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

Extended Family

Chapter 46 – Favor

Takes place after the birth of the second Potter, before chapter 41.

"Babe? You okay?"

Daphne looked up. "Hmm? I am sorry, I was lost in thought."

"I'll say, you were staring at Iris incredibly deeply."

Daphne smiled down at the baby in her arms. "She is very beautiful."

Tracy grinned, gently tickling Iris Kaylie Potter's belly, making her coo and giggle. "She sure is. It's not fair that Harry and Katie have cute babies. This one looks more like her dad though, poor thing."

"Do not disparage your co-goddaughter," Daphne chided. She cooed at the baby girl, admiring her soft black hair and bright green eyes. "She is wonderful."

"Don't say that around Hermione," Tracy said, looking about.

"You and I are married and since Iris is my goddaughter, you have a bit of a claim as one as well. I can handle Hermione's sense of propriety." Daphne bounced the baby up and down, smiling widely at her.

"She'll disagree with that," Tracy chuckled. She sobered. "Seriously, are you okay?"

Daphne hesitated. "We will speak later. I promise."

"I know, whenever you're ready babe."

-0-

That night Daphne poured herself a glass of mead and a glass of firewhiskey for Tracy. "I want to ask Katie."

"Oh?"

"About the favor."

"No, I got that. Whenever you usually want to ask her something you just do it." Tracy took a sip. "It's because of Iris, isn't it?"

"Yes," Daphne readily admitted. "She is so sweet and I know I will dote on her and do anything for her but after her and Dahlia, I want a baby of my own, our own. I want children with you. I want our family to grow. I think we are ready."

"Me too. We make good money, we have an awesome new house in a great place. We're ready."

Daphne smiled gratefully. "Thank you."

Tracy took another sip. "Just…what happens if Katie says no?"

Daphne sighed deeply. "Then we will have to go about it the…usual way."

Tracy winced. "I really hope it doesn't come to that."

"Me too," Daphne whispered. "Should we…go prepared?"

Tracy rolled the glass in her hands. "No. Remember, they're Gryffindors and our friends. Let's just be honest and hope for the best."

Daphne smiled. "We would normally never do that."

Tracy's smile matched hers. "Normally no but I guess they're a bad influence on us."

-0-

"You just can't get enough of her either huh?" Katie laughed when she saw Daphne and Tracy.

Daphne smiled. "Not at all, however, this is for something else. May we talk?"

Katie stopped and looked at them carefully. Daphne and Tracy looked nervous. Their smiles did not quite reach their eyes and they held each other's hands tightly. They did a good job of hiding their feelings but after all the years of friendship, Katie had a good grasp on their expressions. "Of course, come in."

She led them into the home and sat them down in the sitting room. She swiftly had a pot of tea ready and brought it over, making sure Iris was comfortable in a crib beside her. "Is everything okay?"

Daphne nodded. "It is nothing…very serious. It is important and we wanted to ask you something." She took a deep breath, feeling better at Tracy's hand squeeze and Katie's kind eyes and encouraging nod. "We, Tracy and I, are wanting to have children."

"Oh that's wonderful," Katie said. "Forgive my ignorance, but how do you do that? Adoption?"

"Adoption is an option, yes," Daphne said. "For us to have children the…normal way, we would have to have a male…donor." She turned slightly pink. "You can either conceive the…usual way," she turned an even brighter pink, "or there are potions made with the male's donation and the woman uses it and she can become pregnant and have a child. Then there is a ritual with a potion where the baby will take on the blood of the other woman and will be their shared child."

"Huh, that's really neat," Katie said. "I never knew that. How does it work for two men?"

"Essentially the same, given that a woman carries the baby to term. A ritual will have the child taking on the blood of both men."

"But the baby would have a bit of the donor or carrier?" Katie asked. "That's interesting," she said thoughtfully. "I kinda want to talk to Mum and MumAndi about that, that's really interesting actually." She froze and looked at Daphne who winced slightly. "Oh."

"You caught on quick," Tracy said with respect.

"Is…when you helped me with Harry way back in my last year, you said you were doing it as a favor..." Katie said slowly.

"No! Please! Trust me when I say this was not what I had in mind at the time!" Daphne looked distraught and Katie felt a pang for hurting her.

"I trust you," Katie said, taking Daphne's hand. "I'm sorry for saying it that way."

"No, I do not blame you," Daphne said. She sighed deeply. "I had intended to use the favor as more of a joke really. Something to needle Harry with forever. Then, during our last year, Tracy and I had a fight and I asked for Harry's help and was going to use my favor."

"Turns out it was a bad communication thing between us," Tracy said, "but it involved us having kids one day. I didn't want to talk about it and Daphne was pressured to talk about it and we were able to reach a peace about it. Part of the making-up process involved asking Harry to extend his favor to the both of us."

