CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
First Snowflakes
December 4th, 1978.

"Godric! Daphne, come!" Fabian shouted from the living room as she hurried there. Finally reaching his side, he put his hands on her waist and moved her in front of him, as he excitedly pointed at the window. "Snowflakes, Daph!"

"Fab, it's december. Of cour--"

"Do you know what that means?" He queried as she shook her head. "We get to put the Christmas tree up! I'll go get it and you stay at home, alright?"

"But I want to come with you," she said.

He sighed softly, "Love, we've talked about this," he told her, cupping her face. "We can't go too much outside together or they'll know something is up..."

Daphne sighed, closing her eyes, "You're right. I'm sorry," she murmured.

"No worries," he smiled gently, leaning down to kiss her lips. "I'll be back soon."

And like that, he was gone. It had been weeks since the first Order meeting she went to, and nothing much was happening on the other side too. She had gone to a few meetings, all of them boring--it had been quite the shock to see Evan sat at the table but she had brushed it off and acted as if nothing was wrong. Though, it felt awfully wrong of him to be here, at this table. Regulus had grown cold and quiet while Barty had become cocky and irritating. She hadn't seen her parents since the fight but she didn't mind.

In relation to the Order, Daphne had done everything she had been asked--she had handed an exhaustive list of all the Death Eaters she knew to Fabian and had started reporting to Dumbledore and Moody. The lesson of Occlumency would start at the beginning of January to not ruin the Christmas spirit, he had said in a short letter.

Fabian and Daphne were doing perfectly fine, she had been going to his flat a lot meaning she had to see Gideon a lot more--but to everyone's surprise, they got along pretty well. Gideon was a pretty fun bloke. However, Daphne was a bit scared because Fabian was determined to bring her along with him for Christmas to Molly Weasley's house.

"Morning Rosier," Gideon's voice scared her as she jumped lightly. "Jumpy, eh?"

She turned on her heels with a chuckle, "Oh, shove off," she chuckled.

"Where's Fab?" He asked as he poured himself a cup of tea and offered one to Daphne.

"He went to get a Christmas tree," she said as he laughed, glancing at the window.

He put the cup down and squinted his eyes, "First snowflakes, then?"

"First snowflakes," she confirmed. "Hey Gid, should I come to Molly's for Christmas?"

"Did he ask you?" She nodded at his question. "I'm sure Molly would be delighted an--"

"No, I meant...Is it a bad idea for me to say yes because of my mark?"

"Oh no, I don't think--It's alright, Daph," he started. "No one will know you're there, with us. Besides, I'm sure a charm exists so we can hide it, right? It'd make Fab happy," he ranted. "You know, he's mental about you."

"Me too."

Nothing much was said after that. Gideon and Daphne sipped quietly on their tea, both of them looking out the window. Daphne wasn't sure to enjoy winter as much as fall, the days were shorter and colder. Besides, she had never really enjoyed Christmas like any children would usually do. Her Christmas were tamed and mostly spent in ballrooms.

The usual creak of the front door echoed in the flat as a few different voices were heard, "Oh, Ted, shut up, will you?" A familiar voice said.

Daphne frowned as she put down her cup and headed towards the noise. A gasp left her mouth as her eyes landed on her cousin and husband, but mostly her godchild, Dora.

"Oh, hi," she breathed out happily, clenching her jaw to stop the tears from coming out.

Andromeda's face softened as she took a step closer, "Oh, Daffy," she said, wrapping her arms around her petite frame. "Do not cry."

"I'm sorry," she muttered. "I-I'm just happy to see you all."

Ted offered her the same warning smile he gave her when she first met him in July as his hand squeezed her shoulder, "We're happy too, Daphne," he told her as she fought back the tears.

Once Andromeda had pushed herself away, Daphne knelt down, "Hello, Dora," she cooed softly as Dora radiated with happiness at the sight of her godmother. "Come here, you little witch," she added, taking her in her arms as Dora laughed loudly.

"Oh, you're tickling me!"

"Am I?" Daphne asked, pulling away for a second.

"Yes! Yes!"

Daphne chuckled, "M'sorry, sweetheart," she told her, putting her down. "How come you are here?" She queried to her cousin.

Andromeda shrugged, casting a look at Fabian, "He contacted us," she smiled. "Very nice man," she added, walking past Daphne so she could greet Gideon.

