Daisy Evans | The marauders

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/45928102.

Rating: General Audiences

Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death
Category: F/F, F/M, Gen, M/M
Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling, Marauders - Fandom
Relationship: James Potter/Lily Evans Potter, Sirius Black/Remus Lupin, Marlene
McKinnon/Dorcas Meadowes, Regulus Black/OC
Character: Daisy Evans, James Potter, Lily Evans Potter, Sirius Black, Remus
Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Marlene McKinnon, Dorcas Meadowes, Mary
Macdonald, Regulus Black, Minerva McGonagall, Rubeus Hagrid,
Horace Slughorn, Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, Poppy Pomfrey,
Pomona Sprout, Bao Wen, Heather McKinnon, Barty Crouch Jr.,
Petunia Evans, Lily Evans, Marigold Evans, Richard Evans, Fleamont
Potter, Euphemia Potter
Additional Tags: OC, for fun, Fluff, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Harry Potter - Freeform, The
Marauders - Freeform, Marauders, marauders oc, Magic
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2023-03-22 Updated: 2023-05-02 Words: 119,697 Chapters:
27/?

Daisy Evans | The marauders

by The_siriusmoony

Summary

Daisy Evans, the youngest of the Evans sisters. A muggleborn witch with great passion and
curiosity who falls into the middle of a war.
Her story was never told, she had so much to tell.
Watch her make friends, fall in love, and fight for what is right.
This is Daisy Evans' journey into the wizarding world.

I 100% condemn JK Rowlings views and actions against the LGBTQ+ community. And I
do not take credit for her characters that I will be using.
All OCs have been created by myself.

Follow me on Wattpad too! @thesiriusmoon ❤️

 Year One: Number Eleven

It was awfully cold on the first day of March, but that couldn't stop Daisy Evans prancing down
the steps to her little living room, quite snug for the family of five, well — four of them for now —
to grin in the sight of the pink birthday banner hanging on the wall.

"There she is!"

The young girl turned and saw her father enter, who was wearing a pointed pink paper made hat
with a string under his clean shaven chin, and his special green checked shirt that he wore only for
occasions such as birthdays or dinners, which weren't very often, they were for treats.

Before she passed, Daisy's aunt — her fathers sister — used to always go on about how she was her
fathers double, a mini him, however much Daisy insisted it was not true. They may have shared the
same high bridged nose and downward red smile, soft dimples, and maybe the same small ears...
and their big blue eyes... but they weren't as identical as she said. Daisy was obviously prettier, and
had the difference of freckles from her mother.

Mr Evans wrapped his strong arms around Daisy for a hug that was more of a tight yet affectionate
squeeze. It just made loving more fun.

"Happy birthday my love." He pecked her forehead.

Her father was like stars on a dark night, shining down on the lost ones guiding them back home
and chasing away the monsters that lurk in the shadows. He was always willing to check in her
cupboard for werewolves or ghouls, and he was the one she looked to if she just needed to smile.
He cracked stupid jokes about farts, and had the worst habit of doing it during meals to her mothers
distaste. But she had no idea Daisy could see her holding back a laugh.

Mrs Evans was gentle and kind. Her hands strong from kneading dough and soft from her hand
cream. Kisses on the cheek, warm blankets, and apple pie were what made her. Her stories took
you to other universes where you could be queen of the world, have your own spaceship and
explore the galaxy whenever you pleased, or spook you into not sleeping on Halloween night.

When Mrs Evans joined them she was carrying a hot plate of fresh toast from the loaf she had
made just yesterday. Smothered in butter and waiting to be taken a bite of.

The eldest sister, Petunia, she had been in the room at her sisters arrival but had not payed much
attention to the birthday girl. Instead of celebrating, she had her head stuck in a magazine made for
'Teens in 72'!' Which included girls in colourful striped tops and long, wide jeans with huge
buckled belts, and boys in shirts half unbuttoned paired with heavy black boots. Daisy also noticed
Petunia had her blonde hair styled just like the girl on the front page, big and wavy, probably used
rollers over night and a whole can of hairspray. She looked more like her mother than her father.
Same hair, same pointed nose, everything was spot on! You'd think her mother gave birth to a
clone!

Daisy was eleven today. Though her other older sister, Lily, would not be here to wish her a merry
day in person as she was in the coolest boarding school Daisy had ever heard of.

Hogwarts. Her sister Lily was a witch. Though it was a secret to everyone else apart from those in
this house. She was away to learn magic and would come home to tell Daisy all about it. Read to
her from her textbooks and play, pretending that Daisy could conjure any wish or command Lily
asked of her, as if she were a witch too. Daisy hoped it was real every time. If it was, she'd get to
stay with Lily at her school, and of course do her own spells. A girl can only dream sometimes, but
today, there was a little spark of hope in the small body of Daisy Evans.

As she opened her few presents, Daisy awed at the lovely yellow sewn dress that she had pulled
from a small box.

"The charity shop had it on sale, isn't it pretty?" Mrs Evans looked hopeful. The Evans family
didn't have a lot of money. Ends met, but any extra pounds that were left was saved for birthdays
and Christmas time. Mrs Evans worried day in and day out on whether or not she was succeeding
as a mother, wanting to give her children everything in the world, but having so little.

"It's beautiful." Admiring the white daisy embroidery around the collar and lace at the end of the
shouldered sleeved. Daisy would wear it everywhere she could. Maybe to a little dance, like the
ones Petunia goes to with her friends. She'd just have to find a friend to go with...

Another thing that Daisy would love about Hogwarts would be the new life. She can't bring myself
to lie about my social popularity, she's simply not to be thought of twice in my class... maybe not
even once. She'd joined in a few games during break time, but only if she'd asked, and was always
sat in the same chair at lunch with her ham sandwich and milk carton, the chair next to her cold
and lonely. It may seem a little sad but at least she was succeeding in her tests. A after A after A,
she thought all her time spent alone had benefited her studies, so to that, she didn't complain much.

Mrs Evans couldn't hold her excitement any more and had decided to allow Daisy a peek at her
birthday cake earlier than planned. It was small, homemade by her mother who bakes more than
she sells. Though what doesn't make it off the shelf, goes straight home and into the bellies of her
family. Her custard tarts aren't the most popular in her bakery, but the Evans house throw
celebrations when she returns with a few left over from work. The candles that read number eleven
sparkled on top of hot pink fondant, and two small daisies made of icing made the cake look huge.
Though unfortunately, Daisy was not allowed to have any before my dinner, it shall be kept in the
kitchen cupboard until then. Even with Mr Evans pleading, Daisy's mother would not give in, and
locked it away back in its box. How Daisy was to sit around all day and not even have a bite? She
had no idea.

As breakfast was finishing, the letterbox rattled as the postman made his way around the street,
and Mr Evans returned with the few letters while the girls sat watching the morning cartoons
which consisted of The Flintstones, The Pink Panther Show, and Scooby Doo. This was a treat, as
normally the family would have the news on until twelve and then the tv would be turned off to
save a little money. Today Mr and Mrs Evans had kindly handed Daisy that time slot.

"Bank..." Mr Evans muttered and tossed the letter to the side. "Oh! One for Miss Daisy Evans."

Daisy looked from her comfortable spot at the floor of the chair Petunia rested upon, and took the
brown envelope from her father. As she opened it, there was a card with a fairy that had spelt
'happy birthday' with her wand in gold sparkles, and inside, the lovely and delicate hand writing of
her older sister created a lump in her throat.

'Dear Daisy,
Happy birthday to a special little fairy! I will see you soon and will arrive back with a gift!
Love, Lily'

And a large heart printed at the bottom of the page. How lovely it was to know that her sister still
hadn't forgotten her, no matter how simple. Daisy always assumed Lily's magic business would
take up too much of her time to think about home, but clearly not.
Lily had always had a soft heart. She was cheery when she wasn't arguing with Petunia, which was
when Petunia was at her dances. Daisy enjoyed those chill times with Lily where they'd challenge
one another at scrabble or a good game of snap. The memories of this had her longing even more to
join Lily in her magic boarding school.

"This... is for you too... Daisy." Mrs Evans held out a shaky hand, another envelop between her
fingers. Mr Evans clasped his hands on top of his red hair and emitted a weak high pitched laugh as
he smiled at the roof.
So Daisy took it, and what it said inside made the toast in her mouth fall onto her lap.

"Hogwarts?!"
 Year One: A Witch

The letter almost dropped with Daisy's toast as she read to herself,

'To Daisy Marie Evans, we are delighted to inform you that you have been allocated a place at
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy.'

Along with the acceptance that she hadn't even applied for she read about all the equipment needed
to go to this school. It seemed like a lot, and she hoped her parents would have money for it all.
The charity shops wouldn't have Hogwarts books.

Down at the bottom of the page, the signature of a Professor McGonagall, deputy head of
Hogwarts.

"What does it say?" Mrs Evans whispered, trying to read the letter through the back of the paper,
and Daisy explained the acceptance to which her mother almost fainted. Petunia had stormed off to
the confusion to the younger, but understanding of their parents.

"I've been accepted? I... I didn't even apply!"

"They just know honey." Mr Evans laughed again, rubbing his forehead.
Daisy scanned the equipment again, a surge of disappointment washing over her.

"I don't have to go. It's alright."

"What?! Of course you will go this will be your education! You're a witch!"

But Daisy felt too guilty having to ask for more on her birthday knowing how hard her parents
worked to give her what she has already. Witch or not, the public high school she already knew
would suit her just fine, no matter how much she longed for Lily.

There must have been signs somewhere. The Hogwarts letter couldn't have been all that of a
surprise.

There was the time where Daisy's bedroom door shut by itself when she was upset and had missed
the opportunity to slam it, but she hadn't needed to touch it as when she landed on her bed, it
slammed by itself. Daisy had convinced herself that the gust of wind from which her hand made
when it missed had managed to close it, but thinking of it now, it was too strong of a bang to have
been that.

Then there was the time Mr Evans had taught Daisy a simple coin trick. He'd have the coin in his
hand once second, then with a simple close and open of his hand the coin would be gone. She had
learned the trick and practiced on her mother and she was delighted that it had worked. The only
thing being that she actually couldn't find the coin afterwards... and settled for the possibility that
she may have dropped it.

Then there was the very strange time that on a very cold night, where there was no money left for
heating, Daisy had somehow found herself toasted under her duvet, thinking that her mother must
have warmed her bed with a hot water bottle. But then that couldn't be... the stove was only used
for cooking at the moment, until pay day came around.

More times were probably buried deep in her mind but she just hadn't a clue.
Daisy always pictured witches having long pointy noses and green warts poking out of every
corner of their face, black straw like hair and black cats and riding broomsticks. She didn't look
like a witch at all. She also didn't have a cat and the broom they had sat in the cupboard to sweep
the floor. It was when Lily was told she was a witch that Daisy learned that magic people pass by
them all the time! Since Lily was the first to become aware of her witchy powers Daisy was
already aware of magic in our world, which is probably why she hadn't freaked out yet. She
actually really wanted to be a witch when Lily was given her letter. The thought of casting spells
and having something special about herself would be great! It would maybe give Daisy a reason as
to why she never connected with any of my classmates, or why they didn't connect with her...

"Why don't you want to go?" Mr Evans asked, concerned.

"I don't want to leave here. And... you shouldn't need to buy me books."

"We'll do whatever it is we can so you can go. Enjoy yourself and we'll make sure it happens." Mrs
Evans gentle hand on Daisy's shoulder melted away the boulders weighing her down. It was a big
change, to leave her family to explore whatever it is she is. Though, at least she'd have Lily, she'd
done it all before.

"Lily will have her old first year books, and if you need more then the headmaster might be able to
get you some from the school. There are always ways Daisy." Mr Evans did have a point. Guilt
was still burdening Daisy despite the encouragement from her parents, thinking of how they'll have
to still buy her uniform rather than giving her Petunia's old high school clothes. Daisy would
actually rather the hand-me-downs, it meant less hassle and worry because as Petunia grew taller,
her small clothes could be passed to her, and if they were a bit too big that was fine because
chances were that Daisy would grow into them within time. But she couldn't exactly grow into the
pens and paper that Lily will be using throughout her entire school year, unless she nicked some.

With all her thinking Daisy had just caught the shared look between her parents which meant they
were pretty much communicating telepathically. "Just leave it to us. You'll be going and we'll make
sure."

Besides the shocking letter that was pinned to the fridge door, Daisy's birthday was nice. It wasn't
big, it wasn't too small, it was just right. Her parents had made her a little badge with the number
eleven on it. Simple paper and a pin, it was so unique. Daisy loved it and once she took it off it
would stay safely in her bedside drawer.

The yellow dress fit her perfectly. The lace of the sleeves hugged her arms nicely, rather than
cutting off her circulation. Thankfully. The hem landed just above her knees which meant she
could probably use it as a shorter dress once she got older, ensuring the dress fulfilled its purpose.
It flattered the young girls hair, orange and yellow were sweet together like tangerines and lemons.

The only thing different about this birthday was the absence of Lily, who Daisy missed dearly and
when she lay in their shared bedroom, loneliness was all she had. Though Lily's clothes and books
occupied her space, it felt ghostly and dark. It was just Daisy in there until summer time. She could
imagine Lily reading to her again and braiding her hair in the morning. Her fingers worked
wonders, she could do absolutely anything to anybody's hair. Petunia would try but would end up
tangling and getting knots in Daisy's hair, so she gave up.

Besides Lily's absence, it seemed like Petunia had gone elsewhere too, though she was just
upstairs. Daisy had a hand drawn card from her but after the Hogwarts letter, Petunia had vanished.
Just like on Lily's eleventh birthday.

Last year when Lily had received her surprise letter, everyone gathered around the little kitchen
table in attempt to understand.

'Witches and wizards? This must be some kind of practical joke.' Mr Evans had theorised. That was
until there was a knock at the door and Mrs Evans led in a funny looking man wearing bright green
robes and a pointy hat, claiming to be from the ministry of magic.

'Your daughter Lily here has been recognised as a witch, and Hogwarts invites her to join them in
their outstanding curriculum. We think Lily will really enjoy her time there, after all, she is a witch
and has every right to learn about herself.'

At first, Daisy's parents just couldn't wrap their heads around it, but after a long adequate chat with
the man in the kitchen, they had came around, only with the exception of visiting Hogwarts first
with Lily. Which is exactly what they did.

Her parents had explained to their other girls later about the newfound witch in the family, and
Petunia grew curious as to how Lily could do all of this and they could not. To that there wasn't an
answer. Which led to frustration, which has now been directed at Daisy also.

Mr and Mrs Evans told Daisy that Hogwarts was a wonderful castle full with hundreds of rooms
and that she will be safe and sound while away from them. But it all still sounded very terrifying,
the school was very far away, in the middle of nowhere in the Scottish highlands!

Lily would probably be thrilled at the news of Daisy's acceptance. Speaking of, Lily was also part
of some house club in school, just like how Daisy is in the Mississippi house in her primary school.
But Lily's houses were magic and apparently supposed to match your personality or something.
Daisy's house was randomised when she started her first year. Though this time it felt personal.
What if she were put in a house all alone, or in a house for children who weren't as magic as the
others, who basically didn't have a need to go to the school?

"Are you sure?" She asked her parents, her stomach in a knot.

"Absolutely." Said Mr Evans.

Nearer the end of the night, everyone was treated to cake and ice cream while they watched a
rented movie called The Aristocats, which Daisy thoroughly enjoyed and wished she could keep
the video forever and ever. Little Marie was a favourite, but she also found the man goose to be
very funny. His singing and dancing reminded her of her uncle Pete, who had passed away around
four year ago now.

Petunia had joined in for a little while before returning upstairs having not said a word. Daisy felt a
little guilty for her sister. She was left out while her sisters would be at a magical school. It also
meant that it would only be Petunia in the house for the year while the others were away doing
spells or whatever it is they do over at Hogwarts.

Who knows what will change between the sisters this time around.
 Year One: Diagon Alley

Lily's return made it all too real now for Daisy, as her sister would be returning as a witch and not
the normal person she was a year before. She'd hear that Daisy too was a witch and would be
accompanying her to school. Mr Evans left a short while ago to pick up from the train station, and
Daisy was in bed feeling too overwhelmed with the butterflies in her stomach to move. She had no
idea how Lily had been so calm after finding out about the magic world.

It was as if she already knew.

When Lily returned, Daisy forced her legs out of bed that could hardly hold her weight and stopped
at the top of the stairs, peeking to see Lily pulling inside a trunk. Mr Evans behind her with a little
shopping bag from Tesco.

Her sister looked happier than ever. Lily's eyes seemed to shine and her face glowed as if she'd
been in the sun for hours at the beach. Daisy could assume that her sister enjoyed her time at
Hogwarts.

"We have a surprise for you." Mrs Evans squealed leading Lily into the living room. "Daisy- oh
where is she?" To which the youngest had finally decided to walk downstairs and greet her older
sister who had grown quite a bit from the last time that they had met. They used to be eye to eye
but now it's more eye to mouth.

"A surprise?" Lily asked, and Mrs Evans gave Daisy a nudge with her elbow. It must have been
about the letter, nothing else exciting had happened besides graduating from primary school, but of
course Lily would have known that already.

So Daisy told her the news, and the corners of Lily's mouth twitched downwards, then back up
quicker than they fell.

"Wow that's great!" She said, and Daisy huffed with a shrug of her shoulders, still not having came
round to the idea.

"She'll love Hogwarts won't she Lily?" Mrs Evans looked hopeful, and Lily nodded her head.

"Yeah... she will it's good." The older girl trying to hide her worried feelings which she wouldn't
dare show in front of her family, especially Daisy as she wanted her younger sister to go into that
school with her head held high. Higher than Lily had done.

"Did you have a nice year?" Daisy asked Lily who jumped, having no idea her sister had followed
her to their bedroom.

Having spun around so quickly, Daisy had saw the tired eyes of a girl who hardly slept.

"It was alright."

"You look tired."

Lily slammed her nightgown onto the bed. "Of course I am! It's like a six hour train ride and now
you won't leave me alone!"

"I've been here two minutes!"

"Leave me alone to unpack."

"This is my room-"

"Out!" And before she knew it, Daisy had been pushed out and had the door closed in front of her
face.

"We'll it's good to have you home!" She yelled sarcastically at the white wood.

Despite the ill feelings, Daisy received Lily's gift, a handmade beaded white and pink necklace.

Maybe Lily was just tired. Daisy had looked forward to seeing her, she missed her. But it seemed
that Lily just couldn't wait to be far away from her again. Perhaps her getting into Hogwarts wasn't
the great news her parents thought it was.

"We'll have to go to Diagon Ally to get some supplies." Mr Evans told a grumpy looking Daisy
who slumped over the newspaper doing the daily sudoku puzzles on the back page.

Over the few weeks Lily had been back, she'd been walking in thin ice. Even if she were to be
relaxing on the couch Lily would scold her for not sitting lady like. Enough was enough.

"One of the older students is giving Lily her old books, so I only need to buy some quills and stuff
for you guys. You'll get Lily's old books." Hand-me-downs we're very popular in this house.

Daisy hummed. She didn't want to think about Hogwarts. She just wanted to figure out where the
next sudoku number would go.

"Daisy!" He gave her a startle.

"Are you listening to me?" Mr Evans asked, looking rather cross, his brows were furrowed and his
mouth agape.

"Yeah..." she responded doubtfully.

"We're going to Diagon Alley alright? You, me, and Lily." Daisy sighed, something Mr Evans
stopped buttering his bread for.

"Whats going on? You also never do sudoku."

Daisy didn't want to tell tales. She kept it inside in hope that things would blow over. Bullies in
school went undisciplined just as Petunia and Lily would get off squeaky clean after arguments
with their youngest sister.

Daisy didn't feel like she had power. She was smaller than the other kids, not even by size but by
how they ignored her when she talked, looked past her as if she were a ghost, and that everyone
thought they were too good to play with her, laughing if she asked to join in or walking away
before she could ask. There was no point to Daisy saying anything, because it was what it was.

"I want to do the sudoku." She raised her voice, something the girls never did to their parents.

Mr Evans wasn't clueless. He knew of his daughters struggle and how hard it must be being the
youngest girl of three and sharing a bedroom. He wanted her to go to Hogwarts more than
anything. She'd have more opportunities to make friends and enjoy her youth. Hogwarts was a
place she could thrive and now, learn about who she really was.

During the time of leading up to Diagon Ally, Lily wouldn't speak of magic. Daisy's questions
would be ignored or thrown out of the window with a change of subject. She hadn't really a clue
what to expect when going to the magic shops. Would it be just like Morrisons? Or would it be
filled with blue and pink sparks and other men in funny looking clothes, and maybe dragons did
exist after all.

Daisy saved up her pocket money over the summer. She didn't go to the shops to buy sweets or
magazines, and helped Mrs Auchinraith with her garden. She kept it all away in her piggy bank.
This was too important, it was the very first time she would enter the magic world.

It felt like years were passing waiting for the day they would go, but when it came it felt like she
had only blinked. On the car ride there, Daisy sat eagerly in the back of the car stretching over to
see out of the front window, expecting to catch something spectacular. Then they stopped outside
of a crummy brick building... The Leaky Cauldron.

That didn't look magical. It looked run down and unkept. The sign was tilted and only one light
outside worked, the other had been smashed.

Lily led the other two through the entrance, the bar man nodding his head towards Mr Evans,
which he returned. Daisy didn't think they'd be having something to eat before they left, but maybe
her dad fancied an early pint. Though it was only ten o'clock in the morning. But they did not stop
to sit. Daisy still followed Lily when she exited the back door which lead to the stinky pub bins.

"Why are we out here?" She asked and Lily didn't answer, instead she began tapping on the brick
wall. Looking like she was playing a game, or entering a code.

After a moment of nothing, the bricks began to move. Daisy had to rub her eyes, thinking this was
all a hallucination.

A full street of shops and markets appeared in front of her, filled with children and adults. One little
girl was waving a wand in the air as her mother frantically chased her, an orange cat in a basket
was nursing her kittens, and a man with a three foot pointy hat was levitating a paintbrush up and
down the side of a building.

"Oh my goodness..."

"The bank first dad." Said Lily, leading the way through the crowd.

The family didn't seem to fit in. Daisy had her yellow dress on, Lily had a blouse and skirt, and her
dad wore black slacks. Meanwhile the majority of people here wore robes of crazy colours.

A large building held up with grey stone pillars looked over the entire street. Two gold gargoyles
sat protecting the building on either side of the entrance, being a couple inches taller than Daisy.
She hardly wanted to walk past them.

Within the hall, the trio began walking down an isle in which Daisy grabbed her dads hand. There
were creatures or something sitting on either side of them, all the way down to the end which is
where she assumed they were going. Pointy noses, long ears, and she didn't see a single one smile.
It was a little scary for a first time witch.

"It's alright, these are the goblins, they handle the money." Mr Evans explained and Daisy gasped.
Goblins?! She thought they lived under bridges and in far away caves. Sometimes convincing
herself there were some in her closet.

Waiting by her dads side, she watched the goblin at the end of the row speak to Mr Evans and
exchange coins with him. Her eyes were fixated on the horn rimmed glasses the goblin wore until
she heard someone call.

"Alright Evans!"

Well that was her name, so she turned her head and saw a young boy with russet skin and unruly
dark hair, and a man walking behind him had a deeper skin tone and semi-rimmed brow line
glasses in black, just like the boy.

The younger was waving in her direction, and Daisy was about to wave back when she heard Lily
tell her to turn around.

"Ignore him!" Her older sister hushed.

However, their dad had finished his exchanging and had now caught sight of the boy and man, and
with a large smile he greeted, "Fleamont! It's so good to see you again." And the two men shook
hands.

The young boy approached Lily with a sheepish smile. "You like nice today."

Lily rolled her eyes, but the boy didn't seem to care less. His eyes averted to Daisy and he gasped.
"You have a sister?!"

Daisy laughed at this. Lily's face stayed stiff like stone.

"Daisy." Since Lily wasn't going to introduced the two, Daisy brought it upon herself, and learned
that the boys name was James. He was excited to find out that another Evans was coming to
Hogwarts, and told Daisy that Lily was the smartest witch in their school year.

Daisy wondered if she could do that too.

"And then there's quidditch, obviously." Daisy's face gave it away that she had absolutely no clue
on what that gibberish was.

"Merlins sakes Evans have you not taught her anything."

When Lily didn't reply, James turned to Daisy again.

"Not to worry, I'll show you once you get there alright?" And the young girl nodded.

"Girls are you coming?" Mr Evans and Fleamont had finished their catch-up and they all now has
to part, so Daisy said goodbye to James, and Lily muttered a bye, and walked with their father to
their first shop.

Flourish and Blotts was extremely confusing, and gave Daisy a slight headache. It looked a little
small, but once they walked through the door the shop grew ten times it's size.

"Oh my god." Daisy gasped and took a quick step back outside, checking that she had entered the
right shop, then stepped back in watching the room grow. It hurt to try and think about the logistics
of it all.

There were thousands, maybe millions, of books stacking the walls. They were all under weird
categories however. Daisy had no idea what herbology was, or divination, but spotted a quidditch
section.

Lily had parted from the trio leaving Daisy to her dad who was having trouble remembering where
everything was in this big shop.
"Dad I have books already." Daisy said, remembering that Lily's first year books are sitting in her
bedroom, packed and ready to be taken to school.

"You'll need stationary. Witches and wizards don't use pens and pencils at Hogwarts. We'll get you
a quill, ink, and parchment."

So she complied and followed her dad aimlessly around funky looking people until they finally
reached a rack with different sizes of quills and rolls of parchment.

"Pink ink!"

Mr Evans laughed. "Maybe another time, you need to use black in school. Can't be doing exams in
pink writing." Daisy didn't see why not, but picked up a pot of black ink anyways, along with three
quills, and a couple rolls of parchment.

Daisy was then leading up to the counter with her dad when a book caught her eye. It was a silver
cloth, absolutely beautiful, that glittered as she moved, catching her eye instantly. The title of the
book was that of gold, matching the same shimmer as the cover. Magical Miracles. By Louisa
Lewis. And in the middle, a white unicorn.

"Dad!" She hadn't meant to call for him, there was just so much excitement at seeing such a thing.
The urge to own the intriguing book was overwhelming.

When Mr Evans turned around, Daisy pointed to the bookshelf.

"This book looks really interesting." She hinted.

It was the least she could say. She felt tingles run along her arms and in her veins. Like gold dust
was in her blood. It was calling to her. She was the one to take it off the shelf.

"Are you wanting it?" Her father asked. Daisy nodded excitedly.

"Well... let's see how much it is- two galleons?!" Daisy's hope dropped into a pit in her stomach.
There mustn't be enough for it.

Seeing his daughter's face sink into a sad pout, Mr Evans suppressed his fears and decided that
they had change to spare. Besides, this would be Daisy's first own book.

"Thank you! Thank you!" She squealed and hugged her dad tight after he handed her the book from
the shelf, and he carried it with all the carefulness in her body.

On the way to the store line, Daisy stumbled back being bumped into by a girl with wild curly
blonde hair and huge circular glasses. When turning to accept an apology, Daisy saw horror coated
all over the girls face, and worried that she had done something seriously wrong.

"I'm... I'm so sorry." Why had that sounded so mournful? Like a guest offering condolences to the
relative of the deceased. Daisy had to shrug off the goosebumps on her skin before she could
proceed to have her equipment paid for.

The next stop was to buy uniform; robes, shirts, skirts, tights, and a pair of shoes. It hadn't taken
long at all, so the three were then in Slug and Jiggers for ingredients for potions, and lastly,
Ollivanders.

Ollivanders was a nice place, cosy, spacious but not too much, tight, but not too close. This was
where Daisy would retrieve her own wand. The thought itself was like a fairytale. How it had even
came to this she had no idea. Things like this didn't happen to little girls living in Cokesworth, the
town that was currently going under due to oil exchanging and who's pricing were rising quicker
than Daisy was ageing. Could it have been a mistake after all? Somehow Lily had been recognised
to be magic, but for two in a simple English family? Maybe the school got it wrong.

Mr Ollivander was a kind man when greeting Daisy, over the long years of selling wands he'd met
many curious and nervous children. "Hello Miss, how can I help you?" He asked directly to Daisy
after saying a hello to Mr Evans.

"I need a wand." Redness coated her cheeks from how silly that sounded. It was like she was five
playing role play again.

"I'll see what I've got!"

Once Mr Ollivander rummaged through a few boxes, shaking his head until he found a wand that
piqued his interest, he returned to daisy, holding the wand carefully between both palms and
allowed her to take it from him.

Now standing with the wand, she had no idea what to do.

"Give it a little swish, see how it feels."

With Mr Ollivanders advice, Daisy drew a circle in the air with the tip, and felt it vibrate slightly in
her hand. It hadn't felt good. "Here, try this one on for size." Replacing the wand in her hand.

This one felt nice, easy to move, it wasn't heavy, or too light that she'd end up throwing it out of her
hand. She thought she had found the one before she gave it a flick and a gold spark shot across the
counter and knocked a few boxes.

"Sorry!"

Mr Ollivander waves his hands. "Happens all the time." And with a twirl of his own wand,
everything moved back into position. Daisy watching completely hypnotised.

Mr Ollivander laughed. "You'll do that one day won't you! Hogwarts has only the best to offer little
one." And Daisy looked at her dad for confirmation, and he nodded.

"Try this one." Another wand was exchanged, and Daisy took a deep breath. Deep down she was
wondering if she was really opposed to the idea of now finding a wand and just going home. She
wouldn't want to voice that out loud however.

The wand had a floral pattern carved into the handle of the wood, and Daisy's hand fit around it
perfectly.
Allowing the wand to dance in the air, it showed how gracefully it moved in her hand and followed
her instructions. No rowdy sparks and heavy feeling at all.

"I think we've found the one!" The older man cheered and danced. "A lovely Chestnut wood here,
unicorn hair core, eleven inches!"

To heck with the anxiety Daisy felt, she had a wand now! She jumped up and down in glee and
quickly gave it to Mr Ollivander to put in a safe box.

"Thank you mister!"

And when they left, Daisy couldn't stop skipping.

 Year One: Hogwarts Express

The first of September 1972 was a day Daisy would never forget. The feeling she had when getting
dressed and brushing her hair was that of a thousand bees buzzing in her stomach. Her trunk was
packed along her books, uniform, diary, and the hand made necklace from Lily was around her
neck.

Mr Evans had taken it upon himself to load his girls trunks into the car while they ate a hearty
breakfast, kindly prepared by their mother before her shift at the bakery. There would be no more
late night cake snaking for Daisy at Hogwarts.

When it was time to depart, Lily had said her farewells to their mother and walked past Petunia, but
Daisy wavered. There was still a bit of a pull towards her oldest sister that she couldn't yet cut
despite how little they talked during the holiday. It was wanting her to stay, she didn't want Petunia
to be all alone, but then again, a new adventure was waiting for her.

"Bye Petunia, I'll miss you."

The oldest Evans showed no emotion as the youngest hugged her waist, not until the family car
disappeared down the road did she allow a tear to fall.

The train station at last, Kings Cross was were Daisy would hold her breath and step onto the train
that would flip her world upside down.

"Good luck girls, remember to write to us." Mr Evans hugged them tight and kissed their heads.

With her trolley in one hand, Daisy looked for the train they would part on and found none.

"Have we missed it?!" She panicked to herself.

"Follow me." Lily took charge and positioned herself about twenty feet away from a brick pillar. It
didn't take Daisy much to realise that Lily had plans to run straight into it.

"Dad-" but Daisy was off, and her older sister vanished in a flash through the bricks.

Daisy's legs turned into jelly and she lost all power to hold up her weight and Mr Evans had to pick
her up. "It's alright love, you don't feel a thing!"

"Dad I don't want to." She whimpered quietly as her lip began to tremble.

"Look at me." Her fathers voice as soft as the clouds above. Worries and anxiety faltered looking
into his eyes that were only full of love for his daughter. "You've got this. I know you do."

With a deep breath and all her strength being put into her shaky hands holding herself up, Daisy
narrowed her eyes at the pillar.

It's just like water. She told herself. She'd ripple through with ease and that'll be that.

"I'll see you at Christmas, be good! I love you." Her father said one last goodbye behind her which
she returned before she ran forward and disappeared out of sight.

When Daisy turned to look back, her father was gone, and she was standing in an unknown station.
Obvious wizards walked by as she recognised their pointy hats and long robes. As she looked all
around she struggled to catch Lily's hair, and she thought she had found her but it turned out to just
be a family of red heads.

"Are you lost?" One of them asked having spotted the scared looking girl. A boy around seventeen
with fiery hair and freckles all over.

She felt rather embarrassed feeling so childlike all of a sudden, so vulnerable like a toddler lost in
the shops.

"I'm Bilius, I'm guessing this is your first year?" She nodded. "Just follow me, don't worry, there's
nothing to be scared of." His kind and goofy smile made her feel a little better.

Trustingly, Daisy followed Bilius to a carriage where he lifted her trunk and then allowed her to
guide herself down into a carriage. She was let down that he had to leave, saying he had to sit with
prefects instead, but that she'd be alright now.

Every step she took felt wrong. Like walking in someone else's shoes. The floor was hard and her
trunk began feeling heavier and heavier with each pull, all she wished to do was sit down but
couldn't find a free place. And she didn't want to intrude on someone.

It was when Daisy was about to give up and sit in the hallway when she saw a girl, petite and
alone, staring out of the trains window.

Cautiously, as not to startle, Daisy slide the door open and cleared her throat.

"Excuse me."

The young girl turned around. A small face with narrow dark coloured eyes, thick hair resting
below her shoulders, and a beauty mark on her left cheek bone. Daisy could see that the girl felt the
same as she did. It was an instant connection. She didn't look thrilled to be on the train and was
longing to escape.

"Can I sit here?" Daisy continued, asking softly and slightly bringing her trunk inside. The girl
nodded her head and then took her attention back to the window. Leaving Daisy in the awkward
position to put her things down as quietly as possible to not disturb and ruin the girls state of mind.
But once she settled, the silence began gnawing on her arms and legs, she couldn't sit like this
much longer.

"What's your name?" She asked quietly.

The abruptness made the stranger jump. Daisy had pulled her out of dreaming about her parents
coming back to get her and not ever having to go to this magic school.

The girl looked startled and shuffled round to face Daisy, flattening her skirt over and over again.

"Bao."

Her voice was low, scared. It was as if Daisy was looking at a fragment of her own feelings that
had morphed into another person, showing her just what it's like to look how you feel.

"I'm Daisy."

"Is this your first year?" She asked Bao who nodded her head. "Me too."

Silence.

Daisy kicked her dangling feet and glanced outside the carriage door where older students much
taller and broader than she was passed by with their friends. She wondered how they did it.

"Did... did you know you were magic?" Bao asked quietly, turning her head slightly away from the
window to face Daisy, who noticed that around her small eyes were blotchy.

"No... but my sister is. Our family aren't magic."

Having said that, Bao's shoulders loosened and her body twisted towards where Daisy sat now.

"Really? Mine aren't either... I'm the first."

Daisy began to smile. "My sister got her letter last year, she's going into second year now."

"Does she like it?"

Daisy stopped smiling and screwed her face in thought. She actually didn't know. Lily hadn't talked
about Hogwarts during summer. It was always 'you'll see when you get there... I don't want to ruin
the surprise Lily would snap at first, before finishing calmly, or 'stop asking!' As if it were an
insult that Daisy wished to learn about this foreign school.

"I think so." Sending a nod over to Bao who relaxed more. No matter if she was right or not, it was
at least comforting to the other girl.

"We'll that's good... maybe it won't be so bad. I just miss my mum and dad." Bao confessed and
Daisy understood too well.

Daisy shared her familiar feelings and bit by bit, Bao had became just as present in the carriage as
the couch and she didn't look out longingly out of the window for her parents again. After a quarter
of an hour, Daisy and Bao had accepted their fate and were no longer fretting the unknown that
awaited them at Hogwarts.

When the train whistle blew, the two girls held their breath. Butterflies swarmed in their stomachs
and into their chests when the station began to move.

With the two girls chatting about all of the things they saw in Diagon Alley for the first time, they
had came to a quick stop when they heard their door rattle.

"Excuse me, can I sit in here? My sisters kicked me out our carriage and I have no idea where my
brother is."

Daisy and Bao both telepathically agreed with a shared look, and the girl placed her trunk under the
same couch as Bao. Though she had to hold her long hair out of the way, bringing it all to one side
making it look like a gold waterfall.

"Is it your first year too?" She asked after settling and the two girls nodded. "Same! I hope I'm in
Gryffindor, that's the same house as my siblings."

"What's Gryffindor?" Bao asked.

"One of the school houses. There's Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. All named
after the four wizards and witches who founded the school."

"I don't know which one my sisters in, she didn't tell me." Daisy looked down.

"Well don't worry we'll find out when we get there." The girl waved it off with a flick of her wrist
and began to comb her hair with her fingers.
"Oh I'm Heather by the way. Heather McKinnon, pleasure to meet you both." Extending her hand.

She was quite pretty really. Big doe eyes painted pine green like a deep forest, pink dusted cheeks,
and dimples when her thin lips smiled.

Another knock at the door had Daisy wondering if she'd been gifted luck and was about to meet
another new person when an old lady with a trolley was seen through the glass.

"Would you girls like anything off the trolley?"

The trolley was full of sweets! Daisy took out her little purse that contained a few galleons, not
pounds like she had saved up as her dad had swapped them out.

"Do you have chocolate?" She asked the lady.

"Plenty! What about a chocolate frog?"

Daisy stammered and said ok.

Bao and Heather both bought a treat too. A strawberry tart for Bao and a lemon one for Heather.
Meanwhile Daisy was staring wide eyed at the packet in front of her... with something moving
inside of it.

When the lady left, she simply couldn't take it anymore and tossed the packet onto the seat beside
her.

"What's in that?!"

"Chocolate frog." Said Heather.

"I think it's a real frog." Said Bao.

"What do I do?!"

"You need to bite it." Heather answered.

"Throw it out the window!" Bao suggested.

Daisy winced at the crinkles of the wrapped knowing that whatever is inside it is alive.

But before she had decided what to do, Heather had picked it up.

"Watching? You need to be quick otherwise it will jump away."

Daisy and Bao tucked their knees into their chests and frightfully watched Heather tear open the
wrapper.

"Gotcha!"

Daisy and Bao both squealed and their legs kicked by themselves as they saw the brown frog
croaking in Heather's hand. Suddenly feeling faint, Daisy didn't think the wizard world would suit
her after all if she's to fit in with people who eat live frogs.

The crunch that was Heather biting the frogs leg threatened the bring vomit up Daisy's throat. It
only sounded like someone biting a piece of chocolate, but after that, Daisy couldn't stomach the
thought of eating it, so Heather swapped her for her lemon tart, which didn't move.
The journey to Hogwarts was very exciting. As it turns out, Heather had one magical parent, her
mum, her dad worked for the bank, she was a half -blood. So Daisy and Bao were having all their
questions answered about magic. Bao wanted to know about Hogwarts. Were there ghosts? Any
monsters? And Daisy asked about magic creatures. Her book safely tucked away in her truck.
Heather gladly answered every single question she could.

She didn't know if monsters existed but she knew there were ghosts. "Yeah ghosts are in Hogwarts
but they don't bother you if you don't bother them. This one time my sister Marlene was roaming
around the Slytherins bit, she didn't tell me why, but she ended up getting chased by the Bloody
Baron."

With a name like Bloody Baron Daisy imagined it wasn't pleasant.

Dozing off made the trip a lot quicker. Daisy's puffy face could make out the blur of a train station
which Heather called Hogsmead.

Then Bilius arrived again! He opened the girls carriage. "Alright firsties? Time to get ready for
Hogwarts, get those robes on!"

Thrilled they put on their uniform and sat impatiently waiting for the train to finally rest.

Daisy was the first of the three girls to step into Hogsmead. The station was deserted, nobody stood
to look at the map on the brick wall indicating where the train took, nobody sat on the glossy black
benches, but she did spot an old man sitting inside through a window, reading a newspaper.
Although, once the children started getting off the train it didn't take long for the station to become
completely packed. She didn't even want to try to count how many students there were.

The three girls stuck close, while Heather seemed to be looking for something, or someone,
standing on her toes trying to see over the heads of older boys.

"Firs' years over 'ere!" A booming voice startled them, and Heather began leading them down the
station, each of them having to sliver through larger students. Daisy caught sight of Lily but didn't
have time to say hello as her sister was busy chatting to a boy with long hair— greasy at that, and
the younger has to go somewhere else, seemingly they were going in separate directions.

Once the girls stopped, Daisy almost fainted at the sight of the giant man with a shaggy beard
towering over the head of the first years. To say the least she was a little frightened.

"That's the grounds keeper, Hagrid." Heather explained. "Don't be scared, he may look scary but
he's nice, Aaron says so."
Who?

"Is tha' ever'one?" The giant man counted the heads of the first years. "Yep! Welcome to 'ogsmead
station, where you will board and aligh' to and from London!" His accent was definitely something,
she'd never heard something so thick before. Mind you, she hadn't travelled very much before, this
is her first big step out in the world.

"My names 'agrid (Hagrid) and I'll be showing ye to the boa's (boats)!" He gestured for the children
to follow and they looked like mice following the piped piper. All Hagrid needed was a flute.

Amongst the first years, Daisy struggled to keep up while pulling her trunk which felt even heavier
going up this steep hill, and it was just her luck that a rock in the path caught her wheel and she
stumbled and landed on her knees, scraping them sorely.
"God I hope my robes alright."
She groaned frustratedly, and the pain in her knees made her eyes water. At least she hadn't put her
tights on, she would have already ruined them!

A hand lay out in front of her, and she looked up to see a boy with curly black hair, sleek and
smooth, ice grey eyes sitting under dark eyebrows, and sharp pointed nose. He didn't say anything,
he just had to look at her and she took his hand, helping her up from the ground.

Then he smiled. Not much, but it was a smile.

Daisy's mouth stayed open the way it was, only when the boy was to walk away she breathed
"thanks".
 Year One: The Sorting Hat

Daisy Evans would like to be a bird. Not a big one, not a small one, maybe a pigeon.
Being stuck on the ground all the time was boring. She wished she could fly and experience, as
pigeons didn't need money, they didn't need a house or much really. They probably didn't have a
hard time making friends either. They'd go with the flow and fly wherever the wind takes them abs
make pigeon pals.
Now she was really flying. Adventure, thrill, something new! Where would she start? She felt
lighter than she ever had before, now she could hardly stay on ground.
When Hagrid had taken the children to Hogwarts, they were instructed to sit on boats without oars.
Though not the worry, to Daisy's surprise they began to move by themselves and she was
absolutely captivated by the ripples in the lake getting bigger and bigger.
She shared a boat with her train friends, Heather and Bao. Rocking side to side they all gripped
tight onto the benches and hoped they wouldn't tip any time soon. Every shake they suffered they
thought they would end up at the bottom of the deep dark lake, but they stayed afloat all the way
until the boat came to a slow rest at the bay.
Above... a castle.

It was absolutely glorious. Stone bricks towered high and pointed turrets directed to the glittery
sky. She could see Orion's Belt bright like bulbs, his dog at his foot in the Canis Major. Cinderella
ought to be jealous. The steps were high yet not steep, she hardly knew she were climbing until
Hagrid turned and stopped the children once they were almost at the top.
"Now from 'ere, you kin see all the cas'le ground!"
Peeking over the high slabs of concrete, Daisy was amazed by the open space. A hut sat in the
distance with a candle lit at the window, glowing a deep orange. There was more than enough
space for her to explore and relax when it's sunny, kick a ball around, or play hide and seek. The
grass was nice and smooth, looking freshly trimmed and would feel soft against her skin. Much
better than the rocky path she had to climb to get to the boats.
Checking her knees, there was only a little bit of blood smeared on her right and she dropped her
skirt back down hoping it wasn't too noticeable. Everyone would know she had fallen on her first
day and quite frankly she wanted to make a good first impression on the witches and wizards.
Walking along side the other children to the grand entrance, Daisy couldn't help but begin to feel
out of place. The boy who helped her up looked much more fitted for somewhere like this. She
looked like a girl on a school trip, not a witch. He looked well polished. Glancing at the other first
year girls, she tried to comb her hair into something neater, seeing how their braids, curls, and
strands were so fine.
"Good afternoon." Daisy peeked over a boys shoulder and came to see the young face of a woman
wearing green robes and a pointy hat, a plait of brown hair over one shoulder. Her poise was that of
authority. Hands clasped in front of her body and her back straight and chin high.
"I'm Professor McGonagall, deputy head mistress, head of Gryffindor house. Welcome to
Hogwarts, may you follow me and I shall take you to our Great Hall where the rest of our students
are awaiting their feast."
Mindlessly, Daisy followed the women, beside Bao, her mouth never bothering to close shut.
The castle was huge inside, walls towering over them, gold armour suits holding swords, maces,
and crossbows. She kept her eyes on them, trying to catch one of them slipping up and moving, or
sneezing. But they never did. Very dedicated. One day she'll catch them. The golden chandeliers
were like miniature suns captured and hung on the ceiling.

"If you come through this door with me, I'll lead you into the Great Hall. We will sort you into
houses, and then feast." The Professor smiled at the children and then held the door open for them
to waddle in like ducklings behind their mother.
Daisy immediately found Lily, her red hair like a sign sticking out from near the bottom of the
furthest away table, which had the running theme of red. She waved, and Lily, looking more grown
up than Daisy had even seen her before in her uniform surrounded by her older friends, waved
back.
An older man with greying long hair and an equally long beard glided over to the wooden podium
in which stood tall amongst the short first years.
She heard him clear his throat.
"Welcome back for another tremendous year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and
welcome for the first ever time to Hogwarts, our new dear first years." He announced looking
fondly at the youngsters, and the clapping of teachers and students made her blush, she didn't need
an applause.
"Before we begin, as you know, we must complete our sorting ceremony. Will each of our fifth
year prefects come forth to welcome your first years."
Daisy spotted Bilius in front of one of the long tables, the table Lily sat at, which had a velveted
scarlet table cloth running down the full middled length of where the students sat. Following the
eye of the cloth, a big red tapestry hung on the end of the wall which was behind the table in which
the professors sat at. A big gold lion standing on its hind legs like performing a circus trick. She
could hear it roaring.
Like wise, the other tables also had matching coloured tapestries and table cloths, and that's when
Daisy made the connection to houses. Each of these tables must be filled with the one house. Each
category had a significant colour, and supposedly an animal too. From left to right she joined the
puzzle. The red had a lion, the yellow had a badger, blue was a bird... a crow? And the green had a
snake. A bit chilling honestly for the end house.
Daisy's attention faltered from the table when she heard another voice.

"Ohhhh it feels wonderful getting of the dusty shelf the Headmaster keeps me on."
There was no way in heaven that Daisy was seeing what she thought she was. A hat, an old looking
one at that, creases shaped into eyebrows and shadows created eyes, and two folds were moving...
talking. Blinking long and hard, she realised that it was in fact real.
The man with the long white hair laughed.
"Now where do I begin, I always enjoy taking my time this time of year because each and every
one of you is getting older, and I remember being sat upon your heads — oh yes! Everyone one of
you — and determining your house. How big everyone has gotten! It almost warms my heart... if I
had one."
The hat looked pleased with himself hearing the rise of giggles.
"But nevertheless! The show must go on! So listen closely as I have a brand new song for you..."
All of the noise in the hall fell.

"My knowledge never fails,

As old and worn as I may be,
I'm as quick and sharp as ever,
I'll sort you quickly, just you see.

Come up here, just you and me,

I promise I don't bite,
Four houses stand before you,
But which for you is right?

Never a quiet evening,

It's where the lions roar,
If bravery is valued to you,
Should you be in Gryffindor?
Chirping birds and humming bees,
Anything you are will be enough,
Holding great respect for loyalty,
Do you belong to Hufflepuff?

Books as open as their minds,

Their wit will never flaw,
A thirst for knowledge sets you apart,
Could you be a Ravenclaw?

The truest of the true,

They take pride to win,
Ambition will send you far,
Would you fit in Slytherin?

Come on up and sit on my stool,

We'll have a little chat,
I'll see all there is to you,
For I, am the sorting hat!"

Daisy stood with her mouth wide open. "You'll catch flies!" Her mother would say. But she was
mesmerised. It's not every day your clothes start to sing! Hogwarts had already began to feel like a
book.
The hat was finished and a louder applause was heard as he took 'bows', which was nodding his...
head? Hat? Up and down modestly.
Now it was time to sort... and Daisy's fingers gripped her robes tightly as Professor McGonagall
began reading off of her long list.
"Addington, Gabriella." A tall girl with hip long curls gingerly stood up onto the podium, and was
led to sit down on a stood beside the Professor, and the hat was placed on her head. It looked like
the two were having a conversion, the hat and the girl, yet nothing could be heard from them, not
even a whisper.
Daisy jumped at the sudden, "Ravenclaw!" From the hat, and the girl then made her way past the
other first years to be greeted by her new prefects.

"Black, Regulus."
The handsome boy from the stone pavement moved elegantly with his head held high and perched
himself onto the stool with ease.
He spoke with the hat for a longer time that the ravenclaw girl, and Daisy didn't think she mistook
the expression of the hat to be... disappointed.
"Slytherin!"
The green house looked pleased, and a girl with platinum blonde hair gave Regulus a pat on the
back.

Regulus... an unusual name. Though it was nice. She liked the way it sounded.

A couple more students were sorted, and Daisy seemed to be frozen solid when she heard herself
be called.
"Evans, Daisy."
A loud "whoop whoop!" From the red table turned her face a bright red, and she nervously walked
up to the front of the hall, where everyone's eyes were on her, that was until she would no longer
see anyone once the hat fell over her view.
"Good evening Miss Evans! I understand that you are the younger sister of a Miss Lily Evans?"
The hat began.
"Mhm" she nodded.
"Don't worry, no one can hear us, it's just you and me! I'll prove it if you want, I'll yell-"
"No thanks! Uhm... yeah, Lily's my older sister, but I have another one, she's not magic though."
"Yes I see, Petunia isn't it? You think about her a lot don't you? Is family important to you?"
"Of course!" It was hardly a question, she had no other answer for it. She loved her family with all
her heart.
"Something in common with your sister Lily..." the hat hummed. "How did you feel about coming
to Hogwarts?"
Daisy thought about this morning, when she woke up her legs refused to move. Her ginger head
buried under her duvet where it was safe and familiar, she hardly wanted to leave to go and live at
a boarding school.
"Nervous. I kind of didn't want to come." She answered honestly. Though she was almost sure that
the hat was sucking out all of her thoughts from her brain and eating them for tea.
"And yet you came, and how do you feel now?"
She thought hard. How did she feel? Numb. It was too surreal to realise where she was, she was
powering through and hoping she will find her way in the process.
"Alright." Though she wasn't quite sure who truthful it was.
"Getting through it?" The hat chuckled and Daisy agreed.
"Well... very loyal to your family, as one would be, deep creativity lies within you though you
haven't quite used it yet... passion to do right, determined to do well, I think I know where you'd fit
in..."
She held her breath feeling the hat shift, guessing it was looking at the other students now.
"Oh but one more question." She let go of her breath. "Which house do you want to be in?"
She didn't really know what the difference between the houses were, all she knew was that Lily
was in the red one.
"I don't mind... but if I had the choice I would like to be in the red one, where Lily is. But whenever
I go I'll be fine."
"I see..."
Then without a warning the hat yelled,

"GRYFFINDOR!"
 Year One: The Tower

When the hat yelled Gryffindor, light suddenly hit her eyes and she was blinded for a moment, but
as she came around, naturally she found her sister standing up clapping her hands. The reddest hair
in the crowd.

As quickly as she could, Daisy jumped off the stool and ran to where Bilius and the other prefect
stood to greet her.

"Welcome newbie!" Bilius gave a high five.

"I'm Eleanor and this is Bilius, we'll be your fifth year prefects for the year!" A girl with golden
eyes shook her hand. Daisy had already met Bilius before the train here.

"Have a seat! Get ready to meet your other housemates." He said.

But she was the first!

Watching the other first years join their houses, Daisy saw a small boy with dark skin and kinky
hair jump onto the stool.

"Hi, I'm Daisy, nice to meet you." He was the first Gryffindor boy to be sorted, and he must have
been feeling nervous about who he would be sharing a house with. Daisy wanted to come off as
welcoming as she could, hoping that this year round she would successfully gain more friends than
she had in primary school...

"Theo."

Before she could talk a little more, she was interrupted by the year above her, Lily's year. Though
it wasn't Lily who was first to talk.

"I knew you'd be a Gryffindor the day I met you! Did you hear me when your name was called?!"

"Wha-" the very loud 'Whoop! Whoop!' That sent all her blood rushing to her cheeks when her
name was called, it had belonged to James Potter, the boy from the bank. "Oh yeah- I think
everyone did."

"Excellent!" He celebrated.

Beside him, she almost thought that the boy Regulus, who had been sorted into Slytherin, had
made his way to the opposite table, but it wasn't him at all, though they looked very similar indeed.
Same curly hair, yet this boys was a little longer, no freckles grazed his cheeks, though they were
high.

"Good job Daisy." She heard Lily, and to see her smile was wonderful, especially after this
summer. Hardly a crack was seen in their dimly lit house even considering the sunshine beaming
outside. Little Cokesworth looked just as good as London. Until winter comes around, then it's
back to a dull lonely town full of seagulls.

She'd enjoy her time in this spectacular castle for sure.

Surrounding Lily was what seemed like her group. A cool looking girl sat crisscrossed on the
bench had long blonde shiny hair and blue eyes, another with golden eyeshadow which
complimented her dark complexion, and then a smaller girl with short wavy hair that looked like a
mouse with her close together features. She didn't know their names unfortunately, Lily hadn't
talked about her friends during the holidays, but hopefully she'd get the know them.

The sorting went on, watching every first year take their first step into becoming one with
Hogwarts. Another boy with orange hair and half rimmed glasses plopped himself down beside
Theodore, a goofy grin on his face.

"Wow! Gryffindor! I don't know what that means but great!"

Then Heather was called to the stool, and the cool girl sitting beside Lily had her eyes locked on
her and her fingers crossed tightly. When the hat yelled Gryffindor, the girl leapt out her seat.

"THREE FOR THREE! THREE FOR THREE!" She chanted and Heather ran over to join her new
housemates.

"Marlene!" She hissed embarrassed, hiding her red face in her hair.

Then another, and another! And then when Bao made the team Daisy thought she had hit the
jackpot.

"Look at us! From train mates to house mates!" Each of the girls stomaches we're full of butterflies
and they couldn't keep their excited giggles silent.

"Hey! What's your names? I've forgotten." The boy with red hair blushed.

The three girls introduced, and learned that the red haired boys name was Benjamin Moore, then
Brody O'Connor who's accent sounded Irish if she were to guess, and David Martinéz who rolled
his 'r's'.

Seven children sat together, seven individual innocent minds all felt different, but seven smiles
would tell you all the same.

The feast had started, and Daisy damn near jumped out of her skin when a roast chicken appeared
from thin air, along with beef, potatoes, trimmings and veg, she'd never seen this much food in her
life, this could feed an entire village. Where to start first, she didn't know. Bao was sharing the
same experience, her eyes moving from one thing to another while her hand twitched in the air
indecisive on what to grab.

"Try the chicken first, if you're not vegetarian that is. If you are... a potato." James said ushering
towards the roast sitting in front of Daisy.

She complied, and it was amazing. The chicken was moist and fell apart in her mouth as if it had
melted. The gravy she dipped it in was rich and thick, and then she took as much corn as she could
fit on her plate.

Once the feast had finished, the first years were led to their tower, can you believe it? A tower... a
dream come true for a little girl living in a small place. Maybe she'd meet a prince and have a pet
horse in the future.

"Rule number one, curfew is ten o'clock and we expect you to all be in bed." Said Eleanor, as the
group stopped outside of a big wall with a painting of a large women wearing a white frilly dress
and holding a glass high in the air.

"Watch out for Mrs Norris, she's a mean bugger! Story has, she ate a kid who was out after curfew,
Professor McGonagall found his left shoe outside Filches office."

The children's faces grew pale.

"Mrs Norris is just a cat!" Brody O'Connor scoffed, folding his arms over his chest.

Bilius' crept closer to the boy. "Alright, ten o'clock me and you will go find her, then we'll see if
she's just a cat." The young boy gulped and took a step back from Bilius.

"Bilius!" Eleanor slapped his back hard which echoed through the halls and Bilius yelped. "They
won't sleep tonight! Children Mrs Norris is an old grumpy cat, that is all."

"Tsk. You take the fun out of everything. No wonder you're a prefect."

"You're a prefect too!"

"But I'm fun!"

The seven children shared awkward glances and some eyes wandering around the walls and the
edge of the bannister on the stairs, waiting for the two to have their moment.

"Ok let's go." Bilius shrugged and Eleanor rolled her eyes.

"Smelly toad."

"EXCUSE ME?"

Daisy's mouth was left hung open watching the two. Bilius had now insulted Eleanor... what will
happen next! Will she slap him? Push him over the bannister? Will she take custody of the first
years?!

"Relaaaaax, it's the password dummy."

Daisy hadn't even noticed that the painting on the wall was now moving... and very much alive.

"Will you two STOP it." The high voice of the lady in the painting sang. Her arms crossed over her
large chest looking down at the older students.

"He started it!"

"She started it!" The two of them cried.

"You are to set an example! Now do it!" And the lady went back to frozen, and her wall opened up
like a door.

It was Bilius who decided to take the lead, and Eleanor who was put to the back to ensure no
children went missing tonight. Though it was obvious from the scowl on her face that it wasn't
exactly her choice.

The room they walked into was marvellous. And very... very red. The wallpaper was stripped
crimson and yellow with almost invisible golden clams on each of the lighter stripes. The couches
were large and students looked as if they were sinking while they relaxed, and the fireplace, was
amazing. Daisy could feel the heat from where she walked at the back of the room, then she
noticed the portrait of a huge man with a long braided brown beard holding a sword over his
shoulder, placed right about the mantle. He looked into the beyond, a sense for adventure in his
eyes, wondering where he will go next. He's scanning his opportunities, nowhere is too big or too
small for him.
"That's Godric Gryffindor." Bilius pointed upwards to the painting.
Gryffindor?

"He was on of the four founders of Hogwarts. The head of our house. Better behave because his
eyes are on all of us, one wrong move and that sword comes down."
You're lying.

Already it was obvious Bilius liked a story, but still, Daisy was eleven, so she still swore to be on
her best behaviour. She wanted to keep her head for as long as she could.

"This way girls!" The trio turned and separated from the boys who walked in the opposing
direction and disappeared up a flight of stairs. "This is the girls dormitory, and your room will be
on floor three."

They walked round and round the spiral stairs until they stopped at a dark wooden door. Eleanor
allowed it to swing open and three plain beds slept waiting for someone to claim them.

It smelt brand new, like pine from the outside or sawed wood. Wind whistled outside yet no
windows shook, and the walls felt smooth on Daisy's finger tips.

"Wow... this is nice." Bao began to smile.

"Cosy." Heather nodded in approval.

Daisy walked around quietly.

"I'll let you make yourselves at home. Classes start Monday at nine am, lunch is at twelve, classes
end at three, dinner at half past five, lights out at ten."

And the door closed, leaving the girls in their first ever dormitory. The place where the most
amazing memories will be collected and stored.

Daisy's trunk sat nicely at the foot of the middle bed. The room was circular, and the beds all
pointed to the centre of the room, the trick being curved headboards that hugged the wall to give a
fitting touch. Bao's trunk was on her right next to the bathroom door, and Heather's on the left,
nearest the entrance. So she may as well get unpacked seeing as there was no fighting over who
goes where.

"It's really big in here. Crazy how three people will fit."

"Maybe we won't. We might get too big and they'll expand the room. What if I have too many
clothes?" Heather worried and Bao shrugged her shoulders.

"Don't buy so many clothes?"

"Oh Bao there's so much for you to know about me." Heather replied as her endless amount of
fashion statements were being placed into a wardrobe and having their wrinkles shaken out.

Daisy's clothes remained neatly folded in her trunk, thanks to her mother, and fitted just right so
that the top didn't overflow. She had her uniform, and a couple of outfits for lounging around,
nothing too flashy, and if she wanted flashy she could maybe send a letter. The only wowing
clothing she had was her yellow sun dress, though she wasn't sure where she'd wear it yet... winter
would be rolling around soon.

The winter in Cokesworth involves lots of blankets, the heating just couldn't be on all the time
without robbing them blind. Lots of snuggling too, always into her dad because under his arms was
like a cave. She'd wrap herself in one blanket, then throw another on top of herself and it really was
like a huge den, yet from the outside she was only under her fathers arm while he rested on the
couch watching football. But there was a fireplace here, and probably some magic that will keep
them warm. Castles surely must be cold seeing as they're made of stone and things.
Now the fun was over, exhaustion took its turn, and Daisy wasted no time in getting a good nights
sleep.

And when the day her classes had arrived, Daisy was shocked at just how magic this castle could
be...
 Year One: Light As A Feather

There was a lot of noise on the first day of classes. Students had filled the common room to the
brim sharing their timetables and figuring out who they would be paired with. Daisy felt very small
in here, her uniform picked out carefully though everything she had basically looked the same. Her
scraped knee was plastered and hidden away under her opaque tights.

"Transfiguration... like changing things?" Bao asked reading her timetable on their way to
breakfast.

"Yeah. My mum was really good at that, she helps fix incidents with transfiguration that's how
good she is. She's won trophies for competing too."

That was impressive... but she supposed that her father also did things like that. He fixed things,
made things, so basically he did the same things just with his hands. He once made a seesaw for
the girls but they've grown a bit big for it now, it sits in their back garden catching snow, rain, then
drying up for the warmer seasons and looks brand new. Daisy loves seeing the little seesaw outside
her window. If she wanted, she could use it now but the only problem would be that she wouldn't
leave the ground.

It was strange going from the oldest in primary to the youngest in high school. All the grown up
responsibly Daisy thought she had, vanished. She knew even less than she would have known in a
regular school. Now it felt as if she had just been born, having to start right at the beginning.

"Morning Little Evans."

When she sat down Daisy saw James Potter. He was sitting with three other boys, one that was
small and chubby with a round nose and red cheeks, a taller one with a painful looking cut on the
side of his gangly neck and dirty blond hair that waved over his forehead, and the one who looks
uncanny to the boy who helped her after the boat. His pale skin glittered and he was smiling while
he talked to the lanky one.

"Morning James." She had laughed at 'Little Evans'.

"Oh, so this is Lily's sister? I should have guessed seeing your hair." The Regulus double said now
taking his eyes away from his friend. "I'm Sirius."

She had nodded awkwardly. "Yeah, we're sisters. Like, seriously sisters."

"Oh for fuck- my name is Sirius."

"Sorry..." With all the boys laughing she felt a little embarrassed.

"Nah it's cool. Everyone does it first time around."

"Which class do you have first?" The small boy asked.

"Transfiguration!" Heather poked her head around Daisy's shoulder.

Then from across from Daisy, Bao added, "with Professor McGonagall."

"You'll love transfiguration. Not to brag but I'm the best in my year." James smiled proudly,
puffing his chest into the air.
"Oh, and you're Marlene's sister, right?" Heather nodded to the tall boy who's voice was sort of
hoarse, and much different from the plummy voices of his peers.

"Merlin. Quite the family reunion this year, isn't it? Daisy, Heather, Regulus... is there anyone else
we should know about? Pete? You've not got a secret sibling, do you?" James looked around the
table.

The smaller boy, Pete, shrivelled and shook his head. "No!"

"Alright, Remus?" Remus shrugged his shoulders.

"Probably, my dad travels a lot. Could have fucking thousands of half siblings by now."

Having arrived at their first class, the first years saw Professor McGonagall standing outside with a
notepad in hand.

"Miss Evans you'll be seated next to Mr Moore, and he'll be your partner all year round. Any issues
come to me." And Daisy accepted, placing her bag onto the empty part of the table shared with
Benjamin, and sat anxiously awaiting her first lesson. Beside her, Benjamin was organising his
quills on his right side, and his ink on the left, parchment in the middle. Daisy didn't know where to
start, and hadn't gotten used to quills yet.

"Transfiguration is an art. If you do it right, you may create something wonderful, if not, a mess,
and I've seen more messes than I have good!" The children laughed. "Though if you study well and
have fun, maybe you can change that."

Professor McGonagall stood at the front of the room with her wand in her hand, and a yellow
rubber duck in the other. "Colour changing spells are very easy and simple. Watch and listen
carefully."

She tickled her wand in the air, just a little bit away from the duck, and said, "Colovaria." Slowly,
the ducks yellow began fading, and crimson red began filling it in.

"Wow." That was amazing. There's was no yellow on the duck at all. It made Daisy a little
nervous. This was her first ever lesson as a witch, surely everyone was expecting her to be able to
do this little spell. Just like the born magic kids.

Drawing her wand after receiving her duck, she side-eyed Benjamin who had quickly changed his
to blue.

Think of a colour Daisy. Pink.

She thought hard, glaring at the duck it probably looked like she was trying to explode it with her
mind. With a wiggle of her wand cast her spell.

Only the beak of the duck turned pink, the rest remained yellow.

It was better than nothing, but she couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Look at the body. Blue.

A pool of blue washed over the duck looking like waves on the sand as the yellow disappeared.

"Very good." the professor nodded as she did rounds around the classroom. Daisy couldn't have felt
more relieved. She could now let her shaky hand relax in her pocket.
"That... oh my goodness. I don't even have any words." Bao was the most stunned by their first
lesson. She was the only person in her family who withheld magic. She didn't have an older sibling
like Lily. It was her own journey. No tips or tricks. Just a blank piece of paper. She was basically
running blindfolded with her hands tied behind her back.

Daisy related a little to Pinocchio. Now she was who she was meant to be with a little help from
magic. She's glad she'd always been a real girl however, just now it feels like a missing piece has
been found. The jigsaw that is Daisy. The Jiminy Cricket in her head told her this was where she
was always meant to be. Somewhere inside herself, she had always knew.

She felt like she had something to prove. Being a small girl from a small town didn't make her...
small. She could do the tricks and spells and succeed here just like everyone else! Swearing to
herself, she would be great. Just like Lily. Her older sister was the top of her class, she knew every
spell she could ever know. Even Petunia was quite smart. Doing very well in mathematics,
something Daisy would always hit a blank at and have to ask for help. This was different, Daisy
wanted to be independent. She wouldn't run to Lily every time she messed up, she'd find a way to
fix it herself.

That would be how she would turn out great.

Next was Charms with Professor Flitwick, a tiny man who stands on top of his desk or some books
to talk to his students. The name itself sounded a little fun. Charms are pretty. Like ornaments on a
bracelet or necklace. It reminded Daisy of fairytales, pink glitter and golden beams transforming
little girls into fairies and growing wings. She was most excited about this class for sure.

"Good morning, Miss Evans, have a seat next to Mr Black, first row third chair."

Regulus Black looked very sophisticated, well bred. Not a shiny thread of hair out of place, neatly
curling on his head and around his ears. His back was straight like a board against his chair, and his
hands clasped on the middle of his desk. It didn't look very comfortable. Daisy's hair was
struggling to sit in place so she has to tie it up, a few bumps didn't hurt, and slouched a little on her
chair, even daring to have her elbows on her desk, something her mother taught her not to do
somewhere important because it isn't polite. But this was school. She wanted to feel relaxed. Much
different from how Regulus was. If he straightened any more, he might stick like that.

"Charms is the art of the wand." Similar to transfiguration. "In this class you will learn the ways of
the wand and how to use it. It's very important and you will carry this subject on until the end of
your high school year!" Charms must be as important to magic people as English is for non-magic
people like her parents. Even though her dad wanted to drop English he simply couldn't because
you need it for life in England. He couldn't have gotten his job without it.

"Your first spell that you will need to learn is the levitation spell. It's a simple swish and flick and
voila! Whatever you wish to move, shall move and be in your control. Remember, your wand will
only do what you want it to do, so focus, feel it, and flow with it.." He impressively demonstrated
using a book in front of his desk.

It had levitated with ease, like it was hanging by a thin thread that couldn't be seen by the eye. Fake
magician style. The two seat buddies had very different reactions. Daisy, like most of the time, had
her mouth hung open and her head resting on her palm, leaning forward and staring intensely at the
book, as mesmerised as a child being shown a card trick.

Regulus' eyes were half closed.

"Each of you shall receive a feather. You will all practice the levitation spell, and only on the
feather." A little white feather popped onto her desk, and she felt how soft the vane was, it tickled
the tips of her fingers and sent goosebumps up her arm. She shivered.

"It should feel as light as a feather." And as the professor said this, he stifled a laugh, covering his
mouth. "Wingardium Leviosa." And again, the book raised.

Wingardium Leviosa, it's a simple swish and flick. Daisy told herself.

Swish, flick, "Wingardium Leviosa." The feather wobbled on the desk, helplessly trying to jump
into the air. A frog taking its first leap but landing head first into a swamp. Again Daisy tried, but it
only shook a little faster.
Ok... now what.

Swishing and flicking her wand in the air without the spell, she practiced her motions, hopeful that
once locked down her feather would rise into the air, just like the boy beside her.

The back and forth of her seat mates feather drifting down towards the desk was hypnotic. Left to
right. Left to right. Left to right. Until it rested. Swishing the wand, it was repeated, lifting
weightlessly into the air.

What a beautiful sight. It amazed Daisy that someone could create something so soft and simple,
so easy to watch over and over again and feel at peace.

When the feather came to a stop, she eagerly waited to see it start again, but instead caught the eyes
of Regulus Black.

His eyes were quite nice, though him looking down at her made her feel quite small, and guilty for
watching him.

She shuffled and turned back to her own work, clearing her throat she tried again.

"Wingardium leviosa." The feather looked like it had been tickled and laughed.

Daisy sighed beginning the give into frustration. It's just a stupid feather, why won't it work?

"You're saying it wrong."

Regulus was looking at her feather.

"What?" Daisy asked.

"It's Levios-ah, not levios-ar. That's why it won't rise." Was there a French tinge there?

Is he being serious?

So she tried it. She wasn't expecting anything much, but once the feather started to lift she felt her
breath halt.

"I did it!" She gasped.

"Yeah you did." Daisy looked to Regulus. He was smiling. Dare she acknowledge the heating of
her cheeks? No. Now was a time to become a witch.

"And try loosening up a bit, you can move your wrist y'know."

And again she tried, this time she could feel the feather. It coursed through her blood and she could
actually move it, it didn't just rise and flutter down, she could do whatever she wanted.
It was hers.

Thanks to a little help.

 Year One: It’s Not All Good

What a wonderful place Hogwarts was. The professors taught well, the food was tasty, the friends
were kind, this was a school worth waking up every day for.

Her classes were actually fun. Daisy didn't just sit at the back with a pencil in her mouth. She
cracked jokes, her teachers told her she did well, and she felt... a part of something. Back in
primary school she never had that. Though she tried hard.

