I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Note: Hello everyone. This was the longest I've not uploaded in a long time and I missed it. I hope everyone had a good holiday or a good week.
Extended Family
Chapter 58 – Seriously
Takes place before Dahlia's birth.
"Master Harry! Welcome!"
"Hi Kreacher!" Harry smiled and knelt, hugging Kreacher with one arm. "How's it going?"
Kreacher rolled his large eyes. "Bad Master is being very irritating lately. Has taken to pacing and muttering. Kreacher thinks Master is living up to the Black legacy."
"Oh?"
Kreacher managed to have his eyes roll in opposite directions and grinned manically.
"Oh. Going mad you mean?"
"Like his ancestors. As is tradition."
Harry snorted. "Let's hope not. You don't actually want him to go mad, do you?"
"Kreacher is unsure if it would be improvement or not."
Harry snorted again. "I don't either. He and Amelia haven't been fighting, have they?"
"Not as far as Kreacher is aware."
"I wonder why he wanted me to come visit all of a sudden then," Harry mused.
"Kreacher can only hope bad Master is dying and is giving Master Harry everything," Kreacher said hopefully.
Harry laughed. "I sure don't. I better go figure out what he wants." Harry walked up the staircase and knocked on the closed office door. "Sirius? It's me."
The door opened and Sirius smiled. "Hey! Thanks for coming on short notice."
"No problem. You usually wait for our weekly dinners to discuss things so when you asked me to come over, I figured it was important." Harry walked in and sat at the large desk. "It's not an emergency, is it?"
"Uh…." Sirius dithered as he took his seat. "It can be if you look at it a certain way?"
"That's concerning," Harry remarked. "You're not dying, are you?"
"No, no matter what Kreacher hopes," Sirius snorted. "No I aim to live forever and so far, I'm doing pretty great." He grinned at Harry's laugh. "Or at least live longer than my parents did. Mother said I was destined for an early grave and well, nothing like spite as a motivator."
"That's healthy. Oh speaking, here." Harry handed Sirius a bottle. "I had some really nice wine on an international game trip in Italy. I thought you'd like this."
"Ooh, thanks!" Sirius admired the bottle for a moment before setting it aside. "Maybe we can open it after we talk." Sirius reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small black box and opened it, showing it to Harry.
Harry looked at the small platinum ring with interest. It was smooth and shone from the light and from magic that was worked into it. A diamond sat on top and it glittered, the small stones of jet surrounding it giving it a brighter look and feel. "Whoa. That's gorgeous." Harry looked pained. "But like the last time you tried giving me a ring, I'm not interested in blokes. And you know, I'm kinda married right now."
Sirius irritably threw a roll of parchment at Harry, smiling while Harry laughed. "Haha, very funny."
"I thought so," Harry chuckled. "So…Amelia then?"
"Yeah," Sirius said softly.
"I'm happy for you," Harry said warmly. His smile grew small when Sirius stared at the ring without saying anything. "You do want to marry her, right? Hence getting the ring?"
"I do," Sirius said slowly.
"Afraid she won't say yes?" Harry asked gently.
"No, I'm pretty sure she will. She hasn't been hinting for one, which is great by the way. We've definitely talked about our family lines and our futures and stuff so our interests are definitely aligned."
"So what's the problem?"
Sirius looked at Harry. "What if I fuck it all up to hell?"
Harry sat back in his chair. "Really?"
"Harry, you know me," Sirius said.
"Yeah I do, which is why I'm going to say again: really?" Harry rolled his eyes at Sirius' exasperated look. "I mean, I don't know what you want me to say. Are you nervous like how most blokes are nervous about getting married?"
"No, my problems are solely my own," Sirius said. "As in, the Sirius Black problems."
"Okay, explain it like I'm at school 'cause I'm not getting it," Harry frowned.
Sirius leaned back and looked over Harry's head, gazing into nothing. "What if I…repeat my mistakes?"
"Like prank her to where she hexes you? Doesn't she do that daily?"
"Actually she's been pranking me back and it's fantastic," Sirius grinned. "Never thought I'd get strait-laced Amelia to be a prankster."
"Bound to happen," Harry chuckled. "So what mistakes are you afraid of repeating."
Sirius smile died. "What if…I…do a runner again?"
"Sirius…you've more than made up for going after Peter-"
"Not that, thought that too," Sirius said, waving his hand. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "When I took leave of my senses after Halloween your fifth year."
"Oh right," Harry said softly.
"Don't tell me you forgot about that," Sirius said, looking at Harry.
