No sooner had Darby read the final line than Beryl had snatched the letter from her.
"You will not be going!" She snarled!
"Beryl. Look, you need to know..." Dudley began, but Beryl cut him off.
"Enough! We will be sending Darby to Dunkel, and that's final!"
"Mum! Not Dunkel. Please." Darby cried.
"You. Will. Go. To. Dunkel!" Beryl screeched. "Now, young lady, no loitering around."
Beryl made her daughter help her with the chores all day long in an effort to keep her away from Dudley or the Hogwarts letter. The following morning, Darby was in for a surprise. When Darby heard the calling bell, she went down.
An exhausted Dudley (had Daddy had one of his sleepless nights again? Darby wondered) opened the door to see his cousin brother with the same warm smile. With him stood a Hogwarts professor. He had a round face filled with warmth and calmness. He politely greeted Dudley. With a warm smile, Dudley invited the two men to sit in the living room.
Darby was fascinated to see someone from Hogwarts in their house. The kind-looking man had green eyes just like Uncle Harry's, and blonde hair similar to her dad's. He also had a thin scar across his forehead, albeit different from Uncle Harry's.
"Hello, Darby." Uncle Harry said pleasantly.
"Uncle Harry!" She jumped into her favorite uncle's arms. "Come in!"
"Darby dear. Meet Professor Longbottom!"
"Hello, Professor Longbottom!" Darby said. "I'm Darby Dursley!"
"Hello there, Darby Dursley." Neville said pleasantly.
When Darby led the way, she noticed how Professor Longbottom glared at the cupboard under the stairs.
"Oh, Harry!"
"Not here, mate, please!" Harry said.
"But they made you grow up in the cupboard under the staircase for so long!" He growled.
"It's all in the past, Neville. Besides, this is not even the exact cupboard-under-the-stairs I grew up in. That was in Number Four, Privet Drive, many years ago." Harry said and quickly led the way to the living room.
Dudley sat down as Beryl walked in just then.
"Hey, Big D! Remember I told you about this hero who led the resistance against the Carrows, fought Voldemort's Death Eaters, and killed Voldemort's snake, Nagini? This is him, Neville Longbottom! Professor of Herbology and Head of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts!" Harry introduced, making Neville blush, "No, it's nothing compared to what Harry, Ron, and Hermione did."
Darby heard Beryl mutter, "Great! We now have another freak!"
"But it's still much more than what many others did, Neville! You, Ginny, and Luna!" Harry said. "As I told you, this is my cousin, Dudley Dursley. His wife, Beryl Dursley. You have met Darby Diva Dursley here."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley." Neville shook hands with Dudley. Bery rolled her eyes behind Neville's back after shaking hands with him.
"Pleasure is ours to meet you, Professor! Really, we stand nowhere near you!" Dudley said enthusiastically.
"Oh, no, please." Neville's cheeks were pink now.
"To what do we owe this honor, Professor?" Dudley asked.
"Right! About that…." Neville took out a letter similar to the letters Darby had seen over the last week.
"Darby Dursley has been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Professor Longbottom said happily and gave Darby her letter.
"SHE WILL NOT BE GOING! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?" Beryl bellowed, making everybody in the room jump.
Dudley shook his head, "I had told you many times what happened when my parents refused to let Harry open his letters or refused to send him to Hogwarts. I've also explained what happens when a child is forced to keep their magic to themselves. You cannot beat the magic out of somebody, Beryl."
Beryl raised her hand to stop him. "Listen here, young girl! I will not have you get away with this!" Beryl harshly told Darby. Upset, Darby changed the TV color from dark brown to lavender.
"You're right, Harry. Your niece is a powerful witch." Professor Longbottom observed as he took out his wand and set the T.V. color back to dark brown.
"No, she is not! We are all doing our best to stamp the nonsense out of her, and she is still being a freak!" Beryl thundered.
Harry flicked his wand just then, and the dishes in the sink washed on their own. With a flick of his wand, Neville turned the dry summer air cool and misty. Dudley was mesmerized. Darby was amazed and excited.
"Please, allow me to explain, Mrs. Dursley." Neville's voice was soft yet firm.
"No! Professor, Darby is attending a private school and will not be attending Hogwarts! She'll be grateful for this!"
A shocked silence ensured.
"W-What?" Dudley said.
