Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of JK Rowling, nothing in this fanfiction is mine.
Special thanks to Webstriker and KingMyrddin from the Haphne discord for the beta work! This translation wouldn't be here without them!
AN: Hi everyone,
Here is the English translation of yet another Haphne One-shot I wrote in French first. I have so many ideas for this pairing! Harry and Daphne are just way too cute together for me to stop writing stories about them!
In this one, I took some liberties with the canon, but nothing that should rise to much questions. I had a lot of trouble with the plot at first, but I like how it turned out in the end! So I hope you will also enjoy it ;)
As always, feel free to write a review. I love to take the time to answer them!
As we French like to say, bisous, et à la prochaine !
Alex
A Long-Awaited Letter
Harry Potter took one last look at the picture of Rabastan Lestrange before putting the file away in a drawer. It had been a long day and the only thing he could think of at the moment was to get home and have dinner with his wife, the fugitive former Death Eater could wait for a while.
In the office next door, he could hear the rustling of papers, indicating that his colleague and best friend Ron Weasley was preparing to do the same.
With a yawn, Harry stretched his arms while Ron poked his head through the door to call out to him.
"Say Harry, do you really think you're going to get Daphne with that prank?" he asked with apparent skepticism.
The question brought Harry back to an hour earlier, and he saw himself once again tying a letter to the leg of one of the Ministry owls. A confident smile came to his lips at the memory.
"Don't worry, my friend, I think I know her better than anyone."
The redhead didn't look convinced. "If you say so... Honestly, I don't think anyone truly knows the Slytherins, but hey, I trust you. You'll tell me how it went though, won't you?"
"You'll be the first to know tomorrow morning," Harry agreed, "What about Hermione? She's not too stressed about Rose I hope?"
"Absolutely terrified," Ron laughed, "You know how the start of her first year was. But at least she's a bit relieved that James is going at the same time as Rose, and that several of her cousins are already in Gryffindor."
"You seem quite certain that your daughter will end up in our old house, both of you."
"Of course, why? Are you not?"
Harry shrugged nonchalantly. "Considering his mother, I wouldn't blame James if he was sorted into Slytherin. After all, the Greengrasses have been in that house forever, it's practically in their blood."
"It would be a shame for him though. It's freezing at night in the dungeons," Ron lifted his wrist to look at the time on his watch. "Well, I'm going to take my leave, I'm expected at home."
The two friends bumped fists and Ron disappeared down the Floo of his office.
Harry took one last look at his own before imitating his best friend. Grabbing a handful of floo powder, he tried to remember each step of his plan. He found it a little amusing that, for today at least, he would be the Slytherin.
A swirl of green flames engulfed him as he shouted, "Potter Manor, Godric's Hollow!"
-oo0oo-
Harry opened the door to his living room, two cups of hot tea floating beside him. As he had expected, his wife was sitting by the fire, staring into the dancing flames. After more than a decade of marriage, he was starting to know her pretty well.
This familiar sight warmed his heart, and he wasn't quite sure of the reason. Perhaps it was because he was glad to have someone by his side after all he had been through.
Daphne Greengrass-Potter looked up as she heard him enter the room. When she saw him, her blue eyes came alive and a smile lit up her face.
"Harry!" she exclaimed as she stood up suddenly, her long blonde hair whirling behind her, "I didn't think you'd be home so early today!"
She was still dressed in her black magistrate's robes, adorned with the Ministry of Magic crest in the back. Her workdays were sometimes quite long, but usually not as long as his, which could be literally endless as head of the Auror office.
As she reached her husband, Daphne put her arms around his neck and stood up on her toes to give him a tender kiss. Harry floated the teacups onto a coffee table before placing his hands on Daphne's hips and gladly kissing her back.
A few moments later he pulled away slightly from her lips as she groaned and tried to pull him back to her. He chuckled at that, which annoyed Daphne, if the way she looked at him with her eyebrows furrowed was anything to go by.
"Well, what a greeting," Harry teased gently, "What have I done to deserve this?"
