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"Do you think my plan will work?" The raven-haired man crumpled the parchment he was holding anxiously. "What if-- what if she--" Harry Potter stared down at the bar top in front of them. His friend, Ron Weasley, patted him on the back to ease his nerves.
"I'm positive she's been hinting at it every time we hang out, mate," Ron said skeptically. He poured a shot of firewhiskey and gave Harry an encouraging grin.
"Cheers to you, mate!" they both exclaimed before downing their shots of firewhiskey.
***
"Hey Daph, pick a card, any card."
"What's this?" she asked, bewildered, as Harry handed her two identical square parchments, almost like name cards. His palms were moist, and he was evidently anxious, but he had been preparing for this moment for weeks. He inhaled deeply to calm himself.
"Just pick one and give it a tap with your wand," he instructed softly. She gazed at him suspiciously, but he concealed his nerves well.
"I want our anniversary to be a bit more special than last years," he shrugged. "Just pick one."
Daphne hesitated, but ultimately selected the left card, tapped it with her wand, and recited it aloud: "Vacation in Hawaii." She blinked in astonishment and looked at Harry, inquiring about his motive. It was unusual for him to take her abroad solely for their anniversary. Nonetheless, she attempted to keep an open mind and believed he only desired to create a unique moment.
"Ooo, Hawaii! Excellent choice, Daph!" Harry beamed, putting both parchments in his pocket and grasping her hand to apparate.
"Wait at we going immediately?" she halted him in disbelief. He stubbornly apparated them all the way to Hawaii, leaving Daphne unprepared.
"But I haven't packed at all!" she objected. Harry recognized his mistake and cursed himself inwardly.
"Of course, we'll pack first. Do you require my accompaniment or pick-up?" he inquired, attempting to make amends.
"Meet me at my flat in an hour, and we can leave from there," Daphne responded with a kiss on his cheek before disappearing with apparition. Harry watched her vanish and grinned to himself. He was determined to make this anniversary unforgettable.
"Damn it, Harry Potter! Of course she would need time to pack" he cursed himself for forgetting something important. He shook his head and checked the parchments in his pocket. He had prepared several sets, and there were still three remaining for Daphne to choose from. He was most excited about the last set, but if it failed, their relationship would be in jeopardy. Harry was prepared to accept whatever the outcome was with grace. He apparated to his house to pack before heading to Daphne's flat.
A few moments later, Daphne arrived at her flat and summoned her suitcase with a flick of her wand. She stood in front of her closet, contemplating what to bring to Hawaii, trying not to panic. She knew it was a tropical state and needed to pack accordingly. She rummaged through her closet to find her summer clothes, which she had stowed away for winter.
When Harry entered her room, he noticed it was a mess, and Daphne was frantically packing.
"Are you ready?" he asked her.
"No, not yet," she replied in a panic.
"Just bring what you need. We can always go shopping there," he winced at the word 'shopping,' realizing it was the wrong thing to say. Her face lit up at the idea of shopping, and Harry mentally cursed himself for using the trigger word.
"Shopping? Yes! We can go shopping!" Daphne exclaimed, tossing out most of the clothes she had packed and leaving only what she thought she would wear, including dresses, pajamas, and a few pairs of shoes. Harry sighed but felt his heart warm at the sight of her happiness. He smiled, and Daphne responded with a flying kiss. Harry acted dramatically, as if he had been hit by her kiss, which made her giggle before continuing to pack. He loved her more than she knew.
"I'm ready!" she said enthusiastically with a wide smile. He hugged her and kissed her on the lips. She kissed him back. Before their kiss could heat up and delay their departure, Harry, with a heavy heart, released his lips from Daphne's.
"Let's go," he exclaimed, taking her delicate hand in his. With a snap of his fingers, he summoned his house elf, Eren, who immediately appeared and presented him with a spoon before disappearing once again.
"Portkey? I thought we would apparate," she questioned, her brow furrowing in confusion. He looked at her with a twinkle in his eye.
"My sweet Daphne, we're crossing the ocean," he replied with a grin. She blushed in embarrassment, realizing her mistake. He merely chuckled and kissed her forehead tenderly.
