I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Extended Family
Chapter 130 – Future Tense
Takes place a bit before chapter 88.
Harry fished out his mirror, smiling at the very loud screeching that emanated from it. "Hi Angelina."
"Hi Rabbit." Angelina's image smiled at him. "I need a huge favor."
"Of course, what can I do?"
"Mum had to run off and she can't watch Hailey for today. Molly is busy too and the Wheeze is mad right now. I can't get a hold of Alicia either and I don't trust my brothers with a broom. Could you watch Hailey for me today please?"
"Of course. Alicia had an emergency too so I'll be watching Hadley too. I just got off the Floo with her and was about to go get her. I can run by your place to get Hailey."
"You're a lifesaver," Angelina sighed with relief. "Sorry for the short notice."
"No problem! I'm spending the day at Hogwarts doing some mastery work with Mistress but the girls should be fine with me."
"Luckily the bunnies all listen to you easily," Angelina smiled. "Huh, this will be the first time Hailey's visiting Hogwarts. Good thing it's summer. You sure it'll be okay?"
"I'm sure. Already checked with Mistress."
"Thanks again," Angelina said. "I'll bring a treacle tart tonight when I pick up Hailey."
"Come for dinner, we can have it together."
"Great idea! Thanks!"
-0-
A loud crack rang out and Harry appeared. He had apparated kneeling, his arms wrapped securely around the three girls. They made faces when they appeared, still slightly unused to apparition, but the feeling passed swiftly and they shook their heads.
"This is Hogwarts?" Hadley asked, looking about.
"Not yet. This is the Hogsmeade Apparition point," Harry smiled. He rose to his feet. "That's Hogwarts."
"Oh wow, it's so big!" Hailey gasped, seeing the castle.
"It really is. You girls are lucky. You get to see it before your first year." Harry took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I love it here."
"Have I been before?" Dahlia asked.
"A few times when you were a baby, so you probably don't remember," Harry said. "Come on bunnies, don't stray." He led them up the path and they skipped alongside him, eyes taking in the castle.
It was a gorgeous day. The sun was high in the sky, soft while clouds drifting lazily by and a gentle breeze kept the air moving and just shy of very hot. The grass was green and lush, the trees swaying in the wind. The castle looked timeless and solid, as old as the land surrounding and brimming with magic: literal and figurative.
The girls clapped when the immense iron gates opened slowly as they approached. They followed Harry in a row, like ducklings following their mother. They stopped when loud barking could be heard and Hadley hid behind Harry when a large boarhound came running over.
"Easy Fang," Harry laughed. He caught the slobbering dog and rubbed his large barrel head. "Girls, this is Fang. He's Hagrid's dog. He's big and loud but very lovable and terribly nice."
Fang nosed at the girls, tongue lolling out in a large doggy smile and he licked them enthusiastically, making them shriek with laughter.
"Where's Hagrid?" Harry asked.
Fang pointed at the Forest with his nose, tail wagging slowly.
"You didn't go with him?"
Fang laid on the ground on his back, paws up.
"It is good napping weather," Harry grinned, rubbing his stomach. "We'll come back out and play with you later, okay?"
Fang whined but nodded, giving the girls another lick and escorting them to the main door before he meandered off to continue his nap. Harry led the girls into the darker and cooler interior of the castle and the girls gasped as the painting inhabitants moved and talked. They shrieked when they saw their first ghost, clinging to Harry. The Fat Friar had not been offended and had greeted the girls jovially, soothing them. They finally reached McGonagall's office and Harry opened the door after knocking.
"GranMcGonaMum!" Dahlia cried and she ran up to McGonagall.
"My little lass!" McGonagall said happily. She hugged Dahlia tightly and kissed her cheek. "So good to see you. You've gotten so big since last I saw you!"
"You saw me last week!"
"And you've gotten so big!" McGonagall teased. She looked down fondly at Hadley and Hailey. "Hello girls. It is very nice to meet you officially. I'm Minerva McGonagall and I taught your parents as well as having the honor of being their Head of House."
"Hello," Hadley said shyly and politely.
"Daddy said I should be very behaved around you," Hailey said less shyly but still politely.
McGonagall's lips twitched. "He would say that and I would agree with him. I am sure we will get along very well."
Harry grinned and conjured some large squashy cushions and pillows. "Okay girls. You can do your daily reading first and when we take a break, we can go about and explore."
"Yes Daddy, yes Papa Harry," they chorused and sat down easily, pulling out books from their backpacks.
"Reading already?" McGonagall said approvingly.
"Yup! They love being read to and Hermione got them into reading early. They can read simpler things right now and we encourage them to read a little every day."
"Excellent," McGonagall said. She softened. "Hadley looks so very much like her parents. Hailey too, though she does not look nearly as mischievous as her father."
