Chapter Ten: Mixed Reception
The aftermath of a wedding ceremony, Harry came to realise, was a lot of people all trying to say their congratulations at once along with mandatory pictures. What confused him the most was the fact that, as Daphne's 'date', he was required to stand and smile alongside her in more than one picture. After the fifth one he could feel his cheeks starting to hurt. But thankfully, for him at least, the photographer's attention was diverted to the parents of the bride and groom. Neither Narcissa Malfoy nor Matthias Greengrass looked especially happy with this development but posed for the pictures anyway.
"Having fun?" Daphne asked from his shoulder.
"I am now he's gone," Harry replied nodding to the small photographer who was insisting on another picture of the two 'happy' parents who both looked fit to kill the man. "Think you should be asking your dad the same thing."
"He's got to keep up appearances," Daphne explained as the look of annoyance on her father's face was replaced with a forced smile that forcibly reminded Harry of Lockhart.
"So, how does it feel to have Malfoy as a brother-in-law?"
"Great, I don't know why no-one's done it earlier," Daphne answered sarcastically. Despite her newfound tolerance of the only male Malfoy, Harry was well aware that tolerance was not the same thing as friendship. As far as he could tell, Daphne only didn't actively hate him for Astoria's sake. "But Tori's happy and that's what counts, I guess."
"Since when were you mature?" Harry smirked.
"At least they'll all stop being round soon," Daphne said ignoring his jibe. "They leave for Paris tomorrow, so Narcissa won't be hanging around for much longer."
"You could try and sound a little less happy about that," Harry added, "isn't she technically your aunt-in-law now?"
"I'm not sure that's a thing," Daphne criticised a small smile on her face. It hadn't slipped Harry's attention that the more he had known her, the more she had smiled. It wasn't something he credited himself with, he knew better than to think that somehow he had drastically changed her. Instead, Harry thought he was seeing the underneath her sometimes spiky demeanour. But wasn't that the point of friendship: to trust someone enough to let them in and see what lies beneath the surface?
"It's better than saying aunt," Harry pointed out.
"Say she's my aunt again and I'll detach something from you," Daphne retorted with only a hint of venom lacing her words and yet still somehow keeping the small smile on her face.
"You say the nicest things," Harry muttered dryly.
"You have worryingly low standards for what qualifies as nice," Daphne commented as she tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. There was a gentle breeze in the air now. Uncharacteristically, the sun had been shining all morning, with only a few wisps of clouds in the sky to accompany it.
"Coming from you," Harry said indignantly. "You're rude to everyone."
"I'm not rude to everyone,"
"Okay, most people," Harry amended.
"That's better," Daphne grinned slipping her arm around his. It was a strange sensation and one which Harry wasn't quite sure what to make of. Though it was hardly surprising, he had never really understood women. Mainly, as far as Harry was concerned, because they kept changing the rules. But he liked the fact she felt that comfortable around him. After all, he knew just how short the list of people she was comfortable with was. It was almost as small as his. "So, want to go get some food?"
"Sure," Harry nodded following Daphne's lead as she led him into the house. Many of the other guests were doing the same, aware of the buffet that had been laid on in the dining room. According to Daphne the highly expensive and hopefully equally talented caterers had been working for hours the day before to make sure that there was enough food to feed an army.
As Harry was led by Daphne into the dining room, which now served as a ballroom due to the occasion, he realised that he had underestimated how much food had been laid on. One entire side of the room was taken up with food, piled high on silver platters. Plates floated along the table, some waiting as food was served from the table onto them. All by magic, of course. It had probably taken someone a very long time to enchant all of the cutlery and the plates so as whatever the diners wanted was served to them with ease. Harry heard someone to his left saying their order to the silver plate they had collected from the stack by the door. It ceremoniously flew away to collect the food order, leaving the man free to continue to his conversation unimpeded by the collection of food. Magic, while never ceasing to amaze Harry, really did encourage laziness.
The band had moved from the garden a short while earlier and had set up their instruments on a tiny platform at the end of the room. A small drum kit stood next to a grand piano with the letters 'L.L.B' emblazoned on the bass drum. The leader of the band waited for the rest of the band members to take their positions, unlike when they had been playing outside, when two women had taken positions in front of old-fashioned microphones. When everyone was ready, the band leader sat at the piano, nodded and together they started playing. There was a round of applause, mainly from those who had already taken their seats at the small round tables situated a few feet from the musicians so as to create a small, yet sufficient space for people to dance while others ate.
"We're at the front," Daphne told Harry as she collected their plates.
"By Tracey?"
"That's the one. You're lucky, we were meant to be sitting with Tori. But I managed to convince her it would be a good idea to give her and Draco a table to themselves," Daphne said. "Dad's with us too."
"Greengrasses one side and Malfoys the other, right?" Harry guessed.
"You expected something else?"
"Not with you involved," Harry assured her. He hadn't expected anything less from an ex-Slytherin who had a tendency to avoid doing anything she didn't want to do. Sitting with Narcissa and Draco were surely top of that list. Most likely, Daphne had done everything she could to avoid either Malfoy without it looking like she was actively avoiding them. No wonder she had been sorted into the house famed for cunning.
"I'm taking that as a compliment," Daphne said as she led the way through the maze of tables. Their way was, however, blocked after they passed the third table by a large man with the red face of a man who had too much to drink for far too long. He was balding and, to attempt to disguise this fact, had a very obvious and unsuccessful comb-over plastered to the top of his head.
