sirius black

July 30th, 1993

DAISY FLIPPED HER secret magic book open and beamed, feeling happy whenever she saw its contents.

She had glued on the letter of assurance she recieved last April, the one that contained all of her favorite people's handwritings. Then, on the next page, a cut out Daily Prophet's news titled MINISTRY OF MAGIC EMPLOYEE SCOOPS GRAND PRIZE with a moving picture of nine Weasleys waving furiously at her, standing in front of a large pyramid.

It was accompanied by a set of stamps Ginny had bought for her and a letter from Bill, which included some magical Egyptian fun facts, a compliment on her baking skill (though cookies were the only edible things she could bake by herself), and some amusing events (apparently Fred and George tried to trap Percy inside a pyramid but failed).

Ah... Life was never boring with them around.

Daisy saw that there were only a few pages left in her book and made a mental note to buy a new one soon.

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August 1st, 1993

"JANE!"

DAISY HURRIEDLY pat down her braid and her dress, making sure that she was presentable, then entered the sun room.

Mr. Allen was there, toying with his brand new Apple's Newton handheld computer while watching the news on TV, sipping hot tea, and soaking in the morning sunlight.

Ms. Aubert and a few other servants were standing straight only a couple feet away, ready to run over if they were called.

Daisy curtsied, "Good morning, Father."

"There you are, Jane, have a seat," Mr. Allen gestured towards one of the empty sofas.

"Thank you, Father."

Daisy's attention was immediately captured by the creepy man with shoulder-length hair screaming on screen.

"—the public is warned that Black is armed and extremely dangerous. A special hot line has been set up, and any sighting of Black should be reported immediately—"

Mr. Allen clucked his tongue, muttering, "Escaped convict... Stupid, improper jails..."

A servant came forward and poured tea into Daisy's empty cup.

"Thank—"

It was Lucy, winking.

Daisy smiled, "Thank you."

"My pleasure, Young Miss."

"I'll be going around Europe, starting next week," Mr. Allen said, "with Mr. DeVere. You remember him, Deacon DeVere?"

Daisy nodded, "Yes, the smartest real estate broker you know."

"Precisely! I'm going to find some willing businessmen and invest myself. Perhaps, if all goes well, I will involve your uncle and Allen Incorporation as well." Mr. Allen paused to take another sip from his tea and sighed in satisfaction, by both the drink and his seemingly mature plan to further enrich himself, "Ah... It's been a long time since we host a dinner here, don't you think? Audrey— Audrey—"

He cleared his throat, "Your mother used to prepare everything brilliantly."

Daisy nodded, "Yes, Father."

"When I get back, let's host one! I'll invite Mr. DeVere and his lovely family... Maybe our neighbors, too, the Reeds, Louvres, Addisons... Say, why don't you ever study with them?"

Daisy blinked, "Study with them?"

"Yes," Mr. Allen flapped his hand, "Hang out? Have some tea, discussion, party? I don't think you ever interact with them. What have you been doing all these years, anyway?"

I did those —have tea, group discussions, and parties. With the Weasleys.

"I... keep to myself. I do those with Ms. Sloan and our people here, in the Residence."

"I should schedule one for you, yes..."

"That won't be necessary."

"I'll call them and have all the teenagers gather every Saturday, how about that?" Mr. Allen rambled on, completely ignoring her remarks, "You should sharpen your social skill yourself, Jane. If you're only cooped up here and interact with these maids, how are you going to be a good representative of the law one day? Must I do everything around here? Dear God..."

Daisy kept quiet, noting a number of things she could correct from his last blabber alone. One bugged her more than the others, so she sipped on her tea to calm her nerves before speaking, "Father, about law school."

"Why? Please don't tell me you are still adamant about learning science," He said the last word disdainfully.

"Yes. There are many opportunities in that field, from research to practitioner, and I—"

Mr. Allen slammed his cup onto the table, causing Daisy and the servants present to flinch. "Are you kidding me?! Science, when you can be an attorney? Why would you waste your life like that?"

"It's not a waste, Father. Science is working for the future." Daisy's tone heightened in excitement, "And it's my passion. I really love—"

"No."

"But, Father, can we please discuss this. It is my life—"

"NO!" Something whirred passed her ear and slammed against the wall, shattering into shards and pieces. Some stung her face and neck in numerous places. Daisy winced. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Don't cry. Don't cry...

"Father."

