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Author: Erica Evans Story: Secrets That Were Kept Rating: Young Teens Setting: AU Status: WIP Reviews: 0 Words: 38,764
"Ron, you fly for a living. You're used to being on a broom," Harry said, landing smoothly on the ground beneath him. "Yeah, so?" Ron asked as the landed on the ground. "You flew just fine!" Harry's days as a Seeker hadn't left him. He was as nimble and as quick as ever. They had found an empty patch of land that looked like it was used for broom sports. After flying for a few hours, they were hot and sweaty when they returned to the house. "Ginny and Hermione aren't going to like this," Ron said. "We're all sweaty." "Here, try this," Harry said and took his wand from his pocket. He said an incantation that instantly cleaned him up. Ron did the same and threw a crooked smile at Harry. "Sometimes, when I get back from a training exercise, I need it to freshen up," Harry explained. "I actually learned it from Ginny. But don't tell her." Ron and Harry walked back into the house holding their brooms and were welcomed by wonderful smells wafting from the kitchen. They put their brooms away and followed the wonderful smells through to the kitchen. "Where have you two been?" Ginny asked them. "We just spent some time outside," Ron replied. "Doing what?" Hermione questioned further. Both of their wives were sitting at a countertop facing the stove. Angela was whisking something in a pot and Julie was searching the pantry for something. "Nothing," Harry said as his daughter and niece came into the room. "Daddy and Uncle Ron were playing on their brooms," Reagan said. "Tattle," Harry muttered and pulled his daughter to him. She giggled as he ticked her and kissed her cheek. "Can we grab a bite to eat?" Ron asked. "No, you can't," Hermione said. "You were playing while we had a bite for lunch." "I have some chocolates in my trunk if you're really that hungry, Dad," Caitlin said. "That's all right," Ron said. "Your mother probably doesn't want me to spoil my appetite." He gave Hermione a look and sat down next to his sister. "Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes or so, and the rest of the family should be arriving any minute," Angela said, looking up from her pot. She smiled at Harry differently than she had earlier. Harry smiled back, unsure of this slight change. No one other than he would have noticed it. But he was trained to notice the smallest of things and the slightest of changes. Angela went back to her pot and Harry ignored it "Harry, why don't you and Ron come help me decide where to put everyone tonight?" Julie said, turning away from the pantry. Harry and Ron shrugged and followed her out of the kitchen. "Oh Mum, why can't we have just one?" Caitlin asked her mother. Hermione shook her head which resulted in Caitlin's lip popping out in a pout. "No, and that's final," Hermione said. She wasn't about to let her daughter or her husband spoil her dinner in front of Harry's family. "Fine! I'm going to see which room Uncle Harry put my trunk in and then I'm never coming out of it!" Caitlin cried and stormed out of the room. Hermione shook her head and turned back to a smiling Ginny. "I'm terribly sorry," Hermione said, apologizing for her daughter's behavior. "Oh, don't worry about it dear," Angela replied. "You know where she gets it," Ginny told her. "I know, I know!" Hermione exclaimed. "Ron tells me every time. She has his temper and my stubborn lust to be right." Ginny laughed at her and shook her head. Angela smiled, shaking her head, and stirred her potatoes more. Hermione wondered why she didn't just enchant the spoon to stir on its own, but then again a lot of the cooking she had done had been by hand. "All girls at their age are like that," Angela said reassuring her. "She'll grow out of it." "I hope so," Hermione said. "Yeah, 'cause you didn't!" Ginny said giggling. Hermione playfully jabbed an elbow at her. "How's dinner comin'?" a man said, walking into the room. "Fine, dear, just fine," Angela replied. "This is my husband, Benjamin. Ben, this is Ginny and this is Hermione. Ginny is Harry's wife and Hermione is her sister-in-law." "Well, it's very nice to meet you both. Sorry, I've been finishing up some paperwork and I had a conference call in the fireplace." He shook their hands smiling. "So, where is this fella?" "He's right here, Dad," Julie said, coming into the room with Harry walking behind her. "Dad, this is Harry Potter. Harry, this is my father, Benjamin Potter Jr." "Nice to meet you, sir." Harry said, stepping forward and extending his hand. "No need for the 'sir,' young man," Ben said pulling Harry into a hug. "We're family, not at some damn ceremony. Call me Ben." Harry winced at the immediate contact and awkwardly patted him back. Ginny and Hermione had to turn away from the sight to keep from laughing. One look at Harry being hugged by this man was enough to make anyone laugh. Ben was slightly taller than Harry, with dark brown hair and a built frame. He was old, probably no more than sixty five, but he looked like he tried to stay young. "Well, this must be the guy!" another man said, walking into the kitchen. Ben released Harry and he was able to breath. "Hi ya, I'm Andrew." The man shook Harry's hand and then crossed and kissed his mother on the cheek. "This is my wife Hannah and