The Spectacular Now

Wednesday, July 30, 8:00 PM

After five minutes spent at the Burrow Daphne had realized it was exactly as Harry had described...the polar opposite of her own home and the Longbottom residence. She could also see why he was so fond of the place. It was much louder and much less organized in all the best ways. Astoria would love it.

She had been a bit worried about the reception she would receive, particularly from Molly Weasley. Despite Harry's assurances, Daphne's house affiliation and her daughter's affection for Harry were just a couple of the things she was worried would put her on the matriarch's wrong side. She shuddered as she recalled the numerous Howlers she had heard from the woman in the Great Hall over the years.

To her utter shock the exact opposite had happened as Mrs. Weasley had quickly wrapped her in a fierce hug that had caused Daphne to stiffen in shock. She was then quickly introduced to the various happy and harried Weasleys and Delacours that were readying for the upcoming nuptials. Strangely enough Ginny was nowhere to be found.

The only person who seemed to show any hostility toward her was Fleur's sister. She suspected the animosity was entirely Harry related and made sure to keep an eye on her for the duration of the evening. The girl's open staring at Harry throughout the meal confirmed her suspicions.

Based on her otherworldly beauty and what Harry had explained she pegged Gabrielle as a quarter-Veela. She wasn't sure if quarter-Veela could transform if angered and did not want to find out. Daphne felt foolish for being a bit intimidated by an eleven year old.

Dinner had been a harried and enjoyable affair. She suspected the Delacours had exhausted most of their curious questions for Harry before she had arrived as they had avoided mentioning his celebrity or his recent conquest while she was there.

The Weasleys also seemed thoroughly uninterested in knowing what Harry had done, opting instead to tease and joke with him as if he was one of the family. Her particular favorite was George (or was it Fred?) asking Harry if he would vanquish him in his sleep for taking the last piece of treacle tart. The Delacours looked mortified until Harry jokingly allowed his minion to enjoy the confection...this time.

She remained mostly silent, simply enjoying the opportunity to see Harry so happy and relaxed…for the most part being able to sink into the background. She was able to stay by his side most of the evening until Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had asked to speak to him privately. This was her opportunity to put the final piece in place for Operation: Birthday.

She leaned toward Hermione and spoke. "I need to speak to you for a moment in private," she whispered, discreetly pulling her toward the door.

Once they were safely ensconced outside she quickly cast Muffliato, causing Hermione's eyebrows to rise in interest.

"Are you staying here tonight?" she asked hopefully.

"No," Hermione replied. "I've been here the last few days but thought it would be best to head home before the wedding on Friday...one less girl hogging the bathroom to get ready."

Daphne silently celebrated.

"Harry and I are going out tomorrow night for his birthday," she began.

"I know this," Hermione replied, clearly intrigued as to where Daphne was going with this.

"I told my parents I'd be spending the night with you afterward so we could get ready together for the wedding the next day," she continued.

"Okay," Hermione replied cautiously. "It isn't a problem but I wish you had said something sooner so I could have let my parents know."

"That's what I told my parents but that isn't what I will be doing," she continued. "I'll be celebrating Harry's birthday. With Harry. All night."

"But you just said you would be- Ohh..." Hermione stated before stopping, suddenly realizing her role in the plan.

"My parents think Harry will be spending the night with the Weasleys," she continued. "I thought I could apparate to your house around two and we could come to the wedding together?" she prompted.

"Not a problem," Hermione replied with a grin, "but you have to tell me how Harry did it."

Daphne rolled her eyes in exasperation. She had to give the girl credit...she was nothing if not persistent. Since the news of Harry's victory over Voldemort had gone public Hermione had been obsessed with finding out what exactly happened. "As I've told you every time you've asked I don't know any more than you do," she lied.

"And as I've said every time I know you are lying," Hermione said in disgust. "That smug smile you give me every time you say it is infuriating!"

"So you won't help?" Daphne asked.

"Of course I will help," Hermione offered grudgingly before her expression softened. "Is this the first time that you and Harry will be...celebrating?"

