Summary: HBP AU. It's hard enough being a teenager; add nefarious plots, the Dark Lord, and house rivalries into the mix. A story about enlightenment, darkness, growing up, and getting over yourself. Harry Potter/Daphne Greengrass.

Author's Note: I was recently told by a reviewer on Ficwad to post this story on FFnet, so I decided to go with it. Considering that this fic contains sensitive and graphic material, I was hesitant, but censored it up a bit. If you want an uncensored version, links to AFF and Ficwad are in my Profile. Otherwise, I'll stop boring you with the details and say that this was a rabid plot bunny that got out of hand.

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize, I do not own. This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling and various publishers including – but not limited to – Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Duality

oOo

The first official Slug Club meeting, outside of the Hogwarts Express, was more of a get-to-know-you event than anything. Slughorn had shoved Harry into a corner with Daphne Greengrass, sloshing drinks over their robes as he pressed them into their hands. "I think you two will get on just swimmingly!" he said, then bustled off to Hermione, who was paired up with Blaise Zabini. It looked as if the two had come to a silent understanding to remain, well, silenttoward each other.

Greengrass simply looked bored at the whole affair and swirled the alcoholic beverage in her hand idly as she stared at him. Her blue eyes were quite pretty, he could admit. They sort of reminded him of Luna. "So, Potter, nice to officially meet you I guess," she drawled, taking a sip of the amber liquid without wincing.

Harry had a feeling it was Firewhiskey, but wasn't too sure. It smelled a lot like that bottle Seamus had snuck in at the beginning of the year. "Yeah," he replied. "Nice to meet you too." The whole affair just felt awkward.

She was one of the few girls who were in the Slug Club, so he could always ask her about that, he thought. "What made Slughorn decide to invite you?" he tried to ask amiably.

"My father, I believe. He was apparently one of Slughorn's little collections back then. No surprise you're here though. You're the equivalent to gold to someone like Sluggy." Greengrass finished her drink quickly and set it down on one of the multiple tables in the room.

Nodding, Harry decided to try the amber coloured beverage. It burned like hell on the way down and he felt it go straight to his head with a shiver. Greengrass was smiling at him when he looked back at her.

"This stuff's foul," he muttered, frowning at the glass and setting it next to Greengrass' empty one.

"The night's likely not going to get any better," she said, "might as well drink y'know." She picked up his empty glass and took a sip.

They stood in silence for a little bit as she finished off his drink and he somehow ended up with another glass of the foul liquor in his hand. The second or third gulp wasn't so bad. Their eyes wondered around the room at its occupants. McLaggen was boasting loudly in the corner to a Slytherin boy, who looked fairly unimpressed. Zabini and Hermione had moved on to competing in, possibly, the longest staring contest in the history of Hogwarts. Harry shifted awkwardly on his feet when he glanced back at Greengrass and caught her looking at him. She pushed her dark hair behind her ear and smirked.

"I don't suppose you want to get out of here?"

Harry nodded. "Love to, actually."

Greengrass' smirk widened and she grabbed his sleeve. His brows furrowed as she dragged him off and he tripped at first before following her, yanking his sleeve out of his grip. "What are you doing?" he asked quietly and she put a finger to her lips, gesturing for him to follow her. She was leading him toward a door, her head twisting around, and her watchful eyes seeking out the occupied students and Slughorn, who was deep into one of his soliloquies.

"Come on," she whispered, opening the door to what he thought was a broom cupboard, but when he followed her through it, he found himself in a nearly empty Slytherin Common Room.

Harry stood uneasily and winced when she shut the door behind him, not liking the position he had gotten himself into. "So, what do you guys do for fun?" she asked in a normal tone, leading him over to one of the sofas in front of the fire. Harry trailed reluctantly, her hand gripping her sleeve and shoving him down onto the sofa.

"What do you mean?" he asked, staring at the other occupants. They didn't seem effected by his presence, didn't even spare him a glance.

"Gryffindors. I dunno." Greengrass reached into her pocket and pulled out a silver box of some sort, which was revealed to hold really fancy looking cigarettes. "Want one?" she offered, holding the box toward him.

