"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, and under no circumstances is her husband to hear of this.

Chapter Ten: Cousin Tom's Manor

Daphne woke up with a horrible hangover. She felt across the bed – cold and empty and didn't remember erm, Goings on, so vaguely recalled going to bed after drinking port. Because of the police visit.

Daphne sat up with a pounding head and groaned. Port was the devils libation.

"Kreacher!" she called, but the effort made her close her eyes.

Kreacher brought the bottle of hangover cure, as directed, and Daphne sat up in bed.

"I will have a tray" instructed Daphne "Tea, toast."

"Yes mistress" said Kreacher, and padded out of her room. Daphne sighed.

After a slow shower and rinsing her mouth twice, she dressed in simple robes and braved the house.

The silent house. Harry had evidently eaten breakfast and fled.

Daphne walked to the office, lit the fire and lay in one of the easy chairs to sort mail.

At lunch, Harry was annoyingly chipper.

"Cousin Tom's house has ensuites for the major rooms and central heating" he said. "Would we want that?"

Daphne looked up from the beef broth Kreacher had made and lifted one eyebrow.

He blushed.

"It's really dilapidated" Harry said defensively.

After lunch, he went back to studying for his NEWTs, and Daphne went by floo to Black books to bring order to chaos.

But in the chaos came galleons, and Lily and Tracey were enjoying it. Flora and Hestia were… well they were weird.

Weeks later, he spent all day at the ministry sitting exams and doing practicals.

At dinner he said "I think I did all right."

-==0==-

Over breakfast the next day, Harry said to Daphne "We need a potions lab."

"What?" asked Daphne, surprised. He must be much more confident about potions now.

"We buy potions, we could make for a fraction. The police thought the coal room would make a great drug lab. We should use it for potions instead. You could learn sixth year; the books fantastic, and then NEWT potions. I've been skimming the books; we could save a lot of money, and have certain potions in stock" said Harry.

"Are you suggesting you require my presence in bed?" asked Daphne. Daphne thought that personally, hangover cure and headache draughts in volume sounded like a good idea, and it would be less embarrassing to make boil cure at home, she supposed.

"Not in bed… but plenty of other places" said Harry with a crooked grin and a glint in his eyes.

"Well I never!" said Daphne. He was a degenerate. A sexy, handsome degenerate. That her belly warmed at the thought was just… incidental.

"Apart from Yule in the hall cupboard" said Harry, giving her a salacious look. She felt her cheeks warming.

"So you liked that?" asked Daphne, trying to maintain some standards.

"The more important question, is did you?" asked Harry. "I'd like to pleasure you, and if that counted, I think we've got all kinds of things to lean against or over."

"Are you implying you'd like me to be a loose woman?" asked Daphne.

"I like how tight you are" said Harry very suggestively.

Daphne blushed. How could he refer to… such things.

"I like your arse, the way it's like two quaffles, the way your hips roll around , the way you stuck your arse out… wanting me. It's my most intense memory ever." said Harry.

Daphne sat very red "You can't talk about that sort of thing over breakfast" she said. And her knickers felt a bit wet.

"Well, I'm really horny now, I admit" said Harry.

"And you think I'm made of ice!" said Daphne. "What am I supposed to do."

Harry said "Agree, I'll lock the floo, and we'll… shag" he suggested.

"Lock the floo, and we can discuss this… urge of yours" said Daphne.

Harry apparated off and came back to the dining table very quickly.

He snogged her against the dining table and then one thing led to another, and she wrapped her legs around his strong hips as she shagged her on the table. Quite pleasantly. And the thrill of doing such a naughty thing was … well it helped.

Daphne lay on the table, gathering her breath, feeling a bit sweaty, and pleasantly… used "These robes will need laundered" she said.

"Was it okay?" asked Harry.

"Quite pleasant" said Daphne. "But I do have work to do today."

"I'm going to put the coal into a space-expanded coal bucket and set up a potions lab" said Harry "Shouldn't take too long."

"Stone benches" said Daphne. And he hadn't requested she do… that again. Which was a relief. She'd been so drunk. That was it.

"Concrete blocks" said Harry "Like giant stone bricks; but hollow. Muggles use them for all kind of stuff and they can be joined with mortar."

Harry left to get supplies.

Daphne sat up and apparated to her bathroom, and dropped her clothes on the floor, and had a shower. She was drying herself off then she caught sight of her face in the mirror. Flushed, with swollen lips, and a silly smile on her face. She braced herself on the sink and stared into her own eyes. What on earth was she thinking. Just because they'd had sex, and it had been good, didn't mean… he loved her. He did make a point of kissing her hand, but that was just for familiarisation, and now a sort of habit, surely.

Daphne, in a warm towelling bathrobe went to her room, and got dressed again, this time in a fairly muggle dress. She apparated to the office and got to work, dealing with letters from tenants.

After several hours, the work had essentially dried up. And Harry hadn't wandered past casually.

Daphne got up and strolled into the hall, and sniffed. The hall smelt of roses, not cologne. She strolled casually into the library, but Harry wasn't there. Daphne went to the drawing room, and he wasn't there either. She called for Kreacher, and sent him off to find his master, starting to feel cross.

A minute or so later, Harry, in very casual muggle clothes apparated into the drawing room with a crack.

"Harry?" she asked "Are we… lovers?" she asked.

"I um… don't know" said Harry. "I like shagging you."

"Would you rather shag someone else?" asked Daphne.