"Are you ready?" he asked, to which she nodded in agreement before pulling him into a tight embrace. In an instant, they were whisked away, jostled about until they landed on a pristine sandy beach.
Feeling a bit dizzy from the Portkey, Daphne shook her head to clear it. Harry, on the other hand, struggled to regain his footing and cursed the method of transportation under his breath. "Bloody portkey!" he grumbled.
Daphne teased him, "Looks like you need more practice with your landings." He grumbled in response but allowed her to help him to his feet, dusting himself off with a flick of his wand.
"Where are we?" she asked, peering around at the darkened sky, unsure of the time. When they had left, it had been bright daylight, but now it was night, and she couldn't tell if it was midnight or early morning. She was grateful they had their winter coats on, as the air was chilly despite being in the tropics. The twinkling stars above brought a smile to her face.
"We're in Hawaii," Harry assured her, though he himself was not entirely certain. This was his first time visiting his family's property outside of Britain, and he was just as surprised by the quiet location as Daphne was.
"You sound unsure," she commented, looking at him quizzically.
He sighed, admitting, "The goblin I spoke with about my family properties, Metalhead, didn't say anything about the landing spot when he gave me the portkey. But he did mention it's a beautiful bungalow used as a holiday house by my grandparents, so I'm sure we'll find it." He grinned reassuringly at her, his arm slipping around her waist. Together, they set off down the deserted beach, eager to explore their new surroundings.
Daphne was left speechless by Harry's explanation, unable to do anything but shake her head. She looked around once more and gasped when she saw the horizon changing colors, signaling the approaching sunrise.
"Let's go," Harry said, but Daphne gripped his hand to halt him. He gave her a questioning look, and she hurriedly pointed to the horizon. His eyes widened, and they both stood still, entranced by the beauty of the sunrise. The sky transformed from dark blue to light blue, gradually becoming brighter and turning orange as the sun slowly rose, enveloping them in its warm glow.
"I've never seen a sunrise like this," Daphne whispered in awe.
"Me neither," Harry murmured, nodding in agreement. But he quickly snapped out of his reverie, realizing that they needed to decide on their next destination. He reached into his pocket to retrieve the parchment Daphne had to pick from again.
"Again? What are we here for exactly?" Daphne raised an eyebrow. She didn't fully understand Harry's game, but she trusted him enough to play along. This time, she didn't hesitate and selected the parchment on his right before tapping it with her wand. Harry couldn't help but grin stupidly at how radiant Daphne looked in the sunlight.
"To celebrate our special day, of course! It is our anniversary after all!" Harry cleared his throat. "So, what did we get this time?"
"It says, 'Harry Potter will take me shopping!'" Daphne cheered, but Harry groaned.
"It's your fault for writing that, and you promised me before we left," she reminded him with a playful slap, pouting.
"Even though I was hoping you’d pick the other parchment, we'll still go shopping!" He winked at her. "And no, you won't know what the other parchment says until we're back in Britain."
Daphne didn't want to waste any more time arguing, so she changed the subject.
"Have we ever walked along the beach like this before? Because I don't remember doing it," she said. They opted to walk barefoot to avoid getting sand in their shoes, relishing the sensation of the smooth sand on their feet and finding it relaxing.
"As far as I can recall, we haven't," Harry replied, spreading his arms wide. "And based on what I can see, this is a particularly stunning beach. But first, let's figure out where exactly we are." The sun had started to rise, and the light was getting stronger, making their skin feel warm. They continued to stroll along the beach, hand in hand.
"Does walking on the bridge over the sea count?" Harry asked with a hopeful expression, glancing at Daphne to gauge her reaction. However, he could see the answer 'no' reflected on her exquisite face. Harry let out a sigh and admitted, "Actually, it's my first time having a vacation at the beach. The Dursleys never took me with them. During the war, I went to a beach but it was to hide in a friend’s cottage after escaping the snatchers, and after the war I didn't have the time or energy to even think about going to to one. So, I'm thrilled to be here with you."
"I'm glad you're enjoying it," Daphne squeezed Harry's hand. "I should have taken you to the beach I usually go to when we were in Japan," she added with a hint of regret.
"Ha! You should have!" Harry teased her with a grin and playfully bumped her shoulder. She rolled her eyes, trying to suppress a giggle.