"Yes," she exclaimed, grateful that she could talk about this with someone else. Tracey's holiday trip had come at the worst time. "I'm excited. Terrified but excited."

"Well if it's like everything else I'm sure Harry will stumble his way through it but he will come through in the end...so to speak."

"Hermione!" she replied before letting out a laugh. "You've been spending too much time around Ron and his brothers."

"You have no idea," Hermione said in exasperation. "At least I've had Harry and Ginny around to raise the maturity level a bit."

"Where is Ginny anyway?" she asked. "I thought she would be knee deep in the preparations for the wedding."

"She wasn't feeling well tonight," Hermione supplied insincerely as she took a seat on the grass.

Daphne sat down as well and leaned back on her elbows, staring at the night sky. "It's because of me and Harry isn't it?" she asked.

Ginny had been nothing but nice to her since they'd met but there was always something off when they existed in each other's orbit. She had never seen the outgoing, sometimes loud girl Harry had described.

Hermione's look of surprise was all Daphne needed to know she had hit the nail on the head. "You should know...she hasn't tried anything at all with Harry since we've been here...she's mostly done her best to avoid him. But yes...seeing you and Harry together is...difficult for her."

"Harry told me she used to fancy him...after that it was obvious for me to see," Daphne stated.

"Fancy is putting it mildly," Hermione continued. "I'm not sure how much Harry has told you but he saved her life a few years back. She had a crush on him before but after that…"

Hermione mimicked Daphne, leaning back and looking up to the sky. "You have to understand...you probably do understand...if you get to know Harry and are a decent human being...at all...you can't help but admire him. Harry saved her life doing the most brave, daring thing you could imagine...then never mentioned it to her again. Never boasted...never bragged. If anything he went out of his way to avoid talking about it or making her feel uncomfortable. It only endeared him to her more."

Daphne stayed quiet, content to gaze at the stars, waiting for Hermione to continue.

"Eventually she accepted Harry wasn't interested and started dating other people. But then last summer and into fall term Harry did become interested. He did a good job of hiding it but I noticed...eventually Ginny did as well. But just as Ginny noticed...well."

"I came along," Daphne interjected.

"Exactly," Hermione said with a nod. "Ginny never said anything but I think she was hoping it would be a fleeting thing...like her and Dean. But seeing how happy and relaxed Harry has been the last few days...talking about you and your family all the time...she knew. She knew and...it's been hard."

Hermione had unwittingly filled in the last piece of the puzzle for her. "Ginny was the girl Harry saved in the Chamber of Secrets wasn't she?"

Hermione immediately sat up, all semblance of being relaxed now gone. "You can't tell anyone," she hissed. "Ginny would be mortified if you knew."

"It's okay, Hermione," she reassured, "I won't say anything. I'm good at keeping secrets."

"Now you're just gloating," Hermione grumbled as she leaned back once again. "I can't believe you and Harry won't tell me how he did it."

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Daphne answered lazily, smiling as Hermione muttered a very undignified response. Operation: Birthday was officially a go. It was a beautiful night.

"We should probably head back inside," Hermione stated after a few moments of silence. "Mrs. Weasley still gets worried if we are out of eyeshot for too long."

Daphne nodded her agreement and stood. As she began walking back toward the house she spoke. "I really thought she wouldn't like me...Mrs. Weasley I mean," she commented.

"She actually did make a comment before Harry arrived," Hermione answered, "said she was worried because your family was so 'business minded' whatever that means. Before I could say anything in your defense Ron set her straight...told her how you were a hero to Gryffindor for what you did to McLaggen on Harry's behalf and how much he liked you. Then when Harry arrived...well...he hugged her."

"A hug?" Daphne said with a laugh, "that did it?"

"It's like this," Hermione continued explaining, "you said your mother took an instant liking to Harry right?" At Daphne's nod she continued.

"As soon as he came through the floo he hugged her and told her how happy he was to be back. The old Harry would have wanted to hug her...would have wanted to say that...but he never would have done it on his own. Imagine if your mother waited six years for Harry to initiate that hug...what that would feel like."

