I lost internet access. I was going to put these up seperatly over the course of this week (31 sunday, 32 today and 33 friday) but I don't know when my modem will be back so you get all three today. I didn't check for typoes but everything should be spelled right.

Chapter 31

Daisy awoke Saturday and stretched for a long moment. Then she plopped back down on her bed.

"Soft pillow..." she murmured.

"And you've been spending much too much time bonding with it," Hermione said from somewhere across the room. "You've missed breakfast."

"I had the most lovely dream," Daisy said groggily. "It was next Saturday, those awful tests were over, and you stopped nagging."

When she came out from behind her curtains Hermione stared at her, then began to roll on her bed laughing.

"You look...your all wrinkled...and your hair! We need a picture!"

"Oh go jump in the lake!" Daisy said as she grabbed her brush.

Hermione was trying to apologize as she caught her breath. "I'm sorry. But your always so perfectly...maintained and..." Hermione stopped dead in her tracks and stared at Daisy, specifically her neck.

Daisy had been wearing mock turtlenecks or thick choker type necklaces for the past few months. This was the first time Hermione had seen the scar on her neck.

"Herm, you're staring," Daisy said sitting dejectedly next to her.

"Is that from, is that what your sister did to you?"

Daisy ran her hand across the thin, smooth patch of raised skin that marred her flesh.

"What time is it?" she asked without answering the question. It didn't really need one. "We have to be at the Headmaster's office soon if I missed breakfast."

"Yes, I was going to wake you in a moment or two," Hermione said. "We should hurry."

"Herm? Don't mention this please. I really don't want to talk about it. And," her hand went to her throat again, "and everyone worries so much. I don't want to add more to it."

"Hermione smiled. "You'd better finish dressing. I'll tell the boys you'll be down in a moment."

When they entered the Headmaster's office it was already crowded.

"We have got to meet in smaller groups," Daisy said.

Hermione noticed she was glaring at Cho Chang who was glaring back.

"Something up?" Hermione asked with a nod towards Cho. Harry and Ron seemed to be oblivious.

Daisy looked around and saw no one was paying attention to them. "Cho was flirting with Harry."

"What?"

"Last night, when we came back, after his new found fortune became public knowledge, Cho was chatting him up."

"Daisy, Harry's always been rather well off. At least in the magical world. And he and Cho still talk all the time. I think you were imagining it. Or," Hermione lowered her voice to whisper, "your jealous."

"I am not!" Daisy said forcefully, her own voice barely more than a whisper. "I just don't like the idea of Cho getting her hooks in him again. I'm just being protective of my friend. After what she did to him last time, I can't believe your not more concerned."

Hermione shrugged. "Harry's a big boy. He can deal with his own love life."

"Or lack there of," Harry said from Hermione's other side. "Why are you two talking about my love life anyway?"

"Because your utterly hopeless, Wonderboy," Daisy said. "Utterly and completely hopeless."

They sat through the meeting, which was mainly rehashing the events of yesterday. Daisy didn't pay attention until she heard Sirius say "breach of security."

"We don't know what she found out, sir," Sirius said. "Anything Daisy knew is suspect."

Her great-uncle turned his blue eyes on her. "Daisy, you are more aware then most. Can you tell how much she might know?"

Daisy shook her head and hoped she didn't blush. "I was dreaming about...something pleasant. Then things just didn't feel right. I started to panic. I thought it was from the dream, but given time to examine it, I think Belle's presence mad things go foul. She didn't have much time. Give me a few days and some long meditation; I might be able to figure it out. But with OWLs starting the day after tomorrow and the stress of the trail, I think it would be a lost cause.

"I have know way of knowing for sure what she knows."

"I think," said Severus Snape," that the danger lies in her having access to Daisy again while she sleeps. If she can re-establish the mental link one or two more times, she could do it without a sight reference."

