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

Extended Family

Chapter 35 – A Past and Present Storm

Set before the last chapter of Family.

Dedicated to Imaginer.012

"Everything okay?"

Katie looked up. "Hmm? Sorry, lost in my thoughts. What did you say?"

"That's okay. Just wanted to make sure everything was okay," Coach Miranda said. "You seem a bit antsy."

"I feel a little tense, you're right." Katie rubbed her neck. "I'm not too sure why. Just a little unsettled."

"Hmm, do I need to do something to Harry?"

Katie smiled. "No not at all. We're not arguing or anything."

"Good. I noticed he's a bit jittery too so this is me being subtle and nosy."

"He is?" Katie frowned. "I didn't notice anything."

"Maybe he's putting on a brave face for you. He's been okay overall but just off enough to be noticed." Miranda frowned lightly. "Sure everything's okay?"

"I thought so," Katie said. "We haven't fought or argued or anything. Dahlia is just fine. I haven't heard about any disagreements with any of our friends or family."

"Hmm, well maybe it's just the weather then," Miranda said soothingly. "Storms do that to some people."

Katie shivered. She had a better idea of what was bothering her now, and Harry too apparently. They had played in pouring rain before but today's storm was very vibrant and boisterous, just shy of becoming violent. She had a flash of vertigo, a sense of weightlessness before intense falling, of panic and fear. "Yeah maybe," she said weakly. "I'm going to go check on him."

She walked briskly down the hall. The falling rain hammered on the stands, filling the hall with a never-ceasing drumming sound. She pushed the door to the locker room open and walked in. She ignored Samuel's falsetto screech and his joking attempt to cover his chest and kept walking, making him look after her questioningly. "Hey you," she said when she found Harry.

Harry looked up, his face creasing into a smile when he saw her. It was her smile, a smile she saw no other time except when he saw her. It never failed to fill her with love and warmth, even if it was a little forced right now. "Hey there," he said back.

"You okay?" she asked softly. "Coach said you were a little jittery."

"I'm okay," he said somewhat convincingly. A crack of lightning and a roll of thunder penetrated the thick walls of Portree Port easily and he flinched a little. "Guess the storm is making me a bit tense."

"We've played through bad weather before though, right?" she asked.

"Yeah we have, which is why I'm a little confused why I'm feeling so tense today." He smiled wanly. "Maybe the sandwich I had earlier was a bit funny."

She smiled back. "Maybe. I told Dally to go light on the pickles."

He laughed. "I take it back, it was delicious."

"Want me to write you a note? Let Shelia take over?"

"No I'll be fine. I'll push through. She's not feeling too great right now and I'm heavier than her so the wind won't be as bad. Maybe I'll try to end it fast today and we can go home earlier or something."

"Okay." She kissed him. "You got this."

"With you beside me, I really do," he said and kissed her back.

-0-

A bolt of lightning struck the lightning rod at the top of one of the stands. A loud crack filled the air and jagged shards tore across the dark sky. The wind howled and rain fell in sheets, battering player and watcher alike. Thunder rumbled constantly, a steady unceasing threat that shook the air.

"Ever think about why we play in weather like this?" Katie asked as she looked up at the sky, trying to see the players through the rain.

"To prove how tough and stupid we are," Miranda said sourly.

"Sounds about right," Katie murmured.

The coach sighed. "Well, at this point I don't even care who catches the Snitch, I want this game done and my players indoors."

Katie nodded. "Oh, Tanya called a huddle."

"Probably giving everyone a breather and to rally. We're up on points but not by too much."

"Hope they're feeling okay," Katie said softly.

-0-

"Potter!"

Harry blinked and turned to look at Tanya. "Sorry!"

"Head in the game!" Tanya shouted. "A distraction will get you plowed or shocked and we don't want that for anyone!"

"Right! Sorry! I swear I'm fit!"

Tanya nodded. After a few more shouted words she sent the team off and play resumed.

Harry leaned low over the broom, trying to cut down on wind drag. His heart throbbed with the rolling thunder, and he felt his bones ache from pressure. He realized his breathing was heavy and shallow, his skin crawling. It had nothing to do with the wind and the rain however. He knew that much.

He kept feeling something heavy and oppressive around him, trying to drag him down and drown him. His teeth chattered and he shook his head violently, trying to drive the feelings of malaise and despair away. "There are no Dementors," he growled to himself. "There are no Dementors. There are no Dementors."

