DOUBTS AND COMPETITION.

"Er – Hermione, what happened to your eye?" I asked, examining it closely. She had only been out of the living room for a few minutes and she was already forming a black eye. I held my wand over her and flicked it, but it did nothing. I frowned. "I don't understand – it usually works."

"It'll be Fred's and George's idea of a joke if it doesn't come off," said Ginny and Hermione's mouth dropped open a little. I sat at the end of the table and Lupin stood behind me, his hands placed gently on my shoulders.

"Where are your results?" I asked, trying to change the subject. Mrs. Weasley flicked her wand and a chair appeared behind Lupin, hitting his knees and making him fall back into the chair. He sat beside me, a bit surprised, but then relaxed. "There's three owls… I'm surprised they know you guys are here."

Hermione's hands were shaking as she opened her envelope. "I just know I messed up Ancient Runes!"

I looked towards Harry and he read his letter a few times before his breathing went back to normal. He grinned and handed it to me. I read them and smiled. He had gotten one O, in Defense Against the Dark Arts. The only classes he messed up were Divination and History of Magic – which he collapsed in anyway.

"Well done in the Dark Arts, Harry," Lupin smiled proudly, as if Harry was his own son. I cringed a bit, seeing as the age different was right.

"How did you two do?" I asked.

"Not bad," Ron replied and he handed me his. There were no outstandings. He also failed History of Magic and Divination. "Hermione, what about – Merlin's beard! – ten O's? You're disappointed, aren't you?"

Hermione laughed and shook her head.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Someone stumbled out in the hall and I jumped up, racing to see if anyone had gotten hurt. As I looked at the ground, I grinned.

"Wotcher, Darcy!"

"Tonks!" I breathed and I stuck out my hand, helping her up. "When did you get here?"

"Like, five minutes ago," she replied, brushing herself off. "I tried to scare you, but I'm just too clumsy!" She looked at me and smiled, and then held her arms out. I hugged her tightly.

Feelings of guilt suddenly filled my head and I pulled away from Tonks suddenly, but she didn't seem to notice anything weird. She sat down on the couch and I took a seat beside her. I didn't want her to be upset, but I didn't know how to avoid it –

"How are things? With you and Remus?" she asked and I raised an eyebrow, stuttering. "I'm not upset, Darcy…"

"Well, we're uh – we're fine…" I replied. "How have things been with you?" I asked her quickly, trying to talk about anything other than Lupin.

"Alright," she grinned. "Dumbledore told me I'll be going back to Hogwarts this year as extra protection. I'm just so excited. Aren't you?" She didn't let me answer. "I heard Molly telling me that Slughorn is going to be the potions master this year. Who's going to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

"Snape," I answered dully.

"Snape? Is that a good idea?" she asked – she was mostly talking to herself, but she glanced at me every so often. "I mean, he's in the Order, but Dumbledore knows he was… oh, I guess it doesn't matter… he's on our side now, isn't he?"

I nodded slowly.

"Dumbledore is very concerned for the safety and welfare of his students," Tonks suddenly said gravely and she caught my attention once more. I stared at her.

"What do you mean? Are they in trouble?"

"Now everyone knows that Voldemort is back," she began. "We think that he's trying to get into the school – or at least some Death Eaters are. You really think he'd just forget what happened to you and Harry and everyone last year?"

I looked away.

I was about to speak, but Mrs. Weasley's voice saved me. "DINNER'S READY!"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dinner was the best meal I had eaten in a long time. Mrs. Weasley prepared almost everything under the sun. There was chicken, steak, pork, and plenty of dessert to go around. I sat next to Harry and Lupin and it was difficult to eat because my elbows would keep bumping theirs; I didn't want to touch Lupin too much with Tonks in sight. I still felt guilty and terrible, although she barely seemed to notice.

Conversation was excellent. There was no one talking about Lupin and me – it was mostly about Hogwarts and how Mrs. Weasley was a bit concerned. She also talked about Slughorn, as did Mr. Weasley. They chatted about Snape being the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and then asked Tonks if she was ready to return to Hogwarts. Lupin was excited to return, as well.

