Chapter 4; Things move on
Harry and Cho started exchanging notes, a lot. Hermione was always writing letters to Bulgaria, though she would never talk about it. Daisy kept disappearing and then would be found an hour later making out with Malfoy. Ron just seemed to be in a permanent bad mood.
That Tuesday night they were all studying for their DADA test on gypsies.
"'Gypsies served as a link between the Muggle and Magical worlds. They brought many of the magical myths to those people as well was muggle myths to the wizarding...'" Hermione read from some obscure book.
"Why don't people talk more about these people?" asked Harry.
"Well, they really don't exist anymore," said Hermione.
"Well not like they use to," said Daisy. "Most of the caravan communities began to brake up fifty years ago."
"Daze, there's something we've kind of wanted to ask you," said Harry tentatively. "Are you a gypsy?"
Daisy looked at them. Then she said in a quite voice, "My mother was a gypsy." That was all she said. Then she got up and walked away.
"What's the matter with her?" Hermione asked.
"Don't you two know anything? Have you been listening in class?" Ron said incredulously. "Gypsies are poisoning, baby stealing thieves and liars! I'd keep it quite if I was one."
After that Daisy barely looked at the others. Ron tried to explain it to them over and over but they didn't get it. "She's ashamed. I wonder if those glasses she wears are to hide something in her eyes that gives her away."
"That's ridiculous! 'Something in her eyes that gives her away!' Are you nuts?" Hermione snapped. "She's just Daisy!"
"No she a gypsy! Haven't you ever noticed we're her only friends? She almost never talks to anyone else, except Malfoy, and how fast to you think he would drop her if he knew?" Ron answered.
"Still, it's kind of funny, though." Harry said. "I mean she doesn't talk to anyone else. Why us? Why was being our friend so easy for her? And why is it so hard now?"
When the owl post came that Friday morning there seemed to be more letters than usually.
Harry got a short letter from Sirius.
Harry, I'm alright. Still tracking Voldermort. Many others helping now. We have a whole network up and running. Making some progress. Be Safe, Sirius.
Ron got a letter from his parents.
Dear Ron, I want you keep an extra eye on your sister. And watch you self too. You and your friends need to be careful, especially now. Love, Your Mum and Dad
Hermione opened her 'Daily Prophet' and found the cause of the extra concern. "Oh my! Listen to this:
Ministry Cover Up
The Daily Profit has learned that the Ministry of Magic has had information kept from public knowledge. They have hidden events over the last year and a half. Murders, disappearances, and secret movements are just a few. And all of this is related to the Dark Lord and his return to power. The Daily Profit has also learned that the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, has begun and an information network trying to keep both the Ministry and witches and wizards at risk informed. We will not print any of the names of those in the network to protect their identities, but we have learned that recent disappearances include, Chris Masterson, William Flanagan, and perhaps most frightening of all, Madam Rosemerita Snape of the Three Broomsticks has disappeared from Hogsmeade.
"Oh no," Hermione said.
She looked down to Daisy, who was sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table with her brother. Both looked as if they heard the news.
Ron read the article, going a little pale himself. "Do you think Madame Rosmertia is related to Professor Snape?"
Hermione mearly shrugged.
Daisy was on edge all day. At lunch Hermione went over to where Daisy was sitting alone.
"Daisy? Are you alright?" she asked
"I broke up with Draco." Daisy said flatly.
Hermione sat down. "Oh, well are you alright?"
"He just doesn't understand. I spent most of the summer at the Three Broomsticks. Aunt Ro is my Godmother. If something happens to my parents, I was suppose to go to her." Daisy looked like she was about to cry, but never did. "I just don't know what to do. Allen likes to think of himself of my protector. How do I help him handle this? And I . I just, they won't let me help! I need to help!"
"Come on." Hermione said. "We've better get to class." ************
For the first time in a week Daisy sat with her friends. Everyone was afraid to talk to her. Then about halfway through class Daisy screamed, loudly. It was an ear-piercing shriek that left the class covering their ears as Daisy fell to the floor. She was taken to the hospital wing at once.
Hermione, Ron and Harry stayed with her. She was lying in the bed speaking in a foreign tongue as Professor Blanc sat taking down every word. Her glasses were off and here eyes were open. They had almost no color. They were slightly gray or silver, but you had to really look to see. She was still screaming at parts. She seemed to be in complete terror.
"Maybe you three had better go," said the professor still taking note at the bedside. "She could be like this for hours, and it won't be pleasant when she comes to."
"We are not leaving." Ron said firmly.
"Maybe you'd better Mister Weasley," said a voice from behind. It was the headmaster. "She won't really need you for about three hours."
"How do you know?" asked Harry. "Has she done this before?" Harry suddenly remembered Daisy's mother on platform nine and three quarters.
"Yes, Harry, she has. Why don't you all go for while? She will need you at your best. Three hours." Dumbledore said as he led them out.
Ron and Hermione went to the common room while Harry went to find Cho. She was waiting for him in the library.
"Harry!" she said when she saw him. But she could tell some thing was wrong.
"Daisy's ill. It's bad I think. Dumbledore told us to leave for a while. I'm going back later," he said as he hugged her. "I'm so worried about her, Cho. She keeps everything inside. We have no clue what's going on with her."
