A MEMORABLE LAST YEAR

"Darcy?"

I heard footsteps jump up the Dursley's hardwood stairs and I opened the door to the guest room. Harry handed me an envelope and I ripped it open. "Oh, our school list," I said. Harry was already looking at his. "This year will probably be the cheapest for me. What's on your list?"

"The usual," Harry replied, showing his list to me. His list extended to the bottom of the paper while mine only covered half. "I would like some new robes, though. Mine are getting a bit tight."

Hedwig's screech sounded from downstairs and I followed my little brother down the stairs, where he fed the snowy owl a treat. "Aren't the Dursleys home?" I asked, petting the owl. She nipped playfully at my fingers. I peered quickly into the pink sitting room, which was empty. "I didn't hear them leave. Usually, they sound like a herd of elephants."

"Oh," Harry said, hopping up on the counter and feeding Hedwig another treat. I looked at my list again. "Dudley was complaining about a birthday gift he got. I think they went to get a new one."

"No wonder I didn't hear the giant oaf shout when Hedwig chirped," I rolled my eyes. "Are we going to the Weasleys again? Or are we just going to meet in Diagon Alley?"

"How would we get to Diagon Alley from here?" Harry asked and I shrugged, putting the parchment down on the counter and leaning against it. I sighed.

"I figured you and I could just Apparate. I also considered catching the Knight Bus, but that's the absolute last thing I want to do," I said. "Aren't we going to Apparate to the Burrow? I thought that's what Mrs. Weasley wanted us to do."

"I guess," Harry nodded. "I'd rather do that instead of fly in that bloody car with Ron! I'm just afraid of getting splinched again.

I snickered, remembering last year and how Ron brought us to Hogwarts in a flying car – a car he had no idea how to drive. "Come off it, Harry, you only lost a fingernail! And I was able to give you a new one before we took another step! And it didn't hurt, did it?"

"Not really…"

At that moment, the front door bust open and Dudley waddled into the kitchen with a pleasant smile on his face. Our giant oaf of an uncle followed him and hidden behind his beastlike structure, our skinny Aunt Petunia set her purse on a coat hanger. Harry hopped off the counter before she could scream at him and Hedwig flew away so she wouldn't get shooed by Vernon. Harry and I grasped our letters from Hogwarts tightly in our hands.

"We get our letters," I tried to say, but Dudley was too busy opening the new Playstation his parents had gotten him. It took a minute for Vernon and Petunia to focus on us again, looking at us with beady, black eyes. "We got our letters."

"Fantastic," Vernon spat. "Really, I don't see why you keep reminding us. You've gotten one every year for seven years now and we haven't done anything about it."

I looked at Harry furtively and he saw me, scrunching his nose. "We're leaving tonight. I don't think I can take another day in this bloody house," I hissed, pocketing the letter. Vernon seemed outraged at my response and he looked as if he were about to hit me.

"Sir, could you sign something for me?" Harry piped up. Vernon shifted his glance from me to Harry and I felt disgusted at the way Harry addressed him as 'sir'. "It's for school and I need a guardian's signature. I've got one for the both of us.

After the Dursleys refused to sign my Hogsmeade permission slip in my third year, Hogwarts sent a new one every year after that, but nothing changed. Harry held up two slips in his hands and Vernon sighed. "Depending on your behavior –"

"But we're leaving tonight," Harry growled and I took his sleeve and dragged him away from the purple faced man. We walked upstairs and into the guest room, where Harry and I had to alternate between sleeping on the small, twin bed or in a sleeping bag on the carpeted floor. "Darcy, I really want to be able to go to –"

"It's not all that great anyway, Harry," I replied, throwing my clothes into my trunk.

"You've been there?"

"Yeah."

"But Vernon never signed your permission slip. How did you get past Filch and McGonagall?" he asked and I grinned, holding up the old, tattered cloak from the top of my trunk. "The Invisibility Cloak… Good one."

"Are you ready?" I said, sounding a bit impatient.

Harry sighed and closed his trunk, even though he wasn't done folding all his clothes. "You really did get Voldemort's temper, you know."

