The Opposite~|A Neville Longbottom love story|~

Chapter 26: Fighting Back

The next day had come. The first rays of sunshine fell over Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Daisy was walking up the stairs to the Astronomy Tower. Harry told her he wanted to meet her there. When she arrived, she saw she wasn't the only one there. Hermione and Ron were there to. Daisy pulled down the bottom of her shirt and walked up to the trio. She stood next to Harry.
"What's up?" She asked. Harry looked at her and handed her the locket.
"Open it." He said. With a confused look Daisy opened the locket, prepared for the worst. But the only thing in there, was a note.
"What is this?" Daisy asked.
"Just open it." Hermione said. Daisy looked at her and than at the note. She unfolded it and read what it said:
To the Dark Lord,
"I know I will be dead long before you read this, but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more. R.A.B"
Daisy looked at the trio standing next to her and than at the locket.
"It's fake. We have been through so much and it's fake!?" Daisy said.
"I know. That's how I reacted when I found out." Harry replied.
"It's bloody preposterous!" Ron said. Daisy looked at Harry.
"I think I know what Dumbledore wanted us to do... even though he could just tell us. Or just give us a head start." Daisy said. Harry looked at her.
"I think I do to." He said, not going in on what Daisy said after.
"We're going to hunt Horcruxes." The twins said.
"And we're coming along." Ron said.
"No, it's far to dangerous. You two have done so much for me. I can't ask anymore." Harry said.
"We started this together Harry. And we'll end this together as well." Hermione said.
"Thanks guys." Daisy said. Hermione smiled.
"It's fine. I'm just glad we're able to act normally around each other." She said with a smile.
"Well of they're coming, so am I." Someone said. They all turned around to see Pansy standing there.
"Pansy, you don't have to. You know that." Daisy said. Pansy smiled and walked up to Daisy and gave her a hug.
"I know. I want to." She said.
"Well, I vote against." Hermione said. Pansy looked at her.
"I am not the bad guy here. I want to help fight AGAINST the bad guy here!" She said.
"Okay, please all, calm down." Harry said.
"Hermione, please. Pansy is not as bad as she looks. She had just always been forced to be the best and to be a bully. But she really has a soft spot when you get to know her." Daisy said.
"Fine. But if she does anything, I'll leave her right where we are." Hermione said. Pansy excitedly clapped her hands.
"Thank you! I will not disappoint!" She said. Ron and Harry smiled.
"Thanks guys. All of you. This wasn't even supposed to be your fight." Harry said. The five of them walked down the stairs. They all went to pack their stuff. This school year had ended and they weren't going to come back to school here.

"Daisy, there's something else I need to tell you." Pansy said. The group joined one another in a compartment in the Hogwarts Express. Daisy raised her eyebrow.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Blaise was pressured by his parents to join the dark side. Which he did." Pansy said. Her voice sounded heartbroken.
"Oh..."Daisy merely said. She looked out the window. Blaise was such a good friend and she had lost him now to. Of course, he had no choice. But it still hurt. Luckily she still had Pansy.

Knock knock. Someone knocked at the compartment door before opening it. It was Neville.
"Hey guys. Uhm, Daisy can we talk?" He asked.
"Sure." Daisy stood up and followed him towards his compartment where his friend Ginny and Luna just exited. Daisy gave them a weak smile as the passed by her. Neville closed the compartment and sat down.
"What's wrong?" Daisy asked. Neville tried to avoid eye contact with her. He looked all sweaty and nervous. Daisy grabbed his hand softly and he immediately looked at her.
"What is it? You can talk to me." Daisy said. Neville slid his finger passed the inside of his collar as if he couldn't breath.
"There is s-something I had b-been meaning to tell you." He stuttered. Daisy gave him hopeful eyes. Did he like her back? Was he going to confess it? Daisy started fidgeting with the rings around her fingers.
"So... uhh... well I don't know how to uhh put this. But I-" before Neville could say something, someone knocked on the door. Daisy opened it. Blaise. He looked nervous and there were already tears in his eyes.

"I'll be right back Nev." Daisy closed the compartment door and walked out with Blaise.
"I heard Pansy told you?" He said. Daisy hugged him.
"I know you don't want this and that you don't have a choice." She said. He hugged her back and started crying.
"I'm so sorry. I just... I can't. They're my parents I can't say no." He said.
"It's okay. I know you don't want this. We'll end this. You'll be fine. I promise." Daisy said. The two let go of each other. Blaise wiped away his tears and said: "Thanks. Just, don't tell Pansy I cried." He said. Daisy giggled.
"I promise." They hugged one last time before the two parted their ways until this war was over.

Daisy went back into the compartment.
"Sorry that it took so- Nev?" Daisy said. Neville was laying on the compartment bench. She shook him. No response.
"Neville!?" She shook him even harder. He finally woke up.
"Oh thank Merlin. You scared me." Daisy sat back down with her hand in her chest.
"Sorry. I think I fell asleep or something. I'm just really tired." He said.
"We can talk another time if you like. You can sleep some. If you want." Daisy said, giving him a comforting smile. Neville smiled back at her.
"It's okay. I just really have to say this." He said. Neville took a deep breath and looked right at her.
"Daisy. I don't know how to say this, so I'll just say it. I like you. And I have liked you for a while now. You're the prettiest, sweetest, smartest and funniest girl I have ever met." Neville said. Daisy's eyes widened.

"Daisy? Are you okay?" A minute had passed and Daisy still didn't say anything.
"What? Yes sorry." Daisy said.
"So? What do you say..." Neville sounded horribly nervous. Now Daisy started sweating. Why was she so nervous? Neville already admitted to liking her. And she wasn't going to come back to school anyways, so there was no need of worrying about her reputation.
"I-I... I like you to Nev... A lot actually." She said. Neville's eyes started sparkling.
"Are you sure? You're not just saying this for me?" Neville asked. Daisy giggled.
"I'm sure, silly." She replied. Neville jumped up from his seat and hugged Daisy tight. When he let go they stared into each others eyes. Than Daisy looked away.
"Neville. I like you. A lot. But... these times... they're dangerous. And I'm going on a quest with Harry to defeat Voldemort and I do not know if I'll make it." She said. Neville looked down at her as he wiped a strand of hair out of her face. Hes smiled.
"I know. You want to wait until this is all over." He said. Daisy sighed.
"Yes. I understand if you're disappointed." She said. Neville turned her head towards his.
"I'm not. Just, let me do this before you go." He leaned forward and kissed her. All the feelings Daisy had disappeared and she only felt pure love. She closed her eyes and kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Neville pulled back. Daisy was speechless. She felt amazing.
"Please, stay until the train ride is over. I want to spent all the time we have left together." Neville said. Daisy sat down.
"Of course." She said. They spent the rest of the ride laughing and chatting about who knows what. But than, the ride ended. Daisy gave Neville one last kiss before she left the compartment with her luggage. She stepped put the train and turned back to look at Neville. He smiled at her and waved. She smiled back. She turned around to walk up to Harry. But she felt a hug from behind.
"Bye bestie. I'll see you after the summer. We'll win this. I'm sure!" It was Pansy. Daisy turned around and hugged Pansy. She felt tears well up in her eyes, knowing she would never have a normal year at Hogwarts again.
"I know we will." She said. They let go of each other and went their own ways. Harry and Daisy left the train station and got into the Dursley car, knowing that their life's would never be the same and that there was no turning back. It was time to really start fighting back.