Harry thought "Not really" said Harry "You are…. I dunno. I used to like Ginny, really like her body… but… these days, I keep judging all women against my ideal... which is a lot more like you."

"I'm your ideal woman?" asked Daphne, He could not be serious.

"A lot like it" said Harry "I try to just… accept." 'How noble of him,' she thought sarcastically.

"I'm not… " Daphne held her hands out indicating front-mounted quaffles.

Harry shrugged "You seem quite large enough. Astonishingly large for how you look sometimes." Oh, he'd noticed the minimising bras, she thought. And her feelings warmed.

"I'm not that tall" she said.

"Which gives you an excuse to wear brain meltingly sexy shoes" said Harry. Daphne looked at his dark, lascivious eyes. Did he really find high heels that attractive? Well, that was a useful weakness. And so easy, if one felt… desirous, one simply put on some five-inch heels and waited for the strong, calloused hands to hold one, to stroke one...

"I uh… think of you as my personal Slytherin witch" Harry added. Personal Slytherin witch? Well, that was interesting, as there had been no actual sign of him owning Gryffindor underwear. And she had seen his entire underwear drawer. Eat your heart out, Ginny Weasley I don't need to love potion him. He fancies me.

Daphne smiled a small smile "Oh, that's so cute" she said. "If I wanted to sleep with you tonight… just sleeping, would that be okay?" And if you woke me with a kiss that would be absolutely fine.

"Um… I might be overexcited, but yeah, okay." said Harry. He looked ready to rip her dress off and savage her in the most delightful way. And… they did have to dress for lunch… and they were at home alone. A deliciously naughty idea occurred to Daphne. Wedding night robes.

"Well it's nearly time for lunch, so go get changed" said Daphne.

Harry apparated away, and Daphne apparated to her room and got out the bloody wedding night robes. Which, with some high heels, and a minuscule pair of knickers would… well Daphne hoped he'd give her what she wanted for a second course. Having such a big, strong dining table was … convenient sometimes. In fact, her high-heeled boots. Potter – Harry stared at her bum in jeans when she wore them, in her wedding night robes, one assumed he would be … exceedingly attentive.

Daphne checked her reflection, rolled her eyes at the ridiculous plunging decolletage, and apparated to the front hall and walked into the dining room.

"Are you here for lunch, or to be lunch?" asked Harry.

"A quick bite to eat and a spot of cunnilingus?" asked Daphne. And he grinned. Oh yes. And he hasn't asked for that act once. And it's not like I haven't done it with him.

"Where did you get that robe?" asked Harry, licking his delicious lips.

"It's… a traditional marriage night robe" said Daphne, "I've had it since we got married."

"Christ!" Harry exclaimed "If you'd turned up in that on our wedding night… I'd have um..."

"Given me a very rotten shag?" asked Daphne sarcastically.

"Well..." said Harry "We should have lunch, he said, reaching under the table. Did he just have to adjust his pants?

Daphne ate lunch very politely. Harry was staring at her breasts. It's not like they were that big. They were, of course nearly exposed by the wedding night robe. And her oldest bra's were a little tight. But she was no Susan Bones.

Harry was drinking his post-lunch tea with a hand that shook. Daphne took pity on him and used a 'seize and pull' charm to slide the table-setting away from him, then she pushed her way onto the table and lay, her legs over Harry's shoulders. She pulled up her hem… and pulled aside her skimpy underwear. The boots framed his face nicely.

Harry still sitting at the dinner table, leaned forward and began to lick. Oh, that was very pleasant.

Daphne lay back and enjoyed the attention till she could groan theatrically as she had a modest little orgasm– it seemed to excite him.. Harry looked up and stared; her breasts had fallen out of the robe, and she lay, panting.

"Was that enough?" asked Harry.

"May I have some more please" said Daphne, and Harry busied himself. And that second one was a good orgasm.

After the third, Harry sat up "I'm… getting a sore back and I've had nothing but a great view."

Daphne held both breasts, mashing them together "Well, I wouldn't mind…." If you don't shag me right now, I will have to take measures. Like sitting up and grabbing you by the bits.

Harry moved his chair back, stood up, stripped off, and stepped forward. and… that was a sudden warm presence, and felt rather good. I may have got rather wet.

"Is the table comfortable enough" he asked between thrusts. 'I don't care,' thought Daphne.

"Quite…. Adequate" gasped Daphne. She was banging against the table but .. .well it was all rather thrilling. And… having him come had her… well she'd never come from that before. She lay, feeling rather married, and very well shagged. Would it be greedy to ask for one more? He was out of breath and doubtless he'd gone soft.

Afterwards, Harry asked "Any particular reason for this today?" He was still wrapped in her legs, his hands holding her hips very distractingly.

"Well, you missed out on our wedding night" said Daphne "And well, your line about me being your Slytherin witch had me feeling all witchey…." And he smiled at her. A brilliant smile, and his eyes glinted. He was a very handsome man.

"Is this going to be a regular thing?" asked Harry, finding her knickers, and helping Daphne off the table; she rearranged her breasts back into the robe top.

"It's a little drafty, and if someone came in, a bit hard to um… look decent" said Daphne. "This sort of robe is usually only worn in the bedroom."

"Oh… the muggles have clothes like that too" said Harry. He'd doubtless seen them at Harrods.

"Some of their fashions are scandalous" agreed Daphne. And if you wink at me, I'll wear that sort of thing in the bedroom. But I draw the line at leaning over motorcycles.

