I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
The Family that Chooses You
Chapter 126 – Changes
Harry looked up and immediately looked away, face going bright red. "G-Good morning, Miss Amelia," he stammered.
Amelia shrieked, surprised to see Harry in the kitchen. She pulled the shirt she was wearing down further in an attempt at modesty. "Harry! Hello!" She too blushed furiously. "W-Welcome home…"
It was the first weekend of the summer holiday, barely a few days after the end of school. Harry had eased back into Grimmauld Place well. The awkwardness from last year was but a memory and Sirius was doing very well. He fully accepted his role as a member of the Wizengamot, being the Head of the Blacks, spearheading new proposals and doing work within the Ministry. He was enjoying a rekindled relationship with Amelia.
Rekindling the relationship created interesting new situations Harry found, such as Amelia wandering into the kitchen clearly wearing Sirius' shirt, knickers, and apparently not much else.
"I'm really sorry," Amelia said awkwardly. "I got used to walking around Grimmauld like this…"
"That's, uh, okay," Harry said, focused on the cutting board in front of him. "I'm making breakfast. What would you like?"
"Uh, whatever you make for yourself and Sirius will be fine. Thank you."
"No problem." Harry cursed the silence that made it even more awkward. "Do you like tea or coffee?"
"Coffee, please." I'm the director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Why do I feel like I was caught by a parent sneaking around with a boyfriend?! Especially since I'm much older than the one that caught me! "I'm just going to go put more clothes on."
"Sounds great," Harry said with as much false cheeriness that he could muster. He waited to hear her flee before releasing his breath, shaking his head. "Was not expecting that," he said wryly to himself. He looked up at the moving door once more, and sighed with relief when he saw a smiling Tonks.
"Little bro!" she said happily, her hair pink and messy. "Welcome home!" She rushed over and hugged him tightly. "You okay?" she asked with concern, noticing his bright red face. "You look flushed."
"You missed something insanely awkward," he said.
"Oh? Do tell."
"Well-" Harry began.
"Harry, I want to apologize again…" Amelia's voice faded as she walked back into the kitchen, seeing Tonks standing there. Thankfully she was wearing more clothes but she was clearly not expecting to see Tonks there.
The lack of expectation was mutual. Tonks's eyes bugged wide as she looked at her boss standing there, still wearing Sirius' shirt but with shorts on.
Everyone stood and stared at one another in somehow even more awkward silence.
"Tonks," Amelia finally said.
"Boss," Tonks greeted, looking over Amelia's shoulder.
"How about I make a little extra food," Harry said loudly. "Tonks can help and it'll take me a bit longer."
"That sounds wonderful, thank you," Amelia said awkwardly and once more fled from the kitchen.
Tonks blinked. "Huh, well, wasn't expecting to see that this morning."
"I saw more than you did," Harry muttered. "Well, less technically."
"Was that Sirius' shirt?" Tonks asked, aghast.
"I think so," Harry said. "What do you do to forget things?"
"Drink heavily, which it's too early and you're technically underaged. I could obliviate you."
"What Lockhart tried?" Harry asked with a queasy expression.
"Oh yeah, that prick. Yeah no, let's not do that for many reasons. I guess we should just collectively file this away under 'to be used later to blackmail the hell out of Sirius Black' while never actively thinking about it ever again."
"I can agree with that," Harry said fervently.
"Tell me other things and feed me to get the mental image of my boss wearing my cousin's clothes out of my mind," she begged. "How'd the year end for you?"
He sliced a small tomato in half and popped it into her mouth. "It went pretty well, thank you. Scored high on my final exams, feel okay-ish about N.E.W.T.s coming up. Professor McGonagall said I continued to do great as a Prefect. I redid my application to retain my Medic license. We won our third Championship in a row!" They high-fived.
"Sounds like a great end of a year!" Tonks opened her mouth and ate the other half of the tomato. Her smile turned slightly sad. "How're you feeling about Katie?"
He sighed. "Sad of course that she won't be at school with me anymore. We're still waiting on her scores to come back. Once they do, we'll know which program she is going to get into. The French Academy of Healing is her first choice."
"France isn't too far," Tonks said encouragingly. "Easy to visit, you can send a message within a day." She waggled her eyebrows. "Topless beaches."
He snorted and fed her a bite of cheese. "How did your last case go?"
"Good! Finished the investigation and caught the embezzler. Pretty open and shut case, guy's in trouble for a long time. After weeks of constant work, I get a few weeks off so I'm going to relax and bother you a lot."