Hermione sat at dinner between Ron and Harry, who weren't looking at each other at all. They had barely said two words to each other since Harry and Daisy came back yesterday. Daisy had come into the Common Room and spoke to Ron quickly. They left and Harry had watched them very closely. Apparently he was in shock about what came out at the trial about Ron and Daisy.

Hermione was really surprised Ron hadn't given Harry details about his physical relationship with Daisy. Isn't that what guys did?

She had known. That was one thing Daisy had done a really bad job about keeping secret, at least with Hermione and Ginny. Ginny hadn't wanted to talk about it for obvious reasons but Hermione had to admit she was...curious.

There are just some things you can't learn about in a book. Sorting through the love lives of teenagers is one of them. Sorting through anyone's love life come to think about it.

"Hermione, we're studding in the library?" Harry asked.

"Yes, you wanted to go over Transfigurations?" Harry nodded. Hermione turned to her other side. "You coming too, Ron?"

Ron looked up from his plate to her. She saw his eyes flicker in Harry's direction then back to her.

"Um, no. I really need to work on Astronomy. I'll see you in the Common Room when you get back."

"Right," Harry said without looking at him. He grabbed the rucksack under his chair. "Coming, Hermione?"

"Yes." With one last look at Ron, Hermione left the table.

Daisy was having a very odd night. Ron and Ginny were studying on the other side of the Common Room. Ron wasn't looking at her, and while Ginny kept waving her over, somehow she wasn't quite eager to join them.

She sat alone, studying, without Hermione's gentle nagging. Daisy hadn't realized how used to that she'd gotten. She staring to take her friends for granted. Which was apparently dangerous in case one of them withheld information, as she often did.

Daisy looked at Ron again and sighed. Hopefully he wasn't picking up her bad habits. Harry really didn't need any more surprises.

"Um, Daisy?"

Daisy turned to see Pavrati Patil and Lavender Brown standing by her table holding the Divinations texts.

"Do you think you could help us go over a few things?" Lavender said.

Daisy really didn't know what to say. Sure these girls shared a room with her but they rarely spoke unless necessary. And Pavrati and she didn't get on at all.

"You see," Pavrati said, "we've been having trouble with the section on tarot cards. You are the resident expert. We were hoping you could help us."

If Pavrati could stomach it so could she. Besides, Pavrati and Lavender had both done so much better with their aurgy.

"Sure, I meant to study those stupid chicken entrails later. If you could help me with that I'd really appreciate it."

Lavender and Pavrati pulled up chairs and they began to study together. Daisy was actually having a civil conversation with Pavrati.

O.W.L.s! The fifth year students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry found out just how horrid the O.W.L.s really are. And it wasn't just the tests; it was what it did to the students.

Daisy and Hermione came out of their Ancient Ruins exam speaking Gaelic. The exam questions were all asked in Gaelic and the girls would slip into the ancient tongue for hours afterwards, their brains were so fried.

Transfigurations was a killer especially for Harry and Ron. The examination was given in two parts, written theory first then practical with assigned partners. Harry and Ron were paired together. They still hadn't been speaking much to each other. The began turning a mouse into a snuff box, then a desk into a pig, and finally, if they felt up to it, the students were given the option of turning their partner into any animal, stated before the transfiguration of course.

Harry turned Ron into a perfect boa constrictor. They even had a conversation in Parsletougne.

"Harry, I can't believe you turned me into a snake! Do I look like a Slytherin!"

"The look suits you, Ron. And hey you don't look like your brothers anymore."

"Change me back Harry!"

Ron had then tried to turn Harry into a skunk, but failed. Ron's Harry- skunk was almost all black, with only a faint yellow, crooked stripe down his back, reminiscent of a lightening bolt. Harry was not happy about this. He had Ron proceeded to glare at each other of the rest of the day.

