A/N: Some thanks: Murkatroyd for bullying me into writing this in the first place, and some beta. Hop on the Haphne discord ( discord dot gg/pKSdvJQvhU ) to perhaps bully him into another instalment of the Negligentia series. Jstras for helping with plot and scene ideas. And Liberty1Prime for beta-ing and greatly improving what I started with. If you haven't picked up the latest Haphne fic, Crossing Thresholds, I'd highly recommend giving that a Follow.

Title of this fic is inspired by the song of the same name by the artist Seaway. You may find lyrics or references throughout the work. Enjoy.


Something Wonderful

'Harry?'

He glanced at his watch and, sure enough, it was five o'clock. He set down his quill and pushed away the rest of his paperwork — they'd long since stopped staying late to fill out forms that could just as easily be done the next day. He looked up from his cubicle, across the aisle, to his partner of five years—

Had it been that long already? Wow.

'Daphne.'

'I need a favour,' she said, her soft blue eyes sparkling with mirth. The phrase lacked the petitioning tone that should have accompanied it.

'Is that so?' Harry asked as a small smile played at his lips. He'd been waiting years for this to surface. Was it finally happening?

'You're not gonna like it.' There was no teasing smile behind her words. And if she knew him as well as he thought she did, that meant he really wasn't going to like it.

'Just hit me with it then. I'm more than ready to be out of your debt.'

'And you know how much I've loved holding it over you all these years.' Her teasing smile now presented itself.

'I do,' he said with a nod.

'So that should tell you something about how desperate I am.'

'Will you just tell me already!' Harry demanded.

'I need you to come with me to my family's Christmas Eve celebration.'

'Isn't that your big family thing?' Harry had heard about what a big deal this party was before. It did not sound like his cup of tea.

'Yes, exactly. I know it's more people than you are comfortable around but you know a lot of them already. I just can't go alone.'

'I am not going to be a pretend boyfriend,' he said with some genuine force.

'No, no. . . nothing like that.' She waved off his concern. 'Though yes, the optics would be better if I bring someone, even as just a friend, or coworker. But really, it wouldn't be such an issue if Astoria weren't bringing Draco.'

'They're still dating, huh?'

'Yes. And it's infuriating!'

'You're being dramatic.'

'Perhaps, but I always wanted to like my brother-in-law. . . And I just can't with Draco,' she said with real frustration.

'It's that serious?'

'Nothing official, but it seems to be headed that way. That's why I need you there. You and he actually get along.'

'So, I'm just there to run interference for you.'

'Not just,' she retorted with mock offence. 'But yes. . . and I need someone on my team. They all love Draco. . . but they love you too, especially Grandma Helen.'

'The Grandma Helen?'

'Yes, that one.'

Harry had met Grandma Helen on multiple occasions, and on none of those instances had she been subtle about making her opinion known that Harry and Daphne should be a couple. It had always been easy to laugh her off since at least one of them had been in other relationships at those times; they wouldn't have that excuse this time.

'You know I might have to throw you under the bus,' Harry said with a raised eyebrow.

'If that's the price I have to pay, so be it. But don't think I won't take you down with me.'

'Fair is fair. But you know you are asking for it, right?' he asked. 'Unless your grandma has chilled.'

'Yeah. . . not really. She'll make her usual comments. But it can't be that bad. We've been through worse together.'

'If you say so,' Harry relented. 'What time do you want me there?'

'Oh, you'll be arriving with me. Be at my place at five-thirty and we'll go together. Oh!' She snapped her fingers. 'Dress to impress. Those robes you've worn to the Ministry socials the last few years won't cut it.'

'You're making me get new robes just for one party!?'

'You are aware robes are not single-use and you can use them again.'

'Just what I want, more formal social events,' Harry replied sarcastically.

'Harry, I'm giving you an easy out here.'

'You'll forgive me if I don't see it that way.'

'Well, you can do this and get it over with, or continue to let it loom over you like a dark cloud. Do you want that?' As much as she loved teasing him about never being able to save her life, she was ready for the bit to be up and she imagined, so was he.

'No, I'll get some new robes. But if you're going to be so particular, you're coming to pick them out.'

'Are you trying to punish me with shopping?' Daphne asked with a wicked grin.

'This just keeps getting worse,' Harry murmured.


Harry arrived at Daphne's flat a few minutes after five-thirty.

'You're late!' Daphne's voice rang out from her bathroom.

Much like her desk at work, her small flat was immaculate. Nothing extravagant, but everything had its place: a picture of her family hung on one wall, a small green-leafed plant in the corner, a fireplace with a hand-crafted mantle above, and a eucalyptus candle burning on the attached dining room table.

'You're not even ready,' Harry said as he sat down on the sofa.

'My actions have no influence on your tardiness,' she shot back.

Harry just smiled to himself. She would never admit his punctuality mirrored hers.

Daphne emerged from her bedroom and Harry rose to greet her, more formally this time. She paused at the edge of the room as if she were inviting him to check her out.

Harry resisted the temptation and kept his eyes up. That didn't mean he found what he did see unattractive. He was once again amazed at how everything seemed to be exactly where she wanted it. Wisps of her sandy blonde hair that sprung out of her elegant top knot hung on either side of her face, yet not in a fashion to obstruct the simple diamond studs that sparkled in each ear.

'Hey, we match!' Harry said.

Daphne gave an exaggerated roll of the eyes with the hint of a smile that betrayed her feigned annoyance. 'Of course, we match.'

'So, you picked this shade of blue on purpose? Just so your eyes would pop?'

'Harry, when will you learn? When your date looks good, you look good.'

'Date, huh? You didn't call it that before,' he said with a smirk.

'Please. . . you know what I mean. It's not a real date.'

'I don't know. . . with heels like those. . . I'd call it a date. But I thought you hated heels.'

'You're right. But one must sacrifice for beauty,' she said, twisting gracefully to the side, giving Harry a perfect profile view.

His male instinct won this battle; he was only human. His eyes travelled down, slowly taking in her curves accentuated by the light blue sheath dress. His eyes lingered on her toned calves longer than they should have, but the heels were doing their job and her positioning of one foot on tiptoe seemed to have her legs flirting with him.

'Damn it, Daphne!' he exclaimed in defeat. He brought his eyes back up, only to be met by her victorious grin. He furrowed his brow and shook his head. 'But aren't they uncomfortable?'

'Terribly. Though I upgraded to the version that converts to flats whenever I desire. It cost a pretty Galleon, but nothing compared to those robes.'

'Ugh,' Harry muttered. 'Don't remind me.'

'Oh, stop your complaining, those are worth every Knut. Someday you might even thank me.'

'Not today, I won't.'

'We'll see.' Daphne flashed a smile and twirled her finger, telling Harry to spin around, which he did — slowly and extending his arms as he spun — so she could get a good look. She gave an approving nod after she'd thoroughly examined Harry's appearance.

'What? No adjustments or alterations?' he asked facetiously. He knew, or felt, he looked impeccable but he wouldn't put it past Daphne to try and "correct" something just for the sake of their unspoken competition.

'Harry, you may not get out much, but when you do, you don't underdeliver.' She had her eyebrows raised in an "I'm impressed" expression. 'You validate the statement, "It's not the robes that make the wizard, but the wizard that makes the robes." '

'Why. . . thank you, Daphne.' They weren't shy about commenting on one another's attractiveness, but their compliments were typically of the tongue-in-cheek or teasing variety, so her genuine statement put him on his heels a bit.

'Daphne,' he said sincerely, and he paused to find the right thing to say. Unfortunately, this wasn't his forte. 'There aren't words in my vocabulary to describe how gorgeous you are.'

She studied him for a moment with a suspicious smile, waiting for him to show any signs of a crack. But he was being honest, so he was able to hold his admiring expression.

'Thank you very much, Harry,' she said with a smile. 'We might just survive this night after all. And since you're acting all gentlemanly, will you please grab my necessities?' She tilted her head to the side.

