I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
The Family that Heals
Chapter 5 – Mending, Slowly
Daisy sniffled softly, rubbing at her eyes again. Not for the first time, she wished she was not at Hogwarts. Magic seemed like such an amazing thing when Sprout came to her home and explained all the strange things she could do. To be told that magic was in fact real and that she could do more amazing things was incredible.
Of course it had not been all wonderful. Her father seemed to have been frightened of this somehow, as if he knew that magic was real. After Sprout had left, he had long secret conversations with her mother and it took some convincing to let her go to Hogwarts. He had told her to be very careful and to not talk about it a lot with Grandfather Vernon or Grandmother Petunia.
They too also had changed after learning that she was a witch. They acted oddly around her, not like they used to. While she was closer to her mother's parents, that sudden shift in attitude from her father's parents did fill her with some disquiet. Especially when they later told her separately from her father to not tell people her real last name, and to avoid anyone named Potter.
After getting on the Hogwarts Express and leaving London, Daisy had been scared and felt dreadfully lonely. While excited to learn more about magic, she was worried about making friends and while she was not terribly shy before, she certainly felt it in this very foreign environment. So she had been surprised and elated when Dahlia, Hailey, and Hadley had introduced themselves to her.
The elation had died when she learned that Dahlia's last name was Potter. But Dahlia seemed really nice so for a second, Daisy thought maybe her father was wrong. Or maybe there were other Potters and she only should avoid the bad one. Then the Sorting happened and her real last name was said out loud. She had been very worried about that but when no one appeared to have reacted to it, she felt better.
Which of course made what happened after the Feast all the worst.
Hadley confronting her like that, her face full of genuine anger and then hate made her feel terrible. Then learning that Dahlia was allegedly her cousin? And that the Potter she was warned against was Dahlia and her father, who was also a professor? And then to be threatened by a girl that she thought was actually really nice shattered her.
She had cried herself to sleep that night.
In the days since, her misery only grew. Her fellow first years did not treat her too badly, at first. Rumors spread as to why Hadley had such a strong reaction to Daisy and the fact that the three girls wanted nothing to do with her was a prime subject for conversation and gossip. Since it seemed everyone had high opinions of the Potters, more and more people refused to interact with her.
Then she had classes with Professor Potter and her confusion and dread only increased. He seemed very nice, very enthusiastic about his class. Everyone loved him and she had no idea why he was supposed to be such a feared figure to her. She also saw how he seemed uncomfortable around her and Daisy thought Hadley or Dahlia had told him to act like that. She hated it because she came to really like Transfiguration and she wanted to like Professor Potter, but she did not know why, nor why she was supposed to avoid him aside from what her father and grandparents said and what Hadley said.
She was desperate to send a message home. She wanted to know why she was being treated like this, why she should be avoiding Harry. She wanted to beg them to come get her, to let her go home. However, she did not know how to. She saw owls delivering mail but she did not have one. She was too scared to ask anyone, the prefects or professors or Head of House for help. So she wallowed in continued misery, counting down the days to the winter holiday and to beg her parents to not send her back.
She walked into the Gryffindor common room, eager to go up the stairs and to her dormitory and hoped no one gave her any ugly looks or whispered things about her. With her head down, she nearly walked into someone in front of her. She looked up to apologize and squeaked from fright seeing Hadley there. She turned to leave but Hadley held up a hand.
"Hi," Hadley said, looking uncomfortable but resolute. "Uhm, I wanted to say something."
Daisy stopped and looked at her.
Hadley took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," she said loudly and firmly, ignoring the looks from the others in the common room. "I'm sorry for being mean to you and saying those things to you. You didn't deserve it."
Daisy blinked at her, slowly comprehending what Hadley said.
"Me too," Hailey said, standing by her friend. "We were wrong to treat you like that. I'm sorry."
"You don't have to accept it or forgive us, but we are sorry," Hadley said sincerely.
"Th-thank you?" Daisy said, still flummoxed.
"Are you okay?" Dahlia asked, looking actually concerned.
"Uh, yes?" Daisy said.
The silence was awkward and palpable.
Hadley nodded. "Well, yeah, sorry, again." With a small nod, she turned and left, followed by Hailey. Dahlia looked at her with a complicated expression for a moment longer before waving and following her best friends, leaving a very confused Daisy behind.
She did feel a little bit better though, and that was a huge difference all on its own.
-0-
"So do we get an explanation?" Bethany asked.
