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"I met you in the dark, you lit me up.
You made me feel as though I was enough."
At this point, Harry would do anything to forget. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was blood. Death. The end of everything.
After the war, it was supposed to be a new beginning, but for him, it was the continuation of grief and fear. What if it wasn't really over? What if he found a way to come back?
He knew those he had lost were now at peace, but he still wondered, would he himself ever be at peace?
So when Ron suggested they go to a Muggle Halloween party at a local bar in London, Harry didn't refuse. It was a way to forget; it was a way to distract him from himself.
"You're sure that Hermione won't mind?" Harry had asked Ron. Their relationship had been going strong, and it was odd that Hermione was not going to be involved. Even before they were dating, she had always been involved.
"She is going to visit her parents to have an old Halloween like when she was a kid," Ron explained, "I think it will be good for her as they rebuild their relationship after she took away their memories. They still haven't completely forgiven her."
Harry closed his eyes for a moment and sighed deeply. He took in the cold October air, and he tried not to think about how his parents could have been walking on a sidewalk like this earlier in the day before they died. To them, it was any other Halloween, if you completely ignored the part about being in hiding... it was hard for Harry to see any positive right now.
"They will forgive her," Harry affirmed, "They have to."
Ron nodded and put his hand in his pockets. As they walked down the street to the bar, they didn't say another word. It was like they were taking in the complete normalcy of their current situation. The only thing was, Harry was waiting for the ball to drop like he always was.
A car honked behind them and Harry jumped. He felt his heart race, and Ron put his hand on his shoulder, "You okay, mate?"
Harry couldn't help being jumpy; Ginny had helped for a couple of months after the war, but when that didn't work out.. he had to comfort himself. It was nice to have Ron here tonight when he was feeling so much vulnerability.
"Yeah," Harry told him, "I'm okay." But was he really? Ron didn't push it.
As they approached the bar, Harry could already hear the music blasting through the speakers inside. The volume of the music really hit him when a stranger opened the door on his way out. Ron took it from him and asked again, "Are you sure you want to do this tonight? We could always.."
But Harry interrupted him, "I'm fine, let's do this."
Ron gave him an uncertain look, but held the door open for Harry. As Harry walked in, he could feel his skull vibrating with sensory overload. He shut his eyes, just for a moment, and that's when he saw it. The Great Hall in ruins, the screams, the booming of stone hitting the ground. He wasn't sure he was going to be able to snap himself out of it, until he felt a small body run into the side of his.
He opened eyes to look down at a blonde. Her hair was cut just above her shoulders and in waves. She was wearing a pink dress with kitty ears, and a pink nose was painted on her own. It took him a second to process who it was, but then it hit him. It was Daphne Greengrass; his old classmate in a Muggle bar.
"Sorry," she muttered, and she continued to push past him toward the bathroom. He wasn't sure if she recognized him or if she even cared. If he were her, he would ignore him too, but his thought process was interrupted by Ron.
"I'm grabbing a beer," he told him, "Want one?"
Harry nodded, and Ron walked toward the bar. A girl on a stool next to him tried to lean over and flirt with him, but then she clumsily spilled her drink. Being oblivious to the fact that she was wanting to be all over him a second before,
Ron helped her. She giggled as he did so. Harry couldn't help but roll his eyes. This poor girl had no idea how in love he was with Hermione; he wouldn't even notice she was giving him her attention.
Harry looked up and saw that Daphne Greengrass was now coming out of the bathroom. She went back to the dance floor and was starting to dance with a girl that Harry did not recognize. He recognized no one else but her. It was odd, but Harry could not pull his eyes away. Her blonde hair lit up the dark room, and so did her smile as she laughed at something the stranger said. It was like she didn't have a care in the world, and Harry envied that.
Ron came back with their beers, but he was interrupted from saying anything to Harry when he turned around to see Dean and Seamus walk in. He must of OWL'd them to join him, especially since Seamus was trying to get more into the Muggle scene. Ron slapped Seamus on the back and started up a conversation; Dean went to the bathroom and gave Harry a nod.
Harry felt oddly alone in this group of people. He didn't even say hi to his friends. He felt the only way he would feel less alone would be if he walked forward into the crowd.
He felt the alcohol starting to pulse in his ears along with the beat of the music, and that's when he realized he had already finished his beer. He set his glass down on a nearby table and decided to do what felt forbidden. He was going to approach Daphne Greengrass.
Clearly inebriated, Daphne clumsily waved her hands in the air to the music. She didn't notice him at first until she nearly slapped him in the face with her limp wrist.
She took a step back to examine him, and he could tell she was trying to focus her vision, "Harry Potter? You're joking!" She yelled over the music. Harry couldn't think of what to do other than shrug.
"What are you doing here?" He asked stupidly. She was obviously there to party. He was more curious about why she was partying with Muggles when she was once engrossed in Pureblood culture.
Daphne rolled her eyes and slammed forward into his chest. She could now barely stand up straight, "I'm not some Pureblood prude, Potter, though I'm sure you view me like every one of your Slytherin enemies."
She was clearly mocking him, but Harry didn't take offense. He was more intrigued than anything.