"Well, I don't really think about it," Harry shrugged. "It happened. And you've been fine since it happened. You made changes and improved."
Sirius buried his face in his hands and said nothing for a long moment. "I never told you what I did, did I?"
"Not that I can remember."
"To be fair, I don't remember much in the beginning," Sirius said. "I was drunk off my arse for weeks. Seeing and hearing Reg like that, having what I done thrown in my face like that, it really got to me. Then when you said you didn't want to come back with me, I think that made me run off like that."
He waved his hand again. "I don't blame you for saying that and I know why you did. I was so overcome I just took it how it sounded and panicked. I was the adult and responded poorly. I'm so sorry Harry."
It was Harry's turn to wave his hand. "You've said it a lot and like I've said, I understand and it's all water under the bridge for me. You're still an amazing godfather and we've been good since. Seriously. And Siriusly."
"Why won't you and Moony let me tell my jokes," Sirius sighed.
"Don't know what you mean," Harry said, grinning at the older man's snort. "You've continued to do well. You see the mind healer when you need it, you don't get drunk every day anymore, you do good work at the Wizengamot and everything else. You really have gotten better."
Sirius let out a big sigh. "Thanks, that means a lot coming from you," he said sincerely. "I guess I'm just worried."
"Makes sense. I still worry about stuff in my past." Harry flexed his right hand. He looked down at it, half-expecting to see the glint of glass and the blush of blood on it. "But we just have to try and push on, right? You taught me that."
"I have?" Sirius asked, surprised.
"Sure have. Your childhood sounded rough, a lot like mine. Then you spent more than a decade in Azkaban. Most people would be insane or utter wrecks after that. And look at you now. A member of the Wizengamot, in a relationship that's healthy, have good relationships with friends and family. You've come a long way."
Sirius smiled softly. "I have, you're right." He rolled his shoulders. His eyes grew soft. "So have you. I still remember seeing you as that scrawny thing in the Shack."
Harry smiled. "I've filled out a bit since."
"Just a little." Sirius savored Harry's indignant look. "Thanks Harry. I really appreciate it."
"Have you talked about this with anyone else?"
"Amelia sometimes when I'm worried about Ministry stuff. Andromeda and Remus when I'm worried about family stuff. My mind healer of course but he's paid to be nice to me so wanted to hear from someone that wouldn't hold back you know?"
"I'm pretty sure they aren't paid to be nice," Harry commented.
"Well mine's actually pretty rude to me so I'm not that worried that's he's trying to spare my feelings." They laughed together. "Still, it's good to get a few different viewpoints."
"Did you tell him you were going to propose?"
"He did and the arsehole gave me his card to give to Amelia and he had the gall to tell me he does couple counseling too." Sirius snorted as Harry laughed. "I told him to shove it up somewhere."
"How'd he respond to that?"
"Charged me a surliness surcharge," Sirius grumbled.
"You'd think you'd be used to that. At least you can afford it."
"That's what Remus said," Sirius sighed. He smiled. "You two aren't wrong though." He reached out and opened the bottle of wine and conjured two glasses. "Let's celebrate some, shall we?" He poured out a measure in both.
Harry took one and tapped it to Sirius'. "To getting better."
"I'll drink to that," Sirius said. "To getting better." He sipped and looked at the glass appreciatively. "Oh that's nice. I like it a lot."
They sat in companionable silence, sipping the wine.
"You'll be one of my Groomsmen, won't you?" Sirius asked.
"I'd be happy to," Harry said happily. "Remus going to be your best man?"
"I have to ask him but yeah, I think so. I'll probably ask Ted and I'm sure there might be some others that will join. Sebastian probably would."
"David too," Harry said. "And Arthur."
"Oh yeah, that'll be great." Sirius smiled. "I'm getting excited now."
"How are you going to propose? Something expensive and outlandish?" Harry asked.
"We're taking a small trip at the end of the week and I'll propose then."
"That's surprisingly normal."
"We're going to Hawaii and I'm going to ask her at the top of the volcano that's still active."
"There it is." He grinned. "At least you can jump in it when she says no."
"Or she'll throw me in it," Sirius chortled.
-0-
"That sounds so romantic," Jean said with a soft sigh.
Amelia smiled lovingly. "It really was. I knew he was going to propose but he chose a really good moment for it."
It was weeks later and everyone knew about the engagement and upcoming wedding. Both parties had been set and Amelia already had her hen do earlier. All the men were with Sirius for his stag do and Amelia was at Grimmauld with some of the wives of the older Groomsmen, chatting and finishing up a few details for the wedding.
