Chapter 13

Wedding Crashers

Daphne threw herself even further into her studies. As the weather warmed, she liked to take her studying outside. With nearly her whole class flooding the library, it was actually easier to find peace and quiet out on the grounds. She found a spot near the Whomping Willow where she could always count on being able to study in solitude. Oftentimes she would even stay out after the sun had set, producing light wasn't that difficult.

It was on one of those evenings as the examinations were drawing nearer when she heard a faint whooshing sound overhead. The darkened sky didn't allow her to see what it was, not even a silhouette was visible.

Her search was put to an end when she saw someone approaching with their wand lit in front of them, reflecting off a pair of glasses, messy hair outlined on top, the semblance of a broom over his shoulder.

'Hey, Daphne,' Harry said.

'Hey, Harry,' she said with indifference. Before, she would've asked how he was enjoying her Firebolt, but she still wasn't herself towards Harry.

'Why are you out here by yourself?' he asked as he sat down next to her with a little bit of space between them.

Daphne just held up her book.

'Hmm, I can see that,' Harry said teasingly. Daphne didn't even look up. 'What's up with you lately?'

'Just getting ready for exams,' she replied tersely.

'There's more than that. It's like you don't even acknowledge me anymore.'

'Yeah, well. . . maybe I've moved on. I know this might be hard for you to hear but perhaps, I'm over you,' she said defiantly, finally raising her somewhat annoyed eyes to meet his.

He didn't get angry as she expected, he just smiled his annoyingly knowing smile. 'So there was something for you to get over,' he suggested in a way that she felt was slightly arrogant.

'Yeah, there was,' she smirked. His eyebrows rose as if he wasn't expecting her to agree with him. 'My hatred of you.' She added a glare.

'Now, that's better. At least you are showing some emotion. I liked it so much better when I knew you hated me. Recently, it's been like I don't even exist.'

'Aww, does someone not bow to the great Harry Potter,' she said sarcastically.

'You know that's not what I'm saying.'

'Then what are you saying?' she asked somewhat challengingly.

'I guess I just miss how things used to be.'

'Oh, you break up with whatever Patil you were dating, and all of a sudden you miss how things used to be? Because if you are just looking for a snog, you've come to the wrong place.' She was probably more aggressive than she needed to be — the breakup had actually been weeks ago — but she had that line stored up for a moment like this, so she was going to use it.

'I don't need you to find a snog.'

'So, you just want me to glare at you and insult you?'

'Yeah, that'd be a good start.'

'Sorry, that takes too much energy,' Daphne said childishly.

'Pssh, you used to be fun,' he replied, disgruntled.

'Well, one of us had to grow up.' Now she was the one sounding pretentious.

'Now, now, we mustn't tell lies,' Harry responded with clear calculation and a glance at the back of her hand.

Daphne's head snapped around to Harry. 'It was you. How'd you know?'

'Did you forget I have a map that shows everyone in the castle?'

'Er,' Daphne mumbled.

'I saw you in Umbridge's office at the beginning of the DA meetings and then there at the end. Every day. For a whole week. All I had to do was pester Hermione and tell her what I suspected for the truth to come out. She had you write the same phrase as me.'

'Oh. . . I guess she did.' Daphne wasn't sure how much of the truth Hermione had told him, so she would just agree and not explain anything she didn't have to. 'And, well. . . thanks for the Murtlap. It helped a lot.'

'Yeah, I might wish that on my worst enemy but not on my second,' he smirked.

'Only second?' she replied with a wry smile.

'I mean, Voldemort has actually landed a couple Unforgivables on me. While you seem to lack the power.'

'Or perhaps, I'm just hoodwinking you. . . Although, don't you think you should see your worst enemy more than just once a year?' she asked pensively.

'I don't know. . .' He rubbed his chin as if he were pondering life's great mysteries. 'When you make the encounters as memorable as he does. . .'

'Are you saying I'm not memorable?' she said sharply with faux outrage.

'Well. . .'

'I'm still not snogging you!'

'So, you really are just giving up. Gonna let Sirius win, huh?'