Harry followed the gesture to see a small bag, purse, satchel. . . he didn't know what it was called and didn't dare try to name it.

'Do I have a choice?'

Her glossy lips formed a line but her eyes sparkled a little as she deliberately shook her head.

The bag was much lighter than he anticipated, so he had to ask. 'Necessities?'

'You know I love to wake up Christmas morning at my parents. It has everything I could ever need for an overnighter.'

'This doesn't look like mokeskin,' Harry said, examining the fine. . . clutch? He still didn't dare put a name to it until she did.

'It's not. But there is an expandable pocket inside. You couldn't pay me to wear one of those pouches they sell as a necklace.' She shivered a bit as she brought a hand to the light blue pendant that hung from a simple gold chain around her neck.

'It would be such a scandal to be caught with one of those,' Harry added.

Daphne scrunched her nose and wriggled her head at Harry before becoming proper again. 'Shall we?'

Harry held out his arm towards the fireplace. 'Ladies first.'

Daphne scoffed. 'Feigning to be a gentleman so you check out my ass, are we now?'

'I would never. . .'

Daphne froze him with a glare over her shoulder.

Harry's eyes travelled up to meet hers. '. . . Pretend to be a gentleman.'

She couldn't withhold her grin, though she attempted to add some fury with her eyes.

'What? Can't a guy show a little appreciation?' he said with a guilty smile.

'You're unbelievable,' Daphne said as she turned, and with a small shake of the head, went through the floo.

Harry smiled and shook his own head before he followed. He gracefully exited and dusted off the bits of soot from his robes.

'You can wipe that smug look off your face. All you did was get through the floo without falling,' Daphne deadpanned.

'Just trying to match your disposition.'

'I am not smug!'

'Of course not.' Harry's smile was asking for another comment but Daphne didn't rise to the bait.

'Let's go,' Daphne said while extending an arm for Harry to escort her.

Grandma Helen was stationed, almost as a sentinel, at the entrance of the kitchen, just off the sitting room, and was the first to greet them.

'Well, you two certainly put the fashion in fashionably late. Daphne, you are as stunning as ever.'

'Thank you, Grandma,' Daphne said.

'And Harry. . . well, dashing doesn't even begin to do you justice.'

'You look rather enchanting yourself, Helen,' Harry said.

'You look absolutely marvellous together,' she added before turning to address Daphne more directly and in a somewhat scolding tone. 'Daphne, I don't know what you are waiting for. I know they say there are plenty of fish in the sea but there aren't many that swim like this one. And you aren't getting any younger.'

Daphne forced a smile and held back an eye roll. She had long since given up trying to argue with her. This was her version of grinning and bearing it.

'I don't think I can recall anyone ever comparing me to a fish before,' Harry said. 'But thank you.' He smiled as they made their way into the magically expanded dining room. The modest single-level home would never be confused for a mansion, but thanks to magic, they could host large parties without the slightest discomfort.

'You'll get nothing but honesty from me, dear,' Helen said, garnering a roll of the eyes from Daphne.

'Cutting it close this year,' Daphne's mother said as they passed over the threshold of the kitchen. 'But at least you didn't disappoint, you look fabulous. And Harry, you look as charming as always, especially next to Daphne,' she said with a wink. 'I was so pleased to hear Daphne would be bringing you along. I was hoping there would be some news attached. Alas, Daphne assures me you are still just friends.'

'Yes, Darla, it's true. Though I do see plenty of Daphne at work, I was thrilled to be able to spend some time with the rest of the family. It's been too long,' Harry said.

'Oh, give me a break!' Daphne exclaimed. 'I had to twist your arm just to get you to come with me.'

'Yeah, and it still hurts,' Harry whinged as he twisted and moved his arm gingerly.

'Now, Daphne, there's no need to be belligerent to our guests.'

'I'm not—'

'If you would have just told me we were having your mum's famous pot roast you wouldn't have had any trouble getting me here,' Harry said, eyeing some of the food on the table.

'You're too nice, Harry. But let's get you to your places, it's time to eat,' Darla said as she gestured to a couple of unoccupied settings at the far end of the table.

'I swear, sometimes I wonder if she likes you more than her own children,' Daphne muttered as they started their walk around the table. Daphne waved in greeting to Aunts, Uncles, and cousins that were already seated. Harry had already met the majority of them; of course, they all knew who he was, even in absence of any introductions.

'Can't say I blame her,' Harry said with a smile.

'Keep it up and we'll really see how bad twisting an arm can hurt.'

Harry laughed. 'All kidding aside, Daphne. Think about it. She knows all your flaws, probably even sees many of her own in you. While all she's ever really seen of me, is my best behaviour.'

'And your best dress.'

'Exactly. Always. . . only my best. So it's no wonder she might put me on a bit of a pedestal.'

'I suppose you're right. And I accept your apology.'

'That wasn't—'

'It's so good to see you, Daddy,' Daphne said as she gave her father, David — or Dave as he was known by his friends and family — a peck on the cheek.

'You too, dear. It's a good thing you got here when you did. Your mother was about to send me after you,' Dave said. 'I tried to tell her. . . beauty can't be rushed. . . but she wasn't having it.'

'You know me so well, Daddy.'

'And you do look beautiful, dear,' he added as he pulled her into a side hug.

'Thank you.' Daphne smiled.

Dave reached out and shook hands with Harry. 'It's great to see you, Harry. How's work?'

'Thankfully, uneventful for the moment. Just finishing up some end of the year paperwork.'

'Well, I know that may be boring to you, but it's music to my ears. I hope it stays that way.'

Harry smiled and nodded. He knew Daphne's family had been slightly concerned about her joining the Aurors, but there was little one could do to deter her when she set her mind to something.

They rounded the table to their places where Astoria was waiting expectantly. She gave her sister a hug, and smiled brightly to greet Harry. Draco remained seated and acknowledged Daphne with an indifferent stating of her name, which she reciprocated in kind. Harry and Draco shared a little nod of the head.

Once seated, Daphne leaned over and whispered to Astoria, 'Don't think a little Concealment Charm is going to hide that giant diamond ring, do you?'

Astoria quickly hid her left hand beneath the table. 'Don't spoil our announcement,' she whisper-hissed.

'Calm down, I could've been less discreet and asked from across the table. Do Mum and Dad know?'

'Oh, please. Draco asked before he proposed. He isn't uncouth like Harry.'

'Ha! Harry would know enough to ask Dad first. On the other hand, it might be that Mum would be the one doing the proposing to Harry.'

'You'd like that, wouldn't you?'

Daphne scoffed.

'Oh, come on. Tell me there's nothing going on,' Astoria dared.

'There's nothing going on,' Daphne replied matter-of-factly.

'So why'd you bring him then? Just had to try and one-up my announcement?'

'First of all, I didn't know there was going to be an announcement. Second, I didn't have anyone else to bring, and Harry's a good friend.'

'A good friend.' It was Astoria's turn to scoff. 'Keep telling yourself that.'

The sisters shared forced smiles before turning to their food.

Dinner was delicious. There was some small talk as everyone ate but the food kept most people's mouths occupied.

As most everyone was finishing up their dinner, Astoria rose and tapped her spoon against her glass, drawing the attention of everyone down the table. There were a few knowing looks from aunts, and her parents were not exactly succeeding in keeping their faces neutral, but they all remained quiet and attentive to Astoria's words.

'I have an announcement,' Astoria said, hardly keeping her own grin at bay. She paused for a moment, eyes darting all over the table. She brought her wand to her left ring finger and tapped. 'I'm engaged!' she declared, raising her hand in the air, displaying the large diamond ring for all to see.

The group broke out in clapping and cheers but Dave quickly got everyone's attention, raising his glass in the air. 'A toast to Astoria and Draco. May their future be filled with happiness and prosperity.'

