Harry paced in the opulent room he had been given to sleep in for the summer. He felt like a lion in a guilt cage. He changed out of his uniform, put it in the laundry hamper he found in the bathroom, and put on his a pair of jeans and regular t-shirt that used to be Dudley's. He wanted desperately to just relax in comfort. Lunch was good, but it had felt almost like an interrogation.
Daphne had noticed that Harry seemed to need space after lunch, so she went to her room and relaxed in a hot bath. She had soaked for an hour, before getting out and taking a nap on her bed. When she woke up, she realized that it was later than she thought. It was almost time for dinner.
Daphne decided she wanted to take Harry for a walk around the grounds before dinner began. She stretched and went to her armoire to find her best gown for the dinner party her father had told her was happening tonight. He had said that a few of the family's closest friends would be celebrating her and Astoria's success in school. This happened every summer, and she usually enjoyed the party and attention.
The dress she chose was a floor length emerald green dress with gold embroidery on the bodice and a gently flowing skirt. Hopefully Harry would enjoy seeing her in the dress.
Now she only had to explain about the dinner party to Harry. Daphne rolled her eyes at the idea of giving her boyfriend the news that he would now be thrust into an upscale dinner party. She had noticed that he seemed to be having trouble accepting the lifestyle her family was used too. She finished her hair and makeup, put on her shoes and stepped out of her bedroom to walk to Harry's room. Upon reaching his room, she stopped and took a deep, steadying breath before knocking lightly on the door.
Harry sighed as he got up from the bed and sauntered over to the door and opened it only to see Daphne dressed to the nines once more. He asked curiously, "Is this a normal thing for you?"
"Kind of," she said blushing a bit. "Daddy informed me that we are having a dinner party with some close family and friends tonight. It's a normal homecoming for Astoria and I. But I thought we might go for a walk around the grounds before the party."
"Well I would rather not embarrass you in front of your family by not having anything up to your standards to wear tonight, but sure, I'll take the walk," he replied softly.
"Come with me," she said with a smile as she drug him down the hall to another room. "This is my eldest brother's room. I'm sure he won't mind if you borrow some of the clothes he left behind when he moved out of the house," she said as they walked to the wardrobe and opened it. "Here this will do," she handed him an all black suit with an emerald green tie.
"A Slytherin through and through, huh?" He asked Daphne as he began removing his t-shirt and put on the black button up shirt.
She looked at him, unsure of how he would take what she wanted to say, "We are proud of our house, just as you are proud to be a Gryffindor. I am not apologizing for what Hogwarts House my family tends to be sorted into." She smiled to show him that she wasn't trying to hurt him.
"It's okay. I have no ties to any house," he replied softly, as he put on the formal slacks and the belt.
She smiled softly at him and stepped closer to him, "I hope this isn't too much for you." She wrapped the tie around his neck and tied it for him, gently tugging it into place.
"It's fine. I will adjust," he replied as he shrugged into the dinner jacket, though he felt entirely out of place, he still wanted to reassure his gorgeous girlfriend. He slicked back his hair slightly before he situated his collar to look neat and tidy. Harry searched the wardrobe to see if Daphne's brother had left any shoes he might be able to wear with the suit she had picked for him. He looked and found a shiny pair of black pointed toe shoes that happened to be his size. When he finished putting them on, he stood up and kissed Daphne sweetly, "I'm ready for that walk, if you'll still have me," he said with a smile holding her close.
She smiled at him, her face flushed with a glorious pink blush, "Of course I will have you. Let's take our walk, we have about an hour before the guests start arriving," she responded.
He nodded and the pair headed out of her brother's room. Daphne led him out of the mansion and into the gardens. The gardens, which she and her father planted themselves, had every known flower and plant that would grow in British soil: Muggle and wizard alike. She was proud of their gardens.
When they walked through the garden entrance, a wall of fragrance permeated the air like a cloud. It was breathtaking. Harry was in awe of the beauty that surrounded him. He could see that Daphne was proud of her gardens as she pointed out different plants that were her favorite. As they walked, Harry kept his hands to himself and felt like he didn't belong anywhere, especially not amongst such opulent beauty.
"Harry are you alright?" She asked softly, noticing his silence as she explained the uses of a particular plant.
