Chapter 264: "The Family Gathering"

The day of the third task dawned bright and clear, and the Hogwarts grounds were buzzing with anticipation. The excitement seemed to fill the air as the champions prepared for their final challenge. Their families arrived to offer support and encouragement, adding to the atmosphere. The Great Hall was filled with a mix of nervous energy and hopeful excitement as students and visitors gathered for breakfast.

Harry entered the hall, his eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on a familiar face that immediately made him smile. Sirius Black stood near the entrance, his arm casually draped around Amelia Bones, both of them beaming with pride. Before Harry could call out, a small figure detached itself from Sirius's side and came barreling towards him with the unbridled enthusiasm only a child could muster.

"Harry!" Aries Black, now four years old and full of endless energy, shouted as he ran across the hall, narrowly dodging between the legs of startled students and visitors.

Harry grinned as he knelt down, arms open wide to catch the boy. "Hey there, little Padfoot!" he laughed, scooping Aries up and spinning him around. Aries's delighted giggles echoed through the hall, drawing smiles from those nearby.

As Harry set Aries down, ruffling his hair affectionately, Sirius and Amelia approached, their faces alight with warmth. "Trying to steal my son's affection, are you?" Sirius joked, his gray eyes twinkling as he pulled Harry into a warm hug.

"As if I'd need to try," Harry retorted with a smirk, before turning to hug Amelia, his greeting to her warmer than the more formal ones he often gave others. "It's great to see you all."

Soon, Susan joined the group, her face flushed with excitement as she practically bounced on her toes. She was eager to show off her Hufflepuff friends to her aunt. "Auntie, you have to meet everyone!" she exclaimed, her eyes darting between Amelia and the cluster of yellow-robed students nearby. "During the Yule Ball, many of them had gone home, but now you can meet them all!"

Harry and Aries moved a little away from the crowd, and as they sat at one of the tables, Aries's eyes were wide with wonder, taking in every magical detail of the Great Hall.

"Harry, Harry!" Aries exclaimed, tugging on Harry's robes. "Is this really Hogwarts? It's so big and magical!"

Harry chuckled, kneeling down to Aries's level. "It sure is. What do you think?"

Aries's face lit up. "It's amazing! Look at the ceiling, Harry! It looks just like the sky outside!" He pointed up at the enchanted ceiling, his mouth open in awe.

Sirius ruffled his son's hair affectionately. "I think he's more excited about seeing the castle than watching the task. Though he's been talking about nothing else for weeks."

"Dad, Dad!" Aries turned to Sirius, practically bouncing on his feet. "Can we explore? I want to see the moving staircases and the talking portraits and the secret passages you told me about! Can we find the one behind the mirror on the fourth floor? Or the one under the Whomping Willow?"

Amelia laughed softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Maybe after the task, sweetheart. We don't want to miss seeing Harry compete, do we? After all, that's why we're here today."

Aries shook his head vigorously. "No way! I want to see Harry win!" He turned back to Harry, his eyes shining with a mix of admiration and expectation. "You're going to win, right, Harry? You're the best wizard ever! Even better than Dad!"

Harry grinned, touched by Aries's faith in him. "I'll do my best, Aries. But remember, winning isn't everything. It's about giving it your all and putting on a good show for everyone watching. Right, Padfoot?"

Sirius nodded, though the mischievous glint in his eye betrayed his serious tone. "Right you are, Harry. Make them remember your performance, whether you win or lose. Though," he added with a wink, "winning would be a nice touch."

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the Delacours, who swept into the Great Hall with an air of elegance that turned heads. Gabrielle, as energetic as ever, launched herself at Harry with a cry of "Harry! I missed you! It was boring at home. No magic, no pranks!" she exclaimed in rapid French, her words tumbling out in an excited rush.

Harry laughed, patting her head affectionately. His fluency in French allowed him to keep up with her chatter. "I missed you too, Gabby. Here to root for your sister? I'm sure Fleur will be thrilled to have your support."

Gabrielle's response was cheeky, her blue eyes twinkling. "Non. I am here to cheer for you. She stands no chance of winning," she declared, her loyalty to Harry clear.

A woman's voice, rich with amusement and a hint of exasperation, cut through the air. "Now, now, Gabrielle. That's not a very nice thing to say. Even if you believe your sister stands no chance of winning, it's not right to say it out loud and discourage her. We must always support our family, n'est-ce pas?"

Harry turned to the source of the voice and found himself face to face with a woman of extraordinary beauty. It was immediately apparent that this was Fleur and Gabrielle's mother; they had clearly inherited her stunning looks. As a half-Veela, Apolline Delacour's beauty was something else entirely, her allure stronger and more refined than her daughters'. However, against Harry's well-honed mental defenses, the allure washed over him without effect, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Madame Delacour, who regarded Harry with newfound approval.

Behind Madame Delacour stood Fleur and her father, the former looking slightly embarrassed by her sister's antics and her mother's words. "Maman," Fleur protested, a hint of a smile playing at her lips, "your words are more discouraging than Gabby's."

This observation elicited a hearty laugh from Monsieur Delacour, his eyes crinkling with mirth as he regarded his family with obvious affection.

Harry smoothly shifted the conversation, addressing the Delacours warmly. "Monsieur et Madame Delacour," he greeted them, switching back to English for the benefit of those around. "It's wonderful to see you again, Monsieur Delacour," he added, recalling their previous meeting at the dueling tournament.

Monsieur Delacour stepped forward, shaking Harry's hand warmly, his grip firm and welcoming. "The pleasure is all mine, Harry. Your performance in that tournament was truly impressive. I look forward to seeing what you'll do today. If it's anything like your previous showing, we're in for quite a spectacle."

