1 Eventful Breakfast

Harry spent that first day after the last battle mostly in bed, recuperating physically, mentally, and magically from the ordeal of fighting and the day that preceded it. Once he hid the elder wand, all he could think of was sleeping. Kreacher helped him into a bed – he wasn't even sure where that bed was – and he slept for hours. When he finally woke up, due to his grumbling stomach, Kreacher brought him a meal, and he soon went back to sleep.

The next time he woke up, Harry was becoming aware of his location. The snoring sounds were very familiar. Ron was sleeping on the adjacent bed, judging by the snores, with Neville, Dean, and Seamus sleeping as well. He could also smell some soapy scent, making him aware of falling asleep in his grimy clothes, barely removing his outer robes before going to bed. He moved silently out of bed and found his way to the common bathroom. A hot shower took care of the dirt and grime, cleaning his body, yet making him more aware of several minor injuries and aching muscles. He used his wand to dry himself and crawled back into bed, falling back asleep almost immediately.

When he woke next, the sun was already shining, and some of his dorm mates were stirring awake as well. He found a clean set of clothes on his nightstand – probably put there by Kreacher – and was soon ready for breakfast. When he descended to the common room, he found Hermione waiting there.

"Slept well?" she smiled at him.

"Like a log. What happened while I was out?"

She shrugged. "Not much. Soon after we returned from Dumbledore's tomb, McGonagall sent us to rest at the dorms. I checked on you and then got to my own bed. Ginny considered joining you, but I thought it was not a good idea for either. You needed your sleep, and she was not really in her right mind after losing Fred and taking part in the fight herself."

"I would have probably not noticed, and she would have been offended." His stomach grumbled. "Do you know anything about breakfast?"

She glanced at the big clock on the wall. "Breakfast will be served in half an hour at the great hall. Those who stayed awake had lunch and dinner served here. Have you eaten anything since the battle?"

"Kreacher brought something for me when my stomach woke me up, and then I fell back asleep. He probably made sure that I had some clean clothes ready as well." He pointed at the clean clothes he was wearing, noticing that Hermione had also changed her clothes.

Others soon joined them. Ron still looked a bit shocked when he arrived, making Hermione take his hand comfortingly. Ginny looked sad, and her eyes were swollen and red from weeping. Harry hugged her for comfort. He was no longer sure if he really loved the girl, but she clearly needed him at the moment, and he wouldn't deny her his help.

Soon enough, they reached the breakfast table. Some older order members and a few Aurors were already there, but the youngsters stayed together, sitting at another table. None of the long house tables was used. They were replaced by smaller tables, each seating up to ten diners on the benches on each side. Harry sat between Hermione and Ginny, with Ron sitting on Hermione's other side.

Breakfast was as good as ever. Harry ate well, feeling quite ravenous. He was almost finishing his meal when he noticed that both Ron and Ginny barely ate a crumb. He was unsure about what he could do to help them.

A hand tapped lightly on his shoulder. He turned around and was surprised to see Daphne Greengrass standing there, looking as beautiful and as haughty as ever. "May I join you now, my betrothed?" she asked, looking him straight in the eyes.

Harry's confusion was evident. "Your… betrothed?"

Daphne rolled her eyes, momentarily reminding him of Hermione. "Don't you know? Your parents and mine signed a contract soon after we were born. I'm sure they kept their copy in their vault, that is yours now."

"A contract?" Harry was still confused.

Ginny, at his side, was glaring daggers at the blonde beauty. "Harry is MY boyfriend! He's going to marry ME! Keep your claws away from him!"

Daphne sighed as if she needed to explain the obvious. "Lord Potter has quite a few other titles, allowing him, or forcing him, to take more wives. He may wed us both, and we shall still defer to Lady Potter."

She now turned to Hermione. "Why are you cuddling with Weasley? As a married woman, you should only cuddle with your husband."

"I'm not married!" Hermione answered, her surprise evident, yet she straightened a bit, putting some distance between her and Ron.

Daphne rolled her eyes again. "According to both the ministry's records and Gringotts', you have been married to Lord Potter since Christmas. You should have known by now."

Both Harry and Hermione frowned, trying to remember what happened at Christmas. "We were at Godric's Hollow on Christmas Eve. We first visited his parents' tomb and then…" Hermione started.

"Then you saved me from Nagini and Voldemort," Harry finished. "We used polyjuice to look like an old couple," he added.

"Whatever you did, you probably felt very close to each other and said some words that could be interpreted as wedding vows. It wouldn't have worked if you didn't really want to be a couple, at least at that moment."

Both Harry and Hermione blushed, looking furtively at each other. Daphne had some more to say, though. "I hope you have consummated your marriage, or your magic may suffer."

That didn't help make them any more comfortable, yet Hermione paled. Harry took her hand comfortingly, and it seemed to have a soothing effect on them both, which Daphne didn't fail to notice. Ginny's hand also searched for Harry's, and once found, Harry held her hand reassuringly, although his confusion was quite evident.

"Well, may I join you? I don't intend to eat breakfast while standing, you know." Daphne was losing her patience.

