We sat on the bench in the sun all afternoon and Neville talked a lot about his school days before the war, Dumbledore's army and his life with his grandmother.

He left out the war and the battle of Hogwarts, and I didn't ask any more questions.

I thought about telling him that I had also grown up with my grandparents because my parents died when I was four, but I wasn't sure yet and dead parents were never a good topic of conversation.

So I just told him that I also had a very good relationship with my grandparents and left it at that.


Neither of us paid attention to the time, only when it began to dawn did we realise how long we had been sitting there.

My stomach grumbled and I realised that I hadn't eaten since breakfast.

Luckily Neville didn't hear, otherwise he would have given me a nasty look if he knew I hadn't eaten all day.

A boy came up to us who I thought I had seen before in some class.

"Neville!" he called out a few feet away from us. "There you are, didn't you want to come to the lake?"

"No, I wasn't. That's what I told you, I've been studying," the one addressed replied .

"Learned," the other made inverted commas in the air and grinned cynically. "And what have you learnt?

How well the cute new Hufflepuff kisses?" looking challengingly at Neville.

The latter jumped up, grabbed the other boy by the arm and covered his mouth with his other hand.

Kissing? I looked at the two boys in front of me sceptically.

"We have to go now Seamus!" Came the stern reply from Neville, who continued to pull the other by the arm to take his hand from his mouth.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to me.

"I'll see you in Potions tomorrow," I tried to make the situation a little less awkward.

I got a cautious smile in return and when the two of them had almost disappeared from my field of vision, I could still hear a

"What the fuck, Seamus?! ", and had to grin.


Only now did I realise what had just happened.

Neville and I kissing?!

That Seamus was thinking of the completely wrong things, and had he called me the cute new Hufflepuff? Cute?

That was new.

To my grandma I had always been her little sweetie but from anyone else that had never been an attribute attributed to me.

The logical explanation was that he was just teasing Neville and meant it as a joke.

And when I was able to explain this strange situation logically and thus no one had called me seriously cute, I simply repressed it.


Which worked perfectly well until Monday lunchtime outside Potions classroom.

I had read Neville's book last night and wanted to thank him again for it because it was really helpful and give it back to him.

I had found the same copy in the library and would use that to study so Neville could get his back.

The book was in my bag and I was going to give it back to him after class. But now he came up to me before class, so I rummaged in my bag for the book.

"I'm sorry about Seamus yesterday," he said quietly as he stood in front of me.

I grabbed the book and looked up from my bag.

"He's really impossible sometimes but actually pretty okay," Neville scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

"It's fine," I replied with a smile "It's not like he meant anything by it, it's really no big deal."

"Even if he was, that doesn't excuse him acting like an Erumpet in a china shop."

I had to laugh.

"Erumpets, aren't that trampy, they're just big and heavy. Actually, they're quite delicate," I tried to explain to him.

Neville looked at me a little confused, maybe it was the laugh or that I had corrected his statement but the sceptical look quickly faded and now he was smiling at me again.

"You know what I mean. He was just impossible. Now I bet you think I have really bad friends, which I really don't, he's not always like that."

Again he defended himself, gesticulating wildly with his arms.

"Your book, I was reading it last night. It was quite helpful, thanks for lending it to me," I quickly changed the subject and held his book out to him.

"You're really done already? You're welcome to keep it longer, really".

I shook my head.

"But thank you," I was still smiling at him.


Professor Slughorn arrived and the students followed him into the classroom.

I sat back down in my seat in the front row and took out my Polyjuice Potion notes which predecessor Malfoy had burnt yesterday.

For time reasons, these notes weren't as nice and neat as the old ones but I would still be able to work with them just fine.

"I'll call your pairings from last lesson in a moment, you'll come forward and I'll give you your grade for the Felix Felicis."

A sigh escaped my lips.

I had to get to the front with Malfoy.

At least Professor Slughorn was here, in front of whom, I hoped, Malfoy wouldn't dare curse me.

"Ms Harper and Mr Malfoy."

I stood up and walked forward to the professor.

"A truly excellent performance but I expected nothing less from you Mr Malfoy, Outstanding.

A small vial of your potion for each of you. I must point out that it is not to be taken before competitions and that its effects only last 3 hours."

He handed us two small vials and we returned to our seats in silence.

An Outstanding, I had never managed that in Potions before.

As much as I resisted admitting it but I inwardly thanked Malfoy for his help, without which I most certainly would have only got an Acceptable.

I looked at the golden liquid in the small vial in my hand. It shimmered differently from every angle and I could hardly take my eyes off it.

What would I use it for I wondered.

Maybe I'd send it to Grandpa, he could certainly use liquid luck better than I could, I could manage without it.

The only thing where luck was needed was the situation with Malfoy, but I would need more than 3 hours of luck not to get cursed by him.


"I am very pleased with your performances," Professor Slughorn interrupted my thoughts.

"The distribution of the pairs has shown that they can all benefit from each other. Therefore, you will be brewing every potion together in the same composition from today onwards.

For now, until the Christmas holidays, after which I will reconsider."