Apolline moved to embrace Harry, her smile radiant and welcoming. "'Arry, it's so good to finally meet you properly. We've 'eard so much about you from both our daughters. I feel as though I know you already."

Sirius took it upon himself to make introductions. "Monsieur et Madame Delacour," Sirius began with a flourish, his natural charm on display, "allow me to introduce myself properly. Sirius Black, Harry's godfather and occasional partner in mischief, and this is my lovely wife, Amelia."

The adults exchanged pleasantries, their conversation a mix of English and French as they found common ground in their children's achievements and the excitement of the tournament. Meanwhile, Aries and Gabrielle, despite the language barrier, quickly became friends, chattering in a delightful mix of broken English and French, their shared excitement for magic and adventure overcoming any challenges.

The pleasant atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the arrival of James and Lily Potter, with Charles in tow. The change in Harry's demeanor was instant, his face becoming a mask of polite indifference, the warmth in his eyes cooling to guarded neutrality.

"Harry," Lily said hesitantly, her voice soft and hopeful, "we wanted to wish you luck."

Harry nodded curtly, already moving to step away. James, sensing the moment slipping away, reached out, his hand stopping short of touching Harry's arm, as if afraid that contact might shatter what little chance they had.

"Son," James began, his voice carrying a mix of desperation and hope, "don't you think it's time to forgive us? It's been so long. We've apologized, we want you back in our lives. We've changed, we understand now what we did wrong."

Harry's eyes flashed. "You lost your son the day you decided to abandon him," he said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion. "While I don't care about your decision anymore—it made me who I am today—I don't need you in my life. I'm an adult now, past the age where I need parental love for motivation or happiness."

Lily's eyes filled with tears, the pain of rejection evident in her trembling voice. "Harry, please... We love you. We've always loved you. We made a terrible mistake, but we want to make it right."

James turned to Sirius, a plea in his eyes, reaching out to his old friend in desperation. "Padfoot, can't you help us? You know we are sorry for our actions. We were immature back then. We didn't think things through. We've learned, we've grown. Please, help us reach him."

Sirius looked torn, memories of their shared past warring with his loyalty to Harry. The conflict was clear on his face as he glanced between his godson and his old friends. He wanted to fix his friendship with James and Remus, to recapture some of that old Marauder spirit, but Harry was more important. In the end, he placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, a gesture of support rather than persuasion.

Harry, seeing Sirius's conflict and understanding the pain this rift was causing not just to the Potters but to those caught in the middle, sighed deeply. He didn't need parents anymore, but he realized his cold attitude was also hurting people he cared about. So, with great effort, he pushed aside his instinct to shut them out and took the time to really think about it.

The truth was, Harry didn't want to fix things with the Potters. He knew they were just too different; their beliefs and the way they thought were not the same. Even after everything, they were still close to Dumbledore, despite the role he played in everything that had happened. Harry was also keenly aware that in the future, when Voldemort returned, they would readily join the Order again, listening to Dumbledore's orders which would likely conflict with Harry's own plans and methods.

While Harry didn't really want to fix their relationship, he recognized that for Sirius's sake, and because the Potters had respected his boundaries and hadn't constantly pushed for forgiveness, he could offer them a compromise.

"It's too late for us to be a family again," Harry said, his voice calm but firm. "We don't see things the same way, and I don't think trying to force a closer relationship would work. The best I can offer," he continued, softening slightly as he saw the hope in their eyes, "is for us to treat each other like distant cousins. Your actions caused the death of the child you knew, and this Harry doesn't want to be your son. But we can be civil and coexist without hostility."

James and Lily eagerly accepted this small gesture as if it were a lifeline. It wasn't much, but it was a start—a tiny crack in the wall Harry had built around himself—and they hoped that, over time, that crack might grow. "We understand," James said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "We'll respect your wishes, Harry. Thank you for being willing to try. Good luck in the tournament. We'll be cheering for you."

As they turned to leave, Harry called out to Charles, his voice filled with genuine concern. "Charles, be careful during the task. Take all precautions you can. If you find yourself in danger, your first instinct should be to run, not to play the brave Gryffindor. I have a feeling someone is targeting you, and it's better to be safe than sorry."

Charles nodded seriously, a flicker of fear crossing his face. Harry's warning matched the uneasy feeling that had been bothering him, making his fears feel more real. "I'll be careful, Harry. Thanks for the warning."

As the Potters walked away, Sirius squeezed Harry's shoulder, his eyes filled with pride and gratitude. "You okay? That couldn't have been easy. Thank you for doing this, for being willing to take even that small step for me."

Harry nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I'm okay. I had to do this. You were becoming too serious being around so many serious people. I hope with the Marauders back in your life, this Sirius will go back to being a fun Sirius again."

Sirius's eyes widened in mock outrage. "Hey! What's with all this 'Sirius' talk? Only I'm allowed to make puns with my name. That's my thing!"

The two shared a laugh, the tension of the moment dissipating like mist in the morning sun. The group around them, having witnessed the tense exchange, rallied to lighten the mood. Gabrielle tugged on Harry's hand, babbling about how excited she was to watch him compete. Aries, picking up on the excitement, began to ask rapid-fire questions about the tournament.

As the time for the task drew nearer, Harry found himself surrounded by the warmth and support of his chosen family. He caught Fleur's eye across the hall, and they shared a smile, both drawing strength from the love that surrounded them.

The third task and the possible confrontation with Voldemort loomed ahead, but in that moment, Harry felt ready for whatever challenges it might bring.