Harry Potter and the Streak of Insanity by ElHope333 »
Chapter 58: The Reunion
"I have a bone to pick with you, Potter."
"Oliver?" Harry's smile widened at the sight of the of Gryffindor quidditch team sat around a large table in the Three Broomsticks. He'd received an owl from the twins that morning, asking for him to come and meet them for a drink. But the rest of the quidditch team was a lovely surprise.
"Oh, so you do remember who I am!" Oliver's tone was laced with sarcasm. Harry frowned.
"Excuse me? I write to you once a month!" Angelina snorted and the twins sniggered.
Oliver patted the chair next to him and Harry flopped into it. "How's quidditch up at the school without all of us?" Alicia asked, smirking when Harry pouted.
"We still have a pretty good track record, but there are no decent beaters to be found in Gryffindor house." Harry shook his head. "The only decent beater was Colin, and he refused to play because he likes taking the match photos."
"Told you we were irreplaceable, Wood!" George said triumphantly. "Now, I'm rather interested to hear what bone you have to pick with Harry, if you would be so kind as to share." He and Fred put their elbows on the table and rested their heads in their hands, fluttering their eyelashes at Oliver.
"Well, Potter." Oliver put his hands on his hips and Harry paled slightly. "I spent three years telling you to loosen up and let yourself be a kid, and you waited until I left to take my advice?"
Harry gulped. "Look, I'm sorry you missed out on all the fun, really-"
"You should be." Oliver said sternly. Katie burst into a fit of giggles.
"Says the man who tried to drown himself after we lost one match!" Harry exclaimed.
"Woah, that was a low blow Harry, a very low blow."
"My first ever gift was destroyed by a murderous tree! I should have been the one trying to drown myself!" Harry retorted. His old teammates looked at him with varying levels of surprise and pity. "It's fine, guys, I'm spoiled rotten now."
"Sirius' little prince, you are." Fred snorted. Harry grinned.
"I meant by Snape, but sure."
Alicia blanched. "Snape? Snape, hater of Gryffindors, despiser of Potters, spoils you rotten?"
Harry shrugged. "Look at it this way. He helped me knock Dumbles down a peg on multiple occasions, he's secretly aided and abetted the twins for at least three years, not including the fact I know he sends you two letters with modifications or ideas-"
"How do you know that?" George exclaimed. Harry ignored him.
"- he lets me assist in Potions and is always up for a random duel or screaming match when I get bored-"
"Shocker." Angelina said flatly.
"-the only thing I haven't managed to get him to do yet is play tag." Harry finished mournfully. "I miss death-tag."
"Wha-"
"Don't ask." Fred said to Oliver. "Seriously. He won't tell you unless you ask, and you really don't want to know."
Harry sighed sadly.
"Why don't I want to know?" Oliver asked Fred.
"Because your little mother hen heart will cease to stop working." George warned him, watching Harry stare at the ceiling. "Trust us."
"Harry, what's Death-Tag?" Ginny asked as she walked past, smirking at her older brothers. They both let their heads hit the table with a thump.
"Don't be silly Ginny, you know what death-tag is!" Harry reminded her.
"Yeah, but Oliver doesn't!" Ginny called back over her shoulder as she went to join Astoria and Luna.
"True!" Harry agreed. "Well Oliver, do you know my dearest friend Bellatrix Lestrange?"
Oliver suddenly felt very, very sick.
"Harry?" Susan joined them at the Hufflepuff table, shaking her head with amusement. Harry and Daphne made a point of sitting at a different House table for every meal, but always avoided Ravenclaw. It was a matter of principle.
"Yes?"
"I just received a letter from one of our contacts."
"Contacts? What sort of contacts?" Hermione asked apprehensively.
"Hepzibah Smith, the lady who had Hufflepuff's cup stolen from her by Moldy." Susan explained, unfolding the letter and handing it to Harry. "She's not much longer for this world I don't think."
"And this involves me why?" Harry asked, having no clue what some random woman dying had to do with him.
"Well, you know her House-elf, Pokey?"
"No!" Harry groaned. "You already gang up on me with the four we've got! I can't take another one!"
Draco frowned. "Four?"