Loud murmurs and whispers went through the class. I closed my eyes and buried my face in my hands.

This was my death sentence.

I could have screamed but refrained and tried to calm myself with breathing exercises.

I couldn't get upset, inhale...hold my breath...exhale...and do it twice more.

Why did I have to provoke Malfoy?

I couldn't just let it go and do what was easy?

No, Daisy was making life difficult for herself again even though that was exactly what she didn't want to do.

The class had quietened down.

"Yes, Mr Longbottom, do you have a question?" the professor addressed Neville, who seemed to have spoken up.

"Not exactly a question sir, more of a request.

I would like to swap partners with Ms Harper, I think I could benefit greatly from Mr Malfoy's knowledge."

He wanted what?! Swap partners with me? But he didn't like Malfoy either, why would he...?

I rolled my eyes as I realised why he had said that.

He wanted to protect me from Malfoy, as nice as that sounded and as much as I would have liked to work with someone else but it also suggested that I was weak, couldn't take care of myself and needed someone to take care of my problems for me.

I could do that pretty well on my own, I was pretty good on my own, I could defend myself, I had learned that early on but people always underestimated me because of my petite stature and because I was a girl.

In combat that's an advantage but being seen as the weak one by people you liked was definitely not what I wanted.

"I understand your motives Mr Longbottom but as I said to Mr Malfoy last lesson, I have allocated the groups this way for a reason.

I won't be changing anything until the Christmas break and I don't want to hear any more questions on the subject."

I heard Neville sigh and turned in his direction. He looked at me apologetically and then turned to the back row.

I knew what was there even without looking.

Malfoy would have his arms folded in front of his chest, looking scowl.

Be carefull Professor Slughorn, not that his death stare will kill you.

Believe me Malfoy, I had no desire to work with you either.


Sullenly I trotted into the back row next to Malfoy and sat down silently beside him.

He took up almost the entire table with his things and made no effort to move his chair a little when I arrived.

So I left it at that, somehow squeezed my notes onto the table and took another deep breath.

I would just let the next few lessons wash over me and give Malfoy as little offense as possible.

For as big as my mouth was sometimes, I would have to pull myself together to not stir up more hatred for myself with Malfoy.

Professor Slughorn at the front of the classroom explained a few things about the ingredients of the potion.

I had already worked on it, so I only added a few things sporadically.

Malfoy next to me, on the other hand, was eagerly taking notes and I couldn't help but stare at his left forearm.

Neville had said that Malfoy was a Death Eater, so he must have the mark.

But I couldn't see anything under his white shirt.

Whenever he lifted his head, I quickly looked at my parchment and pretended to take notes.

My thoughts drifted away from the lesson and I only heard the professor as if through a thick pane of glass.

Malfoy was a Death Eater, or was he no longer and only wore the mark?

Was he wearing it at all?

If so, why had he allowed himself to be branded that way?

If not, then why was Neville so sure he was a Death Eater?

Far too many questions in my head and I wouldn't get them answered.


"In the next lesson we will begin brewing the potion, please remember that you will be testing the potion when it is ready.

So please make an effort for your own sake.

Also, this potion will be half of your mid-year evaluation. See you on Friday."

With that, the professor ended the lesson and also my nightmare.


I packed my things back into my bag and must not have closed the barrel of ink properly, because it slipped out of my hand, fell to the floor and shattered.

"You really are too stupid Harper," Malfoy stated and walked out of the room.

Deep breath Daisy, nothing happened.

"I'm really sorry," I heard a voice behind me as I collected the shards of my inkwell.

"I really tried to swap partners with you but Professor Slughorn really won't budge on that."

"It's okay," I replied a little too annoyed, "I can take care of myself but thanks."

I tried not to sound so annoyed this time.

"I was really just trying to help," Neville countered a bit snappishly.

"Sorry, I'm just annoyed. That was really quite sweet of you, thank you."

I smiled at him now and he smiled back shyly too.

"I'm pretty sure you can take care of yourself. I really didn't mean to imply otherwise.

It's just that Malfoy really isn't a good person and I just wanted to spare you having to spend time with someone like him."

Oh, so that had been the reason he wanted to switch.

"I think I can manage. It's only three hours a week.

"Definitely three hours too many" Neville laughed as we walked out of the classroom.


I sat alone at dinner reading 'The Little Prince' as I hadn't managed to finish it yesterday.

"This better not be homework."

I winced, choking on my dinner and coughing hard.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

I lowered my book as my coughing fit seemed to end and looked up into Neville's smiling face.

"The Little Prince," I answered his question, still a little hoarse.

"Aha, I don't know it. Is it any good?"

I nodded.

"Do you always read while you eat?"

I nodded again.

"The seat's still free, isn't it?"

And another nod.

"You can go ahead and talk again, I'll try not to scare you again either, I promise."

His smile grew.

He now turned his attention to his food, which I hadn't noticed before, and started eating his potatoes.

Confused, I looked around and then back at Neville.

"Is something wrong?" he asked between bites.

This time he didn't seem to be able to read my mind like yesterday on the bench.

