As she approached the Hospital Wing doors she realized this was the second time she had visited the place in the last week. That matched the sum of the visits she had made in her first five and half years at the school. This was by far, in her opinion, the worst side effect of existing within Harry Potter's orbit.

She pushed the doors open and spotted him immediately, asleep and peaceful. The fact Madam Pomfrey was nowhere in sight was a good sign as it meant any crisis had been taken care of. Her logical side was appeased but the other part of her still needed reassurance. She quickly made her way to his bedside and fully relaxed once she saw the peaceful rise and fall of his chest signifying that he was in fact, breathing. Seeing him so relaxed and serene was oddly calming. She could have stayed there the rest of the day and just watched.

"He's fine," Ron said from across the room. "He had a cracked skull but Madam Pomfrey fixed him up straight away...said he'd be out for a few hours though."

She turned to see that Hermione was sitting with Ron, a worried expression on her face. "It's horrible isn't it? I've seen him like this so many times over the years and it never gets any easier. I'm going to strangle Cormac."

'Who is Cormac?' thought Daphne before realizing she must mean McLaggen. No need to remember that toe-rag's first name.

A new voice came from the entrance doors. Daphne looked to see that the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team (except for the toe-rag) was making their way toward them.

"No need, Hermione. My new favorite Slytherin here has already helped settle things. Well done Greengrass," said Ginny. She looked slightly friendlier this time although that wasn't saying much. "McGonagall wants you to stop by her office later by the way. You left too quickly for her to assign you detention."

"What did you do?" asked Ron, nearly bursting with anticipation.

"I assaulted McLaggen in a sensitive area slightly below the neck," she meekly answered.

Ron looked very pleased while Hermione seemed to be trying, and failing, to look scandalized.

"It's a pity that Keepers wear so much protection," Ron said through his laughter. "You could have really driven the point home."

"I may have also vanished his padding before the assault," Daphne clarified, doing her best not to smile.

"Legend!" Ron shouted. Hermione had given up all pretense of looking disappointed and was now chuckling. Daphne turned to see that the entire herd of Gryffindors were beaming as well.

This had to be a first: A Slytherin not only becoming a hero to the House of Lions but doing so for assaulting one of their own. Having that many people in scarlet and gold smiling at her just felt wrong. Good but wrong.

She noticed that Ginny was now looking down at her and Harry's enjoined hands. When did she start holding his hand? She quickly let go and made her way over to Ron and Hermione, suddenly uncomfortable in the spotlight.

"How are you feeling Ron?" she asked.

"Fine, fine," he answered. "Pomfrey said I can escape in a day or two...no permanent damage done. Lucky Harry thought of the bezoar so quickly...a minute or so more and it could have been curtains."

"Wait," Daphne interjected, "Harry was the one who thought of the bezoar?"

"Let me guess," Ginny chimed in affectionately as she made her way to Ron's bedside, "Harry just mentioned the bezoar and not the fact that he was the one who thought of it while Slughorn was panicking."

"It's nice to meet you by the way," Ginny continued as she stuck out her hand, "I'm Ginny." Daphne could tell she was doing her best to be friendly. She was pretty. Too pretty.

"Right in one. I should have known..." Daphne responded as she shook Ginny's hand. "Please call me Daphne, Harry has told me a lot about you." Entirely too much in Daphne's opinion.

"Really?" Ginny asked, seemingly pleased and sad at the same time. "He's a good friend," she continued, glancing back at Harry's bed.

'She definitely fancies Harry," Daphne mused, annoyed that she turned out to be so friendly, pretty and non-hateable.

She heard the doors open behind her and watched Ginny's expression change to one of annoyance when she spotted the cause. Daphne recognized him as another Gryffindor in her year. 'Thomas', she remembered. She had no clue whether it was his first or last name.

"Got to go," Ginny said as she gave one final mournful glance at Harry. "Tell him I stopped by."

She watched as Thomas moved to grab Ginny's hand immediately, shooting a resentful look Harry's way. At the very least Thomas thought Ginny fancied Harry.

"I should go as well," she stated as she got to her feet, "I'll check back in later."

She quickly made her way to the door, waved goodbye and watched as the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team waved back. It was very odd.

As she exited the doors she pulled out her coin and gave it a tap.

I stopped by but you were asleep. Send a message when you're awake so I can yell at you properly for getting hurt. If you promise to be conscious at the end of your next match I'll think about wearing your jersey.

As crazy as it seemed she meant it. Maybe she could charm it to be less Gryffindorish. Burgundy and gold did not suit her complexion and would infuriate her housemates so that needed to go. Green and silver would be fine as long as it said Potter on the back. That was the important bit.

Daphne didn't get to see Harry until the next day and despite herself she was entirely too nice to him. There was no reprimanding or scolding...only fussing. She was so disappointed in herself because she did not fuss. Harry didn't seem to mind though. She honestly did not mind either. He and Ron had been a nice distraction before her meeting with Professor Flitwick.

"Hello Miss Greengrass!" the professor chirped enthusiastically, waving for her to sit.

"I must say I was quite surprised at your request," he continued while pouring them tea and smiling. Not for the first time Daphne wished he was the head of her house.

"I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me Professor," she stated cordially.

"Not a problem, not a problem," he assured as he hopped onto his seat. "I've read your thesis and feel I must warn you though. Since Lily Potter's sacrifice I've had at least one student propose such a topic every year only to change their mind later. The headmaster has typically discouraged students from continuing and the information available is scarce."

'Of course,' she mused. Harry was right...Dumbledore was definitely up to something.

"You only said warn, Professor," Daphne observed. "Does that mean you would still sponsor me if I choose to continue?"

Flitwick considered her as he steepled his tiny fingers. "I'd like to know why you've chosen such a project. Your grades have always been exemplary but I never thought you had much of a passion for the subject. As I understand it you are planning on focusing on your family business once you graduate. I would think if anything you would choose to attend a muggle business school after Hogwarts."

He didn't look suspicious or patronizing, he genuinely wanted to know. Flitwick struck her as a checkers player. She decided to be as honest as she could be.

"I'm not doing it for a Mastery," she answered. "I'm mainly doing it for Harry. What his mother did was important and I'd like him to know as much as he can. And if I'm being totally honest I'd also like the extra credit."

It felt like an eternity as she waited for the professor to respond. He finally broke her gaze and looked down at his desk, grabbing what looked to be some sort of planner.

"Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are very busy for me but we can set times to meet any other day that works for you. I would propose we schedule an hour a week to start and increase as necessary."

"Thank you sir," she blurted. She couldn't wait to tell Harry.

"You are welcome Miss Greengrass," he answered kindly. "I must admit my answer would probably have been different had you given any other explanation."

"I must warn you however," he continued, "I will need to submit your project to the headmaster. You will more than likely be summoned to his office in the next few days for a discussion. I will be more than happy to attend any meeting you may have."

"Thank you sir," she replied honestly, "You are doing so much already, I think I should handle it myself."

He nodded and smiled.

She took a sip of tea and continued. "Is this going to cause problems for you with the headmaster? Helping me with this?"

"Oh most certainly!" he squeaked. "But what is life without a few problems from time to time? "

Definitely a checkers player.