Note: Possibly Canon Divergent

"I'm not marrying Vincent."

The clatter of forks, knives, and spoons filled my ears as I looked around the table. My mother and father were staring at me with shock and anger in their eyes. Astoria was more passive with the look she was giving me; it almost looked sympathetic. Almost.

"What did you just say?" my mother demanded. I could tell the anger was beyond her dark eyes because of how tight she was gripping her salad fork.

"I said I'm not marrying Vincent, Mother," I said. I knew they wouldn't understand, but it's not their decision. It's mine.

My father shared my mother's anger, slamming his fork on the table. It caused Astoria to flinch in her chair. I wasn't going to jump or flinch this time. Not now or ever again.

"Daphne, I suggest you rethinking your decision," he said in a steely tone. "You are a Greengrass, and you are going to uphold the name as you were born and raised to."

I set my hands on the table, the navy jewel from the ring on my finger was glaring at me. I'd have to return the jewellery soon.

"There's nothing to rethink, Father," I told him. "I refuse to move forward with the contract. The time I've spent with Vincent has shown me that not only will I not be happy with the arrangement, that it will be a waste of time."

I knew my words didn't sit well with my parents, but I don't care. Where they would consider marrying Crabbe an 'honour' is beyond me. The Crabbes are lower than the Bulstrodes in the social circles, so they could only care about keeping things 'pure'. That also means they don't care about their princess.

When Vincent rested his slimy hand on my thigh and squeezed it on our first outing, I knew I couldn't be cared for on both fronts. I also knew that my happiness would have to be in my own hands. While the rest of the Purebloods would shun and spurn me, use my name in association with Blood Traitors and Mudbloods, I would be smiling and living my life the way I wanted.

The name Daphne Greengrass would be worthless, but for my freedom, it would be worth it. With my chin up and shoulders straightened, I stood from my chair, slipped the ring on the table, and gave a mocking curtsey.

"Remove me from the tree if you'd like," I said. "I would rather be a nobody than be defiled as Vincent Crabbe's wife."

Those were my final words to my parents. I had given Astoria a nod as I left from the dining room; I left everything in her hands. It's what she wanted anyway.

My parents were seething so bad, they didn't try to stop me. Not even the House Elves were ordered to fetch me or anything. As suspicious as I was, I wasn't going to let the chance slip through my fingers. Perhaps they're trying to take charge of the damage control once my defection and disownment reached the rest of the circles.

Once I set foot outside the manor, I took a deep breath and released it. After that, I smiled. To them, I'm now worthless. To me, I've made the choice that's worth it.

A/N: Written for HSWW (Challenges and Assignments) and The Houses Competition

(THC) House: Gryffindor; Year/Position: Year 4; Category: Drabble - must be written in 1st person; Prompt: [word] worthless

(HSWW) Assignment #5 Dark Charms Task 9 - write about a bomb drop (figuratively)

Word Count: 552