I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Extended Family
Chapter 119 – First Meetings
Takes place before chapter 23.
"Why are you so nervous?" Alicia asked.
"What if they hate each other?" Angelina asked, fretting slightly.
"First of all, that won't happen. Second of all, why would you say that?! Don't borrow trouble or invoke what you don't want to happen!" Alicia glared at Angelina and the expression was returned in kind. "Third of all, they have already met. We visited each other every few days with them and have done so for months now."
"Yeah but that's when they were less aware of things," Angelina argued. "They were sluggies."
Katie laughed. "What's a sluggie?"
"Slug baby," Angelina said. "They just slugged about."
"Don't call them that," Alicia scolded but with a smile on her lips. "You're not wrong though."
"I'm just saying I'd be heartbroken if they weren't friends," Angelina said weakly.
"I'm sure they will and if they aren't at first, well, they're babies," Katie said soothingly. "And well, we can bribe them to be friends forever too because I'd be heartbroken too. It'll be fine."
The women assembled in the Potter sitting room and gently sat their little girls down onto the play mat. The girls were all able to crawl now and they looked around their surroundings, sucking on their pacifiers before noticing each other. Dahlia, Hailey, and Hadley looked at each other without blinking for long moments.
"Come on babies," Angelina said softly, "be besties."
"Yes, you can do it," Alicia encouraged when Hadley crawled closer to Hailey.
After a long moment of staring at one another, Hailey flailed all of a sudden and accidentally knocked the pacifier out of Hadley's mouth. The motion made Hadley flail too and she accidentally bonked her head against Hailey's and Hailey fell onto her back. Both girls began to wail with infant indignity, crying and waving their arms and kicking.
"Oh no," Katie said while Angelina and Alicia started laughing uproariously.
"You know, that was actually very similar to how Alicia and I met the first time on the Express," Angelina said, holding her middle.
"She tripped into the compartment and headbutted me and I acted on reflex and smacked her," Alicia said, wiping tears of merriment from her eyes. "And we hated each other for about a month or so."
"Thirty-three days and a half," Angelina sighed gustily.
"You petty bi…b-word," Alicia smiled. "It's okay Hadley, don't cry. It was an accident-oh my."
Dahlia's eyes had widened when the other two began sobbing. After looking back and forth slowly, she clumsily reached to her mouth and pulled out her pacifier. With remarkable aim, she managed to pop her pacifier into Hadley's mouth, stopping her crying. Hadley looked with surprise but quieted down, sucking on the new pacifier. With intense baby concentration, Dahlia pulled a bunny plushie over and flopped it against Hailey, calming her down. She then slowly picked up Hadley's pacifier and stuck it in her mouth without a second thought and sat against Hailey comfortably.
"Oh Dally, that was so sweet and so gross," Katie said while Angelina and Alicia laughed even harder. "Let me clean those up and-come on, don't fight with mummy." Katie tried to take the pacifier from her but Dahlia gummed it with incredible stubbornness, hanging onto it with grim determination.
"That's the most adorable thing I've ever seen," Angelina smiled. "Of course your baby is the peacekeeper."
"Can't be from me," Katie smiled lovingly as the three little girls cuddled together around the bunny plushie. "I was told once that Lyla bit me hard as a baby and I bit her back. Mum was proud that I very obviously gently bit her back though."
"Must be baby bird's nature then," Alicia sniggered.
"Makes sense. Guess we didn't have to worry," Katie sighed happily. She and her two best friends chatted and laughed, watching the babies play or cuddle together. Time passed pleasantly and then they heard the Floo fire flare. At the sound, Dahlia perked up and she began crawling towards the Floo room and after a moment, the other two girls began following.
"I'm home!" Harry came out, cleaning himself of ash and soot. His tired expression brightened immediately when he saw his wife and friends and then his daughter and goddaughters. "The best welcome home!" He hurriedly cast a full body cleaning and sterilizing charm before he tossed his cloak and bag over a rack and laid down flat. "Hi girls!"
