Chapter 15

First Dates

After Daphne was all celebrated out, she went to her room to relax. She pulled out her coin and checked to see if Harry had changed it. It still had the same date on it. That wasn't surprising. She figured he might need a day to sulk. Yet, upon further examination, there was a change. . . the time. And if her math was good, he would be expecting her in 15 minutes.

Her curiosity was piqued. What did he want?

She quickly cleaned herself up and snuck out under the Invisibility Cloak. She decided to be cheeky and go out on her broom. She perched herself above the entrance of the castle. From here she would be able to see Harry walk out as he looked for her.

She almost fell off her perch when she heard a 'Boo!' from right behind her.

She turned around to find a grinning Harry hovering on his broom.

'How?' she breathed.

'You underestimate how smart my map is. I slipped out my dorm window.'

'You brat.'

'After what you pulled today, I'd say I owe you more than a little scare,' he remarked.

'You don't seem to be taking it that hard.' She thought he would be in a much more sour mood.

'It's just Quidditch,' he said dismissively. 'It's really just a form of entertainment.'

This had to be just an act, a defense mechanism of sorts, but no matter. 'And were you entertained?' she asked with a flirtatious smile.

'Fishing for compliments, are we? Who are you, and what have you done with Daphne?'

'I'm just wondering if you actually remember anything from the match,' she said mockingly.

'There's one ass-pect I remember with absolute clarity,' he said with a waggle of his eyebrows.

'It's too bad I didn't do it sooner,' she said in disappointment.

'Well, you're not exactly known for being quick on the uptake,' he smirked.

She glared at him, then smiled and shook her head.

'I did hear one funny comment,' he said offhandedly.

'Let's hear it.'

'Hermione wanted to know what sort of enchantment you put on yourself to have me so phased out.'

'Ha,' Daphne scoffed. 'You should stick to your insults because your pickup lines are awful.'

'What can I say? I usually don't have to use lines,' Harry quipped with a teasing smile.

'Oh, Merlin, help me,' she said in feigned exasperation. 'And I thought you might've been calling me out here to tell me something important.'

'Oh, yeah. . . That wasn't what I wanted to talk to you about,' Harry said tentatively. He seemed to have some genuine nerves about him. And if he was nervous, she was going to let him dangle.

She looked at him expectantly for what felt like minutes. 'Well. . . are you going to say it?' She only had so much patience.

Harry took another moment to clear his throat. 'I want you to go to Slughorn's Christmas party with me,' he said resolutely.

'Oh!' Daphne said in surprise. She waited a beat to gather her thoughts. That has not crossed her mind at all. 'Already coming to terms that you won't be able to find another date?'

Harry rolled his eyes. 'Actually, I just want to have an excuse when all the other girls start asking me. This way, I don't have to lie about already having a date.'

'You mean Romilda,' Daphne smirked. If he intended to get a rise out of her by calling her an excuse, she would not oblige. And if it was just an accident, well then she would not give him any more ammunition.

'Among others.'

'You poor thing, so many girls to pick from, it just overwhelms you,' she said sarcastically.

'So, what do you say? It's on a Friday. . . and probably the only way you're getting into the party,' he teased.

'Should I say "no" and test that theory?' she countered.

She had noticed more eyes on her in the short time since the match had ended and now she had a suspicion as to why Harry had summoned her so soon.

He didn't want her to go with someone else.

And upon reflection, she didn't want to see him going with someone else either.

'And take your chances that you get stuck going with Nott?' Harry asked.

Daphne performed a fake dry heave. 'Ok, I'll go with you. You didn't have to be so disgusting about it though. I might have nightmares tonight.'

'I still can't believe—'

'Stop. Just stop.' Daphne said with some revulsion.

'His mouth is so big. I don't know how—'

'Harry! You keep going and I'm sending Romilda in my place,' she threatened.

Harry's face paled, but then he laughed.

Something big and black appeared to have escaped from his nose.

'Was that a bat?' Daphne asked.

'Yeah. Ginny hexed me. A few times. The first had a wave of bats coming out my nose.'

Daphne winced at the thought.

'Yeah, hurt like hell,' Harry stated.

'Like Cruciatus hell?'

'More like blood quill hell, just not as long-lasting.'

Daphne nodded. 'So, what was her next hex?'

