I do not own Harry Potter

The movie ended around 11 at night and Anton had to carefully slide himself out from under Lucy, who slept soundly on his lap. The next morning she awoke to a large wet nose being shoved in her face and the sound of deep grunting in her ear. She sighed and stretched her arms up to the ceiling, the clock said nine o'clock and she would have to get to the Three Broom Sticks soon. After letting Rocky out she felt her hair, which was still damp from the shower the previous night and sighed.

Getting dressed at record speeds, Lucy was able to make it to the Three Broom Sticks at nine twenty five, just as Rosmerta was turning the sign from closed to open. "Morning." She chirped, "Mind if I borrow Apollo? I need to send Dumbledore a letter."

The innkeeper could barely register Lucy's word, "go ahead." She muttered and downed the last of her strong black coffee. "You're unusually chipper this morning, fun night?" she called back. "Kinda, Anton came over." Lucy replied as she tried to tie the letter around Apollo's leg while avoiding his snapping beak that was trying to grab the nut in her hand.

"Oh REALLY?" Rosmerta gawked as Lucy walked out. "Nothing Happened." the now disheveled girl said firmly. "Uh Huh. And I'm twenty three." The barkeep stated

"You need any help today? I can still lend a hand if you…"

"No, no, I can handle it, but thanks for the offer."

Lucy nodded and exited the Bar, half way down the street toward her house something light fell on her head. She looked up and saw Apollo circling above her before swooping back towards the inn. Lucy picked up the letter, and glanced at the front of a folded letter

Miss Dursley

I am overjoyed to receive your acceptance of my offer.

To discuss the position, please come to my office as soon as possible.

Sincerely

Professor. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.

P.S: The password if Candy floss

He certainly didn't waste any time did he? If she went back to the cottage, took care of Rocky and then set off she would be able to get to the Headmaster's office by eleven. As soon as she got home, Lucy poured Rocky's bowl full of kibble and refilled his tin water bowl. "I'll be back in a bit buddy." She scratched his ears and closed all the doors so he would only have access to the living room and kitchen.

The day was just as muggy and hot as the day before, and by the time she was half way up to the castle, a thin veil of sweat had covered her. "I hate the summer." She muttered and swiped her hand at a buzzing fly. She finally reached the castle gates where she met Hagrid who had shed his usual heavy coat and was now wearing pants that stopped at his knees and a loose white shirt under a brown vest.

"Morning Hagrid." She waved to the half giant, "Good Mornin Lucy." He smiled, "What are you doing up here?"

"I need to see Headmaster Dumbledore." She explained and pulled on the hot gate bars, finding them extremely heavy. "Come on you…" she grunted and then realized the she could simply move them with her mind. Sheepishly she grinned as the doors squealed open for her. "I'll see you later, okay?" Hagrid smiled and waved as she jogged up the hill. She slipped through the school doors and tried to find her way to the head masters office.

Take a left, up those stairs, watch out for the trick step. She sighed and waited patiently as the stair case she was on began to swing back and forth until it finally returned to it's correct spot.

She finally made her way back on the right track and found the gargoyle entry way that would lead to Dumbledore's office. "Candy floss." She stated. The door slid open and revealed a spiraling stair case which she climbed at a brisk jog, her shoes clipping which step.

She reached the large decorative door at the time and raised her fist to knock, only to stop her hand a quarter of a millimeter from the door when someone inside called, "Enter."

The door let out a deafening squeal as it swung open, "I've been meaning to oil that." Dumbledore stated with an airy smile, dressed in lavender robes. Deciding not to ask how he did that, Lucy smiled, "It's good to see you sir."

"Come." He quipped, "Sit." She did so politely, "I cannot tell you how pleased I was to hear that you accepted the position," he leaned on his large desk and stroked Fawkes under the chin, "Don't be coy headmaster." Lucy retorted, "You knew all along that I would accept."

"Well, I had a good idea." The headmaster snickered, "Now, I assume you have a few questions."

Did she ever, she rattled off the important ones and the answers went as followed.