He kept imagining there were. The cloaks of the people watching seemed to billow around a formless shape. The clouds looked threatening and malicious, long crooked fingers grasped. A horrid rattling filled his ears and he fought the fear that was pushing bile up his throat. The storm that raged around them was just like the terrible storm from his third year.

A scream cut through his thoughts and for a dreadful moment, he thought it was his mother screaming. He turned and looked about wildly and saw someone falling off their broom, someone in purple and gold.

He dove, riding the wind. He leaned low and recognized the trailing blonde hair from the falling person. He pushed his broom hard, channeling all his energy into it, willing it to go faster. The roar of thunder, the roar of the crowd, melded into one long terrible buzz that filled his ears and brain. He reached out with his right arm and grabbed Tanya about the waist, pulling him to her and onto the broom. She screamed from shock and fear and relief, twisting to grab onto him.

Harry's eyes widened as he saw a Bludger rocketing towards them. He twisted in place, shielding his captain with his body. The maneuver coupled with the wind and Tanya thrashing displaced him slightly on the broom. The Bludger struck him cleaning in the ribs and knocked him off the broom, and Tanya came with him.

Ignoring the pain in his side he saw the ground coming up to meet them. He turned once more, pushing her on top of him before he slammed into the ground at speed. A lightning bolt of pain went through his body before his head hit the sodden pitch.

True darkness followed.

-0-

The scream from the crowd was louder than the thunder. Everyone pointed and gasped at the player in Portree purple falling off their broom.

"Harry!" Katie screamed.

"No that's Tanya!" Miranda shouted.

"No this is just like his third year!" Katie felt realization hit her. "There he is!" She pointed and saw her husband dive in the rain, aiming for the team captain. She started to run onto the pitch followed by the coach and the rest of the medical team.

They cheered when Harry caught Tanya. For a moment everything seemed okay, the crisis averted. Then someone cried with horror as they saw the Bludger hit. Harry and Tanya went flying off and Harry turned before hitting the ground with a bone-shaking impact.

"HARRY!" Katie screamed and ran faster.

"GET HIM!" Miranda roared, pointing at a Ballycastle Beater that hovered high in the air. "I WANT HIS FUCKING HEAD!"

Katie slid beside Harry and Tanya with the rest of the medics and sports healers following. Tanya had rolled off Harry and was trying to check on him. "I'm sorry!" she shrieked again and again. "It's my fault! Harry!"

A medic threw a large tarp over them that became a floating tent, blocking the wind and rain. Another gently pulled Tanya off and ran a quick diagnostic on her while Katie and a fourth bent over Harry, casting their own charms.

"Broken ribs from Bludger impact," Finn said. "Lots of inflammation in the back from point of impact. No spinal fractures thank Merlin. Broken shoulder. No internal bleeding."

Katie fought the rising terror as she tried to focus on her training. "Possible concussion. Starting anti-inflammation charms to bring the swelling down. Immobilizing the neck and back to prevent secondary injuries." Her face was wet but not from the rain. "Double check."

"Check," Finn said. He nodded. "Everything looks good. He's breathing and stable. We can try to wake him up."

Katie nodded and performed the spell, her hand shaking ever so slightly. She nearly wept with relief when Harry groaned and his lids fluttered. "Harry, love, do you hear me?"

"K-Katie?" His voice was a little thick. "Are you okay?"

"Thank goodness he seems okay," Finn sighed with relief.

Even Katie could not help but chuckle a little. "I'm okay, love. You hit the ground hard." She shined a light from her wand into his eyes, checking his pupils for their reaction. "No dilation or asymmetry. How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Three," he said, his voice clearing slowly. "Why can't I move?" He started to panic.

"We immobilized your neck and back to make sure you didn't do any unintended harm," Finn soothed. "We checked you out on the charms and aside from some broken bones that aren't your spine and skull, you seem surprisingly okay."

"Oh, that's good," he said, relieved. "Wait, is Captain okay?"

"I'm okay," Tanya sobbed. "Harry, thank you. You saved my life. I almost got you killed!"

"I'll get better," Harry said. He looked at Katie. "Right?"

"I think so but we better get you checked at St Mungo's," Katie said. She undid the immobilizing charms and Harry slowly sat up with her and Finn's help.

"I hurt but I think I'm fine," he said, smiling weakly.

"You say that to every injury. That's why the policy is to get you triple checked," she said. Her heart pounded but holding him up made her feel better.

