Dinner with the Greengrasses quickly shifted into a far more relaxed affair—except for the withering glares Daphne kept directing at her father.
Her younger sister, Astoria, a bright-eyed nine-year-old brunette with the same striking blue eyes as her sibling, was thoroughly enjoying herself.
The girl took great delight in teasing Daphne about how “incredibly lucky” she was to be betrothed to the Boy-Who-Lived, how handsome he was, and how “ever so pleased” she must be.
Lady Greengrass—Isabel, as she had warmly invited Harry to call her—watched her youngest daughter’s antics with open amusement.
Lord Greengrass, however, winced at some of the more outrageous comments, clearly under strict orders from his wife to endure the ribbing in silence as further penance for the infamous betrothal contract.
Harry didn’t know whether to laugh or hide under the table.
In the end, he chose self-preservation and sank a little lower in his chair, hoping to stay out of the line of fire.
The teasing finally reached its peak when Astoria sweetly asked her father when he planned to arrange her betrothal to “that dreamy Cedric Diggory.” At that point, Isabel stepped in and called a firm end to the conversation.
The look of pure relief on Cygnus’s face was so comical that Harry nearly laughed aloud.
A small snort of amusement escaped him instead—and that was all it took for Daphne to turn her ire on him.
“You might find this hilarious, Harry James Potter,” she snapped, “but I certainly don’t. No modern family uses betrothal contracts anymore, and I’m not pleased to be forced into marrying you!”
“Peace, my lady,” Harry replied gently, raising his hands in surrender.
“It seems I’m just as much a victim of Sirius Black’s drunken prank from August 1980 as you are. Rest assured, the man is fortunate he’s safely locked away in Azkaban—well out of my reach.”
Daphne simply glared, momentarily at a loss for words.
Harry thought with quiet relief, Hopefully that heads off the worst of it.
He caught Cygnus raising his wine goblet in a subtle toast of congratulations.
“So,” Daphne continued in a lower, more venomous tone, changing tactics, “am I really that repulsive to you?”
“No! Not at all!” Harry said quickly, eyes widening.
“I’m more worried I’ll be introduced as ‘Lady Potter and her husband, that Harry bloke’—completely lost in the shadow of your radiant beauty.”
A stunned silence fell over the table, broken only by Astoria’s delighted “Oooohhh! He’s good!” The girl turned to her sister with a grin.
“If you don’t want him, Daffy, I’ll take him! I wouldn’t mind being Lady Potter if he says things like that.”
Isabel let out an unladylike snort of laughter while Cygnus grinned openly.
Daphne’s cheeks flushed pink.
She huffed, ignored everyone, and proceeded to viciously stab her roast potatoes with her fork.
“Round one to the future Lord Potter, I believe,” Isabel murmured to her husband.
Harry was silently grateful for the time he had spent “borrowing” a couple of his aunt’s melodramatic romance novellas when he’d run out of proper reading material.
Over dessert, the conversation turned to their likely Hogwarts Houses.
Daphne thought she would fit in Slytherin or Ravenclaw, while Harry leaned toward Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.
When Isabel asked why those two, Harry explained thoughtfully, “I believe I’m clever enough for Ravenclaw, and their common room library sounds incredible. As for Hufflepuff… I know it gets a bad reputation, but I have no problem being seen as hardworking and loyal to my friends and family. My father and his friends were Gryffindors, but I don’t want to be sorted there just because it’s expected. I don’t consider bravery my defining trait—certainly not above intelligence or loyalty. And Slytherin… while I can be cunning when needed, I’m not particularly ambitious in the traditional sense. Unless you count wanting to be a good father, husband, and responsible man as ambition.”
He turned to Daphne. Get faster updates on g.com.
“What about you?”
“Unlike you,” she replied, “I think I could manage cunning and guile quite well. And I am ambitious.” Her voice dropped, laced with unexpected sadness.
“Though I suppose that’s rather pointless now, isn’t it?”
Harry looked startled by her dejection.
