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

Extended Family

Chapter 65 – Seeker's Attention

Takes place after chapter 12

"Alright, what did you idiots do to our new Seeker?"

Sam, Benny, Tina, and Flora quailed a little. Tanya's expression was severe and the fact she still had a hold on her bat did not escape them.

"It wasn't my idea!" Sam shouted.

"Coward!" Tina shouted back

"Nothing happened!" Benny said.

"Liar!" Flora said. "To Sam, not to Benny. Nothing did happen and it was Sam's idea."

"If it's Sam's idea and nothing happened, then why are you so nervous?" Tanya asked. She stood and glared at them as they squirmed. "Nate! I trusted you!"

Nathan poked his head from around the corner. "What did I do?!"

"What didn't you do?"

"I'm confused now," Nathan said, walking over. "What did or didn't I do?"

"I thought you were going to keep these four under control and take care of Harry."

"I did! Everything was fine until I had to go."

"Oh, so it happened after you left."

"It's Nate's fault!" Sam yelled.

"Seriously, who leaves when it is barely ten at night?" Tina said.

"I had plans and we've been partying and drinking for hours up to that point," Nathan protested.

"You're such an old man," Tina grumbled.

"You're older than me," Nathan retorted. He ducked when she threw a towel at him. "Seriously, what's the deal? What did you lot do to Harry?"

"Nothing!" Flora insisted.

"So why's Harry all twitchy and refused to leave the pitch today during lunch?" Shelia asked, scowling.

"Okay, maybe something happened," Benny confessed.

Tanya growled and shook her bat at them. "Harry! C'mere!"

Harry came walking over. He blinked a few times taking the scene in. "Is everything okay?"

"I should be asking you that," Tanya said. "Is everything okay with you? Don't be afraid to tell me. They won't interrupt." She waved her bat at the others again.

"Oh yeah, everything's fine," Harry said, turning pink-cheeked.

"See, nothing happened," Flora said.

"So you had a good time at the bar they took you to after your debut game," Tanya said.

Harry nodded emphatically.

"And nothing happened," Shelia said.

Harry nodded.

"Nothing at all."

Harry nodded hesitantly.

"Harry."

Harry sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, uh, it was…a little embarrassing."

"What did you tits do to my Seeker?!" Shelia shouted and the others flinched. "We finally got a reserve that I trust and is good and you lot are not going to ruin him! If you think I've been short-tempered since I've gotten pregnant then you have no idea how much louder and shorter I can be!"

"You're going to get shorter?" Sam asked, horrified. He grunted when Tina kicked him hard.

"Oh no no, they didn't do anything," Harry said hurriedly. "Not…directly anyways."

"Oh Merlin, someone explain because I swear it wasn't nearly as bad as Harry is making it out to be," Benny groaned.

"Okay fine, and I actually been meaning to ask you this," Flora said, "but what is it with you and attention? You act allergic to it. You're a Seeker! You should be a raging egomaniac."

"When Shelia caught her first Snitch as a professional, she got drunker than drunk and called herself the Queen of Skye and got into a fight with two blokes twice her height and thrice her weight," Tanya said wryly.

"And I won that fight," Shelia said proudly. "Punched those two out and earned my black eye. And I am the Queen of Skye, don't you forget it."

"See?! Like that!" Flora laughed.

Harry laughed sincerely. "I uh, well, I'm not a Seeker because I want the attention. I just like Seeking. And flying and playing Quidditch."

"Clearly," Nathan said dryly but his smile was warm. "You are extraordinarily humble for a Quidditch player on average, and especially for a Seeker."

"I guess it's how I got into the game. It was sort of an accident." He smiled at their looks of interest. "My first time I was on a broom, a friend fell and broke their wrist. They dropped their Remembrall and a bully tried to hide it on the roof. He chucked it far and I caught it out of a dive."

"That was your first time on a broom too?" Sam asked. "People with talent are disgusting."

"Hey, he works hard too," Tina said. "We've seen it."

"Not saying he doesn't but my point stands," Sam sniffed.

