I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Extended Family
Chapter 118 – Fore, Score, and Seven Tees to go.
Takes place after chapter 108.
"Now this is beautiful," David said admiringly.
Harry had to agree. The land was gorgeous, rolling hills that undulated around them. Gorse and heather and other coarse grasses grew wild with trees dotting here and there. The surroundings had a wilder feeling to them, a natural feeling. There were no obvious signs of human interference or landscaping save for the demarcated greens where the holes were, and even then, it was far more subtle than the typical landscaped courses.
"This is one of the oldest courses in Scotland," McGonagall said proudly. "It was founded by magicals, wanting a place where they could relax away from the eyes of Muggles. That said, it is a course to be played without magic at all. Scot witches and wizards prefer to keep the purity and sanctity of the sport after all."
"Does that mean there are magical courses?" David asked.
"Oh yes. Some require some ability with charms or transfiguration to score but those things are all empty style and completely lacking in genuine challenge." She gave Harry a look.
"Mini-golf is its own class," he sniffed. "And it was fun, wasn't it?"
"It was," David, Ted, Sirius, and Thomas said together.
"And I put my transfiguration skills to good use," Harry sniffed again.
"Mmmhmm," McGonagall hummed flatly.
"Someone doesn't think highly of your daddy's hard work," Harry said sadly to the tiny bundle on his chest.
McGonagall winced at the angry look Dahlia threw her way. "Now hold on, I did not say that," she said weakly. She gasped when Dahlia turned her head away, hugging Harry's arm.
"That's right, that'll teach GranMcGonaMum," Harry chuckled as he hugged his daughter, making her giggle.
After David had shown interest in playing golf with McGonagall, Harry had talked to her and the desire to play was mutual. A few weeks after the mini-golf game at the Potter home, she secured play time for them at WandWood Highlands, a Heathland style golf course. The families had come and those not playing would enjoy the comfortable clubhouse amenities while the players would enjoy the course. Harry was going to be the caddy for the others while Dahlia was adorable moral support.
Harry grinned at Dahlia's delighted laughter. McGonagall had scooped her up and transfigured a wonderful bunnet cap for her in the McGonagall tartan. Dahlia wore it happily and was snuggled against McGonagall, giggling while McGonagall swung her around. He was dressed comfortably and McGonagall wore her usual dark green robes she wore when she was out and about though she also wore a bunnet cap.
The men were dressed in golf clothes: comfortable trousers, shirts and vests, their own caps, save for one. Harry sighed when Sirius took off his cloak with a flourish, revealing a knee-length kilt in a black and orange pattern, a sporran dangling in the front made of black leather bearing his family crest, and a cream-colored shirt. An orange and black patterned tam o'shanter was perched at an angle on his head. "What are you wearing?" Harry asked.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do," Sirius said, admiring his look in a mirror he conjured.
"We're in Scotland though," Thomas said, deeply amused. "I'm fairly sure you're offending a lot of people right now."
"You look like a demented Halloween decoration," Ted laughed.
"I think I look great," Sirius sniffed. "What do you think, Dally?"
"Pimkin!" Dahlia said loudly.
"He does look like a pumpkin," Harry said while the others roared with laughter, even Sirius. "That's a smart girl!"
"If I was not holding her right now, I would bury you in a shallow hole," McGonagall sighed.
"I hope the owners of the course don't kick us out over this," David laughed.
"No, they are used to the eccentricity of the Blacks," McGonagall sighed. "That and they are old friends. They knew of it, thankfully, and do not hold the rest of us accountable."
"And they don't mind us Muggles visiting?" David asked.
"Not at all. The owners have Muggles in the family that married into it. They only care that people are respectful and love the sport. They also crack down on any signs of bigotry and unpleasantry," McGonagall said firmly. "Many a magical has been banned for unsportsmanlike behavior after being made to leave. Quite literally I might add."
"That sounds ominous," Ted said.
"They use a trebuchet that was built in the 1300s," McGonagall said. "It is still in perfect working order."
"Right, don't piss anyone off," Sirius gulped. "Any more than me wearing my outfit that is."
Harry waved his wands and the golf bags of the players floated up, lining themselves into a neat line and followed after them. David looked at the closest one and whistled. "Gorgeous golf set," he said. "All made from wood?"
"Of course," McGonagall said. "Though my putter is made from goblin iron. A gift from a friend a while back."
"How do you differentiate between the woods and the irons beside the clubhead?" Thomas asked.
"The wood was alchemically treated to be like iron," McGonagall said. "Not to mention the club length of course, and the head as you mentioned."
They arrived at the first tee. Sirius swept the tam off his head and made an elegant leg. "Ladies first."
McGonagall snorted but took the offer, putting her ball onto the tee and hefting her driver with a practiced grip. "Very well. I want to hear no whining or whinging from you though." She stood at the tee and swung the driver confidently. The head made a loud and satisfying impact sound and the golf ball went flying into the distance.
"Whew," Ted said admiringly. "I think you landed on the green."
