August 8, 1993

For the first time in weeks Lucy Black was soaring, high above the clouds on her personally owned Nimbus two thousand and one with a bag full of lesson plans strapped tightly to her back and her dark purple cloak flapping behind her. Lucy laughed as she swerved to avoid a flock of honking geese.

She was going to be a Professor! And while she had only ever thought of teaching once, after Mr. Weasley, during one of her countless stays at the Burrow, had caught Lucy teaching a then six year old Ginny Weasley the basics of flying she couldn't help but feel excited. "You know Lucy," the father of seven had said to the then sixteenth year old witch as Ginny passed them to put away the brooms, "I've never seen Ginny take to something so easily."

"It's cause she's a natural Mr. Weasley," Lucy blushed, still not used to compliments from authority figures. Sure Madam Hooch gave them to her after a good game or a daring move gone well during training, and Professors Sprout and Flitwick after being the first to successfully cast a charm or collect sap from a dangerous plant, but after a childhood of nothing but a mother who called out for a long dead brother and the rest of her Professors giving her nothing but tight thin lipped smiles after her accomplishments Lucy was starved for praise.

"Maybe, or maybe she just had a good teacher."

"You think?"

"Of course, honestly Lucy if playing professionally doesn't work out I wouldn't be surprised if you gave lessons of a living, Merlin knows you'd be exceptional at it."

As the clouds started to part over the magical town of Hogsmeade Lucy, for the first time in several years, caught sight of her old home. Just the sight of Hogwarts castle filled Lucy with such warmth the twenty two year old witch felt as if she were about to burst. As Lucy got closer and she started her decent she spotted a large hairy man standing in front of the castle's entrance.

Hagrid. The large man had never once been rude to Lucy while she attended Hogwarts, and though he had acted cool towards her, he had, on one occasion in her early years at school, taken her into his hut and offered her a hard rock cake and a handkerchief after a hoard of bullies had tormented her into the brush of the forbidden forest.

Lucy smiled at the man as touched down on the cobblestone path.

"Hello Hagrid," Lucy greeted. Lucy Black was tall for a woman, nearly one point seventy three meters, yet she still had to bend her head backwards in order to see the nearly seven foot man's face.

"If it ain't little Lucy Black. What're you doing here?" Hagrid wondered, his voice held a tiny note of surprise and and even larger underlying tone of suspicion. His eyes narrowed.

"The Headmaster didn't tell you?" Lucy questioned, "I'll be stepping in for Madam Hooch for the time being."

Hagrid hummed, and nodded, "Of course," he mumbled. "How have yer been?"

"Alright considering, and you?" Lucy tucked her broom under her arm. Hagrid beamed, "Good, Kettleburn is gone so I'll be stepping up."

"That's amazing Hagrid," Lucy clapped the man on his Large elbow, "I'm happy for you, though I'm sure Charlie will be downtrodden to hear it's happening now and now six years ago, Morgana knows he would have tried to hound you into getting a live dragon for a lesson." Hagrid chuckled.

"How is he, Charlie? He sends me updates on Nor-I err—" Hagrid started coughing,

"Hagrid I know about Norberta," Lucy said flippantly.

"Yer do?" Hagrid stilled.

"There's not many people that you trust to smuggle a dragon across the continent, much less people who can do it at last minute." Hagrid eyes softened.

"Yea—?" Lucy shrugged, "Charlie said Mia thought it was wise to have someone to bail us all out if things went south. Mia says it's cause Barnaby, Muerla, and I all have-had flexible jobs."

"Thank yer," Hagrid said earnestly. He gently took Lucy's hand in his and shook it.

"There's no thanks necessary, honestly it was Charlie and Mia, if it had been anyone else who'd asked I wouldn't have."

"Thank yer. Of course the other professors are in the staff room."

"You don't want to walk in together?" Lucy wondered.

"Can't, I'm waiting for the new Defense professor," Hagrid told her. Lucy pressed her lips together but nodded understandingly.

"All right, mind if I save you a seat, us newbies should stick together," Lucy grinned.

"Not at all," Hagrid said as he ushered her inside. Lucy marveled at the entrance as she passed through the thick wooden doors. Despite the fact Lucy had lived inside the castle for several years she couldn't help but walk slowly through the corridors, once again taking in the sights. It was if she was walking with an old friend, never wanting their game of catch up to end.

