The Summer Exchange

Harry and Daphne

Chapter Ten.

The last two weeks of Harry's stay with the Greengrass family were filled with trips to the Wizengamot with William; family research with Astoria, not to mention getting to know Daphne better – both in a personal capacity as well as discovering exactly what she wanted to do in life.

"Do you want to go into the Wizengamot?" Harry asked as they relaxed onto the terrace, overlooking the beautiful gardens.

"Of course, why wouldn't I? We can't just leave doddering old men in charge of the country, nothing would ever be accomplished," Daphne told him with a laugh.

"So, do you get to keep the Greengrass seat then? Even when you get married?" Harry asked curiously.

"Yep. When it became obvious that they weren't going to have a son, father ensured that the family seat and power wouldn't become absorbed by whatever family Astoria and I decided to marry into," Daphne told him with a proud smile.

"The Greengrass sisters ruling the world? Sounds terrifying," Harry joked, laughing when Daphne hit his arm in mock anger at his words. "Okay then, what would you do? When you're running the country?" he asked.

"Over hall the education system. There would be a post-Hogwarts level education for those that wanted it. Something akin to an apprenticeship, but not as secretive. I'd also introduce a class within the early years of Hogwarts that teaches everyone about the old ways, such as Ostara and Winterfylleþ. Even some purebloods don't know about most of the old ways and we can't let tradition die out," Daphne told him. "And if I were ever lucky enough to have children of my own, I'd take them into the chamber with me. Show them from an early age that every voice counts, no matter how loud or small it may be, it counts. And I'd make those doddering old fools look the future in the eyes when they try to introduce archaic and backward laws," she added, the slight note of anger in her tone of voice clear to Harry's ears.

"You're starting the changes early then," Harry remarked with a smile.

"Well, we have to start somewhere. And if it's not me introducing these changes, then who will? Seats don't open up that often to let new people in and most pureblood girls are perfectly content to be wives and mothers. If I want to see change then I'm going to have to push for it myself," she told him.

Hearing Daphne talk about pureblood wives and mothers reminded Harry of the conversation he had with Helaine all those weeks ago. Hearing how Daphne was going to change their world and knowing how passionate Astoria was about history, he couldn't help but wonder how their mother could think they'd amount to nothing more than wives and mothers. It seemed like it would be such a waste.

Harry thought of all that he had learnt while he was staying with the Greengrass'. All he'd discovered about the daughters and the father. What he'd discussed with the mother and he realised that since his rather shocking conversation with Helaine all those mornings ago, whether he'd meant to or not, he'd been avoiding her.

He knew her to be a loving; caring; supportive mother. Had seen it with his own eyes and he needed to know once and for all, if she truly felt that her daughters would be nothing than trophy and house wives. And he found the perfect opportunity one morning in the gardens. "Good morning Mrs Greengrass," Harry said as he approached her knelt amongst the flowerbeds.

"Harry! You know I've told you to call me Helaine," she greeted him with a warm smile.

"I've not really spoken with you in so long, it doesn't seem right to call you by your first name," Harry told her with an embarrassed smile. "I'm sorry that I've not spoken with you much recently."

"No need to apologise dear. I know William has been showing you the ropes of the Wizengamot with Daphne and Astoria has been helping you with tracing your family history. How's that going? Found anything interesting?" she asked with a warm smile.

"My grandfather invented the Sleekeazy's hair potion. Somewhat ironic given the Potter men's hair is," Harry told her, running a hand through his own messy locks, making them look worse.

"Just think of how grateful your grandmother might have been," Helaine said with a light chuckle. "I certainly know my girls use bottles of the stuff during the warmer months."

"I would offer a discount, but by all accounts, my grandfather sold the company when he retired," Harry told her with a smile. "When I first arrived and the first time I helped you with the garden, you said that Daphne and Astoria were destined to be wives and mothers. Do you really think that is all they'll amount to?" he asked.

"Oh, of course not! I believe that my girls can do whatever they want to, if they put their minds to it. Daphne has so many plans for the country, I can't imagine anything or anyone getting in her way!" Helaine remarked with a faint, fond chuckle. "And I've lost count of all the discoveries Astoria has made about our family. Just when you think there's nothing left to find, she takes a twig from the family tree and turns it into a branch!"

"Knowing all this, how could you think they'd be housewives for some pureblood son?" he asked, confused.

"You have to understand, when I was growing up and when I was a young woman, it was completely normal and acceptable to give up any job or career in order to focus on ones' children. Every second was precious and not to be missed," Helaine told him, before sitting back on the grass next to the flowerbed she'd been tending, motioning for Harry to join her. "When William and I first married, we struggled terribly to fall pregnant. Every month we thought we'd made it and every month we were heartbroken. Daphne and Astoria are our little miracles, the idea of leaving them for hours on end for a job that I didn't need was unthinkable."

"I'm sorry for all you've been through," Harry said. "I never meant to insult or imply you weren't supportive."

"No need to apologise my dear. I know that it all sounds old fashioned to young ears, Merlin knows Astoria has told me so dozens of times," she told him, amused. "But rest assured that both of my girls know they can do whatever their hearts desire and I'll support them wholeheartedly," she reassured Harry with a warm smile. "Now, unless William has got plans to abscond with you to the library with talk of creature legislation, I'd love to have some company while I work on the viola's and pansy's," she told him, the two working companionably together for the remainder of the afternoon, both parties feeling lighter from all that had been revealed.

"Cheers!" "Cheers!" "Cheers!"

The family dining room might have only been filled with five people, but the atmosphere was one of happiness and merriment as they celebrated Harry's stay with the Greengrass'.

"Well I hope you've had an enjoyable stay with us," William remarked as they all tucked into their meal. "Hopefully we've not terrified you into never visiting again."

Harry couldn't help but laugh slightly along with Daphne and Astoria at Williams exuberance. "You've no chance of that," he told him with a smile.

"You know you're always welcome here Harry," Helaine told Harry with a smile. "You'll always find friends and a warm welcome with us."

"Thank you, all of you, for such a warm welcome. You've taken me in and made me feel like a member of your family. You've all shown and taught me so much and I truly appreciate it," Harry told them all, hoping they all knew just how thankful and grateful he was by their warm welcome.

He knew that given how his relatives had treated Daphne, that his own experience of the summer exchange might have been much different. But they'd welcomed him into their home; let him glimpse at their lives; and now he was leaving as a friend, having arrived as a stranger.

And it was the best summer holiday he's ever had.

So, that is definitely chapter 10, as well as the conclusion of Harry and Daphne's exchange. When I first started writing, the intention was to have a series of exchange partners – and I've got two duos slightly plotted out, so we'll see how that goes, but I won't be posting anything for a while.

I hope you've enjoyed my little tale, thank you to everyone that has taken the time to favourite/follow and review, it means the world to me. It won't have been to everyone's liking, but it is to mine.

Until next time.