"I am a bit rusty," McGonagall said. "I normally can hit a hole in one on the early holes."
"I'm intimidated," Thomas smiled.
"I'm not," Sirius said. He swaggered up and after a couple of practice swings, took his shot.
"Hey that's not bad either," Ted said.
"I've practiced some since our mini game," Sirius said proudly.
Thomas and Ted took their shots but when David did, another resounding crack filled the air and the ball zoomed to the green on a direct path.
"Ah, a challenge," McGonagall said with a smile.
"Oh boy," Harry muttered while bouncing Dahlia in his arms. "We're in for a lively afternoon flower," he said.
"Rawr?" she asked.
"Rawr," Harry nodded.
-0-
"Hi Cutie, Hi Patootie" Katie said, walking up to them.
"Who's cutie and who's patootie?" Samantha asked, laughing.
"Whoever's causing the least trouble at the time is cutie," Katie laughed. She scooped up Dahlia who held her arms out. "Are you being a cutie or a patootie?"
"She's being very cutie," Harry said with a large smile. "She's not fussing at all and hasn't been bored yet."
"How about you?" Samantha asked, handing Harry a bottle.
He sipped appreciatively. "I'm not bored at all. Their banter is really something."
Sirius groaned when his putt went wide, sending the ball off at a bad angle away from the hole.
"I haven't seen a slice that bad since the last time I went to that terrible pizza place," David remarked.
"You know, normally a vassal would be a lot more polite," Sirius said grumpily.
"I had Hermione look it up. As long as I show due deference, and there is ample wiggle room for that, I'm well within my 'appropriate' behavior," David said smugly.
"Stop teaching her so well," Sirius complained to Ted.
"I barely teach her anything, she learns it on her own because she wants to," Ted said.
"That's my girl," David and McGonagall said together, quite proud.
"What was bad about the pizza place?" Thomas asked.
"Overcharging for skinny slices and the cheese fell off cause they over-sauced and underbaked."
"That is a bad slice," Thomas agreed.
"Right then, go on, show me up," Sirius said, pointing at David. When David squared up and swung, he coughed, startling David and the shot went wide as well. "Oh sorry about that my allergies oh no," Sirius said, voice dripping with insincerity.
"That's abuse of vassal!" David cried. "That's poor lordship!"
"If he made you wear a kilt like that, that'd definitely be abuse of vassals," Thomas snickered.
"I would take it from him now if it were not for the reasonable doubt that he was wearing anything underneath," McGonagall sighed. "I can feel my ancestors rolling in their graves."
Katie giggled mightily, watching them squabble. "That's amazing. Who's winning?"
"David and McGonaMum are neck and neck and Thomas and Ted are two strokes behind and Sirius is three. Which is actually really close," Harry said. "They're taking it seriously."
"Rawr," Dahlia said.
"Very much rawr," Katie agreed, kissing her. She then passed her to Samantha who took her eagerly.
"How is the clubhouse?" Harry asked.
"Gorgeous and very comfortable," Katie said. "Jean is teaching MumAndi and Amelia and Hermione the basics on the driving range and the practice green."
"Oh boy, MumAndi learning to play golf," Harry chuckled. "That'll be awesome."
"She's enjoying herself," Samantha grinned. "Said she understands why medical professions play it now. Working out aggression and stress by slapping a little ball silly with a very large club."
"I can see how that would help," Harry agreed. He and Samantha and Katie and Dahlia looked over when a new squabble started between the players.
"Hey, let's not ignore the fact that you've been playing for ages now," Sirius said, waggling his putter at David. "Shouldn't you take it easy on amateurs?"
"I would if you didn't make a meal of getting that hole in one," David retorted.
"No wait Sirius has a point," Thomas said. "We deserve a handicap."
"Handicaps are for babies," David sniffed.
"It sure is a sad day when a professional bullies a non-professional," Sirius sighed.
"I'm not a professional, first of all," David said, heating up.
"Gentlemen," McGonagall said loudly, cutting through the argument, "and for one of you I use the term loosely," she rolled her eyes when Sirius smoothed out his kilt, "we can stand here and argue or we can put our Knuts to where our mouths are." She colored when Sirius guffawed and David snorted with suppressed laughter. "Oh do grow up," she said crossly. "I meant let actions speak instead of words. Let us make this interesting."
"I'm out," Ted laughed. "I have no skill nor skin in this game."
"How interesting?" Sirius asked, looking calculated.
"The usual way?" Thomas asked.
"Which is?" David asked.
"A bottle of Scotland's finest. Single malt of course," McGonagall said.
"Deal," Sirius said. "If we get a handicap." He gestured at Thomas and himself.
"Fine," David said. "You're two strokes behind, Thomas is one, let's average it. We," he pointed to McGonagall, "have to win by over three for one of us to win."
"Done." Sirius and Thomas and David and McGonagall shook on it.
"Raaawwwrrr," Dahlia growled softly, waving her hands and making a face that could be charitably called 'fierce' were it not so adorable.
