Merit and Inheritance
Chapter Twenty-five
Honing Social Skills
The reading and consulting might have had something to do with the success of the Saturday tea at Greengrass Manor. To Harry it looked like an exercise in old-fashioned territoriality. Harry and Daphne agreed to meet at Daphne's flat and proceed to Greengrass Manor together. Daphne conveyed an expectation that Harry would join her thirty minutes prior to their presumptive departure. Daphne used the time wisely for a bit of coaching.
"Have you thought about how you're going to deal with having Narcissa close by?" Daphne asked.
"Ahh, well," Harry began.
"No, then," said Daphne. "That's fine. I'll just give you your instructions and then you won't have to think."
"Um, sure," Harry conceded.
"If you think Narcissa might have had designs on you, you will want to save everyone the embarrassment and prevent any untoward events," said Daphne. "An ounce of prevention."
"Can't argue with you there," Harry replied, wondering where Daphne was going.
"Even though the families know one another, this is, officially, the initial, everyone-from-both-sides, make-your-acquaintance event," Daphne went on. "It kicks everything else off."
"Okay," Harry said, noting the redundancy in comment but feeling at a loss for having anything more constructive to contribute.
"There is a bit of role-playing in these get-togethers," said Daphne. "In the event good manners prevail, it should be very cute. The two mothers dote on the children, but kind of lay it on thick toward the other one's child. Mother will be commenting on Draco and what a fine young man he is and how she and Father are so pleased Draco wants to be part of us and bring Astoria into the Malfoys."
"Uh-huh," Harry agreed. Daphne thought she saw signs of some slippage in Harry's attention level.
"Still with me?" Daphne asked, looking for a little confirmation.
Harry nodded.
"Oh, yes, of course," he said.
"Narcissa will reciprocate with regard to Astoria. Wizards will hover for a bit, not wandering off but not sitting with the witches, either," said Daphne. "Draco will stay close to Astoria. You, Father and Lucius will find yourselves a little more distant, but initially you'll keep an eye on the witches and pay attention. Can you do that?"
"Rub elbows with Lucius Malfoy and pay attention to the conversation between Cordelia and Narcissa?" Harry asked.
"Yes. Can you do that?"
Something must have cued Daphne that Harry had to think about it.
"What's wrong?" Daphne asked.
"Well, Lucius and I have history, as, of course, you know," Harry said.
"Oh, right," said Daphne. "Graveyard at Little Hangleton, as I recall. What happened there, again?"
"Peter Pettigrew sliced my arm open and used my blood to reconstitute Voldemort, who summoned the Death Eaters, and then he made me duel him."
"And you…?" asked Daphne.
"Fought him to a standstill, then I got away with Cedric Diggory's body and the goblet, which was really a port key," said Harry.
"And Lucius was there and saw all that?"
"Oh, yeah, right in front. Voldemort humiliated him before we got going on the duel," Harry said. He tried to fight it, in consideration of Cedric, but got a big grin at the memory.
"Anything else?"
"Ahh…" said Harry. "Well. The so-called Battle of the Department of Mysteries which was really more of a fight between two gangs. Our illegal student organization did well. Except for losing Sirius. That one put Lucius in Azkaban."
"Is that all?"
"No," said Harry.
"And?"
"The other stuff. That thing you saw. At Hogwarts," said Harry.
"So, is there any reason why Lucius Malfoy's presence should put you off stride?" Daphne asked.
"No," said Harry.
"Good," said Daphne. "I didn't think so. Lucius should be the one to break out in a cold sweat at the very thought of incurring your wrath. Now, when we get there and make the rounds, make sure you kiss their hands. Mother and Narcissa, of course, not the wizards. I see you wore your signets."
Harry held out his hands for Daphne to inspect.
"Nails trimmed and buffed, hands clean. I'm impressed, Lord Harry. Now, if Narcissa thinks she's going to work a little one-on-one magic, or if she just lets her self-control slip a bit, don't get swept away. I'll be right there, watching, and I'll take care of it," Daphne said. "So don't worry yourself over Narcissa. Do you still think she's hot? Tell the truth."
