Three weeks had passed since the official approval of her project and Daphne had thrown herself into researching anything and everything she could find on Lily Potter's sacrifice. Flitwick hadn't been wrong...besides the speculative articles in the Daily Prophet at the time there was precious little academic research available on what had actually happened. Either no-one really had tried to sort out what she had done or they were keeping it to themselves. Even her father and his mysterious library had been little help.

After two weeks of trying (and failing) to find much established research the next week was spent learning about other similar magic. There had to be something. Lily Potter could not have been the first parent willing to sacrifice her own life for a child...but why and how had it protected Harry?

She'd come up with a theory and hoped Flitwick would let her run with it. Not only was it plausible but if she played her cards right it would be the perfect way to hopefully weave in questions about Harry's forehead problem.

Daphne couldn't help but smile to herself as she arrived at the Professor's office. His pleasantness and enthusiasm for learning were a welcome contrast to the gloom and doom of her own head of house. Snape was monotone and morose and Flitwick was squeaking and excitement. Also, his tea was much better. She sometimes wondered if Snape purposely made his taste foul simply so people would leave his office sooner.

"Hello!" he welcomed her cheerfully, handing over her now standard cup. "I fear I know the answer but were you able to learn anything new?"

"Not much," she confirmed. "It's exactly as you said...besides the Prophet articles no-one seems to talk about what happened. I had a thought after our last meeting and have been studying something else though," she offered.

"I've been researching what I think are similar types of magic, unbreakable vows and blood oaths specifically. Other magic that involves potential sacrifice." She paused to review her notes and gather her thoughts. As she looked up she noticed that Professor Flitwick was now leaning forward, anxiously awaiting for her to continue.

"Violating an unbreakable vow or a blood oath results in death...that started me thinking about why that is."

She paused again to take a drink before continuing...fighting down the potential embarrassment of Flitwick dismissing her idea outright. It was the same feeling that always drove her to keep her hand down in class despite almost always knowing the answer. It was dumb and irrational but she hated looking foolish in front of others. She had to give Hermione credit. The girl could be insufferably obnoxious at times in class, especially when she was younger, but Hermione didn't care what others thought.

She snapped herself out of self-doubt. This was important...much more important than worrying about her peers chuckling at a missed answer. She carried on.

"You can't be tricked or be forced into an unbreakable vow or blood oath...you have to agree to the specific actions. Harry didn't choose to compete in the TriWizard Tournament but that was because the magic in the Goblet of Fire was tricked. The only magic in vows or oaths comes from the people involved."

Flitwick was almost bouncing in his chair at this point...clearly interested in where she was headed. "So what does that tell you?"

"I think it's about intent...purposeful, planned out actions that result in real sacrifice. The ultimate sacrifice. You have to logically know and accept the consequences for such an act," she stated tentatively.

"Very good!" Flitwick enthused. "I've always believed that intent is the key to our magic. What do you think that means to Lily Potter's sacrifice?"

Here was the part that had been niggling at her brain...the bit that didn't make sense. She had tried to put herself in Lily Potter's place. If Daphne was faced with Voldemort wanting to kill her child of course she would spontaneously block his path and beg for mercy...willingly sacrificing herself for her child. That wasn't a sacrifice...it would be as normal as breathing for a loving parent. She had no doubt her parents would have done so without thought or remorse. Virtually every parent would place such a spell on their children if it was that simple to protect them at the moment they thought they were going to die.

And then there was the basis for creating a Horcrux. One had to knowingly and purposely end someone's life to preserve a piece of your own soul. A life for a life...knowingly and willingly planned and executed. That added to her theory but she purposely did not share it with Flitwick.

"I think that Lily and maybe even James Potter magically sacrificed their lives well before that night. I think that even if Voldemort had never attacked them Lily Potter would have died prematurely at some point based on her commitment...that she cursed herself before that night to protect Harry. She may have already been dying at the time they were attacked...Voldemort just sped up the process. If Harry's father had done the same thing he would have provided even more protection."

Daphne paused again before continuing on to the next reason. She knew she was being dumb and irrational again...that all the professors knew about Astoria's condition...but she hated talking about it...acknowledging it. She realized she had unconsciously bowed her head and looked back to Flitwick who was patiently waiting for her to continue.

"There's one more piece that makes me think I may be right. I believe all of the Hogwarts staff is aware of Astoria's condition?" she asked, waiting for Flitwick's remorseful nod before continuing.

"I'm not entirely aware of what my ancestors did to allow for such a curse but in discussing it with my family it was made clear that it had to be something abhorrent and unforgivable. To have your family suffer such a punishment...the act would have to be severe...reprehensible...permanent."

"A life for a life...or in your family's case...lives," the professor sadly finished her thought.

"Exactly," Daphne confirmed. "I think Lily and perhaps even James Potter did something similar but in reverse. They willingly cursed themselves in a way similar to what my sister is afflicted with but they did it to allow Harry to be protected. They knowingly shortened their own lives for Harry. It's the only logical thing I can come up with to explain how Harry was saved."

Flitwick nodded in understanding "So you think the execution is similar but the intent and emotion behind the spell was entirely different. Both spells ended with the same result...shortened lifespan...but each was based on completely opposite ends of the emotional spectrum. One on the wilingness to end a life and the other on saving a life."

