I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Extended Family
Chapter 98 – Hidden Strength
Takes place after chapter 78
Gaelin Gates had been the Warden of the Cells at the Ministry for a long time.
A veteran Auror that served for many years, he took the job to be responsible for those being held in detention in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement seriously. He treated all detainees with a cool professionalism. For the most part, he ignored their crimes. Minor or severe, alleged or convicted, he remained calm with the vast majority of them. Granted, if the crimes were heinous and they were something like the Death Eaters, he relished keeping them under lock and spell and key, looking forward to their punishment.
His reputation preceded him and he was able to stare down potential criminals, solicitors, family members, and Ministry officials with equal detached professionalism. He had weathered threats from all sources and he barely let any bother him or intimidate him. He knew his duty and performed it to the letter.
A knock on the door made him look up. Typically, everyone had to make appointments to see a detainee. There were none scheduled, but this had been an odd day already. "Come in," he said. He looked at the solicitor that walked in with a raised eyebrow. He was familiar with him despite the solicitor not doing many criminal cases.
What he was unfamiliar with, was the look the solicitor wore. It made him pause. He cleared his throat. "Mr. Tonks."
"Warden Gates," Ted returned. His voice was calm, but just barely. "I would like to see my client."
"I was unaware that you were his solicitor," Gates said slowly. "I am under orders that-"
"I was not asking," Ted said, interrupting him.
Gates' eyebrows rose even higher. Ted had never interrupted him before. He opened his mouth but Ted continued.
"I know my client's rights and you know their rights. He will not be denied legal representation and you will not keep me from seeing him. You can either show me where he is and I will see him without delay, or you can stick to orders that I do not find legal and I will burn everything and everyone related to this mess to the ground and keep the ashes to remind everyone what happens when I am denied. Your choice." Ted stared cooly at Gates.
"Follow me," Gates said, rising smoothly from the desk and walking into the hallway. Gates did know how rights worked. He also had a fair idea of what was right and wrong and this situation had pushed his limits somewhat. He would do his duty, as he always had. He also knew when to not go beyond his duty.
The odd day was getting odder and he wanted to be clear of what was coming.
-0-
"Harry, thank goodness," Ted sighed when he walked into the cell. "How are you?"
Harry looked up, showing naked relief. "I'm okay, despite the circumstances. How did you know I was here?"
"Your coach contacted me, after you didn't get back to the Port and when others at Skye Market said you were ambushed by a couple of Aurors." Ted looked perplexed. "I also received a strange message from someone I never thought would contact me about the trial this afternoon, but just as well that I did. I ran over as soon as I could. Do you remember the Aurors that brought you in?"
"I can recognize them if I saw them again, but don't know them at all," Harry said.
"Did they mistreat you?"
"They weren't polite but didn't cast any spells on me. They grabbed me, told me that I was being arrested for what happened yesterday, slapped manacles on me and dragged me in." Harry shook his head. "Why am I being arrested for that?!"
"Because someone is trying to get some revenge for something tangentially related," Ted hissed. "I think you were set up."
"I thought that was weird," Harry growled. "And I'm being tried this afternoon? They wouldn't let me get in touch with you."
"Exactly, they're trying to ram it through the system and keep you at a disadvantage. Luckily, I'm here to prevent it. Don't worry lad, you're not going to get in trouble for this and once I'm through with them, they're going to wish this never happened."
Harry smiled gratefully. "Thanks Uncle Ted. I'm not worried now that you're here."
-0-
"I must protest this," Dumbledore said severely. "This is highly irregular."
Thaddeus Nott gave him an ugly look. "Protest all you like. As Chief Warlock, your protests cannot stop the law from finding justice and I find it irregular that you would try to prevent due process from occurring. Should you not be still at Hogwarts?"
"When I am told my services are necessary to oversee a trial involving the Wizengamot, I deemed it necessary to be here," Dumbledore returned.
"Your services were not requested," Nott said with an insincere smile. "The message said as much."
"Which made me question it all the more. I have read the circumstances and am confused as to why it is not the entire Wizengamot present and that the Chief Warlock is not required to attend. This case should be overseen by the Judicial branch of the DMLE, or the Director at most."
"There might be conflicts of interest," Nott replied oily. "Now that you are here, you may oversee if you wish. We have the minimum members necessary to cast judgement. No need for others to be involved. I want this breach of justice solved in short order."
The door to the trial room banged open and Sirius came walking in. "You!" he shouted, pointing at Nott. "You fucking bitch!"