Harry nodded. "We adopted Pipsqueak a few weeks ago."
"We?" Hermione raised a brow. "Do you just... co-own every house elf in your possession? Is that a normal thing to do?"
"Hermione." Harry gave his friend a condescending look. "When do we ever do anything normal?"
Hermione sighed. "Point taken." She still narrowed her eyes at the two thoughtfully, but didn't make any further comment.
"Besides, considering we're living together after we graduate Harry will have to agree-"
"You are?" Draco wrinkled his nose. "I assumed you'd all go back to Grimmauld."
Susan turned to Draco. "Did Harry not speak to you?"
"About what?"
Harry shifted uncomfortably. "I forgot!" He said hurriedly when Susan glared at him, holding his hands up in surrender. "I'm sorry!"
"Draco, you didn't think we were just going to let you go back to Malfoy Manor and rot, did you?" Daphne reprimanded, stealing Draco's toast. "Ron and Hermione have somewhere lined up already, but their rent won't start for a few months so in the meantime, we'll all live at Grimmauld. Then all of us will either stay or move somewhere else. And no, you don't get a say in the matter." Daphne said sternly, wagging her finger when Draco opened his mouth to protest. He huffed, but looked pretty pleased.
"If Sirius is unbearable we could also go to one of my Potter houses, of which apparently I have some!" Harry added. "Only found that out after the Almost-Goblin War. I still didn't understand half of what they told me, mind."
"Eh, that's what Susan, Draco and Hermione are for." Ginny said, Astoria nodding in agreement.
"So, house elf? Please?" Susan turned to Harry, waving the letter in his face.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Whatever, if you have to. Pokey seems demented already so I'm sure she'll fit right in. Might be nice for Winky to have another girl around."
"How is Winky?" Ron asked. "She seems a lot happier these days."
"She's alright. I think Dobby is missing Dudley a bit though." Harry said, biting into his toast. "I expect once Dudley and Shannon find their own place instead of living the twins he'll pack up and move in with them."
"Can he do that?" Daphne frowned.
"Dobby is a free elf." Harry and Susan said simultaneously.
"Couldn't stop him if we tried." Harry said fondly. "I found all of our weapons from the battle hidden in one of the cupboards in Grimmauld the other day; I think he's planning on trading them."
"He kept stealing all my socks last year." Ron groused. "And leaving me threatening messages."
"Let me guess." Neville drawled. "He stopped once you asked out Hermione?"
"Yes, actually. How did you know?"
Astoria sniggered. "That elf loves setting people up."
"Surveyor of planets!" Harry greeted as he and his friends let themselves into Aurora's office.
"Chaos bringer!"
Harry scowled. "Don't I get a new nickname?"
Aurora smiled. "Nope. Pretty sure our dear friend decided that would be your title until the end of our other dear friend."
"So Fate decided it would be his nickname until the end of Time." Hermione translated. Aurora gasped.
"You told them!" She pointed at him accusatorially.
"Luna said I could!"
Daphne smirked. "Since you're already mad at him, do you want to know what he called you when we went on our little time-skip?"
Aurora frowned. "Enlighten me."
"No!" Harry covered Daphne's mouth with his hand. She bit him.
"Are we sure they aren't secretly siblings?" Draco muttered to Ginny, who shrugged.
"Well, if I don't get a new nickname then you don't either." Harry decided. "I'll have to use one of your old ones."
"I have a question!" Ron said, waving his hand in the air. "Are all you entities female?"
Aurora laughed. "Nope! Entities don't have genders. But everyone knows woman are far superior so it's much more delightful masquerading as one."
"Fair." Draco shrugged. Hermione beamed at him.
"I don't know which I prefer." Harry said, staring at the ceiling. "Queen of the Night Time or Princess of Darkness!"
"In most worlds you call me Princess of Darkness." Aurora said helpfully.
Hermione froze. "What do you mean, most worlds?"
"What, you thought this world was it? Honestly, you mortals."
"How many worlds are there?"
"Endless."
"How many are we in?"
