Meeting.
Days passed. Harry debated going to see Cyrus again… and then, at breakfast, a letter carried by an eagle owl arrived and cleared it all up.
'Harry Potter is invited to meet Miss Daphne Greengrass and family at
Greengrass Easting
At ten thirty pm.
E Greengrass.'
Harry didn't know who E Greengrass was, but never mind. Cyrus had come through.
He put on his best robes – from Pont-le-Baton, shined his shoes and flooed to 'Greengrass Easting' as near to ten thirty as he could manage.
He landed hard, twisted his ankle and rolled with it, landing against a wall, and standing. A brown kneazle got off a chair and twined between his legs, then strode off tail in the air. Harry looked around the hallway. And saw a tiny sign written on the back of a business card stuck to the wall. 'Follow Humphry the Kneazle.'
Harry followed the Kneazle, and entered a wood panelled drawing room where three couches surrounded a fireplace, with a bow window opposite the fire looking out on a park-like lawn.
On the couch he could see was … the pretty mum in the blue robes from the Ball. Greengrass's mum. She looked up.
"Ah. Harry Potter. I'm Roxanne. Roxanne Greengrass. We've met." she smiled and- Harry saw a slightly different version of Daphne's smile, no dimples.
Harry's brain started putting puzzle pieces together. Her mum was a great dancer and pretty. And Daphne was a great dancer and pretty. Suddenly Harry froze, he understood her … Roxanne's remark about her daughters. Daphne had been arrested for duelling and deported from France. That would be the bit where Roxanne stopped smiling the other night. And her grandmothers trip to the clinic in Switzerland.
Harry took a deep breath and walked on into the circle of couches. In front of the fire was a three-legged stool that reminded Harry of the Sorting Hat's stool. To Harry's right he saw a familiar face.
Harry turned to see his lawyer, Cyrus who was wearing green robes "Cyrus!" he said enthusiastically "Fantastic. You're here to help ? Great!"
Cyrus pointed to the stool. Harry nodded and sat on the stool… facing the couch he'd walked past, where Daphne Greengrass, looking like she might be fuming gently sat, sadly not in the ball dress he remembered. And not hearing hot pink lipstick. A dove grey dress and black slippers.
"Cyrus dear? Introduce yourself?" said Roxanne. Harry wanted to laugh. Cyrus had… wait what?
"Cyrus Greengrass, senior partner at Viridian" said Cyrus "Daphne's father."
Harry froze, as if there was a basilisk in the room. He moved his eyes to look at Cyrus, who … had a smug, shit eating grin.
Cyrus said "You've met Roxy. Isn't she lovely." The jigsaw puzzle in Harry's brain rearranged – they were all of Greengrasses and the only piece left was Harry. That wouldn't fit.
Harry looked up from the floor to Daphne Greengrass's cross face.
Actually thought Harry, she wasn't at the firing hexes level of angry. She was more at the snide remark level. Bugger. Cyrus hadn't helped at all, and Harry had paid and everything.
Harry started to wonder about how the Viridian office might burn down. Anonymously.
"Now Cyrus has said that poor Harry is utterly smitten with my darling Daphne" said Roxanne "Daphne does not believe Cyrus."
"Potter doesn't have feelings." she said "Except anger."
Harry felt like she'd just scooped his heart out of his chest with possibly, a modified excavation charm combined with a blasting hex. Hmm. That was an interesting idea, he shook himself and concentrated.
Harry took a deep breath – his lungs still seemed to be working, oddly for having been scooped out, and he said "When we were dancing. Before the end. I felt… utterly happy. Well. As happy as we could be given the circumstances," he said.
Daphne's mouth opened to say something and Harry was stuck staring at her lips. Her beautiful, delicious lips – their natural colour and one Harry now thought he rather liked. She stopped and licked her lips and Harry wondered how his heart was pounding so, given that he was pretty sure she'd removed his heart a while ago. His mouth opened in unconscious mimicry of hers.
