A/N LEMON WARNING - There is a lemon in this chapter, which some of you may not enjoy. It is right at the end so I will mark when it begins with a line.
Chapter 11 - The Party - Part Four - Fireworks
Susan didn't talk to anyone all the way through dinner, not even to Hannah, who'd begun to come out of her shell a bit and spent the time chatting with Blaise and Neville about her Crup, Jellybean. She said he was so loyal and affectionate that she'd nearly asked to bring him today, but wasn't sure whether it was a good idea, because he liked to chew anything he could get his mouth around.
Daphne had summoned a sheer black sarong from her bedroom window to keep her covered. It was still warm outside, as it was just after six pm in the middle of the summer, but soon the temperature would dip when the sun started to go down. When her mum had called them all out of the pool for dinner, she'd gotten back to the table to find its stock had changed to more actual dinner fare than the snacks that had been there all day. They each picked up plates and grabbed what they liked. Daphne made a burger for herself, grabbed a couple of sausages and had a bit of coleslaw and potato salad. She didn't know whether or not anyone would want to go back in the pool later, so she thought she better not eat anything too heavy.
Rather than everyone eating around the table together, the gang split into three groups while they ate dinner. Harry, Daphne, Neville, Tracey, Draco and Astoria still all sat around the table, Susan, Hannah and Terry went to sit by the pool, while Blaise, Pansy and Millicent sat on the deckchairs near the seating area. Eventually, though, everyone gravitated back to the seating area once one of the Greengrass house elves, Mitsy, came to clear away any empty crockery and used cutlery from the table. Soon after, the table was refilled with treats, drinks, and even bowls of Daphne's favourite, strawberry ice cream.
Daphne took a sip of yet another glass of lemonade and sighed. It had been such a good day, but she wanted the party to keep going. She didn't want everyone to have to go soon.
"I wish we had something else to drink apart from this stuff." she said, voicing her thoughts aloud, "There's only so much lemonade I can drink."
Pansy smiled and gave a devious smirk before she got up from the bench and ran around behind it to get to where she'd left her bag. Crouching down while rummaging through her bag, she started rising slowly and asked "Ah but would you like lemonade wiiiiiith Vodka!" As she reached her full height, she was now holding two large clear glass bottles aloft.
"Yes Pansy!" said Daphne, cheering, "But… let's not go too mad yeah? I don't want people vomiting everywhere. Astoria's only seventeen and… to be honest with strong alcohol, I better ask my mum first."
"Okay," Pansy said sadly as her arms dropped disappointedly, thinking there was no point getting the bottles out now.
Daphne got up from the table and walked back into the house to talk to her mum, who eventually she found in her father's office calculating some expense reports. She looked up as Daphne entered.
"Is everything okay?" Ellanore asked, before appraising her daughter's outfit and giving her a sideways look, "That's not the bikini you showed me the other day."
"I know, Tracey got me this specifically for the party," she lied, "I'd forgotten to tell her I'd already been shopping."
"Ah, I see, what's up?"
"Pansy brought vodka, can we have some?" Daphne asked, trying to give her most innocent expression.
She got up from the desk, which was littered with bottles of ink, quills, books and scraps of parchment, and stepped around the front of it before leaning on its edge. She looked at her daughter for a couple of moments, thinking, before she spoke.
"I'll allow it, but you have to follow some rules." she said "There's some shot glasses in the kitchen, you can take one of them and only one. You use it to measure the alcohol. The drinking glasses that are already out there are big enough, use the scouring charm on them to get them all clean if they aren't. You pour one measure of vodka from the bottle in each glass, and whatever a drink will be mixed with must go up to at least two fingers width from the top, got it? Every time."
"Got it," Daphne said, smiling at her mother. She'd always get away with stuff when her father wasn't home.
"Promise me, Daphne," she said, holding up a finger at her daughter's eye level, "Every single one, and no more than two drinks per person per hour. Bigger boys like Harry will be fine, and you've always been allowed a bit of alcohol now and then with family dinners but some like that little Hannah girl might not have any tolerance."
"I promise," Daphne agreed.
"Good," Ellanore said, tucking a strand of hair behind her before resting each hand behind her on the edge of the table.
"So how are things going with Harry?" she asked.
"Amazingly," Daphne said enthusiastically.
"That well, huh?" Ellanore replied with surprise, "You've warmed up to him fast."
"I really like him, mum… I kissed him. I…might want to move things faster…I've never had a boyfriend and he's just…"
"You kissed him? My, my that is faster." she said, just happy to see her daughter relaxed, happy and acting like the young woman she was and not being all consumed by her relentless determination to save her sister, "Are you sure?"
