To Accept Duty

by MintyKitten

Summary:

Daisy Potter.

"The Girl-Who-Lived!" cried the Populace in reverence to the one who saved them from fear.

"Heiress Potter," recognised the Goblin Nation, and the Aristocracy understood.

"Will you take your place?" was the question truly asked of a girl not yet eleven, as she looked at the titles rightfully hers, if she dedicated herself to learning their true meaning.

"Yes," she couldn't help but answer.

Notes:

Hello!

Thank you for your interest in my excuse to world-build Pureblood Culture some more. I got an itch that I needed to get out of my system for exploring the tidbits that JK left sprinkled through her work and on Pottermore but that never got fleshed out, so I'm doing it here.

Please enjoy my mild madness,

Minty ^^

Chapter 1: The Rescue

Daisy Potter. A name known throughout the British Wizarding World, and a name happily celebrated as a hero, a saviour, from the Dark Lord Voldemort and his reign of terror. A name that, aside from the last name, was not considered normal to the Dursleys. In fact, it was a freakish name, which was better used for a cow than a girl and not welcome in posh and polite society.

At least that was what was believed by the owner of said name, as that was what she was told by her Aunt and Uncle. But Daisy actually liked her name. It was sweet and unique, much better than Dudley or Piers Polkiss, and she thought that daisies were wonderfully pretty, an innocent sort of flower, a happy one, bringing with them warm weather. No more cold biting Daisy’s toes when she was walking to school in Dudley’s destroyed Converse and Doc Martens that she had to stuff with tissue to make them fit her.

She hated the Dursleys. They always treated her like she’d done the same awful things as her parents, like she wasn’t aware of the world around her, but she was! She was convinced that they just wanted to make her seem as small as possible so they didn’t have to even think about her, cramping her in the cupboard under the stairs, and making her braid her hair away.

Daisy loved her hair. It was rust-coloured like the picture of her Grandma Heather on the mantelpiece, and thick and curly like Petunia used products and rollers to make hers look like. It was nearly always a mess, flyaways constantly escaping the too-tight braid that Petunia tugged it into every week after her allocated shower. Honestly she was amazed she had any hair at all, and that it somehow never got mouldy despite Petunia hardly ever allowing it to dry properly. Plus the deep red was a really nice compliment to the faded green grey of her eyes which reminded her of the video of a thunderstorm she’d seen on TV once.

To Daisy it was just another reason why the Dursleys sucked.  The fact she had to drown her petite frame (somehow making herself seem even smaller) in Dudley’s hand-me-downs was only useful because they were so stained already that any dirt she got on them just blended in. It was a miracle any of the teachers at her primary school trusted her at all, but she’d proven she wasn’t cheating years ago, and never took any books she read out of the library where Dudley could get his hands on them and hurt them, so somehow they let it slide. Even when she somehow got on the roof it was waved away, which was pretty amazing all things considered.

But today was a very special day for Daisy. No not because it was Dudley’s birthday, because today she had stuffed into one of the pockets on her shorts her very own ticket out of here, well hidden from the Dursleys.

Now she was sat in the Garden, running her finger over the green words again and again. She’d made the right choice in hiding this from the Dursleys; she was sure of it. The writing was beautiful, and the idea of not going to Stonewall and actually going somewhere she could learn real magic was somehow even more so.

Daisy pushed her glasses back up on her nose before being startled by the rustling of the bush in front of her. She looked up and saw a barn owl. She let out a small sound and pulled a pen out of her pocket, turning the acceptance letter over to write.

‘Dear Professor McGonagall…

~~~~~~

‘...Thank you for your invitation to your school. I would love to attend Hogwarts but I don’t think my Aunt and Uncle know where to get my school things or will want to pay for them. If there is any way you could help with this, as well as actually getting to the school I would be really grateful!

Thank you

Daisy Potter’

Minerva sat back in her chair and took a deep breath. She couldn’t be hasty with this, as much as she wanted to hex Albus into oblivion in that moment. She finished her tea and her biscuit, then rose to her feet and left her office. Letting the sound of her boots on the flagstones fuel her in her rage, she strode up to the gargoyle that guarded the headmaster’s office. It bowed to her and moved out of the way, letting her ride the staircase up and open the door, striding forwards and placing the letter straight on top of the files he was reading, “I told you they were the worst sort of Muggles, Albus!!” she snapped, “Leaving the bairn there! I should never have let you convince me!”

Albus looked down at the letter and frowned a bit, “We will have to send someone to take the girl to Diagon Alley, Minerva.”

Minerva pursed her lips and nodded, “The Heads of House are all too busy this close to term, Albus, especially myself and Severus. I elect to send Aurora.”

Albus hummed gently and stroked his beard, “Yes that could work, my dear. Expecto Patronum,” he enunciated, smiling at the phoenix that emerged, “Aurora, come to my office at once. The password is Cauldron Cakes.”

The patronus bowed and flew through the walls to fetch the Astronomy professor. Minerva looked at Albus, “You seem to have this well in hand for now, but Albus, if I find that Daisy has been mistreated by those disgusting monsters, I will be removing her from them, blood wards or not!” she snapped at him before swishing her way out of the room, leaving Albus to his thoughts.

~~~~~~

Daisy had just finished the meagre piece of dry toast that was her portion of the Dursley’s customary Saturday full English when her sage eyes were attracted by the doorbell.

“Girl! Get the door!” thundered the walrus, and Daisy sighed but went to do so.

On the front step was a tall woman, with skin like polished mahogany, not a shade Daisy had really seen before. Her dress was plum, with black and white triangles and swirls creating an interesting pattern that complemented the patterns in the tightly woven black curls that were haloed around her head. “Hello, can I help you?” asked Daisy curiously. 

Aurora smiled at the girl kindly, even as she was inwardly sneering at muggle fashions. While the braided hair could be excused there was certainly no need to be wearing such ill-fitted garments. She understood what Minerva had meant by these being the worst sort of muggles. “Miss Potter?” 

“Yes? Are you from Hogwarts?” she asked him, grinning happily in excitement. 

“HOGWARTS!” shrieked Aunt Petunia from the dining room, moving into the hall, “Where did you hear about that?”

“Her letter,” said the woman as she looked at Aunt Petunia, “Or so I would assume considering she did reply to it.”

Petunia spluttered as Daisy looked up at the woman, “Are you Professor McGonagall?”

“No, my name is Aurora Sinestra, I will be teaching you Astronomy when you get to Hogwarts.”

“She’ll not be going! We swore to stamp the freakishness out of her when we took her in!” snapped Petunia, somehow getting even shriller. Daisy winced a bit at the pitch.

“I see,” said Professor Sinestra, “Miss Potter, if you would collect your things, I think that you should not stay with people who wish to erase a fundamental part of you.”

Daisy’s eyes widened, then she grinned and dashed off to get everything out of her cupboard to put in the tattered rucksack that served as her school bag. It didn’t take very long, and soon it was packed with everything she owned, “Okay Professor!” she said happily, joining the woman in the doorway.

Professor Sinestra looked at her for a second, then back up at Petunia, “Farewell, Mrs Dursley,” she said, turning on her heel, “Come along, Miss Potter.”