"Looks are deceiving," Harry warned. He chuckled at her look of horror. "But she isn't nearly as bad as George or Fred. Maybe somewhere between Ginny and the twins."
"I suppose I can tolerate that," McGonagall said with a small smile. They worked together for some time, going over a paper they were about to present to the ICW and international journals. Time passed fairly swiftly before they were happy with the final product. "Good. I will send this in tomorrow. I'm quite happy with this one."
"Me too." Harry stretched, rolling his shoulders. He looked over and smiled at the girls who were watching them. "You were very good girls. We can go around the castle now." He got up as they dashed over excitedly.
McGonagall's smile was broad and warm as she watched them leave her office, the girls hanging off his arms and chatting happily.
-0-
"Well hello there!" Flitwick smiled as he turned the corner. He had been a little confused when he heard the girls talking and had followed the sound with curiosity. "Harry, good to see you!"
"You too! Girls, this is Professor Flitwick. He teaches Charms and is the Head of Ravenclaw, auntie Luna's House," Harry said. "Sir, you've met Dahlia before of course, but this is Hailey Weasley and Hadley Wood."
"Hello," the girls chorused together.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," Flitwick said, his smile broad and bright. "Your mothers were very good in my class."
"What about our daddies?" Hadley asked.
"Oliver was fine. George was…too clever sometimes," Flitwick smiled.
"That's what Mummy says," Hailey said happily. "She also says it's noying."
"Noying?" Flitwick smothered a laugh. "Ah yes, I can see that. I was always amused by the Weasley twin antics but then again, I was not their Head of House so that might have been the reason why." He looked up at Harry. "Bit early for them to be Sorted, surely?"
Harry grinned. "Family emergencies. I was planning on bringing Dally anyways but ended up with Hailey and Hadley too. I thought it would be fun to show them the school."
"I agree," Flitwick said. "Oh I have been meaning to talk to you about our joint project venture. It can wait, but I did not want to forget."
"I'll pop by before we go," Harry promised.
-0-
"Well now, that's some happy squealing." Sprout walked up and smiled at the happy sight of Fang chasing the girls around and playing with them. The big dog bowled them over gently and flopped dramatically when they tackled him. "That one must be George and Angelina's daughter. She looks like them together. Glad I won that bet."
Harry grinned. When he taught for McGonagall, he was allowed into the Teacher's Lounge and had seen the Cup. "She really does. She's going to be tall like her mum. She looks so much like Angelina when she was that age. And that's Hadley, Alicia and Oliver's daughter."
"Awww," Sprout gushed. "Just like their mothers. Inseparable."
"Like you wouldn't believe," Harry nodded. "But it's perfect in my mind. Bunnies, come meet Professor Sprout."
The three girls scampered over. "Hello," they trilled together, looking up at Sprout.
"You feel like Grandmum Molly," Dahlia said with a big smile.
"Why thank you," Sprout smiled. "I think I can give a good grandmum hug. Would you girls like one?" She hugged them warmly when they nodded.
"Do you teach plantology?" Hadley asked.
"I do! How did you guess?"
"Mummy has boots and gloves and apron like yours," Hadley said. "When she does plantology for her potions. Hers are shiny though."
"Very clever," Sprout praised. "I like the less shiny ones. I work with plants that are a little more dangerous than your mother does on the regular." After some more chatting, they dashed off to play with Fang once more. "Bunnies?"
"Angelina calls me Rabbit," Harry said, smiling fondly. "We get each other rabbits and bunny things for gifts a lot and Hailey steals them from Angelina when she can, before she was born too. At play times when they were babies, they liked to sleep in a pile and they looked like baby bunnies and the nickname stuck. Actually, they still nap like that." He pulled out a slim silver case and opened it, revealing a series of photographs. He found one and showed it to Sprout.
"That is too adorable," Sprout sighed happily, looking at the pile of girls napping together. "I normally find rabbits to be pests but those bunnies will be the exception. Oh! And you too are exempt of course."
"Thanks," Harry laughed.
-0-
"PoppyGranMum!"
"Come here my darling!" Pomfrey swept Dahlia up and hugged her tightly, kissing her cheeks. "Oh you are so very big. How are you?"
"I'm good!" Dahlia hugged her tightly.
"Glad to hear it." Pomfrey set her down gently and smiled warmly at the other two girls. "And you must be Miss Hailey and Miss Hadley. I am Poppy Pomfrey. I am the Matron and one of the Healers for Hogwarts."
"How did you know our names?" Hadley gasped.
"Your godfather of course." She smiled when the girls beamed. "He brings me pictures to see of you and talks about you." She frowned slightly. "I hope he has not let you wander about unaccompanied."
"He's outside talking to Professors Flitwick and Babbly," Dahlia said. "I wanted to come see you."