"He's a nice bloke," Ted told her quietly as she agreed with a soft hum.

Fabian smiled widely at the sight of Daphne being happy. He didn't think he had seen such an honest and real smile on that angelic face. Sure thing, he loved it.

Before he could utter a word, her arms wrapped tightly around his body as she buried her face in his chest, "Thank you."

"I'm happy for you," he told her, kissing her head.

"Why would you do this for me?"

"Because—because...I'm mental about you," he said quietly, his heart pace fastening. "Truly mental and I wanted to make you happy. I know you can't go out too much and especially with them, so I thought I'd bring them to you."

Daphne looked at him with doe-eyes, "Thank you so much. I love you," It didn't hit her right away, she didn't realise until Fabian's body had gone completely rigid next to her. "Oh, Fab... I-"

"It's alright, love. We'll talk about it tonight, okay?"

"Okay."

Her heart was racing and her mouth had gotten dry from the stress. She pulled at her hair lightly before heading towards her family who was chatting with Gideon, while Dora played with the kneazle.

"Hey, Daphne. Why won't it talk to me?" She pointed at the kneazle with a pout.

"Dora," she started with a chuckle. "This is a kneazle, they can't talk back. They are very intelligent though," she explained. "It probably understands you."

"But—" she took a pause, her arms falling on each side of her body as she frowned clearly frustrated with this fact.

"Sweetheart, listen...It can't talk but it can communicates with you through his body. For example, when he wants to be closer to you, he will scoot closer and pur. Teddy loves to pur. When he wants to play, he will bring his little ball that Fabian bought him!" She ranted as Dora listened carefully. "You just have to let him come to you, alright Dora? And, for now you can scratch him on the head."

"Okay."

Daphne rose on her feet again as Ted came behind her, "She's trying to make the kneazle talk, is she?" He asked with a chuckle.

"Yes but I think I explained how Teddy functions," she told him. "She's a brilliant child," she commented after witnessing Dora scratch the kneazle's head, while her hair changed colours.

"That, she is. It's all her Mum, to be quite honest."

Daphne scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous, Ted. I've heard many great things about you and I sure can tell that she isn't all Andy."

"Thank you, Daph."

"Don't thank me."

"We've heard...you know, about you deflecting," he started. "Andy didn't tell you yet but we're proud about you."

Daphne's head turned his way as she looked at him, completely lost for words, "Oh...thank you, Ted."

"You're family, Daph. Don't thank me," he answered with a smile as he went to Dora and left Daphne behind.

Sure, Daphne knew they'd be proud but she didn't expect Ted to be the first to tell her. It actually warmed her heart, knowing that despite meeting only once, Ted considered her family right away.

"Not looking good, are you?" Andromeda's voice echoed.

"Not really," she admitted, sitting down on the couch. "I've just said I love you to Fabian, it feels silly because it just came out. I didn't even plan to tell him this because until today I wasn't sure I loved him. I mean—I do appreciate being with him but..."

"Relax, Daffy!"

"You're right, I'm sorry. I'm just freaking out because what if he doesn't want me anymore?"

Andromeda slapped her arm, "Do not be ridiculous! He's mental about you."

"Andy, I don't want to lose him like I lost James," she mumbled.

Andy smiled sadly, "Love, Fabian is not James. James Potter wasn't ready for you while he—" she glanced at Fabian who was chatting with Ted and Dora. "—He is fully ready to be with you for who you are. He accepted you despite the mark, despite the horrid things you had done. He loves you."

Perhaps, it was ridiculous to realise only now that James Potter was never ready to accept the person that Daphne was and would be. He understood why she had done it, but now that she thought about it, he would have never try to get past this inconvenience. James loved nice things, he loved the perfect picture he had painted in his head—the one where he would marry a brilliant witch, live in his family manor and have children. But the truth was Daphne Rosier was never meant to be part of the perfect picture.

"Does he?" She asked, looking at him as he turned his head to look at her back. He offered her a small wave and smile, and Daphne melted. "Does he, Andy?"

"Oh, he does."