The women cooed when the babies babbled happily crawling on top of their father and godfather happily. There was some jostling as they tried to crawl closest but they immediately calmed when he nestled them over his chest and hugged them gently but firmly. They made contented noises as they wriggled and burrowed into him, rubbing their faces into his chest.
"I'll never get tired of seeing that," Angelina said happily.
"They're so happy to see Papa Harry," Alicia smiled.
"How was your day, love?" Katie asked.
"Good! Tiring but good. Coach put us through a new program and it's exhausting but doable. The team sends their love and Shelia wants to visit soon. Meggy misses you."
"Aww, that'll be nice. She can play with Dally too. We'll make it work."
"How was their first not-sluggie meeting?" Harry asked.
"Adorably traumatic," Alicia smiled. She laughed at Harry's expression. "Hailey accidently knocked out Hadley's pacifier and then Hadley accidently bonked heads with her. They started crying and Dahlia soothed them."
"Poor girls," Harry said soulfully and kissed their foreheads in turn. "Oh, I meant to start dinner."
"We can handle it," Katie smiled. "If you move now, they'll be even more upset."
"We can't have that," Harry smiled.
-0-
"I haven't seen you smile this much in a very long time," Fleur remarked. She frowned. "I just now realize how disturbing that is."
"You haven't been looking, I smile often all day typically," Apolline sniffed.
"It's true, she does," Sebastian smiled.
"But you've looked especially happy the last couple of days," Gabrielle said.
"I have looked forward to this trip for months now," Apolline said enthusiastically. She beamed and an almost palpable aura seemed to emanate from her and many people around the Delacour family stumbled and gaped, looking stricken and windswept.
"I think we're being replaced," Gabrielle gasped, looking up at her older sister. "Maman doesn't love us anymore!" She yelped when Apolline pinched her.
"Bite your tongue," Apolline scolded. "Nothing will ever replace my darling daughters. That said, I am looking forward to meeting the newest member of the Potters."
The Delacours had arrived in London for a small trip. It had been planned for a few months and they were eager to come for many reasons. They just landed via Portkey at the British Ministry and were making their way through customs.
"To be fair, Dahlia is incredibly adorable," Fleur smiled.
"You're not going to bother me and Fleur about getting married and having our own children, are you?" Gabrielle asked.
"Not out loud," Apolline said, smiling at their groans. "You should thank Harry and Katie though for staving off my meddling."
"Hi there!" They turned and waved happily to a smiling Katie standing at the other end of the customs area. "Good to see you!"
"So good to see you," Apolline said warmly after they passed through. She hugged the younger woman fondly. "You look wonderful!"
"I'm getting some decent sleep," Katie laughed. "The baby is finally being nice to her parents."
"Thank you, Katie," Gabrielle said, hugging her.
"For what? Coming to get you and hosting you all? I'm happy to," Katie said, bemused.
"No, Maman told us to thank you for having Dahlia so she won't bother us about having our own children," Gabrielle sniffed.
Katie laughed brightly. "You're welcome!"
"Surely Harry isn't overworking you?" Sebastian teased. "Forcing you to come to fetch us?"
"No, he's great," Katie said warmly. "Dally was fussing and wouldn't let go of him so he stayed behind with her."
"Then let us go, hurry hurry!" Apolline said eagerly. In short order, Katie side-along apparated them to the Potter home and Apolline quick-stepped to the door and entered eagerly.
"She wasn't kidding," Gabrielle remarked when they heard a happy squeal come from within the home.
"She really was looking forward to this," Sebastian chuckled. "Harry! Hello!"
Harry smiled from the doorway. "Come on in," he said, waving them in.
"Dally finally let you go?" Katie asked.
"I think she's a bit saturated in Veela aura," Harry grinned. "I could feel it pouring off Apolline and Dahlia went over with barely a fuss." They all smiled at the sight of Apolline holding Dahlia, cooing in French to a Dahlia that looked up, entranced.