"Oh then that is good," Pomfrey said, relaxing.
"Is this where you heal Quidditch players?" Hailey asked, looking around. "Like KatiMum?"
"Yes indeed. More than just the Quidditch players." She snorted softly. "Especially one Quidditch player though. Come come." She led them to a bed by her desk. "This was the bed your godfather used a lot when he was a student here."
"Why?!" the girls gasped.
"He was bad at Quidditch?!" Hadley gasped.
"Hey! Take that back!" Dahlia squawked.
"No no," Pomfrey said soothingly while laughing loudly. "He was good. He just got into a lot of…accidents while a student here."
"Oh okay." The girls looked relieved. They climbed onto the bed.
"It feels like Daddy," Dahlia smiled.
A short while later, the door to the infirmary opened and Harry looked in. "Hi! I thought the girls were here."
Pomfrey held a finger to her lips before pointing at the bed where the girls had cuddled together and fallen asleep. "Conked right out after sitting down, the darlings."
"They've had a busy day." He sighed at the sight. "Guess they can stay there a bit longer, if that's okay."
"More than," Pomfrey said warmly.
-0-
"I like this place," Dahlia said. She and Hailey and Hadley were sitting in a small alcove, hidden behind a tapestry of a field of flowers. A floating light ball illuminated the space, conjured by Harry, and they giggled and chatted, sitting in the alcove.
Harry had shown them the spot, saying how it was one of his favorite sitting and hiding spots and how he and Luna had left messages for one another there before becoming closer friends. He also very carefully did not mention two other fairly traumatic stories involving said alcove, actually three fairly traumatic stories. He had then walked off to answer a call on his mirror, letting the girls play in the alcove while they waited.
They stopped chatting when they realized something was on the other side of the tapestry. They squealed when the tapestry was suddenly pulled aside and they stared up apprehensively at a tall man with long black hair who stared down at them with confusion and sudden awkwardness.
They stared at each other in silence for a long moment. The man blinked a few times, taking in their appearances.
"H-Hello," Dahlia said, gulping a little. Her parents had taught her to be as polite as possible when meeting new people, at least if they were not rude to you first. "How are you today?"
The man blinked a few more times, still exuding an aura of intense awkwardness and mild uncertainty. "I am…fine," he said at last. "You must be Potter's daughter. Dahlia, yes?"
"Yes Sir," she said, slightly less wary. "This is Hadley Wood and Hailey Weasley."
The man twitched at the names. "I see. It is…pleasant to meet you. I am Professor Snape."
"Oh! I've heard of you," Hailey said.
"I am sure you have," Snape said dryly.
"Oh, hello Sir." Harry had returned but when he saw Snape there, rushed up. "Is everything okay?"
"Potter." Snape nodded cordially. "Everything is fine. I heard noise and was confused so I investigated. The children were not doing anything inappropriate."
"That's good," Harry said, relieved. "Girls, Professor Snape teaches Potions."
"Really?" Hadley looked up at him with surprise.
Snape twitched again. "Yes, really," he said.
"I thought mummies and ladies are the best potioners," Hadley said. "Like Mummy and Auntie Daffy."
Snape's lips curled slightly. "They are very good. I taught them."
"Don't take it personally Sir," Harry said, suppressing laughter. "They were also surprised when they learned men play a Chasers too."
"Potter, do you think my ego so fragile, that I would take the words of literal children personally?" Snape asked, eyebrow raised.
"Uh, well, ahem, if you want my honest opinion on that-"
"Never mind," Snape said wryly. "I see your point."
"If it's any consolation, you got a lot better about it later on."
"Your words fill me with pride and shore up my apparently delicate ego," Snape said, every word soaked in sarcasm.
"Mummy said you shouldn't be sharky," Hadley said.
"Sharky?" Snape repeated, confused.
"Snarky. Sarcastic," Harry explained.
"That is rich coming from your mother," Snape replied blandly.
"He's not insulting AliMum," Harry said hurriedly, seeing three looks of displeasure instantly appearing on the girls' faces. "He's actually talking like AliMum when she talks about the other mums and dads."
"Oh okay," they said, relaxing.
Snape had looked wary at the sudden change in their temperament and he sighed deeply. "Well, seeing how things are in hand, I will take my leave." He gave a short nod to the girls, a slightly longer one to Harry, and walked off. To Harry, his steps were just a little faster, as if he were eager to put as much space between them and him as politely possible.
"He's funny," Hailey said.
Harry snorted softly. "Glad you think that now."
-0-
"Well, I was not expecting this much commotion here during the summer without a conference," Dumbledore said, his smile wide and happy. His eyes twinkled as he watched the girls eating and talking to McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout, and a few House Elves. His smile widened. "I wondered where Fawkes went off to."
