I always wanted to write a Harry/Daphne story, because I enjoy them a lot. Thank you to all the authors that publish them!

Several parts of this One-Shot were part of a longer story that I once wanted to write, but never got around to working on it. There are small references to my other work Harry Potter stranded in Alagaёsia, a crossover between Harry Potter & Eragon, but its not enough that this should be marked as a crossover.

Thank you to Bearsona09 for your help with discussing and a very big thanks for androidrainbow for editing the story for me. Any mistakes that remain are my own.

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Harry Potter or Paolini's work.

I hope you enjoy it

---

Hogsmeade

Daphne kicked a pebble out of her path as she walked with a spring in her step along the road to her small flat. In her hand, she held a rolled-up newspaper.

"Good afternoon, Daphne," greeted her neighbour, who was holding a broom and sweeping leaves into a pile in front of her house.

"Hello, Dorothea! How are you?" Daphne asked with a bright smile.

Dorothea snorted, looking amused. "Not nearly as good as you seem to be today. Is there a special reason for that enchanting smile I see on your face?"

Daphne's grin widened, and her fingers tightened around the Daily Prophet. "I solved the last case!"

Dorothea's eyebrows shot up, disappearing beneath her blonde hair, which had begun to show streaks of grey and was tied neatly into a braid. "Oh? Solved it, have you?"

Daphne nodded enthusiastically. "It took weeks, but the idiot Smith finally slipped up."

Daphne was part of the new Auror program and had been working as the youngest witch to complete it in almost a year. Well, she would be the youngest Auror, if it wasn't for him.

Her teeth ground together just thinking about him - his messy, bird's-nest hair and that ridiculous grin.

Anyway, over the past few months, there had been reports of cheap magical substances being sold in Diagon Alley. It turned out the culprit was none other than one of her former Hogwarts classmates, Smith, who had gambled all his gold away to the goblins and hoped to make some quick cash through illegal sales.

But Smith had been just as foolish as he had been in school, and with the help of a clever white rabbit, a fishing hook, and a lot of patience, she had exposed him as the culprit.

And today was the day the Daily Prophet would publish an article about her case! Daphne had been waiting all week to finally get ahead of him.

A dreamy look crossed her face as she pictured his reaction, though she quickly shook it off with a quiet huff. A warm smile spread across Dorothea's face. "Are you sure it's not a young man who put that smile on your face?" Dorothea teased.

Daphne's smile froze. Shaking her head, she sent a curtain of blonde strands into her face. "Of course not!" she flushed and turned on her heel.

Dorothea crouched down and picked up a leaf from the path. It was a golden-yellow leaf, though when she held it to the sunlight, it seemed to shimmer with a greenish hue. She smirked and let it fall onto her pile of collected leaves.

As the golden-green leaf drifted from her hand to the pile below, she watched Daphne retreat and chuckled softly when she caught a glimpse of her flushed red ears.

"Someone's not being honest with herself," Dorothea hummed.

---

Daphne sighed as she opened the door with her wand. "I'm back!" she called, shutting the door with a click. Tossing her robes over a kitchen chair, she groaned at the sight of the dirty dishes someone had promised to clean.

"ASTORIA!" Daphne yelled, stomping to her sister's room. Loud music blared from behind the door, and she knocked firmly with her hand.

She waited. No response.

Daphne knocked again, harder this time.

With a sigh, she pushed the door open. "Teenagers," she muttered as her eyes fell on the mess - a mountain of clothes, mostly band T-shirts for The Weird Sisters.

She bent down and picked up a sweater, ignoring the snoring face of her sister peeking out from a gap in the pile. Astoria was sprawled on the floor, arms and legs spread like a starfish, buried under her clothing.

"How do you make such a mess in one night?" Daphne said, rolling up the sleeves of her blouse. Lifting her wand, she aimed it at the pile of clothes.

"Aguamenti."

Astoria's eyes shot open, and she spluttered as cold water hit her face.

"Daph-! Stop! I'm-" Astoria gasped, shielding her face with her arms.

"Stop it! I'm awake, damn it!" Astoria shrieked, and Daphne ended the spell with a grin.

"It's about time. It's the afternoon, Astoria."

"We're on Christmas break, Daph! I need to recover from Potions and Transfiguration!"

Daphne rolled her eyes. "Oh, stop whining, Astoria, and get dressed. And turn off that dreadful music."

Astoria gaped at her older sister. "That's Highway to Hell!"

A muffled "Bitch" came from behind Daphne as she walked away.

"I heard that!"

"You were supposed to!" Astoria slammed her door shut, turning the music up even louder.

Daphne took a deep breath, running a hand through her hair as she sat at the kitchen table. Highway to Hell still blared in the background.

Ignoring the dirty plates, Daphne reached for the newspaper. Finally, she could read the article in the Daily Prophet. All those overtime hours would pay off, especially when she clipped the article and pinned it to her desk - right next to his. Then, every day, he'd have to see it and accept the truth: Daphne Greengrass was the better Auror.

Grinning, she unfolded the Daily Prophet and scanned the front page eagerly.

"Why are you smiling so creepily?" Astoria asked as she walked into the kitchen.

"I'm looking for the article."

Astoria peered over her sister's shoulder. "Oh, the article that you've barely mentioned every day for the past two weeks?"

"Shut up and yes, that one. But I can't find it!" Daphne growled, crumpling the edges of the paper in frustration.

"Check the second page-"

"I already did! That lying hag!" Daphne snarled, slamming the newspaper onto the table and burying her face in her hands as Astoria began to giggle.

"What exactly are you laughing at?" Daphne demanded.

"Your article's here," Astoria laughed, pointing at a spot on the page.

Daphne followed her sister's finger, her eyes widening. There it was, tucked into the bottom corner in the tiniest print.

Auror's First Catch! Smith Temporarily Behind Bars …

"That witch! This was not my first catch!" Daphne snarled.

"Not only did she get your case wrong, but she also misspelled your name," Astoria added with a grin.

"What? Where?" Daphne asked, leaning closer.

"Here … Date Greengrass," Astoria read aloud, barely suppressing her laughter.

Daphne slumped back into her chair, covering her eyes with her arm. "This cannot be happening. This was supposed to be my day!"

Astoria patted her sister's shoulder encouragingly. "Come on, Daph - it's not that bad! Next time-"

"I don't care about next time! Do you have any idea how unbearable he'll be tomorrow? I'll never be able to look him in the eye!" Daphne groaned.

Astoria frowned. "Who are you talking about?"

---

London

Daphne pulled her blue beanie further over her ears as a cold wind swept by. It was only a matter of time before the first snow would fall. She tightened her coat around her as she waited for the familiar loud rumbling.

Daphne raised her arm and glanced at the watch Astoria had gifted her for her seventeenth birthday.

"Come on, hurry up," Daphne muttered, tightening her coat as she waited for the familiar rumbling sound.

Soon enough, it came. With a nearing rumble that seemed louder than she remembered, a motorcycle came around the corner and parked in the open spot across from her. The rider wore black leathers and a red-and-gold helmet, but as he dismounted, the surrounding air seemed to vibrate. His clothing shifted and instead of his riding clothes, he wore a warm dark coat, and instead of his helmet, she recognized his windblown black hair, that was partly flattened from the helmet.

Daphne found herself biting her lip as she watched him run a hand through his hair to fix it. To top it off, he turned to her and flashed her a wide grin on his handsome face. Daphne turned away from him.

"He doesn't even look good," she muttered to herself. But even to her own ears, it sounded like a weak attempt to convince herself.

"Well, that's a lovely greeting in the morning," came a cheerful voice beside her. Daphne lifted her head and sighed outwardly. From his stupid grin, he had obviously heard everything.

"Do you have to come to work with that junk? You do know how to apparate, don't you?"

But Daphne was not done, yet. All of her frustration seemed to pour out of her. "Isn't it enough that because of you and this - metal on two wheels - a whole wave of Muggle stuff is flooding through the magical community? Thanks to you, Astoria only listens to Muggle music like that - AC/DC now!"

The man's grin widened. "Well, in my opinion that's a worthy act of a Chosen One, don't you think? And what's wrong with Muggel music?"

"Nothing, but I prefer wizarding music," Daphne said, but added quietly. "Well, I do like one or two songs from the Beatles. But that's it!"

"Daphne, we're going to turn you into a real Muggle, yet," Harry laughed.

Daphne snorted. "Oh, shut up, Potter. After all, it's your fault I had to wait for you in this cold."

"I've told you so many times, you can call me Harry," Harry said, then frowned. "Wait - why is it my fault that you're waiting here? I've been missing those beautiful blue eyes of yours all week!"

Daphne just rolled her eyes. She had long gotten used to Harry's weak attempts at flirting. Not that she liked his flirting… maybe just a little bit. But she would never admit that to anyone.

"Aaand that sneer." Harry ruffled her hair.

"Because it's all your fault! I've been working overtime for weeks, then I had to deal with those idiots at the Daily Prophet, and I don't even want to talk about the rabbit! Stop that!" Daphne growled and slapped his hand away. She straightened her hair and pulled out the latest Daily Prophet from her coat, thrusting the newspaper into his hands.

"You gave an interview?" Harry asked, furrowing his brow.

Daphne's eyes darkened with rage. She smacked him in the chest with the newspaper.

Daphne's face had turned red with either cold or pent-up anger, she couldn't say.

Harry glanced up from the Daily Prophet and glanced at her sheepishly.

"What is it?" Daphne grumbled.

"Uh - I can't find it," Harry said hesitantly. Daphne squinted and pointed at the bottom corner of the second page.

"Oh. I see…," Harry murmured.

"Oh really?" Daphne said sarcastically. "This is the article that they promised me to be on the front page!"

"Oh, you mean that whole thing with Robards and the Daily Prophet?"

Daphne nodded. "Even after all this time, there are a lot of voices stating that the DMLE should have done more to fight back against Voldemort. The Daily Prophet was supposed to promote the reforms we made, and the Smith case was chosen for the article!"

"Well, to be fair, the DMLE didn't exactly put up much of a fight when Voldemort seized the Ministry," Harry said.

Daphne groaned, rolling her eyes. "Yes, Harry, I'm aware of that. But now, take a look at what's actually splashed across the front page!"

Harry flipped the page and blinked in surprise.

"Wait," he leaned forward and adjusted his glasses to get a better look at the picture. "Is that-"

"Yes, that's you, Potter, in Diagon Alley," Daphne growled, and Harry's mouth dropped open in shock.

