July 2nd 1994
It was the start of the summer holidays after third year, Daphne had been informed that her parents were taking her sister across to the continent to make connections and lay the groundwork for future potential suitors prior to her return home, therefore, when Daphne awoke, she knew besides the house elves she was home alone. Which would have been fine if she hadn't been woken by the crying of an infant. Daphne sat up quickly and began looking around her room for the source of the sound. She quickly found it at the foot of her bed.
There, lying screaming its lungs out, was a tiny child who must have been no more than one year old, face scrunched together and attempting to shatter every piece of glass in the area. Daphne had held small children before and had seen the adults (actual mainly house elves) nurse small children when they cried, so after the initial shock wore off, Daphne scooped up the child and began rocking it back and forth. Thinking quickly, Daphne began softly singing a song her mother used to sing to her when she was a small child, the baby seemed to react well to this and quickly fell asleep. Daphne then lay it on the bed, tucking it in gently to ensure she didn't wake it. As she was standing there trying to work out what in Merlin's name she was going to do, she noticed a letter sitting where the baby had been. She picked it up and while sitting at the foot of her bed, began reading.
Dear Daphne,
I'm sorry to do this to you, however I cannot go on. The war was won, everything was fine, we had settled down, bought a new house to get away from the memories, had just had our third child and were happy. But then they took it all away.
I can't go on, but I can't just leave her alone to suffer as her father did. Therefore, I entrust to you the only thing left in this life that I love before leaving it. Her name is Lily Evaline Potter, the Goblins are not sure when she will land with you, but I hope that you grow to love her as I do.
If this bundle of joy reaches you during your school years, please reach out to Harry. I know our schoolhouses make it difficult but as long as you show him this letter that solemnly swears you're up to no good and promise him that you Siriusly believe that his godfather is innocent, then he'll know your mischief is managed.
I wish a better future on you than I experienced. Cherish and protect our family…
Love
Daphne Isobelle Potter.
Daphne sat there stunned, she looked to the baby and then back to the letter. If it wasn't for the baby, she'd think her sister was playing some kind of joke on her via the house elves.
"I'm fourteen… how am I meant to care for a child…" Daphne spoke quietly too herself. Panic began to set in when one of the house elves popped into her room.
"Missy Daphy, are you…" the elf began, before being interrupted by a sleepy snort from Lily "OH a baby! Missy Daphy, where dids this come from?!" the elf suddenly whispered at her.
"Shh! Quiet Flopsy, you'll wake her! To answer your question, I don't know… can you please warm up some milk? And do we have any of my or Astoria's baby stuff sitting around somewhere that you could bring to my room?" Daphne said pushing orders on the elf to help her, as Daphne knew if she didn't keep Flopsy busy she'd no doubt run to her father and Daphne didn't like the idea of what he would do…
Daphne knew her father hadn't sided with the Death Eaters in the previous war, however that didn't mean he was a kind man by any stretch of the imagination. He was a staunch traditionalist, and she knew that he would worry that the child would cast her in a negative light to those that he wanted to marry her off too… Merlin only knows what he'd do to Lily and after having nursed the child and reading the letter, she was feeling oddly protective of Lily.
"Yes Missy Daphy, I's be right back!" Flopsy then popped away. Daphne looked at the clock on her wall and realised it was early morning, Diagon Alley and, more importantly, Gringotts Bank would be quiet. She wanted to trust the letter but also needed confirmation before she could do anything, which meant a blood test for little Lily at Gringotts to confirm her parentage.
While Daphne was stood thinking, Flopsy popped back into the room to inform Daphne that she'd found everything and filled the bottles with warm milk. Daphne quickly sent her off again to collect anything baby related still in the house, in addition to the old baby bag her mother had used when they travelled, hopefully the feather light charm was still in place…
Daphne quietly got dressed while Flopsy was gone and Lily was sleeping, she put her most professional looking robes on followed by a large fur lined coat with a hood. She knew even though there would be barely any people there, the image of a teen walking towards Gringotts with a baby wasn't a good one and she didn't want anyone to recognise her.
Flopsy reappeared with some toys and clothes packed in the old baby bag, in addition to some cloth nappies and wipe cloths.
