Chapter 21

Daphne had been on cloud 9 for over a week since her first date with Harry. She had insisted at the end after their first kiss that he was not to leave her on another romantic evening without saying goodbye properly, and in return he kissed her again, sealing his silent promise. When she had gone to see Hannah and Susan afterwards the girls were squealing with joy that the date had gone over so well, and toasted to the potential new couple.

The next date they had gone on had been a week later. Another muggle style date that included a nice restaurant, which he swore he didn't own, and a muggle movie theater. It had been nice to see Harry be more liberal with his affections on the second date. He had held her hand through most of the movie, and did not hesitate to kiss her goodnight after the second evening.

That night the two had gone over to Susan and Hannah's to join the group in a little fun at their flat, and Susan threatened Harry not to get in the way of their girls night if they were going to keep up their weekend dates. Harry swore to take up the girls afternoons, which of course promised more time together in the future.

The Potter Lords birthday was now just a few short days away, and the only thing standing in its way was the trial of Tiberius Nott. His charges were simple and brutal in front of the Wizengamot. He would be charged with the murder of Auror Captain Seamus Finngean, and the abduction along with torture of Tracey Davis. Daphne had considered going to the trial to oversee it, but decided on staying home after a long night at work. The decision was helped by the fact that Tracey's testimony was collected by the Wizengamot before the former trial to keep her away from the man, and this was even approved of by the defense. Daphne believed they didn't want Tracey to accuse the man in open court, and gather support against the man, while the progressives didn't wish to torture the young woman by putting her face to face with her would be killer.

Gretchen had been shorter than usual with Daphne the morning of the trial when she got relieved. She knew the Notts were allied with house Bullstrode, but the same could have been said for Greengrass before recent events. Going by the cold shoulder she had been receiving she had a feeling the alliance between their families was hanging by the thread if it was even hanging at all. The woman refused to answer her questions or even engage in longer than passiving conversation that was hardly civil with her terse words. It saddened Daphne to see her mentor turn away from her, but at the same time she wasn't afraid to stand up for what she believed in, and that was that Tiberius Nott should be thrown through the bloody veil of death.

All of Daphne's friends would be at the trial except for Tracey who was of course still staying at Greengrass Manor under the company of Astoria. The two were determined not to listen to the trial, and Daphne had decided she would not rest until it actually began and tune in on the wireless.

When the trial began Daphne felt a small sense of pride as the voice of a man she was beginning to see as her boyfriend began speaking, "Good afternoon esteemed Lord and Ladies of the Wizengamot. Today overseeing the prosecution of Tiberius Nott will be myself head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Harry Potter. In my stead representing the Potter seat will be Head of International Magical Cooperation Hermione Jane Granger. Overseeing the trials impartial bylaws will be Chief Warlock Sturgis Podmore and Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt. Are there any questions over who will be overseeing these proceedings, or will any other proxies need to be appointed before we begin?"

A general dissent of grumbles was heard, and the radio broadcaster spoke, "Lord Potter is looking particularly composed today, which is surprising considering his close proximity to the victims of this case."

Another person on the broadcast spoke, "Lord Potter has risen to his position so young for a reason. The man is the perfect professional in the Wizengamot, and though he stands firmly in the ranks of the progressive he is always neutral and happy to play his part to keep the more traditional families happy."

Daphne listened carefully as Harry methodically laid out the evidence against Tiberius Nott, and the more he spoke the more Daphne was certain the man was going to get the death sentence. By the time the defense stepped up to attempt to put a defense together it was clear the majority of the Wizengamot was ready to call for the man's head by the mumbles of dissent.

The man had been immensely annoying in trial, and they were unable to use Veritaserum having already demonstrated that he could resist it during the interrogation process. Nott had claimed to have never tortured or harmed either Tracey or Seamus. His claims were that their wounds had been self inflicted, and that he had in fact never intended for either of them to die. His claim was resolute, and no matter how the questions were framed, or how the prosecution worded the accusations the man would never plead guilty. In Cornelius Fudge's court it is very possible the Wizengamot may have convicted the man of abduction and sentenced him to a year in light security prison, but the progressives ruled the courts now, and Minister Shacklebolt was doing his best to throw the book at him for the murder of Seamus Finnegan, and attempted a sentencing of fifty years in Azkaban.

The defense did their best, but in the end the votes were called through individually. Most of the family votes were predictable, but the one that didn't meet expectations infuriated her, "House Greengrass how do you vote?"

"Not Guilty of the Murder of Auror Captain Finnegan, and Guilty on both counts of abduction." The voice of Aurora Greengrass answered. A long pause from Harry followed before he asked the next family in line for their sentence.

Daphne was on her feet angrily at the declaration of the woman. House Crabbe and Goyle had voted that way as well. With only an abduction charge the man would indeed only get a year in a minimum security area, and Daphne was furious that her mother would vote for such a sentencing. Only the most traditional families had voted that way, and by the time it was said and done they were nowhere close to getting away with it. Whispers had followed after each family had voted against the fifty year sentence, and the broadcasters briefly discussed the history of each family that had done so. None seemed surprised by House Greengrass' vote due to their old alliance with House Nott, but that didn't make Daphne feel better in the slightest. How was she supposed to face her friends knowing her family had voted in favor of such a man? How was her mother going to face Tracey?

