Author's Note: Well, here's my redone attempt at the Harry/Daphne combo! I know it's been past Sunday, but life can be really busy, and with school, I just couldn't fit in the time to write this chapter. In any case, I hope you all enjoy my redone version, and this story! This story will not feature a marriage contract, it will feature quidditch, some OC's from other schools (who will play very minor roles), and our favorite Dark Lord Voldemort!

"I'm pleased to see that you've all come," Voldemort began, spinning around in his chair, taking a look at the four people also sitting at the round table, "It shows attentiveness- very useful indeed."

"I'm surprised old Severus showed up," Bellatrix commented, "I thought he would be busy at Hogwarts.

"Yes Bella," Snape sneered, "I was at Hogwarts, gaining information for the Dark Lord while you were away in Azkaban, such a great help."

"My lord," Lucius began, hoping to avoid an argument between Bellatrix and Severus, "Is there any reason you've called us all to my manor?"

"Of course there is," Voldemort responded, "Now, let me continue." The fifth member of the table simply sat silently, fiddling with his hands.

"The Headmasters and Headmistresses of many schools around the world have conspired together over the past few years, planning a quidditch tournament," Voldemort said, turning towards Lucius, "Lucius, I trust you've heard about these plans- yourself being in a high position?"

"Of course I have," Lucius said, confused, "Why do you ask?"

"Many talented young wizards and witches will be there," Voldemort said, "All of the 'Classic 11' schools will be present, even that American school- Ilvermony."

"My lord," Bellatrix said cautiously, "Why exactly are we talking about this?"

"Because Bella," Voldemort said, "Harry Potter will almost certainly be at this tournament. I've been told that he's a talented Quidditch player- much like his father." Snape turned slightly sour at this comment.

"Do you want us to attack him?" The fifth member of the table asked, speaking for the first time.

"Not exactly Gareth," Voldemort softly answered, "You see, I still haven't fully recovered from… recent events, and I need Harry Potter for a ritual that will restore me to full power. The ritual will have… its negatives and positives, but all will be well in the end. I think this tournament will be a prime time to use him."

"I'll learn as much as I can about the Worldwide School Quidditch Tournament my lord," Lucius promised, "I hope that information will be enough."

"So…" Gareth began, "Is that the only plan we have in motion?" At this, Snape, Lucius, and Bellatrix all exchanged knowing glances.

"No," Voldemort slightly chuckled, "And I must say, I believe that you won't like this plan all too much."

"Why would you say that?" Gareth questioned.

"You see Gareth," Voldemort breathed, "The second plan involves your daughter- Daphne Greengrass." The room went silent, and all eyes were on Gareth and Voldemort, who were looking at each other intently.

"What do you want with her?" Gareth asked. "You know her mother won't let her join us."

"You should learn to control your wife more," Lucius said, earning him a glare from Gareth.

"I want you to push her to become friends, maybe even more, with Harry Potter," Voldemort answered, "We could use her to gain intel on him."

"My daughter will not be involved in all this," Gareth responded hotly, "You know I won't agree to this." Bellatrix began to laugh at this.

"Oh, you think you have a choice!" Bellatrix exclaimed. "How cute!"

"Bella is right Gareth," Voldemort warned, staring at him straight in the eye, "This isn't a request- it's an order." Gareth looked at Voldemort for a few moments, before backing down, nodding his head.

"Alright then," Gareth said, breathing deeply, "I'll try to get her to become closer with Harry. Lena was friends with Lily and James back in the day, it shouldn't be too hard."

"Good," Voldemort said, "Bella, Gareth, you two are dismissed. I want to talk to Severus and Lucius individually." Bella got up and walked away to a different room, while Gareth apparated outside of the house, and took a look back at Malfoy Manor.

