Title: It Started With a Crush

Rating: T (to be safe)

Pairing(s): Harry/Austin (OMC), Other miner pairings (mentioned)

Warnings: slash

Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.

Summary: Harry meets Austin Carlson, a friend/co-worker of Bill's, during fifth year. Sparks fly. This is the story of how they became a family. Will be a series of vignettes (in a way).

Notes: For the Fan-Made Potter Family Challenge at the HPFC forum. I was given the pairing Harry/OMC, and I chose the option to 'Write a multi-chapter with the Potter family and how Harry finally settled down.'

These chapters seem to end up relatively short, but I couldn't think of any way to extend this chapter.

Feedback: Yes


When the final battle was over – AKA Voldemort defeated – Harry didn't bother doing damage assessment. His job was officially done. He'd let other people worry about the reparations.

His biggest concern was finding Austin. Not a day went by where he didn't think about Austin at least a little bit. It didn't help that they were constantly pushed together for training. Apparently, Austin had a lot of skills that was necessary for Harry to learn before he faced off against Voldemort.

True to his word though, Austin never made any real moves on Harry. There was slight flirting, but nothing that would sacrifice Austin's moral code.

Harry turned seventeen, but Austin still didn't make any move. Harry would have thought that Austin's feelings had passed if he didn't catch Austin checking him out every now and then with a look that could only be described as lustful.

Harry didn't make any move to bring up their non-relationship either. He decided that waiting until after Voldemort was gone for good was the best course of action.

Now that had finally come to pass, so his next task was to find Austin and figure out what they were to each other. Harry sincerely hoped that they were something, but he'd accept it if they could only ever be friends. He wouldn't be thrilled with the prospect, but he'd accept it.

His eyes were currently doing a frantic search of the landscape, looking for a very familiar person when Ginny threw her arms around Harry. She started chattering, but he really wasn't paying attention as he tried politely prying her arms from around his neck. His ears managed to catch something along the lines of 'now we can get together since it's no longer dangerous for me.' Harry heart nearly stopped at the sentiment behind Ginny's words.

Harry was through with being gentle as he pushed her away. "Ginny, I didn't decide to not be with you because of the war."

She opened her mouth, most likely to argue back.

Harry rolled his eyes. She always thinks she was right; it didn't matter the subject. "No, don't even. I wasn't with you because I didn't want to be with you. I don't like you like that. I've never liked you like that, so you need to get over the idea of becoming Mrs. Harry Potter and move on with your life because that fantasy is never going to come true." He paused to take a breath. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm on a mission to find someone."

He left her then with her mouth still agape, confusion vivid in her eyes.

Harry ignored the slight guilt that was eating away at him. He never led her to believe that he felt anything but friendship for her. If she saw more, it was all in her mind. Maybe he should have stated clearly when she was dropping hints that he wasn't interested – that was his fault – but she shouldn't have assumed they'd get together after the war. At least now she could move on with her life. Hopefully she'd move on with her life and not cling to the idea that Harry would come around and see her as the perfect partner.

Even if Austin turned him down, that would never happen.

He saw many people he knew, alive thankfully. He knew there would be deaths that would hit him hard and he'd worry about that later on. He just needed to find Austin. He finally did, and like always, Austin was with Bill.

If Bill hadn't been happily married to Fleur, Harry really would be suspicious of their relationship. The two of them always seemed to be together.

Conversation between the two of them ceased when Harry approached. Harry first hugged Bill, letting his familiar outdoorsy scent wash over him.

Bill was the only one who knew about his feelings for Austin, besides Austin of course. It kind of made them closer than they would have normally been.

Harry trusted Bill enough to talk about the confusing things he was feeling for Austin. With Sirius's death and Remus almost never available, he didn't have a real paternal figure that he explicitly trusted. That was where Bill came in.

Despite Bill's deep friendship with Austin, Harry knew whatever he told Bill would stay between the two of them, just like whatever Austin told Bill Harry never heard. Bill had become Harry's sounding board, his confidant. It was one of the best things to happen to him if Harry was completely honest for himself. Besides meeting Austin of course.

They got closer after he married Fleur because she still loved Harry so much after he "rescued" Gabrielle. Fleur didn't care that her sister had never been in any real danger. All that mattered was Harry hadn't known that to be true, and he still brought her to the surface, despite what the mermen wanted.

He relaxed as Bill's arms held him securely. If anything had happened to Bill, Harry truly didn't know how he'd survive without his calming presence in Harry's life.

Bill eventually pushed Harry away gently. He winked as he stepped back, and Harry forced his eyes to the person he had simultaneously been looking for as well as dreading to find.

Austin's blue eyes were tender in their perusal of Harry. It was as if Austin was silently assessing Harry's body for damage, and Harry didn't totally hate the feeling of being on display for him.

Harry had a strong urge to hug Austin, whether it was as a friend or a boyfriend, but he wasn't sure if that would be okay. He shuffled his feet, waiting for some kind of sign. He got it when Austin pulled him into a hug and held him close.

Harry gulped as he felt the hard lines of Austin's amazing body. As Harry rested his hand on Austin's stomach, he felt the muscles there tense before relaxing.

Harry wondered if he made Austin as nervous as Harry often was around the older man. He liked the idea of Austin being as nervous as Harry; it made him feel good.

He listened to the strong heartbeat, its reassuring rhythm reminding him that Austin made it out of this war alive and pretty much unscathed.

Austin's strong fingers tangled in his hair as he yanked Harry's head back. Harry thought Austin was going to kiss him. He wanted Austin to kiss him, and he nervously wetted his lips in anticipation. Instead, Austin placed a gentle kiss on Harry's sweaty forehead.

Harry tried to fight the frown, but it was difficult. A forehead kiss! What a let down!

"So..." Austin's voice was nonchalant. "Would you like to go on a date with me?

Harry answered with a beaming smile before shyly kissing Austin's cheek, all the while blushing ferociously.