I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Hello everyone, hope all are doing well today. I was thinking about only doing two updates a week for a bit, but having done three minimum for so long, it didn't feel quite right. Also, with the surprisingly positive response I got to this start, I decided to reward everyone and post two this week. I might do an alternating schedule where one week Side Dishes will get two and Heals one and the the opposite the next week. Also please remember that this fic is completely finished and I will tell you all right now that it is 19 chapters long, so there will be a pace to things.
As always, thank you for reading and commenting. I write for all of you and your kind words keep me going through tougher times. I'm still getting over an illness so haven't been able to do much, but I'm glad I have so much of Side done already and have this completed for you. My best to all of you and have a lovely day!
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The Family that Heals
Chapter 2 – Breaking Point
Despite having visited Hogwarts many times before growing up, Dahlia still loved seeing the school and living in the castle as it was now. She had been worried that she would lose some of the wonder of coming to the school having seen it before, but her worries were soon dashed away when she came as a first year student the prior year. Seeing the school at twilight from the boats on the Black Lake was a wonderful and magical experience and she felt like coming to a familiar home when she walked through the gates and into the school as a student.
This time they would be riding the carriages to the school from the Hogsmeade train station. They took their luggage and trunks and things with them, putting them in the luggage part of the carriages, and climbed aboard with Helena sitting on her head. Dahlia loved it when Hedwig and Helena and Helena's brothers and sisters did that. It was such a comforting feeling to her and she adored it. When the carriages came to a halt, they climbed out and walked into the castle proper, waving at others and talking among themselves.
Candles floated in the air in the Great Hall, shining brightly on the people below. The students filed in, going to their House tables and sitting with their friends. Dahlia and the others sat down together and Dahlia and Hailey and Hadley waved energetically at the Staff table. They brightened when they saw Harry wave back excitedly, smiling as if it had been days instead of hours since he saw them. Helena flew through the air and settled in front of Harry, barking at him until he hugged her and she cooed happily, wiggling in his arms.
"Its so cool that Professor Potter is teaching us," Serena said.
"So cool!" Dahlia, Hailey, and Hadley said together.
"He's so nice," another person from their House said. "I didn't think he would be."
"Uncle Harry is the nicest," Alice said. "Uncle Nate said I'd be in good hands and this was when he was sad that Uncle Harry left professional play."
"Is he still a part of Portree?" Bethany asked.
Dahlia nodded. "He helps with Seeker training and is still a reserve. And he's still a consultant at the concessions stand at the Port."
"Ooh so he can still be a part of Team England," another said excitedly.
"At least as Seeker coach," Megan nodded. "Mummy still trains with him too at least once every couple of weeks or so."
"Same with Auntie Lizzie," Hailey said.
"He's also the school Quidditch coach," Hadley said. "Helps all the Houses because it's only fair even though he likes us the best."
"Well he was a Gryffindor too," Esther sniffed. "And helped set the school record for championship wins and fastest catch in a game!"
"Daddy's the best at everything," Dahlia said proudly.
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Harry gulped a little. The incoming first years had arrived, walking into the Great Hall together, looking about with obvious wonder and delight with some trepidation. He had scanned over them as they followed McGonagall in and without trying to, found her. She was small but there was somehow no mistaking it when he saw her. She shared the same eyes as her father, had blonde hair, and looked even more nervous than the others around her.
"Are you okay?" Filius Flitwick asked, noticing Harry's expression.
"I'm alright," Harry said automatically, smiling a little back but the expression did not quite reach his eyes.
Flitwick looked at Harry closely before turning to his side, tipping the person beside him a look. She caught the look and moved around the Charms professor and knelt at Harry's side. "Hmm, I do believe this is a record," Poppy Pomfrey said teasingly, giving Harry a faux stern look.
"I'm fine, honestly," Harry said with an amused expression.
"If you say so," Pomfrey hummed. "No need to hide your delicate nature from me."
