Halloween had come much sooner than Harry hoped for. He and Katie had been dating for nearly two months, and he was so happy with her. He had no idea how he'd have got through all of this, the death of Seamus and problems with Ron, not to mention training without her. He loved his dad, and knowing he had one, but it had also caused turmoil for him. Katie had been a steady rock for him, and he hoped to never lose that. But the biggest challenge of their relationship was coming, literally, with the arrival of not only her parents but brothers.

Katie was not letting him get out of it for a moment. She had come to dinner with his dads, and now it was pay back in spades for him. He had thought he got off easy, since her parents didn't work there, and her brothers were done school.

Katie kissed him at breakfast. "I faced your dads, you can face my family."

Harry was stark white. "It's different, you know my dad and Uncle, they are your teachers."

Katie shook her head. "And we have been over this, it is different outside the classroom. My parents are nice I promise."

Harry's color was not returning. "But you are the baby, and your brothers, your brothers will be the worst. You're their kid sister."

Hermione tried to lighten the mood. "Well at least she has only two of them, not Ginny over there with five."

Ginny, when her heart mended and she began to date again after losing Seamus, would have the harder time. She was lucky her brothers were all done school, but Ron and Charlie now as a teacher. But Ron was a prat, and wouldn't care, why Hermione left him out of the count on purpose. And all joking aside, Charlie had been good about Seamus, before he died.

Katie led Harry from the hall, a hand firm on his arm, as she knew he was ready to bolt at any moment. Today was the feast, so her parents and brothers came early, to spend time with them before it. The four were waiting in the entrance hall for them.

An older version of Katie smiled. "You must be Harry, our daughter has told us so much about you."

Harry nodded. "Yes mam, it is so nice to meet you."

Katie's father looked him up and down. "So you're the young man who thinks he is good enough to date my daughter."

Harry gulped when he looked at him. "I am, well I hope, I think…."

Katie shot her dad a look and said quietly to Harry. "He is a big teddy bear, he isn't going to hex you or."

One of her brothers, both younger versions of their dad, spoke up. "No he leaves that to us."

The other nodded. "Not sure we like this some boy trying to date our little sister."

Katie shot her brothers a nasty look. "Play nice." And to Harry. "These are Travis and Rob."

Travis had been the one to go to school with Charlie, they had been on Gryffindor's quidditch team together, Travis a chaser. Unlike Charlie, Travis it seems had gone professional, but his career had been short lived. He had sustained a head injury during his fourth season, and under healer's orders, had retired. He was now working on testing racing brooms for quidditch supplies, and was quite happy. Rob was two years younger, he had been a seventh year when Harry started school, but a Ravenclaw like his mother. He was now a healer at the hospital.

They headed outside, and Harry found the courage to ask the couple what they did for a living. Katie's mother was an apothecary, she had done well in potions and knew his dad from school, but preferred her shop. He paled when he heard Mr. Bell worked in underage magic.

Edward, as he told Harry to call him, assured him. "I was assured by Amelia, that you were cleared of both incidences."

Caroline noticed the young man who attached himself. "Who is this?"

"My shadow, whenever I leave the school I have one now." But he turned to see who. "Charlie? Thought you'd be off since a teacher."

Charlie shrugged. "Still a member of the Order and taking my turn. Besides I wanted to say hi to an old friend."

Travis clapped him on the back. "Heard you were back in the country. You know this little scoundrel trying to date my kid sister?"

Charlie smiled. "Hey watch who you are calling a scoundrel, he's my little brother."

Caroline was a bit surprised to hear that. "Katie mentioned Harry was close to your twin brothers, from quidditch."

Charlie smiled and shrugged. "The little runt came to visit us one summer, couldn't get rid of him, so we thought we better just adopt him."