Suddenly, the atmosphere became melancholy, and Daphne smiled as memories flooded her mind. She leaned her head against Harry's hand and said, "For me, it's been years since I went to the beach. Going to the beach in Japan doesn't count because I just moped around, feeling like a miserable young woman. It's where I would sulk and… well, you remember my bad habits when we first met," she said, speaking hurriedly. Harry only nodded, fully aware of her reference to her tendencies, and the work she had put in to kick her smoking habit.
"Maybe around a year before I started going to Hogwarts," she continued, frowning. "When my grandmother was still alive and healthy," she added with a tinge of sadness. Daphne took a deep breath and continued in a soft voice, "She was the one who taught me how to draw and brew properly. Do you remember the tattered journal I carried everywhere?" Harry nodded. "It was hers, and for years it felt like it was the only thing I ever had."
"You have me now," Harry said lovingly, embracing her with affection. "Hey, look," he said, successfully distracting her as he pointed to a bungalow built over the water.
The bungalow, as they called it, was uniquely beautiful, constructed entirely of wood. It wasn't as large as Harry's new house at Godric Hollow, but it was perfect for a couple. As they approached the door, it opened automatically, welcoming them inside. They stared in amazement at the interior of the house. The entire bungalow was made of wood, and the color was natural, blending seamlessly with the surrounding nature. It had a single bedroom with a king-sized bed, an open bathroom facing the ocean, a small pool before jumping into the sea, and a fully furnished kitchen. Both of them stood awkwardly in the middle of the room.
Daphne's eyes widened in awe as she took in the stunning bungalow. She found the place beautiful, but the open space made her feel a bit exposed. She looked at Harry and joked, "Are you taking me here for our honeymoon, Harry?" Her face turned red with embarrassment.
"I'm not sure if this is the kind of place we want to stay in," Harry admitted, his cheeks turning red as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. He had trusted Metalhead's recommendation without researching the bungalow first, and now he was regretting it. The house was very open, and Harry could see how it might make Daphne uncomfortable.
"Would you rather find somewhere else?" he asked her. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable, especially since they had already been intimate. Daphne was more conservative than he was, and he could tell that the bungalow was making her uneasy. Harry didn't know why his grandparents had built such an open house, but he could guess what they might have done there, and he didn't want to dwell on it.
Daphne shook her head. "No, Harry, let's stay here. I don't want to ruin our anniversary plans just because of the house. I can handle it." She was determined to make the most of their trip.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked, wanting to make sure she was comfortable. Daphne nodded firmly, and Harry breathed a sigh of relief. He felt guilty for not finding a more suitable place, but he was grateful that Daphne was willing to make the best of it.
"Okay, let's unpack and then find something to eat," he said, trying to lighten the mood.
As they finished unpacking, a house elf named Tito appeared to introduce himself as their personal attendant during their stay at the Potter Bungalow. He served them breakfast shortly after, and Harry and Daphne were surprised to find that the kitchen had been stocked for them by the goblins, who had informed Tito of their arrival. The elf was overjoyed to have guests to serve.
After breakfast, they took a nap to recharge their energy. Daphne settled into the bed, while Harry lounged in the hammock near the mini pool. In the afternoon, they portkeyed to a shopping center in Honolulu after finding a few two-way portkeys in one of the drawers beside the bed. Each portkey would bring them to a different tourist spot. Because they wanted to have lunch first, they decided to find a nice cafe or restaurant to grab some food before going shopping. Daphne was really excited; she was already planning what she wanted to buy and what souvenirs she would buy for her sister and their friends. She even hinted to Harry that some of the souvenirs could be used as wedding souvenirs one day.
“Look, Harry! She said it was made from coconut shells!” she exclaimed enthusiastically, showing him a mug shaped like a mini bowl.
"Wow, these mugs are so unique! Could we get a couple for ourselves? It would be amazing if they could carve our names on them," Harry matched Daphne's excitement. He had never been so thrilled about shopping before, but since being with Daphne, it had become something they always enjoyed doing together. Even though he initially grumbled, he loved how Daphne would drag him along. Daphne nodded enthusiastically and scurried inside to pay for all the things she had chosen, including the mugs. A few minutes later, she came back with a shy smile. Harry, who knew what was going on, handed her his card. She skipped back inside, beaming with joy. Harry shook his head and chuckled to himself as he held a few shopping bags in his hand.