"Trust Sirius to be dramatic enough to choose a live volcano as the setting," Andromeda grinned.
"Or was it a subtle metaphor for how Amelia feels around him," Samantha teased.
Amelia laughed loudly. "Not too far off the mark really. He's exasperating but means well and…I did miss him terribly during his time in Azkaban. Now we can take advantage of the time we should have had together and enjoy life together."
"Are you taking his name?" Samantha asked.
"We'll be combining them. That way our children can continue both family lines and Susan can either remain a Bones if she chooses or take her spouse's name when she marries."
"Elegantly done," Andromeda said. "I am sure that is a relief for everyone involved." She stopped and eyes widened with surprise, looking at the wall.
"What's wrong?" Amelia asked, immediately on guard.
"Something is pushing through the wards," Andromeda said. A silvery form pushed through the wall and everyone gasped as the argent lioness clawed her way through the protections, growling with irritation.
"What is that?" Jean gasped.
"Harry's patronus," Andromeda said, slightly worried. "What is it?" she asked.
The lioness sat on her haunches and the women were amused to see that the lioness wore a very human expression of weariness. "MumAndi, I need your help," she said with Harry's voice. "There was an…incident and it's mostly smoothed over but I need you and SamaMum to come help me. We're on Luxurious in a place called Shine." Her tail swished back and forth. "Starfall."
Andromeda groaned. "Understood. On the way." The lioness dissolved with an annoyed huff, a sound that Andromeda echoed.
"Starfall?" Jean asked.
"Harry and I had a series of codewords to describe certain scenarios." Andromeda rose and summoned her cloak. "What in the hells are they doing on Luxurious?" she groused.
"Is starfall bad?" Samantha asked, pulling her cloak on.
"It'll be annoying but not terrible," Andromeda said. "I hope anyways."
"Should I come?" Amelia asked, worried.
"No, we can handle it but we will be coming here so you might as well stick around," Andromeda said dryly. "May want to summon Molly and call Apolline. We will be back soon." She and Samantha apparated and reappeared at one of the points in Diagon. Getting her bearings, Andromeda began walking with Samantha beside her.
"What does starfall mean?" Samantha asked.
"It means everyone save for Harry was incapacitated but things are handled to a tolerable degree."
Samantha smiled. "Oh boy. This should be good then. What's the worst code?"
"Pompei," Andromeda said.
"Is it bad that you two had accounted for something like that?"
"Knowing my cousin? It was necessary." They walked onto Luxurious and Andromeda led them to Shine. The drinking club, far too fancy to be a simple bar, was slightly off the street and the front was closed off. Samantha goggled at the large hole through the wall and Andromeda groaned once more. "I was requested to come for assistance," she said to the wizard in front.
"Ah, Madam Tonks, you are expected," the immaculately dressed wizard said. His voice was low and cultured but his eyes danced with glee. "Please, come in." He led the witches in. The interior was polished to a mirror shine, like the name implied. Everything gleamed in candle and magical light and looked incredibly fancy and expensive. Which made the current state of broken tables and chairs that much more dramatic.
Andromeda groaned once more when she realized some Aurors were walking out of the establishment, some levitating unconscious wizards. Luckily none were the ones she was expecting to see. She and Samantha walked past the wrecked room and Samantha noticed yet another large hole in an interior wall, directly behind the one in the outer wall.
"Harry! Are you okay?" Andromeda asked. She stopped short and stared at the scene before her, making Samantha run into her back. The small room was in an even worse state than the main room. She goggled seeing Sirius, Remus, Ted, Thomas, Arthur, Sebastian and David lying out on the ground. Harry was standing and looked a little worse for wear and quite irritated but well otherwise. A couple of Aurors were walking out with one last person and they were shooting Harry surreptitious looks and Kingsley stood beside Harry looking deeply amused.
"Hiya Mums," Harry said, looking relieved when he saw them. "I'm okay."
"What happened?!" Samantha nearly shouted, looking at the devastation.
"Basically, a bar fight," Harry sighed, rubbing his temples.
"And they all lost?" Andromeda asked, shocked.
"Uh…technically not," Harry said. "I might've…stunned the ones that weren't stunned already."
"What does that mean?" Samantha and Andromeda asked together.
Kingsley started laughing, a rich deep sound. "It means that Mister Potter is not one to be trifled with," he said warmly. "He took advantage of a law to avoid charges to be pressed. If one of the offending parties manages everyone in said party to stop a conflict-"
"-then it is seen as a form of contrition and as long as amends are made then no charges will be made," Andromeda said, sighing with relief. "I am surprised you knew about that, Harry."
