AN: This story was written for the Haphne Summer 2021 Collection, organised by the Harry/Daphne discord.
Prologue.
June, 2nd. 1998.
It was a hot summer day in London.
In the bowels of the city, behind a small-walled courtyard, a place hidden from the prying eyes of the common folk was bursting with life. Thousands of wizards and witches strolled down Diagon Alley under the scorching sun, dressed in all kinds of colourful robes. The shops and streets were bathed in the peaceful sunlight of the early summer, as the afternoon sun painted the magical district in an orange glow.
Children ran through the crowd going from shop to shop, while their parents watched over them, smiling. Loud chatter and laughter filled the streets, with people carrying bags full of trinkets and supplies for their homes. Amidst the crowd, a boy with messy black hair and round glasses walked through the town with a content smile spread over his face.
It was his first time visiting Diagon Alley since the war ended, and the difference in the atmosphere since the last time he had been here was like day and night. The shops were full to the brim with customers, and the high-spirited energy in the air was almost palpable. All in all, the sight of the townspeople flooding Diagon Alley in broad daylight filled his heart with joy.
—It was the result of Voldemort's defeat.
—It was his reward for achieving victory.
The blood spilled, the sweat exuded, the tears shed — Everything had been for this image.
An image of pleasant days and better days to come.
An image of adults talking about trivial things, of children running around and old people enjoying a beautiful day.
People tipped their hats in his direction, some greeted him with a small smile and the most bold ones stopped to shake his hand. Years ago, Harry had found those actions uncomfortable and a bit annoying. Nowadays, he nodded everyone back with his own smile, for this time he felt like he had truly earned it.
Ron said he had been floored when stopped him on the street to shake his hand.
"A girl tried to kiss me on the cheek, but Hermione scared her away! Oof! It's true!" Ron winced as his girlfriend punched him on the shoulder.
Hermione said she felt overwhelmed, but she greeted everyone back just to be polite.
"It's hard to get used to. I can't wait to be just Hermione again." Hermione said, shaking her head. The last thing she wanted was the attention of the media.
Neville was still helping at Hogwarts. Luna was taking care of her father. Ginny, and the rest of the Weasleys were enjoying their time together.
Harry felt a knot form in his throat at the memory of the Weasley family.
Feeling like he had frolicked enough, Harry decided to head to the Ministry of Magic at once, for he had a very important reason to visit the newly appointed Minister.
Since he had started to visit The Burrow again, Percy had been dropping hints that the Ministry was in dire need of more personnel. Harry laughed at the memory, as Percy had not been very subtle about visiting Shacklebolt if he wanted to be an auror. He had been grateful, though, for being an auror was the logical next step for him. The Daily Prophet has been publishing stories about him non-stop regarding his next move, and many times the auror has been mentioned for a possible career.
Ron and Hermione didn't seem to share his excitement for the prospect, which made him feel a little frustrated. Ron had refused to apply for auror, saying he was more than happy to help George with the shop. Hermione was still dealing with her own family problems, and refused to even comment on what she was going to do in the future.
He, along with Ron and Hermione, had received an invitation from McGonagall to redo their last year at Hogwarts, but Harry had refused. There was nothing else he could learn from Hogwarts, and the castle - which had once felt like home - held far too many bad memories to make him consider going there for another year.
Shaking his head, Harry stepped in front of the Ministry's Entrance, ready to leap into the next step.
"Minister Shacklebolt is ready to see you, Mr. Potter."
Harry thanked the assistant and stopped in front of Shackebolt's office. He knocked on the door and a loud 'come in!' came from inside.
"Harry! It's good to see you!" Shackebolt welcomed him, vanishing traces of meat pie from his desk. The dark skinned man stood up and shook his hand.
"Minister, sir."
"Oh, no! None of that minister rubbish, Harry. It's Kingsley to you." Shacklebolt said with a wave of hand.
"Uhm, okay." Harry responded, not really comfortable with being on a first name basis with the Minister of Magic. While Shacklebolt was a good wizard, his experience with the past Ministers had been far from pleasant.
"Tell me, Harry, what brings you here," Shacklebolt said while they both took their seats. "Not bad news, I hope."
