Author's Note: WOOH! We are BACK with more in the life of my daddy/daughter duo! Harry and Daisy (Delphi)! :D I am SO excited to dive back in! This here story is actually a one-shot anthology drabble collection thingy-mabob. Yeah, I'm doing one of those! Consider this a "book 2.5" mini-series kinda thing, in-between book 2 and the upcoming book 3! This is going to take us through the teenage years of Daisy's life, with some SLICE of life tales, right up to adult Daisy in book 3 when she gets involved in the war to finally end her father's regime once and for all!

Man I am SO excited to be doing this! I fucking love family fluff and also a bit of angst/drama lol. xD Family stuff is my jam!

PS: Fear not, those of you who want to just jump to Book 3 when it starts coming out (which will probably be mid-January) - I, as a semi-competent author, will seamlessly recap and reference some of these events to get you all up to speed when the time comes! xD I mean hopefully seamlessly...

Daisy Potter had honestly almost been dreading her twelfth birthday.

For so many reasons.

One major reason being a reason that she was going to try and get taken care of before her big day started.

Immediately on waking up, Daisy rolled out of her bed, stowed her wand in her underwear waistband, and marched (marched, not stumbled!) out of her room. Down the stairs, through the hall, and into the sitting room where her daddy was waiting - up and sipping at his coffee, as always.

He eyed her as soon as she entered - taking her in. He looked back down at his drink, taking a long sip.

"Uh, happy birthday, sweetie-"

Daisy threw herself onto the sofa beside him and crossed her arms, glaring into the fireplace.

"Okay..." Daddy cleared his throat, glancing over at her face. At her head. "Are we having...one of those mornings again, sweetie? On your birthday?"

"No!" Daisy snapped instantly. "Maybe..." she admitted under her breath.

"I can tell; it has to be a pretty bad one when you've not even brushed your hair," daddy said lightly.

"At least I got out of bed!" Daisy countered.

"You did - and that's great. That's really good, Daisy." Daddy eyed her head of tangled strands. "Would you like me to brush it for you?"

Daisy sighed. "Yes. Please." She liked these moments too much to say no to them. She moved herself over onto his lap, staring ahead as his hands gently began to touch and run over her hair. Then, she felt the brush at the ends as he began his work. She closed her eyes and relaxed into him, just enjoying all the sensations over the next few minutes. Letting herself smile freely.

Then she decided to implement her plan.

She drew breath, clenching her fists on her knees. "Daddy..."

"Yeah, sweetie?"

"Before anybody else comes over, could you please just...fwoosh me. Just- transfigure me." She squirmed and twisted in his lap, gazing at him. She raised her hand and tapped her finger to her sternum. "Right here."

Daddy blinked, looking her in the eye. "Err...you mean-"

"Yes, I mean my still-stupidly-non-existent breasts!" Daisy erupted. "I want them to be bigger, and rounder, and not stupid and flat and- ugh!"

"Daisy-"

"I'm supposed to be turning twelve today! But I still look six with this crap! I look like Leila! Have you seen Jasper, or, hell, even Hazel lately?!" Daisy went on furiously, her face burning like the sun.

"Daisy: I do not pay attention to that," daddy said flatly.

"Of course you don't!" Daisy exclaimed, jumping up from his lap and stalking across the room. She whirled back around to face him, shaking her head of freshly brushed hair. "If you did, you'd have noticed that I don't even look a third as good as them! They're already woosh, they're off, they're all big and pushy and- and I'm still not even starting! So just boost me, grow me, just transfigure me! Please! Call it a birthday gift!"

"Sweetie..." Daddy shook his head, looking torn between pitying and amused.

"No, come on, daddy, don't sweetie me!" Daisy groaned. "You can't talk me out of it this time! Don't even try!"

Daddy's lips twitched. "You sure?"

"Yes!"

"Okay. Then how about you sit down - right here, sweetie - and you listen to me for about, oh, five minutes?"

"No!"

"You just said I couldn't convince you...so what's the harm in listening?" Daddy said, a mischievous note to his voice.

Daisy glared. Hard. Then she threw up her hands and threw herself back down on the sofa next to her daddy. "I'm not changing my mind," she said resolutely.

"Sweetie-" Daddy began.

"It's not going to work..." Daisy whined, trying not to lose her composure!

"Listen: I can understand how you might feel- err- left behind in this stage of your life - in this stage of your...development, but you know you've hardly given yourself the chance to grow. To develop in this...area. There are still plenty more years to come where you're going to grow and change, and- erm- bloom into your...final form. So...I know it has to be frustrating, and embarrassing, even, but- just try and be patient. Give it more time. I'm sure you'll- that you might grow how you like - how you're wanting to - in a few more years."

"And what if I don't? What if this-" Daisy gestured viciously at her chest, curling her lip. "-is all I get out of it, and puberty screwed me? I don't even have much hair coming in - and I wanted that too!"

Daddy definitely looked like he was trying not to smile. Still trying to be all parental and sympathetic. "Well...just...look: if you give yourself a chance, if you wait a few more years and it turns out that this is about the- err- limits of your development...then...then when you're older, and if you still feel this way about it, I'll look into getting you in to see a Healer who specializes in this sort of thing - alright? In magical body...sculpting. Human transfiguration. The best of the best, and- someone who can safely change for you the things about your body that you want to change, without any problems."

"Why can't you just do it for me right now?" Daisy pouted, slumping in her seat.