When a blinding spark took away her vision, Daisy swore birds were circling her head while she
lay on the cold floor. At first she couldn't remember what on earth had just happened, but as she
came to, the image of a young boy holding his wand, and laughing, was pictured very clearly.

Something very familiar.

She had been alone, which wasn't uncommon, she'd sometimes wander to use the bathroom or to
reach Lily, so like any other day she was trotting herself.

Daisy had turned a corner where she was heading to walk past a couple of first year boys wearing
green robes, Regulus was amongst them.

She smiled at him, but he mustn't have saw her, though he was looking her way. One of the boys
called out to her.

"Hey, where are you going?" To which she ignored and kept walking. Then again.

"I’m talking to you! You with the red hair!”

She curled her arms around her waist, her head low. Being alone in primary was all she knew,
besides snide remarks and hair pulling. It was best to move on, maybe run.

"Hey! Don't ignore me you mudblood." Then the flash, and she fell.

"Hey. Helloooo. Little Evans? Oh fuck. Remus pick her up."

"Why me? I can hardly carry myself."

"Fine I will. Where's James or Peter when you need them."

"Peter couldn't lift a rock."

"Well it's nice to feel included sometimes dickface."

These were some of the muffled words Daisy could hear while she lay limbless, her head now
flopping over someone's arm.

"What will we do with her?"

"Madam Pomfrey obviously, you don't wanna take an unconscious girl around with you to class do
you?"

"Suppose not. Would be a bit of an inconvenience."

"We could prop her up like a statue."

"McGonagall would kill us. Leaving a student to die in the hallway! You boys should know better!
Some shit like that."

"You don't think she's dead right?"

Feeling the world shake like being in the middle of an earthquake, Daisy let out a painful groan.

"She's good."

"Will you walk faster?"

"Carry her then maybe long legs."

"Boys what are you- what did you do?!" And easily distinguishable Professor McGonagall
shrieked.

"We didn't do anything this time! We just found her like this, honest!"

"Yeah if we didn't help she'd be dead."

"Remus!" A sigh. "Give her to me. Now go to class."

"Jeez your welcome Professor."

"Thank you Sirius."

Daisy woke up in a stiff bed. Her neck tight and cracked as she tried to sit up.

This wasn't her dormitory, it was too bright. Was there lightning? Where on earth was she? It
wasn't heaven... right? She hasn't actually died?

"Oh splendid you're awake. How do you feel my dear?" The soft voice of an angel spoke and she
started to cry.
Oh my goodness I'm dead, I'm really dead.

"Now, now relax, you're in the hospital wing. Professor McGonagall brought you to me worried
sick."
I'm not dead?

"I'm madam Pomfrey the medi witch at Hogwarts, I'll be taking care of you until you're feeling
better. Ok honey?"

Daisy managed to nod, but her eyes refused to stay open.

"Too bright..." she mumbled.

"Not a problem." Everything turned black, and Daisy had never felt so thankful for darkness. Her
headache eased, and her tense shoulders and legs let go.

"Her head looks really red."

"Yeah... looks sore."

Heather and Bao, it must be. One voice was high and light, pretty Scouse, Heather, the other deep
and southern, Bao.

"We leave her alone for two minutes."

"Someone obviously done this. She's not the type to walk into something. Or run."

"I didn't..." Daisy moaned.

"You're awake?" Heather asked.

"I am now." The disturbance caused a pain in her temple. Rubbing her eyes to adjust to the new
light that seemed less bright than before, thankfully.

"Are you alright? Sirius told us you were here." Bao took Daisy's hand in her own, it was warm.

"Yes I'm fine don't worry."

"Well what happened?"

Daisy looked at Heather, but didn't quite have an answer. She wasn't entirely sure. Her memory
was a bit foggy but she could see the green robes and a familiar face.

"Someone hit me on the head. A spell. They were wearing Slytherin robes, and... Regulus Black
was with them."

Sadly, Daisy sighed. She had gotten the wrong impression of Sirius' bother, so it seemed.

"I just don't know the name of who did it... Bart? Bart something, he's in charms class."

Heather scowled deeply.

"Bartemius." She grumbled.

"Yeah that's him!"

"So... now what? Tell Professor McGonagall?"

Before Daisy could reply, Heather leaned in, and in a whisper said, "We're gonna teach him a
lesson."

Once Daisy could walk without feeling sick from dizziness, she followed Heather to the Gryffindor
tower but seemed confused when they took the wrong turn and ventured up the boys dormitory
stairs.

They weren't allowed up here.

"Ours is the other side"

"We're not going to ours."

"Where are we going then?"

The two stopped at a door just the same as theirs, only there were multiple carvings. There was a
dog, a lightning strike, a half moon, a ball with wings, and four stick men holding hands.

"This is Sirius' dorm."

"Just his?"

Heather opened the door and her question was answered.

There were four beds, each having its own personality.

The first on the right was a bit messy, but looked comfy. Red pyjamas in a bundle sat on the bed
sheet where the duvet wasn't tucked in, and one pillow lopsided and half hanging off the edge.
There was also a broomstick standing against the headboard.

The next was the neatest in the room. Spotless. Not a single crease, a black teddy bear resting on
the singular pillow, and the sheets all tightly tucked in.

Third was the owner of five pillows. Coming to look at the last one Daisy assumed this person had
knicked one of each from the other beds. Anyways. This one looked the comfiest with the multiple
pillows all over the sheets.

The last one wasn't made and the pillow was at the the footboard. An empty candy wrapper at the
other.

In the centre, four boys and Bao sat in a circle. They looked like they had just been interrupted and
had a mixture of shock and frustration thrown their way until they were recognised.

"Just the girl we were looking for! Come Daisy, have a seat."

James scoot over on his bottom to make room, and Daisy began feeling a little nervous. Was this an
interrogation, she hadn't done anything wrong. Right?

"Where were you on the seventh of October?" Peter leaned forward. Oh no it was.

"School."

"We heard you were in the hospital wing? Why?" Asked James.

"They were there." She pointed to Sirius and Remus and were looking as if they had absolutely no
idea.

"Were you in the hospital wing? Yes or no?" James pushed.

"Yeah. Because someone hit my head."

The boys all nodded in sync.

"Who?" Peter asked.

"I..." she looked to Heather, having forgotten the boys name.

"Bartemius crouch. That horrible boy from slytherin who's best buds with your brother." Heather
pointed her finger at Sirius.

Sirius flew his arms in the air in defence.

"He's got nothing to do with this!"

"He's got everything to do with this! He stood back and watched!" Heather defended.

"Oh? What was he supposed to do?"

"For a start, make better friends. Unless he does like them and doesn't care that they're a bunch of
asses!"
"Whatever, he has nothing to do with this. Right Daisy?"

"He was there..." she admitted.

"See!"

"See!"

Sirius and Heather yelled in unison.

"Oh my good god who cares! We're here to get back at them so let's put our heads together, and
THINK." James stood up. Heather and Sirius shut their mouths.

"Who's God?" Sirius asked himself.

"I recently learned the sticking charm, we could use that." Said Peter.

"A sticking charm is almost impossible to remove... I've got it. James I need your cloak."

Everyone looked at Remus who had a maniacal grin on his face. And Daisy took note on how
sharp his canines were. "This is gonna be so sick." Then turning stone cold serious, he said,
"Dinner time, we move."

James checked his watch. "Almost time."

When Remus disappeared under the red cloak James took from out of his trunk, the girls all
screamed with delight.

"That's amazing! You're really invisible!" Bao walked around the invisible boy. There wasn't a hint
of Remus anywhere. It wasn't until Sirius fell over that anyone knew where he was. A quick
"Salaud!" From the startled boy.

"Right Pete, get under. We've got things to do. You lot just go in as normal." Peter entered the
cloak, and he too disappeared. Like walking through a door and entering another world. But he was
right there!

Daisy still didn't quite understand what was going on, the boys spoke too fast. She was heading
down for dinner, that's all she knew, and she couldn't wait. She'd been eating in the hospital wing
until her head was better and it was rather lonely. She wanted to see all the witches and wizards of
Hogwarts and join in on the socials. Not many people were in the wing, just Madam Pomfrey and a
handful of other students who looked worse for wear. One had a huge wart on the side of his face,
another's leg was twisted backwards, and someone else had been asleep for the whole two days of
being there.

"Act normal." James whispered into her ear.

"I am, and I'm hungry." Holding her stomach that was gargling away.

"That's the spirit!"

When she sat down, her eyes subconsciously kept glancing towards Bartemius. He was talking
obnoxiously. Leaning over Regulus and spreading his arms on the table, grabbing food from across
the table like he was starving, and how he was ignoring the annoyed expressions of the other
students was beyond her.

"You've got that look on your face."

"What? Handsome?" James winked at Lily.

"No! You're up to something, I know it." Her older sister began looking around the hall, trying to
find something out of the ordinary.

"Telling you Evans, I'm here for my din dins."

"So eat up big guy!" Sirius slapped him on the back, clearly much less put together than James
seeing as he could hardly stay still on his bottom.

A minute later, Remus and Peter walked into the Great Hall, triumphant looks on both of their
faces.

Lily's eyes narrowed.

While she ate, Daisy slightly leaned into Lily's conversation amongst her housemates.

From what she had learnt, the chunky girl with dark skin and curly hair was Mary. The shorter one
beside her with a black bob was Alice. Heather's sister Marlene was beside Lily, and that was it.
The second year Gryffindor girls.

She's figured that Mary likes to sing, and of course tell stories. Alice knits, ranging from hats,
socks, jumpers, scarfs. And Marlene was quidditch daft, whatever that was.

"I can't believe McGonagall won't let me go to the winter ball with Frank. Does she want him to
take someone else?!" Alice complained.

"Well if he does bring someone, it doesn't have to mean anything right?" Marlene looked around
for confirmation, which she got from Mary nodding her head.

"I don't think he should bring someone else. He should go alone and take Alice next year." Said
Lily.

"What if he doesn't though!?"

"Then we'll pass it when it comes. Or maybe just tell him?!" Mary shrugged.

"Oh my god I could never tell him, not now anyways! He'll think I'm desperate!"

"You could sneak in?" Marlene suggested.

"You're right... but if he doesn't ask me then there's no point!"

The conversation went back and forth from don't worry, to, but what if he doesn't want me?

Daisy wondered if this was what high school was all about. Boys, girls, dating, kissing... oh no
scratch that. If the winter ball is next year and the second years can't go now, that means it will be
Lily's turn soon. Who would she take? Anyone at all?

Hearing snickering getting louder and louder along with high squeals Daisy saw the four older
boys looking towards the other end of the hall. The Slytherin table.

"I think it's worked." Heather whispered into her ear. Daisy too took her attention to the table to see
Barty Crouch wiggle around on his seat in frustration.

Regulus, who was sitting next to him, quite literally wiped a smile off his face and kept his eyes on
his meal.

She couldn't hear all the way over there, but Bartemius definitely looked confused. He was
probably saying something like, "why can't I move?!"

Then after a very loud, "Why can't I get up!" Daisy watched him forcibly push himself up using the
table, and the Gryffindor's all heard a loud rip of fabric.

He was then standing with no trousers on, his white underwear on display.

Everyone in the Great Hall was laughing in the direction of the Slytherin table as Bartemius
frantically covered himself.

"What is the meaning of this tomfoolery?" Professor Slughorn, Daisy's potions Professor, asked
walking towards the Slytherin table. "Mr Crouch, please put some trousers on, people are eating."

"I can't! They're stuck!" The young boy whined, roughly tugging on his trousers that wouldn't
budge off of the bench, all while everyone either laughed or hide their faces from second hand
embarrassment.

Regulus now had his face half covered so he couldn't see Bartemius.

"I bet it was Potter Professor! I can't get up either!" A boy with long greasy hair began, but
Slughorn hushed him waving his hand, completely unbelieving.

"Nonsense Severus! James Potter is sitting at the Gryffindor table eating dinner, I can see him right
now." And James gave Slughorn a wave which the Professor returned.

All the second year boys were in stitches. "I'm going to wet myself in a minute." Sirius cried
clutching his stomach.

Daisy became greatly amused watching this Severus turn a scorching red, fuming in the direction
of James Potter who couldn't hold himself together. It really hadn't been James to do it. But why
was he so sure?

"Now boys..." Slughorn furrowed his brows. "We'll just have the wait until everyone's done for
you to... get out." Barty rolled his eyes. "Couldn't have said that before? I'm telling my father about
this! He'll have your head on a stick!" Before storming out of the Great Hall with his robes wrapped
tightly around his body.
 Year One: Quidditch

Very recently, after the pantsing of Bartemius passed and wasn't funny anymore, the first year boys
had been raving about quidditch. Which was some kind of wizard sport.

Benjamin was up early and already running to the large stadium located on the castle grounds.
Surprisingly Daisy hadn't seen it before. It was basically in plain sight.

It was highly decorated. Tapestries full of colour followed her all the way up the long stairs to the
large opening of the pitch. There could have been millions of seats in here. All in their sections
there was blue chairs, red, yellow, and green.

Their seats were across from the green.

She'd been in a football stadium before, but this felt... weird. For one she was very high up. Way
too high to see the bottom of the pitch. Though it began to make a little more sense seeing the tall
rings standing at either end. Rather than goalposts on the ground.

"What are those rings for?" She asked Benjamin who was sitting right at the front, almost hanging
off the edge.

"That's where they throw the quaffle to score points."

"The what?" It sounded like Benjamin had something stuck in his throat.

"Oh yeah you don't know quidditch do you... we'll it's pretty straight forward. The players fly and
pass the quaffle and try to score into one of those rings. And the seeker tries to find the snitch, and
the beaters hit one another with the bludger!"

"How do they fly?!" Daisy asked bewildered.

"Brooms of course!" Her jaw dropped. It was true! Witches did ride on brooms! And it seems that
wizards do too!

"Oh the players are here! It's trials today!" Benjamin's eyes turned away and for the rest of the time
stuck to the pitch.

There were quite a few bodies down there, and she wondered how many would make up a team. A
large student with broad shoulders and crimson robes stood in front of them. Even from so far
away she could tell he was good looking. Strands of gold fell to his shoulder in waves, his chest
stretched his kit outwards, and his jaw was a clean cut.

"Hey that's my brother! He's the captain!" Heather pointed down and Daisy shook herself out of her
staring, turning a bright red.

Not only were the students on the pitch now, but a few gryffindors joined them in the seats. Lily,
Mary, Alice, Remus, and Peter.

"Do you like quidditch Lily?" Her older sister sat a row behind.

"No not really. I'm here to cheer on Marlene. She's trying out for the beater."

"She's been training all summer." Said Heather.

"Do you like quidditch Mary?"

Mary however replied, "I'm just here for fun, don't care much about quidditch. Rugby however,
that's where it's at. Those big rugby boys in their shorts" Daisy turned back around. Mary added,
"On the other hand... I don't mind watching Sirius Black for an hour." All the second year girls
broke into giggles.

Speaking of the boys, James Potter flew past them with a red ball under his arm. He was getting
close to the rings when he suddenly launched his arm and the ball went straight through the middle
golden ring. That was fairly quick.

"Nice one James!" She heard Sirius Black cheer, pumping his fist in the air as the wind waved
through his curls which he has tied up in a bun.

Watching the two boys fly around in the air gave her a thrill of excitement. And they were going so
fast! So many things were possible. She hoped she'd find something that made her happy the way
quidditch made them.

James Potter's smile could be seen for miles away, his bronze face glowed in the sun and his laugh
echoed in Daisy's ears. His attention was soon on her, or so she thought. She almost waved until
she noticed that he wasn't looking at her at all, he was looking above her.

Where Lily sat.

James didn't take his eyes off the stands until Sirius yelled, "Oi watch out James!" Before
smacking, what she assumed was a bludger, high into the air with his bat. A bludger that James
could have avoided if he had his eyes on the game.

"Woo! Nice hit Sirius!" Another player yelled, and Daisy recognised them as Marlene, and she was
holding the same bat as the latter.

"Cheers McKinnon!" Sirius sent her a wink and watched as she laughed rolling her eyes. Shaking
her head Marlene again turned her attention back to her own tryout.

"That was amazing! I could never hit that!" Bao gasped watching Sirius smack another bludger
away from a player.

Watching the beaters more closely, a player had wacked one so hard it flew out of the stadium!

"Yes Frank!!" Alice leapt out of her seat waving her arms madly.

Daisy rubbed her ears.

All the while when the other players were tossing the red ball to one another, the beaters were
hitting their bludgers, Daisy wondered what a couple of lone players were doing just flying around
the sky. It looked as if they were looking for something. Scanning the air, ground, around the sides
of the pitch. Yet none seemed to have found anything. Maybe someone dropped something.

"Potters on a winning streak!" The large captain that Daisy's eyes had taken a liking to yelled out
from his broom.

She watched as James punched his fist in the air. He was doing fantastic. Every shot was so clean
that it always hit the middle of the ring. Surely he must make the team.

Quickly, a little light zipped past her eyes, and her neck followed it instinctively. It was small, and
flying around the pitch in twists and turns. Like a little fly. However much it didn't look like one. It
was yellow.

How weird the patterns were. It didn't have a direction. Or maybe it did. One minute it was flying
straight, the next, zigzagged lines, then shooting down to the ground like a bird catching its dinner
in the sea.

"What's that?" She asked, taking her eyes of the light for a second, pointing to where it was.
Benjamin turned and shrugged his shoulders.

"What's what?"

"The flying light." She turned back and it had gone, but it didn't take her pupils long to fixate on it
once again. It was now down by the Ravenclaw tapestries.

"There! Do you see it?" Her arm stretched further, almost trying to grab it.

"I don't see anything." Even with his glasses on, Benjamin saw nothing.

Growing frustrated Daisy lined her arm with Benjamin's eyes. "It's right there!"

"Oh! You found the snitch! You found the snitch! That's the hardest thing to find! You see those
players?" He pointed to the students who were scouring the pitch. "That's what they're looking for.
If they catch it. The team will win one hundred and fifty points and the game ends! Only when the
snitch is caught can the game finish."

No wonder these students were so focused. She bet whoever found and caught it first would have
the most chance of making the teams position as a... oh she forgot.

"What are they called?"

"Seekers. Because they seek y'know."

So they'll become a seeker! It sounded like a very important role in the game. To catch it must be
really difficult, seeing how small and fast it was...

Daisy could imagine herself flying on one of those brooms and grabbing the snitch, leading her
team to victory. But... what if no one found the snitch? Would the game go on forever and ever?
You must be good as seeking if you're to end the game, if not... the players may never stop
playing."

"If a seeker can't find the snitch, the game really doesn't end?"

"Yep. The longest running game was three months. The other players eventually sat down and let
the seekers just fly and fly until they finally found the snitch. I'd love to play quidditch but I would
not like to be a seeker. My eyesight is too bad."

Maybe she could... but she's never flew before. How high those students were made her arms flash
with goosebumps. She gripped onto her seat as if she'd fall straight to the ground if she let go.
Watching still, this was starting to look like a fairytale come true. It wasn't just fairies on brooms in
picture books or series books on witches cooking frog leg soup and flying into their cave home.
Flying was fun. They could reach the clouds if they wanted too! Does that mean wizards don't use
aeroplanes?

"Oh one of them found it! There they all go now!" Benjamin pointed to where the seekers had all
spotted the snitch, and were racing to catch it.

It was a wild goose chase. The snitch didn't want to be found, yet maybe it did. It was the thrill of
the competition. Catch me if you can! I'm quicker than you.

The players were being mocked as they spun in their brooms trying to mimic the tricks of the
snitch. But the snitch was too good. Far too skilled to be reduced to nothing but a fly that would be
captured by the sweaty palm of a high school student.

Perhaps she would catch it. Learn to fly. That's what witches do anyways right? They fly brooms?

"Can you fly?" She asked Benjamin.

"Yeah. My dads taught me since I was little. They said it's important or something." He didn't look
away from the try outs. "We get lessons in first year though, if that's what you're also wondering."

It was probably her queue to hush now and allow Benjamin to watch the game.

A seeker huh... she could totally do that...

One girl caught it. Just as a boy was about to grab it, she beat him. She had pink hair tied in a
ponytail. And yelled, "I got it!" Triumphantly punching her hand in which the snitch rested in, in
the air.

The trials came to an end.

James, Sirius, and Marlene, landed on their feet once again, and the team huddled for a couple of
minutes. The winners must be getting chosen.

Eventually, James and Sirius embraced one another and fell to the ground, rolling around like pigs
in the mud with great big smiles on their faces.

Marlene however stood still and applauded sadly.

"We made it! I knew we would!" The two boys were celebrating at the bottom of the Gryffindor
stairs when Daisy, Heather, and Bao were descending.

"We knew you could do it! You're the best players in our year!" Peter swung his arms over their
shoulders and hugged them close, standing short in the middle.

"We have to celebrate now obviously. Who's up for a trip to the kitchens? Then to the dung- oh
hello professor." Remus stopped abruptly and smirked when Professor McGonagall rounded the
corner.

"Hello Remus." She smiled down at James and Sirius. "I heard the news and wanted to personally
congratulate you both. I've got very high hopes for this years games having the two of you play. So
well done Mr Potter. And well done Sirius."

Sirius had never looked so radiant.

"You made the team?" Daisy asked, coming up from behind the boys.

"Sure did Little Evans. Chaser and beater!" James pointed to himself and Sirius.

Now up close she could smell the sweet smell of their sweat, very powerful in her nostrils,
scrunching her nose. And their faces were rather flushed. Sirius like tomato's were on his cheeks.
James' hair was shooting towards the sky.

"And who's the seeker?" She asked interested. The girl who caught it not being able to leave her
mind.

"I think her names Sabrina. She was the seeker last year, she's pretty good." Sirius replied, nodding
impressed.

Sabrina.

Girls didn't really play sports back at home. In school, the boys wouldn't let them join in. Daisy
would have liked to play football with them, but was told she wasn't allowed. And that girls can't
play anyways. They don't know how. The cruel boys would laugh at her and tell her to get going.
Yelling at her until they were satisfied with how far she was.

On her days off or sometimes after school, her dad would take her to the park and they'd run around
with a ball for an hour or so before Mrs Evans dinner would be ready.

'Give me your best shot!' Mr Evans would encourage while Daisy dribbled closer to the goal her
father defended with wide arms.

She kicked the ball. "She shoots!" He shouted.

Mr Evans dived, dramatically, to the side, and the ball rolled under his side.

"She scores!" She would celebrate with her arms held high.

She was George Best. No, even better than Best. Daisy Evans scores the winning goal for United
and is taking her team to the final of the League Cup. The crowd goes wild. The boys in her school
are crying in the stands. She a winner. She’s- on her way home for dinner.

Watching Sabrina play quidditch was amazing. How she chased down that snitch and snatched it
so easily. Daisy wanted to do that.

“I want to play quidditch.” She said, on her to go returning to the Gryffindor tower with her friends.

“It looks scary. It’s so high and then there’s the boulders-“

“Bludgers Bao. There’s no mountains at the castle.” Heather laughed, and Bao glared at her.

“I think it would be fun! I have to know how to fly! I just have to!” She was desperate to learn. Just
like riding a bike for the first time.

Petunia was the first to learn, Daisy being five and the older being nine. Daisy still had her training
wheels, and hated them. She wanted to ride like petunia and keep up! Her sister was too fast and
was becoming further and further out of view. Lily didn’t want to ride a bike. She liked to run.

If Daisy could do something her sisters couldn’t, then she could teach them. Then they could fly
together. Petunia can ride on the back of someone’s broom! Though it may take some convincing
for Lily… she hates heights. She screamed like a banshee when her mother tried to hang her from
the monkey bars Daisy was swinging from. Daisy had almost fell off from the fright.

She really liked sports. Could this be her chance to join in? And belong? Daisy always-the-outcast
Evans just may have found her calling. Becoming a witch is the best thing to ever happen to her.
She fit in with her peers and made friends. She joined in games and had someone to eat lunch with.
And now there was sports.

For sure, Daisy would learn how to play quidditch.

 Year One: To Fly

When Daisy read on her timetable that she was to be attending flying lessons this afternoon, she
could have burst with excitement. Her, Daisy Evans, flying in the air on a broom! She wondered
how her mother and father would feel about her being fifty feet in the air on nothing but a broom
they would use to sweep the stairs.
Racing down her dormitory tower stairs, Daisy landed in the common to see that it was empty, she
was rather early, only the birds outside were awake too, and Mary's cat who had curled up on a red
footstool having drifted off with the sun glowing on his back. Flying lessons weren't until the end
of the day, three o'clock to be exact, but Daisy was more awake than ever and couldn't wait to go
down to breakfast, but there's no way she'd be going herself, she didn't want to sit alone, so she
decided to wait for someone else to come down.
Alice, the shortest of the second year girls skipped down the steps wearing her neatly ironed
uniform, and her bobbed hair rolled inwards with a pink hairband behind her fringe.
"Oh good morning Daisy! Coming to breakfast?" Alice smiled and waved her hand for Daisy to
follow.
"What do you have today?"
"Flying lessons! They're after classes end. Did you do flying lessons?"
"Oh yeah, hated it. I really don't like heights, I like my feet on the ground. Others liked it though.
Lily was good at it."
"Oh really?" That was a surprise. However much Lily may like her school, Daisy had never heard
about flying brooms. Not much of anything really.
An abrupt crash made Daisy jump, it came from the bottom of the corridor...but Alice laughed.
"That would be Peeves."
"Who?" Daisy asked.
On cue, a translucent jester with a funny crown with bells ringing on its points, exited a room
cackling madly, a chair hung dead from his hand.
"Filchies not going to like what Peevsies done." It giggled, somersaulting in the air before
launching the chair backwards, like a bride with her bouquet.
A student just managed to duck to avoid a concussion. Then the man simply bolted through the
opposing wall.
"You won't see him a lot, he's always up to something."
Walking I got the great hall now, Daisy asked, "why's he still here?"
"That's the thing with peeves, he's basically an owner. He's been here ever since Hogwarts was
built. It's more his home than even Dumbledore's."
We live in a ghosts home...
"Oh! And if you ever run into him and he asks what you're up to. Say you're up to no good. Then
he won't bother you. Learnt that from James Potter."
"Heard you've got flying lessons today?" Once the hall was full Sirius began to speak to Bao.
"Make sure you get a good broom. The best ones are the ones that are polished, well trimmed and
no splinters. So keep that in mind if you want to fly good!"
"I don't see why it matters, aren't they all the same?" Lily turned to Sirius who gasped, along with
James who overheard.
"No they're not the same Lillith." Sirius snapped leaning his head towards the girl who rolled her
eyes.
"You wouldn't drive a car with a flat tire would you?" James added on, and Daisy could clearly see
that he was rather pleased with himself for some reason.
Lily opened her mouth, then closed it again. "Geez! Sorry for asking." Closing her eyes and taking
a deep breath, the boys already managing to wind her up. But Daisy knew it was only because Lily
hated being proved wrong.
"Well- oh we need to go!" Bao gasped and finished her toast with one large bite, the majority of
bread sticking out of her mouth.
The girls always arrived early for Herbology. Bao was crazy about it. She loves the plants, the
growing, the animals, everything. And Daisy and Heather would always go with her, seeing how
much it meant to be there early for the best seats for Professor Sprout. Meaning Bao was at the
front to raise her hand or volunteer for demonstrations.

When the time finally came, Daisy and her gryffindor house maters were walking down a steep hill
to where they would have their lesson. To their surprise, there were already students there.
The first year slytherins stood beside the professor. Regulus Black was there.
"Are you serious? I don't wanna fly with them!" Brody complained.
"We'll have to be better than them!" Said Heather.
Other than Bartemius Crouch, Daisy wasn't all that bothered about who she was flying with, as
long as she was flying.
The students accompanied one another to the broom shed, each of them trying to pick out a broom
to test out for the very first time.
Sirius' words echoing in Daisy's mind. Polished, well trimmed, no splinters.
She looked around until she spotted one. It was well polished, trimmed, and no splinters sticking
out on the handle. She was only inches away to grabbing it when the wind was knocked out of her.
Laughing, Bartemius snatched the broom off of the wall.
"Too slow ditsy." Cackling triumphantly before dashing out of the broom closet with his prize.
Daisy lifted herself up and decided a ransom broom should be just fine for her.
Once all the students, Gryffindor and Slytherin, had a broom, Madam Hooch led them all the way
to a large patch of grass.
"I can't believe we're with the Slytherins again, Dumbledore must hate us for putting them in our
classes." David sighed deeply as green coloured robes came into view. "I can't stand that Barty
Crouch guy, he's so far up himself that Merlin couldn't pull him out."
All of the Gryffindors murmured in agreement. Daisy now more on the side of wanting to fly with
her own house, or at least another.
Madam Hooch was a woman with short silver hair and yellow eyes. But what happened to
bewilder Daisy the most, wasn't the colour of her teachers eyes, it was the shape of her pupils.
Daisy's only ever saw cats possess those kinds of eyes. Two black slits instead of circles stared at
the students, and it freaked her out a little.

"Welcome to flying class!" Madam Hooch greeted. Everyone's eyes were on the instructor. Some
were scared, some were already on the broom, and some had no clue what was going on.
"For this first lesson, please split into two lines facing one another, this makes it easier for me to
keep an eye on you." Daisy looked into those feline eyes and bit her lip.
In front of Daisy, in the other row was Heather and Bao. Heather looking fairly confident, and Bao
who was trotting on her toes and struggling to hold the broom up.
"Attention please!" Madame Hooch snapped her fingers, and all heads turned to her. "I trust that
there will be no foolishness in my class, unless you want broom flying privileges to be revoked."
The students shook their heads. They absolutely didn't want that to happen. And Madam Hooch
seemed like a very stern woman.
However, Daisy could see Barty Crouch snickering in the row in front of her.
"Now then, you will first learn to mount your broom." Madam Hooch began walking down the line
between the first years. Almost like a prison guard. "Stand on the left side of your broom. And
remember that you are in control, you tell your broom what to do." Daisy lay her broom on the
floor and stayed to its left.
"Hover your hand above it." Daisy did so.
"And command, up!"
Daisy looked at her broomstick, feeling a surge of energy run up and down her arm, and called out,
"up!" And to her surprise, the broom had immediately risen to her hand. The same time that
Regulus Black's had.
"Did you see that?!" Daisy squeaked over to Heather and Bao who were jumping up and down
with excitement.
Madam Hooch approached the two looking impressed. "Well done! Miss Evans and Mr Black, ten
points for Gryffindor and Slytherin!"
Oh my gosh this is it. I'm going to fly and I'm doing so well for my house! I'll have to tell Lily
after!
Looking around, some students were struggling to conjure their brooms. Barty Crouch had his in
hand, but Leopold and Augustus, two other first years who's uniform couldn't have been more
untucked or messy if they tried, looking as if they got dressed blindfolded with their hands tied
behind their back on one leg, brooms still lay still on the ground.
Now came the part Daisy was half anticipating, half fretting. They were now to mount their
brooms. Meaning they had to lift off of the ground while on top of their brooms, just like she had
watched James and Sirius do so effortlessly during quidditch try outs.
Daisy studied Madam Hooch very carefully as she demonstrated mounting a broom, taking in her
every move. She moved smoothly, she was in control. Just like a cat.
"No more than six feet in the air!" Madam Hooch warned.
Then Daisy took her attention to her own broom that shook in her hand. Gingerly lifting her right
leg over the wood, she held her broom firmly in between her legs as her nerves bubbled in her
stomach. Now she had to kick off, and pray something good happens.
From beside her, she noticed that Regulus Black was relaxing on top of his broom that was already
a couple feet in the air. She hadn't even realised he'd moved. He did it so effortlessly. To add to
Daisy's astonishment further, Regulus wasn't even holding onto the broom! His hands were deep
into his pockets while he lounged.
She held a deep breath and kicked hard off the ground. She felt her broom wobble beneath her, and
she was slowly rising off the ground! Only for a short second though as the broomstick gave a hard
shake and Daisy fell forwards and flipped, landing on her back.
From her lying space, she looked up and could see Regulus Black looking back down at her from
on top of his broomstick.
He suppressed a laugh, and Daisy felt herself blush from embarrassment. Gaining back her breath,
she shook her head no and heaved herself back onto her broom.
C'mon you've got this.
This time, the broom shot up quickly, giving her no time to react and Daisy slid off the back end,
like a fireman on a pole, and landed hard on her bottom. She heard a laugh from above. With a
groan she attempted to get back up, and only managed once she took the hand of Regulus Black's
that was being held out for her.
Again, she hadn't even realised he had moved.
Daisy sighed and put her hand on his and allowed him to help her up from the hard ground.
"Thanks..."
Regulus nodded politely.
Despite the pain Daisy was feeling at the moment, determination was stronger. She will ride that
broom.
As she began mounting again, she was interrupted and scowled up above.
"You're holding the broom wrong." The Slytherin boy was in the air again.
"What?" She snapped.
"Move them up a little, if they're too close to you you'll fall off again." Then he demonstrated.
"Like this." Showing Daisy where his hands should be.
"Make sure you have a firm grip of it too." He said nodding to his hands that were causally holding
around the broom. Daisy was sure however that she was holding it tight enough seeing how white
her knuckles had turned.
So she attempted it his way. Seeing as he was the one in the air and she was the one with dirt on
her cloak.
In her new position, the broom began to rise gradually, still quite wobbly, but Daisy was thrilled
that she was up in the air.
Daisy was much more steady now and was hovering a few feet in the air, a little below Regulus
who was back to kicking it back.
"Have you never flown before?"
Daisy shook her head.
"I didn't think so."
"I didn't know people could fly."
Regulus looked puzzled.
"We've always been able to fly. Did your mum and dad not teach you?"
"No... I don't think we can fly at home. Our brooms are for sweeping." If the broom Daisy was
riding on had been at home, she'd have been using it for chores!
Regulus hesitated, and drew back his interest.
She guessed that was it then. He was weird. Quiet. Not weird because he was quiet, but just both.
How can you go from chatting one second to silence the next?
Comfortably in the air, Daisy eyed the rest of the students, either on the ground or in the air. She
noticed her fellow Gryffindors were doing rather well. Benjamin Moore and Brody O'Connor had
lifted off with ease and now were up in the air challenging one another to see who would be able to
push the other off their broom first. David Martinéz had came off of his broom and was now
helping Theodore Hamilton in levitating, holding his arms out incase the smaller boy fell off and
cheering for him. Then Daisy spotted Heather who was spinning in loops, impressing Bao and
another girl that was in Slytherin house.
"Can you do tricks?" Daisy asked Regulus, who side eyed her.
He nodded.
Ok...
Now she was bored. She couldn't do anything else.
Until she sensed a movement beside her. So she turned, and was pleasantly surprised.
Regulus hung upside down, and his cloak had covered his eyes. He wasn't holding onto his broom
either! Just dangling from his legs. Show off!
"Oh my gosh!"
It was just like hanging from the monkey bars at the park...
Feeling a spontaneous urge to do the same, she leaned to the side, and her hair whipped as the
broom tipped. Now she was holding onto the broom like a sloth on a tree branch. Except, she
wasn't very strong, and the broom was rather thin. She'd hung from the monkey bars many of
times, so she let go.
Everything turned upside down. Her hair was trying to reach the ground and covering her eyes. She
began swatting it away, getting her fingers caught in knots and was now trying to spit it out of her
mouth.
Well, the frantic movement shook the broom, and her legs slipped right off.
With a thud, Daisy was on her front. Or, on her wrist, on the ground.
It happened so quickly she didn't really feel it. Only when she pushed herself up she cried out in
pain.
Looking at her bent wrist, she understood the aching flowing through her arm.
"Ew." Regulus face screwed in discomfort.

"Oh my! This is why we don't play during flying class!" Madam Hooch pranced over frantically
and helped Daisy up who was pushing down vomit.
"I'll take her to Madam Pomfrey if you want. It's my fault." Said Regulus.
"Yes... yes of course Regulus. Thank you. I'll be round shortly. Students! Off your brooms!"
"No way!" Heather pushed past Regulus, scowling something awful, and held Daisy's arm, Bao
was close by.
"We'll take her. We're her friends." She told Madam Hooch.
And three of them walked away. One stormed angrily, one crouched, glancing back at a student,
one jogged to keep up.

The girls visited Madam Pomfrey. Daisy's wrist was fixed with a nasty drink that the girls had to
push down her throat.
"This will help!" Encouraged Heather as she tipped Daisy's head back while Bao held the veil.
"It's- guhh-" Daisy tried but choked on the medicine. "Tastes like fish!"
Once it was over, Daisy only watched frozen in shock while her wrist bent instead back into shape.
"What..."
"I've learned not to question it anymore." Bao shrugged.
Madam Pomfrey soon returned once the veil was empty, and wrapped the girls wrist in a white
bandage, securing it for the time being of the healing period.
"That's you doll, all set to go. Come back in three days and I'll have another look."
Daisy nodded and Heather exclaimed, "Great! C'mon, let's get you back to the tower. Where it's
safe!"

"I GOT IN! IM THE CHASER!"

"I'M THE BEATER!"
Not long after the girls settled in front of the fire, two boys burst through the door, making it sound
like a bomb had went off and the girls flinched towards the door.
"Yeah... well done Sirius. You played really well." Marlene didn't look happy, but Daisy watched
her inhale deeply that inflated a smile.
"Yes you both did excellent! And Marlene, you're one hell of a beater. Next year might be
different." The large Thor looking captain said and Marlene's shoulders slackened.
"We can practice together? If you think you're up for it." Sirius raised a brow.
"Oh you're so fucking on Black. Right now let's go!"
"You gotta keep up with me!" Sirius laughed and ran out the same way he came in, Marlene
chasing after him. She either wanted to kill him... or beat him... very hard to tell.
"I'm coming too!" James yelled.
"Same!" Mary began to run.
"Ok fine." And Alice left.
Everybody else's soon followed, leaving the girls with the common room.

Roasting their hands by the fire, the girls were glad they hadn't followed the second years as the
pelting rain sounded like bullets on glass. They were lovely and cosy in here.
"I need to tell you something." Heather began suddenly, and she was looking straight at Daisy with
a look that worried her.
"What?"
"I think that Regulus Black is trouble."
Bao shifted away.
"How?" Daisy asked.
"Well... there's a lot of things you need to know about this world. There are things to stay away
from. He's one of them."
"I don't know what you're talking about. He's just a boy-"
"Dark magic. He knows all about it. It raised him. His family are famous for it."
Dark magic… she knew there was some kind of evil to every good. Murders in comparison to
saints. The devil and the angels. The bullies and the weak.
"What about Sirius?"
"Sirius is gonna get himself hurt. That's as much as I can say. You should stay away from Regulus
Black... if you want to make it past sixth year."
"Don't say that!" Daisy's voice cracked. "That's horrible!"
"But it's true! You have to know we can't just keep it a secret!"
"Who's we?!"
Bao had removed herself from the common room.
"Magic people! Witches and wizards! Yeah I'm only half but I know all about dark magic and shit,
and Regulus Black is one of them. This is only to protect you. To stop you getting hurt."
"I can protect myself." And the muggleborn turned and disappeared into the girls staircase.
 Year One: Protego

In her dreams, there was darkness. A deep pit full or sorrow and terror. She gripped her sheets
tighter, falling into the imaginary depths, with no one to help. It had been days, months, years? It
was a war, and she was too small to stop it. Fighting the walls as she tumbled down, she only
wanted her parents. Though they never came.

When she awoke, the memory of the pit faltered bit by bit, turning into a blank nothingness, but an
uneasy feeling lingered on her body still. There was something off about it. It made her feel
vulnerable.
Daisy went over in her head to comfort herself. But this was all new. Now she was scared. Was this
really just like a horror story where she was just an innocent victim? Or was Heather overreacting
and this is simply just how life goes on.
Muggles can be cruel too, like wizards can.
Ian Brady and Myra Hindley sure proved that.
Still... hearing about those stories made Daisy never stray too far from home, and always return
when the street lamps turned on. But there were no street lamps here.
(It was only a dream.)

"Good morning everyone!" Professor Duras, the defence against the dark arts teacher, welcomed
his first year Gryffindors.
Professor Duras was a rough looking man, but smiled like the softest. His brown hair was greying,
his skin wrinkling, and looked like he'd been through a few battles, tracing the pink scar lines
along his forearms and face.
This class wasn't a personal favourite of Daisy's... the sound of defending yourself from dark
wizards sounded frightening. Though Professor Duras somehow created a warm, safe place for his
students to be themselves in. To give him extra points, he would even give every student a lollipop
of their choice at the end of every lesson for their hard work, no matter if they failed.
It's the hard work that counts, as he always says.
The defence classroom was filled with all sorts of gadgets that intrigued the young muggleborn.
There was a little glass spinner rested on top of a cupboard, waiting to be spun, accompanied by a
circular mirror, and what looked like a golden rod.
Instinctively, her feet had landed her in front of the objects, nosying. Staring in the mirror, she was
completely dumbfounded when there was nothing reflecting in it. Instead, it looked rather foggy.
Thinking of it as dirty, Daisy pulled the sleeve of her robe over her hand and attempted to wipe it
clean. However, it still remained a mysterious mist.
Huffing, she turned to the Professor in annoyance and asked him, "Professor, what is this? I can't
see anything in it." She had pointed.
"Ah!" The Professor loudly clasped his hands together.
"That, is a foe glass, it shows the person looking into the mirror their greatest enemy. It's rather
good you can't see anything in it actually, because the clearer the person is, the closer they are to
you."
"That's scary..." She whispered now looking at the object from afar, careful not to look directly into
it.
"Well, some would say that yes, some think it's rather helpful, but I understand your feelings." The
Professor chuckled and turned the foe glass to face the wall.
Daisy nodded along, quite glad that the mirror was no longer facing her. She didn't think she had
any enemies per say, but what if it told the future and showed Daisy her fate too. There could be
one person. They may be destined to cross paths and split the ground between them. Yet for now,
there was only the unknown.
Sitting next to Bao, Professor Duras had walked to the front of the class and began.
"Protego, is a shielding charm used to block off jinxes, hexes, and minor curses. However, it
unfortunately cannot block unforgivable curses... does anyone know what the three unforgivable
curses are?"
Benjamin, Brody, Heather, and David all hesitantly raised their hands. Leaving the muggle borns
who had no clue about dark magic.
"Miss McKinnon?" Professor Duras pointed to Heather who sadly glanced over at Daisy, and put
her hand back down onto her desk.
"The cruciatus curse... it causes the victim to feel excruciating pain, and if it goes on for too long
they... will probably lose their sanity."
Professor Duras nodded solemnly.
"Correct, it's a very nasty curse indeed... David?."
"The imperius curse sir... it gives the person casting it complete control of their victim." To which
the Professor nodded again.
Then lastly, Benjamin was chosen to answer the last unforgivable curse. "The killing curse... it
causes instant death..."
Theodore, Bao, and Daisy were sitting with slapped red faces.
"Today however!" The Professor clapped his hands together, stopping the students from dwelling.
"Today I will be teaching you how to protect yourself from other spells. Although, I've heard that
with great determination... you just may be able to protect yourself or someone else you dearly
love... from an unforgivable."
"Will you teach us how to conjure a patronus?" David gasped and his eyes bulged.
But the Professor laughed.
Daisy tried to think of what that was.
"I'm afraid not, that's advanced magic." And David sunk back into his chair.
Quickly, without another question the Professor twirled his wand in between his fingers.
"Everyone rise from your seats please."
All the first years complied, and once they had risen the Professor used wingardium leviosa to
move their desks and chairs up against the walls, leaving much more room for their practical
lesson.
It seemed too crazy to actually be true when Professor Duras asked, "Now, will some brave soul
like to try and jinx me?"
Raising a brow at his students, daring them to step forward.
Daisy kept her hand firmly at her side. She loved her teacher! There was no way she'd throw a jinx
at the professor.
However, Benjamin raised his hand with pleasure, surprising no one when he said "I will!"
"And what would you like to cast?" The professor asked as the young boy positioned himself in
front of the class, and straight ahead of his teacher.
Benjamin looked up to the roof in thought.
"Rictusempra, just to tickle you."
"Wonderful!" Professor Duras straightened his cloak.
"Whenever you're ready, cast your spell Mr Moore."

Benjamin rocked back and forth on his heels, his wand hidden behind his body. Was this a tactic
for intimidation? Suspense? Because it was working on Daisy.
Then, catching everyone off guard, Benjamin casted, "Rictusempa!"
A pink light shot from his wand towards the Professor, but the older man was too quick and casted,
"Protego!"
And to Daisy's surprise, the spell was deflected by an invisible shield towards the ceiling.
"Woah..." Annabelle breathed, staring at the Professor in disbelief.
Benjamin too, he was completely awestruck admiring Professor Duras. "That was awesome!" He
cheered.
"I'm glad you think so!" The Professor smiled. "Because now, it's your turn to practise."

All of the first years were ecstatic. Immediately they all began attempting to cast their own shields
just like their Professor. Little sparks emitted here and there, but Daisy couldn't see anything
coming out from her wand. Nothing was happening.
Daisy looked at her classmates and saw that a few wands were flickering with light, but that was
better than what she was doing.
She shifted on her feet. Hardly wanting to practice anymore, feeling too insecure to fail again and
again.
Discouragement poured over her body. Like someone had dropped a bucket of freezing cold water
over her head. All her motivation and optimism washed away as she repeatedly tried to create some
kind of shield, and watch as nothing happened. Daisy was supposed to be good at magic... like Lily
is... everyone would be disappointed that 'the smart Evans girl' can't cast a simple shield.
She should have prepared herself for something like this, she had gotten to caught up in the praise
and the comparison to Lily. Her streak would be ruined and no one would find her special
anymore...
Abruptly, still with Daisy's wand not producing anything, Professor Duras called the class to the
front. Daisy felt the urge to cry.

"Now everyone! To put you to the test you will have to deflect a spell that I will cast towards you,
those who succeed will earn a total of five house points each."
All of the first years were in a side by side line facing the Professor now, everyone holding their
wands eagerly, all except Daisy who looked around chewing on her bottom lip.
"Wands at the ready!" Professor Duras encouraged them before calling one by one up and having
the rest of the class watch and learn.

"Miss Evans! Please step up." Daisy's stomach dropped. This was exactly what she didn't want.
The first to go, the first to fail.
The Professor smiled kindly, gesturing for her to stand in line with him. Swallowing her nerves and
blinking up at the ceiling to rid of her watery eyes, Daisy complied and stood about twenty feet
away from him, her wand trembling in her hand.
"Now don't worry, I will shoot an easy spell at you of course, don't want any accidents happening
in here." Professor Duras joked.
"Colovaria, is the incantation to change the colour or style of your hair. I will only be changing
your hair colour today."
Daisy nodded, she was hardly paying attention to his words anymore, only the thought of her
making a fool of herself filled her mind. She was bracing herself to be embarrassed by being hit by
the Professors spell in front of the class, and showing that she's not the smart witch everyone thinks
she is, she's just an outsider.
Quickly, Professor Duras casted, "Colovaria!" and blue sparks emitted from his wand heading
straight for Daisy.
Daisy's attention snapped back instantly. Like a cat sensing a bird.
She flicked her wand and demanded, "Protego!"
The blue sparks bounced away. Her shield. The blue sparks from the Professor's wand retracted off
of an invisible force in front of Daisy and headed in the direction of the teacher himself...
Within a flash Professor Duras' greying brown hair had turned a vibrant blue. Just like a blueberry.
Daisy's eyes widened at her mistake, scared that Professor Duras would give her into trouble. She
hadn't even thought she could produce a shield- never mind hit her her Professor with a spell!

On the contrary, the Professor actually began to laugh. "Excellent Miss Evans!" He sounded very
proud of the first year.
Daisy let out a loud sigh.
The Professor then traveled towards a mirror on the wall, nodding at his appearance in approval. "I
might just keep my hair like this." Pulling the now blue strands of hair on his head, much different
from his natural state. He looked much younger now, Daisy thought to herself.
"A perfect example of a shield. You can't see it until the spell collides and it makes a sort of
rippling affect, like throwing a stone into a lake!"
Daisy was actually carrying out the spell perfectly.
Proud. She was proud of herself. The self awareness of an eleven year old was being born like
lambs in the start of a new spring. How amazing it felt to know, to feel, that she had accomplished.
"Did you see that?!" She gushed to her friends.
"Yes well done!" Bao pat her shoulder.
"That was really cool." Heather nodded, unsure on how to break out of the awkwardness that was
trying to forget the two girls first argument.

Next up was Brody O'Connor, the Irish boy with the sharp tongue. He swayed to the front of the
class with his wand twirling in his hand. Daisy could practically smell his ego, sweaty yet sweet.
Daisy would say that she was a little intimated by his sudden change of character.
Brody didn't seem like a young boy anymore. He became fierce and protective. Something you
wouldn't normally except from such a small boy. His jaw clenched, he patiently waited for the
professor to strike with his wand firmly in his grasp.

"Colovaria!"
"Protego!" As excepted, Brody deflected the spell with a swipe of his arm, and the jinx flew across
the room towards another student.
Theodore, the smallest of the boys had been in a dream watching the challenges, until the flash was
coming for him.
"Protego!" He snapped. The spell bursting into nothingness.
Professor Duras applauded. "Most incredible Mr Hamilton! Ten points to Gryffindor house."
And the young boy turned a deep red.
"And that everyone is key, to always be prepared for the unexpected! Who knows what will come
your way, but if you can cast a quick and easy protego like Mr Hamilton here." Duras pointed
towards Theodore.
"You'll do just fine." Professor Duras eyes twinkled in the small boys direction.

As the class went on, the Professor was still rocking blue hair, courtesy of Daisy, and Bao's had
gone a swamp green colour.
Bao had been unfortunate to cast a brilliant shielding charm, only for the Professor's spell to come
back and hit her after bouncing off a wall mounted mirror.

"I'm very impressed with all of you!"

The professor felt proud. The students could defend themselves now. He only hopes they wouldn't
really have to.
"Professor McGonagall will be most delighted when I tell her what a wonderful class she has."
Daisy's heart swelled at the thought of Professor McGonagall hearing how well she was doing.

Feeling disappointed with the lack of time in the world, Duras ended his lesson.
"I'm afraid our time is up, And I'll have to bid you goodbye for now, but I'll be looking forward to
seeing you next lesson!" And the students began unwillingly packing their bags. Though they'd all
rather stay.

"Oh and Miss Evans!"

Daisy stopped at the entrance.
"I think a change of hair colour was just what I needed, so thank you!"
"Yeah it looks cool Professor!"
Then she ran off to catch up with her friends who were heading to the courtyard.
 Year One: Halloween

Daisy Evans was lounging in her bed. Flat on her stomach, one hand holding her head, and the
other flipping through the pages of Magical Miracles. By Louisa Lewis.

What she really loved about this book the most was the cover.

It was silver, with sequin stripes in a lighter shade that glittered when tilting it in the light. She
could sit and do that for hours. And there was a white unicorn on all fours looking out into the
distance in a meadow. She loved that unicorn.

Unicorns would live in her mind throughout her childhood. Her mother's bedtime stories about the
unicorns comforting little lost children who had ran too deep into the woods or healing the sick
elderly who had years left see.

They really were magical creatures.

Daisy had just finished skimming about cyclops, something she didn't care very much for, they
were just giants with one eye, when she landed on werewolves.

The name alone made her shiver.

There was a black and white picture of a filthy beast with a slim torso and large head, great long
canines and tough scruffy fur. Yet, the dog was huge, subtext below the image read 'approx 6ft'

It's terrible how a person can turn into that...

'A werewolf is unable to choose whether or not they transform and will no longer remember who
they are once the full moon has risen. A werewolf is capable of killing even their own mother and
father if given the opportunity when transformed. Despite this, their memory is regained upon
reverting to their human form and gaining consciousness once more.'
Their own parents...

'Without any humans nearby to attack, or other animals to occupy it, the werewolf will attack itself
out of frustration. This leaves many werewolves with self-inflicted scars.

Werewolves can be easily distinguished from regular wolves by their shorter snout, more human-
like eyes, the tufted tail, and their mindless hunting of humans whilst in wolf form. On regular
days, the human will appear as normal, although they may age prematurely, and may present as if
they are sickly. It's common for werewolves so become agitated as the full moon grows-

"Boo!" Bao jumped into girls dormitory, and Daisy slammed her book shut.

"Happy Halloween!" Bao cheered triumphantly, throwing sweets into the air, and Daisy use her
book to cover her head.

Halloween, it wasn't Daisy favourite holiday for sure, but she's always loved dressing up to go trick
or treating with her sisters in her neighbourhood.

However, she'd always favour Christmas over Halloween. Christmas brought her family together,
and she received gifts. If she was lucky, it would snow on Christmas day, which added to the cosy
and warm feeling she felt inside her home. While the fire roasted, herself and her older sisters
would bring blankets and large pillows downstairs to watch Christmas films while their parents
prepared Christmas dinner. Drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies.

The feeling of waking up in her warm and cosy house with a stomach full of butterflies would
never be beaten. Daisy would run downstairs as soon as she could to meet her family to open their
gifts, then they'd all spend the entire day with one another.

Daisy could only hope Christmas would be the same this year, because last year didn't feel right.

Petunia, the oldest of the Evans', distanced herself from her sisters. She was present, but... not
involved. Christmas felt rather empty without Petunia's jokes or laughter, Daisy never realised how
much she loved it until it was gone.

But Daisy was determined to mend their bond that was hanging from a thread. She'd show Petunia
that she's just as normal as she is, and that they can still bake Christmas cookies together all the
same.

At Hogwarts, over the past week the teachers and Hagrid had been decorating the entire castle for
Halloween. Flitwick had charmed paper origami bats to fly around the castle, McGonagall had hug
up pretend ghosts sheets in corridors that moved on their own, Hagrid had carved pumpinks the
size of boulders into different scary faces, Professor Sprout had stacked her classroom with sweets
and chocolate for students who wanted to trick or treat, Slughorn had been brewing potions for
students who get scared at Halloween, and lastly, Dumbledore was lounging in his office eating
lemon drops.

"So what are we doing today? We could dress up?" Bao asked the other two girls, them now
approaching the great hall for dinner.

"What would we go as? I don't have a costume." Heather questioned.

"Witches!"

Both Daisy and Heather laughed, shaking their heads. "Who would have thought!" Daisy giggled.

The Great Hall looked marvellous. The roof above was charmed to a pitch black sky with a half
moon peaking out behind spooky grey clouds.

Hagrid's pumpkins scattered around the hall, little tiny ones on the tables, to giant ones on the floor.
Each of them making a different expression, which Daisy would very interesting. Who knew
Hagrid had such artistic talent.

Immediately once they had walked in, they all heard, "Happy Halloween!" Sirius Black yelled
from where he sat next to James Potter.

The other boys gave them a wave.

"Please don't tell me you've got something planned." Alice whined looking at the second year boys.
Daisy listened in.

From the short time she's known these second years, they've proven that they're excellent at getting
up to no good.

Over the past couple months, the boys had managed to; turn the corridor of the Great Hall into a
slip and slide, cause a grand explosion in potions class that singed Peter's eyebrows off, and James
had transfigured a table into a horse which he rode around the school for a while- until Professor
McGonagall eventually caught up with him.
And how could Daisy forget Barty Crouch's trouser mishap. As well as Crabbe, Goyle, and
Severus who had to get cut free from the schools bench. It was something Daisy would think of
randomly while lying in bed and burst into a fit of giggles.

"We might have done something." Remus smirked at Alice. "And we might not have." Causing all
the second year girls to sigh.

"Whatever you're doing, please don't take Artie again, he's still traumatised from last year!" Frank
leaned over towards the second years. Alice's fingers grazed his arm.

What did they do? Daisy wondered.

Without even asking, Lily turned to Daisy. "They magnified Franks toad into a giant, he was like
fifteen feet tall! Frank was losing his mind."

Daisy gawped at the thought of Frank's little toad towering over her. She could only imagine how
panicked poor Frank was chasing his not so tiny toad around the castle.

"We promise Frank, Arties safe... for this year." Sirius laughed digging into some scrambled egg.

Frank furrowed his brows and held his toad close to his chest protectively. Daisy noticed that
Frank took Artie almost everywhere with him. He was rarely seen without the little guy. Perhaps
he was prone to getting lost.

"What have you two done then?" Lily asked looking between James and Sirius accusingly.

"Lillith Evans, we've done no such thing! We're good little boys, aren't we James?" Sirius looked
up to James who's cheeks were red.

"Well actually we-" He started.

"Don't tell her!" Sirius whined interrupted, hitting James' arm. "You'll find out when it happens my
dear.'

Frank put Artie in his pocket.

After breakfast, Daisy and the first year Gryffindors were walking towards their first class which
was transfiguration.

As they walked down the transfiguration corridor, they spotted Professor McGonagall walking
ahead in front of them.

Daisy also spotted the four Gryffindor boys hiding behind a wall, menacing looks on their faces.

All of a sudden, one of the suits of armour standing in the hallway jumped to life, springing out at
the un-expecting Professor. "Boo!" It shouted, causing McGonagall to let out a yelp.

From their hiding space, the fourth year boys were covering their mouths to hide their giggles.

Professor McGonagall didn't have to search from them as her eyes landed on them immediately and
shooed them away out of the corridor.

"You bunch of marauders!" Professor McGonagall huffed and began taking the scaring charm off
of the suit of armour.

Though while the professor thought she was alone, Daisy saw her begin to chuckle to herself.
After their classes, the girls had gone back to their common room where Daisy was completing
their potions essay which was set the period before.

"We literally have an entire week to do that." Heather nagged from teaching Bao how to play
gobstones.

"Yea- oh that reeks!" Bao gagged after one of the gobstones sprayed a smelly substance. Heather
meanwhile celebrated.

Daisy chuckled at Bao who was wiping her face, and turned to Heather, "I know, but it means it's
done and I don't have to worry about it all week, I'm going to give it to Slughorn once I'm done,
maybe I'll get house points."

"I agree with the girls!" A voice shocked all three of the first years. A translucent man wearing old
fashioned clothing had appeared through the table they were sitting, giving them all a fright.

Bao looked him up and down, from his head down to where his body ended through the table.

"Who are you?!"

The man twisted the end of his moustache with his fingers index and thumb.

"I, am Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower.
Otherwise known as Nearly Headless Nick by the kids."

Bao looked at the two girls confused. "Nearly headless?"

And as if he was waiting for it, Nick tugged his hair to the side and his head partially came off,
showing off the inside of his neck. Although- like he said- his head didn't come all the way off, it
hung on by a bloody thread which was revolting.

Nick clicked his head back into place and looked delighted at the girls who looked like they were
about to vomit.

"It's my favourite party trick!"

How could someone be so jolly with half a neck?!

"And you girl, homework so soon?" He started on Daisy.

"I always left mine till the day before." He said looking over Daisy's piece of parchment. The little
girl shrugged.

"Well... I'm the top of my class."

"She's right!" Heather agreed. "She and one other boy, a slytherin, are top of the class, but I think
she's Professor Slughorn's favourite."

Daisy turned red, silently smiling down at her parchment.

"Ohhh Gryffindor and Slytherin rivalry, it's the same every year." Nearly headless Nick tutted and
shook his half decapitated head. "Well I better be off then girls, have fun with your potions, and if
you ever would like a chat, come and find me! I'm never very far!" And Sir Nicholas melted
through the table and disappeared into the floor.

Bao watched him sink all the way to the bottom in fascination. "That was awesome! Sad that he's
dead- but really cool how he can do that!"

Heather looked queasy. "I didn't particularly love his party trick, but I guess it was... something
unique... at least."

Daisy nodded along with her eyes glued onto her parchment once again. "Done!" She cheered
setting down her ink quill in victory.

"You'll still help us with ours though right?" Bao asked wiping more smelly spray off her face
while Heather smiled triumphantly.

Daisy nodded. "Of course I will. Anyways, I'm going to Slughorn's now, I'll be back in a few." And
Daisy tied a thin red thread around her rolled up parchment and finished with a bow.

In the dungeons where the potions classroom was, Daisy was making her way to give Professor
Slugorn her essay. Though she stopped halfway down the corridor as she spotted Regulus Black,
who was taking a small veil from the Professor, and began to feel nervous.

There's so many things she didn't know about this world. She didn't know the people, the creatures,
the magic. It would be silly to jump right in. For all she knows she could end up in a different
realm tomorrow or fending off an unforgivable curse!

You always need to check how deep the water is before jumping off the cliff. Or else pay the price.

But there was something pushing her to keep trying to befriend him. A need.

Was it curiosity? Admiration?

He walked past her and she blushed.

Giddy feelings?

She huffed and shrugged that off her mind.

Slughorn was about to walk into his classroom once again until he caught Daisy's eye. "Miss
Evans! A pleasure to see you, here for a fright-be-gone potion?" Daisy titled her head.

"A what?" She asked.

"It's a little potion I've cooked up for students who fright easy, perfect for Halloween." Daisy raised
both her brows impressed.

"Would you like some?" The Professor offered. Daisy shook her head with a wave of her hand.

"Oh no thank you, I'll be alright. I'm here to give you my essay!"

"So soon? Splendid! I'll have this marked in a jiff." Slughorn gleamed taking Daisy's piece of
parchment in his hand.

Daisy waved goodbye and began making her way back to the Gryffindor common room, passing a
suit of armour that jumped out at her.

Later that Halloween night, the first and second year girls sat around the fire eating chocolate they
had received from Professor Sprout when Mary MacDonald came up with an idea.

"Wanna hear a scary story?" Mary asked crawling onto the floor near the fire. Sitting in front of
Lily, Alice, and Marlene who ate treats on the couch, and the first year girls who occupied the one
person arm chair, Heather sat perched on top and Daisy and Bao rested on the floor with their
heads against the cushions. They too were filling their mouths with chocolate.

All of the girls collectively shared a look, then turned to Mary unsure.

Mary had a menacing look on her face. "Nox." She said and the lights in the common room went
out. The girls were now in the dark with the orange fire and pale moonlight lustring on the red
walls.

The fire gave Mary's skin a warm orange glow as she looked at the other girls. It felt like they were
in a cabin in the woods.

"There was once a happy man named Ted." Mary began. "He worked in a bakery doing ordinary
things, making cakes, cookies, muffins, all sorts of treats. But working there just wasn't making
him enough money, so he took up a job as a part time clown for kids birthday parties. He was
known as Teddy the clown."

"Teddy received bookings from families in his area, and all the kids loved him. He'd make balloon
animals, tell corny jokes, and just make the kids happy."

"Everything was going well until he lost his signature red nose at a previous party days before
another."

"So before having to arrive at the kids house, Ted went into a charity shop hoping to find a new
nose.
'I'll see what I can do' said the worker.
The worker came back with a box of supplies and told Ted to take a look. Ted dug through the box
and at the very bottom, he found a red nose. It was a little worn out and scruffy looking, but it
would have to do."

"So Ted bought the nose and left the shop to go to the kids party. He eventually arrived completely
dressed up as Teddy, white face, red cheeks, red grin, and of course a rainbow wig and red nose.
He was in the garden making balloon animals for all the kids at the party who were laughing and
having fun."

"Half way through the party however... Teddy developed a headache, quite a sore one, he assumed
it was because of all the children's screams. He excused himself to the bathroom and took a look at
himself in the mirror. From where his white face paint had came off, Teddy could see faint purple
and red marks around his nose. He convinced himself he was having an allergic reaction to the
nose, so he tried to take it off."

"But it wouldn't come off."

"No matter how hard Teddy tugged on the red nose, it had latched on tight. Teddy was afraid his
entire nose would come off if he pulled it harder. So he stared at himself frightened. His headache
was getting worse by the minute. The only thing Teddy could think of doing was going back out to
the party... he needed money... and maybe he was overreacting to the nose. He thought he'd get it
off eventually."

"So Teddy went back to the kids and made more balloon animals. Soon though, Teddy began
feeling much more ill, so he went to the bathroom for a second time. Then he saw that the white of
his eyes were turning red. His eyes were too blurry to notice that the red nose had melted into his
real skin, you couldn't tell where the red nose started because it was becoming part of Teddy's face.
Again Teddy tried to pull the nose off, but no luck. He pulled his hair out of stress and came to
realise that his wig wouldn't budge. Almost as it were his real hair sticking out of his scalp."

"He's turning into a clown?" Bao whispered to Mary from behind a pillow, and Mary nodded, the
fire still eerily burning bright on half of her face. The other black.

"He told himself he was overreacting again. Perhaps the allergic reaction was causing him to
hallucinate... Teddy really needed money... so he went back to the garden."

"Teddy could hear his headache throbbing louder and louder, until he could barely see. And the
kids squealing wasn't helping. Out of a sudden possession of rage, he squeezed one of the balloons
he was making for a kid and it burst in his face, making them begin to cry. That's when he snapped.
The entire garden was spinning in his head, and he dropped to the ground in pain holding his head.
His eyes rolled to the back of his head and his mouth hung wide open in a silent scream."

"When he stood, his eyes were completely red, and he wore a sharp toothed grin, smiling at all the
frightened children. Then it took over completely."

"What did he do..." Daisy whispered behind her knees.

"Teddy lost all control of himself. As if it wasn't himself at all. Ted the happy baker wasn't an
angry person, but Teddy had turned into the opposite. But there was no Ted left in Teddy
anymore."

"By the time the parents came out into the garden, Teddy was gone, only the bodies of their
children remained."

Everyone in the common room gasped.

"No!" Lily swore.

Mary nodded her head. "I hear Teddy's still out there, still full of rage and hatred for the children
he used to entertain, and will strike at anyone he walks by... or finds. So if I were you lot I'd keep
an eye out for Teddy, you never know when he's going to strike-"

A loud roar came from a body behind the large couch and grabbed Lily and Alice's shoulders. The
two girls screamed bloody murder. Beside Marlene stopped eating her popcorn.

James was standing behind the couch with an accomplished grin on his face. "Don't worry love it's
just me!" He said to Lily who held her hand over her heart.

"In that case I'd rather it be Teddy." Rolling her eyes and turning back to face Mary.

"How long have you been there?" Alice asked gasping for air.

"A while, Mary told me she was gonna tell you lot a scary story, and that I should scare you. And
it worked!" James laughed in Mary's direction who wore a proud smile.

"It sure did!"

"Do you have a scary story James?" Annabelle asked from the ground.

James twisted his lips and furrowed his brows in thought. "I think I do actually, my dad told me
this one when he took me fishing one time, made me scared to ever go back onto any body of
water."
"Oi James! Are you coming upstairs? Been down here ag-" Sirius trotted down the stairs of the
boys dormitory, "Oh I see what you're doing." Sending James a wink, "flirting with the ladies?"

James blushed. "No you dick, story telling." At the mention, Sirius shot himself down beside
Mary.

"We're telling stories?" Looking up at James hopefully. James let out a chuckle while he looked at
Sirius.

"Well I guess I am now." Pushing his glasses up with his index finger.

"You just missed Mary's Sirius! It was brilliant." Daisy said looking towards the boy who was in
his sleepwear, his red dressing gown tied tightly around his waist and red slippers on his feet.

Mary smiled over at Daisy to say thank you, and then turned to Sirius. "I'll tell you it one day if
you think you can handle it."

To which Sirius puffed out his chest. "Of course i can handle it! Sirius Black is not afraid of
anything."

"If you say so." Mary said pushing Sirius with her fist softly.

"When you two are done flirting can James tell his story?" Alice yelled and the two snapped their
heads towards her, faces turning red. "Course." Mary tucked her hair behind her ear.

James began, sitting himself on an unoccupied arm chair with everyone's attention on him. "A boy
and his father went fishing on a lake one day. They'd been fishing with one another for years... but
this time they chose a different lake, a change. They got on their rowing boat, and rowed to the
centre of the lake where they would catch the most fish, and cast out their lines."

"Once the boat stopped moving, the boy began hearing strange noises, like whispers."

"Leave." James whispered to the group in a sinister airy voice, sending shivers up Daisy's spine.

"The boy shrugged it off and thought he was imagined it, and he followed his dad anyways. So
they were now waiting to catch something. After a couple of minutes, the dads lines gave a tug and
they both became very excited for their first catch. The dad waited another second and felt a tug
again, but this time it was harder. Waited again and an ever harder tug almost pulled him into the
water. The boy and his dad both looked even more excited.
'We've got a big one!' The boys dad said."

"His dad began reeling in the catch, but the line came to a stop and wouldn't go any further. He
tried to pull the rod upwards but it wouldn't budge at all. He placed the rod down and leaned over
the boats edge, trying to looking into the lake but it was too dirty, and too deep to see anything in
it."

"That was when the boy felt the boat rock. He looked to the other side and there was nothing there.
He began to get scared. Then, suddenly the boat was shook again, and the boat was almost tipped
over. The boys dad suggested they try to row back to shore, so they grabbed their paddels and tried
to go back to shore. But no matter how hard the rowed, the boat wouldn't move."

"With another sudden shake of the boat, the boy and his dad were flipped into the lake. The boy
yelled for his dad but couldn't find him anywhere, he was gone. The boy tried to get back onto the
boat when he felt a force pull on his leg. The force tightened and soon he was dragged under water.
Holding his breath he looked around the dirty lake and saw nothing, until he looked down to see
the rotten boney corpse of a woman, her hair wispy and silver, she found joy in this, smiling grimly
showing off all of her sharp and fanged teeth. She pulled the boy deep under the water until the
boat was no longer in view, and the boy began to drown."

"He was screaming for his dad as the water filled his lungs, his last ever words were for his dad.
And if you ever go fishing on that lake, you'll hear him screaming, right. Before. She.."
James' voice was slowing down as he leaned further off of his chair. Everyone hanging onto his
words.

"Gets you!" He suddenly pounced towards Sirius who screamed and flinched backwards. James
burst into laughter, falling on top of Sirius who too had began to laugh.

"Ha! Chicken shit!" Marlene laughed at Sirius I'm not afraid of anything Black.

"Bloody hell." Heather breathed out.

"Your dad sounds pleasant to be around, telling you stories like that." Alice laughed.

"He is actually! He's got stories about everything!" Sirius muffled from underneath James' body.
The latter smiled fondly back down at his friend.

Bao raised her hand as if she were in class. "Is it true? The lake story?" Asking James, her voice
sincerely hoping the answer was no.

James however shrugged his shoulders to the dissatisfactionof the girls. "I have no idea actually,
but chances are something like that's happened before, the magic worlds pretty scary."

Bao sighed disappointed.

"Oh I've got one!" Alice leaped up from her place on the couch, Lily looking at her intently. "Well-
it's not a story like Mary and James'- but I find it just as scary!"

Alice ran up to a window in the common room and pressed both her palms against the foggy glass.
"There's an old shack down in Hogsmead, it's rumoured to be haunted. The villagers hear it make
noises and howls all the time!"

James cleared his throat and waved his hand to dismiss her tale. "So what if there's ghosts in there,
there's real ghosts in Hogwarts too!"

Alice hummed in realisation. "Well that's true... they must be evil ghosts if no one goes in there...
maybe we cou-"

"No!" Sirius shouted from his spot on the floor, everyone looked at him.

