THE NEW INTERN.

It had been about a year since I had seen Professor Remus Lupin. It had been about two years since I graduated from Hogwarts. Two years was too long and I hadn't even gotten a single letter. I hadn't gotten a letter from Sirius, Lupin, no one. I was stuck working a local grocery store because my aunt and uncle said it was time for me to learn to work.

Harry and I swung on the swings. It was hot out – one of the hottest days of the year. "I wish I could go back to Hogwarts," I said randomly. Harry sighed and I stopped myself on the swing.

"I wish you could come back too."

"I wish Remus would write me at least one letter."

"I wish Hermione and Ron would write me a letter."

"I wish we could live with Sirius and not the Dursley's."

"Yeah."

Harry and I sighed and we saw five boys walking our way. The front, fat one was Dudley. He crossed his arms, his shorts sagging and his hat turned sideways. He looked ridiculous and I had to look away so I wouldn't laugh.

"He squealed like a pig, didn't he, Dudley?" asked one of his friends.

"Yeah, brilliant punch, Big D," said another. "Did you see his face?"

"Hey Big D," Harry mocked him and I smiled, looking at my atrocious cousin. "Beat up some more ten year old girls?"

"This one deserved it," Dudley spat.

"Five against one," I rolled my eyes. "Very brave, Dudley."

"Like you're one to talk. I hear you moaning in your sleep every night," Dudley sneered as he turned to Harry. I remained on the seat, trying to ignore him. "He's going to kill me, mum. Where is your mum? Where is your mum, Potter? Is she dead?"

Harry became furious and took his wand out, sticking it under Dudley's two chins. I stood up and tried to stop him, but the sky darkened and I looked around. I took Harry's arm and Dudley's four friends panicked and began to run away. The three of us stood there, trying to fathom what was going on. Harry certainly wasn't causing it.

It began to rain hard and we began to run towards a tunnel, where we could sit and relax. Suddenly, I began to feel cold and I wrapped my arms around myself. I breathed heavily and saw my breath – it was the hottest day I had ever experienced – now it was cold? No.

Dementors swarmed us and knocked Dudley to the ground. The dementor began to suck at my face and I tried to cast a patronus, but I couldn't think of any happy memories. I was just too sad and depressed. I just couldn't do it. Dementors were my worst fear and I fainted.

I woke up hearing a woman's voice speaking clearly and loudly.

"The Ministry has received intelligence that at 6:23 this evening, you performed the Patronus charm in the presence of a Muggle. As a clear violation of the Decree for the Unreasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, you are hereby expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hoping you are well, Mafalda Hopkirk."

I opened my eyes. I was lying on the couch and Harry was standing before me. Aunt Petunia was rubbing Dudley's back, whose face was pale and sickly with dark circles under his eyes. Harry's eyes widened and when he ran upstairs to his room, Vernon grinned. I jumped off the ragged couch and ran up the stairs, following Harry.

I opened the door slowly and saw Harry bang his fists on the wall. He punched it. I was sure his knuckles were going to bleed. "Harry, calm down!" I shouted, pulling him away from the wall. I pushed him down on the small, twin sized bed. "Harry, stop it!"

"I can't calm down!" he screamed at me. "I've just been expelled! I can't stay here with these people all my life!"

"That's what I had to do!" I shouted back. Harry's breathing slowed and he relaxed on the bed. During the summer, Harry and I took turns sleeping on the bed and every two days, we'd switch to the sleeping bag on the floor. I laid down on the sleeping bag, trying to get comfortable in the ridiculous heat, and then I fell asleep.

"Very clean, these Muggles."

"Tonks, for God's sake."

"Unnatural."

I opened one eye, but saw nothing. I heard shuffling in the hallway outside the door and I grabbed my wand from the bedside table. I tapped Harry a few times and he awoke, his wand at the ready. The lock on the door turned very slowly and when the door opened, we both held our wands up at the group of people shining a light in our room.

"Professor Moody?" Harry asked. I turned to him. "What are you doing here?"

"Rescuing you two, of course," he replied gruffly.

"The letter said I've been expelled."

"You haven't been, not yet," Moody explained. "Kingsley, you take point."