'Cheers!'

'Tell us how he proposed!' someone called out from down the table as the clinking of glasses quieted down.

Astoria smiled and looked down at Draco, who seemed to know what was coming. 'I'll let Draco share that,' she said as she sat down.

With an exaggerated sigh, Draco stood up to tell how it happened. He had to give a little backstory about how they met, and Daphne already knew that part.

Daphne leaned over and whispered, 'Good job.'

'I forgot everything I was going to say. I just went blank,' Astoria whispered back.

'It's ok, nobody noticed. It was perfect,' she said while patting Astoria's shoulder. She went back to listening as Draco was beginning to recount things she didn't already know.

As soon as Draco finished up with his proposal story, a few of the cousins ran over and pulled Astoria out of her seat, dragging her away to examine her ring and interrogate her further about the engagement.

'Daphne, dear,' Helen said as they began to work on dessert and smaller conversations had broken out at different parts of the table. 'Why don't you tell us how you and your date came to know each other?' Her smile didn't betray anything but there was a mischievous twinkle in Grandma Helen's eyes.

'Grandma,' Daphne sighed. 'He's not—' He was her date, so there was no point in arguing that detail.

But really?

Did they have to go over this story again?

'You have the article framed and hanging up in your room,' Daphne said in exasperation.

'Yes, but not all of your cousins have heard the story of your heroism.'

'I think they have.'

'We love your stories, Daphne, please tell us again,' one of her young cousins, Joey, pleaded.

Daphne sighed. 'Ok. . . It's really not even much of a story. One of the Death Eaters had hidden at Hogwarts, and he tried to take a shot at Harry after things had settled down. I happened to be in the right place at the right time and blocked the curse. I didn't even take him down, others did that.'

'That's not entirely true,' Harry interjected. 'But Daphne sells herself short—'

'As if you can talk,' Daphne cut through. Harry gave her a playful side-eye.

'As I was saying, there were plenty of people present, but Daphne was the only one with the presence of mind to summon an object to block the Killing Curse.'

'But isn't it true that you're immune to the Killing Curse?' Joey asked.

'Luckily, we've never been able to test that theory. And for that reason I owe Daphne my life,' Harry said, resting a hand on Daphne's and giving hers a small squeeze.

She rolled her eyes, smiled, and shook her head. She pretended to hate when Harry gave her so much credit, but another part of her appreciated his insistence on acknowledging her contributions. It was one of the main reasons they'd remained equal partners at work all these years. Usually, one became a senior partner, with a pay raise that accompanied the prestige. Any time the Head Auror had approached Harry about a move, he had insisted Daphne did just as much as he did on their cases and he would refuse to be paid more than her or to take a title that would cause imbalance in their work relationship.

'And then Harry demanded that Daphne be his partner with the Aurors, didn't you, Harry?' Helen prodded.

'Sure did. I wanted that wand of hers to have my back from that day forward. And well. . . she's never complained about the view.'

'Goodness, whatever happened to humble Harry?' Daphne asked in playful exasperation.

'Pish posh, Daphne. When you look as good as Harry does, it's hard to not acknowledge that,' Helen said.

'Have I ever told you how much I like your grandmother?' Harry asked Daphne with a smile.

'Yes, you have,' Daphne replied.

'And I would love to see you more often Harry,' Helen added.

'We all would,' Darla agreed.

'I can think of something that would make that happen,' Helen said with a wink and not so subtle tapping of her left ring finger.

'See what you've started,' Daphne murmured as she bowed her head to hide her lips from those across the table.

Harry brought a napkin up to pretend to wipe his lips. 'It was going to happen anyway, might as well have some fun.'

'Well, don't blame me when they don't leave you alone to breathe your own air.'

'I can handle some meddling old people, trust me.'

'If you say so. . .'

'If I'm not here to be a little distraction, then why'd you bring me?'

'You really didn't have to come if you didn't want to.'

'I did and you know it. And you didn't answer my question.'

'Well, it's because you — because I — I don't know — I need to go officially congratulate Astoria,' she stammered. A flustered Daphne, to any degree, was a bit of a rarity.

'So now you're gonna leave me alone?'

'Yeah,' she replied haughtily. 'As you said, you can fend for yourself.' She smirked and rose from the table to join the girls and women that were getting a closer inspection of Astoria's ring.

Across the table, the women that had been subtly monitoring the little spat put their heads together.

'Are you sure they haven't eloped already?' Helen whispered to Darla.

'No, Daphne would never elope,' Darla replied.

'They certainly quarrel like a married couple already. That's all.'

Darla raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips, but had no further response, so she nodded.

With Daphne gone to visit with Astoria, there was no longer any buffer between Harry and Draco.

'Well,' Harry said to draw Draco's attention. 'I suppose some congratulations are in order.'

'Thanks,' Draco said graciously. 'I must say,' he continued over a small chuckle. 'I never would've predicted you being here for my engagement announcement.'

'You and me both.'

'So, when is your announcement coming?'

'My announcement?'

'Yeah, you and Daphne. . .'

'Oh, come on. Not you too!' Harry proclaimed.

'I'm just pointing out the obvious. If you want to be blind, go right ahead.'

'If you're just saying these things to get in my good graces, it's working,' Helen interjected. 'I imagine you might have some funny stories about Daphne from your time in school together.'

'I might have one or two,' Draco said as he glanced over his shoulder to verify Daphne was still engrossed in conversation away from the table. 'In our fourth year, when Harry entered — ended up in the Triwizard Tournament—'

'Harry outflew a dragon!' Little Joey was still nearby and couldn't help but cry out with what he knew. He even gripped the handle of his spoon like he would a broom and weaved around as if he was flying himself, adding some "whooshing" sound effects as well.

'Yes, yes. That was. . . something,' Draco said with fake irritation. Harry fought to suppress his own smile. 'Anyway, I made these badges. They were a little less than complimentary of Harry.'

'Now, now. Let's not downplay the absolute genius and creativity behind these badges and the heretofore mentioned insult,' Harry said with mock adoration.

'What did they say?' Joey asked, eyes wide.

Draco rolled his eyes and groaned.

'They said. . .' Harry paused for dramatic effect. 'Potter stinks.'

'Ewwww,' Joey squealed.

'I know, pretty bad, right?' Harry said.

Draco was well aware of his sarcasm. 'Ok, so they weren't the most original. . .'

'Even so. I can't say they didn't have a small effect on fourteen-year-old me,' Harry said as a sort of consolation.

Draco nodded as if to accept the veiled compliment. 'Sure, but that's not the point of this story. The point is, as I was persuading my housemates to wear the badges, Daphne refused. She didn't do it quietly either. She took the badge, threw it to the ground, stomped on it, and then cursed it so it blew up into bits and pieces.'

'Way to go, Daphne,' Joey exclaimed. 'Harry doesn't stink.'

'That's exactly what Daphne said,' Draco said with a laugh. 'Of course, then I made fun of the fact that she would know that, and we went back and forth some more.'

'Look at that, she had my back before we were ever partners,' Harry stated.

'It's true,' Draco agreed. 'She always believed you, or in you.'

'Funny, she's never mentioned that story before,' Harry said absentmindedly.

He gazed over to Daphne who was currently laughing at something Astoria said. A thoughtful smile grew on his face as her countenance glowed in merriment.

After a moment her eyes flickered up — as if she could sense someone watching her — and met his. She furrowed her eyebrows slightly and mouthed, "What?"

Harry shook his head and mouthed, "Nothing," in return.

She shot him a sceptical look, but then smiled, shrugged her shoulders, and went back to her conversation.

Harry's smile lingered as he kept observing his friend chat animatedly with her sister.

They weren't paying attention, but if they had been, they'd have noticed a wistful smile growing on Grandma Helen's face.

Harry and Draco continued in polite, if not somewhat boring conversation about work and even a bit of wedding planning.

