Author's Note: This story was written for the Haphne Halloween 2021 Collection organized by the Harry/Daphne Discord server.
Link: discord．gg/pKSdvJQvhU
My thanks to NerdDragonVoid, DeadFish37, Arnie1701, Webstriker, and especially Dorothea Greengrass for their efforts as beta readers.
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There was marked change the next morning. Though the participants were quite tired after the night's exploits, they slept better than they had in weeks. It was as if the air in Hogwarts, after being stale for so long, got freshened by a breeze, the high pressure was gone. Where before there were sinister shadows in the corridors, the castle felt homey and welcoming again.
And nowhere could it be seen better than in the Great Hall during breakfast. Gone was the oppressive silence of the previous days when people rushed to eat as quickly as possible. Students were gathering, laughter resounded across the hall. Stories were told, dreams were shared. Good cheer again reigned in Hogwarts.
Two groups were watching this development. The professors at the High Table were smiling in relief as they observed the mood in the room, and the Headmistress gave a nod of respect towards the other quiet group.
The eighth years sat at their table, quieter than the younger students, though there were smiles on their faces. Harry sat flanked by his friends, and returned the nod the Headmistress sent their way. Neville sat opposite him, much like Harry, sipping hot tea, a necessity in the morning.
While there had been a degree of kinship between them, Harry found himself enjoying the company of the formerly shy Gryffindor, and the previous night's events forged an even stronger bond between them.
Neville just nodded at Harry and gestured to the side, where Daphne, quietly supported by a younger Slytherin, was making her way to the table. Wordlessly, space was cleared for the two.
"Neville, Harry." She greeted them.
None protested her coming. Ever since the Battle of Hogwarts, Daphne had been respected as one of the formidable fighters, but everyone remembered her, accompanied by the cawing of crows, standing alongside Harry against a foe that none wished to face again, and driving it away.
"Daphne," Harry and Neville returned the greeting, while Ron and Hermione made their excuses to leave.
"I wanted to introduce my sister, Astoria." The younger Greengrass, so similar in looks to her sister, behaved very much unlike her, watching the table, and blushing.
"Um, good morning," the younger Greengrass managed to pipe. "I wanted to thank you. I know it was not easy for Daphne." She touched her big sister's arm. "So it must not have been easy for you."
Harry and Neville exchanged looks and then Neville spoke up. "You are welcome. And right. But sometimes, one needs to do things that are not easy."
Daphne squeezed her sister's shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Astoria just nodded, and moved towards Dennis Creevey at the neighboring table. Harry had to hide a smile at her manhandling him as she dragged him towards them.
"I also… I wanted to thank you for what you did during the battle." She blushed as she held the younger Gryffindor's hand. "We… it would have been… hard."
"Ah." Harry nodded, recalling what he had heard the night before. "I can see that. Congratulations, by the way."
For just a moment, Dennis reminded Harry of his older brother, sporting the same blush as Colin did when Harry spoke to him kindly for the first time. Astoria's cheeks too were dusted red as they made their own excuses.
Hannah then appeared to drag Neville, merely calling over her shoulder that they would be in the greenhouses.
Daphne raised an eyebrow at the sight and Harry shrugged in response, though both of their mouths twitched with suppressed smiles.
Ah, why not? That was Harry's thought as he opened his mouth to speak. Had he not wanted to get to know her better? "Would you like to go to Hogsmeade, Daphne?" Even so, he felt surprised at his own boldness. It had been so long since he last had been on a date, let alone asked a girl out. However, it felt right.
"Hm." She rubbed her chin, and tapped her cane. "Are you sure you want to go on a date with a cripple?"
"I am quite sure I want to go on a date with the one who stood by me against insurmountable odds." His gaze was quite intent, focused, and though his voice was quiet, it carried. "So why not give it a chance? See how it goes?"
"Ah, Gryffindors," Daphne muttered with a fond smile on her features. "I admire your direct approach. Alright. Let's have a nice day out, shall we?"
"Exactly." Harry nodded. "The weather's looking nice, so let's meet at the gate."