"Daphne?" the man asked cheerfully his drink sloshing about in his glass as he swayed slightly. "It is Daphne, isn't it? Astoria's sister?"
"That's me," Daphne confirmed not bothering to hide her displeasure at the man's presence.
"Last time I saw you, you were tiny. What must you have been, four, five? You were adorable." Harry looked at Daphne with a raised eyebrow, partly wondering who the man was but also because he had trouble imaging Daphne as 'adorable'. "And now look at you, you're beautiful. I can't get over how much you've grown!"
"Twenty years will do that to you," Daphne agreed her glower deepening as the man continued to sway. Harry felt his face twitch as he tried not laugh.
"Has it really been that long?" The man asked apparently unable to accept the evidence before his eyes. "You'll be catching me up soon."
"No, you're always going to have that forty years head start," Daphne said slowly, taking extra care with her words in a thinly veiled insult to his intelligence.
"And who's this you've got with you?" the man asked unperturbed by Daphne's rudeness. Judging by the frown on her face she had hoped it would be enough to make him go away. Either drink had dulled his emotional sensitivity, he was used to be insulted or he didn't understand that Daphne was insulting him. None of those choices were particularly good, but out of all of them Harry hoped it was just the alcohol. At least that was partially excusable.
"I'm Harry, sir," Harry said quickly before Daphne could respond with another rude, albeit deserved, comment. "Harry Potter."
"My, my, you are doing well for yourself, Daphne! Harry Potter!" the man said loudly, practically cheering. "Good to meet you, Mr Potter! My name is-"
"We have to go," Daphne said hurriedly cutting across the man as she motioned over his left shoulder. He turned to look and Daphne took Harry's hand and pulled him off to the man's right before he had chance to notice.
"He seemed great. Who exactly was that?" Harry asked when they were both sure that they had managed to get away from what Harry guessed was one of Daphne's family members. He hadn't exactly seemed like a traditional pureblood, but then again, he hadn't been in the best condition. Still, it was difficult to believe that he was probably from a long line of powerful witches and wizards. He barely looked able to recognise a wand, let alone use one.
"One of dad's cousins or something," Daphne answered as she continued to guide them towards their designated table. "I don't know, I never really pay attention when he talks about family stuff. They're not all like that though, most of them far more annoying."
"I'll keep that in mind," Harry muttered as he side-stepped to avoid a woman with apparently awful peripheral vision.
"Hi guys," Tracey smiled when they finally managed to get to the small circular table which stood just a few feet from Astoria and Draco's table. For the first time that day they were finally left alone, enjoying their food and whatever it felt like to be looking forward to spending the rest of their lives together. His memories of romance being somewhat jaded, Harry didn't bother to try and imagine how they could be feeling.
"This is Adam Hoskins," Tracey continued gesturing to the brown haired man sitting next to her. Harry could understand why Tracey was drawn to him, in the same why he could understand why some people enjoyed Celestina Warbeck or cricket. There was something there that attracted people, it just did nothing for him. "Adam, this is Daphne Greengrass, my best friend and her friend, Harry Potter."
"Hi," Adam said offering a confident smile and a hand to Harry before he had chance to sit down. There was slightly awkward moment that occurred in any encounter with a new person, where Harry shook his hand but didn't know quite else what to say other than 'hi' back. Instead he just nodded, forced an awkward smile and sat down when Adam released his hand.
"Nice to finally meet you," Daphne said to Adam as she took her seat next to Harry.
"And you, Tracey's always talking about you." Adam replied putting his arm back around Tracey's shoulders. The movement caused Harry to frown slightly. It wasn't just the arm, but the fact that he had felt the need to do so at the mention of his date's friendship with Daphne. It was probably nothing, but Harry had seen jealousy all too often before to not be suspicious. Then again, being auror made it hard not to see the worst in some situations. Harry knew all too well what jealousy could do to people.
"Who can blame her," Daphne commented dryly.
"You two having a good time?" Tracey asked, rolling her eyes at her friend's antics.
"It's good," Harry nodded. Although he only had one other wedding experience to compare it with and that hadn't exactly ended well. As bad as it had been, Harry knew that without Kingsely's warning it could have been far worse. Small mercies, he thought glumly. "I'm starving now though."
"It did go on a bit," Daphne agreed as she passed Harry his plate. "I think I'll have a chicken salad."
Dutifully the plate she was holding flew away, joining the orderly queue along the buffet table. Everybody followed suit as neither Tracey nor her date had ordered anything either. The conversation from then on was pretty much led by Tracey and Daphne, with Harry chipping in occasionally. Adam only spoke when Daphne asked how he and Tracey had met. Then it became impossible to shut him up as he regaled them with the slightly rehearsed and no doubt rose-tinted version of how they had met.
Daphne looked as if she was ready to stab Adam with her fork as the story, which Harry could have told in a few sentences, dragged on for a few minutes. Even Tracey's eyes had gone glassy and her smile had become a little too forced. But Daphne was spared having to inflict any physical harm on Adam by the arrival of her father, which cut across what was shaping up to be a very detailed and unsurprisingly mundane story.