"Her name is already on the list, and I was informed that Darby will be attending..." Neville trailed off.
"I'm not going anywhere! I want to go to Hogwarts!" Darby cried.
"You're coming with me tomorrow without question!" Beryl screamed.
"Mrs. Dursley. It is understandable if you want time to reconsider..." Professor Longbottom said.
"Ah, Professor! I see you have other appointments now!" Beryl sneered coldly.
Offended, Harry stood up, as did Neville, who looked shocked. Dudley was furious.
"Mrs. Dursley. You will please not talk to Professor Longbottom in this manner." Harry said with a subtle scowl.
"Apologize to Professor Longbottom, Beryl. You shouldn't offend our guests!" Dudley said.
"I-It's okay. I am sorry. I'll leave right away." Neville was shocked but maintained his composure.
Harry apologized profusely to Neville, "Nev, I'm so sorry. I'm sure this is a misunderstanding. And, of course, nothing against you personally!"
Neville said coolly, "Sure, Harry. There's still time to reconsider." Then, Neville disapparated right away. Beryl let out a small scream seeing Neville vanish into thin air.
"Professor Longbottom! Oh, no! Harry! I am extremely sorry for my wife's behavior!" Dudley apologized. "I will talk sense into her."
"Don't worry, Big D. I know you will sort this out. But remember, if Darby is forced to hide or control her magic, she might turn into an Obscural, which can be deadly for her! I have no idea how much magic she is forced to hide since I don't see much accidental magic at all. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me."
As the adults parted ways, a shadow by the door moved away. Running back to her room, she flung herself onto the bed crying. She was scared of going to a distant and possibly frightening place.
Darby couldn't sleep that night. Dark shadows loomed over her even as the distant half-moon mocked at her plight. Dread, as thick as nausea in her stomach filled her body. No amount of reasoning from Dudley convinced Beryl to give up her stupid pursuit of trying to limit Darby's powers. She knew her mother was planning something, and there was simply nothing she could do about it. When she tossed in her bed for the umpteenth time, the alarm went off. It was six in the morning. She could hear her father and mother arguing as they approached her room.
"I'm telling you! I won't allow this!"
"I'm sending her away! Far away! You can rot in hell!"
"Where will you send her? Mr. and Mrs. Potter are her legal guardians! If not us, Darby should live with the Potters!"
"She will not be going with those freaks! Didn't I tell you so many years back that I disagree?"
"And didn't I tell you that the Potters are the only people I can trust my daughter with? And don't lie to me! You agreed to me that day!"
"Because I couldn't argue with a stubborn idiot who, hopefully, would see sense sooner or later!" Beryl shot back as she entered the room. Darby was awoken by her mother.
"We will pack your bags. We're going out!"
"Where, Mum? Dad?" Darby asked, getting excited.
"Abroad." Beryl said. She had already taken out Darby's clothes.
"How many of us are going, and when will we return?" Darby asked.
"We are shifting." Beryl said.
"Shifting? I do not want to shift! Why can't we stay where we are? Dad, tell Mum."
"Your dad will be quiet if he knows what's good for him, and as for you, young woman, listen here!"
"Why are we going elsewhere?" Darby demanded.
"Because you'll get better friends, better teachers, and far better textbooks!" Beryl was now getting irritated. Then, her demeanor changing, she took out a suitcase.
"See this new suitcase! I paid a fortune to buy this adorable thing for my darling daughter!" Beryl said as she thrust a couple of Darby's clothes.
"I have enough friends here already. I don't need to go elsewhere." Darby said. "Why all this, Mum?"
"No more questions!" Beryl said as she packed Darby's things in another bag.
Confused, Darby looked around her room. She had seen Teddy and the other Weasleys carry trunks to Hogwarts, not suitcases. So much was going on that wasn't right.
"They will keep her safe if she is with them! Honestly, Beryl, can you trust anybody else for the same?" Dudley, keen on continuing their debate a while ago, asked the same question he had asked years back, and Beryl rolled her eyes.
"Aunt Marge? Seriously?" Dudley said, and Beryl shivered. Much as she admired the Dursleys, she could only trust her with Darby when she felt there was no other way. The Potters were the better option, but Beryl wasn't ready to admit that.
"I assure you that I have made my choice clear after thorough research and with full faith," Dudley had told Beryl that day. Well, as long as Darby was safe, Beryl didn't mind.
