The Grass Is Always Greener Chapter 14. (Patreon)

Content Warnings: Teasing.

“Why are you here, Myrtle?” Harry asked hotly. He sprang to his feet, bolting over to the towel rack to grab one and wrap it around his waist.

Daphne tried to follow him but her legs would not cooperate. She wrapped an arm around her chest in a wholly inadequate effort to cover her breasts, before turning to Harry with a small pout. “Harry, can you toss me a towel?”

Harry nodded and pulled two from the rack, throwing them in his girlfriend’s direction. She lifted her hips to tie one around her waist, before wrapping the other around her shoulders like a shawl to protect her modesty.

“I was lonely. You never come to see me anymore,” Myrtle moaned, sounding on the brink of tears. Which, to be fair, was not a new thing when it came to the histrionic ghost. Harry had never had a conversation with the girl that did not involve tears and all-out sobbing.

“You know, daddy,” Daphne rolled the title around on her tongue, her eyes sparkling mischievously. If he thought he’d have it easy just because they were an official couple now, he was sorely mistaken. “When Tracey warned me that you were kinky, she neglected to mention you were so kinky you dated a ghost,” she teased, a smirk plastered on her face.

“We didn’t-”

“Oh, we are not a couple,” Myrtle interjected serenely. We share a deep bond.”

“Well, never let it be said that I got in the way of a… deep bond,” Daphne murmured, trying her best to keep her expression neutral as she turned to her side to face the ghost. “Harry, she looks upset. You should comfort her. Connections like these should not be ignored.”

Harry turned to glare at Daphne. Daphne stared cheekily back at him, her lips quirking.

“Myrtle, what’re you doing here?”

“Well, I was zooming along the pipes, as one does on a Friday-”

“Totally normal activity. In fact, I and Daphne were about to indulge in it after figuring out the egg,” Harry said with a deadpan expression on his face. Daphne bit back laughter, hastily disguising it as a cough when Myrtle’s big, morose eyes flickered over to her.

“Anyways.” Myrtle huffed, looking suspiciously at the couple. Were they making fun of her? She could never tell. “I heard noises from the Prefect’s Bathroom so I thought I’d drop by and say hi.”

“Do you just drop by on all the prefects?”

“Not all! I thought you were Cedric and his annoying girlfriend,” Myrtle muttered, her ghostly pale cheeks darkening.

“Remind me to warn Cedric and Cho,” Harry mumbled under his breath as he sat down next to Daphne. She had pushed herself up to a sitting position by the edge of the pool, dipping her cold feet into the warm, bubbly water to heat them up.

“Do you think she’s an impartial judge?” Daphne asked, resting her head on his shoulder.

“An impartial judge for what?”

“I want to know how much better I was than Cho,” Daphne teased, playfully tracing the lines of his firm chest, clearly in a mood to rile him up.

“Daphne, darling, I refuse to believe that Myrtle was an uninvited third wheel during our first time together for my own sanity,” Harry hissed, pushing his legs together as his cock twitched. Daphne’s hand had moved lower, her fingers lazily playing with the trail of hair that pointed to his crotch. “You were saying something about the egg, Myrtle?” Harry asked, desperate to change the topic.

“Oh yes. You should dip it in the water. That’s what Cedric and Cho did.”

“Thank you, Myrtle.” Harry sighed when the ghostly girl made no effort to leave. “Myrtle, we’ll be getting in the pool now.”

“Okay.”

“We’ll have to take off our towels to do so,” Harry said delicately. “Do you mind giving us some privacy?”

Myrtle looked affronted, appearing to be on the verge of tears before she nodded sadly and floated out of the bathroom.

Harry got to his feet and circled the pool, picking up the heavy egg. He made sure that they were alone before he dropped the towel and slowly waded into the warm water with a sigh.

“What?” He asked, swimming towards Daphne, an eyebrow raised at the smirk plastered on her face.