Daddy spread his hands at her, shrugging. He quirked a small grin. "Because if I did there's a chance I'd cause you to just explode, sweetie. I'm not joking. It'd be reckless, and stupid, and very dangerous. And I don't want to risk hurting you - which, I likely would. Human transfiguration is the most advanced, complicated form of transfiguration magic there is, and honestly, I'm really terrible at it."

"Fine." Daisy sighed her most aggravated, dramatic sigh. "I guess having them like this is better than having them exploded..." she conceded.

"That's right. Just...give yourself more time. Give it a chance. You might just be a- a really late bloomer in this...particular area. You might hit thirteen, or fifteen or sixteen, or eighteen, and you'll find you just start...erm, well...that growth you want to see. But- until then- just try to be comfortable with how you are, okay? I know it's got to be tough, but...it's what you- err- have to work with right now. And who knows? You might change your mind, and decide that it's actually better to be...to accept yourself how you are than to...want to change it. I mean, not that you can't not want to change it - that's valid, if you feel that way - but for now-"

"I get it, daddy, fine." Daisy blew a breath, kicking her feet against the floor.

"Okay. Good. And I'm sorry." Daddy touched her head, stroking her hair again. "Do you want to go for a bike ride before the day starts? You know it really helps - and the potion. Did you drink your potion yet?"

"No, I haven't drunk it yet. And no I don't want to ride my bike today." Daisy sat a moment, then she sighed. "Okay, yes, I want to ride my bike," she amended.

"Alright." Daddy's eyes glimmered. He flicked his wand; a small potions vial appeared. He snatched it from the air and offered it to Daisy. She took it and drank it without hesitating. "Thank you, Daisy. Now, you're going to have to get dressed if you want to go out and ride this morning. We don't want you getting any more scrapes or bruises if we can help it..."

"I know," Daisy replied, heaving a final sigh before getting to her feet again. The potion wouldn't start taking effect for another thirty seconds or so. Maybe a minute.

"What do you want to wear today?" Daddy asked, smiling at her.

Daisy thought about it. She shrugged. "My blue tank top with the bunny ears on it, and the blue shorts with my blue socks."

Daddy nodded and flicked his wand at her; her chosen garments appeared on her figure with a pop. A final wave and her shoes appeared to cap it all off - neatly tied. "Alright, then. Watch out for bugs and scrapes."

"I will." Daisy told him, heading for the kitchen. However, she stopped at the back door, pressing her lips together to herself alone. Then she called out with, "Oh, daddy-"

Daddy got up and entered the kitchen, coming right over to her at the door. "What is it, Daisy?"

"Don't tell Jasper or Hazel I talked to you about this!" Daisy ordered him.

"Of course not, sweetie," daddy said simply. He stepped in close and grasped at her arms. "But - I am glad you did. Thank you for coming to me with your feelings about yourself - about your health and- bodily development. Any time you feel or you think anything at all - about anything - you know you can just come talk to me, just like this, and I'll always do my best for you."

Daisy flashed him a smile, throwing her shoulders back and brushing at her hair. "I know, daddy. I'm really...glad...that you're always here for me to talk to. About anything. Even stupid stuff I hate about myself like this..."

"Hey, it's not stupid," he refuted firmly. "And you've got nothing to be ashamed of, or- embarrassed about. Everybody feels...insecure sometimes. Especially when we- erm- measure ourselves against others. But...it's important to try not to do that! We need to be confident in ourselves, that- that how we are is...is okay and-"

"I know, I know."

"Okay. Great! Um, so...you have fun out there. I'll keep an eye on you if you want..." daddy said tentatively.

Daisy turned to gaze out the window, across the grass, to the wide oval of a dirt bike track that had been formed with magic several weeks ago now - just for her (though, Leila sometimes did take a little bike of her own onto it, which Daisy mildly tolerated). She didn't need daddy watching after her like that. Like he was going to protect her, keep her safe! But...she did like it when he watched her for totally normal reasons, like when she took big jumps on the dirt ramps and when she sometimes got hurt and he would come right over to her and heal her and then take her in his arms and...

"You can watch me if you want, but you don't have to," Daisy told him, blushing.

"But you want me to, don't you?" He grinned at her.

She blushed harder and tossed her head of hair, throwing open the door. "Maybe just a little."

"Thought so."

Daisy glared. He knew her too well, still! He knew! She gave him a quick hug, then twisted from his grasp and darted out the door, hiding her blushing face.

Daisy was really having a fun time on her birthday, getting the fresh air and looping around the little dirt track by herself. Just focusing on the wind, her muscles, the weight and direction of it all.

She let herself grin outright as she took the dirt ramps.

Let herself show it all to her daddy as he watched her with a smile on his face.

And then Leila emerged from the back door of the house, that stupid little smile on her face, and went right over to daddy and hugged his legs!

Which made daddy stop paying attention to Daisy!

Daisy slammed on the pedals and skidded to a halt, glaring at them.

"Leila wants to ride around with you," daddy called out to her.

Goddammit, Daisy snarled to herself, watching the girl excitedly run to the side of the house to grab her small little blue bike. "Daddy," she started through her teeth, pulling her most neutral face. "I don't think that's a great idea! She could run into me - or I could run into her. What if we get tangled up and end up getting hurt?"

Daddy looked at her like he knew exactly what she was doing. He just shook his head. "There's enough space for both of you out here, Daisy. You've done it before."

Daisy clenched her jaw and stamped on the dirt, pushing herself off again into motion.

Today was her birthday! Why couldn't she just get this to herself?

