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

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Extended Family

Chapter 25 – His First European League

Takes place after Chapter 141, when Harry and Katie reunite.

Oliver's smile split his face from ear to ear. He seemed to radiate brightness and energy, practically bouncing on his feet. The smile and the way he rubbed his hands gleefully was much like a young child visiting a sweets shop.

Tanya looked at Harry. "Is he normally like this?"

"I don't know how he is on Puddlemere but back at school he was," Harry said with a big smile. "Captain's always happy when it's Quidditch time."

"I feel a little betrayed to hear you call him that like that," Tanya sniffed.

"Be nice," Shelia said, smacking Tanya's arm. "You're going to give the poor guy a quandary."

"Sorry Cap," Harry said with a sheepish smile. "He was my first captain after all."

"I suppose I can forgive your first one then," Tanya sighed. "Just tell me I'm better."

"You're definitely a nicer captain when it comes to practices and expectations."

"So you're saying I can be rougher," Tanya mused.

"Shut it Harry," Shelia hissed.

Oliver cleared his throat lightly and all conversations faded. "Right, glad to see everyone here. As you might have guessed, you've been selected to be a part of Team England for this year's European League." He rolled his eyes at the dramatic gasps from Angelina and Harry which made the others laugh. "My name is Oliver Wood and I'm going to be the Team Captain for this League."

"So I'm going to be honest with everyone, we're being looked down on this year. It took a lot of negotiating and arguing and one thing you lot might notice is that we don't really have any starting veterans on the team this year. That's because there was a lot of pissing contests about who would work with who or for how much. After weeks of shite, the heads decided that we'd make the best team with the players most likely to work together as a team. So here you are. Everyone here has been vouched for by at least two others and I am feeling really good about this team."

He looked at all of them. "You know what's the best part about being an underdog and thought with little to no expectation? The pure freedom of playing our best and showing our naysayers up. We're going to make it to the finals. We're going to shove their opinions up their arses. We're going to win as a team!"

Everyone hooted and clapped and cheered.

"They don't think we're even going to make it past the semifinals!"

Everyone booed and jeered heartily.

"So if we make it into the semifinals, we win. If we make it to the 8, we win harder. We make it to the final 4? We tell them to sod off!"

The team roared.

"So we're going to go out there, have fun, and play the game and show them the best that England has to offer! England hasn't made it to the 4 in years and we're going to prove it to them that we are going to!"

"Okay, I have to hand it to him, he's good at making a speech," Tanya said, clapping.

"Yeah, he's gotten better," Harry said happily, clapping enthusiastically.

"I was a little curious that he got picked to be Team Captain but after that, if his captaining is as good as his speeching, then I can see why," Shelia said, clapping as well. She looked about. "We are a pretty young team overall."

"I think we're the oldest here and on the older end of old," Tanya remarked.

"I mean in experience and like he said, barely any here has been on a national team before, bitch."

"That's Captain Bitch to you."

"You're not the Captain, bitch!"

Angelina gave the squabbling pair of players a wary look. "Do they normally do that?" she asked Harry.

"Yup. Basically, like you and Alicia."

"Ah gotcha." She sighed happily, grabbing him and leaning her head on his and relaxing. "I'm so happy we're on a team again."

He leaned against her. "Me too!"

Angelina glared. "What?" she asked flatly.

Felicia smiled. "Nothing, just really weird to see you like this. Normally when you're on a pitch or in the locker rooms you're all business and ready to throw a Quaffle through someone. Seeing you like this is really jarring." She laughed at Angelina's two finger salute. "There's the Angie I know."

She winked at Harry. "Any hope of me hearing embarrassing stories about her later?"

Harry patted Angelina's arms. "From me? Never. You'll have to ask George."

"Ask you later when she doesn't have her arms around your neck, got it," Felicia laughed.

"Right! Let's start off with some team exercises and we can see where we stand after that," Oliver said.

"What's with that look?" Tanya asked, distracted from her argument with Shelia.

Harry and Angelina rolled their shoulders. "Remember when I said you're nicer?" Harry asked. "You're about to find out what I meant by that. Unless Captain's mellowed out any."

