HP New Marauders
Chapter 4
Kismet Spirits
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I decided to split up this into parts, because it was going on fifty pages, so happy reading.
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"Hey, Little Bit, wake up." Wills gently nudged Dani's duvet covered form. "Granny has my day pretty much booked, but I can squeeze in that ride that I promised you."
Dani opened one sleepy eye to look at her uncle. "It's too early to get up yet."
"It's 0700 in the morning and the fresh air will do you good." Wills set the breakfast tray down on the table in her room.
"Can't I take a rain check?" Dani protested when he tossed back her covers.
Poor Rad and Crooks jumped off the bed and went in search of some other place to snooze.
"Nope sorry Little Bit the two of us are going riding." He had already fished her riding gear out of her closet and had set it out for her in her bathroom. "Now be a good little niece and go change." He scooped her up off the bed and set her on her feet.
"Do Mummy and Daddy know that you're kidnapping me?" Dani stumbled sleepily into her bathroom. "I'm four they have laws against taking a kid against her wishes."
"I've cleared it with Harry and Hermione. They said I could take you for the whole day if I wished too." Wills chuckled when Dani swore in fluent Parseltounge. "Now, now none of that, Little Bit. Let's see there's a dedication for the new Michael James Evans wing at the children's hospital in London. Another at the 2012 Olympic park, then there's the opening of Digital Fantasia, The new digital amusement park. That's followed by lunch. I was thinking pizza and then I get fitted for the wedding and you get fitted for your flower girl dress. Now after that I check in with Granny, who is pining to see you, and we come back home for a ride on Beaky. We end the day with dinner then bedtime for you."
"What's my other choice?" Dani emerged from her bathroom dressed except for her riding boots.
"You can spend all day with your sisters doing girl things." Wills knew all too well that she'd rather die than play dress-up, dolls, or have tea parties, so her choices were slim. "It's either them or me, Little Bit."
Dani sat down on her bed looked down at the boots in her hands then up at Wills and sighed, "Do I have to wear a dress?"
Wills helped her put on her boots. "Yeah, but then I have to wear a suit too ya know."
"Is Aunt Rory gonna be there?" She handed him a brush and some bands for her hair.
"Yep, where I go she goes and Henry and Dromi will be there too." Wills had no problem fixing her long tresses in a french braid.
"Oh, well, at least the digital amusement park will be fun…"
"Yeah, kiddo life is rough, but there's a triple hot fudge brownie sundae in it for you at lunch that's only if you successfully complete your mission." Wills added bribery to the mix, but it wasn't necessary.
"I missed you Uncle Wills." Dani hugged him.
"I missed you too midget. Now let's fuel up and then put Wicked through his paces." Wills hugged her fiercely and then the two of them sat down to eat breakfast at the activity table in the corner of her room.
"I'm not jealous or anything. I love my baby brothers a lot, so if Mum and Dad are trying to keep me from being underfoot…" She wrinkled her nose at the very thought that her parents thought that of her. "I don't even mind them crying every four hours or there should be a hazardous waste warning on their diapers."
"You and your sisters have been wonderful all week, while everyone has been focused on the boys. Everyone can see that it's clear as day the three of you adore your brothers. They just thought you might want some attention too."
"Can DJ come too?" Dani asked between bites of hotcakes.
"DJ, huh…" Wills feigned a pout. "I'm jealous."
"The thing is I just don't wish to make any of the others jealous…" Dani blushed.
"I know and I promise you they won't be." Wills winked at her, "None of them are brave enough to face the muggle sharks. That and Rory tells me that you've been avoiding fittings for your dresses when your sisters go with them."
"We survived them in Vancouver when we got to attend the Winter Olympic Games, but then I wasn't wearing this bracelet on my wrist then either." Dani munched on a piece of bacon. "It was neat seeing you and Uncle Henry, Aunt Romi, and Aunt Rory carrying in the Olympic flag…"
"Yeah, that's something that I'll never forget either or getting to run a leg of the torch relay. Although, the press at the dedication ceremonies won't be nearly as bad as what was in Vancouver. Grams and Dad wished to show a united front family wise. All of you got to have a twenty-eight day break from school. Which for Bastion and Bree was a welcome breath of fresh air from their sixth year classes." Wills sipped his tea as he thought of their memorable midwinter break.
