I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
The Family that Chooses You
Chapter 138 – Pitch Perfect
The scent woke him up. At first he thought he was dreaming. He was on the pitch with his team. Not the team as they were now, but his first team. They were flying, playing, having fun. He could smell the grass, the broom polish, Katie's citrus and spring, the oil used to preserve the Quaffle. He woke and he felt disoriented, wondering how he could be flying while lying in bed.
He blinked myopically, everything a haze of indistinct shapes without his glasses to focus things. His covers felt heavy, keeping him in place. No, the heaviness was in his chest, weighing his whole body down. A smile grew on his lips as he reflected on his melodrama. Alicia would be having a field day with his emotional state right now. Perfectly understanding and supportive, but eager to tease him mercilessly.
Another deep breath turned his head and his smile became warm as he looked at his candle. A tiny indistinct light danced and he could really smell grass, sweet oil, oak, and citrus. He reached out for his glasses and put them on, blinking until the world swam into clarity.
Enjoy your last game! No matter what, you're a winner. Love, KB, FD, AL, CdM.
He ran his finger tip over the initials and then picked up the stylus. He drew a tiny heart and his initials into the metal, watching the etching glow. He laid there for a few more moments, letting the scent waft around him, before he got up. He moved slowly, unsure if he was dragging things out or reluctant to finish. Perhaps both.
He finished changing and looked at himself in the mirror. For the briefest moment he expected to see a small boy staring back at him, a small boy dressed in an overlarge Quidditch uniform and baggy protective gear. He looked at the healthy young man staring back. One without haunted eyes, thin features. He smiled a little and was gratified to see the image smile back.
He opened the door and paused, unprepared to see the people sitting there. "You lot are early," he said with a happy smile.
Hermione, Luna, Daphne, and Tracy were sitting waiting for him, already wearing their jerseys. Luna and Daphne looked perfectly fresh and alert while Hermione blinked a little and Tracy nursed a steaming cup of coffee. "Didn't want you to be alone today," Luna said, hugging him.
"I appreciate it," he said gratefully. He looked worried when Hermione sniffled. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I mean, I just remembered the very first time I saw you wearing your Quidditch things." She dabbed her eyes on the jersey. "You look very good now."
He hugged her fondly. "I had the same thought earlier looking in the mirror. Weird isn't it?"
"All I remember is hearing Malfoy complain for weeks after the game," Daphne said wryly. "About how terrible you were and a cheater and the like. When I asked him how he caught the Snitch that game only to feign shock that he was not on the team, well, let us just say his facial expression is a fond memory."
"Huh, I just realized that your last game is against Slytherin, just like your first game," Tracy said.
"At least the team is way nicer this year." Harry said.
Hedwig swooped through the open window, circling around the girls' heads before settling down the table. She hooted in greeting, holding her leg out. Harry undid the tie and opened the envelope. He smiled at the piece of parchment.
"What is it?" Luna asked. She took it from him when offered and her smile was bright as she looked at it and passed it to the others to look at too. It was rather simple as notes went. It had six different numbers scribbled on it, a flowing signature under each number. They surrounded a few small sentences.
We're with you Captain! Once a Team, always a Team!
Oliver Wood, 1
Angelina Johnson, 2
Alicia Spinnet, 3
Katie Bell, 4
Fred Weasley, 5
George Weasley, 6
"Even all these years later, not even here, they still take care of me," Harry said softly, not attempting to wipe the tears from his eyes.
"They're good people," Hermione said, her eyes glinting.
"My first family." Harry kissed the parchment and folded it carefully before tucking it into his uniform, right over his heart. He smiled broadly at the girls. "Let's go get some breakfast and enjoy the day, shall we?"
-0-
He looked at his team. They looked good. Nervous, sure, but eager. Erica was the worst of them, shaking a little and flinching at the sound of banging pots and chanting and cheering. It was her first Championship game and it showed.
Demelza and Ginny were helping her relax. Ginny was doing her hair in an athletic braid while Demelza rechecked her gear. Ginny's eyes were already glinting, as if already seeing the golden Cup in their hands. Demelza's smile was strong as she told a joke that made the Chasers laugh.
Jimmy was redoing the binding on the handle of his bat, arguing with Ron about the League standings. Ron tugged on his boots, redoing the laces, and gleefully returned a jibe Jimmy threw at him, making them both laugh.