"You can barely stand up," He yelled over the music, "You should sit down."
She gave him a slight shove as if she was walking away, but she tripped over his shoe and he caught her.
"I'm fine," she grumbled, but she didn't release herself from his grasp. He led her to a table in the other room; the room with another bar and no party. It was quiet, even though you could hear the bass from the other room pounding through the walls.
"How much have you had to drink?" He asked her, concerned.
She hiccuped and rolled her eyes again, "Why do you care?"
"Because I'm a decent human being?" He snapped back, or so he thought he was at one point. He wasn't sure of anything anymore.
Daphne studied him for moment. She appeared as though she was going to say something, but then she suddenly got up and was running for the bathroom. He ran after her, and she allowed him to follow her in.
She made it to the toilet just in time and threw up all the alcohol in her system. Harry sat down next to her and awkwardly patted her back.
"Who are you here with?" He asked her, "I can go get them. I saw you laughing with that one girl."
Daphne sarcastically laughed and pushed some of her waves behind her ear, "I'm here alone. I just chat up with any random Muggle I can at this point."
"Why?"
Daphne wasn't expecting him to press her, and she was about to answer, until she threw up again. Harry looked away and patted her on the back again.
They sat there in the bathroom for awhile in silence, until Daphne finally reached to flush the toilet and started to stand up.
Harry helped her up and looked down at her in concern. He was about to ask if she was alright when suddenly, she laced her fingers through his. Harry felt his face heat up and his body jolt in surprise. She didn't shy away from him.
"I want you to come home with me," she slurred.
"I-I.." Harry was so shocked he couldn't find the words. Then she leaned her body up against his. He walked them out back into the quieter room and sat her down at a booth closest to the door.
"Wait here," Harry told her. He was sure she wouldn't go anywhere, as he went up to the empty bar. He got her a glass of water and handed it to her when he returned. She took it willingly and gulped it down.
"So?" She suddenly asked him. Her voice was less slurred, but Harry thought she was still acting delusional.
"I think it would be best if you just get some rest," he told her, "And besides, there is no reason you would want me to go home with you. Not after.."
He didn't finish his sentence, and Daphne just stared at him. Her grey eyes were wide, and her eyebrows were raised. She didn't say anything else, but she started to get up again.
"Where are you going?" Harry asked her. There was no way she should be alone right now.
"Home," she told him, "I'm going with or without you. I just thought I would offer."
Harry didn't say anything, but he looped his arm around his waist. He purposely did not look down at her as she looked up at him. He didn't want her to see how red he was.
They walked back out to the party scene, and he saw Ron sitting down at a booth with Dean and Seamus. Dean and Seamus were making out, and Ron looked very bored. He had already had three beers. He perked up when he saw Harry coming around the corner with a girl in his arms.
"Harry?" Ron called to him. Harry heard Daphne snort when she saw Ron, and he swore he heard her mutter "of course" under her breath.
Ron got up and approached them and put his other arm around Daphne to help Harry support her. This is when Daphne finally protested, "I'm fine! I don't need the help, Weasley."
Ron looked down at her in shock and more closely. That's when he realized it was Daphne Greengrass. He gave Harry a confused look, and Harry just shrugged.
"What is she doing here?" Ron whispered in Harry's ear as they led her out. Ron waved back to Dean and Seamus, but Harry was sure they didn't see him. Harry just shrugged again, and then they were finally out in the cold breeze.
Daphne leaned against the brick wall to allow Ron and Harry to let her go.
"I'm too tired to apparate," she told only Harry, "I'm going to catch a cab." She acted as though Ron wasn't even there.
"You are not going alone," Harry finally decided, "I'll go with you."
Daphne and Ron both looked at him with the same amount of shock on their faces.
"Okay," was all Daphne said. Ron didn't say anything, but Harry slapped him on the back as he went back to supporting Daphne.
"I'll apparate over tomorrow," Harry told Ron, "You should go join Hermione with her parents. I think she'll enjoy it."
Harry expected Ron to say more, but he didn't. He just gave Harry a nod and apparated away, just like Harry did moments later with Daphne in his arms.
Harry felt awkward as they made it to Daphne's doorstep. He found it even odder that Daphne was living amongst Muggles in a flat. She had told him the address, and he had remembered the street from when he was a child.
Daphne unlocked her door, and Harry hesitantly followed her in. She kicked off her heels and went straight for a room to the left. Harry just stayed in the kitchen, unsure of what to do. Then he heard her call for him in the other room, "Are you coming, Potter?"
She couldn't really mean.... Harry's face turned bright red again, and his palms were sweaty. He walked in the same direction she had went moments before and stood at the door frame. She was only in her bra and a pair of basketball shorts laying on her bed. She looked as though she didn't have a care in the world if he saw her that exposed.
"I-I.."
She laughed, "Relax, we are not sleeping together. Not with puke breath."
Harry was about to tell her she could just brush her teeth, but he knew that would send the wrong message. Instead. he sat on the edge of her bed, and she shut her eyes.
"Just stay with me as I fall asleep," she mumbled. Harry was about to say he would when he suddenly heard her snoring.
