I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.

The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 45 – Aggressive Reassurance

"Harry!"

"What happened?!"

"IS THAT BLOOD?!"

Harry smiled wanly though he did stumble a bit at the volume of the shouts. He had barely flinched when the basilisk roared but he had the benefit from adrenaline. Now, being screamed in what he thought was his empty dorm room by three very well-meaning but very irate looking witches, made his heart beat painfully. He was thankful that Oliver looked incredibly relieved but did not join in with the shouting.

"Hi Katie and Angelina and Alicia and Oliver. Uh, a lot happened and I can sort of tell you some things but not others. Yes it's blood." He looked down at himself. His clothes were encrusted with slime and grime and basilisk blood as well as some of his own. "Not all of it is mine though."

His attempt at levity fell flat on the girls though Oliver chuckled. The older boy's chuckle died swiftly at the glare he got from the girls. "Uh, what are you all doing in my dorm by the way?" Harry asked mildly. He had seen Neville, Seamus Finnegan, and Dean Thomas downstairs in the common room when he snuck in wearing his invisibility cloak. He had taken it off on the landing in front of his dorm, thinking himself alone. With Ron in the infirmary with the rest of the Weasleys, he thought he would have a few moments of quiet in his room.

Obviously not.

Oliver coughed. "Well, McGonagall came in and grabbed Percy and when I was looking for the Twins, they were gone too. So I figured if it involved the Weasleys, you might have a hand in it as well."

Katie crossed her arms and glared at him, eyes red. "We came here to wait for you to show up because you have this ability to just disappear sometimes.

Angelina was sitting on his bed and she was still desperately clutching the rabbit she gave him. "Harry, we're really glad to see you but…no offense…you look terrible." The older students stared at Harry. Not only was he covered in filth and blood and goodness knows what, his arm was bandaged, his head was bandaged, and strangely he only had one sock on. "We were really worried."

"I'm sorry," Harry said sheepishly. He did not like being an inconvenience to anyone. But he especially hated worrying the team, especially the girls. He was still coming to terms that they did genuine care and worry about him. He liked that they did but he still felt bad when they did. "I…can tell you a little more of what happened this time."

Alicia pointed at the bathroom, looking a little green. "You should get cleaned up first. You're covered in blood and it's starting to make me a little nauseous."

He looked longingly at the bathroom and nodded. He really did need a shower. He waited for them to leave his dorm and his dread grew as he realized they were not. "Uh…aren't you going to leave?"

"And give you a chance to slip away? No way," Katie said firmly.

Harry panicked. "I promise not to run away without talking to you. Please?"

Alicia looked pointedly over Harry's shoulder. "Harry, what did I tell you shortly after the Holiday break?"

"That I'm an idiot."

Alicia blushed, ignoring the angry looks from the other two girls. "The other thing, Harry."

"To check in with you or Katie or Angelina before I do something stupid or dangerous."

"And what did I tell you after Oliver broke your arm?"

"Hey!" Oliver protested softly. "I didn't break his arm."

"To check in with you or Katie or Angelina before I do something stupid or dangerous."

She looked him directly in the eye. "Harry. What did you do tonight?"

He sighed. "Something stupid and dangerous." He shrugged pathetically. "But I had to. Ginny was in danger."

The three girls looked at each other, their anger ebbing.

Oliver coughed gently. "Okay, look. Now we know Harry's okay for the most part. We know the crisis is mostly averted, right Harry?" He smiled at the younger boy's nod. "Then let's take Harry at his word that he will tell us what's going on. How about you girls go down to the common room for a bit and I'll stay here just in case Harry falls asleep in the shower and not to keep him from escaping without explaining." He grinned at Harry's look of annoyance. "Then when he's decent, we'll come get you and we will hash things out together. Sound good?"

The girls looked at each other again.

"Fine, fifteen minutes and then we're coming back up and we aren't leaving until we get some answers," Katie said.

"And I'm stealing the bunny until then," Angelina said.

Alicia just gave the two boys a flat look before following the girls out. She muttered under her breath about idiotic boys and the things they do to her.

"Thanks Captain," Harry said with a tired smile.

Oliver grinned and sat on Harry's bed. "You know they mean well, right?"

Harry nodded. "I do, and I really can explain things a little more this time."

"That's good." Oliver leaned back. "Off you go then Harry. Though if you take too long, I might get bored and start poking about your stuff." He snickered as Harry ran into the bathroom.

