I do not own Harry, Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Extended Family
Chapter 15 – Matilda
Set after Dahlia's birth and before the final chapter of Family
Dedicated to: FanfictionFanGirl59
Matilda by Harry Styles, selected lyrics
…
You can let it go
You can throw a party full of everyone you know
And not invite your family, 'cause they never showed you love
You don't have to be sorry for leaving and growing up.
Matilda, you talk of the pain like it's all alright
But I know that you feel a piece of you's dead inside
You showed ne a power that is strong enough to bring sun to the darkest days
It's none of my business, but it's just been on my mind.
You can see the world, following the seasons
Anywhere you go, you don't need a reason
'Cause they never showed you love
You don't have to be sorry for doing it on your own.
…
You don't have to go
You don't have to go home
Oh, there's a long way to go
I don't believe that time will change your mind
In other words
I know they won't hurt you anymore as long as you can let them go.
You can let it go
You can throw a party full of everyone you know
You can start a family who will always show you love
You don't have to be sorry for doing it all on your own
You can let it go
You can throw a party full of everyone you know
You can start a family who will always show you love
You don't have to be sorry, no.
The man stopped. He looked like he saw a ghost, heard a ghost. A name had broken through the crowd of people around them, something said in passing. Normally he would ignore such a thing but it pierced his thoughts and made him stop. He turned, eyes searching.
"What's wrong?" an older woman asked him.
"I thought I heard something," he muttered. He tilted his head, concentrating.
He heard it again.
This time he followed the sound, followed the people that said it. The older woman followed him, confused. "Honestly, do we have the time for this?" she asked, annoyed.
He ignored her, following the two women who had said the name. He had to know if it who he thought it was. Odds were, it was some kind of strange coincidence. There was no way that the person they mentioned was the person he knew. It was a common name after all. What were the odds that in a bustling market, a fair distance away from home, he would run into people that knew someone he knew years ago.
Fate, like some people, liked to defy the odds sometimes. And sometimes defying the odds as not a kind thing.
He stopped when he saw the two women approach a small group of people that stood outside the market. There were two other women, a small girl, and a man. He had messy black hair, a scar on his forehead, and deep green eyes. He watched the first two women reach them, heard them chatter happily.
He gulped. "Harry?"
-0-
Harry turned when he heard his name. By the time he recognized the voice, it was too late. He turned and his smile melted from his face. His eyes widened and for a brief moment, he saw into the past. His body trembled slightly and he saw the man before him how he was currently and how he was before. The other man was tall, his blonde hair cut short. He had broad shoulders, large meaty hands, a thick build. He had small blue eyes. "Dudley," Harry whispered.
"Harry, is that you?" Dudley asked.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Katie asked. Her good humor had evaporated seeing the look on his face. "Are you okay?" She looked at Dudley. "Who're you?"
Daphne was holding Dahlia and she too looked concerned. Dahlia saw the look on her father's face and began to squirm, wanting to go to him.
Hermione and Tracy turned, looking behind them at the man who followed them. Tracy looked as confused as the other women but Hermione's eyes narrowed, as if trying to remember something. Then she saw the woman approaching from behind Dudley and she remembered. "No!" Hermione yelled. "Stay away from him! Both of you!"
"Hermione! What the hell?" Tracy gasped, startled by Hermione's shout.
Hermione put herself between Harry and Dudley and Petunia. "Go away!" she yelled at the pair.
"We just want to talk-" Dudley started.
"You don't get to want anything!" Hermione looked truly angry, shooting Harry concerned looks. None of the others with her had ever seen her like that and they stared back at the two people standing there, drifting closer to her and Harry.
"I want my Daddy!" Dahlia yelled, struggling in Daphne's arms. Daphne hurriedly took her to him and Harry grabbed, hugging her close. "Stay away!" the little girl yelled at Dudley and Petunia.
"Daddy?" Dudley repeated, surprised.
"She looks like Lily," Petunia gasped.
Hermione pointed a finger at them. "They're Harry's relations," she spat. She would never refer to them as his family.
Instantly, the others understood. Dudley and Petunia recoiled when they saw the sheer anger and hate that radiated from the women. Daphne audibly growled, tried to push her way past Hermione and Tracy, hand going for her sleeve.
