They had already missed curfew by several hours but Daphne had given no consideration to leaving. She got the distinct impression that Harry had revealed very little of what they had been talking about that night to others...probably been encouraged not to. She could tell that he had skipped or was purposely vague on some bits (presumably too important to reveal before she had given her oath) but what he had shared was revelatory.

They were close to finishing up their fourth year and the stories had seemed to have lost the whimsy his first couple of years had contained. Funny stories about three-headed dogs named 'Fluffy' and flying cars were gone, replaced by dementors, werewolves, unforgivable curses, and now...a graveyard.

"I had to bring his body back. I couldn't leave it there...with them." Harry paused and bowed his head, staring at the floor again. "I should have known the cup was a trap-"

"Shut up Potter," Daphne interrupted without pretense, stopping him from heading down the path he was headed down again. A quick glance at her watch told her it was now 2:30 in the morning. She had heard ridiculous story after ridiculous story and at every turn, Harry had taken great pains to point out that he was lucky, should have figured out things sooner, could have done better, or had failed somehow despite facing You Know Who...Daphne had to stop and count to make sure she got the number right...three...three times and not only lived to tell the tale but bested him every time.

"What you've done...had to go through...it's unbelievable. I literally would not believe it if there wasn't a fifty-foot basilisk over there telling me otherwise."

She took a deep breath and gathered herself before continuing. How had the adults in his life left him with such low self-esteem? He would have never lasted in Slytherin. She was suddenly embarrassed for Slytherin house.

She had originally thought it unbelievable that he would ask her or any sixth year for help with so many adult experts literally right down the hall. Now she understood it. They couldn't be bothered to take him seriously or were simply too afraid. Before tonight she had never held any strong opinions about the Headmaster. Now she despised him.

"Stop insulting yourself or the deal is off. Yes, you were lucky sometimes. Yes, as much as I hate to admit it, Granger and Weasley were brave and brilliant as well. That does not take away from the fact that what you have done is...I don't even know the word."

She had been staring at him throughout her monologue daring him to contradict her but he had remained silent...his head stubbornly looking at the ground...somewhat still embarrassed and unwilling to listen to the facts. She purposely paused, letting the silence drag out until he raised his head to look at her. Only then did she continue.

"'I'm sixteen years old and I only believe...really believe... in two things...my family and Tracey. Everything else...everyone else...has disappointed me. It only took you three days to make me believe in you, Harry. So shut up."

Harry stared at her for a long time, eventually letting a small smile cross his face. "Is it okay if I say something? I promise I'll try to not insult myself."

"Prat," she replied with a smirk and a nod.

He suddenly became serious before staring at the damnable ground again. "Fifth-year was really hard. I went to the Ministry because I thought someone I was close to, my Godfather, was in danger. It turned out to be a trick by Voldemort so he could get the prophecy they mentioned in the Prophet. He wasn't in danger...wasn't even there originally...but because I was stupid and fell for the trap he came to the Ministry to help and...died. It isn't fair. It's hard. When people die...are dying...it's hard to be proud. Or happy. They don't deserve-"

"My sister is dying," she interrupted unthinkingly. She could not believe she was telling him this. Tracey didn't even know what she was about to share. If Astoria ever found out she would be furious.

She suddenly felt the need to look at the ceiling as her eyes became moist and she furiously blinked away the tears. She hadn't cried about this since she was seven and would not start again. "My family was cursed hundreds of years ago. It had skipped several generations...we thought it had run its course until it showed up in Astoria. If she is really careful...avoids overexerting herself...doesn't have children and doesn't strain herself unnecessarily she can hopefully....at best... live to the age of fifty."

"Unfortunately she's like you. She tries and will be lucky to make it to thirty-five." she chuckled and looked back at Harry who was now staring...waiting for her to continue.

"She is so much better than me...better than my parents even. I think she is the only one in Hogwarts who somehow believes in you and Draco. I actually wore a 'Potter Stinks' badge you know...just because Draco and Pansy wouldn't shut up until I put it on. I think I had it on all of thirty seconds before Astoria stormed over from the Hufflepuff table calling me a coward and telling me she knew I wasn't stupid enough to believe you deserved that, glaring daggers at Draco the entire time. Then she went over and told off Cedric for letting his friends and the other Puffs wear them."