"Why? Scared Sirius?" Lily snorted.

"No... I just don't see the point really... like James said we have ghosts here. They're probably just
party animals."

All of the girls shrugged their shoulders.

"And besides, there's no way into it." James finished at that. Alice closed her mouth, there was
something in James' tone that when he finished that told them to drop the subject of the shack all
together, but Daisy just couldn't tell why.

"Anyways!" James said through the awkward silence that had filled the common room. "It's late
and we should get to bed, c'mon Sirius." He said pulled Sirius up from the floor.

Lily nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah I'm exhausted... and all those chocolate's made me feel
ill." And rose to her feet, Daisy copied her.

"Goodnight!" James and Sirius waved as the spectacled boy pulled his friend by the arm upstairs to
their dorm, heading to finally get some rest. Not without Sirius sending a wink Mary's way.

One by one, all of the girls stretched and got to their feet as well, then proceeded to slump up their
dormitory stairs tiredly, and fall into bed.

That spooky Halloween night, Daisy went to sleep dreaming of a... lake? Or was it a pool? The
ocean? She couldn't tell, it was too dark, but it was wet. She was definitely under water, she could
feel the cold pinching her entire body. All around her in the water were skeletal hands trying to
grab her as she kicked as hard as she could to try and reach surface. Before even realising, the
surface was now miles away from her. She would never make it back up in time to breath, that's
when the water entered her mouth as she screamed someone's name, a name that she couldn't work
out. The hands had all grabbed a tight hold of her and had dragged her to meet the same fate as the
boy and his dad.

That's when her dream went blank, and she woke up in a cold sweat.

Unaware that another body in the castle had also just awoken.
 Year One: The Whomping Willow

On this Saturday afternoon, the sun was emitting golden rays through the Gryffindor common
room that coated three young girls who lounged near one of the high windows of the tower.

Seeing as they had no classes today, Daisy had dressed in a comfortably to beat herself on this
chilly day. Despite the warm rays of sun, the tower was becoming increasingly colder day by day
as winter was on its way.

Daisy had her back pressed up against the red wall of the common room, listening to Bao
attempting to beat Heather at Gobstones. So far, Heather was winning by 5 to 0.

Closing her eyes, Daisy tilted her head backwards to rest upon the wall, and allowed her mind to
wander while her friends voices became nothing but distant background music. All sorts of images
from Hogwarts swarmed her mind as she daydreamed about the castle. The adrenaline filled
quidditch pitch, the beautiful herbology greenhouse, the rowdy Gryffindor courtyard. Then, one
image flashed in her mind that interrupted her adventures of Hogwarts, one that sent a cold shiver
down her spine.

She recognised that it was from the dream- more of a nightmare- that she had on Halloween night.

There was water, deep, deep water. It was pulling her downwards as if there were an anchor tied to
her ankle. It was almost pitch black down there, other than the little ring of light from the surface
that allowed her to see the mangled corpse of a woman in front of her face. Her hair was wispy like
smoke and her eyes were lighting a fire in her soul. The water was just as icy as she remembered it,
piercing her skin like daggers. The last thing she saw in the dream was an arm reaching up to the
surface, and that was it until she woke up.

What a strange nightmare, never before had anything like that intruded her sleep before. Her
nightmares would usually consist of the boogey man, werewolves, or scary ghosts in her house.
This dream however, felt so real. She could feel the weight of water burning her lungs as she
screamed for the surface to pull her up, she heard the screeches of other beings just like the corpse
woman waiting to grab her, and she could see no longer see the light.

She blamed James Potter for this, his Halloween story must have dug itself into her brain and
latched on, waiting patiently for her to fall asleep to take action on her vulnerable mind.

Shaking away the images and opening her eyes once again, Daisy picked up the a little book she
found in Lily's dorm — The Famous Five on a Treasure Island — which helped remind her that
there's more than the magic world, and think about the muggles waiting for her at home. Where
her family was. That book was her anchor until she finished and grabbed the next one. There was
no time for missing loved ones back home with all this running around at Hogwarts.

Everyday she wondered what her family were doing, surely they missed her, of course they did.
She missed them too, even Petunia who wouldn't return any of her letters. She couldn't wait for
Christmas to come around so she could finally see their faces and feel the warm embrace of her
parents once again. She could almost feel her father's strong comforting arms around her, and she
slightly wished that he were here right now. She missed him reading her stories at night before she
were to fall asleep. The purpose was to help lul her exhaustingly energetic mind, but somehow
always ended up with a pillow or tickle fight, defeating the aim entirely. She was her fathers
daughter without a doubt.
"Ahh! That one was the worst!" Bao had gagged loudly, bringing Daisy back into the reality that
she was in now. There she laughed at her unfortunate friend who was grabbing a handful of tissues
to wipe her face from a disgusting liquid.

Heather too was audibly enjoying herself, having won her sixth game without getting sprayed
once. "I'm a little tired of this anyways if you want to stop." Bao nodded eagerly.

"Yes please, one more of those squirts and I'd have vomited all over the common room." None of
them wanted that.

So Heather began tidying up the gobstones, placing the board and marbles back into the box it
came in then pushing it to the side. She did this all before she stood up from the floor with a long
stretch, arching her back like a cat, then she walked towards the bay window to lay upon the
maroon pillows resting against the glass.

Daisy remained sitting on the floor under Heather, her book simply laying open on her lap now, the
cover facing the roof. Today all of the girls were feeling rather burnt out after giving their all
during their first few months at Hogwarts. No essays, no homework, no nothing today. Daisy
finally was letting herself breath.

Bao had turned to stealing a pillow from one of the Gryffindor couches and lay flat on the ground
with her head now comfortably resting upon it. She looked like she could fall asleep in an instant
with the sun rays reflecting over her face. She reminded Daisy of Mary's cat Toby, who loved
doing the same thing.

"That tree gives me the heebie jeebies." Heather thought aloud, staring out of the window she sat
on. Daisy stood up and glanced at where she was talking about and saw a large willow tree.
Sleeping.

"What do you mean? It's just a tree." Daisy questioned, seeing absolutely no reason to be afraid of
the plant. It was harmless.

Heather turned her head in shock. "Have you never been near it?!" Eyeing Daisy who hadn't fazed.

Daisy shook her head. "It almost took my eye out!" Heather continued and scowled down at the
tree, while beside her Daisy snorted.

Daisy was still not very convinced that a tree could cause anyone any sort of damage, unless you
fell off it of course, or somehow ran into it. "How?' She asked expecting Heather to have admitted
that she had interacted with the tree due to her own clumsiness.

Heather instead raised her brows, "I'm surprised you don't know actually, the tree moves whenever
someone gets close to it. I had no idea and was out on a stroll when it tried to kill me!" Daisy had
been taken back now, that certainly wasn't what she was predicting. Then again, the wizarding
world is full of surprises.

"The tree moves?!" She gasped. "No way." Heather must be joking. Daisy was prone - and well
known - to believe anything that anyone told her about Hogwarts and the magic world: James
Potter once convinced her that the tulips Professor Sprout kept in her classroom were magic and
spoke to people. It was only when Daisy tried having a conversation with them did she find out that
the tulips were nothing but muggle plants, and James had fooled her. Or even the time Remus
Lupin told Daisy that a troll was stalking the insides of the castle- she didn't believe him of course-
but that didn't stop her from being on guard for a couple days. Then there was the time Mary
tricked Daisy into believing that her cat, Toby, could bark like a dog. And Daisy being Daisy, she
tested it out and barked at the cat which had the second years in a fit of giggles.

To say the least, she was a little gullible.

Heather nodded quickly. "It's sleeping now... but it wakes up instantly when someone gets too
close." Then with a sigh she said, "that trees a death trap, it shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a
school! Someone will get hurt one of these days." Daisy eyed her suspiciously, part of her wanted
to believe her but the other part of her was screaming no. Heather didn't sound like she was
kidding, but neither did James, Remus, or Mary.

"If we're lucky it'll be Snivellus." Daisy turned around to see Sirius Black skipping into the
common room, his broomstick swung over his shoulder coolly. Sirius was also wearing his new
quidditch playing robes, Daisy guessed that he'd just arrived back from an early training session.

She snorted. He looked like Little Red Riding Hood.

"What are you looking at?" Another voice was heard questioning. Daisy turned her attention to the
largest Gryffindor couch to see Remus was peering over the head rest, she could only see his amber
eyes and light brown hair curling on his head. He had been quietly sitting reading a book the entire
time the girls had been playing in the far corner, Daisy hadn't even noticed he was there.

Heather pointed out of the window, down to the large tree outside. "That big tree out there, the one
that's out to kill every student in this castle."

Remus' eyes turned a dark brown.

Jumping onto the couch beside the tall boy, Sirius leaned over the couch, propping himself up with
his folded arms. "That's the Whomping Willow! Quite cool isn't it?" Sirius actually sounded
impressed.

Heather however shook her head violently. "No way! Dumbledore should seriously consider
getting rid of it before it kills someone!" She stared at Sirius as if he were mad. Daisy too, now
further believing that Heather was telling the truth the whole time.

If it were true, anyone in the right mind wouldn't want such a deathly tree anywhere near them. But
getting to know Sirius Black, you realise he's not exactly a very... sane, person.

The boy rolled his eyes tutting. "Well maybe the idiots that go near the tree deserve it for being so
stupid. Don't want to die? Don't go near the tree, it's simple isn't it?" Heather shut her mouth,
turning away to ignore Sirius. All while Daisy had drifted into a daydream staring at the red
carpeted floor, imagining the tree suddenly coming to life.

Sirius grinned triumphantly before turning around and sitting comfortably against a heap of
pillows. "Watcha reading there Moony?"

"Hang on-" Daisy twisted her head towards Heather again who had pressed herself up against the
glass of the large window in a panic. "The boys are heading down there, they better not go near it!"

Bao jumped up from her rest in alarm. "What?!" Running in between Daisy and Heather who were
staring down at the willow. She had clearly been listening quietly the whole time.

Out of the window, down on the grass, Daisy could clearly see the first year Gryffindor boys
standing in front of the Whomping Willow. Brody O'Connor with both hands on his hips as he
marvelled at the tree, most likely up to no good.
Daisy had a terrible gut feeling.

"We've got to get them away from that!" Bao stressed as she took her attention off of the boys and
began sprinting away from the other two girls towards the portrait entrance, Heather hesitated,
worried to take her eyes off of the boys. Daisy had to shake her out of her frozen panic by taking
hold of her arm and dragging her out of the common room to follow Bao.

Sirius and Remus both watched them all leave in a hurry, the two of them sharing a look.

Running through the castle beside Heather and behind Bao, Daisy was praying that the boys had at
least a little common sense in them to stay away from the crazed tree. The thought of one of her
friends becoming seriously hurt was eating her alive, she was desperately trying to make it on time
to warn them.

Eventually, for what seemed like forever, the girls had finally reached the cold outside. Neither of
them having time to put on a coat. With each step Daisy took, her fear of arriving too late grew
worse and worse, and all was confirmed when ear piercing screams filled the her ears.

Unable to see the boys until she ran around a corner, Daisy came to the horrifying sight of Brody
O'Connor being thrown around like a rag doll in the air by the clutches of the tree branches of the
angry Whomping Willow.

"Someone get him down!" Benjamin cried watching the small body of his friend fly around
helplessly.

Daisy's blood ran cold and her legs almost gave up on her at the sight.

Bao took one look at the mess and turned back around. "I'm getting McGonagall!" Then proceeded
to run as fast as her little legs would let her back inside.

Just when Bao disappeared, Remus and Sirius came sprinting around the same corner the girls had
came from, both wearing equally panicked eyes.

Sirius eyed the flying boy and then the scared first years and ran towards them, while Remus ran
for the tree.

"Everyone step back!" Remus authoritatively yelled to the first years while Sirius pushed them,
away from harm. Then, Daisy noticed Remus was frantically searching the ground, all while Brody
remained being thrown around by the furious tree.

Staring frightfully at the monster, Daisy could hear the distressing screams from her housemate
which brought tears to her eyes. "Get me down!" Brody cried. She didn't want to imagine the pain
that he was in, but her mind wouldn't let her. She watched his head knock side to side and she
began to massage her own. The trees roots began to crash up and down angrily. Just like an octopus
waving it's tentacles.

That was until his screaming came to a deafening stop. Daisy caught a glimpse of the boy's face to
see that his eyes were now shut. Fretting the absolute worse she had found the feeling in her legs
again and bolted straight to Sirius, who already had Theodore cowering under his arm, and buried
her face into his side. Sirius put a comforting arm around her that held her close to him.

Back to Remus, who had now picked up a rock in his hand had launched it against the tree, hitting
a large knot, and to everyone's relief the tree finally came to a halt. The tree had completely frozen
in its place. This would have surprised if Daisy if it wasn't for the sheer terror she was feeling,
looking at the still tree she could only be thankful.
As the tree froze, an unconscious Brody O'Connor flopped and dangled in the air. His eyes still
closed, and as he lay still Daisy could make out a gash running down his neck. The sight made her
stomach sick, she was convinced her friend had took a turn for the worst.

As soon as the tree stopped, Remus had ran towards the younger boy, desperately untangling him
from the tree branches around him and brought him safely to the ground before carrying him as far
away from the willow as he could. He lay him down on the grass gently, propping Brody's head up
onto his legs.

With the boy on the ground now, it was much easier to notice the damage. From the slash on his
neck, the couple cuts on his arms and face, to the clear bruising around his ribs that were visible
through his torn shirt. The poor boy looked completely defeated.

"Oh my goodness!" A loud gasp was heard from behind them and Daisy peered around Sirius to
see Professor McGonagall running around the corner with Bao on her tail. Immediately she threw
herself to the side of Brody motionless body.

From his sitting position, Remus let out a loud and relieved sigh. "He's breathing!" Which steadied
the racing hearts all of the first years.

Kneeling down beside Remus and taking Brody into her own lap, Professor McGonagall
demanded out into the air. "What happened?! Someone speak up!" Daisy dug herself deeper into
Sirius, avoiding the Professor. Professor McGonagall's feline eyes scanned each of the first years,
interrogating every one of them.

It was silent between the group, everyone completely speechless from fear and worry. It took a
while for someone to finally break the silence, no matter how quiet they were. "H-he thought he
could run p-passed it! W-we told him n-not to Professor." David Martinéz shamefully wiped his
eyes staring down at his friend with great anxiety. Beside him, Benjamin Moore clung to David's
side with an equal amount of tears and worry.

Professor McGonagall shook her head in disbelief. "You boys need to careful! He could have
died!" From under Sirius' arm Theodore began to wail.

Sighing softly, Professor McGonagall reassured them all while stroking Brody's hair, "he'll be
alright, later you may visit him in the hospital wing... I doubt he'll be back in the tower tonight."
Her stern voice softening, but still holding much authority.

The Professor then pointed her wand in their air to conjured a stretcher, then carefully levitated the
boy on top to lie down.

"Everyone..." She started again, all of the first years giving her full attention. "Please return to your
common room." And she left without another word, taking Brody with her.

Once Professor McGonagall left, Remus pushed himself up from the ground, aggressively wiping
the dirt that had found its way onto his hands onto his trousers, and silently began walking away
without a second glance at any of the first years or Sirius.

"Is he alright?" David asked Sirius, his attention on Remus who had turned the corner away from
view.

Sirius let out a shaky sigh. "I don't know..." his voice filled with sorrow as he too longingly stared
at the corner of the castle.

"Anyways-" He cleared his throat, rubbing Daisy and Theodore's arms soothingly. "At least you lot
are alright, and Madam Pomfrey will take the best care of your friend, I promise." All of the first
years began feeling more reassured than they were before, they all rather admired Sirius and
trusted what he said. Within this little group of Gryffindors, Sirius looked like he had just adopted a
bunch of children, and honestly Daisy didn't think Sirius minded very much.

"Now c'mon, let's go to the common room and I'll have Peter brew you all hot chocolate, he's
brilliant at it." Sirius smiled patting both Daisy and Theodore's shoulders, then leading the trail of
first years back into the castle.

Daisy took one more quick glance towards the tree. It stood eerily still, innocently waiting for the
next unlucky student to step a little too close...

Later on that day, Daisy had decided that she had waited long enough to go to the hospital wing to
visit Brody, and took off with the other first year boys, leaving Heather and Bao to still process the
frightening ordeal. Daisy wasn't leaving them alone however, the girls had the pleasant company
of, Mary, Marlene, Alice, Lily, James, and Peter, who were all up for taking the girls mind off of
the Whomping Willow.

As well as drinking Peter's whipped cream and marshmallow covered hot chocolate that he so
gladly made them.

Walking out of the common room, Daisy locked her arm around Theodore's after coming to realise
that he was trembling in his walk. "He'll be alright." She smiled warmly in his direction.

"I hope so." He whispered back, tightening their arms.

"Couldn't it have been Barty Crouch? I wouldn't be as upset if it was him." David huffed shoving
his hands deep into his jean pockets.

'Better him than us.' Daisy thought to herself.

Benjamin furrowed his brows slightly. "I wouldn't want that happening to anyone... Crouch is a
dick but that looked awful."

The others looked down at the ground. "It looked extremely painful... merlin, hope Brody's alright
though, that was nasty." Shivering back at the memory.

It didn't take long for their small talk to fade away into nothingness, neither of them were in the
mood to tell any jokes, not while their friend lay all alone in the hospital wing.

Edging closer to said room, they all gave a wary look to each other, neither of them daring to be the
first to enter the room. But, eventually Benjamin sighed, fulfilling the role of the leader in this case
and slowly walked towards the door, edging it open just enough to poke his head through.

"What do you see? Is he in there?" David asked from beside Daisy and Theodore. Benjamin
brought his head back out of the doors, and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't see him, but maybe
Madam Pomfrey will let us in to see." He gave the others a hopeful look before opening the door
wider.

The rest of the three gave a nervous look to each other, before following Benjamin through the
large white swinging doors into the infirmary room.

In there, Benjamin was standing around the front of the room near a marbled desk that on top held
a notepad, a freshly used ink quill, and a few snack bars. Maybe that pad was something important.
If Brody's name was on it, this would surely help ease the first years curiosity, as well as Remus
and Sirius'.

Daisy apologetically detached herself from Theodore and walked up to the desk and mentally
confirmed that this was the notepad Madam Pomfrey used to check students in and out of the wing.

Scanning over the sheet of paper quickly, Daisy caught a few names such as:

20/11/72
Dirk Creswell, First Year
Mary Macdonald, Second Year
Rayansh Patil, Second Year
Bathilda Bagshot, Fifth Year
Bilius Weasley, Sixth Year
Saqib Qureshi, Third Year
Sooyoung Kim, Seventh Year

All of these students had been checked out already she noticed, having one tick in the box for 'in'
and one tick for 'out.' Then at the very bottom of the page where the new comers were, Daisy read,

Brody O'Connor, First Year

He hadn't been checked out yet.

So at least she knew he was here, but which curtain was he behind was now the question.
Throughout the room she could see three closed curtains, and Brody must be behind one of them.

Within a minute, Madam Pomfrey exited the far left with another notepad in her hand. The first
years jumped into action and Daisy retreated from the desk.

"Madam Pomfrey, can we see Brody? We need to know he's alight!" Benjamin started before the
woman had even returned to the front.

She gave all the first years a look of sympathy. "I'm sorry my dears but your friend is resting, you
may visit him after dinner or tomorrow." And the first years sighed. "But I promise I'll take the
best care of your friend." She smiled softly down at them, before turning on her heels to walk in
the opposite direction.

But, Daisy noticed Madam Pomfrey had left her other notepad sitting on her desk beside the
register, and had left it unattended when walking into another patients curtain.

So before she could come back, Daisy ran towards the notepad and brought it back to the first
years. "It's his report!" She said pointing to the boys name at the top of the page.

On the pad it read,

Name: Brody O'Connor

Year: First
House: Gryffindor
D.O.B.: 5th January 1961
Checked in: 01:47pm
Reason: Attacked by the Whomping Willow
Injuries: Deep gash on neck, fractured ribs, concussion
Night Stay: Yes

"Bloody hell that sounds awful!" Benjamin winced at the report. As did the rest.
"Quick put it back before she knows!" Theodore ushered Daisy towards Madam Pomfrey's desk,
and having her put down the report just in time for the mediwitch to walk out of her patients curtain
once again.

The first years took their chance to run, noticing that Madam Pomfrey had began eyeing them
suspiciously.

On their way back to Gryffindor tower, David vowed to run straight to the hospital wing after
dinner, even if he threw up afterwards. Both of the other boys agreed.

"It will feel empty without him in the dorm... do you think we'll be allowed to sleep over in the
hospital wing with him? He'll be lonely... if not we'll bring down some of his things." Theodore
suggested.

"Yeah good idea!" Benjamin ruffled Theodore's curly hair. The first years giggled among each
other until they were stopped by hushed voices coming from behind a corner of the wall.

"It's my fault James!" Remus Lupin's recognisable Welsh accent cracked as he whispered loudly
to- from what it sounds like- James from around the corner in the hallway outside Gryffindor
Tower.

Remus' fault?

"No its not, Remus please don't blame yourself for this..." James' voice was much more calm in
comparison to Remus', like clouds the angels walk upon.

Daisy had no idea what was happening in the corridor, standing with the quiet first years she could
hear someone walking away down the other side of the hall away from their standing place.

"I need to be alone right now." She heard Remus say.

"Remus-" James had started, but was cut off. "Please James, leave me alone."

And that was that.

Turning the corner Daisy laid her eyes on a disappointed James Potter, his hands sitting on his hips
as he watched the Fat Lady portrait close. The woman wearing an expression that clearly told Daisy
she had been listening to the boys, a raised brow and her wine glass almost empty.

"James?" Daisy questioned, and the boy snapped his head around in surprise.

"Oh- Daisy... what's up? Is the Irish one with you lot? Sirius told me what happened- I'm sorry
about that we should have told you about the tree." He bombarded quickly looking at the small
group with guilt filled eyes hiding behind his glasses.

Daisy shook her head. "He's resting, Madam Pomfrey won't let us see him. And don't worry, it's not
your fault James." The boys nodded their head in agreement.

"Yeah man! I don't think Brody's got any impulse, couldn't help himself, he's definitely learned his
lesson though." David added.

James sighed. "He'll be alright though right?" Looking at them hopefully. But they all shrugged.
"We don't know, but Madam Pomfrey said she'll take good care of him." Benjamin said, keeping
their friends injuries a secret from the older boy, they didn't want to stir up a bigger panic.
With that, James nodded with a smile gradually moulding on his face. "Alright then..." and turned
around to the fat lady to state the password 'hippogriff.' Before holding it open for the first years to
walk in prior to himself.

In the common room, Heather and Bao remained seated on the large couch in between Lily and
Peter, hot chocolate still in their hands, another of many that Peter had made again. Sirius was
resting on another couch looking rather sullen, his head in Mary McDonald's lap while she rubbed
his shoulder. Remus wasn't present. Daisy guessed that instead of sitting down here in the common
room, he had travelled up to his dormitory to be alone.

"How is he?" Bao perked up at the sight of their arrival. All the first years sighed. "Don't know,
but Madam Pomfrey said she'll take good care of him so that's good." They were beginning to
sound like a broken record player. David had quickly commented before taking a cup of hot
chocolate from Peter, Neither of the first years wanted to push on with the matter, and the second
years getting the message.

So, all the first years could do now was wait by the fire until dinner, which felt like years away.
Until Lily retrieved a muggle set of cards from her dormitory, which the second years used to play
games with to distract the first years- and Sirius'- minds from the ordeal.

Later this evening, the first year boys had collected a small bag filled with Brody's favourite things
and belongings. David grabbed a spare pair of clothes and pyjamas, Theodore grabbed a bundle of
pillows and an extra blanket, and Benjamin grabbed Brody's stuffed mocha coloured bear that was
named Dandy. They had brought this bag with them to dinner so the second the meal ended, they
could run to the hospital wing as quickly as they could.

"Good evening students." Dumbledore's voice had unexpectedly filled the Great Hall mid-meal.
Every students head spun around to face the long bearded man who stood behind his podium.
Daisy downheartedly placed her fork filled with chips back down on her plate. Staring at them
longingly while the headmaster talked in the background.

"There has been an incident today here at Hogwarts, and I would like to remind you that under no
circumstances are you allowed near the large Whomping Willow tree, unless you'd like to end up
without an eye."

"His eyes gone?!" Bao had spun around and grabbed Daisy's arm tightly in fright.

Jumping, Daisy whispered loudly, "No! He didn't, Dumbledore's just trying to scare us- he still has
both his eyes." Then to her relief she felt the blood circulate in her arm once again now that Bao's
fingers had loosened around her.

They listened to Dumbledore ramble on about rules for the Whomping Willow, not paying much
attention however because Daisy knew that she was never stepping foot near that tree again, she
won't even look at it for her remaining years at Hogwarts.

Looking at the first year boys, she knew that they were thinking the same.

"It's not called the Whomping Willow for no reason." Dumbledore finished. Daisy's eyes landed on
Remus who was sulking. He was picking at his food with his fork, moving chips around his plate
carelessly. Daisy also caught a glimpse of his sunken eyes when he had looked up to drink his
water, still a deep dark brown. It was unfortunately very clear to Daisy that whatever the reason,
Remus was feeling extremely guilty over Brody's misfortune. She just didn't understand why.

When dinner ended, Daisy watched Benjamin, David, and Theodore all rush out of the Great Hall
with the bag of belongings in Benjamin's hand. How sweet it was, how the boys had all grown
completely inseparable in just a few months. They couldn't just leave their friend in the hospital
wing all alone, but they were not allowed to stay with him, so the next best thing was this. What
made Daisy's heart heat was catching Benjamin- not so secretively- shoving puddings down his
robe pockets hoping Professor McGonagall wouldn't see. She did however, but Daisy only watched
her shake her head with a twitch of her lip.

Back at the common room that Daisy dragged herself back to, she was exhausted, there was no
other word to describe the way she was feeling today. She was mentally drained after having to
watch the Whomping Willow go nuts and couldn't wait for the day to be over, as if everything
would be alright the next. Daisy had thought today she could finally relax in Hogwarts, but of
course, nothings ever that simple here.

"Hey." Lily, who was in her red satin pyjamas, had sat down on the arm rest beside Daisy who was
staring off into space on a one seated armchair near the fire. Daisy hummed back. She desperately
needed to sleep, but her body wouldn't relax, she was tense all over and whenever she closed her
eyes they'd bug wide open again instantly. Like she was a guard dog. She had lay in her bed for
ages until she grew frustrated and grabbed a blanket to travel down to the common room in hope
that the fire would soothe her. So far she'd done nothing but sit awake replaying her day back in her
mind.

"Here, I know what will help." Lily said as she began positioning herself behind Daisy. The two of
them were small enough to fit on the chair, the elders legs on either side of Daisy, and took her
younger sisters hair in her hands. Just like old times.

Lily was magic at doing hair.

It reminded Daisy of home. How she missed her mother.

The touch of Lily's delicate fingers brushing through her hair had Daisy's brick hard shoulders melt
almost instantly. Quietly in her ears, she could hear the soft humming of a lullaby coming from
Lily who was creating then unravelling small braids on her head.

A dream is a wish, your heart makes...

Within minutes, Daisy's eyes began to flutter shut naturally as she felt her whole body turn to jelly.
Finally, she thought.

Neither of them talked during their evening, only Lily's lullaby and the crackling fire could be
heard in the common room. For Daisy, both sounds had faded away into distant echoes as she felt
her mind ease at last.

When you're fast asleep...

So with the aid of her older sister, Daisy had soundly drifted off into a slumber on the Gryffindor
armchair wrapped in her blanket from home. No nightmares, no worries, just peace.
 Year One: The Ill Professor

A week had passed and Brody O'Connor was back to good health once again to the delight of his
classmates. After suffering a couple fractured ribs, he shared that he had to drink plenty of potions
a day, just like the potion Daisy had, and he was fixed in a jiff. Just to prove it, he cartwheeled
down the Gryffindor corridor when the first years were heading for breakfast. He had also pledged
to never step foot next to the Whomping Willow ever again, as did every first year, and gained a
fresh pink scar running down his neck to remind him of his promise.

It still didn't stop there. Brody's top left tooth had been noticeably chipped for everyone to see.

"Can Madam Pomfrey not grow your tooth back?" Benjamin questioned on the first years travels to
their Defence class.

Brody sighed. "Nope, I'm not a dentist, she says, and then fixed my bones... just gotta stay like
this." He didn't sound too sad about it which was surprising, more accepting. Daisy however would
have refused to leave her dormitory.

"I think it's cute." Heather stated out of the blue, but seeing her face it seemed like she hadn't
actually meant to. She quickly closed her mouth and Daisy watched her ears and cheeks flush red.
Bao was snickering behind her friends back.

Brody let out an airy laugh. "Oh- thanks." Before averting his eyes downward towards the ground.

Daisy felt a cringed smile creeping up onto her face, and she turned to Heather to nudge her ribs
with her elbow. Heather insisted on keeping her attention on the end of the hall, her rosy red
cheeks telling the girls all they needed to know.

The spat, had passed. Daisy didn't want to lose a friend, she had only just got them! And for
Heather, she seemed to have forgotten it.

"Oh look we're here!" David announced loudly, breaking the silence that was beginning to feel a
little awkward.

Defence against the dark arts was Daisy's next class with her fellow Gryffindors, and she was
ecstatic to be attending another one of Professor Duras' classes. They were her favourite classes to
attend, and she was hoping they would be doing something fun again- But of course they were-
Professor Duras' classes were the best!

She skipped beside Bao and Heather who had turned to discussing their previous transfiguration
lesson where the learned how to repair broken items. Heather couldn't wait to get back up to their
dormitory to fix her reading glasses that David had dropped after knocking them off her face on
evening.

Walking in, Daisy's heart sank looking around the room to see no Professor Duras in sight. He
would always be waiting at the front of his class for them with the same toothy grin that stretched
the pink scars on his cheeks.

Instead, Daisy saw the school headmaster lounging in the Professor's chair.

All of the first years boys whined. It wasn't that they disliked Dumbledore... they just would much
rather have their proper defence teacher back. "Sir, where's Professor Duras?" David Martinéz
raised his hand. Dumbledore looked at him through his half moon glasses.
"Your Professor has taken ill unfortunately, and I will be filling in for him until he's back to full
health." The first years sulked. It just wouldn't be the same without their blue haired Professor.

Dumbledore scanned the first with a soft smile of sympathy, seeing each and every one of their
sulking faces. "Your Professor will be quite alright, he's having a long rest today and he'll be back
to you tomorrow." But it didn't make not having him today better.

Collectively, all of the first years had shared the same thought of 'I hope he's back soon.' Praying
that their beloved Professor was alright and hadn't taken seriously ill. Without him, the defence
against the dark arts classroom consumed them as Daisy noticed how dark the walls were, how the
windows didn't let much light in the room, and how the foe glass was back to staring at the
classroom, daring someone to look into it.

The classroom was... well- dark, to put it into easy words, just as the name of the subject suggested.
But now, the classroom was eerie and a taunting, reminding the first years of the evil that is really
out there, and what they would have to protect themselves from outside of Hogwarts- maybe even
inside of Hogwarts. All the light had been carried out of the room along with Professor Duras,
leaving them to experience the classroom for what it really was.

Slumping down into their seats, Benjamin gingerly raised his hand, "Uhm sir?"

Dumbledore looked his way. "Will we still be getting lollipops?" Asking hopefully. Everyone
else's attention landed on the headmaster who chuckled. "Of course." They all let out a relieved
sigh.

Dumbledore had then risen off of Professor Duras' chair and walked to the front of the class to
stand with a blackboard beside him. On the blackboard, the words 'expelliarmus' had already been
written upon it in large letters.

"Today everyone, I'll be teaching you the disarming charm. Expelliarmus." Normally, Daisy would
be on the edge of her seat in excitement, but today she found herself just sitting... and watching.
Perhaps it was Dumbledore's tone, he had a much slower talking pace in comparison to Professor
Duras' animated one, he reminded Daisy of Professor Binns if he were alive. As interesting as
Defence class was, Daisy couldn't help but bore listening to Dumbledore's tedious speech.

"This spell comes in handy when you've been caught in a bit of bother, succeeding in the spell will
completely disarm whatever your opponent in holding, and if done well will fly into your own
hand"

Daisy was watching Dumbledore with a tilted head, trying to keep her attention on him instead of
wavering towards the foe glass.

"Miss Evans, would you like to come up and demonstrate?" Dumbledore asked catching Daisy off
guard.

"Y-yeah sure." She stammered turning bright red as she stumbled off her chair. Getting up Daisy
glanced towards Annabelle who was stifling a laugh at her.

So Daisy nervously walked to the front of the classroom, wand in hand, and stood facing the
headmaster. From her standing place she could see the fixed faces of the other first years watching
her with great anticipation.

"Now Miss Evans." Dumbledore started, and Daisy snapped her attention back towards him.
"Holding your wand, direct your hand outwards." Then Dumbledore demonstrated himself holding
his wand away from the right side of his body. Daisy followed.

All eyes on Dumbledore now as he aimed his wand at Daisy, it didn't feel the same as one of
Professor Duras' demonstrations. Now, within the serious atmosphere of the classroom, it really hit
Daisy that this spell could one day save her life, the thought chilled her to the bone.

"Expelliarmus!" Dumbledore casted causing the students to jump, and a red spark flew towards
Daisy's hand. The second it hit her, she felt herself instinctively let go of her wand and watched it
fly over to Dumbledore, landing into his palm.

But what was strange, was how Daisy felt during the spell. Sure she felt her hand loosen it's grip,
but there was something else. A sensation of something dark- and unexplainable- was what Daisy
felt once being hit by the spell. It was quick, so sudden that if she hadn't payed attention she
wouldn't have felt it at all, it was over in a second. Daisy was left feeling the same way that like she
had just woke up from nightmares. She didn't think that was how you were supposed to feel after
that certain spell... it described nothing of the sort in her Defence Against the Dark Arts textbook...

Daisy stood stunned. Her eyes glued onto her wand that was clasped in Dumbledore's hand, and
she realised just how powerful this spell could be. No wand? No spells right? Without her wand,
Daisy felt unbelievably vulnerable. Like a bull without its horn. There was nothing to protect
herself with now and she was out in the open.

Dumbledore threw Daisy back her wand, and she held it tight, afraid to ever lose it again.

"Now you will all have turns in disarming your classmates, pair up!" Dumbledore announced
towards the classroom who all rose off their seats.

Daisy however, stayed put. Still staring down at her wand as a million thoughts circled around her
head about the consequences of losing her wand. She felt sick now. She didn't want to lose it again.

As she remained still, Dumbledore gave her a look that gave Daisy the impression that he knew
that she wasn't planning on practising the spell, then he calmly walked to Professor Duras' desk
once again, leaving Daisy lingering in the middle of classroom with her own thoughts.

After defence, Daisy was the last to leave, slowly packing her book bag and walking as if she had
been zombified, not even bothering to take a lollipop on her way out. In her mind, she knew how to
do the spell, but would probably need practise back in the Gryffindor common room away from the
defence classroom.

Outside the classroom, Daisy was lost in her train of worried thoughts and fell behind her friends
who were all walking and chatting among one another. It was alright, Daisy didn't mind, she
needed to clear her head and regain herself after the horrible- and almost evil feeling that surged
through her body the second Dumbledore took her wand from her, she wondered if anyone else had
felt it? Perhaps she was just overreacting...

"Hey Theo!" Daisy looked up from trailing behind the others.

"Expelliarmus!" Benjamin shot a red spark towards Theodore's hand which was holding a blue
lollipop, and cheered as it gravitated towards his own, then proceeded to shove it into his mouth.

"Ben!" Theodore whined and pulled out his own wand before Benjamin raised his hands in
defence.

"Omly jokin'!" He muffled and took the lollipop out of his mouth and held it out towards Theodore
who screwed up his face in disgust.
"That's rank, its got your germs on it now!" Theodore huffed but nonetheless popped the lolly into
his mouth, and the two boys laughed between one another.

It was evident to Daisy that neither of the boys had felt such a sensation as the one she felt in the
defence class, and she wondered if she happened to be making the whole thing up... because
everyone else seemed fine.

This afternoon, the first year Gryffindor and Slytherin students were attending their last class,
potions with Professor Slughorn.

Professor Slughorn, like his name, reminded Daisy a bit of a slug. His slow movement to his round
stomach, she just thought of him as 'sluggy'.

The Professor always made a big deal whenever someone succeeded, applauding them and giving
them little treats such as stars and badges, but unlike Professor Duras he only gave them to students
he seemed fit enough to have earned it.

Daisy once took back six lollipops to the Gryffindor common room which she shared with the
second year girls. Mary didn't particularly like potions, so she was over the moon when Daisy gave
her a lolly as she'd never gotten one from Professor Slughorn before.

During this lesson, Daisy, Bao, Theodore, and Heather shared one table at the back of the
classroom, while the other Gryffindors occupied the other beside them, and yet again the
Slytherins were placed in the front two desks nearest Slughorn.

It was very obvious that Slughorn had a strong bias towards the Slytherins, just as McGonagall had
towards her Gryffindors. Except McGonagall treated ever one of her students equally during class
time, and Slughorn evidently favoured pupils in his class by giving them pointers or picking them
to answer questions over the Gryffindors.

Daisy had also heard enough complaining from the second year boys to know that Slughorn's
favourite student in their class was Severus Snape and Lily, and how he hardly blinked to the rest
of the students.

The only way to grab his attention would be for James to tamper with someone else's potion, or
Remus to accidentally, knock his cauldron over, or Peter to drink his and be sent to the nurses
office, or Sirius, who would wait for a quiet moment before screaming, then returning to his
position as normal.

"Oi Chip! What happened to your mouth?" Daisy raised her head and eyed Barty Crouch who was
tauntingly yelling across the classroom in Brody's direction.

"Chip?" Brody questioned, lifting one brow in interest as a smirk made its way into his face. "Chip
sounds quite good actually."

Theodore wheezed softly hitting Brody on the stomach in a friendly manner.

"Chip's got a nice ring to it actually!" Benjamin called from the other Gryffindor table, both David
and Heather nodding in approval with him.

"Wait wha-"

"It does doesn't it!" Daisy cut off Barty Crouch and watched as the boys nostrils flares in
frustration, his face reddening all over. It was angering him that the Gryffindors had once again,
made a fool out of him by out witting him
"Unless you want your other tooth chipped I suggest you shut up!" Barty snarled jabbing his finger
at Brody who snorted a laugh.

Then surprisingly from beside her, Bao's high voice snapped back, "Unless you want another pair
of trousers ruined, I suggest you shut up." Responding before bursting into a fit of giggles, along
with the majority of the class which were all the Gryffindors, and a Slytherin girl by the name of
Grace. The rest of the Slytherins remained unimpressed.

Barty was about to draw his wand when all the first years turned their head towards the entrance of
the class once they heard, "Right class! Apologies for taking to long, but I'm here now!" As
Professor Slughorn had finally made his appearance.

Barty threw one last glare at Daisy's table, before turning to the front of the class.

Today, they were brewing a sleeping draught, otherwise known as the draught of the living dead.
"Turn to page thirteen and you will find the recipe and instructions for the draught, any issues just
call on me and I'll be right there!" Professor Slughorn told the class before waddling to his plump
green chair behind his desk and kicked his feet up.

Once Slughorn had comfortably relaxed, he announced, "The first person to succeed in brewing the
potion will gain their house twenty points!" It was something he liked to do, bring the students to
compete against one another and reward the best. It was like a survival game in potions, everyone
was fighting for the top place while Professor Slughorn lounged in the background without a care.
Daisy however never fell for it, she had too much respect for herself to allow her to turn into one of
Sluhorn's guinea pigs.

Daisy sighed and shook her head, then turned to page thirteen in her textbook. The picture of the
potion was a rich purple colour, with pink smoke emitting from the bottle. She had no idea how the
smoke was pink when the liquid purple, but that would remain another question to be answered
with 'its magic.'

Reading over her ingredients, Daisy was the first to walk away from her table to approach the
counter of equipment. She arrived the same time Regulus and Benjamin.

"I've never heard of this potion before. I really want to brew polyjuice! I think that one's my
favourite." Benjamin said to Daisy who had never heard of that.

"What's that?" She asked.

"The potion can make you turn into someone else. If I put your hair in it, I could pretend to be you
until it wears out!"

"That's crazy... do we brew it in school?"

"Maybe... I don't know. Do you have a favourite potion?" Daisy had never thought about that. She
liked spells more than crafting.

"No..."

"Do you have a favourite potion?" He asked, turning to the quiet boy who was searching for
ingredients with hands so delicate it seemed he was afraid to harm the veils.

Regulus shook his head, then retreated to his table.

"He's not much of a talker is he."

Daisy nodded. "Nope."

Returning to her own table, Daisy began breaking up and sprinkling her valerian plants into her
cauldron. And it began to bubble.

"Mines green..." Bao mumbled, peering over the side of her cauldron. The smoke emitting was
blue and began itching her eyes.

Daisy's was light pink, but no smoke yet.

Must be a good sign.

Then she had to add the... oh where was it?

Lavender leaves. She had forgotten it!

Returning to the supply shelf, two others joined her.

And who other than Benjamin, and Regulus.

"Well look us! Back again." Benjamin laughed.

She smiled down at the ingredients, then began searching for the leaves. And while she did so,
Daisy could overhear,

"I thought- I thought about the potions." Regulus' soft voice was quietly talking to Benjamin who
had began to smile, nodding for him to keep going. "I like the babbling one the most I think... it's
quite funny. I gave one to my brother once and he couldn't stop saying complete nonsense until our
father gave him something to stop."

Nothing different from the normal Sirius Black then.

Benjamin laughed. "Considering the amount of nonsense Sirius already speaks, I bet it was quite
the scene."

Regulus nodded. "It was, then he got me back by putting an ageing potion in my drink at dinner,
my hair turned grey and I had a long beard like Dumbledore." This had Benjamin grinning widely,
his eyes crinkling and sparkling behind his glasses.

"So you're both quite good at potions then?" Benjamin asked, though he was more stating.

Regulus humbly nodded, "I guess so, we've both been taught since we were young. I already know
how to brew a sleeping draught." Benjamin hummed impressed.

Daisy had gathered all the ingredients she needed for her draught, and really had no more reason to
be at the counter other than to eavesdrop, so she gave Benjamin a nudge with her elbow to say a
quiet goodbye, and left to go back to her own table.

"Dare you to drink it."

At the end of the lesson, the majority of the class had all successfully brewed their potions, the
exception being Crabbe and Goyle who's potions were the colour green and black. At Daisy's table,
she could see Brody was snickering while he looked over to David who was already temptingly
looking down at his purple potion. It was clear in the boy's eye that was he was already thinking
about doing it.
David smirked up at Brody before the two of them burst into a fit of giggles, Professor Slughorn
was completely oblivious while he gushed over Regulus Black's 'perfect potion'. "I'll do it if you do
it." Brody picked up his viel in agreement.

"You two are idiots, if you end up in the hospital wing I'm not bringing your teddy down this
time." Benjamin glared from his table at Brody who shrugged his shoulders. Daisy knew he would.
This was the same boy who charged the Whomping Willow.

The two boys, Brody and David, gave each other one last look of mischief before downing their
veils at the same time.

"Congratulations to- oh my." Professor Slughorn was cut short by the sound of two thuds. Both
Brody and David lay on the floor, still in a deep slumber.

Professor Slughorn eyed the boys with his hands on his hips, shaking his head down at them in
disappointment. "I should have known a Gryffindor would have done this." Before waving his
wand to emit a silver wispy fish. "Please tell Madam Pomfrey to come and collect two boys who
have drank a sleeping draught." And Daisy watched in amazement as the fish swam through the air
and through the potions door.

That was a patronus. Daisy told herself, having read about it in an advanced defence against the
dark arts textbook she found in the library one evening. She'd never seen one in real life before
though... it was certainly mesmerising.

"Woah, that's so cool." Bao breathed out amazed. "I wonder what mine will be." Sharing the same
thought as Daisy who was dreaming of what form her patronus would take. Something colourful?
Something creative?

Within a short time, Madam Pomfrey had escorted both Brody and David out of the potions
classroom using floating stretchers, and the rest of the class were packing their school bags. In the
end it was Regulus Black who had won the twenty house points from Professor Slughorn- after he
was interrupted by the Gryffindors.

Daisy had swung her book bag over her shoulder and was about to join Heather and Bao in walking
out of the classroom when Professor Slughorn had called her name. Both herself and the other girls
turned around. "We'll get you at the common room!" Heather called before the girls disappeared.
The two of them knew how long Slughorn could ramble on for.

Walking to the front of the classroom, Daisy came to realise that she wasn't the only person who
had been called to stay behind. Regulus and Barty Crouch were apathetically standing near
Slughorn's desk.

Daisy stood at a distance from the Sytherin's. Slughorn was leaning back against the front of his
desk looking back and forth between the space of Daisy and the other two, before gesturing them
all to come closer. "Don't be shy! None of you are in trouble."'Daisy hesitantly complied, not
finding the idea of being so close to Barty Crouch very appealing. At least however, Regulus stood
in between them to separate them.

Just as well as Barty was looking Daisy up and down with an unimpressed glare. Daisy pointed her
nose in the air, and kept her eyes on her Professor.

Now having his students facing him, Professor Slughorn looked between Daisy and Regulus. "Miss
Evans, Mr Black, It would be an honour if you both were to attend one of my special clubs for a
dinner. It's called the Slug Club, and only the finest witches and wizards get to attend. And the two
of you are excelling in every single one of your classes so I hear, both the smartest witch and
wizard of your year!" He announced proudly to the two first years who both reddened.

"You, Miss Evans." Slughorn's attention turned to only Daisy within a flash, giving her a surprise.
"You're just like your sister Lily, red hair and out of this world intelligence, I've already invited her
to attend our evening as well, I'm sure she'll be thrilled you're following in her footsteps!"
This made Daisy feel ten feet tall. Lily was just how Daisy wanted to be, a brilliant witch who
succeeds in everything she does effortlessly. She felt a surge of happiness swell in her chest as she
tried not to freak out in front of the boys and Slughorn, she'd have to leave her celebration till after
class.

And she's never been called intelligent before!

"And you, Regulus." Slughorn had turned away from Daisy. "I can't say you're very like your
brother other than your grades, you're definitely well more behaved." Daisy hid a laugh, and swore
she saw Regulus' lip twitch upwards.

Finishing, Professor Slughorn eventually turned to Barty Crouch who had been standing tiredly
listening to him talk to Daisy and Regulus, slouching slightly he had put all his weight on one leg
and couldn't look more disinterested with whatever Slughorn had to say to him. "And you
Bartemius." Daisy saw the boy scrunch up his face in disgust. "Your father's name is very popular
among us all, it would be just as much an honour for you to come along too." Barty only nodded
his head.

"I'll be expecting both of my Slytherin students to be on their best behaviour, right?" Slughorn eyed
Regulus and Barty. Regulus nodded and Barty stammered an unclear response but that didn't alter
Slughorns attitude at all, he just grinned all the same, "The date of the dinner is the fourteenth of
December, and I will be keeping you all a seat!" Clapping both Slytherins on the shoulders and
giving Daisy a nod before granting them permission to leave.

Only the finest witches and wizards. Daisy played her Professor's words back in her mind and
found herself smirking, she really was proving that she was worth it.

"Don't know why he invited you mudblood." Barty Crouch sneered once the classroom door had
shut behind them. Daisy rolled her eyes, she was putting up a complacent front up during Barty's
torment. "You'll be the least important person in the room, you and your sister, how embarrassing."
He continued and laughed. Regulus looked down at the ground.

At the mention of Lily, Daisy could feel herself grow hot, how dare he insult her.

Daisy however remained holding her head high, she'd just been told that she, Daisy Evans, was the
smartest witch of her year just like her sister, and she wasn't going to let a cheeky little boy like
Barty Crouch ruin it for her.

Barty snorted, following her. "Bet you're cheating in there. One of the purebloods giving you
answers? Surely you can be doing it for yourself, useless mud-"

Daisy stopped in her tracks and stared Barty down, cutting him off from speaking suddenly, both
himself and Regulus had stopped walking. "You know what Barty, I have just as much a reason to
go as you do. Even more of a reason if you ask me." She raised a brow to the other boy
challengingly. "At least I earned my place, unlike yourself. You've only been invited because of
your dad (she had no idea who his dad was.) Slughorn wouldn't have invited you if it wasn't for
him." She spat cruelly and turned on her heels to walk away from the speechless boy, before
spinning back around for one more shot, because now was her chance to have a the upper hand,
and she was going to take full advantage.

"If it was decided only on our academics then you'd be his last pick, so don't feel too highly of
yourself."

Daisy stuck her nose in the air and walked away from the two Slytherins, one red in the face and
the other stifling a laugh.

She was in the middle of leaving when she heard, "Flipendo!" And within a flash she had pulled
out her want casting "Protego!" Emitting an invisible shield in front of her that deflected Barty's
spell back towards the boy. Succeeding, Daisy watched Barty fly backwards and land on his back.

He had then attempted to get up, getting ready to fire another spell but Daisy was too quick
"Expelliarmus!" Aiming her spell at Barty's hand just like Dumbledore had taught them, and
swiftly his wand flew towards her. She caught it in her hand and waved it triumphantly at Barty
who was red with rage, purple veins clearly pulsed out of his neck. Without even practising the
spell, Daisy had executed it perfectly.

"Give me back my wand mudblood!" He yelled at Daisy who only laughed, finding Barty's fit
rather amusing. Behind the angry boy, Regulus Black was still fighting to keep a straight face
watching the whole ordeal unfold.

Daisy shook her head smirking, then pointed her wand at Barty once last time, enjoying the look of
terror on his face, and said calmly, "Fernunculus." And a green and yellow spark hit Barty in the
chest.

Just as she hoped, boils began emerging from Barty's skin. His arms, neck, face, he was covered
everywhere. Daisy only further laughed, she was happy getting back at the nasty boy. She'd show
him how much better she was than him. Sure she's muggle born, but she's ten times the wizard that
he was.

Barty yelled in frustration, turning around and running down to Hospital wing with both his arms
covering his boiled face.

Poor Madam Pomfrey, Daisy thought to herself.

Watching Barty turn the corner, Daisy was left holding the boys wand, not knowing what to do
with it now. She could give it to Slughorn, but that meant admitting that she had used magic for
bad deeds, and she didn't want anything to ruin her reputation and jeopardise her chance of
attending the slug club.

Her worries were eased when she heard, "I'll give that to him later if you want." The casual words
from Regulus Black said.

For someone so pretty and well kept, Daisy was always surprised at how quiet Regulus Black was.
Normally she'd expect boys like him to be rowdy like James and Sirius, but Regulus seemed the
opposite, kind of like a cat compared to some dogs. He minded his own business, didn't get into
arguments, and only ever spoke when spoken to for the most of it. He had a sweet voice, she
thought.

Daisy smiled. "Sure." And walked towards Regulus who nervously gave a small smile to her.

The two both blushed. Neither of them noticed.

Then he trailed off taking the wand from Daisy to put it inside the pocket of his robes.
Regulus Black always managed to confuse Daisy. He was never the same. He could be smiling
with her one minute and completely shut off the next.

"The Slug Club? He couldn't have came up with something without it being about himself could
he." Benjamin laughed from his space on red couch between Theodore who was doodling on a
blank piece of paper that sat upon a thick book rested on his crossed legs, and Daisy who propped
her head up using her elbow.

The two boys had just returned from the hospital wing as Benjamin went against his word and
insisted on bringing Brody's stuffed animal down to him, and since David didn't have one, he
brought down his blanket. He claimed he did it so the passed out boys would have a 'nice sleep'
while in the hospital wing.

"Yeah... the Slug Club. It doesn't sound like my kind of thing honestly, but I'll go just to see what
it's like I guess." Daisy shrugged her shoulders.

"And you hexed Barty Crouch? You're on a winning streak today!" Bao cheered from her spot by
the fire. Beside her was Heather who was lying peacefully on the floor.

Daisy felt a sense of pride fill her body as she turned to Bao. "Yep!" Replaying the image of Barty
running away from her after she succeeded in a boil hex, and the disarming charm.

"Think he'll still be covered in boils at dinner?" Heather asked menacingly from the floor, all the
first years were hoping so.

But Daisy shrugged. "Who knows, Madam Pomfrey will have him fixed unfortun-"

"God Potter! Why can't you just leave him alone?!"

Daisy stopped, and all of the first years heads turned to see Lily burst through the portrait hole,
face scorching, and stomped after three of the second years. James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter
Pettigrew were laughing among themselves without a care in the world. Mary and Alice had both
retreated to the back of the common room to sit themselves down away from them.

At Lilys's words, James flew his head back in exasperation. "Because he's a smelly git and
deserved it that's why! Maybe if he learned to shut his mouth once in a while!" Daisy cocked her
head, where was Remus? Had they done something to him?

"Yeah Snivellus deserved it, he was being a right tosser." Peter commented from standing at the
back with his arms folded.

"For getting into a club that you can't get into?" Lily pointed her finger at all three of the boys,
"wow, real mature."

"Oh please, we don't want to go to your little slimy club, bet it's filled with snobs that think the sun
shines out their arses!"

"James, you shouldn't have hexed him! He's in the hospital wing!"

"Sirius did it too!"

"I did." Sirius confirmed.

"Just because he's smarter and more successful than you!" Jabbing her finger towards the boys.
Peter and Sirius both snorted.

"Something funny Black? Pettigrew?!" Lily snapped and Daisy watch as Sirius' face twitch.

"Nope." They said simultaneously, then both continued to laugh between themselves.

Lily sighed roughly rolling her eyes, before glaring once more at James and turning on her heels to
walk out of the portrait hole.

"What was that about?" Daisy questioned poking her head over the back rest of the couch, eyeing
the three boys.

"Oh nothing, just turned Snivellous' tongue into a horn. That's what he gets for talking down on
us." Sirius shrugged his shoulders.

"Who?" Daisy questioned again and Peter raised his eyebrows.

"You don't know him? He's Lily's best friend... surely you've met him before?" But she shook her
head.

The only friends Daisy knew of was from Lily's primary school.

"Oh... well he's just some guy from Slytherin house, not very important o guess."

"Why did you hurt him? If he's Lily's friend..." She kneeled on the couch, interested.

Sirius began, "Because..." his voice petered, torn between telling the first years or not.

"He was saying nasty things about us, so no tongue then no words!" James Potter jumped onto one
of the free armchairs, and Sirius sighed placing himself on the floor beside his legs, a saddened
look flashed on his face for a second before he smiled up to James. From the chair, James ruffled
Sirius' hair.

Daisy peeked over to Mary and Alice who were also throwing sorry looks over in Sirius' direction,
but they stayed right where in front of their parchment.

Who was Severus?

"Daisy hexed Barty Crouch good today didn't you!" Benjamin chimed up seeing as the
Gryffindor's had all gone quiet. James looked to Daisy in surprise before smiling proudly. "You
did? Tell us!" And Sirius and Peter both looked up to her interested.

Daisy felt herself turn a little red, the second year boys were much cooler than her, and now they
wanted her to tell them tales?

Daisy laughed to herself. "Well, I was invited to that Slug Club, and so was Barty, he was
obviously jealous that I do better than him in class and called me a mudblood-

"Excuse me?" James jumped.

"I... I hexed him..." her voice grew quiet.

"No no, the other thing. He called you a what?" Beginning to stand up from his sitting position
with his wand gripped in between his fingers.

"Mudblood?" Mary and Alice gasped from the back of the room.
"What? What does that mean?" Panicked, she looked around only to see disgrace on everyone's
faces.

"Dirty blood. Some pureblood wizards, two wizard parents, have a... prejudice, towards Muggle
born people. It's a really nasty word. He shouldn't have said that... I'm sorry Daisy." Peter lay a
hand on her shoulder.

"Oh..."

Silence.

"Well it's good you got him back though!" Sirius knocked her knee from sitting. Attempting to
lighten to darkened mood.

"Yeah! Only idiots say that. You showed him!" James sat back down and smiled.

Heather nodded. "Yeah! Don't let it get you down!"

But Daisy was down. She hadn't known what that meant. It was hard enough learning everything
from the beginning, never mind bullies. Again.

Always the odd one out. The runt of the litter.

"I think... I'm gonna lie down for a little bit." Feeling her chest swell, she rose and left without
looking back.

"Mudblood." She whispered to herself from under her duvet.

Dirty blood.

Didn't she belong here like everyone else? Like James? Like Heather?

Is that why Barty doesn't like her? She hadn't thought about any reason other than to be mean, but
if it's because of such a silly thing, maybe it wasn't silly at all.

Deep in her gut she always felt different at home. The other kids didn't laugh with her, they
laughed at her when she was on the dirt ground. Now here, she being laughed at again. She can't
help who she is. But it seems that lots of people don't care. No one will ever really care if you're
different.

Time passed by, and her little stomach began to growl, but she didn't really want to come out of her
bed. It was nice and comfy, warm and sweet, and welcomed her. The outside in the castle was too
vast to know what would happen next. Would Barty jump her?

But seriously, she had to eat something.

So dragging herself to the great hall where everyone already sat, she noticed there was still no sign
of Remus. The rather handsome boy who's friends with James, Sirius, and Peter.

At the far end of the hall, Daisy could see that there was no Barty either.

Sitting down, Daisy felt someone hitting her arm and she turned to her left to see Bao grinning
excitedly. "Professor Duras is at the teachers table! He must be feeling better!" The two girls
turned their heads quickly to the blue haired Professor. Feeling better would be believable, because
he definitely didn't look very well. He looked rather exhausted as he used his wand to levitate his
cutlery in order to feed himself, as it seemed he was too weak to do it himself.

At least he was here though, that was the main thing.

"Remus? Where have you been all day?" Turning her head away from her Professor, Daisy saw
Remus trudging into the Great Hall, and dropping himself onto the Gryffindor's bench beside
James. Mary was pointing her fork in his direction, but Remus waved her off. "I was busy." He
replied, his voice hoarse and his eyes droopy.

While Remus replied, James was quietly piling food onto his plate, giving him a hefty amount.

Gosh... Remus didn't look very well either, his face pale, eyes red, and lips chapped, Daisy hoped
there wasn't an illness going around.

"Are you feeling alright Remus? I can get you a hot water bottle for nighttime if you like?" Daisy
asked towards the older boy who looked up from dropping his head down towards the table, and
he smiled softly.

"Under the weather... and that would be really nice thanks." Daisy's mother would always do the
same for her, whenever she fell ill a hot water bottle and cuddles would do the trick of bringing her
back to full health.

So after dinner, she'd be sure to do that for Remus.

"Hey!" Everyone's attention was on Alice. "The Gryffindor and Ravenclaw match is next week, are
you excited for your first game?!" Alice had spun around from speaking with Frank and was
looking between James and Sirius.

The two of them nodded enthusiastically. "Of course I am! No doubt we'll win." James beamed.

"Yeah I'm ready! I'm going to be the best beater there ever was." Sirius smirked confidentially,
before locking eyes with Frank and saying, "sorry Frank, that's just how it is." With a shrug of his
shoulders.

"That's alright." Frank shrugged.

Alice however huffed loudly. "No! You're both going to be the best." And Marlene gagged
dramatically.

Daisy didn't know there was a match... "Lily, are you going?" Daisy asked causing Lily to finally
raise her head.

"Hm." Her older sister shrugged her shoulders unbothered. "It will be fun!" Daisy continued, but
Lily wasn't looking convinced.

Receiving the message that her sister wasn't up for pushing today, she sulked back into her seat
quietly. She had gotten used to the signs of Lily's bad moods after she returned home from
Hogwarts for the first time. Petunia had a real talent for depressing Lily.

All was well for a second. Lily was eating her food, Sirius was laughing with Mary, and Daisy was
about to turn to her first year friends.

Everything was fine until Daisy heard "C'mon Evans, be my cheerleader!" And that was Lily's
snapping point.
Slamming her fork down on the table, Lily abruptly stood up giving everyone a fright. "Never
within a million years will I ever be your cheerleader Potter! I'd rather cheer for the Giant Squid!"
Lily spat roughly in James' direction who was dancing in his seat, lifting his arms up and down as
if he were holding a pair of pom-poms.

"Poor Simon... what did he do to her?" Sirius tsked and shoved a forkful into his mouth watching
Lily leave.

James lowered his hands in defeat and earned a glare from Marlene. "James, sometimes you just
have to be quiet."

He sighed.

Daisy had only known Lily to act like this with Petunia...

Later that evening, it was in the dim light in the common room that Daisy had decided to sit by
herself in to contemplate on her defence lesson today. In her pink pyjamas and dressing gown, she
had sat herself down on the longest couch, the soft cushions engulfing her tiny body while she
thought. She couldn't shake the odd feeling that ran through her body once hit by the spell. The
spell wasn't dark magic... so why did she feel so much hate when it hit her.

Should I tell someone? She asked herself as she stared into the hot fire that was reflecting golden
rays over her pale complexion, and keeping her warm on the freezing night. She looked at the fire
as if it would give her answer, she could only wish, it would be much easier than going around
looking.

A tear slipped down her cheek thinking about the months of living here. She thought it was fun,
then came the storm. Maybe going home and staying there would be better.

There was only one other person sitting in the common room this late at night, and that was James
Potter. He was sitting at the back of the room in his pyjamas, hunched over the desk in
concentration as he scribbled on a piece of parchment. Daisy had been listening to the scratching of
James' quill and the grunts of frustration- that indicated that he had made a mistake- for a little
while now. It was almost midnight and it seemed that neither of them were ready to sleep until
they got some answers.

"James." Daisy called towards the boy, peering over the couch to see his black hair sitting wildly
on his head as his attention on whatever he was writing.

Wiping her eyes and sniffling, she got up.

She landed herself next to James and read the parchment over his shoulder. "What subject is that?"
And James answered her in a distant voice, his attention was 90% on the paper, "Transfiguration."
Looking at the parchment, he had already filled about two foot with writing, but was still trying to
go on.

"It says you only need a foot?" Daisy titled her head looking at James' timetable. But then, looking
at the parchment closely, she saw that the name written on the top of the page was 'Remus Lupin'.
"Remus' homework? Why have you got it?"

James looked conflicted, twisting his lips he stammered, "Uhm... because- because he was ill! He's
been in the hospital wing and didn't have time to do it, so I'm helping, I want to make sure he has
enough to get full marks." Two other pieces of parchment lay tied up with a little red thread, and on
them she read "DADA" (Defence Against the Dark Arts) and "COMC" (Care of Magical
Creatures)

"Also Remus'?" Daisy asked nodding her head towards the other parchments.

"Mhm." James hummed with a nod. "I've done mine already, so I'm bothered about helping. Sirius
helped with his potions, and astronomy homework. We don't want him to get into trouble for being
sick."

That was sweet, Daisy felt herself smile at the thoughtfulness of the boys. Poor Remus... too ill to
do almost anything, seeing as James practically fed him at dinner too. She truly hoped the boy
would be better soon, she knew how it felt to come down with a nasty bug. Earlier that evening,
Daisy had made sure to visit the boys dormitory to give Remus her hot water bottle, which she
charmed for stay warm all night.

"Oh! Did you want me for something?" James had sprung out of staring down at his parchment and
looked up to Daisy.

"Do you know how to do the disarming charm?" She was very hesitant when asking, afraid that the
same thing was going to happen to her once more. That being the dreadful dark feeling she felt
when Dumbledore's spell hit her hand.

"Of course I do!" He jumped up jogging to a couple feet in front of Daisy in excitement. "I love
defence! My best subject after transfiguration." She was glad she had picked the right person then,
maybe James could explain why on earth she had experienced such a feeling when no one else
evidently had.

James rolled up the transfiguration homework and tied it the same way as the others, muttering to
himself. "More than enough done." To ease the worry that Remus would underachieve.

James pushed himself away from the table and lead Daisy to the middle of the common room
where they had plenty of space, and pulled his wand out from his pocket.

"So you do-"

"I know how to do it." Daisy said waving her hand to stop James as he began to show her the hand
and wand movement for the spell, something she knew already.

James stopped with a confused look on his face. "Ok... so what do you want me to do."

It sounded silly to Daisy, and possibly even sillier to James when she said, "use it on me."

"Huh?" She was right. James looked at her bewildered. "Why would I do that?" Forcing a laugh
out of the disbelief he was feeling. Daisy didn't care how strange this request was, she had to make
sure she wasn't just imagining things, and James was her only hope at the moment. Plus, she had
said it now, there was no taking it back.

"I just need you to." She deadpanned and held her wand away from her body, just like in defence.

"Daisy I don't-"

James had began to shake his head when Daisy interrupted him, in fear that she would be left
without any answers. "Please James!" She begged looking James in the eyes, his hazel orbs shining
with sympathy as he looked at Daisy's hand that held her wand. With a sigh, James raised his own.

"Expelliarmus!" And a red spark emitted from the tip of his wand that was headed straight for
Daisy.

She braced herself, closing her eyes tightly and concentrating hard on her hand, waiting for the
dark surge of energy to come back. But... it didn't.

Daisy's wand left her hand swiftly and landed into the palm of James Potter. She opened her eyes in
relief but... confusion. "It didn't happen." She whispered to herself.

"What didn't?" James questioned, walking towards Daisy and holding out her wand for her to take.

She had done it now, he knew something was up and she couldn't just run away now could she?
Well if she did, he couldn't follow as she doubted he'd be able to make it up the girls stairs.

James was standing right there with his eyes filled with a hint of worry and curiosity.

"Well..." and Daisy poured into the story of how her defence class went, sparing no detail and
telling James the lot of it. She didn't even know why she said everything, it was easy to let your
guard down with James Potter, he was so easy to talk to.

"Blimey... that's weird." James sucked in his lips and looked down in thought. "I've never heard of
that before... and it didn't happen when I did it?" Daisy shook her head. Her worry becoming larger
as now she knew that what she felt, shouldn't have happened.

James shook his head, running a hand through his messy hair. Neither of them knew what to do
now. Daisy had her answer, so what more could she do? She didn't exactly want to go looking for
more answers, maybe it was nothing.

"Hey." James' voice broke Daisy's daze. She looked up at him and saw him smiling, "don't worry
about it, I'm sure it's nothing and things go wrong in defence all the time! Peter shattered the
chandelier once!" And Daisy felt her spirits lift a little. He was probably right, Daisy was working
herself up for so reason, of course magic doesn't always goes to plan!

"Well... I better get back to the dorm, Sirius will be looking for me." James chuckled and Daisy
nodded to him.

"Thanks James." And the boy smiled as he headed towards the table at the back to collect Remus'
homework.

"Goodnight Daisy."

"Goodnight." And Daisy left for her dormitory.

 Year one: Red VS Blue

Today was to mark the day of Daisy's first ever quidditch match. On one of the longer couches,
Daisy sat cross legged with her open book resting on her lap as she read quietly to herself, softly
mumbling each word out loud careful not to disrupt anyone.

Everyone in the common room seemed very excited.

Well, all apart from the new players. Frank Longbottom, James Potter, and Sirius Black were all in
knots of nerves, and it was easy to see. Sirius hadn't stopped pacing the common room since he had
awoken, James sat alone on one of the window seats with his hands in his hair, and Frank was
being comforted by Alice by the fire. "You'll be amazing Frank, whether you win or lose you've
done the best in my eyes." She lulled rubbing his back gently.

"Sirius sit down mate everything will be fine." Remus offhandedly commented from looking at his
book while he lounged on the couch beside Peter who was playing with his wand, turning a coaster
different colours.

Sirius ran a hand through his curly hair, throwing his head back with a distressed groan. "I can't!
It's our first match today and I'm shitting myself. What if I don't do well?!"'He asked now looking
to Remus with panicked eyes.

Sirius? Not do well? If Sirius isn't good at something, then birds don't fly.

Before Remus could say anything more, Daisy heard, "I doubt that!" A fruity voice came from the
boys dormitory stairs. Daisy turned her attention to see the same handsome boy that she saw at the
quidditch tryouts, he was the captain. His carefree longish blond hair curled and framed his
chiselled face quite nicely, and his scarlet quidditch robes were tightly pressed against his muscles.
Daisy could see the slight outline of his abs poking out from under the fabric. He was quite the
looker indeed.

Sirius turned around a little surprised. "Huh?' His voice came out in a squeak.

The captain let out a deep and rich chuckle. "I said I highly doubt that our little beater will do
anything but amazing. Same goes for you Longbottom!" He said pointing over to Frank who
straightened his back more confidently.

Sirius rubbed his arm sheepishly, and the captain approached him, placing a comforting hand on
his shoulder. "Sirius you'll do great alright? It's just first game nerves." Daisy couldn't get enough
of the captains voice, it was so soothing to listen to, the whole common room had even tuned in to
listen. He had the type of voice she'd daydream to on the radio back at home.

Sirius looked up at him with a shy smile, his hands fidgeting in front of his body while the toes of
his shoe scuffed the ground. "Thanks..." Daisy also found it rather amusing to notice that Sirius was
looking a bit warmer around his cheeks.

"And you Potter!" James' head jerked up from sitting in between his legs, now staring at the
captain. "I'm looking forward to you flying alongside me today, you'll be brilliant." The captain
sent over a handsome smile in James' direction, and waved to the new players before spinning on
his heels to exit the common room. Sirius watching him closely until the portrait door had fully
closed. So had most people in the common room, and Daisy didn't blame them, she had put her
book down just to stare.
Once everyone came out of their trance, James stood to approach Sirius. "We'd better get changed
now." His words slightly trembled under his strong persona, fighting off the nerves for his first
ever game. Sirius complied and the boys disappeared up their dormitory stairs, shortly followed by
Frank who had detached himself from Alice.

"I've no idea who I'm rooting for Daisy." Mary MacDonald sighed stretching her body along the
long red couch, her head landing beside Daisy's crossed legs. "On one hand I'm a Gryffindor and
my mates are in that team... and on the other hand my mates are also in the Ravenclaw team!" She
ranted to the young girl who was just about to begin reading her book again.

Daisy furrowed her brows, she knew exactly who she herself was rooting for, but in Mary's case
she wouldn't have been able to choose. "Why not both?" She questioned looking down at Mary
who gave her a surprised look.

"I didn't think of that!" Before jumping up off of the couch. "You're a genius!" Giving Daisy a slap
on the shoulder before bolting up the girls dormitory stairs, dragging Alice with her.

Great, she can finally get back to-

"Hey Daisy!" Just as Mary vanished, Heather appeared in her jacket and shoes. Daisy closed her
book.

"I'm heading out to the pitch early, I'll save you and Bao a seat!" Heather said leaning over her the
back of the plush couch, coating Daisy's shoulders with her wavy blonde hair. Daisy nodded her
head with a smile, she could see how excited Heather was for the game and she couldn't stop
herself from arriving early. She was probably hoping to see her brother before the match started.

Clapping Daisy on the shoulder just like Mary had done, Heather took off to in the direction of the
portrait door.