That brought Harry back to reality. "Of course, Miss Greengrass. You may sit with us."

Daphne moved to the empty place near Ginny, sat down, and started filling her plate.

Parvati came to the great hall a moment later, looking around, as if searching for someone. She then came straight to Ron and plopped on the bench at his side. "We nearly lost Lavender," she said softly, her voice almost choking. "I stayed at her side since the battle while the healers were doing their best to save her."

"How is she now?" Ron asked, concern evident in his voice.

"She's better. She's probably going to gain her conscience in an hour or two, yet I heard her mumbling 'Ron' several times. Will you come with me to the hospital wing after breakfast?"

Ron turned his gaze at Hermione and then shrugged. "Sure! I'd like to help her recover."

That seemed to bring back his famous appetite, as he filled his plate and ate with gusto while Parvati helped herself to some food as well.

Harry barely touched what was still on his plate. He kept holding Hermione's hand, and his mind was busy thinking of what they evidently needed to do. "Consummate your marriage" was enticing and frightening at the same time. Despite the time they had spent alone in the tent, nothing really happened between them. Being distraught and confused by Ron's desertion made them doubt their feelings. Both were also sure that Ron would eventually return and unconsciously refrained from doing anything that might have ignited Ron's temper again.

Harry tried to look furtively at Ginny's and Daphne's direction. Ginny looked very pensive. Harry thought she was contemplating the new revelations while still mourning Fred. Daphne looked serious and confident. He was still wondering about that contract but had little reason to doubt her words.

Ron ate even quicker than usual. "Let's go see Lavender," he said, standing up.

Parvati intervened. "Only you, Ron. If they all come, Madam Pomfrey will let none enter."

He turned an apologetic glance at Harry, who smiled and waved him onward. Ron shrugged and followed Parvati out of the great hall.

"I suggest you ask for your apartment," Daphne said. "As a married couple, you are eligible for one, although I'm not sure there are any left unused at the moment. Once you're done with what you need that apartment for, I'll be waiting in the library. You need some instructions before going to Gringotts."

Harry paled at hearing this. After what he had done at Gringotts, he doubted he would be welcome there. Having learned about goblins, he felt quite sure that they would kill him the moment he set foot there. Daphne noticed. "I'm not sure what happened there two days ago, but the goblins were very polite when I visited Gringotts yesterday evening to see if my betrothal was still valid. 'Please tell Lord Potter we understand why he needed to act as he did, and we're not angry with him. His account manager would also like to see him at his earliest convenience to discuss some changes in his investments,' one told me."

"That could just be a trap," Ginny commented, although she didn't yet know what Harry had done at Gringotts.

Daphne shook her head. "That's not how goblins do things. Had they wanted to harm Potter, they would have confiscated all his vaults and declared him an enemy." She turned her gaze back to Harry and Hermione. "Now, go do what you need to do. We may discuss this later."

"How can we be sure that we're really married?" Hermione's question showed her insecurity.

"Try summoning your Lady ring. Maybe Potter should summon his ring first, though."

"How would I do that?" Harry wondered.

"Just thinking 'I want my ring on my finger' should be enough. You may first formally declare yourself as Lord Potter in case the magic in the ring has not yet recognized you as such."

Harry nodded. He then held Hermione's hand tighter and went to find McGonagall. Two pairs of eyes followed them pensively.

Ginny was finally recovering from her shock. "If you are Harry's betrothed, why did you keep it secret until now?"

Daphne sighed. "You know who my housemates are. Do you think I would have been safe there, had I let it be known?"

Ginny grimaced. "Well, you could have moved to live with Harry in a separate apartment, staying safer," she still insisted.

"Why should I? All I knew about him was what Snape said, and Potter showed no interest at all. I was sure he disliked the mere idea of having anything to do with me. I couldn't know he was oblivious to all of it."

"Do you love Harry?" Ginny was not sure why she asked this.

"How can I? I hardly know him. Oh, he's quite good-looking. He's powerful and rich. He even seems to be very kind to his friends. I may fall in love with him, once we get to know each other, but it's just a contract for me."

"Then why did you come to him now?"

"There's little time left for us to fulfill the contract. We must get married soon after turning eighteen – in about four months, and have a child within a year. Besides, after he defeated the Dark Lord, nobody would dare harass me, or worse."

It made sense, yet Ginny was still puzzled. "Are you ready to marry without love?"

Daphne shrugged. "My parents first saw each other on the day of their wedding, and they are madly in love now. As I have nobody else I like, Potter is just a logical choice, no worse than any other and potentially much better. Only time will tell."

Ginny sighed. "Well, I no longer know what's best. I'm going to join my family now. George needs all the support we can give him."

Daphne's face turned sad. "I'm sorry for your loss. I liked your brothers when they were at school, except when they targeted the whole Slytherin house. Do you think they'll accept my condolences?"

Ginny scanned her, noticing she was still wearing her school robes with the Slytherin colours. "Maybe it would be better to wait a bit and refrain from mentioning your house in any way. Mum has never been very open-minded, and now…"

Daphne smiled sadly. They walked side by side to the door, where Daphne headed for the library while Ginny went to look for her family.