"He hasn't," Angelina said shortly. "I saw his playbook."

"What aren't you two telling us?" Felicia asked with trepidation.

"You'll find out," Angelina laughed but it lacked any kind of mirth.

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"Good job everyone, good start!" Oliver breathed heavily and wiped his brow. "Right. Let's break for lunch and by the afternoon I'll have an idea of where to go forward." He walked off energetically, calling for the individual coaches and aides to him.

"You…you two…did this…in…school?" Tanya gasped, lying prone on the grass. "What…the…bloody hell."

"It wasn't as bad as I remembered actually," Angelina said, huffing and puffing but still standing.

"Are you sure he hasn't mellowed?" Harry asked, wheezing but upright.

"That's mellowed?" Felica gasped.

"If you do this to us during the regular season, I will cut you," Shelia groaned to Tanya. "I'll do it. I'll go to your home and cut up all your things too."

"If I suggest anything like this, take me to St Mungo's," Tanya said, slowly regaining her breath. "No wonder you look like you enjoy practice!" she said to Harry. "I used to think you were mental. Now I know you've already gone through hell."

The rest of the team, starters and reserves, were in equal positions of distress. They all groaned and moaned fitfully, giving Oliver's back baleful glares while looking at Harry and Angelina with open surprise.

"It won't always be like this, will it?" someone asked.

"Usually no," Harry said. "Sometimes it's worse."

Everyone groaned with pure despair.

"I've been in the League for ages and I feel like I just got out of school," another gasped. "I feel like a newbie all over again. How the hell is that possible?"

"Wood's insane," Angelina said. "But he'll whip us into shape and drag us to victory, one way or another."

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Trafalgar's Pitch was full of screaming fans. The majority were supporters of Team England but a good portion had visitors from Poland supporting their national team. As Oliver said when the team assembled, hopes for the English team were near the bottom. The last few years were shockingly bad for them and most saw the national team to be a bit of a joke. Players bought their way onto the team and more often than not, the biggest egos fought each other for exposure and fame, leading to spectacular team shutouts.

This year, tired of the shame of losing year after year, the main coach for Team England and the sponsors for the team decided they wanted a team that wanted to win as a team. Where no single player was in it for themselves. While that made them not have some of the biggest names in the League or players with a lot of international experience, they found a team that had something previous years lacked: teamwork.

The general public, long used to disappointment, had not expected too much from the national team. Something Team England happily turned on its head when they went against Russia, the favorites for that year, and handily beat them 300 to 50.

Many called it a fluke, or beginner's luck. Then Team England did it again, beating a solid Team Germany, 250 to 150. Now people were getting excited, that this year's team could actually work together and win.

For the first time in years, Trafalgar's Pitch had people in the stands that were wholly committed to the game. They were not there just to enjoy watching something and eating treats. They watched every pass with baited breath. Cheered every shot and save. Shouted encouragement for their players. If Team England won today, then they would be the first team to make the semifinals in years.

"And another goal scored by Johnson!" Kenneth Gapboat, the voice of English Quidditch, shouted. "She banked it off the inner rim with an incredible shot and farther out than most would attempt! England 160 to Poland's 100. What a game! It's still anyone's game of course but with England maintaining the point lead, they maintain momentum!"

The Quaffle went into the air once more and the Polish Chasers flew in formation. They dodged a flurry of Bludgers from Tanya and Alberts from the Arrows, managing to keep possession. However, as one passed it, Harry flew down and distracted the leading Chaser, stopping them short and letting Cailey from Wimbourne catch the ball instead.

"Distraction by Potter results in an interception! There goes Cailey, pass to Johnson, pass to Selwyn! They're flying in an arrowhead formation and what a shot by White! Knocked that Chaser into next week! Open field for our Chasers, pass from Johnson, Selwyn shoots and SCORES! Whistle from Poland and they call time out!"

