Merit and Inheritance
Chapter Twenty-One
Dinner, No Business
Harry had two real estate matters pending. One was the acquisition of the new building and the administration necessary to make it the first asset in Harry and Neville's joint holdings. The other was what he thought of as his do-gooder, give-back project to help Daphne work out Cyrus Greengrass' fry-up of the Greengrass family's finances.
The deal with Neville would proceed step by step and no steps were clamoring for immediate attention. Pansy was back in her own office so Harry poked his head in this time and informed her he was leaving for the day.
"Take the rest of the day, if you like," Harry said. "That way you won't be here if any more Romildas or Bergs come calling."
Pansy rolled her eyes.
"Great idea," she said. "I'll close up as soon as I've got everything put away."
Harry went straight back to #12 Grimmauld Place, dashed some water on his face and headed for the dining room table. He was reading invoices, comparing them with Cyrus' ledger and putting them in order when he heard Kreacher at the front door.
"Healer Daphne, welcome back," Kreacher croaked, the pitch changing as he spoke. Harry guessed that was due to the deep bow in progress.
"May I take your cloak, Healer Daphne? It will be right here in the closet…"
Moments later, Daphne was standing next to Harry at the dining table.
"So?" she began.
"I just got here, not very long before you," Harry said. "So far, I'm thinking our joint opinion from the other night holds. There's nothing here that can't be fixed. Your father, forgive me, Daphne, this might sound a bit harsh, your father doesn't seem to know what he is doing. The manor breaks even, or nearly so. You'd have to live somewhere in any case so breaking even is good enough because it relieves the family of the need to either buy something or rent. The dividends from butterbeer seem to be going up, not a lot every year, but it is steady. You are independent, leaving the cost of living for three adults. What is he doing with the money?"
"What do you want to do?" Daphne asked. "What's the way forward?"
"Let's start with the receivables," Harry began.
An hour later they had established that Cyrus had enough coming in to get out from under his debts in about two years, as long as he didn't borrow more. Harry proposed a number for the Greengrass family allowance. Daphne proposed a little higher number. Harry asked if Harry Potter holding the note on Greengrass Manor in perpetuity was part of Daphne's workout plan. Daphne turned red and her eyes got very sparkly.
"Oh, Daphne, I'm so sorry, that was uncalled for," Harry said. "It was mean of me. I apologize."
"This won't work…I shouldn't have asked…I'm a grownup…I should have done this myself…" Daphne burbled. "This is too much to ask of you."
"Can I just," Harry began, moving a little closer. "We're working hard. It's just the stress."
Harry lifted his arms and touched Daphne, very tentatively, just above her elbows. Daphne leaned forward a bit, but didn't move her feet. Harry exercised, within his discretionary space, a little informed presumption and stepped toward Daphne until they were in contact from their shoulders down to their knees.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I was wrong, I didn't mean for it to come out that way," Harry said. "You want your family to have a life while we do this. I know that."
The choppy breathing and shuddering slowed, then halted.
"Should we take a break?" Daphne asked, some subdued sniffs breaking through for punctuation. "Think about something to eat? I'll treat."
"Oh," Harry said. "Great idea. No business. No working dinner tonight. What do you want to eat?"
"Something from The Dragon? Anything at all at The Dragon," suggested Daphne, using the shortened version of the name of London's latest magical Asian fusion restaurant.
"Of course, that's perfect," said Harry. He began to loosen his arms, letting Daphne separate from him until their faces were not all that close, but close enough. Harry ran his hands down Daphne's arms, reaching, then holding onto both of her hands.
"I apologize," he said. Harry looked into Daphne's eyes. "I am truly, truly sorry. That was an impulsive thing to say, and I should have had better control."
"I'm sorry, Harry," said Daphne. "I ought to be able to handle something like that. You have every right to question what I suggested. It's your money paying off the goblins. Even if Cyrus is a grump, I know what you're doing for us. Mother does, too. We will never, ever forget this, Harry, believe me."
"Oh," Harry said. "Are we officially made-up, then?"
"If you want to be," said Daphne, cheerful enough to smile through her remaining tears.
"Good," said Harry. "Then, may I?"
"Of course, if you think it appropriate," said Daphne, closing her eyes.