"I said something really mean and rude to Hailey," Hadley said. "We let it go for too long and yeah. But we talked and we're better now. Sorry for making things awkward for a while."
"Yeah, sorry," Hailey added.
"We're glad things are better," Serena said. "It's weird when you girls fight. It feels wrong."
"What did the firstie have to do with it?" Esther asked.
"We're still not ready to talk about that," Hadley said softly. "But soon, maybe. But basically it was a fight over her, well not over her. She was involved."
The other girls looked at each other and shrugged. "Well, as long as you guys aren't fighting anymore," Alice said prosaically. "It's none of our business I guess."
"I want to know what you said," Bethany said. "So I know not to say it and not get the shite beat out of me."
"Wait, hold on, I didn't get the shite beat out of me," Hadley protested.
"Yes you did, I whipped you," Hailey said, narrowing her eyes.
"Did not! You got as good as I did!"
"Did not!"
"Okay, not another fight," Dahlia said, pushing them apart. "One's enough."
Hadley and Hailey exchanged rude hand gestures and thrown pillows before Hadley sighed. "I accused her of not loving Papa Harry as much," she said lamely, flushing a little.
"You said that? Even I know not to ever say that," Bethany snorted scathingly while the other girls gasped and laughed.
"Seriously, the fastest way to piss off the three of you is to talk bad about Uncle Harry, insult Portree, or insult one of you to the others' faces," Serena laughed. "And in that order!"
"Yeah you lay off Portree," Esther said loudly. "Portree is the best! Go Pride!" She, Dahlia, Hailey, Hadley, and Alice shouted together at the top of their lungs.
"I'm glad I don't support another team," Serena giggled.
"I'm glad I didn't care about Quidditch at all before meeting all of you," Bethany smiled.
"Doesn't your mother and aunt play?" Hadley asked.
"Friendly games and the local league. I support them but that's family. Well wait, they support Pride so I suppose I did tangentially as well."
The door to the dormitory opened and Megan and Sandy were there. "We heard our battle call," Megan said seriously.
"Just proclaiming that Portree is the best," Esther said snootily.
"Heck yeah it is," Sandy said loudly. She looked over at the girls. "Everything okay?"
"Everything's fine," Dahlia said and Hailey and Hadley nodded.
"Thank Merlin," Sandy groaned. "I was worried you three would still be out of sorts before we get the House team together. I've been waiting for you three to join. We're going to own the Cup and the school!"
"Yeah we are!" the trio shouted and they high-fived Esther, Megan, Alice, and Sandy enthusiastically.
"We're surrounded by Quidditch fanatics," Bethany sighed.
"Better join them than the alternative," Serena giggled.
-0-
After the very pleasant surprise of being apologized to, Daisy's head continued to whirl from even more changes. The apology seemed to change the House feelings somewhat and more people were being cordial to her. Not exactly nice per se, but definitely more pleasant than before.
She would take what she could get.
The surprise lasted into the next day where an even greater one waited. She was already feeling better about things. Her classmates were kinder to her and she was actually enjoying herself. She managed to transfigure her clay into stone and her stone into sand and earned some points for the House. Even Professor Potter seemed to be nicer to her, though she was not entirely sure of that. However, as she was getting ready to leave, she almost jumped when she realized he was standing beside her.
"Sorry," he apologized, and sounded like he meant it. "I didn't mean to startle you."
"Th-that's okay," she stammered.
"Do you have a few moments to stay back?" he asked kindly. "You're not in trouble," he added swiftly when she looked worried.
"Oh! Uh, sure, I mean, yes Sir," she said, glad that she was not in trouble but feeling slightly worried nonetheless.
"Thank you," he said with a small smile. The rest of the class left and it was just her and him. Her worry, and surprise, grew when Dahlia walked in and closed the door behind her.
"Hello," she said with a smile and sat beside Harry. It was easy to see the familiarity between them when they were alongside one another. Their eyes were the same, a vibrant green that was kind and warm. Her features were a lot like his and her frame promised more height in the future. They looked very at ease with each other, exuding a feeling of genuine warmth and mutual love and affection.
She could see how close they were and she felt an intense sense of longing for her home and her parents at that moment.
"How have you been, Miss Dursley?" Harry asked and managed to smile even while saying the name.
"Uhm, okay," she said, unsure of how truthful to be.
Harry took a deep breath. "I…believe that you and I might be related," he said at last and with much awkwardness. "Your father is Dudley Dursley?"
"Yes Sir," she said, eyes wide.