Once the door closed, Daisy turned her head towards the thundering sound of someone coming
down the dormitory stairs. She couldn't catch a quiet break for even a minute around here.

"My hair keeps getting in my eyes!" Sirius appeared at the bottom of the stairs, frantically trying to
tuck his black curls behind his ears, only to have then fall back to the front of his face. Sirius was
now in his quidditch robes, his broom secured under one arm while his hands tugged at his hair.

Sirius had dramatically exclaimed out into the air to whoever would listen, and lucky for him,
Daisy was still sitting on her spot on the couch, her book remaining on the same page.

Staring at Sirius' messy hair, a lightbulb flickered on in Daisy's mind. "Hey Sirius, come here." She
said pointing to the floor in front of her space on the couch.

Sirius nervously twirled his hair in his fingers as he sped to the couch to sink down into a sitting
position in front of Daisy, looking up at her with great anxiety in his eyes. His broom laying on the
floor beside him. Daisy spun her finger at him, gesturing for him to turn around. So Sirius
swivelled.

Now with Sirius facing the other way, without saying anything, Daisy took just a strand of hair
from his head which had him spinning back around in a split second. "What are you doing?!" He
panicked taking his hair back from her.

Daisy startled. "Oh! Sorry Sirius- I'm getting it out of your eyes." And Daisy herself took her own
hair in her hand and pulled it to the back of her head in the shape of a ponytail. "Like this, your hair
will stay out of your eyes this way." Sirius looked at her warily before hesitantly turning back
around.

More cautiously and gently this time. Daisy took Sirius' hair from his jittery hands and began
gathering the curls on his head, brushing through them with delicate fingers before taking a black
bobble from her wrist to use it to tie the hair into a pretty messy semi-high bun. Now Sirius' long
locks were secured and wouldn't get in his eyes during the quidditch match. Plus he looked rather
handsome.

It was evident that Sirius was still uncertain about Daisy handling his hair, as she caught sight of
his hands shaking as they fidgeted on his lap. Not only that, but his back was as stiff as a board. At
some points, Sirius had even pulled away while Daisy was brushing his hair, causing her to start
over again.

In the end, Daisy had successfully tied Sirius' hair half up into a bun, and let the rest of his hair
flow freely down his neck, still out the way of his eyes.

Daisy pulled a handheld mirror out from her bag and held it in front of Sirius. "All done!" She said
grinning at Sirius' reflection in the glass.

Sirius' anxious face had turned into relief, and he was smiling approvingly at himself, turning his
head side to side to see the full view. His hands made their way to the top of his head and he patted
the bun. "I love it! Will you teach me how to do it afterwards?" He turned around to Daisy looking
hopeful.

"Of course I will! Now go on before you're late!" Daisy said lifting Sirius up from under his arms.
"I'll be down to watch you soon."

On cue, Daisy heard, "Coming Si- hey nice hair!" James ran into the common room with his
broom in hand, but he stopped in his tracks to admire Sirius' hair.

"Thanks mate! Daisy did it." Sirius grinned pointing his thumb behind his shoulder to Daisy who
felt rather proud of herself.

James nodded in approval, then spun his index finger in a circle gesturing for Sirius to give him a
twirl.

"Nice work!" James patted Sirius' shoulder once he stopped spinning. Sirius was beaming, he loved
his style. It made Daisy feel like she had accomplished something great having Sirius' approval of
her work.

Then, springing back into the reality, James took hold of Sirius' elbow saying, "we do need to go
now mate." Turning both of them towards the open portrait door.

"See you at the game Daisy!" Sirius called and both of the boys waved to her as she called back,
"good luck!"

Daisy watched as the two boys sprinted out of the common room with their brooms in hand, and
couldn't even imagine the excitement that they were feeling. She was excited enough about
watching her first ever quidditch game, if she were to play she'd probably explode.

"We going then?" Bao asked once Daisy had entered their dorm room, throwing her book down on
her bed. Bao already had on her thick jacket, Gryffindor red and gold scarf, and matching red
gloves to block out the cold they would be hitting them at the top of the quidditch stands.

Daisy nodded, throwing on her own outdoor clothes to match Bao. "Hey- Do we have a banner?"
She asked as the two of them walked down the dormitory stairs.

"Oh no... I think think so... we should have made one shouldn't we?" Bao shook her head
disappointed.

"No worries, we'll make for the next game!" Daisy said nudging her friend with her elbow. They'd
be no harm done in not having a silly little banner, the main thing would be that they were cheering
for their Gryffindors.

As they walked through the castle, Daisy caught that the majority of students owned little
triangular flags in opposed to large banners. Blue flags with the bronze silhouette of the signature
eagle waved in the hands of all of the Ravenclaw studentes, and Daisy saw a few Hufflepuff's and
Slytherin's with the same flag. The other flag was red with the golden silhouette of a lion standing
up on its hind legs to represent Gryffindor.

On Daisy's travels she spotted that Professor McGonagall of course carried a red flag, and
Professor Flitwick a blue one, they were attending the match together.

Eventually, Daisy and Bao had reached the quidditch pitch, and they could hear that the entire
school must already be in there.

The two girls both squeezed past a couple of older, much larger students walking into the stands
and up the stairs to the Gryffindors. "Over here!" Daisy heard once she had came out of the top.
Heather was standing on the front bench waving over to the girls so they could find her, in her hand
Daisy noticed a Gryffindor flag.

"Hey!" Daisy excitedly ran to her saved spot on one side of Heather, and Bao took the other.

Behind them, the four first year boys all sat together holding a banner between them that read
'Gryffindor'. All four of them were wiggling in their seats anticipating the players arrival.

"Hey! I heard that Aaron got an invitation to join the Puddlmere United team once he leaves
school!" Benjamin said tapping Heather's shoulder.

"That's right!"

"Who's Aaron? The hunk?" Heather widened her eyes and it clicked that Aaron must be her
brother... and the hot quidditch captain.

Bao turned around to face the boys and asked them, "Will any of you try out next year?"

Daisy liked the thought, but surely she wouldn't make the team seeing how inexperienced she was.
She could only hover in the air during flying lessons, how was she supposed to become a quidditch
star overnight?

"I'm not a quidditch kind of guy, I'm too lazy." David answered.

"No way, I didn't even know quidditch was a thing until this year, plus I just like to watch sporty
things anyways." Said Theodore.

"Of course I would! This is the Gryffindor keepers last year at Hogwarts, and I'm gonna take his
spot!" Brody stated. This boy seemed fearless. Playing with the Whomping Willow, willingly
drinking potions, and now quidditch.

"My dads always worried I'd get hurt playing quidditch, they take me to matches all the time
though. They liked me doing safer things like baking- which is why I can make the most delicious
cookies in the world." Daisy would be sure to make Benjamin bake some cookies then, prove that
he really is that good.

Bao raised a brow challengingly. "I bet I can make better ones."

"Oh yeah?" Benjamin laughed. "We'll see about that. Once we find the kitchens, I challenge you to
a bake off!"

Bao nodded. "You're on."

The two shook hands professionally and Bao turned back around to check if the players had yet
come out. So far there was still no sign of them.

Looking around some more, Daisy came face to face with Remus who was sitting beside her.
"Alright little Evans?"

"Excited! I've never seen a quidditch match before."

Remus nodded. "I don't have the option, Sirius and James would be heartbroken if I didn't come."
Chuckling while he looked out towards the empty pitch. She could imagine James and Sirius
physically dragging Remus into the pitch before he even had the chance to refuse.

"No flag?" Remus asked, no looking towards Daisy's empty hands. She looked down embarrassed
and shook her head. "No... I forgot."

"Here have mine." Remus had wasted no time and held out a red Gryffindor flag for Daisy to take.
"It's your first match, keep it to remember it."

The gesture made her cheeks darken. Holding in a flustered giggle, she said, "thanks Remus, I'll
take good care of it!" And the older boy looked pleased, turning away to observe the quidditch
pitch.

"That Gryffindor captains well fit isn't he!" Mary MacDonald had appeared beside Bao, followed
by Alice, Marlene, and Lily.

Both Heather and Marlene groaned.

Gosh, Captain this, Captain that, was this all she was going to hear for the rest of the year?

"What about you Bao?" Mary nudged her friend who shrugged her shoulders. "Eh- he is quite
athletic, he uhm... can probably run very fast." Nodding along as she spoke in all seriousness.

Mary giggled.

Lily and Alice took no notice of the girls conversation. Lily was looking rather bored as she stared
up at the cloudy sky, most likely wishing she were in the warm library of Hogwarts instead of the
chilly quidditch stadium. Alice had her eyes on the pitch, Daisy didn't have to read her mind to
know that she was looking for Frank.

Eventually however, and without expecting it, the quidditch players zoomed out of opposing
stands, Gryffindor in bright scarlet robes, and Ravenclaw in the most royal blue. The crowds
cheered as they watched the players fly around into position.

The Slytherin and Ravenclaw stands faced the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. From her seat, Daisy
could see Regulus Black's curly hair blowing in the wind in the Slytherin stands, then she spotted
that he was holding a little red flag in his hand, supporting the Gryffindor team. Most likely to his
housemates disagreement. The majority of Slytherin either had no flag, or were waving blue.

Only Regulus had red.

A sudden voice startled everyone, and Daisy's head snapped towards the tallest podium in the
pitch,

"Welcome to the first quidditch match of the year! Today we're joined by Gryffindor- the better
team- and Ravenclaw!" Bilius Weasley's voice filled the stadium. Daisy spotted his red hair high
above the other students beside Professor McGonagall who was wearing her emerald green robes
and holding her red flag. She held a serious expression while she held her flag between her clasped
hands.

In the top stands, all the teachers sat together. Daisy recognised all of her teachers, and only a few
others who's classes she can't yet take due to being a first year. She was delighted to see Professor
Duras was evidently enjoying himself. Daisy laughed to herself seeing that the Professor had
changed his hair from blue to red for the occasion. At the moment he was waving a gryffindor flag
and chatting away to Professor Sprout who held a ravenclaw one.

"In Gryffindor, we have the captain himself! The very handsome yet unfortunately taken- Aaron
McKinnon playing chaser. Next to him we have playing for her third year in a row now- the lovely
Aafreeda Amir! And playing for his first time today is little James Potter!" All of the chasers had
gathered at the front of their team in a triangular formation, facing the three opposing Ravenclaw
players. Aaron blew Bilius a kiss which the red head gladly caught. Aafreeda who had just finished
securing her hijab a little more, gave a quick wave to her friends who waved Gryffindor banners
above their heads. James caught Daisy's eye and gave her a small thumbs up, as well as waving to
Remus and Peter who cheered him on.

"And we have two new beaters joining us this year in Gryffindor, everybody give a warm welcome
to Frank Longbottom and Sirius Black!" The two boys flew away from each other, having one
beater at each side of the pitch. Sirius was the closest to the Gryffindors, he was close enough that
Daisy caught him winking smugly over in her direction.

Marlene applauded loudly,

And Alice had jumped up proudly at the name of Frank, waving her banner that read 'GO
FRANK!' As well as cheering at the top of her lungs, causing a few people to turn around in
question. From the other side of the pitch, Frank at first had been nervous, but having turned his
head to Alice, his noticeably became more confident and gave her a wave.

In the Slytherin stands, Regulus was smiling, having his eyes locked on his brother.

"Lastly we have Keeper Jason Michaels, and seeker Sabrina Rosenthal!" Once Bilius introduced
the Gryffindor team, the Gryffindor stands burst out into even louder cheers and whistles.

The seeker. Daisy looked at the girl who's silky pink hair was trailing down the back of her robes,
having been pulled back into a ponytail and tied with a red ribbon. She flew up high above the
other players in line with the Ravenclaw seeker.

Daisy imagined herself in Sabrina's place. Up in the sky waiting for the snitch to be released into
the air where she would snatch it to win 150 points for her team and win. She'd love to be cheered
on, flying around the pitch waving the snitch in her hand.
"On Ravenclaw team we have new captain Landon Macaw! He will be playing along side new
player Gordon Hamlet as beater!" The beater was definitely made for this. His huge arms would be
great for hitting the bludger.

Daisy thought he could be compared to a big rock... she wouldn't like to be hit by a bludger by
him...

"For Ravenclaw chasers we have twins Hayden and Harry Brown, and Daphne Taylor! Good luck
against our Gryffindor chasers- i mean good luck, in general... Anyways!" Bilius chuckled while
Professor McGonagall glared at him. "For Ravenclaw keeper we have the wonderful Sally
Robinson, and new seeker Emmeline Vance!"

"Everyone in position now... I can already tell this is going to be one hell of a competitive game!
Aaron's been non stopping hitting the gym, and merlin if I were gay I'd-" "stick to the game
Bilius!" Daisy heard Professor McGonagall scold over the microphone, causing an eruption of
laughter around the stadium.

Aaron sent a wink up to Bilius with a flirtatious bite of his lip.

Down at the bottom of the pitch, Madam Hooch carried a large box which she sat down on the
ground. Daisy hadn't actually seen that before, perhaps she had missed it during the trials. Because
when Madam Hooch opened the case, the equipment for the game sat in there, some balls more
restless than the other. Daisy watched two black ones fighting against their latches desperate to get
out into the air, they fought on either side of the big red one that lay peacefully still. Then above
the quaffle, Daisy's heart leapt as she saw the golden snitch.

First, Madam Hooch unfastened the quaffle before tossing it up into the air and blowing her whistle
for the game to start.

"And they're off!" Bilius Weasley's voice filled the stadium again. "McKinnon wins the quaffle
with Taylor on his tail, he passes- Amir with the quaffle-" From below Aafreeda, a Ravenclaw
player had swooped in and stole the quaffle.

"No! One of the Browns, I don't know which- I'm not good with twins- , with the quaffle now
heading toward Gryffindor rings. Brown passes to Brown, Brown passes too- the pass intercepted
by Potter!" Daisy gasped in surprise seeing James swiftly swoop in and catching the quaffle with
ease.

From below the players, Madam Hooch had then unfastened the two bludgers and the snitch,
which Daisy had lost when watching the quaffle being tossed around.

"Potter passes to McKinnon- amazing hair- McKinnon to Amir and she's got a clear shot!"
Aafreeda caught the quaffle after flying circles around one of the Brown twins before driving into
a wide open space where she had a great chance of shooting. "She shoots!" Daisy held her breath
watching the quaffle leave Aafreeda's hand.

"And she scores! Ten points the Gryffindor! Fantastic work there by all three chases, and an
amazing shot there by Amir." Bilius whooped from his stand.

Below Bilius on the podium, a scoreboard read:

Gryffindor: 10
Ravenclaw: 0

Beside him, Professor McGonagall was proudly waving her flag.

The Ravenclaw keeper passed the quaffle to Harry who flew towards James. James was ready to
snatch the quaffle off of him when Harry passed it to his brother who was edging closer to the
Gryffindor posts. "Brown with the quaffle now he's got nice space there- OH close miss there by a
bludger, that would have hurt!" Bilius winced as a bludger flew past Harry's ear, mere passing him.

"Taylor with the quaffle now and she shoots!" The quaffle soared through the air and landed in the
hands of the Gryffindor keeper.

"OH- thank god! Amazing save from our Michaels who passes to Potter! Hamlet swinging his
beater like a mad man, watch out Potter!" Before the bludger could hit James however, Sirius had
swerved in and whacked the bludger high into the air.

"Fantastic hit from our beater Black!" The Gryffindor crowd cheered loudly for Sirius who was
back into the game immediately, sparing no time for a hello.

"Potter to Amir! Amir to McKinnon! McKinnon to Amir to Potter!" Bilius commentated as the
three chasers all worked together, each swerving past the Ravenclaw three and throwing the
quaffle around to confuse them.

"Potter's still on the go no one can stop him! Keeper Robinson has her eyes on Potter. And he
shoots!" Daisy leaped from her chair. "HE SCORES!!! TEN POINTS FOR GRYFFINDOR WELL
DONE POTTER."

Daisy cheered loudly waving her flag in her hand.

"Nice one James!" Sirius gave a playful punch on his friends shoulder before quickly returning to
watching out for the bludgers.

"Robinson passes to Brown, Brown to Taylor, back to Brown, oh nice hit from Longbottom!" As
the quaffle was being passed around, Frank had defended his chasers from the bludger Sirius had
hit that was coming down to the ground again.

"Potter coming in close will he steal it- aw man unlucky Potter!" James had attempted to snatch the
quaffle from Harry Brown when the Ravenclaw passed the ball to his brother.

"Someone hit him with a bludger!" Bilius panicked as Haydn brown scored a goal against the
Gryffindor Keeper. 'Ten points to Ravenclaw I guess.'

"Bilius you mustn't have a bias!" Professor McGonagall's voice whispered.

"Sorry- oh shit Taylor's on the ball when did she do that?! She's heading towards the keeper! Yeah
I'm sorry didn't mean- SHE SCORED! COME ON MICHAELS GET INTO THE BLOODY
GAME!! Another ten points to Ravenclaw." Bilius raged from his podium.

Sirius Black was currently zipping all over the stadium, his bun holding in nicely as he swung his
beaters bat against bludgers that were threatening to hit his players. Daisy was rather taken back at
how strong Sirius actually was, the bludgers went for miles.

"Ouch! That must have hurt Vance." Bilius commented when one of Sirius' bludgers hit Emmeline
on the shoulder, giving her a hard knock.

"Watch it Black!" Emmeline shouted towards Sirius who shrugged his shoulders.

Emmeline shook her head, turning her attention back to the sky while she looked for the snitch that
hadn't yet been spotted.
Redeeming himself however, Sirius had returned to hitting a bludger that was aiming for Aaron
and shot it towards the sun. "Thanks little one!" The captain shouted to Sirius who smiled to
himself.

From across the pitch in the opposite stands, Daisy could see Regulus Black applauding along with
the rest of the stadium.

Behind the younger boy however, an older boy and his friends were burning holes with their eyes
into Sirius who payed them no attention.

Aaron continued to fly past the ravenclaw players and dodged a bludger hit towards him by
Landon Macaw, and was now heading towards the rings. "Shoot!" Bilius yelled over his mic.

"Ten points to Gryffindor! Nice shot McKinnon!" The Gryffindor team cheered as Aaron pumped
his fist in the air triumphantly.

Throughout the match, even though Gryffindor were doing exceptionally well, the Ravenclaw team
had taken the lead. The scoreboard reading:

Gryffindor: 50
Ravenclaw: 70

The Brown twins were brilliant at zipping through small gaps and finding one another to execute a
pass, and Daphne always found open space to which she could shoot the quaffle into an unattended
ring.

"C'mon Rosenthal! Find the snitch!" Bilius begged seeing as Gryffindor was currently losing.
Sabrina was flying near the rings of the Ravenclaw team and was scanning the entire top half of
the pitch, desperate to find the golden ball.

Daisy had her eyes currently on Sirius who had just walloped a bludger away from his teammate,
when a little gold speck flew past his leg.

Was it? It was! It was the snitch!

All kinds of adrenaline filled her body as her eyes followed the snitch's every movement. If
Sabrina noticed, this surely would give Gryffindor the win that they need.

The snitch flew down to the bottom of the pitch where it fluttered lazily on the Ravenclaw's side.
Emmeline who was high in the air, was directly above it. If she saw it before Sabrina, it would be
game over.

Would it be cheating if she were to tell Sabrina where it was? Surely not... or at least that's what
Daisy told herself.

Daisy had stood up from her bench, quickly looking up at Sabrina hopefully, she was still hovering
in front of the left ring of the Ravenclaws. It was by sheer luck Sabrina had caught Daisy's eye.

Within a second, Daisy took her chance and subtly pointed down to the ground where the snitch
was flying in circles. Sabrina caught on quick and gave a nod to Daisy who was more excited than
she'd ever been.

"Nice hit Longbottom! Oh- what's this? Rosenthal's found the snitch! Vance has spotted it too!"
Daisy held her breath as Emmeline had watched Sabrina accelerate, and she broke into a dive.
All of the other players had frozen in spot, them all watching the two girls closely.

Sabrina and Emmeline had reached the snitch at the same time, and Daisy watched both their hands
clasp around something, but only one of them had caught it.

Within a few seconds, the Gryffindor's had all leapt from their benches as Sabrina had flew
upwards and was waving her arm above her head, showing that the snitch was in her grasp.
Emmeline threw her head back in defeat.

"ROSENTHAL'S CAUGHT THE SNITCH!" Bilius screamed over the microphone and the crowd
erupted in cheers and applause while Sabrina flew around the stands waving the golden snitch in
her hand triumphantly.

On her way past the Gryffindors, she gave Daisy a wink.

"You little cheater." Remus snickered into Daisy's ear.

"Shh!" She put her finger on her lip,

The scoreboard now read:

Gryffindor: 200
Ravenclaw: 70

At the bottom of the pitch, the Gryffindor team all gathered in a huddle, lifting Sabrina up in the air
to begin throwing her up and down.

Daisy smiled to herself as she watched James and Sirius hug one another tightly, both of them
wearing identical wide grins. She imagined that they were feeling ecstatic with their first ever win.

Professor McGonagall too had joined the team on the pitch now, yet she only watched proudly
from the sides.

The Ravenclaws looked a little disheartened, but nonetheless they applauded the Gryffindors who
were now on their way back into their changing room.

"Woah! That was brilliant wasn't it! I thought the Ravenclaw girl was going to catch the seeker!"
Bao exclaimed as she walked with Heather and Daisy down the stairs of the stands.

"Snitch, Bao." Heather pronounced with a chuckle.

"Snitch? I haven't done anything!" Bao responded back in a confused defence.

"Bao..." Heather sighed shaking her head in disbelief.

Daisy laughed at the two of them, they were a match made in heaven.

Later on in the day, the first years were all walking back to their common room after dinner.
During their meal, the Gryffindor table was the rowdiest it's ever been. Every time a quidditch
player entered the hall the table would erupt in cheers that rattled Daisy's plate.

"That game today was so cool! I love quidditch!" Theodore still looked thrilled, his hair sticking
up all over the place as if he'd been electrocuted. Beside him, Benjamin was in a similar state, but
his face was evidently more red and flushed.

"That head to head seeker catch was great!" He said bouncing in his walk.
"Hey guys!" Bilius Weasley was running towards the group now. "We're gonna set up banners and
party food in the common room, don't tell any of the quidditch players!" And took off in front of
them to arrive at the common room first.

"A party?! Awesome we haven't been to one yet!" Brody punched the air excitedly. Daisy too was
rather excited, especially since the Gryffindor's have just won their first quidditch match of the
year- well, a little thanks to her.

"Do you think they'll be drinking alcohol?" Theodore asked warily.

Daisy had no idea, part of her hoped not as they're only eleven and twelve after all, but maybe the
older Gryffindor's would be quite funny tipsy.

"Maybe, but we don't have to remember!" Brody nudged Theodore with a smile. The other first
years nodded in agreement. "Even if they do, they'll be loads of people who won't! Like the second
years." David added swinging an arm around Theodore's shoulders.

"Yeah you're probably right..." Theodore forced a laugh from under David's arm.

"C'mon it'll be fun! We'll get to meet the older Gryffindors too, besides Bilius and Eleanor, unless
they're y'know... busy." Brody wiggled his eyebrows cheekily and Theodore formed a smile on his
face.

"They only do prefect checks at night, they'll be at the party." Said Daisy. Missing the joke
entirely.

So the first years kept Bilius' secret and all ran to the common room as soon as they could, they
wanted to be there for when the quidditch players arrived.

Back in the common room now, Bilius and Eleanor were charming red banners and balloons to
hang from the ceiling. The large banner read in gold and glittery letters 'Congratulations
Gryffindor!' With a golden silhouette of a proud lion on either side that were moving. The lions
were standing on their hind legs silently roaring at one another.

Daisy turned to see that the back table of the common room had been pushed against the wall, and
was packed with crisps, dips, chocolates, fruit juice, and there was some alcohol, but it was tucked
away in the back corner, away from the non alcoholic drinks. She recognised some from her home
cupboard.

"They'll be here soon, so everyone hide!" Eleanor called out to the Gryffindors who were taking
little party poppers from a bag that another Gryffindor was holding. The first years all ran to collect
one, then they scattered into hiding places.

Daisy also noticed that there were two students who weren't actually Gryffindors. One girl wore
yellow robes instead, showing Daisy she was a Hufflepuff. The other wore blue, a Ravenclaw.

What a Ravenclaw was doing celebrating their teams defeat, Daisy didn't know.

With so many students in the common room at once, it was hard to find somewhere you couldn't be
seen, but that's when Bilius had the idea of turning the lights off.

Daisy blindly ran to a spot and found herself beside Lily and Mary who were hiding behind an
armchair, holding their party poppers ready to fire.

The waiting was dragging in time, each of the students were squirming around their spot trying to
stay still in time for the quidditch players came back.

Lily and Mary had turned to playing rock, paper, scissors while Daisy eyed the portrait door that
was shut.

Then, from behind the door there were muffled- yet loud- voices that were getting closer, and
Bilius stood up to say 'quick everyone be quiet!'

As the team opened the door, Daisy heard James ask "whys it so-"

"SURPRISE!" The Gryffindors jumped from their hiding spaces, covering the room with confetti
and enjoying themselves seeing the startled look on the players faces.

Sirius and James were both staring at the large banner awe. Frank had jumped from the sudden
noise of the poppers, and the captain began cheering, "make way for our seeker!" Pushing Sabrina
to the front of the team where everyone began applauding her.

Then the Hufflepuff girl ran towards Sabrina wrapping her arms around her. "You were amazing!"
As Sabrina hugged her back. Meanwhile the Ravenclaw girl found herself in the arms of the
captain.

Sabrina was looking around very pleased with herself. Then her attention landed on Daisy, and she
gave her a wide smile before whispering something to the Hufflepuff girl, then slid her arm away
from her waist, and walked in Daisy's direction.

"Hey!" Sabrina called to Daisy who was feeling butterflies in her stomach. "Couldn't have won
without you today. I owe that catch all to you." She continued with a quiet giggle.

"Thanks." Daisy rubbed her arm flattered.

"You must be a natural born seeker I reckon, will you be trying out next year? The two of us head
to head during the trials!" The older girl was very enthusiastic about this, but Daisy hardly knew
anything about quidditch. Once arriving home she would completely forget about the wizard world
until going back to Hogwarts. "Oh! And sorry I forgot to ask, what's your name?"

"It's Daisy... Evans- and uhm... I don't know actually. I don't have a broom and I don't know how to
play quidditch." A surge of self depreciation ran through Daisy's body. She wasn't like the other
players, they were all special and had probably all came from magic families that knew about
quidditch, far more than she'll ever know.

But Sabrina had other ideas entirely, "that's alright! Here I'll tell you what." Daisy looked up at the
girl hopefully. "Next year, I'll give you some lessons on flying and quidditch, you can either use a
school broom or if you can- perhaps get one for Christmas or your birthday- and you'll be the best
seeker there ever was in time for your third year!"

"Really?!" Daisy was awestruck, completely filled with glee at the idea.

"Yes of course!" Sabrina smiled solemnly.

And that was that. Sabrina had promised to give Daisy tips and lessons about becoming a quidditch
seeker next year in time for her to try out in her third year. Daisy was excited to say the least,
watching Sabrina play today was amazing, and she thought about how much everyone would
cheer for her if she were to ever catch the golden snitch.

"What are yous whispering about?" The Hufflepuff girl appeared at Sabrinas side who hid a smirk.
"Oh nothing..." she sang, sending a wink to Daisy.

"Ah I see, boring quidditch stuff, nothing you haven't bore me with before love." The Hufflepuff
scrunched up her nose with a smile up at Sabrina who laughed. "It was great meeting you Daisy,
I'm looking forward to next year!" Sabrina patted Daisy's shoulder affirmatively, and Daisy looked
up in awe.

"Y-yeah, great to meet you too." She breathed out as Sabrina took the hand of the Hufflepuff and
joined in with the big crowd.

"Oi everyone! Let's all give three cheers for our team!" Bilius Weasley jumped on top of a table to
announce to all the Gryffindors. Pulling the captain up beside him.

"Hip hip!"

"Hooray!" The Gryffindors shouted.

"Hip hip!"

"Hooray!"

"HIP HIP!"

"HOORAY!" Everyone began cheering and applauding the players.

The captain had pulled James, Sirius, and Frank to the front to celebrate their first ever game. "One
more for our new players! Couldn't have done it without you three!" And the common room
erupted once more.

Daisy wouldn't have been surprised if the other houses could hear them, or even Dumbledore for
that matter.

"Drink?" Bilius held a cup to James who eyed it warily.

"Uhm... what is it?"

"Raspberry and cranberry juice! It's delicious, very sweet though." James' face had relaxed as he
took the cup in his hand. As did Sirius' who had widened his eyes towards Bilius.

Bilius caught on however and began to laugh. "Wait, you didn't think I was giving you alcohol did
you? I'd be expelled if I did that." Ruffling the two second years heads then prancing back into the
party.

Daisy now took her chance to congratulate to boys herself, seeing as they were no longer tied up
with having older boys throwing them around.

"James! Sirius!" She called out to them as she ran over to their side. The two boys instantly lit up.

"You both played amazing today! And Sirius your hair stayed in." She grinned looking at his bun.

"It did didn't it! I might start wearing it all the time now." Sirius said with a smile. "It will be quite
the hit with the ladies won't it." James nudged Sirius with his elbow.

"Definitely." Sirius laughed.

"Hey James?" Speaking of ladies, a third year girl walked to the front of the common room and
planted herself next to James who straightened his back, and he cleared his throat.

"Yeah?" Daisy stifled a snort as James altered his voice to sound lower.

"I was wondering, would you like to come and sit with me and my friends? Tell me everything
about quidditch and the game?" She battered her eyelashes and tilted her head, holding onto James'
arm.

James said confidently, "Yeah sure." With a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders, and left with the
girl after giving Sirius and Daisy a wiggle of his eyebrows.

"That boy..." Sirius shook his head watching James disappear into the crowd. Daisy however hadn't
thought much of it, James seemed to be enjoying himself.

"Oi Sirius! Finally." A figure appeared from behind a larger boy and ran towards the two. Remus
swung an arm around Sirius' shoulder bringing him down, then proceeded to give him a rough
noogie. "Watch the hair please!" Sirius groaned trying to break free of his friends hold.

Remus eventually let go and Sirius stood back with his face completely red, and his hair all tangled
and messy thanks to the other boys knuckles. "You've ruined my hair Remus!" Sirius whined.
Remus only laughed, "whatever it looks fine."

It didn't.

"Here I'll fix it, sit down." Daisy pulled up a chair for Sirius to use while he took his hair out and
tied it back up again. While she gathered his hair, Remus stood beside Sirius with a drink in his
hand. "What is this? The hairdressers? Let your hair down Sirius!"

But Sirius shoved him away. "No way! I like it like this, you're just jealous your hair can't do it."

"I could do that if I wanted to." Remus crossed his arms looking down at Sirius.

Daisy laughed to herself listening to them quarrel like an old married pair.

"No you couldn't, your hair sucks." Sirius scrunched up his face.

"Daisy, can you tie my hair up? I have to show Sirius I'm better than him." Remus asked as Daisy
finished with Sirius. She nodded, but she definitely wouldn't be able to tie a bun on Remus' head,
his hair was too short.

So, instead she settled for collecting hair on top of Remus' head and tying it into a little ponytail
that stuck up in the centre, so he looked like an apple.

"You know what, it's not bad Moony." Sirius said circling Remus now.

"Better than yours?" Remus asked chuckling.

"Not a chance."

"Team photo!" The captain announced and Sirius flared at Remus who was threatening to pull his
hair out again.

Before Remus could do anymore damage, Sirius took off and landed himself at the front of the
team, being one of the shorter players. Soon James staggered to the front, Daisy noticing a red lip
stain on his cheek that he was rubbing off for the photo.
The team posed for their photo which was taken by Eleanor, seeing as Bilius had clearly had a little
bit too much to drink and wouldn't have been able to steady the camera in his hands.

After the photo, James had been dragged back to one of the couches beside the older girl. He didn't
seem to mind at all, and seemed to be engaging quite a bit more now.

Surprisingly, Sirius had also been dragged away, but by Mary who was noticeably leaning into him
more than she usually did. Daisy wasn't surprised however, she recalled how Mary watched Sirius
as if she were hypnotised during his trails.

She couldn't blame Mary, Sirius was a good looking boy, and he was now a quidditch player.
Daisy was almost certain that was Mary's type, seeing how she ogled at the captain.

This left her with Remus who was looking as bored as ever.

"Parties not your thing?" She asked him. To which he shook his head.

"Nah, anything that involves human interaction is more of a Sirius and James thing. I would rather
be asleep right now." Daisy laughed at him, though he was serious, he always had something
sarcastic and funny hidden behind his words.

"What about you?" He asked.

Daisy had only ever been to a party with her parents where she mingled with other children her age
and even younger. She didn't exactly have this type of party experience. So she shrugged, "I've
been to parties here and there..." purposely missing out that they were kids parties.

What she said seemed to pass however, as Remus nodded his head. "I've never been to one, not
until I came to Hogwarts and James and Sirius dragged me to every. Single. One." Shaking his
head with a smile.

"Still though, I'd rather be upstairs. I'm here to tell James and Sirius when it's time to sleep, if I
didn't they would stay up the entire night."

She could see it all. Sirius and James acted as if they were on a constant sugar rush, how they
lasted so long Daisy would never know. She herself was feeling tired from using up all of her
energy jumping and cheering at the quidditch game.

"Anyways." Remus clicked his tongue. "I'm done for tonight, James and Sirius will probably crash
down here which means Peter and I can have a quiet-ish night for once." Then with another smile,
he bid his goodbyes to Daisy.

She was all alone now, standing awkwardly by herself. She had lost Bao and Heather in the crowd
and had no idea whether they were in the dorm or somewhere in the common room.

That was until she spotted Benjamin's flaming red hair.

"Ben!" She called over as she walked towards him. David and Brody then came into view standing
beside him. "Where's Theodore?" She questioned the boys, seeing as the other quarter was missing.

"He's in the dorm, said he was tired." Brody shrugged his shoulders.

Daisy however didn't have a very casual feeling about it, she recalled Theodore mentioning he
wasn't fond of alcohol, and Bilius Weasley and his friends were tripping all over the place.
"Oh alright... do you mind if I go up there with him?" David smirked at her. "Not like that!" She
scowled hitting his shoulder.

The boys all nodded, "yeah that's fine." None of them seemed to really mind, if anything they were
glad.

So she turned to leave, and as she was about to walk up the boys stairs, she noticed a tray of
cupcakes. Edging slowly towards the table, Daisy took quite a few and placed them on a paper
plate. It would hopefully cheer Theodore up if he wasn't feel very cheery.

On her way up to the first years dormitory (she knew which one it was as it was the same level as
her own) Daisy worried that something had provoked Theodore in some way. Whatever it was, she
needed closure on whether he was actually tired or not.

Reaching the door, she knocked, and waiting for some sort of signal that she could enter. The door
opened a crack, and she could see Theodore peeking out from behind the door. "Hi... what's up?"
He asked hiding himself.

"I wanted to know if you were alright, or if you wanted some company."

Theodore looked down to the floor, he didn't look sure on whether or not he should answer. "I-I'm
fine." He forced a laugh.

"I brought cakes up! Even if you don't want me to stay, these will keep you company." Daisy
smiled holding out an assortment of the little cupcakes she had took in front of her body.

Theodore eyed the cakes before giving in, "come in." And opened the door wider for Daisy to step
into the dorm.

The dorm was the same layout as the second years. Pictures of their families decorated their tables
and their beds displaying each of the boys personalities.

Beside one of the beds on a window ledge was a candle holder that had... eight? Candles? Though
only two of them were lit.

"What's that?" She asked Theodore pointing to the candle.

Theodore looked up and said, "that's Ben's menorah, Hanukkah's started." And she nodded
understanding now.

Theodore's had his duvet tucked tightly into the mattress, and his pillows sitting upright in line
with the headboard. Benjamin's bed was neat to an extent and his pillows fluffed at his headboard.
David's were rumpled as if he just quickly threw his duvet into place, and left his pillows askew.
Lastly, Brody's was quite the mess, his duvet hanging off the side of his bed and one pillow lay at
the end of his bed while the other on the floor.

"So, what's up?" Daisy asked as Theodore sat down on his bed, and she remained standing as she
placed the cupcakes down on his table.

Theodore looked down at his sheets. "I just... don't like parties." he said softly.

"I get it, the older students were getting pretty rowdy." She said in an appealing tone, trying her
best to meet Theodore's level.

"One of the boys in my foster home, and my foster dad like to drink a lot and party... they aren't
very nice "

Daisy pouted softly, edging closer to Theodore's side, but not daring to sit down without the other
boys permission. He looked up at her, then nodded towards his bed.

Sitting down, Daisy kept her hands on her lap. "Does it keep you awake at night?" She asked and
Theodore nodded.

"Yeah, they'll be out at night then come back hammered out their minds. They wake up the whole
night. They can get a little scary too, always shouting and sometimes getting into fights. That's why
I hate alcohol, I've saw the bad effects of it and I was scared of how the other boys were going to
act once they had more, so I came here."

"I'm sorry... that must be hard."

"It is, I wish I could hurry up and leave that place for good. I love Hogwarts so much because I'm
away from it all."

"You've got family in us now remember! I bet Ben, Brody, or David would love to have you visit
them over breaks, you're not alone anymore silly! You can always come to my house for dinner if
you like too." Daisy swore solemnly and she was pleased to watch Theodore form a smile.

"Yeah you're right. Thanks Daisy."

"I'm still going to stay up here though, I hope you enjoy the party. You did help them win after all."
Daisy had no idea Theodore even knew she had done that. She hoped no one else did.

The boy was looking much better now, his smile had came back and his eyes were brighter.
Although Theodore was fine now, Daisy didn't exactly want to leave, she didn't want him left all
alone with the fear of drunken teenagers coming up the stairs any moment.

"I don't have anywhere to be if you want company, we can play with cards or something." She
offered.

Theodore thought for a second. "If that's what you want... sure why not." Shrugging his shoulders.

So the two of them sat facing one other, legs crossed while they played multiple rounds of Go
Fish, snap, and even attempting to build a tower which never made it past the second floor.

She told Theodore more about how she told Sabrina where the snitch was, and how she was going
to receive tips and tricks on how to become the new seeker of the team. All while he nodded and
encouraged her.

Daisy told herself that she would. One day she'd eventually make the team and be the best seeker
Hogwarts had ever seen.
 Year One: The Slug Club

"What will you wear? Will you bring a date? Will you-" Daisy cut Bao's nonstop questioning off
by throwing her dress over her face. She picked it up and examined carefully, looking over the
short sleeves and white collar, only when she nodded did she put the dress back down. "Oh I like
the yellow, looks nice."

Daisy let out a chuckle. "Thank you, I got it for Christmas." Walking over to stare at herself in the
girls ornate mirror. The mirror that the girls had decided to paint on. A rainbow jumping from one
cloud to another and bubbles decorated the top left hand corner, a garden of daisies and a golden
snitch in the bottom left, butterflies and bees in the top right, and three hearts on to bottom right,
one yellow, blue, and purple.

Going over her reflection, looking at every fine detail about herself, Daisy grimaced as she came to
her hair that was a thick mess, and she thought that her face too pale and sickly for a party. Nearly
Headless Nick had even joked that she should be coming to one of his parties rather than the Slug
Club. "What should I do to my face?" She asked turning to Heather and Bao.

Bao furrowed her brows. "What like, a spell?"

Daisy shook her head with a smile. "No I mean makeup, I don't look very... pretty" Picking up a
little pink glittery eyeshadow from her desk.

Heather shook her head. "I think you look lovely the way you are, but I'll help you if you want,
Marlene does my makeup all the time." She said jumping off of her bed.

Daisy nodded. She's aware that her oldest sister Petunia liked wearing makeup and doing her hair,
but would never offer to do hers, and whenever she asked the answer was always 'I'm busy Daisy'.
She missed the times when they were younger and Petunia would dress her up like a 'princess' and
put her in big puffy dresses, it seemed so long ago now.

Lily didn't normally wear makeup unless she was going out with friends, to dinner, or a party. Lily
was however magic at doing hair, and Daisy had planned to go to her sisters dorm for her to help.

So Daisy sat down on her desk chair and allowed Heather to take control. While Daisy relaxed she
felt the soft bristles of her makeup brush graze her eyelid. "Oh this is pretty!" Heather squealed.

"I heard that ginger people look really good in green, we should dress you up in green one day!"
Bao commented from sitting on her bed watching the girls. Daisy hummed in interest, it did sound
nice.

"You'd be just like Poison Ivy!" Heather gushed.

From her bed Bao gasped. "She would wouldn't she! You'll have to dress as her for Halloween one
year, I'll be cat woman!"

"I'll be Harley Quinn, we'll need a Batman and Robin though I think." Heather said while she
dusted pink power over Daisy's eyes.

"Who would be them though?" Daisy asked.

The other girls hummed. "No idea, we'll have to keep a look out on how the perfect candidates
would be." Bao replied.
"Now I need to curl your eyelashes." Heather mumbled to herself and Daisy opened her eyes
alarmed.

"Curl them? Like... with heat?" Heather turned around from digging in her own makeup bag with a
little clamping object.

"No silly! These will squeeze your eyelashes and make them look bigger." The girl said holding
Daisy's face in place. It felt rather weird curling her lashes, she could feel her lid open at the touch
and wondered if they'd ever be able to close again. However, once Heather had applied a coat of
mascara, Daisy fell in love with it.

"Woah." she grinned into the mirror at her shimmering soft pink eyes and long lashes. She could
get used to wearing this.

"Almost done!" Heather had grabbed another brush and a little pink coloured pallet. "What's the
saying, pink to make the boys wink?" She asked now dusting Daisy's cheeks.

"That's a thing?" Bao asked from her bed, she had taken her attention to some muggle fashion
magazine that had muggle women posing on the front cover in the latest new clothing items.

Heather nodded. "Yeah, apparently guys like this or something, but I'm pretty sure it's just a
saying." She hummed concentrating how on applying a light highlight on Daisy's cheeks.

"Do girls wear it for boys? That doesn't sound very right." Bao called over with her eyes still glued
on her magazine.

Heather shrugged, Daisy was simply just observing.

"Not every girl likes pink... so it's a pretty dumb saying if you ask me. One size doesn't fit all." Bao
commented once more. Daisy would have nodded her head if Heather hadn't a hold of her. Heather
hummed along listening to her friend, still concentrating on Daisy's face.

"And you're done!" Heather eventually cheered and Bao looked up from her magazine. Daisy
looked in the mirror to see her new complexion, grinning in satisfaction.

"Oh thank you!" Turning her head in the mirror to see the work of her friend. Her eyes looked
bigger and round, her cheeks glittery with powder, she looked... very pretty.

"It's really nice!" Bao called over looking at Daisy through the mirror, Heather nodded in
agreement admiring her work.

Daisy jumped out of her chair to run over to her dress that lay on Bao's bed, then she scurried into
the bathroom to change. In there she put on her dress and tied a thin white buckled belt around the
front, cinching her waist. As well as putting her homemade necklace around her neck. The gift
from Lily.

Staring at herself, she allowed herself to really feel each churn in her stomach and leaned over the
toilet bowl, thinking she would vomit at any minute.

Mudblood.

Cold shivers ran down her arms and she began to sweat.

Maybe she shouldn't go. Take this off and go back to bed... and hide.
"C'mon! Don't wanna be late!" Heather called from the other side of the bathroom door.

And Daisy took one last glassy eyed look at herself in the mirror, before coming out.

She admired the top half of herself in the mirror now fully dressed, twisting side to side to look at
her yellow dress and makeup. She felt very mature, she didn't normally dress up back at home and
it was actually very nice for a change. Sort of like a princess, especially inside this huge castle.

"Make way for our supermodel Evans!" Bao whistled.

Daisy gave them a twirl while they fanned. "Will you wear a jacket?" Bao asked to which Daisy
shrugged.

"Hmm... I'm not sure this dress goes with a jacket, I think I'll just wear it as it is." Looking at her
black jacket which she had hung on the back of the dorms door. She could have wore her school
robes over her dress, but she was certain the colours would clash. Red and yellow, she would look
like ketchup and mustard.

"Right! Well... I think that's it." Daisy announced after shoving on her Mary Jane shoes to finally
complete her look.

Heather gave her a worrisome expression. "Are you sure? I mean... I could do your hair for you."

Daisy chuckled. "No don't worry! I'm visiting Lily before I go, she's doing it for me." And both her
dorm mates relaxed. "You didn't think I was leaving with my hair looking like this did you?" She
said in disbelief while she pointed to her frizzed hair. Everyday was the same, Daisy would do her
hair perfectly in the morning, and it would stay in until the afternoon rolled around. By lunch time
Daisy had worked so hard in her classes that her would be falling out of whatever style she worked
so hard on to do, defeating the purpose of even doing it at all.

So with a wave to the girls who wished her luck, Daisy left the dormitory. Out alone in the hall,
nerves finally began filling her body again as she thought about attending the dinner. She'd only
been attending Hogwarts for a few months yet Slughorn had invited her to join some group of
elitists. It seemed a bit much, but one dinner wouldn't hurt, maybe it would be fun.

Arriving at the second years dormitory, Daisy knocked on the door and heard Lily call from the
other side, "come in!"

"Hi." Daisy said walking in. Only Lily was occupying the room at the moment.

Lily had prepped herself in a yellow floral shirt that she tucked into a black linen skirt which
stopped mid thigh, and on her feet flat yellow shoes. "Nice shirt." Daisy nodded towards Lily who
smiled.

"Thanks! I bought it over the summer. It doesn't make me look too... big does it?" Lily replied
while she popped a yellow hairband on top of her head, leaving her wafted fringe to peak out at the
front.

"I wouldn't see how that mattered, I think it looks really pretty." Daisy smiled back down to her
sister who was studying herself in her desk mirror.

With a relieved sigh, Lily turned away from the mirror. "I'm so happy you're coming with me
tonight!" She squealed in delight as she pulled Daisy down onto her desk chair, and spun her
around so she could stand behind her.
"Me too! But... I'm not sure I know anyone there but you." Daisy said. It was a little bit of a lie, she
knew Regulus Black and Bartemius Crouch but they weren't exactly friends, especially not Barty.
Daisy was almost going alone if Lily wasn't attending.

"I tell you all the time Daisy, you've got this magic ability where you make friends wherever you
go, I was right about you making friends on the train wasn't i?" Lily said as she gathered hair on
the top half of Daisy's head, pulling it back into a ponytail and tying it with a white ribbon.

Daisy hummed, seeing as she couldn't nod her head at the moment. Lily did have a point after all,
she normally did. However, the thought of being in a room with a bunch of Barty Crouch clones
was throwing her off completely. It was hard enough to deal with one, never mind more. Daisy
didn't doubt that Professor Slughorn had welcomed in more than just one bully, and she wondered
if Lily had met them already.

"There! You're all done and ready to go. Are you going now?" Lily patted Daisy's shoulders.

"No, I was going to walk with you." She replied to which Lily made an 'O' shape with her mouth.
"Alright yeah, I'll meet you down in the common room in just a second then." So Daisy nodded to
her.

"Thanks for the hair!" Before skipping out of the dormitory.

Passing her own dormitory now, Daisy walked down the steps and landed herself in the common
room, but what was strange was that she could head a wailing noise? It sounded a bit like a siren
had gone off. Was there a fire alarm?

At the bottom of the stairs, Daisy's eyes landed on Alice Fortescue who was sobbing loudly on the
longest couch, her head buried into James Potter's shoulder while Mary MacDonald sat beside her.

"Oh Alice what's wrong?" Daisy asked staring at Alice who had sat up to rub her eyes in James'
arms. Mary quickly turned around and gave Daisy an anxious look while shaking her head 'no', but
it was too late.

Alice burst into tears and buried her face into James' shoulder while Mary patted her back. "Alice
it's alright, I bet he just didn't want to be lonely." Mary hushed to her friend soothingly.

"H-He never liked me! Only got eyes for her." Alice bawled, hiding her wet blue eyes under her
black waves. "I should have known..." She sat herself up and attempted to wipe snot off of James'
now wet shoulder with a tissue. James smiled softly and took the tissue in his own hand. "She's a
quidditch player... he likes quidditch." Alice hiccuped. "She's taller than me too! And got longer
hair!" She moved her arms around animatedly, as if she were stroking her invisible long hair.

"Oh Alice you're being silly! You're height and hair don't mean anything, you're just putting
yourself down. Short girls are wonderful!" James sighed softly looking at his sobbing friend. He
reminded Daisy a little of Lily. She always looked at the more logical side of things, it was
something Daisy picked up on which really made a difference whenever she got upset.

Alice whimpered and fell backwards onto the couch, staring up at the ceiling while her lip
wobbled.

Daisy still had no idea why she was crying.

"I thought he was going to wait for me..." Alice's voice was now soft, she was disappointed in
herself. "Of course he didn't want to go alone, I'm so stupid..."
Mary shook her head with a frown. "You're not stupid, maybe Frank wasn't the one?" Alice
snapped her head towards Mary in shock. "Well-" Mary started but was cut off my Alice's loud
sobbing again.

"Mary!" James gasped and tugged Alice back into the comfort of his arm.

"Is there a bloody whale in he- oh." Remus Lupin's fiery voice was heard coming down the
dormitory stairs, but as he reached the bottom, he stopped the second he caught sight of Alice, then
turned back around to disappear.

Daisy winced at Remus' words, as did Mary and James who shared a panicked look.

As expected, Alice only got louder.

"Is everything alright?" Another voice was heard but this time Daisy turned around to see Eleanor,
the prefect, looking at Alice with concerned eyes after just walking through the portrait door.

Eleanor approached Alice and bent down beside her. "Come here love its alright, would you like to
come up to my dorm and have a chat with the girls?" To which Alice slowly sat up to nod, drying
her eyes and soaking the sleeves of her sweater. Eleanor took a gentle hold of Alice's arms and took
the sniffling girl to the dormitory stairs where they walked the older girls dorm.

"So... what's up?" Daisy asked once Alice had disappeared up the girls stairs. She didn't want Alice
to become upset again.

"Frank... he agreed to go with some girl to the winter ball." Mary rolled her eyes. "I was certain that
Frank liked Alice, weren't you?" Daisy nodded her head, Frank and Alice had quite the chemistry
going, this was all a big surprise. "But instead, Frank's going to the winter ball with Daphne
Taylor."

"I'm pretty sure Frank just didn't want to turn up alone, he wants someone to dance with. And who
knows, maybe he felt sorry for Daphne." James explained.

"Well I think that Frank should have just went alone and waited for Alice." Snapped Mary who
earned a glare off James. The two were very alike in the sense that they stuck to their gut, and they
were both up for an argument no matter what the time of day.

"You can't expect a guy to go alone! That's embarrassing, he should have someone to dance with."
James said backing Frank's decision.

Mary raised a brow at James, looking him up and down. "Oh yeah? You won't be saying that when
you go alone next year."

"Me? Go alone to a dance? That's hilarious MacDonald." James let out a loud 'ha'. "I bet you five
galleons I can get a date before you next year." James challenged leaning in closer to Mary who
raised a brow.

"You're on Potter." And the two of them firmly shook hands. James smirked as he leant back into
his original place.

More cocky than a chicken.

"What was all that noise? I could have swore someone was dying in here." Brody asked with his
hands hovering around his ears as he exited the boys dormitory with the other three by his side.
Their arms were also up in defence.
David began, "Yeah I thought-" but was cut off by Benjamin who said, "hey Daisy! You look
nice!" Dropping his hands from his ears as his eyes landed on the girls figure.

"Going somewhere fancy?" Theodore asked and she nodded.

"Thanks, and I'm going to Professor Slughorn's party thing." As she spoke, she felt herself turn
rather red at the compliment while she fluffed the hem of her dress with her little fingers.

"Oh that thing." Mary huffed.

Daisy's brows furrowed with a tilted head. "Yeah... is it not good or something?" She asked Mary
who shook her head.

"I'm not sure I've never been- which obviously means it's rubbish- but it also doesn't exactly sound
very flattering. It's just Slughorn putting the best of us in a room and treating them like royalty. It's
jam packed with blood supremacists."

James nodded along. "Yeah, Snivellus is going so that's how you know it's a whole load of
bollocks."

At the mention of Severus, Daisy sulked with a sigh, dropping her shoulders. Lily's best friend so
he was. Though she's never heard his name before. He's never came for dinner. She had the idea
that Slughorn's party was to be fun and an exciting way to celebrate her success as Hogwarts, but
now it seemed like a train wreck just waiting to happen.

"Well... congrats on getting invited, but I also wish you good luck, you'll need it being
muggleborn." Mary gave Daisy a soft smile that only screamed 'pity' as her eyes softened on the
girl.

Daisy was only feeling more nervous about attending the dinner, maybe she could just stay in the
common room, tell Slughorn she had forgotten about it- but then- her reputation as a good student
will deteriorate and she'll lose the trust of her teachers to do anything ever again!

'Suck it up and go.' Daisy told herself. She was a fantastic witch and she deserved to go to the
party, no matter how awful Mary and James made it sound.

"Ready Daisy!" Lily skipped downstairs at last.

"Alright Evans?" James gawped as Lily came into view, sitting up straight. "You look lovely."

Daisy watched as James' eyes softened once they landed on Lily, looking at her as if she were a the
most beautiful flower in the garden.

Lily looked to the floor, scuffing her feet on the ground. "Thanks Potter." Giving James a nod
which the boy looked delighted at.

Mary looked between the two with a smirk.

"Well- Daisy come on we don't want to be late!" Lily skipped to Daisy and pulled her arm towards
the portrait door.

"Have you been before?" Daisy questioned curiously, as the two walked through the castle.

"I went to all the parties last year with Severus, Professor Slughorn was delighted with our potion
making." She said grinning proudly.
Daisy looked to her sister as if she had no clue about Severus' invite. To play oblivious would be
the best chance she would have at saying polite. "Severus is coming?" Her high voice sounded
much more forced than she had planned, causing her to sound interested rather than confused. "I
heard he's your best friend, but I've never met him."

"Yeah uhm, he doesn't visit. He's always busy."

Wow... busy for the whole summer?

"I only see him at Hogwarts." Lily looked straight ahead unblinking. See, Lily had a guilty
conscience. Never ever has Lily been able to lie, and when she does, her face turns to stone,
removing all expressions that there could be.

Trying not to be found out, is how she's always caught.

"He's the smartest wizard in our year." Daisy almost laughed. She wasn't sure about that one,
because she was sure it was actually Sirius who was the smartest in Lily's year, she had heard it
from everyone. Flitwick used Sirius' old essays as examples during class, McGonagall told the first
years that they should be attempting to beat Sirius and James' scores, and Daisy always overheard
Slughorn telling Regulus that he was giving Sirius a run for his money. Unfortunately, Lily seemed
to dislike the gryffdors. All she saw in Sirius was his willingness to rebel and cause chaos. In Lily's
eyes, Sirius Black couldn't possibly be intelligent.

As the girls walked, the castle was almost empty. Only a few older students roamed the corridors
from visiting the library, and the prefects were doing their duties.

Eventually, Lily had led Daisy to a different room that wasn't at all at the Dungeons which she
thought it would be. It was a room at the top of the castle that had been decorated brightly with
gold and green tinsel. It smelt of rich plums and candle wax.

"The Evans!" Slughorn announced happily as he walked over to the siblings.

"Good evening Professor!" Lily smiled kindly. Daisy followed suit with, "hi Professor." Copying
Lily's mannerisms seeing as she had been here before. Her hands were behind her back
straightening her posture and allowing her chest to stick out confidently.

"How splendid it is to see you both!" The Professor clasped his hands in front of his body, leaning
toward to the girls. "I'm so glad you chose to attend Daisy, I expected Lily to come and now we
have the two brightest witches of second and first year here with us! How amazing."

Daisy had to admit, she did feel happy when Professor Slughorn compliment her academics.
Especially with Lily beside her.

"Thank you Professor. Oh and- how's Francis?" Lily asked and Daisy stood confused.

"Francis is doing great, he's probably sleeping in my office now, I recently bought him a much
larger tank that he could swim around in with some other friends." At that Lily looked delighted.

'Who was Francis?' Daisy mentally asked herself.

"Now come along and have a seat, we're just waiting for another few to arrive." He then guided the
girls towards a large round table in the middle of the room that already had quite a few students
sitting around it.

They looked very different in comparison to Daisy and Lily. They looked... expensive. Girls wore
gold and sparkly jewellery, and the boys wore fancy looking dress robes. Daisy spotted Regulus
Black who wore perfect fitted green velvet, it probably cost more than Daisy's entire wardrobe. His
hair still just as well kept as it always was, not a curl out of place.

Beside him, Barty Crouch who wore black.

"Your seats ladies." Slughorn gestured towards the empty seats between Regulus... and Severus.

So Lily and Daisy travelled around the table. Coming up to their seats however, Lily whispered
into Daisy's ear, "why don't you sit next to Severus? It would be great to get to know him!" And
she agreed.

A friend of Lily's is a friend of hers.

Taking their seats, Lily pulled the chair beside Regulus out and sat down. Then Daisy, who
hesitantly looked down at Severus as if he would jump up and bite her if she got too close. His face
was very tight and angry. Narrow eyes, clenched jaw, hands fisted.

She sat down cautiously while Severus looked beside Daisy in bewilderment, his eyes wavering
between the two girls. "Lily... I thought you were to sit next to me?" Upset, he said looking over
Daisy like she wasn't there.

Lily softly tightened her lips in an apologetic way. "I know Sev, I just thought it would be nice for
you to get to know Daisy!" He so badly wanted to question why on earth Daisy was sitting beside
him, but he was biting his tongue. Daisy side eyed the boy in hope that she was safe to tuck her
chair in without losing a limb.

"Excellent idea." He mumbled with a forced smile to Lily who was satisfied.

Severus' outfit didn't look very expensive in comparison to the other boys in the room Daisy
noticed. The sleeves were a little short and his shirt poked out, the shoulders a little rough, and his
ankles were a bit more exposed than they should have been. He smelt very strong too, but it was
the type of cologne that gets stuck in your throat and attempts to choke you, sucking it dry, and
Daisy was struggling to keep herself composed as she subtly gasped for air by turning her face to
look behind her.

"What are you looking at?" Lily questioned turning around too, moving her eyes between Daisy
and a blank wall. "Wha- oh nothing." Daisy forced an awkward chuckle and shook her head
quickly while Lily looked back at the wall confused. Before turning back around, Daisy made sure
to take a deep breath of decontaminated air, then turned back around, ignoring the judging look
Lily gave her.

"Well good evening anyways Severus!" Lily had started, leaning over the table to see around
Daisy. Daisy now began regretting her decision to sit beside this stranger, because this meant she
was stuck in the middle of the two conversing.

"Good evening Lily, you look lovely." Severus' gravelly voice had appeared soft in Lily's direction.

He looked her up and down as if he were a dog in a butchers shop.

Lily tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Thanks Sev, you look really nice too!" Daisy noticed
however, Lily's eyes hadn't even look in the direction of the boys clothes.

"I heard you're the smartest in your year... is that right?" She hadn't meant to sound interrogating,
but she was nervous. Severus towered over her and only moved his eyes to see her rather than
turning around.

"Yes." He droned.

"Do you know James?" She asked, remembering how they're in the same year.

"Potter?" His lip twitched.

"Yeah. He's really good at quidditch."

"So I've heard. He's very immature however."

"I like him. He's my friend."

"Well I guess some of us have better judgment than others hm?" He finally turned to look down at
her, and she gasped offended.

He turned back looked smug and she wanted to wipe it right off him.

However just as she thought that, a shiver went down her spine as Severus side eyed her
ominously. She couldn't tell why, but she felt exposed, as she were completely naked or something.

Daisy eyebrows came to a thin line, crossing her arms over her chest, she looked at Severus from
the corner of her eye. She hadn't done anything. Right?

The boy beside her exhaled sharply, before turning back to Lily who was now facing in the
direction of Professor Slughorn who had just finished directing other students to their seats.

"Welcome everyone, to the first dinner of the Slug Club." Professor Slughorn stood up at his chair,
and Daisy turned her attention towards him.

"It's a pleasure to be in the presence of Hogwarts brightest and best, and I'm expecting many great
things to come of you all." The Professor continued. "I hope you're all comfortable, because dinner
will be served in just a few minutes. And I hope you're hungry! I've really outdone myself this
year." He said with a smile while he raised his goblet in the air. "So a toast to you all, to our stars."
Daisy watched everyone else raise their filled goblets too, and she followed suit, trying her best to
match what Lily was doing so she didn't seem out of place.

Once Slughorn had sat back down, he took his attention towards the cutlery sitting in front of him.
"I received these dishes from a former students of mine, she's actually gone and became a ceramist.
It's a muggle job normally, but she uses all sorts of magic for her wonderful designs." He boasted
gesturing down to the emerald green ceramic plates.

He lifted up his own so everybody could see the centre. "Each of the plates will form images to
match their user. Mine here is covered in gold, a few potions fizzing here and there, oh! A few
little slugs too, but don't worry they're not real." He chuckled to himself and set his plate down.

Looking down at her own for the first time, Daisy was amazed to see little white daisies forming
around the ring of her plate, and in the centre was a lionesses face roaring up at her, then she
caught the sight of a snitch that was zipping along the plate then disappearing at the other side,
only to then appear again in another direction.

Looking to Lily's, she too had flowers around her ring, but of course they were lilies and not
daisies. A doe was skipping merrily around a forest that was forming, and scattered on the grass
that the deer galloped on, multiple open books lying open.
Daisy couldn't have cared less about what was on Severus' plate. So she didn't bother to check.

Before she even thought changing her mind could even occur, with a crack, the empty plates were
filled with roast beef, mashed potatoes, and all the trimmings. Covering whatever was on the plate
anyways. It didn't matter.

"So everyone, how about we get to know some of our newcomers!" The second Slughorn
suggested such a thing, Daisy felt her stomach fill with static, and her tongue fizzed. She wasn't
exactly feeling warm towards introducing her muggle born self to a room filled with people that
probably already hated her.

Sitting at the circle, there were many students who's eyes bore into the two muggle born sisters.
Boys with dark eyes looked at her as if she were dirt on their shoe, and girls with red lips stuck their
noses in the air.

"Daisy here is an excellent muggle born witch, she's the smartest witch in here entire year!" The
Professor was suddenly gesturing towards her with his hand, and countless pairs of eyes were on
her.

"Thanks." Daisy replied with a nod and a slight smile, not wanting to do anything else that would
draw attention to herself.

"What is it your parents do again? I recall Lily telling me last year but its seemed to have left my
mind, my apologies Lily." Slughorn looked apologetically to Lily who smiled.

"It's alright Professor." Her older sister laughed it off, but she didn't miss the unpleasant looks Lily
had received from a few students. Barty Crouch's expression being very distinguishable in
comparison to those around him who's faces hadn't altered.

Daisy scanned the strangers faces and came to see that some were looking a little less intimating
than others. Her eyes swept across Aaron McKinnon who was the quidditch captain, as well as
Sabrina Rosenthal who was the seeker, at least there were kind. They were sitting across from
another older girl who looked the opposite of welcoming. A dark serpent low cut dress, showing
off her ghost pale skin which complimented her bright crimson lip. Her platinum blonde hair
slicked back and ran down her back like silk.

She was one of the students who had evidently taken a dislike to Daisy. Watching her as if she
were an animal at the zoo caught in a cage.

Daisy turned back to Slughorn and straightened her back. "My dad's a mechanic, and my mum's a
primary school teacher." She forced a little bit of confidence from the pit in her stomach which it
hid itself when she entered the room. Announcing proudly into the air, to which it only seemed like
a handful of people were actually listening.

"Splendid! I heard mechanics have quite the tough job, muggles are fascinating with their wheely
cars!" Slughorn's words didn't exactly match it's tone, implying that he was surprise that a stupid
muggle could do anything intelligent. Muggles were fascinating to them, just like they would be
when looking at a beetle.

Regulus Black was among the few who looked as if they were full of questions, as if he'd never
heard of a mechanic or primary teacher. Who did they call if there was something to fix? Did
wizards go to primary school?

However, Slughorn was pleased and Daisy would leave it at that, no matter how degrading it may
be. To make things even better, Daisy could just feel Severus' glare burning on the side of her
temple.

"We have another Black joining us this year too. It's great to have you Regulus." Slughorn
suddenly turned his direction to Regulus who looked startled for a split second, pulling his
attention from Daisy and composing himself immediately. "Thank you Professor, I'm pleased to be
here." Regulus smiled politely.

His voice was always so smooth.

"It's absolutely wonderful to have you all here with me tonight, I'm expecting great things to come
from you all here at and beyond Hogwarts. There's no doubt in my mind you won't make it." Daisy
smiled to herself at the thought. She was here for a reason, and she was going to reach the top.

While eating, Daisy not only had to stomach the far too rich beef and gravy, but the sickening voice
of Severus whenever he talked to Lily.

"I got full marks on my charms essay Lily, thanks to you." Severus melted.

"Sev you did that yourself! I only gave you a little push." Lily was too flattered.

How sweet, Daisy almost gagged.

Daisy was mentally keeping tally marks on how many times Severus sucked up to her older sister,
she was a bloody balloon about to pop. So far he was at four, and this had only been in the last ten
minutes. She was finding it particularly hard not to show her annoyance on her face, only cursing
Severus out in her head was keeping her sane.

She didn't even know him! Yet she had been completely insulted as if she were a little girl with
mashed potato for brains.

Yet, what was strange about this dinner was how every so often she'd feel the same tingly feeling
run down her spine, like little ants were marching very quickly down her back, and she put it down
to being uncomfortable whenever Severus looked her way. When the boy lay his eyes upon her, his
cold stare turned Daisy's body to ice.

"Oh Severus, Daisy is the top of her class in potions. Isn't that great?!" Lily peered around Daisy as
she grinned towards Severus who had- in a flash- turned back into the sweet and innocent boy that
her sister knew.

"Oh really?" Daisy rolled her eyes at how interested he sounded, his chin resting upon the palm of
his hand as he leaned closer to look at Lily instead of her.

Lily looked at Daisy with hopeful eyes, nodding her head and darting her eyes in the direction of
Severus, gesturing for Daisy to say something. "Uhm, yeah, I am. That's why I'm here I guess."
She said talking to her down to ceramic.

"She's smart, just like you then Lily." Five. Daisy couldn't tell if it was the beef of Severus' sweet
talk that had done it, but she felt queasy now.

Lily giggled. "She does well in all her subjects! Oh Daisy you haven't told me yet, what's your
favourite?" Her older sister tilted her head in order to see Daisy's eyes that glued to her plate, she
had absolutely no more interest in sitting in between the two second years anymore. She's rather be
sat beside Barty Crouch.
Daisy hasn't actually thought about which class she preferred most, it was a rather hard decision
when every period was just as amazing as the next, well- besides History of Magic- she could do
without that one.

'Transfiguration probably.' Daisy had thought to herself while in the process of making a decision
in her mind. She loved Professor Duras' classes with all her heart, but if it ever came down to only
choosing one subject for the rest of her life, she'd have to choose Professor McGonagall's.

"Yeah transfigurations good I guess, I think potions is better though.' Severus laughed.

Daisy's head jerked up immediately and she gaped at Severus who furrowed his brows. "What?"
He chuckled giving a quick raise of his brows at her. Daisy however had the worst feeling in her
stomach, tens and thousands of knots tied in her gut and her body felt frozen now.

"I hadn't said anything." She said casually, staring up at Severus with suspicious eyes. Her voice
quiet enough that Lily couldn't understand anything that she was saying.

Severus chuckled anxiously. "Oh- well eh- I just thought you did." Daisy bite the inside of her
cheek.

"Well I hadn't." She hadn't taken her eyes off of his since she first looked up, she was completely
dumbfounded, but rather scared too. Had she said something? How did he know?

"Well go on then what's your favourite?" Lily, who had been oblivious to the other twos
conversation, had nudged Daisy which had broke the stare off that herself and Severus were
having.

His intense black eyes pierced into Daisy's deep blue, the two of them both searching for answers
that were hidden and sealed within their orbs.

Daisy turned around to Lily in a flash, telling her strongly, "Transfiguration." Before shoving a
forkful of mashed potato into her mouth, indicating that Daisy would be speaking no more.

"And James is mmph- really good at it." She pushed through her mouthful.

She wished dearly that she hadn't sat down where she had. If she had just sat down in the seat she
was supposed to, she could possibly be talking to Regulus Black about something, well- if he
wanted to. The poor boy was currently stuck listening to Barty ramble.

So Daisy sat in a painful silence moving corn around her plate, taking out her ill feeling on the
small food by crushing a few of them, all while Lily and Severus chatted over the top of her head.

How differently things would be playing out if Heather or Bao had been invited. Or even one of the
boys for that matter. Daisy imagined Benjamin sitting next to her while he directed all his attention
into Regulus instead of her, yet that was better than sitting in between the one sided love duo.

Eventually, the hot food on Daisy's plate was gone and was replaced by pudding. Which she hardly
had room. She couldn't think of eating a crumb, never mind an ice cream sundae and chocolate
eclairs.

"Tuck in everyone! The house elves have really spoiled us!" Slughorn grinned to the students who
were all looking very filled. He however had already dug into his plate.

House elves? House elves made the food?

Daisy hadn't seen a single elf since she'd arrived, perhaps they were able to turn invisible, or just
very good at hiding. The question of 'how did they make their way around Hogwarts?' Would be a
mystery to Daisy unless she somehow found one.

At the mention of the house elves, Regulus Black's head had jerked up instantly. She saw him the
corner of her eye. Daisy imagined he was surprised just like she was, yet evidently to a much
higher extent. She swore that his eyes began to sparkle as he began smiling down at his ice cream.

After the hearty meal, the students were set free to mingle among one another, and Daisy was
desperate to escape the cloud of overused after shave that was still trying dry out her lungs, thanks
of Severus.

There weren't many faces that Daisy could recognise, and the ones that she did were either older
students, or known haters of her blood status.

Daisy noticed that Sabrina and Aaron were among other older students that she wouldn't have
wanted to intrude on, they'd probably look at her like a kid, and seeing as Lily had left her to
wander off with Severus, she was left standing awkwardly at the dining table.

She resorted to sitting herself back down and began picking at what was left of her chocolate eclair.

"No one wanting to sit with you?" A known cruel laugh caused Daisy to turn her head and scowl.
"What did you expect? Everyone here has a purpose except you." Barty crouch leaned in close to
her face, his hands resting upon the table.

Daisy looking up at him bored. "Like I said before Bartemius, I earned my place by being clever,
you're here because of daddy's money. You won't be able to hide behind your dads wealth forever,
so why not give it a rest, it must be exhausting making a fool out of yourself everyday."

Barty scowled deeply, and Daisy noticed that signature purple vein begin to stick out of his neck.