"I'm not delicate," Harry said back and they laughed together softly. He turned back to the waiting first years and watched as the Sorting Hat was revealed and it began to sing to the astonished first years. The magical hat espoused the tradition of the schools and described the Houses to the waiting children before bowing when it finished with everyone else applauding.
McGonagall opened up the roster and began calling names. Nervous first years walked up to the stool and sat while the Hat was put on their heads. The Hat would muse for a few moments before loudly Sorting them and the waiting students would applaud and cheer and the House would welcome their newest member. Names came and went before McGonagall got to the one that he had felt nervous about all day.
"Dursley, Daisy," McGonagall said out loud, her professional demeanor eliminating any trace of emotion in her voice and her features remained cool and collected.
Most people in the Great Hall had not reacted to the name at all.
Most, not all.
Albus Dumbledore's head came up and he looked at the little girl with frank astonishment. The Headmaster of Hogwarts blinked a few times before he turned to look at Harry, his features sympathetic and understanding. He relaxed a little at Harry's weak smile and he nodded to the much younger man with a slightly sad expression.
Remus Lupin, professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts and friend to Harry's parents who had passed on, also stared at the little girl before looking at Harry. He too looked sad and sympathetic, brightening a little as he saw Harry looking fairly collected. He too nodded in sympathy, proud of Harry's expression and body language.
Pomfrey gasped a little, recognizing the name. She looked over at Harry who shook his head slightly at her unasked question. His smile that was a touch stronger gave her some ease and she sighed deeply and sadly.
"Dursley?" Hailey looked confused. "I thought she said her name was Durton."
"That's what I heard too," Dahlia said, also looking confused. "Right Hadley? Hadley?"
Hadley had frowned deeply when she saw Daisy respond to Dursley and she stared very hard at the other girl, thinking deeply. She chewed on the name, gnawing at it. "I know that name," Hadley whispered. "I've heard it before…"
"Where?" Hailey asked.
"I can't remember," Hadley said, looking down at the table, peering through the wood and into her memories. "I swear I've heard it though."
"I guess you weren't wrong thinking she lied to us," Dahlia said softly as the Hat sat on Daisy's head. "Why lie about her name though?"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Guess she's one of us," Hailey said as the Hat shouted. She and her friends clapped as Daisy returned the Hat to McGonagall and walked over to their table, looking relieved.
"Aww, look at Helena," Alice said.
"Wish she was that nice to us," Bethany said dryly.
"She does like to pester you," Esther giggled.
Helena had fluffed up against Harry, cooing at him softly and nuzzling him sweetly. The owl was being extra affectionate with him and they all watched from far away.
"She's really good at comforting people," Dahlia said. "Just like Hedwig." She frowned. "They all love Daddy but why does he need comforting right now?"
Eventually all the new students had been Sorted. Dumbledore rose to his feet and welcomed them all warmly, his smile open to all to see. "To our new students, welcome to Hogwarts. We are happy you have joined us and we are happy to embark on your scholastic career together. To the returning students, welcome back. We are so happy to see you return as well."
He looked over at everyone. "Typically, now would be when I make large announcements of things with differing levels of importance, but I find myself pleasantly surprised with the utter lack of things to announce." He chuckled and the students snorted and laughed with him. "So I suppose there is nothing more to do than enjoy the feast!" He clapped his hands and food appeared on all the tables.
The students fell upon the food with the voracity of hungry young people, eating without holding back. They started to chat and laugh with one another as they grabbed the food they liked best and ate eagerly, enjoying the good food made by the House Elves in the kitchens below. As the food was served, Helena fluttered back to Dahlia and the others and had nuzzled Dahlia first, passing along the affection from father to daughter before doing the same to Hadley and Hailey. After that, she helped herself to Dahlia's plate, munching hungrily with them.
After the feast concluded, the students began to leave for their common rooms and dorms. The prefects led the first years away to show them how to get to the common rooms and Dahlia, Hadley, and Hailey went to the Staff table. They hugged McGonagall warmly, calling her McGonaGrandMum due to their familiarity which never failed to catch the surprise of some of the other students. They greeted Pomfrey just as warmly before latching onto Harry.
