I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.

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The Family that Heals

Chapter 19 – Peace

Harry finished the last of his work and organized it. He put things in their respective boxes on the wall of his office, knowing that they would be sent out properly based on what was in each box. It was a relatively new system for the school, one that the Ministry used and Percy had taught Harry about it, but it worked well and they were grateful for it.

He gathered his things, putting what he needed in his briefcase and put a few things away while Hedwig flapped around, dusting things with a cloth she held in her talons. When things were up to her standards, she pushed the rest of the things back into place, hooting when she was finished.

"Thank you," Harry said, smiling when she fluttered to his head and settled down comfortably. He looked around once more. "The end of another school year," he mused. "It was a good year." He looked up when his owl snorted deeply and roughly. "Well, it ended on a good note."

Hedwig rolled her eyes but cheeped, agreeing with him there.

"And now for a summer of indolence and relaxation." He grinned at a second snort accompanied by Hedwig tugging on his hair. "I'm kidding. I know my calendar is still comfortably busy." With a final nod he looked back up at her. "Let's go home."

Hedwig hooted happily, nodding in agreement.

-0-

"Hey you," Katie smiled, slipping an arm around his waist.

Harry had gone home first to change and drop things off before apparating to King's Cross station. He made his way through the crowd, exchanging greetings and words with waiting parents and families, and reaching his own. He kissed his wife and held her close.

"Good timing," Angelina said as the train appeared in the distance.

The train blew the whistle jauntily, greeting the waiting families. It chooed and chugged as it came to a stop. The doors opened and soon returning students flooded off the train.

"Daddy!" Dahlia tackle hugged Harry. "We missed you!"

"It's been too long!" Hadley wailed.

"Don't let us go!" Hailey shouted.

"Never! I won't ever!" Harry gasped, hugging all three of the girls to him and they fell over in a heap with the three girls sobbing loudly with relief.

"Every time!" Alicia shouted while the watchers laughed loudly. "Every single time! Why must you do this?!"

"Because it's funny!" Hadley shouted, misery evaporated.

"And we did miss him!" Hailey shouted, merriment evident.

Harry regained his feet, smiling from ear to ear and he helped get their trunks off the train as well as the trunks of the other second year, soon to be third year girls. They all chatted with one another, making plans for the coming days, and they left one by one. Others bid farewell to Harry, thanking him for the year.

"Uh, hi."

Harry turned and saw a very awkward Dudley there with Veronica and Penelope beside him. The big man winced at the hostile looks from most of the others there but he kept a smile on his face. "It's, a, it's a nice day," he said lamely.

"Hi Dudley," Harry said at last, nodding at him. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Dudley said, looking faintly relieved. He smiled broadly when Daisy jumped at him, hugging her and smiling with sincere emotion. "Hey Daisy!"

Harry softened at the sight of daughter reuniting with father and family. "She did very well," he said, delighting in her brilliant smile. "Top of her year in Transfiguration."

"You're the best teacher," Daisy smiled, hugging him openly too. "And it's so fun!"

He still found it rather surprising that he could hug her so easily, without reservation or fear.

"Glad to hear it," Veronica said gratefully.

"Bye Dally," Daisy said brightly. "I'll write you soon."

"Me too," Dahlia said, smiling back.

"Oh, uh, here." Dudley reached into his pocket and took out an envelope, handing it to Harry. "I promised I'd give it to you," he said weakly.

Harry took it, looking at the very sharp handwriting on the front of it. "Thanks," he said. "I'm sure we'll speak soon."

"Yeah, that'd be good," Dudley said. He gathered his family and with a slightly stronger nod to the others, left.

"That's still the weirdest thing," Hermione said with a slight frown.

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "But better than what it was before."

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They returned back to Potter Village together. The other children waited for Hadley, Hailey, and Dahlia to settle in a little before ambushing them with a flurry of Weasley War Pillows and reusable water balls. The older girls retaliated, without their wands and magic, and a very large war erupted. The Triangle became a warzone of pillows and water and the children fought with energy they kept in reserve during the school year and could now be fully unleashed.

"Hailey's gotten better," Katie admired as she watched Hailey nail her little brother in the head with a pillow from a decent distance away.

"Yeah she has," Harry smiled. "She practices a lot, obviously. Quidditch of course."

"Of course," Katie smiled lovingly. "The place sounds better with all their laughter."

"Sure does. Only one thing missing and-there it is." He and Katie laughed as the snowy owls dove and released water balls they had, bombing the children below. Led by Hedwig, the flying formation flapped around and lovingly assaulted the children who squealed happily as they fought back. Hooting and barking filled the air with laughter as the owls joined in on the fun.

