The bright colours of the stained glass mosaic on the Dursley's door was mocking her. The sun. The clouds. The chirping birds. All of it should have brought her into a good mood.
Alas.
Darcy felt her heartbeat rocking through her fingertips as she struggled to form a fist tight enough to knock. Hurried thumps came nearer. Swallow. Breathe.
Fuck.
A meaty paw ripped open the curtain, and Vernon's purple face fell. The curtain whipped back into place. The door did not open. Darcy's eye twitched.
Knock knock knock knock.
Nothing.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
Nothing still.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG-
The door opened.
"What?" He spat. Darcy painted the pleasant smile back onto her face.
"I've come to take Harry off your hands, Vernon."
The purple man scoffed. "Ha. I don't think so. Not so you can take the brat and spoil him again, yes we know all about your little adventure, and we will not be having a repeat performance. We don't need you people interfering in our lives!"
He went to slam the door, but Darcy stuck a foot inside. She winced as her ankle crunched from the force, but held firm.
"No, Vernon. You don't understand. I've come to take Harry. He's no longer your responsibility. I have the paperwork here."
She pulled the rolls of parchment out of her haggard leather purse.
"Vernon? What's going on?" Petunia craned her unusually long neck and wobbled down the hallway towards the door. She too, soured at the sight of Darcy.
"She's come for the boy, Petunia."
He turned, skulked inside, and ripped open the cupboard door underneath the stairs.
"Pack your belongings, boy."
Darcy heard the creaking of a cot, the slam of a door, and the thumping of steps walking away. Something in her gut clenched.
Petunia was still staring at the page, with a funny expression. Almost like the lemon she'd sucked this time had rotted.
"But- but you can't, you're a child, a child can't raise a- he's my nephew you can't-"
Between Petunia's indignance, Dumbledore's neglect, and Vernon's general shittiness, Darcy had just about had enough of the whole ordeal.
"I can, and I will. If you'd wanted to have kept him you should have taken care of him. I might be young, but you and I both know all too well that that boy does not belong in this world, he belongs in mine, and in my world it is perfectly legal and my right as his kin to take him in so he will be coming with me. Today."
"Darcy?"
She hesitated. Petunia shuffled to the side. Big green eyes topped with wild black hair looked back at her. Darcy knelt.
"Hey kiddo. How are you?"
"Are you going to take me away?" Harry ignored the question. She winced.
"Yes baby. But if you don't want me to, that's ok. It's your choice too, I'm sorry if I frightened you, I didn't mean-"
Harry rushed forward and tackled her in a hug, nearly crushing her neck. She coughed, and wrapped her arms around his smaller body. His face was buried in her neck, inhaling her perfume, and not moving. She smiled, a little bitterly.
"So that's a yes then?"
His small face rubbed against her, glasses threatening to bruise. She held his head to her regardless, rubbing his back with her other hand, and held him tighter for a moment.
"Done deal kiddo. From now on, it's you and me then. Always."
She gently tugged him away from her, and held his face between her hands. Scratchy, unkempt pale fingers matted in a tangled black mess. Thumbs wiping tears in a streaky wet mess. Near identical grins.
"Go grab your things then. Anything and everything you can." He nodded and rushed off.
During the whole exchange, Petunia had steadily been turning a bright pink, unshed tears in her eyes too.
"Will you be back?" She choked out. Darcy frowned.
"Not any time soon."
Petunia's face tightened further, her back went ramrod straight, and she nodded briskly.
"Well. Good luck then. He's horrid. A terrible influence on my Duddy-kins. You're well suited for each other."
Hand on back pocket. Eye. Twitching. Petunia caught it. She swelled, like it bolstered her.
"You know, I see it now. I thought you were like me, or your mother. But no. You're just like her. My freak sister. Just as strange. And then she had the gall to up and die, and expect me to take care of the brat? It would have been kinder to everyone if he had just d-"
Petunia deflated. Her eyes bulged as she looked down at the long, thin stick Darcy was jamming into her side. Darcy said nothing, and stared her cousin down, pressing harder and harder, until Petunia backed away, collapsing into the stairs, shaking.
All colour had drained from both faces. One alight with terror, the other dull, and emotionless. Except for the eyes. The emerald orbs were the only clue to the unbridled rage in the young girl.
"Darcy? I'm ready."
Darcy flinched, wand arm dropping from Petunia. Blood rushed back into her face, making her dizzy. She turned to the boy.
"Harry! Got all your stuff darling?" Darcy managed a wan smile. Beside her, Petunia sniffled. Harry nodded, frowning at the weird stick she had been pointing at Aunt Petunia. Darcy hastily shoved it back into her pocket, and reached out to grab the bag. He gave it to her, and Darcy turned to Petunia. No words came. She turned back to Harry.
"Let's go home, sweetheart."
He nodded, smiling shyly, and the two turned on their heels out the door.
Petunia lay there, and let out a gasping breath, allowing herself to process what had just happened. Vernon called out.
"Petunia! Are they gone yet?"
She didn't move, only replying, "Yes. He's gone. They're both gone."