"Daphne Greengrass and the no-good, terrible, very bad years."

Where Daphne's faith in her parents is sorely tried… and she ends up married.

By An Orc, This work is an alternate point of view for 'Not with a half-blood.' Daphne Greengrass would be mortified if anyone read it, so please close the window now.

Chapter One: Dark Times are Upon us

The new Defence against the Dark arts teacher was a squat woman with terrible fashion sense. Compared to the panoply of misfits that had taught the previous four years, she at least didn't have ragged clothes, obvious scars or some sort of personality disorder. What she did have however, was a ghastly fake little-girl voice, and according to the letter from Daddy, Senior Undersecretary Umbridge was not a person to be trifled with. Tracey suggested that Professor Umbridge was in fact, self-trifling given her figure. And muttered that hopefully self-pleasuring also, as surely there was no wizard mad enough to wish to touch her.

And after a long, boring lesson reading from a book suitable to teach small children how to get along, Daphne could see her chances of a passing grade in OWL Defence Against the Dark arts going up in flames.

That weekend, Draco was sitting with some of the older boys, the sixth and seventh years, and they were all talking very intently, under a privacy charm of some complexity.

By Sunday, the rumours were rife in the common room that you-know-who might be returning to Britain after years thought dead.

Daphne pondered that, as the Prophet had spent the summer slandering Headmaster Dumbledore and Harry Potter, the boy who didn't kill Cedric Diggory. It just looked rather damming, that was all. Perks was picking up on it; which showed just how clever the muggle-born witch really was, thought Daphne. Pansy, perhaps in retaliation told Perks to clean her shoes.

On Tuesday, Mummy sent a letter, which Daphne read over her pickled herrings. The latest article in Teen Witch Weekly claimed a Scandanavian diet could encourage a witch's body to… well be less podgy and put the fat where it might do some bloody good. Everyone knew Swedish witches were… well glamour-pusses, every on of them. And pickled herrings weren't that awful. Like a pickled kipper.

Mummys' Letter was oddly blunt.

'Daphne Darling,

Your uncle Corban has come to visit, demanding monies for a political party.

Your father argued, and your uncle left saying

"You have two daughters at Hogwarts. It'd be a shame if they got hurt."

Rest assured we will ensure your sisters safety and your own. Do not be drawn into political engagements.

Your loving Mother.

EG.'

During the year, there was another breakout from Azkaban. This time Sirius Black had freed more Death Eaters, apparently. Malfoy and co. looked quite pleased with themselves and started pushing Hufflepuffs around. Daphne stopped eating pickled kippers after Blaise said rather loudly that she smelled of fish. Blaise was, she was sure a horrible, horrible person. Kippers and eggs didn't have the same problem, apparently and her previously podgy tummy was well, smooth and firm.

And the silencing charm she managed to learn blocked out Pasny's high-pithced snore, and Millies low rumble. Life was good… and the charm worked the other way too… and Daphne found herself re-reading a turgid novel she'd pinched from Tracey's mum's stash. There was a tall, nearly mute blonde stableboy who loved Princess Antoinette, and … well a girl had needs. And everyone knew how to animate a small object. After a great weekend of reading about Princess Antoinette on Saturday and Sunday night, Daphne face Monday with slight smile and a… sanguine feeling.

Tracey, over Daphne's kippers accused her of going to broom cupboards with someone. Daphne shook her head. That was so crass. "Not for me" said Daphne.

Pansy, had become a member of the Inquisitorial Squad was being a complete bitch to Perks, who was in tears a lot. And… the Daily Prophet had a story about a Muggleborn family getting murdered.

Daphne came back to dorms after Runes on Wednesday to dump her tools, and Perks was crying again. Daphne felt awkward, and put her box of runes tools into her trunk quietly.

"You're going to hex me too" cried Perks. Daphne stood up.

"Perks" she said firmly "I've never hexed you."

"You never stop anyone either" accused Perks, and Daphne felt… awkwardly guilty. Pansy had it in for the muggle-born, obviously, and Millie played along, and … well Daphne wasn't going to defy Pansy, and Tracey … well Daphne wasn't sure what went on in Tracey's head sometimes, and Lily needed pulled up about her dreadful Trinidad accent… which she'd practically eliminated, and Sally… well one tried not to think about Sally. Witches witches were... well it was dashed embarrassing. Sally had obligingly agreed to keep her interests outside the dorms after that one awkward invite to Hogsmeade in third year. And if she did ogle, she did it discreetly, though Daphne had made a habit of changing in the shower stalls, not in the dorm room. Not just about Sally, but also… being shy. One can be shy and live in dorms.

"Perks?" asked Daphne, having an idea. "Have you considered changing schools?"

"What?" asked Perks. "Other schools? School's not the problem… it's you lot. The muggle-haters"

Daphne pressed her lips together firmly. She didn't hate muggles. Didn't know much about them, tried to ignore them, recognised that they were dangerous and knew that a witch was not safe in muggle places, but … hate them? Not as such. Jean-Claude at the Tri-Wizard tournament Yule ball had expressed a quite condescending disdain at Daphne's ignorance and fear of Muggles. Accordingly, he didn't get a kiss goodnight. He was a stuck-up, arrogant french… boy. Daphne had a minor epiphany. France.

"France. Beauxbatons" said Daphne, "They're not… having the changes that are happening here, and it's not such a thing there."

"France?" said Perks, crossing her arms "I don't speak French, and my family are at risk, you… stupid cow."

Daphne was gobsmacked. Perks… the lowliest, well only muggleborn in Slytherin had called her a stupid cow. The cheek of her. She clearly didn't know her place – and Daphne had a moment of introspection and realised that while she felt guilty about Perks's problems she was not actually helping Perks. Was… well she was a pureblood in the Sacred Twenty-eight, the coming new order held no fears for her. But… for Perks it might mean death. Like handsome Cedric Diggory. Daphne sighed. He'd been the tallest, darkest handsomest boy at Hogwarts. And Cho Chang had him wrapped around her calloused quidditch-playing fingers, but he'd died. Daphne sniffed, missing the Hufflepuff eye-candy. He'd been clever too, she reminded herself. She gazed at the enchanted painting of a winter day for moment, lost in sadness.

Perks cleared her throat. "Greengrass?" she asked. "France? Seriously?"

Daphne looked back over at Perks. "My um… family do international shipping by portkey" said Daphne "Daddy could send me one, your whole family could go."

"My family? Sell our house, my parents change jobs? Are you as stupid as you look?" asked Perks.

Daphne gasped at the muggle-borns' cheek. "You ungrateful mudblood!" she snapped.

Perks made an incredibly rude single-finger gesture.