Cho didn't know what to say, but she knew Harry didn't need to lose anyone else. "What can I do?" she asked.
He kissed her hair. "Just don't let go of me." **** Daisy watched as the visions rushed pass. ~~ She Harry and Ron were sitting together laughing. ~~~ Harry facing Voldermort. Ron lying on the floor she and Hermione trying franticly to help from fifty yards off. ~~~~ She, Harry, Ron, And Hermione were sitting together in a yard with lots of people around. Daisy had an infant asleep on her shoulder. Harry was holding a little girl about a year old with curly black pigtails and bright green eyes. Ron and Hermione were both holding babies of about the same age. ~~~~~ There were more. There was a lot more. Professor Blanc wrote it all down in the old tongue as he sat next to her and listened. ~~~~~~ Three hours later the three friends returned. Hermione was white as a sheet. "Do you think she'll be alright?" she asked as they enter the hospital wing.
Professor Blanc was still sitting next to Daisy's bed with notepaper. Allen was sitting next to him. Daisy was lying silently on the bed.
"Well, at least she seems better." Ron said with mixed worry and relief.
Just as they sat down Daisy shot up and yell "Quidditch!"
Everyone was dumbstruck.
"Daze, your irrational. Lie back." said Blanc
"No, did I miss Quidditch practice? And where are my glasses? I can't see."
Harry handed her glasses to her from the bedside table. He looked at her eyes they were a darker color now silver with shots of brown and gold.
"Daisy you've been in the hospital all afternoon. No one expects you to play Quidditch." Ron said.
"So I did miss?" she replied.
"No," said Harry. "It's not for another hour."
Just them Madam Pomfery came over and handed her a goblet. "Drink all this. If your head still hurts I have more."
"I'm going to practice." Daisy said as they left the hospital wing.
"No your not," Allen said.
"Listen little man, I am older than you. I understand a lot more about what's going on. You can come watch if you're determined, but I need to practice. I need to just get out there and fly," Daisy shot back at her little brother.
Harry couldn't help but understand. He knew the feeling.
"Harry, your the captain. Don't let her. Guy, back me up on this." Allen tried again.
"Daisy is right Len. She knows her limits and what she needs. Your sure you can practice Daze?" the young teacher asked.
She nodded.
"Then I don't see why she shouldn't," He said.
Allen began to storm off. "Well you can bet I'll be in the seats watching!" he said as he left.
Daisy smiled as she walked a head with Ron and Harry, but Blanc stopped Hermione. "Could you go too? Just to keep an extra eye out?"
Hermione could see how concerned he was.
"What's wrong with her?" she asked.
"Nothing. She is perfectly fine now, except for maybe a headache. Just as a prefect, go watch out for your house-mate." And before Hermione could try getting more out of him, he walked away.
****************************
Harry was so tired, but he couldn't sleep. It had been a hard practice. Daisy had driven everybody hard. Fred said she was worse than Wood ever was even through she wasn't captain. She even played a few other positions during practice. Harry though it was great. She led the way and came up with some great stuff, but she would always defer to him.
Harry finally decided he wasn't going to be sleeping any time soon. He got up put on his robe and took 'Flying with the Cannons' downstairs to read. When he got to the common room he found he wasn't the only one up.
"Hi!" Daisy said as she looked up from the book on her lap. "Can't sleep?"
"No, I'm totally wiped but I just can't sleep. Have you ever been to tired to sleep before?" he asked jokingly.
Daisy looked at him and in all seriousness said "All the time."
There was something different about her. It took Harry a second to realize she wasn't wearing her glasses. Her eyes were now brown shot through with gold flexes.
"Can you see ok?" he asked.
"Yeah. My eyes are back to normal now."
"So you don't need glasses all the time?"
"Only after the visions. I wear glasses all the time because they can come unexpectedly. The potion I took this afternoon will stop me from having any sudden attacks."
"Is that what was wrong with you? You were having a vision?"
"No I was having lots of visions. Constant, incessant, intense visions. That's why I passed out. It was to much for me."
"So they're not always that bad?"
"No," she sighed. "Just when I'm under stress. With everything that happened today, it was just so much. More that I could handle apparently. Quidditch helps. I never have attacks during Quidditch. It's scary, you know. I hate them. It's cost me friends. No one wants to be friends with the psycho who rants about death and destruction." ****
Harry told Ron and Hermione about his conversation with Daisy.
"She said she never had any of her friends there when she woke up before. She said she had never had real friends before." He told them.
"No wonder she didn't talk to us after we asked her about being a gypsy." Ron said. "She didn't think we wanted to talk to her."
"You're the one who said she should hide the fact that she is a gypsy. And you're the one who was so moody afterwards." Hermione reminded him.
"That was more about her being Malfoy's girlfriend than being a gypsy," he replied.
"She's more than that," Harry said. "She's a Seer, a true Seer with a gypsy's gift. No wonder she is so good in Divinations." Harry looked at his watch. "I have to go. I'm meeting Cho." ***
Daisy wasn't around most of the weekend but when ever they were together Hermione, Harry, and Ron tried to make her smile. Ron was the luckiest. He actually got her to laugh a few times. However when they weren't looking she would slip into a daze.
