Harry's twin || Between Light and Shadow

December 6th, Sunday

The week had been a whirlwind of tension and unease, and as Sunday rolled around, the castle seemed to exhale slightly, as if trying to shake off the weight of the past few days. Professor Snape made his usual rounds, collecting names of students who would be staying at Hogwarts over the Christmas holidays. Daisy, unlike many others, had decided to stay. Remus had invited her to stay with him but the thought of leaving felt almost unbearable with the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets hanging over her head.

She noticed Draco Malfoy's name on the list as well, which struck her as odd. Last year, he had mocked Harry for staying at Hogwarts during the holidays, calling it "pathetic." Now, here he was, choosing to remain in the castle, amongst everything that was happening at Hogwarts. Daisy couldn't help but wonder what had changed.

Daisy's mind kept circling back to the rogue Bludger from the Quidditch match. It had been relentless in its pursuit of Harry, almost as though it had a mind of its own. She remembered how Harry's broom had been hexed with dark magic at the start of last season. Could this be something similar? She hadn't felt any of the usual discomfort that came with being near dark magic, but that didn't necessarily mean it wasn't involved. Maybe it was easier to hex a Bludger than a broomstick. Or maybe she was overthinking it.

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. The truth was, she didn't know what to think. The Chamber of Secrets, the petrified cat, the eerie message on the wall—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle she couldn't quite solve. And now, the rogue Bludger had added another layer of confusion. She needed answers, but where to even begin?

Lost in her thoughts, Daisy found herself wandering toward the Quidditch pitch. The crisp December air bit at her cheeks, and the sound of laughter and shouts reached her ears before she even saw the players. The Hufflepuff team was practicing, their yellow robes bright against the gray sky. Daisy stood at the edge of the stands, watching as they flew through drills, their movements fluid and practiced.

She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't notice someone approaching until a voice broke through her reverie.

"Daydreaming? What would you do if a Bludger came flying at you?" The voice was light and teasing, and Daisy turned to see a tall, dark-haired boy with gray eyes standing beside her. She recognized him immediately—Cedric Diggory, the Hufflepuff Seeker and captain. The girls in her dormitory had talked about him often enough, swooning over his good looks and easy charm.

"Sorry, just a lot on my mind," Daisy said, offering a small smile.

"Cedric Diggory," he introduced himself, extending a hand.

"Daisy Evans," she replied, shaking it. "You play?" she asked, immediately feeling silly for stating the obvious.

"Captain and Seeker," he said with a grin, his pride evident but not overbearing.

"You don't look like a Seeker," Daisy teased, glancing at his broad shoulders and athletic build.

Cedric chuckled. "I get that a lot. So, what brings you here? You're scaring my teammates," he added, nodding toward her Slytherin robes.

Daisy laughed. "Just taking a walk. Trying to clear my head. Didn't mean to scare your little badgers."

"Don't worry about it. It's good for them to get used to the nerves," Cedric said, his tone light but thoughtful.

"Well, I'll be off then. Don't want to disturb your practice further," Daisy said, turning to leave.

"Nice to meet you, Daisy. Don't be a stranger!" Cedric called after her.