"Fine!" said Daphne angrily "I rescind my offer."

"Bigoted bitch" said Perks, piking up her book-bag and leaving. Daphne was left alone in the dorm room, and she fumed. She wasn't a bigot, or a bitch. She was offering to help the uppity mudblood. Without Pansy finding out, of course. Or… the senior girls, some of whom, well you knew what 'team' they supported.

Daphne wrote a letter to daddy, leaving out some details. That Perks was a muggle-born, mostly. She heavily implied that Perks was instead a half-blood but a loud Dumbledore supporter. By writing that lie directly. It was so much easier to lie in a letter.

A day later Daddy sent her a letter with a bulge. The bulge was an old white wooden chess-pawn, with a massive length of red thread wrapped around it. Which coincidentally looked like a shrunken ministry portkey, except they used wooden rods the size of salamis and thin red rope. Daddy had written a perfectly normal letter, not about Perks, except that one word was underlined. 'brilliant.'

Daphne felt quite smug at how clever daddy was, and how discreet. It took a day to bump into Perks in dorms without anyone there. In fact, it was in the bathroom. Daphne was doing her hair and Perks had just come out of a shower stall.

"Perks" said Daphne quietly "I have a present for you."

Perks stopped, holding her wash-bag in one clenched hand. "What?"

Daphne nodded in the direction of the open door to dorms. Perks shut it.

"It's a portkey to france. The activation word's brilliant. It's got a long cord, anything touching it goes with you. We use them for shipping."

"Shipping?" asked Perks.

"Greengrass import export" said Daphne, brushing her hair.

"Why are you helping me" asked Perks.

"Why not" said Daphne "It costs little and… I've done – " she stopped ,feeling unaccountably upset.

"Something good in your life for once" added Perks "I can't just take them all and go."

Daphne turned and pointed her hairbrush at Perks "I'll write you instructions. It's easy to take galleons, the goblins at the Rue Magique in Paris will change them for francs. That's how daddy gets francs to pay the french."

Perks blinked "Your father trades with normal people?" she said.

"They grow things, we buy them, import them and sell them." said Daphne. Everyone knew there weren't that many magically operated farms, and everyone liked caviar and pate and decent wine. Even the Malfoys bought caviar – well Russian caviar anyway. As long as it didn't happen in Britain, everyone, even the Malfoys pretended it didn't happen. It didn't matter that muggles in France got paid instead of harassed – they weren't here, in Britain, making it smell of muggles.

Perks shook her head "Hypocrites" she said. "Bunch of hypocrites."

"It's just business" said Daphne.

After Herbology that afternoon, she went back to dorms and washed off the stench of dragon-dung, and sat down on her bed with her writing-block to start her essay on Lonesome leeks. And made some notes for Perks to one side.

'The Rue Magique can be found from the Seine canal. Go to the pair of lions by the canal and tickle under their chins. There's a goblin bank halfway down the Rue with tasteless gold window-frames. The address for Beauxbatons is – ' Daphne rummaged in her trunk and found the letter Jean-Claude had written her, 'Académie Beauxbâtons, à l'attention de Madame Maxime.' You can transfer easily. Jean Claude had spelled it out. She… copied his explanation rather than think. Arrogant french prat. Just because he danced well, she was so not changing schools to be his girlfriend. And what would she do when he left, three years at Beauxbatons without a boyfriend, not speaking French that comfortably. 'Eat french food and get really fat,' she thought to herself.

Perks went home for Christmas like most people. Unlike anyone else, she didn't come back, and the Prophet didn't list her family as one that was murdered. It was possible she was safe.

Pansy looked around dorms the next morning and said "Well, the room certainly smells less muddy." Daphne felt awkward, and everyone else was looking around. Lils and Tracey both looked quite… worried.

Daphne was drying her hair in the bathroom when Sally, of all people closed the door to dorm. Daphne couldn't help cringing.

"Relax Greengrass" said Sally loudly. "I'm not hitting on you."

Daphne relaxed, and turned to look at Sally. "What?"

"Perks." said Sally "Do you think she… her family?" And seemed genuinely worried about Perks.

Daphne blinked, she hadn't thought Perks was one too.

"Oh for morgana's sake Greengass. I can have friends that I'm not trying to shag!" said Sally loudly.

Daphne pondered that. It would ,. she supposed like having male friends you weren't interested in. Which was all the boys she knew. Not that they were friends as such.

"You're not worried" said Sally, crossing her arms and giving Daphne a hard look.

"Perks and family are probably safe. Overseas." said Daphne "I got her an untraceable portkey."

Sally Smith gaped. "You?" she asked. "You did anything for anyone except Tracey?"

Daphne huffed in indignation. "I'm not a monster. Perks was so worried… and my family do import-export."

Sally shook her head "I would not have thought you gave a stuff about anyone. Shows how wrong you can be, I s'pose." Daphne found her lower lip really wanted to pull down, and her nose was runny.

"Oh. Shit" said Sally "Greengrass.. you're upset?"

"I did a nice thing!" said Daphne.

"Once" said Sally "But… um… good job Greengrass. You going to be the pipeline for muggle-borns to escape now?"

Daphne blinked in shock at Sally "What?" she asked.

Sally nodded "Yeah. I s'pose that's a big risk. Still… you're not a Gryffindor are you."

"Of course not." said Daphne, and she sniffed. Turning back to the mirror, she splashed cold water on her eyes.

"It's not like you did anything to help" said Daphne.

"Like that's safe" muttered Sally "What if they decide to round up the gays?"

"They won't" said Daphne, sure of something at least. She turned to Sally "A number of people 'falsely accused' of being Death eaters at the end of the last war were… your kind of people."

"Oh, well that's nice " said Sally sarcastically "Just the muggleborns and muggles then."

Daphne shook her head and repeated something Malfoy had said to Crabbe between classes "I think only the right kind of Half-bloods are to be allowed."

"Oh. Right. Lucky me" said Sally.

"Zachary's your cousin." said Daphne deadpan "You call that luck?"

Sally stared at Daphne for a second then scoffed. "He is such a fucking prat." she admitted.

"How does that work?" asked Daphne, curiosity filling her "I mean you're a Smith… and well Zach tells everyone about being Hufflepuff's descendants , and you're in Slytherin?"

"We've been in dorms for five years, and you finally ask?" said Sally "Everyone asks that. Because I'm not Zach. I want to be a healer. Well." Sally stopped "I want to be head of magical maladies at St Mungos." she admitted. Daphne swallowed. Sally did work quite hard at her herbology, potions runes, charms and last year, at counter-curses.

"Oh" said Daphne. "You've known for a while"

"Since I went to get vaccinated as a little kid" said Sally.

