Harry's twin || Between Light and Shadow

December 24th, Christmas Eve

Daisy woke to the soft glow of the underwater light filtering through the windows of the Slytherin dormitory. The murky green hue of the Black Lake cast an eerie yet calming ambiance over the room. She turned her head to see Ginny still sleeping soundly beside her, her red hair fanned out across the pillow. Over the past few days, Daisy had made it her mission to stay close to Ginny, almost always by her side. She had even been sleeping over with her in the Gryffindor Tower.

Last night, Ginny had agreed to stay in the Slytherin dormitory, curious to see where Daisy lived. She had been in awe of the view—the dark, rippling water of the lake pressing against the glass, the faint shapes of creatures swimming by. Daisy had to admit, it was impressive, though she still preferred the cozy warmth of the Gryffindor common room.

This year, only a handful of Slytherins had stayed for the holidays: Daisy, Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle. When Daisy had brought Ginny into the common room the night before, the boys had eyed her warily but said nothing. Ginny had been nervous at first, but Daisy's reassuring presence had put her at ease.

Ginny had been looking much better lately. Her skin had regained its warmth, and the color had returned to her cheeks. Daisy had made sure she ate properly and got enough sleep, and it showed.

Daisy carefully shifted out of bed, not wanting to wake Ginny. She freshened up in the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face to clear her mind of her worries. When she returned, she found Ginny sitting up in bed, her knees pulled to her chest.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" Daisy asked softly.

"No, I was already getting up," Ginny said, her voice quiet but steady. She hesitated, then added, "I think I'm ready to tell you what's been happening."

Daisy sat down beside her, taking Ginny's hand in hers. "I'm here for you, Ginny. No matter what."

Ginny took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around Daisy's. "That day, when you passed out in Flourish and Blotts, I found a diary in my cauldron. I don't know where it came from. It belonged to someone named Tom Riddle, but the pages were all blank. I thought maybe he never got the chance to use it, so I started writing in it. But as soon as I did, the ink disappeared. And then... words appeared. Replies. It was Tom Riddle. He was kind, patient, and sympathetic. He understood me in a way no one else did. I kept writing to him, telling him everything—my secrets, my fears. He became my friend, someone I could carry around with me."

Daisy listened intently, her heart sinking as Ginny continued.

"But then, a few months ago, I started having these strange gaps in my memory. It was like I'd blink, and hours would pass, but I'd still be in the same spot, like I hadn't moved at all. I thought maybe I was just zoning out, but it kept happening. Sometimes it was really weird and I'd found rooster feathers all over my robes. Then, that day in the corridor, when you found me... I realized I *had* been moving around. I just couldn't remember it. I panicked. What was I doing during those gaps? I confided in the diary, but Tom... he brushed it off. It wasn't like him. He always went out of his way to make me feel better, but this time, he just... didn't. I started to suspect the diary was behind everything. I couldn't stomach it, so I locked myself in my room. I didn't want to cause any more harm. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep... until you came. Please, Daisy, don't hate me."

Ginny's voice broke, and she began to tremble. Daisy pulled her into a tight hug, her mind racing. The pieces were falling into place. The strange sensations she had been feeling around Ginny, the blackouts, the unease—it all made sense now.

"Ginny, look at me," Daisy said firmly, holding her at arm's length. "I would never blame you for this. You couldn't have known. Do you hear me? This is not your fault."