"Well, lunch is over, so, much as I'm going to regret saying this... maybe you should go put some actual clothes on. Your tits are cold." said Harry.

"Are you sure?" said Daphne "You didn't handle them?" And like a trained dog he… he handled her, and his palms were so nice. Then his calloused fingers. Oh yess..

"They're a little cold… really best for warmer rooms" said Harry. He was a monster.

"Do muggles really have … bedroom only clothes?" asked Daphne, stuffing her erect nipples back into her wedding night robe. Mmmm.

"I'll show you later" said Harry., bending down and kissing her décolletage. Oh merlin. I want you again.

"Can we go to bed?" asked Daphne "I'd like to be warm and have something soft to lie on while you and I again?"

"My room" said Harry, kissed Daphne once on the lips and disapparated.

Daphne appeared mere seconds later in Harry's room, which was warm and sunny in the early afternoon.

Daphne shut the door with her wand and started awkwardly undoing the robe.

Harry helped her out of it and onto the bed.

Daphne lay back naked on the warm bed "I'd like some more please?" she said, with a smirk.

Harry pulled off his robe, and dropped his trousers, fumbling off the rest of his clothes.

Twenty minutes later Harry lay naked next to Daphne in the sunny bed. This is… I like this, thought Daphne, the sun, the sex, the warmth of him.

"Your bedroom is unfairly sunny." said Daphne. "I've a good mind to sleep here all the time."

"You snore" said Harry, kissing her on the neck gently. He was such a tease. Was he going to shag her again?

"I'll change" she said "I promise, I'll be good."

"You could be bad instead?" asked Harry. Daphne pressed her knees together. He was dreadful. Dreadfully sexy. And he got out a pile of old magazines.

Five minutes of showing Daphne pornography later Daphne said "So… Sirius had bequeathed you deviant clothes tastes?…. How does she do that?" The woman in question had one leg behind her shoulder. The possibilities were… stimulating.

"I've no idea" admitted Harry "Looks impressive though."

"I'm not that flexible" admitted Daphne. "Try pushing my leg up; I get stuck." And he gripped her boot and pushed her leg up, and as Daphne knew, her hamstring was not that flexible.

"Flexibility is all about stretching over time" said Harry "I learnt a little for Quidditch ground drills. Wood always had us do stretches." Was he hinting at an exercise regimen for fornication? Oh god I'm ruined.

"I'd like a warm bath" said Daphne "I'm all tired and sore" she said coquettishly.

"Worn out by multiple orgasms" said Harry "You poor thing." he purred. And her core inflamed. He had no right having a purr like that.

"My husband is an insatiable beast" said Daphne. Not that I mind. I could go one more, perhaps… if I did the mouth thing again?

Kreacher popped into the room "Master, the muggles are here." And that was the mood ruined., Bloody muggles.

"Bugger" said Harry, frantically pulling on underpants, jeans and a jumper and disapparating to the kitchen with a crack.

Daphne pulled a sheet over herself and perused the muggle filth. He evidently found this sort of thing arousing. Harry was gone a long time. Long enough to find some… shocking images. There was no way she'd ever wear a dog-collar and leash, for on thing. But there was worse, Daphne didn't remember what the Institute book had said about the use of one's anus for sex, and made a mental note to check. It seemed like it would be painful and ill-advised. But the next page had a woman photographed in many poses, standing around mostly naked, in heels, probably to look seductive. Daphne studied her poses. Andromeda had claimed she had no wiles, yet here she was in Harry's bed, having had him multiple times today. And heels clearly acted as some sort of lure for Harry. So, erm standing sideways in a doorway with one's head thrown back. Well, Daphne's hair was about the same length as the model's. Who was pouting like she was kissing. Daphne made a slow, careful perusal of… muggle mating displays. With a sheet pulled over to keep some body heat in.

Quite a bit later, Harry arrived. Daphne resisted the urge to make a huge, exaggerated pout.

"Mrs Black, I have started your bath" said Harry.

Daphne looked up from a erm rather stimulating image of a woman being serviced, much as Harry did with his mouth, and noticed he was staring.

"After my bath, you can show me this little manor" said Daphne "Somewhere with central heating and en-suites would be rather nice."

"Nice first thing" said Harry "Or if my wife feels ill. Not having to hike into the arctic bathrooms or apparate with a headache."

"Do the en-suites have baths?" asked Daphne.

"The best bedroom has one that looks out over the grounds, the windows are … diamond panes and mullioned." said Harry.

"While I bathe" said Daphne, standing ,wrapping the sheet around herself "You can go make those potions benches."

As she left she rubbed a sore spot on her back.

"Daphne, did you injure your back today?" asked Harry.

"Only a little, Husband" said Daphne as she padded to Harry's bathroom across the landing.

Harry followed her "I asked you at the time if the table was okay, and you assured me it was."

"I was being dutiful" said Daphne. "Pleasuring my husband." It was good, and I didn't notice at the time.

Harry followed her all the way to the bath; where she turned off the taps and, holding the sheet as screen, descended into the pink foam.

"Please don't be like that" said Harry "When I'm asking if it's okay, I really … care." said Harry "I could easily have put cushioning charms on it."

Daphne sunk till only her nose was above the bubbles and said "Perhaps… my comfort was neglected. I thought you were being… forceful" she said.

"Not if you're going to get a sore back" said Harry "I enjoyed it, and It was great to finally see the sexy wedding night robes. But I don't want you getting hurt."