It wasn't long before they were all called into the sitting room. The children sprang out of their seats and ran to get the seats with the best view of the Christmas Tree.

'You waited,' Daphne said as she approached Harry. She'd lingered to chat more with Astoria as the room cleared out.

'Well, I am your — we're here together. I felt it appropriate.'

Daphne smiled. 'Who knew there was some thoughtfulness hiding underneath. . . all this.'

'All this?' he asked with an arm waving up and down. 'Am I just a show animal to you?'

'Harry, that's what you've always been,' she said with sparkling eyes and a soft pat on his arm.

'You're lucky I find your company enjoyable,' he said with a smile and shake of the head. 'And see how my kindness gets repaid.' He gestured towards a small loveseat that was conspicuously left unoccupied.

Daphne shot her mother a small glare.

Darla shrugged. 'It was her idea,' she said, pointing a thumb at her mother-in-law.

Helen didn't even pretend to be abashed. 'Sit down, you're making us all wait!'

Harry and Daphne squoze onto the loveseat, hips and elbows jabbing into one another. They both groaned in frustration. Harry scooted back and Daphne forward, but still, neither was satisfied.

'This is not going to work,' Daphne said in a huff and she got to her feet. She pulled out her wand and tried to enlarge the furniture, but it seemed things would not be fixed so easily. Again, she glared at her mother, but Darla had conveniently found this moment to adore the decorations of the Christmas Tree.

Harry relaxed into the loveseat, as if he thought Daphne was going to find another chair. But Daphne just plopped herself across his lap, an arm looping around his neck to stabilise herself.

'This is much more comfortable,' she sighed.

'Ooof,' Harry let out a grunt. 'What—'

'Consider your next words very carefully,' she warned slowly.

Harry paled slightly and gulped. 'Uh, I was just gonna suggest a little warning next time.' He found his smile about halfway through.

'Good recovery.'

Daphne noticed the raised eyebrows her mother was giving her, along with the grin on her grandmother's face.

'They are worse than all the kids at Hogwarts,' Daphne said with a small shake of the head.

'And that's pretty bad.'

'Exactly? What do they think? A couple of grown adults can't just snuggle together?'

'They are the ones that haven't grown up,' Harry added.

'And I was getting worried that you might've joined their team for the night just to spite me.'

'Nah, I'm always on your team, Daph. You know that.'

'Good answer.' She snuggled in a little closer. 'Forget them. And' —She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply— 'Are you wearing that cologne I got you?'

'I am. Wouldn't want anyone to accuse me of being stinky,' he said with a knowing smile. 'You don't think I stink, do you?'

'No, in fact—' She pursed her lips and her eyes glistened. 'Did Draco tell you? That's why you were looking at me before.'

'I thought it was cute. You, defending me from the big bad bully.'

'I have always been one to look out for the outcasts and downtrodden,' she said with self-satisfaction that was obviously exaggerated, at least to Harry, others might've called it arrogant.

'You know, I wish that description wasn't so dead on.' He tried to play it off but his countenance darkened, there were aspects of his past that still brought on bad memories.

Daphne put a finger under his chin and lifted his head up. She lowered her head so their foreheads were nearly touching. 'You listen to me, Harry Potter,' she whispered fiercely. 'I know there are things about your past that you will never be able to forget. And I know you feel that there are people who let you down. But there are also those who stood by you through everything. And there are others who will stand by you going forward. No matter what you encounter. They will always be by your side.'

'It'd be nice to spend some time with them from time to time,' he said with a smirk. Her little speech had its desired effect, his mood was brightened.

'You prat.' She pulled back a little so she could smack his shoulder. 'You can't get rid of me that easy. I will never leave you, Harry Potter,' she said playfully, but underneath there was an undeniable sense of conviction and affection.

'Alright, everybody quiet down. We're ready to begin,' Dave announced from the front of the room, snapping Harry and Daphne from their moment.

Daphne sighed inwardly as her quick check of the group seemed to indicate no one had noticed their rather intimate conversation. Even her mother and grandmother had nothing resembling the smirk she would've expected of them.

But did her dad wink at her?

That was. . . interesting.

Dave began with a reading of The Night Before Christmas. Then, they sang a few Christmas carols. Harry was impressed with their singing. He knew Daphne could sing but the talent seemed to run in the family.

Out floated a tray of hot chocolate next.

'If you spill any of that. . .' Daphne threatened.

'Hey, you put yourself in the compromising position.'

She narrowed her eyes at him.

'Just don't make me laugh.'

'You make yourself laugh.'

'That's right, I do. I can't help being so funny.'

'You won't be laughing if you spill on me.'

The refreshment served as an intermission of sorts as one of Daphne's aunts passed out a book to each of the children and read it to them as they followed along and sipped the hot chocolate.

They went on to play a few more party games. Games that had them moving about a bit. And finally, one that had them regularly switching places with others.

When the game came to conclusion, Harry ended up sitting by a bunch of the little cousins and was enjoying himself by entertaining them, while parents were gathering up belongings in preparation for heading home.

On the other side of the room, Daphne found herself next to her Grandma Helen.

'He's good with kids too? Is there anything he can't do?' Helen said somewhat mischievously.

'Grandma!'

'Oh, humour me, dear.'

'You don't start dating someone just because.'

'No. . . but do you have some common interests?'

'Yes. . . some.'

'And you communicate well.'

'Sometimes too well,' Daphne laughed.

'And there's no way in Hades you don't find each other attractive.'

Daphne didn't give a verbal response to this comment. She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the embarrassed grin from sprouting, there was no disputing the point.

Grandma smiled knowingly. She knew she'd hit the mark. 'So tell me, what else are you looking for?'

'I — I don't know. It's just not like that. We're just friends.'

'I hear the words you are saying. But I wonder if you are saying them more with your mind than your heart.'

'I'm not — it's complicated — it would be complicated.'

'Oh, Daphne. . . everything is complicated. All I'm trying to say is. . . don't waste too much time searching for something that has been right in front of you the entire time.'

'I wish it were that easy.'

'Love never is easy.'

'It's not—'

'And if you want my opinion — even if you don't, it's coming — of all the boys you've ever brought home, Harry's far and away my favourite. But you already knew that.'

'Yes, I did know that,' she said with a smile. 'And you know what. . . He's mine too, Grandma. Mine too.'

'That's what I thought,' Helen said knowingly. She smiled as she watched her granddaughter longingly gaze across the room at her "friend."


'Now that the kids are gone, the real party can begin,' Dave announced to the small group of immediate family (and their guests) that remained. He floated a tray of assorted drinks around the room. 'Liquid courage for those that need it. And a reminder, all that happens next doesn't get discussed outside of this circle,' he added as sternly as he could muster.

'Why would we need that? Not that I mind,' Harry said as he took a glass of fire whiskey off the tray.

'Daphne didn't tell you?' Astoria asked.

'She did not,' Harry replied as he gave Daphne an accusing look.

'Tori! You told Draco?' Daphne interjected after giving Harry a guilty smile and a shrug.

'I did,' Astoria answered. 'We've even been practising a little.'

'That's no fun! Just cause Carl bombed, doesn't mean you have to give Draco a pass.'

'We don't talk about Carl. He is dead to me,' Astoria declared.

'What are you all talking about? What is there to practise for?' Harry asked, breaking up the sisterly spat.

'Nothing you have to worry about,' Draco drawled. 'You are the luckiest bastard who ever lived, you probably have a great singing voice to go along with your knack for not dying,' he said while taking a sip of his scotch.

'I don't have a bad voice, but I don't know why that would matter,' Harry responded nonchalantly.

'Yeah, well, no one ever said you got lucky in the brains department,' Draco said. 'We're doing karaoke. Do you know what that is?'

'I know what karaoke is,' Harry replied defensively. 'A little warning would've been nice though,' he growled at Daphne.

'Don't worry, I know the perfect song for us,' Daphne whispered.

