danny woke up to mary cooking. it was a pleasant smell of blueberry muffins and brewing tea. mary always made danny's favorite whenever she came over.

"g'morning," Danny yawned, walking into the kitchen with unruly auburn hair. "you're up early."

"Hello darling, remus sends his regards. Eugene just came back with a letter," she pointed to her owl.

Danny took the parchment excitedly and pet the own in thanks.

Hello my flower, 

all is well. I woke up a bit sore but it's okay. nothing this old body can't handle. i'll meet you at platform 9 3/4 half past 10. and tell mary to stop giving you blueberry muffins unless you save me one :) 

love, your moony

Danny smiled at the note before handing it to Mary.

"He really needs to get more wolfbane potions. Honestly, if Remus learned anything from his time at Hogwarts, it's that being in control is best for everyone," Mary sighed.

While the muffins were baking, danny took this as an opportunity to wear a light green jumper that belonged to her mother. Mary had taken it from Lily and never bothered to give it back when they still went to school.

"How do I look?" Danny asked Mary as she walked back into the parlor. 

Mary gasped. It looked like she went back in time and was staring at Lily the day they had bought the sweater in Diagon Alley.

"Oh my darling, you look just like her."

Danny knew who Mary was referring to, she just smiled and went to fix her messy hair in the bathroom.

The day was still young and Danny was now back and seated at the table stuffing her mouth with the most delicious muffins she had ever eaten.

"Danny, slow down. You're acting just like Remus right now. You know, one time in third year, same year you're going into, I made muffins for everyone so we could save up money for our first Hogsmeade trip. And poor Remus ate it so fast on an empty stomach that he ended up so sick. Your dad had to carry him to the infirmary once the train arrived at Hogwarts. And the look on Mcgonagall's face," Mary snorted. "Oh Merlin, if looks could kill. I remember Marlene and Lily's face when we entered the Great Hall mid hat sorting holding a purple lipped Remus up. That was the only time I ever saw Dumbledore look angry. Well except for one time when Remus and Sir-"

Mary stopped mid sentence. It looked like she was remembering something bittersweet like candied lemon slices.

Danny knew not to say anything. Remus always warned Danny about Mary's war traumas and how it had affected her memories.

"I'm going to pack up a muffin for Moony," Danny said, finished her muffin quickly.

"Splendid," Mary said in a sort of trance.

Danny packed up a muffin and did the dishes, making sure that Mary's house looked as if Danny had never even been there.

---

Once, when Danny was younger probably five or six, Remus had taken Danny to Mary's house for a Sunday brunch. She went out to pick flowers and came back to see Remus and Mary swaying back and forth in the kitchen while listening to La Vie en Rose.

That night, Danny had asked Remus why they were dancing when he went to tuck her in. 

"Well, we love each other and care for each other my petal," Remus had answered with a sad glimmer in his eyes.

"Shouldn't you marry her then?" Danny questioned.

Remus laughed a loud and hearty laugh. "Oh my darling, I don't need to marry someone to be absolutely happy. Mary is my friend, my very best friend. And you are my little girl, my beautiful flower. Love is found everywhere, most people choose not to see what lies right in front of them."

"I'd choose you again Moony. You and Aunt Mary. Always," Danny yawned and slowly drifted off to sleep. 

Remus cried that night and he cried for a very long time. He held a photo album close to his chest and cast a patronus as he looked down on one of his favorite memories. 

A black dog appeared from his wand and curled up next to him on the bed. That was the last time Remus chose to look at the man with long black hair.

---

Danny had cleaned Mary's kitchen and went outside to find Mary tending to her garden.

"We have to leave in an hour," Mary said, hearing the crunch of Danny walking on the gravelly ground. "Make sure your things are packed."

Her voice sounded soft, like a whisper in the wind.

Danny didn't mind though. She just grabbed her wand, robes and trunk and made sure they were by the door. 

The only hard thing about using no magic outside of school was that everything was so heavy. 

Danny estimated that the trunk weighed twice her weight. She had to move it from the bedroom to the fireplace. It was only a few meters but it felt like forever. She blamed that on the books and all of the absurd stuff she had to buy for her new classes. 

A telescope? Didn't they have them already? A cauldron? Where would that even be stored? Glass vials? (Danny broke one of them already) 

Checking the time, Danny saw that she had ten minutes left and saw that Mary had harvested some potatoes and was cleaning the dirt off her hands.

"Get the floo ready Danny," Mary said when she saw the bright auburn haired girl in the doorway. "I'll be just a minute."

Danny nodded, grabbing the food for Remus and herself.

She lit the fireplace coals up and put on a jumper just in case the train was cold.

"Alright, ready darling?" Mary asked, putting her hair up.

"As I'll ever be," Danny sighed.

Mary flicked her wand and Danny's belongings were gone. Danny took a handful of the floo powder and stood in the hearth.

"Platform 9 3/4!" Danny yelled clearly as she threw the powder down.