Like Fire and Moonlight - Chapter 15: Confessions in the Dark

Harry couldn't deny that something had changed between him and Daphne. It was subtle but present, like a quiet current flowing between them whenever they crossed paths. There were no direct declarations, no frank conversations about what they were feeling, but the signs were there – in every glance that lingered a second too long, in every movement that seemed to carry more meaning than it should.

He noticed it during Prefect meetings, when she sat beside him, their shoulders occasionally brushing as they reviewed patrol schedules or discussed upcoming events. There was something different in the way she leaned over to pick up a piece of parchment or when her fingers accidentally brushed his as they passed each other a report. Small moments that would mean nothing to anyone else but seemed to echo longer than they should for him.

And it wasn't just that. He felt it on their nightly patrols, when they walked side by side through the quiet, dimly lit corridors of the castle, their voices whispering to avoid waking the grumpy portraits or drawing Filch's attention. He noticed how the silence between them, which would have once been awkward, now felt charged – almost as if something was always on the verge of being said but never actually spoken.

He caught himself observing the little things – the way her hair swayed slightly as she descended a staircase, the slight furrow of her brows when she concentrated on a map, or the way her eyes sparkled in the torchlight when she made a sarcastic comment only he seemed to understand.

But what unsettled him the most, what truly threw him off balance, was the way his own body seemed to react to her presence. How his heart beat just a bit faster when she got close, how his fingers seemed to move on their own, searching for an excuse to touch her hand for just a brief second.

He wasn't sure what it all meant, but he knew it was different from anything he'd felt before. Daphne wasn't just another pretty girl he wanted to impress or pass the time with. There was something more, something that made him question his own certainties, that made him want to know her for real, beyond the teasing and the stolen glances.

And, perhaps most unsettling of all, was that he was beginning to care about what she thought of him – something he'd never truly bothered with before, even with all the other girls he'd known.

It was with this thought still swirling in his mind that he found her in the dark hallway on the third floor, during another of their nightly rounds. The torches cast long shadows on the stone walls, and Daphne's footsteps echoed softly beside his, muffled by the cold stone floor.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, the only sound besides their steps being the soft rustle of the parchments Daphne held against her chest. Harry felt the weight of his watch on his wrist, the cold metal against warm skin, a constant reminder of her presence in his life.

Finally, he couldn't bear the silence any longer and broke the distance between them with a question that had been bothering him for some time.

“Have you always been this dedicated on patrols?” Harry asked, breaking the silence that had stretched between them as they moved through the castle’s darkened corridors.

Daphne let out a low chuckle, her steps echoing softly against the cold stones. “Are you calling me uptight, Potter?”

Harry gave a small smile, his eyes drifting to her profile as they passed a portrait pretending to be asleep. “Not exactly,” he replied, tilting his head slightly to the side. “I'm just saying you seem to enjoy this more than any other prefect.”

Daphne raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into an amused smirk. “And you don’t?”

Harry shrugged, his fingers unconsciously brushing against the watch on his wrist. “I don’t know... it’s interesting, I guess. Seeing the castle like this, empty, just us. Kind of... different.”

Daphne glanced at him sideways, her blue eyes catching the faint torchlight. “Are you getting sentimental?”

He let out a light laugh, shaking his head. “Don’t push it. Just... different.”

They continued walking in silence for a few more seconds, their footsteps echoing softly along the corridor. Finally, Daphne stopped near a window overlooking the snow-covered gardens, her eyes fixing on the moon shining high in the dark sky.

“I don’t mind the patrols,” she said at last, her voice softer now. “Actually, I kind of like them.”

Harry stopped beside her, his eyes following hers to the moon outside. He could see their reflections in the glass, the long shadows blending with the faint torchlight.

“I do too,” he admitted, feeling a slight warmth in his chest at her closeness. “I guess we get to see a side of Hogwarts that no one else does.”

Daphne turned to him, her eyes glimmering slightly as a strand of hair fell across her face. “Maybe that’s it,” she said, her lips curling into a faint smile.

Harry didn’t respond right away. Instead, his eyes lingered on their reflections in the cold, fogged-up window, their silhouettes slightly distorted by the thin layer of frost forming on the other side. He watched the way the torchlight wrapped around them, casting soft shadows against the worn stones of the corridor, as if the castle itself was enveloping them in a quiet secret.

He felt a strange warmth in his chest, something that seemed to grow each time he found himself alone with her in these dark hallways, far from the curious eyes of other students. Something that made him wish for time to stretch, for their steps to slow, for the silence between them not to break so quickly.

