Hours after beginning their trip, they arrived at the mouth of the forest. Hermione, Draco, Harry and Daphne piled out of the car. They stood in front of the car while Hermione's parents prepared to hike. They handed out backpacks filled with supplies to each of the four teens. They set off into the forest. Everyone laughed and joked around the further they walked into the forest.
"Draco! Bet you can't catch me!" Hermione shouted as she took off running ahead of the group.
Draco laughed, "Oh, I'll catch you alright!" He yelled as he ran after her. Harry and Daphne followed close behind.
Draco caught up to her in no time, and grabbed her arm and spun her around into his waiting arms. "Gotcha!" he said breathlessly, as he smiled and looked deeply into her chocolate brown eyes.
Hermione shrieked as he grabbed her and stared up into his slate grey eyes. "I love you."
"I love you too," he said with a small chuckle, just as everyone else caught up to them.
They turned slightly upon hearing the others walk into the clearing they'd stopped in. Draco and Hermione blushed crimson.
"I think this is a good spot to stop for lunch. What do you think, darling?" Mrs. Granger asked Mr. Granger. He nodded at her and set his pack down as he motioned for the teens to do the same.
Draco kissed Hermione's forehead and took her hand as he led her to where everyone had set their backpacks down. He took her pack of her shoulders, and set it on the ground beside his before they joined everyone else.
Mrs. Granger had packed a marvelous lunch of sandwiches, vegetables and fruits. They all sat on the ground, talking and laughing as they ate.
Hermione stopped laughing when she heard the snap of a twig behind her. Her head turned in the direction of the offending sound. She grabbed Draco's arm, "What was that?" She whispered to him as everyone continued to talk.
Draco looked where she was looking, but saw nothing, "What was what?" he asked putting his hand in his wand pocket. "What did you hear?"
"A twig snapped, and it could have been an animal. But Draco, I have a bad feeling about it," she whispered back. No sooner had she finished her sentence than they saw the streak of a spell fly past them. The spell hit it's intended target, Mr. Granger. Another spell sped past only seconds later, hitting Mrs. Granger. Both fell in a heap on the ground, unconscious.
The four teens jumped to their feet, wands at the ready, as they watched as a dozen Death Eaters in full cloaks and masks, stepped out from behind the trees and surround them. They backed up and clustered, surrounding the unconscious Grangers.
There was deafening silence as the tension grew in the clearing. Each side waited for the other to make a move.
"Stupify!" Shouted a Death Eater that stood in front of Draco and Hermione.
Draco quickly blocked the spell. The other Death Eaters followed suit and began firing spells rapidly at the teens. The four teens returned spell for spell what the Death Eaters threw their way.
The teens were firing spells quickly, but were tiring with the constant barrage of spell fire. As they surrounded Hermione's parents, aware that they could be killed by a stray spell, Harry was hit from behind, through a gap between Draco and Daphne. Harry fell to the ground, unconscious. Daphne stopped firing spells and rushed to Harry's side, but she wasn't fast enough. A Death Eater had apparated to Harry at the same time as Daphne reached Harry. She stood face to face with a very tall, imposing Death Eater.
Draco and Hermione turned when they heard Daphne gasp. They aimed their wands at the Death Eater about to cast spells at him, when he grabbed Daphne and disappeared with both her and Harry.
Daphne, Harry, and the Death Eater landed in another part of the forest. Daphne fought hard to get out of his grip. He stood pushing her hard beside Harry, as the other Death Eaters apparated into the clearing. She pointed her wand at them, determined to keep Harry safe.
"Expelliarmus." a Death Eater said calmly, as he stepped toward them.
"I won't let you hurt him!" Daphne shouted defiantly.
"Miss Greengrass, we will get what we want. You may as well move and not get hurt in the process," he commanded as he removed his mask to reveal the face of Lucius Malfoy.
Daphne froze at the sight of his silver eyes. She glanced down at Harry and yelled, "You might as well kill me! I won't move and allow him to be hurt."
He wordlessly bound her, then levitated her until she was eye level. He stepped so close to her that his nose almost touched hers. "I'm not in the business of killing Pureblood teens. You will stay out of my way." His icy tone made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. He threw her to the ground. Daphne cried out as her arm snapped upon landing.
Harry had become conscious upon being apparated into the clearing. He heard Daphne scream in pain, but continued to pretend to be unconscious.
"Harry! Wake up!" Daphne screamed in a desperate attempt to wake him, "Get away from him!" Harry heard her try to command the man that was walking toward him.
As Lucius knelt down beside him, Harry whipped his wand to point to the older wizard's throat, "If I ever catch you touching my girlfriend again, I will kill you," he barked as he stood to his feet.