"I liked being around all those people and experiencing all of that energy and love that they all had for one another and their countries. It's wicked knowing that we get to experience it here in two years." Dani finished with her breakfast. "I'll be almost seven then and I'll be able to really take it all in. You get to do the coolest things, like attending the closing ceremonies in China, or visiting the White House in the States."
"Yeah, my life isn't boring by any means of the word and it's about to get even more complicated this August."
"What's complicated about it? You're gonna make a wicked cool King and you have Aunt Rory for a Queen." Dani finished off her juice. "That and Aunt Rory can finally get her wish."
"Wish?" Wills arched a brow at her.
"Yeah, she wants to be a momma and now that you're out of the Army she can get her wish." Dani nodded as if talking about this wasn't that big of a deal or anything.
"Oh, yeah, that wish…" Wills shook his head at her in amusement. "Yes, kiddo, that's on our agenda after the official ceremony this August."
"Good because you'd make a great dad." Dani smiled pleased with his answer. "I'm all set to go riding now."
"I'm honored that you think that Little Bit." Wills voice was hoarse with emotion.
"Yeah, well, that's how all of us kids feel." Dani was halfway to her door when Wills scooped her up into his arms for a hug.
"Let's go ma petite." Wills carried her out of the room nearly tripping over Missy one of Rad and Lady's three-month-old pups. "Sorry about that Missy, didn't know that you were there."
"She wanted to sleep in Mia's room last night, but usually she sleeps with me. Bailey sleeps with MJ or Izzy, Lolly sleeps with Ally or Mia." Dani smiled down at the pup.
"So who's idea was it to give Henry and I pups?" Wills reached down and scooped up the pup with his free hand, so as not to step on her.
"We thought that you would like them." Dani frowned.
"Oh, I do like Lucky and Henry adores Lulu." Wills reassured her. "I was just curious that's all."
"Good, because they love Aunt Romi and Aunt Rory too pieces." Dani laughed when Missy licked her face. "Okay Missy you can come along on our ride too."
"We'll see Little Bit, but she's still too small for that." Wills chuckled when the pup slobber kissed his face, as if pleading with him to let her come with them.
"Good Morning…" Harry walked out of the nursery with baby Jamie cuddled against his shoulder.
"Morning Daddy and baby Jamie. Uncle Wills is nobbing me for the day." Dani was all serious with her father.
Harry winced at the nobbing comment, as did Wills. "He's taking you out for the day, angel face, not taking you against yours or our wishes for that matter." Harry corrected her.
"She's just being a cheeky brat this morning." Wills tugged on her braid.
"Because Dad, Uncle Sirius, Uncle Remus, Logan, and Charlie are off camping with the boys. Your Mum and I thought a day out would be good for you." Harry hated the betrayed look that she was shooting him.
"I wanted to go camping too."
"Yes, I'm aware of that, but you and DJ both forfeited that by joyriding on Spirit. Are we forgetting about that?" Harry kept his tone low as not to awaken Jamie.
"Then why can't DJ come with me today?"
"Draco didn't go camping, so DJ is hanging with him today. You'll be hanging with me today, so quit while you're ahead." Wills had thought that they were passed this, but he was wrong.
"Can I at least have this off?" She pointed to the bracelet on her wrist.
"Danielle, are we having a problem this morning?" Hermione stepped out of the nursery with Rafe snoozing on her shoulder.
"No mummy. I'm just grouchy this morning." She murmured softly.
"A day out will do you a world of good and a day out with your Aunts and Uncles, well, that's even better. Ally and Mia spent yesterday with your Aunts while you chose to stay home and now it's your turn." Hermione walked over and kissed her cheek. "I'll not have you brooding all summer and this will give you a change of scenery. You are the oldest and can more than handle your itinerary for the day."
"I'm not brooding. I love my brothers and as for yesterday's outing…Uncle Franc's scary these days and I'm not a dress up doll." Dani grumbled softly.
"That's lovely to hear baby girl and yes Francis can be a bit pushy, you see even your father is wary of him."