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The weather had indeed looked amazing. There were no signs of the night's storm, the air was crisp and the azure expanse of the sky touched the hilly horizons. Fresh breeze was blowing from the not so distant sea and the rays of sunlight reflecting off the Black Lake made for a glittering show.
Harry had put on the best robes he had available, on Hermione's insistence, simple black and green robes that nonetheless gave him an elegant look. Now, he was waiting at the castle gates. Ron and Hermione, he knew, disappeared to the castle in search of a room where they could have some privacy, while Neville was with Hannah, working on a private project in a greenhouse. Harry had to smile at that.
Oh well, and there was Daphne, in a lovely cobalt blue robe, leaning on her cane, striding towards him. Her hair was done in an elaborate bun, and he was sure she was wearing several cosmetic spells. She had taken care to look nice for the date.
"Have you been waiting long?"
"Not at all." Harry smiled and offered her his arm. "Shall we walk to the carriages?"
"Let's be about it then." Daphne's answering smile transformed her face which he had seen mostly deep in thought or set in grim determination.
He found himself liking the sight.
"Maybe a detour closer to the forest?" Daphne suggested, seeing the throngs of students waiting for their carriage. "Lately, I've developed a fondness for peace and quiet."
"One doesn't appreciate what they have until they lose it," he remarked, trying to sound wise.
"Was that a Dumbledore impression?"
"Ah, would have worked better with a beard, wouldn't it?" He frowned in mock dismay.
"Indeed, though you still lack animated moons and stars on your robes to properly pull it off."
Slowly, they were putting more distance between the line of students and themselves, and the din of hundreds of teenagers talking over each other was finally subsiding.
"Hm." He shrugged. "I'm not sure anyone can really pull off the stars and moons as well as Dumbledore did."
"You'd look ridiculous in them anyway." Daphne chuckled.
Their already leisurely pace slowed down even more.
She sighed and breathed in the fresh air. "It really is a glorious day. Do you see anywhere to sit?" She lifted her cane, and the golden horse head glinted in the sunlight. "Strolls are not my strong suit at the moment."
He nodded, spotting a suitably large stone that could serve as their seat. He gently directed Daphne there, while taking out his wand.
"Quite a nice piece of conjuration, Harry." Daphne noted upon seeing the blanket he conjured on the boulder, The fabric felt nice, smooth, and soft, and it was green, with images of stags and crows scattered around.
"To return to the topic, though," Daphne spoke up after sitting down with a sigh, "I prefer you not imitating Dumbledore."
"Back to stars and moons?" He raised his eyebrows.
"Only for a moment, I assure you." She squeezed his arm. "Allow me to make my point."
"Sorry, sorry."
"That's better," she raised her finger. "As I was saying, rather than seeing you imitate Dumbledore, I prefer seeing you being yourself." She turned to him and gave him an appreciative look. "It suits you much better."
"Thank you." He avoided looking at her for a moment. "You, er, you look very fetching."
"Fetching?" She giggled. "Have you been reading old etiquette or romance books?"
"What can I say?" He shrugged. "I've been best friends with Hermione for years."
They both started softly laughing at that. Hermione was well known among the castle populace, as was her love for books, after all.
They heard a curious, high pitched echo of their laughter, the cause of which fast became apparent. They were surrounded by a multitude of flying lights that were all tittering with them.
"Fairies?" Harry asked with wonder in his voice.
Daphne giggled as one of the fairies sat on her hand. "It looks like we're not the only ones relieved that much of the darkness plaguing Hogwarts had been lifted last night."
And indeed, the fairies started circling them, singing and cheering in their high-pitched voices, sometimes coming so close to them that Harry and Daphne felt gentle tickles at the touch. From time to time, they flew so close to their faces that Harry could see their diminutive figure within the dancing light.
"Well, our solitude, peace, and quiet didn't last long," he noted with a wry smile.
"Compared to people," Daphne shrugged, "I don't mind this company." She sighed. "And I have to apologize. We are both nicely dressed, have the space for it. Even music." She smiled at the fairies, two of which were now cuddling her cheeks. "And I cannot offer you a dance."