"He bought me this necklace," Daphne replied, looking downward.
"I had wondered," Ellanore said, getting up and walking to her daughter to gently pick up the necklace in the palm of her hand. "Is that real goblin silver?…oh, and a Lily, like his mother, it's beautiful, Daphne."
"I know," Daphne said, smiling dreamily, "And that's not all mum, hold on."
She raised her wand and summoned the letter from her bedroom which arrived a moment later.
"Here," Daphne said, handing her mum the letter. "There's something inside the Lily, It's a locket. Read this."
Ellanore sat back down again on the edge of the desk and began to read. By the end she found her hands were shaking as tears dropped onto the parchment.
"I…I don't know how we didn't think of this, Daphne, but still, this will have been really expensive and… it's just so thoughtful and… oh Merlin it will just help us with Astoria so much and…"
And then she burst into laughter-filled tears. Daphne, with tears in her eyes herself, walked over to her mother and wrapped her in a hug.
When she pulled away, Ellanore placed both hands gently on her daughter's face.
"Now listen, Daphne," she said, "I know you already really like him, but you cannot mess this up. If this necklace that he bought you will work three times that will give us at least another year and a half with Astoria before it has to be re-glyphed. Re-glyphing usually costs only marginally less than the original stone, about ten thousand galleons. While we have more than enough money to pay for more at any one time we are not usually that liquid. We will be able to sell the stocks in time in a normal world but we have no idea what will happen in this economy with the Dark Lord's reincarnation. I don't want you to be a golddigger but, let's just say House Slytherin is very rich and Harry seems to care for you. He does not believe in arranged marriages, so you are going to have to make him want to marry you."
"Mum," Daphne said, taken aback and stepping away from her mother's embrace, "I can't do that, I can't use him for his money."
"Do you want your sister to die?" Ellanore asked.
"That's not the point, I don't think it would matter. If I asked him, I think he might pay for a re-glyphing anyway."
Ellanore's eyebrows raised in surprise.
"You think he feels that strongly for you already?"
Daphne gave a sad smile, "I think he would do anything to bring back his own family, so he will do anything to save mine."
"So," Ellanore said, "Be with him then, marry him if you want to. It wouldn't do to fall out with him, but I guess his money will just be a bonus, a wonderful, potentially life-saving bonus. I guess we're choosing a side much sooner than we planned. I'll talk to your Father, but don't tell him this: He's told me he's going to be staying late at the Higgs working on some new inventory. I'd planned to kick everyone out at ten, after a little surprise I've got planned. Harry, Tracey and one person of her choice can stay til eleven. They can't stay over though, Harry has a big day tomorrow."
Daphne beamed, and already knowing Tracey's choice, she said "It will be Neville."
"I'll owl Augusta then, though you might want to talk to Harry as there may be people worried about him if he's home late. I'm aware his mail is being redirected and the Floo is locked until ten, but you could walk round to the gates with him and he can call a house elf if he's got one and pass a message that way."
"Good idea," Daphne replied, turning to leave.
"Have fun," Ellanore called, "I love you."
"Thanks, Mum, I love you too," said Daphne before she left the office.
Tracey was already waiting for Daphne when she walked back into the kitchen.
"What did she say?" Tracey asked with tentative excitement.
"She said yes, we just gotta follow some rules."
"YESSSS!" Tracey cheered, "I'm gonna go get your wireless, DJ Mystic will be on soon, what timing! Is it in your bedroom?
"No, it's in the library still, doors shut," Daphne replied
"Drat can't summon it," said Tracey, "Okay, back in a minute,"
"To make sure she kept her mum's promise, she took the vodka bottles from Pansy, Daphne made sure to pour all the drinks in the kitchen so the party didn't turn into a free-for-all. She'd just finished pouring the first couple of drinks when Tracey came down with the radio, and so after Tracey finished helping her, they both walked out carrying two laden trays.
That was when the real party started, everyone grabbed a drink (Daphne had poured two each) and Tracey switched on the wireless and turned the volume to full blast. Instantly the sound of a radio host filled the patio area.
"Aaaaaaaand welcome back to Magic FM at 7 o'clock. I'm your host for the next three hours, DJ Mystic. I'll be playing the best hits of the last decade, including The Weird Sisters, Prince Charming and The Funky Boggarts. We've got a lot of great songs to get through tonight so stay tuned. First up, we've got a new track from Lyra Morningdew, it's called Heartfire. I think you're gonna like it, catch you in a few!"
