Chapter 12: Ever After

Harry, Daphne and the army of cuteness were invading Diagon Alley.

Harry was wearing Green and silver robes, Daphne her signature green dress.

The nurses and child-herders wore Green robes with large silver S snakes on them.

Harry smiled to Daphne, and she smiled back. It wasn't even raining, and for London that was pretty good weather.

Harry turned back to watch the nurses of a second, when there was a loud "crack" like someone apparating, and Harry fell down in a fountain of blood from his neck.

Daphne pulled out her Peverell wand and cast Protego Totalis, dumping power to make the shield big. It flickered into view, a light blue hemisphere.

The nearest nurse had turned Harry over. His eyes were open and staring, not breathing, a massive hole in his neck, a huge pool of bright red blood.

'Not Harry. Not Harry' was all Daphne could think.

-==0==-

Daphne sat up, in her bedroom, picked up her Peverell wand and cast "colourvaria".

Hours later, she stopped, shaking. All black. All black. Everything was black now.

[HOUSE ELVES LOSING THEIR SOURCE]

Daphne having to get the children to help – she cannot perform magic with all those elves.

The eldest taking on an elf each.

Daphne standing up and sweeping out of the house in her mourning robes.

Only to curse everything into blackness.

-==0==-

Lady Slytherin stepped out of the Black coach that had just rolled to a stop, her black dress with scaley flickers of green matching her black and green crown.

She pulled a pale wand and with a slashing motion, the flowers that had been growing near the drive blackened and vanished.

Auden's Funeral Blues

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message 'He is Dead'.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

[Daphne hitting up O'Reilly to ID the shooter.]

"Daphne?" asked Hermione "Do you, perhaps have any idea why the Selywns have all vanished, and the location of their manor house is a smoking ruin?"

Daphne, wearing a black veil looked up from her lap "I have no idea." she said.

"It's just… there's this rumour going around that the shooter might have been a Selwyn, or hired by one" said Hermione.

"Harry was very popular," said Daphne, "Anyone would have."

"If you'd told me, I'd have done it for you," said Hermione sharply. "While you had some alibis."

"There are four young goblin ladies, from exemplary families, who I am friends with," said Daphne formally "We were having tea. They are prepared to testify before the wizengamot to that."

"Four goblin ladies, who form your goblin honour guard?" asked Hermione. "Who might lie for you?"

"I assure you, Hermione, that accusing Ragnok's daughters of perjury would start a war" said Daphne "And I would, sadly, as a goblin warrior, have to side with them."

Hermione rubbed her forehead. "Ugh" she groaned.

-==0==-

Daphne lit some everlasting candles, and blew dust off the handle of the large wooden wheel that sat in a cleared are of a dusty, cluttered ancient workshop. Cloth covers laid over some benches.

She spun the wooden wheel in its bronze bearings, the rune-inscribed plates rolling past faster and faster, the room growing darker and darker, the torches burning with blue flames.

A shadow rose from the floor, slowly growing to be man-sized, then taking on the size of a slim and tall man, with messy hair.

"Hello Daph" said a hollow whisper, like wind in the trees.

Daphne cried. "Harry" she said, and spun the wheel faster.

The shade of Harry solidified and took the clear shape of Harry Potter in day robes, looking a bit confused, and very sad.

"You don't look well Love," said the shade.

"You're dead," she sobbed.

"Well, yeah, but you're not," said Harry.

"I already said I'd never love again," said Daphne.

"Well, that's a long time," said Harry.

"You're getting back into your body, Harry Potter," said Daphne.

"My what?" said Harry, "I'm dead."

"And we inherited the premier necromancy library in the entire world," said Daphne.

"I died… didn't I have a big bit of my neck missing" said Harry.

Daphne pulled a cloth off a bench. Harry Potter's corpse lay, cold and pale on the bench. His neck, exposed and pale, whole and unmarked.

"Really, healing up a muggle-made wound was easy enough" said Daphne "You'd left, but your body is whole."

"Shouldn't I have started to rot by now?" asked Harry.

"Your body's not totally dead." said Daphne "… Mostly Dead you might say."

"Mostly dead is still partially alive?" asked Harry. Daphne nodded, and smiled slightly, though her eyes glinted with un-shed tears.

"jjones helped." said Daphne.

"Did you threaten her?"

"Only a little," said Daphne, "She was keen to exercise her skills and even go beyond what she'd ever learnt"

"You shared family magics with her?"

