Daria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl. Chapter Thirteen: Laura at Bay

DISCLAIMER: Daria was created by Glen Eichler and is the property of MTV Viacom. Harry Potter was created by JK Rowling and is the property of JK Rowling, Wizarding World, and Warner Brothers. I own neither and neither expect nor deserve any financial compensation for this work of fiction.

Nice reviews are adequate recompense.

Daria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl* Daria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl* Daria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl

"Farrah still hasn't called or written me," Daria wrote in her journal. "I'm still feeling miserable. It's not just that I've had a falling-out with Farrah, but I don't know if I can still talk to Mr. Skein and I feel cut off from Laura and the Penricks. I still like Laura. I miss seeing and talking with her and I worry about how she's doing with the cancer."

She looked at her journal and scowled. This probably wasn't her best writing but it was where she was now and it was the truth, at least mostly.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. It was Anna, the sitter her Mom and Dad had gotten to watch them while they were at work. She was one of Mrs. Aldrete's cousins; her mom and dad learned that one of the side-benefits of knowing people in Highland's wizarding community was finding reliable baby-sitters.

"Daria, there's a Mrs. Penrick on the phone," she said. "She wants to talk to you."

"Thanks," said Daria. "Tell her I'm coming," She got up from her desk and followed Anna out to the phone in the living room. Anna picked up the phone, said "She's coming," then handed it to Daria.

"Hello?" she said.

"Daria," said Mrs. Penrick. "It's good to hear your voice. We haven't seen or heard from you in ages."

"What's up?" said Daria

"Laura asked for you," said Mrs. Penrick. "She heard from Farrah that you girls aren't speaking to each other. Is that true?"

"Yes, Ma'am," said Daria.

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Mrs. Penrick. "You girls were such good friends. You ought to remain friends."

"I'd like to," said Daria, "but we're at stalemate."

"Laura wants to see you," said Mrs. Penrick.

"I want to see her too," said Daria. "I miss her."

"Where is she?"

"She's at the hospital," said Mrs. Penrick. "She's going through chemo right now."

"I'd like to see her if they'd let me see her," said Daria. She'd heard that some hospitals had age restrictions or wouldn't let unaccompanied minors visit hospitals. "Do you know if they have bicycle racks?" She could pedal to the hospital, but she'd have to follow US 87, which was a dangerous route for anyone on a bicycle. She wouldn't do it for anyone, but she'd do it for Laura.

"That won't be necessary," said Mrs. Penrick. "I can drive you there.

"Are you free during the day?"

"Most days," said Daria. "My sisters and I are staying at home right now but we do have a sitter."

"I can take you to the hospital if your parents give their permission," said Mrs. Penrick.

"Thank you, ma'am, I'd love to see her," said Daria.

-(((O-O)))—

Daria told her parents about Mrs. Penrick's offer after they got home. To her relief, her Mom gave her approval.

"Daria, that's sweet of you!" said Helen. "I'd be glad to give you permission to go. Let me talk to Mrs. Penrick first."

She picked up her cordless phone and called the Penricks' number.

"Could I speak to Lisa Penrick?" she said.

"This is Helen Morgendorffer. I'm Daria's mother."

"Yes it is," she said.

"Hello again," she said.

"I'm fine, thank you," she said.

"Daria told me that your daughter is in the hospital," she said.

"She is?" said Helen.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear that," said Helen. "Daria said that she enjoyed her visits to your ranch and thinks very highly of Laura."

"She really did," said Helen. "She tends to be sparing of compliments but she did say that."

"I wanted to let you know that Jake and I are giving her permission to go there and for you to drive her there," said Helen.

Mrs. Penrick came by around 10:00 and drove her to the hospital. Daria had clean clothes, but the hospital wanted to make sure that she didn't pass on anything to patients with weakened immune systems. They made her wash her hands, then put on a surgical mask.

Laura was up when Daria entered the room. Daria was shocked at her appearance. Laura was pale and looked gaunt. She'd lost a lot of her hair to the treatment. Seeing her made Daria sad and angry.

"Hey, girl! So they let you in after all," said Laura. "Even if they made you wear a mask after all."

"They figured me out," said Daria. "They decided that I was a bad influence."

Laura gave her a smile. "They got that right," she said. Despite her condition, Laura hadn't lost her sense of humor.

"So how do I look?" asked Laura.

She looked terrible. Her hair had fallen out and she'd lost a lot of weight. Was she going to get out of there alive? Daria worried that she wasn't and decided to avoid that topic if she could.

