Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Let's get that straight.

A/N: This chapter is short but I am already working on the next one and that should be posted before this weekend ends. Hell you might even get two more chapters before this week is over. I've been busy but I have not given up on this story. Thank you for everyone who has reviewed, favorited, and alerted you are all keeping me motivated. I hope you enjoy this chapter, no matter the length.

Hidden Behind the Mask

Bravado

Harry jumped onto the train again he felt elated after his exchange of goodbyes with Daphne. He tucked her address into his pocket; nothing was going to stop him from visiting her. Nothing at all. He made his way to their compartment when he saw Dean standing outside of it with Ginny in the door way.

"Dean! I never said I didn't want you to come. You know I even sent my mother an owl notifying her that you were staying."

Dean sagged his arms forward, "Yeah but you also knew I had to go to my home first, how do you expect me not to?" He was sheepish now for a Gryffindor compared to Ginny who was like a tigress.

"I never said you couldn't go home!" She exasperated in frustration. "I just said make sure you get to the burrow in a decent time or my mother will have a fit. That's all."

"Sorry Ginny." Harry almost felt sorry for the bloke. He didn't understand the way Ginny functioned and she didn't understand him. He shrugged mentally. They had chosen each other, who was he to give his opinion.

"Well, I'll be sure to get there Ginny before your mum sends me a Howler." She smiled at him before giving him a hug. Harry realized something then, he didn't feel that tug of jealously on his heart, as he once would have. He was content in himself to know she didn't matter to him that way anymore. He felt like he had life in his step again, Daphne had shown him he could move on and he had.

He finally reached Ginny and Dean with the train jerked to a start. All three of them stumbled a bit but caught themselves from falling. Harry chuckled quietly thinking that if Hermione had been one of them, she would have fallen. "You two going to make up and get inside that compartment? Or am I going to have to push you both in there?"

Ginny glanced up at Harry with bewilderment. Was Harry actually joking and smiling at them? Was this really the Harry Potter who had come back from the war? It took a moment for Ginny to come to her senses before she said anything. "I was just going back in."

Dean shrugged at Harry, "Seamus asked me to join him but I'll be join you all soon." He said the last part to Ginny before capturing her lips with his. He parted ways, Harry giving him a wave before Ginny and him sat with the rest.

"Hello Harry." Luna's dreamy voice greeted him as he took a seat next to her.

"Luna." Harry nodded. Ginny sat across from him sitting next to Hermione and Ron. Harry never bothered to stare at her, he was almost as he had resided not to be the forlorn sick puppy but return to the carefree boy who no longer had to worry about his impending doom.

Ginny's brown eyes studied him all throughout the ride to King's Cross. Had she made the mistake of moving on to soon? On not giving him the time he needed to forget the war. Ginny hung her head, gazing at her hands. How could she have given up Harry Potter for her own selfish reasons? At that moment Dean finally joined them, apologizing to her profusely for not coming back sooner.

Had she really given up Harry for him? How could she have been such a nutter?

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The car ride was one of the longest uncomfortable moments Daphne had experienced. She had tried to sit as far away from Draco as possible but he only sat closer to her. He never even spoke to her, as they both let Astoria babble on about nothing important. It was his distance, or lack there of, that made her body slam her arms against her side. If he was back to being her 6-year-old friend once more then things would have been different. But knowing, just knowing, that he wanted her as something more….she just couldn't handle it.

She knew he was trying to right his wrongs; which was perfectly fine. But it didn't change the fact that she didn't love him like that. Maybe, under different circumstances she could have. But she the longest time he made she sure was made aware of the friend she had lost and it hurt her. Daphne didn't think Draco knew just how much that hurt was and she never planned on telling him, if she could help it.

The driver pulled up to the Greengrass manor first, seeing as how Draco wanted to be dropped off last. Astoria gave a flirty wave to Draco as she bid him a goodbye. Daphne rolled her eyes and made a move to get out of the claustrophobic car before Draco wrapped his spider like fingers over her small wrist.

"When I come over to visit, I do hope you will give me a chance to speak with you. We are over due for a talk Daphne, whether you want to hear me out or not. At least gave me that." His silver eyes seemed to plead with her but she didn't want to say 'yes'. However, a part of her didn't have the heart to tell him 'no' either. Daphne just nodded her head and pulled herself quickly from him.

Astoria looked at her with a jealous smile, "What was that all about."

"Nothing." She could tell Astoria didn't accept her answer but she didn't have time to protest before their mother came out to greet them. She floated to them as if she was born graceful. Her blonde hair was delicately arranged in a side bun.

She was just as petite as Astoria, her height reaching 5'9" (with 2" heels). Astoria was still growing but Daphne was sure she would be the same height as their mother. Her father, she remembered towered over her as a small girl. He was roughly around 6"4 and had a strong build to him. She was always daddy's girl, Astoria favoring their mother. But not Daphne, she was always his.

When he died, it shattered her world. He would no longer pick her up and spin her around in greeting. He would never get to finish telling her all about his Quidditch days in Hogwarts or how to ride her own broom. Instead, she was left alone in a cold household. Her mother teaching her the ways of hosting parties, teaching her to be proper never teaching her what it was like to really live.

