Slytherins & Escape

The air crackled with the anticipation of the return of the student body after the Christmas holidays, yet for Harry and Daphne, the new term brought little change to their lives. They remained as inseparable as ever, the days a seamless blend of classes, clandestine meetings in the Room of Requirement, and the occasional, unavoidable encounter with their less-than-enthusiastic peers.

Harry and Daphne's withdrawal from the social scene had solidified. The other Slytherins, their former tormentors, had long since given up on trying to include them. Harry and Daphne, in turn, cultivated an air of icy indifference, their shared experiences forging an unbreakable bond that protected them from the petty squabbles and social hierarchies that defined their house.

The arrival of Professor Dumbledore as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher sent ripples of unease through the student body. While Harry begrudgingly acknowledged Dumbledore's formidable magical prowess, he found the Headmaster's constant attempts at reconciliation both patronizing and unsettling. Dumbledore showered them with praise, offered excessive assistance, and lavished them with house points, his favoritism standing out like a beacon which only served to further alienate them from their peers.

Harry and Daphne, however, met Dumbledore's actions calmly and with cool disdain. They had found their own sanctuary, a refuge from the scrutiny of the school and the prying eyes of the Headmaster: the Room of Requirement.

It was within this dimensional space that Harry found Daphne after a particularly grueling detention with Snape. Curfew was approaching, but Harry knew Daphne would be there as it was the only place they could find solace in the suffocating atmosphere of the castle. He hurried up the seventh-floor corridor, eventually pacing up and down near the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy which revealed the hidden door to the Room of Requirement.

The sound of a powerful spell echoed through the room. "Diffindo! Reducto! Bombarda! Incendio!"Harry saw Daphne standing before a training dummy, her face flushed, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The dummy, engulfed in flames, showcased her raw power, yet Daphne's expression was one of despair.

"Daphne!" Harry exclaimed, rushing to her side. "What's wrong?" She turned to him, her eyes reflecting a storm of emotions: anger, frustration, despair. "I'm too weak," she cried, her voice trembling. "My magic… it's not strong enough."

Harry took her hands, his own trembling with concern. "You're wrong, Daphne. Look at that!" he gestured towards the burning dummy. "You incinerated it! You're incredibly powerful." Daphne weakly replied, "but it took so many attempts! My spells were weak, ineffective. I'll never be strong enough…" Her voice trailed off, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

Harry pulled her close, his arms encircling her. "Remember the Charms lesson? We struggled to levitate a single feather. We practiced tirelessly, day in and day out, and now we can levitate multiple objects with ease. Magic, Daphne, requires dedication and perseverance. Lazy wizards never achieve greatness.

"Daphne looked up at him, her eyes filled with a flicker of hope. "You're right, Harry. But the fear… the fear of failing, of being… vulnerable…""I understand," Harry said softly. "The fear of returning home…"He knew the weight of that fear, the dread that clung to her like a shroud.

"You don't have to go back," Harry insisted, his voice firm. "Dumbledore offered to let you stay here over the summer. You don't have to endure that… that… torture." Daphne shook her head, her eyes hardening. "I can't stay while you're forced to return to the Dursleys. I can't abandon you to that misery."

"But I won't let you face this alone," Harry declared. "I won't allow it." Daphne looked at him intently, a mixture of anger and concern swirling in her eyes. "You can't do anything, Harry. I have to go back. But you… you have a choice. You don't have to return to that… that… cage. You have magic here, you can learn, you can grow. With the Dursleys, you're stifled, your magic suppressed. You deserve better."

Harry knew she was right. Logically, he understood her point. But the thought of leaving her to face that horror alone was unbearable. "But what about you?" he asked, his voice thick with emotion. "What about the danger you face?" Daphne reached into her cloak and produced a short, sturdy wand. "This will help," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Harry stared at the wand, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Where… where did you get that?"

"Borrowed it," Daphne replied with a mischievous grin. "From Goyle. He's quite… absent-minded." Harry couldn't help but laugh. "You shouldn't have risked it. You could have been caught."

"Worth it," she said, her eyes sparkling. "Now, if you're caught sneaking out of the castle, don't blame me."

