Chapter 23: The Blame

After months of being at Hogwarts, the realization that she would soon be leaving the place seemed almost like a dream to Daisy. The rest of November and early December had passed so quickly, especially with the addition of regular Quidditch practice.

The first match Hufflepuff had was against Ravenclaw, and was rather uneventful. Daisy had gotten front-row seats since she was a backup player, but none of backup was needed for that game. Hufflepuff had won, but not by much. The keepers on both teams had let in few goals, and at the end of the match, both teams had only scored twice each, the winner being determined only by the catching of the snitch.

Every Quidditch enthusiast knew that Hufflepuff had the longest losing streak - not having won the cup for nearly a century. But this year, tension was high, because Gryffindor and Hufflepuff seemed almost on even ground - both were captained by one of the Wood twins who were well known for Quidditch skill. For the first time in forever, the most anticipated game wasn't the "inevitable" final between Gryffindor and Slytherin - but a final between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff.

Fortunately, Daisy wouldn't have to worry about this until she returned to Hogwarts after her Christmas Holiday, which was only a day away.

With only one evening left until the train ride home, Daisy had given herself a task to do. Over the past month, she and Jonathan had asked older students about the Room of Requirement, and gathered that the only way to summon it was to ask for a specific need while you walk past it three times. Students could ask the room "I need a toilet" or "I need a place to hide my stuff" or, most famously, "I need a place that no Voldemort supporters can get into."

Daisy had done something similar. She had wished to be back at home, but not in words so much as a picture. She had felt a feeling of longing while imagining the cozy rooms of her family's house. This is why, Daisy guessed, the room had been so specific in her case. This was the best explanation she and Jonathan had come up with. Sophie's wanderings had taken them past the wall three times, and from there, the room had sensed Daisy's need for encouragement, and delivered.*

This is the theory they went to test on their last evening at Hogwarts. They had left Sophia and Jasper behind - Daisy thought Sophia was bound to say something that was unintentionally insensitive, and Jasper had been spending his most of his time with Hugo recently anyway.

"You should start thinking about it now," Daisy told Jonathan.

Jonathan's eyes glazed over as he focused as much as he could on a room in his house that he missed. A few times, he nearly ran into other passing students or suits of armour, and Daisy had to redirect him so that he passed the wall three times. Sure enough, a door appeared.

Daisy pulled the door open. "You first!"

Jonathan walked in silently, and Daisy followed. The room they entered was evidently a sitting room. The walls were painted a pale green, and windows on two opposite sides of the room appeared to show a forested area outside.

After looking through these apparent windows, Daisy turned to Jonathan. Her friend was sitting on one of the grey couches, staring into the empty fireplace.

"So it worked?"

"It seems so," said Jonathan. "Everything I can remember is here. Either the castle just likes us, or people should have been visualising what they want instead of giving vague questions. Except in the cases where they didn't know what they were looking for, which now that I think about it, is how most people find this place. When they are looking for a room that they can't visualize. We need to come back here after the holiday."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Vernon Dursley had made up his mind. It had taken months to do so - but he had finally done it. If his granddaughter had joined those magical oddities, she didn't deserve his affections anymore. For the sake of the family, Vernon wasn't planning on treating her harshly. He would simply - ignore her, to put it simply. He would encourage his wife to do so as well, and suggest to Dudley ways of keeping Poppy out of this nonsense since he refused to try to get rid of the magic.

Waiting for his son to arrive, Vernon continued to think about this. He had been genuinely pleased meeting Anna - she seemed so normal. But how could any of these horrifying traits slipped into his own family? It must have come from her side. So when Petunia went to open the door, he comforted himself with this. There was nothing he could have done. It was her fault.

"Welcome! Yes, come in quickly now, its cold out," Petunia said as she ushered in her family members.

Poppy came bounding into the sitting room, and was quick to give her grandfather a hug. She couldn't have magic, thought Vernon. She wasn't anything like Harry had been - like the nuisance of a boy probably still was.

Once everyone's coats had been put away and everyone settled in, Vernon got out a Cluedo board for Poppy and Daisy to use while the adults talked at the table.

"Poppy and Daisy are still getting along well then, are they?" Petunia asked her Dudley and Anna.

"Of course," answered Anna. "It's almost as if nothing has changed. The girls still talk about their life with each other as they used to - it's just that Daisy has different things to talk about now."