"I am trying to be, but I'm not used to this, Daphne. The dressing up for every meal, the dinner parties, and the expansive gardens outside a truly huge manor, it is all foreign to me," he replied simply as he looked away slightly, but he continued to walk with her.
She nodded, unsure of what to say, since she knew this was all foreign to him. She would just have to have patience with her boyfriend. They walked in silence as they went deeper into the maze of garden paths. Harry looked around in wonder and confusion. He wasn't sure how they were going to get out; he hadn't a clue as to which way they came in from.
Her ring warmed slightly, letting her know it was time to go in for dinner. "Harry, we need to go in now," she said quietly.
"Okay, but ho-" Harry began before realizing that Daphne had already started her way through the maze, "You know how to get back, don't you?"
She smiled and nodded at him as she took his arm and continued along the maze of paths, "My father and I planned and planted this garden ourselves. I know this place better than Hogwarts." Soon the couple had arrived back at the the entrance to the kitchen. They stepped into the house, and Daphne led him to the ballroom where the guests would be gathered until dinner was served.
Daphne and Harry walked into the ballroom, where a few couples were dancing but most were chatting. Daphne held her head high and smiled brightly, seeing faces she had missed for at least a year, some for much longer. She shot Harry a glance and saw that he wore a look of restless discontent. Daphne shifted beside him uncomfortably.
Harry had begun to feel very uneasy at the sight of all the unfamiliar faces. He reached up with his free hand and loosened his tie a bit, he felt strangled by the wretched thing.
Daphne linked her arm with his and drew him nearer to her, "Relax Harry, no one will harm you here. I promise," she whispered to him softly in a very calming tone.
"No, it just feels like I don't belong here, with you, like I don't belong anywhere," he responded equally as softly. As he continued to walk around the ballroom, the desire to go back to his room grew insurmountably.
Daphne stopped walking and turned to stand in front of him, "but Harry, I want you here and Daddy wants you here. Isn't that enough?" They were both painfully aware that they were in a crowded room, but no one was really paying attention to them.
"Yeah of course, it's just that," he paused searching for words, "have you ever felt on the outside looking in no matter what you do?" He pulled her closer to him and saw that she understood what he was saying by the look in her eyes.
"Yes, every time I go to Hogwarts," she responded softly. "The Slytherins aren't always nice to me, simply because my father and I support you openly rather than He Who Must Not Be Named." She looked at the floor through the small gap between them. "It was why, when we began to get close, Harry, I started to feel as if I had a purpose in helping you in anyway I could. That meant giving you my all, my love especially. You needed both, help and to be loved."
"I understand that Daph, but, gods you really don't understand how I am feeling do you?" He seethed, his voice barely audible. "Pretending the world outside these walls isn't trying to kill me, even for a night, is wrong. I have to focus on how I am going to defeat a megalomaniac, three times my age, who has tried to kill me numerous times before, with more magical ability than I have and an army of followers who are all hell bent on genocide of people of different blood status. It's utterly ridiculous. I have no idea how to act normal when my life has been anything but normal!"
Her tone became icy as anger flared in her, she stepped closer to him, "If you wish to leave the party, you may. The door is right there. I should have never pushed you into this party, and for that I am sorry," she finished quietly, her tone calming slightly as sadness entered it. She knew he would choose to take her offer to leave.
Harry nodded as he said, "I will make it up to you. Please forgive me." Harry sighed as he glanced around the ballroom, at the people who were staring at them, as he walked away from his teary-eyed girlfriend and through the door leading to the main corridor.
Daphne watched as he left, angry with him as well as herself, and sad that he didn't stay even for her sake. She wiped the tears away, composed herself, and turned to face her homecoming party only to bump into her father. "Oh! Hi Daddy," she stuttered, as she stared at the floor, trying desperately not to cry.
"Angry at the young Mr. Potter, dear?" He asked his daughter with a soft smile.
"And myself, Daddy. Mostly myself. I pushed him too hard," she cried as she flung her arms around her father's waist.
"Sweetie, you have to understand that this is a whole new world compared to the Muggle home he grew up in. Especially when you consider the extra lengths they went to keep magic out of their home. You can't expect him to be okay with this, not in one night," he replied as he held Daphne tight.