The Dragon was filling up. Harry and Daphne got the last open table for two. It was tucked into a little cul-de-sac in some elaborate wooden carvings that stretched from floor to ceiling. The space was dimly lit by a single oil lamp beneath a red shade. Bronze censers sat beneath coils of incense smoke. The smoky, rosy light had a lovely effect as it shone on Daphne's pale skin.
"This was inspired," said Harry. "Thank-you for breaking me out."
"Oh, were you a captive?" Daphne asked.
"Only of my own egotism," Harry answered. "Your problem is interesting, compelling, I'd say. You know, of course, my own situation. My father was gone before he could bring me in on all of this, so I try to work on my own. The goblins are encouraging but their ethical restraints about getting involved in wizards' business can make them very indirect. Obscurantist, for anyone who doesn't know how to read them. Your project amounts to lessons, for me. How To Be Head of a Magical House. The problem is I'm getting personally engaged in the mechanics, which is your job. Your purview, I think is the term. You have a right to that, and I don't. You can take the lead and I'll let you know, in a polite, straightforward, non-sarcastic way if I have a perspective that I'd like to share."
Daphne looked like she wanted to burst out laughing, but Harry plowed ahead, all seriousness.
"To get to stick my nose into your family's affairs, as I'm sure you know, Daphne, is a rare privilege," Harry said. "This isn't theory. You've grabbed the reins from a sitting head of house. Then you invited me to look over your shoulder. I'm getting my mastery in magical business at very little cost."
"Harry, please," said Daphne, "You pawned your worldly estate to help us out. You're in hock to Gringotts. You're risking everything you've built up for the Greengrass family. As for owing, I'm still working over that scene in Potter Manor. Every family head in Britain would pay you a fortune to be let in on that."
"You haven't told anyone?" a startled Harry asked, a little pleading in his voice.
"Get serious," said Daphne. "What if the day comes when I…"
Daphne caught herself before saying, "…when I am mistress of Potter Manor."
Daphne looked at Harry. Harry had caught the gist. He took a guess about where Daphne was going.
"Look," he said, "Don't edit yourself. If you were going to say what I thought you were going to say, the same thing has crossed my mind. It's just that, ah…"
"We have to do the business before we do the other," Daphne said, finishing Harry's thought.
"I think it's for the best, don't you?" Harry asked. "An hour ago, I let the strain get to me and lashed out. You're just looking out for your family. As you should. They have first claim on you. Even if you are emancipated."
"Yes," Daphne answered. "But witches, at least those with unsettled life arrangements, have a bad habit of writing the story of their futures before they'd ought. Imagination run amok. I know this, intellectually, but I do it anyway."
"Why is that?" Harry asked.
"I really don't know," said Daphne. "I didn't have a lot of trouble disciplining my mind while I was working toward my qualifications as a healer. None of that bothers me during the work day when I'm seeing patients. Then I go to your place and start organizing family finances in your dining room, just you and me, and it all goes out the window."
"We will get to the point where we can take that seriously," said Harry. "I promise. Until then, no mixing, lest we end up with a tangled mess."
"None?" Daphne asked.
"Well, perhaps a bit of chaste snogging," said Harry.
"Chaste," said Daphne, "Snogging."
Harry nodded.
"Do you think we can get the family…"
Harry raised his hand and cut Daphne off.
"No business," he said. "I see a way forward. One more walk-through with you, just to make sure we think alike, and that part is over. Then you make your presentation to Cyrus and Cordelia. I'll be in the room, with my mouth shut, observing. You won't call on me unless you judge it is critical to success. I don't think my commenting on what amounts to internal family affairs would go over with Cyrus. It's my business, too, of course, but it will be better to leave that unsaid so you make the sale. Now, I'm done, because the food is here."
And so it was. Harry had a vegetable lo mein with tofu, Daphne had a green curry with chicken and every kind of vegetable imaginable. Harry served Daphne some of his before he took any for himself. Daphne returned the favor. Harry spooned a generous mound of white rice onto Daphne's plate, then put the remainder on his own. They picked up their chopsticks.
"Bon apetit, Lord Harry," said Daphne.
"Long life and happiness, Healer Daphne," returned Harry.
Dinner went on, then on some more, mostly in silence.
