I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Note: Hello everyone, hope all are doing well. Just wanted to let you know I posted a new one-shot that is a very silly story and premise. Feel free to go take a peek. Also, I would be happy to see some suggestions what to call the incoming spin-off fic of the little moments in this universe/setting. As one more treat for you all, I just finished a 5 chapter fic so that will be posted after this concludes.
Have a lovely day!
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The Family that Chooses You
Chapter 135 – To be a Leader
"Failure to finish homework, out past curfew, out past curfew," Harry read from a list. "Inappropriate spellwork?"
"He tried to use a Wind Blast to blow up the skirts of some girls," Daphne clarified.
Harry raised an eyebrow and his cheeks went pink. "Really?"
"It's adorable of you to blush at that," Daphne said with a smirk.
He blushed further. "Just saying, that's kinda well…inappropriate," he finished lamely.
Daphne laughed. "Trust me, there have been instances of magic use for far uglier reasoning. Something as silly as that is rather refreshing."
"I imagine it must have been refreshing to have the wind blown up your skirt," Harry mused.
Daphne smacked him in the shoulder. "You know what I mean."
"I do," he smiled. "I mean, I was ambushed by those older students when I was a first year." His smile faded. "That was pretty bad."
Daphne ground her teeth. "Even I thought that was in extremely poor taste as a first year. Such a shame on my House. Bloody cowards."
"Language Miss Greengrass," he said mildly, snickering at her look. "How are things in Slytherin these days?"
"Very good, a much better state than when I first arrived at school. The Prefects actually do their jobs and not abuse their positions. The old Pure-Blood supremacy has died down considerably."
"Really?"
"Is it that much of a surprise? Thanks to you, the mystique of the Pure-Bloods has been much diminished. No longer do a select few in the House hold court over the others. The Half-Bloods no longer cower or seek protection by selling favors and secrets. It's less of a cesspool of children posturing and it's just children."
Harry set his quill down. "What did I do?"
"Several things. First, your speech about blood during second year was spoken of a lot. Someone even carved the words into the wall. Second, and somewhat more important to me anyways, you saving me and tangentially Malfoy third year. You actively tried to help two people from your rival House, especially one that had done nothing but lambaste you at every chance for the last three years.
"Third, the Blitz Quidditch. You openly extended your hand to Slytherins yet again. Not only that, you refused to sacrifice others in going against Viktor Krum. Fourth, and a personal favorite, the way you obliterated Malfoy in a duel and then undid all your hard work by healing him. Fifth, how you are pleasant to the Slytherin Quidditch team during games as well as teaching the students without reservation during Practical Defense. Once again showing your kindness. Sixth and last, how you encourage the Prefects to do their jobs not because it's their job, but to be better than who came before. To be who we want and should be. To help people despite House colors."
She rolled her eyes. "What did you do indeed?"
Harry's face was deep red. "You make it sound like I planned on doing all that."
"Harry, no offense, but I know you and planning isn't your strong suit." They laughed. "You can say you accidentally created a pleasant environment now through accidental actions, but it still happened."
"That's me, accidentally doing the right thing." He paused, thinking. "I just realized I never interacted with Malfoy again ever since the club incident. I legit just thought about it."
"You broke him."
"I healed the wounds though."
"Physically yes. Mentally you broke him. He is a shell of what he used to be. Ever since that duel, being so systematically dismantled, knowing that you could have killed him made him realize the enormity of what he did. Then feeling the shame of being healed by the very one that did it to him, knowing how much he lacked in both ability and character, broke him. And with his family in dire straits after the ending of You-Know-Who, he had no one to fill his head with lies and false hope. Barely anyone has any time for him in Slytherin."
Harry winced. "I kinda feel bad."
"Don't," Daphne said plainly. "He was a literal monster the first few years. He said disgusting things, things I will never repeat. What you did to him was something of his own doing. If he was a proper person, he might even thank you for the lesson. He has a chance to grow up into a decent member of society. Terribly unlikely, but the alternative would have been atrocious."