Daisy followed quickly behind her, looking back at Number 4 Privet Drive, before the backfiring of a large purple bus whisked her away to a new chapter in her life.

~~~~~

Daisy stumbled out of the Knight Bus with both her head and stomach swirling. She took several deep breaths and looked up at the professor. “So you’re saying that because I was the only one who survived that night, I have been the one hailed as a hero and a saviour despite me only yesterday knowing that magic was even real in the first place?”

“That is correct, Miss Potter. And also when we walk in through this door, there is a chance you could be recognised and subsequently surrounded by people,” said Professor Sinestra calmly to her.

Daisy nodded in understanding, “That explains why that man tried to shake my hand that time on the street,” she said with a small smile that was mirrored by the Professor.

“Indeed it does, Miss Potter. Now, follow me if you please,” she said, walking into the dingy pub with Daisy trotting along behind her.

“Professor Sinestra! How nice to see you outside of your tower,” said the barkeep with a smile once he spotted them.

The witch smiled, “Nice to see you also, Tom,” she said calmly as Daisy walked beside her quietly, “Unfortunately I’m not stopping just yet.”

Tom nodded in understanding, “My word is that young Miss Daisy?”

Daisy blinked and nodded as the pub went quiet and people started to come over to her. She greeted them politely despite being a little overwhelmed.

“Come now, don’t crowd the girl!” said Professor Sinestra eventually. Daisy breathed a small sigh of relief as they backed off. “We have supplies to get after all. Come, Miss Potter,” said the woman, and teacher and soon-to-be pupil made their way out the back of the pub.

Daisy looked up at her, “Thank you for warning me,” she said softly.

The Professor looked down at her and nodded, “You’re welcome Miss Potter. If you’re willing to continue?”

The redhead nodded and moved to turn back to the pub, but Sinestra stopped her. She tapped the red brick wall with her wand and the wall melted away to reveal, “Diagon Alley, Miss Potter.”

Daisy could barely stop herself from gaping. It was truly awe-inspiring. What else would it be? A whole other culture of freaks just like her! Of magic and witches and wizards and spells and potions and ‘dragon lungs, 3 for a sickle!’ and ‘Makers of Fine Wands since 382BC’. She couldn’t help the grin that came onto her face as she followed behind the professor, before she frowned, “Professor? How am I paying for all this stuff?” she asked.

The professor looked back at her, “Your parents left you plenty of money at the bank, Miss Potter, which is where we are headed first. Gringotts is run by Goblins and it is not wise to insult them. However, you shouldn’t be too kind as they are a proud warrior race.”

Daisy nodded to herself, “Be polite but not a pushover, got it.”

Professor Sinestra smiled at her fondly as they climbed the marble steps to the bank. Daisy glanced at the axes that the Goblins were carrying and nodded to them as she passed. 

The marble foyer was ornate and gilded, busy with a good amount of people and families at various tellers, and they approached one that was empty. The teller looked down at them from his desk, “Professor.”

“Master Teller, we would like to visit Miss Potter’s trust vault,” she informed him, laying a small golden key in front of the goblin. He inspected it and nodded, “Heiress Potter, Griphook will take you to your vault. Would you like to organise a meeting with your account manager now or later?”

“With my what now?” she asked the goblin, surprised for the third time that day, “And why did you call me Heiress?”

The teller frowned at her, “Have you not been told of your heritage?”

“I only today learned of magic for sure, Master Teller,” she told him, meeting his eye with no fear.

“Then a great injustice has been done to you. Professor, do you have the time to spare today or shall I let a Gringotts employee care for her needs? I believe young Enchantress Travers is available in-branch today.”

Professor Sinestra looked between the goblin and Daisy and thought to herself. She pulled out a piece of parchment from her robes and handed it to the girl, “Here, these are the extra introductory guides that you should get as a muggle-raised student in addition to the equipment list that came as a part of your letter. Make sure you get them and read at least the first two before you arrive,” she told her sternly.

Daisy took the paper from her and nodded, “Okay Professor. I’ll see you at school then,” she said, before following the Goblin into the corridors of Gringotts.

It wasn’t long before they arrived at the office of the Potter Account Manager, the name on the door reading Talongild in English beneath some rune-like symbols that Daisy presumed was the goblin writing system. Griphook knocked and opened the door, “Heiress Potter, Manager Talongild.”

“Heiress Potter, come, sit,” greeted the gravelly but still feminine voice of the dark haired goblin in the office.

Daisy nodded and entered, taking a seat, “Manager Talongild, what exactly is it I’m heiress of?”

“That is the first thing I would like to figure out,” she replied, bringing out a sheet of parchment, a small dagger, and a bowl of calm grey potion with a stripped feather quill in it, “Your hand, Heiress Potter.”

Daisy laid her small, bony hand in the calloused one of the goblin and let her take the needed seven drops of blood to fall in the potion.

It turned instantly royal purple and began to flow into the quill, which was soon resting in an empty bowl. Daisy watched as Talongild tipped the quill onto the parchment, and let it begin writing.

‘ Heiress Daisy Lily Andromeda Potter-Black

Father: Lord James Fleamont Potter (deceased)
Mother: Lady-Consort Lily Heather Potter nee Evans (deceased)
Father: Heir-Apparent Sirius Orion Black (imprisoned)

Paternal Grandfather: Lord Charlus Fleamont Potter (deceased)
Paternal Grandmother: Lady-Consort Euphemia Dorea Potter nee Pemrose (deceased)
Maternal Grandfather: Henry George Evans (muggle, deceased)
Maternal Grandmother: Heather Violet Evans nee Davis (muggle, deceased)
Paternal Grandfather: Lord-Consort Orion Arcturus Black (deceased)
Paternal Grandmother: Lady Walburga Irma Black (deceased)

Godfather: Wolf Alpha Remus John Lupin
Godmother: Lady-Consort Sweetness Alice Longbottom nee Prewitt (compromised)
Godfather: Heir-Apparent Severus Tobias Snape
Godmother: Professor Minerva Battle McGonagall

Guardian: Chief Warlock Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore 

Titles:

Heiress-Apparent to the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Peverell (Ladyship Pending Acceptance by Family Magics)
Heiress-Apparent to the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Slytherin (Ladyship Pending Majority)
Heiress-Apparent to the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Gryffindor (Ladyship Pending Acceptance by Family Magics)
Heiress-Apparent to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter (Ladyship Pending Acceptance by Family Magics)
Heiress-Apparent to the Ancient House of Gaunt (Ladyship Pending Majority)

True Daughter Prima of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black
True Daughter of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Penrose
True Witchling Daughter of the Marauding Circle

Daughter of the Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom
Daughter of the Noble House of Prince
Daughter of the Coven McGonagall

Vassals:

Serving Potter:

Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom

Serving Slytherin and Gaunt:

Most Ancient and Noble House of Black (nullified Samhain 1981)
Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy
Ancient and Noble House of Nott
Ancient House of Carrow
Ancient House of Crabbe
Ancient House of Goyle
Ancient House of Lestrange
Ancient House of Pettigrew
Ancient House of Rookwood
Ancient House of Rosier
Old Blood of Sombra
Noble House of Avery
Noble House of Crouch
Noble House of Mulciber
Noble House of Prince (nullified Samhain 1981)
Noble House of Selwyn
Noble House of Yaxley
Dvoryanin Dolohov (Cadet Branch)
Dvoryanin Karkaroff (Disgraced Line)
House of Gibbon
House of Jugson
House of Lee
House of Snyde
Pack of Greyback
Pack of Darken

Personal Oaths:

Heir-Apparent Severus Tobias Snape (made to Supreme Mugwump Dumbledore, redundant)

Property (pending Ladyship):

Peverell Cottage, Godric’s Hollow, England (seized by Ministry)
(Dire Farm, Limerick, Ireland (occupied))
Peverell House Elves: Bone, Grave, Stampede, Locust, 2 Unnamed
Vault(s): (3), 207, (3903)

Hogwarts, Scotland (Owned ¼)
Slytherin Manor, Norfolk, England
(Slytherin Villa, San Nimune, Spain)
Slytherin House Elves: Boo, Serep, 1 unnamed
Vaults: (8), 126, (679), (321), (1982)

Hogwarts, Scotland (Owned ¼)
(Gryffindor Lodge, Dorset, England)
Gryffin’s Roost, Brittany, France
Gryffindor House Elves: Pride, Cub, Wing, Claw, Triumph
Vaults: (5), 298, (681)

Potter Manor, Staffordshire, England
The Lily Garden, Unplottable
Potter Penthouse, Hong Kong
4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, England (occupied)
Potter House Elves: Mini, Tini, Smol, Kwiet
Vaults: (72), 387, (3409)

Gaunt Cabin, Little Hangleton, England (corrupted)
Vault(s): 372

Vault(s): 687, (36), (834)

Black House Elves: Frek
Vault(s): 2471

Vaults 4165, 4212 and 4582 (filled by Mail Redirection Ward)

Fairview Cottage, Cornwall, England
Brownknoll Stables, Gloucestershire, England (occupied, operating)
Vault 75 (money) and 83 (objects)

(Properties of Vassal Houses also accessible)’

Daisy read through the paper quietly, “What are house elves?” she asked Talongild after a long while.

“Is that truly the only question you have, Heiress Potter-Black?” asked Talongild with a very toothy grin.

Daisy looked at her account manager, “It’s the only thing I can process right about now, yes.”