Mirabelle squeaked with dismay as she dropped her bat, trying to redo the straps on her gloves. Harry caught it neatly before it hit the ground, smiling at her as she bobbed her head in thanks, finishing the ties and flexing her fingers to ensure the gloves were set. She took the bat back and flourished it, saluting Harry.
"Right, gather round." They circled him and he put an arm around Ron's shoulder, his other going around Mirabelle's. Everyone followed suit and stood in a circle, heads in. "How are we feeling?" He listened to their murmurs of positivity. "Good. Because if you lot feel half as good as you look, we're going to have a great game."
"I have a girlfriend," Ron said to their laughter. "Stop hitting on me."
"You wish," Harry replied and waited for Ron and Ginny to stop retching. "Anyways, we've had a good year. Yes, even our second game. It's not easy to come back from a rough game but we just managed to do it. We had our low, and we had our high. Today will be our highest. Go out there, have fun, enjoy yourselves. This might be the last game we play together as this team…" he swallowed; his throat suddenly tight. Ron's merriment dissolved and the others looked serious and somber, "…but that doesn't mean it's an end. Just a new beginning. But I'm going to go out there and enjoy playing with this team, with this family we've created."
"Win or lose." Mirabelle said firmly.
"Win or lose," Harry agreed. He winked at them. "But, if it's all the same to you all, I want to win."
They growled in agreement.
"If we win this one, we make a record for the most consecutive Championship wins in the history of the school."
They growled louder.
"Where's the Cup going?"
"Nowhere!" they shouted.
"Who are we?!" Harry shouted.
"Champions! Lions! Family!" they shouted back.
"Let's go get our SODDING CUP!" Harry yelled.
They cheered raucously and pushed him in front of them to lead them out.
The noise rose even higher as they walked out onto the field. Cheers feel on them like rain and they soaked it all. Harry looked around and he gazed fondly at the knot of his closest friends, cheering wildly and wearing his name and number. He waved to them before walking into the center of the pitch, smiling easily at Elizabeth.
She smiled brightly back. "Good to see you..." she looked confused, "I honestly don't know what to call you. You're my Head Boy as well as my opposite."
"Harry to my friends."
She blushed but her smile was even brighter. "You can call me Lizzie. A bit shame it's so late, but it's never bad when you make a friend right?"
He agreed wholeheartedly. He shook her hand. "Someone pointed out that my first game ever was against Slytherin, as a fristie. It's fitting my last game will be against Slytherin too and I have to say, your team is the best one I've seen in all my years here."
She glowed with pride. "I'm glad to hear it and it's an honor to send you to the League. Let's make it a great game!"
They returned to their teams and took to the air, assuming the start positions. Hooch came onto the field and sent the Snitch up and out, the Bludgers to circle the pitch. Silence filled the stadium and her whistle shattered it as she threw the Quaffle up.
Something flashed by Harry's face as soon as the whistle sounded and on reflex, he snatched it from the air. He looked at the golden Snitch in his hand and gaped, feeling the wings beat against his fingers. He stayed floating and stared at it, as if expecting it to disappear.
"Is that…" Mirabelle asked, eyes wide.
"AND THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL BEGINS!" Lyla screamed into the megaphone. "And…Harry Potter has caught the Snitch already?"
The crowd went silent and all the players stopped to stare up at Harry. He continued to float there, looking dumbly at everyone. Hooch approached him on her broom and she goggled at the Snitch in his hand. She took her wand out and waved it over the Snitch and then back at Harry. "It was a legitimate catch as soon as the game began…" she said with wonder.
Ron's ribald laughter could be heard from Gryffindor goals and soon it was picked up by the spectators and players. "This has to be a school record!" Ginny squealed.
"School record?! Game record!" Demelza shouted.
"I can't believe it!" Elizabeth cried. "Are you kidding me?!"
Harry shook his head. "I…didn't mean to, it was a reflex."
"That makes it worse!" Elizabeth said.
Harry looked at her and then asked Hooch to summon all the players over. They came, the Gryffindors looking ecstatic and the Slytherins understandably glum. "Hey, so, just saying, this is pretty unsatisfactory as Championship games go," Harry said. "I'm willing to call a mulligan."
"A what?" Ron asked.
"It means do-over," Mirabelle said.
"You'd willingly start the game over, after you won, knowing you might not win again?" one of the Carrow twins asked, her eyes wide open.
"Sure. We came out to play and they came to watch and well, it just doesn't feel right to me."
