sighed and shook her head. Her fingers slowly balled into fists as she followed him out. There has to be a way to fix this mess. There has to be! I have to come-up with something quickly. What would suffice? If I had just sent Harry Potter on a one way trip to him, would it have been enough? I . . . no, I would have ruined my own mission to get the diadem out of Hogwarts. Potter proved clever enough to avoid being controlled. I'd have missed out on having a thrilling duel. Draco and Snape's explanations don't seem to fit his character profile, either. They completely bungled that up.
Delphini frowned as she witnessed Draco collapse onto the floor outside of the portrait hall of the Room of Requirement. She rushed over to him and moved to a comfortable position on her knees. Draco was almost in a fetal position, his hands over his temples, and his tears flowing unbidden.
"Draco, Draco, please get up," prodded Delphini gently, she moved a hand to his shoulder and gently rubbed it. "I promise, we'll get through this. They'll be fine and we'll all be able to put this chapter of our lives behind us."
"No, it won't! Nothing will get better! I'm too stupid to accomplish this task! Father is going to die and it'll be all my fault!" shouted Draco, bawling into another fit of tears. Delphini rubbed his back and frowned. "I can't do this! I just can't! There's no point in pretending! I . . . I wish I could trade places, so they'd both be safe . . ."
"Don't say that . . . !" hissed Delphini, scowling at him. Her features softened. "Just . . . I'll . . . Okay, alright . . . Look, I will absolutely think of something, I will devise a way to fix everything. I care about Aunt and Uncle just as much as you, I owe them so much . . . I'll change his mind somehow. I'll make him see sense."
"Easy for you to say!" shouted Draco, rising up and pressing his back to the wall as he glared at Delphini. Delphini flinched and moved back slightly. Draco had never given her such an extreme gaze of utter contempt. "You can do no wrong! You . . .you . . . Mother and Father did everything right by you! Took you in when you had no one and the old bitch that Aunt Bella trusted turned out to be a piece of shit and what the fuck do we get?! An ultimatum because Father messed-up a few times!"
Delphini flinched and frowned at Draco. "Look . . . it's not the best situation, but . . . I love them both and I will fix this situation. He's . . . he's just being obstinate because of how important that object was. I can make him see reason and uncle will return to his good graces. I promise, I'll find a way."
"Find a way? Love them just as I, do you?" snapped Draco, his eyes seeing red. Delphini froze and gazed at the floor. "Thought I wouldn't find out, did you? Decided my father's life was a fine gambit or perhaps you just hate him and me?"
"It's not like that!" snapped Delphini, raising her head. She briefly glared at Draco before schooling her features. Delphini sighed. "I just . . . tried to make the best of a terrible situation. He's . . . bent on someone being punished so I thought getting him to relent on at least one of them would be a good start. I'm not trying to get your father killed, I just . . . I want them both to live. Getting your mother out of his wrath was a good, logical first step. I promise I'll find a way to make sure that no harm comes to him either. I love them just as much as you do. I just . . . need time to think."
"We haven't got time!" said Draco, his voice cracking and reaching a higher octave. Delphini flinched. Draco buried his face in his hands and continued weeping. His body shaking. "It's all bloody rubbish! I can't do this! I'm going to fail and Father's going to die!"
How do I respond to that? thought Delphini, as she moved closer to him. How do I make everything right? I need to fix this somehow! I need a way to change his stubborn mind and stop him from killing Uncle Lucius.
Delphini embraced Draco in a hug. Draco stiffened but slowly relented and cried upon her shoulder as she slowly rocked him back and forth. Delphini fixed her eyesight further down the hall and mouthed "get lost" to the figure that she knew was watching. She hadn't wanted to alert Draco about Harry Potter spying on them as it would cause further anguish for him.
"I promise you, Draco," whispered Delphini, rocking him back and forth as he wept silently. "I will fix this situation for the better. Believe in me."
"Are you both really conducting this conversation at the side of a hallway?" snapped Delphini, moving toward Draco and Snape. Her hands on her hips and a scowl on her delicate features.
Draco flinched and Snape turned to glare at the blonde girl. His lips slowly forming into a sneer. "Be that as it may, young one, I have much to assist young Draco in order for him to be successful. I promised both of your mothers that I would do my utmost to keep the two of you safe from harm in your tasks."
"Well, you're doing a piss poor job of it, and on top of that, you both lied to me or maybe you just had no idea what you were talking about." She said, taking the time to scowl at both of them for good measure. She looked straight at each of their eyes with her frosty glare. "You both told me about what an arrogant prick the famous Harry Potter was, how he constantly flaunts his meager talents. Yet, once I actually evaluated him objectively, I observed none of the qualities that either of you spoke of. He's the opposite of all those things. Selfless, constantly blaming himself to an extreme for all of his mistakes and possible wrongdoings, and that supposed recklessness and arrogance is actually just a pent-up desire to sacrifice himself to protect others. Where's all the bravado? Where's the strutting around as if he owns the castle?"
Snape sneered at Delphini. "If you're quite done explaining your sudden fancy for the boy, Draco and I must get back to discussing important matters. Your school love life will have to wait."