Harry shook his head, raising an eyebrow as she lit it with her wand.

"We play games, I guess. Quidditch," he replied to her earlier question.

"Ah, yes, you're the seeker – captain – after all," she said after taking a drag. As she spoke, smoke trickled out her mouth.

"You can smoke in here?" Harry asked, uncertain.

Greengrass shrugged. "No one really cares."

"I've just never seen a wizard – witch – smoke before," he said, trying to get comfortable on the stiff leather couch. He didn't feel right being there, it reminded him too much of second year when they were after the supposed Heir of Slytherin, Draco Malfoy. Malfoy was nowhere to be seen in the common room, which was a relief.

With a small laugh, she said, "Well, it's frowned upon for purebloods - being such a Muggle habit - but I'm a halfblood so... The whole blood status thing is ridiculous anyway."

Harry's mouth formed an 'o' and he nodded apprehensively. At least, for a Slytherin, she didn't… seem half bad so far; it was almost odd being there, chatting in a half way decent way without having to draw wands. He felt out of place though.

"You look very uncomfortable, Potter," Greengrass observed, raising an eyebrow.

"It's just weird being in here," he said truthfully, sparing a glance toward the other members of Slytherin going about their own business, studying and socializing.

"We could go my dorm if you'll feel more comfortable. Not all of us are as hostile as some people."

"I'm fine here," he replied quickly, with a nod, glancing at the entrance that he supposed was to the girl's dormitories. It would be ten times worse in her dorm room. "I probably can't get up there anyway."

"Just immobilize the stairs; easy to get in and out that way." Greengrass flicked her cigarette into the fire and stood. "Come on, I'll show you."

Harry sat still, chewing on the inside of his cheek. "Erm…"

Sighing and rolling her eyes, Greengrass grabbed the hem of his sleeve again and pulled him up. She was surprisingly strong for a girl, he noted, as he was once again being led around by her. He didn't know why he was, exactly. He could have been back at his dormitory - reading the Half Blood Prince's book - by now if he had just escaped right away. But no. He felt like such a pushover.

With a wave of her wand, the staircase remained as it was as she pulled him half way up it. "See. Easy," she said with a small grin.

"Right," Harry responded, looking down at the solid stairs beneath his feet. "Maybe I should go."

"Don't be such a spoil sport, Potter, come on."

She led him further up the stairs to the last door on the left. "You've probably never been inside a girl's dormitory before, might as well fulfill your curiosity."

"I'm not curious, to be honest," Harry said in a small voice, nervousness growing in the pit of his stomach. His arm that wasn't being held by Greengrass hung limply at his side and his eyes darted around the corridor, just waiting for Pansy Parkinson or Millicent Bulstrode to pop out of the wood work to hex him to a pulp or taunt him.

Greengrass opened the door and ushered him in, shutting the door behind her.

"Doesn't really look that different from my dormitory," he blurted out when the first thought came to him. His eyes followed the trail of pants and bras on the floor and he felt his stomach twist. Maybe it was a bit different. The green hangings on the four poster beds were different from the deep red ones on his bed. The windows were also enchanted, since they were under the lake.

"I s'pose not," Greengrass admitted as she removed her robe and threw it on the trunk at the bed closest to the door. He shifted on his feet again. She was in her uniform, but she had forgone the Slytherin tie and he was pretty sure that the oxfords the other girls wore weren't that see-through. If she got caught in a drizzle, she'd probably…

He didn't want to think of that.

"Well, now I've seen your dormitory. I think I'll just…" he muttered quickly, looking at the door and slowly moving toward it.

Greengrass followed his footsteps. "Just?"

He looked down at her left forearm and breathed a sigh of relief when he noted her forearm was completely unmarked. He could see her nipples poking through the fabric of her oxford. Her hips swayed as she walked. Harry glanced up at her face. She looked positively predatory, her blue eyes sparkling. She didn't look dangerous, though – at least.

Greengrass was quite striking, he could admit.

Harry fingered his wand in his pocket; yet, slowly, but surely, she had successfully backed him against the door. His hand curled around the door handle and her hand folded over his. "You're a lot shyer than I thought you were," she said with a smile.

