Sooo its been forever since I updated! I suppose I just got caught up with University, but I have several chapters just sitting around so I'll be updating weekly, maybe faster for the next month. This chapter doesn't have much romance, its mostly just setting up for some later scenes.

Hope you enjoy :D

Warmth covered Darren's body as he reached the state between conscious and unconsciousness. He could feel the thick comforter hugging his body closely as he twisted and turned lazily. He let out a small moan as he extended his legs in one large stretch ; trying to stretch the fatigue away. Once he did this Darren soon remembered the night before. Darren wasn't sure how to feel, all he knew is that he had a weird sensation in his stomach when he thought about it ; something he had never experienced before. Before entirely succumbing to these thoughts Darren began to wack at the desk next to his bed relentlessly until he hit the clock Mrs. Weasely had given him. After a rough "thwap!" the clock let out a yelp and announced " It is now Nine O Three AM! All you need to do is tap! I'm not a bludger!" the clock lectured him.

"Bollux!" Darren let out somewhere between a whisper and a yell. In a split second his covers in the air and he stood, welcomed by that dark mist day after day.

"S'alright Darren. We don't need to see McGonagall for another hour." Someone said. Darren couldn't be sure, the Scottish accent implied that it was Seamus.

"Oh. Good. Er..Thanks" Darren said awkwardly. Without being sure it was Seamus he chose to just omit the name. With a slight sigh Darren began to walk very slowly toward the cabinet containing his uniform. Each step he felt even more vulnerable, unable to see and nearly naked with only his drawers on. Seeing with his hands Darren finally reached the cabinet as his hands grazed over the cool wooden surface. Grabbing one of the knobs he opened it and patted his hands lightly until he felt the fabric of his neatly hung uniform and robes. While Darren began to withdraw the clothing and put it on he could feel other people in the room with him. Darren couldn't help but wonder who it was but couldn't find it in him to ask.

As Darren was getting dressed he was completely oblivious to the stares he was receiving. Both Seamus and Dean glanced at him occasionally ; the curiosity on their face obvious. They seemed intrigued at how he was managing, but somehow torn if they should offer their help. During Darren's absence at the great feast it had come apparent that whispers traveled between seeing him and the news of the prophet. Of course, Darren could only assume what was written in the prophet about his parents and him, he had been far too afraid to hear what they had written to ask. Rumor had it that Rita Skeeter had written the article, which was why Hermione had very tactfully avoided the subject thus far.

After Darren was confident he had gotten fully dressed and wasn't forgetting anything, he began toward what he feared most. The trip down to the great hall. He began to walk toward the exit before stopping dead in his tracks, remembering to bring his school supplies with him. Darren had grown keen on using Locomotor to let his things follow him, so he could touch and feel freely. Darren tapped his wand against a pile of books and parchment and thought Locomotor to himself. He knew that the books had began to float and would follow him freely. This was something he knew was discouraged, but had hoped that the professors would give him the benefit of the doubt on such a small act of disobedience.

Darren walked out of his bedroom and kept a firm grip on the stone railing that would eventually lead him into the Gryffindor common room. Darren had always been a shy person, but never exactly insecure. Without the ability to see he always wondered what people were doing or thinking of him, because there was no longer the visual ability to see their expressions. He truly feared walking into a room of people now. Darren knew that he would likely attract stares. And merlin's beard, what if he ran into a desk or something? At this rate it was highly likely and he hoped with all of his being that this would be a smooth encounter as he could feel his shoes remove themselves from the stone stairs, and onto the carpeted common room.

As he had feared there were whispers. He could only grasp bits and pieces of conversations but he was very confident that he certainly was the topic of atleast several gossiping girls to his right. Darren wondered where Ron, Hermione, and Harry had gone. He had a moment of worry, what if Ron was avoiding him because of what had happened the night before? He certainly didn't seem about it. Hell, He initiated it. Darren allowed his hands to trail across the walls of the common room, knowing he was taking a path very out of his way, however he was ensured to reach the exit. Darren could feel the roughness of wall paper scraping softly against the pads of his finger tips. With each painting that confronted him he moved his hand so it barely grazed the frame. He heard a girl laugh within earshot and couldn't help but feel paranoid that she was laughing at him.