“Never thought my boyfriend would have a ghost crushing on them. Guess I should ask you to cuddle Myrtle instead of the Baron when I’m mad at you.”

“I don’t think about Myrtle that way,” Harry said hotly, a hint of pink dusting his cheeks.

“Suuuure,” Daphne teased, slowly unwrapping the towels around her. Harry’s cock twitched under the water as more and more of her creamy skin and gorgeous curves were put on display. She sank into the shallow end of the pool, sitting down on the steps that led into it. “Well, what’re you waiting for? Dunk it.”

Harry nodded and pushed the egg under the bubbles, warily undoing the latch. The egg sprung open, except instead of unearthly wailing, they were greeted by a melodious tune. “I can’t make out what it says.”

“I think you need to be closer. Dive under the water?” Daphne suggested.

“Care to join me?”

Daphne blushed and shook her head. She nearly made up a sarcastic excuse, but considering she had been trying to be open with him, she decided to go with the simple truth. “I… I’m afraid of water,” she admitted shyly. “That's why I only take showers. I never go swimming in the Lake even though I’d really like to get closer to the Great Squid.”

“You jumped into the lake during the First Task,” Harry murmured with a frown, suddenly feeling horrible about everything she had done for him. He needed to step up his game, to be worthy of being her boyfriend.

“I don’t know if you noticed, but I had a dragon chasing me. The water was the least of my worries.”

“You did it for me.”

“Damn right I did. A true Slytherin always protects those they care about,” Daphne mumbled, hiding her face behind a fringe of her hair.

“You’re amazing, Daphne Greengrass.” He knew how hard it was for her to admit something like that. He gave her a reassuring smile before taking a deep breath and diving under the water. He picked up a few syllables of the song before he had to resurface for air, repeating the process again and again until he had the entire thing memorized.

“What does it say?” Daphne asked curiously, leaning towards Harry.

Harry snapped the egg shut, his chest heaving as he inhaled lungfuls of air. He swam towards Daphne dumping the wet egg on the parapet of the bath before hoisting himself up on the steps next to her.

“Uhh…” he closed his eyes as he tried to remember the song. “There was someone singing. They asked me to come seek them where they lived, and that they couldn’t sing above the ground. They’ve taken something precious of mine, and I have an hour to recover it or it’ll be lost forever,” Harry explained, a confused expression on his face.

“Huh. I always suspected the lake had more than the Giant Squid. Too big for it to be the only creature to call it home,” Daphne said cheerfully, her eyes gleaming with excitement. It appeared every single task required the use of her talents. She was more than happy to lend her expertise to her gorgeous but slightly clueless boyfriend. “The egg. Voices that can only be heard underwater. Beautiful singing. There are merpeople in the lake. They’ll steal something precious from you or maybe the judges will give them said object and you have to go retrieve it. That’s the task.”

“You, princess, are a genius,” Harry whispered, grabbing her cheek and tilting her face towards him for a kiss that took her breath away.

Daphne blushed.

Ice Queen. Ice Bitch. Stuck-Up Bitch.

That’s what people called her. Nobody had praised her intelligence before. Even in class, she preferred to stay silent, letting Hermione take the spotlight. She’d never admit it to Harry, but the praise and appreciation felt nice.

“It was a simple riddle,” she murmured, although she sported a huge grin on her face. She let him pull her into his lap, shivering involuntarily as a gust of cold air pushed through the cracks in the door and hit her back.

“Cold, darling?” Harry whispered, kissing her nose.

She giggled and nodded shyly. Harry might not have all the knowledge about magical creatures that he needed, but he seemed completely in tune with her body and her needs. She knew it was far too early to daydream about the future, but with a man as thoughtful as him, it was nearly impossible not to.

Harry helped her out of the pool, the two slowly ambling over to where their discarded towels and clothes lay. Daphne let him pat her dry, secretly enjoying all the attention and pampering.

It made her feel like the princess he said she was.