It was for that reason Daphne found herself sitting in the Greengrass manor foyer with absolute fury written all over her features. The Greengrass heiress had already been greeted by Alf, the house elf, and demanded to see her mother at once. She could not believe that she would vote not guilty on the man who was clearly a psychopath, and had severely harmed someone living under her roof!

A while had passed before Daphne began to wonder if her mother was intentionally trying to antagonize her further by taking her time to meet with her, but the thought died as her mother lazily strode into the room, "Good evening Daphne. This is a pleasant surprise."

Daphne glared straight through the woman, "It will not be so pleasant when you hear what I have to say. I was at home listening to the Wizengamot session this afternoon on the wireless, and heard that the Greengrass family had the audacity to vote for Tiberius Nott's innocence."

The Greengrass Matriarch frowned at her daughter's tone. The woman was still in her formal robes, and her blonde hair was done up in a neat bun. Daphne knew her mother had been much more beautiful in her younger years when she smiled a lot more, but now her countenance was more of that matching Narcissa Malofy, and that was not a compliment. Ophelia Greengrass straightened up as she requested tea from Art and took a seat across from her still standing daughter, "The Traditional faction did not vote for Tiberius Nott's innocence that would have been political suicide. What we voted for was that the man was not guilty of murder."

"So you're basically saying that Tracey mutilated herself for fun, and Seamus killed himself?" Daphne spat seething by the woman's words and justification of her actions.

The woman said nothing for a moment, but the tray that contained her tea arrived, and she sipped at the drink clearly formulating an answer to her daughter's accusation, "Well when you say it like that it sounds rather crass, but that is not at all how it was."

"Then tell me exactly how it was." Daphne said clearly not interested in fancy words or half hearted explanations.

The woman pursed her lips, "As the head of this family-"

"The acting head of this family. Something I am fully within my rights to seize control of if you keep wasting our families vote." Daphne grounded out through clenched teeth.

This made the woman look surprised at her daughter's words, "You said you had no interest in seeing this family's seat for years to come."

"That was before the family vote started embarrassing me in front of all my friends and allies on a regular basis. First the dementor vote that made no sense, and then you basically openly sided with a family that tortured someone we see as a member of our own family. How are you going to face Tracey knowing that you voted for a shorter sentencing on a man that was actively hurting her?" Daphne practically screamed.

The woman sighed, placing her tea down, "What you need to understand is Daphne that a lot of the older families in the Sacred 28 are very unhappy under this progressive movement. A lot of tradition is being forsaken, and many changes that are being implemented by this new Minister is not something we agree with."

"So we are just going to side with murderers, and give them our families seal of approval? The Minister is trying to see us brought into the twenty first century mother, and this is something we should encourage. Have we truly learned nothing from the last two Blood Wars that took out many of our oldest families? Do you really think my father would have voted for a lesser sentencing for Tiberius Nott?" Daphne questioned heatedly.

Ophelia Greengrass closed her eyes at the accusation for a long moment, "Your father was the strength of our family. We need allies if we are going to survive any future conflicts."

Daphne shook her head, "Then align with the progressives. I have dinner with most of them on a regular basis. They are good people with big plans and ideas for changes in the Wizarding World. If we don't keep up with them they will leave us behind. They don't need our votes, nor have they ever asked me for them, but I think they have worthwhile goals my father and his father before him would have approved of if they could see the good it might do. Do you really see a future conflict taking down Harry Potter? He beat the Darkest Wizard since Grindelwald at seventeen years old, and if you could see what he could do now you would be terrified and in awe. He could bend our world to its knee, but instead he took up the badge and became an auror. Its people like that we should be aligning our families with."

Finally having enough her mother stood to her feet, "That's really what you would have me do? Turn my back on people I have known my whole life? Merlin's sake child use your head. Gretchen Bullstrode is one of those people, and she took you in right after Hogwarts as an apprentice due to our alliance. You would have us turn on her? Also what of Penelope Parkinson? Her whole family was killed by these progressives, and she spent countless nights in this home grieving over the loss of our husbands when I needed her the most. It is these people you would turn our back on? You want me to turn our back on the Notts who we have been in alliance with for generations, and align with people who have now taken out most of their noble blood? Is that what you want?"

The frustration Daphne had been holding did not allow her the most important aspect in all these problems with the Wizengamot, and that was perspective. She had not taken into account how her mother must have felt during all these recent debates, problems, new laws, and the other things the progressives had been spearheading. Her mother loved the parties, and the tea gatherings of her old friends. She loved the gossip, and the feel of being important. She wasn't voting against her family's best interest, at least she didn't see it that way, she was voting to keep in line with her closest friends. Something Daphne did not respect about her mother, but she did understand, "I am going to assume my responsibilities as the Lady of House Greengrass. I can't expect you to go against your friends. Just like you have to understand that I will no longer allow our house to go against mine. I will align our house with more of the progressive beliefs while still remaining in the neutral faction, and I will uphold what the house of Greengrass is meant to stand for. Justice, peace, and if applicable traditionalism."

