A/N: I was reading a fic about Harry basically being blackmailed into marrying Daphne, by Lord Greengrass, at a company party Harry shared a table with the Dursleys. I can for the life of me remember the name. For that I apologize. Anyway, it gave me the idea for a butterfly fiction or a what if fic, dealer's choice. All legal disclaimers apply. I don't own anything in reference to Harry Potter or related media. All rights are to the respective companies and the author J.K Rowling.

Daphne Greengrass sat in the library of Hogwarts School, it was the 20th of December and she was trying to think of a solution to a problem. How to deal with the Christmas Gala for her father's shipping company. Unlike the Yule Ball on the Winter Solstice, the Christmas Gala happened on Christmas eve for the Muggle based companies her father does business with.

So that meant the Grunnings Sales rep would be there with his wife and last year they had mentioned bringing their son with them to introduce Daphne to him.

This was something she didn't really want to do, but since Grunnings was one of the major businesses that worked with her father, he had to invite them, lest he insult them and risk losing the contract.

This was a problem, because if the son was anything like the father, she wasn't sure she could keep up the whole 'Polite Heiress' act all night.

She needed a barrier, someone she could use as a shield between herself and the rep's son.

No one in her house would do, mainly because she didn't trust any of them, a Puff or Claw weren't an option, as she didn't know any of them well enough, that left the Gryf's.

Normally she wouldn't go to the House of the Lion, at least not when looking for someone who'd behave at a high class event, but for the purpose of a shield, brash and stubborn was a useful combo.

So that left her a few options.

Ron Weasley

Dean Thomas

Seamus Finnegan

Neville Longbottom

Harry Potter

Weasley was out because of table manners

Finnegan was a hard no because she had a feeling he was the handies type and she was likely to freeze his wand off if he tried something.

Thomas had promise, but if her Housemates found out she went anywhere near the muggleborn, the possible house war between the Snakes and Lions wouldn't be pretty.

Longbottom may work, but she wasn't sure if the boy would just faint when she approached.

That left Potter and the main problems with him were his best friends, she doubted that Weasley and Granger would let her get near him, let alone let her lead him away to ask for the favor.

So when the boy in question walked into the Library by himself and sat down, she took a chance, walked over to his table and joined him.

{Scene Break}

Harry Potter had come to the Library because his best friends were once again having an argument in the middle of the Gryffindor Common Room. Once again about Scabbers.

He had enough of listening to them have a go at each other. So he went to the Library to finish some homework, only to find himself being joined by a Slytherin.

"Snakes, why did it have to be snakes?" He muttered to himself.

"Can I help you with something?" He asked the newcomer, his eyebrow raised.

"Actually yes you can, Potter." The blonde girl smiled at him.

"Okay, and who are you?"

"Daphne Greengrass." She said, holding out a hand for him to shake. "And, nice Temple of Doom joke."

He looked at the offered hand for a moment before taking it.

"Harry Potter." He said, as they shook hands. "Now what can I help you with? Also, how do you know that movie?"

"I am in need of an escort." She smiled. "And my Father is a bit of a Harrison Ford fan."

"Okay, and you need me to escort you to what exactly?"

"A Christmas Gala."

"Okay, and you're asking me why?"

"Because you're the least objectionable option."

"Okay, explain."

"My father's Shipping company deals with muggle businesses, as such every year he holds a Christmas Gala for the muggles he does business with, similar to the party he holds for the magical side. Normally I just go to this with my family, however one of the company rep's wants to bring his son and introduce us. I can't stand the man so I doubt I will do well with his son. So I decided to bring someone with me, hoping to act as a barrier between me and the rep's son.

Obviously I can't bring a member of my house, so I decided to branch out and figure you're my best bet at not wanting to strangle by my escort by the end of the night. At least that isn't a muggleborn, drawing the ire of my house or Longbottom who may faint if I were to approach him."

They sat there for a moment after she finished, Harry thinking about what she said.

Finally he sighed. "Are you sure I'm the best option?"

"Yes."

"And you really do need the help?"

"Yes."

"Okay and my job in this is to stop you from hexing a rude muggle?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I'll help."

"Good, I will meet you at Snape's office on the morning of the 23rd, we'll need a day to get some clothes for the event, which is on the 24th."

"Okay, um is there anything else I should know?"

"No, I will take care of the rest, just make sure you're not seen heading for Snape's Office, the fewer people that see you, the less likely someone might suspect something."

"Okay..."

With that said, she got up and headed out. Leaving Harry sitting there wondering how he went from doing homework to going to a muggle party with a Slytherin.