Daphne nodded "Good luck, Sally."

"Oh I'll just play the 'I'm a pureblood and a Slytherin in the Sacred twenty-eight card'" said Sally, and laughed… forcedly.

That night as Daphne lay in bed, instead of… loving herself, she wondered why the hat had put her in Slytherin. She didn't have any great ambition she could think of. Astoria said it was because mean cows don't get put in Hufflepuff. The only … ambition she had was, she blushed, to marry someone tall, dark and handsome. Well, and singing, but that wasn't a proper job. Running the family business later, when daddy got too old was her duty. That and … having another Greengrass, preferably a male one to carry on the family name. Daphne slept badly, and woke up grumpy. Nott was practically asking for the jelly-legs jinx she hit him with on the stairs up to the ground floor. He'd asked her out last term, and he had been looking at her. It was, she told herself, perfectly justified.

Tracey sat down next to her, and oddly, made her tea. Milk and two sugars, just the way she liked it.

"Drink up" said Tracey, snagging a piece of toast and spreading marmalade on it.

Daphne contented herself with kippers and eggs. Tracey elbowed her "Still with the crank diet?"

"Shut up" said Daphne defensively.

The Weasley Twins skipped out of school during exams, after setting off a brilliant fireworks display that interrupted the charms exam, and nearly killed Madam Umbridge. The fireworks flew outside, and everyone followed the fireworks, and that might have been cause for bit of … squealing with joy and jumping up and down honestly it was very good. Everyone except Malfoy thought it was pretty brill.

The other exams were their usual dreadful selves, and the year practically ended with Potter, the massive showboater, throwing a pretend fit to get out of his OWL History of Magic examination.

Potter somehow ended up fleeing the school with a load of blood-traitors, and Professor Umbridge disappeared. Pansy said the blood-traitors and taken the professor to the forest to be murdered. And overpowered the inquisitorial squad. It seemed to Daphne that the in-Hogwarts supporters of the Dark lord and hard-ling bigotry were… well a bit pathetic at magic.

And once Daphne and everyone, except the gang of blood-traitors and mudbloods had gone home on the Hogwarts express, Mummy and Daddy were very glad to see them. Everything was back to normal.

The next day, the Daily Prophet had pictures of… of You-Know-Who duelling Supreme Mugwump Dumbledore in the Ministry Atrium. And Mr Malfoy and several other respectable people were arrested then imprisoned for being caught fighting in Death Eater robes, though Mr Malfoy was badly injured. And if the Prophet could be believed, Harry Potter and his gang of morons had fought adults, Death Eaters, and not died. More importantly, and rather horribly, You-Know-Who was back. The idea that people in her classes could fight Death Eaters and win was a bit odd. Surely adults were good at magic?

Daddy spent a lot of time calling people on the floo.

By July, Mummy and Daddy had a plan. Which they revealed to Astoria and herself after dinner.

"We've got a plan" said Daddy. Which sounded reassuring.

Mummy levitated and then sticking charmed a large roll of paper to the wall of the dinging room and let it unroll. There was a large diagram, labelled in Daddy's distinctive lettering.

Some of the words stuck out. 'Betrothal' had Daphne's mouth getting dry. 'Oh dear.'

"Now, we've got a plan" said Daddy, redundantly. "It does involve betrothing both of you girls."

Astoria blinked and made huge dark eyes at Daddy. Daphne resisted the urge to complain of that.

"We've found someone with good… connections to the new power-block, who we can betroth you to, Daphne. It will make you safe, and ensure our family survives." said Daddy.

"Just one heir darling." said Mummy. "And not for years." Daphne tried not to think about that for now.

"Mummy!" complained Astoria.

"And you, young lady" said Daddy, looking a bit smug "We all know you think young Draco Malfoy's very handsome."

Astoria blushed and gulped like a goldfish. It was sooo undignified. And Malfoy was a spoilt, impulsive twat.

"Daddy!" squeaked Astoria.

"Got a betrothal for you to the Malfoy boy." said Daddy. "You do fancy him, don't you?"

Astoria nodded mutely. Daphne felt quite peeved. She got some anonymous twit and Astoria got... ew. Malfoy was a dire case of pompous ass syndrome, according to Lil, and Daphne had to admit that while Pansy was a friend… oh god. Pansy!

"Daddy, Mummy, what about Pansy?" asked Daphne.

"Her mother can find her someone else" said Mummy. "Astoria will not marry till eighteen, and the boy will not be pressuring her. We got that in her contract."

"A contract" said Daphne.

"They're not signed yet, but we've got a special deal for you dear" said Mummy.

"What?" asked Daphne, wondering what 'special deal' meant. A discount priced boy with snaggley teeth? Not Flint. Ew. Hopefully not Flint.

"Head of the Black family" said Mummy, smugly. "Technically the same boy as your sister, but as we said, only one heir. They didn't press for a Black heir."

"Malfoy" said Daphne, feeling light-headed all of a sudden. "Draco Malfoy. I'm going to marry Malfoy?" Ew gross.

"The heir of the Black family." said Mummy "You'll be free to… live your own life, your sister can take care of… the boy"

Daphne swallowed. That sounded… less awful than the alternatives; Nott or Zabini, for example as the only boys in her year that weren't stupid. A bit… loveless but… it would keep her safe. Crabbe and Goyle would effectively be their bodyguards too.

Minister Fudge was sent packing, and replaced by the grim looking Rufus Scrimgeour.

-==0==-

Sixth year was... different. Malfoy had dumped Pansy, which was just as well; but Pansy took it hard and binged. And Malfoy had broken Potter's nose on the train. Potter, once his nose healed was stomping around like he had a thundercloud over his head. And had finally grown. In fact, most of the boys in Sixth year had grown over summer, turning into… young men. Nott still looked like a rodent transfigured into a human. But now a tall one. A hare transfigured into a human, not a rabbit.

Things really were nearly an apocalypse, as both Potter and his Weasley sidekick got girlfriends. Gryffindor slags; Well Lavender Brown and Weasley's little sister. Who totally unfairly had somehow come back to school with the sort of figure that boys stared at. Daphne suspected that having to wear last-years trousers while tight, helped out Weasley there, as Blaise Zabini gazed at her arse regularly. Bloody athletic quidditch players. At least there were silencing charms and the story of Princess Antoinette and the stable-boy. Or skipping reading the book some nights altogether. The relief was the same.