"Yes sir, I understand, but I had hoped he'd at least try and be here with me at my party. I wouldn't have minded as much if he had left later, but we haven't even eaten dinner," she sobbed into her father's expensive black suit jacket.
"I understand my beloved, but you must remember to be understanding, all relationships are built on trust, understanding, and communication," He instructed as he lifted her chin to look at his calming face.
She nodded at him, and finally pulled away from him and wiped her tears from her face. "Thank you for talking with me. I think I will be okay now, I love you." She said with a soft smile.
He smiled and led his daughter to the head of the ballroom to announce the start of dinner. "Sonorous," he whispered holding his wand to his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to invite you to follow Daphne, Astoria, and myself to the formal dining room for dinner. Dinner will begin shortly. If you would all follow us," he commanded, as he turned and led Daphne to the formal dining room, as the rest of the guests followed behind them.
Dinner went of without a hitch. Everyone ate and talked and laughed. They seemed to have fun. When dinner had finished most of the guests retired back to the ballroom for drinks while others left for their homes. Daphne roamed the room speaking to a few friends and acquaintances. She came upon her father, who was standing next to a woman who was wearing the ugliest color of pink. She wasn't even wearing formal wear, but was dressed in a business dress suit. Pink skirt, pink shirt, pink jacket, even a gods awful pink hat. It almost made Daphne want to lose her dinner.
"Hello, Daddy," Daphne said softly as she stepped up to his side. She looked to the woman in pink and smiled softly, "Hello, my name is Daphne. Who are you?" she asked, her tone slightly defensive. Something about the woman just did not sit well with Daphne.
"Daphne, mind your tone dear," her father scolded, lightly.
"Yes, father," Daphne responded to him.
"This, Daphne, is an associate of mine from work, Dolores Umbridge. She is heading a project I am working on. She will also be yours, Astoria's, and young Harry's Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts next year," Mr. Greengrass explained calmly, though Daphne could hear the underlaid tone of irritation with the woman's presence.
"Miss Greengrass, I do hope you are not too terribly hurt by Mr. Potter's actions earlier. That was terribly rude of him to leave you alone at your own party. After all, you have graciously given him sanctuary from his Muggle aunt and uncle's home," she simpered, with a disgusted look on her face.
"Erm, well Ms. Umbridge, that is not for you to decide. It is also none of your business," Daphne said sternly.
"Daphne Leslie," her father scolded her for the second time.
"I apologize father," Daphne acknowledged as she rolled her eyes in irritation, "Well I am going to continue to mingle with the other guests. I will see you later daddy," she said making her escape from the wretched woman's gaze as fast as her feet would take her without looking too horribly obvious.
The music played late into the night, Daphne had danced herself into exhaustion. When her great uncle Ignatius was finally distracted with talking to her father rather than telling her his "amazing" stories, which bored her to death, she found the nearest exit and slipped into the corridor to walk to her room.
She had walked only a few yards down the dark corridor before bumping into something. Before she knew it, she heard an irritatingly high-pitched voice speak.
"Lumos," the voice said suddenly casting light into the pitch black corridor, "You know, you really shouldn't walk around in the dark. You never know what may be hiding within it."
As Daphne realized who was standing in front of her, words slipped from her mouth before she even thought about them, "You know, it is rude to go skulking about someone else's home in the dark. I suggest you not do it in mine again," The moment her words left her mouth she felt a blistering sting spread across her left cheek as Umbridge struck her.
"Was that a threat young lady? I am sure that the Ministry would not take lightly to one of its workers' bratty child threatening a Ministry official. You know, I really hate children," Umbridge threatened.
"Then you have no business at Hogwarts," Daphne snapped back out of sheer agitation.
Umbridge backed Daphne against the wall and took a fist full of her hair. She covered the young witch's mouth and whispered into her ear, "I will be in control of Hogwarts before the year is out. It will happen, nothing you can do will stop it. You and your little friends had better watch out. I can and will make your life a living hell, but no one would ever believe you if you say anything about this conversation," Umbridge pulled away from the trembling girl, turned and walked away as if nothing had just transpired.
Daphne's eyes filled with tears as she burst into a full speed-run, falling as soon as she tried to run up the stairs in her heels. She pulled her shoes off and rushed up the flights of stairs to Harry's room, as she sobbed in fear the whole way.