The Only Evans Girl [For Harry]
Fandom: Harry Potter [Marauder’s Era]
Pairing: Sirius Black x Original Female Character, Sirius Black x Daisy Evans, James Potter x Lily Evans
Characters: Sirius Black, Original Female Character, Daisy Evans, Lily Evans, Remus Lupin, James Potter, Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Alice Fortescue, Frank Longbottom, Marlene McKinnon, Albus Dumbledore, Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew, Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix LeStrange, Walburga Black, Orion Black, Jasper Thicknesse, Barty Crouch Jr, Mulciber, Walden McNair
Summary: On the 31st of October 1981 Daisy Evans life changed forever. Since then she’s been tasked with one objective, keep Harry Potter safe. That however isn’t always that easy to do.
Notes: only a couple of chapters yet. dont worry im gonna do my boy dirty
LINK TO AO3 // LINK TO PINTEREST // LINK TO ALL PARTS
The room was dimly lit. As Daisy opened her eyes she found she could barely see anything besides shapes, the only light coming from behind the Venetian blinds covering the window to the left of her. The glow outside signalled it was early morning and given that the last thing she remembered was leaving Grimmauld place around dusk she realised she had missed quite a chunk of time. So she decided to go in search of answers, pushing herself up in bed only when she did she found her core on fire, radiating pain down every extremity. It was like being prodded by a red-hot poker forcing her to collapse back onto the mattress completely exhausted. Her hands felt weak, too weak to even push off the bedclothes which were now sticking to her, the mild exertion leaving her mildly sweaty.
She breathed deeply trying not to make too much noise. After all she wasn’t exactly sure where she was or if there was anyone to help her. Though just as she had thought it, the door clicked open and in bustled a short, round-faced woman. With her she brought light, the lamps around the turning on to a level which she could manoeuvre around the room in comfortably. It also had the fortunate advantage that Daisy could now see too and she recognised her immediately though the bright green healer's robes were a tell-tale sign, a bad one admittedly, that she was in hospital. Mavis, the witch Daisy recognised from her old job didn’t even seem to notice her awake as she went to fiddle with something by the end of her bed only when her kind eyes landed on the figure in the bed they met Daisy's green ones and widened in surprise.
‘Oh gosh you scared me!’ Mavis said, clutching her chest in surprise, ‘I wasn't expecting you up!’
‘Only just,’ Daisy said as the healer bustled to stand near her, checking her over silently. Daisy allowed it, not bothered about whatever examinations she’d been tasked to get on with, all she wanted was answers, ‘Mavis…I’m in hospital right?’
‘Well going through the wars certainly hasn’t dulled that sharp mind of yours I’ll give you that darling,’ Mavis said in a way that would’ve come off sarcastic if anyone else said it but from her it was nothing more than motherly. Daisy didn’t care if she was being sarcastic because she'd confirmed her suspicions of where she was. Hospital. That was bad, as in, whatever was wrong with her couldn’t be fixed anywhere else kind of bad. As in whoever had brought her here was happy to have questions asked about how she got that way which must mean it was bad kind of bad. Mavis didn’t seem to notice her turmoil, mistaking her grimace for discomfort as she offered her a cup of foamy liquid and said, ‘here take this it’ll help with the pain.’
Daisy did as she was told, wincing at the sour taste that made her realise just how furry the inside of her mouth was feeling. Spotting a cup of water on the table beside her she reached for it and gulped it down, noticing how it didn’t ache to move now she’d downed whatever it was off the healer. As Mavis muttered to her quick quill, which scratched Daisy's vitals onto a piece of parchment, Daisy shifted, clearing her throat as she asked, ‘what happened?’