Harry blushed a bright shade of red, but it was said in good nature, and everyone was soon laughing. Katie's parents were of course aware of Hogsmeade, they considered removing Katie, and knew Charlie had been part. They had met Charlie a few times when the boys were in quidditch together, it had just been some time since they had seen him. Harry found himself for once happy for a shadow, having his brother there, helped deflect some of it. Katie thought he got off a bit easy, she was alone when he faced her dads, but he didn't agree. He had two parents and two brothers to face, Katie a dad and an honorary dad/godfather. His honorary brothers already approved of her.

His dad had them down for lunch, so the Bells could meet him, and things seemed to go well. Harry was happy he had got along with the couple, and he seemed to have their approval, and the brother's, when they left in the afternoon.

Katie kissed him when alone. "Thank you for doing that. My mum really likes you, and so does my dad, even if he doesn't show it well."


Harry had gone up for dinner with Katie in the hall. He had survived dinner, and he knew he deserved it, she had faced his family as well. He had not only survived, but he liked her brothers, and her mother was really nice. He knew she called her dad a teddy bear, but he had not seen that side of the man, at least not yet. He was reminded though that Katie was an only daughter, and the baby of the family, so of course he'd be a bit protective of her. Charlie had told him after, if he needed back up, he could always count on them.

He was surprised when he came home after dinner, when he found both his dad and godfather. They weren't waiting for him though, or at least it wasn't just for him, they were having tea and talking. He was reminded they had been friends for years.

His dad noticed him first. "Come join us."

Harry sunk down into his usual chair and accepted some coco. "Thanks for lunch."

Severus smiled. "You know I am happy to meet Katie's family."

Remus agreed. "They are nice people, how did the rest of your visit go."

Harry groaned. "I am thinking I'm lucky to come out of it alive."

Severus and Remus laughed when they heard that, and Harry told them about the rest of the day. Severus was protective, and he had a son, he could imagine if he had a daughter instead. Most men were naturally more protective of their daughters, didn't like men being around them, even good ones. One day when Harry was a dad, and had daughters of his own, he'd understand that for himself. Harry blushed when his dad said it.

The men shared a look, there was another reason they had asked Harry to join them, and not just to hear about today. They had wanted to hear, but there was a reason they were having tea together that night.

Severus broached. "Harry your godfather and I were talking about tonight, and the anniversary."

Harry's face fell a bit. "My mum."

Remus squeezed his hand. "We knew with Katie's family coming, and the feast up stairs, to wait to talk to you."

Severus added. "I know you have always managed to celebrate the holiday. And if you want to say no, you can."

Harry was confused. "To what?"

He could admit, he had always thought about his parents, well now his mum and adoptive dad, on Halloween. He hadn't really known it was when they died, hit Aunt wouldn't talk of it, until he began school. Halloween had been a holiday he loved, he never got to trick or treat as a kid, but they had a party in school, and would be some of his few sweets. He always thought his mum and James would want him to.

Remus and Severus agreed with him on that. Lily would have wanted her son to be happy, to be a normal child, not to mourn every year. The men had just spent the evening sharing memories of her. They had both spent the last how many Halloweens, thinking of her, alone though.

Severus finally said. "We thought we would take you to see Godric's Hollow tomorrow, but only if you want."

Harry was shocked, he had wanted to before, but was told it was too dangerous. "Can I? I haven't even been allowed to leave the school."

Remus nodded. "We will have some Order members with us, and Tonks will be coming as an auror, I believe Moody as well."

Harry smiled a little at that. "Is Tonks going to come have the family run down meal sometime soon?"

Remus blushed a bit at that, he had begun to date her. "She is family I remind you cub. But are you up to it?"

Harry nodded, he had always wanted to go, and he was happy they would finally take him. He had never seen the town where he lived as a baby, never seen the house, or where his parents were buried. He knew Sirius was buried there as well, he had not got to go to the funeral. He was a bit surprised that Albus was willing to let him go. Not only that, but Harry was told he could bring Katie and Hermione with him for support.

Severus could admit. "He isn't happy about it, but I think you need this, and he won't stop us."