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Harry Potter
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Tired of it.
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Chapter Nine: Katie's Blessing
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January first saw the keel and ribs laid down in the dry dock. One night, Ian and Harry had Darla pop them into the dock and the two of them went to work inscribing the runes that Ian had put on the Katie-Jane to protect her. It took three hours but when finished it would strengthen the hull, prevent finding her with magic (other than the family magic), increase her speed in the water and prevent magic from frying the electronics. Just like the ministry of magic used around Diagon Alley to protect the mundanes from noticing the alley when magic was used and caused all electronics to die. The ribs had more runes inscribed on them that would allow expansion charms to work. Ian never had those runes; they came from Harry's mother. Her book on experimental runes had fascinated Ian and he had found several that would be helpful on the ship. February first saw the hull plates going on, and more runes were added by Ian.
Harry took Katie and their son on vacation to Australia for their wedding anniversary. Their first stop was RottnestIsland where they spent two weeks exploring the island, taking turns swimming and seeing the sights. With the help of Darla disguised as a human under glamour charms they even went snorkeling and scuba diving. One day Harry just had to try surfboarding which had Katie in stitches when he kept falling off until he cheated and used a sticking charm on his feet. Between Harry, Katie and Darla they took tons of pictures and videos of the vacation and the most memorable in Harry's opinion was when Katie held a baby Koala.
Using the bikes, stored inside the tent they'd brought; they rode around the island, camping and seeing the sights. When they returned to their starting point, they then rented a small boat and sailed around as well. They were going to go to Monkey Mia to see the dolphins but decided to go to Sydney, instead. They went to an opera at the Sydney Opera House and the hotel supplied a nanny to watch over Angus wile Darla popped home to check in on Ian and Angus Sr. Before they left Sydney, Harry (under disguise) went to the Australian's version of Diagon Alley and bought tons of potion ingredients. Then he raided their many bookstores to add to their library back home. One thing he found was that there was no warrant for his arrest in any country but the United Kingdom. With that news, they decided to spend another two weeks in Australia. They traveled to Perth where Harry talked with the Australian ministry of magic, and found that they were disgusted by what the British magical government had done to force Harry to flee. They also agreed to keep it a secret that he and Katie had been in the country, until after he went home. They also agreed to keep his new name secret, as well. Before they headed home, Harry bought thousands of dollars worth of Australian items from wine, to artwork, to seafood; which they wanted to try. All of it was stashed in the tent and the tent was taken home by Darla the day before they left Perth.
March saw the construction of the Katie's Blessing moving along well. The hull was completed and imbued with more runes, some which lightened the ship. While the decks were being built more runes were installed in the compartments. The freezer hold was one of the rooms which had a slight expansion engraved in it while the berthing allowed for thirteen people and one downstairs cabin. The cabin was engraved so the mundane wouldn't notice the enlargement as a king sized bed was installed in the room. One thing Harry had changed was the ice machines. While it looked like they were plugged in, they weren't. The machines were enchanted to produce all the ice they would need. He wanted no fire from the ice machines to destroy this boat, as it had the Katie-Jane.
April came along, and Katie started getting sick in the mornings. With the help of a home pregnancy test, she tested positive for being pregnant. Both Harry and Katie were ecstatic about expanding their family and little Darla was over the mountain at the thought of more children to take care of.
By September, work was started on the upper deck and the bridge along with the second cabin. The crew went through what was recovered from the Katie-Jane and set aside for use in the new ship while the engine was being installed. Later trials of the ship would have the ship moving through the water at fifteen and a half knots. It was planned to have a ten knot cruising speed.
On November tenth, the giant doors of the construction dock opened. A very pregnant Katie stood at the bow of the Katie's Blessing and smashed a bottle of champagne against it. The docks wheeled support slowly slid back into the water and the blue and white ship entered the harbor water for the first time.
The crew went aboard as a tug towed the new ship to one of the construction docks, where the rest of the fitting out would be done, and her engine and electronics tested. The Coast Guard would then come aboard to certify the ship. By December third, the ship was certified, and Harry was installed as the ship's owner and captain. On the morning of the fifth Katie went into labor. Eight hours later she delivered Lily Dorea Jenny and Ian Charles James Potter-Black-McDuffie at four in the afternoon. The twins were healthy and had a set of lungs on them that set all the babies off in the ward. On the tenth, Katie and Harry brought the twins home and the four of them plus Darla settled into taking care of them, even if little Angus turned up his nose, especially when it was changing time.
The ship put to sea for the first time on December fourteenth, and hauled in its first catch the next day. The rest of the month flew by with another Christmas and the Fisherman's ball. The New Year's dance before January weather shut down all fishing for two months, was the biggest hit when Harry and Katie introduced the twins to all the captains, and their wives and girlfriends.
February's weather was just as bad as January and Harry and Katie decided to spend their anniversary at home but invited Ian and Angus to spend time with their grandchildren. March third had the Katie's Blessing heading out to sea and the following months would see the crew working just as hard as they used to.