Things got worse at the end of the year, and the school closed early once the Headmaster had been murdered. By Professor Snape, of all people. He'd seemed to be just a bitter, sarcastic man, but he was apparently also a Death-Eater and murderer. Malfoy fled at the same time, which seemed… problematic. However, the few Seventh year boys who might be trouble fled the common room if she or Astoria were there. There were perks, she supposed to being betrothed to a known Death-Eater whose father was clearly very high up in the Death Eaters.

Over Summer, Minister Scrimgeour died of something unspecified, and was replaced by Minster Pius Thicknesse. As did a few other people in the ministry. Laws started changing, and overnight, the mudbloods were required to register with the ministry, to a new office there. Potter and his muggle friend Granger didn't come back to school, and soon had wanted posters with truly ludicrous rewards for information leading to their capture, hundreds of thousands of galleons. Each. Potter's price was of course more. Though no muggleborns were allowed to come to Hogwarts anymore. The Ministry had a special re-education camp for them instead. Officially they were being 'taught their place in society.'

Seventh year, as an educational experience, was horrible. Hestia and Flora's aunt and uncle came to 'teach,' attendance was mandatory, and Hogsmeade trips cancelled. It became rather obvious that for most students, they were hostages to ensure their parents behaved. Daphne wondered just how well their deal with Mrs Malfoy was really working. Daphne traded Princess Antoinette and fifteen sickles for a much racier novel with more… um detail of just how pleased Dutchess Sophia was with her lover. At least one thing was nice.

Things got worse and worse as the year dragged through a bleak winter punctuated by disobedient Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs getting tortured, then the weather slowly warmed into spring, and then Potter invaded Hogwarts, the Great hall, with loads of people, looking tall and gaunt and… like a wolfshead really. And… the Dark Lord came to take him … and there was a battle.

Draco Malfoy and his mother showed truly Slytherin cleverness, and apparently sold the Dark Lord out to Potter and co, and… Potter was brought back to Hogwarts the next morning, looking dead, in the arms of Professor Hagrid. Who was crying.

The Dark Lord gave a very gloating speech, which was interrupted by Potter standing up and duelling him; and … he killed the un-killable Dark Lord. Harry Potter beat the Dark Lord. With apparently a disarming charm, and that made no sense whatsoever. Technically for a second time, Daphne supposed. And blew up a large number of Death Eaters with blasting curses, while Longbottom, of all people had chopped the head off a gigantic snake… with the Sword of Gryffindor.

The Death Eaters were routed, arrested, and the few remaining Aurors started the long process of imprisoning them, with help from the most motley collection of witches and wizards imaginable.

And Weasley's mother, who was rather… plump, had apparently duelled Bellatrix LeStrange to the death. It was topsy-turvey day.

Still, Daphne got Tori home that day, and all her family were alive and well. They were both betrothed to Malfoy, but Potter had… let the Malfoys go.

Within days, Daddy got an owl from the Malfoys. They'd done a further deal with Potter. And that was remarkable in and of itself. Mr Malfoy went back to Azkaban, and the other Malfoys were under house arrest. There was a new Minister; an ex-auror Kingsley Shacklebolt that the DMLE trusted, who'd fought the Death Eaters for years.

In other news, well, all the Daily Prophet printed for a week anyway, Harry Potter got an Order of Merlin, first class for defeating the Dark Lord.

The Prophet wasted pages and pages every week speculating on how he'd done it.

There was, eventually, a Yule ball at the ministry. It was long enough after the war ended that everyone, even Slytherins like Daphne and Astoria could attend safely. Tori was dying to get out and go to a party.

Daphne showered, felt pleased that cutting out bread and potatoes and rice years ago had won the war against podginess, and put on her best robe, did her hair and makeup, and braved the ministry floos. It was the first party since Potter's awards dinner; and nobody from Slytherin would attend that. Well except Professor Slughorn, who'd got himself an Order of Merlin, second class for leading the reinforcements from Hogsmeade.

Daphne was looking around, hoping to see some of the new celebrities. She did find Granger – who looked very self-assured now, no stooping, her hair in a sleekeazy'ed do, with Weasley, the boy one, standing next to her in Auror's dress uniform. He'd picked up some scars, got a decent haircut and looked… well if you liked a wizard a little rough and tough, Daphne supposed he'd do. He had a dreadfully sullen, watchful gaze, like he expected anyone to try attacking this event. There wasn't anyone left to attack it, if the Prophet's lists of arrested Death Eaters could be believed. Uncle Corbin, well second-cousin Corbin anyway, had gone to Azkaban for life. Daddy had opened the good wine that night, he'd been taking money fomr daddy every month for 'additional protection.' Great-grandfather Yaxley had only been heavily fined, but he was quite frail and old.

Daphne strolled about and re-acquainted herself with many people she hadn't really talked to at Hogwarts, but who had come out of the war on the winning side.

She had been looking for Potter, but didn't find him. She did have to back away hastily when one of the obnoxiously tall muscular Griffindors – McLaggan hit on her, and she collided with someone. Daphne turned around.

A tall, dark haired young man with excellent cheekbones glared down at her. He was…

"Potter" she said. It was Harry Potter. She'd found him. And he'd grown still taller, nearly six foot tall. He even looked like a proper wizard, it was uncanny. And his gaze was chilling.

"I got an invite" said Potter, sarcastically "I'm sort of famous, you know, the whole defeating Voldemort thing." He seemed for a moment like some sort of proper Slytherin boy – he was well-dressed and really sarcastic, after all.

"But you're a half-blood" said Daphne, meaning 'but you look like a proper wizard. He'd looked like a half-blood at school with cheap clothes, now … he looked like… some sort of bloody male model. It was unfair. Her husband-to-be looked positively pinch-faced in comparison, and he'd cost thousands and thousands of galleons.

"Well, I suppose once you've saved the country, it doesn't matter" said Potter arrogantly.
Daphne tried to gather some saliva. He was rather intimidating in person. Draco had been so brave to confront him at school, she realised.

Finally, she had enough spit to swallow, and could say what she needed to, and said "Thank you, for keeping Draco out of Azkaban."

"Thank you?" said Potter, sounding confused "There are actually people who like that git?"

Daphne did not roll her eyes. Not a bit. This was polite niceness to the wonder-wizard time.

"I'm betrothed to … that git, as you call him" she said very politely "So I am thankful."

"I thought him and Parkinson" said Potter.

Daphne, explained. With… a slight alteration to the actual timetable of events to erm… make it a bit less embarrassing.

"Oh Merlin no, after her little speech in the great hall Pansy's had to flee the country" said Daphne "Father swooped in and got Draco at a bargain price, and as He's not going to Azkaban, our families won't be too ruined by his poor choices."

"You are aware he's a complete pillock?" said Potter, in a display of horrible manners, and arrogance. And he was right but still, it was bad manners.

