I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
The Family that Heals You
Chapter 10 – A Messy Meeting
"Huh." Harry sat back and looked off into space, obviously thinking.
"Sorry, love," Katie said apologetically.
He kissed her sweetly. "Oh don't be. I'm glad you were the one to meet with her and you told me everything, so you have nothing to be sorry over."
Winter was on the way now. After the first Quidditch games at the school, the autumn weather retreated in the face of driving winds and even colder temperatures. Flurries were common sights now and the air felt wet and heavy, promising snow and more in the coming days. Even the sun shining brightly could not keep the chill at bay anymore.
It was almost the end of the term at Hogwarts. The students were doing well overall. Marks were average to high with a few outliers. The atmosphere at the castle was cheery and there were little to no conflicts between the Houses and people, a large change compared to years past. Not to say there were none, just less and not so much House versus House like it was before.
Katie had waited for Harry to come home for work during the week and had told him about her conversation with Veronica a week prior. He was not upset that they had met, nor how long it took for her to speak to him about it. He trusted her and her reasoning made sense. He even understood why Dahlia did not tell him about the initial letter, also understanding that she would not be able, or want, to tell him everything.
Now he was grappling with a rather heavy decision, one he never thought he would ever have to consider or make. In fact, the possibility of such a decision had been ludicrous to him before.
"You know, this explains what Dally asked me yesterday," he mused. "She asked if we could meet Daisy over the holiday some time. Daisy probably asked her."
"How are they getting along?" Katie asked.
"Well, actually. Dally definitely kept her beyond arm's length for a while but they're pretty friendly now. Dally's been helping her with her schoolwork and I've seen them interact some. I think Daisy looks at Dally like an older sister and from what Dally has learned, doesn't have a lot of extended family of her own so has really wanted to be cousins and closer with Dally." Harry rubbed his neck slowly.
"How do you feel about that?" Katie asked gently.
"As long as Dally is happy," Harry said honestly. "I can set aside my own feelings on the matter." He smiled wryly. "If anything, I'm a bit surprised. Dally usually doesn't let things like this go, even when people who hurt me did it on accident."
Katie laughed and kissed him. "She has a big heart, like her daddy. Also you're not wrong. Nathan still likes to joke about the time Dally went after him with a bat when she was a toddler after hitting you in practice with the Bludger." They laughed together merrily.
Katie sighed. "Well, Dally does love family and she will do a lot for any she considers to be. She must have grappled with this for a while considering Daisy is her blood kin."
They sat in companionable silence, leaning against each other.
"She seems sincere," Katie said at last. "And desperate for more information. And we both know how much it would be a relief to know people who actually know how the Wizarding World works and all that. Especially since her other daughter is a witch too."
She growled a little. "And apparently he's sincere too."
Harry grunted a little at that. "And Vernon and Petunia won't be there?"
"I made sure of that," Katie said with heat. "That was a primary rule and if I see them, we're leaving. After I Curse them."
"Curse them or curse them?" Harry asked with a small smile.
"Both. I can do both at the same time," Katie said confidently.
"Yeah you can," Harry said, smile growing. After some more thought he sighed and rubbed his face. "I suppose a brief holiday visit won't kill me. If it does, you can bring me back to life."
"I'm very good at it," she smiled, kissing him again.
"Yeah you are," Harry said, kissing her back. "We can meet them at their house or somewhere else. I won't bring them here. That's a bad idea for many many reasons." He smiled at her snort. "Dally will be happy, I think. We should ask if Iris or Lucas want to come. I want them to have the option and make the decision. I won't force them."
"Me neither," Katie said. "I love you."
"Love you more," he said, smiling at her.
"The hard part will be explaining it to everyone," Katie said.
"I'm not looking forward to that," Harry said, shivering slightly. "Maybe wait until after it's done?"
"Maybe," Katie agreed. "When do you want to ask the children?"
"Let's do it this weekend. I'll bring Dally home from school for a bit so we can talk about it as a family."
"Using those professor perks, are you?" she smiled.
"Might as well enjoy the nicer parts of the job," Harry laughed.
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"Are we in trouble?" Iris asked.