He fed her another piece of cheese. "You don't bother me."
"I'm not trying hard enough then," she snickered.
Eventually Sirius and Amelia came back down for breakfast, dressed far better than he ever did before for breakfast. They all managed to get through the meal without mentioning what happened earlier, somehow.
-0-
"Harry!"
He ran to the sitting room. "Katie! Is everything okay?"
"Yes, sort of. I mean, can you come over?"
"Sure, give me a minute. I was just finishing something anyways, be right there." He hurried back to the kitchen and grabbed two boxes before he ran back to the Floo. He popped out of the other side at the Bells. "Katie?" he called.
"In the kitchen!"
He walked in and blinked at the sight. Lyla sat at the table but was bound to the chair. Bailey had her head in Lyla's lap but when Harry appeared she padded over to him, wagging her tail and smiling up at him. Katie was staring at an envelope on the table.
"Hi Harry," Lyla chirped. "Ooh, did you bring us treats?"
"Hi Lyla, I did. What's with the ropes?"
"Katie tied me to the chair because she was mad at me for trying to help her." She opened her mouth and Harry popped a chocolate chip biscuit into it.
"Uh huh. What was she trying to help with?" Harry asked Katie.
"Those are my N.E.W.T.s results," Katie said, eyes unmoving from the envelope.
"Oh. Why don't you open it?"
"Too scared to."
"That's why I offered," Lyla mumbled through a full mouth.
"I don't trust you! You'll mess with me."
"I would not!" Lyla said, outraged.
"Harry, please open it, I can't," Katie begged.
Harry picked up the envelope with trembling hands. He removed the parchment and looked. "'Katherine Samantha Bell,' oh I didn't know your full name was Katherine Samantha." He smiled. "Your middle name is your mum's name, kinda like mine is my dad's."
"Aww," Katie said, touched while Lyla rolled her eyes.
"Right, sorry." Harry read the scores silently.
"Well?!" Katie and Lyla screeched. Bailey barked.
Harry's smile was from ear to ear. "You got Outstanding on Charms and Transfiguration! And Exceeds Expectations on Potions!"
"I did?!" Katie gaped.
Harry showed her. "You did! You did it!"
Katie screamed and threw herself at him. He caught her but tripped over Bailey who was dancing around them, celebrating with them. He fell over with a whoop and Katie landed on him. Bailey flopped on both of them, eager to lick their laughing faces.
"Congrats!" Lyla shouted, unable to move aside from ineffectual kicks. "I told you!"
Katie kissed Harry on the cheeks. "I can't believe it! I can't believe I did it! I did better than the minimums!"
"And since you already got your application in at the Academy, you'll be on your way!" Harry said excitedly.
"I need to tell Mum and Dad!" Katie scrambled up and ran from the room.
"Let me go at least!" Lyla shouted. She groaned as Katie left completely. "Ugh. So ungrateful."
Harry chuckled. "Is this a spell or real rope?"
"Real rope. When we were little, one of our uncles taught us how to lasso things so whenever we want to stop the other, we lasso each other with real rope." Lyla blushed. "Saying it out loud makes it a lot less normal than I thought it was."
"I think it's cute," Harry said as he undid the knots. "As long as you don't do it to me."
"Deal. Thanks Harry."
A tapping noise made them pause and they looked at the closed window. A handsome Great Horned Owl stood on the sill, pecking on the glass. A large official looking medal hung from its chest and it looked very imperiously at Harry and Lyla.
Lyla opened the window and the owl fluttered in. It looked at the two of them and stuck its leg out at Harry. Thoroughly confused, Harry undid the bindings on the letter tied to the owl's leg. Letter delivered, the owl clacked its beak and flew away.
Harry looked down at the envelope. "It's…I think it's from the Academy."
"Already?" Lyla whispered.
They stared in silence at it.
"Mum and Dad were so happy-" Katie said as she walked back in. Her smile dropped. "What's wrong?" she asked when she saw them.
"An owl just delivered this," Harry said wonderingly, showing her the envelope.
Katie took it from him and she almost dropped it. "It's from the Academy! Already? But my N.E.W.T.s score just came today." She was about to open it but her hands trembled so much she dropped it. "Do you mind Harry?" she asked, voice quavering. She grabbed Lyla and hugged her, grabbing her little sister tight.
