A/N: Thank you for the uptick in favorites, alerts and reviews. Two reviewer questions are answered in this chapter and please continue to nitpick. For the guest that left a review, create an account and I'll be happy to chat.

Daphne opened the door to her family's estate and hurried inside. She knew that Harry wouldn't give her a lot of time to get ready and she still had to get Astoria and Derek on board with the plan. With that thought in mind Daphne turned around on the stairs and hastened into the lord's study where Derek spent most of his time. Her older brother looked up when Daphne entered the room and he sat back in his chair with eyebrows raised.

"I didn't expect you to come home dear sister as I thought you and Potter would be off canoodling somewhere."

"Ha ha. Very funny brother. My day is only halfway over and I'm going to ask that I be able to take Astoria with me for the evening."

Daphne couldn't control the light blush that dusted her cheeks at Derek's comment about her kissing Harry and she pushed those tempting thoughts away with great effort. Derek's posture didn't change and he shrugged his shoulders. Daphne gave a near silent breath of relief as at least her older brother hadn't rejected her question outright.

"Harry is going after a Daily Prophet reporter, Balathier Thanos, and he has asked that Astoria and myself join a few others in the attempt."

"Who else is going? How come Astoria's presence is required?"

"Draco, Susan, Neville and Harry will be there and I believe that Astoria amuses and challenges Harry. You came a moment too late when we were all eating ice cream outside of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour and if you had arrived earlier you would have seen Astoria debating Harry quite intensely."

"Our little sister can't just keep her opinions to herself can she?"

Daphne didn't say anything for fear of tipping her brother's mind in the wrong direction and it took great control not to fidget with her hands. After another moment Derek sighed, waved his hand and returned to the reports on his desk.

"Go and take Astoria with you. Please return her before nine p.m. and I want a letter detailing what happened at this meeting. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin have been men of their words and have been pushing the investigation into the wrongful imprisonment of our father hard. Amelia Bones has agreed to a meeting between the three of us and her with the intention of looking over the evidence one more time."

"And?"

"And it's all circumstantial. There are witnesses who swear that Thomas Greengrass killed that muggle family and no one else is stepping forward to say otherwise. I do not want to stoop to shady tactics, but the temptation grows stronger every day and the deck seems stacked against us."

"Except now we have help and that is better than what we had four months ago."

Daphne smiled at her brother and he smiled back but the smile didn't reach his eyes. Daphne left her brother to his melancholy thoughts and walked upstairs to Astoria's room. She knocked on the door and walked in when her sister called out for her to enter. The younger Greengrass daughter looked up from her magazine and she smiled widely when she saw Daphne standing there. The younger sister scrambled off her bed and launched herself into Daphne's arms. Daphne chuckled and hugged her sister back just as tightly.

"What are you doing here? You should be at Hogwarts. Not that I'm not happy to see you because I am, but you don't return to the manor unless it's the holidays."

"Breathe Tori and try not to get too excited. I am here to invite you to dinner with Harry, myself and a few friends."

"You're what?"

Daphne rolled her eyes and walked over to her sisters walk in closet. She perused through her sister's dresses and selected one that would be appropriate attire for tonight's dinner. She walked back into her sister's room and clapped her hands. Astoria hadn't moved from her spot in the middle of the room and she startled at Daphne's hand clap.

"Harry and Draco are going to make a power move on the media tonight and Harry has requested that you be right beside him. Our older brother has approved of you going and we must be ready to go as soon as possible. Go take another shower and then sit down at your vanity. I will be back here in fifteen minutes."

Astoria's expression showed that she wanted to ask more questions, but Daphne marched her younger sister to her attached bathroom and pushed her through the doorway. Astoria grumbled but acquiesced and Daphne ran to her own room. She stripped down naked in a hurry, not caring where her clothes ended up and dashed into her own bathroom. Seven minutes later Daphne strode out of her bathroom and over to her dresser. She pulled out a lacy set of white lingerie and stumbled as she got dressed in the tiny bits of fabric.

"Tilly!"

"Mistress has called Tilly?"

"Fix my hair for me please."