Tracy winced at Katie's wide-eyed look. "To be honest, I wanted to use it to make Daphne feel really uncomfortable about ever asking Harry to be the male donor but we both kind of…don't hate the idea. Check that, we both like the idea. You two are our closest friends and well, yeah."

"Harry had said at the time he was with you and we said we would ask you first," Daphne said softly. "It seemed like a joke at the time, but now, it is not one. We are serious and we wanted to speak with you openly and honestly."

Katie sat back, blinking slowly. "Huh. Never thought I'd be thinking about this today, or ever."

"I am terribly sorry," Daphne whispered.

"This is something, really important and like, deep into Society tradition, isn't it?" Katie asked. She looked off into the distance when Daphne and Tracy nodded. "Never would've guessed." She looked at the two girls again. She still remembered the day, back in Harry's second year during the Heir of Slytherin fiasco, when Daphne stood up to Oaken and the members of her House. She very publicly broke ranks with many and spoke boldly and Katie had appreciated it.

She had been a little surprised to see the friendship between them and Harry grow. She was guilty of being wary of the Slytherins as a whole. Yet during the Tournament, Daphne and Tracy had proven to be pleasant people. Tracy was a bit flippant and inappropriate and Daphne used her status and upbringing like a weapon, but they had become warm and genuine as the years passed.

Of course Katie would always hold a fondness for Daphne after the girl had meddled when she had her own problems with being with Harry romantically. The girl had been kind and understanding and provided much needed guidance at the time. Their friendship had grown closer since then and Katie did count the girl, now woman, as a close friend. Her and Tracy both.

She saw how nervous they looked, how vulnerable. It took a lot for them to come to her like this. She knew they could have waited for Harry to be there, to take advantage of his kindness and heart. Yet they did not, they came to her. They saw her with an equal respect.

"What would you do if I or Harry said no?" Katie asked frankly.

"We would try to find a donor the usual way," Daphne said.

Katie nodded. "This…isn't a no or a yes right now. I need some time to think. Do you mind if I ask some people their opinions? I won't say you're involved."

"Alicia?" Daphne asked.

"And Andromeda probably."

"You may mention me, I do not mind," Daphne said softly. "I appreciate you thinking over it."

"We both do," Tracy said.

"If…if you no longer wish for me to be Iris' godmother, I will relinquish the title," Daphne said miserably.

Katie softened. "I'd never, not over this. I know you love her and you love Dally too."

"Thank you," Daphne whispered and the note of relief in her voice was heartbreaking. She almost broke down completely when Katie hugged her.

-0-0-0-

"Ah! Hello dear," Andromeda said when she appeared in the mirror.

"Hi MumAndi, do you mind coming over to our place later?"

"I can come over now if you like. Is something the matter?"

"I have something I'd like to talk to you and Alicia about."

"Ah, Pure-Blood nonsense then? I will be happy to try and shed some light on the matter. Be over soon." She waved and her image disappeared. In a very short time, Andromeda came walking up to the Potter home, letting herself in. "Hello Katie," she said warmly. "Hello Alicia."

"Hello," Alicia said with a merry wave.

Andromeda stopped by the bassinet first, cooing softly at a snoozing Iris, before sitting with the others on the couch. "Ah thank you," she said, accepting a cup of tea.

"So, uh, this is going to be weird and awkward so I'm just going to jump in," Katie said. "Are same-sex couples having babies together a regular thing in Society?"

"Yes," Andromeda said easily. "It is not overtly documented and shared, but it is common enough. The Blacks had several instances of it in their long history and you would have trouble finding a family that did not do it at one point."

"And it's done with potions?"

"Or the normal way," Alicia made a crude hand gesture that made Andromeda chuckle. "But yeah, potions for those that don't want to do that."

"That's wild. How effective are they?" Katie asked.

"It depends. Obviously on the skill of the potion maker and much like most potions, the quality of the…ingredients play a large role." Andromeda sipped her tea. "Compatibility and magical strength have a factor. And while most discount this, luck plays a role more often than not. Much like any couple trying to have children."

Katie hummed softly. "How complicated is it?"

"Making the potion? I've never done it but learned about it during my mastery. It's not that bad." Alicia drank from her cup. "Everything else though is bad."

"What do you mean?" Katie asked.

"Finding a donor or finding someone to carry the baby is an art in itself. You have to have all these contracts and agreements if you want to do it right."

"Do it right?"

"Yeah because the child is going to share blood with not just the parents, but the donor or carrier who is also a donor technically. If you don't have a binding magical agreement, all sorts of things can happen. The donor could try to assert some kind of parental right later. Others do it purely for the gold. A good donor can be paid a lot for their services. And that's if they don't want to have anything to do with the child."

"These children can make and break alliances and families," Andromeda continued. "Some are conceived as a sign of trust between families, a living tie of alliance and agreement. Others are…insurance. A way to hold families accountable, to bind them to the family. The families place large emphasis on blood of course and on the ways the families are tied together, how they are related."

