CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
THE BIG BATTLE

☍︎︎

SLEEPING ESCAPED DAISY FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, UNLESS SHE MANAGED TO GET A FEW MINUTES IN HISTORY OF MAGIC OR IN THEO'S LAP IN THE COMMON ROOM.

Despite this, sleep wasn't the forefront issue on her mind.

She half-expected Voldemort to burst into the school, philosopher's stone in hand. Harry and his friends hadn't approached her since their detention, but she hoped they'd take him on soon. Actually, she hoped they'd go to a professor or Headmaster Dumbledore soon -- she was sworn to secrecy, otherwise she would have.

To keep her mind occupied from focusing on her impending doom, she focused on exams. She, Blaise and Theo spent the night before their first exam cramming in any extra information, and Cedric quizzed her in each class the week before.

They'd each been given new quills, especially for the exams, all under an Anti-cheating Charm. Her written exams were the easiest, she practically flew through them. Her Potions exam was particularly easy, despite having a stressful year in it, she'd taken a knack for the class. She supposed doing all the work and proving herself to an unrelenting, vindictive professor would help her do that.

Unlike Malfoy, who was nearly the last one done with his essay.

Of course, Snape mocked her for finishing her written exam first, claiming she was rushing and would easily make the most mistakes of everyone in the class. (This, he said of course, in front of the class.)

She didn't let it get to her. She had a feeling he wouldn't be around next year after they busted him with the stone. Instead of growing embarrassed or flustered, Daisy simply smiled at her her potions professor and handed him her essay with confidence. She knew she'd do well on it.

Unfortunately, the day before her practical Transfigurations and Charms classes, she'd reopened her wound on her palm and Madam Pomfrey was fresh out of healing cream, used up on a Hufflepuff Quidditch Keeper a few weeks prior.

"I can wrap it for you, but it's going to sting. Be more careful next time."

It wasn't as though she were uncareful before -- she'd been in Flying Lessons and a bit of splintered wood sliced it right open. It wouldn't have been a bad cut, but because she already had an injury, it made it worse.

"You're going to fail and get kicked out," Malfoy sneered upon her arrival in Transfigurations. "Stupid mudblood."

Daisy turned to him with a scowl, trying to not take his words to heart. She didn't care about his opinion, he was just a sad bully.

"Seems to me like you're nervous -- did the Professors not accept a bribery from your daddy to let you pass classes? Pity, I'm sure someone will miss you next year."

His eyes narrowed and he turned his head, glaring at the table in front of him. Daisy rolled her eyes, catching Blaise's eye from across the room and he smiled over at her. She waved, smiling brightly, but it fell as soon as Professor McGonagall entered the room.

"Your written exams are complete, now all I require is a simple spell. Everyone, line up outside the classroom, we will be doing these exams individually."

Daisy took a deep breath, wincing as her hand made contact with her bag. How was she supposed to ace this exam with a hurt palm? Rage bristled inside her as she remembered her father being the reason behind her scar. She wouldn't let him get the better of her -- she was a good witch, neigh, a great witch and she would prove it to everyone who said otherwise. Freak or not.

They went in alphabetical order into the classroom until finally it was Daisy's turn. She'd almost fallen asleep in the hall. The rain pitter-pattered against the windows and tall walls, and Theo's shoulder was particularly soft.

"Miss Dursley? Quickly, now."

Daisy stirred awake, blinking back the sleep and letting out a yawn. Grabbing her wand, she grimaced as it made contact against her healing skin, but ignored it. She followed Professor McGonagall into the classroom and spotted a mouse sitting patiently in the middle of the table.

"You will be turning this mouse into a snuffbox. You will gain extra points for decoration, lose them for whiskers, fur, tail, or anything else resembling a mouse."

At Daisy's nod, Professor McGonagall waved her hand. "You may begin."

"Muescara," Daisy said clearly, waving her wand a fraction to the right. Her wand dug into her wound and she felt the burning sensation as clearly as the first time, digging against the wrapping and her wand. Trying to push it down, she stood straighter, letting the pain guide her magic. The mouse stilled, looking at her as the blue light left her wand, heading straight for it.