"Whatever mudblood." He sneered in her face. How original. "When the time comes we'll see who
the better wizard is, watch your back." Daisy clicked her tongue.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist Barty, we all know what happens when you do." Lazily shoving
a piece of eclair into her mouth.

Fuming, Barty pushed himself away from Daisy and into the crowd, harshly bumping into her in
the process.

'Thank god, he really had nothing interesting to say at all.'

"This par'ys rubbish." A small boy with a difficult accent had slumped down beside Daisy who had
began sulking again as her fork pierced her eclair, she had felt so out of place throughout this entire
evening.

She turned to the boy who was scowling in the direction of Barty Crouch who was surrounded by
other Slytherin's, including Regulus Black who stood misplaced at the side while older students
tried to engage in conversation with him.

The boy sitting next to Daisy had straight ash brown coloured hair that he swept to one side, his
eyes a yellow speckled brown. He didn't wear the same dress robes as every other boy in here,
instead he wore a blue and white striped button up shirt that tucked into a pair of black high
waisted trousers, cinched by a white belt. At first she didn't think she knew this boy, but she soon
recognised him to be a boy in the Ravenclaw house that sat at the front of her history of magic
class, his face was however always buried into his parchment and she could only ever see the back
of his head. At least he was a first year like her.

"Oh am Dirk by the way, Dirk Cresswell." He turned around and his face rose from a scowl to a
smile. He held out his hand. He had a rather prominent roll on his r's which surprised Daisy. His
words were quickly spoken which made it a little hard to understand at first, she needed a little time
to process it all.

She sat up from her depressing slumped position and took his hand in hers to shake. "I'm Daisy
Evans, you're in my history of magic class." Dirk looked bewildered as if he'd learnt something
new, they'd been in the same class for four months now. He looked into the distance as if trying to
remember, his tongue in between his lips in thought.

Dirk then sighed in defeat, "Am sorry, a don' recognise ye." He said sincerely. Daisy however
didn't mind, she was pretty sure he'd never turned around to the back of the classroom before, and
Daisy normally didn't answer any of Professor Binns' questions because she was on the verge of
sleeping, so she couldn't blame Dirk for having never saw her before.

"That's alright, you're quite busy in that class anyways, and I sit at the back." She shrugged with a
chuckle that told Dirk it was alright. With a sighed 'whew', Dirk smiled back. "And this party does
suck. Been called a mudblood already." She huffed catching Dirk's attention. "Aye me an' all..."
Dirk frowned.

Daisy looked rather hopeful as she turned around with her eyes wide and mouth twitching into a
shocked smile. "You're muggleborn too?!" She whispered loudly to him.

This made Dirk smile, and Daisy was thrilled to be meeting another muggleborn in this party. All
night she had been victim to the prejudice of purebloods, and it was lovely to meet a fellow down
to earth mugglborn in a room filled with some of the snobbiest people she had ever met.

Dirk nodded his head excitedly when he said, "Yeah!" Daisy giggled and scanned the room
looking for Lily's bright red hair and caught her instantly.

"Me and my sister Lily are, I thought we were the only ones!' Pointing in the direction of her sister
who was standing next to Severus, who may as well be twirling his greasy hair in between his
fingers.

"Tha's mental! Think we're the only ones by the way, everyone else is either half or pure." He
sighed and looked in the direction of Slughorn who was chatting to the older Slytherin girl with the
platinum blonde hair. "I's as if he either disnae care, or jus' disnae see I'." Dirk sighed, leaning
forward and looking at his shoes. It was true. Slughorn was either completely oblivious to the
prejudice in his club, or he didn't bother about it and was aware. Either way, Daisy didn't want to
be here.

"Hey, av' got an idea." Dirk's head had quickly snapped back up. With a smirk he quickly scanned
the room, before turning back to Daisy.

She gestured from him to go on. "Let's leave, a'll take ye tae the Hogwarts kitchens, a go there all
the time, there's always loads a' leftover puddin'." It was the best suggestion that Daisy had ever
heard. Absolutely anything to get her out of this party would have been.

Normally, she would have the fear of breaking the rules, but surely there would be no harm with
running off with Dirk, just this one time.
"That's a brilliant idea!" She whispered back excitedly. Daisy then looked around the room to see
Professor Slughorn at the other end of the room now talking very animatedly to a very uninterested
Regulus who stared foggy eyed up at the teacher.

Dirk saw them too and turned to Daisy. "He's distracted, quick let's go." Giggling he took a hold of
her arm, dragging her out her seat and making a b-line for the door.
 Year One: Figure Skating

"Morning!" Daisy chirped planting herself down on the Gryffindor's bench and taking a piece of
toast for herself.

"Morning little Evans." James hummed.

"Yeah." Sirius mumbled from staring at his toast and jam.

Beside him, James' hand had glued itself to Sirius' shoulder while he watched him eat, most likely
making sure that he was.

"Something the matter?" Daisy asked unable to see Sirius' face. None of them answered.

Seeing that none of the boys were willing to speak, Daisy went back to her breakfast, regretting
ever asking.

"Just tired!" Peter abruptly jumped, cutting the awkward tension that was thickening. "We all
stayed up pretty late last night didn't we." He chuckled looking back and forth between James and
Remus for help. The two boys followed suit and nodded. Sirius stayed still.

"Yeah, it's an exhausting morning." Mumbled Remus who then averted his eyes from Daisy.

In contrast to the boys, Mary MacDonald skipped down the isle and planted herself down at the
Gryffindor table. "Morning everyone!" She sang. "Damn, who put salt in your cereal?" She asked
looking around at all the the second years glum faces.

Sirius softly arose from the table without a word, taking a letter from the table and walked away
from the Gryffindors, followed by James who ran to his side immediately, while Remus and Peter
sighed looking down at their plates.

Alice was now over the stage of crying and was now onto being angry at the entire world, she
hadn't said a word at breakfast either, she only sat picking at her eggs and bacon with a sour face.
Breaking the yolk and stabbing it over and over again.

Then there was Lily, who actually was the only one looking decent for a change, normally James
had found a way to irritate her by now.

It was a very strange and unfamiliar atmosphere to be felt at the Gryffindor table. especially seeing
as it was the holiday. Daisy would have expected everyone to be off their rockers.

"Alright then, have it your way. Marlene!" Mary stood up shouting towards the entrance. Remus,
who was sitting next to her, winced at the volume. Marlene McKinnon who had been chatting to
Emmeline Vance looked Mary's way and stood still rather than coming forward.

"What?!" She yelled back to Mary who had attracted the attention of the whole school now.
"Why's everyone so down?!" Lifting her hands over her shoulders with a shrug. Daisy giggled at
her.

"Beats me!" Marlene yelled back with the same shrug, and Mary let out a loud sigh as she threw
her head back.

"Girls sit down please!" Professor McGonagall scolded from her seat at the teacher's table, and
Marlene and Mary both looked at each other while hiding their giggles.

"Well if Marlene doesn't know then no one does." Mary flopped herself back onto her seat and
began spreading Nutella on her toast. Turning her attention to Remus who was resting his head
tiredly against the palm of his hand. "Aren't you eating Remus? A big boy like you needs food."
She said eyeing the plate of barely touched toast that sat in front of Remus.

"Thank you mum but I know how to take care of myself." He offhandedly commented back
pushing his plate away, then with a painful groan he stood up to leave.

"Oh so I've been here two minutes and I've chased half our year away. Brilliant."

Daisy snickered to herself. She loved Mary's energy, so full of life, optimism, and confidence. She's
a walking talking happy pill. Today however just didn't seem like the day for anyone to be in the
mood for fun.

"I don't know about you, but I like a quiet morning." Lily shrugged and Mary narrowed her eyes
with a tilt of her head.

"Not when people are sad Lily, if you want quiet you can also use a silencing charm on them."

To which Lily nodded. "I did once! And Sirius started banging on the table like an enraged ape and
called it morse code for 'give me back my voice Lily Evans'." Mary let out a wheeze at the image,
as did Daisy who was still able to hear the girls conversation. It did sound rather funny.

"Alice." Mary began again but this time in the direction of Alice who looked up without moving
her head that was directed to a bowl of cereal. "We're having a girls night tomorrow night."

"We are?" Lily asked and Mary nodded. "Yes, all four of us. Forget the winter ball Alice and have
some fun with us, being gloomy and sad won't make things better."

Alice noticeably hesitated, lifting her head she took a glimpse towards the third years before taking
a deep breath. "That sounds fun." She said softly.

"Oh brilliant! I'll give you a facial, I brought a few masks in my trunk." Lily grinned, looking just
as excited as Mary who clasped her hands in joy.

"Yeah it will be fun, I'll paint your nails." Mary suggested wiggling her fingers, causing Alice to
break out in a smile. So the three girls decided, and Daisy turned back around to her own year
seeing as their wasn't anything else to eavesdrop on. She really had to learn to stop that.

"And I'll sit and watch." Marlene stated.

"Hey Daisy! How was the slug club last night?" Benjamin's voices took Daisy's attention to the
first years who all having their eyes on her.

"Oh yeah! We must have been asleep when you came back." Bao turned around sitting beside
Daisy, she seemed very excited to hear all about her friends night. It was true that when Daisy had
arrived back late, the two other girls were fast asleep on their beds, though it seemed as if they had
tried to stay awake. Heather was sitting up right with a pillow resting on her lap, and Bao had
fallen asleep in the centre of her bed on top of the duvet.

"The party could have been better. But after it I had the best time! I left early with that boy Dirk
from our history of magic class. We went to the Hogwarts kitchens and took back lots of sweets."
All four of the first year boys looked shocked. "You were out in the castle?" Theodore asked
sounding impressed. She nodded her head and all of the boys gasped in amazement.

"What was it like?! I heard that's where the house elves work." David asked leaning himself over
the table.

"Yes there was lots!" Despite managing to upset the house elves within minutes, Daisy was utterly
fascinated by them. They were all very kind and every single one of them willing to help out.

"You'll show us where it is right?" Brody asked eagerly, staring intensely at Daisy who hummed
thinking to herself.

"Maybe I will, maybe I won't."

"Hey Bao! We can have our bake off in there!" Benjamin gasped grabbing the girls shoulder
shoulder.

"Oh you're right! When will we do it?"

Benjamin tightened his lips in thought. "After Christmas probably, I have to get myself into
shape." He replied flexing his arms that were boney and thin.

Brody rolled his eyes with a smirk. "You've got enough guns already Moore, anymore and you'll
explode!" To which Benjamin stood up and puffed his chest, his hands on his hips, while all the
first years blushed from embarrassment.

"Who else was at the party? Any famous people?" Heather questioned after shaking her head with
a laugh as she turned away from Benjamin.

Recalling the night, she could recognise a few specific faces that sat around Slughorn's dining
table. "There was... your bother and the seeker, Regulus Black, Barty Crouch." Groans and scoffs
filled the air at the last boys name, Heather shuddered.

"Then Uhm... Lily was there of course, and her friend Severus-" Theodore let out a noise of disgust
with a roll of his eyes.

She'd ask him about that later...

"And yeah, I think that's all I could recognise." The first years hummed.

"So Slughorn has a taste then huh? Successful people. Just leaves the rest of us to rot." David
joked. Yet Daisy slightly agreed. The room was filled with rich, intelligent, and superior people in
their area of expertise. Regulus, Lily, and the quidditch players were proof of it. Regulus' family
were well known and respected among pureblooded wizards so she'd heard, students moved out his
way when he walked the halls. Lily was extremely intelligent and did well in all her work, and the
quidditch players had skill that could take them far in a sports career to make them famous. There
wasn't one person who didn't have someone significant about them, maybe that was the point? The
only question now was... why was that? And... honestly why was she special anyways?

After all, Slughorn had called them 'Hogwarts brightest and best' during his little toast. Some
students raised their chins in pride when raising their glasses, as if they agreed that they were in
fact the most important student of Hogwarts. Daisy didn't feel like she fit in with that crowd at all,
which was why she was over the moon when Dirk suggested the simply take off and escape the
bubble of egoism.
"If Regulus was invited why wasn't Sirius? Aren't they brothers?" Heather asked Daisy. Recalling
once more to when Slughorn invited her. He had mentioned over this lines of Sirius not being well
behaved or something like that, otherwise he may have had the chance to go.

"Uhm... I guess Regulus is just a favourite of Slughorn's." She shrugged her shoulders, not wanting
to possibly embarrass Sirius while he wasn't even present to defend himself.

"Whatever the reason, Sirius probably only would have went to sneak a dungbomb under Severus'
chair or something. James was telling me all about how one time Sirius put one into Severus'
cauldron and the whole classroom smelt like shit for the rest of the day, and Severus was the one to
get into trouble!" Brody laughed as he shared his story.

"We could do that the Barty Crouch couldn't we?" David said nudging Brody's stomach, the word
menace written on his forehead, the other two boys looked skeptical.

"We'll get into trouble." Theodore asked warily, his eyes wavering between the boys.

"What's life without a little fun huh?" Brody replied and Daisy let out an airy laugh of disbelief.

"We might get banned from going to potions." Benjamin said looked anxious. Only David and
Brody seemed not to care very much about that possibility, Daisy would hate to lose her potions
privileges. Though it wasn't her favourite.

"What about us? What if we don't want to smell for the rest of the day." Heather whined.

"If we run away fast enough we won't smell! We'll give you lot a head start if you want." David
nodded to Brody now who was becoming some sort of leader.

"How will you get the dungbomb?" Daisy asked, seeing as no one had even mentioned owning
one. How could they possibly go through with this without the equipment needed.

"Oh." Brody furrowed his brows as he propped his chin on his palm in thought. "Wouldn't James
or Sirius have a spare one?"

"Excellent idea! We'll just ask one of them and that will be that, although... we'll have to find them,
they're not here right now." David paused, rubbing his chin.

"We can do the thing tomorrow, that will give us time to plan right?" David suggested towards
only Brody, as he seemed to be the only person who was just as interested in the plan as he was.

"Yeah you're right, well get the dungbombs tonight and carry it out tomorrow." The smirks of
mischief on the two boys faces had Daisy looking sceptical. She had watched the second year boys
in action before and it was rather entertaining, but the thought of herself doing it felt too dangerous.
Barty Crouch already despised each of the Gryffindors, he didn't need anymore of a reason to mess
with her.

At the end of transfiguration today, Daisy had succeeded in transfiguring a baby porcupine into a
pin cushion, despite her not being very sure where that would come in handy at all...

Herself and the other first years were gathering their books to leave for their potions class when
Daisy heard Professor McGonagall call her name.

"Oh and Miss Evans!" Professor McGonagall called Daisy to the front of the class. Heather and
Bao knew to wait outside the door. "Would you have a seat with me?" She asked gesturing towards
a chair in front of her desk. Daisy nodded and sat herself down. "Take a biscuit too if you like." The
Professor smiled bringing out a large red tin from under her desk and opening in to reveal and
variety of treats.

"Thank you." Daisy nodded and took a Bourbon biscuit.

"I noticed you and your friends had quite the fun time watching the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw
quidditch match." Daisy's almost choked on her biscuit at the mention of the game.

Oh no.

Clearing her throat and composing herself, she replied. "Yeah we did, it was my first time ever
watching one." She smiled attempting to mask any nerves she was feeling at the moment. Surely
Professor McGonagall hadn't watched her cheat.

She only did it because she was excited!

The Professor sighed softly adjusting her glasses on top of her nose. "I also may or may not have
noticed you talking to a player during the match?"

'Oh this is it.' Daisy braced herself.

"Talking?" She played the fool.

"Miss Evans, I know you told Sabrina where the snitch was."

Daisy held her breath as disappointment surged through her body, how could she be so stupid?
Professor McGonagall was sure to lose all pride in her after watching her cheat during the match,
she's probably destroyed the whole teams chance of winning anymore games now that they're
known cheaters. She may have even ruined her own chance at trying out for the team, she would
have let Sabrina down.

"And I'm amazed that you could see the snitch from so far away." The Professors amazed tone had
completely thrown Daisy off guard. "The snitch was on the other side of the pitch hovering above
the ground, I'm impressed."

Daisy sat with her mouth agape, her biscuit lying limp between her fingers. "Wait- what? You're
not mad?" She was beyond confused. She had told herself that Professor McGonagall was going to
take her quidditch playing privileges away from her and ban her from trying out, but this... was
totally different.

Professor McGonagall chuckled. "Well, at first I was shocked of course. Never have I seen such a
thing happen before, but I'm willing to forgive and forget if you promise to never do something
like that again." Though a thin smile appeared on the Professors face, Daisy took her words very
seriously.

"Yes Professor. I'm sorry, I'll never do it again I promise." Daisy said solemnly.

Professor McGonagall's smile widened. "It's alright dear, what's done is done. Now that it's over,
I'm much more excited now Miss Evans."

Daisy tilted her head as she watched her Professor rise from her chair and walk over into her office,
then exit holding a wooden picture frame in her hands.

Sitting back down in front of Daisy who was eyeing the back of the picture in anticipation,
Professor McGonagall said, "I used to play quidditch when I attended Hogwarts, I was a beater.
The best if I do say so myself." She was smiling down fondly at the picture. "Although Sirius
Black is giving me a run for my money." With a chuckled.

Daisy could now see that the picture was of a young Professor McGonagall- probably sixteen- who
was standing proudly on the quidditch pitch, holding her broomstick in her left hand, and beaters
bat in the right. She looked proud in the way that her shoulders were pulled back and her chest
puffed out confidently. Her black hair was in a french braid that swung over her shoulder, a few
hairs sticking out here and there as if she'd just came off the pitch, and her eyes were an exciting
green that were full of passion. Daisy imagined that Professor McGonagall could have hit a
bludger for miles.

Daisy was amazed, she never would have even thought to ask if Professor McGonagall played. "I
was the captain in my sixth year, it was the most fun I ever had." The Professor's words drifted out
softly as she recalled her school days, caressing the wooden frame nostalgically.

"Do you like Quidditch Miss Evans?" She questioned Daisy who was looking over her young
teachers scarlet robes. The young girl snapped out of her gaze and replied excitedly, "I love it! I'd
really like to try out for the team once I'm ready, will I still be able to?" Daisy asked hopefully, her
world would come crashing down if she no longer could join after completely falling in love with
it.

"Of course you can my dear, we need someone with your eyes." The Professor winked, smiling
proudly down at Daisy who was still trying to figure out if she were in a dream or not, pinching her
arm over and over again.

"Sabrina said she can guide me next year, then I can try out in third year." She explained to
Professor McGonagall who raised her brows approvingly.

"So I've been told." Nodding her head along with Daisy's words.

Daisy could hardly believe what she was hearing. Professor McGonagall, the woman she had
immediately adored and looked up to the second she met her was proud of her and even
encouraging her to join her team. It was a dream come true. She would train as hard as her body
would let her until she were the best Quidditch seeker Hogwarts had even seen.

"So third year for sure Miss Evans?" Professor McGonagall questioned as she pulled out a
notebook. Daisy nodded.

"Perfect. The seeker position has been reserved for you." With that, Daisy's eyes darted between
her Professor and the notebook, blinking rapidly she questioned in surprise, "r-reserved?"

"I know talent when I see it. The second you enter third year, the spot is yours." Professor
McGonagall smiled, and Daisy felt lightheaded. She couldn't believe that she had just made the
Quidditch team- sure it was in two years time- but she had made it, just like that.

She felt so thankful towards Professor McGonagall that there was nothing that could ever ruin it.
Daisy lay back onto her chair in disbelief, she had no words as she stared wide eyed in the direction
of the Professor's desk.

"There's no doubt in my mind that we'll ever lose a match with you on our team Daisy." Professor
McGonagall grabbed Daisy's attention once again. This was real, and Daisy wasn't going to let her
down.

She stammered, "t-thanks Professor..."

"You may leave now if you like, unless you have any more questions?" Professor McGonagall's
voice brought Daisy back from her daze.

She shook her head. "No... I'm fine." Daisy then lifted her bag from the ground and slowly hung it
on her shoulder. She couldn't stop herself from smiling at the thought that she would be becoming
the Gryffindor seeker.

"Goodbye Professor..." Daisy turned to Professor McGonagall before turning to walk towards the
door.

"Practise hard! I'll be waiting for you." Professor McGonagall called towards Daisy who laughed
as she walked out of the classroom.

Outside Heather and Bao were sitting on the floor with their backs against the stone walls looking
bored. "Having a meal in there or something? What took so long?" Heather asked pushing herself
up.

"Nothing much, she talked through my essay." Daisy lied. She was planning to keep this a secret to
herself right up until quidditch try outs in third year where she would turn up to claim her spot.
Nobody had to know.

The two girls shrugged it off, placing themselves at either side of Daisy. "We thought you were
never coming back out." Bao joked and Daisy forced a laugh, the thought of becoming Gryffindors
seeker was still circling around in her mind.

"Well, I would have preferred that seeing as we have to go to potions now, I hope Professor
Slughorn didn't notice me leaving last night."

Heather flipped her hair over her shoulder. "He was probably too busy sucking up to the rich kids
to notice, you'll be fine."

So the three girls walked into Professor Slughorn's class, and just as Heather suggested, Slughorn
didn't seem at all fazed seeing Daisy, he was his normal oblivious self.

"Miss Evans! I hope you had a swell time at the party last night, did you make any friends?" He
asked standing at the table that was occupied by the three Gryffindor girls today.

"I did Professor, thank you." Daisy told a white lie, as she had mentioned already the party could
have been better but only because of the attendees, but then running away with Dirk made the
night. It seemed to please Professor Slughorn anyways.

Later on in the lesson, Daisy and Regulus Black were standing side by side silently collecting their
ingredients as they normally did, neither of them sure whether or not to strike up a conversation
about Slughorn's party.

"Hey, I heard you were at Slughorn's party last night." Though it seemed like neither of them
needed too as Benjamin popped himself beside Regulus. "Was it fun?" He asked looking up to
Regulus who was only a couple centimetres taller than him.

Regulus shrugged his shoulders with a hum, indicating that he didn't give much of a thought
towards the party. Daisy noted that if she spoke, even though she already had today, perhaps
Regulus would follow her and she'd succeed in having another conversation with him.

"Bit boring I thought. I left early." After all, she promised Sirius she would try.
"You can leave early?!" Regulus twisted his neck quickly in a shock, whispering loudly towards
Daisy. It was rather surprising whenever the boy spoke to anyone other than Barty Crouch or
Benjamin, Daisy only felt like an acquaintance seeing as the two of them have spoken only a
handful of times.

"Well..." Daisy's words came out a little high pitched, seeing as she wasn't actually supposed to
leave early, but herself and Dirk weren't really leaning towards following the rule. "Not really
actually... me and Dirk Cresswell went to the kitchens because we were bored." Regulus looked
shocked.

"I wish I had thought of that..." he mumbled sighing down at the counter now.

"Why? Did you not like it either?" Benjamin asked bending down so he could see Regulus' face.

Regulus shook his head. "Not really... I didn't have anyone to talk to the whole time, it was quite
lonely." His voice was soft, and Daisy couldn't help but feel sympathetic towards him. "My cousin
was there, but she's very picky with who she speaks to."

It was clear during her time at the party that Regulus had distanced himself from the other students.
Physically, Regulus fit in perfectly with the rest of the attendees, but once Daisy properly looked at
him he was as completely out of place, he stuck out like a sore thumb. Surrounded by older
purebloods that circled him like vultures, he cocooned himself and kept his mouth shut. He would
look around lost and glue himself to the same spot for ages until Barty dragged him somewhere
else. Part of her was wishing he had came with her and Dirk, but it just wasn't possible during the
circumstances. The older purebloods looked at Regulus as if he were fresh meat in a kennel, their
eyes hardly left him. He came from a well respected family that had more money than Daisy could
ever imagine, the older students wanted him to respect them, because if he did then they would be
respected by everyone wouldn't they? If the best of the best like you, you might as well be the best
too.

He was a young boy being taken advantage of by the older students, and Daisy could do nothing
but watch and sigh.

She didn't think she could do anything.

"Sorry about that..." Daisy looked down at her leaves in guilt.

"Oh- no it's alright." Regulus turned to her in a little panic. "I-I wasnt trying to guilt trip you or
anything..." now he was sounding sorry.

"I'm sure the party sucked, but it's over now right?" Said Benjamin, cutting the thick guilt filled
tension that had filled the air. Both Daisy and Regulus nodded. "Great, so the two of you can leave
the party in the past!" Benjamin smiled causing the other two's lips to twitch upwards.

"Yeah you're right..." Regulus said nodding his head that was followed by Daisy.

After the three collected their ingredients, they all returned to their desks. Daisy watched how
almost immediately the Gryffindor boys began scheming once Benjamin had returned, though he
wasn't looking very interested in the prank. Brody was taking countless glances over at the table in
which Barty, Crabbe, Goyle, and Regulus all stood at.

"I don't want to get into trouble!" Daisy heard Theodore whispered loudly into their square.

"You won't get into trouble it's foolproof!" Brody replied but Theodore was shaking his head in
disagreement.
"It sounds stupid. I'm not doing it, I don't want my caretaker finding out I've been misbehaving
here! I'm supposed to be doing good." Then Theodore roughly shoved his textbook under his arm,
took his ink and quill into one hand, threw the strap of his bag over one shoulder, then picked up
his cauldron before migrating himself to the girls table where he made himself at home. "Mind if I
stay here?" He asked the girls.

"Well, you're already here so what can we do?" Heather shrugged her shoulders jokingly, while
Bao nodded her head.

"Of course you can! I don't really want to take part in their shenanigans anyways, I'll be awfully
smelly afterwards." Screwing her face up at the thought.

"Brilliant, thanks." And Theodore got to work once more while the Gryffindor boys stared at him
in shock.

Brody huffed and turned back to glaring at Barty. "Fine, we'll do it ourselves then." And turned his
back to the other table. David followed, while Benjamin was hesitating, looking between
Theodore's back and the other two boys who were discussing their tactics.

"It is a stupid idea I think, McGonagall will find out and we'll get into big trouble, all of us I bet."
Heather sighed as she mixed her leaves in with her toad legs.

"It's all Brody and David talk about. Barty this Barty that, it's exhausting." Theodore complained
rolling his eyes. "They're just obsessed with him as he is with us, it'll cause nothing but trouble."

At the end of the period, Theodore packed his things in a hurry and exited the potions classroom
first, then Daisy watched Brody and David chase after him after shoving their stationery carelessly
into their book bag, most likely in attempt to convince him to join their plan. Benjamin however
took his time and left by himself.

After eventually leaving the potions classroom, three girls were walking around one of the halls
corners when Heather swung her arm out and caught Daisy from walking forward, however not
having long enough arms to catch Bao. "Watch ou-"

Though it was too late as Bao had slipped on the ground and fell backwards onto her back.

"Oh god, Bao are you alright?" Daisy asked pulling her friend up.

"Yeah... bloody hell what's happened to the corridor?" Bao groaned rubbing her sore head.

"Oh jeez that lump on your head is massive." Heather said walking behind Bao as she examined
the back of her head.

"What?!" Bao turned around in shock as she tried to feel the back of her head.

"Oh yeah, Madam Pomfrey might have to cut it out." Heather made a face of disgust, "might leave
a dent in your head." Bao let out a cry of worry.

Daisy furrowed her brows and checked the back of Bao's head only to not find any bump at all. It
then clicked that Heather was only trying to trick her.

Rolling her eyes with a smirk, Daisy eased Bao's worry when saying, "Don't listen to her, there's no
bump. And Madam Pomfrey would be able to fix it instantly I bet." She laughed at the two girls.
Heather pouted giving Daisy a look of 'hey I was having fun' while Bao looked incredibly thankful
to still be keeping her head.
Looking forward now, Daisy was perplexed to not to see the ordinary concrete floor of the
Hogwarts corridors, but it was ice.

"Do you think it froze overnight or something?" Bao asked tilting her head at the floor.

"I think I might know what happened..." Just as Daisy said that, a figure appeared from the corner
wearing black figure skates, and he was gliding smoothly along the icy floors.

"Hey guys! Like it?" Sirius Black gave a twirl before coming to a stop in front of the girls who
looked at him confused.

"I just fell on it!" Bao exasperated.

The older boy gave a shrug. "Sorry about that love, should have been more careful." Sirius pointed
to his figure skates with a smirk. Bao rolled her eyes at his carelessness.

However, Daisy smiled seeing as Sirius was looking much happier than before at breakfast, his
eyes were light grey and sparkling with excitement, and his cheeks were a light shade of pink from
all the skating he had been doing.

"So... what is all this?" Daisy asked looking at Sirius' skates.

"It's an ice rink of course! Well- ice corridor more like, and we're skating on it! Snivellus can't
catch us on it, he keeps falling over." He snickered.

"We?" Heather questioned. "Yeah, me, James, Peter, and Remus- well- he's trying at least. Mary
and Alice are also having a go, you should try it!" The three girls looked at each other. "We don't
have skates." It seemed like a very easy observation, the three girls were standing in their school
shoes, and neither of them had thought that they would have had to bring a pair of ice skates to
school.

"No worries! I'll call James and he'll transfigure your shoes just like he did with ours." With that
Sirius turned around and yelled into the icy corridor. "JAMES!" Soon enough, a figure with messy
black hair and glasses skidded around the corner and stopped at the girls, coming to a quick halt
and spraying the girls with ice shavings.

"Yes?" James asked Sirius while the girls wiped their clothes.

"The ladies need skates, so do your thing magic man!" James nodded and turned to the three girls,
and waved his wand along with his incantation, "glaciesnullum mutatio." Icy grey sparkles emitted
from James' wand as he waved a figure of eight in the direction of each of the girls normal school
shoes.

Daisy was skeptical at first, but after almost losing her balance due to her new blades, she could
believe James. All three of the girls were looking at their shiny new ice skates in admiration, each
of them completely stunned at James' creation.

"How did you do that?!" Heather gasped.

"Just a little thing I learnt, no big deal." James shrugged his shoulders cooly and folded his arms
over his chest, smirking proudly to show off his pearly white teeth.

No big deal? Daisy was shocked almost everyday at a new advanced spell that one of the second
year boys, mainly James or Sirius, had somehow learned to do. Maybe it was to do with
purebloods, maybe they just had that ability? Anyways, she was rather glad that she had befriended
the two boys, as the chances are is that she would only ever be on the positive side of their skills.
Severus Snape and Barty Crouch however would be staying on the negative side for a long time,
Daisy bet.

"Thanks James!" Daisy giggled lifting her foot up to admire at her skates, then wobbly stood onto
the ice with the help of Sirius who took her arm for extra support.

"Come on, everyone else is already skating!" James said helping Annabelle and Heather onto the
ice now.

So the three girls followed James and Sirius to where the first year boys were playing a game of
last man standing. Theodore was sitting against a wall watching the other boys with uninterested
eyes, Daisy could have guessed that he was the first one out.

Beyond the first years, Remus was sitting upon a frozen bench with his hands buried deep into his
pockets, and a thick scarlet scarf wrapped around his neck that he buried his chin into. In front of
him, Peter was skating in a circle and twirling every so often, surprising Daisy on how well he
could keep himself up.

She herself wasn't the most fantastic skater, but she did have experience. Back in her primary
school, they all took skating lessons as a class and that's how she was able to keep herself up. Her
mother also loved taking the girls to the ice rink whenever she had a day off. The sisters would
race each other, play tig, and when Daisy was little and just a beginner she loved using the little
penguins to help keep her standing. She couldn't do any tricks or anything impressive, but at least
she wasn't on the ground with a wet butt.

Ignoring the boys who were still attempting to deck one another, Daisy slide over to Theodore and
stopped herself from running into him by grabbing onto the stone wall, which unsurprisingly was
freezing cold to the touch. "Hey." She said, and Theodore looked up at her with a sad glint in his
eyes. "First out?" She asked looking towards the other boys who had just knocked Benjamin off his
feet, and he landed with a thud. "Ow..."

"Yeah..." Theodore twirled his thumbs while looking down at his skates.

"Why don't you come skate with me?" Daisy then looked towards Heather and Bao who had joined
hands and were spinning each other around in a big circle, then letting each other go and allowing
themselves to be hurled into whatever was in their way, walls, the ground, people even.

So while they were busy, Daisy held her hand out to Theodore who stared at it. He looked up to
Daisy with a questionable look and she said, "skate with me?" And Theodore made a knowing 'O'
with his mouth, before shaking his head.

"I have no idea how to skate." He chuckled out of embarrassment to himself, looking down at his
feet that were unmoving.

"It's alright! I can help you." Daisy smiled and held her other hand out in front of her. Theodore
hesitantly took them both and stumbled on his onto skates, gripping her hands tightly. "Try to
straighten your back." Daisy said, seeing as Theodore was leaning forward, and that would cause
him to fall over at some point. So Theodore attempted to pull himself upwards, and was now
standing with a stiff back and shaky knees.

"That's it!" Daisy praised, and he began to smile and bit his lip as he concentrated on the ground.
"Now try to kick off, and I'll make sure you don't fall." Theodore pushed with his right foot at first
and gasped in panic as he moved forward, Daisy gliding backwards while holding onto him. "It's
alright! That's supposed to happen." Theodore began turning red and attempted to hid his
embarrassed face by looking down at the ice.

"Sorry..." he mumbled quietly with a shy smile, and Daisy blushed. "It's fine, let's keep going. Just
keep pushing." So he did.

He was half walking, half tripping as he continued to push Daisy backwards. He wasn't doing so
bad actually. "You're getting it!" Daisy was excited now seeing Theodore ease up to the skating.

"I am?" He asked in disbelief, chuckling to himself as he looked down at his feet. His smile was
that of a toddler learning to take their first steps.

Daisy was slowly easing her grip on Theodore's hands, gradually letting him go to see if he would
be able to do it by himself. Quickly, she let go and slid out of Theodore's way and watched him
glide down the corridor. "Daisy?!" He yelled in betrayal as he wobbled and spun around in
confusion and panic. Just when Daisy thought he would be able to do it by himself, he fell and
landed on his stomach with a loud groan. "Whoops." She raised her brows and hid a smile as she
skated to his aid.

Theodore was pushing himself back up from the icy ground holding his stomach. "How nice of
you." He joked grabbing onto Daisy's shoulder to pull himself up. "I think I've had enough for one
day." To which Daisy nodded, her ankles were getting a little tired now after all, a break sounded
heavenly.

So sitting down with Theodore, Daisy observed the other students that had filled the corridor to
skate. In one space, Sirius was attempting to help Remus skate in just the same way that Daisy was
teaching Theodore. Remus was hardly ever on his feet, and Sirius was constantly picking him up
from the ground only for him to fall again.

"Come on Moony you can do it!" Sirius encouraged to which Remus tutted.

"Sirius I'm tired." Sirius frowned and while holding Remus up, skated towards one of the benches
that he had frozen and sat the pair of them down. "Better?" He asked once Remus was sitting
comfortably.

"Better."

"Hey Evans! Skate with me?" James had gracefully glided over towards Lily who was spinning
around with Alice, Mary, and Marlene. He held his hand out and wiggled his eyebrows at her only
for Lily to shake her head.

"No thank you Potter." She replied when the girls stopped and looked at James.

"Well if you change your mind, you know where I am!" And he turned around to skate away, but in
contrast to his entrance, his right foot hit the back of his left and he dramatically launched himself
backwards and landed heavily on the ice with a thud.

Lily snickered under her hand, Mary and Alice wheezed, and Marlene doubled over. James jumped
up quickly and brushed his trousers with his hands while his cheeks darkened. "Bye." He squeaked
nodded awkwardly towards the girls before skating away embarrassed towards Sirius and Remus
who had tears in their eyes from laughing.

Eventually, Heather and Bao were feeling just as worn out as Daisy and Theodore, the two of their
clothes were a little wet from constantly dizzily falling over and spinning around over and over
again. The four first years couldn't wait for their shoes to go back to normal. Their heels ached and
the cold was getting to them now, all of their fingers were going numb and they were desperate to
get in front of the fire in the common room.

So the four of them were tiredly skating through the halls of the castle when they heard laughing
from around the corner. Sirius' laugh to be exact, and another she didn't know.

Skating around, Daisy was surprised to see that the top of the roof in this corridor was transformed
into black clouds that were sprinkling white snowflakes onto the two boys who were gathering it in
their hands in order to throw it at one another.

"Hey I wasn't looking!" Sirius shouted after a snowball exploded on the back of his head. He
quickly gathered snow in his hands to retaliate and hit the other boy.

"Maybe you should have kept your guard up?" Regulus laughed while dodging Sirius' attack.

On one of the benches, two mini snowmen sat side by side watching the two brothers throw
snowballs back and forth to one another. One big, one small.

"Hey! I bet I can reach the end of the hall before you!" Regulus suddenly challenged Sirius with a
grin.

He was very pretty when he smiled.

"Oh really? Let's go then!" Sirius snickered before shoving his brother backwards to give himself a
head start.

Once Regulus regained his balance and had began pushing off into the ice, the two Black brothers
were fighting for first place. The boy in front changing every second.

The were neck and neck for a while until Regulus had a sudden boost which launched him in front
of Sirius, just in time for him to reach the end of the hall leaving his older brother in second place.

"When did you get so fast?" Sirius panted after stopping at the wall.

"I had time to practise after you left." Regulus chuckled. Sirius tsked, "practising without me huh?
I'll get you back sooner or later Reggie." He said ruffling his brothers hair and giving a light shove
to his head.

Regulus smiled down to the ground.

Daisy warmed at the sight of the two, before turning away to walk away, only to realise that Bao
and Heather had skated off while she stood still, Theodore however was waiting beside her. "Oi!"
She yelled at the two girls who had made it to the end of the hall where there was no ice on the
ground, and were taking their skates off leaving them in their socks.

With Theodore still holding onto her, they skated over to the dry patch of the corridor and also took
their shoes off, and it was such a relieving feeling to have her ankles free at last.

The first years had made it to the common room and had decided to rest around the fire still
without their shoes on as they were still in the form of ice skates. They had been sitting there for
quite a while eavesdropping on older students gush about the winter ball that was in just a few days
time. Girls talking about what dresses they're going to wear and the boys worrying about their
dance skills. It all seemed rather exciting, Daisy had no idea who she would have asked if the first
years were to have a ball.
"That was so cool!" Alice cheered walking into the common room with her skates in her hand,
followed my Lily, Mary, and Marlene.

"It was quite fun I have to admit." Lily nodded her head approvingly. It was after the four girls had
entered the tower that everyone else began piling in.

The second year boys ran in with their normal shoes on and James got to work in fixing everyone
else's. The first year boys headed for the fire where the other half of them still sat warming
themselves up.

"Are any of you lot staying at Hogwarts for Christmas?" Brody asked walking up towards the
group.

"What do you mean?" Bao asked looking up from the fire that her hands were being held up to.

"You can stay at Hogwarts for Christmas instead of going home." Brody explained. "I'm going
home though, I'd like to see my parents."

"Oh I'd like to stay... it sounds fun." Theodore perked up looking rather excited. "I'd have to owl
my caretaker first though."

David tilted his head however to say, "won't it be lonely and boring though? No one else is
staying." And Daisy watched the light in Theodore's eyes vanish.

"I'll stay!" Benjamin blurted out, and Theodore looked at him sympathetically.

"No... you don't have to stay because of me, you should go home and see your family, it will be
boring." But Benjamin shook his head completely determined.

"I'm sure they'll be fine with me staying. I'll owl them and they'll send my presents up here!"
Theodore formed a small smile.

"You'd really stay?"

"Yes I would." The red haired boy promised, ruffling Theodore's hair that made the smaller boy's
eyes sparkle.

"Thanks Ben, I promise it will be fun!" Theodore said looking absolutely delighted. "We can play
chess, explore the castle-"

"Not unless we don't owl back home, come on let's go! We'll use Cindy." Benjamin giggled
happily and pulled Theodore off of the floor in order for them both to run out of the common room
and towards the Owlery.

Daisy watched them run off and thought to herself that staying at Hogwarts would be spectacular.
The Christmas dinner would surely be something extraordinary. Perhaps one year she'll stay, but
for now she'd better return home. Her mother's cookies and father's stories were calling to her to
come back and she couldn't wait to board the train.
 Year One: Tickle The Pear

The two of them had successfully escaped that snobbish dinner, and Daisy could finally breath
again. The fresh- well not so fresh- dusty castle air was cleansing her lungs of dry aftershave.

Dirk was now leading Daisy down the darkened cobblestone corridors that were dimly lit by the
orange light of the sconce fire torches. It was rather eerie looking and creepy, Daisy had never
explored the castle at night before and was only slightly regretting her decision to come seeing as
her arms and legs were now covered in goosebumps from the cold.

'I should have just listened to Bao.' She cursed to herself, thinking of her warm jacket that was
hanging in her dorm room.

The rain outside was pattering loudly against the rainbow stained glass windows of the corridors,
the sound mixing with the high pitched howl of the wind that desperately tried to enter the castle to
freeze the first years. The miserable outside made Daisy wish she was back in her common room in
front of the fire with Heather and Bao, they'd make her feel better than how she felt now. Terrible,
just like clouds above.

"Nearly there, it's down in the basement next tae the Hufflepuff's." Dirk reassured Daisy who was
rubbing her hands up and down her arms in attempt to heat herself up. It felt like they had been
walking for ages since they left Slughorn's party. Not only that, but the thought of getting caught
out of bed haunted her mind, she'd hate to think of getting a detention and having Professor
McGonagall find out.

And she didn't want to be eaten by Mrs Norris

Turning over her shoulder, Daisy anxiously asked Dirk, "what if the caretaker finds us? Won't we
get into trouble?"

Dirk shrugged without a sign of bother. "Who cares, a li'le detention never hurt emb'dy. And
besides, ye'v already came wae me, so might as well keep goin'." He smirked playfully at Daisy
who sighed.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Because being in the corridors with Dirk was much better than being
back in Slughorn's room with Sev.

Daisy wrapped her arms tightly around her shivering body. Lucky Dirk had long sleeves and
trousers on, while Daisy had stupidly chosen to leave in just her dress. But honestly, she'd rather
freeze than spend another moment in Barty Crouch's presence, the cold was rather welcoming in
comparison to him.

Dirk turned a corner and Daisy was now following him down a flight of spiral stairs, then found
herself at the end of a homely corridor. It felt warm like her living room, the smell of fresh cookies
hit her nose instantly reminding her of her mother's baking, and the walls looked much brighter
down here instead of looking a cold grey that she was surrounded by upstairs.

Without stopping, Dirk began strolling down the corridor, while Daisy became distracted by the
vast amount of plants decorating the hall, both high on the walls and low on the ground. "That's the
Hufflepuff common room there." Dirk pointed to a door in a nook on the right-hand side. A large
and dark wooden door towered over the small first years, reaching as high as the ceiling. What was
strange however, was that Daisy didn't see a handle, nor a portrait to get in. Looking around all she
saw was three barrels placed next to the door.

That's when Dirk began explaining at the right time. "And, did you know tha' the Hufflepuff's don'
require a password? Instead they just huv tae beat a wee rhythm on tha' barrel there." This time he
pointed towards the middle barrel of the three. This intrigued Daisy, making her wonder if every
common room had different ways of entering. If so, the Gryffindors certainly had the most boring
way of getting in, all they had to do was memorise a word.

"What's the beat?" Daisy asked staring at the middle barrel.

Dirk approached the barrel and said, "i' goes like this." He cleared his throat, cracking his knuckles
and placed his hands over the lid. "Hel-Ga Hu-Ffle-Puff." And with each syllable, Dirk pat the
barrel with his palms, creating the secret rhythm.

Once he finished, the door to the Hufflepuff dormitory door began to open, just like The Fat Lady
portrait of Gryffindor Tower, fascinating. That was such a cool way to enter your common! She
wished Godric Gryffindor had been a little more creative, he could have had the Gryffindors
singing songs to enter. Sirius would have enjoyed that.

"See! It's so easy! In the Ravenclaw tower, sometimes when getting in'ae ma common room it kin
take me a wee while before a come up wae a suitable answer tae the riddle." He chuckled looking
at the open door. Daisy really hoped that no one would come out to tell them off, seeing as how not
only were they not going in, but neither of them were even Hufflepuff's.

But what was interesting was that she knew how to get into the Ravenclaw tower now too. Riddles!

"Oh but be careful though, if ye get i' wrong ye get covered in vinegar or su'm." Dirk warned
waving his finger at Daisy. "Pretty mean fir getting the rhythm wrong a think. I' should just be a
two minute lock on the door or su'm."

Daisy scrunched up her nose at the thought, the punishment sounded awful. She imagined an
unfortunate exhausted Hufflepuff coming back from a long day, wanting to go to bed, but instead
they accidentally mess up the rhythm and then have to deal with the strong smell of vinegar that's
drenched their clothes. Maybe a password wasn't so bad after all.

Leaving the Hufflepuff's door open, Dirk then strolled away from the barrel, gesturing for Daisy to
follow him down the rest of the corridor.

At last, they were at the very end of the pathway, but Daisy wasn't seeing any sort of entrance
anywhere. "We're here!" Dirk sang throwing his arms up in the direction of a large painting of a
fruit bowl as the two of them came to a halt.

Daisy raised a brow at him suspiciously. "Did you take me down here as a joke or something?
That's not real food that's a painting." She sulked crossing her arms. Maybe Slughorn hadn't noticed
she left and could sneak back in there to knick his treats, as sickening as they were, she was feeling
hungry, she could still taste the richness of the thick gravy in her mouth, calling to her to go back
up.

"Well, a imagine that if ye thought tha' wis real food then ye migh' need a few screws tightened up
here." Dirk tapped his head. "This is how ye get in." He said making a big show of the painting,
and leaned himself up against the wall it hung on.

Nothing looked special about it. The painting didn't move like most portraits in the castle, and there
was no handle or anything to tap a beat on. So how were they to possibly get it? Pull the painting
off and wall and break it? Maybe it would magically repair itself afterwards.

Crossing her arms and standing with her weight on her right leg impatiently, Daisy asked Dirk who
was lounging against the wall admiring the painting, "are you going to open it or are we just going
to stand here and look at those bananas?" She honestly didn't mean to sound so rude, but after a
rough time at The Slug Club, she just wanted something comforting... like food from the kitchens
that she could actually stomach. The kitchens she didn't know how to get into.

"Ah ah, now Daisy ye huv tae be patient." Dirk waved his finger at her as if he were telling off a
toddler. "A'll let ye do it, go tickle the pear." Daisy looked at him oddly.

"Tickle the what?"

"Tickle the pear!"

Dirk got off the wall and waved his arms at the large green pear in the centre of the painting, and
Daisy looked at him like he was mad. What would touching the painting do but ruin the paint?

Holding his hand to the pear, Dirk said again, "Go on, give it a wee tickle!" He laughed while
encouraging Daisy. It was quite the funny innuendo.

Daisy rolled her eyes in a joking disbelief and approached the painting curiously. Boringly
reaching out towards the pear and expecting it to do nothing, she touched it with her index finger,
and began to move it up and down.

Shocking her immensely the pear began to shake under her touch. "It's moving!" She gasped,
watching it wiggle.

Dirk watched amusingly in the background now. "Yeah it's moving because yer tickling i'! Make i'
laugh and i'll open."

Seeing as the pear was now doing something, Daisy put all of her fingers on the painting and- like
Dirk had told her- began to tickle the pear.

The pear's laugh was quiet at first, but as Daisy continued, the laugh became much more audible,
echoing off of the stone walls now.

"What's all that noise?!" The irritated voice of a girl was heard at the top of the corridor. Both Dirk
and Daisy spun around to see a girl in a yellow dressing gown rubbing her eyes tiredly. They both
simultaneously remembered that they left the Hufflepuff's door wide open, allowing the loud
laughter of the pear to travel into their common room and into the students dormitories.

Luckily for them, the painting slowly swung open to reveal a large kitchen. "Ge' in!" Dirk
snickered pushing Daisy in with himself.

Quickly running and not wanting to receive any trouble, Daisy and Dirk shut the door behind them
with a slam. Now inside at least, Daisy recognised that the tables in the kitchens were all lined up
identically to the ones in the Great Hall.

"We're under the Grea' Hall righ' now!" Dirk said on cue, pointing to the ceiling. "The house elves
pu' the food on the tables and i' vanishes up the stairs." The house elves?

Daisy had almost forgotten about the house elves!

Turning away from the tables in the kitchen, Daisy spun around in the opposite direction to see
dozens of small house elves frozen with pots and pans in their hands, looking up at the first years
with delight.

"Hello Miss!" One wearing a blue... curtain? Waved at Daisy. Daisy tilted her head, seeing the
silver rings used to hang up the curtains she had at home, and how the blue fabric trailed below the
little elves feet.

"Uhm... hello." She let out an airy laugh, a little nervous to be meeting the house elves.

From behind that elf, Dirk waved his hand at another with a cheerful, "hiya Maisy!"

From behind a small crowd, a little house elf dressed in a pink floral nightie, one that would have
fit a child, came into view. Maisy had round glassy eyes, a long pointed nose, and protruding ears
that were flapping with joy. "Hello Mr Dirk! Maisy is so glad to see you again!" Her squeaky voice
filled with joy. She said giving Dirk a bow, followed by all of the other elves.

Then her attention turned to Daisy, her face lightening up instantly as she began to jump up and
down excitedly. "And you is brought your ladyfriend!" Pointing between the first years delighted,
then clasping her hands to her body in a lovingly manner. Daisy felt her face heat up and she let out
an awkward chuckle.

"N-no sorry, he's just some guy I met today." Pointing her thumb at Dirk.

Dirk snickered behind his hand. "Yeah this is Daisy, quite like yer name actually, Daisy and Maisy.
How cool?" Daisy nodded along.

The little house elf smiled looking between Dirk and Daisy, seeming as if she liked the pairing of
them. She hadn't really bothered to listen to their explanation.

"I has lots of treats left Mr Dirk, take whatever you like!" The house elf continued, not bothering to
question the two anymore. Daisy was rather glad about that honestly, she didn't need any rumours
about a possible date somehow spreading around.

Dirk smiled happily and began to move to the back of the kitchen with Maisy, gesturing Daisy to
follow him. "This way! This is where the leftovers are kept, there's always loads." His voice
echoing loudly off the walls as he walked ahead.

So she followed.

Seeing as this is the first time she'd ever seen the kitchens, Daisy was completely mesmerised at
how fancy it looked. Multiple gold chandeliers dangled from the ceiling, casting a rich golden
glow around the room as if they were surrounded by magic itself. But then looking at the house
elves, they didn't look like they fit in such a place seeing as they wore worn out rags, curtains, and
baby clothes.

"Maisy?" Daisy asked, and watched the little elf turn around. "Yes miss?"

"Do you guys have clothes here? Like new ones or ones without holes?" The delighted expression
on Maisy's face had dropped instantly as if Daisy had insulted her.

"She didnae mean tha'!" Dirk had suddenly jumped in waving his arms at the elves who were
glaring at Daisy. "She's never met a house elf before, she disnae know!" Daisy was confused to say
the least, what had she done that had angered the house elves so badly.

Dirk turned himself to Daisy, standing between her and the elves. "Ye never ask a house elf abou'
clothes Daisy, rule number one." He whispered loudly to her while crossing his hands into an X
shape. She wished he had told her that sooner.

"S-sorry guys..." she stammered looking around anxiously. "I like what you're wearing!" Daisy
enthusiastically waved her arms towards the elves who began regaining their posture. "You guys
are... cool." Lightly shaking her fist as she spoke, hoping the elves were no longer angry at her for
her mistake.

"It is ok miss." One of the elves close to Daisy began to smile, and all the other elves began
relaxing too. Much to Daisy's relief.

"Anyways! Let's go ge' treats shall we?" Dirk said loudly to disregard the tension that had built up,
and waved his hand for Daisy so follow him again.

Now at the back of the kitchens, Dirk explained. "This is the leftovers cupboard. The elves like tae
eat witevers left- not fae peoples plates of course- but fae the little plates the food comes on."
Walking into the very spacious cupboard, Daisy saw a few elves sitting at small tables eating some
tarts and cakes, all of them wearing matching scruffy grey tea towels.

The looked happy, Daisy was rather amazed at how unbothered they were considering the little
amount of clothing they were, and to be eating leftovers rather than freshly cooked food. "Hey
Rudy!" Dirk was waving to another elf, and this time Daisy noticed that he was wearing a chefs
hat. "He's head chef." Dirk twisted around to tell Daisy who hummed, not wanting to insult
anymore elves tonight.

"Hello Dirk Cresswell! There is so many treats for you here!" Said the elf in a croaky voice. He
looked very old, not that Daisy had ever seen an old house elf before, but if she had to guess then
Rudy would be how she imagined. Rudy was a bigger elf than the rest, but due to slouching over
he appeared shorter. Deep wrinkles coated his whole body and his ragged pillow case was
noticeably the most worn out in comparison to all the other elves, and his chefs hat kept falling
into his eyes.

"He's worked at Hogwarts for like seven'y years or su'm." Said Dirk. No wonder he looked so old.

"Rudy has some sacks for you and your ladyfriend!" The old elf weakly smiled up at Dirk and
Daisy, holding two sacks in his hands. "Cheers Rudy!" Dirk grinned taking the bags from the elf,
then turned around to hand Daisy one.

Sacks? How much was she to take tonight? The sack had a great deal of space, so Daisy had the
idea that she could take as much as she could carry.

"What is your name Miss?" The old elf asked looking up at Daisy with a twinkle in his eye.

"I'm Daisy, and just his friend." Shrugging her shoulders casually, she might as well get used to the
house elves assumptions. Just like Maisy, the elf continued looking between the two with a loving
smile on his face.

Having Dirk lead Daisy to the back of the room, she saw plastic see through containers sat stacked
upon one another, each of them labelled with what was in it. Daisy picked up a container of eclairs,
then brownies, tarts, and donuts. Then when looking around for Dirk she saw him flinging
chocolate bars and lollipops into his. The two of them soon swapped positions and Daisy began
taking wrapped sweets and chocolates into her bag now, while Dirk took containers.

'I'll take some of these for Alice... maybe it will cheer her up.' She thought to herself as she put a
few lemon tarts into her bag.

Soon enough, Daisy filled a sacks worth of puddings which she flung over her shoulder in order to
carry back to the common room, she felt a bit like Santa Claus.

"Goodbye Dirk Cresswell and Daisy!" Rudy called with a little wave to the first years. "Thanks fir
the treats!" Dirk waved back. "Yeah thank you!" Daisy copied.

"Goodbye Mr Dirk and Miss Daisy!" Maisy the elf popped back up and Dirk waved her a goodbye
along with Daisy before the two landed at the large kitchen door once again. "Be good boys and
girls!"

"Hope tha' Hufflepuff lassie isnae still oot there." Dirk said inching the door open to peek out.
"Nope!" He cheered then flung the door open wide.

"Oh and look at that!" He chuckled pointing to his watch. "Sluggy's par'y still isnae done, could ye
imagine if we wur still there?" Daisy didn't want to. She had even forgot that they had attended
until he brought it up. Coming here with Dirk was a thousand times better than the dinner, they
were free of judgment here, they had snacks, and Daisy had finally met the house elves. She had a
wonderful time tonight.

So Dirk and Daisy travelled along the basement corridor, up the spiral stairs, and back into the cold
hallway of the castle where the walls were grey and air ice cold.

"Well, a guess this is where we part Daisy." Dirk let out a sigh as he looked at Daisy wistfully.
"Thanks fir coming wae me today."

Daisy hadn't thought about parting yet, she was too busy being blinded by the fun they were having
and how she had made a special friend in Dirk, seeing as the two of them bonded over such an
unfortunate thing. And though she couldn't understand a lot of what he was saying, she honestly
didn't want their midnight raid to end.

"Oh... yeah of course. Thanks for bringing me down here, I had lots of fun!" She forced a smile on
her face and adjusted her sack over her shoulder.

"Oi don't feel blue! Yer supposed tae feel red, like yer hair!" Dirk nudged Daisy's shoulder softly.
"We'll come down tae the kitchens another time a promise." He said softening his voice.

It did make Daisy feel a little bit better, of course they couldn't stay in the kitchens all night.
Parting with Dirk was rather hard for only speaking to him tonight, she felt a little empty once his
good spirit had left.

"That sounds great." Daisy chuckled softly. "Oh, maybe you can meet my friends too, get the know
the other Gryffindors! We all do rubbish in History of Magic." Hoping Dirk would say yes,
because that meant she'd be seeing more of him, and hopefully pass her class in the end.

The first year boys would surely love him, especially since Dirk seemed to know where everything
was, they would be thrilled to be taken down to the kitchens by him.

Dirk smiled. "That sounds wonderful." Before dropping his lips into a frown. Shrugging his
shoulders with a deep sigh, Dirk said, "Man, leaving sucks!" Daisy felt the same.

"Next time we go 'ae Slughorn's, a'll take the seat next tae you, instead of that greasy boy." Daisy
couldn't help but laugh. "Brilliant!" She said.
"We'll be the super hero muggle duo... like Ba'man and Robin- oh! We'll be The Dynamics just like
them huh? Battling the evil slimy snakes tha' slither around the school! How about i'?" Dirk held
out his hand.

"It's a deal!" Daisy giggled, and she shook Dirk's hand firmly, sealing the pact.

Now unfortunately, they really had to part. "Goodnight Daisy."

"Goodnight Dirk." And the two split in opposite ways.

On her way back to the common room, Daisy was paranoid out of her mind incase the caretaker
and his cat found her. Not only that, but she was all alone in the dark castle, anyone could be
lurking the halls. Where there bad ghosts in the castle? Ones that headless Nick was scared of?
Monsters on the loose? She had no idea, she'd never been out at night before, and the sky outside
was now pitch black.

Checking over her shoulder to make sure there was no one behind her, Daisy began turning a
corner when she harshly collided with a figure, her face hitting their chest and then her feet
stumbling backwards until her back was on the stone floor with a thud. A few treats spilling out of
the sack that landed on the ground with her.

"Oh Miss Evans I'm so sorry!" Blue hair came into view as Daisy looked up from her space on the
floor.

To Daisy's relief, Professor Duras' hand was in front of her face, offering her a help up. Taking his
hand Daisy was pulled upwards and onto her feet once more, her lower back only feeling a little bit
of pain.

"I'm sorry Professor! I-I didn't see you there." She chuckled nervously swiping dust off of her
dress. Although it was Professor Duras, Daisy had been caught by a teacher rather than the
caretaker, surely this would mean a harsher punishment for being out of bed?

The Professor gave a smile of relief. "You're not hurt are you?" Daisy shook her head. The concern
in the Professor's eyes disappeared, and were replaced with his golden magical twinkle that he
always had.

"What's got you out of bed so late?" He asked eyeing the spilled sack of puddings on the floor.
Daisy stammered, unsure whether or not to lie, but if she did, what would she come up with?
"Midnight cravings? I do that sometimes too. The house elves are lovely aren't they? I used to
come down to the kitchens when I was a boy, right next to my common room as well, it was so
easy." Professor Duras rubbed his chin while he drifted off into a nostalgic memory. "Much easier
than having to sneak back into a tower that's for sure." He chuckled to himself.

Daisy raised her brows to her Professor in interest. "You were in Hufflepuff?" She asked, and he
nodded. "Oh yes! Dear... I miss my school days, best times of my life they were..." The professor's
voices softened as Daisy watched him drift off into thought again. He looked as if he were
reminiscing a fond memory of his from his childhood, something that made him relax but also miss
dearly.

Something like an old friend.

"Oh-" with a shake of his head the Professor came back into reality and looked towards the spilled
sack again. "Normally, as a teacher I'd have to give you a detention slip for being out so late. But
seeing as I've just admitted that I used to do the same thing... i'll let it slide Miss Evans." Giving
Daisy a smirk. "Just don't tell anyone I let you off, otherwise I'd have to do the same to everyone."
Daisy absolutely did not want detention, so she nodded.

Her worry was eased as her Professor had no sign of seriousness in him at all. "Now let me help
you pick all this up before Filch catches you shall we." He grinned before picking up Daisy's sack
and began picking up spilled chocolate bars.

Daisy couldn't believe her luck running into her defence Professor, if it was anyone else she would
have been done for. Professor McGonagall surely would have been disappointed in her for
breaking school rules, she probably have have stumbled over Professor Flitwick and caused him to
fall instead, and Professor Slughorn would have been confused as to why she was out of his party.
All resulting in detention.

So Daisy gathered a few containers in her hands while Professor Duras collected the wrapped
treats. Eventually, every spilled item was safely placed back into Daisy's sack.

"All sorted then! I'll let you get on your way now, goodnight Miss Evans." Professor Duras smiled
at Daisy before he began to walk off past her.

"Oh wait!" Daisy called and the Professor turned around. "You can have something from here if
you like, this will last me weeks." The Professor looked rather touched as Daisy took the sack from
her shoulder and opened it up.

"Oh- that's lovely of you Miss Evans, thank you." He said taking a chocolate bar from the sack.

"No problem Professor." Daisy smiled, then put the heavy sack back over her shoulder.
"Goodnight!" She bid her goodbyes and the Professor gave her a wave with a second goodnight.

On arriving to the common room, Daisy could hear the distinguishing loud voices of the second
year boys coming from behind the portrait door. She was planning to go straight to her dormitory,
so maybe if she remained quiet and didn't look at them that they wouldn't notice her.

Pushing the portrait door open slowly, Daisy quickly glanced at the boys who sat around the fire
giggling to themselves. She stayed within the crack of the door, trying to figure out a way to get
passed without them seeing her. James' cloak would have done her a great at this moment in time.
The couches didn't face the girls stairs, so she could shuffle against the wall to get there. It was her
best option.

But before she moved, the boys conversation piqued her interest. "Do you think she'll go to the
winter ball with me next year?" James Potter asked the circle.

She shouldn't be eavesdropping on their conversation, but she couldn't help but feel that this was
great gossip. Maybe one of the boys would spill on who they had a crush on. So she hid her head
behind the portrait door ouch of sight.

"Not a chance." She heard Remus say.

"She might! You never know until you ask James." Said Peter.

"If not, I'll go with you mate!" The lovey dovey voice of Sirius was heard now, and Daisy could
picture him cuddling up to James to tease him.

"Yeah right." James scoffed playfully.

"Do you think anyone will go with me? James you have a chance with any of the girls in our year,
you just have to look at them and they'll say yes." Peter asked worriedly.

"Of course Pete! You'll just have to find the right lady right? You've got to find someone who can
appreciate what a lad you are!" She heard- supposedly James- pat - supposedly Peter's- shoulder.

"What about you Moony?" Asked Sirius.

Daisy thought to herself that any one of the boys could secure a date to the ball. James with his
award winning smile, Sirius and his curly locks, Remus and his sweet amber eyes, and Peter with
his lovable squishy cheeks.

"Oh uhm-" Remus sounded hesitant. "No one would want to go with someone who looks like
they've been cut up and sewed back together now would they? I might just not go."

"Not go?!" James and Sirius gasped dramatically.

"You can't be serious?" Peter asked shocked.

"No, he's Sirius." Remus answered, and Daisy could feel Sirius' smirk.

"Not the point-" Remus continued. "People are actually scared of me in here... so I highly doubt
anyone would want to do so much as hold my hand."

Daisy's heart sank as she quietly listened to Remus' voice. He talked as if it was nothing, as if it
was normal and that he was used to that sort of treatment. No one deserved that. Remus was
amazing. He was funny, smart, and quite tall actually. Daisy couldn't think of any reason why a girl
wouldn't say yes to a date with Remus.

She would definitely say yes.

"Mate... you don't actually think that right?" James asked sounding rather depressed.

But Remus remained sure. "Maybe, it makes sense though."

Before anyone else could say anything, Remus started, "can anyone else smell chocolate in here?"
Ignoring the conversation about dates completely.

"No?" Said Sirius, while Daisy heard him sniff the air.

Daisy held her bag tightly around her shoulder, they were going to find her easily. If she moved
now, they'd hear her and her secret would be out. So she gave in.

"Hi." She said walking into the common room and shutting the door. She was planning on only
giving them a wave or something then heading straight to her dormitory where Heather and Bao
would possibly be asleep, and she would surprise them with her bag of goods the next morning.

"Little Evans!" James threw his hands in the air with glee. "What are you doing back so early for?"
He asked dropping his arms and furrowing his brows behind his glasses.

"Is it Christmas already? What's with the sack?" Remus asked eyeing the bag Daisy carried over
her shoulder.

"Food from the kitchens." She answered. Short and simple, that was how she was going to escape
them. As much as she liked their company, Sirius more so due to their little chats, Daisy couldn't
wait to land herself into her own bed.
At that, James and Sirius simultaneously shot up from their resting position on the floor, staring at
her with wide eyes. "The kitchens?!" They both asked in shock, looking at each other in disbelief.
"You know where the kitchens are?!" Sirius dramatically exclaimed.

Daisy nodded. "Yeah, found them today." With a shrug of their shoulders. "Me and this guy from
the slug club left and he showed me how to get in."

"Ooo a guy huh?" James wiggled his eyebrows at her, but Daisy only rolled her eyes with a
chuckle.

"Not like that James, I'm allowed to have friends y'know." James however still wore a cheeky
smirk. Remus was looking to her as if to ask more, then he looked down to the floor. Sirius was
leaning onto the coffee table with his head propped on his hands with a smile aimed at her, waiting
for her to reveal her secret boyfriend. Then Peter was only looked back and forth from James and
Daisy, he hadn't thought much of it.

"What did you bring?" Sirius asked from staring hungrily at the bag. At that, Daisy rolled her eyes
tiredly and walked towards the boys, placing the sack on the middle of the table and immediately
all four of the second years pounced and ripped it open like a bunch of wild animals. Daisy stepped
back for her own safety.

"Eclairs!" Sirius cheered taking out a plastic container filled with chocolate eclairs. Then Remus
pulled out the chocolate fudge brownies, James the strawberry tarts, and Peter a cauldron cake.

James was about to take out the lemon tarts too, but Daisy slapped his hand away. "Not for you!
They're for Alice." And James retreated back onto the couch immediately, holding his hands in the
air defensively. "Alright little Evans, your lemon tarts are safe." And Daisy nodded affirmatively.

While Daisy stood and watched the boys begin to devour her treats, she heard the portrait door
click behind her, and she didn't even have time to turn around to see who it was when she heard,
"Where did you go?! I was looking for you to come back here and you weren't there, I was
worried!" Lily sounded just like her mother, her voice piercing her ears like a loud bird squawking.

Oh no... Daisy had forgotten about Lily.

Daisy froze in her spot while Sirius snickered to the floor. "I... left and came here." She was almost
certain Lily wouldn't be happy to know that she had not only left Slughorn's party, but had also
snuck into the Hogwarts kitchen with Dirk to knick sweets.

Lily narrowed her at her suspiciously, then she scanned all of the wrappers and chocolate stained
mouths of the second year boys. "Oh really? Where did all this come from then?" She asked
accusingly, picking up a half eaten strawberry tart from the coffee table beside James' feet.

"Oi- that's mine." James said reaching his hand out towards Lily with a pouted lip.

"We brought them from the kitchens!" Peter spoke up from his place on the floor after swallowing
his cake.

Lily turned to him and interrogated. "Did you? I didn't think you lot knew where the kitchens
were?" To which the boys had all quickly eyed Daisy who pursed her lips.

Lily shook her head, with a sigh she stopped questioning. Much to Daisy's relief. All thanks to
Peter, Daisy side eyed him and gave him a grateful smile, seeing as no one was getting a reprimand
from Lily tonight.
"In that case, Daisy you still shouldn't have left me, me and Severus were worried for you." Daisy
snorted and her hand immediately flew to her mouth.

"What's so funny?" Lily asked offended. The boys round the fire all looked away, presumably all
hiding their humour.

Daisy shook her head as she fought to keep a straight face, it was a completely ridiculous thought
to think that Severus would feel any type of concern towards Daisy's, no matter how much danger
she was in. "Nothing." She said, staring Lily in the eyes as if to seem more convincing.

Lily didn't look at all convinced, but she closed her mouth tightly. "Fine." She clipped before
taking a chocolate bar from the bag and marching towards the girls dormitory stairs.

"Lily wait!" Daisy sat herself up right, and Lily turned around looking hopeful. "Give this to Alice
from me." Daisy said after digging through the sack of snacks and pulling out the lemon tarts.
"And this to Mary." Pulling out a chocolate brownie. "And this to Marlene" with a box of cupcakes.

Frowning once more, Lily reluctantly took the puddings and then continued her march upstairs.

Once Lily had disappeared, Sirius asked. "Oh we forgot to ask, how was the bug club?" his head
deep into his container of eclairs. Daisy sighed recalling her seating arrangement, throwing her
back with a groan.

"Lily thought it would be a wonderful idea for me to sit next to Severus for the whole meal. And
the food was really rich, I felt sick after it."

"Ugh yeah, pureblood food can be like that, it's mank isn't it?" Sirius rolled his eyes, and Daisy
nodded. How Sirius could eat that at home she'd never know, one meal was enough to last her a
week.

James gave her a look of perplexe. "You felt sick... so you knicked a sacks worth of pudding from
the kitchens... to help the sickness?" He asked with an airy laugh. It did sound rather contradictory.

"Well... yeah. I wanted to eat something I could stomach."

"Ah yes, because the average human being can stomach an entire kitchens stock of sweets." Remus
chuckled before taking a bite out of brownie.

"I bet you could, you could eat a house if you wanted to." Sirius joked, digging into his third eclair,
proceeding to get cream all over his mouth.

"Shut up." A pillow was thrown in Sirius' direction from Remus', hitting him square in the face and
smushing the cream already on his lips all over his cheeks now.

Daisy laughed at them both, she wasn't planning on eating it all herself- not that the chance was
even given to her anyways.

"Thanks for sharing though!" Peter beamed up at Daisy, at least someone had manners around
here.

"You're welcome Peter, at least one person appreciates that I'm feeding them." James, Sirius, and
Remus all looked away.

She rolled her eyes.

So Daisy ended up sitting with the boys for a few minutes, eating tarts and chocolates until James
let out a big stretch with a loud groan. "I'm feeling knackered now, I'm going to bed." After ruffling
his hair with his hands, he pushed himself off of the couch to stand and stretch his legs.

"Me too." Remus exhaustedly commented from slouching deep into couched cushions, his eyes
dropping as he spoke.

"Come on Moony." James said taking Remus' hands and pulling him to his feet, then crouching
down to allow Remus onto his back, then he began making his way towards the boys dormitory
stairs. "Goodnight little Evans." James yawned, and Remus had fallen asleep on him.

"Yeah I better go too, night Daisy." Peter gave a tired smile before quickly following James and
Remus up the stairs, holding his hands up in front of himself and behind the other two boys incase
Remus slipped off.

That left Sirius and Daisy.

Sirius hesitated as first, chewing on his bottom lip and Daisy matched it to the familiar face of his
where he wanted to say something, but was doubting himself.

"Somethings on your mind." Daisy said, and watched Sirius look up from the ground he stared at.
His grey eyes filled with curiosity and worry.

"Was Regulus there?" Sirius asked quietly.

