Chapter 1: In the Night..

Lucius Malfoy eyed the crowd warily. His face was calm, yet he could not feel more worry or fear. He wasn't sure which he himself felt more. It had finally happened. The item he was given was finally acting up. This was the sign he'd been told to look for in an… untimely event.

This was every bit as disappointing as it was worrisome. He'd been loath to acknowledge the small item in his possession, and quite frankly hoping to leave it in the past. While the Malfoys had gone legitimate -mostly, he smirked internally- he knew this would heavily affect that in very negative ways.

Hogwarts had ended the school year, the students were out and he had agreed to follow his wife, Narcissa, to pick up Draco. He knew he had to plant the object on someone, as per HIS wishes. It would also help to be rid of the dark object. It would affect his credibility if it were to be found on him. But it was too soon. He needed to find a target and place the object with them on their way to Hogwarts, not back from.

This would be his scouting mission. He'd been eyeing potential targets since arriving at Kings Cross.

"Are you well, dear?" Narcissa asked, looking out to the crowd with him. She needn't look to know something was bothering her husband. He gave a small smile, thankful to have her. Through hell or high waters, she'd stuck through with him.

"All is well. Just hoping Draco hurries. I do not like being around the filth." He said quietly. His wife nodded, eyeing the Hogwarts Express as it slowed to a stop.

"This way, Molly!" said the voice of a man Lucius recognized. He turned to see Arthur Weasley and his wife, along with two little girls.

"Arthur." He said coolly. The man eyed him cautiously.

"Lucius." He returned. The red-headed man hurried his wife along with the girls. They didn't have time to dawdle with a Malfoy.

Lucius eyed the man with disgust. Blood traitors. All of them. Lucius thought. Watching the family walk away, Lucius' blank face gave way to a small, cold grin. He had his target. Now to wait for the opportune time…

OooooO

Harry Potter sighed and rolled over in bed. It'd been a short few weeks since his encounter with Lord Voldemort. He got up with a long sigh and opened this school trunk. He gave a small grumble and opened it, sorting through the few things he still had in there. He found his school bag and took out the work he needed to do. He arranged the homework he'd been neglect to do on his desk. It was all standard between years practice and essays. Professor Snape's work proved quickly to be the most difficult aspect of it.

"Finally?" asked a quiet voice. Harry smirked, not too surprised anymore. He turned to Daphne Greengrass standing by the doorway.

"There's been a lot on my mind lately." He said, giving her a small smile. Daphne nodded. Harry had told her the more intimate details of his encounter with a dead man. It wasn't something to overlook, Voldemort drawing parallels to you. It was somehow more disconcerting than knowing the Dark wizard he was so famous for defeating was still alive.

"Harry, you can't dwell on this so strongly." Daphne said quietly. She didn't want her parents to hear them. Again.

"How can't I, Daphne?" He said, sighing. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help it.

"Because it's a mind trick. He makes you feel like him and you'll feel alone and disconnected from people." She replied, matching his sigh.

"I'm already disconnected from most people." Harry said glumly. Daphne smiled.

"Not from me you aren't." She said with a grin. One look and Harry found it impossible to not return the grin.

"That's very true. And very helpful." Harry said. He cleared his throat and sat up, looking as prim and proper as an eleven year old in pajamas could. "Very well. My schoolwork must be done." He said, imitating Draco Malfoy as best he could. Daphne giggled and held Harry in the over coddling way Pansy Parkinson held Draco.

"But dear, if you're paying attention to that, how will you pay attention to meee?" She squealed like Pansy, drawing out the long E sound of me. They both laughed for a moment while Harry tried to prepare his desk for schoolwork.

"Uh, Daph?" He began.

"Hm?" She asked, looking at him. She suddenly realized how close to him was and froze. His green eyes reflecting her blue ones.

"You're still leaning on me." He said, raising an eyebrow.

"you're right, sorry." She said blushing brightly.

"Daphne? You're still on me." He said irritate.

She slowly leaned back and Harry rolled his eyes playfully. Daphne sheepishly grinned back. He pulled out the list and frowned.

In our lessons we covered bezoar stones. In thirty centimeters, describe them and something they do not help against.

"Helpful." Harry muttered. Daphne sighed.

"You know what bezoars are, Harry." Daphne chided. Harry nodded.