"Instead of getting expelled, Professor McGonagall had me join the Quidditch team and yeah, that's where it all started. I became really close with the team and I guess I love the game because I have really good memories being with them and everything."

"Glad you decided to play professionally. We'd be missing out if you didn't," Shelia said seriously.

"Did no one tell you that you're really good at it?" Flora asked gently.

"Well, the team sure but it was sort of like, older sib praising younger sib thing but more than that, they've always been incredibly supportive of me. It's not like I don't believe them, but that it was a source of comfort for me." He hesitated slightly. "Growing up, I didn't really have an environment like that, before going to Hogwarts."

The team looked at each other at that.

Harry hurriedly continued to stave off questions. "But my father was a good flier and a Chaser for his school team and I liked knowing I like flying and it's something we share. I guess I also have an aversion to attention and rumors and things because of, well you know." He tapped his scar.

"Oh that makes a lot of sense," Tina said. "You've probably gotten a lot of attention from that."

He smiled at the understatement. "Yeah. As I got into my later years, I was praised for school work and being a prefect and head boy. I guess I've always been confident in my flying and since Hogwarts is so isolated, I got used to the attention I got at school from it."

"Which means all the attention you're getting now is doing your head in a bit," Shelia said comfortingly, patting his arm.

"Just a little. Trying to get used to it. Don't get me wrong. Getting attention for flying and playing Quidditch is a lot better than the stuff with my scar and all that."

"I bet," Tanya said. She turned and glared at the four players once more. "So they took you out to celebrate your win, after you eating with your friends and our little celebration here."

"Yeah, we went to that nice bar close to the port itself."

"You took him to Willy's?!" Shelia said. "After a game?!"

"Harry deserved to see and meet his fans in person!" Sam said.

"He'd get mobbed by the crowd!" Tanya shouted.

"Which is what happened," Flora confessed meekly.

"Nate!" Tanya glared.

"It was fine when we first got there! Busy but not crowded!"

"It gets worse after ten!"

"I didn't know that! I'm never there after ten!"

"You're never anywhere after ten, you old man!" Tina shrieked when Nathan hit the towel she threw at him back at her with his Beater's bat.

"Oh Merlin, what did they do to you?" Shelia asked Harry.

"He got really drunk," Sam said.

"I thought it'd be rude to refuse the drinks they bought me," Harry said sheepishly.

"I have to say that your handwriting barely diminished the drunker you got," Benny remarked.

"It's kinda terrible no matter what so me being drunk doesn't change much," Harry laughed.

"How drunk did you get?" Nathan asked.

"Not drunk enough to sign the chests of a couple of well-endowed fans," Sam said, waggling his eyebrows.

Harry buried his face into his hands while the original four started to snicker, paling when Tanya shook her bat at them again. "Seriously?!" she shouted.

"What?! It's harmless fun!" Tina said.

"He has a girlfriend!" Shelia shouted.

"Oh bugger me!" Flora paled. "Uh, so, oh boy, me putting those knickers into your coat pockets was in super bad taste. I'm really sorry."

"Wait, you put them there?" Harry asked.

"What the fuck Flora!" Shelia and Tanya yelled.

"It was supposed to be funny and some fans wanted to give them to him themselves and I said I'd do it! Don't worry, I used a Cleaning Charm on them!"

"Oh thank God and Merlin," Harry groaned. "I thought I took them or accepted them somehow! That's a really big relief." He blinked a few times as the rest of the team laughed. "And kind of concerning. Do fans normally give you knickers?"

"Some do," Benny said. "I've a small collection now."

"You're a pig," Tina sighed.

"I thought you lot knew he had a girlfriend," Shelia said. "She's in France, training to be a Sports Healer."

"I swear I didn't know," Flora said, face red.

"Guess we forgot," Sam said and he and Benny winced. "Sorry, Harry."

"I'm just glad nothing happened," Harry said, still relieved.

"Well yeah, we weren't going to leave you to twist or get in irreparable trouble," Tina said. "When you looked you were about to pass out, we started a song-off and hustled you out. Took you back to the pitch to keep people from following and then took you home."