The gravel driveway to the manor house was wide and had a large hedge curving alongside it. The driveway and hedge went past a pair of wrought-iron gates. These gates permitted select individuals (those who make some sort of salute) to pass through them as if they are smoke, and with others the iron contorts into a face which demands the purpose of the person trying to enter the manor. The yew hedge had albino peacocks roving along the top of it, and the entire property had a sense of gloom around it. Gareth took one last look, before shaking his head and turning away.

Gareth then apparated to the Greengrass Manor, and began walking up the front steps. "I'll push Daphne towards Harry," Gareth muttered, "But not for you my Dark Lord, for her." Gareth then knocked on his door, and heard his daughter Astoria sprinting to the door, yelling for her father.

"Harry! Harry!" Harry Potter rubbed his eyes as he was shaken awake, and was greeted by Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger's smiling faces.

"Uhh, h-hey guys," Harry managed to get out, putting his glasses on his face, before taking a look at his two best friends. "Wuzz- what's going on?"

"We didn't know you were here already!" Ron exclaimed, giving him a sharp blow to the top of the head.

"Ron, don't hit him!" Hermione told Ron off, before sitting on the edge of Harry's bed, her gaze softening. "How was your summer with-"

"The muggles?" Ron finished Hermione's question for her, earning himself a reproachful look. "Did they treat you alright?"

"It was the usual," Harry said, "We didn't really interact much, but in all honesty, it's better that way. How're you guys?"

"I've been great," Ron said, "With Fred and George gone at their joke shop, I've actually been able to walk around my own house without being worried about a prank! You have no idea how good it feels!"

"Alright then," Harry said, inwardly chuckling, "What about your Hermione?"

"Oh, I'm fine," said Hermione, who was scrutinizing Harry, as if she was checking on him after Sirius' death.

"What's the time?" Harry asked, hoping to avoid discussing his godfather's recent death, "Have I missed breakfast?"

"No need to worry about that mate," Ron said, laughing, "Mom's been going on and on about how you've been severely underfed and that you look as skinny as a twig. She'll have you fed, don't you worry about that. So, how have you been doing, you-"

"Let's give Harry some time to change and get ready for the day," Hermione interrupted Ron, "We can ask him these… questions later." Hermione gathered Ron, as Harry silently thanked her for making sure that he didn't have to talk about Sirius' death or meeting Horace Slughorn with Dumbledore.

Harry lay back down on his bed, thinking about everything that had occurred in his busy life ever since Hagrid had decided to come bursting into the scene, talking about how Harry was a wizard. Harry half smiled, and half winced as he thought about his previous five years at Hogwarts.

It was filled with quidditch, ever since his first year, when Draco Malfoy had stolen Neville Longbottom's Remembrall, and Harry had caught it, which ended up with him somehow becoming the seeker for the Gryffindor quidditch team, angering Malfoy. It had been filled with encounters with Voldemort, who was in Quirrell's turban, the Chamber of Secrets, the Triwizard Tournament, and more. The evil wizard had it out for him, and the recent prophecy hadn't helped things out at all. Harry had also faced dementors, which were particularly devastating to him. And perhaps worse of all, Harry had to deal with an evil toad named Umbridge, thank Merlin that she was gone.

There was a knock on Harry's door, and in burst Mrs. Weasley, holding a plate full of food. This greatly rose Harry's spirits, taking his mind off of his many matters. Yes, Harry had definitely been through a lot in his life, but even he wouldn't be able to predict what was about to happen next.

Harry was sitting with Neville and Luna, annoyed from all of the girls he'd had to turn down already on the train ride to Hogwarts so far. The weather beyond the train windows was as patchy as it had been all summer; they passed through stretches of the chilling mist, then out into weak, clear sunlight. It was during one of the clear spells, when the sun was visible almost directly overhead, that Ron and Hermione entered the compartment at last.

"Wish the lunch trolley would hurry up, I'm starving," said Ron longingly, slumping into the seat beside Harry and rubbing his stomach. "Hi, Neville. Hi, Luna. Guess what?" he added, turning to Harry. "Malfoy's not doing prefect duty. He's just sitting in his compartment with the other Slytherins, we saw him when we passed."

