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Disclaimer: I have the right to say I do not own Harry Potter and the Potterverse. Anything I say can and will be used against me in the Wizengamot. I am not J.K. Rowling nor am I a superhuman of any kind. Although I did once fly out of a second storey window. Quite painful and not recommended.


Acknowledgement: Special thanks to my tireless beta, Nauze. Credit to Brutus and Liberty Prime (gomez36000) who offer a combination of moral support or input and corrections. Couldn't have made it this far without any of you! Also, thanks to ACI100, who's influenced my new pre-chapter notes style.


Self Promotion: I have a Discord server on my profile. If you fancy joining, you can find me there.


Author's Note: If you're wondering if something's changed, don't worry, you're not imagining it. Thanks to a Reddit prompt, Daphne Greengrass: Hogwarts Sweetheart, I've decided to re-do the fic from scratch and, as it turns out, it works better for the story I had in mind. So without further ado, I give you, the reimagined Pie-Throwing Championships! Enjoy!


Daphne Greengrass and the Pie-Throwing Championships
By Triage
Year 3: Rise of the Pie-Throwing Princess
Chapter 1: It's Ice Cream!


Daphne Greengrass was absolutely, utterly, ultimately, undeniably ecstatic. This was going to go down in history for her as one of the best days ever! She reminded herself to fill in her diary as soon as possible. But for now, she needed somewhere private IMMEDIATELY so that she could behave in a most unladylike fashion. An empty classroom on the ground floor would suit her purposes just fine. Her ever-faithful companion, a Little Owl named Egg, followed after her.

Once inside, and as soon as she was sure the door was actually closed, she turned around, where her blossoming room-brightening smile gave way to a loud squeal of delight. Jumping up and down for joy, she cried out, "HE SAID YES! HE SAID YES! OH, MERLIN, GODRIC, SALAZAR, ROWENA AND HELGA! HE SAID YES!"

The he in question was none other than one Harry Potter, Boy-Who-Lived Extraordinaire, Saviour of the Wizarding World, Defeater of Dark Lords, and the Love of Daphne's Life, and he had agreed, somewhat awkwardly, to start corresponding with her over the summer break. Egg, who wore a sombrero enchanted to stay on no matter how the tiny bird moved unless he removed it with a talon, flitted about the classroom, twittering excitedly at his mistress, sharing in her joy, even if he couldn't fathom the reasons behind it.

"Oh, Egg!" said Daphne, grabbing the owl in both arms and spinning around the room, until she fell into a chair, "I can't believe he said yes! Am I dreaming?"

In response, Egg twittered, staring bright-eyed at the sunny-haired girl.

"I never want to wake from this dream if it is!" she released the bird, who was content to stand on her lap as she gathered herself.

"On second thought, this is better than a dream! BECAUSE IT'S REAL!" shouted Daphne, pumping her fists into the air, and she sank further into the seat, her legs splaying out. Egg let out a shrill hoot and did a cute little dance as he sought to balance himself on her lap and keep staring up at his owner happily.

Careful not to upset the owl-sized sombrero on his head, Daphne began stroking Egg's back as she began to reminisce to herself about the very first time she'd ever set eyes on Harry Potter, and for her, it was love at first sight. It really was!

Like all other children, Daphne and Astoria grew up hearing about the tales of Harry Potter's adventures from the book series. Although two years her junior, Astoria was surprisingly cynical and disbelieving of the legends, and her interest in the tales waned quickly, but not Daphne. The girl swallowed it up like a starved child. And she was eager to meet the boy himself.

Her best friend since childhood, Tracey Davis, was a grounded, solid anchor for Daphne's more energetic and excitable tendencies, like bouncing through the entire Hogwarts Express, hoping to find Harry and introducing herself to him, as loudly and memorably as possible. Despite her attempts to see him, she actually did not get a chance to catch a glimpse despite hearing numerous mentions of his name, starting from Hagrid the friendly giant, to Draco Malfoy's little spat with Harry.

Plus, Daphne was too short at the time to see over...anyone, really. But at the Sorting Ceremony, everyone finally caught sight of the Boy-Who-Lived. Tracey and Daphne had been Sorted much earlier, and the Hat had been unsure as to whether to put her in Hufflepuff or Slytherin, but it finally decided on Slytherin as the good-natured badgers would probably be horrified by some of the things Daphne was really capable of when properly motivated.

So when Harry's name was called out, there and then, the girl decided that the legends and stories didn't hold a candle to the real deal. Call it a mad crush, an infatuation, love at first sight, but Daphne was hooked. Tracey only grimaced when Daphne declared softly, "Oh, Merlin, he's handsome!"

"Yes, he is," said Tracey while patting Daphne on the head, "yes, he is."

From then on, Tracey had a full-time job. Whenever the blonde was staring dreamily over at him in class, she'd use one hand to swing Daphne's head around back to the front before the Professors or anyone else would notice.