"But that must have been yesterday, I was there with Teddy in Diagon Alley!" Harry protested.

Daphne crossed her arms. "Front page news."

"Ha-ha," Harry laughed sarcastically and handed her the Daily Prophet back.

"I don't even know why you still read this crap, Daphne. It's always been filled with nonsense."

Daphne sighed and stuffed the newspaper into her coat pocket. "It's not about reading it; it's about someone else reading it."

Harry walked beside her as they made their way to the nearest telephone box. "Still your father?"

Daphne hesitated for a moment, then sighed.

"I can't picture you in a massive ball gown, mingling at those dull parties your father and his insufferable friends throw. It must be absolutely boring," Harry said, glancing at her with concern.

Daphne snorted. "Don't be so dramatic, Harry. Those parties can actually be fun - if you're with the right people."

"He still doesn't want me to, even though no one has solved as many cases this year as I have," Daphne said smugly, dramatically rubbing her nails against her coat.

Harry opened the phone booth door and raised an eyebrow. "Even though I wasn't there for the Smith case, we've solved the same number of cases, partner. You also had desk duty once for freezing that Swedish warlock's private parts."

Daphne spun around to face him. "And I won't apologize!"

Harry raised his arms in a placating gesture. "We would've had desk duty together, if you hadn't been so, er, thorough.".

Daphne blinked when she saw the dark expression on Harry's face. "Thanks," she said quietly, looking into his eyes. She didn't even have to look up that much; after all, Harry was only a little taller than she was.

Daphne had to suppress a gulp when his green eyes met her blue ones. The world seemed to stop, and they slowly leaned closer as she noticed his gaze was focused on her lips…

When suddenly someone began hammering on the glass.

"Are you done yet? We also have to get to work!" a bald man shouted through the window from the telephone box.

Harry whipped around, and whatever the man saw, he flinched and backed up.

Daphne took a step back and coughed awkwardly. "Well, at least I solved two more cases than you. The Smith case and the case with the owls when you were at St. Mungo's because of the curse."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, that doesn't count as a case, Daphne! That was the dumbest owl I've ever heard of. Not even Pigwidgeon, Ron's owl, would have gotten stuck in the branches of a tree."

Daphne chuckled. "It's in the records. Owl rescued from tree by Auror Greengrass."

Harry just looked at her, amused.

---

Harry groaned as he saw the mountain of papers on their desk.

"This is what happens when you take a week off, Potter," Daphne said with an amused glint in her eyes.

Harry laid his head on the desk. "Robards threatened me. I had to take the days off."

Daphne raised an elegant eyebrow. "Oh? What did he threaten you with? That he'd report you to Andromeda?"

Harry's eyes peeked out from under his arms, and he muttered softly into his sleeve. "No, Andromeda actually was the one that reported me to him."

Harry mumbled something unintelligible.

Daphne frowned and leaned forward. "What was that?"

Harry lifted his head and stared into her eyes. "Robards told me I had to take a holiday, or Malfoy would be my new partner."

"And we both know how well you get along," Daphne muttered, her expression momentarily discouraged, before rolling up her sleeves and grabbing a stack of his paperwork. The mountain of paper thunked onto her desk.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked, confused.

"Helping you, Potter, what else? Two heads are faster. We might even finish today."

Harry stared at Daphne with his mouth open and gave her a broad grin, making her feel warm inside.

"You're just the best, Daphne."

Daphne's cheeks turned pink when suddenly another voice came from behind them.

"You wouldn't say so if you knew the things I do, Harry."

Daphne spun around and saw Astoria standing there with an evil grin.

"That is debatable, Astoria! How are you?" Harry asked, grinning.

"My head feels like it's going to explode. You know what that's like, right, Harry?"

Daphne elbowed Astoria as Harry laughed, and his hair fell back, revealing his faded scar.

"I remember the O.W.L.'s were really tough. At least you're on holiday now, so you can sleep in a bit," Harry said with a grin.

Astoria turned to Daphne with a cheeky smile. "See, Daph? Harry likes sleeping in, too. I must have read about that somewhere, maybe on the front page of the Daily Prophet?"

Daphne growled. "You're a sloth!" She then pointed to Harry. "And you stop defending her!"

Astoria and Harry exchanged grins with each other. "Why are you even here?" Daphne asked, annoyed.

Astoria placed her bag on the table and pulled something out. "You forgot your lunch. Where would you be without your dear, sweet sister?"

Daphne gave her a frustrated look. "Thank you, but we both know I'm not the reason you're here."

But Astoria had already moved away, past the others from their year, to someone Harry had loathed through all his time in Hogwarts.

"I really like your sister, Daphne, but why does she like Malfoy? Seriously how?" Harry sighed. "I get it, he has changed a lot, and he's an Auror like us now-"

"Just not with our grades," Daphne interrupted, grinning.

"And he still looks like a ferret!"

"I heard that, Potter!" Draco called across the room from his desk, without looking up.

"You were supposed to!"

"Scar-face." Draco looked up from his papers with actual heat.

"Ferret."

Daphne snorted, especially as the ferret himself walked over to them with Astoria.

Draco's vein twitched above his eye, but Astoria held him back, threading her arm through his. Daphne gave Harry a warning look, he sighed and leaned gently against his desk.

Draco turned to Daphne. "Besides, my grades were only average because no one wanted to see me among the Aurors."

Harry grinned. "Maybe it had something to do with your snakey little tattoo."

"Potter," Daphne warned.

Harry looked chagrined. "Alright. Not everyone can be as good as we are, Daphne."

Then a glint returned to Astoria's eyes, which Daphne immediately noticed.

"What are you up to, Astoria?" Daphne asked, narrowing her eyes.

"It's nothing," she said, looking at her nails.

Daphne furrowed her brow. "Spit it out already. We have work to do."

Astoria gave them a thoughtful look. "I just don't know!"

"You don't know what?" Harry asked, confused.

"Who of you two is the better Auror," Astoria said, glancing back and forth between them. "After all, you're both considered the best newcomers in decades. You even solved the same number of cases!"

"I'm up one," Daphne said without hesitation.

Harry frowned. "What are you getting at, Astoria?"

Astoria clapped her hands. "It's obvious. Who's the better Auror, hm? The Saviour of the Wizarding World or the Outcast Witch?"

"I am-" both of them stated at the same time, looking at each other in surprise.

"I defeated Voldemort," Harry reminded Daphne.

Daphne rolled her eyes. "That was before you became an Auror, so it doesn't count."

"The Daily Prophet doesn't seem to think so."

Daphne was caught flat-footed in outrage.

"Maybe we should settle it once and for all who the best Auror of our year is," Draco suggested.

"And how do we do that?" Harry asked. "A Duel in the trophy room?"

"Shut up, Scarhead," Draco growled, while Harry smirked at him.

"With a bet!" Astoria exclaimed, grinning.

Daphne blinked. "A bet?"

Astoria nodded eagerly. "Whoever solves the next case first wins, and of course, there has to be a stake in a bet."

"I don't know," Harry muttered. Daphne didn't look convinced either.

Astoria gave Draco a sharp nudge. Malfoy glanced at her in annoyance. "A-Are you afraid of losing, Potter?"

Harry's eyes darkened. "Of course not."

"What exactly does that mean, hm?" Daphne asked sharply.

As Daphne and Harry glared at each other, Draco rubbed his stomach and glanced sideways as Astoria gave him a thumbs-up.

"You know what, Potter? I'm all for a bet, and I'll show you I'm the better one of the two of us!" Daphne said, crossing her arms.

Harry also crossed his arms over his chest. "Only in your sweet dreams, Daphne."

Daphne's eyes narrowed and her face turned red. "If I win, I get... your-your-"

Astoria whispered something in Daphne's ear, and a triumphant grin appeared on Daphne's face.

"If I win the bet, I get your motorcycle!" Daphne declared.

Harry raised a brow, challengingly. "You can't even ride!"

"That's none of your business. Maybe I'll use it to give my flowers a new place!"

Harry's eye began to twitch. "If I solve the case first, you'll go out with me, Greengrass!"

Daphne turned bright red in the face and began to stutter. "A lunch-"

Harry moved closer to her, and Daphne stepped back until she bumped into her desk. With a flushed face, she brushed her blonde strands from her face and stared at Harry, who was only a few inches away, his breath on her lips.

"A real date - between you and me, Daphne. No one else."

Daphne lightly shoved him in the chest with her fist, sending Harry stumbling backwards.

"Alright," she said softly, then looked at Harry challengingly. "It's on. I wonder what I'll plant between the handlebars."

Harry grinned. "We'll see."

"Did you hear that, everyone?! There's a bet between Greengrass and Potter!" Terry Boot shouted in the room, and all the witches and wizards in the room groaned loudly.

"What's all this noise?!" Robards yelled as he stormed out of his office. He glared around the room, his eyes falling on Draco.

"Greengrass and Potter have a bet going on who will solve the next case first," Draco said, adding quietly, "It's about Harry's motorcycle and a date."

Robards stared at everyone in the room one by one, until his eyes fell on Daphne and Harry.

"Greengrass. Potter. My office," Robards ordered. The door slammed shut.

"Was that your plan?" Draco asked as Daphne and Harry slinked toward Robards' office.

Astoria nodded victoriously. "It worked, didn't it?"

"But why did you do that?"

Astoria slung her bag over her shoulder. "I was bored, and they've been tiptoeing around each other for years, and neither of them made the first move." She tapped her lips. "Someone had to give them a little nudge."

"And you decided you had to be their Cupid?"

Astoria raised an eyebrow. "You saw how Harry can hardly keep his eyes off Daphne when she's around. And Daphne only talks about Harry at home, not that she'd ever notice."

Draco grimaced. "Great, both are clueless, love-struck idiots. You know your sister better than I do, but she only really hang out with Davis in Hogwarts."

"After You-Know-Who was defeated, you all caught up on your last year in Hogwarts. As far as I remember, Daphne and Harry couldn't be kept apart," Astoria retorted.

"Potter is a Gryffindor, Astoria!" Draco tried again.

Astoria furrowed her brow. "What's your point?"

Draco ran a hand over his face. "He is thick, stubborn, oblivious, he's going to fall so deeply in love with Daphne that he won't notice anyone else. All Gryffindors are like that!"

Astoria raised an eyebrow. "And? Is that a bad thing?"

Draco shook his head quickly at her sharp glance. "No, but... Astoria, I don't want Potter to become my brother-in-law!"

