I'm back! No update schedule set, but I have set aside writing time and have a full outline for 14/15 chapters
After waking up in the muggle world all summer, opening her eyes to the hanging black and gold tapestries and vines instantly brought a flutter of excitement. For a few moments, Daisy just lay in her bed enjoying the warmth, not quite ready to fully wake up.
Until Sophia's voice jolted her awake. "What class have we got first?" Already dressed in her robes, the other girl sat cross-legged on the bed nearest Daisy's.
"Whatever it is, it'd better not be happening for another two hours," one of the other girls grumbled. "What time is it?"
Unfortunately, it was about time to head down to breakfast if they intended to eat anything before classes. They all got ready together, Sophia reading them their schedule as they dressed. "Herbology with Ravenclaw is first today. Then History of Magic and Transfiguration, both before lunch and with Slytherin." She made a face.
Daisy joined her in bemoaning two classes accompanied by Bella Castle in a row, but the feelings weren't shared by all the other girls. Regina in particular was even excited to have two classes with her Slytherin friend, a girl Daisy hadn't spoken to much. Even more concerning to Daisy was the encounter with Ravenclaw. It would be the first time seeing Jonathan without Sam around, the first time she could really see how much had changed. And for some reason, that made her more nervous than anything she could imagine Bella doing.
It was one thing to be taunted by someone she already knew hated her, and another to have conflict with someone you actually considered a friend.
Breakfast went as well as could be expected, everyone sticking to their house tables before their first day of classes. A few other students stopped to talk to her for a second, congratulating Daisy on her part of finding the kidnapped students. Daisy thanked them politely, hoping each time would be the last and that people would just forget about it. She hadn't realized how many people would still be thinking about the events of the previous year. The most startling encounter was one with a small and fidgety first year boy from Gryffindor who hadn't even experienced the potential closing of Hogwarts but still nervously rambled about how cool the story was, eyes darting to Daisy's friends for affirmation.
After they were done eating, Daisy and the rest of the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw first years headed out the castle doors and out towards the greenhouses, chatting hesitantly as if the silence of the morning was not to be broken. Dew collected on Daisy's shoes and the hem of her robe as she purposely walked on the edge of the path next to Sophia.
"Hey." Jonathan joined them on Sophia's other side.
"Hello," Sophia said back.
Daisy looked up from her feet to nod cautiously in his direction.
"I hope this year of herbology will be more practical, don't you?" Jonathan asked. "Greenhouse one is basically just a room for lectures that Professor Longbottom just happens to keep some plants in for us to look at and maybe touch."
Daisy agreed. "I've had enough of only working with puffapods."
Jonathan laughed, the sharp sound cutting through muffled sounds of feet. "Yeah, I was just warning Sam about those. Annoying little things. We could help him out though, maybe show him what we get to work on."
"Maybe you can help him," Daisy said, "But I'm done with those plants."
Sophia looked at Daisy, her eyes disapproving. "I'm sure it would be fine if Same saw some of what we're working on."
When they reached the greenhouse, Professor Longbottom stood waiting at the door to let them in.
"Welcome to greenhouse two, you lot. You've got a great year ahead of you in this one." He greeted each one of them individually as they walked through the door, assigning them a seat as they went past him.
Like Daisy, Jonathan and Sophia looked disappointed by the assignment of seats, but luckily, Professor Longbottom paid attention to friend groups. Most friends, Daisy noticed, sat together around a table unless they were known for causing distractions. Each table sat a group of six and had space enough in the middle for planters, books, and writing utensils. Based on the notches in the wood, they'd been through a lot of students, or maybe even the magical plants, carving pieces out of them.
"Unless I see an issue, these are your seating arrangements for the rest of the year," Professor Longbottom said. "And, along with your tablemates, you will actually be growing something of your own this year. And, you and your partner get to choose what that is."
Across the table, Jasper's eyes lit up and he glanced at his partner, Sophia, to see if she shared in his excitement. She shook her head, but grinned nonetheless. The rest of class wasn't as interesting as Daisy had hoped, as most of it was the reviewing of expectations and what they would be learning that semester, but there was one good side. Jonathan didn't have a reason to bring up Sam again.
0o0oDaisyo0o0
By the time Daisy got to History of Magic, she'd completely forgotten about her moments of fame in the breakfast hall. With all the students making their way to their classes, most people seemed to have forgotten about her reported heroism, although she did get a few nods from older students that recognized her.
However, Bella Castle hadn't forgotten anything.
"Dursley!" She hissed from somewhere behind Daisy's seat to get her attention. "Had a nice day gathering more fame?"
"Shut it, Castle," Regina hissed back. Seated between the two, Regina heard every word Castle said loud and clear. "No one cares and the teacher will be here soon."
Castle ignored her and continued whispering to Daisy. "Seems like I'm the only one who paid attention to the rest of that newspaper. Who'd have believed it, hmm? Your dad, a fat muggle and someone who hates magic? He must be really disappointed in you then. And, he bullied Harry Potter of all things!"
Daisy took a deep breath and ignored her. It was nothing she hadn't heard before from her own dad, except for the being a disappointment bit, which she was fairly certain was untrue.
"I'll find a way to show everyone you're not the hero everyone thinks you are," Castle warned. It sounded as though she had something else to add to that statement, but Professor Goldstein's entrance brought all talking to an end.
Daisy pulled her History of Magic textbook out of her bag along with parchment, quill, and ink. There wasn't anything Castle could use against her, was there? Her words were empty threats. But would she turn to something worse once she realized Daisy couldn't be hurt by the truth?