Lucius Malfoy sneered at him, taking a step back. "Expelliarmus, Incarcerous," he spat out and Harry's wand flew from his hand. Harry was thrown back and bound to the tree he was in front of.
"She is your weakness. You should have disarmed me before threatening me, boy," Lucius continued with realization lighting his eyes. "I wonder what the famous Harry Potter will do if I do this. Crucio!" The spell hit the young witch.
Daphne writhed in pain on the forest floor. The sounds of her screams rang loudly through the once silent forest; Harry had no other choice but to watch. "Leave her alone!" Harry growled.
Before Lucius could respond, another voice rang out from behind him. "Enough foolishness," screeched the voice of Bellatrix Lestrange. "We must finish the job." she said as she took her mask and hood off.
A giant cauldron appeared in front of them, and Peter Pettigrew came forward carrying something wrapped in black cloth. He dropped the bundle into the cauldron.
"Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son." He said as he levitated the bone of Tom Riddle Sr. into the cauldron, "Flesh of the servant, willingly given, you will revive your master." he continued as he cut his own hand clean off into the cauldron, "Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe." he finished as he cut into Harry's arm, almost to the bone, to obtain his blood. He allowed the drops of blood to fall into the cauldron.
All Harry could think through the pain was that he hoped the thing in the cauldron had drowned. He would only be so lucky.
The cauldron burst into flames as the group watched. The body of Lord Voldemort was raised from the flames, revived. Bellatrix stepped forward and draped her master's body with a black robe and held out a long warped wand.
"Thank you, Bellatrix, my loyal servant," Lord Voldemort wrasped out. Voldemort took the wand and turned to his followers. Harry continued to look on the scene in terror. His arm was in excruciating pain. Voldemort's face was deformed. His nostrils were snake like. His eyes were blood red. His body was tall and angular. Harry gasped through the pain and brought the snake man's attention to him.
"Ah, Harry Potter. Dumbledore always said that you had a power I know not. Love. Well, love will not protect you now," Voldemort stepped forward and placed a single finger on Harry's forehead. Harry fully expected the same pain he felt in first year, but he no pain came.
"See, I am more powerful than you. Now you must face me, like a man. Surely you know how to duel. Lucius, give him his wand," Voldemort waved his wand, and Harry dropped to the ground. He moved behind the tree toward Daphne.
"Daphne, wake up!" he shook her and she stirred.
"Harry, what happened?" Daphne asked weakly. She had never experienced the Cruciatus curse to that extent.
"I need you to run. Far," Harry commanded desperately.
Voldemort yelled, "Enough! Come duel me. We won't harm the girl. She is of pureblood. You have my word."
"Like your word means anything, Riddle." Harry sneered, but stood in front of Daphne in a protective stance.
"DO NOT CALL ME BY THAT NAME!" Voldemort screamed and fired off a volley of spells toward Harry.
Harry threw up a shield quickly. The spells bounced off his shield, but it weakened toward the end and one spell got threw. A cutting spell landed on on Harry's cheek, cutting it but not deeply.
"Harry, Harry, Harry, you are going to have to do better than that," Voldemort mocked as he stalked back and forth between two trees. He fired multiple spells at Harry. Harry threw up another shield, but it wasn't enough and more than one spell came through, and he fell to the ground, screaming in pain.
"Harry!" Daphne screamed and ran to Harry.
"Leave him girl. He is not in permanent harm. Just a little crucio," Voldemort ordered.
Bellatrix and the other Death Eaters had surrounded their dueling master and his opponent. Lucius looked on apathetically, while Bellatrix cackled in joy.
"Daphne, I told you to leave. Get out of here!" Harry said standing up and pushing Daphne away from Voldemort.
"I'm not leaving you, Harry Potter," Daphne said staunchly standing up next to Harry.
"Enough!" Voldemort yelled. "Avada Kedavra!"
At the same time that Harry yelled, "Expelliarmus!" The green jet of light met the red jet and pulsed together in a line. Both held onto their wands tightly and tried to push the ball of light toward the other. Harry knew that if the ball of light in the middle reached his wand, all would be over. Gold webs of light left the wands and surrounded the duelists.
The look of shock of Voldemort's face was worth the effort, in Harry's mind. The Death Eaters surrounding them grew restless and moved forward.
"Stop! Do not come near!" Voldemort commanded, fear in his voice. Harry realized that Voldemort didn't understand what was happening any more than he did.
Daphne stepped closer to Harry and watched as the lights created a shell around the duelists. Harry pushed with all his might and the ball moved closer to Voldemort's wand. It swallowed up the light and vibrated wildly. A ghostly light left his wand, as well as the sound of a phoenix song.