"Hello girls," Harry said warmly, kissing them in turn. "How was the train ride?"
"It was good," Hailey said, snuggling into Harry a little.
"You didn't eat too many sweets, did you?" he asked, smiling.
"How much is too many?" Hailey asked, batting her eyes at him, making him laugh.
"I'll tell your mum that you had some then," Harry said.
"Thanks!"
"Are you okay?" Dahlia asked.
"I'm fine, why do you ask?" Harry asked, looking guarded for a moment.
"Helena was being super sweet to you," Dahlia said.
"She's always sweet, you know that," Harry said, relaxing a little. "Maybe I'm a smidge more tired than normal."
"Make sure you get good rest," Hadley said severely.
"Yes Ma'am," Harry said seriously, making the girls giggle.
"Oh, did you want to ask Papa Harry?" Hailey asked, looking at Hadley.
"Ask me what?" Harry said, looking at Hadley.
Hadley thought for a moment then shook her head. "Nothing right now. I'll ask later once I know what to ask."
"Sounds good," Harry said easily without pressing further. "Alright, you girls better get up to the tower." He sent them on their way with a final kiss and a hug, waving as they left the Great Hall.
"Why didn't you want to ask him?" Hailey asked. "Papa Harry never lies to us and always tells us things if we ask."
"I don't think it's something I should talk to him about," Hadley said seriously as they walked together.
"What does that mean?" Dahlia asked, frowning.
"I'm trying to remember where I heard the name," Hadley said slowly.
"You usually have a good memory about this sort of thing," Hailey remarked.
"It was when I was listening to Mummy and Daddy when you weren't supposed to," Hadley said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, one of those conversations," Hailey said in a knowing whisper.
"They told you not to talk to Daddy about it?" Dahlia asked, eyes wide. "That would really hurt him."
"They wouldn't ever hurt…Papa Harry…" Hadley had started off heatedly before her voice stopped. Her body also came to a stop and she stood in the hallway, looking blank.
"Hadley?" Dahlia asked, worried. "What's wrong? Hey!" She and Hailey chased after their friend who all of a sudden took off running. "Hadley! Wait!" They ran and ran through the hallways and up the stairs before coming to the portrait door that led into Gryffindor Tower.
"Hey girls," Alice said, seeing them. "The password is Starfall-"
"Starfall!" Hadley shouted.
"Okay, no need to shout," the Fat Lady, the occupant of the portrait sniffed. The portrait moved, revealing the entryway into the common room. "I'm right here you know and can hear just fine."
Hadley ignored her and ran in, followed closely by Hailey and Dahlia. The Gryffindor common room was a very big room and quite comfortable. It was the entire first floor of the tower and was full of chairs and couches that were soft and comfortable with plenty of pillows and things about. Lots of tables dotted the room and there were lots of windows surrounding them. A very large hearth was against the wall perpendicular to the entryway and the fire crackled comfortably.
Hadley ignored the comforts of the room, eyes searching. She found who she was looking for and walked straight to them, still trailed by Dahlia and Hailey.
"Hi-" Daisy said, looking happy to see them.
"Come with us," Hadley commanded and almost dragged the smaller girl to a private corner.
"Hadley! What is the matter with you?!" Dahlia gasped, seeing how frightened Daisy looked.
"Why didn't you tell us your last name was Dursley?" Hadley asked, glaring at the other girl.
"I-I, uh, I was told not to-" Daisy said, starting to tear up.
"Who told you not to? Why?!" Hadley asked, voice boring and eyes piercing.
"Seriously, calm down," Hailey said, eyes round. "You're scaring her!"
"Are you really Muggleborn?" Hadley asked, her voice snapping like a whip crack.
Daisy nodded fearfully, starting to cry.
"So you have no magical relatives?" Hadley asked.
"I don't know," Daisy whimpered.
"But you have heard of the Potters, haven't you. Don't lie!" Hadley said very sharply.
Daisy nodded miserably, shrinking.
"You're scaring her," Hailey repeated, looking at the shaking girl and her shaking friend. One shook from fear and misery and the other shook from increasing emotion. "Hadley, what's this about?!"