A big, tall, black man stepped forward and my eyes widened. Harry knew these people? "Dumbledore persuaded the Minister to extend your expulsion pending a formal hearing."

"A hearing?"

"Don't worry," said the girl with purple hair. "We'll explain everything once we get back to Headquarters."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"You still in Hogwarts?" the girl named Tonks asked me. I looked at her and shook my head. I looked her over as he turned the corner. The brick building we were standing in front of began to move apart and as I looked into the windows, the Muggles inside didn't seem to notice. I gasped.

"Graduated last year, during Harry's third year," I replied and Moody pushed me and Harry inside. Moody shut the door behind us, pushing us out of the way with his giant walking stick and leading us down the hallway. Tonks followed behind him, smiling at me and Harry. Kingsley walked behind us, his footsteps about as loud as my pounding heart.

I heard voices. "No deaths, no proof."

"He almost killed Harry if that isn't proof enough."

"Yes, but guarding you-know-what is most important."

"We must trust Dumbledore on this."

We were greeted by Mrs. Weasley stepping out from a door and shutting it loudly behind her. She hugged Harry first, kissing his cheeks and then pushing him aside and hugging me tightly. She held my arms and spoke to me and my brother. "I'm so glad you two are alright!" she said, her plump cheeks both red. "Dinner will have to wait until after the meeting, I'm afraid." I opened my mouth to say something, but she wouldn't let me. "No explaining. Straight upstairs, first door on the left."

"Can I come in, Mrs. Weasley?" I asked and she raised her eyebrows as if I had asked her a personal or insulting question. Harry was already halfway up the dusty, creaky stairs. "After all, I am an adult now."

"I would allow it, but you don't really know what's going on right now," she said, still smiling. "The next meeting, maybe I'll consider it –"

"No, let her in," growled Moody from behind. Mrs. Weasley shot him an annoyed look, but Moody continued, ignoring her. "She's almost twenty years old and should be in on this. If anyone deserves to know what's going on, it's her."

"But she'll tell Harry and everyone…" It seemed like she had forgotten I was standing right in front of her. Her short arms dropped to her sides and she nodded reluctantly. "Very well, very well. Come in, then, Darcy."

I turned back to Moody and smiled big at him and a small smile tugged at his lips as he pushed me inside the kitchen. I looked at all the people sitting there, beginning at the end of the table. Mrs. Weasley sat down beside her husband, who was seated beside Tonks. Across the table from Tonks was Snape and I raised an eyebrow. Kingsley sat beside him and across from Kingsley was Lupin. My heart pounded against my throat. There were a few unfamiliar faces and Moody pushed me further into the room as he sat down beside Kingsley.

"Darcy Potter," said an unusually calming voice. I looked to my right, where I hadn't looked before and I grinned as the door shut behind me. Sirius had stood up at the end of the table and held his arms out in front of him. I walked towards him and fell into his embrace, hugging him tightly. He cleaned up nicely and smelled good. He pulled away after a few seconds and held me at arm's length, examining me. He walked over to the side of the table, pulling out the only empty seat beside Lupin for me. I hesitantly sat down beside him and Sirius pulled up another chair for himself so he could sit beside me.

Everyone was silent as I looked around. Lupin was sitting up straight, his hands folded in front of him on the table. He was staring at his hands and didn't even acknowledge me. I looked at Sirius again, hoping he'd fill me in on what was going on.

"Now, Darcy, you believe Harry, don't you? You know that Voldemort is back?" Sirius asked quietly and Mrs. Weasley flinched at the sound of the name. I nodded. "I feel I need to address this first. We all know that you wanted to become an Auror –"

"I don't anymore," I said after a short pause. "Dumbledore told me about the Order and I told him I'd join instead." Snape narrowed his eyes at me as if he was having trouble believing I was sitting between his two old enemies.

"That's the thing," Sirius began again. "We, as the Order, feel that it's too dangerous for you to join. You could be put in serious danger. You could lead them all straight to us."

"And you realize they're going to be keeping a sharp eye on you even more than usual because Sirius is your godfather? We don't think you should become an Auror, either." Lupin kept his eyes on his hands as he spoke, not even looking up to face me.