Talongild nodded, “House elves are a magical creature that are subservient to magical households, mostly human ones. In most good households, they are used as favoured servants as they love to work and are loyal to a fault in serving the family they are connected to.”

“Okay… So it’s slave labour but they enjoy it and use it to survive,” said Daisy with a nod, “Next thing is why is Dumbledore listed as my Guardian? I thought that Aunt Petunia was my Guardian.”

“She may be the one you are living with but it is Dumbledore who is ultimately responsible for you and should have given you the training necessary to take up your Ladyships.”

“And I hadn’t even heard of him until yesterday…” said Daisy, glaring fiercely at the paper, “How on earth am I meant to catch up on everything I need to know?”

“Judging by the results you have gotten the best people to contact now would be your godfathers and also the current Head of House Longbottom, the Dowager Lady-Regent Augusta Longbottom,” advised Talongild, “I would also recommend a trip down to Vaults 4165, 4212 and 4582, people sent the Girl-Who-Lived lots of fanmail and gifts and such.”

Daisy nodded, “Thank you for your advice, Manager Talongild,” she said softly before pausing, “How should I thank you best? I don’t want to seem ungrateful.”

Talongild smirked, “You best be careful asking that question, Heiress Potter-Black, less they demand more than you can give them,” she advised carefully, “But in answer, I take a fee from your vaults, 10 galleons per hour.”

Daisy nodded, “Right, so it’s your job so I’m already paying you.”

“Precisely,” she said.

Daisy nodded, “Could I go to Vaults 4582 and 75 please? I presume I will find most of the things off my Hogwarts list in there if people have been sending me things, and money can’t hurt for the rest.”

“I would presume yes, Heiress. When Enchantress Travers arrives we shall tell her the situation and she can accompany and teach you.”

Daisy nodded, “May I take the test?” she asked gently, “I don’t think I’ll remember all this in time to process it all.”

Talongild duplicated the test with a wave of her hand and gave the copy to her. She smiled gratefully and folded it to place in her bag with the other things as the door knocked and opened to admit Griphook and a petite woman with soft blue eyes and dark chocolate brown hair flowing carefully behind her.

The woman nodded her head respectfully in greeting, “You wanted to see me Manager Talongild, Miss Potter?”

“That’s Heiress Potter-Black to you, Enchantress Travers,” said Talongild, “She is more ignorant than a muggleborn and I do not have the time or will to ferry her around and teach her all she needs to know, so the task falls to you and whoever you ask to assist you.”

The enchantress was taken aback and looked at Daisy, “My apologies, Heiress Potter-Black. I am Meer Travers, I’m an Enchantress, as Manager Talongild said.”

Daisy blushed a bit, “You don’t have to call me Heiress Potter, just Daisy will do.”

“Then Meer will be fine for me too,” he said calmly, “Though I recommend getting used to being called by your title.”

Daisy nodded with a sigh, “There’s so much to sort out, but first I want to see if there are any better clothes in my vaults than these things. Even a moth-eaten nightgown would make me feel better than these,” she said, picking at her shorts in distaste.

Meer chuckled politely and nodded, “I had hoped that the muggles weren’t so far apart from us in fashion as to make that acceptable,” she said, letting her nose wrinkle in commiseration for what she was stuck with wearing.

“It’s all a freak like me deserves,” said Daisy with a sneer as she stood, “Well you’re a freak like me, and you get nice things, so I’m going to go and get myself some nice things too.”

“Hear hear, though I doubt most will be happy with you calling them freaks, Heiress Potter,” said Talongild, amused. She reached into a drawer and pulled out a series of keys, “Here, all of your keys,” she said, attaching them to a slim chain for her, “When you wear this chain as a necklace, no one will be able to take it from you.”

Daisy nodded before pausing, “Who had my keys before now?”

“Dumbledore. I took the liberty just now of making his keys no-more. His own chain may be substantially lighter now,” she said with that same toothy grin.

Daisy smiled smugly and nodded, pulling out her test, “Vault 4582, please Griphook,” she spoke to the other goblin.

“Of course Heiress Potter, right this way,” he said, bringing her towards the carts.

Meer smiled at her gently, “So, Daisy, you grew up with muggles?”

“Yeah, my Aunt and Uncle. Professor Sinestra rescued me this morning and told me I never have to see them again, and I believe her. I have enough skills to cook and clean for myself, especially if I have help with the house elves like Talongild said,” she mused aloud.

“Manager Talongild, Daisy. Always use titles until given permission not to,” explained Meer.

“Even when they’re not around?” asked Daisy, tilting her head.

“Especially then and more so in formal settings,” Meer confirmed with a nod, “It shows you respect the person you’re talking about, and names are very powerful things. You-Know-Who in the last war used his name as a Taboo, a way to find people who spoke it, as they were often rebels.”

Daisy nodded, “So there is a reason behind the flinching and the fear.”

“There is reason behind most things, Daisy,” said Meer with a nod, “We’ll get an etiquette book for you to read today. It wouldn’t be good for you to go around insulting people, even if by accident.”

Daisy nodded, “I don’t want to be mean to anyone,” she said as she climbed into the cart Griphook had taken them to, “Not unless they deserve it.”

Meer nodded, “That’s a good stance to have, Daisy. Hold on tight now, the carts go fast.”

Daisy nodded and held to the handles as the cart took off. She grinned a bit at the speed as they whizzed along the side of a large cavern with a waterfall… was that going through the tracks?

“Griphook? What’s that?” She asked above the sound of the cart.

“Thief's Downfall, Heiress Potter-Black! It washes off any and all unauthorised spells!” called Griphook back to her, “Makes sure all that gets to the vaults is who should be getting to them!”

Daisy nodded as they went through the waterfall, which absolutely drenched her and only her, making her slump against Meer as she suddenly got light headed and her hair broke out of its braid, glowing fire red before settling back into the rust. She woke up and shook her head out, “Woah…”

“Are you alright, Daisy?” asked Meer as Griphook stopped them outside of Vault 4825.

She recentred herself and nodded, “I feel… I feel happy,” she decided, smiling at him before frowning, “Wait I wasn’t happy before?”

Griphook helped her out the cart, “If someone had blocked your ability to feel happy the Downfall will have washed it away.”

“Is there any way you can find out what enchantments used to be on me?” asked Daisy in concern.

“Indeed, Heiress Potter-Black,” said Griphook, “If I may?”

Daisy nodded and Griphook brought out a small vial and unstoppered it. He snapped his fingers and the water on Daisy flew from her into the vial, “When we return to the surface we can pour this onto the specially prepared parchment and find out what enchantments it has stripped from you.”

Meer nodded and cast a quick Tempus to check the time, “We best keep going, Griphook, or we run the risk of missing both lunch and dinner.”

“Right you are, Enchantress. Heiress, if you would give me the key for the vault?”

Daisy took the key off the chain and gave it to Griphook to open up the Vault, and was soon gaping at the cavern. It was piled high with all sorts of books and jewellery and toys and piles upon piles of letters that it would take her a lifetime to read. She shook herself out of it and moved forwards, pulling out her list, “Meer? Is there an easy way to organise all of this stuff?”

Meer looked at it all, “For vaults like this there is usually a cataloguing method in place that can magically sort through and find everything in the vault,” she said looking around before pointing to a little alcove in the wall which held a book on a lectern, “Here, you can write how you want the vault organised in this book and it will do it for you.”

Daisy walked over to the book and picked up the quill. She held it as best she could and wrote what she wanted to see.

As she wrote, things flew around carefully behind her, sorting into separate piles. The books stacked so she could read the titles easily, The clothes floated as though they had been hung up, sorted by size and colour, with the accessories organising by expense and colour similarly. The stationery sets organised themselves by colour. The cauldrons and other potions kits organised themselves by type and quality. The toys flew to the back and the letters ordered themselves chronologically. Everything was organised in its proper place, easily accessible and everything available to see.

She stopped writing and turned around, beaming widely, “I love magic~” she said with shining eyes as she went over to the clothing racks to select something that would suit her. She blinked a bit as most of the clothes looked like they’d come straight out of history, especially the photos she remembered seeing of the Victorians.

Meer shook her head and smiled as she went over to help her, “What you wear is kind of important to show your station, and your hair should be free. It’s one of the main sources of power and hiding it suggests weakness.”

Daisy thought about it and pulled out her braid eagerly, discarding the hair-tie to shake out her long red hair to reform into its natural mane-like state. She took a deep breath of relief and looked up at Meer, “So what should I be wearing as an Heiress?”

