I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Note: And thus a second fanfic ended. Much shorter than my previous main fic but a fair margin, sarcasm, but I hope it was enjoyable nonetheless. I wanted to try my hand out at a mystery style fic and do a pairing I happen to enjoy, two actually come to think of it. I also wanted to do something a little darker in overall tone than my other stories but this last chapter will be much lighter. They deserve a happy ending don't they? I also wanted to scratch the itch for more magical theory, hopefully people liked that.
How did people like the longer chapters? Please let me know if you like these longer ones or prefer shorter ones.
I am about 5 chapters into my next story and anticipate that one to be around 11 chapters long. I will probably start posting that next week and do one or two a week, definitely two if I finish it soon. I have an idea I'm still playing with, a new idea that I actually like the revision I thought of, and a plan for a one-shot. Not to mention what else I see on Reddit. And Extended Family is going on strong.
Thank you all for your reviews, likes, and follows. It means the world to me that people still like my stories. Have a wonderful weekend!
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His Last Curse
Chapter 5 – Making Up Lost Time
"You broke your arm and your leg, shattered a shoulder blade, cracked several ribs, not to mention your whole body is one giant inflamed mess…" The Healer shook her head as she read the list of injuries from the Diagnostic Charm.
"Is there anything wrong with his brain?" Hermione asked.
"That's the one thing that doesn't seem to be injured," the Healer said. "Not even a concussion, somehow."
"Perhaps you might check it again?" Daphne asked.
Harry sighed. "Is there a Healer for their senses of humor?"
The Healer snorted. "Mind Healers are in a different department. Anyways, we can fix up the fractures and broken bones quite easily. The shoulder will need vanishing and skelegrow. And I'll have plenty of potions for pain and anti-inflammatories."
"Can I take the skelegrow at home?" Harry asked. "I've had it before and would rather not spend all night in the hospital if I could."
"You really should stay under observation. How about this. I vanish the shoulder now, start you on the skelegrow, and if things are on the way to healing after an hour, I'll let you go but you need to return tomorrow for a follow up."
"Thank you," Harry said, smiling at her. "I really appreciate it."
She blushed lightly at his broad smile and sincere green eyes. With a stutter and nod she healed his fractures and immobilized his shoulder with a splint charm. The shattered shoulder was vanished and he grimaced with distaste at the sadly familiar skelegrow potion. Her job done, she was about to strike up a conversation but promptly left at seeing the look from Daphne.
"Stop that," Daphne scolded him after the Healer left.
"Stop what? Healing?" he asked, confused.
"Flirting. You have me now."
"I wasn't flirting!"
"He really wasn't," Hermione said wearily. "He doesn't know how."
"Yes I do," he said, almost petulant. "Just because you haven't seen it, doesn't mean I don't know how."
"Have you been flirting with Daphne the last few weeks?" Tracy asked.
"Of course not, that'd be unprofessional."
Daphne had looked upset at first, but her features mellowed as he finished his sentence. "You were not? What were you doing just now?"
"Being polite?"
She sighed. "Sadly, I believe you mean that."
"You have your work cut out for you," Hermione said sympathetically to Daphne, patting her arm.
"It appears so. It will be worth it however."
"Maybe I should stay for observation," Harry muttered and the others laughed. "I think I need a Mind Healer to check my feelings, they feel hurt."
They laughed harder. Even Harry joined them.
-0-
Astoria walked into the kitchen at Tracy and Hermione's room. "I brought your suitcase. Good thing we packed one with your favorite clothes and left it at my flat with the other stuff. Harry wasn't kidding that he didn't know what would happen."
After bringing Harry back and putting him in bed, they split up to take care of the aftermath. Hermione stayed with Harry to watch over him as he slept. Tracy and the Greengrass sisters checked out the remnants of the house, salvaging what they could. Luckily the house was outside of the city proper and the explosion had not reached any of their neighbors. After they inspected things, Tracy and Daphne went to the Ministry to report the damage while Astoria went to her flat to bring over some things for Daphne.
Daphne nodded. She showered and was wearing some pajamas lent by Tracy and happily took her luggage to Harry's room, putting it beside his trunk. She gently brushed his hair from his face as he slept and she smiled when he smiled in his sleep at her touch. She came back out and sat at the counter. "So, I need to talk to you Tori about what to do with the property."
"It's going to be costly to repair, I mean, there really isn't anything to repair," Tracy said. "You'd have to rebuild pretty much everything."
"Ouch," Astoria winced. "I mean, I'm sure we could afford it but that's going to suck."
"Indeed." Daphne hesitated. "What would you say if we sold the land? I am fairly sure it will be cheaper and easier to sell it and then rebuild somewhere else with the money?"