'And I get no say?'

'Not really,' Daphne said with a grin.

'Fine, I'll be a good sport,' Harry said relentingly. 'But another shot of fire whiskey first.'

'That's what I love about you, always down for anything.'

'Okay. . . we will get things started,' Dave said as he pulled Darla to her feet.

While the kids had been "conversing," he'd been setting up a couple of charmed microphones with their own stands and a CD player that was connected to a screen that would display the words if they needed them.

'This year we are singing "Don't Stop Believin'," by Journey,' he said into the microphone.

'Is that a duet?' Astoria asked.

'It has parts,' Daphne answered.

Dave and Darla had obviously practised and the liquid courage had its desired effect, or they just had no shame singing in front of family and (potential) future family. They seamlessly transitioned between parts and harmonised at just the right times. Dave had them all cackling with laughter as he dropped to his knees — he had long since removed the mic from the stand for mobility's sake — to belt out the final chorus.

'That's gonna be hard to beat but it's hardly fair since they've obviously been practising as well,' Daphne said softly to Harry.

'Oh? This is a competition?' Harry's interest was piqued. There were few things Harry loved more than a good competition. Typically, that involved something against Daphne, but when they teamed up, they were hard to beat in whatever they set their minds to.

Daphne smiled mischievously. 'And you can bet your last Galleon I'll have some treacle tart at work on Monday if we win.'

Treacle tart was one of those few things Harry loved more than competition, and he would move heaven and earth to have some. Especially since Daphne used a special secret ingredient that made it extra delicious — or so she claimed.

Harry's eyes shone with determination.

Draco and Astoria sang, "I Got You Babe," by Sonny and Cher. Draco's singing was hesitant at the outset. He apparently hadn't had enough to drink to lower his inhibitions completely; or perhaps he wasn't ready to show that much of himself yet. Astoria didn't seem to mind and carried the song until Draco found his voice. By the end, they definitely qualified as cute together, as hard as that was for Harry and Daphne to comprehend. They both said as much when the second duo had finished singing.

'Alright, we're up,' Daphne said with anticipation and pulled Harry to his feet.

Harry grunted his discontentment. He was feigning indifference. Daphne knew better than anyone that Harry had a secret love of singing, and muggle karaoke bars were one of his favourite ways to wind down after working a long case.

'Are you going to tell me what we are singing yet?'

'Yeah, we're singing "Wannabe," by the Spice Girls,' Daphne said ecstatically. She had been known to lose herself to this song on occasion, and Harry, well, he would never admit that in private, he did too.

'That's not a duet!' Darla proclaimed as she smirked at Astoria.

'No, but it has parts we can split up,' Daphne argued.

'Veto!' Astoria called out. 'Mum, aren't you forgetting? Daphne has done this song before! And the statute of limitations on repeats hasn't run yet.'

'You were trying to get me to sing a song you've already sung with another man?' Harry gasped.

'Oh, shut it,' Daphne retorted.

'Tori,' Helen called out. 'Come here.'

Astoria walked over and bowed down so Grandma could whisper something to her. Astoria's eyebrows rose as she listened and her smile continually grew across her face.

'Grandma has a great suggestion. She thinks you should sing, "Shallow." The song from that movie—'

Daphne began to shake her head and she mouthed the word, "No," to her sister. She was just behind Harry at the moment so he didn't see the despair that was deepening on her face.

'You should know it. You did recommend the movie to us after all,' Astoria continued with her Cheshire grin only widening.

Daphne hadn't given someone such puppy-dog eyes since her seventh birthday when she'd pleaded with her mother for an extra scoop of ice cream. She'd won that battle but tonight, well, no one appeared to be sympathetic to her cause.

'And didn't you say Harry recommended it to you?' Astoria asked. The look on her face said she already knew the answer but was just making her case stronger by getting it all vocalised.

'Yes, I know the song. And I'm pretty sure Daphne does too,' Harry answered casually. Either, he was oblivious to the nature of the song or he didn't care; he wasn't pushing back.

Daphne nodded her agreement with his statement. Even if she had half a mind to lie and say she didn't.

'That's perfect then,' Helen exclaimed. 'I want you to show that Bradley Cooper how this song is really meant to be sung.'

'I'll have you know. . . nobody has witnessed me go full-Shallow, and lived to tell about it.' Harry displayed his million Galleon smile, the one he held onto for just the right occasion. He didn't enjoy large social gatherings, but that didn't mean he didn't have charm; and in the right setting, he could light up a room.

'Now that's what I am talking about!' Helen said to a cacophony of laughter.

Of course, Daphne didn't find the situation at all humorous, and when Harry turned around, she stepped close to him. 'Harry, you've fulfilled your commitment. You can leave if you want.' She tried to sound casual.

'Why does it feel like you're trying to get rid of me?' he teased. He wasn't catching on to her desperation.

'No, I'm just saying. . . we don't have to do this. . . ' She let her one final bit of hesitancy hang in the air.

'Nonsense, I watched their performances. It wouldn't be right for me to leave now.'

'I suppose you're right.' She yielded. Any more resistance would just draw more attention to her inner turmoil.

He leaned in close, his eyes beaming with the confidence of a man that had overcome far scarier circumstances than these, and said, 'Let's give them a show they'll never forget.'

His confidence was contagious and it instinctually brought a smile to her face. But her stomach was turning. She'd performed in front of her family every year since she was too young to remember, and even done sappy love songs with previous boyfriends. But never had the butterflies fluttered so furiously before.

'I can taste the treacle tart already,' he said playfully.

She shook her head. Sometimes he was too willing to go along with dumb ideas. Well, the dumb ideas were usually his, so in a way, he was used to it.

'Ok, are you ready?'

'No, one sec.' He pulled out his wand and conjured an acoustic guitar that he looped over his shoulder. Then he summoned a wooden chair, placed it right behind Daphne, and gently pushed on her shoulders so she would sit. 'Alright, now. . . ready.'

Harry charmed the microphone to float and follow him around as he started by pretending — No! He was actually playing the guitar.

When did he learn that?

He slowly walked around her as he began to sing. He'd always had such a smooth singing voice, it was like Belgian chocolate for the ears. And his voice. . . with these lyrics. . . it gave her the chills. As he circled her, he would send her coy smiles and longing glances, his piercing eyes playfully dancing over her. He kept his distance in general, but he'd also lean in teasingly on occasion, as if to keep her off balance.

Damn!

He was all-in.

She had to follow suit. She had no choice.

His part was coming to an end soon and he'd set the bar — high. To the casual observer, it would've appeared as if he were expressing his true feelings with those words. . . and those looks.

But she knew better.

She stood and took the few steps forward to the stand with her microphone just as her part began.

Harry had stopped circling. And now, although he was still picking at the guitar strings, his attention was entirely on her.

She could feel it. And the effect it was having on her was more than a tad unnerving.

She told herself to focus on the words so she wouldn't mess up. She didn't need to do that. She'd had this song on repeat after she'd first heard it. She knew all the lyrics by heart.

Focusing on the words didn't help to calm her beating heart either.

These words. . . they were too real.

This whole situation was starting to get too real. And it was starting to scare the hell out of her.

She could feel Harry's smile, just begging to be returned. Her resolve faltered and she turned her head towards him.

His grin grew. His eyes beamed.

A heat rose in her chest and she broke. The result was a demure smile only protected by the need to continue singing.

He slowly walked towards her as she reached the crescendo of her solo part. Which wasn't so much words as it was just belting out "Ohs" and "Ahs." It was right in her wheelhouse and she let loose like she only did when she knew she was alone.

The rush was as real as what she would imagine performing for a stadium full of people would feel like. And the look he was giving her was doing nothing to subdue the chemicals and hormones that were coursing through her system.

In her peripheral vision, she could see the awe that was contaminating his smile. And yet, she could feel him encouraging her to go even harder.