"I'm a witch, I'm not made of china" said Daphne. Honestly, roughly is a thing. Sometimes.

"I'll rub bruise paste on when you're out" said Harry.

"Bruise paste?"

"I've got some in the cabinet" said Harry "For dancing shoes."

"Is that what that jar is?" asked Daphne "I thought it might be some sort of failed pomade."

Harry disapparated away. Daphne decided to have a nice warm soak. Or maybe a nap.

Later, possibly after a nap in the tub, he re-appeared in a crack of apparation.

"Are you taking a break?" Daphne asked.

"Done" corrected Harry "Time for your back to get bruise paste massaged into it."

"Massage?" said Daphne "That sounds worth getting out of the bath for." He stared at her.

Daphne sat still in the bath. "Potter, I'm getting out" she said.

"Daphne, before you got in, on my bed, I was licking you off. Get out, I'll dry you off" said Harry, getting a fluffy towel off the towel rail.

"I'm shy" said Daphne. Could he just leave the room.

"Not in those robes you weren't" said Harry.

"They're traditional" said Daphne. "Let me get out on my own, please."

Harry took the bruise paste and went to his bed. Daphne got out, wincing as her back ached. She dried off and went to his bed - his bedroom wrapped in two towels. I am not going to his bed a third time today.

Daphne, lay on the bed, face down, and fiddled with the towel. Harry sighed "Daphne, take the damn towel off. We were making love not four hours ago on this bed." Shagging, we were shagging.

Daphne took the towel off and lay, legs firmly together. I am not showing off.

After a moments wait, Harry started audibly casting episky on her back, and that was skin healing spell. Did I actually have cuts? By the way it felt better, yes I did.

"Oh… that feels better" said Daphne, as Harry's strong fingers started rubbing bruise paste into her back; concentrating on the newly mended scrapes. That felt rather good.

"Is the rest of your back okay?" Harry asked.

"My um … all my back really" said Daphne. It wouldn't do any harm. And her back had been quite sore getting out of the tub.

The back-rub and the bruise paste did leave her feeling quite relaxed, and she exhaled a breath she didn't realise she'd been holding.

"Anywhere else?" Harry asked.

"Back of my head" Daphne admitted.

"Oh Daphne I'm so sorry" said Harry "I should have cast that cushioning charm." He sounded embarrassed, and so sincere. Daphne felt his strong fingers massage the bruise paste into her hair. And his fingers felt good, but the paste made hairs catch.

"I'll have to wash my hair." said Daphne.

"I'll scourgify it gently" said Harry, "And towel dry. You'll be better." And he did, and Daphne felt rather pampered. If naughty sex led to this sort of pampering, well… the naughty sex had been nice… well very nice, and the pampering made it even better.

After Harry finished drying Daphne's hair she sighed, feeling warm, content and well… pampered. I could get used to this, she thought. "Well, time to dress for dinner." she said. And not in wedding night robes. There had to be one meal today that didn't end in shagging on the dinner table. If only because Daphne felt too lazy.

"Want to go out for dinner?" Harry asked "We can just go to a muggle restaurant, have dinner, then go see the Riddle place."

"What would we wear?" asked Daphne. If he says something dirty, I don't know what I'll do.

"Tidy dress for you, tidy casual for me" said Harry. Daphne relaxed slightly. I am not going to a restaurant dressed like some hussy.

"You're wearing a suit. Regulus's if you must" said Daphne. "I'll need an hour." Because I totally am washing that out of my hair, and drying it, and putting waves in, and skimming Muggle dining etiquette.

"You don't need make-up, you're beautiful as you are" said Harry "And you can just use that big clip thingy ; you look lovely like that." Oh, he liked her big hairclip? It was very quick.

"Are you quite done giving me dressing orders?" asked Daphne. Was he going to order her to wear something naughty under her clothes? The thought was well, annoying. I won't be ordered about.

"We'll need coats" said Harry. "For the exploring later." Low heels then, she thought.

"I'll see you in the library in an hour" said Daphne.

The shower felt good, and her hair was actually clean afterwards. She checked her forehead for signs of spots – none, thankfully, and dark roots – bother. Bleach it was.

After tiresomely re-bleaching, drying and rolling in some waves, she went to her room and got some warm underwear, and settled for one of the french sets, a tidy dress, boots, and with an eye-roll, clipped her hair back. So this is how he likes my hair? Waving down my neck onto my back? Oh god I wish my ears didn't stick out so much. She put on sufficient foundation to conceal any possible blushing, lip-stick – the hard-wearing stuff that would resist eating, and hide some… slight bite marks, and no jewellery. Muggles might try to steal it. And a warm – muggle coat from Harrods. It belted on. Daphne checked her reflection in the mirror. She looked thoroughly muggle.

Off to the library she apparated to the hallway.

Harry was lounging in his chair, in a suit, a coat on the arm of his chair, reading a scroll. He looked quite good.

"Ahem" said Daphne.

He stood up "Daphne you look… very nice" he said.

Daphne looked critically as Harry pulled on a long tweed coat. It was rather old.

"We'll go to something in Islington; we can just apparate to Islington green" said Harry.

"By the Tesco's" said Daphne. This was going to be dire.

"There's a street with restaurants. One will interest you" Harry said.

True to his word, ten minutes late Harry was walking… Daphne insisted on being arm in arm, down a well lit Islington street.

