„Well, Harry, and how do you like Draco now?" said Daphne the next day, after thinking some time on the subject himself. „How did you like him yesterday?"
„Very well – very much. I like to hear him talk." Harry responded quietly „He entertains me; and he is also extremely attractive in an unconventional sort of way. I really enjoy watching him."
„It is the way he speaks that makes him so attractive. He just seems so alive when he speaks if you know what I mean! But was there nothing in his conversation that struck you, Harry, as not quite right?"
„Oh yes! He should have spoken of other people as he did. It always makes me sad when people do that. I keep wondering how they will speak about me in my absence. Will they speak just as badly about me? Will they make fun of me? I could not believe it when Draco started and can still not believe that he spoke as he did."
„I thought you would be struck. It was very wrong; very ungentlemanly."
„And very ungrateful, I think."
„Ungrateful is a strong word. I do not see that these people necessarily deserve his gratitude; but others certainly do. I think I see where he hoes wrong. With such warm feelings and lively spirits it must be difficult to do justice to her affection for one person, without throwing a shade on the other. It is difficult to praise someone without using any comparison that would put other people down. I appreciate Dracos attempt to voice his feelings even though I am not happy about the way he did it.
„Don't you think," said Harry, after a little consideration, „that this way of expressing himself is itself a reflection upon Dracos character? Would he speak like this about other people if he were truly affectionate? Or is he just trying to impress and suggest an air of affection without actually feeling any?"
„That is a fair remark. But let us not jump to conclusions. He might also feel much more insecure than he projects and therefore try to overcompensate in order to impress us. But I think his present home must do him good. Mr. Grant's manners are just what they ought to be. He speaks of everybody in a very balanced way and maybe spending more time around us will make Draco feel more secure, so he won't need to put others down."
„Yes, and I have to say: when they talked about writing very short letters to each other, they made me laugh. If it was just a joke to entertain us all, I thought it was a good one." Then Harry's face darkened. „But if it was the truth, I cannot praise the love or good-nature of a sibblings who will not give themselves the trouble of writing anything worth reading to each other, when they are separated. Even among friends I would expect more. I am sure Hermione would never have written only a couple of words to me, under any circumstances. And what right had they to suppose that you would not write long letters when you were absent when you are so different?"
„The right of a lively mind, Harry, seizing whatever they may contribute to their own amusement or that of others; perfectly allowable, when it is not saturated by ill-humour or roughness; you yourself claimed that the liveliness in his interaction is what makes Draco attractive and there is not a shadow of evil in his glance when he speaks: nothing sharp, or loud, or coarse. He is perfectly entertaining, except in the instances we have been speaking of. There he cannot be justified. I am glad you saw it all as I did."
Now that she had formed his mind and gained his affections, she had a good chance that Harry would think like her; but at this point in time and though at this period, and on this subject, little cracks began to show, because she clearly liked Draco Malfoy, which might lead her where Harry would not follow. Draco's appeal did not lessen. The chess board arrived, and rather added to his charms because he played with the greatest skill, but also with originality, was always willing to loose if it meant he could try something interesting and was full of compliments whenever someone outsmartet him. Daphne was over at Mr. Grants place every day to challange herself to a new battle of wits with.
A young man, attractive, smart, good company with a game that provided both challange and entertainment, and was placed near a window, cut down to the ground, and opening on a little lawn, surrounded by shrubs in the rich foliage of summer, was enough invitation. And yet something more than just games happened. The season, the scene, the air, were all in favour of a new start and the fact that it was Mr. Grants house provided the inspiration. For naturally the topic turned to business. Mr. Grant was Daphne's mentor and Draco was very industrious himself and said a great deal about his ideas and ideals, about the future and how it was meant to be. Of how the antiquated wizard society could use some innovative ideas and some people who followed ideals insted of money alone. It was all in harmony; and as everything will fall in it's place when two minds think alike Mr. Grant found the two deep in conversation as often as he found them playing and was quite delighted that his protegé was keeping such good company. Without studying the business, however, or knowing what she was about, Daphne was beginning, at the end of a week of such meethings, to be a good deal in love; not with the man, but with the idea of being able to do some good in the world and finally having someone who would walk the way with her. It was maybe a bit of a surprise that Draco would spend so much time with Daphne because in comparison to him she was not particularly pleasant by any common rule: she talked no nonsense and would always turn the conversation to a reasonable topic; she paid no compliments; her opinions were unbending, her entire character tranquil and straight forward. There was a charm, perhaps, in her sincerity, her steadiness, her integrity, which Draco might have felt or not or might have hoped to feel at any case, though she was clearly not equal to discuss topics on a level with him. He did not seem to think very much about it, however: she pleased him for the present; he liked to have her near him; it was enough.