"Great job team!" Oliver praised as the team circled around him. "Chasers, keep it up and keep up the pressure. The more points we score, the better our position number for the 8. Potter, good job on the distraction and keep tabs on their Seeker. Beaters, keep it up. We're on fire and let's keep it rolling! We're about to beat everyone's estimations by winning this game. Remember, we beat them here and we already accomplished our goal and everything after is gravy!"

"Great, now I'm hungry," Tanya complained. She smiled ferally. "For the win!"

"Hell yeah! Let's go Team!" Oliver shouted.

An hour later the entire arena gasped as they saw Harry and the Polish Seeker fly off at the same time. They both saw the Snitch and were jostling for it. The Polish Seeker tried to shove Harry out of position, first with the broom and then his shoulder. Harry ignored the physical interference, gritting his teeth as he flew.

Harry's eyes widened as he saw two things: an incoming Bludger and the Snitch flying up slightly and then diving down, turning in midair to go back the opposite direction. The Seekers were going so fast, they would not be able to stop and turn to follow, overshooting the position completely.

Harry slowed and turned on the spot, making the Polish Seeker fly off at an angle to avoid a collision. Harry presented his left shoulder to the Bludger and let go off the broom handle with both hands, gripping tighter with his thighs and hooking his ankles around the back. He twisted and grunted, getting hit hard on the shoulder by the flying missile. He started rolling right before impact and used the force of the Bludger to roll him faster.

The crowd gasped and screamed, thinking he had been hit so hard he was falling off. Instead, he rolled faster than he would normally have and snatched the Snitch with his right hand, the golden ball flying right into him. Harry completed the roll, grunting in pain but his smile broad as he showed the Snitch in his right fist.

"WHAT A CATCH!" Kenneth screamed. "Potter used the Bludger to give him speed and he rolled and caught the Snitch! England 350 to Poland 120! ENGLAND IS IN THE FINAL EIGHT! FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS WE ARE IN THE RUNNING FOR THE FINALS!"

"That's my boy!" Oliver shouted as he flew up. "What a catch Sir Harry!"

"Are you where he learned how to not care about his health in catching the Snitch?!" Tanya shouted at Oliver, half elated at the win and half deeply disapproving.

"Yes," Angelina said flatly, her joy for the win overshadowed by her concern and irritation. "Harry, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Harry said. "No really, I don't think I even got a fracture."

"See? He's fine! And we won!" Oliver grinned. "Come on! Victory lap everyone!"

The team took a long victory lap around the pitch. The crowd screamed and howled, waving flags and jerseys with names and numbers on them. They began to fly back to the ground, to their side of the pitch where the team staff and reserves waited.

"She looks very angry," Felicia remarked, pointing at a young woman with a blonde ponytail. Despite being many feet in the air, the woman's anger was very apparent and she could almost be heard above the screaming cheering crowd.

Harry gulped. "I'm going to go straight to the locker room-"

"Nope." Angelina grabbed his broom. "You do something dumb, you suffer the consequences. You too."

"I didn't do something dumb!" Oliver protested.

"You did when you instilled this 'catch the Snitch at all costs' mentality all those years ago!" She kicked him, easily staying on the broom. "Go on then 'Captain', lead by example."

"Who is that?" Felicia asked as the rest of the team landed. They watched wide-eyed as Oliver and Harry shrank under the blistering verbal barrage from the blonde-haired Healer.

Tanya grinned. "That is Katie Bell. One of our sports healers."

"I know she's one of our sports healers. How is she getting away with blasting them like that?"

"She's Harry's girlfriend."

Felicia and the rest of the team laughed. "That makes a lot of sense," Felicia laughed.

"Harry mentioned she just got back to England before the start of the Euro League and will need a job after we finish our season here. I have got to see if she wants to join Portree."

"Will he want her to?" Cailey asked with a big smile. "If she's on the team, he can't be reckless."

"Potter is deeply devoted to her," Selwyn said with a small smile. "He was in school, and if anything, it has only grown since then. He would very much like that despite the current…predicament."

"Definitely want her on the team then," Tanya said.

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"This is incredible," Katie said softly as she looked out over the pitch. This year, the final games of the European League were being held in Italy. The Colosseum was used for special events and with ancient spells, magicals could use it despite the Muggles outside. Tourists could look into the ancient amphitheater and not see or hear anything going on within.