"The Devious Ferret" said Harry "The Name's amusing." Ugh, not places with gimmicky names.

"We will go to one with many patrons, and no gimmicky name" said Daphne. She sniffed. He smelt of that strange cologne of his. "You're wearing that cologne" she said.

"We're going out." said Harry "It's expected isn't it." Daphne resisted the urge to smirk. The talking dog could be trained. And was a very licky dog.

'Attingtons' was cosily lit and half full, of mostly older expensively dressed people. This would have decent food.

"This" said Daphne, standing by the door. Harry got a blank look on his face for a moment, then opened the door for her. She swept in and Harry followed. There was a woman all in black at a small desk with a cash register. A modern one, all black shiny surfaces. Harry walked over "My wife and I would like a table for dinner" said Harry.

Daphne looked about, and looked at the meals. The food looked quite good.

"Any preferences" asked the servant.

"Not near the kitchen or facilities" said Daphne.

The woman smiled minutely "This way" she said, picking up a menu and walking off.

Harry followed Daphne, and he pushed her chair in for her, then sat. Which was good.

Daphne sat and waited.

"Anything to drink?" asked the woman. No strong drink, we're apparating. What would a muggle say? Driving.

"Water" said Daphne "We're driving after dinner, back to the manor."

The woman froze momentarily, then handed Daphne a menu, then Harry and left.

"Back to the manor?" asked Harry quietly. Oh he'd noticed. Daphne resisted the urge to smirk.

"We are dressed casually. Now the servants will know how to treat us" said Daphne.

Harry looked in the menu, looking like she'd made the Gryffindor quidditch player think.

Daphne scanned the menu and saw seafood. They had lobster thermador? Her mouth filled with saliva. Daphne swallowed discreetly and said "Oh, they have seafood. I shall have the lobster."

"I'm going to have the… Chinese pork belly and greens" said Harry. Had Harry gone to China on holidays too? They could have met in the forbidden city… he could have… Daphne snapped out of that daydream and said "Oh it's a little fatty, but the greens will be quite nice" said Daphne "We had it in Beijing on holiday once. Father ordered it. The beef flank noodle soup looks quite authentic. It's very homey food… from China."

"I wonder what proper Indian food is like?" asked Harry. Divine, thought Daphne. I loved Rajipoor. Who would know in Britain? The Patils, probably. How did they survive Hogwarts food?

"Ask the Patils where to eat. They'll know somewhere that's not touristy" said Daphne "Pavarti will answer your owl, won't she?"

"I expect so" said Harry.

"You will not be writing Qiū Chen" added Daphne firmly. Over my dead body he owls exes.

"Cho?"

"Qiū" said Daphne. "Really" she rolled her eyes. He could be such an oik.

"How do you know that?" asked Harry.

"She was in choir at school" said Daphne. "Hogwarts wasn't sophisticated enough for a Lusheng in the orchestra, but she sang quite well." For an alto, the thought smugly.

And Harry got that shaved monkey trying to think look – and he HAD shaved again. So he didn't have a dark shadow on his jaw. Not that the slight scratchiness was entirely unpleasant.

"Why don't you sing?" Harry asked "You did in choir. I can even remember a little bit." He… he noticed? Did… did he have a crush on her at school? That would explain everything. Her chest felt all fluttery all of a sudden.

"Fourth year or sixth?" said Daphne. How long had he fancied her for? She felt all warm and looked at her handsome husband. He… had fancied her.

A young man all in black cotton dropped off by a jug of water and two glasses on their table.

"Sixth year… I'm not sure I remember." said Harry. Daphne's romantic illusions withered and began to die. He'd ignored her solo… bastard.

"It was all in Latin" said Harry "You did a lot of that one" said Harry.

He HADN'T ignored her solo. And realised that she had carried the entire performance. Well mostly. Oh, he wasn't actually a cretin. And wanted her to sing. She curled her toes.

"You alright?" asked Harry.

"Fine" said Daphne, and she composed herself. "You… remember my solo."

"I'd like to hear it again" said Harry. Oh my god, I'm so out of practice.

Daphne turned her face away "I couldn't possibly. I'd need weeks of practice. I haven't done any vocal exercises in a year."

"Well not here" said Harry "At home… when you feel up to it." As if.

"I would really need some help" said Daphne "I suppose I could get a few of the old choir together. And someone to play something." With some help, she wouldn't have to sing acapella to her husband. Who would remember her performance, and there'd be no way she wouldn't arse it up these days.

"I'm not musical, sorry" said Harry. And that was abundantly clear. The only singing was the school song, and that… Dammit, he could know the truth.

"I know" said Daphne. "Seven years of the hat singing off-key, and Dumbledore's awful school song. Every year, Professor Flitwick would offer for the choir to lead the school for that. Everyone could have been singing the same tune." said Daphne wistfully.

Harry winced "That was always dire" said Harry. He looked so handsome right now, and knew it had been awful. He wasn't musically irredeemable.so

"Dumbledore was a monster" agreed Daphne.

"We've got the gramophone. You could get some music, you know. To listen to" said Harry.

"I thought you wanted quiet" said Daphne.

"I didn't realise" said Harry "Get some, is there some at your parents?"

"I have a few discs" said Daphne. "Mostly fathers collection."

"Well there's mu… music stores too" said Harry. "Be nice to liven the place up a little."

A young man in black cotton shirt and trousers arrived with a notepad. "Are you ready to order?" he asked.