Delphini's eyes widened and her mouth hung agape. She quickly schooled her features and glared at Draco holding his mouth over his face as he chuckled at Snape's jab. Delphini glared at Snape and then smirked.
"Oh, it's no mere crush, it's the truth of the matter from what I can see," said Delphini, "you make him out to be some stereotypical American high school jock, Snape. He was able to match my prowess; perhaps some of it was luck but most of his feats were definitely skill. You've sorely underestimated his intelligence and you attribute what you cannot explain away easily to be pure, blind chance. I'll demonstrate . . ."
Delphini pulled out her wand. Draco seemed to slowly teeter backwards in obvious fright but Snape merely raised an eyebrow.
Delphini flicked her wand to a random corridor. "Accio Harry Potter."
Harry Potter suddenly came tumbling down the corridor and landed roughly in a sitting position. He looked up to see the smirking visage of Delphini and the gobsmacked expressions on the faces of both Malfoy and Snape. "Er . . . hello."
"What the bloody hell were you doing in that corridor, Potter?!" snapped Snape, glaring down at Harry. Harry hastily got to his feet and backed up a few steps as he noticed Snape's eyes were practically blazing. He stopped upon noticing Delphini's wand pointed straight at him. "Well, Potter?! Care to explain yourself or shall I have the Headmaster deal with your eavesdropping on a private conversation?!"
Harry 's posture seemed to stiffen as he looked back at Snape. Delphini blinked as she witnessed an expression of utter revulsion aimed at Snape before Harry calmed himself. "You tell me, Professor. When were you going to tell the Headmaster and the rest of the Professors that Malfoy over there took the Dark Mark?"
Snape and Draco's jaws dropped. Delphini froze at Harry's words. Harry's words began to sink in. A combination of fear and shock marred Draco's visage while Snape's facial features became blank as he stared at Harry with an unnerving expression. Delphini grinned at Harry's words.
"Y'know, you impress me more and more," said Delphini, gazing at Harry thoughtfully, "what other piece of information would you like to share with us, Potter? As far as I can tell, you're basing this off guesswork."
"Guesswork, eh? How about the fact Malfoy's planning to use the vanishing cabinet for something since he asked the shopkeeper at Knocturne Alley to repair it," said Harry, his lips twitched seeing the horror on Draco's visage and Snape's blank expression. "or the fact that he's clearly planning to murder . . . Dumbledore."
Delphini's smile tightened, Snape's eyes widened into saucers, and Draco's expression resembled a deer caught by headlights. Harry relaxed as his guess of the three possibilities had struck true. Harry blinked.
"No wonder you've been acting different, Malfoy," said Harry, smiling at the trio. "Finally realized what Voldemort truly is? Not so easy to mock others who suffer when you're the one who has to fight to save the people that you care about, is it?"
Draco and Snape flinched. Harry's eyes widened in surprise as he noticed that Delphini didn't react to Voldemort's name being uttered. Snape narrowed his eyes at Harry.
"He is to be called the Dark Lord," said Snape, a look of disdain on his visage when gazing upon Harry. "You see, young one? He arrogantly speaks the Dark Lord's name with no shame."
The look of revulsion returned, Harry seemed to regard Snape with equal amounts of loathing. Harry glared at both Snape and Draco but the intensity of his glare towards Snape was far more scornful.
"Why do you not refer to him as the Dark Lord?" asked Delphini, cutting off any possible shouting match that could potentially ensue.
Harry turned to her. "Originally, it was because Dumbledore told me that fear of the name increased fear of the thing itself at the end of my first year . . ."
Draco snorted. Snape's visage returned to a blank stare and Delphini raised an eyebrow. Harry continued. "But, during my third year, when the Dementors entered the Quidditch pitch and knocked me unconscious, I heard my mother screaming and begging Voldemort for mercy and to kill her instead of me, but he just laughed at her and demanded she stand aside. When she wouldn't move out of the way, he used the killing curse . . . it looped and repeated in my sleep and I was never able to forget it. So . . . I refuse to fear his name, because it would give him the satisfaction of a victory. I know I'll probably be killed by him someday, there's no use pretending some school kid is going to manage a lucky victory, so I'll live the remainder of my life by not giving him the satisfaction, because I don't fear him. I don't fear death."
Draco scoffed. Snape had a pained expression on his visage at Harry's spiel. Harry stared in confusion at the strange expression on the professor's face. Snape quickly grabbed Draco and forcibly tugged him as he skulked away from the remaining two.
Delphini lowered her wand and regarded Harry. "Your occlumency shields seem to be down today."
Harry frowned. "I . . . never mastered that art."
Delphini gazed at him quizzically. "You were using it during the duel, quite proficiently after I made that . . . admittedly distasteful jab at you to make you lower your guard. Did you truly not realize?"
Harry shook his head. "I've never been good at it."
Delphini tapped her chin with her free hand. "Perhaps . . . you just didn't get the right training and the correct assessment on your personality. Your emotional grief should make you a master at it. By the way, don't bother telling Dumbledore about this meeting."
"And why shouldn't I?" snapped Harry, glaring at her.