Daphne could not control herself any longer, she rolled her eyes. "That's not important." she said "His family wealth is what matters!"

"Oh, with Lucius in Azkaban, is Draco in charge now?" asked Potter, frowning. He looked oddly like he was actually thinking.

"And frankly, my sister actually likes him, so she can do all that … stuff" admitted Daphne.

"Your sister?" asked Potter, looking like the brainless quidditch player he was, "I thought you were the one marrying Draco?"

Daphne hoped that Weasley's sister would be there to help Potter with complicated thinking – or maybe she was just another good-looking idiot too? Daphne tried to explain using small words "Oh both of us, my sister and I," said Daphne "That way one of us holds Malfoy and the other Black."

"Black?" asked Potter, scratching his hair like a baboon.

Daphne explained even more simply. This was a Gryffindor and a quidditch player, after all. "Draco's head of the house of Black, didn't you know, through his mother?"

"Er, Sirius Black was the head of the house of Black" said Potter "And he died."

"Leaving everything to his closest male relative. Draco" said Daphne nodding. Gosh, you could lead a Gryffindor to a conclusion… you just had to imagine they were shaved monkeys. Handsome shaved moneys with pretty eyes, but… so dumb.

Potter shook his head, his stupid hair waving about like a spastic hedgehog, and he said "No, he left everything to me because I'm his Godson. I live at Grimmauld place."

Daphne felt quite surprised by Potter admitting to living in one of Draco's houses. Clearly they were much friendlier than anyone thought. "You live at Draco's house in London?" she asked, probing for some disclosure of the depths of Malfoy's secret partnership. Malfoy might not be a total waste of space after all, she mused.

"Greengrass..." said Potter, and Daphne had to interrupt.

"Daphne" said Daphne "Once I'm married, you're a relative though your great aunt Druella." It was a tenuous connection ,but as her husband-to-be was housing Potter, clearly she needed to be less stand-offish. After all, the political finesse of Malfoy to pull this off. It was rather confusing; Malfoy hadn't seemed that clever in the hallways and the common room. Such Slytherin cunning, to act impulsive and rash, she realised. Nobody suspected this secret partnership.

Potter replied familiarly with "Great Aunt Druella, Great uncle Charlus" and one more nod. Like he knew what he was talking about.

Daphne blinked and asked "You do actually know your family tree?" It seemed strange, as he didn't seem to know about anything except quidditch at school.

"Bits of it" admitted Potter casually, "but… I inherited everything from Sirius. We… the resistance used Grimmauld place, Sirius's mothers old house as a safe-house for years… since ninety-five."

Daphne was rather shocked by Potters claim that he 'inherited everything' "Not Draco?" she asked.

"Look, before Sirius willed everything to me, Draco was going to inherit" said Potter, "But since … since… since Sirius died, and left it all to me, he's a sort-of cousin."

"Sirius Black betrayed your parents, why would he have left anything to you?" asked Daphne, because Potter wasn't making sense. And that was annoying her.

"Sirius was framed, never tried, spent years in Azkaban" explained Potter very slowly, "It was Peter Pettigrew who did it, and left a finger behind. He was a Rat Animagus."

The idea that anyone would voluntarily change into a rat was just gross "Ew, a Rat!" said Daphne in reflex.

"He was viler in person. A death eater, he knifed me in ninety-four as part of resurrecting Voldemort" said Potter, sighing. He looked tired and …

Daphne suddenly realised that someone from the Sacred Twenty-Eight went to Azkaban for nothing. Someone like her, for example. "An innocent heir of an important house went to Azkaban?" said Daphne, seeing cold grey walls in her future, or Daddy's. Her tongue felt dry.

"And my Godfather. I should have grown up with him" said Potter "Got fobbed off on muggle relatives that hated me instead."

Daphne ignored that non sequitur and instead, asked the obvious question. "And you own everything the Blacks had?"

"Everything including the name" said Potter "Sirius had to adopt me in his will: otherwise Draco would be head of Black, and I'd have all the money and stuff."

"But my father paid good money for that contract" exclaimed Daphne, feeling swindled by Mrs Malfoy "It's worthless."

"Worse than that, you have to marry that pillock" said Potter snidely.

"We shall see" said Daphne, and she turned on her heel and strode off angrily. Daddy would fix this.

-==0==-

Daphne went home, and waited to find daddy.

Daddy and mummy came home from the bally by floo, daddy holding mummy and looking pleased, mummy a bit flushed and giggly.

"Excuse me" said Daphne "I had the worst conversation ever. And I really need Daddy to fix it."

Daddy let go of mummy's waist and asked, "What is it dear?"

"I went to thank Harry Potter for keeping Draco out of Azkaban" said Daphne.

Daddy nodded, and Mummy smiled, she looked ever so pleased.

"And Potter claims to have inherited Everything, including being the head of the Black family!" said Daphne. "Which means I don't get any money. Fix it daddy!"

Daddy's and Mummy reacted oddly. Daddy turned and stared into Mummy's eyes silently, he turned back to look at her and swallowed nervously. "Daphne dear" said Daddy softly.

Daphne had a sudden vision of her revolting forced marriage to Draco Malfoy leaving her with some derelict unwanted Malfoy family property, no money, no servants… and still having to have a child with Malfoy to save her family from… worse things. Ew. She narrowed her eyes.

Daddy averted his gaze, stared at the floor.

"Daphne dahlink" said Mummy "When we ah… got the contract for you – "

Daphne's hearing was going funny. Everything was echoing, and she could her hear blood pounding in her ears.

"We should go to the study" said Daddy, and mummy helped her stagger to the study and sit in a chair by the desk, while Daddy rummaged in the locked cabinet, finally bringing out a scroll.

"Daphne" said Daddy, sitting on the couch next to mummy and opening the scroll, which had a blue ribbon around it, thought, it seemed, thought Daphne not like a blue ribbon deal at all, and he read the scroll hastily, and handed it to mummy, who glanced at it and nodded.

"The contract dear" said Daddy "It's … it's not with Draco Malfoy. It's with the head of the black family. That… that might still be Potter, I suppose. If that's true."

Daphne really wished she could faint dramatically at this juncture. She inhaled violently through her nose and stared at Mummy. "Still Potter" Daphne hissed. Her Parents both knew!

"Well, dahlink" said Mummy "It was clear after the summer of your fifth year, and the death of Sirius Black, that Draco was not summoned by lawyers, to inherit the Black estate. Mrs Malfoy made enquiries, discreet enquiries – "

Bribes, thought Daphne.

"– That Harry Potter was the beneficiary. Of course, Mrs Malfoy was quite well-connected with the… erm … Dark Lord, so it was clear that Potter was marked for death. And had no will, so the estate would pass to Draco as soon as Potter…." said Daddy.