"I would be a lousy dance partner anyway," Harry admitted. "Let's just watch the fairies dance."
They definitely heard him, because the fairies started an elaborate dance of lights around the couple.
"Harry Potter the Fairy Whisperer." Daphne covered her mouth as she was laughing softly. "Who would have thought?"
There was definitely some tittering in the fairies' song.
"And I only had to help make a stand against the Unseelie Fae," he said with a shrug.
The fairies surely understood him, because there was a cheer from a multitude of tiny throats.
They sat in the shade for a moment, watching the fairies fly in ever-changing patterns and honestly enjoying their song.
Eventually, Harry addressed his date once more. "If I may ask, why did you accept to go out with me?"
She tapped her chin as she hummed, taking a while to formulate her thoughts. "As you said, why not give this a chance? When better to do it than now?" She looked him in the eyes, her face serious. "Now is a time of change."
"Is it such a big change for you?" Harry asked. "I apologize for overhearing your conversation with your… father."
"Don't apologize," she answered him with a wave of her hand. "He made sure everyone would hear."
"Well, yes. It sounded like you were quite, er, resolute." He took some time to find the right words.
"Yes." She nodded. "At the time. I wasn't always that way. As you may know. Our interactions over the years have not been…" This time she was looking for the right word.
"Amicable?" he suggested.
"Yes, amicable." She nodded again, looking at her knees. "To be perfectly honest, I often behaved like a right brat, if not worse."
"You were only repeating what your father told you, no?" He laid a hand on her shoulder. "But I don't remember you ever being needlessly cruel. Unlike some others."
"I was not cruel. Yes, such a glowing compliment." She smiled at him, a tear leaking from her eye. "Don't apologize." She touched the hand on her shoulder. "It just didn't make sense, what some of my classmates did. But I wasn't very nice either."
"That's not what I have been hearing," he said, hoping to lift her spirit.
"Well, it is hard to show proper disdain," she said while making air quotes, "to people who are generally nicer and kinder to you than the respectable purebloods."
"Hm, and then there is your sister and Dennis." The thought brought a smile to both of their faces.
"Oh yes, Tori introduced him to me some time ago," she recalled. "What a sweet boy, he was trying so hard to be a gentleman." A sigh escaped her lips. "Just seeing my sister's smile was enough to convince me to help her against my father's wishes."
Harry nodded. "You care for her."
"I always have. Our mother died young, when Tori was two years old. Our father…" She scowled. "Our nanny elf was more of a parent."
"And you have grown into the young woman sitting here with me." He said with a note of admiration in his voice. "Who stands up for her family, friends, and convictions. I respect that."
"Such Gryffindor values." She smiled wide.
"Is that such a bad thing?"
"No, I guess it is not."
"It looks like we have grown up from the firsties sitting under a hat." He sighed. "It is almost difficult to believe we managed it, while dealing with the craziness around here."
"It seems we did. Would you allow me a question?" At his nod, she went on. "What do you want to do after this year? What are your ambitions?"
"I see how it is, you admit to some Gryffindor in you, and you're fishing for Slytherin in me?"
"Maybe?" She stretched the word out.
"I will admit I am not sure. I think this year will help a lot but…" He sighed, a deep, weary sigh. "I will need to heal, I think."
"Yes." She nodded. "I understand. The wounds left by the war… They heal slowly."
"That's right," he agreed, but a smile bloomed on his face. "But, as I've been reminded of, our loved ones never truly leave us and are with us when we need them most."
"That's true, there's wisdom to that. A good reason to allow love into one's heart." She put her palm on her cheek in a sudden realization."Reminded of… That owl. When it looked like you stood alone, and your owl appeared, and the others."
Tears, he noticed, were rolling down both their cheeks.
"Yeah." He nodded. "Luna was right. The boundary with the world of the dead gets thinner on Halloween."
She took his hand into her own, and covered the back of his hand with the other, saying nothing.
"And then I remember you coming to scold the leader of the Unseelie Fae and stand at my side."