"Sorry I'm late," Matthias Greengrass said as he took the remaining empty seat at the table. He was a relatively tall man, but unlike a few tall men Matthias Greengrass was built with it. Years of being an auror had no doubt caused him to keep in shape. Apparation had its uses, but most people needed to concentrate to be able to do it without splinching themselves. The result was that aurors, more often than people thought, were forced to chase suspects on foot. Physical fitness appeared to be something that Matthias hadn't gotten out of the habit of maintaining, unlike some of the other guests, and might have contributed to making him look much younger than he actually was. His age was, however, showing by his slightly thinning hair along with his somewhat lined face and dark green eyes. It was only when Harry looked into those eyes that he could really tell just how much Matthias had seen over the years.
"That photographer wouldn't let me leave," Matthias continued ignoring the fact that he had cut across Adam, "until he was absolutely sure he was happy. I wouldn't mind but it was a picture with Narcissa. It's not exactly the kind of thing I'm going to treasure forever. Anyway, never mind that. Daphne, Tracey, aren't you going to introduce me?"
"Matthias, this is Adam Hoskins, my boyfriend. Adam, Matthias is Daphne's dad."
"Good to meet you," Daphne's father said offering a hand which Adam dutifully shook.
"Dad," Daphne started before Adam had another chance to start talking, something which did not go unmissed by the entire table. "This is Harry. Harry, you know the rest."
"Nice to meet you, sir," Harry said earning himself a raised eyebrow from both Tracey and Daphne from his formality. But it was a habit Harry had never quite been able to shake, having had politeness drilled into him by the Dursley's on the rare occasion they ever actually let him meet people or if they took him out shopping.
"Now I'll have none of that 'sir' business, makes me feel like I'm back at work. It's Matthias to you," Matthias assured him before extending his hand as he had done with Adam.
"Then please, call me Harry," Harry replied shaking the proffered hand. The handshake was firm and reminded Harry of the ones he had experienced as Gryffindor captain. He felt as if Matthias was sizing him up, although Harry had been expecting as much. Matthias knew next to nothing about him, apart from the things that Daphne had mentioned, which knowing Daphne was barely anything.
"I'm sure I can do that, Harry," Matthias said as he let go of Harry's hand and picking up the plate he brought to the table. "Pork chops."
Just as the plate whizzed off towards the significantly smaller buffet, there was a small, delicate noise that somehow managed to cut across every conversation in the room. Draco Malfoy had gotten to his feet and was holding his wine glass in one hand, a small silver spoon in another. It was something Harry would never have believed he would see: Malfoy on his wedding day. After all their history, Malfoy's wedding was something Harry thought he would avoid like a rampaging skrewt. Yet here was. Funny how things turn out, Harry thought as he, like everyone else, waited for Malfoy to start speaking.
"First of all, thank you all for coming," Malfoy began, "it means a lot to Astoria and I that you could be here with us."
"Liar," Daphne muttered under her breath only loud enough for Harry to hear her.
"I'd also like to say thank you to Matthias Greengrass for helping make all this possible and lending us his home for the day," there was a smattering of applause. "But the person I'd like to thank most is sitting right next to me. Astoria, I know it's not always been easy but I'd just like to say thank you for putting up with me and showing me a life I never thought I'd have."
There was another, somewhat louder round of applause as Astoria, a gigantic smile on her face and her eyes shining, got to her feet and wrapped her arms around her husband. As the applause started to die down Harry saw Malfoy give a small nod towards the platform where the band was waiting. There was a moment of hurried preparation followed by a gentle melody played softly by the pianist.
"May I have this dance?" Malfoy asked pulling away from his wife only to offer her his hand. Astoria nodded and together they headed out onto the dancefloor under renewed applause from the guests. But Harry's attention was distracted from the couple by the appearance of an all too familiar face.
"Lovely, isn't it," Narcissa Malfoy commented to nobody in particular as she approached the table. The last time Harry had seen the Malfoy matriarch had been her trial just after the war. She had never thanked him for what he had, not that he had expected her to. Narcissa Malfoy didn't thank people. At best she acknowledged what they had done, at worst she ignored it. But that hadn't stopped Harry intervening. He hadn't done it for her gratitude. As much as Harry hated to admit it, Narcissa had saved his life, so in return he saved hers.
"What do you want?" Daphne asked bluntly not bothering to hide her contempt.
"A dance," Narcissa answered politely with what she probably thought was a gentle smile. Instead, she looked like she had swallowed stink sap. "With Matthias."
"Seriously?" Matthias asked frowning just as his meal appeared at the table. "But I haven't eaten."
"It's traditional for the parents of the bride and groom to share a dance," Narcissa insisted never losing that forced smile. "I'm sure your food can wait."
Matthias sighed and got to his feet with the air of a man who was walking to his death. "Fine, let's get it over with then."
Narcissa took the arm that he had extended and together they headed out to the almost empty dancefloor. Unlike the newlyweds, neither Matthias nor Narcissa looked thrilled with the situation that tradition decreed they be in. The applause had long since died and some of the guests were getting to their feet, their respective dates on their arms. Yet none of them walked onto the dancefloor, it was as if they were all waiting for something. It clicked in Harry's head all too late what that something was. He wasn't just a date, he was a dance partner.
Internally cursing Harry turned to Daphne, offering her his arm. "Would you like a dance?"