Meer smiled a little and let her eyes scan over the racks, “Any young person of standing should wear a well-fitted ensemble that matches in colour,” she told her, “The colour and style should fit with your physique and colouring, and for running errands and shopping like you are at the moment it need to be practical. Also you should dress far more modestly at all times, good clothes will often have enchantments to keep you at the correct temperature no matter what you’re wearing, though warming charms can only do so much.”

Daisy nodded in understanding and began looking through the things that were the most like her size, eventually finding an olive green walking skirt and waistcoat ensemble, and then finding a very prettily embroidered white blouse to put under the waistcoat. She picked out some sensible dragonhide boots and disappeared behind the book piles to change, and came out with a big grin on her face, “I feel so much better~” 

“You look better too,” said Meer with an approving smile. Daisy smiled widely back and went over to the books to find all the ones she’d need for the school year. She managed to find all but the Defense book and the Muggleborn guides in the pile, as well as a couple other books she thought could be useful on the intricacies of potions, etiquette and calligraphy. She picked out one of each book she wanted and was about to put it in her bag but stopped. “They won’t fit… I need a new bag.”

Meer nodded in agreement, “Yes, and a trunk wouldn’t go amiss either. We should get one of those before we explore this more,” she agreed, “Oh, but pick up the calligraphy book and a stationery set, yes? I will teach you to write with a quill.”

Daisy nodded in agreement and grabbed the wanted things. She smiled and let Meer lead her back to Griphook, “Could we go to Vault 75 next please, Griphook?”

He nodded, “Of course Heiress,” he said, closing the vault behind them. He took them back to the cart and once again along the rails.

“So how does money work?” asked Daisy to Meer.

The witch looked at her, “There are three coins, one gold, one silver, one bronze. The bronze ones are knuts, if you have 29 of them you have a sickle, which is silver. Seventeen sickles and you have a gold Galleon.”

“How much is a Galleon worth in muggle money?” asked Daisy.

“Five pounds sterling, Heiress!” called Griphook as he pulled the cart to a stop next to Vault 75.

Daisy got out and gave Griphook the correct key. He opened the door to the cavern full of shiny gold and silver pieces.

Daisy audibly swallowed but took a deep breath to steel herself, “Right… Griphook?”

“Yes Heiress?”

“Do Gringotts offer something like a credit card?”

Meer looked confused but Griphook smiled, “Some stores, particularly the more expensive ones, will have insets for you to press your key into and the money will automatically transfer.”

Daisy nodded and collected up ten galleons worth of coins into her backpack, one galleon of which was in sickles and knuts. She zipped up the bag and went over to Meer, “Alright, let’s go and get bags.”

Meer nodded, “To the surface, please Griphook,” she said, and they were soon back in the cart and heading back into the sunshine of Diagon Alley.

Notes:

(Edit 26/9: Realised I never gave Gryffindor or Potter any Vaults of their own, whoops! Turns out even with like ten read throughs you can still miss stuff)

Chapter 2: A Place to Live

Notes:

Hello!

Sorry about the wait for this next chapter, I write on hyperfixation and uni kinda killed me.

Hope you all enjoy anyway ^^

~ Minty

The Daisy that left Gringotts was a very different Daisy to the one who had gone in. She was happier, and a lot neater, and far more sure of herself than she had been. She knew as she walked down the street with Meer at her side that this was her place, she belonged here, and she couldn’t wait to show everyone how much she cared about them, and to fulfil her role as first Heiress then Lady. She smiled up at Meer, “Where’s the bag store then?” she asked him.

“Latches and Hinges are the best trunk makers,” said Meer as she walked beside her, guiding her the correct way to go, “Before that however, we should get some food, as I am rather hungry and I would imagine you are too.”

Daisy blinked as she realised that yes she was quite hungry. She nodded, “Yeah, we should eat,” she agreed calmly before pausing, “I missed breakfast,” she said in realisation. She smiled up at Meer who seemed to be frowning in concern, “What?”

“Could you not tell you were hungry?” asked the witch in concern.

Daisy blushed a bit and shook her head.

“That is troubling, Daisy, but not a concern for right now,” she said to her reassuringly, “Come now, let’s head to the Abraxan,” she said, taking Daisy along and down a posh side street where a cafe had seating outside and inside. She took them into the cafe and to a seat.

Once they sat down, a menu appeared in front of them both. Daisy took hers to read in fascination. Oh, the ingredients were mostly normal but everything was animated! It was so exciting to have a melon boat that could sail around your plate. She happily ordered one of them, or Meer did, tapping her wand on the picture as Daisy had no wand of her own yet.

Daisy smiled happily, “Magic is great,” she said happily to her companion.

Meer nodded, “Indeed it is, Daisy,” she said calmly, “Now, have you ever used a quill or anything like it before?”

She shook her head, “Not really. Muggles have these things called pens but they don’t have an end like that.”

“Ah, that’s called the nib of the pen, Daisy, and as you can see on quills it is a straight line with a split up the middle. This split is where the ink is held,” she said, picking up a quill to demonstrate.

“While some learn to make beautifully intricate fonts it is hardly necessary for everyday use and you should be able to write decently with your muggle training, however, I would suggest following a couple of the exercises from your calligraphy book just to get used to the feel of the quill and to perhaps neaten your handwriting. It says a lot about a person you know, and if your work is illegible then it often won’t be marked.”

Daisy nodded, “I’ll keep that in mind and try to do some if there’s time. My test showed some properties that are available to me, and if there are house elves making sure they’re livable then I could move into one of those.”

“Certainly you could, and I will live with you there until you find someone more suitable to live with. Perhaps Lady Malfoy would consent to taking you in.”

Daisy blinked, “I can take care of myself, Meer. I’ve been cooking and cleaning for the Dursley’s for ages!”

Meer frowned at her, “Be that as it may, you are still a child, and you need tutoring,” said the Enchantress, certainly not happy with these muggles, “I will happily be your governess until such a time as you get a new one. As I am also qualified as a warder I can help you with some of the more magically technical aspects of the old houses.”

Daisy frowned a bit but nodded, “Wards for protection and stuff?”

Meer smiled, “Precisely, but don’t use the word stuff, it implies apathy both of your appearance and the topic at hand.”

“What’s apathy?” asked the girl as their meals arrived.

“To be apathetic means you don’t care,” said Meer calmly to her, “Now, lessons on eating.”

Daisy listened intently as she was guided in dinner etiquette. Happily, it wasn’t too different from the ways Aunt Petunia had tried her best to teach Dudley to eat, over and over again when they were kids and they still sort-of pretended Daisy was family.

Half an hour later, they had paid for their food and made their way back to Latches and Hinges, where Meer held the door open politely for Daisy to enter. Daisy smiled as she looked around. It was very clearly a magical shop, from the list of available enchantments with prices attached, to the bags embroidered with animated owls, to the trunk with what seemed to be a hundred human feet that was being chased about the shop by the owner, “For Merlin’s sake, Luggage just stay in your place!” he said, flicking his wand to send the trunk into the special display cage and locking it shut. He took a deep breath and turned to them, “My deepest apologies, ladies,” he said with a small bow, “He keeps escaping, what can I do for you today?”

Daisy looked over at the cage for a moment before looking back at him, “I need a new trunk, a school bag and a day bag,” she told him.

“Ah, a new Hogwarts student, of course. Well we have plenty of options for you to choose from, feel free to look around.”

Daisy nodded and moved to look around, picking out a sensible satchel with enlargement and feather-light charms as well as being warded against damage and theft for her school bag. That was to be the simplest purchase decision.

The outside of the trunk, at Meer’s suggestion, would be better to be rather plain, so Daisy chose a burgundy leather with silver metallic accents and her initials engraved on a plaque on the top.

That was the easy part, for the inside had so many different possibilities! Libraries, wardrobes, portable potion labs, even an entire apartment in one small trunk! That was very expensive though, and Meer confirmed she wouldn’t need something so extreme. Daisy eventually picked a wardrobe-style trunk with three splits, the first would hold clothes with one side being hanger space and the other being drawers, the second was full of shelves which Crafter Latch informed her would hold around 100 books on each shelf, and the third having two sections, one which was secured with her magical signature for valuables, and the other which had cooling and preservation charms for potions ingredients and food. It was enchanted impervious to damage and with a more basic password for each compartment, as well as being able to be shrunk with the tap of a wand. For the more fun day-bag, she picked out one of the bags with the owls, a snowy one, with similar enchantments to her school one. For some reason it called to her, and it was tastefully done too, especially by wizarding standards, Daisy was coming to learn.

