Lucas shifted uncomfortably as he stood next to Oliver and Iris Wood while they chatted with their various family members they had invited to the cookout. He recognized the Minister of Magical Games and Sports Angelina Weasley and assumed the red-headed man making jokes next to her was her husband - George. Next to them stood Harry Potter - Iris' nephew - and his wife, Ginny. He recognized her from her days on the Harpies. It would appear that quidditch did run in the family.
Lucas looked around, taking in the large country house and expansive backyard, with the quidditch pitch. Wood had certainly done well for himself. A rather long playing career followed by what would most likely be a long, successful coaching career. It was no wonder they could afford such a large place. Granted they needed it.
"A bit of something, isn't it," George asked, catching the calm coach looking at the pitch. Lucas nodded.
"It's the first time I've seen someone have a pitch in their backyard," he replied before taking a sip of his lemonade.
"It was the only reason Oliver chose to build here," Iris said, rolling her eyes. "Only place big enough for a full-size pitch."
"We needed the space. We had three boys on the way," Oliver replied.
"Don't remind me," Iris said. "As much as I love the boys, they did not make life easy for us. If they weren't getting detention at school, they were using George's products on Daisy." Lucas chuckled, imagining much younger versions of the triplets aggravating their sister. It reminded him a lot of his own relationship with Mara. Granted, she could always give as good as she got.
"Kind of makes you want another, doesn't it Iris?" George said grinning as all three women rolled their eyes.
"I've told you, George, we're not having another," Iris said pointedly. "I'm too old."
"Come on, 49 isn't that old," George replied as Oliver laughed and wrapped his arm around Iris' waist. Lucas' eyebrows shot up. While he knew the Woods were older - Daisy was 18 and the triplets 20, after all - Iris didn't look nearly old enough to be almost 50.
"What do you say, Red? Shall we try for another now that those four are out of the house?" he said.
"No, Oliver," Iris said flatly. She glanced over at Lucas, who looked slightly confused. "Our family has a bit of a thing for placing wagers. George here lost a fair amount of money betting on how many children we'd have. If we have one more, he wins." Lucas nodded his understanding.
"I won that one," Ginny said grinning. "I knew after the boys, there was no way you would have two or three more."
"What about you, Lucas?" Angelina asked suddenly, her eyes twinkling. "You seem like you must be the cool uncle type." Lucas laughed softly and nodded.
"My older brother Erik has two that I spoil rotten every time I go home to visit. He's actually asked me to lay off, lest I ruin them. And now my best friend and his wife are expecting their first. They live in Ireland, so I assume I'll probably end up spoiling theirs as well," he said.
"Right, Hugo Larssen with the Kestrals, isn't it?" Oliver asked. Lucas nodded.
"We've been friends since Durmstrang and started out in the Scandinavian League together," he replied.
"Durmstrang? Shame you weren't there when Krum was… my younger brother had a bit of a love affair with him," George said.
"Unfortunately, no. But he left quite the legacy," Lucas said. "Certainly made quidditch a bit more competitive."
"How so?" Angelina asked. "I must admit, ever since the Triwizard Tournament in 1994, I've always been curious about Durmstrang. Don't know much about it."
"They were pretty secretive back in the day, though they've loosened up a bit. And expanded since they started allowing muggleborn in 1999. By the time I started in 2002, they had adopted the same schooling system as Hogwarts - four houses and such," Lucas said. "But as for quidditch - everyone wanted to be the next Krum. There was a lot of competition to get on the house teams. And matches could turn into blood baths."
"Well, he was brilliant during the tournament," Harry said. "And I saw him at the World Cup that year... nothing short of phenomenal."
"So I've heard, though you ended up winning the tournament, did you not?" Lucas asked. Harry smiled sadly and nodded, no doubt thinking of the tragic ending that had the tournament cancelled permanently.
"Did you ever play with him?" George asked, moving the conversation back to happier topics. "Being in the the League up north and all." Lucas shook his head no.
"I started on reserves in 2009, after he retired. He only played on the national Bulgarian Team in 2014 when he came out of retirement," he said. "I had been on first string with the Lynxes for about four years at that time, but didn't make the Nordic Team until 2018."
"I remember playing against Bulgaria in 2002 and 2014," Oliver said. "Brutal matches. We tried as hard as we could and still weren't any match for Krum."
"Ah, but Scotland never was that good," George countered with a grin. Iris rolled her eyes.
"George, do not start that again," she warned as she glanced at Oliver, who was scowling at George.
