good news

March 31st, 1993

DAISY PUT A stone over her letter on the Burrow's porch, to prevent it from being blown away by the wind.

Dear the Weasleys,

Considering your lack of news for the last two days, I really hope that Ginny is alive and safe.

I hope everyone is doing okay, recovering well from the shocking news, and I hope you are supporting each other as a family. I hope Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, and Harry are well, too. I hope whatever ruse going on right there in Hogwarts is under Professor Dumbledore's control. I hope everything is going back to the way it should.

I hope you can contact me soon. Not knowing is metaphorically killing me. Mrs. Weasley, I can't sleep. I can't eat. I can't concentrate on studying.

I need to know what is happening. Please.

Please contact me soon.

Happy birthday to my favorite twins. Wishing all the best for you two. I'll bake your favorite cookies and hand over your gift as soon as you get back from school. So be safe.

I love you all.

Sincerely, DJA

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April 1st, 1993

FRED HAD BEEN to countless Hogwarts feasts, but never one quite like this.

It was more than festive. It was infinitely merrier than Halloween, his favorite holiday. And he was buoyant. He meant, how could he not?

Everybody was dressed in comfortable pajamas.

The food was heavenly.

Hermione and the other victims had been revived, and they had stormed into the Great Hall, shrieking in glee, just after midnight.

Professor Dumbledore stood up on the stand and announced that, one, Harry and Ron's heroic rescue had gained four hundred points for Gryffindor, securing the house cup for the second year running. Two, which was way, way better than the first, that PROFESSOR LOCKHART WOULD BE UNABLE TO RETURN next year.

Professor McGonagall followed afterwards, standing up to tell the school that EXAMS WERE CANCELED as a school treat.

At half past three, Hagrid made his release from Azkaban known by slamming the Great Hall's door opened and cuffing Harry and Ron's shoulders so hard in gratitude.

He kept Ginny in his line of vision throughout the night. She never looked so healthy and happy, laughing along to her classmate's jokes and stuffing her face with pudding.

Fred looked to his right and met eyes with a mirror of himself, George, duplicating his exuberant grin and patting each other on their backs.

Nothing entered his mind except for how happy he was.

"Happy birthday, Fred," George said between laughter.

Fred raised his drink and clinked it with George's, "Happiest birthday, George."

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April 1st, 1993

DAISY RETURNED THE next night and saw that the envelope was untouched. The light was still out. No one was home.

She took the previous letter and replaced them with a shorter, more carefully thought one.

Dear the Weasleys,

I hope everything is alright and everyone is doing okay.

Happy birthday to my favorite twins! I promise to bake your favorite cookies and hand over your gift as soon as you get back from school.

Please contact me soon. I love you all.

Sincerely, DJA

✿ ❀ ✿ ❀ ✿

April 2nd, 1993

"STOP IT, MUM!" Ginny groaned, scrunching her face as Mrs. Weasley planted kisses all over her reddened face.

The latter did it once more, then turned around to face her four boys with her finger raised, "Alright, boys. This time, do a better job in keeping an eye on your sister!"

"Mum!" Ginny whined, but George replied, "Yeah, yeah, of course we will!"

Percy asked, "Are you heading back to the Burrow now?"

"Well, I'm heading to work," Mr. Weasley said, "There are some... paperwork to do."

"Oh, come on, Dad," Fred grinned, "We know about Mr. Malfoy. He's getting sacked as school governor, isn't he?"

Mr. Arthur frowned disapprovingly, "What— How did you know? It's not even official yet!"

"Got a little birdie," Fred shrugged.

"It's not exactly news," George added, "Everybody in school knows."

"By the way, Mum," Fred groped into his robe's pocket and took out a slightly crumpled piece of paper. He tried flattening it on Ron's back before handing it over to Mrs. Weasley, "George and I have a letter for Daisy."

Mrs. Weasley audibly gasped.

"She probably has one for us, too, considering that it's our birthday. Will you send it over when you get back?"

She raised her hand to cover her mouth in shock.

"Can't wait to see her gift for us!" George exclaimed in between laughter, "How's she, by the way?"

"Good heavens!" The mother sighed, "I totally forgot! That poor girl!"

"What? What?" Panic began to rise up Fred's chest.

Percy frowned, "Merlin, Mum. She... doesn't know about this whole... thing, does she?"

"She does. I'm sorry, she was actually the first to know. She read your letter, Percy." The boys and girls (Harry and Hermione included) began to chatter in mixture of surprise and worry. Mrs. Weasley turned to her husband and said hurriedly, "We should go, dear. I should tell her the good news! She must be worried sick, my poor little girl. Come on, Arthur."

The two parents scurried along towards the headmaster's office, where a Floo network had been prepared for their immediate return.

"Bye, Mum! Dad! Say hi to Daisy for us!"

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April 3rd, 1993

DAISY'S EYES LIT up like a fully decorated Christmas tree when she saw the Burrow's night light was on and she dashed towards the door at full speed.

The letter under the rock was gone.

Before she could even knock, Mrs. Weasley threw the door open and pulled her into a mama bear hug, "Daisy, Daisy, dear! I am so, so sorry for the late news! We were all so caught up in the moment! Arthur had to take care of the issue with the school and the Ministry, in fact, he is still out right now. I stayed up all night and all day beside Ginny and Ron's bed. Percy stayed, too, oh, and there's a letter from the twins for you—"

Daisy pulled back and looked up at her second mother figure, "So, they're alright? Everyone's alive and well?"

Mrs. Weasley smiled tearfully and nodded, "Yes! Yes, everyone's alright!"

"Oh..." Daisy's knees almost buckled in too much relief and joy, so she tightened her grip around Mrs. Weasley's waist, "Thank God. Thank God..."

Mrs. Weasley then guided her towards the dining table with one hand behind the girl's back, "You must be cold! Why do you run over here without a jacket? Come, come. Let me make you some tea. How is your leg?"

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley," Daisy sat down and lifted her legs, eyeing the healing bruises, "It's better, thanks to you."

The story of Harry's heroic save (which included Professor Lockhart's unfortunate mishap and Dobby the Elf's freedom) was retold in nearly four hours, over two pots of Chamomile tea and a jar of chocolate chip cookies. Daisy couldn't help responding with'ooh' and 'aah' to Mrs. Weasley's dramatic shrieks.

Before they knew it, the sun had peeked over the horizon and Saturday had started.

"Oh, I should get back."

"Yes, yes! Get some sleep, dear."

"I can finally sleep in peace," Daisy said, smiling. Yesterday, her smile seemed fake and clouded with sadness. Last night, upon hearing the news, her smile was genuinely joyful and bright. Now, built up fatigue from the last stressful three days made her just looked tired. "I'm... really glad. Beyond words, really."

Mrs. Weasley cooed and patted her golden hair, "Thank you, my dear. I'm really glad, too."

"I hope we don't have to go through this again," the girl sighed.

"Me, too."

"I probably should tell Harry to tone it down next year. Lay low."

"Oh, I certainly will," Mrs. Weasley chuckled, "But I wouldn't count on it, dear. If trouble doesn't find them, Merlin knows they create some trouble themselves."

"...You're right."