Harry sat up straight, interested. It was not like Malfoy to pass up the chance to demonstrate his power as prefect, which he had happily abused all the previous year.

"What did he do when he saw you?"

"The usual," said Ron indifferently, demonstrating a rude hand gesture. "Not like him, though, is it? Well — that is" — he did the hand gesture again — "but why isn't he out there bullying first years?

"Dunno," said Harry, but his mind was racing. Didn't this look as though Malfoy had more important things on his mind than bullying younger students?

But before he could expound on his thoughts, the compartment door slid open again and a breathless third-year girl stepped inside. "I'm supposed to deliver these to Neville Longbottom and Harry P-Potter," she faltered, as her eyes met Harry's and she turned scarlet. She was holding out two scrolls of parchment tied with violet ribbon. Perplexed, Harry and Neville took the scroll addressed to each of them and the girl stumbled back out of the compartment.

"What is it?" Ron demanded, as Harry unrolled his. "An invitation," said Harry, before reading the note out loud. "Harry, I would be delighted if you would join me for a bite of lunch in compartment C. Sincerely, Professor H. E. F. Slughorn."

"Who's Professor Slughorn?" asked Neville, looking perplexedly at his own invitation.

"New teacher," said Harry. "Well, I suppose we'll have to go, won't we?"

When Harry had arrived at Compartment C, he saw that himself and Neville were the last to arrive. Already seated was Blaise Zabini, Cormac McLaggen, Marcus Belby, Ginny Weasley, and Daphne Greengrass, who was slightly unnerving Harry, as she was intently staring at him with her blue-gray eyes, as if she knew something about him that he didn't. Harry shrugged it off and looked at Ginny with a questioning look, wondering why she was there.

The afternoon wore on with anecdotes about illustrious wizards Slughorn had taught, all of whom had been delighted to join what he called the "Slug Club" at Hogwarts. Harry could not wait to leave, but couldn't see how to do so politely. Finally the train emerged from yet another long misty stretch into a red sun- set, and Slughorn looked around, blinking in the twilight. At least Harry had found out that Ginny was seated at the compartment because Slughorn had seen her hex Zacharias Smith, the annoying Hufflepuff.

"Good gracious, it's getting dark already! I didn't notice that they'd lit the lamps! You'd better go and change into your robes, all of you. McLaggen, you must drop by and borrow that book on nogtails. Harry, Blaise — any time you're passing. Same goes for you, miss," he twinkled at Ginny. "Well, off you go, off you go!"

Thanking the lord that he was finally able to go, Harry quickly went off, in pursuit of Blaise, hoping that he would led him directly to Malfoy, when suddenly, he was pulled into another compartment.

Daphne Greengrass was seated at Compartment C, slightly annoyed that she had been called to be here. When Potter walked in, she studied him, noticing that he had grown taller and more muscular over the summer, as if he had received more food than before. She noticed that he had seen her staring, and Daphne decided that she would have to listen to her father and mother, and try to make friends with the boy.

The meeting had gone on, and after what felt like an eternity, the meeting ended, and Daphne quickly went into the compartment, waiting for Harry to walk by. When she saw that messy jet black hair, she immediately pulled him into the room, locking the door behind.

"What the-" Harry began to say, annoyed that someone had interrupted his pursuit of Zabini when he noticed that it was Greengrass who had pulled him into the room. "What's going on? Why did you pull me into this room?"

"Sit down Potter," Daphne said, motioning to the seat on the opposite side of the compartment, "We need to have a talk." Surprising Daphne, Potter simply walked over to the other side and sat down. Malfoy had always told Daphne that Potter was a selfish and insolent brat who never listened to anybody, but that obviously wasn't correct. Then again, Daphne thought to herself, smiling, when was Malfoy correct?"