It was Potions, however that was the worst. They began by writing an hour and half about a potion followed by a three hours of brewing in the stifling dungeons. They chose their own potion and were graded by how hard the potion was, and how well they did with it. Daisy was making Veritaserum, Harry was making Wolfsbane Potion, Hermione chose the Draught of the Living Death, and Ron had opted for Wit-Sharpening Potion.

By the time they finished all their exams, the fifth year Gryffindor's collapsed in the Common Room. No one moved or spoke. They just stared out until finally they were all asleep.

"I am so glad that's over!" Ron said from his bed to no one.

Well, that was a given since he and Harry weren't really talking and Harry was the only one in the room. Ron wondered if his best friend would even acknowledge his presence.

"Yeah," Harry mutter.

"So, you've decided to talk to me, then?" Ron said and turned to face Harry, who was polishing his broom.

Harry looked up. He had forgotten for a moment, that he wasn't talking to Ron. Then he remembered why he wasn't talking to Ron. Harry put the buffing cloth back in his broom-serving kit.

"It was you who did talk to me, Ron. I never kept anything like that from you. Hell, you asked me about that. If I had realized why you were really asking..."

"You would have what?" Ron said sitting up and glaring at Harry. "Told me not to touch your girl? Geez Harry, I didn't even go this ballistic when you went out with me sister! How far did you go with her anyway?"

Harry was shocked. "Ron, I would never! Ginny wasn't ready for anything like that!"

Ron actually sighed. He hadn't even realized he'd been holding his breath. Harry saw his reaction and a smiled as a wicked idea crept into his head.

"Although," Harry said, "Ginny was awfully close when we were dating. And she's had her fifteenth now, so she is of age now. And she was very taken with Neville."

"I'll kill him," Ron said. "If he touched her, I'll kill him."

"Well that's going to do a lot of good," Harry said. "You should trust a little more, Ron. Have a little faith. Actually have conversations with people."

"What, like tell my best friend who I was shagging?"

"It'd be a start, you great sodding git!" Harry was half smiling when he said this.

Ron winced a little. "Harry, what would you have done if I told you?"

"I don't know Ron. I'd not have been happy, thought," Harry answered honestly.

"That's why I didn't tell you. If there was some reason for you to know, or if you had asked out right, like I did, I'd have told you. But as it was, telling you severed no purpose."

Harry sat on the bed next to him. Ron genuinely seemed contrite about deceiving him.

"Well, there's always bragging rights," Harry joked.

Ron laughed. "Can you imagine what she'd do to me if I ever bragged about that?"

"I took a walk around the would to easy my troubled mind. I left my body lying somewhere in the sands of time. Well, I watched the world float to the dark side of the moon. I feel there's nothing I can do. I feel there's nothing I can do. Yeah.

I watch the world float to the dark side of the moon. After all I knew it had to be something to do with you. I really don't mind what happens now and then, as long as you'll be my friend at the end. If I go crazy then will you still call me Superman? If I'm alive then will you still be there holding my hand? I'll keep you by my side with my super human, my intent Kryptonite.

You call me strong you call me weak. You took for granted all the secrets that'd I keep..."

Daisy looked up from her guitar when she heard a noise coming from the boy's stairs. It was Ron and Harry. They were laughing.

"Thank God!" Hermione said when she saw the two boys enter together in such good spirits.

"Hey!" Ron said sitting in chair across from the girls. "Why'd you stop, Daze? We heard you playing all the way up stairs. Enticed us out of the dorm, it did."

"That, my dear boy, would be my sirens song calling the sailors to their death." Daisy grinned manically as she hugged her guitar.

"What gives?" Harry asked seeing her.

"Roxy Raven just got quite a flattering offer to play for a two month engagement at the Golden Snidget," Ginny informed the boys.

"I'm skipping out on the Phoenix meeting to go look over contracts this afternoon," Daisy said unable to stop from smiling. "Luigi's going to come collect me and then were off to the solicitor he found for me. I love having a manager. And since Lu owes me for being related to his slug of a brother, and my older brother would kill him anything untoward happened, I know I'm in good hands."

