8th August,1995
"Harry come on!" Daphne shouted from down the stairs. Harry quickly applied a sun protection charm to his skin and tossed his wand — the elder wand — on the bed. There would be no need for it here on the island that Sirius' family had owned.
Harry sprinted down the stairs and to the entrance of the modest vacation home that was just a hundred or so meters away from the shoreline. He saw Daphne and Sirius waiting for him. Kreacher by their side with a basket containing snacks and drinks.
Sirius was dressed in a button-down shirt and a pair of light linen pants. His hair, which he had yet to cut since Azkaban, was tied behind his head in a knot, and he wore a smile on his tanned face. After he had been declared a free man, he seemed to just grow healthier and healthier by the day.
Harry had moved into Grimmauld with him after the school year had ended, and Sirius had taken him on countless trips from country to country. "Making up for lost time." He had declared. Harry had been ecstatic to spend time with his godfather and to travel, but he had missed Daphne.
After much convincing of her parents and Sirius promising that there would be supervision and no funny business, in tandem with the capture and arrest of nearly all remaining death eaters, they had agreed to let Daphne accompany them. They were on the fourth day of their ten days staying at this private island and Harry was enjoying every second of it so far.
"How do you always manage to be late?" His girlfriend huffed from next to his godfather and Harry shot her the winning smile Sirius had been making him work on. She rolled her eyes in response, but her frown softened, nonetheless.
"I just had to make sure I put the sunblock charm on. You've seen how badly I can burn." He said, admiring how beautiful she looked with a loose knit top covering her swimsuit and a pair of muggle shorts that Harry loved.
"Yes, I have, it's because you're freakishly pale." She responded with mock rudeness and Harry put on an affronted face while Sirius snickered.
"Hey, I'm trying to work on it." He replied sullenly and Daphne stepped forward, giving him a hug.
"I don't mind that you blind me when you take your shirt off. Not all of us can tan as easily and beautifully as me, so I still love you." She said and Harry just huffed in response.
She broke the hug and took Harry by the hand. They walked to the surf and toed off their sandals, letting the warm sand and cool water splash onto their ankles. Daphne took two of the towels and laid them side by side. She took her top off and Harry tried his best not to ogle her as she laid down.
Instead, he took his own top off and laid down next to her, taking her hand in his own and opening his defense book for next year. "I can't believe you're studying for defense already." She told him with a laugh, taking her own book 'The Two Towers' and opening it to where she had left off.
"I have to make sure I'm prepared." He told her with a smile, and she rolled her eyes.
"Harry, you scored the first ever perfect score on a DADA OWL. You would've made an Outstanding on the NEWT's if you took them, your invigilator told you as much."
"And you had the highest score in the school on your Ancient Runes OWL, but you're still studying." He shot back with a smile."
She raised her hand to argue and then put it back down. "Fair enough." She said after a minute, but Harry did still set the book down and leaned back on his towel, enjoying the warm sun on his skin. He heard Daphne shuffle next to him a few minutes later and then her hand was on his left shoulder touching the raised and angry scar that was one of the only reminders Voldemort had left in this world.
Harry opened his eyes and looked at her, attempting to control his pulse as she was leaning over him. "I'm okay Daph." He told her softly, and she smiled at him then.
"I was so worried when you floo'd in that night. The hole in your shoulder, the blood." She took his face in her hands and leaned down, giving a quick peck at his scar before running her fingers over it. "But you made it."
Harry put his hand over her own. "Because of you." She leaned down again and pecked him on the lips once, and then again. Harry was about to deepen the kiss when he heard a loud and deliberate cough from further down the beach and he felt his face heat while Daphne quickly jumped away from him, her own blush coloring her face and working its way down her chest.
"Sorry!" Harry shouted to his godfather.
"No you aren't!" Sirius shouted back.
"Yeah, you're right!" Harry replied with a smile.
"Harry!" Daphne gasped and slapped him on the arm, but she was smiling as well.
Harry looked at her beautiful eyes, almost the same color as the crystal-clear water. He looked to his godfather who was conversing happily with Kreacher. He looked at the life he had and thought to himself that maybe everything was going to be alright.
1st July, 1997
Daphne was dressed in the customary black robes that Hogwarts graduates wore, pointy hat sitting primly atop her head. She looked for her parents in the stands and saw them seated next to Sirius and the Grangers.
When they felt her eyes, they looked up and smiled, sending her a wave. Daphne waved back and beamed up at them. She didn't think she would be as excited as she was, but she could hardly temper her enthusiasm. They had done it, they had graduated. She Harry and Hermione with O's on all their NEWT's to boot.
Their sixth and seventh years didn't consist of monsters, Voldemort, or psychotic defense professors. Well, it depended on your definition of psychotic, but at least Tonks hadn't tried to kill Harry. No, their last two years were made up simply of schoolwork, exams, and a lot of long walks by the lake where they snogged, hidden behind their rock.
