I would live forever on days like this

——–——

Harry woke up to the soft light of a starry sky illuminating the room. He blinked, confused for a moment, before remembering where he was. The ceiling above him looked like a celestial dome, with stars twinkling in shades of blue and green, blending into soft waves like an ever-moving aurora borealis.

The air was warm, carrying a faint scent he immediately recognized: vanilla, the subtle aroma he always associated with Daphne. He looked to the side and felt his heart quicken at the sight of her there, still asleep. Daphne was partially covered by a thin sheet, her golden hair spread out in waves on the pillow. Her face was relaxed, her long eyelashes casting soft shadows on her pale skin.

Harry blinked again, trying to organize his thoughts. He realized he was naked, as was Daphne. Memories of the previous night came back in flashes: Slughorn's party, the dance, the drinks, Daphne dragging him out of the party and bringing him to the Room of Requirement.

He looked at Daphne beside him, still asleep, her face relaxed and serene. An involuntary smile appeared on his lips as he raised a hand to gently caress her cheek.

Daphne opened her eyes slowly, still looking drowsy, and blinked a few times before focusing on Harry. A small smile curved her lips as she looked at him, her blue eyes softly glowing under the starry light projected on the ceiling.

"Good morning," she murmured, her voice husky from sleep.

"Good morning," Harry replied, his smile widening. He withdrew his hand from her cheek, but Daphne held it, keeping the contact for a moment longer.

"Were you watching me sleep?" she asked playfully, though her eyes still carried a sleepy gleam.

Harry chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Just a little. I can't help it when I see you like this."

Daphne raised an eyebrow, but the smile on her lips betrayed that she wasn't truly annoyed. "Like this?" she asked, her voice soft as she intertwined her fingers with his.

"Calm, serene," Harry replied, his voice full of sincerity. "And... beautiful."

She laughed quietly. "You're good with words when you want to be," she said, bringing his hand to her lips and placing a soft kiss on it. "Did you sleep well?"

"Very," he admitted, a mischievous smile forming on his face. "Though I wouldn't say we slept much."

Daphne's eyes widened slightly, surprised at Harry's boldness, before feeling her cheeks heat up. A deep blush spread across her face as she averted her gaze for a moment, murmuring, "Idiot."

Harry laughed again and pulled her on top of him, making Daphne giggle as she playfully smacked his chest with her hand. Then, she nestled against him again, resting her head on his shoulder as their breaths mingled in the silence of the room.

"What time is it?" Daphne asked softly.

"No idea," Harry mumbled lazily, his fingers still gently running through her hair.

Daphne lifted her head slightly, glancing around the room. Their wands and clothes were scattered on the floor, and with no windows in sight, there was no way to tell if it was day or night. She frowned, curiosity taking over.

As if the Room of Requirement had heard her thoughts, an old, weathered clock materialized on a nearby wall. Daphne leaned closer to get a better look, and a small smile curved her lips. "It's only five in the morning."

Harry turned his head slightly toward the clock but didn't seem concerned. "That means we can sleep a few more hours," he said, closing his eyes and pulling her closer.

Daphne smiled, kissing his neck suggestively, the touch of her lips sending shivers down Harry's spine. "Or we can do something else."

Harry's eyes snapped open immediately, any trace of sleep evaporating. "Someone's having ideas," he said with a crooked smile.

Daphne didn't respond with words. Instead, she pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss, her hands sliding into his hair. When they parted, her mischievous smile returned. "Only the best ones."

[...]

Hours later, Harry and Daphne were still in the Room of Requirement. A large, luxurious bathtub stood in the center of the room, surrounded by a soft light and warm steam. Daphne was leaning against Harry's chest, the warm water enveloping them both as the subtle scent of lavender filled the air.

"This is definitely a wonderful way to start the day," murmured Daphne, closing her eyes as Harry ran his fingers through her loose, wet hair.

"I can't disagree," he replied, leaning down slightly to kiss the top of her head. "I think we can stay here a bit longer. I'm in no rush to return to the real world."

Daphne chuckled softly, sliding her hand through the water to intertwine her fingers with his. "Neither am I."

They remained in comfortable silence, savoring each other's warmth, the hot water, and the steam that filled the air.

At some point, Daphne slid away from her position against Harry, moving slowly to the opposite side of the tub. She rested her arms on the edge while watching him, her eyes shining intensely, though her expression was unreadable.

"What is it?" Harry asked, tilting his head to the side, curiosity evident in his voice.

Daphne remained silent for a moment, as if organizing her thoughts. Then, finally, she took a deep breath and said, "There's something I wanted to tell you."

Harry sat up straighter in the water, his expression shifting to a mix of concern and attention. "Alright, what is it?"

Daphne looked away for a moment, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the water's surface. When she looked back at him, her face was more serious.

"I received a letter from my father," she began slowly, her voice calm but tinged with hesitation. "He invited you to Christmas at our manor."

Harry raised his eyebrows, surprised. It took him a few seconds to process her words, a mix of anxiety beginning to form. It had been two years since he and Daphne had been together, and he had already faced the daunting task of meeting her parents early in their relationship.

