Hope everyone is enjoying these chapters. It would have came out sooner but you know... Superbowl and all...

Every second that passed, she could feel the faint thump of her heart, beating in rhythm with the seconds of the clock. The more she stared at the clock, the more she's slowly starting to panic. Daphne felt the insides of her stomach churning, her nerves getting the best of her. This was silly. It was just dinner between two people.

This was definitely not a date... but then why did it have the symptoms of all the first date jitters?

She mentally lectured herself for even thinking like that. There was no way that Harry could remotely be interested in her. At best, she was probably known as the girl who tried hexing him. A groan escaped her lips as she dropped her head to the table, wishing that she had a time turner... or the ability to confidently obliviate herself.

After a few more seconds of moping on the table, Daphne picked her head up and looked at the clock, watching time as it slowly counted down. She sighed and turned her head, looking out the window now. It was a temporarily distraction. She knew that but she didn't care. Anything was better than looking at that dreaded clock and wondering if Harry would show or not.

As she looked out from her seat, staring into the outside world, her lips slowly curled into a smile. From her seat, she had a perfect view of the River Thames, able to see how magnificent it was. She wasn't alone though. There were a couple of people standing by the river walls, looking out and taking pictures. Her hand unconsciously reached for the water, taking a refreshing sip.

Daphne tore her eyes away from the window, returning her attention back to the empty seat in front of her. "I hope he doesn't get lost..." She murmured. This restaurant was a little bit isolated as a grove of trees obscured the entrance so not many people know its real purpose. Underneath the guise and outdated look, it was actually a functioning restaurant ready to serve its hungry patrons.

It was one of the reasons why she picked this place. Aside from the food, it was a perfect spot where no one knew who they really are. There wouldn't be any paparazzi or journalists hounding them. They could be themselves.

They could be normal for a night.

The clock finally struck eight and Daphne kept her eyes focused on the door. "Your move Mister Potter..." She whispered, holding her breath to see if he was going to show up. She mentally prepared herself for the possibility of dining alone, unfazed by the notion. All she needed was a good bottle of Merlot and she could drink her embarrassment away.

She waited with bated breath as the door opened, the bell on top of it chiming to alert the waiters of another customer. A man entered and her eyes were immediately drawn to him. Relief washed over her as she recognized Harry, who stood there looking confused. She took another sip of water as her eyes gave him a quick once-over, appreciating the clothes that he was wearing. The navy blazer complemented the white shirt he was wearing with those dark color jeans. The man certainly did look good in those jeans...

Daphne choked on her water, pushing that thought away. She mentally scolded herself. This was purely platonic and she needed to get her mind out of the gutter.

The waiter at the door pointed in her direction and she started to panic. She could feel her heart beating faster and faster. Her eyes stared at Harry as he started to walk over. What was she supposed to do? Does she get up and shake his hand or should she just sit here and smile? Her mind started screaming at her to do something.

Harry looked towards the back and easily found Daphne sitting there, awkwardly smiling at him. As he walked over, he took notice of the decorum along the walls and found them very interesting. It wasn't every day that you would see a restaurant in London filled with replicas from America during the 1960s. "Miss Greengrass..." He curtly acknowledged. "You must be a glutton for punishment. Even after I told you to never cross my path again, you still seek me out. I don't know if that's bravery or stupidity."

"I know Harry but I promise that I only did this to apologize to you." Daphne explained. "I can take a magical oath if that's what it'll take for you to believe me."

"Fickle things those magical oaths..." Harry muttered. He took a seat in front of Daphne and shook his head. "I don't need you to give me a magical oath. I believe in trusting people and you, Miss Greengrass, do not have my trust. Why should I believe anything that you have to say?"

"You can't and I can't give you a good reason to trust me. Truth is, I screwed up and I betrayed your trust. I was selfish and I lost sight of what truly matters and for that, I apologize Harry. I know that trust isn't something that is easily given but if possible, I would like to earn it back, along with a third chance at a first impression."

"And what if I refuse? Maybe I think this whole endeavor is just a waste of my time."

"But yet, here you are. You could have easily ignored my invitation but you didn't. There must be a reason why you're here tonight, sitting with me."

"Fine."

"...Fine? What do you mean by fine?"

"It means what it means Miss Greengrass. Forgiveness is easy so if you want me to forgive you. Fine. I forgive you." Harry stated, his eyes staring straight at her. "But that doesn't mean I will trust you."

Daphne sat there, a little taken back by his attitude. She knew that there was a chance that all of this might be for naught but to actually hear him dismissing her like that? It was a little humiliating to say the least. Her cheeks flushed red as she shrunk under his gaze, unsure of what to do now. All that courage that she had disappeared just like that. She opened her mouth, telling him to wait but instead of the words that she wanted to say, her brain decided to say the first thing that came to mind.

