Chapter Three: Breaking the News
"Where are we going?" Daphne asked as she followed Harry through the passageways towards the Astronomy Tower
"To get all the permissions" Harry said lightly
"But the doors are locked, the castle is sealed" Daphne said glancing at Harry
"From the conventional ways of leaving, yes" Harry smiled "Trust me?" he asked going over to a corner and appearing to grasp the air before reaching in and pulling something off and Daphne was met with the sight of a Firebolt and Invisibility Cloak
"I was only planning to go by myself, so you'll just have to hop on with me if you'd like to go as well" Harry smiled
Daphne stared at the young man -her future husband if this night went as planned -with the Firebolt in his hand and sighed "Well, scoot on over then" she sighed as she took the place infant of him and was surprised at the strength she could feel in his arms as he placed them around her to steer the broom.
As his arms wrapped around her slim body she felt a slight shiver pass through her and blushed, hoping he didn't read much into it
This was much better than Malfoy she decided. Potter was quite attractive. She always knew it was a possibility that she would have to be in an arranged marriage anyways, to save her family. She had hoped and hoped it wouldn't be with someone dark, but rather with a more powerful neutral house. Perhaps this was a good thing. It was rather ridiculous, marrying someone you'd only spoken to once though.
As Harry gestured with his hand, Daphne felt the cloak wrap around them and wondered at the fabric
"These are really rare" Daphne said "Where did you get it? It's in such good shape, they usually deteriorate" she breathed, in awe of the silky feel between her fingers
"It's been passed down for generations, from Potter son to Potter son" Harry supplied
"That's impossible" Daphne said "they only last a year, max" she said
"Mmm obviously not" Harry said, his breath tickling her neck as they swept through the air, and he focused on steering them around the ministry protection guarding the castle and avoided offering any further details
As they landed near a cave, Daphne blinked, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in the person "Professor Lupin" she stated in surprise, glancing at Harry
"Miss Greengrass, a delight as always" he said smiling at her
"Cub" he said grinning as he pulled Harry into a hug "Ready to wreak havoc on the Ministry are we?"
"Always Uncle Moony" Harry grinned looking entirely too pleased with himself
"Uncle" Daphne said in surprise and blushed slightly as she realised she'd spoken her thoughts out loud
"Shall we go then" Remus suggested offering his arm to Harry and Daphne
Daphne stared for a moment, berating herself for this situation, but she trusted the professor and didn't think Potter would pull anything like some of the other members of Hogwarts.
With that thought, she took hold of her professor's arm and sucked in a breath as they spun away, apparating to a muggle neighbourhood -a hotel if she wasn't mistaken.
"Well, do come in" Remus said and allowed them up the stairs to a large suit "the meeting is in an hour, but I'm sure Padfoot would appreciate some introductions"
"Padfoot" Daphne mouthed the strange name. She supposed it was a code name of some sort.
"Pup" a shout came from the other end of the room and a middle aged man dressed in pureblood robes raced across and grabbed Harry in a hug
""Dad" Harry said, gripping the man in a hug. Daphne thought this odd since he used to shy away from any physical contact at school
Perhaps this was the man Harry had grown up with? Nothing was really making sense lately, there were so many puzzle pieces and the man looked so familiar. Surely she would know a pureblood lord such as himself….
Daphne's eyes drifted down to catch a glimpse of the man's robes and the family crest stitched there. Black…Lord of House Black…familiar face "You're Sirius Black" she said softly
She noticed Remus had been eyeing her, obviously waiting for her to figure it out, while Harry seemed to be caught up in his reunion with his….godfather….father?
The man turned to her and Daphne noticed how he looked so much healthier than the photos in the Prophet had portrayed recently
"And you haven't raised your wand" Lord Black returned looking at her "Who is your delightful new friend Pup" the man spoke, wiggling his eyebrows at Harry
"Yes, well obviously I'm missing something" Daphne shared "Potter doesn't seem like the sort to be friendly with his parents betrayers"
"Harry please, after all, we'll be married soon" Harry said smiling at her mischievously and Daphne allowed her laughter to overcome her at the look on the two men's faces
"MARRIED" Lord Black shrieked staring at Harry while Professor Lupin stared open mouthed at Harry
"B B BUT but I haven't even heard about this…WHAT is your name" Lord Black demanded of her, glancing over at her, before looking between Harry and Daphne in disbelief
"Daphne Greengrass, Lord Black" Daphne said smiling
"Hmm, smart one aren't you" Sirius said kissing her hand, and Daphne noticed Harry's smile grew for some reason
"What on earth is this about you getting married" Sirius said
"Well you know how we're preparing for your trial" Harry said "well it seems Fudge and Malfoy had something up their sleeves" Harry said and proceeded to tell them the situation.