It was Saturday morning and Iris and Lucas were sitting on the couch with Dahlia. They had been happy to see their older sister when she came home the night before, but when they realized it was just Dahlia, they were a little concerned. Dahlia had known why, with Harry having told her, but the other two did not.
"No, no one's in trouble," Katie said.
"Not even Dally?" Iris asked. She smiled cheekily at Dahlia's frown.
"Not even Dally," Harry chuckled. He sighed and rubbed his neck, taking a deep breath. "Iris, Lucas, would you like to visit someone for a little bit, less than a day, at the beginning of the winter holiday period?"
"We can decide?" Lucas asked, frowning.
"You can," Harry nodded.
"Why do we get a choice?" Iris asked before she frowned too. "Wait, that means it's not going to be nice."
"It might not be," Harry conceded.
"It'll be Daisy's home," Dahlia said.
"Daisy, as in Daisy Dursley?" Iris asked. She gasped when Dahlia nodded and Harry and Katie nodded too. "I thought her family hurt Daddy! Why are we going to visit them?!"
"It wasn't her family," Dahlia said lamely. "Just her grandparents…and her daddy when he was little."
"Which is her family!" Iris said loudly.
"I don't want to visit them if they're bad like that," Lucas said, glowering.
"And that's fine," Harry soothed. "Like I said, it'd only be a short visit and you'd be able to stay here or with anyone you'd like while we're gone."
"But why are you going in the first place?!" Iris asked loudly.
"Daisy's mother asked us too," Katie said. "They want to try and make amends and want to…build…a relationship with us."
"Why would we do that? They hurt Daddy!" Iris growled. She glared at Dahlia. "Why are you so nice to her anyways?!"
"Because she didn't do it and she's okay," Dahlia said back, face screwing up with conflicted feelings.
"And that makes it okay?!"
"No, it doesn't necessarily," Harry said, patting the air with both hands. "But sometimes people can change and can make up for things."
"DaffyMum says some people don't deserve that," Iris said rebelliously.
"She would, and she's not wrong either," Harry said wryly.
"What if they hurt you again?" Lucas asked fearfully.
"That won't happen," Katie said with grim finality.
"Can I use the restroom?" Iris asked all of a sudden.
"Yes you may," Harry said and sighed when she walked off. "I know it sounds confusing Lucky," he said to a very worried looking Lucas, "but your mother and I talked about this for a while and we're willing to give it a shot."
"Why?" Lucas asked. "They hurt you. Why are we being nice to them when they hurt you?"
"I can give you a lot of reasons," Harry said slowly. "Some say you should because of family, others say to be the bigger person. Those aren't always good reasons though. And not everyone deserves a second chance, but sometimes you have to do something you don't want to because it might be good for you."
Katie looked at him curiously for a moment and Iris came walking back in and sat back down on the couch.
"That was fast," Dahlia said. "Did you wash your hands?"
"Why?" Iris asked.
"Rilly! Ew! Wash your hands after you use the restroom!" Dahlia scolded.
"Oh right, I went there, let me go-" Iris said as she got back up.
"Wait, where were you?" Katie asked, frowning at her daughter.
"I was in the restroom," Iris insisted.
"Did you use the restroom?" Katie asked.
"Uhm, not really?" Iris said, looking away.
"What does that mean?" Harry asked when everyone turned to look at Iris. His head turned again when he heard someone hammering on the door. "It's open!" he shouted. "Who's hammering on the door this early in the morn-"
The door flew open and Daphne walked in, wand out in one hand and holding a vial in the other. She looked at everyone and then focused on Harry. "Drink this," she commanded, handing him the vial.
Harry took it without question, popping the cork out and drinking it. Katie looked at her friend with a raised eyebrow. "What's wrong, is everything okay?"
"What did I just drink by the way?" Harry asked, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"A Purging potion to eliminate magical influences," Daphne said shortly. She waved her wand over him and muttered incantations. "You do not seem to be under any spell or charm that impacts your thinking."
"I should hope not," Harry said, looking and feeling confused.
"Tell me something only the real Harry would know," Daphne said, not quite pointing her wand at him but having it at the ready.
"Do…do you think someone is impersonating Harry or something?" Katie cried.