"Well when you put it that way…" Daphne said before trailing off, thankful she only had to wait a month or two for such a thing.

As they entered the living room she spotted Harry and Ron getting ready to play a game of chess. She made her way over to Harry and realized his pieces seemed to be quite agitated.

"Not you...anyone but you…" the King muttered in a defeated tone.

"I'm not that bad!" Harry angrily retorted. "I've won before."

"Once...you've won once...and he let you win because he was afraid you'd stop playing. His pieces told us," a pawn replied. Daphne knew it was bad if one of the pawns felt emboldened enough to talk that way to Harry.

"Yeah...well...there's more to life than playing chess you know," Harry replied meekly.

"No, actually, we don't," the King said sternly as he folded his arms and glared at Harry.

Daphne heard Ron's chuckle and looked to see the rather smug expression that both he and his pieces seemed to share. She wasn't the best chess player in the world but she really wanted to wipe that expression off of their faces on Harry's behalf. If she played this right...maybe...it was worth a shot.

She leaned in and whispered into Harry's ear. "Let me play...but if I win stop me from playing again."

Before Harry could respond she spoke to the group. "I'll give it a try," she said as earnestly as possible. In an instant Harry's pieces began hopping up and down and shouting out their agreement.

"Fine," Harry muttered in fake disgust, ceding his seat to Daphne.

"You any good?" Ron asked casually as he finished putting his pieces on the board.

"I'm not sure...I used to play with Astoria when we were younger and won most of the time. It's been a few years though. The horsey piece is the one that moves like an 'L' right?" she asked in her best attempt at naivety.

"We are Knights!" the horsey pieces shouted in unison, clearly offended.

"Not another moron," one of the Bishops muttered in disgust.

"I thought priests were supposed to be kind!" she fired back, purposely getting the name wrong.

"I am a Bishop you twit," the piece angrily replied.

"We are doomed," the other bishop chimed in.

"Now, now, let's give her a chance. She can't be any worse than the alternative," the Queen stated regally, drawing resigned nods from the other pieces as they took their places. Daphne wasn't sure but she could have sworn the Queen winked at her.

She saw Hermione and Harry smirk in recognition of what was going on and prayed that Ron wouldn't catch on.

"Don't worry," Ron stated condescendingly, "I'll help you along."

"Thanks, Ron," she replied, doing her best to keep a straight face. "Who goes first again?"

Twenty minutes later she realized she had done it. Ron had made enough sympathetic poor moves before he realized what was happening. By the time he started playing seriously he'd lost too many pieces and too much position on the board to recover.

"Checkmate?" she said with false uncertainty as her pieces started cheering and furiously pointing at their gobsmacked opponents.

"Let's play again," Ron replied immediately as his pieces sprinted back to their starting positions.

"We should probably be going, Daphne," Harry quickly interjected. "We've got an early start tomorrow."

"It's only nine!" Ron pleaded. "One more game." Daphne fought from laughing as she watched his pieces begin furiously nodding in agreement.

"Harry's right. Besides, my parents wanted to give him his present tonight," she lied. "We can play another time," she reassured, having no intention of ever playing Ron again.

"You set me up!" Ron exclaimed as the shouts of 'coward!' rang out from his enraged pieces.

"Nobody likes a sore loser, Ron," Hermione commented gleefully.

She looked to see Harry beaming while Gabrielle sat beside him, glaring daggers at her.

It had been a beautiful night.

Thursday, July 31, 1:00 PM

Daphne smiled to herself as Harry and her family made their way out of Gringotts. Between the vast quantity of gold and artifacts in the Potter vault and the voluminous folders outlining his holdings that the goblins had grudgingly provided it was clear that Harry was a bit overwhelmed. They had been at the bank for three hours and had barely scratched the surface.

As they made their way down Diagon Alley she became aware very quickly that all eyes were on them. While the journey to Gringotts had been relatively anonymous with only a few passersby recognizing Harry it was clear word had spread that he had been sighted. There was an audible drop in volume as they stepped out of the bank and Daphne instantly tensed. It was agreed that they would be safe in such a public setting but it was still disconcerting to have everyone focused on them.