Harry didn't know how to reply to that. He just twisted the handle, but her hand on his deterred him from doing that. "I think I'll go now."

He must have been more inebriated from the Firewhiskey than he thought.

"Shh," she whispered, placing a finger on his lips and his nerves tingled, making him back straight up against the door, as far away from her as possible.

She was staring at his lips and he licked them consciously, his eyes wide. The last time he was this close to a girl was with Cho under the mistletoe, and that ended very badly. She wasn't going to –

His breathing picked up a little and his heart beat erratically against his chest, threatening to explode, as her lips touched his.

Greengrass kissed him tentatively – gentle – but he didn't respond. His brain registered the fact that she was kissing him, but his lips wouldn't move. Harry wasn't sure that he should kiss her back, or even if he wanted to. Part of him was all for it – the stupid rebellious side of his brain. The other part just wanted to flee very quickly after her tongue swiped across his lips, forcing a response from him.

I should pull away now.

No. Not yet.

Yes, pull away, damn it.

He opened his mouth slowly and started to kiss her back as she balled up the front of his robes in her fists, moving to kiss him more forcefully. No. This is wrong, this is very very wrong and I shouldn't be kissing her right now. His glasses pushed up the bridge of his nose painfully, and he fought for air, breathing through his nose as he sank into the kiss.

But it's very very good too.

She tasted like exotic smoke and liquor that left a bitter but, surprisingly, pleasant taste in his mouth as she pulled back, staring at him with heavily hooded eyes. Her lips were tinged pink and she licked them, staring at him intently. He felt a rush of warmth flow through him and he didn't move from his place, plastered against the door, until she grabbed the front of his robes again, pulling him down for another kiss.

His brain wasn't working right – it couldn't have been working right.

This time he responded to the kiss right away. Then his brain kicked in, yelling at him to stop, but that oh-so-rebellious voice wasmoaning in his head. It felt so – good. Her soft body pressed fully against him and his arms swung into action, wrapping around her waist as he felt confidence rise within him, causing him to deepen the kiss.

This was not hing like kissing Cho. There was so much… life in kissing Greengrass. It was a bit wet too but not overly so. It left his brain in a whirling daze, where he couldn't exactly think straight half the time, but it certainly wasn't unpleasant.

When she pulled away this time, she smiled. "Not bad, Potter," she whispered, her voice thicker than usual. Heat pooled in the pit of his stomach, and he felt his mouth forming a half satisfied grin as Greengrass hauled him forward toward the bed.

Alarms went off in his brain when she pushed him down and straddled his lap, planting kisses on his neck. All the blood in his body was starting to drain south and, carefully, he pushed her away. "I... shouldn't," he said, barely recognizing his own voice. It was deeper. Rough.

She placed a finger on his lips, silencing him, as her mouth found a particularly delicious spot below his ear. He moaned at the feeling of her tongue slipping over his skin – her mouth sucking lightly. No, he would have to be delusional to turn this down. Merlin, that feltbloody amazing. The sensation shot straight to his groin and he would for-sure have to run back to his room or find an empty bathroom after he left.

But…

Maybe a little more wouldn't hurt.

He reluctantly pulled her head away from his neck and kissed her again, tasting, swirling his tongue around hers and she gently sucked on the tip of his, moaning into his mouth. Her arse slid along his lap, making contact with his hardness, and he groaned, pulling away from her. Greengrass was pushing his robe off his shoulders and his hands gripped her waist. It was getting incredibly warm all of a sudden. He felt as if he had a fever.

He let go for a moment to get the robe off and she grabbed his hand, placing it on her cloth-covered breast.

Harry stopped breathing, staring at his hand, unsure of what to do. He gave her breast an experimental squeeze, just lightly, feeling the softness of it in the palm of his hand. He traced his fingers over it, feeling the nipple harden underneath them. Air flooded his lungs when she arched against his hand, moaning. Glancing up at her, he stared at her throat and licked his lips. The smooth creamy expanse of her neck and chest looked very inviting.