Fourteen minutes and thirty seconds later, Oliver came down and beckoned for the girls to follow. Oliver closed the door behind them and left a Do Not Disturb sign on the outside of the door. Harry looked much better after his shower. He wore a clean T-shirt and long pajama pants, all much too large for him and dreadfully threadbare and torn, something that did not escape the others' notice. Yet he was clean and looked reasonably well. He was clearly tired and, in some pain, and his bandages stuck out.

Angelina picked him up and plopped him against the headboard of his bed then sat on one side while Katie sat on the other. Alicia sat at the foot and Oliver dragged over a chair. "Alright, out with it Harry. What happened."

Harry dithered for a moment, trying to think of where he should start. He decided to start at the beginning, when Dobby showed up at the Dursleys. He told them about the warnings he received, and the time Dobby found him over holiday. He told them about the voice he could hear in the walls, how it turned out to be related to him being a Parseltongue.

When he told them about the Polyjuice fiasco: Katie looked angry, Alicia was furious, Oliver was impressed, and Angelina could only stare at him.

When he told them of how he and Ron had drawn the conclusions together, they all looked suitably impressed. Horrified too of course. Basilisks were legendary creatures and most people have heard how terrifying they were.

At Lockhart's true colors and how he had almost Obliviated him and Ron, Alicia cursed out loud and she and Katie swore bloody revenge. At hearing about his seemingly permanent self-inflicted memory loss, Katie looked sorrowful but satisfied. Alicia had looked ghoulishly happy over it.

His voice hitched several times talking about his encounter with Tom. He did not reveal that Tom was Voldemort, something he had to promise Dumbledore. Instead, he said it was a dark wizard from another time which was essentially the truth. He talked about how he fought the basilisk, fought Tom, all the dreadful things Tom said, and how things ended. Angelina and Katie had bundled him up between them when he got to that part and Alicia squeaked with fright when Harry showed his bandaged arm, where the serpent had bit him.

He glossed over the part where Tom had said he and Harry shared a connection, and he did something to Harry's head. He did not understand what happened. Dumbledore had given him the strangest look. It held so much intensity that Harry had looked away. Dumbledore also refrained from explaining but he looked incredibly tired and troubled so Harry did not pressure him.

He finished the story by telling them how Fawkes had carried him, Ginny, Ron, and Lockhart out of the Chamber, and how they found McGonagall, Dumbledore, Molly, and Arthur in the Headmaster's Office. He had relinquished the Sword of Gryffindor back to Dumbledore alongside the ruined diary, after telling everything to the older witches and wizards. Dumbledore had sent Ginny and her family to the Medical Ward with the Obliviated Lockhart.

Lucius had come to try and get Dumbledore into more trouble, but after Dumbledore revealed that the Governors had changed their minds, he had left. Not before Harry made him accidently free Dobby.

He felt more tired going over everything again a third time in a few short hours, but he felt immensely better that he could tell the girls and Oliver what happened. It felt freeing. He was forbidden to tell them what happened last year, and it always bothered him. He had to give an edited version of events tonight, but it was better than nothing.

Angelina had pulled him into her lap when he talked about the fight with the basilisk, her arms curled around him protectively much like she held the stuffed rabbit earlier. Katie was pressed into his side, holding his hands in hers.

He could not remember the last time he felt this warm and safe.

This cared for.

Oliver cleared his throat after a very long silence that filled the room when Harry finished speaking. "That's…quite the story."

Harry felt nervous. "You believe me, right?"

Oliver snorted. "Of course, I do. You couldn't write a story like that, it's too incredible. Just…Merlin's beard Harry, you went through a lot. You shouldn't have to, but you did. You're a good guy." He grinned. "Look at you being brave and saving your friends. Proud of you."

Harry teared up a little.

"Question though," Oliver continued, "why are you telling us all this? I know you want to and I imagine you're not telling us everything, which is fine of course, but surely you'll get in trouble for telling us." He groaned at the look Harry gave him. "Not this again. Am I going to have to clean the pitch again?"

Harry and the girls giggled. "Well, I mean, I didn't ask Professor Dumbledore if I could tell you four exactly…"

Alicia snorted. "Why do I get the feeling I am going to be proud of the loophole you've exploited?"

Harry smiled shyly. "Well, the Headmaster said I could tell an edited version to my family."

"I didn't think the Dursleys would care," Katie said, confusion on her face.

