I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
So I missed it by a day or two, but it has been a whole year since I started Extended Family and finished The Family that Chooses you. One whole year. I can't even fathom it and I see the dates before me.
That means I've written the same fic of over a year and stayed within the setting for a year and a half. I have never stayed with a project for that long before. All the old stories I've started, past attempts at serials and fics have all gone unfinished and were abandoned. Yet I was able to stick with Family and here I am still writing Extended. While my chapters for Extended have fallen behind a little due to Taste being updated regularly, I still think about this setting a lot and it's still rather dear to me.
I have all of you to thank. Thank you for sticking with me, for giving my other stories a chance because you enjoyed this two, and Feathered Family. Thank you for your time and your attention, for continuing to follow me on this journey. Chapter 100 was not too long ago really and I'm still astounded how many people still like this setting and story and there's still people joining well over a year later.
I am grateful to all of you. You have gotten me through dark days where I feel low. Some days I don't feel like I am making a difference to anything, but when I see someone leave words that a chapter made them smile, that something I wrote let them escape their worries for a moment, that they feel a little bit better, it makes me feel like I've accomplished something. If I can help someone else smile, then I'm doing something of worth. And it helps me make it through.
Thank you, one and all. I appreciate you. Thank you for making me a part of your fanfiction family. Here's to more chapters, more smiles, and more days to come.
All my best to you.
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Extended Family
Chapter 111 – Love Healer
Takes place after chapter 136 of Family.
"Well now, what has you skulking in here like someone looking to drown their sorrows?" Rosmerta asked in a slightly exaggerated whisper and bright sparkling eyes.
"That obvious?" Harry asked sheepishly with a small smile.
"To me but I'm a bit of an expert of body language and expressions," she replied without a hint of arrogance. "I'm especially good with folk I'm familiar with." She pointed at him and made a circular motion with her pointer finger. "And you, my dear, are bothered. Want to know how I know?"
Harry sat at the bar; his smile fuller. "Please."
"Well normally, you always have someone with you. Before it was one of the older ladies and when they left, it was one of your other lady friends either your age or younger. Sometimes you were one of the blokes and a few times you came in when some of the students were causing a ruckus and you were here to sort them out as a prefect or Head Boy, which while never quite needed was always appreciated."
She enjoyed the look of wonder on his face. "So now, with you here on your lonesome, at a time where most of the underaged students can't be in Hogsmeade, without your badge on, makes me think that you are having a spot of bother."
"That's amazing, and you're right for the most part," Harry grinned. "Not too much bother but, it's pretty banal. I'm sure it's beneath your consideration."
Rosmerta opened her arms, taking in the quiet Three Broomsticks. "My dear, you would be saving me. Also, any drama, no matter how little or inconsequential, is not beneath my consideration. I adore it. More often than not, it amuses me greatly to the point where I've never had the need to listen to any wireless dramas."
Her laughter joined his. "Let's make a deal. You tell me the bother and let me pick at it. In return, I'll throw in an appetizer on the house and even share a few older stories with you that I promise you'll be interested in. What do you say?"
"You have a deal," Harry said comfortably, shaking Rosmerta's hand. He did a quick look at the menu and placed his order and when Rosmerta returned with an ice-cold butterbeer in a pint glass, he took a sip. "I'm mostly hiding here for a bit of privacy."
"Ah, last place they look sort of thing?" Rosmerta asked with a smile. "Clever."
"You got it," he chuckled. "I'm also hiding from my feelings a little, last year of Hogwarts and all." He smiled sadly when Rosmerta nodded with complete understanding and sympathy. "But I'm also hiding from my friends too, a little."
"Really? Ooh do tell, what did they do?" Rosmerta asked eagerly, resting her elbows on the bar and her chin in her cupped hands.
"Nothing bad," Harry laughed. "Just, yesterday was one of the weirdest days of my life. I was asked by three of my friends to help them with their relationships." He took another big sip. "Me of all people, can you believe it?"
"I can," she said honestly.
"Really? Why?"
"You've got a decent head on your shoulders. You're sensitive, in a good way. You've had insight into the female mind due to your friendships. You're currently in a good one as far as I can tell."
He blushed with pleasure. "Well, one I almost mucked up completely last year."
"From what I've heard, it wasn't just you, dear." She patted his hand. "Besides, it worked out."
"Do you overhear a lot?"
She grinned at him. "I have excellent hearing."
"I need to remember that," Harry laughed again. "But yeah, it was really weird."
"Be proud of it," Rosmerta said comfortably. "Being a Love Healer is a good thing, an honored role."
"That's an amazing title," Harry laughed. "I assume you're one?"
"Yes I am," Rosmerta preened. "A damn good one too if I say so myself."
"Mind if I get a second opinion then?" he asked.
"By all means," she said expansively.
He gave her a brief synopsis of the situations and what he said without naming names. Rosmerta listened the entire time without interrupting him. "That was good advice to all three parties," she said when he finished. "Actually, pretty logical situations and quite mature. And your advice was sound." She fetched his order of fried vegetables and put the plate in front of him. "It's wonderful that Miss Greengrass' trick was reversed on her."
