"Snape was a Death Eater?" Harry asked with surprise. He had always believed his professor was evil, but he did not know he had followed Voldemort. It certainly changed the way he looked at the man.
"Of course he was, you didn't know that?" Daphne asked. "I thought everyone did, but maybe that is just a Slytherin thing. They say that after the Dark Lord disappeared Dumbledore began telling everyone who would listen that Snape had been his spy during the war. Not everyone believed it, but it was enough to keep Snape out of Azkaban. They let Karkaroff go because he named a bunch of other Death Eaters after he got caught."
"Oh, I never knew." Harry answered, taking in the new information. "It sounded like they were both scared, would they be like that just because their mark was getting darker?"
"Who knows? I guess I better tell my father this in my next letter. Maybe he will know what it means." Daphne replied. "Do you want to go back in?"
"Sure, if you want to." Daphne nodded and they walked inside where a band called the Weird Sisters was now playing. Harry had never heard of them, but their music sounded somewhat like a muggle rock band. The rest of their night passed relatively calmly, much to Harry's relief. In the remaining hours they talked to various people and to just each other or danced along with the rest of the students. Sometimes people looked at them oddly, as if not knowing what to make of the Gryffindor / Slytherin couple, but for the most part they were left alone. Harry wondered how much of that was a result of Daphne's threats towards Ron earlier in the night.
Finally the party was coming to an end and it was time for them to leave. Only a few couples were left on the dance floor and the band had announced their last song. A few house elves could be seen beginning to clean up what was left of the food and drinks. Most of the professors had left and those that remained were constantly checking the time, eager to make the students go back to their dorms so they could go to bed. Sensing the ball was now over, Harry offered to walk Daphne back to her common room and she agreed.
"I don't think the reactions we got were that bad." Harry said as they walked towards the the Slytherin dungeons.
"Not tonight no, but just wait until the shock wears off. If the next week passes without anyone trying to call you evil because of this then I will be relieved. But I doubt that will happen." Harry shrugged, deciding to wait and see.
"On the bright side, I didn't see Rita Skeeter there so maybe this won't end up in the Daily Prophet."
"Neither did I, but that doesn't mean she wasn't there. She always seems to be where she is least wanted." Harry nodded in agreement. Soon they were at the entrance of the Slytherin common room.
"So what is it going to be like for you in there?" Harry asked, still worried about her safety.
"I will be fine tonight, assuming my little sister is already asleep. If not I will be attacked five seconds after I walk inside." Harry chuckled; knowing that her sister would only be tossing questions Daphne's way. Tonight had changed a lot for both of them, but they would not find out how much in some ways until later.
"This was fun, I'm glad you said yes." Harry finally said, unsure of what to do now that the date was ending. They were still holding hands with her head leaning on his shoulder, and Harry was reluctant to let her go.
"It was, I'm glad you asked." Daphne replied. Harry smiled and, after gathering up all of the courage he could muster, turned his head towards hers and softly kissed her on the lips. Her hesitation only lasted for a moment before she returned the kiss. When they finally pulled apart they were wearing almost identical happy grins. With one last hug Daphne let go and walked towards the door, but before she went in she turned and said: "Goodnight, Harry."
"Goodnight, Daphne" he answered, still smiling. Once she was through the door Harry turned and began his walk back to the Gryffindor dorms, thinking to himself that it had been a pretty good night after all.
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