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"Jerome!" Mara whined, as Poppy sat on the armchair, laughing. "The limo will be here soon!"

"Almost done!" his voice echoed down through the house. Mara rolled her eyes. And she was a vision, in a dark green, floor length dress, with a small cut up the side, but modest enough for Mara. With a high neck that came together with a large green emerald, that looped around her neck. Her hair was up in a messy bun, with beautiful dark curls falling loose around her dark eyes.

"I thought girls were meant to take a long time getting dressed," Poppy laughed, Mara rolled her eyes, sitting beside her young friend "Gerbil always spends a long time on his appearance."

Mara smiled fondly "He is kinda fond on the way he looks,"

"Tell me about it. Pretty annoying if you ask me." Mara laughed, and Poppy smiled brightly. And Poppy was also a vision. In the white dress Mr Osborne had bought her, that ought to win her more points. Her hair was down, and she wore a sparkling, beaded headband, to hold it out of her face. The white dress came just further than her knees, and the silk material as light as it swished around her legs. Small white heels, and a silver bracelet hanging from her wrist. "Do we have to go in a limo?"

"Oh yes," Mara nodded hurriedly, peaking out the window and glancing at the clocks "Mr Osborne's mansion is very...prestigue. A red carpet, other limos, even the press will be there. So everyone has to look the part."

"Have you been there before? What's it like? Is there dancing?" Poppy was so curious, and so uncertain. She couldn't dance. Not for the life of her.

"Twice." Mara swallowed "Once...as Harry's date..." Poppy's eyes widened and Mara sighed "We were going to have to tell you eventually. About three years ago I think...Harry and I dated, for about a week. We ended it...I was...confused, between him and your brother. Harry made the decision really, he saw..." she smiled sadly "He said...

"Mara," Harry whispered, kissing her hand softly "It's okay. I don't mind. Heck, why would I? He's loved you since he met you. And the way he looks at you? I know you love him too, because...you look at him that way,"

"Oh Harry," she groaned into her hands "You must think I'm awful, for leading you on like this,"

"Not at all..." Harry brushed off "Things between us were awkward, and Jerome wouldn't talk to me. You two date. You're perfect for each other. Just uh...don't leave me behind, alright?"

"Oh Harry," she sighed again, hugging him tightly, showing her thanks "One day you'll find someone perfect."

"You don't mind, do you?" Mara asked worriedly, biting her lips. Poppy shook her head with a smile

"I guessed Harry had done something, Jerome had come home and thrown all the pictures of them together in this box, which he locked and hid under his bed. Then when he started dating you, he took them out again. At least he didn't rip them up,"

"No, Jerome can be quite rash, but...he values his friends."

"Alright, alright, alright," Jerome muttered, flying down the stairs "I'm ready, how do I look?" His hair was slicked to the side, and he was dressed in a dark suit, a black shirt, and a shiny green tie.

"Meh." Poppy shrugged teasingly, Jerome glared at her

"You look handsome Jerome," Mara smiled "And look, we match," she pointed to her dress and to his tie. Jerome smiled proudly

"We were meant to be."

There was a sound outside and Mara jumped "Come on guys, let's not be late."

Line Break

It looked spectacular.

Lights everywhere, a red carpet laid out through the gorgeous gardens. Press members were there, taking pictures of all those that entered. And inside, they were offered a glass of wine by men and women dressed impeccably. And they were led to a grand hall. It glittered like fine gold, and loud, modern, beautiful, classical music drifted through the air. Some posh men, and proud women were dancing. A few were seated at white glass table, talking politics and business. A few lovers were drifting through the gardens, admiring the roses. A grand stage stood at the far back of the huge hall, and everyone was bustling and busy, and there were fresh flowers in expensive vases all around the room.