"Too many to count. One of my favourites is this one, of course. Although you have pretty crazy other dimensions too. Get this: in one world, Dumbledore dies, Black dies, Lupin dies, Snape dies, Diggory dies, Dobby dies, Fred Weasley dies, Hedwig dies and you win the war by sheer dumb luck. In that one it's just the Golden Trio against, well, everyone."
"Not Hedwig!" Harry cried.
Draco shook his head. "Nice to know you have priorities, Potter."
"I think I'd like to stay here." Harry said firmly. Aurora smirked.
"Don't worry, you'll be in this world until you die. Although sometimes, just as a treat mind you, we just propel you through time when you die instead. Exciting stuff."
"So when you collect souls." Susan said slowly. "Do you just... carry them into other dimensions?"
"For a while." Aurora tapped her chin with her finger. " Eventually you do just pass on into the Next."
"Crazy." Neville shook his head. "Anyway, why are we here again?"
"Just to say hi." Harry explained, smiling broadly at Aurora. "And to rub it in your face that I got to tell them all your secrets."
"You insolent little-"
"Bye!"
Chapter 59: Graduation And A Wedding
It was the day before graduation. The gang all decided to spend their last night as Hogwarts students together in the Room of Requirement, for the nostalgia.
"So, guys." Harry rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Erm, there's something we should probably tell you..."
Hermione smirked. "Took you two long enough." She said. "Congratulations!"
"On what?" Daphne frowned. "What's going on?"
"Wait, had no one else noticed?" Hermione stared around at her friends in genuine confusion. "But they made it so obvious!"
"I knew." Luna smiled at the ceiling.
"You don't count, you're Time." Astoria pointed out. "Know what, Hermione?"
Hermione gestured at Susan and Harry, who were smiling sheepishly, hand in hand.
"Yeah, what about them?" Ginny asked. Hermione facepalmed.
"You lot are so slow." Harry teased. "I'll just have to show you, won't I?" He grinned and pulled Susan in for a kiss.
Ron whistled. "Nice one mate!"
"Please stop, that's disgusting." Draco ordered. Neville laughed.
Ginny and Astoria looked shocked and then congratulated them. Harry and Susan turned to the one person who was yet to speak.
"Daphne?"
"You're dating and you didn't tell me?" Daphne hissed. "Now I look like some sort of jealous homewrecker!"
"You were jealous." Harry reminded her. "But it was funny watching your crisis, so we didn't tell you! Also, none of you asked."
"You'll pay for that, Potter!" Daphne smacked him on the arm. Harry shot her a wounded look and Susan snorted. "Congratulations Susan!" Daphne hugged Susan and Harry pouted.
"So you steal my House elves, then my godfather, then my sister Hermione, then my cousin and his girlfriend, and now my other sister?" Harry raised a brow at Susan, who winked back playfully.
"Yep!" She said proudly. "That's exactly what I did. Stole you as well in the process."
Harry grinned at her and Draco gagged. So did Ginny.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me." Daphne shook her head. "Next you'll tell me you're engaged."
"Errr."
"POTTER!"
"It was a joke, it was a joke! Ow, Daphne! I promise not to propose without letting you help me plan it, okay?"
"And I want to plan the wedding. I'm sure Narcissa and Mrs Weasley will help me." Harry rolled his eyes.
"Fine. But Ron and Hermione are my best man and best woman."
"Deal." Daphne and Harry shook hands.
"We're actually graduating!" Hermione whispered. Ron squeezed her hand.
"I honestly thought I'd be long dead by now." Harry said nonchalantly. Daphne pinched him. "Ow! Sorry, forgot that was still a taboo subject."
"I'm surprised McGonagall let you hang around long enough to graduate." Ginny snorted. "Given all the trouble you've caused her."
"Oh, she loved it really." Harry waved dismissively. "She's going to miss us terribly!"
"It's okay, we'll keep your legacy alive." Colin promised, Astoria and Ginny nodding in agreement. Luna just smiled.
"I expect she can't wait to be done with us." Draco scoffed. "Reckon she'll announce her retirement?"
"Nah, I think she'll want to teach at least one more generation of us." Ron grinned. "Given that the first two were rather rudely interrupted by Voldemort."