'Snogging you right now won't change any of that. But I've got another idea that might send him back to the Dementor kennel he used to call home.'

'Ok, I'm listening. . .

'. . . I like it. Mount Sirius will absolutely erupt.'

'That's the plan,' Daphne replied mischievously.

'Well, nice talk. You want your Firebolt back?'

'Yeah, I would.'

Harry threw the broom between his legs and jumped up into the air. 'Guess you'll have to wait until term is over then,' he said with a cackling laugh.

'Oh, I hate you,' she declared into the night.

'I hate you more,' he yelled with glee as he sped off.

Daphne felt her exams went tremendously well. She was able to work through most of the distractions that occurred. Up until Harry conked out in the middle of their History exam. Ron and Hermione seemed to know it was something other than just exam fatigue as one of the professors had suggested. Daphne felt a small urge to check on Harry but pushed it down, knowing that was Ron and Hermione's job.

As she walked out of the Great Hall, she saw Harry and his friends whispering amongst themselves. She approached the group and cleared her throat loudly before she could get close enough to hear what they were saying. She didn't want them thinking she was trying to eavesdrop. The three friends quieted and turned to her.

'Pretty dramatic way to get out of an exam,' Daphne deadpanned.

Harry barely cracked a smile. 'I've been waiting for you. Will you guys give us a minute?' Harry asked his friends.

They responded with curious looks that said, "What could he tell her that they couldn't hear?" In the end, they backed off.

Harry had a concerned demeanor as he addressed her. 'Sirius told me before school started that if I ever had to get in touch with him, I should come talk to you.'

'Yeah, that makes sense,' Daphne said with a nod. 'And it wouldn't make sense to your friends.'

'Right, so. . . I need to get in touch with him. Right away. Is that possible?'

'Yeah. What do you need to talk to him about?'

'Aren't you the one that doesn't want the gruesome details?' he asked with a small smile.

'You're right. I don't want to know,' she agreed. 'But one more question. Does this have anything to do with your annual encounters with the only person you hate more than me?' she asked with a smirk.

'It might. . . and that's what I need to find out. So if you would please hurry. The hope that you'd have a way to reach him is the only thing that has been holding me together,' Harry pleaded sincerely.

'Alright, I'm going. But for the record, this begging stuff doesn't suit you.'

Daphne took off at a quick walk down to the dungeons. She didn't want to draw too much attention to herself.

She reached her room and pulled out her mirror.

'Mum. Dad,' she spoke into the mirror. Harry was definitely more agitated than normal so she was going to check stuff out for herself first.

Her mum's face appeared. 'Hi, sweetie! Are you all done with your exams?'

'Yeah, I think they all went well. But that's not what I'm calling about. Is Dad there?'

'No, he's over at Grimmauld. Been there for a while, actually.'

'Oh, well, Harry needs to talk to him. He seems pretty concerned about something so I told him I could get him in touch with Dad.'

'Ok, go to Harry and I'll track down Sirius for him,' Raquel answered with a motherly "everything is going to be ok" sort of tone.

Daphne scampered out of the room and back out of the dungeons, again trying to hurry without looking hurried.

'We need to go somewhere more private,' she said to Harry and his friends when she reached them. She didn't break stride and continued out to the grounds and up to her place by the Whomping Willow.

Daphne pulled out the mirror and handed it to Harry. 'Just call Sirius' name and he should answer. As long as my mum has tracked him down already.'

She thought that would comfort Harry a little, but it only seemed to agitate him further.

He grabbed the mirror and almost shouted Sirius' name into it.

Daphne watched the glass, waiting for him to appear. Ron and Hermione were also looking on in shock and anticipation. Daphne could tell Hermione was just dying to ask about the mirror, there would be time for that later, Daphne decided.

Finally, Sirius appeared in the mirror. 'Hey, there,' he said genially.

Harry relaxed considerably just seeing Sirius' face. 'Sirius! I had another—' Harry turned towards Daphne '—You want to hear the gruesome details?' he asked with a grin.