our children Garett and Allison." "Dad, its Ali now," the girl said, glaring at her father. "Nice to meet you," Harry said, shaking Hannah's hand. "This is my wife Ginny, and my sister-in-law, Hermione. My children are around here somewhere." "Well, they'll be just a few in a large crowd shortly," Hannah told him. She sat down next to Hermione and took the glass of lemonade that Angela was offering her. "Mine are around here too. The four the red-headed kids running around," Hermione said. "I think I saw one as I came inside." Hannah chuckled. "She told me she was a 'blugger' or something." Hermione laughed and shook her head. "Yeah, that's Abby. She and her twin brother, Andy, have quite an imagination," Hermione replied. "I have two Quidditch balls that want a kiss from their Mummy!" Ron announced coming into the room holding a twin under each arm. "Here they are now," Hermione said. Ron set them down and they ran to their mother. "Mummy! Mummy! Daddy told us it was time for a time out, so we came to give you kisses!!" Abby cried. "Well, aren't I lucky?" Hermione pulled her youngest daughter up onto her knee as Ginny pulled Andy onto hers. "This one is Andy," Ginny said. "Hello, my name is Andslen Weasley and I am very pweesed to meet you," he said and shook everyone's hand. Abby introduced herself as well and shook hands. "This is Andrew and Hannah Potter," Hermione said, introducing the couple standing in front of her. "Are you Uncle Harry's new family?" Abby asked. "Yes, we are," Hannah said. "Sort of." "That's very nice of you. Uncle Harry only has an Uncle Remus and bunches of Weasleys," Andy told them. "And I would get tired of looking at everyone who had red hair!" The adults laughed and the twins wiggled free of their respective laps and ran off. "Hey!" said another man coming into the kitchen. "Now this is not going to work!" Angela cried. "Unless you all want dinner next week, I suggest you turn another room into a meet and greet!" She shooed everyone out of the room. "How about in here?" Andrew asked walking into a large living room. Harry hadn't been in this room before and he followed his relatives curiously. He sat down next to Ginny and prepared to take on more people. "I'm Brandon Potter," the man said, shaking Harry's hand. "I'm the late Benjamin's son. And this is my son, Benson and his wife Amanda." "Hi," Harry said and introduced Ginny, Ron and Hermione. A few moment later, more people arrived and Harry met Brandon's other son, Tavean and his wife Jenna and their children Arianna and Kalie, who scampered off promptly after being introduced. Bryce and Kate Landon came moments later followed by Bryce's mother Carley Landon, a daughter of the late Benjamin. All of the Potter children disappeared as soon as they appeared in their grandfather's house, which to everyone else seemed completely natural. Carley's daughter, Nicole Snyder, showed up with her husband Carson and their children, Taylor and Jack. Jack was an infant so he stayed by his parents side, and Taylor wandered around the living room until an older cousin came and whisked her away. Harry met Breannen's husband, Steven, and their children, Eric and Jayne. Rebecca came, demanding that Harry call her Becca and her husband, Nicolas, laughed at her for this. Becca was Benjamin Potter's last daughter. Last to arrive, and possibly the only two bachelors in the family, were Joshua Potter, Carley's youngest son and Blake O'Connor, Becca's son and Breannen's twin brother. Carley was the late Benjamin Potter's third child and her last name was Landon. Her three children were Bryce, Nicole and Joshua. Harry wondered for a moment why Bryce and Nicole carried the last name of Landon when Joshua used Potter. Harry also noticed how tired and rather ill she looked. Harry couldn't help being worried about her health, but his thoughts drifted away under the bombardment of questions he was being asked. ~~~~~~~ There were so many children, Reagan couldn't believe her eyes. She stood next to James and they stared at all of the kids before them. They were all outside, in the backyard of the property, and everyone was quietly playing amongst themselves. "Have you ever seen this many relatives who didn't have red hair?" Reagan asked her older brother. He laughed and shook his head. It was true; the only relatives they knew were Weasleys, and they did all have red hair. Reagan, James and Darenn were the only cousins that didn't. "Are you our new cousins?" a boy asked. He was an inch or so shorter than James and had blonde hair. "I think so," James said. "My dad's name is Harry Potter." "Yeah, that's who my dad said we were going to meet tonight," the boy replied. "I'm Garett." "I'm James. And this is my sister, Reagan," James said shaking the boy's hand. "How come you talk funny?" a young girl asked. "I don't talk funny," Reagan replied. "Yeah, ya do. You say 'don't' like 'doon't' and 'talk' like 'tulk'," the girl explained. "You say your words funny." "I'm from England and that's how we say them there," Reagan snapped, annoyed. The little girl shrugged and walked away. "That's Kalie. She's my grandpa's brother's granddaughter. She thinks everything she doesn't know is funny," Garett explained. "But I like your accents. I think they're cool." He smiled at Reagan and James and they beamed back. "So what year are you?" James asked. "Year? Oh, you