That she did as she finished off her solo portion of the duet.

Harry had discarded his own microphone and joined in singing into hers. Their bodies progressively rotated towards one another. No longer were they singing to those in the seats and sofas in front of them.

The lowering of their voices and the sensual tones that ensued were only intended for one person.

They were lost in each other's words and gazes.

They were alone.

Yet they were found.

The song expressed feelings that they had long pushed to the recesses of their souls, never to let surface.

But there was nothing shallow or superficial about these feelings that now, were pulsating between them.

They didn't finish with any dramatic wave of the arms or anyone falling to their knees. They just drew closer and closer to one another until their foreheads were nearly touching, their eyes staring unblinkingly into the other's. Their faces both flushed with exertion and passion.

Harry was supposed to pull away and play one last chord to complete the song, but he remained.

Almost frozen.

Almost. . . because his chest was rising and falling in synchronisation with hers.

Almost. . . because he was still drifting towards her. So slowly, it was nearly indiscernible.

Yet he was.

Her heart had no issue, no conflict.

But her mind was an utter mess.

Is he leaning towards me?

What is he doing?

No!

Yes!

It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.

'Wow! Is it hot in here. . . or is that just me?' Astoria exclaimed.

Harry and Daphne jolted apart, almost stumbling in disorientation, their eyes darting to anywhere but to each other, or anyone else in the room, for that matter.

'Now that's what I call karaoke!' Helen proclaimed, clapping her hands together.

Harry spun around on the spot as if he'd forgotten where he was, doing a slow-motion three-sixty. 'I think I need some air,' he said as he lifted the guitar strap over his head and strode out of the room before anyone could stop him.

'I should go too,' Daphne said after taking a deep breath and a glance at the stunned faces and slacked jaws of her family. Even Grandma Helen didn't seem to have wits all about her, but there was something in her eyes, something Daphne would need to discuss later.

Daphne grabbed a light jacket and threw it on as she went towards the front door where she'd heard Harry exit.

Before Daphne could get out of the house to catch Harry, an arm grabbed hers.

'Daph. . . what the hell was that?' Astoria asked in what sounded like shock.

'Nothing,' she breathed. She blinked rapidly a few times. 'That was just a song,' she added unconvincingly. Not even the few shakes of her head had much conviction behind them.

'Bullshit that was just a song! You two might as well have ripped each other's clothes off right there! Is there really nothing between you?'

'No. . . nothing. . . we are just good friends!'

'Right, friends with more sexual tension than a hippogriff in heat. I dare you to tell me you've never considered being more than just friends with Harry.'

'Even if I had, it'd be too complicated. And what if everything blows up? What if he doesn't feel the same way?'

'I guarantee the thought has crossed his mind, and probably not less than a minute ago. I'm almost certain he was going in for the kiss. I only said something because if that was going to be your first kiss, I didn't think you'd appreciate having an audience.'

'You really think. . .?'

'I do. And if I'm wrong. . . well, I'll wager all of Draco's fortune that I'm not. Just go snog him already.'

'I'll talk to him, but I'm not just gonna snog him. And all of Draco's fortune, I'm holding you to that.' Daphne said with an extended index finger.

'Will you go already?' Astoria said with a smile.

Daphne nodded and she ran outside to find Harry.

He wasn't hard to find, pacing in the front yard, looking up at the sky, his breath like a puff of smoke in the cold winter air. Gone was his blinding smile and carefree demeanour. It had been replaced with a distinct air of concern.

She didn't know what to say, where to start, but she had to say something.

'Harry, are you alright? You took off so fast. . .' she said. The rhythm of her heart accelerating with every step of her approach.

'Yeah, I'm good,' he said with a forced smile.

'You're a horrible liar, you know that?' she replied through a soft chuckle.

'Only you would say that.' At least a hint of his smile was back.

'Right, so don't lie to me. Why'd you run off like you'd just spotted the Snitch?'

'I'm sorry, Daphne. I didn't know what to do. I didn't plan that. . . any of that with the song. . . it just happened.'

'Of course, you didn't plan it! I thought you might've suspected I did though,' she countered, trying to not laugh at the absurdity of his apology.

'I don't know what I was thinking. . . I wasn't thinking. I was just acting on impulse. . . on feeling.' It was as if he didn't even hear her last comment and continued his previous train of thought.

'Harry, you didn't do anything wrong,' she said fiercely. She seemed to get through to him as his eyes went from far off to focusing on hers.

'Daph. . . I almost kissed you!'

Her breath hitched, but she wasn't entirely unprepared for such a statement, or sentiment. There was a large part of her that was hoping for it.

'Am I so repulsive that it would've been such a bad thing?'

'You know that's not what I mean,' he implored.

'I know what you mean,' she said resolutely. 'So let me repeat my question. . . Would that have been such a bad thing?' She stepped closer to him and didn't take her eyes off his.

His eyebrows rose slightly, his eyes widening in comprehension.

'Do you mean. . .?' He seemed as scared to put it all into words as she was.

'Harry. . . our friendship is good, right? We have a good thing,' Daphne said in earnest.

He nodded. 'I can't think of anything that means more to me.'

'So what if something more. . . was something wonderful?'

She put it out there. . . in words. There was no taking them back. Her heart said it was the right thing. But her mind, her logical, "everything has its place" mind, still wasn't all the way on board with combining these aspects of her life.

She needed something more from him to quell her rising fear of ruining something that was so good.

'Daphne,' he said tenderly, bringing a hand up to cup her face. The way the back of his fingers delicately brushed her cheek had the hairs on her neck standing up. She subtly leaned into his touch and inched ever closer to him.

'I'm ready to jump in the deep end with you, Harry.'

'Do you mean it?'

'Did you?'

Silence settled over the pair. The clouds parted for the moonbeams to illuminate their glistening eyes. Even the slight breeze stopped for them.

His thumb grazed across her bottom lip, sending a tingle down her spine. His head began to slowly descend towards hers. The gentle pressure on the back of her neck was the only stimulus she needed to lift on her toes and collide her lips to his.

Harry wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.

He wanted her just as much as she wanted him. That little ball of fear that had been hiding in her gut dissolved in a wave of euphoria that filled her whole soul, a warmth she couldn't describe.

One arm had snaked around his back and the other was entangled in his hair.

The hammering of her heart was no longer due to nerves but from the pure exhilaration that she was experiencing.

Their lips parted but they pressed their foreheads together. Their eyes stayed fixed on each other's, and a smile was etched on both of their faces.

'Way more than wonderful,' she said dreamily.

He smiled and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her into an embrace, her head resting in the crook of his neck.

They stayed like this for a time, the cold not even an afterthought. The warmth from his body and that he had generated inside of her was more than sufficient.

'Harry. . .'

He squeezed her just a bit in response.

'Are you going to say something?' she asked.

He pulled his head back enough so she could turn her face to see his. 'I was trying to savour the moment,' he said with the slightest of smirks.

She glowered playfully at him. 'Are you saying I've ruined the mood?'

'I would never imply such a thing. I'm only saying that I don't have the right words to express my feelings.'

'You could sing to me again,' she suggested with an impish grin.

'You'd like that, wouldn't you, Princess?'

'Oooh, Princess. I could get used to that,' she purred.

'How about we just skip to the end?' he said suggestively as he placed a finger tenderly under her chin and lifted her to meet him.

She moaned into his lips and deepened the kiss.

Again, she ended with her head resting in the crook of his neck, his arms wrapped around her.

'We should probably go back inside.'

'Okay. . . we really need to work on your timing.'

'We have to talk sometime,' she replied defensively.

'You know, for years, I would not have hesitated to agree with you. But now that I've experienced what those lips are capable of. . . I'm conflicted.'

'I'm going to pretend there is a compliment in there somewhere.'

'Considering how much I actually enjoy talking to you, that is definitely a compliment.'

'That was a better save than most professional Keepers are capable of.'

