Chapter Two: The Family He Never Knew He Had

A/N: I want to thank Imogen for betaing this for me at the last minute. Thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!



Harry sat in shock. His cousin? How could that be?

"Excuse me," Ginny said, breaking the silence. "How can you be Harry's cousin? His parents died when he was one. He doesn't have any other relatives."

"That, in fact, is completely fabricated, created solely for the purpose of hiding my side of the family from yours." Julie stated.

"My side of the family?" Harry repeated to himself, realizing what she had said. "From yours? How can that be so?"

Julie sighed. "I guess I had just better tell you the entire story then." Swallowing, she looked at Harry and then Ginny.

"Harry, you and I are related, through your father's side, obviously." Julie began. "Your grandfather is my grandfather's twin brother. Your father never knew about any of this. Our great grandparents parents got into a huge argument and our great grandmother ended up leaving and moving to America. Now at those times it was completely uncommon for a married couple to split up, so our great grandfather claimed that she had died. She brought my grandfather with her. They were about seven when their parents separated them. Our grandfathers were told that their twin had died. Now, everyone thought he was dead, so naturally Dumbledore had no clue either. Our great grandmother used a form of the Fidelius Charm to hide us from everyone back here, with the absence of a Secret Keeper."

"So how did you find out about all of this?" Ginny asked.

"Well, my grandfather died two weeks ago," Julie said looking down. "On his death bed he confessed this to my family. We all grew up not knowing any of this. My grandfather went to an American school for wizardry, and he raised his family there. It was on his mother's death bed that she told him the truth. And he never told us until before he died."

"What's my grandfather's name?" Harry asked suddenly, after a brief pause.

"Excuse me?" Julie asked him.

"Well, if your story is true then you should know my grandfather's name," Harry stated looking at her. He was trained as an Auror, and highly ranked a well. He could usually tell a lie from the moment it started, but this was different. He wanted this to be true so badly that he was ignoring every intuition that told him it wasn't.

"Bradden," Julie said. "Your grandfather's name was Bradden. My grandfather's name was Benjamin." She was right and Harry knew it. Dumbledore had told him that his grandfather's name was Bradden. He looked at her and smiled.

"I have family," Harry said slowly. "And I never knew about them." Looking at Ginny, he could see the same amount of joy creeping across her face.

"Yeah, and they want to meet you," Julie replied. "I came to offer you an invitation to America. To meet us all."

"I can't believe this," Harry said. "This is surreal. I'm, I'm speechless."

"Well, all you have to say is that you'll come to America to see us," Julie asked, hopefully. Harry looked at Ginny pleadingly and she smiled back.

"Of course we'll come to meet everyone," Ginny said, half laughing at Harry. It was great for her to see her husband like this, giddy and vulnerable.

"We should go soon," Harry said eagerly, jumping up from the couch. "I have holiday time I could use, and the boys are home and we haven't traveled in such a long time."

"It's fine with me," Ginny laughed.

"Can you get time off from work?" he asked her.

"Harry, I'm Headmistress at a grammar school, I don't work during the summer holiday, remember?"

"Oh, right," he said, trying to get a hold of himself.

"Harry, calm down," Ginny said and pulled him back down onto the couch.

"It will be wonderful to have you," Julie said, delighted.

"Yeah!!" Reagan squealed and came running into the room. Harry looked back to see all three of his children coming into the room, looking embarrassed.

"Sorry Dad, we were listing from the hall," Darenn told his father.

"It's all right," Ginny said as they sat around them. "This is Julie, she's your father's cousin."

"It's very nice to meet you," Reagan beamed and shook Julie's hand. Harry laughed as his sons shook his cousin's hand as well. "Do we get to go to America today?"

Harry laughed and shook his head. "Well, not today, but soon. Probably within the next couple days."

"Yeah!!!" Reagan squealed again and hugged him excitedly.

"That'll be great!" James declared.

"Oh course it will!" Darenn cried. "We haven't been anywhere in forever!"

"Boys, settle down," Ginny said, laughing. They quieted down a bit and pulled an excited Reagan out the room with them, talking excitedly of their trip to come.

"I still can't believe this," Harry stated leaning back into the couch.

"I can't either," Julie said. "It'll be so great for everyone to finally meet you."

"Where in America do you live?" Ginny asked, resting her head on Harry's shoulder.

"Oh, on the west coast, in Northern California," Julie said. "There are a lot of magical communities there." She looked at them and how happy they looked. "I have to tell you, Harry, this came as a bit of a shock for me, as well as my family. We're are excited as you are about this." Harry looked at her and she smiled.

"This is incredible," He started and paused. "Ever since I was in grammar school I had hoped for some long lost relative to come and take me away. And now, thirty years later, I find out that I do have long lost relatives. I just can't believe it." He looked at Ginny, glad she was here to share this with him.

"Yeah, well now we can spend time with a family that doesn't have red hair," Ginny told him and they both laughed.

"Ginny's the youngest of seven," Harry explained to Julie.

"Yeah, with six older brothers," Ginny cried.

"Six!" Julie exclaimed. "Oh my." Julie's eye grew huge and she laughed a little.