"Hey," Ron said pulling her out of her trance one time. "Now we know where your nickname came from."
Daisy wasn't the only one felling the stress. The entire school was on edge. When the owls came in the morning everyone was wondering if there would more bad news. The teachers decided something had to be done. On Wednesday morning Dumbledore made an announcement.
"Students, as you know tomorrow night is Halloween, we will have our feast as usual. However, it will be an hour and a half earlier than normal as all students in the fourth year and above are invited to attend a dance. And as for the younger students don't worry! You will be entertained in your common rooms by the head of your houses. Because we will all be staying up extra late, classes will be cancelled for Friday!"
The student body was in an uproar. The older students were trying to find partners, the younger students were speculating what could be in store for them. And an extra day off was always welcome.
"We know who Harry's going with. Are you going to ask anyone Hermione? Would Viktor mind if you went with someone?" Daisy asked lightly on their way to class.
"No," she answered blushing. "He wouldn't, but I still won't go with anyone. I'll just go and watch. And I'm sure one of my friends will take pity and dance with me once or twice." Hermione nudged Harry who was standing next to her. "So, who will you ask Ron?"
He mumbled something only Harry heard. "I know who I want ask but..."
"What?" Daisy asked.
The boys ignored her.
When they were in class Harry leaned over and said quietly, "Everyone knows she free now. You'd better asked her quick."
"I'll talk to her after class." Ron said as he looked around at the other boys in his class. Was it his imagination or were they all looking at Daisy?
"Daisy?" Ron asked as she gathered her books. "Could we talk?"
"Sure, Ron. What's up?" she smiled.
Why did she have to smile like that? "Umm, ah, wouldyougowithmetomorrow?" he said it fast so he wouldn't chicken out.
Daisy looked at him at smiled wider. Then she laughed. "Oh thank goodness you asked me. I wasn't sure how to ask you. It's been driving me nuts all morning!"
"So, so you'll go with me?" he asked.
"Yeah. Yes, I would love to go to the dance with you, Ron." *************
"Oh! I'm so nervous, Hermione." Daisy said as she Hermione and Harry walked you of the library later that afternoon. "I've never gone out with some one I actually liked!"
"What, you weren't madly in love with Malfoy," Harry teased.
"Oh, grow up Harry. Just because I snogged him doesn't mean I liked him. First rule in a gypsy's life, never get attached."
"That's so sad, Daisy!" Hermione said in shock.
"I know. My mom tried to raise us differently, but it's hard to just drop two thousand years of genetic conditioning. Draco was just fun. When he wasn't fun I dropped him. I can't do that with Ron. I don't think I'd want to."
"I'm glad. Ron deserves that, so do you," said Hermione thoughtfully.
"Yeah, you both do." Harry agreed.
During the Halloween feast everyone was talking excitedly about the usual giant pumpkins and live bats and their plans for later.
"I'll meet Cho in the entrance hall, then we'll find you guys inside." Harry said to the others.
"Cho won't want to hang with her friends?" Daisy asked.
"We'll see them too. But I just figured..."
"We'll see you when we see you, Harry. Don't worry about it." Ron said. He looked at Daisy and was hoping Harry and Cho wouldn't be around too much.
************************** Daisy was so nervous her hands were shaking. Hermione actually came over to her and sat her down on the edge of the bed.
"It's just Ron, Daisy. We're just a bunch of friends going to a dance. Relax!"
Hermione tried to comfort her friend but wasn't working. Daisy started to shake even more.
"No! It's not just Ron. It's a boy I really like. He is my date. I don't date. I don't get attached. This was a bad idea. I should have just said no, said we should just go as friends, anything other than 'Yes, I'll be your date.' I could ruin our friendship. I could mess everything up."
"Daisy you won't mess anything up because your friends. He'll understand. Come on over the past two months you guys have gotten so close. I see the way he makes you laugh. I see the way you nudge him in just the right way. Just relax. You'll be fine."
Even though she had stopped shaking Daisy was still so nervous. In her quite voice she said, "You don't understand, Hermione. You have only known me for two month. I am dysfunctional. I've been out with guys before. A lot of guys! Random, meaningless guys. But never a friend. Not some one I care about."
"Your nearly fifteen!" Hermione said trying not to laugh. "You're allowed to date random guys. But that doesn't mean you can't care about someone."
Hermione didn't know all Daisy had been through. Daisy didn't want to tell her. She just said, "You know I've never gotten attached to anyone. I really never have had friends. I don't know how this works."
For the first time Hermione realized just how alone Daisy had always been. She would have to remember to tell Harry it wasn't easy for Daisy to be their friend. Daisy had to work at it very hard. You could see it in her eyes, even through the sunglasses. Daisy had always been alone.
"Come on!" Hermione said gently. "You have date you have to finish getting ready for!" **************************
Harry and Ron were waiting in the common room for the girls. The younger kids still hadn't come up yet so it was mostly older students waiting for their dates.
Fred and George were busy threatening Ginny's date, who was very clean-cut boy from her class. When they had the poor kid petrified, they came over to Harry and Ron.
"He won't be trying anything tonight." George said.
"Come on guys easy up. First dates are hard enough." Ron said nervously looking at the girl's stairs.