"But still! She is going away from you and from all this! There is no other way!" Beryl said.
"Don't you dare separate me from my daughter!"
"I carried her in my womb for nine months! She must listen to me!"
"Y-You... c-can't do this... to me!" Dudley choked.
"There, young lady!" Beryl said menacingly. "Henceforth, you will be living..."
The corners of her eyes burned as a hot trail rolled down her cheeks that burned with the mark of her mother's fingers. She sat tied up in a blood-red car that looked like the mouth of a serpent, ready to swallow her. She could hear her mother thanking her profusely. Never in her worst dreams had she imagined that she would permanently be moving in with this monster!
"Darby, no!" Her father kept whimpering. Never had she seen her father looking so broken and defeated. She hadn't expected her mother to send her away, and that too, with her.
A harsh voice brought her to the present. "Shut your mouth!"
She was frightened of her. Her father had told her so much about this woman. She had bullied Uncle Harry a lot back in his childhood until one day in his teens, he blew her up like a balloon. For the rest of the journey, both sat in two different corners - one cursing and the other sniffling. She was taken in an aeroplane, and even then, she sat quietly. Not daring to hope. Not daring to wonder. Not daring to be curious.
Through her tears, she saw Marjorie Dursley sit up straight. "Kahlstadt!" That was the city Dunkel School was located!
"I hate this place! Look at all those dull-looking men and women walking like zombies! They've selected the right name for this place!" She complained.
Marge ignored her and dragged her to a lodge. For the next two days, Marge showed Darby around the city and tried pampering her.
"See! I'm so jealous! You get to study in this wonderful city! In fact, that glass building there is a tourist spot! And it is barely a ten-minute walk from your school!"
The second day Darby had arrived in Kahlstadt, she got to see Dunkel. It was not at all this glamorous picture her mother, her mother's parents, and the Dursley grandparents painted. There were no bright colors, no sounds of merrymaking, and looked unfit for children. It was a grim, derelict building, exactly the way she had imagined how Grimmauld Place must have looked like during the Voldemort wars her father told her about. How could her mother want her to live here for ten months in a year? She'd rather live at Hogwarts for ten months of a year.
What she didn't know was that during her time at Kahlstadt, her father was, in vain, having a heated debate with her mother and both sets of grandparents.
"Darby will not turn out to be a freak!" Beryl said.
Dudley shook his head, "You can not dictate what she can and cannot be, Beryl."
"What's all this nonsense, Vernon? I thought yours was a decent family?" Beryl's father asked. Vernon looked ashamed and furious.
"It's because of that freak!" Vernon bellowed.
"We have no idea why Dudders started associating with that freak! And now, Darby is turning out to be one of them!" Petunia said.
"Will you stop calling my daughter names?" Dudley said.
"Yes, on one condition! She will be completely normal and attend Dunkel! None of that freak business!" Beryl said adamantly.
"NO! You will not send her away!" Dudley said, tearing up. "Please!"
"Shut up! Why am I even living with you, eh? Mum! Dad! Dudley here isn't normal. He attends this thing called 'therapy'! Who even does that?"
There was a shocked silence.
"A what?" Beryl's mother said furiously.
"It's a lie! My Dudders is perfectly normal! He won't have any of this therapy nonsense!" Petunia said, and Beryl laughed.
"I personally followed Dudley a few times! I even went in and checked with the receptionist! He has been attending therapy since before we were married! I have the list with me!"
Shocked, Petunia began sobbing, and Vernon grabbed Dudley by the collar, "How dare you befoul the Dursley name by attending therapy! Are you insane? Are you abnormal?" He slapped Dudley hard and pushed him away.
"You will stop attending therapy and will give up all contact with those freaks if you consider yourself normal!" Petunia cried.
"Otherwise it's a divorce!" Beryl said in a matter of finality.
"D-Divorce?" Vernon was shocked. "No Dursley has ever divorced! You listen to me!" He told Dudley, "If you get divorced, we will disown you! You will not get a penny of the Dursley property!"
"Fine!" Dudley roared. "I don't care about the property! You guys clearly don't care about my daughter or my mental health! Going to therapy is insulting to you, eh? But your own son's suffering isn't insulting enough?" He glared at his parents.
