Facing Fear… Again
Daisy slept through the night and most of the next day. The murmuring of many voices from downstairs had faded, telling Daisy that most everyone had left - save likely her family. She made her way to the bathroom and after a long shower, she felt like a new person. Almost.
She made her way downstairs and found her brothers, father and Wills seated around the kitchen table, her mother at the stove. Iris smiled brightly.
"Good to see you up finally. Suspect you're hungry," she said, motioning to the table. Daisy nodded and walked over, sitting next to Wills. In a way, she almost couldn't tell that the day before they had all been battling for their lives and the future of the wizarding world. The scene was rather domestic. Normal.
"Where is everyone?" she asked as Wills poured her a glass of lemonade.
"Went home to rest," Oliver said. "Though, Teddy and the aurors are back working at the Ministry today overseeing the rest of it. Rather nice to have the home back to ourselves." He looked over at Iris who nodded her agreement, seeming happy to have everyone out.
"Tessa's with Toby. The twins are at the Ministry," she added, walking over with a bowl of stew that she put in front of Daisy before sitting.
"How is he?" she asked.
"Doing well, for the most part. He wasn't hurt that badly. Just needs a bit of rest, I should think," Iris said, smiling at her.
"I'd like to go see him," she said. Iris nodded.
"I'm sure he'd like that. But first, eat something. You were out a rather long time," she said, pushing the bowl closer to Daisy. She started eating, finding herself starving. She had nearly emptied the bowl in a matter of minutes.
"Still don't know where she puts it," Wills muttered.
"High metabolism," Daisy found herself saying without thinking. Her brothers looked at each other and chuckled. Iris just got up and grabbed the empty bowl, going to refill it. "How long was I out?"
"A good 15 or so hours," Jamie replied. "We were beginning to wonder if you were ever going to wake up."
"I kept checking to make sure you were breathing and even tried to rouse you a few times. Thought someone slipped you draught of living death," Wills replied, looking over at her. Oliver frowned at the chaser, obviously still not happy about the idea that he had been sharing a room with Daisy – even if it was just a couple nights.
"Dad, we live together," she said, rolling her eyes slightly as she read his mind. Oliver grunted and turned his attention to his own stew, attempting to avoid starting a fight with her. Iris returned with the now full bowl, putting it back in front of Daisy, who tucked in a bit slower this time.
They all ate silently for a bit, the triplets glancing around the table, though mostly at Daisy. She finally put her spoon down and sighed.
"I'm not an invalid and I didn't almost die," she said, sitting back in her chair and crossing her arms. "Stop treating me with kid gloves."
"But, you could've," Remus started weakly.
"As could have you. All of you," Daisy said, looking around the table. "I ought to ream you out for showing up where you weren't supposed to be."
"But you needed us there," Remus said. Daisy narrowed her eyes at him. She opened her mouth to yell, but then stopped, shaking her head and deciding it wasn't worth it.
"Suppose there's no point in arguing about it now," she said with a sigh. "What's done is done. I'm just glad I didn't have to go over for any of your sorry arses." She focused on Alan. "Again."
"If it helps, Teddy says things are going well with the next part," Alan said, smiling at her across the table. "Should have them all rounded up in the next few weeks, he thinks." Daisy nodded slowly.
"What about the Prostatis?" she asked, looking at her mother.
"Back to the island, most of them. Nikos mentioned he still like us to come train when we can – there's still more you can learn specifically. But I think Tessa, the twins and Christos are relocating here on a more permanent basis," Iris said, a hint of a smile on her face.
"That does not surprise me," Daisy said, reaching for her glass. "Suspect we'll be hearing about new connections in the near future."
"Christos wants to stay with us," Remus said. "Alekos is looking for a place for him and his fiancée nearby, as is Aleka."
"What about Tessa?" Daisy asked, glancing at her mother.
"She's welcomed to stay here, but I feel she might find London more to her liking," Iris said. "Audrey's offered her a spot in the obliviator department. Special dispatch that works closely with the auror team. Toby is going to head it up."