'It seems to be a time-release of some sort. Bats keep flying out my nose every hour, on the hour. More annoying than painful,' he said as he scrunched his nose as if trying to satisfy an itch. 'She just won't tell me how long this will continue.'

'What if one flies the wrong way?'

'Er. . .' Harry gulped.

'Remind me never to get on Ginny's bad side,' she said with a laugh. 'If I'm not already.'

'I thought you would be, but she thought your strategy was brilliant, objectively speaking. She's uber-competitive, so she hates that we didn't win. But for some reason, she seems to respect the lengths you were willing to go to, in order to win. . . or tie.'

Again, Daphne nodded as she listened. 'Well, that's reassuring. But it's getting late. . . I better get back.'

'You sure you don't want to hang out a little longer?' he asked, his implication not very well hidden.

'No, Harry. I need to get back,' she said forcefully. She was telling herself as much as him. Though she wanted to stay, she also didn't want to set a bad precedent. And seeing Harry's cute pout as she slowly started to fly away was an added bonus. 'I guess today's just not your lucky day,' she teased.

'I hate you,' he said before she was gone.

She smiled as she left him behind and whispered to herself, 'I hate you too.'

The next Friday Daphne was gliding across the skies when her peaceful flight was interrupted by a mop of messy black hair swooping down right in front of her. She glowered at Harry as he settled in beside her.

'Do you mind if I share the sky with you?'

'It's not mine,' she retorted. 'But how — never mind. . . your map. Are you stalking me?'

'You wish. Just out for a fly and I noticed you,' he said dismissively. She wasn't sure she believed him. 'Are you out here regularly?'

'Every other Friday — you know — our off weeks.'

'Hmm, how would you feel if I joined you?' he asked.

'As long as you don't insist on talking to me like this every time. . . I'm good with it,' she stated.

And so began their tradition of flying together every other Friday evening. Sometimes they were just in the air at the same time and didn't interact whatsoever. Other times, Harry brought his Snitch and they would search for it and chase it as if they were playing a match. There were the occasional taunts thrown back and forth during this activity but otherwise, they didn't speak much to each other while flying.

They did more conversing on their other Fridays. Though calling it conversing would be generous. It was more along the lines of bickering. Arguing over Quidditch strategy actually became their most common topic, once Daphne dropped her "no Quidditch talk" rule. But they would argue about different magics and everyday things as well. Their conversations never turned particularly serious, and she supposed Harry enjoyed forgetting some of the other stuff for a couple hours here and there.

And that was how November turned into December and the end of the term approached. With that, came Slughorn's party. She had talked her mum into an early Christmas present, a new dress. She was going to knock some socks off.

Tracey let out a loud wolf whistle when Daphne emerged from preparing herself. 'Ten to one odds Harry doesn't even let you get to the party. He's gonna want you in a broom closet as soon as he sets eyes on you.'

'Stop,' Daphne said, somewhat embarrassed.

'I'm serious, Daphne. Are you going to resist when he puts the moves on you?'

'Why would I resist?' Daphne asked coyly.

'Ohhh, you're playing with fire.' Tracey warned.

'I don't know, Trace,' Millicent cut in. 'By the looks of things, Daphne is the one that is smoking. Harry's the one that needs to be careful about not getting burned.'

'Yeah, and I'm going to have to find someone else to tell me how the party is because Daphne's not even going to get through the doors,' Tracey said sarcastically.

'Go have fun, Daphne,' Millicent declared as Daphne left the dormitory with a big smile on her face.

She thought she looked good but her friends' opinions went a long way to help her feel more confident in herself.

She made sure she was fashionably late, well, that was partly Harry's request. He was leaning against a wall in the entrance hall across from the bottom of the stairs. If he was trying to look cool, he was succeeding.

She took some deep breaths to calm herself. This was just Harry, she'd been here before. Yet, something about tonight felt different.

'Wow, Daphne. . . You. . . Er. . .'

'What? No cheeky insult?' she quipped while giving a small twirl. She smiled as she watched Harry's eyes take her in.

'Well, the best jokes usually are rooted in at least a hint of truth. And you. . . well, tonight. . . you look absolutely stunning. So, unless this is all just a bunch of fancy Charm work. . .'

'It's not,' she confirmed confidently. 'Well, the hair has some Charms in it, but everything else is all-natural.'