Daphne's reputation as the Slytherin Softie spread ridiculously fast in the following months. She'd been seen playing with little animals near the lake, accompanied by a tiny owl that wore a sombrero and a poncho, or she'd be picking flowers and singing to herself. She also had a love for coffee. Eventually, they'd befriended Blaise Zabini, and Tracey had put him to work, helping to steer Daphne out of danger zones, all while the girl pined and yearned for a chance to talk to her Harry.

She'd managed a few overexcited greetings, frantic waving, and manic grins with him, but she would get far too tongue-tied after that to say anything else, and her friends would have to drag her away as Harry nervously retreated to the safety of his friends.

Her first breakthrough came when the end of term was reached, she approached him at the entrance, and she stammered out a compliment to him for his remarkable achievements involving a particular magical stone.

She had a goofy grin and a bright-eyed stare for the rest of the train ride home, all because Harry had said, "Er...thanks..."

In their second year, she alone refused to believe the malarkey that Harry was the heir of Slytherin, and she told him as much, through Egg, who delivered an encouraging note to him on Daphne's behalf. The tiny little owl certainly made waves at the Gryffindor table, dancing about, waving wings and swinging legs after delivering the note. She had written:

Harry, not everyone believes you're the heir of Slytherin, nor do we believe being a Parseltongue means you're a Dark Lord! Don't be disheartened; you're not alone! Also, you've got a great smile.

The note had some pressed flowers folded inside, and it was charmed to retain the fresh and fragrant scents for all time. When she saw a small smile appear on his lips, Daphne made an internal squeal and was shaking Tracey to the point of exasperation.

From then on, Egg began to stealthily bombard Harry with chocolate frogs, candies, and tiny gifts every week or so. And on Valentine's day, the blowhard, Gilderoy Lockhart, was embarrassing everyone with his Valentine's Dwarves. But Daphne had employed the help of her parents ahead of time and had a sweet Valentine's card, charmed to softly sing in a feminine voice a simple poem of care and affection.

She tried once again to communicate with Harry without getting so tongue-tied every time she was face-to-face with him. On top of which, it seemed that she had a contender for his attention, in the form of Ginny Weasley, who, fortunately, was as oddly awkward as she was when it came to the green-eyed, messy-haired boy.

The terror of the monster and the Chamber of Secrets really put a damper on things though, and everyone went out of their way to keep Daphne company, with no less than five people at any time. Mostly people recruited from Slytherin house by Tracey or Blaise, and one of them was always a competent sixth year and above. It was seriously sweet of them, but honestly! How was she going to find Harry and get some time alone with him?!

They arrested Hagrid on suspicion that he was behind the reopening of the Chamber, which was utterly ridiculous. Tracey, Blaise and herself stood in solidarity with Harry and Ron, in disagreement about the notion. Fortunately, Harry seemed to resolve the mystery and problem before they needed to close the school. That would have been very, very bad. It would have made Daphne cry.

No one wanted Daphne to cry. Not since the Edmund Ramsbottom incident. No one had heard of Edmund Ramsbottom after he made Daphne cry. Nor had he been heard from or of since.

She managed to corner him alone for a moment, before the end of Second Year. "H-Harry?" stammered Daphne, "I-I just wanted to...uhm...say, th-th-thank you, for saving us all again. I know you had something to do with it ending the threat."

That was the extent of the courage she had for that moment, and she ran off before he even had a chance to reply. Till now, she wasn't sure if that was the smartest or worst decision she'd ever made. And then the whole of Third Year was another debacle, with the notorious criminal, Sirius Black, on the loose.

She'd sent missives of caution to Harry, delivered by Egg or even herself whenever possible. She'd sent letters back to her parents requesting their assistance to look into the matter of Sirius Black. But after a while, they advised her to be patient and keep her eyes open as exciting discoveries were being made. Like the fact Sirius had never gotten a trial!

No matter how heinous of a crime was committed, the Wizengamot should have given a trial for the man. It was every wizard's basic right! This was a gross miscarriage of justice already. Word had gotten out that the man was once again captured, and to be Kissed promptly, but before term ended, he had made his escape. Daphne didn't think he was guilty, and neither did her parents.

As was her custom every end of term, it seemed, Daphne once again managed to catch Harry alone as they were all beginning to file out of the castle to head down to Hogsmeade, and start the journey home for the summer.

"Harry?" Yes! She didn't stammer! She was getting better!

The boy in question turned around to look wide-eyed at the blonde with bluish-green eyes. "Y-yes?" but apparently, it was his turn to stammer, now.

"Uhm...I hope you have a good...no, I mean great summer ahead. CanIwriteletterstoyou?" She bit off the last part in a hurry before her nerves caught on to what she was trying to do and stopped her short and sent her running for the hills.

