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The next morning Harry woke up with a smile on his face. Something he realized he hadn't done in quite a long time. Calling down to room services to have breakfast sent up to him as he hadn't done any grocery shopping yet. He showered and sat on his balcony overlooking the park. In the far off horizon, Harry spotted multiple white tents and his thoughts automatically went to the icy blue-eyed blonde he ran into at the café. And the smile that was on his face grew more.
From the moment he got back to the hotel, his thoughts were on Daphne Greengrass. He remembered her from school, even though they barely spoke a word to each other the whole 6 years Harry was there. She was in Slytherin which in Harry's young, very biased eyes that meant she was the enemy. It took him a while to realize being in the house you were in at Hogwarts didn't mean much as they made it seem.
Before his thoughts could become bitter, his food arrived keeping himself occupied. Thinking about the things he could do today, he found himself staring at the napkin with the two numbers he was given. Flipping the napkin to only see Daphne's, he pulled out his cell phone.
He heard the ring dial for what seemed like five hours until he heard a voice answer. But unfortunately, it was her voicemail. Going against leaving a voicemail, he hung up the phone. Pushing against the railings, he looked at the park again. And made his decision.
A part of him knew that he should have just left her a voicemail and she would call him back the second she had a chance. But the louder part, the more Gryffindor part, wanted him to go down to the fashion tents and surprise her. And even though he knew very well that there was a chance that this plan would blow up in his face. He did it anyway.
Surprisingly it wasn't too hard to find the tent that Daphne was working at. Her line was simply called DG. Direct and to the point. The atmosphere didn't feel stuffy as the others when he was walking by. The clothes looked like something actual real people would wear. It almost seemed like there was something for everybody. No matter what size you wore.
His green eyes scanned the crows looking for Daphne's golden blonde hair. Eventually, he found her standing between a model and a flustered assistant.
"Hey." He said after he waited for Daphne to be free from the problem she was dealing with. Something she handled with patience and skill. Another thing he found admiring about her.
If she was shocked to see him standing in front of her, she didn't show it. "Hey. How'd you get in here without a pass."
"I may or may not have confounded the security guard." He said rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish smile resting on his face.
"Ah, there is the Harry Potter I've heard about at school. Doing things that are borderline breakable. But doing it for the right cause."
"Confunding a security guard is for the right cause?"
Giving him a small smile as she nodded her head after fixing a model's outfit before sending her to the line to go out on stage. "It is if you were coming to see me."
"That and the free champagne I got when one of your assistance' thought I needed a drink," He said taking a sip of the sparkling liquid. "It's quite good."
"I'm glad you like it. But I have to get back to work. You can stand over there and watch the show." Daphne said as the final call was announced. "Just don't Potter it up."
"Potter it up?"
"I'll explain after the show," Daphne called over her shoulder running to the stage to do her final check of the models. Today was her first official day of being a designer who had her own runway show. In Central Park. During Fashion Week. Sometimes she still felt like she had to pinch herself to make sure that she wasn't dreaming.
Now she just had to make sure everything went well, to keep her clients and stores happy. All she needed was one department store to like her line and she would know for sure people will be buying her clothing.
"Isn't that the guy you were talking to at Blackberry Café?" Her best friend and roommate Tracey Davis asked. The two met at the Fashion Institute of Technology during the one class they had in common, Business Management. Tracey was an aspiring photographer, who was now the only photographer Daphne trusted with her clothing line. The two became inseparable, helping one another out. It also helped that Tracy was a half-blood, who went to Ilvermorny.
Nodding her head, as she did any final adjustments to the model who was going to walk next. "He is. We will talk about it later."
"We better. This is the first man I have ever seen you talk to a man since-"
"Tracey, we will talk about this later," Daphne said empathizing each word that she was saying. As much as she loves Tracey, the girl could talk about anything at any time.
"Okay sorry." Positioning her camera at a better angle, she began taking the shots of the models. Not wanting to get her head bitten off.