Daphne rolled her eyes at him, but her expression betrayed some amusement.
"I wonder, really," she retorted, falsely offended, " Can't a woman be happy to see her husband come home from work late at night?"
She returned to one of the armchairs by the fire, picking up one of the teacups.
"Where are Albus and Lily?" asked Harry, even though he was sure he already knew the answer.
"Still at the Weasleys'. It's busy at their house at the moment, Granger left Hugo there too. Honestly, it's a wonder the kids in this family know who their parents are, with how much they stay at the Burrow," replied Daphne as she sipped her tea.
Harry smiled and moved to sit beside her. As much as she tried to make the atmosphere lighter, he knew her well enough to know she was a little tenser than usual. And Harry knew what the reason was, too. While Daphne Greengrass was usually a controlled person, she was still a mother, with all the worries that this role entailed.
The best way to cheer her up would be to ruffle the infamous Slytherin pride. And Harry knew exactly how to do that, while at the same time setting the stage for his prank.
"You know Daphne, you don't need to worry about James. I think you already know this, but I can tell you that the rooms in Gryffindor Tower are particularly comfy. He'll feel right at home there."
The blonde looked up at him with an amused expression, her shoulders relaxing somewhat at his words.
"Keep dreaming, Potter," she said, sticking her tongue out. "My son will be a Slytherin, and you know it!"
Harry looked up. "Ah, but no member of the Potter family has ever been a snake, and James most certainly won't be the first."
"It's a good thing his last name is Greengrass and not Potter, then."
Harry watched as Daphne sent him her typical smirk, which he recalled seeing many times at Hogwarts.
She was right though, their first son had taken his mother's surname, in order to keep up the tradition of the House of Greengrass, and to allow that family to continue, as Daphne had no brother who could carry the name.
He glanced at the large clock above the fireplace and made a quick mental calculation.
It should arrive any minute now.
"And what would you do if James was sorted into Gryffindor?"
He was pretty sure Daphne wouldn't leave until she heard from her son, but in doubt, he preferred to stall.
"Very simple, I would disinherit him, then disown him."
Harry burst out laughing at Daphne's tone. She wouldn't do it, but she sounded so serious that it made the situation particularly hilarious. Harry had noticed before, with Draco in particular, that some purebloods had a rather dark sense of humour at times.
"I hope it doesn't come to that."
Just as he finished his sentence, there was a cracking sound, and Polly, the house-elf from Potter Manor, appeared in front of the couple. Unlike most elves owned by pureblood families, Polly was dressed in a really clean outfit, similar to the clothes worn by Hogwarts' elves.
As usual, the little creature curtsied so low that her nose nearly touched the floor. As she did so, Harry saw a golden envelope lodged in her hand.
This is it.
"Master Harry and Mistress Daphne have received a letter! It arrived by owl just now!"
Daphne took the letter carefully, appearing a lot less confident than her voice had been a few minutes ago, while Harry thanked Polly.
"Good work, Polly, as always," he said, bowing to the elf as well, who broke down in tears and thanks.
Harry wondered every day how he had managed to find a house-elf even more emotional than Dobby. Seriously, it was a mystery.
The elf wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, then left with a second crack as loud as the first, while Harry addressed his wife.
"So, who's the letter from?"
"From James," Daphne replied simply, at the same time apprehensive and reassured to hear from her son.
Harry smiled quietly.
The moment of truth had arrived. Come on Harry, focus.
He shook his head gently and came to stand by Daphne's side.
His wife broke the seal on the envelope and took the parchment out of it.
Harry saw her eyes scan the letter with a speed that would have made Hermione blush, even on her best day. She seemed particularly eager to know how James's first day had gone. However, before she reached the end of the letter, her eyes locked onto one particular passage.
Immediately Daphne turned her head towards Harry and stared at him, unmoving.
Harry could feel the laughter coming, bubbling up within him like a Fizzing Whizzbee, and he silently thanked the occlumency lessons he had received in Auror training which allowed him to maintain a neutral face.