"Guys!" A smiling, finally familiar face stepped out from the huge dancing and chattering crowd, it was as though they had stepped into a Jane Austen novel, a completely different century and time. "You made it," Harry hugged Jerome, and then hugged Mara, and threaded his fingers easily with Poppy's "That's great, how you liking it? We hired different decorators this time,"

"It's beautiful Harry," Mara said honestly "You even got a raised floor for the ballroom dancing," Harry nodded, and shoved Jerome slightly.

"Come on Jaffray," Jerome said on queue, taking Mara's arm "Let's go dance," and he led her away. Poppy looked at Harry, eyes wide. He looked...he looked completely relaxed, he was in his element. He had never seemed more confident, he had never fit in more. This was his world. He was wearing a black blazer, with a white shirt, and a skinny tie. His trousers were the perfect, and everything was designer. His curly hair seemed darker in the brilliant light. And his green eyes blazed down at her. He was smiling so wildly, his brilliant teeth flashed in the light.

"You look beautiful," he nodded, steering her through the crowd "What do you wanna do? I make my speech in..." he glanced at his gold watch "Fifteen minutes. What would you like? Dancing? Wine?"

"A stroll through the gardens?" Poppy asked with a smile, the night and the thousand stars outside looked incredibly inviting. Harry half smiled, a genuine feeling of joy rose in him.

"Of course, let's go-"

"Poppy!" Came a pleased voice, they turned to see Mr Osborne and Bertrum the Butler heading over. Mr Osborne kissed her hand and smiled warmly "I knew Harold was going to invite you, I had no idea you would come,"

"Of course I would, everything looks beautiful,"

"Yes? That's marvellous. We hired new designers this year." He straightened his blazer, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder "You're ready for your speech aren't you son? About how the business will never die? You're the new face."

"Of course dad," Harry nodded "But you've got a lot of years left," Mr Osborne couldn't help the small smile

"Be that as it may, I can't lead the company forever, and investors need to know that my legacy will be continuing-"

"It will dad," He sighed "I promise it will." He took Poppy's arm and then led them outside. He sighed in the cold air, and instinctively turned to Poppy "Are you cold? I can have someone-"

"I'm fine." She whispered, "Harry...do you want to take over your father's company?"

"Sure," he sighed, looking out over the thousand rose bushes, and Willow trees, their gardens seemed to cover the whole horizon and there was a beautiful fountain, laying in the midst of it all. "I mean...I don't know what else to do. And I'd be good at it too, I guess. My father, and Bertrum, they've trained me to do this. My father took this business over from his father, when it was just something small. And...I would hate to see it crumble."

"You could sell it," Poppy offered quietly.

Harry shook his head venomously "Oh no, I could never do that." He pressed his lips together "You can't sell something that someone's poured their life into. That's wrong." He smiled sadly at her "What do you want to do Poppy?"

"Something in science," she shrugged "I'm not sure."

"We could rule the company," he held his hand out, green eyes blazing, "I wouldn't mind it at all, heck I'd even look forward to it, if I knew you and I were going to be the owners."

It was Poppy's instinct to stiffen over talks about the future like this. But she'd already freaked out once, she could just agree, just keep him happy, keep them together. And if they broke up, then obviously the deal was off. But enjoy while it lasts, make deals about the future while you live in the present. And of course, it would hurt a lot more if they did in fact break up. "I'd like that. If everything goes right, I'd like that a lot,"

"Good," Harry breathed, his shoulders slumping in relief. He hugged her tightly "Come on, woman in white, my angel, I'll be starting my speech soon,"

"I didn't even get to pick a rose," Poppy pouted, Harry laughed, looking around the garden thoughtfully

"Go pick some roses, I have to get ready," he kissed her cheek, and on his way inside, pulled Bertrum aside "Hey," he whispered "Why don't we uh...why don't we start planting some Poppy's? Along the stair well..." Bertrum gave him a knowing look and Harry fought his blush, flustering "I just uh...just uh think it'll look nice,"

"Of course, Master Harold." Bertrum nodded, smiling to himself. Harry rolled his eyes, patting Bertrum's back and headed inside.

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