Harry's twin || Between Light and Shadow

June

The castle was eerily quiet, the usual hum of student chatter replaced by the scratch of quills and the occasional sigh of frustration. Exam season had arrived, and the pressure was palpable. Even the ghosts seemed to glide more solemnly through the corridors, as if unwilling to disturb the tense atmosphere.

The sweltering summer heat did nothing to help the nerves. The large classroom where they took their written exams felt like an oven, and the ink on their parchments nearly smudged from the sweat on their hands. Each student had been given a special bewitched quill with an Anti-Cheating spell—no shortcuts, no last-minute crib notes, just sheer memory and skill.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts exam focused almost entirely on the dark creatures they had studied: Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, Gnomes. Barely any questions on actual spells, which Daisy found odd. Shouldn't defense include learning how to fight back? She supposed it was the safest route, considering Quirrell was their professor.

Then came the practical exams.

Professor Flitwick tested their Charms proficiency, calling them in one by one to make a pineapple tap-dance across his desk. Daisy's pineapple did an elegant little waltz before twirling into an energetic jig. Flitwick clapped enthusiastically.

Professor McGonagall, as strict as ever, watched them transform mice into snuffboxes. Some students produced perfect, gleaming boxes. Others, unfortunately, ended up with whiskered or twitching results. Daisy's was a sleek black snuffbox with silver engravings, earning her a pleased nod from McGonagall.

And then there was Potions.

Snape prowled the classroom, his gaze sharp and unrelenting as they worked on a Forgetfulness Potion. Daisy's fingers trembled slightly as she crushed the Valerian root, aware of his presence hovering behind her. She managed to keep her movements steady, but the tension in the air was unbearable. When Snape finally moved away, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

The last exam was History of Magic—one grueling hour of scribbling down everything she could remember about ancient wizarding wars, self-stirring cauldrons, and goblin rebellions. The moment Professor Binns finally called for quills down, the entire class erupted in relieved cheers.

Freedom.

The moment they were dismissed, students spilled out onto the grounds, desperate for fresh air and sunlight. The Black Lake shimmered invitingly under the afternoon sun.

Daisy joined Pansy, Tracey, and Daphne by the water's edge, stretching her legs out on the grass as she let the tension melt away.

"I can't believe it's over," Tracey said, leaning back on her hands. 

"I can't believe we did it," Daisy replied, grinning. 

For a few blissful hours, they forgot about exams and results, laughing and chatting as the sun dipped toward the horizon. 

The exams were over. They had survived.

---

That night, the castle was quieter than it had been in weeks. No more desperate studying, no more whispered incantations under the covers—just deep, uninterrupted sleep.

For most, at least.

Daisy woke up suddenly, her body rigid with an inexplicable chill. A creeping sensation crawled up her spine, and she felt a wave of unease settle in her chest. Something was wrong.

But what?

She clutched her blanket, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. Pain shot through her body, sharp and unnatural, like invisible claws raking across her skin. This wasn't like her usual blackouts—there was no loss of control, no disorienting gaps in her memory. She was fully aware, fully present, and yet the pain was unbearable.