Vernon's cold voice sent shivers down his spine, "Yes!"
"Why can't you let me do whatever I want and live in peace?" Dudley demanded.
"Ah, yes! If we did that, you'd be selling burgers on the street!" Vernon spat.
"Running a fast-food chain is my passion! You've never understood that! And yet I followed everything you said! That boring desk job at Grunnings! I resign right away!"
"Sure!" Beryl said. "Now you'll say you didn't want to get married either. Let's divorce, then?"
"W-What?" Dudley was shocked and tried to speak, but Beryl didn't allow anyone to talk. "And if we get divorced, Darby will come with me and do as I say. There will not be any more of this rubbish!"
"Even now, you're separating me from her! That Dunkel school or whatever it is! What's the difference?" Dudley spat. He could feel his own tears running down his cheeks. Beryl and the others looked revolted and disgusted.
"The difference is that you will never see her again!"
"We are ashamed of Dudley and apologize on his behalf. He is such an ungrateful son!" Vernon wept, and Beryl's father patted his shoulder in sympathy. Beryl's mother led a sobbing Petunia into the kitchen as the latter cried about what wrong she had done to deserve freaks in her life. Beryl gave him a triumphant smirk and stalked away, leaving a weakened Dudley in her wake.
Darby opened her eyes to the bright sunshine of the countryside. After showing her around, Marge had brought Darby back to the country and taken her straight to her house in the countryside. Her eyelids were as heavy as her heart, and her head was spinning. Before she could understand why she felt so dizzy and feverish, she puked into Marge's expensive carpet. As if on cue, Marge showed up right then and went into a frenzy.
"MY EXPENSIVE CARPET! YOU RUINED IT!"
But Darby had fainted. Furious at her and not caring in the least about her health, Marge phoned the Dursleys in the city. By afternoon, the rest of the family was at Darby's bedside.
"Marge. We will compensate." Vernon said. "Can you give us some time?"
"You better do it fast!" Marge roared. "This rotten girl is just like that rotten woman!"
Marge had never liked Beryl or her family. She always preferred that Dudley marry a Dursley cousin. But the other Dursley cousins had all been either too young or already married.
Days passed by. Every available doctor was consulted, both near Marge's house and near Dudley's own house, but no one could ascertain what was wrong with her except that she kept muttering, 'Hogwarts'. She had grown pale and was bedridden. Dark circles made her look like she was dying.
One day, Uncle Harry visited them. His face was white, and he looked concerned.
"What's wrong? How is Darby?" He asked Dudley, who quietly led the way to her room. Her spirits soared as he stepped into her room. He looked at her with the same affection and kindness as always, but this time with worry as well.
"Healer Audrey Weasley recommends this potion. This ought to help." Harry said, taking out a vial of blue potion.
"Potion? NO WAY!" Beryl protested.
Dudley, however, said, "Harry, if you're sure about this, give it to her. I just want Darby to get well."
"What! How can you...?" Beryl protested, but Dudley nodded to Harry. who gave Darby the potion. Within moments, her pale skin regained color. But she was still weak.
"Audrey says that witches and wizards can do something muggles can't - produce powerful but deadly magic within. This can manifest in anybody at any time and any place. Or it may not manifest at all. That could be internal, like in Darby's case, or external. Is there anything she wants, and you're refusing?" Harry asked.
As though in reply, Darby weakly said, 'Hogwarts!'
Dudley nodded. "Darby wants to go to Hogwarts while these people aren't letting her go."
"We decide where she has to go!" Beryl said.
"I think we should let Darby decide for herself." Dudley began.
"Listen, Dudley! You won't get the property if you..." Beryl began, but Dudley firmly cut her off.
"How can you think about stuff like property when our daughter is ailing, Beryl! Either way, you can't threaten me like that. I'm as interested in the Dursley property as you seem to be in magic." Dudley retorted. He was working, and he had a good amount of savings. Beryl had the grace to look ashamed of herself but was adamant about Darby not attending Hogwarts. She wasn't giving in. Nor was Darby, who was equally insistent on going there.
"Okay, let's do this." Harry said after some time. "Let's send Darby to Hogwarts for a year. After that, let's see what she wants."
"Agreed." Dudley said, and even Beryl thought it was a good idea.