Blaise walked into the offices to drop something off. Daphne waved him over. "Zabini, tell Harry I am right."
The tall boy snorted. "At least give me a little more information. I know better than to agree blindly." He listened to Harry repeating briefly what Daphne said. "Oh yeah, she's right. Malfoy was a prick and he was setting himself to be King of Slytherin with all his little hangers-on. When you wrecked him in the duel you showed how he was weak. When you healed him, you showed how lacking he was. Lost everything then and for the better."
He tapped his chin. "You know, hearing stories about how Slytherin was when my mother attended here, I was worried. It sounded miserable and for the first few years, it was tough. But every year things got steadily better and after that moment? It felt like a brand-new House. You got nothing to feel bad over. If you have to feel bad, feel bad that you didn't do it sooner."
"But, if I'm understanding you right, some people act right because they're afraid of me?" He looked glum at their nods. "I don't want that. I don't like the idea of people being afraid of me and doing the right thing because of that."
"Some lead through example, others through fear." Daphne shrugged.
"So you think the ends justify the means?" Harry asked.
"In some cases. Not in all. There are some lines that should never be crossed but it's not like you are delving into dark magic," Daphne argued.
"Not everyone is going to respond to the same methods. Malfoy is a good example again." Zabini leaned against the desk. "You reached out your hand in friendship to Greengrass and she responded well to it. If you tried to do that to Malfoy, he'd cut it off and call you weak for it. So you had to speak his language to get to him."
"Just like magic, there is intent to leadership," Daphne said. "You intended for Malfoy to stop in the duel, stop whatever he was doing." Her features grew wrathful when Harry explained the nature of the duel, of what Malfoy said. "Oh, you should have absolutely no qualms with how you reacted. I was not close to Katie then, and not as close to Hermione, so some of my anger now is the fact I do count them as friends, but he was disgusting for saying that."
"I'm not friends with Bell or Granger and even I find what Malfoy said to be in bad taste." Blaise's face twisted as if showing he had tasted something sour. "You shouldn't feel bad at all."
"I was so concerned with making sure he never hurt Katie, or Hermione, or any of my friends," Harry said. "That was my intent anyways. I didn't intend on changing the dynamics of Slytherin or to…break Malfoy."
"Life's full of happy accidents," Blaise said with a prosaic shrug.
Harry was quiet for a moment. "So I should always just accept the unintended consequences of my actions?"
"Sure, or at least be aware that your actions and your words will have consequences that you're not aware of," Blaise said. "It's up to you if you want to accept them or not, but be aware that your reach is a lot farther than most peoples."
"Because I'm the Boy-Who-Lived?"
"Yes. Not to mention what you have done is far beyond most of your age, of those many times your age. You are very influential. Everything you do or say will be examined and sometimes you will have unintended responses," Daphne said gently. "You will always have to decide on how you want to use your words and actions."
"That's not very fair to…well anyone," Harry sighed.
"It's the price of being a leader. Heavy is the head that wears the crown," Blaise quoted, running a slim finger along his brow.
Daphne smiled impishly. "He has one of those, a crown."
"It's a circlet," Harry said with a sheepish smirk.
"For formal occasions?" Blaise asked. "I have one as well. I like them."
"Oh thank goodness," Harry said. "I'm not the only one. So many people take the mickey for me having one."
"They just wish they looked good in one," Blaise said.
Daphne snorted.
"Thanks, I really appreciate your insight," Harry said to them with a grateful smile. "Hey, how are things with Morris?"
"Good." Blaise looked sympathetic. "He's been good. Made some friends. Professor Snape has been mentoring him sort of. He looks less…haunted. I never realized it before but seeing him how he is now, it's good."
"Professor Snape has mentioned that his circumstances will improve," Daphne said softly.
Harry felt his throat tighten slightly. He nodded. "That's good," he managed to say.
Daphne took his hand and squeezed, and he squeezed it back.
-0-
A few days later, Harry watched fondly as the firsties left the corner, chatting about the tutoring session he conducted. About once a week he found the time to come to the Gryffindor common room to help people who had questions. For the most part he worked with the younger years with common spells and things but the older students he could give advice to or point them in the right direction.