"Gosh, our children will trounce the place, won't they?" Hermione smiled fondly at her friends.
"Why do you think Snape made us sign a contract to not all have our children at the same time?" Neville grinned. "What was it he said, maximum three per year group?"
"And that doesn't include all the Weasleys and our outer circles of friends." Harry grinned. "If I was him I would've been stricter."
"Ah, there you all are!" Remus waved cheerfully at them. "Come on, you'll miss your own graduation at this rate!"
Ginny, Astoria, Luna and Colin gave each of their friends a hug and promised to meet them at Grimmauld.
"This is it." Harry said sadly, taking one last lingering look at the castle grounds. "We officially made it."
"Well, let's go get our NEWT results before we sound too confident." Hermione bit her lip and Harry laughed.
"We won't have failed, Hermione. Blimey, I'm really going to miss this."
"Me too." Neville said quietly. Harry patted him on the shoulder.
"We've still got each other." Daphne said, nudging Draco. "Always and forever, right?"
"Always." They all chorused. Laughing, they all joined hands and walked back up to the castle, together.
"Big day." Sirius nudged Harry, who smiled a little nervously as he straightened his dress robes. "Huge day, even. Life-changing!"
"Don't scare him off before he's even started, Sirius. Honestly!" Hermione scolded, giving Harry a once over and nodding approvingly.
"You'll be fine, mate." Ron said, kissing his wife on the cheek and grinning at his best friend. "You act like a married couple anyway, you're just making it official."
The wedding had been entirely left in the hands of Daphne, who immediately enlisted Molly and Narcissa to help. Both Harry and Susan had absolutely no interest in the egregious details. They gave Daphne a colour scheme and guest-list and let her do her thing.
She'd done well. Colin had been hired as photographer for the event immediately, and Ginny and Kreacher worked with Rita in order to write the perfect news article about the whole event. Susan was with her maid of honour Hannah getting ready; Luna and Astoria were her bridesmaids. Ginny claimed she wouldn't be caught dead in a bridesmaid's dress.
Dudley and Shannon handled catering along with Molly; Daphne and Ginny used the skills Harry had taught them over the years to make the wedding cake and other sweet treats. Narcissa, being the richest of the planners, purchased all the decorations and was in charge of design. Amelia, Hannah, Hermione Daphne, Luna and Astoria went dress shopping. Draco, Harry, Ron and Ginny went for suits and dress robes. Sirius and Remus were forced to help with things like flowers and décor by Narcissa.
"Ready?" Hermione asked Harry, patting his cheeks gently. Harry took a deep breath, and nodded.
"Then let's go." Ron took him by the arm and apparated them to the venue.
The place was packed. Ron and Hermione whispered words of encouragement from either side of him. Draco and Ginny, the groomsmen, smiled from the front row.
Harry made eye contact with the twins, who were chatting amicably with Narcissa, Minerva and Aurora. Aurora winked at Harry and Fred snatched his nephew from Tonks. Harry smiled as loud toddler giggles filled the room. Teddy was ring bearer but the twins had been enlisted to help him out, considering he was still very young.
Dudley and Shannon waved from their spot next to the twins, Teddy, Tonks, Charlie and Lee. Trelawney was sat next to Severus and Harry smirked at the extremely irritated potions master doing his level best to ignore her ramblings. Fate's eyes glittered with amusement as she spoke, smirking when she caught Harry watching.
Cedric, Viktor and Fleur waved at Harry from a few rows behind them, Bill hand-in-hand with Fleur, who was rocking a sleeping baby Victoire. Oliver, Angelina, Katie and Alicia also waved from further back in the room. Even Dumbledore had shown up, being berated for something by a sour-faced Moody in the back row.
The small army of house elves Susan and Harry had collected over the years were sat at the back, sitting on the backs of the chairs rather than the actual chairs themselves. It was pretty cute.
"You've got this, dear." Molly held Harry's face in her hands and smiled gently.
"Thanks, Molly." Harry gave her a hug and Molly patted his cheeks gently before letting go.
"I'm so proud of you." She whispered. "You have always been like a son to me, Harry, and I love you so much."