Then, it promptly swirled up and transformed into an ornate box, with carvings woven throughout the side. Black and white, akin to her own wand. Daisy and Professor McGonagall walked closer to the object, observing it. No whiskers, tail, or fur. Had she done it?

"Well done, Miss Dursley," Professor McGonagall gave her a rare smile. "Have a good summer."

Daisy's face broke into a smile and she felt an urge to hug her Professor, but she resisted it. "Thank you, Professor."

Walking out and feeling as though she were walking on air, she high-fived Theo and grinned down at him. He stood up slowly, Blaise to his left.

"That was fast, flower," Blaise commented.

"I aced it," she smirked, "but are we surprised?"

"Not in the slightest," Theo shook his head.

☍︎︎

Daisy looked up from her spot in the library, huddled up with Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenic Jigger, a textbook she'd found in the Potions section of the library. She really had enjoyed the class, or the subject matter at least, far more than any other.

Pansy may have given her an advantage of sorts, in doing absolutely nothing for the duration of the year and taking all the credit. Daisy was able to focus entirely on doing potions by herself, trying her hardest to make the perfect potion; if only to prove to herself she was better than Snape believed. (Though, she had the inkling suspicion that he knew she did everything and Pansy did nothing -- he simply hated her so much he didn't care.)

Daisy felt very in the zone during the practical lessons. She felt centered and controlled, focusing on exact measurements, precise chopping, and exquisite execution. She'd miss the class over the summer, but found that reading more advanced potions and their uses comforted her.

"There you are!"

Daisy held up a finger, finishing the last sentence on the page before looking up, surprise etched on her face.

"Harry? What's wrong?"

Harry glanced around, lowering his voice and taking a step closer. "We're going after Snape tonight."

Daisy's eyes widened, swallowing back her fear. They'd be facing against their Professor who was out to steal a stone for immortality -- with only a few meager first year spells up their sleeves. They were going to lose and be expelled, or die a horrific death.

"Oh," Daisy squeaked out, clearing her throat. "Great, when--when are we doing it? Where should I meet you?"

"After dinner. Meet us outside the third floor corridor. We'll be under my invisibility cloak."

She blinked. "Sorry, your what?"

He rolled his eyes, forgetting she hadn't a clue about his Christmas present. "I have an invisibility cloak. Apparently, my dad had it and now it's mine."

"So how am I supposed to be invisible?"

He thought for a moment, frowning. "Well," he began slowly, "you'll just have to be careful and not get caught. Think you can manage that?"

Daisy felt like hitting him. They'd all get the security of being invisible -- not to mention the stupid Gryffindor courage -- and she'd just have to do the best she could. Would she hide? Would Filch catch her? What if Snape saw it coming and decided to end her then and there?

"Sure, okay," she smiled stiffly. "See you tonight."

Harry nodded, glancing down at her book. His nose crinkled in distaste. "Are you reading a Potions book for fun?"

Daisy shrugged. "I like it," she mumbled sheepishly. "Snape's the worst, but potions is fun."

He shook his head in disagreement, staring at her oddly. "Not even a little bit, it's the worst class. You're mad, Daisy."

"Whatever, Harry, do you need anything else?"

"No," he shook his head again, giving her a small smile. "I'll see you tonight."

"See you."

He turned to leave, but turned back around a moment later, giving her a serious look. "Thanks for helping this year, I'm really happy we're friends."

A smile lifted Daisy's features. "Me too, Harry."

☍︎︎

Daisy waited outside the entrance, looking around anxiously, hoping she wasn't too early or too late. She wanted to help, but the entire situation put her on edge. She'd been having nightmares about Fluffy since term began and they only grew worse as snakes and giant wolves tortured her sleep too.

Hearing footsteps coming up the stairs, Daisy ducked behind the wall towards the Owlery, peaking out from behind a wall. She saw someone unlock the door and enter swiftly, but she couldn't tell who it was.

