Chapter 14
After the Weasley twins had caused a ruckus before leaving school to open their store, Umbridge's life became a living hell. Even the teachers weren't reacting, pretending not to see when something happened that broke one of her rules.
Exam time had arrived, and when she told Professor Pomona that she wanted to take 9 out of 12 O.W.L.s, she was ecstatic. Her pride rubbed off on her, spurring her to try her hardest.
With each subject given, Daisy felt in equal measure as if she wanted to scream with joy and vomit with excitement. That morning was no different. While she was waiting to be called to take the practical defense exam, Daisy was beginning to panic. When Professor Vitious called all the students with last names beginning with the letter p, Daisy took courage and followed her brother inside the Great Hall.
She knew that both of them had gotten the highest grades in the written test, having encountered no difficulties or doubts while answering. Confident that they would do just as well on the practical exam, she was not surprised when they performed all the defensive spells and counter spells correctly.
Harry was being examined once more by Professor Tofty when the wizard asked him if it was true that he could summon a patronus. When his brother replied by showing the majestic silver stag, she couldn't help smiling approvingly at her twin.
" Miss Potter, are you able to summon a patronus as well? " asked her examiner, who encouraged her to cast the spell once she had confirmed it.
The wolf then showed itself, running around her until it saw Harry's patronus. Then he jumped onto the deer, nipping at one of the antlers and hanging on to them as the larger animal playfully shook him off.
" Excellent! " said the examiners, applauding them. " Never have I seen two students more accomplished in defense. "
" All your year, some more and some less, have been able to amaze us. But no one has ever been able to leave us speechless like you two. " said one of the examiners, making them blush with compliments.
" Harry, is it true that you can cast your patronus from the third year? " Professor Tofty asked.
" Yes, we both have been. " nodded Harry, explaining that their old professor had taught them everything they knew about defense, considering it one of the most important subjects.
" A pity that Professor Lupin had to stop working because of some prejudices. " said Daisy, holding back a smile because she knew Umbridge had witnessed their examination. If she was seething at that moment, she would have set her on fire. " It pains me to admit that he was our only competent teacher, and I'm sure anyone in this school would feel exactly the same way. "
As they left the classroom, even Pansy Parkinson smiled approvingly at her. Harry lifted her into his arms, laughing while telling her that Moony would kill her for doing such a thing.
" Do you think he will find out? " she asked, suddenly shocked.
" I'd be surprised if half the school didn't know already. " Harry teased her, intimating her to leave before Umbridge punished her.
The next day Daisy and Hermione gave the ancient runes exam, deeming it one of the most difficult. Once they got out of the Great Hall, Hermione had a small crisis when she realized she had gotten one of the questions wrong due to confusion.
She tried to relax her by admitting that she had made the same mistake. " We could compare our other answers so we could see if they matched. "
" That would be a great help to me, thank you. " She replied, visibly calmer.
Taking advantage of the upcoming weekend, she met briefly with Theo. The first thing the boy asked, after greeting her with a kiss, was whether the rumors regarding his beautiful girlfriend humiliating Umbridge in front of the committee were true.
" It could be. " she laughed as he kissed her cheek repeatedly while he showered her with praise. " How is it going so far? "
" Fine, although I think I'll barely pass Herbology. " said the Slytherin, genuinely distressed at the prospect of a bad grade.
" I'm sure you did better than you think. " Daisy reassured him, resting her forehead against his chest. " I'm exhausted, I wish I could sleep for years but I have to help Harry review potions. "
" Spend the night here with me. " He told her, wrapping his arms around the girl's body. " Someone else will help him. We haven't seen each other for too long and I hate it with every fiber of my being. "
" We are dramatic tonight, aren't we? " she teased him, raising her head so she could look him in the eye. They both knew she would stay with him that night.
" For you? Always. " Theo replied, leaving a tender kiss on her lips and turning the sofa into a bed. He took her by the hands and pulled her onto it, never taking his eyes off her face. " When we return to our homes, we could not have any contact until September. "
" I will miss you. " she said, resting her head against his chest and relaxing in his arms when the light went out, leaving them in the dark. Theo kissed her forehead, letting her know the feeling was mutual. Both of them were afraid of what would happen during their time apart but did not dare to talk about it, determined to take with them only positive memories that would help them move forward.
" I never thought that following that strange girl into the kitchens would lead me to where I am right now. " admitted the Slytherin, composing small circles on the girl's hand with his thumb. He was trying to organize his thoughts so he could tell her how he felt, what she meant to him so she would never have any doubts. " My life has always been a path written by my father and the only thing I had to do was to just follow him without objecting. But I met you and things changed. I have changed. I discovered parts of me that I didn't know existed and ... "
Theo took trembling breaths and added: " What I am trying to say is that my heart is so full of you that it is difficult for me to even call it mine. It belongs to you and so do I. "
" Doubt thou the stars are fire, doubt that the sun doth move, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love. " she quoted, kissing his sternum tenderly. " It's from Hamlet, another beautiful book. I've always wanted to dedicate it to someone important. But now it seems silly compared to what I feel when I even think of you. "
" Could I read it? " he asked, turning to her. But he got no answer because the girl grabbed his face and smacked their lips together.
The kiss was soft and gentle, bittersweet and lustful, burning with a myriad of things that could not be told in a thousand lifetimes. Their lips moved against each other passionately and hungrily, trying to lap every single bit of their mouths. They seemed to want to ensure that no one else could touch, even casually, something they had not already explored. Even though they were both sure that there would be no one else in their lives.
In the end, when they parted, panting desperately for air, Daisy almost cried for loss. With their lips slightly parted, their foreheads touching and their breathing heavy, the teens couldn't stop brushing against each other after such a heartfelt moment. With her heart pounding in her rib cage, Daisy grabbed the boy's shirt and quickly pulled him back, in a second kiss more messy than the first. She could feel the smile on Theo's lips as they kissed, and the girl couldn't help but pause to reciprocate. They were in the dark but both were aware of the happiness they felt in that moment, wishing they could stop time so they could stay there forever.