Astoria started giggling and gave Draco a pat on the shoulder. "You'd better get used to calling him Harry–"

"Not happening," Draco muttered.

"-Because once Daphne finally realizes it, Harry won't have a chance."

---

"Greengrass. Potter. Sit down," Robards ordered.

Harry shook his head. "We'll stand, sir."

Daphne bet Harry had a lot of experience with this, standing opposite the teacher's desk.

Robards signed a final document with his quill, making them wait. A minute of silence passed.

It was a full minute of total stillness, and Daphne's thoughts scattered in every direction. She knew Astoria had planned the bet, and she had fallen for it completely! How could she not, when Harry's eyes made her melt? What witch could think clearly under those circumstances? And why, in Merlin's dripping underpants, did Harry agree to it? A date, of all things?! What was he up to?

"Greengrass? Can you hear me?" Robards asked, raising an eyebrow.

Daphne coughed awkwardly. "Yes, sir."

Robards eyed her for a moment. "So, here's the deal. I have a pile of complaints from abroad about a sharp increase in illicit magical substances, and one of the trade routes can be traced back to us. I don't need to tell you how much pressure I'm under from the Minister and the ICW, do I?"

"No, sir," Harry replied, while Daphne's eyes skimmed over a document.

"Sir, may I ask a question?" Daphne asked.

Robards gestured for her to go ahead. "Is it possible that this case is related to the Smith case?"

Robards passed Harry a copy of the file. "Why do you think I'm giving the case to you two? Get Potter up to speed. Look into Smith. He must have had some connections with them, or he wouldn't have been selling feathers off Hippogriffs so cheaply. Get to work, both of you."

Daphne nodded, satisfied, and she and Harry were about to turn to leave when Robards called them back.

"Greengrass, I almost forgot. As usual, I've put your work from last year in writing and sent it to your father. You've earned the commendation. The same goes for you, Potter. Yours is waiting on your desk," Robards said.

Daphne swallowed hard. Last year's file must have gotten lost in the post. She'd closed a lot more cases this year, too. Her father would see. That it had been the right decision, even if it meant leaving home against his decision.

Maybe now he would finally apologize to her and Astoria. She wouldn't hold her breath…

"Thank you, sir," Harry said on behalf of both of them.

"Don't mention it," Robards smiled. "Keep working like you have, and one of you will be sitting in my chair one day."

Daphne and Harry stood up straighter. "Yes, sir!"

"Good. Now get out of here. The ICW is breathing down my neck for answers. I don't want to hear any bets getting in the way of good work."

Daphne and Harry exchanged an awkward glance and left the office, unaware that Robards had already placed a bet and put a few Galleons on Daphne.

Daphne and Harry stood outside the office, walking toward their desks.

"You're totally going to lose, Potter. You might as well go and say goodbye to your motorcycle," Daphne whispered to Harry.

"You'd better go shopping, Daphne," Harry whispered back.

Daphne frowned as she started looking for the documents related to the Smith case. "Why?"

"I want to see you in a red dress when you go out with me," Harry grinned, jumping forward, dodging the kick Daphne aimed at him.

At that moment, another Auror stepped into view, fixing Daphne with a smug smile that made Harry's eyes narrow in suspicion.

"Daphne, I would like to offer my help in the case-"

"If you call me that again, you'll need an ice scraper to pry your wand loose. Got it?"

Daphne pointed her wand at his groin, and Jackson's face drained of colour.

"Now piss off, Jackson!"

All Jackson could muster was a feeble squeak, while quickly moving out of her way.

Harry just stared after her in awe and only after she left, his brain started working again.

"She is just amazing."

"You are just c-crazy, Potter," Auror Jackson muttered under his breath.

Harry shot him a dark look and Jackson ducked away in fear.

Harry then eyed the door where Daphne just walked through and smirked. "Well, no one said I had to work alone."

---

"There he is, Boot," Harry grumbled, annoyed.

"Wha-?" Terry Boot mumbled.

Harry turned and grimaced. Boot's mouth was stuffed with a doughnut, and his hands were overloaded with more pastries.

He really wished Daphne were by his side.

"What did I do to end up with you?" Harry grumbled, shaking his head.

"Robards made me," he said around a mouthful. "Everybody's rooting for Greengrass."

"Why?" Harry frowned.

Boot swallowed and stared at Harry in disbelief. "Merlin, are you blind, Harry? Greengrass is the hottest witch in the DMLE! Until your date, at least we can pretend we've got a shot."

Harry made a face as he listened to Boot. "And what do you think will happen?"

Boot looked at him like he was the Seeker, failing to see the Snitch fluttering in front of his eyes.

"Harry, I don't know how to tell you this, but since our eight year at Hogwarts, you and Greengrass have been inseparable. No wonder you make such a good team."

"We're just good friends. And why don't you just call her Daphne? You've known her for longer than I have," Harry said. Daphne mentioned once that she knew Boot even before Hogwarts, when they were kids and were dragged by their parents to attend those wretched parties.

Boot shuddered as he remembered something, and protectively placed his hands in front of his crotch. "Don't remind me. Let's just say not everyone is as close to Greengrass as you are, Harry. And that's your problem."

"Huh?"

Boot rolled his eyes. "Greengrass is the rising star for the DMLE! She's talented, beautiful, smart-"

Harry gritted his teeth. "That's enough, Boot."

Boot grinned mischievously. "You asked. It's nice to daydream, anyway."

Harry shook his head. So, the angry stares towards him from the other Aurors weren't just his imagination.

"Wash your hands, Boot." Harry held up the case file. "We're going to get our hands dirty."

Boot looked up from eating. "Did you say something?"

"Nothing," Harry sighed, looking ahead again. "Come on, Boot, before Mundungus disappears again."

He didn't check if Boot was still busy with his food or if he was following.

---

Harry walked along the main street to Gringotts. The white marble building towered over the smaller shops like a giant tree among shrubs. The goblins standing in front gave Harry a suspicious look, which he returned with a cheeky grin.

The one on the right gave him the finger.

Harry snorted.

"They're not still mad at you for the break in, are they?" Terry asked nervously.

Harry rolled his eyes. "They love me for breaking their perfect record. A thousand years and a single object stolen."

His eyes were focused on the small... shop, a bit off from Gringotts. If it could even be called a shop. It was more like a collection of random items spread out on a battered, unfolded table.

Behind the table stood a scruffy man with a shabby bald head.

Harry walked towards the man, who was still busy showing a silver wristwatch to an older man, who seemed to be wearing very expensive clothing.

"Look! Look! Real goblin silver! The best condition - I only sell the best, of course," Mundungus said.

The wizard's eyes lit up at the sight of the watch. Maybe he thought Mundungus's scruffy appearance meant he could fleece the man. Borgin and Burkes made a business out of the practice. Harry supposed that was the gamble in doing business with Dung. Maybe you were getting a precious stolen goblin silver watch…or maybe you were getting something cheap that was nicked off a muggle and buffed up with a simple Reparo.

"Do you think it's real?" Boot asked suddenly, appearing beside Harry. "My family only has a few items made of goblin silver. Maybe I'll buy something for myself."

Boot eyed the silver cutlery displayed in an elegant box on a dark red cushion.

Harry's fingers twitched, reaching for his wand to turn Boot into a rabbit. He might get a week desk job for it, but at least he'd be rid of Boot.

"They're not real," Harry sighed and drew his wand, tapping it against the supposed goblin silver cutlery.

The silver cutlery morphed, and instead of pure silver, crooked wooden spoons remained, looking like they'd seen better days.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing, lad?"

Harry raised an eyebrow as he looked at Mundungus, whose eyes widened when he saw who he was dealing with.

"'arry? 's that you?" Mundungus stammered, nervously licking his lips. He reached into his coat pocket with one hand, pulling out a yellowed cloth and wiping his sweaty forehead.

"Long time no see, Dung. Sold the last of the Black's goblets by now, I expect?" Harry put his wand away.

"Oh, uh, that old rubbish?," Mundungus winced. He swiped the wristwatch back from the man he'd been haggling with. "Get lost," he hissed. The man's cheeks flushed with indignation.

"Do you even know who you're talking to-" the man started, but Mundungus waved him off.

"Oh, shut up, Greengrass! A little bird told me you're about to go bankrupt. I know exactly who I'm talking to, don't I?," Dung grinned, showing his yellow teeth. "That's not all, 's it? Running with your old mates?" He shook his head, leering at the old man. "'S a bad look. Kingsley's Ministry don't turn such a blind eye as old Fudgey, does it? And look! 'Ere the Aurors are right now!" Dung waved delightedly at Harry and Terry.

Mr. Greengrass whipped around to stare at Harry with wide eyes and took an uncertain step back.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't had contact with... those people since the fall of the Dark Lord," Mr. Greengrass grunted and shot Harry a glance, his eyes filled with hatred.

"Brilliant," Harry said, staring into the same blue eyes he liked to see in Daphne. He knew he preferred Daphne's warm eyes over her father's cold, selfish ones. Harry would never regret the day he sat with the Slytherins in the Great Hall after Voldemort's fall and got to know Daphne.

"I'll make sure to let the other Aurors know. They shouldn't expect to see Mr. Greengrass anywhere near that lot. And if they do, they'd better tell me straight away, so I can handle it personally," Harry said. "It would break Daphne's heart to have to arrest you. Don't. Be. An. Idiot."

"Take that back, boy!" Mr. Greengrass spat, his hand headed to his pocket. Harry's wand was out again in an instant, pointed straight between his eyes.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Believe me," he said coolly, "I'd love nothing more than to break your nose for what you've done to Daphne and Astoria, but I know Daphne still cares about you, even though her ego won't let her admit it."

Mr. Greengrass laughed shrilly. "You know nothing, Potter! Soon the Greengrass name shall rise again, with or without my daughters at my side."

Mr. Greengrass laughed again and then disappeared into the crowd of people walking up and down Diagon Alley.

"Shouldn't we follow him and question him?" Boot asked, holding a white polished stone in his hands. "It's obvious he's up to something."

"They should promote you, mate," Harry said wisely, clapping him on the back. "I would never have caught that. Daphne's father, shrieks melodramatic threats and runs away." He pulled out a notepad and furrowed his brow, scribbling down. "Might…be…up to something. Brilliant." Terry turned red.

"Kid, put that back right now! That's really expensive!" Mundungus grunted at Boot, who dropped the white stone in shock. It hit the floor, and the stone rolled slowly to Harry's feet.