Miranda ducked under the tent. "Hey, you two okay?" She sighed with relief at the nods from Tanya and Harry. "And you?" she asked Katie kindly.

"Holding it, and him, together," Katie said.

"Get him to St Mungo's and then go home, send me a message later," Miranda said. "Ballycastle caught the Snitch during all that but I'm making sure the asshole that hit a Bludger at you when you dove is getting everything thrown at him."

"He hit it at him?! Where the fuck is he and where the fuck is my bat?!" Tanya yelled.

"Nate tackled him off his broom with his own bat so he got your revenge," Miranda said with grim approval. "But don't worry, that bastard is going to regret this."

Harry limped off the pitch, leaning on Katie's arm and the watchers clapped and cheered at his ability to leave under his own power with some assistance. He waved limply as he did but Katie could feel him shake from pain as he did.

"We're almost there," she said as they went towards the team Floo. "I love you so much. You were amazing."

"I couldn't let her fall," he said in a near whisper. "It was just like last time, except I didn't fall. But I couldn't let her fall. I couldn't. I had to save her like you saved me. Like the team saved me."

"You did good," she said faintly, crying. "You did good."

-0-

The Floo and Angelina came stumbling through. She nearly fell over when someone slammed her into her side but was able to remain upright. "Oof, careful Hailey bun."

"Is he okay?" Hailey asked tearily.

Angelina scooped her up and carried her into the main sitting room. "I don't know, I came over as soon as I could." She saw Alicia sitting there holding Hadley and Dahlia who looked equally distressed. "Any word?" Angelina asked.

Alicia shook her head. "Only that they went to St Mungo's."

"Daddy's going to be okay right?" Dahlia sniffled, looking up at her godmother.

"He should be fine. Your mum and your grandmums are checking him out at the hospital. He was able to get there on his own and they are just making sure. Don't cry Dally. You too Hadley. Papa Harry will be okay." She patted their backs soothingly.

"I ran home and brought your new bunnies and blocks," Angelina said to her daughter. "Why don't you three go play. You'll feel better. Go on, right there by the fire. We aren't going anywhere." She smiled encouragingly and Hailey and Dahlia and Hadley drifted to the side of the fire and started playing with stuffed rabbits and little blocks. She sat heavily beside Alicia. "What happened?"

Alicia rubbed her eyes. "Tanya fell from her broom during the game and Harry caught her, but some bloody Ballycats bastard hit a Bludger at them and when Harry caught her, got knocked off his broom. He hit the ground first and hard."

"That fucker is dead," Angelina said quietly but not lacking in venom. "I'm going to make sure I kill him next time we play them."

"Katie took Harry to St Mungo's and Samantha and Andromeda met them there. She told me and I brought the little ones here because they got despondent." Alicia shook her head. "Do you know what day it is?"

"No, should I?" Angelina thought long and hard. The storm continued on and a jolt of lighting ran across the sky, seen clearly through the window. "Fuck me. It's the same day as that game in Harry's third year, isn't it."

Alicia nodded heavily. "I realized it after speaking with Katie."

"No wonder I felt like shite today," Angelina said. "Been on edge with this giant arse storm."

The Floo flared in the other room and Alicia and Angelina got up and sighed with relief seeing Harry and Katie walking in. He was bandaged and walking stiffly, leaning on her, but he was upright. "Oh thank goodness," Alicia said loudly.

The girls looked and squealed and came running.

"Wait, he's hurt," Angelina said, leaning down to stop them from tackling him.

"I'm okay girls," Harry said weakly but smiled at them. "I can hug you, just be gentle." He slowly hugged them one by one.

"Daddy needs some rest, okay?" Katie said kindly. "He'll be okay, promise. But we need to let him get better. You three can take him to his room and make sure he gets in bed but then come back. Those are our good girls."

The three mothers watched and smiled as their daughters very carefully held onto Harry's hands and took him to the main bedroom.

"Is he alright?" Alicia asked.

"He'll be okay. Broken ribs and shoulder that are on the mend. No permanent nerve damage," Katie said with relief.

"Thank Merlin," Angelina said. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just rattled." Katie released a shaky breath. "I realized when I saw Tanya fall that it was like that game."

"It's the same bloody day believe it or not," Alicia sighed.

"Fuck me," Katie said. "No wonder me and Harry felt off and jittery before the game tonight."