It was 7:07 am when Harry woke up the next morning. He looked up at the patterned ceiling and was confused. Where the hell was he? But then it dawned on him. He was at Daphne's flat.
He gulped and rolled over. His back ached and he winced, but then he saw Daphne's sleeping half-naked body next to him. She was no longer snoring, and he noticed she had gotten up in the middle of the night to grab a glass of water. He must of been out like a light to not hear her. That is also when he realized for the first time in months, he hadn't dreamed.
Careful not to wake her up, Harry got up slowly and walked out to her kitchen. He had considered just leaving. She probably wasn't going to remember anything anyway, but Harry was not the type to just walk out. Not that he had had many almost one night-stands before. He had only dated Ginny and Cho, and well, those relationships didn't last long. He wasn't even sure if he could consider this an almost one night-stand. Nothing had happened, only that he hadn't had a nightmare. That in itself was momentus.
He couldn't help but feel that it was because of her. It was silly, and maybe he was hungover and drank more than he thought the night before (he hadn't), but this felt significant... and that's why he found himself opening Daphne's fridge and making her breakfast in bed. He had learned how to cook for himself at a young age. He would sneak into Petunia's pantry when they were gone and make himself the meals they didn't want to feed him. He found that Daphne didn't have a lot in her fridge. Only eggs and milk, so that's what he made her. He made them scrambled, thinking that was a safe assumption of how she preferred her eggs, and he walked the plate back into her room.
He saw that she was up and leaning against her headboard. She was still only in a bra, and her bottom half was now covered with a blanket that she neglected the night before.
Her cheeks were flushed, and she had slight bags under her eyes, but for being, what he assumed was severely hungover, she looked fantastic.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and didn't look him in the eye as she said quietly, "You stayed."
Harry wasn't sure what to say, so he just sat down next to her and handed her the plate of eggs and a glass of milk.
"You don't have much in the fridge," Harry commented.
It was then that she started to laugh, and her grey eyes started to look more alive. He had no idea how he had not noticed her much before when they were at Hogwarts.
"You really are ridiculous, Harry Potter. I guess us Slytherin's weren't wrong about something."
He was about to ask her what she meant, when she continued speaking, "I should have assumed that the chosen one would stay and make sure I was rescued. Isn't that kind of your MO?"
"Don't call me that," Harry whispered under his breath, "I hate that term. I hate.."
But he didn't finish his statement. The words died out in his mouth, but she nodded like she understood.
"I hate everything about the past," she admitted, "We don't have to talk about it."
It was then she reached her hand out toward his and locked their fingers together. Harry's cheeks flushed, and she took notice and smiled. They didn't say anything more, but they sat like that for what seemed like hours and no time at all.
After that day, Harry found himself at Daphne's doorstep more than he cared to admit. Over the past few months, they had developed a friendship, and they never talked about that Halloween night and what that meant for either of them. It was like their friendship had just started randomly with no beginning or clear end. Ron was the only one that still knew about their friendship, and every time Harry brought Daphne up, Ron could only laugh.
"She's got you deep, mate," is all Ron would say, but Harry would just ignore him and change the subject.
When he found himself on Daphne's doorstep today, he hadn't expected everything to change so quickly.. but that was how life worked. In the blink of an eye, everything you had or knew was gone or reborn in a flash. Quite literally for Harry, especially.
Daphne was on her couch when he unlocked the door (with his own key she had made for him two weeks after that night), and flipping through Muggle infomercials.
She perked up when she saw him and patted the cushion next to her. He smiled back and kicked his shoes off before sitting down.
"How are you?" She asked him.
Harry just shrugged, "I've just been thinking.."
Daphne scrunched her brows together at his words and reached for the controller to turn the tv off. She was sitting criss-cross on her couch and turned her body to face him. Harry remained facing forward, and was now too afraid to look her in the eye.
"What have you been thinking about?"
Harry took a deep breath, he knew he was supposed to be brave, but it was still hard after all this time.
"I-I want to understand that night. Why do you live here among Muggles? Why were you alone? Why do I have a key? Just-why.. I don't-"
But he was interrupted as her lips crashed against his. The kiss was full of force, almost like desperation. Harry caught his breath at the realization that Daphne Greengrass was kissing him, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her closer. She was the first to pull away, and her eyes were shut as she put their foreheads together.
"I'm not good with words," she told him, "I never have been. My sister is the prodigy child and I'm just... me... and the war.. it changed me. I realized how wrong I was about everything, and I needed to escape to find light in the dark. Harry, please, just say you won't let go."
She was pleading with him, and her words were jumbled, but to him, it made perfect sense. He pulled his forehead away from her's and then kissed it lightly.
"Look at me," he told her gently. As her grey eyes gazed up at his, he had to consciously remind himself not to get lost in them.
"You don't have to explain everything at once," he told her, "I-I am also not good with words. After everything, my world was dark. I thought I would see the light again as soon as the light left Voldemort's eyes.. but it didn't... it didn't until..."
"Until?" Daphne pried.
"Until I saw you, for what seemed like the first time."
A tear slipped down Daphne's cheek. She didn't say anything, all she did was hug him. For the first time in awhile, Harry didn't feel so alone. For once, he felt at peace.