Daphne noticed his gaze and quickly turned her eyes back to the window, her long lashes blinking against the flickering light. For a brief moment, Harry thought he saw a faint blush touch her cheeks, but before he could be sure, she turned again, her blonde hair swaying softly as she started walking down the corridor once more.

“Come on, Potter,” she said, her voice slightly firmer, but with a hint of softness he was beginning to recognize. “We still have a few more corridors to patrol.”

Harry took a second to react, but quickly followed her, his steps quickening to catch up as the shadows closed around them once more. He watched the way her hair caught the torchlight, the soft sound of her heels echoing against the ancient stones, and realized, with a small jolt, that maybe these nightly patrols weren’t just an obligation for him anymore.

Maybe, he thought, slowly coming to terms with the idea, he actually liked her company. Not just the stolen glances or the subtle teasing, but her presence beside him, the way she made the silence feel less heavy and the shadows less intimidating.

And as they turned a dark corner, the cold air of the corridor making his heart beat just a little faster, Harry realized that, without meaning to admit it, he had already accepted the greatest challenge he could imagine — understanding Daphne Greengrass.

Harry squeezed through the portrait hole and stepped into the Gryffindor common room, feeling the soft warmth of the crackling fire to his right. The room was bathed in a golden glow, the shadows of the flames dancing across the red and gold tapestries that lined the walls. Only a few students remained, clustered in small, whispering groups or hunched over tables piled high with parchment, their faces marked with exhaustion.

He slowly approached the table closest to the fireplace, where Ron and Hermione were huddled over a stack of books, as if they were building a fortress of knowledge around themselves. Hermione was chewing on the end of her quill, her eyes narrowed at a line of complex runes, while Ron tapped his fingers absentmindedly on the edge of a parchment, clearly bored.

Hermione seemed deeply focused on a long essay about advanced potions, her quill moving rapidly across the parchment as her eyes scanned each line with precision. Ron, on the other hand, was more interested in poking at one of the biscuits Hermione had set aside, clearly more restless than focused on his studies.

Harry sank into the armchair, letting out a sigh that made Ron glance up, a small grin forming on his lips.

“Your rounds with Greengrass are getting longer and longer,” he remarked, tossing his quill aside and stretching like he’d just woken up. “I almost thought you weren’t coming back tonight.”

Harry rolled his eyes but couldn’t stop the slight warmth that crept into his cheeks. “We do our rounds like any other prefects.”

“Normally?” Ron raised his eyebrows, clearly enjoying this. “Mate, Hermione and I don’t take that long, and we actually stop to check the empty classrooms.”

Harry shot him an annoyed look, but he realized a smile was forming on his own lips. Hermione, who had been focused on her parchment, paused her writing and looked at them with a curious expression.

“There’s something you’re not telling us,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “Are you going to spill it, or do I have to use other means?”

Harry frowned, confused. “Other means? What other means?”

Hermione gave him a mischievous smile, her eyes sparkling with a rare hint of playfulness. “I still have that vial of Veritaserum you took from Slughorn last year. It could, accidentally, end up in your pumpkin juice.”

Harry stared at her, incredulous. “You’re not like this, Hermione. Since when do you threaten your own friends? Spending too much time with Ron is affecting your judgment.”

Ron let out a loud laugh, reaching over to give Harry a light slap on the shoulder. “I have that effect on people, mate.”

Harry adjusted himself in the armchair, feeling the warmth of the fire heat his back. He glanced quickly at the two of them, realizing there was no escaping this conversation. Hermione was watching him with quiet expectation, while Ron looked like he was about to burst with curiosity.

He took a deep breath, running a hand through his already messy hair. “Alright, I’ll tell you,” he began, feeling his heart beat a little faster. “I... I kissed Greengrass.”

The silence that followed was broken only by the soft crackling of the fire in the hearth, Hermione’s eyes widening slightly while Ron stared at him as if Harry had just confessed he was planning to run away from the castle.

“You what?” Ron said, his voice louder than necessary, drawing a few curious glances from the few remaining students in the common room.

Hermione, on the other hand, let out a short laugh, almost as if she had been expecting this. “I knew something was going on,” she said, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction.

Harry ran a hand over his face, feeling the warmth in his cheeks intensify. “It was at Slughorn’s party... and then again at the seventh year Christmas party,” he admitted, his fingers unconsciously touching the watch Daphne had given him. “The first time was kind of... automatic, but the second time was... different. More... intimate.”

