The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 136: Match Repair

"I'm calling in my favor."

Harry looked up at Daphne.  "Oh?  I thought you'd hold onto that one for a long time to whip out at the most inconvenient opportunity."  His amusement faded when he saw just how bothered she looked.

"Yes, well," Daphne chewed on a fingernail, "that was the plan but I need your assistance now."

"What's wrong?  I'll help you without you calling your favor."

"Thank you but I think I will have to call it in for your help this time."  She gave him a look.  "I require you to meddle."

"Meddle?"  Something clicked in his head at the look she gave him.  "Oh.  Meddle.  Okay, uhm, want to tell me what's going on?"

"No, I rather you go in a blank slate and not make any preconceived notions.  However," her voice faded and her face was clearly distressed, "I really need your help."

He got up and hugged her.  "Hey, I'll help.  I don't need any prep-work to jump in.  It's how I operate best."  He felt her hug him back with desperate need.  "Question, why me?  You remember what I almost did last year right?"

"You have the benefit of experience, precisely for that reason," she said, her voice muffled into his shoulder.  "Also, you have the kind of face that encourages people to unburden their thoughts willingly."

"Thanks?"

"That was a compliment."

-0-

"So she sent you huh?" Tracy said scathingly, glaring at Harry.

He shrugged awkwardly.  "Sort of?  She asked for help and I'll admit, I don't know how I'm going to help but here I am."

"And what did she tell you?"

"Nothing aside that she needs help.  Come on, let's walk outside."

Tracy growled but followed him out of the castle and they walked to the Lake's edge.  Tracy muttered under her breath the entire time, stomping hard enough to almost leave indentations into the ground.  When they stopped walking, she continued to pace while Harry sat on a large flat rock.  She finally looked at Harry who had not said anything.  "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Aren't you going to say anything?!"

"I'm just letting you get there," he said as calmly as he could.  He flinched when she picked up a large rock and threw it into the Lake.  It made a huge splash which somehow irritated her because she started chucking more things into the water.  "I wouldn't do that, might piss off the squid."

"Oh what's another spineless tentacled cold-blooded thing that's pissed off to me?!"  She tried to pick up another rock but it was a lot bigger than she thought and as hard as she could, she failed.  With a curse she kicked it and grunted in pain, hopping up and down.

Harry sighed and pulled her down to the rock beside him, waving his wand over her foot before casting some charms.

Tracy looked angry and embarrassed.  "Thanks," she grunted.

"No problem."  He let the silence settle for a few moments.  "I assume the other spineless tentacled cold-blooded thing is-"

"-is Daphne yes," Tracy finished, face redder.  "She doesn't have tentacles though, in case you were wondering."

"I wasn't and might file that under 'too much information' but thanks for telling me I suppose."

Tracy snorted and sighed.  "Why did she send you?"