Lucy noted each of her memories as she passed certain points; Penny hid behind that suit of armor in order to scare Mia and Rowan, only to catch me and glass figurine I was carrying by surprise.

I dueled Wilkes there—I would have won if Davies hadn't gotten McGonagall.

That's the broom close I caught Bill and Nancy Wheeler snogging in.

That's the painting that ratted me out when—

"Tickle me pink is that Lucy Black?" Lucy snapped out of her walk down memory lane.

"Professor Sprout!" Lucy addressed happily. The plump woman wore a flowery sun hat over her grey curls and robes that, at the knees and cuffs of the wrists, were covered in dirt.

Professor Sprout caught Lucy around her arms and pulled her into a tight hug. Lucy's eyebrows shot up, she chuckled as the older witch swayed them side to side for a moment before holding the pure blood witch at arm's length.

"Look at you," Professor Sprout tisked, "Thin, hasn't Mrs. Haywood been feeding you at all?"

"I'm afraid Dora is more Penny's concern then I am Professor."

"Professor," Sprout scoffed, "In case you forgot Ms. Black you'll be a Professor here too come September. Call me Pomona."

Lucy grimaced, "I don't think you get how I cannot do that." Calling Professor Sprout Pomona would be like calling either Mr or Mrs Weasley Molly or Arthur, wrong.

Sprout swatted at Lucy before pulling her along.

"I've read the papers, how have you been?"

"Alright considering," Lucy parroted her answer to Hagrid, though unlike the large man Sprout gave her a sharp mothering look.

"There's no need to lie to me," Sprout said. Lucy sighed, her shoulders dropped and the pair of them stopped.

"Terrible. They banned me from Quidditch Professor, indefinitely. They tore my home apart and there's still reporters camped outside my building. My neighbors have left dragon dung on my step everyday since he broke out and you would not believe the amount of hate mail I've been getting—did you know someone went to the trouble to buy runespoor venom and slather it all over the envelope."

"Helga!" Professors hands covered her mouth, "And you're okay?"

"Yeah, the only reason I know is because Dora told me, all my mail is being intercepted by the Aurora department, in case he decided to write me a letter telling me his exact location, you know despite the fact I know him as well as a stranger."

"I'm sorry you have to go through this again." Lucy shrugged, her mouth tight,

"It's not your fault Prof-Sprout? I literally cannot call you Pomona—see my face does this thing and I feel weird and it'd be like calling the Headmaster Albus."

"I do call him Albus, as does the rest of the staff." Lucy gramanced.

"I—yeah no, that's not happening." Professor Sprout giggled.

"Very well, I suppose we should be on our way, "Filius is waiting."

Lucy brightened at the mention of her old charms teacher; it had been midway through her first year when he caught a group of older students picking on her while Bill had been in Potions class. After that he'd taken it upon himself to induct her into the schools dueling club.

"How is he, Professor Flitwick?"

"Good, though he did just get out of St. Mungos."

"What happened? Did he duel that old classmate of his again, Abernathy?" Sprout laughed and shook her head.

"No, he broke an arm, three ribs and a big toe while trying to figure out how to create a flying wheelchair."

"A flying wheelchair?" Sprout made a noise of agreement, "Yes, one of our incoming first years won't be able walk without braces or get around a wheelchair and well—"

"Hogwarts isn't known for its ramps."

"Exactly."

"That's very kind of him."

"It is." The pair turned turned a corner. "And you said first year?"

"Indeed."

"That's great to know." Lucy stopped outside the staffroom. Though the door looked like every other classroom door, plan wood with a simple plaque Lucy felt like she once again stood in front of a vault door, waiting for an Ice Knight to pop out.

Sprout turned to Lucy, "What's the matter dearie?"

"Maybe Headmaster Dumbledore had a lapse in judgement, maybe—" I shouldn't be here. The thought of being welcomed back to Hogwarts only to be turned away at the door, it made Lucy's heart tighten painfully.

Professor Sprout grabbed Lucy's hand and squeezed it, "The Headmaster made no mistake Ms. Black, now come on, where's that young girl who used to run head first into danger just to prove everyone wrong?"

