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HP - Chapter 435: Harry's Decision
🕑 Added 2025-01-06 07:28:23 +0000 UTCDisclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I create.
“Dialogue”
‘Thoughts’
-Author notes-
Chapter 435: Harry's Decision
March 6
Someone appeared at the front of the Potter Mansion with a loud cracking noise.
She could have appeared inside the house, but it just didn't seem polite, so she waited at the door. Her presence must have already been noted.
It took only a few seconds before the door opened, and she was greeted by a bubbly house-elf.
“Welcome, Miss Daphne.”
“Thanks, Mipsy. How are things going here?”
“Well… Miss Holly is getting a bit restless now that both Mistress and Master Potter are working out of the house…” The elf looked a bit troubled while saying that.
“Yes, I can imagine that,” Daphne responded. The youngest Potter child was a ball of energy. “Isn't Victoria keeping her company?”
The elf shook her head. “Miss Victoria is also outside. She mentioned having some business at the Ministry.”
“I see.” Daphne knew a bit more about that topic. She recalled having heard that Victoria was starting the legal process to reclaim the title of Lady Black.
Proving her claim to that ancient wizarding house was not going to be easy, especially now that the magical government was being reconstructed from scratch, not to mention that she came from an alternative world. Even with the help of James Potter, it would take her a while, perhaps years…
But it wasn't like she had much else to do at the moment. Victoria had already decided not to return to Hogwarts and would instead finish her education studying on her own.
She told Daphne that it would feel too strange to attend school again and be surrounded by alternate versions of her friends who knew nothing of her.
That comment reminded Daphne of how Harry must have felt when he began attending school for the second time.
“And how is he?” Daphne finally asked what she really wanted to know.
Mipsy sighed. “Still hasn't left his room. Spends most of the time lying in bed. But he looks a bit better.”
Daphne nodded. This did not come as a surprise. “I would like to see him.”
“Of course.” The house-elf escorted her to Harry's room.
Once they arrived, Mipsy turned to her. “I will leave you alone. Would you like me to prepare something?”
“Some tea would be nice,” Daphne told the elf, who then went away.
She stood there for a moment, looking at the door handle.
Once she gathered the will to continue, she gave the door a soft knock.
“Come in, Daphne.” Harry's voice was clearly heard.
“Looks like you haven't lost all your abilities,” she said as she walked inside.
As Mipsy had said, Harry was resting on his bed with a book on his lap.
He raised an eyebrow at her comment. “And who said that I lost any of my abilities?”
Daphne ignored the question. Everyone had assumed that after seeing him like this.
“You look better,” Daphne commented.
It was an honest remark too. His hair had gone from pure white to a healthier silver tone, and his eyes no longer looked devoided of life. His irises had turned to a pale blue, but at least he looked more human now.
“I have the appearance of an old man,” Harry huffed. “I was even compared to Dumbledore.”
Daphne chuckled at this. “I can see why.”
“Yes, he also found it amusing,” Harry added.
Daphne walked closer and sat on the bed. “I'm surprised Holly isn't here, begging for you to play with her.”
“She was here earlier; we played Exploding Snap for a while,” Harry told her.
At the mention of that game, Daphne gave the room a quick scan and noticed the burned curtains. “I see…”
“Dobby is keeping her company now,” he then said.
“That sounds even more dangerous than playing that game with you,” Daphne said.
Her eyes then went to an object resting on Harry's desk. It was a glass vial with some metallic shards inside, as well as a few pieces of a green crystal.
“Is that…?”
Harry followed her gaze to know what she was referring to. “That’s what’s left of my staff, yes.”
“I never knew goblin steel could shatter like that. It’s supposed to be nearly indestructible.”
“I doubt anyone had ever channeled so much magic through that material before, to test that theory. Nothing is indestructible in the end,” Harry suggested.
“I suppose not… but who collected them?” Daphne was sure that Harry had not set foot on Hogwarts after the battle. Much less to peruse over the remains of the battle.
“Professor Dumbledore brought me that. But the interesting part is that it was Snape who made the effort to find all those pieces and put them inside a vial.”
“Professor Snape did?” Daphne found that truly surprising. The man dislike for all things Potter was not exactly a secret. The only ones somewhat immune to that, were his mother to some extent, his sister Lyra.
“I suppose it was his way to say thanks without actually having to say the words to me. I doubt he is capable of such a feat, to be honest.”
Daphne had to agree on that one. “I’m sure he’s much happier now that he doesn’t have the threat of the Dark Lord hanging over him.” She had a brief taste of that, but Snape had been like that for almost two decades.
“From what I’ve heard, he disappeared along with Lady Malfoy after emptying his vault, so I bet he’s more than happy right now.” Harry said with a tinge of amusement in his voice.
“Well…” Daphne made a complicated expression. She’d rather not imagine her old Potions professor and Draco’s mother together. “I hope he has some peace. He’s earned it.”
After a moment of silence, she looked at Harry again. “And what about you? How are you feeling?”
Harry shrugged. “I’m fine.” He was just tired of people asking that question.
“Yes, you look fantastic,” Daphne said with a deadpan expression.
“Are you planning on coming back to school? Everyone is asking about you.”
“I have no need to return there. My mission is complete,” Harry said calmly.
Daphne frowned. Her body tensed up at the mention of his 'mission.'
“But that’s not what you wanted to ask me, is it?” Harry said.
“When?” Daphne finally asked with a serious face.
Harry smiled softly. “I don’t have a specific date, but it must be before the last tournament task.”
Daphne gasped. “That’s only three months from now!”