"Flopsy, we need to go to Gringotts Bank, but I can't do this by myself, so I'll need you to stay with me the entire time. Do you understand?" Daphne said quickly to stop the elf vanishing on her. Her primary concern was for the safety of Lily, second being her potential banishment from the family…
"Flopsy understands Missy Daphy, if you's would pick up the baby I can take you right outside!" The elf responded eagerly.
As she gently scooped up Lily, Daphne thought to herself "Merlin I hope this works out…"
*Page Break*
The bank was busier than Daphne was expecting but thankfully Lily hadn't woken while they stood in line waiting. As the final person in front of her finished their business with the Goblin, it looked up at her.
"Forward please!" the Goblin said with a rudeness only acceptable from Goblins.
"What can Gringotts do for you today?" it said as Daphne reached the counter.
"I would like a parentage test for my child and then to request a meeting with the Potter Account Manager." Daphne said in reply. Daphne was kicking herself internally for not treating properly with the Goblin but her mind was a muddle.
"Very well" Drawled the Goblin as it placed a bronze bowl on top of the counter "Hold the child's hand over the bowl, palm down please."
Daphne gently extracted Lily's arm from the blanket she had her wrapped in and then held her little hand over the bowl. As quick as lightning the goblin sliced Lily's palm and a small collection of blood droplets landed in the bowl, Daphne panicked for a moment before realising Lily hadn't stirred. As she tucked Lily's arm into the blanket again, she looked up to ask the goblin about this, who beat her to the punch.
"We use a special blade that has a numbing charm and healing spell built into it for small children. The screaming isn't pleasant…"
Daphne almost laughed out loud once the goblin had explained why Lily did not react, trust the goblins to not want to hurt a child simply due to the noise.
"Here is your parentage report, please head down the hall behind me to office 25, there you will find the Potter Account Manager." Said the goblin with a high level of disinterest. Daphne went to ask something when the goblin suddenly yelled "NEXT PLEASE"
Realising she wasn't going to get anything else from the goblin, she followed his instructions and began walking down the corridor behind his counter. While she walked, she looked down at the parchment the goblin had handed her.
Parental History Report
Name: Unknown
Father: Harry James Potter
Mother: Daphne Isobelle Greengrass
WARNING, POTENTIAL TEMPORAL ANOMELY
Daphne finished the last line as she reached a door that had a golden "25" on the front. She knocked and waited.
"COME IN" she heard a goblin voice yell from behind the closed door. She opened the door and walked in.
"Sit" the goblin said rudely "You're obviously not a Potter so make this quick!"
Daphne, unsurprised by the way the goblin was speaking to her, simply handed the piece of parchment to the goblin and sat down.
"Huh... was not expecting that. Very well, can I assume you are Daphne Greengrass then?" the goblin asked.
"Yes, and I'd like to be put in contact with Heir Potter and quickly, my family is not going to take this well and I need to work out whether I'm going to be a single teenage parent or just a teenage parent..."
"Well Miss Greengrass, while I would like to assist you, as you're carrying a member of the Potter line with you. I have no idea where Heir Potter is…" this shocked Daphne but the goblin continued "Gringotts has sent him letter after letter since he turned eleven, but he has never responded and never had the decency to introduce himself too me." The goblin finished and then just stared at Daphne. "If you do locate him, I would be very grateful were you, as the future mother of his child, to bring him into the bank so that I could present him with his Heir ring and provide him with an update on his financial position."
This final sentence shocked Daphne, why hadn't Potter collected his Heir ring… Didn't he realise how much risk he was at without its protections... Daphne realised she was sitting there silently and decided she needed to get out of the bank and find Harry Potter.
"Very well, I will bring Heir Potter to you if I am able to locate him. Could we please add Lily too the Potter account?" At least if the Potter Account Manager recognised Lily as a Potter she would be able to claim some support from Potter should he turn out to be as untrustworthy and feckless as Draco Malfoy had told everyone he was…
"I can have her recognised, however you'll need to give me her full name and know that if Heir Potter chooses, he can fight any claims to financial support you may try to push through."
"Her name is Lily Evaline Potter." Daphne said as she stood up.
"I wish you luck Miss Greengrass, remember your promise. I expect to see Heir Potter here within the month!" the account manager yelled out as Daphne walked out of his office.