The Carrows looked at each other. "Gryffindor nobility," they said in a tone that was equal parts admiration and disgust.
"You're willing to bet the Championship on it?" Elizabeth asked, torn between refusing with honor but wanting to play and win.
"If my team is," Harry said. He looked at them. Jimmy shrugged, smiling good naturedly. Ron also looked torn, as did Ginny. Demelza and Erica smiled and Mirabelle hefted her bat. "We're with you Captain!" she said stoutly.
"Yeah why not?" Ron finally said. "Like you said, it's our last game and if we lose, then we know we won first." Ginny nodded in agreement.
"As long as Harry gets credit for setting a record," Elizabeth said.
"Don't worry about that," Hooch said, her eyes warm. She had never expected either thing to have happened today. She was incredibly touched. "He will, I guarantee it."
Harry grinned and threw the Snitch up into the sky. The sunlight glinted off the gold briefly before it disappeared from sight. The crowd murmured with surprise before it became delight when Hooch blew her whistle. The player scattered and Hooch flew up to the teacher's box and the announcer.
"And we're going to have another Championship Game!" Lyla screamed with joy. "Harry is going to get credit for fastest catch in school history but he decided that the crowd deserves a proper game to watch so HERE WE GO!"
Two hours later Harry came out of his dive, holding the Snitch once again. The crowd cheered themselves hoarse and both teams flew to the ground, laughing and groaning respectively.
Elizabeth laid on the ground. "Twice! We're going down as the only team to lose twice in the same day!"
Harry laughed and extended a hand. "But the second game was a lot better and a lot closer."
She laughed and accepted his help. "I guess that's true. Thanks for giving us a chance to make a fight for it. It was a lot of fun." The rest of the Slytherin team nodded in agreement, exchanging handshakes, high-fives, and embraces with the Gryffindor team. Elizabeth hesitated. "It was an honor playing you so much Harry, and I'm glad your last game was against us, and it was a good one."
Harry hesitated for a long moment before he gave her an admittedly awkward but hopefully heartfelt hug. "Thank you Lizzie. I wasn't kidding when I said your Slytherin team is the best one I've ever seen. I'll be rooting for you and I hope to see you in the League one day, you know, if I get in."
She had teared up at the hug and his final statement made her snort. "As if you won't get signed on. I'll come after you in the League! Just you wait, you won't always beat me! I want a jersey of yours when you get signed!"
By then Gryffindor House and the team's supporters had stormed the pitch, throwing the members up and down in the air. McGonagall was openly weeping again as she and Snape and Dumbledore approached with the gleaming Championship Cup. Harry held it up high with his team, his face aching from the smile that went from ear to ear. He felt incredible for winning, immense pride in his team. Under it all was that tiny spasm of pain knowing he just played his last school game, but it was buried deep, to be addressed later.
"Captain Potter!"
He turned to look at an older man walking towards him. He was dressed in jeans and a leather jacket. His sleeves had Quidditch team patches attached to them and his features were weathered and friendly.
Harry recognized him. "I know you. You're one of the biggest League scouts!" His team and friends immediately went quiet. "You met with Captain Wood and Captain Johnson!"
The man smiled wide. "And here I am meeting with Captain Potter! I have to say, Gryffindor established amazing players and captains these last few years. Levi Timms, at your service. Amazing games today, Captain. Not only that, it's clear you run a good team. Now, I believe you're trying for the League?"
Harry nodded, not trusting himself to talk.
"Let me ask you a question." Levi's features became serious. "What kind of team are you hoping to sign on to? Any team that'll have you?"
Harry shook his head and found his voice. "No sir. I want to play. I want to play with a team that wants me to play with them."
"With them, not for them?" Levi's smile reappeared even larger than before at Harry's nod. "Well, you have no idea how happy I am to hear that. I should have expected it given two players recently giving me glowing reviews on your character, but it's great to hear it in person." He reached into his jacket and pulled out five envelopes. "Now, I will say that two of these invitations do not match your criteria, do you want them?"
Harry hesitated and shook his head.
"Are you sure? One of them is more of an offer and not an invitation."
Harry took a deep breath. "No thank you sir. Like I said, I want to play with a team. What do you think?"
Levi grinned and handed three of the envelopes to him. "I think you should stick to your philosophy and between you and me, the offer isn't a great one. These three however, wanted me to extend an invitation to try-out with them regardless of if you won or lost today. They've been watching you for years and they're interested. Those three teams are very good. And after today's performance, I bet you'll get a couple more invitations at least."