Daphne's father, Cygnus Greengrass, had always been an enigmatic figure to Harry. On the rare occasions they had met, he had never shown explicit disapproval but also hadn't made it clear that he approved of the relationship. Cygnus was a reserved man with a commanding presence and a sharp gaze that always made Harry feel slightly uneasy.

"He... invited me?" Harry finally asked, incredulity clear in his voice.

Daphne nodded slowly, watching his expression. "Yes. It was a formal invitation, but... still."

Harry tilted his head, his gaze becoming thoughtful. "Do you think he really wants me to come? Or is this more of a formality, like... family politics?"

Daphne chuckled softly, but there was a hint of nervousness in her voice. "With my father, you never know. But the fact that he extended the invitation means he's at least willing to get to know you better. And I think that's important."

Harry ran a hand through his wet hair, trying to dispel the growing tension. "Well, I suppose I can't say no, can I?"

Daphne smiled slightly, moving closer to Harry in the tub and placing a hand on his face. "Don't worry. I'll be there with you. And besides, my mom will love seeing you. She's already a fan."

Harry relaxed slightly at her reassurance, though the idea still made him apprehensive. "I hope you're right."

Daphne kept her hand on Harry's face, gently stroking his cheek with her thumb. "I am right," she said firmly but with a soft smile. "And besides, you've faced dragons and dark wizards. Surviving Christmas with my father will be easy."

Harry couldn't help but laugh, though the nervousness still lingered. "Yeah, sure. Dragons and dark wizards I can handle. But your father... he's a completely different creature."

Daphne leaned forward, touching her forehead to his. "It'll all be fine. I know things between you and my father are a bit... cold, but he's never stopped us from being together, has he?"

Harry sighed, holding her hand and intertwining their fingers. "That's true. But sometimes it feels like he tolerates me more because of you than anything else."

Daphne smiled softly, leaning even closer to him. "My father is like that with everyone. He's reserved and hard to read, but deep down, he only wants the best for me. And he knows that's you."

Harry let out a low grunt, unsure how to respond properly. Daphne, sensing his hesitation, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately, a gesture that seemed to carry all the reassurance and confidence he needed at that moment.

When she finally pulled away, her eyes glowed with affection. "I think it's time we got out of here, don't you?"

Before Harry could respond, Daphne hoisted herself out of the tub with a graceful motion, water cascading down her skin. Harry watched her in all her naked glory, a smile spreading across his lips.

Daphne grabbed a nearby towel and wrapped it around herself, casting a sidelong glance over her shoulder as she began drying her hair. "Come on, Potter," she said with a teasing smile. "Or are you planning to sit there admiring me all day?"

"I have no objections to that," Harry replied, pulling himself out of the tub, a carefree grin forming on his face.

Daphne let out a low laugh, shaking her head as she finished drying her hair. "You really know how to make me feel special, don't you? But knowing you, I doubt you'd settle for just admiring."

"Is that a bad thing?" Harry teased, shrugging and giving her a nonchalant look.

"Not at all," she replied, tilting her head slightly with a mischievous smile. "But I think we wouldn't leave here anymore."

"Sounds like a win to me," Harry said with a cheeky smile.

Daphne raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms playfully. "The room doesn't make food, love, and all this activity has left me starving."

Harry let out a dramatic sigh. "I hate when you're rational."

"One of us has to be," she said, laughing and tossing the damp towel in his direction. Harry caught it mid-air and rolled his eyes as he began to dress.

"Alright, Miss Rational. Let's get food before you decide to drag me back to the tub or the bed," Harry quipped as he finished dressing.

"Me?" Daphne feigned indignation, placing her hands on her hips. "I wasn't the one who suggested not leaving here."

"Details, details," Harry muttered, pulling his shirt over his head with an exaggerated sigh. "Let's go before hunger makes you grumpy."

Daphne huffed, putting on her clothes and quickly adjusting her dress, the theatrical tone in her voice making Harry laugh. "I don't get grumpy."

"Oh, of course," Harry replied, adjusting his glasses on his face. "Just... mildly irritable sometimes."

Daphne narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms as she glared at him. "Keep teasing, Potter, and you'll find out the true meaning of grumpy."

Harry raised his hands in surrender, a playful smile dancing on his lips. "Alright, alright. I yield."

"Very sensible," Daphne said with a satisfied smile, extending her hand to him. "Now let's go."

Harry took her hand, intertwining their fingers as he pulled her close. "Lead the way, Miss Greengrass."

"With pleasure," she replied, taking a step forward without letting go of his hand.

As Daphne led him through Hogwarts' silent corridors, Harry couldn't help but smile. The worry about facing Daphne's father seemed like a distant thought at that moment. The warmth of her hand in his, the soft sound of her laughter—everything felt so simple.

Life was good.

—————

A little cuteness before you face your beloved's parents.

We are getting close to the end of this story, we should still have some good chapters, but the final stretch is approaching.

Thanks for all the comments.

See you later