"After she swore vassalage," said Daphne, "I might be grief stricken widow, but I have some standards."

Harry looked at his dead body, then back at Daphne.

"And you expect me to just what, hop back in?" asked Harry "It doesn't work like that."

"That's true," said Daphne, "Which is why your body is covered in the right Norse runes."

"You didn't!" explained Harry.

"I may cut a man down and mark him, and he may stand again" quoted Daphne.

"Daphne! That's..."

"Perfectly ordinary necromancy," she said, "With a bit of a push from three hallows, you'll squish back in nicely."

"Um… I'm starting to feel it" said Harry.

"Sorry honey, but… It's for the best" said Daphne, and she pointed her wand at the stone floor and a line of white crackling magic left her wand, and illuminated the runic circle Harry's shade was already standing in.

"A Ritual?" said Harry "You're using a ritual?"

"A binding" said Daphne, as the white crackling magic filled the circles and lit the runes, overflowing down a line that led onto the bench, where the mostly dead body of Harry Potter lay.

The line of magic crackled across the bench, under Harry's body, which twitched a little.

"Well I'm still here, and my old body's over there." said Harry.

"Oh, now we need a sacrifice" said Daphne, and she pulled a cord hanging from the ceiling. The cord tightened, and a leather spout swing over, to stop over the top of Harry's shade.

"Oh" said Harry. "This isn't going to be a billywig is it?"

Daphne shook her head. "Sorry dear, but we need a lot more blood than that," said Daphne, and she released the cord. The end of the spout flopped open and blood started to pour into the circle, like a small red stream. The blood kept flowing, covering the shade.

"You know, if I could feel this, it would be disgusting," said Harry.

The blood covered the circle, and started to bell upwards, slowly filling in an invisible cylinder, bounded by the chalk marking.

"How much is this?" asked Harry.

"Three hundred and forty-three. Seven times Seven times Seven" said Daphne, her breath puffing into clouds in the chilling air.

"Not sheep then?" asked Harry.

"With sheep we'd need thousands," said Daphne, "This is human blood."

"So many dead?" said Harry, gulping.

"So many donating one pint," corrected Daphne "All sacrificing seven days of their life"

"That seems like… not many years," said Harry thoughtfully.

"Now… now, that you're dead you can do mental arithmetic?" said Daphne incredulously.

"Well I'm not spending all day lusting after you," said Harry.

"Just wait, buster," muttered Daphne.

The blood pooled, then the flow stopped.

Daphne yelled out "Oy, Jones!"

The arch-topped door opened and Sanctity jjones walked into the room wearing a plain black robe and a plain conical hat with a skull hatband. She stared at the shade of Harry...

"Crap, you really can do that!" she said, swallowing.

"The ritual!" said Daphne.

jjones stabbed at the pool of blood with her wand and said something in a language Harry didn't understand, that sounded very guttural.

The blood rippled and began to burn.

The shade of Harry screamed.

"Sorry darling, this is going to hurt a bit," said Daphne, holding a black lace handkerchief to her nose.

jjones chanted something and the shade of Harry gradually compressed and slid up the glowing line over to the body of Harry, where it flowed in. The body twitched.

"This will be very temporary," said jjones, and she waved her wand over Harry Potter in a slashing, zigzag motion. "Sowilo" she intoned.

The body of Harry Potter gave a gasp.

Daphne pulled a silvery cloth from her robe and lay it over her wand, and stepped behind the wheel, turning it on a second bearing, till the rim of the wheel faced Harry. She drew a second white wand, and twisting the sliver cloth over both wands, pushed the wands and cloth against the wheel. The wheel slowed and the room darkened, and there was a sound like cracking icecubes.

Daphne's arms shook, and she took a deep breath and twisted both her wrists at once. There was a ripple in the air around Harry's body, a cracking noise, and Daphne's nose ran with blood. She coughed some blood onto the wheel and collapsed.

The wheel slowed down, and Harry Potter's body made a rasping intake of breath, and jerked upwards.

Harry's eyes opened, and he sat up. "Well," he said "That's certainly something I definitely don't want to do again."

"Um, Is she okay?" asked jjones.

Harry looked down from the bench, "Sorry, can't see… probably needs a healing potion and a blood replenisher" said Harry, and collapsed.

"What the fuck?" said jjones. "He's... actually reanimated?"