Daisy nodded, the picture of a withdrawn Regulus Black came into her head. "He was, didn't say
much though... sorry." She said giving him an affiliative smile, and watching as Sirius gave a sad
one back.

"Daisy..." he started then sighed down at his feet. She waited, patiently. Sirius began again now
watching the ground, keeping his eyes away from Daisy's view. "Does he talk to you?" Daisy
recalled back to when she first met Sirius' brother.

She sighed. "Yeah... but he seems shy." But Sirius looked up with twisted lips as he thought. There
was so much more to the story than Daisy knew, there had to be. Yet, it wasn't her place to speak
on it, she could only wait for Sirius to confide in her himself.

"Please keep trying." He whispered to the ground. "I don't want him to be unhappy. I want him to
have friends here."

From the bottom of her heart, Daisy felt for Sirius. She imagined that this would have been the
same way Lily would have acted if she were in Sirius' place and it was Daisy being the outcast
instead.

Although, this was different. Seeing how Regulus was surrounded by the 'mean boys', of course
Sirius was going to worry about him.

"We will..." All seven of the Gryffindors would.

Sirius looked as thankful as ever. "Thank you." Then he stood up from his place to stretch, and
looked towards the boys stairs. "I'll see you tomorrow, goodnight." Giving her one last smile
before disappearing like the other boys.

Sitting by herself now, Daisy thought to herself just how hard it may be for Sirius to speak to his
brother himself. It was no secret that the majority of Slytherin house hated the majority of the
Gryffindors. James and Severus were at each other's throats constantly. Sirius and Remus fighting
against other slytherins friends, and even Peter had a bit of conflict once in a while. Then there was
Barty Crouch who openly despised every single one of the first years Gryffindors. Then of course
Bilius Wesley was always getting himself into trouble when it came to the other Slytherins, despite
being a prefect. It was unavoidable, it was everywhere.

Daisy reckoned that it was almost impossible for Sirius to speak to Regulus during the day while
other students were around.

There was a curse in this school and she knew it. A bad omen connecting the two houses and
putting them together.

She wondered if she could break it.

 Year One: Flowers

Today was the day of the winter ball that many students had been anticipating since the school
year started. All morning Daisy had no escape from hearing older students gush about their dresses
or their dates.

Not even her classes were free from winter ball talk.

"Oh I wonder who will ask me on a date for the ball." Heather sighed dreamily looking off into the
distance during herbology.

"Never mind the ball, there's Devils Snare wrapped around your arm." Bao said casting a strong
Lumos Solem charm, and a bright yellow light caused the roots to recoil and unravel themselves
from Heather's arm.

"Oh, thanks." Though it was only a baby snare that wouldn't do much harm, Heather hadn't even
noticed it was binding her, she was too busy staring off into space in thought of the ball they would
be attending in third year.

"I think I'll buy a blue dress, sort of like Cinderella! Beautiful blonde hair, big sky gown, all I need
is a Prince." Heather was filled with determination while Bao shot another spell at the Devils Snare
that was wrapping itself around Heather's wrist without her notice again.

Seeing as Bao was engrossed in her plants, Heather turned to Daisy who was having a hard time
imagining what she would wear to the ball. Long dress? Short dress? Long sleeves? Short sleeves?
Sleeves at all? What colour would it be? Something to match her eyes? Compliment her hair?
There was so much to choose from. Plus, it would have to be within whatever price range she was
given by her parents.

"What dress will you get Daisy? I think green would look very nice on you, just like Poison Ivy. Or
purple like Daphne Blake. Maybe pink like Cinderella's sister!" Heather whispered in excitement,
her voice squeaking just a little bit as she continued to plan her dream ball.

"I have no idea. Green maybe... but won't people think I'm a Slytherin?" Daisy asked.

"Slytherin Shmitherin, greens a fantastic colour and you'd completely rock it." Heather explained,
"house colours don't matter when it comes to balls. Just look at Professor McGonagall, her robes
are green and she's the head of Gryffindor, y'know, the red house." Daisy hummed in thought, she
did have a point.

She doesn't think she'd wear a black dress to the ball, it might make her look too pale. Maybe a
dark green? Or a dark red even? Hot pink was too much of a sickly colour for her, and that was
coming from someone who's bedroom back home was mainly pink. There was far too much to
think about, and they were only in first year, they still had two years until they needed to even
think about the winter ball. Though, it didn't stop Heather of course.

"A puffy blue dress with sparkles! I wonder what Marlene would wear... she's not a dress kind of
girl. Maybe a nice skirt or something, or trousers..." while Heather began rambling on more about
clothes that herself and others should wear, Daisy looked around bored in the Herbology
greenhouse.

The Hufflepuff's in which they shared the classroom with were all busy in controlling their Devils
Snare, and the Gryffindor boys were playing around with it as if it were a children's toy.
"What happens if I put it around my neck?" Brody asked to which Benjamin slapped him.

"It will strangle you, and you'll die." Theodore looked unimpressed with the boys who were letting
the plant wrap around their arms until they turned red, then casted the spell to loosen its grip.

"Idiots." Daisy mumbled shaking her head down to her table. Her hands were covered in dirt and
she couldn't wait to get out of the greenhouse. The entire period she had been dreaming about
Christmas dinner and opening presents with Lily. Not only that, but the worry of how Petunia was
going to react when she came home was eating her up inside. She wouldn't want to open presents
with her, she wouldn't want to pull Christmas crackers with her at dinner, she wouldn't want her
sisters spending the night in her room during Christmas Eve — which was tradition for the sisters
every year.

Then the thought of her mum and dad came into mind. She would see them smiling and waiting for
her to open the present that they told her they couldn't get, but only told her that to trick her so she'd
be more surprised when she got it. She hadn't written a list this year, she's left her gifts in the hands
of her parents. Daisy didn't mind what she got anyways, and besides, over the past year she's been
pointing at things she likes in shop windows and in magazines, so she was sure her parents knew
what she liked.

'An owl would be good.' She thought to herself. Yes! An owl! An owl that she could use to send
letters to all of her friends during holidays, and use to send letters to her parents while at Hogwarts.
No longer would she have to use Gizmo — James' owl — to communicate with her parents.

"Now everyone! I would like you to all step away from the table and keep yourself away from the
Devils Snare so I can put them away." Professor Spout said gesturing for the students to move
away from the table. The Gryffindor girls moved backwards until they were pressed against the
wall, surprisingly so did the boys who had put down their pots after unraveling a Devil's Snare
from David's wrist.

Once Professor Sprout had cleared away all of the baby Devils Snare, the students were allowed to
leave and Daisy was pleased to finally take her gloves off.

"Potions next boys!" David jumped around the corridor, and that's when Daisy remembered the
prank they were planning to pull on Barty Crouch. She had no intention of participating, the
thought of it was disgusting and would only cause drama that she didn't want to be apart of, yet
would be dragged in whether she liked it or not.

"I can't believe they're going through with it, I just know they'll mess it up." Bao complained
watching David and Brody race into the potions classroom.

Daisy could only hope that the potions classroom still stayed intact after the first year boys had
finished their dido.

From her table, Daisy side eyed Brody who was pulling — what was supposedly a dungbomb —
out of his pocket with his eyes locked on Barty Crouch who was peering over a cauldron. Nodding
his head approvingly he left the table to collect ingredients from the counter that Regulus was
standing at, and that's when the Gryffindor sprung into action.

Crabbe and Goyle were occupying the Slytherin table, both paying no attention to Brody while he
casually walked by the cauldron and subtly plopped the dungbomb in without the two of them
noticing. Even if they had noticed Brody walking, they were too thick to realise why.

Brody walked around the table and rejoined the Gryffindor boys with a triumphant smirk on his
face. "He'll never see it coming." He snickered to David who was hungrily eyeing the cauldron that
was beginning to smoke.

In a short second, Barty and Regulus had returned to the table, but instead of Barty going back to
the cauldron he was peering over, it was Regulus who stopped by it. "Why's my cauldron
smoking?" She heard Regulus ask and the gryffindor girls all stared with wide eyes.

Brody had out the dungbomb in Regulus' cauldron.

Brody threw his arms behind his head as they all watched the cauldron bubble and fizz. "Whoops."

"I told you not do do it!" Benjamin whispered harshly in the direction of Brody and David who
looked disappointed at the mistake, but not sorry.

It was too late to warn Regulus, as the dungbomb had soon exploded within his cauldron, causing a
nasty yellowish brown substance to coat the Slytherin's table, and the boys who were standing
around it. Regulus unfortunately got the worst of the blow, seeing as his face was hovering right
above his cauldron at the time of the explosion. The potion was covering his face, clothes, and hair
as well as everything else around him.

"Oh dear what is that gastly smell?" Professor slughorn waved his hand at the end of his nose
while his face screwed itself up in disgust. Pulling his jumper over his face, he approached the
Slytherin table in which Barty was gagging loudly into the crook of his elbow, and Crabbe and
Goyle were covering their mouth as if to be sick. Regulus was dripping in the liquid.

The Slytherin girls from the other table were covering their faces with their robes, keeping the
stench away from them, and laughing.

"Pretty posh boy had it coming."

"Y'know his brothers a traitor right? This is golden."

The smell was absolutely rancid to say the least. Daisy could hardly take in a breath without
choking.

"Oh Regulus what have you done my boy?" Slughorn asked from under his jumper, standing next
to Regulus who was frozen in place looking at his cauldron that was completely covered in the
potion gone wrong.

"I-I didn't do that-"

"Regulus, lying won't help you get out of this, this is your cauldron correct?" Regulus was looking
up at Slughorn in appal.

"Yes but-" the boy pleaded but Slughorn shook his head for him to stop.

"Regulus I'm sorry but I'm going to have to give you detention for this and take ten house points
away from you. You'll stay after class to clean this up, then come here after school hours to help
me with a few things. At least you'll have your brother to keep you company." Then Slughorn
dismissed the class while Regulus stood upset and confused, looking as if he could cry.

He always did well in potions.

Daisy looked back in pity at the boy who was being given a mop, sponge, and a bucket in order to
clean up the mess of the retched potion. That wasn't fair. It would take forever to clean that up
without magic.

Out in the hallway, the Slytherins had gone and the Gryffindors were alone. Just as well seeing as
an argument began brewing the second the classroom door had shut.

"Look what you did you idiot!" Benjamin snapped angrily at Brody who rolled his eyes.

"What? Barty was covered in the stuff and none of us are in trouble. I'd call that success"

"Success? You got my friend into trouble instead! Your plan went to shit. It shouldn't have
happened in the first place!" The two boys were now edging closer to one another as tension grew
thicker and thicker.

"Your friend? Why the hell do you care about him anyways? He's just as slimy as the rest of the
Slytherins." Daisy frowned deeply at Brody who's lips snarled as he talked cruelly about Regulus,
who was only behind a thin door.

"He's a little freak, never talks, always stares, a good for nothing piece of-" Brody stumbled
backwards onto the ground as Benjamin's fist collided with his cheek.

"Don't you dare insult him!" Benjamin yelled as Brody got back from the ground and lunched at
him. Soon the two boys were rolling about the floor landing punches on one another while David
and Theodore shouted at them to stop. Daisy and the girls backed away from the boys scrap,
neither of them wanting to get caught up in it.

"What's going on- boys get up this instant!" Professor Slughorn exited the potions classroom, with
an exhausted sigh he walked towards and boys and once they were back to standing he separated
them at arms length. Seeing the boys off the floor now, Daisy noticed the clear bruising around
Brody's eye that would definitely be turning black quite soon, and Benjamin's bloody lip that
hopefully wouldn't scar.

"The two of you will be coming with me to see Dumbledore." The scorching face of Benjamin was
far from calm as he seethed in the direction of Brody who hadn't a care in the world, he was even
smirking after their brawl. Possibly laughing.

Daisy watched the boys be led down the corridor in silence with Professor Slughorn who had his
hands firmly gripping the both of the boys shoulders incase either one of them decided to strike
again.

"What the bloody hell was that all about?" Bao asked in shock once the girls turned to walk away.

"Well... seems that Regulus and Ben are closer than we thought. We can't always be present when
they're together of course. Ben's got his own friends remember." Daisy explained with a glance
over her shoulder to look down the corridor where Theodore and David were silently walking with
each other, their hands shoved deeply into their pockets and their heads hung low.

Heather huffed softly. "Well... I can't say I feel bad for. That's what he gets for being a Muggle
hater."

"Is he?" Daisy questioned. This came to a shock. As Regulus didn't at all act the same as Barty.

"Like I said before. His whole family is. I don't feel bad for messing with those kinds of people."

Daisy was fighting the confliction of believing in the best of others, and whether Heather was right.
After all, she didn't know any better. During flying lessons, she still feels a pang in her chest
whenever she recalls Regulus having stopped talking to her after finding out that she was a
Muggle-born.

"He talks to me." She said quietly.

"I don't know why you would talk to him, just being honest. I wouldn't even look at him unless I
had to." Heather shrugged her shoulders and began to skip off, Bao hesitated.

"I feel bad for him. But also... if that's true I don't want to." The young girl looked to the ground,
wondering if she too should just get up and leave.

Daisy didn't know either. But she knew one thing, muggles and wizards aside for a moment, the
poor boy was cleaning that mess up alone.

"I'm going back to help him."

"I think... I'm going back to the tower. I don't want to get involved. Some of the purebloods can be
really mean..." Bao slipped away into a dream. A memory. And she turned lazily, and slumped
away still with her head down.

Daisy could only think about herself at this moment. How upset she would feel when students in
primary school would pull cruel tricks on her that left he sobbing in the bathroom alone for the rest
of play time.

She wanted to be better.

Daisy reached the potions class once again and she knocked three times before letting herself in.
The ghastly smell hit her nose immediately when opening the door, and Daisy saw that Regulus
was mopping the floor with a queasy look on his face. His dirty robes were thrown over a stool
leaving him in his shirt that had a large brown stain coating the centre, and little bits of goo matted
his hair.

His head shot up at the noise, and after realising who it was his jaw clenched. "What do you
want?" Instead of seeing a miserable boy with quiet grey eyes, she saw anger. Flushed cheeks, lip
curled, narrow eyes.

She was a little taken back. Daisy hated confrontation. Gulping back her nerves, she said. "I wanted
to help you clean up. I know it's not your fault, and I clean my house all the time like this."

"I'm good, thanks." He spat out sarcasm. Glaring at her, he wished she would leave. It was her
friends fault after all. She may have even been in on it. To rile him. To pick on him.

But the right thing would be to help. Right?

She noticed a mop in the corner of the room and started to walk towards it when Regulus caught
her.

"Will you just get out?! I don't want your help! Go back to your special little house and leave me
alone. I don't need help from a stupid muggle born." His raised voice made her jump and she ran.

She hated herself for feeling like crying. He was mad at her. It was her fault. She knew about it and
didn't do anything. Of course she were to blame. It's always Daisy's fault. And Heather had been
right.

Stupid Muggle born.

Out in the corridor, professor Slughorn had just returned and watched Daisy hurry away from his
classroom.

"Miss Evans, forget something?"

She stopped, looking back at the closed door.

"Yes actually." And she filled him in on the wrong doings of her peers.

Slughorn made an 'aah' sound looking down at her. "Yes yes I understand that now. Mr Moore was
very clear about that on our stroll to the headmasters office." He chuckled awkwardly, scratching
the nape of his neck. "Don't you worry I'll see to it that everything is sorted, thank you."

At least her guilt had slightly faded now.

Daisy took a detour on her way back to the tower. She felt queasy. Her anxiety shook her body like
a leaf on a windy day. It seemed that nothing good ever came a muggle borns way. But she so
desperately wanted to prove to the others that they could. She could do good things. She could
help. She wasn't totally useless... right?

Outside of the common room, Daisy could hear the chattering of many students. They would be
having fun, sharing their magic with each other. Maybe she shouldn't even go in. It'll hurt watching
everyone else celebrate while she felt so blue.

Sighing sadly, she turned on her heels and began wandering. She didn't have anywhere to be, nor
did she know where she was going. The second year boys all ran past her laughing in their strides,
their joy strong enough to bring down the castle.

Heather and Bao were probably fine right now without her. She didn't bring much to the trio
anyways. The other two seemed to get along better.

The sun was fading now. Over the hills it was only peeking out at her as she watched from the
window, wanting to shine a little longer but having to leave. The darkness would be taking over,
and the sun was afraid of the dark.

The castle glowed orange and yellow as the sun said it's final goodbye and vanished beyond the
horizon, then blue as the sky lost its light.

"What a waste." She muttered. Winter would always take away the sun before it was ready. It had
only just arrived. And the nights were getting colder. Freezing even. The sun was needed now
more than ever. The darkness couldn't take over completely. It was too cruel.

It was while she mesmerised at the setting of her friend when she heard an angry voice coming
from beyond the halls. "What did you say?!" An echo that vibrated through her veins and turned
her blood cold.

"A said, yer greasy mop could oil every squeaky door in this castle if we wrung you out!" Then
there was a groan.

"Sorry, I can't hear you. Want to speak up?" But there was no reply.

That wasn't good. Her feet were itching to move and hide, something in her stomach told her it was
bad. But her head was wanting her to go towards it. To help.

Before she knew it, Daisy was peeking around the stone corner, and saw Dirk Cresswell on the
ground, cradling his head of brown hair.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" Daisy ran over and held Dirk up, and worried at the sight on his cut
cheek.

"Oh yeah? What are you going to do about it mudblood?" When she looked up to see who the
grimy voice belonged to, she was surprised to see Severus.

She wasn't going to do anything. There was three of them, and only one of her.

Shaking, she tried to respond, but nothing would leave her lips.

"Hey! Pick on someone your own ugliness Snivellus!" James Potter yelled, wand in hand.

The cruel expression on Severus' face darkened.

"Oh the hero! The hero is here everyone! And his little side kicks. The traitor, the corpse, and the
piggy." Severus laughed jabbing his boney finger at the rest of the boys.

Peter placed himself to the other side of Dirk, and Remus stood in front of them, guarding them
like a dog.

"Is this what you call a game? Sev?" Sirius stepped forward, glancing to the two frightened first
years. "Last time I checked you have no game. At least, that's what Lily tells us."

Severus edged closer. "Don't talk about her." His voice low.

"We're not here to talk about your little girlfriend- if you could even call her that. You're more like
a little puppy that follows her and won't leave her alone."

"I'll have her quicker than you will Potter." Severus spat on James' shoe.

"And you, didn't think you were the ladies man Sirius?" He said, turning back to lock eyes with the
slightly shorter boy, his brow raised with an entertaining smirk. But the width of Sirius' shoulder
told Daisy that height didn't exactly matter right now.

Sirius blinked. "I'd have a hundred before you even have one. No lady wants a bully, or at least an
ugly one who's father would rather walk out on him than put up with looking at him everyday-"

While Sirius let his mouth run, Severus' face grew hotter and hotter, his fists tightened until his
knuckles were white, and at last when the time bomb ran out, he swung.

It was Remus who jumped first once Sirius was down, landing on top of Severus and pinning him
down as easy as it would be a pillow, and Daisy yelped in fright watching him punch him again
and again and again and- the other two Slytherins grabbed his shoulders to pull him off, but James
was quicker and proceeded to jump on top of one, while Peter pushed the other, allowing Remus to
fully unleash.

Daisy couldn't watch this, she was terrified. The boys were like animals, yelling, scratching,
kicking like they were wild apes.

"Hey, you two get out of here, McGonagall will be here soon." Once Sirius gathered himself, he
gave the first years a push to hurry them away before anybody was caught. "Just leave this to us."
He offered an assuring smile, despite circumstance.

He didn't want them to be scared.

It seemed to be a Gryffindor VS Slytherin kind of day, oh wait, never mind, that was every day.

Without a word, she stood up with Dirk and began to run away while the boys yells became quieter
and quieter.

How Lily could even speak to someone like Severus was beyond Daisy.

Daisy quickened with Dirk's arm locked in her hand, and once they could no longer hear the boys,
they sat down to rest on one of the school benches.

"Dirk, are you ok?" She asked, trying to get a look at his swollen face.

"Yeah yeah a'm fine." He moaned rubbing his hand to his cheek. "Just a scrape."

Thank god.

"What did they do?"

"Just spells and that shite. Bunch a pricks. They don't scare me." He laughed, then frowned.

They scared her.

Having bullies like that walk around everyday gave her goosebumps. And they had magic on their
side. They didn't have to use their fists or feet, they just had to stand back and cast. A spell could
come from anywhere.

"Do ye know that boy? A saw you talking to him at Slughorns dinner."

Daisy hesitated. Sure she knew of him. But she didn't really know anything about him. And really,
she didn't want to anymore. A friend of Lily's isn't a friend of hers.

"No, not really."

"Well, A was on my way to herbology, a'v got a girlfriend now." He wiggled his eyebrows, though
it looked a little painful to do so.

Daisy gasped delightfully. "Really? Who?"

"Gabriella, she's in our year, Ravenclaw just like me! Because there's a ball a wanted tae give her
some flowers. Cause we're no goin'."

"Then that dick decked me. For whatever reason..."

Daisy of course knew why. But Dirk didn't need to feel worse.

"Can I come with you? I'll help you pick something nice!" She asked, wanting something to take
her mind off of potions class. Something lovely like flowers would surely do the trick.

"Aye sure why not? We'll go after dinner!" Dirk stood up and stretched, cracking his neck left and
right, sounding as if he were breaking his bones, and began limping down the corridor towards the
great hall.

Normally, the great hall was full, maybe only the first and second years had arrived.

"Where is everyone?" She asked, sitting next to Heather.

"The older students have the ball today, so they'll eat later."

Professor McGonagall wasn't present either. Presumably she were dealing with the second year
boys. Professor Duras was there however, looking his normal cheerful self, still with sparkling
sapphire hair. And he gave her a wave.

"Where are the boys? Not like them to miss dinner." Marlene commented staring at the empty seats
that would have belonged to the second year boy.

Daisy shrugged her shoulders, side eyeing Lily from poking at her meal.

Across the room on the far side was Regulus. Hair covering his eyes and slouching as he ate
slowly.

She looked away. Uncaring. Scowling down at her plate that had unfortunately done nothing
wrong but was suffering as she stabbed and scraped her fork off of the white ceramic.

Brody and Benjamin were back too. Sitting on opposite sides. At the bottom there was Brody and
David, the girls, then Benjamin and Theodore. They had divided, using the girls as a border.

"How did the clean up go?" Bao asked, and Daisy wished she hadn't.

"I didn't clean up. He didn't want me to." She forced a smile, then her neck flopped back down.

"No Muggle borns allowed." She mumbled the last part to herself.

"Well it's done now, and we've got the common room to ourselves!" Heather gushed.

But Daisy had already made plans.

"I'm busy, but I'll be back not long after."

The girls nodded not wanting to push any further, just in case Daisy was thinking about messing
around with things that don't concern her again.

When Dirk and Daisy were finished, they were very cautious on their journey. Not wanting to be
caught by a slytherin again. Daisy had had enough of them for one day. They took turns of peeking
around corners and then signalling the other on whenever or not the coast was clear. Then
eventually, they made it to the herbology section unscathed.

The sky outside was as black as coal now. Only the tiny white stars and moon gifted this Scottish
castle any glow from the outside.

The stain glass windows lay a blanket of a shallow ocean blue to the stone floor via the colourful
gods printed on the panes. Flora. Goddess of the flowers. However in the mornings she was a
beautiful pink and yellow.

Daisy had never been to this part of herbology. Only the greenhouse where they learned about
devils snare and how to plant seeds. This was different. It was out the way of the rest, reserved.
Hidden behind a stone corner none of the first years has ventured towards. From the normal
classroom, you couldn't actually tell there was another corridor. The wall past the corner seemed to
blend in perfectly, making it seem like a dead end.

It was a larger greenhouse full of flowers, saplings, and vegetables. All growing in the company of
one another, so she could see from peering in, using her hands to block out any light.

"Oh." Daisy tried the door. "It's locked." There went their plan.

"Not for long it is. Alohamora, opens any lock, within reason of course." Dirk smirked and tapped
the key hole with his wand, and they both heard a click.

The sweet smell of fresh soil grazed her nose and sent her back home. She hadn't been in this
greenhouse before. But it was surely beautiful. How could this be hidden away from her.

A moss coloured courtyard sat outside of another door opposite the children, and when the
ventured out Daisy spotted pansies, roses, daffodils. She reckoned the grass would have looked
greener, if it wasn't for the sun going to bed.

The moon, half, glimmered down on the garden. Looking like an enchanted land from a fairytale.
There would be gnomes hiding in the trunks of the thick trees and fairy's dozing in the pistils of
flowers, all awaiting the suns arrival.

"It's lovely. Has this always been here?" She asked stepping slowly and careful onto the grass that
homed thousands of little creatures.

"Pretty sure. I've only been here once in my first week at Hogwarts." At that she assumed that Dirk
knew every room in this castle. "Well, let's get to flower picking, Daisy."

She glanced around, seeing the daffodils, but thought they'd be too lanky to gift someone. Once
you picked them they'd flop like string beans. Nobody wants string beans for a gift.

The roses were nice, but would that be too romantic? Here are some red roses, that symbolise lust,
love, and luxury. Only a love so deep and rich could be worthy of roses. And you can't have roses
without pain. Pain you can work through because the thorns hold the beauty you so desperately
want to treasure.

A patch in the far corner was the prettiest however. Pink lilies. Their yellow speckles of fallen
pollen like little stars kissing it's petals. They were perfect.

But she was almost afraid to pluck them from their grave where they should remain forever to
grow old.

"Dirk, what about these lilies? They're very pretty."

Dirk turned from studying some tulips and strode over, looking very impressed. "They're perfect!
I'll just take a few." And she stood back so he could gather them under his arm.

"She'll love these." He spoke dreamily to the flowers, caressing them gently.

Flowers were certainly a prized possession. They were the children of gods creations. Hypnotising
anyone who would dare look at them, and flaunt their beauty, tranquillising them. Put on this earth
so the bees can fly and deliver us honey, and freshen the air that we breath every day.

"Thanks for the help! A better be off now, i's getting late and the prefects will be oot soon. Catch
ye later." Snapping his neck back to Daisy, who was wishing she would receive flowers from
someone, but they're kept safe and cared for the prettiest of girls, he gave her a wave and jogged
out of the garden to leave her in the company of the night.

Not even the man in the moon was here with her tonight. But this beautiful garden was, no matter
how chilly. She welcomed its cold embrace, it was hugging her, just failing to keep her warm and
that was alright.

Her eyes directed upwards wondering what her parents were up to. Hopefully something nice like
reading or playing scrabble with Petunia. Lily didn't talk to her much here as she had anticipated.
She really felt like the younger sister now. Lily had older friends, she didn't want to play tag with
her or hide and seek like kids anymore, she wanted to be cool! It wasn't cool to play with babies.

A shooting star flew across her eyes like a snitch, and her eyelids fell.

If this is what high school is like, she better grow up.

I wish I was a grown up.

She begged. No more pranks, no more feeling like an outsider, no more lonely, no more childlike
fantasies. She loved her friends, but couldn't help feel different. Bao was Muggle born too sure, but
she wasn't involved. She was good. Daisy couldn't help but feel stupid. Of course Regulus didn't
want help, especially from someone like her. That was would an insult.

Like a maid taking over the palace.

Eventually the cold became overwhelming and she had to run back inside before she froze in her
stance and became an ice statue.

Then she'd be pretty. Perhaps she would be given flowers then if she had glass skin and her hair
stayed shiny forever.

❀
 Year One: Kudos

Charms was rowdy, but Daisy sat up straight and only watched the professor. She hadn't even
looked at her seat mate, keeping her eyes only on the prize. The awards. Success.

If there was one thing that could prove she was smart, it was grades. House points. Praise.
Anything that told her she was doing well.

Over the past week it was all she thought about. Orange sunlit hair sprawled over second hand
textbooks which Lily had scribbled notes all over, memorising every line and repeating them to
herself later at night, keeping herself awake until she heard the birds chirp.

Nobody else seemed to be doing the same. Heather and Bao giggled to one another from across the
class. Benjamin and Theodore played the hand slapping game, each of them yelping when they
were hit. And Brody and David were arguing with Bartemius and another Slytherin, who had just
moved there but had settled quite quickly. Already joining in on the Gryffindor and Slytherin feud.

Five boys in one dorm must suck.

Imagine the smell...

Daisy scrunched her nose at the thought.

Professor Flitwick was teaching the class a mending charm. Something that would come in handy
if Daisy were to ever break something on accident and had to repair it before anyone found out. It
was incredible seeing how the professors snapped in half quill would click back together like
magnets on the fridge, and be just as perfect as it was before.

A pair of glasses with bent legs lay lifeless in front of her. And she were to fix it using her wand.

Simple enough... her dad did it all the time with his hands. So it should be easier with a wand! No
messy glue or sticky cellotape getting stuck in her hair to hold her back.

The movement was that of a triangle, almost, the lines didn't connect. Easy to mistake. But she
wouldn't. As Professor Flitwick demonstrated, Daisy mimicked his hands like a mirror would.
Until she could do it with her eyes closed.

"You may now proceed to fix your objects. Wands down once you are finished." Flitwick jumped
off his stool.

Heather had a broken pencil, and Bao had a ripped piece of paper. The two of them were waving
their wands without much happening. A wobble here and there from their objects, but non of it
fixed per say. Their triangles connected.

Daisy focused on her own then, thinking hard about the legs becoming straight, and casted,
"reparo." And with her magic, the glasses began mending itself back into shape by itself.

"Wow..." she whispered to herself.

"Amazing work!" Her head snapped upwards.

Professor Flitwick looked her way and Daisy felt her dimples deepen happily.

He had approached the table, though shorter than it, and picked up Regulus Black's book, which he
put back together after being torn in half.

"Ten points to Slytherin."

"Smartest wizard in our year." Barty Crouch commented proudly from behind.

Her teeth clamped tightly looking at the bored face of the boy. Of course he didn't need to be told
he was good, everyone already knew it. And she hated how modest he was.

To think he was so kind at first. Now, he annoyed her. And she was ashamed. She had let Sirius
down.

"Oh and Miss Evans!" Her eyes widened hopefully as the Professor turned to her. "Well done on
your glasses! Five points for you!"

She attempted to lighten up.

"Know it all." Cruel snickering made her smile falter, and the hairs on her neck stood up, feeling
the hot breath of those behind her.

Shuffling on her chair uncomfortably, she brushed the tingles off her shoulders and gently placed
her wand on her desk. She was finished.

"Who's that?" She heard someone ask. Must have been the new boy, who was sitting next to Barty
Crouch in the row behind her.

"Evans. Born amongst the muggles."

"Serious?" He replied with an entertained scoff.

"Yep. Dumbledore's obviously not the brightest, as you can see here..." a pause. "Rooms full of
them."

"Well... not for long."

And the two boys both lay back on their chairs, arms folded, smirking at the back of the flaming
red hair of Daisy's.

Transfiguration was about enlarging objects. And she was gifted a bouncy ball from Professor
McGonagall. Waves of blue and white

She never spoke a word, only keeping her eyes and ears on herself. Absolutely determined to make
her McGonagall proud.

The woman was astounding. Her graceful, yet powerful footsteps clicking on the floorboards.
Hawk eyes observed the students in their nature. How does each child learn? Who catches on the
quickest? Why do these children have to grow so fast?

Inspiring. That would be how to describe Professor McGonagall. A young woman who played
beater and made the captain of her quidditch team in school, then came back to take care of the
young and guide them throughout their school years, and passed on every last bit of knowledge she
had. She had a great passion for teaching, and caring for her students. She was born to be a leader.

Daisy couldn't help but want to be the best for her. McGonagall deserved it.
Engorgio. Her professors words were loud in her ears, overpowering the rest of the world. The
wind was silent, she couldn't hear the other students whispers, nor could she see anything past
McGonagall.

The incantation to blow up an object. Not the exploding kind however.

A small circle was all she needed to draw in the air for her little ball to become the size of a
football. She reckoned it probably couldn't bounce that high now, with all the weight.

"Well done Miss Evans, ten house points to you." Professor McGonagall looked impressed as she
smoothly passed by her desk, eyeing her art.

Daisy could have burst into a thousands stars.

Even in history of magic she did well. Not incredible, pinching herself to stay awake for the most
part.

She had answered a question right, something none of the other children knew.

Who was the first minister of magic?

Ulik Gamp of course.

She could picture the text in her book so vividly as it were in her hands, that it couldn't possibly be
wrong.

Dirk Cresswell from the front of the class turned around at that, and showed an encouraging
expression as he held up his thumbs.

Defence was teaching the children about an attack spell. Something to help them if they were ever
in bother and instead of running, had to fight their way out. Though she really hoped that wouldn't
have to happen.

"Now, I really hope you lot don't go around using this on other students! But this spell is called,
flipendo. It will send your opponent backwards, like a very strong push." Professor Duras
explained, and Daisy thought about Barty Crouch.

The professor had dummies, which were brought to the front of the class and each student was to
take a turn at pushing it back whilst it moved on its own, getting closer and closer. Though she
didn't quite know what would happen if it got you.

Didn't matter anyways. She would push it back.

Benjamin went first. He was still in a sour mood with Brody, and was probably imagining using
this certain spell on him once he met with the dummies.

Professor Duras instructed for the dummies to move, and Benjamin held his wand by his side.

"Flipendo!" Blue sparks flew towards the fluff filled figure, and it stumbled backwards, but not
very far.

"Well done!" The professor applauded, and the rest followed suit. All besides one.

"Miss Evans?" He then gestured for her to take the spotlight, and with confidence holding her up,
she waited for the dummies to test her.

She let them move a little closer, readying herself, before she casted strongly, "flipendo!" And the
dummy fell back and hit the ground with a loud thud.

The small crowd stood stunned. Only once she turned back around and strolled back to her
standing place did the professor let out a laugh of disbelief.

"That was incredible Miss Evans. Ten points for you."

She turned to her friends with a grin, pleased to the moon and hoping they would be too, but no one
was looking.

Benjamin's arms folded on his chest with a disappointed frown.

Her heart fluttered worriedly. Did they not care? The happiness she wore on her face faltered, and
her head dropped downwards to the ground, shoving her hands deeply into her pockets. She did
good, she just had to remind herself that to distract her mind of the thought that... her friends maybe
weren't as impressed as she thought they'd be.

Know it all.

Looking up, a brave face hid the fear that threatened to spill out of her eyes.

Potions class still lingered with the smell of feces from Regulus' cauldron even after a week.
Professor Slughorn had been trying every spell in the book to make it more bearable. But the
brown stain on the floor next to the slytherin boys wouldn't lift. Perhaps it would stay there
forever.

The new boy was placed beside the Gryffindor boys, and Benjamin had been moved to brew with
the girls.

"I don't like that boy." Benjamin mumbled quietly as he read his recipe.

"I don't like any of the Slytherins." Heather shrugged.

"Evan Rosier!" Slughorn slapped a friendly hand on the new boys shoulder, greeting him like an
old friend, and spoke diligently.

"I taught your father when he was a boy, incredibly intelligent so he was. I hope you'll be following
in his footsteps?" He asked full of hope and excitement for the chance of a new slug club member.

The new boy offered an innocent smile and soft eyes. "Oh I will Professor. I'm gonna be just like
him when I grow up."

From the Slytherin table, Barty bit his tongue between his teeth, smiling wildly.

"Bet you will." Benjamin mumbled.

"Pardon?" Evan turned around, the innocence on his young face still lovingly strong.

"I... I said you probably will. You look like a smart guy." Benjamin's cheeks turned crimson.

"Well thank you very much. And may I know your name?" Evan asked down to him.
"Ben."

Evan steadily raised out his hand, which Benjamin took politely, straightening his shoulders until
he was the same height as the latter.

"Pleasure to meet you Ben, I'm Evan. I'm sure we'll have fun here."

The Professor admired them sweetly. "What a lovely gesture Evan! In fact, after the holidays I will
be pairing you up for the remaining semester, now that we have an even number of students.
Yourself and Benjamin shall be partnered."

Evan showed off his teeth in a tight smile and squinted eyes. "That's a wonderful idea Professor."
He said deeply, and let go of Benjamin's hand.

"Ten points to Slytherin! Well done Regulus." Daisy perked her head up quickly, staring over at
the table in which the professor was dramatically fussing over.

She looked hopefully at her own veil. Pushing it forward in hope that Slughorn would notice it.

But he didn't. Of course not. Not when Regulus Black was in the class.

Regulus stood smiling modestly, looking down at his brewed to perfection potion, and she began
wishing it was her.

She hated to admit it, but had grown jealous of the boy.

He was perfect after all. People looked at him when he passed by because no boy could ever be
that pretty. They listened to him while he talked, because for such a young thing he spoke so
adequately. People wanted to touch him, bless their hands being so lucky to graze the golden boy
who was made of glitter. That's what made his eyes shine.

She was a ghost. Only coming to life when she had earned it, then would fade away if left
unnoticed. She didn't exist if no one needed here.

"Hey." Heather spoke, bringing her out of her daze.

"You seem off today. Is something wrong?" Her mind was fuzzy. She couldn't admit defeat and
throw it out in the open. Vulnerability could not be shown, it didn't win you prizes.

"No. I'm ok." Her hands shook on the table, so she hid them in her pockets.

Bao glanced at her unsure.

"Just tired." She shrugged her shoulders with a small laugh, then went back to staring down at her
discoloured potion.

The girl had finished classes, and her feet were begging to be taken out of their cages and freed.
Her ankles were beginning to blister now, and the soles of her feet were on fire. These Mary Janes
may look nice, but fashion comes at more than just a price tag.

She had just finished a potions essay and would wasted no time in delivering to Slughorn
immediately. There was a reputation to hold up after all.
The thing is, she loved the attention from her teachers. She'd never had anything like that before.
Her old primary teachers overlooked her as if she had wilted in a garden full of fresh new flowers.
No one wanted one of them. They didn't look nice. And her parents... as much as she loved them,
she felt small in her house. Petunia was the first born, her parents treasure, the reason they kept
having children. Lily, the witch, was a diamond, bringing glory to their dim light walls and making
them somewhat bright. Daisy, the youngest, didn't like school, was made fun of, and was always
last to take a turn of the radio. Her sisters must have it before she did, otherwise it wasn't fair.

First born, first serve.

She felt so hopeless in primary school. The lost cause. But now... there was fire. A determination
never experienced before. She could be someone. Someone she's always been meant to be. And no
one was going to take it away from her.

She just wished she had a little more power.

The dungeons were already dark. They were secretly kept, hidden away at the lowest part of the
castle. She never really liked going down here. It was eerie. Something was waiting to jump out at
her.

And just on cue, someone did.

"You lost or something?" Barty Crouch stood defensively with his hands on his hips.

Beside him, Regulus was the same old blank sheet of paper.

And the new boy.

"Leave me alone." She mumbled as she walked past them, clutching her essay in her hand.

Barty's dark eyes were anything but kind. She would be lying if she said he wasn't intimidating. He
was tall, held himself with such poise that she felt like she should be bowing to him.

She'd messed with him before, and perhaps that was the dumbest thing she'd done so far. Messed
with the crazy boy who could make her stay here miserable.

That was the attention she didn't want.

"Did you know..." he snatched the parchment clean out of her grasp, and she failed miserably to
catch it. "That mudbloods have the lowest percentage when it comes to getting a magic job after
school?" He asked and she stared anxiously at her homework in his hand.

Beside him Regulus and Evan nodded.

"That means, there's no bloody reason for any of their kind to be in such a prestigious school.
They're dragging our economy downhill, taking jobs from those more deserving, and I don't like
that." Barty tapped his wand to his chin and slowly walked towards the little girl.

"And you." His wand rested on the tip of her nose. "Are getting, on my fucking nerves."

"Get away from me." She managed to breath out.

But he did not dare move. "Or what?"

"I'll..." She turned red from embarrassment, wanting to run, but she knew they'd catch her in a
second.
"That day you sent me to the hospital wing, you remember?" She did. "I'll never forget it. And as
Merlin as my witness, I'm gonna make you regret it."

A sharp smack on the face sent her sprawling on the ground, feeling the world spin and now was
being stung by hundreds of bees on her cheek.

"And this?" He held the rolled up essay to her closely. "Worth shit." And it blew up in flames.

A sob escaped her lips as she watched her hard work disintegrate into ashes and disappear as easy
as dust. She needed that. She had to do well because if she didn't do well then they'd be right, she
might as well go home and read the newspaper and become a baker just like her mother and never
sell the bread she bakes and she'll stay poor and unhappy all because she could never fit in
anywhere. No matter. How hard. She tried.

"Barty."

Barty jumped back to a stand once Regulus had spoke.

"Let's go."

"Don't tell him what to do." Evan intimidated Regulus who's eyes sharpened, unfazed, and his
hands slowly rises out of his pockets.

"Leave it Evan, time to go." Reluctantly, the new boy stepped back.

Abandoning the young girl grazing her cheek with her finger tips and seeing red. Her tears boiling
on her scorching face.

Daisy landed herself in the flower garden. Wiping her eyes over and over again, accidentally
covering her robes in snot that leaked from her cold and sad nose. A tissue to her slash.

She was huddled in the corner beside the lilies. The prettiest ones. Knees against her chest tightly
to guard her. This was the closest thing she'd had to a hug since she left her dad at the train station.

This whole facade she had created so delicately was chipping and would soon shatter.

Glass cracking bit by bit, creating a thin line that would divide herself into two.

Muggle and witch.

Happy and sad.

Brave and scared.

It was something a mending charm couldn't fix.

Only she could.

She just didn't know how.

 Year One: Home Sweet Home

There was one place that Daisy hadn't really visited at all her in four months at Hogwarts, despite
her older sister forever telling her how spectacular it was.

The library.

The library was beautiful. Rows upon rows of glossy walnut shelves scattered the entire room,
there were even stairs leading up to another floor! Rugged with violet carpet. That room was
mainly filled with tables and chairs where students could study, as well as more books that were
ready to burst from their shelves. Above that lounge, was a large circular skylight roof that
protruded outwards like a dome, allowing students to be blessed with the warm sunlight while they
read.

Lily gloated about the library the minute she arrived home in her first year, telling their mother
about all the different things she had learned and how she would spend hours just sitting by herself
with her head in a book. Coming here, Daisy understood why.

It was insanely peaceful. The cinnamon coloured walls complimented the dark brown bookcases,
and the cream coloured floor felt like she were walking on a cloud. It would be the perfect place to
study, or even just to sit alone for a while to gather your thoughts.

A few Christmas decorations such as tinsel shimmered along the top of the bookshelves, the stair
bannister, and baubles hanged from the golden chandelier, for the holidays. Red, green, blue,
yellow, silver, it was beautiful.

And the most attractive, was the tree. A glorious ten foot scotch pine. Multicoloured lights hung in
a spiral around the tree, the same colours as each house. And a bright gold star at the top.
Christmas was almost here.

The fresh smell of new books, parchment, and pine leaves tingled Daisy's nose as she began
wandering around the many isles looking for something to read over the holidays. Dragging her
finger along the books under the section of 'tales and stories' she eventually stopped on a lime
green paperback spine that piqued her interest. It stuck out from the rest of the cool coloured ones,
as it it were calling on her to pull it off the shelf and give it a read, it was the chosen one.

Gently pulling it from between two other books, Daisy read the front cover that said, 'Mr
Poppington and the dancing shoes, by Agatha Morello'. And looked at the picture that was of two
yellow clog shoes caught mid tap on top of a wooden bench in front of a close up of a white house.

'Oh that sounds interesting.' Daisy hummed to herself as she flipped the book over to read the blurb
on the back that was in a centred format in dark green letters that were complimenting and easy to
read off of the lighter green of the cover.

'Mr Poppington was a strange man. All the children in the neighbourhood knew him to be the
"weird old man who lives on the corner".
Mr Poppington's house was rather unordinary. The smoke from his chimney would turn blue, then
pink, then yellow, then green. His front door handle changed from time to time and nobody knew
why. Last but not least, two clog shoes always remained perched in the same place on the same
bench at the same time every day. They never moved.
One day, Mr Poppington has a knock on the door and meets a little girl who asks him about his
colourful chimney, his door handle, and the shoes that never left his bench.
Emma Barnes was completely blown away when she was shown that Mr Poppinton's shoes could
dance.'

It wasn't a very long book at all, just a short story, and she could probably read it in one night if she
wanted to. And it sounded very comforting. Opening the book to have a look at the pages, it was an
easy book to read, it only had two hundred or so pages which was great because Daisy didn't want
to check out a book only not to finish it because she got bored — something she was very good at
doing.

Wandering around searching for more, another section had her double taking. It was closed off
using red rope which was strange, maybe the books were of great value.

Maybe she should check it out!

Nobody was looking, so it seemed like Daisy could just walk right in and make herself at home.

The curious girl had completely missed the sign that read 'Restricted section! Do not enter!' By
being too interested in this closed off line of cases.

This bookshelf was mysteriously far away in a corner away from all the light. The front of the shelf
holding the books faced the wall.

Walking around the case carefully, Daisy read that the plaque nailed above the books read, 'Dark
Arts'.

A dark arts section in the library?!

Peering around the shelf she was hiding behind, Daisy ensured that she couldn't be given into
trouble, she was too small to be spotted behind this large shelve, then went back to observing these
neglected looking books.

The covers were dusty and the wooden shelves were slightly chipping away. All the books were
completely identical, it was impossible to tell them apart from just looking at their spines. They
were hard covered that slid into place perfectly from one side of the bookshelf to the other. She had
no idea which one to look at.

Squinting her eyes in an attempt to red the spines, she saw nothing, so came the conclusion that she
should just take a book at random to look at.

Bringing one out of its slot, she blew away the coat of dust that was acting as another cover for the
front of the book.

Coughing dryly, she cleared her throat and blinked her itchy eyes.

'The Dark Arts: defence'

"Oh dear..." she whispered out loud reading the cover. That was all it said, the rest of the cover was
the same brown as the back with no further explanation.

Aimlessly opening up the book, Daisy's eyes landed on a list of spells used to cause harm to
another being.

'Pugnus: to act as a fist

Flagrantissimo: to burn
Segmentum: to slice
Imperio: to take control
Abruptium: to sheer'

She was completely shocked to say the least. These books were sitting in the library for anyone to
look at. Why they were here at all Daisy didn't know, but what did know was that they were
dangerous.

She didn't want to imagine how doomed everyone would be if someone like Barty Crouch got his
hands on a book like this.

Though when it came to herself, it would be rather useful if she were to be challenged by Barty
again. He wouldn't stand a chance. Well — she wouldn't cut him up or kill him or anything like
that — just... hurt him enough for him to leave her alone.

She would only ever use something like that for defence reasons. She couldn't even bring herself to
think about seriously injuring or using someone else.

She would just like to be able to punch Barty from a far distance.

Closing the book as softly as she could and ensuring no one was spying on her, Daisy tucked the
book back into its original place and made her way to the librarians desk.

At the desk, and with Daisy still checking over her shoulder to make sure no one was watching her,
she read the woman's name to be 'Madam Pince.' As seen on her name tag resting upon the edge of
the desk. She was a rounder woman with curvy hips and red lips. Her hair was a honey blond that
tied messily into a bun at the top of her head, and wore red butterfly shapes glasses that she used to
read the books that she was sorting out.

"Uhm- I'd like to check these out please." Daisy stood awkwardly before sliding the book forward
onto the desk. The woman turned around in surprise.

"Oh a lovely choice!" Madam Pince's high voice sang picking up the green covered book. "My
children loved these books when they were younger, they're all grown up now of course — adult
things and whatnot — but they loved Mr Poppinton's books."

"There's more?" Daisy asked the librarian who nodded her head.

"Oh yes there's lots, about... fifteen or something. It's about a wizard living at the end of a muggle
street, each book is him doing something different! This is the first book of the series." Madam
Pince giggled as she happily explained while pulling out a form for Daisy to sign. "Just sign your
name here, your year and house, the date for checking out, and when you will have the book
back."

Daisy picked up the quill and ink that Madam Pince had resting on the top of her desk already. The
ink dribbled a little across the desk and she quickly rubbed it away with her robe, and signed
whatever she needed to. "How long do I have to bring it back?"

"I'm guessing you're taking if for the holidays yes?" Daisy nodded. "Then... just write January fifth
then, that will give you a two days for when you get back darling." Again Daisy nodded and
scribbled down the dates.

"Oh, and if you're interested in that book, I'll look out the rest of them and you can come back and
check them out whenever you like!" Madam Pince chirped cheerily.

"That's great thank you!" Daisy grinned and took the book off of the counter and began heading
out towards the entrance of the library.

"Hey!" Daisy lifted her head at the voice of Lily who had just jogged around the corner that led
into the corridor to the Fat Lady portrait. "Watcha got?" She asked catching up to Daisy and
looking at the book in her hand.

"A Mr Poppington's book." Daisy handed handed Lily the green book.

"Oh I've read most of them already! They're really good."

"The next ones called 'Mr Poppinton and the spinning umbrella'." Daisy nodded along as the two
sisters walked back to Gryffindor tower.

"Oh and- tomorrow I'll meet you in the morning and we'll go down to the train station, and I'll get
you off of it to meet dad." Lily handed the book back.

Got it. Meet Lily in the morning.

Entering the common room Daisy felt Mary's cat Toby rub against her leg. "Hi Toby." Scratching
him behind the ears was always a way to gain his affection.

The common room was filled with just the same, and more, Christmas decorations like the library.
Tinsel, baubles, and paper chains draped across the ceiling.

Bilius Weasley was wearing a Santa's hat while he went about his prefects duties with Eleanor who
had reluctantly allowed Bilius to put an antler hairband on top of her head to 'get into the Christmas
spirit.'

The first year boys were still divided. Benjamin and Theodore on one side and Brody and David on
the other. They remained distant, only keeping to their pairs but Daisy would catch Theodore and
David chatting every once in a while during classes where Benjamin and Brody couldn't see them.

Brody's eye was bruised purple and Benjamin's lip scabbed after their brawl. Their detention had
been to clean the trophy room without magic while McGonagall watched over them incase they
broke out in another fight. At the moment, Benjamin and Theodore were listening to James and
Remus talk about their latest schemes. While Brody and David weren't present in the common
room, most likely carrying out something mischievous.

"Candy cane?" Bilius appeared at Daisy's side and she looked down to a little basket on his arm
filled with red and white stripped sweets. "Oh- sure. Thanks." She answered politely and took one,
making Bilius cheer.

"Brilliant! I'm in the lead now."

"The lead?"

"Yeah, me and Eleanor are competing for who can give out the most. So if she asks, say you don't
want one." Bilius then skipped away once Lily took one for herself, away to offer more.

Later on in the day the students were sitting in the decorated Great Hall to have their last feast
before the majority of them returned home.

In one space of the table, Benjamin and Brody remained separated as of Professor McGonagall's
request. In another, Sirius and James were making the most of their last night by charming peoples
goblets to turn into frogs once a liquid touched the glass.
"You're croaking me up James!" Sirius laughed.

"I'm hopping they don't jump in the potatoes." James snickered.

"You two are toad-ally getting on my nerves. There's a frog on my shoulder." Remus said looking
at the green amphibian beside his head.

"Nice- oh bugger!" Peter cursed as his goblet turned into a large bullfrog, and pumpkin juice
dribbled all over his trousers.

Daisy was rather glad that her goblet had been left untouched.

The night before the train, Daisy walked into the common room in hope to have a little more time
to herself at Hogwarts. Though it seemed that someone else had the same idea, though she doubted
it was for the same reason as herself.

"Hey Sirius." Daisy greeted the boy who was lounging in front of the fire with his feet kicked up
on the coffee table in front of him, his tie lying loosely around his neck as he fidgeted with an
envelope in his hands.

"Hey Little Evans." He tiredly groaned. "Where have you been? I haven't seen you all day." He
asked, and Daisy sat down beside him and began telling him about how much she loved the
library. Missing the fact that she had checked out a supposedly evil book — she just couldn't help
herself! It was unbelievably intriguing.

Besides — getting to know the enemy would better prepare herself for if a dark wizard ever
challenged her.

"You sound just like Evans." He meant Lily.

"Since we started she's in and out constantly, and this year she's managed to convince Remus to go
with her, mental." He shook his head with a huff.

"It's actually really cool! I'm gonna miss it when I'm at home, the local library will be rather chilly,
it's not as cool as this one."

"You're going home for Christmas?" Sirius asked and Daisy nodded.

"Are you?"

He shifted.

"Yeah... my mother told me I have to in a letter." That letter...

Daisy recalled the saddened face of Sirius a few days ago during breakfast and had been wondering
why he had been so on edge. What could a letter from his mother hold that was so bad? Daisy
loved her mothers letters.

"I'd much rather go to James' house... but maybe me and Reg will do something fun. The year
before I left for Hogwarts we baked a cake, then in my first year he didn't talk to me. I think he was
upset with me, things my mother and father had been force feeding him I bet. Making him believe
that I'm strange because I wasn't in Slytherin." Sirius sighed sadly.

"What do you mean?"

He looked at her with pursed lips and sighed. "I'm sure you've heard before... just like everyone
else in this castle... that my family are very traditional. The only liking pureblood types. I'm
different from that and they don't like it. Every person in my family had been sorted into Slytherin,
I'm the first to be another... and Daisy, I'd like to just run away."

Daisy nodded along, and she did in fact know a little bit, but now worried deeply. It was from
Heather the first time she heard of The Black Family. Of course, if Regulus' parents don't like
muggles, then that means that Sirius' don't... and Sirius seems to love them. He's always reading
magazines with dudes on motorcycles or looking at football scores, he was a Man City fan, her dad
wouldn't be very happy about that.

"Can you write to James?" She asked, hoping that he'd at least have someone.

"No letters at all... I only have Regulus and... I just want my little brother back. He's changed and I
can see it, and I'm worried. He can't end up like the rest, it'll kill me."

Daisy lay a comforting hand on Sirius' shoulder, giving him a gentle squeeze. "Just keep working
Sirius... I know you can do it." She gave a smile his way and watched his eyes glitter at her last
little sentence.

"And I can bring you a Christmas present after the holidays! Something Muggle to keep in your
dorm." And with that he began to cheer up.

"I'd like that. And I'm brave, that's why I'm in Gryffindor I know it. My parents don't scare me.
Only Remus does!" The two found humour in the bucket of vulnerability that Sirius had poured
over the two.

But the cold of it was warm. A feeling of trust was connecting the two.

"I miss my sister."

"Petunia? Yeah I've heard about her... that really sucks."

"I hope she'll be happy this Christmas... but somehow I don't think she will be... I don't think she
realises how much I want to be with her."

"Yeah... same here."

Sirius was now looking hopeful as he confidently stood up from his slouching position and walked
towards the fire. Without thinking twice he threw the envelope in his hands into the flames and
watched it turn to black ash.

"Just the way it should be." He mumbled.

"Congratulations." Daisy nodded towards the fire that had completely engulfed the letter now.

"Thank you my dear." Sirius said back looking into the angry mantlepiece.

"Sirius." She began.

He hummed. "Was the letter... bad?"

He hesitated, glancing back into the ashes. "Yeah. It was bad. My mother doesn't like me very
much, that's all I can really say I guess... nothing else to it."

She couldn't imagine her own mother being like that. Nor could she imagine what life would be
like... very thankfully.
Daisy had known a boy once in nursery. His name she couldn't recall because it was so long ago.
But one day he went home from class never came back. Overhearing her mother and father in the
kitchen one night after a bad sleep, she could hear weeping.

"Richard... how could they do that to him... he's just a boy."

"I know Mari..."

Only once she got older did that memory ever come back after watching the news about a court
case which her father swiftly clicked off, and she pieced it all together. She didn't need the front
page of the newspaper to understand where her friend went.

"Well now that's done, I better go to bed. I won't be able to tolerate my mother if I haven't slept."
Sirius laughed, looking a little awkward while Daisy had been in thought.

"Alright then. Goodnight Sirius." Sirius gave a tired twitch of his lips and vanished up the boys
dormitory stairs.

If his parents didn't like him... they were crazy! Maybe she could do something nice for him...
perhaps a Christmas present.

December 18th, the morning in which students from Hogwarts would return to their homes. When
the morning came, the three Gryffindor girls were the first in the Great Hall for breakfast. Daisy
was mesmerised by the amount of trees in the school now. So far she had counted six, but she was
sure there would be more somewhere. Mistletoes hung on a few doors, and she made sure that she
wouldn't cross paths with someone at the same time.

"Oh look a mistletoe! Y'know what that means." Bao sang with a cheeky grin towards Heather as
the two of them walked into the Great Hall at the same time, and right under a mistletoe.

Daisy had fallen back once she noticed it hanging from the ceiling and was waiting for one of her
friends to notice.

Bao puckered her lips jokingly and leaned into Heather who slid back.

"A restraining order?" Heather laughed and lightly pushed Bao away from her. Daisy was giggling
from behind the two.

Pushing the girls into the hall, they could hardly eat from the excitement of returning home. Daisy
could only stomach toast and butter. "One more bite and i'll vomit." Heather moaned pushing her
cereal away from her. Daisy agreed.

Then her ears twitched at the sound of a whiny voice coming from up the table. "I'll miss you
James." Daisy twisted her head to see Mia from third year — Daisy recognised her from being the
girl swooning over James during the Gryffindor's victory party — had her hand resting on the
younger boys shoulder while he blushed bright red having stopped eating.

"Yeah- ill miss you too, but we'll see each other during the holidays though right?"

"You better." She giggled and kissed his cheek, leaving a red mark in the shape of her lips.

Daisy was rather surprised, but she had no time to question James as the other two first year girls
were getting up to leave.
She had the hint that James may have fancied Lily. But as it seems, that wasn't true.

At long last, Daisy was about to get back onto the Hogwarts Express and journey back to her home
where her parents and older sister were waiting for her.

It felt like forever since she had left her father at Kings Cross to run into a brick wall and enter a
completely different world.

"Ready?" Bao asked from standing beside the dorms door. The girls had emptied their trunks that
were filled with school clothes and textbooks onto their beds, and filled the empty space with all
sorts of other belongings that they would use once they were home.

Daisy had packed her makeup bag, library book, hair accessories, her dress, and a few treats for her
parents to try: chocolate frogs, sugar quills, and Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans. She was sure
her father would enjoy testing the beans out with her. She hoped he got the rotten egg.

Heather and Daisy nodded, then the girls turned around and gave one last farewell before leaving
the common room.

"You guys go ahead without me, I need to wait on Lily." Daisy stopped.

Bao and Heather nodded. "We'll keep you a seat in the carriage!"

Once they were gone, Daisy stood with her trunk in front of her legs patiently awaiting for her
sister to appear from the stairs.

As of right now, many students were passing her with their trunks to also return home. It was crazy
to think that these students were returning to completely different lives. Some will have came from
a large family of magic people, some — like herself — with none at all.

She wondered what a magic Christmas was like. Was it any different to her Muggle one? Maybe
Santa really was real.

While thinking about having floating candles hovering about her dining room, Benjamin and
Theodore appeared and both of them were in high spirits. "I heard Hagrid has a secret hidden beast
in the castle, bet we could find it?" Benjamin asked Theodore.

"Hmm... depends. I'm sure if we asked Hagrid he might let it slip."

"Oh good idea- oh hey Daisy! How come you're not at the station yet?"

"You couldn't leave us yet could you? You'd miss us too much." Theodore chuckled with a grin. In
all honestly though, she would a little bit.

Where she was going, she had no friends.

"You wish." She joked. "I'm waiting for Lily."

"Y'know I'm quite glad that I'm staying here. My dads told me my Aunt Paula's coming for
Christmas, and that means her yappy little dog that bites my ankles is coming. And my bratty little
cousins. I'd much rather be here! Professor McGonagall said we don't even have to study!"
Benjamin seemed rather pleased with staying at Hogwarts.

Surely though, he'd miss his parents, but being the soft hearted boy he was, he would love to stay
and comfort his friend who hadn't wanted to go home.
"And!" Theodore excitedly tapped his feet on the floor. "Professor Duras is staying! He invited us
round to his office to have hot chocolate and teach us a few more spells. He's so cool."

At that Daisy almost wished she was staying.

However, she was sure she'd have at least some fun back home without magic. She had her book,
the television, board games, and the swing park nearby — though, due to it being cold she wasn't
sure if she'd be visiting it.

Soon the second year boys all came down the boys stairs with their trunks in hand.

Sirius was looking queasy as James walked down with him, their arms tightly locked together. The
two of them were too focused on themselves to bid any goodbye. Peter had followed.

Thinking that all of them had glossed over her, Daisy's head snapped in surprise when she heard,
"Merry Christmas little Evans." She caught Remus' smile and she felt herself blush. "Merry
Christmas Remus." Her voice squeaked higher while rocking back and forth on her heels as the
boys left the common room completely.

"Looking a little red Daisy." Benjamin teased raising a brow towards her.

"Oh shut up its not like that."

"Sure it isn't." He chuckled as he strode towards the empty couches.

"I hope you have a nice Christmas Daisy." Theodore smiled with a wave and followed Benjamin.

"Thanks, you too."

With her conversation over with the boys, she was now busy wondering where on earth Lily was,
and if she'd ever come out of those stairs. Surely it didn't take someone this long to collect their
trunk.

"He's no chance with her!" Mary's voice was heard and Daisy finally felt relieved.

Though, only Mary, Alice, and Toby — who was in a carrier — appeared at the bottom of the
steps.

"Is Lily with you?" Daisy asked out of confusion looking back and forth between the girls.

Mary and Alice gave each other a wary look. "She left like twenty minutes ago." Said Alice. "Sniv-
Severus wanted her to go with him to the train." Mary followed.

Daisy bit the inside of her cheek.

Lily had left her for Severus.

Mary and Alice must have felt the hurt coming off of Daisy, as the two of them both sprung into
action. "Was she supposed to meet you?" Asked Alice.

Clenching her jaw Daisy nodded. "Yep." Popping her 'P', Daisy's words were filled with sheer
disappointed.

"Oh dear... well, we'll walk you down then!" Alice tried her very best to cheer Daisy up. She
skipped towards her and nudged her with her elbow, "got any plans for New Year's Eve?"
Daisy had no idea. All she could hope was that everything went smooth sailing.

"Probably a party or something."

Mary awed, "Sounds fun. I'll probably be going to my cousins with my family, we do it every
year."

Daisy wished she had cousins. It would be so much fun surely. Right from their birth you were
guaranteed a friend. But instead, Daisy had to battle with speaking to others in her school who had
no time in the world for her. Turning their back to her or plain out telling her to leave them alone.
Daisy never understood this at all. Maybe they could tell she was a witch far before she could or
something. Perhaps they thought she was a bit off.

So she spent most of her time alone... and without any friends.

Up here was completely different however. She was gifted with new friends the minute she stepped
onto the train, and once she entered the Great Hall was given even more. She hadn't even had to
try!

It had to have been magic.

Following beside Alice and Mary, Daisy cluelessly found herself in a carriage. "Why are we in
here?" She asked the girls, looking forward to see nothing in front of them to pull them along the
path.

"The carriages take us to Hogsmead! And they're magic so they move on their own." Alice raised a
brow and Daisy was skeptical until she was jerked backwards when the wheels of the carriage
began to turn.

It would take forever to get used to this school...

After using the magic carriages, Daisy was now walking down the pathway to enter Hogsmead
station where Hagrid was waving goodbye to students, and Professor McGonagall was making sure
they got on alright and that no one was left behind. Daisy wondered what would happen if
someone missed the train.

"All abor' everyone!" Hagrid shooed Students onto the train and Daisy couldn't help but still be
captivated by his height.

Watching her step on the frosty ground, Daisy felt something hard collided with the back of her
shoulder which caused her to stumble. Luckily enough for her, Alice spread her arms to catch her.

"I hope your tree burns down filthy mudblood." Barty Crouch sneered as he roughly pushed past
her.

"I'll set you on fire you little-" Mary stormed in front of Daisy and towards Barty.

Daisy however pulled Mary back and without thinking twice shot red sparks towards the boys
nose. "Pugnus!" And Barty flew backwards onto his back holding his burst nose.

"Pugnus? I've never heard of that before." Said Alice watching Barty run off onto the train.

Daisy's eyes widened. She couldn't tell them where she got that spell.

"I... read it in defence. Can't remember which book though... sorry." She forced a chuckle and
shrugged her shoulders cluelessly.

Though Mary and Alice seemed to buy it and was looking very interested.

"I've got to try that when I get back, I bet D'Angelo would love a bloody nose don't you Alice?"

Alice nodded. "You're absolutely right Mary!"

Oh no...

Daisy's blood ran cold as the thought of the whole school finding out about this dark spell all
because of her. Students would be cursing one another constantly, completely unaware of where
this spell even came from!

"'Urry you lo'! The train will be leavin any moment now!" Hagrid shooed the girls onto the train
and Daisy fretfully listened to Mary and Alice talking about how 'Skylar shouldn't choose him.'
Which was much better than dark spells.

"Nice hi' lass." Hagrid laughed before the three disappeared.

"See you next year!" Bao held onto an open door and waved to a girl who was walking down the
trains corridor. Then she turned around to see Daisy who was pulling along her luggage. "Perfect
you're here!" Taking her friends arm and dragging her into the compartment where Heather was
placing her bag under the bench.

"Who was that?" Daidy asked taking her seat in the carriage, speaking about the girl Bao was
waving to.

"Oh- that was Grace. Y'know from our potions class? And charms?" Daisy hummed at trying to
picture the girl in her head. She honestly couldn't. During her classes she was either working or
paying attention to whatever the Gryffindor boys were yelling about over in their spaces.

"I've never spoken to her before. Seems nice enough seeing as she hasn't attacked anyone like the
rest of the Slytherins." Heather commented from looking out of the carriage window and out onto
Hogsmead station.

"I mean, I haven't spoken to any of the other Slytherin girls, but I sit next to Grace in charms class."
Bao then took a seat as the train began moving.

"Oh! Did you see Barty on the train? Looks like someone did him in." Heather asked, and Daisy
smiled to herself.

"Oh dear, wonder what happened to the poor boy." Daisy said looking nervous, thinking back to
her attack on Barty.

Trees whizzed by the window, morphing into a green blur, of the three first year girls as they
joked, gossiped, and shared their plans for the holidays. With each hour that passed, Daisy was
growing happier and happier. She could picture her dad waiting for her at the station, and how
delighted he'd be to see her again.

Barty Crouch was completely forgotten about.

Around seven hours later, the train was pulling up to a busy station filled with the wizards and
witches that were waiting for their children.
Before the train had came it its halt, Bao jumped up cheering, "We're here!" Which caused her to
fall over onto the other bench in between Daisy and Heather when the train stopped.

Though not to worry, as her face hit the soft cushions of the bench. Just as quick as she fell, she got
back up to grab her trunk and open the carriage door.

Daisy and Heather followed suit.

Bouncing off the train, Daisy began looking around for Lily, her red hair must be around here
somewhere.

She hoped that her sister hadn't forgotten about her again.

While looking however, a boy with long curly black hair caught her eye.

Sirius was moving slowly with his back straight, head level, and trunk dragging behind him while
walking towards a tall gangly woman wearing an emerald green dress that stopped below her
ankles, and on top of her head was a slick black bun. Daisy thought that if it was even just the
slightest bit more tight that the woman's hair would have been ripped out of her scalp. Her nose
was thin and pointed, and her cheekbones high like mountains. How she achieved that Daisy
wouldn't ever know.

Beside the woman was a cold faced man wearing the blackest of robes which matched his fancy
looking cane. He wasn't as tall as his wife but he made up for it with width. His hairline was
receding and what was left of his black strands were turning grey. His narrow eyes were fixated on
Sirius. He didn't look like his father, more like a strict Professor who was making sure his student
didn't put a finger out of line.

She couldn't hear what the family were saying of course, being too far away as well as not wanting
to get any closer, Daisy could only watch their facial expressions and body movement to receive
any idea of how this family functioned.

Once Sirius was close enough the woman harshly tugged his shoulder with her bony hand and
brought him in front of herself. Her face was poker. Not even a glint of happiness to be seeing her
child once again, and it was a stab to Daisy's heart observing Sirius become stiffer and stiffer in his
mother's care.

In a short second, Regulus arrived looking just the same as Sirius had done getting off the train.
Stiff back, head level, and trunk being pulled behind him. Though he wasn't as good as putting on
an emotionless face like Sirius had on. There were hints of worry that he attempted to disguise by
dropping his eyes or tightening his lips. Regulus ended up with the pull of his fathers hand, one that
was much more gentle than what Sirius had been given. She was surprised Sirius' shoulder had
stayed intact.

And with a crack, the Black family vanished.

"Bye!" Daisy snapped out of her stare and turned around to see Heather waving from beside
Marlene, her brother, and her father.

"Bye!" She waved back with a smile and saw the three disappear from the platform.

"What are we supposed to do?" Daisy spun around to her other side to see that Bao was still beside
her looking rather clueless. Daisy had forgotten that neither of their parents could access the
platform!
She twisted her lips in thought. "I think they'll be waiting for us on the normal platform, I just
haven't found Lily yet." Looking around the platform, Lily's hair hadn't came into view yet, which
was strange. She was probably hidden away in a crowd or something, and being too short to look
over older students Daisy couldn't see her.

"Oh ok, I'll wait if you like. I wouldn't want you to get kidnapped or something being by yourself
— or me by myself."

Daisy looked at her with a funny sort of smile that creased her brows as if to be in disbelief at the
wild thinking of her friend.

Though eventually, a red haired girl jumped off the train and Daisy was about to call on her until
she saw a greasy headed boy follow after her.

Daisy scowled at the back of his shiny head, and her face deepened when watching him embrace
Lily.

Well fine then. If Lily could forget about her, then she could forget about her too.

Turning to Bao, Daisy said, "let's just go, Lily's with her friend." And looked down towards the
wall which was the portal back to the muggles.

"Alright!" Bao chirped taking hold of her trunk again and pulling it with her while the two girls ran
towards the wall.

Poof!

They were back in the normal, over crowded, Muggle train station where conductors waved while
shouting, "all aboard!" And people rushed through crowds to catch their trains. Women with fancy
hats, men wearing suits, children dirtying their dungarees. It felt a little foreign.

It shouldn't be hard to spot her father surely, he knows where the wall is.

"Oh there's my mum and dad!" Bao pointed towards a couple standing beside a telephone box.
They were arm and arm while looking through the crowd in both directions. Then at the same time,
Daisy spotted her fathers ginger hair form where he stood peering over heads of comers and goers.
"And there's my dad!"

"Well I'll see you after Christmas then!" Bao grinned and gave Daisy a wave before trotting over to
her mum and dad.

The second Bao left, Daisy took off towards her father.

"Dad!" Daisy exclaimed running past strangers who had to jump out of her way.

The man turned around and his face instantly lit up at the sight of his little girl. "My baby!" He
cheered as Daisy landed in their fathers strong arms and he pulled her close to him. "I missed you
so much." He coddled her resting his head on top of Daisy's head.

"I missed you too." Daisy replied solemnly, though a little muffled from pressing herself into their
fathers chest.