Harry hugged her from behind, looking around at the ancient architecture with wonder. "It really is. You can feel so much magic here."

"Yeah. It's like Hogwarts. Magic is in everything." She grinned at him. "Ever thought you'd be here?"

"Visiting Italy, playing in the European League, or with you?"

"All the above."

"Never," he said solemnly. "So this is wonderful beyond words."

She kissed his cheek. "I'm glad to share it with you."

They stood there in each other's arms and enjoyed the atmosphere.

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The whistle blew and Harry was incredibly grateful for it. The Spanish Beater had hit him with the bat directly and it took all of Harry's skill to stay on his broom. The crowd booed and Harry gave the red-faced opposite player a wide sharp smile to hide his pain. The referees flew up to berate him and Harry flew to the ground.

"Are you okay?" Tanya asked as she flew with him, helping him off his broom and half carrying him to the healers that ran up to them.

"I think my ribs are bruised. Don't think any are broken." He sighed with relief as Katie cast a pain relief charm before she cast her diagnostic charms.

"No fractures thankfully," she confirmed. "Some bruising. You'll be fine in an hour if you take it easy."

"They're about to lose a Beater for a while for the foul," Oliver said.

"Shelia, take over for me," Harry said.

"Really?" Shelia replied, eyebrow raised.

"Well, yeah. I should take it easy and you're good to go right? You're the other Seeker. If the team can take advantage of the numbers, you will have the freedom to hunt the Snitch."

"I forget that you're not a raging egomaniac sometimes," Shelia grinned.

"Well that's on you 'cause you helped train me," Harry laughed before wincing and grabbing his midriff.

"Don't worry, I'll punish them for fouling you," Tanya said and the rest of the team growled agreement.

"And I'll catch that Snitch and take us to the final four!" Shelia swore.

Team England took to the air and when the game resumed, they made good on their promise. The Chasers swarmed the other Chasers and Keeper, keeping possession of the Quaffle most of the time. Tanya and Thorn kept them dodging, controlling both Bludgers and Oliver blocked every shot. Before the penalty time elapsed, Shelia came out of a dive with the Snitch and England made the final four.

"I'm proud of you," Katie said later that night.

"I mean, luckily it was Shelia," Harry said. "If it was a Seeker from another team, I'd probably would've insisted on staying in the game."

Katie snorted. "Still, proud of you. It's good that you know your limits."

"I have to, my healer would get really upset."

"Yeah I would," Katie smiled. Her smile grew as Shelia walked up to them. "Oh hello there!"

Shelia bounced her baby in her arms. "Harry, you're still injured right?"

"Not really-"

"So you should stay pretty still? Good! Here." She gently handed her baby to him and he took the small bundle gently. "Watch her for a bit yeah?"

Katie sighed as she watched Harry hold the baby gently, him smiling down at the cooing little girl. "Oh my heart," she whispered.

"He's really good with her, isn't he?" Shelia said with a big smile. "I never would've guessed but one time I brought her to work with me and got caught up in a meeting. She apparently was fussing a bit but stopped when he picked her up and played with her a little. She loves him."

Harry propped the baby up so that she could see Katie. "Meggy, meet Auntie Katie. Katie, meet Meghan Innis, we call her Meggy though."

"May I?" Katie asked Shelia.

"Go on," Shelia encouraged.

Katie carefully accepted the little girl. "Oh you're a cutie," Katie said softly.

Shelia sighed, watching her daughter coo and make satisfied noises. "Okay, you have to join Portree too. I am not letting anyone that is that good with her go. Between Tanya and I, we'll convince the owner."

"Hey congrats!" Harry said happily. "You got a job after this!"

Katie shook her head but smiled down at Meggy. "I'll take this kind of interview anytime."

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Harry saw the tiny glint of gold in the far distance. After a second of hesitation, he decided to go for it. He weaved around a flying Bludger and flew fast, laying low over the broomstick. The roar of the crowd faded into the background and he fixated on the prize.

