Chapter 91: A Quiet Family Life
Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
I own only the original characters I create.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 91: A Quiet Family Life
The Portkey activated with a familiar lurch, and Harry felt the world twist around him.
When his feet touched solid ground again, he stood on a grassy hillside overlooking a small, picturesque valley.
The sun warmed his face, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of wildflowers and fresh hay. In the distance, a cluster of stone cottages dotted the landscape, their roofs covered in climbing ivy.
It was beautiful and peaceful. Nothing like the grey, oppressive atmosphere of Britain.
Harry took a moment to breathe, letting the calm wash over him. Then he spotted a figure walking towards him from one of the cottages.
Daphne Greengrass.
She was wearing a simple, light-blue dress, her pale blonde hair loose and flowing in the breeze.
It's only been a few months since he last saw her, but she looked different from the girl he remembered at Hogwarts.
She looked softer, more relaxed. The tension that had always seemed to cling to her was gone.
"Harry!" she called out, her face breaking into a wide smile. "You made it!"
She hurried towards him, and Harry felt happy for a moment. He had never seen her smile like that before...not at Hogwarts, where she had always been guarded, always watching her words.
"Of course I made it," he said, smiling back. "I wouldn't miss it."
Daphne reached him and, to his surprise, pulled him into a brief but warm embrace. "I'm so glad you're here," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I was so worried about you."
Harry hugged her back, surprised by how natural it felt. "I'm fine. Really. I've been training, getting stronger."
Daphne pulled back, her amber eyes studying his face. "You do look different. More...confident. I like it."
"I feel different," Harry admitted. "I've learned a lot since I left Hogwarts."
Daphne smiled. "Well, come on. My family is waiting to meet you properly."
The Greengrass cottage was small but warm and inviting. A fire crackled in the hearth, and the smell of fresh bread and herbs filled the air.
The walls were lined with bookshelves, and a large, comfortable sofa sat in front of the fire.
Daphne's mother, a kind-faced woman with the same blonde hair and amber eyes as her daughter, welcomed Harry with a warm smile. "So you're the young man who saved my husband," she said, taking Harry's hands in hers. "I cannot thank you enough."
"It was nothing," Harry said, feeling a little embarrassed. "I just did what anyone would have done. And besides, Daphne helped me plenty while I was at Hogwarts."
"Is that so?" She gave her daughter a passing glance. "Regardless, our family owes you a big debt, Mister Potter."
Sebastian Greengrass appeared from the kitchen, looking healthier and happier than Harry had ever seen him. He was wearing simple robes, and there was colour in his cheeks that hadn't been there during the rescue.
"Harry!" he said, striding forward and clasping Harry's hand firmly. "Welcome to our home. Please, make yourself comfortable. You are always welcome here."
Harry smiled, feeling a sense of belonging he hadn't expected. "Thank you, Mister Sebastian. I'm glad to be here."
"And this is Astoria," Daphne said, gesturing to a younger girl who was sitting in a chair by the fire.
Astoria Greengrass was younger than Daphne, with the same pale blonde hair and delicate features. But her face was paler, and there was a weariness in her eyes that spoke of illness. She smiled at Harry, a gentle, tentative smile.
"Hello, Harry," she said softly. "I've heard so much about you from my sister."
Harry knelt beside her chair. "It's nice to meet you, Astoria. I've heard about you too."
Astoria's smile widened. "Daphne talks about you all the time."
Daphne's cheeks flushed pink. "Astoria!"
"What? It's true," Astoria said innocently.
Harry laughed, feeling lighter than he had in weeks. "I'm flattered." He glanced back at Daphne, but she quickly looked away. He had never seen her act like this, but it was refreshing.
<><>
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the sun begin its slow descent towards the horizon.
"The future," Daphne said finally. "What do you see? For yourself, I mean."
Harry was quiet for a moment. "Honestly? I can't see much. As long as Dumbledore is in power, I don't really have a future. I can't go back to Hogwarts. I can't live a normal life. All I can do is fight."
Daphne was silent for a long moment. "I don't want that for you, Harry. I want you to have a future. A real one."
"I know," Harry said quietly. "But I don't see another way. I have something that he wants, and he won't stop at anything until he gets what he wants."
Daphne reached out and took his hand. "Maybe one day. When this is all over. Maybe then you can find some peace."
Harry squeezed her hand. "Maybe."
They sat in silence for a while longer, watching the sun dip lower. Then Daphne spoke again.
"I've been thinking about the future too," she said softly. "My father and I have been talking. We've decided that I should continue my education. Here in France."
Harry turned to look at her. "Here?"
Daphne nodded. "I've applied to Beauxbatons. The Academy of Magic in France. It's one of the oldest and most prestigious magical schools in Europe. They've already accepted me for the next term."
Harry felt a strange pang in his chest. "Beauxbatons. That's... that's great, Daphne. Really."
She smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "It's the right choice. I can't go back to Hogwarts...not with Dumbledore in control. And I can't just do nothing with my life. I want to keep learning, keep growing. I want to become the person I was meant to be."
Harry nodded slowly. "I understand. I want that for you too."
Daphne squeezed his hand. " This means that I won't be able to see you for a while, but...I'll miss you, Harry. I'll think about you every day."
Harry smiled. "I'll miss you too. But we'll see each other again. I promise."
