Daisy's Contradictions

In the early 16th century, in a simple shack behind the Leaky Cauldron, the mysterious bar owner Daisy Dodridge, dressed in brown cloth, was pouring himself cup after cup of Mead.

She was neither thin nor fat, with an average figure. Her long-term work in bars had given her well-defined arm muscles, and her skin was the typical white of Celts. Even after drinking glass after glass of Mead, her complexion did not become rosy.

Oil Lamp hung quietly on a wooden pillar in the center of the simple shed. This bar still retained some traces of magic. The mottled crystal lampshade was completely sealed, and the flame inside could burn without oxygen.

The wooden pillars of the shed were all the same thickness and length. If you looked closely, even the shape and position of the wood grain were exactly the same, probably created using Reparation Charm.

Perhaps many things in the bar's lobby were created with magic, and even the drinks the guests were drinking might have been just water a few hours ago. Those Muggle customers could never have imagined that magic and wizards were being displayed before them without any barriers...

"Questions? I have no obligation to answer your questions."

Bar owner Daisy Dodridge looked up, smiling at the visitor with fairy blood, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"..." Head of House Filius Professor Flitwick, the Ravenclaw Dean who had always followed behind the Principal and Deputy Headmaster and had no experience in handling similar problems, was somewhat troubled. "Mrs. Dursley..."

Why were you so open and helpful when Minerva was around, but you acted completely differently when I was in charge? Is this racism?

"How about we exchange one answer for another? You answer one question for me, and I'll answer one question for you?"

Daisy looked at him with a gleam in her eyes, and suggested expectantly, "I know you may have concerns, but let me compromise further: if you encounter a question you don't want to answer, you can have a drink instead."

"Professor, she's trying to numb your mind with alcohol so she can extract more information from you."

Hermione pulled Loren along and they rushed over. The four of them sat down at the makeshift long table.

"Why do you always think so badly of me?" Daisy frowned in annoyance, and asked back as if venting her frustration, "Was the Leaky Cauldron some kind of evil symbol in your time? Or a gathering place for dark wizards?"

"This question is actually a way of probing the state of the Leaky Cauldron in our time." Before Loren and Hermione could say anything, Professor Flitwick shook his head. This Ravenclaw professor wasn't ignorant; he said bluntly, "Mrs. Dursley, we can be more open and honest, instead of this mutual suspicion and probing. After all, as you said, this isn't the real history."

"You're right, guests from afar." Daisy's smile faded, and her expression turned serious. "To express my apologies, I can first answer your questions."

Professor Flitwick quietly observed the bar owner's expression. Her eyes, reflecting the light of the Oil Lamp, revealed nothing unusual. Professor Flitwick nodded, pondering, and asked, "Since there's an exit leading to other places, madam, why don't you leave through it? Or if you're curious about the future, why not use that barrel to see for yourself... I simply cannot imagine the same day repeating itself a thousand times over."

"Because this is my day, everything is my own choice. What you see now is a consciousness that has emerged from endless repetition. Once I leave here, I will cease to exist," Daisy replied softly.

"It sounds like Magical portrait." Loren and Hermione nodded, seemingly understanding.

Professor Flitwick was barely certain that Mrs. Dursley did not harbor any ill intentions.

"Now it's my turn to ask. Did the Leaky Cauldron still exist in your time? What was it like?" Daisy looked at the group with some nervousness.

"It still exists, and it's been expanded even more," Professor Flitwick said with a smile. "Although it went through some ups and downs, in the late 17th century... and then in the early 19th century... all the wizards united and modified the entire road plan with a lot of Memory Charm, so that the Leaky Cauldron could have a place in the new road plan."

"They've hidden the Leaky Cauldron from Muggle ..." Daisy's expression was complicated, the light reflected in her eyes slightly diffused, her gaze seemingly unfocused.

"Madam, madam?" Professor Flitwick looked at her with some concern.

Daisy snapped out of her daze, letting out a deep breath, a mixture of relief and regret in her voice. "My original intention in creating the Leaky Cauldron was to bring Muggle and wizards together, so that even if they talked about completely unrelated topics, they could still clink glasses. I never imagined..."