Astoria looked surprised. "You want to do that? Well," she looked thoughtful and pained, "actually I don't blame you. You were trapped there for years while I was able to leave."
"I…while I loved our childhood, the last few years have soured the feelings I had for it," Daphne said softly. "But it is your home too, and it's been in the family for generations."
"Fuck that," Astoria said baldly. "I don't care about the family whatever anymore, not after what he did to you. In fact, I'd be happy to sell the place and for us to have a new family home."
Daphne looked relieved. "Thank you Tori, that makes me feel much better."
"Do you want me to move back in with you?"
"No, I know you like your independence and you adore your flat. But I will build us a new family home and you will have a room of your own." Daphne smiled when Astoria hugged her tightly.
"I missed this," Astoria said wetly. "You planning things and not moping. You looking forward to things. Wanting to do things."
"It looks like we owe Harry much," Daphne said lovingly. "And you two of course," she nodded at Hermione and Tracy.
"I hope you remember that when you buy your new house from me," Tracy said with a grin. "I'll give you the friends and family discount and even knock my commission down a few percentage points." She squeaked when Hermione pinched her.
"At cost," Hermione said severely. "No profit margin. It'll be for Harry and Daphne after all."
"What?!" Tracy sputtered while the sisters laughed. "Babe, that's money for us you know! I have my pride as a realtor!"
"That's fine," Hermione said airily. "The higher percentage of profit you earn, the longer you go without sex."
"Blackmail!" Tracy screeched while the sisters laughed harder.
"Extortion would be more correct," Hermione said with an evil grin.
"You only have yourself to blame," Daphne said, wiping tears of merriment from her eyes. "Corrupting a Gryffindor, what did you expect?"
"What'd I miss?" Harry asked, his voice scratchy from sleep. He limped into the kitchen, his shoulder stiff and movements laced with discomfort.
"You shouldn't be up," Hermione chided as she helped him sit.
He smiled when Daphne pushed her chair close to him. "I heard laughter and felt lonely, and wanted to join you. It's been a while since I felt lonely."
Daphne's heart melted a little and she curled closer to him. "You missed Hermione showing a stunning display of Slytherin cunning."
"Oh yeah? She was pretty cunning while at school," he said.
"I doubt she used what she just did while at school," Astoria sniggered.
"What did she-" Harry started to ask.
"What should we do for dinner?" Hermione interrupted with a bright red face. "No Harry, you're not cooking in your state and we can't cook because that'd send you back to the hospital."
"I wouldn't say no to a lot of pizza," Harry smiled.
"Oh this place by my flat has the best pizza," Astoria said. "I'll go get it."
Daphne could not remember the last time she slept in bed with someone besides Astoria and Tracy, way back during school. However, listening to Harry's heart beat in her ear with her head on his chest, feeling his arm around her, made her feel incredibly at peace.
It made her feel loved.
It made her feel hope.
Something deep in her chest fluttered and she let it go free.
-0-
"So! What do you guys think?" Tracy asked.
It was a few months later and Tracy had brought Harry, Hermione, and Daphne to a property. They had side-along apparated together and had toured the home and the land it sat on. It was a nice three-story home with several rooms, an open kitchen, and sat on an attractive piece of land that bordered a forest and creek.
"I like it," Harry said. "Where is it?"
"Outside of London and not too far from Scotland," Tracy said. "A few kilometers that way is the closest Muggle village and a few the other way has a small but nice Magical community. They have a market on the weekends. Of course once you connect the Floo, you can go just about anywhere but it's still very nice."
"Too nice, what's wrong with it?" Daphne asked flatly.
"Suspicious much?" Tracy sniped back.
"Do not lie to me Miss Davis," Daphne said severely. "This is idyllic and there is no reason it would have sat on the market for this long without anyone interested. Did you save it for Harry for him to break a curse? Were there murders? What's wrong with it."
"Nothing! Nothing's wrong! Just…a small little thing." Tracy ignored Daphne's and Hermione's snort and led them to the side of the property. She pointed at a nice house of similar size and stature as the one they stood next to. "The property runs against the boundaries of that home over there. In between, there's this funny patch of land where the boundary lines are kind of muddled so it'll be hard to determine who owns what part of this little bit."
"We also own it," Hermione said, tired of Tracy's antics.
Tracy flushed at the look from Daphne and Harry. "I found these two properties on a short auction forever ago and the one was perfect for me and Hermione. We've always wanted to live out here and while we could've for a while, Hermione and I wanted at least someone we liked living near us. I've been trying to get Daphne to move out here before the curse really set in. But now that she's free and you're back for good Harry, well, I think it'll be really nice. We didn't want just anyone to be our neighbors."