"Well, now they've got four Woods for the national team. I'd like to see whoever thinks they can beat them next summer!" he declared loudly. Lucas laughed softly as Oliver looked over at him. "I'm serious, Nilsson. Get her ready. I'll have Jamie ready and Diggle's working on Remus and Alan." Lucas nodded, sensing the older coach was quite serious, if the fanatical glint in his eyes was anything to go by. He wanted Daisy to make first string as well, but Oliver looked as though he would commit murder to get her on the team.
"So… I take it after several months you're settled in here in Britain?" Iris asked Lucas, desperate to change the subject from anything quidditch related.
"I managed to find a nice little place in a village in the countryside," he said, grateful. He was worried the conversation would veer towards the 2018 World Cup and his accident. "It's similar to this."
"Did you live in the countryside in Sweden?" Ginny asked. Lucas shook his head no.
"I grew up in Stockholm. My parents still have a home there as does my brother," he said. Iris glanced at Oliver, her eyebrows raised. It would seem as though the normally silent coach was finally opening up. "I suppose that's why I wanted to live in the countryside. Get some fresh air."
"There's nothing quite like living in the country," Oliver said, looking around the backyard and pool, now seeming quite calm again. "As much as I loved living in the Alley, I'm glad we moved."
"Me as well. Though I'm glad we held on to the flat for the children. That has certainly saved us - and them - a bit of money," Iris said. Lucas looked at them.
"The apartment, that was your old place?" he asked. Iris nodded.
"Oliver bought it before the war. We lived there for a couple years afterwards. Until we found out we were having triplets," she said. Lucas nodded. He looked over and saw the three men goofing off with Wills and Kelly.
"I imagine it wasn't easy having those three underfoot," he commented. The group erupted into laughter.
"That would be an understatement," Angelina said. "George and I would watch them from time to time and it nearly made me not want children at all."
"Surely they weren't that bad," Oliver countered. "Just a wee bit rambunctious from time to time."
"They got into a stash of prototypes I had at home," George said. "Nearly destroyed our sitting room."
"They were getting into something," Harry said. "Didn't they nearly set the pitch on fire one summer when they were still at Hogwarts?"
"They almost burned down the Burrow one summer as well," Ginny said. "Mum nearly lost it that time... I haven't seen her that angry since Fred and George nearly blew up the house with all their experiments during school."
Lucas found himself laughing as he better understand Daisy's near constant annoyance with her three older brothers.
"They were constantly getting into Oliver's broom cupboard when they were tots," Iris said. "I honestly don't know how they were doing it. We locked it with magic." Lucas chuckled slightly, looking back at the three. Jamie was frowning slightly as Remus, Alan and Wills were all laughing loudly.
"Yea, but you should have seen some of the things Fred and I used to do," George said with a chuckle, getting Lucas' attention again.
"I still remember when you nearly blew up Hogwarts with fireworks my fifth year," Harry said.
"You nearly blew up your school?" Lucas asked, slightly skeptical. George nodded and grinned.
"My twin brother and I. We realized that we didn't really need to finish our schooling, so decided to leave on a bit of a dramatic note," he said. "I hear they still have that bit of swamp left…"
"Lucas! Stop teasing your sister and help me get the food outside!" Alice Nilsson yelled from the kitchen. Mara smiled smugly before sticking her tongue out. "I saw that Mara!" Lucas chuckled as he walked into the house. He stepped into the kitchen and waved his wand, levitating the various dishes and guiding them out to the picnic table set up in the back garden while his mother finished up the last of the dishes. Erik was sitting at the end of the table next to his wife, Gretchen, who was sitting back in her chair, casually rubbing her growing belly. She was due shortly before Christmas. Mara was sitting across from Gretchen, patiently waiting for the food.
Lucas directed the dishes to the table as his mother followed with the last of it.
"Where's your father?" she asked, looking around.
"Here, my love," Elias Nilsson said, stepping out of the house towards the group, smiling. He walked over and kissed his wife on the cheek.
"Merlin, can't you give us a break?" Mara said, a grimace on her face. Lucas chuckled as he sat next to her.
"What, can't handle a bit of PDA?" he asked, shoving her slightly.
"Not with our parents," she groaned. Erik and Gretchen laughed.
"Come on, Mara. We didn't realize you were such a prude," Erik said before kissing Gretchen on the cheek. Mara stuck her tongue out at him.
"Now, Mara," her father said as he sat next to her mother. The group then began filling their plates. "Be nice."
"Well, we've got one married off with a little one on the way, when will you settle down Lucas?" Alice asked, looking at her second oldest expectantly. Lucas chuckled.
"Mother, you ask me this every week. And the answer is still the same-"
"There are too many beautiful women out there to settle on just one," Mara completed for him. Lucas playfully glared at her. Mrs. Nilsson sighed.