{Scene Break/Time Skip}

Morning of the 23rd, Harry quietly dawned his invisibility cloak and slipped out of the 3rd year dorm.

He made his way down the many hallways of the castle, heading for the office of it's Potions Master.

He wasn't sure how Greengrass was going to get Snape to agree to helping him out of the castle even if it was to help her, not him, but he just had to put his faith in the cunning of the snake.

He knocked gently on the door, making sure not to take off the cloak and waited.

When the door opened, he was met with the curious eyes of Daphne Greengrass, who seemed to be looking around for whoever she had heard knock.

"It's probably Potter." He heard Snape's voice from within. "Move aside so he can enter."

She turned to look into the room, seemingly confused, but listened and moved aside.

Harry walked past her and took off his cloak.

"How did you know about my cloak Professor?" He asked the Potions Master.

"That is none of your concern Potter." The man glared at him.

"Why do you have an Invisibility Cloak to begin with?" Daphne asked, as she closed the door.

"It belonged to my dad, I figured this was the best way to make sure I wasn't seen coming here." He answered.

"That was pretty smart Potter, I'd almost say it was cunning." She smiled.

"Well, I have my moments. Mind you tricking Peeves into thinking I was the Bloody Baron while I was invisible so he'd leave me alone is still my favorite." He smiled back, watching as her jaw dropped.

"Are you sure you're not a snake in a lion's skin?"

"That is a question only the Sorting Hat knows the answer to."

"As entertaining as this is," Snape cut in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. " I believe Ms. Greengrass needs to take you shopping and I have papers to grade."

"Right," Daphne stated, before turning to Harry. "You've traveled by floo before, right?"

"Once and I wound up in Knockturn Alley."

This got the attention of both Daphne and Snape, who asked as one. "How?"

"I mispronounced Diagon and came out in Knockturn."

"And why wasn't anyone with you for you first time using the floo?" Snape asked.

" Because there were eight of us and no one thought of the possibility that I'd screw up?"

"Weasleys?" Snape pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Yep."

"Of course." The Professor sighed, turning to Daphne. "Ms. Greengrass it would appear you will need to take Potter through the floo, otherwise he will likely get lost."

"Alright sir."

With that Daphne grabbed some Floo Powder, took Harry by the hand and together the flooed to Diagon Alley.

{Scene Break}

When they stepped out of the floo network into the Leaky Cauldron, Harry immediately tightened his grip on Daphne's hand, she only had a moment to see the stern look on his face before she found herself being pulled behind him, it was then she noticed his wand was out.

When he spoke, she noticed the crowd that had gathered around them and how they were slowly backing away from Harry. "I spent a month here, I've been coming here for my supplies for 3 years and I'm getting really tired of getting swarmed. Do any of you even realize you're thanking me for the worst night of my life? Stop reminding me of that just because the monster that terrorized you vanished that night, because it left me alone in a ruined house with the body of my dead parents."

The crowd, looking ashamed of themselves, started going back to what they were doing before they arrived.

In the dead silence that fell over the tavern, a soft cough was heard, walking towards them was her father, looking both surprised and impressed.

"Father." She smiled at him, one he returned.

"Daphne it's good to see you and it's nice to meet you Mr. Potter, Cyrus Greengrass." He said, hugging Daphne and offering a hand to Harry.

Harry took the hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you too sir."

{Scene Break}

After some small talk, the three of them went into the ally and got Harry a Muggle style suit, after which they headed to back to The Leaky Cauldron, where the Greengrass family was staying, deciding that it made more sense to stay there, rather than making their way from Greengrass Manor in Kent on the day of the Gala.

As Harry sat down at the table with the family of four, he was introduced to Daphne's mother Roxanne and her little sister Astoria, who happened to be a first year in Slytherin.

They ate in silence, until Roxanne spoke up.

"Did something happen? I don't remember the Cauldron ever being this quiet." She asked, looking at her Husband who smiled.

"Yes, Harry here lost his temper when the patrons swarmed himself and our daughter when they stepped out of the floo, telling them at wand point, to stop thanking him for the night his parents died. So I believe that the quiet is due to shame rather than anything else." He stated, with a chuckle.

"And you find that amusing?" She glared at him.

"The fact that a thirteen year old put a bunch of adults in their place, yes, the reason he had too however, no." He answered, tactfully.

"Alright."

After that they had some desert and called it a night. Cyrus having made sure that Harry had a room ready before his arrival.