Daphne closed her mouth and glared at Harry. "Stop looking at me like that. All... glassy eyed like a Harry Potter action figure."
Harry blinked. "Sorry" he croaked.
"He's got it bad" said Cyrus conversationally.
"Daphne, either kill it or throw it away" said Roxanne a trifle callously.
Daphne clutched at her hair "Harry Potter cannot be blue-eyes. He's a sexy hunk who held me like… very well." she said more primly, lowering her hands from her mussed hair.
Harry smiled nervously "Actually green" he said "It was the mask" he explained, in case she'd missed it.
Harry patted at his chest to check and as far as he could tell his heart was still there. But it didn't feel like it. Something about the sensation was familiar, and reminded Harry for some reasons of really terrible tea that tasted like dishwater, and feeling regrets.
"What would I do with Harry Potter anyway" said Daphne Greengrass, Harry wanted to make a suggestive gesture, but he settled for staring at her, and smiling awkwardly "Whatever" he said.
"Oh god" said Cyrus snidely, "He feels like you're the most perfect witch in the world, dear. It's called falling in love; you just need to get over the little bump about it being Harry Potter. He's not Sacred Twenty eight, but he got all the Black's money, and whatever the Potters had."
"I don't care about the bloody money" said Daphne "He's – ."
"You were a threat" said Harry "You're… precious now."
Roxanne snorted.
"Cyrus said," said Harry, "He just wanted someone who would love his daughters for who they are."
"Cyrus" said Roxanne sternly.
"It came up" said Cyrus, waving one hand dismissively. "He's had no bloody parents."
"That's what orphan means" said Harry. "I can probably get Professor Dumbledore to vouch for me, he owes me a big favour"
"For what?" asked Daphne.
"Well, once upon a time there was dark lord" said Harry "and he needed to be defeated, and there was a prophecy, and the dark lord found out, and killed the family of one of the two people it could be, and tortured the others into comas."
"What?" asked Cyrus sharply.
"Neville and I" said Harry "'Course he got his soul sucked out. Leaving the job to me. The kid nobody wanted in Slytherin."
"Good story" said Daphne sarcastically.
"Why did I keep getting sent to the Headmasters office? Keep getting injured? Why did the LeStranges get moved into minimum security after Bellatrix died?" said Harry. "He's a judgemental old prick though. I saved the fifth year from being eaten by werewolves, and he was all 'Don't use such dark spells'"
"Professor Sinistra…" said Daphne.
"Told me off for using a poison gas curse on them. Werewolves are spell-resistant, hard to injure and one scratch, and you're infected. I even got thanked, sort of, for stopping the old twit killing himself by picking up a cursed ring. He called it 'Helping a geriatric wizard. And I won the tri-wizard tournament."
"You just dropped buffaloes for the dragon." said Daphne. "It's not even a proper spell!"
"I was fourteen" Harry retorted "Can't stun a dragon, can't risk a conjunctivitis curse, they're immune to gas attacks. I remembered the thing from Flitwick about the spell, and fed a dragon till it was sleepy. Come on, at fourteen could you kill a dragon?"
Daphne shook her head.
"If you do have a dragon problem just call me, I'll get it for you" said Harry. "Or inferii – that was a another 'Harry 'I'm so disappointed in you' speech. I was bloody lucky not to die, and him too. And what did I get? A speech about using dark spells."
"When were there inferri?" asked Daphne, with a faint quaver in her voice.
"One of our field trips. The old Chinese lady doing Astronomy? She used to be a malewhatsit. Maledictus. He did invent a cure, of a sort. Dark magic though." said Harry. "And very strangely, I've got over you hexing my bits over and over… enough to dance with you and want to never stop."
Daphne Greengrass looked Harry in the eyes at that last bit. "Never stop?"
"Well, barring toilet breaks and sleep, obviously" said Harry.
"You're … being silly" she said.
"I'd wear the blue eyes mask if that helped." said Harry. Daphne Greengrass blushed.
"And the snitch has been caught" said Cyrus blandly "The match is over."