She was angry - but she knew better than to anger daddy. He might even punish her!

She would just do the tried and true method of ignoring her stupid little sister.

Daisy sped up and took the ramps, losing herself to it all again - and making sure she kept at least half the track between herself and Leila. She even lapped the girl a few times, just to make herself feel even better about things! She pretended it was a race, and she was the winner.

Motion through the window caught Daisy's eye, and she stopped again to watch the door open - again.

Mummy stepped out through the doorway! She grasped the frame and glanced down a few times, then she pushed off and began walking across the grass toward daddy. It was immediately obvious to Daisy that she was really having a hard time with it - her legs were shaky and she stumbled a few times, and her legs moved awkwardly, in kind of uncoordinated sweeping motions. But she held herself tall (as tall as she ever was, being a short woman!) and was able to make it to daddy.

Daisy didn't miss how mummy practically fell against him - and clung to his arm like it was a support pole.

"Mummy's walking?" Leila gasped, staring with big green eyes.

Daisy snorted to herself. Though, she herself was more than a little shocked at the sight, too. She jumped off her bike and dropped it to the dirt, swiftly moving for her parents. "Mummy, how are you walking like this?"

Mummy gave a little grin, reaching up a hand to pat at the hair she had on one side of her head. Stroking the curls. She was definitely leaning against daddy - a lot. "For a couple of years now, some of the Healers and Potions Masters at St. Mungo's have been working on advanced new brews for people with curses like mine. Mine might be unique to my bloodline, but the effects aren't too different from some others out there. Recently, they finally made a breakthrough. An entirely new potion to help treat conditions like mine. Some of those Healers and Potions Masters are working with the Order, and they were able to send a batch of early test samples my way."

Daisy stared at her, then at daddy. He was grasping and stroking at mummy's hand on his arm. He was smiling.

"It was fortunate for us that the timing all worked out," mummy went on. "I could have tried it weeks ago, but I held onto it until today. I wanted to be able to be up and around for your birthday this time." She gazed at Daisy with intense shame and apology. "When we first got you back, I promised you I'd be a damn better mum now than I was before, remember? This is me keeping that promise. I'm going to play with my kids, dammit. So what do you want to do?"

Daisy almost felt like crying. Her throat hurt as she gazed back at mummy. She smiled at her. "Do you think you could ride a bike?"

"Sweetie, I d-don't-" daddy started.

"How about we just go for it and find out?" mummy cut across him, holding up a hand. She glanced at daddy. "You don't mind if I use yours, do you?"

Daddy looked at her. Troubled. Then he nodded and gave her another smile. "Okay, yeah - of course. Use mine all you want today."

Mummy patted his arm and drew her wand, giving it a wave. Daddy's bike came zooming out from the side of the house to park right in front of her. She grasped the bars and swung a leg over it, settling onto the seat with a gasping breath.

"Are you okay, mummy?" Daisy asked instantly, as Leila opened her mouth. Beating her to it (and feeling pretty pleased with herself for it).

Mummy gave a clearly pained grin that was almost a grimace. "I'm just fine, honey. Don't worry about me - worry about having fun on your special day, yeah?"

Daisy returned to her own bike, watching mummy cross the grass onto the smoothed out dirt. She watched as mummy lifted her feet and began to pedal, setting off down the track. Mummy's face winced a few times, she let out a noise once - but she kept at it, until she'd done a fast loop around the whole track.

"Come on, both of you girls!" mummy said to them, a fierce grin growing on her face. "We've got the room for all of us. Let's have some fun!"

Daisy still felt...at least as worried as daddy still looked, but if mummy thought she could do it, then Daisy was okay with it. In fact...she really wanted to find the time to tell her how much it meant to her that she had done this just for her.

After the girls ate lunch and returned to their rooms (Daisy, to await the arrival of her best friends through their Floo for the party), Harry took his wife aside in the kitchen to talk to her privately.

"Daphne, are you doing okay?"

"I'm great! Better than I've felt in years." She gave a great big, silly grin.

"Are you sure? You've seemed to still be in a lot of pain," Harry pressed gently.

"I'm always in pain - tell me something I don't know," she dismissed, snorting lightly.

"Daphne, look, even with this new potion, you shouldn't push yourself so hard-"

"Why shouldn't I?!" Daphne said, sudden and furious, her dark eyes blazing. "This curse is going to take me whether I sit around on my arse or not. This pain is with me every single day, whether I'm sitting on my arse or not! A little more pain, and that being my choice, to take those consequences...I decide whether it's worth it or not! And I have! Maybe I have to take the next week in bed after, but if I can join you and our girls, up on my feet, or on a bike, or sledding down a hill...I chose that, and I decided it was worth taking it! Whether or not I push myself past my limits, that is always going to be my choice - not yours!"

"I'm sorry, I'm just worried-" Harry stammered.

"You're worried? I'm worried, goddamnit!" Daphne burst out, gasping for breath. "I'm worried that I'm just going to keep missing all these important moments with our kids, I'm worried that I'm going to keep being left behind whenever you three go out there and have the time of your lives! All these things that I can hardly do anymore without my body falling apart...I'm going to do them anyways. To be with you - to be with them! I'm your wife, I'm their mum, I'm supposed to be a part of this family, not sitting on the sidelines! I- I promised Daisy that I would do my best in life to make it up to her," Daphne finished, quavering but determined. "I'm not doing so great at that so far, am I? But if this potion can help me get off my arse and do that-"

"The way the Healers explained it, the potion's side effects sound almost as bad as your curse itself!" Harry tried to plead with her. "Especially if you're taking them in large doses, and often. Daphne, please, I just don't want to see you...really do damage to yourself!"