"I have it in good faith that Dumbledore knows everything that you just mentioned," explained Delphini grinning at him. "So . . . your detective work is moot. Dumbledore has his own scheme planned out. I didn't want to say it in front of Draco, because he's getting closer and closer to the breaking point. Rest assured, there's no reason for you to get worked up. Tell me, have you made an honest appraisal of Dumbledore's charred hand? The effects of such a dark curse isn't so easily reversible."
Harry felt his heart sink as Delphini smiled, mock waved, and went after the other two. What is she on about?
A rattling on the side of the bathroom sinks increased in volume. Neither Draco nor Harry paid any attention to it.
"Cruci-!"
Harry pointed his wand while on the floor. Sectumsempra!
Blood spurted from Malfoy's face and chest as though he had been slashed with an invisible sword. He staggered backward and collapsed onto the waterlogged floor with a great splash, his wand falling from his limp right hand. Slipping and staggering, Harry got to his feet and plunged toward Malfoy, whose face was now shining scarlet, his white hands scrabbling at his blood-soaked chest.
"No . . . no, I didn't . . ." muttered Harry to himself.
A screech suddenly resounded. "Murder! Murder in the bathroom!"
Harry turned to see Myrtle. Before he could say anything, the bathroom door banged open and Severus Snape quickly shut it behind him. Harry's eyes widened. Myrtle kept screaming and then . . .
"Shut the fuck up, you stupid, pathetic banshee!" screamed a strong feminine voice.
Harry flinched and turned to see Delphini suddenly by the bathroom sinks. He looked past her and gasped as he noticed the tunnel to Slytherin's chamber opened.
Delphini took her wand out and flicked it around Myrtle. The ghost suddenly flew back into her toilet hole. Delphini shook her head with a disgusted expression before turning to observe the bloody body of Draco Malfoy.
Her expression paled and Snape quickly ran over and kneeled beside the fallen boy. Delphini's chalk white and horrified expression turned to gaze at Harry. Harry felt a pang in his chest as he noticed the look of fright and disbelief on her visage.
"You did this?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Harry looked at the floor in shame. "Why? Why would you do this . . .? Do you hate us that much that you would try to kill us?"
"No!" snapped Harry, looking aghast at Delphini. Delphini frowned and shook her head. Disbelief still evident in her visage. "I . . . I got a used book for potions . . . full of notes."
Delphini pushed past him and looked down to see Draco's injuries as Snape peeled away at his bloody shirt. Delphini's eyes widened and she pointed her wand at Snape. Snape froze and looked up in surprise.
"You've been teaching Harry Potter dark magic this entire time?!" hissed Delphini, glaring down at Snape. Snape seemed agitated by the accusation. "Explain this to me, Snape. How exactly did Potter use one of your classic inventions to nearly kill Draco? How could he suddenly master your unique and deadly spell?!"
"I don't know!" said Snape, through grounded teeth. He glared at Harry with a look of disgust before looking back at Delphini. Harry flinched at that gaze. "I'm trying to save his life, this is sure to cause permanent scarring, but he should recover just fine, if I am quick about it! Potter powered up the spell, possibly by silent casting, I need to be fast and start the healing process immediately!"
Delphini let her hand fall to her side and walked back to the sink. Harry's eyes widened as the information suddenly dawned on him.
"Wait a minute . . . you're the Half-blood Prince?!" said Harry, gawking at Snape as he cast healing spells on Draco. "I've been using your old schoolbook?"
Delphini moved from her face to the tap and looked back at Harry. She glared at Harry to Snape and back. "Schoolbook? What schoolbook? What is he talking about, Snape?! What the fuck did you do to cause this mess?"
"I didn't do anything!" snapped Snape, casting a glare at the pair before resuming the healing spells. "Clearly, the idiot boy managed to get his hands on something his mind was too stupid to fully understand by doing something dangerous! The stupid brat is always getting himself into danger and causing a bloody headache for everyone else!"
Harry flinched at the irate tone in Snape's voice. He had never heard the potions professor sound so angry. It wasn't the usual sarcastic and goading anger, he genuinely sounded pissed off and ready to hurt someone.
Nobody's going to believe me at this point . . . it looks like I tried to kill him on purpose.
"Potter, where did you find that book?" demanded Delphini, Harry turned to her. He let out an aggravated sigh. "Where did you get the fucking book, Potter?!"
Harry flinched and looked up at her. He raised his hands in a peaceful gesture. "It was loaned to me from Slughorn! He gave it to me because I hadn't thought I'd be entering NEWT potions! I swear! The book was full of tips about improving potions, it didn't look dangerous!"
Delphini narrowed her eyes further. Harry stood rooted on the spot. I don't know what to do, I don't know how to make this right . . . Bloody hell . . . I deserve to be expelled.
"Permit me to Legilims your mind, Potter," said Delphini, her tone was neutral. Harry looked up at her. "Show me the memory, let me evaluate it for myself. If you don't, I will make your life a living hell for hurting my family. You owe me for your stupidity in giving me Wormtail's life debt."
Harry sighed but looked straight into her eyes. This could be a trap . . . but I did hurt Malfoy, and I want to clear my name from this . . .
Delphini flickered through his mind and observed the memories. She pulled her mind out and glared at Snape. "He's telling the truth. You dumb fucking idiot, this is entirely your fault! What the fuck did you think you were doing writing dark curses on your own schoolbook and just giving it away to that bumbling dunce?!"
