Astoria Greengrass had lately spent so little of her time at home that she could be only nominally missed; and Celia was soon astonished to find how very well they did even without Cyrus, how well Daphne could replace him in handling the daily business affairs, talking to some renters in properties in London, writing to the attorney, giving orders to the house elves, and at the same time saving her from all possible annoyance in every particular but that of wrtiting her letters.
The first message that arrived in Greengrass Manor was of Cyrus' and Astorias safe arrival in Boston, Massachusets after a safe and comfortable journey; of course not before Mrs. Fernsby had been indulging in very dreadful fears, and trying to make Daphne share them whenever she would be with her alone; as she thought she would be the first person to hear about any fatal catastrophe, she had already thought about the best way of breaking it to all the others, when Cyrus' assurances of their both being alive and well made her lay her fluttering and affectionate preparatory speeches aside.
The winter came and passed without any need for speeches; the accounts managed by Daphne continued perfectly good; and aunt Emely was busy in preparing for Astorias return in planning activities, rearranging pictures and finding new prominent positions to display them in the house and looking about for her's and Daphnes's future husbands; in fact she had so much to do that, in addition to all her own household cares, some interference in those of her sister, and some unwanted advice to Mr. Grant about his wasteful doings, she was left with very little occasion to be anxious about the absent.
Harry had no share in the festivities of the season; but he enjoyed being useful arpund the house and as his aunt Celia's companion whenever Emely undertook another attempt to introduce Daphne to some other rich pureblood; So Harry naturally became everything to Celia during the night of a ball or a party. She talked to her, listened to her, read to her; and the peace of such evenings, her perfect security in such an intimate event far from any sound of unkindness, was unspeakably welcome to a person who had rarely known a pause in his alarms or embarrassments. As to Daphnes social encouters, he loved to hear any account of them, especially of the balls, and who Daphne had danced with; Harry laughed heartily at the accounts of all the odd encounters she had in those circles, all the vain pureblood boys who made obvious advances at her and were too small minded to see through the ways in which Daphne was mocking them. Upon the whole, it was a comfortable winter to Harry; even though it brought no meeting with Hermione, the never-failing hope that they would meet again soon was worth much.
The following spring brought so much rain at first, that Harry was deprived of his valued friend, the broom; and for some time he was worried about getting out of shape and felt robbed of one of his only sources to find inner peace through physical exertion. So Harry either sat at home the whole day with one aunt, or walked until he was exhausted to avoid the other: Celia thought exercise to be as unnecessary for everybody as it was unpleasant to herself; and aunt Emely, who seemed to have more energy than was good for her was not walkning as much as she should, but secretly happy to have him out of her way encouraged Harry to be out and about as much as possible claiming „it was his first good idea". Daphne was absent most of this time, or the situation would have found another solution. When she returned, and heard and understood Harrys situation, and perceived the bad effects it was having on Harry, there seemed for him just one thing to be done; and set out to teach Harry a specific piece of Greengrass family magic, a charm that kept not only one person warm and dry, but also granted a good view in every kind of weather. Both his mother and his aunt were very indignant about it. One was fearful, because family magic should in her eyes not be passed on without Cyrus' knowledge and permission, even if it was only a very small little charm like that, the other was furious, because in all the years no one of the Greengrass family had even used family magic in her company and she kept pointing out that she was definately more part of the family than Harry was and that Harry had no right to learn any Greengrass family at all, that she herself had not taught Harry any of the Potter family magic, because he was not a pureblood and that Daphne had obviously not thought the entire situation through as she should have.
Though Daphne was much more displeased with his aunt than with his mother, because she did not seem to show the least bit of regard for her nephew, she could not help paying more attention to what Emely said; and at length decided on a method of proceeding which would avoid the risk of her father's thinking she had done too much, and at the same time procure for Harry the immediate means of exercise, which she could not think he should be without. He decided to adapt the charm so it would work on the broom insted of the person, so the broom and the person on it would both be protected from any spell of bad weather; and having once made up his mind, the whole business was soon completed. The charm proved a treasure; with very little trouble the broom became exactly what Harry had needen and his delight in Daphne's present was far beyond any former pleasure of the sort; it was the gift of freedom for a prisoner, water for someone trapped in the desert and in addition it the pleasure was increased by the consideration of that kindness from which the idea had come; it was beyond all his words to express what he felt at that moment. He thought of Daphne as an example of everything good and great, as possessing an inner worth which no one but herself could ever appreciate. But as words could express none of that all he did was to take the broom and set out for a ride on it and his extatic shouts of pure joy could be heard even over the blowing of the wind and the splashing of the rain.
