FicWad

Chapter 6– A Friend In Need
. . .

Harry left his suite of rooms and headed down the stairs with a happy gait to his step. It had been a tiring week but he felt good about all the effort he had put into his project. There was still a long ways to go as yet but the beginnings were very promising as far as he was concerned. Every day for the past couple of weeks he had been over to Black Manor to see how things were progressing.

Truthfully he had felt more in the way while there than anything. The three Black house elves, Middy, Linny and Lolly had everything under control. There had been afew rough areas, problems were bound to arise, but they had worked through them and gotten everything sorted in due time. The elves seemed to be in their element, Harry mused with a slight grin as he recalled them dashing about and seeing to his guests needs.

It was a very happy wizard that finally made his way into the dining room for a bit of breakfast and greeted those present. "Good morning, Andi," Harry spoke as he paused beside her chair and gave her a peck on the cheek with a warm affectionate smile. Since moving into Westfield Manor Andi and he had become closer. Harry saw the older witch as something akin to a long lost aunt he never knew he had. One far different from his aunt Petunia of course.

For her part, Andi was coming to think of the young wizard as something of an adopted son. These new feelings of Andi's, while not a replacement, were helping somewhat to ease the pain of losing her Dora. Andi smiled back in return."You seem to be in a rather chipper mood this morning, Harry?"

"That's because I am," Harry confirmed before turning to the toddler seated in a highchair next to the witch. "Good morning to you as well, Teddy!" Harry said as he leaned down and kissed the baby on the crown of his head. The toddlers face was covered with food so Harry figured it was safer there than on a cheek. Harry grinned as the boy's hair turned black and his eyes went green. Teddy liked to mimic the appearance of anyone who held him. In Harry's case though Teddy would change just upon seeing the wizard enter the room.

"Good morning Daphne," Harry offered as he walked to his seat at the end of the table and greeted the beautiful witch who wore her typical bright and cheerful smile just as she did every morning. The fact that the witch was always so happy in the morning was one of the few annoying things about her. Well, not really annoying as she does look rather pretty when she smiles like that, Harry corrected himself as he rather enjoyed the view.

"What?No kiss for me? Playing favorites are we?" Daphne teased with as her face dropped into an exaggerated pout, however her eyes still sparkled with laughter.

"You'd have to be family for that," Harry replied back with a lopsided grin. He had come to enjoy the teasing repartee the two of them always seemed to exchange. It was something rather new to him, which was perhaps why he enjoyed it so very much. Certainly there had been a great deal of ribbing among he and his dorm mates but they had all been blokes. This was the first time he had been able to exchange such banter with a witch and a pretty one at that. Hermione had her moments but Daphne was a whole other creature when it came to such playfulness.

"You do know that all of the Pure-blood families are related to each other in some manner? I'm probably like a distant cousin or something to you," Daphne told him, not surprised or offended by his rejection. She would have been far more amazed if the wizard had been bold enough to acquiesce to her request. The young woman that she was rather enjoyed their byplay, especially when Harry used that lopsided smile of his. He's just too damn cute, she concluded silently once again. Of course the fact that she knew that Harry would never try anything just made the play all the more fun because she was certain that it was safe.

"She's right you know," Andi offered, agreeing with the younger witch. Harry shot her a look as if to ask just whose side was she on. "It wouldn't surprise me if there was a Greengrass and a Potter somewhere in your family tree. I know there is in the Black tree," Andi clarified, unruffled by Harry's accusatory stare in her direction.

Rather than reply to that news or provide the kiss that Daphne was hinting at, the brave Gryffindor decide to switch topics and address the other occupant at the table. "Good morning, Davis," Harry offered as he took his plate in hand. "Still here I see," he added as he stepped over to the sideboard and began to serve himself.

The witch in question had arrived two weeks ago. At the time Andi had been moving in with Teddy and hence Harry hadn't paid much attention to the fact that she was there. Other than a brief hello and welcome to the manor, Harry had been too occupied with seeing that his godson and cousin were situated. As recently he had been occupied with his ongoing project he really only saw the newest witch to his home at breakfast and then the evening meal time. Since her arrival though Harry had often noticed the auburn-haired witch glaring at him rather accusingly. It was as if he had done something to personally offend her.

