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

Extended Family

Chapter 72 – If you can Dodge a Wand…

Takes place after chapter 56

Hedwig came swooping through the window, carrying a package in her talons. She did a circuit around the room before landing neatly on the coffee table. Hopping primly off the package, she hooted until Katie walked into the room.

"Hi Hedwig," Katie said. "Oh, that's a large package." She rubbed Hedwig's belly and unstuck the parchment note stuck to the paper. "Harry! It's from Professor McGonagall."

"I wonder what she sent," Harry said, wiping his hands on a towel as he walked in. "Normally she waits for me to come for a weekly visit to hand me something." He raised an eyebrow when Katie stood behind him. "What?"

"Just hiding behind you in case it's her revenge for the cat toy," Katie said, half-serious. Hedwig came fluttering over and Katie held the owl in her arms and they both peeked out from behind Harry.

"I'm, mostly, sure that this wouldn't be that. She'd rather do it in person." Saying that, Harry carefully opened the package and held his wand ready. When he opened the box and saw the object inside, he relaxed and chuckled. His chuckles became louder when he read the note within.

"What is it?" Katie asked.

"Remember what sent McGonaMum to the hospital in the first place? Well, here it is. Apparently she confiscated it from Professor Flitwick when he was messing with it again today. Sent it to me for safekeeping."

Katie giggled and let go of Hedwig, picking up the glass ball. It was large, not quite the size of a Quaffle, and heavy and cool to the touch. "It looks and feels a lot like the light orb."

"Probably similar in make. It holds spells and releases them on physical contact."

"Must suck getting hit with this," Katie said. She tapped it with her wand and it glowed brightly. "That's really nice." She tapped it again and it shimmered with blue light. When she touched it with her hand she yelped and the blue light disappeared.

"Shocking Jinx?"

"Yeah. Just wanted to see it work. That's funny. Poor Professor Flitwick." She gave Harry a look.

"Not in here," Harry laughed. "I'll ask Sirius if we can use one of the practice rooms at Grimmauld tomorrow. Better make sure MumAndi is there too."

"Think I can't take what you dish out," Katie asked, eyes sparkling.

"No, I'm worried about me," Harry grinned. "You're terribly competitive."

"And don't you forget it," she smiled and kissed him.

-0-

Sirius hefted the ball. "Huh, I've never heard of that game but it sounds like fun."

"I'm surprised Filius was playing with it once more," Andromeda smiled. "I would think he would be more shy once Minerva returned."

"Well she always was quick to take away toys," Sirius chuckled.

When asked, he had eagerly given permission and wanted to watch as well as play too possibly. Katie and Harry arrived at Grimmauld and they went into one of the warded practice rooms in the basement. Andromeda had arrived soon after and she settled comfortably in a chair against the wall, accepting a cup of tea from Kreacher.

"Well go on then, let's see it in action," Sirius smiled as he sat beside Andromeda.

"No hard feelings, love," Katie smiled, her expression equal parts loving and hungry.

"Ladies first," Harry said easily.

The ball floated at a command and Katie cast a spell into it and banished it right at Harry. Harry stopped it with an Impediment Jinx, dispelled the Shocking Jinx that Katie cast, and threw it back at Katie after casting a stinger into it.

Katie flicked her wand and drew a circle around her. The ball, following her magic, flew around her and Katie layered a second stinger on top of the first one and flicked her wand hard, sending the ball at Harry with greater speed and force.

Harry's shield charm stopped the ball and it flexed, absorbing the two stingers. Harry cast a spell into the ball that made it look like something within swirled and he threw his wand arm back and then forward before flicking it right.

The ball flew up and then down, hurtling towards Katie. However, it zipped past her and her shield spell, ricocheting off the wall and bouncing back towards her from the side. She narrowly dodged to the side but shrieked when Harry's spell went off as it passed her, drenching her in water.

Katie shook her head, water going every which way while Andromeda and Sirius applauded. "Dang! I didn't know it could shoot spells out like that!"

Harry walked over and dried her off, streaming warm air from his wand. "I guessed that some spells could and that worked surprisingly."

She spread her hair out to dry in the air and smiled at him. "That was a nice little trick with the directions."