He leaned forward and licked at a particular vein that stuck out, turquoise and plump under his tongue. Her hands threaded through his hair, nails massaging his scalp and he sighed contentedly against her neck. Everything felt heightened at least a thousand times more than usual. His fingers sought out her nipple and he rubbed it between his fingers, kissing up to her ear, feeling every noise she made vibrate against his lips.

If she didn't stop writhing in his lap, he swore he was going to come right there in his trousers. He held back a whimper. From the look on Greengrass' face, he'd have a feeling he wouldn't be leaving this room any time soon.

The sensible part of his brain that was warning him to stop seemed to give up and he threw himself into just feeling.

Harry practically ran with it.

oOo

Greengrass leaned against his chest, her hair spread over her back, while he came down from his high. Their skin stuck to each other slightly, slick with sweat, as she moved to kiss him deeply, panting against his lips. Her luxurious tongue swept over his.

"Wow," he breathed, after they parted. She laid next to him, her leg tangled with his, their bodies touching.

It was over much too quickly, but Merlin it was bloody incredible.

"Wow," Greengrass said in agreement, her chest heaving slightly. "You're….too brilliant for your own good," she said, turning her head toward him with a smirk that he found to be quite sexy on her.

He smiled at the thought. Daphne Greengrass. Yes, she was definitely sexy. His mind paused and he sat straight up when he realized what he just did. Merlin, he lost his virginity to a bloody Slytherin. And he barely even knew her on top of that! He should have been horrified… but, oddly, he didn't feel all that bad about it. His brows furrowed slightly.

Shagging must have messed with his brain.

"What is it?" he heard Greengrass ask, she trailed a hand down his back and he shivered at the touch.

"Nothing, it's just probably late," he said lamely, but it was the truth. It had to be past curfew – why weren't the other girls returning yet? "Aren't your room mates going to be back soon or something?"

Greengrass laughed. "They usually stumble in around midnight or whatever. Don't worry about them. I set a spell on the door so no one can get in." He looked toward her as she got up and walked around the four poster bed, unabashed by her own nakedness. She was incredibly confident. Self-assured. Harry felt so exposed, sitting nude atop her bed; it was covered in Slytherin green, reminding him of everything that he just did.

He recognized the silver case as she held it out to him, offering him a smoke. Staring at it for a moment, hesitantly, Harry picked one up and inspected it while she lit hers and inhaled deeply, standing there naked and smoking. Greengrass was doing just that when he looked up at her. And that was one thing he never thought he'd find unbelievably erotic, but, oddly, it was. He needed to get out of that room before he ended up tackling her to the bed and taking her.

Placing the cigarette in his mouth, he searched around for his wand, when it was thrust right under his nose. Apparently Greengrass used it the whole time. Well, at least she gave it back. He flicked it toward the fag, thinking the incantation, and it lit.

As soon as he inhaled, he wanted to cough, but held it in for a second and cleared his throat after he exhaled. It wasn't… unpleasant. It burned a little, but it tasted of her, which was quite nice. His head started to feel light on his third puff and he sank into it pleasantly.

It was calming.

He felt way less tension pressing down on him to get out of there. He just relaxed and inhaled, blowing smoke out of his mouth a moment later.

Greengrass was watching him with that lovely smirk on her face. "You look good like that," she said, her eyes grazing over his skin, where a slight flush followed. She sat heavily across from him, leaning back against one of the bedposts. Her long hair covered her breasts, thankfully, keeping his eyes from diverting their attention from her face.

"Yeah?" he asked and she nodded.

"I supposed I've corrupted you enough for one night," Greengrass said with a smile. "You probably don't do anything like this often."

Harry grinned. So he was that good that she didn't even suspect that he… hadn't even done anything of the sort? "Do you?" he asked, suddenly curious.

"No, not really," she replied. "Once or twice."

"Oh? Who?" Harry felt a bit of jealousy surface but he pushed it back down, thinking it incredibly irrational. He only slept with her – it was probably a one off or something like that. He could kick himself for giving in that easily.

Taking a long drag on his cigarette, he accepted the fact that he gave in. It was worth it enough.

Yes, it was… worth it. It was bloody wonderful.

