Chapter 3: The Grass is Always Greener…

A Month Earlier, Greengrass Manor, August 1st, 1991

Daphne was still in bed, sleeping, long after the manor elf, Kiki, had finished cooking breakfast. To her left, another young girl was fast asleep, clutching Daphne's arm with a soft smile on her face. The girl, Astoria, was a carbon copy of her older sister, with her blonde, long hair and deep blue eyes. Daphne quietly rose from her slumber, rubbed her eyes a few times, and turned her head towards her sister. She started caressing Astoria's head, with a sad smile on her face. Astoria insisted on sleeping with her big sister, and Daphne could not, and did not, want to refuse her.

Three years ago, their mother left and never came back. Daphne had never figured out the truth. When she asked her father, he always replied impatiently and avoided actually saying anything about it. She was only 8 years old when her mother left, while Astoria was 6. Their mother had abandoned them without saying a word. For the past three years, Daphne lived, day to day, with constant rage, confusion, and buried sadness plaguing her thoughts.

However, neither her or her father had dared break the news to young Astoria. The girl had been ill on and off since her birth. For months, she would be full of life and energetic, but, suddenly, her condition would slowly deteriorate and she would become bed-ridden for days, sometimes weeks. Long ago, her parents had been to St. Mungo's Hospital to give Astoria a check-up; the news had been startling. It seems she was the target of an bloodline curse. The Greengrass patriarch knew his great-great grandfather may have been the target of a blood malediction, a curse cast upon him by a foreign witch from the Egyptian tribes for unknown reasons. However, those rumours had never been confirmed and none of his descendants had shown signs of being cursed. That is, not until Astoria.

The Head Healer himself had performed tests on the youngest Greengrass, and had, unfortunately, diagnosed her with an extremely potent curse. Astoria would be unlikely to live more than 20 years.

Her mother, had taken Daphne aside, and told her the sad news. Daphne vowed to give her little sister the best 20 years of life anyone could ever get. Of course, Astoria had not been told about her condition, telling a child about their imminent death is simply not done.

The years after Astoria's diagnosis flew by quickly. Her parents always doted on Astoria and got her everything she ever wanted, putting happy expressions on their faces. But, when Astoria wasn't in the same room, Daphne often saw the defeated and guilty expressions on their parents' face. As if they had failed Astoria in some way.

Then, Daphne's mother vanished. Three years have passed and that still confused the Greengrass heiress. Why would their mother abandon them? She clearly loved Daphne and Astoria to death, and she was the one that told Daphne to always take care of Astoria the best she could. Had she known she was going to disappear one day? Things just didn't add up. At the same time, she couldn't discard that maybe her mother's love had been partly an act, and that she left once she saw the Greengrass House wouldn't grow the way she wanted it to, with Astoria's certain death. Daphne needed to find out, but her father would not tell her anything. She would find other ways to acquire information, that was one of her major goals.

As it turned out, life had other goals for her, because, seconds later, a cry of "Daphne! Astoria! You are late for breakfast. Both of you get dressed and down here this very instant." was heard.

Grumbling under her breath, she planted a kiss on Astoria's cheek and gently woke her up.

"Tori, wake up. Let's get something to eat, I'm hungry."

Astoria slowly opened her eyes, spotted Daphne above her and smiled for a split-second, before retorting,

"That's why I'm the pretty Greengrass sister. All you think about is food, but I think about my figure."

"Cheeky girl, get up before I tell Kiki that you insist on having more vegetables for your meals."

Astoria gaped, with an expression of horror on her face. This made it very clear what she thought about the idea of extra vegetables.

Laughing, Daphne got out of bed and made her way to the wardrobe. She decided to colour code her outfit in green (she was a Greengrass after all). Of course, Astoria always followed her lead, and she ran over to pick more or less the same outfit as her. Not that Daphne minded, she loved Astoria to death.

Hand in hand, they made their way down the marble stairs, where Kiki was waiting for them.

"Daffy, Tori, the master is being very impatients this morning. Hurry, to the dining room."

Daphne let out a small smile, Kiki could never pronounce their names right, bless her.

As the Greengrass girls reached the dining room, they were met with the sight of an annoyed Philip Greengrass.

"Keeping someone waiting is unacceptable behaviour, especially for daughters from an important House such as ours", said the Lord of the manor.

Ever since their mother had disappeared, their father had changed over the years gradually. Daphne knew their father still loved them, but he showed it less and less. Rather, he started focusing his attention on expanding the Greengrass House and increasing its prestige. She suspected it was to try to forget about his wife. As such, Philip Greengrass had become a rather demanding man, and he got on Daphne's nerves on occasion.

Sighing, Daphne put on a mask of indifference and replied, "Yes Father, we apologize."

Astoria, on her part, ignored her father's comment and sat up on the chair to his left. She reached out and gave his father a big hug, and excitedly said "Hi Daddy! Oh, oh, oh what are we doing today? Can we go to Diagon Alley, I want to look at the new racing brooms out pleeeeeeease?"

Philip's expression changed from annoyed to resignedly soft. He ruffled Astoria's hair and said "I do have some business at Gringotts later. If you and Daphne wish to come as well, we can very well stop at Quality Quidditch Supplies for some time."

Astoria was bouncing with joy in her seat, and Daphne let out a smile. Seeing her sister excited made the pain caused by her mother's disappearance bearable, and her mental estimate of her father slightly rose. He may not be the same man Daphne had gotten to know, but he was still their father. Merlin knows where Astoria got her love of Quidditch from though, no one in the family has ever played. Daphne would never admit it to anyone, but she was rather scared of flying. Her little sister though had no such compunctions. Ever since she read about the Wronski feint, Astoria had wanted to try it every time she went flying on the manor grounds, but, thankfully, their father had forbidden such crazy moves.