Harry felt his face grow red and he looked down. "I wasn't talking about them when I asked permission to tell my family."

Angelina hugged him tighter, resting her chin on his head. Katie squeezed his hands and pressed in closer.

Alicia applauded; her eyes bright with unshed tears. "Excellently done," she said with a slightly stuffy voice. She cleared your throat. "Fine, I've decided to forgive you for not checking in with us for this last gift." At their questioning looks her smile turned feral. "When word gets out that Lucius Malfoy accidentally freed his House Elf, you better believe they'll be even more of a laughing stock after the Slug-o incident."

"Alicia, please stop corrupting Harry with your twistiness," Angelina sighed. She rolled her eyes at the gesture Alicia made. "Harry, I'm really happy to hear that everything ended up okay, but you know how it could have gone terribly wrong in so many different ways, right?"

Harry nodded.

"I know it's hard for you to check in when you need help. I know you've never had reason to ask for help. I guess, just know we deeply care and you can always come to us, okay? Though, let's be real, if you told me you needed me to come help you with a basilisk I'd faint and what use what I be?"

"As a bludgeoning weapon," Alicia said snidely. She squealed as Angelina kicked her off the bed and flailed a bit when Oliver caught her.

"I know," Harry said softly. "I really wanted to. I guess I was just afraid of telling you all about the voices and everything. It's okay if I get myself in trouble but I never want to get any of you in trouble."

"But what about Ron and Hermione?" Katie asked gently.

He could not refute that.

"They went in knowing the potential consequences and we're older so we would know what the consequences were too, if not more," Katie said. "I can't promise we would help you without question, but at the very least, we can minimize some risks and lend help when we can. Remember what I said last year?"

Harry nodded. "I can trust you. You will never lie to me."

"That's right. And I will never turn you in for anything. Not unless it's a massive risk to your life and well-being. None of us would."

"I guess I'm just worried," he started, then lapsed into silence.

"About?" Oliver prompted.

"I'm…worried that if I keep asking for help, if I get too troublesome, you guys will get tired of dealing with me. Then you won't want to help me. You might aband-"

Angelina put her hand over his mouth. "Don't finish that sentence," she said, her voice trembling. "Don't you do it. Don't you even think it. We won't ever get tired of you or leave you. You're stuck with us Harry. I envision us bothering you for the rest of our lives. You'll get tired of us first."

Harry shook his head wildly. "Never," he said, his voice muffled behind Angelina's hand. He tried to burrow closer to her, to hold onto Katie more tightly.

"We're with you forever," Katie said emphatically. "We chose you and you chose us."

He nodded just as emphatically; his eyes glinted wetly.

Alicia did not say anything. She crawled closer to them and rested her hands on Harry's knees, squeezing them.

Oliver smiled. "What they said. We will always be there with you Harry. Just remember to ask when you need it."

He did not think it was possible feeling even more cared after.

They could hear commotion at the door, the sounds of arguing drifted in through the closed door.

"Just open the door!" Ron complained.

"I'm not doing it," Neville said. "Did you read the sign? I don't know what being 'defenestrated' means but I don't want to find out!"

"Doesn't sound all that bad," Seamus said.

"Pretty sure it doesn't mean what you think it means," Dean countered.

"I don't remember writing that," Oliver said with a confused look.

Alicia inspected her nails idly. "I might have added a bit to the sign. You're too soft-spoken Oliver."

Oliver snorted and walked to the door.

"Look, whoever wrote that can't keep us out. I'm just going to open it and tell whoever's inside to sodding get-" Seamus' voice died as Oliver opened the door. He paled, looking up at the sixth year. "Get comfortable and take as long as you need," he said instead.

Ron snorted. "Smooth mate." He looked up at Oliver. "Is Harry inside? Tell him to come out! There's going to be a feast right now and they brought the Mandrake potion to the Infirmary as I was leaving!"

Everyone perked up at the news.

As they got up Harry took a look at his pajamas and then back at his filthy school robes hanging off a hook. He frowned, starting to turn red. Suddenly his world went dark and he flailed about for a moment before he could see again.

Oliver had taken off his Puddlemere United sweatshirt and pulled it over Harry's head and torso. It was so large it swallowed the much smaller boy but it looked far nicer than the cast-offs he was wearing. Oliver grinned in his T-shirt. "No time to waste on changing Harry, let's go."

Harry smiled wide. The sweatshirt was very warm and even though the sleeves were incredibly long and the hem went down to his thighs, it felt better than anything the Dursleys ever gave him. "Thanks Captain!"