He could still feel the blonde's eyes on him and he knew she was looking for any sign that would betray his position. The former Slytherin had a special gift for reading people, and he had to put on his best poker face.
He pretended to be pleasantly surprised as he pointed to what he knew had bothered Daphne.
" '...it took a long time but the Sorting Hat placed me to Gryffindor! I didn't expect it at all! I hope you're not too disappointed, Mum! You should see the common room, it's much livelier than how you described the dungeons to me. ' "
For good measure, Harry sent a triumphant smile to his wife.
"I told you! Potters always end up in Gryffindor, it's in our blood!"
Daphne had remained silent while he did a rather ridiculous little pirouette in front of her to express his joy. He sang James's praises for a few moments, repeating things like "What a worthy heir!" or "Like father, like son!".
"You know, it could be worse, there's still Albus and Lily. Maybe one of them will turn out to be a real Greengrass, even if their name is Potter," he finally said to his wife, who still hadn't said a word.
He put an arm around Daphne's shoulder and tried to kiss her on the cheek. Sulking, She turned her face away, which amused Harry greatly.
He mentally congratulated himself on having come up with this fantastic idea, truly worthy of the Weasley twins' best pranks.
Finally, Daphne threw the letter towards the fire with a disgusted pout.
"You know what, Potter? You're right, I think I'm the only Greengrass in this family."
Harry gave her a bright grin, "Yes, but the important thing is that we all love you, Daphne. Even though you're a Slytherin."
Unexpectedly, the blonde also returned a smile, much colder than his, though.
She pulled out her wand and conjured a piece of parchment that looked official. At least to Harry's eyes.
He raised an eyebrow as he saw her grab a quill and some ink.
"What are you doing? What's this parchment?"
"Oh, nothing much," Daphne said absently, not even looking up, "just a little letter to Gringotts."
A sinking sensation was rapidly settling in the pit of his stomach. His good mood had just vanished into thin air, and now he had a very bad feeling.
"A letter to Gringotts? But what for?"
"Nothing serious, it is simply to dissociate my name from your son. And to take away my inheritance, at the same time."
Harry froze completely, his wife's words about James coming back to him at once.
She couldn't be serious, could she?
"Wait a minute Daphne, I don't think it needs to come to this, it's only a house after all..."
His wife shook her head negatively, "I told you, Harry, no Greengrass has gone anywhere but in Slytherin in the thousand years of the family's existence. It's unfortunate, but that's the way it is."
"But he's your son!"
Panic began to rise in Harry, who was already regretting writing that fake letter to prank Daphne.
"Not anymore," Daphne replied, before calling, "Polly!"
The house-elf immediately appeared. "Mistress Daphne asked for Polly?"
"Take this letter to Bogrod at Gringotts. Have him execute it by tomorrow morning."
She handed the letter to the elf, who was about to take it away, happy to have a task to perform.
"NO!"
Harry grabbed the parchment before Polly could get her hands on it. The little elf gave a little cry of surprise and looked alternately at Daphne and Harry, not quite sure what to do.
Harry could feel the sweat beading on his forehead, and his fingers were trembling.
"It was a joke, Daphne! I wrote that letter, to trick you!" he exclaimed, "I have no idea if James has been sorted in Gryffindor or Slytherin! But Merlin, are you serious right now?"
She's not serious. She CAN'T be.
As he repeated this in his head, a peal of small, amused laughter broke out at his side, and Harry watched as his wife tried to cover it up with her hand.
Caught in doubt, Harry readjusted his glasses and brought the letter before his eyes.
"'Dear husband,'" he read aloud, " 'it might be time for you to realise that it is impossible to play Slytherin with a Slytherin, for the snake always bites the lion in the end. Sincerely, your loving wife.' "
Harry fell silent after reading it, dumbfounded.
He threw the parchment into the fire, as his wife did minutes ago. He couldn't believe how easily he had been tricked. And yet he had been married to Daphne Greengrass for years.
