"Expecto Patronum roughly translates to 'I await a Protector.' Since we're pretty confident Voldemort's soul is the basis for your connection I think you are right about Avada Kedavra. We'll have to use it but that doesn't mean we can't do something to protect you and your soul."

Her father had drilled into her head the importance of looking people directly in the eyes when speaking but her resolve suddenly failed her. She shifted her focus to the desk she was sitting at and continued.

"I'm going to create an additional spell, I'm calling it Tuuso Patronum. Between my spell and your mother's protection already in place I'm hoping we can shield you from Avada Kedavra."

The silence seemed to last an eternity as Harry processed her proposal. She waited. Finally he spoke.

"Tuuso Patronum...what does that translate to?"

She regained her courage and looked him in the eye. "I am your Protector."

After a few seconds of silence he smiled and the past four days of animosity were permanently forgotten. "Okay."

She smiled back, grateful that Harry kept silent on the implications on what her being able to cast such a spell could mean...what she felt for him. They would need to have that conversation at some point...for now they needed to focus.

"So, next steps?" Harry finally asked.

"Right," Daphne said, focusing on her notes and gathering her thoughts.

"I need to learn Expecto Patronum. Really learn it. I've read all the theory but I need to master it so I can come up with what I need to do."

"Makes sense," Harry agreed. "What else?"

"I'd like to learn more about how your mother saved you when you were a baby. If we are going to succeed with another Potter Miracle than it would be good to know as much as possible about the first time. I'm guessing whatever your mother did was similar to what I'm thinking."

"Potter Miracle?" he asked, a bemused expression on his face.

"That's what my father always called it," she replied, slightly embarrassed. "If it bothers you-"

"It's not that," he interrupted. "It's just I'm so used to everyone just talking about me...what I supposedly did or will do. The Boy Who Lived, The Chosen One, all that rot. It was really down to my mother and I'm sure my father helped as well. Potter Miracle is much better than those other stupid names...much better."

Daphne smiled, making a mental note to tell her parents later.

"So how can we do that?" Harry asked, bringing them back on topic.

"I thought I could say it was my Seventh Year Project...theorizing on the magic behind your mother's protection of you. I could use that to get access to additional research material and ask questions of my faculty sponsor. If I work it right I can even mix in some questions about my idea. What do you think?"

"First question," Harry replied seriously. "What's a Seventh Year Project?"

Daphne stared. Was he serious?

"The optional project you can choose to do based on a specific magical theory or concept?"

"Meant to start the progression toward a Mastery?"

"Also counts as extra credit toward the subject covered?"

"You should have had a meeting with your Head of House at the beginning of term explaining all this. Seriously none of this is ringing a bell?"

"Yeah, I remember that now," he mumbled. "I think once we heard the word 'optional' Ron and I spent the rest of the time playing Hangman. Hermione was a bit put out afterward."

"Merlin you are both idiots. McGonagall should have said you could earn extra Quidditch baskets...then you would have been hanging on her every word."

"Goals," he replied.

"What?"

"They're called goals, not baskets."

"After all of that your big takeaway was that I called it a basket instead of a goal?"

"Well pardon me if I didn't think taking on an optional project was the best idea," he said, suppressing a smile. "I've got a fair bit on my plate at the moment."

"They're called goals not baskets," she muttered in fake disgust, wadding up a blank bit of parchment and throwing it at Harry's head. "You are so lucky you asked me for help," she said with a smile.

"Anyway," Harry continued, "I'm okay with it but we need to be very careful who the sponsor is. I can only think of one professor at Hogwarts that would work."

"Go on," Daphne prodded.

"Flitwick. He would be able to speak on the theory and he doesn't automatically tell Dumbledore everything which is important because as soon as he finds out about this he's going to want to stop it."

Daphne could understand why Hermione got so frustrated with Harry sometimes. He was really intelligent and intuitive when he wanted to be.

"I was thinking about Flitwick as well...and don't worry about Dumbledore. What your mother did was a historical and unprecedented bit of magic. There is absolutely no way he can claim it isn't worthy or doesn't merit further study. As long as I can convince Flitwick the headmaster won't be able to stop it. And I have something in mind if he gets nosy."

That got Harry's attention. "And that is?"