'Don't have to tell me twice,' Daphne said as she moved away. She suspected that Harry was now using that phrase to avoid having her hear other details he considered confidential but she figured now was not the time to argue.

Hermione followed her. 'I know the story already. I want you to tell me about that mirror.'

'It's just an enchanted mirror that I can use to talk to my mum with.'

'It's amazing.'

'Yeah.' As they continued to create some distance, Daphne noticed a blonde head running away towards the castle. 'Looks like we're going to have company.'

She could tell Hermione's brain had kicked into problem-solving mode as they chatted about their exams; Hermione's comments were very absent-minded.

They weren't chatting long before Ron came and interrupted them. 'Harry's going to spring the trap,' he said hurriedly.

'He's what?' Hermione cried.

'He's taking my mirror is what he's doing,' Daphne declared, though her discontent was quickly interrupted. 'And there's Malfoy. . . and he brought Umbridge with him,' she said.

'Maybe we can get rid of her. . .' Hermione said. 'Daphne, you're going to have to trust me.'

Daphne nodded.

Hermione immediately put her in a Body Bind Curse and she and Ron moved away where Hermione explained to Ron her plan loud enough for Daphne to hear.

'Shut up, you!' Hermione yelled at Daphne once Umbridge drew nearer, and she placed a Gag Charm over Daphne's mouth. She was selling it, that's for sure.

'Where's Potter?' Umbridge demanded when she arrived.

'I don't know Professor,' Hermione lied. 'We came out here to look for him.'

'She's lying!' Malfoy proclaimed. 'I saw him talking to them.'

'You don't know anything, Malfoy,' Ron declared.

'Mmmm!' Daphne let out a muffled cry.

'Let's see what she has to say,' Umbridge suggested while she undid Daphne's constraints.

'She was with them!' Malfoy cried, pointing at Daphne.

'And then they bound and gagged her? Please, Draco,' Umbridge said dismissively. 'Speak Miss Greengrass.'

'Potter went off into the forest to get Dumbledore's weapon,' Daphne spouted.

'I knew it! Where is it?' Umbridge cried in celebration.

'We don't know. Only Harry knew,' Hermione lied again. She did a fair job of looking suspicious while doing it as well.

'She's lying again,' Daphne asserted. 'I heard them talking about it. They both know.'

'Give me your wands. You will take me,' Umbridge demanded. Ron and Hermione complied with feigned reluctance. 'Keep these, Draco.'

Hermione and Ron led the way as they escorted Umbridge off into the Forbidden Forest.

Daphne sat and ignored Malfoy's ramblings for quite some time until she saw a flash of red hair making its way back in her direction.

She stunned Malfoy and grabbed the wands. She almost gave him a kick in the nose but decided to let sleeping dogs lie. A small Memory Charm to help him forget who might have stunned him would be useful though.

Now they could just wait to see what came of Harry's adventure.

No news came that night, which wasn't unexpected. Was this a "no news is good news" situation? She couldn't quite be sure. Having her mirror sure would be nice though.

Her anticipation to find out what happened had her up early the next day. It didn't make information get to her any faster, she just couldn't fall back asleep once she'd awoken.

She was early to breakfast, and so were Ron and Hermione. They met her eyes and answered her unasked questions with a couple shakes of their heads, they didn't know anything yet either.

It wasn't until the parliament of owls made their morning decent that she even got her hopes up for something.

An owl landed in front of Hermione and she quickly untied the letter and began scanning the note. Fortunately, for Daphne, Hermione did not try to hide her emotions and it was apparent things had gone favorably for Harry.

An unexpectedly overwhelming wave of relief washed over Daphne. She didn't even know how much danger Harry might've been in but given what had happened to him in the past it wasn't hard to imagine something perilous.

Hermione looked her way and smiled, another reassurance things were probably ok. Then she nodded for Daphne to come over. Given the lack of people present at this hour on the day after exams, they actually had a fair amount of privacy.

'Here, you can just read it for yourself instead of me trying to summarize it all,' Hermione said when Daphne sat down across from her and Ron.