Daphne sat down at her vanity and reached for her makeup. Tilly did up Daphne's hair and Daphne finished with her simple but dramatic makeup choices. She stepped into the dress that Tilly had also picked out for her, thanked her house elf and then sprinted back to Astoria's room. Daphne knocked before entering and saw Astoria sitting at her vanity as instructed.

"You got ready in a hurry Daphne and what's with your style of makeup? You don't usually do the dramatic choices."

"We all have parts to play in tonight's scheming Tori and our appearances will say just as much as our words. Lose the towel and sit up straight."

By this time Daphne had draped Astoria's dress over her bed, called for Tilly again and applied the same style of makeup to Astoria's face as on her own. Tilly mimicked Daphne's hair styling and Daphne stepped back so Astoria could slip into her own dress. Daphne zippered up the back of Astoria's dress and stepped in front of her younger sister.

"You look very pretty and chic there Tori. Now, Harry will be here to pick us up and-"

"The two of you definitely look lovely. Have dinner plans?"

"Mum! You scared me. How long have you been standing there?"

Daphne turned around and made sure to keep her face as blank as possible. Their mum stood in Astoria's bedroom doorway and regarded her daughters with a penetrating gaze. Daphne stood behind Astoria and held her hand.

"I was walking by to head downstairs to the gardens and your door eased open. I couldn't help but overhear the last bit of your conversation. Going somewhere?"

"We are attending a social outing with Lord Potter-Black, Lord Malfoy and some other members of the Ruling Nine. Come on Astoria, we don't want to be late. Excuse us mum."

Daphne walked past her mum, still holding Astoria's hand and she saw Harry's house elf Dobby waiting for them in the foyer. Derek ambled out of the lord's study just as the three witches reached the ground floor. Derek must have seen the agitated look on Daphne's face as he grinned and whistled.

"You ladies definitely look nice and I hope you enjoy your evening out."

"Derek what is going on? Daphne has been away all day and she comes back home to take Astoria out to some dinner."

"Regent Black and Regent Potter are calling in a tiny favour out of the many that we are going to owe them if father is to be exonerated and I see no harm in allowing my sisters to attend a night out with their friends."

By this time Daphne had kissed Derek's cheek farewell, grabbed Dobby's outstretched hand and disappeared from the simmering cauldron that was the Greengrass Estate.

South Side of Diagon Alley. Daily Prophet

Balathier Thanos stood up and his gaze swept over his tidied-up desk. Having a cubicle in the bullpen of the Daily Prophet meant very little privacy and limited real estate for space so every item needed its proper place on his desk. He swung his cloak over his shoulder, grabbed his satchel and strode through the bullpen.

"Thanos! Get in here!"

His supervisor's booming voice echoed in the empty bullpen and Balathier sighed. He really wanted to just go out to the pub, grab a pint or two and try and score a lady friend for the evening. Instead, he turned around and leaned against the doorframe of his supervisor's office. The man didn't look up from tomorrow's layout and threw a letter at him. Balathier caught it and knew from first glance that it was from someone high up in society. The letter was of high-end paper and the ink had that snobbish handwriting seemingly all elitists had.

"Don't ask if I know who its from. Came in by owl post."

Balathier had to hand it to his supervisor as the man always had that knack for answering unasked questions and anticipating how conversations would play out. This was a skill that Balathier hoped to emulate and he opened the letter.

Dear Mr. Balathier Thanos,

You are creating quite the name and reputation for yourself as an honest and factual reporter. Your articles are thorough and share information not readily available to the public. If you have the time available this evening please join me for dinner at The Ivy. Dinner reservations are for 6:30 PM sharp and please tell the hostess "party for John Doe".

The fact that the letter went unsigned didn't concern Balathier because in his line of work many people wanted to remain anonymous or off the record and Balathier respected that fact. Whoever this potentially new source was, they had a sense of humour with the wording in the pass phrase and he folded the letter back up. He left his supervisor's office, walked out of the building and pulled on his cloak as he stood in Diagon Alley. The busy alley had quieted down for the day, the last few shops closing for the night and Balathier walked further down the alley to the high-end restaurant known as The Ivy. He pulled open the heavy wooden door with gold embellishments and an attendant took his cloak with a genial smile.

"Hello and welcome to The Ivy. Your ticket sir."

