Daphne found herself waking up early the next morning. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she grumbled as she dressed for the day. Despite her morning grumpiness, Daphne couldn't help but feel excited and nervous. She hadn't seen her family in two years.
She though back to everything she had done and learned while in the chamber. The obvious was the near completion of her schooling. She had also learned the animagus transformation with Harry. She couldn't stop the smile that formed as she thought about how their relationship progressed.
While they weren't dating they had grown quite close. That wasn't counting all the times the held hands, Harry gave her a foot rub or any of the times she fell asleep petting Harry in his lynx form.
They had spent plenty of nights staying up late and talking. She learned quite a bit of Harry's past and who he really is inside. She listened with rapt attention as he told her about his aunt and uncle. She comforted him as he vented his worries about the future. Everything she learned and every second she spent with him just made her love him even more.
That was another thing. Daphne could freely admit that she was in love with Harry. At least she could admit it in the confines of her own mind. She was still much too nervous to tell him openly.
Once she was dressed and finished packing she took her trunk and went out to the main chamber to wait. Daphne took note that Harry's trunk was already packed and waiting in the main chamber. She then noticed that he was sleeping on the couch in his lynx form.
She loved how soft his lynx fur was. Sitting on the couch softly she started petting him across the shoulders and back. It wasn't long before Daphne heard a deep rumbling purr emanating from Harry. She smiled as he shifted in his sleep pushing himself against her hand.
Soon Daphne heard several people coming down the hallway. Assuming it was all their tutors ready to leave she shook Harry awake. She stiffled her giggles as he languidly stretched across her lap before hopping off the couch and transforming back.
"Thanks for waking me Daph. How'd you sleep?" Harry asked stifling a yawn
"I slept well enough. It was the waking up early that ruined it."
"Ah yes I always forget you're not a morning person."
"You kids ready to go?" Ms. Thompson asked
Harry and Daphne each nodded yes. Magic surged through the walls of the chamber before dying out once more. The door to the chamber opened allowing Goldaxe to step inside. Seeing everyone there and ready he motioned for the group to follow him. Goldaxe lead them to another wide open chamber where several people were inside.
"Mr. Potter, Ms. Greengrass may I introduce you to the educational board of the ministry. They are in charge of all the 'owls' and 'newts' testing. I took the liberty of bringing them here so you may get your scores right away." Goldaxe explained
Harry and Daphne spent the next two hours completing their 'owls'. It took another thirty minutes to get thier results. Daphne passed with O's in all subjects except for herbology and defense where she scored EE. Harry had very similar results passing with O's in all subjects except potions and arithmancy where he also scored EE.
Pleased with their 'owls' they were given an hour for lunch before they would take their 'newts'. While Harry enjoys his food Daphne gets lost in thought watching him. She so desperately wants to tell him how she feels yet she doesn't want to ruin their current relationship or worse be rejected.
While Harry ate his food he noticed something seemed to weigh on Daphne's mind. Right before he could ask her about it Goldaxe informed them that the examiners were ready for them. Both Daphne and Harry got up from the table and followed Goldaxe back into the chamber.
Three grueling hours later Harry and Daphne were dead on their feet. Harry conjured a small couch for them to sit on while they waited for the results. Harry could tell that Daphne was still nervous. He grabbed her hand in his own.
"Don't worry Daph. I'm sure we passed with flying colors."
Harry gave her hand a small squeeze before he started dozing off. His head fell to the side resting on Daphnes shoulder. She gave his hand a small squeeze back before she leaned her head against his.
A little over an hour later Goldaxe came over holding their 'newt' results. Daphne gently shook Harry awake.
"How nice of you to rejoin us Mr. Potter. I have your test result right here." Goldaxe said handing both of them their scores
Harry passed with all O's once again except an EE in arithmancy. Daphne gasped at her results, straight O's across the board except for an EE in defense. Harry looked at her result and got excited. He was right, they passed with flying colors. With a laugh he pulled Daphne to her feet and hugged her tightly as they spun in a circle.
Daphne laughed and giggled as Harry spun her around. She loved the feeling of his arms around her.
"Ok, ok put me down you ruffian." Daphne continued to giggle as the dizziness subsided
"Sorry Daph but come on. We're free now. How can you not be excited."
"Relax Harry im plenty excited. I just have manners in public." Daphne snarked
"Oi, I have manners."
"Says the brute who just manhandled me moments ago." she countered with a smug grin
"Fine you win. But guess what. We're getting tacos before we go home. Tons of tacos. Enough for the elves to try even." Harry exclaimed
Daphne allowed Harry to drag her by the hand all the way out of the bank and to the nearest place that selled tacos. The entire way she planned how she would tell him she loved him.
-TGE-
Astoria and Leon were going over the school brochures at the dinning table when they both heard the floo system flare to life. Looking over they were witness to the spectacle that was Harry exiting the floo.