Chloe Lorelei Heart nee Greengrass hugged her youngest daughter with the look of a proud mother. Daphne stood back watching the two. Both had sapphire eyes, golden blonde hair, and a tall petite frame. Even though Astoria was fifteen she was still taller then Daphne. Daphne got her looks from her father, Torin Greengrass. Her rich dark hair and winter blue eyes to be exact. However, he was tall and she was short, 5'5" and curvy. But she had to get that from her father's side none-the-less.

Chloe only looked over and Daphne and smiled, "Did you girls let young Malfoy make his escape before I could say hello to him?"

"Apparently he wanted to get to away from seeing you." Astoria widened her eyes in astonishment that Daphne spoke to their mother as such but Chloe only pursed her lips in disappointment.

"Come in girls I have the house elf preparing us tea." She and Astoria started to walk off. Daphne had yet to let her mother know the Malfoy's were going to be the only visitors she would be receiving this Holiday. Well, teatime was as good as anytime.

She left her trunk by Astoria's knowing a House Elf would be coming to collect it as soon as they went inside. The house seemed stuffy, which was silly really because of how spacious it was. As they all sat down for tea, Daphne held her breath. She was going to have to borrow some of Harry's Gryffindor courage to speak her mind and enter the perfectly molded pit of despair her mother created.

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Grimmauld place it was still empty with Kreacher being it's only companion. Kreacher had changed, coming to accept Harry as his master and getting rid of the items that closely resembled the mistress that once took reign over the house. It was just empty and cold, no doubt having to do with the death of Sirius Black.

Harry sighed, dropping his bag to the floor. Memories that haunted his mind now came at him like the plague. His nightmares showing in the daytime, when it was suppose to be safe. He could see him falling, falling back behind the veil. He could still hear the nail biting laughter of Bellatrix Lestrange. The bitch and it coming to her when Molly Weasley ended her life, although Neville and himself would have loved to be the one to hit her with the final blow.

But Harry knew revenge was never the way. He could recall countless times when Remus reminded him of just that. Remus the one who saw it in him self to guide him, keep him grounded just as Hermione tried to do. Remus had died fighting in this war, but he never once sought revenge only the promise of building the Wizarding World to a better place. The war had taken so much from Harry with no remorse. But he felt even worse for Theodore Lupin, one who would never get to meet his amazing parents. The war just left him with his Grandmother and an 18-year-old boy who couldn't get his head on straight. Teddy's life had changed drastically and Harry wondered if he could feel it.

"Master Potter." Harry was shaken from his revere as Kreacher came into view. "Welcome home."

"Thank you Kreacher."

"I have arranged for you to eat your meal by the fireplace, it's the warmest part of the house." He could just hear the added, 'because no one is here'. Harry was positive that the house would have been warmer if it had been filled with more bodies. "You also received two letters. I shall take your trunk to your room."

Before Harry could protest Kreacher took a hold of it and popped away. The protest was replaced by the question of the two letters. It hadn't even been an hour since he stepped off the train at King's Cross and already people were writing him. He shook his head as he stepped in the living room. The fire crackled and he instantly felt the warmth touch his skin. He picked up the first letter, as he sat down. He recognized Ron's hand writing right away and opened it up to read:

Harry,

Bill and Fleur have come to visit. They said they have important news and want you to be here when they announce what it is. Mum insists that you stay until you go to visit that "friend" of yours. Although, you should give up hiding who the friend is since we all know its Teddy. [Harry sighed in relief, leave it up to everyone to assume a better excuse than he would have made up himself] So stay until you have to leave to see him, or mum will have a fit with you staying by yourself and then come back for Christmas. Ugh, mum is also nagging me to add in the fact that Andromeda and Teddy are more than welcomed to join us for Christmas, seeing has how they are practically family.

Ron

P.S.- Bring your Firebolt, or else you'll get bored…quickly.

Harry chuckled at the last statement as he folded up the letter. He would need to remember to write Andromeda so that she could cover up for him but also invite them to Christmas. He really should have gone to see his Godson but Daphne had to come first. He needed to prove himself to her and this was one way how. If there was anyone he could trust to keep his secret it would be Andromeda, since she had to keep one of her own for so long.

He picked up the second letter. There was no handwriting on the front just a wax seal on the back. He narrowed his eyes as he opened it.

Harry,

I informed my mother that you are going to be visiting and joining our family for a week during this holiday break. To say she was peeved is an understatement. She even spilt her tea and for a 'lady' to do that they have to have reached the boiling point. However, because you're famous, or whatever, she's planning your engagement to my sister; even though I told her you're my boyfriend. Lovely woman isn't she. I just wanted you to know you are expected. I hope these weeks fly by fast so that I can see you. While you're off having fun remember that I am pulling my hair out. Miss you.

Always,

Daphne

Harry sighed Daphne's mother should see what a treasure she was. However, he didn't understand most Pureblood's anyway, so it wasn't like it was too surprising. It was odd that the girl he picked to be…his girlfriend, had issues of her own. But maybe that's why he sought her out he could tell that she needed him as much he needed her.

Tomorrow afternoon he would go to the burrow, somehow get through those weeks before getting to see Daphne and then back to the Weasley's and then hopefully after Christmas he could spend some quality time with his Godson. Needless to say the Holidays were going to be an interesting one at that.