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Daniel met her first in the Hogwarts express, almost taking a seat beside him but some girl with white her caught her attention instead and sat in front of him. He blinks at how the girl smelled like a cheeseburger lingering to the side she almost took.
Muggleborn then... Or maybe a half blood like him.
He saw her again during the sorting ceremony with the funny looking hat and called where he's house is. Apparently, she was with the house he is in.
"Hello, what's your name?" She asked with a smile and flushed cheeks, still having that adrenaline rush after announcing her house. She sits in the space beside him as she waits for his reply.
Daniel tries not to frown, hearing his sister's voice inside of his mind to be more friendly to others. "Daniel," he replied with a thin smile.
Her eyes beam or it's just the floating candle above them. "Nice to meet you, Daniel." She tilted her head and smiled with her teeth showing then introduced herself.
"I hope we can be friends." She added.
Friends. He knew that would be only in the meantime, of course. He will just wait until she gets bored of his company. Well, as if he cares anyway.
She then turned around as another girl with white hair added to their table. And she waved her hand and shouted "Ivy!" And by that she chatted with Ivy for the rest of the ceremony.
He almost scoffed at how instantly she ignored him after that Ivy girl sat to her left side. Just like in the train early. He was sure that soon enough, she will forget she even interacted with him.
Daniel is wrong. She is always beside him, either in his left or right side. She is always there. Talking to Ivy yet always checking if he is beside them. And if not well, she will hold his arm to entwined with hers and continue to talk again with Ivy, reaching for Ivy's arm to do the same.
Somehow three of them become trio.
It was weird at first that he always found himself involved with her and Ivy. It was awkward too that he was the only one boy with them. He tried to avoid them but she was just... He can't describe it.
She just found one way or another to tag him along with them. Either he 'accidentally' saw her sneaking outside the common room and followed her (to keep an eye to her in case they might have lost house points if she gets in trouble. Obviously) or with a simple way of being her partner in potion.
And thankfully after a few months, she met Kevin, who feels like having the same problem as him because Kevin is also surrounded by two girls, Robyn and Lottie. But Kevin looks unbothered by it.
They all become friends. Or maybe he just assumed. But her sisters describe friends as a group of students who always hangout, eating, laughing together and sometimes bully each other but they're always there to support and take care of one another.
Daniel looked at the group around him. They were eating while laughing at Robin describing how ridiculous Kevin looks like flying the broom. He heard Lottie and Ivy telling Kevin it was all right but can't stop smiling at Robin's jokes.
He felt an elbow gently bumping his shoulder. "Hey, you okay?" She whispered. Daniel looked to his right side to see her with a caring eyes looking at him.
He smiled, and realized that they were all friends indeed. "Yeah," he replied.
Almost a three years since Daniel met her. And by now, he almost knows everything about her. She always smells like a cheeseburger because she always stops at McDonald's before meeting them. She also brought a paper bag of cheeseburgers the second time they went to the train, sharing her favorite burgers with him and their friends after summer.
Daniel knows what jokes never fail to make her laugh. How she walked faster towards the Great Hall when she heard about the dessert they were going to have. How soft and careful the sound of her footsteps whenever she is going to sneak behind to try to surprise him.
And when it failed, she made sure to call his name then a finger pocking to his cheek the second he turned around (somehow he always forgot that part). And how she can simply laugh with him. Like he is the source of her enjoyment. It was nice for Daniel that he could make her laugh without doing anything really.
Daniel almost memorized her mannerisms, the way she curls her baby hair in her forehead with her finger through those potion ingredients she has to memorize or when her hands are doing different gestures when she is talking about her adventure in the forbidden forest to Ivy and adding the detail how Daniel knew exactly where to find her.
Daniel shakes his head. "You are too easy to read and memorize," he said as if it was nothing. It is true, she is like an open book, easy to get to know and memorize. Like an instruction in potion he likes to memorize.
Then he noticed that Ivy slowly grinned at him, after a few blinks, he realized what he just said. "Er, I—I mean—what else do you do when you're not with Ivy," pink flushed creeping to ear, trying to save himself from embarrassment.