"The guy may be family, but he's scary as heck when he's wielding that hot pink measuring tape of his." Harry winked at his daughter.
"I'll second that statement." Wills chuckled. "Shall we be off then?"
"See you later…I guess." Dani sighed as if defeated.
"Yes, little shadow, we love you and hope that you at least try to enjoy your day." Harry walked over and kissed her nose. "Missy is too little to go riding with you this morning."
"Yes, daddy," She nodded. "We were just putting her out for a bit. I know she's too little." She formed her lip in a pout and blinked soulfully at him.
Rad pawed at Wills riding boots.
"I'm not gonna drop either of them so relax." Wills growled down at the full-grown collie still pawing at his boots.
"It's just parental instinct, Wills. He means no offense." Harry was amused.
"Missy is the baby of his and Lady's second litter of pups. She's the smallest of all of them and if it hadn't been for Bastion's quick thinking this Easter we would have lost her." Hermione murmured soothingly, as if dealing with one of the children.
"Yes, I'm aware of all that, since I was here for Easter, and I will humor Rad by letting him tend to her needs himself." Wills set Missy down in front of Rad.
Rad gently picked her up by the scruff of her neck and padded down the hallway.
"Don't pout Uncle Wills. You'll be a daddy come next spring." Dani whispered in his ear.
"I shall hold you to that." Wills whispered back. "Will it be one of each or two of the same?" He kissed her nose.
"So, our budding seer has had another dream has she?" Harry grinned knowingly at Dani. "She was spot on about the boys and then about their arrival, but then since she's the near mirror image of her mum I'd expect nothing less."
"Nevertheless, I expect you to have fun today, as a normal almost five-year-old should. Do you think you can do that for me, baby mine?" Hermione asked.
"Daddy? Must you tell mummy everything?" She rolled her eyes in exasperation at her father.
"Absolutely everything," Harry nodded soberly. "She'll always be my secret keeper and I'll always be hers."
Hermione kissed his cheek. "Forever, my lion." She purred softly.
"Really you two…" Dani winkled her nose in disapproval. "Must you get all mushy even when holding the boys?"
Wills snorted in amusement. "Let's go midget. We need to stop in the kitchen for some carrots and apples for Star and Wicked." He slung her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry and headed for the stairs.
:I meant all of that as a metaphor, because I wanted those boys to feel lower than Flobberworm mucus.: She decided to end this chat privately with her parents.
"I can walk ya know." She grumbled aloud.
"Yeah, but it's more fun toting you around." Wills shot back as they disappeared from view.
--
:No, Danielle, you were warranted to feel rushed and what have you. Your father and I are going to make it a point this summer to give the three of you as normal a summer as possible. Now I love you and wish for you to enjoy your day my darling girl and we shall see you tonight.: Hermione walked back into the nursery and then into their master suite.
"She's so much like the two of us it's almost frightening." She put Rafe down in his bassinette. "She'll be an amazing little first year come six years from now."
:Yes, Dani, normal is exactly what you need. Have fun. We love you little shadow.: Harry put Jamie down in his bassinette.
"All three of our girls are amazing, but Dani did inherit our marauder like qualities and a surplus of magic. So, yes, six years from now she'll be something to behold all right." Harry swept her up into his arms and got them both settled back in bed.
"I had that dream again. It was just before the boys woke us." Hermione curled up against him burrowing her face into his shoulder. "Is it wise to just push it aside?"
"Dreams, my love, are tools that we use to our own advantage." Harry rested his chin on top of her head and sighed. "If anything I feel sorry for the fools who play a staring role in them."
"Just to be safe we should have lifted her restriction." Hermione started to get up, but Harry wouldn't let her.
"If what we've both seen does indeed come true then the bracelet will become a trinket on her arm and nothing more." Harry assured her when she turned in his arms, so her elbows were now resting on his chest, and was staring up into his eyes. "Our daughter will be perfectly fine that I have no doubt. Now as for her captures, well, that's an entirely different potion. She'll play with them until they bore her. I'll be there to rescue her, not that she'll need it, and you'll be there to welcome her home tonight with loving open arms."