"Daph!" Tracy grabbed her arms. "You can't! We're in public!"
"I do not care," Daphne hissed. "This has been a long time coming. Let me go!"
Katie touched Daphne's shoulder, stilling her. "Daphne, Tracy, take Harry and Dahlia home please. Our home."
Daphne's eyes burned. "But…"
"Take them home. I'm trusting you," she said softly, but under the softness was steel.
Daphne looked at her and after a moment nodded. "Make them suffer," she snarled.
"Harry, let's go," Tracy said. "Come on. Let's get you two out of here."
Harry did not turn back to look at Dudley or Petunia, willingly following Daphne and Tracy. He hugged Dahlia close, feeling her clutch him desperately. They walked a few steps and the four of them apparated away.
Katie turned and took a long look at them. They had stared at the exchange with wide open eyes and pale features. Hermione was shaking from suppressed emotion. Katie was as still as a statue though her heart roared within her. "Really?" she finally said, voice brittle. "Today of all days?"
"What's today?" Petunia asked.
"Disgusting," Hermione said scathingly. "You two are disgusting."
Katie reached out to hold Hermione's wrist and Hermione almost flinched from the heat of her grasp, at how tightly she grabbed her. "I'm not going to tell you. You don't deserve to know," Katie said in the same cold brittle tone. "I hope you are proud of yourself. It's been years since you last saw him and he still reacts that way to you. What did you do to him to make him like that? How terrible do you have to be to make a boy suffer so much that years later, he acts like that?"
Petunia looked away. Dudley looked pained. "That's why I want to talk to him-" he said.
"No." Katie was much smaller than him but he took a step back at her look. Her voice was no longer brittle, it was as hard as iron, as unforgiving as ice, as cold as night. "You don't get to. None of you do. If, and this is a big if, Harry ever wishes to talk to you, he will make the attempt. You have ruined any chance of contacting him. Ever."
"And who are you to make such decisions?" Petunia asked, nettled by Katie's words.
"Harry is my husband. I love him with all my heart." Her eyes blazed and the man and woman took a step back. "I try to make sure he knows how much he is loved, how a real family is supposed to be. I remind him of that every damn day, trying to undo the damage you did to him. Somehow, you failed to poison him despite failing him in literally every other way possible. No. You won't ever get the chance to hurt him, ever again. I won't let that happen."
Her smile was cruel, as sharp as a knife. "The girl that wanted to do something to you? She's the tip of the wand. There are so many that want to do terrible things to you. A lot of strangers that barely know us are willing. The people closest to him? Those that truly love him? If I summoned them here, they would fight each other for the chance to do anything to you. The only reason that nothing has happened to you is because of Harry. He has begged us to not do anything to you. He refuses to tell us how to find you."
"We respect him so we listen," Hermione said coldly.
"Make sure we never see each other again," Katie said. "If we do, I won't hold anyone back." She and Hermione turned to leave.
"Please," Dudley said. "Tell him I'm sorry. I mean it. I really am."
Katie turned to look at him. Then without another word, she and Hermione apparated away.
-0-
"Please tell me you are here to ask us to hide the bodies," Daphne said when Katie and Hermione appeared at the Potter home.
"I wish," Hermione grumbled. "I really do. Katie tore them a new one which is almost as good."
"How is he?" Katie asked.
"Not as bad as the time after Halloween fifth year," Tracy said.
"That was literally one of his lowest points," Hermione said severely.
"Which is good that he isn't that bad," Tracy retorted. "He's not catatonic or unresponsive. Not saying much though and who can blame him? He's sitting out back with Dahlia. Daphne and I wanted to give him a little space and time."
"Why did this happen today of all days?" Daphne asked angrily.
"Because luck's a bitch sometimes," Katie grumbled. She shook her head. "I think we'll change plans a bit. Do you all mind asking around and seeing if people want to come here? Something low key, lots of food. Happy people. Do you think that'll be good?"
"I think so," Hermione said sadly. "He would brood otherwise and that's just not fair to him."
"We'll tell everyone," Tracy said. "Then come right back."
Daphne rubbed her eyes. "They looked so…mundane," she said heavily. "I was expecting them to look more horrific."
"Monsters can look normal," Katie said softly. "Not every monster looks like a Dementor."