Ivy just laughed at his attempt but she just looked at Daniel then to Ivy with a confusing look. "Am I that obviously?" She asked and laughed with Ivy as if she understands why Ivy is laughing. He knew that expression of her, She joined in laughter without knowing the context.
Ivy shaking her head while still giggling "Daniel is just an observant person." Ivy replied and met his eyes with a teasing look that made him wish that he would keep his mouth shut like he always does. He thanked Merlin that she is innocent sometimes.
~~~
But this time, he cursed Merlin for it.
"Can't you see, i don't need your help!" Daniel shouted at her, heaving from his boiling blood pounding. A white hat funny looking man just treats his sister. The only family he has left. And the only thing that is good to their family name.
She reached for Daniel again but he stepped back away from her. "Daniel—" he hated how her voice cracks. How small it is, almost pleading for him.
He can't have it from her. He doesn't want her to get involved.
"Leave." He said coldly and he knew that hurt her.
"Please—"
"I said 'leave'!"
Her shoulder flinched at how loud his voice was in the field. For a moment Daniel almost saw her tears fall for the first time.
And for the first time, she did leave him.
~~~
And never reach out to him again.
Daniel didn't bother to talk to any of his—no—her friends. He knew they were his friends because of her influence. And now that she is not on his side anymore, they are gone too.
Sometimes, Daniel feels like someone is watching him. And by how gentle it feels like, he just knew it was her. He can feel her pulling gaze toward him. Like a magnet pulling him towards her. As if with one step, he will walk towards them—towards her and go down with his knees and apologize.
But somehow he is stupid and afraid of rejection, so he didn't.
So older gryffindors became Daniel's company. Elliot and his friends became his friends. Elliot is one of the funny white hat guy's associates, and somehow Daniel was also involved in it.
Elliot is that type of friend that his sister told him to look out for. Those people who pretend to be friends trick someone into doing something for them and it's usually bad.
He has to be if he wants to protect his only sister, for Esme. Besides they are almost the same, criminals by blood. Unlike the group he had with her, pure and innocent.
Daniel became their source of fun. Unlike what he felt toward her, their enjoyment is his irritation. Their adventure becomes more dangerous than the one with her.
He became their look out to whatever illegal things Elliot and his friends involved, unlike the one Daniel used to do with her. Daniel was her protection and she was his. It was in the past now.
The more Daniel stays in this group, the more he becomes anxious and scared about how this feels so wrong. He knew it was wrong. What else can he do about it? He needed his sister to be safe. The white guy told him that his sister will be safe as long as Daniel does what needed to be done. That Skeleton Key.
For the past weekends, Elliot keeps dragging Daniel to his missions, doing look out in the forest. He didn't even get the chance to study for the O.W.L.s
So when the exam came, He almost failed every subject. Professor Slughorn asked him what was going on with him. But Daniel just said "Sorry professor. I'll do better next time." If there will be a next time. The professor sighed and nodded, letting Daniel know that he could leave the room.
Then as he opens the door, someone stumbles to his chest, making his heart pounds.
"Sorry," It was her. Her voice was muffled but Daniel knew without a doubt it was her.
And when he looks down, Daniel meets her eyes. She was sort of covering her nose, it must be the one who got the impact. Her eyes are beams like the first time she introduced herself long ago. He just noticed how small she is from him now. When did she get smaller?
Daniel almost opened his mouth to say something and just like that he suddenly heard a familiar voice of a boy he hung out with since she left him.
"Oi! Daniel." He heard Elliot's voice far behind his back. Panic raised to his chest, he steps back to make her move inside the classroom.
He almost—almost pushes her to enter the room so Elliot won't see her. Daniel won't let Elliott get interested in her.
"Yeah?" Daniel turned to face Elliot from behind, trying to cover the door, his palm is sweating.
"Why didn't you turn around when i called you once?" Elliot asked with clear annoyance.
"Sorry," Daniel tried to be as nonchalant as possible, "Some girl bumped into me." Ignoring the pounding chest inside of him. He internally cursed himself for saying it was a girl.
"Oh?" Elliot grinned, making Daniel feel chills to his voice. Elliot looked at him briefly then smirked. He tries to look over the door to see who the girl is. Daniel prayed to any gods she was out of sight.
