This was inspired by the song, "Marry Me" by Thomas Rhett.

~~~~~~~~~~

She wants to get married, she wants it perfect

She wants her granddaddy preachin' the service

Yeah, she wants magnolias out in the country

Not too many people, save her daddy some money

Ooh, she got it all planned out

Yeah, I can see it all right now

I'll wear my black suit, black tie, hide out in the back

I'll do a strong shot of whiskey straight out the flask

I'll try to make it through without cryin' so nobody sees

Yeah, she wanna get married

But she don't wanna marry me

I remember the night when I almost kissed her

Yeah, I kinda freaked out, we been friends for forever

And I always wondered if she felt the same way

When I got the invite, I knew it was too late

And I know her daddy's been dreadin' this day

Oh, but he don't know he ain't the only one givin' her away

Bet she got on her dress now, welcomin' the guests now

I could try to find her, get it off of my chest now

But I ain't gonna mess it up, so I'll wish her the best now

Yeah, she gonna get married

But she ain't gonna marry me

Whoa, but she ain't gonna marry me, no

~~~~~~~~~~

The sun shone bright; puffs of pure white clouds scattered the air, creating a picturesque sky; a slight breeze blew, just enough to be a reprieve from the heat; trees and wildflowers scattered the countryside with a mix of brilliant colors to contrast the lush green lawn; bees buzzed and birds chirped only enhancing the country feel; arrangements of magnolias dotted the walkway, perfectly matching the bride's bouquet. As far as wedding days go, it was perfection.

She planned endlessly, but no amount of planning could've created this day. And no one was more deserving of the perfect setting than the two that were set to wed. A pair of heroes from the war, those who were willing to sacrifice everything in order to stop a tyrannical monster from taking over the wizarding world. A pair that were friends long before their true feelings came to the surface in the heat of confrontation and trial.

He arrived today as the odd member of the trio. No wedding colors for him, just his black suit and black tie; matching his black hair. His only companion today would be his flask of whiskey on his hip. He had already refilled it once on the walk across the grounds. He would remain on the outskirts not wanting to cause any undue disturbances today—his presence always seemed to result in some sort of ruckus these days.

He settled in, leaning a shoulder against a tree, enjoying the shade, nursing his companion.

'Potter,' a soft voice called to him.

He recognized the girl, blonde hair and blue eyes. Though he had never seen her like this at school. She was close to crossing the "don't look more beautiful than the bride" line. She had become a regular study partner of Hermione's as the years at Hogwarts progressed; which meant he had also spent the occasional evening sharing a table. They hadn't discussed much more than schoolwork—at least while he was present—so he was surprised to see she had made the rather short list of invited guests.

'Greengrass, I didn't expect to see you here,' he said more accusingly than he intended.

'You've always had such a way with words.'

'Sorry, I just—' He choked on his words, and took another swig from his flask, then held it out in offering.

She hesitantly took the flask, 'what the hell. Merlin knows I'm going to need it to get through the day with all these Gryffindors.' She took a sip herself before handing it back. 'I didn't take you for the "get drunk before the wedding" type.'

'Well, the less I remember from today, the better.' He looked longingly towards the bridal party.

'Should be you up there instead of him, huh?'

'Am I that transparent?'

'You've always worn your emotions on your sleeve. Honestly, the fact that you two never got together is the real surprise. If there had been a betting pool, lots of people would've lost money.'

'Serious?' He was realizing there was a lot of stuff he had been oblivious to during his schooling days.

'Yeah, how did it never happen?'

'It almost did, and that's the worst part. If it had, everything would be different.'

'You can't change any of that now.'

'Right, the invitation was the final nail in that coffin. But I can try and forget it,' he said, draining the flask to the point just before empty. Then he took out his wand and cast the refilling charm.

'Yeah, that always ends well,' she said with a roll of the eyes. 'The ceremony is about to start. You don't want to appear rude, let's go. You are my escort for the day.'

'Did you just weasel yourself into a date with me?' he smirked.

