Chapter 98

Both blushing, it was Harry who leaned forward and quietly said, "This morning, actually."

"I'm happy for you," she said. "But, now you have to bring Daphne up to join you. You need balance."

With a sigh, Hermione said, "We'll ask her; when she's out of the infirmary. It's just..."

Suddenly switching to a stern but sad expression, Luna said, "She's been hurt. Not physically, I mean; that curse. She's been hurt deeper than that... in her heart; to her soul.

"You'll need to help her and guide her. You'll need to get through this, together. Her soul is healing but she needs comfort from you both as she does. She trusts you both but it's a fickle thing. You need to show her that you can be trusted, but you also need to give her a little push every now and then lest you stagnate."

"Damn, Luna!" whined Harry. "I get what you're saying, but... Yes, Daphne was hurt; but, I don't want her to... I don't want to cause a relapse by pushing."

"Not pushing... guiding," she disagreed. "Lead her where she needs to go."

Harry and Hermione turned to look at one another before they both looked back at Luna. Hermione asked her, "How did you get so wise, so young?"

Luna just sadly smiled back.

Like a moth to a bug zapper, Malfoy chose that moment to saunter over with his two ape bookends. "So, Potter," he sneered. "I heard your blood traitor Greengrass got herself cursed into the infirmary. That's what you get for turning your back on purebloods."

With an overly dramatic sigh, Harry said, "Malfoy, just how stupid can you get? You've just stated, to all and sundry, that a pureblood will curse you in the back. In other words, you're admitting... on behalf of purebloods everywhere... that purebloods are a bunch of back-cursers. And, therefore, are not to be trusted."

With a snicker at the now red-faced blonde boy, he continued, "Go away, Malfoy; before you shove your foot even further in your mouth. You're just far too easy for me to bother dealing with."

With a snarl of, "You'll get yours, Potter," Malfoy scuttled back to his own table, bookends in tow.

For neither their early nap nor their proper sleep after the Astronomy class, did the two do more than cuddle once they climbed into bed before falling asleep. Both were wondering how they could help Daphne with her problems.

Early the next morning both were up and hurried down to the infirmary. As promised, Daphne was receiving her last health check before being released. She greeted them both with a wide smile and happiness in her eyes; and was very appreciative of Hermione's efforts when the other girl dropped a folded set of full school robes, socks, shoes, hair clips, Daphne's small makeup purse and underwear on the bed.

"All clear, dear," said Madam Pomfrey when she stepped away. "You're free to go once you get dressed."

The medi-witch then placed the two jars of the balm and the salve onto the bedside table and said, "Don't forget what I told you and showed you about applying the balm. For the salve, the same rules apply, except it needs to be massaged into the scar tissue to get deeply within.

"So, a light coating for new skin with the balm; and a deep massage for scar tissue and the salve. Got that, dears?"

"Yes, Madam Pomfrey," the three dutifully replied, as Daphne climbed out of bed to get dressed.

Though, they were no longer worried about their modesty between the three of them, now; Harry still turned about and watched for anyone coming in. It took only a short time for Daphne to get dressed and be ready to go down to breakfast.

"Do you want to go grab a shower, first?" asked Hermione. "I'm sure we can put another coating of the balm on afterwards, if you want to."

"No, it's alright," replied Daphne. "Madam Pomfrey woke me to have an early shower so she could pat dry my back. I'd only just got back into bed, and Madam Pomfrey applied the balm, when you two walked in."

"Right then," said Harry, happy to have his 'first' bondmate back on her feet. "Breakfast?"

"Breakfast," they smiled back.

After a healthy breakfast where Luna advised Daphne to open her heart and allow it to be free to live - which Daphne didn't reply to at the time, but later said she thought it a strange thing to say - the mail owls came streaming in. Hermione received her morning edition of the Daily Prophet, as did Daphne.

Harry had considered getting one for himself but decided it was a waste, seeing as both his bondmates would not hesitate in showing him anything of interest or importance contained within if they saw it. Instead, he alternatively read over both girls' shoulders.

While they were receiving their morning papers, Harry received a small package borne by an owl he'd not seen before.

As surreptitiously as possible he scanned the owl and package before relieving the bird of its burden and offering it a slice of bacon. Instead of waiting the bird practically snatched the bacon out of Harry's fingers and took off again.

"What do you have there, love?" asked Daphne, as Hermione was too deep into reading the newspaper.

He leaned over and whispered into Daphne's ear. "If it's what I think it is, it's part of the birthday gifts for Friday."

Because of Astronomy the night before, they had a late start to classes, this day. Their first period was free, but they were in DADA for the second period.

All three knew that Barty Junior wouldn't be making a move against them under his master's orders; so felt quite safe. Harry just wasn't looking forward to the class coming the next week, where faux-Moody taught them the three Unforgivables.

He wondered if he should fake being Imperiused.

Later, he managed to find the time to duck into a boys' bathroom and unwrapped the package that had arrived that morning. Inside he found a single ring box and, upon opening it, he saw the three rings he'd ordered.

'Wow!' he thought. 'That was fast!'

He dropped the ring box back into his pocket and rejoined the other two out in the corridor, where they were waiting for him.

That evening the three quickly settled in for the night. They knew Daphne needed the balm for her back; so, while they were getting their homework out of the way, Harry lightly applied it to her fading scar while she sat forward on the edge of the couch and between his legs.

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