"Well good luck," Harry said. Somehow he had a bad feeling about this. She was going out to sing in public. The Golden Snidget was the most popular Wizarding club. If the rest of the world heard her sing, Harry had no doubt they would fall for her as hard as he did. He didn't stand a chance.

Daisy fidgeted in her rather stiff dress robes. They were a sever black thing that Lu had insisted she wear.

"I'll get you for this someday," she muttered darkly as the entered the Muggle office building. "My cloths would be less conspicuous here."

"Yes but not at the Snidget," said the attractive Italian. "Pam has had contact with the Wizarding world. She won't bat and one of her pretty eyes."

"Luigi, you aren't going to flirt with my lawyer, are you?"

He smiled. "Let me have my fun, Little One."

Daisy sighed at the old nickname. "So tell me about this 'Pam.'"

"Ah, Pamela, when she speaks birds sing. When she laughs, the sun shines with joy. When she..."

"Lu! Quit it. I get. She's a charmer. But what about the contracts? If she your age, can she handle it?" Daisy said looking at the man in his early twenties.

Luigi waved his hand dismissively. "Britain has not agreed with you, Little One. Can we say joke? And actually Pamela is a bit older than me."

Daisy smiled. "Ah, that famous taste for older women! So how much older?"

"She's about twenty eight. Not much older, eh?" he smirked

"Your incorrigible!" she laughed.

"And you're too British. I will take you back to Haven to loosen you up again."

"I was too loose in Haven," she said darkly.

Luigi didn't know what too say to this, but was swept with a new wave of guilt. "We need to take the lift to the third floor," was all he said.

Daisy nodded and they continued on in silence.

When the reached the office doors Daisy was back to fiddling with her robes.

"Eck!" she said.

Luigi glared at her and she got the message. Time to work. Lu was a flirt and had a well defined sense of fun that seemed to come with his accent, but when it was time to work Luigi Timoldi expected you to work. Fortunately they could be their charming gypsy selves for this work.

Luigi knocked on the door as they entered.

"Pamela, your secretary said we could come in," he said with a charming smile.

"Luigi! Yes, yes come in. Is this Miss Raven? I love your work. And, I say have we met before?" The woman still had her hand extend towards Daisy as her kind, broad smile faded. They started at each other. "Daisy?" she said finally dropping her hand.

Daisy looked at Luigi. "You so owe me a drink after this." Then she promptly fainted.

Daisy came to a moment later sitting a chair in Pamela's office. Luigi was fanning facing vaguely muttering about Guy killing him.

"Not if I do first!" Daisy said. "Damn I hate that." She rubbed her temples.

"Still the feisty little girl. Well not so little," Pamela smiled at her.

"Pam, your suppose to be dead!" Daisy said, still in shock.

Pamela smiled at her. "Yes, that's what your mum thought. When my relationship with your uncle ended, your mother was not happy with me."

"She told me you were hit by the mob! I totally believed her!"

"You were nine! Of course you believed her. The privet sector pay is much higher that public. I changed jobs. This one was a bit more demanding and my relationship with your uncle suffered. He wasn't happy that I was neglecting him. He told me to choose. Being the contrary creature I am, I chose work over him. Because of him though, a few of you wizarding types knew about me. Muggles are much more advanced in this type of thing and many wizards find it beneficial to have a muggle solicitor arguing on their behalf, which is what I will apparently be doing for you. That is if you want me to."

Daisy jumped up. "If I want you to? I am going to make so much money this summer! And with Lu running my career, I'll be so famous. Well, Roxy will anyway, but as I'm Roxy doesn't make much difference does it?"

Daisy smiled manically and Luigi and Pamela laughed until finally a tiny beeping emanated from Pamela's wrist.

"Time to go," she said. "Those stodgy old wizards won't know what hit them!"