"You're right," Lucy croaked. She took a deep breath through her nose and opened the staffroom door. The staff room was a long room with large windows that, asides from the lack of blackboards and the large rectangular table that stood in the center of the room instead of desks, looked no different than any other classroom.

The Professors in the room, McGonagall, Flitwick, Sinestra, Trelawney and—

"Black!" Severus Snape hissed. The three female professors and Flitwick looked up started, each of them going for their wands before realizing the Black in front of them was Lucretia Black. Professor Flitwick, atop his stack of books beamed at the sight of Lucy. Snape however stood from his chair, the legs squealing as it was forcefully pushed back across the wood flooring.

"Snape," Lucy bobbed her head, "Thank you for the introduction but I'm sure everyone here already knows me."

"I-I don't," the Divination Professor Trelawney said with a meekly raised hand.

"What are you doing here Black?" Snape spoke over the woman, his lips pulled back into some sort of snarl.

"You haven't heard? The Headmaster hasn't told you?" Lucy goaded, Professor Sprout lightly elbowed Lucy in the ribs. "I'm the new flying instructor." Severus Snape turned the same shade of purple he always had when the Headmaster would refuse to expel her and her friends after their adventures in the cursed vaults and Forbidden Forest.

"Now that's a color I haven't seen in a long time," Lucy mumbled to the Herbology Professor.

Snape curled in lips inwardly before marching out of the room, his cloak billowing behind him; he slammed the door behind him as he left. The twins had said he's gotten more batlike.

Sprout and Lucy took the two seats at the end of the table, though Lucy made sure to leave the end seat open for Hagrid.

"Lucy how wonderful to see you again," Flitwick squeaked as Lucy shook Professor Trelawney hand.

"Lovely to see you again as well Professor."

"Bah—Professor," Flitwick scoffed, "You're one of us now."

"And that doesn't make it less weird for me to call Filius or Professor Sprout here Pomona," Lucy laughed.

"Very well," Flitwick conceded, "Would you care for some tea?" Trelawney asked Lucy, holding out a blue teapot.

"Yes, sure, thank you," Lucy thanked as the eccentric looking woman handed her a shaking cup of tea.

"Sugar? Milk?"

"No thank you. I believe tea should be as bitter as wormwood," Lucy said, quoting the sentence her brother Regulus had always responded with when asked if he'd like sugar. It was better than her mothers, "Do I look like a mudblood? Only they would do something as stupid as ruining an already perfectly good drink."

"Before we entered Professor Sprout here was telling me that you just got out of St. Mungos," Lucy said as taking a sip of her tea.

"Yes, it was nothing major—" Professor McGonagall scoffed.

"Nothing major Filius, you broke half the bones in your body."

"It could have been worse Minerva."

"You could've had to heal the muggle way, honestly it's a b-uh-pain-" Lucy corrected herself.

"You've has to heal the muggle way?" Trelawney asked.

"After one of my first games, I'd only just caught the snitch when a bludger comes and hits my broom, snapping it in half and well of course I fall, but on the way down one of my teammates tried to catch me pulling out my arm it's socket and causing me to land on my legs, shattering them." Lucky told after she finished her tea.

"May I?" Trelawney asked pointing to her cup. Lucy nodded confused on why the woman would want her cup.

"I remember that," Professor Sprout said tearing Lucy's attention from the divination Professor, "Rolanda, Poppy and I went to that match. It's where she met Millie Gudabi."

"You came to one of my matches?"

"Those three went to many of your matches," Flitwick said. Lucy's eyes softened as she looked at Professor Sprout.

"Ms. Haywood wrote Rolanda one day, saying how no one could make one of your matches so we all got tickets. And whenever no one could make a game of yours we went. Rolanda says it was bad luck for a player to be alone during the game." Lucy speechless. Her mouth fell open and her lips quivered ever so slightly.

"Thank you." Lucy's quiet tone and soft look didn't convey a quarter of the emotion she felt.

The door opened one more, this time in walked Professors Sinestra and Burbage, the Muggle studies and Astronomy Professors.

"Black?" Burbage questioned. She was a dark skinned muggle born with bushy eyebrows and a long nose. She had also been one of Lucy's Professor third year on.

"Professor lovely to see you again." Lucy didn't miss Professor Sinestras sneer. Like Snape Professor Sinestra held a very public distaste for Lucy; Bill chalked it up to the fact that in their first year Lucy had publicly corrected her more than once.