If he was completely honest, he liked doing it again. It was nice to help them, much like how Alicia and Angelina and Katie helped him when he was younger. There was something heart-warming to see their looks of dawning realization, the happiness they got in successfully casting a spell. How proud they were when they learned they could do something.
He was not sure if it was worth grading essays though however, but perhaps it would be eventually.
He looked around the room for a bit. He had spent some time chatting with Neville and Lavender about prefect things, exchanged a joke with Dean and Seamus. Ron was out and so was Ginny and he had not seen Mirabelle or Lyla. He knew Colin and Demelza were on patrol. It was nice to be back in the common room for a little bit, having spent six years in it prior, though he did like his little room he shared with Hermione now.
As he was leaving the portrait door opened and Lyla and Mirabelle walked in. "Harry! I'm so glad to see you," Mirabelle said.
"Hey girls. Is everything okay?" He noticed how upset Lyla looked, how worried Mirabelle looked.
"Everything's fine," Lyla muttered.
"No it's not. If you're not telling him, I am," Mirabelle said angrily.
"Don't you dare! I can handle it!" Lyla growled.
"I'm worried and I'm telling him, especially if you won't!"
"Tell me what?" Harry asked, troubled.
"It's none of your business," Lyla said, trying to push past him.
He rested a hand on her shoulder. "Lyla. Look at me." She did unwillingly, her soft brown eyes tearing up. "Lyla, you helped last year, when I know Katie told you not to. You helped us then. Let me help you now."
"It's not the same," she said, looking away but no longer trying to push past him.
"Maybe not, but that doesn't mean I can't help you."
She sniffled. As he drew her to him, she started to cry, finally wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his chest. He looked at Mirabelle, nodding at her to speak.
"She's been bothered by these boys. They're really rude, and she's not been the only one," Mirabelle said. "I don't know who they are but the other day I heard them say some nasty things. When I came round the corner with my bat, they were running off."
Harry scowled and his ire grew as he felt Lyla tighten her arms around him. "You have no idea who they are?"
"No, but I've heard other girls being bothered by them."
"Have they hurt you," he asked Lyla softly.
She shook her head. "No, but, it's scary when they're there. They don't have any House things on and they say some really ugly things." She sobbed. "I'm so weak. Katie could handle bullies by herself."
"You're not weak and you're not Katie," Harry said softly. "It's okay to get help. I'm here for you, for many reasons." He looked around the common room, at the people staring at them. "Has anyone else been harassed?"
A few girls nodded, uncomfortable.
"No idea who they are?"
No one nodded.
Harry looked at everyone in the common room, meeting their eyes. "I'm going to ask you all to be careful and watch out for one another, a little more than usual. Also, watch out for girls in other Houses."
He took a deep breath. "Let the other Houses know that I'm aware of this now, and I will be looking. I will not tolerate bullying, of any kind. I intend on stopping it." He thought carefully about what to say next. He thought about what Daphne and Blaise said a few days prior. He let his voice fall into a whisper, a whisper that carried effortlessly. "Let the other Houses know that I will find the ones that threatened the people I care about, and I will end it."
Everyone gulped.
"Come on," he said gently to Lyla and Mirabelle. "Let's have dinner in my dorm, okay? I'll ask Professor McGonagall if you can spend the night Lyla. Would you like that?" She nodded, still clinging to him, and they left the quiet common room.
-0-
"Mister Potter, a word please."
"Of course, Professor." Harry opened the office door for McGonagall and waited for her to sit at the Head Boy's desk before sitting down himself.
"A rumor has been brought to my attention," she said. "One that concerns you."
"What did I do this time?"
"More like what you intend on doing. Apparently, there were a few boys in some Houses that refused to leave their dormitories, saying they are in fear of what you will do to them."
Harry raised his eyebrows. "I don't remember saying I will do anything to anyone."
"Is that so? Nothing about finding a group of boys that have been harassing girls and ending them?"
