I don't want to be Persephone, I want to be Daphne. I'd rather turn into a tree than let you touch me.
1947
Heiress Daphne Greengrass sighed and set the letter, from her father Peneus Greengrass, down on her desk and put her head in her hands. He wished for her to let one of the many who asked for her hand to court her. He especially favored Heir Orion Black. He had heavy dark magic and came from one of the most powerful families in the UK. But she found him absolutely abhorrent. He often complained about the "mudbloods" they went to school with and she knew he was in Tom Riddle's circle, whom she did not trust.
She had dreams of bonding for love, but her father saw her as nothing but a beautiful broodmare who would bring in a large bride price.
She prayed to mother magic to save her.
~~~
Daphne was walking along the edge of the Black Lake, lost in thought. He father had written again. She had a week to choose a suitor or he would choose for her.
"I'd rather be a tree than let him touch me," she muttered to herself.
She heard someone coming up the path behind her, just in time to see Orion Black pull his wand from the holster on his wrist.
"If you won't come to me like a good little bitch, I'll have to make you!" He snarled.
Mother magic save me! She thought as fear flooded her body.
"Imper-" was all he could get out before something odd began to happen. It felt like her legs were sinking into the earth and she couldn't move. Orion was staring at her, his face mix of shock and anger. She looked down and saw not legs, but the start of a trunk of a tree. The magic swept higher and higher until all that was left of Daphne Greengrass was a Laurel tree.
~~~
1998
Theo wasn't sure why he came back to Hogwarts as an "eighth year." His father died in the war, so he had more money than he could spend in several lifetimes and freedom to do whatever he wanted.
Maybe it was because Draco had been ordered to go back by the Wizengamot as part of his probation. Or maybe because he didn't want to rattle around in his dark, dreary manor alone. Either way, he found himself on the train, squished between Pansy and Goyle. Draco and Blaise sat across from him, chatting about the Quidditch League and which team would make it to the World Cup.
With a sigh, we turned his attention back to the book in his lap.
~~~
By October, the eighth years seemed to all form a truce. Only the five of them had come back from Slytherin. Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot were the only Hufflepuffs. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, and Neville Longbottom had all come back. No Ravenclaws had joined them, most choosing to take their NEWTS at the ministry at the end of the summer.
By November, they were all friends. Some more than others. To no one's surprise, Draco and Hermione had become an item. To everyone's surprise, so had Pansy and Weasley.
Theo had retreated to the Black Lake to escape a party that was well underway in their common room. He felt a bit listless, drifting through the last few months like a ghost. Everyone seemed to have something or someone that brought passion to their life. He just felt hollow.
I wish I were a tree, then I could have some peace. He thought, leaning back against the Laurel tree that grew close to the water.
Mother Magic must have heard his hopelessness, because a moment later he was lying on the ground, looking up at the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
"Hello," he choked out before scrambling to his feet. "I'm Lord Theodore Nott." He added, trying to have some decorum.
Daphne laughed softly, a smile gracing her pink lips. "I'm Heiress Daphne Greengrass."
"I'm glad to see the stories of your demise were exaggerated."
Most had always thought Orion Black had killed the missing heiress for not accepting his suit, though none had ever dare do anything about it. Theo was pleased to see that wasn't the case. He had heard about her from one of his father's drunken reminisings. "Orion chased the chit who, while beautiful, couldn't hold a candle to your mother," he slurred out, shaking his glass in emphasis at a 12 year old Theo. Theseus had never stopped mourning his young wife, often blaming Theo for for her death during his birth. He had been predominantly raised by elves as his father found it hard to look at him.
"How long has it been?" Daphne asked.
"About fifty years, give or take." Theo answered after a moment of thought.
"What of Orion Black?" She asked tentatively.
"He's been dead since I was a small child. Married his crazy cousin Walburga. His son is Lord Black now." Theo had met the man at Malfoy Manor over the summer. Black had been eager to reunite Narcissa and Andromeda, who bonded in their shared grief as recent widows.
"He can't get me now." She let out a sigh of relief.
"No he can't. You're safe now." After a moment he added, "We should go see Headmistress McGonagall. I'm not quite sure what to do from here."
~~~
It was decided that Daphne would stay and finish it out her 7th year, so she joined the eighth years. She slowly opened up to the others, but Theodore was the one she was closest to. The more time she spent with him the more she realized that he was nothing like Theseus. Where Theseus had been very anti-muggleborn, Theodore was more accepting and open. He wasn't cruel or unkind. He was very intelligent. The more she thought on it the more fond she grew of him.
She was pleased to see that her brother's granddaughter was in her seventh year at Hogwarts. Tori Greengrass was a sweet girl and a Ravenclaw. She was pleased that she still had family. Her brother had passed a few years before in a potions accident, making his son the new head of the family. Alder Greengrass had flooed to the castle as soon as he got word that she had returned and welcomed her with open arms. It was all a little overwhelming, but it seemed her future would be much better that what had awaited her in the past.
~~~
Theo put down the quilt and carefully slid the paper into the envelope, sealing it with his personal wax seal. School would be ending in a couple weeks and he hoped Daphne and her family would accept his offer. He had grown to care for her. They spent nights curled up in the comfortable plush chairs in the common room, quietly reading together. Free afternoons were often spent by the Black Lake, enjoying their escape from the noise of the castle.
Mother Magic returned her to her human form in his presence. That had to mean something.
~~~
Their wedding was small, only those from their graduating class as well as Daphne's family and Narcissa Malfoy, who had always been like a mother to him. Neither had wanted much fanfare.
As the officiant declared them bonded for life, Theo kissed her and felt her magic twine with his. He had never felt so at peace and he knew their union was blessed by Mother Magic. Daphne was his future and he couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life with her.