Thanks for reading. You've made it this far. What an accomplishment. Thank you for sticking with me, I know it's a long story, but I hope you're enjoying it!
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Darcie and Charlie did not see much of each other that year. He was working as much as possible in order to save up for the most beautiful ring he had seen in a shop in the town next to the one where he lived, and Zelda was ill so Darcie was spending as much time with her guardian as possible. Even Christmas was spent apart when Charlie again visited Bill in Egypt and Darcie went home for the holidays. They wrote at least once a week, though, and he never felt too far from the heart of his girlfriend.
When summer rolled around, Darcie was scheduled to come for a visit, but then Mr. Weasley acquired enough tickets for himself, all of Charlie's siblings, and Ron's best friends to see the Quidditch World Cup. Darcie was invited to the Burrow after the match, but she had declined citing there would hardly be enough room for everyone who went to the Cup let alone if they added her to the mix. Charlie also knew that the next Christmas might not be a time for them to spend time together because he assumed she would want to attend the Yule Ball (of which she was not aware, but Charlie was) even alone. No one knew the next time they would see each other.
Charlie knew he was in trouble with Darcie when he received a long letter from her days after the fiasco at the Quidditch World Cup. She was furious about the four word note he had scribbled to her after the incident. He realized he probably should have written more to her once life had calmed down, but with the whole family at home along with Ron's friends Hermione Granger and the Harry Potter, it slipped his mind. It flooded into his mind when a beautiful black owl tapped at the window of his and Bill's room early Thursday morning.
"Charlie, I think it's for you," Bill stroked the bird and tossed the letter to him.
"What?" Charlie rubbed his eyes and began to read. "Damn."
"Huh?" Bill grunted.
"It's from Darcie. I wrote her after the World Cup, but it was four words, and I haven't written since. She's not happy with me. Do we have any parchment lying around?"
"You're in trouble," Bill intoned, but gave him a sheaf of parchment.
After searching for and locating a quill and some ink, Charlie began to pen a response to his fiancée. There was a promise to visit her, more than one apology, and all his love. Attaching his letter to the black owl's leg, he let it go, and fell back to sleep.
"Fred, George, c'mere," Charlie pulled them aside later in the day. "I'm going to visit Darcie."
"Took you long enough," George rolled his eyes.
"We've been writing her," Fred added, "Send her our love."
"You don't want to come with me?" Charlie had been sort of hoping he would not have to go all by himself.
"Nah," George shook his head.
"I think she's hoping to see you alone," Fred informed, grimacing. "Good luck, mate."
"Thanks," Charlie sighed.
"Maybe Percy will go with you," Fred snorted.
Percy had already left for the Ministry, so it looked like Charlie would, indeed, be calling on Darcie alone. He told only his mother he was leaving and where he was going. She packed a heavy bag of cakes and cookies ("I really don't think that girl gets enough to eat unless she's here") before she would allow him to Disapparate. He did so and arrived in front of the Burke home. He rang the doorbell and was greeted by Lucy, the house elf. She bowed low to him and ushered him inside the house, bringing him to the small parlour and assuring him she would retrieve Darcie.
"Charlie!" Darcie's voice was sharper than he had heard it before. "Charlie Weasley, you terrified me!"
"Darcie," he took her in his arms. "I'm so sorry. I was just so glad to be home and Mum was fussing over all of us. I didn't even think to let you know."
"Well, you should have," she swatted his arm. "I love you, we're supposed to be engaged, and you don't even let me know what's happening!"
"I know, keep your voice down. Do you want Zelda to hear us?" He hissed.
"Auntie can't hear much these days," Darcie's face fell. "She's very tired, too."
"I'm sorry," he kissed her on both cheeks.
They talked for a couple of hours about how they had each spent the past year without each other, and Charlie could hardly contain himself from telling her all about the ring he had chosen for her. She seemed very distracted and Charlie worried that her being unfocused was a bad sign. He knew she was devoted to her great aunt and he assumed that Darcie was very distressed over Zelda's very poor health. Eventually, though, it was time for Charlie to leave and return to the Burrow. He promised, though, to see her as soon as possible and come immediately if she needed him—all she had to do was send him an owl.
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Send him an owl she did and he kept his word. It was the day of her seventeenth birthday when he received the letter begging him to come to her house. The date struck him as odd because she should have been at Hogwarts celebrating her coming of age and deciding whether or not she wanted to enter the Triwizard Tournament, but he spoke to his supervisor and was granted a couple days of emergency leave. She did not say why she needed him, but that was not important to him; all that mattered was that she needed him.
Packing a few belongings, he Disapparated from his home to the end of the lane in front of the gigantic house where Darcie and Zelda lived. He took a deep breath and approached the expansive estate. No sooner had he rung the doorbell than Darcie appeared at the door, her eyes red and her face stained with tears.