Harry had tried to figure just what he could have said or done but nothing came to mind. He knew very little about the former Slytherin and really hadn't had the chance to get to know her. Harry thought she was pretty or at least that she could be if she took better care of her looks. She's a bit frumpy, Harry recalled thinking upon first meeting the woman who was dressed in dark robes and had her hair pulled back in what appeared to be a hastily done ponytail. Why does she insist upon wearing such drab robes and would a little makeup really hurt? Daphne's appearance was always impeccable which only made Tracey look all the worse when compared.

"At this rate you might as well just move in," Harry innocently tossed over his shoulder as he served himself eggs and bangers. Due to his back being turned to the others he missed the ear splitting smile that blossomed upon Daphne's face as well as the restraining hand the blonde witch placed upon her friends forearm to keep Tracey from replying harshly. The underage witch gave a slight shake of her head in warning to her best friend.

"Morning, Potter," Tracey finally answered evenly as the wizard made his way back to the table and seated himself. "You're looking rather less kept than usual today," she practically sneered as she took in Harry's faded jeans and the clearly well-worn t-shirt he had on. It was a far cry from the usual well-dressed wizard she and the others were used to seeing in the morning.

"Yes, well, that's because I have a date today," Harry surprised them all by say. Harry easily ignored the witch's tone as he had been the target of it since she had arrived and was becoming rather immune to it by now. Besides, it wasn't anywhere near the same level of snideness that Malfoy or Snape had managed so it really didn't bother him all that much. The young wizard just assumed it was part of the witch's nature, though that did make him wonder just how she and Daphne were then friends as their personalities were at odds apparently.

"You can't seriously be going on a date like that!" Daphne was quick to point out, offended on behalf of whatever girl Harry was seeing that day. It was a bit of a surprise that Harry would be dating, especially as she was fairly certain than the man was besotted with the Granger girl, but it really wasn't her business she figured. A small voice in the back of her mind did ask the question that if he was dating perhaps he would take her on one. Andi did end up going along with us on our last date, she reasoned.

"Anna made it very clear that I was to wear something old," Harry replied defensively. "She likes to paint and is an Artist," he informed them, adding a bit of a French accent to the last word just for fun. Andi gave a soft chuckle, Daphne just rolled her eyes and Tracey shot him her usual glare.

"The Prophet hasn't mentioned you seeing anyone, Harry," Andi stated, though it was clearly more a question than a statement. "When did you start dating this Anna?" she asked. Harry was family so she couldn't actually help it if her protective instincts, ones every mother has, kicked in at that moment.

"I'm not seeing anyone," Harry clarified. "Anna asked me out yesterday and I just couldn't say no to her. She has the cutest dimples that appear whenever she smiles," Harry added with a small grin as he recalled them. "I'm sure if you saw her you'd say the same thing. Quite irresistible."

"Well, before your date card gets filled, I was wondering if we could do a shopping trip this Thursday for some things I forgot," Daphne asked. "Andi, you're more than welcome to come along if your free," she added to the older witch. Shopping was more fun as a group after all.

"Thursday isn't good for me," Harry replied before anyone could say anything else."Beth and I have a date that day," he surprised them once again judging by the shocked expressions that appeared on their faces. I think I rather like surprising them like this, Harry thought amusedly to himself. Merlin knows I've had enough surprises in my life. It feels rather good to be handing them out instead of receiving them. The young wizard wondered in passing if the Headmaster had enjoyed them as much."Saturday is out too as I have a pickup Quidditch game with the guys," he slipped in hastily.

"Beth?" Daphne asked in disbelief. "Working your way through the alphabet, are you?" she teased, though there was an unusual note to her tone.

Is she jealous? Harry thought in shock, surprised himself this time. No, she couldn't possibly be. She already has a bloke she's in love with after all. "Feeling left out?" Harry enquired, his emerald eyes sparkling with mischief. "Would you like for me to save the D slot for you?" Harry teased back with a grin, abet a bit nervously. Flirtatious banter was still something new to him and he wasn't nearly as confident with it as Daphne appeared to be.