Professor Flitwick and the two young wizards were at a loss for words to comfort the Witch; it was only then that they realized—

Daisy Mrs. Dursley lived two centuries before the Statute of Secrecy the Leaky Cauldron enacted, and she was one of the lone pioneers of the fusion of wizards and Muggle.

"Actually, it's not like there aren't any Muggle. Before school started last year, my mom and dad, Loren's grandpa, and Hagrid had a great time chatting in a pub," Hermione said softly, trying to offer the woman some small comfort.

Daisy forced a smile at her, then looked at Professor Flitwick: "I'd like to hear about you, after all, you seem rather special... especially since you're with two human junior wizards."

Professor Flitwick frowned. This wasn't the first time he, a half- Half-blood, had heard similar questions, but since becoming a Legendary Duel Master and taking up a position at Hogwarts, he had rarely answered such questions in recent years.

Seeing that the kind lady was feeling sad and distressed, Professor Flitwick briefly explained his background, "... I am now a Professor of Charms at Hogwarts and the Head of House of Ravenclaw House."

"So, you're just a very rare exception, right?" Daisy said softly.

Professor Flitwick disliked the description but couldn't find anything wrong with it, and slowly nodded.

"It sounds like even after hundreds of years, the world will still be the same as before. Wizards will be wizards, Muggle will be Muggle, and fairies will be fairies..." Daisy's tone was heavy and sorrowful, and her speech became faster and faster, even to the point of being hysterical at the end. "Even because of the so-called ' Statute of Secrecy,' stories like the encounter between Unicorn and humans, and Merlin and King Arthur, will never happen again!"

"Madam..." Professor Flitwick looked at her with concern.

"I'm fine." Daisy shook her head, downed the Mead in her glass in one gulp, poured herself a full glass, and then poured some for the others. "I just... I just feel that this world..."

She didn't finish speaking, but Loren and the others seemed to understand what she meant. For such an idealist, declaring that her ideals had been completely shattered was probably the cruelest thing.

Professor Flitwick raised his glass to hers, clinked it together, and took a small sip.

Hermione thought for a moment and then suddenly said, "Actually, you don't need to be disappointed, Mrs. Dursley. Judging from the current trend, the Wizarding World and Muggle society will definitely be open with each other."

"Oh?" Daisy looked at her with interest.

Hermione earnestly explained her argument to her, "... As Muggle society's science and technology continue to develop and its scope of activities expands, in the last century, more and more Muggle ideas and technologies have flowed into the Wizarding World."

As the girl spoke, her eyes sparkled, as if she had considered these issues long ago. "Not only that, but some in the Wizarding World also realized that the interaction between the two was an inevitable trend... Gellert Grindelwald and his Acolytes were pioneers, although their thoughts and actions were wrong, our Headmaster Dumbledore stopped them in time..."

A glint flashed in Daisy's eyes, but she quickly concealed it.

"And then there's Voldemort. He was able to rally so many Pure-blood supporters because a large number of people were aware of this trend. I believe that in the near future, Muggle and wizards will be able to live together harmoniously, just like in your tavern."

"What a beautiful vision..." Daisy smiled and raised her glass to clink with Hermione's. "Little Witch, do you know, your thoughts are Winky. To you, and to your vision."

Hermione smiled shyly, picked up the wooden wine glass and took a small sip; she hadn't originally intended to say so much.

"Phew..." Daisy breathed a sigh of relief, the dejection and melancholy on her face completely gone. She looked at Loren meaningfully, "Alright, now I can finally have a proper chat with you, Mr. Morgan. Loren Morgan!"

Loren, Hermione, and Professor Flitwick's expressions changed slightly as they looked at the bar owner with suspicion and uncertainty.

They were certain that since arriving at this strange place, no information about Loren's name had been revealed, not even by Professor McGonagall, who referred to the two young wizards only by their surname.

Logically speaking, Mrs. Dursley couldn't even tell which of the two was Morgan and which was Granger.

Professor Flitwick flipped his wand over, looking at Daisy with a cold expression. "How do you know his name?"