In the first shop, Daphne panicked when it was time to pay for their purchase because she had forgotten to bring any Muggle money. She hadn't even brought her galleons because she had forgotten to transfer the contents of her bag to another bag before leaving. As a result, she gazed at the item she had selected miserably. Harry came to the rescue after feeling satisfied yet guilty for quietly laughing at her carelessness. At first, Daphne refused his offer and wanted to go to the nearby Gringotts first because she had money, for Merlin's sake! However, she eventually relented after Harry coaxed her in many ways and sugar-coated his words.
"Remind me to pay you back when we return to Britain," she grumbled while taking the card shyly from Harry's fingers and giving it to the seller to pay for everything. Daphne came back with a smile on her lips and a few new shopping bags in her hand. He took her hand, and they walked away from the store.
"Is there anything else you need to buy?" Harry asked.
"I think I have everything I wanted to purchase," she said, checking all her purchases one by one on a bench near the beach. Harry fanned himself with the hand-fan he had bought as he watched Daphne rummage through the shopping bags. Daphne rolled her eyes when she saw Harry enjoying himself to cool off.
"Are you finished?" Harry asked.
"I think so. Are we going back to the bungalow, or would we have dinner at a nearby restaurant first?"
"Before I answer that, it's time for this one again!" he said in a singing tone, grinning. He took out two small pieces of parchment from his pocket and handed them to Daphne to choose. "Your selection will take us to the next place," he said mysteriously.
She groaned and huffed before finally picking one of the parchments. "This is irritating, but it's intriguing. Where do you get these ideas from?" she asked. "Later, I want to know about the other parchments that I didn't pick." As she tapped the parchment, the words slowly appeared on it.
He grinned mischievously at her. "Of course, my darling," he replied. ‘This is a tricky choice,' he thought to himself. ‘For the first one, I need to prepare everything secretly. I have already reserved a spot, but I still need to give them a hint to start everything. The other one is less of a surprise… I'll use cooking skills, for the best dinner I have ever made, and have a special evening alone with her. I would rather choose the latter because the less attention from people is better.'
"Harry cooks a romantic dinner," she read aloud with a smile. Harry breathed a sigh of relief.
"I think I know what you wrote on the other parchment," she teased him. "Can we change it?" She wiggled her eyebrows.
"No, it's permanent!" Harry replied with a chuckle. She pouted at his rejection.
"Fine," she conceded. "But the stock at the bungalow is only worth cooking breakfast," she reminded him, crossing her arms.
"I know, that's why we will go shopping for it. What do you want to eat?" He tapped all of the shopping bags secretly to shrink them, so he could easily carry them.
As they walked towards the nearby grocery store, she thought about what food she wanted. "Have you decided?" he asked.
She whispered her response to Harry, who chuckled before she innocently took some apples and placed them in their cart. "This is going to be a great dinner," Harry thought to himself, feeling excited
***
Despite her more liberating views on public displays of affection and her own sexuality due to her relationship with Harry, she still wanted more privacy while changing, so she decided to transform the bathroom into a more secluded space. As she slipped into her new one-piece swimsuit that she knew would ger Harry drooling over her curves. He had noticed that she had bought bikinis as well, but he thought the one-piece was a good choice. Daphne caught him staring and winked at him before diving into the pool, making him quickly refocus on his own task.
"Surprise me, Harry!" Daphne had whispered to him as they were grocery shopping. He understood and decided to cook something special for her. He started by cleaning the lobster and other ingredients he had bought.
As Harry cooked, Daphne occasionally peeked at him. He looked handsome with an apron on and was sexy as he chopped what she thought was a very big shrimp before smearing them with spices. Swimming had made her unexpectedly hungry, so she swam over to the side and threw a beautiful silk robe on, before she decided to approach him hoping he would let her taste a few bites. Clad only in her bathrobe, she walked gracefully towards him.
"It smells amazing!" Daphne's voice startled him, causing him to drop the spoon.
"Merlin, Daph!" Harry chuckled as he picked up the spoon and placed it in the sink before grabbing a new one from the drawer.
