Harry's twin || Between Light and Shadow

Summer was beginning to creep over the grounds of Hogwarts, painting the sky and lake in shades of periwinkle blue. Flowers as large as cabbages burst into bloom in the greenhouses, and the air was filled with the scent of fresh grass and blooming petals. But without Hagrid striding across the grounds with Fang at his heels, the scene felt incomplete—wrong, even. The castle itself was no better, its halls filled with an atmosphere of fear and suspicion.

One person, however, seemed to be thriving in the chaos. Draco Malfoy strutted through the corridors as though he had been appointed Head Boy, his smug expression grating on Daisy's nerves. Ever since Dumbledore's removal, Draco had been gloating nonstop, Daisy had grown tired of hearing them, and today's class was no different.

"I always thought Father might be the one who got rid of Dumbledore," Draco said loudly during Potions class, not bothering to lower his voice. "I told you he thinks Dumbledore's the worst headmaster the school's ever had. Maybe we'll get a decent headmaster now. Someone who won't want the Chamber of Secrets closed. McGonagall won't last long—she's only filling in."

Snape swept past the students, his expression unreadable. "Sir," Draco called out, his tone dripping with false innocence. "Why don't you apply for the headmaster's job?"

"Now, now, Malfoy," Snape said, though a thin-lipped smile betrayed his amusement. "Professor Dumbledore has only been suspended by the governors. I daresay he'll be back with us soon enough."

"Yeah, right," Draco sneered. "I expect you'd have Father's vote, sir, if you wanted to apply for the job. I'll tell him you're the best teacher here."

Daisy couldn't help but agree with that last statement—Snape was a great teacher—but her agreement was short-lived. Draco's next words made her blood boil.

"I'm quite surprised the Mudbloods haven't all packed their bags by now," Draco continued, his voice dripping with malice. "Bet you five Galleons the next one dies. Pity it wasn't Granger—"

Daisy saw Ron lunge forward, his face red with fury, but Harry grabbed his arm, holding him back. Luckily, Snape hadn't noticed, and ushered the class out and escorted them to Herbology, his expression one of thinly veiled disdain. Daisy couldn't imagine he'd be happy with all the babysitting he'd had to do lately.

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May 25th

As the days passed, the tension at Hogwarts grew unbearable. Daisy felt trapped, unable to check on Cedric or Ginny under the new rules. She dearly missed Hagrid and felt deeply concerned for him — an innocent man, as she'd like to believe, stuck in the worse-than-death prison filled with death eaters. However, the most disturbing of all was the sense of foreboding that gnawed at her, a feeling that she needed to see Ginny, to make sure she was okay.

To make matters worse, exams were announced to begin on June 1st, just a week away. While many students groaned at the news, Daisy was prepared. She had been studying since the previous summer, and exams were the least of her worries. Her friends, however, were another story.

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May 29th

During breakfast, a rare piece of good news broke through the gloom. Professor McGonagall stood and addressed the Great Hall, her voice carrying over the murmurs of the students.

"Professor Sprout has informed me that the Mandrakes are ready for cutting at last," she announced. "Tonight, we will be able to revive those who have been Petrified. I need hardly remind you all that one of them may well be able to tell us who, or what, attacked them. I am hopeful that this dreadful year will end with our catching the culprit."