Fleur and I cleaned up after dinner, using magic rarely. We passed the time by cleaning up everything by hand and washing dishes the Muggle way, like I normally did at the Dursley's house.

"That Remus man," Fleur began and I felt my cheeks turn red as I rinsed the plates she handed me. "You like him?"

"I, well, I –" I laughed nervously. "Yes, I like him. I think he's a very nice man."

"No," she said and I avoided eye contact with Fleur. "You like him more – more than friend?"

I didn't say anything comprehendible. I kept spluttering nonsense.

"He's a bit old, don't you think?" she asked me with a thick French accent. "How old?"

"He's, er – thirty six."

She didn't say anything the rest of the time.

"Going to bed, Darcy?" Mrs. Weasley asked me after dinner. I was slouched on the couch, half awake, listening to the wireless she had put out. Mrs. Weasley was trying to knit a blanket or something the Muggle way and I knew she was doing it wrong because Petunia was an avid knitter and quite good at it. "I'll leave if you want to sleep."

"Oh, no," I said, sitting up slightly and rubbing my eyes. "I'm uh – I'm sleeping in Remus's room tonight."

"Really?" she asked and her eyebrows shot up, giving me a stern look. I chuckled. I knew that look. It was the mother look – the overprotective look – the look that I had never seen my own mother give me. "In his bed?"

"Yes," I nodded. "But it's just sleeping, Mrs. Weasley. Remember, I'm twenty-one! We had this discussion already."

"I know, I just think he's a bit old!" she reminded me for what was the thousandth time. "I just think it's also a bit odd that he was your dad's best friend – he's always saying how you look so much like Lily."

My breath hitched. I suddenly remembered what Emily had said to me in my last year at Hogwarts.

"You look exactly like your mum! He must have been in love with her or something so when he sees you, he just thinks of Lily! And so he thinks he must be in love withyouor something!"

I never thought it was a reasonable argument, but if Emily wasn't the only one who thought so… my heart raced a little. I always thought Emily was daft and that she didn't know what she was talking about, but Mrs. Weasley knew… She knew what she was talking about… I had been terrified by that idea more than once and I was beginning to have my doubts about our relationship again.

"So you think," I sighed. "That's he's using me because I look like my mother?"

"Not entirely, dear," she said sadly. "What I mean is, seeing Lily in you reminds him of a time when he was happy. He's happy with you, that's for sure… You should see the way he looks at you. He's a good man, I'll give you that. And trust me," she lowered her voice. "I'd rather you two get married than Bill and Phlegm –"

"Mrs. Weasley!"

"It's true, darling. Goodnight."

I nodded in acknowledgment and stood up, climbing the stairs and turning left, entering the bedroom on the right. Lupin stirred and I kicked off my shoes quietly, standing beside the bed hesitantly. I knew that getting in beside him would officially mark the start of a relationship. I desperately wanted that relationship, but Mrs. Weasley's words were haunting me – so were Emily's from two years ago. I knew they were both right. It was odd, but not so different from when he was with Tonks.

I slowly slipped under the blankets and he stirred again, this time with his arm wrapping firmly around my waist and pulling me close to his warm body. "Finally," he whispered and I smiled. "I was worried you were really going to sleep on the couch."

"I was just talking with Mrs. Weasley," I told him. I sighed and then asked. "Remus? What exactly was my mum like?"

"She was very kind," he said. "Lighthearted… and cheeky, too. Sometimes she'd get easily embarrassed and flustered. And, of course, she looked just like you."

"Were you – and – and you weren't in love with her?" I asked quietly. He opened his eyes and searched my face, looking for an explanation to my question. "Were you or weren't you in love with my mother?"

"As good a person as she was," he began and I felt my heart sink. "I was not. James was. Why would you ask that, love?"

"I was just thinking that…" I hesitated again. "That I simply reminded you of her. I don't know, I guess I was just being stupid."