Then the music started, it was a groovy, drum-heavy track with funky clean electric guitar chords and a walking bassline.
Drinks were raised in a toast led by Harry, "to Daphne" and then the dancing began.
They all danced together in a circle for just over two and a half hours. When the drinks ran out, Daphne and Tracey would go and make more. At one point, Daphne took Harry, Neville and Tracey to one side and explained to them her mum's plan for the rest of the evening and that she thought Harry might want to let someone know he was staying out so late, and how he might do it. Harry agreed and Tracey said she would make the last drinks for everyone instead while they were gone, and promised to stick to Ellanore's rules.
Harry and Daphne walked back in through the house, out the front door, down a long path to the front gates, holding hands and just talking about the day so far. They got to the front gates and Harry called for Kreacher.
Daphne was taken aback by how old and downright wizened the house elf was when he popped into existence.
"Master Sirius said I should come to the filthy half-blood's aid," the house elf said, "But I don't see why he needs it. This is a House of noble standing, Kreacher can feel it.".
"Well thank you for coming, Kreacher," Harry said tightly, "Please tell Sirius that I will be home at or just after eleven o'clock, that I am completely fine, and he doesn't need to wait up for me."
"Kreacher will do this," Kreacher nodded, before making a grotesque-sounding cough to clear his throat, "Is there anything else?"
"No."
Kreacher bowed to Daphne and popped away.
Harry turned to look at Daphne, ready to make their way back to the party.
"You're staying with Sirius Black!" Daphne asked, eyes wide in shock. Her mind was racing.
"I am," Harry replied, looking at her cautiously.
"You could get sent to Azkaban for that if Fudge gets his way," said Daphne, worried. The fact that Harry was staying with the man didn't bother her, she knew if he wasn't innocent he wouldn't have pushed for the trial in the first place. Still, Harry had only had one win in the Wizengamot, and Fudge was notoriously manipulative. He wouldn't be Minister if he wasn't.
"He won't, I will prove his innocence tomorrow," Harry replied.
"You're sure?" said Daphne with a concerned frown,
"I'm certain." Harrys said confidently "I've got more than a few surprises up my sleeve, but…" Harry paused, thinking, "Tell your Dad to wear dragonhide under his robes tomorrow if he has any."
"He has a waistcoat. Why, will he be in danger?" said Daphne, he might have assuaged her concerns a little about his success tomorrow, but this was a whole new thing.
"One of my surprises may make spells fly in the courtroom," Harry warned.
"I see. Okay, I'll tell Mum to get it ready for him when he comes in."
Daphne was still concerned, but she took his hand again and they began to stroll back up the front garden path. She knew when she decided to try to get close to him that there was a risk of her family being in some danger, but, she reasoned, there was always going to be danger in the war. At least they were picking the right side.
"I showed my mum your necklace, you know," Daphne said, "It was far too expensive, Harry, if it wasn't such an amazing gift for me and my family I never would've been able to accept it."
Harry smiled, "I get that, but I'm glad I got it for you."
"So am I."
They walked a little further for ten or so seconds in companionable silence, just enjoying the feeling of walking hand in hand together. Harry was making sure to look forward, as he caught himself staring at Daphne's breasts when he'd turned his head to talk to her, distracted as they moved when she walked, jostling in their waterproof red prison.
"Harry I… can I be honest with you?" Daphne asked, feeling nervous. She needed to have this conversation with him but was terrified it ruined everything.
"Of course you can," Harry said, pausing their stroll and turning to her.
"Your gift… made my mum cry…happy tears of course. It's so valuable to our family, even if you weren't there to help with the ropes, it's an extra one and a half years of Astoria's life you've given us. It's invaluable. It's priceless. But still, it's only one and a half years, yet you've given my mum, my whole family the hope that if we were to get the stone re-engraved we could extend Astoria's life further. We're well off, but all our money is in stocks and shares and bonds, and we only sell what we need to. It might be a lot more difficult for us to pay for the re-glyphing if You-Know-Who fucks the economy. Mum wanted me to get closer to you just to see if you would consider helping to pay for more re-glyphings, but… I don't want to. Not because I don't want to get closer to you. I really, really do but -"
"I'll pay for it," Harry interrupted, without hesitation.
"What?!" Daphne said.
"I'll pay for it, I would've done even if today, even if this amazing time with you hadn't happened. I knew how valuable the stone would be when I worked out the potential use for it. You don't know what I would give for me to spend even a day with my Mum, or my Dad. Knowing that I've got the means to pay for something that could do that for you, well let's just say money is no object, not when you and your family are such good people."