Harry teared up. "I love you too." He whispered as she went to join Arthur with the rest of the Weasleys, stealing her grandson from Fred.
"You ready, kid?" Sirius murmured. Harry nodded and Sirius ruffled his hair, messing it back up. Hermione sniffed in disapproval and Ron laughed.
Remus gave Harry a hug and followed Draco and Ginny to the front row - where Rona and Hermione, Amelia, the bridesmaids and the Maid of Honour would be joining them later on.
Sirius was officiating; he kissed the top of Harry's head and then got into position.
The door opened. The music started. Colin lifted his camera and Rita and Kreacher their quills.
Susan was led up the aisle by her aunt, who winked at Harry. Harry didn't notice, to busy staring in awe at his soon-to-be wife. The bridesmaids took a seat.
Harry took a deep breath. It was time.
Chapter 60: Epilogue
"Why did you have to make the ending so gross!" Lukas gagged, flopping back onto his bed with a soft thump. Harry ruffled his youngest son's hair and shut the memoir with a snap.
"That grossness led to your existence, kiddo."
Lukas scrunched his face up, scandalised. "Ew!" Harry laughed at his eleven year old' son's embarrassment.
There was a knock on the door to Lukas' bedroom and Susan poked her head around the door, smiling warmly at her son before glaring at her husband.
"Harry, Minerva's just sent another owl. The twins and Daisy have set the third-floor girls bathroom on fire. What did you tell them to do?"
Harry held his hands up. "I didn't tell them to do anything! I may have accidentally let slip where the entrance to the chamber was-"
"Harry James!" Susan scolded, but her lips twitched upwards, betraying her amusement.
"I'm sorry! It's not my fault they're walking trouble." Harry crossed his arms and pouted. Lukas stared at him incredulously.
Susan rolled her eyes. "Who do you think they learnt it from? You're their role model. Daphne, Sirius, Fred, George and Ginny certainly don't help any."
Harry just grinned. "You're just as bad as the rest of us, don't even try and pull that card!"
Susan sent her youngest son a desperate look. "Luke, please don't get into too much trouble when you're at Hogwarts in September, I don't think my poor heart can take it."
"Says the woman who broke into Gringotts and rode a dragon!" Lukas shot back. Susan glared at Harry.
"You told him?"
"It's in the memoir!"
"Of course it is."
Lukas rolled his eyes at his parents. His Dad was walking mayhem and his mum was a menace. Lukas wondered at the sanity of the people who put her and Hermione in charge of the wizarding world. He loved his family, but they were exhausting.
His older siblings, Kayla and Blake (twins), were just as bad as their parents. They were worse when Daisy Dursley was around, the three were inseparable. They were in their second year of Hogwarts - Uncle Draco sent Howlers to Lukas' dad at least once a week about their behaviour.
Uncle Draco worked at the school as Head of Slytherin and History of Magic professor. Uncle Severus was Deputy Headmaster and taught Potions. Aunt Ginny had a bad accident during a quidditch game a few months ago and was looking into taking over Hooch's position very soon. Uncle Neville and Aunt Hannah co-taught Herbology. Aunt Minerva was still Headmistress, of course.
In fact, almost the entire teaching staff were known to the Potters in a familial sense. Aunt Aurora dropped by at least once a year, sometimes with Aunt Sybil. Uncle Sirius had only recently left his job in the Hospital Wing to help Uncle Fred and Uncle George with the shop. Aunt Poppy was probably going to retire soon, and Lukas bet his Dad's Firebolt 1000 that one of his Aunts or Uncles would get the job once she'd left.
Lukas' dad has taught Defence when Uncle Remus' daughters started school, and then gave the position back to Uncle Remus once they had graduated. Lukas had been six when they graduated, and was the only one of the Potter children to be born at the castle.
Lukas Regulus Potter, the middle child, was the sanest in his family. His dad was a good dad but completely mental, his mum was nice but could be just as bad as his dad sometimes. The twins, Kayla Lily and Blake James Potter, were just plain terrifying. Kiki Alice Potter had everyone wrapped around her little finger. She was the youngest at aged six, and therefore the baby of literally every single family, Teddy being the oldest. By every single family, Lukas meant every single family.
