Chapter 100

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her head down as she stared at her feet. It looked like she was struggling not to cry.

Harry noticed out of the corner of his eyes that Daphne was looking at her sister with barely disguised sadness and fear. He remembered her telling him how much her sister meant to her. Clearly, she knew that there was something unpleasant in store for Astoria after this meeting.

"Go to your room," Lord Greengrass said, his tone not only brooking no argument, but also sounding even chillier than it normally did. "I will deal with you later."

Harry watched the small scene play itself out. Astoria's entire body looked like it was shivering under her green wizard robes, her lips were trembling and he thought he even saw tears leaking out of the corner of her eyes. She looked very frightened. It was a little unsettling because she looked so much like Daphne.

At the same time, Daphne looked like she wanted to say something to help her sister. He saw her looking between Astoria and her father, worrying her lower lip, as if trying to decide whether or not speaking in her sister's defense would do any good.

Then her eyes met Harry's, her expression pleading.

"My Lord Greengrass," Harry spoke up. It was out of turn, breaching several rules of etiquette, and could very easily end with all of the work he had put into this moment being for nothing.

But he did not like seeing his friend like this, and if possibly ruining his chances of being allowed to see Daphne would stop her from looking so miserable, then so be it.

Nathaniel Greengras slowly turned his head to look at him. Harry kept up a strong, imperturbable front, even as a powerful chill ran down his spine as the man's dead eyes met his. He could not afford to look weak.

"If I could make a suggestion..."

XoX

The Leaky Cauldron was filled with patrons when the fireplace roared to life, the small fire that had been crackling inside morphing into a raging bonfire of bright green. No one paid much attention to the sight. It was not like this was the first time someone had used the floo network inside of the small pub today, nor would it be the last.

They also did not pay attention when several people stepped out, though if they had known who one of those people were they might have.

The first person to step out of the fireplace was a young girl no older than ten with dark blond hair, ocean green eyes and the brightest, most inquisitive smile anyone would ever see on her face. She was soon followed by two other people; another female who was quite obviously her older sister and a young boy with messy raven hair and killing curse green eyes.

Harry Potter sighed in relief as he stepped out of the fireplace. Never in his life had he been more pleased to no longer be in another person's presence before. Just thinking about the dead gaze that had been penetrating him for the last fifteen minutes was enough to send chills down his spine.

What had he been thinking? Causing such a serious breech in etiquette in order to convince Nathaniel Greengrass to let his youngest daughter join him and Daphne as they met up with their friends.

Harry did not commit very many impulsive acts. To date there were only a handful of actions he had committed that could be considered either impulsive or stupid, or both.

This particular act would definitely go up there as one of the most impulsive and stupid things he had ever done in his life, right next to attacking a troll without coming up with any kind of plan before hand and jumping on it's back in an act of brazen reckless panic.

"So this is the Leaky Cauldron?" There was a wide smile on Astoria's face as her eyes wandered and her head turned, as if she were trying to take in everything at once. "This place is amazing!"

"Don't run off, Stori," Daphne called out to her sister, who looked like she was about to bolt any second now in her attempt to take in more the small pub.

Harry looked over at Daphne, surprised to see her smiling so warmly in such a public setting. He was so used to seeing her cold demeanor while in public that this look was almost shocking.

Still, if this was the effect that Astoria's presence had on Daphne, then Harry would gladly suffer through the girl's father again.

Her sister stopped, then turned to look at Daphne, who was holding out one of her hands.

"Come on, stay with me. It wouldn't do for you to get lost."

"Right," a sheepish smile spread across Astoria's lips as she walked over to her sister and grabbed the offered hand. "Sorry Daphne, I'm just so excited to finally be allowed out of the house that I sort of forgot you guys were here."

"Of course you were," Daphne sighed in minor exasperation, but there was a soft smile on her face that told Harry she was not all that bothered, if she was bothered at all.

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