Chapter 19
Daisy was sitting on the stairs listening to the thumping of music coming from the Great Hall and looking at her feet.
"Nice shoes, Screechers?" Draco asked, coming from apparently nowhere.
"Sandies," she answered without though. "My mother gave them to me for Christmas. She said every princess should have glass slippers to dance with price Charming." Then she clicked the tips of her shoes together several times in succession.
"Are those really glass slippers? How did they survive an hour of dancing with Longbottom?" he asked sitting next to her.
"They're charmed not to brake," she said fighting a smile. "My mom knows me, and I'm a klutz too remember. But no they're not glass they're crystal."
"Your mother has impeccable taste," he said.
She nodded.
"How are you doing, Wild Flower?"
"Just fine, Young Nasty Man. And yourself?"
"Well, you know," he said. "One of my friends is in visible pain because someone she trusted was an immense git, and she seems to be ignoring it."
Daisy just looked at him.
"Really, Dumbledore, if you're going to try to be alone someplace, check the room you're in to make sure you're really alone."
Daisy didn't say anything.
"So really, how are you doing?" he asked again.
"Shitty," she answered truthfully. "What was he thinking? And why didn't you stop him?"
Draco laughed. "I was not about to get involved with that scene, thanks. And he was probably thinking that the pretty girl in front of him desperately needed to be kissed. I remember thinking something similar once, only I got slapped."
"I should have kicked him in the shin," she said.
Draco laughed again. "That would have been entertaining. So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know. I wish it just never happened," she said.
They sat in silence for a time before she asked, "Why can't it have never happened?"
"Because you can't change the past."
"No," she said. "But I'm very good with memory charms. I could erase it."
"I don't think that would help. He'd only kiss you again," Draco said.
"Idiot!" she said loudly.
"Yes, he is rather. Why are you friends again?" Draco said.
"No, I meant me. I should have known! I need to write down a list of things that I have to change."
"Such as?" he drawled.
"Well, I really don't want to be married at nineteen. I think it happens because I was preggers so I just can't have any physical contact with anyone," she said.
Draco looked at her skeptically. "And what effect will your little list of things to change have on what you've Seen?"
"Hopefully change them," she said.
"Do you really want that?" he asked.
She though for a moment about the life she had Seen for herself. She was happy, she knew. And she loved her family desperately. If she was Seeing things clearly, which she should be, she died because she refused to terminate a pregnancy. She had lived a few months after the baby was born but she was so weak she had been bed ridden and a burden on her family.
"You die," she said coldly. "You die too young and leave your widow to take care of an infant son on her own. Do you think I shouldn't try to change that? I die slowly and in bed, at thirty-two! My children have to watch. My husband..."
'It's just a vision. It hasn't happened. It may never happen. He isn't your husband he's just...'
"It's Potter! You marry Potter!" Draco said in shock. "And, and children? How many?"
"Six."
"Six?!! What are you, rabbits?"
"Shut up!"
"No wonder you don't want him kissing you," Draco muttered.
"Why can't my life make sense?" she said putting her face in her hand and resting her elbows on her knees. "I thought after the Ritual everything would make sense. Nothing does."
"I'll say. I need to wash my eyes! And I don't think I'll very get that picture out of my mind. Six!"
"I really hope you don't have the mental image I think you do." He grinned at her. "You're sick!"
"No, I'm a teenage boy. So not only do you have to deal with all the emotional baggage you two have from the past, you're lugging around all the emotional baggage from the future," he said. "That must get heavy."
"A bit, yes."
***
The music still played loudly across the hall. Harry thought he had waited long enough and made to go back, but he heard Daisy's voice.
"A bit, yes," she said.
"So what do you plan to do?" Malfoy was asking.
"I need to talk to him. He's my best friend, no offense or anything, but you aren't usually so warm or squishy," she said now.
"No, squishy wrinkles my robes, and warm musses my hair."
Harry had to try to laugh out loud when he heard that. Who'd have thought Malfoy could actually be funny?
"I just need to convince him that it was most definitely a mistake and should never, ever happen again. He's my friend and I need him to be that so much, but I don't want him to be anymore than that. I'll have to convince him that it just never happened. That kiss is just a non-event," she said.
Harry could feel his heart drop to his stomach. He had made a total prat of himself. She didn't care about him like that at all.
