Chapter 20
~~~~~~~~~~Harry Dream~~~~~~~~~~~
"I have enough now, My Lord," said a cloaked figure with a camera around his neck. "I can have the story published as soon as you wish."
"Tuesday, morning would probably be best," said a woman in shadow. "By that time they'll have our guests back."
"Our Lord can make his own decisions!" said another man, this one had an eerie silver light coming from his sleeve.
"Wormtail, Wormtail," a tall figure said emerging from the shadow by the woman shaking his head. "Belle is only offering a suggestion. One she knows I will reject if I wish. You should know I don't tolerate insubordination. I'd almost think you were jealous."
"N-no, My Lord," Wormtail said.
"Good," said another man. Harry knew it was Lucius Malfoy. "We don't want internal strife to weaken our ranks. We've been building our forces for a year. We're finally strong enough to act!"
"Soon, Lucius, soon," Voldemort said. "Very soon."
*************************************
When Harry woke, it was with a dull ach in his scar.
'Great, it's starting again,' he thought.
This was much like his summer nights. No burning, searing pain, but enough for him lose sleep.
He sighed. He could go back to sleep and wake from another dream, or he could go for a walk and hopefully induce a sounder sleep.
Walk, he decided. Maybe the Headmaster was still up. He should definitely tell him about the dream.
Voldemort, Malfoy, Belle, Wormtail, and a final figure he wasn't sure of, were in a room and talking about publishing something, gaining strength, and internal strife. And 'guests' had been mentioned. Were those the missing people? Did they know what was coming?
Definitely a walk.
*********************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Daisy's dream~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'I'm going to think happy thoughts! No visions of doom and or gloom! I won't allow it.'
'Well you just control the universe, don't you?'
'It's my party, you know. I'll cry if I want to and I don't want to!'
'Okay, happy thoughts...'
'Ha!'
Suddenly Daisy felt herself jolt. It wasn't quite as though she had hit the ground, but more like being found suddenly solid and walking.
She walked into a room to see two twelve year olds dueling and giggling.
"Heather Lily Potter!" she said sternly, hands on hips. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Mum! You're home early. Rehearsals go well?" the girl asked meekly, green eyes going wide and piteous.
"Go to your room now!" The girl ran. "And you!" she said turning to the boy who, as always, was Heather's partner in crime. "What did you do to your grandmother, DJ?"
"She's putting the little kids up from their naps," he said.
"So you took advantage of the situation? Well, Drake your dad would be proud."
The boy beamed. It wasn't often anyone talked about his father.
"Oh, get out of here. And Drake Jeremy Malfoy if I see you trying to corrupt my daughter again, or vice versa, you'll both be in for it. Warn her."
When he was gone Daisy let herself go in a fit of giggles. She was laughing do hard she started to fall towards the ground. Suddenly she found a pair of strong arms around her waist supporting her.
"Well handled, Wild Flower," her husband said and kissed her neck. "You are home early. What's up?" Harry rested his head on her shoulder waiting for her answer.
"I took off this afternoon. I went to Hermione," she said smiling, just enjoying him.
"Business or please?"
"Both. She took me to lunch to make up for all the horrid tests she was planning to put me through. Very kind of her."
"Are you alright?" he turned her around now and looked in her eyes.
She smiled. "Fine. She's just worried. You know how weak I was with the twins and all." Her smile broadened. "I'll have to be careful with this new one."
"You mean, again?"
Daisy threw her head back and laughed. "I think it'll be a boy, James Albus."
"We'll find out in nine months," he said smiling dopily.
"More like eight," she corrected before leaning into a deep kiss.
************
Daisy sat up in her bed.
'Those were not the happy thoughts I wanted!
'Wild and crazy youth. Ridiculous stunts that could get me killed. Flying! Winning at Quidditch.
'Anything other than that!
'Not that it matters.
' I was happy though.
'Reality won't wait forever.
'I'll make my own reality.
'Boy is this room small all of a sudden.