"Darcie?" The word was all he could utter before she flung herself into his arms. "Darcie, what's wrong? What is the matter?"
"Auntie Zelda is dead. I was sent home yesterday from Hogwarts yesterday when Professor Dumbledore was sent an owl saying Auntie was very ill and I should return home," Darcie's voice was strong, but tears slipped down her flushed cheeks.
"Oh, my God, Darcie, I'm so sorry," he held her close to his chest.
"Come inside," she took his hand and he followed her into the house.
"Is it terribly inappropriate to wish you a happy birthday? I sent you a present, but I sent it to Hogwarts," he had no idea what to say to her.
"Thank you," she led him to the large parlour. Charlie had never been farther into this room than the doorway. "I don't know to do, Charlie."
"Can I help you with anything? Is there anything that I can do?" He wondered.
"Just sit with me for a while?" She requested.
Charlie and Darcie sat in the large parlour in silence, the only noise Charlie heard over the course of half an hour was heart-wrenching sobs coming from Lucy's portion of kitchen where she mourned her long time mistress. In the parlour, Darcie was in Charlie's arms and she did not move, she did not cry, she did not speak for a full half hour. If he had not felt her clear her throat occasionally, he would have wondered if she was even awake.
"You know, she wanted me to put my name in for the Triwizard Tournament," Darcie said out of the blue. "She said she knew I had the brains for it."
"Of course you have the brains for it," he was glad of the chance to break the silence. "Are you going to put your name forth?"
"No," she shook her head. "I have far too much schoolwork in my future. You know I took four NEWTs last year and I still have six this year. Not that it matters."
"Why doesn't it matter?" He was truly confused.
"I did this to make Auntie happy. She wanted me to excel at school so I did. But now I don't see the point," Darcie shrugged.
"You don't see the point?" He was shocked. "Your marks on all of your NEWTs determine what you do after Hogwarts. Have you decided that by the way?"
"Well, I know I don't want to be an Auror," she responded. "Mad-Eye Moody has discouraged me from wanting to do that. I'm not imaginative or suspicious enough."
"That's fine by me, I'd spend half my time worrying about you," Charlie said. "Healers are required to have high marks, have you thought about being one of them?"
"I have, but it just doesn't appeal to me. I was thinking I might like to work for Gringotts and work with gold, but I'm not sure I'd care for the goblins," she shuddered.
"Bill likes his job, but he says it can be difficult to work with goblins. I'm sure Percy could get you a job with Mr. Crouch, but that man is more boring than watching dragon dung dry," he laughed and was glad to see a tiny smile flit across her face.
"Oh, Charlie, now isn't the time to discuss my entire future," she sighed.
"I'm sorry, I thought it might help take your mind off your present," he patted her back. "So, what do you want to do for the present?"
"I suppose I need to plan a memorial service," she mused, her tone businesslike.
"A funeral? Already?" He had to admit he was shocked.
"No time like the present," she nodded. "It'll be simple, but I suppose a lot of people will want to attend. You could come, but I doubt you'd be welcomed by the other guests."
"I suppose a blood traitor at the funeral of a descendant of one of the men who opened the darkest dark arts store in Knockturn Alley would be a problem," he consented. "What are you going to do after the service?"
"I was thinking a few days in Romania," she said flippantly.
"Romania?" He stopped, this was making no sense.
"I have to sell this house because I won't be living here and, obviously, Zelda won't be living here."
"And we'll have a home in Romania," he declared. "That's what we'll do when you come to Romania. If we find someplace we like, I'll knock about in it alone for a while."
"Thank you," she did not fling her arms around his neck like he had expected, but the intense look in her eyes conveyed the exact same message.
"Miss Darcie," Lucy shuffled into the room, gigantic eyes full of unshed tears.
"Yes, Lucy?" Darcie jumped out of Charlie's hold on her.
"Miss Zelda asked Lucy yesterday to give this to you," she handed over a thick, yellowing envelope. "Miss Darcie, what is to become of Lucy?"
"I don't know right now what all is to come in the future, Lucy, but I will make sure someone takes care of you. I promise," Darcie patted the tiny being on the shoulder.
"Thank you, Miss Darcie," Lucy left them alone once more.
"What is it, Darcie?" Charlie wondered looking at the envelope in Darcie's hand.
"I don't know," she shook her head, "I haven't opened it yet."
Darcie,
Your name was all your mother gave to you. I have given you home, clothed you, and reared you. I never had children of my own, but you were the last chance I had to raise a child. It may have been selfish of me to keep you hidden away from others, especially other children, but I do believe it is the secret wish of every woman to have a child.
I love you my girl. You are to inherit everything I own. Heaven only knows where your mother is and no one has been as devoted to me as you, all of it goes to you. Take care of Lucy, she is only a house elf, but she has served our family well.