"Dally thinks granddog is going to win, right?" Sirius said.
"No, she think's grandpa Tommy is going to win," Thomas insisted.
"I think she's in grandad Dave's corner," David said.
"All of you are wrong," McGonagall sniffed. "Isn't that right Dally?"
"Who do you think is going to win?" Samantha asked Dahlia.
"Daddy!" Dahlia yelled at the top of her lungs and squirmed for her father.
"He's not even playing!" Sirius shouted while the others laughed and Harry took his daughter and kissed her and hugged her tightly.
"Don't be jealous," Harry smiled.
-0-
"I heard things heated up." Andromeda came walking up with the others.
"Yup," Harry said, passing Dahlia over to Andromeda when the little girl reached for her. "They made a bet on Hole Seven and we're coming to the last one.
"Who's winning?" Hermione asked.
"Ironically, Ted," Harry laughed, "the one not part of the bet. With the handicap in play, David and McGonaMum are still in the lead but she's in front by a stroke and Sirius and Thomas are still one stroke behind David."
"Wow, that's close," Jean said.
"It's been pretty exciting," Katie said. She had stayed behind to watch. "They're really into it."
"How did you let Sirius out of the house looking like that," Samantha asked.
Amelia groaned. "I had no idea he was going to do that. If I did I would have prevented it, somehow."
"Why orange and black?" Jean snickered.
"The House of Black and Sirius' colors," Andromeda sighed.
"Dally, what does granddog look like?" Harry asked.
"Pimkin!" Dahlia said happily.
Sirius looked over sourly at the laughing women and Harry. "Excuse me, you're ruining my concentration!"
"Sure, blame that on them," David said.
"Children," McGonagall clucked.
"Right, final hole, let's see how things end." Thomas lined up his shot and took it, hitting the ball solidly. The others took their hits and were at their quietest and most concentrated. Even the watchers remained silent for this part. With some muttered groans and victorious hand motions, they came over to report their final scores.
Harry tabulated them and looked at the scorecard. "Wow, everyone did great, no one went over par."
"Hey, I'm happy with that," Ted said happily.
"Thomas and Sirius actually tied," Harry said. He smiled as he dragged the moment out. "Then Ted, then David, and finally…McGonaMum with the win by one stroke!"
Everyone clapped and laughed while McGonagall preened. "That was an excellent game," McGonagall said graciously. "I have not been challenged in a very long while."
"That was a lot of fun," David said. "I'll get you next time."
"I look forward to it," McGonagall smiled sincerely. "I will book a future time here and we can try the links course next time."
"We need to practice," Sirius said to Thomas and Ted.
"I'm all for it," Thomas nodded.
They walked together to the clubhouse, bantering and laughing. They were having dinner at the adjoined restaurant to cap off the day. Katie took Dahlia to the restroom and after a while returned. "Look at Dally!"
They cooed when they saw her. She was outfitted in a tiny kilt and frilled blouse, still wearing the bunnet cap that McGonagall transfigured earlier. McGonagall's smile died when she saw the pattern and colors of the tartan on the kilt however.
"Fiona MacDonald!" she shouted, loudly and angrily. "You put my granddaughter in a MacDonald tartan?! How dare you!" She rose from the table and stalked out of the dining room with wand in hand.
"Oh, uhm, is that a bad thing?" Katie asked. "I just thought she looked cute."
"Scottish clans can get pretty territorial about that sort of thing," Andromeda said. "Much more so in the past, but some are now, as you see."
"I didn't have a problem," Sirius said, smoothing his kilt out.
"That's because no one wants that tartan," Amelia said dryly.
Harry looked over and smiled as he watched Fiona and McGonagall shouting loudly at each other, waving their arms. "Let me go soothe the clans," he said, taking an eager Dahlia from Katie. The change was immediate as he approached, but women immediately stopped their fight and cooing over a waving Dahlia.
"She really is the best distraction," Jean said happily.
Katie smiled proudly, loving how happy Dahlia sounded to be doted over by Fiona and McGonagall. "She really is," she said proudly.
-0-0-0-
Ghostwriter - Glad you enjoyed it.
1529 - Hope you can find a new perspective and work your way through too. Thanks for reading.
alix33 - A butter sandwich is bread and butter and eaten like a sandwich.
poka - I think that might be how I don't know if I'll ever officially end this fic, I adore the setting and premise too much. Ironically I know how to end it, but I don't want to. Quirky dreamy Luna doing things seemingly at random but actually seem to help is peak Luna in my opinion. I do like her character a lot and that's why I'll almost always have her as a good friend or pseudo-sib with Harry. Defiance was my ode to a Luna and Harry pairing and I still rather like that fic a lot. I know that one's premise wasn't a liking to a lot of people, but it has a special place in my heart.
odonnellzoo99 - I actually have never seen any of the Bill and Ted movies so if I did make a reference, it was inadvertent. Luna quirk is best quirk.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Luna just being Luna is some of the best meanderings ever. Thank you.