As no magic was taught to anyone, nobody could say or do anything to prevent this from happening; and had Celia ever thought about her own objection again, Daphne might have been excused in her eyes for not waiting till Cyrus' return, because weeks and months went by and he still did not return nor seemed there to be any near prospect of finishing his business. The legislation had changed again just when he was beginning to turn all his thoughts towards his return; and the very great uncertainty made him decide to send home his Astoria, and take care of the final arragements himself. Asoria arrived safely, bringing an excellent account of Cyrus' health; she was however not able to entirely conceal the strain the entire situation had put on his nerves. All of that had aunt Emely run in circles. She read Cyrus's sending away his daughter as a sign of parental care, to spare her from experiencing the worst evils that were still to come and that he was clearly expecting. As the days went on and there were no news to be had, she was so terribly haunted by these ideas, in the sad solitude of her cottage, that she felt forced to take daily refuge in the dining-room of the Park. Her mind turned back her nieces quickly enough. „If poor Cyrus were never to return, it would be very consoling to see their dear Astoria well placed with a good position," she very often thought; always when they were in the company of successful business-people, and keen particularly on the introduction of a young man who had just recently succeeded to be in a managing position one of the largest suppliers of wand-woods in the country.
Mr. Bloomfield was from the first struck with Astorias outgoing personality, and, since he was on the lookout for a business-partner made her an offer very quickly. He was a heavy young man, with good common sense, but not much more; Astoria saw in him a man that she would easily guide and now that she had just seen how difficult it could be to manage the family business she saw a chance of having all the reward of a managerial position and none of the risks. The situation in North America seemed to have impressed upon her, that the income and hence the comfort of tha family was in real danger and the prospect of having a large income that was in no way tied to the family was very tempting. After a short while she would be able to afford a good property of her own in the center of London and almost felt it as her duty to persue the partnership.
Aunt Emely was most zealous in promoting the arrangement, by every suggestion of its desirableness to either party; she told long stories of how when handling his business affairs in North America it was Astoria and not her sister that Cyrus had taken, how she had always had sort of a sixth sense of where to earn money and so on and so forth.
After an apropriate number of meetings and tours of the facilities, the two young people justified their arrangemet, and a contract was written and, much to the satisfaction of aunt Emely, could be signed very soon. The business should instead of „Bloomfield Wand Supplies" now be called „Bloomfield and Greengrass Wand Supplies".
It was a couple of days before Cyrus' answer to all of this could be read and in the meanwhile, as no one felt a doubt of the usefulness of the arrangement, no attempt at secrecy was made and aunt Emely could be heard to talk of it everywhere as a matter not to be talked of too much at present.
Daphne was the only one in the family who could see a fault in the business; and no representation of her aunt's could induce her to find Mr. Bloomfield a good companion. First of all she would allow her sister to be the best judge of her own happiness, but she was not overjoyed that her happiness would only centre in a large income; why not try to make a difference in the world? Why not try to make an impact? Nor could she refrain from saying to herself, in Mr. Bloomfield's company- „If this man were not ridiculously rich, everybody would call him an immensly stupid fellow." She was also concerned from a business-perspective if it was truly wise to make Astoria a partner in a business that she knew nothing about and a partner that she could easily control and manipulate.
Cyril, however, was truly happy about the prospect that one of his daughters would be financially independent and the younger one first! He could not but feel that taking her under his wings on his trip to North America had been a good decision and that all of his sense and wisdom must have had an impact after all: In fact he was quite proud of himself and his methods.
He only asked that the signing should not take place before his return, because he wanted to make sure that the contract was absolutely fair towards his daughter, which he was again looking eagerly forward to. He wrote in the beginning of May, that he had strong hopes of settling everything to his entire satisfaction, and leaving America before too long.
Such was the state of affairs at the end of the month, when the village received an addition in Mr. and Miss Malfoy, the cousins of Mr. Grant, who was himself the son of a half-brother of Mrs. Malfoy. They were young people of fortune and knew their way in the world. The son was in charge of some of the Malfoy businesses and was apparently doing very well, the daughter was managing the Malfoy real estate.