Snape glared at her briefly before resuming his healing. "Potter is the one who -"
"No, you left the book in Slughorn's care and didn't even tell him of its contents. You should have kept it or at least scratched the dark curse out before handing it to someone else. What you did was irresponsible! This could have happened to any student who had picked up the book and decided to use its contents." snapped Delphini, Snape didn't respond. Delphini rounded on Harry. "And you! A fucking dark curse?! Why didn't you test the spell before using it?! And exactly how did you get so proficient at an advanced dark spell so quickly?! Been practicing, have you?"
"No! This was my first time using that spell! I've never practiced dark magic!" said Harry, Delphini stared at him stunned. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen! I would have just used stupefy, if I had known what that horrible spell would do!"
"And why were you even dueling in the bathroom to begin with?!" shouted Delphini, "What the fuck are you even doing here?!"
Harry let out another aggravated sigh. "I thought . . . he was up to something again. I thought I could get some proof to show to McGonagall or the Aurors since Dumbledore is being a bloody moron about this. I just . . . I didn't want any more people to get hurt when I could do something to prevent it."
Delphini snorted. "Well, good job there."
Harry felt a pang in his chest at her words. He scowled at her. "He tried to use an unforgivable on me."
Delphini smirked. "Do you think anyone would believe that, considering the condition that he's in, even if what you're saying is the truth?"
Harry suppressed a groan. He scowled at her and looked at the opening of the chamber. "And how did you manage that? What were you doing down there?"
"None of your fucking business, that's what," snapped Delphini, before turning to the sink and leaning down again. "Close."
Harry heard the unmistakable sound of a snake hiss and his jaw dropped. Delphini turned back to him and smirked. Harry briefly glanced at Snape, who was still healing Malfoy, before looking back at the smirking blonde.
Harry felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach as a horrible realization dawned upon him. He stared at Delphini, his body tense. Delphini smiled back with a calm posture and folded her arms.
"You're . . . you're not really his daughter, are you?" said Harry, Delphini tilted her head. Harry shook his head. "You're actually . . . I can't believe I'm saying this . . . Voldemort's daughter?"
Snape flinched and stared in surprise at Harry before resuming his healing. Draco's life took top priority at the moment. Delphini's smirk didn't waver as she tilted her head.
Harry blinked. "Who in their right mind would . . ."
Delphini rolled her eyes. "My mother is Bellatrix Lestrange . . . although, she went by Bellatrix Black when I was conceived. It wasn't until a few months shortly before my father's fall that she became a Lestrange. But yes, I am the daughter of Lord Voldemort."
Harry gasped and took a few steps back involuntarily. He stared at her smirking visage as if for the first time. His heart beat quickened. Bloody hell . . . she's blocking my path to the door and Snape could curse me at any time. Good going, Harry, you really know how to get yourself in a predicament.
Delphini chuckled in obvious amusement at Harry's response. She shook her head. "Don't tell me that you're afraid of me now?"
"Just . . . surprised and . . . amazed. I didn't think Voldemort was the type to have a daughter," said Harry, staring at her almost transfixed. Besides the selfishness, she seems completely normal. I would have thought any spawn of Voldemort's would have a skull-face and creepy red eyes. "Why tell me this? Aren't you afraid that I'll tell Dumbledore and whomever else?"
"You go ahead and do that . . ." said Delphini, catching his eye and looking straight at them. "and I'll just take a little stroll the Ministry, deny everything, and explain how I caught you using a notable dark curse upon Draco Malfoy, who has the scars to prove it, and who can back up my testimony of the events with the physical evidence on his body to prove it. Do we have an understanding?"
Harry clenched his teeth but nodded. Snape glared at Harry. "Potter, you will be serving detention for the -"
"Shut the fucking hell up, you dipshit!" said Delphini, redirecting her attention at Snape and giving him a look of contempt. Snape flinched at the tone and stared at her with his mouth ajar. "Unless you want to explain to Albus Dumbledore why his precious golden boy was hit with a severe memory charm and further explain how Potter happened upon the dark curse, you will say nothing and allow me to handle it. Never mind the clear and present fact that if the Hogwarts rumor mill caught on this horrible set of circumstances, it'll make Draco's goal even more impossible! So shut the fuck up, heal my cousin and bring him back up to full health, and let me handle this. Your job is to keep him safe. I will handle Potter, on my own terms, and in my own manner. You will not interfere; so shut up and get back to healing."
Snape looked ready to kill before calming himself and returning to his task. Harry did a double-take at the interaction. Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised?
"You . . . outrank Snape?" asked Harry, still in disbelief.
Delphini nodded and glared at him. "This coming Hogsmeade visit, you will be going with me. You will wait outside the portrait hall of Slytherin House. If you need directions, it's -"
"I know where it is," interrupted Harry, "I've been there before."
Snape paused and gave Harry a look of suspicion before resuming his mending of Draco. Delphini's lips twitched upward.