"You have enough on your plate, just leave it to me. If he ever asks you about it just repeat 'I'm not at liberty to say' and leave it at that. It will infuriate him and he won't be able to do anything about it."

"What if he says it risks my safety or something?"

"I've got it all figured out Harry. Just leave it to me," she said calmly, smiling as she thought about what she had in mind.

"Terrifying, absolutely terrifying," Harry said as he shook his head before changing the subject.

"I had an idea I could work on as well," he continued.

"Does it involve Quidditch?" she teased.

"No, unfortunately," he responded throwing the parchment wad back at her. Unlike Harry she wasn't fast enough to avoid it hitting her in the face. She didn't care.

"If we could get our hands on one of the Horcruxes I thought we could experiment on it...help test out our theory."

"We only have one shot at Avada Kedavra, Harry. Can't really try it out ahead of time."

"I know that," he said irritably. "But it doesn't mean we can't try something milder...like Stupefy."

It was brilliant. He was brilliant. "So I cast Stupefy at you, focusing on your scar, and if the theory is correct than the Horcrux would be affected as well."

"Right."

She was gathering steam now. "And we could try different approaches...like you trying to use your magic as well to funnel the spell through the scar to see if it has an added impact."

"Right."

"And we see how much my own focus and maybe some Runes could help specifically target the horcruxes and minimize the impact to you."

"I would have never come up with that but it sounds great as well."

She was buzzing now. He was brilliant. They were brilliant.

"We make a really good team," she blurted.

He smiled.

As her exuberance wore down and her logical side kicked back in a question came to mind.

"Do you really think that's possible though? Finding one?"

"I do actually," he began. Remember what I said about Voldemort using trophies for his Horcruxes? If Dumbledore is right about him using things from the founders and wanting to store them in important places to his life...well I think there might be one at Hogwarts.

'Merlin he might be right,' she thought. Her enthusiasm was returning.

"Any idea where?"

"Not a clue," he answered honestly. "But while you're doing your bit I can work on my part. When I was near Quirrell or the diary I could...I don't know...feel something. If I can figure out places they may be in the castle I may be able to feel it."

"The Chamber of Secrets," she offered.

"Yeah, I thought of that too. I spent Friday night down there and didn't find anything. Hermione thought we had made up and I was breaking curfew with you that night so lie about it if she asks."

"You've spent a lot of time on this haven't you?" she asked.

"Well I couldn't have you hogging all the glory. Haven't you heard? I love the spotlight."

She laughed.

"Besides, it's like you said. We make a good team. I need to do my part."

Harry looked at his watch and immediately began packing his things up. "This has been great...really great, but I have to go or I'm going to be late. Those Quidditch baskets aren't going to score themselves you know."

"Idiot," she muttered as she smiled and waved goodbye.

As Daphne made her way out of the Quidditch stands she desperately struggled to contain her rage. The one thing...the ONE thing she cared about not happening during this stupid game had happened. Not only had it happened, it was one of his own teammates that had done the deed. She wanted to throttle McLaggen.

Everything had been going so well that week...she should have known it was too good to last. Ron was feeling better, she and Astoria had made it through two Patronus lessons without raising their voices, and she was set to meet with Flitwick on Sunday about her project. She should have known...known...something would happen. McLaggen happened.

Her brain was telling her to walk back to the castle. She could hear it on repeat...walk back to the castle...walk back to the castle. But her feet kept moving the opposite direction...toward McLaggen. She could vaguely hear Tracey call out her name but she ignored her. The idiot was arguing with all of his teammates claiming he had done nothing wrong. As she approached him her plan was set in place. It was simple, efficient and direct. He was so busy arguing he didn't even notice the vanishing spell she had subtly cast. That protective gear would have dulled the impact and that was unacceptable.

It took three taps on the shoulder before McLaggen stopped yelling and turned to look at her. Once she had his attention her plan was executed to perfection and she was quickly on her way to the hospital wing to check on Harry.

"Miss Greengrass," the imperious voice of Professor McGonagall called out. "What do you think you are doing?"

"Kneeing McLaggen in the groin, ma'am," she calmly replied, never breaking stride.

Notes:

For anyone interested Tuuso Patronum is based on the Latin phrase tuus sum which means 'I am yours'.