Daphne had remained a prefect, working alongside Blaise Zaibini the last two years after Nott had his prefectorship revoked, and Harry and Hermione were head boy and girl. Gryffindor continued to win their quidditch matches and Tracey wore more and more gold and scarlet.
Ron and Hermione had attempted a relationship only to decide they worked better as friends, while Neville and Tracey to the surprise of no one kept going strong. Altogether, the last two years had been everything Daphne could have ever dreamed of or wanted, and most importantly Harry was there with her.
She was snapped out of her thoughts as Headmaster Dumbledore took the stage. "Hello everyone and a special welcome to the Hogwarts graduating class of 1997." He said cheerfully and there was polite applause.
"Before we begin our ceremony, I would like to reiterate a few important words. They are yet again: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you and please give a round of applause for our head girl Hermione Granger!" There was another round of polite applause as Hermione made her way to the podium beaming.
Daphne rolled her eyes at Dumbledore's speech but couldn't help the smile that rose up on her face. The headmaster was one of the biggest reasons Harry was alive today, and she loved the older man for that.
She listened idly as Hermione discussed their time in school, going over some of the things they had learned in classes, but outside of class as well. Her voice continued in a long, but well-rehearsed speech, yet Daphne no longer heard the words as she saw Harry turn towards the headmaster and speak softly on the stage where he was sat.
The headmasters eyes flashed with amusement and he smiled towards Harry, whispering something back that made him chuckle. Daphne couldn't help but smile at the pair of them and their relationship.
"With that being said." Hermione's voice sang out after a few more minutes, pulling Daphne from her thoughts, "I would like to thank my mum and dad who have been so supportive and great. I want to thank my friends Ron, Daphne, Tracey, Neville, Ginny, and everyone else who I can't name, and lastly, I would like to thank my best friend and the head boy who is going to give a few of his own words, Harry Potter."
This time the applause was much more raucous, and Harry hung his head in slight embarrassment at the reaction he received as he made his way up to the podium. Halfway up, he ran into Hermione, who was making her way back to her own seat, and gave her a hug before continuing to the podium. The applause died down and the applause became quiet, everyone ready to hear what he would say.
"Don't expect something as well put together as Hermione's speech." He started and Daphne chuckled along with the crowd. She was excited to hear what Harry had to say as he hadn't told her what he had planned.
"Just like most of you, I came to Hogwarts a scared 11-year-old child, my eyes filled with wonder and with a desire to learn more about magic, and I did. Over these last seven years I've had the opportunity to learn magic from some of the most esteemed professors on the entire planet, and I cannot thank them enough for the time and effort they've devoted to ensuring that not only I, but this entire graduating class would become wizards and witches worthy of the title 'Hogwarts Graduate'.
"But it wasn't just magic we learned in these hallowed halls. We learned who we were as people. We were able to grow and flourish from those scared 11-year-olds into adults who learned so many life lessons along the way.
"We learned what it meant to be a friend to someone. We learned the importance of the little things and the small moments. For some of us we even learned what love was in these halls." He said, smiling down at Daphne and giving her wink, causing her to blush.
"We've endured more than school children should have, and while at the time it was frustrating having things constantly thrown our way, I now realize I wouldn't change it if I could." He continued. "The challenges we faced brought us closer together, and turned us from a group of students who went to school together into an actual cohesive unit."
"I look down and I'm so proud of every single student here today. I couldn't have asked for better classmates or friends. As we continue on from Hogwarts, I want us to just remember two last things."
"Firstly, we are stronger together, and we will make the wizarding world a better place if we unite and continue to do what we have been doing. And secondly, as one of my great inspirations once told me 'Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.'" He said with a smile to the headmaster.
"Thank you to my best friends Ron, Hermione, Neville, Tracey. Thank you to my quidditch teammates over the years, and to my godfather Sirius. But most importantly I want to thank my girlfriend Daphne Greengrass without whom I wouldn't be here today. I love you Daph."
Daphne felt her face heat in a blush once more but blew him a kiss and mouthed an "I love you more." Back to him.
Harry waved and the crowd went crazy with applause. After the applause had died down the students made their way up to the stage to receive their diplomas and shake the hands of the headmaster, deputy headmistress and heads of house. They were each permitted to say which field they would like to go into as well.
Tracey graciously accepted her diploma with a confident "Undecided."
Hermione was next with a proud "Muggleborn and magical creature rights."
Daphne was directly after her friend and gave Harry a smile further down the line where he was. She shook the hands of her professors and looked out into the crowd. "Healer." She stated with a quiet confidence and conviction and looked at all the surprised faces.
Most had assumed she would pursue law, but ever since that night when she had helped Madame Pomfrey patch Harry up, something had changed within her.
Neville was next up from their group of friends, and he quietly announced his apprenticeship under Professor Sprout to loud cheers.
Harry followed him and to the surprise of no one announced his commitment to the Auror Corps.
