Different Worlds

A/N: I just noticed the error on site so I'm reposting it.

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Chapter 2

The Greengrass Manor:

Around seven pm:
Grey clouds covered the sky above as even nature reflected the general mood of the family. Currently the entire family and one Sirius Black found themselves in the parlor. Sirius had just come for visit and small chat over a glass of wine.

Aletta noticed that everyone was present except for Daphne and Astoria. She cleared her mind of all her thoughts on the young witches, "Sebastian why have you called us here?" she did notice the tension the couple were in, "What is the matter?"

Sebastian was holding onto a letter in a tight clasp, his mind was running a mile per second. Miranda took his hand and pressed it calm him down, they shared a look. He eased a bit sorting through his mind and then looked back at Aletta, "Daphne is not in her room."

Aletta narrowed her eyes, "And what is that supposed to mean."

"She had an educational trip planned for this week since a month prior. And she has left for it." Sebastian remained as neutral as he could.

Aletta scowled, she could very well see through the plot, "oh and will you enlighten me on why wasn't I informed about this earlier."

Sebastian maintained his façade he had to pull this through lest his daughter would be in deep trouble. He loved her more than his life but there are sometimes you have to go against your loved ones to protect them from the situation. And that was the sole reason he had to agree with Aletta's wish of allowing Malfoy to see Daphne even though he himself was completely against it.

This all had started right after demise of his father-

Sebastian and Miranda found themselves in his father's study heeding to the call of his stepmother. Sebastian took a sip of his lemon mint tea as Aletta started speaking.

"Sebastian, Miranda I have called you here to discuss some important decisions regarding the future of our family."

Sebastian kept his cup down and gave the woman his full attention. Not that he suspected what she would throw next.

"As you know that the name Greengrass is still new to the society. Though it has created a firm place in the society and wields quite an influence and power. And it is necessary that we maintain this position while trying to reach for higher zenith."

Sebastian nodded in agreement, as he would certainly wanted progress for his family.

"I'm glad you agree with me. As you know there are two very important factors that define status, money and society. Now as far as far money goes, we all know that the Greengrass business is safe within your adept hands.

And to keep in the society we need friendship and alliances."

Sebastian and Miranda saw where this woman was pointing to, something they would never agree to, "And what of these alliances, mother?"

"Ahh, since we already have the alliance of Blacks through me. So I thought that we should now extend our hands of friendship to some the other well respected families. And what a better way than marriage contracts."

Sebastian calmly reasoned with her, "You already know what father thought of this custom. And I completely agree with him. I'm sorry but I can't help you with this anymore."

"But he is no more around so I don't think you have to abide by his rule anymore."

Sebastian interrupted struggling to remain polite, "This was not a rule but an ideology which I agree to."

Aletta smiled sweetly, "Times change my son. Now now let's not waste our time. As I was saying, marriage contracts. Now correct me if I'm wrong, the Malfoy scion Draco Malfoy, is in the same year as Daphne. And it so happens that yesterday while I was visiting my sister Walburga I happen to meet the current head of family of Malfoy's, Lucius. And he suggested an interesting proposal of alliance between our families. Here is draft of the contract which he suggested. Now I want both of you to go through it and then deal with Lucius. For my part I already agree with him and rest lies with you. I hope you will come to the right decision."

Sebastian didn't even spare a glance at the scroll, "I have already told you my decision on the matter, I don't agree with any of these illogical traditions." he got up and left.

Miranda broke her silence, "I'm with my husband in his decision. And I request you to drop this matter, for I have complete faith in my daughters that they will chose a worthy groom for themselves." She stood up and nodded to her, "Good night Mrs. Greengrass." and left after Sebastian.

Marriage contract itself was despicable and that too with Malfoys it was completely out of question. Sebastian knew why Aletta was trying to push for this. Malfoys were one of the ardent supporters of the Dark Lord. And his power was well known to all pureblood families. But Greengrass had remained neutral last time and he would see to it that it remained so.

Then a few days after this discussion he was approached by Lucius Malfoy himself and with some 'encouragement' on Aletta's side he had review his decision. He really had no choice currently; he needed time to find a way out.

But right now situation was different, he would support Daphne else he didn't know what this morbid woman would do to his daughter. And this would also buy them some time to find a way out.

"I'm to be blamed for this."

Aletta raised an eyebrow at his declaration.

"Actually she had informed me of this trip a month ago. And during all this time among all the events I forgot about it. She said she had been assigned to visit some famous places of her choice and research on the ancient runic scriptures used."

Aletta's steely gaze never left his eyes, "Do you really think I will believe you?"

Sebastian sighed, "Here is her Hogwarts list of homework you can cross check through it for your satisfaction." He was glad that they indeed had given such task to Daphne so he didn't have to forge it.