His face twisted and he swallowed a little. "Your grandfather and grandmother are Vernon and Petunia?"
"Yes Sir," she repeated, eyes growing slightly wider.
He sighed a little, looking inexplicably old and weary. "Your grandmother is my aunt," he said quietly. "Dudley is my cousin. Which makes you…my first cousin once removed? I think? I looked it up the other day and wrote it down somewhere." He patted his pockets absentmindedly and stopped at Dahlia's giggle and smile. "Guess it's not that important," he said, smiling back at her.
"Auntie Daffy would say it's very important," Dahlia said.
"Well she would care more about that sort of thing," Harry agreed.
"Who's Auntie Daffy?" Daisy asked. "Is she my auntie too?"
"Oh, uh, no," Harry said apologetically, not enjoying how crestfallen Daisy looked. "She's a dear friend of mine and is Dally's adopted aunt, as well as Iris' godmother. One of her godmothers. Iris being Dahlia's little sister."
"I have more cousins?" Daisy asked, sounding wistful.
"Second cousins, I think," Harry said, wishing he remembered to bring the notes he prepared.
Daisy's eyes sparkled for a moment before she gulped and looked up at Harry. "Do…do you hate me?"
"I do not," he said firmly, looking at the little girl seriously. "I'll be completely honest, and please don't be offended, but I didn't even know you were…a person and around until the day of the Sorting."
"Really?" Daisy gasped.
"Really, I will not lie to you," Harry said solemnly with Dahlia nodding beside him.
"Why would Daddy say to be careful of Potters?" Daisy asked, looking stricken and confused.
"I was about to ask you that," Harry said carefully. He smiled weakly. "I don't suppose your family had a bad experience in a pottery shop?" He sighed at her very blank look.
"I made that joke," Dahlia said proudly. "Hadley and Hailey didn't find it funny though."
"You are my daughter alright," Harry said proudly and kissed her temple, hugging her close. He looked back at Daisy and winced at her very lost expression. "Sorry. As my good friends would say, just trying to ease the tension." He coughed. "So your father or your grandparents never mentioned anything about me?"
She shook her head. "Not until I was coming to Hogwarts. They said to never tell people my last name and to avoid anyone named Potter."
Harry patted his daughter's back as she growled a little. "Do they treat you well?" he asked, wincing when he realized how baldly he asked that.
"Yes," Daisy said, glaring at him before her expression faltered a little. "Daddy did tell me to not talk to grandmother and grandfather about magic, but didn't say why really. Just that they didn't like it."
She looked up at him with large plaintive eyes. "Do you know why?"
Harry rubbed his neck. "I have my suspicions," he said at last. "But that's between me and them. You have no responsibility for it."
"Oh." She looked down.
"I would also like to apologize again for Hadley, Miss Wood," Harry said. "And Miss Weasley. They're my goddaughters and like my daughter, daughters and son truth be told, are very protective of me."
"We have to be," Dahlia said, frowning at him.
"Apparently," he grinned. He looked back at Daisy. "But yes, please don't hold it against them if you can. What they did was wrong, and I hope they apologize for it."
"They did," Daisy said.
"Thank goodness," Harry sighed with relief.
"So…are we family?" Daisy asked, looking hopeful.
Harry coughed to hide a moment of hesitation. "It seems to be, yes," he said with a small smile.
"I'd like that," Daisy said honestly. "I didn't understand why Daddy and my grandparents said that. You're really nice. And Dahlia was when we first met." She and Dahlia winced a little. "Before…well…yeah." She mumbled a little. "I'm sorry for lying to you," she said in a very small voice to Dahlia.
"You were told to," Dahlia said, frowning a little. "So it's not completely your fault, I think."
"I wish I knew why," Daisy fretted. "I wish I could ask them, or send a letter. Professor Sprout said over the summer I'd be able to but I don't know how yet. I haven't asked though."
"We typically use owls to send post," Harry said. "Maybe Dahlia and I can show you the owlery later and you can ask one of the school owls to send a letter."
"That would be nice," she said, brightening.
Harry sighed internally at her expression and he nodded to himself. "Might as well try to finish that idea," he murmured softly. He shook his head when Dalia looked at him questioningly. "Just talking to myself, flower."
He turned back to Daisy. "You shouldn't ever feel like you can't ask questions for help. I promise I will do my best to aid you."
"Thank you," she said gratefully. She looked at Dahlia. "Can we be cousins?"
Dahlia smiled a little. "How about we start as friends and get to know each other?"