"I thought you'd never figure it out," Daphne smirked taking his arm. Together they got to their feet and walked towards the dancefloor. It had been years since Harry had been forced to dance, but he vaguely remembered where his hands were supposed to go. With one hand he took hers, the other went on her the small of her back. He felt her free hand on his shoulder. If he had thought that having her arm in his had felt strange, then this was full blown weird. Daphne didn't do physical displays of affection, yet here she was comfortable in his arms as he was in hers. He felt himself smile.
"Who'd have thought it," Daphne said as Harry began to lead, "Harry Potter, fighter of evil and ballroom dancer."
"I'm not very good,"
"I've seen worse, just don't step on my feet and we'll be fine," Daphne assured him as she gently corrected his stance. Her breath was warm on his neck as they moved slowly in small circles, swaying in time to the gentle beat of the music. For the first time that day, Harry wasn't paying attention to everyone else around him. Partly, because he was paying full attention to what his feet were doing, being careful not to stand on Daphne. But it wasn't just that. He was actually enjoying himself. The gentle movement of the slow dance was somehow relaxing.
"Thank you for this, Harry," Daphne said quietly after a moment, breaking the silence between them. "I know this isn't really your scene."
"It's not yours either," Harry pointed out. "But it's okay, you'd do the same for me."
"I would," Daphne nodded, her head gently brushing against his chest as she did so. "Anytime."
"There you are then," Harry said simply a smile on his lips, "besides, it's not been all bad. I'm having a pretty good time actually."
"Me too," Daphne admitted. Harry glanced at her, waiting for the punchline or the sarcastic comment but nothing came. Instead she just smiled at him, enjoying the moment. He had never really noticed how much her smile brightened her face, mainly because he hadn't looked. But now that he did, Harry realised just how beautiful Daphne's smile was. He felt privileged to be one of the few people to see it. "Which is surprising because, you know, usually you're such awful company."
"I thought I'd make an effort today, it is a wedding, after all."
"Is it?" Daphne asked faking surprise. "Thank you for telling me, I wouldn't have noticed."
"Happy to help," Harry smirked, she laughed and rested her head gently on his shoulder as they continued to dance. They stayed that way until the music stopped, not speaking but instead enjoying the music and the company that they provided for each other. But when the song ended, their bubble was burst as people all around them applauded. One of the singers stepped forwards to introduce the next song.
"Thanks for not stepping on me," Daphne said as they broke apart.
"It's okay, thank you for the dance," Harry replied with genuine sincerity. "It was better than the last one I had. Actually, it was probably the only one I've actually not hated."
"I guess those dancing lessons dad forced on me were finally good for something," Daphne grinned.
"I told you they would be," Matthias Greengrass interjected as he joined them from the crowd of dancers to Harry's right. Daphne's grin vanished in the face of her father's somewhat smug expression. Clearly, his eldest daughter had never expressed anything resembling gratitude for the lessons. If anything, Harry suspected she had complained about them for the entire time she had been learning. The Daphne he knew had a habit of being vocal when she didn't approve of something, no doubt she had been the same growing up.
"Where did you come from?" Daphne asked glowering at her father.
"I'm a shapeshifter," Matthias answered sarcastically. "Now, how about we see how much of those lessons you really remember? That is if you don't mind, Harry? I wouldn't want to interrupt."
"It's fine," Harry said somewhat confused as to why he was being asked permission. "We were finished anyway."
"Thank you," Matthias said graciously before offering his hand to his eldest daughter. She took it and together they moved off into the crowd, leaving Harry alone on a dance floor filled with more people than he would have liked. He was just about to head back to the table when he heard a voice from his shoulder
"She'll be back soon," a woman told him, her voice raised so as to be heard over the new music that had started playing. Harry turned to see none other than Astoria Malfoy looking back at him. It was the first time all day that he had seen her without her new husband, which probably wasn't a coincidence. Malfoy wouldn't exactly be desperate to talk to him, a feeling that Harry shared with equal vigour. "Dad can't dance for too long, he gets bored, just ask Narcissa."
"What do you mean?"
"He dumped her on Draco after about a minute," Astoria explained, "so, would you like to dance?"
"Dance?" Harry repeated unsure how to react to the offer. Partly because he didn't even know Astoria, but also because she was now Malfoy's wife. Dancing with the wife of his childhood enemy was something he had never managed to picture himself doing, but then again Harry had never thought he would attend Malfoy's wedding either.
"Yes, dance," Astoria nodded with far more patience than her sister ever had. If he had been speaking to Daphne he knew that his question would have earned him a sarcastic remark. But Astoria seemed to be far more people friendly. "Both of our dates have been stolen, after all, and it seems a shame to waste a good song."
"Alright," Harry replied mainly because he couldn't think of any reason to say no. Astoria grinned and before Harry knew what was happening his hand was in hers and she had closed the space between them. There was a long moment while Astoria patiently waited for Harry to get used to the sudden intimacy and then they were moving, Astoria initially taking the lead while Harry adjusted to the slightly faster song. He wasn't used to dancing.
"Congratulations, by the way," Harry said deciding that he should probably say it at some point. It was Astoria's wedding day, after all.
"Thank you," Astoria grinned, "Although, I must say I'm surprised you came. I know your history with Draco hasn't exactly been great."