“You can be as ambitious as you like, Daphne. I have no objection to being married to the future Minister of Magic, the Head Healer of St. Mungo’s, or the world’s foremost Potions Mistress—Lady Daphne Potter, or whatever path you choose. I hope you’ll be my equal, if not surpass me. I’ll be just as happy celebrating your successes as my own.”
Daphne’s head snapped up, her eyes wide and glistening with unshed tears.
“You really mean that?”
“Definitely,” Harry replied firmly.
For a moment she seemed lost for words.
Then she abruptly pushed her chair back.
“Excuse me,” she mumbled, and fled the room.
Isabel rose as well.
“If you’ll excuse me, Mister Potter. I need to check on a few things.” She followed her daughter out.
Cygnus smiled at Harry with clear respect.
“You’re going to have to stop that, Mister Potter. You’re making me look bad by comparison.”
Harry blushed.
“I just don’t like the idea of her seeing this marriage as a burden or disappointment. Everyone deserves to be happy in their own life. I won’t be the cause of anyone’s misery. I hope, in time, the ladies of your House will see the contract as an act of foresight for Daphne’s happiness.”
Cygnus snorted.
“Are you sure you won’t be sorted into Slytherin? That diplomacy would serve you well there.”
Harry shrugged.
“A French poet once wrote that remaining silent when you know the truth makes you an accomplice to liars. I have no desire for the kind of politicking that seems common in Slytherin these days.”
“Noted,” Cygnus said with a grin.
He turned to his youngest.
“As for you, young lady, it’s time for bed.”
“Awww!” Astoria pouted.
“But I want to hear Harry say something nice to me.”
Harry smiled warmly at the girl.
“Fair maiden, there are no words that could do justice to your beauty. That’s why I hesitated to even try.”
Cygnus snorted again.
“If Daffy doesn’t want him, can I keep him?”
“After tonight,” Cygnus replied kindly, “I don’t think Daphne will be willing to let him go. Now, off to bed.”
With a dramatic sulk, Astoria hugged and kissed her father goodnight.
She hesitated, then rushed over and gave Harry a quick hug and kiss as well.
“G’night!” she blurted, blushing furiously before giggling and dashing from the room.
“Well,” Cygnus said once they were alone, “you appear to have won over all three of my ladies. Shall we retire to the lounge and continue our conversation?”
“Of course, Cygnus,” Harry replied.
They had barely settled in the lounge when Isabel rejoined them.
Harry took a breath and spoke first.
“I hope it’s not too forward of me, but I’d like to ask permission to begin courting Daphne tomorrow afternoon. I want to ease some of the awkwardness between us before we board the Hogwarts Express.”
“It won’t technically be courting,” Cygnus replied with a smile, “since you’re already betrothed. But you’re more than welcome to visit tomorrow.”
Harry shrugged lightly.
“I understand the technicality. I’d still like us to have the experience—starting as friends, if possible, and letting things develop naturally.”
Isabel nodded approvingly.
“That’s very considerate, Harry. If you hadn’t been sent to those Muggle relatives, you two would likely have known each other for years by now.”
Cygnus leaned forward.
“Since we’re speaking frankly… where are you staying at the moment? If it’s with your Muggle relatives, you’re welcome to move in here until Sunday.”
Harry hesitated only briefly.
“I’m staying at the Leaky Cauldron. I have no intention of returning to the Dursleys.”
A flicker of anger must have colored his voice, because Isabel leaned forward with concern.
“Harry… were you ill-treated there?”
“What’s done is done,” Harry replied, frowning.
“They don’t want me, and I want nothing more to do with them.”
Neither Greengrass looked pleased with the answer, but they didn’t press.
Instead, Cygnus said lightly, “We can’t have the Head of a Noble and Most Ancient House staying at an inn. Since you and Daphne should get to know each other better before term starts, I insist you move into one of our guest rooms for the next few days. You’ll be family soon enough.”
Harry nodded gratefully.
“Thank you for the generous offer. I accept. Would tomorrow afternoon after lunch—around one o’clock—work?”
“Perfect,” Cygnus replied.
“We’ll have a room prepared for you.”