"I'm sorry I can't answer your question right now. I'll tell you the answer when you wake up and have the chance," Daisy said apologetically to Professor Flitwick.

Professor Flitwick suddenly realized what was happening and looked at the wine glass on the table with a drastic change in expression. His last thought before fainting was: if it were Severus, he would definitely be able to taste the Potions in the wine.

Hermione also swayed for a while before collapsing onto the long table.

Without much thought, Loren used the Levitation Charm to quickly retreat, lifting Hermione and Professor Flitwick's bodies, and casually cast his most familiar spell: "[Piercing Bolt]".

Three beams of red magic spells shot out, but the huge explosion and shockwave that Loren had expected did not appear. The three red magic spells froze in front of Daisy, turned a corner, and shot towards the hay roof, passing through the gaps in the hay branches.

A muffled explosion rang out; the curse had probably been detonated outside the bar.

Realizing that conventional spells were ineffective, Loren put his left arm around Hermione and swung his wand wildly with his right, about to unleash a torrent of crimson flames.

As Daisy felt the magical flames that were constantly gathering at the tip of the wand, burning everything in their path, her eyes twitched uncontrollably, and she couldn't help but mutter to herself.

Although she didn't know how Hogwarts taught in later generations, she felt that it was absurd for a third-year wizard to be so adept at accumulating Fiendfyre, regardless of the era.

"Wait!" Daisy shouted quickly. "I meant no harm. I just wanted them to sleep for a while so I could talk to you!"

"Let's talk..." Loren paused for a moment, then lowered his head to sniff Hermione's lips. He found that it was indeed just the smell of the Hellebore potion. His brows furrowed slowly, revealing a puzzled expression.

You went to great lengths to get rid of McGonagall and Professor Snape, and then painstakingly acted to trick Hermione and Professor Flitwick into taking the drug and falling into a coma, and now you're telling me it was just to talk to me?

Fearing this was yet another distraction tactic, Loren neither stopped brewing Fiendfyre nor released it, keeping his wand in a state where it could be unleashed at any moment. "First, explain who you are, what your purpose is, and what kind of hellish place this is?"

Daisy breathed a sigh of relief, "As you can see, I am Daisy Dodridge, the founder of the Leaky Cauldron, and this is indeed a time gap, or a time fragment."

"What's the meaning?"

Daisy answered honestly, "I don't know which era it was, but a great wizard cast a spell on the whole world. Although the effect of the spell is unclear, it caused spacetime to tremble, like waves. That day swayed from the river of time to the shore. It was supposed to slowly return to its original place, but another group of wizards noticed this change and used the Sand of Time to hold it back."

Loren had many thoughts running through his mind, but no concrete guesses came to mind; the matter was simply too unbelievable.

The only certainty is that the bar owner is the most unique presence in this space, keeping a wary eye on Daisy from a distance.

Daisy didn't continue describing the space, but instead said, "Believe me, Mr. Morgan! If I wanted to harm you, I could have used much more effective methods, couldn't I?"

Loren hesitated for a moment; continuing this stalemate was definitely not a solution...

Daisy discreetly observed the man's expression, then cautiously took a few steps forward. After carefully examining the man and finding nothing amiss, she slowly approached Loren and helped him move the fairy- Half-blood Professor Flitwick to a soft haystack nearby.

Daisy moved the long table and stools over, glanced at the little Witch in his arms, and wisely refrained from making any further moves.

Seeing that Hermione didn't make any unusual movements throughout the entire process, Loren gradually relaxed and then had Hermione sit on a stool and lean on the long table.

He was silent for half a minute, collected his thoughts, and asked slowly, "Why me? I'm just an ordinary third-year student. What do you want to talk to me about?"

"Let's put that question aside for now. Let me continue explaining this strange spacetime to you..." Daisy answered, carefully scrutinizing Loren. Seeing that he didn't object, she breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "Do you know about Pure-blood Families?"

Before Loren could answer, she continued, "The concept of Pure-blood has existed for a long time, but I think the Pure-blood Pure-blood know are different from those of your time. Otherwise, Merlin wouldn't have thrown those guys in here."