Out of all things, Harry did not think he would spend the morning of St. Valentine's Day with Luna Lovegood and Rita Skeeter at the three broomsticks. "So who's idea was this again?" Harry asked still trying to process the unreal scenario of sitting on the same table as Luna Lovegood and Rita Skeeter, one staring blankly into space and the other glaring at the former.
"It was Hermione's idea originally, but she hasn't really been talkative after the holidays so I went ahead with the plan myself" Luna answered happily as the illegal animagus continued to glare at them.
"That bushy haired girl promised not to tell anyone about my secret, that was our agreement!" Skeeter complained as Harry sighed, thinking this was a very Hermione thing to do.
"She may have, but I'm not friends with her anymore so don't complain to me" Harry replied but regretted when he saw a twinkle in the woman's eyes.
"Really? What happened that separated your little group of..." Skeeter was interrupted by Luna loudly clearing her throat. "Just write the story you are told to write, or else I have another one that might greatly interest the ministry"
Skeeter narrowed her eyes at the thinly veiled threat "very well" she replied curtly and pulled out her quill and pad and turned to Harry and told him "fire away boy. Fire away" Harry wondered if publishing his version of Cedric's death was such a good idea, this was one of Hermione's ideas after all but Harry decided to trust Luna on this one.
It was difficult for Harry to talk about the night Cedric had died, he had given every little detail he could think of, it had been like he was at the graveyard all over again.
After an hour of gruesome recollection Harry breathed a sigh of relief "I'll tell you when the story is published" Luna told Harry who nodded and left the three broomsticks. "Where do I go now?" Harry wondered.
He still wasn't on speaking terms with Daphne, he knew that Tracey would be with her, and Ginny probably had a date with her boyfriend. He guessed Neville was on a date with Astoria. That left Ron.
Harry sighed and began walking in the direction he was pretty sure Ron was at, Harry was feeling like an idiot ever since the argument with Daphne, but he refused to apologize "she was the one who over reacted, let her apologize" Harry mentally defended himself from himself "I'm definitely going insane" he concluded and stopped in front of the hog's head.
Harry took a deep breath and stepped into the pub. Sure enough Ron was sitting by the corner, with a drink, surprisingly though he seemed to be talking to Theo Nott. Harry liked the Slytherin and knew he was good friends with Neville, Harry had talked to him and knew that he didn't support the pureblood ideals, he knew that his dad was a death eater but didn't talk about fighting or opposing him Harry guessed because it would be hard to go against family.
"Hey guys" Harry greeted the two and sat down "wha'cha talking about?" Theo suppressed a smile and said "Ron was laminating about his lack of popularity with the girls" Harry opened his mouth in surprise and closed it quickly.
Ron was actually popular with the girls to the point that the boys were betting on which girl would snag Ron, "maybe it's because you barely talk to them" Harry suggested trying not to laugh as well. "You should interact with them to show them who you are and pique their interest in you"
Theo nodded "yeah that'll get them interested in you" he then raised his voice and said "can I have another glass of rum and coke?"
Harry's eyes widened "You're drinking alcohol?" Theo nodded "we're laminating our bachelor status, what about you?" Harry sighed and decided to answer truthfully "had a fight with Daphne"
Theo turned to the barkeeper again "some gin and tonic for the gentleman here" Harry shook his head "I shouldn't be drinking" Ron pulled him down onto a chair and said "neither should we but its valentine's day and we're all single so screw it"
Harry sighed and took a sip of the gin and tonic, Harry found the taste sharp but drank it up anyways "that wasn't so bad" he told them an shivered when he saw the two smirk at each other "five gilly water shots and one vodka soda please" Ron called to the bartender who nodded
Harry turned to Theo "what is gilly water?" the Slytherin shrugged and replied "um... a distilled beverage made from gilly weed" Harry groaned as the shots came "are these neat shots?" Harry asked to which the bartender shook his head
"Nay, they are mixed with 7up and sugar syrup" Harry still didn't understand how wizards could be completely oblivious to the muggle way of life but still enjoy their non-alcoholic beverages so much.