"Ain't that a damn shame," Tracy said. "It'd make things easier."
-0-
Katie sat down beside Harry, drawing him to her. He leaned into her willingly, face still frozen and blank. Dahlia clung to him in her sleep, making soft noises as she tried to burrow into him.
"Poor thing," Harry said. "Didn't understand what was wrong, tried to make it better." His lips twitched. "She did of course, kept me in place and grounded. Just…I can't tell her anything. Not yet. Maybe not ever."
Katie kissed his temple. "Our daughter is wonderful."
He smiled a little, just barely. "She sure is. Takes after her mum."
"Takes after her daddy," Katie replied.
They sat in silence for a while.
"I'm pathetic," he murmured. "It's been ages and just seeing them, not even seeing Vernon, made me freeze up. I just heard everything they used to say to me all at once. I felt like a tiny helpless kid again."
"That's not pathetic at all," she said firmly. "You went through something horrid. It's normal for you to feel like that again."
"That's a kind of normal I don't want," he said wryly. His arms clutched his daughter a little tighter. "I was barely older than Dally here when it really started. I don't even want to entertain the thought of her going through anything like that. Having her here, thinking about that, makes it feel even worse somehow."
Katie suppressed a sob and used her sleeve to wipe away his tears. "Harry, listen to me. You've done amazing. Truly." She waited for his emerald eyes to meet her chestnut ones. "You graduated at the top of your year. You are a star Seeker and have played for Team England. You are a Transfiguration Master. You are an incredible friend. An amazing husband. And a wonderful father. You have done so much good. Never forget that."
She held his face between her hands and pressed her forehead to his. "You are loved. By so many."
He released the breath he held since first seeing Dudley. The pain that always smoldered deep in his chest burned lower and faded. He sighed, relaxing and feeling intense relief and intense fatigue. "What did I ever do to deserve you?" he asked softly.
"By being you," she replied huskily and kissed him on the lips. "I should be asking that question honestly."
He smiled and kissed her again. "Same answer then." He sighed again. "I guess I mucked things up for today huh?"
"Don't blame yourself for what they did," she said firmly. "Just a change in plans. We're getting people to just show up here. We'll stay up late, be casual, just enjoy time together. How does that sound?"
"Wonderful," he said sincerely.
They sat there, cuddled together, holding Dahlia between them. Katie sighed, wrestling with a thought for some time. "He said he's sorry," she finally said.
"Oh?"
"Yeah."
"Oh."
"…yeah."
"That's nice I guess," he said finally.
"Does it help?" she asked.
"I…don't know. Is that okay?"
"Perfectly okay."
-0-
A series of pops heralded the arrival of a group of people. There was a little bumping and jostling, two different groups had apparated at the same time and they stumbled a little as they made space for each other.
"Sorry there," Oliver laughed as he steadied Angelina. "What're the odds we came at the same time?"
"No problem," Angelina smiled as she grabbed his arm. "Pretty low, but I heard something happened so I came over as soon as I could. I'm sorry Hailey," she said to her daughter who made a face. "You said you didn't want to Floo today."
"That's what Hadley said," Alicia bounced her daughter on her hip. "Where's George?"
"He and Fred were closing early anyways but they decided to crank out the end together and close a little sooner before coming over." She smiled at Katie who walked over. "Hey, what's going on." Angelina frowned, not liking Katie's expression.
"One sec," Katie said softly. She smiled at Hadley and Hailey. "Hey little ones. Your godfather isn't feeling well. Why don't you two go see if you can help him feel better? Dally's there already."
The two little girls squirmed as soon as they heard the magic word. Once set down by their mothers they toddled off as fast as they could.
"Damn that's adorable," Oliver grinned. He sobered. "What happened to Sir Harry?"
Katie sighed. "We ran into his cousin and his aunt while at that special market Hermione and Tracy told us about."
"No way," Angelina said. "Tell me you did terrible things to them."
"I wish. The cousin approached us and wanted to try and talk to Harry. Harry just froze when he saw them. It was terrible."
"Tell me you put a tracking charm on them," Alicia growled.
"Poor Harry," Oliver sighed. "That's why plans were changed I guess?"
"Yeah, I don't think he'd feel up to going out or anything. Hope y'all are okay with it."