"Shut up," I hissed again and Harry did exactly as I said, locking his trunk. "Now hold my arm tight this time and you won't be losing any fingernails."

Harry dug his nails into my skin and I grimaced as I thought about the Burrow. I closed my eyes and there was a loud pop. I was being pulled into a small hole, it felt like a pinhole and I was losing my breath, my lungs being squeezed tight… CRACK! We arrived in a stream outside the Burrow and I groaned.

My jeans were soaked and I waded out of the water, Harry following close behind. I pulled my wand out of my pocket and flicked it once, drying my pants and shoes and socks. I turned around and did the same for Harry, who thanked me with a grunt.

I knocked on the door and panted, setting my trunk down. The door swung wide open and a red faced Arthur Weasley stood there, a wide grin on his face. He flicked his wand and our suitcases lifted themselves and shoved themselves against a wall. Hedwig had already arrived and was sitting her cage, nuzzled in her wing, fast asleep. He pulled me into a hug and then shook Harry's hand.

Mrs. Weasley rushed to the door and embraced me like a mother would hold her long lost daughter – which I pretty much was. She kissed both my cheeks and I heard voices come from inside the sitting room. My cheeks turned bright red and I turned back to Harry, who was being attacked by the plump woman.

"It's so great to see you again, Darcy," Mr. Weasley said, walking me towards the sitting room. "Sorry, we aren't able to chat at this moment, but we're holding just a small meeting right now. Would you like to –"

"Arthur! She's still a child," Mrs. Weasley reminded her husband as she sent Harry upstairs towards the beaming Ron Weasley. I couldn't tell who was in the room, but I tried to look past Mr. Weasley to see.

"Come on, Molly, Darcy isn't a child anymore! She's seventeen!" Mr. Weasley smiled, clapping a hand down on my shoulder. I grinned and Mrs. Weasley nodded reluctantly. Mr. Weasley pushed me into the sitting room and I saw Dumbledore sitting on a rocking chair. He smiled.

"Darcy Potter," he stood up and shook my hand gently. I took a seat on the couch, next to a man I had never seen before. I crossed my legs awkwardly and rested my hands in my lap. "Are you excited for your seventh year at Hogwarts?"

I nodded eagerly. "Let's hope it'll be the memorable last year I've dreamt of for years," I smiled and Dumbledore laughed a little. I looked to my left at the man. He looked a younger than Mr. Weasley, but older than me. He was wearing a very shabby blue sweater which had patches at the elbows, but I held my tongue. There were three long and faded scars across his face. He looked straight ahead at the fireplace and I looked back at Dumbledore.

"Terribly sorry, Darcy," Dumbledore motioned to the man sitting beside me and cleared his throat. I looked at the man and he looked at me. "This charming man to your left will be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year. Professor Lupin, this is Darcy Potter. She's a N.E.W.T. student this year – very bright."

Lupin held out his hand awkwardly. Dumbledore, Mr. Weasley, and Mrs. Weasley watched us as we slowly shook hands. "Nice to finally meet you, Miss Potter," Lupin said in a hoarse voice. He looked as if he hadn't eaten in weeks or even slept in a few days.

He kept examining my eyes and I felt uncomfortable. I drew my hand back and looked at Dumbledore. "I told you she looked like Lily, Remus. She's a carbon copy of her mother with brown hair."

"I didn't think she'd look exactly like her mother," Lupin admitted and he looked at me one last time. "The spitting image."

I turned red. "Um, what were you guys talking about?" I said quietly.

"Sirius Black is on the loose again and I believe you are aware of this?" Dumbledore asked me and I nodded. "And actually, this meeting was coming to a close – sorry to disappoint you, Miss Potter, but we must be on our way. Arthur, Molly, thank you for the hospitality."

"Oh, Albus, Remus! Please! You absolutely must stay for dinner! We even prepared to have enough food for you two to have some," Mrs. Weasley looked at Dumbledore and he looked at Lupin, almost as if he couldn't pass up an opportunity for the ill looking professor to eat a decent meal. "I've made such big supper plans for you and Darcy and Harry." I knew that Mrs. Weasley loved big dinners and company.