Daphne skimmed and tried to skip over the parts with some of the not-so-pleasant descriptions of what happened. Even though she could tell he left out a lot of details that he probably didn't want to put in writing at all. It was the end of the letter that intrigued her the most.

I'm staying at the Dursley's until term is over. They are gone on holiday for two weeks so I actually have the house to myself and then I won't have to come back after the train ride, for some reason I don't want to miss it this year. I'll come back to Hogwarts to gather my things. I want to return some items to Daphne in person. Don't have too much fun without me.

See you soon,

Harry

'So, he's not coming back until it's time to leave,' Daphne commented.

'Looks like it. But at least he's ok. It's a good thing you had that mirror. Who knows what plan Harry would've ratcheted up if he couldn't have reached Sirius? I can't wait to hear all the details about what happened. I know it wouldn't be prudent to put it all in a letter, but I'm dying to know,' Hermione said.

'And I'm dying not to,' Daphne replied.

'You sure seemed happy about something in there towards the end,' Hermione said suggestively.

'Just the thought of getting my mirror and broom back,' Daphne replied.

'Uhuh,' Hermione said, unconvinced. 'I was just happy to see you two talking again.'

'Yeah, it just took some time to get over our little spat.'

'That's an understatement,' Hermione retorted.

Daphne tried to ignore the comment as she went for a slice of bacon. There would be no convincing her once she had something in her mind. And maybe a part of Daphne wanted Hermione to be right.

Daphne slowly started gathering her things as the Hogwarts Express pulled into King's Cross station. She told her friends to go ahead, that she had something she was waiting for. Of course, Tracey assumed it was something scandalous and only left after a heavy dose of teasing.

After it felt like the train was completely empty, Harry entered her compartment.

'Nothing like waiting to the last minute,' Daphne quipped.

'Sirius already knows I'm gonna be the last one off to avoid as many people as possible,' Harry snapped.

'Oh, yes! The, "I'm so popular excuse." '

'Don't be jealous. Just be happy I'll be holding your hand.'

'Sorry, Harry. You've got two trunks to carry.' Daphne performed the Charm she had been practicing; the results looked surprisingly real, even Harry nodded in approval. 'I'm in no shape for that sort of physical exertion,' she added, rubbing the bump she had created on her belly.

'This is quite the elaborate scheme just to get me to carry your trunk off the train for you,' Harry said sarcastically. He opened his trunk and pulled out her mirror and her broom. 'Here you go. Good as new,' he said with a grin.

She received the items and examined them for any damages. Surprisingly, there were none. 'I'm gonna hold you to that,' she said, not believing he hadn't actually dinged something at some point.

'I don't think your mirror is ever going to be the same though,' he suggested.

'Oh, why's that?'

'It told me I was the prettiest thing it's ever seen and doesn't want to go back to its previous owner.'

'Oh, ha! It didn't say that,' she argued.

'Oh, right. That was your mum!' He bellowed a laugh at the end.

Daphne wanted to deny it but part of her believed her mum would actually say something like that. She couldn't just let Harry laugh the whole way down the corridor though. 'I hate to break it to you Harry, but "pretty," is my mum's euphemism for "ugly." It's what she says when she wants to be nice to somebody and not ruin their self-esteem.' Daphne let herself have a satisfied smile. That would shut him up.

'Ohhhh, so that's what she's called you your whole life,' he smirked and Daphne glared at him causing Harry to burst out in laughter.

Daphne couldn't hold it in either and she laughed as they made their way down the stairs and onto the sparsely populated platform.

Her parents saw them come off the train and started towards them. Raquel only took a few steps before she stopped dead in her tracks, bringing a hand to her mouth. Sirius, on the other hand, kept limping towards them. That limp was new, but Daphne didn't want that to be the focus of this greeting.

'Great to see you again,' Sirius proclaimed jovially, taking Daphne in a big hug. 'And you look great for being so far along. How far are you?'

'Er,' Daphne froze.

'It doesn't matter right now. Let's get you both home and talk about it there. I can't wait to be a Grandad,' Sirius hummed to himself.