Harry nodded. 'And that dress is new,' he said as the corners of his lips turned up slightly.

'It is. Thanks for noticing. A little early Christmas present.'

'It brings out the purple in your eyes. It's. . .'

'Stunning?' She provided the word she hoped he might be searching for.

'Yeah. . . that,' he agreed breathily.

'Don't even need to hit you with a spell to stun you anymore,' she stated playfully.

'Look who's the arrogant one now,' Harry retorted.

'Now I know what it feels like to be the great Harry Potter,' she smirked.

'Just wait until people start gawking at you, then you'll know.'

'They aren't going to gawk at me,' she commented. Playing arrogant in front of Harry was one thing but believing that others would respond the same way he did was much harder for her to wrap her head around. 'Your robes look new as well,' she said as a way to divert the conversation.

'Yeah, I told Sirius I had to make a good impression. . .'

Daphne almost blushed.

'. . . on Slughorn.'

'You brat,' she said with a playful smack on the arm. 'But at least I know you're Harry, you were starting to worry me,' she added.

Harry smiled at her as he took her arm, his eyes still sparkling with mirth.

'Can you believe it was almost two years ago that we had our first date?' she asked.

'Yeah, I wouldn't mind re-enacting some of that night,' he said flirtatiously.

'You give me the word and I'll have you sniffing your own brains in no time,' she countered.

'Must you always default to violence?'

'I thought you said you liked it when I get a little — How did you put it — aggressive?'

'Those are slightly different circumstances you are comparing.'

'Perhaps, just a little,' she conceded. 'You could've at least tried with your hair, you know.'

'And ruin my chances at getting snogged?'

'You think I snog you because of your hair?'

He smirked at her. 'I mean. . . I guess there could be any number of reasons, now that you mention it,' he said, puffing out his chest a little.

'Don't think about it too hard, Harry. You might hurt yourself,' she said with mock concern.

'Noted. Don't think. Just snog,' he replied robotically.

'You seem so certain about that,' she questioned.

'As long as I play my cards right, of course,' he said playfully.

'Ever the charmer, Harry. Let's get you to this party before you stick your foot in your mouth.'

They entered the party together. And though it was Harry's presence that drew the attention of many sets of eyes, it was Daphne that caused those eyes to linger on the couple.

'Told you,' Harry said as he leaned over to whisper in her ear.

Daphne couldn't even reply before Professor Slughorn accosted them. 'Harry, m'boy! So glad you could make it! And who is this beautiful young lady on your arm?'

'This is Daphne Greengrass, Professor.'

'A pleasure. You must not be in any of my classes. I would remember a face like yours.'

'No, sir. I never took much of a liking to Potions.'

'Well, if you hang around with Harry, you won't have to. He's one of the most promising young potioneers I've ever had the joy of teaching,' Slughorn boasted. 'Now, Harry, there are many people here I'd like—'

'Oh, are those the hors d'oeuvres? Harry, I'm starving,' Daphne proclaimed.

'I'm sorry, Professor. I mustn't keep my lady waiting,' Harry stated.

'Of course not. I'll catch up with you later,' Slughorn said with slight disappointment.

Harry and Daphne slipped away.

'A million Galleons if you can run interference every time he tries to drag me into a conversation,' Harry said.

'Why do I feel I'd never see those Galleons?'

'Cause, you're so smart,' Harry smirked.

'You're lucky I'm feeling generous tonight.'

'I hope that continues,' he said with a flirtatious smile, causing Daphne to roll her eyes.

They found a table as out of the way as possible. For a while, and for the first time ever, their conversation revolved around making jokes about other people instead of about one another. They would comment about how hard some people tried to get into conversations with Slughorn or some of the other celebrities that were present. Or they would laugh at how hard some people had tried to look unique, some had really gone the extra mile to stand out and the results were not always positive.

Walter came by and chatted for a bit. He and Harry actually seemed friendly with each other.

'What, no smart aleck insults about my ex?' Daphne asked once Walter was gone.

'No. Padma told me, though he comes across as very nice, he has a vengeful side that you want no part of,' he answered seriously.

'Hmm, never saw that,' she commented.

'That's good. Slughorn says he's so good at potions he could become an alchemist if he wants. I don't want to imagine what he'd do to you if he set his mind on something.'

