Chapter Seventeen: Proper Lyrics Evade Me
Stepping onto the train, the Slytherin first years chose the very last compartment of the train to pile into. Then they were joined by three Hufflepuffs, then three Ravenclaws, then two Gryffindors. The compartment expanded to fit all of them comfortably, and that made Harry curious.
"Just wondering, is it possible for the train to be completely full?" he asked, and the three Ravenclaws (and Hermione) all shook their head.
"If they were so inclined, every student on the train could have their own compartment," Morag replied. "It adds compartments as new ones are desired."
"Oh," Harry replied, frowning.
"Tell us what's wrong," Blaise said, crossing his arms.
"When I sat with Ron Weasley on the way up, it was because he said every compartment was full except mine," Harry replied, and everyone else in the compartment started frowning.
"Well, he lied," Lisa replied, crossing her arms.
"Leave it to the Ravenclaw…" Draco muttered, and the compartment filled with chuckles.
"So, are we planning on getting together over the break?" Morag asked. "We can do our homework together, and study for what we'll miss while we're gone."
"But we can't do magic outside of school," Hermione said.
"Actually, if you do it at the right place, you can. The wards around most of the older familial homes, such as Malfoy Manor, Longbottom Manor, Bones Manor, et cetera, mask underage magic," Lisa replied.
"That's not very fair to those who don't have access to those wards," Hermione replied, frowning.
"Such is life," Susan replied, shrugging. "But whose place would we visit?"
"Well, Harry's staying with Daphne, so we can try to get to her place," Hannah suggested.
"It's been awhile since I've seen Astoria," Theo noted, and nodded, a slightly exicited look on his face.
"You will wait until my sister is at least in third year before making any sort of advance on her," Daphne growled.
"Yes ma'am," Theo replied, leaning away from her and putting his hands in the air.
"We can owl each other with plans, but we could try for three days from now," Pansy suggested.
"Yeah, we need time to let scarhead here have time to stop by the Alleys to get another wand," Blaise teased, nudging into Harry.
"I suppose if we'll be going by the Alleys anyway, I can take you shopping for proper clothes," Daphne said, and several of the boys groaned.
The train ride passed without much to note as the group continued to chat.
When the train pulled into the platform, the members of the glorified study group waited until most of the train was empty before heading out. They drug their trunks out and met their various guardians. Harry greeted Lord and Lady Malfoy and Madame Bones, and met Lord Nott, Madame Zabini, Healer and Mr. Abbott, Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Lord and Lady MacDougal, Madame Turpin and Lord and Lady Turpin, Lord and Lady Patil, Crabbe Sr. and Goyle Sr., Lord and Lady Parkinson, Lord and Lady Bulstrode, Mr. and Mrs. Davis, Dr. and Dr. Granger, and Lady Longbottom. Daphne waited to introduce him to her parents and sister until after all the other introductions had been made.
Two regal-looking adults and a young girl walked over, and Daphne greeted them with reservation.
"Oh, come now, none of that," the strawberry blonde woman said, bending down to wrap her arms around her daughter. "It has been far too long since I last saw you- you've grown so much!"
Daphne returned the hug, then upon her release turned to introduce Harry.
"Mum, Dad, this is Harry Potter. Harry, these are my parents, Lord Cyrus Greengrass and Lady Amaranth Greengrass, and my little sister, Astoria," Daphne said, and Harry shook Lord Greengrass' hand before turning to his wife.
He bowed and gently kissed the back of the offered hand. "I now understand where Daphne inherited her beauty from." He turned to Astoria, and kissed the back of her hand, to the little brunette's giggles. "Daphne has told a great many stories about you in the Slytherin common room. The upper years are especially impressed with the tales of your precociousness, and your sister already has to fend off possible suitors." Harry sent a meaningful glance at Theo, who stuck his tongue out.
"Well, we should not tarry much longer," Lord Greengrass said. "Jazzy!"
A house-elf dressed in an actual uniform appeared. "Master be calling?"
"Jazzy, take Daphne and Mr. Potter's luggage to the Manor, and place Daphne's in her room and Mr. Potter's in the main guest room," Lord Greengrass ordered, and Jazzy bowed and did as told.
"I am guessing we will be seeing more of all of you during this unexpected break," Lady Greengrass said to the assembled students and parents. "A week from now, I wish to invite all of you to our Manor for a social gathering. It shall be semi-formal, and will start at eleven a.m. in the ballroom."