Daniel didn't like that ginned from Elliot. "Come on, it's nothing." And began to walk away from Elliot, hoping he would follow.
~~~
Days after that incident, Daniel started to see her frequently. In the hallway, in the common room, Great hall which he tries to avoid each of her schedules and it was successful before. But now, he always sees her everywhere. Did she change her schedule?
His and her eyes met across the table where her friends are. But before she even blinks, Daniel breaks their contact and continues to eat his taste soup.
"It was her, right?" Daniel's ears pounded as the low voice of Elliot in his left side. He didn't notice that Elliot was observing him. Daniel continues to eat, not giving an indication of the rise in his chest.
"Who?" Daniel knows how stupid he sounds for asking that.
Elliot laughed like a devil you don't want to deal with. "You know what I'm talking about." Daniel doesn't like this game.
He didn't know how to make Elliot lose interest in her. The more Daniel tries to look unbothered, the more Elliot grows curious about her.
It feels like Daniel took his sweet time to respond. "I heard she is the best dualist in your age," Daniel forgot to breathe at Elliot's comment. It was too late. Elliott already looked at some information about her. "Not to mention she is a muggleborn." Elliot's eyes are looking at her now.
Daniel clutched his fist under the table. "Don't," Daniel said in a lower voice. A warning. He knows what Elliott is doing. He won't let anyone hurt her.
That makes Elliot stop raising his goblet to his mouth and turn around to Daniel. "Ohh," his voice is full of amusement. "Interesting."
Daniel turned his head towards Elliott. Elliott can see the determination in the young Page. "Touch a single strand of her hair or else—"
"Or else what?" Elliott challenged, grabbing Daniel's collar, making him rise from their seats. "Or else what, Page?"
Nothing was said, Daniel's fist acts and meets Elliot's face making the Gryffindor boy lose his clutch in the collar.
Everyone in the Great Hall watched and gasped and the Slytherin table began cheering to the scene. His hands are shaking. He never punches anyone but he can do it again.
Elliot wiped the blood in his lips "You little shit—"
"Stop!" The headmistress' voice echoes in the hall. "Mr. Page, Mr. Evers, to my office. Now!" Headmistress McGonagall said.
~~~
Daniel sighed, running his fingers to his hair. He just finished cleaning the transfiguration classroom for his detention. He was the only one who got detention because he punched Elliot, everyone saw it. He is no alibi for it.
He sat on the floor beside the window, leaning the back of his head to the wall. Daniel remembered terrified eyes of hers when he was following McGonagall earlier in the office. He saw how she held Ivy's arm while her eyes followed him. He even noticed the disappointment of Kevin's eyes and was shocked at Robyn, Lottie and Ivy. He really disappointed them.
"Aughh!" Daniel groans and throws the rag on the floor, dust visible in the glow of the moon from the window. He is exhausted in everything.
He misses the idly life he had before. The bubbling potion, the clock ticking, chattering voices around him, the finger pocking to his cheek he let his guard down.
"You okay?" That voice too. He missed that. He really missed that. "Hey,"
His eyes opened and he saw her face above him. Her head is poking in the window, looking at him with a smile. "You okay?" She repeated. Their faces are only inches away from each other.
"What are you doing here?" Daniel asked. She just frowned. He knows she doesn't like answering her question with another question.
And how in Merlin's name she got here?
She let herself hop inside, holding a broom. Of course. The broom.
She looked around the small lit of the room, as if she was checking how well Daniel can clean. But Daniel knows her, she does that whenever she debating something in her amazing mind.
After a small silence, she turned around and looked down at him where he sat. She smiled awkwardly.
"I didn't see you at dinner so i thought you hadn't eaten anything." She finally said and reached something in her pocket, and Daniel smelled blueberry tarts.
"Here," she said, extending her hand for him to reach. It seems his hand has its own mind again and reaches for the tarts. He is not hungry, really.
"Why?" He questioned. Why is she here? Why is she still caring for her after what he did. After he shouted at her and he hasn't said sorry yet.
"A simple 'thanks' is appreciated." She said with her brow lifted like he insulted her. He did, actually.
"Thanks" Daniel said with a small voice. He looks at the blue tart, it is still warm.