"Pardon? Sorry...I didn't catch the last bit?" said Harry politely.

Merlin, he is so lovely! "Uhm...I mean, c-c-can I write letters to you? I-i-if you're not too busy with letters from other people, that is...I thought it'd be n-nice? Not that I think you don't have friends or anything!"

He smiled at her, and she had to lock her knees lest they gave way in front of him.

"I'd...uh...yeah, I'd like that...not too busy at all."

She nearly died.

She barely managed a grin, a wave, and the urge to hug him...maybe kiss him? But his friends, Ron and Hermione, showed up and she scurried out of sight, though the sharp-eyed Hermione spotted her, and was squinting thoughtfully, especially since she saw Egg trailing after the girl in her wake.

Voices snapped her and Egg out of their mutual reverie. "I've told you many times already; you cannot take your eyes off her! You know this is the time she'd go looking for Harry! Now we need to search the bloody castle for her. Who knows where she'd go off to..."

That sounded like Tracey.

"Trace, relax," said the familiar voice of Blaise Zabini, "she won't go far. We know she wouldn't go anywhere near dark places, and we really just need to follow 'the diabetes' to find her."

The door swung open, held by Blaise so that Tracey could march right in. "See? The trail of sweetness always leads to her."

"All right, knock it off," said Tracey, lightly punching him in the shoulder.

"Hello, Tracey, Blaise," said Daphne in a dazed state, and Egg took off, flitting between the three students, excitedly twittering at them as if relaying everything that had happened. "Isn't it a wonderful day?"

"Oh blimey, did you and Harry finally kiss?" asked Blaise as he playfully ducked under one of the hyperactive owl's swoops.

"Trust me, Blaise," said Tracey, "if that had happened, the whole of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade would have heard about it by now."

"Yes, I suppose you're right. So what did wonder boy have to say that made your day?" the boy asked.

Tracey muttered under her breath, "What doesn't?"

"I managed to ask him if we could correspond with each other...Trace, I didn't stammer! And he said yes!" Daphne's eyes beamed with pride.

"That's wonderful news, Daph," said Tracey, patting the girl on her head, then grabbed her by the hand. "Now come on, we're gonna miss the train if we dilly-dally any longer."

On the way out, Daphne heard Blaise saying, "Sweet summer child."

~ O ~

Just before she had boarded the train, Daphne had run up to give Hagrid a goodbye hug, much to his surprise. She also gave him a flobberworm with the most unusual markings and colours, an enchanted glowing squirrel, and a ghost owl, all for him to study and maybe find a place for them somewhere.

She left the dazed gentle giant to marvel at the cute creatures now in his care and got onto the Express, almost the last person.

"Hey, Daphne," said Hannah Abbott, "so...what happened?"

Daphne knew the girl was asking about Harry. She smiled at the Hufflepuff. "He said yes."

Hannah squealed and grasped Daphne's hands, jumping up and down for joy, making the Slytherin girl join her. "Tell me all about it, okay?" she asked Daphne.

The girl's face fell, "I-I can't do that! I won't betray his trust!"

"Oh, Daph," said Hannah, almost sounding disappointed, but she said, "now I respect you even more!" and she hugged her.

"Thank you, Hannah!" Daphne continued further in the train and repeated more or less the same conversation and series of actions with Susan Bones, then Terry Boot, and then the Patil twins, and Lavender Brown.

By the time she reached the cabin with her friends, the girl was slightly flustered and pink-faced. "Merlin!" was all she said as she settled in beside Tracey.

"Had a good time with all your friends?" asked Tracey, and Daphne nodded her head eagerly.

"Yes, I did!" and she recounted all the people who were asking her about the correspondence, and sharing their joy with her that he'd agreed. It was a milestone reached.

"Glad for you, Daph...wh-oh..." Tracey was interrupted when a little fairy emerged from one of Daphne's pockets, giggling in a high-pitched, squeaky voice, "...ah, a new friend for Egg?"

Daphne had the sense to look bashful, "I must have forgotten to give her to Hagrid! She'd gotten separated from her colony by a powerful gale. Egg told me!"

On numerous occasions, Daphne had 'translated' Egg's hoots and tweets to Tracey and Blaise. She was utterly ignorant whether they believed her or just humoured her notions.

"Forgotten, huh?" asked Blaise. "So let's stop the train. We're not too far away; I'm sure Hagrid won't mind taking her off your hands."

"No!" Daphne gently clasped the fairy and held her protectively away from Blaise, who was grinning triumphantly. "N-no need to inconvenience anybody...I'll...I'll look after her."

"Daphne," said Tracey patiently, "you already have an entire colony of fairies back home..."

"Exactly!" interrupted Daphne. "She'll have lots of friends!"