Lastly Ron made his way up to the podium, smiling down at his family. "Business." He said with a smirk, while Fred and George clapped emphatically.
After the ceremonies were over, they all found each other and stood together for photos in front of the lake and the castle. Daphne searched out Harry's hand and refused to let it go as they were hugged by countless people and clapped on the back by others.
They had done it. Now all that lay ahead of them was the rest of their lives. She couldn't wait to start.
27th November, 2000
Harry smiled as Daphne was running to meet him outside of the fancy restaurant he had picked for their date. He stared at her smugly and she shot him an irritated look as she approached. "You're late Greengrass." He said with a smirk, and she narrowed her eyes and pouted.
"Hey, that's my line, and besides Senior Healer Jacobs made me stay after my shift to talk to me, so it doesn't count."
Harry laughed in response. "It definitely counts." He said, leading her into the restaurant. "What did he need to talk to you about that was so urgent you left your poor boyfriend waiting?" He asked and he watched as Daphne rolled her eyes at his theatrics.
"Well, if you really must know," She began haughtily. "He was telling me that my application was successful and that I was going to be promoted from a novice healer to a mastery level healer."
She said it nonchalantly, attempting to keep a straight face, but Harry could see the joy threatening to spill out. "Oh my god, Daphne! Congratulations!" He said turning in the crowded restaurant and giving her a hug garnering a few dirty looks from other patrons there.
"Thank you, Harry." She said with a smile and gave him a quick peck. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Harry laughed. "You absolutely could have and would have." He told her as they took their seats and Daphne looked at him, suddenly very serious.
"The whole reason I transitioned from law to healing was because of you, Harry. And you've helped me every step of the way, from applying to St Mungo's to helping me with and looking over my work that I submitted to the board for review. You always had food ready for me when I came over to Grimmauld after a stressful shift or a bad day, and were willing to listen to me complain even though your own days were just as hard if not harder when you were doing the Auror training program."
Harry smiled at her. "It's a drop in the bucket compared to what you've done for me, love. But thank you I appreciate it."
Harry could see that Daphne was ready to argue, but their waiter arrived then, and Harry smiled as Daphne ordered her spaghetti. They continued to talk about her promotion and other things they had going on as Harry's nerves only grew.
After dessert, Harry took her hand and led her out of the restaurant down the nearly empty streets of Diagon Alley. He led her to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes where he asked if she would mind if they visited Ron. Daphne assured him it wasn't a problem, and they opened the shop doors.
As soon as the doors closed behind them, the lights went out and there were fireworks surrounding them; small, elegant fireworks that came together like an animated film. They showed little versions of Harry and Daphne and the adventures they had been on.
Harry saw Daphne watching with a smile as the two versions of themselves met in a courtroom and then rounded the halls of Hogwarts. As they made their way to the room of requirement, around Hogwarts Lake, and then flying high on a broom as he dove and Daphne screamed. He watched alongside her as their love story played out in front of them. As the last scene faded, words appeared in their place.
"I LOVE YOU DAPHNE GREENGRASS."
"MARRY ME?"
Daphne turned towards Harry, her hand covering her mouth, but he was already on one knee. He smiled up at her.
"Daphne Greengrass, would you make—"
"YES! YES! YES!" Daphne shouted enthusiastically and Harry smiled back at her.
"Can I at least ask the question properly?" He pouted and even he could hear the absolute love, affection, and fondness in his own voice when he spoke. Daphne rolled her eyes but nodded. "Thank you." He grumbled. "Daphne Greengrass, would you make me the happiest man on earth and Marry me? Please?"
Daphne tapped her chin as if she were considering, but then jumped for joy once more. "Absolutely, unequivocally, without a shadow of a doubt yes." She told him finally and Harry stood up placing the ring — His mothers ring — on her finger.
She took his face in her hands and pulled it down, giving him a long deep kiss. "I love you Daph." He told her with a smile, their lips still touching.
"I love you too." She said as the lights inside the shop turned back on and she saw her friends and family cheering. She sprinted immediately towards Tracey and Hermione squealing and showing them her ring while the other girls squealed back.
Harry watched her with softness and love in his eyes and thought to himself that the term fiancé sounded pretty good, but that wife probably sounded better before Ron came and engulfed him in a hug.
8th February, 2001
Daphne held a paint brush in one hand and looked at the stretch of wall in front of her. After Harry had proposed, he decided it was time to move out of Grimmauld Place and had purchased a home. "For us." He had told her with a smile.
It was a large home, previously owned by another magical couple in a secluded wooded area. The home needed some tender love and care, but it was beautiful, with Victorian styling, a large library that Daphne adored, and a quidditch pitch in their garden near a clearing in the forest and next to a stream of water.
They had endless from their friends and loved ones getting the house into livable shape prior to their wedding, and with the use of magic the work was getting done quickly. However, Harry had insisted on hand painting the walls and they had been at it for hours.