"Oh and who are you taking, little brother?" Fred asked.
His 'little' brother, who was several inches taller then him now, answered, "Daisy."
"Nicely done," George said and Fred nodded.
Just then Daisy and Hermione came down stairs.
"Very nicely done!" echoed Fred looking at the girls.
Hermione looked very pretty. She was wearing simple black dress robes, her witches hat, and light make up. But she really hadn't done anything special as she was too busy helping Daisy.
Daisy looked stunning. Her long brown hair was loosely braided, ended at her lower back with a gold hairpiece, and seemed to be crimped all the way up to her scalp. Her hair seemed have gold highlights in it. Her robes were red and gold. The main piece was a bright red and seemed to shimmer with gold highlights. It was a simple A- cut dress that held tightly to her body and moved seamlessly into a full skirt. The long sleeves hugged her arms until just before her wrist, where the flared into bell shapes. Over top was a gold robe, opened down the center, with no sleeves that elegantly rapped around her shoulders and dropped to the floor.
She also looked extremely different for two reasons. She wasn't wearing her usual pound of silver jewelry. Just a pair of gold dangly earrings and a silver chain that was barely visible because it was tucked under her dress. The other reason was she wasn't wearing her glasses. For the first time Ron was able to see her eyes. She had metallic gold shadow on that just enhanced her brown eyes, which also seemed to have gold in them.
Harry had to hit Ron in the arm to get him to speak.
"We match." He finally said.
His new dress robes were white with gold trim. They went very well with his dark blue eyes and bright hair, which was combed neatly back.
"We do." she answered back and smiled. She finally began to relax.
"You look beautiful!" Ron said staring openly.
She blushed. "You look very handsome too."
"The perfect Gryffindors!" Fred exclaimed. This startled Ron as he had forgotten anyone else was there.
"Daisy you're easily the prettiest girl in school, and much to good for my brother!" George said.
"You better not let your date hear you." Harry laughed. "Come on we'd better get down stairs. See you." he said waving good-bye to the Weasley twins.
The four friends were walking down the stairs when Daisy, who was walking between Harry and Ron, suddenly slipped and fell down steps on her backside until she landed on the at the bottom of the steps.
No one else was around, but Harry Ron and Hermione still thought she'd be so embarrassed.
"Are you alright?" Hermione said running down the last few steps.
Daisy looked up at her friends and began to laugh hysterically.
"Do you hit your head?" Harry asked with genuine concern.
"N, n, no..." she said between giggles. "I'm fine. I was just thinking how wonderfully elegant and grown-up I felt. And then I fall on my bum!" At this point she was laughing so hard she couldn't talk. Finally she raised her hands towards Ron. "Help me up please?"
"That was great!" Ron said with a smile.
"Just wait until we dance. Your wearing good hard shoes right?" Daisy smiled.
It was going to be a fun night. Now she didn't have to worry about making an idiot of herself.
"Come on!" she said pulling Ron by the hand. "I want to hurry!"
In the Entrance Hall just outside the Great Hall were almost all the Hogwarts students. Most of the younger kids were waiting to see their older classmates. The older kids were looking for friends and dates. Harry found Cho and a few of her friends.
"This is Emma and Chris, Kiki and Kyle, and Sara, Mike, Sue, Sam, who came alone." Cho said introducing her friends.
"Hi!" Harry answered. "These are my friends, Hermione, and where did Ron and Daisy go?"
As it turns out Ron had been accosted by Daisy's over protective little brother.
"Now, you better be good to my sister! I know a lot of really bad curses!" Allen was saying.
"Len, back off." Daisy said in an angry voice.
"And I know where you sleep!" continued the first year who barely came to Ron's chest.
"Allen!" called a voice from behind him. It was professor Blanc. "Don't worry I'll be chaperoning. Leave your sister alone. You look lovely by the way, Daze."
"As long as you promise to watch him," Allen said icily.
"You brother is a scary kid." Ron whispered to Daisy with a smile as the pair turned.
Allen glared as Professor Blanc led him away.
Daisy couldn't remember having more fun. There were all kinds of treats, and there was a maze set up in one of the dungeons, and there was a hay ride out on grounds, plus the dancing, and laughing with Hermione, Harry... and Ron. And dancing with Ron, and talking to Ron, and kissing Ron...
The only bad thing was towards the end of the night she and Ron were sitting alone in corner when Malfoy came over.
"More hand me downs, Weasley?" he asked smugly.
Ron stood ready to attack Malfoy, but Daisy grabbed his wrist. "I though those were new robes?" she asked with a smile.
Seeing her smile clamed Ron instantly. "Yes, they are actually. Malfoy just must no be up on the latest style."
"I meant his date!" Malfoy sneered.
"But I left you, Draco. So doesn't that mean Pansy's here with leftovers?" Daisy smiled pleasantly. And Malfoy stormed off.
"You can't let him get to Ron. He's really not worth a second though." and with that Daisy kissed gently on the mouth, which started a chain reaction of more kissing.
Hermione and Harry had been on their way over to help when they saw Malfoy. They had gotten just close enough to realize their help wasn't needed.
"She really is amazing!" Hermione said. "I mean she can say just the right thing to anyone and get the reaction she wants."