"Now that would be telling," Greengrass said with a faint smile. "You'd probably never want to see me again."

His stomach flipped at the thought. "I wouldn't mind seeing you… again." Yep, he was going straight to hell. He wanted to continue fucking a Slytherin girl, what would Hermione say? Well, Hermione was the least of his worries, really. Ron, on the other hand… They couldn't know about this.

This seemed like a pretty safe bet though. No strings attached, kind of. At least, it seemed that way. No one to endanger in the process because he doubted he'd ever want to pursue a serious relationship with Greengrass.

"Even if I told you who I slept with before?" she asked, a cheeky expression slipping over her face.

"Probably not." No, definitely not, who cares? He had her for now and there were future possibilities! He had to refrain from thinking about it too much lest he need another go. Hormones were troublesome little heathens. It was late and… she was probably tired, even though he would if he could.

"How about," she started, "you tell me yours if I tell you mine?"

"Okay." A sudden bout of confidence swelled in his chest and he wanted to laugh. He actually hadn't felt this… free in a while. It was like all the pressure was off and he was just Harry for this moment.

"You first."

"Daphne Greengrass," Harry said with a smile, bringing the cigarette to his lips.

"Mhm, and?" Greengrass' expression was expectant.

"No one else."

"Are you… kidding?" Her lips parted and her eyes widened. "You mean, I… I was your first?"

Harry nodded, exhaling smoke.

Greengrass shook her head in disbelief. "Are you naturally talented at everything?"

"No, I don't think so," he said sheepishly, his faint grin threatening to spill over into a smile. "But now it's your turn."

"That's hardly fair. You haven't slept with anyone else."

"A deal's a deal."

They both grinned.

"Fine," Greengrass relented. "Harry Potter, definitely the most satisfying." She smirked and he couldn't help but smile. "Zacharias Smith, blame lack of judgment on my part for that one. And Draco Malfoy."

"And I'm the most satisfying?" Harry said, concealing his very pleased grin. This was definitely good. He was so much more satisfying than Draco ruddy Malfoy and Smith. Hah. If he were the type to gloat like Malfoy, he wouldn't give it a second thought.

Greengrass – he wondered if he should refer to her as Daphne now – nodded. "Don't let it go to your head too much."

"I'm not as arrogant as most people think," he replied, flicking his dead cigarette into some container that Greengrass held out to him.

"I know."

"Why did you want shag me anyway? I mean… you seemed… very adamant," Harry asked, choosing his words correctly.

She hesitated.

"Truthfully? You're attractive and nice. You have absolutely gorgeous eyes. You also seem to be somewhat open-minded when it comes to people. How could I resist?" she drawled, smirking.

So it wasn't because he was the famous Harry Potter, the 'Chosen One', or anything. That made him feel even better about this predicament. It really wasn't so bad that he lost his virginity to her. Not only was it worth it for the sake of really a good shag, but she thought of him as just… him. Even if half of her reasons were superficial reasons.

Hermione did say that he had never been more fanciable than he was this year.

The clock chimed, telling them it was definitely past curfew – twelve o'clock – and he sighed. "I suppose I have to go then." Harry reached for his trousers at the end of the bed, waving his wand to clean up the mess he made inside his boxers.

He got up and pulled them on, looping the belt through the buckle after fastening the fly. As he dressed, Greengrass watched him; he felt her eyes on him the whole time. Only when he was buttoning up his shirt, did she get up. He heard her move across the floor toward him and she placed a hand on his shoulder. Greengrass was still starkers as ever. "Let's meet again sometime," she said quietly into his ear, half hugging his back.

Harry gazed down at her when she moved away. "Yeah, I'd like that."

He shrugged on his robe and moved toward the door, turning around to look back at her. She was standing less than a foot away from him. Greengrass stood up on her tip toes and kissed him lightly, he could feel her hand slip into his pocket briefly before pulling away. "Goodnight, Pot-Harry."

"Goodnight, Daphne."

As he left, he reached into his pocket to find Daphne's soft, lacey knickers and he smiled to himself. Now he just had to get out of the Slytherin Common Room unscathed.

OoO

Author's Note: Thank you for reading and please review!