A Summer Exchange.

Harry and Daphne

Chapter Seven.

The morning after arriving at Greenhouse Gardens, Harry found himself standing in the doorway to the empty family dining room, wondering where his host family was. He imagined that Daphne and possible Astoria, were both still asleep in bed – he remembered just how difficult Daphne found it to wake up so early to do chores. He did wonder where Madam Greengrass was though, especially given that the night before she reassured him that she was also an early riser and would most likely be in the dining room when he rose.

With a shrug of his shoulders Harry decided to take a walk through the beautiful gardens while he waited for Daphne to wake up and have breakfast. He was had just reached the doors leading to the terrace when the sight outside caught him by surprise. There she was, Madam Greengrass kneeling amongst the flower beds. Still in slight shock at the sight, Harry opened the terrace doors and walked down towards his host. "Good morning Madam Greengrass," he greeted when he finally reached his host.

"Oh, good morning Harry. Do call me Helaine while you're here dear," Madam Greengrass said with a smile as she stood up and dusted herself off. "You're up very early, I thought I'd have more time before anyone joined me for breakfast," she remarked, untying the apron she had covering her clothes.

"I'm an early riser. There's usually a lot to do when I'm home and it's easier to get it done when my relatives are still asleep," Harry remarked as they made their way back up to the house.

"Yes, Daphne mentioned that you did a lot around the house for your relatives," Helaine remarked casually, not revealing exactly how much of Harry's home life she was privy to.

"She did?" Harry asked, becoming concerned that Daphne had revealed she had practically become a slave for eighteen days.

"Yes, she said that you had some washing and cleaning most days. Oh, and that you cooked dinner while your relatives were at work," Helaine said as she led the way towards the dining room. "But don't worry, you've got eighteen days of relaxation here, no housework or chores required," she told him with a smile as they entered the dining room. "Good morning girls."

"Good morning mother," Astoria greeted. "Moring Harry," she added with a smile when she spotted the messy-haired boy.

"Good morning Astoria, Daphne."

"Where were you this early in the morning," Daphne asked her classmate.

"Harry woke up early and found me out in the garden," Helaine answered on his behalf. "You know if your house guest wakes up so early, you might want to do the same. It's not very proper to have houseguests wandering the house waiting for someone to wake up," she remarked to her eldest daughter.

"Yes mother," Daphne replied with a slightly forced smile before looking over to her sister and rolling her eyes, both girls knowing that their mother rose with the sun every morning. "So, what would you like to do today Harry?" Daphne asked once everyone had stated breakfast.

"I'm not sure. What do you usually do during the summer? Other than go to Brussels that is," he asked.

"We usually go visit friends, do some shopping. I'd occasionally go into the office with father," Daphne said with a shrug, embarrassed that she didn't have anything more exciting to offer for Harry's eighteen days.

Harry didn't really know what to say. From what Daphne, had said, holidays weren't very exciting at the Greengrass estate when they weren't abroad at their second home. Thankfully he was saved from choosing between one boring idea and another by Helaine.

"Well, your Hogwarts letters were delivered early this morning, so I suggest you start by going to Diagon Alley and picking up your new school supplies. You might as well get it out of the way and you can enjoy the rest of your holiday," Helaine told them with a smile before excusing herself, leaving the three teens to plan exactly when they were going to visit the Alley. An hour later they were headed to the Alley.

"Tori, stay close please," Daphne said as she led the way towards the bank at the end of the Alley. "Mother would kill me and bury me under the roses if anything happens to you."

"No, she wouldn't Daph," Astoria said with a shake of her head. "She'd put you under the tulips," she added with a smile making Daphne mutter 'great' under her breath as they ascended the steps of the bank. "Daphne hates tulips," Astoria explained to Harry as they walked to one of the vacant desks.

"Do you need to get any money out Harry?" Daphne asked. When Harry nodded, she turned back to the goblin, waiting impatiently. "We'll also need to visit the Potter vault as well.

Making their way to the Greengrass vault was quick and smooth and once the two girls had refilled their purses, they clamoured back into the cart and made the looping, bumpy journey down into the bowls of Gringotts towards the Potter vault. When their journey came to a welcome and abrupt halt all three teens practically leapt from the cart, each of them eager to stop the world spinning around them, much to the amusement of the goblin escorting them. When Harry finally recovered enough to open his vault his two companions couldn't hold in their gasps of surprise at the sight inside. Piles and piles of gold stretched out from the door as far as they could see and dotted around the outside of the room were trunks and covered canvases. Feeling self-conscience, Harry quickly refilled his money bagged and practically slammed the door to his vault earning him a glare from the goblin. When they finally reached the surface they quickly got to work on getting all their school supplies with both Harry and Daphne offered book suggestions for Astoria upcoming year.