mean like in school. I'm going to be a junior. That's eleventh grade," he replied. "Grade?" Reagan asked. "Oh, that's right you don't do it the same as we do, do you?" Garett asked. "Well, we go by grades and you go by what, years? Well, I don't know about the Muggles, but we start out in Kindergarten when we're five and go through elementary school, then we go to Middle school for sixth, seventh and eight grades and then we go to High School. In Middle school, you start your magic stuff, like spells and potions and all that, and then in High school, that's ninth though twelfth grades, you continue. Your freshman year is when you're in ninth grade, and that's when you start your Selection Studies." "Selection Studies?" James asked. "Like animals or charms or something like that," Garett replied. "I'm studying charm work. I'm good at it too." "My Uncle is a Charm Master," Reagan said. "That's what I want to be!" Garett cried. "Is he here? Can I meet him?" "Yeah, he's inside with the adults. He's the Head Charm Master of his department," Reagan replied proudly. "How do you know so much about England?" James asked. "My dad travels a lot and he told me all about it. And I took a World History class my freshman year," Garett replied. "So what year are you then?" "I'll be a sixth year at Hogwarts. My brother Darenn," James explained pointing at Darenn on the other side of the yard, "will be in his third year, and Reagan will be starting her first year this September." James beamed at his sister. James and Darenn had been anxiously awaiting all the fun they would all have together once Reagan started Hogwarts. "My cousin, Kalie, told us that you talk funny because that's how they talk in Englee-land. Why do all the Englee-lish talk funny?" Two small children had just come up to them and were curiously looking at them. "For the last time, I don't talk funny!" Reagan cried. "In England, we just pronounce our words differently than you do in America. I don't think you talk funny!" Garett and James laughed as the two girls ran off. "That was Madison and her sister Ashley," Garett explained. "Don't worry, it will all wear off soon." "I certainty hope so," Reagan muttered. She didn't want to explain again that she didn't talk funny, when she thought that she talked just fine. ~~~~~~~~~ "Dinner!" Angela yelled from the kitchen door. There was a mad stampede for the dining room and instantly children appeared out of nowhere. Harry spotted and grabbed the ones he had brought with him and they followed everyone into the dining room. There was an enormous table in the center of the room and one long one up against the wall. This one was covered with food. Harry noticed for the first time the absence of house elves. He wondered if they had them in America. "Just grab a plate and get in line," Julie instructed from behind him. He picked up a plate and handed one to Ginny and Reagan. James, Darenn, Caitlin and Paul were somewhere in the mix of children and Harry could see Hermione and Ron trying to contain their twins. There was a ton of food that Harry had never seen before. He recognized some foods from pictures but everything was a mystery. He could read a similar expression on Reagan's face. "Just try whatever you want to," Harry whispered in her ear. "But stay away from it if it moves." Reagan giggled and went in front of Harry. They loaded up their plates and sat down at the table. The dining room opened up onto a patio and all the children sat outside. Harry watched Reagan, James and Darenn walking outside. He smiled at how protective each son was of their sister. "So, Harry, what do you do?" Tavean asked, bringing him back from his train of thought. "I'm an Auror," Harry replied taking a bite of mashed potatoes. "And what does an Auror do?" Tavean asked. "Well," Harry paused. He never really thought about what his actual job description was; he always just did it. Everyone in England knew what an Auror was and what they did. "Aurors are an elite group of witches and wizards who operate as intelligence agents, seeking out Dark Wizards and defeating them." "Oh, okay. I know what that is. We have Defensors. Same thing?" Tavean asked. "Yes," Andrew said. "I've spent extensive time in Europe, and Aurors are the same thing as Defensors." "And what is it that you do?" Harry asked Tavean. "I'm a Creature Calmer. I calm and research the calming methods of magical creatures," Tavean replied. "Oh, sort of how you play a three headed dog a bit of music and he falls asleep?" Hermione asked. Tavean stared at her. Yeah, but that bit of information isn't widely publicized. How did you know?" he asked. Hermione glanced at Harry and then at Ron. "We came across one our first year," Harry said quickly and took another bite of his potatoes. "And you survived?" Tavean asked. "I'm a bit impressed." "We took on a mountain troll too, earlier that same year," Ron said proudly. Everyone stared at him. "But we wouldn't have had to if we weren't being rude, Ron. Remember?" Harry asked staring at his best friend. He hoped that Ron wouldn't bring up the dragon he had been up against in their fourth year as well. "Oh, yes, that's right." "So, Andrew, what brings you to Europe so often?" Hermione asked trying to break the silence. "Oh, I am the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation in the American Ministry of