Disclamer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its character.

Currently most of the wizarding world is thinking about the events after the quidditch world cup where the dark mark was seen for the first time in 13 years. Ignoring the exaggerations and apparent cover up in the daily prophet, the fear among wizards and witches is quite apparent. There is this fear in everyone's eyes, while they try to conceal it, is quite evident especially with those that survived the first war. It is fairly safe to deduct that the foremost thought in peoples mind is that is the war coming back, even if no one voices their opinion.

However for me there is something completely different that I am thinking about. Right now I am sitting next to my grandfather, Cyprus Greengrass, who seems to be in the last moments of his life. He may be old and week yet he still holds this aura of power that demands respect. While growing up, my father was busy with the wizengamot and my mother taking care of the family business, so it was my grandfather who raised me while my grandmother raised Astoria. I may have been pampered like a royal princess but he also was a very tough teacher. I will gladly say that the fabled ice queen of Slytherin is a persona well crafted under the guidance of my grandfather, for which I thank him with all my heart. No the thing that I am thinking about right now is when my beloved grandfather will pass on to his next great adventure.

"Daphne" he calls for me and I understand the gesture, so I sit down next to him holding his hand. "My sweet princess, it seems just like yesterday that I held you for the first time. This small, cute little baby with Athena's blue eyes. I think she will forgive me if I say that you were the most beautiful girl I ever laid eyes on." Oh how I wish Astoria was here to listen to my grandfather praise me. "Daphne" he continued "I have taught you every thing I could and loved you with all my heart. Never in the past 14 years I have asked you for anything in return. But now as a dying man I ask for 2 things. First I ask you for forgiveness of a drunken mistake of my youth and second I ask you to honor my last wish."

Now that took everyone by surprise. Why was my grandfather asking for my forgiveness. He has never wronged me and never has he been harsh on me. He may have been tough on me but it was never unjust. His tutelage has made me what I am today, never am I going to hold his teachings against him. And what did he mean by a drunken mistake. No there was definitely something missing.

"Why do you ask for forgiveness grandfather?" I ask him.

" you see when Athena was pregnant with your father, my best friend learnt about his wife was expecting his firstborn." Now that was new, Cyprus Greengrass never addressed anyone as his friend, leave alone a best friend. "So to celebrate this wonderful news we went out drinking. So after we were thoroughly out of our senses we went to Gringotts to sign a marriage contract between the two houses. Oh how the goblins laughed at us in the next morning, while Athena and Dorea exiled us out made us sleep in the porch for our stupidity." I really don't like where this is going. I use all my Occlumency shields to hide my displeasure.

"So at Gringotts we made a marriage contract between the two houses but it never came to be because both our children were males. It didn't help that your father and James didn't get along till their last year." At this my father groans. "No please anyone but his spawn. I still don't like him. The only reason I tolerated that pompous brat is because Lily and Anastasia were friends." The look on my dad's face shows how clearly he disapproved of this arrangement. Then it hits him "Oh my god, If I was a girl or if he was a girl I would have been married to him" My dad visibly shudders. Oh the glare my mother was giving my dad for his reaction. He is definitely sleeping in the couch tonight.

"Daniel Greengrass, How dare you speak of a war hero like that. He may have been a pompous brat when he was young but at least show the respect for the dead." My mother scolded him with such anger in her voice that the usual demeanor of my father shrunk immensely. "But Ana. The things he did to us Slytherins, how can we not hate him. Old Sevy still holds a very strong grudge against James. His speech is just dripping with venom while he talks about the marauders." My dad really tries to reason with my mom but its really not helping his case. "No matter what he may have done. Don't take it out on his son. Also remember he is Lily's son too and I will not hear you insulting her family." Yup dad had definitely dug his grave. Good luck dad.

"Leaving your petty rivalry aside," grandfather continued "the terms of the contract were only fulfilled with you Daphne. So I ask you to forgive me for this marriage contract." Oh shit. If I hadn't loved my grandfather as much as I did, I would not have been so calm and forgiving as I am right now.

"Isn't there any way to dissolve this contract?" I ask. Might be there is a little hope. Maybe I could ask my betrothed to cancel the contract. Maybe I could activate an escape clause.