Daphne and Harry shared a befuddled look before Sirius Apparated with Harry and Raquel with Daphne. They ended in the Drawing Room of Grimmauld Place.

'What are we doing here?' Daphne asked.

'This is where we are living now,' Raquel answered. 'So, you've been hiding some news from us,' she continued, she seemed excited about the development.

'Er.' Both kids were dumbstruck.

'We thought you two would like to have your own rooms. But now, that doesn't seem to be necessary. We're gonna be one big happy family,' Sirius said, looking between the kids. Then he fixed a serious gaze on Harry. 'Harry, this is a great responsibility. I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did as a young father. I need you to commit to being there for the child.'

'I — I will,' Harry stuttered.

'You will make the same mistakes?' Sirius responded accusingly.

'No—'

'Don't badger the boy,' Raquel insisted. 'Now, Daphne, have you been seeing Madam Pomfrey? Do you know the gender of the baby? Did she set up your next appointment for you? Who is it with? I do hope you have been taking the proper prenatal potions. It would be very irresponsible of you to ignore those important things.'

'Ok, enough!' Daphne shouted. She canceled her Charm. 'I'm not pregnant. Ok!'

Harry let out a huge sigh, he wasn't ready for that sort of full-scale barrage.

'Well, well, well. Look who couldn't handle the heat,' Sirius said smugly. 'I know you've been broken up since at least the beginning of the year. Probably longer, that little stunt with Kreacher. . . I know now. Probably thought you were pretty funny.'

'You traitor,' Daphne said accusingly to her mum.

'Hey, I didn't spill anything. But I wasn't going to lie once he discovered the truth,' Raquel said defensively.

'Yeah, but you played along. You think you're just some Switzerland that can play both sides of the fence. Well, someday the chickens are going to come home to roost,' Daphne said threateningly.

'Oh, I'm sure you'll come up with some plan,' Raquel said playfully.

'So who told you then?' Daphne asked Sirius.

'Snape. The slimy git sure has a knack for gossip. He was all too proud to tell me that my godson had gotten slapped around by one of his snakes.'

'Yeah, someone did a good job at making our private news public,' Harry snarked.

'Ugh,' Daphne grunted. 'I'm not doing this right now,' she said, affronted.

Sirius smiled. He was thoroughly enjoying the new arrangement.

'Ok, well, now that that's out of the way, why were you limping, Dad?' Daphne asked in attempt to get the attention off the quarrel brewing between her and Harry, she would prefer not give her father the satisfaction of pitting them against one another again.

Sirius cringed and hesitated before he lifted up a pant leg, exposing a wooden peg attached just below his knee.

'Your leg! Where'd it go?' Daphne gasped.

'Through the veil,' Sirius stated matter of factly.

'You're welcome,' Harry chimed in.

Daphne looked between the two of them asking the question with her eyes.

'Harry kinda saved me from falling all the way through the veil. But he couldn't stop half of my leg from going in. Apparently, whatever goes in doesn't come back out,' Sirius joked before turning to Harry. 'But you were supposed to stay under your cloak! What part of "under no circumstances" didn't you understand?'

'I'm just going to take pleasure in the fact that you can stand here before me and lecture me on that. . . Alive,' Harry answered cheekily.

'Fine, thanks for saving me. But still, you could've been hurt.'

'But I wasn't.'

'So, you are a stumpy now?' Daphne laughed.

'It's Stubby, Stubby Boardman. I might try to resurrect my musical career with this,' Sirius' joke had everyone laughing.

'But still, sticking a shoe at the bottom? Not ready to embrace it yet?' Daphne asked teasingly.

'No, just waiting for one of those magical prosthetics. They say I'll barely even notice the difference. I think Mad-Eye keeps his peg just for show. He likes the intimidation factor.'

'Yeah, you're scary enough as you are,' Harry teased, rousing a laugh from all but Sirius.

'Since we're all here, there is one more bit of news we should share,' Raquel said with anticipation.

She let the moment draw out, curious looks being shot all around. Then, Raquel uncovered her left hand which had been hidden the whole time, revealing a beautiful diamond ring.