"So you've been embarrassed the last few days because you thought you did something bad that resulted with you having unknown knickers from a woman," Tanya said, sighing.

"Multiple women," Flora said.

"I didn't want to walk around and see someone and 'remember' something," Harry said weakly.

"Harry, I say this out of a deep sense of professionalism and genuine growing affection for you, but you're a bit of a cinnamon roll," Shelia said while the others hooted. "The idea that you would ever do something untoward to a woman that resulted in you having their knickers is hilarious and ludicrous."

"Almost as ludicrous as you punching a couple blokes unconscious?" Sam snarked.

"Punched and kicked and threw," Shelia said and shook a fist at him. "And I can do it to you despite a baby in my belly. I'm the Queen of Skye, know your place."

"Down woman," Tanya said and held her bat like a shield at Shelia's look. "Okay, no more taking Harry carousing without a proper adult present. I'm not having you lot ruin him after us training him up a bit, not to mention the fact that we genuinely like him."

"You do?" Harry asked, delighted.

"Duh?" Flora said.

"I know it doesn't seem like it but we didn't do that to hurt you," Sam said weakly. "We wanted to have fun with you and thought it'd be fun to see you let loose a bit. You're a bit proper. Not in a snobby Noble way, but just…appropriate."

"You make that sound like it's a bad thing," Nathan sighed.

"Old man," Tina hissed.

Harry's laughter drew their attention. "It's okay. I really like being on Portree and you all are really great. I was a little worried being the new player on the team and not really knowing anyone but I had a good feeling at try-outs and I'm glad it's still here. I do like playing with you and yeah. I'm just glad nothing happened."

"Well the feeling is mutual," Tanya said warmly. "That said, if the other idiots are being much, you let me know."

"I guess I'm not quite used to all the attention yet too," Harry said. "There were times at school when people pointed and whispered things when I was walking past. Then there was a spot of that after…well, when Voldemort was finally finished. Sorry," he said lamely when the majority of them flinched at the name. "A few people paid attention to me when I played those first few games as a sub but the other day when I went to Skye market after my debut game, I got swarmed by people and it was really strange and intimidating."

"That's part of a pro's life," Shelia said gently. "It's always the most intense after your debut and big games. People will always want to say something to you based on your performance, for good or for ill."

"Yep, people love to celebrate our highlights and mock us for our failures," Sam said. "Comes with the territory. That doesn't mean you should let the fans take all kinds of liberties of course."

"I had a bloke once mock me for letting so many balls in," Tina said. "I told him he must be angry that he has the opposite problem and no bird will let his balls pass."

"One time someone told me being a Beater was easy," Nathan chuckled. "I proved him wrong. Got a couple enchanted mock ups and a couple bats and kept at him until he was crying, begging me to stop."

"Some big fat bastard once got mad at me for catching the Snitch over his team," Shelia grinned. "I threw him over the counter and kept pouring beer on him until I was kicked out."

"They still won't let us into that bar in Wigtown," Benny laughed. "Which is fine with me 'cause their drinks are awful."

"One of the few times Tanya got kicked out. She's normally the reasonable one," Flora remarked.

"Hey, he touched my arse. I should be able to touch his," Tanya said.

"With your bat?" Flora asked.

"Well I wasn't going to use my hand," Tanya retorted and everyone laughed. "Point is, you're getting the good attention right now but it's okay to take it on your terms, Harry. How you respond to good and bad will be a major part of how you play and are seen in the League."

Harry nodded. "Makes sense. Some of that negative attention is rough though."

"Only some of the more memorable ones. The good moments are nice. I love telling girls they can be Beaters and Keepers," Tina smiled. "Seeing them smile and be happy knowing that."

"I once was told that it's clear I have a delicate skillful touch which then led to a very enjoyable exper-" Benny coughed when Tina threw a towel up and Nathan hit it, sending it flying into Benny's face.

"Thank you," Tanya said dryly. She looked over at a grinning Harry. "Harry, you've only been in the pro life for a bit more than a couple months now. You've done great in becoming part of the team, better than a lot of rookies we've seen. We know you don't go looking for the attention but it's going to come for you, so try to get comfortable as you can and we'll help however we can."

