Chapter 91

On her return, Daphne laid out her rune carving kit and showed it to Harry.

Hermione said, "That's a lot better than mine. Mine's only the basic kit. Daphne owns and uses an advanced kit; which is more expensive."

"And, who do I need to order one from?" asked Harry.

"Flourish & Blott's have both in stock," explained Daphne. "You can owl-order them."

"Get three, then," ordered Harry. "One each for me and Hermione. And another, spare."

"Alright," replied Daphne. "I'll add them to the list we're already preparing for the store." Looking up, she said, "Your trust vault's getting a hammering, you know."

"It doesn't matter," he replied, shaking his head. "It only has to last up until shortly after Halloween. At that time, I'll be emancipated and have access to the family vaults. The trust vault will then be joined by a second vault and be made stipend vaults for each of you."

"Of course," sighed Hermione. "We keep forgetting."

They began the week as if it was normal. Harry kept thinking about his gifts for both girls, and hoped they'd accept the rings if they arrived on time for Friday evening. His Monday afternoon, while both girls were in Arithmancy, was spent self-studying his borrowed Ancient Runes introductory texts. And he spent a little time in the Room of Requirement studying the books found in there, and developing plans on how to deal with the dragon.

His plan for the second and third task had little change. He'd, once again, be using gillyweed for the second task. But, this time, he'd be buying - or suggesting to the girls such a gift for him for Christmas would be most welcome - a divers' watch with a timer. And he'd see about wearing some armour that was waterproof to wear while he was underwater, in case he had to rescue young Gabrielle Delacour again.

This time, for the third task, he was going to see if he could tack a locator charm on the Cup before it went into the maze. And use that to make his way directly to it. However, this time, there was no way he was going to allow Cedric to touch the damned thing. That was one life he could immediately save.

By the time classes finished for the day, Harry was back in their apartment waiting for them.

He was suffering from a feeling of dread and was just starting to get worried when Dobby popped in. "Master Harry, Sir," he blurted. "Miss Daffy's been attacked and is in the hospital wing."

Without even a word back to Dobby, Harry was up and bolting out of the apartment. Running, he was down the corridor and taking the steps three at a time with his heart pumping wildly in his chest.

Barrelling along one corridor, he nearly knocked over a gaggle of third year Gryffindor girls as he ducked through one of the castle's shortcuts heading for the second floor and the infirmary. Back down a narrow flight of stairs and he was finally haring along the corridor leading to the doors into the hospital wing. Both doors were already open as he ran through and skidded to a stop.

"Harry!" he heard Hermione call from behind a screen on the opposite side of the ward from his usual bed.

He trotted over and around the screen to see Madam Pomfrey working on Daphne's bare back with the top sheet pulled up to her waist. Diagonally across her back was a large gash that Madam Pomfrey was in the middle of healing. Daphne was out cold with her head facing to her left and away.

Hermione came over to hug him and sobbed into his shoulder. "Oh, Harry!" she cried.

Standing near the foot of the bed, while holding a sobbing witch in his arms, he was still gasping for breath. His heart was hammering away in his chest.

"Wh-What happened?" he finally managed to get out. "Wh-who did this?"

"I... it was Flint," she sobbed. "I saw him."

"Mister Potter," scolded Madam Pomfrey. "Take her to the other side of the infirmary."

"How is Daphne, first?" he demanded.

"It was deep, but it was clean," replied the medi-witch. "I'll be able to get it healed with a little time. If I take my time she won't even have a scar."

"Thank you, Ma'am," he gratefully said, starting to lead Hermione away a little as the Headmaster and Professor Snape hurried in.

"Ahh! Poppy," the Headmaster said, hurrying over. "I heard that one of our students had been injured. I came asking if I or Severus could be of assistance."

Ignoring the Headmaster, she looked at Snape and said, "Potions Master? I'm going to be needing more Essence of Dittany, Skin-Knit potion and new skin balm as a matter of urgency, I'm afraid. I'll be using quite a bit on this young lady here. Pain relief potions will also soon be in demand, I expect."

Finally choosing to notice the Headmaster she said, "Yes, Headmaster, you can. Find whoever did this and boot them from the school."

"Well, without any evidence, Poppy..." the old started to gently say as if talking to a small child.

"No evidence?" Hermione barked pulling away from Harry. "You haven't even begun to investigate this vicious assault and you're already deciding there's no evidence?!"

As soon as Hermione started berating the Headmaster the old man immediately flinched.

"Ah, Miss Granger," he tried. "I've already spoken to a few students..."

"But not me!" she cut right back. "I was there, Headmaster. You haven't asked me what happened, yet."

"Oh, yes," he said. "I believe you were stunned, though; were you not, Miss Granger?"

"Not before I saw who was involved in firing the curse that did that!" she snapped back pointing to Daphne.

"Oh, I see," the Headmaster said, clearly surprised by Hermione's response. "And just who attacked Miss Greengrass, then?"

"Marcus Flint!" she hissed. "Otherwise known as 'Dead Man Walking', or 'The Corpse that doesn't know it's Dead, yet'."

"Well, Headmaster?" Harry coldly stared at him.

"Yes, well," the Headmaster said. "I shall have words with Mister Flint to find out why he lied to me; and take things from there."

"If your things do not include an immediate call to the DMLE, for them to do the investigation as is their mandate... not yours... and to her father to let him know his daughter has been viciously attacked and is in the infirmary hurt... then I and my bondmates have decisions to make," Harry almost snarled. "This was an unprovoked attack, clearly demonstrated by the fact Mister Flint attacked her in the back! Call the bloody aurors and call her father to let him know she's been hurt. As the bondmate of Miss Greengrass I demand it."

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