Ron looked at him as if Harry had just confessed he preferred potions over Quidditch. “So you two are really using those rounds to snog in some dark corner of the castle?”

Harry let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “No, of course not. Daphne is... different. She’d never do something like that.”

Hermione gave a small smile, tilting her head as she watched Harry’s uncomfortable expression. “I knew something was different since the train,” she commented, her fingers playing with the edge of her parchment.

Harry shrugged, feeling his heart still racing. “We talked during the trip, and... we kind of decided to try to figure out what this is. But we haven’t really taken a first step yet.”

Hermione raised her eyebrows, her eyes fixed on his with a mixture of curiosity and approval. “You? Not knowing what to do with a girl? That’s new.”

Ron let out another laugh, leaning over to give Harry another playful slap on the shoulder. “Looks like Greengrass has really gotten to you, mate.”

Harry rolled his eyes but couldn't help the smile that crept onto his lips. He knew his friends wouldn't leave him alone anytime soon, but, for the first time, he didn't really mind. Maybe, he thought, it was good to have someone to share the confusion that his life had become.

They kept talking for a few more minutes, their laughter echoing through the nearly empty common room as the fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting dancing shadows on the stone walls. Harry allowed himself to relax a little, feeling the weight of the confusion in his chest slowly easing.

And as Ron made another joke about him finally being "tamed" and Hermione tried to keep a straight face while suppressing a grin, Harry realized that, maybe, he was ready to let whatever this thing with Daphne was develop naturally. Even if he had no idea where it might lead.

~HP~

“If you make this wand movement,” Flitwick explained, raising his small wand in his tiny hands and demonstrating a quick, L-shaped flick, “you’ll have what you need to cast a proper Impervius Charm. Extremely useful for protecting objects from liquids or keeping yourself dry in harsh conditions.”

He turned to a candle he had placed on his desk, pointed his wand, and chirped, “Impervius!” in his high, enthusiastic voice. Then, he grabbed a small watering can and poured water directly over the flame. The water slid off the candle as if it had hit an invisible barrier, without extinguishing the flame, which continued to burn as brightly as before.

“As you can see,” he continued, twirling his wand with a satisfied flourish, “it’s a simple but powerful spell. Often used to protect books, scrolls, or even old armor from moisture.”

He looked out at the class, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “Now, I want you to practice in pairs.”

Harry turned to Daphne, who had already taken a step in his direction, her blue eyes glinting slightly as she adjusted the strap of her cloak. They ended up together in these classes so often that it no longer felt like a coincidence, but more like a silent habit they had both fallen into.

She stopped a few steps away from him, wearing that firm, challenging expression he was beginning to recognize. Harry noticed that Davies, passing by them, shot a wink at Daphne before heading over to Zabini's table, where he was met with a clearly irritated glare.

Harry forced his shoulders to relax, ignoring the slight tightness in his chest at the way Davies had smiled at her. He turned back to Daphne, who seemed to have noticed his reaction, her lips curving into a small smile that didn’t go unnoticed.

“Want to go first?” Harry asked, trying to sound casual as he adjusted his own wand.

Daphne raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a slightly teasing smile. “This chivalrous side of yours is still new to me, Potter,” she replied, her eyes locking with his for a second longer than necessary.

Harry let out a small chuckle, tilting his head to the side as he raised his wand. “I’m just trying to avoid you accusing me of stealing your turn.”

She gave a small smile, her fingers spinning her wand with the familiarity of someone who clearly mastered the spell. “Fair enough,” she replied, stepping a little closer and raising her wand with a precise motion. “Impervius!”

The tip of Daphne’s wand glowed slightly before she pointed it at the candle in front of them. When she poured the water, it ran over the surface as if it had hit an invisible barrier, without touching the wax of the candle.

Harry nodded, impressed. “Not bad.”

Daphne lifted her chin slightly, her eyes still locked on his. “Did you expect anything less?”

Harry stepped a little closer, catching the faint, familiar perfume that always seemed to linger around her. “I thought you might try a bit harder to impress me.”

She let out a soft laugh, her eyes glinting slightly in the torchlight. “Maybe I don’t have to try that hard to impress you.”

Harry felt his chest warm slightly, but he forced himself to keep a casual expression. “Confident, as always.”

Daphne didn’t break eye contact, her lips curving into a small smile that seemed to hold more than just playful teasing. “And you seem more nervous than usual,” she replied, her blue eyes narrowing slightly. “Something in the air, Potter?”

Harry gave a small smile, spinning his wand between his fingers as he tilted his head to the side. “Just the spell you just cast. It’s making me a bit uneasy.”