"You will address me properly in here!" Nott shouted back.
"Fine! You fucking Lord Bitch!" Sirius walked up to Nott and leaned in dangerously close, their noses almost touching. "I got you now. You thought you could slip this past me?!"
"He should not be here," Nott said, addressing Dumbledore.
"Why? Conflict of interest? If so, then you should not be present either," Dumbledore said severely. "You cannot use the rules to exclude others and spare yourself the consequences as well. As members of the Wizengamot, you all took an Oath to make decisions without bias. Surely you do not think you will be making any biased decisions before the case is heard?" Dumbledore smiled blandly at Nott's discomfort.
"Fine, it will not matter. I am sure you will make the right decision once the facts are laid bare," Nott sniffed.
"Oh I will," Sirius growled, "and that won't be the only thing laid bare."
Nott sniffed but took a few hasty steps away, eager to put space between himself and Sirius. He scowled when he saw other members of the Wizengamot enter, looking angry as he approached his seat.
"Calm yourself," Dumbledore said softly.
"You know what's going on and you want me to be calm?!"
"I do and Nott has already lost all his advantages. His case is tenuous at best and your presence and the ones you alerted and brought with you no longer makes this a farce. You losing your temper will not do you, nor Harry, any favors."
Sirius growled once more and turned away.
-0-
"Hermione!"
Hermione returned Daphne's shaky embrace. "It hasn't started yet, right?"
"No, it has not. Did you get everything?"
Hermione sat beside Daphne. The two women were sitting in the waiting area outside of the courtroom. "I did. Got all the records and got them to Ted. He'll fix this. Criminal justice isn't his specialty but he's a really good solicitor."
Daphne chewed on her thumbnail. "I worry still. This smacks of subterfuge."
"Agreed." Hermione's hands shook from anger and nerves. "Sirius is in there though. So is Andromeda and Amelia, though she isn't there in her capacity as Director. And I saw Madame Longbottom and some others that came with Sirius."
Daphne released a breath. "Good. Besides, this is Harry, right? He usually comes through despite the odds."
"After all he's gone through, this will be nothing," Hermione said, her voice filled with forced lightness.
-0-
Harry blinked as he was led into the courtroom. Rings of seats surrounded the central floor, members of the Wizengamot sat in them and stared at the people beneath them. The room was cold, colored in greys and dark blue. He knew if he were alone, it would be terrifying. Thankfully he was not alone. Ted was with him and he saw Sirius and Andromeda and Amelia in the seats close to where he was being led to. Dumbledore stood at a plinth in the center and he radiated a calmness that Harry appreciated.
It was still incredibly intimidating.
He sat in a wooden chair off to one side and tried to remain calm, staring up at the Wizengamot. Harry looked to the side and saw two people sitting in chairs on the opposite side of the space in the middle. He did not recognize one of them but the other he did and he glared at him.
"Do you not see the naked hostility?" the man Harry did not recognize said loudly. "Clear as day!"
"And who are you?" Ted asked sharply.
"I'm Mr. Darius Nott's solicitor, Royal Alder," the man sniffed. "And you are?"
"Edward Tonks," Ted replied blandly. He looked up at Dumbledore and the assembled Wizengamot. "Are we skipping protocol and going straight into conjecture and accusatory statements, not to mention badgering? I ask so I know how to respond accordingly."
A chuckle ran through the Wizengamot and Dumbledore smiled. "Not at all Mister Tonks. In the interests of fairness, I will allow you an accusatory statement at any point during this trial."
"Thank you," Ted said, nodding slightly.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "We have convened to oversee a trial. Darius Nott has accused Harry Potter of assault and has demanded justice."
"Darius Nott, related to Thaddeus Nott then?" Ted asked.
"Lord Nott is my uncle and head of the House of Nott," Darius sneered.
Ted shook his head. "No wonder this has gone before the Wizengamot. Normally a trial of this little significance would be handled by the lower courts."
"Little significance?!" Alder threw his hands in the air. "A member of an Ancient and Noble family was assaulted and injured and you consider it of little significance?"
"He looks remarkably hale and hearty from here," Ted said sardonically. "Surely not all the injuries were internal and indiscernible to the naked eye?"
"I have here reports from a healer detailing the injuries and the extensive pain Darius has suffered," Alder said, throwing a sheaf of parchment at Ted and passing another sheaf respectfully up to Dumbledore and the Wizengamot. Moments passed while people read the reports.
