A/N: I can't write titles to save my life… Hope you enjoy!
For QLFC - Round 5
Team: Puddlemere United
Chaser 3: Selfishness
OPTIONAL PROMPTS:(word) fleeting, (setting) Flourish and Blotts, (colour) bronze
Beta: Ash Juillet
WC: 1,276
~~ mine own ~~
It's one of those evenings again. The type where she doesn't want to go home, because it doesn't feel like home anymore. But it's also the type where she hasn't got anywhere to go but home.
This isn't what Daphne thought her adult life would be back when she was younger. She was promised a proper socialite life, filled with teas, parties and balls with a bunch of other Pure-blood women, constantly gossiping and creating drama to fill their long empty hours. She was also told there would be a husband, maybe someone she went to school with or someone she had never met before. But he would be filthy rich, shower her in gifts and give her children: one boy, to keep the line going – her first and only duty as a Pure-blood woman – and one girl, for her to spoil and cherish.
That was what she wanted, what she still wants. But that isn't what she has.
Instead, she lives alone in a tiny flat above a shop above Diagon Alley, and bartends at the Leaky Cauldron. Her! Daphne Greengrass! The absurdity of her situation makes her laugh sometimes, but it mostly comes out as barely concealed tears. The War was hard on Mother and Father after all. So hard that they died, losing all of their money in the process, something she'll never forgive them for. It's the source of all her bloody problems.
Instead, she roams the streets of Diagon Alley. As it's summer and the last hours of sun—when it's not raining—are quite enjoyable, there are quite a few people just strolling around, but Daphne ignores them. They all seem to have purposes, even if it's only spending some time outside. Daphne has no idea what her purpose is. She just gazes emptily at the shop-fronts, some of them are still open.
As she passes Flourish and Blotts, however, something catches her eye. She pauses and looks a little closer. There is indeed something, a book, with a shiny bronze cover, near the back. It must have caught the light, maybe from one of the last rays of sun. It's gotten her attention, and since Daphne has nothing better to do, she steps in.
The bell tinkles lightly as she pushes the door open. There aren't a lot of customers inside, just her and some old man perusing a book, which is probably why she's immediately accosted by an employee.
"Good evening, miss. Can I do anything to help you?" the young witch says, ridiculously perky.
Yes, you can leave me alone, Daphne thinks. Merlin, she can't stand these employees. Can't she just be left alone? Also, why is she so happy? The witch is working in a bookshop. The worst is that the girl actually looks genuine, truly happy to be here. Daphne's tempted to leave immediately.
"No, thank you," she says politely, because she may have reached rock-bottom, but she was raised right.
"All right!" Once again, too much excitement. "Just ask if you need anything!"
"I will." She gives her the fake smile she's perfected since she was five, and finally, the other woman leaves her alone.
Daphne makes her way over to the back of the shop where she had spotted the book. It isn't too hard. While it isn't in the most obvious place, it has got that gorgeous bronze cover. Daphne loves bronze. Silver and gold are overrated anyway, and bronze makes the most beautiful jewels. Jewels she's had to sell, because Mother and Father kindly left her all their debts.
It would've been nice if they had remembered that they had another daughter. While Astoria was slightly... unorthodox, she still was married to the wealthiest Pure-blood in the country. But, no. All the debts went to Daphne. First-born, that's why. A title she used to love and now cursed.
Anyway, the bronze cover is lovely. It isn't the actual metal, but just the cover, but it'll still add a bit of something to her dreary, cramped apartment. Daphne checks the price and is glad to see it's completely affordable. Finally, she takes a look at the cover. Daylight and Moonlight: Plants and Diurnal Rotation. Daphne does her best not to snort. Who would even buy a book like that to read it? Whatever, she's buying it anyway.
Daphne makes her way to the till, book in hand. Thankfully, the person behind the till seems a lot less cheerful than his over-excited employee. Daphne places the book on the counter
"Will that be all?" he drones, looking slightly bored.
"Yes," she replies.
"Eight sickles and three knuts, please."
Daphne fishes in her bag for her purse. It's way at the bottom, so she has to be one of those annoying people who empties out their entire bag before they find anything. She sighs but sets to the task anyway.
Absentmindedly, she registers the fact that the bell on the shop rings once again, and the peppy employee attacks the customer once again.
"Can I help you?" she goes.
"Yes, I'm looking for this book," another female voice replies. The customer must be quite young.
"Oh, Daylight and Moonlight: Plants and Diurnal Rotations. I know for a fact we've got one here somewhere. It's got a lovely cover!" the employee exclaims.
"I don't really care about the cover," the girl confides, "just what's inside."
"Of course! Let me find that for you."
Daphne finally finds her purse. She also realises that the book she's buying is the exact same one the other customer wanted. And actually to read it! Utterly ridiculous.
"That's so strange, I could've sworn there was one right here!" the employee says. Then, she looks at Daphne and sees the book in her hands. The bronze cover is quite eye-catching after all. She lowers her voice, but Daphne can still hear her. "Oh, I'm sorry. The woman over there is buying it. And I don't think we have any in stock."
"Oh." The girl looks completely crest-fallen. "It was supposed to be a birthday present for my dad. Oh, well. Never mind."
"You going to pay or not?" the guy at the till demands and brings Daphne back to what she was doing.
"Oh… umm."
For just a fleeting moment, Daphne hesitates. She doesn't really want this book. She just wants another decoration in her apartment, a reminder of the life she thought she could have. And here, there's this girl, who wants to buy this incredibly boring book, as a gift. She wonders if maybe she shouldn't give up on the book, let this round-cheeked cheery girl have it.
But it's only a fleeting moment.
And Daphne quickly figures out she doesn't care about this girl at all.
She saw the book first, she got her hands on it first. Does it matter what she's going to do with it? Does it matter that she keeps buying things like this book, just because otherwise she feels completely empty? Does it matter that she lives alone, loveless? Does it matter that her sister married the only person Daphne thought she ever loved? Does it matter that her sister, her baby sister, is dead now?
No. That's the answer. It doesn't matter, and she is not going to start crying here, in Flourish and Blotts.
Therefore, Daphne is going to buy that book no matter what. She pushes the money over and picks the book up. She makes sure to flaunt her purchase at the girl and that horrible employee. Is she selfish? Probably. Does she care? Of course not.
Daphne quickly makes her way home, with her brand new bauble book.