Balcony Encounter Continuation:

I have made you wait far too long, so without much ado on to the chapter. But please remember to read the Author's note and review!

I woke up groaning. My hand instinctively reaching my head, as a searing pain shot through the veins of my head. The sunlight creeping in from the curtains didn't help the matters.

Another groan escaped me as I pulled the pillow and put it on my head.

"Stop fidgeting," A voice says and the events of last night come crashing back to me.

The human-puppy date, the balcony encounter and escape to the Muggle world.

The boy-who-lived has again surprised me with his wit and cheeky charm, with a bit of sarcasm. Perfect combination if you ask me. On the other hand, I have surprised myself of how much attractive I find the man-who-conquered. Long gone is the scrawny awkward boy.

To be honest, he had grown attractive since his Sixth Year but he had obviously things to do other than dating. Tracy Davis would tell to anyone who would listen about the "heart-breaking" break-up between Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley. Tracy had been taken by the self-sacrificing nature of the Chosen One. I don't remember even a single girl, whether Slytherin or not, who was not interested in Potter some way or the other. Except for Granger, maybe, but in my opinion Granger had been attracted to Harry at one time. But she realized their friendship was more important than any romantic possibility. But of course, I am just speculating.

Thankfully, there hadn't been any sex or snogging. Yes, my human-puppy date was a bit disappointing but it doesn't mean I jump the next doable thing that comes by.

We had got trashed, talked, played truth and dare, did weird things like dancing on Muggle music in the club and then daring each other to do embarrassing tasks and slept practically on each other from what it seems.

"You know, the sound of wheels turning in your brain woke me up." Harry says, his eyes are closed, but a smile is playing at his lips.

"Well," I say, getting up in a sitting position, "Some of us have to go to work…"

"On a Sunday?" Harry asked, grabbing his glasses and imitating my position and grabbing his glasses.

"Yes," I reply, "Fabric is being shipped. And if I am not present, won't get any compensation for the damaged fabric. One would think that magical transport equals no damage, but facts…" I groan as a sharp pain shoots through my head.

"Are you always this cheerful in the mornings?" Harry asks, sarcastically.

"Nope, this is the special hung-over version of me," I reply, and get off the bed.

"So," Harry trails off, "This was nice."

"Yeah, it was," I reply, making my way to the bathroom. I stop in mid-step as a thought occurred to me, "You can join me if you like," I add, not liking the way my statement ended as a question.

"In the bathroom?" Harry smirks.

"No, you idiot," I mutter, "Buying fabric, of course."

"Of course," Harry says, his smirk set in place.

I raise my eyebrows at him and he chuckles, "Fine, see you in an hour?" He asks, "We can have breakfast before going to check on the fabrics."

"Sure," I mumble and with a final good-bye, Harry Potter apparates away from my apartment.

I smile to myself as I enter the bathroom, the headache seems long forgotten, but still I take a shot of pepper-up potion. I stop and stare at the mirror, my light brown hair are tousled and the eye-liner and bits of makeup are smudged on my face.

Oh bother, Harry must be having a laugh at my extent.

'Harry… hmm… Now Harry, is it?' The taunting part of my brain reminded me.

Oh bother, no one would care, it's like a rampant Slytherin-Gryffindor affair going on around. I reasoned, with myself. What with Ron and Pansy, Ginny and Blaise and the ever so sweet Katie Bell and Marcus Flint, they were the most unexpected couple. And for a long time I believed that it was just a ruse thought up by the Falcons' publicist, for whom the said two love-birds played as Chasers. But last night, I realized that Flint had been chasing more than just quaffles.

I smiled to myself as I got ready; unconsciously humming the tune from some Muggle song I had heard yesterday. If something these Muggles did right, it was music. Of course, Harry says there are many more amazing things Muggles have done. And I had replied that I would pass my judgment.

He had smirked and told me that he will make sure that I observe things.

It was when I was drying my hair using my wand, when someone knocked on the bathroom door. Assuming it was Harry, I shouted back, "A moment, Potter,"

I replaced my wand in the holster and made my way out of the bathroom.

"Did I hear "Potter"," Astoria smirked, sitting on my bed, "I thought Draco was joking when he said you left the wedding reception with none other than Potter. And imagine my surprise, I was so sure that you and Cole would have hit it off together-"

"So, his name was Cole?" I say, finally remembering the name of my awful date.

I have asked so my mother and younger sister not to try their hands at match-making. But sadly the two of them hardly listen to me.

"You don't remember the name!" Astoria exclaimed, looking scandalized, "You know he is a good friend of Theo, and what am I going to tell him?"

I shrug and look at my watch, Harry would be here any time now and as much as I love my sister, I really don't want her to start nagging Harry.

After a long time, I have a positive feeling towards a guy. A guy I don't completely hate. I guy I have found myself.

I know that I cannot be sure after just one night but this time I really have this positive feeling I have never felt before.

I won't call it love or anything, but let's just say that I am, I dunno, optimistic.

"And you ditched him," Astoria continued, "He was looking for you!"

"Was he really?" I wonder out loud, "I thought he was eyeing Susan Bones half the time."

"Oh, Daphne you are impossible!" My lovely dear sister reprimanded, "All I tried to do is make you move on from that ex-fiance of yours, find true love and be happy! But you just like to be miserable, don't you?"

I glare at Astoria, tears prickling my eyes, much to my chagrin, the thoughts of my failed relationship feel like cold and heavy rain drops against the skin.

Astoria seems to have realized the magnitude of her words. But I can't let myself look hurt, that is not who I am…

"I never asked you to, did I?" I snap at her, "If you know that I love being miserable so leave me be! I have told you a million times, I don't need a guy to make myself complete or happy."

"Like hell you don't," Astoria muttered, "You are just too hung up to see other guys around."

"Leave," I say, I really need time to compose myself before Harry arrives, or so I convince myself. But deep down I know, I don't want her to know how badly her words have hurt me.

"Fine," She snaps and apparates away.

I find myself falling back to the bed, sitting with my head in my hands.

I know that she will realize what she has said has hurt me. That's classic Astoria, she says things she doesn't mean and comes back apologizing the moment she cools down.

I am so busy swallowing in self-pity that I don't even hear the faint pop and realize someone's presence, until Harry says, "Daphne? You alright?"

Okay, so that was it.

Some things now... I am sorry for the cliffie and that this chapter sounded enigmatic or vague, I needed a strong enough plot to continue the story and well this is just setting up things. Partly the reason why it took so terribly long for the continuation.

Astoria's behavior from smirking to snapping will be explained, shortly. Please be patient with me. I am still adjusting with all the upheavals in my life. So, well...

I would love to hear from you through reviews or PMs.

So give your feedback please.

And yeah next time I am gonna change the title, so don't panic when you receive alerts..