"Good, that makes everything easier," said Delphini, "We're going to have a lengthy chat. You'll be free to leave when we're done for that day. Don't dawdle and don't you dare say anything about what happened here to anyone else. You do, and I'll be sure to arrange information to leak to both the Ministry and the Prophet about you using Snape's dark curse on Draco, understand me?"
Harry nodded and slumped his shoulders. "So much for trying to do good . . . I'll meet with you this coming Hogsmeade."
Delphini smirked and Harry sighed.
Saturday,
Hogsmeade Trip
Delphini exited the Slytherin common room and smiled at Harry. Harry blushed as he noticed the trim and purple one-piece spaghetti strap dress. He averted his eyes from Delphini's exposed cleavage and raised his eyebrows at the shining, silver tiara on her head.
"You look nice," said Harry, Delphini chuckled. Harry flushed. "Er . . . nice tiara, does it represent something?"
"Thank you! You're looking well, yourself," said Delphini, appraising his outfit and raising an eyebrow. Harry blushed since he was in his standard school robes. He had thought the meeting would be formal. "As for the headpiece . . . it's a diadem. I really like Rowena Ravenclaw's long lost diadem so I thought I'd get myself a model of one."
Harry nodded and they fell in step together. They made their way to the carriages and sat across from each other without any other occupants.
"How's Malfoy doing . . .?" asked Harry, he sighed and forced himself to look at Delphini. "I'm . . . I'm honestly sorry about everything. I never meant for any of that to happen. I probably don't deserve forgiveness but . . . if there's anything reasonable I can do . . ."
"He's going to make a full recovery," said Delphini, giving a hopeful smile back. "And thank you for the kind words. I'll pass them along to him. He's more worried about the stupid mission, but . . . I'm currently working on a way to stop the whole stupid gambit from continuing to create wedge in my family. I know full well that you didn't mean to hurt him in that manner. I'll be sure to let him know too."
Harry nodded and remained silent. He didn't trust his voice and he didn't want to worsen the situation more than it already had. He was now basically in Delphini's pocket but he mostly felt guilt over the entire fiasco and felt he deserved punishment in some manner to make it up to Malfoy.
"So, tell me," said Delphini, hopeful to break the ice, Harry snapped to attention. "Why did you choose Divination as an optional subject? That seems completely stupid. You don't learn anything."
"I . . . just wanted to spend more time with my best mate, Ron," said Harry shrugging, "I didn't really think about it all that much."
Delphini raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you forgo the class with your other best mate, Hermione?"
"Well . . . it just seemed easier to stay," admitted Harry shrugging, "it's not as if I like the class."
"Wait . . . so let me get this straight," said Delphini, a sneer forming on her lips. "You picked a completely worthless subject because it was easy; and according to people in the class, you let yourself be told abusive insults by the professor about how you're going to die horribly, which has gone on for the past three years. To top it all off, for all this nonsense, you don't learn or gain anything of value for your trouble?"
Harry's face flushed beet red. "You . . . you make it sound like I'm stupid."
Delphini grinned at him. "What else would you call what I just described?"
Harry glared at her and a tense silence soon followed. Delphini kept the smirk on her visage. Once they were out of the carriage, Delphini motioned for him to follow. They walked past Rosmerta's Three Broomsticks and headed straight for the Hogs Head. They entered and found the place to be mostly empty. The pair found a secluded spot off to the side.
Harry suppressed a growl as he sat across from Delphini in the Hogs Head. Two butterbeers were placed upon their table. Harry looked around and forced himself not to groan as he noticed Dolores Umbridge inconspicuously seated on the other side of the tavern.
Did she plan this? Find more ways to torture me? thought Harry, absently rubbing the scarred portion of his hand. Well, I won't give in. I don't have time to worry about the Ministry's bumbling anymore.
Delphini followed his line of sight and snorted. She scowled at Umbridge.
"What a pathetic little cockroach," muttered Delphini, shaking her head before turning back to Harry.
"What?" said Harry as he looked back at her the same time. Delphini's features softened as she looked directly in his eyes.
"I heard all about it from the Hogwarts rumor mill and had Draco confirm it," said Delphini, Harry was surprised by the sympathetic gaze. "She tortured you, several others, and got away with it, right?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah . . . last year was . . . well, it was bloody awful. The previous two years have been . . . stressful to say the least."
Delphini snorted, rested her chin in one hand, and took a sip of her butterbeer. "That sounds like an understatement, if there ever was one. Why do you defend them?"
"Who? The Ministry? I don't." replied Harry frowning. He took a swig of his butterbeer before adding. "I don't condone or defend their actions."
Delphini raised an eyebrow. "Yet you're risking your life to protect them, whether you recognize it as such or not, it is for their benefit. What I truly wonder is, why did you not seek legal damages for the mental and physical torture that government drone did to you?"
Harry shrugged. "I overcame it and she got sacked. So all's well that ends well."
"You're joking, right?" said Delphini, she scowled. Oddly, Harry didn't feel that she was mad at him rather than for him. "In an ideal world, that would never have been allowed to happen to either myself, those I care about, or even to innocent strangers. If I were in your position, I think I'd seek to damage that bitch in the worst ways imaginable and revel in my success."