"Me too," Angelina said. She pulled the girls into a tight group hug.

"Harry was really off," Katie said, her voice muffled by Angelina's shoulder. "He kept saying he couldn't let her fall like he did."

"That's our Rabbit. Brave, selfless, and stupid," Angelina said, equal parts proud and unhappy.

"Please tell me that the Ballycats Beater went to St Mungo's too with his bat shoved up his arse," Alicia growled.

"Unfortunately not. Though Coach told me later that Nate beat the shite out of him with the rest of the team jumping in. His teammates didn't try to stop it, even they seemed pretty mad," Katie said, her eyes flashing. "He's facing a huge fine and a few games suspension."

"I hope he's playing when we play them next," Angelina growled. "I ring his bell for you, ring it right off."

"How are the girls?" Katie asked.

"They were frightened when I told them why we were coming back to your home," Alicia said. "I…didn't want to hide it all from them. They are young but it wouldn't do to lie to them. They're oddly good at catching us in half-truths."

"Want one of us to take Dahlia tonight?" Angelina asked.

"She won't leave knowing Harry is hurt," Katie said. "Actually, since they cope better together, want to let Hadley and Hailey stay over?"

"Wouldn't that bother Harry?" Alicia asked. "No, check that, he'd never admit to that."

"I won't be getting much sleep myself," Katie admitted. "I don't mind."

"How about we hang out together too," Angelina suggested. "It'll be like old times, except we're older and have children."

"I'd like that," Katie said. "I appreciate it." She heard a faint hooting from her pocket and the Floo behind them flared, someone calling out. "Let's tell people what happened and reassure them."

-0-

Hadley peered around the corner and saw Katie talking to someone on her mirror, while Angelina stood between the sitting room and the Floo room on her own mirror. She heard her mother talking but did not see her, deducing she was in the Floo room. "They aren't paying attention," she said to her two best friends.

"KatiMum said we need to come back though," Hailey said.

"Mummy didn't say when we needed to come back," Dahlia said with confidence.

"I don't know," Hailey said, torn.

"Mummy said we should always follow directions when it makes sense," Hadley said.

"Mummy said to come back but she didn't say when to come back," Dahlia insisted. "Daddy said he always feels better when he hears us."

"If Mummy gets mad then it's your fault," Hailey said.

"Deal." Dahlia stuck her hand out like she saw her parents do when they made deals. After a moment Hailey and Hadley shook, then shook each other's hands for good measure, and the trio silently crept back into the main bedroom. They crawled in after they closed the door gently, inching along in what they assumed was total silence before they looked up and saw Harry peering at them from the bed with amusement.

"What are you three bunnies doing?" Harry asked with a smile.

They looked at each other. "Keeping you company?" Hadley offered.

"Didn't KatiMum say you three had to go back after making sure I went to bed?"

"Mummy didn't say when we had to go back," Dahlia said with a lot less confidence.

Harry chuckled and held his ribs. "Fair enough." He saw their worried looks. "I'm okay, really." He noticed they were not completely convinced. "Okay, how about this. I tell you one story and then you have to listen to Mummy. I'll be fine enough to spend more time with you tomorrow. Fair?"

"Deal!" the trio trilled and held out their hands.

Harry laughed softly and shook them gravely before he let them climb onto the bed. They sat around him and leaned on his legs when he said they could.

"Here's a story about when I was a boy at Hogwarts." He looked out the window and at the storm continuing to blow. "It was this day many years ago. There was a very nasty storm just like this one and we were playing Quidditch. Your parents, Dally's mum, Uncle Fred, and me together."

"The best team!" the three girls cheered.

"That's right, the best team! That day, they proved why they were the absolute best because something else plus the storm made me sick and I fell from very high up in the sky."

"Higher than the tall hoop?" Hadley asked, eyes wide.

"Even higher," Harry said solemnly. "Which is why we don't let any of you get nearly as high as the tall hoop now."

"What happened?!" Hailey squeaked, clutching his pajama leg.

"I fell and couldn't save myself. But one by one, your parents and KatiMum and Uncle Fred saved me. They stopped me from hitting the ground and getting really hurt. KatiMum tried to catch me, then AngiMum. AliMum and Captain used their wands to slow us down with wind and Hailey's Dad and Uncle Fred swooped in with a big flag and caught the three of us. They're heroes."

The girls exclaimed with relief and they hugged his legs desperately. "If they didn't save you, you would have gotten really hurt right?" Hadley asked quietly.