"What would you say to lunch in muggle London?" her father asked casually. "There is the loveliest cafe a few blocks from here."

Daphne waited for Harry to respond and realized he was still lost in his thoughts and had not even been aware of the attention they were garnering. "Muggle London sounds great but won't we be followed?"

"Excellent point, Daphne," her mother interjected. "We'll need to think more about the Potter affect going forward," she said warmly.

The mention of his name pulled Harry out of his thoughts. "Sorry about that," he mumbled, "I guess I've gotten used to it-"

"It's nothing to apologize for Harry," her mother interrupted, "it is a small price to pay for being part of your family."

"Thanks," he said, still taken aback by her mother's honest statements of affection. "Maybe we could walk a block or two and apparate somewhere else?"

"Perfect," her father replied. "Do you remember the Italian restaurant we ate at a few weeks ago, Amanda?"

At her nod he continued addressing the group. "Stick close to us and we will apparate once we are a few blocks clear of Diagon Alley. The security and privacy charms we can put up should do the trick once we get there. We should have plenty of time afterward to make it to the Ministry for your apparition test."

"If you just want to go home and avoid the hassle-"

"Stop being stupid, Harry," Astoria angrily interrupted as she gave their audience a withering glare.

Daphne chuckled at Harry's look of surprise and squeezed his hand. "Well it's official, Harry. Astoria calling you stupid basically makes you a Greengrass at this point."

"Thank you?" he said confusedly.

"You're welcome," Astoria supplied as she playfully punched him in the arm, "and Happy Birthday. Let's go...I'm starving."

Thursday, July 31, 7:30 PM

As they took their seats at the muggle pub located a block away from Grimmauld Place Daphne could think of nothing besides what was going to be happening after dinner. Their trip to the bank and the presence of her family had served as an excellent distraction for most of the day. But now that it was just her and Harry she could think of nothing else. Harry's voice broke her out of her thoughts.

"I'm really glad you and your parents went to Gringotts with me today," Harry began. "I would have been lost."

"I told you it wasn't a problem, Harry. We actually find those things interesting...and so will you once I'm done with you," she said with a grin.

"Just remember our agreement," Harry replied.

"You let me teach you about your finances and I let you teach me Defence," she chimed.

"And flying," he added pointedly.

"And flying," she confirmed as she reached for his hand and squeezed.

"Can I ask you something...about the goblins?" he asked. At her nod he continued.

"I know they are pretty sour toward wizards on principle but they seemed particularly disgusted with your parents."

She laughed out loud. "They don't like my family very much because we only use their banking services and manage our investments ourselves without their help. No help from the goblins means no management fees to be charged. I imagine they realize they are going to be losing the management fees related to your holdings as well very soon."

"You know I appreciate the offer but your parents really don't need to-"

"Harry," she interrupted sternly.

"I know your dad said he would charge a percentage but I looked it up...it's too low."

"You're right," she confirmed. "It's about half what he normally charges for consulting."

"But-"

"Sixty-Forty, Harry. Ring any bells?"

"I know what you are saying but-"

"Weasley Wizard Wheezes," she interrupted again in a singsong voice.

"That's different, he replied stubbornly.

"How?" she asked simply.

She laughed to herself as Harry opened his mouth to speak and no words came out. "Fine, you've made your point," he grudgingly admitted, a small smile creeping onto his face.

"Thank you again for the gifts," he stated, clearly wanting to change the subject. "I can't wait to get it set up. I imagine Kreacher will be having flashbacks to Sirius." She had purchased him his own muggle phonograph and speakers as well as a few records from current artists.

"You're welcome," she replied warmly. "Speaking of which I didn't see what the Weasleys gave you last night."

To her surprise Harry seemed to become uncomfortable. "They gave me a watch...it had belonged to Mrs. Weasley's brother before he died in the war."

