Mage King in Amalgam-Verse (Marvel) (DC) (HP)

17 - Putting On Airs

{Greengrass Manor}

{24th August 1989}

Daphne looked at herself in the mirror.

A pale-blonde, blue-eyed girl looked back. Dressed in black and green robes, with a bright green bow adoring her forehead... Daphne felt ridiculous. It almost made her scoff, the way that her mother had over-dressed her for what was essentially a glorified meet-and-greet.

Once again, she was to play the part of a 'prim and proper princess.'

Cold, emotionless, and elegant. A perfect noble woman.

As the Greengrass Heiress, Daphne had spent most of her life preparing for things like this– it was a lot of work, but she took pride in it. And since Greengrass was the unofficial leader of the Neutral party, it was only natural that they sent an invitation out to a new House.

And not just any new House, no.

The first new 'Ancient and Noble House' in over a century.... House Brooke.

Daphne just hoped that Heir Brooke was better than Heir Malfoy.

That meeting had been a nightmare– she didn't know what was wrong with that boy, but it was like no one had told him how to behave in a public setting.

He acted like... like a child.

'And he calls himself an heir.'

CRACK!

It had been a ways away, but Daphne recognized the distinct sound of apparition.

"Daphne! Astoria! Our guests are here," her father bellowed.

Daphne made her way to the living room to see her mother and father, Azalea and Cygnus Greengrass, waiting by the front door. They had dressed up all the same, but the Lord and Lady Greengrass had a presence to them that she just didn't have yet.

Daphne would get there eventually.

Astoria, on the other hand, looked quite silly with such a frilly dress on her tiny frame. In her honest opinion, her sister was just too cute to be a heiress.

"Alright, they're here. Be sure to act in a way that makes Greengrass proud."

"Of course, father." Daphne replied.

"Okay daddy!" Astoria beamed, giving father a... salute.

Well, even if her father demanded that they had a pristine record regarding their public appearances, he was far too fond of Astoria to admonish her.

After three knocks, the door swung open.

"Welcome, Lady Brooke, Heir Brooke," Lord Greengrass started, "to Greengrass Manor."

"Thank you for having us, Lord Greengrass, Lady Greengrass."

"No problem at all. Come in, come in," Cygnus replied. "I'm honestly surprised that you were able to come on such short notice. With just a week left till Hogwarts and all."

"It wasn't too much of a hassle."

Daphne took in the sight of the Brookes.

Blonde, green eyed, and powerful– Lady Brooke reminded Daphne of her mother, but she begrudgingly had to admit that Lady Brooke was 'more.' More prominent, not in looks, but in the way she commanded a room.

And Heir Brooke, well... he was not what she expected.

Daphne wasn't sure what she was expecting, really, but she thought that he might just be another Draco, or that he might be someone like her– someone who was doing their best to act the part before they fully took on the role.