"Yes, thank you."

Balathier took his coat ticket and ambled over to the hostess station with his hands in his trouser pockets. The pretty witch smiled coyly at him, teeth biting her lower lip and Balathier smirked in kind. He leaned against her booth and waited with a raised eyebrow. The hostess flushed and straightened.

"Welcome and how can I help you sir?"

"Why hello to you as well and party for John Doe."

The witch's eyes widened for a fraction of a second and she stepped out from behind her booth. Now that the wooden booth didn't hide her away Balathier appreciated the fit of her tailored trousers against her legs and arse and the generous bust line straining against the crisp white button down. Even if this evening didn't go as planned Balathier would come back and flirt with this spectacular looking woman.

"Of course sir and if you would follow me please."

The hostess had lost her coy flirting and instead walked with a ramrod professionalism. Balathier's senses were on high-alert now and his gaze continuously roved over the other patrons in the restaurant. He was seated along a side wall at a medium sized table, the cute hostess left without another word and Balathier picked up the menu.

"I am telling you Harry that your actions and behaviours are unacceptable. The way you handled that simpering tart outside of Flourish and Botts earlier today? I didn't think you would stray and that hussy has nothing on me."

"Daphne please keep your voice down. We are trying to enjoy a nice evening out and not everyone needs to hear about your jealousy."

"My jealousy?! You have quite the nerve Harry Potter!"

Years of training as a reporter kept Balathier from visibly reacting and he turned his head minimally to the right. Seated two tables over from him were Harry Potter, Daphne Greengrass, a younger girl and Draco Malfoy. All four young magicals were dressed for the evening out and Balathier surreptitiously pulled out a small notepad. Most interactions, outings and conversations with the developing power base of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy were either carefully controlled or scripted. This opportunity could give him an inside look behind the masks and appearances of three Most Ancient and Noble Houses.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Not everything that Harry and Daphne talk about needs to be dissected in the media."

Heir Apparent to House Bones, Susan Bones, sat down and placed her hand over his that held the quill in his hand. The splendidly beautiful witch smiled but her eyes were firm and dangerous. Anonymity was a reporter's best friend and Balathier had gone through great lengths to make sure that he remained as unobtrusive and unnoticeable as possible. Warning bells went off in his head as he realised that he had walked straight into a trap, but he figured he could wiggle his way out of it without too many strips taken off his back. He smiled and raised his eyebrows at Susan's hand that still held his own down.

"I assure you Heir Apparent Bones that I have no intention of disparaging the Lord Potter-Black, Lord Malfoy or their two lovely witches. In my line of work however one must seize on every opportunity."

"And we have no large issue with that Balathier Thanos, but we are going to take control of our narrative and you are our second step in that objective."

The larger frame of Heir Apparent Neville Longbottom sat down on Balathier's free side, the wall shielding his other side and took Balathier's notepad away from him. He took his quill next, placed it on top of the notepad and tossed it over his shoulder. While not out of his power to do so as an Heir Apparent, Neville Longbottom's actions were outside his established or perceived character and Balathier was in for another shock as Heir Apparent Blaise Zabani caught his notetaking gear. Blaise Zabani sat down on Susan Bone's right side and casually draped an arm over the back of her chair. Balathier processed this new information quickly and he smirked. He leaned back in his chair and tossed his hands up in the air.

"A well-laid trap milady and gentlemen but this doesn't seem like how House Zabani, Bones or Longbottom handle their affairs."

"And you would be correct Mr. Thanos as I am the one that designed this meeting. Seems more like House Black now doesn't it?"

The surprises kept coming as Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Daphne Greengrass and the other witch all walked over to Balathier's table. With a flick of his wand Harry Potter moved his table over and joined the two tables together. He held out a seat for Daphne Greengrass and Draco Malfoy did the same for the other witch before the two wizards resumed sitting. Harry Potter's eyes were alight with humour and mischief but his facial expressions were schooled as his lordship training had taught him. Draco Malfoy flagged down a waitress and decorated glass pitchers of water were brought out. Balathier picked up his glass and took a sip so he could gather his thoughts.

"Yes milord you are right, this is more along the lines of House Black. To what do I owe the pleasure of such exclusive company and in this fine establishment?"