He came flying out on one leg, his arms stretched out in from of him holding a bag. His other leg shot out behind himself for balance as his momentum carried him several feet. One could liken his exit to a figure skating flamingo. Daphne emerged as graceful as ever while struggling to contain her giggles.
Harry came to a shaky stop before turning to Dpahne with a massive grin.
"At least I didn't drop the tacos."
"Oh yes quite the accomplishment. I'm sure in a few years you'll learn to exit in a normal fashion, well as normal as a ruffian like yourself can manage." Daphne snarked as she stepped past Harry intent on hugging her father
Harry grumbled to himself half-heartedly. Even he would admit he sucked at magical travel. Leon met his daughter half way embracing her tightly. He was surprised by the strength behind her hug.
"Is everything alright dear? Not that I'm complaining." Leon asked slightly concerned about his daughter open affection
"Of course father. Everything is wonderful. Where is mother?"
"Ahem, I'm here too you know." Astoria whined
"Yes we know Astoria. You remind us every chance you get." Daphne said while moving to hug her sister
"Your mother is up in her office. I'll ask one of the elves to let her know you've returned. In the mean time, what's in the bag Mr. Potter?" Leon said
"Ah this is a bag full of tacos. Often considered the eighth wonder of the world, and I've brought enough for everyone. Including the elves."
"What are tacos?" Astoria asked genuinely curious
"Only the best thing you'll ever eat." Daphne explained
Leon quickly asked an elf to bring Tora down for lunch. Within minutes Tora was downstairs practically suffocating Daphne in a fierce hug. Harry snickered as he watched her flounder in her mothers arms. What Harry didn't expect was for Tora to latch onto him as well.
Harry instinctively froze up at the contact still unused to being touched. Mrs. Weasley practically smothered him which was wildly uncomfortable. Hermione wasn't much better the couple times she hugged him. This hug was different. It was warm and soft, yet it still made him mildly uncomfortable. Reaching up Harry tentatively hugged her back. Tora released him as the elves started serving up tacos.
"So how long were you two in the goblin time chamber?" Tora asked after the food had been eaten
"Roughly two years, and we completed our 'newts' as well." Harry said
Daphne took this moment to hand her mother her scores. Tora looked them over alongside Leon. Both surged with pride as they saw Daphne's near perfect scores.
"How about you Harry? Let me see your results." Tora asked
Harry was suddenly nervous. Nobody ever really cared how well he did before. Looking over he saw Daphne give him an encouraging nod. Immediately Tora began gushing about how smart they were and how they already had a feast planned for their return. Leon had to remind his wife that they just finished eating would have to have the feast another night.
"Harry also taught me how to become an animagus." Daphne said
"Well let's see it then." Tora said excitedly
Daphne stood from the table and made her way out to the garden. Harry followed with a grin on his face. The rest of the Greengrass family followed slightly confused. Leon was wondering what form Daphne had that required to be outside.
Once they reached the garden Daphne changed into her badger form. Tora squealed like a teenage girl before scooping up the badger that was her daughter.
"Since you taught my daughter that must mean you are an animagus yourself. Mind showing us?" Leon asked Harry
Harry smirked and dropped into his lynx form. Harry walked around showing his form off unaware of the small missile that was Astoria. She tackled him to the ground cuddling his soft fur. Before Astoria realized what was happening the big cat she was petting dissappeared.
Harry who didn't want to be smothered any more had swapped to his cobra form and slithered away from the small child and turned back to his human form. Leon and Tora were shocked. Daphne had also wriggled out of her mothers grasp and returned to her human form as well giggling at the stunned look on her parents faces.
"How'd he do that?" Tora asked
"Harry said it was a different method of the animagus transformation. This method also allows one to assume multiple forms if they're capable." Daphne explained
Daphne showed what she meant by changing into her raven form and taking off to the skies. She flew in a slow loop above her parents. Harry grinned before assuming his harpy eagle form and taking off after her. They flew in a couple lazy loops together brushing wing tips before they landed. Tora was completely amazed, all her world traveling and she had never heard of something like this.
Astoria stomped up to Harry demanding he bring the big soft cat back. He simply chuckled as he said no.
"So how many forms do each of you have?" Leon asked
"Daphne has two. She has her honey badger and raven forms. I personally have three. The lynx, the cobra and the harpy eagle." Harry explained
"Absolutely amazing. You'll have to tell me all about it later." Tora said
Harry simply nodded as everyone made their way back inside. He smiled as Daphne walked next to him, took his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. His smile only grew as Daphne continued to hold his hand all the way inside.
AN: and so harry and daphne are back and only a couple days have passed on the outside. next chapter will have some hogwarts pov as well as more story progress. enjoy and until next:)
ps. to the person who mentioned i missed an opportunity to give harry a third form as a sugar glider or some such. that is honestly a great idea that i wish i had thought of before i chose a lynx. i hope you dont mind me shelving that idea for later use in another fic.