'Well, is it really a save if it's true?'

'I had no idea you were such a Casanova. . .'

'Only with you, Daphne. Only with you.'

Daphne sighed in contentment as she burrowed into his chest. The cold was starting to return, or her body was coming down just a bit from the high she was on.

'And just when did you learn to play the guitar?'

'A little here, a little there. I've gotta say, that was some Dumbledore level meddling your grandma pulled off in there,' Harry stated.

'Oh gosh! She is going to be so smug. They all are.'

'Yeah, well, not much we can do about it.'

Daphne pushed away from him. 'Harry Potter! I am ashamed of you!'

'What?'

'Just letting them win, like that.'

'What do you propose?'

'We can't tell them.' Her serious expression was quite the contrast to his amused one.

'You don't think they know already?' He glanced towards the house. They were standing in perfect view from multiple windows.

'My family might be a meddling bunch but they aren't spies. We can't let them know. At least not yet. Out of respect to Astoria. We don't want to upstage her announcement,' Daphne said, desperate for anything resembling a decent excuse.

'Do you really think she'd care?' Harry asked knowingly and added a small shrug.

'I don't want to find out.'

'Ok, so just act normal. . . Only now that entails pretending we aren't a thing.'

'Exactly.'

'Ok, let's start by staggering our entrance. I'll come after you.'

She nodded and walked towards the house. She didn't realise it until she was halfway up the stairs to the porch. She was off her game.

'No staring!' She tried to sound angry, but she didn't really have it in her.

'Too late,' he said with a laugh.

'Incorrigible,' she muttered as she shook her head and entered the house ahead of Harry.

She entered the sitting room where her family was chatting while some music was still playing. They all looked to her with questioning expressions as she found an empty sofa to sit on. Much of the extras had been cleared out and the room was back to its normal size.

She put on a frown and shook her head while lowering her eyes to her lap.

She didn't have time to gauge their reactions as Harry was entering the room.

If she thought he'd gone all-in on the karaoke, he just about outdid himself with the downcast look he wore on his face. She had to bite her lip to keep herself under control.

Harry sat at the far end of the same sofa as Daphne. They were no longer forced to share close quarters and they took advantage of that.

'Did you catch your breath? That was some fine singing,' Helen said casually.

'Yeah, the cool air was good for my lungs,' Harry said.

It was a good thing Harry had an answer because Daphne was lost in trying to figure how she should respond. Trying to act like she thought she was supposed to was proving more difficult than she'd imagined.

Fortunately, Harry managed to maintain their cover, and before long, Draco and Astoria left. Helen went to get ready for bed, and Dave and Darla retired to the kitchen.

Of course, none of them left without expressing to Harry their desire to see him next year for another round of karaoke. Harry did his best to laugh off the comments the same way he'd always done, but Daphne noticed the nearly imperceptible differences in his features and knew the smile was slightly forced.

They walked together to the floo in silence and stood to face each other once in front of the fireplace.

'Do you think it worked?' Harry asked.

'I. . . Uh. . . I think so.' She rambled off an answer she had no idea about. And she had something else entirely on her mind right now.

'Alright. . . Well, I guess we'll find out later,' he said as he hesitated, glanced around the room, and then leaned in for one more soft kiss. 'Goodnight, Daphne.'

He twisted away and reached for the floo powder.

Daphne barely registered the kiss and the "Goodnight." And she was thinking she could really use some more of that liquid courage right now, but there was none to be had.

As Harry tossed the powder into the fire, she grasped his arm and spun him around.

She didn't have any words ready, she just wasn't ready to watch him go.

His curious eyes found her conflicted ones.

Still, her tongue was tied.

And she had claimed they were good at communicating. That was a riot.

If only they could communicate with their eyes, then they could continue to gaze at one another and understand everything.

'Daphne?' Harry said softly. He wasn't in a hurry to go, but apparently didn't want to just stand there all night either.

It was now or never. She took one more deep breath to steady the tremble that she could feel beginning in her toes and looked him straight in the eyes.

'Do. . . do you want to stay?' Her voice had just a quiver of uncertainty to it despite the conviction in her heart.

His initial, nonplussed, reaction did nothing but reignite that small flame of fear that she thought had been extinguished. Time seemed to slow, though her brain did not. And every millisecond he stood there, processing her question, was torture.

His dazed countenance shifted into one of affection.

Harry drew near and pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear.

The strand sprung back to its place, eliciting a small giggle from Daphne, and Harry couldn't help but smile. A familiar warmth seemed to seep over her body.

'You know how you told me I could leave before we sang?'

'Yeah. . .' she whispered, barely audible.

'You have no idea how happy I am that I didn't go.'

She placed hands on his shoulders and slid them behind his neck, pulling herself up to meet his eyes as best she could. 'You think you are happier than me?' she asked challengingly.

'I'm pretty damn happy,' he replied with a bright smile. 'And I'm finally free of my debt,' he sighed.

'You mean your self-imposed life debt to ensure my complete protection? The one that I've already said you have fulfilled?'

'Yeah, that one.'

'Honestly, now that I think about it, I don't know if you're ever going to repay that completely. You might have to extend your hours of protection. Who knows what kind of dangers I might encounter overnight.'

'Hey, you can't—' His protest was cut short as he recognized her teasing smile. 'Uh. . . are you sure it's ok? Your dad? And won't that be a little bit of a giveaway. . . if I'm still here in the morning?'

'Yeah, it'll be a dead giveaway. But I'm anticipating it'll be worth it,' she said coquettishly. 'And I wouldn't worry about my dad. He'd have his mum to answer to. She'd hex him from here to Avalon. Any other excuses?' she teased with a smile, that after a moment turned to a small frown as it dawned on her he'd never actually answered her question. 'Or do you not—'

His lips cut her off, hard and fast.

The only answer she needed.

Any uncertainty was washed away with the fervour he poured into his kiss. It was as if he was trying to eliminate all uncertainty from her mind.

It worked.

She gripped his shoulders and walked backwards, pulling him along, and blindly navigated them down the hallway towards the room her parents kept for her, their lips never parting. They almost stumbled over each other on a few occasions. And they knocked askew a picture frame here and there on their journey.

Daphne fumbled for the handle to her room. Harry seemed to affect her coordination more than alcohol. And then she fumbled to lock the door once inside.

But once inside he was all hers and she was all his.

They explored all the parts that they'd never known about each other that night.

Indeed, it was. . . something wonderful.


Helen took a seat across the kitchen table from Darla and Dave with a grin that would make a naked mole-rat shade its eyes.

'Did someone spike your drink with Pepper-Up?' Darla asked.

'I don't believe so,' Helen replied.

'So, why so chipper?'

'Oh, it's nothing. . .'

The gazes from her son and daughter-in-law portrayed their disbelief quite clearly.

'Let's just say, we might need to prepare another seat at the breakfast table tomorrow,' she continued with a distinct air of satisfaction.

Darla and Dave's faces ping-ponged between each other and Helen as they tried to comprehend the veiled meaning.

'Did Draco come back with Astoria?' Dave asked.

Helen shook her head but the smirk on her lips remained.

'Harry?' Darla gasped.

'And Daphne?' Dave added.

'About time, isn't it? But you didn't hear it from me,' Helen added conspiratorially.

Dave sighed, while Darla's hand shot to her mouth to contain her squeal.

'I suppose you're right,' he said in resignation.

'You should be happy,' Darla said energetically. 'It could be worse. A lot worse.'

'But it couldn't get any better,' Helen quipped as she took a sip of her tea to conceal her victorious grin.

'I can't believe they let you get away with it,' Darla said in astonishment.

'Who says I got away with anything? I'm certain Daphne is going to have some words with me. She'd better end her comments with a, "Thank you," but beyond that, I think I can handle whatever else she needs to get off her chest.'

'I hope you're right,' Dave said.