"I've been doing damage to myself since I was a baby - a bit more isn't going to change much for me," Daphne refuted fiercely. "Just quit with the worrying and let me do this in peace, would you? For our kids."

Harry stared down into her face. All that passion, all that resolve, all that...Daphne. He sighed. "I'm not going to stop worrying - but I'll...try to keep quiet about it," he said reluctantly, offering a small smile. "I'll try to- just support it for you. And if you have to spend the next week in bed, I'll be there with you that whole week. Okay?"

Daphne stepped in toward him - with a small stumble of an awkwardly placed, shaking ankle - grabbed his arms and lifted up on her toes, and pressed a firm, quick kiss to his lips with a little hop. "Well shit, if that's the best I can hope to get out of you...thank you, Harry."

Harry wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close - and steady. He bent down and dipped his head to kiss her back, caressing her face and the bald side of her head. "You're welcome..."

"You can't seriously tell me you think the benefits won't outweigh the troubles," Daphne spoke again, gazing into his eyes. A grin came over her. "You know how much I've missed the times when I'd just get on top of you and bounce away my worries? Or the times when I'd sidle up behind you and pound away at you? Making you moan like that, making you just-"

"Y-yeah, I know, I know..."

"You don't know!" Daphne refuted, narrowing her eyes. "Don't tell me you know! I haven't gotten to just have sex with you like a normal witch in a normal position for...ages!"

"That's not- true. Any sex that we...have...in any position...is normal."

"Maybe for you, because it's so easy for you," Daphne countered, letting out a bitter laugh. "But, yeah, you know, you are right: you haven't been getting any real action with me either, have you? Though, that one is your own damn fault. You're always going on about, 'Oh, I wouldn't want to hurt you pounding my prick into your delicate, damaged cunt!' or, 'I don't want you to hurt yourself trying to fuck me with your transfigured lady's prick and end up passing out from exertion!'"

Harry winced. "Okay, that's not what I sound like - that's not how I say-"

"It's how it sounds to me. It's how it's sounded for years!" Daphne hissed. She froze. She shut her eyes and turned away. She wobbled on her feet; Harry reached for her, steadying her. "Sorry, but...look, you think this whole entire ordeal has been hard on you to watch? It's been harder on me to have to actually go through it! The most you ever do for me anymore is licking my cunt out, or sliding in a few fingers. And even when you have slid yourself on up into my holes, you treat me like I'm composed of tissue paper! It's lame, it's boring! I just want to be able to go to town with my husband and not give a damn! I want to feel him fuck me like it's our first time again! But you're always so preoccupied with how it's going to hurt me to go that hard again - pun intended. Well I'm telling you now: stop it. Stop worrying. Let me worry about my own damn body. I'll take whatever consequences there are, and I'll be glad I did. Because to me, it's worth it. You get me, Potter?"

Harry looked away, drawing a breath and letting it go. He nodded. "Yeah. I do. And- I'm sorry. I am...I'm sorry, okay? I just c-can't stop thinking about if-"

"I know. But personally, it'd be the highlight of my life to go out from a good pounding," Daphne laughed. "Wouldn't that be one hell of a tale to tell my mom when I get over to the great afterworld? 'Yeah, mom, long time no see! I just died. Nah, it wasn't a war, or Death Eaters. It was just me wanting to take five years worth of pent up sexual frustration and desires up my battered cunt in a single night! My husband obliged me, and the next thing I knew I woke up here!'"

Harry laughed too. "Y-yeah, that'd be...that would be something, alright."

"So - tonight," Daphne said casually. "I'll take a second dose after dinner, and we'll go to bed and do what we've wanted to do all this time. No worries, no restraint - I don't want to hear a single apology in that bed, unless it's apologizing for the lackluster treatment over the years, got it?"

"Yeah...okay. I'd love to. I- I'm- looking forward to it."

"Me too."

Daisy ran down the stairs at the sounds of familiar voices, a smile on her face.

"Ritchie!" she cried, slamming into her friend and hugging him tightly. She let him go and turned to hug Hazel next! "You're here! You're both here!"

"Of course we're here, we're your friends," Hazel said lightly. "Why wouldn't we be here for your birthday?"

Daisy eyed her. "I just thought maybe you'd choose to hang out with Jasper instead of me."

Hazel frowned. Ritchie gave a soft laugh, shaking his head.

"It's not her birthday today - it's yours," he said, moving to pull her into a second hug. "You don't have to worry about stuff like that, Daisy."

"So you still like me more than her?" Daisy asked.

Ritchie flushed, while Hazel just smiled. "You're our best friend, silly," Hazel told her firmly. "We told you that hasn't changed. You still don't believe us?"

"I think I do now, actually," Daisy replied, hugging her cousin again.

The fireplace roared to life again, and she looked to see Hazel's parents stepping through.

Daddy was moving forward quickly, taking their hands and greeting them.

Daisy glanced at the Hazel's father - Dursley. He looked at her, gave a small smile, and looked away again quickly. She sighed to herself. Maybe she shouldn't have told her daddy she was okay with having Hazel's parents stay over for the party. Daddy had said it was her choice, they'd discussed it together days ago, and he had even kept reminding her she could change her mind and he would let them know...

Too late now. Daisy was stuck with her choice.

She would just be polite - by politely ignoring them.

She was getting really good at doing that for people she didn't like in life.