"That's one way of putting it," Harry remarked dryly, aware just how generous Astoria's assessment was. Harry had spent a long time hating Draco Malfoy, even after the war had ended. Harry hadn't quite been able to move past old grudges. To Harry, Malfoy would always be a bully, no better than Dudley had been for all those years. "But I'd promised Daph I'd come."
"And here you are," Astoria finished for him. "She won't say anything, you know what she's like, but it will have meant a lot to her that you actually came."
"Why wouldn't I?"
"You don't really know me for one thing, or anyone else here for that matter," Astoria began. "You and Draco aren't exactly on the best of terms either, and, from what Daph has told me about you, you hate these kind of things. Yet, you came anyway."
"Of course I did," Harry responded rather a little more hotly than he had intended. But he couldn't help it. He didn't understand what the big fuss was about. So, he didn't like big parties or Malfoy, so what? He wasn't doing it for any of those reasons, so why did they matter? "She's my friend."
"I can see why she likes you," Astoria smiled adjusting her position slightly so as to avoid Harry's foot, which was no longer in time due to the fact that his brain had lost track of what he was doing. "And, no offense, but it's not for your dancing."
"I probably should have warned you I'm terrible," Harry muttered apologetically as he tried to get back in time with the music, which was no small feat considering that he was as good a dancer as the giant squid back at Hogwarts.
"I'll know for next time," Astoria shrugged. "Here, let me."
They stopped for a moment while Astoria took a slightly firmer grip on his shoulder before leading him, miraculously for Harry at least, in time with the music. It took him a second to realise that she was audibly counting for him, so that he wouldn't lose track with where they were. They continued in the same vein until the end of the song, Astoria gently guiding him around the dancefloor with far more grace and ability than when he had been leading them and Harry doing his best to keep up.
"See, you're not that bad," Astoria said when the song had ended. "You just need a little practice, that's all."
"I think you mean a lot," Harry corrected earning a laugh from the youngest Greengrass sister.
"I was being kind," Astoria replied. "Anyway, I'd better go and find Draco before Narcissa starts telling him how awful our marriage is going to be, again."
"She's a lovely woman, I've always said that," Harry commented sarcastically. He had no idea why Narcissa felt the need to interfere, but it wasn't anything new. After all, she had sacrificed a cause, which Harry could never quite decide if she supported, just to find her son and get him out of harm's way alive. Over-protective and judgmental were not qualities that worked well together, as Astoria seemed to be discovering.
"Isn't it just? She's been trying it all week, Merlin only knows why she hasn't given up yet. Cow." There was a slight pause as Astoria lost herself in her dislike for Narcissa. "Sorry, you probably don't want to hear about all this and I shouldn't be complaining about my mother-in-law on my wedding day."
"I don't think anyone could blame you,"
"Thanks," Astoria said with a half-smile that managed to slightly dent the gloomy look which had darkened her features. "But like I say, I'd better get going, it was nice meeting you at last."
"You too," Harry replied honestly, although he would never have guessed she was related to Daphne. It was amazing how different two people could be. Despite their differences, there were aspects that were similar. They were both protective of one another. Harry wasn't stupid, he knew that the only reason Astoria had come to speak to him was because of Daphne. No doubt, the youngest Greengrass had been intent on discovering whether Harry was good enough to be her sister's friend. However, unlike Daphne, Astoria had been subtle in her approach. Daphne's treatment of Malfoy, on the other hand, had been nowhere near as gentle.
"See you later," Astoria waved before turning and heading off deeper into the dancefloor.
As soon as Astoria turned away Harry did the exact same, except he headed away from the dancefloor before anyone else had chance to grab him and attempted to force him to dance. The only reason he had agreed to dance with Astoria was because it was her wedding, he could hardly have said no.
It took Harry a lot longer than he had expected, but eventually he was able to fight his way back to the table they had been designated earlier. Being annoyingly famous in a crowded room meant that trying to get anywhere was difficult. Several people attempted to stop him and engage him in pointless conversation.
Under the guise of searching for Daphne, however, Harry was able to slip by them without having to stop and chat.
"We wondered where you had gotten to," Daphne commented when Harry finally managed to reclaim his seat at the small table, having narrowly avoided being dragged into a debate on the legality of flying carpets by a man Harry vaguely recognised from the Ministry.
"We thought maybe you'd been kidnapped by a rogue Death Eater desperate to get revenge for his long dead master," Tracey added dramatically from her seat opposite. The chair where Adam should have been sitting was empty, Harry idly wondered where he had gotten to. "Well, I did, Daph just thought you got stuck trying to find your way back through all those people."
"You always did like to be a drama queen," Daphne commented as she passed Harry a drink. Unlike every other drink on the table, this one was not wine based and was instead far more orange. "Pumpkin juice, thought you might like some."
"Thanks," Harry smiled gratefully accepting it, although he wasn't entirely sure where she had managed to get it from. Every drink he had seen floating around had been either wine or champagne. Then again, this was also Daphne's home as well as the location of her sister's wedding. She had probably stashed some away somewhere.
"Not a problem," Daphne replied, "how's my sister, by the way? I saw that she managed to convince you to have another dance."
"She seemed fine, though I think she was just trying to find out if I was good enough to be your friend or not."
"She does that," Daphne said completely unsurprised by her sister's actions. "But you're still here, so I'd say that it went well for you".
"Tori approval, nice going, Harry," Tracey grinned, "that took me ages."