"Expensive, huh? Feels more like a lump of sand painted with white," Harry snorted. Harry eyed the stone in his hand with curiosity. The stone was smooth as ice and was white as snow except for fine ice-blue fibres criss-crossing the surface like a spider's web.

He placed the stone securely inside his pocket. Harry raised an eyebrow as Dung looked at him demandingly. The thief just sighed and let go.

"Old Greengrass doesn't have any gold. Everyone knows that, including you Aurors," Mundungus said.

Harry nodded. "We know that. All the houses of former Death Eaters and their supporters are under strict surveillance, but there is something that interests me more, Dung,"

"Oh? That'll cost you," Dung grinned, his yellowish teeth showing.

Harry grinned wickedly. "The price I pay is ignoring your petty crimes out of respect for having worked with you to defeat Voldemort. You're pushing your luck..."

Harry glanced over the other items on the table.

"And I don't even want to know how much of this is junk, and how much of this is stolen. Azkaban is quite nice this time of year," Harry said, and Dung's eyes widened.

"Alright, 'arry! You win, no arrest for answers. Deal?"

Harry smiled. "Agreed."

Mundungus grunted sourly and then let out a long breath. "You know, 'arry, I liked you better when you were still a little wizard. Sirius would turn in his grave if he knew you became an Auror - Ow!" Dung yelled, rubbing his thigh.

Harry hid his wand in his robes. "Good. I'm looking for answers related to the Smith case. He said he met his contacts in Knockturn Alley on Fridays. Some group has meetings every Friday. What do you know about that?"

Dung raised one of his thick sausage fingers. "You heard this from Smith, right?" Mundungus mumbled.

"Yeah."

"That idiot… Not every Friday, 'arry. Just once a month. You know, when they feel drawn to the moon, they recover better."

Harry caught the implication. "Werewolves?"

Mundungus swallowed. "No, but something similar. But that's not the best part," Dung said, looking eagerly around, as if making sure no one was nearby.

"Very rich people go there at night. With bags full of Galleons. Whatever happens behind those closed doors, something 's not right, and the Aurors know nothing about it."

Mundungus gave him a long look, dropping the act for a moment. "You shouldn't go there, 'arry. They're the worst kind. I couldn't face Sirius if-"

Harry sighed, took a single golden Galleon from his coin pouch, and placed it on the table for Dung.

Mundungus stared at the coin for a long moment before taking it from Harry. He turned the gold coin over between his fingers, then looked back up at him. "You need to go to the White Wyvern. That 's all I can tell you; I've never been there myself. It 's not as if a distinguished person like myself would be seen among those snobs."

---

Harry and Boot watched from a distance as Mundungus packed up his stall with a flick of his wand and disapparated with a loud pop.

"Do you think there's something to it?" Boot asked uncertainly.

Harry scratched his chin.

"Maybe. Dung's a liar, but he seemed genuine when he told me to stay away."

Boot nodded and yawned loudly. He rubbed his tired eyes and said, "Well, we can talk about it tomorrow. I'm heading home now, my girlfriend's waiting for me."

Harry raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Girlfriend?"

Boot flipped him off and disapparated, leaving Harry alone.

He shook his head and pulled his invisibility cloak from inside his robe. He was lucky; tonight was a full moon.

---

The White Wyvern

Harry grimaced as the innkeeper approached him. He was a middle-aged man, with only a few hairs left on his head. He wore an apron around his waist that must have once been white but was now stained with loads of old bits of food.

He sat down at Harry's table, wiped his sweaty forehead with a dirty towel, and stuffed it into his wide trouser pocket.

"So, what can I get for you, sir...?" he asked Harry.

"It's Evans. Something warm from your kitchen, if that's alright. It's been a long journey, and I could eat a dragon," Harry said, placing two shiny coins on the table.

The innkeeper's eyes gleamed as he saw the gold, and had Harry even blinked, he wouldn't have noticed how quickly the coins disappeared from the table.

"Very well, Mr. Evans. My name is Edmond, and it is an honour to welcome you to my humble inn. Would you like something to drink with your meal? A long journey must surely make you thirsty."

Harry pulled the hood of his robe a little further over his face and said, "A mug of Butterbeer. Not too strong, please, I'll be travelling soon."

The innkeeper nodded disappointedly; he had likely hoped that Harry would stay longer.

He waved a young girl over from the counter, who couldn't have been much younger than Harry himself.

"Yes, Father?" she asked. The girl had pale skin and dark brown hair that reached her shoulders, with deep blue eyes.

"Bring this fine gentleman some of our homemade food," the innkeeper said. "And some Butterbeer from the supply closet. The second shelf from the side should be enough."

The girl nodded quickly and disappeared with a final glance at Harry through a door behind the counter.

"So, what brings you to this area?" Edmond asked.

Harry looked around and saw that all the other guests were busy. They ate and spoke quietly among themselves, drinking from their full mugs.

"I'm just passing through," Harry said quietly, pretending to glance suspiciously around the room. He scratched his chin where a stubble had grown. He wished Daphne were here. She was much better than him at human transfiguration.

"My uncle passed away recently and left me a lot of gold," Harry said, nodding in thanks as the girl set a plate of potatoes and meat in front of him.

"And now I have to deal with the goblins who are causing me trouble," he continued, taking a bite of a hot potato. Even though the innkeeper seemed shady, he knew how to cook good food. Maybe he'd bring Daphne here if he told her about it.

The innkeeper looked sad. "I'm sorry to hear that. Were you close?"

"Not really," Harry shrugged. "I hadn't seen him in years, and the first thing I heard about him was that he'd been killed."

Harry gave the innkeeper a grin. "But I'll happily take the gold."

The innkeeper laughed heartily. "I can imagine!"

From the corner of his eye, Harry saw a group of men stand up and walk through a door at the end of the room, where a large man stood with his arms crossed.

Is that Hagrid's cousin? He must be at least two heads taller than me, Harry thought, wide-eyed.

The men stopped in front of the man and whispered something to him. He then let them through and closed the door behind him.

Harry smiled. "Hey, Edmond, I need to use the room for little wizards, if you know what I mean."

Edmond grinned. "No problem, Evans. Just go down the hall, up the stairs. First door on the left."

Harry nodded in thanks and placed another coin on the table, while the innkeeper watched him closely as Harry left.

Harry followed the innkeeper's instructions and climbed the stairs. When he arrived, he saw a narrow, short corridor with shabby, yellowed wallpaper on the walls that looked a lot like the one at Grimmauld Place.

Harry was alone and pulled out his wand. He knew Daphne would kill him if he told her about this later.

He held his wand to his forehead and slowly dragged it down his face until he reached his chin. His hair turned back into the familiar messy black strands, his eyes changed from brown to green, and his beard disappeared.

He leaned against the wall in the hallway and reached into his robe, pulling out the invisibility cloak he had inherited from his father.

He took a deep breath, pulled the cloak over himself, and became invisible to all, as one of the Deathly Hallows couldn't easily be deceived.

Harry quietly descended the stairs and weaved through the tables and chairs until he stood in front of the man who was guarding the door through which the group of men had just gone.

Then Edmond appeared by the man's side and whispered something in his ear. Harry carefully leaned forward to hear what Edmond was saying to the man.

"Watch out for that guy who just went upstairs. I've got a bad feeling about him."

The big man nodded, his eyes flicking toward the stairs Harry had just ascended.

Edmond went to the counter and disappeared through a door that led to the kitchen, while Harry, still standing in front of the man, wondered how he would get past him.

Suddenly, the kitchen door burst open, and Edmond returned, holding a heavy black pot in both hands, filled with hot soup.

Harry grinned mischievously and rummaged through his robe for a firecracker that the Weasley twins had given him. It was still a prototype, but trying it out couldn't hurt, right?

Daphne might have a different opinion, but what she didn't know wouldn't annoy her. Harry stepped under the invisibility cloak and approached Edmond, dropping the firecracker into the pot as he passed. He darted behind the counter just as it exploded, and he heard screams.

He peeked over the counter and saw a white dragon explode into dozens of tiny lights on the ceiling. The other guests had stood up and were storming out of the inn in a hurry.

Edmond was drenched in soup, and the man had been hit as well.

"That bastard!" Edmond yelled, looking around. "It must have been that Evans guy!"

Edmond turned to the large man. "Detlef, you big idiot, go check where he is! He can't be far!"

"But boss-" Detlef tried.

Edmond turned red with fury. "No buts! Do it, or you won't see a single galleon for the next month!"

"Alright," Detlef grunted, and he climbed the stairs, closely followed by Edmond.

Harry grinned triumphantly, and as he heard a door close, he stepped out from behind the counter and walked toward the door that had just been guarded.

"Alohomora!"

---

With a soft click, Harry closed the door behind him, revealing a narrow, dark corridor. The tunnel smelled of damp stone and mould - an uncomfortable shiver ran down Harry's spine.

Maybe it hadn't been the best idea to come here without Daphne. Even though Boot is useless with a wand, four eyes do see more than two...

Warily, Harry moved forward, and after what felt like fifty meters, his hand, which had been tracing along the wall, brushed over an edge and ended at a handle.

Harry's eyes widened. A door!

He considered what to do next. He could turn back and get reinforcements, but then he heard the sound of water splashing, and his curiosity was piqued.

Harry drew his wand and pushed the door open. Before his eyes adjusted to the light, he felt a sudden pain at his temple, and everything went black.

---

"It was a mistake to come here, Daphne," Pansy whispered into Daphne's ear. The two stood off to the side in a large hall, filled with dozens of wizards and witches, but they all had something in common. They were all those who had profited under Voldemort's reign.

The centrepiece of the hall was a curtained off section in the middle of the room, big enough to hide something huge.

"You can leave if you want, Pansy. I only needed your help to bring me in here," Daphne said.

Pansy's eyebrows shot up. "As if you couldn't have done it on your own. I've heard the gossip. You're the best Auror after Potter-"

Daphne grimaced, and Pansy fell silent. "You know what I mean," she murmured. "With your father and your family name, you could have walked through the front door."

Suddenly, loud cheering echoed from the other end of the hall. A group of wizards had joined, and something seemed to have put them in a good mood.

"I'd rather go," Pansy murmured, eyeing the wizards and witches in front of her. "I don't want to be seen with them - not after everything-"

Daphne gently squeezed Pansy's hand. "I understand, Pansy. If you ever need help - I'm sure Potter would help you if I asked him."