"And a simple 'sorry' can be forgiven." She added. Daniel lifts his head to meet her eyes. "Sorry," he finally said it. But it seems empty even for him.
She just hums, he knows she is still waiting for an explanation. Yet sits beside him on the floor, putting her broom to the side.
He missed this closeness. He can almost smell her shampoo in her hair. He missed this quiet moment with her.
A moment of silence passed through them. It was not awkward but it's not comfortable either. But Daniel still thanks her presence.
"You were mean to me that day." She began, it was a small voice, almost whispering it. He nodded.
"I was waiting for you to come." She admitted. He knew that. He figured that.
"Why didn't you?" She looks at him while he is still looking straight at the glowing dust floating around them.
"I'm sorry." He voice almost cracked.
"That's not my question—"
"I was a coward." He finally admitted it out loud. "I..." He stumbles to words again. He is not good with words. He didn't know how to explain himself. That's why he was here in the first place.
What goods are words when they can almost get in the way? It can ruin things.
But it might fix some.
"I was afraid after that... Y—you won't forgive me." It sounds like a lame excuse. It's stupid. He knows that. He hates how his voice cracks. He hates the emotion bubbling in his throat like any moment with a wrong stirred, he will explode. He covers his face with he knees, still holding gently the warm tart in his left hand.
She says silent. The room is too quiet. Is she gone? Did she realize too how pathetic he is? No, he can still smell her shampoo. Or maybe it was what its left.
He slowly turned his head to her side, and she is still there. Waiting for him. Still waiting for him.
Her eyes were looking at him like telling him non verbally that say the word and everything will be fixed.
"Sorry." He finally said it. "Sorry." He repeats but it's not done yet. Not fixed yet. "I'm sorry I shouted at you. I'm sorry if I—pushed you away when you just wanted to h–help me." His voice is cracking, "I'm sorry that it took so long—" he almost lost his voice. He hiccup. "To apologize. I'm really sorry."
Daniel didn't notice that his tears fell off until her knuckles brushed his cheek. It was the first time she touched his face. It's warm and safe. Caring. It feels nice.
She wipes his tears with a soft smile. Those smiles she used when accept something nice. Something she will always remember. And Daniel always loves that smile.
"I forgive you." She whispered. And those soft voices of sincerity like he can fall asleep with it. It's warm and soft. She brushed off his red hair away from his forehead with those soft smiles again. He can't help but close his eyes and lean to her.
For a moment it was quiet, just the soft wind blowing outside the window. Crickets singing, the sound of the breath they now share.
He opens his eyes and she merely inches away from him. Her eyes are almost glowing in moonlight, mesmerizing.
Loving.
Is that what it is?
His heart is beating fast, it is so warm.
And with a blink of her eyes it is gone. She pulled away, her face and hand are not near him.
"Uhm," her voice is nervous. Then suddenly she chuckles like she realizes how stupid she is.
"Hoo," she exhaled, "Okay," reach her broom and lean to it to stand up.
What just happened?
She clears her throat and he is still frozen on the floor.
"We're all good now." She said, not looking down at him, facing her back at him. "E–eat your tart now" she said with high pitched she used when she was embarrassed about something.
What just happened? The air shifted.
He blinked and looked to the tart, still in his hand. It is still warm and smells delicious.
He sniffed and said "Thank you," thankful about her forgiveness, for the tart and for her, for being here with him again. For finding him.
He took a bite and the sound of the crust cracked to his teeth. The sweetness and sourness is perfect for his taste. When did the elves perfected the recipe? Or is he just that hungry without realizing.
"Did you like it?" Her voice sounds really lovely when she is curious about his opinion. Daniel nodded and smiled. "Yes. I like it." Meeting her sparkly eyes and widened smile. He loves it. "Thank you,"
She giggled. "You're welcome," Merlin, he missed that sound. So carefree. "I'm glad you like it. Ivy and Lottie helped me to bake those." She said with a fond smile, pink shade creeping to her cheeks.
His jaw almost drops and looks at the half tart in his hand. She baked it. She is amazing. "It's delicious." He smiled genuinely.
Her giggled stops to look at him but she was still smiling. "Welcome back, Daniel." She bent down and patted his curls.
He met her eyes. "It's good to be back."
That night, he almost wanted to hold her hand.