'I would never accept a first date to a wedding. And if you ever refer to me as a weasel, in any sense of the word, ever again, I'll have you forgetting more than just this day,' she threatened playfully, though he wasn't going to test her.

He held out an arm and they walked to take seats on the back row. His gaze fell on the tent, it brought back memories of the champions tent and his moment there with Hermione. He had just faced a dragon, if only he had the courage to make a move then. She walked down the aisle with her father and visions of the Yule Ball danced in his head. He should've been her date. He should've danced the night away with her in his arms. That was all just wishful thinking. He didn't have those feelings for her then, and there's no way he could've predicted he would—not with everything else going on in his life at the time.

He struggled to look at Hermione. She truly was a sight to behold. Her bushy hair was tamed and styled majestically. Damn, he loved her messy hair. She had a hint of makeup adding color to her face, and a light pink lipstick accentuating her lips, though she didn't need any makeup to look beautiful in his eyes. Her cute nervous habit of biting her lower lip was the same today as it had been all those nights in the library as she worked through her difficult studies.

As the ceremony progressed, his thoughts wandered to that night in the tent, when everything seemed to be set just right. He couldn't be certain, but if he were to guess, he would say she had wanted him to kiss her. But he missed his shot—no, you can't miss a shot you never take. Fear that she might not feel the same way won that night, and now he would never know if his guess was correct. He reached for his hip flask but Daphne's hand caught his and stopped him.

'Not right now,' she said softly. He didn't withdraw his hand, and she let hers rest where it was. Her physical touch was surprisingly soothing, and allowed him to get through the ceremony without shedding any tears, though not without effort, and substantial premedication.

They waited patiently in the reception line to give their congratulations. Daphne didn't pester him with questions. Occasionally, she would whisper funny observations into his ear, and she definitely had him fighting to hold in his laughter. Her warm breath in his ear sent chills down his spine, intentional or not, there was an intimacy there he couldn't deny.

His handshake and half hug with Ron was not as enthusiastic as it should have been. And his "Congratulations, mate," was forced, at best. Giving away one best friend to another was more than uncomfortable. He watched Daphne and Hermione break from their friendly embrace, before he stepped towards the one he considered his one true best friend.

Hermione flung her arms around his neck, giving him one of her trademark hugs, and he squeezed her tight in return.

'You look amazing, Hermione,' he barely got out.

'Oh, Harry,' was her soft reply.

Hearing her say his name pushed his emotions to the edge, and the tears were primed. 'Congrats—' he said hoarsely as they broke their embrace. He departed quickly to prevent the waterworks from becoming a public display.

Daphne barely latched onto his arm as he made to leave. 'I don't want to be rude. You haven't done anything wrong, but I think I'd rather be alone right now,' he said to her politely.

'And leave me here with no one else to talk to? I don't think so, Potter. You said you didn't want to be rude, and as my escort, that means keeping me company,' she replied matter-of-factly.

'I'm sorry, but I just don't think I'd be great company right now,' he apologized.

'That's ok, we don't have to talk,' she said in a soothing voice.

'Ok, fine,' he relented.

They walked to a secluded spot and sat down on a bench underneath a giant chestnut tree. They sat in silence for a time, silence if you don't count the sloshing of a flask of whiskey being shared.

'I'm totally fine sitting in silence with you. But if there's something you need to get off your chest, I've been told I'm a good listener.' He responded with a barely noticeable shake of the head.

The silence continued, whiskey being passed back and forth. Harry consuming far more than his share.

'You know what's funny?' Harry finally broke the silence, the slight slurring of words a manifestation of his growing level of intoxication.

'Hmm?' she didn't even open her mouth to respond. She really wasn't going to speak unless she had to.

'Well, almost our whole friendship Ron has been jealous of me: my fame, my money—even though I never flaunted it—my flying, and just the attention I got in general. Did you know he didn't believe me when I said I didn't put my name in the cup for the Triwizard Tournament?'

'Mhm.'