"Yes. Really badly. That's why I did the same for Captain Tanya today. I had to. If she got hurt, her husband and her kids would be really upset."

"But you got hurt!" Dahlia said accusingly. "And we're upset!"

"You're not wrong, star flower, but I got hurt less than Captain Tanya would've."

"I still don't like that you got hurt," Hailey said truculently, with the other two agreeing vehemently.

"I don't like it either and I know the others don't too but I had to. I was saved when your parents didn't have to save me. I had to do the same."

The girls looked at each other.

"Why?" Dahlia asked.

"Because I care about Captain Tanya. I don't like seeing people I care about get hurt."

"But we're hurt," Hailey said, tearing up.

Harry gingerly reached out and drew the girls to him and hugged them tightly, ignoring the pain in his side and shoulder. "I know, and I'm sorry. But there are kinds of hurt and there are some you can prevent and some you can't. I can't keep you from being hurt right now, but I can make up for it. I'm sorry I upset you three, but I hope you can understand why."

"I think I do," Hadley said after a moment. "But you'll get better, right?"

"I will, for the people I love and especially you three." He kissed their cheeks one by one.

"I'm glad you're okay," Dahlia said, burying her face into his neck.

"I'm okay. Don't worry bunnies." He relished their care and affection, the way they pressed into him. The ache from his injuries were minor compared to the warmth of their hugs. He held them for long moments, unwilling to break the embrace.

"I guess we should let you rest," Dahlia said reluctantly.

"That's my good girl. Mind your Mummy now and I promise to play with you three a lot tomorrow. Well, if Mummy and your Grandmums let me. Off you go then." He waved back as they waved from the doorway and for the first time all day, he felt better as he slowly fell asleep.

-0-

"Oof!" Alicia stumbled slightly, slightly winded from Hadley slamming into her front and headbutting her in the stomach. "What's wrong Hadley?" she asked, worried.

"Nothing. Thank you for saving Papa Harry," Hadley said, sniffling slightly with her face pressed into her mother's stomach.

Angelina looked over at Katie and Alicia, Hailey having done the same to her. Katie also held a slightly crying Dahlia who squeezed her mother tightly. "Oh, did your godfather tell you a story?" Angelina asked.

"Mmmhmm." Hailey wiped her eyes on her mother's shirt. "Papa Harry said you all saved him with Uncle Fred and that you all are heroes."

"He said he had to save Auntie Tanya because you saved him," Dahlia said. "He also said he'll get better for us because he loves us."

Katie ran her fingers through Dahlia's hair. "We'll hold your daddy to that shall we? And guess what, we're having a sleepover here tonight." She smiled at the girls cheering. "Uncle Fred and Hailey's daddy will be bringing pizza and sweets when they close the Wheezes tonight and Hadley's daddy will be helping them. Auntie Hermione and Auntie Luna and Auntie Tonks are coming later too. Why don't you three go change into more comfy clothes okay?"

Alicia smiled fondly as they ran to Dahlia's room, chatting brightly. "Tonks can run them ragged tonight and they can all sleep in a pile together. That'll help distract them."

"You sure you want everyone here tonight?" Angelina asked.

"You know that Harry will eventually wake up and come out despite what his healers say," Katie said and the other two nodded wearily. "So at least we'll have fine company and we'll have some help fussing at him."

"You'd think he'd get a little less selfless as he got older and with children," Alicia mused.

"That's not Rabbit though," Angelina said fondly.

"No, it is not," Alicia agreed.

"At least he didn't do something dangerous just to catch the Snitch," Katie sighed. "It's hard to be too upset when he did something like this for a good reason."

"Does that mean you won't fuss at him later?"

"Oh certainly not, still going to."

Harry smiled in his sleep as the laughter from the three women drifted into the bedroom.

-0-0-0-

Arnie1701 - Hedwig fluff is the best fluff.

guest - Allez Hedwig!

alix33 - All of the Potter children will be Hedwig's owlets/chicks.

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - The dog should have listened to the warning. The other animals certainly will. No one will survive an encounter with Hedwig unscathed.

diffident-serpiente - It was fun to write a very motherly Hedwig and to imagine her treating the baby like her chick. Hope you stay safe during the storm, I grew up in Florida. Howl's is my second of third favorite Ghibli movie. I toyed with a crossover fic before but never put too much thought into it. Might have to one day.