Her heart sank. They were too late. Snape was on his way to get the stone.

"Well, there you are," Harry's voice rang out in the darkness, "Snape's already got past Fluffy."

Daisy perked up, moving out from the Owlery, crinkling her nose at the scent of bird droppings.

"Harry," she grabbed his attention, walking over as he slid the cloak off the trio. "Snape already went through, I think. It's been open since I got here."

"If you want to go back, I won't blame you," Harry said to her and his friends, "You can take the cloak, I won't need it now."

Daisy hesitated, mulling it over as Ron and Hermione fervently objected. Of course they'd stay with him, always. But Daisy considered returning to her dormitory and going straight to bed. She opened her mouth to accept the offer, but took a look at Harry's wide eyed, hopeful gaze and smiled softly instead.

"Don't be ridiculous," she told him. "Someone's got to keep you alive."

Harry turned, pushing the door open. A low, creaking, grumbling noise purred ominously through the room. All three dogs sniffed madly in their direction and Daisy leaned back into the wall, tucking herself in the shadows. Harry drooped the cloak over him, Ron, and Hermione again, and she was left alone in the darkness with the dogs haunting her thoughts.

She swallowed back her fear, but found it wouldn't go away.

It poked and prodded at her insides, twisting them around like knotted ropes. Sweat prickled at her skin against the cool stone wall behind her. Nausea filled her stomach and her mouth grew wet with saliva as shaky hands reached for her wand, clutching it tightly.

The dogs barked, yapping and howling, lurching forward, and Daisy screamed, falling back, wand slipping from her grasp, a few millimeters away. Her heart dropped, helplessness overcrowding her uncertainty and she couldn't focus on anything in the room, blinded by the tears filling her eyes and falling from her cheeks.

Just as the dog moved it's face towards her, an off-pitch tune soared through the air and into Fluffy's ears. The dogs' eyes began to droop slowly, and their heads lulled down to the ground slowly.

Daisy choked out a relieved cry, reaching over and grabbing her wand, clutching it tightly and kicking herself back against the wall. Hermione removed the invisibility cloak from the trio and Daisy spotted Harry playing a flute of some sort.

She thanked Harry endlessly in her mind, unable to summon words, too overcome with emotion. He'd saved her life, surely the dog would have eaten her.

"Keep playing," Ron warned Harry, glancing over at the dog. Hermione walked quickly and quietly to Daisy's side. The dog's growls ceased all together now, slumping to the floor in exhaustion.

"Daisy," she whispered, grabbing her hand. Harry's flute playing continued. "We've got to go. You can go back if you want?"

Oh, how she wanted to. She wanted to run back to the common room and hide forever, perhaps leave Hogwarts all together.

Hermione squeezed her hand. "Count with me," she encouraged. "On three, we're going to keep going, alright?"

Daisy nodded, looking into Hermione's eyes for the first time. "Okay," she agreed weakly, a hiccup falling from her lips.

"One," Daisy and Hermione took a deep breath together, before letting it out a moment later. "Two," they repeated the action. "Three."

Hermione stood, pulling Daisy up with her. "Come on," she vitalized, pulling Daisy to Harry and Ron. "What's in there?" She asked Ron, nodding to the trapdoor.

"Nothing — just black — there's no way of climbing down, we'll just have to drop."

Harry, still playing the flute, grabbed their attention and pointed to himself.

"You want to go first? Are you sure?" said Ron. "I don't know how deep this thing goes. Givethe flute to Hermione so she can keep him asleep."

Harry handed the flute over and in the time it passed, the dog growled and twitched, but Hermione restarted the music and lulled the creature back to sleep. Daisy swallowed thickly, pushing away her terror. She could cry later. For now, she had to be there for Harry.

Harry lowered himself into the hole, looking to the three of them. "If anything happens to me, don't follow. Go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, right?"

"Right," Ron agreed.

"Wait," Daisy blurted out. They all looked at her. "We'll go together, Harry."