His "family" was huge. His Mum's family was just her Aunt, but his dad had been taken in by the Weasleys as a teenager and had Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus as well. His mum and dad also claimed every single one of their close friends as family, so despite both his parents being only children, Lukas had more aunts and uncles than he could name.
Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione lived next door to them, and Uncle Cedric and Aunt Daphne lived across the road. It was great for Lukas, as it meant he got to see his three best friends every single day. Gwen didn't live as close as Ollie and Hugo did, but Uncle Ron looked after her every day for Uncle Percy and Aunt Penelope because both of them worked full time. Uncle Ron was a stay at home dad, and he was a lot of fun.
Lukas' favourite family member (sorry mum and dad) was his Uncle Draco. Uncle Draco wasn't married and had no children, and he found the extended family as exhausting as Lukas did. He also spoiled them rotten, which Lukas' mum hated and his dad found hilarious ("I knew you were a big softie, Draco!").
Uncle Draco lived at Hogwarts, because he worked there. He had done for a few years now, but before he took the role at Hogwarts he worked at the Ministry with Lukas' mum and Aunt Hermione. He had been in charge of what was known as "The Hippogriff Alliance", which worked closely with the Aurors. Aunt Daphne had taken over Uncle Draco's Ministry position, and she and Lukas' dad dragged Uncle Draco away from the castle at least once a month for "quality bonding time".
It usually ended with his dad and Aunt Daphne eating ice cream somewhere and Uncle Draco hiding under Lukas' bed. Other than the monthly bonding, Lukas had never seen Uncle Draco lose his composure. Well, except when Aunt Ginny, Aunt Daphne, and his dad 'accidentally' threw him into the crocodile enclosure at Uncle Gellert's zoo. Although admittedly, that had been hilarious. Even Kreacher and Uncle Severus had laughed.
Aunt Narcissa, Draco's mum, had retired early and now lived with Andromeda and Ted in Canada. Aunt Ginny was also unmarried. She was absolutely terrifying and Kayla's role-model. Uncle Sirius wasn't married either, but Lukas wasn't surprised - the man was incredibly annoying. Fun, though. One time, he had woken Lukas and his older siblings up in the middle of the night and taken them for a fly on his motorcycle. Lukas' mum had been furious.
Lukas didn't blame the Tonkses and Narcissa for moving to Canada. His family were mental, after all. Uncle Charlie and Aunt Dora lived in Romania on a huge dragon reserve, and Uncle Bill and Auntie Fleur lived in France. The rest of the family were all based in the UK. In Uncle Severus' opinion, it was still far too many of them.
"Anyway, Minerva wants us to go up to the castle and have words with the twins, Harry. Daisy as well on Dudley and Shannon's behalf, since they're both too busy with the restaurant to go. Kiki sweetheart, I'm going to Hogwarts to see Auntie Amelia, are you coming?"
Lukas couldn't help smiling at his sister when she hurtled into the room. She had her mum's curly hair, but the colour was the same as her dad's. Her eyes were hazel, a blend between her parents' brown and green. Lukas had his dad's hair type but his was a lighter shade of brown. Aunt Amelia said he looked like his mum's dad- same brown eyes and everything.
"Yes please! Mummy, will Uncle Remus be there?" Kiki asked hopefully. Uncle Remus was Kiki's favourite, along with Uncle Gellert. Kiki loved animals and they would take her to Lockhart Zoo every year for her birthday. Uncle Gellert always pulled out all the stops for her birthday visits, such as letting them ride the hippogriffs or feed the tigers. If Uncle Draco was with them, he always offered to let them feed the crocodiles.
Uncle Draco didn't visit the zoo with them anymore.
"He's teaching but he'll join us for dinner, I'm sure. Are you boys coming with us now or shall we meet you there?" Lukas' mum raised an eyebrow.
"Depends." Harry grinned. "Is it spag bol for dinner?"
"And potatoes, yes." Lukas' mum sighed.
Lukas gagged. "That's so gross, dad, I'll never understand that." He scowled when his dad ruffled his hair again.
"Don't diss it till you've tried it, kiddo. Even your Aunt Hermione agreed with me eventually!"