Harry turned to Theo and Ron who were looking at him eagerly "you want me to do shots?" both of them nodded in disturbing unison
"I'll do them" Neville said from behind Harry startling all of them
"Neville!" Theo said "what are you doing here? I thought you had a date with Astoria" Neville sighed an plunked down on the seat between Theo and Harry opposite to Ron "I did have a date" Neville replied
"So what happened?" Theo asked but Neville didn't answer him and started with the shots. After the fifth shot, Neville sighed and told them "I got dumped by Astoria"
"WHAT?" the three other boys shouted attracting the attention of everyone else in the bar. The three boys looked sheepish but turned to Neville after everybody looked away "how did that happen?" Theo asked the round faced boy who sighed and replied
"It was at madam putifoot's tea shop, she said that I lacked passion" Neville then asked the bartender for a Firewhiskey and coke "I mean you would figure out I'm not a passionate guy by talking to me for a few minutes, why would it take her four months to figure it out?"
"Girls are crazy like that, one moment they're all nice and understanding, the next moment their priorities change and they're all snappish and you both say things you would regret" Harry sighed as the other boys glanced at him warily, sipping his butterbeer like nothing was wrong
"What happened with you and Daphne?" Neville asked to which Harry sighed and told them what had happened between the two of them and by the end of his story the three other boys were looking at him open-mouthed.
"That's it?" Ron asked Harry incredulously "you argued with her about your priorities?"
"You're acting as if it's a small thing" Harry argued and a voice in his head said sardonically "it is a small thing"
"Harry" Theo said slowly "Daphne had every right to be concerned about some other girl making a move on you"
"Yeah but she didn't have to act like it was the only thing that mattered" Harry countered and felt a bit of grim satisfaction
"Harry" Neville spoke up "Daphne is a girl, it's her job to make sure other girls don't flirt with you the same way it's a guys job to protect his girl when she needs it, she had every right to be concerned and you were being inconsiderate and a jerk"
Harry stared at his friends "you think I was wrong?" they answered in perfect unison "yeah; Yeah you were!"
Harry took Ron's rum and coke and gulped it down "I gotta go" he said his green eyes glittering with determination and ran off, probably to find Daphne.
"Should we follow him?" Theo asked and Ron replied "we should be giving him his privacy" after a moment of surreal calmness the three boys got up to follow their friend.
XXXXXXX
Harry ran down the street wondering where he could find Daphne "she could be anywhere in the village, heck she might not even have come to the village" Harry skidded to a halt as he saw Daphne and Tracey walking down the road. Daphne looked miserable and Tracey seemed to be trying to cheer her up.
"Daphne" he called to her as he reached her "what?" she asked angry and sullen "I'm sorry" Harry told her, not noticing Tracey move away discreetly, or the bystanders staring at them and whispering.
"You're sorry?" Daphne asked narrowing her eyes at him.
"I'm really sorry?" Harry answered weakly as she still glared at him "I know I was a jerk especially when I said I might go out with Cho Chang. I was being an idiot and you have every right to throw me over your shoulder...again" Daphne chuckled at this and Harry felt hopeful "I now know I was an idiot, please give me a chance to make things right"
Daphne seemed to be contemplating what he had said "promise me this will never happen again" she told Harry who replied eagerly "I promise, I was being an idiot and not thinking straight and..." Harry was cut off by Daphne kissing him on the lips.
Harry put his hands on her waist and deepened the kiss, not caring that half the school was watching them.
"Did they make up?" Ron asked Tracey and he skidded to a halt beside her "no they're just making out cause they hate each other" Tracey replied sarcastically making Ron laugh
"Good for Harry" Neville commented gasping lightly "things have been looking up in his life, ever since he got the orb of wishes"
"Y'know" Theo spoke "it is weird that Harry would just smash a glass orb appearing in his room suddenly. He told us he didn't know what it was so why would he break it?"
"A compulsion charm" Luna said from beside Theo scaring the group "the orb is charmed to give a feeling of safety and a need to break it, so that the person cannot save it for some future crisis"
"Oh" Theo said and Neville asked "did we pay the bill at the hog's head?" the other two boys paled
"You boys are drinking?" Tracey asked "I want in" "me too" Luna piqued Ron and Theo looked at Neville who shrugged and replied
"Okay but what about those two..." the round faced boy turned towards where the boy-who-lived and his betrothed had been standing only to find the place empty.