'I need to get out of here, go for a walk, sit in the Common Room and read, or pull out my tarot cards, it's been awhile.'
Daisy got up and pulled on her dressing gown and went down to the Common Room.
*************************************
Harry picked up his own dressing gown; throwing it on over the black boxer shorts he had fallen asleep in. He couldn't find his pajama bottoms, but figured it didn't matter. He'd just go talk to Dumbledore in the morning. For now he just need to get out of the dorm room.
He reached to grab his glasses out of reflex then realized the charm Hermoine cast earlier was still working and he didn't need them. He put them and his wand in his pocket just in case.
When he reached the Common Room he realized it wasn't empty.
"Daze?"
"Harry," she answered.
It was a terse reply. He wondered if she was angry with him. At this point he was just too tires to care. He sat on the small sofa with her.
"Nightmares?" he asked.
She closed her eyes and leaned her head on the back of the sofa. "Not quite, but I was pretty scared."
"No more bats I hope," he said.
She though of the strong arms that held her. "No bats she said."
"Daze look, about tonight..." he began.
"Harry, forget it. It never happened," she said firmly.
"Yeah but..." he tried again.
This time she practically growled, "It never happened."
"Okay!" he said. Then after a moment's silence, "so I heard about you and Neville, you laughed?"
Daisy smiled. "Well, he was just being so sweet but so horribly cliché. It really was too funny."
She looked at him then for the first time since he came in the room. "Voldemort?" she asked and motioned to his scar.
"Yeah. Something's up. He's going to 'publish' something. And I think they know about the rescue plan. I'll talk to the Headmaster before breakfast."
"Are you all right?" she asked.
Harry sighed. "Yes. Just a headache, you know."
"I know," she said.
She laced her fingers through his hand. Simple human contact was a vital part of child development they had both been denied. While he shied from it, she often sought it out. She needed that contact to know he was really there.
"Harry, I really need a friend right now," she said.
"Well, you've got more than one," he said.
'But the one I need is you,' she thought. 'Just a good friend.'
As if sensing her thoughts, he said, "And you won't be rid of me anytime soon."
"You're a good friend to put up with me," she said.
"Yeah well I need you as a friend too." 'Because I can't have you as more,' he thought, but said, "You're the only one who really understands visions."
******************************************
Daisy slammed the book she was reading closed.
"What are you reading?" Hermione asked looking up at the agitated girl.
She held up the book for the other girls in the small study group to see. "Transcripts from the Founder's War. Binns really doesn't cover anything! Anyway I know all this stiff," she said tossing the book across the table.
"And how is that?" Padma Patil asked.
Daisy shrugged. "I read constantly. It's often an effective cure for insomnia. Actually I read most of that book last night. Earned me a whole three hours sleep after."
"Oh, so tell us about the founders then," Sally-Anne Perks asked.
*****************************
Harry was wandering around the grounds with Ron. About the time their feet started to freeze they decided to go join the girls in the library to work on there assignments.
At least Harry had finished his History of Magic last night. Of course Daisy had actually fallen asleep. He hadn't managed that.
"So," Harry began. "How was your date with Susan?"
Ron shrugged. "All right. I wont be seeing her again though. Just wasn't any spark."
Harry smiled. "Are you sure that's what you want? You and Hermoine have lots of spark."
"She's still hacked off at me," Ron said wincing. "I mean really, if Daisy could forgive me you'd think Hermione could!"
"Well Daisy didn't feel completely used. It might help things if you told Hermoine the real reason you kissed her."
"Yes oh sage Potter," Ron said mockingly.
"This I know, Ron," Harry said. "I've learned quite a bit about girls over the past few months."
"Oh yeah?" Ron said looking at his best friend. "And when was the last time you kissed a girl you cared about?"
Harry stopped abruptly.
'It never happened. She said it never happened.'
"I thought so!" Ron said over his shoulder to Harry's lack of answer. He assumed Harry's silence meant his friend hadn't kissed anyone he cared about.