Daphne stared at her parents. They'd bet her life on Potter dying. That… hadn't seemed unlikely at the time, she supposed, but given his surprise win over the Dark Lord… she now was the proud owner of a marriage contract to … Potter. A half-blood.

"Fix it Daddy!" said Daphne, feeling very petulant.

Mummy smiled weakly "Dahlink, we were dealing the Malfoys we knew they might double-cross us…. So we ah…"

"Did what?" asked Daphne.

"We… explicitly ruled out divorce" said Mummy, and she got up off the couch and ran over and hugged Daphne, crouching in front of Daphne's chair.

Daphne did what any mature, sensible witch did under the circumstances, and cried till she was probably very ugly. Mummy rubbed her back.

Much later, Mummy helped her to bed like she was six. And tucked her in and wiped her nose and kissed her forehead tenderly.

Daphne screwed up her eyes and cried, imagining an ever worse fate than being married to Malfoy, and a derelict Malfoy property. Potter throwing her into some abandoned Black family ruin, full of monsters and rot and no servants and damp and… nothing nice ever again.

-==0==-

Daphne dressed in a black sack, washed her face and went to breakfast in the sun-room, where Mummy, Daddy and Astoria were already eating.

Daphne drank tea morosely. Her life was ruined.

"I've tried flooing" said Daddy abruptly "He's not on the floo network."

Daphne paused in her tea-sipping to revise her impression of the ruin she'd be relegated to. Not even a fireplace on the floo network. Probably no owl either. A life in ruins, in a ruin. She sniffed.

"What's going on?" asked Astoria.

"Nothing yet" said Daddy "I'll owl him. Using that title. If it works, well. We'll have to have a meeting , I suppose."

Daphne ate a little toast and went by floo to Tracey's house, burst in on Tracey in her room and cried. Tracey levered herself out of bed.

"What's going on?" asked Tracey, in a ridiculous pair of green pyjamas with muggle racing cars on them. She'd got them as a joke, 'solidarity with Perks,' only Perks had shaken her head and said only twelve-year-old boys wore that sort of thing. Tracey had kept them, as they were apparently warm and comfy.

"My parents" sniffed Daphne "They betrothed me to the head of the house of Black"

Trace nodded.

"Who they KNEW! Was Potter" said Daphne bitterly. She had an ugly cry for a bit. "Mrs Malfoy assured them he'd be dead before it matured, and Draco would inherit."

Tracey swore "Merlins saggy ballsack!"

"Exactly" sniffled Daphne "Potter's going to banish me to some ruin… and the contract has an heirs clause. I'll… have to … with…" Daphne hid her face.

"Half your luck" said Tracey rather unexpectedly.

Daphne looked up at Tracey. "WHAT!"

"He's fairly good-looking, rich, and if you missed it, just got an order of bleeding merlin for defeating The Dark Lord. And importantly, a good quidditch player."

Daphne could only stare at Tracey as she sat down on the end of her bed, and crossed her pyjama clad legs and put her hands on her knee in a parody of good manners. "You've basically got a licence to shag Harry Potter." Tracey added.

Daphne stared at Tracey, who was smiling, clearly proud of her proclamation.

"But he will hate me" said Daphne "He's dating Weasley, and then has to marry me. I mean… She's a quidditch player. She's… fit."

"Not that I swing that way" said Tracey "But Sally said she'd gladly show the Weaselette the joys of the sapphic lifestyle."

Daphne narrowed her eyes at Tracey. "Not one word." she said.

"Look, just because Sally mistook your utter lack of confidence with boys for being gay, is not her fault. I had my doubts frankly." said Tracey.

Daphne could only blink at Tracey in surprise. Tracey thought she was a lesbian?

"Well you never dated" said Tracey.

"Not true. Jean-Claude from Beauxbatons" said Daphne.

"One Yule ball date when you're fourteen." said Tracey. "Doesn't count."

"I'll never be loved" sniffled Daphne.

"You were betrothed as far as you knew to Malfoy. Which, given the things Pansy said, meant you weren't getting loved either. And your sister's going to be doing all that stuff anyway." said Tracey bluntly. "You get the big hero."

"He's thin" snapped Daphne.

"Not so heavy when he's on top" said Tracey casually.

"I am not … shagging Potter. He'll never want me. He's had her." said Daphne.

Tracey tipped her head to one side "That's a point but… hang on. You really aren't gay, right?"

"NO!" shouted Daphne.

"Right, just checking" said Tracey. "You know you've got more tit and bum than Weasley, right?"

"I do not." said Daphne. "I saw the dress she was in last night."

Tracey snorted dismissively "Madam Malkins padded collection from the thin girls rack. It was there last month."

"What?"

"Padded bras darling." said Tracey "Unlike the dreadful things you wear."

"I'm not flaunting myself!" said Daphne.

"Well, how about another crank diet. I'm sure Witch Weekly have something." said Tracey, rubbing her hands together. "I'll ask mum. There must be something that works."

"No" said Daphne "I'm going to be shuffled off to some ruin to pine for my freedom forever, without even a floo connection, no servants… a life in ashes."

Tracey tipped her head. "Really?" she asked "not counting just apparating home to your mum's?"

"My husband would just force me to stay" said Daphne.

Tracey rolled her eyes. "Yeah. That is Potter you're talking about. Does your contract even have powers to force you to do anything?"

"I um… don't know" admitted Daphne.

"Come on… said Tracey, stripping off her pyjama top "We're going to read the damn thing before you go all Countess of Verona on yourself."

Daphne averted her eyes as Tracey got dressed, choosing a natty hounds-tooth robe, and sensible boots, and she dragged Daphne back to the main fire, and thereby, home.

Daddy was pacing the study.

"Daddy" said Daphne.

"We're here for the contract" said Tracey "Just to familiarise Daphne with her actual obligations."

"Eh?" said Daddy.

"Daph fears being forced to, for example, live a hovel." said Tracey.

"Oh." said Daddy "We made sure there are no… hideous clauses. The … the…"

Daphne glared at her father.

"The only thing he can do is declare you unacceptable. And not even a complete monster would do that" said Daddy. "You're pure, and clever, and certainly don't have any inherited illnesses."

Daphne made eye-contact with Daddy briefly. So … they were going to pretend the family curse wasn't a thing. As Potter wasn't a real Black, he was unlikely to have the connections or knowledge to detect the curse in Daphne, anyway. Not that it was killing her. She sniffled. Astoria, on the other hand, had moments of weakness.

Tracey took the contract, seized Daphne and pulled her to the couch and started reading thought it, pointing to clauses.