"For fuck's sake" Lord Black exclaimed causing Daphne to raise her eyebrows in amusement
"Well there may have been another reason Lucius got on board as well, his dearest son desires Daphne here" Harry allowed
"And they can't use the Black contract" Lord Black mused
"The Black contract?" Daphne asked, a sense of unease bubbling up in her
"Well as you know Dear Draco has proclaimed that he is the heir to House Black, well as you can see, that would actually be me, anyways, that's not the point…the point is that Draco couldn't use any of the resources of House Black since he wasn't the heir -it confused him, without a doubt, since if Sirius hadn't have blood adopted me then that's how it would be. Well, Dad and I had a look at the contracts over the summer and there is an optional one between House Black and Greengrass from our great great great grandfathers before the Grindelwald War incident. It can be destroyed, but I was going to talk to you about it first -once it was validated- well because it had the Namallak mark on it this generation, and there are only two people it can apply to" Harry said softly looking at her to gauge her reaction
Daphne felt like a bucket of information had been dumped on her head "A Namallak Mark" she said looking at her future husband. It suddenly made sense. The ease in which Harry had asked her to marry him, he must've been taking a chance.
"Yeah" he said softly looking at her
"I see, well all the more reason to -how do you put it- Prank the Ministry?" Daphne asked glancing to Lord Black to find him watching her closely, before his face split into a huge smile
"She's a keeper Pup" he exclaimed, moving and grabbing Daphne in a giant hug
"Dad" Harry's voice sounded, a bit of warning resonating in the room
"What, she's my future daughter-in-law you know" Sirius exclaimed, his face a picture of pure innocence causing Harry to roll his eyes and Remus to snort in exasperation
"It's getting close to meeting time" Remus said "I sent a patronus to your parents Miss Greengrass' ' Remus said inclining his head towards her "hopefully they will come so we only have to explain once. I did tell them to come 15 minutes early, so if they managed to get together in the middle of the night they should be arriving soon, shall we?" he asked nodding to the door
"Of course Professor Lupin" Sirus said in a mock student voice, giving in an exaggerated bow as he left the room causing Daphne to giggle as she exchanged a smirk with Harry
The Namallak Mark…she never would have guessed…with Potter no less. Would they have ever realised it, if these circumstances hadn't prevailed?
She was pulled out of her thoughts by a call of her name and she whipped around to find her parents hurrying towards her
"Daphne are you alright?" her father asked "I'm so sorry Daphne, we've been trying to get in touch, Malfoy called an emergency session and-
"It's okay, it's all sorted" Daphne interrupted her father from over her mother's shoulder as she was embraced
Her father blinked at her "sorted?" he asked, his voice cautious
"Father, may I introduce my fiance, Harry Potter" Daphne said stepping to the side and noticed her finances father had disappeared somewhere, probably for the best so her parents didn't get the wrong impression
"Fiance?" her mother gasped looking between the two teenagers as clarity graced Cyrus' face
"I see what you've done Daphne"" he said "I wasn't even aware you knew each other" he said after shaking Harry's hand
"We didn't, but if you'd come with us I can explain how this came to be" Harry said confidently gesturing to the room "I must ask though that you not be alarmed when my father, Lord Black, decides to reveal himself, and please do keep your wands to yourself, he is innocent of MOST of the perceptions the public have of him" Harry said, emphasising the "MOST" loudly
"Completely innocent pup, I tell you" Lord Black declared shedding his cloak and slinging an arm around Harry's shoulders, although Daphne noted Professor Lupin had slipped behind her parents and had his wand out, while Harry stood slightly infant of his godfather, however unconsciously
For her part, Daphne had to admire her father's composure
"Lord Black" he said after a moment of staring while Daphne's mother had already started to move forward to greet him and Daphne saw Professor Lupin relax.
"My pleasure Lady Greengrass" Sirius said charmingly, kissing her hand before moving to greet Cyrus
"Well we best get to the hall to greet the others, I am sure all the parents are anxious about their children" Sirius said gesturing to another set of doors
"I'll go first, shall I?" Harry asked "You come in after I've explained with Uncle Moony" Harry said
"Whatever you say Pup" Sirius said winking at him causing his son to glare at him in return
"Did Tracy and Blaise need permission as well? Perhaps you could
"We'll contact Tracy's parents" Annabelle broke in "we are familiar with them. I'll go explain now and bring them back, Cyrus Dear, you can stay and take care of whatever Daphne needs" she said lightly
"Yes, sounds good love" Cyrus responded smiling at his wife before she left through the floor