Hollow

Chapter 25: The Heart of Confession

Harry walks into Professor Slughorn classroom for his potions class. Harry grabs the book from the shelf and sits next to Daphne, where she tied her hair into a pony tail. This wasn't an uncommon for girls. Most potions when mix wrong melted hair immediately and could leave nasty scars.

While most of the class was teaming up with someone from their own house, Harry and Daphne was the only two that were different. Neville and Tracy were together, mostly because Harry took Daphne away as her partner. Tracy never objected. If anything she had an evil look in her eye and a smirk as if she knew something that Harry didn't.

Daphne herself seem to be in deep thought. She almost didn't catch Harry sit down.

"You okay." Harry asks.

Daphne looks up and gives him a reassuring smile.

"Yeah I'm fine." She says. Harry however narrows his eyes, almost sensing something was bothering her. However he didn't press it because he could tell she didn't want to talk about it.

"Good afternoon everyone!" Professor Slughorn said as he walks in the classroom.

"Good afternoon Professor Slughorn." Everyone said.

"Today we're going to be looking at ways to counter poisons! I have here, ten poisons that must be counter. You're task is to create antidotes to counter act these poisons. You and you're partner will have two hours to make these antidotes. Begin!" Professor Slughorn said cheerfully.

This was a dangerous assignment. As no one had any idea what type of poison Professor Slughorn had brought in. Harry also knew, no two poison were the same.

Harry flips through the Half-Blood Prince and slowly looks at antidotes.

'Just shove a Bezoar down their throat.' were the words scribble on the top of the page for antidotes.

Harry paused as he stares at those words.

These were the exact words Professor Snape said in his first potion class. The Bezoar, a stone taken from the stomach of a goat to counter act most poisons.

Harry flips the page and finds the page for the Bezoar. While it was commonly taken from the stomach of a goat, it was possible to make it with potion ingredients. Harry looks at the ingredients and gets up to gather them.

"What should we do?" Daphne asks.

Harry shows her what they should do. Harry didn't want to say the words, as cheating was very common in Potions, and it could result in others just stealing their work. This was both a disadvantage and advantage in Potions.

Daphne nods her head and begins to cut the ingredients.

Harry began working, making a potion that would replicate the Bezoar.

Every now and then, Professor Slughorn would walk around the room to check on everyone's status. Hermione for once was having trouble. She had three cauldrons up and was attempting to brew them all at the same time. She even put pieces of her own hair inside which was an unusually way to make an antidote.

Ron and Seamus were having trouble. They had once again, melted their cauldron and were trying to save their failed excuse for an antidote.

Tracy and Neville had surprisingly manage to find a way to make an antidote. Both of them were using their time wisely, Harry could tell they were making a Fire Bug Antidote; which was in a way, wise as the Fire Bug Antidote would burn most poisons out of the system.

Draco Malfoy was sticking to the basics and making a common antidote.

Harry looks down and stirs his potion was Daphne slowly puts in the ingredients.

"Times up." Professor Slughorn said in front of the class. Harry slowly pulls up his twelve Bezoars and lays them on the table.

Professor Slughorn walks around the class, Draco and Blaise manage to make many common antidotes but they got an Exceeds Expectation. Nevile and Tracy also got Exceeds Expectation as their potion wouldn't have save them from two of the poisons.

"What do you two have to show me?" Professor Slughorn ask Harry and Daphne. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see Ron smirking as he could tell Harry and Daphne had no vials to show. Harry ignores him and points to the now dry Bezoars in front of them.

Professor Slughorn burst out laughing.

"Oh, you're clever, just like your mother. Bezoars! Ingenious Mr. Potter! Ms. Greengrass. Yes, the Bezoars would have indeed saved you from these poisons. Full marks!" Professor Slughorn boasted.

The bell rang and everyone grabbed their things to head for lunch.

"Bezoars, you know you cheated right Harry." Hermione said the moment they were in the hallway."

"How is that cheating?" Harry asks coldly.