"No Ron, you really have no idea," Harry said quietly be fore running to catch his friend.
*********************************
Harry and Ron reached the library and quickly found the girls. In fact more girls than they meant to. Daisy was sitting at the head of a round table, well, at least she made it seem like the head of the table.
She was the center of attention for group gathered around her. Ginny and Hermoine sat on either side, Blaise, and Padma Patil were off to Hermoine's other side. A fourth year Ravenclaw and Slytherin, whose names they didn't know. Then there were three girls with their backs to Harry and Ron.
Then Harry recognized what Daisy was talking about. He spotted the book they had been reading last night on the table.
"So, your a descended of Godric Gryffindor and Helga Hufflepuff?" the fourth year Ravenclaw asked.
"What? Oh yeah. Not an Heir of Gryffindor, or any thing. Ryhs, his son, was the heir and Anya, his daughter, is my ancestor. We can trace Benowyc's family all the way to Merlin. Plus Rowena was Anya's maternal aunt."
"Wow," said the awe struck girls. Hermoine was trying to laugh and Ginny looked torn between awe and amusement.
"Laying it on a bit thick, aren't we?" Harry said.
The girls looked up half startled. Blaise smiled broadly at Harry and he smile back.
Daisy tapped the book in front of her and said, "It's all history, proven fact."
The she noticed where his eyes had gone.
'Good!' she thought with a slight pain. 'Any one but me, that's right.'
Harry shook him self mentally and went back to the conversation he started.
"You couldn't even finish the book!" he laughed.
"Oh, so tell us how it ends?" Hermoine said.
Harry shrugged. "The good guys won. Hogwarts survived. The hero got the girl. General, all around, good over evil."
"Ah!" Daisy said, "but your forgetting that diabolical plans were put in place that haunt us even to this very day. We children of the founders always seem to suffer. We must carry the burden."
"You mean like how the Chamber of Secrets was opened?" Blaise asked.
"That's part of it," Daisy said. "But I'm sure there's more."
**********************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Daisy's Dream~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey, Lil," a boy of about fourteen with strawberry blonde hair, a smattering of freckles and grey eyes said as he sat down next to the depressed looking girl.
She was about his age with curly black hair, green eyes, and eight freckles on her nose (her mother had counted them and named them when she was still very young).
Her snappish response to his greeting was, "Don't call me that! Only mum called me that. No one else has in years. When was the last time anyone called you DJ?"
"Two weeks ago. The last time your mum spoke to me," he said somberly, looking out at the now setting sun. "I'm sorry, Heather. I know she was your mum, but we all miss her."
Heather Lily Potter sighed. "Sometimes I wonder just how much like her I am? You know she had ten freckles on her nose? And my hair is more like her mother's. I have my dad's eyes. Those are the differences. Other than that, we're just alike. I can remember watching her and seeing her do something, something stupid, like the way she waved her hand, and I'd think 'I do that. Just like that!' I wonder if she ever knew?"
"She knew, Heather. I'm sure."
"Yes oh great and wise Drake Malfoy, pass on your knowledge to this humble mortal."
"I though sarcasms was my department? Anyway, I heard her tell my mum once. She was very proud of you. Of all of your siblings too, but you she counted on you. She worried that you were under too much pressure because of it."
"I loved her, Drake. She was my hero." There were tears in Heather's eyes as she spoke. "Dad too, but he is always gone so much. I barely know him. But mum! She always managed to balance everything and put us first. And the rows she would have with dad!" Heather smiled through her tears then. "She would always ask why he wasn't here with his family. Was Quidditch so important?"
Drake's face scrunched in concentration. "I've been thinking about your dad and Uncle Ron. I don't think they're just Quidditch stars."
"Well, give the boy a prize! Of course not. They work for the Ministry too. Mum told me before, well, about a month ago."
"What job would they have at the Ministry that they couldn't tell us about?" Drake puzzled. Heather looked at him significantly. "Oh! Unspeakable. I get it."
"So did mum. She was so smart. Like I said, my hero."