"They must've gone up the castle" Ron deducted and the five friends headed back to the bar, laughing and chatting
XXXXXXX
The five friends stumbled into the great hall tipsy and laughing "look" Ron said "they have mashed potatoes and roast chicken" Tracey giggled "sound deeelicious" Neville then stared at the Gryffindor table "look Harry and Daphne are there, let's sit with them"
What the five friends didn't realise was that Harry and Daphne were the main gossip in the great hall which was the only reason their arrival had gone unnoticed "hey Harry, hellooo Daphne" Ron greeted them as they sat down
"How drunk are you guys?" Harry whispered to Ron furiously as Daphne glared at Tracey "why were you drinking?"
"Hello kids" Fred greeted the group as he and George sat in front of the group "we are so proud-" "-of you Ron for breaking-" "-the rules with your friends" the twins said as Ron blinked
"I'm proud of you two too" he pulled George's cheeks "you two make me look nice with your habits"
Fred blinked "yeah but we've never gotten drunk and swagger into the great hall"
"It's called having guts in your buts" Neville countered and broke into a fit of giggles
"There are so many nargles in the air tonight" Luna observed looking around strangely, alcohol didn't seem to have any visible effect on her
"That's cuz it's Valentine's Day" Theo replied and patted her head making the blonde girl go "humph"
"Stow it Umbridge's coming" Fred said as all of them sat up straight pretending to be statues
"Is there any problem here?" she asked in her sickly sweet voice as Harry shook his head "we're al fine"
"Ms. Greengrass, Ms. Davis, Ms. Lovegood and Mr. Nott; why aren't you sitting with your houses?" Theo looked at Umbridge and replied "sitting with houses is necessary only during special feasts, otherwise we can sit wherever we want."
"Hem hem" Umbridge cleared her throat and walked away.
Harry, Daphne Fred and George quickly finished their dinner and drank the drunk people to the room of requirement and gave them sobering potions.
"ugh" Neville grunted as the hangover came to him "we may have drank a bit too much"
"Too much?" Harry demanded furiously "you guys couldn't stand straight, how stupid can you be?"
"Calm down Harry" Daphne soothed but Harry was on a role "do you know what could have happened if you had been caught? You could have been expelled."
"Sorry dad" Ron mocked as he others stared between him and Harry in horror
"You think it's funny?" Harry hissed at Ron who got up from his chair "a bit y'know" Ron answered shrugging as Harry glared at him.
"You got to admit it was something people will talk about for a long time" Ron told Harry who slapped his palm to his face
"You're all idiots" Harry told them as they smirked and laughed.
"We should be going now" Daphne said as Tracey and Theo followed her
"I should too" Luna said and left the room behind the Slytherin's.
"Now all that is left is to see is what happens up ahead" Harry murmured as they exited the room of requirements.
XXXXXXX
Daphne, Tracey and Theo were confronted in the dungeon, "good evening Malfoy" Daphne smiled mockingly at him as he and his cronies blocked their way
"Greengrass" he replied calmly "why are you betraying your house?"
"Betraying my house?" Daphne raised an eyebrow "I am simply in a relationship with Harry. My house has no business with my personal life"
"You are spitting on the ideologies of the Slytherin house" Pansy answered from beside Zabini
"And you Theo" Crabbe spoke up "I thought you would have been smarter with your family's name..."
"Leave my name out of this will you" Theo interrupted Crabbe smiling at him.
"Our friends are none of your business" Tracey told the five who stood opposite to them as Zabini answered "you've made it our business"
Tracey narrowed her eyes and answered "mind your own business"
Zabini growled and fired a stunner as Daphne raised a shield.
Nott shot out towards Malfoy who burst forth as well as spells shot out from both parties. Theo brought his claymore down in a vertical slash, only for it to be blocked by Malfoy's sabre.
"Surprise" Malfoy remarked as Theo parried his blow, both boys oblivious to the spells flying around them.
Daphne and Tracey were outnumbered but were not outgunned. They were able to shift between defensive and offensive spells with amazing dexterity but were not able to outmatch them due to the superior numbers.
"aargh" Zabini fell and Daphne and Tracey wondered, what happened because neither shot the spell.
Goyle turned around to see Astoria Greengrass pointing a wand and pansy and shot a spell at her forcing her to dodge. Daphne shrieked seeing her sister dodge the spell and shot a stunner at Goyle who was pushed out of the way by Crabbe as he aimed another curse at Tracey.
The group then heard footsteps echoing through the dungeon and Theo and Draco stopped their fight as Pansy woke up Zabini and Daphne and Tracey rushed over to Astoria.