Some things really are set in stone.
When he dared to look at Daphne, she had a mischievous look on her face. She looked particularly pleased with her move, which made Harry accept defeat with finality.
"You're a snake, Greengrass, and a very sneaky one," he said, slowly approaching his wife with a deliberately slow gait, "I really hope you know that,"
She didn't struggle when he wrapped his arms around her waist.
Daphne cupped Harry's cheek with her delicate hand, and he could see the satisfaction of a victory on her face, which seemed to make her glow.
"It really seems to surprise you, Harry. And yet we've been together for over ten years..."
Harry silenced her by putting his lips on hers. She melted against him, clutching the collar of his shirt and kissing him back fervently. The passion consumed them, still as strong as it had been during their first date at Hogwarts.
Harry put his hands under Daphne's thighs and picked her up, lightly pressing her to the nearest wall. The blonde's legs wrapped around him and she moaned slightly against his mouth. The temperature in the room skyrocketed, and the nearby fire had nothing to do about it.
The burn in his lungs reminded him that he needed to breathe, so Harry pulled back and rested his forehead against Daphne's, looking into her ocean blue eyes. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair tousled and her gaze fiery, and Harry shivered at the effect she had on him.
Unfortunately for them, just as he was about to take them both to their room one floor up, their house-elf appeared in the living room once again.
It dawned on Harry that he hadn't even heard her leave after Daphne had called her a few minutes ago.
He sighed and turned to the elf, but not before he and Daphne had exchanged a look that made it clear this wasn't over.
"Yes, Polly?"
"Master Harry and Mistress Daphne have received another letter!" the elf shouted, waving an envelope frantically with her diminutive arm.
"It must be James's, for real this time," said Daphne behind him, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
Harry ignored her and opened the letter. He then glanced at the signature, "It's definitely from James, yes."
Dear Parents,
I've arrived at Hogwarts safely. The train journey was a bit long but I was able to sit in a carriage with Rose, Victoire and Louis. At least I knew people that I could sit with. We met cousin Scorpius, but he didn't dare to sit with us. I think there were too many Weasleys for his taste. Don't tell anyone that, but I think I can understand him!
When we finally arrived, it was a real shock; the castle was magnificent at night! Much more beautiful than in the pictures at the Manor! Honestly, the view is really impressive. And the boat trip is amazing too. You told me, Dad, that there was a giant squid in the lake. Well, I'm pretty sure I saw it when I looked in the water!
I was disappointed with the sorting ceremony though. Uncle George assured me I would have to fight a troll, and in the end, all we got was a smelly old hat. Nothing very impressive, even if Professor McGonagall does seem to be quite scary...Anyway.
The hat hesitated for a long time for me, it kept talking to itself in my head. Frankly, I didn't know what to say to it, except that I should go to Slytherin like you, Mum. It felt like it went on for hours, but finally, the hat decided to send me to Hufflepuff. It was a real surp...
Harry's eyes froze as his brain registered the information.
Hufflepuff. James Sirius Greengrass was a Hufflepuff.
...
He turned his head to Daphne just as she did the same, and the young parents looked at one another for a moment.
...
"You know, I think my friend Millicent still works at an orphanage," his wife said with a sinister grin.
"Great, we'll just have to tell Bogrod, then. Hand me the quill and inkwell."
-oo0oo-
Hogwarts
A few hours earlier...
"Hey Rose!"
"Yes James?" replied Rose Weasley as she stopped next to the boy she almost considered her brother.
"Here! Tell me what you think!"
James Sirius Greengrass handed her a letter and squirmed impatiently, waiting for her to read it. Rose skimmed through it quickly and rolled her eyes at one of the last paragraphs.
"If you really want to know, I think your parents are going to kill you."
"I'm going straight to the Owlery, then," James said excitedly.
"Well, I'm going up to my common room. I'd offer you to come, but we don't allow Slytherins in!" Rose smirked, before turning on her heels and heading for the stairs.