Harry pulled the mask out of his robe pocket, took off his glasses and put the mask on. Daphne swum back into focus… and she looked down at the floor "Don't" she complained petulantly.
Roxanne inhaled sharply and said "Ouch. He's using a beaters bat. Right in the soppy feelings."
"What?" asked Harry confused "I should have just put the mask back on?"
"And then begged" said Roxanne.
"MUM!" complained Daphne Greengrass.
"On your knees" said Cyrus.
"Don't encourage him too much" said Roxanne, "He's been in France."
"I heard in detail" said Cyrus, and Harry's spine went cold. He'd… Daphne's father. The mental jigsaw puzzle pieces all turned over, and instead of green grass, there was lava. Shit. He'd told her dad he wanted to… shit. Harry wondered if he could cast a shield that covered both parents and would still let him flee safely.
"Heard what?" asked Daphne.
"Nothing dear" said Cyrus, "If he's actually dangerous, no point in poking him with pointy sticks."
"I'm sorry I said that" croaked Harry.
"Said what?" asked Roxanne in a very 'Mum's asking a question' tone. All the laughing kindness was gone, and Harry imagined that the tone might in Daphne, sound like her pissed off tone.
Cyrus said "Harry told me in confidence some things man to man. He finds Daphne intoxicatingly attractive."
"And?" asked Roxanne.
"Just before the masks came off, felt sure that Daphne would be coming home with him. For an extended stay." said Cyrus.
"What ever happened to lawyer confidentiality" muttered Harry.
"Cyrus" said Roxanne "Likes not having to sleep in the study."
"That bed is only there so you two can shag in the study!" protested Daphne.
"I can assure you dear," said Roxanne sweetly "The bed is for your father to sleep in. The couch is quite adequate for snogging."
"Ugh" complained Daphne.
"If it's any consolation I found out my steward, and old family friend has bee having female company for ages" said Harry. "Which is disturbing as he's a cardigan wearing dork. Mostly."
"Lupin?" said Cyrus "Lame-o Lupin's getting some? Truly we are living in the end times."
"You know Mr Lupin? Not just as my steward?" asked Harry curiously.
"We were at Hogwarts at roughly the same time. We all thought he was asexual. But actually a werewolf. Well that's... disturbing. Some twisted deviant getting some kinky stuff." said Roxanne.
Harry smiled smugly.
"Professor Lupin?" asked Daphne "That's… nobody'd shag that! The moustache!"
Harry snorted and winked at Daphne. She flattened her lips into a thin line. "Take that accursed mask off, Potter."
Harry got changed back into his glasses, and shoved the mask down into his robe pocket.
"He should have worn the ball costume "said Cyrus idly. "Never give up a tactical advantage."
"Cyrus it's not a war. It's love." said Roxanne "Well it would be but Daphne's… well. Harry you can buy her cat food."
Harry didn't get that allusion, and said "But I don't want to buy her cat food. I want to buy her strawberries, ice-cream, and I suspect, expensive dresses."
"How do you know I like strawberries." asked Daphne.
"Strawberry lip gloss" said Harry "Love it." Harry felt guilty at having stolen a kiss at Hogwarts.
"Well... buy your own "said Daphne curtly.
"What would the point of that be. I suppose you'd taste it when you kissed me?" Said Harry.
"Why would I do that" said Daphne dismissively.
"Because dancing with you, kissing you, holding you is the best feeling I've ever felt. And I'm including shagging some other, quite attractive people in that comparison." Harry said boldly.
Daphne Greengrass's mouth opened "You'd… rather… dance with me than shag some French tart?"
"I didn't bother with tarts." said Harray "Well there was the club my doctor took me to the check that I wasn't witch averse any more – Candy sat on my lap and, I paid for her champagne, but I could take it or leave it."
Daphne frowned "An actual tart?" she asked.
Harry nodded "Now if you sat on my lap and drank champagne and flirted I think I might need a quiet lie down."
Daphne scoffed, then oddly, she preened.