Vernon found himself getting tense as he watched Anna's normal demeanor. The girl gestured and spoke as if she really couldn't see any issue with this - and Petunia was following along! Suddenly Anna's appearance didn't seem so friendly. The sparkling pin in her blonde hair looked suspiciously magical. Was there, perhaps, a wand hidden in her purse?

"And are you so certain that the girls should be talking to each other so - so warmly? Poppy should be separated from her sister so that she doesn't acquire any of the same qualities!" Vernon said.

He was startled at the severe expressions he received from his family members.

"I have already told you that we intend to support Daisy in her magic - and that includes Poppy's support. It would be a cruel punishment for both of them to restrict their time together more than it has already been restricted," Dudley told his father. His voice started low, almost at a growl, before he seemed to regain control and finish cordially.

It was then that the phone rang. Petunia went to retrieve it while the rest of the company sat in silence, Dudley and Vernon having a frozen staring contest, daring each other to speak, while Anna picked at a piece of lint on her blouse.

Petunia returned and said, "Marge couldn't make it, dear, why don't we go ahead and eat now? It's only a few minutes earlier than planned, and I'm sure everyone is hungry."

"That sounds like a lovely idea, Petunia," Anna said. The two women headed towards the dining table, already chatting like old friends - as they usually did. The only difference was that this time, Vernon did not approve. Petunia had clearly been brainwashed by Anna and Daisy - she refused to think her grandchild could do any wrong, that's why she no longer hated magic.

For the most part, the beginning of the meal went well. The topic of magic was avoided completely, and Vernon received plenty of time to talk about how the new manager of the drill company still came to him for advice daily, even though Vernon had stepped down to a less time consuming position.

But then the inevitable topic of school came up. Poppy went on for a while about her friends and favorite classes, or more accurately, how difficult it was to pick favorites when she loved every bit of it. Then, they had to go on to Daisy. Everyone else seemed even more interested to hear about Daisy's favorite class, potions, and how she had perfected the hover charm this semester, while Vernon's frustration grew.

The truth was he was afraid of the magic. He didn't like how it seemed to be taking control of his family. All of the beliefs they had supported just disappeared all for one child! "Enough!" he finally yelled. His fists clenched around the silverware still in his hands, and he could feel his face burning. "This is not acceptable! You will not do or support magic, or you will not be part of this family!"

A moment of silence reigned over them before Vernon got to see just how much his son had taken after him in temper. Dudley's face was almost as purple as his father's, and when he stood, he stood taller.

"And if you refuse to accept the change your family is going through, you won't have a family to disown! We'll all have disowned you!"

"That's it!" Vernon fumed. "Get out. Everyone who wants to be a part of this nonsense, leave, and don't come back until you've seen sense!"

Petunia was the first to rise, heading towards the closet to get everyone's coat. Vernon spotted Poppy slipping her piece of cake into a napkin to finish later as she took her coat. Anna's face had closed of all emotion as she walked towards the exit. Daisy looked embarrassed, or even ashamed of herself. Vernon smiled smugly as his son and family left - they would be back soon with a better attitude, and an understanding of the evils of magic. His smirk vanished when Petunia closed the door - and she was on the outside of it.

"See you again when you've seen sense, Vernon."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Emma Taylor wasn't one to easily become jealous, but she had to admit to herself that this is how she now felt. She knew Daisy had to be back for Holiday now, but she hadn't yet called to talk about where and when they would meet. Before the two of them had gone to different schools, such things hadn't needed to be discussed, except around school breaks, when family might be visiting.

So, Emma decided to treat the time as a normal week. She would just turn up at the door, and one of Daisy's parents would let her in. At her arrival, Emma pushed her bike into the backyard as she always did, but she paused on her way back to the front. Through the window she could see Daisy. She was sitting in a circle with three other kids and appeared to be playing a card game.** Poppy, though not part of the game, was also in attendance, braiding another girl's hair.

They did have visitors. That settled Emma's anxiousness slightly, but the visitors were obviously the cousins that had caused all of this mess in the first place. Emma took a step closer to the window before ducking down as a thin face she recognized as Daisy's grandmother gazed out.

As she could do no more spying, she decided to knock. She was greeted at the door by Dudley Dursley.

"Hello, Mr. Dursley! I just came to see Daisy, if it's not a bad time," she told him.