Daphne started before Harry could do it wrong. "Harry will have the beef flank noodle soup, I'll have the lobster if it's less than a day old."

"All our seafood is fresh this morning" said the young man politely.

"That will be fine. A treacle slice for afters… And a profiterole" said Daphne. I deserve a treat.

"Anything to drink with dinner?" asked the man.

"We have a long way to drive, and then back tonight" said Daphne. "So neither of us will, thank you; do you have an oolong?"

"We. Ah do" said the young man.

"A pot of oolong then" said Daphne. "That will go very nicely with the beef flank soup."

Daphne handed the man her menu and Harry followed suit.

"I could have ordered that myself" said Harry. Theoretically. Oh, was he upset? Um… you can do it next time.

"You're not used to restaurants" said Daphne quietly. "Next time, you're doing all the talking; and we'll see if the service is different."

"You think… your accent" asked Harry.

"We'll come here again, and you'll do the talking; then we'll find somewhere more expensive and make an evening of it. Twice; once with you doing all the talking, and once with me" said Daphne "It might be amusing." And I want to go to restaurants.

"Are you… messing with the staff?" asked Harry curiously.

"Not at all." said Daphne. Yes, of course I am.

"You um, aren't wearing a necklace or earrings" said Harry.

"We're going exploring after, seemed foolish to risk losing something nice" said Daphne. To muggle robbers.

The meal arrived and a pot of tea.

Daphne daintily took a forkful of lobster tail from the shell, and tasted it. Oh god, my mouth has just gone to heaven. "Oh, this is good" she said and had a little more. She looked over at Harry, who was drinking soup off his beef flank soup.

"Have you had lobster Harry?" she asked.

"Er no" said Harry.

"Well, have a little, you might like it" said Daphne, and reversed the fork she was holding and handed it to Harry. Harry took a tiny bit, didn't gag, then took another bite.

"Would you like some of the soup?" Harry asked, handing Daphne back her fork.

Daphne took a bite and chewed on delicious lobster goodness.

"On balance… I think… maybe" she said. It might be good.

Harry took the pottery spoon and got some soup on it and held over for Daphne to sip. Oh merlin, we're sharing food like this is a date. Her cheeks felt hot, and she sipped some of the soup. It was good.

"Mmmm not bad" she said "Can you use chopsticks for the solids?" Daphne asked.

"Oh that's how." said Harry. Daphne concentrated on her lobster thermador.

He picked up the chopsticks, held them curiously. Daphne tried to ignore that and ate lobster. Delicious buttery lobster.

Daphne polished off the thermador, and was picking at the lobster tail with her fork, when Harry said "We will need to have that at home. Clearly agrees with you."

"Can Kreacher even cook lobster?" asked Daphne.

"If he has no experience, I can get a cookbook and do it" said Harry.

"You did say you cook" said Daphne. "It's quite complicated."

"My relatives didn't like lobster, but I've done fiddly stuff before" said Harry. "spatchcocked quails, that was a pain."

Daphne gave Harry a long look "You… cooked for your relatives?" He'd bought cooking stuff at Harrods.

"Well, I've had a few years off, from cooking and I think you'd be a better customer" said Harry.

A waiter came surprisingly quickly and took the plates away.

"As they fill up, service gets faster, they need to get us out" said Daphne "An second advantage of coming early if you've something to do later"

A minute or so later, two dessert plates came; Harry getting a modest slice of Treacle tart with a lattice top, sprinkled with icing sugar. And far too many tiny profiteroles in a stack, drizzled with sauce for her.

Daphne rolled her eyes at the treacle tart and stabbed a ball with a small fork, took it and bit in.

It was slightly crunchy, delightful but the cream tried to go everywhere, and she had to lick and slurp a little to contain the cream it was stuffed with. Delicious, slightly sweet, with vanilla.

One was not enough, she decided. She looked up at Harry, who was staring.

She caught his glance "Oh I couldn't eat then all" she said "Too much cream for me."

Harry raised his eyebrows and stared. Daphne's lips twitched, and she looked away. "Prat" she said softly. He bally well did remember that act then. She'd been drunk, and he'd shagged her twice. She could not be held responsible for things she said in the heat of the moment.

Harry parted off a small crescent of treacle tart with his fork and asked Daphne "Try some, it's quite good?"

Daphne rolled her eyes, but accepted the fork with small crescent of treacle tart. She nibbled the end of the crescent, and it wasn't that bad. She ate the portion, and savoured it thoughtfully "Not as bad as I remember" she said.

Harry took his fork back and ate some more "I'd never had it before ...school" said Harry.

"Neither had I" said Daphne.

Harry pointed his fork at Daphne's plate.

"Fine, but be careful not to get cream on me" said Daphne. Harry stifled a smile and carefully, slowly skewered a ball with the fork and ate it carefully.

"Not regular whipped cream" he said.

"No" said Daphne. "Much thicker."

Harry looked at the next ball and ate it.

Daphne took another and nibbled at it. Harry was staring at her. His eyes were glassy, and he was staring woodenly. He looked back at the Treacle Tart.

Daphne put her fork down with a click, having had three.

Harry looked up from the Treacle tart, less crumbly than the Hogwarts ones.

"Got sick of them?" asked Harry.

"I can't eat all of them, I'll swell up like a pig" said Daphne.

Harry speared one carefully and ate it all at once. And he stopped at two, effectively.

"Well, they're pretty nice" said Harry.

"Most boys would scoff any left over" said Daphne.