"So seeing someone other than a red haired Weasley should be interesting," Harry said.

"Ron!" Ginny cried, covering her mouth. "Harry, what are you gonna tell Ron?"

"I'll ask him if he wants to come along," Harry simply stated. "I can't very well leave Ron and Hermione out of this."

"My brother is his best friend from school," Ginny explained quickly.

"Oh, well you're welcome to bring anyone you'd like. We'd love to meet everyone," Julie replied.

"I am still in shock," Harry said, looking at Julie.

"Well, I leave you to iron out the details," she said, getting up.

"Oh, won't you stay for diner?" Ginny asked, getting up as well.

"I wish I could." Julie replied. "But I actually do have to get home. I've been in England for two weeks looking for you, Harry. You're not exactly the easiest wizard to find."

Harry laughed. "Well, it makes life easier if no one knows where we are."

"First I had to locate a wizarding location in London, and once I got to Diagon Alley, no one there knew where you lived. The Daily Prophet didn't even know, but was excited I was asking. It seems you are a bit famous, Harry. I finally tried Muggle London as last resort, but, I made it. I found you, somehow."

"Sorry, it took you so long," Harry said as they walked towards the door.

"It turned out all right, though," Julie said, smiling and they walked towards the entrance hall. "I'll owl you with my address and directions and everything."

"Thank you," Harry said, opening the door.

'For what?" Julie asked, looking back at him.

"For coming," Harry stated. "For telling me everything. You have no idea how wonderful this all is. A bit of a shock, but its wonderful to know that I have my own relatives and everything."

"Well, you're very welcome," Julie said, stepping out the door.

"So, we'll see you in a week or so?" Ginny asked, taking Harry's hand.

"Everyone will be so pleased," Julie replied.

"I can't wait," Harry said, and Julie walked down the path towards the street.






Harry woke up the next morning to the sounds of his children laughing. Smiling, he remembered the events of the previous day and he rolled out of bed. Pulling on his bath robe, he made his way towards the kitchen. He reached for the coffee pot and realized that it was already warm and full.

"We made you coffee, Daddy," Reagan said from behind him.

"Oh," he replied, turning. "Well, thank you."

"Are you excited about what Julie told you?" she asked.

"Yeah, I am," Harry pored himself a cup and sat down at the table, as she sat down across from him.

"Me too, I can't wait to meet everyone," Reagan said. Harry nodded in agreement. He sipped his coffee for a moment more in peace until the boys came tromping back inside.

"Good morning, Dad," James said, and got some juice out of the refrigerator. It was a Muggle appliance, but Harry loved it. It had been a house warming gift from Ginny's father, Arthur, when they bought this house.

"Good morning," Harry replied and took another sip from his coffee.

"We've just been out playing a little Quidditch," Darenn said. He grabbed a muffin and sat down at the table along side his sister. "It's beautiful outside."

"Is it?" Harry asked. "And do you happen to know what time it is?"

"Ummmm.." Darenn said and glanced at his brother for help.

"Time for...breakfast?" James suggested.

"No, it's seven o'clock in the morning," Ginny said, coming into the room. Harry smiled at her as she pulled her robe around her night gown and pulled her hair hastily out of her face.

"Sorry, Mum," James said and kissed his mother on the cheek.

"But, we made you coffee," Darenn said hopefully. Ginny smiled weakly and took the steaming mug Harry had pored for her.

"Well, then I guess it's all right," she said and sipped her coffee. "But boys, you've been at it this early for the past three mornings in a row. Couldn't we move it to a bit later? Please?"

"I suppose so," Darenn replied.

"When are we going to America?" James asked.

"Three days from today," Harry replied. He had been mentally counting the days till they departed.

"Oh," James replied, glancing at his brother.

"Then we best get in as much as we can now!" Darenn cried happily.

"Can I come too?" Reagan asked hopefully.

"Sure, go get Dad's old broom, it's in the hallway closet," James said.

"Can I?" Reagan asked, turning her begging eyes towards her parents.

"Yes, yes, go on. The Firebolt is in the closet," Harry said, smiling.

"Hope it's not too slow for you, Reagan!" Darenn called after her as she went to get it. "You know how those old brooms are!" Ginny shook her head at their retreating backs.

"Since when was my Firebolt old and slow?" Harry asked Ginny as the back door banged shut.

"Oh, since about fifteen years ago when they started making the LightBeams," she said, patting his arm affectionately.

"Yeah, and that's all anyone flies now," Harry said and looked back at his coffee. "When did we get so old?"

"We?" Ginny asked, her brow raising slightly. "We are not old, dear. You are old, there is no we."

"Yeah, okay," Harry grinned. "I'll believe that in a million years."

"Well, we can pretend can't we?"

"How old do you think my relatives are?" Harry asked. "Our age? Older, younger?"

"Probably all of the above," Ginny replied. "Guess we'll have to wait and see."

"Yeah, I guess we will,"

"How long till we leave? What, four five days?" Ginny teased him.

"Three, and don't you taunt me for counting down either," Harry laughed.

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," Ginny claimed, though Harry didn't believe this either.