The exuberant blonde spun around the cabin, narrowly avoiding both her friends' heads. Tracey's owl, Athena, was almost knocked off the girl's shoulder. The bird hooted indignantly. Blaise's companion on his shoulder, a spiked silver and green hamgon (hamster dragon hybrid), sneezed a tiny gout of flame.

"Oh, sit down already, you!" Tracey caught the hem of Daphne's outer robe and yanked her down. The girl landed with a soft plop but didn't take her eyes off the little fairy, comfortably nestled in her palms.

"You'll be happy!" promised Daphne, "there's lots of fairies and you'll have lots and lots of friends...er...uhm...what's your name again?"

The fairy made cute squeaking and tinkling noises, and both Tracey and Blaise leaned forward a little, trying to perceive the fairy language.

"Maribell! Oh that's a lovely name!" said Daphne, and Egg twittered in approval, perched right on top of Daphne's head, he flapped his wings rapidly to express his happiness.

"Of course she's named Maribell," muttered Tracey as she drew out a book to try reading.

It was a wasted effort.

"Mmmm," Daphne was lazily swaying left and right, lightly touching Tracey's shoulders in rhythm, meanwhile, Maribell, Egg and the hamgon, known as Helios, were all flitting around the cabin, with the fairy riding on Egg's back, when Daphne abruptly spun to face Tracey, "Hey, where will you be spending the summer?!"

"Best give up trying to read, Trace," said Blaise with an amused look. "Our Daphne is much too wired to keep still today."

"It's the summer!" exclaimed Daphne, bouncing in her seat. "You can't expect me to repress my enthusiasm!"

"When do you ever repress it?" asked Blaise, smirking.

"Well, dad wants to take us to Germany this year," said Tracey, "I have some distant relations there, who are having a series of events that they promise are quite exciting and is a build-up for the Quidditch World Cup."

Although she spoke with an even tone, Tracey was a manic fan of the sport, and Daphne knew this, so she giggled at the barely restrained energy in her female best friend.

"After that, we'll be in Romania, then the world cup. You?" she turned to Daphne.

"We'll be home for a week, then we're going to France!" cheered Daphne, with Egg and Maribell vocalising their enthusiasm for that idea. Athena hooted and snapped her beak as Egg, the fairy and the hamgon zipped past.

At one point, Maribell flew right into the back of Tracey's head, and the girl tiredly said, "Oyyyy," whilst plucking the hyperactive little fairy out of her shoulder-length golden-brown hair, then releasing her to play with her friends.

"What about you?" Daphne asked Blaise, and even Tracey looked over with keen interest.

Despite their closeness together, and with Blaise jokingly coining the term The Dessert Trio for them; with Daphne being 'Ice Cream', Tracey the 'Icing', and Blaise was the 'Cherry' on top, the girls knew very little about the boy. They certainly had no solid idea about his mother, whom they mostly knew through rumours, and one very memorable encounter just last summer, when they returned from the end of their Second Term.

"If I'm lucky," started Blaise as he leaned back against his seat and the wall behind him, pillowing his head with his palms, "I'll have the whole summer to myself."

"B-but...what about your other friends? Your mother?" asked Daphne.

"Daphne," Blaise lazily opened one eye, "you and Trace are my only friends."

The girl seemed upset at this, and was about to say more, when the boy interrupted, "I'm delighted and content with that."

Tracey gave him a small smile, though he had closed his eyes again, but Daphne didn't quite feel ready to give it up just yet, when Draco pulled open the cabin door, making all the occupants turn to look at him.

Behind him stood his hulking shadows, Crabbe and Goyle, and just behind them, was a very tiny Pansy Parkinson.

"Zabini," greeted Draco.

"Malfoy," replied Blaise.

"I have to speak with the ladies over some matters. We need the room."

Blaise knew a dismissal, but he nevertheless gave Draco a long, long, look, enough to make most people reach for their wands, before finally saying, "Perhaps I'll track down the Honeyduke's Express."

He got up and slipped past the small crowd outside, and as they filed in, Blaise hung back at the sliding door, giving Daphne and Tracey a pointed look, asking if they needed him to hang back surreptitiously, but Tracey gave him the barest of nods, with a slight tilt of her head, so the boy let the door slide closed, and disappeared from sight.

"Hi, Draco!" chirped Daphne.

Draco, who had Pansy draped over an arm while they were sandwiched quite snugly by Crabbe and Goyle, was slightly distracted by the sight of Egg landing on top of Daphne's head, and on the little owl's back was a fairy, who was waving at him and giggling in her high-pitched voice.

Meanwhile, Blaise had left Helios, his hamgon, behind, and the tiny reptilian-rodent was currently perched on Tracey's free shoulder, staring deep into Draco's soul with his beady gleaming eyes. For that matter, so was Athena, Tracey's owl.

Blinking and shaking his head to regain his equilibrium, the boy started, "Will you both be attending the Quidditch World Cup?"