"Babe!" Tracy ran in, followed by Heather, Kayden, and Taiga. The two children and the owl looked very worried too, checking on everyone. "You know I hate running! What's wrong, is everything okay?!"
"That's what I want to know," Harry said.
"Answer the question!" Daphne commanded.
"Fine! You two almost broke up in school because of reasons we all but the ones in question know and Tracy called you a squid and then told me you didn't actually have tentacles," Harry said crossly.
Daphne and Tracy blushed while Katie stifled laughter and all the children and the owl looked confused. "Okay, you are who you are," Daphne sniffed, trying to recapture dignity.
"What is this about?" Harry asked.
"Iris used her emergency rune stone and I thought she was in trouble," Daphne said.
"You did what?!" Dahlia cried, staring at her sister.
"You have an emergency rune stone?" Katie asked, looking impressed.
Iris held it up. It was a small flat stone with a deeply etched rune on the surface. "DaffyMum and HerMummy told me if I'm ever in trouble or if you or Daddy didn't seem okay, I should press it and tell them what I'm worried about into the stone."
"Iris!" Dahlia shouted.
"What?! I don't understand why we'd be seeing the Dursleys!" Iris shouted back. "Why would we go back if they hurt Daddy!"
"You're what?!" Tracy and Daphne shouted, staring at Harry.
"This isn't how I wanted to broach the subject with you," Harry groaned, covering his face with his hands.
"The kneazle is out of the cauldron now," Daphne said loudly. "You are seriously considering seeing them? Out of your own volition?!"
"Why the fuck would you do that?!" Tracy gasped, coloring when all the kids looked at her with shocked expressions.
Before Harry could respond, the back door to the home flew open and Hermione ran in, followed by a flapping Athena and a running Crookshanks, also carrying her wand and holding a vial. She stopped, seeing everyone there, before she focused on Harry. Before she could speak however, Daphne spoke. "I already tested him and he drank a potion."
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked.
"Give me that." Harry took the vial from her and drank it. "You like romance novels despite pretending you don't and even have a hidden shelf for them in your library."
"Okay, you're you," Hermione sniffed, flushing a little.
"Also, am I going to get really sick by drinking two of these?" Harry asked.
"As long as you don't have anything magical in your system, you won't," Hermione said.
"I can't believe you two gave her an emergency rune stone and we never thought of it," Katie said.
"We take our godmother duties seriously," Daphne said and Hermione nodded.
"It's for emergencies, like you not acting like you," Hermione said, frowning at Harry. "Which you seem to be acting like you, despite you sharing something very private a moment ago."
"Blame it on the potions," Harry said, handing her the vial back.
"So what's all the commotion about?" Hermione asked.
"Oh you do not know? You are going to love this," Daphne hissed.
Harry opened his mouth to speak then looked down. "Oh, hi Hadrian," he said, noticing a snowy owl sitting on his foot. Hadrian blinked up at him and hooted hello, looking at the man inquisitively.
"Hi Luna," Katie said, seeing Luna walk in.
"Hello everyone," Luna said dreamily. She smiled at them. "Oh, I suppose it wasn't a very big emergency then? With everyone here?"
"You have one too?" Katie asked, looking at her son.
Lucas nodded and held his up.
"I got the idea from Hermione and Daphne and so had one made for Lucas," Luna confirmed.
"Why did you press yours?" Iris asked, staring at Lucas.
"You pressed yours!" Lucas returned.
"Now I feel really bad we never had one done for Dally or the bunnies," Katie said weakly.
"We put plenty of emergency things in her things too, don't worry," Hermione said.
"So what's the problem then?" Luna asked, walking over to hug the kids and hugging her godson Lucas extra hard when he opened his arms to her.
Harry sighed at Daphne and Tracy's accusing looks. "We were talking about visiting Daisy's family for less than a day during the winter holiday."
"You're going to the Dursleys?!" Hermione shouted and Luna also looked very angry all of a sudden. "Are you serious?!"
"Apparently!" Daphne cried, throwing her hands in the air.
"Why on earth for?!" Luna gasped. "You cannot be having revenge because we all would know and be taking part!"
"Even Luna thinks it's a bad idea!" Tracy shouted. "No offense Luna."
"Oh none taken," Luna assured. "I also agree with your metric."