"Seems everyone's been hard at work while I slept," Daisy said, a bit in awe.
"Ah, you've got an owl from Nilsson. Suspect it's the new practice schedule," Jamie said. Daisy's eyebrows shot up.
"Already?" she asked. "I bloody just brought him back yesterday."
"Seems he couldn't sleep and spent most of the night working on it - talking to the sports department and Dad," Jamie replied. "Dad's offered to let you lot use our field until yours is fixed up."
"So, the season?" Daisy asked.
"Taking a two-week break and then it's back to normal," Oliver said. "They don't want to push back the schedule too much."
"Though I'm sure Nilsson would allow you more time off if you need it," Iris said, placing her hand on Daisy's.
"Why would I want more time?" Daisy asked. The table was silent. "If anything, I'd rather get back to work tomorrow."
"Are you sure?" Oliver asked. Daisy turned to look at him.
"To be honest, quidditch is the only thing that makes sense at the moment," she said. "Best to get back to it. The sooner I do that, the sooner things get back to normal." Oliver looked over, meeting Iris' eyes again. "I'm fine, you two. No need for secret parent discussions."
"She's still got her eye on MVP and the finals, after all," Remus said with a smile. Daisy looked up at him, grinning.
"Got to beat you lot, don't I?" she said.
"So you think," Alan said.
As soon as lunch was finished, Daisy insisted that she and Wills go over to Toby's. She launched into his arms as soon as he opened the door to his humble flat, nearly knocking him over.
"I'm fine, Pix. Really," he said, laughing.
"I needed to see it for myself," she said, stepping back from him. She studied his face and frowned, noting the bruises.
"Tessa's been taking good care of me. They should all be gone soon enough," he said, letting her and Wills in. They all walked into the small living room. Toby winced slightly as he lowered himself onto the sofa, Daisy quickly sitting next to him as Wills took an armchair.
"I would have thought you'd come sooner in your eagerness," Tessa said softly as she walked in holding a tray of tea things.
"Would have, but I apparently needed to sleep a lot longer than expected," Daisy said. Tessa nodded as she handed Daisy a teacup.
"Not surprised. You did use your gifts a lot yesterday. You needed to recoup," she said as she handed Toby his and then Wills' before settling in the other armchair.
"Is it always like that?" Wills asked, looking over at her. She just shrugged.
"Depends. The more you use your gift, the stronger you get and the less time you spend recovering. But if you use a lot of it at once – no matter your strength - it can take a while," she said. Daisy nodded and returned her attention to Toby.
"Really, how are you?" she asked.
"I told you, I'm fine. They roughed me up a bit, but nothing more. No torture. Didn't get much out of me," he said.
"Except that I couldn't bring someone back without a body," Daisy said. Toby's eyes widened.
"Right… that slipped out. I heard about Lucy," he said. "Sorry." Daisy smiled slightly and pulled him into a hug.
"Don't worry about it, Toby. It's all fine now," she said. "Heard you get your own team now." Toby beamed in pride as she let go of him.
"They told you, did they?" he said. "Tessa's on it too." Daisy looked over at her.
"Seems you'll be staying with us after all," Daisy replied with a smile.
"Once I got passed my earlier fear, I have grown fond of life off the island," she said with a shrug. "In fact, more of our kind seem keen to leave and explore."
"Really?" Daisy asked. Tessa nodded.
"Nikos and Christos have started something. A few mentioned coming to visit before they left yesterday," she said. "Nikos' been asked to be one of the new elders."
"That does not surprise me," Daisy said. "Surprised they didn't ask him sooner."
"He will have to stay on the island more, but I suspect he will find reasons to leave," Tessa said with a soft smile. Daisy looked back over at Toby.
"Really Pix. Do you intend to smother me as well?" he asked lightheartedly. "This one hasn't let me leave her sight since I got back. Wouldn't even let me go back to fight."