"I've seen that book you've been reading!" Hermione snaps. "That Prince has written in it and given you shortcuts. You're a cheat!"

"If you recall, Professor Snape said in our very first Potion class that a Bezoar was a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and would save you from most potions. You're the one with the brain and memory, yet you didn't remember that?" Harry remarks coldly.

"That's not the point!" Hermione snaps but her cheeks turn pink in embarrassment.

"Let it rest Hermione, you're only accusing me of being a cheat because you're not getting full marks anymore. Don't go accusing me of your own failures." Harry said as he turns around and walks into the Great Hall. Daphne said nothing, she just eye the conversation carefully before following Harry into the Great Hall.

Harry finished his meal in silence and went to the library.

Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.

Harry paused as he heard the unmistakable sound of Mad-Eye Moody walking behind him.

"Potter." Moody growled out.

Harry turns around to look at the veteran retired auror.

"Professor." Harry said respectfully.

"I'm not a Professor. But you will address me as 'Sir' none the less." Moody said.

"Yes sir." Harry said.

"Take this, don't be late." Moody said as he hands Harry a folded letter. He limps off, his magically eye looking at the students as they take off, clearly terrified of him.

Harry said nothing as he opens the letter.

"Charm Corridor, Nine O'Clock Tonight."

Harry paused to think about the letter. The Charms Corridor was closed off and given to Mad-Eye Moody as his primary office.

Harry paused as he presses his bracelet to let the members of Forsaken know.

Harry grabs his right forearm and groans as he remember his duel with Professor Dumbledore. He manage to get injured but it wasn't serious. Though he was sure he got lucky otherwise Dumbledore would have taken his life if it was serious.

His one advantage was now gone. With the removal of the Horcrux, it became almost impossible for him to sense and predict any incoming attacking. It was almost like a piece of him was removed as well.

It had also left him Hollow inside. More so, then last year when he started school. Almost like a large amount of his personalities and abilities had been strip away from him as well.

"Harry Potter, the Boy Who Can't Die." Harry whispered.

That is what the Daily Prophet called him. Taking another Killing Curse and surviving was unheard of. That quickly changed into him being called the 'Chosen One' and the only person who could vanquish the Dark Lord.

Harry gives another sigh as he realize a lot of thought and questions were filling his mind. He slowly shakes his head to get rid of these problems and focus on what had to be done today.

Daphne had manage to convince Madam Promfrey to teach her how to be a healer. For this reason, she was taking an extra class with Madam Promfrey to learn how to be a healer. It was unclear why she was taken these class, but Harry was happy for her none the less. However even he could tell something was on her mind. Harry wasn't sure what it was, but even he could see it was on his mind. Perhaps she was worried about her parents. The war had caused many students to be worried about their parent's safety.

Harry said nothing as he turns down the corridor and disappears in the shadows.

Harry was sitting on the window still looking at the parchment in his hands. He had a frown on his face. Voldemort had withdrawn himself from his followers and was searching for something. He was spotted in Little Hangleton, and let out a roar of fury that everyone was heard. A photograph was taken as Voldemort destroyed a little cottage in anger.

As far as anyone knew, no one knew what the Dark Lord was upset about.

However, Harry had seen that cottage before; during the night of Voldemort's return. That could only have meant that something was in that cottage that held great importance to Voldemort. Harry could have only guess a Horcrux was hidden in the cottage. Where it was now, Harry didn't know.

However while Voldemort was on his mind, Daphne was also on his mind. She had been acting odd since their last Hogsmeade trip. Granted he didn't spend time with her because she wanted to spend time with Tracy and her sister, but since that return, she has been… for a lack of a better word, different. She was still speaking to and she spent time with him, but when they did spend time together she felt so far away. Clearly something was bothering her, but he didn't want to press it.

Harry sighs as he looks out the window and could feel the autumn breeze blowing.

Daphne was sitting in the common room doing her homework, it was a strange that Tracy was serious about her getting pregnant. While the idea terrified her getting pregnant so young, it may in fact be the answer that would keep Harry in the world. She knew, Harry was willing to give his life to defeat the Dark Lord.