*********************************************************
~~~~~~~~~~Harry Dream~~~~~~~~~~~
"I have enough now, My Lord," said a cloaked figure with a camera around his neck. "I can have the story published as soon as you wish."
"Tuesday, morning would probably be best," said a woman in shadow. "By that time they'll have our guests back."
"Our Lord can make his own decisions!" said another man, this one had an eerie silver light coming from his sleeve.
"Wormtail, Wormtail," a tall figure said emerging from the shadow by the woman shaking his head. "Belle is only offering a suggestion. One she knows I will reject if I wish. You should know I don't tolerate insubordination. I'd almost think you were jealous."
"N-no, My Lord," Wormtail said.
"Good," said another man. Harry knew it was Lucius Malfoy. "We don't want internal strife to weaken our ranks. We've been building our forces for a year. We're finally strong enough to act!"
"Soon, Lucius, soon," Voldemort said. "Very soon."
*************************************
When Harry woke, it was with a dull ach in his scar.
'Great, it's starting again,' he thought.
This was much like his summer nights. No burning, searing pain, but enough for him lose sleep.
He sighed. He could go back to sleep and wake from another dream, or he could go for a walk and hopefully induce a sounder sleep.
Walk, he decided. Maybe the Headmaster was still up. He should definitely tell him about the dream.
Voldemort, Malfoy, Belle, Wormtail, and a final figure he wasn't sure of, were in a room and talking about publishing something, gaining strength, and internal strife. And 'guests' had been mentioned. Were those the missing people? Did they know what was coming?
Definitely a walk.
*********************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Daisy's dream~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'I'm going to think happy thoughts! No visions of doom and or gloom! I won't allow it.'
'Well you just control the universe, don't you?'
'It's my party, you know. I'll cry if I want to and I don't want to!'
'Okay, happy thoughts...'
'Ha!'
Suddenly Daisy felt herself jolt. It wasn't quite as though she had hit the ground, but more like being found suddenly solid and walking.
She walked into a room to see two twelve year olds dueling and giggling.
"Heather Lily Potter!" she said sternly, hands on hips. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Mum! You're home early. Rehearsals go well?" the girl asked meekly, green eyes going wide and piteous.
"Go to your room now!" The girl ran. "And you!" she said turning to the boy who, as always, was Heather's partner in crime. "What did you do to your grandmother, DJ?"
"She's putting the little kids up from their naps," he said.
"So you took advantage of the situation? Well, Drake your dad would be proud."
The boy beamed. It wasn't often anyone talked about his father.
"Oh, get out of here. And Drake Jeremy Malfoy if I see you trying to corrupt my daughter again, or vice versa, you'll both be in for it. Warn her."
When he was gone Daisy let herself go in a fit of giggles. She was laughing do hard she started to fall towards the ground. Suddenly she found a pair of strong arms around her waist supporting her.
"Well handled, Wild Flower," her husband said and kissed her neck. "You are home early. What's up?" Harry rested his head on her shoulder waiting for her answer.
"I took off this afternoon. I went to Hermione," she said smiling, just enjoying him.
"Business or please?"
"Both. She took me to lunch to make up for all the horrid tests she was planning to put me through. Very kind of her."
"Are you alright?" he turned her around now and looked in her eyes.
She smiled. "Fine. She's just worried. You know how weak I was with the twins and all." Her smile broadened. "I'll have to be careful with this new one."
"You mean, again?"
Daisy threw her head back and laughed. "I think it'll be a boy, James Albus."
"We'll find out in nine months," he said smiling dopily.
"More like eight," she corrected before leaning into a deep kiss.
************
Daisy sat up in her bed.
'Those were not the happy thoughts I wanted!
'Wild and crazy youth. Ridiculous stunts that could get me killed. Flying! Winning at Quidditch.
'Anything other than that!
'Not that it matters.
' I was happy though.
'Reality won't wait forever.
'I'll make my own reality.
'Boy is this room small all of a sudden.