"How did you find your dinner, sir, and madam?"
Harry and Daphne leaned back in their seats, turning to face the server.
"Perfect," said Harry.
"Exquisite," said Daphne. She gave the server a wide smile, getting one in return.
An abacus appeared and was presented to Harry. Daphne intervened and the waiter held the abacus for her. Daphne drew her wand and held it over the abacus, whose knobs rearranged themselves in a series of staccato clicks and clacks. As far as Harry could determine, the abacus had nothing to do with billing. That was handled by a charm that made the abacus something like a portal for the information embedded in Daphne's wand, causing a transfer from her account at Gringotts to that of The Dragon. The atmospherics, though, were inspired.
Harry suggested leaving a little walk at the end of their disapparation, and Daphne agreed.
"We're around the corner and a one-block walk to the square," Harry said, in case Daphne was having trouble with the neighborhood.
"Wasn't sure," said Daphne. "You could have left a little bit longer to walk. I can stay out late."
"That's funny," Harry said. They stepped off, arm in arm, walking off dinner and enjoying the company.
"Harry, I need to ask something," said Daphne. "Pansy…"
"Pansy is an adult," Harry said. "She works for Potter and Associates. You're going to get around to the 'R' word, aren't you? That's ours. Employer-employee."
"No need to snap at me," said Daphne. She didn't snap back, exactly, but there were no soothing undertones.
"Understood," Harry said. "No offense meant. Pansy is an adult, fully-qualified witch, and a real help with the business. She is entitled to have custody of the details of her life. Take Pansy to lunch, Daphne. We aren't involved, not the way your approach indicates you're thinking. Pansy might be happy to confirm that. She might also think that is all you need to know. It's her life, though. Go to the source. She won't hex you for asking. At least I don't think so."
The silence hung over Daphne like a shroud. She didn't unlink her arm, though, and continued to match Harry's deliberate pace.
"Prying isn't a good characteristic for a healer, I'll admit," said Daphne. "Merlin forgive me, perhaps I let Laurent Selwyn put the idea in my head."
They got to the square, and Harry steered them left, the longer way around from their starting point. "Mind? It's lovely out tonight, and I am so enjoying your company," said Harry.
"No, I don't mind," said Daphne. "Can we talk business again?"
"Dinner is over," said Harry. "Why not?"
"I thought through everything while we were eating," Daphne began. "I don't see why we can't finish this with one more session with Father and Mother. The sooner the better. Tomorrow. Get it done."
"Give the word," said Harry. "I'll be there. Use your number for their allowance."
"No," said Daphne. "Although thank-you. Your number is much better. Shock value. If Father can give us six months with no more borrowing or juggling or buying into speculative enterprises, I will loosen up, a bit."
"Heard anything further on his correspondence with the Selwyns?"
"It must have happened because Mother was to have tea with Narcissa," said Daphne. "An initial conversation."
They arrived at #12 just as Kreacher opened the door.
"Tea, glass of wine, firewhisky?" Harry asked. "I didn't even think to ask if you wanted to go straight home from The Dragon. Guess I was enjoying it all too much to remember my manners."
"Tea, in the garden?" Daphne asked.
"Sure," said Harry. "Kreacher, you can handle that, can't you?"
Daphne kept her cloak, pulling it tight as they sat in the cool night air.
"Anything else going on that's interesting?" Daphne asked as Harry poured them each a cup.
"You know I'm partnering with your cousin Longbottom, don't you? We started a company to acquire and manage some magical properties," said Harry. "We're spreading the risk and preserving executive attention span. I have to tackle the manor, soon. It hasn't had an occupant onsite since that night at Godric's Hollow. You've had a cursory look at it. Lots of little things don't get done, and those add up, charms or not."
"And you're done with the Bergs?"
Harry puffed his cheeks as he blew out a deep breath through pursed lips.
"That's impossible to say," Harry answered. "They may blame me for their missing relatives. We'll have to wait and see what happens."
Harry looked at Daphne, whose face had gone hard. Her right hand lay in her lap, gripping her wand. Harry hadn't seen it come out.
"I know a few things, Harry," Daphne said. "I can help, if you want me to."
"Oh, I don't doubt you," Harry said. "There will be a time for that, I expect."