"Why are you sitting here?" I asked.

He looked up and looked me straight in the eye.

"The seat was free and I thought you'd like some company but mostly I just wanted to have dinner and chat with you."

I still looked at him sceptically

"Is that so outlandish?" he retorted, pricking a potato with his fork.

"Actually it is, we barely know each other, you could sit with your friends instead.", I answered his question and quickly added "And this is the Hufflepuff table, as far as I know you're not a Hufflepuff."

"It's not taken that strictly, you can sit somewhere else.

Seamus gets on my nerves, that's why I wanted to get away from him."

Again he grinned at me.

"Whether it makes it any better if you sit with me now I highly doubt," I objected, shoving a spoonful of my dinner into my mouth.

"Probably not, but I don't care," he shrugged.

"Besides, with Seamus and Dean, I'm only ever the eighth player at Quiddich anyway.

Then I can also sit here in peace and talk to you.

Then your argument that we hardly know each other will soon no longer hold water."

He smiled again, but I still looked confused.

"You want to sit here more often?", I asked uncomprehendingly.

He nodded in reply and just kept eating.

I did the same and we were silent for a while until Neville had finished eating.


"I told you a lot about myself yesterday, but you didn't tell me about yourself.

I really don't know much about you, you said in class that you're from America.

What's it like there?"

He was right, yesterday I had only listened to what he had told me.

But what should I tell him, after all, that was a very unspecific question?

I handed over briefly and decided to just tell him a little about Ilvermorny.

"I went to school on Ilvermorny, a school that is also very old but nowhere near as old as Hogwarts.

We also have four houses: Thunderbird, Wampus, Horned Serpend and Pukwudgie.

But there you are assigned to your house by statures that come to life depending on which house you belong to.

They're all magical animal beings, instead of the names of the founders like yours."

I looked at my counterpart to find out if that was enough telling or if he wanted to know more.

His questioning face spoke for the latter.

"We don't wear school uniforms like you do, just our normal clothes, although there are rules about what you can and can't wear.

There are lots of sports instead of just Quiddich, but the library here is much bigger and nicer.

Ilvermorny is not so traditional when it comes to writing utensils, we were allowed to write with fountain pens there, which is probably the biggest shortcoming here at Hogwarts.

The castle is in the mountains in a gorgeous setting, but Hogwarts is in no way inferior."

Embarrassed, I look at him.

That was a real barrage of words by my standards, at least considering how little I knew him. He thought for a moment, probably processing everything I had just said.

"And which house were you in?" Was his first question.

"Pukwudgie," I replied quickly.

There was only confusion on his face, so I went on to explain: "The Pukwudgie is a magical animal being, there are some stories about it and because of one of these stories the house was named after it.

It symbolises the heart of the school and many wizards who were there later became healers or something like that."

"So similar to Hufflepuff?"

His expression was still questioning.

"Sort of yes and sort of no but if you had to compare it to one of the houses here it would most likely be Hufflepuff.

But you're stricter here anyway in terms of house divisions and the character that seems to go with them.

Some houses seem less prestigious than others, it was different on Ilvermorny, everyone was worth the same, just had different strengths."

"Hmm," Neville went on, scratching his head, "I've never thought about whether we're strict about houses here, but yeah, some definitely feel like they're worth more than others."


Although we had both finished eating we sat in the Great Hall for some time and I told Neville about Ilvermorny as he asked more and more questions.

In between he laughed, although I often didn't understand what was so funny but I didn't care.

It was just nice to be in Neville's presence and I was glad he had joined me.

"It's getting late," he said at one point as we had been walking aimlessly through the corridors of Hogwarts talking for some time. "I can still walk you to the common room if you want."

The corridors were sparsely lit but I could still see him blush at his statement.

I briefly wondered if I should just let him escort me there and wait until he had gone and then go back to Min's flat as a cat.

"I'm not staying with the others, Professor McGonnagal put me up elsewhere because I'm only doing a year abroad and not an official Hogwarts student," I decided to tell the truth.

The embarrassed blush left Neville's face and he looked at me questioningly.

"I'm pretty happy with it, I'd feel weird with the others in the dormitory if I had to use a bed of someone who didn't come back after the war."

I avoided the word died because I didn't know how Neville would react to that.

"Can I walk you there?" he asked without responding to what I had said earlier, blushing again.

I nodded and we walked side by side in silence.

At some point Neville started talking about friday's herbology class and I was just glad to be rid of that awkward silence.


Outside the flat I stopped.

"Thanks for walking me. "

"No problem," he replied shortly.

Then he turned and just before he turned the next corner he called out, "See you tomorrow at breakfast!"

With a grin, I closed the flat door behind me.


Min was probably still in her office as usual, so I went straight to my room, climbed onto my bed and stared at the ceiling.

At the weekend I would send Grandpa a letter and tell him about my first weeks at Hogwarts.

Then I could also tell him about Neville.

Contrary to my expectations, I had made a friend, he would be pleased.

And I was already looking forward to breakfast.

The first breakfast where I wouldn't be alone.