Pansy snorted amusedly. "I don't think I'm the one who needs help here." She tilted her head, studying Daphne for a moment. "I have a feeling Potter and I will be seeing more of each other soon anyway."

Daphne furrowed her brow as she watched Pansy slip through the crowd and disappear. "Why is everyone speaking in riddles lately?" she murmured to herself.

She drank from her glass of Firewhisky and listened to the music while her eyes scanned the many wizards and witches, recalling her mother's words.

"Pay close attention, daughter. It's the small, inconspicuous things that allow us to influence events in our favour."

Daphne snorted.

Her mother had only one thing in mind: to teach her how to manipulate and influence others, just as her mother had done with her father. But Daphne had taken her mother's words to heart, so she tried to hide the small, inconspicuous things from the others.

Years had passed at Hogwarts, until one day someone decided to sit next to her at the Slytherin table, and he changed everything for her. And it was none other than Harry.

A few moments with him were enough, and she could see all the details that made Harry Potter who he was. But instead of using those traits for herself, Daphne asked herself a question when she looked into Harry's eyes, which shone with honesty, that would change her life: Did she want to be like her mother? To live a life full of lies and deceit?

Daphne made a different choice, and before she knew it, she was meeting Harry to study in the library... for dinner in the Hogwarts kitchen... for a walk by the Black Lake...

And Daphne laughed. She laughed more during that time than in her entire life, and it was all because of Harry.

Harry, who was now being dragged across the hall by a giant man.

"What have you done now, you idiot," Daphne whispered, her heart sinking as Harry was thrown through the air and slammed into a concealed wall. It clanged loudly as Harry hit the wall face-first.

"I wonder what's behind the curtain?" Daphne murmured, but her thoughts were scattered as Harry groaned loudly, and the crowd howled in joy.

"POTTER IS HERE! OUR CHOSEN ONE!" Jeered a voice, and Daphne didn't even need to see the face to know who it was, as the voice cut through to her like a precisely cast Diffindo spell.

"Why is he here?" Daphne snarled, the glass in her hand shattering in her fury as she clenched her hand into a fist. The crowd stepped closer to the spectacle, and Daphne quickly walked past the drunken wizards and witches.

Ahead, Daphne saw Harry leaning against a wall, but his dark gaze was fixed on the man in front of him. It was her father.

"Arsehole," Daphne muttered.

She gave Harry a concerned look, who was holding a hand to the wound on the side of his head.

---

Harry scanned the surrounding crowd. He had been in some dangerous situations throughout his life, but they all had one thing in common: the attacks on his life had always, in some way, been connected to Voldemort. Since he had defeated Voldemort, his life had continuously improved. His last year at Hogwarts had been wonderful, and his career as an Auror so far had been even more magical.

But when he thought about the past few years, one thing stood out: he had spent most of that time with Daphne. She seemed to be a major factor in why his life had become happier.

Harry sighed. Maybe he should make sure Daphne was always by his side.

He could already imagine what Sirius, or his parents, would say.

His mother would tell him that Daphne was a beautiful young woman and that he should make sure not to scare her off. Of course, it would be his fault if anything went wrong.

His father would just say that he should have asked Daphne out by now. After all, it worked with his mother Lily, didn't it?

And Sirius... He'd call Daphne hot and call Harry an idiot for not taking the step already.

But it wasn't that easy, okay?!

Harry would agree with all three of them.

"Well then, Potter. What brings the honour of the Saviour of the Wizarding World into our presence tonight?" Daphne's father asked. The people around them laughed, and Harry visibly flinched when a spell struck the ground beside him.

Harry groaned as he straightened up, suppressing the pounding in his head. His hands fumbled in his robes for his wand, but he searched in vain. They probably had taken his phoenix wand from him, when they had him knocked out.

"Nothing that a fool like you should care about," Harry replied, grinning as he watched Greengrass turn bright red. Just then, someone came up to him and whispered something in his ear.

"Not even a pretence for trespassing?" Greengrass asked nastily.

Harry furrowed his brow. "Auror Greengrass just closed a big case, you might have heard. Zacharias Smith was arrested for illegal trafficking of magical creatures. Dozens of Diricawls have gone missing, and other magical beasts have been vanishing lately as well. He's behind bars, but the investigation left the Auror office with a few questions. Tell me, Greengrass - are you involved in their disappearance?"

The crowd burst into loud laughter, but the room went quiet when they heard Greengrass's next words.

"Of course! Who else could fool the ICW so easily?" Mr. Greengrass spoke with absolutely no concern for incriminating himself.

Greengrass would have done well to read the room and take note of the dozens of glares resting on him. He gazed back nonchalantly. He put his wand to his throat and magnified his voice to speak to the crowd.

"It doesn't matter what I say to you, Potter, because you won't survive the night," Mr. Greengrass grinned.

"That is still Potter. And when he's there, your daughter will be nearby too. The two of them together are like the devil-" a man whispered, glancing around nervously, as if Daphne would suddenly appear.

Mr. Greengrass's arm twitched, and a red spell shot from his wand, hitting the man, who was thrown back with a loud crack, crashing into the wall. He lay unconscious.

"No one. Mentions. My. Daughter - In. My. Presence!"

Harry grinned as a loud scream echoed somewhere in the distance. "But he's right. Daphne is the best Auror in the DMLE, and she'll find out what you're up to here."

Mr. Greengrass glared at Harry with hatred. "But you won't live to see that, Potter."

Greengrass flicked his wand, and Harry felt himself rise into the air, floating towards the curtain.

"Goodbye, Harry Potter!" Greengrass laughed as Harry disappeared behind the curtain.

---

Daphne's heart pounded with fury as her father's words hit her. She had once believed that after Voldemort's defeat, her father would sink into drunk oblivion, especially after she and Astoria had disappeared, leaving him with no one left to manipulate. Yet here he stood before her, a constant thorn in her side, threatening Harry.

No one threatens Harry, when I am close, Daphne thought.

She gritted her teeth, her anger rising as she heard the venomous command from her father: "No one. Mentions. My. Daughter – In my presence!"

Without hesitation, Daphne drew her wand, her eyes narrowing in concentration. The giant man who had shoved Harry into the room noticed her immediately. A certain wand peeked out from his pockets.

She cast a Stupefy at him, but to her surprise, it had no effect. The man was unfazed, staring at her like a mountain troll.

"Stop right there!" he bellowed, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

"You'd better stay down," Daphne warned, her voice cold.

The man frowned, lifting one of his massive hands in a threatening gesture. "Why?"

Daphne smiled tightly. "Because it's hard to get up with a broken leg."

He looked down at his legs, confused. "But I don't have a broken leg-"

Daphne rolled her eyes and flicked her wand again. The spell hit him like a cannonball, sending him crashing through the hall. He rolled over several wizards and witches before landing in a twisted heap, his leg bent at an odd angle.

"Medical prescription: Please stay down," Daphne said to herself, her lips curling in a small smile.

Harry's wand shot out of the man's pocket, soaring high into the air, where Daphne deftly caught it and tucked it safely into her robe.

"So much for loyalty among slimy fools," she muttered, watching as the other wizards and witches around her screamed and vanished in a flurry of apparitions.

She turned her focus back to Harry, her heart leaping as she saw him struggling before the veil.

"Daphne is the best Auror in the DMLE, and she'll find out what you're doing here," she heard Harry's words and felt a wave of warmth growing inside her. But that warmth quickly turned to dread as her father's voice rang out again.

Harry had been thrown behind the curtain.

"Harry!" she cried, casting spell after spell at her father.

His eyes widened in shock. "You! You dare raise your wand against me?!"

Daphne strode forward, unwavering. "Yes, I dare! It's my duty as an Auror, and my duty as a friend."

Her father's face twisted in a scowl. "You could've been one of the greatest witches of our time, daughter! You still can be, if you join me! Be reasonable!"

Daphne shook her head, a few strands of blonde hair falling into her face. "I am already a great witch. You just never saw it! You never wanted to see it. No matter what I do, no matter who tells you the truth of it, my achievements mean nothing to you. You think I'm worth nothing except as your accessory. I believed it, too, until one day someone opened my eyes and showed me a different side of the world – a world full of warmth and love."

"Warmth? Love? Foolish delusions of the weak. The only things that truly matter is the power you wield and the control you can command," her father snarled.

"Then you're a fool," Daphne replied flatly. "And you will live an empty, miserable life."

Her father's face turned red with rage. "Don't speak to your father like that!"

"I don't have a father!" she snapped, slashing her wand. "You're under arrest for involvement in the illegal trafficking of magical creatures. Surrender your wand."

Her spell flew at her father's face. He barely managed to dodge, stumbling to the side.

"Never learned to use a Shield Charm, have you?" Daphne taunted. She followed it up with another jet of red light. This one landed. Her father's wand flew out of his hand, twirling into the air. She shot her arm out to catch it, but fumbled the stick. How did Harry always manage that?

Her father recovered, glaring at her as he straightened up. Daphne twirled her wand in her fingers. "A special person taught me that. Tough luck when you're all alone, huh?"

"I'm not alone," her father muttered, but when he looked around, he realized she was right. No one else was in sight.

Daphne smiled faintly. "They got rid of the Dementors at Azkaban. We guard the prison now, and you don't have any friends in the Auror office. But I can guarantee you, that the place is as awful as before."

A shrill scream pierced the air, followed by Harry's anguished cry. Her father's grin widened as Daphne's eyes grew wide with realization.

"No friends in the Auror office, have I? I've heard about this bet." her father mocked. "You must like him if you took that bet. How you disappoint me."

Harry shouted again. Daphne was torn. Her father had stooped to pick up his wand, and was already walking away. Daphne took a step after him, wand trained on his back. A gasp and a growl came from behind the curtain. She sent a stunner hissing after him. Her father leaned to the side to let it pass. "Him or me," he said over his shoulder. "You'll have to choose."

Oddly enough, that helped put things into perspective. Daphne sighed, her face a mask of calm determination. "You really have no idea who I am, do you?"

"My daughter, who's had her head filled with lies!" he growled.

Daphne's hand was trained steadily at her father. "There's no decision. I will always choose Harry. Always."

With a swift motion, she slashed her wand towards the curtain. Her father disappeared with a sharp crack. The curtain flew away, revealing a massive cage. And in the centre stood Harry.

Daphne rushed toward the cage, her heart in her throat. Harry was hunched over, holding his ribs.