Aletta cross checked but couldn't find a flaw, "Fine we will shift her schedule with Draco. But Sebastian, next time please be careful that such small issues don't interfere with my plans."

Sebastian nodded, "I will see to it." He got up and left with Miranda and Sirius.

Aletta thought for asking Sirius to go after Daphne but then Sirius was much closer to Sebastian than her. And besides she needed to be patient she was sure gradually she would be able to make the girl agree to her. And Draco did have a year ahead of him with her, so missing a couple of evenings wouldn't matter. She sipped her tea to relieve the day's tension.

….ooooo0000oooo…

Sebastian was sitting in his study with Miranda, Sirius and Astoria.

Miranda sighed heavily and looked at her daughter. Both Daphne and Astoria were splitting images of her. She was trying to hold herself together but the tension of Daphne's well being was eating her throughout. She pleaded, "Astoria dear, please be honest with us and tell us where she is."

Astoria was torn to see her mother like this; she definitely didn't picture it to become like this. The guilt was welling up inside her, but she really didn't know where Daphne had gone, "Mom I'm sorry it was my idea. But I honestly don't know where she is. I just helped her escape. She said though that she would remain in London, but where I don't know." Astoria was truly helpless right now.

Sebastian didn't comment on this, he didn't know what to say. All he wanted was his daughter to be safe. He looked at Astoria and saw that she was being honest. He didn't have choice now did he? He would have to search throughout London.

Sirius was also concerned for Daphne's safety and with recent rise of The Dark Lord, situation became direr. It was indeed wrong on Daphne's part to run away like this but they understood her feelings. She was rebelling for her freedom and she was right there.

Sebastian who was still staring at Astoria noticed something. Astoria was wearing a golden chain with solitaire diamond within. Sirius had gifted both girls these twin pendants that would allow them to keep a track on the girls.

He quickly went near Astoria to examine them, "Sirius these pendants you gifted to the girls."

Cog wheels turned in his head as Sirius understood what Sebastian wanted to say, "How could I forget about them. Well it's good that it came out early."

Hope lit in Miranda's eyes as finally they had a lead to Daphne, "Sirius I think it would be better if only you go. If she sees anyone of us she would try to escape again."

Sebastian agreed, "Yes it is better if you go. Wherever she is, just keep a look on her and keep us informed."

"I know as soon as I find her I will let you know. Don't worry she's my goddaughter do you really think I would let anything happen to her. Just hold yourself strong, she won't be far off." Sirius reassured them.

He left the manor and checked for the position of pendant, "Whiteshell street that's not far."

….ooooo0000oooo…

Daphne after shopping for a little more had then retired back to her room. She had bought some necessary muggle clothes and few more accessories. She then neatly settled the shrunk bags in her bottomless purse. Then she went for a good shower to relax after a taxing day.

After a long bath, she settled on bed thinking about what to do next. Then she saw this big black box with an equally dark glass attached to it. "Now what do these muggles have here?"

She went nearer to it. The box was closed from all sides with no lid to open, "Strange why keep a box, in which you won't store a thing." Then she saw that form behind it two thick black threads came out and went into the holes through a small white wooden board on the wall. She tried to pull them but nothing happened so she left it like that.

Then she noticed that there was a smaller box of odd shape with many buttons on it. She picked it up to examine it. There were buttons with numbers on them, then there was a big red button under which Power was written. She thought for a second and then pressed it.

"BOOM"

"RATTATT"

"JOHN COME OUT YOU CAN'T HIDE"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" screaming she quickly ducked down flat on her chest and covered her head, and kept expecting the box to blast in pieces. 'Damn it why did I leave my wand on the bed'.

But after a few seconds when only loud sounds kept booming out of the box she dared to raise her head. She saw that the room was still intact, infact nothing had happened. Furiously she got up and glared at the box which was showing a moving picture just like the portraits in her world. She calmed down when she finally deemed it safe, "Damn it is just a muggle portrait. Stupid Daphne getting scared by such silly thing."

She then continued to observing it, 'Hmm amazing these muggles managed to create portraits like us without magic. And then there are purebloods who wonder how muggles are even breathing without magic.' Even though she wasn't so barbaric in her opinion of muggles but she seriously felt the need to reconsider her own knowledge on the muggles and their current standards. But first, 'Damn this thing is too loud.'

She looked back at the smaller box if it could do anything. There were some more buttons on it and a pair of them was labeled Volume (+ and -). Well she taken Arithmancy classes till OWLs so she knew + meant increase and - meant decrease. So she pressed - button and it did decrease the sound. She slowly went back to her bed and kept watching what the portrait kept showing.

The most surprising fact was that the picture and characters and their appearances inside kept changing unlike the portraits she had seen where generally only the characters of the painting moved about but general appearance remained same.