"Uncle Ted might've told me that before we started tonight just in case," Harry groaned.
"It also helps that the other party was deeply in the wrong and guilty as hell," Kingsley said. "The owner of Shine confirmed and is pressing charges on the other party and saying Harry's," he chuckled when Harry cleared his throat, "I'm sorry, Sirius' party is exempt."
"And the other amends?" Andromeda asked.
"I took care of them. Surprisingly all it took were a few tickets for future games and an autograph," Harry said wryly.
"I will force Sirius to make amends as well later," Andromeda said. "Well then, let us get this idiots home and you can tell us what happened." After some side-along apparitions, they deposited all the unconscious men in a spacious room in Grimmauld. The two medi-witches and the medic did some checking with diagnostic charms and decided to let them all sleep it off. By then, Molly came and Apolline was there via mirror and they gathered in the sitting room.
"What happened?!" Amelia asked. She had been shocked to see them all arrive in that state and her curiosity warred with her anger.
Harry sat back in his chair and gratefully accepted a cup of tea from Jean. "Well, things started okay. We had dinner at a fancy place and we did some light drinking. Then Sirius said he wanted to go to Shine for some not so light drinking. We got a private room in the back and they were getting drunk and playing some weird card game."
He took a fortifying sip of tea. "Then Thaddeus Nott and some of his drinking friends barged in. Apparently they thought they should have the private room and they got into it with Sirius. Nott was upset at Sirius for some Wizengamot thing and decided to bring it up."
"Oh no," Amelia groaned. "They've been debating a lot lately and with them both drunk, I can only imagine."
"Well, it got worse when Nott noticed David. He got super mad when he found out that a Muggle was on Luxurious and when he found out that Hermione's his daughter," Harry's face became uncharacteristically ugly and the women blinked at the sudden change in expression, "he said some really nasty shite."
"Hermione helped with some legal work that Ted is in charge of against Nott for something." Andromeda paled. "What did he say?"
"Nothing that I'm going to repeat," Harry growled. "Before I could do anything, David punched him in the face."
"He did?!" Molly gasped.
"David was a boxer in school," Jean said. "And a good one."
"I'll say," Harry chuckled. "He knocked Nott over. He flew head over arse. Then everyone drew wands and spells started flying."
"Oh dear Merlin," Samantha groaned. She blinked. "Wait. When we came in, the Aurors were hauling people out but not any of you lot. How did things get there?"
The door slammed open and Tonks walked in, still in Auror uniform. She grinned when she saw Harry. "There you are! You got to tell me what you did to those tossers!"
"You saw them?" Andromeda asked.
"I was finishing my shift and was asked to help finish processing them at St Mungo's. A bunch of them had decent spellwork to undo but it took at least two healers a piece to undo your stunners! And not to mention that one guy. Did you really send him through the walls?!" Tonks asked with ghoulish curiosity.
"You did what?!" the women exclaimed, staring at a red-faced Harry.
"Well, uh, I was trying to block spells and protect David 'cause he couldn't shield himself," Harry stammered. "Then I saw Nott throw a Curse at him and I blocked it and I uh…got really mad. It looked nasty so I…blasted him."
"You…blasted him," Samantha repeated dumbly.
Harry nodded sheepishly. "I thought he'd just hit the wall and stop but he kinda went through it."
"He also went out the outside wall!" Samantha exclaimed.
"Did you kill him?" Apolline asked with remarkable calm and bright interested eyes.
"Nah, he's fine," Tonks said. "Didn't even vanish any of his bones but he's stuck in a stasis charm and is going to take some time healing." She frowned at Harry. "What did he cast to make you get mad like that?"
"I don't know. I deflected the spell into a table and the table kinda shriveled up and broke."
"Sounds like a Crippler," Tonks gasped. "That's nasty as hell for a magical!"
Amelia growled. "Give me the memory of that and I'll make sure I press charges. That's Muggle targeting at best and I can make it even worse for him.
Jean hugged Harry desperately. "Oh thank you," she gasped.
Harry patted her back gently. "I promised I'd take care of him. So after I…uh…blasted Nott through the wall or walls, everyone kind of stopped and stared and I just hit everyone with a wide ranged stunner. The owner of the place appeared and after seeing everything said it was fine if I gave him a few tickets and an autograph. By then the Aurors came and once I gave my statement, I sent my patronus." He shrugged sheepishly. "And uh, here we are."
"Thank you, Harry," Amelia said, reaching out for him. "I'm so glad you were there."