When Daphne had asked why he shrugged. "Paint charms fade after a while and the colors are limited." He said simply, and so now they stood, a bucket of paint on the floor, brushes in hand, applying the paint in painstakingly slow strokes.
Daphne did have to admit the color was gorgeous, a light blue that Harry had picked because he said it reminded him of her eyes. She had tried not to melt when he said that and managed it, if only just.
Harry looked at her and grimaced. "I used to do a lot of painting for my aunt and uncle when I was a kid. I didn't remember it being this bad."
Daphne chuckled. "This was your idea, Potter; you don't get to complain." Harry pouted and she laughed, taking some of the paint off her brush with a finger and dabbing his nose.
"Hey!" He protested, his eyes crossing as he attempted to look at the blue where she had put it. She laughed then, a genuine laugh like she often did with Harry, but it quickly turned into a scream as he reached for her, and she ran away.
"No Harry!" She shouted as he wielded a brush dripping with paint like a sword and chased her, his own laughter echoing behind them. When he had finally cornered her, and she screamed once more, he painted a stroke on her own nose and Daphne pouted.
"You look quite cute like that." He said, setting the brush down and looking at her fondly. "It really does match your eyes beautifully."
Daphne smiled back at him. "You don't look so bad yourself." She replied with a smile.
"Come on." He said after a moment, taking her hand and not bothering to wipe the paint from their noses.
"Where are we going?" She asked with a smile, but followed him eagerly, nonetheless.
"I want to take a break from painting for a minute and show you what I've been working on." He told her, leading her outside of the house and immediately casting a warming charm to stave off the February chill.
Daphne sighed as his familiar magic and the warmth both washed over her. He led her by the hand through the garden until they came upon the old greenhouse that was kept off in a corner of the property. It had been dusty and had missing panes of glass, but now it looked brand new.
Harry led her inside and she gasped. Beautiful flowers of all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors were blooming inside, and the air was filled with their sweet perfume. She looked around and marveled at them.
"Wow." She breathed. "Did Neville help you with all this?" She asked and Harry chuckled.
"No." I haven't planted anything magical yet." He told her with a smile, and she gaped at him.
"You did this all yourself?"
He smiled at her. "For you. I used to be quite the gardener back in my day." He told her with a small laugh. "Come on, let me show you my favorites."
He tugged at her hand, and she allowed him to lead her to the back of the greenhouse where a stunning bunch of pink flowers grew between gorgeous green leaves. She leaned down and sniffed, smelling their aroma.
"What are they?"
He smiled at her. "Daphne's" He whispered.
Before she could stop herself, her lips were on his and their noses were smudging still wet paint onto each other's faces. She pulled apart from him.
"We're having these at the wedding." She said, and Harry beamed at her. She smiled back, but quickly pulled him back down into another kiss. The man had planted her a garden. She was about to show him just how appreciative she really was.
27th April, 2001
Harry was pacing nervously back and forth trying to calm his nerves. Ron and Neville stood beside him grinning at him and causing him to scowl.
"Mate." Ron began with a smile. "It's your wedding day. Daphne already agreed to marry you, you don't have to sit here having a panic attack."
Harry's scowl only deepened, but then his face softened. "I've faced a basilisk with nothing but a sword, 100 dementors flying at me, and Voldemort a handful of times, but I think this is the most nervous I've ever been." He admitted.
Neville walked to him and clapped him on the shoulder, his own wedding band glinting gold on his left ring finger. "When Tracey and I got married last fall I felt the same way. Like a rat was chewing its way through my stomach. Do you remember what you told me then?"
Harry sighed and closed his eyes. "I asked you if you loved her and wanted to be with her."
"So, do you love Daphne and want to be with her?"
"More than anything else in the world." Harry replied genuinely while Ron snickered at his friend.
"This is the first step to that, Harry." Neville said with a smile. "And besides when you're standing up there, and you see her walking down the aisle, her eyes fixed on you, wearing a smile that lights up the whole of England, you'll forget you were nervous. Hell, you'll forget your own name, at least I did when I saw Tracey."
Harry looked at Neville and smiled, taking a deep breath. "You're right Nev, thank you."
"Just repaying the favor." The shorter man replied kindly. "Now come on, I think they're ready and if we make Molly wait any longer, she might come in here and grab you herself."
Ron grimaced but voiced his agreement and they made their way out, letting everyone know they were prepared to start. The wedding was taking place at the Burrow. Harry had wanted to do it at his new home, but Molly and Arthur had insisted, and it turned out they had been preparing since Harry had proposed.
The garden was decorated beautifully with cloth and curtains in white and pale blues. Chairs were lined up in a semicircle facing the altar where a slightly raised platform sat. Everywhere you looked there were flowers. The deep pink of Daphne's and Amaranthus, but also Baby Breath's and Carnations, Dahlia's and Daisies, and of course beautiful Roses and Lillies, all picked from Harry's garden.