"Yes," she nervously confirmed. "What do you think?"

She watched as Flitwick steepled his fingers...a now familiar act meaning he was deep in thought. Finally he spoke. "I believe what you posited is the most logical theory I have ever heard on the matter. You may ultimately be incorrect but it will make for a most fascinating thesis."

She breathed a sigh of relief as Flitwick continued.

"I noticed you mentioned the word 'logic' and 'planning' multiple times but only briefly touched on the emotional component involved. Do you believe it is not as crucial?"

The question surprised her. It had been obvious to her from the outset that emotions were crucial but she hadn't thought much about it beyond that. Flitwick was right...she had focused almost solely on the dispassionate planning and execution involved.

"I think the emotion is obviously necessary...it has to be there...but it either is or isn't," she replied matter of factly.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers still steepled...still thinking. "You mentioned last week that Mr. Potter has been teaching you and your sister Expecto Patronum. How are you progressing?"

Daphne had no clue how that was relevant but she trusted Flitwick had a good reason for asking. She hated to admit the truth though.

"Not well, for me at least," she answered sullenly.

"Astoria can manage a very strong shield at this point and Harry thinks she is close to conjuring a corporeal Patronus. The best I can do is manage a mist," she grudgingly confessed. Tracey was also further along than Daphne and it was infuriating.

"If you don't mind sharing," Flitwick interjected, "what memory are you using?"

'I trust him, it's okay,' she told herself. He was willing to help and she needed to share if he thought it was relevant, no matter how personal the question was.

"I remembered how relieved I was when Astoria was sorted into Hufflepuff and not Slytherin. I had been worried she would be based on our family's history and wanting to be with me but it wouldn't have been right for her. We Slytherins are, as a rule, way too cynical and calculating for Astoria's tastes...she would have gone mental," she answered with a chuckle.

Flitwick continued his questioning. "That seems like a very positive memory but I'm not sure it is strong enough. Were you overwhelmed with joy? Would you have been utterly devastated if your sister had been sorted into Slytherin?"

"No," she answered immediately. "I would have been upset but Astoria is a survivor and would have handled it well I'm sure."

He nodded knowingly. "Based on your personality I'm guessing you have studied the theory and execution of the spell thoroughly...much more than your sister or Mr. Potter have ever done. Would you agree?"

Daphne nodded.

"Remember what we have been talking about Daphne," he continued, "intent is the key and it has always been my belief that intent is based almost entirely on emotion. For your Patronus to work you will have to allow yourself to feel more...something much stronger and vital to your happiness. Without that Mr. Potter could instruct you for another year and you will not progress much further."

It struck her that he had addressed her using her first name and knew it was intentional. This was personal, important, vital to what he wanted her to understand.

"There is something," she began,"thinking about it makes me happier than anything else...overwhelms me as you put it. The problem is it isn't real. It isn't a memory...just something I wish could happen."

Flitwick smiled at her encouragingly, silently urging her to continue. "I dream about Astoria being cured and living a full and long life...it would make me happier than anything else...but it's just that...a dream," she said sadly.

"Harry had explained the Patronus doesn't have to be based on a real memory. The feelings behind the thought are the important bit and using a memory is the easiest way to access those feelings for most people. I tried thinking about Astoria being cured a few times but the results were even worse."

"Because you don't believe it is possible," he replied simply. "As happy as it makes you to think about the possibility a part of you is still hopeless...this hopelessness is holding you back."

She bowed her head and nodded, stubbornly focusing on the teacup in her hands. No matter how happy the idea made her it was drowned out by the disbelief it could ever happen. She hated talking about this...thinking about this.

"I assume you are aware that I am part goblin?" he asked.

Daphne looked up, thrown by the seeming randomness of the question. "Yes. The height and the ears kind of give it away," she blurted.

"Yes...it is quite difficult to conceal," he said with a smile before continuing.

"I didn't think I would be able to attend Hogwarts because of my heritage. I have always been looked down upon because of it and my parents made it very clear that it was a virtual impossibility...that no-one with goblin heritage had ever been accepted to the school," he said sadly.

"We didn't have much money but they somehow had already made arrangements for me to be privately tutored," he continued. "I even wrote a letter to the headmaster pleading with him to be enrolled. I didn't think I had a chance but I wanted it so badly...for me and my family. I have never wanted anything more before or since," he stated matter of factly.

"Receiving my acceptance letter...that is the memory I use to conjure my Patronus. Hearing my mother's shriek of excitement and seeing my father crying with joy...it is still overwhelming to me when I think about it." He paused, seemingly confirming his prior statement.

"If I had been privately tutored I would most assuredly have to use something else for my Patronus. The dream of attending Hogwarts would not have worked no matter how strong the feelings involved precisely for the reasons you have identified. It wouldn't have worked because I didn't truly believe it...the dream of it wasn't realistic," he surmised.

"I'm telling you this because I believe your theory on the Potters' magic is similar. Lily Potter was a brilliant witch and I am sure she spent countless hours researching what could be done for her son. But beyond that she would have to be totally and utterly consumed with the desire to save him for the spell to have worked. Any selfishness or thoughts of self preservation would have doomed Mr. Potter."

"Thank you sir," she finally replied after sitting in quiet contemplation. "You've given me a lot to think about," she said honestly, already contemplating the impact it could have to her plan with Harry.