He rolled to the left, dodging another Bludger. A burly form in Bulgarian colors tried to ram him but was knocked off his broom by a Bludger hit right at him. Harry dove under another opposing player who in turn got hit by Angelina checking him with her shoulder.

Harry shook as Krum hit him alongside. The larger Seeker knocked Harry to the side easily but Harry managed to regain his position with little difficulty. Krum scowled, expecting his blow to have done more but he did not let that stop him from flying for the Snitch himself. They moved around each other, dipping and diving like two birds in flight, fighting for position.

Krum cut into his path and blocked his line of sight for long moments, before diving straight for the ground. Harry's eyes widened as he saw the Bludger flying straight for him. He shoved off the broom with his left leg, throwing himself to one side while desperately hooking his right ankle around the broom from underneath. Between that and grasping the broom tight with his right hand, he managed to twist his body enough to avoid being hit directly by the magical missile.

He felt himself slipping to the right, too far for equilibrium. Desperately, he unwrapped his ankle from the broom and kicked out with his right foot, planting both hands on the broom shaft and pushing up. The kick sent him back to the left and despite no longer sitting on the broom, he was able to recenter himself over his broom. He landed back on with a thump and a grunt of relief, clenching his thighs tight and staying on his broom.

The crowd had watched him do all that high in the air with baited breath. When he reseated himself and recovered, they let out huge sighs of relief and applauded his flying skill. Then the applause grew as they saw Krum had caught the Snitch while Harry had recovered his balance.

Harry huffed in disappointment but he was relieved that he did not plummet off his broom. He flew to the team who gathered at their goals. "Sorry," he said with a sheepish grin.

"Don't be," Oliver said immediately. "That was some damn incredible flying and you're safe, that's what's important."

"Yeah seriously," Angelina said, hugging him and kissing his temple.

"Besides, we did what we set out to do, made the final four," Tanya said with a broad smile.

"And we made the Bulgarians earn it," Selwyn said.

"Next year, we'll get them," Cailey declared and the team all nodded agreement.

"Seriously, we did amazing," Oliver said with a giant grin. "We made it to the final four which England hasn't done in years. Next year, we'll get to the final two!"

Harry felt much better when they landed. No one held him responsible for missing the Snitch. Everyone was glad that he had managed to avoid falling and were impressed by his flying. True, no one was happy that they lost, but all were proud of their achievements in getting where they did.

The English and Bulgarian teams met in the middle, the reserves and support staff coming out to shake hands and talk. Harry shook Krum's hand. "Good catch," he said.

"Thank you," Krum said. "It looks like I am the better Seeker this time."

"Yeah, this time," Katie said as she slipped an arm around Harry's waist. "We'll get you next time and Harry will catch the Snitch."

Krum gave her a look. "If Team England makes it next time."

"We will," she said confidently. "I mean, we were beating you in score this year. You guys only won by ten points after all. Kind of like that game between you and Ireland if I recall." Her smile was all teeth. "No wait, you lost that game despite catching the Snitch. Next time, Harry will catch it and England will win."

Krum gave her another look. "Perhaps," he said and with a nod, walked away.

"I love you," Harry said and kissed her on the lips.

She kissed him back. "I love you too."

"You really think we'll get him next time?"

"Definitely," she said with the utmost confidence. "And then we'll rub it into his face." She smiled sweetly. "You know, politely."

He laughed. "I love it when you get feisty for me."

"I'll always get feisty for you," she promised.

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DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - A mellowed Snape is kinda fun to write for. I'll think about that chapter for sure.

alix33 - Hedwig can out-Snape Snape.

diffident-serpiente - I didn't have one in mind. Sometimes people really latch onto a detail that I didn't think was that important. Let's say it was a wizarding whatchacallit.

Arnie1701 - I figure the professors would definitely bet on stuff like that to cope with things.

Urgwaew - Poppy saw them the most like that so she was pretty sure it would happen. Severus would never bet against her after what she did in Harry's third year. The gift was never described or named. I didn't think that was important when writing this chapter, just the fact that he did send one I thought would be the more interesting facet. Hope you're doing well.