"Thank you, but I don't want to take advantage of you," Daphne replied, feeling tears beginning to escape her tear ducts. Harry reached a hand to wipe them away before he leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. It tasted salty.
"You aren't," Harry said, "I was always going to offer if you'd asked."
"Really?"
"Yeah, of course,"
"Okay…Daphne said, "Now I promise you that what I'm going to ask you next has absolutely nothing to do with that and just so you know I've been thinking about asking this all day. I promise I'm not asking you this just to save Astoria, but because I want to."
"Okay…?"
"I know this is fast, but you've surprised me at every turn, ever since that day in the library. You're always kind and you make me want to be as strong as you are. Also, I want to spend a lot more time kissing you, if that's okay. What I'm saying is I wanna be your girlfriend," Daphne said, then concerned she might've pushed a little hard there, added "If it's too much too soon, I understand, but - "
"Stop," Harry said, "I would love that."
"Really?" Daphne said, surprised, her eyes shining. She'd been convinced he'd want to spend more time "courting" first.
"Are you kidding? Besides the fact that you're the hottest girl in school, you make all the big scary problems in the world not feel so scary anymore. When you look at me like that I feel like I'm strong, I feel…I feel like I can do anything. So yes, let's be boyfriend and girlfriend."
"Eeee!" said Daphne, launching herself into his arms in a hug. She lifted her head off his chest and then kissed him soundly. It wasn't as hormonal and lust fuelled as their first kiss had been, but instead, soft, caring and happy. The reason they broke apart after only a couple of seconds was because both of them thought it was cute and funny that they could feel the other smiling through their kiss.
"Let's go back," said Harry, beaming "Do you wanna tell everyone?"
"Not yet," said Daphne, "I don't wanna rub it in Susan and Terry's face too much."
"Get another couple of drinks in me and I might not be able to not kiss you though, just letting you know now," Harry smirked.
"Oh no, how terrible," was Daphne's sarcastic reply before her equally sarcastic sigh, "I guess we'll just have to cross that despicable bridge when we get to it."
As they walked back into the atrium, an antique grandfather clock read half past nine. They walked into the kitchen, and the party was in full swing. Tracey had left their drinks on the side in the kitchen so they wouldn't get stolen, so they grabbed them and headed outside.
With a couple more drinks inside them all, the party was getting a little more energetic and Harry and Daphne both went to join in the dancing. He wasn't very good, but Harry tried to move to the music. It wasn't very long, only a song or two until Harry took a swig of his drink and realised he needed to use the bathroom. He could hear the music while sitting on the toilet and heard several of the gang singing along. He felt like he was missing out so he flushed the loo quickly and started to walk briskly back outside. He got to the open doorway and saw the whole group still dancing, but Terry was standing directly behind Daphne, and standing way too close to her. She tried to move away, but he moved closer and then reached out and squeezed Daphne's ass.
Harry saw red, but Daphne was there first, shouting "What the fuck?!" and spinning on the spot before slapping Terry around the face. Harry, not noticing the increasing heat of the pendant around his neck, was already marching out of the door, wand in hand. Terry and the rest of the group didn't notice him with their attention directed at him and Daphne.
"Hey, what did you do that for?" Terry asked, frowning, gesturing up and down at her, "It was just a bit of fun, you've been flirting with me and teasing me all day in that little bikini"
Daphne pushed him again, snarling with steel in her eyes, she snapped, "Fun for you maybe, how dare you come into my house and grope me without my consent. If you didn't notice, I picked Harry, not you."
"Don't fucking push me! Let's see how you like being slapped!" Terry shouted, raised his hand high…and froze completely still.
At first, Harry didn't even know how he'd done it, he'd raised his wand and had been about to cast an Immobulus, wanting to stop Terry where he stood, but then instinct, based on pure intent, took over. He felt the heat from the pendant around his neck and realised it was taking his emotions and using them to turn his intent to magic without even an incantation. It wasn't even quite the same spell, it felt much more potent. He was furious and gritting his teeth angrily, his wand still pointed at the completely still Terry, who could only breathe and move his eyes. Blaise, who'd always loved this sort of excitement was eager to watch the situation play out he turned off the radio, leaving the party in complete silence from shock.
Harry flicked his wand toward himself and then upwards, pulling the frozen Terry floating towards him and raising him from the ground, his eyes wide with fear.
Daphne, Tracey, Neville and Susan ran to Harry's side.
"Harry, mate, you need to calm down," said Neville, holding both of his arms up.
"Not until he knows not to cross me," Harry growled.