Harry looked at all those gathered in the crowd. Every one of them was a person he cared for smiling at him with joy on their faces. He took the waiting arm of Molly Weasley, and they walked down the aisle as the cellos, violins, and other assorted string instruments played a slow happy tune all their own. At the front of the aisle Dumbledore stood tall in bright green robes smiling at Harry.
Harry smiled back.
He took his place, and Molly took her seat as the music changed to something more elegant. Tracey and Neville walked in first, hand in hand, followed by Ron and Hermione and Astoria and her boyfriend Thomas.
Then, the music slowed once more, and everything Neville had said seemed like an understatement.
He watched as Daphne made her way forward, her arm looped through her fathers, her eyes locking onto his own. He looked her up and down and saw that her hair was beautifully done in an elegant updo, slight strands framing her gorgeous face. Her gown was sleeveless and hugged her tightly on the top before flaring down beautifully behind her into a long train.
She was wearing makeup, accentuating her beauty, but the most beautiful thing she wore was her smile. A special smile that she only wore on rare occasions when she was happiest and alone with him. Seeing that smile caused everything to dim around him.
Suddenly there was no one else but her. Nothing else but that smile she wore and those blue eyes that looked at him full of love and affection. The world could have ended, and Harry wouldn't have known, so entranced was he by the woman striding towards him.
When she arrived, he snapped out of his reverie as Cyrus clapped him on the shoulder. Harry hugged the man and whispered a "Thank you." into his ear.
Cyrus pulled away with a smile. "Thank you, Harry. Take good care of my baby."
Harry nodded once and Cyrus smiled, Harry watched as the older mans eyes misted and he turned on his heel taking his place next to his wife and the Weasleys. Harry took hold of Daphne's hands and looked at her absolutely smitten and Daphne smiled at him.
"That was an acceptable reaction." she said, her smile betraying just how pleased she really was.
Before Harry could respond the voice of Albus Dumbledore rang out "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God, man, and magic, to witness the bonding into holy matrimony of Harry James Potter and Daphne Greengrass."
Dumbledore continued on, reading passages of scripture and including elements of magic that Harry had always found so interesting at magical weddings.
After he finished, he looked to them kindly. "It is my understanding that the bride and groom have prepared vows and would like to share them prior to the continuation of the ceremony."
They nodded and Daphne turned towards Tracey who rushed forward with a folded sheet of paper in her hand. Daphne thanked her friend and unfolded the paper. Harry noticed that her hands were shaking and reached out, taking the note and holding it for her as she read.
She smiled her thanks and began to read. "It is one of life's beautiful mysteries how someone can go from a complete stranger, to the most important person in your life. When I met Harry for the first time, properly met him that is, not just in passing at school, it was because he had been arrested and was on trial." The crowd laughed and Daphne smiled up at him.
"Since then, he has only gotten into more trouble." She said and Harry laughed along with the others. "But since then, he has also taught me more than words can express, but I'll try my best anyway.
"He taught me that boys were among the densest objects earth, and that often times no matter how many hints you drop they seemingly can't recognize any of them." Harry rolled his eyes but looked at her fondly.
"He taught me what true hard work and dedication look like, and that if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything. He taught me what true selfless love really looked like. The kind of love that is willing to put others first regardless of circumstance and consequences. He taught me the importance of doing what is good and right, even at the cost of your own life." She looked up to him with tears in her eyes.
"But most importantly he taught me what it means to love someone and be loved in turn. He taught me what it means to be treated with care and respect. And he taught me to never settle for anything less than perfect which is what he is.
Harry Potter, I am more in love with you today than I was yesterday, and even though I think to myself daily that I can't possibly love you more than I do now, I know tomorrow youl'll find a way to prove me wrong yet again.
"I love all of you, every last piece, even the tardiness that you still can't seem to shake after all these years." The crowd chuckled again, but sniffles could be heard throughout as well.
"I can't wait to spend the rest of my life letting you know just how late you are. I love you, darling." She finished and took the paper from Harry's hands with trembling fingers.
Harry smiled at her, tears in his eyes. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his own sheet of paper, but the words on it were so familiar he could have recited them with his eyes closed. Still, it allowed him something to look at while he gathered his courage.
"Daphne." He said smiling at the woman in front of him. "When I was 15 years old, three of the most important moments of my life happened, and I want to list them in order of importance from third to first.
"Third, I decided to change my attitude and take school and other things more seriously. Second, I fought against Voldemort, ending a war before it could begin, and nearly dying in the process. But first and without a shadow of a doubt the most important moment of my life, I met you.
"You were right about me being dense and unable to see the signs, but those first few months of the school year are still some of the fondest memories of my life. From meeting you, to getting to know you. From seeing you as a friend that I had a massive crush on to a girlfriend and now my best friend and entire world. The story of our love was one for the ages."