She shook her head and walked carefully over to where Daphne had collapsed. jjones kicked the chalk line and with an enormously loud boom, the room rippled and was still.

jjones put a finger in her ear and wiggled it "I'm probably deaf" she said very loudly, then bent down and pulled Daphne clear of the wheel and onto her back.

"Ew" she said, and scourgify'd away all the blood.

-==0==-

"Daphne" said Harry, as he lay feebly on the couch in the workshop.

Daphne, laying on an adjacent couch, turned to Harry and smiled. "Yes dear?"

"I talked to Pansy. She had a few things to say. About what you did in ninety-seven" said Harry evenly.

Daphne's smile collapsed. She looked impassively at Harry.

"Yes," said Harry, "so, how far into the club were you really?" he asked.

"I just covered for seventh years going on raids," said Daphne. "A few obliviates."

Harry nodded and sighed, "You were marked then?"

"Family magic," said Daphne.

"Family magic?" asked Harry.

"My mother's family. We can erm… remove some dark magical scars." said Daphne.

"Oh," said Harry, "Human sacrifices?" he asked casually.

"Of course not," said Daphne indignantly.

"Well, I… I can't," said Harry and he waved his hand, "Come here and give me a kiss."

"You forgive me?" asked Daphne.

"You have to be good from now on," said Harry.

Daphne sat on the edge of Harry's bench, and leaned down and kissed him "What if I was very bad instead?" asked Daphne.

"I don't think we're well enough for that today," said Harry, and he smiled wryly, "but I appreciate the sentiment."

"How can I make it up to you?" asked Daphne seriously, kissing the tip of Harry's nose.

"Well, you did resurrect me," said Harry, "I'll call that good."

"I resurrected you for purely selfish reasons." said Daphne, lying awkwardly next to Harry on the couch.

Harry got one arm over her torso.

"How are you?" asked Harry.

"I passed out doing the ritual," said Daphne "jjones said I was bleeding."

"You haemorrhaged. Overdid it a bit," said Harry softly, giving her a feeble squeeze.

"As a Peverell, that's expected, isn't it?" said Daphne.

"How are the kids?" asked Harry.

"Confused," said Daphne. "I might have colour-changed everything black."

"Define… everything?" asked Harry.

"All of Potter Manor, cursed out all the flowers, all of Black manor. Peverell castle… put a permanent storm cloud over all three… " said Daphne.

"I'm quite flattered," said Harry, "But I'm back, and we're going to get some protection against whatever that was."

"A muggle rifle," said Daphne.

"As soon as I can walk we're going home and putting things back to normal," said Harry.

"Harry, darling there's a few problems" said Daphne.

"Hmm?"

"You died. You lost all your lordships to your children." said Daphne.

"Sounds great. Who's in charge?" asked Harry.

"I am, but I can't do all of them, and work and all the children," admitted Daphne.

"So, appoint someone," said Harry, "That's a thing isn't it?"

"Stewards" said Daphne.

"Well, appoint one."

"Hmm, I've got the perfect person. My unemployed husband," said Daphne.

"Hey!" complained Harry.

"You won't be lord anything," said Daphne.

"This sounds great," said Harry cheerily, nuzzling into Daphne's hair on the arm-rest of the couch. "Are we still married?" he asked.

"Bugger," said Daphne.

"Well, that needs fixing." said Harry "Not coming back from the dead and missing out on you."

"Well we need that." said Daphne "I'm a respectable widow."

"Lady Slytherin," said Harry.

"Oh," said Daphne, "I suppose we need to tell Sir Justin. Her majesty sent a card. She was apparently quite upset."

"Can I have a knighthood now, do you think?" asked Harry.

"That's being a Peverell, and you still are"

"Bother," said Harry, "My social climbing ambitions are all thwarted."

Daphne elbowed him gently.

"Oy, I'm very fragile," said Harry.

-==0==-

Harry was sitting on his couch in his drawing room. Everything was still black, but there were coloured cushions, and the odd toy scattered around.

Hermione came in, with Daphne pushing her.

"Harry," Hermione croaked, "You were dead."

"I've done it before," said Harry.

"Harry, you had … practically a state funeral. The Queen sent a card. You were dead for… weeks and weeks" said Hermione.

"Mostly dead," said Daphne. "Which is still partly alive."

Harry grinned crookedly, "And my widow, Lady Peverell had the country's greatest library of necromantic books."

"I never should have shown you two that film," muttered Hermione.

"Now, we've invited you here," said Daphne.