"I know that, but something they don't help against? That's a pretty broad range of things." Harry noted.

"Poisons, Harry." Daphne said with a roll of her eyes. "What poisons don't they protect against"

"No, that part is perfectly clear." Harry replied, frowning at his school work.

"Well, Potter," Daphne began, making her voice as close to the Hogwarts Potionsmaster as she could, "You need to broaden your thinking. A bezoar protects against most poison, and venoms."

"A venom!" Harry exclaimed, smiling as he began writing onto his parchment.

"Eh, wha?" Daphne questioned in confusion.

"I got this book from Tracey a bit back, a recommendation she got from Hagrid. In it, it lists a creature that Hagrid seems to know a lot about and has a venom that bezoars won't keep you from dying of." Harry rambled, writing as he talked.

"Okay, so getting to the point at hand, what is it?" Daphne asked. She was interested in whatever this idea was.

"Acromantulas." Harry said with a proud smirk. He opened his desk drawer and pulled a very worn book out. Property of Hagrid, said the barely legible scrawl on the cover. He quickly opened the book to the section on the creatures.

"Spiders. Acromantulas are giant spiders." Daphne said blankly. She did not like spiders.

"Yeah. I believe our Hogwarts groundskeeper might know one." Harry said with a grin.

"Ugh. Why?" Daphne said with a groan. She knew Harry would stay on this for a bit longer.

"Read this." Harry said, pointing to the book. Next to a passage on the behavior of acromantulas, Hagrid had added a side note that read

"That's not true. Aragog is big but he's not mean. He loves his time with me. Dangerous creatures. Dangerous my-"

"Harry? Daphne?" A female voice asked, entering the room with a yawn. The children jumped and turned to see Daphne's mother, Victoria Greengrass standing in the doorway, rubbing her eyes. "Have you two any idea of what time it is?"

"I'm sorry mum. Harry finally started on his homework and we were brainstorming topics." Daphne said quickly. Harry nodded along, showing his assignment and readied quill. Victoria frowned.

"Daphne, go to your room. Harry James Potter, why are you only now starting your homework?" She scolded gently. Harry looked a bit embarrassed and Daphne nodded, straightening herself out.

"Good night, Harry." Daphne said with a sheepish smile. She knew she was getting off easy. Harry would have to explain why his homework was just now being worked on. "Good night, mum."

"Good night, dear." Victoria said, watching Daphne leave. "Harry. Why aren't you done with your school work yet?"

"I've been preoccupied." Harry said with a small sigh. At his request, Dumbledore hadn't told the Greengrass parents about what happened at school, insisting on telling them himself. Harry had been putting it off along with his homework, but now there was no way around either.

"Preoccupied with what, dear? Is all well?" She asked with concern. Seeing no way around it, Harry sighed and took a small pause, gathering up the will to tell Victoria. That's where he saw his final chance to delay.

"Could I maybe tell you and Cyrus later? It's rather important." Harry said quietly.

"Of course, dear." Victoria said with a smile, "You know Cyrus and I are here for you, Harry. Whatever the issue, we'll talk about it in the morning. Now go to bed."

As Harry climbed to bed and said his good nights to Victoria, a small creature watched from the trees overlooking Harry's window.

"Harry Potter…" It whispered to itself. I must help Harry Potter. He is in grave dangers. He must not return to Hogwarts this school year. The master is planning a very bad thing. I feels it. The creature thought about how to handle this as he felt himself quickly called away. Bad masters is always calling.

With a cracking sound, the little creature was gone.

OooooO

Daphne laid in bed, eyeing the ceiling. The enchanted roof was constantly changing, currently looking like a starry night breaking through a cloudy barrier. She sighed and rolled over, her mind too occupied to sleep.

Is this fair, she thought to herself, fair to Harry and I?

The soul bond wore greatly in her mind. Very little was known about it or how they worked. From what she'd been able to uncover, soul bonds were a major risk. Despite the signs of them, and their meanings, most bonded never stayed or got together, choosing to fight predestined loves and make their own choices. But according to the book, it was also when both parties knew.

Therein lay the issue. Harry was blissfully unaware of the magical connection between them. Her parents had trusted her to tell Harry, and as of yet hadn't gotten to it. She didn't know how. How do you tell your best friend that you're meant to be together or else? Especially with that or else looming.