'I need to get out of here, go for a walk, sit in the Common Room and read, or pull out my tarot cards, it's been awhile.'
Daisy got up and pulled on her dressing gown and went down to the Common Room.
*************************************
Harry picked up his own dressing gown; throwing it on over the black boxer shorts he had fallen asleep in. He couldn't find his pajama bottoms, but figured it didn't matter. He'd just go talk to Dumbledore in the morning. For now he just need to get out of the dorm room.
He reached to grab his glasses out of reflex then realized the charm Hermoine cast earlier was still working and he didn't need them. He put them and his wand in his pocket just in case.
When he reached the Common Room he realized it wasn't empty.
"Daze?"
"Harry," she answered.
It was a terse reply. He wondered if she was angry with him. At this point he was just too tires to care. He sat on the small sofa with her.
"Nightmares?" he asked.
She closed her eyes and leaned her head on the back of the sofa. "Not quite, but I was pretty scared."
"No more bats I hope," he said.
She though of the strong arms that held her. "No bats she said."
"Daze look, about tonight..." he began.
"Harry, forget it. It never happened," she said firmly.
"Yeah but..." he tried again.
This time she practically growled, "It never happened."
"Okay!" he said. Then after a moment's silence, "so I heard about you and Neville, you laughed?"
Daisy smiled. "Well, he was just being so sweet but so horribly cliché. It really was too funny."
She looked at him then for the first time since he came in the room. "Voldemort?" she asked and motioned to his scar.
"Yeah. Something's up. He's going to 'publish' something. And I think they know about the rescue plan. I'll talk to the Headmaster before breakfast."
"Are you all right?" she asked.
Harry sighed. "Yes. Just a headache, you know."
"I know," she said.
She laced her fingers through his hand. Simple human contact was a vital part of child development they had both been denied. While he shied from it, she often sought it out. She needed that contact to know he was really there.
"Harry, I really need a friend right now," she said.
"Well, you've got more than one," he said.
'But the one I need is you,' she thought. 'Just a good friend.'
As if sensing her thoughts, he said, "And you won't be rid of me anytime soon."
"You're a good friend to put up with me," she said.
"Yeah well I need you as a friend too." 'Because I can't have you as more,' he thought, but said, "You're the only one who really understands visions."
******************************************
Daisy slammed the book she was reading closed.
"What are you reading?" Hermione asked looking up at the agitated girl.
She held up the book for the other girls in the small study group to see. "Transcripts from the Founder's War. Binns really doesn't cover anything! Anyway I know all this stiff," she said tossing the book across the table.
"And how is that?" Padma Patil asked.
Daisy shrugged. "I read constantly. It's often an effective cure for insomnia. Actually I read most of that book last night. Earned me a whole three hours sleep after."
"Oh, so tell us about the founders then," Sally-Anne Perks asked.
*****************************
Harry was wandering around the grounds with Ron. About the time their feet started to freeze they decided to go join the girls in the library to work on there assignments.
At least Harry had finished his History of Magic last night. Of course Daisy had actually fallen asleep. He hadn't managed that.
"So," Harry began. "How was your date with Susan?"
Ron shrugged. "All right. I wont be seeing her again though. Just wasn't any spark."
Harry smiled. "Are you sure that's what you want? You and Hermoine have lots of spark."
"She's still hacked off at me," Ron said wincing. "I mean really, if Daisy could forgive me you'd think Hermione could!"
"Well Daisy didn't feel completely used. It might help things if you told Hermoine the real reason you kissed her."
"Yes oh sage Potter," Ron said mockingly.
"This I know, Ron," Harry said. "I've learned quite a bit about girls over the past few months."
"Oh yeah?" Ron said looking at his best friend. "And when was the last time you kissed a girl you cared about?"
Harry stopped abruptly.
'It never happened. She said it never happened.'
"I thought so!" Ron said over his shoulder to Harry's lack of answer. He assumed Harry's silence meant his friend hadn't kissed anyone he cared about.
"No Ron, you really have no idea," Harry said quietly be fore running to catch his friend.