"Yes princess there is a way out of the contract." As he said it I was getting hopeful but I could still sense his but coming. "Its not really that difficult too. All you have to do is say no and the marriage contract becomes null and void, however" there it was. I knew it was coming 'The catch.' I knew it couldn't be that simple. Just a simple no, which pure-blood would keep a clause like that in a marriage contract. So I paid rapt attention to my grandfather for the conditions.

"Here I wish you to honor my last wish. My last wish Daphne is that I want you to at least get to know the boy before you decide to know the boy. I have met him and I think he is a fine gentlemen with the brains needed for all the titles he holds in the wizarding world. I had a really interesting conversation with him about pure-blood politics and wizarding prejudice. I see a lot of Charles in him. And to know that he was raised by Andromeda is in itself a boon for me. Plus from the look in your mothers face I know that she approves of my choice and your father's opinion really doesn't matter right now." I look at my mother and her face confirms what my grandfather said.

"Yes, my lord." My mother responds, traitor. "I met the boy in our apothecary while he was buying his first year ingredients. He approached me regarding for recommendations about books to read in potions. I had a really interesting chat with him and we still correspond with each other. I find him to be a great choice for either of my daughters. He is kind, sweet and honest, a perfect gentleman if you ask me." My fathers head perks up at this. "So that's who Hedwig belongs too. Huh I would never have guessed it was him. But isn't he too young to ask questions like he does in those letters and the type of books you send him is way beyond his reading level." It seems like my fathers reservation for the boy seems to be reducing. Now that intrigued me of the boy's identity. Not many things could change my father's opinion that fast.

"Well Daniel being a raven, I do not judge intelligence by age. I think the boy is one of the smartest of his age. I have considered many of his opinion to develop new potions for our own firm. I am to proxy some of his theories on potion brewing and recipes as he is too young to patent it himself like the new wolfsbane potion that I am working on. He is a genius if you ask me. Plus the strawberry cheesecake that you love so much is actually his recipe." Where did that come from. My fathers all time favorite sweet is actually a recopied my betrothed gave to my mother, talk about making an impression.

"Wait a minute, that summer intern of yours that you hire is actually James son. Shit, how could I have missed that. He looks so much like his father with his mothers eyes." He seemed to be in thought for a moment before you continued. "He made those cookies, macaroons and cake that you bring home sometimes for the kids ." Noooooo…. don't tell me my mothers chocolate chip cookies that she brings back from work is actually made by my betrothed. How can I hate him if he makes such good cookies. Oh how addicted I am to those cookies. "Yup." My mum picked up baking after I went to school. With the sweet-tooth that runs in my family, my dad was the happiest out of my mom's new hobby though she wasn't a professional her cheesecake and brownies were par with Florean "I teach him potions and he teaches me how to bake. Plus the cake that I bring for all of your birthday parties is actually made by him."

And there goes my dad's support. My dad always asked my mom where she got those cakes but she would just tease him and not tell. I think he has tasted every cake shop in London to find the bakery, including muggle bakery too.. My dad may not be a big fan of chocolate but he does like desserts. If I wasn't already betrothed to him, I am sure my dad would have got us engaged so that he could exploit his cooking.

All right all right I get it. He is a good match and he has my families approval. I will at least give him a chance to be friends with him. "Okay, I will at least try to be friends with him. I just hope he's not too old." I respond. "oh you don't need to worry about that dear, he's actually a gryffindor in your year." What? What do you mean he is in my year. The way everyone is talking about him, he seems to be some genius doing his mastery or something. The minimum requirement for the internship in the shop is to have completed your newts. Plus the only genius we have in my year is Granger and she really doesn't fit the bill.

The puzzled look in my face causes my dad and grandfather to chuckle. "oh honey, I thought you already figured out who he was. It's actually quite obvious who we are talking about. Even Astoria knows him pretty well." No it can't be. There is no way its him. No, n, no, no, no, Astoria is really not going to like this. I pray to merlin that its not him. I really don't want to fight Astoria for him.

My prayers goes unanswered as I hear my father murmur "She's going to kill us." when he realizes about his and Astoria's relationship. My mother responds to him with "Well he is her best friend and first crush. She'll just need to get over the fact that now he's going to be her brother-in-law." He visibly gulped. The trouble maker as she was, my sister could throw one hell of a temper tantrum when she didn't get what she wanted. "is it really him? why cant Astoria have him." I ask

"Yes dear, your betrothed is Harry potter and it cant be Astoria because the contract is between the firstborn children."