"Yes, of course!" was Daphne's cheery reply to Tracey's sedate, "Indeed."

"All right, then," said Draco as he tossed a small cloth pouch towards Daphne, but Tracey deftly caught it with an outstretched hand.

"What's this now?" asked Tracey, looking at the pouch, but not opening it. Caution was always wiser when it came to gifts from a Malfoy.

"Open it and have a look," suggested Draco, whilst Pansy grinned blissfully and nestled against the blonde boy.

Daphne watched Tracey's arm go all the way in. An enchanted bottomless pouch!

Tracey seemed to grasp something and she looked at it from within the pouch but did not take it out. Her eyes widened at whatever she saw, as did Athena's, and she shoved it back in and scowled at Draco. "What are you playing at?"

The boy narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, "You'll be thanking me later, Davis."

"Oh, will I now?" Tracey's eyes matched the boy across from her, whilst Crabbe and Goyle were following the conversation like a tennis match, "Hmm, isn't this normally the time you go harassing Potter and his friends?"

"It's not like he's going anywhere," said Draco, "I'll get to him later. Now, about what's in that bag..."

"Tell them, Draky," simpered Pansy. Beside her, Daphne felt Tracey cringing at the way Pansy pronounced Draco's name.

"...when the time comes, you'll know. Just stay together, and both of you wear what's in there. Put the white armband on your right arms," he patted his bicep for emphasis.

"And wear the masks and cloaks. There's a high chance Potter and his little friends will not be returning to Hogwarts after what happens at the World Cup, if you know what I mean."

Daphne's eyes suddenly snapped wide open, and she stared hard at Draco. "What did you say?"

Draco looked at Daphne in alarm, while Egg hooted in surprise and Maribell squeaked as both were toppled off the girl's head when she shot to her feet, barely repressed magic sparking off her body and eyes. "Are you threatening Harry? IN FRONT OF ME?!"

It was at that moment Draco probably recalled what happened when he and his friends started mocking Harry for his fear of dementors so much that Daphne crackled with raw magic, and when even that didn't stop Draco from running his mouth, she'd been on the verge of tears. Only Blaise and Tracey's intervention had supposedly saved his life that day.

The problem was, this time, it didn't look like Tracey was inclined to save his life, considering she was on her feet, with her wand pointed at the four of them across. Goyle and Crabbe looked alarmed at the turn of events and seemed to be looking at the door, where Blaise was watching the exchange with a look of mild amusement.

"I think it's best if you take your leave now, boys," said Tracey, in a tone that made it clear it wasn't a suggestion. "We appreciate the gift and the warning, Malfoy. Thank you. Goodbye."

Giving a small nod, Draco snapped his fingers and his bodyguards rose awkwardly with him, shuffling out the door in single file, as Daphne, Tracey and their pets who were still on their feet and crowding the limited space in the cabin.

Blaise made his way in once the boys were gone, and sat down, as did the two girls. Only when their shadow was out of sight did Daphne calm down, and the colourful sparks shooting out of her hair ceased to emit.

"Pansy?" said Tracey, looking at the tiny girl currently seated next to Blaise.

"Well, you did address only the boys," said Pansy sheepishly, "poor Draco didn't even notice he'd left me behind..."

"How cunning," commented Blaise. "You're a true credit to Slytherin."

"Oh, sod off," said Pansy. "I'm sorry about Draco. He can be...forgetful, about what he says."

"It was a very mean thing to say about Harry!" declared Daphne with a huff.

"Y-yeah...just uh...don't hold it against him?" She looked uncertainly at the girls, then nodded to herself, "Guess I'd better catch up, or he will notice he's missing a handbag."

Tracey seemed to look surprised, while Daphne asked, "He has a handbag?"

This made Pansy laugh, and she reached out to pat Daphne on the head, "Oh Merlin, please, never, ever, change. Goodbye, you three, have a great summer."

They returned the well-wishing, but Daphne was still confused. She'd never seen Draco Malfoy ever carry a handbag. Blaise and Tracey looked so amused by her confusion but failed to offer any explanations.

Athena finally swatted at Egg with a wing in annoyance when he and the fairy started flying around non-stop again.

~ O ~

When the train reached King's Cross Station, the girls and Blaise took their time about leaving. Some kids were already making their way to the exit, but Daphne and Tracey liked to wait around for a while. Plus, a last-minute lurch, while they were retrieving their luggage, could end with them buried under the trunks.

Once outside, Daphne knew her friend wasn't joking when she said they were heading straight for Germany. Mr. Davis was incredibly large and robust, with sandy brown hair, but Mrs. Davis was tiny and mousy-haired. It was clear Tracey took after the mother size-wise, but she shared similar hair with her father.

After embracing her friend goodbye, and wishing her a safe journey, as well as promising to write to her, Daphne watched Tracey hug her father, then her mother, and they were quickly out of sight. So she turned her attention to the crowds around her. Blaise had slipped away at some point, probably to speak to other friends.