Harry looked down at his butterbeer. "Sometimes . . . you're wronged, you suffer, and there's nothing you can ever do to change that, even if it leaves a permanent mark. Fact is, nobody really cares and no one wants to ever hear . . . others feelings . . . because it just seems to be selfish, deluded, and arrogant. Any form of complaint for a wrongdoing is seen that way, when you're young and others have power over you. Most people . . . most of the time . . . just want what they can from you because of money, fame, or because they feel justified in hurting you. There's nothing I can ever do to change human nature. I suppose I'm no different with what happened to Malfoy . . ."
"That's pathetic, you're just going to accept the suffering as an irreversible fact of life and do nothing to change it?" asked Delphini, the disgust evident in her tone. "Even if you can't do anything immediately, you can bring about positive change to your situation and get justice for the wrongdoing. You can make them suffer for the crimes they did do to you. As for Draco . . . I think, if you really want to, you can make it up to him. I don't see why you feel guilt though, if I had been in your position, I wouldn't care about the opponent getting injured when they were about to use an unforgivable on me. I'm trying to understand, but I'm not sure I fully see your mindset in all this."
Harry sighed. "I . . . have always been . . . let's just stop, I don't want to make you angry or -"
Delphini waved her hand. "I like this conversation, please continue."
Harry raised an eyebrow momentarily before his shoulders slackened and he thought over what he wanted to say. "I . . . have always been demeaned, insulted, bullied, and seen as crazy throughout many times all my life. My early life with my relatives and in muggle schools, my time at Hogwarts for my second year and the two years prior to this year, and . . . I don't believe it'll ever get better when I become an adult. I think people tell children about hero stories and hope because . . . they think it makes kids happy before they have to face the real world, when all they really do is poison a kid's view of life worse than it would have been if they had prepared the kid to face challenges."
Harry looked away and sighed before looking back at Delphini's frowning face. Despite her discomfort, she was rapt to attention. Harry continued. "People always say that love is strength, forgiveness is strength . . . I think it's just a way to feel . . . okay. Not good, not pleasant, and I'm not sure it's even good for mental health, but I think people tell themselves to feel okay about horrible things because it feels endless. No matter how much you struggle, strive, and fight, you can't escape and people will always hurt you to get what they want. It happened to me with my relatives, it happened at Hogwarts, it happened from people at the Ministry who have nothing to do with Death Eaters, and even from so-called good people like Dumbledore keeping secrets from me. People use and hurt others to get what they want. I always have to deal with others hurting me. That's life. People say love and justice are true human values, but they really aren't. People just want you to shut up about your pain and do what you're told. Nobody wants to listen. All the love, justice, and friendship crap are just . . . self-pity. Stories about them are just . . . self-pity."
Delphini gaped at him. She seemed dumbfounded by his view of the world. She blinked and snapped back into attention. She straightened her posture and seemed to regard him in a new light. "Why do you protect and defend others so selflessly then?"
Harry shrugged. "They're all I have. I cherish each of those closest to me because I always felt there was something intrinsically wrong with me and that they could leave me at any moment. I know it's irrational, but . . . well . . . the past two years didn't help. Losing Cedric and Sirius hurt so much, I'd do anything to keep them all safe. I don't really care if it meant sending myself off to die without anyone else suffering or dying."
"I don't agree with your views, but I can empathize," said Delphini, she sighed. "If they truly love you, the worst thing you could do to them is sacrifice yourself. They would always feel guilt and shame for not being there to help you, for not being strong enough to prevent you from choosing death, and being reminded of you would make them feel miserable because of how they failed. It probably doesn't mean much coming from me, but if I was on your side and I duly apologize if this sounds crass, I and by extension the rest of your loved ones would be suffering the same pain of loss that you are suffering over your godfather."
Harry flinched and stared at Delphini thunderstruck. Delphini gave him an apologetic smile. Harry leaned back on his chair and thought over it. "I . . . I never thought of it like that, but I should have. What you're saying makes perfect sense. But . . . I mean . . . Sirius's death was my fault."
Delphini tilted her head. "What makes you so sure of that?"
"Well . . . if I hadn't been stupid enough to fall for Voldemort's ploy, he'd be alive," said Harry sighing, "I broke down in tears several times this summer. I just . . . I didn't know how to handle it. It's all my fault that he's dead. I didn't really want to talk about this to anyone I knew personally, because they would worry. I guess you're different, because we're almost strangers and it feels easier. Besides, you could easily make my life hell with the information that you do have."
"Based solely on what I know, I don't see how you're to blame. You were fifteen, you weren't given adequate information to make a fair judgment, and . . . while you did act rash, the adults completely failed you all around." said Delphini, Harry's eyes widened at the serious expression on her visage. "You were tortured by a yes-woman on a powertrip, ignored by someone who you thought you could put your faith in, and left in the dark about something which had massive ramifications about your future. Personally, I would blame the man holding all the cards."
Harry glared at her. "If you're trying to manipulate me into hating Dumbledore, it won't work."
Delphini's lips twitched. "You shouldn't mind me trying then, will you?"
"Sorry, won't tolerate it," said Harry, his tone measured. "he's not the best, but who is? Who am I to judge when I've never been in his position?"