And anyways, she told herself that at least Mr. Dursley couldn't be even a fraction as bad as her father was. Or her mother, on any average day...

Daisy could tolerate him. He was nothing to her, he couldn't do anything to her. And she knew what daddy would say if she even brought the subject up again: it wasn't up to Daisy to defend him from a childhood bully. That wasn't her decision to make. Her decision was...

She sighed again.

This one.

Daisy enjoyed her birthday party to the fullest.

She enjoyed the decorations, she enjoyed all the attention! She enjoyed having her best friends around again. All to herself!

And she really enjoyed the cake her parents had gotten her!

After eating together at the table, Hazel's parents left, and it was just Daisy and the people she loved around (barring Leila, of course).

"Okay, are you ready sweetie?" Daddy spoke to her with a grin, raising his wand again after having cleared off the table.

"Yes!" Daisy said excitedly. She really was present-starved over the years - last Christmas hardly counted, in her mind!

"Okay." Daddy have his wand a grand swish. There was a banging noise, and then several wrapped up gifts came zipping out of the hall into the kitchen.

Daisy stared as the gifts neatly stacked themselves up on the table. She looked to her parents. "You got me...a lot of presents," she breathed.

"Only these ones-" Daddy leaned over to indicate a long one and a wide, short one. "-are for this birthday."

Daisy gave him a puzzled look.

"For every year that you were gone, Daisy, for every birthday that we didn't have you here with us...we went out and we got you some presents," Daddy explained, smiling softly at her. "We did the same for Christmases - you'll get those our first Christmas together again, in a coupe of months here. Now, most of them are books and toys, but there are also some clothes - we could resize the clothes for you if you want. So, just, you know, when you get the time...sort through whatever you want, keep what you want, or get rid of anything you don't. It's all...up to you. It's all for you."

Daisy looked at her gifts, and she beamed. "Thanks, daddy - and mummy!"

"Happy to not be forgotten," mummy said cheerfully, rolling her eyes. But Daisy saw the pleasure on her face - and the brief look of hurt, too.

"And Leila, too," said daddy, meeting her gaze. "At least for this latest one - your twelfth. When we took her out with us a few weeks ago, she wanted to help get you something too. So she asked us, and she went and got you some things."

Daisy eyed the girl, who was eyeing her with something like...like hopefulness. She looked back at daddy, and nowhere else. She knew what he'd want her to do - to say. How to behave. To be grateful. Thankful. Daisy supposed...it was nice that this girl had gotten her some free presents, at the very least. And she could thank her for that. She forced a smile as she looked at the girl again. "Thank you...Leila. I'm sure I'll like them."

Her...sister...smiled back, a big one, her eyes shining. "You're welcome!" she said brightly.

Daisy let out an internal sigh of great relief.

There. That hadn't been so hard, had it?

Easy and over with. One and done.

And it would surely make daddy really proud of her.

That was all that really mattered to Daisy.

She refocused on her presents, pulling the long, thin one toward herself and tearing into it with great satisfaction.

Daisy really didn't mind that her friends hadn't gotten her any gifts - she had more than enough from her parents - and besides that...she really just loved that they were here with her today.

They played together outside for hours. Then they retired up to Daisy's room. There, they played all sorts of games together - magical board games (some of them from her pile of presents), Exploding Snap, magical chess. And, like her last birthday they had ever even spent together - all the way back to her sixth - Daisy initiated a really loud, really messy pillows and blankets fight in her room with them.

After it was over, Daisy fell onto her bed with her friends, a smile on her face despite the heaving breaths she was taking in.

"I really missed this," she told them earnestly. "I missed us."

"We never left," Hazel said simply.

Daisy's door creaked open.

She sat up in an instant, drawing her wand and aiming it.

A small head of dark, curly hair and green eyes appeared.

Leila!

"Go away," Daisy said, lowering her wand to her side.

The girl pushed her door wide open and just- just walked right in!

"Get out!" Daisy snapped, angry now. "I didn't say you could even touch my door!"

"Hey, I don't really mind her," said Ritchie, reproachful.

"Well, I do!" Daisy said sharply. "Leila: OUT! This is my room, and I don't want you in it."

"I just wanted to know what you were doing," Leila whined. Like the annoying little piece of shite she was. Her eyes found Daisy's open trunk, and she went right over to it and just stuck her hands in it! She picked up a book and set it on the floor, then she grabbed at a folded black gown-

"Don't touch that!" Daisy shrieked, jumping to her feet and starting forward.

Leila jumped, her hands shaking and dropping the gown. "I was just looking!" she said, all the same, and went right back to sifting through Daisy's things! She wasn't even taking the threat of Daisy's wand seriously! She wasn't taking Daisy seriously! She just shoved her hand beyond the dress, pushing old quills and ink jars aside to reveal a glint of metal. Leila dug under a book, and her wrist slid up against that flash of metal.

Daisy's mind froze as, through all her sudden rage and disbelief, she realized just what had happened. What would happen to Leila! In her room, because of her - and daddy would blame her and hate her and- and it would be her fault!

Next moment, Leila was yanking her arm out, falling back onto the floor and screaming, grabbing at her wrist, her hand and her arm that was rapidly turning jet black and furrowed and withering-

Daisy stood staring at her, hearing her friends crying out beside her, screaming too at the sight. Terrified and panicked. Daisy was torn from her mind as she heard shouts from downstairs and thundering footsteps, daddy's voice calling out for Leila - for Daisy - for what had just happened that daddy was going to blame her for! Daisy jumped forward, throwing herself on the floor and jabbing her wand at Leila. She seized her arm and held it firm, squeezing so hard the girl screwed her face up and tried to pull away. Daisy's wand lit up silver, then blue, a glow swirling around Leila's hand as the advanced Healing magic tried to take root and do its work. But the curse was just too powerful, too fast, and Daisy couldn't even hope to...