"Dahlia, none of this is your fault," Harry said, leaning down to hug her. She had looked especially crestfallen and guilty and hugged him back desperately.
"Oh yes, I mean, none of it is," Daphne said hurriedly, feeling guilty herself.
"I didn't want to cause trouble," Dahlia mumbled.
"You're not baby," Katie soothed, hugging her too. "This is just a touchy subject for us. Same with you Iris." She hugged her other daughter who also looked very guilty.
"I just thought something was wrong," Iris said, sniffling.
"Under normal circumstances, I'd agree with you," Harry said, hugging her too. "You listened to your instincts and you're not wrong, completely." He looked at his friends. "And I wasn't trying to hide it from you all, or anyone. Katie and I literally talked about it a few days ago and we wanted to discuss it with the kids first before I told anyone else."
"Ah, I see now that you were very truthful when you said you haven't told anyone else," Luna said, looking past Harry. At their confusion she pointed. Harry turned and physically flinched.
During the initial commotion, Hedwig and Helena had returned from an early morning flight. They returned in time for the announcement/confession and Hedwig was standing on the back of the couch; the picture of abject shock and outrage. Her large amber eyes were especially open and the feathers beneath her left eye twitched. Her beak was open and she was swelling from outrage, her feathers mantling and she started to growl. Helena, Taiga, Hadrian, and Athena stared at their mother with noticeable trepidation, having never seen her like that.
"Okay, let me explain-" Harry managed to say that much before Hedwig shrieked and flew into his face. She latched onto his shirt with her talons and beat him with her wings, scolding and screeching between pecking him hard repeatedly. She clung onto him as he ran, scolding him loudly as she vented her ire.
"I've never seen her that pissed before," Tracy remarked.
"Out of all of us, she probably has the most right to be upset," Katie sighed. "She lived with them too." She looked over at the other owls. "Poor babies, they don't know what to do."
The other snowy owls were hooting at each other, looking back and forth at one another before the other three turned to look at Helena who was the oldest. Helena looked torn and when she took an experimental step towards her mother and Harry, Hedwig turned her head and screeched at them and the four owls jumped off the couch and clustered around each other, watching with giant eyes.
Harry eventually managed to grab a blanket and wrapped Hedwig in it, creating a very angry owl bundle. Hedwig's head was out of the bundle and she continued to screech angrily at Harry as he very gently put her on his easy chair.
"You can lie there and cool off for a second!" Harry said, looking very ruffled and had several light scratches on his face. "Don't let her out please, for a bit," he said to the other owls.
The four other owls flapped onto the chair and looked at Harry, before looking at each other, then down at their mother. She scolded and barked at them, and then barked all the louder when the four flopped over her, pinning her down and keeping her in place, ignoring her lambasting them.
"Want me to heal those?" Katie asked, trying to look sympathetic while being slightly amused by the absurdity of the situation.
"Not right now," Harry said. "They don't bother me and it'll just make her even madder." He sighed and shook his head. "I don't blame her for being this upset though. They did not treat her well."
"Which begs the question why you are going at all," Hermione said. "Surely not just for Daisy's sake?"
"She's Muggleborn, Hermione," Harry sighed.
"I know that and the parallels of what she's going through and what I did is not lost on me," she returned heatedly. "But her family lost any right to any amount of goodwill from you. She's innocent but her family is not."
"And I know I sound hypocritical when I say this but some bridges must remain burned and for a good reason," Daphne said strongly.
"Yeah, what she said," Tracy added.
Luna looked at Harry with focused eyes, not a hint of dreaminess to them. "You're doing this for a somewhat good reason that is also very painful, aren't you?"
Harry rubbed his face. "Dally, take the others to the Triangle please. You can start the grill for extra warmth."
"Yes Daddy." Dahlia gathered all the kids together and gently but firmly pushed them out of the home, despite them wanting to stay. Iris helped her, still looking guilty, and soon the house only had the adults and the owls and cat within.
Harry waited and made sure none of the children were eavesdropping or remotely close before he looked at Luna. "You're not wrong."
"What possible reason could there be to do this?" Daphne asked. "You are extraordinarily kind, but there has to be a limit. We have seen the limits when someone threatens us."
"I…just want one chance," Harry said slowly.