"Harry, are you okay?" she called out.

"It could be better," Harry groaned, suddenly leaping to the side.

Daphne stopped in front of the cage, watching as Harry dodged again and again. "What are you doing?" she asked, confused.

"I'm trying to stay alive! Get me out of here or help me! Just do something!" Harry yelled, exasperated.

"What exactly do you mean-" Then Daphne saw a shimmering movement in the cage. A silver-furred arm flashed briefly. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone again.

"It's a Hidebehind!" Harry coughed while gasping for air.

"You know I was terrible at handling magical creatures!" Daphne shouted back.

"He's part Ghoul, part Demiguise!" Harry added urgently. "Hagrid wanted one. You can guess what they're like from that."

"Demi-what?" Daphne replied, bewildered.

"He can turn invisible! Watch out!" Harry yelled.

Daphne recoiled as a massive paw reached through the bars, grabbing her and pulling her toward the cage, where a huge maw awaited. The Hidebehind, as large as a bear and with the build of a werewolf, had silver-grey fur all over its body, and its breath reeked of rotting flesh. A thin, furred and clawed hand shot out and grabbed her by the neck.

Desperately, Daphne tried to free herself, but the creature's grip tightened around her throat. Her vision was darkening when Harry leaped at the Hidebehind with full force, smashing its head against the cage wall.

The creature's grip loosened for just a moment, and Daphne, seizing the opportunity, drove her wand into the creature's nose. She heard it howl in pain as its grip finally slackened.

"G-Good job," Harry gasped, and Daphne fought for breath as well.

"You really took the whole 'troll story' too literally," Harry laughed, pointing at the creature that now lay crumpled on the floor.

Daphne glanced down and realized she had half of her wand stuck in the Hidebehind's nose.

"I must have learned something from your adventures after all. Trolls are much taller, though, aren't they? And we're much larger now. How did you reach its nose?" Daphne laughed between pants, catching her breath. Harry laughed too, wheezing and clutching his ribs.

"Climbed on its back," he grinned, and launched into a breathless retelling of a story she'd heard a dozen times before, yet never minded listening to one more time.

---

"Remind me to ask Hagrid to give you some private lessons on the Care of Magical Creatures," Harry sighed as he tiredly collapsed onto the couch in the living room of Number 12 Grimmauld Place.

"The best Auror can't know everything, of course," Daphne said with a haughty tone.

Harry closed his eyes. "You heard that?"

Daphne's lips curled. "Harry Potter, Britain's most eligible bachelor, pride of the Auror office, lauded by the Daily Prophet, Saviour of the Wizarding World, admits that I'm the better Auror? Yes, I heard that."

Harry groaned loudly as Daphne sat down beside him on the couch. "It was strictly to annoy your father."

"Tell yourself that," Daphne whispered, looking down at Harry. "My record speaks for itself."

"Besides, he's not my father. Not any more," she added quietly as she gazed into his green eyes.

"Daphne – I heard you talking to him about me," Harry began, but Daphne shook her head.

"I don't care about the bet, Harry. I don't care any more whether I'm the best Auror or not. Just like that ridiculous article in the Daily Prophet. I don't care about that either."

"Why? Didn't you want to impress your father that way?" Harry murmured. Daphne noticed his eyes flicking to her lips.

She smiled, a quiet confidence shining through. "I don't care any more about impressing my father. If he doesn't recognize my accomplishments, then, I'm done trying to prove myself to him. What matters now is what the people close to me think of me. What you think of me."

"Daphne I-"

"Uncle Harry!" cried a young voice as a little figure stormed into the room and threw his small arms around Harry's neck.

"Teddy! How many times do I have to tell you not to run - Merlin, what happened to you, Harry?" Andromeda called out angrily. Harry pulled the hem of his shirt down further to hide the wrap around his ribs.

"I'm fine, Andy!" Harry responded, rolling his eyes as he saw the concerned looks from both Andromeda and Teddy. He ran a hand through his godson's hair, making him giggle.

"Yes, he's really fine, Andy," Daphne said dryly, poking Harry in the ribs. Harry groaned.

"What would Harry do without you, Daphne?" Andromeda said, shaking her head.

"He'd run into doors!" Teddy laughed.

Andromeda smiled faintly. "Yes, you're probably right, Teddy. With the thick head your godfather has, he'd probably knock down every door."

"Oi!" Harry exclaimed, and Teddy lunged at him, but before he could land on him, Daphne had picked him up under his arms.

"Come on, Teddy. Let's get you some hot cocoa before your nose applies for a job as an ice cube!" Daphne said, rubbing her nose against the little boy's.

Teddy's eyes, blue like hers, widened. "I was outside with Grandma!"

"What did you do together?" Daphne asked as she walked with Teddy in her arms to the kitchen.

Andromeda waited a moment before poking Harry, just like Daphne had done, in the ribs. Only much firmer.

"Ouch!"

"Who do you think you are?" Andromeda hissed.

"My name is Harry, if you mean that," Harry mumbled, rubbing the spot. Andromeda glared at him, and Harry fell silent.

"I don't even want to know what happened to you. What I care about is something else. Haven't you asked her yet?" Andromeda asked quietly.

Harry sighed. "Well, I wanted to, and I finally did."

Andromeda raised an expectant eyebrow. "Yeah? Go on?"

"We have a bet going, if I win, she'll go out with me-"

Andromeda slapped a pillow to Harry's face. "You're a fool, Potter."

Harry looked out from behind the pillow, feeling downcast. "You don't need to tell me that. I already know."

"You're just as hopeless as your father, James... really - A bet?"

"It wasn't my idea!" Harry tried to explain. "It was the others who made me do it. Especially Daphne's sister, Astoria," he said, crossing his arms.

"Hmm, maybe she noticed how slow you are," Andromeda smiled.

"What?"

Andromeda shook her head. "Nothing - what are you planning to do now?"

Harry shrugged. "Merlin knows-"

"We should ask her," Daphne said, entering the room with Teddy, who sat on a chair with his hot cocoa.

"What's this about?" Harry asked.

Daphne raised an elegant eyebrow. "You're talking about the case, right?" she asked, her eyes gleaming.

Andromeda looked at Harry expectantly, and Harry gulped.

"Yeah... the case," Harry said, and Andromeda slapped him on the back of the head.

Daphne sat beside Teddy and ran her fingers through his black hair, which looked like a bird's nest.

"So, you know, we still need to find my father. If we find him, we might find a hint where they keep the other magical creatures."

Harry nodded. "And you want to... ask her."

Daphne grinned widely, and Harry's face warmed slightly as she smiled at him. Along with her blue eyes, her smile was probably the most attractive thing about her… though he also wished he could run a hand through her soft hair.

"Exactly. She'll know where we need to go. She always does."

---

"Do we really have to go to her? She always reminds me a bit of Trelawney," Harry muttered, irritated.

Daphne gave him a long look. "You know very well that she can help us. And I want to catch my father as soon as possible."

Harry sighed and rubbed his sore side. "Alright."

Daphne eyed him with concern. "Is the Skelegro working?"

Harry grimaced as he still tasted the nasty potion in his mouth. "Yeah, my ribs are tingling. Better than the first time I took it. D'you remember our DADA professor in second year?"

"Lockhart," Daphne snorted. "Yes. Is this about that time he 'healed' your broken arm and vanished all of its bones?"

"You heard?" Harry glanced at her.

Daphne nodded in satisfaction and opened the door to an inconspicuous store at the end of Diagon Alley. "Oh yes. Draco was crowing about it all week. 'Potter's lost all the bones in his arm. Think he'll finally master the sloth grip roll? Potter might actually be better at catching the snitch now. Potter–"

"Yeah, I get it," Harry interrupted, unamused, while Daphne smirked at him.

They entered a dimly lit room filled with dozens of odd items. It reminded Harry a bit of Dumbledore's office, when suddenly two red eyes stared at them.

Harry stepped forward-

"Stop – No one move!" The voice of a woman cried out. Daphne stopped with a furrowed brow as Harry was about to lower his foot.

"Potter – Stop! Are you deaf, or are your ears filled with air?" A small woman with curly hair stood facing them and quickly walked up to Harry.

"Hey, I didn't come here to be insulted by you!" Harry huffed.

The woman laughed. "You just make it so easy for me, now hold still for a moment… see, that wasn't so hard." She had picked up a piece of parchment from the floor, and Harry could only read the title.

Chapter 7: The Stars Move Across the Night Sky

"Are you writing something?" Harry asked, leaning forward.

The woman smiled, amused. "Just a little hobby of mine, but that's not why you're here," she said, turning to Daphne.

"No," Daphne said. "I want to know where my father is, and you can help us find him, can't you?"

The woman's eyes glinted in the dark. "Maybe – maybe not, but who knows, unless you try - Sit down, I'll bring you some tea."

She disappeared into the next room, while Daphne and Harry sat down.

Harry almost fell off his chair when the owner of the red eyes jumped onto the table in front of them and laid down right in front of Daphne.

"He does this on purpose every time," Harry complained.

Daphne grinned and gently stroked the yellow-brown cat with black-tipped ears, who purred contentedly.

"Cats just like me more than you, Harry. You'll have to get used to that."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Oh, must I?"

Daphne's cheeks turned slightly pink. "You know what I mean."

Harry grinned at her. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Daphne."

Before Daphne could reply, the woman came back from the next room with three cups, from which steam was rising.

"Your tea is really wonderful," Daphne remarked, carefully sipping the hot drink.

The woman smiled faintly and fixed Harry with a stare. "A good friend gave me the recipe, but that's not important any more, is it, Harry?"

Harry furrowed his brow. It tasted nostalgic. Like maybe, it would be good with rock cakes…

"We came about Daphne's father," Harry reminded her.

The woman snapped her fingers. "Right. Do you want to know right away, or should I wait for the two of you to get married?"

Daphne and Harry both blushed deeply. The woman laughed carelessly.

"Well, it's nice to know that some things never change," she said, pulling out a small pouch.

"Harry, can you get the map of England from the corner over there?"

Daphne and the woman shared a grin, while Harry grumbled as he slowly stood up.

He spread the map out on the table, and the woman took something from the pouch.

Daphne's eyes widened. "Are those-"

"The bones of a basilisk - they don't work quite as well as dragon bones, but they still do the job," she smirked. Her eyes closed, and her mouth moved in a silent murmur. Then she spoke three words in a language Harry did not recognize and threw the bones onto the map.