"When are the others coming for the welcome home party tonight?" Katie asked.

"Around 7 or so, no real start time. As per usual, everyone's coming when they can and staying as long as they want," Harry smiled.

"Just how we like it." Katie looked at the envelope sticking out of Harry's pocket. "I wonder what that's about."

"Oh, almost forgot about it." Harry pulled it out and stared at it for a while.

"Who's handwriting is that?" Katie asked softly.

"Petunia's," Harry said. He slowly opened the envelope and removed the piece of paper within. He looked at it for a long moment.

"Well, what's it say?" Katie asked after some time.

"'I'm sorry'," Harry read.

"And?"

"That's it," Harry said.

Katie took it from him and stared at it. "That's it?! That's all she wrote?! What the fuck!"

"That's actually a lot for her," Harry snorted. "I don't ever remember her apologizing to anyone for anything, except when Dudley didn't get an extra treat or gift."

"That's not nearly enough," Katie said heatedly. "Not nearly adequate for anything!"

Harry shrugged limply.

"I can't help but notice she didn't say we on it, just that she is," Katie said slowly.

Harry nodded. "That's why I think it's sincere in its own way."

"It's still pathetic," Katie sniffed.

"Could've been more, yes," Harry nodded.

They stood together, staring at the paper for a moment.

"Well, at least it's nice handwriting," she said begrudgingly, smiling when Harry laughed.

He carefully folded it and put it away in a safe. "Might be worth something one day."

"Maybe." She wrapped her arms around him from behind and they stood together at the window, watching the children and the owls playing. "What a year," she sighed.

"Yeah. Never thought I'd be forced to interact with the Dursleys again," he said, holding her hands in his.

"Never thought any decent folk would come from them."

"You're not wrong." He sighed deeply, feeling better when she hugged him more tightly. "But now we know. And Dahlia and Iris and Lucas have some more family. And if they continue to be good to us, then they'll be family worth having and knowing."

"Maybe," she said.

"And the second they show anything but good intentions, they won't come near any of us," Harry said, eyes narrowing as he looked into his past, his body becoming rigid.

"No they won't," Katie promised too, hugging all the harder. She did not relax until she felt him relaxing in her arms. She felt his body move a little, and noticed he was chuckling softly. "What's so funny?" she asked, squeezing him.

"Oh, realized I was being a little silly," he said. "Sometimes I imagined this big confrontation. Them begging to be forgiven. Something happens. We all coexist together more pleasantly. Something fantastical or romantic like that."

"That would be nice," Katie smiled. "But real life isn't nearly as fun many times."

"True."

They watched the action outdoors again, letting the happy sounds in and filling them up within.

"Let's go throw water balls at the kids," Katie smiled.

"Actually, I learned the Paint Tagging Charm from Dora," Harry said. He turned and smiled down at her. "Want me to teach it to you?"

"Is the Minister of Magic bad at his job?" Katie asked, eyes dancing.

"Depends on who you ask," Harry laughed loudly.

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SPLAT!

Hailey gasped, seeing a large purple splat appearing on Hadley's face, complete with golden stars. She squealed as she got hit with the charm, turning her arm bright red with green polka dots. "That's Auntie Dora's spell!"

"She doesn't own it!" Katie cried, flourishing her wand. She flicked her wand and Dahlia fell over with a pink and blue stripes and Iris gasped as she got tagged with an eye-watering yellow splat.

"Get them!" Dahlia shouted happily, throwing water balls at her mother and father. Hailey and Hadley charged, holding large pillows and the children turned on a common enemy. Harry fought gamely with his own pillow but was being overwhelmed.

"I'm coming Rabbit!" Angelina bowled over all the children, swinging a large pillow with both hands, knocking over her twin children and Heather and Iris in one sweep. "Now it's more fair!" She shouted when Hedwig thwapped her with a pillow but Raijin came to her aid, daring to attack his mother with a pillow.

The fight continued with more adults being drawn in. Things ended as they usually did, with the children and the owls banding together to defend Harry and turning on the other adults. Eventually the setting sun shone down on a happy scene. The children and the owls and the adults laid about the Triangle in varying stages of exhaustion, still laughing while gasping and wheezing, utterly tired.

Harry pulled a soaked Katie to him and held her close as she fended off a last attack from the bunnies, sending them rolling as they laughed loudly. "Hey Katie."

"Yes love?"

He kissed her. "I'm feeling well."

She smiled against his lips. "Good!"

"How are you feeling?"

"Tired!" Katie laughed. "And famished."

"Me too and I bet everyone else is there." Harry climbed to his feet, pulling his wife with him. "Alright everyone! Let's get cleaned up and clean up the Triangle. Then we can make dinner together and eat everything. How does that sound?"