She would stay in the castle like the rest of the faculty, she would have her duties as well as weekly duties after dark, her position had been cleared with the ministry and every parent and guardian had been informed. And finally, Rocky would be allowed to stay in her quarters, as long as he behaved himself.

Lucy was led to her office and the adjoining room where she would sleep. For every student she spoke with she was to keep a file and report any urgent situations to Dumbledore, suicide threats, severe bullying and that sort of thing. And above all, she was to keep every file confidential, she was to share the report with no one but the student them self, headmaster Dumbledore, or the parents of the student in question.

"Are you clear on everything?" Dumbledore asked. "I think so, but you do know I have absolutely no experience as a counselor of any kind, right?" Lucy looked around her soon to be office. It was large, but small enough not to be intimidating. The ceiling was high and domed, with dark wooden beams crisscrossing from wall to wall. It was not a normal school counselor's office, but a living room like set up with a large dark green leather couch big enough for three, two chairs of the same style, a large mahogany wood desk in the corner with two grey steel filing cabinets behind it, and a small center table with a cut crystal top.

The lighting was provided by a sphere shaped light that hung from the dome top and shone like a miniature version of the sun. "I am well aware of your lack of experience Miss. Dursley, but none the less I have the utmost confidence in your abilities." The headmaster assure her, "Now, I think it only proper for you to meet your soon to be coworkers, don't you?"

"Of course sir." Lucy agreed, "Good, they should be in the teacher's lounge preparing for the school year, You have met two of them I believe, Professor McGonagall, the transfigurations teacher. And Professor Snape, the Potions master."

She nodded as they strolled along the halls, and Lucy made a mental map of her surroundings, not wanting to get lost in such a massive castle, they arrived at a medium sized room filled with chairs and tables, with fire places that were left unlit due to the blazing heat, in the room was every teacher of Hogwarts, chatting, filing paper work or planning out lessons for the year.

"Minerva, you remember Lucy Dursley, Mr. Potter's cousin from last year?" Albus asked the sharp, elderly looking woman in a set of green robes. "Of course, Hello again dear." Minerva shook her hand with a grip surprisingly firm for a woman of her age.

"Minerva, Lucy is to be our new school counselor, and she will be stay in the castle for the year in light of recent events."

"Well then, welcome." She smiled, Lucy smiled back politely, "It's an honor to be here Ma'am." She nodded. "Professor, will be just fine dear."

Lucy was led to table after table to be greeted with her co-workers, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, Madam Hooch, Professor Sinistra, eventually the names just blurred together and Lucy was left smiling and nodding until they reached a lone man in the corner who had his nose buried in mountains of papers.

"Severus, you remember Lucy Dursley from last year?" Albus rested his arm on Lucy's shoulder as if to give moral support, Severus glanced up from his paper slightly and blinked. Lucy remembered his face because it was one of the last things she saw before blacking out last year. "It's a pleasure to meet you sir." She out stretched her hand slightly and withdrew it five second later awkwardly. "Well, we best be moving on." The headmaster drew Lucy away when you could physically feel the seer awkwardness between them.

"And the final member of our faculty, Professor Delores Umbridge." Lucy inwardly shrieked when she spotted the toady woman, "I take it you two know each other?" he asked. "We have been briefly acquainted" Lucy nodded and politely outstretched her hand, "Nice to see you again Professor."

"Please, Delores will be fine." The woman insisted with a sickly bubblegum sweet yet sinister smile. "Then Lucy will do just as well." Lucy retorted and for a brief second she could swear she saw Satan flash across the woman's face.

Behind Umbridge, her white and pink pastel tea cup, slid silently across the table and glided through the air silently on to the one beside it. "very well." She almost whispered and nodded, as did Lucy.

The two parted ways and Umbridge turned to resume for break, only to find her tea had vanished.

This was to be the start of a lovely feud.

AAAHHHH I haven't updated in for ever but I hope you enjoyed this one, unfortunately my home data is running low, but it will reboot of the 18th and I am on Fall Break so I will be able to update more of my stories for the next week.