"Gosh, that looks like fun," Sirius said. "Mind if I give it a go?"

"Sure, who would you like to go against?" Harry asked.

"I want to play again," Katie said. "Do you mind?"

"Not at all," Sirius grinned. "Don't worry about her, Harry."

"I'm not worried about her at all," Harry grinned back. "I'm more worried about you." He sat beside Andromeda.

Andromeda chuckled. "Oh, he's about to get it. She looks very hungry."

"Katie's really competitive, always was and it made her such a good Chaser." He sighed softly at the look in Katie's eye as she rolled her wrist. "But she looks extra competitive right now."

"I wonder why," Andromeda murmured.

"When you're ready," Sirius said, bowing with a flourish.

Without saying anything, Katie cast two spells into the orb and threw it at Sirius as hard as she ever threw a Quaffle. It screamed as it flew at him and his eyes widened, caught off guard by the scream and the speed. He cast a shield spell and the ball impacted the shield hard, stopping in mid flight. Sirius' eyes widened even more, at the impact and at Katie's grin.

His lips peeled back and wiped the ball clean. He cast his own spell into it and spun the ball until it was spinning rapidly and then threw it back at Katie. It careened around the space, flying erratically but towards Katie.

She bounced on the balls of her feet, watching the missile come in and dodged neatly to the side. She cast another spell into the ball and threw it hard at an angle. The ball bounced off the wall and flew right at Sirius before it burst into brilliant light.

Sirius dove, shielding his eyes and just barely managed to avoid being hit by the ball. He rolled on the ground, coming up to his feet and surrounded the ball with shadows. He flicked it at Katie and just like a moment before when the light burst from the ball, the shadows exploded and the space around Katie was plunged into darkness.

Harry stood up, concerned when the ball flew into the darkness but nothing came out, not even a sound. Sirius relaxed slightly, looking quizzical. The ball came rocketing out of the darkness and he had to dive once more and it impacted solidly into the wall behind him. By then, Katie dispelled the shadows and looked perfectly fine, though disappointed that she did not hit Sirius with the ball.

"Good job!" Sirius panted. "How'd you avoid getting hit?"

"I guessed where it would be and did a Bouncing Charm in front of me," Katie said, also breathing hard. "That shadow thing was a real trick."

"One of my favorites," Sirius said. "Shadow Charm with an Expansion Charm. I'll teach it to you." He groaned a little, stretching his shoulder.

"Well done," Andromeda said, saluting Katie with her teacup. "Sirius was always a good duelist and could have gone on to be an Auror or a Hit Wizard. Good to see his skills have not languished in his more sedentary lifestyle."

The ball whipped through the air and passed beside Andromeda, hitting the wall beside her.

"Oops," Sirius said insincerely. "Guess some things have languished a bit since I'm sedent apparently."

Andromeda set the teacup down and stood. She flicked her wand at her hair and it coiled into a tight bun and she took off her outer robes, tossing it to one side. "Is that how you want to act, Sirius?"

Sirius threw his outer robe off and his legs spread in a wide stance with him balancing on the balls of his feet. "Bring it, Dromey."

Andromeda hissed. "Alright, Siri."

Katie scrambled out of the way. "Oh boy, this will be goooood," she said, rubbing her hands together.

Harry smiled and sat with her. "I don't think I've ever seen MumAndi go all out."

"Mum has and she says it's scary as hell."

"Why were you so eager to duel with Sirius by the way?"

"Oh well, let's just say I suddenly remembered how he ran off that Christmas holiday and really wanted to pay him back."

Harry sighed and hugged her. "I love you."

"Love you more," she said. "Oh wow look at them go!"

Andromeda had summoned the ball to her and cast two spells into it before throwing it at Sirius. The ball shattered Sirius' shield and he ducked, avoiding being hit by it. He stopped it, cast two spells on top of the one remaining and threw it back at Andromeda. The ball burst into flames as it rocketed towards her.

Unperturbed, she cast the Water Charm, putting out the fire and slowing its speed as she shot water at it. Her eyes widened as the second spell went off, turning her water into ice and the ball pushed its way through the ice towards her. She did a complicated hand motion, one that Harry recognized, and the ice surrounding the ball turned back into water before becoming stone. She then shot the ball back at Sirius.