Harry sighed, looking away from the paper towards Daphne who was smiling gently at him. "Daph, let me tell you some of the things you did for me, that you still do for me to this day. You loved me, when I didn't know what love was. You put me before yourself, as selfless and as kind a person as I have ever known. You held me accountable, telling me when I was wrong and helping me to see when I was right.
"You supported me. When everything around me came crashing down, and when all I wanted to do was fall, you held me up. I lean on your strength still today. You never left me, never doubted me, and never hurt me.
"People call me a hero for that final duel against Voldemort, but the truth is I would have died that night if it weren't for you. Daphne Greengrass, you saved my life when I was 15 years old, and you've been the reason I continue to live every day since then.
"There is no Harry Potter without Daphne Greengrass. I love you more than life itself, more than anything else in this world. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life trying to explain through words and actions just how much you mean to me. To love you just like you explained all those years ago, Urgently, but not with haste. I love you Daphne and I always will. From this day until my last and long after that as well."
Daphne was crying and Harry reached over gently wiping her tears, they smiled at one another, lost in their own world, until the voice of Albus Dumbledore snapped them back to reality.
"Harry Potter." He began "Do you, before the sights of God and men, with magic as your witness, take Daphne Greengrass to be your wife now and forever more?"
"I do." Harry said firmly, a tendril of gold magic encompassing him as he spoke.
"Daphne Greengrass, do you, before the sights of God and men, with magic as your witness, take Harry Potter to be your husband now and forever more?"
"I do." She said softly, another pulse of magic engulfing her. And mingling with the magic surrounding Harry.
Neville and Tracey came forward then, giving them their wedding bands and they placed them on their fingers.
"Then it is with great pleasure and the utmost honor than I declare you bonded in holy matrimony." Dumbledore said loudly and the magic flared brightly for a moment filling and surrounding Harry with a warmth he had never known before dissipating into a beautiful mist. Their friends and family cheered wildly around them.
Harry smiled at Daphne who grinned back.
"You may kiss the bride." Dumbledore said over the applause, and Harry didn't need to be told twice. He grabbed Daphne by the waist, spinning her in a circle and dipping her head down before reaching over and kissing her as the crowd around them whooped and cheered.
Somewhere in the back of his mind he heard Dumbledore introduce them as Mr. and Mrs. Potter, and he thought to himself that wife was indeed better than fiancé.
24th July 2004
Daphne laughed as Harry paced back and forth, panic on his face. "Harry I'm fine. Wizards and witches practically perfected birth centuries ago. No pain, no issues. Everything is going to be okay."
Harry looked at her sheepishly. "Sorry darling, I just want everything to go perfectly. Can I get you some more ice chips?"
Daphne rolled her eyes but smiled at him anyways. "No, love. I'm fine. Come hold me for a bit."
Harry complied and made his way to their bed. Daphne was giving birth at home as was common practice in magical households and her mother and sister were in the other room waiting patiently for hers and Harrys daughter to make herself known to them.
He climbed in and cuddled her gently. Daphne rolled her eyes and cuddled into him more aggressively. He got the hint and held her closer, running soothing hands through her hair and she sighed at his touch.
"I'm so excited Daphne. A daughter. Can you believe it? Our own little family." He breathed onto her, and she drew in a deep breath taking in the scent of him. "It's all I've ever wanted, but I'm so scared. What if I muck it up. I never had a father to show me what it meant to be a good dad."
Daphne felt her heart break. "You may not have had an example, but there's no one I'm more confident in than you." She told him with a smile. "Besides, you'll have me every step of the way and we'll be figuring it out together."
Harry relaxed into her then. "Together." He repeated and kissed her head gently.
Daphne felt a sudden tinge of pain and sucked in a deep breath. "Harry, go get mum and Astoria." She told him. "I think she's ready to make her entrance into the world."
Harry kissed her again before extricating himself slowly from her side. He ran to the other room and returned just seconds later with her mother and sister in tow. A few minutes later Harry was cradling the infant in his arms. She was crying and he shushed her softly rocking her gently.
Her mother and Astoria were still hugging her and fussing over her, but she had eyes only for her husband and daughter. She watched as he bent his head forward and kissed her. She had a tuft of blonde hair atop her head, but her eyes were still the grey of an infant. Daphne hoped they would lighten into the same beautiful green she had fallen in love with.
"What's her name?" Her mother asked, following Daphne's eyes and looking at her granddaughter with adoration.
"Violet." Responded Harry. "Violet Daphne Potter."
Astoria coo'd next to her and her mother smiled. "Violet." She repeated reverently.
Harry brought the now quiet child to them and placed her in Daphne's arms. "Hi mum." He said looking at her with such love she thought she might collapse.
"Hey dad." She replied back with a smile.
After a few hours the house had quieted. Both her mother and Astoria had left to allow them rest, but not until they had both cuddled Violet to their hearts' content first. Now all three of them were in their bed together.