Harry gaped at the three envelopes and belatedly realized Levi had his hand extended. He shook it wildly. "Th-thank you Sir!"
Levi laughed. "I like you a lot Captain! I expect great things from you." His eyes twinkled merrily. "The League isn't going to know what hit it when you join and Quidditch is going to be amazing after you do. If you aren't asked to join Team England within the next couple of years, I'll eat my jacket."
"T-T-Team England?" Harry felt faint.
"Yup, representing us to the European League and the World League. I'll be in touch Captain Potter." He nodded warmly at the rest before leaving.
Lyla, Luna, and Hermione tackled Harry hard and between the three of them he managed to stay upright. "Congratulations!" Hermione shrieked.
"He knows what he's talking about!" Lyla babbled. "He scouts for national teams Harry! He's the best scout and he basically endorsed you!"
"Who gave you invitations?!" Ron shouted. "Please let one be Chudley!"
"Bite your tongue!" multiple people shouted.
Harry's hands shook as he looked at the seals on the envelopes. "Wimbourne Wasps, Caerphilly Catapults, and Pride of Portree!"
"Those are some of the oldest teams in the League!" Ginny cried out. "They almost always end every year in the top five! Harry, you're being invited to try-out and join some of the best teams in the League!"
Harry started laughing and it took him ages to stop.
-0-
Harry walked up the Cup and people went silent. He looked around at the members of Gryffindor, at his visiting friends, and he smiled. "It'd be a shame if I broke a tradition I helped start, wouldn't it?" he joked. They laughed with him. He took a deep breath. "Fill it up to the brim," he said, and they cheered as Ron and Jimmy filled the Cup with butterbeer.
He took a firm grip on the handles, looking at the impressive vessel. It would be his last time drinking from the Cup. It was the first time he would be drinking from it alone. He saw Mirabelle and Lyla slide up the Cup, holding it at the base. He felt much better.
He was not really alone.
He lifted it and everyone cheered as he started to drink. The butterbeer was ice cold and he drank for what felt like ages. He drank rhythmically, not letting it overflow, not wanting to spill any. He was going to enjoy every single drop of that butterbeer. With a loud slurping noise, he finished it and held it upside down over his head. He shook it hard and not a single drop was lost.
While people clapped and cheered, he hugged Lyla and Mirabelle tight. His eyes glinted mischievously and he grabbed Hermione's arm.
"Don't you dare!" she squealed as he kissed her cheek, smearing butterbeer over it. He grabbed Luna next and kissed her cheek while she shrieked with laughter. Not bothering to wipe his lips clean, he helped fill the Cup up and held the base for all his other players, just like he did before.
Ron drained a Cup filled to the brim and messily snogged Hannah in front of the appreciative crowd. Jimmy drained a three-quarter full Cup and kissed his boyfriend again with less shyness than the year before. Mirabelle joined the Chasers and the quartet polished off a full Cup between them. Ginny dipped Neville in front of everyone, Demelza followed her example and dipped Colin. Mirabelle kissed her best friend Lyla's cheek once more and Erica, blushing furiously, kissed her sibling on the cheek, Jeremy Tibbets.
Harry spent a while visiting with the younger years who were upset at his graduating. He tried to assuage them, tell them that he will try to poke his head at school now and again, and that he enjoyed being their Head Boy and tutor. He spent some time chatting with Dean, Seamus, Parvati, and Lavender, knowing he would not be seeing them as often as his other year-mates once they graduated. While he was not close to them, he still liked them as people and wanted to remain on good terms with them, hoping to stay in touch somewhat.
He finally drifted back to the old team corner and his friends came too.
"Who are you thinking of joining?" Mirabelle asked eagerly.
"Please not the Wasps," Daphne said.
"I didn't know you had opinions on teams," Tracy said, surprised.
"Oh I know nothing about the intricacies of the League. I just do not want to wear a yellow and black jersey."
"Hey!" Susan said, offended.
"Sorry dear, but it's a dreadful color palate for me," Daphne said with a smile.
"Not the Catapults?" Hermione asked with a smile.
"At least green and red is festive. And it's a different shade of red so no worrying about being a Gryffindor or a Weasley." Daphne snickered as she looked out at the Weasleys.
Harry laughed. "I'll just have to see which team feels right to me when I do try-outs, and who gives me a good offer I suppose."