"That would be lovely if you could fit me into your busy schedule," Daphne replied with a coquettish smile of her own.

Their playful exchange was rather rudely interrupted by the scrapping of Tracey's chair across the floor as she hastily stood up forcing it back rather quickly."If you'll excuse me, I've rather lost my appetite!" the auburn-haired witch announced before turning and storming from the room with a scowl upon her face.

Harry sat back in his chair and sighed. "I don't know what I ever did to offend her but she certainly doesn't seem to like me." The fun he had been having with Daphne just the moment before was completely lost as he once again contemplated just what he could have done to offend the witch that had just hastily stomped out of the room.

Daphne sighed remorsefully. "I don't think it is so much you personally, Harry, but rather your gender," she told him. Upon seeing his questioning look she added, "It's not my story to tell. Just give her time and she'll come around." The blonde witch stared after her friend. "Tracey's not usually such an irritable witch. It just takes her a bit to warm up to a person. Males especially."

"Well, I had best be off as well," Andi stated as she wiped her mouth and set the napkin down upon the table. "Another day of trying to cut through the bureaucracy of trying to get my internship completed." Seeing the set of questioning looks from the other two she explained. "It seems that there are some additional classes I'll need to sit as it has been a number of years since I dropped my previous internship. Sadly, in order to sit the classes I need to be in an internship, which I can't get without sitting the classes. It's all rather maddening," she said with a suffering huff that the others thought was kind of cute.

"Anything I can do to help?" Harry asked with genuine concern. He didn't know anything about admissions or medical internships but Andi was family and so he wanted to do all he could for her.

"Not unless you're personal friends with the Dean of Admissions or know the Chief Healer at St. Mungo," Andi replied. "No, I'll eventually get them to see just how idiotic they are being. I just have to wear down their stupidity before they wear down my patients."

"Well if there is anything I can do, let me know," Harry replied as he watched the older witch rise and then excuse herself. "I had best be off as well," Harry stated as he looked towards Daphne.

"Mustn't keep Anna waiting," Daphne teased with a grin.

"Yes, well, you lady folk tend to frown on that don't you?" Harry answered as he stood. Winky appeared with a moist towel and began cleaning Teddy's face, hands and generally his entire body as it seemed to Harry that there was food everywhere on the child. During the exchange of the adults apparently no one had been watching the toddler who found great joy in playing with his food.

"Very much so," Daphne answered with a nod of her head. "See that you remember that, Harry."

Harry chuckled. "I'm well aware of it. Hermione was very adamant about it all through our school years. It finally sunk in sometime around our fifth year," he added with a lopsided grin. "Ron and I were a bit dense about it actually."

"Granger does have you well trained. I'll have to thank her for that," said Daphne with a small smirk of amusement. Speaking of the Gryffindor witch, Daphne couldn't help but wonder if Harry had mentioned the fact that she was living with him as yet. Perhaps I should write her and let Granger know that nothing as yet has happened between us, she mused silently as Harry started to walk away only to pause and turn back to face her.

"Oh there was one other matter I nearly forgot," Harry said, though in truth it had been weighing heavily on his mind since receiving the last missive from her father. "Are you alright being here without your wand?"

Daphne eyed the man speculatively for a long moment before answering. "I would have to go home to ask father for it and, as I am certain you recall, I ran away from that place. I'd just as soon not return to there at the moment if it's all the same to you. Not when I have such wonderful company here," she added with a bat of her lashes.

Harry suddenly felt as if his collar was a bit tight at her look but ignored the playful jab as he was attempting to discuss a serious matter. He well recalled that she had run away from home to avoid an unwanted marriage contract. The fact that in their exchange of letters the Greengrass Patriarch had failed to mention any of that at all was rather perplexing to say the least. "You know we could go to Ollivander's and get you a new one," Harry offered.

"That's sweet of you, Harry," Daphne said with a gracious smile, "but I'm sure you got the same line that old Ollivander tells all his customers, 'The wand chooses the Wizard'," Daphne said in a rather good impersonation of the old wand maker. "Or rather a witch in my case. No, I'll wait for father to return it to me. I'm certain he will eventually. Besides, I have Tracey here now and once she's moved in she can swish and flick anything I need."