Daisy tried and tried, she kept casting, everything she knew, until the door opened and daddy burst in.

He ran to Leila and began waving his own wand at her, even as he looked to Daisy and spoke to her. "What happened?! What happened up here, what's w-wrong with Leila?!" he shouted out, as the annoying stupid little girl kept screaming.

Daisy felt anger at her daddy. She felt hurt. Jealous, even. Then she twisted her face and backed away from him and Leila both. She turned and jabbed her finger at her trunk. "I tried, I tried to help her, I did! And I told her not to mess with my stuff, I warned her! I fucking warned her!"

"Daisy, what happened? What do you even have in there that could do this to her?!" Daddy was picking up Leila and moving for the door. Not even looking at Daisy again!

Daisy again felt hurt and furious. She followed after him quickly. "A Christmas gift I gave to my birth mother! The only holiday I ever got her to take part in and-"

"What was it, Daisy?!"

"A knife!" Daisy snarled. "A cursed knife - a powerful Rotting Curse! Daddy-"

"You've been keeping an illegal, Dark Cursed knife in your room and you never once mentioned it? It's been months since we got you back, Daisy, what the hell were you even-" Daddy cut himself off, almost biting his tongue.

"I fucking told her not to touch anything in my trunk!" Daisy exploded, shoving at her daddy, her lips trembling. "If she wasn't so stupid and annoying, she wouldn't have been hurt at all! If she could just keep her dumb fucking little hands to herself-!"

"Daisy, enough!" Daddy shouted. Shouted at her! She could count one hand the number of times he'd ever done that! He hurried out of her bedroom and down the hall. He took the stairs quickly. "I'm taking your sister to the- the Refuge - they have Healers there - and you are going to stay right here. Your mum is going to take that knife, and she's going to give it straight to the Order," he called back at her.

"NO!" Daisy yelled, throwing herself at the stairs to chase him down. "No! It's my mother's, I gave it to her, it was one of the only good things we even did before she died! If anyone tries to take it from me I'll-"

For an instant, daddy looked pitying. Sympathetic, even. Then, he just looked sad. "We'll talk about that later - but you will let your mum take it for now!"

"Daddy, I am never-!"

Daddy rushed into the living room and threw Floo Powder into the fire, and he stepped through it without looking at her.

Daisy stood there, clenching her fists and taking harsh breaths.

She felt a tug, and then her wand was flying out of her hand!

She turned, and found her mum standing there. Mummy had her wand - her own, and now Daisy's too.

"Sorry, hon, but I'm not willing to deal with that from you," Mummy spoke, with a small, strained smile. "It's better for my health."

Daisy glared murder, then spun around on her heel and ran out of the house.

She stalked around the whole perimeter of the house - twice - before sitting down in the back yard, her back to the wall.

Her friends found her out there, after a few minutes.

They didn't talk to her.

Didn't try.

Until they did. And Daisy wished they'd stop.

"She should be OK," Ritchie spoke quietly. "The Healers over there...you know they know how to deal with the worst injuries." He gestured to himself. "That can't be the worst thing they've seen kids come in with from this war."

"I don't care," Daisy muttered.

"You don't even care that she's hurt?" Ritchie asked, hesitant.

"That was powerful, dark magic..." Hazel whispered. "Even if she isn't the worst they've had to deal with, she could lose a hand - or an arm."

"So? She'd deserve it!" Daisy said coldly, curling her lip. Her friends stared at her. "I told her not to touch my stuff, I told her to get out of my room - it's her fault for being disrespectful and stupid!" she went on furiously, as her friends looked at her in disbelief - and even anger - still. Anger at her! At her! For what?!

"But...I mean...you've really had that sitting in your trunk the whole time and you never told anyone?" Ritchie spoke again.

"It's nobody's business," Daisy snapped. "It was my mother's, and now it's mine. Why should I have to tell anybody I have it?"

"Your dad did say it was illegal..." Hazel murmured.

Daisy scoffed. "So? Why should I care about what's illegal or not? My whole family is illegal! Existing is illegal - for me, and for both of you! Especially you!" She jabbed her finger at Ritchie; that yellow vampiric eye flinched. She felt a touch of shame, but pressed on. "The house is illegal, the magic I do is illegal, being with the Order is illegal! You want to talk about an illegal knife being a problem?!"

"You're not even a little bit sorry?" Ritchie asked.

"No!" Daisy said harshly. Forcefully. Ringing even in her own ears. "Why should I be? I told you - I told her! I warned her several times over! She still got into my stuff! She can't blame anybody but herself for this! I didn't do anything to her!" she screamed out. She whirled away and seized her hair, tearing at it, throwing herself this way and that! She snarled and growled, screaming at the world incoherently! Her friends tried to stop her, and Daisy shoved them away and slammed herself against the side of the house. Again and again, and again!

Daddy's going to hate me, he's going to hate me forever now, he's going to throw me out, he's going to not care again, he's going to abandon me for her again - he cares more about her than me! He hates me, he hates me, I- I hate me! I hate me, I hate myself so fucking much! I HATE MYSELF!

Daisy sat on her bed, her knees drawn in and her arms around them.