"Well, I'd rather watch you eat one. All at once" said Harry quietly. Had he just said that?

Daphne crossed her arms and looked sternly at Harry.

"Humour me, just one" said Harry. "I know you could get it in." Thank god for foundation.

Daphne rolled her eyes, skewered a single profiterole and opened wide and ate it.

"Less fiddly that way" said Daphne "I'll give you that" she said with a faint smile. And Potter's eyes met hers for a moment. He was… .aroused by watching her eat that … well of course he was.

Harry smiled at Daphne, and said "We'd better get going."

"Raise your hand, one finger up, hold it till you see the staff look and point to the door" said Daphne.

Harry performed that gesture and after a short wait; Daphne had a cup of oolong, and a tall, narrow black leather folder was discreetly laid by Harry's elbow.

"Just put your card in it" said Daphne.

The folder went away and came back shortly afterwards with a slip of paper.

"That's the receipt" said Daphne "Pocket it, but don't look at it in polite company".

Harry put his card away and pocketed his receipt, stood and helped Daphne with her chair and coat, then shrugged on his tweed coat.

Harry nodded minutely to a stranger at one of the tables, took Daphne's elbow and left the restaurant.

"Oh… manners Mr Black" said Daphne. Was he going to insist on something else? Something easy, because Daphne felt sore.

"Seemed the right thing to do" said Harry, linking arms and strolling down the street.

The found an alley a short time later and ducked in, and Harry faced Daphne and put his other arm around her "Side-Along" he said, and she nodded, a trifle grimly. He was warm.

After an annoyingly long interval of crushing blackness, they appeared in front of a slightly decrepit three-story manor house. Harry took a deep breath from her neck.

Daphne rested her head on Harry's coat "I dislike that rather a lot" she said, and took a deep, and unnecessary breath. And his cologne smelt delightful.

"Well, we're here" said Harry, and stopped holding Daphne. She looked over Harry's shoulder, then turned.

"Oh… she said. That's quite… " It has potential? Or it's a fixer-upper?

"Unloved" said Harry.

"I was going to say, interesting"

Harry quickly cast 'hominum revelio', detecting nothing he said "Well, the front door."

Harry opened it with a wordless unlocking charm, and they entered, Daphne lighting her wand.

"I put up additional muggle repelling charms yesterday" said Harry, lighting his as well. The house smelt of damp, of being shut up, and faintly of garbage. Oh merlin.

Daphne looked at the stone steps "Upstairs?"

"Bedrooms, loft rooms above that." said Harry "You tell me what most of these are"

And led her left, into an abandoned room, furniture pushed about, a single high-backed chair by the fire.

"You didn't tell me it was furnished" said Daphne, amused.

"Some rooms are. Some… well Tom and friends messed them up."

"Your cousin Tom was nothing but trouble" said Daphne, trying to normalise it.

She waved her wand, vanishing dust away.

"Sitting room" she said "Jacquard Brocade… a little dated, but might be all right."

With a second flick of her wand, the couches pushed themselves away from the fireplace.

"Through here is another sitting room" said Harry, and led Daphne past the fireplace to a room only a little smaller, with a lower ceiling, and smaller furniture. Daphne made an ahem noise "vanish the dust" she said. "I'm not doing all the cleaning."

With a lazy figure eight wave, Harry cleaned the room, and with a swish and flick, put the sheets in the corner.

"Oh. This is older." said Daphne. It must be at least three hundred years old.

"I was thinking for an elderly relative" asked Harry "Because they've a bedroom though there."

"Bathroom?" asked Daphne.

"Just a... um... loo" said Harry.

"Elderly relative" said Daphne "That odd couch by the wall is actually an invalids bath" she added.

"The bedroom?" asked Daphne.

"Best you not look" said Harry.

Back to the hall, the dining room was opposite, a little roughed up, the table with knife marks.

"This table is only big enough for ten people, what ever will we do?" asked Daphne. It looked strong enough for erm, activities.

"Replace it, probably" said Harry.

"Repair it, just because your cousins thugs made a mess, doesn't mean we should waste money" said Daphne.

Harry waved a hand and Daphne lifted her wand, increasing the light output. Harry vanished the rubbish on the table and carefully, slowly cast a repair charm on it, the gouges filling and rising slowly till they were level with the surface "Needs a good polishing" said Harry.

"Well I'm not using my back" said Daphne. It was little sore.

"Sorry" said Harry instantly.

They passed the hall cupboard, and he didn't make her stop for that – and the next room was a sweet snug with a bay window, with armchairs and couches, all a bit roughed up.

"A Snug" said Daphne "How sweet."

"A what?" asked Harry.

"The warm, soft room to while away evenings and winter in" said Daphne.

The next room was a cavernous kitchen with light coloured wooden ceiling beams.

"Well, the kitchen's certainly large" said Daphne, spying the fireplace facing the snug, with another bay window.

"Is that a mini snug?" asked Harry

"Somewhere for small meals" said Daphne.

"Out the back door is a scullery and a wood room" said Harry. "Not coal."

"What's the little room" said Daphne, inspecting the room narrowing the left side of the kitchen by the mini-snug.

"A sort of office?" said Harry.

Daphne poked her head in "Big enough; where does the door go?"

"Downstairs loo" said Harry. Daphne snorted "My office. With en-suite, and kitchen."

"There's a bedroom with en-suite back up the hall here, behind the sitting room" said Harry. "Also used and gross. I know who it was. I will burn everything in there."

