"Yeah," he responded, raising an eyebrow questioningly. "She ended it with her boyfriend last week. We spent a lot of time together over the summer so I guess she's kind of gravitated back to the group. Is that a problem? Because it really isn't. She thinks you're brilliant and definitely believes we're a couple. She told me-"

"It's not that...it's just...you're really going to make me say it aren't you?" Daphne was an idiot. She was going to say it out loud and she was an idiot.

"Apparently I am because I have no idea what you are going to say," he joked. He was far too amused for Daphne's liking.

She quickly pulled him into a nearby classroom and continued.

"I think she fancies you all right? I think she fancies you and it bothers me," she blurted out before she lost her courage. She gathered herself and continued talking more quietly.

"I know we were just pretending to date but it's more than that to me now. I'm not sure what it is exactly but it is so much more than that. So I think she fancies you and thinking that you might fancy her or anyone else is doing my head in. I realize I have no right and we have more important things to deal with right now but I can't help it."

Daphne stared at the ceiling. She didn't want to look at him. She had said it...she couldn't believe she had but it was too late to turn back now.

"I don't fancy Ginny," he said calmly. "I mean I did...if she would have broken up with Dean a few months ago I would have been thrilled. But not now. Everything has changed."

Suddenly it was back again...that feeling of being overwhelmed.

"The other day I was out after curfew under the invisibility cloak, he continued. "There were two seventh year prefects patrolling together. One of them...that Ravenclaw git... mentioned you and what he wanted to do with you. It took everything in me not to curse him then and there. I was really angry."

'Carmichael,' she thought in annoyance. 'It had to be Carmichael.' Part of Daphne wished Harry hadn't held back. Maybe then he'd stop staring at her all the time. Harry was the only one allowed to stare at her.

"Can you look at me?" he pleaded, grabbing her hand.

She looked to see that soft unguarded smile, the one she decided was reserved just for her.

"It's you Daph. You don't have to worry...it's you. It's just...I'm not sure if we should do anything about it right now. With everything going on...if I don't make it..."

He didn't need to finish the sentence...she knew exactly what he meant. It was all she could think about these days. She suddenly realized a few tears were trickling down her face. Were they from joy? Sadness? A mixture of both? She stubbornly wiped them away and nodded her understanding.

She thought about the last few months...how brilliant and terrifying they had been and how she had never regretted not turning around on her way to the library for their first meeting.

She looked into his questioning eyes. 'Checkers not chess' repeated in her mind.

"Sod it" she muttered as she pulled him forward and kissed him. It was sudden, slightly wet and it didn't end for a very long time. She had wanted to do this for months and Harry apparently felt the same way.

Eventually they broke apart and she pulled him close, laying her head on his shoulder. "First rule," she said softly as she closed her eyes and leaned in further. "You only call me 'Daph' when we're alone. My parents used to call me that and I hated it. They'll never let me live it down if they hear you saying it."

"It's not a problem," he replied, "if you don't like it I can-"

She pulled back and kissed him again before speaking. "I didn't say I didn't like it when you said it."

"Okay", he replied simply, the unguarded smile returning. "Just to be fair you can call me 'Hare Bear' or something."

"I think I'll stick with Harry," she deadpanned, pulling him toward the door, walking slightly closer than she had allowed herself before. "Where are we going to by the way?"

"Almost there...just up this way," he replied matter of factly as they waited for the stairs to stop moving.

As they turned the corner Daphne spotted a fourth year Slytherin standing nervously, inexplicably holding a set of scales. When the girl spotted them her nervous expression morphed into one of panic as she dropped the scales and started walking away quickly.

"Meredith!" she called to her but the girl did not stop...if anything she only walked faster.

She could feel Harry tense as he muttered something unintelligible under his breath before speaking to her. "We'll have to come back another time. We won't be able to get in now."

"What are you talking about? You said it's here?" she asked incredulously.

"It won't work. There's someone in there already," he spit out, pulling her back the way they came.

"Wait!" she said, letting go of his hand and stopping. "How can you possibly know that?"

He held out his hand. "I'll explain everything as we walk, okay? Please?"

"Fine," she grumbled, taking his hand back and squeezing. "Start explaining."

"Draco is doing something in there and I think he's been using Crabbe and Goyle as lookouts under Polyjuice. That's why he...she...whatever dropped the scales. They were warning Malfoy that someone was there. He won't be coming out anytime soon."

He took a deep breath before continuing.

"I think he might be behind what happened to Katie Bell and Ron. He's failed at whatever he's planning so far and he's working on something new in that room."

"Harry that's crazy," she said automatically.

"Yes, yes, I know," he said bitterly. "That is what everyone else has been saying. Believe me I know. Let me ask you something. Does your friend Meredith make a habit of carrying around scales, dropping them and running off? Because the same thing happened to Hermione awhile ago."

He was right. She and Meredith weren't the best of friends but she certainly wasn't scared of Daphne and as far as she could recall Meredith could never be bothered to care about Harry either way. Her running away made no sense.

She thought about how Draco had been acting lately and Astoria's observations about how upset and nervous he had seemed. If she had started dating Harry in any other year Draco would never have given her a moment's peace about it. Now all she merited were a few resentful looks from time to time.

"Okay you may be right," she grudgingly agreed, "but do you really think Draco is capable of murder? He's vile but harmless."

"Everyone thought the person who betrayed my parents was harmless," he said bitterly.

They walked in silence after that as she could think of nothing to say. The things he had to deal with? There were no words to make him feel better...they hadn't been invented. All she could do was offer to help.

"I'll talk to Meredith...the real Meredith...and make sure it wasn't her. I'll speak to Snape as well. If you had been using Polyjuice you know he'd have you hung up by your entrails by now."

"Thank you...I appreciate it but I don't want you to do anything," he said quietly.

"It's not a problem Harry," she replied encouragingly. "I can talk to Meredith without making her suspicious and Snape will have to do something once we have proof-"

"Daphne, please...I don't want you to do anything."

"It's really okay I don't-"

"Daphne you are misunderstanding," he said more forcefully. "I really don't want you to do anything. Snape and Dumbledore already know and aren't doing anything about it and I need you safe. If Draco thinks you suspect something you could be hurt. Just...you are doing enough already...so much...and I need you to stay safe. You're going to keep me alive and I'm going to keep you alive."

Too many people had died for him...had left him. She would be smart for Harry.

"Okay," she said gently, kissing him again simply because she was allowed to now. "But how about this...I'll let you know when Draco is in the common room with my coin so you'll know when the room is free"

"That would be brilliant and thank you. For helping and believing me."

"Not a problem," she said, wrapping her arm in his as they began walking again. "It's what any totally real, not pretend girlfriend would do, Hare Bear."