Daphne Greengrass was always more of a background character, easily lost in the crowd. Sure she was beautiful with her waist length blonde hair, pale skin and ice blue eyes, but she didn't like to draw attention to herself. She made a name for herself while at Hogwarts as the Slytherin Ice Queen because she never showed her emotions openly and rebuffed anyone trying to get close to her, except her best friend Tracey Davis. The only people who get to see the real Daphne and not the facade she puts on were her family and Tracey.

Daphne and her father had been approached several times about the possibility of arranging a betrothal contract, but all had been refused. Cyrus has said that he didn't want Daphne to be treated like a Pureblood Princess who has to obey everything her husband says, while Daphne doesn't want to be used and abused. Most of the families looking for a contract just want her for her blood status and social standing. She also couldn't stand people who thought being pureblood made you better than everyone else.

Daphne's younger sister, Astoria, had a contract but with unusual circumstances. Astoria had been dating Theodore Nott since her third year at Hogwarts, but once she started her fifth year Theo's father, Thaddeus, demanded a contract or Theo would have to end it with her. It took a lot of begging and crying but Cyrus eventually caved under pressure and a good word from Daphne about the boy.

Now the war was over Daphne could relax a bit and talk about normal teenage things with Tracey. Today they were sat on Daphne's bed talking about colouring their hair because Tracey was bored of her brown hair and Daphne was tired of all the blonde jokes. They had just decided to blue and purple to the ends of their hair when there was a knock on the bedroom door.

"Come in." Daphne called. She was expecting it to be her little sister Astoria coming to get some gossip, so was surprised when her parents, Roxanne and Cyrus came into her room.

"Daphne, we have something important to discuss with you. You may stay, Tracey. I do not expect this conversation to go well, so your presence may be able to provide some comfort to Daphne." Roxanne said gently, sitting in the chair in front of the vanity.

Daphne and Tracey looked at each other for a moment, confusion and worry clear on both faces, before turning back to Cyrus and Roxanne. "What's going on? Normally you would ask me to join you in the study for important matters." Daphne said.

"Yeah, Mr G, it's weird. By the look on your face either someone's died or you found a contract applying to Daphne you can't find a loophole in." Tracey stated.

"You're not wrong, Tracey. As you know, the Goblins do a thorough examination of all active vaults every ten years. They did the examination of our vaults last week along with the Lovegoods." Roxanne explained calmly.

"I know some of the workings of Gringott, mum, but why are you telling us this? There's never been a contract for me, even Astoria's contract is only a year old. What do the Lovegoods have to do with this? We haven't really seen them since Aunt Celeste and Pandora passed." Daphne questioned, her confusion evident in her voice and facial expression.

"Pandora had a contract Daphne, which is passed on to the closest living relative of the same gender without a contract, if the original betrothed suffers an early demise. As you know Pandora did. The closest living relative to Pandora, who doesn't already have a contract is you, Daphne." Cyrus explained slowly.

"You're joking? Right? I mean, I was just kidding, but if it's true... who? Who does Daphne have to marry?" Tracey asked as Daphne seemed to have been stunned into silence

"The Heir of House Black." Roxanne answered softly.

"MALFOY!?" Daphne and Tracey shrieked together.

"She can't marry that git! He'd ruin her!"

"We hate each other! He's a bigot! I'd rather die!"

Roxanne and Cyrus both looked confused at the outburst of the teenage girls.

"Malfoy has nothing to do with this, girls. The Heir of House Black was blood adopted at a week old by the last Head of House Black, Sirius. Your betrothed is Harry Potter." Roxanne said gently, trying to soothe the girls.

"WHAT! No, that can't be right, he's dating the Weasley girl, has been for over a year. I can't ruin their relationship by telling him we have a contract to abide by. Are you sure it's him? I mean, Sirius could of blood adopted any of his friends kids." Daphne ranted, aggravated.

"Yes Daphne, I'm sure." Cyrus said firmly. "I did the research to check a few things. He is definitely Heir Black. The Goblins will be informing him during a meeting they set up in the next few days."

Tracey suddenly erupted into laughter making everyone else look at her like she had lost her mind. When she had calmed down enough to speak, she said " Sorry, you just reminded me of something. Potter's single, love. Blair's said that Potter finally caught him bedding the Weasley girl the other day and he just walked out, without a word to either of them."

"Oh dear. Not the best time to spring this on him then." Roxanne said, worriedly.

"It will be fine, dear." Cyrus pattered her hand reassuringly before they all got lost in their own thoughts.