"I might've mentioned something to the Gryffindors the other day of ending a recent string of harassment, but nothing directly against the people doing the harassing. I don't even know who was doing it."
The smallest smile appeared on McGonagall's lips. "How very Slytherin of you Potter. Professor Snape might be proud."
"Oh?"
She snorted. "Playing dumb, are we? So you did not let it be known that you will be personally hunting down the malcontents, knowing that they would rather hide than deal with you publicly, thus revealing their guilt?"
"That sounds like a really good plan, Professor, but we both know I don't plan things very well."
She snorted again. "Well, thankfully, some of the poor girls they have bothered recently were more than happy to identify them. With all the Heads involved, things will be resolved and the boys will be punished."
"That's good." Harry smiled grimly. "And what do you think about the rumor now, Professor?"
"Intriguing, but lacking in substance," McGonagall said dryly.
Harry nodded but his smile died. "I…don't like using my words to threaten," he said softly. "It doesn't feel good. But I'm not about to let people be hurt when I can stop it."
"Every person that has to lead will come to a crossroads. You can either maintain your appearance and let things happen contrary to what you wish, or you will have to sacrifice to obtain the results you desire." McGonagall looked weary for a moment. "It's the mark of a leader to do what they believe they must."
"Did I choose the right path?" he asked, frankly.
She rose and patted his shoulder. "You are willing to hurt yourself for the benefit of others. You're every bit the Head Boy I thought you were and then some Mister Potter."
-0-
Harry called for a time-out and Hooch blew her whistle. He pointed to the ground and the Gryffindor team headed to earth.
They were having a rough game. The Hufflepuff team came out of the gate fighting and seized the initiative, keeping the Gryffindors on the back foot. A few blunders plagued the team and the badgers led the lions 200-20. Everyone was having trouble catching up and it showed.
Harry did not even have any specific person to call attention to, everyone was making a mistake of some sort and it was telling. Morale was low and he knew he had to rally them.
"Can you please block a damn Quaffle?!" Ginny spat at Ron.
"I can ask you the same!" Ron's face was turning red. "You blocked me a few times and how many interceptions did you throw so far?"
"Fuck off! If you were doing your job, I wouldn't have to try and help block. Not to mention that my interceptions were from hasty shots cause I'm trying to not get pegged by a Bludger!"
"Guys," Harry said.
"What, you got something to say to me?" Jimmy asked angrily. He was so angry he did not back down from the combined glare from Ron and Ginny. "I'm not having the time of my life out there either! I've almost hit you Chasers more than a few times because you keep flying into shot lanes!"
"Guys," Harry said louder.
"Hey, your last hit almost took my head off," Demelza hissed. "Why don't you pay attention to your surroundings?"
"You pay attention to yours!" Mirabelle shouted.
A large crash of thunder shocked them into silence, making the whole team clutch their ears. The watchers closest to the team shrieked from the sudden noise and everyone looked up at the cloudless sky for a moment with open confusion.
Harry put his wand away. "Right, now that I have everyone's attention, I didn't call time-out for everyone to have a go at each other. We're all in a funk and we can rally out of it."
"Tell that to them!" Ron pointed at his teammates.
Harry grabbed his friend's robes and shook him. "I'm telling it to everyone! I'm talking!"
Ron tried to push Harry. "You think I'm just going to listen to you tell us how shite we are?!"
"None of us are exempt!" Harry shouted. "Listen up! I'm your Captain and this is what's going on! You've had bad blocks! Yes you were team fouled but you made some bad blocks, you did!" He pointed at the Chasers. "I saw at least five bad passes and a couple of interceptions and you did fly through the Beater paths." He pointed at the Beaters. "Bad hits fouled our own shot paths! And you did almost hit Demelza with a hasty hit!"
He patted his chest. "I'm to blame too. I spent more time spotting and reacting to their Seeker instead of buzzing and directing. We are all in a funk but we can come out of it together. Let's get back to basics. Nothing fancy, nothing elaborate. Beaters, hit to disrupt the Chasers. Block for them but do not try to aim for the other Beaters or Seeker. Only aim for the Keeper when two of the Chasers are in the goal zone with the Quaffle. If not, then keep the other Chasers dancing and pick your shots. Look before you swing.