She laughed at his panicked look. "Oh don't worry, I won't betray you. I remember her boasting about how she did that to you last year."
Harry relaxed and munched on the crisp fried carrots and onions. "I'll admit, it was really funny to see her stuck to the chair in that case."
"Everyone can use a touch of humility here and there." Rosmerta helped herself to one of his onion rings. "And how is your relationship doing if you don't mind me asking?"
"Great! Katie's doing awesome at her school. She's already going out to clinic assisting the Director of the program," Harry said proudly.
"Good for her! She's a smart one and she's a good one," Rosmerta smiled. "Ah me, I remember the day Miss Spinnet and Miss Jonson took her to task, made her realize her feelings."
"That happened here?!"
"Sure did! Right before those two had that talk with you."
"Oh I remember that! Wow." Harry blinked. "That's incredible."
"Like I told them at the time, I thought you two were already dating. Always close and so terribly adorable," she said, her tone slightly saccharine but wholly sincere.
Harry chuckled. "Well, I think it happened at the best time, for the best reason really."
"Love always does. True love anyways. Puppy love or other kinds can happen at terrible times," Rosmerta said. She winked at him. "Which leads me perfectly to the story I promised you."
"Oh?"
"Mmhmm. It's about your father and mother."
"Really?!"
"Yes really and-oh your dinner is ready." She took her time to go to the kitchen and came back with a plate of fish and chips, grinning at his look of impatience.
"You did that on purpose," he accused.
"Sure did," she said smugly. "Got to create anticipation." They laughed together. "But anyways, yes. You see, I've had front row seats to all the disasters your father and your godfather contributed to in their years as students."
She poured herself a butterbeer and swigged. "It seemed like every other Hogsmeade visit, they had a different girl on the arm and the lips."
"I don't know if I want to hear about my dad like that," Harry laughed.
"Don't worry, I won't be vulgar. And also don't worry, it was clear that those dalliances were just that. He ended up stopping during his fifth year. One day, he came in, face heavier than a rain cloud and wet with misery. Sitting right where you are now actually."
She took another swig. "She said, 'Rosie, I need your help'."
"He called you Rosie?"
"He and Sirius both, the prats. Thought they were being funny and suave. I basically treated them like ickle nephews because of it," she laughed. "But yes, he comes in begging for help and I of course offered my services. He got all puffed up and declared that he just couldn't get her out of his head and he fancied her. And I just had to hear who this mystery girl that got the great James Charlus Potter all a tizzy."
"Was it Mum?" Harry asked, almost dreading the answer.
"It was," Rosmerta smiled.
"What did you say?!"
"I was a bit of an arse and I laughed at him for a solid five minutes," she confessed and was happy to hear Harry roar with laughter. "In my defense, he and Lily Evans fought like kneazles for years! I've heard either of them complain about the other for ages."
"What did he do?"
"Pouted for a good fifteen minutes and only forgave me when I gave him a free meal," Rosmerta laughed. "When I realized that he was actually serious, I took pity on him. He was in for a rough time and no mistake about it. He had a lot of reputation to salvage."
"Were they really that bad?" Harry asked softly. "Sirius tells me stories, as do McGonaMum and Remus, but I wonder if they're putting it better for me. Downplaying it slightly."
"McGonaMum, I'm going to remember that," Rosmerta smiled. "Well, yes and no. At the time, it was probably a little rough because of age and lack of experience. That said, in the grand scheme of things, it never got that acrimonious. Just a lot of sharp words, some delightful insults, and upturned noises and faces. They never Cursed each other, swore a bit but never Cursed."
"Sirius said Mum hexed them a lot."
"Right, which isn't Cursing," Rosmerta smiled.
"How did he do it?" Harry asked as he ate his dinner. "Convince Mum to give him a chance?"
"He had to grow up," Rosmerta said plainly. "I told him don't show her his true nature because she already had more than her fill of it. He had to pull his head out of his arse and be the man that he wanted to be for others, and not what he thought he wanted to be."
"What did he say to that?"
"He complained that it would be hard. I said that it would be, and sometimes the best of things required the hardest effort. Not always but many times."
"Wow." He munched thoughtfully on some fried fish. "Did Mum ever ask you for help?"
She nodded. "She went on a few dates here and there before James but nothing serious. When James started being serious about her, she came and asked me if I had a hand in it. I admitted I did and she wanted to know if he was being sincere or not."
She stole a few chips. "I told her to trust her instincts. She said she did when she first met him and I amended by saying she should trust her new instincts. I said I wasn't taking any sides but I personally thought he was trying. And as long as you try, that matters for a lot."
"That's true," Harry said.
"Now, the first time they came in hand in hand, I laughed and laughed," Rosmerta said with a sly smile and Harry laughed. "I charmed my floor to be cold and said Hell had frozen over and Sirius and Remus charmed the sausages to fly and said that the pigs were flying!"
"Bet they loved that," Harry grinned.