"Well, uh, as I said when I told you about all this…" said Harry, unable to get to the point.
"That's a yes," said Daphne, "Don't worry, I'm not offended. Narcissa is hot, as a matter of fact. You are distant Black cousins so the Black magic is probably, no, undoubtedly working in the background. My guess is she's going to be grateful to you for saving her child and husband and getting rid of a mortal threat to all three of them, probably for as long as she lives. You knew we needed to talk about it and you told me the truth. You have no idea what that does for me."
"Good?" asked Harry.
"Oh, my goodness yes, Harry Potter," said Daphne. "Now we go face something together again, our alliance strengthened by your honesty and trust in me. This is going exceedingly well."
Harry knew he'd never grasp all of that so he resolved to kiss the hands of the matriarchs, maintain a correct but studiedly neutral demeanor with the fathers of the prospective bride and groom, and not get sucked into conversations about recent history or business.
Daphne's briefing was critical, Harry confessed when they got back to London.
They weren't needed as auxiliaries to Cordelia, as they would have been for a ball. Harry and Daphne arrived as invited guests, a few minutes behind the Malfoys. Harry wore a normal business robe of conventional cut from a good fabric. An understated facsimile of Harry's Order of Merlin rosette was embroidered over his heart. Daphne lay her left wrist across Harry's right forearm and let him lead her through the central hallway of her childhood home.
Everyone stood when Harry and Daphne walked in. Cyrus broke away from the other five and met them just inside the door to the salon.
"Daphne," he said. Cyrus and Daphne did a little greeting embrace.
"And Harry," said Cyrus, extending his hand. "Welcome to our home. You know everyone, I'm sure?"
"Oh, at least well enough to put names to faces," Harry said. "How have you been, sir?"
Daphne kept up just the slightest pull to Harry's arm, steering them both toward the group of five.
"Mother," she said, giving Cordelia a kiss on the cheek.
"Lady Cordelia," said Harry, accepting Cordelia's offered hand in both of his and bringing it up to his lips. "An honor, as always."
Harry intended to keep his greetings for Lucius and Narcissa short. It occurred to him, when he had Cordelia's right hand half way to his lips that he didn't know the proper protocol for greeting the Malfoys.
"Madam," said Harry. He figured a wizard could never go wrong with 'Madam.' He stopped in front of Narcissa, heels together. She offered her hand. Harry took Narcissa's right hand in both of his and bent slightly at the waist.
"My lord," said Narcissa. Harry didn't have a grip on her hand, but he let it rest on his forefingers as he straightened up. Narcissa didn't seem to be in a hurry to take her hand back. As a matter of fact, her thumb lay on the web of Harry's right hand, making little stroking motions. 'My lord' took him by surprise so he had no follow-up ready. Harry recalled Daphne's comment about cousinhood and Black magic working in the background. He decided to let a little bit out, as a transition and just for the fun of seeing what it would do.
"Esteemed Cousin, what shall we do for this golden couple? A little something in their honor on the lawn or in the garden, to let the Blacks share in the joy?" Harry asked. "Or put Magical Britain on notice, as the case may be?"
Narcissa lit up and grinned a huge grin. Harry Potter, Lord Black, with a bit of help from Narcissa Black Malfoy had certainly put those gathered together in the Greengrass Manor salon on notice. Narcissa's smile said she thought Harry's subtle suggestion of an alliance between themselves was just fine. So did the sudden pressure of her grip on Harry's fingers.
"Whatever you think best," she said. "That really is your prerogative."
Daphne was getting stiff. Harry felt it even though they weren't physically touching. Someone had to do something. Dispensing his most gracious, 'Your servant, Madam,' Harry dropped his hands and stepped over to Lucius.
"Sir," he said, extending his hand. Lucius let Harry take the lead, then accepted Harry's hand.
"Lord Harry," he said, inclining a little, not quite bowing but still deferring to his senior in rank. Harry took a moment to allow Lucius and Daphne time for a minimal greeting.
