A/N: Hello! Thank you all so very much for your endless patience. I try to chip away at this when I can, but a lot of this is only edited through once, maybe twice by myself. I hope you're all loving it, but please don't hesitate to review and let me know what you think! Next chapter, I swear, we meet the whole Weasley brood. And I do mean all ;) Enjoy!

The sound of squeals and shouting greeted Darcy, as her head emerged through the green flames. She grinned at the familiar chaos despite herself. She heard a shriek, this time sounding like it came from Molly herself.

"Ginny Weasley, get back here this instant! It is time for bed!"

Darcy cringed, and called out gently, "Hello Weasleys, is anyone about?"

Slowly, a small, neatly combed head of red peeked out from behind a tatty armchair. Darcy put a patient smile on her face.

"Hello Percy, do you remember me?"

A timid nod.

"Could you ask your mummy to call me back when she's settled? I need to speak with her please. It's Darcy, and I'm at the Orchard."

Another nod, more assured this time. Her heart panged for the shy little boy.

"Thank you sweetheart. You alright? Getting on okay?"

Same again.

"Alright then, I'll have the floo open. Have a good night, I'm sure I'll see you soon."

A wave. Darcy returned it, and ducked back out of the fireplace.

It took Molly another twenty-five minutes before she rang back. A record, Darcy was certain.

"Yoohoo, Darcy dear? Everything alright?"

Darcy crawled over to the fireplace from her spot on the floor, where she'd been leaning against the bottom of the lounge cradling a now-cold mug of tea.

She called back, trying to keep her voice even, "Evening Molly, I'm alright but I wondered if I might speak with you please? I need some advice."

Molly's flickering green face frowned with concern. "Of course love, step back and I'll come through in a tick - Arthur!"

Moments later, Darcy's mantle rose and expanded to accomodate Molly's squat frame, and with a burst of sparks and smoke the Weasley matriarch marched across the hearth. Barely pausing to shake the soot from herself, she was crushing Darcy into a great big hug in an instant. Darcy didn't mind much, Molly's hugs were always welcome, and she herself hadn't worried about ridding the greenish-black smudges from her person either.

Molly pulled back first, but kept hold of her shoulders, giving them a squeeze as she asked again what the matter was. Darcy brought them over to the couch, and waved a wand at the teapot on the breakfast bar separating the kitchen and the humble lounge room. The delicate China floated over with some mugs and a small jug she'd put the last of the cream into in anticipation. The teapot gently warmed as it came, and ever so delicately topped up her black cup, and then poured Molly one. Darcy apologised for the lack of milk, which Molly waved away as she poured her own cream and Darcy told her.

"I took custody of Harry."

"Harry who, dear?" She asked, distractedly, glazing over the word 'custody' as she stirred.

"Harry Potter, Molly. My cousin. I'm taking care of him now."

To her credit, Molly didn't drop her mug. Her jaw was different. She spluttered, tripping over her tongue with a general sense of demanding an explanation without actually using words. So Darcy told her.

She turned a violent shade of red at hearing about the state of affairs in the Dursley household. Balked and tutted at how Darcy had confronted Dumbledore, even though the breaking down of the door was not mentioned. Smiled warmly at her retelling of his encounter with the cafe waitress. And now she was staring, looking nearly as overwhelmed as Darcy was feeling.

Darcy had a tight smile screwed onto her face, so that she didn't let her burning eyes give way to the tears threatening to spill. A moment of silence passed.

"Well," Molly started. "I can see why you're feeling a touch pressed, love. Can I ask, what brought all this about in the first place?"

Darcy huffed out a sigh. "I don't know, I suppose I wanted family. Not just Minerva, or even you, but someone I could call my own, I suppose. So I found blood, I found petunia, and Vernon, and Dudley. And I found Harry. And now I'm realising that blood means nothing. Family is more than blood, it's everything. Family wouldn't do what they did to Harry. But once I saw how thin and sad that little boy was, Molly I couldn't just leave him there. I barely even had the forethought to set up a damn room for him."

"I understand, love. Where is he now, then?"

"Asleep. I converted the attic, transfigured a bed from some old pallets and crates. He's wearing some of my old pyjamas now."

"I see. And your studies?"

Darcy winced. She hadn't even told Minerva about that yet.

"I've owled St. Mungo's. I've deferred a year."

Darcy cowered a little at the stern, disapproving stare that Molly levelled her with.

"It's only a year. Just to get Harry settled and comfortable here with me, and then I'll go back. It's all been arranged. I explained that I had had urgent family issues arise that had to be addressed, and they understood. Thank Merlin, they didn't ask questions either. I suppose it's a small miracle most don't remember that Lily was an Evans first, not a Potter."

Molly nodded, still displeased, but understanding. "Do you know what you'll do for money, then?"

"Lily left me a small amount in the will. Enough to get by for a few years if I'm careful. And if I'm honest, as Harry's guardian I have access to the rest. So if I have to, I'll use some of that to fund any necessities for him. New clothes, school stuff when it comes time, things like that. I could never take his money for selfish reasons, but to care for him, I might have to. But it's his money at the end of the day, and it will remain his money."

Molly nodded again, knowing all too well the hard decisions when it came to finances.

"Seems like you've thought this through more than you think. Even if it does seem a little bit much right now. But if you're asking me, pet, I'd say you've had the right idea from the start."

Darcy looked at her, confused.

"You need more family, and isolating yourself here does neither of you any good. So, starting tomorrow, you'll come to ours for tea, and Harry can meet the boys and make some new friends. Ron's his age, they'll be at Hogwarts together soon enough, so it won't hurt to know someone already. And Percy and Ginny just adore you, it'll be wonderful."

Molly set the tea cup down, and got up as she made the decision. Darcy rushed to meet her.

"Oh Molly I couldn't, you already have enough mouths to feed I wouldn't dream of imposing."

"Hush," the elder woman replied. "I've always told you, you're as good as my daughter anyway, and you're always welcome. You're not imposing if I invited you, dear. We'll see you tomorrow, at half-six, sharp."

Molly embraced the young woman, tightly. Selfishly, Darcy leaned into it just a little more than she ought to have, inhaling the warm, clean, earthy scent of the second mother-like-figure she'd had the privilege of knowing in her life.

"Then you'll not stop me if I bring dessert."

The red-head smiled and nodded her acquiescence, before squeezing Darcy's shoulders one more time.

"You'll be alright, love. You and Harry both. You've got a good head on your shoulders, and love in abundance. That's all you really need."

She turned back to the floo, grasped a handful of powder from Darcy's terracotta pot, and threw it into the fireplace. As she stepped through, she called back over her shoulder with one last smile, "I can't wait to meet him."

With a flash of green, she disappeared. And Darcy suddenly felt exhausted. The old cuckoo clock in the corner ticking away heralded the hour as nine-thirty-seven. With one final wave of her wand, the tea set floated back to the kitchen, next to the sink. She would deal with that later.

As she trudged up to her bedroom on the first floor, Molly's words echoed through her mind. Love in abundance, that's all you need. She felt her chest warm at the thought, and wondered if Lily would have thought the same.