"I.." She gulped. "That whole night felt strange. On one hand, I truly wanted to help you, that thing you were facing was… terrifying. And on the other hand, I knew that if we failed, it would be catastrophic. I don't know why."
He blew a breath out. "I think it was the costumes. In some way… They referred to me as a hunter, and some of the thoughts that came to me, the words. I don't think they were entirely mine."
Both of them shivered at the thought.
"But you, Daphne, costume or no, came to help. Like during the Battle of Hogwarts. You came to help. Thank you."
"And thank you, for your part, Harry." She blushed, a sight he found quite cute. "But you avoided my question."
"My future, hm." He looked at the castle. "To be honest, I have had quite enough of fighting for now, so being an Auror does not seem such a good choice anymore. But I enjoyed teaching." He shrugged. "So I think I will find out what I need to do to try and teach. Maybe here. And what about you?"
"I…" She paled a bit. "I wanted to work in a dragon reserve. But with my leg…" She lifted her cane demonstratively. "I don't think I will be able to. Working with dragons is quite demanding."
"Are you that interested in them?"
"Oh yes, always have been." A smile blossomed on her face again. "I have several shelves of books about dragons."
"Maybe you could teach people about them?" he suggested with a wink.
"Oh, maybe." She shrugged. "I may be more indecisive than you. I guess we will see after this year."
"We could both end up teaching here," he suggested with a chuckle.
"Oh my," Daphne exclaimed while pretending to fan her face. "Is that a proposition?"
"Well..." Harry rubbed the back of his neck, and it was his turn to blush. "I think this has been the best date I have ever had so far."
"Hm. Hm." Daphne nodded and started counting on her hand. "Nice environment, check. Nice clothes, check. Music, check. Nice conversation, check." She broke into a laugh. "By Merlin, you are right! This is one of the nicest dates I've had too."
They shared a laugh, accompanied by further tittering from the fairies.
"So?" Harry prodded.
"So I wouldn't mind some more."
During their conversation, both had been shifting, bit by bit, ever closer to each other, until they melded into each other's side. Daphne released a sigh and looked skywards, watching the azure expanse through the net of branches.
"This is really nice. I can't recall when I last had a chance to just… sit and relax." She laid her head on his shoulder.
"Neither can I, to be honest," Harry said with a sigh of his own. "Would you mind terribly if we just… stayed here? Like this?"
Daphne took her time before answering, closing her eyes, listening to his breathing, the sounds of the forest, and the cheerful melody of the fairies dancing around them, or cuddling the both of them. "Hogsmeade has been here for over a thousand years. It won't go anywhere." She winked at him. "I will agree on one condition."
"Oh, a Slytherin to the core, hm? Name it."
"Put your arm around me."
He chuckled. "So needy." But as he was speaking, his arm snaked around her shoulder, pressing her even more to his side.
Soft smiles graced both of their faces, as they sat in an embrace, enjoying the warmth, quiet song, and the feel of a gentle breeze in their hair, as it rustled the leaves. Eventually, their eyes closed and breathing evened.
The fairies quieted down their song and dance, landing on the young lovers, cuddling with them, to grant them warm and sweet dreams. And if a stag with a majestic pair of antlers, ending in a dozen tips, walked around from time to time, casting long looks with his soulful eyes, none would be able to tell, save perhaps for a crow sitting on a branch nearby, all quiet so as not to disturb the peace, her enigmatic gaze taking in all the details while she stood her vigil.
Time, however, does not wait for anybody, not even young lovers. It was getting close to noon, and the rays of sunlight were tickling Harry's face. He blinked blearily for a bit, but quickly got his bearings, and recognized the warmth at his side. A few of the fairies took off from him, starting their cheerful, high pitched song again.
"Hello there. You kept watch over us?" He addressed them with a smile, wondering whether he was a fool or not.
However, there was a definite change in tone and melody, that just expressed agreement mixed with pride.
"Then I am grateful."
Even louder tittering answered him, which was the moment when Daphne followed him away from the realm of dreams.
"Talking to the fairies again?"