I breathed a deep breath out my nose and traced my top teeth with my tongue. "You're the one who told me to become an Auror in the first place. You told me that I shouldn't have said no," I protested, more than furious. "Moody is an Auror! And so is Tonks! And Kingsley! I don't understand why I can't be one!"

"Because we can't risk putting you into that kind of danger," Moody added. "If you become an Auror or join the Ministry in any way, you'd be dangling yourself in front of Voldemort."

I sighed and Sirius gripped my shoulder reassuringly. It didn't help much, but it was a bit comforting. "Don't you guys think I could pass the test? Is that it? You don't want me to embarrass myself?"

"That's not it at all!" Mrs. Weasley interrupted and I looked up at her. Her eyes were wide, her face redder than ever.

"Miss Potter, there is no denying that you are a –" Snape hesitated and put both hands on the table, looking straight at me with his cold, dark eyes. "Brilliant witch. I'm sure Lupin agrees with me." He said it oddly, scrunching his face at the man next to me. Lupin simply nodded.

"The circumstances just aren't good," Moody snapped and he shook his head slowly. "That's probably why Dumbledore told you about the Order."

"I don't understand," I breathed heavily. "Dumbledore told me about the Order in my last year at Hogwarts and this past year, you've kept me and Harry in the dark! He was the one who saw Voldemort return and don't you think it'd be a good idea to help us stay protected and at least let us know what's going on?" I groaned when everyone stayed silent. All eyes were on me, except for Lupin's. "Not a scrap of news!"

"For once in her life, Darcy is speaking sense," Snape said suddenly. "Listen carefully because I will probably never stand up for Darcy ever again, but she deserves to know the truth, Black. You can't expect to leave the Potter's in the dark without answers. They are the ones who are in the most danger."

I stared at Snape, a smile forming on my face. He had never stood up for me before. I looked at Sirius and saw he was staring at the ground. Everyone avoided eye contact and I think they all knew that Snape was right. "Please tell me," I begged Sirius.

"Well, what do you want to know?" Sirius asked after a moment's silence.

"Everything. Why wouldn't you tell me anything?"

"Dumbledore made Ron and Hermione swear not to tell you anything," he told me. "And I'm London's – the world's – most wanted criminal – I can't just go out and tell you, yeah? I guess he didn't want you to worry too much."

"WORRY ME?" I screamed and Sirius flinched. Everyone jumped, a little startled. "MY BROTHER WAS ALMOST KILLED BY VOLDEMORT AND I WASN'T EVEN THERE TO HELP HIM! WHY THE FUCK DOES DUMBLEDORE THINK THAT WAS A BLOODY GOOD IDEA?"

"Darcy, language…" Mrs. Weasley began, but she soon fell quiet, knowing she couldn't stop me.

"Perhaps," Snape began yet again. "It would be safest for Miss Potter to return to Hogwarts this year with her brother."

"And do what? Nothing the whole year? Sit in a room?" Mrs. Weasley sneered, standing up to fix some salad for dinner. "Absolutely not. She can stay with us."

"No," Lupin cut in finally. "She can't stay with you because then she'd be saying goodbye to her home with the Muggles. Since Harry is still underage and has his mother's spell still on him, as long as Darcy is in that house – as long as it is still her home, she is safe. I think Hogwarts is a better idea."

"I could go with her," Tonks said. "It'd be even safer with another Auror there."

"You and your clumsiness?" Snape snorted and Tonks frowned. "Maybe I could invite Darcy back as my assistant. An intern? She did do exceedingly well in potions. One of the best and I'll admit it."

"Must have gotten it from Lily," Sirius grinned at me and Snape's face fell. "I think that's a good idea, Snivellus. But I think someone should at least go to look after her." For some reason, his voice sounded sad and disappointed.

"I said I'd go," Tonks said again, rolling her eyes. "I don't mind it."

"Remus should go too," Moody suggested. "Dumbledore already knows and trusts him." My heart sank to my stomach and I looked at Sirius, who was nodding. Were they setting me up?

"And you, Mad-Eye," Mr. Weasley said. "Another Auror. Plus, I think Dumbledore would be glad to have the real you at Hogwarts this year."

"Me?" Moody snorted. "I think two people protecting her will be enough. I have other important things to take care of."

"And protecting Darcy isn't important?" Sirius snapped.

