Sorry for disappearing for so long, ya'll. I got a new job, new semester started, you know how it goes. Anyway, I'm going to try to update more regularly and I want to pick TFWN up again. Enjoy!

Winter 1999

Darcy stood in her room, working up the courage to go down to the kitchen. She had news for her guardians, and she wasn't sure how they were going to react.

"Darcy, dinner!"

She took a deep breath and left her room, descending the stairs to the kitchen.

Teddy, who was sitting in his high chair, lit up when he saw his godmother. He reached out for her with his little hands.

"Hi", Darcy greeted him. She ran her fingers through his small tuft of turquoise hair. "I see we're going with blue again today."

"That seems to be his favorite", Remus chuckled. "For now, anyway."

They all sat down at the table and began to eat.

"Something on your mind, kiddo?", Sirius asked Darcy. "You've been awfully quiet all day."

She bit her lip. Now or never. "Actually, there is something I need to tell you."

Why was she so nervous? She was an adult for Merlin's sake!

"You can tell us anything, cub", Remus said, giving her his full attention.

Darcy took a deep breath. "I applied for a job, and...I got it."

"That's great!", Sirius exclaimed. His smile faded a moment later. "Why were you so nervous to tell us that?"

"Well, it's…remember when Kingsley told us that the Ministry wants to restart the Department for the Safety of Magical Children?"

The realization hit them both at the same time.

"You'd be a social worker?", Remus asked.

Darcy nodded.

"No", Sirius said firmly.

"Why not?"

"The same reason you decided not to become a Mind Healer", he replied. "Do you know how triggering that would be for you? Going to work every day and seeing kids in the same situation you were?"

"I've talked to Christine about it", Darcy told him. "She thinks I'm in a good place, and if I need to I can see her more often."

"Why didn't she talk to us?", Sirius demanded.

"Maybe because I'm an adult and you don't need to know the details of my appointments anymore."

"Watch it."

Remus cleared his throat, making their attention snap to him.

"Here's what we'll do", he said. "Darcy, go to the interview. If you get the job and the training phase is too much for you, you quit. We reserve the right to talk to you if we believe you're not doing well with it. Deal?"

Darcy nodded. "I promise, I won't keep the job if it's too much."

"We'll hold you to that", Sirius said. He reached for her hand and squeezed it. "You're going to be great at whatever you put your mind to, just please don't kill yourself in the process."

"I won't."

A week later, Darcy had gotten hired by the Department and was getting ready for her first day of training.

"Look at this professional woman", Remus smiled when he saw her. "You're so grown up, cub."

Darcy blushed a bit. "Thanks."

"What's the matter?"

"I'm so nervous", she admitted. "What if I'm bad at this?"

"Darcy, it's your first day of training", Remus reminded her. "No one is good at anything on the very first day. Just relax and try to enjoy it, okay?"

"Okay", Darcy nodded. She took a deep breath. "Are you sure I look okay?"

"You look beautiful", Sirius assured her as he walked in. "Now get out of here before we get emotional about how grown up you are."

Darcy smirked and gave them both a hug before leaving.

"Merlin, we're so old", Sirius groaned. "When did this happen?"

"I have no idea", Remus sighed. "I swear she turned five last week. I need to go play with Teddy and enjoy how little he is…"

Darcy walked into the Ministry and checked herself in. The receptionist directed her to where the other trainees were waiting and wished her luck.

Darcy sat down in the waiting area and tried to control her breathing. Why was she so nervous? Remus was right, it was the first day, no one was expecting anything from her.

Do your best, she told herself. Do your best, that's all you can do.

Darcy looked up when she heard someone call her name. A woman who looked to be about Sirius and Remus' age was standing in front of her.

"Darcy Potter?", she repeated.

"Yes", Darcy smiled and stood up, reaching out to shake her hand.

"Oh my, look at you", the woman shook her head. "I–you don't know me, but I went to school with your parents."

"Really?"

"Yes. My name is Dorcas Meadows, I missed your interview, but once I heard you were in training I volunteered to do it myself."

"Wow", Darcy smiled. She vaguely remembered Remus talking about Dorcas, was it in reference to them dating?

"So, come with me." Dorcas led the way down a long corridor. "How are Sirius and Remus these days?"

"Really good", Darcy replied. "Remus has a baby."

"I heard about that! He sent me a letter not too long after the little guy was born. I was terribly sorry to hear about his wife, as well."

Darcy nodded. "Yeah, it's been a rough couple of years."

"I'm sure." Dorcas led her into a medium-sized office and sat behind the desk. "Have a seat, I'd like to talk about a few things."

Darcy sat down in the chair across from her.

"What made you apply for this job?", Dorcas asked.

Darcy took a deep breath. She had rehearsed her answer to that question for hours before her interview.

"Well", she began. "You know what happened to my parents…"

When Dorcas nodded, she continued.

"I was given to my aunt and uncle, and they abused me. It's taken me years to realize how truly awful they were to me, you know? And once I started learning more about myself and what I went through, I decided that I wanted to help other kids like me."

Dorcas was staring at her in shock. "Merlin, Darcy...I knew you went to Lily's sister but I never knew-"

"It's not your fault", Darcy interrupted her. "The only people to blame are my aunt and uncle, not anyone else."

"You're absolutely right", Dorcas nodded. "I admire your desire to help others, and we are very happy to have you on board. How about I give you a tour of the department?"

Darcy smiled. "Sounds great."

By the end of the day, Darcy had met everyone she would be working with and had began shadowing someone on the job. She arrived home, ecstatic to tell her guardians about the experience.

"Hey, there she is", Sirius smiled when she walked into the kitchen. "How was your day?"

"Great", she smiled back. "Where's Remus?"

"Right here", he said as he joined them, holding Teddy. "You had a good day?"

"Yeah, and you'll never believe who I met."

"Who?"

"Dorcas Meadows", Darcy replied. "She's pretty high up in the department."

"Is she?", Sirius chuckled. "Good for her. She recognized you?"

"Yeah, we talked for a while. Then I got to shadow someone for the rest of the day, it was amazing. I really think I'm going to like this job."

"Darcy-"

"I know, it's only the first day", she rolled her eyes. "But I really like it so far."

"That's great, cub", Remus smiled. "Hungry?"

"Oh, yeah."

He handed Teddy off to her and went to start on dinner. Remus had to admit, he agreed with Sirius that this job might not have been good for Darcy, but he was so happy she already liked it so much.

Seriously, though, how did she grow up so fast?