"Wait, you know about me?" Dahlia asked, staring at the other girl. She looked blankly at the girl's frantic headshake. "Or my father?"
"I was warned," she whimpered.
"Who would warn you about Papa Harry?!" Hailey gasped.
"What is your father's name?" Hadley asked, her voice a very cold whisper. "Does it start with a D?"
The girl nodded. "Dudley," she whispered. She flinched at Hadley's growl, at the look of sheer anger in the older girl's eyes.
"You stay away from us," Hadley spat angrily, shocking her best friends. "You stay far away from us. And if you are rude to Professor Potter, I promise I will ruin you and make sure you hate it here for as long as you are!"
"Not cool," Hailey said, grabbing Hadley.
"Don't you know?!" Hadley hissed, turning her anger onto Hailey.
"I don't know! What are you on about?!" Hailey said back heatedly.
Hadley turned to Dahlia and Dahlia also resisted the urge to flinch. She had never seen her friend this angry before. She looked accusingly at her and Dahlia had no idea why. "I don't know either," Dahlia said. "Hadley, what's wrong?"
"Papa never told you?" Hadley asked, her voice shaking.
"I don't ever remember him saying the word Dursleys or Dudley!" Dahlia said honestly.
"Me neither," Hailey said.
Hadley pointed at Daisy and the girl shrank even more. "Her father and his family hurt Papa Harry! When he was our age, even younger!"
"What?!" Hailey looked between Hadley and Daisy. "You're kidding. What do you mean hurt? Who would hurt Papa?! He's the best and the sweetest!"
"They did!" Hadley insisted.
Dahlia felt her heart ache and her insides shrivel, her stomach rolling and clenching. "When you say hurt, you mean, like the kids Grandma Sammi sees?" She gasped when Hadley nodded, feeling tears build.
"Mummy and Daddy talked about it and it was one of those conversations I shouldn't have heard but did, so they wouldn't be lying," Hadley spat, tears glinting in her eyes. "And they were his blood kin!"
"No, that can't be right," Hailey gasped. "Family doesn't do that to family! They can't!"
"Blood kin?" Dahlia repeated faintly. She looked at Daisy, her heartbeat thumping in her ears. "Your father is related to my daddy? We're…cousins?"
Daisy looked at her blankly, also shocked to her core.
"Your father hurt our papa?" Hailey asked, glaring at Daisy.
"He wouldn't!" Daisy said loudly.
"Then why were you warned against him?!" Hadley said accusingly.
Daisy said nothing, looking at the ground. "I don't know," she whispered. "He said he might be mean-"
"He'd never!" the girls nearly shouted together, looking appalled.
"Stay away," Hadley said coldly. "Or else." She turned and stomped away with Hailey following her. Dahlia stood there, staring at Daisy. Her mind reeled and she dithered there, unsure of what to do or say.
"Dally, come on!" Hadley shouted.
After one last glance, Dahlia left, leaving Daisy standing in the corner, crying and looking terribly alone.
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The door to their shared dormitory banged open and Hadley stomped in, growling and swearing under her breath. Hailey and Dahlia followed right behind with Alice trailing after them. The last girl did not follow them to the corner but had watched the drama unfold with huge eyes before following them up the staircase.
"We need to ask home," Hailey said. "We need to make sure we're right-"
"They're not going to just tell us!" Hadley shouted. "If they didn't tell us before, much less Dahlia, then they're not going to just reply to a letter!"
"Then we ask to go see them!" Hailey shouted back. "We have to make sure we're right before we do anything!"
"Are you calling me a liar?" Hadley asked, voice cooling to a dangerous level. She stopped stomping and turned to stare at her friend.
"No, and I'm not calling AliMum or Uncle Ollie one either," Hailey said, unintimidated. "But this is something we need to make sure before we do anything more."
"Should I leave or something?" Alice asked nervously, looking at them. "I can give you some privacy?" She turned and looked at Dahlia. "Dally, you look really pale, are you okay? Do you need to see the Matron or should I see if Professor Potter is still here?"