Sirius conjured a Beater's bat from the air and with a two-handed grip, struck the stone ball solidly and sent it flying back. Andromeda pulled one of the empty chairs towards her and transfigured it into a large and heavy bat and hit the ball with it, directing it with her wand. It became a Beater Duel, with the witch and wizard hitting the stone ball back and forth, grunting with exertion.

On the latest return, Sirius transfigured the bat into a metal one and when he hit the stone ball when it came back to him, the bat bent around the ball and the stone became metal. He spun his wand and the ball spun too and with a grunt, he blasted the ball with a wind spell and it flew at Andromeda.

The witch turned the bat into a net and it just barely caught the ball, a snapping noise could be heard as the netting began to break. Andromeda tapped the ball and the net and the whole thing shrank until suddenly there were three smaller metal balls and Andromeda flicked her wand three times, shooting them back at Sirius.

He whipped his arm three times and blasts of red light came out of his wand. Two of the blasts hit balls and they disappeared but the third blast missed. The third ball grew in size, back into the original glass ball shape, and impacted him directly in the stomach. He fell back, knocked over and he landed heavily. He groaned and held his hands up, letting his wand dangle from between his middle and ring finger. "I give," he gasped.

Harry and Katie whooped and applauded before running to Sirius. "Are you okay?" Harry asked.

"I'm fine, just got the wind knocked out of me," Sirius grunted. He smiled up at Andromeda when she walked over. "Damn, I forgot you used to do that duplicating thing."

Andromeda's cheeks were flushed and she looked pleased but not smug. "I am wrong, you have not languished much at all. Applying a freezing charm to be cast when it touches water, classic Sirius trickery."

Sirius sighed with relief when Katie applied a pain relief charm to his abdomen. "I sure am lucky. A medic, a sports healer, and a healer here. Thanks, Katie. That feels great."

"That was incredible," Harry said to them.

"That was quite enjoyable," Andromeda smiled. "It is like a traditional duel but you have to worry about other factors."

"Yeah and it's good practice," Sirius said. "Definitely want some others watching in case something happens."

"Like antagonizing someone into an intense duel?" Harry asked dryly.

"Yeah, exactly," Sirius laughed.

"Oh boy, can you imagine our friends doing this?" Katie asked, her smile broad as she imagined the possibilities.

"Why imagine when we can see it," Harry replied, his smile equally broad and mischievous.

"By all means, invite them over this week and let's see what happens," Sirius said eagerly.

-0-

"This is very entertaining," Alicia smiled as she watched George flop on the ground, his legs petrified.

"I think there should be a rule about casting a spell at a person and hitting them with it," George said as Andromeda undid the spell on him. "That all offensive spells have to be delivered through the orb. Thanks Mrs. Tonks by the way."

"Whatever Georgie, I beat you fair and square," Fred said smugly.

"Not saying you didn't! Just saying I think it would be more sporting if you couldn't cast on the person too. No problem with changing the field but nothing direct."

"It does defeat the purpose if you can hex the person and the ball," Samantha said.

"Anyone else want to go against me?" Fred asked, striking a dramatic pose. "So far, I'm the reigning champion."

Alicia got up. "Oh this has been a long time coming. I've been meaning to get you back for charming the door and splattering me with paint that day years ago."

"Bring it, Leesha," Fred said."

"Oh I'm going to kill Oliver for telling you that nickname," Alicia said angrily. "After I kill you."

"As long as it's only done through the ball," Fred said snootily.

"He sounds rather confident," Andromeda chuckled.

"He grew a pair because he's on a winning streak," Angelina growled. "Put him down Alicia!"

Fred sent the ball to Alicia. "Ladies first."

"In that case, you should go first," Alicia said and sent the ball back at him.

With narrowed eyes, he accepted the ball back and cast his spell into it. Then he dropped it to the ground and kicked it hard, sending it straight to Alicia. She hopped daintily over it, stopping it with a flick of her wand. Taking the spell out of it, she cast her own spell into it and hit it back, miming hitting it with a croquet mallet and the ball arced into the air.