"Yeah, well, she's off her rocker too you know. She just hides it better than you do." Lukas shot back, squealing when his dad lunged for him.
"That is no way to talk about your wonderful auntie, young man!" He mock-scolded. Then he grinned. "She was more like your Uncle Draco for years, but we broke her eventually, didn't we Sue?"
Lukas' mum smiled savagely and Lukas groaned.
"We'll be off then." Lukas shied away from his mum when she tried to kiss his cheek and she chuckled, ruffling his hair instead. "And to think, next year you'll be joining them in Hogwarts as a first year!"
"What will we do without you to keep us in line?" Harry joked, giving his son a bear hug.
Lukas smirked. "Don't worry, I'll still do your taxes."
His parents grinned. "This is why you're our favourite." His dad declared. Lukas laughed and flushed at the praise, even though he knew the part about the favourites was only a joke. His parents had made a point of treating each child as an individual and explaining why they treated them differently in certain situations. But none of the Potter children ever doubted their parents love for them.
Even if they were the most embarrassing parents in the entire universe. When Lukas had expressed that opinion in front of Aunt Aurora, the witch had smirked and told him that it could definitely be worse.
"I can't believe how quickly you've all grown up." His mum said tearfully. "Three of our birds flying the nest."
"You make it sound like they're moving out." Harry laughed. "They'll be back in the holidays. Or we'll go to them, depending on what the family are up to."
Lukas was relieved he wouldn't have to start Hogwarts alone. Hugo, Wren and Ollie were the cousins born in the same school year as him, so they would all get to go together.
All the cousins were sort of spaced out in small groups. Uncle Neville and Aunt Hannah had no children of their own, which is why Kiki had Uncle Neville's mum's name as her middle name. Apparently Uncle Neville's mum was Lukas' dad's godmother. Anyway, the two Herbology professors had told him that the reason the cousins were such a variety of ages was because Uncle Severus made them all sign a contract. He had thought it was a lie at first because there was four of them his age, but when he asked Uncle Severus he just smirked and said he didn't account for the Weasleys older than Uncle Ron.
Rookie mistake, cause Uncle Fred and Aunt Angelina had triplets the same year Uncle George and Auntie Luna did. Aunt Minerva had fainted when she found out.
Gwen was Uncle Percy's daughter, so she didn't count. Rose was in the twins and Daisy's year, but Daisy also didn't count as Uncle Severus didn't have Dudley sign the contract.
"Earth to Luke!"
"Sorry, what did you say dad? Oh, has mum gone?"
"Yep! And I said that I have a gift for you!" Harry handed Lukas a small purple book, which he flipped open suspiciously. The pages were all completely blank.
"What's it for?" Lukas asked uncertainly, worried it was some sort of prank. Harry grinned.
"Well, Blake got my invisibility cloak, Kayla got the Marauders Map and Kiki will inherit something when she turns eleven. I can't tell you what as it's tradition to keep it a secret until then. But this book is my gift to you."
Lukas frowned, flipping through the empty pages. "Erm, thanks? What do you want me to do with it?"
"Write in it, of course." Harry said cheerfully. "The Potter memoir is composed of several hundred years of accounts from all our ancestors. This one here is my edition, which I will add to the official memoir once I've read it to Kiki when she turns eleven."
"Why me, though? Lukas pressed. "Surely the twins would-"
"The twins are devious little troublemakers and very much like me, yes." Harry lifted his son's chin so he was forced to meet his eyes. "But you are intelligent, kind, patient and you have such an amazing heart. I am so proud of who you are becoming, son, and I want to hear your story. Do you understand?"
Lukas, who often felt very overlooked in his huge family, definitely didn't cry. His dad hugged him tightly. "I love you so much, Luke."
"I love you too, Dad. And thank you."
His dad ruffled his hair. "My pleasure, kiddo. Come on, then, your mum will tell us off again if we're late for dinner. Do you reckon it is actually spag bol and potatoes or is your darling mother having me on?"
"Auntie Minerva adored you, she's probably asked the house elves to make it especially." Lukas snorted. "Unless Mum already told them not to. House elves always do whatever mum says."
