Chapter 8: The Gryffindor and The Slytherin

Finally the morning of September 1st arrived. Harry was excited that his friends would be returning to Hogwarts. As happy as he is to finally be with family, Harry missed his friends a lot. It would also give him an opportunity to see Daphne again. They had exchanged several letters over the last two weeks. Most of their letters had a few tidbits about each of them, their life before Hogwarts and what they wanted to do afterwards.

So when Harry happily jumped out of bed before breakfast, he gave Hedwig a few extra treats and petted her head softly which caused her to give off a annoyed hoot as he rushed off whistling an upbeat tune as he got ready for the day. As he stepped through the portrait of Merlin and headed towards the Great Hall for breakfast the only thought he had going through his mind was; Even Malfoy couldn't ruin this day.

As Harry arrived at the Great Hall he took the now normal seat to the right of the Headmaster, and politely greeted the table with a good morning which was returned by some of the staff. Most of faculty seemed to be mentally preparing themselves for when the castle was once again inhabited by students. Some welcomed the short break granted by the summer holidays. For once again the halls of Hogwarts will be full of young witches and wizards.

Professor McGonagall, who was dishing some eggs onto the plate in front of her, gave a small grin and commented. "Good morning Mr. Potter, hope you are prepared for the start of the year. I don't see your Prefect badge on, so I assume you are waiting until this evening..."

"Oh uh yes of course Professor." Harry mumbled as he spooned food on to his plate. In actuality he hadn't thought about his Prefect badge in his excitement of seeing his friends. He began to ponder what his friends would think once they found out about his Prefects position and the Defense Association. In the midst of his breakfast a large barn owl flew in to the Great Hall and landed in front of Harry while giving a soft hoot. Harry offered her a piece of bacon which she greedily accepted as he relieved her of her delivery. Harry was smiled when he noticed it was a letter from Daphne. He quickly opened the letter and began to read.

Harry,

Finally it's time to head back to Hogwarts. I wont lie I am really excited to see you again. I have enjoyed getting to know you this summer through the exchanging of owls. I am nervous on how the rest of the school will react to our engagement. Mother and Father have decided to wait to announce it until we get settled back in at school. Well I do know how Tracey will take it as I have already shared the news with her as I assume you have shared the news with Ron and Hermione. She is excited to officially meet you. Well that and to give each of us a hard time about our situation. Well I best send this off and double check to make sure I packed everything.

Yours truly,

Daphne

Harry continued to smile to himself after he had finished reading the letter and returned to eating his breakfast. The Headmaster noticed the smile which caused the twinkle in his eyes to shine all the brighter. "Harry may I assume from your face that Miss Greengrass is good health and spirits?"

Harry blushed as he concentrated on his plate, "Of course grand-dad she was just relaying how excited she is to return to Hogwarts."

"Of course she was my boy, how silly of me," Dumbledore chuckled as even Professor Snape had a hint of a smirk upon his face.

"Mr. Potter, I think you and I should have a talk after breakfast." Professor Snape informed before returning to his breakfast. Harry was curious as to what he had to discuss with the Professor but just gave a polite nod of acknowledgement with his head.

After Harry had eaten his fill for breakfast he followed Professor Snape to his office in the dungeon. The pair travelled quietly to their destination, each occupied with their own thoughts. As they stepped into his office Professor Snape motioned for Harry to take a seat in front of his desk as he took the one behind the desk.

"Now Mr. Potter I have been doing some thinking since the will reading of your godfather. While I am loathed to admit it I have realize that I may have been treating you a bit unfairly due to my past issues with your father and his friends. While I can assure you that I will not be joining the Harry Potter fan club I will do my best to treat you fairly and like any other student. Are we clear?" Professor Snape said quietly. Harry just looked back in amazement with his mouth left ajar. "Careful Mr. Potter you may catch a fly."

Harry quickly snapped out and it and stammered, "I am sorry Professor I was just surprised is all Professor."

"Understandable I guess from this we can assume we both agree to treat each other as we would any other Professor or student am I correct Mr. Potter?"

"Of course Professor I suppose it's better late than never."

"Good well then off you go and please do your best not to be completely thick headed twit in my class and hopefully we can have a quiet term." Snape said with a slight smirk upon his face as he non-verbally dismiss the confused Harry by turning to a pile of parchment.

As the rest of the time waiting for the arrival of the others passed by uneventfully, Harry found himself thinking about how much his life had changed over the summer. It began with him dealing with the loss of his godfather, only to find out that Dumbledore was his great grandfather and that he was betrothed to a very beautiful Slytherin. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought that he'd be marrying a Slytherin, let alone one as beautiful as Daphne.