While Harry was trying on new robes later in the day, Astoria took the opportunity to talk to her sister about their guests' sizable vault. "Did you know that the Potters were that rich?" she asked in a whisper.

"No idea what so ever!" Daphne replied looking over at Harry as he inspected the price tag on the robes he was trying on and frowning when he read the number on the ticket. "I don't think even he knows how much is in there," she remarked to Astoria.

"How can he not know?" she asked.

"Remember, he didn't grow up in the wizarding world, he grew up with muggles. And I think this was the first time he's visited Gringotts without a professor or the Weasley's so I doubt he's had any meetings with the goblins either," Daphne pointed out. "Are you done?" she asked Harry as he approached, just as Astoria was about to ask about the vault again.

"Yeah, all done. Where to next?" Harry asked with a small smile. He had to admit that he was enjoying himself, he'd never really been to Diagon Alley with adult supervision and without his life being threatened and he was enjoying the company of the two Greengrass sisters.

"I overheard that the Weasley twins had opened up a shop, we could go see what it's like?" Astoria suggested with a smile. When the two older teens nodded in agreement she beamed at them both, "Great! There shop is as the other side of the Alley, lets go!"

When they reached the Weasley's new shop, the bright colours, loud noises and swarming crowds greeted them when they eventually got through the door. The shop was packed and Harry could see the twins were in their element, showing off their brilliance to the mesmerised crowd while the constant ring of the tills sounded in the background. They were clearly in their element and all three teens enjoyed themselves trying out what products they could reach, although none of them were brave enough to join the line to pay, they each had a list of things they wanted to buy later and Astoria was determined to get their father to buy her a pygmy puff.

By the time, they got back to Greengrass Gardens it was close to six o'clock and they all quickly dumped their purchases in their respective rooms before joining Helaine in the dining room. The conversation around the table was lively and bubbly as the three Greengrass ladies and Harry enjoyed a relaxed and delicious meal when a sudden commotion outside caught their attention. Looking up towards the door, Harry caught a glimpse of a man before it was completely obscured by Daphne and Astoria as they surrounded the man, much to the amusement of Helaine. "Girls, girls! Give your father the chance to sit down," she told them with a smile. "How are you dear?" she greeted her husband with a kiss. "We weren't expecting you back until tomorrow."

"The last meeting was cancelled, everything was sorted beforehand," Master Greengrass informed his wife with a smile as he sat down at the head of the table. "You must be Harry? It's good to meet you at last. My apologies for not being here to greet, business is a demanding mistress," he remarked as an elf appeared and placed a plate before him.

"That's okay, sir," Harry said with a polite smile.

"Please, call me William. So, how are you finding your time here so far? I hope my girls are taking good care of you," William remarked with a pointed look towards his daughters, but the severity of his gaze was lessened with his warm smile.

"Father!" "Daddy!" Daphne and Astoria shouted, much to everyone's amusement.

"I know you'll be taking wonderful care of our guest. So, what have you been up to since you've been here? How long have you been here even?" he asked, tucking into his food, prompting everyone else to carry on eating.

"I arrived yesterday afternoon," Harry told him. "We spent the day in Diagon Alley today, that's pretty much all we've done so far," he informed him.

"I've not missed much then. Have you been shown around the estate?" William asked.

"Yes, Daphne showed me around yesterday. The manor is wonderful and the grounds are beautiful," Harry complimented his host.

"Thank you, but I can't take credit for the grounds, that's all the hard work of Helaine," William said, shooting his wife a loving look. The rest of the diner passed quickly, with the Greengrass' catching up on what they'd all missed in each other's lives while William had been away for the last week, although Daphne remained rather quiet, something her father picked up on. So, when dinner finally ended and everyone made their way into the sitting room and library, William pulled his eldest to the side and asked what had her so preoccupied.

"When we went to Diagon Alley, Harry took a lot of interest in how much his robes would cost. And he didn't spend an awful amount of money while we were out," Daphne told him.

"That's not unusual. Not everyone has money to burn Daphne," William pointed out to his daughter.

"But that's the thing. We went to Gringotts and caught a glimpse inside his vault. Yes, I know, we shouldn't have looked," she added when she saw her father's disapproving look. "But Harry isn't poor. He's as far from poor as the Malfoy's are from being modest. I don't think anyone's ever actually told him just how much he's worth."

"So, what are you going to do about it my dear?" William finally asked his daughter, knowing that she wouldn't have told him her concerns unless she had some sort of plan. Unfortunately, he didn't realise just how much he was involved in his daughters' plan for their house guest.

"I want you to reintroduce him to the wizarding world and show him just what it means to be a Potter."

So, there we go. Chapter 7 for your reading pleasure. I know this chapter doesn't seem to make much sense, but it will all make sense in later chapters.

Let me know what you think and be on the lookout for chapter 8.