His dad laughed. "That they do. Although Kreacher seems quite taken with you."
Lukas shrugged. "Apparently I remind him of Uncle Regulus."
Harry smiled. "Well, you did inherit his name. Come on, let's go see the Hogwarts lot. Apparently Uncle Sirius is there this week, I have no clue why."
Lukas smiled as he followed his dad through the floo. His family were bonkers, but he loved them.
Dear Memoir,
My name is Lukas Potter. I am eleven years old, and I am the third child of four. It's tricky, being the middle child. The twins are funny and everyone loves them, Kiki is the baby and gets away with murder. I'm, well, just me. But my dad gave me this memoir before the summer holidays, because he wanted me to be the one to write in it. He thinks I'm just as special as the rest of my siblings. My mum does, too.
My family are nice enough. Dad is a bit mental, sort of like a five year old but still very responsible (kind of), and my mum is also mental but in a different way. My mum is scarier than my dad. The twins are basically Dad, Uncle Fred, Uncle George and Uncle Sirius all rolled into one. Kiki is a lot like my Aunt Daphne. She finds all the others hilarious, so I think I'm destined to be the only one in my family who doesn't inherit the Black family madness. Even the house elves are all barmy, including Kreacher. Oh well, at least I have Uncle Draco.
I have lots of cousins too. Since my Dad has lots of friends and family, we call all their children cousins even if we aren't technically related. We all have one godparent each, but I don't think anyone even remembers who theirs is most of the time. I know Uncle Sirius has a few, because Dad is always complaining that he's no longer his favourite. Teddy got replaced by Uncle Remus' daughters when they were adopted a few years ago, so he complains with Dad about it a lot. Uncle Sirius thinks it's hilarious. My Godfather is Uncle Draco, of course.
Some of my cousins have left Hogwarts already, like Teddy and Victoire, but some are still there. I'm a bit scared to be honest, but I know I'll be okay - Uncle Draco is head of Slytherin house, which is where I'll probably be, and Uncle Severus still teaches potions as well as being deputy head. Uncle Neville and Aunt Hannah still teach and so does Aunt Ginny. Apparently Aunt Ginny is a scary flying instructor, but she's a bit scary in general. Dad said it's why she never married, but then Aunt Ginny punched him and broke his nose. The girls in my family are all a bit violent.
My Dad and my Mum had lots of crazy adventures when they were at school. They even fought in a war, imagine that! I hope I don't have to do that, it sounded terrifying. Blake and Kayla, my older siblings, are always in trouble at school along with my cousin Daisy. I hope they don't drag me into anything, I just want a normal school life. Knowing my family, I doubt I'll get one.
Luckily Hugo, Gwen and Ollie are also starting Hogwarts today too. They are sat with me on the train as I write this. Gwen is Uncle Percy and Auntie Penelope's daughter, Ollie is Auntie Daphne and Uncle Cedric's son, and Hugo is Uncle Ron and Auntie Hermione's son. I'm telling you because there is lots of us and it gets very confusing.
I think Gwen will be in Slytherin like me, and Ollie will probably be a Ravenclaw. Auntie Daphne will hate that, she has a bit of a thing against Ravenclaws. So does my dad. You should've seen his face when Blake write to him pretending to be a Ravenclaw as a prank. I think my mum almost died laughing; it was pretty funny. Hugo will go to Hufflepuff, I'm almost certain. He's adamant he'll be a Gryffindor like his older sister but I don't believe him.
Hugo wants a game of Wizard's chess now, so I need to go. He always wins, but that's because Uncle Ron is the best at chess ever. He even wins against Uncle Severus, who gets angry every time.
Anyway, I'll write again later I guess. It's a bit weird, writing a diary that will get passed down the generations, but my Dad asked me to and I don't want to let him down. It might be a nice way of remembering my school years in the future too. Dad and Aunt Daphne often read the first memoir together whilst eating ice cream. I don't know why, but Mum told me not to ask.
My Dad only tells people stuff if they ask him, it's his main rule. It's quite funny sometimes.
Hugo keeps elbowing me in the ribs, I forgot I agreed to play chess with him. I'll write again later.