daisy weasley

August 24th, 1994

"IT'S NOT AS though they haven't got brains," Mrs. Weasley kept on mumbling in irritation as she cooked, "They're wasting them. And unless they pull themselves together soon, they'll be in real trouble. I've had more owls from Hogwarts about them than the rest put together. If they carry on the way they're going, they'll end up in trial, in front of the Improper Use of Magic Office."

Mrs. Weasley jabbed her wand at the cutlery drawer, which shot open. Harry and Ron jumped out of the way as several knives soared out of it, flew across the kitchen, and began chopping the potatoes.

"I don't know where we went wrong with them. It's been the same for years, one thing after another, and they won't listen to— OH, NOT AGAIN!"

"C'mon," Ron said hurriedly to Harry, seizing a handful of cutlery from the open drawer, "Let's go and help Bill and Charlie."

They headed out the back door into the yard —together with Hermione's bandy-legged ginger cat, Crookshanks, who was busy chasing gnomes around— then towards the garden, where another commotion was happening. Apparently, Bill and Charlie were engaged in a rather tense fight.

They were levitating two battered old tables high above the lawn with their wands, smashing them into each other in an attempt to knock the other's out of the air. Fred and George were cheering, Ginny was laughing, while Hermione and Daisy were hovering near the hedge, torn between amusement and anxiety.

Bill's table caught Charlie's with a huge bang and knocked one of its legs off. There was a clatter from overhead, and they all looked up to see Percy's head poking out of a window on the second floor. He bellowed angrily, "Will you keep it down?!"

"Sorry, Perce," Bill said, "How's the report on cauldron bottoms coming on?"

"Not great," Percy said peevishly, and he slammed the window shut.

Chuckling, Charlie admitted the defeat of his table and the two directed the tables safely onto the grass. Bill reattached the table leg and conjured a tablecloth out of thin air.

By seven o'clock, the two tables were filled to the edges with dishes and dishes of Mrs. Weasley's excellent cooking. The nine Weasleys, Daisy, Hermione, and Harry sat down to eat beneath a clear, deep-blue sky. Chatters were issued all around the table.

"I've told Mr. Crouch that I'll have my report ready by Tuesday. That's a bit sooner than he expected it, but I like to keep on top of things. It's extremely busy in our department just now, with all the arrangements for the World Cup. We're just not getting the support we need from the Department of Magical Games and Sports. Ludo Bagman—"

"I like Ludo," said Mr. Weasley, "He was the one who got us such good tickets for the Cup."

"Bagman's likeable enough, of course, but when I compare him to Mr. Crouch! You realize Bagman's department member, Bertha Jorkins, has been missing for over a month now? Went on holiday to Albania and never came back? Why, Mr. Crouch would never let that slide."

"Yes, I was asking Ludo about that. I must say, if it was someone in my department, I'd be worried."

"Mr. Crouch has been taking a personal interest. he worked in our department at one time, you know, but Bagman just keeps laughing and saying she probably misread the map. However, we've got quite enough on our plates at the Department of International Magical Cooperation without trying to find members of other departments too. We've got another big event to organize right after the World Cup. You know, the top-secret one."

Ron rolled his eyes and muttered to his two best friends, "He's been trying to get us to ask what that event is ever since he started work. Daisy, being way too nice, asked, and got 'I told you, it's top-secret. Sorry Dais.' Probably an exhibition of thick-bottomed cauldrons."

Mrs. Weasley was arguing with Bill about his earring and long hair once more.

"Mum, no one at the bank gives a damn how I dress as long as I bring home plenty of treasures," said Bill patiently.

"I like it," said Ginny, "You're so old-fashioned, Mum. It's still nowhere near as long as Professor Dumbledore's."

The twins and Charlie were talking spiritedly about the World Cup, while occasionally giving out trivia to Daisy. Ron was right, Harry thought, she never looked this ecstatic before.

"It's got to be Ireland. They flattened Peru in the semifinals."

"Bulgaria has got Viktor Krum, though. He's the best and youngest professional Seeker in the world, Dee."

"Krum's one decent player, Ireland has got seven. I wish England had got through. That was embarrassing, that was."

"England went down against Transylvania a couple weeks ago, Dee, and guess what. Three hundred and ninety, to ten. Shocking performance."

"And Wales lost to Uganda. Scotland was slaughtered by Luxembourg."

Mr. Weasley conjured up candles to light the darkening garden before they had their homemade strawberry ice cream, and by the time they had finished, moths were fluttering low over the table. Everyone was full, physically and emotionally.

"Look at the time," Mrs. Weasley said suddenly, checking her wristwatch, "You really should be in bed, you'll be up at the crack of dawn to get to the Cup. Oh— Oh, right, before we go on our ways, Daisy, dear."