She was rambling now but she couldn't stop. She'd only really been talking to Harry for a few days but he was so much like her sister. He deserved to know how much she admired people like that...people who always tried. In public it was hard to acknowledge it. But in the Chamber...a mile away from everyone else...after everything he had shared...she needed to tell him.

"It was so ridiculous...she was a second year at the time and she made me, Draco, and Cedric...the Hogwarts champion!...feel so embarrassed. And the worst part is she was right! I'm guessing 90% of the Puffs hated her that year and it only made her more adamant about it. She knew she was right and was so disappointed in everyone and so stubborn. I'm convinced if Draco could spend half the time around my sister that he does around his father he would cease being a dickhead...well mostly cease being a dickhead."

"Good luck with that one," Harry responded with a chuckle. "Draco has...issues."

'He used to not be so bad you know. When he was younger he was nice...a bit arrogant...who wouldn't be with a father like he has." She looked up to see Harry staring intently at her.

"Everyone's reaction to you when we got to Hogwarts seemed to smother all the good he had. Astoria said he wanted all the attention you got but thought...thanks to his arrogant father... he didn't need to earn it. In his mind you didn't really do anything to get the attention so why should he?"

"Yeah...nothing," he muttered. "Just grow up with two murdered parents and everyone celebrating the day they died."

"That's exactly what Astoria said!" Daphne replied with a laugh. "Merlin you two are so alike. I really need to check her for dodgy scars."

Harry laughed.

"She's much more cheerful than you though...too cheerful. Kind of annoying actually," she said, not meaning a word of it. "The only time she's ever sad is when she catches me or my parents thinking about her condition. She calls us idiots and storms off usually."

"She sounds brilliant," he said with another genuine smile. "I can't believe I picked the wrong sister."

"Like I said she's like you. She wanted no part of Arithmancy and Runes. She could easily be top five in her class but she hovers somewhere around the middle. If you want to be cheerful and read magazines all day you can pick her. If you want to...you know...succeed...then you made the right choice."

Harry raised his arms in surrender. "Fine, fine...I guess I'm stuck with the successful, serious one. That magazine thing is tempting though."

Daphne nodded in agreement. "I'll help you do important things like getting rid of You Know Who then once he's gone you can hang out with Astoria and be frivolous. It will be a nice break for me actually."

Harry's expression darkened briefly as his thoughts seemingly went somewhere else. Daphne decided not to ask what was wrong. They'd done enough sharing for one night. Suddenly the late hour caught up with her and she let out a large yawn.

"I think that's our cue to call it a night," Harry said as he stood up and made for his broom."What I need to tell you about last year should probably be done under the oath anyway."

Daphne nodded her agreement but had one more item to discuss before they left the Chamber. Now that she had gotten over the shock of the basilisk her business training kicked in.

"You know you could make a lot of money harvesting that basilisk. The venom especially but the hide as well...they are extremely rare and extremely valuable. My father could set up harvesting-"

"Absolutely not," Harry interjected, "I need to keep a low profile. "Escorting a bunch of people into the Chamber to dissect that thing would just put more focus on me. If you could somehow magically transport the basilisk out of here without anyone finding out I wouldn't mind."

Daphne had expected that reply and nodded resignedly. It was sensible and smart. "Maybe after this is all over then. It's a shame the house-elves are loyal to Hogwarts. Two or three of them could apparate it right out."

She had just banished the chairs and was taking one last look at the beast when she heard Harry mutter from behind. "Really?"

"Really what?"

She could tell Harry was thinking now. "House-elves could really do that?"

"Yes...but you don't want anyone to know. I'm sure Dumbledore would find out. House-elves are always loyal to their masters."

"What if I knew an elf at Hogwarts that is loyal...really loyal to me? Could he convince one or two others to help and keep the secret?"