"Er," Harry said, snapping Daphne back to her senses, "Are you going to tell me why you pulled me into an empty compartment?" Daphne looked at Harry, trying to think of what to say, before simply sighing, and shaking her head.

"Meet with me tomorrow during lunch," Daphne said commandingly, "I know this comes out of the blue, but I have something I really have to tell you." Harry looked at her, shocked at the fact that a girl he barely knew was requesting for him to meet up with her doing lunch. It was now Harry's turn to sigh, and he decided to go with it.

"Alright then," Harry said, "I'll meet up with you tomorrow."

"Alright then," Daphne said, getting up "Our business is done here." Daphne walked out of the compartment, not aware that Harry was watching her hips sway back and forth, and taking note of how beautiful she was.

"Snap out of it," Harry scolded himself, "Right now is not the time."

The Sorting had just finished, and Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.

"Welcome," Dumbledore said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words about this upcoming school year before our dinner is served. As you all know, Lord Voldemort has risen yet again, and that calls for higher security measures."

There were murmurings that broke around the Great Hall, students and teachers alike looking frightened by the news.

"Don't worry though," Dumbledore continued, "Hogwarts has recently updated our security measures, as has many other places. I apologize for having to deliver such… dull news. However, there are some events that you all will be excited by. Just like many previous years, the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will take place, except it will have more meaning than before this year. This year, the Captain of the winning team will also get to be the Captain of our school team."

More murmuring broke around the Great Hall, except this time, there were more excited and confused murmurings. School team? Hogwarts didn't have a school team, they only had house teams. Harry was intrigued by this comment, as he had been made the captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team, and wouldn't mind captaining a school team.

"Yes, school team," Dumbledore said, lightly chuckling, "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be participating in a worldwide quidditch tournament featuring students from schools from all seven continents. Every single student from our school will have several days off from the school year, as we'll all be traveling to watch our team play around the world. For those aspiring quidditch players, scouts from international and professional teams will be there. Our Hogwarts team will consist of 14 players. 7 starters and 7 substitutes. It is my hope that our team performs well in the tournament, as the winning school receives a large unknown reward. Anywho, it is now time for you all to eat!" Dumbledore finished, his eyes twinkling in excitement.

Harry smiled as he saw the first years in awe from all the food that appeared. It was just how he felt when he first arrived at Hogwarts. This year was getting more and more interesting for Harry. He always enjoyed Quidditch, even considered it as a future career. Plus, he would love to travel to world, though he would have to be on high alert, as Voldemort is on the loose. Thankfully, the students had Dumbledore.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Dumbledore said, causing the entire student body to look at him, "There have been some changes to the staff. Everybody please welcome Professor Slughorn, our new Potions teacher. Furthermore, Professor Snape has taken over the position of the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"No!" said Harry, so loudly that many heads turned in his direction. He did not care; he was staring up at the staff table, incensed. How could Snape be given the Defense Against the Dark Arts job after all this time? Hadn't it been widely known for years that Dumbledore did not trust him to do it?

"But Harry, you said that Slughorn was going to be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts!" said Hermione.

"I thought he was!" said Harry, racking his brains to remember when Dumbledore had told him this, but now that he came to think of it, he was unable to recall Dumbledore ever telling him what Slughorn would be teaching.

Snape, who was sitting on Dumbledore's right, did not stand up at the mention of his name; he merely raised a hand in lazy acknowledgment of the applause from the Slytherin table, yet Harry was sure he could detect a look of triumph on the features he loathed so much.

"Well, there's one good thing," Harry said savagely. "Snape'll be gone by the end of the year."

"What do you mean?" asked Ron.

"That job's jinxed. No one's lasted more than a year...Quirrell actually died doing it. Personally, I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for another death..."

"Harry!" said Hermione, shocked and reproachful. Harry shrugged and turned away, catching the gaze of a blonde from the Slytherin table. He thought of lunch the next day and sighed once more, wondering what he had gotten himself into.

Author's Note: And there you go- the first chapter! I hope you all enjoyed it!