"Idiot!" he whispered.
Before he heard anything else that would make him feel like a huge prat, he went back to the hidden room.
***
"But it wasn't a non-event," Draco said to her now. "I can see it in your eyes. You're already in love with him."
Harry still had her glasses.
"I am not!" she protested. Even saying it felt like the antithesis of her very self. "I don't love him," she said more quietly now. "I can't. The people I love get hurt."
"Or hurt you. He doesn't deserve you. Neither did I, of course, but we knew that," he said standing. "You figured that out, you'll figure this out."
She smiled and took his offered hand. "That was easy. You were just a fling."
"Draco Malfoy is never 'just a fling.' Maybe 'the greatest fling ever' or 'one hell of a fling' but 'just a fling,' no," he smiled and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Do me a favor, Wild Flower, huh?"
"What?" she smiled.
"Try not to let the future influence your present too much. Be happy. You were happy with Potter and all those kids, I'll bet." He smiled. "And about me, don't worry. At least I'll still be young and beautiful."
"Thanks Draco. You're not going soft are you, Malfoy?"
He poked his side. "Well, I do fell a bit squishy now that you mention it. I'd better go before it gets any worse."
"Bye. I'll wait here to talk to Harry," she said as Draco left.
He was right she would be happy with Harry and half a dozen kids. She smiled to herself. She knew all their names even. Heather Lily Potter would have curly black hair and her father's eyes. Evan Harold Potter would be blessed with those same green eyes but her brown hair, still managing to look remarkably like Harry without glasses. Raven Gemini Potter and Aurora Moon Potter, the twins; Rave and Rory would have the Dumbledore blue eyes and always be pulling each other out of some mischief, or talking each other into it. James Albus Potter would look exactly like his father but as he grew older would come to resemble his mother a bit more. He would spend most of his time watching over his little sister. Clotilde Annabelle Potter would look strikingly like her mother. She would always seem to be touched with sadness, though. Guilt most likely.
As Daisy let her mind wander over these thoughts, one seemed to emerge in front of her.
"Harry?" Daisy said coming fully back to the present.
"I thought you had gone," he said.
"No, I wanted to talk to you," she tried to smile but it didn't work.
"Look, Daze, I've been thinking about what happened," he said.
"Good, me too."
"I think, I mean that is if you could forgive me, I think we should just go on like it never happened," Harry said quite calmly.
Daisy looked at him, all thoughts of children and future gone. He didn't want her. Her heart now dropped into her stomach. He had kissed because she was there, like he would any girl. He had made a mistake and thought it would just be a random snog session, like any other.
But she stopped this train of though. She had more respect for Harry than that. No, he had been a boy trying to comfort a girl.
"It was a highly emotional moment," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "We both had our emotions all muddled."
"Oh, yes, quite," he agreed.
" It never happened," she said decisively.
"What never happened? I don't remember I thing." He said thinking; 'except that I'm a stupid prat and I hope I this doesn't messed up our friendship.'
"I don't know either," she said then sighed. "Should we head back, then?" And she motioned towards the dance in the Great Hall.
"Absolutely. Your still going to sing aren't you?" he asked.
She groaned. "Oh! I forgot about that. Maybe I can just avoid Guy and the others."
She really did not feel like singing just then.
******************************************
Daisy had found Neville and they danced again.
"You alright?" he asked.
She nodded smiled. As the current song was ending she looked up at the stage that had been set up for the band. It was a mistake. She realized as soon as she looked up that Lu had spotted her. And she knew that grin.
He looked as his band mates. Ty was on drums, of course. Cima and Rena each had different guitars. And was that Darien playing the keyboard? Luigi was the lead singer, also with a guitar slung over his shoulder, though he didn't always play it.
When the music stopped Lu began to speak to the student body and Daisy groaned.
"Well, we hope everyone is enjoy their Valentine dance!" Lu said in the microphone that magically magnified his voice. He was answered by loud applause.
"As some of you may know, I recently opened a music store in Hogsmeade. (more applause) And some of you may even have been treated to the impromptu concert last weekend. Well, we had such a blast playing with our old band mate that we wanted to pull her up here now. What do you think?"