"For a very important reason," said Harry, and he grinned crookedly.

"What?" asked Hermione, "Are either of you going to do some work in the Wizengamot?"

"Possibly," said Daphne, "More importantly, we're getting married. Will you be the maid of honour?"

"Getting… married?" Hermione frowned, "you GOT married."

"He died." said Daphne "Till death do us part, and all that."

"Is that even legal?" asked Hermione.

"Kingsley's prepared to gloss over a remarkable amount for Harry Potter," said Daphne. "But we simply must get married again."

"At Hogwarts again?"

"Oh god no. This time, we'll have a much smaller service. We Were thinking at Godric's Hollow." said Daphne.

"But given that someone's taking shots at us, at home. There's a big hall at Peverell castle." said Harry, "And having it there means we can use the prototype of the stone to bring some of my family to the service."

"Prototype of the what?" asked Hermione.

"The prototype of the resurrection stone. It's hugely bulky, and frankly given its age and complicated structure, should not be magically transported." said Daphne.

"But Daphne's pretty sure we can hit the hall from the necromancy tower," said Harry, "So mum and dad and Sirius can come."

Hermione swallowed "Your parents, who've been dead for decades."

"They're not getting any deader," said Daphne, "unofficially, we raise the spirits of the dead every Eastare, for the orphans, you know."

"It's like Santas grotto," offered Harry, "Only It's me and Mrs Peverell, cranking on the wheel, and the kids get to talk to their parents. "

"That cannot be mentally healthy," said Hermione. "How did you even do the whole… resurrecting Harry thing?"

"jjones was helpful," said Daphne, "And George organised a whip-round."

"Whip round?"

"We needed three hundred and forty-three pints of human blood," said Daphne, "One per person, and loosing seven days from their lives."

"But that's only a little under seven years," said Hermione.

"He can do mental arithmetic when he's dead," commented Daphne, "No blood rushing away from his brain all the time. The blood sacrifice was just to kick-start the process."

Hermione closed her eyes, "There's no place like home, There's no place like home, There's no place like home" she said.

"OY!" said Harry sharply, "The rest of the process was just Peverell family magic, and Daphne nearly put herself in St Mungo's overdoing it."

"Peverell family magic is traditionally dangerous," said Daphne, "You did it plenty of times when we were dating."

"I was young and stupid," said Harry, "and now I'm not married to my wife, and that's annoying."

"And you're technically what, just Harry Potter?" asked Hermione.

Harry nodded "Lost all those pretty lordships. Course, the children have them now."

"Why do I feel the need for more headache potion?" asked Hermione.

"Well, we do want to be married. And then, I can appoint my husband, some nobody called Harry Potter, as regent of the house of Potter, Black, Peverell, Slytherin. That sort of thing," said Daphne.

"You don't need to be married to do that," said Hermione.

"Yes I do. How could I possibly assign financial and political responsibilities to someone who wasn't family?" said Daphne.

"He's your husband" said Hermione.

"The ministry does not technically support continuation of marriage after resurrection," said Daphne. "Not economically."

"Economically?" asked Hermione, her eyebrows banging together.

"They wanted more in bribes that it would cost to have a wedding" said Harry. "AND, as a special deal, you get a definitely flattering outfit."

Hermione nodded woodenly, "Of course. And bridesmaids?"

"I'm just a poor old widow with a lot of children remarrying," said Daphne.

"What about the goblins?" asked Hermione.

Daphne's mouth opened.

"Um, Daphne did you check with the goblins?" asked Harry.

"Er?" said Daphne.

"Shit!" said Harry.

-==0==-

"We're broke?" asked Harry.

"Just the main vault, they're not holding the children's accounts or mine, but… Ragnok – the filthy money-grubbing little shit-stain says it's his now." said Daphne. "I've a good mind to…."

"Well, I can go complain," said Harry, "That was just a loan to make the cursed gold not ruin the economy."

"He claims the loan term was with you personally, and that once you died, it was just an unsecured debt." said Daphne "I checked the contract before you signed, obviously, and that was not a part of the agreement."

Harry went to the filing cabinet with Daphne, and they found the agreement pretty quickly, only pausing to stroke Daphne's bum for a few moments.

Daphne unrolled the scroll on the desk, and gave Harry a cautionary glare. "Work now, play later!"

Harry read the agreement, and it was what he remembered. There was a lot of boilerplate at the end, that he had ignored, covering things he'd never do again… like stealing from Gringotts, or sealing another Dragon… Harry kept reading.