"Chasers, no more lone wolf. Play as a pack. No more fancy formations. When we have possession, head towards the other goals. When we don't swarm the other Chasers to make them drop the Quaffle and take it from them."
He looked at Ron. "Get out of your funk, fly around the goals, keep in motion. If you stay in one spot, you react. Ignore everything else that happened so far. It's a new game starting now. Block every shot you can."
He looked at them all. "We need to score at least three more times if not more. For every goal they score, score one more. If you can do that, I can end it for us."
"Do we still have a chance?" Erica asked, timidly.
"We always have a chance. It's not over yet. I'm not giving up. Are any of you giving up?" He watched them shake their heads. "Then let's do this. As a team. Let's go."
"And the game resumes!" Lyla tried to inject more energy into her voice. "Let's hope the huddle did some good because the Gryffindors really need it. Come on Lions! Roar for our team!" The crowd roared as loud as they could. "Smith has the Quaffle. He's looping about, showing off some fancy flying. OH! What a hit from Peakes! Knocked the Quaffle right out of his hands and nearly knocked him off the broom! Tibbets has possession! She's going for the goals, passes back to Weasley, who shoots! Blocked! Weasley with the save! She catches the rebound and shoots-no pass! Ramos clears the Keeper with a hit and Robins shoots and SCORES!"
Harry clenched his fist. He knew they could do it, and he had to do his best too. He began to feint, buzzing about the Hufflepuff Seeker, distracting him again and again. He kept an eye on the scoreboard, waiting, willing his team to victory. After a few more goals from the ladies and some great blocks from Ron, Harry took the chance. He saw the glint of gold and knew that if the other Seeker caught it, it would be over. He dove and put everything into pure speed. The world became a blur and with a turn that almost tore him off the broom, he just barely managed to grab the Snitch.
"Potter catches the Snitch!" Lyla howled. "And it's…a tie score! 210 to 210! The Captains will now meet to decide on the tie-breaker. It can either be a Seeker versus Seeker duel or a shoot-out, Chasers versus Keeper."
Harry walked towards Zacharias with Hooch watching. The Hufflepuff Chaser had a sour look on his face, as if knowing what will be the decision.
"Shoot-out," Harry said and Hooch and Zacharias's eyes went wide.
"What?" Zaharias said dumbly.
"I said, shoot-out," Harry repeated.
The Hufflepuff sneered. "Eager to lose then? Fine! Thanks for the win Potter!"
Ron and the Chasers stared at Harry when he returned. "Are you mad?!" Ron asked. "Did you see how we were playing today?"
"Yes, and I saw how we rallied the last bit and managed to score four times to their one with you blocking over five attempts."
"But if we lose the shoot-out, we lose the game," Ginny argued.
"Costing us the Championship chance!" Demelza said.
"As long as we win today, we're in the final game. I don't want to prove myself a better Seeker again whereas I need you all to realize that we can always rally back."
"But aren't the scouts watching?" Erica asked, worried. "Don't you need to show your skills as a Seeker?"
"There's still time for that. I care more about my team right now," Harry said firmly.
"We need a win right now, not some bloody charity or some dumb shite chance at redemption," Ron said heatedly.
"We can win," Harry said quietly. "You lot proved it at the end. We got it to a tie based on what you all did at the end. So if you step up now and play your best, then we'll get the win." He looked at them one by one. "Now are you going to play? Or am I going up in your positions. If I play Keeper or Chaser we will lose. If you guys do what you can do, we can win."
Ron, Ginny, Demelza, and Erica looked at each other.
"Get up there," Harry commanded and the four players took to the sky.
"Here we go, a final shoot-out," Lyla gulped. The entire stadium was quiet. Even the wind died, leaving the entire pitch to play in silence. "Smith squares up with the Quaffle. There's the whistle. He's flying right at Weasley. Dips left, right, feints-BLOCKED! Weasley saves the goal!" The crowd erupted into cheers and groans.