"Weren't you paying attention to Longbottom and Bones there Balathier? We are going to help you write our narrative and in return you get several exclusives."

Harry Potter spoke in a mocking tone and he had his arm draped over Daphne Greengrass's chair. The waiter returned and placed several bread baskets down in the middle of the table. Balathier didn't take one just yet and his eyes narrowed at the boy-who-lived.

"I don't want to say the wrong thing and risk my career Lord Potter-Black, but I am not a band-wagoner or push-over reporter. My articles are hard-hitting, factual and illuminate issues from all-angles with information that my fellow journalists won't or can't cover."

"Balathier, for tonight's conversation call me by my last name and that goes for the other blokes here at the table as well. The ladies here at the table have chosen not to partake in this discussion and since this is my gathering the conversation is primarily going to be between the two of us."

Harry Potter's words stopped Balathier's rant before he could get started and he narrowed his eyes at the other wizard. So far tonight he had been caught off guard and everyone at the table was doing their best to keep him on his heels. Balathier knew that Harry Potter wasn't a misogynist and that he valued his girlfriend Daphne Greengrass highly. That much was evident from tonight's interaction between the couple and from information gathered by his sources. The fact that the witches were not speaking informed Balathier that they would be watching, listening and dissecting his every word and action. He would need to be careful and be on his A game tonight.

"Okay Potter…I'll play along for now. What do you consider your narrative and how do you want to have it written?"

"Don't look so skeptical and edgy Balathier. All we want to know is how your articles are so well-informed and meticulously detailed. You are going to give up your source at Hogwarts because if you don't, I will go to the headmaster and board of governors. You wouldn't want to be blacklisted from Hogwarts for manipulating a minor and blackmailing them for information now would you?"

"Manipulating a minor and blackmail? Merlin you are reaching."

"Am I?"

Even though Harry Potter's tone remained light, he also spoke with a dark and sinister undertone. Balathier realised the simple trap and warning. As a lord on the Ruling Nine, Harry and Draco could both frame the story as they wanted to. Dumbledore and the board of governors would take their side of Balathier's apparent misdeeds without question and Balathier chuckled. More waiters appeared and set down serving plates of roast, mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables. Salad and soup bowels also appeared and conversation stopped for a few moments as everyone loaded up their plates. Balathier cut up his roast and mixed his potatoes with some gravy.

"I do not take well to threats be they spoken, written or implied Potter. I am well familiar with the happenings of Hogwarts because Colin and Dennis Creevey are family friends of mine. They want to be photographers when they graduate and I have sort of taken them under my wing so they don't make too many rookie mistakes. They have gotten loads better at being discrete about their photography and because of it, they take some remarkable photos."

"I see. And how do you know about the Ruling Nine?"

"The magical familial archives are public knowledge Potter and I am fascinated with how the Wizengamot works. At the start of my career I volunteered to cover the Wizengamot meetings and since no one else wanted to I was given the assignments. Anyone that pays attention to the meetings, comings and goings and stand out characters in the Wizengamot knows that something else is going on. Everyone is a lord, lady or senior politician of some aspect in those chambers and I investigated it. The archives provided a treasure trove of knowledge for the minor, ancient, noble and most ancient and noble Houses."

"And from there you found out about the Ruling Nine? I don't think so."

Balathier grinned and ate a few quick bites of his dinner. Harry Potter regarded him with cool, analytical eyes and so did everyone else at the table. Balathier put down his fork and shrugged his shoulders.

"Not everything I do is clandestine or mysterious Potter. I researched the Houses and noticed that select Houses appeared to have more votes, power or legislation in their names than others. I sweet talked a few of the lonely archivists and kept relentlessly pursuing the fact that there is an upper echelon even in the Wizengamot."

"Public knowledge of the Ruling Nine was sealed two years ago in a joint effort by House Black, Potter, Malfoy, Greengrass and Bones. Those archivists could be-"

"Nothing too illegal was had Potter. I have known about the Ruling Nine for three years now, but I have never written anything definitive about it because nothing had happened. Your arrival back into the high political and social circles sparked some big changes. Yes, you didn't personally orchestrate any of them but your regents for both of your Houses did and that caught my interest. I bided my time until you were recognised as a lord and I had my moment."