Fred bounced the ball up and down on the floor, his eyes widening as the mat beneath him cracked from the Bludgeoning Hex that Alicia cast into ball went off. He incanted quickly and cast the ball back at her. It flew erratically and she had to duck to avoid it. As it passed closed to her, the ball emitted a loud rude noise and a terrible smell spilled forth, making her gag from outrage and disgust.

"Oh gross!" Katie shouted while Samantha and Andromeda dissolved laughing.

Holding her free arm over her nose, Alicia blew the smell away with a wind blast charm and focused the blast behind the ball. The ball shot forward as if fired from a cannon and it careened around Fred, bouncing off the walls, floor, and ceiling. He danced around, barely dodging it and he filled it with a fireworks spell, making it shoot towards Alicia trailing colored lights and making a sinister weeeee sound.

Alicia made a ball of water and caught the orb, the firework spell fizzling out. Reaching into her pocket, she poured the contents of a potion over the water and made a complicated gesture with her wand. The water disappeared into the orb with a loud sucking sound and the insides bubbled a bit. Alicia then whirled around, spinning the ball in a wide arc and let it go with a yell.

Fred dove out of the way and jumped up to receive the rebound. However, Alicia made a new gesture and the liquid within the ball exploded out, half gas and half liquid. Fred caught a face full and slowed before the ball kept coming and hit him squarely in the face, knocking him over.

"Did…did you kill him?" Harry gasped.

"Yeah! Suck on that Freddy!" George yelled and made a rude hand gesture.

Samantha walked up to Fred and snorted when Fred started to snore. "Aside from some bruising to his face, he looks okay. Didn't even break his nose. What did you do?"

"Quick action sleeping potion poured in and then agitated to become a gas," Alicia said smugly. "Wasn't sure it would work but glad it did."

"I have seen several games of this and it is astounding what people come up with," Andromeda said, applauding Alicia. "It is very fun. Thank you for introducing it to us, dear."

Harry smiled. "Thank Professor Flitwick."

"I will have to ask him where he got it. Dora was asking about it after she and Sirius and I had a few bouts last night."

"Ooh, how'd that go? I bet Tonks is a force to reckon with," Angelina said.

"Did you notice how Sirius looked a bit jaundiced earlier? His liver is fine. That was a paint charm that Dora did not undo yet." Andromeda laughed with them. "She beat me once but I got her twice. So far, I am in the lead in the family."

"You and Harry haven't dueled," Katie said, grinning slyly.

"You want me to hurt MumAndi?!" Harry gasped and hugged Andromeda tightly. "Never!"

"I'd never do anything to you my darling boy," Andromeda said stoutly and hugged him back even harder. "Sammi, punish your daughter for trying to turn my son against me."

Katie yelped, jumping from the stinger Samantha shot at her. "Mum!"

"You deserve it for trying to hurt Harry," Samantha sniffed. "Don't worry Harry, I won't let her hurt you."

"Thanks SamaMum," Harry said, grinning broadly.

"I don't believe this!" Katie shouted indignantly.

"I do," Angelina laughed.

Fred yawned and sat up. He touched his face and winced a little. "Dang, guess I lost," he laughed. "George, we have got to get in on this. Imagine the sales!"

"Just what we need at St Mungo's," Samantha snorted. "An increase in spell damage from this."

"We'd have to make a ward dedicated to this game," Andromeda laughed.

-0-0-0-

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Poor Harry, forever doomed to upset someone when being awesome at Quidditch or just being himself. Glad you liked the chapters. I worked really hard on them and wanted them to feel like proper Family style chapters with a lot of history and feeling.

triblood - A lot of the chapters are at that point already. The World Cup chapters, Favorite food, and Potterluck roughly are.

1529 - I hope to do so one day.

alix33 - I knew the drinking from the cup tradition had to come back.

Guest - It felt really nice to bring the cup tradition back and letting Dahlia watch. And of course the others would try the stunt of broom surfing.

TheReader81 - Thank you, glad you did. They were a lot of work but think they came out great.

Urgwaew - I had a good laugh at the allegedly joke myself, glad it went well. Even if I ever did get something done officially, I don't think I'd stray too far away from here. I do enjoy writing for this story and others and have a couple ideas percolating away. I do hope to start my next project soon. Thank you for the kind words and care. I am making my way through the days and hope you are doing well. All the best to you.