Once they were dressed, Harry secured his satchel around his shoulder and pulled out the Marauder’s Map, holding out the Invisibility Cloak for her.

“What’re you doing?” Daphne asked, gathering up her hair and securing it in a messy ponytail using a scrunchie from her bag.

“You’ll need it to get back to your dorms safely.”

“Oh, so that’s how it is?” Daphne placed her hands on her hips, looking at Harry with a raised eyebrow. “Now I see why you haven’t had a girlfriend yet-”

“That… that was by choice.”

“Well, as your girlfriend, I have a duty to make sure you don’t end up like McLaggen, Davies, and every other selfish man in this castle.”

“What’re you talking about?” Harry asked, cradling the egg in his arm.

“You don’t get to nut and run, Potter. Just because little Harry is satisfied it’s buh bye?” Daphne asked with a pout.

“An hour ago you were suggesting I was too big.”

“You’ll never prove I said that,” Daphne said with a teasing smile. She walked over to him and grabbed his free hand, intertwining their fingers together. “Take me to bed and hold me till I fall asleep?”

“My bed?”

“I know Gryffindors are heathens, but I presume your dorms have beds with curtains around them, sir? A bed that you can take your tired, sleepy princess to and cuddle her while she falls asleep in your arms?”

Harry laughed and nodded. “Yes. I think we do have one of those things. Come on, you dissolute brat.” Harry let her wrap the Invisibility Cloak around them, Daphne leaning her head on his shoulder as they walked out of the bathroom together.

Daphne lightly slapped his chest. “I expect to be romanced, Potter. That’s the difference between casual hookups and having a girlfriend.”

“I knew that,” Harry mumbled.

“Sure,” Daphne teased, leaning up to kiss his cheek.

They kept bickering playfully as they climbed the steps to the Gryffindor Tower, too engrossed in their banter to remember to skip the trick step in the second to last staircase.

Their feet sank into the quicksand-like substance, both of them wobbling as they tried to maintain their balance. The slick egg slipped out of Harry’s hand, tumbling down the steps. Its latch flew open, the horrible wailing filling the air around them.

“One minute, then we’re free,” Harry said, pulling out the Marauder’s Map to ensure no one was around them. “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.”

“Really? That’s the code to unlock the map?”

“Daphne, we have more important things to worry about,” Harry hissed, showing her the footsteps of Filch rapidly walking in their direction on the floor below.

“What’s this, my sweet?” The cranky caretaker muttered as he hobbled into view, his feet hitting the wailing egg. His cat stayed behind, hissing angrily at the loud noise. “Looks like Peeves is up to his tricks again. Stealing from a champion, ohhhhh, Dumbledore will have to expel him for this,” Filch muttered, sounding delighted.

He snapped the egg shut and cradled it in his arms like it was the most precious thing in the world to him, before slowly making his way up the stairs. “Peeves!” He shouted. “I know you’re here! Show yourself!”

Harry and Daphne held their breaths as he got closer, Harry’s eyes going wide at the man’s triumphant ‘Aha!’

“Peeves!” He said hoarsely, stopping five steps below them.

“Just me, Argus.”

Harry turned to see their Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor stumping down the stairs, his wooden leg banging against every step as he made his way to a wary Filch. His electric blue eye whizzed around, staying fixed on them as he nimbly walked around them. Harry had a sneaking suspicion the eye could penetrate his cloak, and that Moody was well aware that they were standing there.

“I’ll take that, Argus.”

“It’s evidence, Professor!” Filch nestled the egg against his chest. “Peeves has been stealing from a champion! I need to inform the Headmaster.”

“I’m going to meet him, Argus. I’ll be sure to tell him about Peeves'… thievery.” Moody kept his hand extended, seemingly in no mood to relent.

Filch scowled and placed the Egg in his hand. He appeared distraught, almost like he had been made to give up his firstborn child.

“Now, why don’t you go find the poltergeist? I bet he’s up to more mischief somewhere else in the castle.”