'Interesting.' She knew he was smart but he never bragged so it made sense she wasn't aware.

'Hey, is that Fleur?' Harry asked excitedly.

Daphne glanced in the direction indicated — it was Fleur — but she instinctually returned her gaze to Harry. She examined him as he kept looking in Fleur's direction. Whatever emotions he was feeling, he kept them hidden. She didn't know how she felt about that but at least he wasn't openly gawking at her.

Then, a small smile blossomed on his face. 'Oh, man!' he declared. 'Check out McLaggen. He's trying to hit on her, but it doesn't look like she can understand him with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. . . Oh, she's gonna slap him. . . '

The smack rang out and the party froze.

The interruption was only temporary. People quickly went back to what they were doing after they saw who had been the recipient of the slap. No one seemed surprised.

Harry burst out laughing uncontrollably, causing Daphne to laugh along with him. Neither of them noticed Hermione's stealthy approach.

'Hey, what are you two laughing at?' Hermione's question broke them both from their laughter. And she beamed in satisfaction as Harry relayed the events he'd just witnessed. 'Hopefully, that buys me some time.'

'I can't believe you agreed to come with McLaggen,' Daphne stated.

'Yes, a grave miscalculation on my part,' Hermione responded. 'I need to hide out until he finds someone else to keep his attention. But you two, I had no idea you were coming together.'

They both shrugged as they scooted their chairs closer together to give Hermione more cover.

'I just wanted someone that could help keep me away from Slughorn,' Harry lied.

Hermione didn't really buy it based on her furrowed eyebrows and lip she had between her teeth. 'Whatever you say, Harry,' she said dismissively. Then she ducked behind them, 'Someone's coming.'

'Hello, Harry. I thought I saw you laughing at my expense,' Fleur intoned.

'Oh. Hey, Fleur. You know I wasn't laughing at you, but that poor sod that was hitting on you,' Harry responded comfortably. . . too comfortably.

'Barbarian.'

'So, I didn't know you were coming,' Harry said to Fleur.

'Yes, well, I am a Triwizard Champion. Once Horace learned I was in the country, I received an invitation right away. Couldn't pass up a chance to come back to Hogwarts. Did you two come together?' she asked with her eyes flickering between Harry and Daphne.

'Yeah, we did,' Harry replied.

'But I thought you had broken up?'

'We did,' Daphne said coolly. She wasn't sure why she answered so abruptly but she knew she didn't like the way this conversation was proceeding.

'So, you wouldn't mind if I stole Harry for a dance?' Fleur asked. And there it was, Daphne had dug her own grave again.

'Of course not,' she said with a slight snarl and she didn't hide her glare that she sent at Harry as he got up from the table with a mischievous grin. Her eyes stayed on the pair as they found a spot to dance, not too far away, but far enough she wouldn't hear any of their conversation — and they were conversing animatedly.

'Can you see McLaggen?' Hermione whispered from behind her.

Daphne stopped sending daggers at Harry for the time being, and scanned the room. 'No, you're clear.'

Hermione got up and took Harry's seat. 'This has been more tiring than I anticipated. But tell me about you and Harry. No contact all year — except for the match, but we don't talk about that in Gryffindor — and then. . . Bam! You're together at this party.'

'We were together,' Daphne said as her glare found Harry again.

'Oh, yeah. . . well, Harry and Fleur actually have a lot in common. . . And they spent quite a bit of time talking this summer.'

Daphne's head snapped to Hermione. Her eyebrows rose in question.

Hermione continued, 'Oh, you didn't know — Of course, you didn't know. Yeah. . . she was at the Weasley's a lot last summer. She and Harry got pretty close. It felt like he was the only one she could talk to without rubbing the wrong way.'

Daphne's breaths started to get deeper and her nostril began to flare.

Hermione seemed to catch on. 'You don't have anything to worry about. They just talked.'

'Yeah. . . just talked,' Daphne scoffed.

'That's what he said. Ask him yourself. But if he asked you to this, he obviously still has a thing for you,' Hermione stated as the song ended. 'Oh, there's McLaggen. I need to hide.' And she jumped off the chair and scurried away. She left Daphne with a lot to contemplate.