"What if I don't hear anything about my clothing line? I should have done the clothing separation different. Spiced it up."
"Daph, your show was amazing. Do not get in your own head. Don't be your own worst critic," Tracey said from her spot at the booth. "Just go dance, enjoy the party. You deserve it. DOn't worry about it until you wake up to something to worry about. Which you shouldn't if you wake up in the arms of Harry."
Daphne was about to respond but Harry came back from the bar with their drinks. "Two martinis." He said before turning his full attention on Daphne. "Your show was amazing. How hard are we celebrating tonight."
"I can't celebrate until I know what's going to happen," Daphne said taking a sip of her drink.
Shaking his head in disagreement, "You can't live your life like that. Trust me I know. It may have taken me my whole life but I figured it out eventually."
"Oh Harry Potter, I like you more and more," Tracey said with a bright smile on her face, turning her attendant to her best friend. "Harry's right you have to let things go, the only opinions that matter are your, our and your customers. Who cares what the old man or woman who doesn't like to see skin says. You are amazing and your clothes are amazing."
"It's true you are." Harry agreed.
If Daphne wasn't agreeing with any word Tracey said, she was now. There was something about Harry that made her believe in herself. Even though the two barely even know each other, she could tell that Harry believed in her. Just like she did during the war in England. She believed that Harry would defeat You-Know-Who. Even though she wasn't vocal during her years at Hogwarts. She was one of the few Slytherins that was in their house because of their ambition and resourcefulness. Not because of her belief in the Dark Arts.
But maybe she did need a little Gryffindor courage to make her believe in herself.
"Okay, okay." Downing the rest of her drink, she looked out at the dance floor. "Let's dance."
"Finally" Tracey exclaimed jumping out of her seat and going out to the dance floor with her camera in hand.
Holding out his hand towards the blonde, Harry smiled softly when her hand grazed the top of his. The two walked to the dance floor and wrapped their arms around each other.
The music was upbeat but not too fast for them to just sway to the music. Neither were amazing dancers. They were perfectly fine with holding the other and having small chit chat. In between question, Harry would spin or dip Daphne. Which would bring out a small giggle from the girl he once knew as the Ice Queen.
She explained the Ice Queen was a persona she created her third year of Hogwarts when boys started giving her attendant that she didn't want. And the nickname stuck when she stunned the seventh year for being inappropriate.
Harry told her bits and pieces from his stories at Hogwarts knowing a club wasn't the best place to really get into it. But did promise her to fill in on everything on a later date.
When the night came to a close they searched high and low to find Tracey only to discover that she ran into an ex-boyfriend and went home with him.
"Well at least let me walk you home," Harry said after Daphne sent her reply back to Tracey. "I want to make sure you're safe."
"I can handle myself, Potter."
Using his fast seeker reflexes to catch her before she fell over completely, he gave her a pleading smile. "It'll make me feel better. Let me be a Gryffindor."
After a short walk to Daphne's apartment, the two stared at each other not knowing what to say to one another.
"Thanks for-"
"I had a lot-"
Starting a sentence at the same time, the two let out a nervous laugh when they realized what they were doing. Harry gestured for Daphne to speak first.
"Thanks for coming. And helping to keep me as calm as possible." Daphne said as she played with her keys, not wanting to look Harry in the eyes in case he wasn't feeling what she was feeling.
"Of course." He replied with a small smile. "I had a lot of fun. I don't know when the last time I had this much fun. But you should go get some sleep. I have a feeling you will be up as early as the reviews come out."
"Well, your not wrong," Daphne said as she unlocked her door. "You sure you don't want to come in?"
'Yes, I want to come in.' He thought but answered differently out loud. "I should go back to the hotel. I'll call you later to get together?"
"Yeah, that'll be fine." Disappointment graced her face quickly before throwing on a smile that didn't completely reach her eyes. "Bye, Harry."
"Bye, Daphne." When the door closed in front of him, he turned and looked around before apparating to his hotel room. Falling on his bed, he sighed loudly. "So much for that Gryffindor courage."