Daphne- July 20th
Daphne stood in front of her vanity mirror and nervously switched her hair in between a more formal chignon and down and silky straight. Astoria laughed at her big sister, "Daphne you know that you're being ridiculous right?" Daphne shot her sister a dark stormy look. Cassiopeia Greengrass softly giggled watching the interaction between her twelve- and fifteen-year-old. Finally, chiding her youngest as her giggles settled down, "just you wait one day it will be your turn."
As Daphne began to attempt to select an outfit her sister returned to a fit of giggles. Their mother more closely resembled Daphne than Astoria simply rolled her eyes, "from what I understand Daph he won't judge you for wearing the wrong outfit." Daphne rolled her eyes, "He may not but others who already have his ear might." That got the attention of her mother and sister, "I had to go through Nott in order to get an introduction. Since the Triwizard Tournament ended there has been a lot of political realignment at Hogwarts. Apparently, Nott, Malfoy and Pansy have managed to befriend him. He is open to hearing other perspectives no and not just parrot whatever Dumbledore puts in his mouth!" Astoria's eyes had grown wide at the mention of her crush, and her face turned red.
Suddenly, Astoria was off and searching through Daphne's walking wardrobe. She pulled out the shortest black skirt that Daphne owned and paired it with a green silk blouse with just the slightest cut to grant an illusion of the chance to glimpse cleavage. She laid it out on top of Daphne's bed, "this should do nicely. You need to showcase your best assets." Daphne raised an eyebrow questioning her sister's sudden helpfulness. Cassiopeia on the other understood exactly what her younger daughter was angling for.
Soon enough, Daphne was dressed in the outfit that her sister had selected and had her hair straight and smooth deciding that the outfit hardly called for the swanky updo. She just hoped that Draco's mother wouldagree, after all it was her house that Daphne was about to enter and that alone made her nervous. Narcissa Malfoy nee Black was fastidious about everything and was not likely to be an easy ally to obtain in gaining Harry's affection. His letter had been civil, but not warm and so she would definitely have her work cut out for her in terms of gaining the trust of those around him, let alone Harry himself.
Ten minutes later Daphne was stepping off the floo into the sitting room in Malfoy Manor. She was quickly greeted by the sound of heels clicking down the hall. In stepped Narcissa Malfoy, "Welcome Daphne the others are in the library", the blonde opened her arms and gave her a hug in greeting. Then they were on their way down the hall towards the wing where the library was located.
She entered the library feeling much like she was entering the Slytherin common room. Draco lounged on one of the couches, and Theo and Harry laid out on the floor Pansy was seated in one of the overstuffed chairs. The group had their books open and were busily scribbling away beginning to revise their notes.
Daphne found a spot in another seat not far from Pansy. She stood by the chair and cleared her throat hoping to gain the attention of the others in the room who had clearly developed a routine and rhythm of sorts in how they went about each and every session. Theo looked up and nodded, before he went to elbow Harry to gain his attention.
Harry sat up at the prodding thankfully and smiled at the pretty Slytherin whom he had only really seen in the context of infirmary or class. Theo smirked, "Daphne Greengrass, this is Harry Potter. Harry this is Daphne Greengrass." Harry's face turned red, "I think I've seen you before when I was in the infirmary." The blonde girl rolled her eyes, "No shit, and speaking of which why do I end up seeing you in there at the end of every year?" Harry chuckled, "I would like to know the answer to that as well. If you ever get the chance to ask Voldemort please ask him." That got a scoff from Theo and an eye roll from Draco. Draco had become quite accomplished at that particular gesture.
The group smiled as Daphne plopped down and began to study only being interrupted by the occasional question for the next couple of hours. Daphne took the time to monitor the interactions around her. She paid attention to particular to the silent exchanges that seemed to take place now between Harry and Draco who exchanged glances, and to whom Harry seemed to kind of defer. Draco smirked teasing Harry, "you could almost pass for a Slytherin now that you're halfway competent at potions." Harry quipping, "just because you're a dumbass who happened to offend a hippogriff even though you were warned. You think the classes that I'm good at are pointless. I'm at the top of our year at Care and Defense thank you very much."
It didn't escape her notice that Nott was sending the occasional look of appreciation at Harry or that his hand was nearly always near to Harry's even though they laid on the floor with Harry stretched facing the couch and Theo along the front of the couch.
Pansy met her eyes and quirked an eyebrow in a silent question. The other girl was possibly the only one who could suspect Daphne's interest in observing the dynamics. Pansy was so much more interested in gossip sometimes than in her academics. Daphne schooled her features a bit realizing that her mask had dropped over the course of watching the group's interactions.
Pansy smirked at Draco, thinking Fleamont Potter made his fortune in potions you moron. Everyone knows that, and his father was a prodigy at Transfiguration. Between that Flitwick's comments around Astoria regarding Lily Potter's skill in charms she hoped that Harry might be able to help her find the key to saving Astoria.
The group slowly began to break up with Pansy saying, "Mum wants me home to help prepare things for my birthday party next week. Draco rolled his eyes, "translation I will be stuck wearing dress robes and dealing with sore feet all evening next Saturday." This only served to draw guffaws from Harry and Theo, and an eye roll from Pansy, who swiftly stepped into the floo and headed home to her own manor. Daphne by way of testing the waters a bit gave a swift peck on the cheek to Harry and waved to Theo and Draco and made her own way home as well. Leaving behind a very red-faced Harry Potter.