"Why are you being such an ass Harry?"

Her words came out like a whisper and Harry did a double take, making sure that he heard her correctly. "Excuse me?" He asked. "What did you say?"

"It's not a secret that you're irritated Harry. I can see past that facade of yours and you're still upset with me." Daphne answered, her shoulders slumped against the chair. "While it's hard to believe anything coming out of my mouth, I'm really trying to make it up to you. I could have just apologized in that note but for some asinine reason, I thought it would mean a lot more if I apologized in person but I see that it didn't matter. You live in your own world Harry, only held back by what you think is correct. The rules don't apply to someone like you."

"Is that what you think of me?" Harry growled, narrowing his eyes. "That I'm too arrogant to understand your plight?" His voice remained calm but his eyes flashed with magical power. "If I was the man that you think I am, I would have ended your life when you attacked me. I would have killed you without a second thought but I didn't. I'm not like the rest of your kind. If I was, you wouldn't be here right now."

"My kind? What do you mean my kind?" She exclaimed, his words struck a nerve with her. "Are you referring to the fact that I was in Slytherin and you were in Gryffindor? That I was a snake and you were Dumbledore's golden boy?" Anger started to seep into her words. "I'll have you know Mister Potter that I have never once discriminated anyone based on which houses they were sorted into! In fact, why are you even bringing that up? I was never one for blood purity. That is the dumbest idea I've ever heard of in my life. Despite everything that happened in the last decade, I am not one of them. I never was! And for the record my best friend is a half-blood so I am the last person on this very planet that would be so ignorant."

"I was actually talking about your family's status... you know you being part of the Noble House of Greengrass..." Harry replied, a little taken back by her tirade. "Why on earth did you think I was talking about our houses from Hogwarts? That was years ago and I don't care if you were in Slytherin or Hugglepuff. To me, you're Daphne Greengrass, the girl who tried to hex me when my back was turned."

Daphne's jar dropped, taken by surprise. Of course he was talking about blood purity. She knew exactly how he felt, the purebloods who thought that they were better than the rest. She met most of them throughout her lifetime and she can say without a doubt that she hated it. The scene replayed over in her mind and her cheeks turned red from embarrassment. Her hand went up in an attempt to cover her face but it didn't do anything.

"Can we... forget the last part?" She managed to squeaked out. "Please."

"Tell you what, why don't I just go?" Harry offered, pushing himself up. "I think our business is concluded anyway." He paused, his eyes glancing over to her. He sighed and was about to walk away when her hand reached out for his, stopping him from moving. He turned back around, confusion written across his face. "Is there something else?"

"Wait please." She softly said. "This... is new to me. Not the apology but this interaction between us. I know that sometimes I come off... for a lack of a better term... a bitch but I swear I'm not one. I just... have a hard time opening up to people..."

Harry nodded, able to understand that sentiment. "I don't see how that matter involves me Miss Greengrass."

"Harry... Why did you come tonight?"

"Why does that matter?"

"Because I don't want to be that person that forces someone into doing something against their will. I don't ever want to be that person."

"Then why bother with all of this? Why not just walk away? I certainly gave you enough chances to do so."

Daphne flinched at his words. She tore her eyes away from Harry and stared at the table, wondering why she kept coming back. For one thing, there was always Harry... but that was just a superficial answer. If truth be told, she just wanted his company. She was tired of going home to an empty apartment. With Tracey being all the way in America, she didn't have anyone else that she considered friends.

Sure there were her office co-workers but hanging out with them was more like hanging out with immature boys. They were always having one of their little competitions to see who can drink the most or who can pick up the most witches while dressed up like a muggle. It was because of them that she rather bury herself in work. It was the lesser of two evils.

With Harry... there was something about him that was familiar to her. She couldn't explain it but there was this attraction and she was drawn to him like the way a moth was drawn to light.

"I can't." She eventually mumbled. "I just find you interesting Harry Potter. Is that a crime?"

"If it was, I would have been arrested a long time ago."

Little by little, Daphne saw something on Harry that she didn't think was possible. She watched as the corner of his lips tugged upward, turning it into a little smile. She silently cheered, making a mental note to order a glass of Champagne for this occasion.

"Oh my Daphne. You look so beautiful tonight. It must be a special occasion for you and your handsome date."

The two of them turned their attention to an elderly woman who stood in front of their table with a big smile on her face. She was dressed in a pink and white apron holding a small notepad. "Ma!" Daphne cried out, throwing her hands up in an attempt to stop her from talking.

