304Harry smiled as he read the letter in his hands. He had finally received a reply from Ms. Young. He had written in hopes that she'd be willing to continue some of their dueling lessons. According the letter he held she was more than willing to if he agreed to enter the next season for the junior dueling league.
Harry had no problems with that thinking itd be rather fun. He looked up as he heard a small knock at his door. Seeing Daphne he couldn't help the small smile that graced his face.
"What's got you so happy?" she asked
Harry only stood and handed her the letter while he left his room to find Mrs. Greengrass. Finding her in her office he explained the situation and asked permission for Ms. Young to be allowed onto the property. By then Daphne had finished reading the letter and rushed into the office yelling for her mother to never under any circumstances let that devil woman into their home.
"Oh devil woman you say?"
"Daphne is overreacting. Ms. Young is a perfectly normal teacher." Harry said
"She is not. The woman is a bloody slave driver and a sadist." Daphne exclaimed vehemently
"You realize that you acting like that only made her push you harder during our lessons right?" he asked
Daphne could only stare at him incredulously. Harry couldn't help but snicker at her.
"I can't believe you never realized that. Besides you don't need to attend these lessons unless you want to." he said
"Please that she-devil wouldn't waste a second before trying to drag me into the madness she calls lessons." Daphne rebutted
"That's enough Daphne. I see no reason to deny Harry his request and I'm sure that Ms. Young will be more than respectful of your desire to remain excluded." Tora said
Daphne merely gave her mother a curt nod before turning a cold glare at Harry as she raised her nose up imperiously at him.
"This isn't over Potter. I'll get you back for this." she said before turning away and walking off
Harry could only shake his head in exasperating fondness. Tora saw the look on his face and could only sigh as well. She had half a mind to lock them in a room together until one of them confessed their feelings.
-TGE-
The next morning found Harry sitting at the breakfast table looking over several different brochures that Goldaxe had sent him. Daphne and Tora both sat at the table curious as to what he was looking at.
"What are you looking at there Harry?" Tora asked
"A couple different travel brochures. Ms. Young sent me a letter postponing our lessons. She said that the goblins contacted her for some cursebreaking in an old Incan temple somewhere in south america. She said it would be a couple of weeks so I decided to go on another trip in the mean time."
"Pick out a destination yet?"
"Not yet. I've gotten it narrowed down to a couple places. Japan looks fun and interesting but I think I'd rather go later in the spring time or even during the summer. Then there's Italy which looks pretty enticing between the history, the culture and the cuisine. The same could be said for Greece I guess." he explained
"Wow you're really thinking this through." Tora commented
"Well yeah. I've finished my formal schooling but I still have a few years till I can get a proper job so I've been working with Goldaxe on some investments so the money my family left me doesn't just sit there. With that all worked out I figured I could spend some time traveling seeing what the world has to offer. Plus the next season of the junior dueling league doesn't start till April."
"What do you mean the next season doesn't start till April?" Daphne asked
"Oh right Ms. Young had a stipulation to continuing lessons and that was my participation in the next season of the junior dueling league. It starts in April and ends in August. You guys are more than welcome to come watch."
"Of course we'll come and support you." Tora exclaimed happily
Just then Ruby popped in serving breakfast cutting the conversation short. After the food was finished Harry excused himself and went out to the garden to get further acquainted with his animagus forms. Daphne stayed seated feeling rather glum. Tora took notice and told her daughter to follow her to her office. Once seated Tora cut right to the heart of the matter.
"What's got you all upset?"
Daphne stared at her mother for a moment contemplating whether she should lie or not. With a sigh she spoke.
"I just feel like I'm worthless."
"Why is that?" Tora asked
"You heard Harry this morning. He's got his whole life figured out. Goldaxe is helping him make money, he plans to travel the world since he finished school. He's got everything planned and what do I have? I've got no plans absolutely nothing." Daphne finished morosely
Tora couldn't help but laugh even as Daphne glared at her. Letting her laugh die out Tora stood up and pulled Daphne into a hug.
"Sweetheart listen people mature at different speeds. And someone like Harry, who has gone through all the hardship that he has is always going to grow up faster than others. And from what I gathered he's had to go it alone quite often."
"That's not it mother. I'm not upset that Harry is matured faster or anything i just wish it didn't feel like I was being left behind in the process."
"So you're worried he'll leave without you. Well that is rather easy to fix." Tora said
"How?"
"Go with him. You've finished your schooling. I know you can look after yourself and we both know Harry wouldn't let a single hair on your head be hurt so travel with him. Tell him how you feel and if that doesn't work you can always do what I did to win his affections." Tora explained
"Mother I can't exactly duel his entire family now can I?" Daphne said rolling her eyes
"What no, I did that because your fathers family didn't approve of a foreign woman. As for winning your father over, I tied him to my bed and didn't let him go until we both needed bruise paste and the message had been clearly understood."
"Mother! I did not need to know that."
"What I'm just saying boys regardless of age can be rather dense at times. Sometimes the direct approach is the best. I could even teach you a couple spells to help in that department. There's this one that turns your clothes into silk-"
"That will be enough mother. I will think on what you have said."
Daphne quickly rushed to her room, her face practically glowing due to her blush. Tora chuckled to herself. She made a note to put together a notebook containing several spells and gift it to Harry under the guise of helping him prepare for the upcoming season.
-TGE-
Later that night Harry pulled Tora aside as asked for permission to use her portkey to visit Greece. He invited the whole Greengrass family to join him of course. Tora looked at him for a moment before smiling and beckoning him to follow her to her office. Once there she dug out the portkey from her desk and tossed it to him.
"Here, enjoy the villa." she said with a smirk
"But I thought you said it was a warehouse?"
"Eh I call it that because I've used it for such in the past but it's not been used for work or anything else in a couple years. There's a reason why we put this portkey in our family vault. Now as much as I'd love a vacation right now unfortunately work has me and Leon swamped, but feel free to take Daphne." Tora explained
"Are you sure?"
"As long as she doesn't come back pregnant I think I can trust my daughters wellbeing to you."
Harry blushed atomic red as her words. Too flustered to speak Tora laughed and sent him off. Now Harry had to figure out how he'd ask Daphne to come to Greece with him.
AN: finally another chapter a bit on the short end. life has been rough the past couple months leaving me with little time or lack of motivation to write and while things arent getting easier at least some of my muse returns.
admittedly seems like very little progress was made in this chapter, romantic or otherwise but its more of a setup chapter. ill try and make the next chapter at least 2k words
side note: despite the couple month drought regarding updates to this story my muse has thought up several other story ideas which i might write out and post. some might be one-shots that can be expanded upon others are the makings of full stories
but until next enjoy:)