"He knows, Harry, we'll just send him home. Your eyes are glowing and I can feel the magic coming off you. You could hurt him." said Tracey, worried.
"And that would be bad, why?" Harry asked, staring intimidatingly at Tracey, "Are you saying we should just let him sexually assault girls and let him get away with it?"
"I'm not saying that, no," said Tracey, swallowing.
Daphne said nothing, she didn't want to intervene, not after Flint. As long as Harry didn't kill him, he would get what he deserved for ruining her party.
It was Susan who made Harry see reason, she said, "If you hurt him then he could report you to Aurors, who could feasibly have you in a holding room all day tomorrow, making you miss Sirius's trial. His father has connections."
Harry took a slow breath to calm himself but kept Terry floating in front of him and said, "I won't hurt him. Are any of his belongings anywhere."
Daphne walked up to Terry and checked his pockets.
"He didn't bring anything but his wand, and that's still on him," she said.
Harry started walking back and forth, keeping his wand pointed at Terry to keep him in the same position, thinking hard. After several seconds of thought, he spoke, with venom.
"Well done, Heir Boot, for gaining your ejection from a wonderful party. We aren't going to let you ruin our night, but you will regret this. I'll be writing to both Cyrus and your father about what's happened. You will now be leaving, and as you ask Ellanore for your portkey you will explain what I have just told you as word for word as you can, and you will be apologising to her for groping Daphne without her consent. If you fail to do this, my letter to your father will advise him that he will be selling Cyrus his new shares in Nimbus that he recently bought - unless he wants this to be in the Prophet. "Boot Heir Disgusts in Pureblood Sexual Assault scandal" sounds like it would sell more than a few papers and I can easily get Rita Skeeter to write it. Either way, I will assure your father that I understand your behaviour is not a reflection on him and I will still value his respect and expertise within the Wizengamot. You will learn from this and I may forgive you when Daphne does. Now, Fuck off."
Harry flicked his wand and Terry flew through the kitchen doors, which swung shut and locked. As Harry lowered his wand, he let out a big sigh of relief, but he was still angry.
Daphne stepped towards him and wrapped her arms around him, saying, "Thank you."
"You know what, Harry, for someone who wasn't put in Slytherin, that was what I would want to see from the Head of its House. Well done," said Draco.
Harry turned and smiled, "Thanks Draco, I appreciate that."
"Your eyes looked so cool Harry, they were like green fire or something!" said Astoria, "...Can you do it again?"
"I dunno how I did it, I was just mad," Harry told her
"You know only Dumbledore has been seen with a visible aura in this century right?" said Pansy.
"That's cool!" said Neville, "Harry you must've gotten wicked powerful. Maybe it's your edge!"
"They did it that day, Harry. At the end of term," muttered Daphne to him at his side.
"It is my emotions then…" Harry replied quietly, with a sad smile, empathising with her about a day when his eyes shouldn't have had to glow in the first place.
"What?" asked Draco, confused.
"Just thinking," Harry said.
"Well, stop thinking and keep drinking!" said Pansy, passing him his drink. He smiled at her much-needed distraction and it's breaking of the tension and reached out for the glass.
The sun was almost set and Susan and Hannah said they would be going soon and nipped inside to ask for portkeys. Blaise, Millicent, Pansy and Draco did the same after they realised the party was over, not wanting to overstay their welcome, but they still had about twenty minutes to go, and now it was dark.
As those that were soon to be leaving emerged from the house with their portkeys, Ellanore came behind them floating a large red and yellow box in front of her.
No one had any idea what it was, but after a brief pause to hand portkeys to Neville and Tracey as well, she marched past them with it walking out past the patio area and onto the lawn behind before lowering it onto the grass. Then, she turned to address the group.
"Apart from that last little hiccough, I hope you've all had a lovely day. Don't let it ruin everything. I've got one little surprise for you. Daphne darling, Happy Early 19th Birthday."
She pointed her wand at the box, incanted "Incendio" and ran to stand next to them all. Moments later, dazzling fireworks began to light up the night sky. As they were standing side by side, Harry reached out and held Daphne by the hand. He looked at her, but she was transfixed on the sky and Harry could see a multitude of colours flashing and swirling in her beautiful eyes.
There were standard rockets in red and in white, as well glittering bursts of gold that swirled in concentric spirals and brilliant streaks of blue that shot across the sky but then split into blue and aqua waves that meandered in opposite directions before condensing and bursting like raindrops and then trailing all the way to the ground. The awe-inspiring fireworks show went on for ten minutes and concluded when one last shot of green streaked from the box, flying high into the sky. Leaves formed on the sides of the streak before it reached its zenith and exploded into a red and pink flower which rotated in the sky before the petals fell one by one before fading away.