"So, show me my en-suite upstairs" said Daphne.

Harry led Daphne up the quite steep stairs, turned right and right again onto a landing "Funny this. There's this room on the left."

Harry walked into a good-sized bedroom, with an elderly bed and wardrobe "Big en-suite, with a bath."

Daphne explored the en-suite "Nicer than home… but a bit cramped."

Harry smiled and took Daphne to the opposite bedroom, and showed her the en-suite looking out over the grounds with a claw foot bath and shower and sink and loo, and enough room for feel spacious "The best en-suite" Harry said.

"The rest of the rooms?" asked Daphne and Harry took Daphne to the stairs, and opened a door opposite the landing, and stepped up into a hallway "A funny arrangement."

"Oh, it will keep the warmth in, and the front bedrooms can be for guests… the back of the house for family" said Daphne, and stepped up.

"The other bedrooms are pokey, but I think you'll like this one" said Harry , and led her to the back of the house, where a door led to a parlour with a door that led on further.

"So this is what?" asked Harry; The room had some sheet-covered couches and objects.

Daphne whipped her wand and all the sheets dashed themselves into the corner.

Daphne looked around, Harry holding up his wand and lighting the room brightly.

"This," said Daphne "is the upstairs parlour. Mine." she said. It was nice the way it was behind several doors.

"Well, you'll like the bedroom… mostly."

Daphne was led to a satisfactory room, with en-suite, though no bath, only a shower and large built-in wardrobe.

"A Bath instead of the shower, obviously" said Harry. "But apart from that okay?"

"I like having a wall around my actual bedroom." said Daphne. "And the parlour is big and should be warm if the fire was lit."

Harry showed Daphne the remaining family bedroom, on the left passage from the family side of the top of the stairs.

"We passed another passage?" asked Daphne.

"Ah, the stairs to the lofts" said Harry.

Daphne followed Harry up the boxy staircase to a landing, a large space opened in front of her, with a sloping ceiling. It was full of rows of shelves with trunks on them, covered in dust.

"There's more rooms to the right" said Harry and Daphne explored. Two large rooms, with v-shaped ceilings and dormer windows, and one smaller room, directly over the bathroom with a window looking out on the dark countryside. Daphne could see the lights of a village not far away.

"There's a village just down there" said Daphne, surprised.

"Little Hangleton" said Harry "Tiny place, a shop, a pub, some houses."

"Like Appleby" said Daphne.

"Huh?"

"My parents live a half mile from Appleby, you know, Appleby Arrows?" she said.

"Oh, … they're better than the Cannons, but don't win the league" said Harry.

"They're fathers team" said Daphne. Well, the whole family's.

"I vaguely recall him telling me that" said Harry "That night." He had a grimace on his face.

Daphne giggled "You were both so sick."

"And there's a cellar, with a lot of storage. Coal, and containers. I hadn't checked them."

"Well I'm cold, this place smells. Roofs, chimneys, windows and get some heat happening. Where's this central heating?"

"Must be in the cellar somewhere" said Harry "It's a big cellar."

Daphne braved the top the cellar door, but not the stairs. "Not in heels" she said.

"Quite low heels" said Harry, clearly realising Daphne had seemed short all night.

"I didn't want you getting overexcited. And we did exploring. Safer shoes. Does the house have grounds, outbuildings?"

"Large grounds, some sheds, a grounds-keepers cottage, an abandoned glasshouse and backs onto the cemetery, where the Riddles ended up"

"A private or public cemetery?" asked Daphne.

"Not just Riddles" said Harry "but the grounds run down to it. I think the property is the whole hill."

"Well, tomorrow in daylight" said Daphne. "Shut the door, we're going home."

Harry waved his wand and the door shut and loudly latched.

The both vanished with loud cracks of disapparation.

They reappeared on the stoop at Grimmauld place and Harry let them in.

Daphne waited till the door was shut before saying "Brr."

"Harry, write Patil for a restaurant recommendation" said Daphne.

"So you liked it?" asked Harry. It had been fun. Harry was… fun to go out with.

"It was a night out" said Daphne. "I'm intrigued by that little place in the country. Quite homey."

"Yes" said Harry "Only nine bedrooms. My parents cottage is two." He was so sarcastic. Amusing but sarcastic.

"Well, they didn't live at Potter Manor; it was torched before you were born" said Daphne.

"We had a manor?" asked Harry. Oh dear, nobody had told him.

"Some oak and plaster thing from the thirteenth century" said Daphne "In Stinchcombe."

"Oh." said Harry. "You looked it up."

"I'm off to bed. Goodnight" said Daphne. She apparated to her room. And Kreacher had set a fire, the little dear, and it smelt of roses. Daphne got out of her coat, got off the foundation, and put her bed things on.

Daphne was lying in bed resting, nearly asleep, when someone knocked on his door.

"What!" she said, not getting out of bed.

"My beds a mess, and is cold. I'd like to sleep here, wife" said Harry.

Daphne replied "Sleep, not anything else." Too tired, too sore.

Harry entered and walked the forty feet to the bed. "Just sleeping" she said sternly.

Harry climbed in, twisted her spare pillow into a heap and settled down.

"Nox" cast Daphne and the light went out.

Harry's glasses clattered onto the other bedside table.

And Daphne waited till he was asleep, then snuggled up to the nice warm man. He was her husband, and he smelt nice, and was warm. She was entitled.