"May I help you, milady?" he asked with a smile.
"Can I have a glass of water, please?" Daphne replied.
"With pleasure." Harry took a glass from the cabinet, placed it in front of her, and filled it with water.
"How is it? Is it good?" he asked after she finished her drink.
"It doesn't taste like water. It's sweet, but I'm confused about the taste," she said, pretending to be a connoisseur with a haughty voice. "What is this?" She played with the glass curiously before taking another sip.
"That's coconut water. It's meant to help recover your energy after exercise," Harry explained.
"Ooh, not bad. Thank you, you are so thoughtful," Daphne said appreciatively.
"Of course, I'm your super boyfriend, after all," Harry boasted proudly.
Daphne couldn't help but laugh at his comment, while Harry shook his head amusedly and continued preparing the plates for the table.
"So, what did you cook?" Daphne tried to take a look at what he had made, but Harry blocked her view so that she couldn't see it.
"You told me to surprise you, so it won't be a surprise if I tell you," he said playfully, winking at her.
"Can I have a bite?
“Dinner is almost ready. The thing you need to do now is to dress up, my darling!” she pouted. But upon seeing that Harry didn't budge, she sighed in defeat. However, she tried to sneak a peek again but instead met Harry's narrowed eyes. She grinned shyly and then ran off to dress up.
She closed the door too hard, causing Harry's coat to fall off the hook. When Daphne tried to hang it back up, she saw two little parchments they had been playing with since before they arrived in Hawaii fall out of his pocket. She picked them up, contemplating tapping them with her wand, but she didn't have her wand with her. She had forgotten that her wand was still with Harry, and there was no way she could return without him questioning her. She groaned in frustration but ultimately decided to return them to his coat pocket reluctantly.
"Be patient, Daphne. You will find out what they are later," she told herself. She glanced at them with curiosity a few more times before shaking her head to focus on dressing up for Harry.
Daphne walked gracefully from the bedroom towards the kitchen, where she saw Harry standing tall and wearing a suit. He was so handsome that Daphne almost forgot to blink. Harry, too, was staring at her.
He turned his head when he heard the door open, and his eyes slowly widened when Daphne entered the room gracefully. She looked stunning in a dark green dress that hugged her body perfectly, with black stilettos adorning her long legs. She had let her hair fall on her back with only a bandana as a hair accessory. He couldn't help but stare at her. She was very beautiful.
He cleared his throat when Daphne stood in front of him and smiled shyly. "You are so beautiful," he said.
"I'm glad you think so. Look who's talking, you don't look too bad yourself," she replied, her pretty face blushing.
Harry helped Daphne to sit before taking his seat across from her. He tapped his glass with his fork, and in a second, there was a popping sound, and Tito the house elf appeared between them. Tito had appeared when Harry had started cooking for their special dinner. He had protested because Harry had touched the kitchen and furiously forbade him to cook. Harry had then slowly convinced him and told him all about his plan for Daphne, without her finding out about his plan. Tito's attitude had changed 180 degrees after hearing that, and he had insisted on helping Harry. After some tough negotiations, it had been decided that Tito would be their waiter for the night. Harry was glad that Tito was willing to help him, as it made the job easier.
"My name is Tito, and I will be your waiter for the night," he said politely while bowing deeply. Tito was wearing a waiter's suit that fit him well. Apparently, Tito had a lot of uniforms, as Master Fleamont had said so when he had informed him what he should wear. Harry had agreed with Tito's choice after he had shown him a few uniforms. Harry nodded to Tito to start.
“Hello, Tito," she greeted him with a smile, trying to be patient because she was hungry and curious about what he was cooking for her.
Her eyes followed as Tito served the food in front of them. “Did you ask him to become our server tonight?” she asked, and he shook his head slightly.
“Tito insisted on helping me when he knew that I'd be making dinner,” he explained, leaning his body towards Daphne and talking in a conspiratorial tone. “He threatened me, saying that if I didn't let him help, he would tell you what I cooked," he grumbled dramatically.
She chuckled. "Oh, poor you, but with his help, it makes your job easier," she pointed out, and he went back to his normal position.
“Well, that’s true," he grumbled.