"You're stepping in for Rolanda?"

"Yeah actually." Lucy said surprised that Burbage was the first to correctly guess why she was on the grounds.

"Don't look so surprised Black, you're a famous Quidditch player we're in need of an instructor. Though I'm confused to why the Headmaster chose you."

"Charity!" Sprout And Flitwick chastised.

"No," Lucy shook her head, "It's fine, she's right to wonder. Besides when word gets out I'll be hearing a lot of that and to answer your question Burbage the Headmaster hired me because it wasn't me who murdered thirteen people and no matter what the paper alludes to I didn't help my-I didn't help him escape."

"Do you know how he escaped?" Sinestra questioned as the pair sat next to Trelawney. "You are his sister."

"No I'm not," Lucy said, "I remember as much about him as I do my own father, which is practically nothing."

"But there is something."

"Aurora!"

"I know he used to read me bedtime stories and that when I was five as he left the house for good he gave me his dragon tooth necklace. Other then that I know his middle name and that he murdered thirteen people." Lucy snapped, her face hard and the infamous Black family glare hard in her eyes.

Professor Sinistra opened her mouth only to be cut off by the Deputy Headmistress, "That is enough Aurora, we may not all agree with Albus' decision to hire Ms. Black but she's a staff member now, meaning you'll treat her with the same respect as you would Severus or myself." Professor Sinistra glared at the wooden table before muttering a fine.

It was quite for a moment.

"Your leaves read in interesting story," Trelawney spoke. Lucy looked at the spectacled woman,

"Thanks?"

"Would you care to hear?"

"No thank you."

"Why don't you believe in Tasseography?" Sinestra sneered. Lucy rolled her shoulders; Professor Sprout set her hand on Lucy's.

"I don't see how my beliefs factor into this," Lucy said, her silver Slytherin younger coming out, "Trelawney here is the Professor, the expert in the field."

The extrentic looking woman smiled at the title 'Expert in the field'.

"Then why don't you want to hear it?"

"Because I like a little mystery." Lucy lied. Truthfully Lucy hated surprises but she also didn't believe in Divination. Bill did to an extent. Penny wholeheartedly believed in that sort of thing— that there was a great beyond —Tulip as well. Dora humored Penny because she loved her but Lucy couldn't help but be sceptical. If people could see into the future how come no one stopped him from murdering those people or escaping? How come no one for saw Regulus' death?

Sinestra huffed as the door opened once more, this time revealing Hagrid and a thin looking man with a long scar that stretched across his jaw and a smaller one across the bridge of his nose.

Lucy's first thought was that: He's handsome, the second was how, though she couldn't place him, she was sure she'd seen him somewhere before. The man walked with a limp and wore shabby clothing that had more stitches and patches than it did seems. He carried a worn briefcase and neared a warm smile that warmed Lucy from the inside out.

"Remus!" McGonagall greeted warmly. The Deputy Headmistress stood from her chair and walked over to the man— Remus, as Hagrid side stepped them and walked over to Lucy. He looked at the small chair that Lucy had saved for him. Lucy noticed that two more people entered the room, neither of them were Headmaster Dumbledore or Snape so Lucy could only assume they were the Arthmacy Professor Vector and the Matron Madam Pomfrey.

"Er, Lucy yer wouldn't mind makin the chair bigger would yer?" Lucky assumptions were proven right as they sat on the other side of Professor Trelawney.

"Of course not," Lucy had told him, "Let me know when it's large enough." She took her wand out of robe pocket and pointed it at the chair.

"Engorgio." The chair started to swell in size. It had nearly tripled before Hagrid had thanked her.

McGonagall lead Remus to the chair across from her before promising to talk more after the meeting.

"Hi," Lucy greeted the man with an outstretched hand.

"Hello," Remus took her hand in his own. It as warn and calloused. "Remus Lupin, I'll be the new Defense Professor."

"Lucy, I'll be subbing for Madam Hooch while she's on her honeymoon."

"It's great to meet you," Remus smiled. Lucy's brows came together.

"Is it—I mean is it our first meeting?" Lucy asked, she didn't notice most of the room still. "Cause I swear I've seen you before."