Everyone clapped and cheered when the display was over. Ellanore went back inside while the group finished their drinks. Astoria was sitting on Draco's lap, and he was wiping tears from her face; she didn't want the day to end. Susan and Hannah left first, hugging everyone and thanking Daphne for the invitation before their portkeys spun them away. Pansy, Blaise and Millicent went next, and to Harry's surprise, Blaise offered him his hand and said he would like to arrange for him to have a meeting with his mother to discuss a business proposition. Harry agreed, and after their farewells were over, they too, left.
Finally, only Draco was left to leave. He still had another ten minutes, but said he wanted to walk around to the front with Astoria so they could talk before he left. Before they did so though, he said goodbye to Neville and Tracey, thanked Daphne for the invitation and then turned to Harry.
"You surprised me today," Draco said.
"We surprised each other," said Harry.
"You understand I can't be seen to be too friendly with you at school?"
"I do," Harry replied, nodding, "But let's not be the same way with each other as before. We can stay civil because we respect our positions."
"Agreed."
"You've given me a lot to think about today and don't worry. I will not discuss your glow with my father. Like you said earlier, you and I were perfectly cordial, but didn't speak much," Draco said.
"Barely even noticed you were here," Harry said with a smile.
"Exactly," replied Draco with a respectful nod, before he turned to Astoria and said, "Ready to go?"
She smiled sadly and nodded, before taking Draco's hand. Astoria said she'd be going to bed after this and so they both called out their last goodbyes and walked back into the house.
Now only Harry, Daphne, Tracey and Neville remained, standing on the patio under a clear night sky. Even though it was now completely dark, it was still quite warm and neither Daphne nor Tracey felt any need to put a jacket on.
"And then there were four," said Neville rubbing his hands together, "What do you wanna do next?"
"I dunno," replied Harry, "Is there anything else to drink?"
"No more booze, it's all gone," said Daphne.
"Ah well." sighed Tracey.
Behind them, some lights flared, dimly brightening the patio floor around them, causing the four of them to turn their heads. The hot tub was illuminated, bubbling and steaming. Daphne and Tracey looked up at the house, knowing the hot tub could only be turned on from the inside. Ellanore's silhouette was in the warm yellow light of the library window. It waved and moved out of sight.
"Your mum is so fucking cool sometimes," Tracey said.
"I know right?" said Daphne excitedly, "How long have you got on the portkeys?"
Neville held his up, "She set it for half ten, so just over half an hour."
"Same," said Tracey, "Better be quick then."
They all quickly agreed. It was much less effort for Daphne to disrobe this time, still having only the black sarong wrapped around her midriff, and they all quickly disrobed and stepped into the warm, bubbling water. Daphne and Harry sat on the higher seats, meaning most of their chests were out of the water. Neville and Tracey sat on the lower seats opposite, where the water came up to just below their shoulders, well, Neville's shoulder, for Tracey the water came right up to the base of her chin.
"This is incredible," said Neville, "I've gotta get one of these at home, though to be fair I don't have much company over."
"Yeah, I think it's made much better with such great company," said Harry.
"Hear Hear," said Daphne.
"Besides, if you get one of these Neville I might even come over if your Gran will let me," added Tracey.
"She wouldn't even know, she's barely there anyway," replied Neville, excited at the idea.
"Even better."
"Unfortunately I think my trust vault isn't quite well funded enough, and Gran would call it a frivolous purchase so she wouldn't give me money from the main Longbottom vault." Neville sighed.
"But frivolous purchases are the best!" said Tracey,
"They are if they end up with a Tracey in my hot tub," said Neville.
"Oooh, look who's grown some confidence today, I like it," Tracey replied, reaching a hand up to Neville's face before kissing him. When she pulled away he was blushing and nervous again. Tracey giggled. Harry smiled at the two of them, Neville had probably had his first kiss today now, too."
"So, guys," Daphne said with a big smile, "I've got an announcement, well, me and Harry do. We've decided to start dating. We're boyfriend and girlfriend."
"YEEEEEESSS!" cheered Tracey, standing up swiftly in the tub, splashing water all over Neville's face who spluttered at the sudden deluge as she launched across the water and hugged both of them at once
"I'm so happy for you both," she called with her head between Harry and Daphne's shoulders.
"Me too," said Neville.
"Thanks, guys," Harry said as Tracey sat back down. With their relationship out in the open Harry finally had the opportunity to wrap an arm around Daphne's waist in a hug while they chatted with their friends.