She glared once more at the four players. "Properly help you."

"Sorry again," Flora said with the other three echoing.

"It's okay. It was fun until I started getting really drunk," Harry smiled.

"Once I'm able, I'll take you out proper like," Shelia said.

"So that gives us what, eight more months to teach you how to duck," Tanya chuckled.

"Better teach him how to haul her back too," Nathan said seriously.

"I can be a mean drunk," Shelia said to a bemused Harry. "But the baby is great in mellowing me out."

"Thank goodness for that," Harry teased. "I can't imagine you being a tougher Seeker coach."

"Hey, he already feels comfortable teasing with us," Shelia said, throwing an arm around his shoulders.

"Hey, don't you have a picture of your girl in your locker?" Tanya asked. "Why don't you show these idiots so no more future mistakes can be made."

"I said I was sorry!" Flora exclaimed. She eagerly took the picture from Harry and she sighed at the way Katie hugged Harry, kissing him on the cheeks and she even recoiled slightly at the look picture Katie gave her. "Wow, she's a beauty, and she's learning how to be a Sports Healer?"

"Yup, she's the best," Harry said proudly. "She saved my life," he added in a soft whisper.

No one on the team missed the soft look he wore as he looked at the picture.

"Right, no more fans trying to be inappropriate with him," Nathan said.

"We can run interference, no problem," Tina said.

"And Benny can take the attention of any that are inappropriate.," Harry smiled.

"Thank you, Harry! I knew I liked you for a reason," Benny beamed and everyone laughed.

-0-

"Look at you, using us as shields," Hermione said, smiling broadly.

"Yeah, and?" Harry asked, grinning sheepishly.

"I don't mind, some people are really rude," Hermione sniffed. She and Harry watched as Alicia lectured a man in the middle of Diagon. He was much taller and broader than her but shrank under the deluge of her scolding. "I love watching Alicia verbally tear a person to bits."

"Me too," Harry chuckled.

He had gone to Diagon to spend the day with Hermione and Alicia and while some fans had been content to wave and say a kind word in passing, some had been quite insistent. The latest one thought he could push his way past Alicia and she was letting him know exactly how wrong he was in that thought.

"That's right, you better run!" she yelled as he finally gave in and ran. "I see you around I'll stick your hands to your arse and then my fiancé will toss you through a hoop! And no, it's not Harry Potter you rumor mongering shites!" She made a rude gesture as he ran and watchers laughed and applauded.

"Thank you Alicia," Harry said warmly.

Alicia huffed and slipped her arm through his. "The nerve of that fat bastard," she swore, ignoring Hermione's cough. "Interrupting my baby bird time." She rolled her eyes at Hermione's second cough. "And friend and former protégé time."

"Would Oliver really throw him through a hoop?" Hermione asked.

"Oh yes and if he was especially peeved, he'd throw him not the open part of the hoop."

"He's gotten stronger," Harry said. "When I saw him chuck a Quaffle that one game, I was really impressed. A lot harder and farther than while at school. He's gotten stronger." He bumped Alicia's shoulder with his. "What do you say?"

"I say you're in dangerous waters baby bird," Alicia said with faintly rosy cheeks but laughed when the other two did.

"E-Excuse me?"

The trio stopped and turned slightly. A small girl had walked up to them but stood a bit away, hands knotted nervously. "I-I'm sorry to bother you," she said, voice trembling slightly.

Harry knelt down until he was eye-to-eye with her. "You're not bothering me and I don't think you're bothering my friends either."

"Certainly not," Alicia smiled.

"Not me," Hermione smiled too.

"How can we help you?" Harry asked gently.

"A-Are you Harry Potter?"

His smile was warm, much warmer than when people asked him that in the past. "That's me."

The girl clapped happily. "I wanted to congratulate you on your debut game! I was at the game and you looked so cool catching the Snitch!"

Hermione and Alicia hid smiles as they watched Harry blush. Harry smiled at the girl. "Thank you! I was very happy with that catch. It was being tricky and doubled back on itself."