{Scene Break}

Harry sat in the back of a limo, in a high end suit heading to the Gala. Daphne was beside him, slapping his hand whenever he tried to mess with his tie or fidget with his over coat.

"Will you stop, you look fine and the magic in the fabric will prevent wrinkles." She said, after his fifth attempt to straighten his tie because of his nerves.

"Sorry." He mumbled.

"It's fine," She sighed. "I can understand being nervous."

She took his hand in her own. "I appreciate this Harry, I really do."

"It's no problem." He muttered.

"Harry, being nervous is alright, but I've got to ask what happened to take away the snarky smart-ass from school, or the person that told of the Leaky Cauldron patrons?"

"I'm used to that stuff, this though, this is so far outside my comfort zone it's in a different time zone."

"That's fair, but don't worry, if anything goes wrong there are Aurors working security. So if anything does happen, they can handle it okay. Plus my father has held the Gala every year and it always goes smoothly. Just smile, be polite and when in doubt let me handle it. Okay?"

"Okay." He smiled at her and she smiled back.

Though while they were smiling, the other three people in the back of the limo were all wearing knowing smirks, but were staying silent. Two, because they didn't want to ruin the moment. One, because she knows that if she waited till later, she could tease her big sister with everything that could happen tonight if she didn't make Daphne self conscious.

{Scene Break}

For the most part things were going well, Harry greeted guests, chatted with some, stuck to Daphne and ate, danced, and had a good time. It was one of the best nights of his young life, though that wasn't saying much, it was going to really well right up until he heard Daphne mutter 'here they come', at the same time he felt a chunk of ice plummet into his stomach, because the people walking towards them were his Aunt, Uncle and cousin.

He had one thought that summed up the situation, for him at least. 'Shit!'

"Ms. Greengrass..." His Uncle began, before noticing the person on the arm of who he was addressing was his nephew.

His Uncle's face started changing color so fast, Harry wondered if it had changed every shade of purple in under a minute and if that was some form of record.

He noticed Daphne looking between his uncle and him, confusion in her eyes. His Aunt and cousin were just looking on, most likely shocked into silence by the situation.

"Good evening Uncle, How 's your sister? I do hope she didn't pop when they tried to empty her of all that hot air." Harry glared at the man who made his life hell for over a decade, his eyes full of an utter loathing, a look that had only before been directed at Voldemort, at least until Harry heard his mother's last words.

The fact that this man and his sister would insult a woman who would give her life for him, had a chance to survive, but stood firm, rather dying then let her son be killed to save herself, enraged him. The fact that his mother's own sister just stood there and let them only added fuel to the raging inferno that was his anger.

"How..." Vernon started before he fell silent.

Harry was unaware that the Aurors had shown up but were staring at him in shock, that the other members of the Greengrass family were also watching in slack jawed amazement, along with some of the other guests.

Or that Daphne was beside him wide eyed.

His hair was moving to an unseen breeze, his eyes were glowing an eerie green, his magic rolling off him in waves.

However all he saw was his relatives, all he heard was his mother's final moments ringing in his ears.

When he spoke, his voice was but a whisper, the tone cold and dangerous.

"She begged, she begged that bastard to spare me and he laughed."

He didn't hear the gasps of the crowd or feel Daphne take his hand and squeeze it.

"She was given the choice to stand aside, to live, but instead she pleaded for him to kill her and spare me instead."

By now everyone noticed the temperature change and some could smell something almost a kin to the first thunderstorm of summer.

"And you have the nerve, the pure audacity, to insult her memory in front of me, calling her a worthless waste of space, saying she never cared for me."

At this he turned to his Aunt. "And you, she was your sister, your little sister and you tell her son that she didn't care about him, let your husband and sister-in-law insult and belittle her. You treat her only child as little more than a slave and force him to live in a cupboard for ten years, when your own son has two bedrooms, all the while letting him beat and chase me around without a single punishment."

He then spat at both of them. "For all your claims of being normal, proper members of society, for all your insults to my parents, you are by far the most disgusting excuses for human beings I have ever had the displeasure of meeting."

At this he stormed off. Still not aware that Daphne had his hand or that she was keeping pace. Not noticing his relatives being arrested by the Aurors, not noticing that he was heading for the grounds of the event hall. All he noticed was the tears rolling down his cheeks.

TBC

A/N 2: I hope you all enjoy reading this. I'm still working on Fork Tongued Lion. I just got this written and decided to share.

A/N 3: I am deleting the apology, also thank you to the person who posted the name of the author and the fiction I forgot.