Chapter 1
Darcie Black looked at her watch. Incomprehensible to muggles, she sussed that the time was just gone midnight. Then she gazed longingly back at her book, "Hogwarts: a History", watching the stormy lake brew. She sensed a barn owl fly overhead, and stood up to see, casting down her book as she did so. But she had just missed the owl fly into the thicket, silhouetted against the starry sky. The waning moon gave her little light to read by, but her eyes adjusted accordingly, a tiny silver band around her dilated pupils.
"Darcie? Darcie! Oh where is that cursed child?"
The shout startled Darcie from the tree branch she was lounging on, and she swayed for a moment before falling off altogether. She saw the ground rise up to meet her, as if in slow motion, and swung her legs down to land in a crouching position before her startled aunt. Rising slowly, she readjusted her clothes and gave her aunt a steady stare, giving her time to recover before she replied.
"Sorry I surprised you, Libby. You did surprise me though, that's why I fell out of my tree."
Libby frowned at her, hand firmly on chest, and opened her mouth to speak. But Darcie interrupted.
"Is there anything you want?"
Her aunt glowered at her, and finding the words she wanted, retorted,
"You should be in bed young lady. You're meeting Molly and Arthur Weasley tomorrow, remember? It's not like you to forget."
Darcie rolled her eyes.
"Oh no, really Libby? I'd quite forgotten it's almost the biggest day of my life tomorrow. How kind of you to remind me."
Libby sighed, weary of Darcie's constant irony and sarcasm.
"Okay, I'm sorry. Anyway, don't worry, you'll be rid of me soon. I've packed my trunk, though I might need an extra bag for some of my jewellery - it won't fit. I can put Lily in her cage before we go, and I think that's it."
Libby tried to continue looking aggravated, but gave up the desperate attempt, smiling, bringing Darcie into her arms and hugging her to her chest.
"I will miss you, Darcie, especially if you aren't home at Christmas. How will I cope? Now come on, off to bed."
Darcie smiled, protesting.
"But I can't sleep!"