She paid the several hundred galleons with the Vault 75 key, and let Meer shrink her trunk down to place in the owl bag, along with the satchel and all of the things that were in her old backpack, which she kept to burn later. Meer had commented while they were eating that burning her old clothes and the bag would, if ritualised correctly, cut all connections with anything in the muggle world, and grant good luck in her new start.

Unfortunately, Master Crafter Ollivander was just closing his store as they finished up in the trunk shop, so Daisy would have to wait for her wand until tomorrow. They made their way back to Gringotts, and back to Talongild’s office.

“Heiress Potter,” greeted Talongild when Daisy reentered her office, Meer having been sent home to pack her things to stay with Daisy for the foreseeable future, “My, what an improvement a better set of clothes and a few hours of skilled oversight makes, if you will excuse my saying so.”

Daisy smiled, “Thank you, Manager Talongild. Meer has helped me a lot today,” she said.

“Excellent, it appears that Enchantress Travers is just as flexible as her reference suggested,” said Talongild, “Now, what can I do for you, Heiress?”

“I need a place to live for the rest of the summer. Which property is a good one to make my new home?”

“An excellent question, Heiress Potter!” said Talongild as she retrieved her copy of Daisy’s assets and created a new list of only the non-occupied houses she had access to, “I also took the liberty of collecting the details of your Vassal Houses, however, I am unsure of the wisdom of trying to enter any one of those properties at this time.”

Daisy nodded, “Yeah I don’t think a bunch of lackeys of the guy I defeated will be happy with me invading their spaces.”

“Precisely, Heiress, and you have plenty of space of your own,” said Talongild, going over to retrieve the deeds and files on each property from her cabinet while Daisy read the condensed list.

‘Slytherin Manor, Norfolk, England
Gryffin’s Roost, Brittany, France
Potter Manor, Staffordshire, England
The Lily Garden, Unplottable
Potter Penthouse, Hong Kong
Gaunt Cabin, Little Hangleton, England (corrupted)
Fairview Cottage, Cornwall, England’

Daisy frowned, “Well let’s cross off Gaunt Cabin and Gryffin’s Roost and Potter Penthouse early, I don’t want to keep going to France or Hong Kong and also that corruption worries me.”

“An excellent policy, Heiress,” said Talongild as she put back those three files in particular. She came back over to the table and laid out the folders for Slytherin Manor, Potter Manor, The Lily Garden, and Fairview Cottage.

Daisy looked over the houses one by one, taking note of the facilities. “Manager Talongild? How do I know which ones are in a livable state?”

Talongild let out a thoughtful hum, “Gringotts’ files are not self-updating in this regard, I’m afraid, but you do have access to several house elves who I’m sure would be willing to explore them for you.”

Daisy nodded, “Okay… so how do I find one?”

“You simply need to call it by name.”

Daisy nodded and looked over her list of House Elves to find a name that called to her most. “Mini?”

A small, somewhat shrivelled creature with long, wide ears and round, hazel eyes appeared with a pop next to her. “Mistress Daisy! It has been long time since Mini has been called, but Mini is still happy to serve Mistress!”

Daisy blinked a bit and nodded, reaching out to pet the creature on the head a couple times, “Okay Mini, that’s good. Have you and my other elves been able to survive okay while I was trapped with the Dursleys?”

Mini’s eyes widened and she nodded quickly, “Yes Mistress! Potter Manor has a small farm in its estate, so us elves get plenty of food and work to bes doing! Mistress is kind to think of us!”

Daisy smiled, “That’s great, Mini,” she said as she pulled her hand back and looked her over, “Okay, so Potter Manor is presumably livable, I want you to go to Slytherin Manor, Fairview Cottage, and The Lily Garden and tell me if they’re livable too.”

“The Lily Garden is occupied, Mistress. Master Moony be living in it.”

“Moony?” asked Daisy, “Why does that name sound familiar?”

“I believe that Moony refers to your Godfather Remus Lupin, Heiress.”

Daisy blinked, “Okay right. Mini, check out the other two properties, then come back here.”

Mini nodded and popped away. Daisy turned back to Talongild.

The goblin grinned, “You’re coping surprisingly well with all of this, Heiress Potter.”

“I’m not gonna lie, it does all feel like a dream still,” she said, “But it’s the best dream I’ve ever had, so I’ll take it.”

Talongild smiled, “I assure you this is not a dream, Heiress. Now, which house do you think would be best for you and Enchantress Travers to live in?”

Daisy sighed and looked through them, “Well… the decoration on Slytherin Manor is cool, but it’s kind of scary. Fairview Cottage only had one bedroom so that’s out. The Lily Garden would be perfect but it’s occupied… So I guess that leaves Potter Manor,” she said as Mini came back.

“Mini has found that Slytherin Manor has been cared for but Fairview Cottage has not, Mistress!”

Daisy nodded, “Thank you, Mini. I’ve decided to come to Potter Manor for now but I need to wait for my Governess to get here. Can you go and tell Wolf Alpha Lupin that I’m going to be moving in there? I want to meet my godfather.”

“Yes Mistress, he will be excited to see you!” she said before popping away.

Talongild smiled at her, “Excellently managed, Heiress! You are a natural at this. As you can see house elves love work, so as you here have a house elf with no property attached to it, might I suggest sending it to clean up and maintain Fairview Cottage?”

Daisy thought about it and nodded. She found the name of the solitary Black house elf and called for it, “Frek!”

There was a sharper sound this time, more akin to a crack than Mini’s pop. Frek was a younger elf than Mini had appeared to be, his black eyes somewhat hidden by a large hooked nose. “Young Mistress Daisy has finally called?”

“Yes, Frek. It is nice to meet you now I know of you,” said Daisy with a smile, “I have a job for you, one of my properties, Fairview Cottage, isn’t in a livable state. I would like you to fix it up and maintain it until someone comes to live in it, is that okay?”

Frek nodded, “Yes Young Mistress, Frek will be very happy to do that.”

“Good, if you think it needs redecorating after you have inspected it, come to me again and we’ll talk about how we should decorate it.”

“Yes Mistress, Frek will start that right away. Can Frek ask for help?”

“Of course! If you need house elf help ask one of my others, if you need other magical Crafters come to me or Manager Talongild when I’m in school.”

Frek smiled, “Yes Mistress. Frek is happy to serve you Mistress,” he said, bowing in farewell before cracking away again.

Talongild grinned at her as she put the unused folders away, then gave her a pendant with several charms on it, “Here, your keys for the properties you have access to.”

“Thank you, Manager Talongild. Do you have any more suggestions as to things I should do before Meer gets back?”

“Indeed Heiress, two suggestions, the first is a recommendation that you have your vaults audited and inventoried so it is easier for you to know what it is you have without travelling to each one.

Daisy nodded, “I should have thought of that. How quickly can that be done?”

“The inventory can be done within three days but the audit may take a month or two,” said Talongild regretfully.

Daisy nodded, “Start the inventory then, but hold off on the audit until I go to Hogwarts.”

“Understood, Heiress, the inventory will begin tomorrow,” said Talongild, making the note, “The second suggestion I have is ordering a cleanse on Gaunt Cabin.”

Daisy nodded, “Do it. I want to get rid of that corruption. After it’s done I’ll send the Slytherin Elves to renovate and rebuild it.”

“An excellent idea, Heiress. I do believe that restoring the Gaunt Cabin to its former glory as the home of the Slytherin Cadet Branch can only aid in reaffirming Wizarding History and traditions,”

said the manager, “Though our races do not often get along I can see a fruitful relationship coming about with you, Heiress Potter.”

Daisy was blushing faintly, “Manager Talongild, thank you…” she said eventually through her embarrassment.

“Do not shy from praise, young one, but also not from criticism. Thank your supporters, and also any constructive detractors,” advised Talongild as she reorganised her files.

Daisy nodded as there was another knock at the door to admit Meer, “Hello Daisy, Manager Talongild, are we ready to go?”

Daisy nodded, “We’re going to Potter Manor, Meer,” she told her.

“Ah, splendid. Do we need to do anything before we leave?”

“I need to collect those books from 4582 and also I want to take some of the earliest letters to read from 4165,” she said.

The goblin who had brought Meer, one Tuskrail, took them back to the carts, where Daisy placed the small selection of books from before, as well as some extras, on the shelves in her trunk. She also stored the two bags she wasn’t using, a couple more stationery sets, and a sensible but pretty dress that caught her eye in the trunk. It still looked very empty, but Daisy was determined that one day it would be filled, and she would use it to live free of danger, but not free of duty.

Daisy has seen what Dudley was like with no responsibility, and while Vernon and Petunia weren’t good, at least they could think, unlike Dudley. She never wanted to be like Dudley. She didn’t want to be a pompous prick who thought only about himself, beating up innocent people, and the next thing he was going to watch on TV, let alone be praised for that behaviour. No, she was going to have a purpose in life, and a letter carried by an owl, a whole new world of magic, and a goblin with a grin and many sheets of parchment, seemed to hold that purpose for her, and she couldn’t be more grateful.