"I assure you, Black, Darcy will be perfectly safe," Snape said coldly, but Sirius ignored him. For once, I wished that they actually listened to my old Potions Master.

"We all know she is important!" Moody responded and I looked up at him, his real eye glaring at Sirius, but his magical eye looking at me. "But don't you think some of us Aurors should be looking for Voldemort?"

"I will be doing that," Kingsley finally said. "Sirius is right – you should be going with Darcy."

Mrs. Weasley smiled at me when she noticed my discomfort and awkwardness.

"So that's settled then," Sirius sighed. "But there is one more thing I wanted to tell you…" Everyone looked at him, confused. Even Lupin looked at my godfather. "We think Voldemort is trying to get to something… Like a weapon. Something he didn't have last time."

"When he was powerful before?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Like what kind of weapon?"

"That's enough," Mrs. Weasley said and everyone looked up. Her arms were crossed and she looked furious. "You should go upstairs. Dinner will be ready in a little bit."

"But I – you can't do that!" I began.

"Watch me," she snarled. She was trembling slightly as she looked at Sirius, who just shrugged. "You've given her enough information. Anymore and you might as well induct her into the Order straightaway!"

"Why not?" I said quickly. "I want to join. I want to fight."

"No," said Lupin immediately. We stared at each other for the first time that night. I breathed in deeply and let it out angrily, but he remained calm. "The Order is compromised of overage wizards and –"

"I am overage!"

"There are dangers involved of which you can have no idea, Darcy. You are still too young."

"I obviously wasn't too young for you," I said under my breath and his face turned red. I stood up and walked past Mrs. Weasley and ran up the two flights of stairs, passing a horrid looking house elf. I opened the first door on the left.

Fred and George hugged me first, followed by Hermione, Ginny, and then Ron. "Well?" Fred asked. "What'd they say? Mum won't let us in."

"Snape wants me to come back to Hogwarts as an intern."

"Brilliant!" said George. "For who?"

"For Snape."

"Snape? Snape?" Ron asked it a thousand times before he shook his head. "Why Snape? Out of all people? Why not someone else? Like McGonagall – she'd be better than Snape!"

"Do you see McGonagall down there? I'm fucking lucky that Snape even suggested it," I replied coldly, still angry from what Lupin had said to me. "I think it's a fine idea, besides the fact that Lupin has to come with me."

Hermione's eyes widened. "He's coming back to Hogwarts? Do you think Dumbledore will let him? Do you think he'll want to? Some people know about his – his disease!"

"It's not a disease," I snapped and she looked defeated. "It's just a – slight problem and he didn't say anything about not wanting to go back to Hogwarts! I mean, where else does he have to go? And I'm sure that Dumbledore would let him back if it means protecting me… right? Besides, he's not the only one coming back."

"Who else is, then?" Ginny asked.

"Tonks and Mad-Eye."

"Mad-Eye? But after what happened last year, that – that is insane," Harry began to pace back and forth and I sat on the bed, crossing my legs.

"I'd rather be at Hogwarts than with the Dursley's, though," I said quietly. "Even if it means I have to be stuck with Lupin all year. What if I get all the shit I got at the end of last year? I certainly don't want to hear all that again."

Fred and George sat by my side, wrapping their arms around my shoulders. "You'd be an intern, though. You could give people detentions and punish them."

"Like that'll stop them. I wouldn't want to sit with those brats for more than ten minutes!" I said. We heard shuffling outside the door and I knew Mrs. Weasley had been listening. She knocked finally.

"Dinner's ready, everyone. Come downstairs."

The footsteps went away and down the stairs. "Mum doesn't trust us at all," Ron said quietly, when he knew that his mother had walked away. "She's always spying and trying to listen to our conversations. It's annoying!"

"She's only trying to make sure you're safe," Hermione sighed and all the Weasley kids groaned. "Maybe we should just go down for dinner." When I didn't move from the bed, she turned to me from the doorway. "Coming, Darcy?"

"No."

"Oh, you should," she sighed. "Sirius hasn't seen you in a while – it'd be nice to come down and just talk to him."

"I just did."

"Darcy, please –"

"Fine, fine," I replied shortly, standing up. "But I'm coming down for you, not Sirius."