*Page Break*
As Daphne reached the last step out the front of Gringotts, she thought through who she knew and of those people who was associated with Potter. She didn't particularly feel like reaching out to the Weasley family if she could help it, they were all biased against Slytherins and so she expected to be stone walled there. Additionally, although she thought Granger might treat her fairly, being a Muggleborn she didn't know how to contact her. As she worked through the known associates of Potter she realised he had nothing to do with anyone outside of his own house and given the animosity between Slytherin and Gryffindor she began to worry that it was a lost caused… Then she had a brain wave and remembered that her cousin, Neville Longbottom, though a near squib, could likely put her in contact with Potter.
"Flopsy, take me home and when we get there collect all the baby things that are left in my room and pack them in a trunk with my own clothes and belongings, please."
"Yes Missy Daphy!"
When they appeared at Greengrass manor, Daphne rushed over to the floo and floo called Longbottom Manor.
"Neville! It's Daphne Greengrass, we need to speak" she called through the flames.
After what felt like minutes, Neville's stuttering voice came through
"Ah..ah..h-h-hello, D-Daphne. How are you?" he asked hesitantly.
"I am truly sorry for bothering you cousin, but could I come through. It's in relation to Heir Potter."
"Oh… umm.. sure just be warned I-I-I'm in my gardening gear and…"
"That's fine, step back" Daphne replied as she stepped through.
As she emerged from the flames into Longbottom Manor, Lily in arm, she looked up and saw that her Great Aunt was in the Floo Room with her cousin. Neville wearing a dirty set of overalls and a work shirt, while Great Aunt Augusta was dressed in a morning version of her usual finery.
"What in blazes is that in your arms Daphne Greengrass!" Her Great Aunt Augusta asked.
"This, is Lily Evaline Potter… and the reason I came to see Cousin Neville." As Daphne finished this sentence, Neville proceeded to faint.
"Damn boy…" Augusta said "Well, then come in girl and we can sit down with some tea while you explain yourself. I assume your father doesn't know, otherwise you'd be disowned faster than you can say dowery."
Her Great Aunt Augusta had never been one for subtlety, so Daphne wasn't fazed by the brash statement, though it did hurt to have her suspicions confirmed…
As they both sat down in the living room, one of the Longbottom elves appeared with a tray of tea and began dishing it out, another appeared with some small baked goods for the two of them and Augusta waited until the tea was served and the baked goods were plated before opening her interrogation.
"So girl, speak. I'm surprised of all the girls in your generation YOU'RE the one that comes wandering through my floo with what I assume to be an illegitimate child. I am however curious as to how you've managed to hide it this long…" she said with a high level of disgust that Daphne wasn't used to hearing directed at her.
"It's not mine, well I mean… it is mine but not… I…" Daphne started and stopped, having been thrown off by the aggressive questioning and feeling like everything from the morning hit her at once.
"Deep breath girl, Merlin this generation is spoilt…." Said Augusta.
After taking two deep calming breaths, Daphne continued "She isn't illegitimate, but she also isn't mine. She was born to Harry Potter and Daphne Greengrass, but from the future. Here look at this." Daphne said as she pulled the Gringotts parental history report from her pocket. "She appeared in my room this morning and I was woken by her crying; she had this letter with her from…me…future me…" Daphne then passed the letter across as well.
Once she'd read both the parental report and the letter, Augusta took a deep breath and looked over at Daphne "Well girl, I guess for you when it rains it pours hmm. And what may I ask brought you here instead of to the Potter household?"
"That was my first thought, however when I spoke with the Potter Account Manager at Gringotts, he didn't know where Heir Potter was." Daphne said in response. "And when I thought about Harry's friends, Neville is the only one I even know. So hoped he might be able to help me locate him."
Augusta sat there stunned, she knew that her daughter-in-law had been Harry Potter's godmother and so had expected the boy would be staying with her and Neville. But when she'd last enquired Dumbledore had simply told her he was in a safe place, which she'd assumed meant one of the warded Potter properties. However, this latest bit of information told her that this wasn't the case.
"Can you say that again girl, you're saying the goblins don't know where he is?!" She said aghast that what was being suggested.
As Daphne was about to respond, she heard a groan from the floo room. "It appears my grandson has decided to join the land of the living once more. GET IN HERE NEVILLE" Augusta yelled out to her, which had the unfortunate effect of waking Lily. This sent Daphne into a little bit of a panic as she'd just gotten used to the baby sleeping but Augusta was quick to respond.
"Dipsy, get in here!" with a pop, a Longbottom house elf appeared "We're in the middle of an important discussion, please take the child and nurse her until we call" The elf nodded and began walking around towards Daphne.