Harry smiled lovingly at his best friend, his girlfriend, and his very good friend and boss. "I think that sounds wonderful."
Daphne gave him a dazzling smile before she schooled her features and looked at her best friend. "I want to see them."
"See what?"
"Do not play coy. Let me see the property documents and the invoices. I am not paying one Knut over three percent over fair market average."
"Three percent?! I'm your best friend!"
"Three percent is generous for most realtors! I could start at one and half! And I want the recent papers and the current market prices. You know what, I know where you keep your documents." Daphne grabbed Tracy's briefcase.
"You get out of there you bitch!" Tracy shouted and the two started to argue fiercely.
"Should…should we stop them?" Harry asked Hermione softly.
"Nope. This is how they show affection. It fell off in years the more Daphne felt ill, so with this their first real haggling fight in a long time, they're really going to go at it. Come on, let me show you our home!" She linked her arm through his and led him to the other house, Tracy and Daphne's arguing following them.
He enjoyed the tour and the house really did feel like Hermione's and Tracy's dream home. It felt warm like their current place and he smiled at the small room with his name on it. "Are you going to get rid of my room now that I'll have a place?" he asked.
"I'll probably keep it," Hermione grinned. "It doesn't feel right not having a space for you after having one for so long. At least now I can look out the window and see your home. It can be your hidey-hole from when you run from Daphne for something."
He chuckled at that.
"Harry." Her voice became serious. "Tell me what the ritual was."
He sighed. He had avoided telling her for months and he knew Daphne did too. He kept saying she did not need to know, that it was something she would not like. Which of course, only made her want to know even more. Now, with just the two of them, he felt that it was time she knew.
He told her everything. What the circle did, what he planned. How he truly was tired of everything, driven desperate. Desperate for things to end, desperate to save one more life, desperate to free Hermione from her vigil and Daphne from her prison.
Hermione stood there and stared at him the entire time. For once, she did not interrupt him. She waited for him to finish, to confess everything, crying softly as he spoke. When he finally finished, she nodded jerkily. "Thank you for telling me," she said thickly, dabbing her eyes on a handkerchief he gave her. "And you are feeling much better, yes? No more pain or anything?"
He nodded, unsure of why she asked that but had a hunch.
She nodded and punched him in the chest, hard. She punched his shoulder, his arms, beating on his chest with clenched fists. He yelped and twisted his body to try and avoid direct hits but did not try to stop her.
"You absolute arse! Harry James Potter how dare you?! You better not do anything like that ever again! Don't you EVER do that again! Not for Daphne, not for me! Not for anyone. Do you hear me?!"
He finally grabbed her shoulders and held her to him, coughing when she headbutted him in the chest. "I won't, I swear. I promise. I'll make an oath, anything. I'm so sorry Hermione. I…I was so desperate. I won't even blame my curse, that'd be too easy. I just wasn't thinking right. I've treated you terribly for so long and I wanted to free you of me."
She headbutted him again, wrapping her arms tight around his midriff and squeezed as hard as she could. "I don't want to be free of you. You are my best friend. I love you, you stupid arse. All I've done, I've done willingly. I don't want you to sacrifice yourselves for us. I want you to live for us, with us. I want my best friend, not his memory. I want him."
He sighed as he hugged her tight, his tears flowing. "I love you too. I want my best friend too. I swear. I'll do better."
She looked up at him, eyes shining. "You owe me."
"I do," he agreed without hesitation.
"I lost seven years. You owe me ten times that, minimum!"
"Done," he said easily.
"Don't you forget it," she said. She buried her face in his chest. "You're so stupid."
"Good thing I have you then."
She snorted but relaxed into him. "And Daphne. I can't believe you told her to tell me that you thought she was as smart as me."
"In my defense, I thought I was going to d-" he coughed as she squeezed him, stopping him from finishing the word.
"I'm going to make you eat those words," she said, muffled.
"I look forward to it. If anyone is smart enough, it's you." He hesitated. "Do you mind me asking why? Why are you still so…kind to me? I've treated you terribly for years. You've had to endure so much because of me."
She leaned back and rolled her eyes at him. "You deserve it. You've sacrificed so much and you matter so much to me. I only wanted you to be happy and there were times back at school where I could have done more for you. And I felt so bad how things fell apart for you right after, when I was so wrapped in my own matters."
"You can't be blamed for any of that and I treated you not the best during Hogwarts either," he argued. "You sacrificed just as much."