'You can thank me too! I did do all the heavy lifting.'

Dave chuckled and Darla nodded, a very pleased smile on her face.


Harry lay with his hands behind his head, a face-splitting grin on his face. He'd been awake for fifteen minutes or so, reliving the previous night's events in his head. It was better the first time, but the memories weren't the worst things to wake up to.

Much to his chagrin, it was one of Draco's comments that brought about his biggest smile: "You are the luckiest bastard who ever lived." Since he'd said that, well, there was nothing that had happened that would contradict the claim. And Harry couldn't be happier to admit that Draco was correct.

To his right, Daphne stirred. She rolled towards him, her now dishevelled hair splayed across her face, it was no longer in its elegant form but it was beautiful nonetheless. Somehow, out of place still looked like the right place on her. He shifted to brush the hair out of her face. She wrinkled her nose, the image of a bunny flashed through his head and he smiled to himself.

He reached down and took her hand that was on top of the covers, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Slowly, as if via a delayed reaction, her cheeks pulled up and a smile blossomed on her face, and he could swear he heard her purr just a bit. That was worth getting up early for.

He stayed like this for a few more minutes, gazing at her affectionately, squeezing her hand when her smile would fade, and watching it grow again.

'You're still here,' Daphne said breathily as her eyes fluttered open.

'Well, yeah. Where would I go? I got the impression you wanted me to stay. And after last night, you're going to have a hard time getting rid of me.'

'Mmm,' Daphne hummed her approval as she scooted close and tucked herself into Harry's side. His arm draped over her. 'You know this doesn't change anything, right?' she deadpanned.

'You can't be serious right now.'

'Dead. From eight to five, I'm still Auror Greengrass.'

He sighed a bit of relief and smiled as he felt her chuckle against his chest. He wasn't ready for her jokes this early in the morning, but he wouldn't trade this for anything.

'Good thing we're on holiday then, Daphne.'

'Yes, it is, Harry.'

'You know you smile in your sleep when I squeeze your hand,' he stated with self-satisfaction.

'I do not!'

'Do too.' He smirked.

'Well. . . I can think of a thing or two that'll make you smile,' she countered predatorily.

'Does this mean you're gonna tell me the secret ingredient in your treacle tart now?' He changed the subject to not give her the satisfaction of knowing all the ways he knew she could make him smile.

'No way! The way I see it, I need more leverage now, not less.'

'Oh, I think you've got all the leverage you need right here,' he said as he pulled her on top of him.

'Nice try, loverboy. But it's not going to work. My recipe will remain a secret.'

'As long as you still make it, that'll be ok.'

'As long as you're good.'

'I'm always good!'

'Except when you're late.'

Harry's eyes widened. 'Late! Shoot! The Weasleys. Molly is going to have my hide if I'm late.'

'You better get moving then,' she said as she rolled off him.

'You're coming!'

'I'm not invited,' Daphne countered.

'Yes, you are. Molly has given my girlfriend a standing invitation,' he said with a knowing smile.

'You sure you want to go through with this? We could still turn back, but not if we go there together. . .'

'Never been more sure of anything in my entire life.'

His surety brought a radiant smile to her face.

He could get used to waking up to that.

'So, quit looking for excuses, you're coming,' he added as he collected his clothes from the night before.

Daphne laughed as she ruffled through her. . . handbag? for some more comfortable attire.

'You didn't happen to pack me some extra clothes in there?' Harry asked.

'I'm so sorry, no. I guess having a sleepover hadn't crossed my mind.' Her soft smile told him her concern was just for show.

'Fine, but we're stopping by my place first then,' he said as he got dressed.

They were just about to throw the floo powder into the fireplace when a voice rang out from the kitchen, Grandma Helen's voice, 'Where are you two off to?'

Harry and Daphne shared a guilty grimace. They were caught. Probably better to go and face the music now. They went hand in hand towards the kitchen but stopped at the edge of the room.

'Happy Christmas,' Helen proclaimed when she saw them. The statement was echoed by Daphne's parents who were seated at the table with Helen.

'Happy Christmas,' they both said back.

'So good to see you, Harry, though you're a tad overdressed,' Helen said with a mischievous glint in her eye. 'Why don't you join us for breakfast?'

'Harry has a tradition of always eating Christmas breakfast with the Weasleys,' Daphne said.

'Very well. Far be it for me to break tradition. But you. . . you're going with him?' Helen's eyes twinkled with mirth. She was enjoying this all too much.

'Yes!' Harry said cheerily. 'She's coming with me. She's mine now, well. . . not — uh, I mean, it's nothing official. But maybe. . . Dave — we could have a chat when I — we, get back.' Harry's hand had tensed and Daphne had to shake her hand a bit to get him to loosen his grip.

'I'd like that, Harry,' Dave said graciously.

'Ok, great. See you, Happy Christmas!' Harry declared merrily, as if he were St Nicholas himself.

Daphne smiled and waved goodbye to her parents and Grandma.

They all responded with cheery smiles and pleasant waves. And did all three of them wink at her?

Weirdos.


'Harry! Happy Christmas! You're just in time,' Molly said as they entered the Burrow. 'And, Daphne,' she added with a bit of surprise that quickly turned into her traditional friendliness. 'So nice of you to join us. Everyone is just getting settled in, make yourselves at home.'

They went to join the festivities after hugging Molly, "Hello," and wishing her a Happy Christmas.

'Harry—' Ron's words died as his eyes were drawn to the sight of the interlocked hands. 'Pay up, everyone! I win!'

'No way,' Hermione declared. 'Show us your hand, Daphne.'

Daphne scrunched her eyebrows, but still disentangled her fingers from Harry's and displayed her left hand.

'No ring! Sorry, Ron. . . you lose,' Hermione exclaimed.

'And now you have compromised the wager. Way to go, Ron!' Ginny added.

'We never said "engaged." We just said, "together." I have the memory to prove it. We'll go to Addelson's Pensive Emporium if we have to. And they are clearly together. Are you not?'

'We are,' Harry and Daphne said in unison.

'See! I win!'

A series of moans and groans of contention rang out amongst the group as they debated the details of their bet.

'How do you feel about your friends betting on your love life?' Daphne softly asked Harry.

'Eh, doesn't bother me. I'm the real winner,' he said with a roguish smile.

'Oooh, good answer,' she said before kissing him deeply.

They passed the morning with the Weasleys pleasantly. Even if they were the butt of more than their fair share of jokes. Their contentment with one another was more than enough to deflect any sort of embarrassment that otherwise would have developed.

Going for breakfast turned into staying for lunch before they returned to Daphne's parent's home where they spent the rest of the day opening gifts and just enjoying each other's company.

The grins, smirks, and winks — that were in no way subtle — from Astoria, Darla, and Helen didn't even ignite the slightest of responses from within Daphne. . . let them be right, she had decided. The only indication that Harry gave that he noticed, was a slight squeeze of the hand from time to time. The small, considerate action had her heart skipping a beat every time. As if it was a little reminder that what had happened and what was happening between them was actually real.

Dinner was nowhere near as extravagant as the night before but it was delicious nonetheless. And it was entertaining to watch Grandma Helen search for topics of discussion. Now that she was unable to play matchmaker, she was a bit less lively, though still not entirely devoid of her wit and humour.

Draco and Astoria didn't stay long after dinner and even the others retired early, claiming they were still recovering from the festivities the night before. Harry and Daphne didn't complain as they were left to their own devices.

But the time came when it was time to leave.

'So, I feel my Christmas gift was kind of lacking now,' Harry said as they stood in front of the fireplace.

'Same.'

'I could try to find a way to make it up to you.'

'You could try. . .'

Their flirtatious smiles mirrored each other's. And the sparks that gleamed when their eyes met, well, that hadn't dimmed all day.

There wasn't the same sense of uncertainty as the night before, but there was still a question to be asked.

'So. . . your place. . . or mine?'