Daphne hesitantly handed the child over to the elf, this action seemed to make the baby cry harder but the room was treated to silence once more as the elf popped away. Daphne suddenly felt an emptiness that she hadn't felt ever before.
While Daphne sat there processing, Neville walked in and sat down on one of the empty chairs "Come on girl, get talking. You said the goblins don't know where the Potter boy is." Augusta suddenly said breaking Daphne from her stupor.
"Ahh.. yes, I met with the Potter Account Manager he explained that although they'd sent letters to Heir Potter, he'd never responded and also never requested a meeting with them. He even said…" Daphne hesitated for a moment, realising she might be better off not saying anything about the Heir Ring "…that he'd be grateful if I brought Heir Potter in once I've located him. I've never had a goblin say something like that..." choosing ultimately to keep this information to herself.
"Well Neville, do you know anything about this? Why wouldn't the Potter boy go into Gringotts?" Augusta asked aggressively of her grandson.
"I uh, well you see I don't spend that much time with Harry… So I'm not sure…"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN! The Potter boy is your godbrother and there is also the Potter-Longbottom Alliance to think about. You should be spending as much time as possible with him!" Augusta suddenly exploded at Neville.
"I just, when I go to talk to him there is always something that stops me. Either Ron pushes me away or draws Harry into conversation about Quidditch or chess or for some reason I think of something better to do…" Neville says quietly.
"Hmmm, at least you've tried boy. It's more than I expected, and you shouldn't be intimidated by a Weasley. You're a LONGBOTTOM, you perceiver! I expect better from you Neville, if we're able to locate the boy, he will be spending time here, and I expect you to be fast friends by the end of the Summer."
"Yes Grandmother." Replied Neville in a defeated tone.
"Now, what do you know of his living arrangement. I'd thought Dumbledore would have put him up in one of the Potter properties, but that doesn't seem to have been the case." Augusta asked, while Daphne quietly watched the interaction and drank her tea.
"I know he lives with his muggle aunt and uncle in Surrey. I don't think it's a positive arrangement for Harry, as every time he speaks about them he sounds sad. I think he said the address was Pivate Drive or Private Way…or Privet Drive? I think number 8 or 3 or something…. I'm sorry I don't know anymore." Neville said after trying his best to recall every conversation he'd had with Harry in the past three years.
"That might be enough… Notty!" Augusta called out to another Longbottom elf.
"Yes Mistress?" The elf asked as it appeared silently next to Augusta.
"I need you to bring that muggle book Frank brought home one night. That one with the maps and street names… a dictionary.. directory… something like that" Augusta asked the elf.
"Yes Mistress, I knows the one yous thinking of." And vanished without another question, popping back a minute later with a dusty copy the 1979 copy of the UK street directory.
"Now, if I remember rightly, there should be an index of sorts in the back of this thing, which will then tell us where this Privet Drive is."
Daphne watched as Augusta and Neville began looking through the "Street Directory" as they'd called it, when Neville finally said "FOUND IT! Page 365, Q6?" sounding less confident as he finished the sentence.
Once they'd found the correct street in Surrey, a look of determination came over Augusta's face.
"Right, Notty. Based on this map, do you think I could send you off to find the Potter boy and ask him to return with you to the manor?" Augusta asked as she turned to face the elf in question.
"Yes Mistress, I's can find the boy, but it beings a muggle area should I's hide until he be alone?"
"Yes, good thinking Notty and no just grabbing the boy unless he's in danger. You make it clear you're a Longbottom elf and you want to bring him to Neville. Do you understand?"
"Yes Mistress, I's be back as soon as possible." And with a pop the elf was gone.
"Well." Said Augusta "While we wait, did you want anything?"
Daphne, who had finished her tea and one of the baked goods at this point, suddenly had that empty feeling return "Could I have Lily back please?" She asked with a hint of longing in her voice, she'd had Lily only a few hours and yet she almost felt physical pain when away from her…
*Page Break*
Harry Potter was having a terrible start to his summer break. He'd almost had a family and a home away from the Dursleys, but Peter Pettigrew, Professor Snape and Minister Fudge had ruined that! Harry was angry at himself as well. Why didn't he insist on stunning Pettigrew before they left! Now he found himself cleaning Number 4 Privet Drive, while the Dursleys gorged themselves and watched trash television. Once he finished, he was planning on going for a walk just to clear his head…
"BOY!" Uncle Vernon called out aggressively "Bring me more chips and you better not eat any while you bring them out!"