"You wait and watch. I am sure Darby will come to me crying and say, 'Mummy, I am so sorry I was stupid! That freak place is no good, and I would rather go wherever you tell me to!' And I will be gracious enough to forgive her and send her to Dunkel!" Beryl said. Turning to Darby, she said, "In one year, you yourself will be wanting to leave that place!"
Darby sniffled and hid under the blanket while Dudley looked at Harry who shook his head sadly. Dudley then asked Harry if they could speak to Professor Longbottom again. That was how two days later, Neville Longbottom had come for the second time to the Dursley residence.
Meanwhile, Teddy Lupin had returned after completing his seventh and final year at Hogwarts. The day he returned. he went with Calvin and Jasmine to watch a muggle movie. After that, for the last few weeks, he had personally visited each of the Weasleys at their houses. His grandmother, godfather, the Potters, and the Weasleys were all proud and happy for him. He was going to be accompanying Professor Longbottom to the Dursleys. Harry was coming too.
When Darby opened the door, she happily led the trio in. Dudley gifted Teddy a laptop as a congratulatory gift on behalf of the Dursleys. With sincere apologies for the previous encounter, both Dudley and Beryl offered Neville the best of service. Tea and snacks were offered, and Neville was made to feel comfortable.
"As for the therapy, you shouldn't discontinue, Big D. Your mental health is important even if no one realizes it." Hary told Dudley as they took their seats. Dudley nodded. Hopefully, Beryl would understand.
"So, what have you decided?" Neville pleasantly asked, as though merely picking up from a conversation they had been having. Darby sat next to her favorite brother, Teddy.
"She will be going to Hogwarts," Dudley said, but Beryl cut him off, "For a year. Only to realize her mistake!" Darby scowled while Teddy glared at Beryl. Teddy was upset with the way Beryl and the others had been treating Darby.
"What mistake?" Neville was concerned, but Dudley continued. "Professor, please help us with the formalities. Like her subjects, etc." Beryl had a sarcastic smile the whole time while Dudley sincerely listened. Darby was listening with rapt attention.
Over the next few minutes, Neville Longbottom, joined by Harry Potter, calmly explained things about Hogwarts, magic, and the wizarding world. "How will she get to Diagon Alley?" Dudley asked.
'There is a secret place called the 'Leaky Cauldron' in London which only witches and wizards can see. Muggles can't see it unless they are accompanied by a witch or a wizard. From there, you go to Diagon Alley." Harry said.
"I have muggle money. And you say there's a separate currency. How does it work?" Dudley asked.
"There is a wizarding bank, Gringotts, run by goblins. You can exchange muggle money for golden Galleons and silver Sickles there." Harry said.
"Are they all Ravenclaws since they obviously work with money?" Dudley asked.
Harry laughed, and Neville chuckled, "No, Mr. Dursley. First of all, the House you're sorted into has little to do with your occupation. You could be a cowardly Gryffindor like Pettigrew, a brave Hufflepuff like our own Nymphadora Tonks (Teddy beamed at the mention of his mother), a dumb Ravenclaw like Lockhart, and a kind Slytherin like Andromeda Tonks (Teddy was grinning as his grandmother's name came up)."
Soon, everybody decided to go to Diagon Alley the following morning to buy Darby's school supplies. Harry would be showing the Dursleys around Diagon Alley. They bid goodbye to Teddy who would be starting his Auror training shortly. He had a date with Victorie Weasley.
"I'm not coming in!" Beryl stubbornly said at the Leaky Cauldron while the other two Dursleys proceeded to finish their shopping.
Soon, Mrs. Potter and the three Potter children joined them. Gringotts Wizarding Bank was their first stop. Darby had a wonderful day at Diagon Alley. She ate ice cream with her cousins, James, Albus, and Lily, at "Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour". She and James got all their spellbooks, equipment, uniforms, wands, potion ingredients, and cauldrons. She and Albus spent time staring at the new brooms in the market. Aunt Ginny told her about her days as a HolyHead Harpies player. Darby was fascinated and wanted to play Quidditch. She and Lily played a lot of games together and even slept together on their way back.
Harry gifted Darby an eagle owl which she was excited to own. Looking at that, Dudley excused himself for about three-quarters of an hour. When he returned, he brought James a watch from a popular muggle brand for starting at Hogwarts.
"Oh, Big D. It wasn't necessary." Harry tried to say, but Dudley brushed it off. "Never mind."