"Debatable. Besides, you didn't treat me that terribly when you were gone. You always replied to letters, you always wrote to me. Not the trite nonsense that people fill to seem like they care. You read what I wrote and always replied. You could have ignored them but you always wrote back. You even wrote to me first many times. You've always been my friend, Harry, don't let anyone tell you different."
"I don't feel it, but I'm glad to hear you say it," he said softly.
"I can prove it. Remember when I finally told you that I was seeing Tracy?"
"Vaguely."
She snorted. "Then let me remind you. You were asking me forever if I knew who I was dating. I had spent several letters being vague and ignoring you asking then I finally said yes, I was dating Tracy. I was so nervous to see your reply. When you did, when I saw what you wrote, it made me feel relieved and it made me miss you all the more."
"Oh now I remember. I said that she must make you happy and if you're happy with her and you're safe, then that's what matters."
Her eyes sparkled. "Exactly. You didn't have a problem that I was dating a woman, or the fact that she was a Slytherin. You didn't ask if I was charmed or potioned or anything. You just accepted it. You trusted me."
"I like to think I've always trusted you, at least after third year Christmas," he said with a hint of a smile.
She poked him. "Yes well, since you were literally the only person aside from my parents to treat it so well, that just further cemented my loyalty to you, and made me hope to help you find that same kind of happiness and peace."
"I don't deserve you," he said quietly.
She waggled her hand. "Well, you'll have plenty of time to make sure you do."
"Do you think I'm doing the right thing?" he asked frankly.
"In terms of what?"
"Everything."
She laughed. "Well, you don't exactly trust Gringotts anymore so offering to be an occasional consult is already rather generous of you. You and Tracy work wonderfully together though I'm a bit biased there. And you've always wanted a family and Daphne really cares for you and you for her. So all in all, I'd say so." She narrowed an eye. "Of course, you don't need me to tell you that."
"No, I already thought as much." He chuckled when she pinched him. "But it's nice to hear you agree, makes me feel more at ease with it." He looked out of the window, seeing Daphne and Tracy arguing off in the distance. "I have Daphne, you, Tracy, and Astoria. I have a job I like. I'm about to have my own home. I'm actually happy."
"About damn time," Hermione said firmly.
"How about we go get some food and bring it here to make? I see an outdoor grill we can use. How does some veg and sausages sound? Maybe some prawns?"
"That sounds wonderful. And we can hurry that nonsense along," she said, waiving at their arguing significant others. She led him back to them. "Are you both done yet?"
"We're close," Daphne and Tracy said at the same time before glaring at one another.
"We're going to get some food and bring it back here to make and eat," Harry said. "How does salad and grilled veg and sausages and prawns sound?"
"That sounds delicious," Daphne said enthusiastically with Tracy nodding along.
"And you two have until we return and dinner is cooked," Hermione said. "Or else I'll join negotiations."
"No!" Tracy yelped. "You'll start eating into the costs!"
Hermione grinned. "Then you best make some concessions now before I do."
"Harry!" Tracy whined.
Harry laughed. "Don't cut too close to the bone," he said to Daphne. "Whatever Tracy sticks to, I'm sure I can afford it."
Daphne rolled her eyes. "Fine, but she better keep it fair."
Harry and Hermione took their time shopping and came back. They cleaned the grill and set up a table for prep work and by the time Harry took the first of the food off the grill, Daphne and Tracy had come to an agreement.
Harry looked at the parchment contract. "Oh that doesn't seem bad at all. I can afford that."
Daphne raised an eyebrow. "I thought you lost all your family wealth paying Gringotts back."
"I did, but I also worked for seven years in a row and barely spent any money. I saved the vast majority of it and invested a good chunk."
"Oh well that's good but I won't be beholden to you, even if we are together." She flushed. "I want to be an equal partner."
"I want that too," Harry said easily to her delight.
"Besides, I want Astoria to have a room as well," Daphne said.
"Of course. We'll work it out." Harry held a hand out to Tracy and Hermione. "Guess we're neighbors!"
Hermione batted it away and hugged him and Tracy hugged him too. She then hugged Daphne as hard as she could. "Finally! We get to see each other every day again!" Tracy squealed while Daphne did the same.
"I feel the same," Harry said and hugged a teary Hermione.
-0-
"Harry?"
Harry stopped, frozen by the voice. He turned slowly and looked at an astonished Ron. "Hey Ron," Harry said softly.
"You're back? How long have you been back?" Ron said awkwardly, blinking and rubbing his eyes as if he saw a mirage.
"Few months now," Harry said.
"Blimey, really? Why didn't you come say hi or something?!"
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Because the last time we spoke, it ended poorly."
"Oh well, I mean, that was a while ago."