"You did turn her hair blue," Daphne argued.
"I didn't mean to! We were, what? Seven at the time?"
"I was, you weren't." Daphne corrected.
"Alright, grandma, just because you're older than me," Tracey smirked earning a glare from her best friend, "anyway, it wasn't my fault. She shouldn't have jumped out at me like that."
"Not your fault is practically the definition of accidental magic." Daphne remarked sarcastically before adding some context to the story for Harry, "We were playing hide and seek, and instead of waiting to be found Tori decided it'd be more fun to scare Tracey."
"It wasn't," Tracey added grimacing at the memory.
"She screamed, a lot," Daphne continued a grin on her face, "so I came running in and she'd turned Tori's hair bright blue, I mean really blue. Worst thing was we couldn't change it back until dad got home, Tori sulked for hours."
"It was a nightmare. You've never seen anything like it Harry, I'm telling you. I don't think I've seen anyone pout so much. Mind you, if you want to hear about proper sulking, you should get Tori to tell you about the time she tried to set Daph up with Anthony Goldstein."
"That was not funny," Daphne protested as Tracey started laughing at the memory, the grin that had been spread so widely across her own face had vanished, replaced by a stern glower that rivalled Mrs Weasley's.
"It was hilarious," Tracey insisted, "we'd agreed to meet her in Hogsmeade, this was in sixth year I think. Anyway, when we got there Tori made me go up to the bar with her and left Daph at the table. Anthony went over, thinking Tori had told Daph what was happening. I think he lasted five seconds."
"He'd bought flowers," Daphne interjected, "who brings flowers on a first date?"
"I think he was trying to make an impression," Tracey added, "in his defence, he succeeded. I mean it was a bad one, but still, who's counting? Where was I? Oh yeah, so we were just getting drinks when the next thing you know Daph's thrown his drink in his face. A whole one too, not even like he'd had a sip or anything. She just chucked it straight in his face and stormed out."
"You're kidding?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Not even a little bit," Tracey laughed, when her laughter subsided she turned to Daphne and asked: "What did he even do? Apart from the flowers."
"I told him there wasn't a chance and that Tori had overstepped and then he practically begged me to go out with him because all his friends had girlfriends and it'd impress them if he managed to get with 'someone hot' like me."
"Typical man," Tracey said shaking her head sadly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry asked indignantly.
"That most men are obnoxious pigs that only ever think about themselves," Daphne explained.
"She's got a point," Tracey agreed.
"But don't worry, Harry, you're one of the few exceptions." Daphne added with a gentle smile. Harry felt himself smile back in return. Daphne didn't usually give out compliments, if at all. But their rarity, if anything, only made them more important. A warm feeling washed over Harry as he looked at Daphne. Circumstance had thrown them together but if anything that just made their friendship more valuable. If his life had gone to plan, Harry was fully aware that they never would have met, never mind become friends. Kind words from Daphne only served to prove that he wasn't alone in valuing what could so easily have not existed.
Tracey and Daphne carried on in the same fashion for the rest of the evening, sharing stories from each other's past, each more detailed and embarrassing than the last. At some stage they were re-joined by Adam, who tried and failed to join in before spending the rest of the time staring glumly off into the distance. Harry became increasingly aware of how annoying his behaviour was, unlike Tracey, who had either grown accustomed to it or didn't care. Daphne, on the other hand, would send him quick glances every so often, as if checking he was actually still there and that he hadn't vanished.
"I'd better get going," Adam said eventually, breaking his vow of silence just as Daphne was describing Tracey's first and apparently only experience on a broom. "I have to be up early tomorrow."
"I'll show you out," Daphne offered quickly, getting to her feet before even Adam had. Tracey frowned at her friend's sudden eagerness to be polite. No doubt that she knew better than Harry just how rare Daphne's manners were. Alarm bells rang in Harry's head as he watched; he had a suspicious feeling that he knew exactly what was going to happen next. Greengrass's were protective, after all.
"No, it's okay, I can find my way out." Adam tried but Daphne was having none of it.
"I insist," the firmness in her voice made whatever protests Adam had surely been planning die on his lips. He nodded and together, with Daphne in the lead, they headed out of the dining room. He hadn't even bothered to say goodbye to Tracey. Whatever Daphne was about to do to him, Harry couldn't shake the sense that Adam deserved it.
"That can't be good," Tracey said as she watched her boyfriend being guided away by her best friend.
"It'll only be as bad as Adam's treated you all night," Harry told her. "Why are you even with him? He seems like a total git."
"He's not always been like that," Tracey sighed. Here they come, Harry thought glumly, the excuses. He had seen it far too many times and it was always the same, ignoring the pain of the present in the hopes that the future would be better. The only problem was that ignoring a problem just made it worse, Harry knew that much from first-hand experience.
"No, I don't suppose he was. Look, Tracey, I've met his type before. Whatever he saw in him was an act. That man, the one that's been ignoring you all night for no good reason, that's really him."
"I know he's not perfect," Tracey said sadly, staring morosely into his empty glass. "But it's better than being alone. Besides, he's not always like that, he can be really sweet sometimes."
"Let me guess, he's like that when he's pushed you too far, right?" Tracey didn't answer. She didn't have to, the answer was written all over her face. Harry felt his heart sink. From the few hours he had spent with her, Tracey actually seemed to be every bit the person that Daphne had told him she was. Funny, smart and above all kind. She deserved better, much better.