"You're welcome. Now you can represent a proper Quidditch Team."

"Oi! The Cannons are a proper team and Harry is a fan of theirs!" Ron shouted.

"You're both daft. The Ballycastle Bats are the best team to support," Seamus argued.

"Why is it always about Quidditch?" Alicia moaned as they trooped down the stairs. "Quidditch this, Quidditch that. Is that all boys ever want to talk about?"

Angelina, who was defending the Appleby Arrows, pinched Alicia hard while still speaking. Alicia squealed and tried to retaliate but Angelina continued to extol the virtues of the Arrows while fending off the shorter girl.

Katie just shook her head and draped her arm over Harry's shoulders.

-0-

The feast that night was wonderful.

Months of tension and stress were alleviated. The students were able to relax completely without fear of attacks, without anything hanging over their heads. Especially when Professor Dumbledore announced that all year end exams were canceled as a treat. The applause from the students shook the walls of the Great Hall.

That was not the best part for Harry though.

He was sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table, surrounded by the girls, Oliver, and Ron. The feast had barely started when Fred and George ran into the Great Hall. The second they saw Harry they made a beeline straight for him. Fred grabbed Harry and practically yanked him from the bench, hugging him tighter than he ever had before. George looked teary eyed and gripped Harry's shoulder over Fred's embrace.

"Harry," George stammered. "I, I mean we, us, how can we ever-"

Harry shook his head, feeling very embarrassed but happy at the same time. "I'm just glad I was…able to…" He did not want to even entertain what the alternative would have been.

"Fred, put the poor boy down. He's been through a lot." Percy had come up behind them with arms crossed, his usual body language with the twins. His eyes were red too however.

Fred put Harry down and Percy leaned down to hug Harry. "Thank you," he said, his voice trembling. "Thank you, Harry. I don't know what we would do without her."

Harry did not say anything, only hugging the tall boy back hard.

The twins lifted Harry high once Percy let him go and deposited him back onto the bench with a flourish. "Right George," Fred said as he rubbed his eyes. "Let's get every treacle tart in the Hall and bring it over."

"He's already had half of one," Alicia protested. "Anymore and he'll get sick."

"Good point Alicia. I'll look for chicken pie. We got to balance the sweet and the savory," George said seriously.

"That's not what I meant!" Alicia said.

"I think I saw some over at the Ravenclaw table," Percy commented and the three older Weasleys scattered.

"I cannot believe you would deny Harry his well earned rewards," Angelina said with a mock glower. "I knew you didn't care about him as much as we do."

Alicia stared right at her while slicing the tart and placing a large piece on Harry's plate. "Eat up Harry. Just promise me if you feel the urge to throw up, aim at Angelina if you would be so kind."

Harry had already eaten half the slice. "I won't throw up," he said with a full mouth.

Colin had been the first of those petrified to run over and thank Harry. Harry even allowed the excited boy a picture of the two of them, taken by a grinning Katie.

Justin came over next once he came into the Hall. He apologized again and again for blaming Harry for attacking Mrs. Norris and Colin, as well as spreading rumors that Harry was the Heir. While Harry was glad for the apology, he did not fully accept it, only smiling politely while Justin went on and on. The Hufflepuff student was eventually ushered away by the twins.

After a while Angelina tapped Harry on the shoulder. He looked at her confused, following her finger when she pointed at the open doors to the Hall.

Hermione stood there, eyes looking up and down the table.

Harry jumped up and ran. Most of the students looked at him with alarm, thinking there was some new crisis that was making him run.

Hermione saw him as he ran and she ran down too and the two literally collided with another, falling to the ground in a heap. Ron, being a few steps behind, managed to avoid the collision and he doubled-over from laughter as the two laid there and winced from accidentally slamming into each other.

The girls had followed and they chuckled too as they picked them up. "You just got out of the Medical Ward," Alicia clucked at Hermione. "Eager to go back so soon?"

Hermione was smiling despite her clutching her nose. "It wasn't my fault," she said nasally, checking to see if she broke her nose.

"At least half of it was," Alicia said before hugging her fondly. "Good to see you up and about."

"Gotta be more careful Rabbit," Angelina teased as she brushed Harry down.

"I was just happy to see her," Harry said weakly but smiling.

As far as Harry was concerned, everyone sitting together at the table and eating and laughing was the best part of the night.