Written for the "I Dare You..."Challenge

Prompts: TheoDaphne, bitter

She throws the vase, aiming for his head. Theo narrowly manages to duck before it shatters into a spray of stained glass shards. "Daphne! Please!" he calls desperately, reaching for her before thinking better of it.

When they fight, it becomes a war. The smallest of transgressions leads to a fallout that could rival the Dark Lord and Harry Potter.

"I never wanted to marry you," she spits before turning on her heel and storming for the door.

"Daphne! It's freezing outside!" Theo yells, following behind her.

"Don't."

But Theo doesn't turn away. He takes a chance, reaching out and brushing a hand over her cheek. "Talk to me, Daph. For once, just talk to me."

She turns, and for once, the bitterness and anger have dulled to something softer. Desperation? Sadness? Defeat? Theo can't name it.

"Why didn't you want to marry me?"

She wraps her arms around herself, hands working to warm her exposed skin. Her teeth worry against her lips lightly, almost as though she's trying to bite back words she cannot say. "Because," Daphne says at last, scrubbing her hand over her face. "I wanted to be free."

Theo considers this for a moment. Really, he shouldn't be surprised. Daphne has always been too wild. He had seen their marriage as an accomplishment, as though she had simply been a prize to be won.

"But you accepted," he says slowly.

"Because of my parents. Astoria was already engaged, so obviously I was doing something wrong," she mutters dryly.

Theo frowns. "Come on," he sighs, taking her hand. "Let's go back inside. Figure out the terms of our divorce."

Hesitantly, she follows him in. "Why would you want a divorce?"

"Because I love you enough to set you free."

Daphne leans in, pressing a chaste kiss to the corner of his lips. "Thank you."

He knows that this will be their last kiss, and though it hurts, maybe he's okay with that.