"I've seen you on better days," said Daria.

Laura smiled. "Dry wit. That's what I like about your humor, Daria."

"So what's this between you and Farrah?"

What to tell her? Daria decided to fudge the truth.

"Farrah doesn't like the school I'm going to go to," said Daria.

Laura looked at her skeptically. She'd heard what Farrah had to say. She raised an eyebrow as if to say "Is that all?".

Daria blushed, simultaneously wishing she could do something like that.

"There's more stuff," said Daria. "I wouldn't do any head-in-the-clouds New-Agey stuff if I didn't think it was necessary, and that's all I really want to say about it."

Laura let that pass.

"I'm still on the outs with Farrah but I miss her," said Daria.

"So what are you doing these days?" asked Laura.

"Reading," said Daria. "Writing, archery. I go swimming occasionally. I've taken up container gardening and have managed to keep some flowers and herbs alive. I also hang with my other friends, although I still miss Laura."

"That's good," said Laura. She looked at Daria and sighed. "Daria, I get tired easily, so you don't mind if I talk with my Mom for a while?"

"Sure," said Daria, not fully understanding. She rose and went out into the hallway.

Mrs. Penrick came out of Laura's room about fifteen minutes later.

"Thank you for coming," she said. "Laura's tired and she's resting. It's the treatment; it takes a lot out of her. She needs to rest for a couple of hours. She'll be awake late this afternoon."

"I need to run some errands. Do you want me to take you home?"

"Sure," said Daria.

She opened her journal again and wrote "It's not fair. It's not Effing fair!"

-(((O-O)))—

Mrs. Penrick invited Daria to visit Farrah again a week or so later.

This time Daria had things to tell her.

"I finally got to Balmorhea State Park," she said.

"Good for you!" said Laura. "I've been there several times and I love it. Is the water still cold?"

"It still is," said Daria. "I'm not sure if I would have gotten in if the Aldrete twins hadn't pushed me in. My teeth were chattering until I got used to it."

Laura smiled. "But you stayed in. That proves you're a West Texas girl no matter what anyone else says."

"Thanks, I think," Daria replied.

"So how's the TV?"

"Dumb," said Laura. "Somebody showed a western documentary on the public channel and he didn't know his ass from his elbow."

Mrs. Penrick made a reproving look at her daughter.

"Sorry, Mom," said Laura.

"And is the food as bad as I've heard?" said Daria.

"Yep," Laura said quietly.

Neither girl said anything. They sat there companionably, enjoying each other's company.

There was a knock on the door and a girl stepped in.

"What are you doing here?" said a familiar voice. It was Farrah. She looked good: tanned, healthy, just the way Daria expected.

"Hi," Daria replied.

"Laura asked her to come by," said Mrs. Penrick. "I drove her over here."

"Hey," said Laura. "Nice to see you."

"Nice to see you too," said Farrah.

"I know you guys are mad at each other," said Laura. "I don't want to hear it."

Farrah looked at Daria. Daria made a gesture like she was zipping her lip and nodded. They still were at odds but neither girl wanted to act out in front of Laura and Mrs. Penrick.

Farrah talked a bit about cheerleading camp, then added "I hope they let you out of here soon."

"Me, too," said Laura, glancing at her mother. "This place stinks."

"The Docs say that they'll let me come home after the treatments. They think they got it all."

"Good!" Farrah and Daria chorused. The two girls looked at each other and smiled. They might still be at odds but both of them deeply cared about Laura.

-(((O-O)))—

Daria made two more visits to the hospital. Her last one was in mid-August.

"I'm getting ready to go off to school in a week or so," Daria said quietly. "I don't know how much Farrah and Gail have told you."

"It doesn't really matter," said Laura. "It's your life."

That wasn't the answer Daria expected. "Thanks," she replied.

"You don't care that I'm off to Bonnie Scotland?" said Daria.

"I want you to go," said Laura. "I can see it. You're meant for bigger things than Howard County."

"Thanks," said Daria.

"Daria," she said.

"What?" said Daria.

"You've got nothing to be ashamed of for being from here," said Laura. "Be tough. Stand up for yourself. Think. Listen, but don't back down when you're right. And don't do them unless it's necessary."

"And think of me," she added.

"I will," said Daria.

-(((O-O)))—

Author's note: I WILL get Daria to Hogwarts. I still have some setting-up to do.