James was ecstatic about the gift and kept brandishing it everywhere. "What about us?" Albus and Lily demanded. Ginny admonished them, but Dudley chuckled, "Wait till your Hogwarts letters arrive."
"Harry, shall we go to that joke shop your brother-in-law has? I want to buy some joke products." Dudley said.
"Ha! Sure! We all could do with a laugh!" Harry said.
When Dudley had first met the extended Weasley family, he and George Weasley had stared each other in the eye. George then apologized on behalf of him and Fred for the Ton Tongue Toffee incident. George insisted that the twins did that only as revenge for what the Dursleys did to Harry. Dudley had assured him that he understood it, had already apologized to Harry, and once again apologized. After that incident, George and the other Weasleys had no problem with Dudley. In fact, they doted on Darby just like they doted on Teddy and the others.
"Harry!" Ron said with a smile as they entered the shop.
"Ron!" Harry hugged his best friend and brother. "Mate, will you show us the way out?"
Dudley was shocked, but Ron laughed, "Sure, come in!"
Turns out Harry and Ron communicated like that. To any other outsider, it wouldn't make sense, but the two best friends knew each other perfectly well. Dudley couldn't help but grin. He let Darby buy anything she wanted. He also purchased Nosebleed Nougats, "It's gonna come in handy!" He said.
"Sure." George's laughter brought Dudley to reality.
Dudley grinned, "Well, I'm not slacking off."
"No judgments," George said. "Anybody would want some time off for themselves. Perfectly understandable, and no excuses required. Well, unless you are Perfect Percy!" The two burst into laughter.
Even as Darby took out a Puking Pastille, she found herself holding the same one being held by another girl. She looked embarrassed.
"Oh, sorry. You can take it." She said.
Darby shook her head, "No. I'm sorry I took it when you were going for it. You can take it."
Just then, Roxy showed up. "Darby, you can take this one." She said with a smile and gave a second one to Darby as the other girl apologized.
"I am Darby Dursley. And what's your name?" Darby asked her kindly.
"Jean Fawcett, Half-Blood, but grew up with muggles." She said. "We don't know how things have been after the war since we left the Wizarding World long ago. We're back only because I got my Hogwarts letter. I've always wanted to prove that I'm a capable witch." She said.
"Nothing wrong in it. I'm Muggleborn, and my cousins are Half-Bloods." Darby said. Just then, James Potter came with a boy, "Darby! I've made a new friend, Andrew Waters!"
"Hello, Andrew Waters! Nice to meet you! Jamie, I too made a new friend, Jean Fawcett." Darby said jovially, and James introduced himself.
"You know, Darby? I'm also muggle-born like you. But unlike you, my family doesn't know any witches and wizards." Andrew said later. "I'm nervous and we know nothing about the magical world."
Darby smiled and said, "No worries. We all start from scratch."
That afternoon, Dudley accompanied Harry to a muggle pub after telling Beryl to take Darby's purchases back home while Ginny took the kids to the Burrow. In the evening, the two cousins met with the children.
Darby happily told her daddy about the new 'eclectic car' Arthur Weasley had been talking about.
"Daddy! He was surprised when I told him it was an 'electric' car! He made a funny face and said sorry, and we all grinned!" Darby finished. Dudley listened gratefully and happily. Laughing, they all made their way back to Dudley's house.
Arthur Weasley had retired a few weeks ago. That day, after sending everyone home, Arthur Weasley was at the shed in the Burrow.
"Arthur, why do you tinker these muggle objects even now?" Molly asked.
"Muggles, muggles, muggles. I don't like muggles. I avoid them. But muggles like me. I can't avoid it!" Arthur said. Molly shook her head with a grin, "Oh, my God, Arthur! You really love muggle movies!"
"I do!" Came an excited voice from behind her as she shut the door.
At the Dursley home, Beryl had unceremoniously dumped all of Darby's things on the bed in Darby's room in disgust. But Darby lovingly arranged and began packing everything. She was finally going to Hogwarts! And with James! Just then, James, Albus, and Lily entered her room, and she began chatting with them. She'd resume packing later.
"So, what does Aunt Petunia say, Big D?" Harry asked.
"Jealous," Dudley said. "She couldn't go, nor could I! But Darby gets to go! I can't believe she would get jealous of her granddaughter!"