It was, for all its unbreakableness, quite a liberal marriage arrangement. Daphne read the clauses, ran them through her mind. If she'd married someone of her own choosing, apart from not ruling out divorce, she … she had to admit to herself, she would have wanted pretty much the same sort of protections, Potter would have no access to her Vault, and her inheritance would be hers, not Potters. And the heirs clause was quite clear. One for Greengrass, and others at her discretion. Black would miss out at this rate, she thought.

"This is boringly like a normal marriage agreement" said Tracey "Apart from the arranged bit."

"Your… Great-great-aunt had an arranged marriage, dear. It worked out quite well" said Daddy. "And great-grandmama Bathory likes what's-his-name."

"She's a demented fossil" snapped Daphne.

"Well yes, and I can't stand her" admitted Daddy. "But… she loves you all." Pointedly not including himself in the list. He sighed.

"When I married your mother" started Daddy.

Daphne eyed daddy.

"Your great-grandmother didn't think I was good enough for her" said Daddy. He left unstated 'and still doesn't.'

Daphne wondered what great-grandmama would think of her marrying a half-blood. She shook her head "Great-grandmama won't like it" she said.

"Daphne, dear. It's your husband. You'll… have to deal with great-grandmama. You don't have to live with him, you know." said Daddy.

"My own house, my own servants, mistress of all I survey" said Daphne. Tracey snorted softly. Daphne continued, ignore the snorts from her friend "Is that too much to ask for. I don't think so!"

For lunch, and Glinkit had pulled out all her little elfie-stops and cooked all Daphne's favourite things for lunch. Daphne ate sparingly, worried about the prospect of… being declared unacceptable.

Tracey made a pig of herself on the glazed meatballs Daphne loved.

"Brilliant lunch, glinkit" said Tracey, to thin air. A meatball floated from the platter to Daphne's plate. She speared it and ate the delicious spicy goodness without any joy. Well, and had two more to mourn her lost liberty.

As mummy and daddy drank coffee slowly after lunch. Daphne wondered what new hell the next crank diet would have, when a handsome snowy owl bearing a letter flew in the open french doors, flared to land on the candelabra, and glared at daddy. Correction, a very arrogant small snowy owl with speckles.

"That'll be Potter" said Tracey "He's the Snowy owl fanatic."

"Can't be" said Daphne "He has a big white one with gorgeous eyes. This one's smaller and speckly."

The owl's head swivelled to face Daphne, and the owl deliberately shat on the table-cloth.

"OH I say!" said Daddy "None of that!" Mummy vanished the owl-poop.

Daddy leaned over and retrieved the letter from the owl, who bit Daddy's hand and hunched on the candelabra.

Daddy winced, and shook his hand to get over the pain of the bite, and then sat and opened the letter.

"He agrees to meet." said Daddy abruptly. "And I sent the letter to Harry Potter, head of the house of Black. So he's at least plausible enough to fool Sophocles."

"Who is an owl" said Tracey bluntly.

Mummy summoned her writing box, and Daddy dictated a letter.

Well, Mummy did stop him and shake her head.

They settled on just;

'Harry Potter

Head of House Black

Agree to meet you in a back room of Three Broomsticks, 5pm.

Unable to floo-call you.

Cyrus Greengrass,

Head of house Greengrass'

And mummy glared at Daphne, so she got changed out of the black sack.

-==0==-

Daddy had booked a private room at the Three Broomsticks, and she, mummy and daddy arrived by floo ten minutes beforehand. Madam Rosmerta nodded politely and led them to 'Room Two' and wrote on the blackboard on the door 'Private function'

Daddy said "We're expecting one more member. Discreetly, Madam Rosmerta."

"Discretion is my watchword" said the busty witch in the corset.

"Harry Potter" said Daddy. Madam Rosmerta looked Daphne up and down. "good luck then" she said. "Would you like anything?" she asked.

"Water and glasses" said mummy.

Madam Rosmerta was very quick with the water and glasses, and closed the door.

"Daphne dear" said Daddy "The purpose of this meeting is twofold. Firstly, Potter needs to proved he's the head of the Black family. If he is, our only goal is to ensure he doesn't…"

Daphne felt quite panicky "Declare me unacceptable" she croaked out.

"Yes dear" said mummy. "Don't try to flirt or anything. Just … be yourself."

Daphne wanted to explain at length that 'being herself' to Potter, was going to lead to a seven kneazle habit and being a social pariah. And felt a bit slighted that mummy didn't think she could flirt. She might not have done so, but fluttering your eyelashes and looking stupid was easy.

Time passed. There was no sign of Potter. Daddy fussed with the scroll.

"He's late" said Daddy a bit later, and rather redundantly.

"Well, it's better one's husband comes later than early" said mummy. Daphne had to stare at mummy, who, unless Daphne was going completely mad, had just made a very dirty joke.

Daphne really wanted to ask mummy not to be terribly continental at the meeting, just… for an hour or so. Daddy shook his head slightly behind mummy.

Finally someone knocked on the door.

"Come in" said Daddy loudly. The door opened, and Harry Potter came in wearing a fairly unfashionable robe.

Daddy said "Harry Potter". Daphne wanted to scream. He was the most famous, easily recognised wizard alive. You didn't need to say his name.

"You must be Cyrus Greengrass" said Potter. Daddy nodded. "My wife Roxanne, and you know my Daughter Daphne."

"Mrs Greengrass, Miss Greengrass" said Potter, in a mockery of good manners, and he sat down.

Daphne wanted to hex both her parents and Potter at this point. Her life was about to be flushed down the loo.

"Daphne says you claim to be the head of the house of Black?" said Daddy.

Potter put his right hand on the table, and the ostentatious massive signet ring he was wearing went clonk. It had a raven on it, and a chip of jet set in it, in case you were too thick to realise this was the Black family signet ring just from the raven.

"Oh" said Daddy. Potter nodded smugly, and looked at mummy for some reason.

Daphne had to protest, so she did, she was doomed anyway "You've got the ring?" she said "You didn't have the ring before!"

"It was in the office" drawled Potter, oozing arrogance and disdain.

Daphne couldn't help that he was making her so angry. She shivered with suppressed annoyance, and mummy patted her hand in what was supposed, thought Daphne to be a comforting way.

Potter asked Daddy "So, What do you want to do?"

"Get Lucius Malfoy out of Azkaban, so I can wring his neck" said Daddy angrily. And a little disingenuously. So… we were doing polite lying, thought Daphne.

Potter seemed honestly surprised "You signed that long ago?"

"Last year" said Cyrus. "It seemed a prudent move at the time."

