A/N: Many thanks to CrazyRopeDragon for beta-ing! You're made of glitter and stardust and you are fantastic! :D
Chapter Two – I Solemnly Swear That I Am Perfectly Fine
At breakfast the next morning Daisy ended up sitting with Cedric Diggory and his friends, having met them in the common room. Every one of them insisted upon it. At the table, they talked about Quidditch mostly, and Daisy was happy to listen as she filled her plate with scrambled eggs, sausages, and rashers. Sitting next to Cedric, Daisy was overly aware of why he had been dubbed the golden boy of Hogwarts. He was a prefect, a seeker and captain of her house team, top of the class and rumoured to be the best looking and most desired boy at school. She suddenly felt very inadequate and started to slouch in an attempt to make herself smaller. However, her housemates were damn near famous for considering others, and they soon picked up on her behaviour.
"Here," Cedric passed a sheet of paper to Daisy, "Fifth year timetables." He smiled.
Daisy thanked him quietly. Defence against the Dark Arts was her first class, followed by Charms, Care of Magical Creatures and finally, Herbology. She frowned slightly.
"How is it you know Lee Jordan?" Cedric asked, turning in his seat slightly to better face her.
"Oh," Daisy looked away from her timetable, "He's Charlie's boyfriend. Charlie's been my friend since first year."
"Isn't she in Ravenclaw?" He seemed genuinely curious.
"Yeah. Most of my friends are in different houses to me. Aquila's in Gryffindor, so are the Weasleys and Hermione…"
"Hermione? The girl who hangs around with Harry Potter?"
Daisy pursed her lips in an effort not to snap at him; she's more than the people she associates with, "That's the one. It's kind of nice to have a fellow muggleborn to get excited over magic with."
"Oh, right, you're a muggleborn. Not that I'm put off or anything, you just really seem to have that pureblood look to you."
"Yeah," One of his friends agreed, "You look like a Black…" As soon as the word fell from his mouth, he realised exactly the implications it had.
"Or a LeStrange…ah, Merlin, that's not much better is it?" Cedric chuckled, "Don't worry about it. If you're muggleborn, then you're definitely not related to them."
Daisy laughed weakly. She'd know if she was related to them. It was silly to think otherwise.
"Best be off, Defence Against the Dark Arts. Wouldn't want to give a bad impression to the new teacher." Cedric rose from his seat with all the grace Daisy expected him to have, then he looked at her, "You need more time?"
"What? Oh, right, we're…in the same class…" She felt colour rise to her cheeks as she fumbled to get her bag and slide out of her seat with all the grace of a drunk penguin.
Cedric didn't say anything else until they were out of the Great Hall, "Sorry, I just assumed…"
"No, no it's fine. It'd be silly if I hung back…"
"Is it not lonely for you, not having friends in your own house?"
Daisy shrugged, "Not really. I get along with everyone. I'm just quiet I guess…tend to mesh better with louder people."
"Explains why you're friends with so many Gryffindors." He smiled at her.
"Not just any Gryffindors, but the loudest pair as well…"
"The Weasley twins? You're kidding. Are you just friends with the whole Gryffindor team?"
"I mean…kind of…? I know, I know, I'm a traitor to my own house…"
Cedric laughed heartily. He had a lovely laugh, "Not at all! Everyone's free to pick their own friends. They're a good bunch, the Gryffindor team. Always a pleasure to play on the field."
It was silly of Daisy to think for a second that a Hufflepuff of all people would condemn her for her inter-house friendships. Wait until he met Kitty…
Cedric stood to one side to allow Daisy to enter the classroom first. He sat down next to her as she pulled out her books, quill and parchment. It was only then Daisy noticed that three out of the nine girls in her class were staring at her. They very quickly turned around and started giggling to themselves. Before Daisy had time to relay this to Cedric however, Professor Lupin entered the classroom. He looked as shabby as ever, and if she remembered correctly he seemed to look a little healthier too.
"There will be no need for books today; we'll be doing a practical lesson." He announced as he placed his battered briefcase on the desk.
A few students looked at each other, slightly confused. A practical lesson? They'd never had one before. Although to Daisy it only made sense.