Male friends, who helped him feel like a man again. Whatever that meant.

After all, he was the cherry, to her ice cream, to Tracey's icing. Something she'd said in first year whilst they were eating dessert. Her eyes fell on Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Harry seemed a little lost or woebegone. She yearned to reach out to him again, even if Ron and Hermione were there. The heck with being terrified of those two.

But that was when Astoria chose to show up, and the girl took a perverse pleasure in tormenting Daphne and ruining her favourite sport: Harry-Watching.

"Why is it that every time I see you, you're ogling Hermione Granger?" asked Astoria.

"Wh-what?" Daphne looked around wildly, with Egg and Maribell hooting and squeaking around the younger Greengrass.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake, another fairy, Daphne?!" Astoria rolled her eyes.

"I couldn't leave her all alone in the Forbidden Forest, now could I?" said Daphne defensively. In the meantime, her eyes started wandering back to Harry, and she wanted so much to go to him. Astoria and pretty much the entire school knew about her feelings for him, but Astoria, as usual, was being a complete dementor.

"If you don't stop staring at Granger, I'm going to tell Mother and Father about your deviant preferences," she leaned on Daphne's shoulder and tried to get a good idea of where she was actually looking. "Oh...you're not looking at Granger, huh? It's Weasley!"

"Shut. Up. Tori!" Daphne bit off each word.

The younger girl covered her mouth as she snickered. "It really doesn't take much to get under your ice queen persona, does it?"

"Ice cream!" cried Daphne. "I said I wanted ice cream! How, in Salazar's name, you heard me say that I'm an ice queen is beyond me. I was six years old!"

"And I was four," nodded Astoria with a grin, "but I definitely heard you declare you were an ice queen. Father said not yet, and that you were a princess still."

"Argh...I'm not having this conversation with you," said Daphne in frustration and she looked away from Astoria, her eyes falling on the retreating back of Harry.

"So you'd rather just stare at Ronald Weasley?"

"Leave me alone, please," begged Daphne. Little sisters were made to make an older sister's life utterly miserable. That's all there was to it.

"HURRY UP, BOY! STOP DILLY-DALLYING ABOUT WITH YOUR FREAK FRIENDS!" the voice pulled the attention of the sisters and almost everyone else around them. Ron, Hermione and several magical folks visibly bristled at the title. Daphne was mildly awed to see a pachyderm walking on two legs.

Reluctantly, Harry made his way towards the rotund man, who seemed to have a thin giraffe for a wife and a hippopotamus for a son. This wasn't actually the first time she'd seen them, but it was still a shock to realise that they were in any way related to Harry.

But something in her snapped when the man seized Harry by the ear, and she was sparking with magic again, just like in the train. Egg and Maribell wisely rose into the air, with the fairy riding on Egg's back. "HAI!" screamed Daphne as she stalked forward, hand reaching into her pocket for her wand. "What do you think you're doing?! You take your hands off-Hwa-aaa-AAAH!"

The girl lost her train of thought as a hand seized her arm and dragged her to the side. Harry's horrid relatives all turned and stared briefly at the brazen blonde, with the younger one staring a lot longer, before she was lost to sight.

"What is the matter with you?" demanded Draco, the one who'd yanked Daphne away. With a skilful move borne of a Seeker, he caught Egg and the fairy without harming them and placed them in Daphne's hands. "Look around you; there are muggles! If they saw the fairy...or even that owl, for that matter..."

"Oh...yes, right," said Daphne with a small flush. "Thank you."

In her eagerness to get in some last-minute Harry-watching, she'd completely forgotten that she had a fairy and an owl that wore a sombrero and poncho. The latter by itself was already a sight to behold, what more a sparkly little fairy.

"Of course," said Draco, and then he stroked his chin thoughtfully, looking at her. Behind him, Crabbe and Goyle were flanking Astoria, a hand on each shoulder. Although her sister looked bemused and exasperated more than anything, Daphne was worried...for the boys. Astoria could be quite vicious if she got outraged. "Now listen, there's something I want you to consider very carefully over the summer."

Daphne nodded absently, distractedly thinking about Harry and wondering where her parents were. "I know you fancy Potter quite a bit..."

He'd started, but paused for a second when upon hearing Harry's name, Daphne's eyes centered on him and narrowed considerably. She still remembered what he had said on the train earlier, and she was still displeased.

"...but do consider something, for the future," he went on, and the girl's expression changed to slight curiosity.

"What do you mean, Draco?"

"Changes are coming," he said cryptically. "What I mentioned about the World Cup, and if what I suspect happens, well, there's a lot of families that are going to need to reprioritize where their loyalties lie."

Daphne frowned, and she did not like frowning. "Okay?" she prompted.