"Seven years."
Ron coughed. "Yeah well, like I said, a while. You could have written or something."
"I did."
They looked at one another.
"Well, water under the bridge yeah? Why don't you come to the Burrow? Mum and Ginny will want to see you."
Harry bit his lip. "I don't think I'm ready for that yet." He felt his heart beat increase, his blood pounding. A part of him knew that there was a good chance the curse really did make things worse with people, that he was treated poorly because of it. If that was the case, it would not be fair to hold everyone that treated him badly completely accountable.
That being said, everything people said to him had grains of truth mixed in with the venom and vitriol. The words still bit and tore him deeply, leaving scars that could not be seen but he felt keenly. It had been easy to forget it when he was with the four witches, even when they went to Diagon and other places together.
Now, confronting one he once called his best mate, he felt the words rush back to him, felt the pain and loss. He was starting to panic.
"What does that mean?" Ron said angrily, face turning red. He took a step forward.
"Harry, are you well?" Daphne came to his side and slipped her hand into his. He threaded his fingers between hers, feeling more at peace. She looked at a shocked Ron and the smile she had for him became a cold expressionless mask. "Mister Weasley," she greeted coolly.
"You?! What are you doing with him?" Ron asked harshly.
"It's none of your business," Harry said and Ron took a step back at his narrowed eyes and stern tone. "In any case, she is my girlfriend and more."
"Girlfriend?! Since when?"
"Again, it's none of your business."
"I'm your best mate!"
Harry shook his head. "Once yes. Now? After not answering a single letter? Or how we left things? I don't think so Ron." He turned to leave.
"Harry, wait!"
He did not. He kept walking and was grateful for Daphne squeezing his hand. They walked to an apparition point in Diagon and popped away, returning to the garden outside their home. "I was not ready for that," he said tiredly.
Daphne sniffed. "Still as unpleasant as ever." She flushed at his look. "My apologies. I know he was your very good friend but I cannot say I like him."
"Did he do something to you at school?"
"No. I was with Tracy and Hermione one day early on and he accosted them. It took considerable self-control to hex him that day. I wanted to Curse him today." She ground her teeth. "How dare he. Pretend that he was your friend once more."
"He didn't even really apologize either." Harry sighed. "I know I should give him the benefit of the doubt, especially if my curse was turning me into a walking provoking thing, but…I don't know."
"You owe them nothing," Daphne insisted. "Even if the curse amplified any ill will, they could have fought it. They could have fought it like Hermione and Tracy."
"And you," he said softly.
"After I removed the stick, yes." She loved hearing him laugh. "I will not force you to not be friends with any of them, but I will not let them pretend all is well without considerable effort on their part." She eagerly stepped into his open arms, nuzzling his neck with her nose.
"Thank you," he said warmly.
"Why did you not wear your hat today? I thought you liked it to hide your identity."
"I was with you today, I didn't think you liked it."
She flushed. "No, I admit it is rather dashing. I was just finding fault with you wearing it indoors."
He laughed. "Good to know."
She kissed his neck, eager to hear him laugh more, to feel it on her lips. "Why did we go to Diagon today? I thought we had all we needed for a while."
He hummed thoughtfully and shrugged. "Well, I guess now is as good of a time as any. I originally was going to wait for a more romantic time, but time isn't necessarily kind as we know. While you visited the Apothecary I went to Gemma's Gems." He gave her a small black box and she opened it with trembling fingers.
She gasped. The white gold ring gleamed in the sunlight. A multifaceted sapphire shone with inner light, catching the sun and making the facets dance. Two small diamonds sat on either side of the sapphire, shining like stars. But what made her gasp was the design of the sapphire itself. It was cut in the shape of her mother's locket. The ring was etched with scrolling that matched the design of the locket she sacrificed.
He looked incredibly nervous. "I had my memories of the locket taken out and gave it to the jeweler to look at. I picked white gold because it reminds me of your hair, and the sapphire is your eyes. I know it won't ever replace your mother's locket…" He groaned and rubbed his face. "I probably should have gotten you a locket to replace a locket come to think of it."
She looked at him with shining eyes. "Is this a ring for…"
He nodded.
She handed it to him. "Ask me properly," she commanded in a trembling voice.
His grin outshone the sun as he knelt before her. "Daphne Melody Greengrass, will you please marry me?" At her surprised look he blushed, "I asked Astoria."
Her smile was the warmest and brightest he ever saw her have. "Harry James Potter, yes! With all my heart and soul, yes!"
She relished the way the ring felt on her finger. It was cool and solid and to her, it felt alive. She pulled him up after he slipped it onto her finger, crushing her lips against his, happily, desperately, needily.