This last question was greeted with the loudest applause yet. Many people had heard about what happened in the music store and were anxious to see a bit. The crowd parted so Daisy had a clear path to the stage.
"Well, Raven your public awaits." Lu said.
"If I'm going back before the firing squad, Guy's coming with me!" she shouted. Guy hated performing in public with a violent passion. He'd never go for it.
Now the crowd parted around the young teacher. He looked rather green.
"Well, Professor?" Lu prompted. The old gang up there was enjoying this way too much.
"You really don't need another guitar up there," Guy said. He desperately looked for help to get out of this. Ullah whispered something to him and he went pink, which was very odd for him.
'Oh, no,' Daisy thought, 'she's convinced him to go!'
"We'll find something for you to do," Lu said with a knowing smile.
Guy nodded and began walking toward the stage. He grabbed Daisy's arm as he passed her.
"You're an evil little sister," he said.
"You weren't supposed to accept!" she protested. "You've never before, how was I to know you would now?"
Neither of them paid much attention to the applause and catcalls and inquiring looks.
Daisy looked out at the crowd of her schoolmates. 'I can do this,' she thought. 'I've sung in public before, and I plan to again.' She was trying to keep her breathing steady and clam her self while at the same time ignoring the voice in the back of her that said, 'yes, you've sung before, and you will again. But just after your best friend kissed you (which really, pretending it didn't happen won't change that it did.) And while your just trying to be a normal teenager, blending in and staying, um, SANE!'
'I'm not going insane!'
'Yes because having conversations with yourself in your head is so healthy.'
"Well Miss Raven?" Lu asked, "What will we play?"
'Something easy, something I can manage without thinking.'
"Do you guys remember 'Running Blind'?" she asked.
They smiled at her. "We remember. Who'd have thought a twelve year old could write songs?" Cima said and the others nodded.
Ty began to beat the drums and slowly the other instruments joined in. It was in three- four time and she waited for the right beat to join the tune with the words.
I can't see the forest for the trees!
I don't know where to find the keys.
But I have to keep going
Even without knowing
I'm just running blind.
Do you know where to find my kind?
Just follow the stars; they know the way
If I can't see clearly my love will pay
Let me go! I'll blaze the path
If I can't help I'll lose my mind!
But I can't see the forest for the trees!
I don't know where to find the keys.
But I have to keep going
Even without knowing.
I'm just running blind.
Can you help me find the truth?
Your my guide and I trust you.
We can do it, even just us two.
On we go, to forge the trail.
We'll leave behind our hollow youth!
Because I can't see the forest for the trees!
I don't know where to find the keys.
But I have to keep going
Even without knowing
I'm just running blind.
Do you think we can out wit fate?
You were my first true friend,
But somehow I let my heart bend.
Because I know it was you I needed,
And it seems you were the reason to wait.
Now the forest burns with the trees!
It was two broken hearts that held the keys.
And no matter what, you have to go.
Even though now I know
You stopped me from running blind.
***************************************
"Harry?"
Harry looked up from where he was sitting on the stairs in the Entrance Hall.
"Hey, Hermoine. How's the date with Justin going?" he asked politely.
"He's really nice. Daisy may be manipulative, but she knows what she's doing."
"Not always," Harry said thinking about earlier.
Hermoine smiled sympathetically. "Well, nobody is perfect. She's singing in there now."
"Is that what all the clapping was? Well, bloody woo-hoo!"
"Did something happen, Harry?"
"My head just hurts. Sorry I snapped at you," he said.
"So, um where's Blaise?" Hermoine tried.
"Girl's room."
"Do you want to go hear Daisy sing? She's really good."
"I know, and I'd rather not, thanks." He gave her a weak smile. "I'll be back in a bit later. Go back and enjoy the dance."
Hermoine stood. "Are you sure your all right?"
"Yeah. Fine," Harry said not even believing himself.
*******************************
"Well, that was fun," Neville said.
"Yeah it was," Daisy answered. They were slowly making their way back up to Gryffindor Tower.
"Um, d'you lose your glasses?" he asked.
"No, I know where they are," she said. Harry still had them.
"Oh, 'cause your eyes are sort of gold," he said.
She shrugged. "It's the price you pay," she answered cryptically.
"Um Daisy, I've been thinking."
"A dangerous past time."
