Harry was happy she was clear of the doors when he entered, closed them and placed a Door Sealing Charm on them. He did not want to risk anyone coming upon them, this evening.
Once he was satisfied, he stepped up beside his betrothed, took her hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow. It wasn't until he softly asked, "Shall we?" before she paid attention to him again.
With a slight nod in his direction, Harry led the girl to one of the chairs facing each other, perpendicular to the view. He pulled it out for her, waited for her to sit, and helped her scoot it in. Then walked around to his own chair and took seat.
"What do you think?" he asked, gesturing around them.
"This is amazing!" she almost whispered. Indicating the area beyond the balcony, she said, "It feels so real! I can even feel a slight breeze."
"I know, right?" asked Harry. "I still find myself in awe of what this room can do."
Petey popped just then and said, "Lord Potter, Lady Daphne" bowing to each in turn.
With a snap of his fingers a wine bucket with a bottle of wine inside appeared right next to Harry's right hand just off the table. "The wine you ordered, Master," he said, just before popping away again. Daphne looked at Harry in surprise. "Harry, we're not allowed to drink wine! We're too young!"
"Relax, Daphne," he calmly replied. Reaching over and pulling the bottle from the bucket he said, "This is from the Potter wine cellar. It's non-alcoholic and has been used by Potters for many years to teach Potter children about wine.
"I've selected a nice Semillon, which will go well with the light salad we'll have as entree, and with the fish for the main course."
Picking up the wine cork puller that he hadn't noticed sitting next to his flatware he uncorked the bottle and poured them each a small glass of the wine.
Daphne tentatively smelled the wine and took a small sip before looking at Harry in surprise. "This is actually quite nice. A little sweet, even."
Nodding after taking his own first sip, he said, "I thought it best to start with something like this. I've never had wine before and wanted to have something a little sweet for my first time."
The two talked about their budding relationship, their friends and quite a few subjects as they sipped and waited.
Petey suddenly popped back in again and said, "Your first course, Master and Miss."
Before each a plate of a light salad appeared; lightly coated in a sweet vinaigrette. The two happily tucked in and enjoyed it quite a lot.
"That was good," said Daphne as she finished up. They talked for a little bit before Petey returned and said, "A little cheese to cleanse the palate, Master and Miss."
Their salad plates disappeared to be replaced with a platter of a few slices of cheese.
Tasting each different piece, Harry said, "I think I tasted a little aged cheddar, and a slice of camembert in there. I don't know what the others were."
"One was brie and the other, I think, is commonly referred to as crackerbox," she said.
Petey reappeared and disappeared the platters. He said, "Main course, Master and Miss. Sole in butter and a lemon sauce with steamed vegetables lightly glazed in honey" before disappearing again. "Wow!" said Harry. "That's even better than I asked for."
He watched as Daphne tried a small forkful of fish and saw her look of happy surprise before he tried his own. Matching Daphne's look he found the fish to be light and flaky, with the sauce giving it only a touch of 'zing'. It was delicious.
The vegetables were not overly cooked, retaining a slight crispness; but, they were enhanced with the honey glazing.
Only partway through her plate, Daphne looked at Harry and said, "I've eaten in a few upper class restaurants, both muggle and magical, and this would have to be the best prepared meal I've ever eaten.
"I think I'm going to have to ask you to bring the Potter elves to Greengrass Estate so they may show our elves how to cook this wonderfully." "Well, we're certainly not going to starve for good food at Potter Manor," said Harry.
The main course happily finished, the two were talking about Neville's bold move in sending flowers to the other girls among their friends when Petey returned.
"Dessert, Master and Miss. An egg custard with a caramelised topping of raw sugar served in individual pots."
Their main course plates disappeared to be replaced with almost a bread and butter plate with a round dish with vertical sides placed in the centre. Within, was the egg custard.
"This, too, looks delicious," said Harry.
Picking up his spoon he carefully scooped out a small amount and tasted it. Like the rest of the meal, it was beyond delicious. When he'd finished, Harry sat back and said, "I think I've just found a dessert I like more than treacle tart."
Nodding as she was finishing off the last of her own dessert, Daphne said, "Me, too; I think."
While they were waiting for what was next, Harry said, "I didn't realise Neville had it in him. To buy four ladies a valentine's card and gift, knowing they'd each receive it while in the company of the others, and not be worried he'd be hexed into oblivion, and be kissed by each in turn It's clear to me now why he's in Gryffindor.
"T'was a bold move," he said.
"Well, I think it was sweet," said Daphne. "And so did Tracey and Hermione when I spoke with them in class, this morning. I've no doubt Susan and Hannah feel the same." "I've heard he was strutting around quite proud of himself between classes," said Harry. "And that some of the older guys bowed to him in recognition of his act."
After talking a little while longer, Petey returned with a small platter of cheese and light crackers to enjoy and clean the palate again.
They were even enjoying themselves in each others company so much that Petey had to return for a final time to inform them curfew was only fifteen minutes away.
Thanking the little elf who had done so much for them that night, they headed out after one last long look at the panorama of the French skyline.
Harry quickly removed the Door Sealing Charm and then escorted Daphne all the way to the Slytherin common rooms. Or, more properly, where Daphne told him it was. Before he left he reached into his robes and offered her his mirror.
He said, "This is a communications mirror. They belong to Sirius. I asked Sirius to loan its twin to your mother for tonight so, if you'd like, you can give her a call back in your dorm to let her know how the night went. To activate it, just whisper 'Padfoot' close to it's surface and it'll let your mum know you're ready to connect."
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