"No, sir," Harry answered swiftly. "Actually, I was dining with the Weasley the other day when I just overheard Percy saying the Ministry was low on staff."
Shacklebolt's eyebrows rose up at his words, but said nothing, signaling for him to continue.
"And, I...uh..." Harry felt his heart rate increase a bit, suddenly feeling rash. "...I wanted to join the aurors, sir."
Shacklebolt said nothing, looking at him with an unreadable expression. Then, he leaned in and rested his hands on the table.
"I must admit, Harry, I'm rather impressed. I thought it would take you longer to ask me for this. You sure don't waste time, boy."
Harry grinned. Hope bloomed in his chest—
"Sir! I…"
"I'm sorry, Harry, but my answer is no." Shacklebolt interrupted.
—Only to be mercilessly crushed.
"W-what?"
Shacklebolt leaned against his chair, rubbing his stubbled face with a thoughtful expression. "I know you're more than qualified to be an auror, Harry. You're probably the best wizard out there, along with Mr. Weasley and Mr. Longbottom. Still, I must refuse for now."
"But sir..!"
"Harry, hear me out."
Harry swallowed and kept his mouth shut, despite the fact he really wanted to protest.
"First of all, I'm not saying you can't become an auror. Okay?"
Harry was confused but nodded, feeling his shoulder relax a bit. Shacklebolt intertwined his fingers together and continued.
"What Percy said was true. We need people at the Ministry, especially aurors. Even with Voldemort gone, there's still a lot to do," Shackebolt stated, before letting out a tired sigh. "There are enough Death Eaters on the loose that we're not letting our guard down, that's for sure. Just because Voldemort is gone doesn't mean they will not try something once again in the near future. We are keeping an eye out for any suspicious behaviour within the country boundaries."
"Still, it's only been a few weeks since the war ended, Harry. I think you deserve some time to relax and enjoy your life."
"But, sir! I—" Harry tried to protest, but Kingsley interrupted him.
"Harry, Harry." Kingsley leaned forward and patted his shoulder, his eyes filled with sympathy. "I understand your desire to help, Harry, I really do. I'd be more than happy to let you join the Auror's Force once summer is over. What about that?"
The end of summer.
Three months.
Harry couldn't help but think it would be better for everyone if he became an auror at the moment. He has always wanted to become an auror just like his dad, and his friends, apart from Ron and Hermione, have been telling him he was more than perfect for the job. Why was Kingsley making him wait when he was more than qualified to be one?
His annoyance must have shown on his face, because Shacklebolt was looking at him with compassion.
"I promise you, Harry, that once summer is over, I'll let you join. The people at the DMLE would be thrilled to have you there. Everyone at the Ministry is waiting for it to happen, if I'm being honest."
"Then why? Why wouldn't you let me join now?" Harry complained through gritted teeth.
Shacklebolt stared at him. "Is becoming an auror what you really want?"
Harry didn't even hesitate.
"Of course, sir. I've wanted to become one since fifth year." Harry responded with confidence.
Shackebolt crossed his arms and looked at him with a serious expression.
"I think you're confusing what you want, with what people expect you to do, Harry."
Harry's temper flared. "With due respect, sir. You really don't know me. Just because you watched over me at the Dursley during the summer doesn't mean you know what I want."
Shacklebolt raised an eyebrow at his outburst. Harry winced, realizing he had lost his temper like a child once again. No wonder Kingsley didn't want him be an auror yet.
"Sir, I'm so—"
"It's okay, Harry. I understand you're upset. Can I continue?"
Harry exhaled and nodded slowly.
"You're a good kid, Harry. Brave, intelligent and good-hearted. Dumbledore always spoke very highly of you." Shackebolt said with a warm smile. He stared into space, as if remembering fond memories of the past. Then, his face turned sour.
"But he also burdened you with lots of things through the years. You've gone through a lot, Harry. I think it's time for you to settle down and think about what you really want. The war is over, and you've done more than enough for this country." Shackebolt patted his arm. "If you wish to be an auror after summer is over, I'll be more than happy to let you join our forces. Until then, why don't you relax a bit and catch up with your friends? I believe you've earned it."
Harry sighed, knowing Shacklebolt wouldn't change his mind.
"Of course, sir."