"Yes Uncle" Harry called out in a subservient tone while walking into the kitchen to get the requested snack. Ever since they'd worked out he couldn't do magic outside of school, his life had gotten materially worse…
As Harry put the snack down for Uncle Vernon, he informed him he was going out and walked towards the door. Unsurprisingly there was no response from Uncle Vernon or the others, as they were glued to the TV, Harry used this to his advantage and rushed out the door quietly. He was surprised however, as the moment he turned down an empty alleyway a house elf appeared.
Harry panicked for a moment, as the Dursleys had taken all his magical belongings and locked them in the cupboard under the stairs, so he felt defenceless and worried at what this house elf might do given Dobby's previous behaviour.
"Hello Heir Potter, I's being Notty. Longbottom house elf. Mistress Augusta and Master Neville have requested your presence at Longbottom Manor. Can I's take you?" the elf asked Harry respectfully.
"Ahh... Hi Notty, nice to meet you. Sure, I'd love to spend some time with Neville." Harry said and without a second thought Harry found himself transported from the alley near Privet Drive to an amazing sitting room he'd never seen before.
"Hello?" Harry called out to the empty room.
"Oh ahh. Hi Harry." Harry heard Neville call out hesitantly.
"Hi Neville. Ahh, nice house you have, and your elf is friendly too. Thank you…Notty?" Harry said, looking around for the elf, who he'd realised had likely vanished the moment they'd appeared in the house.
As Harry was looking around for the elf, Neville walked around the corner with who he assumed was his grandmother following closely behind.
"Hey Harry, ah, this is my grandmother, Dowager Lady Augusta Longbottom. Grandmother, may I present Heir Harry James Potter, Heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter." Neville said, catching Harry off-guard.
"Well spoken Neville… maybe there is still hope for you." Augusta said in a neutral tone "Heir Potter, it is a pleasure to meet you in person. I've heard nothing but good things from Neville and nothing but dribble from The Prophet." She said as she approached Harry and raised her hand palm down.
Harry was confused at first, however out of his peripheral vision he Neville mimicked bowing and kissing her hand, so Harry did as was suggested.
"Stilted but adequate, I'm glad to see someone has taught you manners…" She said with the same neutral tone. "You are welcome in Longbottom Manor as long as you wish Heir Potter, as the godson of my daughter-in-law that offer will remain open as long as you live and House Longbottom stands to provide sanctuary." Augusta said while turning away. "Neville, I leave hosting responsibilities to you, similar to that snake…"
Harry stood there shocked, as so many questions began running through his head, godmother, House Potter, what was going on?!
And if Neville's family was always willing to offer Harry sanctuary, why did he have to live with his relatives?
Wait… Snake?
"Sorry about that Harry, my grandmother can uh… be a bit much" Neville said as he approached. "Although, what she said is 100% true, you'll always have a place here. It's the least I can do as your godbrother. Also, forgive my grandmother for her last statement, she is not a fan of Slytherins as she's convinced they're all trainee death eaters…"
"Oh, ahh that's all-good Neville. I do have some questions but umm, since you called me here maybe we should deal with that first?" Harry said, still trying to process all the information while supressing the frustration he was feeling about the sanctuary offer.
"Oh right, yeah come this way I should introduce you to Daphne." Neville said as he turned to leave the room.
"Oh did you start dating before the end of the school year Neville?" Harry asked while moving to follow him.
"Uh, no. That is certainly not the situation, I would suggest preparing yourself though Harry… it's going to be quite a shock…" Neville said hesitantly, further confusing Harry. Harry chose to stay quiet for most of the walk in an effort to coordinate his thoughts and brace himself for whatever he was about to walk into…
As they were walking down a hallway of what appeared to be bedrooms, Harry heard faint sounds of a crying child. "Nev… why do I hear a crying child? I didn't think you had any siblings..." Harry asked.
"Yeah uh, not my place to tell you Harry. Sorry, but I promise it's not bad?" Neville said, seeming to question himself even as he said it.
While Harry was still lost in a sea of confusion, Neville stopped in front of a door that seemed to be the point of origination for the crying. Harry assumed the child was behind it.