"What's gonna happen at school?" Tracey asked, "Are you guys gonna go public? I'll support whatever you want to do but it's a bit risky right now. Did you talk to your mum?"
"She's all for it, and if Harry's okay with it then I want to. If we didn't we'd never get a chance to actually be together. It would all be just dusty broom closets and empty classrooms." Daphne replied.
"I wouldn't mind spending some time with you in a broom closet though," Harry said quietly, turning his head to his new girlfriend.
Daphne blushed, pushed him on the shoulder and said, "We can do that as well."
"Excellent." was Harry's grinning reply.
"You know I'll help look after you in the common room, but fraternising with Harry could get a bit dodgy," said Tracey.
"I can handle it," Daphne replied with determination. She wasn't gonna let some Death Eater kiddie dickheads stop her from living her life how she wanted.
"Plus, I'm Lord of House Slytherin now. I don't know what power that holds, but I bet it gives me some powers over the school, and at least over the Slytherins," said Harry
"That's a good point," admitted Neville.
"Plus, now Harry and Daphne are with each other, we could hang out more Neville, if you want," added Tracey
"Sure," replied Neville, smiling, "I'm not sure I know you well enough to ask you to be my girlfriend yet, though."
"Give me time, I'll slither my way in." Tracey replied with mirth, "Get it... Slyther-In."
"Yes we all got it Tracey, well done, we all bow to your incredible humour," replied Harry, deadpan, causing Daphne to burst out laughing.
"You're mean!" Tracey whined like a child, "Neville, get him."
"Glowy-eyes who lived, no thanks," Neville replied with a laugh.
She folded her arms in a fake huff, "Hmph," she responded, "Some boyfriend you turned out to be."
"Not your boyfriend," Neville corrected.
"Not yet," said Tracey smirking and playfully opening her eyes wide while tapping the fingertips of each hand together like a story villain with a nefarious plot
Neville rolled his eyes, but he smiled. He had to admit, he found Tracey really fun and she put him at ease.
The four spent the last ten minutes before Neville and Tracey's imminent departure chatting about their plans for the rest of the holiday. Neville was going to work on growing some Chinese Fighting Plants in his greenhouse, and Daphne and Tracey planned to spend most of the summertime together. When Harry was asked, he simply said, "Training, lots and lots of training'" and he left it at that. Soon it was time for them to leave and after Daphne and Tracey had decided on Tracey coming back tomorrow for afternoon tea, Tracey and Neville got out of the hot tub, casting drying charms on themselves, said their goodbyes and activated their portkeys.
Daphne had been standing in the hot tub waving Neville and Tracey off as they disappeared with their portkeys, but the moment they were gone the atmosphere changed. Alone in a hot tub under a starlit sky, Daphne turned back towards him and gave a bright but sultry smile. Harry took in the whole of her nubile form once more. With the way she was standing, her toned legs, mid-calf deep in the water, were spread slightly apart and the pale flesh of her inner thighs touched in a way that left an enticing gap between her legs and her core. His eyes roved up her stomach to her lovely, full breasts, regretfully encapsulated by the glittering bikini top. Their eyes met again. Daphne sat next to him and leaning forward, kissed him softly. She pulled back, and Harry lifted his toned arm around her shoulders. They both sighed as she lay on his chest and they lay there in silence for a minute, faces both fixed in soft smiles.
Daphne twisted so most of her weight was laid on Harry's chest, and she lifted a hand and began to gently stroke her fingertips back and forth across his collarbone.
"Thank you for inviting me," Harry said in a soft tone.
"Thank you for coming," she replied, thinking how lucky she felt as she stared up at the starlit sky.
"I mean it, Daph." Harry said, "I think…I think this has been the best day of my life."
Daphne smiled widely and then passing her mind back over the entire day, said "I think it was the best day of my life too."
They lay together for several more minutes, just basking in each other's presence. Using his hand on the arm that was wrapped around her shoulder, Harry gently stroked and twirled his fingers through Daphne's golden hair. She didn't think she'd felt so content in her whole life.
"Yeah," she sighed, "It's been a good day. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves."
"They did, for the most part, I think," Harry replied, "Except for what happened near the end."
Daphne's lips tightened, she was still massively pissed at Terry's behaviour, but she relaxed again as Harry kept stroking her hair.
"I'm glad. Astoria was happy too. And Draco. She's gonna be bouncing off the walls for days." Daphne said. "Ugh, it's gonna get so annoying. Letting them win was a great idea though."
"I know, it felt really good to do that for them."
"It did."
A brief pause in the night air passed between them.