"Well then, I must amend my statement," Ted said sarcastically. "Mr. Nott is lucky to be alive, much less recovered enough to be walking. Curious that he is up and about only a day after this…allegedly deadly attack." He focused on the end of the report. "And left stunned no less. Curious."
"I heal fast," Darius said with a superior look. "I am a professional Duelist after all."
"Oh yes, that is clear. You are such a professional duelist, that you ended up at St Mungo's with a substantial list of injuries and Mr. Potter here seemed to have escaped without a scratch," Ted said, a look of insincere surprise on his face. Chuckles and snorts rained down from the Wizengamot and Darius and Nott seethed, faces turning red.
"I was ambushed," Darius snarled.
"Were you now? Even more curious then, considering how official Auror reports detailing the incident yesterday showed that to not be the case." Ted passed reports around. "It appears that you were the instigator of the conflict, verified by many witnesses. It says here that you accosted Mr. Potter while he was out in Diagon Alley with family. And that the incident ended with no injuries to either party, physical ones anyways."
"He ambushed me after," Darius said easily. "After the Aurors left. I was attacked in a side street, injured and stunned. There should be reports by another Auror showing my statement after I came to."
"Would there be any witnesses that would be willing to testify to that?" Ted asked. "Under oath?"
"That will not be necessary," Alder said. "There are signed reports of accuracy from the reporting Auror and the treating Healer."
"I know that I am somewhat unfamiliar with criminal cases in court, but I think that having witnesses is quite necessary. But if there are not any that are willing to testify under oath, then viewing the memories from either Mr. Nott or Mr. Potter or even veritaserum would put the issue to rest," Ted said to more snickering.
"Your inexperience shows," Alder crowed. "Viewing memories and using veritaserum in minor cases of assault such as this are not protocol and will not be entertained, especially to members of Ancient and Noble Houses."
"Minor case of assault? So the case is no longer of significance?" Ted imitated Alder's gesture of throwing his hands into the air and more laughter could be heard from the watchers. "Mr. Potter is not from a Noble House, is he bound by the same set of standards?" Ted asked, growing irritated.
"Alas, since he appears to be a Peer of the Blacks, who are an Ancient and Noble House, he is," Alder simpered.
Sirius stood. "Harry Potter is a Peer of the Blacks and you will show him the respect he has earned and is due! And as Head of the Blacks, I give permission for a memory to be viewed and veritaserum to be administered as long as Mr. Potter acquiesces!"
"Both parties must acquiesce and I will not give permission to subject Darius to such indignity," Nott replied swiftly. "His word should be enough."
Ted leaned close to Harry while the Wizengamot erupted into arguing. "He's trying to turn this into a he said/he said thing and it's going to devolve into stupidity. I think I know what they're going for though. I know he's a professional duelist, but you think you can take him?"
"In a duel? Here?!" Harry whispered back, surprised.
Ted nodded.
Harry looked over and seeing Darius sneer at him, seeing Nott glare at him, filled him with conviction. "I can take him."
"Good. Two things: use all your skills, especially the transfiguration ones and make a show of it. But end it with a stun. Trust me on that."
"I trust you," Harry said firmly.
Ted clapped him on the shoulder and straightened. "Then I would like to suggest a proposal," Ted said clearly and the arguing faded. "Seeing how this started, allegedly, with a duel, it seems to me that we should see how it happened. I propose Ludicium per Duellum."
"Accepted!" Darius shouted while the Wizengamot roared.
"Order!" Dumbledore banged his gavel and the crowd quieted. He looked gravely at Darius and Harry. "Mr. Potter, do you accept?"
Harry stood and nodded. "Yes Sir."
Dumbledore looked at him for a long moment and looked at Ted. At Ted's nod, Dumbledore looked resigned. "Very well. As accepted by both parties, it is accepted here. Be warned however, if any dark spells are cast or if you try to kill the other, I will put a stop to it and the consequences will be utterly dire."
Aurors filed into the room as well as a Medi-Magical. Runes were activated and the central floor was surrounded by wards to protect the watchers. Ted stood at one end behind Harry and looked on, heart beating swiftly. He turned and gave a reassuring nod to Sirius and Andromeda.
"I don't like this," Sirius growled.
"Ted knows what he is doing," Andromeda whispered back. If looks could Curse, Thaddeus Nott, Alder, and Darius would be smoking craters. "We must trust him and Harry."
"I do," Sirius muttered. "Get him, Harry, fuck him up."
"Duelists, report ready," Dumbledore said.