It coalesced into an old man, "Keep at it boy. More are coming."
Another light flew out of the wand and walked toward Harry. It was a woman, Bertha Jorkins, "Harry, stay strong. Hold it for just a few more moments."
A third light left Voldemort's wand and Harry realized it was going backwards of who he killed last. The light coalesced into his mother, "Harry, my handsome son. Keep strong. Your father is coming. We will protect you so you can break the connection. Then get Ms. Greengrass and yourself out of here. I love you!"
Tears filled his eyes. Voldemort didn't seem to be aware of what was going on with his wand. He looked more and more fearful. A final light jumped out of his wand and landed near Harry. Harry looked over and saw his father.
"Son, when we say to let go, run! I love you, son, so very much. You are stronger than I ever hoped," James Potter said sadly.
The four ghostly figures surrounded Harry, and as one said, "NOW!"
Harry let go of the connection and ran toward Daphne. He grabbed her hand and ran toward the forest. The Death Eaters seemed to be temporarily blind or paralyzed because they didn't move to follow Harry and Daphne, but covered their eyes and screamed.
He heard the pop of apparition and saw Mr. Greengrass running toward them.
"Daddy!" Daphne shouted in fear as she ran into his arms, cradling her own broken arm.
"It's alright darling" Mr. Greengrass said as he wrapped his arms around her, "Let's get you two out of here." Mr Greengrass extended a hand to Harry so he could apparate them to safety.
Harry reached out and took his hand. Mr. Greengrass quickly took them to back to the Greengrass Manor.
"You saw that right!" Daphne shouted in a panic and shock. "Daddy please tell me you saw that!"
"Yes, I saw it. Sweetheart, please calm down you're safe now. All of you are." he said in an attempt to relax his injured daughter. "Daphne, let me see your arm." he insisted.
Daphne moved her am so her father could take a look at it. "Lola!" He called quickly. A small house-elf appeared. "Bring me skelegro from the store cupboard."
"Yes master!" Lola popped away and came back moments later with the potion.
Harry was swaying on his feet, so he found a chair near his girlfriend as he watched her father patch her up. He looked around the room and saw Hermione and Draco sitting on a couch. Hermione was watching them terrified, but silently.
Hermione seemed to notice the pain Harry was in and stood and walked toward him. "What happened Harry? You need to be healed!"
He nodded but couldn't get the words out about what happened. The nightmare was too real and too near for him to relay yet. His scar was throbbing almost more than he could stand.
Mr. Greengrass finished with Daphne's arm and turned to heal Harry's arm. They heard the sound of tapping at the window. Hermione walked to the window and opened it. The owl swooped through the window and landed beside Mr. Greengrass. He plucked the pile of letters from the bird's leg and fed it a treat allowing it to leave through the window it came in. Mr. Greengrass looked at the letters, one addressed to each teen. He handed one to Daphne.
Daphne pulled open the seal and began reading it aloud.
"Dear Miss Greengrass,
This letter is to inform you that you have been called for a hearing at the Ministry for magic on 12th August. You are charged with the illegal use of magic by an underage witch and the use of magic in the presence of a Muggle.
Hoping you are well.
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic"
Daphne looked up from the letter at the shocked faces of her father and friends.
"You can't be serious!" Daphne shouted in fury, "They are having a disciplinary hearing because we defended ourselves against Death Eaters! That is outrageous! Hell, Harry fought You-Know-Who himself!"
The teens began shouting amongst themselves, deeming the act unfair and unbelievable.
"Enough!" Mr. Greengrass shouted effectively silencing the four angry teens. "I understand this is over the top, but I will not let this stand. I will have one of the best legal teams working for me and will take care of this. There is no need to worry yourselves about it. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Sir," they all said sheepishly in unison.
"Good, now why don't the four of you settle in, then we will have some dinner," he commanded dismissively. "Daphne show everyone the guest rooms in your wing."
Harry, Daphne, Hermione, and Draco nodded and walked from the room, silently following Daphne to their rooms.
The next morning, Daphne enjoyed the silence of breakfast alone on her terrace. After the excitement from the day before, she needed a few moments of peace to think through everything that had happened. She had seen Voldemort's return. The war would happen. She knew, as Harry Potter's girlfriend, she would have a target on her back, just to get to Harry. She was stirring her porridge absently when a large grey owl with hints of black fluttered gently down onto the table with a package tied to it's leg. She reached to untie the package from the owl and took the letter from atop it. She broke the seal and read it.
You will need this in the future. Try not to lose it again.
She opened the box curious as to what she had lost. Within the box was her wand.