"And I'm glad about that," Daisy replied. "You were in no shape to be fighting!" Toby just shook his head and laughed softly.
"Well, it's all done now, isn't it?" he said. "Time to get back to life and all. Hear the season's taking a two-week break. When you go back to practice?"
"Few days," she said. "Coach wanted us all to rest up a bit."
"Suspect you more than the others," he replied. Daisy shrugged.
"Blanks' likely need it too. Alan seemed off for a bit after I brought him back," she said. "Really, Nilsson shouldn't have been up working yet either."
"Seems even he is chomping at the bit to get back on the pitch," Toby said. Daisy chuckled as she looked over at Wills.
"We've got a repeat to stage, after all," she said.
They settled into an easy conversation about quidditch, with Daisy laughing and smiling as normal. But Wills could see there was something there just under it. In her eyes. A slight worry. He could feel the soft undercurrents of it through their connection, but now was not the place to bring it up. Not in front of others.
After a couple hours, the two of them stood and left the flat, Daisy taking them to their flat rather than the country house.
"Had enough of your father, have you?" Wills asked lightly as Daisy sat on the sofa.
"For now," she said. "Worried his head might explode the longer the two of us share a room right under his nose. It's one thing when he doesn't have to see it every day - another completely when it's there staring him in the face." Wills chuckled as he sat next to her.
"Well, now we're alone, you want to tell me what's really bothering you? I've sensed it all day," he said with a sigh. Daisy looked over at him, narrowing her eyes slightly. She then shook her head and leaned on his shoulder, wrapping her arms around him.
"Suppose… everyone seems to be moving on rather quickly. Taking the next step. I just wonder what's next for me," she said softly. "Besides quidditch, that is." Wills took a deep breath and slowly let it out, gathering his thoughts before he spoke.
"Well, you have your gifts," he started.
"Yea, but how am I supposed to use them? Without the threat of war, there doesn't seem much need for bringing back the dead," she said. "Not to mention, I'm not particularly keen on using too often."
"Well, your mum doesn't really need to use hers that often. The shields, anyway. And Christos doesn't turn into animals all the time," Wills said. Daisy nodded slowly. "Suppose you have them just in case. In the meantime, the healing bit will come in handy with quidditch."
"That is true," she said. "And I can always go to the island and train more in that. I need it to be honest."
"There you go. That's something," Wills said brightly. Daisy smiled slightly and looked at him. She went silent for a bit.
"There's something else I can do," she said. Wills frowned slightly.
"What you thinking?" he asked.
"You know about the other bit… the talking to the dead. Bringing them back for short periods of time," she said. Wills nodded as he caught on to what she was saying. "Really, I've put it off long enough. I'm sure it would give some solace to the family. I should bring the others back."
"You sure you're up for that any time soon? You didn't seem too happy to go back yesterday," he said. Daisy sighed.
"Well, this is part of who I am, I'll have to get over that. And… it's worth it, for my family. I know Mum misses Aunt Lily something fierce. Doesn't seem right that only I and Alan can talk to them," she said. "And I did promise Teddy."
The two sat in silence a few more moments.
"I think that's a grand idea," Wills finally said. "As long as you can handle it." Daisy smiled and shoved him gently.
"This is me, we're talking about. I'm the amazing Pixie Wood. Defeater of Magnus. Best seeker in the league. I've got strength enough," she said. Wills chuckled softly and kissed her.
"That you do, Pix."
This one is a little shorter than the others, but it was a last-minute addition when I was working on finishing everything up (it's all written now - FINALLY). I felt like Daisy needed a moment to check on Toby. And I needed a better transition into bringing the others back (started writing that chapter weeks ago). And once I wrote this, I couldn't really think of anything else that I needed to add to it. Though I suppose there's potential for some oneshots in there.
I can't believe it's all done. Still have one chapter and the epilogue to post. And then it's all done... wow. Probably won't hit me until I post the epilogue to be honest.
Anywho, hope you guys enjoy! Thanks for reading, following and reviewing!
