*poke poke* Nope, it's not an illusion, another chapter! Though I will admit I meant to have this chapter up 2 weeks ago but procrastination is a horrible mistress. This chapter also happens to have the engagement of everyone's favorite King and Queen! Yay! I did something! No real notes to speak of aside from me making Astoria a lesbian, just because I felt like it, it's really inconsequential to the plot and a spur of the moment decision. Anyway, enjoy the chapter. Reviews are appreciated. Any flames will be subject to my trap card, Magic Cylinder. You have been warned.
Disclaimer: *looking around franticly* Where did I put the rights to Harry Potter? Oh, right, I don't own them and never did. Harry Potter is the property of J.K. Rowling.
Legend:
"Speech"
'Thought'
§Parseltongue§
*Gryffindor Boy's Dorm, September 14th*
Harry awoke with a large yawn. It had been two weeks since the start of term and he was already going crazy. His very first Divination class resulted in his predicted death at the hands of a large waffle, Snape was even more surly and insulting than usual, and his so-called friends wouldn't leave him alone for five minutes. On the positive side he had managed to escape late at night with the aid of Nyx to train and spend time with his girlfriend. His training was coming along splendidly as he was already up to Auror level with his intense regiment. The real payout from all the training made itself known in his first DADA class.
*Flashback*
'Wonder what Crouch is going to be like as a teacher.' Harry thought while standing outside the classroom with his Gryffindor and Slytherin classmates. As the door swung open and a voice boomed at them to enter, all hell broke loose. A hail of stunners erupted from the room as most of the class fell to the volley with the stragglers being tied up in ropes from a well-placed Incarcerous. Harry, having trained with Auror level dummies, easily evaded the barrage and sent out a trio of Parsel stunners at the now identified attacker, Crouch, who was standing in the middle of the room. Not having anticipated someone actually fighting back, Crouch barely shielded the first stunner and dodged the second before the final one caught him directly in the chest.
*End Flashback*
When Crouch was awoken he spent the rest of the class period alternating between praising Harry, berating the class, and screaming "Constant Vigilance". Granger questioned his apparent skill after class but he passed it off as three years of near-death and Quidditch honing his instincts. Checking the time, Harry pulled himself out of bed and headed to shower, he had an appointment to keep and he wouldn't miss it for the world.
After a quick shower, Harry dressed himself in Acromantula silk robes with the Potter crest on the breast and cast a quick glamour to make it appear as if he was wearing his everyday clothes. Passing quickly through the Common Room and down the seven flights of stairs he arrived in the Entrance Hall just in time to be part of the first group leaving for Hogsmade. 'I'm glad I was able to convince Weasel and Granger that I had wasn't able to meet them until after noon.' Nodding to Professor Flitwick as he passed, he quickly commandeered a carriage to himself. Calling for Nyx as he passed outside of the grounds, the Dark King phoenix traveled to the Greengrass home.
Harry's first impression of the Greengrass home was that of a small mansion. The grounds spanned 10 acres on each side of a large white Victorian house. Collecting himself and remembering to remove his glamour, Harry quickly walked up to the front door. Before he could knock a small house elf opened it with a bow and a squeaky, "Master is expecting you." and promptly motioning for Harry to follow him. While on the outside the house screamed opulence, the interior was the exact opposite. While not cheap, the interior gave off a more homey and minimal taste. 'So this is why Daphne never wants anything expensive or showy, she was raised to be modest while still showing her wealth. Interesting.'
Stopping outside of door the elf bowed itself away with a quick "Master in is his study." Putting on his Lord mask he knocked and stepped in at the quiet "Come in" from within. The study, like the rest of the interior, was minimal in wealth. Instead of being cause by decorations however, this was cause by wall to wall bookshelves on each side of the room, only broken by the door and a mahogany desk with a chair on each side of it. Sitting behind the desk was a large, aristocratic man. He had straight black hair pulled into a small ponytail, dark brown eyes, and the build of a solid wall. "Lord Greengrass, I thank you for your time this morning." Harry spoke with a confidence that seemed to surprise the man. "Lord Potter, I must say you're not what I expected. From my daughter's descriptions I was expecting someone a bit more foreboding." Lord Greengrass replied with a chuckle. Harry just raised an eyebrow, not responding to the obvious trap.
"Well, I believe we have business to discuss? Please take a seat and we shall get down to the heart of this meeting. I must say, I'm curious as to why the head of house Potter and a rising Lord would wish to meet with me." Greengrass stated in a slightly stiff manner, as if he knew what this conversation was really about. 'Which he most likely does if he's anything like Daphne, she can piece together things at a scary rate.' After taking his seat Harry got straight to business. "Lord Greengrass, I've come here today to request a betrothal contract with your daughter Daphne." Lord Greengrass raised an eyebrow at that before digging in his desk drawer. Pulling out a stack of parchment he laid it in front of Harry with a small smile on his face. "I had anticipated this and went ahead and had a contract written up. My wife and I discussed it extensively and think this contract satisfactory. I believe you'll find it to your liking."
As Harry read through the contract he was impressed. Aside from the standard contract information about marriage and such was a clause that, upon marriage, Harry would take up the role of Lord Greengrass. "It seems quite satisfactory but if I may ask, why pass the title of Lord Greengrass to me?" "It's quite a simple matter, without a male heir my title would pass to Daphne or Astoria depending upon my will. While I normally would wait to decide who to pass my title onto I feel it would be in everyone's benefit if I passed it to you through Daphne. Astoria could take the title but given her *cough* preferences, the Greengrass line would revert back to Daphne's children." At that Harry had a sudden realization about a conversation he had with Daphne when first discussing the option of marriage.
*Flashback*
"Harry, if you're going to ask my father for my hand at any point in the future, you should know the Greengrass title will probably fall to our children." Daphne stated nervously.
"Why is that?" He asked in a slightly confused voice, surely Lord Greengrass would have the option of Astoria's children so there was a low chance of it being given to theirs. "Astoria has a preference towards women, so there isn't a very high chance of her ever being able to produce an heir." 'Ah, that makes total sense.' Harry thought to himself while nodding to show he understood.
*End Flashback*
"When you put it that way, I should have seen it coming. Daphne had warned me of the possibility but it honestly slipped my mind. I see no problem with the terms, shall we make it official?" Within moments both parties had signed the contract which glowed in acceptance before disappearing to be filed in Gringotts and the Ministry. After a quick celebratory toast, Harry bid Lord Greengrass farewell and departed back to his dorms with Nyx to change. Making sure to grab a small box out of his trunk he had Nyx flash him to a deserted street before he departed to find his new betrothed.
Daphne was standing outside the Shrieking Shack, as they had previously agreed, so the trip wasn't that long. Upon seeing Harry a smile graced her face and she jogged up to him and greeted him with a kiss. "Hey love, you're a bit late." She chastised. "Your father is a bit long-winded when he wants to be." He chuckled before pulling her off to the side. "I have one thing to do before I tell you how the meeting went." The Ice Queen looked at him curiously before he got on his knee and pulled out the small box and opened it revealing a beautiful diamond engagement ring. Daphne nearly fainted on the spot at the sight, having not expected the results from just one meeting. "Daphne Isabelle Greengrass, I love you with all my heart. You are my Queen and the only one I could see myself spending my life with. With your parents blessing, I ask you. Will you marry me?" A quick yes and a tackle was his answer before the newly engaged couple participated in a vigorous match of tongue wrestling.