The first dish he served was Shrimp Ceviche as an appetizer, along with a bottle of Moscato and water which Tito poured into each glass.
“So… what do we have here?” Daphne asked, ready with her cutlery in hand.
“Shrimp Ceviche. It's a dish made of marinated raw shrimp with lemon. Bon appetit," Harry described the dish elegantly. Daphne moaned when she bit into the shrimp. It tasted light, a bit spicy, and sour at the same time. So refreshing for the opening dish.
“Is it good?” Harry waited for her answer with anticipation, looking at her who closed her eyes. He didn't know what Daphne's response would be. He made a seafood dish because they were at the beach. It didn't feel right to serve Daphne with something they'd seen so many times in fancy restaurants in Britain. But after seeing Daphne's happy expression when she opened her eyes, Harry felt that his cooking had managed to impress her.
“It’s amazing and delightful. You always manage to surprise me, Harry,” she praised him happily before she took a sip of the wine. Harry stopped her and gave her a questioning look. He cleared his throat.
“Before we enjoy this fine wine, I want to say happy third anniversary to us!” he raised his glass, inviting Daphne to toast. She followed suit.
“Happy anniversary to us!” Their glasses clinked together as they toasted, and they sipped their wine at the same time.
“Daphne…” Harry's gentle voice drew her attention. “These three years we have experienced many things, and we have remained solid in overcoming everything. Thank you for always believing in me and being my number one supporter. I love you, Daphne Everett Greengrass." Without realizing, tears filled Daphne's eyes. She was touched by Harry's speech and smiled at him happily.
“Thank you, Harry. We have experienced things that I never thought would happen before. I always thought that kind of thing was impossible. Everything seems clearer, and all the things I thought were impossible became possible with you. I love how you encourage me to try new things, and I will never regret everything we did together. I love you too, Harry James Potter.” He stood and leaned towards Daphne to wipe away her happy tears before giving her a kiss on the lips. They parted before the kiss heated up, knowing they still had food to devour.
“Shall we continue, then?” Daphne nodded in agreement, sipping her wine again. “It's good! What wine is it, Harry?” Tito instantly refilled her glass when she emptied it.
"It's Moscato. I know it may not be the most romantic wine, but I figured your sweet tooth would love something sugary. So I asked Tito if he knew a good one, and he found it in a shed not that far from here. Apparently, Grandfather liked to collect wine for them to drink occasionally when they spent holidays here. He said we are the first in years to visit this house, so there were some particularly good years stored there," he explained passionately.
"Thank you, Tito. Thank you for choosing the wine for us tonight!" Daphne smiled at the well dressed elf with a kind nod. Tito puffed his chest at the compliment before disappearing a second later.
"I'm glad that you like it," Harry was relieved and pleased with how Daphne reacted, so he asked with a smile, "Are you ready for the next dish?" Daphne nodded eagerly. Tito shortly vanished the empty plate and changed them with the next dish.
Two plates of scallops with a green garnish appeared in front of them. "It is Seared Scallops and Baby Spinach with Spiced Pomegranate Glaze," Daphne closed her eyes as she chewed it slowly to savor the taste. She sighed, smiling brilliantly at Harry. Harry really didn't mind cooking for Daphne every day if he was going to get a reaction like that.
Without warning, Tito vanished the empty plates again and replaced them with plates of Baked Stuffed Lobster. Daphne was startled because her fork, which was still in her fingers, disappeared as well. Harry just gave her an apologetic look. Daphne shrugged at him and returned to her cheerful demeanor.
"That's a big shrimp! Ooh, it smells so good!" She smelled it deeply. She could already taste it by inhaling the smell.
"It's lobster, not a big shrimp, darling," he corrected her. "Well, to be fair, it indeed looks a bit like that. A lot of people say the taste is a combination of shrimp and crab but sweeter. This is my first time too, so let's try it."
"You're right. This is sweeter than the shrimp earlier. This is amazing. I think it will be my new favorite," she couldn't help but do a little happy dance in her seat while enjoying the lobster. "The side dish is really good too! Once again, you have successfully surprised me. I can't wait to see what dessert you'll cook for me," she said dreamily, then sipping the wine contently.
"Sure! Thank you for the compliment, darling!" He winked at her, to which she replied with a shy giggle.