***************************
Harry and Cho started exchanging notes, a lot. Hermione was always writing letters to Bulgaria, though she would never talk about it. Daisy kept disappearing and then would be found an hour later making out with Malfoy. Ron just seemed to be in a permanent bad mood.
That Tuesday night they were all studying for their DADA test on gypsies.
"'Gypsies served as a link between the Muggle and Magical worlds. They brought many of the magical myths to those people as well was muggle myths to the wizarding...'" Hermione read from some obscure book.
"Why don't people talk more about these people?" asked Harry.
"Well, they really don't exist anymore," said Hermione.
"Well not like they use to," said Daisy. "Most of the caravan communities began to brake up fifty years ago."
"Daze, there's something we've kind of wanted to ask you," said Harry tentatively. "Are you a gypsy?"
Daisy looked at them. Then she said in a quite voice, "My mother was a gypsy." That was all she said. Then she got up and walked away.
"What's the matter with her?" Hermione asked.
"Don't you two know anything? Have you been listening in class?" Ron said incredulously. "Gypsies are poisoning, baby stealing thieves and liars! I'd keep it quite if I was one."
After that Daisy barely looked at the others. Ron tried to explain it to them over and over but they didn't get it. "She's ashamed. I wonder if those glasses she wears are to hide something in her eyes that gives her away."
"That's ridiculous! 'Something in her eyes that gives her away!' Are you nuts?" Hermione snapped. "She's just Daisy!"
"No she a gypsy! Haven't you ever noticed we're her only friends? She almost never talks to anyone else, except Malfoy, and how fast to you think he would drop her if he knew?" Ron answered.
"Still, it's kind of funny, though." Harry said. "I mean she doesn't talk to anyone else. Why us? Why was being our friend so easy for her? And why is it so hard now?"
When the owl post came that Friday morning there seemed to be more letters than usually.
Harry got a short letter from Sirius.
Harry, I'm alright. Still tracking Voldermort. Many others helping now. We have a whole network up and running. Making some progress. Be Safe, Sirius.
Ron got a letter from his parents.
Dear Ron, I want you keep an extra eye on your sister. And watch you self too. You and your friends need to be careful, especially now. Love, Your Mum and Dad
Hermione opened her 'Daily Prophet' and found the cause of the extra concern. "Oh my! Listen to this:
Ministry Cover Up
The Daily Profit has learned that the Ministry of Magic has had information kept from public knowledge. They have hidden events over the last year and a half. Murders, disappearances, and secret movements are just a few. And all of this is related to the Dark Lord and his return to power. The Daily Profit has also learned that the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, has begun and an information network trying to keep both the Ministry and witches and wizards at risk informed. We will not print any of the names of those in the network to protect their identities, but we have learned that recent disappearances include, Chris Masterson, William Flanagan, and perhaps most frightening of all, Madam Rosemerita Snape of the Three Broomsticks has disappeared from Hogsmeade.
"Oh no," Hermione said.
She looked down to Daisy, who was sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table with her brother. Both looked as if they heard the news.
Ron read the article, going a little pale himself. "Do you think Madame Rosmertia is related to Professor Snape?"
Hermione mearly shrugged.
Daisy was on edge all day. At lunch Hermione went over to where Daisy was sitting alone.
"Daisy? Are you alright?" she asked
"I broke up with Draco." Daisy said flatly.
Hermione sat down. "Oh, well are you alright?"
"He just doesn't understand. I spent most of the summer at the Three Broomsticks. Aunt Ro is my Godmother. If something happens to my parents, I was suppose to go to her." Daisy looked like she was about to cry, but never did. "I just don't know what to do. Allen likes to think of himself of my protector. How do I help him handle this? And I . I just, they won't let me help! I need to help!"
"Come on." Hermione said. "We've better get to class." ************
For the first time in a week Daisy sat with her friends. Everyone was afraid to talk to her. Then about halfway through class Daisy screamed, loudly. It was an ear-piercing shriek that left the class covering their ears as Daisy fell to the floor. She was taken to the hospital wing at once.
Hermione, Ron and Harry stayed with her. She was lying in the bed speaking in a foreign tongue as Professor Blanc sat taking down every word. Her glasses were off and here eyes were open. They had almost no color. They were slightly gray or silver, but you had to really look to see. She was still screaming at parts. She seemed to be in complete terror.
"Maybe you three had better go," said the professor still taking note at the bedside. "She could be like this for hours, and it won't be pleasant when she comes to."
"We are not leaving." Ron said firmly.
"Maybe you'd better Mister Weasley," said a voice from behind. It was the headmaster. "She won't really need you for about three hours."
"How do you know?" asked Harry. "Has she done this before?" Harry suddenly remembered Daisy's mother on platform nine and three quarters.
"Yes, Harry, she has. Why don't you all go for while? She will need you at your best. Three hours." Dumbledore said as he led them out.
Ron and Hermione went to the common room while Harry went to find Cho. She was waiting for him in the library.
"Harry!" she said when she saw him. But she could tell some thing was wrong.
"Daisy's ill. It's bad I think. Dumbledore told us to leave for a while. I'm going back later," he said as he hugged her. "I'm so worried about her, Cho. She keeps everything inside. We have no clue what's going on with her."
