Word Count: 450
Blaise's eyes are fixed upon the pond, watching sunlight glisten over the ripples. It's beautiful and peaceful, one of his favorite things about Nott Manor. He's so caught up that he barely even notices when someone moves beside him.
"Why is it whenever I'm having fun, it's wrong?" Daphne asks with a huff.
He glances over at her. She squints against the sunlight for several seconds before lowering her sunglasses over her eyes.
"What have you done now?" he asks, brows raising.
Daphne has a strange way of looking at the world. It isn't enough for her to hold progressive thoughts (if he's honest, Blaise is happy that she does; they need to move forward and find better ways to live because the old ways were not good enough). She has to be loud with her beliefs and pick fights. Blaise wonders how much she really means it. Sometimes, he thinks she likes to just stir the cauldron, hoping for an explosion. Maybe it's just a game to her, and she will always see herself as a winner because she has the moral high ground.
"Me?" She bats her eyelashes and smiles so sweetly that Blaise almost believes it. "I would never."
He laughs. "Right. And I'm the Muggle queen."
Daphne grins and curtsies. "Your Highness."
Blaise shakes his head. She really is ridiculous, but it's just one more reason why he loves her. Like he even needs another reason. "Come on, Daph," he presses, glancing over his shoulder. He can see Theo standing at the back door of the manor, hands up, trying to soothe his grandmother. Admittedly, Deidre Nott is easy to set off, but she looks particularly vengeful today. "The old hag looks like she might actually murder you."
Daphne looks back, lifting her shades as if to get a better view. She purses her lips. "Oh, dear." With a shrug, she returns her attention to the pond, her shades falling over her eyes once again. "I may or may not have implied… just a teensy bit… that I know a Muggle hairdresser who could have saved her mess of a hairdo. Honestly, that style is a crime against nature."
Blaise swallows down a laugh. It's something so minor, but he can only imagine the passion Daphne put into delivering that particular sting. He shouldn't condone it because it isn't proper, but damn, his fiance is brilliant. She is a fireball, and he never wants to dim her light.
With a grin, he leans in, pressing a kiss to her lips. "We should probably go. She's heading this way."
Daphne looks back once again. "Isn't she like a hundred? Why is she moving so fast?"
"Let's go."