Rolling his eyes, Draco dropped all subtlety. "I'm talking about forming an agreement between our families."

This took the girl a moment to fathom before her eyes widened in alarm. "Oh! Uh...this is something I'll need to talk..."

"...over with your father, yes, I'm sure." Draco finished for her.

"You want me to marry you?" asked Daphne in wonder. The thought seemed absurd to her as she was one, too young to be thinking about it, and two, if she was going to marry, there was only one boy that she'd want.

"That is the general idea, but it can also be Astoria," he said.

"Oh, how nice," piped up Astoria from between Crabbe and Goyle, "I get to be the second option."

"Just consider it, all right?" pressed Draco, and Daphne nodded absently, and her eyes glanced down to where Draco still had a hold on her arm, and he slowly released her. Astoria simply wrested her shoulders free of the two boys and walked up to her sister.

"Malfoy," said Blaise, showing up beside the Greengrass sisters. "I heard your father saying something about his tardy whelp of a son, and unless you have a brother I know nothing about...have a nice summer!"

Draco had blanched when Blaise mentioned his irate father and beat a hasty retreat after bidding a murmured farewell to them, and Blaise grinned down at the girls. "Everything all right?"

"Yes, thank you, Blaise," said Daphne with a weak smile as she hugged Astoria closer, squishing Egg and Maribell.

"Anytime, Daph. Mind telling me what that was all about, though?"

Daphne shook her head. "I wouldn't even know where to begin, or how to explain it myself...he...seemed to want to discuss amending his arranged marriage to Pansy..."

"To be with you, instead?" asked Blaise, and the girl nodded.

"I feel for you, that's quite the predicament to be in," Blaise and everybody else in Slytherin knew how tenacious Draco could be until he had his way.

Daphne sighed, "You're telling me..."

"Try not to fret too much over it," said Blaise. "I saw your parents over there, why don't you go meet them?"

"Oh, thank you," she grabbed her trunk, and Astoria did the same with her, and the two began making their way to where Blaise said their parents were when the girl turned to look at him. "Where's your mother?"

"Thankfully, she didn't come," said Blaise, and then he laughed when Daphne frowned at his remark. "Come on, don't tell me you forgot what happened last time she came here."

Daphne remembered all right, and she nodded, understanding. "How will you be getting back, then?"

"I can take the Knight Bus home."

"Absolute nonsense, Blaise," declared Daphne firmly. "We'll give you a lift home."

"Daph it's all right..." the boy started, but Daphne turned to face him, planting fists on her hips.

"Mr. Zabini, you're coming with us, and you will let us get you safely home, and that's final."

"Okay, okay," laughed Blaise. "Merlin, you can be pushy."

"Just say thank you, Blaise," said Astoria with a grin.

"Of course. Thank you," said Blaise with a half bow.

The three of them made their way through the thinning crowds, when Astoria piped up, "What happened last term when Mrs. Zabini came to pick up Blaise?"

Daphne was in the middle of trying to figure out how to explain it to her sister when her father saved her. He pulled her into an embrace and grabbed Astoria in. Somehow Blaise got dragged into it as well, much to his embarrassment.

"Darling daughters," said Derek with a jovial grin, "and you are?"

"B-Blaise Zabini, sir."

"Delightful. Blaise, quick question, do you think this side is better? Or this side?"

The man struck a few poses, and Blaise gulped. Daphne's father was...for lack of a better word, too beautiful for a man. That was not to say he was in any way effeminate. He was well built, had fine golden hair, and deep blue eyes, and a refined look to him. But even the big blowhard, Gilderoy Lockhart, would be hard-pressed to compete with Derek's looks.

"Oh stop it, Derek, dear," said Persephone, "you know this is your best side."

She reached out to direct his posture, and Blaise gulped again. Daphne could guess that he was thinking and actively reminding himself that this was a man.

"Well, maybe," said Derek, "but it's always good to get a new perspective!"

Persephone just shook her head and sighed. One look at her and it was easy to tell which of the two daughters took after her. While Daphne shared her father's hair and eye colour, Astoria had Persephone's cheekbones, and the slightly reddish-gold hair colour, and the same dark eyes. She had a naturally smiling face, something else that Astoria inherited, though this trait Daphne shared as well. It was just that most people never got a chance to see it, thanks to someone spreading the rumour about her cold nature.

"Father, Blaise lives near us, actually, and his mother couldn't make it to pick him up. Can we drop him off at his home?" asked Daphne.

"Of course!" Derek was quick to reply. "We'd be happy to do so. Does anyone else need a lift as well?"

His voice picked up a little at the last part, and a few people nearby looked over and smiled. Persephone smacked her husband on the arm.

"No one? Oh, well, come on, then, lad. Chop-chop. Let's get supper first, hmm? Can't send you home on an empty stomach, now, can we?"

The man was almost prancing away with his wife, much to the woman's exasperation.