"I know we've only really known each other for about half a year right now technically," he said shyly, "but we've been through a lot together and well, I like how I feel with you. I don't want to waste time being alone. I spent seven years alone. More than really."
She entwined her fingers into his hair. "I agree, too long alone. You saved my life Harry. I give it willingly to you. And I willingly take yours. I used to think I would forever be alone, trapped. You set me free."
"You did the same for me," he said huskily.
"There will be no one better for me," she said with conviction. "There will be none that can compare to you." She smiled slyly. "Or me for you."
He laughed. "Have I mentioned how sexy your confidence is?"
She pushed him down to the ground and straddled him. "Yes, but tell me more," she said as she kissed his neck, undoing his shirt.
"Daphne!" He went red. "We're still outside!"
"And?" She took off her top, enjoying the fresh air and warm sunlight. She reveled in the way he looked up at her, as someone beautiful, as someone he wanted. "I have been indoors for far too long. Now, tell me more," she purred.
-0-
"Dare I ask what happened?"
As they usually did, the two couples ate dinner together. Tracy and Harry built a nice outdoor dining area with a permanent firepit and outdoor oven in the area between their homes, where the boundaries were merged. Hermione had come out after coming home and saw Tracy lying on one of the benches, her arms and legs tied and her eyes covered by a blindfold. Daphne sat across from her and the two argued fiercely while Harry cooked, looking oddly embarrassed.
"Babe! Help!" Tracy yelled, hearing her voice.
"What did she do to deserve this?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing!"
"She walked over without a bit of warning and interrupted something very personal," Daphne said crossly.
"You should have thought of that when you chose to do something personal outdoors!" Tracy yelled.
"Harry! Really?" Hermione said severely, her tone ruined by giggling.
"It wasn't my idea," he protested weakly. "Granted, I didn't try stopping it but still."
"Oh my goodness, little miss proper initiated it?" Tracy asked lewdly.
"I uh…I mean, we were celebrating," Daphne said, blushing furiously.
"What?" Hermione and Tracy said together. Then Hermione saw the ring and she squealed happily. Daphne eventually released Tracy and they laughed and babbled and cheered, drawing Harry in. Astoria came over later and she joined in with the celebrations and with the teasing when she learned of Daphne and Harry being caught. It ended with a very embarrassed and irate Daphne chasing Tracy and Astoria around the grounds, shooting Stinging Jinxes at them with Harry and Hermione watching fondly.
-0-
A few months later Daphne and Harry got married. They had the ceremony at a small church with Tracy being the Maid of Honor and Hermione being the Best Maid. Attendance was small, just as they liked. It had a few acquaintances of Daphne and Tracy, Astoria and a few other friends, and a small group of people that had reached out to Harry when they knew he had returned. The small few that admitted fault and showed genuine remorse, those that wanted to try and be friends again, were welcomed back into Harry's life.
A few months after, Hermione and Tracy were married. The roles reversed neatly with Daphne being the Maid of Honor and Harry being the Best Man. The people that attended were a little more numerous than Harry and Daphne's but not that much more. It was a beautiful ceremony and not for the first time did Tracy and Hermione thank God and Merlin that Harry had returned when he did. Things felt more right now and they were incredibly happy.
-0-
A year later, during one of their usual dinners, Tracy frowned at Daphne. "Hold on a tick, something's up."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
Tracy pointed her fork at Daphne. "You are far too chipper. Like genuinely happy."
Daphne snorted and slapped her hand. "Don't point your fork at me and why are you upset that I'm happy?"
"I'm not! Just that, you're like incredibly happy right now. Usually that means I've done something extra stupid or you've made a killing in investments."
"Well it's neither of those," Daphne said.
"Ugh, that smug face of yours is the worst," Tracy grumbled. "Just tell me, will you?"
Daphne smiled with her lips together, waggling her eyebrows in a knowing way. "Shant. You can figure it out."
"I hate you."
"You love me."
"Bitch."
"I cannot call you a trollop anymore so I will go with bitch as well."
Harry snorted. "I'm glad our friend dynamic isn't one that revolves around name calling," he said to a smiling Hermione.
"We all show affection in different ways," Hermione giggled.
Tracy and Daphne exchanged more barbed insults that were becoming increasingly lewd, much to Harry's delight and Hermione's amusement. Finally, Daphne relented. "Pour me more water please," she asked Tracy.
"Water? You're not drinking wine?" Tracy did as asked, brow furrowed.
"No. Also, as one other hint, remember what you promised me during our third year?"