"No," Hadley said sharply. "We can handle this."
"Look, just calm down," Hailey said. "Not even Dally is as angry as you are!"
"You should be as angry as me!" Hadley shot back. "Don't you get it?!"
"I got it just fine thank you!" Hailey shouted. "But Papa always said not to make assumptions and that's what I'm trying to do!"
Hadley snorted angrily. "You don't love him as much I guess."
Hailey flinched as if physically struck, stopping and staring at Hadley. "You take that back," she said in a strangled voice.
Hadley's face twisted but she stood her ground. "No."
Hailey reached around her neck and pulled off a silver necklace that had a small silver bunny hanging off of it. "You. Take. That. Back," she said, eyes hardening.
Hadley stared back before she took off an identical necklace with an identical small silver bunny hanging off of it. "Make me."
Hailey threw her necklace onto her bed and launched herself at Hadley with a shriek and her arms outstretched. Hadley hurriedly tossed her necklace to safety before being tackled by Hailey and the two went over, hitting the ground hard.
"Oh my gosh!" Alice yelped while Dahlia snapped out of her numb fugue state and looked on with abject shock as Hadley and Hailey rolled on the ground, punching and kicking. Fights between the three of them were rare but they had happened before. Things were usually diffused far before it came to serious physical blows but this time things had gone too far and too fast and Dahlia, stuck in her mind, had been unable to allay things as she normally did before getting to that point.
Both girls gave as good as they got and Dahlia stood there for a moment with slack-jawed amazement before she jumped into the fray. "Stoppit!" she shouted, trying to push herself between them, wincing as errant blows hit her. "Hey, stop it, both of you!" She shook her head wildly when Alice looked like she was about to intervene.
"TRUCE!" Dahlia shrieked at the top of her lungs. "BIG TRUCE NOW!" The words somehow got through to the two other girls and they stopped fighting. They broke apart, panting and gasping and glaring. Both had scratches and abrasions on hands and faces and they glared at each other with naked anger.
"Fine!" Hailey shouted. "Truce! But I don't have to be here!" She ran out of the room.
Dahlia turned to look at her and looked back at Hadley, torn.
"Follow her," Hadley said emptily. "She needs you more right now."
Dahlia nodded and ran out after Hailey.
Alice looked at the open door and then back at Hadley who crawled onto her bed. "What was that?!" she asked, shocked beyond all measure.
"Me screwing up," Hadley said, curling into a ball and beginning to cry.
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Dahlia leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath. She had lost sight of Hailey and stopped for a moment. She resisted the urge to slump over. Her mind still spun from the revelation from Hadley. How did Hadley know something about her own family, something even she did not know? And now she has a cousin? Maybe more? And they were responsible for hurting her beloved father?
Dahlia knew that her father did not have the same kind of childhood she had, she knew that at least. Things she had learned through the years were proof of that. Her father not having a favorite food aside from treacle tart, not having family traditions growing up, small comments she had heard in passing through the years where Harry was worried about being a good father, about providing Dahlia and Iris and Lucas a warm and loving home.
Things she did not focus on before but she was certainly thinking about right now.
That coupled with the huge fight she had just witnessed were especially worrying her. She knew that she, Hadley, and Hailey had a bond closer than most. They grew up together, more close after the families moved to Potter Village before it was even called that. Their mothers were incredibly close and the daughters grew even closer.
That did not mean they never fought. They fought and bickered a lot, but they never let it get too far and always made up right after.
This fight, however, felt very different to Dahlia and it worried her.
She looked up and down the hall some, not sure what to do. It was very close to curfew but she did not want to get one of the teachers or prefects. That would involve more questions and Dahlia had more than enough to deal with right now. She reached into her shirt and pulled out her own silver necklace and silver bunny, then remembered that the other two took theirs off.
They never did that unless it was necessary.
Think Dally, she thought desperately. Suddenly she had an idea and walked off with purpose. She made her way to a tapestry of a field of flowers, hanging in the middle of the hall. "Hailey?" she called.