"Right then, if you'd follow me please."
Still slightly bewildered, the Hufflepuffs followed Professor Lupin out of the classroom towards the staffroom. He opened the door and instructed them to go inside. It was an old panelled room with mismatched chairs. There was no one inside at the moment. He led them to the end of the room where there was nothing but an old wardrobe where the teachers probably kept their coats…or robes or something.
As Lupin made to stand next to it, the wardrobe gave a sudden wobble, and Daisy stopped dead in her tracks, causing Cedric and two other students to bump into her.
"Nothing to worry about," Lupin said calmly, "There's a boggart in there is all. I asked professor Dumbledore if he could leave it to give my students some practice. Now then, can anyone tell me what exactly a boggart is?"
A few students raised their hands, "Ah yes; Mr. Diggory, isn't it?"
"Yes sir." He nodded, "It's a shapeshifter that can take the form of whatever frightens a person most."
"Very good."
Daisy looked at professor Lupin, then at the wardrobe and then up at Cedric, who was looking at her. "Are you okay?" He mouthed.
Daisy nodded. Cedric looked unconvinced.
Professor Lupin went on to instruct the class on the charm used to get rid of a boggart, and how exactly to do that charm. "Laughter is what truly finishes a boggart. The spell is designed to have the boggart assume a form you believe is funny, to turn your fear into something amusing." It was at this point Daisy began to feel sick. She couldn't make that funny, there was no way, it was impossible.
Daisy made a point to stand as far back as she could, Cedric ended up standing near her. "It's embarrassing…the thing I'm scared of…" He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"…well for some…" She muttered. Cedric didn't hear her.
The boggart would go for her first anyway. She knew it would. She knew what it would turn into, and she knew for a fact she couldn't make that funny. There was no possible way…
"Diggory, would you be so kind as to go first?" Lupin smiled at him. Daisy watched as Cedric swallowed, took a deep breath, rolled his shoulders back and stepped forward.
"On the count of three I shall open the wardrobe, ready?" Lupin held his wand aloft, "One, two, three…"
Out of the wardrobe came a very large bird. No, no it wasn't a bird. It was half bird, half horse. A hippogriff? It was jet black, with golden eyes. Daisy thought it was beautiful, but Cedric had gone rigid. The hippogriff reared on its hide legs, screeching. Daisy looked away and flinched when Cedric cried, "R- Riddikulus!" With a loud crack The bird's feathers all fell off, leaving it looking very embarrassed. It looked around frantically for its next victim. "Miss Bagshot!" Lupin called over the laughter. The small, round faced girl stepped forward, seeming nervous, as Cedric re-joined Daisy.
"That was scary…" She whispered quietly.
"You think?" He seemed reassured.
One by one the students were called forth to perform the boggart-banishing spell. Daisy kept an eye on the time and thought maybe she'd get away with not having to do it…alas, they were the smallest class and of course, there was just enough time for her.
"Miss Morgan!" Lupin was laughing heartily, but stopped when he looked at her.
Slowly, she stepped forward, her rowan wand held aloft as she tried desperately to at least make the boggart turn into something she was less frightened of. A bloody corpse, even a dementor would be a better option!
CRACK! There she stood. Smaller than Daisy, slightly tanned skin, a cute little face and brown eyes that held no emotion whatsoever. She was frowning at her. She said nothing. She did nothing. And neither did Daisy. The students stopped laughing. Daisy was still holding her wand, hand trembling as she stared at her younger sister. She started to move towards her, "Mum fell down the stairs," She said quietly, "She tripped," Her tone was menacing, there was an evil smile on her thin lips. She hadn't tripped. Daisy remembered that all too well. There was a loud CRACK again, and the boggart turned into her mother lying on the floor. Helpless and bleeding from her head, she cried out for Daisy to help. Her younger sister stood over her, demanding that she ask her for help instead. The sound made the other students clap their hands to their mouths, gasp and some of them even had to look away.
"Ridi…" Daisy took a breath, "Riddikulus…" She whispered. Nothing happened. Her sister kept shouting abuse at her mother, her mother kept crying hysterically.