"Well if you're certain," Harry replied hesitantly. "Wait? Moved in? Who said she could move in?" Harry asked a bit confused.

Daphne chortled, "Why you did just a bit ago when you were serving yourself breakfast," she told him. "I distinctly heard you say that she might as well move in." Daphne stood, setting her napkin upon the table and made her way bewitchingly over towards the wizard. "You're not going to tell me you didn't mean it now are you?" she asked sweetly as her hips swayed just so with each step she took.

"Yes…well, you see…" Harry stammered, not sure what to do. The young wizard's internal self-preservation alarms were blaring once again and just as before he hadn't a clue as to why. His fight or flight instinct was definitely screaming flee! Choosing to ignore the warning bells, he forced his mind from Daphne's hips and back to the matter at hand. It was apparent to him that Tracey didn't like him. It was also apparent that Daphne enjoyed the auburn-haired witch's company and Harry did want Daphne to be happy.

"Come now, Harry, it's not like you don't have the room," Daphne continued with as she reached his side and laid a gentle hand upon his forearm. "It would mean ever so much to me if my best friend could keep my company here," she said in an alluring tone as she gazed into his emerald eyes.

Faced with the beautiful beguiling woman, her pleading eyes and seductive tone, Harry did what any man would have done. He caved. "Alright. I guess I don't have an issue with it."

"You're a dear!" Daphne exclaimed before she leaned in and gave Harry a peck on the cheek in gratitude. The happy witch turned and headed out of the room leaving the dazed wizard behind her. As she reached the doorway she turned back, "Of course this means we'll need that shopping trip sooner rather than later. Friday will do nicely," she added before spinning about and disappearing through the doorway. Behind her Harry's shoulders slumped in defeat as he groaned aloud, pointedly ignoring the snicker that came from Winky behind him.

-oOo-

"Lastly, Headmistress McGonagall has asked that we all be on the lookout for some of the more dangerous of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes items such as the portal swamps. Mr. Filch was nearly bitten by an alligator yesterday apparently. If you happen to see such items please confiscate them. There is a list posted on Mr. Filch's door of the items in question. Thank you for your continued hard work. That will be all for today," Hermione ended with as the Prefects got up to leave. "Luna?" Hermione called out, "Do you have a moment?"

"Sure," the blonde Ravenclaw witch replied as she made her way over towards Hermione, taking the seat next to the girl. "What can I do for you?" Luna asked in a serious tone. Since the war had ended Luna had been far less dreamy and a bit more withdrawn, well, more than a bit actually.

Hermione was certain it was due to what they had all experienced. One doesn't live through a deadly battle and come away without some scars, especially ones that can't be seen, Hermione thought as her hand unconsciously moved to her forearm where the word Mudblood had been carved into it by Bellatrix Lestrange.

"How are you?" Hermione opened with politely. Due to there being so few seventh year students at the school, as well as for her part in the war, Luna had been made a Prefect. Because of this Hermione had been able see a bit more of Luna than in previous years. What with different classes and being in different years it had made it a bit hard in the past. This year was not such the case as they were in the same year now. The bright witch could tell that there was something wrong with her friend and Hermione meant to determine just what it was. She recalled Harry mentioning that in past years Luna had been rather bullied by her House mates and Hermione was fearful that it might still be happening.

"I'm fine, Hermione," Luna replied with a forced smile as she tucked a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "Have you heard from Harry?" she asked to change the subject as well as to hear about the wizard she missed. The petite witch didn't want to bother Hermione with her problems. I'm sure she's quite busy being Head Girl and all.

"He's apparently doing rather well," Hermione offered with a wide grin, always happy to talk about Harry. "He seems to be keeping himself rather busy though the prat won't tell me what with," she added with a faux scowl. Hermione continued to try and determine just what Harry was up to but as yet had meet with little success. The possibilities were just too many to make an accurate speculation on the matter.

"I'm certain that whatever it is he'll tell you soon enough," Luna offered supportively. "I mean this is Harry we're talking about. He's your best friend. He tells you everything." Much like Hermione, Luna was finding the bespectacled wizard's absence hard to deal with. Harry was one of the very few true friends that she had and she dearly missed his presence in her life.

