AN: Sorry for the wait! Hope you all enjoy this chapter!
September 1, 1997
Darcy rolled onto her stomach and buried her face in her pillow when she heard her bedroom door open. She felt a hand on her back.
"Come on, cub, time to get up."
"What time is it?", Darcy mumbled.
"Seven thirty", Remus replied. "Let's go, up."
"I don't even get up at this time when I'm at school", she complained.
"Which is why you're always rushing to eat breakfast so you're not late to class. You have five minutes before I send Sirius in, and he is not happy about being awake, either."
Remus patted her back before walking to the door. "Five minutes, Darcy."
"I heard you", she called.
That five minutes passed extremely quickly, and eventually she felt her blankets get ripped off.
"If I have to be up right now", Sirius said from above her. "So do you. Let's go."
"Why do we have to start so early?", Darcy whined.
"Because Remus is a sadist. If you don't get up right now we'll make you wear your uniform."
"Alright, I'm coming", she sighed. Despite her words, she didn't move.
"I will start counting."
Darcy groaned and sat up. "I'm up, I'm up."
"Is this how you are in your dorm?", Sirius asked. "It's a miracle you get to class on time."
"Usually I would be getting up earlier leading up to it", she yawned as she climbed out of bed. "But Remus didn't wake me up."
"Well, miss 'I'm seventeen and want to be treated like an adult', you should be able to wake yourself up."
Darcy rolled her eyes. "You can't even do that."
"Hush. Go eat breakfast before Remus decides he's done playing house elf."
"Fine." Darcy trudged out of her room and down the stairs. They all ate breakfast quickly before going outside.
"What are we doing?", she asked.
"Most of Defense in seventh year is learning advanced spells", Sirius explained. "Not much theory, lucky for us. Show me how you hold your wand."
Darcy did just that, trying to remember all of the things Sirius has told her about her stance over the years. He nodded approvingly.
"Good, straighten up a bit more. There you go, perfect. Ready?"
"I guess."
"You'll be fine", Remus chuckled. "Now, Padfoot, what do we start with?"
Nearly two hours later, Darcy was sitting on the ground, trying to catch her breath. Sirius knelt beside her.
"That was great, love", he told her. "You alright?"
"Yeah", Darcy sighed. "My arm is killing me."
"You're putting too much force behind your spells", Sirius said for the tenth time that day. He extended his hand and helped her up. "Your wand is not a blunt instrument, it'll do the work for you."
Darcy groaned a bit as she was pulled to her feet. "I know, I know. My leg still hurts from that stinging hex you hit me with."
"That was to teach you to always pay attention." Sirius put his arm around her. "You didn't lose focus for the rest of it, did you?"
"No, because I wanted to get you back."
"That's the spirit."
Remus caught up with them. "Merlin, that was exhausting. We're not twenty anymore, Sirius."
"Speak for yourself, I'm in fantastic shape."
"I'm pretty sure your goddaughter has been able to outrun you since she was twelve."
"I could take her now."
"Because I'm in pain", Darcy reminded him.
"Excuses…"
"I'm too tired for this", she rolled her eyes. "What are going to do now?"
"I want to go over some things with you for Transfiguration", Sirius replied. "Sound good?"
"Sure."
"You miss being at Hogwarts, don't you?", Remus asked her.
"Of course I do. Everyone who's there probably does to–at least the way it was."
"I told you, you could wear your uniform", Sirius joked. "Make it feel more authentic."
"If you made me do that I would drop out", she shot back, smirking.
"I'm not sure you can drop out of a home school."
"I'll lock myself in the basement."
"Sheesh, Padfoot", Remus laughed. "We must be terrible teachers if she's willing to go to those lengths."
"You're alright", Darcy smiled.
"Don't forget to write that on our evaluations."