From up close, as she was still half asleep and smiling, her eyes drew him in, hazel with green flecks that one had to be intimately close to see. It took an act of will to avoid getting lost in the sight, but he managed.
He squeezed her shoulder as he spoke. "They kept us company the whole time. I think we're becoming friends."
"Mhm." She nodded. "Fine, one could have much worse friends." She directed a bright smile towards the fairies. "You have been excellent company."
The fairies tittered and sang even louder, and the whole cloud of floating lights shook, as if laughing.
"It's almost noon," Harry noticed, looking at the sky. "We have to head back to the castle."
"Oh, you're right." Daphne sighed. "That brings our little date to a close, doesn't it?"
"I'm afraid so."
"Well." Her smile was quite impish. "Then we better end the date properly, no?"
"Hm?" He played along. "And how is that?"
"With a kiss."
She took the initiative and closed the distance to claim his lips in a soft kiss, more tenderness than passion, and caressed his cheek as she held him. He responded in kind, hugging her closer to himself. Neither was in any rush to end this just yet.
Though romance stories often sing odes to fireworks erupting during the first kiss, nothing of the sort happened. But even so, colourful lights flew around the couple, as the tiny fairies cheered at the display of affection.
They had to separate, though, however reluctantly.
"That was…" Harry started, "really nice." He held on to her sill, and her palm was still cupping his cheek.
"Mhm, I have to agree." She smiled, blushing, and touched her forehead to his. "I wouldn't mind another."
Harry was only too happy to oblige.
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They walked through the castle gates hand in hand, relishing that close, intimate contact, though Harry was blushing quite a bit. Daphne had decided to tease her new boyfriend the whole time they walked.
"Just imagine my sister's face when she finds out I slept with you on the first date. Before our first kiss, even." Her cackling reminded him quite a bit of Peeves.
"Daphne! Would you really scandalize your own sister so?" He tried to imitate a posh accent.
"In a heartbeat, mister!" She squeezed his hand affectionately
They were welcomed with cheers and smiles, even laughter. Both of them returned the smiles and waved at several younger students.
"It's good to see Hogwarts happy again," he murmured into her ear. In answer, she merely nodded, though her smile grew even wider.
They were headed to the usual meeting place of the eighth years and their families. Inside the room, most of the year was already there, getting ready to head for lunch.
"Daphne!" Astoria was the first to notice their arrival and rushed towards them, dragging Dennis with her. Her shout alerted Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Terry, Hannah, Neville, and more, who eagerly turned to see what had Astoria so excited. The sight of Harry and Daphne holding hands caused numerous cheers and laughs, many people sending congratulatory gestures and remarks their way. However, there was also a curious amount of giggling, sniggering, even outright laughter.
Daphne raised her eyebrows at Astoria who, together with Dennis, were trying to contain their own snickers. They lost that particular struggle quite quickly.
"...sorry." Astoria tried to stop laughing, though her shoulders still shook. "Have you gained any new freckles?"
Dennis couldn't get a word out, but he helpfully gestured at their faces. They looked at each other, and saw, in the dimly lit room, their faces alight with countless glowing marks. All the colours of the rainbow shone from their cheeks and brows.
Luna's giggles sounded to their left, where the seventh year Ravenclaw was leaning against a wall. "Started a collection of fairy kisses, have you?"
And indeed, upon closer inspection, both of them noticed the other was covered in minuscule kiss marks that glowed in the dark.
Harry was the first to start laughing, though Daphne soon followed. "Well, now we know why they were giggling so much, don't we?"
Daphne covered her mouth briefly, and Harry found the sound of her laughter truly delightful.
"Well, the fairies pulled quite the trick on us, didn't they?" She asked, exaggerating her dramatic motion. "Can't let them get ahead." She grabbed her wand and tapped her lips with its tip. Briefly, they lit up in brilliant pink. She then proceeded to land a loud smooch on Harry's cheek, to much merriment and applause from the gathered students.
"There, that should work." She sounded entirely too satisfied with the result.
"Well," Harry shrugged, "you've marked me well and good." He enveloped her in a bearhug and started tickling her.
"Laughter's good for the soul!"
And laughter there was.