Hermione sighed knowing that the Ravenclaw witch was right but hating the fact that she didn't know Harry's well-kept secret now rather than when Harry decided to tell her. "You do know that was the same 'I'm fine' that Harry always gave me. I believe you just as much as I believed him when he used it. Care to share just what is bothering you? I'd like to think your my friend too, Luna, and that I'm yours." Hermione couldn't help but notice the girl's red a puffy eyes, a clear sign of crying, or the dark circles around them that that spoke of a lack of proper sleep.

"You are," Luna confirmed as she hung her head and looked at her hands in her lap, sorry to have apparently caused the witch to worry about her. There was apart of her that desperately wanted to share her burden with Hermione and after a few moments it finally won out over the part that didn't want to burden her friend. "It's Daddy," she finally confessed in a soft tone. "He isn't doing well. Hasn't been since our home was destroyed and we lost the Quibbler," the distraught witch continued as she looked up at Hermione with large watery silver eyes. "It's like he's given up or something. I honestly don't know what I'm going to do! I can't lose him, he's all I have!"

Hermione did what she was known best for, she reached out and hugged the petite witch to her. "It will be alright, Luna," Hermione comforted the girl in her arms, hoping her words sounded convincing. "I'm sure he'll come around. We've all been a bit damaged by the war and all." Hermione held her crying friend for several long moments, allowing her to release what she was certain the small woman had been holding inside for some time. "You've got Harry and me as well, you know. We'd never leave you alone, Luna."

"I know," Luna sniffled from within the comfort of her friends arms."The Healers at St. Mungo's say that there's isn't anything physically wrong with him. I've sat with him all summer long and watched him as he's slowly wasted away before my eyes," the young witch said as if she was trying to cleanse herself of the memory. "When Daddy said I should go back to school I jumped at the chance. I just couldn't stand to sit there and watch any longer. I must be the world's worst daughter!" Luna wailed.

"You're most certainly not the worst daughter," Hermione answered, patting the girl's back in an attempt to comfort her. "I erased my parent's memories of me and sent them half way around the world. I stole from them their only child. You stayed by your father's side the entire summer. You're very courageous if you ask me. That's more than I think I could have done," Hermione confessed.

"If it were your Daddy you'd have found a way to fix him," Luna offered with a wet chuckle. "I'm certain you would have disappeared into the library for a few days and emerged with some miracle spell or potion to set him straight."

Hermione's expression became determined upon hearing the girl's words. "He may not be my Daddy but that doesn't mean that we can't find a way to fix him, Luna! We're two very bright witches and if we put our minds to it there isn't anything we can't do!"

"You….you really think so?" Luna asked in a hopeful tone. "You'll help me?"

"Of course I will!" Hermione confirmed before getting a thoughtful look."We'll need to order some Muggle medical books as well as Wizarding ones. Good thing Harry gave me a key to his vault!" Hermione exclaimed, making a mental note to thank the absent wizard once again for his thoughtfulness as it was really proving to be helpful.

"It's terribly nice of Harry to share the bounty of his family with you," Luna replied, sounding a great deal more like her former self than she had in some time. "I hope one day I can find someone like Harry who loves me just as much."

Hermione felt her cheeks heat into a blush at the implications of the girl's words."Well, Harry is my best friend after all. He's terrible sweet at times, always looking out for me. I'm sure he just wants to make certain I wasn't lacking for anything. Which is why he gave me the key, not that there would be any other reason. To give me access to his vault…and all," she rambled on for a moment before shutting up, completely blushing at the thought that Harry might actually love her as his letter had said.

Luna sat back and looked at the Gryffindor girl. "And you're the smartest witch of our age?" she asked incredulous, giving Hermione the same look that Luna's mum would give her father when she thought he was being particularly daft."We'll have to work on that I suppose," Luna tsked thoughtfully.

-oOo-

Daphne hastily made her way up the stairs to her suite of rooms. Stepping through the door into what amounted to her parlour, a small room to greet guests in, she spied Tracey sitting on the small couch pretending to read a book. The blonde witch leaned her back against the closed door, "Care to tell me what that was all about?" she asked in a deceptively calm tone of voice.