Mavis had ducked down, busied with something Daisy couldn't see but she looked up, sympathy clouding her features as she sighed and said, ‘you were hit by a very nasty hex my love. I mean the account we got when you came in the doors was vague and it sounds like they barely kept you together before you got here,’ she jutted her head across the room to a couch Daisy hadn’t noticed before now. She’s been so focused on Mavis she hasn’t realised they weren’t alone. Remus was sitting on the couch, squashed up one end, head flopped forward in a way that was sure to put a crick in his neck, arms folded across him. On his lap was a pair of legs belonging to Harry who was spread across the couch. Daisy could barely believe how long he was, how much he had grown since Christmas. Only she had seen him since then. A flash of him in the department of mysteries came into her mind but it was fuzzy and went as quickly as it came. He didn't take up all of the couch though. His legs were draped over Remus’ but his top half was wrapped around a big shaggy black dog. Sirius. Daisy could see the glint of his dark eyes watching her but as Mavis continued he closed them and settled down as if he hadn't been listening.
‘Lucky they did though. And I’ll give them credit, they haven’t left your side once, not even the dog,’ she chuckled. Daisy watched his ears twitch and smiled, ‘in sure matron loved that.’
‘She had Dumbledore in her ear. Old friends apparently so she turned a blind eye. How do you think you got your own room?’ Mavis said in a tone that insinuated it'd been the talk of the ward. Daisy was sure it would have been. In fact it made her feel a little embarrassed. She could hear the whispers now. They followed her around like they did Harry.
She looked over at him. He looked peaceful, unbothered and serene as he rested on the thick flop of fur he was lying against. He was just a kid. He looked like it now, asleep, escaping it all. Guilt immediately overcame her. Had he been worried? How long had she been here? What had happened?
She remembered the trap, how frantic about Sirius he must’ve been but after that was nothingness which didn’t feel like it would be good.
‘How bad was it? The hex?’ She asked. Mavis had been collecting empty medicine containers from the bedside table but she paused and looked at her sadly as she said, ‘bad. Ripped you from the inside out it seemed. Wounds everywhere and they were a bugger to heal. Even opened up some old wounds but no one seems to know what they’re from.’
Daisy instinctively moved her hand to her abdomens and found it thick with bandages. Like it had been the night she’d been almost ripped apart by a werewolf. Whatever had hit her hurt worse than that though. The medicine was already fading, the dull ache sharpening second by second.
‘How are they?’ Daisy asked.
‘Healing,’ Mavis conceded,’ but progress is slow.’
‘How long have I been here?’ Daisy asked.
‘A couple of days,’ Mavis said. Daisy frowned, glancing at the boys on the couch. She’d put them through two days of waiting for her to wake up. Two days of bad. An experienced healer, attune to the slightest flicker of need, Mavis noted her frown but mistook it for discomfort asking, ‘how’s the pain?’
‘Fine,’ Daisy said with a weak smile.
‘Not really,’ Daisy said, the ache in her abdomen negating any whiff of hunger.
‘Well give us a bell if you are and I’ll sort you something out. It’s a little after three so no one’s up yet,’ Mavis said, placing a hand on her shoulder and offering a sympathetic smile before she headed out of the door. Daisy rested back, waiting till the door clicked close before she looked towards the couch. They were still smushed up together but Daisy could see Padfoot's ears raised.
‘I know you’re listening,’ she said, watching as two black eyes immediately found hers. Despite taking up a large chunk of the couch he managed to slip out from under Harry without waking him, changing before he’d made it two steps. Sirius’ face was worried as he threw himself at her, his arms encircling her in an instant as he held her to his. He smelled stale, like he hadn’t washed in a couple of days but she didn’t care. It hurt her ribs to be held so tight but she didn’t care. His face was scratchy against hers, the beard he kept trimmed now unruly after being left for a couple of days. She didn’t care. For all the worry she’d put him through she’d let him hold her forever.
‘Are you okay?’ he said, his throat dry and thick like it was when he’d been in his animagus form for too long. Though as he pulled back his eyes were focused only on her, any discomfort of his now a distant memory.
‘Think so,’ Daisy said, wincing at the way the bed jostled her causing a shooting pain across her abdomen. Trying to ignore it Daisy asked, ‘what happened?’
‘Dais it was awful. I thought,’ Sirius started but there was stirring to the right of them and as they looked Harry was just putting his glasses back on.