Harry gulped and opened the envelope. He pulled out the parchment within and looked at it. "Uh…it's in French. I can barely make it out."
"Don't you write to Fleur and them?" Lyla asked.
"Yeah but they write in English most of the time. Oh wait, there's a second piece in English." He coughed. "To Katherine Samantha Bell. The Academie Nationale De Medecine is pleased to offer you a spot in their Sports Healing Program for this coming year-"
Katie and Lyla screamed. They hugged and jumped and as one tackled Harry to the ground. Bailey barked loudly, jumping up and down and all over the pile of people. Katie began to cry. "I got in? I got in! I got in the program!"
They hugged each other while Bailey tried to lick their faces as much as possible, joining the continued celebration.
"I knew you could do it!" Harry shouted. "You're going to be a Sports Healer!"
"I'm going to be a Sports Healer!" Katie repeated gleefully.
Lyla was crying happily with her sister. "Mum and Dad are going to be so proud of you! You need to tell them!"
"I need to tell them!" Katie scrambled up and ran out of the kitchen once more, followed by her eager Labrador.
Lyla continued to cry but her face twisted. She hid her face in her hands as her shoulders shook.
"Hey, it's okay," Harry said softly, rubbing her back.
"I know she's super excited and I'm so happy for her," Lyla hiccupped, "but she's going to be out of the country now! And for a long time!"
Harry gently pulled her to him and she clung to him, burying her face into his neck. "Yeah, I know. But she picked this program because it's one of the faster ones. It's more intense but she finishes a year or so earlier than others. And France isn't too far. At least it's not the States."
Lyla sniffled. "I'm such a shitty sister."
"It's okay to be upset that you're going to miss her," Harry said. "I'm going to miss her too. But we'll write her and we'll have chances to visit."
She nodded, still crying.
Harry looked up and saw Katie standing above them. Katie was crying silently too, the enormity of everything hitting her at once. Bailey whined softly, feeling their distress. He opened his arm and Katie sank down, hugging her sister and her boyfriend. Their dog pressed against them, eager to help them feel better.
"It'll be okay," Katie said through her tears. "We'll be okay."
"Of course we will," Harry said, dry-eyed. "Better than, really, I don't doubt it."
-0-
Thomas and Samantha had rushed home, eager to celebrate with Katie for her great scores and being accepted to the Academy. At first Harry tried to leave, wanting to allow them to celebrate as a family but no one let him leave. Katie said he was the one that gave her the idea of being a Sports Healer in the first place, and helped her get the impromptu interview at the Academy. He deserved to be there too.
That weekend, Sirius organized a big party for her at Grimmauld. The old Quidditch team came as well as the new members, the Tonks family, the Grangers, Luna, Amelia and Susan and Hannah, and the Weasleys. The home rang with happy voices and bright laughter.
At one point Katie had looked around with a very odd expression. "I never knew so many cared about me," she said in a shocked voice.
"A lot of people do," Harry replied with a grin. "Better get used to it."
Aimee had slipped a note into the envelope that Katie received from the Academy. Her great-aunt, the director, had specifically asked for Katie's scores to be sent over as soon as possible, having come to really like her when they met on Katie's tour. They got a copy the same day Katie got hers and as soon as she saw them and confirmed them, the Director had sent the owl with the acceptance letter, picking their fastest. Aimee also explained that she told the owl to deliver the letter to Harry if he was there, to get the good news to Katie faster.
Within the acceptance letter there was a list of supplies she had to get before going. It also documented the program's length and what she would be doing. Finally it said that Katie earned a scholarship for fees as well as housing for the beginning of the program but could be extended.
"About two and a half years," Katie murmured. "I won't get much breaks like other programs, but that's how I can finish faster."
"You'll be driven hard," Samantha nodded. "But it's basically a combined program. Lots of classes, early clinic work, and you apprentice a lot sooner than other programs. It's an accelerated one, but a very good one. You'll be in demand once you finish."
"If I finish," Katie muttered.
"When you finish," Samantha, Andromeda, and Harry said at the same time, making everyone laugh.
"Plus a scholarship and housing taken care of." Thomas hugged her. "That's my daughter."
Lyla gulped. "When do you go?"
"Right before you leave for Hogwarts," Katie said somberly.
"That'll give us a good amount of time to get everything ready and spend time together," Samantha said gently.
Later, Andromeda slipped an arm around Harry's shoulders. "How are you doing, love?" she asked.