Harry headed for dinner that night he had an extra bounce in his step. Upon entering the Great Hall he noticed that the others hadn't arrived yet so he decided to take seat at the Gryffindor table and wait. He hadn't waited long before the doors into the Great Hall opened and allowed a sea of students to cascade in. They all talked cheerfully as they made their ways to their house tables. Eventually Harry noticed the familiar bushy mane of Hermione as she; Ron and Ginny made their way into the Great Hall and took seats next to him.

"Hey mate, how was the rest of your summer here with your grand-dad? Hope the greasy git Snape left you alone." Ron greeted.

Harry smiled and responded, "It was brilliant I have a lot to tell you all. What have you all been up to?"

They began to chat amongst themselves as his friends began to inform him of the rest of their summer, full of de-gnoming the Weasley's garden and other tasks assigned to them by Mrs. Weasley. Eventually all of the returning students arrived and had seated themselves at their house tables. Harry scanned the Slytherin table yet couldn't find Daphne in the sea of faces. Finally Professor McGonagall brought the group of first years into the Great Hall. Harry could understand the different looks on their faces such as fear and uncertainty and amazement as they looked up at the ceiling. The sorting hat had another song before it began sorting the young witches and wizards into their home. Of course it warned of dangerous times, and the importance and house unity within the school.

Finally the sorting was over and the Headmaster stood to make his beginning of the term announcements with the ever familiar twinkle in his eyes.

"To all those who are first joining us, welcome I hope you enjoy your time here and make many friends, for all of those returning, welcome back. As usual the forbidden forest is as the name implies forbidden that means first years through seventh years. Also Mr. Filch has an updated list of banned items which is posted in each of the common rooms. I can tell that quite a few of you are hungry so the rest of the announcements can wait until after the feast. Tuck in."

Immediately following the Headmaster's words large platters, bowls and pitchers appeared upon the tables and the students dug in. As the students filled themselves with the wonderful food provided by the Hogwarts House Elves a small group of owls flew into the Great Hall one to Harry, another to Daphne and the last one to the Headmaster. Confused Harry relieved the small gray owl of its letter and noticed it was from Gringotts. Harry opened the letter and read.

Dear Mr. Potter,

I just wanted to make sure you understood the contract that you were informed of earlier this summer. The reason I have become concerned is that as we have reached September and there has been no announcement of your upcoming nuptials. I do hope your read the part where you have to be married and bonded prior to the Christmas of the year you are both sixteen years of age. As you both have turned sixteen during the summer, you will be married this year. If you have any questions or need any assistance with the planning feel free to contact us here at Gringotts.

May your vaults never run dry,

Ranjoks

Harry stared open mouth at the letter in his hand. Hermione noticed this and asked, "What is it Harry is everything alright?"

"I have to be married by Christmas." Harry said softly.

"Bloody hell Harry why didn't you say so earlier, wait have you two even started planning?" Ron asked.

Hermione gave him a huff and commented, "Language Ronald and obviously he didn't know or he wouldn't have been so shocked about it."

"According to Gringotts the contract states that we have to be married by Christmas of the year we are both sixteen and it appears we both turned sixteen this summer." Harry informed as he glanced at the head table and made eye contact with the Headmaster who had given him a short acknowledging nod.

"Well that's not so bad Harry you still have time to plan it out." Hermione advised, "I'll help if you need it."

"Yeah I am sure mum will help too. Not to mention the Greengrass family. You'll be fine mate you'll see." Ron stated as he turned back to his food. Harry took another glance at the Slytherin table in hope of seeing Daphne and luckily enough noticed one of the owls take flight from the middle of the table where he was able to locate her, her face was pale with concern as she finished her letter and made eye contact with Harry.

Finally all of the food vanished from the table and Headmaster Dumbledore rose from his seat to finish his announcements. "As I said before the feast now that we are all fed and watered I have just a few more announcements. One of those being an introduction to a new staff member, please give a warm welcome back to Professor Lupin who will retake his post as Defense against the Dark Arts." Albus paused for the round of polite applause, "I would also like to announce that there has been a couple changes with Prefects this year, as Mr. Malfoy and Miss Parkinson have been relieved of that responsibility the two new Prefects to replace them are Miss Daphne Greengrass from Slytherin and Mr. Potter of Gryffindor."

Once again the Headmaster paused but this time due to a few murmurs and a few voiced complaints about Harry being a Gryffindor and that they already had two sixth year Prefects. Professor Dumbledore was about to continue when Professor Snape stood and glared at the Slytherin table, "I know that the students in my house aren't questioning the decisions of the teaching staff here so openly. I will meet with all fifth through seventh years Slytherins once everyone is dismissed."