‘Auntie Dais you’re awake!’ he exclaimed, pushing himself up off the couch so quickly Remus his foot knocked Remus arm which he’d been propping his head up on causing him to startle awake. Daisy could barely take notice of him though as she was too focused on the mop of jet-black unruly hair in her face as Harry bowled her over mumbling, ‘I’m so sorry auntie Dais. It’s all my fault-’
‘Jesus Harry,’ Sirius muttered as he wedged himself in between the pair.
‘I’m sorry if I’d have just listened-’
‘Harry,’ Daisy said, trying to manoeuvre him back so that she could see him. His grip was like an iron fist around her.
‘I was stupid. I let him trick me and you almost died-’
‘It’s all my fault and I’m so-’
‘Harry sit up!’ Daisy demanded pushing himself back until he was sat between his godparents, wide eyed and guilt ridden. Daisy placed a hand on his cheek that was damp though there were no fresh tears in his eyes.
‘Breathe yeah,’ she said, trying to diffuse the tension a touch. But Harry just carried on with his assault of apologies, ‘it was a trick. I had a vision, like Mr Weasley's but it was about Sirius. Dais it felt so real just like it had at Christmas-’
‘Harry we’ve been over this. It’s not your fault,’ Sirius said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. For the first time Daisy saw a flicker of annoyance pass between the pair, as Harry replied with indignation, ‘she could’ve died!’
‘But she didn’t,’ Remus reasoned, coming over to join the huddle. He looked tired but Daisy couldn't even begin to think of where he'd be at in his cycle. Maybe two days of hospital food and restless sleep was the reason. Daisy nodded reassuringly as she placed a hand on his thigh and vowed, 'Harry I’m fine I promise,' but it did not soothe him.
‘You’ve been out cold for 36 hours! Your insides were-’ he stopped, his face palling at the memory, his voice dropping to a whisper as he said, ‘you were nearly dead!’
‘But she isn’t,’ Sirius said and before he could interject Remus continued the offence by saying, ‘And I happen to know our Daisy here is very forgiving of fifteen-year-olds who nearly get her killed right Dais?’
‘Oh yeah,’ Daisy grinned, ‘once you’ve had your belly ripped apart once, twice is nothing!’
Sirius rolled his eyes but Daisy grinned until she realised Harry didn’t look more convinced. She sighed, ‘I’m fine Harry I promise.’
He still didn’t look any lighter but she didn’t know how to deal with it without knowing the story. She glanced at the others. She needed to speak to one of them properly. As her stomach growled she spied her change and said, ‘Though I am a bit hungry. Why don’t you and Moony see if there’s some food you can scrounge up from anywhere.’
‘There’s a canteen upstairs. C’mon,’ Remus said, gesturing for Harry to follow. He looked between his godparents and then stood sulkily, stomping after Remus.
‘Anything’s fine,’ she called as the door shut with a hefty thunk rattling the window pane inside it ever so slightly. Daisy sighed.
It was quiet for a moment, the only sound the even steady breaths of the pair of them and the quiet hubbub of the ward just beyond the door. Sirius was staring at the yellowing tile on the floor, the low lamplight making it look more garish than it ought to be. But Daisy was watching him. He seemed older in two days, worse than even when she’d first seen him after Azkaban and the waxy gauntness of his face then still haunted her. But he’d be fine. They’d made it through worse. Right now it was Harry she was worried about. He was just a kid who had already been through so much and she’d just added to that. After a moment she asked, ‘is he okay?’
‘Worried about you,’ Sirius said, tearing his gaze from the floor, ‘I tried to convince him to go back to school but he wouldn’t go. Dumbledore couldn’t shift him either.’
‘How bad was it?’ she said, picking at a loose cotton thread on her blanket as she braced herself.
‘I thought you were dead,’ he said, barely more than a whisper, his eyes glossy as he looked at her, ‘I thought I’d got you killed.’
‘Got me killed, what are you on about?’ she asked.
‘It’s not Harry’s fault it’s mine,’ he said, pulling away and moving towards the door. The window in it was small but it gave him a glimpse into the ward, something to distract him a little. He could see healers gathered around their station chatting away oblivious to his watching gaze.
‘Sirius what do you mean?,’ Daisy said after a moment, snapping his gaze to her. He frowned, his brows knitting together, his arms crossed.