Her mother began to tear up at her words, and refused to meet her daughter's eye, "I will have nothing when you take the title of Lady Greengrass. No gold, no home, and possibly even no friends."

Daphne took her mothers trembling hand, "This home is still yours. I have no need for the manor, and I like the size of my flat too much to return to all this grandeur. I would see fathers shadow walking in every corner if I lived here again, and I won't do that to myself. All the gold in the Greengrass vault will remain accessible to you as well. Dad trusted your financial responsibility, and so do I. No limits will be put against you, and I make my own money even if you were to go crazy and run us dry. If your friends forsake you then they weren't really your friends to begin with. You can tell them that I am forcing your hand on this, and that I have aligned with the scum of the Wizarding World. If you have too, it makes no difference to me."

The woman sniffled hard, "You are your fathers daughter Daphne. Never forget that. You would have made him so proud."

After those words were said Daphne embraced her mother for the first time since before her father had passed away. His murder still fresh in the families eyes, and young woman had to shake herself a bit before she too ended up crying. When they separated Daphne offered her mother a small smile, and the woman said to her, "I suppose the courtship is going well with Lord Potter for you to take these kinds of steps forward."

Daphne shook her head, "It is going very well, but I would not allow my personal feelings or affections for a man to sway my beliefs. That is not the way I was raised."

This made the woman sniffle a little, "Well if you are going to do this then there is something I think you should know as the soon to be Lady of house Greengrass."

Daphne raised an eyebrow at the woman, and she watched as her mother took a hard plop back down onto her chair reaching for her tea with shaking hands. It took her a moment to compose herself, but then she spoke, "What I am going to tell you next may anger you, but please hear me out, and let me explain myself."

Daphne nodded at the woman remaining on her feet watching the woman warily as she seemed to think on her next words, "When the war was over and Minister Shacklebolt took office I was summoned to the Ministry for a meeting with the man. It was the only time I had ever spoken to our Minister face to face, and he wished...to reward your father a posthumous Order of Merlin 3rd class."

Daphne heard the words, but it took several moments for them to sink in. Her knees buckled under her, and thankfully a seat was behind her, "An Order of Merlin? For dad? I don't understand..."

The young woman choked the words out and the lady of the house laughed, "Hard to believe? As much as I wish he hadn't gone to work that day, your father did die by other means then you were led to believe. When Minister Rufus Scrimgeour was murdered by Bellatrix Lestrange, your father, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and a small group of wizards tried to prevent the Ministry from falling. It was only because of your father that Shacklebolt was able to warn the Weasley's that the Ministry had fallen. He fought with a ferocity I would never have believed to be in him. Shacklebolt told me he took down three who were attempting to harm an escaping muggleborn family."

A long silence fell throughout the room, "Had he merely bowed to the Dark Lord and done nothing he would've come home to me that night. I turned down the reward because I couldn't forgive the man for not just standing down. I made the Minister swear to never speak of the events that led to my husband's death again. I insisted that he never tell the world how he stood against the Dark Lord's beliefs. I was afraid of what the other families would do. I was afraid of what you girls would do in retaliation. Now that you will lead this house perhaps you can see the man we loved honored as he should've been."

A heavy led feeling sat in Daphne's stomach. She couldn't believe her mother had kept this from her. She thought her father had been killed in the crossfires trying to escape, but to know the extent of the man's defiance was something that she would never be able to forget. Knowing now he had truly stood against them made her truly angry. She wished she had done more in defiance of the Dark Lord and his followers. Now more than ever she wished to say the hell with the traditionalists. She would just as soon rather see their beliefs burn to the ground around them then stand by them. Not when they allowed her father, a pureblood believer, to be murdered outside his office.

She was on her feet before she could stop herself, "I need to go."

Her mother did not attempt to follow her as she blinked tears out of her eyes. Now the first conversation she ever had with the Minister and Undersecretary made sense. They seemed far more interested in the fact of who Daphne's parents were than normal. She had originally assumed it was just because they knew her father had been murdered by Death Eaters in the Ministry takeover, but now she knew. She knew that he had stood with the light at the end, and in turn she would do so. When she crossed the ward lines she apparated, and went to see the only person would make her feel better about this moment. Harry.

(A/N) Good morning readers and welcome to our biweekly update of The Survivors. As a reminder back in Chapter 5 or 6 when Kingsley met Daphne they had a conversation that made little sense, and more of that will be brought to light in the next chapter. There is a reason Harry nor Kingsley ever mentioned her father's bravery, and I believe the reason will be satisfactory. Here is one small mystery solved though many chapters later, and perhaps even a hint was given in this chapter about who might be behind all this madness. Regardless the story progresses, and I warn you the darkness is not over. My Saw continuity story line is practically over, but that does not mean the conflict and violence is. So prepare yourselves.

Thank you all for tuning in this week, and I will bring you another chapter on October 20th. Cheers!

This chapter was beta approved by James Marx. Thanks for your help my friend.