She studied him for a moment, as if trying to decide if he was being serious or just teasing, but then shook her head, letting out a light laugh before stepping back half a step, her eyes still glowing with that silent challenge that seemed to be reserved just for him.

“Then you’d better focus,” she murmured, leaning in just a little closer. “I won’t go easy on you.”

Harry smiled, feeling his heart beat a bit faster as he prepared to cast the spell. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

They continued like that, exchanging subtle taunts and lingering glances, while the room around them filled with the sounds of poorly executed spells and nervous laughter. And, even as he murmured the incantation and watched the water slide off the candle, Harry couldn’t shake the feeling that, somehow, this constant exchange of words and glances was something he didn’t want to end anytime soon.

~HP~

The shadows stretched along the stone walls as Harry and Daphne walked side by side through the silent corridors of Hogwarts. The sound of their footsteps echoed softly, mixing with the occasional rustling of portraits that pretended to sleep or whispered among themselves as the pair passed.

“Have you noticed that McGonagall is more demanding this year?” Daphne commented, breaking the silence as they climbed one of the staircases leading to the third floor. “She asked us for three detailed reports just to approve the spring event.”

Harry let out a short laugh, twirling his wand between his fingers as they moved down the stone corridor. “She just wants to make sure no one turns Charms class into an impromptu duel before the NEWTs.”

Daphne raised an eyebrow, the amused glint in her eyes highlighted by the torchlight. “With you around, Potter, there’s always that risk.”

Harry rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t stop the smile from forming on his lips. “Hey, I’m a model student. Just because I’ve blown up a few cauldrons and maybe caused one or two accidental fires...”

“Accidental,” Daphne repeated, letting out a light laugh. “Sure, let’s pretend it was all accidental.”

She chuckled softly, the gentle sound echoing off the cold stones of the corridor. “Of course it was.”

They continued climbing, the spiral staircase guiding them to the upper floors of the castle. The air around them grew colder, the biting wind slipping through the cracks in the windows, causing Daphne’s hair to sway lightly.

Harry broke the silence again, his tone curious as he continued to spin his wand between his fingers while they climbed the spiraling stairs. “Do you ever think about doing something else? Like... sneaking off to Hogsmeade on a night like this and just forgetting about everything for a while?”

Daphne glanced sideways at him, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “You’d be surprised how often that crosses my mind.”

He raised his eyebrows, clearly intrigued. “Really? You, the model prefect, thinking about escaping your responsibilities?”

She shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Not all of us are just rules and reports, Potter. And you? Have you ever wanted to... disappear from here for a while?”

Harry shrugged, his fingers still spinning his wand. “Sometimes. But then again... I kind of like this.”

She gave a small smile, her eyes drifting back to the stairs ahead of them. “I knew you liked a challenge.”

Harry didn’t respond immediately, but he found himself watching the way the dim torchlight reflected off her hair, casting small, golden highlights that seemed to dance as they moved. He felt a slight tightness in his chest but forced himself to ignore the sensation.

Finally, they reached the top of the stairs, the large door leading to the Astronomy Tower looming ahead of them, its iron and wood details looking even older under the starlight streaming in through a nearby window.

Daphne paused for a moment, her eyes fixed on the door in front of them before turning to face him. “Shouldn’t you be exhausted? Quidditch team captain, Head Boy, a student who’s always getting into trouble... isn’t that a bit too much, even for you?”

Harry gave a small smile, taking a step closer to her, his eyes locked on hers. “Maybe I just need something to keep me motivated.”

She raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a faint smile. “Something or someone?”

Harry felt his face warm slightly but held her gaze. “Who knows?”

Daphne watched him for a second longer, the silence stretching between them like a taut string, before she turned and pushed the heavy wooden door open, which creaked softly, revealing the open platform of the Astronomy Tower.

The cold wind hit them immediately, Daphne’s hair moving like a golden veil around her face as they took their first steps onto the platform, the stars shining brightly in the clear, cloudless sky.

Harry approached the parapet, feeling the icy wind cut across his face, but not minding it. His eyes swept over the open grounds below, the Herbology greenhouses appearing as tiny, glowing dots in the distance, while the Forbidden Forest stretched out like a dark shadow beyond them.

Daphne stopped beside him, her arms crossed to shield herself from the cold as she gazed up at the starry sky. They stood in silence for a few seconds, the sounds of the castle becoming just distant echoes as the wind whistled around them.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been up here,” Harry commented, his eyes still fixed on the horizon. “I’d forgotten how incredible the view is.”