"Hey, any chance to hang out is good. I get to wear comfy clothes is better." Angelina rubbed her eyes. "How is he?"
"Shell-shocked. He got reminded of everything when he saw them. Feeling a little fragile you know?"
"Don't blame him," Alicia sniffed. "This will be better."
"They didn't even know what day it was," Katie said angrily.
"I hate them so fucking much," Angelina growled.
"Daphne tried to Curse them or something in broad daylight," Katie said.
"Always liked that girl," Alicia said with approval.
"Well, fuck 'em I say," Oliver said with uncharacteristic crudeness. "They fucked their relationship up and that's on them. We get Harry and our awesome families and let's make the most of it." He grinned when Alicia hugged him tight about the middle.
"Let's go see if Rabbit needs rescuing from the terrible toddlers," Angelina smiled. They walked over to the back of the house, grinning as they heard squealing and laughter. Rounding the corner, they stopped and smiled as they watched three excited girls climb over Harry, trying to sit on him and wrestling with him.
"Need to be rescued Sir Harry?" Oliver asked while laughing.
"Nope!" Harry said as he pinned Dahlia with one hand, tickled Hailey with the other and playfully tried to nudge Hadley over with his shoulder. "I'm doing pretty great!"
"Yeah it's not a fair fight, until now!" Angelina threw herself into the fray, bowling everyone over in a riot of giggles. "Help your mum, Hailey! Get him!" In short order she had him pinned while the little girls gleefully took full advantage of the situation.
"Aww, Hadley is a drooler," Katie giggled.
"Takes after her mum," Oliver said. He grunted when Alicia stepped on his foot.
As afternoon became evening, the sun sinking behind the hills, more people arrived. They brought all kinds of food with them and soon the large fire pit was lit and Harry cooked happily, usually carrying one of the children on one arm while chatting with everyone.
"We're we ever that clingy as sprogs?" George asked as he shook his head at Hailey climbing Harry's back.
Molly smiled. "In degrees. You two weren't. Ginny was a little. So was Percy. Bill wasn't until Charlie was born. Ron wasn't at all." She laughed at how determined the little girl was. "She loves her godfather, doesn't she?"
"She doesn't even love her uncle that much," Fred said with faux disgust. "Any of them but specifically me."
"She has good taste," Angelina said with a grin.
Molly walked over to relieve Harry of his adorable burden. The little girl clung onto Harry without moving at first but finally acquiesced after Harry spoke to her. Molly laughed her head off as she walked back, carrying the little bundle with practiced ease. "Wouldn't come over unless he promised her time later," Molly laughed.
"I'll never begrudge Harry affection," George laughed. His merry features hardened ever so slightly. "Especially with what happened today."
"You'd think they'd learn after what we said," Fred muttered.
"And what did you two say?" Molly asked, eyes sharp.
"Nothing important," George said smoothly. "Hailey, tell grandmum about the drawing you're making for her."
Percy snorted. "That was a stunning display of distraction. Well done."
"Auntie Luna?" Dahlia said later. "Why is Daddy's cake on fire?"
"Well mostly to keep wrackspurts away," she said to the little girl on her lap. "Wrackspurts adore sugar but don't like wax or fire so they stay away. It's also to help celebrate your Daddy's Day of Life."
"Oh it's his birthday today!" Dahlia clapped her hands.
"That's right! Make sure you give him extra snuggles later. That way he will start his next year extra loved and happy." Luna beamed at the emphatic nodding from Dahlia. "Not that I have to tell you. You love your daddy so much don't you."
The moon rose into the sky and the fire burned comfortably, keeping the chill away. Attendees to the impromptu party drifted away bit by bit, citing work in the morning or other obligations. Harry thanked each one that came, sincerely happy for their company and future plans were made. A small group remained.
Harry gently tucked a blanket around each girl, making sure the little tent he transfigured for them was sound. He left the opening unlatched so they could peer in without difficulty before he sat with a sigh beside Katie. "Thanks for coming everyone," he said fondly. "It did me good to see you."
"Of course. Wish I was there earlier." Luna's eyes, normally dreamy and expressive, became incredibly focused and hard for a moment. Her features sharpened.
"I was so close to Cursing them to oblivion," Daphne muttered.