A word, well two words, jumped out at him. 'unum vita' Harry stopped and re-read that bit, which was in really tiny print.

'This agreement is between Ragnok Troll-biter and Harry James Potter, and is for the term of unum vita. Should Mr Potter rise from the dead again, the contract is null and void.'

"The… cheating little…. Goblin!" shouted Harry. "IT'S GOT A NO RESURRECTIONS CLAUSE!"

"What?" asked Daphne, shoving him over and reading the tiny print. She was squinting, and looking a little lined. "Never trusty a sodding goblin," she said, "Bastard."

"Well, we could just… take it back." said Harry.

"Without Hallows? MY armour's good enough to give me an edge, and the goblins have the same stuff themselves" said Daphne "We might not live, and we'd start another war."

"Well there's the press" mused Harry.

"Which would start another war." said Daphne "And the sodding deed of gift on my armour says I'm a goblin warrior"

"What deed of gift?" asked Harry.

"The runes on the armour – are literally the ownership, lease agreement," said Daphne. "Which, if you wondered is why the girl's armour is less decorated than mine."

"The girls?"

"The goblins in my honour guard." said Daphne. "Two of whom are Ragnok's daughters."

"Huh," said Harry, "Are they … still allowed on the property?"

"Well.. that's awkward, isn't it," said Daphne, "They're friends. That their father is cheating lying back-stabbing bloody goblin. Well, it's not their fault."

"Why though," said Harry aloud, "Why do that – just for some gold? We were getting on quite well."

"It was a lot of gold, Harry. And… I fear it's his personal property."

"Yeah," muttered Harry, "That seemed like a funny thing at the time. You know. Make history of magic less boring to read and stuff."

"So, um, sorry" said Harry "I'm not rich anymore."

"You've got some nice houses and a pretty smile," said Daphne, "I'll cope."

"Can we, afford to keep everything?" asked Harry.

"Course," said Daphne "Can't afford to spend ludicrous sums on house works anymore."

"Eh, it's habitable," said Harry, referring to Black Manor.

"There's no money for marble floors or fireplaces," said Daphne.

"Well, we'll have to just get by with what's there, and use the army of children who will one day be old enough, to transfigure rocks. There's tons of rocks at Peverell castle." said Harry.

"Can't afford new paint," said Daphne, "Things are going to be black, and the flowerbeds are… well all dead. I might have… used plant withering curses."

"We'll live," said Harry.

-==0==-

Harry and Daphne went to the DMLE, Daphne in a flat grey robe and cloak.

On the way across the Ministry atrium Harry asked "Daphne, why are you looking lined? Stress? Guilty conscience?"

"I um. We didn't have enough donors for the blood," said Daphne sniffling "So I um… donated more than once."

"But it's a year off for each pint" said Harry ,stopping and grabbing her elbow "Tell me. How MANY PINTS"

"Four… fourteen" said Daphne. She looked up Harry, her eyes glistening "We were only short fourteen, and withes live loads longer than wizards anyway…" she stopped speaking.

Harry swayed on his feet "Fourteen? You threw away fourteen years of your life … to bring me back?"

"I'd have done thirty, forty … I mean I'd look dreadful but…" said Daphne.

Harry sighed "Well. And you weren't a Gryffindor why?"

"A Slytherin will use any means to achieve their ends," said Daphne melodically.

"Quite," said Harry, "Come on – DMLE, and Dawlish."

Daphne cluing to his arm as they took the lift. Her perfume wafted around him.

Daphne sat watching Harry as Dawlish greeted them, offered them tea, and finally Harry started talking.

"So. It's been years now – " started Harry.

Daphne closed her eyes, and shivered.

Harry paused. "And what progress has there ACTUALLY been on finding the identity of my assassin?"

Dawlish's quill snapped.

Harry crossed his legs, "I have all day," he said.

A hour later, Daphne and Harry left the DMLE, walked across the atrium, and flooed home to 'Potter Manor.'

"You didn't… talk about it," said Daphne.

Harry put his hands on his hips "And you just forgot to mention that you threw away fourteen years? For me!"

"Of course I would," said Daphne, "I missed you terribly."

"I did notice that everything's dead or black," said Harry drily, "You, Mrs Slytherin, are a very … irritating woman!"

"Irritating?" asked Daphne She slumped.