"Yer probably have," Hagrid said tactlessly. Both Lucy and Remus turned to Hagrid who was realizing this was something else he probably shouldn't have said. Both Professors McGonagall and Sprout shot Hagrid hard looks.

"What do mean by that?" Lucy wondered.

"Well—er—I," the door opened, saving Hagrid from contouring to floundered for words. This time in stepped Severus Snape—who glowered at both Remus and Lucy like they had been to the ones to personally murder his mother —and Headmaster Dumbledore. The room seemed to stand as he entered.

Dumbledore wore a glittering blue robe and dark purple boots that were heeled and his half moon glasses were perched on the end of his nose.

He smiled warmly at the room. "I see that we're all here, sit, please." While Snape passed both Lucy and Remus without so much as a hello Dumbledore stopped at the end of the table.

"Remus, Lucy, how was the trip getting here?"

"Wonderful sir," Remus said, "I took the express in."

"I flew."

"All the way from Diagon Alley?" Lucy shrugged.

"I stayed above the clouds and sides since my suspension—" Remus eyebrows knitted together, he looked as if he wanted to ask about the suspension before thinking better of it, "—I haven't really been able to get out on a broom so the flight here was lovely."

"I'm glad to hear so." Dumbledore then walked away to the large chair that sat at the head of the table. When he had settled into the the chair he coughed.

"Welcome back," he greeted, the returning staff members thanked him, "And Welcome to our newest staff members, I'm sure you all know them, Remus Lupin—" Dumbledore raised his hand and Remus stood up, waving at his once teachers and peer before sitting back down. "Who will be taking over for Professor Lockhart, and Lucy Black—" Lucy stood up. She noticed that Remus had lost the color in his face and turned a vicious green. "She'll be stepping in for the time Madam Hooch is on her honeymoon."

"Now before we go over lesson plans I must inform you all that against my wishes the Minister of Magic will be placing Dementors on the entrances and exits of the grounds."

The room broke out into a protest of chatter.

"Why?" McGonagall asked, her voice hard and demanded to be heard.

"Sirius Black is after Harry Potter," the room turned to look at Lucy who stared at the Headmaster. She could feel Remus and Sinestras glares. "The Minister thinks that by placing the Dementors here the ministry will have a better chance at catching Black. But I assure you they will not come onto the grounds."

"You can't be sure of that Albus," McGonagall protested.

"Minerva is correct. I propose we give them this Black as a peace offering."

"Why? Scared the rumors about Death Eaters being their favorite snack to be true?" Lucy hissed. Snape opened his mouth to restore when Dumbledore cleared his throat, a hard look in his eyes that made Lucy feel as if she were thirteen again.

"Severus jokes like that will not be tolerated and Lucy, Severus was cleared of his charges, I would implore you not to bring that up again."

"Yes Headmaster," both she and Snape said.

"Second, Remus," Remus, still green looked down the table, "Severus here has agreed to brew your potion." Snape make a huffing sound.

"Potion? Lucy wondered, "Are you sick."

"You haven't heard?" Severus mocked, "Lupin a werewolf."

"Severus!" McGonagall snapped.

"You're a werewolf?" Lucy questioned.

"Is that a problem?" Remus asked tightly.

"No of course not, it's just—ah," Lucy pressed her lips together, cutting herself off.

"Just what?" Sinestra goaded from down the table.

"I want to say you're the first werewolf I've met but then that sounds weird and less like you're a person and more like broom or something, which you're not basically what I'm saying is I have no problems with your—er—furriness?" The muscle in Lupin jaw jumped but he didn't say anything else, instead choosing to turn his attention to the Headmaster.

"Now onto—"

"Actually sir," Lucy raised her hand, "I have a question."

"Yes Lucy."

"How to expect the Dementors to affect Ginny Weasley sir?"

"Truthfully, and especially after so little time has passed, I expect her to react badly to them."

"Then is there anything I can do? Anything I should tell Mr. and Mrs Weasley to have the boys do?"

"Do you know how to produce a patronus charm?" Dumbledore asked.

"No sir, I've never been able to produce one."

"Not even a shield?" Lucy felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment .

"No, all I've ever gotten is a few wisps."

"Then I suppose all you can do is keep Miss. Weasley stocked up on chocolate." Lucy nodded, feeling disappointed. Ginny, over the past twelve years had become something of a little sister to Lucy and to hear that she wouldn't be able to help her hurt.