A flash of relief crossed Harry's face. "You don't have to."

Daisy pulled herself into the hole next to him and gripped it by the sides, feet dangling in the air below her. "Of course I do."

Then they both let go.

Daisy let out a small scream as they fell, down, down down...Cool air pressed against her skin, entrapping her in it's embrace before--

FLUMP. They'd landed on something soft. Daisy sat up, looking around in the gloomy, murky air. She spotted Harry's bright eyes behind his reflective glasses and they exchanged a confused look.

"I think this is a plant," Daisy pressed her hand against the large soft plush they sat on.

"It's okay!" Harry looked up to the trapdoor, barely the size of a quarter, where light poured down below. "It's a soft landing, you can jump!"

Ron followed right away, landing right next to Harry with a loud thump. Daisy's legs started to ache, feeling like something was trying to pull them off. She looked down, but couldn't see much in the darkness.

"What's this stuff?" Ron asked, looking around himself.

"Dunno, Daisy thinks it's a plant. Helps break the fall, I suppose. Come on, Hermione!"

The music stopped and Daisy nearly jumped out of her skin when a thunderous bark echoed down the trapdoor to them. Hermione jumped a moment later, landing next to Daisy.

"We must be miles under the school," she commented upon landing.

"Lucky this plant thing's here, really," Ron said.

"Lucky!" Shrieked Hermione. "Look at you three!"

She leapt up, struggling towards a damp wall. The effort was hard as the moment she landed, the plant began to twist and vine it's way across her ankles. Panic settled in Daisy's stomach and she began to fight to get the plant off of her, trying to tear it off.

Harry and Ron followed suit, struggling against their own snakelike tendrils.

"Stop moving!" Hermione ordered. "I know what this is -- this is Devil's Snare!"

"Oh, I'm so glad we know what it's called, that's great help," Ron snarled, fighting off a tendril from enclosing on his throat.

Daisy had no such lucky, arms bound tightly to the ground, the tendrils slowly sneaking up her skin to her head. It tugged at her shoulders, pulling her to the bottom of the plant.

"Shut up, I'm trying to remember how to kill it!" Hermione shouted back at Ron.

"Hurry up, I can't breathe!" Harry called out, a tendril wrapped around his chest.

Daisy gasped for her own breathe, coughing out the only remaining air. "Hu-hurry, He-mione!"

"Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare... what did Professor Sprout say? — it likes the dark and thedamp."

Daisy's airways clenched further and she could no longer speak, the plant wrapping around her mouth and nose. She struggled for air, for life, but to no avail. The second time in mere minutes and she was going to die. Surely, she couldn't be lucky enough to survive again?

"So light a fire!" Harry choked.

"Yes -- of course -- but there's no wood!" Hermione cried out, wringing her hands.

"HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Ron bellowed. Daisy would've laughed if the oxygen hadn't been depleted from her body. "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?"

"Oh, right!" Hermione pulled out her wand, waving it, and muttering an incantation. Bluebell flames erupted from her wand, lashing and attacking the Devil's Snare. Within seconds, the grip loosened it's grip on Daisy and shriveled back into itself, trying to escape the flames.

Daisy pulled herself up, rubbing her neck where she was sure a bruise would form, and turned to Hermione, wanting to hug her. That was twice now she'd been saved by the Gryffindor girl.

"Thank you, Hermione," she said meaningfully.

Hermione smiled shyly. "Of course. Us Muggleborns have to stick together."

"Lucky Hermione pays attention in Herbology," Harry acknowledged, panting and sweating as they all moved to the damp wall she stood near. Daisy wiped the dripping sweat from her brows.

"Yeah," Ron said, "and lucky Harry doesn't lose his head in a crisis -- there's no wood, honestly."

"This way," Harry pointed to stone passageway. They followed him through the passageway, their footsteps echoing and splashing against the water in loud puddles.

"Can you hear something?" Ron asked, halting them from moving any further. It sounded like clanking and fluttering.

"Do you think it's a ghost?"