"W-What? Seriously?" Harry was shocked.
Ginny turned to Harry and said darkly, "Considering she got jealous of her own sister for years, even after the said sisters' death, is it really a surprise she would be jealous of her granddaughter?" Harry nodded.
"And Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked Dudley.
"Does he even care? He's just like Aunt Marge. Pretend that whatever you hate doesn't exist." Dudley shrugged.
"What about Beryl and her parents?" Ginny asked.
"They're even better at pretending that all this is nonexistent. They firmly believe that Darby will 'come to her senses and go to Dunkel'." Dudley said with two fingers of each hand in the air.
Later, the Potters went home as the Dursleys prepared to call it a day.
Neither Dudley nor Darby would have thought, but something happened just a few days before September the First. Beryl had just finished buying groceries and was coming home when suddenly, a bus lost control and sped in her direction. Beryl screamed in fear but watched in awe as Darby took out her wand and yelled, "PROTEGO!"
The bus stopped, and everybody inside and outside the bus was safe. Soon, the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad rushed in to modify the memories of the muggles. One of them asked Darby how she knew to cast the Shield Charm.
Innocently, she told them that she was taught several basic and advanced spells by her uncle. Harry was appreciated for teaching children such good spells, and Beryl, too, was grateful for this.
Soon, September the First arrived. Dudley escorted his daughter along with her trunk, bags, and owl to Kings Cross Station. Rose was attending Hogwarts the next year with Albus, so Dudley saw only the Potters.
"Where's Beryl?" Ginny asked.
"At home. You know her. She said goodbye. She won't come." Dudley shook his head. Harry gave a sympathetic smile.
"I'm going to miss you, Daddy!" Darby said.
Fighting back the tears, Dudley smiled at his daughter, "I'll miss you too, sweety. But you'll make friends and have lots of fun at Hogwarts. Isn't that exciting? Daddy will be waiting to hear from you!" He hugged his daughter and then hugged James. Harry hugged his son and Darby, and Ginny did the same.
"I too wanna go!" Lily sniffed.
"When you are eleven, Lily," Ginny told her. Ginny knew how it felt watching your older siblings go off to Hogwarts while you waited for your turn.
"Why can't I go now?" Al demanded.
"Next year, Al," Ginny said. "You will be eleven then."
Meanwhile, at the train, James and Andrew were joined by Darby and Jean in one of the compartments. They ate Chocolate Frogs and spoke about themselves with each other. After getting down, Hagrid ferried them across the lake, and they were escorted inside.
HOGWARTS
Professor Flitwick, a tiny little man, stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," he told the first years gathered in the Great Hall.
Darby stood next to James and waited. Apart from tiny little Professor Flitwick, there was the half-giant, Professor Hagrid she had just met. Hagrid grinned at her, and she grinned back. The Care of Magical Creatures professor was seated next to Professor Longbottom of Herbology. Neville was the Head of Gryffindor House. Headmistress McGonagall was a severe-looking woman who wasn't to be crossed. There were so many other teachers sitting there. Turning around a bit, Darby recognized some of the Weasleys here and there, such as Fred and Louis.
All the Weasleys waved enthusiastically at her. James grinned at her encouragingly. His father had instructed him to make sure Darby was fine at Hogwarts.
"Dursley, Darby!"
Darby gasped. She slowly made her way to the stool.
"A young girl with a fiery determination to prove herself, who feels lost and wants to achieve a high position in the wizarding world! Slytherin would be good for you,."
"S-Slytherin?" Darby said, scared.
"Don't worry. Slytherin will help you find your way." The Hat told her. Moments later, the Hat cried out, "SLYTHERIN!"
The green and silver-clad table at the far left applauded and cheered, and Darby got down. She gave a pleading look to James as though asking him to be sorted into Slytherin too. He nodded reassuringly at her. She waited, tense.
"Potter, James!"
Darby didn't even realize she was holding her breath. She desperately wanted her cousin and childhood friend to be sorted into the same house as her. Even Jean Fawcett sensed it and rubbed her hand. An eternity later, her stomach sank as the hat said. "GRYFFINDOR!"
Hope you all got the reference highlighted in bold.
Darby is in Slytherin, and James, in Gryffindor. But she wanted her brother to be in her House. What will happen next? Will Dudley start his venture?