"Oh, Wolfe, sometimes you can be so deviously cruel." Hermione smothered a giggle. "Henry and Wills are gonna have kittens, but then again if they foolishly let her out of their sights then let it be on their heads then." She went from amused to serious in seconds.
"My lips are sealed on this one, as far as they'll know it's a shock to us as well." Harry was in total agreement. "Now let's catch some sleep while the boys let us and the girls snooze the morning away."
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London
Dani sat in her child safety seat between Wills and Rory. "Do I have to wear the sunbonnet and gloves too?" She whined as she fidgeted in her delicate summer dress. It had an intricately embroidered English garden with Fairies dancing across the skirt of it, matching tights, and Mary Janes finished the outfit. It even had a frilly petticoat underneath which added to her discomfort.
"Now Dani, we're not going there dressed up for no reason. We're going there to open the new family center and rehabilitation wing at the children's hospital." Rory tilted Dani's face towards her, so she was looking at her. "Sick children that will benefit from the new Wing are our main priority and should be yours as well."
"Yes, I know Aunt Rory…" Dani stopped fidgeting and sat quietly with her hands in her lap. "I'll be the model niece the whole time. I promise."
"You can interact and visit with the little ones just no sulking." Wills kissed her brow.
"Indulge us on this one as well. There will be no wandering about. You are to be within sight of one of us always." Henry had a feeling as though something were amiss.
"I'm surprised that you didn't bring my old stroller along."
"Danielle, I'm serious about this. There will be no wandering off." Henry narrowed his eyes at her.
"If I can't go interact with any of them then what's the point of cheering up the kids?" Dani scowled.
"Just try to keep yourself where we can see you all right?"
"Okay, Uncle Henry, I'll cancel my devious plan to check over the Wing while all of you adults chat endlessly." Dani blew her perfectly styled bangs out of her eyes in sheer frustration. "I'm nearly five. I know all about strangers and all that. I also know that I'm supposed to stay with you or risk being grounded for the summer by my parents, so relax."
"They just can't forget you and DJ wandering off in Vancouver." Dromi tried to ease the tension in the Bentley.
"We just wanted to throw a plushy onto the ice and then DJ had to go to the bathroom."
"That may be so, but you caused the Men in Grey, the royal guard, the Mounties, MI 5, and MI 6 to go ballistic and we don't wish a repeat performance now do we." Wills tweaked her nose.
"No, Uncle Wills…"
"Good, so it's agreed you'll humor us on this one?"
"Yes, Uncle Henry…"
"Jolly good then maybe just maybe we'll be going home with a new Nintendo Strata tonight." Wills grinned.
"No way!" Her eyes lit up in delight.
"Yes way," Henry chuckled when she squealed in delight.
"I'll see what can be arranged, but only if you're the perfect little princess today." Wills locked eyes with hers.
"Daddy wanted one for his Birthday. Could we surprise him with it instead? Not that I won't be good, I'm gonna be a perfect angel." She added hastily.
"We'll see, Little Bit, but we're here now so let's focus on making some kids smile." Wills unbuckled her seat belt after undoing his own.
"It's a shame that I've still got this on my wrist, because I'd be able to conjure loads of things to make them smile…" Dani chattered nervously, as she eyed the queue of television media, paparazzi and on lookers warily. "Um, Uncle Wills, you can carry me until we're at the new wing if you wish to." She cuddled closer to Rory when the doors to the Bentley opened and the flashbulbs went off like blinding fireworks followed by the deafening noise of the crowd.
"Come here you." Wills arranged her in his arms, so she could hide her face against his tailored Aquascutum suit jacket, before being the first to exit the Bentley. "Be shy all you want you're nearly five it's to be expected." He crooned down at her, ignoring the delighted shouts of the media on because one of the princesses was in his arms. He then turned to help Rory out of the car.
This was followed by Henry and Dromi joining them out on the red carpet that had been laid out for their arrival.
"Do you mind easing off a bit? You are scaring my niece!" Wills eyes narrowed at the sea of sharks, when one got too close for comfort, and was dragged away by their personal guards.
"Come on now Babydoll give us a look." A member of the paparazzo shouted.
"Yeah, we don't bite." Another called out.
Like hell you don't. Henry thought darkly. "She's a little girl not a starlet and you blokes are scaring her." Henry snarled darkly as he clenched his fists.