Filch’s eyes lit up again and he nodded, clicking for Mrs. Norris to follow him as he happily rushed down the stairs to resume his patrol of the sixth floor.

Moody turned to the couple once the caretaker was safely out of sight. “It’s okay, Potter. I know you’re there. Why don’t you take that off?”

Harry nodded and pulled the Invisibility Cloak off him and Daphne, stuffing it into his bag.

“Mister Potter. Miss Greengrass.” Harry knew he was probably imagining it, but Moody’s scarred face contorted into an angry scowl for a second when he addressed Daphne. “Stuck, are we?”

The stair released their feet within seconds of his question.

“Not anymore, professor,” Daphne answered, hopping over to the next step with Harry.

“Well, Potter, you better come to my office for a chat. Greengrass, I think it’s time to go back to your dorms.”

“Professor, if you’re punishing Harry, you need to punish me too. It was my idea to be out after curfew,” Daphne lied.

“I’m not punishing him, Miss Greengrass. I just want to talk to him,” Moody said, patting the Egg.

“Whatever you want to say to me, you can say it in front of Daphne.”

“I want to talk to you alone, Potter. Considering Professor Snape is the other teacher on patrol tonight and that he will be far less understanding of your predicament than I am, I suggest you both get a move on.”

Harry turned to Daphne, pulling out his Invisibility Cloak and handing it to her. “Wait for us to leave, then double back. Do you know where the portrait of the Fat Lady is?”

Daphne nodded.

“I’ll be there as soon as possible,” Harry whispered, kissing her cheek.

Daphne nodded, watching him leave with Professor Moody before wrapping the Invisibility Cloak around her body. She climbed back down to the sixth floor, deciding to take the longer route to Gryffindor Tower to ensure she didn’t run into her professor and his blasted eye again.

                                                              ---

“So, a late-night stroll, huh?”

Harry nodded. “Something like that,” he said, not wishing to get Cedric into trouble. “Can I have my Egg back, professor?”

“Humph? Sure.” Moody grunted as he pushed the Egg across the desk. Harry grabbed it and made a move to stand. His professor’s office wasn’t the most hospitable of places. While Remus held the post, the room smelled of chocolate and tea, with racks of books on every wall. Now, it was cluttered with instruments, their constant whirring and beeping strangely disconcerting.

“Sit down, Potter. We need to talk,” Moody said gruffly.

Harry sat down reluctantly, warily eyeing the telescope spinning like crazy in front of him.

“Like my dark detection instruments, huh?” Moody asked proudly. “Completely useless here, of course. Too much interference.” He whacked the telescope, causing it to stop whirling with a sad whine. “So, any luck on this late-night stroll, Potter? I find them to be very intellectually stimulating.”

“It was stimulating, professor. I found out a lot about… a lot of things,” Harry said, trying to be as vague as possible.

“Good. Good. Well, I’m not going to help you in any way. I don’t play favorites. Just remember, constant vigilance!”

Harry jumped as the older man banged his wooden foot against the floor.

“I-of course, professor.”

“And a word of advice, kid. Stay away from the Greengrass girl. Their family is a curse,” Moody muttered, his scarred features twisting into a sneer that made him appear positively evil.

Harry frowned. Was his relationship with Daphne that problematic? He could understand Snape trying to break them up, but Moody too?

“I don’t think it’s any of your business, professor. I should be allowed to date whoever I want,” Harry said, trying to stay as polite as he could. He wasn’t going to sit in front of Moody (or anyone for that matter) and listen to them lecture him on Daphne’s apparent faults.

“I’m just looking out for you, Potter. You know her family was neutral in the last war?” Moody’s scowl deepened. “They didn’t stand with their own kin. And they loudly proclaimed their neutrality, but everyone suspected them of providing the Order and the Aurors potions from their business.”

“I-” Harry opened and shut his mouth. The ex-Auror looked absolutely livid. A vein throbbed in his forehead, his face red and contorted into a scowl. The more he spoke, the more he confused Harry.