"As long as it's not the Baron," Daisy shuddered. "He gives me the creeps."

"Sounds like wings to me."

"There's light ahead -- I can see something moving."

They reached the end of the passageway and found a giant open entryway with a bright, beam of light. The ceiling was high above them and small, jewel-bright birds, fluttered and tumbled around the room.

"Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?" Ron asked, pointing to the high-arched, heavy wooden door on the opposite side of the room.

"Probably," said Harry. "They don't look very vicious, but I suppose if they all swooped down at once... well, there's no other choice..."

Before any of them could stop him, Harry raised his arms and covered his face, sprinting across the room. Daisy winced, waiting for the birds to attack him -- but nothing. He reached the door untouched.

"Does it open?" She asked as he attempted to pull the handle.

"No," he shook his head.

The other three followed him across the room, pulling and tugging at it but it refused to budge. It didn't even open when Hermione used Alohomora.

"Now what?" Ron asked.

"These birds," Hermione said slowly, the wheels turning in her head. "They can't just be here for decoration."

They all looked up, watching the birds slowly. Daisy squinted, head tilting a fraction as the keys glittered. She blinked, realization striking her just as Harry said--

"They're not birds!" He shouted. "They're keys! Winged keys — look carefully. So that must mean..." he looked around the chamber while the other three squinted up at the flock of keys. "... yes — look! Broomsticks! We've got to catch the key to the door!"

"But there are hundreds of them!" Ron exclaimed.

"We're looking for a big old-fashioned one," Harry looked back at the door. "Probably silver like the handle."

They all grabbed a broomstick and Daisy swallowed her fear, exchanging an anxious look with Hermione. Neither of them really enjoyed flying.

The higher they flew, the more they tried to grab the keys, but they kept flying away. Darting and diving across the room so quickly they couldn't catch one. Daisy's hand slipped and she held the broom tighter, eyes wide in fear.

"That one!" Harry called to them. "That big one — there — no, there — with bright blue wings— the feathers are all crumpled on one side."

Ron sprinted in the direction Harry pointed, his broomstick aimed high in the air, but crashed into the ceiling and nearly fell off his broom.

"Yeah, I'm not attempting that," Daisy shook her head. "I've about had it with this room."

"We've got to close in on it," Harry shouted to Daisy and the others. "Ron, you come at it from above. Hermione and Daisy stay below and stop it from going down and I'll try and catch it. Right, NOW!"

Daisy veered her broomstick towards the ground, stopping the key from escaping and it soared back into the air, narrowly missing Hermione's hand. Harry streaked after it and sped towards the wall. Harry leaned forward and pinned the stone with one hand, slapping the key against it with a loud crunching noise.

Daisy cheered in victory, moving to the ground, Hermione following suit as her and Ron's cheers echoed around the room.

Harry ran to the door upon landing, the key struggling in his hand. He jiggled it into the lock and turned, Daisy letting out a breath of relief as the door opened. The key took flight as Harry's grip loosened, looking very battered and not flying nearly as fast as before.

The next chamber was nearly pitch black and they couldn't see anything at all. But as they stepped into it -- Harry first, followed by Ron, Daisy, and Hermione -- they found an astonishing sight.

They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen, nearly twice the size of Daisy, and carved from black stone. Facing them on the opposite side of the chamber were the white pieces, equally as tall and menacing.

None of them had any faces.

"Now what do we do?" Harry whispered.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Ron asked rhetorically. "We've got to play our way across the room."

"If you all find out another secret about a different magical rock, please, leave me out of it," Daisy said quietly, fear swallowing her hole.

Her heart hadn't stopped racing since they encountered Fluffy and she didn't know how much more of this she could take.

"Deal," Harry agreed, sending her a tight smile. Guilt swelled in his eyes and she felt a pang of anguish for him. Poor Harry didn't ask to be in this situation either, but it seemed to fall into his lap like a messy puzzle and only he could put the pieces together.

"That's great and all, but how are we meant to play?" Hermione said nervously.