"Hit to ego" said Cyrus snidely. "Why don't you two just go to the Jarvey club and we'll see you when we see you?" he said glibly.
"Cyrus, are you being responsible?" asked Roxanne, with a faintly teasing tone coming back.
"No, but Daphne's an adult. She can bloody well try adulting with Harry Potter – who clearly doesn't just think the sun shines for her cute little posterior, but that even in face of her historically dire temper, she's still marvellous, wonderful and what he wants. And let's be blunt he's not going to be a drain on the family finances."
"Dad!" protested Daphne.
"Daphne, what are his hobbies?" asked Roxanne.
"He likes finding obscure magic. And memorising every dangerous dark creature and the correct counter-spell, not matter how obscure." said Daphne.
Harry shrugged "Being safe is what matters." And she knew his hobbies. Well, not the bit in bed but from dancing very close with her the other night he assumed she had similar interests there.
Cyrus got up and walked out of the room.
"Cyrus!" shouted Roxanne.
"Floo calling Dumbledore" he shouted.
Cyrus came back about five minutes later and eyed Harry with his head tilted "Albus - don't mind me, I defeated Grindelwald – said you're the person most likely to either BE the next dark lord, or defeat them. And he puts more odds on defeat – as you'd want things settled down so you could get back to learning obscure magic. Albus bloody Dumbledore thinks you're a nerd. And are apparently now the wizard the ICW call for Dark Lords. Who are you?"
"I'm Harry Potter "said Harry. "Orphan, dark lord arse kicker, and pretty good dancer." Daphne crossed her arms and stared the ceiling muttering something derisive.
"Oh dear" said Roxanne "Well Daphne, a testimonial from Dumbledore."
"Don't put too much weight on it" said Harry "I don't trust him – he used me as bait so many times I've got hook marks."
"He doesn't trust you either," said Cyrus "Why?"
"Well, I've saved his life at least twice, and he's never saved mine" said Harry "That was always up to me." he added bitterly.
"What?" asked Cyrus.
"His plans, and he makes big plans – miss out little details. Like my life – never mattered." said Harry. "Had to die – part of the prophecy. Luckily I got better, and the voice in my head stopped… that really helped, cos it was Voldemort's voice. Bastard lived in my head rent-free."
"How could that work" said Daphne.
"That I don't officially know – one thing Dumbledore and I agree on. It's evil magic, the worst, but not so hard people can't copy it. So… it's a mystery." said Harry, and he shrugged "Any chance of a date, Daphne? This stool's pretty uncomfortable."
"So… you spent all of Hogwarts…" said Daphne Greengrass, staring at Harry, her eyes slowly widening.
"Fighting a nearly immortal dark lord yeah. Made me tense" said Harry.
"Why would you want to date me" said Daphne in a small voice.
"You're tall enough that I don't get a sore back dancing with you, a fantastic dancer – your mums as good but looses points for being married, funny when not being grumpy, smart enough to be quite dangerous, there was something else… Oh yeah; you're gorgeous. And a great kisser. And smell nice."
"You are so sarcastic" said Daphne. Harry nodded "Yeah but also, pretty good dancer and some other stuff."
Harry paused "If you're on my side, you're safe. I can stop anything. I'm fairly sure. Worst case, I can pull a mum, and save you."
What?" asked Cyrus.
Harry tapped his index finger to the side of his head. "Best Dementor trick ever. They knocked loose my only memory of my mum. Course she was dying, but I saw her, heard her." said Harry. "Took a few hours of chasing the Dementors at Hogwarts, but it was worth it. Saw, heard her save me."
Roxanne choked "You'd relive your worst memory of you mother dying. Just to hear her?"
"But I can recognise mum's voice, I know her face, the way she moved. How she saved me too. Best mum ever" said Harry proudly. "My second most precious memory."
"And the most?" asked Cyrus drolly.
"Kissing Daphne at the ball" said Harry.
Daphne sighed "You're impossible. The Jarvey club – tonight at seven. We're dancing."
Harry grinned.