"If that is all, onto picking Head Boy and Girl."

"Harrow And Montgomery," Severus proposed.

"Hillard And Clearwater," insisted Flitwick.

"What about Trueman and James?" Asked Sprout.

"Weasley and Kane," said McGonagall.

"We like Clearwater for Head Girl," said Vector, pointing to himself and Sinestra.

"Sybil? Charity?"

"Clearwater sounds fine, I've certainly never seen her abusing her power," Burbage said snidely, looking at Severus.

"James has such a lovely future laid out in front of her," Trelawney said.

"Lucy, Hagrid?"

"Percy has my vote," Lucy said. Snape snorted.

"Surprise," he drawled.

"He has my vote because all he's wanted since he was six years old is to be Head Boy. All he's done since then is bug Charlie, Bill and I for lessons on what he'd learn in his upcoming year or to check a practice essay he'd written for fun because he never wanted anything less than a perfect score." Lucy snapped defensively.

"And Head Girl?" Lucy shrugged. "Penny seems nice from what Perce says."

"Hagrid?"

"Percy Weasley is a good boy."

"Three votes for Mr. Weasley and four for Miss. Clearwater. I'll be sure to send their owls later tonight." Lucy grinned, ear to ear, proud of Percy, who of course had always been a stiff little shit but was, like Ginny and all the other young Weasley children, like another brother.

"Now I assume you all brought your lesson plans. Lucy, if you'd like to go first?" Lucy's eyes widened.

"Uh, okay of course." Lucy pulled papers from her bag. Her insides felt as if she'd swallowed a snitch.

"So for the first years I had an idea, they're not allowed to play Quidditch but uh, I remember being eleven and wanting nothing more so I thought if as a year long project, they played a game. Like their own first year cup."

"Not everyone is good at Quidditch," Burbag said.

"Yes, so okay those who are no good or don't want to play will be spotters, and well originally I was going to have each of them compete in their own little contest, who's player was most most improved to be the commentator but Professor Sprout said that there going to be a wheelchair bound child so I thought maybe they could be the commentator and stats keepers for me. You know, so they don't feel left out."

"Quidditch is dangerous, there's a reason we don't let first years try out," McGonagall voice. Lucy thought better than to mention Harry Potter.

"In practice Birch would use softening charms on the bludgers so they'd feel like pillows, and as a seeker I thought What about the snitch? So I came up with his idea: I could charm the snitch not to go past a certain height that way no one falls."

"It's Quidditch, children can always fall," worried Sprout.

"Not if I put a softening charm on the ground. We do it at the professional games, and practice, that way as long as you're not Fienting you shouldn't get too hurt from the fall."

Lucy felt her breath catch in her throat as Dumbledore nodded. "I'm sure the children will have a wonderful time," Lucy grinned.

"Thank you sir."

"Remus, your lesson plans?"


August 9, 1993

The next evening, as the sun was setting and the sky was turning into a myriad of colors, while listening What Is Love on her muggle radio, Lucy stood over her stove making pajeon when a series of rapid fire of knocks came from her front door causing the young witch to jump. Quickly she picked her wand from the shelf above the stove

"Who is it?" She yelled from her spot in front of the stove.

"It's Molly and Arthur dear!" A familiar females voice called out though the new reinforced door Lucy had just had out in.

"Coming!" Lucky called back. Lucy stuffed her wand in her back pocket and scurried to the door, unlocking each of the several enchanted locks she had placed on the door. When the Slytherin alumni opened the door she was grabbed around the shoulders and pulled into a tight Molly Weasley hug to which she did not hesitate to return.

Lucy could hear the clicks of the cameras from the handful of reporters.

When she pulled away Mrs. Weasley cupped her cheeks in a motherly way. "You poor thing."

"Lucy who are they!" The reporter— Seth Waters —who had helped Lucy with her groceries that morning called out. Lucy moved away from Molly. "Are they family friends? Do they know where Sirius Black is hiding. Is that what they've come to tell you?"

"No and why they're here for is none of your business Waters, now get back to your squatting!" She turned to the only parental figures she'd ever had, "You two should probably come in." Lucy ushered the two Weasley parents in and made sure to flip Seth Waters off as she slammed the door shut.