"I suppose a few more hours couldn't hurt, eh, Remus?" Dumbledore said cheerfully. "You haven't met Harry yet, either. We'll depart shortly after dinner, but we're in no rush at all. Take your time preparing dinner, Molly."

"It'll be done in a few minutes," Mrs. Weasley said, rushing to the kitchen. "Darcy? Remus? You don't mind setting the table and helping me?"

Lupin stood up immediately and I trailed after him into the kitchen, where we didn't use magic at all. There was something about Mrs. Weasley; she never used magic while cooking. I set each place at the table with a plate and a glass and Lupin did the silverware.

Mrs. Weasley was stirring some salad and finishing some last minute items. I looked up at Lupin, holding the drinks in my hand as he laid out the napkins. "You knew my mother?" I asked him suddenly. He looked up and nodded.

"I knew your father, too," he replied. "James was one of my best mates."

I nodded, not knowing what else to say to him.

"So, a N.E.W.T. student?" he asked again. "Dumbledore tells me you're one of his brightest students and one of his favorites. He said you received an O in Defense."

"Yes, I did," I blushed a little and continued to set the drinks on the table. "It's one of my favorite classes besides potions."

"Potions, hm?" Lupin sniffed. "Never really liked potions all that much, but I wasn't horrible at it. I'm sure you're excellent at it – Lily was outstanding in potions class. Slughorn was exceptionally proud of her."

"I got an O in potions," I shrugged as if it were nothing. While he wasn't looking at me, I got a good look at him again. His sandy brown hair fell into his blue eyes and he kept pushing it away, but it wouldn't stay put. "But I only really pay attention because I want to be an Auror once I graduate."

Mrs. Weasley looked at me quickly and went back to her salad dressing. Lupin looked up. "An Auror?" he asked, sounding rather surprised. "Really? That's quite the dream."

"What are you saying?" I snapped.

"I wasn't implying that you weren't going to become one!" he replied, his eyebrows raised and his hands up in surrender. "You know, I'm actually –"

"Darcy?" Mrs. Weasley said hastily. She eyed Lupin with a stern look. "Would you mind getting the others? Supper's ready."

"It was so great to meet you all," Lupin smiled. He looked much healthier after eating dinner. Dumbledore stood behind him and smiled. "Harry, Ron, Hermione, I'll be seeing you on the first day. Darcy, I look forward to seeing your progress as an Auror."

"Oh, she told you about that, did she?" Dumbledore cut in and Lupin nodded. "She's well on her way, Remus, as we should be, as well."

Everyone said their goodbyes and Lupin waved once more to everyone before following Dumbledore outside in the field and with a loud pop, they were gone.

Mrs. Weasley turned to us. "How was he?" she asked us all. "He's a really great guy once you get to know him. I'm sure he'll be a fine teacher."

"He seems fantastic compared to the other professors we've had," I replied, stretching my arms and Ron added an 'amen' to my statement. "I'm telling you, I could have ripped Lockhart's eyeballs out of his socket if he had to teach me again. He was completely mental!"

"You've got your letters then? For Hogwarts?" she asked again and I nodded, reaching in my pockets and showing her. "Excellent, we'll be going to Diagon Alley tomorrow."

"We've got to make a quick stop at Gringotts for our money –"

"Hush, Darcy," Mrs. Weasley said and I flicked my wand, sending all the dirty dishes from the kitchen table to the sink to be washed by a floating sponge. "We'll handle it. It's not a problem at all."

"It's going to be very expensive, Mrs. Weasley…" I told her with wide eyes. She shrugged. "Er – why were Professor Dumbledore and Professor uh –"

"Lupin?"

"Yeah, him," I replied. "How come they were here tonight?"

She raised her eyebrows and began to stutter. "Just talking about N.E.W.T.'s and O.W.L.'s. Having so many kids taking tests can be rather hectic," she sighed and Mr. Weasley walked in the kitchen, throwing the Daily Prophet on the table and ruffling my hair like a dog. I smiled nervously, not liking the feeling of being treated like a child. "Now off to bed with you, Darcy. You'll be sharing a room with Ginny and Hermione tonight."

I nodded slowly and walked up the steps to the second floor, opening Ginny's door.