"Where's your sister?" He asked once they broke apart. And Daisy said she didn't know. Lily
would be here soon. Thankfully without Severus this time.
When Lily ran through the wall, she was looking rather alarmed until her eyes landed on Daisy.
"There you are!" She ran over to beside her father while

Daisy rolled her eyes. "I'm surprised you even know who I am."

Lily looked down to the ground in guilt. "I'm sorry... I completely forgot when Severus asked me
to go with him..."

As sincere as Lily was, Daisy couldn't help but still feel upset over how easy it was for her sister to
drop everything for that Slytherin boy.

So through closed teeth Daisy forced, "It's fine."

Their father was waiting for the two girls to finish with his arms open for Lily who only noticed
once taking her eyes off of Daisy. "Oh! Hi dad."

"Your mothers got dinner on already, we better hurry you don't want to miss it." He then said
letting go of Lily and grabbing each of their trunks to pull them behind him while he lead the girls
to the car outside.

Daisy however took her trunk from her father and replaced the handle in his hand with her own,
squeezing it tight.

During the car ride home, Daisy couldn't help but think about her return to Hogwarts. She had only
just gotten home yet she was dreaming — more like dreading — leaving again.

She could hear the faint talking of her father and Lily in the background of her dreams, speaking
about everything her older sister had gotten up to at Hogwarts. None of it sounded rather
interesting with the comparison to everything Daisy had done.

She had made an enemy almost instantly. An enemy that was going to make her life hell just
because of where she came from. But, forgetting enemies, Daisy had met the most wonderful
people. Her dorm mates were her best friends, and for the most part — she loved talking to the
boys in her year, they always had so much to say. Then there was the mess of boys in the year
above her, never a quiet day while they were on the loose. Yet once you spoke to them alone, you
realise just how complex they really are. They were much more than a group of loud young boys.
Daisy had Sirius Black confide in her a few times, as well as herself turning to James Potter for
help and comfort. Remus was always kind and gave Daisy butterflies in her stomach whenever he
looked her way. Then there was Peter who was always offering to play games or make hot
chocolate.

She'd never forget her first ever quidditch match. The one in which she had helped by low-key
cheating and telling the seeker where the snitch was. Perhaps you could say she snitched. Yet all
went swell in the end. Professor McGonagall had reserved a place for her the minute she entered
third year, and she couldn't be more excited. She had to tell someone, it was eating her up inside.
Maybe her dad? He was a football fan so surely he'd be excited she was getting into sports?

How could Daisy forget the ice rink. It was quite the shocker how James had managed to coat a
few corridors completely in ice! She wondered what else they would get up too when they
returned.

The car soon came to a rusty stop and Daisy was brought out of her daydream to see her house just
a few feet away from her eyes. Her mother was in there.

Immediately, she jumped out of the car and raced to the front door, beating the maturity that was
slowly catching up. Pushing open the gardens gate she reached the door and barged in shouting,
"mum I'm home!"

Mrs Evans appeared at the living room door with a wide grin on her face, spreading her arms wide
open for Daisy to run into. "I missed you pumpkin."

Pumpkin. It was a funny little nickname for her. Her mother called Daisy, Lily, and their father
Pumpkin because of their red hair. Sometimes 'carrots' if her mother was feeling jokey.

Petunia was known as 'shortcake'.

"I missed you too." Daisy spoke into her mother's shoulder that smelt off warm cookies.

At the front door now, Lily and her father were bringing in the trunks from the car boot. Lily with
her own and Mr Evans with Daisy's who had completely forgotten about it.

"Hi mummy!" Lily hugged her mother as Daisy entered the living room to see the back of Petunia's
blonde head behind the couch, a magazine sitting open in front of her.

"Hey." Said Daisy, looking towards Petunia with a little bit of hope in her voice. "Missed you at
Hog- school." She swallowed her tongue

Her oldest sister sighed before slowly lowering her important studies. Without turning her head
Petunia said, "hi."

It sounded forced. She couldn't have been happy about her sisters return after all. Daisy had hoped
that being alone in the house would have changed Petunia's mind about her siblings.

But... apparently not.

Fidgeting with her fingers, she didn't know whether or not to move to sit next to Petunia or keep it
just at a greeting to stay on the safe side.

Within a short second her parents and Lily entered the room and the flesh eating silence, was
broken.

"Why don't you two girls go unpack and I'll call you for dinner in a minute." Mrs Evans said to
Lily and Daisy who were falling victim to tiredness catching up on them after their long train ride.

The two of them nodded before walking out of the living room to retrieve their trunks, then
dragged them up the stairs and into the hallway.

The sisters entered their shared room to find it as tidy as ever. No doubt it had been their mother.

Their sheets washed and ironed, clothes folded away in their respective drawers, and no dust that
could itch their throats. And it smelt just like roses.

At last.

Resting her her trunk at the side of her bed, she flopped down onto her mattress. The bed she called
home that couldn't be compared to her dorms.

Rolling over and off of the bed, Daisy opened her belongings and placed a few textbooks on her
desk along with the Mr Poppington's book. She'd be sure to read that tonight.

Passing a few hanging framed pictures of her family, Daisy trotted downstairs and into the dining
room where her mother was sitting down plates of dinner.

"Chicken nuggets!" She quickly took her arranged seat next to Lily. Petunia sat across from Lily,
and her mother and father sat at either head of the table. Her father being beside Daisy and her
mother beside Lily and Petunia. It was basically tradition!

Once everyone settled, her father spoke up towards Daisy to ask, "how's Hogwarts so far? Lily
show you around?"

"No." Daisy giggled and Lily smiled.

"I didn't need to dad, the prefects showed her."

"Then I met Lily's other friends! James-"

Lily crossed her brows with urgency, "I'm not friends with James! Dad he's so annoying."

Mr Evans laughed. "Well I have met James, and he seems a lovely boy! His father is also a very
nice gentleman, I first met him during our little Christmas outing last year Lily."

Mrs Evans gave a look towards her husband then to table as if to say 'go on', with herself holding
back a laugh.

All eyes turned to her Mr Evans who turned red.

"Your mother and I have actually been invited by Mr and Mrs Potter to attend their New Years Eve
party."

Lily's mouth hung open in offence. "You what?!"

Mrs Evans nodded her head. "Oh yes! Euphemia and I met when I took Lily to Diagon Alley for
the first time. Lovely woman. And we'll all be going as a family, how lovely!"

"What kind of name is Euphemia?" Petunia spat the woman's name out like it was a rotten egg.

Their mother frowned. "Honey it's rude to make fun of others. I think it's a lovely name! Very
unique! I bet no one else in the world has that name."

Petunia displeasedly hummed back down to the table with a scowl on her face, yet said no more at
the table.

Daisy was amusingly looking back and forth between her parents and Lily. Watching her sisters
horror become more dramatic with each word her parents spoke.

"We're going to the Potter's house?!" Lily exclaimed.

Her father nodded. "Yes! Why is there a problem love?" Lily grumbled looking back down at her
plate of food. "No... it's fine."

Daisy snickered to herself before looking towards her parents saying loudly, "I really like James! I
think it will be fun!" And watched Lily make frustrated expressions down at her plate from the
side of her eye.

"Mum and dad will get to meet lots of other wizards and witches!" Petunia huffed at Daisy.

It was hilarious to her. James was hilarious too coming to think of it. He once did a spot on
impression of Dumbledore that had Daisy rolling on the floor. Lily was biased. She had Severus as
a friend and it was clear as day that he did not like James Potter. He was a delinquent. A silly little
boy who would rather roll in the mud than play chess in his best dress.

Ugh, he was unbearable.

Once support was finished, Daisy was now on the verge of falling asleep the minute she could. She
stayed up a little later with her parents to play scrabble — which she had lost due to her exhaustion
— though she had never won before, that always went to her mother who was some sort of
brainiac.

Candy canes. Cookies. Carols.

It was exactly a week until Christmas and they still hadn't put up a tree yet! That was her favourite
part about Christmas.

Her father would bring the tree down from the loft and everyone would help to build it in the
corner of the living room. Petunia likes to put on the baubles, Lily the tinsel, and Daisy handled the
fairy lights. Then at the very end, their mother would place the gold star on top.

It was magical.

Resting in her bed, Daisy could feel herself slipping away into a slumber, one she'd probably stay
in for quite a while.

She couldn't believe what kind of four months she had just had. Though it was lovely to be back
home under her parents roof.

Admiring her wand that was resting on her bed side table, Daisy smiled to herself.

Then, she slowly faded away into a world of enchanting dreams.

A/n: I would like to note that in relation to the spells I've added in here that I came across 'Pugnus'
when reading Pengiwens Marauder series. I'm pretty sure the author came up with that by herself
so I would like to give credit as without her book I never would have added 'Pugnus' to mine.
Everything else however was made up by myself. Though feel free to use them in your own books
<3
 Christmas 1972: Lily’s Phonecall

This morning while Daisy was reading her Mr Poppington's book, the loud ringing of their little
rotary telephone startled her.

When her father first came home with the device, she almost burst into confetti. Their own
telephone. Just like the ones they learned about in school, just a little worn, but on the contrary to
how it looked, worked liked a charm.

She was about to get up to answer it when she heard the quick footsteps of someone running down
the hall.

Petunia had fired into the room in a haste. "Hello?" She asked sounding hopeful, putting on a much
kinder tone that Daisy hadn't heard in quite a while.

"Hello?!" Daisy tightened her lips to suppress a laugh as she heard the faint voice of James Potter
shouting through the phone.

"Hello?" Petunia asked, pushing away the phone from her ear in annoyance from the loud voice.

"Is Evans there?!" James yelled over the phone once more.

"Which Evans? There's five of us!" Petunia was easily losing her temper with the boy.

"Lily!" James shouted.

Petunia screwed her face up as if she'd just eaten something sour. "What are you? Another one of
those weird people from her school? Don't call here!" The handheld was about to be smashed
downwards, but Daisy leapt over the back of the couch and grabbed the device from her sister
before the connection could be cut.

"Thanks Petunia, I've got it." She nodded to her sister who scowled before marching out the living
room.

"Hello?" Daisy said over the phone and heard James yell back,

"Hi little Evans! I'm using the telly-phone!"

"Yes I can hear that." She laughed. "You know you don't have to shout, you can talk normally
James." The boy on the other line gave a high pitched hum in surprise.

"Wow really?" James asked now talking in his normal voice — which still wasn't exactly quiet.

"Yes really! Now if you wait with the phone I'll give mine to Lily and she'll talk to you."

"Oh brilliant!" James cheered, and Daisy rested the phone down on the cabinet to search for her
elder sister.

"Lily! Phone for you!" She called upstairs.

"The phone?" Lily popped her head out from her door and looked peered to Daisy. "Yeah hurry
up!"

So Lily trotted down in her dressing gown, and Daisy was suppressing a smile as she was already
anticipating a show.

"Hello?"

"Hi Evans! It's James!" Lily slowly turned around and stared at Daisy the most unimpressed eyes
out of all the unimpressed eyes in the world.

Covering the mouth piece with her hand, Lily asked, "did you tell him to do this?" Her words quiet
and sharp.

Daisy shrugged her shoulders cluelessly. "Nope."

Lily sighed with a roll of her eyes and uncovered the phone once again to reluctantly bring it to her
ear. "Hi Potter..."

She boringly droned.

As James had stopped yelling through his telephone, Daisy was stuck trying to imagine what the
boy was saying by Lily's responses. Which was a rather difficult seeing as Lily was being as short
as a house elf.

So Daisy used her imagination.

Did you hear you're coming to my house?!

"Yeah my dad told us last night."

Hey Evans did you know I'm a fantastic quidditch player?

"Yes I know."

Are you excited for New Years?

"No."

Are you sure?

"Yes."

Are you snogging Snivellus?

"No Severus isn't here James."

Daisy could go on forever about guessing what James had to say, he was unpredictable and she
could basically make up whatever she wanted and it would still make complete sense.

Do you think Dumbledore could beat McGonagall in a wandless fight?

"I don't think so."

How often does New Year's Eve come around?

"Every year"

Do you think you could win in a hot dog eating contest with me?

"Probably."
But then Lily sounded surprised. "Oh really? That's nice."

Daisy turned around to watch Lily who was standing with a hand on her hip, and holding the phone
to her ear in her other.

"Alright... bye Potter." Lily rested the handset back onto the holder gently.

Once Lily was done, she travelled down to the couch and crossed one leg over the other after
picking up a notepad.

"So... what did he say?" Daisy asked poking her nose over Lily's shoulder.

"Nothing much. He's excited we're coming, asked if Severus and I are dating-" well I got that right
at least.

"And he has a girlfriend, says he's invited her as well." Lily shrugged her shoulders unbothered.

Daisy smirked at this. "Jealous?" Though clearly she got the wrong end of the stick as Lily screwed
her face up in disgust. The face of someone who had just bit into a lemon.

"Not one bit. I'm glad because maybe he'll leave me alone. Finally! Someone to distract him."

"Did he say who else is going?" Daisy asked cutting Lily off from rambling on about how much
she didn't care about James Potter.

"He- oh yeah, Remus, Sirius, Peter... and family friends. His parents know quite a lot of people."
Lily counted each person off on her fingers while explaining, then went back to saying things over
the lines of, "he's always asking to walk me to class even though we're in the same class!"

Then Lily huffed. "I can't believe i have to enter his house. God knows what he has in there. It's
probably just a big quidditch pitch."

Daisy however was looking forward to the party. "I think it will be nice. Mum and dad have to
have friends too y'know."

"Maybe... I can just stay here, Severus would be rather upset if I went to the Potters." Lily thought
out loud looking out of their living room window and onto another street down the hill.

It wasn't a very nice looking part of town... Daisy was always told to stay away from that area.
Apparently it was a dangerous place. Drugs, violence, break ins, her father would scare her into
never going down there by telling her stories heard from around the shop.

And that's where Severus lives.

Deep down she knew Lily had been hiding something, ever since they were young. They'd be
playing outside, halfway down to Rockwood avenue where the were forbidden to go, and Lily
would disappear, or shoo Daisy away.

To see Severus.

Because just like Daisy, Lily hadn't been blessed with many friends. A couple, but Lily would
always mention them if travelling out. This, she never did. It was her secret.

Lily had been going to Rockwood Avenue to meet with Severus even since she was little. And
that's how they became best friends. Daisy didn't know why, because muggleborns weren't exactly
a favourite of the boys... but perhaps Lily was... special.
A diamond mixed in with stones.

Daisy felt like vomiting after the revelation of Severus living right under her nose. Spotting her
sister and him walking down towards the spooky street. Even the air seemed black.

She was very glad that it wasn't nearby. Instead, she lived in a rather nice neighbourhood where old
people had floral gardens and children full of joy would ride their bikes down the pathway during
the day. Small, but contempt.

Daisy's mouth dropped in disgust. "Why are you worried about him? You can do whatever you
want, don't let him hold you back. It will be fun I promise."

Then she had a funny idea, something that might persuade Lily into going. "Imagine how Petunia
will react to being in a room full of wizards."

As terrible as that was, Lily quickly snickered into her hand.

"See? Let's have a nice New Years Eve." Daisy nudged her sister in attempt to get her into the
spirit. Come on Lily! She anticipated.

Lily slowly nodded her head as Daisy's persuasion worked. "Yeah you're right..."

"I'll have to make a plan though." Lily determined began writing in the notepad she had picked up
from the coffee table.

Daisy was now just nodding along while Lily continued to suggest other possibilities that would
keep her from having to fully commit in talking to James for an entire evening.

While Lily muttered to herself Daisy managed to catch onto a few sentences. "Don't sit in front of
James or beside... if needed make Petunia talk to him... don't compliment him..." and so on.

Meanwhile Daisy began to plan what she would wear.. She wasn't sure whether or not to wear the
same dress she worn to Slughorn's party... or to experiment with something different. Her main
goal was to fit in with these wizards, maybe it would teach her a few things.

She had a nice shirt upstairs that could be worn with a skirt, or maybe some trousers...

Heather and Bao would have been able to help her if they were here.

Thinking about meeting up with friends again, Daisy wondered how Theodore and Benjamin were
enjoying their stay at Hogwarts over the holidays.

She imagined it would be rather empty. She hadn't seen or heard of anyone else staying except
them. They had the entire castle to explore! It must be very easy to do now that there was no school
work or students to stop them. Daisy bet the two were having the time of their lives pretending to
be princes for a far away land.

At home, Daisy was still getting used to not having to walk for ages to get to bed, or realising that
she can simply just walk downstairs to grab a snack from the kitchen if she wanted to at midnight.

She was missing her friends quite a bit too. She didn't have any here in Cokesworth. Bao and
Heather were her first... ever.

Petunia had been using the phone to chat to her friends from school seeing as it's too cold to play
outside anymore, and she doesn't want to invite them round and have them see her weird sisters. So
she was stuck with them by herself.

So it's only been the three of them to give one another company. Yet... they were floating apart like
a split iceberg.

Sure Lily would speak to Daisy, but she could tell that she wasn't entirely happy with the fact she'd
befriended the boys that she apparently dislikes.

"Hey mum?" Daisy walked into the room in which her mother was in the middle of sewing a red
and gold striped scarf. It looked like she was almost finished. Red tassels were dangling from the
end resting on her knees while she fiddled with her pointed needles.

"Oh who's that for?" Daisy asked eying the wool hopefully.

"It was meant to be a little secret, but I decided to give you and Lily new scarfs for your Gryffindor
house! Red and gold right?" Mrs Evans held up the scarf in front of herself proudly.

Daisy felt her heart soften.

"Yeah that's right mum. Thank you it looks lovely." She admired the uneven stripes and
inconsistently of their thickness. I was cute, and it was made by the love of her mother.

She bet it was the warmest scarf in the world.

"Oh- enough about Christmas presents! What did you want to ask me?" Mrs Evans asked Daisy
who looked to her left in thought, she had forgotten when seeing the scarf.

So while her brain tried to remember her first thought, she asked "How will we arrive at the
Potters?" Seeing as they surely couldn't drive there. It was probably in some kind of magic village
or something. Or maybe under a bridge. In a mountain maybe?

"Mr and Mrs Potter will take us by fly powder or something."

They would fly?!

She was very excited now.

"What should I wear? A dress? A skirt?" She asked her mother who always seemed to have the
right advise when it came to fashion.

Her mother hummed to herself. "Well, the Potter's are... wizards. So I'm not sure on what wizards
wear to a party."

Daisy had some idea, seeing as she attended The Slug Club's dinner that was filled with
pureblooded wizards who wore fancy garments and sparkly jewellery. They didnt dress what was
considered normal in the Muggle world. Bright purple robes, hats with pointed tips, and ties that
could change colour depending on someone's mood. She wondered if the Potter's would dress like
that.

During the same Daisy met James in Gringotts Bank, he had dressed like Muggle boys she knew.
He was very plain and simple, but maybe that's because he didn't know how to dress Muggle.

"The Potters said it's a bit formal, so something fancy and pretty would do well I think." Mrs Evans
then continued on with her knitting while Daisy thought about her outfit for New Years.

She could risk asking Petunia if she's would-

"Oh!" She gasped remembering her original question, and Mrs Evans lowered her needles again.

"Petunia. Is she still coming?" The only reason she was asking this was out of worry that Petunia
would make a bad name for the Evans in front of the wizards. Daisy didn't want them to think that
her family disliked magic people at all. She'd be absolutely mortified if Petunia caused any sort of
scene involving someone's trick or even just the mention of magic.

Who could even imagine the havoc that would be caused if she were to put placed in a house where
nothing was done by hand, or things appeared out of thin air all the time. They'd have to check her
into a hospital.

Mrs Evans nodded her head. "She'll have to get used to magic one way or another. Besides, the
Potter's are lovely and there's nothing to be afraid of." She said positively. Her mother sounded
rather excited too. Daisy could probably guess that she was feeling the same way that she was
when she learnt that she'd be going to Hogwarts. There would be wizards everywhere.

It was all very nerve racking for Daisy however, besides thrill. She would be meeting pureblooded
wizards again, and she wasn't sure she'd fit in with them. But... James wasn't nasty, he never made
it out that she was silly for asking questions about Defence Against The Dark Arts, he encouraged
her.

Then of course there was Sirius, who Daisy was growing to love more and more which each
conversation they had together.

Although, maybe they didn't have to say it to think it. Subconsciously surely they thought they
were better. They came from a long line of wizards while Daisy was the first generation of her
bloodline. She was further behind them, and way less experienced.

She couldn't help but feel just a little bit anxious, and almost intimated by the thought of attending
the Potter's party. But then... imagine how Petunia was feeling by not being magic at all.

The next day, Daisy's sleep was abruptly interrupted and she jerked awake to see the chopped
outline of her father standing at her open door through her hair that fell in front of her eyes. "Wake
up kiddo! It's tree day!"

"What?" She mumbled into her duvet.

"Mum and I are making breakfast, then we're all putting up the tree!"

Her tiredness vanished at the mention of the Christmas tree. So once her father left she got out of
bed to change and run downstairs as soon as she could to meet her sisters.

Today it seemed like only Daisy and her parents were excited to put up the Christmas tree. Lily and
Petunia seemed to be a little off. They hadn't said much this morning, they didn't even react to their
fathers terrible joke which was 'what do you call Santa's most impolite reindeer?"

"Rude-olph!"

Which had Daisy groaning from embarrassment, but also had her laughing.

When it came to building the tree at last, Daisy and her father seemed to be doing all the work. Lily
and Petunia distantly stood at opposite ends handing Daisy and Mr Evans the branches that they
needed. Petunia of course stayed at the Muggle side.
Normally the four of them built the tree while their mother rested or caught up on some work, then
after it was done she would swap places with their father and decorate the tree with the girls.

Her father was useless when it came to decorating. There was a picture somewhere in an album of
him tangled up in fairy lights after a confusing mishap when wrapping the wire around the tree. It
was hilarious trying to unravel him.

Today Lily and Petunia could hardly even look at on another.

"I need a yellow one." Said Daisy looking towards the pile of plastic tree branches that had yellow
tape around the pole. It was beside Petunias legs.

Nothing happened.

"Petunia love can you give Daisy a branch please." Mr Evans looked up to Petunia from
connecting poles into the stand on the floor.

Petunia looked to and from her father then towards Daisy who was sitting with her hand held out
ready for the branch.

"Ugh, fine." Petunia huffed and picked the branch up to aggressively push it into Daisy's palm.

"Petunia." Mr Evans warned. Though Petunia didn't seem to care very much and went back to
standing with her arms crossed, watching the tree assemble.

The family got back to work and with a strange silence Mr Evans and Daisy built the tree. Though
it looked didn't feel like a Christmas tree today... it was just... a tree... in the living room.

Without the Christmas spirit in the room, the tree was just boring.

Though that's when Mr Evans cheered, "Time to decorate!" And brought out a cardboard box filled
with shiny baubles, satiny tinsel, and sparkling fairy lights.

Now it was time for Mr and Mrs Evans to swap places.

As if the swap would change anything, the girls unfortunately remained awkward and stubborn.

Lily would attempt to place tinsel on the tree and Petunia would retreat backwards as if she would
catch a disease off her sister, and vice versa. Poor Daisy was stuck in the middle of her older sisters
grumbling under their breath whenever the other so much as moved.

"Star time!" Her mother brought out the golden star from the old box and left the room to grab a
stool to reach the top of the tree.

While their mother left, Petunia and Lily began squabbling over where their designated baubles
would go. One said Lily, the other said Petunia. Both of them wanted to put them smack in the
middle.

"Just put yours below mine!" Lily argued.

"There's no where to put it at the bottom! And I'm the oldest, I should be at the top." Petunia
rebutted.

"Why don't you both just put it in the middle-"

"We didn't ask you!" Both Petunia and Lily snapped at Daisy who stood stunned.
Before Daisy could shout back, their mother walked back in with a little stool that she stood upon
to stick the star on the top branch.

"Petunia stop moving it!" Lily stressed and grabbed her bauble from under her mother, which
Petunia was attempting to move.

Daisy watched her mother wobble on her stool. "Girls be careful I'm standing here!" Lily and
Petunia were on either side of their mother moving the bauble high and low until they were both
latching onto it and pulling it towards themselves.

"Girls!" Their mother shrieked as she lost her footing and tumbled to the ground with a heart
stopping thud.

The two girls froze.

Footsteps were heard running down the hallway and their father ran in panicked. "What was- oh
shit!"

Mr Evans grew hot in the face.

"Petunia, Lily, go to your rooms." He demanded and the two girls wasted no time to leave the
living room while Daisy tried to help her mother get back on her feet.

"I'm alright love, just a little fall. Nothings broken." Mrs Evans reassured Daisy pushing herself up
and fixing her dress while Mr Evans frantically examined her body.

"Really darling I'm fine!" Now she was reassuring him who reluctantly took her arm out of his firm
grasp.

"I don't know what's gotten into them recently." Mr Evans sighed talking about Lily and Petunia.

Even at school Lily didn't at all seem relaxed, she was even more on edge. But why? Daisy wished
she knew.

Once her mother was settled on the couch with an ice pack to aid some swelling on her ankle,
Daisy sat down beside her, staring up at the tree that didn't look half bad. It just didn't feel special.

The Petunia and Lily's baubles sat on the floor.

"Daisy?" She turned her head towards her mother.

"How are things at school?" Oh where do I start?

"It's..." really... how would she describe it.

"It's so... different."

"Made friends alright?" Her mother asked and Daisy nodded immediately.

Heather and Bao's faces popped into her mind and she felt a smile form on her face. "On the train I
met two girls. Heather and Bao. Then we were sorted into the same house! So we're dorm mates
now. I'm also friends with the boys in my year, and this other guy who I attended a big party with.
Then there's the boys in the year above who are always pranking people- but it's really funny!
Lily's friends Alice, Mary, and Marlene are very nice too. Though... I don't like her friend Severus,
he's cruel to my friends and me mum. Lily won't listen to me though, she thinks he's amazing."
Daisy rolled her eyes and Mrs Evans sat with her brows raised at the amount of words that had left
her daughters mouth.

Daisy wasn't much of a talker before Hogwarts, so perhaps her mother was pleasantly surprised.

"Wow... seems like you've had a very busy few months." Daisy nodded enthusiastically.

"We could hardly catch a break. This one time, one of the boys in my year was attacked by a tree!"

Mrs Evans looked at Daisy as if she were mad. "A tree?!"

"Yes a tree! It's called the Whomping Willow."

Mrs Evans looked like a deer caught in headlights. "Don't worry though, it only hits you if you
walk near it." Daisy said casually.

Once the astonishment faded from Mrs Evans, she then followed up by asking, "how does Lily get
on in school? Is there something bothering her?"

Daisy could guess, but she wasn't sure if she'd get it correct. Her immediate thought was Severus.

"Uhm... as far as I know she gets on well. I don't know if anything's bothering her. Maybe it's
because of Severus, he seems to be a trouble maker."

Mrs Evans hummed to herself, clearly in a deep thought as she stared at the lit fireplace.

Daisy too would like a few answers, but at the end of the day, it was Lily's business. She couldn't
continuously ask her question after question about her secret things, Lily would get sick of her.

All Mrs Evans and Daisy could do was hope things would work out for the better, and they'd have
their two happy girls back.

After a while, Petunia and Lily were downstairs apologising to both their parents for their fighting.
Swearing there wouldn't be another one for the whole holidays.

As if. Daisy thought to herself.

With their father having calmed and his face with white again, he pulled out a few packets for
paper chains and held them up to the girls. "We've bought paper chains for you all to do!" Possibly
in hope this would help them reconnect somehow.

That sounded rather fun honestly. Though the only thing she could miss out on was having to lick
the paper in order for it to stick. Last year however Daisy had realised that all she needed was
water to do the trick. So she filled a cup of water and used a paintbrush to stick the paper together
to make her chain.

Her father set the packets out on top of the dining table, telling the girls that it would be a
wonderful idea for them to talk to one another after so long, and they making the chains would be a
great deal of fun for them.

Daisy took the glittery pink one.

How naive her father was.

Petunia walked quietly into the room and sat down in her chair, followed by Daisy who sat across
from her, then Lily who placed herself next to the youngest.
The girls took their packets and unwrapped them in silence. Daisy's eyes glanced back and forth
between Petunia and Lily to see if any of them would be the first one to speak, but she didn't think
either of them were willing to do that.

"So... did you go out with your friends?" Daisy asked cautiously looking at Petunia who looked up
from her chain.

"When?" She droned.

"Just anytime. While me and Lily weren't here did you have fun with the house to yourself?"

Petunia seemed hesitant to say anything, clenching her jaw she looked as if she were having an
inner battle with her thoughts. Be polite, or don't be polite.

The mention of Daisy and Lily being gone had sparked something in her and it was easy to see as
her sour face was nothing short of displeased.

"Yeah I did." Petunia mumbled.

"Nice! What did you do? Go to the cinema?"

"No... nothing good out."

"Oh ok." Then the room when back to an awkward silence.

The lack of laughter in the room made the air feel much colder than it was. It was beginning to
snow outside yet Daisy felt more shivery in the dining room than she would in her garden.

Sighing feeling completely deflated, Daisy slouched backwards into her chair and stared boringly
at her half made paper chain. It wasn't special either- just like the tree. It was a stupid piece of
paper. What was the point? The room was becoming smaller and Daisy felt like she was being
consumed by time itself waiting for something to happen.

Daisy had told herself many times that Petunia and Lily most likely wouldn't get on during the
holidays, she even guessed that the oldest sister wouldn't want her either.

It still didn't make it any easier for when the time came.

They should be laughing with each other, telling one another about their months apart, joining their
chains together... but there was nothing but thick silence that was eating Daisy up and mocking her
for not being able to defeat it no matter how hard she tried.

Daisy felt blue, just like the ocean. Drowning in her own sorrow all because of a silly little
Christmas decoration!

Daisy had been staring at her unfinished chain when it suddenly... melted?

The chain had formed into pink water that spread all over Lily and Petunia's decorations, causing
them to instantly become soggy and completely useless.

And Petunia became outraged.

She stood up and grabbed her wet chain and threw it at Daisy shouting, "why did you do that!"

Daisy was too stunned as she watched the pink water trickle towards the edge of the table, and stop
right at the end without landing on the floor.
She only looked back up at Petunia irritated. She hadn't meant to do anything!

Her father ran in from the living room and stood at the end of the glossy table with wide eyes.
"What's happened? Oh Daisy did you spill your drink?" He asked looking at the mess on the table.

Daisy shook her head and watched as her fathers face created a bizarre look. "What? Then where
did all this water come from?"

"She did it! She made the water because she's trying to ruin Christmas!" Petunia screeched before
Daisy could get a word in.

"Ruin Christmas?!" Daisy shot up from her own chair and Petunia backed up into their mothers
wooden cabinet, the one she kept her expensive plates and cutlery in for special occasions.

"You're the one ruining Christmas by not talking to us!" Daisy felt a flame light in her stomach.

No longer did she feel freezing and helpless, instead she felt hot and defensive. She was on fire.

She didn't go to Hogwarts to be rejected by some for being not being magic enough, nor did she
want to come home and be rejected for being too magic. It made no sense! Where on earth could
she belong if she couldn't come home out of all places?

She had suffered a concussion and humiliated all because she was different. So to be home and be
facing the same cold shoulder from someone you love felt just the same as having your head
explode.

Seeing as Petunia had her mouth shut, Daisy found her opportunity to tell her just how she felt.
"Just suck it up Petunia! You're being ridiculous! You're acting like a pathetic brat and you have
been ever since Lily got her Hogwarts letter! Stop being such a bitch!"

"Daisy Mari Evans!" Mrs Evans gasped and Daisy watched Her mother's red face come into view
from her limping into the dining.

Daisy thought of Lily. How unfair everyone has been to her and how she only ever kept her mouth
shut, taking the hurt like a gust of wind that would fly past her.

Daisy wasn't like that.

With her anger fulling, pictures on the walls became to tremble.

"What's happening?! Stop it you nut!" Petunia shrieked in horror looking around the room.

"You're a horrible sister and Lily thinks it too! We don't want you to shut us out like we're nothing
Petunia!" The wooden cabinet behind Petunia began to quiver.

"Daisy you have to stay calm, your magic!" Lily whispered harshly to Daisy who was blind to the
earthquake erupting right in her dining room.

Her father had rushed to attempt in holding the cabinet down but Daisy's magic would only be able
to stop it, and it better be soon because the doors that held the rattling plates were about to give in
any minute.

Her mother shuffled to lift little glass ornaments off of their drawers to prevent them from falling
off and shattering.

"Daisy." Lily tried again. "It's ok, let's just go upstairs or something." Her words shook like the
pictures and Daisy felt her anger begin to deflate. She never wanted to scare anyone...

Daisy took a deep breath and as she herself steadied, so did the furniture.

She looked towards her mother and father in regret, they'd surely have to punish her or something
for this.

Magic wasn't allowed outside of Hogwarts, how could she let herself be so weak and defenceless
against her own powers?

"God I hate wizards! I hate magic and I hate you!" Petunia bellowed pointing her finger at Daisy
who stood with her mouth agape and eyes swelling.

"Petunia Jean Evans!" Her mother once again gasped using one of her daughters full names, that's
when you knew she was outraged.

Without waiting for her parents to speak, Daisy stormed out of the room and ran upstairs to her
bedroom with the door slamming shut by itself.

What was going on? Why couldn't she control herself here? She must be weak or something,
maybe there's training for dealing with magic? Lily's never made a mistake like that before...

She didn't want to be dangerous. Maybe she shouldn't be a witch.

Daisy threw herself onto her bed and felt the rest of her anger leave her body, though it left lots of
room for sadness to consume her.

Without warning she began to cry.

She felt so stupid. Helpless. They were her family, but maybe that's why it hurt so bad.

Petunia surely didn't love her now, especially after that whole explosion of who knows what. Her
parents must
also hate having a witch as a daughter now, she'd cause nothing but trouble.

She wasn't like Lily as much as Professors said so. They had no idea what they were talking about.

She sobbed hard into her duvet cover. She was confused, mad, upset, everything was pouring out
of her body. Everything she'd kept inside during Hogwarts because no way would be ever let
someone like Barty Crouch or Severus see her in any other shape than strong.

While she lay on her bed, Daisy heard a knock on her door.

"Who is it." Her voice strained.

"It's daddy." Her fathers soft words broke through the door and Daisy sat herself up right to wipe
her face. He never used 'daddy' now that his little girls were grown up. Though, every time without
fail he would use it to comfort his daughters, and remind them that they'll be his babies forever.

Daisy cleared her throat and rested her back against the headboard of her bed. "Come in."

The door opened and Mr Evans tightened his lips at the sight of his youngest sitting with her arms
crossed over her chest in a distraught state.

"So... what just- uhm... happened down there?" As flustered and scared he was, Mr Evans asked
calmly coming closer to Daisy's bed, and placed himself gently onto the end of the mattress.
Kind of like trying not to set off a bomb.

Daisy looked up to him through her wet eyelashes and shrugged her shoulders. "Don't know."

Mr Evans sighed with a sympathetic smile. "That's alright. You will have to apologise of course.
No ones hurt and nothings broken thank god, your sister is pretty mad though. Just give her time."

Daisy subconsciously rolled her eyes at the mention of Petunia. She too wasn't happy with her
sister thinking that her and Lily were anything but normal. It was her fault all of this happened.

Deep down, Daisy would never admit that she was kind of glad she had exploded as it showed
Petunia that she could be intimidating if she wanted to be. Maybe that would stop her from picking
on Lily. Just like Barty, Petunia was turning into a bully at home, and Daisy wouldn't stand for it.

"Ok." She responded without much of a care to her father.

Mr Evans gave a soft smile to Daisy. Resting his hand on her knee, he said calmly, "whatever
caused it, we'll get through it sweetheart."

How she loved her father.

 Christmas 1972: Sandy

White snowflakes fluttered past the window of two girls in their slumber like little stars falling
from the clouds.

It was no longer Christmas eve, instead, a very early Christmas morning. And everything in the
house had stayed intact.

Arising slowly and groggy, Daisy squinted at the bright, eye watering light spreading around the
room via the frosty window. Rubbing her eyelids roughly, she yawned and adjusted to the blank
outside. There was snow everywhere.

The naked trees had been buried beneath the thick coat, one half of the sisters seesaw peeked its
way out of its den, and from far from the house she could only see a white storm. Not a bad one.
But a delightful one.

Children everywhere would be waking up to mesmerise at the white Christmas, then travel
downstairs to discover Rudolph had ate his carrots, and Santa drank his milk - or whisky.

Lily's bed was still full with her sister sleeping, and checking the clock on the dresser, it was past
seven in the morning! They should be opening present by now! It was practically noon!

"Lily wake up!" Daisy bounced on top of the lump rising and falling under Lily's duvet.

A stressed whine rolled and Daisy fell off the side of the bed with a thud.

"You need to get up!" She said, pulling herself against the mattress.

"I'm tired..." Lily groaned.

Edging closer to the girls head, Daisy put her lips inches away from Lily's ear.

"It's Christmas~"

With that Lily's eyes widened. "Already?! I just got to sleep." She groaned wiping drool smudged
on her cheek.

"Yes! C'mon!" Daisy pranced out of the bedroom and headed for their parents. The door was still
shut!

She snuck in quietly, seeing how her parents were still fast asleep, and tiptoed to her fathers side.

"Wake up." She whispered, poking his arm.

But he didn't move.

"Dad..." she shook him lightly and he huffed.

"It's Christmas we need to get up and have breakfast!" This shake was a little more rough and her
father sprung up like a slinky.

"Okay okay! Off you go to wake Petunia and I'll be done with your mother, just don't go in the
living room yet!"
And she left the room. Along with the intention to visit Petunia in her parents bedroom.

She was the first ready, as always. Awaiting on the top step of the stairs, her right leg bounced
impatient and restlessly as all she could hear was silence from the rooms just next to her ear. The
stairs were bare and quiet. Unused. Daisy was waiting to use every step and fill the house with the
rhythmic drumming of her feet.

Eventually her mother exited her bedroom, wearing a green wrapper dress which she normally did
in the mornings. She enjoyed doing the house chores in this old fashioned dress.

"Goodness, your sisters are taking their time aren't they?" Mrs Evans commented tiredly.

The two of them looking to and from the shared room of Daisy and Lily, to Petunias. Neither of
them being able to sense any sort of motion from behind the doors. If there even was any.

It had been ten minutes and Mr Evans joined them, checking his watch and crossing his brows.
"How long does it take for someone to get ready for Christmas morning?"

"Hopefully no longer than you took." Daisy mumbled.

With a high sigh, Mrs Evans said, "Richard, I'll go to Petunia if you go to Lily." To which Mr
Evans agreed.

Daisy stayed put on the stairs. Feeling the Christmas magic calling her through vibrations, surging
along her veins.

Behind the closed bedroom doors, she could only hear pleading and frustrating grunts and groans.
And she felt Christmas begin to fade all together. Along with the only spirit she had. Happiness to
be home. Now she wished to run away.

Not even Christmas was safe.

"Petunia don't be like that!" Her mothers soft voice cried.

"Lily you will come out and spend Christmas with us like a family!" Then her fathers desperate
voice loudened.

No little present was worth this. She was acting like a puppy waiting to go outside. That wasn't fair.

"Hurry up!" She yelled into the hallway and her mother and father both poked their heads out of the
rooms they were arguing in.

"We're coming! Don't be so rude!" Mr Evans scolded.

"Be patient Daisy." Mrs Evans sighed.

But Daisy had had enough.

Once the bedroom doors closed, her feet found the steps and she began to descended alone. Down
to the bottom where the creaky floor was ice against her bare feet, and the air made her shiver all
over.

But it was Christmas. No amount of cold from her family or weather would stop her from
celebrating the holidays. Even if it was alone.

Gingerly listening for her mother and fathers footsteps, knowing she was doing something against
the rules, she tip toed into the living room and wondered at colourful paper in different shapes and
sizes, all resting under the Christmas tree.

The first thing Daisy did was turn the Christmas lights on. They twinkled against the wall, creating
a fancy rainbow pattern across the dull cream.

There were more presents that usual. Probably around two more for each girl. This must have been
due to only having Petunia to look after, seeing as Lily and Daisy had their special boarding school
to attend.

Speaking of. Daisy hoped Bao and Heather were enjoying their Christmas. Their families were
probably sitting together eating breakfast right now. Warm candles lit and buttery toast on their
laps.

While hers bickered.

Slowly slipping back into her own reality, she was still herself. The golden star of the tree looked
down upon her. And she huffed, and grabbed her mothers stool, standing on top to rip it from the
top branch.

Daisy felt sorry for herself and she was ashamed. A deep whirlpool formed in her chest but her boat
would not sink, just being tossed around making everyone on board seasick. There was still wishes
to be made. She wished her parents would just leave her sisters and come to her instead so she
could enjoy this day. She was still here! Lily and Petunia could sulk all they wanted, but Daisy
would be dammed if it ruined her Christmas.

With a march, Daisy called from the bottom of the stairs.

"Is anyone coming to celebrate Christmas?! Or is it just me?"

A door opened and her father appeared with Lily in his arm. Then her mother, with Petunia.

"I've been waiting forever." Daisy complained eyeing both her sisters who scowled.

"Let's get the presents then shall we? We've waited long enough." Mrs Evans smiled and gently
rubbed Petunias arm up and down comfortingly.

Daisy liked the thought of that.

A woolly hat, a gryffindor scarf, pink lipgloss, a new hairbrush, a colouring book and pencils, and
some beads and threads so make bracelets and necklaces was what Daisy unwrapped. And she was
delighted.

Some of the beads were flowers, a some stars and moons, some just plain colours she could create
a rainbow with. And she was already using her new brush on her hair.

From her mother and fathers friends, she had received a bit of money. Which she added to her
savings purse. The jingling made her tingle. It was becoming so full!

She just wondered what she would end up spending it on.

Then came one morning, edging into New Years, and Daisy sat colouring in her new art book
when her father strode in wearing rough snow boots, his work jacket, and a hat covering his ears.
"Where are you going?" She asked, taking her eyes off of Cinderella's blue ball gown.

"Well, I'm hoping to visit Diagon Alley, but I'll need a witch to help me." Hinting at Lily with a
raise of one brow.

"It's too cold..." Lily whined, taking a dreadful look outside. Though it wasn't as bad as before.
There hadn't been any snow since Christmas, and it was more slush then anything now on the path,
but the breeze would send shivers down your spine and make your nose feel like it was about to rot
off.

And not to mention the hidden black ice...

"We won't be long! Maybe you'll catch some of your friends there Lily?"

While her father directed his attention to her sister, Daisy had already made up her mind that she
would attend. Just for fun. To get out of the house and walk around for some time. She must admit,
it was rather crowded with five people in this little red bricked terrace house. Hogwarts had tricked
her to become used to wide space. Now she was sucking in her stomach to avoid corners of tables
when her family all sat together.

"I'll go dad."

"That's great honey, now we need to convince Lily..."

But Lily didn't want to.

While the two talked back and forth, it became clear that Daisy hadn't actually been invited.
Despite saying she'd go. It was Lily who was needed, being the brightest witch and all. Daisy was
still five in her fathers eyes.

"I know how to get in." She had quickly interrupted before her father could beg Lily any more.
Any more and he'd be on his knees.

She was only partially lying. She could picture Lily tapping on the bricks of the wall behind The
Leaky Cauldron.

From the bin, it was three up, then two to the left. Like an L shape. Just upside down and
backwards. It was totally easy. Should be, anyways.

Mr Evans was a little skeptical. Lily always opened the 'portal' to Diagon Alley. She was the
smartest out of his girls. Always the first to know the answer or solution. The first witch too. It was
how things flowed in this family. Daisy's wits was a last resort.

And she could tell. She could one hundred percent understand that her father did not trust her to
carry out something worth any thought. Just like mathematics. The countless times she cried while
he frustratingly jabbed his finger at her fractions lying undone on the dining table after thirty
minutes of explaining it over and over.

But still, Lily didn't want to leave the house, so Daisy was her fathers last shot, and he gave in.

"Ok Daisy, boots and coat on and we'll go."

The two red heads arrived at The Leaky Cauldron and cut through to the back of the pub where the
brick wall stood tall and hard.

To see it again, it look impossible to move.

Daisy doubted she could open it. She had forgotten how many bricks there were! They all looked
the exact same.

And even worse, the bins had moved.

"Alright, you open it for us now love."

Her fingers twitched in her pockets, and her feet guided her to where she felt was right. And she
landed in the smelliest part. This must have been where the bins stood originally. The scent was
the strongest.

Now which brick to start on...

She attempted to appear in deep thought, when in reality the bricks had merged into one and she
had absolutely no idea what she was supposed to do.

That's when she spotted a dirt mark. Very faint, but it was there. A straight line where the bin used
to rest, and one brick stood out much more red than the others.

She tapped it, then followed the pattern. And waited.

"Maybe it's the wrong one-"

Her father was cut off with the wall shrinking into a black hole and the shops were opening up.

"See! I told you!" Gleaming, she trotted through the new found passage.

The first stop was a grocery store. A magic one, filled with magic treats and drinks. Stop and Pop.
Which fit as the sweets inside were all very colourful, and one was even in the shape of a firework!
It was an ice lolly, much different from the rocket shaped ones in her freezer. In big yellow letters,
the packaging read 'light me up!'

She wondered how you would eat it... would it melt?

While she snooped, her father had purchased a bottle of flaming woods, bubblegum flavoured
crisps, and another bottle, for good measure, of meadows spirit.

They also took a walk to admire the snow that still coated the slanted roofs and icicles that sharply
dangled from door frames and lampposts.

Eventually though, they came to a disagreement.

Daisy wanted to go left, Mr Evans right. The left was home to the pet shops and Greggs rolls, home
to savoury breakfast items sold all day long, and her last meal had vanished from her stomach.

On the right were spots shops, home to quidditch magazines and more, and wizard clothing shops
that her father had grown very fascinated with.

So they split up, as long as the met at the ice cream shop in ten minutes.

Walking alone, Daisy shoved her hands deep into the fur lining of her coat, and imagined she were
the only person in the street. Her hair was bright in this white light, looking like the sun had settled
in her strands to hide from the cold, and radiated the world from her comfort burning orange. She
was being independent and looking very lovely doing it.

She was approaching the breakfast shop when she jumped at a screeching noise coming from down
the street, and saw a baby owl flapping its wings hysterically, well- only one of its wings actually.

So she forgot about her hunger, and followed the cry.

"Excuse me? What are you doing with that owl?"

A skinny man with patchy stubble and fresh claw marks up his arm grimaced. "Well... it's nothing
a little girl should be asking about Just doing my job."

"Why? What's your job." She asked, her eyes darting from the man to the owl.

"Look kid. If you really gotta know, I'm getting rid of this owl. I mean, look at her. Only one
goddamn wing, and she fights with the others. She's been returned twice, being incapable of
delivering letters. Don't need it? Don't have it. This will be better for her. Put her out of the misery,
not only for herself." The baby flapped it's only wing rapidly.

Panting heavily, Daisy impulsively yelled. "I'll take her!"

But the man laughed. "This owl has been here since she was born. She's the runt. Nobody wants a
runt."

But who was to decide what a runt was? And what they were capable of?

"But please! Since you're getting rid of her, let me have her. Doesn't really matter in the end does
it? It... it might even teach me a lesson on taking random animals from the street! I can make her
better." Her laughable attempt to persuade the shopkeeper... had worked.

"Fine whatever. But she'll need a cage and food, and it'll cost. You got money?"

Her coins felt heavy in her pocket.

"I have... one galleon."

Hopefully, she dug her hand into her pocket and pulled out a bunch of coins that she had carefully
added before leaving her home.

The man from the emporium stared at the young girls palm in with a locked jaw. She didn't just
want the owl, she was begging to save it.

"Alright... that'll be enough for one pack of food and a small cage."

She grinned widely. Feeling the most triumphant she'd ever felt before.

So the little owl was placed in its fitted cage, and the food placed under Daisy's arm.

Away from the shop now, she dusted away a pile of cold snow, and sat down with the owl and
cage resting on her legs.

She was very cute. Huge black eyes stared empty into her own. Probably wondering where she
would be going now. Her sand coloured feathers were a little rough, a bit of red speckled on her
face. But all she needed was a bit of love. Daisy wouldn't fail this little baby. She may be able to
help her, fix her up. Show her that not everyone in this world will throw you out in the cold winter.
"I'm gonna call you... Sandy. And you'll be better very soon. You're coming home with me."

"I've been waiting for- what is that?" Mr Evans pointed at the cage that Daisy tried to hide.

"An owl."

He was at a loss for words, not knowing if his daughter should be scolded for sneaking away to
buy a pet, or ignore it until he got home for Mrs Evans to decide.

"Daisy... you can't just go off buying owls."

But she stared at him blankly.

"The shop owner was going to get rid of her. I wanted to keep her so he let me."

He rubbed his temple. "Ok... alright. Let's get this... owl... home then."

Though he didn't show it now, Mr Evans had grown disappointed. His youngest and most behaved
was changing. From shaking the roof of the house to now bringing home pets without asking...
which would surely cost him money, he wondered where his little girl had gone. Supposing she
had changed from going to wizard school? Unlike Lily who was the perfect golden child.

"I don't think your mother will be happy." He commented sternly as the two trodded through slush
on the way back to the wall.

But Daisy could no longer hear him. She was too busy smiling down at her new little furry friend.

Sandy...
 Christmas 1972: The Potters Party

This New Year's Eve Daisy was brushing her hair in preparation to going to the Potter's house.
Pleating it down the back which was rather difficult not having eyes on the back of your head.

Her outfit was a brown plaid pinafore fitted with caramel colour buttons and matching belt over a
black turtleneck.

Her braid swooped over one shoulder.

It was almost time for the Potters to appear inside her house, and she was very excited to use the fly
powder.

There was a knock on her door and Lily poked her head inside her room to ask, "Are you ready?"

Lily had chosen to wear a white floral blouse and black skirt for her evening. The two girls also
had matching Mary Jane shoes on. The ones they used for school but could also be used for parties
seeing as they went with all of her dresses.

"I'm nervous to go." Lily fretted sitting herself down on Daisy's bed.

"Why's that?" They had been to parties before for New Years Eve, she was feeling a little more
excited about this one however. The party was going to be filled with wizards!

"Well... Severus won't be happy at all if I go. I don't want him to be mad at me."

Daisy had to force her to look straight instead of rolling to the back of her head. "Y'know Lily... if
Severus doesn't want you spending a nice and fun time with your family, then maybe you're
worrying about the wrong people." She shrugged. "We would like you to come. The Potter's would
like you to come. Besides it's only for one night, you don't even have to tell him you went if it's that
bad."

Lily was fidgeting with the hem of her skirt while staring down at her shoes. Whether she was
really listening or not, Daisy didn't know.

"At least Remus will be there." She heard Lily mumble to herself.

"Oh- isn't James bringing his girlfriend or something? Maybe you can be her friend?" Daisy
suggested.

"No thanks, I know her already." Daisy didn't miss the faint sound of disappointment.

"Just think about New Years then, and the food. I bet the Potter's will have a big Hogwarts feast."

"Maybe..." Lily hummed.

It wasn't at all an interesting conversation, it was a time passer. Lily was swinging her legs at the
end of her sisters bed just saying whatever popped into her head, and Daisy would hum, nod, or
give a short answer while playing with her hair.

"Ready girls? The Potters will be here in a few minutes." Lily tensed and let out an anxious groan
once Mr Evans entered the room. She followed her fathers out of their room while Daisy began
talking to Sandy.
"We won't be gone forever Sandy, just for tonight." She said filling a bowl of nuts for her owl to
keep in her cage while they were gone.

Sandy was still hostile. She perched at the back of the cage and had nipped Daisy quite a few times
after having tried patting her.

And with that, she left.

Entering her living room, Daisy saw her mother pinning Petunia's hair back, and Lily who was
rocking back and forth on her heels while staring at the fire.

"Seven o'clock!" Mr Evans cheered joining his family. "Stand back and give them room to come
in." He shooed the girls towards the back of the couch.

Petunia looked up at him confused, as did Daisy. "Why? How are the-" the eldests questioning was
cut off when suddenly, high green flames ignited inside their fireplace, shocking the girls. "Dad put
it out!" She screamed while Daisy and Lily retreated right to the back of the room so their backs
touched the wall.

Then and even weirder thing happened.

Two people were walking out of the flames.

"Oh I don't think I'll ever get used to floo powder, such a stomach turner." An older looking
woman with fair skin, rounded hips, permed auburn hair, and roundish glasses that accentuated her
hazel eyes shook her head before looking up towards the Evans family. "Oh Marigold! So good to
see you again!" She merrily greeted Mrs Evans with a big hug.

While the man that had appeared greeted Mr Evans. Daisy recalled that she had seen him during
her shopping trip in Diagon Alley. "Long time no see Dick. Slacks too? I see you're a man of high
fashion."

Mr Evans flushed at the nickname. "Too long Flea, and I don't think anyone's called me Dick in a
long time." The man called 'Flea' gave a hearty chuckle and put his hand on Mr Evans shoulder.

"Oh girls, this is Mr and Mrs Potter, they'll be taking us to their home this evening." Mrs Evans
gestured for the girls to say hello, seeing as they were all standing at the back of the room looking
frightened.

Daisy took it upon herself to be the first seeing as her sisters were glued to the wall. "Hi, I'm
Daisy." Smiling up towards Mr and Mrs Potter with her hands behind her back in attempt to
straighten her back.

"It's lovely to meet you Daisy, my names Euphemia, and this is my husband Fleamont." Mrs Potter
said in her high-end English accent, before her eyes moved onto Lily for her to introduce herself.

"Lily." She nervously smiled.

Then Euphemia's eyes landed on Petunia who gave a nod to the Potters with a simple, "Petunia."

"You all look so lovely this evening! We've got a feast cooking up at the moment, and lots of
children your age!" Euphemia said excitedly.

"You can even have a game of quidditch if you like." Mr Potter looked towards Daisy and Lily.
Daisy would love to play quidditch.
Checking his watch, Mr Potter then announced, "we better be off then, James will be looking for
us, I hope the house hasn't burned down." And he walked towards the fireplace with Mr Evans.

"We'll see you on the other side!" Pulling a little red bag tied with yellow string, Mr Potter brought
out a pinch of black powder before giving the pocket to Mrs Potter.

"Hold onto my arm Dick, you might get lost." Daisy felt a laugh travel up her throat, but cleared
her throat to hide it.

Wasting no time Mr Evans locked arms with Mr Potter. He definitely didn't want to get lost in a
wizard world.

"Number twenty, Godrics Hollow." Mr Potter pronounced as clear as glass and threw the powder
to the floor.

As her father and Mr Potter were engulfed by green flames, Petunia shrieked out of horror. "I'm not
going through the fireplace!"

"It's alright love it doesn't hurt, it's actually very nice. I'll take you if you like." Euphemia's soft
words had Petunia second guessing whether she wanted to try it or not, and honestly, Daisy couldn't
blame her for being scared.

She just have gotten the name mixed up coming to think of it... they certainly were not flying.

Though Petunia would never admit how she truly felt of course.

Without a word, she hesitantly walked into the mantelpiece with Euphemia. Looking back to her
mother, her eyes were filled with fear.

"It'll be alright sweetheart, I'm going in right after you." Mrs Evans comforted from behind the
couch.

Then with Petunia and Euphemia ready to go, they too vanished.

"Us now mum!" Lily took her mother's hand and followed in Euphemia's footsteps.

"You come right after us alright Daisy?" Mrs Evans warned and Daisy yelped.

"I'm going in myself?!"

"It's easy! Before dropping the powder, say number twenty Godrics hollow, and you'll be there!"
Lily laughed.

Once again, a burst of green flames

Now it was Daisy's turn to copy everyone.

Taking a handful of Mr Potter's powder, she stepped into the mantlepiece. Black ash in one hand,
and the red pocket in the other.

This was all very exciting. She was doing what other wizards do! She just wished she had been
taught. Travelling by fire of course wasn't something muggles could do, it was completely out of
the ordinary and was never even heard of until she two minutes ago.

She hoped she wouldn't somehow mess up and end up miles away from the Potter's home. It
mustn't be hard... just throw the powder down and say where she wishes to go.
Though... what if it didn't work? If she couldn't do it she'd not only be stuck in her house, but
embarrassed.

"No, you can do it." She hyped herself shaking her arms and her legs before she even thought about
travelling.

If she took any longer her parents might think she got lost, and she didn't want one of the Potter's
coming to collect her due to being a silly little girl.

She could totally do this.

Clearing her throat, Daisy announced clearly, "Number twenty, Godric's Hollow." Throwing the
ash down towards the wooden logs at her feet, Daisy was relieved to feel a soft breeze and green
light flood her vision.

It made her a bit dizzy, and her stomach did a little flip while she soared through whatever air she
was travelling through. Fortunately it didn't last long at all as she found herself now standing in a
very spacious living room.

Beautiful white walls, golden chandeliers, ash grey carpet. Long, plush and red velvety couches
decorated around the fireplace and there were many picture frames hanging on the walls. This was
probably how Buckingham Palace looked like.

The living room itself could have fit the entire floor of her house... maybe even more!

"Come here love and I'll get you dusted off." Euphemia, who was standing waiting, helped Daisy
out of the white marble mantlepiece with a hand behind her shoulder, and then began using a
rainbow duster to clean the little bits of soot on her dress.

It mustn't have been a regular duster, seeing as the soot had completely disappeared with the
simplest touch. She should probably get one of those, they'd really come in handy.

Daisy thanked Euphemia and stood still until she was told what else to do. She was in a strangers
house and didn't want to dirty all these expensive looking ornaments, or potentially rub something
onto the clean carpet. Though if she did, Euphemia could surely get it out with a click of her
fingers.

"Just pop your shoes off and sit them there." Euphemia pointed to a rack of shoes which other had
already placed.

"Right this way, the other younglings are waiting in there already."

Sitting her shoes to the side, Daisy began to cautiously follow Euphemia through a well decorated
hall covered in colourful paintings, this house was huge!

The front foyer was very open, and that was where a staircase led to the next level. Daisy
wondered if they had more than two... she'd be very impressed if they did.

While being mesmerised by the amount of space the Potter's had, Daisy was subconsciously
following Euphemia until they were in a dining room with a rich brown wooden table with a
bouquet of pink and yellow flowers sitting in a diamond patterned glass vase.

On the walls were many pictures of the Potter family together. Daisy caught sight of a moving
picture with toddler James flying in circles on a miniature broom.
Around the dining table, the older James was sitting at the head between Sirius and the same girl
from the quidditch party, who was beside Remus, then Peter. All of them having dressed for the
occasion.

James was wearing a blue shirt with white slacks and black trousers. Sirius wore a well fitted black
shirt and tie. Remus a red and white striped shirt, and Peter a pink one.

Then there was James' girlfriend who's blonde hair was flowing down here shoulders gracefully.
Her white blouse puffing at the shoulders, and a silver necklace hung down to rest on her chest.

"Daisy I saved you a seat!" Sirius waved catching her come through the dining room door.

The space beside Sirius was in between him and Lily, and beside Lily was Petunia who was facing
two other unknown girls.

"Thanks Sirius!" Daisy was delighted to see her friends again, and wasted no time in planting
herself in the empty chair that was in front of Remus. The chair that Sirius had reserved for her.

Immediately she turned to him with a wide smile which matched his. He looked over the moon to
see her. "Did you have a nice Christmas?" To which Sirius gave a nonchalant shrug of his
shoulders.

"Same as last year." Though she didn't know how last year was- she hoped he at least had a little
bit of fun. "Me and Reg made a mess of the kitchen trying to bake Christmas cookies after I stole a
muggle cook book from the schools library." Daisy laughed at the thought.

She could imagine both Sirius and Regulus covered head to toe in cookie mixture and sprinkles. It
was how she should have spent her Christmas, but... she guessed decorating alone was alright too.

She hoped the Black brothers had at least a nice holiday.

“Is Regulus not here?” She asked. Honestly not really caring where the Slytherin boy was, but
cared about Sirius.

The older twitched slightly, and shook his head. “He’s with our parents… he couldn’t come. But he
wanted to…”

His words evaporated like mist.

Before she could question Sirius anymore, James interrupted and gestured with his hands towards
the two girls sitting in front of Petunia. "This is Madeleine and Camille, they came all the way
from France!" Introducing the girls sounding very impressed.

"Yes hello, I'm Madeleine. But you can call me Maddy if you like." A girl with a thick French
accent, glossy pink lips, dark skin, and long and curly brown hair held her hand out for Daisy to
shake.

Reaching over the table, Daisy took the girls hand and replied, "Hi, I'm Daisy. It's nice to meet you
Maddy."

From beside Daisy, Sirius too was looking at Madeleine, though his gaze was much different to
hers. He looked... very interested in what she had to say.

"And I'm Camille." The girl next the Madeleine shook Daisy's hand as well. They must be have
been twins. They had the same dark eyes, same hair, same jaw shape, same eyebrows- they had to
be! It was actually rather difficult to tell them apart other than the fact that Madeleine was wearing
golden star earrings, and Camille's were of half moons.

They both looked very well taken care off too. Something extremely wealthy people probably got.
Gold jewellery, pretty nails, and the best of dresses.

Like most of her clothes, her mother found her outfit in the charity shop, her turtleneck having only
a small hole which was hidden by her pinafore, which used to be Petunias.

Daisy was rather amused in that the girls weren't from Britain. She'd never been to France before.
The only thing she really knew about France was Paris, the Eiffel Tower, and cheese. Though, she
wasn't very sure where the girls went to school if they were witches, she was yet to find out. "So
you don't go to Hogwarts?" Daisy asked and the two girls shook their heads.

"We go to Beauxbatons, it's a magic school in France!" Camille answered.

Daisy awed. She never would have known about this Beauxbaton school without these girls.

"Do all of you girls go to Hogwarts?" Madeleine asked looking towards the Evans and the girl on
the end. Daisy rather liked the way her french accent pronounced Hogwarts. The 'h' wasn't very
prominent, and it sounded more fancy when Madeleine said it. But that may just be due to the fact
Daisy had never heard such a french accent before-

Sirius and Regulus' weren't as prominent, guessing that was because of London.

Lily side eyed Petunia warily before slowly explaining. "Well... me and Daisy do, but Petunia
doesn't. She's a muggle."

"Don't call me a muggle Lily." Petunia snapped quickly and Daisy averted her attention to the
twins.

"We're new to the wizard... world. Our mum and dad aren't magic either, only me and Lily." She
chuckled awkwardly while Petunia and Lily quietly argued over the word 'muggle'.

"Oh I see! That must be so cool, you live in both worlds." Madeleine said amazed.

Daisy could sort of see that... though it was rather hard to be excited when you were being pushed
out of both of them.

"Yeah... it's great." She forced a smile.

Lily and Petunia had both settled and were now looking anywhere but one another.

"Pet-oo-nia, what school do you go to?" Camille asked looking fascinated.

Daisy could almost feel how difficult it was for Petunia to sit in here and be treated like an exotic
animal. Here, she was the odd one out being gawped at by not only magic people, but higher up in
wealth too. Petunia would describe herself as 'normal', and definitely hated being treated anything
differently.

"Florence Academy."

"Oh pretty name! Je suis impressionné." Camille smiled to Maddy. There is was again, it was a bit
much to be so excited over a muggle really. It wasn't that extraordinary.

Petunia smiled politely before averting her eyes back down to her clasped hands that rested on the
table.

With as silence filling the table, Daisy concluded that the introducing was finished which meant
she could finally bombard the older boys with questions about their holidays.

"How was your Christmas?" She asked the boys, her eyes slightly wavered over to James' girlfriend
so she wasn't left out.

"It was fine." Remus hummed.

"We didn't do very much. We don't celebrate Christmas, I celebrated Hanukkah earlier this month.
We just watched a few movies though and had a nice dinner and things." Peter answered.

"I did loads! Me and my dad played quidditch in the garden almost every day, and me and my
mum baked a cake!" Said James, swinging his feet under the table as he spoke.

"We went out too!" The pretty girl reminded him and he quickly nodded.

"Oh yeah that's right, sorry Mia." The boy chuckled awkwardly. "Christmas shopping." He
explained.

Daisy almost laughed at James forgetting, but seeing his girlfriends — Mia's — unimpressed face
she had concealed it by looking down at the table.

Though it didn't stop Sirius or Remus.

"So you go out with your girlfriend and then forget? What are you a goldfish?" Remus joked and
Peter quietly giggled from beside him.

"Yeah what are you, an elephant?" Sirius added, and Remus furrowed his brows in perplex.

"Elephants have good memory, idiot."

"Oh- well that makes sense on why their ears are so big then." Sirius rubbed his chin with a look of
realisation. Daisy finally let out a laugh.

Remus let out air from his nose and shook his head. "For next Christmas I'll have to get you a book
about muggle animals, seeing as you don't know much."

"I know plenty! There's... the elephants..." Sirius trailed off and tightened his lips in thoughts. "See
I told you!" Remus laughed and Sirius disregarded him with a wave of his hand.

Madeleine giggled in his direction.

"Oh hey-" James cut off the jokes about his date. "Everyone move your hands off the table."
Quickly warning and gesturing for everyone to move back.

Daisy was very confused as to why, but her questions were answered when plates of food appeared
along each side of the table. Just like at Hogwarts.

It gave Petunia quite the scare

"How did that happen?!" She gasped staring big eyed at the wood in front of her.

"The house elf Bu-"

"Elf?!" She shrieked and James flinched backwards.

"Yeah his names Buddy, nice little guy." James attempted to explain. "But don't worry! I'll make
sure you don't see him tonight if you don't like elves or something."

Petunia was looking at him with a sickening look in her eyes, she was absolutely appalled at how
her dinner wasn't brought to her in a normal fashion.

Daisy bit her lip anxiously waiting for Petunia to burst again... but she hadn't quite reached her
limit yet which was more nerve racking than relaxing as there was the thought of when and where
it would finally happen.

"Anyways-" Remus cleared his throat loudly. "This looks mint!" He admired the full plate in front
of him, amazed at how much was there, and hungrily staring down at the trimmings and extras
lining down the middle of the table.

The portion in front of Daisy looked the same size of proportion that she had had during Christmas,
which made her wonder if Remus hadn't been so fortunate in comparison to herself.

"Thanks mate! I'll tell Buddy you said so, he'll be delighted." Daisy would love to meet the house
elf. She didn't even know people could have them. Hogwarts probably had thousands of them,
there was certainly about a hundred in the kitchens for sure.

"Oh- and for dessert my dad specially made kaju barfi, it's an Indian dessert he quite likes." James
continued, and Daisy quite liked the thought of trying something new!

"Wish Kreacher would make things like this once in a while, idiot can't cook so save his life."
Sirius complained before shoving another piece of moist chicken into his mouth with a dramatic
moan that Daisy cringed at.

"Who's Kreacher?" She asked as her shoulders relaxed.

"Kmhp-" Sirius muffled with a mouthful and Daisy cut him of gagging at the sight of the mushy
food in his mouth.

"Gosh Sirius don't you have table manners."

"Believe it or not his is probably the best of us lot, he just doesn't do it." Remus commented from
staring at Sirius in disgust.

"Trfu!" James agreed.

With his mouth empty now, Sirius turned to Daisy and said, "Kreacher's my mother's elf. Not mine,
I hate him. But he does what I tell him to, even if he doesn't want to." Daisy wasn't feeling entirely
impressed with that...

It didn't sound like Sirius was being very nice to the elf. The elves she met at Hogwarts were
lovely and she couldn't imagine treating them with anything but kindness. Besides the point, they
were kind of adorable too.

"How do you get an elf?" Seeing as James and Sirius had one, there must be a place where you can
adopt one.

"Not sure, my families always had house elves." James shrugged.

"Same." Sirius nodded.

"They're past down in rich families and things. Not sure you can buy them." Mia added after only
being able to observe the boys and Daisy's conversation.

"So they're not wild?" Daisy asked and Mia shook her head.

"No, they're born into families and stay in there. Though... I think if one were to be set free they
would look around for work like at Hogwarts or something."

Set free? Where the house elves not allowed a say in this? It didn't sound very fair.

"Hey do you think if I asked Kreacher to ride a motorbike he'd do it?" Sirius asked James and the
boy laughed.

"Kreacher on a bike? Sounds rather entertaining."

Daisy tried to imagine the little house elf Maisy from the kitchens on a large motorbike... and she
wasn't very sure that it would be enjoyable. More frightening.

"Oh my dads friend has one of those. It's quite scary when you think of it though. No protection."
Peter fretted.

"That's all part of the fun Pete." Sirius winked.

"Guess so... just not for me. I'll just... walk or something." Peter chuckled softly and Remus nodded
along with him. Daisy too thought that riding a motorbike would be incredibly dangerous.

"There's no way I'd ever get on one of them, no matter how much someone paid me." Remus
commented and Sirius let out a sound of dismissal.

"Pfft, I would have thought better of you two. Guess I'll have to ride alone, unless you'll come with
me James?"

"Uhm of course I will?!" James laughed loudly punching Sirius' arm out of excitement.

Though Daisy caught that Sirius seethed slightly at the touch. Going unnoticed by James.

James must really pack a punch.

"I think you'd look really good on a motorbike." Mia flirted to James who turned a beetroot red.

"T-thanks." He managed to breath out after losing the ability to look into anyone's eyes. From
beside him, Sirius noticeably gave him a kick with his foot while he giggled into his hand.

"I think motorbikes are really cool!" Madeleine smiled over towards Sirius, and how he was
turning a little pink around his cheeks.

"Yeah they're cool." Nodding down at his plate.

From her place, Madeleine looked very pleased.

Eventually, the dinner was over and Daisy had eaten the most wonderful chocolate cake and
vanilla ice cream she'd ever tasted, as well as having a little piece of Mr Potter's Kaju Barfi which
is delightful.
She envied if James got to eat like this every day, it was heavenly.

Now she was standing awkwardly with Lily in the Potter's open living room where all of the adults
are chatting, drinking, and dancing.

Brown Eyes Girl by Van Morrison was playing through a phonograph and everyone had their hips
shaking from side to side.

The only adults she recognised of course were her parents and the Potter's. She had no idea who
everyone else was, but she bet they were all wizards.

From her place, Daisy could see James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter together in a group with James
being the main entertainer while the other boys watched amusingly. Mia standing close to the
circle, but definitely not in it. She looked a little lost, twirling her hair through her fingers.

"Dumbledore was meant to be here tonight but he got caught up with fighting some bad guys."
James punched the air as if he were a boxer, and the other boys nodded with a slight laugh at his
acting.

"Dad!" James called out to his father who was chatting to another man, a shorter and pale one
who's hair was receding, and who wasn't exactly tall. He looked a little familiar, she was sure she
had seen this man at least once.

Then men walked over to the boys and the shorter man stood next to Remus who would probably
catch up in height in a few years. They looked... similar.

Then it clicked that Daisy had saw that man in one of the pictures of Remus' desk. He must have
been his father. They had the same nose, yet Remus' was decorated with a pink scar at the tip.

