ARC VI: DAPHNE LEARNS ABOUT THE CONTRACT
After arriving home de Greengrass family prepared for a welcoming diner, to welcome their daughter's home after a harsh year. Lord Edward Greengrass is ready to tell his daughters the decision he has made. But is scared of Daphne reaction after all he loves Daphne dearly and hopes she understand this is the best course of action for their family.
After a dinner full of laughter and warm family love, Edward and Elizabeth tell Daphne to come to the study after she refreshes herself. Daphne already suspects what this talk is going to be about. Astoria doesn't care as always she will know what happen at breakfast tomorrow anyway. So after the Diner we find Daphne getting ready for the meeting with her parents. Here we find Daphne taking a bath on her room
DAPHNE POV:
I'm currently taking a long bath to relax myself in preparation for my father meeting, I am currently washing my thick gold blond hair. I love my hair after all its like mom`s beautiful hair. My hair length is mid-back I have always keep it that way since I enter Hogwarts because of my looks I tend to draw a lot of attention to myself and that's dangerous. Then I heard my clock signaling its eight pm, almost time for our meeting. I clean all the shampoo from my hair and let the water go down the drain.
I get out of my tub and reach the sink to get my wand and apply some drying charms on myself. Then I take a look at myself in my full body mirror. If you could find a picture of my mother from when she was my age you could swear we are sisters. Although mom always says I'm cuter than she was. I'm currently five point two feet tall, have a slender figure, white smooth skin, mid-back thick gold honey hair and sky blue eyes that turn purple with the right light. I take pride in my looks but hate all the attention from the male side of the school sometimes it scares me after all I carry my mother's gift. I take a look at my hair length and grab a long lock, maybe I should grow it, well a dilemma for later.
After I'm out of my bathroom I can see the elves have already laid some comfy casual clothes on my bed, I change myself and brush my hair until it's time to meet my parents, to be sincere I'm a little nervous and begin to tap my long nails on my dresser a habit I pick from mom it seems, maybe Astoria doesn't realize the danger we are in but this war is going to destroy our country, and our family`s business for its resources is going to be sought after by both sides.
What I know from mom letters and Malfoy and Nott boasting from this year is that they are going for a betrothal, But Mom and Dad would never allow it, but I don't know how else father might keep us safe, money and neutrality are not going to cut it this time. And the so call light side is also a big no, after all they hate Dumbledore as much as they hate the dark lord and all of their mindless followers.
At this moment Norpy makes and appearance.
``Young lady Daphy Master and Mistress are ready for you on the study``
``Thanks Norpy tell them I'm on my way`` I say with a smile on my face, after all Norpy has taken care of me and Astoria since we were children I just hope he drops that horrendous nickname. Mother taught us to treat our elves with respect because they are also part of our family and I couldn't agree more.
With that I take a deep breath put my hair on a loose ponytail and begin my walk to meet my parents and finally learn what their plan is.
EDWARD POV:
After a wonderful diner and some affection from Elizabeth to calm my nerves we are ready to meet Daphne on my study. I'm actually really sad for the future choice I have taken for her I just hope it was the correct one.
``Are you ready my love, we have chosen a great man. For what I have seen and feel so far Maurice is a good man of pure heart I hope he and Daphne learn to love one another as we have, and maybe you were right they might be meant for one another but without the contract they would have never met. ``
``Also that magical power, it doesn't make sense not even magical creatures wield that much and I could tell they were not even trying`` it seems my wife felt more than me after all I was using all my focus to stay awake, that pressure is something I will never forget.
``Let's hope so my love, yes but as long as we stay true to our word let Voldemort face them to see what fear is`` Elizabeth is sitting at my side on the big sofa in front of the fireplace, where we take the more informal discussions. And I don't need to put on my lord Greengrass face. Then Daphne enters the room dress in her bath robe and pajamas like us.
``Mother, Father so tell me now that the Dark lord has fail his plans and he is out of the shadows and the war is beginning to build up. What is your plan to keep us safe? `` Daphne seats next to us on Elizabeth favorite chair, like mother and daughter I suppose.
``My daughter first of all your mother and myself are sorry if we had any other choice we would have taken it but I fear this is the only way to keep the future of our family safe`` I said to Daphne with a regret look on my face.
Daphne is scared she is too smart to already know all her family options. `` Please tell me who I am going to marry. O NO please don't tell me it isn't Malfoy``
`` Please my love we would never sink so low as to marry my precious daughter to that sorry excuse of a wizard, not my love your father has found something, a debt that was owned by the Greengrasses`` Elizabeth lean forward and grab Daphne hand to comfort her.
``What are you talking about what debt`` Daphne said with a curios look on her face.
I look at Elizabeth and she nods. `` My love what do you know about the Caledonian forest and the Rapax`` Silence engulf the room you could even feel a drop in the temperature, the shock expression on Daphne tells me everything I need to know.