Potter looked… like he was going to laugh at her, at her parents. Daphne felt the weight of imaginary kneazles.

"So you've got two daughters engaged to Draco Malfoy, heir of house Malfoy." said Potter.

"Not… exactly" said Daddy, sounding embarrassed. "Could we have our money back?"

"Your money back?" asked Potter.

"We paid the money for Daphne's engagement into the Black vault" said Daddy. And that was a surprise to Daphne. What had Mrs Malfoy been up to?

Potter snorted arrogantly. "You paid me" said Harry, chuckling.

"We didn't know it was you" said mummy, in a bald-faced lie. Daphne resisted the urge to stare at mummy, who she had no idea could lie so effortlessly.

"And the Malfoy's didn't mind" asked Potter.

"It was assumed… the Malfoys would have control over the Black accounts" said Daddy.

"So you, Greengrasses didn't know, and the Malfoy's assumed I'd be dead soon" said Potter, and stared at them like he thought they were gnats, beneath contempt.

Daddy looked out the window. Daphne wanted to scream, to rant… so she bottled it up.

"How much was it?" asked Potter.

"Eighty-five thousand galleons" admitted Daphne. A ridiculous sum.

"For the Amazing bouncing ferret's hand in marriage?" said Potter, chuckling "What a ripoff."

"Would you give us back the galleons?" asked Mummy.

"As long as that contract of yours, doesn't make me betrothed to her" said Potter.

"Daddy?" asked Daphne, meaning … what the hell do we do now.

Potter looked at daddy, who was shuffling through a leather satchel, and finally pulled out the contract, a bundle of parchment, bound in blue ribbon, He flopped it onto the table, there were ribbons, Black and Green coming out of the bottom of the pile.

Daddy glanced at the contract, then ran his finger along the cramped-old fashioned hand it was written in.

"The party of the first part being the Heir Black" said Daddy glumly.

"Well I didn't sign it" said Potter, and Daddy flipped the whole thing onto it's back and folded the back page with the ribbons down onto the table. Above the Black ribbon was an elegant signature.

"Signed by Narcissa Malfoy née Black" said daddy, and he sighed.

"Signed by Narcissa, not Lucius?" asked Potter

"She's a Black, he's not" explained Daddy. Daphne felt that might just be simple enough for a Gryffindor to understand.

"Well my… sort-of-aunt can't sign a contract for me" said Potter confidently; eyeing the contract; Daddy had signed for Greengrass.

"About that..." said mummy awkwardly. "How old were you..." she stopped to peer at the contract "On September the eighth, nineteen-ninety-six?"

"Ninety six?" asked Daphne, and decided to swing the beaters bat of bullshit for one last desperate attempt. "Two years ago, Daddy, you said you got it after the war."

Daddy looked at Daphne and winced. "Daphne dear, we had to keep you safe." he said. Which was true.

"This is why Draco dumped Pansy" said Daphne "This contract." That was even true too.

"I was sixteen" said Potter, swallowing and clearly nervous now.

"Under-age" said mummy "Your next of kin have to sign contracts for you."

"Narcissa Malfoy wasn't my guardian, that was my aunt and uncle" said Potter and the way he said it, he sounded like a judge passing sentence.

"Harry Potter-Black's next of kin was Narcissa Malfoy…. Or the other one, no she was disowned," said daddy.

"So Bellatrix Bloody LeStrange could have signed contracts for me?" spat Harry sarcastically.

Everyone stared at Harry after this outburst. "I suppose she could have" said daddy. After thinking for a bit. Daphne resisted the urge to start laughing insanely. This whole situation was not only a disaster it was an absurd disaster. And the punchline was her life was about to be over.

"So this bloody thing applies to me?" asked Potter.

"We will need to seek legal advice" said daddy, looking pained by the language.

Daphne could not contain herself any longer and in desperation said "Daddy, No! Not with a half-blood!" Maybe he might save her if she seemed as desperate as she actually was. Potter looked at her oddly, and frowned slightly. Once again, Daphne remembered he was basically a shaved monkey.

"Harry" said mummy kindly, "can you tell us about Draco's secret role in the war?"

Potter looked away from Daphne to look at mummy with a deep crease between his eyebrows. "He was a death eater" said Potter, almost spitting.

"But he did something important. That's why you protected him and his mother" said daddy. And he sounded so desperate.

Potter thought for a second about that, and then just said "Draco was home when we were captured, and pretended not to recognise me, when the Snatchers brought us to Malfoy Manor."

"He wasn't a spy for the resistance?" asked mummy, and Daphne glanced over. Mummy was genuinely confused. Daphne mentally agreed. Potter could not possibly be that generous.

"He's always been a little shit. He lied for me once" said Potter, he was so coarse.

"And Narcissa?" asked mummy.

"Oddly enough, she lied for me too. She was sent to check I'd died after a duel with Voldemort, and lied. So I told her where Draco was in the castle" said Potter.

"One lie each?" said mummy "Even after that mess with the werewolves biting people?"

Potter's brows furrowed again, and after his tiny brain struggled he swore "Fuck!"

"Language" said mummy.

"I forgot that time," said Potter "I think I need to have a word with Shack."

"Shack?" asked Daddy. Daphne wanted to know who 'Shack' was as well. Some code-name from the war, perhaps.

"Kingsley Shacklebolt" explained Potter "I think Aunt Narcissa's efforts with this contract, which was an extra death sentence for me, balance out her lie, as for Draco I'd forgotten about the werewolves."

"Forgotten about a werewolf attack at Hogwarts?" asked daddy. That was a really sensible question.

"I've had a lot on my mind since then" said Potter with arrogant dismissiveness.

He sounded like he was actually a serial killer to Daphne. Poor Professor Quirrell, Gildeory Lockheart, and Cedric Diggory. Something in her head just snapped, and she blurted out "Daddy, I can't be betrothed to this ... this ..."

"Don't worry Greengrass" said Potter to Daphne "There's no chance this will hold up in court."

"When exactly is your birthday?" asked daddy.

"The thirty-first of July" said Potter. Daddy looked at mummy pointedly. They knew something, Daphne could stake the remainder of her so-called life on it.

"Are we done?" asked Potter, as if her life was nothing. It probably was to Potter, she thought.

"Ah, yes" said daddy "We'll get a lawyer to check to see if you..."

"Owl me" said Potter, as if ordering daddy around.

"You're floo's unlisted, even at the ministry" complained daddy.

"It's Secured" said Potter , and he got up and left, clutching the contract.

"Bother" said daddy once Potter had flooed off.

"He is at least a handsome man" said mummy weakly. Daphne just… she closed her eyes. It would all be over soon anyway.