"How am I supposed to do the right thing when you go… being all selflessly sacrificing," said Harry "I'm still very annoyed you did … what you did, but… other people would just get… I dunno, counselling. Not … resurrect me, losing years off their lives in the process!"

Daphne lower lips trembled, "I did miss you rather a lot" she said.

Harry wrapped his arms around her, "You," he said, "Are trouble. I'll just have to keep an eye on you from now on."

"Yes dear," murmured Daphne.

"And no hissy-fun-time till I'm not cross with you," said Harry. Daphne sniffed loudly.

Harry patted her back "Look, god, what am I supposed to do! If you'd told me up front, and not lied…"

"You barely married me as it was!" said Daphne. "I can just see that going well – you came round to see me in the library and I said "oh, and by the way I was a low-level death eater, only, to you know, not get thrown in a camp."

"Thrown in a camp?"

"Oh come off it – Neutrality?" said Daphne, "We caved like slimy little snakes to not get murdered."

"Snakes aren't slimy," said Harry softly. "But, no mark? Where is it anyway?"

"Gone. Mummy um… used an old family ritual to erm… take it away, ad um…. Drop me a few dress sizes. I'd been stuffing myself on ice-cream for three years."

"Three years?" asked Harry ."Since Fourth year? Why?"

"Can I not say?"

"If you want – as long as it's not being a Death eater"

"I… got dumped by Jean-Claude," said Daphne. "He said I was silly little prude."

"Well dear, you got over that" said Harry. Daphne gave him a stern look.

"No, I still like ice-cream."

Harry kissed her forehead "You, darling," said Harry "Are not a bit who I thought you were when I first met you."

"We're still good though?" asked Daphne quietly.

"You lied to me," said Harry, and he held her in gentle hug. "But let's call it … character."

"Oh," said Daphne. "We are going to be good aren't we?"

"You need rest," said Harry "And we need to spend a lot of time with our seven. Come on, you can tell me all about the wedding arrangements."

"No, you have to help with those." said Daphne.

"We just do everything the same as last time, but on a smaller scale" suggested Harry.

"Oh merlin!" said Daphne, "Flower arrangements don't work like that!"

"Er" said Harry "We could elope?"

"We have seven children under one, Harry!"

"Lilies – for mum," said Harry "And red roses for you."

"Baby's breath – I need something white"

"White?" asked Harry "You're marrying in green, dear."

"Well I suppose I won't have to disable an assassin this time" said Daphne.

-==0==-

Daphne and Harry stood in a slightly smoking pile of the wreckage of tables and chairs in a slightly singed castle hall, Daphne's dress green, but missing the train, a scorched fragment of veil in her hair, Harry's dress robes burnt off in places, down to his basilisk-hide arming doublet.

"Four Assassins, Devil's Snare in the flower arrangements, poisoned chocolates in the gift bags." said Harry "It's worse than last time. Next time, we elope!"

"Neville was really good with the Devils Snare" said Daphne. "Did not expect Granger to use an entrail expelling curse on the assassin she got."

"Yeah well. She never used it in the war. I think she was a bit miffed," said Harry.

"Theo Nott sicked up." said Daphne. "He really is an embarrassment."

"That might have been to get rid of a poisoned chocolate." said Harry, feeling charitable, "Some people get snacky in dangerous situations."

"You could have kept the heads of the two you killed," said Daphne "You need scalps for battle accounting."

Harry sighed. "I'm still not really that keen on goblins."

"My bridesmaids were very helpful," said Daphne.

"How did they get armour under their dresses?" asked Harry.

"I have no idea." said Daphne "But it came in handy."

"You know what we should do?" asked Harry.

"What?" asked Daphne.

"Take a holiday. Something simple, and harmless."

"Like what?"

"A trip to the seaside." said Harry.

"We own a tropical island," said Daphne sternly, "The logistics of moving eighty people are horrific."

"We give the Thestrals extra meat, space-expand the carriage like a Hogwarts express trip, and just go to I dunno… Brighton."

"Brighton? No. We go to the island." said Daphne "The children will have to bunk up, but importantly, it's safe!"

"Okay," said Harry grudgingly, "But I'm sure we couldn't get into that much trouble with a trip to the seaside."

THE END.

[AN: Yes, the end of the Fireworks-verse. I started writing Fireworks in 2019. A lot has happened in the meantime, including writing a dozen other novels. Sequels are hard. A different Harry and Daphne will be back in another story before too long.]