They quickly formed a circle around one of the regions.

"Southampton, then," Harry muttered, turning to Daphne. "The harbour is the most likely place, isn't it?"

Daphne nodded and stood up. "Probably, it would be the perfect place to smuggle magical creatures out of the country unnoticed. What better way than through Muggle routes?"

Daphne looked at the woman. "Thank you – uh-"

The woman raised a finger with amusement. "Aha! You won't learn my name that easily."

Harry just shook his head. "I don't understand why you won't tell us your name. You already know ours."

The woman smiled. "I'm sure we'll meet again someday. Ask me then, and I may give you a different answer. Today, you can call me Inarё..."

"Thanks for everything!" Daphne called just as Harry pulled her arm and dragged her quickly out of the shop. Inarё's gaze lingered on Harry as they left.

---

They Apparated into one of the alleys with a quiet pop. The salty sea air immediately crept into Harry's nose.

"A Christmas market?" Harry asked as he looked at the many stalls leading to the various warehouses where different items were stored.

Daphne thought for a moment. "I guess we'll have to take a look around, Harry."

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Did you just invite me on a date at the Christmas market?"

Daphne blushed, but stubbornly stared ahead. "And what if I did?"

Harry beamed. "Then I'd gladly accept the invitation… But what about the bet?"

Daphne turned her head, her nose slightly reddened from the cold. "To hell with the bet."

Harry laughed and took Daphne's hand in his. "Is this how Slytherins act?"

Daphne shrugged. "Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to gain something new," she said, looking at their now entwined hands.

"And I'd say that leap was worth it."

Harry looked into her eyes for a moment. "It certainly was."

---

They continued deeper into the Christmas market. Daphne's nose was overwhelmed by so many wonderful scents that it was hard to focus on their mission. It smelled of roasted almonds, hot cocoa...

Daphne pulled her coat tighter around her as a cold gust of wind blew through, but the expected chill didn't come. She glanced down at her hand, which was firmly holding Harry's, and a warmth spread inside her that opposed the cold from the outside.

A scarf would make everything perfect right now, she thought. And as soon as she had the thought, she felt a warm scarf wrap around her neck.

She reached up with her free hand to her neck and pulled out a red and green scarf.

"Did you just use magic in front of Muggles?!" Daphne hissed, looking around.

"They're all too busy stuffing their faces and enjoying their time to pay attention to a young couple of wizards," Harry whispered back. "If a kid saw, whatever. It's a Christmas miracle."

Daphne buried her face in the warm scarf. "A couple, huh?" she asked with a coy smile.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Harry's ears turn red. He ran a hand through his hair, like he always did when he was nervous.

"Only if you want to..." he said softly.

"Idiot," she murmured, pulling Harry's arm toward her so that they both felt the warmth of each other's bodies.

"Is that a yes?" Harry asked gently.

Daphne opened her mouth to respond, but a loud growl interrupted her.

"Maybe we should focus on feeding you first before you start to eat me," Harry laughed.

Daphne playfully snapped at Harry, who grinned and ducked out of her reach. "Oh, you don't want to know what happens when I'm hungry," Daphne teased.

Harry snorted. "I hardly think that could be worse than during N.E.W.T.'s. Even the house elves were scared of you."

Daphne chuckled. "That was nothing. And while we're at it, we can change our outfits too."

"Why is that?"

Daphne shrugged. "I'm just in the Christmas spirit."

---

"It's surprising to see you eating something other than ice cream," Harry said, taking a bite of his sausage.

Daphne enjoyed a bite of her crêpe. "It's way too cold to eat ice cream outside. Maybe later, when we're inside and warm."

Harry liked the 'we'. He looked down at his clothes and sighed. "Why did I have to dress as an elf?"

He wore pointed ears, a red Christmas hat, a forest green tunic that reached his hips, and red-and-white striped trousers.

"Because the Christmas elves are Santa's helper. That's what you told me," Daphne said, gesturing down at her outfit. "Besides, I look great in this, and you were the one who wanted to see me in a red dress," she reminded Harry with a mischievous grin.

Harry swallowed hard. Daphne wore a crimson dress that didn't reach far past her hips. The edges were trimmed with fluffy white fabric that reminded him of snowflakes, and a black belt hugged the dress tightly around Daphne's body.

Her legs, clad in snow-white tights, seemed longer than ever and led down to shiny black heeled boots. Her blonde hair was loosely tied in a braid that hung over her shoulder.

"I'm the happiest man in the world," Harry murmured to himself, and Daphne's cheeks turned a deep shade of pink.

Daphne took a bite of her crêpe and mumbled something unintelligible.

"What was that?" Harry leaned forward.

Daphne took a deep breath and stared into his green eyes. "I said... I'm the one who's happy."

Harry tilted his head. "I think we can both be happy. It doesn't have to be a competition."

Daphne snorted and cried out when someone rushed past her and knocked her crêpe from her hand.

"My crêpe!" Daphne shouted, spinning her head around to follow the man who had knocked her over.

"That wanker ruined my crêpe! After him!" Daphne yelled angrily, and Harry swallowed his last bite, chasing after her as she ran after the man. They dodged between rows of Christmas trees for sale and under a low string of fairy lights.

"Daph - wait," Harry panted, the sausage sitting heavy in his stomach. They were now standing away from the Christmas market, looking down the alleys that led to the warehouses.

"Where is he?" Daphne growled, glaring at Harry. "He owes me a new one!"

"You were almost done eating it anyway..." Harry began but stopped as he noticed something.

"It's the principle, Harry. First, it's just a piece of the crêpe, then it's the whole thing, and before you know it, the world ends in chaos and despair!"

"Forget your crêpe... do you feel that?" Harry muttered.

Daphne squinted and stared into the dark alleys, lit by solitary lanterns in front of the warehouses.

"I know you're better at sensing magic than I am," Daphne replied. "Do you feel something?"

Harry nodded. "There's something here."

"That's enough for me then. I trust you."

Wands drawn, they left the Christmas market behind and moved forward into the darkness.

---

"Did you see where that idiot ran off to?" Daphne muttered.

Harry shook his head. "No, but the feeling's getting stronger. We're getting closer."

They stopped in front of an old warehouse, and Harry reached out with his free hand.

"This is it."

Daphne squinted at the battered door. It was hard to see with the flickering of the old bulbs. She blinked and moved closer. The entrance seemed to shimmer in the air.

"I don't think we should go through the front door," Daphne murmured. "Maybe there's a second entrance or a window we can sneak through."

They cautiously searched. There was no second door, but they heard loud voices coming from a broken window.

"What do you mean, the sale fell through?!" shouted a voice they both recognized. Daphne's father. It sounded deep in the building. Harry exchanged a glance with her. They held their breaths and listened closer.

"The deal has been set for months! We need to get these creatures out of here before these idiots catch on!"

"Those idiots are Potter and your daughter," said another voice, much quieter. They strained to listen. "As well as the rest of the Auror office, which, I should remind you, have much sharper teeth than when our sort were running things. Your behaviour is putting our operation and your associates in jeopardy. You lack the discipline to emotionally distance yourself from your daughter–"

"Shut your mouth, Nott! She's not my daughter!"

Harry squeezed Daphne's hand. "What do you want to do?"

She shushed him, eyes cold. "Listen."

"Names," Nott chided. "I do not intend to follow you around fixing your mistakes. Admitting details of our operation to Aurors and issuing a challenge for them to find us is not a little indiscretion. If they catch you, pray you go to Azkaban for a long time. Neither I nor any of our friends intend to, how do the muggles put it? Go down with the ship."

Daphne got up and plotted a route to the window.

"What are you doing?" Harry hissed under his breath.

"Going up to give him a firm kick in the backside. You go through the window first."

"Without backup?" Harry demanded, so quiet Daphne could barely hear. The open window was right over them. "Without telling anyone where we are? No warrant, no plan?"

Daphne wore a steely expression. "Yes." She pointed imperiously at the window and stared at him.

He stared back at her.

"What?"

A smile crept over his face. "Nothing. It's just been ages since I've done this. Feels good to go in without a plan."

Daphne tapped her foot, feeling a surge of fondness for the idiot.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't it be easier if I helped you up first?"

Daphne rolled her eyes and pointed at her dress. "I'm wearing tights, but it's still just a dress, Harry."

Harry's face warmed, and he pulled himself up by the window frame. With Daphne's help, he climbed through the window.

He turned around to Daphne and pulled her up by the hands. Together, they looked into the warehouse, seeing dozens of cages, large and small, all covered by big sheets.

A gust of cold wind blew through the paths, and the corner of a sheet covering one of the cages revealed a few Mooncalves huddled together, sleeping in the corner, crammed into a dirty cage.

"Poor things," Harry whispered, balling his fists. There was a loud crash and a man was thrown across the warehouse. He hit the ground hard.

"That's the same guy who ruined my crêpe," Daphne hissed, twirling her wand.

"How do you know that?" Harry whispered, astonished.

"He has a chocolate stain on his shirt," she stated as it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Ugh," the man groaned. "Somebody stun this creature already!"

Harry and Daphne cautiously peeked around a cage and gasped in shock as they saw several wizards surrounding a huge horse. It neighed loudly, tugging at the ropes tied around its snout, scaly body, and tail...

Wait… a scaly body?

"That's a Hippocampus," Harry whispered, wide-eyed. "Daphne, we have to free him. If he doesn't get water soon, he'll die!"

"I don't think they care," Daphne growled, pulling Harry behind the cage. "Remember? I got Zacharias for selling ingredients. They intend to sell these animals for parts."

"We need to free them all."

"We've got to call in backup," Harry agreed.

"Don't want these getting away before they get here," Daphne said.

Harry grinned. "Right. These idiots left my cloak behind."

"Then you know what to do," Daphne said, watching as Harry swung the cloak over his shoulders. Everything below his neck vanished... Before he left, his disembodied head hovered in the air, leaning towards her. He kissed her on the cheek.

"I'm still getting that date. Bet or not," Harry whispered. "Good luck."

He pulled the cloak firmly over his head and disappeared. Daphne touched the spot on her cheek where his lips had just been.

"And if it were up to me, it won't just be one," she murmured.

Daphne peeked out from behind her hiding place and saw one of the men walking along the cages with a bucket of meat in his hands. As he was about to pull the sheet off one of the cages, she pointed her wand at him, and there was a dull clang. The man's head slammed against the bars of the cage, and he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

"What was that?" Nott shouted. Her father and Nott were standing off to the side, away from the people dealing with the Hippocampus, who was still fighting against its ropes.

