Unconventional Bargaining

I don't own 'Harry Potter'

Harry sighed and kicked a pebble, watching as it bounced along the path before ending up in the grass to the left.

He didn't know why the hell Ginny was so determined to make sure they got back together but it was pissing him off. He didn't want to be with her any more, yet apparently his own thoughts and opinions meant jack shit in comparison to what she wanted.

He wanted to look after Teddy who was now his son by adoption, he wanted to learn about the families he was now Head of, and no matter how much his ex accused him of abandoning her he wasn't going to let her railroad her into doing what she wanted. He'd broken up with her before the war because he wanted to protect her, but afterwards he'd changed too much to want to start up again just because everyone expected him to be a picture-perfect copy of James Potter.

Walking through Hyde Park and kicking stones probably wasn't the best way to spend his time, but he was getting dangerously close to lashing out at Ginny and saying something he couldn't take back. It was even more exasperating when even Molly had told him not to mind Ginny and do what he wanted. If the woman who dreamed of securing her children's happiness above all else could accept the relationship wasn't going to happen, why couldn't her daughter?

Harry took a deep breath and turned a corner, pausing and blinking rapidly to see if his eyesight was acting up. There was no way Astoria Greengrass, perfect pure-blood daughter was wearing muggle jeans and a hoody while swinging her feet back and forth as she sat on a bench in muggle London.

Though seeing as the picture wasn't changing, maybe she was.

He thought about walking away from her, but the look of complete and utter abject misery on her face made him think twice. Just because he didn't really know her didn't mean he was comfortable leaving the younger woman to her depression alone.

Harry made his way over slowly, giving her a chance to notice him which she did, ice-blue eyes peering up at him with surprise. Harry noticed that Astoria was rather beautiful now he actually thought about it, with dark honey-blonde hair in comparison to her sister's golden tone, and flawless pale skin. She had delicate features with extraordinarily long lashes and soft, plump lips, and Harry was struck with the question of how the hell was I this dense for years not to notice her?

"Lord Potter-Black?"

Ah, the joys of pure-blood propriety. "Miss Greengrass. Do you mind if I join you?" Harry nodded at the bench.

She looked wary but capitulated. "Not at all. Please."

He sat down, making sure there was a few feet between them before turning to Astoria. "How are you enjoying muggle London, Miss Greengrass?"

The woman gazed at him blankly before any composure essentially snapped and she looked at him incredulously. "Are you kidding me? Is that really what you want to know, Potter?"

"Well, what I want to know doesn't really matter, Greengrass. What matters is what you want to talk about. I mean, if you want to sit here and make small talk about nothing in particular we can, and if you want to get into anything else I'm here to listen. What you want to say is entirely your prerogative."

At her bewildered look he smirked. "I know people seem to think of me as oblivious with no tact, but I'd like to think I'm a bit better than that."

She smiled ruefully before shaking her head. "You're not the typical lion, are you?"

The words of a certain hat flashed through his head and Harry grinned. "Well, that's a story for another time."

The quiet of the park was rather comforting, the background noise filling in the silence of the conversation and acting as a nice balm to Harry's recent headache. Maybe I should bring Teddy here soon.

"My parents want to betroth me to Malfoy."

… Ouch. "My condolences."

She snorted before slapping a hand over her mouth with wide eyes. Harry took one look at Astoria's expression before throwing his head back and laughing out loud, heedless of anyone around him. She looked so free and casual, but the look of disgust on her face was what was really hilarious.

Harry cleared his throat and turned to the woman with a considering look. "Will your parents listen to you if you tell them you don't want to?"

Astoria sighed. "Probably, but they've discussed a marriage between Malfoy and I for years. They're business partners with the Malfoys and they want to keep the families close. They want me happy but they don't want to lose an opportunity to tie the Greengrasses and Malfoys together.

"Another issue is that my sister's being set up with a wizard from France when I'm sure she actually likes Malfoy, and I don't want her hating me for being with the man she has feelings for. Even if he is a slimy git," she finished with a dark mutter.

"Hmm … That does sound like an issue. But why don't your parents just betroth Daphne to Malfoy? That'll fix that issue. I know she might find it difficult to explain, but surely the prospect of being with the person she wants as well as preventing her sister from being married to someone she doesn't is attractive enough to do something about," Harry mused.

"You forget, I'm still from a wealthy pure-blood family that wants me married to a decent man to further their own position," Astoria explained with a frown.

Harry suddenly had the most ridiculous idea that didn't sound like it had the slightest chance of working out in his favour. It was more than a little presumptuous, it relied on Astoria being a hell of a lot more daring than the average Slytherin – which he had no clue about – and it would be a very firm 'fuck off' to all the random women of their world who thought they could get their claws into him. Of course it would also help Astoria massively in avoiding a very shitty marriage, but he wouldn't deny the benefits to himself.

He grinned at the woman next to him, enjoying her sudden look of unease. "What would your parents think about a celebrity with two separate titles that need passing on to two separate children, meaning the woman that married this person would be the Lady of two Houses and the mother of two future Lords or Ladies?"

Astoria gaped at him for a few seconds before narrowing her eyes, the icy colour reflecting the inner danger of the witch. "And what do you get out of this?"

Harry smirked. "The aforementioned children to carry on my families, connections for them to start growing again, not to mention a wife that is a very clear sign that those silly girls who follow me around haven't a chance in hell of being Lady Potter-Black."

"Would it be wrong to assume that one Ginevra Weasley is one of those 'silly girls'?" Astoria questioned with a teasing smile.

"I suppose you wouldn't be entirely wrong," he revealed airily.

She laughed and Harry was astounded by how lively she looked when happy. There was a flush on her cheeks and her lips were pulled wide across her face in a carefree grin. It was a far sight from the torn expression from earlier and Harry wanted to keep her this way.

"You know, that's probably the most unromantic proposal I've ever had."

Harry shrugged. "I'd say sorry, but something tells me you aren't actually that bothered."

Astoria giggled. "Truth be told, I can't wait to see the expression on my father's face when he finds out I'm going to marry Harry Potter."

Harry raised a brow and mock glared. "You know, that's probably the most unromantic proposal acceptance I've ever had."

The woman smirked at him and he found himself returning the expression. What's she up to now?

"I think we should start off this relationship with some actual romance."

Before Harry could question Astoria, he found himself with a lapful of blonde Slytherin and a rather enthusiastic tongue in his mouth.

Alright then.

He hadn't thought plans for a marriage and a relationship were on today's agenda, but he wasn't complaining.

Hyde Park was amazing.

A/N: Hello!

Quick question, does anyone have any recommendations for this pairing? Because I honestly feel like it doesn't happen all that often, and I think it has a lot of potential. I see Harry with Daphne a lot but not the other sister which is quite a shame.

Anyway, I hope you guys like it.

Happy reading!