"And the guests of honor," Harry said, leading now, placing his hand on Daphne's back and walking three paces to stand in front of Draco and Astoria. Daphne threw protocol out the window and reached for her sister. Harry and Draco stood back, smiling at the two as their clinch went on and on.
"Best wishes," Harry said as soon as Astoria was free. He expected a short, formal handshake but Astoria dropped her eyes, curtsied and murmured, "Lord Harry," before straightening up and accepting the hand Harry held out. Draco was last. He had a surprise ready as well.
"Lord Harry," said Draco. He stood at attention, heels together, and inclined his head before shaking Harry's hand.
Harry didn't have a lot of time to think through the formalities, the protocol followed, the protocol flouted, or the meaning of it all.
Fluff took drink orders. Draco and Astoria occupied a settee. Draco's feet were flat on the carpet, his hands on his knees. Astoria crossed her ankles and sat with her hands folded in her lap. Now and then Astoria, to underline a point, would reach across and touch Draco's hand, before returning to her original position. Narcissa sat in a chair at Draco's end of the settee, Cordelia on a chair next to Astoria. Small talk was made, along the lines Daphne had outlined for him. Harry stood with Daphne and paid attention to the social chit-chat focused on the happy couple. Cyrus and Lucius drifted a little further afield. Daphne dropped her arm and laid her near hand lightly on the middle of Harry's back. Harry joined the other wizards.
Tea was in the garden. Harry hadn't finished his firewhisky and water when the celebration moved outside. He hadn't meant to finish it, he'd just asked Fluff for something to hold along with the other wizards. He spotted a little trivet on an occasional table and put down his glass. The garden furniture was placed on a thick carpet of emerald green grass. Astoria had her shoes off as soon as she arrived, and Daphne joined her not long after.
Harry stood a little way off with Lucius and Cyrus. He didn't try to make small talk. He listened but looked mostly toward Daphne, alert for a summons. The two older wizards carried on a peculiar conversation. Harry noticed the absence of any political commentary. Cyrus didn't initiate anything related to business, and Lucius seemed to be happy with that.
When they'd finished their tea, Astoria announced she'd like to stretch her legs just a bit, if their mothers would excuse them. Narcissa and Cordelia did so, and the two intendeds walked around the garden paths, always staying in view of the larger party back on the lawn. After two complete trips around the garden, the couple's business was apparently concluded, and they rejoined the others.
"Mother, Father," said Draco. "We need to thank our host, and hostess."
Astoria was beaming. Her hand found Draco's and gave it a squeeze. She loosened up but held on.
Departure formalities ensued and were concluded. The Malfoys walked through Greengrass Manor to the front lawn, complimenting Cordelia and Cyrus on the décor, noticing this or that departed noble in the portraiture on the walls.
The elder Greengrass's flanked Astoria on the walk back to the front door, trailing Daphne and Harry. Astoria was visibly desperate to get her sister someplace private, so Harry kept Cyrus and Cordelia company for a bit. Cordelia gave her daughters ten minutes before taking her leave.
"Can you occupy yourselves with wizard-talk while I track them down?" Cordelia asked, standing and exiting without waiting for a response.
Cyrus looked at Harry, but didn't say anything. Harry grasped that if there were to be wizard-talk, he would have to initiate it. He had trouble coming up with a subject. Harry didn't want to talk about the Wizengamot because he knew too little about Cyrus' positions on the current issues. Business was out because Harry and Daphne had taken the reins of the Greengrass business interests. Perhaps worse, Cyrus had once accused Harry of seducing Daphne for the specific purpose of using her as his instrument to acquire Greengrass Manor. For all Harry knew he still thought that way. Besides that, Daphne had taken the lead in leveraging Harry's control of the lien on the manor to force Cyrus to open up his financial records so that she could impose a recovery plan. Even if the plan was working, which it was, Cyrus' pride was hurt, and would probably stay hurt for a good long time.