"One of these days, Lucas..." she said. Lucas turned to look at her, grinning.
"One of these days, what?" he asked. "I'll find 'the one'?"
"Mom, not everyone is meant to settle down," Mara said, shaking her head.
"Talking about Lucas or yourself?" Elias asked as a ripple of laughter spread through the family.
"Both," Mara said, grinning as she glanced at her older brother. "Besides, Erik and Gretchen will fulfill the grandchildren quota." Gretchen's eyes widened.
"Just how many are you expecting from us?" she asked. "Because I'm thinking two, maybe three, tops."
"Trust me, we'll accept as many as we get," Mrs. Nilsson said, looking down at her daughter-in-law. She then caught Mara's eye and grinned, turning her full attention to Lucas. "By the way, Lucas… tell me about this Olivia and why we haven't been introduced yet." Lucas stared at his mother for a moment, confused as to how she had heard about Olivia. Lucas had only been seeing her a few weeks. A soft giggle from next to him answered that question. He turned and glared down at Mara, who was smiling smugly.
Clearing his throat, he turned to address his mother, who was waiting patiently with an amused look on her face.
"We met at a party last month," he said. "She's friends with the seeker for the Karasjok Kites. I haven't brought her around because it's still very new."
"Ah, a new relationship. How many does that make this year?" Elias asked his wife.
"I think this is number six, dear," she said.
"No, it's five. He said the girl who was vacationing from London doesn't count," Erik said from his end of the table. Lucas rolled his eyes.
"Well… what's she like?" Gretchen asked.
"She's a potioneer," he replied.
"And?" his mother said. Lucas looked at the amused looks on his family.
"She's very kind," he said before taking a large bite of food.
"Basically, she's drop dead gorgeous and he's been too busy with… other things… that he has no idea what she's like," Mara said with a sigh. Lucas' eyes widened as he looked down at his sister.
"Seriously, Mara? We just started dating! We're still learning about each other!" he shouted as the rest of the table erupted into laughter.
"But it's true!" she shouted back.
"She is very kind! And she's funny! She likes quidditch as well!" Lucas said, looking around the table. As always, no matter how cocky or arrogant he acted on the pitch or out at a party or a bar, his family was always there to knock him down a few pegs.
"A potioneer, eh? Like your mother. Be careful, son. You piss her off and she very well could slip you something unpleasant in revenge," Elias warned. Lucas looked at him.
"You say this as though you have experience," he replied. His father glanced at his mother, who smiled brightly.
"How long were you tongue-tied for?" she asked sweetly.
"Three weeks," Mr. Nilsson said. He looked at his son. "Really, Lucas… watch it. If she's anything like your mother, she'll be incredibly inventive and creative with it."
All three Nilsson children stared at their parents, slightly shocked that their sweet, soft-spoken mother could do any such thing as slipping a potion to someone out of revenge.
"Don't look at me like that. He deserved it. Went and forgot my birthday for the third year in a row!" she exclaimed. "Besides, it wasn't anything dangerous… just made it slightly difficult to talk for a bit.
"I was supposed to give a presentation to the minister that week!" Elias shouted, though the smile on face showed he wasn't particularly angry about it now.
"If I remember correctly, you were able to reschedule that," Alice said, smiling. "And you never forgot my birthday again."
"Thankfully you forgave me," he said.
"Of course I did… I'm madly in love with you," Alice added, reaching over and grabbing her husband's hand. He chuckled and lifted it to his lips.
"Of course! You're the only witch in this world crazy enough to put up with me," he replied. Mara fake gagged next to Lucas.
"We're trying to eat!" she said, rolling her eyes. Lucas glanced down at his younger sister.
"I don't think it's me you have to worry about," he said finally, causing the whole family to laugh again.
"It's both of you…"
Finished it! And I'm finished with the following chapter as well. Which means I should be able to keep posting regularly (though maybe not this weekend as it's Halloween and I'm hosting a party).
Anyway, I had to get creative with this chapter as there is pretty much nil in terms of information on Durmstrang. But, as the Nilssons are in Sweden and Durmstrang is located in either Norway or Sweden, it's obvious that Lucas and his family went there. I took some liberties and made it less dark now that Voldie's gone.
Guest: Thanks so much! I'm glad that you enjoy them! It might be better to start with Saving Iris and work up through A Life Worth Living as a lot of stuff (especially in the beginning) deals with things that happen in the first story. Daisy's dorm was Lisette, Eliza, Sarah, Daisy and Lucy and Toby is a Gryffindor, but he's one year ahead of Daisy, which is why sometimes he's with them and sometimes he's not. No worries about the questions! Feel free to ask away!
As always, thanks for reading! And special thanks to new follower, JulPer12!