"Oh my goodness she is adorable!" Gabrielle cried and she went to coo over Dahlia too.
"I told you," Fleur smiled.
"Veela aura and allure is very versatile," Sebastian chuckled. "Especially the more maternal one is and my Apolline has always been very maternal." He clapped Harry on the shoulder. "Are you sure you are willing to host all four of us for our stay?"
"Of course! If you don't mind the slightly smaller home for all of us, we don't mind," he replied. "I won't blame you if you need more space. Sirius said there's plenty of rooms in Grimmauld."
"We will be fine," Sebastian said easily. "Besides, I do not believe Apolline will willingly give up Dahlia now."
"She is so beautiful," Apolline gushed. She smiled when Dahlia clumsily clutched onto locks of her platinum blonde hair. "Yes you are, such a beautiful baby."
"Be careful with grand-mere's hair, Dally," Harry said.
Apolline teared up a little and her smile was as bright as the sun. "Oh my lovely petite fille will never harm it, I know she will not!"
"That is very kind of you to see us as such," Sebastian said softly, touched.
"Fleur's a beloved auntie," Harry said softly, "and you and your family have taken incredible care of me and mine. Your family treated me and Katie so well for so long. How can we see you otherwise?" He coughed and smiled when Fleur hugged him hard, squeezing the air from his lungs.
"The care is mutual," Sebastian said sincerely. "I will not forget the boy that was a friend to my daughter when she needed it, and who selflessly helped her and my other daughter when he had no reason to."
"You can't have too much family," Katie said, hugging Sebastian.
"No, you cannot," Fleur said wetly.
"Are you sure Dahlia does not have some Veela-like ability?" Gabrielle asked later. She smiled as Sebastian held Dahlia, speaking seriously to her in French but his smile was from ear to ear with Apolline hovering over his shoulder. "She has entranced our parents."
"You know, you might be onto something," Katie said. "She's enthralled everyone she's met."
"She's the cutest," Harry said proudly. "Is that a Veela thing though?"
Fleur waggled a hand. "Somewhat. Veela allure has self-defense capabilities. Some can be used to calm as much as seduce."
"Mother said we had good ones since we were brats," Gabrielle said proudly, making them laugh. "Fleur is still a brat."
"You are more of one," Fleur said, pushing Gabrielle.
"Oh you should have been here when Madame Lorraine visited during her trip to a conference here in Britain," Katie said.
"Aimee told me," Fleur laughed. "She said she had never seen her great-aunt be so soft."
"Me neither! I've seen her reattach a torn limb and be covered in blood and just verbally shout down people twice her height and size but when she saw Dahlia, she turned into the perfect picture of a doting grandmother." Katie smiled at the memory.
"Reattach a torn limb?" Harry gasped.
"Well it was technically blown off."
"Blown off?!"
"Yeah, malfunctioning Quod from Quodpot. Fumbled catch, hit a bloke at the elbow and boom, sent his arm flying one way and his body the other."
"Dear Merlin," Harry gasped. "Did it get healed?"
"Oh yeah, full functionality and no loss of nerves at all. Though Madame got into a fight with the thrower and it ended with him on the ground and her shoving a Quod into his mouth and holding it there and saying how she'll do the right thing and heal him back up after it exploded." Katie smiled at the memory, making the Delacour sisters and her husband blink slowly.
Harry winced. "Remind me to never piss her off."
"You do not have to worry," Fleur said comfortably. "She likes you and adores Katie and loves Dahlia."
"That's a genuine relief," Harry sighed.
-0-
"I'm glad it's actually easy to drive here," David said, getting out of the car. "I was worried they lived somewhere really inaccessible or something."
"It takes a bit to drive here but yeah, it's not a bad drive," Hermione said, getting out too. "Actually, he and Katie picked this place after they left their flat in Skye because it's easy to drive to."
"Oh, does anyone else we know drive?" Jean asked as she stretched slightly.
"Nope," Hermione smiled.
"I love that boy," Jean sighed happily.