After what had felt like years he reached the door to leave the commonroom. With a lot of effort he pushed the door open and continued very blindly down the staircase. With each flight of stairs Darren counted the level that they were on. Un…Deux…Trois…Quatre Darren counted quietly to himself with each new set of stairs. One he had reached the fifth floor Darren clung to the wall and put his back to the rough stone and let out a deep sigh. Such a simple task had become so frustrating. Every part of his bone ached to be able to see again. He had never felt such a strong longing for anything else in his life. How am I going to be like this my whole life? He asked himself. It was so piptful but he couldn't find the strength to find McGonagall's office. The thought that every time he walked around so blindly.

Darren knew that Mcgonagall's office was less than 20 meters away, and he could hear some of his classmates chatting about their classes. Darren allowed himself to inch closer to the group and took a seat on a row of benches that sat against the wall ; just outside of Mcgonagall's office. Letting out another sigh, he tapped his hands quietly against his knees while waiting anxiously for his name to be called.

"What do you mean, you saw it happen?" Hermione asked in a hushed whisper.

"That night, My scar was hurting, and I saw two people get killed. They were…" Harry took a pause as he tried desperately to collect his thoughts. He let himself ooze back into the memory that replayed in his head every time he saw Darren.

"Well, they were Darren's parents. I didn't know it was them, They were asking for something but I didn't really understand what. And then I saw what they did to them. I never saw Darren though, so I didn't put it together until I got to your plance" He glanced in Ron's direction at the last statement.

Hermione had a look of horror on her face as Harry explained to her. Ron stayed kind of quiet next to Harry and appeared very contemplative about what he had said.

"Have you told the order? Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't really get a chance. He was always around, or something was happening" Harry shrugged, uncertain of what to say.

"Well you need to say something. It might help find who did this to Darren and his parents. You need to stop hiding when your scar is hurting." Hermione's tone showing a faint annoyance.

Harry merely glared at her and poke some sausage moodily.

Darren had been sitting for what felt like hours. His hands gently caressed the bench feeling the unfamiliar cold against his hands. The chatter that had once filled the hall had ended in silence as nearly every other student had been called. Darren wondered quietly to himself why he was being called so late…Did she even know he was still attending Hogwarts?

'Luseppe!' Mcgonagall howled from her office. By now Darren knew the drill after hearing the parade of names called before him. He had been waiting impatiently for an unknown amount of time, yet now that the opportunity was in front of him Darren was dreading the talks with McGonagall. Getting up probably took more effort than it should have since his mind was elsewhere. The sound of his shoes tapped quietly against the stone floors. Seeing with his hands, Darren could feel the end of the wall and took a turn into McGonagall's office. Alas, he had made there with little difficulty, but couldn't remember where to go from here. Its bizarre how once something so insignificant could turn into such an obstacle.

'Over here, Mr. Luseppe."

Darren nodded, walking with one hand casually in front of him trying to make it seem like he had a vague idea of where he was going. And then he felt the oh-so-familiar sound of a chair being bumped into. Yea, he's definitely sick of that sound. Taking his seat, Darren sat in silence doing nothing but rubbing his knuckles nervously. McGonagall sat staring at a piece of parchment with Darren's OWL scores. She'd been contemplating about his situation since she had first heard word of it. Very complicated, she wasn't sure how he'd adapt or how this would change his life at Hogwarts. As with most of her students, McGonagall felt very deeply for Darren. Minerva never had children, she didn't know how it would be possible. He left every bit of herself to her students and really cared for many of them as she would had she her own children. For this exact reason she felt a deep ache in her heart for Darren. She let out a hushed breath and began a similar speech that she had been reciting for most of this very long morning 'Well, Mr Luseppe. I have your OWL scores here. Where do you see yourself after your time at Hogwarts?"