"Ready," Darius drawled, a cruel smile on his lips. He was a lip twitch away from salivating, like a wild dog that scented prey.
"Ready," Harry said quietly. His heart thumped at the cadence it did when it came to games, steady but swift. He looked over at Darius and he remembered how the man had approached him and Katie and Dahlia and Iris, how his words had bothered his family. Remembering, his heart beat faster and he felt his anger grow.
"Then, begin," Dumbledore said and activated the protective wards.
Darius flicked his wand up and incanted swiftly. Fire grew at his wand tip and he grinned savagely as he threw a large burning symbol at Harry. His movements were swift and economical with professional grace. He was fast.
Harry was faster.
As Darius started his incantation, Harry flicked his wand at the desk beside him and the pages of parchment that lay on top flew to him, fluttering and flapping. He spoke swiftly and traced several complicated shapes. The pieces of parchment elongated and went perpendicular to the ground. They crackled and the parchment transfigured into sheets of metal. They spun in place and formed overlapping shields in front of Harry, floating but solid.
The symbol struck and the pieces of metal shook from the impact but they did not bend nor break. The fire splashed harmlessly and Darius' eyes opened wide as he saw the layers of metal shields in front of Harry.
Harry twisted his wrist, drawing a small circle and ending it in a point. The sheets of metal became pointed spikes and at another gesture, expanded into a cloud of spikes, pointing menacingly at Darius. Harry flicked his hand again and again and with each flick, a spike flew towards Darius.
The man dove and rolled, dodging the spikes. He hastily slashed his wand back and forth, knocking spikes away and off target. He gasped as he saw the spikes sink into the stones with little effort.
"Foul!" Nott cried. "He is clearly trying to kill him!"
"Darius started with a Burning Brand spell," Dumbledore retorted. "No foul committed."
"Depulso!" Darius roared and threw his arm forward. The spikes flew into the air and were banished back at Harry. "Ventus!" He summoned a blast of wind to push the spikes even faster.
Harry dove and summoned the desk in mid jump. He traced the spell again with his wand and as the desk flew to him, the wood became metal and skidded to a stop in front of where he landed. The spikes rattled off the impromptu shield, clattering like hail off a roof. As soon as the last spike bounced away, Harry muttered a string of spells and tapped the desk with his wand.
The desk crumpled into itself, the metal creaking and shrieking as it changed shape. What was once a desk becoming a large metallic owl and it turned to face Darius. At Harry's command, large wings beat the air and the transfigured metallic form flew at the other man. It screeched a war cry, sounding like gears grinding against each other.
Darius banished his desk into the owl but the wood shattered from the impact and the owl flew on, unperturbed. Darius dove underneath the owl, barely dodging gleaming sharp talons. "Bombarda!" The Exploding Charm shattered the owl into a rain of metallic shards and he took a few hits from shrapnel before raising a shield to block the rest.
"Deliquesco! Conversus ad Aquam! Glacius!" Harry turned the falling metal into rain, saturating Darius and pooling the water around him. Darius slipped and fell, rolling and rising to his feet. However, the Freezing Charm turned the water to ice and he found himself stuck in place for a brief moment before he could do anything else.
"STUPEFY!"
Harry's Stunning Spell stuck Darius in the chest and the impact from the spell shattered the ice and knocked him straight into the wall. He slumped over, stunned.
The Wizengamot roared. The duel had been a stunning display of magic and had ended in spectacular fashion. Nott looked decidedly nervous, as did the ones around him, while the other members present looked on with satisfaction and respect.
"Please feel free to revive Mr. Nott before we continue," Ted said to the Medi-Magical, smiling proudly at Harry.
The Medi-Magical knelt beside the stunned Darius and tried to use the Enervate Spell. "I can't," the Medi-Magical said, surprised.
"He has killed him!" Nott shouted.
"No, he's still alive," the Medi-Magical clarified. "He's stunned but his stunned state is incredibly deep. I've never seen the Stunning Spell cast at that strength before. I can't undo it alone."
"You would not know that of course," Ted said, addressing Nott directly. "However, I knew because many years ago, when Mr. Potter stunned several individuals to prevent a…remarkably similar incident from escalating, it was reported that it required two healers to undo just one of his stuns. The reason you would not know was because you were sent through two walls at Shine and were incapacitated without being stunned."