Hrry could not wonder that Daphne was at tMr. Grants house every morning; he would gladly have been there too, might he have gone in uninvited and unnoticed, to watch the play and listen to their conversation; neither could he wonder that, when the evening stroll was over, and the two families parted again, she should think it right to attend Mr. Grant and his cousins to their home, while Melania was walking at some distance; but he thought it a very bad situation overall; and if Daphne could not be there to mix the wine and water for her, he would rather go without it than not. He was a little surprised that she could spend so many hours with Draco, and not see more of the sort of fault which she had already observed, and of which Harry was almost always reminded by a something of the same nature whenever he was in his company; but so it was. Daphne was fond of speaking to him of Draco, of the ideas that they developed, but he seemed to think it enough that the same offensive piece of conversation did not happen again; and Harry toned down his own opinion of Draco to not appear spiteful. The first actual pain which Draco occasioned him was the consequence of an inclination to ride out on brooms, which the former caught, soon after him being settled in the area, from the example of watching Harry fly, and which, when Daphne's acquaintance with him increased, led to her encouraging the wish, and the offer one of her own brooms for the purpose. No pain, no injury, however, was designed by her to Harry in this offer: he was not to lose a day's exercise by it. The broom was only to be taken over to the Mar. Grant's house half an hour their fly was to begin; and Harry, on its being first proposed, so far from feeling slighted, was almost over-powered with gratitude that she should be asking his leave for it.
Draco made her first trip with great credit to herself, and no inconvenience to Harry. Daphne, who had taken over the mare, returned with it in excellent time, before either Harry or the steady old house elf, who always watched over him when he was out flying alone, were ready to set out. The second day's fly was not so guiltless. Draco's enjoyment of riding was such that he did not know how to leave off. Active and fearless, and though rather skinny, strongly made, she seemed formed for a flyer; and to the pure genuine pleasure of the exercise, something was probably added in Daphne's attendance, to make him unwilling to dismount. Harry was ready and waiting, and Mrs. Fernsby was beginning to scold him for not being gone, and still no broom, no Draco, no Daphne appeared. To avoid his aunt, and look for them, Harry went out.
The houses, though scarcely half a mile apart, were not within sight of each other; but, by walking fifty yards from the hall door, Harry could look down the park, and command a view of the Parsonage and all its demesnes, gently rising beyond the village road; and in Mr. Grant's meadow he immediately saw the group - Daphne and Draco both on brooms, flying side by side, Mr. Grant and Melania standing about and looking on. A happy party it appeared to him, all interested in one object: cheerful beyond a doubt, for the sound of merriment ascended even to him. It was a sound which did not make him cheerful; he wondered that Daphne should forget him, and felt a pang. He could not turn his eyes from the meadow; he could not help watching all that passed. At first Draco and his companion rode circles around the house, which was not small; then, at his apparent suggestion, they rose into a race; and to Harry's timid nature it was most astonishing to see how well Draco sat. After a few minutes they stopped entirely. Daphne was close to him; she was speaking to him; they were evidently sharing tipps; she had hold of his hand; he saw it, or the imagination supplied what the eye could not reach. He must not wonder at all this; what could be more natural than that Daphne should be making herself useful, and proving her good-nature by any one? Harry began to wonder if he would have to clean the broom before he would be able to use it; if he were forgotten, the poor broom should be remembered.
His feelings for one and the other were soon a little calmed by seeing the party in the meadow disperse, and Draco followed by Daphne on foot, brooms over their shoulders, pass through a gate into the lane, and so into the park, and make towards the spot where he stood. He began then to be afraid of appearing rude and impatient; and walked to meet them with a great anxiety to avoid the suspicion.
„My dear Harry," said Draco, as soon as he was at all within hearing, „I am come to make my own apologies for keeping you waiting; but I have nothing in the world to say for myself – I knew it was very late, and that I was behaving extremely ill; and therefore, if you please, you must forgive me. Selfishness must always be forgiven, you know, because there is no hope of a cure."
Harry answer was extremely civil, and Daphne added her conviction that he could be in no hurry. „For there is more than time enough for Harry to ride twice as far as she ever goes," said she, „and you have been promoting him comfort by preventing him from setting off half an hour sooner: clouds are now coming up, and he will not suffer from the heat as she would have done then. I wish you may not be fatigued by so much exercise. I wish you had saved yourself this walk home."
„No part of it fatigues me, I assure you," said Draco; „I am very strong. Nothing ever fatigues me but doing what I do not like. Harry, I give way to you with a very bad grace; but I sincerely hope you will have a pleasant ride, and that I may have nothing but good to hear of this dear, delightful, beautiful broom."