"I'd like that a lot," Daisy said eagerly. "Thank you!" She looked at the clock on the wall. "Oh, I better go to my next class."
"Here, I wrote you a note in case you're late," Harry said, handing her a slip of parchment. "Nev, uh, Professor Longbottom is very nice though, about late people for a good reason."
"He's nice too," Daisy nodded. She gathered her things and smiled awkwardly at them. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Harry smiled back.
"See you later!" she said and dashed from the room.
"That's my girl," Harry said, hugging Dahlia again.
She hugged him back. "Should I have offered to let Helena help her?"
"Uh, you might want to hold off on that one," Harry said slowly. "From what I remember, they didn't like owls much." And with Helena being Hedwig's daughter, the feeling will be very mutual.
"Why not?!" Dahlia gasped.
"For Muggles, owl post is very strange," Harry said.
"I'd miss having Hedwig and Helena and the others," Dahlia said.
"Me too," Harry smiled. "You should hurry and not be late to class, flower."
"Aren't you going to write me a note?" she asked, batting her eyelashes at him.
Harry laughed merrily. "Professor Snape might refuse it on principle."
"He's silly like that," Dahlia nodded.
Harry laughed even harder, too overcome to explain to her why he found what she said that hilarious.
-0-
"I'm glad that Hogwarts lets students come home for a weekend here and there, and allow more visits to there from family," Angelina said, smiling broadly.
The village was full of happy noises as the three bunnies were back and playing with their siblings outdoors, taking advantage of the good weather while it was there. McGonagall had of course given permission, citing that the girls easily met the requirements for home visits. Harry brought them home via the Floo and after hugs and kisses all around, were playing outdoors. They already did their homework the night before to take advantage of the weekend.
"What was the reasoning? Not that I'm complaining," Oliver said. "Just that the school has been around for ages and they never had that policy before."
"Well it helps keep some students studious," Harry said. "Encourages them to stay on top of things so they qualify for home visits. It's good to give them a break and let the families see them more and not just rely on the holidays or coming to the school for a usually not so good reason."
"Like when Molly had to go for the twins," Alicia smiled.
"Yeah that," Harry laughed. "Also, and I'm not sure if McGonaMum or the Headmaster were kidding about this, but it also empties the castle a bit here and there and sometimes the biggest troublemakers want to go home so it's a bit of a break and relief."
"I believe that as a reason," Katie laughed. They watched their children play happily together.
"I'm sorry Baby Bird," Alicia said softly, hugging him from behind.
"Yeah, sorry Sir Harry," Oliver said, patting his shoulder.
"I don't blame either of you, or any of you," Harry said honestly. "I mean, we've learned how sneaky the bunnies can be about eavesdropping and all that."
"What were we even talking about to bring it up?" Oliver asked, looking at his wife.
She hummed for a moment. "Oh, when Christina reached out to me," she said, scowling.
"Who?" Katie asked.
"My brother's wife," Alicia said flatly.
"Why did she do that?" Angelina asked.
"To talk to me and to attempt to 'make amends'," Alicia spat. "And that irritated me and I guess we were talking about horrible family members and well, Baby Bird's is still the worst by a large margin."
"Finally, something useful for them to be. A metric," Katie deadpanned and the others laughed loudly.
"I still hate the idea that they fought because of me," Harry sighed.
"Harry, they love you, in case you didn't know," Angelina said very slowly, as if explaining something very difficult. The others laughed again, laughing harder at Harry's look at faux shock. "They're going to have strong feelings and opinions about everything concerning you. It's not your fault."
"Should we have told them sooner?" Harry asked.
Alicia shook her head. "No, it would have done no good. And we could not have expected for them to have a magical child and meet them in that way."
"I should have," Harry sighed deeply, "life likes to mess with me like that."
"Hey, at least she's not like how you remember your cousin to be," Oliver said. "That's a good thing."
"That's a great thing," Harry admitted. He smiled wryly. "Must get it from her mum."
"Yes! Good!" Alicia smiled sharply and hugged him. "Say more mean things! Let the spite out!"
"I can be spiteful!" Harry said, wounded.
"Sure you can love," Katie giggled, hugging him. She sighed too. "Just as well we didn't say anything to them. The other children didn't take it so well last night."
Harry nodded sadly. After conversing with the other parents, they decided to give the other children a very surface level and light explanation of sorts, if they overheard the Dursley name and Daisy's name. Harry had only told them that when he was little, his aunt and uncle and cousin had been bad to him and hurt him, hence him not being close with them anymore. The children had become very upset and despondent, clinging to him. It took some time for them to calm down and while Harry was overcome with how much love they had for him, he hated upsetting them for something like that.