"It's an official outing! We've a right to be here and get shots!" The Royal Watcher photog shouted.
"We can't help it if she's the shy one!" The guy from The Sun growled.
Flashbulbs went off like fireworks when Dani glared regally at them.
"Gentleman if you will excuse us we're running late." Rory got between them and her niece.
"What no nanny?" A BBC reporter asked.
"She doesn't need nor does she have a governess. Her parents do not delegate their parental duties to others and have managed quite nicely without one for nearly five years running." Dromi answered her coolly.
"All the royals have a nanny. It's tradition." The ITV reporter frowned.
"Traditions change and it's never been a Pendragon tradition. Our family believes in nurturing their children and chooses not to hand them off for someone else to rear. This is a tradition the four of us plan to carry on with our own children." Rory ended the chat. "We're late."
They disappeared into the hospital annex.
"Can we stop into the gift shop first?" Dani tugged at the lapel of his suit jacket.
"Sure midget. What did you have in mind?" He left the others to enter the shop.
"I wanna give the children plushies for them to cuddle when they get frightened." Dani eyed the wall of colorful plush then looked pleadingly at her uncle.
"That's very loving of you, Dani." Wills flashed a welcoming smile at the store clerk. "Good morning…" Wills paused to read her colorful name tag. "Nancy is it?"
Nancy, a bubbly blonde, curtsied in front of them. "Yes sir your royal highness."
"Please call me Wills." Wills smiled again. "My niece would love it if you could do something for us."
"I wanna give plushies to the sick children." Dani smiled shyly. "So they can cuddle 'em when they get scared."
"That's a lovely gesture, your highness." Nancy smiled warmly at the adorable little girl.
"I don't want 'em ta be scared and this place is really scary." Dani was playing the role of the shy four-year-old.
"You know it's because of people like your Uncles and Daddy that this place is a whole lot happier than it used to be." Nancy got out her Origami, so she could call up the shop's inventory list. "So let's see what we can do to make even more smile."
"I just hope there's enough." Dani calculated the number of patients in the hospital compared to the amount of plush and surmised with a frown that there wasn't nearly enough.
"We've more than enough to cover the patients in the new wing if that's what you're frowning about." Nancy responded to her frown.
"I want a plushy for every child in the hospital, not just the new wing." Dani looked up at her Uncle.
"We'll start with the new wing and then work from there." Wills set her down on her feet, so he could fish his mobile out of the pocket of his suit jacket.
"What's with the sudden longing for a toy, Pumpkin?" Ron joined them. "We've got a schedule to keep."
"Operation Plushy," Wills glanced up at him after choosing a number on his phone and hitting speed dial.
"Operation Plushy?" Rory also came to see what was up.
"She wishes to give all the children in the hospital plushies, so they can have something to cuddle when they get scared." Nancy was kneeling in front of Dani, who was eyeing the plush with a critical eye. "Do these pass muster in your eyes princess?"
"Yes, they'll do nicely." Dani examined a plush bear to see if it was to her liking and it was. "These are squishy which makes them perfect to snuggle with."
"We've hit a slight, but truly adorable delay, Luna. We'll be there in about twenty minutes. You'd best let Dromi and Henry take the tour." Ron used his mike that was nearly invisible to the naked eye to communicate with his wife.
"Yes, I heard all about Operation Plushy. Our Dani is such a wonderful little girl." Luna's sighed. "Henry, Dromi, and I are already starting the tour, so we shall see you in a bit."
"That she is my love." Ron chuckled as Dani personally set about choosing the plush that were worthy. "Uh, Big brother…"
Wills arched a brow at him, as he listened to the person on the other end of the line.
"Tiger make sure the plushy are all velvety soft, squishy, and adorable." Rory whispered in his ear. "She'll have nothing less than that."
"Hold on for a minute. I've got more details to add. The plushies must be velvety soft, squishy enough to snuggle with, and adorable." Wills chuckled, as he listened to the response to his request. "She'll take nothing less. Smashing my friend I knew I could count on you… I'll be happy to give Hamley's a glowing recommendation in all the papers and the media…Today... Evening at the latest…Splendid….I'll tell her. Good day to you as well."