"I'm sorry, by the way," Harry said.
"What, what for?"
"For how I behaved with Terry, I nearly took it too far and you were handling it just fine yourself. I should've let you fight your own battle but when he raised his hand to you, I just couldn't stop myself."
Daphne smiled and said, "It's okay, actually it was…just the power you had, the control, the way you could just back down when you were so amped up and angry that you were literally glowing with power but stopped to think logically…and then you think up such a brilliant but benevolent end to his time here, where he but not his family would face consequences was just…"
She trailed off again, saying the words out loud only amping up what she was feeling. She exhaled heavily, her thighs squeezed tightly and shifted beneath the water.
"Just what?" Harry asked.
"Sexy," Daphne replied, not bothering to hide her blush, "It was sexy."
"Really? Me?" Harry said, not able to believe it. That was something he'd never even considered to be a description someone could attribute to him of all people.
Daphne tilted her head to look him in the eyes.
"Oh yeah," Daphne said, needing him to know she was serious, "It was really sexy. I mean in general, I think you're sexy, especially with your top off. Your chest is just so…yummy."
"Yummy?" Harry asked, smiling in mirth at the word.
"Mhm," Daphne said, biting her lip.
Even though she'd found herself doing it multiple times that day, Harry hadn't seen it. He hadn't seen her straight white teeth bite down on the corner of her scarlet bottom lip. It was incredible. He felt himself tighten completely. If he was sexy, what was she?
He couldn't help it, he pulled his arm down her back from behind her shoulder and grasped one side of her waist while he reached his other arm around her to grasp the other. All at once, with the strength of his arms he picked her up and pulled her, sidesaddle onto his lap. This elicited a gasp from Daphne, who instantly brought her hands around his neck and locked his lips in a kiss. This wasn't a soft kiss though, but a kiss of passion, of lust. With one arm behind her back to support her, Harry kissed her hard. It both of their breaths away, but Daphne gave as good as she got. As it became less hard and more passionate, their lips opened slightly and tentative tongues found one another, Daphne making a slight moan under her breath as they began to experience the new sensations of the French kiss. This didn't stop for several minutes, but then the passion, the sheer need for each other began to increase and thus their desire for more. Daphne, unfazed by the hardness she felt in Harry's shorts, couldn't help but rock her hips, and Harry, who'd had his eyes tight shut, snapped them open when Daphne slowly slid the hand from the outside of her thigh, up her taut stomach and over the curvature of her breast.
He almost recoiled and pulled slightly back from the kiss with the shock of it, causing Daphne to break it entirely.
"Is that…okay?" she asked breathily.
"Yeah." Harry nodded, so enthusiastically he made her giggle, "Your body is amazing,"
"Just over my top though, I think. I'm not ready for more yet." Harry smiled and nodded again, now with understanding before giving the plump flesh of her breast a gentle squeeze, marvelling at how soft and pillowy it felt. He ran a thumb over the front of the glittering fabric of the bikini top and Daphne gasped.
"Do that again," she said with wide eyes. He did, and she ground ass her into him, making both of them breathe faster as Harry kissed her on the mouth and then slowly kissed down her neck.
"Fuck it," she thought, marvelling at the sensations that Harry was sending from her neck and breast that seemed to be shooting straight down to her flower. Maybe I should let him put his hand under -
*Pop*
The sudden sound to the left of them made them freeze. They looked around. It was the house elf, Mitsy.
"Mistress Daphne, Mistress Ellanore has said that it is five to eleven and that it is time for Lord Slytherin-Potter to go home."
They both sighed the moment over.
"Okay Mitsy," we're coming now," Daphne said, "Thank you."
They gave each other a sad smile at the moment lost and then got out of the pool. Once dry, they walked hand in hand back inside.
Before he stepped into the fireplace, she kissed him softly and wished him good luck for tomorrow. Then, he stepped into the emerald flames and disappeared, leaving Daphne alone in the atrium a wide smile plastered upon her face.
To his surprise, Sirius was waiting for Harry in the lounge when he emerged from the fireplace at Grimmauld Place, just as full of smiles as his girlfriend was many miles away.
"So, you dirty stop-out" Sirius asked tentatively, "How did it go?"
Harry couldn't drop his smile, he was too busy thinking about the day that he'd had.
"Wow, that well, huh?" Sirius answered at Harry's expression while getting to his feet, "Well come on, let's get to bed. Once I found out how late you'd be I brewed some pepper-up and a hangover potion for the morning in case you were a bit tipsy."
Sirius left the room and Harry followed him up to bed. It really had been an incredible day.