"The bonded must be together, as their magicks will be stronger. But apart they weaken and break."

The book was very vague, but weakening and breaking did not sound pleasant. She was also worried because a lot of the searching she'd gone on lead to her discovering how many people had tried to find ways out of soul bonds. The number of the successful ones was marred by how much effort they required and how dark some of them were. She knew she could break off the soul bond and they'd both be free and safe. But she didn't want to.

Even before her parents told her, she had feelings for the slightly younger wizard. She grinned a little at and sighed. Truth be told, maybe she loved-

A sudden crack made Daphne shoot upright, dragging her blanket to her chin in surprise. An unknown house elf stood there, eyeing the cautious girl.

"Who are- what are- why are- what?" Daphne tried, somewhat confused. She didn't recognize the elf.

"I is Dobby, Missy Greengrass." Said the elf, bowing slightly. He spoke quickly, as if in a hurry.

"Very well, why are you here, Dobby?" She asked, trying to figure out why a strange elf was in her room in the middle of the night.

"Dobby saw missus Greengrass was awake and needed to warn her. She needs to know." Dobby cried, the squeaky words rushing out. The girl eyed him warily, slowly reaching for the wand beneath her pillow.

"A warning? Who sent you?" Daphne demanded, her eyes suddenly cold and tense. The elf shuddered and smacked himself, signs of disobedience.

"Can't say. But missus, you must listen. Harry Potter is in grave danger."the strange elf squeaked. Daphne drew her wand and pointed, but the elf was gone with a cracking before she finished her move.

"What the hell?" She breathed. The elf had left her noticeably worried. He threatened Harry. No, she thought, he came to warn me. But who is after him? The elf was back with another cracking sound, shaking.

"Missus, I doesn't has time. Please. Harry Potter must not be going back to Hogwarts." Dobby squeaked. Daphne realized it looked like he got hit in the face in the moment he'd been gone. With those words, the elf vanished again, leaving Daphne fraught with worry.

Outside from his vantage point, Dobby saw Daphne look around and the worry on her face. The elf sighed and gingerly held his limp ear. If his masters knew what he'd done, a limp ear would be the least of his worries. Why he had told Daphne? Because Dobby was a house elf, a magical creature. He saw magic different from humans, as did lots of other magical creatures.

And he could see the bonds that tied Daphne Greengrass and Harry Potter. Daphne's rings were a faint glowing golden series of bands around her, whereas Harry's were faint silvery coils all tangled together. He knew she would want him safe. Even if the Potter boy didn't understand why.

"Zeri?" said a voice in the next room. Dobby looked to see Harry Potter bring the Greengrass house elf into sight, asking him politely for a glass of water and a nighttime snack.

Dobby wishes his masters was that nice to him. But they doesn't like Dobby very much. The elf though, watching the boy thank the elf for the acquired foodstuffs and drink. He liked the boy, from what he'd overheard. He knew his masters were not good people. But this Harry Potter they hated so much was sure not bad person. With a sigh, he cracked away, back to his hurtful and spiteful masters.

OooooO

Harry sighed at the homework he'd had laying on the desk. His inspiration for acromantula venom for Snape's essay was short lived and didn't give him enough to fill out the entirety of the assignment. A soft sigh left him and he wondered what to do. He could continue with the other parts of his summer work and try to research what he could on the massive spiders later during the day. But his mind just wasn't handling schoolwork.

He sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"I could go to bed and actually sleep this time." Harry said to himself.

As if you'd actually sleep. His mind replied icily.

"I could do other homework papers. McGonagall's isn't too complicated." He countered.

Harry, if you were going to, you would have already.

"Dammit." He said with a defeated sigh. He knew what all of it was. Quirrell being a dark wizard AND Voldemort at the same time. Harry liked the Defense Teacher. He was a total bust at first, but proved particularly adapt

"Harry, you really do have a talent for this." Professor Quirrell said, smiling broadly. Harry had easily managed top marks in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. It made him proud, despite keeping it to himself. Quirrell had even tutored him and showed him some advanced techniques for first years to help with spell casting stances and drawing.

Harry was drawn out of his memory by a single sobering thought.

Was that Quirrell or Voldemort taking you under their wing?