"Well?" Ron and Rory asked.
"Since it's a blessing that this hospital isn't filled, each child should be receiving a bear or plush animal to cuddle by days end." Wills tucked his phone away.
"That's wonderful news, Dream." Rory kissed him.
"No that little wonder over there is what's wonderful." Wills pointed to Dani, who was happily chatting with Nancy.
"She's something special all right." Ron grinned.
--
Forty-five minutes later Rory, Wills, Dromi, and Henry officially dedicated the wing by cutting the ceremonial ribbon.
Dani was happily going from room to room handing out the plush. She happened across a private room, lit up with sunshine, with a sad girl about her age with sunny blonde hair quietly doing something on a notebook computer. "Hello. I'm Dani. Would you like some company?" She asked timidly.
The little girl glanced up at her having every intent of telling her to leave, but then saw that this visitor was a royal, so she shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "If you want to, your highness, but I'm feeling very tired this morning."
"It's Dani. I promise I won't overstay my welcome." She walked into the room filled with beautiful flower arrangements, plush toys, and happy looking arrangements of balloons. "I thought you might like this." She held up a hot-pink teddy bear dressed in a matching tutu, leotard, and ballet slippers. She had instinctively known that this bear belonged with this little girl and had kept the best for her last stop.
The girl's aquamarine almond shaped eyes flashed with temper. "If Momma sent you here then you can leave. Nothing you say will make me change my mind."
"Um, no one sent me in here…" Dani's eyes widened surprised by her reaction to the bear. "I'm here with my Uncles and Aunts for the dedication of this new wing. You see the four of them are being all official and stuff while I'm giving out these plushies."
Dani was close enough now to see the girl was recovering from what had to have been a horrific accident. She had one leg in a colorful cast and her other leg was missing from just bellow the knee down. She didn't often instantly link with anyone other than members of the family and wasn't ready to see the vivid images that flashed through her mind. She saw the girl all dressed up in a ballet recital costume as she chatted excitedly with her mother a stunningly beautiful exotic looking brunette with her eyes. Then out of nowhere a truck hit the passenger side of the car…there was a flash of white-hot pain, then darkness, and then waking up here feeling angry at the world.
"That's kind of you to take pity on all of us sick pathetic kids. I've my fill of plushies, so you can just leave." The girl growled coolly.
"Were you scared?" Dani took a seat beside her bed. "No, that's silly of me, of course you were scared. I mean who wouldn't have been."
"Excuse me?" She blinked at her in surprise.
"I'd have been terrified if it was me and then I'd have emotionally closed down and sulked. I'd have been furious with the fates for doing this to me." Dani cuddled the bear in her arms. "In my case I'd have done much more than sulk…"
"Sorry…"
"My Grandma and Grandpa Granger nearly ended up in an accident caused by a sloshed driver, but something distracted the git before he could hit them head on. I'm sorry it happened to you." She finished solemnly.
"How could you possibly know what happened to me…" The girl gapped openmouthed at her in shock.
"I…oh frazzle…it's just somethin that I can do." Dani bit down on her lower lip. "I'll leave now." She got up to leave.
"No wait…" The girl cried out in protest. "I'm sorry that I clawed at you like that. Please, I want you to stay."
"All right…I'll stay." Dani sat back down in the chair.
"I'm Daphne Delilah Cooper. I'm five and a half."
"I'm Danielle Stephanie Anastasia Pendragon. I'm still four, but I'll be five on August twenty-eighth."
"So, what did you do to get stuck tagging with your Aunts and Uncles doing royal appearances?" Daph asked curiously.
"I don't know how to control my temper and it tends to get me into trouble a lot." Dani answered truthfully.
"So you got in trouble for what exactly?"
"I stood up to a bunch of, um, bullies at my school instead of going to one of the teachers for help." She chose her words carefully as not to give anything away.
"You must have scared your parents." Daph continued to listen intently to what she was saying.
"Um, actually I kind of beat-up the bullies…" Dani stared down at the plushy in her lap.
"So, you really are the handful that all the papers and media claim you are." Daph smirked.