The old elf, who had been waiting about, now joining them, Harry mounted his broom and they set off across another part of the park; his feelings of discomfort not lightened by seeing, as he looked back, that the others were walking down the hill together to the village; nor did his attendant do him much good by his comments on Dracos's great cleverness as a flyer, which he had apparently been watching with an interest almost equal to his own.
„It is a pleasure to see a person with such a good heart for flying!" said he. „I never see one sit a broom better. He did not seem to have a thought of fear. Very different from you, sir, when you first began, six years ago come next Easter. Lord bless you! how you did tremble when Sir Cyrus first had you put on!"
In the sitting-room Draco was also celebrated. His merit in being gifted by Nature with strength and courage was fully appreciated by the Greengrass sisters; their delight in riding was like his own; his early excellence in it was like their own, and they had great pleasure in praising it.
„I was sure she would ride well," said Daphne; „he has the make for it. His figure is as neat as his brother's."
„Yes," added Astoria, „and his spirits are as good, and he has the same energy of character. I cannot but think that good flying skills have a great deal to do with the mind."
When they parted at night Daphne asked Harry whether he meant to fly the next day.
„No, I do not know – not if you want the broom," was his answer.
„I do not want it at all for myself," said she; „but whenever you are next inclined to stay at home, I think Draco would be glad to have it a longer time – for a whole morning, in short. He has a great desire to get as far as Greengrass Common: Mr. Grant has been telling him of its fine views, and I have no doubt of him being perfectly equal to it. But any morning will do for this. He would be extremely sorry to interfere with you. It would be very wrong if he did. He flies only for pleasure; you for health."
„I shall not fly to-morrow, certainly," said Harry; „I have been out very often lately, and would rather stay at home. You know I am strong enough to also go for a run or a different form of excercise."
Daphne looked pleased, which must be Harry's comfort, and the fly to Greengrass Common took place the next morning: the party included all the young people but Harry, and was much enjoyed at the time, and doubly enjoyed again in the evening discussion. A successful scheme of this sort generally brings on another; and the having been to Greengrass Common disposed them all for going somewhere else the day after. There were many other views to be shown; and though the weather was hot, there were shaded spots to rest wherever they wanted to go. A young party is always provided with a shaded spot. Four fine mornings successively were spent in this manner, in shewing the Malfoys the country, and doing the honours of its finest spots. Everything answered; it was all happiness and good-humour, the heat only supplying inconvenience enough to be talked of with pleasure – till the fourth day, when the happiness of one of the party was exceedingly clouded. Astoria was the one. Daphne was invited to dine at Mr. Grants, and she was excluded. It was meant and done by Mr. Grant, with perfect good-humour, saying that it would probably for the best, if Astoria also had some time to catch up with Mr. Bloomfield, who was expected at the Manor that day; but it was felt as a very grievous injury, and her good manners were severely taxed to conceal her vexation and anger till she reached home. As Mr. Bloomfield did not come, the injury was increased, and she had not even the relief of showing her power over him; she could only be sullen to her mother, aunt, and Harry, and throw as great a gloom as possible over their dinner and dessert.
Between ten and eleven Daphne walked into the sitting-room, fresh with the evening air, glowing and cheerful, the very reverse of what she found in the three people sitting there, for Astoria would scarcely raise her eyes from her book, and Celia was half-asleep; and even Mrs. Fernsby, discomposed by her niece's ill-humour, and having asked one or two questions about the dinner, which were not immediately attended to, seemed almost determined to say no more. For a few minutes Daphne was too eager in her praise of the night and ger remarks on the stars, to think beyond herself; but when the first pause came, Daphne, looking around, said, 'But where is Harry? Is he gone to bed?'
„No, not that I know of," replied Mrs. Fernsby; „he was here a moment ago."
His own gentle voice speaking from the other end of the room, which was a very long one, told them that he was on the sofa. Mrs. Fernsby began scolding.
„That is a very foolish trick, Harry, to be idling away all the evening upon a sofa. Why cannot you come and sit here, and employ yourself as we do? If you have no work of your own, I can supply you from the basket of things that need repairing. There is all the new blanket, that was bought last week, not touched yet. I am sure I almost fainted when I saw that it has a stain. You should learn to think of other people; and, take my word for it, it is a shocking trick for a young person to be always lolling upon a sofa."
Before half this was said, Harry was returned to his seat at the table, and had taken up his work again; and Daphne, who was in high good-humour, from the pleasures of the day, did him the justice of exclaiming, „Harry," after looking at her attentively, „I am sure you have a headache."