Daisy perked up from her seat and stood up, "Yes?"

"Oh, it's make-over time!" Charlie said, "So what's the final cover, Mum?"

"We thought about your idea, Bill, and Romania is a great back story, but your father and I don't want to risk her splinching. I'm sorry, Charlie, but you don't even like Apparating by yourself, moreover with someone tagging along. There was also the matter of Polyjuice Potion, but we can't think of anyone whose body we can borrow. Well, maybe Ginny, but maybe it'll be too confusing," Mrs. Weasley rambled on as Daisy walked over to her, "So she will your cousin!"

"Cousin?" Ron repeated.

"Yes, Ronald. Some relative from your Dad's family who lives in Sheffield but visiting to see the Cup. Now, Daisy, do not be alarmed. This is temporary."

Daisy shut her eyes in reflex as Mrs. Weasley's wand swung down. She felt its tip touching the crown of her head, followed by a cold sensation washing down her hair, then her face. She flinched with every little touch —a trauma, perhaps, of expecting pain— but Mrs. Weasley shushed her in a low tone, like she was talking to a wailing baby, "It's okay, it's not painful. See? It's done."

The others cheered, clapping and hooting, as Daisy cracked her eyes open once more.

"Merlin's beard! She looks just like Ginny!"

"A true Weasley!"

"We don't need Polyjuice Potion after all."

"Looks like another set of twins!"

"Here, here, look!" Percy summoned a mirror from the house and gave it to her. Daisy... almost didn't recognize her very own reflection. She was sporting red hair, now, similar to the Weasleys' flaming ones, and their freckles as well! A second figure of hers suddenly appeared behind her shoulder, and she needed a few seconds to register that it was Ginny. "Wow, we do look alike!" Ginny exclaimed.

"You'll be wearing Ginny's clothes tomorrow," Mr. Weasley instructed, and the said girl nodded to show that she understood.

"Fred and George will be with you all the time, not a second less."

The twins chorused, "Got that."

"Bill and I will keep an eye on you three, and Ginny, too."

Bill nodded.

"Stay close to each other. It will be extremely packed tomorrow. Fred and George prepared a fake wand for you, just in case. You don't have to talk to anyone, or prove yourself to anyone. We will answer them for you."

Daisy nodded, fiddling her hands nervously.

"Right," Mrs. Weasley gave Daisy a quick, tight hug, before continuing, "Let's get you to bed. Harry, if you leave your school list out, I'll get your things tomorrow in Diagon Alley. I'm getting everyone else's. There might not be time after the World Cup, the match went on for five days last time."

"Wow—" said Harry enthusiastically, "Hope it does this time!"

"Well, I certainly don't," said Percy, "I shudder to think what the state of my in-tray would be if I was away from work for five days."

"Yeah, someone might slip dragon dung in it again, eh, Perce?" said Fred.

"That was a sample of fertilizer from Norway!" Percy said defensively. "It was nothing personal!"

"It was," Fred whispered to Harry as they got up from the table, "We sent it."

✿ ❀ ✿ ❀ ✿

August 25th, 1994

DAISY WAS TOO consumed by excitement to properly sleep, and when she finally could, it barefly felt like ten minutes, and Hermione was shaking her awake.

"Time to go, Daisy. Ginny has your clothes ready in the bathroom."

"Oh," Daisy said groggily, rubbing her eyes with her hand, "Alright. Thank you, Hermione."

She got up and headed to the bathroom.

Ginny had prepared a pair of knee-length jeans, black turtle neck, and a grey jacket for her to wear. She rarely wore pants before, especially skinny ones like this, so it felt a little weird at first.

She brushed her hair, brushed her teeth, washed her face, then joined the other two girls by the stairs. When they got to the kitchen, the boys were already sitting at the dining table. Mrs. Weasley was stirring the contents of a large pot on the stove, while Mr. Weasley was sitting at the table, checking a sheaf of large parchment tickets. He did ask for them back after the big reveal, for safekeeping.

"Why do we have to be up so early?" Ginny said.

"We've got a bit of a walk," Mr. Weasley answered.

"Walk?" Harry asked, "Are we walking to the World Cup?"

"No, no, that's miles away," said Mr. Weasley, smiling, "We only need to walk a short way. It's just very difficult for a large number of wizards to congregate without attracting Muggle attention, so we have to be very careful—"

"George!" said Mrs. Weasley sharply, and they all jumped.

"What?" said George in an innocent tone that deceived nobody.

"What is that in your pocket?"

"Nothing!"

