Chapter 1 - GREENGRASS MANOR

Harry POV

I had just finished training with Sirius in a secluded section at Grimmauld place. Apparently, the room was heavily warded, so I didn't have to worry about to Ministry knowing that I was doing magic outside of school. Although Sirius was reluctant to come back here, he decided it would be the best as I could practice magic outside of school.

Man! Dueling with someone who was a veteran was very different to my own training with the dummies and with Daphne and the others in the Room of Requirement.

Sirius had all sorts of tricks up his sleeve. One of his tricks was that he would conjure objects, like marble, near me and launch a confringo at it to make it explode. The dust created by the marble explosion would obstruct my vision as he sent a set of deadly triangle formation spells at me. This forced me into an unfavorable position, I had to give up on offense and focus purely on defense. I had to put up a strong protego shield all around me as I wasn't certain if the spells would hit me up front, or circle around to hit me from the sides.

The duel eventually ended with me taking out my trump card of fiendfyre. Sirius blatantly surrendered after he failed to tame the flames as it would burn him to a crisp otherwise. I sat down on my bum on the cold training floor after the duel, I was utterly exhausted. Sirius and I had pushed each other hard in that duel.

"Well done Harry! Blimey! I had no idea you would be this powerful! And wow! That control of fiendfyre was masterful! That fire stag from the fiendfyre completely caught me off guard!"

"I wasn't actually going to use fiendfyre Sirius, but you pushed me into using it. If I didn't, you would have won! That chain series of twelve spells from the cutting curse all the way to the last incendio was bloody impressive!"

"Yeah… nobody ever has managed to turn that around. When I was practicing dueling with Moony and your father before, once I got into that chain sequence, none of them could turn it around. I was really surprised when you sliced the incendio flames and caught a bit of it in your hand and turned it into a fiery stag… I may have to consider rotating some of my spells out for a less fire orientated one..."

Sirius and I then discussed better tactics for dueling and how to quickly gain advantages or how to turn a situation around and counterattack. I then left and went upstairs to my room to shower. I saw Kreacher on the way and he mumbled out half blood scum. Once I finished showering, I came into my room and saw Hedwig perched up on the window sill.

"Hey Girl! You got a letter for me?"

Hedwig then chirped up as I grabbed the letter that was being held in one of her claws. Before ripping the letter open, I quickly fetched out some Owl treats and laid them on my desk. Hedwig flew over and started gobbling them up.

Dear Harry,

I know it is still early, but I would like to formally invite you and your Godfather, Sirius Black, to come and watch the Quidditch World Cup with Daphne and the rest of my family. I have acquired spare tickets at the top box of the minister for the match and would be delighted if you and your Godfather could join us.

All the best, Cyrus Greengrass, Lord of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Greengrass.

I then flipped the letter around to see two tickets stuck to the back of the letter. I smiled and cast finite incantatem on the tickets to dissolve the sticking charms that had the tickets attached to the letter.

"SIRIUS!" I hollered.

Sirius then came running into my room. When I showed him the letter he smiled and left to get a gift for Cyrus. He said that it would be polite when I visited their house later this weekend.

I was going over to see Daphne! Honestly, I am a bit nervous, but excited as well to visit Daphne at her home.

Sirius then came back in with a bottle of vintage Firewhisky that was kept in the Black's wine cellar at Grimmauld Place.

It was Friday now, Sirius and I had just come back from Diagon Alley after doing some shopping for some clothes and dress robes. We were apparently required to purchase a set of dress robes this year for Hogwarts for some reason. Sirius picked out a nice set of traditional black dress robes with a white collar and dress shirt at Madam Malkins. After having the crest of House Potter being printed on the right shoulder of my dress robes in a bright golden lining, Sirius and I chose other kinds of clothes from the store.

We then went to Flourish and Blotts next and I picked up the additional books I needed for this year. I didn't look for any additional books to read as I had the entire Black Library to devour. Some of the things I read were incredibly disturbing when I was in the Black's Library. There was even a book that had information on Horcruxes.

I still had not told Sirius about my fate with the prophecy and about Moldy Short's Horcruxes… Maybe I will tell him soon… He is doing a lot better now since he was set free and cleared…

After Flourish and Blotts, we left Diagon Alley and flooed back to Grimmauld Place. As usual, the screaming from Ms. Black's portrait sounded throughout the house as she heard our arrival.

"Good luck today Pup! Go get them!"

Sirius then gave me a cheeky wink and a goofy grin.

"Yes, sir!"

I saluted with my free hand that was not carrying the bottle of vintage firewhisky. I shrunk the bottle and grabbed the floo powder and stood next to the fireplace.

"Remeber Pup, keep shuffling your feet as if you are walking there, whilst you are traveling by floo. People fall flat on their face usually because they make the mistake of just entering the flames and standing still. By constantly moving you won't fall flat on your face when you reach Greengrass Mansion!"

"Yeah… won't want a repeat of Diagon Alley again hahaha".

I then tossed the floo powder into the fire and called out "Greengrass Manor!"

Then a firey head appeared at the fireplace at Grimmauld Place.