‘It was my fault. I insisted on going because I felt useless. Because I was angry at you and wanted to prove myself. Now look,' he said gesturing to her bedraggled state, the pain that twinged when she breathed.
'She was aiming for me,' he said firmly, as if any chance of her defending him was not to be listened to. Daisy frowned, whatever he was referencing gone from her mind blurred by pain and fear. Sirius saw her confusion and added, 'Bella. We were duelling and she was aiming for me.'
'I don't...I don't remember anything after we left the house,' Daisy admitted, casting her mind back to the last thing that was there before she'd come to this little room. It was their front door step, the feeling of Sirius' hand in hers as they apparated.
'Well the tall and short of it was the kids were ambushed as we thought,' he said sitting back down on the bed.
'And the prophecy?' she asked only just remembering that was why they'd lured them there in the first place.
'Gone,' Sirius said. Daisy looked panicked as he hurried to explain, 'he doesn't have it. They needed Harry to collect it but he took it and ran. Death eaters chased them all and that's where we came in...it all went a bit nuts and it got smashed.'
'I suppose that's something. If he doesn't know what the prophecy says,' Daisy mustered. Sirius dropped his gaze to his lap, stirring something more than pain inside her. A whisper of, 'what is it?' followed.
'After that everything went a bit haywire. They'd failed and they were angry, duels started going off,' he started, staring out as if he was reliving it all, 'I could see you trying to get everyone out. Harry, Ron, Hermione...no thoughts just focused on them. Keeping them safe...Harry should've been safe with me...all this time and I still can't look after him properly.'
'He's alive isn't he,' Daisy said though her words felt hollow without the memories to reinforce what she was saying. Sirius looked grave.
'Sirius what happened?' she asked, taking his hand in hers and forcing his gaze her way. His grey eyes were stormy, restless.
'I ended up with him. I told him to go but he wouldn't listen and I didn't push because I was showboating. I wanted to impress him just like you said. Like he was James,' he admitted sadly, 'having him beside me watching me duel. It was like having James back beside me. I was waiting for encouragement, a pat on the back... to impress Harry the way James would be impressed...the way I would try to impress you... though I feel like I probably haven't impressed you in quite a while.'
'Sirius,' she sighed. He swallowed thickly.
'I know, I know this isn't about impressing one another. Not child's play, it's war...I just...in that house I feel like I fall back to being a kid. The angry, bitter black sheep who failed to impress anyone,' he admitted, 'so you were right…it's my fault, all my fault, all of it…if I just thought things through nothing would go wrong.'
'Don't do that to yourself, I know it's been hard for you,' she said.
'War's hard on everyone,' he said, moving away so that she couldn't see his face as he said, 'Lily was right about me.'
The mention of her twin's name took the air from her lungs as it always did. A pain worse than even the state he abdomen was currently in but fleeting the further away the loss grew. Ever present but like burning your finger on a hot pan, instant recoil and then forgotten until it happened again.
'She said once,' he said, clearing his throat but not looking at her, sadness and guilt in his tone, 'that I scared her...the way I made you reckless. She said I ran into things with no thought and you and James followed because you were impressed or whatever. I told her she was wrong...I told her that you were the only thing that ever made me stop and think but the older I get the more I keep proving her right. You've grown up and I stay stuck.'
'That's not true,' Daisy said angrily. It was hard to be angry at Lily, the memory of her so important to keep pure, for Harry's sake if no one else's but for a moment Daisy was a child again, angry at Lily for acting superior, the older twin always and forever. Sirius laughed emptily, like her defending him was proving his point.
'You didn't think I should go the other day and I wouldn't listen. Now look. You begged me not to go and find Peter-'
'You were angry,' Daisy said, recalling the stoic, cold look of anger in his face the night they'd lost everything.
'And you weren't?' he challenged. She had been angry. She'd spent most of her adult life angry. At losing her parents. At losing friends, family. Losing her twin, the life they were supposed to live together. Two halves of a whole. But her anger had festered over years. The only thing she'd felt that night was desperate and unending devastation. Not anger.