For once, Harry was ashore when July 31st rolled around and that weekend and Monday, Katie planned a big party with all their friends in the backyard. While the older kids swam in the pool, a small inflatable kid's playroom was set up for the younger ones and Angus had a ball playing in it. Harry played chef and cooked at the massive grill that he had built. They fried up hamburgers, steaks, shrimp and prawns for everyone.
Harry was flipping the steaks when Katie walked up behind him and said, "There are two people here to see you that I've never met."
Harry looked at Katie in confusion because all his friends in Peterhead she knew, "Who?"
"They're in the living room," Katie replied and then said, "Go talk with them. I've got the food."
Handing her the tongs Harry grabbed a beer and headed for the house and the living room. Entering the room he froze as his eyes settled on to the blond haired woman sitting on the couch.
"Luna?" Harry asked in shock and then he said, "Neville?" as the six foot six man turned to face him.
Luna bounced off the couch and wrapped her thin arms around Harry and replied, "SURPRISE!"
Harry looked around nervously as Neville spoke, "Don't worry, Harry, no one knows we're here."
"How…" Harry started to ask.
"The nargles pointed us this way," Luna replied as she looked up at her friend.
"Nargles pointed you my way?" Harry muttered in surprise.
"Really, Harry, you should stay out of the paper," Neville said as he reached out and patted his old friend on the shoulder.
"In the paper?" Harry asked fearfully.
"Well you were not the subject. But you were in the photograph," Luna said as she reached into her pocket and pulled out the Daily Record and pointed to the picture of the ships docked at the fish market. One of the ships docked was the Katie's Blessing and Harry was standing on the bridge wing hollering down at the crew as a load of fish was lifted from the hold. The image of him wasn't that good but what made Harry stand out in the photograph was his hair.
Harry sighed and then said, "I hope no one else recognizes me."
"Harry I didn't even think it was you until Luna had the image enlarged to maximum and then I still thought it was only a slim chance it was you," Neville replied.
"Thanks, I guess I need to wear a cap when we're unloading," Harry said as he sat down and then asked, "So why are you two here?"
"It's your birthday," Luna said and then added, "besides, Ron ranted you married some gold digging slut and I want to meet one since I haven't had the pleasure."
Harry ran his hands through his hair and then looked at the two, "Katie is not a gold digging slut. I fell in love with her and married her."
"We didn't think so, Harry," Neville said as he sat down, and asked, "Why did you leave?"
"I left because everyone was trying to run my life and wouldn't leave me alone," Harry replied as he stood up and walked over to the bar and poured all three of them a glass of Lagavulin. Passing the glasses out he sat down and took a sip of the ten year old scotch.
"WOW!" Neville said as he took a drink, "That is smooth."
"It's ten year old Lagavulin. It's all I drink and very little at one time," Harry replied.
"I'll have to get some for Longbottom Hall," Neville stated as he took another sip.
Harry finished his drink and said, "Well, come on. I'll introduce you to the family."
Harry spent the next thirty minutes introducing them to his family and friends and once Neville and Luna knew they were squibs the tension in them left. Luna fell in love with the twins and both were amazed that Angus was a metamorphmagus like Tonks had been. Neville explained what was going on in the government, and that he was assistant professor at Hogwarts for Herbology.
The evening was spent in fun and the next day, Harry set out on the Katie's Blessing with Neville as a guest. By the week's end of fishing, Neville saw what Harry loved about being a boat's captain, and bringing in the fish. Luna spent the week getting to know Katie and the babies. When they left, they left with fresh fish to take home to enjoy.
Mid-September found Katie throwing up again, and when she did a new home test, it showed she was pregnant again. Katie's glares had a smirking Ian and Angus running out of the house. When Harry got home he got the cold shoulder, but was soon forgiven by Katie. She told him she was going to be a father again and Harry was surprised. The rest of the year rolled around and then January which saw the Katie's Blessing in dry-dock for a new paint job and maintenance to the ship. New nets were bought and the electronics on the bridge were updated to new systems. February saw Harry and the family spending time in Aruba where they spent their anniversary.
March and the beginning of April saw Harry at sea. The day after they docked, Katie went into labor. At nine PM on April seventh, Remus Fredrick Potter-Black-McDuffie came into the world.
The next two years flew by, and in January, Katie informed Harry she was pregnant again and for the last time as they now had four children with a fifth on the way. Fishing was off and on for the ship, and on August 19th Katie gave birth to their second daughter. Kathleen Jennifer Potter-Black-McDuffie, named after Ian's sister and Katie's mother, was born in the early hours of the morning while Harry stood with her holding her hand.
Once home, Harry took a potion that Ian had brewed for him that would make him sterile until he took the counter potion. The next twenty months would swiftly fly by, and Harry was at sea when there was a knock on their door in June.
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ooOoOoo
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Edit By TeNderLoin
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Harry Potter™ is a registered trademark and copyright (©) of JK Rowling and all that crap. The only thing mine is the idea and several characters. Everything else is hers including all the money...