Chapter 12
The next morning Daisy and Luna skipped breakfast, going straight to the Room of Requirement and beginning their search. They told each other about their mutual dates, ecstatic about how the events unfolded and especially how their partners turned out. Listening to Luna, her day with Ginny had been as sweet and fun as hers had been, and Daisy could only be happy for her friend. Luna and Ginny seemed perfect for each other and she was sure that their relationship would progress quickly and become something important. Although same-sex couples were accepted in the wizarding world, it was still difficult for anyone raised by Muggles to think of having such freedoms and rights. Daisy knew that even her brother was initially reluctant to accept such a change, to accept himself. It was only through the help of their godparents and friends that he learned to love himself for who he was so Daisy was certain that seeing all these couples love each other openly would be good for many Muggleborns.
" I'm sure the boys will join us in a moment. " nodded Daisy, concerned about the lateness of both of them.
" Is Theo still coming? " Luna asked, showing her an old music box she had fished out of the pile. " By now everyone will have read the interview. "
" What interview? " she said confused.
" Didn't you know about it? " the blonde asked, tilting her head to the side. " Hermione blackmailed Rita Skeeter by forcing her to write an article for my father's magazine. Yesterday Harry gave an interview where he recounted the events that really happened last year. "
" I had no idea. " furrowed her brow at the girl, a little resentful. Why hadn't her brother told her about his plan? " What does Theo have to do with him, though? "
" Harry gave the names of all the Death Eaters present that night. " Luna explained, following her friend who had begun to advance in a hurry toward the door. When she left the room, they saw Harry waiting for them with his hands in his pockets.
" Why didn't you warn me? " Daisy asked, angry. " We said no secrets. "
" You would have stopped me from doing it. " he replied, looking away so that he would not look into his twin's hurt eyes.
As he was about to reply, they saw a lanky figure approaching fiercely toward them. By the time Daisy realized what was about to happen, it was too late: Theo had punched Harry in the face, breaking his nose.
" Why the fuck did you do that? " shouted the Slytherin.
" I didn't think you cared about your father. " retorted Harry, wiping the blood away with the sleeve of his sweater and approaching the other boy. " Are you scared that someone will believe me? "
" You're a fucking hypocrite. " spat Theo, looking at him with disgust. " Have you thought about the repercussions of your stupid interview? Do you know what it will mean for me? I'll have everyone's eyes on me; I can't risk them finding out about her. It's too important. "
" I didn't know anything. " said Daisy, not at all sorry for her brother. It had been irresponsible to declare war like that if not downright senseless. If people wanted to continue to deny the return of the dark wizard, they would continue to do it even after the interview.
" I know. " he replied, looking at her with affection. The cold mask now gone from his face. " We should keep our distance for a while, not get into trouble in the meantime. "
" You don't either. " she whispered, re-entering the room followed by her friend and leaving the two boys behind. She was too angry now to talk to her brother.
" I thought you knew. " Luna hugged her, sorry. As she began to apologize, Daisy interrupted her. The blame would not fall on her.
The girls then set to work, hoping that at least that day would get a little better if they found what they were looking for.
They rummaged through a few stacks for hours, noting the ridiculous number of pieces of furniture still in mint condition that had been thrown into the room. It was toward the sixth row that Luna hummed thoughtfully as she looked at the spot at the top, where they caught a glimpse of a time-worn mannequin hand.
" Did you find anything? " Daisy asked, intrigued by her friend's reaction.
" Just a feeling. " revealed the blonde, smiling sweetly at her as she asked if she could help her climb to the top. Daisy, trusting Luna's abilities, promptly obeyed and used her wand to levitate her until her friend announced that she had arrived. She watched her throw various objects on the floor as she tried to reach the puppet's face. As she cleared the passage, Luna exulted when she glimpsed a large sapphire stone glowing. She reached out her hand and grabbed the tiara, signaling Daisy to let her down.
" It will be a shame to destroy something so wonderful. " said Daisy, looking with interest at the eagle-shaped, stone-covered object. She lowered the tiara to the floor and looked at Luna curiously. During the hours they had spent scouting the area, Daisy explained to her friend what destroying a Horcrux entailed. She wanted her to be the one to destroy it because she had been the one to figure out who to talk to and she had always been the one to find the object. But she wasn't going to force her to do something she didn't feel ready for.
" I'd take the dagger, please. " hummed Luna, holding out her hand. When the weapon was in her hands she turned it over in them several times before kneeling beside the tiara. She saw her fears manifest but didn't seem touched by them because she kept repeating "I have friends" like a mantra, ignoring the words and images that were shown to her. Although the images and words seemed not to affect the girl, Daisy's heart broke at the sight of them. She would make sure to stand by her friend no matter what, not wanting her to feel more isolated from the rest of the world.
It was then that Luna, with great strength of mind, thrust the blade against the Horcrux, causing its destruction.
A large cloud of black smoke exhaled from the rift in the object, surprising them when it took the shape of a face that screamed in agony as it continued to expand. Daisy, hoping she had not accidentally destroyed the room, grabbed Luna's hand and pulled her away as she watched the several piles collapse on the floor.
As they walked out the doors, before they closed, they saw the smoke continue to advance before disappearing in a puff.
" It was frightening. " Luna said, looking shocked at the wall in front of them. But her shock was short-lived because as soon as she realized that she had spent most of the day locked inside the room, she asked, " Do you think we will get there in time for dinner? "
" We are full of soot. " commented Daisy, shrugging carelessly. " I'm too hungry to worry about it, though. Are you? "
" They already think I'm weird, they won't bat an eye. " she said, prancing all the way to the great hall while her long curls bounced with each jump.
" I think they will. " smiled Daisy, amused by the girl's exuberance. Having helped destroy an object like that must have made her feel powerful enough to no longer doubt her abilities.
When they walked through the doors, students and teachers stopped eating dinner, shocked by their appearance.
" My dear girls, what has happened to you? " asked the principal, concerned.
" I'm sorry Principal, we got stuck in an old classroom and couldn't get out. " answered Luna distractedly, repeating the bale they had studied. It was not very believable but the girls were confident that prejudice would not allow them to suspect a Hufflepuff and a Ravenclaw. Poor naive idiots.
" Eat then, you should be hungry. " he nodded, convinced and not giving Umbridge time to comment on the situation. They had not eaten all day, surely they would not allow anyone to intrude between their reunion with food. They just hoped they wouldn't look like Ron when he ate.