Harry's twin || Between Light and Shadow

September 2nd

After a restful night in the Slytherin dormitory, Daisy and her friends made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast. The enchanted ceiling mirrored the dull, cloudy gray of the sky outside, casting a muted light over the room. The four long House tables were laden with steaming tureens of porridge, plates of kippers, mountains of toast, and dishes of eggs and bacon. The aroma of breakfast filled the air, mingling with the chatter of students.

Just then, a hundred or so owls swooped into the Great Hall, delivering letters and packages. Daisy watched as a large barn owl dropped a parcel in front of a Ravenclaw student, who eagerly tore it open. The morning post was always a lively affair, but today, it was about to get much louder.

A deafening roar suddenly filled the Hall, shaking dust from the ceiling and making the plates and spoons rattle. "— STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU—"

Daisy recognized Molly Weasley's voice, amplified a hundred times by the magical Howler. The entire Hall fell silent as the scarlet envelope hovered in front of Ron, who had sunk so low in his chair that only his crimson forehead was visible.

"— I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE —"

Harry, sitting beside Ron, stared resolutely at his plate, his ears turning red. The Howler continued its tirade, berating Ron for his recklessness and warning him to behave. When it finally burst into flames and curled into ashes, a ringing silence fell over the Hall.

Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle were the first to break the silence, their snickers quickly turning into full-blown laughter. Soon, most of the Slytherin table and even a few Gryffindors joined in, their laughter echoing off the stone walls.

"I feel so bad for them," Daisy said, wincing. "Imagine getting a Howler like that in front of everyone."

"It's funny watching others get them, though," Pansy said with a smirk. "Laugh while you can."

As the babble of conversation resumed, Professor Snape appeared, gliding along the Slytherin table and handing out class schedules. Daisy glanced at hers and groaned. Defense Against the Dark Arts with Lockhart was first thing after Charms today.

She piled her plate with toast and eggs. "I do not want to take Lockhart's class today," she groaned, moving her food around.

"What's the matter? I think he's dreamy and talented!" Tracey exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

"What? Eww. You're into that?" Daisy replied, wrinkling her nose. The girls burst into laughter, their voices carrying over the din of the Hall.

---

The Slytherins made their way to the Charms classroom, where they were joined by the Ravenclaws. Classes with Ravenclaws were always welcomed for Daisy. The tension between houses weren't so bad. Professor Flitwick, perched on a stack of books, greeted them with a cheerful smile. "Today, we'll be learning Arresto Momentum, a spell used to slow the descent of falling objects. Very useful in a variety of situations!"

Daisy paid close attention as Flitwick demonstrated the wand movement and incantation. The class practiced on feathers, which floated gently to the ground when the spell was cast correctly. Daisy managed to get it on her third try, earning a nod of approval from Flitwick.

"Well done, Miss Evans!" he chirped. "Ten points to Slytherin!"

After Charms, the Slytherins filed into Lockhart's classroom. Daisy made her friends took a seat near the back, hoping to avoid his attention—much to Tracey's disagreement. Lockhart stood at the front of the room, his turquoise robes shimmering under the light. He cleared his throat loudly, and the class fell silent.