"He appeared as we were eating," Harry grinned. "The girls loved him at first sight and they might have overfed him a bit, sorry."
"No problem. He is a very active phoenix," Dumbledore said comfortably. "My, they look just like their parents."
"They do. Dahlia looks like her mother thankfully," Harry laughed. "Thank you for letting us visit."
"Of course. Hogwarts feels happier today," Dumbledore said sincerely. "It is nice to hear laughter and genuine happiness here, from any source." He walked over with Harry to the table where everyone was. "Hello girls, I am Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster. How do you do?"
"Hello," they trilled.
"You look like Santa," Hadley said, looking up at him.
Dumbledore's laughter joined the others. "I was in Gryffindor like your parents and do adore red. But I have the slightest advantage over Santa Claus however." He patted his slimmer stomach. "Lots of stairs in Hogwarts you see. Are you enjoying yourselves?"
"Yes Sir, it's wonderful," Hailey said brightly. "And we get to come here to school one day?"
"You absolutely will," Dumbledore said sincerely.
-0-
"You look very happy," Flitwick observed with an equally large smile.
McGonagall did look the picture of happiness. "Of course I am! New paper done, plans laid, and plenty of time with my little lass and now I can add more lasses to that."
"They are unreasonably adorable," Sprout gushed. "So like their parents and yet not. I love to see it."
"I can't wait until they come," Flitwick said, still smiling.
"I can," Snape said dryly but without heat or malice, walking into the lounge and pouring himself a coffee.
"How can you say that?!" Sprout gasped. "Did you meet them?"
"I did. Precocious for sure, and I worry how their temperaments will develop as they age." He sipped his coffee.
"Worried you cannot handle them at your age?" McGonagall teased.
Snape chuckled while the others laughed. "You do remember the parents of Miss Hailey, don't you? I recall the rate of sobriety potion use while they were students here."
"Well, I am hoping Angelina has had a calming influence," McGonagall admitted. "Not to mention they are deeply devoted to their godfather and he is a good influence on them."
"Good thing you have mended bridges with him," Flitwick remarked. "I have heard stories about those girls and their godfather, and father."
"Like what?" Sprout asked eagerly.
"Let us just say that even as a baby, Dahlia did not tolerate any slights to her father," Pomfrey chuckled. "And it has only gotten more so with age. Dirty looks, bites, and very polite ruckuses."
"Something to look forward to then," Snape said in his driest tone yet. "If I have not retired by then. Or fled the country." He left, still sipping his coffee while the others howled with laughter.
-0-
"I thought we were sharing the tart," Harry said, looking at the round tart in front of him.
"That one's yours," Angelina laughed. "I got a bigger one for us to share. You get one all to yourself for what you did today."
"I don't need to be bribed to watch my goddaughters," he sniffed.
"No, but you deserve a reward for taking them on short notice and watching over them out of the home," Alicia smiled. "No need to downplay their antics. We all know how they can be together."
"Handfuls?" Harry grinned.
"More like bucketfuls," Oliver laughed.
"Or barrelfuls," George smiled.
"How was the Hogwarts visit?" Katie asked.
The families had come to the Potter home for dinner that night. Harry made a family style version of his fish and noodle dish. Large plate full of stir-fried vegetables, a large plate of fillets of cooked fish, and a big bowl of seasoned noodles. Alicia had brought fresh bread and cheeses to accompany the dinner and Angelina brought tarts for dessert.
"It was good! The bunnies met the main professors."
"All of them?" Oliver asked.
"Oh boy," George groaned at Harry's nod. "They met Snape?"
"Yup. And it wasn't bad at all. He was awkwardly polite to them though he did make a remark about how rich it was for Alicia to say to not be sarcastic."
"That's fair," Alicia smiled.
"They're good girls," Angelina said proudly, watching them gobble their dinner. "Slow down girls, there's plenty."
"Hogwarts is going to be in trouble when they get there," Alicia said.
"If Harry couldn't wreck it, they can't," Katie said, making them laugh. "Or George and Fred."
"Yeah, but there's three of them," George chortled.
"They'll love it," Harry said with complete confidence. "And Hogwarts will love them."
-0-0-0-
TheSphynx - She makes things fun and adorable. Thank you. I'm always surprised when a background character grows and is enjoyed.
odonnellzoo99 - Indeed. Dahlia can enthrall anyone and anyone that isn't is dead inside.
iamchaos98 - I'm glad I can provide that for you. Thank you for continuing to enjoy.
alix33 - Castor is a fun character and surprisingly sweet.
poka - Who knows, she might show up more here and there. Her meeting the twins could be rather disastrous for many reasons. Dally is almost always super adorable. Partially my fault for writing her that way but still, she really is in my mind.
Ghostwriter - Such a sticky situation.