Silence settled over the table for a lengthy few minutes and Balathier thought this was because the gathered lords and ladies needed to digest his information. Harry finished his plate, wiped his mouth and sat back in his chair.

"You are a different breed of reporter than we are used to Balathier and I am glad that we got a hold of you as soon as we did. Now, here's our offer and it is a generous one. You continue to write your articles as you have been, but we get to look it over first and if there are some pieces that need changing we can discuss it. We don't want to control magical society or even control the news Balathier, but you are dabbling in highly sensitive and important matters. If the wrong tone, word or phrase is used then years of planning could go up in smoke and we cannot have that."

"In return for this oversight I get what? Exclusives?"

"That and our collective Houses don't withdraw our donations to the Daily Prophet. As you are aware, gold does have a way of opening or closing doors and there are other media establishments that want our attention."

"Your honeyed threats are something else Potter. What will I get in my exclusives?"

And over the next twenty minutes Balathier and Harry Potter hammered out the minute details to their new arrangements. Balathier nodded, shook Harry's hand and stood up.

"I'll take my leave then. Have a good evening everyone."

Balathier turned and walked back to the hostess station. He winked at the pretty witch and she flushed. Now that he had escaped the trap with most of his fluffy white tail intact, Balathier could entertain the possibilities of ending his evening on a more enjoyable and pleasurable note. Hard work and good reporting needed a reward after all right?

As soon as Balathier Thanos left the room Harry turned to Astoria and raised his eyebrows even as he took a sip of water from his glass. The younger Greengrass daughter had remained silent the entire evening, playing her part in the charade well and more than once he had seen her react to something Balathier said once they were all grouped together. Astoria finished her dinner, pushed her plate back and wiped at her mouth with the cloth napkin.

"Balathier Thanos is going to either be a troublesome thorn in your side Harry or a valuable ally and I don't know which way he is leaning. He handled your trap rather well, regained his footing and jabbed back at you several times in the conversation. He doesn't appear to crack as easily as some of the other sycophants in his profession."

"He did fold a little too easily though when the implied or direct threats were made against his friends. The fact that the Creevey brothers give others information so easily about their idol is disconcerting."

Harry flicked some water at Draco for his comment after Astoria had spoken and everyone laughed. Harry rubbed his thumb on the bare skin of Daphne's shoulder and she rested a hand on his knee. Everyone at the table remained quiet for a moment as they processed the conversation and Harry looked across the restaurant again. Balathier Thanos proved to be a different breed of reporter but that wasn't common place amongst his peers and he had made sure that their meeting with Balathier had been leaked to a certain other reporter. Privacy charms had been cast so no one could overhear or lip read the conversations but the body language and facial expressions would be enough to get a rather interesting article in the following morning's papers.

"Astoria, what do you suggest that we do next? Balathier Thanos has been identified, spoken to and threatened. The mole and inside source at Hogwarts have been identified and we have made a power move against the media. What's our next move?"

Astoria stared at Harry for a moment and didn't blink. The action reminded Harry of Luna and he strived with difficulty not to think of his good friend right now. His focused returned to Astoria.

"Nothing for right now. You have made a bold move and now you wait to see how the world reacts. You have to wait and see how Balathier responds and then you know whether he can be counted on when the time comes."

"Agreed. Well, it's time to get you back home before you turn into a pumpkin Astoria."

Everyone laughed and Astoria pouted at Harry's comment.

Hogwarts Castle. Later the same evening.

Harry stood underneath the same cherry blossom tree in the same magical courtyard where Daphne liked to take him in between lessons or at the end of the school day. The small group of students had met back up together after returning to the castle and they had gone to their dorms to change out of their evening wear. Harry stood with his hands in his jean's pockets and the sleeves of his pull-over sweater were pushed up on his forearms. Daphne's familiar perfume alerted him to her presence and he turned his head sideways to look at her. His girlfriend matched him in jeans but wore a fitted blouse instead of a sweater and Tracey Davis waved at him.

"I don't think that I have ever seen you so casually dressed Harry."