Megan and Hermione both looked awestruck.
"We have to get dress robes!" Megan said, turning to Hermione.
"We can get them if we stay at the Leaky Cauldron, or…" Hermione trailed off, and looked at her parents.
"Well, we would like to get to see more of you this break, but if your friend will be staying at this inn…" Dr. Emma Granger said.
"I will, Mum and Dad already said I could, and Justin and Wayne will be staying too," Megan replied.
Emma looked at her husband, Dan, and he nodded.
"Just be careful, okay sweetie," he said, hugging his daughter. She nodded ferociously against his shoulder.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of her, and when Mandy gets there, we'll be able to- maybe- drag her out of the bookshops, or maybe Mandy will be too stuck, too…" Megan said, looking thoughtful, and the Greengrasses took this as their cue to start leading Harry over to a… fireplace?
"You've never Flooed before, so what you do is take a handful of the powder, throw it in the fire, step in, and say your destination clearly. Before you come flying out of the other fireplace, you want to twist in the direction opposite of the way you were spinning so that you come out on your feet," Daphne said, and Harry nodded. Astoria and Lady Greengrass went first, then Daphne, and then it was Harry's turn.
It was sickening. He remembered what Daphne said, and kind of did that, semi-not-so-successfully, and stumbled out of the fireplace, almost as green as the flames. He came out in a study of sorts. There were bookshelves full of novels and a reddish oak desk with a matching- comfortable-looking- chair. The carpet was a rich reddish-brown that matched the desk and chair. The walls were painted light blue.
"Well, you didn't land on your face," Daphne said, nodding. "Come on, I'll show you where your room will be and then we can meet for dinner." She grabbed his arm, and led him off to the door. It opened into a hallway done in the same colors.
"You don't know much about wizarding history- Binns and your guardian saw to that- but my family is known for our talent with herbs and Herbology, which translates into Potions as well. Our colors are burnt sienna and sky blue, representing the earth and sky. Our shield is a burnt sienna poppy on a backdrop of sky blue," Daphne said. "Historically Greengrasses were predominantly Hufflepuffs, with the occasional Slytherin or Ravenclaw. The last few generations saw an influx of Slytherin Greengrasses."
Harry smiled wistfully. "It's nice that you can understand so much about your history."
"We have a few books on pureblood lineage in the library, but you'd be much better off looking in Potter Manor for information about the bloodline," Daphne said. "I do know that a Greengrass married into the Potter line multiple times, but the Potters were always closer to the Blacks and Longbottoms."
"Thanks," Harry said, and Daphne nodded. They continued walking a bit, before Daphne broke the silence.
"The Potters were craftsmen in ancient times- Electra Potter's wands are rare, but well sought-after. However, in the beginning of the thirteenth century, they became known for their fighting prowess. A Potter- Lysander Potter- married Brande Gryffindor, the only person in the world whom was still carrying the Gryffindor name. From then, their children became warriors with abilities that became legend. The Potter line has had a couple who could claim the title of Dark Lord or Lady- Rastaban Potter and Zakutchiri Lysander Potter." Daphne stopped talking and walking, and blushed. "That's all I can remember from lessons."
"It's more than I had before." Harry looked Daphne in the eyes. "Thank you."
Daphne blushed and nodded. "The last Greengrass to marry into the Potter family was Amelia Greengrass, at the beginning of the eighteenth century."
"So we're distantly related," Harry said, smiling.
"You're closer related to Neville or Draco than you are to me," Daphne replied.
"Yeah," Harry replied. "Anyways, what should I wear to dinner?"
"Well, you don't have any good clothes other than your Hogwarts robes, but I can't imagine Mum and Dad inviting anyone to dinner," Daphne said. "But don't worry, Mum and Dad won't be too upset if you do go to dinner in your Hogwarts robes."
"Okay," Harry replied, nodding.
"Or you could just stick with what you're wearing," Daphne replied. "They won't care."
"Okay," Harry said. "You know them best."
Just then they arrived at a door, and Daphne opened it.
"This is your room," she said, leading him in.
He gaped.
The room was huge. It had a king-sized four-poster bed in the center. It had light blue curtains and its sheets were burnt sienna and gold and it had so many pillows. The carpet was the same color as the bedspread, and the walls were white. The curtains on the windows matched the curtains on the bed. There were bookshelves along one wall, filled with books, and there was a desk under one of the huge windows. There was a door that probably led to a bathroom, and there was a table with more of those comfortable chairs.