~~~~~

“Welcome to Potter Manor, Mistress, Miss Meer!” said Mini happily as she stood with the Enchantress and Heiress at the gateway to the manor’s estate. The physical gate stood tall and imposing, with hippocampi on each gatepost, looking down on those passing beneath them, tails carved to curl around the posts. “Mistress must open the gate with the runestone and her magic to let herself and Miss Meer in the first time.”

Daisy nodded and got the correct key to place on the gate in her hand, taking a deep breath and sinking into herself, looking for the tingly feeling she had had at the zoo. It didn’t take too long for the gates to swing open with a soulful whinny from the horse-hybrids above. The witchling sighed softly and smiled a bit. She was Home.

Meer didn’t interrupt her as Daisy came back down to reality, understanding the sacredness of witnessing such a bond forming for the first time.

Daisy frowned a bit and tilted her head, “Huh… I can see symbols in the air, but I don’t know what they mean.”

Meer was amazed, “You can already see the wards? You must be very powerful, Daisy.”

She blushed, “Ah… alright, if you say so…” she said before walking down the gravel path towards the large Manor House.”

“Mini has told Mister Moony that Mistress is back and he asked to come talk over dinner.”

“Moony? Like the Marauders?” asked Meer curiously.

“You know Wolf Lupin?” asked Daisy, curious.

“I know of him, he, your parents and two friends of theirs were in their fifth year of Hogwarts when I was in my first. Their pranks were legendary,” said Meer with a sigh.

Daisy nodded as they reached the front door of the manor, which she opened and walked through to the grand foyer.

It was a large foyer, curiously with the door not oriented to the centre of it. Instead, the outside door was actually the main feature of the right-hand wall, with the main entrance actually being a grand fireplace, decorated with a ceramic glaze, like a teapot, decorated with edges of deep gold. The ceramic decoration continued into the rest of the decor, curling up the four pillars in the room and up and around the bannisters. The main colour of the room was a deep red wood, almost like the burgundy of her case, which was luckily brown enough to not clash with Daisy’s rust-like hair. The wood beneath her feet was polished and layered together diagonally, while the walls were engraved with vague figures of overgrown golems that Daisy could see were covered in more glowing symbols.

Meer smiled softly at the Manor, “What a beautiful family home you have, Daisy.”

Daisy nodded, “It is very beautiful. Mini? Could you please show us to our rooms and… I guess dinner’s already being prepared…” she trailed off.

Mini nodded, “Kwiet has prepared chambers for Mistress and her guest. Mini will take Mistress and Kwiet will take Miss Meer.”

“Okay, great, thanks Mini,” she said as a smaller house elf popped in and smiled shy green eyes up at Meer and Daisy.

“Hey Kwiet, would you look after Meer while she’s here and listen for her call too?” asked Daisy as she looked at the little thing.

Kwiet smiled and nodded at Daisy, before bowing and waving for Meer to follow her. Meer did so, heading up the stairs quickly.

Mini smiled and lead Daisy the same way for a while, but took her further up to the top of the house than Meer, in fact she was in the attic itself, in a very large room that seemed to be sectioned into a lounge area, a study and a bedroom all at the same time. “Can Mini unpack your trunk and bags, Mistress?”