Fleur had just given Harry a small kiss on the cheek and waved goodbye while Harry returned to Daphne with a smirk on his face. His eyes darted away for a moment, then back to Daphne. Instead of sitting, he pulled his chair aside, looped an arm through hers, and deftly swung her from the chair, eliciting a gasp of surprise from Daphne.

'Here comes Sluggy. . . we're dancing,' he stated.

'But I'm not done eating,' Daphne argued.

'Million Galleons. Remember?' he smirked.

'You are not playing your cards very well so far,' she retorted.

'What are you talking about?' he said in feigned ignorance.

'I'm talking about flirting with other girls,' she growled.

'Flirting? What. . . with Fleur? Please, that was nothing.'

'Yeah, nothing compared to last summer,' she said accusingly.

'Ok, what are you on about?' His smile vanished as his brows furrowed.

'Hermione told me how close you got to Fleur.'

'Is that so? She say anything else?' Harry asked with a small smirk.

'She didn't have to,' Daphne countered while narrowing her eyes at him. There was no hint of a smile hidden underneath her glare.

'That sneaky little — by the way, this glare that you've got right now is not your cute one. This one is scary.' And he couldn't hold back his small chuckle.

'This isn't funny, Harry,'

'No. No, it isn't funny at all. Because what she conveniently left out is that Fleur was living with the Weasleys because she is engaged to marry Bill, Ron's oldest brother. And I talked with her a lot because no one else in the house could stand her.'

'Engaged. . . to Bill?'

'Yes. Now can you glare at me with the little smile again?' Harry asked playfully.

She did just that, though it was more of a reflex to his comment than anything she did on command. 'You led me on,' she accused.

'Maybe a little. You look hot when you're a little jealous,' he replied with a shrug.

'I was not jealous!'

'I don't care what you call it, or don't call it, you were hot,' Harry smiled. 'Until Hermione filled your head with all that other stuff.'

'I was not jealous!' Daphne stated firmly again. But her eyes left Harry and she began searching.

'I'm agreeing with you. Take the win. What are you looking for?'

'Hermione! I'm gonna tell McLaggen exactly where he can find her,' she growled, but her smile was just underneath the surface.

'Oh, yeah. That's hot!' Harry proclaimed.

'Don't think you're off the hook, mister,' she said looking back at Harry, her smile much less hidden now.

Daphne had caught on, that while dancing, Harry had slowly been trying to guide them closer to a bough of mistletoe, even though it was dangerously close to where Slughorn was holding court. Daphne had resisted at first, turning one way when Harry was leading her another. But after she'd calmed down a bit, she'd relented, and let him work their way over to his goal. But even then, she did redirect their path a few times just to catch a glimpse of his frustrated face. She couldn't make it too easy.

Just before they reached their destination, Filch burst in with Malfoy.

Daphne observed how interested Harry was in the interaction and grabbed him by the wrist as Snape departed with Malfoy.

'Don't you dare even think about leaving me here,' Daphne snarled.

'I'm sorry. I need to go,' he said apologetically. Something in his eyes told her he was not going to change his mind but that didn't mean she was going to make it easy.

She tugged on him a little more to try to get him under the mistletoe, they were so close. 'You sure you don't want to stay?' she asked, raising her eyes to the bough above them and fluttering her eyelashes.

Harry stepped close. Just inches from her face. She released his wrist. 'Sometimes we have to make decisions based on what we need to do and not what we want to do,' he said resolutely. He spun away and marched towards the exit.

'Harry,' she said threateningly. It was of no use though, he was already gone. She reached a hand in her pocket and felt an emptiness that shouldn't have been there, the Invisibility Cloak was gone. She should've known Harry had some purpose of stepping closer to her.

She didn't come away empty-handed though, in her other hand she held an old worn parchment that she'd always wanted to get her hands on. She pocketed the parchment for the moment, certainly couldn't put it to use in the middle of the party. Unfortunately, her escape was not as seamless as Harry's.

'Seems you are without a date, just as I,' an all too familiar voice sounded from behind her.

Boot.

'Where's your date?' she asked as she turned around.

'Snogging McLaggen,' he replied, jutting a thumb in the direction of the overzealous couple.

'Well, if she chose to snog him, I'd say you dodged a hex.'

'That, and I ended up under the mistletoe with you,' Boot said suggestively.