"Too bad you didn't get invitations from Tutshill or Puddlemere," Lyla said.
"Yeah, but who knows? Maybe one day things will work out," he said prosaically.
"I am sure you will play together for Team England," Luna said.
"I didn't even think about that before today," Harry said with awe. "Imagine playing on the world stage."
"That sounds horrifying to me," Hermione laughed. "But I'll be excited to see you play on it. I can't wait to tell people that that's my best friend out there."
Harry's face was red and he hugged her tightly.
-0-
"THAT'S MY BOY!"
Alicia came running into the sitting room. "What?! Why are you shouting?! What's going on?!"
Oliver was dancing around the room with Hedwig flying about him in celebration. "Harry won the Championship! Twice! He put the Gryffindors into the history book with most consecutive wins! AND he set the record for fastest Snitch catch!"
Alicia smiled. "Aww, good for baby bird! That's so wonderful! Wait, what do you mean twice?"
"Apparently he caught the Snitch within seconds of the first game!"
"And he played another right after? Why must you ruin perfectly good people and turn them into Quidditch fanatics," she said severely.
Oliver snorted. "Harry's always loved Quidditch, I just made it accessible for him. Also! He got invitations from Portree, Wimbourne, and Caerphilly!"
Alicia was already writing a reply to Harry, using the mobile desk he gave her. She smiled as she wrote. "I hope he doesn't go with Caerphilly. Their colors are ugly." She watched Oliver add to the note before they tied it to Hedwig's leg. "Puddlemere didn't make an invitation?"
They watched Hedwig fly away. "Sadly not. Greens just signed an extension and Morgans is a prick and refuses to play with 'new players'. He barely tolerates me because he thinks Keepers aren't worth thinking about despite that we've won the majority of the games I started in."
She hugged him. "I'm sorry. I know you really wanted to play on the same team with him."
He hugged her back. "Yeah, but we got plenty of time to make that happen. But how's this for good news?" His face was full of pride. "Levi predicted Harry will be invited to play on Team England within the next few years."
"Oh wow! Our baby bird is moving up in the world." She smiled. "And if you get invited, then you both will be representing England."
"That's my next goal," Oliver said happily.
-0-
"Hey Angelina!" A grinning woman shouted into the locker room. "Your favorite post owl is here!"
Angelina looked up as Hedwig flew into the locker room. She glared at the snowy owl who glared right back. She reached into her locker and pulled out a piece of jerky and held it out to Hedwig. "Chicken," she greeted.
Hedwig hooted something that sounded rude. She snapped her beak closer to Angelina's fingers before taking the jerky. She held her leg out and waited for her to remove the letter before mooning her irritably and flying off.
"Seriously, what did you do to that owl?" the woman asked, laughing.
"She started it, Felicia. Tried to eat one of my braids one year." Angelina opened the letter and read it swiftly. "Yes!" she screamed, jumping up and down. "That's my Rabbit! Yes, yes, yes!"
"Good news?" Felicia asked and the other women in the locker room looked on with interest.
"Harry won the Championship game! Four years running! We've set the record and he set a record for fastest Snitch catch!"
"Hey awesome!" Felicia grinned at the pure joy on Angelina's face.
"And he got invites from Portree, Caerphilly, and Wimbourne!"
"Ooof," Felicia groaned. "If he's as good as you say he is, we're going to have it rough against any of those teams. They're already good."
"Wonder why Coach didn't offer an invite to him." another woman said.
"We got a good Seeker team right now," Angelina said readily. "I mean, I would love to play on the same team as him one day and I hope I do, but we got a strong team and we'll just be the only team that beats him."
"Good thing you're not too broken up about it," Felicia laughed.
"Are you kidding? I'm so fucking proud!" Angelina kissed the letter and reached into her locker for her small silver rabbit, holding it tight.
-0-
"Hey George, when did we make a white stuffed owl?"
"We did?" George came over to the shelf. "I don't remember making a-ARRG!" He fell over when Hedwig flapped her wings suddenly. "Dammit Hedwig! Fred!"
Fred had reacted the same, lurching back from the sudden motion and clutched his chest. "I didn't know either! Holy carp on a cracker! Did Harry put you up to that?"
Hedwig hooted smugly and shook her head. She held her leg out for Fred to remove the letter, her barks sounding like snickers.
"Pranked by an owl," Fred said, smiling and shaking his head. "We'll never live this down…" His eyes scanned the letter and he whooped with delight. "Hell yeah! Way to go little bros and sis!"