"Dessert!"
"Ooh? What dessert do you want?" He wiggled his eyebrows playfully.
"Ice cream?"
"No, unfortunately, we don't have it."
"Hey! That's illegal! You have to serve me ice cream"
"You didn't request it.”
"But you should have known!" she pretended to be angry, but couldn't hide the playful smile creeping on her face.
"Should I have?" he joked, to which Daphne promptly readied her wand. Harry raised his hands in surrender, amused. Before Daphne could hex Harry, Tito served their last dish - the dessert.
"What is this?" Daphne looked suspiciously at the mini bowl. "Looks like banana and-"
"Ice cream - yes darling, ice cream. I was joking earlier," Harry grinned while she rolled her eyes.
"The name is Bananas Foster-" Daphne couldn't concentrate anymore with Harry's explanation about the banana ice cream when it touched her tongue.
She moaned blissfully, "It's perfect. The taste is fantastic, really fitting after we have seafood." In not even five minutes, the dessert was gone from her bowl. "Perfect!" she sighed contentedly.
"Can I have it again? Do you still have leftovers?" she bombarded him while looking at Harry's half-eaten banana ice cream longingly. He chuckled at how Daphne looked at his ice cream, like a predator ready to ambush the prey.
"No, I only made two portions," her face fell with disappointment. He loved to tease Daphne. "But you could have it," he handed it over to Daphne, and her eyes lit up with joy.
"Thank you, Harry!" She devoured it religiously.
Suddenly Harry felt nervous. He took a deep breath before bringing up a life and death conversation. He knew he was being dramatic, but he couldn't help it. Daphne, who finished her second ice cream, noticed how rigid Harry was.
"Harry? What's wrong?" she asked in a worried tone, reaching for Harry's hand and holding it. He squeezed her hand.
"Nothing is wrong, but... let's take a walk," Harry helped her stand up and then took her hand. They walked hand in hand away from the bungalow, walking on the sand with sandals.
"Your grandparents choose the right place for their holiday home, don't you think?" Daphne looked around and then looked up. Coconut trees aligned on the edge of the beach, swaying beautifully, waves as their sound background, and the stars blinking at them from the sky. Also, the sea breeze blew gently.
"Yeah, I love this place. Maybe let's come back here again for a holiday one day," she nodded in agreement. Then they were busy with their own thoughts before he asked her, "So... what do you feel about today?"
"Today was very fun! It's been a long time since I've felt so free and just enjoyed myself with you all day. You spoiled me today, love, and I love it! Thank you, Harry," she promptly pecked his cheek. He could see slightly that her face changed to a shade of scarlet. She smiled brightly, "I'm glad you took me here."
“I’m glad you like it too. At first, I was afraid that you wouldn’t like it,” he shrugged. “Maybe I was just overthinking,” he laughed humorlessly. He groped in his pocket surreptitiously, feeling a little relieved when he found the small box he had been preparing for a month. Harry stopped suddenly, which confused Daphne. She looked at him questioningly.
“What’s wrong, Harry? Do you want to play the ‘choose which parchment’ game again?” Her expression changed quickly from worried to excited, making him chuckle. He took a deep breath again, and the sea breeze made his hair even messier.
“No— yes, we will play it again later. But now, could you turn around?” She looked hesitant.
“Please?” He reassured her. She turned around and instantly froze when she saw garlands forming the sentence ‘WILL YOU MARRY ME?’. Her eyes glistened, then she turned around again to Harry, who she found kneeling before her with a gentle smile. In his right hand was a beautiful ring that gleamed inside the box. He took her hand with his free hand.
“Daphne... Daphne Everett Greengrass. There are many ways to be happy in this life. Before I met you, I never knew what it was like to smile for no reason. But since I met you, happiness is not something I need to look for vigorously in a lot of ways. I can find it just by looking at you, seeing you smile, how excited you are about ice cream. I feel so content even though we only sit side by side with each other in our free time. You are the one I've been waiting for my whole life. I love you. Will you marry me?” He felt relieved after stating what he wanted to say to her, but now he was nervously waiting for the answer. He gulped and took a deep breath again. It was so nerve-wracking.