Daphne took a deep breath and revealed herself.

"You!" her father screamed. Daphne waved at him with a grin. Her grin faded when she saw the crêpe culprit. He was standing behind her father and Nott.

She flicked her wand with a sharp motion, and a ball of white light shot toward her enemies. The projectile passed Nott and her father, both looking surprised that it missed them, before a high-pitched scream filled the hall.

Daphne smiled with satisfaction. Her crêpe enemy had been frozen solid, standing completely encased in ice in the middle of her enemies.

"No one ruins my crêpe and gets away with it!" Daphne shouted.

"Avada Kedavra!" Daphne's eyes widened as her father threw the Killing Curse at her. The curse came at a bad angle, and she just had to duck as it flew over her.

"That was close!" Daphne murmured, just as Harry tore off his invisibility cloak and, at the same moment, drove an elbow into Nott's face, sending him crashing to the ground, holding his nose.

"That is my girlfriend, you idiots!" Harry shouted, punching her father hard on the nose, making him scream loudly as blood sprayed from his nostrils.

Daphne's face turned bright red, but she couldn't suppress the wide grin on her face when she heard Harry call her his girlfriend. She walked over to her father and Nott, both on the floor. Harry had their wands firmly in his hands.

"I kind of like the sight of you lying on the floor, hopeless," Daphne said to her father, while she stood next to Harry.

"I should've killed you when you were a child," her father spat, howling in pain as Harry cursed him again.

Daphne raised an eyebrow at Harry, who shrugged.

"That was an accident," Harry said.

Her father glared at them with hatred, clutching his leg in pain.

"You broke my leg!"

Harry grinned mischievously. "Oops!"

Daphne rolled her eyes as she searched her pockets for two Portkeys. "Harry, you know you're not supposed to hurt him."

Harry grinned and ran a hand through his messy hair. "I faintly remember that I have read somewhere that I shouldn't."

Daphne placed one of her Portkeys on Nott's body and tapped it. Nott vanished with a soft pop.

She turned to her father with dark eyes. "Why did you do it?"

Her father stayed silent until Harry threatened him with his wand under his nose.

"I needed gold," he growled. "The Ministry took everything from me! They-"

"Don't lie to me! It wasn't the Ministry that took your gold, you wasted it all on Voldemort!" Daphne hissed.

She took a shaky breath, shaking her head, blonde strands falling into her face. Her hands clenched into fists. Harry gently took a fist in hand. She gripped his fingers and glared at her father.

"Did you ever stop to think, even once, about Astoria? About me?" Daphne demanded.

She only had to look her father in the eyes. His answer was so clear that there was no doubt left.

"You're not my father," Daphne said, her eyes filled with determination. "I don't need you. I have a wonderful sister, many great friends, and-"

"The best boyfriend anyone could ask for," Harry inserted, grinning.

Daphne squeezed his hand, and a smile crept onto her lips. "Harry may not be right about a lot of things, but I agree with him here."

"Oi!" Harry called out as Daphne was about to place the Portkey on her father, who would be sent straight to one of the DMLE's holding cells. With a series of cracks and pops, dozens of wizards and witches appeared in the warehouse, throwing various curses at them.

"We still have to free the others!" Harry shouted, ducking away from an onslaught of spells. He swung his wand in a quick arc, creating a transparent shield between them and the newcomers.

Harry looked at Daphne. "What do we do? If we leave now, they might take the creatures with them!"

Daphne growled, throwing her Portkey with frustrated force at her father's forehead. The last glimpse she had of him was his face twisted in pain, just before the Portkey activated and he vanished with a pop

The curses continued to pound on Harry's shield as Daphne saw movement out of the corner of her eye.

"Oh, I don't like it when you get an idea," Harry said, seeing the gleam in Daphne's eyes.

"Did you put the runes on the door locks?" Daphne asked, pulling Harry along by the hand.

"Yeah, why?!" Harry shouted, and they ran as fast as they could toward the Hippocampus.

"Diffindo!" Daphne cried, and Harry followed her lead. The spells severed the ropes that had the Hippocampus pinned to the ground, and it immediately stood up on its front legs.

"Go on it!" Daphne shouted, and they climbed onto the Hippocampus' tail, making their way up its back.

They heard a loud crack behind them. Harry's shield charm had broken.

"Open the locks, Harry!" Daphne shouted.

A single rune shot out from Harry's wand.

The runes on the cages' locks all lit up across the warehouse, and chaos ensued. The wizards and witches chasing them were swarmed by Fire Crabs, Nifflers, Hippogriffs, and dozens of other magical creatures.

Daphne ran through the maze of cages. They reached the hippocampus's cage. She climbed on its back and helped haul Harry up after her.

The Hippocampus pushed forward and pulled itself onto its hind legs as Daphne clung to its dorsal fin on its back.

"Harry, there's a wall!" Daphne cried.

Harry lifted his wand. "Expulso!"

The spell shattered the wall, rubble blasted out across the docks. The Hippocampus eagerly slipped through the hole, heading straight for the sea.

"Daphne, the sea is right in front of us!" Harry shouted.

"What?!" she screamed over the loud noise from the magical creatures behind them as they poured out of the warehouse.

"I said there is water!" Harry shouted, pulling Daphne tighter as the Hippocampus suddenly leaped forward, covering the last few meters before plunging over the lip of the dock and plummeting down into the sea.

The cold water hit her like a blast of ice. She disentangled herself from the hippocampus and swam to the surface. Daphne wondered if that was how people she froze felt. With a wicked grin, she concluded that they certainly didn't like it.

The Hippocampus resurfaced, whinnying happily as its scales touched the cold water. It turned its head, nudging Daphne and then Harry with its snout.

"I think it's thanking us," Daphne whispered in awe.

Harry pulled Daphne closer. "Who knows what would've happened to it if we hadn't rescued it."

Daphne turned to face Harry, so they were sitting across from each other. Aurors from the DMLE appeared in the background, trying to control the situation with the magical creatures, but Daphne didn't care about that at the moment. They stroked over to the ladder. Like a gentleman, Harry climbed up to the top of the dock first, helping her up after. Saltwater dripped down her skirt, the white fur drenched and matted with seaweed.

"So, I'm your girlfriend now, huh?" she murmured, placing her hand on Harry's wet shirt. Her fingers dug deeper into the fabric. With a pull, Daphne grasped tighter and tugged Harry's face toward hers. Her heart raced.

"Look at me, Daphne," Harry whispered, gently cupping her face with one hand. He tucked her wet strands of hair behind her ear as he leaned closer.

"What now?" she murmured, so close to him that she could feel his cold breath brushing against her lips.

"I'm finally going to kiss you," Harry whispered against her lips.

"Finally-?" she began, but all thoughts escaped her as Harry leaned forward, one hand slipping to the small of her back and the other tangling in her hair. Daphne's lips curled into a smile against his, which he mirrored, pulling her closer and deepening the kiss.

They forgot everything around them. The cold of the wind over her wet clothes, the smell of seaweed on her dress. Their focus was solely on one another, until the need for air forced them apart. Daphne rested her forehead against Harry's, and only the warmth remained, reminding her of the kiss.

"After all this, I want a proper date - no bets and definitely not on the back of a Hippocampus," Daphne giggled.

Harry laughed, lowering his lips to hers for another kiss. This time, however, something else drew their attention. A soft tingling sensation brushed over their skin, followed by a cool breeze that made Daphne lift her head. Tiny, glittering snowflakes drifted down from the sky, landing gently on her face and Harry's unruly hair.

"Snow?" Harry whispered, looking up as well. His breath formed small clouds in the cold air as the white flakes floated around them in a delicate, almost magical dance.

The Hippocampus, which had been enjoying its newfound freedom, jerked forward and surged toward the open sea, while Daphne clasped her hands behind Harry's neck, she slid them down over his shoulders before gently cupping his face, kissing him deeply.

---

Hogsmeade

The cold of the night seemed almost tangible as Harry and Daphne walked down the empty path leading to their house. The snow fell in quiet spirals, covering the ground with a glittering carpet, and their breath floated in little clouds before them. Dorothea's house, with its warmly glowing windows, appeared at the side of the path.

"Ah, who's over there?" called a friendly voice from the porch. Dorothea, wrapped in a thick scarf, stood with a broom in hand, watching them with keen eyes. "Harry Potter and Daphne Greengrass – walking hand in hand?"

Daphne pulled her coat tighter and shot an amused glance at the witch. "Good evening, Dorothea. We didn't mean to disturb you."

"Nonsense! You never disturb. But tell me, you both have such huge grins on your faces. Did you get up to something?"

Harry grinned, his breath forming little clouds. "Maybe. But we'll only tell you over a hot cocoa, right, Daphne?"

Daphne crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Depends on if the cocoa comes with ice."

Dorothea laughed heartily and shook her head. "You're impossible! But alright, come in before you freeze. There's cocoa – with ice for Daphne, of course, and extra cream for Harry!"

Dorothea winked mischievously, her gaze shifting knowingly between the two. "And then you can tell me, over a cup, what put that radiant smile on your faces."

Daphne felt her cheeks heat up, but she gave Harry a brief, satisfied glance. "We'll do that, Dorothea."

Dorothea nodded in approval and opened the door to her house. "I'll leave you two alone for a few minutes. You probably have plenty to discuss. See you in a bit!"

Harry grinned broadly once they were alone, letting out a quiet laugh that echoed in the still winter night. "I'm pretty sure Dorothea's standing behind her curtain right now, betting on us."

Daphne raised an eyebrow and shook her head. "Betting? On what exactly?"

"Oh, no idea. Maybe on who admits first that they like the other."

Daphne rolled her eyes, but the slight smile on her lips gave her away. "Let me guess – you lost?"

"Not yet," Harry replied with a crooked grin, stepping closer and letting his hand brush hers lightly. "But I have a good feeling."

Daphne stopped, the snow falling softly around them, while she regarded him with a look that was somewhere between scepticism and amusement. "A good feeling, Potter? You're hopeless."

"You've known that for a long time," he murmured, his voice soft but full of warmth.

"Harry?" she asked, her tone now quieter.

"Yes?"

"You're impossible."

"And yet here you are with me," he replied, his grin softening.

He stepped closer, until their gazes met. Without waiting for an answer, he leaned in, and the kiss under the falling snow felt almost like magic itself – a magic that belonged only to them.