"Not another word about this. You!" He pointed a finger at her accusingly, "You are my daughter! You don't get to stand up against me! Do as I say, be a lawyer for Allen Inc. That's final."

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August 3rd, 1993

"WHAT IS HIS problem?!" Lucy began using colorful words that Daisy could only chuckle at in between hisses. The former then scoffed, "Now you're laughing? Daisy!"

"It's fine," she quipped silently, "He's, uh... He's done worse."

"I know, but that doesn't make it better," Lucy grumbled as she dabbed alcohol on Daisy's cuts.

"Does your mother know you are here?"

"I don't think so, but if she asks, I'll say 'Young Miss summoned me and asked me to help clean her cuts. She's our employer, I couldn't say no.'"

"That's," Daisy hissed in pain, "That's clever."

"I have to admit, this house is so much better when he's off to his business trip."

Daisy chuckled, "I have to admit, after we became friends, you're much more outspoken. Especially against my father."

"Even before we became friends, I badmouth him all the time. Just not in front of you," Lucy admitted, "The servants are all on your side. You're polite, you're pretty, you're nice. You genuinely care about us, you have our best interests at heart, you're not too proud to eat in our chamber sometimes. You're the true lady of this house! And you don't deserve any beatings, Young Miss. None at all. It's your life, your future."

Daisy's heart blossomed along with her smile, "Thank you. I'm flattered."

"Seriously, Dais, your dad needs help."

"I know... I don't know to get him that."

"Call 999? The police?"

"No, I mean..." Daisy pursed her lips, "I don't want him to get arrested..."

"I do."

"Lucy!" Daisy scolded, though she chuckled along herself.

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August 12th, 1993

"SO, SCHOOL HASN'T even started yet, and Harry is already knee-deep in trouble."

"What happened?" Daisy looked up from her tray at George.

Her hair was tied up into an exquisite bun and the ointment Mrs. Weasley put on her cuts felt cold whenever the wind blew.

She was spending the day at the Weasleys (as always), helping Mrs. Weasley with her sudden urge to bake cinnamon rolls. Ginny was frowning at her misshapen dough on her left, and on her right, Fred, George, and Ron was lounging from a few feet away. Mrs. Weasley forbade them to enter the cooking premises.

Not after they nearly burnt the Burrow down during Percy's Head Boy celebration.

"Dad mentioned blowing up his aunt," George said between chuckles, "We heard he's staying at Leaky Cauldron now."

"Blowing up his aunt?" Daisy asked in surprise, "She's not... dead?"

"Nah, just ballooned and floated away until the Ministry handled it," Fred said between chuckles, "Which is brilliant!"

"Can't we pay him a visit, Mum?" Ron asked.

"We'll visit him when we get your supplies," Mrs. Weasley said, "I think it's best for us to stay in. It's safer."

"Safer?" Fred frowned, "What's not safe out there?"

"Mum, you don't even let us play Quidditch in the woods anymore. And Daisy's science kit."

"Oh, I heard there's an escaped Muggle convict, still at large. Perhaps that's why. Mr. Black—" Daisy paused when she saw Mrs. Weasley's breath hitched and she furrowed her eyebrows, "Unless... he's not a Muggle. He's not, is he?"

"No, he's a wizard."

"Ron!"

"What? She needs to know the truth, then she'll be better protected and prepared," Ron shrugged, annoyed.

Fred knew that was true, but he still didn't like how Daisy had to know all the bleak corners of the Wizarding World.

"You remember Azkaban? The super guarded jail for villains, dark and damp, harboring the worst witches and wizards of all time, impossible to escape from?"

"Yes," Daisy nodded. Her eyes were wide with anticipation as her mind recalled Bill, showing her a picture from one of his books. It was so horrifying, she couldn't forget about it.

"Apparently, it's not impossible," George continued, "Black escaped, completely undetected."

Daisy frowned, "But... I saw him in a Muggle news."

"Dunno, maybe our Ministers keep in contact with each other."

Mrs. Weasley slammed her rolling pin onto the table and said in a clear voice, "Children, it has nothing (but her pitch gave away that it was obviously the opposite) to do with that. Absolutely nothing. Whatever business Sirius has, out in his freedom, it has nothing—"

"—wait, Mum. Did you just refer to him as Sirius?" The twins eyes sparkled in excitement.

"No!"

"You knew him?"

"No!"

"You're lying!"

"No!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed with a tone of finality, "Now focus on the cinnamon!"