He could not deny it, but said it was not very bad.
„I can hardly believe you," she replied; „I know your looks too well. How long have you had it?"
„Since a little before dinner. It is nothing but the heat."
„Did you go out in the heat?"
„Go out! to be sure he did," said Mrs. Fernsby: „would you have him stay indoors on such a fine day as this? Were not we all out? Even your mother was out to-day for above an hour."
„Yes, indeed, Daphne," added Celia, who had been thoroughly awakened by Mrs. Fernsby's sharp reprimand to Harry; „I was out above an hour. I sat three-quarters of an hour in the flower-garden, while Harry cut the roses; and very pleasant it was, I assure you, but very hot. It was shady enough in the alcove, but I declare I quite dreaded the coming home again."
„Harry has been cutting roses, has he?"
„Yes, and I am afraid they will be the last this year. Poor thing! He found it hot enough; but they were so full-blown that one could not wait."
„There was no help for it, certainly,' rejoined Mrs. Fernsby, in a rather softened voice; „but I question whether his headache might not be caught then, sister. There is nothing so likely to give it as standing and stooping in a hot sun; but I dare say it will be well to-morrow. Suppose you let him have your aromatic vinegar; I always forget to have mine filled."
„He has got it,' said Celia; „he has had it ever since he came back from your house the second time."
„What!" cried Daphne; „has he been walking as well as cutting roses; walking across the hot park to your house, and doing it twice, ma'am? No wonder his head aches."
Mrs. Fernsby was talking to Julia, and did not hear.
„I was afraid it would be too much for him," said Celia; „but when the roses were gathered, your aunt wished to have them, and then you know they must be taken home."
„But were there roses enough to oblige him to go twice?"
„No; but they were to be put into the spare room to dry; and, unluckily, Harry forgot to lock the door of the room and bring away the key, so he was obliged to go again."
Daphne got up and walked about the room, saying, „And could nobody be employed on such an errand but Harry? Upon my word, ma'am, it has been a very ill-managed business."
„I am sure I do not know how it was to have been done better," cried Mrs. Fernsby, unable to be longer deaf; „unless I had gone myself, indeed; but I cannot be in two places at once; and I was talking to Mr. Green at that very time about your mother's personal house-elf, by her desire, and had promised John Groom to write to Mrs. Jefferies about his son, and the poor fellow was waiting for me half an hour. I think nobody can justly accuse me of sparing myself upon any occasion, but really I cannot do everything at once. And as for Harry's just stepping down to my house for me- it is not much above a quarter of a mile-I cannot think I was unreasonable to ask it. How often do I pace it three times a day, early and late, yes, and in all weathers too, and say nothing about it?"
„I wish Harry had half your strength, ma'am."
„If Harry were more regular in his exercise, he would not be tired so soon. He has not been out on his broom now this long while, and I am persuaded that, when he does not fly, he ought to walk. If he had been flying before, I should not have asked it of him. But I thought it would rather do him good after being stooping among the roses; for there is nothing so refreshing as a walk after a fatigue of that kind; and though the sun was strong, it was not so very hot. Between ourselves, Daphne," nodding significantly at his mother, „it was cutting the roses, and dawdling about in the flower-garden, that did the mischief."
„I am afraid it was, indeed," said the more candid Celia, who had overheard her; „I am very much afraid he caught the headache there, for the heat was enough to kill anybody. It was as much as I could bear myself. Sitting and calling to Pug, and trying to keep him from the flower-beds, was almost too much for me."
Daphne said no more to either lady; but going quietly to another table, on which the supper-tray yet remained, brought a glass of Madeira to Harry, and obliged him to drink the greater part. He wished to be able to decline it; but the tears, which a variety of feelings created, made it easier to swallow than to speak.
Vexed as Daphne was with her mother and aunt, she was still more angry with herself. Her own forgetfulness of him was worse than anything which they had done. Nothing of this would have happened had he been properly considered; but he had been left four days together without any choice of companions or exercise, and without any excuse for avoiding whatever his unreasonable aunts might require. She was ashamed to think that for four days together he had not had the power of flying, and very seriously resolved, however unwilling she must be to check a pleasure of Dracos, that it should never happen again.
Harry went to bed with his heart as full as on the first evening of his arrival at the Park. The state of his spirits had probably had its share in his indisposition; for he had been feeling neglected, and been struggling against discontent and envy for some days past. As he leant on the sofa, to which he had retreated that he might not be seen, the pain of his mind had been much beyond that in his head; and the sudden change which Daphne's kindness had then occasioned, made him hardly know how to support himself.