"You have the right to judge when it blatantly effects your life and wellbeing," said Delphini, her tone equally measured. "To do otherwise is to comply thoughtlessly. You need to have your own priorities and they sometimes won't be what he likes but so what?"
"I'm not like that," said Harry, "besides taking down your father, there isn't much else."
"What do you mean?" questioned Delphini, catching his eye and peering at him in confusion. "Are you just Dumbledore's yes-man then, even after all that he's done to you? Are you just his obedient pawn?"
"No!" snapped Harry, scowling at Delphini. Delphini looked unconvinced. "I'm just being realistic. I'm just sixteen, there's no way I could ever win a bloody war without Dumbledore. I have nobody else that I can count on for support against a bloody army of Death Eaters. Even if I hated him, and to be honest I'm not sure whether I do or don't, I don't have any other options and nobody else is as prepared or serious with a plan to combat Death Eaters anyway. It's convenient and he's there for me. Voldemort's been hellbent on killing me before I was ever born. There's no point in pondering what-ifs and placing bets on make-believe."
Delphini's features softened again, she leaned back and took several sips of her butterbeer, and regarded him. "What if, hypothetically, you were given an option to save everyone you loved and prevent the terrible war to come, but . . . the cost was your wellbeing. Not death, but something much worse. You'd be locked in a dungeon, have your arms and legs cut off, and tortured at the mercy of Death Eaters and the Dark Lord, but the war and any harm to your loved ones was completely averted. Would you take the option, knowing the rest of your life would be eternal torment?"
"Yes," replied Harry at once.
Delphini suddenly stood up and sneered down at him. Harry looked up with wide eyes. Delphini shook her head. "Okay, I had to stop myself from laughing like a crazy person because there's no way that's tru --"
Harry thought over all the times that his life was in danger and how he regretted others getting hurt or killed because of him. Harry and Delphini locked eyes. Delphini froze and sat back down. Harry felt unnerved by her staring at him with a dumbfounded visage. The eyes seemed to be shocked by seeing his true nature.
"You're . . . not lying," muttered Delphini, more to herself than to him. "Why?"
"It's the best I can offer," said Harry shrugging, "and they're worth sacrificing myself for . . . even if . . . even if what you mentioned is true. At least, they'll be safe."
"I'd have to staunchly disagree, but well . . . it is your life," said Delphini frowning, "Although, I feel I should say this, I was despised, bullied, harassed, scorned, and essentially shit upon by my foster caretaker for the first eight years of my life and for the duration of my early school life. Fortunately, my aunt dropped by randomly one day during a vacation, found me being abused, and saved me from that life. From then on, I went to one of the best American boarding schools and would come to my new home with my aunt for the summers. My father has been nothing but compassionate and respectful. He doesn't know how to love like a normal person, but he does his best and I appreciate him for it. My life changed for the positive because one person was there to make a difference . . . someone who cared."
"I had that with my godfather . . ." said Harry shrugging, "but it fell apart. I was so eager about the prospect and I fucked it up . . . I fucked it up and . . . there's nothing for me to go back to really. I never really had a home and sometimes I feel like I don't really belong with either the Weasleys or at Hogwarts. That's just . . . how life is."
"And if you had something to go back to, would you be willing to sacrifice your life?" asked Delphini, "Would you be more or less compelled to sacrifice yourself for what you believe is the greater good?"
Harry shrugged his shoulders. "I never thought that deeply about it. I probably should but . . . I tend to try to not think over it too much so that I don't feel depressed about the prospect. Sometimes I feel as if everyone in my school year has a future except me . . . and, well, that's the reality of my situation. Slytherins are always telling me how foolish I am for defying Voldemort . . . as if I can apologize for simply existing. I'm already aware that I'll probably die, sometimes it feels like a relief to know my pain will be over someday. If you believe that's pathetic, that's fine, I just have to be realistic. I'm not going to survive this war whether I'm brave or a coward, I already know that, and that's partly why I can keep putting myself in danger."
"I can't agree with that mindset, it's self-deprecating and it's placing the value of one's life solely on the satisfaction and whims of others. Other people who never have to bear the same responsibilities or decisions that I do and who can judge so easily without ever having to endure the same hardships. To live based upon the whims of people sounds like an eternal hell." said Delphini, "I judge myself purely on my own values as best as I can and how successful I am at meeting my self-interests in a timely manner. I set-up quarterly goals and annual goals for that reason. It makes me focused, it makes me want to achieve more for myself. It keeps me going against any depression."