*********************************
Harry and Ron reached the library and quickly found the girls. In fact more girls than they meant to. Daisy was sitting at the head of a round table, well, at least she made it seem like the head of the table.
She was the center of attention for group gathered around her. Ginny and Hermoine sat on either side, Blaise, and Padma Patil were off to Hermoine's other side. A fourth year Ravenclaw and Slytherin, whose names they didn't know. Then there were three girls with their backs to Harry and Ron.
Then Harry recognized what Daisy was talking about. He spotted the book they had been reading last night on the table.
"So, your a descended of Godric Gryffindor and Helga Hufflepuff?" the fourth year Ravenclaw asked.
"What? Oh yeah. Not an Heir of Gryffindor, or any thing. Ryhs, his son, was the heir and Anya, his daughter, is my ancestor. We can trace Benowyc's family all the way to Merlin. Plus Rowena was Anya's maternal aunt."
"Wow," said the awe struck girls. Hermoine was trying to laugh and Ginny looked torn between awe and amusement.
"Laying it on a bit thick, aren't we?" Harry said.
The girls looked up half startled. Blaise smiled broadly at Harry and he smile back.
Daisy tapped the book in front of her and said, "It's all history, proven fact."
The she noticed where his eyes had gone.
'Good!' she thought with a slight pain. 'Any one but me, that's right.'
Harry shook him self mentally and went back to the conversation he started.
"You couldn't even finish the book!" he laughed.
"Oh, so tell us how it ends?" Hermoine said.
Harry shrugged. "The good guys won. Hogwarts survived. The hero got the girl. General, all around, good over evil."
"Ah!" Daisy said, "but your forgetting that diabolical plans were put in place that haunt us even to this very day. We children of the founders always seem to suffer. We must carry the burden."
"You mean like how the Chamber of Secrets was opened?" Blaise asked.
"That's part of it," Daisy said. "But I'm sure there's more."
**********************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Daisy's Dream~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey, Lil," a boy of about fourteen with strawberry blonde hair, a smattering of freckles and grey eyes said as he sat down next to the depressed looking girl.
She was about his age with curly black hair, green eyes, and eight freckles on her nose (her mother had counted them and named them when she was still very young).
Her snappish response to his greeting was, "Don't call me that! Only mum called me that. No one else has in years. When was the last time anyone called you DJ?"
"Two weeks ago. The last time your mum spoke to me," he said somberly, looking out at the now setting sun. "I'm sorry, Heather. I know she was your mum, but we all miss her."
Heather Lily Potter sighed. "Sometimes I wonder just how much like her I am? You know she had ten freckles on her nose? And my hair is more like her mother's. I have my dad's eyes. Those are the differences. Other than that, we're just alike. I can remember watching her and seeing her do something, something stupid, like the way she waved her hand, and I'd think 'I do that. Just like that!' I wonder if she ever knew?"
"She knew, Heather. I'm sure."
"Yes oh great and wise Drake Malfoy, pass on your knowledge to this humble mortal."
"I though sarcasms was my department? Anyway, I heard her tell my mum once. She was very proud of you. Of all of your siblings too, but you she counted on you. She worried that you were under too much pressure because of it."
"I loved her, Drake. She was my hero." There were tears in Heather's eyes as she spoke. "Dad too, but he is always gone so much. I barely know him. But mum! She always managed to balance everything and put us first. And the rows she would have with dad!" Heather smiled through her tears then. "She would always ask why he wasn't here with his family. Was Quidditch so important?"
Drake's face scrunched in concentration. "I've been thinking about your dad and Uncle Ron. I don't think they're just Quidditch stars."
"Well, give the boy a prize! Of course not. They work for the Ministry too. Mum told me before, well, about a month ago."
"What job would they have at the Ministry that they couldn't tell us about?" Drake puzzled. Heather looked at him significantly. "Oh! Unspeakable. I get it."
"So did mum. She was so smart. Like I said, my hero."
*********************************************************