'We're getting married!'

The words weren't even completed before Daphne had jumped from her seat and taken her mother in a hug. Harry even rose to congratulate Sirius, and then they traded hugging partners.

'That's so exciting, Mum! Dad!' Daphne exclaimed. 'Talk about hiding news,' she then said reproachfully.

'You are the first to know, so don't get all in a huff,' Raquel chided.

'We are going to keep it a small ceremony. Trying to keep a low profile and all that. But, Harry, I'd like you to be my best man,' Sirius said

'And of course, Daphne, I want you to be my maid of honor,' Raquel continued.

'Yes,' both kids said at once.

'Now, are you two going to be able to behave yourselves?' Sirius asked. 'And that means no fighting. . . and no funny business. . . I don't know which is more likely with you two right now.'

Daphne and Harry shared a look. They didn't quite have the telepathic communication down so she couldn't tell what he was thinking. But she felt like she could handle a walk down the aisle with him, and perhaps a dance. That wouldn't be asking too much.

'Yeah, I think we can do that,' Daphne said.

'Consider It our wedding gift to you,' Harry said in agreement.

'Alright, that's great. Like I said, the ceremony won't be huge but I still don't want to be embarrassed by the escapades that you two have become famous for. If I have to hear another comment from Minerva. . .'

'Does she tease you a lot?'

'Yes, and I should've known things had cooled off between you two when she stopped making so many comments,' Sirius added.

'I really need to appreciate my Head of House more,' Harry commented.

Harry approached Daphne to escort her down the aisle, he looked rather dashing, there was no denying it. She felt that she looked pretty good herself, she was gradually starting to feel more comfortable and confident in her appearance. If Harry acknowledged that, it was only for the briefest of moments before he fixed his countenance. She had to hand it to him, he had his moments when he could control his emotions as well as the best Slytherin. Of course, he had his other moments too, but so did she.

He extended an arm to link with hers. It wasn't the best angle but with what force she could muster, she drove her elbow into his side before hooking his arm.

Harry grunted. 'Daphne, don't start anything,' he warned in a whisper.

'Oh, look who is so mature,' she retorted under her breath.

'One of us has to grow up,' he smirked and she let out a small genuine laugh. No one could say they looked miserable together.

Harry even kissed the back of her hand when they parted at the top of the aisle.

The ceremony was short and sweet, much to everyone's delight. The newly wedded couple shared their first dance and then were joined by their wedding party, which only consisted of Harry and Daphne.

'It seems you've grown some since our last dance,' Daphne commented after about a minute of silence.

'I would hope so. It is nice not to have to wear those platforms. Must be nice not to have to use that Engorgio anymore,' he said in a complementary tone while his eyes flicked to her chest, though to his credit, they didn't linger.

Daphne ducked her head. 'I'm still using it,' she admitted sheepishly. She didn't know why she didn't just lie, it would've been easier.

'Ah, well, that's ok. I'll bet if I slid my hands down a bit, it would be better than last time.'

'Harry!' she said in fake outrage while raising her head. 'Have you been checking me out?'

He shrugged. 'What can I say? I'm more of an ass man.'

'You certainly are an ass. I don't know about the man part though,' she smirked. 'But you are a better dancer than you were before. Have you been practicing?'

'Yeah, a little. I knew you couldn't keep your cool if I kept stepping on your toes, even if it was just an accident.'

'So you did it for Sirius then, that's nice. You know, I don't think I ever apologized for inverting your nose that night,' she says thoughtfully.

'You're right I don't think you have,' he replied expectantly.

'Well, I'm not going to now,' she said with a chuckle.

'I wouldn't expect you to,' Harry said casually. It's like he refused to be surprised by anything sort of insult she threw at him.

'And I'm really not sorry about slapping you,' she added.

'That's fair,' he said, again almost dismissively. 'And I'm not sorry about kissing Fleur. Or Megan. Or the Patils.'

'So you were with both of them?'

'Yes, and no. I dated them at the same time but never at the same time, if that makes sense.'

'It doesn't.'