Daphne smiled, and for a moment, the weight of the world seemed to lift from both of them.
<><>
The birthday celebration was small but lovely.
Daphne's mother had baked a cake, and there were candles and presents and laughter. Harry gave Daphne the quill set, and her face lit up with genuine delight.
"It's beautiful," she said, holding it carefully. "Thank you, Harry."
"It's nothing," Harry said. "Just a little something."
"It's nothing," Daphne said firmly. "It's from you. That makes it special."
After opening the presents and eating some cake, Sebastian approached Harry and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Harry," he said in a low voice. "Come with me for a minute. I need to speak with you alone."
Harry noted how serious his tone sounded and became curious about what Lord Greengrass wanted to discuss now.
He followed him into a small study, his heart pounding. Sebastian closed the door and gestured for Harry to sit.
"What is this about?" Harry asked. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes, I'm afraid that it is." Sebastian was silent for a moment, his expression troubled. " I meant to speak with you about this. Back when we both were at the Walpurgis Headquarters, I felt it was not safe."
"Safe?" Harry sounded confused.
"Back then, before my arrest..." Sebastian began to speak. "I had contact with the Knights of Walpurgis. Mostly with Tom Riddle and Lord Lestrange. I never joined the organization officially, but I did serve as an outsider who assisted them once in a while. It was not because I didn't believe in their cause, but because I was afraid of what could happen to my family if I was found to have ties with a terrorist organization."
Harry recalled from that old book he found at the library that the official reason for Lord Greengrass's arrest was because of his neutrality and his refusal to join forces with the Ministry's side.
Had he actually joined the Knights of Walpurgis, he would have been executed, just as happened to Pansy's father.
Then, Daphne would have been in a much worse position.
"However, as you know, I was still arrested." Sebastian continued. "I had always been extremely careful about erasing any tracks of my dealings with the Order. And during the eleven years I spent in prison, I had plenty of time to think about this. There is only one way the information about my secret deals with Tom reached the ears of the Ministry..."
Harry narrowed his eyes. He knew where this was going. "You think there is a traitor in the Order...a spy."
Sebastian nodded. "I have no evidence of this. Nor do I know the identity of the potential spy. But I am not the only one who thinks this. Lord Crabbe told me this much, and some members of the Knights were also able to point out some... oddities that occurred during the past war. The Ministry's side always seemed to be one step ahead and know where their next move was going to be. However, no matter how much they looked...a spy was never discovered."
"Mmm...if this spy is still there. That would be an absolute disaster." The Knights were already at a disadvantage. If Dumbledore truly had someone inside. Then the war was half lost already.
"But..." Harry continue. "If the spy was still there. Then..." Harry glanced at Sebastian.
"Indeed. It should have been impossible for the knights to intercept Azkaban's carriage. They would have changed the route or increased the security." Sebastian said. "I thought about that too, and found it strange."
Harry thought about it for a moment. That battle had ended in the death of Dolohov, but it would have been much worse if the guards knew they were coming.
'Unless...Dumbledore didn't care about those prisoners.' He thought about that possibility.
If he does have a spy, then perhaps keeping his spy inside and away from suspicion was more valuable than a few prisoners.
"Im sorry, Harry," Sebastian said. "I shouldnt speak of these things without having a shred of evidence. I dont want to make you paranoid. Perhaps I am overthinking things after spending so long locked up."
"No, I appreciate the warning."
Sebastian shook his head. "Regardless, you should always be careful who you trust. Even among allies, there could always be enemies. My father taught me that a long time ago. And perhaps, if I listened to him more..."
"Thank you. I'll be careful."
Sebastian glanced at him and smiled. "You know...it seems like my daughter has taken a liking to you."
"Really?" Harry asked.
Sebastian patted him on the shoulder. "Dont pretend that you didn't notice. I know you are a sharp lad."
Harry nodded. "She is a good friend."
"Look...Im not the fancy Lord I used to be. But I still want what's best for my daughters. So...take care of her."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you rushing a bit?. We are still-"
Sebastian sighed. "Time flies by, Harry. Faster than you realize. So, when the time comes...take care of her."
Harry didn't say anything and simply nodded.
It was true that time passed quickly, but not so much for him, who had the grimoire.
<><>
Later that evening, as Harry prepared to leave, Daphne walked him to the edge of the property.
"I wish you could stay longer," she said, her voice soft.
"Me too," Harry admitted. "But I have to go back. There's work to be done." He currently had a target on his head, so he did not want to put this family at risk by staying too long.
If an outsider saw him, that could be bad. He was sure that his wanted posters had made it here as well.
Daphne nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. " Promise me you'll be careful, Harry. Promise me you'll come back."
Harry looked at her. "I promise," he said. "I'll come back."
Daphne smiled, and for a moment, Harry forgot about the war, about Dumbledore, about the traitor in their midst.
She stepped forward and kissed him on the cheek. "Goodbye, Harry."
"Goodbye, Daphne."
He activated the Portkey, and the world twisted around him.
When he landed back in the woods outside the Potter Castle, the warmth of the Greengrass cottage still lingered in his chest.
But Sebastian's warning echoed in his mind.
A traitor.
Someone within the Knights.
If that was true, then he would need to find out who it was before it was too late.
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