Harry had to break the silence somehow, so he circled back to an issue before the Wizengamot. It wasn't politics, exactly, nor business, but definitely related. The bulk of taxes wizards paid came back to real estate, somehow. Land was taxed, with different rates for agricultural land, family housing, commercial use, and so on. Renters paid since part of the rent money for a flat or house passed straight through the landlord's account to the Ministry. There was a proposal to increase an existing tax on commercial transactions and professional services in order to freeze property taxes. A minority, third-way bill would increase the tax in order to actually roll back the property tax, although few serious observers thought the bill would ever generate enough support to make it to a vote.
"Cyrus, you have more experience than I do with the tax system, where do you think these tax bills are headed?" Harry asked.
Cyrus held several opinions, as it turned out, and not all of them were self-contradictory. He was actually very well-informed, with a grasp of the history of the present system and how the proposed changes would affect different constituencies.
"We pay more, of course, presently, because the taxes on land could be frozen or lowered if they made up the revenue from a commercial tax increase," Cyrus began. "I don't know how someone like you, or Daphne, would be affected. You collect rent, of course…"
"Um-hmm," said Harry, "And I have a little farmland rented out that's attached to the country house."
Cyrus paused.
"Anything that would be subject to the commercial tax increase?"
"Not that I can think of," said Harry, adding, "Unless I think of a product I can sell."
"So you'd benefit if the tax on commercial transactions went up, assuming they'd really freeze the land tax."
Harry puzzled over the seeming contradiction. His own family had taken Cyrus' responsibility as their main provider away from him because he'd proven to be incompetent. At the same time, he had a solid understanding of a complex Wizengamot debate over tax policy, down to the level of how the real-life citizen would be affected by the proposed changes.
Harry gave Daphne a big smile when she returned with Cordelia and Astoria. He was glad to see her, of course. He was really glad, though, that she was extracting him from his conversation with Cyrus. Harry couldn't say exactly why, but something about it was making him sad.
The group of five made a little more small talk, mostly compliments directed at Astoria, assuring her Draco seemed to be just about the best intended ever, and assurances they'd both be very happy together. Before long, though, Daphne judged they'd been there just long enough, and anything more would be excess.
"Mr. Potter," she said.
"Healer?" Harry replied.
"I'm afraid I must impose on you, if you're ready," said Daphne.
"Never an imposition," said Harry, offering an arm once again. Harry walked Daphne to the front lawn and one disapparation later they arrived at a discreet apparation point in Daphne's London neighborhood.
"You were the day's big hit," said Daphne when they got back to her flat.
"Really?" said Harry. "I'd have thought Astoria, then Draco. He has changed a lot, by the way."
"Yeah," Daphne said. "We are all a few years older, so that's to be expected. The ladies were so pleased your lordship found their hands suitable for kissing. They don't get a lot of that kind of gallantry, these days, is my guess."
"It wasn't too bad," Harry said. "The tea, the conversation. I'll get better, with your help."
Harry looked into Daphne's eyes. She looked back.
"You may not know this, Harry, but when you tell a certain kind of witch you want her by your side, navigating life and society, together, she begins to update her plans for her personal life."
"Are you that kind of witch, Healer Daphne?" Harry asked. "Because I can tell you several times a day, if you don't think it will get old."
"Um," Daphne said, her minimal acknowledgement of Harry's offer indicating she suspected he was being just the least little bit facetious. "We need to talk about Narcissa, Harry."
"Do we?" asked Harry.
"Yes," said Daphne, suddenly all seriousness. "You two respond to one another. The other's presence, most likely. Be very careful when you're around her. My advice would be to never let yourselves be alone together."
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked. "We barely spoke, aside from one exchange, when you and I were greeting everyone. You were right there."
"The way she looked at you," said Daphne, "The way she called you 'My Lord' when she is senior in age and the mother of one of the guests of honor. Your offer to collaborate on a little joint hospitality got a deferential response. A very positive and deferential response, if I may."
"Anything between Narcissa and me would blow up her family, you and me, possibly Draco and Astoria," said Harry. "She'd never do that. Are you sure she wasn't just vibrating to a little Black resonance, there in close quarters?"
Daphne looked Harry in the eye.
"Harry, you don't know witches," she said.