Cho didn't know what to say, but she knew Harry didn't need to lose anyone else. "What can I do?" she asked.
He kissed her hair. "Just don't let go of me." **** Daisy watched as the visions rushed pass. ~~ She Harry and Ron were sitting together laughing. ~~~ Harry facing Voldermort. Ron lying on the floor she and Hermione trying franticly to help from fifty yards off. ~~~~ She, Harry, Ron, And Hermione were sitting together in a yard with lots of people around. Daisy had an infant asleep on her shoulder. Harry was holding a little girl about a year old with curly black pigtails and bright green eyes. Ron and Hermione were both holding babies of about the same age. ~~~~~ There were more. There was a lot more. Professor Blanc wrote it all down in the old tongue as he sat next to her and listened. ~~~~~~ Three hours later the three friends returned. Hermione was white as a sheet. "Do you think she'll be alright?" she asked as they enter the hospital wing.
Professor Blanc was still sitting next to Daisy's bed with notepaper. Allen was sitting next to him. Daisy was lying silently on the bed.
"Well, at least she seems better." Ron said with mixed worry and relief.
Just as they sat down Daisy shot up and yell "Quidditch!"
Everyone was dumbstruck.
"Daze, your irrational. Lie back." said Blanc
"No, did I miss Quidditch practice? And where are my glasses? I can't see."
Harry handed her glasses to her from the bedside table. He looked at her eyes they were a darker color now silver with shots of brown and gold.
"Daisy you've been in the hospital all afternoon. No one expects you to play Quidditch." Ron said.
"So I did miss?" she replied.
"No," said Harry. "It's not for another hour."
Just them Madam Pomfery came over and handed her a goblet. "Drink all this. If your head still hurts I have more."
"I'm going to practice." Daisy said as they left the hospital wing.
"No your not," Allen said.
"Listen little man, I am older than you. I understand a lot more about what's going on. You can come watch if you're determined, but I need to practice. I need to just get out there and fly," Daisy shot back at her little brother.
Harry couldn't help but understand. He knew the feeling.
"Harry, your the captain. Don't let her. Guy, back me up on this." Allen tried again.
"Daisy is right Len. She knows her limits and what she needs. Your sure you can practice Daze?" the young teacher asked.
She nodded.
"Then I don't see why she shouldn't," He said.
Allen began to storm off. "Well you can bet I'll be in the seats watching!" he said as he left.
Daisy smiled as she walked a head with Ron and Harry, but Blanc stopped Hermione. "Could you go too? Just to keep an extra eye out?"
Hermione could see how concerned he was.
"What's wrong with her?" she asked.
"Nothing. She is perfectly fine now, except for maybe a headache. Just as a prefect, go watch out for your house-mate." And before Hermione could try getting more out of him, he walked away.
****************************
Harry was so tired, but he couldn't sleep. It had been a hard practice. Daisy had driven everybody hard. Fred said she was worse than Wood ever was even through she wasn't captain. She even played a few other positions during practice. Harry though it was great. She led the way and came up with some great stuff, but she would always defer to him.
Harry finally decided he wasn't going to be sleeping any time soon. He got up put on his robe and took 'Flying with the Cannons' downstairs to read. When he got to the common room he found he wasn't the only one up.
"Hi!" Daisy said as she looked up from the book on her lap. "Can't sleep?"
"No, I'm totally wiped but I just can't sleep. Have you ever been to tired to sleep before?" he asked jokingly.
Daisy looked at him and in all seriousness said "All the time."
There was something different about her. It took Harry a second to realize she wasn't wearing her glasses. Her eyes were now brown shot through with gold flexes.
"Can you see ok?" he asked.
"Yeah. My eyes are back to normal now."
"So you don't need glasses all the time?"
"Only after the visions. I wear glasses all the time because they can come unexpectedly. The potion I took this afternoon will stop me from having any sudden attacks."
"Is that what was wrong with you? You were having a vision?"
"No I was having lots of visions. Constant, incessant, intense visions. That's why I passed out. It was to much for me."
"So they're not always that bad?"
"No," she sighed. "Just when I'm under stress. With everything that happened today, it was just so much. More that I could handle apparently. Quidditch helps. I never have attacks during Quidditch. It's scary, you know. I hate them. It's cost me friends. No one wants to be friends with the psycho who rants about death and destruction." ****
Harry told Ron and Hermione about his conversation with Daisy.
"She said she never had any of her friends there when she woke up before. She said she had never had real friends before." He told them.
"No wonder she didn't talk to us after we asked her about being a gypsy." Ron said. "She didn't think we wanted to talk to her."
"You're the one who said she should hide the fact that she is a gypsy. And you're the one who was so moody afterwards." Hermione reminded him.
"That was more about her being Malfoy's girlfriend than being a gypsy," he replied.
"She's more than that," Harry said. "She's a Seer, a true Seer with a gypsy's gift. No wonder she is so good in Divinations." Harry looked at his watch. "I have to go. I'm meeting Cho." ***
Daisy wasn't around most of the weekend but when ever they were together Hermione, Harry, and Ron tried to make her smile. Ron was the luckiest. He actually got her to laugh a few times. However when they weren't looking she would slip into a daze.