It had been an hour since daddy had left with Leila.

Her friends had tried talking to her some more, until mummy had suggested they get back to the Refuge for the night.

Now the house was empty, practically.

And silent.

Mummy knocked on her door and asked her if she could come in and sit with her, but Daisy refused her.

About ten minutes after that, Daisy heard the Floo again downstairs.

Voices and footsteps.

Another knock at her door.

Daddy was back.

He knocked again. He called in to her again.

She didn't answer. She didn't move.

"Daisy, I'm coming in," he said, sounding really worried.

Why would he be?

For her?

Why?

He opened the door and stepped through. His eyes found her immediately, and he looked relieved.

He came over to her and sat down on her bed with her.

Daisy stared at the wall.

"Leila's going to be okay," daddy spoke quietly. "The Healers were able to get right to work on her, knowing what she'd been cursed with exactly - and because of you, Daisy. Those Healing spells you cast on her arm, it was enough to slow the curse. Enough for the Healers to..." He paused, drawing a quavering breath. "She's going to live, but...it won't be the same as before..."

Daisy looked at him. "Why?" she said tonelessly. "Is her arm all messed up forever now?"

"T-they- the Healers- they had to...remove her arm, Daisy. A quick, precise procedure. A powerful severing spell, and some strong salves, and she had to drink some potions, and n-now s-she's... They had to put her to sleep; it'll be a few hours like that, to let the potions and the salves take effect on her, to ease the pain and...give her an easier time when she wakes up again. I sent your mum over to be with her until I can get back to her. With you."

That made sense to Daisy. He wanted her to see her handiwork. Her mistake. The hurt and pain she'd caused the girl. His new daughter. His new girl. His precious little Leila. Rub that one in Daisy's face before he cast her out. Torment her a little. Make her wallow in her guilt and shame even more. The feelings she wished she didn't feel for this girl at all!

"So you hate me now. You hate me and you love her. You love her more than me, like you have all these years since I got taken away. I'll go see her with you if you really want to make me suffer that way - then you can abandon me again afterward!" Daisy snarled out. She liked that, anger, hurting others - not having to hurt, herself. Not having to focus on it inside her.

Daddy looked disturbed. Sickened. Horrified, even. "Daisy, what are you- what are you saying? What're you thinking? I don't hate you, I don't- love her more than you, I'm not-"

"I hurt your little Leila, and you ignored me and yelled at me! Obviously you can't stand having me around anymore after what I did to her! Your new little girl!" Daisy pressed on ruthlessly, cruelly.

"What? No, no, Daisy - sweetie - that is not true! I'm sorry I shouted at you, but- but I do know it was an accident, and your mum knows it was an accident, and even Leila will understand that it was an accident! I know that you didn't do anything on purpose, and even if you did, I would never just- just kick you out for it!"

"Bullshit!" Daisy snarled. "YOU HATE ME, YOU WISH IT WAS ME THAT GOT MY ARM RUINED AND SLICED OFF! YOU WISH YOU'D NEVER BROUGHT ME BACK HOME! BECAUSE I'M RUINING YOUR HAPPY NEW FAMILY! I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOO MUCH TROUBLE, TOO HARD TO LOVE! AND NOW YOU REALLY DON'T ANYMORE! YOU CAN'T, NOT AFTER THIS! SO STOP LYING TO ME AND STOP FUCKING TORTURING ME BY JUST DELAYING IT! TELL ME THE TRUTH: YOU WANT ME GONE FOR GOOD NOW! YOU CAN'T STAND THE SIGHT OF ME! I'M A FUCKED UP LITTLE SHIT, I'M A MONSTER, I'M A DISGUSTING EVIL-!"

"Sweetie, please, just take a breath - just try to calm down - I swear to you I don't hate you, I'm not upset, I'm not blaming you, and I'm not going to throw you out of the house! You're good, and I love you, and you're my daughter. And this doesn't change that! Nothing's going to change that!"

Daisy scoffed, tossing her head and fixing a sneer on her face. "Really? Well, how about this then: I've tortured people, daddy. And I've killed them. And I loved it! How's that?"

Daddy looked at her. Looked at her- with sadness and pity and-

What?

"I figured," he said softly. "I'd thought that, given who you were with, that you would've been made to do...terrible things. But I don't blame you for any of that either. You're a kid, Daisy, and you're my kid, and you were forced to, and-"

"No, no. I did it all on my own. I made up excuses just to get a curse off at people!" Daisy went on furiously. "I wanted to do it, I liked doing it! It felt good to me. That's my good, daddy!"

"You're not going to make me kick you out. There's nothing you could do to make me want to do that to you. Not my little girl. So just- stop trying, sweetie. Stop trying...it's never going to happen, I promise you."

"Fine! If you won't do it, I'll leave on my own!" Daisy exclaimed, jumping off her bed. "I'll do it for you, if you're too weak to go through with it when you need to! Face it, daddy: you don't need me around anymore. Not with mummy, or with Leila. I'm just a fucked up girl, and I brought it all back into your lives again. I'm dangerous, and the smart thing to do is to get rid of me so nothing like this happens again."

"Daisy! No, sweetie - listen to me! Listen! Yeah, you made a big mistake, you were- negligent, and really irresponsible, and I'm- I'm disappointed in you, yeah, but I don't hate you, I love you, and you don't have to go because of it. Nobody wants that! We're a family, and families don't kick each other out because of accidents. Parents don't kick their kids out because of mistakes!"