``What do you mean, they are a legend a clan of mighty magical warriors that do impossible things, there is no record of them only what I know from the stories mom told us when we were children``. Says Daphne with a shock expression on her beautiful face.
``Yes Sanguinem, et Tonitrua blood and thunder the XXI legion words. The survivors of the roman mages, the strongest mages of the old world`` then Daphne looks at us with disbelief on her face, it`s obvious after all their deeds doesn't match at all our norm or common sense.
`` Are they real? ```says Daphne with doubt on her voice.
``How strong are them father, every trace of them was erased even at school I was curious to find more about them because nobody I ever asked knew about them I even looked on the restricted section of the library and couldn't find anything I thought they were just a story from moms family``
Then Elizabeth explains to Daphne everything that happen with the confederation and Dumbledore and the fall of her family how it's all related.
``I have only see what they can do the day we sign the contract, but I know your grandfathers men saw them once against Grindelwald and his armies, how they push them back and even manage to hold the Russians on Berlin. After going throw your grandfather journals when I found the contract. As you know he fought with the British forces but once he wrote an encounter with the legion, they took the center the choke point on the front line and withstood everything the Germans send their way. At the end he wrote they are lightning itself whatever that means. `` Daphne has and puzzle expression on her face after all my dad was always a serious person never to brag about something
Take into consideration Daphne, they even stop and almost kill Grindelwald once, since then he never fought them again directly```` I said with a serious tone, after all they were feared ever since for their actions on the frontline. So much it drove Dumbledore and the confederation to do what they did, such a shameful act after they save their asses. And all of Britain from German occupation.
``Also when we met them we felt a glimpse of the Praetor magic it was unmeasurable we have never felt magic power like that`` Daphne still seems doubtful she need to feel it to understand.
`` Then how are they indebted to us? `` Daphne seems to have calm down a little then Elizabeth tells her the story of my ancestors.
After hearing this Daphne turn angry and yells `` so you are selling me to save yourselves`` Daphne is angry she is about to begin her rant when I stop her.
``SILENCE CHILD you know that your mother and I want what's best for you .You know there is no one worthy of your hand at Hogwarts`` Daphne sends a resentful look our way, then Elizabeth tries to explain our decision better. And grabs both of Daphne hands and gives them a good squish.
``My love, we are sorry for failing to keep that promise your father and I made you, but this decision will keep you safe after all you carry the Romanov gift, the Rapax heir is the only one that can protect you from those who wish to take that gift for themselves. Elizabeth is almost crying after all that gift almost took everything from her.
And also we have met your Betrothed and we find him to be an astounding young man that I know will make you happy, and as your father said maybe you are meant for one another we never know what fate has in store for us.`` Daphne seems more relaxed now.
``Then why nobody has heard of them? They are British but they have never attend Hogwarts or interact with the rest of our magical community`` Then I explain to Daphne how Albus and the confederation in their fear erase them from history.
``Only a few of the heads of the sacred 28 know about them but after many years only a few that remember them remain. The confederation awoke the sleeping dragon and pay a heavy price for it, since then they have keep doing their duty to this world. `` Then Elizabeth tells Daphne the good news.
``Daphne one of the conditions of the contract is that he will help you control the Romanovs gift, they know more about it than we do also their magical knowledge is the best in the world maybe they can do something for your sister`` Elizabeth is overjoy as I am after all we were so worried when Astoria awoke that curse. They say she could only live to her thirties if she was lucky. And also if they can help us with the Romanovs magic then I'm happy.
`` Are you sure, we went to almost everywhere to look for a cure and we return empty handed I don`t have to loose Astoria`` Daphne then begins to cry tears of joy and hugs Elizabeth for dear life. After all that curse has taken too many members of my family.
`` Yes your betrothed said he will help you deal with it after the 31st of October at the school he only needs a place where you would not be disturb. `` Daphne then realizes what her mother means. And broke the hug. And becomes fluster.
``Wait are you telling me he is going to Hogwarts`` she is in for a full surprise hehehe is rare to see her this fluster.
``Yes my love he is joining you and Astoria to keep you safe and also deal with the curse himself (it seems Elizabeth still hates that part of her family), and for him to do a mission for the Rapax and enjoy a normal teenage life according to his father he has lived a harsh life. `` Daphne stays neutral looks my way and asks.
`` So when will I meet him, just so you know if he gets all chummy with me he has a thing coming his way`` Daphne turns ice queen mode for a moment, poor Maurice it seems he is for a tough ride. Like mother and daughter I suppose.
``Sadly we wanted to give both of you time to cope with the contract so he will join you on the train to Hogwarts, right now they are on the south America Rainforest dealing with something that's what the told us`` Elizabeth then grabs my hand and says.
``It's getting late lets go to bed and tell Astoria the good news on the morning`` as we were about to leave Daphne calls to us.
`` Wait you haven't tell me his name``. I gave her a big smile.
`` HIS NAME IS MAURICE RAPAX``