"I know," he smiled. "Well, about us, you're a great girl, you know. No one could ask for a better friend."
Suddenly Daisy stopped because she was laughing hysterically. "Neville!" she said gasping for breath. "Are trying to say we should just be friends?"
"Well, um, yeah," he said uncertainly.
She stood up and put her arm through his and began walking again. "Its just so cliché! I mean your right, of course. And I'll always be your friend but we have got to work on your lines!"
Now he smiled. "But it wasn't a line. I was totally sincere."
"And that my friend," she said with a wicked smile. "Is what we have to fix."
**********************************
Harry came back into the fifth year boys' dorm and collapsed on his bed. Ron, Dean, and Seamus were getting ready to turn in for the night. Harry didn't see Neville anywhere and his bed hanging were still closed.
Harry groaned.
"Rough night?" Ron asked.
"You know Blaise can be very demanding. Not that's entirely bad, but it's been a long day," Harry said.
"And what were you doing that was so demanding, Harry?" Seamus wanted to know.
"Probably whatever Neville and Daisy are doing now," he said trying to sound up beat, but pulling his robes over his head so they couldn't see his face.
"I doubt that," said a voice from Neville's bed.
"Nev? That you?" Ron asked.
Neville pulled aside the red hangings. "Well I hope so," he said with a smile.
"Didn't think you'd be the first back," Dean said.
"Yeah, Nev, what's up?" Ron said.
Neville shrugged. "Daisy and I decided to just be friends."
Harry suddenly remembered how much he liked Neville.
"You alright with that Nev?" Dean asked.
"Yeah, I just hope she's not mad at me. I mean, she though it was funny and said I needed to work on my lines but..."
"Wait!" Seamus said. "You broke up with her?"
"Yeah! She's a great girl but a bit, um, intense for me. And she's related to three teachers, one of whom is still my worst fear."
"Technically two teachers and the Headmaster," Harry said. Hanging up his dress robes. His felt something in the pocket and pulled out pink sunglasses.
"Well, I'm knackered," Ron said.
"G'night," the boys all said to each other.
"Night," Harry said, putting Daisy's glasses next to his own on his bedside table. Oddly enough, they looked like they belong there.
Daisy was sitting on the stairs listening to the thumping of music coming from the Great Hall and looking at her feet.
"Nice shoes, Screechers?" Draco asked, coming from apparently nowhere.
"Sandies," she answered without though. "My mother gave them to me for Christmas. She said every princess should have glass slippers to dance with price Charming." Then she clicked the tips of her shoes together several times in succession.
"Are those really glass slippers? How did they survive an hour of dancing with Longbottom?" he asked sitting next to her.
"They're charmed not to brake," she said fighting a smile. "My mom knows me, and I'm a klutz too remember. But no they're not glass they're crystal."
"Your mother has impeccable taste," he said.
She nodded.
"How are you doing, Wild Flower?"
"Just fine, Young Nasty Man. And yourself?"
"Well, you know," he said. "One of my friends is in visible pain because someone she trusted was an immense git, and she seems to be ignoring it."
Daisy just looked at him.
"Really, Dumbledore, if you're going to try to be alone someplace, check the room you're in to make sure you're really alone."
Daisy didn't say anything.
"So really, how are you doing?" he asked again.
"Shitty," she answered truthfully. "What was he thinking? And why didn't you stop him?"
Draco laughed. "I was not about to get involved with that scene, thanks. And he was probably thinking that the pretty girl in front of him desperately needed to be kissed. I remember thinking something similar once, only I got slapped."
"I should have kicked him in the shin," she said.
Draco laughed again. "That would have been entertaining. So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know. I wish it just never happened," she said.
They sat in silence for a time before she asked, "Why can't it have never happened?"
"Because you can't change the past."
"No," she said. "But I'm very good with memory charms. I could erase it."
"I don't think that would help. He'd only kiss you again," Draco said.
"Idiot!" she said loudly.
"Yes, he is rather. Why are you friends again?" Draco said.
"No, I meant me. I should have known! I need to write down a list of things that I have to change."
"Such as?" he drawled.
"Well, I really don't want to be married at nineteen. I think it happens because I was preggers so I just can't have any physical contact with anyone," she said.
Draco looked at her skeptically. "And what effect will your little list of things to change have on what you've Seen?"