Dani rolled her eyes at her, but grinned. "I'm always up for adventure and will stand up to the bullies no matter what. This…" She wrinkled her nose, as she motioned to her dolled up form. "Is so not me. I like playing video games, gymnastics, football, going riding on our horses, playing in our tree house, taking self-defense lessons with my Uncle Kane, playing with my pets, riding my bike, and hanging with my Dad and Uncles. Where as my sisters are all into playing with dolls, dressing up, having tea parties, and stuff like that."
"You're quite the tomboy." Daph smirked.
"Yeah, I guess I'm just hopelessly flawed." Dani giggled. "I so don't fit the mold for a princess."
"I'm sort of like you, but I gave in to my mother's pleas and started taking ballet lessons..."
"Did you hate it?"
"I really thought that I was going to despise it, but found it challenging instead."
"Really?"
"Yes, truly challenging and until recently I didn't know that I'd grown to love it…" Daph grew sad again. "We were on our way to my recital…" She blinked back tears.
"I'm sorry that rotter hit your min-van and ruined your dreams…"
"It's much worse than that…" She burst into tears. "I've ruined a family tradition. There have been three generations of ballerinas and now…"
"You didn't ruin anything…I'll bet that your parents and family are just happy that you're alive." Dani's heart went out to her, but if the décor in her room meant anything then she was adored by many people. "Yes, you may not be able to dance again, at least not in toe shoes, but after your other leg heals you'll be able to get fitted for a prosthetic leg. They even use bionics in them now. You'll be able to walk and everything, but not if you just lie here and give up."
"Give me one reason to believe all of that?" She sniffled miserably.
"I'm gonna tell you a secret, but only if you promise to focus on getting better again." Dani surveyed the room. "Does this room have a camera in it? You know so the nurse's station can keep an eye on you?"
"Yes, it's up in that far corner. Why?"
"Drat I thought as much this is gonna be tricky." Dani scowled at the corner. "Does it have volume or is it just soundless video of your room?"
"I'm not sure."
"That settles that then. Please hand me your computer for a few minutes."
"All right..." Daph handed her the notebook computer.
"I'm doing this, because I want us to be best friends and because maybe knowing this will give you a reason to get better again." Her fingers raced across the keys as she typed a lengthy message for her to read, then added her personal information in Daph's address book before handing the computer back to its owner. "Oh sorry…I wasn't thinking again…I just assumed that you could read all of that…" She bit down on her lip as Daph read her message.
"Oh that's okay. I've been reading since I was three, so I can easily understand all of this. My Daddy is, Lord Timothy Cooper, a University professor at Oxford. He teaches physics." Daph looked up at her and then back at the message.
"Yep, you and I are gonna be the best of friends." Dani was beyond happy now. "I've been reading since I was barely two."
Daph stared at her and then back at the computer screen three times. "Well, that definitely gives me a good reason to believe everything that you said…Wow it's all real and you're their daughter…"
"Get better and I'll personally introduce you to all of them…get better soon and I might even be able to get you to sit in the box with me while my Dad, Aunt, and Uncles play for the cup again." Dani nodded.
"Okay, but only if you do something for me," Daph countered.
"Sure just name it."
"I'd really like it if you started taking ballet classes."
"You've got yourself a deal. You get better and I'll try my hand…no it's feet at ballet. Mum will probably faint when I ask her, but then I love a good challenge." Dani offered her hand out to her, so they could shake on it.
"It helps when playing sports too." Daph took her hand in her own and they sealed the deal.
"Hey, Little Bit, we've got to go." Wills walked into the room.
"Okay Uncle Wills." Dani smiled up at him then focused on Daph. "I've got to go now, but I put my personal information in your address book, so we can stay in touch."
"I'll send you an e-mail tonight." Daph smiled back. "Thanks for the bear, Dani..."
"Smile princess." A stealthy photog snapped a few shots of her handing Daphne the bear.
"Could you please send my Uncle Wills a copy of that?" Dani asked the photog.
"Yes and me as well," Daphne echoed.
"Uh, sure your highness…" The man was caught off guard. "If you'd like, I'll take another one of the two of you."
"Yes please." They smiled.
He took some more shots of them. "There ya go ladies. I'll send the prince the copies and he can make sure that you two get them."