Did the paranoia finally get to him?

“I did not know this. I will reassess my relationship with the girl,” Harry lied. He knew the Greengrasses had been neutral. What he didn’t understand was why Moody was so upset by them providing secret aid to the Ministry. Was it simply a matter of principle? And the whole thing about not standing with their kin… which kin was he talking about? The longer he stayed, the more uncomfortable he got so he faked a yawn and got to his feet again. “I really must sleep, professor. I need to be up early tomorrow to prepare for the Task.”

“Of course. Glad you’re taking my words to heart, lad,” Moody muttered, leaning back in his chair. “What’s that parchment in your hand?” he asked, his fake eye buzzing crazily.

Harry paused inches from the door, cursing under his breath. He still held the Marauder’s Map in the hand not holding the Egg. A part of him thought to tell him the truth. After all, hadn’t he just saved their bacon?

But the rest of his mind was screaming at him to think on his feet and lie. Something about the man did not feel trustworthy and given the fact that out of his last three Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, one had been evil by incompetence while another had just been sheer fucking evil, he decided to trust his instincts. There was something wrong with Professor Moody, he just didn’t know what. The nagging feeling in the back of his head since the class on Unforgivable Curses had only grown with their recent interaction. Maybe the rumors were true and he had finally gone insane.

Thinking on his feet, he mumbled, “Mischief Managed,” before turning around and showing Moody the blank piece of paper. “Just a piece of parchment, professor.”

“Why were you carrying empty parchment with you this late at night?”

“Well, I left it mistakenly in my bag,” Harry said, patting his satchel. “Since it was already there, I thought I’d write down the clue on it.”

Daphne would be proud, he thought, marveling at the ease with which he was coming up with excuses.

“It’s empty.”

“Daphne is one of the smartest students in this castle, professor,” Harry said with a smile and a hint of pride in his voice. His smile grew as Moody’s scowl deepened. It was strange. He almost seemed to hate her as much as Snape hated him, which made him wonder if his professor and Mr. Greengrass had a history as well. He made a mental note to write to him and ask. “Since she memorized the whole thing, I saw no need to write it down.”

Harry stuffed the map inside his bag before Moody could demand a closer look. “I really must go now, professor. It’s getting late.”

“Humph. Remember what I said about Greengrass, Potter.”

Harry nodded. “I will.”

He slipped out of the office and took one of the many shortcuts the map had helped him discover, ending up straight on the seventh floor. Harry found Daphne seated at the base of the statue closest to the portrait of the Fat Lady, leaning back against the legs of Tywald the Magnificent with closed eyes and a blissful expression on her face.

“A knut for your thoughts?” he murmured, silently sitting down next to her and bumping his shoulder against hers.

Daphne’s eyes flew open, the girl nearly jumping to her feet in shock. “Shit!” she growled, peering at the Invisibility Cloak that had fallen down to her waist. “You scared me! I didn’t realize the cloak had fallen off,” she whispered, a hand shifting to rest on her chest as her heartbeat slowly went back to normal.

“You scared me!” Harry shot back. “What would have happened if Filch had chanced upon you?”

“I’m pretty sure I’d end up in far more trouble with you than I would with him,” Daphne responded, sticking her tongue out at him cheekily.

“You’re absolutely correct,” Harry growled, but wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his chest. He liked this playful version of her that had been on display more and more often since the Ball. He knew it was limited to when they were alone, but for now, that was enough for him. They had all the time in the world to grow together.

“So, what did Professor Moody want?” Daphne asked, tracing circles on his chest with her finger.

“I think he wanted to know if I figured out the clue. I told him I did. Then he went into this bizarre rant about how you’re bad for me and that I should break up with you?”

“Oh, I’m bad for you?”

Harry grabbed her chin, tilting her head up so he could kiss her. “You’re terrible for me, princess,” he whispered, his hand gently ghosting over her curves.