"Now uh… Harry… before I open the door. Just know that both Gran and I have verified everything before we reached out… We might not be happy about this, but we know nothing has been fabricated. So just…. Let her finish talking and uh… Let's try not to yell in front of the baby yeah?" Neville said before knocking on the door. Thinking it best not to let Harry respond.
"COME IN" Came a refined voice, somewhat muffled by the crying child, from behind the closed door. Neville proceeded to open the door and walk in with Harry in tow.
As Harry walked in, he felt like he'd been stunned briefly. There stood a blonde-haired witch who to Harry appeared to be the most gorgeous girl he'd ever seen. Once his mind started up again, he noticed she was nursing the crying child in an attempt to calm it down. She appeared to be pacing back and forth and as she looked up Harry got his first look at her ocean blue eyes, the sight once again freezing him in place.
"Oh, this is certainly not how I wanted this to go…" the blonde goddess suddenly said. "I'm sorry but Lily just woke and I'm still getting used to this whole parenting process so I'm not entirely sure what she needs..." cutting herself off suddenly "Dipsy!" causing a different house elf to appear "Could I please ask for your assistance again with working out what she needs?"
The elf took one look at the baby and said "Feeding." The elf popped away and reappeared 2 seconds later with a bottle that it handed to the blonde who proceeded to begin feeding the baby, causing it to cease crying immediately "Thank you Dipsy! I'll get this eventually..."
Harry just continued to stare while Neville finally realised he hadn't spoken since they'd entered the room.
"Oh, uh sorry. Heir Potter, may I introduce my cousin, Heiress Daphne Isobelle Greengrass. Heiress to the Ancient and Noble House of Greengrass." Neville then turned to Daphne "Heiress Greengrass, I present my godbrother Heir Harry James Potter, Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter."
Harry's brain finally caught up, right that made sense. Neville did say he was going to introduce him to a Daphne. Huh, wait, Greengrass, oh snake…
"Oh uh, nice to meet you Daphne. I'm sorry but I don't remember ever speaking to you at school… But we must share a bunch of classes…" Harry said shyly.
"Heir Potter, I've not given you leave to use my first name, though I guess given the situation I shouldn't really care about propriety… Neville since this is your home I hope you don't mind us dropping formality for this discussion?" Daphne the golden-haired goddess said, confusing Harry even more.
"Hang on" Harry suddenly said "There are A LOT of things that have happened in the last few minutes that have left me confused. Since when am I your godbrother Neville, why do you keep calling me an heir, what is an ancient and noble house, why is this beautiful girl in your hou…" Harry suddenly snapped his mouth shut, not even getting to ask about that baby.
Neville stood stunned by the sudden onslaught of questions thrown at him by Harry, Daphne however smirked, Harry barely heard her mumble "Well that might make things easier at least..."
"Harry?" Neville said confused "I thought you knew all about this, first off we're godbrothers because umm, your mum is…was… my godmother and my mum is your godmother. Second we refer to you as Heir Potter because that is what you are, Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter. I honestly don't know how to answer the third question, we might have a book you can look at but surely Dumbledore explained all this too you. Lastly Daphne is here because she has your…" Suddenly Daphne cut in. "I think Neville, that we should take this conversation elsewhere and I would STRONGLY suggest I be the one to explain my being here. It is going to require some finesse, which cousin is something you lack." She said with a small smirk.
'OH, yes… sorry Daphne… ummm. Why don't you three go to the sitting room and I'll quickly run to the library to grab a book on Noble houses…" Neville said as he dashed out of the room.
"Coward." Mutter Daphne, who turned towards Harry. "Well Potter, it appears we'll need to make the journey alone. Can I trust you not to take advantage of the situation?" she said tauntingly. Harry blushed and just nodded. Daphne, still holding the baby in one arm stared at Harry "Well, do I get escorted or are you…wait… do you know how to escort a lady somewhere?" Daphne suddenly asked. Harry shook his head feeling a large amount of embarrassment well up from within him.
"Hmmm… you're going to be some work I can tell…. Very well. Bend your arm and extend your elbow out so that I can place my hand on it." Daphne instructed, Harry following quickly as he wanted to put his best foot forward.
"Not perfect but it will do." She said as she gently placed her hand in the crook of his elbow.
Harry then began walking as Daphne provided no further instructions. As they walked, Daphne provided directions to the sitting room in a gentle tone that made Harry feel relaxed, which certainly helped since he was feeling anything but relaxed at the moment.