"Nothing," was the clipped reply when it came from Tracey. The seated witch hadn't even bothered to look up when she spoke, something that was rather rude to do per Daphne's way of thinking.

"That," Daphne stated a bit heatedly as she pushed off the wall, taking a step towards the other witch while using one hand to point in the direction she had come from, "was a bit more than just nothing, Tracey. I think I deserve an explanation"

"Look," Tracey replied just as heatedly as she stood, dropping the book to the couch,"If you don't have to tell me what your plans are for Potter then I certainly don't have to tell you every little thought that crosses my mind!" she snapped angrily.

"Harry is being very kind in allowing me to live here, Trace," Daphne snapped."He just said you could stay here as well for Merlin's sake! He has been every bit the gentleman. Why are you so put out with him?"

"You know I've just about had my fill of it! It's Potter this and Potter that!" Tracey growled out in return. "All you every talk about anymore his Potter!"

Daphne's face darkened, "Jealous much?"

"Should I be?" was Tracey's quick counter.

Daphne checked her retort, took a deep breath and tried to reason with the woman."Tracey, I told you that I don't have any plans for Harry. Why won't you believe me? You've known me all my life!" she pleaded.

"It's because I've known you all your life that I don't believe you, Daph," Tracey fired back. "You're a Slytherin for Morgana's sake! You probably have a primary plan, a secondary one and then three or four contingency plans as well in case something goes wrong with the first two!"

"I'm not a Slytherin anymore!" was Daphne's reply when it came, her anger slipping out once more. "In case you haven't noticed neither of us are in school any longer. What House we belonged to at Hogwarts doesn't matter now!What does matter is what House we'll belong to moving forward," Daphne spat out before she could stop herself.

Tracey's eyes grew large as she suddenly realized what this was all about. "You want Potter! You want Harry bleedin Potter!" she yelled in disbelief."No wonder I find you sitting here playing house with him! I suppose you already have the wedding planned and have talked about the number of babies you'll be having too!"

"No, that's not it," Daphne was quick to deny but Tracey saw the guilt and fear that was upon her face. "We're not playing house, or anything for that matter," Daphne answered, well recalling the teasing she had given Harry about starting with the babies already when Andi and Teddy had moved in.

"Tell me then that you didn't set the whole encounter up! Potter just accidently bumped into you in Muggle London?" pressed Tracey. "Look me in the eye and tell me that wasn't a well thought out Slytherin plan," Tracey demanded while staring into Daphne's ice-blue eyes.

Daphne tried to retain eye contact as she crossed her arms over her chest defiantly. With a huff she guiltily looked away after only a few seconds. "It's not what you think, Trace," she stated in a quiet tone as her demeanor rapidly cooled. Fear clutched at her heart that she had been discovered. While Tracey had been her friend all her life there was always the chance that she would rat her out, however ever small it was.

Tracey closed the distance between them and took both of Daphne's hands in hers, as her expression begged Daphne to tell her the truth. "Then tell me what it is. Explain it to me. We've known each other all our lives and you've never had to hide things from me till now. I wake up one morning to learn that you're suddenly living with Harry Potter, the most eligible bachelor there is," the exasperated witch exclaimed with a humorless chuckle. "What am I supposed to think?"

"I'm not living with him," Daphne replied quickly. "He…he offered me something I needed. Something only he could give me," she tried to explain her reasoning but all her thoughts were in a jumble as panic creeped in and she fought a primal urge to flee the danger she was heading into if she revealed the truth.

"What?" Tracey enquired more confused than ever. She could hear the fear in Daphne's voice, as well as the uncertainty which was so out of character from the confident witch she had known for so long.

"Shelter…," Daphne admitted so softly that Tracey had to strain to even hear it.

"…from your father," Tracey finished after a moment, as it suddenly made sense to her. After the defeat of Voldemort, Harry Potter was nigh on untouchable. Even a wealthy and influential man such as Gerald Greengrass wouldn't be able to do anything to The-Boy-Who-Vanquished, she realized. Tracey led Daphne over to the couch and the two of them sat. "So why not tell me all this from the start," she asked, still holding the other woman's hands in hers.