'You forget I didn't know about Peter. If I had, maybe I'd have felt angry but that night I was just devastated. I wanted to lay down in the ruins of that house forever. You stopped that. I don't even think I'd have been able to go anywhere if Hagrid hadn't dragged me out.'
'You would've for Harry,' he countered. Daisy stayed quiet as he sighed, ‘and you didn’t have any focus apart from him this whole year, even with Snape…. you were right I couldn’t see past my stupid pride.’
‘I thought we agreed not to go over the faults and blames. We both have parts in this-’
‘Dais you almost died!’ he said, his voice loud now. They both looked towards the door but there was no movement beyond it. She shifted. She couldn’t get out of bed, it was too painful to move so she beckoned him over and he plodded over, head hung like a dog being scolded.
He sat down and she wriggled next to him, her head on his shoulder as they breathed steadily together, her hand holding his. He was quiet but his aura was heavy, destined to get heavier as she said in a whisper, ‘how bad was it?’
‘I thought,’ he said, his voice catching, ‘I thought you were going to die.’
‘What happened?’ she asked, no details popping to mind. Not even a sniff of a white light or tunnel which she reasoned was a good thing, she couldn’t have been that close to snuffing it.
‘I was fighting with Bella – it was almost like when we were kids. Just playing, no malice, just skill. We’d always get like that until someone, Andromeda or Narcissa pulled us apart…but then you stepped into view. You were just trying to get Harry out of the way; the other death eaters were apparating left right and centre so you didn't have to duel much. But I saw you and it distracted me for a minute and I... I underestimated her. She threw a nasty curse but you moved faster than it, pushed me out of the way and it hit you straight in the chest. The blood was immediate.’
The room was quiet. Daisy picturing the force it would’ve had on her, blown off her feet, Harry’s face, Sirius’ pain and panic.
‘Dais I thought you were dead; you were bleeding everywhere I couldn’t stop it. Even Bella seemed to realise there was no point fighting anymore, she’d tortured me enough by doing that she just ran. I didn’t even notice Harry running after her. I was so focused on you,’ he admitted, he could still hear the gurgling blood curdling in her lungs, blocking air from moving through her system. He could count on one hand the amount of times he’d seen her that broken, that frail. And this had scared him more than anything. Daisy thought of him huddled over her lifeless body. She thought of Harry just like Sirius, turning to anger.
‘What happened?’ she asked, ‘with Harry I mean.’
‘See, even at death’s door you’re worried about him,’ Sirius smiled as she looked up, worriedly. Daisy offered a meek smile as he took a deep breath, ‘Moony tried to hold him, to stop him but he broke free and we were all too worried about you to stop him. Once they’d all gone Moody made him and Tonks apparate you straight here. I was going to come with you, damn all the issues, until I realised Harry was missing.’
‘You were in shock,’ Daisy reasoned.
‘You remembered him straight away,’ Sirius said.
‘I wasn’t there was I, in mind anyway. Who knows what I’d have done. If it was you lying there I can’t say that I would have run straight after him and I don’t even want to know what that feels like,’ she said, squeezing his hand.
‘I let him run straight to Voldemort,’ Sirius said guiltily.
‘Once I realised, once you were headed here I went after Harry. Moody tried to stop me, didn’t want me knocking around the ministry in case I was spotted but I didn’t listen. Only when we got to the entrance hall Harry was there with Dumbledore and Voldemort. They fought and he was losing so he apparated but not before everyone saw him. Would've seen me if I hadn't transformed back into Padfoot. Surprisingly no one questioned Moody having a ruddy big dog with him.'
‘Did he hurt him? Harry?’ Daisy pressed.
‘No, well Dumbledore doesn’t seem to think so but I've not had a chance to speak to him properly though. He did say something happened. It was like he was…possessed or something.'
'This link with Voldemort, it's something to do with that. I would've asked more questions but we've had more pressing matters to deal with,' Sirius said, glancing at her bandages. Daisy nodded, 'I'm sure he'll tell us everything once we see him again. Harry only gave me vague accounts of what Fudge questioned him about-'
‘Questioned?’ she balked.