"Weasley has the Quaffle. She's on approach. Flying high and left. She shoots! Blocked by Clemmins! We're still nil to nil on the shoot-out! Smith has taken possession again, looks like he refuses to let the other Hufflepuff Chasers take a shot. He's flying fast, aiming low. Slings it up-MISS! Shot goes wide!
"Tibbets is going second for Gryffindor. She has the Quaffle. She's flying on approach, taking it up. Shoots! Bounces off, rebound catch and shoots again! SCORE! GRYFFINDOR SCORE!" The crowd was going wild.
"Smith is taking the final chance at the shoot-out. He looks angry, he's going! He's rounding the goals, look at those turns! He's spiraling. Shoots! BLOCKED! WEASLEY SAVES THE LAST ATTEMPT! THIRD'S TIME THE HARM HERE!" The crowd screamed themselves hoarse and the sound of banging pots filled the pitch. "Points still matter so there goes Robins! She's on approach and she shoots! SCORE! Ricochet off Clemmins' hands! GRYFFINDOR WINS 230-210! GRYFFINDOR MADE IT TO THE FINALS ONE MORE TIME! FOUR YEARS IN A ROW!"
Mirabelle jumped on Harry when Erica made her score and she and Harry jumped up and down when Ron blocked the third shot. Demelza's score made them shout and clap and Jimmy waved his bat like a weapon, roaring. Ron and the girls landed around them and they cheered and exchanged high-fives.
"Harry-" Ron began.
Harry held up his hand. "See? I knew it. And look me in the eye and tell me that didn't feel good." No one could do that. "We'll debrief at next practice and we're taking a week off before we practice again. Enjoy the party, enjoy the time off. You all deserve it." He watched them as they looked at each other. "Go on, I'll take care of things here." They left him, slightly subdued until the rest of the crowd got to them and the relief from winning and the enthusiasm got to them.
Harry waved and made his way through the well-wishers and got to the lockers alone. "Dobby?"
Dobby appeared. "Yes great Harry Potter?"
"Could you please send some treats and things up to the Gryffindor common room for the party? Make it nice and sweet if you could."
"Yes great Harry Potter!" He looked at Harry carefully. "Would great Harry Potter like something to be sent to his room?"
Harry smiled and shook his head. "No thank you Dobby. But I'll see you in the kitchens next week. I'll visit and cook with you and Inky and Fanny."
After Dobby left, Harry took his time cleaning the locker room and tidying up the team space on the then empty pitch. He chewed over the game in his head, thinking about how he talked to the team, about what he could have done better. It was some time later when he arrived at his dorm room. Yet when the door opened, he could hear voices inside.
"There you are," Luna said as he walked in. She, Hermione, Daphne, Tracy, Lyla, and Mirabelle sat within. Mirabelle had changed and the other girls still wore their gifted jerseys.
"Why aren't you at the party?" he asked while Luna hugged him. "I'm still sweaty Luna."
"Like I care," she said, hugging him tighter.
"We could ask you that," Tracy replied.
"Wanted to give the team a break," he said sheepishly. "I shouted a bit and did more commanding instead of captaining."
"Mirabelle told us," Daphne said. "It sounded like you were a leader, a proper one."
Mirabelle pouted. "Ron's being a dip and talking about his amazing saves at the end, as if he didn't try to not play Keeper at the end and he wasn't blaming the Chasers before that. And Ginny and Jimmy are still sniping at each other and trying to throw blame at everyone else."
"Well, everyone needs to blow off some steam," Harry said. He smiled gently at Mirabelle. "You looked like you were going to take your bat to Ginny and Ron."
She flushed. "They were really irritating me," she confessed.
"Yeah, things got a little heated. I should have called time sooner and tried to smooth things out before it got to that point."
Lyla shook her head. "The whole team was playing bad today, Harry. You can't accept all the blame."
"He does all the time though," Daphne and Hermione and Luna said at the same time. The girls laughed and Harry grinned wryly.