Tears filled her eyes when she heard Harry's words and questions that Daphne expected. She always gave him a hint surreptitiously, thinking that he didn't notice it, but she always hoped he would. She was ready to spend her whole life with him, and she planned that if he didn’t propose, she would! Now, on their third anniversary, he did it. He would only hear the answer that she had always wanted to give him. She wiped her tears and gave him a smile.
“Yes!”
***
Daphne couldn't help but stare at the ring Harry had put on her finger with a bright smile. “It’s beautiful, Harry!” They walked back hand in hand to the bungalow, and he glanced happily at her.
She was still remembering what Harry had said when he put the ring on her finger. “This ring was made specially for you by the jeweler recommended by the Goblins. He said the Potters always went to them to order their rings. I'm glad that I could continue the family tradition for their love of life. ” She sighed and leaned her head while hugging Harry's hand.
“I’m glad you think so,” Harry said, still unable to believe that Daphne had accepted his proposal. He glanced at her a few times with a smile that he couldn’t help.
“Look at how those garlands are arranged; you are always with me,” they stopped in front of the beautifully crafted garland. Daphne was really impressed by it. It was made of a few flowers that she only recognized a few of, illuminated by little lamps.
“Tito gave me an idea when I told him my plans. He flatly rejected my plan to propose to you using the parchment we play,” Harry said.
She hummed, “I agree with Tito, your plan sounds anticlimactic.”
“Ouch, that hurts!” he groaned dramatically, and she laughed at it.
“Harry, I’ll still accept your proposal even though it sucks,” she assured him with a kiss, which he returned hotly. They snogged for a few minutes in front of the garlands until they had to stop because they ran out of breath.
“Want to snack on something?”
“Ice cream?” She instantly perked up excitedly. He chuckled and said, “No, Daphy darling. It’s something else. I’m sure you will love it.” She groaned, but she hugged his hand back to continue their way back to the bungalow.
When they arrived, Tito smiled brightly at them. “Congratulations! Tito is happy to have a mistress again!” he said giddily, full of excitement.
“Thank you, Tito! Could you serve the dessert?”
“Right away!” he popped and then popped back not even a minute later. Harry and Daphne sat cozily on the couch-like swing near the mini pool facing the ocean. Tito served the dessert between them.
“Dark chocolate molten lava cake,” he presented.
“At this hour, Harry? I definitely won't refuse it,” Daphne said, slowly eating to savor every bite of chocolate.
“Stop right there, I won't let you eat yet,” Harry tried to stop her playfully.
“I already ate it. You're late,” she said, doing a little dance and kept eating.
“Unbelievable,” Harry said with a tone of feigned disbelief, “but it's ok, you can have it. But can you choose one? I promised it would be the last,” he said, winking his eyes a few times to sway her. She giggled at that.
“I thought you threw that one away. I already answered, and you know the answer,” she reminded him with a wink, and he winced.
“Nah, it's a new one that I made urgently after Tito burned it to a crisp,” he said bitterly, remembering what Tito did.
“Oooh, don’t say it was the parchment that I found on your coat?”
“You found what in my coat?” he narrowed his eyes at her, trying not to laugh at Daphne's reaction.
“I put it back in your coat pocket,” she said in an innocent tone, spooning more cake. He continued to look at her. She groaned in defeat. His gaze always made her melt.
“I found the parchment in your coat when I was getting dressed up. The coat fell off the hook and I accidentally found it because it fell out of its pocket,” she admitted, continuing to eat and swallowing her cake before continuing, “At the time, it was really tempting to read it, but because I'm a good girl, a little angel, I just let it go,” she shrugged and continued enjoying her cake.
“Just say that you didn't have your wand,” he teased. She huffed and pouted before taking another bite. He chuckled. “Come on, tap it. You won't be disappointed,” he gave her another wink. She tapped it with her wand.
“What does it say?” He asked.
She smiled a coy smile. "It says, ‘Spend the night with yummy Harry,’” she blinked. “You're not a cake,” she blurted out innocently. He huffed in disbelief with a small grin. Daphne chuckled at Harry's reaction, putting the plate on the tray, and then moving to sit on his lap. She grabbed his face. “Of course, you are pretty yummy looking too, Harry,” she said in a seductive tone before kissing him.
– FIN –
**Thanks for read!**