Dudley looked a little bit surprised to see her, but smiled. "We do have some visitors, but I'll go see what everyone is up to. I'm sure It will be alright if you join us." Dudley closed the door, leaving only a sliver open so that he wasn't completely closing Emma out. A minute or two later, he came back and let Emma in.

In the sitting room Daisy's parents sat with her grandmother, and another couple that must have been cousins. Emma still couldn't see any resemblance, but she now knew that Daisy's cousin got her red hair from her mother, who was probably not related to the Dursleys. Dudley told her where to find Daisy, although Emma already knew from her peek through the window. She nodded appreciatively to both Dudley, and Anna who had complimented her on her hair.

"Emma!" Daisy exclaimed, rushing to give her friend a hug.

"Daisy!" The red-haired girl cried out. The cards for their game had been knocked out of the way by Daisy's foot as she walked by. The girl scowled, and proceeded to clean up.

"Sorry, Lily," She said. "We'll start a new round, and Emma can join. Emma, this is Lily, Albus, and James Potter, my cousins."

Lilly dealt out the cards, maintaining a silence of irritation, even after James told her to cheer up, it was Christmas, and neither Emma nor Daisy had done any harm. In return, Emma paid no attention to the other girl.

Before starting the game, Emma decided to dive into conversation, as she knew that however close she and Daisy were, Daisy would avoid starting a group conversation. She needed to know a little bit more about these mysterious cousins.

"So James," she said, "I remember that your sister goes to school with Daisy, and I think I remember that you and Albus do to. What instrument do you play?"

James seemed to suddenly grow interest in his remaining cards and took a moment to answer. "Yeah, we do go to the same school. I play clarinet, and Albus here plays the violin." James ran a hand through his messy hair and grinned at his brother who glared straight back.

"Yes, I love playing my violin, James, but don't give me that look," Albus said, his tone of voice hinting at sarcasm. He turned to Lily and said, "Why don't you say something Lils?"

Lily had stopped scowling, but still kept her face fairly neutral instead of smiling with the others. "I play piano and alto saxophone," she tells Emma. "In fact," She handed her cards to Poppy, "I think I'll go do that now." She pulled out the Dursley's keyboard and began to play a complicated tune that Emma didn't recognize.

The rest of the group went back to their game. Emma didn't really feel guilty about being glad that Lily wouldn't be playing anymore, as she brought down the cheerful mood of the holidays, and seemed to be a bit of a show off anyway.

000

Dudley stepped back from the doorway where he had stood watching the kids. It truly had been impressive, seeing everyone transform the room from magical to mundane. It didn't seem like Emma could possibly notice anything unusual, except for Lily's bad mood. At least Lily had an excellent cover for going to Daisy's school, having actually taken piano lessons.

Dudley sighed, and relaxed. "That was a close one. I'm glad that Mum saw her through the window, or we might not have had enough time to clear up! The warning definitely gave us an extra minute or so."

Petunia nodded in agreement, while Harry replied. "No problem. As an Auror I've had to muggle-proof scenes quickly before." In the little amount of time they had had, Harry had transfigured their Magical games into their Muggle equivalents, and summoned all wands to himself. Now, he had already hidden away his own wand, and was proceeding to stash all the kids wands in an extended pocket.

Dudley took a seat next to his mother. He never would have described Petunia Dursley as an easily frightened person, but here in a room with Harry Potter, the boy who she had lived with, and admittedly mistreated for all of his childhood, she looked quite queasy. Harry himself hadn't shown any signs that he might still hate his aunt for what she had done, but Ginny had looked like she might pounce when they were first introduced.

Anna had fixed that issue by pulling Ginny aside into the kitchen with her, but Dudley still didn't know how to fix the terrible silence between the three adults still in the sitting room. Although it wouldn't be easy, he hoped that his mother would be able to become part of the family, as he was trying to do.

*Although it's not known if the room still works after the fire, I decided that it does in my story. Such a wonderful magical character - and I do think the room is almost like a character of its own - would just be a tragedy to lose.

**I thought about writing the chapter in Harry's point of view, just so I could show you all Harry swapping out their exploding snap cards for regular snap cards, a wizard chess set for a muggle one, and changing the music station to muggle music, and hiding Poppy's pygmy puff when he heard Emma was coming in. And all the kids wands would be summoned from their pockets, to their protest. I decided against this, but I thought I'd share with everyone because I think it's funny to imagine.

Also, sorry to end it at this place, but the chapter needed to end somewhere. What do you guys think of the Vernon/Petunia situation?