As children, Mr. Grant had always been very fond of them; but, as the Malfoys had positioned themselves in the war - even though they had claimed to be under the imperious curse afterwards. So the cousins had hardly seen each other growing up, but had afterwards reconciled and had tried to strengthen their family connection. And the parents Grant and Malfoy though agreeing in nothing else, were united in affection for these children and wanted them to do well. The Malfoys were looking for a place (or places) to buy and settle, from where they could conduct their businesses. Mr. Grant was in fact feeling a little lonely in his house and the arrival, therefore, of two cousins who he had always loved, was a great source of enjoyment for him and, as much as he talked about them finding places of their own soon, he hoped to keep them with him as long as they remained in the area; and his main anxiety was that the area should not be entertaining enough for two young people who had been mostly used to London.
Miss Malfoy was not entirely free from similar thoughts, though they came mainly from doubts about her cousin's style of living and the society he was having; and it was not till after she had tried in vain to persuade her brother to find a small country house for both of them until they had found something more suitable, that she could resolve herself to stay with their cousin. To anything like a permanent home, or limited society, Draco Malfoy had, unluckily, a great dislike: he could not do anything for his sister in that regard, but he escorted her, with the utmost kindness, into the area, and as readily sured that he would take her away again, at half an hour's notice, whenever she were weary of the place.
The meeting was very satisfactory on each side. Miss Malfoy found a cousin who was less of a typical country person than she had feared, a man who looked like a gentleman, and a house that was not large, but spacious, and well taken care of; and Mr. Grant received in the cousins he hoped to love better than ever a young man and woman of very captivating appearance. Melania Malfoy was remarkably pretty; Draco, though not handsome, had a way to immediately catch everyones attention; they were both very lively and pleasant to be around, and Mr. Grant was quick to give them credit for every other positive trait as well. He was delighted with each, but Melania was the one he liked best; and having never been able to attract any beautiful woman, he thoroughly enjoyed having her around. He had not waited until their arrival to look out for a suitable match for her, but sooner found a possible match for Draco: and he had fixed on Astoria; it would be perfect! Melania had not been three hours in the house before told her what he had planned for her brother.
Melania was glad to find a family of such importance so very near them, and was not at all displeased either that her cousin had already thought of connecting them. Matrimony was not her object, but she soon learned from Mr. Grant all about Daphne's and Astorias business dealings and so she indulged her cousins phantasies of matrimony and thought of ways to make money and her scheme was soon repeated to Draco.
„And now," added Mr. Grant, „I have thought of something to make it complete. I should dearly love to settle you both in this country; so please, Draco, connect yourself to one of the sisters and you will make me very happy."
Draco bowed his head and thanked his cousin for his thoughtfulness.
„My dear cousin," said Melania, „if you can persuade him into anything like that, it would make me very happy to find myself connected to a family of such a standig. What a shame that you don't have a better standing in the family. That would make introductions so much easier. I wonder how we shall accomplish that and it not feel forced. But I ward you! It will be difficult to persuade Draco to settle down with anybody anywhere. Maybe you must have the address of a Frenchwoman. All that English abilities can do has been tried already. I have three very special friends who have been all dying for him in their turn; and the pains which they, their mothers (very clever women), as well as my dear aunt and myself, have taken upon ourselves, to persuade, or trick him into settling down with a woman, is inconceivable! He is the most horrible flirt that ever walked the face of this country. If your Miss Greengrass do not like to have their hearts broken, let them avoid Draco."
„My dear cousin, I will not believe any of this!"
„No, I am sure you are too good," Draco interjected „You will be kinder than Mary. You will allow for the doubts of youth and inexperience. I am of a cautious temper, and unwilling to risk my happiness in a hurry. Nobody can think more highly of the matrimonial state than myself. I consider the blessing of a wife so high as to not grant it to myself lightly."
„There, Mr. Grant," Melania said „you see how he has a way with words, and only look at his smile. I assure you he is very detestable!"
„I pay very little attention," said Mr. Grant, „to what any young person says on the subject of marriage. If they claim not to want it, I only set it down that they have not met the right person yet."
Mr. Grant laughingly congratulated Miss Malfoy on not being opposed to settling down herself.
„Oh yes! I am not at all ashamed of it. I would have everybody marry and settle down if they can do it properly: I do not like to have people throw themselves away; but everybody should marry as soon as they can do it advantagiously."