He looked up at Dumbledore and the rest of the Wizengamot. "If yesterday's incident happened as described in these reports, where Mr. Nott was stunned and revived by a healer, then I would say it is a falsehood because as we see, it requires two healers to undo. It is well documented with these reports," he passed out other pieces of parchment, "that stuns cast by Mr. Potter years ago needed multiple healers to undo. I am willing to wait for this healer that wrote this report to come and somehow undo the stun themselves."
Alder gulped when people turned to him. "I, uh, well, the healer may be…out of the country on a trip. They did not anticipate being needed here for trial."
"Well that is a rather glaring coincidence," Ted said snarkily. "Perhaps you're the one that is unfamiliar with how a criminal trial is conducted. That witnesses are typically necessary."
"And that is your free accusatory statement," Dumbledore said firmly but with the smallest smile. "I think we have heard enough. The prosecuting party has done questionable things in their pursuit of so called justice and I am bothered to see that Mr. Potter was arrested and brought to the Ministry without proper representation. There have been breaches in procedure that disturb me. I motion that we end this trial seeing how it was started improperly and in bad faith." He glared at Nott who opened his mouth. "Also, Ludicium per Duellum has been concluded. Mr. Potter won the duel and has earned his victory in the trial."
"Seconded," Sirius, Amelia, and Augusta Longbottom said together.
"Are there any that wish to protest?" Dumbledore asked mildly.
Nott looked around and his face twisted when no one looked like they were going to support him. He shut his mouth and sat, face crimson from suppressed rage and evident embarrassment.
Dumbledore banged the gavel. "Mr. Potter, you are not guilty of any charges. You are cleared and we thank you for your patience."
"I would like to make a statement," Sirius said. "A member of my House has been attacked and it is within my right to respond with a declaration."
"Allowed," Dumbledore said and the rest of the Wizengamot stopped from leaving.
Andromeda made her way to the floor and waited for the Aurors and Medi-Magical to drag Darius out of the way. She drew a large circle with her wand, murmuring softly. The ice melted and became water, slowly collecting and floating to her wand tip. She made several wand movements and the air above her thickened, growing dense and heavy. She threw the ball of water into the growing clouds that hung over all.
"Tonitribus. Vocare pluvium. Aquam igni."
Rolling thunder filled the courtroom and flashes of lightning outshone the lanterns that hung from the walls. Rain fell, splattering onto the stone floor. Yet the rain was not water. It was fire. Drops of flame fell and splashed and crackled and everyone stared at Andromeda.
"Merlin have mercy, for I will not." She pointed her hand at Nott and his cronies and they all flinched. "My enemies have restraint, for I will not." She spoke softly but it cut through the falling fire and beating thunder with no difficulty.
She pointed at Ted and Harry and Sirius. "My family have forgiveness, but I WILL NOT." The thunder and the lightning underscored her words and her eyes burned harder and brighter than the falling fire.
"I love that woman," Ted sighed admiringly.
She looked around imperiously and no one met her eye. With a nod, she flicked her wand dismissively and the thunderstorm faded and the room was utterly still. She turned and with a lordly manner, walked to Harry and Ted. She took Harry's arm in hers and held Ted's hand. "Let us go," she said brightly. "I tire of this." The three of them left the courtroom and the smile never left her lips.
"Quite the statement," Dumbledore said dryly to Sirius.
"She has a way with words," Sirius said smugly. With a look at the thoroughly cowed and frightened Nott, he left with Amelia beside him.
-0-
"Harry!"
"I'm okay!" Harry said, hugging Daphne and Hermione with desperate relieved strength. "It was really scary for a moment. Thank you so much everyone," he said and embraced the others in turn. He hugged Andromeda very hard and coughed slightly when she returned the gesture thrice fold.
"That's right, run little Lord Bitch," Sirius growled seeing Nott flee the courtroom. "I'm going to make this painful for you. You're going to beg for it to end before I'm through with you."
"What happened?" Hermione asked, "what was this all about?"
"Revenge," Sirius growled. "Nott's been carrying a grudge since that fight during my stag do. And he's been on the losing end of a lot of debates and law changes since. Specifically, against the ones I've brought up."
"So he got his nephew to pick a fight with Harry, thinking he would be more successful and he almost was," Amelia continued. She looked murderous. "I found out who he had to come to arrest you and those two are going to suffer for this. Fresh recruits who could be bought by gold I imagine, circumventing procedure to fulfil a personal vendetta."
"And I aim to alert the director and board at St Mungo's," Andromeda said, eyes still burning. "I can think of a few healers or medi-magicals that would falsify a report."