"How long has it been going on?" Harry asked as gently as he could, there was no easy way to pry into someone's private life, especially when it wasn't in the best shape.
"A few weeks," Tracey admitted, "which is pretty much the whole time we've been going out really. He was nice, but then he just sort of stopped, being nice I mean. He's been really stressed with work and not seeing me, not that I can really help that, you know what it's like." Harry nodded, he was more than aware what long hours could do to a relationship. "I just keep hoping, I guess, that he's going to be like that again because I liked him. I really liked him. I thought maybe this time I'd got it right."
"You've had this kind of thing happen before?"
"I've never really had much luck with men," Tracey confessed, "But I'd hoped it was going to be different this time. Maybe he just needs some time or something?"
"I don't think so, I'm sorry. I really am, but can't you see what he's doing to you? I mean, you've been happy all day, even though he wasn't talking or anything. But as soon as we started talking about him…"
"I got like this," Tracey finished.
"Yeah," Harry nodded lamely. "Does that happen a lot?"
"Not really. I mean, maybe, I guess." Tracey faltered, "Yes, actually. Yeah, it does. I try not to think about it too much, but yes."
"Is that why you've been doing so much over-time?" Harry probed, the thought suddenly striking him. It had seemed odd that Tracey, despite bucking for promotion, would be stuck at St. Mungo's all hours, unless she was doing it on purpose. But if she was really happy with Adam, surely she would want to be at work as little as possible?
"Maybe," Tracey shrugged, "I don't know, we've been short staffed lately, and what with the promotion and everything I've needed to do more work. But, I suppose I haven't exactly rushed home or anything."
"Sometimes, when you want something to work so much, you pretend, just for the sake of it working, rather than because it actually is." Harry said solemnly.
"Was that what it was like for you with Ginny?" Tracey asked, her eyes moving from her glass to his. Unshed tears shone brightly as Tracey looked at Harry. Had she asked him that question at any other time and he wouldn't have answered. But as Harry stared back at her, saw the pain etched in her face and the sadness in her eyes, he knew that there was no way that he could hold back. Tracey was sharing something very personal with him, the least Harry could do was return the favour.
"No, that was what it was it was like for Ginny with me. We both made a lot of mistakes, but she wanted me to be something I wasn't. It's the same thing with Adam, really. You think maybe if you just wait long enough, then he'll go back to being what he was before. But his type never do." Harry paused for a moment, a piece of advice that Daphne had given him what felt like a long time ago.
"A few months after me and Ginny split up and things weren't going too great for me, a very close friend of mine gave me some really good advice. Basically, she told me that I had to decide whether it was worth clinging to something that just made me miserable or if it was better to put it aside and move on. That's what you've got to do, because, honestly I don't see this ending any other way. If you're like this all the time because of him, then surely he's not worth it."
"You know what, you're right, screw him. I don't need him. Just because every other man I've been with has been a total prat doesn't mean the next one's going to be, right?" A small, very forced and trembling smile pulled at Tracey's lips. Tears ran down her cheek but she brushed them away, sniffing slightly as she did so.
"You must think I'm a right idiot."
"No, maybe bit too nice but not an idiot." Harry said not quite sure else what to say. He wasn't very good around crying women.
"Thanks, Harry, really."
"Don't worry about it. A friend of Daphne's is a friend of mine."
"Are you always this good to your friends?" Tracey asked as she dabbed at her eyes, doing her best to wipe away the last of her tears.
"Always," Harry nodded as he passed her a napkin which she gratefully accepted.
"Then you must be a great friend to have around," Tracey said when she had finished with the napkin. There was a brief pause, in which Harry tried desperately to think of something, anything to say. But his mind came back blank as he looked at Tracey, who despite having dealt with her tears as best she could, was still clearly upset. He never had been able to console anyone, least of all someone he had only just met. Harry even had trouble with Hermione, and he'd known her for over a decade.
The uncomfortable silence, however, was thankfully soon broken by Tracey who said: "I think I'm going to head home. I don't really feel much like a party anymore."
"I'll walk you out," Harry offered as she got to her feet.
"You don't have to," Tracey tried.
"I've got nothing else to do," Harry pointed out as he too rose from the table.
"Okay, thanks," Tracey said quietly and together they headed out of the dining room. Harry took the lead so as to gently, and with as much politeness as he could muster, move people out of Tracey's way. There was point in her hanging around. Being upset was bad enough, but going through turmoil with people watching wasn't going help her in the slightest.
They had made it to the hall, in what Harry thought was probably a record time for the evening. Unlike the packed dining room turned ballroom, the hall was practically empty. Hours earlier it had been filled to the brim with guests who had long since moved on. Not only that, but the sound of the music and the chatter of the reception was muted, making Harry realise just how much he had had to raise his voice that night. The sudden realisation made his throat ache.
"Are you leaving?" Daphne asked from her position by the open door that led out in the gardens of Greengrass manor. Her hair was slightly damp, and as a result lost some of its stylised elegance. There were also droplets of rain that glistened on her exposed arms. But none of that managed to take anything away from the fact that she still looked amazing. Harry wasn't quite sure how, before today, he had never really noticed just how pretty Daphne Greengrass really was. He supposed he had never looked. For whatever reason, and he was entirely baffled as to what that reason was, he had started to pay attention. Harry decided to put it down to the clothes and the occasion, like when he had seen Hermione at the Yule Ball. He had never noticed her before then, but hadn't exactly noticed her beauty since either. There were some lines that should never be crossed.