"I could say the same of you Daphne. Did Astoria get home okay?"

"Yeah and she wouldn't stop gushing about the evening as we changed. Thank you for including her in tonight's adventure."

Harry grinned, shrugged his shoulders and led them to the base of the cherry blossom tree. He sat down and pulled Daphne down so she sat down in between his legs. His girlfriend grinned and rested back against him. She pulled his arms around her and linked their fingers together. Physical affection in public settings was not something the two of them could afford to do that often due to their statuses and high-profile relationship so they took advantage of it whenever they could.

"Draco should be here soon, Neville was getting Hermione from the library and Susan went to get Blaise. Wait, why didn't he just come with you?"

Daphne giggled and looked up at him.

"Probably for the same reason that you didn't come here with Susan. They wanted to take a few moments for themselves in private."

Harry rolled his eyes and Daphne giggled again. The other four mentioned friends arrived in the courtyard at that moment and both Susan and Blaise looked a little flushed. As her usual attitude Susan didn't seem to care and mimicked Harry and Daphne's sitting arrangement with Blaise. Hermione and Neville shifted awkwardly, being the only non-couple in attendance and Neville had told Harry that while Hermione was pretty and smart, there was no spark between them. Draco took the attention off the non-couple by ambling into the courtyard and stayed standing with his hands in his pockets.

"So, we have talked about the reporter at length enough for the evening and we have other issues we need to work on."

"Draco, can we not simply relax for the evening? Must you and Harry both be so mission focused and task oriented? Politics will always be there and I want to turn my brain off."

Draco rolled his eyes at Susan's dramatic response to his statement and Harry felt his lips tugging up in a grin. He could sympathise with Draco as the two of them had been waiting for the moments when their plans could be put into action and now that they were it was hard to focus on anything else. He rubbed his hands over Daphne's shoulders and looked at Susan.

"So what would you like to talk about instead Susan?"

"When are you going to start up the DA? A month has passed since our first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson and you haven't held any meetings about the DA."

Blaise spoke instead of Susan and Harry looked at the dark-skinned wizard. The other wizard played with the ends of Susan's hair as the witch sat back against him and his question caused the others to look at Harry. The other wizard had a point as Harry hadn't done anything to re-start the DA and he had hoped that the others would have forgotten about it. Daphne must have felt him tense because she squeezed his knee and Harry relaxed a little.

"I haven't really thought about it to be honest. I had my lordship ascension, a reporter or two to manage and most importantly I had to impress my girlfriend at the Halloween dance."

A chorus of groans, jokes and smirks met Harry's comment and Daphne turned her head to kiss the bottom of his jaw. This action surprised Harry as holding hands, arms wrapped around each other, hugs and cuddling was the extent of their physical relationship so far. Kisses to the cheek were rare and until now, never in front of anyone else. He flushed a little but squeezed Daphne tighter to him.

"Well I have thought about it and I think that it is manageable."

Hermione spoke up once the good-natured teasing ended and Harry looked over at his oldest human friend. The brilliant Gryffindor which grinned back at him and pulled a folded piece of parchment out of her trouser pocket. She unfolded it and smoothed it out.

"This is a list of our fellow seventh years, plus Luna and if you don't count Harry and Draco then there are thirty-one possible DA members. If you factor in that there are some seventh years that will dismiss the club outright and others will not want extra training in Defence Against the Dark Arts, then I think you will drop down to twenty-four possible DA members."

"Granger, who in their right mind would turn down the opportunity to sling spells and hexes at people they don't like all in the name of 'extra training'?"

Hermione regarded Tracey with that particular tilt of her head that Harry knew was Hermione's way of non-verbally telling someone that they were being dense and Draco snorted. All eyes turned on the pale haired wizard and he grinned darkly.

"Do you really think the children of Death Eaters are going to attend a defence against the dark arts club from the number one obstacle to the dark lord's successful return? They would be killed for embarrassing and dishonouring their families."

"How many names does that cross of the list then Hermione?"

"Three people Harry."