The children cheered and began good-naturedly gathering things up with the adults following after. With everyone working together, the space was returned to pristine condition and food and equipment were brought out. Soon the air was rich with the smells of good food and the working adults came home as they did, bringing even more treats. Then the grandparents and other family friends came to join them.

Night had completely fallen, shrouding the countryside in darkness. Yet the Triangle area was lit brightly from braziers, floating lights, and the large cookfire. The night's chill was kept at bay with plenty of fires and the warmth from all the people there. Everyone ate without stinting, chatting and laughing with one another. Simply happy being there, spending time with one another, being together.

Harry looked around and felt nothing but sincere appreciation and love. There was no tamped down reluctance or pain, nothing pushed aside or ignored. He was there. He was healthy. He was happy.

He was loved.

He was wanted.

He felt nothing but peace at that moment, surrounded by the Family that he chose and the Family that chose him.

And nothing would take that from him.

Fin

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I decided to put my long note at the end of the chapter today instead of the usual beginning or as a separate chapter.

And here we are, at the end of another fic. I had the idea for this story for some time now and after some thought, I decided to make it a separate story like I did with Feathered Family instead of including it into Extended Family. I thought it deserved its own separate piece, give it time to feel and meander as it did, and to be a story on its own. I'm glad I went that route. It could have easily been a part of Extended and fit right in, but it felt good for it to be apart as well as a part.

I'm glad I wrote this story out. It could have gone many different ways. It could have been that fairy tale story of magical fixing. It could have been full of angst and pain and cruel reality. I think I hit that note that I wanted: that things change and people can change or they can remain who they were. It's a story where the past can return at any moment and things can always change more. I think the families have all grown wonderfully, and showed honest emotion, and that the path forward will be good to them. I wanted to try and put my touch on a Dudley's family being magical trope idea, and I'm glad I tried it, and I'm glad it ended the way it did.

With the end of this, there are officially 332 chapters of the Familyverse. 332 chapters, that's an insane number to me. I can't believe I've written that many chapters much less the words in one setting. I only just compiled the numbers as I'm writing this. These characters have gone through so much, have grown and changed so much, and it's wonderful to me. This setting and story will always be a special one to me. It showed me that I was capable of writing a long story, keep it going and engaging, and for it to be what it is: a story about how family can find each other, come together, and be together.

As of today's posting, I have my next story completely finished sitting at 17 chapters. It will be a little different from anything I've done up till now. I aim to start posting it once a week within the next few weeks. I also started chapter 50 of Side Dishes and as a milestone chapter, it'll be a special one. I also have about 7 chapters of Extended waiting. All that said, I don't think I'll update both Extended and Side every week. I have a lot done for Side, as you see, and a lot more ideas and chapters waiting to be written. For Extended, not so much. It's not that I'm tired of writing for that setting, but as you see, I've done so much for it already. I don't think I'll officially ever end that setting, and will revisit it here and there when I feel inspired or want to play around in it again. It's too dear for me to completely mark finished.

I do have my next idea mostly story-boarded and that will also be something very silly and different. Not sure when I'll start that. I'm about to go into the busy season for my profession, believe it or not but writing isn't my actual profession, so I may not get to it for a bit. That said, I have plenty to carry on for a while yet as you see so don't worry.

As always, thank you all for your time and energy. I write for all of you. I don't write for myself. I write so people can have something to pass the time, to escape their worries and troubles for a little bit. I write for people to smile a little, to find solace in a fictional place, to find their own meaning in the words and enjoy them. I'm grateful your kind words. I return to them on my own difficult days. Days where I find trouble seeing anything but trouble, not thinking I've done anything of worth or merit. Seeing people say how they enjoyed reading and it helped them through their own times makes me glad, knowing that I can help.

Thank you for being a part of my fanfiction family.

Sincerely,

WokFriedIce

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odonnellzoo99 - I figured a mini-Pride of Portree team would be just like that. They've learned too much, seen too much, to not act like a team like Pride and it would show how much they know and apply. While having the lovely bits of family personality throughout.

TheSphynx - Thank you. I'm sure he will show up more in the future.

DOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Their own dynasty, similar yet different. See my note about thoughts on what else you wrote.

alix33 - Sundews are pretty and like the other carnivorous plants, weirdly interesting. Big old cuddle victory pile.

kjtrack - Glad you did, thank you.

poka - I was glad to bring back the tradition of drinking out of the Cup. That was one of my favorite details from the original story and glad it didn't feel trite or too much here.

HoneyBear84 - Thank you.

iamchaos98 - Good to see you. Glad you are enjoying.