"Sorry about that."

"They're still out there? It's been nearly a month," Arthur frowned.

"Those are the interns, the actual reports gave up two weeks ago," Lucy told them as she waved her wand, shutting off the stove. Both Mr. and Mrs. Weasley took a seat on the couch.

"Why isn't the Ministry doing anything? It's harassment!" Molly glared towards the door.

"The Ministry doesn't have to pay Aurors if they have Prophet interns watching my every move."

"We just got back tonight, came as soon as we heard—though Billy is a bit miffed he had to hear through the paper," Molly said in that tone of voice mothers always used to passive aggressively lay on the guilt. Lucy's palm slapped against the skin of her neck guiltily.

"I know how Goblins get when you ask for vacation, Bill doesn't need to take days off and come here to worry about something out of his control, especially when he already had Ginny, Ron and Meriri to fret over."

Both Molly and Arthur eyes dimmed at the mention of what had happened in June, the fear of almost losing two of their children and their niece still raw.

"That's exactly what Bill told us," Arthur swallowed as he pulled out a thick envelope, "Which is why he gave us this to give to you." Lucy smiled and took the envelope.

To my favorite Secret Keeping Twit was scratched out in a familiar looking scrawl. Lucy placed the letter in the coffee table.

"How was Egypt?" Lucy wondered. Arthur gave Lucy a look that told her he knew exactly what she was doing by avoiding the elephant in the room.

"Great," Arthur said, "Well," he amended, "The twins tried to lock Percy in a tomb and Meiri and Ginny tried to dare Ronald into eating a spider but Charlie And Mia visited for week—"

"Still not married mind you," Molly muttered. Lucy snorted at the thought of Charlie being married. The pair loved each other more than anyone Lucy had ever seen but marriage seemed for too serious for the both of them.

"Come on Mrs. Weasley you know as much as they love each other the only thing either of those two will ever actually be married to is their work." Molly huffed.

"How many times have I told you, you don't need to call me Mrs. Weasley anymore."

"And how many times have I said I physically cannot call you anything else." Molly laughed a little before chattering on about the types of fashion she had seen and food she'd eaten and the places they visited.

An hour latter as the conversation came to a lull and Molly walked off to Lucy's tiny kitchen for a drink Arthur turned to Lucy.

"I saw in the paper that they suspended you from Quidditch. The kids, they're heartbroken."

"Mia threatened to lead a dragon army to the Ministry before Charlie pointed out the journey would tucker the dragons out," Molly tutted, though a ghost of a smile played on her lips.

"Bet the twins loved that."

"And Ron, and Meriri and Ginny, each of them ready to ride a dragon to defend your honor." Lucy smiled at the mention of the two youngest Weasleys and Prewett. While Percy had been five and the twins nearly three and already off in their own little world of mischief, all three of them had been infants when Bill had brought her home that first Christmas. Lucy had grown up watching the three of them learn how to walk and talk and read and write and fly a broom. It was the vast age difference that made Lucy really feel like their older sibling.

"Yeah well, the Minister thought best to get the league to suspended me. Dora said the reasoning was that because there's matches out of the country I could smuggle him out."

"Bastard," Arthur swore. Lucy choked on her spit and Molly looked ready to hurl a hex her husbands way.

"Arthur!" Mr. Weasley's cheeked pinkened.

"I—sorry dear," Arthur said as Molly sat back down.

"Lucy, any idea on what you're going to do with all your free time?" Molly questioned.

"Actually I got another job," Lucy informed them proudly.

"Really? No offense but I don't see the ministry hiring you?"

"They didn't, Dumbledore did." Molly squealed and pulled Lucy out of her seat and into another rib crushing hug. "Madam Hooch got married, I'll be the flying instructor for the year."

"We're so happy for you," Arthur applauded.

"Thank you—but uh I need to tell you two something."

"Anything." Arthur said.

"Dumbledore, during the staff meeting informed everyone that the Minister will be placing Dementors at the ententes of the school. He swears though that they won't actually enter the grounds." Both Weasley parents paled.

"But—"

"I already asked how it would affect Ginny should she come near one, Dumbledore advised me to stock up on chocolates. He also said something else, something you can't tell the kids." Lucy said seriously.