"No, you're not being stupid," Lupin replied calmly. "I can see how you'd think that, Darcy, but that's not why I keep coming back to you. I keep coming back to you because, well – you're your own person. I like you for you. Not because I liked James and Lily."

I nodded and cuddled into his chest, listening to his heartbeat. He threw his arm around me again and kissed the top of my head.

"I love you, Darcy."

I grinned. "I love you, too."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Late at night, I needed a glass of water. Lupin let me go reluctantly and I climbed out of bed, creeping silently down the stairs. I heard talking and hid at the top of the staircase, pulling my knees to my chest and listening carefully. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were talking – arguing, actually.

"I know he's a good man, but she's twenty-one years old! That's a bit of an age difference!" Mrs. Weasley hissed at her husband.

"What about Tonks? She's not much older, you know," Mr. Weasley reasoned. "Besides, he's good for her. If she gets into anymore trouble, which you know she will, he will be there to protect her."

"I agree, but if we send him back to Hogwarts with her this year," she sighed loudly. "They'll be alone all the time."

"Are you worried about what they do alone?" Mr. Weasley laughed quietly. "I don't believe that's any of your business, Molly. Why are you so worried about her in the first place? She's bright and strong and she's got a good head on her shoulders. She knows what she's getting herself into."

"What about the fact that he's a – a –"

"Molly, she knows. They've accepted that."

"Well, what would Sirius think?"

My stomach churned. "Sirius knew, dear," Mr. Weasley told her and I sighed quietly. "And he spoke with me about it. He didn't like the idea that he best friend was messing around with his goddaughter – that's all. But you have to admit, Remus would do anything to make sure she's safe!"

Mrs. Weasley was quiet and I licked my lips.

"Just because you'd rather Bill marry Darcy doesn't mean you can sabotage her relationship with Remus. You see how happy Remus is with her? Have you seen how happy Darcy is? I didn't honestly think it was possible."

"You're right, Arthur, you're right."

"Alright, dear. C'mon, let's go to bed."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Wake up," I smiled, touching my thumb to his lips. "Wake up, Remus."

He moaned quietly, but didn't open his eyes.

I touched his cheek and smiled wider, pressing my lips softly to his. "Wake up, Remus. We've got to go to Diagon Alley soon." I kissed him again and his eyes fluttered open, meeting mine.

"I love you," he whispered.

I kissed him a third time.

"Let's just lay here forever."

I touched my lips to his cheek and smiled. "I like kissing you," I whispered. I touched my lips all over his face – on his cheeks, on his lips, on his nose. He smiled and I finally got up out of bed. He opened his eyes and sat up, sighing loudly and contently. "Come on, get up, get up!"

"I don't have to go to Diagon Alley. What's there that I have to buy?"

"We've got to see Fred and George's new shop!" I said, flattening my hair in a mirror hanging on the wall. "Mrs. Weasley says they're really good at the whole business thing. And Ron reckons they'll be the richest Weasleys in the family at this rate!"

"Darcy, I believe I've grown out of the prank stage of my life –"

"A quick visit," I said, turning on my heels and crossing my arms. "A quick visit – that's all. And think about it… maybe there'll be something there that you'll actually enjoy. Fred and George are rather quite clever. Their skiving snackboxes last year were genius. And their fireworks!"

"Seems like you're falling in love with their wit," Lupin pointed out with a frown.

I smirked. "Better kick it up a notch, love."

"Ah, competition? I've only just got you back. Can't I have you to myself for a while without anyone stealing you away?"

I blushed and turned away, smiling to myself and putting my hands on my hips. When I looked at him through the mirror, I realized that he had a straight face. He was serious. "Remus, you know you don't have any real competition."

"I'm just worried that –"

"Remus, I – I –" I wandered back over to him and laid down beside him, taking his hands together. "You don't know what it has been like – waiting for you over the summer… over all of last year... You don't realize how much I wanted you to be with me."

Lupin smiled and touched his lips softly to my lips. "Well, now you've got me."