‘Yeah, Moody kept me close, wouldn't let me in but apparently Fudge wanted to know everything, you know now it’s news,’ he gritted, his jaw tense until he looked at her, worry on her face he knew was only on Harry, ‘I asked, once he got here but he said he was fine. Worried about you, refused to go back to school even though Dumbledore tried his best to make him.’
‘I need to speak to him,’ Daisy said, looking at the door hoping Harry would waltz back in so they could talk, properly talk.
‘See,’ Sirius said, making her look at him, ‘he’s always your priority.’
‘He’s yours too,’ she sighed. Sirius looked sceptical, ‘I was wrong when I said he wasn’t. I know you love him and I know he’s your priority, like he’s mine. I was just scared, it’s all getting out of hand and I can't deal with it, especially now he’s back, like really back. I just wanted him to be a kid a little while longer.’
‘He’s not though Dais,’ Siirus said sadly, ‘he’s fifteen. The same age we were when it all started last time-‘
‘And we were too young too!’ she protested, deflating as he placed a hand on her cheek. She closed her eyes and whispered, ‘I know, I know there’s no avoiding this.’
‘Not a chance,’ Sirius sighed.
‘So we’re fighting?’ she asked, daring to open them again for the fear that his face would confirm her worst fears. It did.
‘We’ve been fighting all our lives Dais,’ he murmured.
‘I know,’ she sighed, leaning into him. They were quiet for a moment, thoughts buzzing around in each of their heads. Flashes of the war last time for Sirius, the tension, the stress, the distrust. It made him feel sick. Daisy thought of what she’d had, her circle which had whittled down year by year which was why she was so cautious over harry. She clung to him because for the best part of her life he’d been all she had and she was damned if she was going to lose him this time around. No, there couldn’t be any fault. He had her; they had Sirius. She needed to know that, trust that above all Harry was what they were fighting for.
‘Sirius,’ she said not looking at him but the couch opposite, an ugly contraption made from vinyl for reasons she didn’t want to know why, ‘if we're going to do this properly we need to be on the same page.’
Sirius was quiet as she took a shaky breath. It still twinged to breathe.
‘I know we’ve been gearing up for this…war,’ she said, the word still feeling uncomfortable in her mouth though it had dominated her life in its entirety, ‘and I know as a couple we've been finding our feet well but we have to be on the same page. Now more than ever. I don’t want to fight with you…ever.’
‘We only ever fight about Harry,’ Sirius reasoned.
‘But we can't be divided. That risks him pulling away, worrying about us fighting and we can't do that.’
‘Harry first, war second,’ Sirius vowed. Daisy finally looked up wide-eyed, ‘he is this war Dais. Whether we like it or not. We can't stop him but we can protect him, as much as possible. Keeping him safe is how we win this thing anyway.’
‘You have a point there,’ she agreed.
‘Whatever you think is best, I’ll back,’ he said.
‘That’s not what I want,’ she said, ‘were a team. We just need to talk about stuff, to be honest.’
‘Let Moony meditate,’ Sirius grinned. Daisy giggled, ‘yeah, he’s good at that.’
They were quiet for a moment, their heads pressed together, soaking in everything. Daisy was glad they'd stopped fighting, that they had a shared goal but Sirius was just glad she was in his arms, warm and breathing. After seeing her like that he’d do anything to make her safe. Her and Harry that was his priority. Even if it meant grinning and bearing Snape or staying in that god awful house longer. He’d be the best-behaved person ever to be on house arrest.
They were still like that when the door opened, thankfully Harry, which meant Sirius didn’t have to transform at the speed of light. Remus was behind him and took a seat back on the couch as the boy approached, offering up two meagre sandwiches to the pair of them with a, ‘here, they didn’t have much.’
‘It’s fine,’ Daisy said, taking it from him before a quick glance at Sirius told him he was to make space.
‘Thanks mate,’ Sirius said, taking the other sandwich and moving to sit on the couch. He sprawled across it, and given Remus had stationed a tray of teas on the seat between them, which he was decanting tiny cartons of milk into, there was no room left for the teenager to sit. Harry watched them before he was distracted by Daisy, pushing back up the bed, indicating there was room for him to join her. He did, perching on the edge of it but not looking at her properly, the immediate worry from before now rather guiltily side-eyeing her.