"Of course," Molly nodded. Lucy took a deep breath through the nose.

"Sirius is after Harry Potter, it's the whole reason he's broken out. Why the Dementors will be at the school." If it were possible Molly seemed to pale more.

"But he's a child!" She cried, "Why would he be after Harry?" Lucy shrugged.

"I don't Mrs. Weasley, I wish I did, I know how close Meriri and Ron are to him, which is why I'm telling you to let Harry Potter know to be careful and for once not to go looking for trouble. He's not on the back of some teachers head, nor is he a ghost from the past, I don't care how you do it but you need to make Harry Potter understand he is a real man with years of dark magic under his belt." Arthur nodded.

"We understand—we will."

"Good," Lucy swallowed before grinning weakly, "Did Percy open his mail yet?"

"No why?"

Lucy smiled slyly, "You two should be off, " Lucy said standing up, leading the pair to the door. "And tell him congratulations. And please tell the kids I'll see them at the feast—actually don't, I want to see their faces when they come into the hall."


August 27, 1993

Lucy wouldn't call it party, maybe a large get together but not a party. Her teammates and friends who had stayed in England after Graduation sat around her apartment drinking and talking. Penny had proposed the idea after she claimed Lucy needed a proper send off before term started.

Penny sat on Dora's lap as they lounged in the brown loveseat, next to Rowan, who for what seemed like the first time in months had left her apartment. Rowan was talking to Fenwick and his heavily pregnant wife Michelle. Murela and Barnaby Lee talked with Gadrel and Sasha on the couch, both Barnaby and Gadrel flexing in order to see who's muscles were bigger—while Shasha and Murela pretended not to be too interested and Haul amd Jeffords made out in the bathroom.

Lucy leaned against her kitchen counter next to Birch. He held a glass of gillywater while she held a glass of Firewhiskey she'd broken out of the Black family wine cellar.

"So excited to teach Professor?" Birch teased.

"I'd be more excited if I was playing against the Irish next Tuesday," Lucy said truthfully.

"Yeah well don't sweat it, come next season you'll be there to kick their ass."

"You think?"

"I know so, and want know how Black?" Gadrel locked Barnaby under his armpits. Penny magiced her coffee table away to the other side of the room as Dora, Murela and Sasha all started cheering.

"Don't break my shit!" Lucy called out, Dora waved her off,

"Not like you can't afford it!"

"How is she my favorite cousin?" Lucy mumbled as she turned to Birch, "Sure, tell me."

"Because I've never seen anyone love this sport the way you do. I mean, do you remember your first year on the team? Fresh out of school and already playing!"

"Yeah but that's cause Marks quite as the reserve and Coldwater couldn't play after his accident."

"Please, I could have made you the new reserve instead of Ethel but you want to know why I didn't?"

"Sure."

"Because it was you out on that field at five in the morning and it was you who was still out there at ten at night and you were the only who ran the five miles I proposed as punishment for the hell of it because you wanted to stay in shape. You live and breath Quidditch and that's why come capture or no capture I'm sure I'll see you at practice next season."

Lucy paused. She wasn't sure if she could kiss Birch, while she didn't fancy him in the slightest the raw emotion in his voice and the conviction in his eyes had been so real it made Lucy wonder if she should.

If her deciding not to was a quick decision it was only because Fenwick stood up, raising his glass of butterbeer and flicking the rim of it in absence of tapping it with a fork.

"If I can have everyone's attention, it's getting late but before Michelle and I head out I'd like to say a few words about our lovely seeker. When I first met Lucy I thought she'd be nothing but an heiress who'd bought her way onto the team, I was quickly proven wrong. Before I really got to know her I thought she'd be a witch-" the room snorted at the terrible pun, "-once again she proved me wrong. And if the pattern continues then I expect she'll make a better Professor then I already imagine she's going to be." Lucy smiled broadly at the keeper.

"Me next," Dora said, shifting Penny off her lap and standing up "When I was in my first year Lucy found out I was her cousin and befriended me and my mum hated it. She kept telling me I'd be disappointed and hurt but truth was I've been nothing but surprised since meeting her. She's may not always be the kindest but she is the best, she's always there when she needs to be and what I'm trying to say is fuck whatever the parents say when they find out the best seeker ever is teaching their kids just remember that we're your family and we love you."