"Is...is he always that...?" Blaise couldn't finish.

"Ridiculous?" Astoria offered. "Yes, in fact, this is him being rather moody."

"Welcome to my family," Daphne guided the mystified boy off the platform, their trunks in tow.

~ O ~

They had supper in London, at a restaurant near the river, feasting on fish and chips. Daphne bought some soda for herself, Astoria and Blaise. She loved the fizzy flavours and dearly hoped wizards would implement such drinks amongst them. She had the idea that if they didn't, maybe she could! It would be a hit, she was sure.

Blaise, for his part, was taken by Daphne's parents, and he had a blast getting to know them, and they, him. Things turned serious for a moment, when Daphne and Astoria reported Draco's behaviour and how he treated Daphne, as well as what was said. Blaise's actions in intervening and saving Daphne earned him a clap to the back from Derek, and a kiss on the cheek from Persephone for his gallant efforts.

He'd later whispered to Daphne on their way back to the car, that he was worried for a moment that Derek would kiss him on the cheek too. Astoria heard him and laughed, saying he usually would have, but he was too busy processing what Draco wanted to consider that until it was too late, earning another gulp from Blaise. He did not know what to make of Derek Greengrass.

Zabini Manor was indeed, not too far away from Greengrass Manor, and so the journey was quite short, the family bid him farewell, and invited him to visit whenever he wanted...while they were still at home. Derek told his daughters that in a week's time, they were heading to France, prompting cheers from the two girls.

~ O ~

Daphne and Astoria were watching their mother play the harp when the sound of something slapping against the window drew their attention. Persephone stopped playing and glided gracefully from her seat over to the window to open it, letting in the large horned owl. It imperiously held out its leg for her to retrieve the letter attached to it. She handed the owl a piece of bacon kept in a charmed bowl for the avian messengers. The delighted bird accepted the meal and took wing a moment later.

"Oh, it's for you, dear," said Persephone, offering the letter to her eldest daughter.

Daphne excitedly reached for the letter and opened it up, knowing it had to be from Tracey, as she promised she'd be writing to her as soon as she got settled in.

Dear Daph,

Germany's been a lot of fun! My dad was right, and I don't think I even had a chance to be even a little bored. Did you know they don't have a Trace on underage wizards like we still do? Bizarre. The events were a blast! Every excuse they had to use magic, they used it! I learned a lot of tricks and simple spells that can do so many things.

When I get back, I'll be showing them to you and Astoria. I found one you'll love in particular. It involves conjuration.

Cocos Volatus. You just need to think about coconut pie, and picture it flying at someone's face, aiming with a wand is not necessary. There was a competitive game where one person tries to keep their eyes focused on magical cards that hold over a thousand galleons, and other contestants are casting pies at each other's faces to distract them, because the cards move around. After a timer stops, they have to guess which one is the correct card with the galleons. The winner gets the money.

So far, no one has won! I tried too. I had so much coconut cream in my hair! Merlin, that was not fun to remove. But tells you how effective it is if nobody has been able to overcome the Pie-Throwing Championship!

There's loads of other events too, but I have to cut the letter short for now, I'm heading out for another one actually. I only hope I fare better at the water games. By the way, whatever you do, never try the soybean burger eating contest. Dad tried. They sent him home due to an odorous disorder, if you know what I mean.

Missing you, and looking forward to seeing you again.

Lots of love,
Tracey

"Sounds like she's having a lot of fun," said Persephone, as Daphne finished reading the letter aloud. "Perhaps we should visit Germany the next time they have these events."

"I'd love that," said Daphne with a beam.

"What's coconut pie like?" asked Astoria wonderingly.

"Probably a lot more fun to eat than have it thrown at your face," replied Daphne.

"Yes, that's a given, sister..." retorted Astoria, "...but what is it like? If I want to throw this spell, I need to know what it looks like, right?"

And where does the pie come from? Daphne wondered.

"Derek?" called Persephone, "Derek, would you come here a moment, please?"

"Coming!" Derek came prancing in from the kitchen, and a moment later, he heard Persephone say, "Cocos Volatus!"

A coconut pie appeared out of nowhere and flew straight into Derek's face.

"Do you have a good visual now, dear?" Persephone asked her younger daughter, but both she and Daphne were too busy rolling around on the floor laughing.

Derek, with pie dripping off his face, struck a pose and grinned through the gunk. "At least I'm the best looking man wearing a pie on his face!"

"That you are, darling," said Persephone.


Author's Endnote:

Shout out to Salient Causality once again. Check out his one-shot, Red Head Redemption, which I helped Beta. It's a cute humour/romance fic. Give it a look if you fancy some fun and comedy for reading entertainment. I promise it's enjoyable.

Thanks in advance for your reviews, favourites and follows, I certainly hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Be safe and be blessed wherever you are. See you next chapter!