Philip snapped her out of her thoughts, "Daphne, the other night, I was speaking with some allies of mine. Apparently, Lord Malfoy's son, Draco, had a conversation with none other than the Boy-Who-Lived in Diagon Alley yesterday."

Daphne raised an eyebrow, clearly uninterested by that piece of gossip. Astoria didn't even react, she still had a faraway look in her eyes, probably still thinking about the new Nimbus or such.

"Harry Potter? Wasn't he expected to come to Hogwarts this year anyways? His birthday is publicly known after all, and he turned eleven some time ago.", let out Daphne.

"My daughter, we are not talking about just Harry Potter, we are talking about the possible key to success. You are old enough now to know what having a celebrity such as him on our side would mean for the Neutral parties. His influence would solidify a Neutral majority in the Wizengamot, and we would be able to pass the bills and law we have been hoping to pass for a decade now."

Daphne's expression turned to stone when she realized her father was starting another of his political games, and, this time, Daphne would certainly be a lead actor.

The Greengrass patriarch continued, "The boy is eleven, and will be attending Hogwarts in a month's time, just like you. What an amazing coincidence that is. Of course, you will be sorted in Slytherin. I should stress that it is of the utmost importance that you befriend the Boy-Who-Lived. After all, I, as an adult and a stranger, cannot walk up to him and introduce myself. Make him trust you, he could be a wonderful asset and ally for our cause. But, nobody knows where and with who he grew up. The Potters were known for their prejudice against the Slytherin house, it is important that you break whatever prejudice the young Potter may have against us. I trust that I do not have to repeat myself?"

Daphne sometimes disobeyed her father and went against his word, but, in this very moment, he saw he was very serious and that he would not take no for an answer.

"Very well Father, I will try my best. I can manage it, of course."

"Good, good. If we're careful, this will work out very well indeed. The Greengrass name shall be respected at the same level it once was again."

Astoria interrupted the conversation, "Bla, bla, bla, politics. Can we go to Diagon Alley soon? I've finished eating while you slowpokes were boring me to death."

Her father answered, "Be patient Astoria. We will go once everyone has finished eating. I don't think Kiki would appreciate us leaving leftovers on the table, when she works so hard to cook for everyone."

After the meal was done, the Greengrass trio made their way to the Floo. Astoria went first, throwing Floo powder in the fireplace with an excited yell of "Diagon Alley"

If Astoria ended up getting a new Nimbus, Daphne was sure she could convince her father to get her the new set of beautiful green Acromantula silk robes she saw on display at Madam Malkin's some weeks ago. She was not an aspiring Quidditch star like her sister, she was the Greengrass heiress, the epitome of Wizarding elegance and fashion.

*PP*

Back to Present Day, Hogwarts Express, September 1st, 1991

Harry opened the compartment door and came face to face with a blue-eyed blonde girl.

"Oh, my apologies, I was looking for my friend Tracey. I can't seem to find her anywhere."

The girl had a distressed look on her face, and Harry wasn't sure what to do. Eventually, he replied, "I haven't seen anyone named Tracey. I've been alone this whole time, sorry."

The girl let out a small smile and said, "It's okay. My name is Daphne Greengrass by the way, and you are?", pretending not to notice the boy's trademark scar.

"I'm Harry, Harry Potter."

Playing a figure of shock and wonder, Daphne passionately said, "Harry Potter? The Harry Potter? It's an honor to meet the Boy-Who-Lived."

Visibly confused, Harry was staring at Daphne wondering what she was on about. He asked her, "The boy who what? How do you know who I am? I've just recently found out I was magical."

Internally cheering, Daphne realised that a great opportunity had been presented to her. She could act as the young Potter's guide to the magical world. The boy seemed truthful when he said he was new to the magical world.

"Wait. You mean you don't know? Harry… do you mind if I call you that?"

Receiving a hesitant nod from the green-eyed wizard, Daphne pressed on, "Alright Harry, you can call me Daphne as well. Do you mind if I sit down with you? It is certainly going to be a long train ride, and I could tell you more about magic. I think Tracey went off to see other friends in another compartment, I'll find her at school."

Harry was very curious. The girl in front of him seemed to recognize him, implying he was famous in this world. Furthermore, when she said she could explain more about the magical world to him, he had made his mind up.

"Of course, be my guest. Let me close the compartment door so we aren't bothered."

Harry turned his back to her to close the compartment door, whilst Daphne let out a visible smirk for a split-second. Things were going very beautifully.

As both sat down opposite of each other, Harry's eagerness for information was visible to the entire world, and Daphne had formulated a plan in her head.

"Now Harry, what do you know about Lord Voldemort?"

"Lord who? Never heard of him"

Daphne became more hesitant. The Boy-Who-Lived didn't know the truth about his parents' deaths, and his fame. She only knew bits and pieces about his parents, so she decided to avoid that topic altogether.

"Never mind that. What do you know about Quidditch?"

Daphne didn't particularly like the sport, but, if there was one thing she learned, the best way to get a boy to open up was to talk about brooms and Quidditch. Hopefully, the boy genes in Harry would get him excited about this particular subject even if he was new to this world...


And Chapter 3 is done, slightly longer this time. I am trying to improve every chapter. What's the deal with the Greengrass mother, and will Daphne succeed in befriending Harry Potter? Please leave reviews to tell me about the bad (and the good), and comment on who you would like featured on the story next time!