Now his apprehension made sense. Her parents had given him a watch as well, wanting Harry to receive the traditional present for a wizard when he came of age. "My parents won't mind if you'd rather wear-"

"No!" he quickly interrupted, "your parents' gift was great too. It's just-" he began before stopping and looking down at the Greengrass present currently on his wrist. "When Ron turned seventeen his parents gave him a watch. He explained the significance and I guess I was a bit jealous. I wanted one but knew it wasn't going to happen. I wasn't even sure I would make it to seventeen."

He turned his gaze back to her. "And now I have two," he said in wonderment.

She smiled and looked into his eyes, her gaze only broken when she heard the opening notes of 'Day Tripper' in her periphery. She looked to see that a live band she hadn't noticed before had begun playing.

"Tonks mentioned they have a band who plays Beatles songs here every Thursday," Harry informed. "I thought you'd like it."

"I love it but it's your birthday, Harry," she confirmed. "We're supposed to be doing things you like."

"We are," he said simply, smiling and nodding along to the music. She fought the urge to climb across the table and attack him then and there. It was difficult.

Thursday, July 31, 9:30 PM

Daphne stood in front of the mirror and nervously appraised her appearance for what felt like the thousandth time. But no matter how many times she confirmed everything was in its proper place...that every protective charm she knew had been properly cast...her feet stubbornly refused to move.

She could hear Astoria's voice in her head. "You are worrying too much again. Stop being an idiot and get down to business," it was practically shouting. She knew the voice was right...yet still her feet held firm.

Daphne was broken out of her reverie by the appearance of Harry's Patronus galloping to her side. She watched as the stag's mouth opened and inexplicably began speaking in Harry's voice.

"It's fine if you've changed your mind and aren't ready but could you please come back in here? I'm starting to lose my mind. By the way...last week Dumbledore showed me how to send messages using a Patronus."

She smiled to herself and reached out to touch the stag, soaking in its now familiar warmth before it disappeared from sight. Her feet instantly moved toward the door.

As she stepped through the threshold she saw Harry sitting on the bed, his own worried expression morphing into one of adoration and awe. She felt so stupid for being hesitant. She belonged to him...he belonged to her...checkers not chess.

"I hope you don't mind me borrowing this," she said quietly as she made her way slowly over to the bed. "I did promise I would wear your jersey..."

Based on Harry's expression he seemed fine with it. "I've got more...practice jerseys too...you can have them all," he stated reverently, never taking his eyes off of her.

His words vanished any remaining fear, replacing it with excitement and anticipation. She couldn't wait. She was ready. They were a team and she couldn't wait.

"I love you so much, Daph," Harry whispered as she stood in front of him and slowly pulled the jersey over her head.

"Happy Birthday," she replied softly, ready for whatever the rest of the night had in store.

Friday, August, 1, 1997, 10:00 AM

Tracey Davis slowly sat up and stretched languorously, reveling in the warm sunlight cascading into her room. Her holiday had been fantastic and she never wanted it to end. The weather had been perfect, the Meditarranean Sea had been crystal clear and she hadn't worried one jot about dark wizards or pureblood idiots ruining her family's life. Her parents had actually warned her a few months prior that their holiday plans may have to be cancelled due to Voldemort's return...but that nonsense was all over now. She made a mental note to thank Harry once again when she saw him next week.

Her musings were interrupted by the sound of insistent pecking at her window. A beautiful snowy owl, Harry's owl, was impatiently waiting to be let in the room. She quickly opened the window and untied the letter from the owl's leg.

"I don't have any treats for you...umm...Edward is it?"

That was apparently the incorrect name as the owl clicked its beak disapprovingly before flying back out the window.

"Sorry!" she called as she watched the owl disappear into the horizon. She quickly turned her attention to the letter, laughing out loud as she read its contents.

Dear Tracey,

Last night Harry and I basked. We basked three times and once again this morning.

Yours,

Daphne

A/N: If you are confused by the 'basking' comment it is a call back to a conversation between Daphne and Tracey in the main story. It takes place near the beginning of Chapter 17 for anyone interested who does not remember.