It was for this reason, that she was considering in taking Tracy's advice in having his baby.

In many ways, it was wrong, as it would be like blackmailing him into staying for her. However, the desire of having a family with Harry was almost like a dream for her. Harry was in so many ways, the perfect gentlemen. He never pushed things and was considerate of her feelings.

Which was in a way, strange for her. The first meeting had Harry torturing her. Though she was well aware that the Dark Lord was channeling him to do it, it still left a scar on her. However, that scar had faded completely. She has seen first-hand the struggles Harry had to go through to keep the darkness at bay. If she had such a dilemma, she would have broken down and gone insane.

It was only further proof of Harry's incredible strength. While Harry may only think it was Voldemort's strength, it only showed that he himself had great strength.

When the Horcrux was removed, Harry went to retrain himself. His magic was growing at a rapid rate. His very magical presence was enormous. She could only image what he would turn into after he completed his training under Dumbledore.

It made her question her own worth to him. She knew he cared for her like no one else.

However, she couldn't even begin to understand his pain. She only caught a glimpse of his pain and suffering. While Harry has never spoken about his muggle family, it was clear there was deep hatred and resentment of some kind towards his own family. This was almost unheard of to her. Since she could walk, her mother and father have taught her to importance of family. Her parents never mistreated her and always taught her how to be well discipline and to honor and respect her family members. She could only say she grew up loved and respected.

However, Harry was different. He never grew up having someone caring for him. She could only guess, but he grew up only knowing what it was like to be hated.

Daphne sighs as she lays her head down on her pillow, closing her eyes as she mentally shakes her thoughts aside.

Harry Potter first enter the magical world as a mystery, even to this day he was still a mystery. If it had been Daphne, she would have lost her mind years ago. Yet despite being broken, Harry stood up proudly in the face of darkness. For whatever reason, Harry rejected the Dark Arts and remain true to himself.

She remembers Harry telling her how the Dark Lord once tempted him to join him. Promising him knowledge and power. He even went as far as to promising to revive his mother and father. She was impress for an eleven-year-old boy with limited knowledge of magic, he saw straight through the Dark Lord's lies.

Harry has suffered so much; it was amazing how he was able to stand up after everything that has happen. Last year the Ministry really damage his reputation with their slander and lies. They nearly succeed in turning the entire student body and magical world against him.

Her father told her about how Fudge was attempting to save face by trying to get to Harry to support him in his war effort against the Dark Lord. However Fudge was kick out of office before he even got the chance to approach Harry.

Now, the new Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour was also looking for a way to get Harry to support the Ministry.

Daphne snorted knowing Harry has lost all faith in the Ministry. He made that clear when he formed Forsaken. She also doubts Harry would help the Ministry after last year of all the horrible things they did to him. Especially with Umbridge; who Daphne understands, crimes were swept under the rug and claim it was all a 'misunderstanding'.

Corruption run the Ministry, and it would only be a matter of time before the Death Eaters, whom they've had so many politicians in their pocket. That meant bribes were being place to ensure the Death Eaters would stay one step ahead of the Aurors.

Lucius Malfoy was known for having many friends in the Ministry. Fudge was his puppet for years. Even though Rufus Scrimgeour wouldn't listen to Lucius Malfoy; Lucius Malfoy still had friends high up in the Ministry that will listen to him.

Daphne could see things weren't going to end well, and was agreeing with Harry they needed to reform the Government with honest people fighting for honest ideas and dreams.

Daphne finally closes her eyes and slowly drifts to sleep. Unsure what the future was going to bring her.

Author Notes: Sorry for the late update: this story is not abandon.

Current Polls, 124 For Pregnant - 19 Against.

Quick Fact, looks like Daphne is going to get pregnant. And no, this is not a love story like Tom Riddle and Merope Gaunt. That was a one sided love on Merope Guant's part. If Daphne has Harry's child, Harry is going to be a man and stay with her.

Please R&R, Hope everyone Enjoys the chapter!