Lyla giggled. "Okay well, in this case you shouldn't. From what Mirabelle said, you pulled everyone's heads out of their arses and led them to a win."
"Did I though? All I did was shout at everyone a bit and told them to suck it up and play."
"That's a form of leadership," Tracy said. "What would you have done if you guys lost?"
Harry shrugged. "Probably say we all made mistakes and that we can do better next time. Then try and work out what we did wrong."
"Then you were being a good captain," Hermione said. She smiled when he did. "Now go shower so we can hug you properly."
He snorted but went ahead and did that, coming back into the shared room, toweling his hair dry. He hugged everyone before sitting down on the couch and Luna leaned on one side with Lyla on the other.
"You okay?" Luna asked.
"I'm okay, mostly. Just thinking about the last few days."
"With the harassments you mean?" Daphne asked.
He hugged Lyla a little tighter. "Yeah. Not that I regret it at all but with what happened today and that stuff made me think about our conversation earlier this week, about leadership."
"Seems like you're being a decent one," Tracy said. "Helping others at your own cost."
"I suppose. Just, kinda heavy to think about."
They faded into silence.
"We can talk about something else," Mirabelle said awkwardly.
"I'm hungry," Luna said all of a sudden. "I want Harry food."
"Ew why?" Tracy asked.
"Harry made food," Luna amended.
"Oh yeah, that sounds a lot better."
Harry knew what Luna was doing and he smiled. "Actually, I had something prepared and I've actually been waiting for Daphne and Tracy to be available."
Tracy looked up. "Really?!"
"Yeah! Are you lot hungry?" He grinned at their nods. "Now's as good as a time as any. They won't take too long." After a short period of time Harry brought out two large plates: one holding chips and the other holding lots of hamburgers.
"Oh what are these?" Daphne asked, delighted at the tray of hamburgers.
"They're called hamburgers," Hermione said. "You can put all sorts of things on them." She helped bring out plates full of toppings such as lettuce, tomato, cheese, bacon, onions, and pickles.
"You've never heard of hamburgers before?" Mirabelle asked.
"Pure-Bloods have odd gaps in Muggle culture," Hermione explained. "Not just technology, but food as well."
"How do you eat it?" Daphne asked.
"You put what you want under the top bun and eat it with your hands," Mirabelle explained. "Like a sandwich." She held her hands as if holding one.
"No!" Tracy groaned. "I bet she was going to try and use a fork and knife."
"This is what you were mocking me about!" Daphne said indignantly. "When we ate the toast-things for the first time!"
"You never had toasties before?!" Mirabelle said, incredulous. "Wow, you really miss out on some things as a Pure-Blood."
Harry made a hamburger for Luna, grinning as Daphne upbraided Tracy. His grin grew when Luna bit into the burger, her smile broad as she chewed enthusiastically. Seeing everyone tearing into their burgers and chips made him feel much better and he let his worries ebb away, content to enjoy the moment.
He looked up when Hermione put a large handful of chips on his plate. "Leaders have to eat," she said fondly.
He agreed with her, and the company made the food even better.
-0-0-0-
slytherinsal - Probably, he does love to cook. Will a day come where won't be allowed to cook? Yes. Yes there will. Spoilers.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - I didn't think of a canon character so decided it was a random faceless OC that suffered her ire. You know me, love my callbacks. I'm so happy to give Dora that big family she always wanted, she really deserves it. There won't be any real angst I don't think, but some heavy thinking and feelings here and there. I got most of the tragedy out of my system.
D.J. Scales - Thank you.
alix33 - Bailey best doggie, and Little Bell just fits.
Urgwaew - Well don't worry, there will still be a while of daily updates but will probably drop down to twice a week depending what I have planned after this fic is fully updated. Poor Angelina, she went full dragon mama after causing her own suffering. I'm glad that Tonks gets her giant family that she always wanted. I loved her as a character and thought she deserved more. You know me, I love a crass Alicia and callbacks are my favorite.
Hope you're doing well. Best to you.