“Yes please Mini, if I’m here for a month I can get homely here,” she decided. She took a deep sigh and smiled at the house elf, “I’m glad I have you here to help me, Mini, and Meer too, I’d be pretty lost if not.”

Mini teared up, “That is so wonderful for Mistress to say! Mini is so happy to help Mistress!!” squeaked the elf.

Daisy smiled and bent to hug the elf, “That’s good. Oh! I have another task for you please? And a question.”

Mini nodded rapidly, “Anything for Mistress!”

Daisy smiled, “Could you help me with my wardrobe and things please?”

Mini frowned, “Mini is not trained in dressmaking, Mistress, not any Potter Elves…”

“Oh… Could you go ask my other elves if they can help?” she asked her.

Mini nodded, “Yes Mistress. Mini knows Mistress should dress different for dinner so Mini will get someone who knows what Mistress should wear!” she said with a determined nod before popping away.

Daisy smiled and sighed deeply as she placed down her bag by the sofa and looked around. The room looked like it was normally for two people, which she guessed made sense, but the elves had done a really nice job of making it homely. It was decorated with the same wood as the rest of the house, but the ceramic wasn’t around so much, instead it was more simple stone and carvings that allowed for a more modest feeling in this private room.

The lounge area was simple but a little large, seemingly designed for entertaining a bit too, even if only some family. There were two chairs and a large three seater sofa, all in the same soft burgundy of her trunk, and so overstuffed it was like sitting on a cloud. Between them was a low wooden table with cushions underneath for her to sit on if she wished, and a fireplace that was not lit at that moment due to heat, but she could tell would be wonderfully cosy if she was here in the winter.

Over on one side was the study area. It held a desk and a chair, elegant but no less comfortable for it, in front of a wide window that still had sun streaming inside past thick linen curtains. The bookshelf beside the desk was empty, and Daisy placed the books from her trunk in it happily, then placed the stationery sets and calligraphy books there to work on at a later time.

The last part Daisy looked at was the sleeping and dressing area. The wardrobe and a combined dresser and vanity took two sides of a plush red rug that would cushion Daisy’s feet as she dressed.

The bed itself was enormous, easily king-sized with big thick posters and soft silk curtains to add an extra barrier between herself and the room, which Daisy thought she might need. After so long sleeping in a cupboard, having this large room all to herself was quite overwhelming. The sheets were beautifully soft silk and satin, designed with images of owls and other birds like eagles and ravens.

As Daisy rose from running her hands over the wonderfully smooth silk sheets of her new bed, Mini came back with a new elf. “Mini has found an elf! Mini found Wing in Gryffindor Lodge.”

Daisy smiled at them both. Wing was an elf with slightly pinker skin than Daisy had seen most elves having, long calloused fingers and deep brown eyes, “Mistress needs a tailor? Wing is tailor,” he said in a soft voice.

“It is nice to meet you Wing. I need to know what is appropriate to wear in what situation. I was raised in the muggle world,” said Daisy.
Wing gasped, scandalised, “Mistress was denied her family? Her Line?”

“Yes Wing,” said Daisy, “But now is not the time for revenge, now is the time for learning and catching up, so you’re in charge of my wardrobe. Can you travel to Gringotts?”

“Yes Mistress, all elves can access the vaults of their family if properly claimed and recognised by Gringotts,” said Wing as Mini popped away back to work elsewhere.

“Brilliant! Right, in my vaults there are many gifted clothes, see if something suitable is in there, if not, alter what you need to as quickly as possible. I need to be suitable to meet Wolf Alpha Lupin for dinner with Meer,” said Daisy.

“Wing understands,” said the house elf, “Wing will restore Mistress’s true decorum,” he said determinedly before popping away.

Daisy smiled at the space where Wing had been for a moment before returning to the desk. She looked at the calligraphy exercises a moment before pushing them away in favour of one of the etiquette guides she’d picked up from her vault. She opened the book and got to reading happily.

Turning to the section about hosting a dinner, it wasn’t really much different to how Petunia hosted her dinners. There was a magical version of grace she was meant to say before eating, that had no strict rules for format but should be ‘brief without neglecting the interests of your guests’ according to Lady Greengrass who had written the book.

By the time she finished the chapter, Wing had returned with a large pile of clothes which he sent into the wardrobe aside from one full outfit, which was laid out on the bed. “Wing has found good clothes, mistress, underthings too,” he said to her.

She got up and went over to the bed to look at the offering. A knee-length, white cotton shift with thin shoulder straps laid on the left hand side of the arrangement, and seemed to be put on first, followed by a stiff bodice that wasn’t quite like the corsets she’d seen pictures of Victorian ladies wearing, but would do the same job. It was very prettily decorated, with dark red lacing up the front and embroidery up the boning channels, it was a shame it would later be covered by the white satin dress that would hug her torso before going out into a fuller bustle skirt, propped up by padding within the skirt itself. The overdress was decorated with beautiful red roses, cascading in a waterfall down the skirt.

Daisy smiled and turned to Wing, “This is great! You’re definitely in charge of my wardrobe from now on.”

Wing smiled and bowed, “Thank you Mistress, is Wing’s great honour to serve you.”

Daisy smiled and patted his head, “Great. Oh! Could you bring me up some tea before you continue the rest of your duties?”

Wing nodded and left with a pop, a small tea-set appearing on the vanity after a few seconds. Daisy got dressed in the laid out clothes, then sat at the vanity to drink her tea.

“There’s a lot of power in that hair of yours, Heiress,” commented the mirror, a mask-like face forming out of the mist within the silver.

Daisy looked at the mask, “I hope to use my power for good, magic mirror.”

The mask smiled, “You may call me Persona, my lady.”

Daisy smiled, “Persona. What are you here for?”

“As an adviser and an assistant, Heiress, particularly for the ladies of the house. I am bound to keep your secrets safe as a pledge to the House Potter,” said Persona.

Daisy smiled at her, “That’s good. Can you teach me about the runes I can see?”

“Yes Heiress, but not now. You must return to the entrance hall before Wolf Alpha Lupin arrives.”

Daisy nodded, “Thank you for reminding me, Persona. Mini!”

Mini arrived, “Mistress is ready to go downstairs?”

Daisy hummed, “Does the garden have roses, Mini?”

“Yes Mistress, many colours of rose are grown here.”

Daisy smiled, “Please fetch me a rose that I can put in my hair to compliment my dress.”

Mini nodded and snapped her fingers to get a rose, which stripped off its thorns and then floated to land in Daisy’s hair, where it swiftly grew to create a tiara of blooms around her face.

Persona smiled, “An excellent compliment to your hair and the power of your magic, Heiress!”

Daisy smiled, “Thank you Persona. I’m ready to go down to dinner now, Mini.”

Mini smiled and took her down through the manor to the parlour, where Meer was sitting sipping tea and reading, in a dress similarly cut to Daisy but far less decorated, simply sporting a textured fabric with some lace ruffle. Meer looked up and stood to greet her, “Wow, Daisy. That’s amazing!”

She smiled, “Not too much? Wing laid it all out for me and I trust him but I’m really not used to wearing things like this.”

Meer smiled at her, “You look beautiful, trust those around you,” she encouraged, “Especially the house elves, this is their job to help you bring the most honour to yourself and your Houses.”

Daisy smiled and nodded as Mini popped in, “Master Moony is due any moment, Mistress must wait by the floo!”

“The floo?”

“Travel via fireplace, Daisy,” explained Meer calmly, “Go greet your guest, I’ll be fine here.”

Daisy nodded and went to do so, standing in the entrance hall at an appropriate distance from the fireplace.