"Wow," Harry finally managed to say, especially after he noticed his trunk sitting in a corner of the room.
"I'm glad you like it. Now, come, let us sup with my family," Daphne said, and lead Harry through more halls and past a large library to a huge dining hall. Daphne, however, led Harry past that and into a smaller chamber just off the main dining hall. There was a round table set for five, and Daphne and Harry took seats between Astoria and Lady Greengrass.
"Good evening, mother, father," Daphne said as she sat, and Harry respectfully dipped his head towards Lord and Lady Greengrass.
"Daphne, please, you don't have to use such formalities with us," Lord Greengrass said, then turned to Harry. "Are those the best clothes you have to wear?"
Harry blushed and found himself suddenly unable to reply.
"The muggles he was raised by care nothing for him," Daphne said for him, and Lord and Lady Greengrass frowned.
"Then we must visit the Alleys tomorrow," Lady Greengrass proclaimed.
"We… Needed to do that anyway," Daphne said. "Harry's wand kind of… Exploded the other day."
"Do tell," Lord Greengrass said, fixing Harry with his blue-eyed stare.
"Uh… There was a troll, and it was threatening a couple of my friends, so I used an overpowered deturbo and my wand shattered in my hand," Harry replied, shrinking back.
"Well obviously you were too powerful for that wand," Lady Greengrass said, shaking her head. "Honestly, the wands of Ollivander's are degrading in quality every generation. Daphne has an Allaraian wand, and Astoria will too."
"My wand's Alder with Demiguise hair and Hippogriff feather, twelve and a half inches, and inflexible, in case you were wondering," Daphne said.
"Oh," Harry said.
"So, we shall go to the Alleys tomorrow. I will leave all the shopping with you and Daphne, and I will take Astoria to Fortescue's and then to look at familiars," Lord Greengrass said, and Lady Greengrass smiled.
"Of course, dear. I will indeed let you get out of the 'torture' of shopping with us," she said, and Daphne giggled while Astoria bounced excitedly in her chair.
Conversation was halted as food appeared on the plates. The food looked amazing- even if it was just sandwiches. But when Harry bit into his, he found it to taste much better than the food at Hogwarts.
"We heard about you taking nutrient potions, so we had the elves make something more healthful. I hope you don't mind," Lady Greengrass said.
"No, thanks, this is delicious," Harry said, smiling.
"I will be sure to pass your compliments on to Flory and the others. Honestly, Headmaster Dumbledore has the elves cook too much fatty food," Lady Greengrass replied.
"I know," Daphne said, sighing.
"Out of curiosity, what house were you and your husband in?" Harry asked.
"I was a Ravenclaw," Lady Greengrass replied. "Cyrus was in Slytherin a year ahead of me."
"I remember," Lord Greengrass replied. "I remember when you were just the annoying little know-it-all, and I thought 'how could I live with this girl?'"
"Then you failed your exams and had to repeat a year. Honestly, Professor Lancashire looked like he was going to explode he was so mad," Lady Greengrass replied.
"And then little Amaranth Greenberg tutored me," Lord Greengrass said.
"Speaking of my maiden name, isn't Ouroboros' oldest entering Hogwarts next year?" Lady Greengrass asked.
"He's your brother, not mine," Lord Greengrass replied. "But yes, Auranto is entering Hogwarts next year. Maria is convinced he will be a Ravenclaw."
Dinner eventually passed, Lady Greengrass calling for Harry to be served seconds. He enjoyed learning about Daphne's family, and her little sister was very precocious- and the sassiest little girl ever, in his opinion. Eventually, he changed into his pajamas and fell asleep.
He dreamed he was lying on a giant ball of fluff.
Life all of a sudden got very busy. Had several days of community service, a concert, and finals. Phew glad that's over. Anyways, here it is. I will try to update on Wednesday and should succeed given that next week is not supposed to be as busy as this last one. All I have is a concert and a Christmas party, soooo yeah.
Question: If I were to write one-shots which take place before the beginning of the story proper, such as about the history mentioned in the series, or the characters before they go to Hogwarts or even possibly while they are at Hogwarts, would you read them?
Next Time: Standard cliche Gringott's visit with Greengrasses, obligatory shopping trip, and they learn a little about brooms.