"Um.." Darren hesitated. That was a difficult question. Had he been asked before this summer the answer it would have been a no brainer.

"I've had very little choice or desire to do anything but be a healer."

"What has attracted you to this profession, besides your obvious lineage?" Her tone inexplicably neutral

"Lineage has everything to do with it. I have an obligation to use the techniques taught to me."

McGonagall chose it was best to skip this topic for now, and began to read his transcripts yet again.

"Well, according to this you have top marks for everything required. For position at Mungo's you require an O in transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Potions, and Herbology. It's a steep curve, as you know. Of course your grades more than qualify you. "

McGonagall paused for a moment and collected her thoughts.

"However, we both know there is an obstacle in your way."

Darren sat quietly and nodded. He knew what was coming.

"Not having for some of these courses not having sight will prove incredibly difficult, if not impossible. I'm willing to give you additional lessons after class if the need arises. As I'm sure most of the professors are willing to help….. I've heard you met with Dumbledore regarding the matter. " She left the fact as more of a question. Curious to what Darren had to say.

"Yes. He mentioned familiars." Darren said, somewhat excitedly. He still knew so little about them, yet was desperate for the opportunity.

"You ought to be sure if your decision. The magic Dumbledore spoke about is not tame magic Mr. Luseppe. Its best you recognize that. Until that day comes though, I have several things to show you."

With that there was a small crash which proved to be a rather large book being dropped in front of Darren. "I'd like you to read this to me, Mr. Luseppe."

Darren gave a look of utter confusion. He wasn't sure whether he should be hurt or offended. That quickly turned into an irritation which incited the response "You know I can't." through gritted teeth. McGonagall gave an impatient sigh "Wand out, Mr. Luseppe." After Darren had his want out she gave him but a couple of seconds before she said "Make a circular motion with your wand, flick, and say Tactus Lego."

"What does it do?"

"Just go on, you'll see soon enough."

Darren did as she instructed, once he finished saying the spell he expected something to happen. Yet, there was nothing. McGonagall must have noticed the confusion on his face, because she quickly said "Now touch the book with your hand." It was a strange enough request that Darren was hesitant. However he eventually gave in and lightly touched the book.

There was a rush that Darren had never experienced before. Text shot through his mind's eye and seemed to implant themselves into his memory. He slowly moved his fingers across the parchment feeling every tactile sensation it had to offer. With each movement words forged themselves in his brain and soon the words were becoming sentences, the sentences paragraphs, and paragraphs turning into chapters. He was reading about familiars, McGonagall must have intentionally chosen this part of the book. Darren was shocked at how quickly he was literally absorbing the information, he was so mesmerized by this that the professor had to call his name several times before he heard her voice.

"Well, what are you reading?"

"Um…Familiars. It's an imprint of the soul being placed into an animal. Separate entities yet the same….I don't understand."

"Well…magic such as this that deals with the soul is very complex, and often forbidden magic. Because of this it is very rarely used and typically carries high risks or consequences. In the case of creating a familiar, you are…summarizing, if you will, your soul into a separate entity. Because of this both familiar and wizard are a single being yet separate. One cannot live without the other once the spell is complete. There are also few things to gain by this, which is why they have been such a rare occurrence."

"What do I have to gain that others do not?"

"To be honest, I'm uncertain. However…Albus is confident that you will be able to see through the familiar. Be sure you understand that although Dumbledore is nearly certain about this, it is not fact. And certainly is not tested."

"How long does it take to…um…make a familiar?" Darren asked. Answers to any questions is a new change for him, and he intended to find out as much as possible about familiars.

"Surprisingly, the process itself is not long. It wouldn't take more than a night. However, it is an incredibly exhausting process…" McGonagall let her opinions on the matter be more than clear. Although Darren utterly respected her, thoughts of his future familiar could not escape his thoughts.

"well, it seems you have already decided…Read further on the texts we've given you. After you've finished, you can go see Dumbledore once you've reached your decision. Off you go."

Darren smiled "Thank you, professor." He said sincerely.