"Hopefully change them," she said.
"Do you really want that?" he asked.
She though for a moment about the life she had Seen for herself. She was happy, she knew. And she loved her family desperately. If she was Seeing things clearly, which she should be, she died because she refused to terminate a pregnancy. She had lived a few months after the baby was born but she was so weak she had been bed ridden and a burden on her family.
"You die," she said coldly. "You die too young and leave your widow to take care of an infant son on her own. Do you think I shouldn't try to change that? I die slowly and in bed, at thirty-two! My children have to watch. My husband..."
'It's just a vision. It hasn't happened. It may never happen. He isn't your husband he's just...'
"It's Potter! You marry Potter!" Draco said in shock. "And, and children? How many?"
"Six."
"Six?!! What are you, rabbits?"
"Shut up!"
"No wonder you don't want him kissing you," Draco muttered.
"Why can't my life make sense?" she said putting her face in her hand and resting her elbows on her knees. "I thought after the Ritual everything would make sense. Nothing does."
"I'll say. I need to wash my eyes! And I don't think I'll very get that picture out of my mind. Six!"
"I really hope you don't have the mental image I think you do." He grinned at her. "You're sick!"
"No, I'm a teenage boy. So not only do you have to deal with all the emotional baggage you two have from the past, you're lugging around all the emotional baggage from the future," he said. "That must get heavy."
"A bit, yes."
***
The music still played loudly across the hall. Harry thought he had waited long enough and made to go back, but he heard Daisy's voice.
"A bit, yes," she said.
"So what do you plan to do?" Malfoy was asking.
"I need to talk to him. He's my best friend, no offense or anything, but you aren't usually so warm or squishy," she said now.
"No, squishy wrinkles my robes, and warm musses my hair."
Harry had to try to laugh out loud when he heard that. Who'd have thought Malfoy could actually be funny?
"I just need to convince him that it was most definitely a mistake and should never, ever happen again. He's my friend and I need him to be that so much, but I don't want him to be anymore than that. I'll have to convince him that it just never happened. That kiss is just a non-event," she said.
Harry could feel his heart drop to his stomach. He had made a total prat of himself. She didn't care about him like that at all.
"Idiot!" he whispered.
Before he heard anything else that would make him feel like a huge prat, he went back to the hidden room.
***
"But it wasn't a non-event," Draco said to her now. "I can see it in your eyes. You're already in love with him."
Harry still had her glasses.
"I am not!" she protested. Even saying it felt like the antithesis of her very self. "I don't love him," she said more quietly now. "I can't. The people I love get hurt."
"Or hurt you. He doesn't deserve you. Neither did I, of course, but we knew that," he said standing. "You figured that out, you'll figure this out."
She smiled and took his offered hand. "That was easy. You were just a fling."
"Draco Malfoy is never 'just a fling.' Maybe 'the greatest fling ever' or 'one hell of a fling' but 'just a fling,' no," he smiled and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Do me a favor, Wild Flower, huh?"
"What?" she smiled.
"Try not to let the future influence your present too much. Be happy. You were happy with Potter and all those kids, I'll bet." He smiled. "And about me, don't worry. At least I'll still be young and beautiful."
"Thanks Draco. You're not going soft are you, Malfoy?"
He poked his side. "Well, I do fell a bit squishy now that you mention it. I'd better go before it gets any worse."
"Bye. I'll wait here to talk to Harry," she said as Draco left.
He was right she would be happy with Harry and half a dozen kids. She smiled to herself. She knew all their names even. Heather Lily Potter would have curly black hair and her father's eyes. Evan Harold Potter would be blessed with those same green eyes but her brown hair, still managing to look remarkably like Harry without glasses. Raven Gemini Potter and Aurora Moon Potter, the twins; Rave and Rory would have the Dumbledore blue eyes and always be pulling each other out of some mischief, or talking each other into it. James Albus Potter would look exactly like his father but as he grew older would come to resemble his mother a bit more. He would spend most of his time watching over his little sister. Clotilde Annabelle Potter would look strikingly like her mother. She would always seem to be touched with sadness, though. Guilt most likely.
As Daisy let her mind wander over these thoughts, one seemed to emerge in front of her.
"Harry?" Daisy said coming fully back to the present.
"I thought you had gone," he said.