George took the letter from him and read it too, exclaiming with delight. "Damn straight! Gryffindors all the way!"
They watched as Hedwig flew away. "You know, a trick owl does sound like a great prank," Fred said.
"Well, at least we know a model and we can pay in bacon," George laughed.
-0-
Katie sat back, a proud smile on her lips. Hedwig sat on her lap, preening and cooing as Katie petted her. At her request, who was requested by Fleur, Aimee, and Director Lorraine, Harry had sent his memory of the Championship game. Sebastian offered his Pensieve and the sitting room at Chez Delacour for a viewing party. The Delacours, Katie, Aimee, Colette, and Lorraine had come and they all watched the games together. Katie had deeply enjoyed the look of befuddlement on the player's faces when Harry caught the Snitch the first time. Fleur and the girls had laughed hysterically at how sheepish Harry looked.
The second game was very exciting. The Slytherin team played well but the Gryffindors held the advantage the entire game and the final catch of the Snitch was an exciting race between Harry and Elizabeth. Katie felt a little wistful. The memory was so good she almost felt like she was there, and she wished she had been. However, she was quite happy to see Harry be celebrated and he had left the conversation in with Levi for her.
"Ah, that was a treat to watch," Director Lorraine said, clapping her hands. She smiled broadly at Katie. "Be sure to thank your boy for sending the memory of his games."
Aimee had brought her book on the United Kingdom League teams, a gift from Harry last Christmas, and she and Fleur and Colette looked up the teams that he mentioned in the memory. "Oh I hope he does not play for the Catapults," Fleur said with some distaste. "Vertical stripes of pale green and scarlet? That is a horror."
"I hope he plays for Portree," Colette said. "Their colors are the best. Purple is very regal with the gold star."
Apolline clucked with disapproval at them. "There is more to a team than their color scheme." She blanched when Fleur showed her the Caerphilly ones. "Then again, it would be difficult to be a fan with those colors."
Gabrielle leaned on Katie's leg. "Can you teach me how to play?" she asked with giant light blue eyes. "I want to learn and play with Harry!"
"I can teach you too!" Aimee said, aggrieved and slighted.
"We'll both teach you," Katie said with a laugh.
"Looks like I'll have to keep an eye out for tickets for Harry's games," Sebastian chuckled. "That will be fun too, visiting England and attending a game or two when possible."
"Or we can try and convince Harry to move to France and to play here," Colette said. "Surely Katie can entice him. It will not be hard for you to obtain citizenship."
"I think we'll mostly stay in England," Katie said, amused and oddly touched. "But you'll see us when England plays against France for the European League and the World."
"Bah, and force me to support the enemy?" Colette waved a hand. "That is cruel of you!"
"No this is cruel of me. Go get her Hedwig!" The snowy owl needed no second prompting and she flew at Colette, eager to harass her. Colette swung a pillow around, cursing and snarling while Hedwig buzzed around her, soon joined by Gabrielle, much to everyone's enjoyment.
-0-0-0-
D.J. Scales - He sure has grown a lot.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Can you blame Harry though? Having to do extra work to cover for him? I've never had fondue myself so that was a bit of wish fulfillment for me.
NathanielTheCat - No Healing this time aside from his Medic license but I hope to entertain a fic of that.
slytherinsal - Bravo!
yogibears - I find magical tests fascinating, not real ones of course, so it was fun to imagine them since there is no mention of them in the canon. I just thought they would be like O.W.L.s only harder so went with it. I thought it would be fun too for him to learn from his experience and use it. Sneaky Luna best Luna. Well, all Luna is good really.
Urgwaew - Ron was 'helping' and failing successfully. I thought it would be fun to explore a little theory and giving Luna extra time to shine. You know I adore my callbacks and yeah, Hermione really would do that and thought it would be fun to let Harry be mama bird some more. I'll be honest and say I forgot about that facet of him being at Hogwarts for his mastery. Maybe his scheduling will be off and they won't see each as much with him juggling something else maybe, aka this chapter, but we can head canon it. I'm glad you liked the Daphne and Hermione comparison, I thought it was fun.
As always, thank you so much. My best to you.
Choubie - I am very happy to hear that I helped you laugh. That is some of the greatest praise I can ever receive. I really tried hard not to bash people in this fic, just trying for a gentle slice of life with heavy themes and lots of growth. Thank you so much.