David smiled. "Do we need to do anything special to the car to get past any ward thingies or the like?"
"Oh maybe. I was with you two this time so we got past them easily but I'll double check. I think Harry said since we share blood it won't be a problem but better safe than sorry." She opened the boot of the car and started taking things out with Jean and David's assistance.
"Hey there Grangers! What's all this?!" Harry gaped as he came out of the house and saw the packages and things that were coming out of the boot.
"Presents of course," Hermione said and hugged him.
"There's so many," Harry said weakly. "You didn't have to-"
"Of course we did," Jean said firmly. "First baby in the family, you can't expect us not to spoil her! But don't worry, there're things for you and Katie too."
"I wasn't worried at all," Harry grinned. "Thank you so much." He helped them bring the things into the home.
"Oh my goodness," Katie laughed when she saw the pile. "Dahlia is one spoiled baby."
"One loved baby," Jean said. "Now pardon my rudeness, but where is she? I've only seen pictures so far!" She squealed when Katie led her to the crib that Dahlia laid in. She had been napping but the squeal woke her up and she looked up at Jean, blinking sleepily.
"She's sometimes a bit shy with new people," Katie said. "So don't be hurt if she-oh wait never mind." Katie smiled when Dahlia opened her arms a little to Jean. Jean needed no second urging and gently scooped up Dahlia.
"She's so beautiful," Jean gasped. "Hi, hi little baby. Oh my goodness, how are you so cute and adorable?!" She laughed with delight when Dahlia rested her head against her shoulder and took two handfuls of Jean's curly hair.
"She really likes grabbing people's hair," Katie laughed. "I never realized that until now."
"She's not trying to yank it out by the roots either," Jean said admiringly. She walked out into the sitting room. "She loves me already!"
"I bet it's because you feel like Hermione," Harry smiled. "She loves her Auntie Hermione so she's comfortable with you already."
"I love her too," Hermione said. She gasped when Jean ignored Hermione's open arms.
"You've seen her a few times already, wait your turn," Jean sniffed. She gasped with delight when Dahlia laughed at Hermione's look. "Oh my goodness!"
"I can wait my turn," David grinned. He winked at Harry. "Guess you have a couple more willing babysitters to tack on when you're ready for them."
"We have so many but I'm not complaining," Harry laughed. "I'm honestly so surprised that so many people want to see and play with her and want to watch her for us when the time comes."
"She's really adorable and super cuddly," Katie smiled, "that's the reason, I'm sure of it."
"Mum is being unreasonable," Hermione complained as she walked over, shaking her head.
"You've had plenty of time with her before now, indulge your mother," David laughed.
"Have you and Jean been putting any pressure on Hermione?" Katie asked slyly, laughing loudly when Hermione pushed her.
"Not really," David laughed. "Though Dahlia's been helping with that so you should be grateful."
"I am," Hermione said dryly.
"We rather Hermione get to a point where she wants to. We never wanted to pressure her unduly. Luckily it seems Jean has an outlet for grandmaternal energy," David said. He smiled softly when Jean walked over with Dahlia. "Oh hello there! Goodness, you really are incredibly adorable. Oh you want me to hold you?" He gently accepted the precious bundle. "Oh you're right, she is very cuddly."
"It'll be your turn soon enough," Harry laughed, wrapping an arm around a pouting Hermione's shoulders.
"Can't be too soon," she grumbled but smiled when Dahlia waved an arm at her, waving back energetically.
-0-0-0-
MandoJedi23 - Oh that's very cool. I like the different tartans a lot from looking at them online. Glad you enjoyed.
Arnie1701 - Yup, very different and yet still her.
Ghostwriter - Thank you for reading.
odonnellzoo99 - That could very well be a grade of the scale of how bad an argument is, based on how many bunnies is needed to defuse it.
poka - I adore mini-golf but regular golf bores me personally. I wanted to try and make it somewhat fun for me and I think it worked somewhat, will silly banter and a cute Dally.
alix33 - The only glare that works on McGonagall.