"No, I wanted to talk to you," she tried to smile but it didn't work.
"Look, Daze, I've been thinking about what happened," he said.
"Good, me too."
"I think, I mean that is if you could forgive me, I think we should just go on like it never happened," Harry said quite calmly.
Daisy looked at him, all thoughts of children and future gone. He didn't want her. Her heart now dropped into her stomach. He had kissed because she was there, like he would any girl. He had made a mistake and thought it would just be a random snog session, like any other.
But she stopped this train of though. She had more respect for Harry than that. No, he had been a boy trying to comfort a girl.
"It was a highly emotional moment," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "We both had our emotions all muddled."
"Oh, yes, quite," he agreed.
" It never happened," she said decisively.
"What never happened? I don't remember I thing." He said thinking; 'except that I'm a stupid prat and I hope I this doesn't messed up our friendship.'
"I don't know either," she said then sighed. "Should we head back, then?" And she motioned towards the dance in the Great Hall.
"Absolutely. Your still going to sing aren't you?" he asked.
She groaned. "Oh! I forgot about that. Maybe I can just avoid Guy and the others."
She really did not feel like singing just then.
******************************************
Daisy had found Neville and they danced again.
"You alright?" he asked.
She nodded smiled. As the current song was ending she looked up at the stage that had been set up for the band. It was a mistake. She realized as soon as she looked up that Lu had spotted her. And she knew that grin.
He looked as his band mates. Ty was on drums, of course. Cima and Rena each had different guitars. And was that Darien playing the keyboard? Luigi was the lead singer, also with a guitar slung over his shoulder, though he didn't always play it.
When the music stopped Lu began to speak to the student body and Daisy groaned.
"Well, we hope everyone is enjoy their Valentine dance!" Lu said in the microphone that magically magnified his voice. He was answered by loud applause.
"As some of you may know, I recently opened a music store in Hogsmeade. (more applause) And some of you may even have been treated to the impromptu concert last weekend. Well, we had such a blast playing with our old band mate that we wanted to pull her up here now. What do you think?"
This last question was greeted with the loudest applause yet. Many people had heard about what happened in the music store and were anxious to see a bit. The crowd parted so Daisy had a clear path to the stage.
"Well, Raven your public awaits." Lu said.
"If I'm going back before the firing squad, Guy's coming with me!" she shouted. Guy hated performing in public with a violent passion. He'd never go for it.
Now the crowd parted around the young teacher. He looked rather green.
"Well, Professor?" Lu prompted. The old gang up there was enjoying this way too much.
"You really don't need another guitar up there," Guy said. He desperately looked for help to get out of this. Ullah whispered something to him and he went pink, which was very odd for him.
'Oh, no,' Daisy thought, 'she's convinced him to go!'
"We'll find something for you to do," Lu said with a knowing smile.
Guy nodded and began walking toward the stage. He grabbed Daisy's arm as he passed her.
"You're an evil little sister," he said.
"You weren't supposed to accept!" she protested. "You've never before, how was I to know you would now?"
Neither of them paid much attention to the applause and catcalls and inquiring looks.
Daisy looked out at the crowd of her schoolmates. 'I can do this,' she thought. 'I've sung in public before, and I plan to again.' She was trying to keep her breathing steady and clam her self while at the same time ignoring the voice in the back of her that said, 'yes, you've sung before, and you will again. But just after your best friend kissed you (which really, pretending it didn't happen won't change that it did.) And while your just trying to be a normal teenager, blending in and staying, um, SANE!'
'I'm not going insane!'
'Yes because having conversations with yourself in your head is so healthy.'
"Well Miss Raven?" Lu asked, "What will we play?"
'Something easy, something I can manage without thinking.'
"Do you guys remember 'Running Blind'?" she asked.
They smiled at her. "We remember. Who'd have thought a twelve year old could write songs?" Cima said and the others nodded.
Ty began to beat the drums and slowly the other instruments joined in. It was in three- four time and she waited for the right beat to join the tune with the words.
I can't see the forest for the trees!
I don't know where to find the keys.
But I have to keep going
Even without knowing
I'm just running blind.
Do you know where to find my kind?
Just follow the stars; they know the way
If I can't see clearly my love will pay
Let me go! I'll blaze the path
If I can't help I'll lose my mind!