'Well, we had a row, obviously. Then, he finally came to his senses and apologized. I forgave him before he could even get the words out. Then when we were on the run living in a tent, he abandons us. Again, he comes around and returns. Oh, he has an excuse, a damn good one at that. But nothing I hadn't been dealing with for years. And when he came back did I forgive him? Of course. He did kinda save my life, so that helped, but still. I never held it over him, any of it. I have my faults, I wasn't—I'm not a perfect friend. I'm not saying this to make it seem like I am perfect or anything.'

'You're doing a good job of portraying it without saying it,' she smirked.

'I thought you were just supposed to be listening, not commenting,' he playfully scolded.

'Just making sure your head wasn't getting as big as Malfoy always said it was.'

'Malfoy thought I had a big head?'

'The biggest. But we've digressed. You were saying that something was funny, you haven't got to the funny part yet,' she said, zipping her lips and resting her head on his shoulder.

'Oh yeah, the funny part. The funny part is after all that, our relationship took the downward turn after I became jealous of him. Because Hermione chose him. I don't even know if that is right because I never actually told her how I felt. But that's just how it feels to me.'

'Mhm.'

'Add in all the bollocks with the Aurors.'

'Hmm?'

'We signed up to be Aurors, and I hated it almost right away. My heart wasn't in it and it showed in my performance. When I said I wanted to quit, he accused me of quitting just because I couldn't handle him being better than me. That led to another huge row where I lost it and said some really dumb stuff. And he ended it by throwing the fact that Hermione picked him in my face. I know we were both really emotional; it hadn't been that long since the war ended; so many people had died; then we both had these high expectations of being the best of the new Auror recruits and we both kinda snapped. But after the things we said I don't know if there's any going back. I'm almost done with the Auror stuff, thank Merlin.'

'Hmm?'

'Yeah, I told Kingsley I couldn't do it anymore, and was ready to quit. He convinced me to stick around—not do the training anymore—but just be an honorary Auror until the next wave of recruits come in. He says having Harry Potter in the department attracts a lot of people. Which is another funny thing, cause that is exactly what Scrimgeour wanted me to do during the war and I flat out refused. Now, apparently I'm ok with my fame being used to recruit people. It's for a good cause, or at least, that's what I keep telling myself.'

'Hmm.'

'So here I am, losing my best friend, to my best mate, feeling sorry for myself. I never thought of life after the war. My focus was always on making it through alive, and for the three of us, we were united in that. Now that our mission is complete, we don't have the same goals, and our paths are going different directions. It's hard 'cause they all have others, but I don't, I don't have anyone else. They were my others, and I've pushed them away.'

'Hmm.' Her arms had snaked around his midsection at some point, and she held him.

'I don't want to feel animosity but it's just there. When I see any of the Weasleys, I'm reminded of Fred. That of course reminds me of everyone else that died for me. And yes, conceptually, I understand that they made their own choices and they weren't dying for me—and for my own sanity I cling to that. Yet, when my mind starts going down that road of guilt, it's like a spiral I can't pull out of. I snap at people and this is where I end up,' he said, holding up his flask.

'Mhm.'

'Merlin, I'm sorry, I just unloaded all my baggage on you.'

'Mhm,' she hummed.

'Are you trying to get me to spill more of my guts?'

'Only if you need to.'

'I don't know if I have anything more to spill. Nope, that's a lie, I have plenty more, but not today.'

'Do you feel better?' she asked, sitting up and looking him in the eye.

'I do, yes.'

'Ok then,' she said brightly, getting to her feet and pulling him up. 'Dance with me.' He had a confused look on his face. 'The music started a while ago, let's dance.'

'Ok, hang on.' He pulled his flask and took a long draw.

'Hand it over,' she said with an open hand. He obliged and she took her sip.

Arm in arm they meandered to the dance floor, which was already full of couples swaying to the music. They found their own rhythm as the music played, their bodies growing ever closer.

'You never said how you and Hermione became so close that she would invite you to her wedding.'

'You never asked.'

'Consider this me asking.'

'All those classes that she took that you didn't.' He nodded his acknowledgment. 'Well, we sort of formed a bond over being the ones to always get the highest scores.'