"Just send them by messenger to my press secretaries office." Wills told the photog as he was leaving.
"Yeah, sure thing your highness..." The man left while he still had a chance.
"So are we ready to go?" Rory walked into the room and kissed Wills on the cheek.
"Dani's just saying good-bye to her new friend." Wills put his arm around her waist. "Miss…?"
"Um, I'm Daphne Delilah Cooper, your highness." Daph blushed shyly.
"I've met your mother. She's an amazing dancer…" Rory bit down on her lip cursing herself for her slip of the tongue. "Oh how stupid of me…"
"No that's all right, your highness. She's a beautiful dancer as was my Grams and Great-Grams. I just have to change tradition and be great at something else." Daphne winked at Dani.
"With determination like that I've no doubt that you can do anything that you set your mind to." Wills smiled warmly at her.
"Yes, she's gonna be amazing." Dani agreed.
"Well, in that case you'd better get well soon, so you can enjoy either a piece of wedding cake or birthday cake at Sanctuary." Rory found herself instantly liking this girl.
"There you three are. Ron's on a schedule trip today, so he's getting antsy." Henry looked into the room.
"He can wait. It looks as though our Dani's found a kindred spirit." She walked over to the other side of the bed. "Hello I'm Dromi."
"This is Daphne Delilah Cooper. Daphne, my Uncle Wills, Uncle Henry, Aunt Rory, and Aunt Dromi." Dani formally introduced them to one another. "But then you know that because they're famous and everything."
"Hello, your highnesses."
Dromi took in all the little girl's injuries and her heart ached for her. The loss of part of a leg was irreplaceable, but her other leg could easily be mended.
"How are you feeling?" She brushed her hand against her brow instantly gauging her condition. Her leg was broken, but not put back together with barbaric screws and plates. This was indeed fantastic news and she devised a plan in her mind that would excel her body's ability to heal itself. "Are you thirsty?"
Daph nodded. "I'm feeling better now that I've met Dani."
"She's a very special little girl." Dromi poured her a glass of water then changed the water into a tasteless potion that would mend her broken limb. "Water is good for you, so you need to drink as much of it as possible." She handed her the cup.
"Thank you," Daph took the cup and didn't stop drinking until the potion was completely gone.
"You're very welcome." Dromi smiled.
"I hate to break up this budding friendship, but we've got a full day yet." Ron cleared his throat to get their attention.
"Relax little brother we're almost ready." Henry rolled his eyes at him.
Wills mobile rang. He took it out and flipped it open to see who was calling. It was his Grams. "Good morning Gran. No nothings wrong. Dani befriended one of the little girls at the hospital. Lady Delilah Cooper's daughter… Yes, she's a lovely little girl. That's right you heard correctly Dani arranged to have bears given to all the sick children. She called it Operation Plushy. Yes, I know the dedication ceremonies at Olympic Park are priority. We'll be on our way in a few minutes. I'll see you later this afternoon. Love you too, Grams. Bye."
"Sorry to cut this short, but Daphne is scheduled for new scans on her leg." An orderly dressed in colorful scrubs arrived with a wheelchair.
"E-mail me tonight." Dani gave her a hug as soon as the orderly had gotten her settled in the chair.
"I will and remember your promise." Daph hugged her back.
"I won't." Dani watched as he wheeled her out of the room.
"Life can be really cruel sometimes." She let Henry pick her up.
"I know munchkin, but she's got you now that's a huge plus in her life." Henry and the others entered the corridor.
"Lot good it does with all this video stuff everywhere." Dani pouted.
"I have my ways around things like that. She'll be able to walk in no less than a day with the help of crutches." Dromi whispered in her ear.
Dani beamed happily at her Aunt. "You're the best Aunt Dromi."
"I see anything broken and I do my best to try to heal it." Dromi smiled back.
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Chapter Five
Worst Nightmare
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I do not claim any of JKR's characters only that I love being able to create my own kind of mischief with her beloved characters. I do not claim any other things that are owned by other companies that I may mention once and a while in the stories...Although the original characters and ideas are mine and I loved creating them. So please review if you wish but try not to flame me too badly.
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Cindra 2004-2008