Harry was hoping more people would have been crossed off the list, but it brought the total down from thirty-one to twenty-eight and fourteen seventh years each between him and Draco wouldn't be too bad. The warning chime for curfew sounded and Harry stood up with a sigh. He interlocked his fingers with Daphne, accepted a farewell hug from Hermione and fist bump from Neville. Draco nodded his head and was the first to leave the courtyard with Tracey not far behind. Neville and Hermione were next and a cheeky admonishing waggle of her finger proceeded Susan dragging Blaise out of the courtyard. Finally alone again, Harry pulled Daphne close and rubbed his hands up and down her back. Daphne sighed and laid her hands on Harry's chest.

"You're stressing out about the DA already boyfriend of mine. Don't."

"I don't even want to lead this re-emerging DA. There's very little upside to it."

"Hanging out with your classmates and friends has little upside? Being in my presence has very little upside?"

Harry chuckled at Daphne's faux incredulous tone and walked out of the courtyard holding her hand. The young couple walked without a care in the world and after stretching out their goodbye for as long as he could, Harry bid Daphne goodnight with a kiss on her cheek. Daphne returned the favour but on the corner of his mouth. She giggled at his wide-eyes and pushed him away from the stairs that led to the dungeons.

Boy-Who-Lived Showing Off at Fancy Restaurant!

Rita Skeeter

Harry Potter, the boy with too many titles showed out last night and held a grand, dramatic court with other pretentious heirs and heiresses at a public dinner gathering in The Ivy. Harry Potter sat with glory-seeking and gold digger heiress Daphne Greengrass, turncoat and recently minted lord Draco Malfoy, Neville Longbottom, Susan Bones, Blaise Zabani and two unidentified guests in the elitist establishment. Unfortunately, privacy spells and charms prevented any potentially scandalous words from being heard but eye-witness accounts were quick to share about the facial expressions and body language shared by the group.

"… and that Greengrass wench acted all cozy with the Potter boy all night. It was tacky and disgusting."

"Like the glory-hound we know Harry Potter to be, no one spoke much and Harry Potter dominated the conversation."

In a desperate attempt to flaunt their wealth and in some cases newfound elevation of status all the young magicals were dressed to the nines and Daphne Greengrass dressed like a floozy once again. The Greengrass witch wore an indecently short navy-blue dress that flaunted her legs and mesh see-thru designing showed off her shoulders and upper chest. The unidentified witch matched Daphne Greengrass's attire but her dress was yellow.

The conversations at the table were of two different calibers and the unidentified wizard had the unfortunate luck of being mercilessly interrogated by Harry Potter. Several times throughout the conversation the man's body language screamed tension and dislike to Harry Potter and the boy-who-lived would only smirk smugly in kind. Just what does all of this mean? Is Harry Potter brow-beating and blackmailing poor unsuspecting witches and wizards like House Black is known for?

Finally, many of the young witches and wizards in attendance last night forgot their supposedly upper-class upbringings and manners in sleazy, irreputable displays of physical intimacy. As noted in previous articles and photographs, Daphne Greengrass upped her slimy tactics in ensnaring the boy-who-lived by hanging off his arm and draping herself over him almost indecently. Harry Potter did his best to remain unfazed but the Greengrass witch proved insistent and even someone as aloof as the boy-who-lived had to fall to basic hormones. In a sickeningly sweet display of failing intentions Harry Potter wrapped an arm around the Greengrass seductress and played with her hair or ran his fingers down her shoulders. Notable niece to the warmonger Amelia Bones, Susan Bones cozied up to her own beau Blaise Zabani and hand movements could be seen moving in awkward motions underneath the tablecloth. Draco Malfoy looked suitably out of place and did his best not to let his disgust show too much.

"She called me a floozy? Even my casual wear is more appropriate and tasteful then her god-awful attempts at classy formal wear!"

"Hand movements were seen under the table? Blaise! How properly scandalous and salacious! If you wanted alone time all you had to do was ask darling."

"Shut up woman."

Harry Potter rolled his eyes, ate his breakfast the next morning in the Great Hall and kept an arm around Daphne's waist to keep her from storming out after Rita Skeeter. Susan and Blaise were playfighting or maybe it was flirting a little way down the table and Draco's eyes ping-ponged back and forth between the multiple conversations going on. Hermione looked embarrassed and Neville found amusement in watching Tracey needling and egging Daphne on.