Harry held Violet on his chest while Daphne snuggled into his shoulder. She saw the way Harry looked at their daughter, so full of love she feared he might burst. "I think you lied to me." She said looking at his face and harry looked back down at her shocked.
"When?"
"On our wedding day." She told him with a small smile. "You told me you loved me more than anything else in the world, but I don't think you've ever looked at me the way you're looking at Violet now."
Harry smiled then. "It was the truth at the time." He said with a laugh and Daphne chuckled.
"And now?"
"And now I love her just as much as I love you."
"That's a good answer, Potter."
"It's the truth, Potter." He replied and Daphne allowed herself to take in the moment. All she could think about was how much she loved her little family.
31st August – 1st September, 2015
Harry was seated at the Greengrass dining table while his three little menaces ran around wreaking havoc. "Violet! Stop chasing Dahlia with your new wand, you're not even allowed to use it until tomorrow, and James get that out of your mouth."
Harry stood grabbing his 2-year-old son and giving his 11 and 7-year-old daughters a stern look. Cyrus chuckled from the head of the table.
"I was barely able to manage the two, I'm not sure what possessed you to have a third one." He said and Harry laughed.
"It's not up to me. Whenever Daphne tells me she wants another I'm all for it, I'd have ten of these rugrats running around if I could." He replied and Cyrus' eyes widened in horror at the thought causing Harry to chuckle.
They were the last two at the table as the rest of the family had begun to migrate towards the living room chatting among themselves. Daphne and Tracey were talking about Tracey's newest fall collection that would be dropping at Madame Malkins, while Neville was trying, unsuccessfully by the looks of it, to discuss herbology with Astoria's newest boyfriend.
"I don't like him." Cyrus' voice rang out as he followed Harry's eyes. Harry shrugged but agreed with the sentiment. He was a low level quidditch league player with an ego the size of Hogwarts Castle.
"Maybe he'll grow on you?" Harry replied but Cyrus grumbled.
"I think you've made this harder on myself and Astoria, you know." Cyrus said and Harry turned towards him surprised.
"I'm sorry sir?"
Cyrus laughed at his reaction. "How many times do I need to tell you not to call me sir. And I don't mean it negatively. I just meant by being such an incredible husband and father to Daphne and your children, all these men Astoria brings home pale in comparison to me and to her alike."
Harry's face heated at the praise, and he dropped his head causing Cyrus to chuckle again.
His voice rang out, changing the subject. "So, are you excited for the new job?" He asked and Harry smiled.
"More than I care to admit." Harry replied. "Don't get me wrong, I loved the aurors and being made head of the DMLE was great and I felt like I made an impact, but after having James, I just wanted to take step back and be around them more."
"And the fact that Violet leaves for Hogwarts tomorrow had no impact on your decision to join the staff?"
Harry smiled, not bothering to deny him. "It certainly didn't hurt. Besides Tonks has been itching to get back in the field, I'm surprised she stuck around as long as she did, even with Teddy and Nancy at the school." He said referring to Tonks and Remus' children.
"You'll make a great instructor." Cyrus told him and Harry smiled at his father-in-law.
"Thank you." He replied genuinely. "I genuinely can't wait to get started, and it'll be fun to work alongside Neville." He said gesturing to the blonde man who was still trying to make uncomfortable small talk.
"You could have been minister if you wanted you know."
Harry shrugged. "I didn't want to. We'll leave that to Hermione." Cyrus smiled at the answer.
"I don't care how much you insist, the sorting hat definitely didn't offer you Slytherin." He said with a laugh and Harry chuckled.
He looked down at his arms and saw that James had fallen asleep against his chest. Cyrus seemed to notice too and stood. "Best be getting home Harry. Tomorrows a big day." He said standing and Harry stood as well looking towards Daphne who caught his eye.
She looked at their son and then Harry smiling and beginning to tell everyone goodnight while corralling their other two fireballs. Harry said his goodbyes as well and they all took the floo back to their home where they put the children down for bed.
Daphne asked him if they could watch a film before bed and Harry agreed with a laugh. Ever since the Weasley's had discovered how to magic electronics so they didn't explode in magical homes Daphne had become obsessed with movies, and she ran into the room to put a disc into the DVD player while Harry ran to the kitchen to grab snacks.
A minute later he heard her yell. "Hurry up Harry! The movies starting you're going to be late!" Harry laughed and made his way onto the couch snuggling into his wife. He kissed her on the head, and she looked up at him.
"I liked having three kids at home." She told him softly.
"Me too." He replied with a sad smile, "But we have to let her go to Hogwarts."
Daphne nodded. "I know, but maybe we should have another one, keep it at three at home for now."
Harry laughed and kissed her. "I think that sounds like a great Idea Mrs. Potter."
She smiled at him, "Okay but after the movie, I want to see what happens." Harry laughed and kissed her head once more.