"I promised lots of things," Tracy said. She hummed softly. "Let's see. I promised to stop stealing your quills, to share my chocolate with you. I promised to stop telling you about what I heard the upper years doing in the broom cupboards. I promised to be the…" her eyes drifted down Daphne's front, "the godmother of your sprogs." She jumped up. "Really?!"
"I knew you'd figure it out eventually," Daphne said before Tracy jumped on her. "Careful!" she laughed.
Hermione shrieked with joy as she sussed it out, hugging Daphne and Harry as hard as she could. "You'll be the other godmother," Harry said as he hugged her back.
"Really?"
"Of course!"
She teared up as she hugged him. "Oh you look so happy," she breathed.
"I am," he said with shining eyes. "I have a family, I have my best friend, I have a home. It's everything I ever wanted."
-0-
"Is everything okay?" Harry asked, worried.
It was a few days later and they sat together outdoors once more, eating dinner together. Immediately, he could tell something was bothering Tracy and Hermione. They kept looking at each other and at him and Daphne, their conversation stilted and awkward. Daphne was the only one that seemed completely unbothered, humming and happily eating her salmon and rice.
"Yes," Hermione said shortly, her cheeks pink and looking over Harry's head. "Sort of."
"What's wrong?" he asked, truly worried now. "Is there something I can do." His panic rose when she buried her face into her hands. "Seriously, you're starting to really wig me out here."
"It is best to get it all out," Daphne said almost smugly.
"You know what's going on?" Harry asked.
"I have an idea," Daphne murmured demurely.
"Just, give us a moment," Tracy said weakly. She shook her head and downed her entire glass of wine. "Right. So, we, uh, want to ask you for a favor."
"Me or Daphne?" Harry asked, his worry increasing.
"Both? Sort of, more you but we need her permission?"
"Well whatever it is, I'll do it," he said firmly.
"See? There you go," Daphne said.
"You might want to hear us out first," Hermione ground out, voice muffled since her face was still hidden.
"Merlin strike me dead," Tracy muttered. She coughed. "Well, Hermione and I want to…have kids." Her face was deep scarlet and she pushed on, her words spilling from her like water through a dam. "Daphne and I always wanted our kids to be best friends like we are. We wanted our kids to grow up together and all that."
"Aww that's sweet," Harry said warmly. He frowned. "Wait, forgive my ignorance, but how do same-sex couples have kids? Adoption?"
"Well yes that, but we also want kids the…usual way."
"Okay," Harry dragged the word out.
Daphne sighed. "What they are asking is if you would help father their children," she said plainly.
Harry gaped at his wife while Hermione moaned from embarrassment and Tracy drank from the bottle of wine directly. "What?" Harry finally said.
"Same-sex relationships are rather common among Pure-Blood families," Daphne said. "There are plenty of rituals where babies can take on the blood of both parents and it's simple and safe enough. Legal even. However, they must be done while the baby is still a baby and you still need to have said baby the usual way. As in seed from the father and egg from the mother."
"Why are you so open with this?" Hermione muttered. "You're usually the first one to stamp down on improper talk!"
"Because I am deliriously happy," Daphne chirped. "And I also want you two to be happy and I would love to have my child have a best friend close to their age next door."
"It's true," Tracy muttered. "When Daphne is seriously happy she is annoyingly open and perky."
Daphne smiled brightly as she cut her salmon and ate another big bite.
"And, you're okay with this?" Hermione asked her, incredulous.
"Of course! If anything, I love the idea. Our children will be even closer and our families will be together. Why wouldn't I be happy about it? I've always wanted a big family and I was already going to spoil your children but this would just be even sweeter." She patted Harry's hand. "Salmon is absolutely delicious tonight, love."
"Thanks?" Harry shook his head slowly, as if trying to force his brain to restart. "I mean, I uh, well…I…I don't know what to say? How would it even work?"
"You can brew a potion with your essence," Daphne said matter-of-factly.
"How do you know all of this?!" Hermione asked.
"My mother," Daphne said simply. "She wanted me to know that my options were open whichever way my heart went." She ate another bite. "Of course, brewing the potion is finicky and not efficient. It has an abysmal success rate. Besides I never saw the point to it, you don't drink it after all. You might as well do it the old-fashioned way."
"What?!" Harry felt his face turn hotter than the outdoor grill. "You want me to…but…they don't…they're our best friends! They're married to each other!"
"I trust either one of them," Daphne said airily. "Admittedly I do not know about Hermione but Tracy likes men too. At least she did while at school. I've seen her admire you like how she used to admire boys so the attraction is there."
"I need more alcohol," Tracy muttered.