"That's why you turned when you rolled right? So you wouldn't fall off?"

His smile widened. "Exactly!"

"That's what my Daddy said you did!" She turned red, stammering and unsure what else to say.

Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of parchment and tapped it with his wand. It grew into a photograph of him and the girl clapped with glee. "Would you like an autograph?"

"Can I?! Yes please!"

"What's your name?"

"Amy."

Harry unshrunk a quill and signed it. "Here you are."

"Thank you!" She clutched the photo to her chest, hugging it tight. "Do…do you think I can be a Seeker like you? My brother says girls can't be Seekers."

"Well he's wrong," Harry said firmly. "My mentor on the team is a very talented and hard-working woman and a Seeker. Some of the best players I have ever played with were women too." He tipped his head at Alicia who smiled broadly back at him. "As long as you work hard and try your best, you can do all sorts of things. I learned that from other women too." He nodded at Hermione who beamed.

Amy's eyes sparkled. "Thank you!" She looked incredibly shy. "May I hug you?"

Harry blushed but nodded and patted her back when she hugged him enthusiastically. By then, Amy's parents came forward and apologized but he waved the apology away, saying he had not been bothered in the least. He waved goodbye to them and turned back to his waiting friends. "Sorry about that," he said weakly.

"Don't be, that was adorable," Alicia said.

"That was really good of you," Hermione praised. "She's going to remember this forever and be happy whenever she thinks of it."

"Good," he said softly. "I'm glad I can do that for people, bring them a little happiness like that. Especially kids."

"I know you normally don't love attention, which makes it sweeter when you are like that to fans. Especially the younger ones," Alicia said.

"Doesn't take much at all to be kind, especially to children," he half-whispered. He smiled when Alicia looped his arm through hers and when Hermione slipped an arm around his waist. He rested his arm around her shoulders and sighed happily.

"If only certain unsavory people we know of see you now, having pictures of yourself on your person," Alicia teased.

Harry laughed. "Captain Tanya said I should have a couple on me just in case. That way I'm not searching for bits of parchment and I'm not asked to sign…other things."

"Other things? Like what?" Hermione asked.

"Oh Merlin, did someone try to get you to sign their chest?" Alicia asked flatly.

"No, women don't do that, do they?" Hermione protested, scandalized.

"Some do, and not just women. Oliver has told me that more than a few have tried to get him to sign their chests, among other parts of their body," Alicia scowled.

"What does he do?!" Hermione asked, shocked.

"He politely and firmly refuses. Now he can say that if he signs anything inappropriate, his fiancée will remove said signature personally." Her eyes flashed. "And I will, without numbing the area first."

"Harry, you didn't!" Hermione exclaimed.

"I'm pretty sure I didn't! I was really drunk. Some of the team took me out after dinner that night of my debut game. I was told that I was asked but I refused, thank goodness." Harry shook his head.

"Were you slipped unmentionables?" Alicia asked.

"No!" Hermione nearly shrieked, deeply appalled.

"Flora put some in my pockets," Harry sighed. "This was before she knew I was in a relationship. She apologized and actually wrote Katie a letter. That was nice of her really."

"Do I need to have a conversation with your teammates?" Alicia asked, eyes narrowed.

"Captain and Shelia already read them the act," Harry said with obvious relief. "They aren't bad, just us still getting a feel for one another."

Hermione was giggling so hard she almost tripped, holding on to Harry and using him to keep herself balanced. "I can only imagine the horror on your face when you found them."

"When they explained how I got them, I was so relieved," Harry laughed. "I also begged them to get rid of them for me because I had no idea what to do with them."

"Poor innocent baby bird," Alicia said, patting his stomach.

"Things they don't tell you about being a professional Quidditch player," Harry snorted.

-0-0-0-

Arenie1701 - Poorly, I'd imagine.

alix33 - I'm generally not a fan of horror either but thought it would be fun to do a callback to Freddy and Jason.

DGJabberwocky - Please do not tell me or ask for specific things. I have asked people to stop doing that. I feel like it diminishes what I have written and people don't care what I do write. Thank you.