Shacklebolt rose up from his seat, and Harry followed suit. Shacklebolt opened the door for him and gave him an honest smile. "Do me a favour, Harry, and enjoy the rest of your summer."
Harry nodded dejectedly, "I will sir. See you later."
"See you later, Harry. And give my regards to Molly. The pie was delicious."
Harry waited until the door was closed to hang his head in defeat. This was not how he expected his talk with Kingsley to go. Feeling down and a bit thirsty due to the increasing heat, Harry decided to return to Diagon Alley once again and drink something to cool down his head.
Harry walked aimlessly through Diagon Alley, looking for a cool place to keep the heat at bay. He passed a few pubs before deciding to stick with the safest option, moving along the crowd until he reached the Leaky Cauldron. Taking a deep breath, Harry tried his best to clear his mind and walked in.
Once inside, Harry quietly closed the door of the pub, trying to not bring any attention to himself. Of course, it was a futile attempt, because in an instant, the hustle and bustle of the shop quieted down at his appearance. Every pair of eyes was on him, and for a moment, Harry almost regretted coming in. The excruciating silence lasted for a few seconds, before a loud cheer from the back broke it down. Everyone raised their mugs and glasses in his direction, whistling and muttering words of gratitude. Then, the usual loud talking began anew, as if nothing had happened, and the pub regained its vibrant energy once again. Harry sighed in relief, walking past the packed tables, before deciding to take a seat at the bar counter. He waited for Tom, the barkeep, to make a snarky remark at his appearance at the pub, but an unexpected female voice greeted him instead.
"What can I get you, Potter?"
Harry looked up in surprise, his eyes widening at the person at the otherside of the counter. It was a girl around his age, with light blonde hair tied in a messy bun and vibrant blue eyes that seemed to glow in the dimly lit room. She was wearing a deep green corset vest and a plain white shirt underneath, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, showing off her creamy white skin.
For a moment, Harry was at a loss of words. Her face seemed oddly familiar, but he couldn't quite recall where he had seen her before. She definitely was a Hogwarts student, not a Gryffindor - that's for sure - but probably from his year. Harry realized he had been staring for too long, as her friendly smile began to turn into an uncomfortable one. He blinked a few times, and then, it hit him like a bludger.
"G-Greengrass?" Harry said in disbelief.
Daphne frowned at him, crossing her arms under her chest. "Took you long enough."
"Oi, it's not like we have talked before!" Harry exclaimed, feeling he should defend himself.
It was true after all.
Right?
Daphne glared at him.
"I asked you for a quill in Divination once, and you pretended not to notice. You're a prat, by the way."
"I, uhm, might have been sleeping." Harry blushed a little, remembering he used to fall asleep in that class fairly often.
Daphne shook her head in disbelief.
"Boys..."
Harry grunted, not really bothering to defend himself. "Why are you working here anyway?" Harry suddenly asked, wondering why a proper pureblood witch like her was in a pub.
"Summer job." Daphne shrugged, before receiving an empty glass from a customer with a courteous smile.
"Here? At the Leaky Cauldron?" Harry asked, not fully convinced.
"It's a good season." Daphne said, pointing at the crowded tables with her thumb.
Then, she gave him a coy smile.
"Besides, a few extra coins in the purse is never a bad thing for a witch," she said with a wink.
Harry looked away, feeling rather nervous for some reason.
'It's the heat.'
Daphne laughed at his flustered face, earning a sideways glare from him.
"So, what can I get you, Potter?" Daphne finally offered, taking pity on him.
Harry blinked at her words.
Right, he was supposed to order a drink.
Harry thought about it for a moment, before deciding on something light.
"Err… a butterbeer, please."
Daphne eyed him for a moment, before nodding to herself.
"Sure thing," Daphne smirked, then she frowned as a loud yell came from the kitchen. "I've got a few order coming up, though. Mind waiting a bit?"
"Err, no. Go ahead," Harry said dumbly.
She nodded, disappearing into the kitchen with an air of graciousness that could only be described as lady-like.
Daphne shorly appeared levitating a few plates with her hands, then swiftly placed them on the counter as she talked to one of the waitress.
'Daphne Greengrass, huh.'