Then there was a tap on his shoulder, 'May I cut in?' A familiar voice said from behind him. Daphne flashed him a big smile before he turned around to see Hermione standing there with a hopeful look on her face.

'Yeah, of course,' he replied, startled.

They danced for a minute before the slightly awkward silence was broken.

'Thanks for coming,' Hermione said tentatively.

'Er, nothing could have made me miss it,' he forced out. She smiled graciously. His mind wandered again to the dance they had together in the tent, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything.

'It's not going to be the same, is it?,' she said with moisture in her eyes.

'I don't see how it can,' he replied, unable to keep eye contact for any prolonged period of time.

'Harry, we will always be friends. But our lives are pulling us in different directions.'

'But—'

'And don't think I haven't noticed how just being around the Weasleys sends you into a downward spiral. I know they don't help, but they aren't in a great place either.'

'I know.' He ducked his head, knowing he was just as much to blame for the falling out, if you could call it that, with his surrogate family.

'And you need to find a way to deal with the guilt that you're feeling. Cause the way you are dealing with it right now is not healthy.' She had given up trying to convince him he had nothing to feel guilty about months ago.

'You're right. You're always right,' he said with a grin. Then it was time for a change of topic, 'I had no idea you and Greengrass were so close.'

'Yeah, I guess we were potential rivals turned confidants. She has a really good heart, and she's a great listener. Merlin knows I talked her ear off.'

'I've noticed. Did you assign her to keep me company?' he teased.

'That sounds too much like homework. I knew she was going to be here alone. I just told her you would probably be alone also,' she said with a mischievous smile. He gave a nod of acceptance.

The song was coming to an end and he looked Hermione in the eyes one more time.

'Hermione, I—It's just—I'm happy for you, Hermione.'

'Thank you, Harry.'

She gave him one more hug. It wasn't goodbye forever, but it was goodbye to the friendship they once had. He wasn't just losing a potential life partner, he was losing his best friend.

Daphne was upon him faster than he could turn around. They danced without much conversation, the lavender scent of her hair was different than Hermione's, that was something. And she kept up her funny little commentaries in his ear, giving him brief moments of levity. He figured she kept him dancing as long as she did to prevent him from drinking too much, she was only partially successful.

The newlyweds departed, and soon the crowd began to thin.

'Thanks for being my date, Daphne,' he garbled.

'It wasn't a date, Potter,' she declared.

'Whatever. You have no idea how much you helped me get through the day,' Harry said sincerely, though his words were slurring, and his eyes were glazing over.

'We need to get you home, Harry,' she said. Harry didn't hear her summon her house elf, nor did he know where he ended up for the night.

He woke in a strange bedroom, in a soft bed, a green Slytherin t-shirt and green athletic shorts on, sunlight streaming through the window; it was well past morning. He reached for the nightstand and grabbed his glasses, with them came a note on a piece of parchment.

Harry,

Hope you slept well. I left you a couple potions on the nightstand that should help if you have a headache. Merlin knows I needed something this morning and I didn't drink half as much as you did. You can summon the house elf 'Pixey', she can bring you breakfast or just take you to the floo so you can head home. Don't forget your suit, it is hanging up in the closet, keep the shirt and shorts, green looks good on you. And don't worry, nothing happened last night, you were out before your head hit the pillow, so you don't have to have any added guilt of taking advantage of a drunken girl.

Harry, I know your heart is in the right place. I can't imagine going through all the stuff you've been through. No one should have to go through all that you have, let alone at your age. Have the courage to ask for help when you need it, we all need help sometimes. There are lots of people that care about you, don't ever forget that. Please, take care of yourself, Harry.

Your friend,

Daphne

A/N - Thanks for helping with edits go to DeadFish37 from Harry/Daphne discord (link below if you want to join. It's great for getting ideas, writing help or other fic recommendations).

https : / / discord dot gg/pKSdvJQvhU

Initially this was going to be a One Shot, but with the way it ended I kinda have to do at least one more chapter, I just have no idea how soon I'll get to it.