"Don't get him too drunk," Daphne warned. "It'll be quite pleasurable but if your goal is to become pregnant then it'll take him a lot longer-" Her words were cut off by Hermione's scream of embarrassment.
-0-
Several years later
Harry appeared with a faint crack, landing on his feet in front of his home. The sound of laughter reached him and he smiled, following it around the house and towards the back. As he cleared the corner of the building he heard his wife scream out, "Get him!"
Harry dropped his rucksack and bent low to catch the two squealing girls that ran to him, tackling him onto the grass. They shrieked as they pushed him around, scrambling over him. The first had her mother's platinum blonde hair and his deep green eyes. The second had her mother's bushy brown hair and her other mother's hazel-flecked eyes. They screamed with delight when he rose, each kicking squirming bundle held firmly over a shoulder.
Daphne approached, holding their son. She summoned Harry's hat from where it fell, putting it on her own head as she kissed him on the cheek. "How was your day?" she asked over the loud laughter.
"It was good, finally finished the ward scheme on the new project so Tracy is going to be over the moon later with the second half of the payment. No work for a few days so I'll be here with you and the little ones." The girls cheered and the boy babbled.
He made dinner outdoors, helped by the girls. Tracy and Hermione came over, grateful for Daphne watching over their daughter while they worked. They ate and laughed and enjoyed their time together before finally parting for the night.
After putting the children to bed, Harry and Daphne relaxed on their own. She snuggled close to him, her head on his chest, listening to her favorite sound in the world, her personal music. She smiled to herself and kissed his chest and neck.
"What's that for," he asked, kissing the crown of her head.
"It has been seven years," she said softly.
"Really? Huh. Doesn't feel like it at all."
"Shorter or longer and care for your answer," she said as frostily as she could.
"Not nearly long enough," he grinned.
"Good answer," she said back. "Thank you for saving me and setting me free," she whispered.
"Thank you for saving me and setting me free," he whispered back.
"I suppose Riddle did one good thing in his life," she mused idly. "He brought you to me in a rather round-about way."
He laughed. "You'll forgive me if I don't thank him for it."
"Perish the thought. An accidental good deed warrants no thanks. I will just thank you; you are far more deserving." She draped herself over him, wrapping him in arm and leg until they were closely entwined.
"I love you," he murmured sleepily.
She pressed her lips to his chest, right over his heart. "I love you," she said and smiled as she heard his heartbeat just a little bit faster. "So, I suppose I never said this."
"Said what?"
"You are a perfectly adequate cursebreaker after all and your spellwork is very good.
His laughter sounded like his heartbeat and she immersed herself fully in both sounds, letting them lull her to sleep, sweeter than any lullaby.
-0-0-0-
Spider of Dreams - I'm glad you do. and now that you mention it, your comment about post-Hogwarts actually helped me revise an idea that I think may work out well. Thank you for the idea and I hope to start working on it soonish.
alix33 - I mean, Tom Riddle Jr was definitely a petty bitch.
diffident-serpiente - Well I'm glad to always keep you wanting more. I need the views and the accolades. Hope you like the conclusion.
saltysherd - Thank you so much. I never have an idea of what is obvious and what isn't. In Family, I thought something was obvious and people took it in a completely different direction whereas I thought I was being clever here and yet was easily found out by more than a few. At least it's still entertaining I suppose. Thank you for reading.
Shamgar777 - Thank you. It was a similar theory honestly and I'm glad you liked the ambiguous nature of the curse. I wanted it to be subtle and insidious, not obvious.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - And here I thought I was being clever with the title. Le sigh. Oh well, nothing wrong with that. Hope you like the ending.
CaskettFan5 - One more chapter. I loved how it ended, thought it was a fun way to show how they are changing, especially at the height of the ritual and the breaking of the curses. Glad you liked it so far.
Canuto-90 - Thank you.
Henry Slytherin - Like I said before, nothing so obvious aside from living well.
Guest - Thank you so fucking much. Glad you like it.
Ironhidensh - Thank you. I've come to really like Daphne stories and she does run the gamut on characterizations, so I'm honored you like my portrayal.
durred - One more chapter today and that will be it.
mwinter1 - Here you go.
Urgwaew - Hence my Riddle is a petty bitch comment. He is really stupid and petty. Still to the end he never got over his hubris and thought that he could ruin Harry's life that way. I wanted to show Harry's desperation. Why he fully intended the ritual to be the last thing he ever did. He was so tired, so overwhelmed after learning about the curse, thinking that he had no other way to get rid of it, coupled with the chance to save one more person one last time. I'm glad it came through. And yes, there will be plenty of gnawing and chewing out this chapter. Hope you enjoy.
Good energy to you too. Hope you are doing well.