Glancing around the room, Daisy also caught that Peter's parents were here, having seen them on
the boys desk too. Yet looking around some more, she couldn't see anyone that may have
resembled Sirius in any way. There was no one to look out for seeing as Sirius didn't keep pictures
of his parents on his desk.

Perhaps Sirius had come alone... seeing as Regulus hadn't been sitting at the Potter's table.

Daisy's parents were in a conversation with another couple, both looking very interested in what
they had to say. They were probably Camille and Madeleine's parents. She could see her mother
adjusting her dress and her father straightening his tie while the spoke to the couple, they must
have felt a little awkward being muggles at a wizard party.

Which brought Daisy to become a little annoyed at Petunia who was asking their mother at every
chance she got to go home. Daisy didn't want to go home, the bells hadn't rang and she was making
effort to enjoy herself.

Coming out of her wander, Daisy could hear James still talking. "Dad sure Dumbledore was meant
to be here?" He asked his father, wanting him to confirm to his friends that the schools headmaster
was to attend the party.

"Oh yes he was, caught up in some things though." Mr Potter chuckled.

"Yeah fighting the bad guys!" James cheered now playfully punching his fathers sides. Mr Potter
sighed, "yes James, but we mustn't spread that around alright?" Gently resting a hand on his sons
messy hair.
James nodded and recomposed himself, "alright... he'll win anyways won't he? He's the most
powerful wizard on the planet."

Mr Potter nodded along, "Oh yes, you don't want Dumbledore casting a spell at you. He's
extremely powerful. Even if he doesn't mean to hurt you, he just might." Which sounded like a
warning towards James, as if to scaring into behaving or something. Though knowing James, he
would take it as a challenge.

Although... having Daisy hear that made her think. Dumbledore had casted the disarming charm on
her and she'd never felt anything like it. In comparison to Barty Crouch's hexes it was terrible. She
went about her day hoping that her hand would stay intact with her body, but now, she's relaxed.

The boys were looking rather impressed at Mr Potter's words, Daisy a little less however. Having
such a powerful headmaster was rather intimidating.

Mr Potter and Mr Lupin left the boys, and that gave them the chance to plan something.

James began speaking again and Daisy caught a few things such as, "I'd have to ask my dad but
surely he'll be fine with it."

Then Sirius, "I think it's a brilliant idea!"

While Remus and Peter shook their heads. "I'll watch from the window." Said Remus. "Yeah
same." Peter followed.

"Alright then suit yourselves. Hey Evans!" James called over to Daisy and Lily who looked
between one another confused.

"Yeah?" Daisy asked.

"Want a game of quidditch?" James gestured for them to come over, and Daisy and Lily moved.

"Quidditch? How will we play?" Daisy was liking the sound of it. Lily... not so much.

"No thanks I'll pass, I don't like quidditch and it's freezing outside."

"Oft shush Evans, no one dislikes quidditch." James tsked completely in disbelief. Sirius too was
looking strangely at Lily, at if she'd told him she thought the sky was green.

"James has hoops in his garden." Sirius explained now with a wild and excited smile.

No way did James have quidditch hoops in his garden.

"Sirius go grab some brooms and I'll ask my dad!" James said quickly and Sirius ran off out of the
room immediately.

Meanwhile Remus and Peter were looking rather uninterested, no more than Lily who was looking
around for some sort of escape from all this quidditch talk.

"I'd love to play!" Daisy danced on her toes.

James smiled and that and ran away to grab his dad once again. "Can we play quidditch outside?"

To which Mr Potter nodded. "If you like. Though you'd have to ask Dick if Daisy can play." James
tilted his head, and Daisy could see a laugh coming on.
Sirius had arrived back with brooms just in time for James to come back and say, "Your dads name
is Dick?!" Directing his confusion at Daisy and Lily. Then began to snicker like a little kid, hiding
his lips behind his hand.

Daisy snorted. "No! His names Richard actually. Not sure why, but Dick is a nickname for people
called Richard."

James let out a bellowed laugh, leaning back and clutching his stomach. "No way, that's so
unfortunate. I'd change my name if my name was Dick of all things." Peter and Remus too were
wearing smirks, and Lily was forcing herself to keep a straight face.

"Oi James." Sirius could hardly get a word out from repeatedly falling into a fit of giggles.
Nudging James with his elbow he managed to ask, "how big is your Richard?" And the two boys
both doubled over emitting wheezes while Daisy fought to keep a straight face on.

Lily left the group and Peter and Remus were now a Gryffindor red as they joined in with Sirius
and James. Daisy was conflicted but couldn't help having a few laughs escape her lips.

That was her dad... but Sirius and James were able to make absolutely anything funny.

So she asked her dad if she could play, and at first he was skeptical after learning that his daughter
would be high in the air, but seeing as he'd had a bit to drink he told her she could go.

Madeleine, Camille, and Mia all came along too.

Remus and Peter remained inside where it was warm, and James and Sirius lead Daisy out to
James' back garden which was huge.

Quite cold... but Daisy tried to ignore that.

He did have hoops out there after all. Just like at Hogwarts they were golden and fifty feet tall that
the moonlight reflected off brightly.

One part of the garden was filled with flowers and little rocky waterfall that had Daisy mesmerised.
The sound of the water hitting the small river was like music pittering and pattering in her ears.
This was something she would have to pay to go see as a botanical garden centre or something, but
this was James' life. Rows upon rows of bright petals and shiny pebbles were smiling at her as she
walked by. She swore she saw a little frog too!

Despite the cold weather, Daisy was telling herself that this would be a good experience for when
she joined the quidditch team in her third year. She'd have to get used to catching the snitch with
stiff fingers.

"Will we play teams? Or will we just play about?" Camille asked into the air.

"Not got many people for a big game, so... who wants to be keeper?" James asked and Madeleine
immediately raised her hand.

"I will! I'm the keeper for the Papillonlisse team." Daisy didn't know what that was, but she didn't
pay much attention to it anyways, she just wanted to catch a snitch.

"Great! We'll pass the quaffle around and take shots into you, I might even let the snitch go." Daisy
bit her lip at the thought, holding her broom tightly in her hand.

The children mounted their brooms — all from which they borrowed from James — and lifted into
the air. Madeleine took her place at the hoops, while everyone else scattered. Down on the ground,
James retrieved a box from a shed near the hoops, and after opening it, threw the quaffle towards
Sirius who caught it with ease.

Daisy was now a little nervous. She's only ridden a broom a few times and that was in class... not a
quidditch pitch with other experienced players.

Surely it mustn't be that hard... right?

Looking down, it was a long drop to the ground, but as long as she held a tight grip of her broom
she'd be alright.

With having zoned out, she hadn't realised that James had released the snitch. The bludgers
however remained inside the box.

"Daisy catch!" Sirius threw the quaffle towards her and she took her hands off of her broom in
panic to grab it. In the process she felt herself wobble quite a bit. Holding her breath she passed the
quaffle to the nearest person that was Mia, and then proceeded to grip back onto her broom as soon
as the ball left her hand.

This was much more scary than she thought it would be

Just find the snitch.

Daisy told herself over and over again to keep her eyes peeled. It was the snitch that would win her
a game back at school and she was hoping to impress the other players today.

But she seemed to be stuck in the same place like glue.

She was just so... high up.

"You have to get used to the cold if you're ever gonna try out for the team Daisy!" James called
after throwing the quaffle through one of the hoops.

"Nice one James!" Sirius' high voice echoed through the air.

Daisy awkwardly nodded attempting to mask that the fact that she wasn't moving because she
didn't really know how to. In her flying lessons they had hardly lifted off the ground, and now she
was a houses height in the air. No seatbelt.

Everyone else was flying around so effortlessly. They were even doing tricks by flying in loops!
All while Daisy was frozen in her place in the sky while the wind threatened to push her off her at
any given second.

"You are gonna try out right?" Sirius strained while he took his turn at launching the quaffle
towards the hoops. Madeleine caught it with ease. "See that's why I'm a beater, no shooting aim."

Thanks to Professor McGonagall, Daisy actually didn't have to try out.

"Yeah... I'll try out." Her shaky voice surprised her. How she wished she were able to move at the
moment, but every time she tried to the broom beneath her would tremble as if it too were scared.

It was irritating how badly she wanted to move. Everyone else had so much more experience in
comparison to her. She was muggleborn after all, and everyone here that she knew of — grew up
surrounded by magic. Daisy bet that the second they could walk they were put onto brooms,
quidditch seemed like a big deal in the magic world.

She wasn't as good as them... but of course she wasn't. She had to remind herself of that! Surely
Remus and Peter weren't good at riding brooms either, and they had magic parents too.

Well — thinking like that made her feel a little bit better.

Suddenly a yellow glint near the ground sparkled and Daisy almost wished she hadn't saw it,
because now all she wanted to do have it in her grasp.

Just tilt the broom down.

Madam Hooch had been very strict when learning about how to properly fly, and Daisy was going
over every single one of her points.

Keep your body straight.

Tilting her broom down, it moved a lot faster than she had expected and almost bucked herself off
of it.

With a yelp she pulled the broom upwards in a panic and suddenly she had done a loop in the air.

"Hey that was cool!" Sirius was heard and not seen as Daisy was staring wide eyed at her white
knuckles gripping onto the broom.

"Alright little Evans?" James appeared by her side and Daisy nodded. Though... she has to admit
she was lying. From her posture that made her look like she had a hunchback, and the way she
hands refused to let go of the broom, she wasn't surprised that it was noticeable.

"Riding a broom the first couple of times is scary, trust me I know. I bawled my eyes out — I was
four — but that's besides the point." Now she was feeling like a helpless toddler.

"But my dad helped me, he's great on a broom! So why don't I help you down and we can listen to
the countdown?" James encouraged and Daisy began feeling a little better.

She realised that she wasn't stuck on the broom, she just needed a hand to hold. The Potter's house
wasn't far away at all, she could easily be brought down to the ground with James by her side.

Nodding, Daisy agreed. "Yeah alright." And allowed James to take a hold of her broom to guide
her back to the safety of the grass below.

As it turns out, Camille had caught the snitch before everybody flew downwards. She wished it
was her to have grabbed it, but at the same time it was better to be safe than sorry.

With a broken neck it would be rather hard to catch a snitch.

The second her feet touched the ground she felt as free as she did when she finally took off her ice
skates at Hogwarts. Everybody else followed, seeing as the night was growing colder and the new
year was just around the corner.

"Ten minutes now!" Sirius cheered pulling on James' arm in the direction of the house.

Now looking up at the house, Daisy was even more stunned that she was inside. It was like a hotel!

How many rooms does it have?!

There were windows everywhere! Daisy simply couldn't count all of them, it would take forever.

"Come on you don't want to miss it!" Camille broke Daisy's daydream and the two of them began
running back towards the mansion with the borrowed brooms in their hands.

Returning into the warm house, Daisy's fingers stung as they got use to the change of temperature
and she clenched her fists over and over to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling.

In the living room the adults were gathering around the Potter's radio to listen for the bells ringing.

"Daisy come on!" Sirius took her arms and dragged her to where Remus, Peter, and James were
standing behind the group of adults.

"Here it comes!" Mr Potter bellowed and the countdown began.

"Ten... nine... eight..." everyone in the room began loudly counting down with the radio.

"Make a wish! I wish that Minnie would stop giving me detention for no reason!" Sirius wished
and Daisy had the feeling that who he called Minnie, was Professor McGonagall.

"Seven... six... five..."

"I wish you'd learn how not to get caught?" Remus smirked triumphantly and Sirius' annoyed face.

"Whatever goody goody."

"Four... three... two..."

"Here have a drink to toast!" Peter handed Daisy a glass filled with apple juice.

"One! Happy new year!" The Potter's house exploded which cheers and the tower of Big Ben
bonged and the canons fired all the way down in London.

Everybody raised their glasses of juice, wine, and whatever else the adults were drinking and it was
finally the new year.

Daisy was excited now. Maybe she should write down some resolutions! She'd definitely have to
study a bit, seeing as her exams were coming up now...

Outside, there was a loud bang that startled the guests, and everybody ran to look. Out there, they
saw biggest and more brightest fireworks Daisy had even seen in her life.

They lit up the entire sky and were in the style of animals, flowers, magical beasts that moved,
absolutely everything!

"That will be the Musa's, they put on a splendid show every year!" Mr Potter explained looking out
of the wide window.

Petunia hid behind her mother, burying her face into her dress. While Lily stayed close to her father
instead of getting too close to the fireworks.

Daisy however was right at the front with Sirius who's silver eyes reflected the colourful sparks
like splattered paint on a blank canvas.

The bright smile he wore was contagious as he looked up at the sky completely mesmerised by the
bright colours.
She loved that smile, the one where it was completely obvious how filled with joy the boy was. He
could burst into a rainfall of confetti at any second. It was hard to imagine seeing him in any
different type of form. You'd think that he looked like that all the time...

"Happy new year Sirius." Daisy spoke up to him. Sirius turned to her and wrapped a warm arm
around her shoulders, squeezing her into his side.

"Happy new year Daisy!"

 Year One: The Return

Trying to carry Sandy out of her house was quite the tricky task. She was going crazy in her cage,
squawking and flapping her one wig frantically trying to escape. Daisy had plasters covering her
little fingers due to the many times Sandy had caught her in her beak. The little bit really packed a
bite.

As much as she would miss her parents and Petunia, she couldn't wait to wave her wand for the
first time in two weeks. She missed the colourful sparks and lightning feelings in her arm when
casting spells. There was still so much to do, and after seeing the library, so much more than she
thought to learn.

Falling behind wasn't an option to Daisy. She was thirsty, and the library was a fountain. If she
were to pass all of her exams she'd have to put her head down. There wasn't any chance she'd let the
likes of Barty Crouch beat her in the end.

She was determined to go back and win.

At the same time, teach Sandy.

Trying to drag her trunk at the same time had carry Sandy, Daisy repeated everything that she had
packed, ensuring she'd brought back everything she needed for school. She'd also made it her duty
to pack her camera to snap as many pictures as she could at Hogwarts, and to then take more once
she returned home.

A large square book sat in her trunk, completely blank. It was something she had received for
Christmas and had decorated to her liking. It was a little much but she thought it was absolutely
perfect. The pink of it all just screamed 'Daisy Evans property'.

She was completely over the moon with having friends. It wasn't something she was very familiar
with before coming to Hogwarts.

The other kids in her primary school never talked to her. She was the outsider, never being offered
the chance to come in. For no particular reason too... not that she knew of. It's just that... no one
wanted to be around her.

Was it her aura that chased people away? She was never rude or mean to anyone in school, Daisy
only ever went along with her own business... perhaps people thought she was too busy for them...

At the time, she hadn't even realised she didn't have friends until coming to Hogwarts. Daisy often
worked alone during class time, creating magnificent projects that teachers from all classes would
gush over, yet no other child ever had anything to say to her. She relied on nobody but herself to
stay occupied, even if it meant talking to herself or pretending that there was someone else with her
to chat to.

No one ever wanted her in their team for games and sports, despite that Daisy was of average
athletics. During school outings she would wander off alone to look at different things to her
classmates, but always make it back to the bus in time for leaving — despite not knowing what
time it was.

She was as independent as it got, only because she had to be.

While the other girls in her class were bonding over music, movies, makeup, she was left in the
dark to entertain herself. Then when she attempted to join, she would be given a, 'sorry... we're the
only ones playing.'

Therefore, she stopped trying.

But all of that changed the second she boarded the Hogwarts express. A switch had been flipped.

There she found a worried looking girl who looked like she could be in need of some comfort, and
it was fate that Daisy was the right person to give it.

The first person she ever approached actually liked her, and even better, wanted to be her friend!
Then within a few minutes... things were only about to get better when another girl joined!

An instant connection was made in their little compartment, and the three of them became
inseparable.

It was wonderful joining Hogwarts and meeting all these fantastic people. None of which thought
she was 'the weird girl who's always alone'. She was wanted, she was liked — not by everyone, but
by those who mattered — and she was happy.

"I can't believe I have to say goodbye again..." Mr Evans sad voice tore Daisy's eyes away from the
outside, and she realised that they were outside the train station building.

She forced a weak smile and said, "We'll be back for summer dad, then you can take us to the
beach."

"And get ice cream." Lily added.

Oh they'd definitely be getting ice cream. Summer sounded splendid. Daisy was becoming very
tired of the cold weather. The rain stopped her from venturing outside the castles grounds, and the
wind just loved to find its way to Daisy's legs and give her goosebumps during her walk to her next
class. Surely living in a world with magic Dumbledore could come up with a spell to keep the halls
warm, Daisy hated exiting a warm classroom and being hit with a bone chilling breeze thanks to
the open windows of the castle.

"Got it, ice cream and the beach." Mr Evans mentally noted it before slapping both hands onto his
thighs. "Right then, don't want to miss the train do we?" Opening the car door to exit.

Daisy quickly took hold of Sandy's cage — despite her resistance, and rest her in the backseat.

"We're going on the train now Sandy, you'll like it, I promise." The owl shook its head.

Taking her trunk in hand, Daisy followed her father and Lily to the platform to collected trolleys
for running into the wall.

Before Daisy and Lily could run off though, Mr Evans spread his arms out wide. "I love you girls,
remember that at school. So does your mother, and so does Petunia. We'd like to you come home in
one piece alright?" He joked as both of his girls wrapped their arms around his waist, and he
squeezed them tightly.

"Love you dad." Daisy and Lily muffled against their father, before sadly breaking a part.

"I'll be right here for when you're coming back!" He smiled at them one last time before the girls
had to now run away and board the train.
With securing Sandy on her trolley, Daisy watched Lily run into the wall first, then she
immediately followed after, leaving her father behind.

Within a flash, she was back on platform 9 3/4.

Just like the first time, it was a shock. She still couldn't believe that she could run through walls...

The platform was packed with sobbing parents and embarrassed children, and Daisy giggled
watching Peter Pettigrew being overly coddled by his mother who was brushing his hair with her
fingers and planting large kisses on his face.

Peter's expression read that he wanted nothing more than to break free from her gorilla grip.

Mrs Pettigrew seemed to be showing a lot of affection to Peter who constantly tried to dodge her
and grab his trunk, but was always pulled back into a bone crushing huge which didn't look very
comfortable... more irritating as time was passing that could be used for boarding the train he must
be on.

Averting her eyes from the not entirely private moment — she was met with Lily who was standing
on her tips of her toes scanning up and down the platform in search for something — or someone
more like.

"Waiting for someone?" Daisy asked.

Her older sister nodded. "I'll have to sit with Severus, he hasn't talked to me in two whole weeks! I
bet there's lots he wants to tell me."

Daisy frowned. "Why not your girlfriends, surely they have interesting things to say? Aren't they
your friends?" She had the impression that surely Lily would like to sit with her dorm mates/friends
during the ride. They too hadn't heard from her at all.

Lily let out a tired sigh. "They are. But Severus is my friend too and they don't like sitting with
him." Daisy couldn't blame them.

"Suit yourself." Daisy shrugged her shoulders and began looking for her own friends. They may
have already boarded the train and were waiting for her, it was something they normally did so
they always had the first space. They did so in classes, in the Great Hall, and sometimes in the
common room. They all took the responsibility of getting to where they need to be quickly so the
others could join later. Rather than waiting forever to meet up and having to settle with the worst,
they left individually as they always knew they'd meet up eventually.

Though even when they hadn't a place to be, they liked to stick together.

Therefore Daisy decided to board the train and search for her friends on there instead.

"I'll see you in the Great Hall then?" Before leaving, she turned and asked Lily.

"Yep." The older girl nodded without looking at her, her eyes were still fixated on the platform.

Daisy shook her head disappointed as Lily had already fallen back into being Severus' subordinate.

She picked Sandy out from her trolley and she immediately began thrashing around. The cage
almost slipped from her hand from the sheer violence for the small bird.

Turning red from embarrassment , Daisy kept her head low and banged her trunk up the step and
kept herself close to the walls of the train to keep Sandy away from other students who all backed
up.

Dirk Cresswell was one of those students.

"Wit kinda birds that? It's goin' aff it's heed!" He stood in bewilderment.

"It's my owl. I adopted her because the man at the shop was getting rid of her. I'm going to make
her better."

Saying it out loud didn't feel the same as her thinking it.

"Well..." Dirk bit his lip. "Good luck!" And with a pat on her back, she scoot passed the cage still
eyeing it warily.

Hoping Bao and Heather would be close, she picked up her pace and searched each carriage
through their windows.

"There you are!"

Ducking past a bulky older boy that Sandy's cage hit off of, Daisy came to see the two girls
standing at the open door of their carriage.

"Hey!" Daisy stumbled trying to pull her trunk and still hold Sandy up. Though it was becoming
difficult as her arm was turning to jelly from the weight and she didn't want to drop her owl and
frighten her.

The second she stepped into the carriage, Sandy was placed on the bench and Daisy felt her arm
relax. "Who would have thought owls would be so heavy." Sighing in relief as she rolled her
shoulder.

"Or angry." Heather said looking carefully at the one winged bird.

"I bet it's worth it though, she's beautiful." Bao said shutting the door and sitting down in front of
where Sandy sat, leaning forward to get a better look at her.

And the owl jumped at her.

"Oh! She doesn't like people?" The girls face saddening.

"Not really. She just needs to warm up to us."

"I have a trick." Heather pulled out a blanket from her trunk and threw it over the owls cage, and
almost immediately, Sandy stopped screaming.

"How did you do that...?"

"My mum used to have an owl. It calms them in the dark."

And Daisy wished she had known that beforehand. Herself and Lily were only getting winks at a
time for sleep as Sandy would jerk awake and begin to screech.

Now she was silent... maybe even calm. But Daisy wouldn't dare peek in out of fear the owl would
start transforming into a little devil.

The silence gave Bao a chance to speak now.

"I made cookies over the holidays! I practiced to beat Ben."

She pulled out a plastic tuperware container full of vanilla and chocolate chip biscuits.

Opening it it, Bao allowed the girls to take one each. The rest were to be shared with the rest of the
housemates.

They were lovely and crispy on the outer, and gooey in the middle.

Benjamin truly had a competition ahead of him.

As the train came to a gradual stop and the girls threw their robes on, Sandy was still covered, and
and thankfully had not hooted when Daisy lifted the cage to take her to the castle.

The girls had arrived at the carriages and found an empty one quickly, climbing in they awaited for
it to start moving, just as they did without any help. Only floating reins could be seen at the front,
probably to mimic a horse being there. Yet it was only air.

"Got room for two more?"

The girls looked down and saw Brody and David, their trunks in hand.

Brody's eye had healed, but a little purple bruise still remained for the time being.

The cruel prank hadn't been forgotten, only ignored, of course until the perpetrators showed up to
remind them with their troublesome faces.

But they did have room.

So the boys climbed up and the girls all shared looks, wondering who would talk first.

But it was David who took his chance.

"Look, we're sorry about potions class. But it's over now and we can move on right? It's no big
deal!"

But Daisy still felt sorry for Regulus. Being covered in that manure smelling goo must have been
rough. He was only minding his own business and had been subjected to, what could be called,
bullying. She hoped it wouldn't have to come to naming it, but still, she couldn't think of herself
doing something like that to someone like him. Barty... was different.

"Just don't do it again. It stunk." Heather scrunched her nose disgust, still being able to smell it.

"You shouldn't apologise to us." Bao commented from the side. "Apologise to Regulus."

And Brody snickered.

"What's so funny?" A sudden darkness consumed Bao and Daisy was taken back.

As were the boys. "Nothing."

"No something is. Tell me."

Brody sighed. "I don't know it's just... funny because he's weird."

"Get out."
The boys laughed, but Bao's straight dark face was stone.

"Get out of our carriage."

"You serious?" David let out a breath out of disbelief.

And Bao was.

"Yes. I said get out."

"I think you're being a bit harsh-"

Heather tried to interrupt but the small girl was very determined. A boulder that would not move.

"If they won't be nice, then they should get out. I don't want to sit with mean people."

So very reluctantly, and still unsure on whether or not the precious and innocent little Bao would be
capable of anything other than subordination, the boys climbed out the carriage, cursing as they did
so, and went to find another space.

"Bao?!" Once they had left, Heather had shock slapped across her face.

But Bao had gone her quiet self again, watching the trees slowly begin to leave them behind.

Sandy had been put in Daisy's dorm room for now, allowing the owl to rest some more before
Daisy even thought about putting her in the owlery.

She wasn't sure how Sandy would be with other owls.

She couldn't even fly yet.

Daisy had sat herself in the great hall, and her eyes, with a mind of their own, searched the
Slytherin table.

Regulus Black was not in attendance, which was strange. He was always there before her, and now
had not shown up.

It was silly really. She couldn't decide her feelings for this strange boy. On one hand he was quiet
and timid, the other he had watched her be humiliated by his friends time and time again and did
nothing but follow. She should hate him, but there was a murmur in her heart that told her it wasn't
as right as it should be.

Fifteen minutes passed and he still hadn't joined. So she looked to the Gryffindor second years,
where Sirius seemed to not be.

Perhaps they missed the train.

Within the common room, James Potter fixed himself a nice chair and had not moved for about
two hours now.

He was waiting for Sirius.

"James it's getting late, you should go to bed."

Peter rest a soft hand in James' shoulder, careful not to shatter him.

"No."

The shorter boy sighed, he shouldn't push. Daisy figured that by how James looked right now, he
was not in the mood to argue, and if he did, it would be an explosion.

His eyes were open and focused on the portrait door, as if trying to look through it and further. His
hands gripped tightly onto the couches arms, not daring to let its cushion out of his grip. He was
staying, probably for days if Sirius didn't show up tonight.

And it was no surprise.

The two boys were joined at the hip. Almost literally. They walked right beside one another,
sometimes an arm around the shoulder, being completely inseparable. Where James was, so was
Sirius. And where Sirius was, so was James.

Not having Sirius by his side felt like he had been ripped in half and was bleeding out. Only with
his other side would he be able to live and breath in peace.

Sirius was James' star on a dark night. He'd smile whenever he saw him, and frown when he wasn't
around. He felt lost if he didn't have Sirius by his side to guide him, because he didn't know where
to go if he didn't have him. They schemed, celebrated, played, ate, slept, everything together!

It made her wonder just how deeply the two felt for one another. Maybe someday she'd have a best
friend like that.

But to say she wasn't worried would be a lie. She didn't know much, but enough. Because she
wasn't as dumb as some would think.

All she could think about was the boy from nursery, and how he never suddenly never returned to
school. It couldn't be the same for Sirius, right?

If it was, she thinks James would die.

But there wasn't anything she could do to make him appear. Her magic wasn't that good.

So without a word to James, who was staring still, she went to bed, praying that Sirius would show
up soon.
 Year One: Potions Pair

The three girls who occupied the first year Gryffindor girls dorm were rudely awoken with a siren
going off. A siren that had came from Daisy's cage.

It was the morning after returning, and Sandy had now had enough of the dark and wanted out. But
Daisy just couldn't let her. She was afraid she'd maul her face or something.

"Sandy it's ok! Look- do you want a treat? Are you hungry?" The food she had left for Sandy in the
cage was gone and carefully with bleary sleepy eyes, Daisy held some in the palm of her hand
through a crack in the open door.

Sandy went feral and almost took the young girls hand off as she ate, but hadn't purposefully hurt
her. Which was a first.

"That's it. Good girl." Daisy encouraged softly to the owl, who began to slow down.

A small hoot emitted from Sandy's small beak.

And Daisy lightened completely, tiredness vanishing as if it were never there in the first place.

"I'm glad you guys are back! Hogwarts was a little empty without people to fill it up." Theodore
hugged Daisy as she entered the common room.

He looked well relaxed and he let his hair loose, curling around his head now. And the smile he
wore was radiant. It was so lovely to see.

"Did you have fun though?" Bao asked the boys hopefully, and they nodded.

"It was brilliant!" Benjamin cheered. "The feast was huge and we got to go wherever we wanted,
Filch wasn't allowed to tell us off!"

"I even woke up with a few presents!" Theodore was very pleased, and showed off his new red and
yellow striped jumper which he stretched out so the girls could see it better. "It came from Santa!"

Neither of the group members corrected him.

It sounded like the two of them had really made the most out of not being with family — or in
Theodore's case, not being back in the home in which he stays. She was glad that he had Benjamin
out of all people to accompany him, she bet there mustn't have been a dull day. Benjamin was
rather good at lightening moods.

"Peeves was a bit of a nuisance though, he kept taking baubles from the trees and pelting us with
them." Benjamin hummed.

"It was still funny." Theodore laughed as he reminisced.

Daisy had almost forgotten about the poltergeist that haunted Hogwarts. The crazy little jester
could cause quite a ruckus if he wasn't handled correctly, from what she remembered of him
throwing chairs in the morning.

"I hope they have tarts, last time they didn't and I almost cried." The faint voice of James was
heard as the second year boys walked towards their seats on the Gryffindor table.

Behind him closely, was Sirius.

But there was no sparkle or brightness in his usual aura as his smile was missing. His hands were
shoved deeply into his school trousers and his hair startlingly shaggy.

Much different from his sleek and shiny. His strands stuck out and looked a little greasy if
anything. There was purple skin surrounding his left eye which only stared at his surroundings like
nothing less than glass with drowsy pupils, and keeping his shoulders tight as if he were trapped in
a box.

The Sirius she had seen at New Years hadn't come to Hogwarts. He had been replaced with a ghost.

In the Great Hall, he sat looking through his plate like it wasn't even there. "C'mon mate. Eat,
you'll feel better." Comforted James, pointing down to Sirius' food, and the boy made a disgusted
grimace, now coming to smell the potato's that he hadn't came to notice.

"If you can't eat it, drink your water. There will be pudding after this too remember." Peter
comforted from across the table, and Sirius noticeably relaxed, and reached for his glass which he
sipped with his head hung. Which was difficult. Some of it dribbled down his chin and spotted his
shirt.

"The house elves will always feed you in the night too." Remus added, which was exactly true.
Perhaps Daisy should tell the boys where the kitchen was, it would come in really handy if Sirius'
hunger succumbed him later on if he continued to refuse his meals.

Then from beside the second years, Frank Longbottom sat himself down with his friends. Though
not without a set of brown eyes watching him.

Alice had watched him come through the door with longing.

"H-hi Alice..." Frank stuttered catching her eye.

"Hi." She responded blandly.

From looking at Frank, Daisy could see the tips of his ears begin to burn.

"D-did you have a nice Christmas?" He asked while his hands fidgeted on top of the table.

Alice shifted in her place. "It was good... did you?" It was evident she was still sour about the
winter ball ordeal, not smiling, looking rather fussed instead.

Frank nodded with a very small smile.

The two of them had tension, that was clear as day. Before Daisy would have believed anyone if
they had told her Frank and Alice were a couple, but after the holidays... it was much different.

The conversation broke and Frank reluctantly forced himself to turn away before any other sort of
awkward small talk formed between himself and Alice.

"Frank!" Alice blurted and a few Gryffindors turned her way, but none of them but Daisy, Marlene,
Lily, and Mary remained watching them from the corner of their eyes.

"Hm?"
"I'd like to talk to you tonight. There's some things I'd like to tell you." Daisy grew surprised at
Alice's forwardness, and by the looks of it, so we're the other girls.

She began to grow hopeful that Alice would confess her feelings to Frank at last. It didn't take a
mind reader to be able to realise that Alice was head over heels for him, and vice versa.

Seeing how Alice reacted when Frank took a date to the winter ball, the feelings she had must have
been strong.

"Alright." Frank nodded nervously. "I'd like to... tell you a few things too." The spoon in his hand
slightly shook as he looked away from Alice for the final time, and then she too released a breath
and let her shoulders fall down.

From Daisy's side, she heard. "What do you think that's about?" Heather whispered into her ear,
including herself.

"I think they'll start dating. I'm pretty sure Frank and that other girl weren't boyfriend and
girlfriend. I remember James saying that boys don't like to not have dates or something silly like
that." She whispered back and Bao leaned over the table to get a better listen to the girls.

"Ugh seriously? I'd much rather go by myself than take a date just to fit in. I'll never understand
boys honestly." Bao shook her head in disbelief lowering herself back onto her side of the bench.

Daisy too didn't see the importance of having a date. She could easily have fun with her friends!
Unless... they were busy with someone else... then she wouldn't know what to do with herself...

If Heather and Bao both had dates and she didn't, she wouldn't want to intrude on their night. She'd
have to find someone else who came alone to talk to, leaving her friends to their business, as much
as she would want to party with them.

Maybe she should create a backup plan for if her friends took dates and she couldn't get one... just a
friend at least so she wouldn't feel so single.

Theodore perhaps... they were good friends and she had spent a good amount of time with him.
Dirk had a girlfriend now, so she wouldn't want to interrupt and ask him to take her. That would be
rude.

She loathed the feeling of being alone. Imagining herself as a corpse amongst the living whenever
she was left out or ignored. It would be nice to have attention given to her, even if it was just for a
day.

To be a princess in a castle... that's all she'd ever wanted! People would bow to her, sing her
praises, and look at her. Not past her. For too long now she'd been subjected to shadows and
corners, but just for a night, even just a couple hours, she'd like to mean something.

The students had arrived to Professor Slughorns potions class for the first time since before the
holidays, and Daisy was a little nervous. No. She was full of dread from her head to her toes.

This was the class in which they shared with the Slytherins in the dungeons. Unlike charms class
where it was bright and sparkly even when it rained, this class was dim and the lights cast a weird
yellowish glow around the room, making it feel hotter than it was, and kind of musty.

Barty Crouch would have returned from his Christmas with vengeance on this mind. It was a game
of table tennis. He threw a punch, she threw it back, and the game wouldn't be over until the ball hit
the ground. She just didn't know how hard the fall would be.

The professor had stopped the children at the door just as they were about to walk in, and had
announced a new seating plan, one where you would have a partner for the rest of the school year,
and would have an effect on your grade.

So she crossed her fingers tightly, hoping that one of her friends would be her seat mate, but like
most things, this arrangement was not in her favour at all.

"Miss Evans you shall be paired with Mr Black, and of course I'm expecting the best from you
two!"

She could have turned to ice.

Inhaling deeply, she fumbled to keep her bag over her shoulder as she stood back to let Regulus in
the class first, and followed meekly with her head drooping.

Neither of them said anything once they sat. Both let down by the pairing. Sure they shared a table
in charms, but they didn't work together. This was asking a lot from them, seeing as Regulus hardly
has a voice-box, and Daisy held a grudge.

That grudge being betrayal.

Once there had been a nice boy who held her up when she fell, twice, and helped her succeed, but
everything came crashing down when he found out that she was too far below him to spare her the
time of day. His hands had now been washed clean.

"Now that we all have our partners, let's begin learning how to brew the forgetfulness potion! Very
nice and easy for beginners if I do say do myself. This potion- like the name- would cause your
memory to fade for a short time, depending on how much you drink."

Seriously though, out of everyone in the class how had she been so unlucky to be paired with the
boy she was beginning to dislike. She should be thankful it had not been Barty or the snobby new
boy who seemed to think that because of his height, she were actually smaller than him.

Regulus felt similar. Disappointed? No not really. Daisy was an average potion brewer, and if she
followed what he directed they could come out with an O. He just wished he hadn't been so
unfortunate to be paired with a muggle born, he wouldn't hear the end of it from his so called
friends. And he had a growing reputation to withhold.

Daisy had also come to notice how ghastly pale this boy was, even more than herself which was
hard. His eyes were black, dressing as if he hadn't slept in days, his lips chapped and on the right
side a split had occurred which was healing, and his hair flopped over his forehead lifelessly. A
little like Sirius, just on the lighter side.

Without a word still, Regulus got out of his seat and approached the ingredients counter while
Daisy read her instructions all the way through then back again. Her pupils shaking as she did so.

He returned, and lay lethe river water, valerian sprigs, standard ingredient which was a mixture of
herbs, and mistletoe berries at the front of the desk.

Daisy took the water and used her pipette dropper to drop two droplets into their cauldron, and
Regulus quietly diced their valerian sprigs.
They both tried to heat the cauldron at the same time, and Daisy retracted her wand instantly, and
allowed Regulus to lead. She didn't want to be on another Slytherins bad side. Three was enough.

But he let her stir, sitting down on his chair and observing carefully. Like a hawk would a mouse.
One wrong move and she would be caught in his beak.

One, two, three times, and she stopped.

Regulus nodded his head approvingly, and got up to wave his wand around the cauldron, and they
were done for now, having to leave the potion brewing before adding their mistletoe berries.

Leaving them in a silence. A very boring one. Not that they weren't in one before that is.

Other students chatted away, seeing as they were paired with friends.

Bao with Benjamin, Heather with Theodore, the other two Gryffindor boys, then the Slytherins
mixed in boy-girl pairings. Regulus and Daisy pulling the short straw, seeing how the Slytherins
had an extra body and the class had came to an even number.

Fifteen minutes of doodling and staring at nothing other than a brown wall, Professor Slughorn
interrupted Daisy's dozing off with a loud clap of his hands.

"Right! Well since everyone is now waiting for their potion to brew, let's learn about the history of
this forgetting potion!"

All the students groaned.

Nobody wanted to wait in a silence all period, but even worse, they didn't want to listen to their
Professor talk for the rest of the hour either!

"Can't we just sleep?" Leopold Crabbe asked as he lay his head on his desk.

"No of course not! So get your book out and follow me."

So as their potion boiled between them, the pairing scribbled in their books, and Daisy kept eyeing
the cauldron which audibly bubbled now, similar to a rumbling sound.

The liquid was heating and thin orange fumes began emitting from the bowl, so she stood up on the
foot rest of her chair and peeked over the edge, her wand in hand hoping to stir it a little when a
hand took a firm hold of her shoulder and pulled her back down roughly.

"Don't touch it! It's not ready." Beside her Regulus whispered harshly, then quickly took his hand
from her robe.

She shrugged him off defensively, only grunting, and went back to doodling in her notebook, now
a little rougher than before, accidentally tearing through her page with the tip of her quill.

She hated potions class now.

In front of them to the left, Barty and Evan snickered her way. She could feel then on her face and
she grumbled down at her paper, refusing to look up.

An hour had gone, and the pairing went back to normal working silence. Regulus stirred the potion
and Daisy dropped the berries in, neither of them speaking until Slughorn approached their table
with glory.
"Well this one smells lovely! I knew my two brightest students would do well!"

The pupils side eyed one another.

Slughorn himself poured their potion into a veil and marvelled at it, holding it up to a lamp in the
classroom which turned his face orange with its reflection.

"A lovely blood red. Would probably make you forget weeks!" He turned back to the pair. "Very
well done. I award your both ten house points."

And he left with the veil, which was also the ending of the class, and Daisy was throwing her
belongings into her bag in a rush to get out of this dark dungeon, and see her owl for a couple of
minutes before having to continue with classes.

But just before she could completely leave, she heard a quiet voice that made her cringe.

"Good work Evans."

 Year One: The Green Man

Today James Potter had almost blinded Daisy when he had strutted into the common room head to
toe in fluorescent clothing.

His robes were no longer black like everyone else's, they were now completely green. His shirt,
trousers, socks, shoes, everything was the same bright colour.

If Daisy were to search for him, the reflective of the sun on his uniform would be intense enough
for her to not even have to try and spot him.

James would be as conspicuous as a rainbow umbrella amidst identical dull black, though,
normally his personality did that for him anyways.

You could hear James before you could see him, but now you wouldn't have the choice of either.

The minute Peter saw him, he had told him to stay put while he bolted back to his dormitory to
retrieve a camera.

"James smile!" He said, and James spun around to pose for Peter's camera with a wide toothy grin,
his arms gluing to his sides like a child who had just started primary school and was getting all the
attention of his parents.

Daisy laughed seeing as she had stood the same way for her mother when entering her first ever
school year.

Daisy didn't think there was anything that James could wear and feel embarrassed in, he was as
carefree as they come.

Though no animal but an owl, cat, or toad were allowed to be kept in Hogwarts, the Gryffindor
tower had seemed to have gained a peacock.

"What... are you wearing?" Mary looked James up and down studying his fashion choice once she
entered the room.

From walking in between her legs, Toby's eyes were also judging James.

Behind her, Eleanor the prefect took one glance and sighed on her way out of the common room.
"It's too early for this." Ignoring them.

Being a prefect must be tiring.

"Green." James shrugged towards the second year girls, and Sirius, Remus, and Peter all laughed
from behind his back. He spoke casually as if students at Hogwarts usually wore bright florescent
green clothing that had people squinting their eyes whenever they looked his way.

"It's in the style now." Remus confirmed with a nod.

"You look... bonkers." Alice tilted her head.

Lily wasn't looking impressed.

Marlene had turned completely red, crossing her legs.

"I look great actually Alice. This is how rich and successful men dress. They like to stand out, and
so does James Potter."

Peter let out a wheeze.

"Hey!" James spun around to the three boys. "I'm the only one brave enough to go through with
this bet!" Pointing a stiff finger at them.

"You're the idiot that suggest it." Remus' cheeks flushed from laughing at James' state. His wide
smile made the apple of his cheeks more prominent, and the few peachy lines decorating his
profile turned a shade of light pink from his blush. "You're the one who wanted to walk around
looking like a celery stick."

James closed his mouth with a huff.

"What bet?" Daisy asked hastily.

"Well... our dear Snivellus said that I would look like a tree log covered in moss if I wore it. Dumb
idiot completely underestimates my good looks! So I'll be wearing this all day to prove a point. If I
fail, I have to admit it... and compliment him for the week."

"But I'll show him. I'll show everyone that I look good in anything and everything!" Pointing his
finger at everybody before giving a dramatic swish of his green robes as he turned to exit the
common room.

This left the giggling first and second years to follow him to the Great Hall, wondering what that
little leprechaun would do next.

Walking down the isle of Gryffindor table, James unsurprisingly had all eyes on him. Not that he
probably minded. Daisy snorted at the disgusted expression of Severus at the Slytherin table, and
beside him, Regulus was looking bewildered.

Daisy also noticed that Mia Jones hadn't given James the time of day to even so much as glance at
him, much different from the rest of the school. She wondered if they were still a thing or not.

"Looking good Potter!" Frank whistled from his seat.

James gave him a hard wink, and continued to parade himself through the hall before taking his
seat at the long table.

From the teachers places, Daisy caught Dumbledore chuckling to himself while he watched the
young Gryffindor.

Professor Duras too had pursed his lips to restrain a laugh, seeing as he was sitting next to
Professor McGonagall who was eyeing James with an expression that was filled with confusion.
Her eyes narrowed and a sigh escaped her mouth as she rose from her seat and made her way
towards the Gryffindors.

Daisy quickly look her seat and averted her eyes from James to make it more believable that she
had nothing to do with this. She was just an innocent civilian craving a bowl of Cheerios, Professor
McGonagall didn't need to know about the bet.

From beside her however, Brody and David were snickering at James, and Benjamin and Theodore
were watching Professor McGonagall stride closer and closer.
The deputy headmistress cleared her throat as she stopped in front of James who was buttering his
toast as per usual. She stood behind Remus and Peter so she could look down upon the young boy
who innocently widened his eyes behind his green rimmed spectacles at her presence. "Mr Potter, I
see you've chosen to... wear something different today."

"I'm glad you noticed!" James chuckled. "I think red is a bit outdated, so I'm bringing in green. We
should all celebrate and encourage change!" Opening his arms out wide and looking up and down
the long table to students who hid laughs or looked away wanting nothing to do with the young
boys shenanigans.

"I see... and is that your Gryffindor tie around your neck?"

James nodded, even though it didn't look at all like a Gryffindor piece of clothing, seeing as every
single person sitting at the table had on red and gold striped ties.

It was your average school dress code looking down the lines of the table, until you got near the
end where there was a burst of flamboyancy that came out of nowhere to blind your eyeballs.

He was as out of place as a flamingo in a murder of crows.

"Alright then... well... this isn't exactly school uniform." Professor McGonagall clipped, sending
subtle hints that bounced right off of James' head.

So she had to just come out with it, which was what Daisy was half dreading half anticipating. If
James had to change, Severus would win and that would be the last thing James would ever wish.
Though if he didn't, she would get to enjoy watching James strut about the castle in bright green
attire for the rest of the day.

"I must ask you to change Mr Potter. Black is the school colour, every student in this hall is dress
the same and I except only the best from my Gryffindors." And James' face dropped, there was no
way he wanted to lose this challenge. For James Potter, losing would mean the end of the world.

"I... can't change Professor." He said suddenly, and all eyes of the second and first year Gryffindors
were on him, wondering what excuse he had managed to come up with.

Professor McGonagall raised a brow. "Is that right? And why not?"

"I... it's stuck. Can't get it off, Sirius used a sticking charm on me." Daisy covered her hand with
her mouth while looking at Sirius' overly shocked face. Eyes wide, jaw dropped, and hand on his
chest in hurt.

"I did no such things Professor, I would never do that!" Causing James to frown and Remus and
Peter to snicker.

The Professor sighed and looked back at James. "Mr Potter, why would you want to wear... this?"

"Uhm..." James blanked, and his eyes scanned around the table, until the stopped on Professor
McGonagall's robes. "You wear green Professor!

"This is a bit of an exaggeration though don't you think?"

"Nope."

Mary and Marlene had a brisk burst of laughter before turning away and covering their faces so
Professor McGonagall couldn't see them.
"Alright Mr Potter. Let's see how long you will last. If I catch you wearing any other colour this
week you will have detention where you will clean the Slytherin's quidditch changing room,
without magic after each of their training sessions."

James had a confident grin on his face while straightening his back. "Challenge accepted." While
their head of house retreated back to her seat.

So now this was going to go on for a full week.

James looked absolutely ridiculous. That however mustn't have been the plan, because all James
had to do was... nothing. But it was never that easy, he had to grind things to the max. Which
ultimately backfired as if he somehow failed, the Slytherin changing room would be his go scrub,
and Severus would become victorious, which would also be the cherry on top for James going
insane.

She would hate to let Barty Crouch win something over her.

"You've got double trouble now James. Either wear that, or be nice to Snivellus and clean the
slimy changing room." Sirius shook James' shoulder out of glee, clearly very excited to see how his
friend would handle it all.

James rolled his eyes. "There's no way I'm doing those things. It's just green clothing at the end of
the day isn't it? Nothing can make me suck up to that piece of-"

"James!" Lily scolded, and Sirius shot her a rude glance, and a gesture that Daisy was surprised to
see used.

Ignoring the trio who were notorious for bickering, Daisy was surprised to see Alice and Frank
sitting side by side once again, just like before Christmas. Something had happened last night... she
just didn't know what.

She really ought to work on this urge to know everything about everyone.

"Lily." She whispered to her older sister who was sat beside her eating quietly.

"What?"

"Did Alice and Frank make up then?" Using her eyes to point at the two.

"Oh yeah they did. It was such a silly thing really. Can't believe it even happened."

"Will you tell me?" She hoped looking up at Lily who sighed and leaned down towards her.

"Well. Daphne asked Frank to the ball — she thought Alice was his sister — and Frank said they'll
go as friends, and of course Alice didn't know that, she had accepted it. Frank thought it would be
good to learn how to dance with Daphne so he could ask Alice to the ball next year, because he
didn't want to make a fool out of himself. Nothing romantic with Daphne, their quidditch buddies."

Daisy almost laughed.

But- she did feel relieved now as she looked over at Frank and Alice again, watching them chat and
stare at one another with smiles on their faces.

So much for a dramatic Christmas... though now Alice can look forward to dancing with Frank
next year.
To further prove how much James didn't want to have to give into the Slytherin's harsh words or
even give them the satisfaction of feeling superior to him, Severus had made a loud remark from
walking beside his other housemates behind the second year Gryffindor boys after breakfast in the
Great Hall had finished with the ring of a bell.

"You look hideous Potter. Do you really think that's fashionable? I bet you wish you were in our
house huh?" Snickering to the Slytherin boy beside him who rolled his eyes, then shortly parted.

"Oh please. Style your hair before you talk to me about fashion Snivellus. You're jealous that I
look better in green than you." James shrugged his shoulders and his friends laughed from behind
him.

At Severus' arrival, Sirius boastfully ran his fingers through his soft black curls and positioned
them to frame his face.

Severus scoffed. "That's ridiculous. Your hair looks like a dirty mop, sticking out all over the
place. Get that from your dad did you?" Looking at the windswept hair of James that pointed in the
direction of North, East, South, and West.

And she didn't miss the little taken back expression of the boy, only for a split second before he let
out a breath of air through his nose, looking back at Severus with a smirk. "And yours like a
waterfall Snivelly, ever tried washing it? I'm sure my dad would love to give you some of his hair
products which he designed!"

"Your father? Makes product for hair? Doesn't seem like he uses them does he? Nor do you
clearly." James clenched his fist into a tight ball while Severus' words pushed him further and
further into losing his temper.

As James' cheeks darkened, Sirius was quick to push his way to the front and step close to Severus'
face, so close that he almost poke himself in the cheek with the latter's hooked nose. "At least he
uses shampoo unlike yourself. What is it you use? Kitchen oil?"

Daisy could see the clogs in Severus turn as he wound himself up to bite back, when Lily
appeared, and James and Severus both dropped their angry and cocky expressions. Sirius remained
hotheaded while he stared Severus down with Remus peering over his shoulder with the same dark
look.

"Alright Evans?" James smiled, and Severus snarled.

"Hi Lily." Daisy felt herself groan quietly in frustration, but after hearing Sirius mimic Severus in a
high and nasally voice she audibly let out a laugh, as did Heather and Bao.

"Hi Lilyyyy, your hair smells nice, can I have some to keep beside my bed?"

Lily however didn't find it very funny. "Hilarious. Don't you have places to be?" Snapping at Sirius
who shrugged his shoulders.

"I go whenever the wind takes me."

"Well I hope it blows you into a bin or something to match your foul attitude."

"She doesn't hold back does she?" Bao whispered to Daisy's side once Lily stormed away from the
group, something that was very common during their stay at Hogwarts.

That was true. Lily had the habit of biting before anything else could be said from someone. She
was rather defensive. Daisy was rather worried sometimes, hoping Lily wouldn't bite too quickly or
on the wrong person... that could get her into a lot of trouble...

Soon after Severus disappeared and the second years attended their class, Daisy was sitting in her
Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson, thrilled to be seeing Professor Duras once again.

His hair was just as blue as she remembered, resembling a big blueberry.

Today he had been full of exaggerated facial expression, dad jokes, and over all joyous attitude
towards the students who couldn't stop smiling their entire lesson.

And of course he had his jar of lollipops that were filled to the very top. Daisy happily dipped her
hand in once the lesson was over and took a chance on which flavour she would get. She pulled out
yellow — which was lemon, and popped it in her mouth while skipping out of the classroom.

After Potions, Daisy had splashes of Black Fire Potion on her robes and they had lightened them to
look a grey to almost white shade which she groaned at. She hoped that the house-elves would be
able to get the marks out.

The liquid only managed to spray on her when she became distracted by Barty Crouch charging up
a dung bomb in her direction, causing her to lose counting of her stirring and the potion began to
bubble and pop angrily at her mistake, leaving the desk coated in little bleached circles.

Regulus was anything but pleased and excused himself from the class.

Then once finished, Daisy had moved rather slow and clumsily dropped her quills to spill over the
ground beneath her table. She hadn't even needed four quills out on her desk, they were only if one
somehow broke. Then the other, then the other.

"You've made quite the mess today. Not like you is it?" Benjamin joked picking up the last quill
that Daisy couldn't find, as it as rolled to the other group of chairs where the Gryffindor boys found
sat together once again.

"Was it the lemon?"

Daisy looked up from taking her quill. "Huh?"

"The lollipop. Eating the yellow ones throw me off, I think they're disgusting."

Daisy chuckled. "No. It wasn't the lollipop. I like lemon flavoured things."

"Strange." Benjamin gave her a look of playful judgment, and the two of them began walking out
of the now almost empty classroom.

They were the last students besides Regulus who had managed to exit first being a few steps ahead
of the Gryffindors.

"Reg-"

Before Benjamin could finish, Regulus had turned around with thin eyes. This gave Daisy a better
look at his unnatural skin, and caught that the corner of the left looked a little blue, as if healing
from something — as it didn't seem exactly brand new. It definitely hadn't happened this lesson.

A look of irritation formed onto his face when he looked at Benjamin, which wasn't normal for the
boy at all. The two of them seemed to be getting on well before the holidays.
Looking forward again, Regulus speed walked away without a word to the red haired boy who was
looking hurt.

Daisy felt Benjamin's heart sink in her own stomach.

The trio hadn't collected ingredients together in a long while, not while a feud was brewing
between the houses, and the new pairs.

"Did I do something?" Benjamin asked turning to Daisy with a panicked expression.

Daisy thought to herself. She didn't have a clue. It would be out of character for Benjamin to upset
somebody, but maybe he pushed too far on Regulus, and the boy had became overwhelmed and
tired.

Or, there was a part of Daisy that thought of Sirius, and how he too had came back to Hogwarts
disheveled.

"I think he just needs time alone, remember he's surrounded by Barty all the time, must be tough."
She forced a laugh, one that Benjamin didn't return.

"C'mon, let's go back to the common room... you'll see him again tomorrow in potions." Placing a
hand on Benjamin's shoulder and began slowly leading him away from the spot he had glued
himself on.

Even though she wasn't incredibly fond of the boy, Benjamin was.

Their walk was silent. Benjamin was sulking and scuffing his shoes on the ground, emitting sighs
here and there.

It was only when the two were almost at the common room that Benjamin finally spoke. "He didn't
look well... paler than usual, and his eyes were a little red did you see?"

She nodded. "I did."

"I was writing him letters over Christmas. He seemed fine."

Daisy gestured from Benjamin to continue. "He wrote me back each time. Near the end of summer
though the letters stopped. I sent one each day but he wouldn't reply, I think I did something to
upset him."

As much as she didn't want to suggest, or even to think it, she remembered the no named boy from
nursery and shuddered.

Daisy shook her head. "Ben, it's not your fault."

"But how do you know?" He snapped.

Daisy knew a lot of things. A few secrets here and there, and the rest were simply put together like
a jigsaw in her mind.

"I just..." Daisy stammered as she tried to justify herself, but she couldn't tell Benjamin what she
knew, she would be betraying both Sirius and Regulus — despite Regulus being oblivious to her
knowings.

Besides, it wasn't her place to share other people's personal details.

"See." Benjamin huffed. "You don't, so how can you say everything's ok?"

Daisy stood silent.

"Exactly." Benjamin nodded understanding, and marched away from Daisy, leaving her in the
corridor all alone.

Feeling a bubble in her throat, Daisy remained standing in the same place to steady her breath, and
give Benjamin time to walk ahead of her.

What had happened over Christmas? Wasn't it supposed to be the happiest time of the year?

Taking a deep breath and blinking away the water that formed in her eyes, she slowly began
making her way towards the common room that was still a few corridors away, teasing her tired
feet that desperately wanted to be placed on top of a comfy pillow.

On her lonely journey, a thud followed by cruel laughter caused her to stop in her tracks.

Was she stupid enough to involve herself? Yes. She was.

Daisy followed the laughter round a bend and was met with the sight of Severus towering over a
boy who's face she couldn't see.

She only knew it was Severus because of his short robes and wet-like long hair, and he was
holding his wand downwards towards his victim.

He leaned over the boy on the ground and spat, "Porky Pettigrew, that's what we ought to call you.
You've not got those prats to save you now, and look where that's got you, on the ground on your
fat arse."

It was Peter Pettigrew.

Daisy's cheeks grew red from anger and she instinctively drew her wand while her eyes burned
holes into the back of Severus' head.

'Greasy git.'

At the cruel thought, Daisy dived back around the corner once she noticed Severus' head rise up as
if to know someone was watching, and he turned to stare at the empty space in which she used to
stand.

She mustn't make a sound if she were to surprise him.

Hearing Severus begin to mock Peter again, Daisy peeked around the corner to see the boys back
had turned, and her wand slowly began revealing itself from behind the wall.

"Lava saponem."

With Daisy's quiet cast, a light blue spark decorated with a white line swirling on the outside
directed itself at Severus' back.

Once it hit it's target, the spell burst into bubbles that began spreading and multiplying all over the
boys body at a rapid speed.

In seconds, Severus was covered head to toe in soapy suds that moved by themselves to give the
boy a good wash, scrubbing his scalp and cleansing dirt off his robes.
While Severus choked on froth, Peter was able to stretch to the side where is abandoned wand
awaited his hand, and the second they united, he shot up from the ground and ran towards where
Daisy stood amusingly watching the Slytherin try to rid of the soap that glued itself to him.

Just when Peter came to her side, Severus' feet slip and slid on the wet and glossy floor until he
was on his back, gradually becoming submerged in a mountain of bubbles.

He didn't even look like a person anymore. The spell had made him look like a walking talking
bath.

Daisy was too caught up in laughing at the sight that she forgot to run away in order to not get
caught.

"What's going on?! Miss Evans?!" Professor McGonagall's animagus transformed into her human
self and she stared horrified at the boy on the ground, and then to Daisy's face that twitched.

Daisy looked back at her Professor and became a little worried on how this would effect her place
on the quidditch team.

She'd never gotten into trouble before, she was to be good in school, and have the teachers like her.
It was a bit of a surprise... and she'd hate for her parents to find out she was messing with students.

"I only did it because-" She tried to excuse herself, but she couldn't help but notice Peter shifting
uncomfortably.

"Because I thought it would be funny..." She finished.

While Professor McGonagall fixed Severus' state, she told Daisy, "Well... you will have detention
with me tomorrow evening. Seven o'clock until eight."

Daisy nodded. "Yes Professor." Lowering her head.

Then the Professor took Severus around the corner to who knows where.

"Sorry..." Peter mumbled beside her, Daisy had almost forgotten he was there.

Daisy shrugged her shoulders. Lily wouldn't be very happy with her, but to see Severus in such a
comedic struggle was sort of worth it in a way.

She wondered how Sirius would react if she told him that she did that all by herself.

"It's alright."

Peter sighed.

"I need to learn to defend myself... I'm not as good as the other boys."

"Nonsense! It just takes practise. Rome wasn't built in a day. "

Though... not for Daisy. So far she had excelled in every one of her subjects — apart from history
of magic of course where she spent most of her time staring out of the castle window where she
could see the quidditch pitch from the high placed classroom.

"Really?" Peter asked hopefully.

"Of course! Not everything goes perfect first try. Just study a bit maybe, practise your spells on
pillows, and you'll be the best defender in the world."

The boy began to smile off into the distance.

That had Daisy contempt. She hadn't even asked what had happened, she was just glad Peter was
alright and Severus got what he deserved.

Back in the common room, Peter rested upon on one of the free armchairs, and Daisy propped her
feet up on the coffee table, just in time as they felt like they were about to fall off.

She had pressed herself into to soft red velvety cushions of her favourite long couch and closed her
eyes for a minute. Allowing herself to take in the darkness behind her eyelids for a moment of
peace. The first day back was exhausting.

"Can I ask you something?" Peter's quiet and timid voice just managed to travel to Daisy who
reluctantly opened her tired eyes. "Mhm."

The young boy squirmed in his chair and fiddled with his fingers. "Can you promise not to tell
anyone that I asked?" To which she nodded again.

"I promise."

Peter took a deep breath. "D-do... do you think I belong in Gryffindor...? I just don't feel that I fit
in-"

"Absolutely I do." Daisy immediately responded.

"You do?"

"I do."

"Even though I failed today? Like a wuss."

"Not everything can go to plan Peter. Even though you didn't manage to do whatever you had
planned, you attempted it. That's what being in Gryffindors about. Whether you lose or win it's the
fact that you took part that matters. Someone who wasn't brave wouldn't have even tried." Peter
began to smile, and was looking rather proud of himself now.

Daisy's lips twitched upwards seeing the change of expression.

Peter wasn't as forward as the likes of Sirius, James, or Mary. He wasn't an in-your-face
Gryffindor, he was in the corner watching and listening from a far. Yet being quieter than the
others didn't mean he was less intelligent or lonely. He had his talents.

It only meant that when he struck, it was a surprise, as he was never the first person to attack.

Daisy knew Peter had potential, the boy just had to find it within himself as he was the only one
who could bring it out.

Peter just liked to play and be included, fool around and make a mess, which was fine, he didn't
have to be as boisterous as the rest. He was a nice boy who made hot chocolate and handed out
cookies, unlike James who would steal your treats, Sirius who would secretly mess with them, or
Remus who would convince you that they were laced with something that would make you sick.

If you were ever to tell Peter you were upset about something, he would do all sorts of things to
make you smile and forget about your worries.
Daisy had saw it once with Sirius who was feeling blue after a letter from his mother. It must have
been extremely harsh seeing as Sirius didn't utter a single word all day, and refused to look anyone
in the eyes.

That same evening, Peter spent a good three hours making a fool out of himself and caring for his
friend — turning his hair different colours, doing impressions, telling corny jokes, and of course,
making hot chocolate — so Sirius would laugh instead of become ill over words full of nothing but
poison.

So instead Sirius had cried because his stomach was in stitches rather than from the harmful words
from his family. All thanks to Peter who refused to stop until Sirius was happy.

"I bet Snape's scared of you now. You know loads of spells." Peter chuckled to himself and Daisy
too began to wonder how the already feud with Severus would build up now that she had struck
him.

In the Great Hall, Daisy had explained to Heather and Bao about her clash with Severus, who were
staring at her shocked. "I got a detention for it." Whispering, so Lily couldn't overhear.

That's the last thing she'd want. She'd chose detention with Professor McGonagall over Lily's
fusses any day.

"Y'know, I think we should stop letting you walk around the castle yourself, we'll have to keep you
on a lead like a dog." Bao joked.

"Every time you come back with a story! Bet it was funny though, watching him fall over."
Heather giggled.

Daisy had to agree there, it was rather entertaining.

Now she was wondering what she'd have to do in a detention, Professor McGonagall hadn't
mentioned. James was prone to clean without magic, and Sirius to just be supervised for a while by
their head of house and help with errands, Daisy had no idea what Remus did, nor Peter, but it was
probably something average as they didn't cause fusses.

From the edge of the table, Daisy peered over a couple first years to see Benjamin picking at his
food while Theodore sat in front of him, encouraging to have just a little bit.

From across the room, it didn't look like Regulus was in the mood for dinner either.

"I can't wait for bed, it's all I've been thinking about since waking up." Bao moaned taking a break
from shoving food down her throat in a rush to make it back to the Gryffindor tower.

"Me too- oh no the library!" Daisy dropped her fork remembering that she had a book to return!
Today was the deadline and she had no idea if the library had a closing time here at Hogwarts,

So after her meal when the Gryffindors retreated to their dormitories and the common room, Daisy
began her journey to the library with her Mr Poppington book in her hand, swinging it as she
walked down the boring hallways.

"Come back in one piece!" Heather called on Daisy's way out.

The sconce torches were dim, the sky outside turning grey, and honestly she could drop to the floor
at any moment to sleep.
Pushing open the library doors, Daisy was relieved to see Madam Pince roaming the dark wooden
shelves, pushing a cart of assorted books in front of herself.

She didn't think anyone else would be in here. Daisy couldn't see to the other floor, but perhaps
there were a student or two studying for their exams which would be coming up soon, something
Daisy should probably begin to think about too.

"Hello there!" Madam Pince sang catching Daisy. "You're just in time."

Daisy smiled and followed Madam Pince to the front desk where Mr Poppington was given back to
be put back onto the shelves for the next reader.

Daisy thought it was such an interesting little read.

Mr Poppington went from the weird old man who kids theorised about during sleepovers, to the
man everyone wanted to listen to and watch his dancing shoes.

He was wizard, if you hadn't guessed already, and Daisy wished she could have been like that. She
could have shown Petunia her magic, but unlike Buttercup Road — Mr Poppington's street —
there wasn't much acceptance.

"We have the second book if you would like to take it away?" Madam Pince suggested while she
marked Daisy's name off of the list of book borrowers.

"Sure."

With a flick of Madam Pince's wand, a bright yellow book with pink flowers coating the spine
floated over her head, and into the librarians hands.

"Mr Poppington and the colour changing Umbrella." Madam Pince read aloud.

"Coconut the cat has found herself lost. The rain is pouring and her fur is soaked. She had left her
house to stroll around her street when the sky suddenly turned grey. Coconut hated water. She
thought that she would never make it home to her family. That was until Mr Poppington showed
up with his colour changing umbrella."

"Oh a book about a cat! I better not tell Sandy."

Daisy smiled at the cover of a small black cat sitting underneath the multicoloured umbrella in Mr
Poppington's hand, allowing her to be sheltered from the terrible weather.

So of course, Daisy took it, and then she began walking back to Gryffindor tower through the
empty corridors.

Arriving, older students were packing up their things to leave, but one boy remained alone in front
of the fire, pondering while staring into the orange flames.

At last, she could finally talk to Sirius by herself, she had missed him over Christmas.

"Hi Sirius!" She said, moving herself towards the boy who twisted his head at his name, and who
smiled when his eyes landed on her.

"Hey little Evans, what's up?" Moving his hand away from his chin and sitting up straight onto the
couch's cushions.

"Nothing really, I've just came back from the library, got a new book." She showed the front cover
to Sirius while she sat a couple of inches away from him, and he awed.

"I used to read them to Reg, he loved them." Sirius talked in a way that Daisy could tell he was
recalling a fond memory of his brother. He was smiling softly, but with a soft sigh his face drooped
to a frown.

Daisy put her book down and sat crossed legged to face Sirius.

"Something the matter?"

"Hm?" He looked up coming out of his dream.

Daisy shook her head to dismiss it.

"Nothing- are you happy to be back?"

She gingerly looked at the fading blue on his face.

"What- oh... ha- yeah it's fine, nothing major. The... the floors at home were newly polished. Me
and Reg could hardly stand without decking it." He let out a low chuckle down at the couch.

Daisy didn't want to push him, she didn't want to ask about his eye or parents, she was glad Sirius
was back at Hogwarts with her. She wanted to contribute to more pranks and have him tell her
more stories about idiotic things he had done, and show her more about the wizard world.

"You're looking at it."

"Looking at what!?" She took her eyes off of Sirius'.

"My eye. And I know you know. You're a smart kid."

She sighed sadly.

"But I'm fine! There's nothing they can do to make me fall. I'll always get back up." And he faced
her now, crossing his legs.

"Well I'm glad you're alright, we can't have your pretty face ruined now can we?" She teased with
a laugh, and watched Sirius lighten up.

A smile formed on his face while he looked at Daisy. Touched. Maybe even a bit flustered at such
a sentiment.

"You're absolutely right! I can't have James being the best looking now can I? We'd be a right ugly
bunch if James was the best looking." Daisy laughed at him.

The two of them gradually fell into a comfortable silence and their laughs petered. The fire was
warm tonight and Daisy was feeling as if she'd been wrapped up in a thick blanket. There were
other things she wanted to talk about, she liked Sirius. He was funny, soft hearted — but god forbid
anyone else know that — and it was easy to feel at ease with him when he wasn't running around
the castle amok.

There were noticeable things about Sirius that Daisy could spot when he was alone, or just with
her. He was more quiet and collected, still playful with his words of course, but he would talk
openly and listen to Daisy.

Much different from the outrageously rebellious boy who liked to wear his tie loose around his
neck, or sometimes wrapped around his forehead, and who loved to blow things up for enjoyment
purposes.

Sirius was a boy of many characters, meaning there was never a boring day with him around.
Something Daisy loved about him.

Daisy's thinking brought her to remember New Year's Eve which she spent at the Potter's house
where Sirius was delighted to see her again. It was there she met Madeleine and Camille, twins
from France who James knew, and know Sirius seemed to take a liking to.

"So... you and Madeleine seemed to get on really well at James' house." Daisy teased Sirius,
distinctly remembering the interesting glances the two gave each other across the table.

Sirius awkwardly nodded. "Yeah... sure did."

Daisy cocked her head sideways at his unconvincing tone. "You don't sound too sure of that."

Sirius sucked in his cheeks and popped his lips, wincing through his teeth as he recalled the Potters
party. "If I tell you this you can't tell anyone else, promise?"

She knitted her brows, but she promised.

"At the party... I did like Madeleine a little bit... I thought she was really pretty, and she was nice..."

Sirius embarrassingly looked down at his feet, the high part of his cheeks turning red.

"So... when I was alone with Maadeleine, I kissed her... but as it turns out, I'm not very good with
twins..."

"And?" Daisy edged him on intrigued.

"It was Camille."

"Sirius!" Daisy gasped out of shock.

"I know!" He stressed standing up from the couch and throwing his hands behind his head. "Then
Madeleine found out and her and Camille got into an argument!"

Daisy sighed sinking into the back of the couch cushions. Sirius was really in a bit of bother here.

Kissing the wrong twin?! How does someone do that?!

As much as she wanted to laugh, it didn't seem an appropriate time...

"James doesn't know, so you can't tell him." As stunned as she was, Daisy absently nodded her
head.

With an exaggerated sigh, Sirius flopped back onto the couch which bounced Daisy a little into the
air.

"James and that girl broke up too."

"Mia?"

"Yeah whatever her name was."

"Why?"

"She was mad at him for something. Something to do with Lily actually — said she didn't like how
he looked at her — guess it's obvious to everyone that James has a little crush on your sister."
Sirius chuckled, now that his cheeks weren't burning.

Maybe Christmas was cursed here in the wizard world, it seemed most people had some sort of bad
story to tell.

"Well... at least Christmas is over and we're back here right? You can go back to playing
quidditch!" She smiled widely at him and that seemed to do the trick in pulling Sirius' mood up
from it falling up and down constantly during this evening

At the mention, Sirius looked up excitedly. "I just know we're beating Hufflepuff, with me and my
big guns they won't be able to stop my bludgers!"

Daisy giggled while Sirius adjusted the sleeve of his arm to flex his little biceps that had a long
way to go before they were described as big.

"I bet!" She nodded with a laugh.

She too was very excited for the next Gryffindor match. This time however, she would glue her
hands to her seat so she didn't have the chance to give away the snitches hiding place again.

For now, she could only imagine herself on a broom in the sky, being the one to chase the snitch
and lead her team to victory.

Daisy could clearly picture the comedically shocked faces of James and Sirius when they learn
she's on the team in a few years.

"Peter told us what you did by the way, pretty nice of you." Sirius turned to Daisy with a look of
someone who was impressed, which made her feel rather accomplished.

"It was nothing." She shrugged suddenly turning shy.

She didn't really know why she wanted Sirius to approve of what she did, she didn't feel that way
about anybody else. Perhaps she wanted him to think she was cool, or that she could do just the
same as him despite him being older and growing up in a magic house unlike herself.

"It was everything. Peter just isn't confident. He needs a little backup. I'm very happy we can count
on you."

Knowing Sirius was feeling some sort of positive way towards her was rewarding, as if she had
gained something priceless.

The relationship they had formed longed to stay forever. It felt as if she had gained a goofy older
brother who's respect was all you looked for. You almost wanted to be him, and have him poke fun
but praise the things you did.

Daisy was very happy that she had met Sirius Black.

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