"Yeah, I'm not feeling that great," Tracey answered. "Besides, I've got work at five, I should probably get some sleep soon."
"Good idea," Daphne said. "Though you'd better use the floo, it's getting pretty bad out there."
"Thanks, do you mind telling Tori I'm sorry for leaving early? I'd stay but, you know, work and everything." It was a fairly lame excuse but neither Harry nor Daphne questioned it. Tracey had done enough talking for one night, Harry could hardly blame her for wanting to just be alone for a while. Tracey was at a crossroads in her relationship, she needed time and space to herself. A wedding was hardly the place for that.
"I will, she'll understand."
"Thank you," Tracey said, the relief practically washing off of her. "Well, I'll see you soon then, Daph."
"Yeah, we'll have to do something again soon," Daphne nodded.
"Definitely," Tracey agreed before her friend pulled her into a firm hug. It lingered for a little longer than most hugs, but there seemed to be a lot more to this hug than the average one. It wasn't hard to see that Tracey was in pain, even for Harry and he barely knew her. Daphne wouldn't have missed it. It was the reason for the hug, Daphne was reassuring her friend that she would be there if Tracey needed her to be. A hug like that was better than any amount of words could ever be.
When they broke apart, Tracey turned to Harry, "It was good to finally meet you, Harry."
"Likewise," Harry assured her with a smile. He had been slightly nervous to meet Tracey, Astoria and Matthias too for that matter. They were the people closest to Daphne, sure she had other friends at work, but her family and her best friend were the people that truly mattered to her. A small part of Harry had been worried that they wouldn't like him and how that might have affected his friendship with Daphne. It was a stupid part of him, he knew that, but it had been there nonetheless. But whatever nerves he had had long since faded. Apart from the last few moments, Harry had actually enjoyed spending time with Tracey and Daphne. He had felt at ease, for most of the evening, anyway.
"Thank you, again, for everything."
"You don't need to thank me," Harry said noticing the arched eyebrow that Daphne sent his way. "I'm just glad I could help."
"You really did," Tracey told him sincerely. "Anyway, see you around, Harry."
"Night, Tracey," Harry replied, earning himself a small smile in the process. With that Tracey turned on her heel and headed out of the hallway, into what Harry could only assume was a living room. As he watched her go, Harry couldn't help but wonder if he had done the right thing in being honest with Tracey. He didn't really know the whole story, but her pain and torment had been as clear as day. Everything she had said reminded him of how Ginny must have felt for all that time, and all the pain that their relationship had caused the pair of them. If Tracey's circumstances were even slightly similar, and from the sounds of them they were worse, then dragging it on would only make things worse, not better. Harry couldn't stand by and let that happen to someone else, not if he could help it.
"What was that about?" Daphne asked as soon as she saw the flash of green light that signalled Tracey's departure from under the crack of the living room door.
"She just needed someone to talk to," Harry said running a hand through his hair as he did so. "Where'd Adam disappear to anyway?"
"How should I know? He ran off. Merlin only knows what Trace sees in him, spineless little worm."
"What do you mean: 'ran off'?"
"You didn't think I was going to let him get away with treating Trace like that, did you?" Daphne countered coldly. "Don't worry, he left before I could do any serious damage. Mind you, I think he'll find the damage I did do serious enough. He's got more than a few boils right on the-"
"I get the picture," Harry said quickly, grimacing as a wave of empathy shot through him, quickly followed by the desire never to be on the wrong end of Daphne's wand.
The grotesque mental images of what Daphne's displeasure could do to a person were quickly banished, however, by the sound of the tall grandfather clock that stood to Harry's left. A long chime signalled the arrival of quarter to seven. Harry internally cursed, if he didn't hurry he was going to be late.
"I think I'd better going too, actually. I promised I'd see Teddy."
"Leaving me to face the Malfoys and my family all on my own, some date you are," Daphne smirked, sarcasm dripping off her words. "I hope you have a good time."
"I will, try not to miss me too much."
"You wish," Daphne smiled before adding warmly, "Goodnight, Harry."
"Night, Daph," Harry said, expecting to maybe give a small wave or just simply watch him go as he headed out of the manor and into the rain soaked gardens. What Harry wasn't expecting was the sudden hug as Daphne's arms encircled him. He was dimly aware of hugging her back. The same warm sensation that had been inspired by her kind words hours earlier, now cascaded over him. It wasn't like any of Hermione's hugs, ferocious and full of hair. Or even the ones that Mrs Weasley had used to give him that practically suffocated him. Even Ginny's had been tight, as if she was clinging to him. Daphne didn't hug like any of them. It was warm and gentle. Harry could feel strands of Daphne's hair on his chin as her head rested against his shoulder. But just as he was starting to get used to it Daphne pulled away.
They both stood there for a moment, looking at one another before Daphne flashed a quick smile, turned on her heel and headed back towards the dining room. Harry soon followed suit, only his path led him out into the pouring rain. It took a matter of seconds for his hair to be soaked, plastered to his scalp. He didn't care. He just carried on walking, a spring in his step and a smile on his face.