The next morning came, and Harry was woken to the commotion he had come to love as his daughters were busy playing and James was crying out from his bed to join them.
Harry stood and grabbed his son kissing Daphne as she stirred in her sleep. "I got them, love. You sleep a bit longer." He told her and she mumbled a thank you as Harry hit the door with a silencing charm.
He changed his son's nappy and made his way down to the kitchen grunting as his daughters locked onto him like heat seeking missiles and gave him hugs. He ruffled Violet's blonde hair and Dahlia's black hair and asked them what they wanted for breakfast.
"Cake!" They shouted in unison and Harry shrugged. It was a special day after all.
He did cut them some fresh fruit and gave them a bowl of porridge but pulled on an apron and gathered eggs, flour, sugar, and all the other ingredients he would need for cake. When Daphne walked out about forty-five minutes later harry and all his children were covered in chocolate and the kitchen was coated in flour and other ingredients.
She rolled her eyes and tried for an annoyed expression, but her smile betrayed her. "I try to have one lie in, and this is what I wake up to." She said exasperatedly. "What are you guys even doing?"
Harry sent her a winning smile. "Cake for breakfast." He said while his daughters nodded enthusiastically in agreement and James stuck his hand in the chocolate, making a mess of his face and the counter as he tried to lick it off.
"Oh. Well in that case this is fine." Daphne said and Dahlia and Violet whooped in response. The cake was ready an hour later and not long after they ate Harry sent Violet to grab her belongings.
Tracey floo'd in not long after and Harry gave her a hug, thanking her for watching the younger two while he and Daphne went off to Platform 9 's together. She shrugged him off.
"I love spending time with my favorite nieces and nephews, you never have to say thank you for that." James ran to her then on chubby legs his black hair, which was as messy as Harry's had been, bobbing up and down on his head and his arms stretched towards his favorite aunt.
She picked him up with a smile and spun him in a circle. "It's a shame you look so much like your dad." She said in a baby voice as she spun him. "Otherwise, I'd think you were the most adorable baby I've ever seen."
Harry rolled his eyes at Tracey, but Daphne laughed as she made her way into the room. "Well, I disagree, I tend to think he's pretty handsome." She said giving Harry a squeeze and he blew a raspberry at Tracey who shot him a dirty look in response.
"Still annoying." She muttered and Harry laughed.
Violet entered then and the three of them took the floo to the station. When they arrived the Crimson Steam Engine was parked, and students were boarding. Harry held his daughters hand, ignoring the looks and whispers he still received all these years later.
He leaned down and whispered to his daughter. "Make sure you clear the map when you aren't using it sweetheart and remember Aunt Minnie is sterner at school then she is when she comes round, so try to be a good girl."
Her daughter nodded her understanding.
Daphne smiled at her and leaned down as well. "Deputy Headmaster Snape may seem scary, but he's actually a big softie, just don't be late or speak out of turn."
"Oh, and make friends with cousin Teddy." Harry told her. "He's a prefect and can help show you around the castle." Harry watched as his daughter looked between them absorbing all their advice with emphatic head nods and chuckled.
"Most importantly sweetheart, just have fun and learn hard. Now get going and pick your cabin carefully, I met Uncle Ron and Aunty Hermione on the train, and we became best friends so you never know how this ride might change your life."
She hugged them both one last time. "I love you." She said and then looked at Harry hopefully. "You'll be there tonight?"
"Absolutely baby girl." He told her with a smile, and she seemed to relax instantly. She gave them both one last hug and then turned around, luggage in hand, and made her way up the stairs.
Harry saw Daphne's eyes misting and put an arm around her. "Come on darling, let's get going back home."
Daphne snuggled into him and Harry led her back to the floo. As he walked, holding the love of his life tightly, his eldest daughter on her way to Hogwarts while his other two children played at home, watched by a dear friend, he thought back to fifth year.
He thought of how lucky he was that Daphne Greengrass had run into him at his trial. How lucky he was that Nott had been a gropey git and he gotten to do patrols with her in his place, and how lucky he was that the most wonderful person he had ever met inexplicably loved him back.
Maybe fate had dealt him a shitty hand growing up, but it had made up for it a hundred-fold with the life it had given him now. Harry pulled Daphne closer and kissed her on her temple. She smiled at him with tears in her eyes but could sense he was growing introspective.
"I love you." She whispered
"I love you more." He whispered back.
"Not a chance, Potter."
A/N: That concludes Not With Haste, and we have some fluff to finish it off for you. Let me know which snippet was your favorite. I'm partial to Violet's birth :) Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has read, reviewed, commented, or offered support. I have a few other works in the pipeline and the hope is for the next longer Haphne fic to be posted around Halloween, so stay tuned.
PS, if you liked the style of this epilogue, I have three Haphne oneshots on my page written in similar ways (And the ending of this one was slightly borrowed from Inkpots and Inkblots). Thank you all again!