"What are you kids doing here?" came the silky voice of the Slytherin head of house.
"Just chatting" Goyle remarked as the others nodded trying to appear innocent.
"Well go to your dormitories" Snape told them as they calmly headed back to the Slytherin dorms.
"This is not over" Draco told them not even deigning them a look
"Not by a long shot" Daphne glowered glaring at the back of his head.
Luna hummed as she entered the Ravenclaw common room. "Hey loony" she heard a voice and sighed as she turned to the person who spoke up "what Chang?" she smiled pleasantly at her.
"What is going on between Harry and that Greengrass slut?" she demanded Luna who frowned "well if you want to know, you have to ask them, and by the way, don't call Daphne a slut"
Cho pointed her wand in Luna's face and said "don't fuck with me. Tell me all that you know about Harry and that slut" faster than Cho could see, Luna had pulled out her wand and stunned Cho. Cho's friend Marietta came forward but Luna kicked her in the stomach and sent her tumbling.
Luna looked around to see if anyone else would come forward, and then hummed as she went up to her dormitory. Luna Lovegood was done being bullied.
"I hope you are proud of yourselves" Hermione told Ron scathingly in the common room.
"What?" Ron feigned innocence
"You arrived to the great hall drunk" she whispered furiously
"Oh that" Ron answered "yeah I am kind of proud" Neville snickered behind him.
"You think this is funny?" Hermione demanded from Neville who looked her in the eye and answered her
"Yeah, yeah I do!" Harry clapped him on the back as Ron murmured "respect"
"I thought you of all people would be more responsible Neville" Hermione told him as Neville smirked.
"You're wrong Hermione! Something quite common these days for you" Hermione stomped off as Harry and Ron roared with laughter.
XXXXXXX
It had been a couple of weeks since the trip to Hogsmeade, the whole school was buzzing, with news of Harry and Daphne in a relationship, the civil war in Slytherin due to the relationship and Luna Lovegood's retaliation to anyone trying to bully her.
There had been a great deal of gossip and muttering about Harry as he was back to being the centre of attention. There were many envious glares directed at both him and Daphne, but no one would dare attack either of them. Luna too had garnered some attention as her bullies had tried to harm her but she had hexed them straight to the hospital bed and people now tried to avoid her.
Neville too had become a serious topic, perhaps more so than Harry, due to his standing up to Snape and getting a week of detention which Theo shared when he supported Neville against Snape. The only people in their group being spared the drama were Tracey and Ron who had been spending an increasing amount of time together leading to much speculation within the group.
Harry and group were having breakfast when an owl landed near Harry "it's the new issue of the quibbler" Luna informed the others who looked puzzled at that very moment a parliament of owls descended on them.
"Letters from your admirers I suppose" Ron told Harry sardonically. Daphne help up a letter and looked at Harry with big doleful eyes "can we..."
"Go ahead" Harry told her, never being able to resist her sad eyes.
Soon all of them were tearing open the letters. Half of them were telling they believed Harry while the other half informed him he was raving. And one particularly was in two minds.
"What is going on here?" the sickly sweet voice of Umbridge was heard from behind Neville.
"Harry got some mail. Is that a crime?" Theo asked the toad mockingly making her glare at him.
"Be careful mister Nott or you might find yourself in detention" she told Theo who gave her a fake smile.
Harry really wanted to see her pissed so he decided to be upfront "these are responses from my interview" he told her and showed her the article. Umbridge read the article as her face went from pink to red in anger.
"How could you?" she glared at Harry who calmly answered "well the reporter asked me the questions and I answered them"
"There will be no more Hogsmeade trips for you Mr. Potter" Umbridge croaked as she walked away.
Umbridge banned people from reading the quibbler which ensured everyone read Harry's article. The article seemed to have the effect they were hoping for. More and more people seemed to believe Harry, many came to him and apologized for their behaviour. Others started to rebel against Umbridge and the best part was that many Slytherin's were being nice to him as well. Luna told him that no issue of quibbler had sold out so fast before, and the best part was Harry knew that Malfoy had read the article but couldn't confront him about it.
"What now?" Harry asked Ron as they enjoyed butterbeer on a Sunday afternoon.
"It's their move mate" Ron told him seriously "and I'm curious and worried about what that old toad will do."
"Well whatever she does, we'll be ready" Daphne soothed Harry who kissed her.
"We're not the only ones on her hit list" Ron stated