"LIAR! YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO FORGIVE ME FOR THIS!" Daisy screamed at him.

"I ALREADY HAVE, DAISY!" he raised his voice at her right back, torn between desperation and...exasperation, almost. "There's nothing you could ever do...that I couldn't forgive you for. As long as it was- a mistake, or an accident, or- you were forced into it...I'll always forgive you, I promise."

"Then maybe you're the insane, fucked up one here, daddy," Daisy snorted. "Because I can't even understand how you can still say stuff like that and look like you believe it. Not about me."

Daddy's lips quirked, just a little tug. "I know...I know you can't, sweetie. But you just- have to trust me on this, please. Just...calm down, just sit down, just...stay, sweetheart. Please. I promise you...I promise..."

"How do you know I didn't do it on purpose? How do you know I didn't want it to happen? How do you know I didn't like it?" Daisy rattled off stubbornly.

"Because I know you're a good girl. Maybe you're troubled, traumatized, and hurting, yeah, but evil? No. I'd never believe that. I know it's not true."

"You don't know me. Not now."

"Sometimes it feels like that, yeah," daddy said quietly, pained. "But I've been trying to get to know the new you. To get- used to you. Like you've been trying so hard to get used to the new us. And every other time...I can look at you, and I can see my little girl right there in front of me again. I can see how smart you are, I can see how strong you are, I can see how decent and loving you are. How talented. How pretty. All those things that you've always been, that you still are, even if you've gone through...the most horrible things imaginable, for years. Things I couldn't imagine, things that you- you never have to ever tell me. But even after all of it...I look at you and I see you, Daisy. How amazing you are, how wonderful, how sweet and- and...and above all, I can see how sorry you are about this-"

"A good girl, a sweet girl, a decent or loving girl wouldn't have gotten her little sister's arm amputated," Daisy said harshly.

Daddy just shook his head. "Accidents happen, Daisy. Mistakes happen. And you're a kid too. It doesn't mean anything about you...that this happened. It just means...that it happened. And I know you feel terrible about this, I know you feel sorry for her-"

"No! A good girl would care - and I don't," Daisy said flatly. "I don't care that she's hurt, I don't care if she dies, I don't care! I legitimately won't ever lose any sleep over this, daddy. I'm fucked up inside. Right here in my head. And in my soul, here." She put her hand on her non-existent chest. "It was her own fault, and I don't feel sad or anything for her!"

"I don't believe that, either. I still know you, sweetie, and I know that you feel guilty, and ashamed over this. That's why you're so upset, why you're so afraid of me kicking you out over this! Which I am never going to do!"

"No, I'm not ashamed - I don't feel guilty. I was just scared of how you'd react about it. And I was right. I didn't care about her, I cared about you!"

"Then you at least still care, Daisy. You can care. And if you give it time...I'm sure you'll start to care for her too."

"No, I won't."

"Give it time."

"It doesn't even matter. You're kicking me out of the house for this anyways."

"No, I'm not!" daddy said firmly. "Stop that, Daisy. I am not going to do that - period. End of story!"

"Don't talk to me about periods, daddy! You don't know shite!"

Daddy gave a restrained sigh, his eyes almost moving upward. "Sweetie...not relevant right now. And not true. But that's- besides the point. Look, can we just...can you just believe me and stop this whole argument? Okay? Please? Have I ever lied to you? Ever?"

Daisy stood frozen, grinding her teeth. "No," she gritted, reluctant in the extreme.

"Then you know I'm not lying now. Nothing I've said is a lie here. So just...trust me, believe me, sweetie...and just calm down. Trust me when I say that everything is fine."

"Fine. But when you change your mind, I'll have my stuff packed."

"I'm not going to, Daisy."

"Just in case."

"Daisy..."

Daisy glared at him for a long minute.

"I believe you, fine. Now get out of my room, daddy," she said finally - coldly.

"Daisy-"

Daisy glared harder, yanking her top off and hurling it at the wall. She shoved her shorts and knickers off and kicked them away. She crossed her arms. "I don't see you leaving, daddy."

"Oh, would you just- Daisy, c'mon, don't-" Daddy threw up his hands and whirled away, working his jaw. "Alright, alright - I'm leaving! But we're going to talk again later, sweetie, and- and you're going to be clothed for it! Okay?"

"I'll think about it! I like being naked in my own room, actually!"

"I know you do!" Daddy shot back as he strode from her bedroom, sarcasm flooding his voice. And exasperation. "Of course you can do whatever you want in your own room! You've always known that! But- gah- at least knickers and trousers around other people, please!"

"NO! I'll still be starkers when you want to talk again!" Daisy yelled after him, stalking forward to slam her door shut. "I'll be right here, starkers, when you decide to get rid of my evil trouble-making ass, daddy! Oh, and you can take all my presents back too!"

"Would you just- I'm not going to take your presents! And this is ridiculous of you, sweetie! Neither you nor your bum are evil, okay?! You're incredibly strong, smart, and adorable! And- frustrating as hell sometimes! But I know why you're doing it this time, so- so yeah, stay there and keep being all adorably frustrating!" Daddy's voice faded as he stomped off down the stairs.

Fucking liar, Daisy thought furiously, throwing herself on her bed flat on her face.

Daddy couldn't possibly still think her bum was adorable. Daisy hadn't been adorable in years!

She was evil and sick now.

Ruined and broken.

And it was never going to change, no matter how hard daddy wanted to believe otherwise.

Because she didn't feel guilty or ashamed over this!

She didn't!