"I think," Ron said, swallowing, "we're going to have to be chessmen."

He walked up to a black knight and put his hand out to touch the knight's horse. The stone sprang to life and the horse paved the ground, letting out a strange screeching neigh. The knight turned his helmeted head to look at Ron.

"Do we -- er, have to join you to get across?"

The knight nodded. Ron turned to the others.

"This needs thinking about," he said. "I suppose we've got to take the place of three of the black pieces. Daisy, there's not really a fourth one, but you can probably hitch a ride with someone else."

"You seem to know the most, can I ride with you?"

He nodded, thinking more as she walked to his side. "Now, don't be offended or anything," he said to Harry and Hermione, "but neither of you are that good at chess--"

"We're not offended," Harry interjected quickly. "Just tell us what to do."

"Well, Harry, you take the place of that bishop, and Hermione, you go there instead of that castle."

"What about you?"

"I'm going to be a knight," said Ron bravely. "With Daisy. We're knights."

The chessmen appeared to have listened because at his words, a knight, a bishop, and a castle turned their backs on the white pieces and walked off the board, leaving three empty squares that Harry, Ron, and Hermione took. Daisy slipped her hand into Ron's, squeezing tightly.

She was happy she didn't have to do it by herself, she didn't think she could manage it.

"White always plays first in chess," said Ron, looking to the other side of the board. "Yes...look..."

A white pawn moved forward two squares.

Ron started to direct the black pieces and Daisy wished she'd paid more attention as a child when her mother tried to play chess with her. She didn't understand the point, honestly. It was long and tedious and hurt her brain to think that far ahead. Now, it would've come in handy.

"Harry --- move diagonally four squares to the right."

Their first real shock came when their other knight was taken. The white queen smashed him to the floor and dragged him off the board. The knight ceased movement, facedown.

Daisy whimpered, hand gripping Ron's tighter. He winced and she loosened her grip a fraction. What if that became of them?

"Had to let that happen," said Ron, looking shaken. "Leaves you free to take that bishop, Hermione, go on."

But each time Ron sent a black piece to their doom, the white pieces held no mercy. There was a pile of limp black pieces slumped along the wall. Twice, Ron barely managed to keep Hermione and Harry out of danger. But he did well, guiding Daisy and taking nearly as many white pieces as they had.

"We're nearly there," he muttered suddenly, brow furrowing in thought. "Let me think...let me think..."

The white queen turned her blank face towards him.

"Yes..." he said softly, and Daisy looked between the two. "It's the only way...I've got to be taken."

"What?" Daisy squeaked out, eyes wide. "I picked the wrong person, of course I did. I could--I could just, can't we just--we could just run, y'know? We don't--we don't have to--" tears welled in her eyes and she began to tremble, the events of the night catching up to her. She couldn't do this. She couldn't get beaten down to the ground by a giant stone chess piece. Not to stop Snape from getting the stone -- not for Harry, not for anyone.

Let him get the stone, she thought to herself bitterly. Maybe he'd be so preoccupied with everyone else he'd leave her alone.

"Daisy," Ron turned to her, an encouraging smile on his face. "We can do this, okay? It might hurt, but I can take most of the blow. You just have to stand there and look pretty, okay? I won't let it hurt you. Not much at least."

"But what if it hurts you?"

Ron shrugged. "That's alright, I'll live. You're already a mess, you might break if something hits you too hard." He squeezed her hand. "On three, okay?"

"NO!" Harry and Hermione shouted together.

"That's chess," Ron snapped at them, the gentle tone from his voice when speaking with Daisy gone now. "You've got to make some sacrifices! I make my move and she'll take me -- that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!"

"But--"

"Do you want to stop Snape or not?"

"Ron--"

"--Look, if you don't hurry up, he'll already have the stone!"

With a sinking feeling, Daisy realized the reality of Ron's words. There was no other option.

"Ready?" Ron called, his face pale and determined. "Here I go -- now don't hang around once you've won."