Before the boggart made another move Lupin stepped in front of Daisy. CRACK. A bright white orb hung in the air before Lupin who said, "Riddikulus," almost lazily, and the orb transformed into a deflated balloon that made a very sad sound as it drifted over towards the wardrobe. Lupin shut it in using his wand.
Everyone was very quiet for a moment. "Right then, five points to Hufflepuff for everyone who tackled the boggart, ten for Cedric for answering my question correctly and tackling the boggart as well. No homework shall be given for today. Class dismissed." He said shortly, then looked at Daisy, "Perhaps we ought to get you to Madame Pomfrey." He smiled kindly.
But Daisy couldn't hear him. She was staring blankly at the floor, her eyes somewhat unfocused. She made to collapse but Lupin caught her. Her eyes were still open and unfocused for a few seconds before she seemed to blink a few times and look at Lupin, startled, "What…where am I?"
"You're…you're in the teacher's lounge." He answered calmly, helping her to her feet once more.
"…oh, why am I here?" Her voice trembled.
"You were in a Defence Against the Dark Arts…" Lupin frowned. The girl was very clearly confused. Perhaps she was in shock? "Come," He hovered his hand behind her back, "We should go to Madame Pomfrey's."
She nodded vaguely.
Twice more the same thing happened, and in the end Lupin elected to carry her there himself. Madame Pomfrey didn't seem at all surprised to see her.
"Collapsed?"
"Yes. We had a class on boggarts and I'm afraid her's turned out to be a little too…real." He didn't want to explain any further unless he had to.
"Ah, stress and anxiety. Causes her to collapse for some reason... Best she stays here for a while. Do you have a class Remus?"
"Not until after lunch with the third years, why?"
"Well she's often a bit confused and disoriented when she wakes and this can send her into a panic, I'm trying to think if any of her friends would be nearby… Aquila Virgo Valentine, Cassiopeia Ford, one of the Weasley twins… I'd sit with her but…" She nodded towards a wailing blonde haired boy in a bed at the end of the room. "Hippogriff attacked him…"
Lupin raised his eyebrows, "Well well, quite the ordeal."
"Hmm. One has to wonder." Madame Pomfrey eyed the boy suspiciously as he tried to look at the newest arrival and keep up his crying.
Daisy stirred and opened her eyes slowly, "…what…where…?"
"I'll stay with her for the time being." He smiled. Sensing the urgency in Madame Pomfrey's voice.
"Do tell her where she is, what happened and what time it is. It usually eases her nerves." Madame Pomfrey explained. She then made her way over to the blonde boy who Lupin now recognized to be a Malfoy, likely Lucius's boy…
"You're in the hospital wing of Hogwarts, you collapsed this morning in my class – Defence Against the Dark Arts – while facing a boggart as a practical lesson."
She blinked at him. And not for the first time was Lupin struck with the thought that she looked an awful lot like someone he once knew. Softer in the face, but all those other distinctive features were there…
"Sir…uh…what happened? In the class I mean…I forget after I…fall…" She looked sheepish.
"Your boggart was…well, perhaps a little too real. A replay of a terrible event I think. I had to step in, end the class, and that was when you collapsed. Taking you up to Madame Pomfrey you fainted twice more, so I elected to carry you." He paused, "I ought to have allowed some to opt out of such a thing…but boggarts are tricky things, better to learn how to deal with them now than face them not knowing what to do later I'd thought."
"No, you're right I think…I would have thought it was real…"
"So you remember now?"
"No, but I know what my boggart would be." The look on her face was a mixture of embarrassment, anxiousness, and terrible upset.
There was yet another cry from the end of the room and Daisy jumped, "What–! Jesus fuck!"
There it was again. She was so very like… "Careful, Madame Pomfrey wouldn't appreciate the use of such language from any of her patients."
"Who's that?"
"Ah…young boy attacked in care of magical creatures. Disrespected a hippogriff I think, very unwise thing. He must have really upset it for it to be so bothered as to actually attack…"
Daisy frowned, "Wasn't…Diggory's boggart a hippogriff?"
"Oh, yes. This boy was attacked by a real one. I think it's Hagrid's."
She pursed her lips. "Oh right…good thing he doesn't take Care of Magical Creatures…"
"A good thing indeed." Lupin smiled. She seemed a little better. Less confused at least.