Daphne let out a soft sigh, her eyes still on the stars. “It’s easy to forget... with so much happening all the time.”

Harry glanced at her for a moment, her face illuminated by the pale light of the moon, her eyes shimmering slightly as she took a deep breath, taking in the cold, fresh night air. He felt his chest tighten slightly but forced himself to keep his voice steady.

“I know what you mean,” he murmured, turning his gaze back to the sky. “But it’s good to have these moments... of silence, I guess.”

Daphne looked at him for another second before nodding slowly, her eyes still glowing faintly as she leaned against the parapet beside him.

“Yes,” she said, her voice soft, almost a whisper. “Sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.”

Harry slowly turned to face her, his eyes still adjusting to the soft starlight that bathed her face. Daphne had her arms crossed, the cold wind making her blonde hair dance lightly around her face, but she didn’t seem uncomfortable. On the contrary, there was a lightness in her expression that he rarely saw, as if she was, for the first time, allowing herself to relax.

They stood in silence for a few more seconds, the wind softly whistling around them, while the castle continued to breathe in the distance, its shadows stretching like old, sleeping giants.

“Have you ever wondered why we always hated each other?” Harry finally asked, his voice coming out lower than he intended.

Daphne turned to look at him, her blue eyes narrowing slightly, as if she were trying to decipher what he really meant.

“You think we hated each other?” she asked, her tone carrying a hint of teasing, but with a touch of genuine curiosity.

Harry let out a small laugh, running a hand through his messy hair as he glanced away toward the distant mountains. “I don’t know... it always felt like we were supposed to hate each other. Gryffindor and Slytherin, you always so... cold, and me so... impulsive.”

Daphne sighed, her eyes drifting back to the sky for a brief moment before settling on him again. “I think it was easier that way,” she admitted, her voice lower now, almost a whisper. “If I hated you, I wouldn’t have to worry about what you thought of me. I wouldn’t have to care.”

Harry felt his chest tighten, her confession hitting his own insecurities with a force he hadn’t expected. He stepped a little closer, his fingers still twirling his wand, but his eyes locked on hers.

“And do you care now?” he asked, his voice coming out more firmly than he had intended.

Daphne didn’t break eye contact, but he noticed the slight tension that appeared in her jaw, as if she were wrestling with something she didn’t want to admit.

“I don’t know,” she said finally, her blue eyes still locked on his. “But I think... I can’t pretend I don’t anymore.”

Harry felt his heart race, a mix of relief and nervousness making his hands tingle slightly. He took another step closer to her, their faces now just a few inches apart, the cold wind cutting through the space between them.

“Then stop pretending,” he murmured, his eyes drifting to her lips, which were now slightly parted, as if she were about to say something but couldn’t find the words.

Daphne let out a soft sigh, her gaze softening for a brief second before she finally closed the distance between them, their lips meeting in a kiss that was both urgent and hesitant, as if they were testing the limits of the moment, unsure of exactly where it might lead them.

Harry felt the world around him fade away, the cold of the night quickly replaced by the warmth radiating from their touch, his fingers moving instinctively to her waist, pulling her closer as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

They broke apart briefly, both breathing heavily, their eyes still locked on each other, as if they had just crossed a line they could never return from.

“That was...” Daphne began, her voice slightly unsteady, but without losing the confidence he had always admired.

“Intense?” Harry finished, his lips still close to hers, their faces so near he could feel her breath against his skin.

Daphne let out a soft laugh, her eyes softening as she pulled him in for another kiss, this one deeper, more certain, as if they had both finally allowed themselves to give in to what they were feeling.

When they finally pulled back again, Harry felt his chest swell, the confusion in his mind slowly dissipating, replaced by a certainty he hadn’t realized he needed.

Daphne watched him for a second longer, her eyes shining with something he couldn’t fully decipher, but that made him feel strangely complete.

“So... what does this make us?” she asked, her arms still wrapped around his neck, their faces so close that their noses almost touched.

Harry gave a small smile, his fingers still firm on her waist. “I think... a couple, maybe?”

Daphne looked at him for a second more, her smile widening slightly as she pulled him closer, her lips brushing softly against his once more before she answered, her voice low but firm.

“Whatever it is, let’s keep it just between us... for now.”

Harry nodded, his eyes still locked on hers as the cold wind blew around them, her blonde hair dancing gently in the night breeze.

“For now,” he repeated, pulling her even closer as they lost themselves in another kiss, the castle around them becoming just a distant backdrop for what, for them, felt like the beginning of something neither of them knew how to end.