"Hello Harry," Darcy smiled gently.

The little boy's eyes were wide behind his glasses.

"H-hello."

Dudley stormed up to her.

"I thought you were here to visit me," he whinged. Darcy felt the urge to bite her tongue. She leaned down to him.

"I came to visit everyone, Dudley. Not just you."

"Then why didn't you bring preseeeents."

As a general rule, Darcy liked children. But, as with most rules, there are always exceptions. She tried a different tack.

"Is it your birthday?"

"No," he huffed.

"Is it Christmas?"

"No."

"And I haven't been on a long holiday anywhere either. So why would I bring presents?"

This seemed to stump the boy, as he hadn't realised he needed to provide a reason for presents. Surely they were just a given. The logic of it all escaped him.

Frustrated, he stomped his foot and huffed away, shouting, "I DONT LIKE HER."

Darcy grimaced.

"Don't mind him, he just needs a nap. Poor thing gets terribly grumpy when he's tired, it's not his fault," Petunia simpered. Darcy could believe that Dudley's behaviour was through no fault of his own.

"Darcy, you didn't mention, are you studying? Working? I assume you've finished school by now..." Vernon asked. Darcy nodded.

"I start University in autumn, I'm studying nursing." Not entirely a lie. Petunia beamed.

"Oh how lovely, and such a noble profession, congratulations."

"Thank you, I'm very excited."

From the corner of her eye, she saw Harry fidget, like he was trying to be subtle as she looked for an escape. Vernon caught his eye too, and opened his mouth, sneer in place.

She quickly turned to her real reason for visiting.

"So Harry, how are you enjoying your summer?"

His eyes flicked to Petunia and Vernon before answering, "Fine, thanks."

Darcy's gut clenched. She pressed further.

"Been doing anything fun?"

Again, to her cousin and in-law.

"Y-yes."

"What have you been doing?"

As he spoke, haltingly and hesitant, she got a better look at him. There were grease burns on his little hands. Truly little, his general build was far smaller than any 8 year old should have been, she thought. His shaggy hair was roughly chopped, like someone had tried to scalp the back of his head some time ago and it had grown back with a vengeance over his very pale face. His stance was stooped and looked uncomfortable, like he was used to hunching over. She wasn't sure what from. As she tuned back in to what he was telling her, she realised that most of his babbling were about what Dudley had done all summer.

She nodded slowly as he finished, and gently raised to meet Petunia's eyes with a deadly calm. As soon as they locked gazes, she could tell that Petunia knew she knew. The older woman's upper lip stiffened, nose turned up as she tried to gaze down at her. Darcy didn't flinch, but painted on a polite smile.

"You mentioned Harry was having some behavioural issues before. I have some time this afternoon, perhaps I can take him off your hands for the day. Relieve the pressure." Darcy delivered this with an even tone, and the two could tell she wasn't leaving room for argument.

She watched the gears turn in their respective heads. Petunia's face continued to pucker, like she'd chewed on a lemon. Vernon, however, was turning a frightening shade of purple whilst his face retreated into his neck folds in indignation. On one hand, a seventeen year old girl was effectively telling them, grown adults, what to do. On the other hand... an afternoon Harry-free. They locked eyes one more time, and their spite won out. A strained smile appeared on both of their pained faces.

"That's very kind, thank you," Petunia chewed out. Darcy brightened, nodded, and turned to Harry.

"Let's go."

Harry smiled hesitantly, and turned and ran towards the house. She turned back to her cousins as she backed away.

"I'll bring him back in time for supper!"

She charged back through the house and met him at the front door.

"Alright Harry, let's go on an adventure."

Harry was quiet on their walk to the bus stop, walking nearly a whole person's width away from her side. Darcy's face pinched, eyebrows drawn together.

"Harry," she began. "You know who I am, right?"

He shrugged, not really looking at her.

"Uncle Vernon said you were a guest. Thought you'd be my new babysitter to replace Mrs Figg."

Darcy had to laugh, which startled the boy.

"Harry, I'm your cousin. Well, I'm your mother's and your aunt's cousin. We're kin, Harry."

His head picked up.

"So you really are my family?"

Darcy smiled.

"If you like."

The grin that erupted in his face warmed Darcy over tenfold, more than the summer sun ever could, and she knew in that moment that Harry Potter would never be alone again. Not if she had anything to say about it.

"Come on then. We'll get to know each other, and if you can keep a secret, I'll even grab an ice lolly and we can go to the park."

Harry seemed to like that very much.

A/N: Bit of a filler chapter! It'll gear up next chapter, I promise. Thank you to everyone who has favourited, followed and reviewed!

Please bear with me on the grammar/layout, I'm writing this on my phone and on the app so it's taking me a minute to do so hahaha