"Surprisingly not," Rosmerta sniffed. "And let me tell you, your mother took it a bit personally. She charmed my skirts to do a bit of flapping and moving when they shouldn't." She laughed at Harry's look of shock. "Joke's on her, however, I created a new fashion trend with it."
"That's really funny," Harry smiled. He looked around at the tavern. "There's so many stories here, aren't there?"
She nodded, patting the bar-top fondly. "Years and years of it. So many lives lived here. It's an honor and a delight to keep it going." She sighed gustily. "Thank you for coming in. It was nice reminiscing like this. Keep the stories alive."
"I'm glad I came," he said sincerely. He blinked a few times before smiling slyly. "Any stories about Sirius that I can blackmail him with later?"
"Plenty! I better get you something for pudding because you'll be here a while and even then, that'll barely scratch the surface. Also you better tell me how polite you want the stories to be. Don't want to tell you more than you bargained for," she laughed.
They continued to chat and laugh, with Harry learning way more about Sirius, and tangentially James, than he ever thought he wanted to. He even wrote some of the stories down, at Rosmerta's encouragement, to fully use against Sirius later.
"I can't believe that happened," he groaned, face bright red and laughing in a scarred sort of way.
"Believe it! If I didn't see them, I wouldn't believe it either but the proof was there," Rosmerta said, pink cheeked from amusement and laughter.
"How can they not tell they were wearing the wrong knickers?!"
"See that's my reasoning! It's like they wanted to be caught!"
"Oh Sirius," Harry sighed. He took out his watch and looked at the time. "Guess I better head on back. Thank you so much for the food and stories. I'm really glad I came."
"Me too dear! You're welcome anytime and you better come and visit after you leave school. I'm a bit fond of you, tell the truth."
"Of course! If you like Quidditch and I get signed on, I'll bring by tickets if I can."
"As if anyone won't sign you on," she snorted. "I've seen you play and it'd be a crime if you didn't get on a team. And you better bring me some! I'll play your games here and hang up a few of your things." She winked. "Gotta support a fellow Love Healer, don't I?"
"Thanks!" On the way out he paused and looked back. "If I ever have kids or any kids of my friends come here, are you going to tell them stories about me?"
"Bold of you to assume I'd still be around," she smiled.
"Well I hope so, or at least the tradition," he said seriously. "You're as important to Hogwarts and Hogsmeade as the Lake and the Castle and the Village. I can't imagine this place without someone like you."
She blushed deeply and smiled broadly. "That's very sweet of you to say, dear. And just for that, I promise to only tell the good stories about you."
"I'll take it. Have a good night!"
"Good night dear!" She smiled as he left and took his plates back to the kitchen, feeling warm and nostalgic.
-0-
"I'm going to get him," McGonagall grumbled. "Telling everyone that awful nickname."
"You love it, don't lie," Rosmerta chuckled, pouring a measure of scotch into a glass and sliding it over.
"You will not hear me admit it," McGonagall snorted.
"Out loud I won't you mean," the barkeeper chuckled.
The door banged open and both witches looked to see Sirius standing in the doorway. "You told him that story?!" he shouted at Rosmerta.
McGonagall blinked while Rosmerta dissolved laughing. "What story? Which one?"
"The knickered knackered story," Rosmerta said, laughter punctuating every word. She slumped against the bar, tears streaming down her eyes at Sirius' embarrassment and McGonagall's sudden disquiet.
"Oh right, that story," McGonagall said and finished the scotch in one swallow. "Another please, so I can try to repress the memory once more."
Sirius sat beside her, giving a giggling Rosmerta a sour look. "I thought we were friends," he whined.
"We are! Only good friends know terrible stories that you rather keep hidden," Rosmerta said, refilling McGonagall's glass and pouring one for herself and Sirius.
Sirius huffed but grinned. "To old friends and old times," he said, holding the glass up.
"To good memories," McGonagall said warmly.
"And may they never cease," Rosmerta said and they tapped their glasses together. The sound they made was musical and never seemed to fade entirely.
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Jessica Dallas - Thank you. I love to reread books and things all the time and any who think my writings is worth rereading, makes me very happy. I do not think I'll ever do a 'revenge' chapter per se. I like the idea of a life lived well and that the past remains buried is more fitting here. I do have a small mini-series in mind but it will be some time yet and while it won't be revenge, it might be closure.
guest - I like the idea of him providing all the care and solace that he once received. And of course Hedwig is the best.
EbonPurlight - I guess I've gotten decent at writing a bit emotionally. My best to you.
odonnellzoo99 - I hope you are feeling better. I saw your other mention and wishing you the best. I have a good relationship with one of my parents but not so much the other. It's hard, and my heart goes out to people who share that unfortunate circumstance.
Ghostwriter - Not even Merlin can help them.
poka - I understood, no problem. Yeah, Alicia was finally pushed to her breaking point and it had to be resolved explosively.
alix33 - Sneaky Hedwig is the best and the most dangerous.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - I thought it was more fun to leave it to the reader's imagination for the contents of either letter. Sometimes it's more fun to make up in your own head what you think was said based on the reactions of the characters.
kaya - Thank you so much.