"Hey," Ron said pulling her out of her trance one time. "Now we know where your nickname came from."
Daisy wasn't the only one felling the stress. The entire school was on edge. When the owls came in the morning everyone was wondering if there would more bad news. The teachers decided something had to be done. On Wednesday morning Dumbledore made an announcement.
"Students, as you know tomorrow night is Halloween, we will have our feast as usual. However, it will be an hour and a half earlier than normal as all students in the fourth year and above are invited to attend a dance. And as for the younger students don't worry! You will be entertained in your common rooms by the head of your houses. Because we will all be staying up extra late, classes will be cancelled for Friday!"
The student body was in an uproar. The older students were trying to find partners, the younger students were speculating what could be in store for them. And an extra day off was always welcome.
"We know who Harry's going with. Are you going to ask anyone Hermione? Would Viktor mind if you went with someone?" Daisy asked lightly on their way to class.
"No," she answered blushing. "He wouldn't, but I still won't go with anyone. I'll just go and watch. And I'm sure one of my friends will take pity and dance with me once or twice." Hermione nudged Harry who was standing next to her. "So, who will you ask Ron?"
He mumbled something only Harry heard. "I know who I want ask but..."
"What?" Daisy asked.
The boys ignored her.
When they were in class Harry leaned over and said quietly, "Everyone knows she free now. You'd better asked her quick."
"I'll talk to her after class." Ron said as he looked around at the other boys in his class. Was it his imagination or were they all looking at Daisy?
"Daisy?" Ron asked as she gathered her books. "Could we talk?"
"Sure, Ron. What's up?" she smiled.
Why did she have to smile like that? "Umm, ah, wouldyougowithmetomorrow?" he said it fast so he wouldn't chicken out.
Daisy looked at him at smiled wider. Then she laughed. "Oh thank goodness you asked me. I wasn't sure how to ask you. It's been driving me nuts all morning!"
"So, so you'll go with me?" he asked.
"Yeah. Yes, I would love to go to the dance with you, Ron." *************
"Oh! I'm so nervous, Hermione." Daisy said as she Hermione and Harry walked you of the library later that afternoon. "I've never gone out with some one I actually liked!"
"What, you weren't madly in love with Malfoy," Harry teased.
"Oh, grow up Harry. Just because I snogged him doesn't mean I liked him. First rule in a gypsy's life, never get attached."
"That's so sad, Daisy!" Hermione said in shock.
"I know. My mom tried to raise us differently, but it's hard to just drop two thousand years of genetic conditioning. Draco was just fun. When he wasn't fun I dropped him. I can't do that with Ron. I don't think I'd want to."
"I'm glad. Ron deserves that, so do you," said Hermione thoughtfully.
"Yeah, you both do." Harry agreed.
During the Halloween feast everyone was talking excitedly about the usual giant pumpkins and live bats and their plans for later.
"I'll meet Cho in the entrance hall, then we'll find you guys inside." Harry said to the others.
"Cho won't want to hang with her friends?" Daisy asked.
"We'll see them too. But I just figured..."
"We'll see you when we see you, Harry. Don't worry about it." Ron said. He looked at Daisy and was hoping Harry and Cho wouldn't be around too much.
************************** Daisy was so nervous her hands were shaking. Hermione actually came over to her and sat her down on the edge of the bed.
"It's just Ron, Daisy. We're just a bunch of friends going to a dance. Relax!"
Hermione tried to comfort her friend but wasn't working. Daisy started to shake even more.
"No! It's not just Ron. It's a boy I really like. He is my date. I don't date. I don't get attached. This was a bad idea. I should have just said no, said we should just go as friends, anything other than 'Yes, I'll be your date.' I could ruin our friendship. I could mess everything up."
"Daisy you won't mess anything up because your friends. He'll understand. Come on over the past two months you guys have gotten so close. I see the way he makes you laugh. I see the way you nudge him in just the right way. Just relax. You'll be fine."
Even though she had stopped shaking Daisy was still so nervous. In her quite voice she said, "You don't understand, Hermione. You have only known me for two month. I am dysfunctional. I've been out with guys before. A lot of guys! Random, meaningless guys. But never a friend. Not some one I care about."
"Your nearly fifteen!" Hermione said trying not to laugh. "You're allowed to date random guys. But that doesn't mean you can't care about someone."
Hermione didn't know all Daisy had been through. Daisy didn't want to tell her. She just said, "You know I've never gotten attached to anyone. I really never have had friends. I don't know how this works."
For the first time Hermione realized just how alone Daisy had always been. She would have to remember to tell Harry it wasn't easy for Daisy to be their friend. Daisy had to work at it very hard. You could see it in her eyes, even through the sunglasses. Daisy had always been alone.
"Come on!" Hermione said gently. "You have date you have to finish getting ready for!" **************************
Harry and Ron were waiting in the common room for the girls. The younger kids still hadn't come up yet so it was mostly older students waiting for their dates.
Fred and George were busy threatening Ginny's date, who was very clean-cut boy from her class. When they had the poor kid petrified, they came over to Harry and Ron.
"He won't be trying anything tonight." George said.
"Come on guys easy up. First dates are hard enough." Ron said nervously looking at the girl's stairs.