The fact that Snape scolded his own house and so publicly caused another round of murmurs to flow which ceased once the Headmaster cleared his throat, "Thank you Professor Snape. Now as I was saying one of our students started a Defense Club last year and the staff and I have decided to allow the club to continue, this will be opened for everyone and will be consider as another class if you choose to attend. Once the choice is made you will be required to attend and participate as well as following the instructions given by the Instructor. If you wish to take this let your head of house know during breakfast tomorrow. I would also like to welcome back Mr. Fred and George Weasley who have decided to return so that they can complete their Newts. Well I thinks that's all, fifth year Prefects please show the first years to their rooms, off you go. Mr. Potter and Miss Greengrass if you have a moment I would like to speak with you."

Harry bid goodbye to his friends as he made his way up to the Head table. Daphne quickly joined them as she stood closely by his side. The Headmaster gave them both a smile and said, "Let's have this conversation in my office. If the pair of you will follow me, please."

The pair followed the Headmaster as he left the Great Hall and led them towards his office. They tried to sneak glances at each other along the way as they walked closely together that their hands would brush the other's. Upon entering the office the Headmaster transfigured the chair in front of his desk into a small sofa and motioned for the pair to take a seat. They took a seat and both noticed how the sofa shrunk until they were sitting close together. Each noticed and raised an eyebrow, yet remained silent.

"For the duration of our conversation this evening we can forgo the Headmaster title as we are all family. Now I believe I wouldn't be wrong in my assumption that each of you received a letter from Gringotts during the feast informing that the marriage ceremony and bonding is to be completed before Christmas this year?"

"Yes Headmaster I did. I was going to write my parents as soon as I get to my room." Daphne advised.

"Good, then we will have to start planning it right away. Do either of you have a date in mind?"

Daphne shook her head while Harry looked uncertain, the Headmaster notice his hesitation and questioned him, "Harry?"

"Well Grand-dad I not sure but I have always had rough days on Halloween, with it being the anniversary of my parents deaths but I always wanted something good to happen on that day to give me better memories of it." Harry informed softly. Dumbledore looked at him with and understanding smile, while Daphne laid her hand upon his and gave it a brief squeeze.

"I think that would be perfect Harry," Daphne agreed with a small smile.

"Great then that's settle, Daphne I will contact your parents tonight through the flo and we'll start plans immediately. Are either of you opposed to having the ceremony here at Hogwarts as everyone will eventually know any how?" Dumbledore smiled. The pair looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders before turning to the Headmaster and shaking their heads. "Great I will inform the staff. As this is the first time in ages that we will have a married couple attending Hogwarts there is a section in the by-laws of Hogwarts that allows the pair of you to room together if you choose to do so. Of course until you are married you will be expected to stay in your current dorms until the vows have been exchanged."

The pair then turned pink and avoided looking at the other as they gave a brief nod of their heads causing the Headmaster to chuckle. "Harry I do believe the House Elves already transferred your things into the Gryffindor's dorm so I will bid you both a good night."

"Good night grand-dad," Harry smiled as he stood. Daphne also gave the Headmaster a smile and bid good night.

Once the pair had exited the office were alone in the corridors Daphne broke the silence with a softly admittance, "It's really great seeing you again Harry, I enjoyed your letters this summer."

"You too Daphne,… I mean me too." Harry stammered suddenly nervous that he was alone with this beautiful woman. Daphne chuckled at his stammering and grabbed his hand, "Walk me to the Slytherin portrait?"

"Sure, but wont your fellow Slytherins see us?"

"They'll know tomorrow anyhow, your grandfather is contacting my parents, my mother will have our brothel in the morning edition of the Daily Prophet."

"Oh ok," Harry smiled as they headed along their way hands tightly entwined as they casually talked along the way. Upon reaching the door Harry bid Daphne goodnight yet was pleasantly surprised when she returned it with a kiss on the cheek.

Harry then floated the rest of the way to the Gryffindor common room and up into his dorm without worry as his head hit the pillow his dreams were occupied by his beautiful future wife.

AN: Please read and leave reviews to let me know what you think, good or bad I am big boy and can take the criticism as it is sort of expected when you write and let others read it. I know I have some grammar mistakes throughout that will be fixed upon a final editing once the story is completed. I also have another story on here that I have not completed and haven't worked on in a while as I have come to a mental roadblock as to where I want to take it so if you have read it or do read it I would appreciate and ideals you have for either stories. Thanks rfrymanjr