After some time before she got tired of watching it. The picture was way too bright and eyes were burning from continuously watching it.

It was also time that she had some dinner. So she left the room. Down the street was a local pub and she really didn't want to venture any further. She quickly checked for the illusionary spell (that made her look older than she was) was still there and then entered the bar.

The pub was packed to brim tonight. She found her way through the crowd towards the counter. A bartender came up to her, "Good evening ma'am, what would you like to have."

"Umm please bring some of your best wine and do you have something to eat?"

"Yea we serve the best steaks in the town."

"Oh please bring me a serving, thanks"

"A glass of wine and one serving steaks coming ma'am." And he left to the kitchens.

She looked around to observe the place. The place was brightly lighted and had some loud music (there were loud speakers like those they had in Yule Ball). There were several tables where people were enjoying their drinks and food. Some had grouped around the stage in the center of the pub and were chanting, "Stella…Stella"

'Stella, I have heard it somewhere.' She was trying to remember it when suddenly the pendant she was wearing turned hot.

She cursed, "Shit, I forgot about uncle Siri's twin pendants." She took a quick look around, "Okay he's not inside but must be somewhere around." She quickly got up and darted towards the ladies restroom. Once inside she locked herself in a cubicle and took out her wand. Non-verbally casted silencio in the cubicle and apparated back to her hotel room.

She quickly took out her necklace and placed it on her table, "Sorry uncle Sirius but if you are around and so must be dad. And right now I can't afford to go back home." She knew that they would collect the pendant so need not worry about it. Quickly she apparated to muggle car parking outside the pub, by now they would be heading for the hotel.

Once in the car parking she looked for means to escape. She would have driven the car if knew how but that wasn't the case. Desperate for any means of escape she saw a car that looked quite big and its windows were shaded so one couldn't look inside. Without a second thought she did a quick Alohomora and opened the door, inside there were three rows of seats. She quickly hid in the last row and casted a powerful notice me not charm.

'Please Merlin save me.' She kept praying.

"Yes mom I'm coming home… yeah bye." Someone was outside and by the sound of it she knew who.

Darn fate again, this had to be that pig head tactless asshole's car of all the people in the pub. Oh well like now she had any choices.

….ooooo0000oooo…

Harry after that fiasco at the shop had headed to a local coffee shop to pass time. They had decided to meet at the Steak and Beer Pub at eight and it was still seven.

At eight he left for the pub. At the pub entire football team was present; they had decided to celebrate their victory in a special way. And what could be better than a striper's pub.

But not even an hour into the pub he got the call from home. He came out pick up the call and it had to be his mom who was furious with him 'misbehaving' with Chelsy in public. He had to go home as he didn't have any choices.

He called Bert who had organized this party, "Dude I'm dead..."

"….Shit, I know man I'm gonna miss Stella but mum called and she was furious with me. Chelsy sold me out and I really can't afford for her to know I'm partying in a striper's pub. Sorry dude you but I gotta go…. Yeah talk to you later."

He sighed, and took out a fresh mint gum to remove the smell of ale in his mouth. And dejectedly drove out of the parking.

He reached home around half past nine and parked the car out of the garage. He got out of the car took a deep breath and checked his breath for smell. Cleared his mind preparing for whatever was going to happen next and headed towards the door.

….ooooo0000oooo…

Daphne tried to remain as silent as she could, patiently waiting for this car ride to be over. Finally they reached the destination and he exited the car. She waited for another fifteen minutes before sitting straight up. She popped a few joint which were stiff from sitting in that awkward position.

'Now what? I really don't know any other non magical place in London.' She sighed wishing she had visited muggle London earlier. 'It seems my only option left are the Potters. Well at least tonight I can spend it here and then think in the morning.' She decided it would be the easiest thing to do and she really wasn't going to roam the streets in night. So she waited for the family to settle for the night.

Around half past ten she came out of the car and for the first time saw the Potter's place. They had a respectable mansion, it was of three floors with well defined structure. The first and second floors seemed to have two rooms each with large French windows in the front. They had a well maintained garden and a lawn in the front. It seemed they were quite well to do family in this neighborhood. She saw that all the lights were off, 'Okay time to make your move Daph'

She took a round of the house and noticed a window of the topmost room was open. She levitated herself to the room and peaked inside. The room was strewn with clothes, books, shoes and some weird objects. 'This must be Harry's room.' And sure enough there was Harry spread across the bed. She sneaked inside slowly.

With a quick Somnum charm she made sure Harry wouldn't wake until morning no matter what. Then she levitated him to the ground, locked the door casted silencing charm on the room and finally settled down for the night.

Whatever would happen tomorrow she will see then, right now all she wanted was to sleep.

Chapter Ends

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed. Next update when I get more ideas pouring in my mind.

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