As Daphne provided one last gentle directive to Harry, he found himself staring at a closed door. Realising that Daphne was waiting for him to play the gentleman, he reached out and opened the door without letting her hand drop from his elbow. They then entered the room and Daphne gestured towards two couches that were next to a fireplace. As they approached said couches Daphne dropped her hand from his elbow and sat down, gesturing for Harry to sit opposite her.
While sitting down, Harry asked the question that had been burning a hole in his head the entire walk here "Daph…Heiress Greengrass, can I ask about the baby? I don't remember seeing anyone pregnant at Hogwarts and something tells me even though I know I'm not the most observant of people, that that would be something even I wouldn't miss, though I guess there are glamour charms..."
Daphne just looked at him for a moment, seeming to consider his question before starting to answer and then stopping again.
"Notty!" She suddenly said, startling Harry but causing the elf to appear.
"Yes Heiress Daffy?"
"Can you please get the letter and the Gringotts report from my bedside table?" Daphne asked the elf.
"Yes Heiress Daffy" the elf said, vanishing again.
"This won't take long, however the letter and the report might help keep this conversation civil." Daphne said, with none of the confidence she had been exuding previously.
"What do you.." but before Harry could finish his follow up question the elf reappeared, going to give the notes to Daphne, who gestured for the elf to give them to Harry instead. Harry took the papers and began reading. Unfortunately for Daphne's sake, the piece of paper on top was the parental report.
Harry stood suddenly "Is this some kind of sick joke?" Harry asked, suddenly very agitated.
"Wait, please Heir Pott…Harry. Please read the letter, I didn't realise the parental report was on top. Please, I promise none of this is a joke. I've only been doing this for 2 days and I already know I don't want to do this on my own, please read it." Daphne pleaded. Gone was the confident and self-assured goddess he'd first seen, in front of Harry right now, he realised, was a very scared young girl with a baby in her arms. A baby that if the Gringotts report was right, was his.
Harry looked down at the letter he dropped, picked it up and began reading. As he got to the final paragraph he sat down again. There is no way she could have made this up, not only does it reference the Marauders Map but it spoke to Sirius' innocence, things neither Daphne nor Neville knew anything about.
"OK" he said finally.
"What?" Daphne said with surprise "What do you mean ok?"
"Just that, there are lines in this letter that tells me that this is real and looking at you when you thought I'd leave told me that you need help. So… I guess we're what, co-parents?" Harry asked, running his fingers through his hair as he looked towards the little bundle in her arms being bottle fed. He'd started out confident but ended his sentence as far from certain as he could be.
Daphne looked relived, obviously she had been expecting a lot more of a fight than this. "I don't know, I mean the letter indicates that we married at some point, but obviously right now we barely know each other, and the introduction of little Lily certainly changes things. I'm also... well... I'm guessing I'm going to be homeless in the not-too-distant future as my value to my mother and father hinges on my viability as a wife and having a child with another man kind of ruins that…"
"WHAT? How can your father think like that?!" Harry stated angrily, the thought of someone treating a family member as chattel sat wrong with him. Yes, his Aunt and Uncle hadn't been kind but he hoped parents wouldn't be like that.
"It's just the way our culture is Harry, I come from a Noble family and the way to get ahead in life is to marry up or at least for a good bride price… Where is Neville with that book… To be honest Harry, disowning me and making me homeless isn't the worst thing they could do. If my father got his hands on Lily, he might decide without her in the picture everything is fine." She said, subconsciously tightening her grip on the baby.
"THAT is not happening, I don't know what we'll do, as I'm living with muggle relatives at the moment, but he is not getting his hands on my... I mean our baby!" Harry said possessively "I don't know why, but I've felt drawn to the baby since I saw her, and I seem to feel this need to protect her. Plus, if we're even half as good a match as that letter infers, I'd be best to protect you as well." Harry said finishing with a blush.
"Thank you. But what do you mean by living with muggles. Why aren't you in one of the Potter properties? Wait, what am I saying, you didn't even know you were the Heir Potter, so you surely don't know anything about your families' properties. Especially given you never met with your Gringotts Account Manager."
"My what? I have an account manager?" Harry asked.
Daphne just sighed and Harry then realised there was a lot he needed to learn and was suddenly very thankful it was only the beginning of the holidays.