"But they made up and are as close as ever," Angelina said soothingly. "That's what's important."
"I just had hoped to never tell them anything at all," Harry said softly.
"Things like that never stay buried forever," Alicia said sadly. She gave him a look. "Unless you bury said perpetrators with the secrets, which is something I have mentioned at least once before."
"Ten times in my hearing, counting today," Harry grinned, hugging her. "And I don't know where they live anymore. I've said that at least five times."
"Probably more honestly," Oliver grinned too.
"What's a little murder between family?" Angelina asked, rolling her eyes.
"Murder? Or justice?" Alicia asked mildly.
"That sounds like a question for Hermione and Uncle Ted, we can ask them later," Harry snorted. He smiled when he saw two people walking over. "Or Dora. Speaking of." He waved energetically at the approaching figures.
Nymphadora (do not call me that) Dora Tonks waved back even more energetically and hugged Harry tightly. Her pink spikey hair turning long and black, her eyes turning green. "Hi little brother!" she said, squeezing the air from him.
"Hello everyone," Percy Weasley smiled. They embraced one another and he looked out at the playing children with sincere fondness. "The place always sounds better when they're playing."
"It really does," Katie smiled.
"So I have something to ask you two," Harry said when Tonks let him go. "How long have you two been teaching the bunnies how to fist fight?"
"You've been what?!" Katie, Angelina, and Alicia shouted.
"Hey! Auror!" Tonks squawked, hair turning limp and blonde. "It's my duty to teach people how to defend themselves and that goes triple for Dumpling and the girls!"
"I agree," Percy sniffed, ears red. "While I am not an Auror, I am well vested in my nieces', literal and spiritual, safety. Also, I was not teaching them to fist fight, but self-defense. There is a difference."
"Ohhh," Angelina groaned with dawning realization. "I just thought Hailey was a natural scrapper when she fights with my brothers' kids."
"She actually is," Percy said proudly. "And an able student."
"That makes a lot more sense now," Oliver mused. "Remember last time we visited Mum and my brothers were there with their families?"
"Oh right, their children were giving Hadley a wide berth after halfway through the day," Alicia said.
"I thought they wouldn't grass us up, or at least me," Tonks said pawkily.
Harry grinned. "It slipped out when they were making up. Also apparently when Dally said they fought, they literally fought. Hailey had a black eye and they gave each other multiple injuries."
"And you didn't see them?" Katie asked. "Oh wait, our medkits. Well, at least they're using them for a good reason."
"How is all that by the way?" Percy asked. "Better I assume, seeing them now."
"Yes, better, thankfully," Harry said with evident relief.
"Good," Tonks said.
"Have you been teaching the other children yet?" Katie asked.
"Uh…maybe basic things," Tonks said, looking away and her hair turning spikey and pink once more.
"As long as they don't try it on each other," Oliver said.
"No, we made that clear," Percy said, coloring at the looks from the others. "And their relationships are not like mine with my siblings so you do not have to worry about midnight duels in the orchard."
"Mostly because we don't have an orchard," Katie said. "Can we have an orchard though?"
"We have plenty of space for it and that would be nice," Harry mused.
"One last question, what's the difference between murder and justice?" Alicia asked seriously.
"Like, legally?" Tonks replied seriously.
"Sure," Alicia replied.
"I better not be privy to this conversation," Harry laughed.
-0-0-0-
poka - Not quite, but something will happen eventually I'm sure. And yes, a long road, but hopefully one worth traveled.
TheSphynx - Mmhmm, not to mention he did want to show them true strengthh of character and help them think as well as learn.
odonnellzoo99 - I think this fic will have a lot of fun callbacks. That's half the fun for me when writing something with a lot of history to it.
Hidden Circumstance - Thank you.
LordLiberty - True, but we will see.
HoneyBear84 - Thank you.
alix33 - A lot of complicated emotion for sure.
61394 - And so it goes as shown in today's chapter.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Yup. Acknowledging and identifying the problem and then trying to fix it properly.
choquain - Yup. It's a never ending process and it's always hard, but hopefully worth it in the end.
Maya Grey - Thank you for the kind words and high praise. I always try to write to the best of my ability and constantly learn and grow from what I've done. This setting will always be near and dear to me and I thought it would feel good to have this story here in a seperate piece. Hope you continue to enjoy.