She has been one of the top students at Hogwarts, if Hermione's rants about constantly fighting against her for first place in some subjects were true.
He didn't know much about her, only that she was a pureblood and had been sorted into Slytherin.
Slytherin.
Harry felt his body freeze as reality dawned on him.
His senses heightened, and Harry slowly went for his wand as the sweat dripping down his forehead turned cold.
He could easily take her down with a single spell, as she still had her back turned to him.
His hands began to shake.
He heard a loud crashing sound coming from behind and tensed in an instant. He craned his neck and looked around, looking for anything suspicious, when the rational part of his brain began to work and his shoulder slowly relaxed.
'What am I doing?'
Harry let out a shaky breath, clutching his forehead.
Tom would never hire someone dangerous, even less now, with the shop flooring with customers.
There was no reason to believe she was evil, even though Harry has never met a single pleasant student from her house. Realizing he was being paranoid, Harry put his wand back in his robes, hoping nobody had noticed his lapse of judgement.
"Here you go."
Daphne's voice broke him out of his thoughts, making him jump on his seat. He looked up and noticed Daphne staring at him with a courteous smile and a glass of butterbeer in her hands.
"Uhm, thanks." Harry said, suddenly feeling guilty about his early thoughts. He fumbled with his robes for a few seconds, before placing a galleon on the counter.
"Let me get your charge." Daphne announced with a small grin, placing the glass in the counter and sliding the golden coin inside her palm. She was about to reach towards the cash register but Harry stopped her.
"No, it's alright. Keep the change," Harry said, trying to squash the guilty feeling inside him. Besides, he mainly brought galleons with him, and he loathed having his pocket filled with coins, prefering to keep his robes light and simple.
Daphne looked at him in surprise, clutching her hand at her chest.
"It's too much." Daphne said, biting down her lip.
Harry casually shrugged. "I insist."
"And I insist, it's too much. Either you spend it on something or accept the money," Daphne declared with sudden determination, putting her hands on her hips.
Harry had to bite back a snarky comment about prideful Slytherins, wondering why she wouldn't just accept the bloody money. He looked around and noticed some of the wizards within earshot were looking at him with curious eyes. He looked back at Daphne, who still was looking at him defiantly. Realizing she was not going to budge, Harry's shoulder dropped in defeat.
"Fine, you win," Harry spat.
Daphne puffed her chest with pride. Harry grinned.
"A round of butterbeer for everyone!"
The response was immediate.
"Cheers! Cheers for Harry Potter!" The wizards began to chant, clicking their glasses together.
Harry smirked at Daphne, whose expression had shifted from annoyed to disbelief. Then, Daphne shook her head, before a beautiful smile appeared on her face.
For some reason, his heart skipped a beat at the sight, and the room's temperature suddenly rose.
'Definitely the heat'.
Daphne silently began to summon their glasses, earning another round of cheers. She seamlessly worked behind the counter, her wand disappearing in thin air as she filled each glass with expertise.
Harry inexplicably found her wandwork to be extremely alluring.
Finally, she used a Cooling Charm on the drinks, handing the glasses back to everyone. She turned back at him and gave him a dirty look.
"Prat." Daphne said with fake annoyance, before her face turned into an honest smile.
Her smile, combined with her flustered cheeks, made his stomach do a flip.
'Shite. Think of Ginny, think of Ginny…'
They both stare at each other for a moment — which made Harry a bit nervous — until a call from inside the kitchen broke the moment.
Daphne huffed, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, before disappearing inside the kitchen without saying a word.
Harry watched her go, still in a daze. He leaned against the counter and gripped his glass, looking at it with trepidation. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, before bringing it to his lips.
It tasted delicious.
He sipped from his drink, watching silently as Daphne walked out of the kitchen while levitating a few plates filled with food. She placed them on the counter and talked with one of the waiters, pointing at different tables. Then, she began to take orders from different costumers with a pleasant grin. He curiously observed Daphne as she worked, not bothering to hide the fact he was blatantly staring. She moved with an air of graciousness, befitting of a pureblood witch. Her clothes, while modest, accentuated her nice figure. Harry could tell that many wizards around his age were being easily bewitched by her womanly charms, and Harry had to begrudgingly admit she was a very pretty witch.
