Harry's twin || Between Light and Shadow

Chapter 23: Diary

Ginny nodded, tears streaming down her face. Daisy's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. The diary was dark magic—powerful, dangerous dark magic. If it had been enough to knock Daisy out for days, how much worse must it have been for Ginny, who had been carrying it around like a lifeline?

"Now, tell me you've stopped writing in the diary," Daisy said, her tone serious.

"Yes," Ginny whispered. "I haven't touched it since."

"Good," Daisy said, relief flooding her. "We need to find a way to get rid of it."

"How?" Ginny asked, her voice small.

"I'm not sure," Daisy admitted. "But we should confide in a professor. They'll know what to do. All I can tell you is that diary is dark magic, Ginny. Really dark."

Ginny gasped, her eyes wide with fear. "I... I suspected it, but hearing you say it... it's terrifying. Please, don't tell anyone. I'll tell them myself. But... how do you know?"

Daisy hesitated, then sighed. "It's a secret, but since you trusted me with yours, I'll tell you mine. I have a strong affinity for dark magic. Dumbledore told me when he visited after I passed out. It means I'm more sensitive to it. Sometimes it's just a mild dizziness, but other times... it's worse."

Ginny's eyes widened as she pieced it together. "You don't mean... when you passed out in Flourish and Blotts... that was because of the diary?"

Daisy nodded. "It's very likely. Someone must have slipped it into your cauldron when the fight happened."

Ginny's face paled. "You think it was him?"

"I don't want to jump to conclusions," Daisy said carefully, "but it's a possibility. The important thing is that you're safe now, and we'll figure this out together."

Ginny gave her a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Daisy. I feel so much better having you here. You're the best sister ever."

They hugged tightly, and Daisy walked Ginny back to the Gryffindor common room, promising to check on her later. As she returned to the Slytherin dormitory, she exchanged a wary glance with Draco, who had been watching her like a hawk lately. Daisy didn't have the energy to deal with him right now.

---

December 25th

Christmas morning dawned bright and cheerful, the Great Hall transformed into a winter wonderland. Enchanted snow fell from the ceiling, warm and dry, while a dozen frost-covered Christmas trees sparkled with lights. Thick streamers of holly and mistletoe crisscrossed the ceiling, and the air was filled with the sound of carols led by Dumbledore. Hagrid, already several goblets of eggnog deep, boomed along with the music, his voice echoing through the hall.

Daisy joined Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione at the Gryffindor table, her pile of presents growing as her friends exchanged gifts. She didn't care much about the presents themselves—it was the thought behind them that mattered. From Hagrid, she received a hand-knitted scarf; from Molly and Arthur, a box of homemade fudge; from Hermione, a book on advanced charms; from Ginny, a heartfelt letter and a handmade bracelet; and from Pansy, Daphne, and Tracey, a set of enchanted quills and parchment.

The morning was filled with laughter and joy. She is glad to see Ginny smiling again. Daisy noticed Hermione ushering Harry and Ron out of the hall, a determined look on her face. Hermione caught Daisy's eye and gave her a meaningful glance. Daisy understood—the Polyjuice Potion was ready. They were going to confront Draco tonight.

Daisy lingered in the Great Hall, enjoying the festivities and finishing her Christmas pudding before slipping away unnoticed. She made her way to the second-floor girls' bathroom, where she found Hermione sobbing in a locked stall.

"Hermione? It's me, Daisy," she called, knocking gently on the door.

The door unlocked, and Hermione emerged, her face covered in black fur, her eyes yellow, and pointed ears poking through her hair.

"It was a c-cat hair!" Hermione wailed, her voice trembling.

Daisy's heart sank. Polyjuice Potion wasn't meant to be used with animal ingredients. "You need to go to the hospital wing," she said gently.

But Hermione refused, too embarrassed to be seen. Daisy spent the next hour comforting her, reassuring her that Madam Pomfrey wouldn't ask too many questions. When Harry and Ron returned, they were shocked to see Hermione's condition but quickly rallied to help.

As they made their way to the hospital wing, Ron hesitantly shared what they had learned from Malfoy. "He thinks Daisy's the Slytherin heir," Ron said, his voice uneasy.

"What?" Daisy and Hermione exclaimed in unison.

"Me?" Daisy repeated, stunned. "That explains why he's been acting so weird lately. But why would he think it's me?"

"He said you can speak to snakes too," Harry explained. "And since you're in Slytherin, you're a more likely candidate than me."

Ron added, "Think about it—you don't even know your parents. For all we know, you could be a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin himself."

Daisy opened her mouth to protest but stopped. Ron had a point. She didn't know who her parents were. But the idea of being the heir was absurd.

"But who opened the Chamber, then?" Daisy asked in panic. "Because it wasn't me."

No one had an answer, and they walked the rest of the way in silence, the weight of the mystery hanging heavy over them. But Daisy remembered—Tom Riddle's Diary.