Magic," he replied proudly. "Oh, I'm surprised I've never met you before," Hermione said putting her fork down. "Where would I have met you?" Andrew asked, looking at her. "In London, in the Ministry of Magic of course," she replied. "And what is it you do?" Andrew asked, seeming slightly bored with their conversation. "I'm the British Minister of Magic," Hermione replied. She stared at Andrew. Harry looked at her and decided he never wanted to cross her. "Well, I've never dealt directly with the Minister," Andrew replied looking back at Hermione. "I've only dealt with your department head, Mr. Macmillan." "Yeah, Ernie's our Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation," Ron replied. "We had to deal with him during the World Cup last year. He was annoying at Hogwarts, and he's exactly the same." "Ron!" Hermione said, smacking his knee. What?" he laughed. "He is." Well, you'll be up for a promotion soon, anyway," Ginny said. "Ron's slated to be the next Department Head for the Department of Magical Games and Sports." "If I decide to take it," Ron grumbled cutting his meat. "I don't know how well I'd do with a desk job." Hermione agreed and went back to her food. Other conversations sprung up but none completely involved Harry until someone said something about the events of earlier in the day. "So, Harry, tell me," his cousin, Nicole, started. "I heard your name in the book store today. Something about an incident at the train station?" Harry looked at her then at Ginny. "It was nothing," he replied quickly. "Well, what happened?" she asked. "I heard the strangest things about Death Eaters, whatever those are, and you saved everyone's lives or something?" "There were Death Eaters in the station today?" Julie asked, looking at Harry. "Yeah, there were," Harry replied, wondering how she knew about Death Eaters when the rest of the country didn't. "They were just being disruptive and I stopped them. It was nothing big; it's what I do for a living," Harry said. "That's incredible," Benson said. "We've been having problems with those men for weeks and no one seems to know anything." "Well, we've had them for over thirty years. We know how to handle them," Harry replied. "So Harry, where did you grow up?" Nicole's husband Carson asked. "In England," Harry replied. "I lived with my Muggle Aunt and Uncle." "Why did you grow up with Muggles?" Bryce asked. "Because my parents were killed when I was one," Harry replied. Everyone stared at him. "So what are we going to do tomorrow?" Angela asked, suddenly changing the subject. A few people jumped and looked at her then back at Harry. He flashed her a grateful look and felt Ginny squeeze his hand. He didn't want to tell everyone the story of his life. He didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to think about his parents or Cedric or Sirius or Dumbledore or anything that still caused him pain. "What do you think, Harry?" Julie was asking him and he looked at her blankly. "Sorry, what?" he asked, all too aware of the eyes staring him down. "Would you like to go into the city, and do a little sightseeing and shopping?" Julie asked again. Harry glanced at Ginny, and reading her pleading expression correctly, agreed. The rest of the dinner went smoothly enough, though he kept catching weird glances from his relatives. He was grateful when some of the children began to filter in, complaining of sleepiness. Harry watched Ginny carry away the dishes, wondering again where the house elves were. He glanced around for Hermione, but she had disappeared to put her twins to bed. "All right there, Harry?" Benson asked from behind him. He turned and looked at his cousin. "You looked a little lost there for a moment." "I'm fine, I just." Harry said looking around again. "Don't you have house elves to do that work for you?" "We don't have house elves." Benson replied. "The Ministry abolished elf slavery a hundred years go or so. Believe me, if we could, we would. I hear they're very helpful. But the Ministry doesn't allow it." "Oh," Harry replied. He could just hear Hermione's voice in his head saying, 'About time too!' In her heart, she had never truly dropped her S.P.E.W. obsession, but she overcame it and learned to live with it, or at least to suppress her urges to give everyone S.P.E.W. badges again. Ginny walked up to them and Benson smiled and said his goodbyes. Harry stood near the doorway with Ginny's arm in his and he said goodnight to his relatives. "You okay?" Ginny asked him. He smiled weakly and kissed her forehead. "Just another day," he replied. "I meant with the conversation at dinner," she said, looking at him. "Yeah, I'm okay," he replied. "I never thought that there could be so many people in one house at the same time who were all related to each other and didn't have red hair." Ginny laughed. "Don't let Mum hear you say that! She'll think that you didn't like the red hair!" Ginny replied, smiling. "And is sleep all you intend to do?" Ginny eyed him curiously. "Yes, actually it is," Harry replied. "I was hoping you'd say that," Ginny replied, kissing his cheek. "We don't need any more Potters running around this place!" Harry laughed and turned with her to find their children. A/N: I found the definition of Auror on the Harry Potter Lexicon. It's an awesome source of information.
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