But I can't see the forest for the trees!
I don't know where to find the keys.
But I have to keep going
Even without knowing.
I'm just running blind.
Can you help me find the truth?
Your my guide and I trust you.
We can do it, even just us two.
On we go, to forge the trail.
We'll leave behind our hollow youth!
Because I can't see the forest for the trees!
I don't know where to find the keys.
But I have to keep going
Even without knowing
I'm just running blind.
Do you think we can out wit fate?
You were my first true friend,
But somehow I let my heart bend.
Because I know it was you I needed,
And it seems you were the reason to wait.
Now the forest burns with the trees!
It was two broken hearts that held the keys.
And no matter what, you have to go.
Even though now I know
You stopped me from running blind.
***************************************
"Harry?"
Harry looked up from where he was sitting on the stairs in the Entrance Hall.
"Hey, Hermoine. How's the date with Justin going?" he asked politely.
"He's really nice. Daisy may be manipulative, but she knows what she's doing."
"Not always," Harry said thinking about earlier.
Hermoine smiled sympathetically. "Well, nobody is perfect. She's singing in there now."
"Is that what all the clapping was? Well, bloody woo-hoo!"
"Did something happen, Harry?"
"My head just hurts. Sorry I snapped at you," he said.
"So, um where's Blaise?" Hermoine tried.
"Girl's room."
"Do you want to go hear Daisy sing? She's really good."
"I know, and I'd rather not, thanks." He gave her a weak smile. "I'll be back in a bit later. Go back and enjoy the dance."
Hermoine stood. "Are you sure your all right?"
"Yeah. Fine," Harry said not even believing himself.
*******************************
"Well, that was fun," Neville said.
"Yeah it was," Daisy answered. They were slowly making their way back up to Gryffindor Tower.
"Um, d'you lose your glasses?" he asked.
"No, I know where they are," she said. Harry still had them.
"Oh, 'cause your eyes are sort of gold," he said.
She shrugged. "It's the price you pay," she answered cryptically.
"Um Daisy, I've been thinking."
"A dangerous past time."
"I know," he smiled. "Well, about us, you're a great girl, you know. No one could ask for a better friend."
Suddenly Daisy stopped because she was laughing hysterically. "Neville!" she said gasping for breath. "Are trying to say we should just be friends?"
"Well, um, yeah," he said uncertainly.
She stood up and put her arm through his and began walking again. "Its just so cliché! I mean your right, of course. And I'll always be your friend but we have got to work on your lines!"
Now he smiled. "But it wasn't a line. I was totally sincere."
"And that my friend," she said with a wicked smile. "Is what we have to fix."
**********************************
Harry came back into the fifth year boys' dorm and collapsed on his bed. Ron, Dean, and Seamus were getting ready to turn in for the night. Harry didn't see Neville anywhere and his bed hanging were still closed.
Harry groaned.
"Rough night?" Ron asked.
"You know Blaise can be very demanding. Not that's entirely bad, but it's been a long day," Harry said.
"And what were you doing that was so demanding, Harry?" Seamus wanted to know.
"Probably whatever Neville and Daisy are doing now," he said trying to sound up beat, but pulling his robes over his head so they couldn't see his face.
"I doubt that," said a voice from Neville's bed.
"Nev? That you?" Ron asked.
Neville pulled aside the red hangings. "Well I hope so," he said with a smile.
"Didn't think you'd be the first back," Dean said.
"Yeah, Nev, what's up?" Ron said.
Neville shrugged. "Daisy and I decided to just be friends."
Harry suddenly remembered how much he liked Neville.
"You alright with that Nev?" Dean asked.
"Yeah, I just hope she's not mad at me. I mean, she though it was funny and said I needed to work on my lines but..."
"Wait!" Seamus said. "You broke up with her?"
"Yeah! She's a great girl but a bit, um, intense for me. And she's related to three teachers, one of whom is still my worst fear."
"Technically two teachers and the Headmaster," Harry said. Hanging up his dress robes. His felt something in the pocket and pulled out pink sunglasses.
"Well, I'm knackered," Ron said.
"G'night," the boys all said to each other.
"Night," Harry said, putting Daisy's glasses next to his own on his bedside table. Oddly enough, they looked like they belong there.