"A chance for what?" Tracy asked.
"Oh." Katie looked very sad all of a sudden. "You're trying to prove them wrong, aren't you?"
"What do you have to prove wrong?" Hermione asked, looking incensed. "You have done nothing to deserve any of this!"
"The nasty rumors," Luna said, frowning. "They told Daisy to avoid you because you would be out for revenge."
"You are not responsible for that," Daphne said angrily.
"I know that," Harry said, sounding tired and exasperated. "I know I didn't do anything wrong besides…existing! But…" He looked at the ground. "But maybe, if I do this, maybe they'll…hate me less. Maybe I can finally prove my worth somehow."
"You have nothing to prove," Katie said, wrapping him in her arms and squeezing him tight. "Nothing, do you hear me?"
"I know," Harry said, leaning into her and taking solace in her arms. "I can't help but think and feel that though. I guess a very tiny part of me still hopes for something different."
"You cannot be faulted for that," Daphne said mournfully. "But they do not deserve that."
"And neither do you for enduring all this," Hermione said sadly.
"I know," Harry said quietly. They stood in silence together.
"Do you really think something good will come from this?" Tracy asked.
"For me? No. For her? Possibly. But I don't know unless I try, right?" Harry asked lamely.
"That just shows how good of a person you are," Luna said, hugging him tightly. "That despite all they did, you are willing to try."
"I guess if it can help you in some way, it won't be the worst thing," Hermione said slowly.
"And it won't get bad, I won't let it," Katie said.
"None of us will," Daphne said.
"Thanks girls," Harry smiled, looking weary but comforted. He looked over and nodded when the four younger owls looked at him. At his nod, they unraveled Hedwig who popped out of the blanket and cuffed them each before flying to Harry. She landed on his shoulder and pecked him in the head one more time before cooing softly, nuzzling him. He smiled as the other owls flocked to him, resting on his head and shoulders and Hedwig moved to his arms and he held her as the others made themselves comfortable on him. Crookshanks mooched over and sat on Harry's foot, purring softly.
"And if it goes tits up," Luna said, making him smile and Hermione snort and Katie and Tracy laughing with Daphne shaking her head, "we can enact our revenge and you can't stop all of us."
"I suppose you can think that," Harry said, still smiling.
"There, he agreed," Daphne crowed.
"Does anyone else know?" Tracy asked.
"My Mum," Katie said. "I asked her for advice about this."
"Oh boy, the Team is going to be especially angry about this," Hermione said. "As well as Andromeda and Sirius. Not to mention the others."
"May we watch while you tell them?" Luna asked with a soft smile.
"Sure, will keep them from giving me too much of the business, maybe," Harry snorted.
"No it won't," Katie said.
"No it won't," he agreed. He shook his head. "How did we never think of emergency rune stones before? We did for like the Cup games and camping, but not general use."
"We're suspicious like that," Tracy said airily.
"It is a good idea," Hermione nodded. "We'll make more for the others. And with more in-depth descriptions on when to use them."
"It's fine. Like I said, I don't blame her for thinking something was wrong," Harry sighed. "I'd never have considered this even a few months ago honestly. I'd think I was confounded or something."
"When are you going to go?" Luna asked.
"Probably at the beginning of the break, get it out of the way so we can enjoy the rest," Harry said.
"Hopefully things will go well," Katie sighed.
"Hopefully," Harry echoed, shaking his head.
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TheSphynx - Glad you enjoyed it. They played very well.
odonnellzoo99 - I figure Dahlia would be a good Seeker, she just likes to Chase more. So her doing that would make sense and make for a very cool play.
61394 - I think this Dumbledore enjoys playing with this generation of kids and being a little closer to the families in this way.
alix33 - I also really like that Breakfast of Champions has endured and become a cherished tradition.
HoneyBear84 - Thank you.
poka - I guess I still got it when it comes to Quidditch. It's been a bit for some Quidditch action so I thought it would be fun to dedicate a chapter to it like before and show how the new generation plays. I agree, she would be a good Seeker if need be.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - They very much did and showed they aren't to be trifled with on the pitch.
Guest - Thank you, glad you enjoy the stories and it was a lot of fun to explore the next generation of the team and dynasty.