He stepped forward, pulling Daisy behind him, but shielding her for the most part. The white queen pounced, striking Ron hard across his head with her stone arm and he crashed to the floor.

Daisy's eyes widened, hand falling from Ron's as he fell and she reached her arms up instinctively, waiting for the blow. She heard Hermione scream as the queen dragged Ron to one side of the chess board.

The scraping of the ground seemed to echo forever as she came back for Daisy, who fell to her knees, tears falling down her face. She pleaded it would come swift and she wouldn't feel too much pain.

The queen swept an arm down, whacking her head, but hit her arms instead. There was a loud crunching noise and Daisy knew her limb had broken. She let the queen drag her to the side of the chess board, whimpering as it tugged on her arm. A searing pain shot through her limb, into her shoulder and down her bones. It shook and trembled uncontrollably, but she was grateful she wasn't knocked out like Ron.

Harry moved three spaces to the left.

The white king took off his crown and threw it at Harry's feet. They had won.

But what had it cost them? Daisy had broken a limb and Ron lost consciousness. Why hadn't they gotten a teacher, again? Why was it up to them?

The chessmen parted and bowed, leaving the door ahead clear. With one last desperate look back at Ron, Harry turned to Daisy.

"Do you want to come with us or stay with Ron?"

"I'll stay here," she said after a moment, swallowing. She didn't want him to be alone and she was in no condition to move forward. Her wand arm had been damaged -- what good was she now?

"Okay, stay safe," Harry nodded at her before they rushed through the door into the next room.

Daisy looked down at Ron's crumpled body, a small small on her face. "I think we did good, eh, Ron?"

No response.

"Well, if you're napping, I might as well too."

Leaning her head back against the wall, exhaustion crept over her. But she couldn't sleep, not with a broken arm. She sat, eying the room frantically. What if Harry lost and Snape came after her and Ron? She couldn't exactly fight.

Sighing, Daisy knew this would be a long rest of the night.

☍︎︎

A bright light swelled over Daisy's vision and she squinted, trying to adjust. Her arm tingled as though someone had drilled a million holes into her bones and filled it with worms.

"Daisy!"

Daisy jumped at a voice next to her. She sat up slowly, wincing. She spotted Harry in the bed next to her and smiled over at him, relief flooding her face.

"Harry, I'm so glad you're okay! What happened? Are we in the hospital wing? Where's Ron?"

"I'm fine," Harry's smile was bright and he looked relieved to see her as well. "The room after we left you, Hermione and I came across seven different potions and had to choose between them to see which one would let me through and her come back to you."

"You're kidding me," Daisy pursed her lips. "Of course I got injured before the potions part. Hermione figured it out, I'm assuming?"

Harry smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, we wished you were there, though. You're brilliant at potions. But then Hermione went back and called for Dumbledore, so I'm assuming they took you and Ron up here."

"I fell asleep," Daisy groaned, leaning back against the bedframe. "I was supposed to keep an eye on Ron and I think I fell asleep instead."

"Don't blame yourself," Harry disagreed, "Madam Pomfrey says you had a panic attack and passed out. Not to mention you were in a lot of pain because of your arm." His face grew serious. "Thanks for coming with me, I know it was hard and you got hurt because of me."

Daisy shrugged, wincing in pain. "Don't thank me, Harry, I'll always be here for you." She bit her lip, hope wringing through her mind. "What happened to Snape? Is he in Azkaban?"

Harry shook his head, dismayed. "No, it wasn't even him. It was Quirrell all along."

Daisy's mouth fell open. "Quirrell! But--but he's--"

"--He was Voldemort the whole time. In disguise. I don't want to bore you with everything, but he's gone. For now, at least. I don't think that was the end of him."

Daisy took in the news, staring down at her hands. Voldemort was alive. And he tried to kill Harry -- and she'd passed out from a panic attack. She had to do better next time. She had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time Harry got into trouble.

And she may not be a Gryffindor, but she would have to summon all the courage she had to get through the next seven years with the boy-who-lived as a cousin.

☍︎︎