'She's still a Slytherin. Besides, Ginny is prettier.'
Soon, Harry's mind began to wander to his previous conversation with Shackebolt, and his mood took a nosedive.
He has already spent most of the last two weeks bored out of his mind inside Grimmauld Place. Shacklebolt's decision to postpone his entry to the aurors seemed pointless, since Harry was certain of his decision to join. Perhaps, if he tried again in a few days, Shacklebolt would come to the conclusion that he was just being stubborn, and would let him join before summer was over. He hadn't heard of any Death Eater attack since he had defeated Voldemort, but he wanted to help if anything happened. Surely, people would feel safer if he was in the Auror's Forces.
His thought went to Ginny, whom he had not spoken very much since they had broken things off. Their relationship was still unclear, as both of them had been busy battling their own demons. Tonks and Remus' death had been weighing heavily on him lately, while the Weasleys were still mourning Fred. Things were still too painful and raw for them to simply get back together, and Harry — still insecure of himself — was not sure if Ginny still harboured the same feelings she had for him. She definitely has been on his mind lately, and while they had exchanged short greetings whenever he visited The Burrows, things had been rather awkward between them.
Harry let out a sigh and hung his head, wishing he was doing something useful instead of spending his day brooding in a pub.
"You okay, Potter?"
Harry looked up, surprised to see Daphne staring at him with a curious expression.
"What? Ah, yes. I just…" Harry trailed off, not really wishing to explain the reason for his poor mood.
Daphne stole a glance, before looking at his empty glass.
"You done?"
Harry nodded, pushing his glass toward her. She took it and swiftly cleaned it with a simple spell. Not feeling like staying at the pub any longer, he was about to leave when Daphne put a hand on his arm.
Harry paused for a moment, not expecting the sudden proximity. He silently watched as Daphne took a wrapped chocolate bar from her pocket and handed it to him.
"It's dosed with a cheering charm. Eat it, it will make you feel better." Daphne explained, her cheeks tinted pink for some reason.
Harry stared at her with a frown, not really sure if accepting something so suspicious from a Slytherin was a good idea. Daphne stood with her arm extended for a few seconds, unti her patient ran out.
"Oh, for Morgana's sake! Just take it, Potter. I already gave you a butterbeer."
Harry blushed at her words, realizing she was right.
He coughed, trying to not think he probably looked like a paranoid twat. He grumbled under his breath, accepting the candy and shoving it inside his robes unceremoniously.
"Thanks."
Daphne giggled at him, probably finding his flustered state funny. He didn't blame her.
"You're welcome."
They stared awkwardly at each other, not really knowing what else to say. Harry ultimately averted his eyes and cleared his throat.
"Uhm, see you later, Greengrass."
Daphne nodded, giving him a small smile. "See you, Potter."
Harry quickly left the counter, feeling a bit dizzy. He kept his head down as he left the pub, trying to not drag unnecessary attention to himself this time.
Once outside, Harry thought about what to do now. The cold breeze caressed his skin, making him loosen up a bit. Remembering he has not seen Teddy in a while, Harry decided to drop by Andromeda's flat. She had said he was welcome to visit whenever he wanted, and Harry was determined to take his role as a godfather seriously.
He looked back at the Leaky Cauldron, and his hand palmed the candy Daphne had given him. Daphne Greengrass was a curious witch, nothing like he expected from a Slytherin. She has been rather pleasant, although it was clear she had a snarky side beneath. Maybe his experience with Draco and his gang of idiots had clouded his judgement. Perhaps, it was time to close that chapter and begin anew.
Surely, there was at least one decent Slytherin out there.
Right?
He took the candy off his pocket, and examined it closely.
Charlie's Cheering Chocolate.
His eyebrows furrowed for a moment, wondering why Daphne would be carrying this peculiar product with her.
Shaking his head and swallowing his pride, he unwrapped the candy bar and took a bite.
"Mmm."
It tasted good.
"Mmm."
And he definitely felt a bit cheerier after the second bite.
A smile appeared on his face, and for a moment Harry felt like everything was going to be alright. He took a deep breath and looked up at the sky, wondering just what the future has in store for him.
Harry frowned.
One thing was certain.
—It was going to be a long summer.