He leaned into her embrace. "I'm proud of her, happy for her." His smile was small. "Sad for me, as selfish as it is to say."
"I know you have this odd obsession with being normal so allow me to assure you, that's normal," she said gently, kissing him on the top of his head.
"I have to pick the worst thing to be normal about," he joked.
"You do like to be difficult," Andromeda agreed.
"But only for a few years. We'll talk all the time and still see each other when we can. I still have a year of Hogwarts anyways. It's not forever."
"That's my boy," she praised him. "Being mature in the face of difficulty."
"It's hard though," he said.
"It always is," she agreed.
-0-
A tawny owl flew around the rooftop garden, looking about nervously.
"What's wrong with that owl?" Katie asked, looking up at it. "It looks nervous. Can owls be nervous?"
"I think he's looking out for Hedwig," Harry said. "Hedwig's not here," he shouted to the owl.
With a hoot of relief, he flew down and landed in front of Harry. He offered his leg for Harry to remove the letter tied to it. After accepting some treats and a head scratch, he flew away, eager to leave.
"Hedwig is so possessive of you," Katie smiled. "I mean, Clapper loves my family but he doesn't act like Hedwig."
"She's a great owl," Harry laughed. "Oh, my Hogwarts letter. A bit early this year." He frowned. "It feels heavy." He opened it and two golden objects fell onto the table.
"Harry!" Katie flipped over the larger one. It was a gold crest; the front gleamed with shining crimson and a gold H and B was emblazoned on top. "You're Head Boy! And Quidditch Captain!"
"No way," Harry gasped. He pulled out sheets of parchment, looking at the top one. It was written by Professor McGonagall in her neat severe script. "'Harry James Potter, you have been elected Head Boy by the Headmaster and approved unanimously by the four Heads of House. You are receiving this early to prepare you for the duties ahead. Here is a list of your Prefects for the year. You fellow Head Girl is Hermione Jean Granger-"
"No surprises there!" Katie said happily.
"-and we await your reply of confirmation as well as nominating your replacement seventh year Prefects for Gryffindor. We have no doubt that you will continue to do your duties admirably and be a Head Boy that Hogwarts will benefit from.'" He sat back, dazed. "I…wow."
Katie hugged him and pressed her lips to his. "Congratulations Harry! That's amazing, I'm so proud of you."
He grinned. "It's pretty big right?"
"Yeah! You beat out every other male Prefect to be Head Boy, you're basically the top Male Student at the school. It's prestigious."
"It's a lot of responsibility."
"Yeah, but you can do it." She winced a little. "Still, you're going to be busy. Quidditch Captain, Head Boy, and N.E.W.T.s. Not to mention if you continue to be Student Instructor for Practical Defense."
He winced too. "Is it too late to refuse a post?" he joked.
She rubbed his arm. "I mean, you probably could. You can handle it though."
"How do you know?"
Her smile outshone the sun. "Because I believe in you."
He blushed happily. "Well, I don't want to let you down then."
"Certainly not." Her eyes smoldered slightly. "Too bad I'm not there anymore. Head Boy gets private quarters you know."
He groaned in sincere disappointment. "Ugh, missed opportunity! We wouldn't have to hide in alcoves or broom closets!"
"Poor Harry, not going to get to use his private rooms for anything inappropriate," she said. She had an odd look in her eye.
He pulled her on top of him, kissing her nose. "You're the only one I want to be inappropriate with," he said sincerely.
She blushed too but snuggled into him gratefully. "You're not too upset that you won't have someone to kiss and do certain things with?"
"I'll miss you obviously, and yeah that too, but that's not just why I'm with you, you know. We'll make up for lost time when we see each other."
She sighed. "How did I get so lucky?"
"That's my line," he laughed.
"Don't worry, you have permission to friend cuddle," she said without heat or jealousy, with a broad smile.
"Only good friends though," he said. "Besides, I don't do this with them when we cuddle." He brought her face to his and lost himself to her lips.
"Good, you better not," Katie said breathlessly after long moments.
A soft pop heralded Kreacher's appearance, but he showed up facing away from the couch Katie and Harry were lying on. "A thousand apologies, Master Harry," Kreacher croaked. "However, someone is calling from the Floo, loudly and repeatedly."
Katie giggled and Harry smiled. "Is it Hermione?" he asked.
Kreacher bobbed his head. "Yes Master Harry. Kreacher tried to say you is busy but she is getting louder and shriller."
"I better go-" Harry began.