Daphne gave a small shrug of her shoulders but after a few moments she confessed."I feel, I don't know. Dirty, I guess. I mean at first it was just Harry Potter. The Chosen One who we were all so certain was conceited and pompous. In my head it seemed like great fun to dupe the Golden Boy into protecting me till I was of age. You recall all those stories in the Prophet about how much of an attention seeker he was," she said. "I figured someone with that big of an ego would be easy to fool."

Tracey could well see where Daphne would have gotten that image of Harry from. The stories in the Daily Prophet had been horrible, and those were the good ones."Did you ever stop and think that if he was like that he could have been just like Zabini, or even worse?"

Daphne gave a nod that she had, touched by the actual concern she heard in Tracey's tone. "I figured I could handle him the same way I did Blaise."

Tracey gave the hands in hers a reassuring squeeze. "But he's not like Zabini, is he?" Tracey asked only to see her friend shake her head.

"He's kind and caring to a fault," she told Tracey with a small wistful smile."He makes it a point to ask me every day how I am doing, if I need anything or would like to go someplace. He actually went shopping with me for ten hours and not once did he complain," Daphne recalled in an effort to prove her point. "I even stretched it out an extra hour to see if he would and not even a peep out of him."

"Oh that settles it then! You have to marry him!" Tracey exclaimed with an exaggerated eye roll, eliciting a giggle from her best friend which had been her intent all along. The humor broke the tense atmosphere and set them both a bit more at ease.

"But I tricked him," Daphne said, the small smile dropping from her face as quickly as it had appeared. "I feel awful about it. I truly do," she affirmed in the hopes that the other woman would believe her. "I just don't know what I should do about it. If Harry were to find out he might very well turn me over to my father and we both know what will happen then," Daphne exclaimed distastefully.

Tracey sighed in sufferable disbelief at the mess that Daphne had gotten herself into."You always did put far too much credit in the trash that the Prophet publishes, Daph. If you had spent any time at all watching Harry, you would have known he wasn't that way. If even half the stories at school were true about him then he is the complete opposite of what the Prophet said."

The corners of Daphne's lips curled up slightly. "Harry is it? Sounds like someone has been keeping an eye on him," she teased her friend. Her smiled turned into a full-blown grin upon seeing Tracey blush a bright red."Spill it, Davis!" Daphne pestered.

"Alright!Alright!" Tracey confessed upon realizing she had been caught. "I had a thing for him back in third year, long before the whole Goyle thing happened. He just looked so….I don't know, vulnerable. I just wanted to protect him," Tracey added with a small chuckle. "When you add in that wild hair of his back then, he was quite the little heart throb!"

"Still is," Daphne quipped without a thought. The two witches looked at each other for a long moment before breaking out into giggles.

"Alright, I'll give you that," Tracey finally replied. "So who's this Anna bint he's off seeing today?" she asked.

"First I've heard of her," Daphne answered with a creased brow as she tried to recall Harry ever mentioning a girl. "I was certain Granger had Harry all but tied up."

"I didn't think she liked him like that," said Tracey. "Aren't they just friends?" It was no secret at Hogwarts that wherever Harry was Hermione wasn't far away and vice versa. At first everyone thought they would become an item, a fact that led to many a witch hating the bushy-haired know-it-all. As time passed however and there were none of the usual signs of being a couple, meaning they were never caught in a broom cupboard, most finally accepted that they were just really close friends.

"Granger would have to be stupid not to want that," Daphne claimed, referring of course to Harry.

"One thing Granger isn't is stupid," Tracey affirmed.

"My point exactly," Daphne stated.

"You don't think…," Tracey started with before she began to nibble on her bottom lip in thought.

"Don't think what?" Daphne exclaimed after several moments went by and it didn't look like Tracey was going to finish her thought. "You can't just say that and not finish it, Trace!" she chastised.

"Sorry," Tracey offered apologetically. "You don't think that perhaps they haven't notice what they feel for each other? I mean Harry is a bloke so he's pretty much clueless as all blokes are." Daphne could do little but nod in agreement. It had only taken the twitch of her hips, a touch of her hand and a peek on the cheek to have him tripping over his words and agreeing to whatever she wanted."Granger though, if she's so bloody smart, you would have thought she would have worked it out ages ago."