"Ah, Harry! Give me a moment to key you into the Manor's wards and you may come through!" said Cyrus.

After a moment Cyrus chirped up, "Alright Harry! You may come through now!"

Here we go! Don't fuck this up Harry…

I walked through into the fire and get walking whilst inside the flames. I then popped out and landed smoothly on a very fluffy carpet. I quickly was pulled into a crushing hug by Daphne. The familiar golden locks brushing against my face.

"Welcome to Greengrass Manor Harry!"

"Thanks, Daphne, it's great to be here!"

We separated from our hug shortly. I then turned and saw a slightly amused Cyrus. I suppressed a blush that threatened to appear on my face.

"Welcome Harry, to our home, dinner will be soon! Now if you would like to-"

He was interrupted by a scream and a brown-haired missile colliding with me and trying to tackle me to the floor.

"HARRY!" yelled Astoria.

"Now now Astoria, come... let us give Harry and Daphne some space. Dinner will be ready soon".

Cyrus then left with a pouting Astoria. Daphne quickly turned around and gave me a kiss on the cheek after they left.

"You look great Harry! Your wardrobe seems to have considerably improved".

"Haha, you really think so Daph?"

"Hmmm, I do like how your green flannel jacket matches your eyes… and the standard white t-shirt underneath with black jeans… playing it safe I see?" she teased a little bit towards the end of her sentence.

I was about to tease back, we had gotten a lot more comfortable around each other after almost a year of dating, when a house elf popped in next to us.

"Missus Daphne, Master Greengrass wishes you and our guest Mister Harry Potter to come to the dining room, dinner is ready".

"Okay, tell him we will be right there. Thank you, Tinky".

Daphne then led me towards the dining room.

"Hello Harry, it is lovely to see you again", said Roxanne.

I gave a small nod and a smile to Daphne's mom as I pulled Daphne's chair out for her to help her get seated. Before sitting down, I walked over to near Cyrus and took out the shrunken bottle of firewhisky. I then waved my hand and the bottle enlarged back to its original size.

"This is for you Cyrus and your family. Thank you for inviting me here and to the Quidditch World Cup".

Cyrus smiled warmly at me.

"Thank you, Harry".

We shortly got started with dinner. There was a lot of talk about Daphne and me, what we did in Hogwarts. Despite giving them a recap of my year at Hogwarts, the conversation would always curve back to magic due to Astoria bringing up my patranous every five minutes.

"I have to say… When I did see your Patronus Harry, in the hospital wing, it was very impressive. I myself struggled with the spell for a long time during my school days… it wasn't until I met Roxanne that I understood the spell properly and could cast it… anyway, Daphne was been talking about your impressive repertoire of spells and magical knowledge…"

"Uh… I am not sure that it is as impressive as-"

Daphne then quickly cut me off.

"He is just being modest Dad, I could show you just how strong Harry is in a mock duel, he could probably best some Aurors in the Auror corps".

All eyes on the table lit up and stared at me.

There is no getting out of this is there Godric?

"Indeed not Harry Hahaha, you seem to always get into unfortunate situations," said Godric.

"Ooooo, yes yes yes", chirped Astoria.

Daphne's mother then gave both of them a stern look.

"Perhaps another time deer, let's not have Harry run around and duel on his first time here, he might not want to come back later on…"

Phew... Got out of that one...Thank god, I need to thank Roxanne sometime...

Afterwards we talked about Quidditch, well mainly Astoria, as she recalled my match against Slytherin and how I took out Malfoy with the Wronski Feint. Daphne though did comment as well. She couldn't help add in a jibe or two on how the ferret looked when he smashed into the ground. Soon, the dinner was over and after saying goodbye to Daphne's parents and little Tori, Daphne walked me back to her fireplace. Right before taking the floo powder, Daphne nervously asked me a question.

"Hey, Harry… I know you didn't want to… I mean I don't want to sound pushy or anything but… can you become an Animagus with me? It would be nice when I run around and you are there with-"

I chuckled for a bit, I knew this was coming today as she had not written to me about it through owl. I had thought about it a bit as well since I said no to her back then in the Room of Requirement.

"I understand Daph, of course, I would be happy to! I just wasn't... motivated? At that time during the school year, I was more interested in all the spells and protective wards I was learning from Godric. I have another month and a bit until we go to the Quidditch World Cup. Since I can also do a majority of spells nonverbally now, I don't need to worry about swallowing the Mandrake leaf when practicing magic now as well haha".

Daphne then engulfed me in a hug before giving me a kiss on the lips.

"Thank you, Harry! It is going to be so much fun with both you and I in our Animagus forms together! I can't wait to see your Animagus form".

"Hopefully you won't mind kissing me when I have the bloody leaf in my mouth over the next month".

I gave her a lopsided grin after saying this. She then kissed me again before we parted lips to draw breath.

"Does that answer your question?"

"Yes, it does…"

I held her in my arms for a bit before separating from her and grabbing the floo powder.

"Goodnight Harry", whispered Daphne.

"Goodnight Daph… Grimmauld Place!"

In a burst of flames, I was shotting back towards the shoddy old Black House. No doubt Ms. Black will be screaming her head off once I arrive.