"Wait." Katie whispered into his ear. Harry's smile grew even wider. "Actually, go ahead and have her come through Kreacher and send her up here when she does."
Kreacher popped away.
Katie pulled Harry's shirt open and pulled off her top, undoing her hair and running her hands through Harry's hair to make it even messier. She kissed him deeply and passionately, going so far to cover his cheeks with lip marks and saliva as she straddled him.
"Harry! Did you get your letter yet?!" Her voice came up the stairwell. "I'm Head Girl and you're Head B-OH MY GOD!" Hermione ran onto the rooftop garden and almost fell over when she tried to come to a sudden stop. She covered her furiously red face with her letter.
"Oh hello Hermione," Katie said conversationally, sitting up slightly and leaving Harry dazed and speechless beneath her. She demurely wiped her lips with her fingers. "How are you doing?"
"I, I, I,-" Hermione stammered. "It's broad daylight out here!" she screeched.
"With plenty of anti-noticing charms and the like," Katie said in the same normal conversational tone. "On top of the roof of a private townhome."
The red-faced, brown bushy-haired girl looked away, waving her letter at them. "Can you, are you decent? Please put your top back on or something."
Katie pretended to sigh heavily. "Fine, just for you Hermione." She just managed to pull her shirt back on before she started laughing uncontrollably.
"You knew I was coming over!" Hermione glared at a hysterically laughing Katie and a still rather glazed looking Harry. "You did that to mess with me! Harry, how could you?!"
"That was all me," Katie said smugly. "He only agreed when I said I was going to mess with you, I didn't tell him what I planned." She winked at him. "Not that he's complaining I don't think."
"Never," Harry said with a lop-sided grin. "Anytime you want to do that, go for it."
A corner of Hermione's lips twitched but she tried to remain angry. "Terrible, simply terrible, the both of you!"
"Seriously though, I'm really happy for you," Katie said warmly. She rose to hug Hermione but the look Hermione gave her hands made her crack up again. She had Harry cast the sanitizing and cleaning charm he learned from Andromeda on her hands. Only then would Hermione consent to a big hug from the older girl.
Hermione had him cast it on himself several times before enthusiastically hugging him. "I was really hoping you'd be Head Boy," she said brightly. "I talked to Professor McGonagall last term and she said if the two Heads are friends, they can share the shared private dorms! It has a big sitting room that we can customize a little and two private bedrooms with their own bathroom each!"
"Really? That's a surprise given the usual keep guys and girls apart," Katie said.
"The Heads are trusted more apparently." She looked at Harry. "Would you want to do that Harry? The single private rooms don't have a sitting room at all and I thought it'd be fun if we were roommates."
"I'd like that," Harry said easily.
"Me too," Katie said. "You can help me keep an eye on him," she said warmly to Hermione. "Make sure he's eating, but only if he wants to and not if someone else wants him to, of course."
Hermione blushed crimson. "I still don't think Angelina has ever forgiven me for that." She shook her head. "But of course. I definitely will."
"And make sure no one tries to sneak in and take advantage of him. Protect his virtue," Katie said seriously.
"Protect my what?" Harry asked, alarmed.
"You can rely on me," Hermione told her, pompously. "What about Lyla?"
"Don't let her get away with things, but take care of her too." Katie looked at Harry.
Harry smiled. "I'll take care of Hermione too, don't worry. I'm the only one that can get her to relax a little after all."
"I am much better at caring for myself," Hermione sniffed.
"I know," Katie said as she hugged Hermione. "But I'm very fond of you and want to make sure you're taken care of too."
"Oh. Well. Thank you," Hermione said tearily. She hugged Katie tightly.
Harry moved closer at Katie's beckoning and they sat back together, holding onto one another to keep the moment in place for as long as they could.
-0-0-0-
The website is having problems with reviews so I am going to respond to the ones I see and catch the rest when they show up next.
FanfictionFanGirl59 - Oh my, hope you had a good time at Graduation and congratulations!
D.J. Scales - Hopefully still appreciated.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Yup, at least there will only be one more leaving chapter? Right? Oh wait, might be worse. It'll depend on who asks for what, it's a possibility.
Shamgar777 - It is indeed, I figured it was something whimsical that she could make.
yogibears - I wanted her to have a really good send off for her last game. And they will forever leave their mark for future generations with the Cup drinking, even going to other Houses maybe. Yeah, that definitely comes up in the future with him being the last of his team. Hopefully you will like it.