No answer.
"Hailey, it's just me," Dahlia said.
The tapestry moved a little, as if kicked from behind.
With a sigh of relief, Dahlia ducked behind it, finding a cozy little alcove. Hailey was curled into a ball in the corner of it, face buried in her arms and knees. Dahlia sat beside her and pulled Hailey to her. The other girl resisted briefly before relenting, shivering and shuddering.
"I love Papa Harry," Hailey said at last, voice muffled by her body and emotion.
"I know," Dahlia said, hugging her. "So does Hadley."
Hailey said nothing.
"She was just being a bee," Dahlia said gently. "She didn't mean it."
Hailey still said nothing.
"Let's go back," Dahlia suggested.
"I don't want to," Hailey sniffled.
"Come on, let's go back. Either there, or to the Infirmary."
"GrandPoppy will ask questions," Hailey protested.
"I know, so we better go back. We have our medicine kits. Come on."
After a few moments, Hailey uncurled and followed Dahlia as they walked back to the tower. They walked back in, ignoring the looks of the others who saw them run out earlier, and climbed the stairs back into their dormitory. Alice, Serena, Bethany, and Esther looked at them worriedly, casting a look at the drawn curtains around Hadley's bed.
Without saying anything, Dahlia led Hailey to her bed, and they saw Hailey's necklace settled on the pillow carefully. It was not there when they left. Dahlia opened her trunk and pulled out a small medical kit and gently applied ointment to Hailey's bruises and scrapes. She then drew the curtains around her friend's bed. When Alice shook her head at Dahlia's silent question, she went to Hadley's bed and peeked past the curtain. Hadley was lying on top, staring at nothing, holding her necklace in her hands. She turned and looked at Dahlia.
"She's okay," Dahlia said softly.
Hadley closed her eyes but let Dahlia rub ointment on her own wounds before she turned on her side, saying nothing. She dozed off after Dahlia pulled the covers around her.
"What happened?" Esther asked worriedly when Dahlia approached them.
"Hadley looked like she fought a hippogriff," Bethany said. "Same as Hailey."
"They got into a fight," Dahlia said, giving Alice a grateful look.
"With each other?" Serena gasped. "Why?"
"It's…complicated. We'll explain when we know how to," Dahlia said limply.
"Are you okay?" Alice asked.
"I…I don't know," Dahlia said honestly.
"Should we go get someone? The Matron or Professor McGonagall?" Bethany asked. "Or…Professor Potter?"
"No! I mean, no, thank you," Dahlia said. "We'll fix it. We always do."
"If you say so," Serena said uneasily.
"We're here to help, if we can," Esther said.
"Thanks girls," Dahlia said, smiling weakly. "It'll be fine." They slowly got ready for bed and they climbed into them, drawing the curtains. Dahlia held her small silver bunny in both hands and clutched it tightly, hoping. She felt a little better when both thumped in her hands, knowing what it meant. But it was a very weak response, not at all like they used to.
"It'll be fine," Dahlia repeated to herself.
I hope.
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Arnie1701 - A new one already.
HoneyBear84 - Thank you, hope you enjoy.
SuperDyke90 - Thank you. Hope you enjoy the journey.
odonellzoo99 - Right? It'll be interesting to see how the school is with them there. You know, eventually. I tried to pace things out well so hopefully you will find the answers and how they come to your liking.
poka - It's going to cause quite the stir. Also yes, I liked the idea of him becoming part of Hogwarts like this after professional Quidditch, glad you liked the idea too.
LordLiberty - I tried to show more of the culture of the school and how much things have changed as the years have passed. Hopefully you'll like it too as it comes to light.
TheSphynx - And the light will show things long buried and things will change forevermore. Or you know, my dramatic penny dreadful twaddle.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Hopefully it remains interesting.
alix33 - Helena, and the other owls, acting like their Mother will be a running theme and hopefully an enjoyable one.
zlancer1 - I'm glad, thank you. Hope you continue to enjoy.
61394 - Hopefully it'll be a worthy member of the genre and trope.