"Language, Davis!" Daphne admonished out of habit. Tracey could curse like a bloke when she had a mind to. It was a habit that Daphne had been trying to break her of, with little success. "I bet she's over analyzing it," Daphne finally offered. "You know how those brainy ones are."

"Why yes. Yes I do," Tracey preened as she sat up straighter and posed. Daphne just rolled her eyes at her friend's antics.

"Oh, before I forget, Harry's taking us shopping on Friday," Daphne told Tracey.

"We simply must go to the store you mentioned," Tracey nearly begged. Daphne had been quick to show Tracey the muggle undergarments that she had purchased. The thought of never having to wear a corset or what passed for underpants in the Wizarding world again, nearly had Tracey salivating at the very thought of owning her own. "Maybe Potter can even select for us some of those lingerie items you mentioned?" Tracey teased.

"Don't hold your breath," Daphne said with a chuckle. "Mister fearless Golden Boy bolted from the store just as soon as he realized what it was and wouldn't even return till I was all finished and everything was packed away."

"Pity." Tracey quipped. "No free show for him I take it?"

"I think he would pass out if I were do that for him," Daphne chortled well naturedly.

"I nearly did," Tracey confessed, referring to when Daphne had modeled some of the items she had purchased. Daphne was far too busy blushing to offer a reply.

-oOo-

It was just after dusk when the tired wizard returned home and walked through the front door. After storing his broom in the cupboard next to the door he stepped into the living room and greeted those there. "Good evening, Ladies," he offered to Daphne, Andi and Tracey. The three had been siting about and chatting while they waited for dinner to be ready. The topic of discussion of course had been the planned shopping trip on Friday. It wasn't every day that a wealthy bloke offered to take several women shopping as well as pay for it after all.

Daphne took in the man's appearance and the amount of paint smeared all over his clothes before asking, "Did you manage to get any on the canvas?"

Harry looked down at himself and then back up at his blonde house guest,"Some," he answered with a lopsided grin. Daphne chuckled, once again thinking that he looked rather cute when he smiled like that. Unlike last time she didn't banish the thought as quickly as it had come. The young witch figured that if Harry was openly dating then she was allowed to admire the merchandise.

"Well, as long as you had fun," Andi offered neutrally though she was amused by his appearance as well. "So I hear you're up for another shopping trip this Friday?" Andi was certain she saw the young man flinch at her words. She had heard from Daphne about the muggle undergarments and wanted some of her own. Perhaps a bit less daring than the ones Daphne and Tracey had been discussing just before Harry had walked in.

"S…sure," Harry stammered with a gracious smile. "Whatever makes you ladies happy?Any luck on your classes today?" he quickly asked to change the subject to anything other than shopping.

"No," Andi replied in a frustrated tone. "St. Mungo's Administration depart says I need to sit the classes before I can get the internship and the Dean of Admissions at the London Academy of Hospice & Healing says it's not his problem that I'm not in an internship and hence can't sit the required classes. He suggested that I start all over from scratch as a new student, which seems sort of a waste considering I had already completed my schooling previously."

"Well, let me know if there is anything I can do to help," Harry offered before turning away to go change.

"Harry." The man addressed turned, a bit surprised to hear Tracey call his name to get his attention. "I wanted to properly thank you for allowing me to stay here. It has been wonderful to be able to spend this time with Daphne. You have such a lovely home."

"Yes, well, it seemed rather important to Daphne so it was important to me as well," Harry replied with a hesitant smile, not certain what to make of the witch's gratitude. "If you need anything please just let me or one of the house elves know. As you'll be living here I want to make certain you're as comfortable as possible. Now, if you ladies will pardon me I best get changed before dinner is ready."

Harry apparated up to his room. He was fairly certain that dinner would be ready just as soon as he was ready, thanks to his House elves. Before changing, the young man sat down at his desk and hastily wrote out two letters. A pair of Black house owls swooped in through the open window and quickly took the dispatches."Hopefully that helps somewhat," Harry mused as he changed into the clothes Winky had laid out for him.