Harry smiled weakly. "Not that I don't appreciate the sentiment, I wouldn't want any of you getting in trouble for that."
"Not a single charge would have stuck," Tonks snarled. Her hair was long and it undulated as if it had a life of its own. It looked like the fire: oranges and reds and yellows shifting rapidly.
"Still, I rather you all here with me like this," Harry said.
Everyone smiled softly at one another. They sat in companionable silence.
"Okay, this is getting a little too sincere," Alicia said. "Quick, one of you ruin the moment."
"Uhhh, Fred's been on a date with the same girl for three times in a row now," George said hurriedly.
"You bastard! I swore you to secrecy!"
"Oooh, did you finally find someone?" Alicia asked with sparkling eyes.
"It's only been three dates, first of all," Fred said with red ears. "Second of all, maybe some people don't have to be in steady relationships and married with children. Ever think of that? Besides, why do you lot always pick on me for stuff like that?"
"The next person that looks at me, I'll blind you," Tonks said cheerfully.
Hermione shrugged. "I'm happy working on my career right now and spending my free time with family. I'm not that fussed about seeing anyone right now."
Luna smiled. "I'm enjoying being promiscuous."
"There is something unsettling about how you say that," Daphne said with a shocked look.
"Oh. Is being a tart better?" Luna asked.
"Not really," Tracy laughed.
"Harry likes tarts," Luna said stubbornly.
"I like treacle tarts," Harry laughed. "Don't get me in trouble. Katie's right here!"
"As if I don't know what you're doing most of the time," Katie teased. "Also I love you Luna, never change."
"You know, I still don't know when you're being serious or not," George said as he looked at the innocent looking Luna.
"I'm always serious," she sniffed. "Unless when I'm not."
"Well that explains it then," Fred groaned.
"Hold on." Tonks narrowed an eye at Luna. "I'm pretty sure I had to explain the difference between a tart and a slag to you recently."
"What are you teaching innocent Luna?" Harry gasped.
"She came to ask me!"
"I think we established that Luna is not as innocent as she likes for everyone to believe," Hermione said wryly.
"It is not my fault I am inquisitive," Luna said dreamily. "I merely wanted to know what Tracy meant by tart knickers. I thought they were a new kind of pudding protector."
Everyone hooted with laughter while Daphne buried her face in her hands and Tracy palmed her own face. "I have got to watch what I say around you," she said with a brilliantly red face. "You need a collar with a bell on so people always know when you're around."
"Is that a new kind of pudding protector too?" Angelina asked, gasping for breath.
"We are adults! Some with children!" Hermione scolded, smiling despite her severely waggling finger.
Harry laughed and laughed and laughed.
-0-0-0-
Imaginer.012 - Thank you. I'm grateful for your kindness. The negative remarks really got to me for that fic for some reason and I was already having a lot of difficulties with the fic as it was, writing it I mean. Their complaints and comments just felt incredibly personal as well as nonsensical in picking apart the oddest things. I know I should write for me but honestly I write to entertain others and in the face of such loud opposition, I forgot about the people that did enjoy it. I'll do better about that though especially with kind people like you. Thank you.
diffident-serpiente - Thank you. Good advice. I'll try to focus on what matters. Glad you liked the chapter, I think it flowed really well and I got a kick out of Dahlia's kicking responses to her name.
bdwilliams3 - Thank you. I try to make every story feel a little different overall. I don't want to write the same story or the same setting each time.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Thank you. I'm glad I thought of that little tidbit when naming the A Twins children. It felt right to me. A lot of people did like RD but I just wasted time focusing on the negatives. I will do better.
iamchaos98 - I picked Dahlia as a name while looking at flowers and saw the star shaped one. It sounded nice and Dally is a fun nickname.
Ugrwaew - Thank you. I liked having the daughters named for him with slightly different names to be a nice touch too. Dahlia being the ultimate reason for her name and her responses to questions and Petunia was a fun thing to play with. I'm grateful for your kindness. I was just bogged down by the negativity but I'll work on ignoring it. All the best.
alix33 - She's a kicker and a stomper.
Canuto-90 - Thank you. I'll try my best to ignore the haters in the future. I had a lot going on and it was hard to ignore the negativity.