I believe that when I die it is high time for you to know just who your mother was. Her name was Tabitha Sinclair and she was a fine witch while she was at Hogwarts and you certainly have her head for schoolwork. When you were just a small child, He Who Must Not Be Named was very powerful and he amassed many followers. Your mother was weak-willed and our family has always believed in the purity of wizarding blood. It is my belief that she fell prey to the lure of the group led by He Who Must Not Be Named and became what is called a Death Eater. These Death Eaters have done terrible things and many of them have been sent to Azkaban.
Darcie, I have raised you to embrace the purity of blood, but I never taught you that violence and evil deeds are the way to power. Do not follow your mother's path. I believe in your abilities.
Zelda Burke
Charlie was unprepared for the emotional reaction Darcie would have to reading the epistle from her guardian and was taken aback when she burst into tears. He took her in his arms again and held her until she stopped sobbing, then he read the letter and he understood her dramatic and visceral response. She composed herself and sat up straight.
"I'm sorry, Charlie, this has just been a big day. I suppose there will be an official will somewhere bequeathing everything to me, but this should do for now," she clasped her hands together so tightly her knuckles turned white. "I have a funeral to plan."
"What can I do to help?" He knew there was no use arguing with her when her mind was so obviously set. "Can I make any arrangements?"
"Just stay with me," she requested.
"Of course," he nodded.
Darcie was extremely busy over the next few days making arrangements for her great aunt's funeral and selling the house. Charlie tried his best to be supportive while staying out of her way because if he did happen to be somewhere inconvenient, she would snap at him and then apologize looking like she was about to cry. Lucy was probably the least productive she had ever been as she spent much of her time sobbing in the kitchen, or the bedrooms, or the small parlour where Zelda had held court.
Eventually, though, all the i's were dotted, all the t's were crossed, and the funeral was ready to be held. Charlie spent the day in his guest room avoiding Lucy who, as a house elf, was not permitted to attend the service, but was supposed to prepare for a small luncheon to follow the affair. During the lunch, Charlie escaped the house to explore the surrounding town—he really did not want to be exposed to people who looked down on his family because they were not pricks about the blood status of anyone they did or did not know. At four he decided it was safe to return and joined Darcie in the huge, empty building.
"I'm done here," Darcie said that evening over a small tea. "Tomorrow, let's go to Romania and not return. I have an estate agent looking after the sale of the house."
"We'll go to Romania, but you are going to have to come back here some day," Charlie foretold. "Someone has to pack everything. Thank goodness for magic. Poor Muggles have to do everything by hand."
"I've stipulated that the new owners cannot take possession of the house until after Christmas," she informed. "All the packing can be done over the holidays."
"Won't you want to stay at Hogwarts?" Charlie inquired before he could stop himself.
"No," she shook her head. "I assume there will be something to do with the Triwizard Tournament and, honestly, I'm only interested in a cursory way."
"Are you mental?" His jaw literally dropped. "This hasn't been done in years and you're only interested in a cursory way? I understand you don't want to enter, but how can you not be fascinated by the entire experience?"
"I—" she faltered. "I just don't fancy seeing someone risk his neck for the glory. I also have a bad feeling about the whole thing."
"Darcie, sometimes you just have to ignore feelings and go for it," he exclaimed. "I have to admit, your feelings are a little harder to ignore. They're so well-founded."
"My dreams are getting very bad," she confided. "I don't understand them."
"They're dreams," he said rationally. "And I'm sure that we would have heard about a man with a white face and red eyes running about anywhere in the world."
"True," she shrugged. "They're just so vivid and they feel so real."
"Let's not talk about them. Let's talk about how great it will be to have you in Romania to find ourselves somewhere to live," Charlie took her hand in his over the dinner table.
"Oh yes," Darcie's face lit up at the idea.
It turned out that house-hunting in Romania was even more exciting than Darcie had expected it to be because Charlie had a surprise for her. When they found the house that Darcie loved and Charlie had to agree was perfect for them, he bent down on one knee and offered her the ring he had picked for her. She went bright pink when she saw it and nodded quickly, his heart raced while she examined it on her ring finger.
"Do you like it?" He needed to know.
"I love it," she leapt into his arms. "I have a ring, we have a house, and we're going to live happily ever after. Forever?"
"Forever and ever," he promised and kissed her.
Charlie made certain Darcie returned safely and promptly to Hogwarts when their time together in Romania was concluded. He was sad to see her go and was unsure whether or not he would be able to see her in the near future. The Sanctuary had already agreed were to supply three dragons for the Triwizard Tournament's first task, but it had to be a secret and he wondered if he could catch more than a passing glimpse of her while he visited his old school.
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So Darcie's mother is a Death Eater and no one knows where she is. Except me of course, but I think everyone can make an educated guess about where she's ended up if she's tangled up in Lord Voldemort's group. Thank you for reading!