Andromeda, Ted and Nymphadora ended up leaving late in the afternoon because Ted had prepared his special dish, and was very excited to show it to Dora. Saying goodbye was harder than she thought it would be, she wasn't even ready to let go of Ted when he wrapped his arms around her. His embrace didn't feel weird, instead it felt warm as if her brother was hugging her. Then once the sky was dark and the streets were calm, Daphne felt lonely despite being surrounded by the only people who liked her for now.

"Tea?" Gideon proposed, reaching for Daphne who was sitting by the window. Seeing he wasn't getting any answers, he continued. "You shouldn't be sitting by the window that much, Daph."

"Do you miss being at the Burrow?"

"Well," Gideon sighed, sitting down on the chair placed by the wall. "I do miss it. However, I don't miss being surrounded by hundred of boys," he snorted as she released a soft chuckle, still looking outside.

"I miss my tree," she replied after a while. "Technically it is not my tree but...when I lived at my parents', I used to sit down by the window for hours to look at the tree outside. It was majestic."

Gideon hummed, "Do you wish you were still at home? With your parents?"

"Not really but I wish my brother was here," she whispered the last part softly, looking at Gideon. "He—they, my parents, made him take the mark while I was away. I don't know if Fab ever told you but all I did was for my little brother. I got my mark for him because my father had promised to not involve him, yet he did and it shattered me."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't," she answered with a smile. "I recall that is how life is supposed to be but why—why is it so cruel?"

"That is...That is a good question, Daph."

Gideon was so similar yet so different from Fabian. He had the same smile and dimples, but he seemed much more like an introvert compared to Fabian. For some reasons, it reminded her of Regulus, whom she missed dearly. Daphne didn't get much letters from her family or friends. It would be a stupid lie to say that she wasn't missing them.

"Am I interrupting?" Fabian's voice echoed through the living room as Gideon straightened his posture and shook his head.

"No, not at all Fab. Go ahead, she's all yours," he said. "Night, Daph," he added, heading to his own room as he left them two alone.

Instead of sitting on the chair his brother had pulled out, he sat in front of Daphne. By the window. He was staring at her, she could feel his eyes burning right through her skin and she fought the urge to hide. He was looking for her. Daphne knew he wanted to speak about what she had said earlier, and she wasn't thrilled at all—she wasn't excited to hear that he didn't love her yet but he was getting there.

"Daph, love..." he spoke up after minutes of looking at her. He reached softly for her knee, giving it a squeeze so she would give him at least a glance. "Please."

"I'm sorry. What is wrong?" She queried, trying to act clueless.

He smiled gently, "You were happy today."

Despite her fear, her lips curled upwards, "I was. I am."

"Is little Dora important?"

"More than anything," Daphne admitted.

"Right," he replied quietly. "I lik—no, loved seeing you happy today. It made me feel...good? I wouldn't know how to phrase it exactly but it made me happy seeing you smile. My heart would flutter and skip a beat whenever I heard you laugh or see you look at me."

"Oh..."

He cut her off, "What I'm trying to say is...I love you, Daphne. I'm mental about you and I'd anything to see you happy like I saw you today. Someday, I want to be this person that makes you smile that big and laugh that loud."

"Fab..."

"No, wait. I'm sorry for how I replied earlier when you said, more like blurted out I love you," she laughed softly as he went on. "I wanted to say it back but...I don't know why I didn't."

"Fab, it's fine. You don't even have to say it back now," she answered. "I love you and I'll be fine if you don't. I wanted you to know because you are by far the greatest thing that have happened to me since I graduated so thank you for staying with me, accepting me despite this," she rolled up her sleeve and showed her mark who was moving. "Just...thank you and I love you."

"I love you, Daphne."

He scooted closer, his hands cupping her face and she adored how her face seemed to fit perfectly in his hands. His kisses felt like heaven while his embrace felt like home. Daphne wouldn't know how to explain correctly why Fabian Prewett, why him but she could use so many words to describe her choice, and she knew she would have done this choice hundred and hundred times again if she was asking to.

Fabian Prewett had changed Daphne Rosier's life for the better.

—————
authors note, daphne realising that james wasn't it for her... kind of... it kind of STINGS y'know but fab and daph supremacy >>>> i'll stand by that 4everrrr

i guess this chapter sets the tone for the upcoming ones—can you see the one sided love?? the drama??? the angst??? mmh

anyways, i love you all and mwah mwah ❤️💋