"So on the surface it looked legit, legally speaking, despite the situation being manufactured," Sirius said. "Luckily we were able to avoid the worst-case scenario with some help."
"Hey, that's what you said," Harry said to Ted. "You said you received a strange message letting you know what was happening. Who was it from?"
"Father?" Daphne stared as she saw Cyrus leave the courtroom.
"Daphne," Cyrus said, nodding at her. "I trust you are well?"
"Well enough." Daphne's eyes narrowed. "Did you have a part to play in this?!"
"He sent me the message," Ted said to everyone's shock. "He let me know about the impromptu trial and I was able to alert Sirius and Andromeda and rush over after sending Hermione to gather records for me. Thank you, Lord Greengrass. Were it not for you, we would be having a different outcome right now."
"Thank you, Sir," Harry said, confused. "I…I really am grateful considering our…history."
"I did not do it for you," Cyrus said coolly. "If Nott succeeded, then his ambition would run rampant and he would be emboldened to do this sort of thing with anyone. I was protecting my future interests." He smiled thinly. "Not to mention he had to make certain concessions to me for me to play along and I profited from his greed."
"Spite and future protection are good enough reasons," Sirius said companionably.
"Quite." Cyrus' smile became uncertain. "That and…I had no desire to see my grandchildren suffer. Not anymore." With a final nod to Daphne, he turned and walked away.
"Thank you, Father," Daphne said softly to his back.
Cyrus paused and nodded without looking before leaving them completely.
"Let's get out of here," Sirius said in the following silence. "I could use a drink and we need to celebrate."
"No complaints here," Harry sighed.
-0-
"Thank you so much," Katie said, eyes still wet.
Ted hugged her back. "You're welcome. Sorry we didn't keep you in the loop as things went along but time was short."
"No, I understand. I'm just glad things are better now." She wiped her eyes and smiled at the sight of Harry trapped beneath the children. They had heard after the fact what was going on and had waited in dread until everyone returned to the village. The relief was palpable seeing them and the story told of what happened made them feel better.
"I'm telling you Harry, you should think about joining the Dueling circuit, even just in exhibition," Sirius said. "That was amazing spellwork and it was incredible to watch. Darius is no slouch and you had him cold and clean."
"He underestimated me," Harry said, voice slightly muffled. He shifted a little to free his face so he could speak clearly. "But I'm glad Uncle Ted suggested that I go all out like that."
"Anyone could see that if you really did ambush him, you would have left lasting wounds," Ted said. "And the stunner at the end cemented that they were lying." He sipped his glass of bourbon. "I'm going to start working more at changing procedures at the Ministry. What nearly happened today was a complete joke and it almost worked."
"We'll be cleaning house," Amelia swore. "About time for it and things will get better. The good news is that today it showed how bad things can be and why there needs to be change."
"What's going to stop this from happening again though?" Angelina asked, worried. "To Rabbit?"
"Nott lost a lot of face today and everyone saw how spectacularly he failed." Andromeda's face was sharp. "No one will be willing to gamble like he did now."
"Not to mention I'm going to personally dismantle him as best I can," Sirius said, his expression hungry. "I can play the game just as good as he can and I'm going to win."
"No one is going to try and cross Andromeda either," Amelia said dryly. "You lot should have seen it. I almost wet myself when she made it rain fire."
"That's my girl," Ted said proudly and he smiled when Andromeda kissed him sweetly. "And she's mellowed out a bit since school, if you can believe it."
"I have matured somewhat," Andromeda demurred. "I have Harry to thank for that as well. The spell chain was much better than I envisioned."
"You came up with it?" Sirius asked, eyes wide.
Harry grinned. "MumAndi asked me if I could come up with a transfiguration spell chain that would yield what she wanted and we worked on it for a while. Glad it turned out like we wanted and more." He looked down at the pile of children on him. "You better go thank Nana Andi and Grandpa Ted for being amazing today."
Andromeda laughed loudest of all when she was buried under a flurry of hugs and kisses with Ted doing the same shortly after.
-0-0-0-
Ghostwriter - I remember having very nice naps in libraries when I was in school. Some of them were admittedly involuntary but still.
poka - The difference here is that Harry wants to be found by the bunnies.
guest - Indeed. It really is a wish fulfillment living place to live vicariously through.
odonnellzoo99 - I thought it would be more fun for them to go hunting because at the moment there's only them and the babies while there are more adults to hide in inventive places. My favorite was Tracy trying to hide underwater. Glad you enjoyed.
alix33 - Luna would have more of a wilder more natural garden I think.