Soon enough the fire flared green and a tall man with greying hair and somewhat shabby though neat dress robes stepped into Daisy’s home. Daisy smiled at him softly, “Wolf Alpha Lupin,” she greeted calmly.

He jumped a little, “Ah, how… how do you know that?”

She frowned, “What do you mean? Is that not your proper title? My inheritance test said it was,” she said, panicking just a little that she’d made a bad impression.

Remus’ eyes were a little skittish as he smiled shyly, “Ah, yes the Goblins would be able to tell something like that. I’m amazed you still wanted to meet me after learning that, Daisy.”

Daisy frowned a little, “Why wouldn’t I want to meet my godfather? Also may I call you Remus?”

Remus smiled softly, “Of course you can Daisy, and you’re just like your parents in that respect, not judging others less fortunate.”

 

Daisy hummed softly and led him through to the parlour, “Well, it is not the full moon, so I don’t think there’s much to worry about,” she said gently as they arrived in the room. “Remus,

Enchantress Meer Travers, Meer, Wolf Alpha Remus Lupin,” she introduced calmly.

Meer smiled proudly at her and nodded her head towards Remus, “Well met.”

“Well met,” responded Remus somewhat shyly, “How did you meet Daisy?”

“Manager Talongild brought us together so I could take the role of governess since Daisy was raised in the muggle world.”

Remus frowned and turned to Daisy, “You weren’t told of your Ladyships?”

“I wasn’t told of magic,” said Daisy, “I lived with Vernon and Petunia.”

Remus growled slightly under his breath, “How dare he put you with them over your magical family.”

Daisy blushed a bit at the anger on her behalf, “As I told Wing earlier, revenge later, Remus. Today I want to learn about you and my parents if you can tell me about them?”

Remus smiled softly and sighed, “Of course Daisy, you won’t have been told any stories,” he remembered as Daisy guided them all to sit and called for drinks.

Over tea and later dinner, Remus told Daisy all about her family, about James and Lily and about Sirius and Peter too, though always quite solemn with Sirius and angered with Peter.

Meer frowned, “You’re angry with Peter Pettigrew? He’s a hero!”

Remus scoffed, “He’s nothing but a filthy betrayer. Do you think that Sirius would still be alive if he had invited He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named into the home of his family by oath so that he could target his daughter by blood adoption? You know as well as I do, Enchantress, that the blood adoption path requires a pledge of protection and loyalty to prevent corrupt regencies.”

Meer shook her head, “So Heir Black is innocent?”

“He has to be, but no one in the Ministry, especially at that time, would listen to the word of a so-called Dark Creature like myself,” sighed Remus.

Meer frowned, “But surely his trial would have-“

“Enchantress Travers, he never received a trial!” corrected Remus, “They caught him in a fit of hysterics laughing through his tears and dragged him off to Azkaban without so much as a by-your-leave!” he said, years of hurt washing over his features and morphing them into something animalistic and dangerous.

“Remus! Moony,” said Daisy to him, reaching to calm him across the table, “I’m sure we can get him a trial now, especially as Meer’s cousin is in the DMLE. Madam.. Bones? will want to hear about this I’m sure.”

Remus smiled a bit, “Practical, just like your mother. Yes it would be good to write a letter and tell her, Amelia always kept a Hufflepuff’s sense of fairness.”

Daisy smiled, “I have to write lots of letters tomorrow. I don’t even have an owl.”

“The Potter Owlery has plenty of post owls in it, you don’t need to worry about that, Daisy,” comforted Remus as the empty dinner plates were replaced with a selection of sweets and fruits. Daisy happily reached for a strawberry tart as a treat, “Well, I’ll go and meet them all after dinner. It would be good to have my own owl to take to Hogwarts with me right?”

Meer smiled, “Certainly but the Hogwarts owls are also very good, so a cat could also be a consideration,” she commented.

“Not a toad?” asked Daisy curiously.

“A toad signifies a connection to earthly elements but is also a very low-class pet, considered almost an insult if one is given as a gift as they have very little in the way of magic for themselves,” said Meer over her small fruit salad.

Daisy nodded in understanding, “That makes sense, they are kinda boring creatures,” she said with a sigh, “I do like toads though.”

“Me too, Daisy,” commented Remus with a small smile, “Actually, there’s a pond on the grounds with breeding toads, if you ever want to see some.”

Daisy hummed and smiled, “I’m glad to know that, I’ll go and look at it at some point this month,” she decided as she finished her dessert and leant back slightly in contented happiness. Meer cleared her throat, “Posture, young lady. Heiresses and Ladies do not slouch, especially not at the dinner table.”

Daisy nodded with a blush and straightened up again, reaching for her glass of juice calmly as she waited for the others to finish.

“Are you staying for the night, Wolf Alpha?” asked Meer.

Remus seemed to flinch a little against the reminder of his own status but shook his head, “I will not, I am comfortable in my cottage, thank you Enchantress.”

Daisy smiled softly and checked the time on the clock in the corner, “Mm, it is nearly my bedtime,” she commented almost absently before yawning behind her hand.

Meer smiled fondly at her, “Yes Daisy, I’m sure Wolf Alpha Lupin will agree to let you get some rest?”

“Of course I will. I should get an early night myself anyway,” he said, standing.

Daisy smiled and stood too, “I’ll show you back to the floo,” she invited gently, walking with him to the entrance hall, “Thank you for coming and telling me all those stories, Remus.”

“You’re welcome, Daisy,” he said, “If not for my furry little problem I would offer to be your guardian but it wouldn’t be safe for you.”

Daisy nodded in understanding, and on impulse hugged him around the middle. He happily bent to hug her back, then pulled back to leave through the floo. She sighed gently then went back to

Meer, “You’re welcome to use this room and the parlour as long as you want to, along with your room of course.”

Meer nodded and smiled, “Thank you, Daisy, but I’d rather help see you to bed.”

Daisy blinked but smiled and nodded at her. She called Mini to lead them up to her room once more, and they climbed the many stairs up to the room.

Daisy smiled shyly as she and Meer entered the room, “It still feels amazing that this is mine,” she admitted.

“It’s all yours, Daisy, and I would do your best to keep a hold of that feeling. If you care for what you have and are grateful for it, you will never take it for granted and therefore guard against losing it,” advised Meer calmly.

Daisy nodded and gestured that Meer was allowed to take a seat if she wished while she went to her dressing area, which had gained a rack and a laundry basket. On her bed Wing had left a night gown and a note which outlined the best way to protect her hair overnight. She undressed into the cotton gown, then sat at her vanity, placing the Rose tiara in the small vase which had appeared for it.

Meer came over to her once she was dressed and helped her with the instructions Wing had left. Daisy relaxed gently and looked at Meer in the mirror, “I never thought I would have this…”

“I don’t think anyone can imagine a situation like the one you are in right now, Daisy.”

“I don’t mean the titles, though that too.. I mean having someone to tuck me in at night, to look after me,” she explained gently.

Meer sighed and hugged Daisy around the shoulders gently, “Well, you have many people to care for you now. Tomorrow we’ll go and buy your wand, then return here so you can write all the letters you need to, then maybe we can tour your other properties?”

Daisy smiled, “I want to tour this one first! It’s massive!” she said happily with a small giggle.

Meer smiled, “It sure is. Come, you must sleep, for tomorrow is a new adventure,” she said, guiding her to get between the sheets.

Daisy purred as she cuddled down into the bed, feeling like she was hugged by a cloud. Meer closed the curtains around the bed, and then changed the windows to show a gentle, starry night instead of the natural evening sun, “Sleep well Daisy, I will see you at breakfast.”

“Night Meer,” said Daisy, before sinking into a deep sleep full of magical dreams.