'So, if we were going out, it was just one or the other, never both at the same time. They would wear each other's clothes so people thought I was only dating Parvati at first and then Padma after that.'

'And they were ok with that?' Daphne asked disbelievingly.

'They suggested it,' he answered as if he understood her shock.

'I can't really fault you for that. But what about Chang? You failed to mention her.'

'Oh, yeah, that. . . that wasn't quite as good as I described it,' he said with a slight cringe.

'That's what I thought, I knew you were lying,' she said with accusation.

'She really did initiate it,' Harry said.

'As if that absolves you of any culpability.'

'It should count for something.'

'Maybe it does. But you still did it. . . and you rubbed it in,' she stated.

'Yeah, I would apologize for that. . .' His voice trailed off and his face told her that was as close to an apology as she was going to get.

'I wouldn't expect you to. And if we're being honest with each other, I'll say this, you are the best kisser I've had so far.'

He smiled at her compliment. 'I wish I could say the same for you.'

'You are such a brat,' she said playfully and laid an innocent slap on his shoulder.

'Let me clarify.'

'Tread lightly,' she said, fixing a small glare on him.

'More empty threats?' he teased. 'It's not — well. . . you might be the best, but it's been so long, it's hard for me to remember. That Christmas thing doesn't really count.'

'Oh, I see, you need a refresher course.' She couldn't keep her lips from turning up in a small smile.

'Yeah, you could say that.' His smile mirrored hers.

'You're just trying to snog me again,' she smirked. Though her eyes betrayed her expressed lack of interest.

'Is it working?' he asked with a small yet confident smile.

'It might be,' she said in a sultry tone.

'But we promised not to make a scene on the dance floor.'

'Yes, this would not be the appropriate place,' she laughed.

'Can we be done dancing?' he said in earnest.

'Aren't we in a hurry?'

'What can I say?' he said with an innocent shrug.

'In my experience, the less you say, the better.'

'I agree,' Harry said while tugging on her hand.

'You really are desperate if you're agreeing with me,' Daphne smirked as she let Harry pull her along only giving enough resistance to irritate him.

They found a spot secluded enough so they could snog without drawing attention to themselves.

'Well?' she asked once it seemed they were finished.

'Well. . . what?' Harry asked stupidly. Either he was playing dumb or she'd fried his brains. She furrowed her eyebrows at him. 'Oh, yeah. . . honestly, people are so different, it's unfair to compare.'

'That is not the way to get me to snog you again,' Daphne deadpanned.

'Damn, that was on the table?'

Daphne shrugged. It sure was better than any of the other boys she'd kissed.

'What if we made an arrangement?' he asked. 'We could establish boundaries and rules, but I'm thinking more of like a friends with benefits relationship.'

'Hmm, more like enemies with benefits.'

'Does that mean you'll do that glarey thing at me?' he asked somewhat excitedly.

'What glarey thing?' she asked threateningly while furrowing her brows again.

'That. . . that right there! With the little smile underneath. . . Damn, that's hot.'

Daphne almost blushed at his boldness.

'Harry! Daphne!' Sirius' voice rang out.

'Oh, shoot. The speeches,' Harry said. 'So are you in? Enemies with benefits?'

'Yeah, but we still need to establish some rules first.'

'That works,' Harry said as they ran back out to the wedding party.

Daphne settled in next to her mum who leaned down and whispered to her, 'Couldn't manage to keep your hands off each other, huh?' she said with a waggle of her eyebrows.

'I don't know, it just happened. We didn't plan anything, ok!' Daphne replied defensively.

'Hey, I'm not judging. You look great. He looks great. If I weren't a married woman. . . and over twice his age —'

'Please. . . do not finish that statement, Mum.'

'Ok. All I'll say is, if you and Harry were to start a real relationship, you would have my blessing.'

'We're talking about things, which is more than we've ever done in the past.'

'You're growing up right before my eyes,' Raquel said with a tear welling up in the corner of her eyes. 'But, please, fix your hair.'

Daphne's cheeks colored as scrambled for her wand to redo the Charm on her hair while Harry began his speech.