Delphini paused and gathered her thoughts. She looked Harry directly in the eyes before speaking."Sometimes, it's hard not to compare myself on a social standing, but I shouldn't let it poison my views. I don't find any value or comfort in forgiving others, if they bear no accountability for their wrongful actions towards me. If they make an effort to change, an honest effort on their part to prove themselves for me, then I can forgive but I see no point in forgiving those who would only hurt me and who would be given the right to hurt me with impunity because if I forgave then I would be condoning their actions. Forgiveness means not holding other people responsible for their actions, if you forgive without demanding they change what they did that hurt you and never speak out about your pain. You should never feel ashamed about speaking about your pain, you should never let anyone trample on your personal feelings, and you should never let them devalue your personal feelings when you're really hurting from mental and physical abuse, a personal tragedy, or being hurt in an accident either mentally or physically. If people do that to you, condition you into that, then they're unsympathetic scum and you should seek better social support. I know you are my enemy because of where we stand, but I don't hate you. I bear you no ill will. Draco told me about when that sociopathic bitch almost used an unforgivable. In a perfect world, that would never slide, and I can't say I could ever take revenge if it happened to me because of political considerations regarding who I am, but . . . don't forgive, don't ever forgive and forget. Don't dwell on it too much and let the hatred paralyze you from moving forward toward your goals and don't let it stop you from having goals either . . . I'm sure the hatred swells within you, that hatred swells in all people who are victimized by narcissists with too much power or those complacent with a status quo that allows victimization, but do not forgive. Some people are genuine trash and not worthy of forgiveness. If it matters enough, work hard to force them to recognize their wrongdoing, because otherwise they'll wrong you and others over and over carefree and without remorse."
"Are you being serious?" said Harry scowling, "Because, that honestly sounds like hogwash. Something people say to make themselves feel self-righteous and I think it would probably poison their view of the world once they fail."
"I am being serious, Harry Potter," said Delphini smiling, "If I feel a system is wrong and harmed me, then I will work to change it for my own self-interests so that it benefits me. I don't care what happens to others in the process and I will not feel sorry when I was the one wronged and they were complicit in it. It's not as if I'm advocating their deaths, I'm simply advocating punishment to hold them accountable and recognize under no uncertain terms that they were wrong for what they did to me. It's hard not to let that honest view poison me . . . I can't even say it's totally worth it or a person won't snap in frustration or give up due to depression. But is there a point to living an unsatisfied life? To not even try to change life for one's own self-interests? To be completely unselfish and repeatedly allow others to hurt you? That, in and of itself, seems like willful self-delusion to be complacent and ignore my own feelings when I am the wronged party. I honestly don't believe that to be complacent would be being fair to myself. Much like my early life, I would say that . . . I should always remind myself that I don't deserve to be treated so horribly and so coldly, especially about my feelings. I deserve better, no matter what others think of me or believe about me. I'm the one carrying the pain, not them. I'm the one who has to live with the consequences, not them. I have the right to feel how I feel and say that I deserve better than the shit I'm getting and that is not selfish arrogance . . . that's being fair to myself."
Harry looked away to the side and scowled as he spotted Umbridge. He gulped the rest of his butterbeer and placed it on the table. He took out several sickles from his pocket but Delphini waved him off and showed him a galleon in her pocket before putting it on the table.
"Just so we're clear . . . you really have no problems with the idea of sacrificing yourself for what you believe to be a greater good?" asked Delphini, gazing directly at his eyes.
Harry nodded as he gazed back unflinching. "I'd prefer it. That way, I don't feel guilty about anyone dying because of me. So . . . this was an enlightening conversation but I have to go."
"Sure," said Delphini, as Harry made to leave. "Take care."
Harry paused.
"You too," replied Harry looking back briefly before leaving the Hogs Head tavern by heading out the door.
"Hem, hem,"
Delphini turned to see the ugly toad of a woman staring at her with beady, lust-filled eyes. Delphini shivered and surreptitiously took out her wand in one quick flick with her hand from the pocket on her purple dress.
"I think you should come with me, little miss," said Umbridge, her wand pointed at Delphini's face.
Delphini slowly rose from her seat and her eyes widened upon seeing the locket of Slytherin on Umbridge's neck. Delphini stared at Umbridge with wide eyes. What the . . . is that real? How could it be? Fucking hell, I told him leaving it in some random cave was a stupid idea, even with all those blasted traps. I may as well check to see it it's the real deal.
Delphini scoured Umbridge's brain and saw Mundungus Fletcher give her the golden locket only two hours prior. It was sealed and presumably cursed but Umbridge hadn't put stock into that and couldn't resist putting it on. She checked Umbridge's mind further to see images of Umbridge fantasizing about being praised as a hero for capturing the Dark Lord's daughter. She delved further back to see Umbridge's perspective on the events regarding Harry last year.
Delphini sneered. She sent Dementors to Harry's home? What the hell? Weren't the Order suppose to be keeping him safe there? She tried using the torture curse, sent dementors to kill him, has my family locket, and sees me as a potential trophy to collect to restart her career and get an Order of Merlin. She's making this too easy . . .
Delphini raised her wand right at Umbridge's face. Obliviate!
Umbridge's face went blank before Umbridge could say a word. Delphini yanked Slytherin's locket and checked it. Her jaw dropped as she realized it was the authentic locket presumably kept safe. It would seem either Mundungus messed-up one of Dumbledore's plans or completely failed in his duties to the Order, perhaps both. Delphini quickly put it around her neck, checked to make sure the diadem was safely atop her head, and smiled at the barman.
She walked over to him and deposited 3 galleons. The barman hurriedly inspected them and raised an eyebrow. "What's this for?"
He looked up to see the tip of a wand. "Wait! I didn't --!"
Oblivate
Delphini quickly headed out the door. Her aunt Narcissa would be arriving soon and she would give her the two horcruxes that she had secured.
Well, this has been an uncharacteristically productive day.
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HP and DR: A Matrimony Made For Peace