"How is the youngest man the one that showed the most sense?" Molly said, shaking her head.
"He's very mature for his age," Samantha praised, kissing him on the cheek.
"I was also the least drunk," Harry grinned, pink-cheeked.
"I will come early in the morning tomorrow," Apolline said. "That way we can see what our husbands have to say for themselves."
-0-
Harry groaned. "I had a very exhausting night."
Katie chuckled and gently shook him again. "So I heard, but MumAndi just messaged and asked for me to bring you to Grimmauld. Everyone's awake and getting shellacked and she thought you'd like to see it."
Harry blinked and yawned. "That does sound nice actually."
"Come on! I really want to hear this," Katie giggled. After a short time, the couple appeared at Grimmauld and Kreacher led them to the kitchen.
"Hey Harry," Sirius said sheepishly, seeing him. He and the other men were sitting against the wall and being stared down by the women, including Hermione and Fleur and Tonks.
"Morning," Harry greeted and thanked Kreacher when the House Elf gave him a big plate of breakfast. "How'd you rest?"
"Surprisingly well for being stunned," Sirius chuckled before wilting at Amelia's glare.
"Yeah, sorry about that. Didn't want to do that," Harry said wryly.
"No, but it was necessary. We all watched the memory you left Amelia." Remus shook his head. "We should have…well…acted our age. Thank you, Harry."
"I want to see the memory," Katie said. "I can't imagine Dad getting into a bar fight."
"I'm surprised myself," Hermione said, giving her father a stern look.
"I'm not sorry for what I did," he sniffed. "But I am glad Harry saved my arse."
They watched the memory again and Hermione latched onto Harry, squeezing the life from him. "Oh, thank you," she whispered.
"Yeah, that was definitely a Crippler," Tonks growled.
"Well I already put the paperwork through to formally charge him," Amelia hissed. "He's going to be in a lot of trouble." She shook her head at Sirius. "Count your lucky stars that you're in a lot less trouble."
"I count on me a lot," Sirius said weakly. He sobered up some. "Also I'm dropping the heavy end of the wand on Nott. Attack one of my vassals? He's going to be bleeding gold and blood by the time I'm done with him."
"You are lucky you did not cause an international incident," Apolline said severely.
Sebastian shrugged lightly. "I was clearly not representing my position in any official capacity." He grinned slyly. "Most fun I have had in England in quite some time." He winced at the looks from Apolline and Fleur.
"I am not drinking that much again," Thomas groaned. "Ever."
"And what do you have to say?" Molly asked, her sweet tone contrasting the fire in her eyes.
"Thank you, Harry," Arthur said meekly.
"I'm just glad things ended up more or less okay," Harry said, patting Hermione's back.
"Thanks to you," Andromeda sighed. She glared at Ted. "I am still surprised you told Harry about that law before anything happened."
"It was a form of insurance," Ted protested, "and look! It came in use!"
"Luckily the owner of Shine is such a huge Portree fan," Tonks snorted.
"Yeah and that was weird. Said I was welcome back anytime," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "The host wizard said it was the most exciting night they've ever had."
Hermione dabbed her eyes. "Your luck is still holding."
"Thank goodness," Harry snorted.
A comfortable silence fell.
"That really was a hell of a punch," Sirius said finally. "The look on Nott's face was priceless."
David grinned. "He went down like a sack of taters. Some wizards don't know how to take a punch."
"Most don't," Tonks sniggered. "You mind teaching me some pointers?"
"Not at all!"
"Let him have this," Jean said wearily, patting Hermione's shoulder.
"I'm surprised none of this ended up in the Prophet," Samantha sighed.
"Luxurious has rules about the press being there uninvited," Andromeda said. "So usually what happens there is passed along word of mouth alone and not in print."
"Thank goodness for that," Harry snorted again. "I only want to show up in the paper because of Quidditch. Kreacher, could I have some more eggs and bacon please?"
"Of course, Master Harry."
"Same here," Sirius said.
"Ignore him Kreacher," Amelia interrupted.
"Yes, Mistress Amelia," Kreacher said enthusiastically.
"So not fair," Sirius grumbled.
-0-0-0-
Arnie1701 - She chose not to, to show mercy.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - I've not seen that movie but heard it was funny. I should get around to that one day.
alix33 - Calling him the third bollock is such an old callback and I'm happy I did it. Still amuses me.
diffident-serpiente - I should watch that movie. Heard it was good. I had a fine Thanksgiving thank you, hope yours was good too. Hedwig always slays. She's the best.