"I'm sorry sir. I should've said something. I always forget to tell new teachers about my…uh, condition."
"Not to worry, I'm just glad you're alright. You're welcome to leave the class any time you feel nervous. I'm sure your classmates would be more than happy to fill you in. Your health must always come first, never forget that."
Daisy nodded once.
Before he left, Professor Lupin gave Daisy a rather large piece of chocolate, saying that it would make her feel better. Honestly she had to wonder if he kept chocolate on him all the time.
As always Madame Pomfrey summoned a mug of steaming hot chocolate for Daisy and left her with a few sheets of square paper for her to fiddle with. She'd always loved origami. She found it soothing to focus on folding the paper as neatly as possible, to turn it into a crane, or a fox, or a decorative little flower.
A few more students ended up in the hospital wing due to various mishaps in classes. One had been attacked by a venomous plant in herbology, another had managed to make a feather explode in charms. Daisy was finished making a large paper rose when Gryffindor's own Oliver Wood walked in with a very pale Aquila at his side. As she was tended to Daisy tried to focus even harder on her paper, to try and ignore what was being said. It was rude after all. But she'd heard it all anyway.
Dementors were the natural enemy of fairies. Daisy knew that from having researched them long ago in her first year. And yet it never occurred to her that they'd affect Aquila. She must've had more fairy blood in her than she'd originally thought.
"Daisy?"
She looked up, "Oh, Cedric?"
"Sorry, I had classes, I couldn't get free until now. How are you feeling?" He sat down on the bed near her, she automatically moved away, "Sorry, should I sit there?" He gestured to the stool.
"If…you don't mind? I'm fine now." She said quietly. Cedric Diggory coming to see her in the hospital wing? Oh the scandal.
"I think it goes without saying…but none of us will say a word. That was awful."
Daisy took a shaky breath, "Yeah, it was…" He didn't need to know she'd passed out and forgotten five minutes of her life. Again. She'd managed to go a whole summer without doing that and all…
"Did you make those?" he asked, pointing to the flowers and foxes.
"What? Oh, yeah. I do it when I'm…it calms me down some." She shrugged.
"By hand?"
Her eyebrows knitted, "Yes…? Oh!" She sighed, "Magic, right, that's a thing I can do…"
"They're impressive, may I?" He pointed to a small paper fox.
"Sure." She shrugged again.
"So clever…how's it done?"
"You just fold paper in particular ways and…that happens. It's an ancient muggle art from Japan."
"Would you mind showing me? Only if you're up to it–"
"The fallen maiden and her handsome prince!" Daisy could feel her face go red as Fred clapped his hand to his mouth dramatically, "Oh Georgie, I think I'm gonna cry…our little Daisy's all grown up!"
For a moment Daisy swore George looked confused. If he had, he quickly regained his composure and embraced his brother, "There there darling, there there…we knew this day would come!"
Cedric was laughing, his face had also taken on a lot more colour. Oh my god does he fucking fancy me for real?! The thought made her giddy. "Shut the fuck up you two…" She threw a rose at them but Fred managed to have it explode with a flick of his wand.
"Rude! And we'd come to cheer you up and all."
"Who…how do you…?"
"We know everything Daisy, everything." Fred leaned coolly against the wall near her bed.
"Plus Nina Thomas in your year talks really loudly." George tutted and shook his head.
Daisy glanced at Cedric who looked positively mortified. "I told them not to say anything."
"I wouldn't worry about it," George sighed, "No one will say a word to Daisy about it. Or else."
Cedric looked from George to Fred, "They'll be hearing from you?"
"Not just us. Probably Aquila," Fred said.
"And Oliver," George added.
"Charlie too,"
"Then there's Lee,"
"Oooh once Hermione got word she'd hex the living daylights out of them."
"Not to mention Ginny, she loves you Daisy, thinks the sun shines out of your–"
"You two!" Madame Pomfrey snapped from afar, "What on earth did you do to Malfoy!"
Fred and George looked at one another, and then scrambled for the door, calling their well wishes to Daisy as they fled from the wrath of Madame Pomfrey.