She made a show of eating the sandwich, though she took barely a bite of the bread, her stomach protesting with nausea as it landed inside her. Still she smiled and said thank you as if it was the best thing in the world. The way she used to when they’d make mudpies when he was little. Upon seeing her more comfortable he cleared his throat and said, ‘how are you auntie Dais?’
‘Fine,’ Daisy said, trying to sound airy as she said, ‘how are you?’
‘What’s he said?’ Harry asked, looking at Sirius who shrugged.
‘He told me about Voldemort,’ Daisy said.
‘That no one thinks I'm a big fat liar anymore,’ Harry scoffed.
‘We can't be angry at that Harry,’ Remus reminded him, ‘now people have seen the truth we’re going to be stronger. Remember that.’
‘You mean it's going to get more dangerous,’ Harry said, glancing at Daisy’s bandaged abdomen.
‘It’s always been dangerous,’ Sirius said.
‘Because of me,’ Harry said angrily.
‘Don’t auntie Dais. I meant what I said, it's all my fault. That prophecy-’
‘You've heard it?’ Daisy asked.
‘Not all of it but I know he chose me because of it. He targeted my parents because of me. I'm the reason they're dead’
‘Oi!’ Sirius said, standing up from his chair, sandwich dropping onto a cardboard tea cup and knocking it over. Remus righted it, hissing as the hot water caught him through his pant leg. Sirius paid him no notice, he was focused on Harry, his hands on his shoulders, looking into the eyes so like Daisy’s and the face the same as James'.
‘Your parents did not die because of you. They died because some lunatic wanted power and was determined to take out whoever stood in his way. You are not to blame for that you hear me,’ Sirius said firmly. Harry shook his head, ‘but it was pointless! He's still out there, he's still ruining lives. Dais nearly died just like my mum and dad.’
‘And what's the alternative?’ Daisy asked, ‘roll over, let him kill you?’
‘Dais!’ Sirius chastised. pulling away so he was standing properly,
‘What? I’m right, aren’t I?’ she said, ‘what should we do? Leave him here? Let old Voldy have a good shot?’
‘Dais come on,’ Remus said.
‘No,’ she said looking at Harry gravely, 'you’ve told us all year about how you’re a grown up and you're ready to be treated like one and me and Sirius have disagreed. I wanted you to stay a kid forever but that’s not going to work. Harry you may be the key to winning this war but it's not over without you.’
‘You don’t want people to die for you, in your name and I get it but that isn’t going to stop him. In fact if anything were to happen to you I fear what would happen to the wizarding world itself,’ she said, ‘we defend you because we love you but because it's right too. Your mum and dad knew that well before you were here.’
‘She’s right,’ Remus said, standing beside Sirius, ‘this thing is bigger than all of us.’
‘But I just…I feel like everyone around me ends up dead or hurt,’ he said thickly, looking at Daisy, ‘if I’d have listened-’
‘Then you wouldn’t be my Harry would you,’ Daisy smiled.
Then he sunk into her, allowing her to wrap her arms around him though he was nearly as big as her. Sirius took a seat on his other side holding her hand behind his back. Remus muttered something and left, leaving the unorthodox family to their hug. All three of them looked as though they needed it. After god knows how long he broke away from her, his face reddened and his cheeks glinting with the remnant of tears though neither party had heard him crying. His breath was shaky as he said, ‘so now what?’
‘You go back to school,’ she said, cutting him off with a warning look as she continued, ‘you’ve got time left, exams and what not besides Dumbledore might need you. Ron and Hermione too.’
‘She has me,’ Sirius said, ‘and once schools out you can join us at headquarters.’
‘It’s all going to change isn’t it?’ Harry said, watching as his godparents shared a look. They'd felt the shift, the change. Bad things were coming and they'd need to hold on tighter than ever if they were going to survive it. But for now. Now they could let Harry go back to school. Let him be a teenager for a week or so. Recover. And then they could spend summer as a family and hope that when the storm hit they'd be sheltered from its destruction.
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