The waitress, 'Ma', dodged the futile attempts and pulled Daphne to her feet before turning her attention to Harry. "I hope you told your date just how beautiful she looks." Ma pointed out, her hand drawing his attention to the beige dress. "Women love compliments if you haven't already figured that out."

Harry sat there looking confused. He watched as the waitress made Daphne walk out and twirl around and he found himself unable to tear his eyes away. He merely nodded his head as he continued to look, knowing that it was impolite to stare.

"Okay that's enough. I'm getting dizzy." Daphne said after the fifth spin. "So Pa let you out of the kitchen tonight? What happened to Katherine? Is she off again?"

"She had an emergency with Walter." Ma answered, refilling both of their cups with water. "It's no trouble, gives me something different to do. I rather be out here staring at your gorgeous date than looking at some wrinkly old bastard anyway."

Daphne giggled and turned her attention back to Ma. "Do you think I can just have my usual but in a larger portion size? I think we'll share tonight..." She paused and looked towards Harry for confirmation. Harry felt two pairs of eyes staring at him and he merely shrugged his shoulders in response.

"Of course dear. I keep telling you that you need more meat on those bones of yours. Honestly, how else are you going to land this fine gentleman? He looks like he can handle himself in the bedroom."

"MA!" Daphne all but shouted, her cheeks going bright red while Harry choked on his water. They turned to the elderly woman who stood there holding her notepad in an attempt to hide her laughter.

"I'll hold on to this one if I were you Daphne. At least your sex life won't be boring." Ma commented as she left the table, leaving the two of them speechless.

"So she was interesting..." Harry commented after a few minutes of awkward silence. "How do you know her?"

"It's a long story." Daphne muttered, glaring daggers at their waitress. "I'm sure you have better things to do than to listen to me rant about how I met Ma.

"Nope. This seems like a great story." Harry insisted, genuinely curious to know more.

She sighed and played around with the napkin in her lap before continuing. "Her real name is Eunice Hartilly but everyone that comes here knows her as 'Ma'. She's been the owner of the restaurant for over fifty years and I don't think she's going to stop. I've been coming here since I got lost wandering around Muggle London by myself. I was hungry and didn't have any muggle currency when I wandered into this place so she took pity on me."

"So how's the food?" Harry asked, picking up the spare menu. "It must be great if you keep coming back."

"The food here is amazing!" Daphne said, excitement in her voice. "It's a mixture of whatever Ma loved when she went overseas. She practically tried everything and said it was the worst rubbish thing she's ever had so when she came back, she decided to try and cook it herself. Wait until you try her cooking Harry, it'll make you think twice about almost not showing up tonight."

She didn't hear any disagreement from him so she pressed on. "Which by the way, if you weren't here with me tonight Harry, what would you be doing?" She asked, "Prowling for the future Missus Potter?"

"No." Harry firmly answered and then cleared his throat, lowering his voice. "I mean no. I don't go out much... not after what happened. I just want to be left alone, contrary to what the prophet says."

"Everyone knows that the prophet has become nothing more than a gossip outlet these days Harry. I'm surprised you haven't done anything to silence them yet."

"They can print whatever they want about me. I don't care since there'll be a massive restructuring coming soon for that paper. I hear the new owner isn't pleased with the way it's been hemorrhaging money for the past few years and he isn't keen that they keep focusing all their attention on me."

"And how do you know all of that?" She asked, "Do you have the inside scoop?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows? There are plenty of reasons out there Miss Greengrass." He coyly answered.

"Or maybe, and this is purely hypothetical, that you brought out the paper because you were tired of them."

Again, Harry shrugged his shoulders, a coy smile on his face. His eyes were a different story though. She found them staring back at her, almost if he was able to read her inner most thoughts. They were just so green that she wanted to keep staring into them. She leaned in, gesturing for him to come closer and whispered. "I don't think they understand who you really are Harry..."

"And who do you think I am?" He whispered back, captivated by her earnest. His eyes blinked a few times, leaning back to reassess the situation.

Daphne was disappointed that he pulled away, her body screaming at her to get closer but she held back. "To me, you're just Harry Potter, the man who was dealt a bad hand. I know you're the savior, the boy-who-lived, the man who redefined standard Auror practices but to me, you're just Harry Potter... the boy who I went to Hogwarts with."

"And what do you hope to get out of this?"

"I don't have any expectations Harry. The most I had was you actually showing up and you did just that. Why don't we sit back and see where the night takes us?"

The sound of him laughing, actually laughing was unlike anything that she heard from him before. It was a deep laugh, one that was filled with fun and excitement.

"You are insufferable Miss Greengrass."

"Daphne." She interrupted. "My name is Daphne Greengrass." She said, holding her hand out.

He stared at it, full well knowing what it meant. His eyes stared into Daphne's and he took her hand. "My name is Harry Potter..."

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