"Oh and who are you taking, little brother?" Fred asked.
His 'little' brother, who was several inches taller then him now, answered, "Daisy."
"Nicely done," George said and Fred nodded.
Just then Daisy and Hermione came down stairs.
"Very nicely done!" echoed Fred looking at the girls.
Hermione looked very pretty. She was wearing simple black dress robes, her witches hat, and light make up. But she really hadn't done anything special as she was too busy helping Daisy.
Daisy looked stunning. Her long brown hair was loosely braided, ended at her lower back with a gold hairpiece, and seemed to be crimped all the way up to her scalp. Her hair seemed have gold highlights in it. Her robes were red and gold. The main piece was a bright red and seemed to shimmer with gold highlights. It was a simple A- cut dress that held tightly to her body and moved seamlessly into a full skirt. The long sleeves hugged her arms until just before her wrist, where the flared into bell shapes. Over top was a gold robe, opened down the center, with no sleeves that elegantly rapped around her shoulders and dropped to the floor.
She also looked extremely different for two reasons. She wasn't wearing her usual pound of silver jewelry. Just a pair of gold dangly earrings and a silver chain that was barely visible because it was tucked under her dress. The other reason was she wasn't wearing her glasses. For the first time Ron was able to see her eyes. She had metallic gold shadow on that just enhanced her brown eyes, which also seemed to have gold in them.
Harry had to hit Ron in the arm to get him to speak.
"We match." He finally said.
His new dress robes were white with gold trim. They went very well with his dark blue eyes and bright hair, which was combed neatly back.
"We do." she answered back and smiled. She finally began to relax.
"You look beautiful!" Ron said staring openly.
She blushed. "You look very handsome too."
"The perfect Gryffindors!" Fred exclaimed. This startled Ron as he had forgotten anyone else was there.
"Daisy you're easily the prettiest girl in school, and much to good for my brother!" George said.
"You better not let your date hear you." Harry laughed. "Come on we'd better get down stairs. See you." he said waving good-bye to the Weasley twins.
The four friends were walking down the stairs when Daisy, who was walking between Harry and Ron, suddenly slipped and fell down steps on her backside until she landed on the at the bottom of the steps.
No one else was around, but Harry Ron and Hermione still thought she'd be so embarrassed.
"Are you alright?" Hermione said running down the last few steps.
Daisy looked up at her friends and began to laugh hysterically.
"Do you hit your head?" Harry asked with genuine concern.
"N, n, no..." she said between giggles. "I'm fine. I was just thinking how wonderfully elegant and grown-up I felt. And then I fall on my bum!" At this point she was laughing so hard she couldn't talk. Finally she raised her hands towards Ron. "Help me up please?"
"That was great!" Ron said with a smile.
"Just wait until we dance. Your wearing good hard shoes right?" Daisy smiled.
It was going to be a fun night. Now she didn't have to worry about making an idiot of herself.
"Come on!" she said pulling Ron by the hand. "I want to hurry!"
In the Entrance Hall just outside the Great Hall were almost all the Hogwarts students. Most of the younger kids were waiting to see their older classmates. The older kids were looking for friends and dates. Harry found Cho and a few of her friends.
"This is Emma and Chris, Kiki and Kyle, and Sara, Mike, Sue, Sam, who came alone." Cho said introducing her friends.
"Hi!" Harry answered. "These are my friends, Hermione, and where did Ron and Daisy go?"
As it turns out Ron had been accosted by Daisy's over protective little brother.
"Now, you better be good to my sister! I know a lot of really bad curses!" Allen was saying.
"Len, back off." Daisy said in an angry voice.
"And I know where you sleep!" continued the first year who barely came to Ron's chest.
"Allen!" called a voice from behind him. It was professor Blanc. "Don't worry I'll be chaperoning. Leave your sister alone. You look lovely by the way, Daze."
"As long as you promise to watch him," Allen said icily.
"You brother is a scary kid." Ron whispered to Daisy with a smile as the pair turned.
Allen glared as Professor Blanc led him away.
Daisy couldn't remember having more fun. There were all kinds of treats, and there was a maze set up in one of the dungeons, and there was a hay ride out on grounds, plus the dancing, and laughing with Hermione, Harry... and Ron. And dancing with Ron, and talking to Ron, and kissing Ron...
The only bad thing was towards the end of the night she and Ron were sitting alone in corner when Malfoy came over.
"More hand me downs, Weasley?" he asked smugly.
Ron stood ready to attack Malfoy, but Daisy grabbed his wrist. "I though those were new robes?" she asked with a smile.
Seeing her smile clamed Ron instantly. "Yes, they are actually. Malfoy just must no be up on the latest style."
"I meant his date!" Malfoy sneered.
"But I left you, Draco. So doesn't that mean Pansy's here with leftovers?" Daisy smiled pleasantly. And Malfoy stormed off.
"You can't let him get to Ron. He's really not worth a second though." and with that Daisy kissed gently on the mouth, which started a chain reaction of more kissing.
Hermione and Harry had been on their way over to help when they saw Malfoy. They had gotten just close enough to realize their help wasn't needed.
"She really is amazing!" Hermione said. "I mean she can say just the right thing to anyone and get the reaction she wants."
***************************