“Are you going to break up with me?” Daphne asked, batting her eyelashes and faking being on the verge of tears.

“Oh no,” Harry whispered, his fingers digging into her hips. His smile grew when a quiet moan escaped her swollen, pink lips. “I’m going to take this bad, bad girl to my dorms, I’m going to put her over my knee and then I’m going to cuddle her as we fall asleep together. Because no matter how naughty she is, she’s my princess and I’m not letting her go,” Harry whispered, gently pulling her to her feet.

Daphne blushed, at a loss for words for the first time in her life. If this was what love felt like, she wanted to be in love with Harry Potter for the rest of her life.

“Wear the cloak and I’ll sneak you in.”

“Yes, sir.” Daphne shot him a mock salute, hiding her happiness behind her usual snarky, sarcastic facade. “You know, I can understand Professor Snape wanting you to die alone given what you’ve told me about your history, but I had no clue Professor Moody disliked me. Maybe Tracey is right. Maybe teachers do have a betting pool on students and all of them really want you to end up with someone else,” Daphne murmured, bending to pick up the Cloak and wrap it securely around her body.

“Doesn’t explain why Professor McGonagall is so happy about us.”

“Maybe she is the only one who bet on us. I knew I liked her for a reason. Smart woman.”

“No. There’s something weird going on with Professor Moody,” Harry murmured, pausing in front of the portrait of an annoyed Fat Lady.

“Young man, have you gotten in a habit of waking me up?!” she groused, glaring at Harry.

“I’m so sorry. Nox?”

“Are you planning to go out again tonight?”

“Nope.”

“Alright, then.” She swung forward, revealing a deserted Common Room with a dying fire. Harry climbed in and Daphne followed, letting him lead her to the staircase that led up to his dormitory.

“What’re you going to do about Professor Moody?” Daphne whispered as they climbed the stairs.

“I have no clue, darling. For now, I’m only concerned about my girlfriend and our warm bed.”

Harry cautiously pushed open the door to the room he shared with Seamus, Dean, Neville, and Ron, relieved to find that all of them were fast asleep. With the exception of Neville (who didn’t like to close all the curtains around his bed), they were all obscured from view, which made sneaking Daphne over to his bed much easier. He had no clue how he would sneak her back out, but he considered that a problem for the morning.

“I must say, Harry, I’m impressed,” Daphne teased, pulling off the cloak once Harry had pulled and secured all the curtains around his space. “I was expecting it to be far messier than it is.”

Harry rolled his eyes. “Well, I wasn’t expecting a visit from a judgmental princess, or I’d have cleaned.” He grabbed the empty chocolate boxes littering his bed, smacking her ass playfully on his way to dump them in the trash can by his bed. “Alright, hop into bed.”

“Whatever happened to, ‘Missy, I’m going to put you over my knee’,” Daphne asked, trying her best to sound like her boyfriend.

“Not much of a punishment if you expect and want it, Daph.” Harry pulled the blanket away from the bed, patting the mattress. “You’ll get it when you least expect it. For now, it’s late and we both need sleep.”

“Give me fifteen minutes,” Daphne sat down on the wooden stool in front of his dressing table, fishing out everything she needed for her nighttime skincare routine.

“For?”

Daphne chuckled, turning to her boyfriend with sparkling eyes. “Sharing a living space with you is going to be so much fun,” she teased with a smirk. “I need to remove my makeup, moisturize, and change into my nighttime clothes.”

“You didn’t bring any extra clothes.”

“That’s because I sleep naked. Care to join me, dearest?”

Notes:

I always thought that given his experience with previous DADA Professors, Harry would have been more suspicious of 'Moody's' weird behavior. Daphne's knowledge about magical creatures comes in clutch again, and we see a steady deepening of their relationship, with Daphne learning to be her true self around Harry. The next chapter is going to be them learning to share a bed and some more smutty fun, and them trying to figure out a way to complete his Task!