"Don't you lie to me!" Mrs. Weasley pointed her wand at George's pocket and said, "Accio!"

Ton-Tongue Toffees zoomed out of George's pocket, and the other kids didn't have other choice but to sober up at the sound of Mrs. Weasley's furious screech.

"Accio! Accio! Accio!"

It was an unpleasant scene. The twins had evidently been trying to smuggle as many toffees out of the house as possible, and they zoomed from all sorts of unlikely places, including the lining of George's jacket and the turn-ups of Fred's jeans.

Daisy blushed, knowing full well that she played a part in their plan to be the world's biggest jokers, and dug into her soup quietly instead.

"We spent six months developing those!" Fred's tone rose, clearly upset.

"Oh a fine way to spend six months!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked, "No wonder you didn't get more O.W.L.s!"

All in all, the atmosphere was not very friendly as they took their departure.

"Bye, Mrs. Weasley," Daisy said softly, smiling.

"C'mon, Dee," Fred said curtly, tugging her along. The twins hoisted their rucksacks onto their backs and walked out without a word to their mother.

It was chilly and the moon was still out. The two other girls were trudging along in silence, still feeling sleepy. Ron and Mr. Weasley were trying to explain what Portkey was to Harry. Daisy hesitated for a moment before slipping her hands into the twins', who were obviously fuming.

"Are you two mad?"

"Of course we are," Fred began.

"Clearly livid," George added.

"Annoyed."

"Vexed."

She swung their hands as they walked, "She just wants the best for you. She worries about you two the most these days, she loves you."

"Yeah, well, we don't feel very loved right now."

Daisy pressed her lips together, not wanting to press on the matter any further. George was the first to sigh, remembering that Daisy didn't have a mother at home, and said, "We're sorry. We know she loves us."

"It was just a disagreement. We'll talk to her nicely once we're back, promise."

"Okay," Daisy nodded, "I'm so excited!"

She released her grip and ran a few steps forward, laughing.

Fred couldn't help but to chuckle along, "Where's your wand?"

"Over here!" Daisy pulled out a fake wooden stick that the twins had guaranteed wouldn't suddenly change into a toy mouse. She playfully pointed at them and did the swish and flick motion, "Wingardium... Leviosa."

"Nice try, Dee."

"'Mione taught me," Daisy said proudly, "What did Mrs. Weasley say this morning? Axio?"

"Accio."

"Right. Accio! Accio!"

George playfully threw a galleon at her and she exclaimed at Fred, "Fred, Fred! Look, it works!"

The sky lightened slowly as they made their way through the village, then finally up Stoatshead Hill. They didn't have breath to spare for talking as they began the climb, stumbling occasionally in hidden rabbit holes and slipping on thick tuffets of grass.

Daisy's chest heaved painfully with every sharp breath she took and her legs had turned into blocks of concrete when Fred pulled her up onto level ground with all his might. He then joined George helping the others up the hills —Harry, Ron, Ginny. Hermione came over the crest of the hill last, clutching a stitch on her side.

"Now we just need the Portkey," said Mr. Weasley. "It won't be big... Come on..."

"Over here, Arthur! Over here, son, we've got it!"

Two tall figures were silhouetted against the dawning sky on the other side of the hilltop, and Daisy breathed out in gratitude that they wouldn't have to do more exploring.

"Amos!" Mr. Weasley strode over to the man who had shouted. The rest followed. "This is Amos Diggory, everyone. He works for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. And I think you know his son, Cedric?"

"Hi," said Cedric, looking around at them all.

Every said hi back, except for the twins, who had never quite forgiven Cedric for beating their team in the first Quidditch match previous year. Daisy remembered them writing her that Cedric Diggory, the Captain and Seeker of Hufflepuff, was short, stocky, ugly, stupid, and snobbish. Oh, he was anything but all those.

The older Mr. Diggory peered good-naturedly around at the kids, "All these yours, Arthur?"

"Oh no, only the redheads. This is Hermione, friend of Ron's— and Harry, another friend—"

"Merlin's beard," said Mr. Diggory, his eyes widening, "Harry? Harry Potter?"

"Er— yeah," Harry said.

Mr. Diggory began to fuss over Harry like all the other fans he had to handle before. But then came a soft, sweet voice from her left, and Daisy looked up to see Cedric. "And you are? I don't think I've seen you at Hogwarts before."

Daisy blinked. She could feel the twins closing in on her protectively, but she bravely offered her hand first for him to shake, "Daisy Weasley, their cousin. Lovely to meet you, Mr. Diggory."

Cedric beamed, shaking her hand firmly. "Cedric, please. Pleasure to meet you, too, Daisy. Lovely name you got there."

"Thank you. Yours, too."