Daphne's head shot up. He was right. Damnit. She brought her gaze down, only to be met by Boot's victorious smile.

'Well, I guess it's your lucky night,' she said as if she was resigned to her fate.

Boot closed his eyes and started to lean towards her.

Daphne turned and grabbed the arms of the girl that was right behind her — happened to be Chang — and spun her around to switch positions.

Chang's 'Hey!' was cut off by Boot's lips on hers while Daphne scampered away and out of the party. Poor Chang.

She found a nook and activated the map as she'd seen Harry do before. He was still relatively close, around a few corners, just outside of a room where Malfoy and Snape were.

She crept along the corridor until she was right on top of Harry's dot. She reached around much like she was feeling for a wall in the pitch dark until she felt the fabric. She pulled it off and exposed Harry.

'What the—' Harry started.

Daphne reached down and pulled Harry up by the ear, dragging him down the corridor, away from the room Snape was in.

'Ow! Cut it out. What are you doing?' he demanded while still maintaining a whisper.

'You are not ditching me for Malfoy!'

'I'm not—'

She pushed Harry up against the wall and crashed her lips into his. Harry resisted at first and even pushed her away enough to speak. 'Daphne, can't we at least go under the cloak?' he asked as he took the fabric back from her.

'No—'

'But Snape is going to catch us.'

'Harry, weren't you the one to make the rule about not saying his name while we were snogging?'

'Er.'

'That's what I thought. Now, trust me,' she said softly as she pulled his head back down to hers.

He was still slightly distracted but he didn't pull away and after a few tense moments, he seemed to relax into her. Of course, the enjoyment was short-lived.

'What exactly do you think you are doing?' Snape's sneer sounded as if he had been personally affronted.

Harry and Daphne froze.

Daphne rose up on her toes and brought her lips to Harry's ear. 'Let me handle him,' she barely whispered. She couldn't see the goosebumps that trailed down Harry's neck but she felt his little shiver.

Snape's eyes widened when Daphne turned to face him and he got a clear view of who he'd interrupted. His eyes narrowed after he saw Harry and a fire started to burn behind them. Daphne spoke up before he could start to antagonize Harry, they'd done nothing wrong. . . yet.

'Is there a problem, Professor?' she asked sweetly.

'Yes, there absolutely is,' he drawled.

'You see, sir. Harry said he had a tinge of a sore throat. We thought it would be inappropriate to assess things amongst the partygoers.'

'Inappropriate is the only part of that statement I find valid,' he replied.

'Yes, the hospital wing would be more appropriate but it's so far, and Harry seems to be fine now. Turns out it was just a bit of dry mouth. But that's been fixed now.' She smiled in mock innocence.

'Miss Greengrass, I believe—'

'It isn't curfew yet, is it?' she asked with fake worry before he could make any other suggestions that they didn't want to comply with.

'No, it is not,' he replied shortly.

'Well, then. . . we'll just be on our way,' Daphne said, grasping Harry's wrist to pull him away.

Harry didn't move with her. He got a pleading look in his eyes. 'Please don't tell Sirius. His wife might kill me.' He did a good job at sounding genuinely scared.

'Our actions have consequences, Potter,' Snape sneered through his awkward version of a victorious smile before he stalked off.

Daphne pulled Harry along, holding in her laughter until she found an empty classroom and pulled Harry inside with her. 'That was a nice touch, really nice. Snape won't be able to keep his mouth shut.'

'You almost made me lose it. And you almost made Snape vomit, that was amazing,' Harry said through his own laughter. 'You don't think Sirius will actually believe him, do you?' Harry questioned.

'I don't see why he wouldn't. It'll have Dad on edge, if nothing else, especially when we come visit you at the Burrow.'

'That'll be fun. But can we not call him "Dad"? I mean, you can, but don't ask me to. Makes it sound—'

'Don't finish that thought, Harry. I'm on the same page. It won't happen again.'

'Great,' he said, stepping close to her. 'So, did I play my cards right?'

She quirked her lips in thought. 'Not really. Especially, the "leaving me under the mistletoe with Boot" move. That could've ended very badly. And yet, somehow, all of your misplays seemed to work out. So perhaps, this is your lucky night,' she said softly as she walked two fingers up his chest to grasp his tie and pull him down to meet her lips.