"I won't," Harry promised, a smile playing on his lips.

As they made their way back to the Slytherin common room, their conversation lightened, their shared laughter echoing through the silent corridors.

The final weeks of the term flew by in a whirlwind of intense training sessions, their shared whispers echoing through the hidden chambers of the Room of Requirement. They excelled in their final exams, with their combined scores placing them among the top of their year, much to the irritation of their classmates.

The day of departure arrived, a bittersweet ache settling in Harry's chest. He watched as Daphne boarded the Hogwarts Express, her face reflecting a mask of sadness.

"I'll see you in September," she said, her voice barely audible, her eyes full of emotion that mirrored his own.

"We'll be together again," Harry vowed, his heart heavy with the weight of his promise. As the train pulled away, leaving a trail of smoke in its wake, Harry felt a profound sense of loneliness. This year, he had discovered a world beyond the dreary confines of his existence, a world of magic and friendship, a world that revolved around Daphne Greengrass.

He knew the coming months would be hard. Memories of their adventures would both comfort and haunt him. But Daphne was strong—stronger than she realized. And he would become stronger too, ready for the challenges ahead, ready to reunite with his partner, his friend… his confidante.

The world around them seemed to blur. Harry stepped closer, meeting her gaze. Her icy blue eyes softened, and for once, her guarded expression fell away. Neither of them spoke.

Harry reached out, his hand brushing her cheek. She leaned into his touch, her fingers lightly resting on his wrist. Slowly, they closed the distance. Their lips met in a kiss—gentle at first, then deeper, a silent promise shared between them.

When they pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, both of them smiling despite the gravity of the moment.

"I'll see you soon," Daphne said, her voice steady but quiet.

"I'll be waiting," Harry replied.

As he turned to leave, still feeling the warmth of the kiss, a sneering voice broke the moment. "Disgusting," Pansy Parkinson called out, her expression twisted with contempt. "Making out in public like a pair of common house-elves."

Daphne, ever the unpredictable, had retaliated with a swift and unexpected hex, sending Pansy sprawling into the crowd. But even as he watched Pansy scramble to her feet, Harry couldn't help but smile.

He had found his place in the world, a place where magic and friendship intertwined, a place where he and Daphne, together, could defy the odds, break free from the chains of their past, and forge their own destiny.

The journey back to the castle was a melancholic one. Harry walked slowly, each step echoing his growing loneliness. The castle, once a place of refuge, now felt empty, the laughter and camaraderie of his friends replaced by an eerie silence. He missed Daphne already, her presence a constant in his life, a source of strength and comfort.

He thought back to their time in the Room of Requirement, their intense training sessions, their shared meals, their late-night conversations that stretched into the early hours of the morning. He remembered the warmth of her hand in his, the feel of her lips on his, a fleeting moment of intimacy that had sent a jolt of electricity through him.

He knew this separation would be difficult. The Dursleys, with their oppressive presence and their utter disregard for his magical abilities, would do their best to extinguish the spark within him. But he would not let them. He would train, he would study, he would hone his skills, preparing for his return to Hogwarts, preparing for his reunion with Daphne.

He would not let the summer break them. He would be stronger, more resilient, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. He would be ready to continue their journey, to explore the depths of their magic, to forge an unbreakable bond that would defy any obstacle, any enemy.

As he approached the castle, a single tear rolled down his cheek, a tribute to his lost friend, a promise to himself that he would not let her down. He would be waiting for her in September, stronger, wiser, and more determined than ever before.

If the formatting is off this chapter, I apologize. Idk what happened, but the editing software WN uses messed up so I had to go back and try to manually fix everything. I do not have a p@t r3on and I will NEVER lock chapters or accept premium status if WN offered, so if you guys enjoy my work and would like to donate to me, I would HIGHLY appreciate any Counter-Strike 2 skins if anyone here plays! I would be grateful for anything, gun skins, charms, stickers, cases, pins, patches, agent skins (Number K pls 👀), you name it! (Gloves/Knives would be awesome if you are extra generous lol). https:// steamcommunity.com/tradeoffer/new/?partner=172854453&token=C6tZ-Zrq (remove the space after the //)