"That sounds horrific," Katie gasped.

"It isn't pretty," Alicia said. "That's why it's usually a big deal involving solicitors and contracts and agreements and everything. Even asking is a big deal, lots of hoopla and theater. Trying to convince the other why it's in their best interests and whatnot. Gifts, bribes, and all that. There are so many horror stories where things turn bitter over agreements and that's not even counting the children that get used and they turn out…less than happy about everything."

"So being asked is a big thing?"

"Incredibly. It shows considerable trust. Some of the greatest and deepest alliances were forged through such agreements and unions," Andromeda said.

Alicia looked at Katie carefully. "Ah. So Daphne and Tracy asked you huh?"

"Was it that obvious?" Katie asked.

"Only a little because I know you all. If you were asking out of curiosity then she'd be here too. Since she isn't, I guessed."

"Remember when I had that problem during my last year?"

"When you were an idiot? Yes, vividly." She grinned at Katie's sour look.

Katie threw a sugar cube at her friend. "I was having trouble dealing with my feelings and how others were looking at me when I was dating Harry in the beginning," she explained to Andromeda. "Daphne helped me take a look and realize what matters most: him and me first, then our friends and family, with everyone else's opinions at the bottom."

"She is very clever," Andromeda said. She started laughing when Katie described how Daphne had stuck Harry to a chair, silenced him, and disillusioned him to hear it all. "She is incredibly clever. I do like her," Andromeda chuckled.

"And well Harry returned the favor the next year when she and Tracy had a fight about children. And the favor turned into a joke about asking him for his help back then. But Daphne and Tracy came over to me earlier to ask me directly."

"Just like that? Openly and holding nothing back?" Alicia whistled. "That is rather big. Even armed with that knowledge you could hold them over a barrel."

"How do you feel about it?" Andromeda asked kindly.

"Overwhelmed honestly. I never thought I'd be asked anything like this. I don't know how to feel and that's why I wanted to talk to you two. If I'm being completely honest, I don't know if I want to be wrapped up in that Society stuff and drama. It sounds exhausting and just bad for children."

"As someone who grew up in it, left it, and is slightly back in it, I do not blame you," Andromeda said frankly. "It is exhausting in every sense of the word."

"What's the usual way of finding a donor?"

Andromeda winced. "I…perhaps you do not wish to know since it may influence you."

"Now I have to know."

Andromeda poured more tea for them. "It is…essentially a meat market. There are negotiations between interested parties, forced meetings, bartering. Everyone involved wants to gain the most and lose the least. It is so objective and detached and those involved feel like…well meat."

"You have to really want to have children to suffer that," Katie said softly.

"You do," Andromeda said sadly. "Adoptions are of course an option but there are those that want to carry the child and for them to be related in blood in that way."

Iris gurgled in her bassinet, making the women look towards her. Katie scooped her up and rocked her softly, smiling at the wiggling little girl. She hugged her daughter, feeling her warmth, the bundle of life in her arms.

"What are you thinking?" Alicia asked softly.

"I'm thinking that Daphne and Tracy have done so much for me and Harry," Katie said softly. "They are real friends; they love Dahlia and Iris so much. I…I want them to have that happiness too. I think I can handle some of the weirdness the situation brings."

"You have an amazingly large heart," Andromeda praised. "Think of it this way, if it helps. It will make your two families closer, not the overall Families in Society, but your two immediate ones."

"Yeah, that is nice to think about." Katie smiled at Andromeda and Alicia. "Thank you for talking with me. I really appreciate it."

"Anytime dear," Andromeda said. "Now, I normally would not ask for payment for offering advice to family, but if I may take advantage of the situation…"

Katie laughed and passed Iris over to Andromeda who beamed and cuddled the baby close.

"So you're going to let Harry do it the usual way?" Alicia asked cheekily. She shrieked when Katie shot a deep tissue stinger straight into her leg. "Son of a bitch!"

"Language!" Andromeda scolded, holding a hand over Iris' ears.

-0-

"You look a mess," Katie laughed.

Harry laughed ruefully. "We had a rough practice. Cap let Captain run it and he got a little enthusiastic."

"Poor baby," Katie said. "I'll tell Alicia and she can let Oliver have it."

"Poor Captain," Harry chuckled. "So what's wrong?"

"Why do you think something's wrong?" Katie hedged.

"You cross your hands in front of you when you have something sensitive to talk about."

"Oh, huh. Well, it's nothing wrong per se. Daphne and Tracy came to me earlier today asking me something."

Harry stilled. "Oh?"

"They explained," she said and giggled at his visible relief. "I know you never promised anything."

He smiled sheepishly. "It's still really weird that they want me to do that."

"Well, there's a reason." Katie explained everything she learned that day from Alicia and Andromeda.

"That sounds horrific," Harry sighed.

"Yeah, that's what I said."

Harry rubbed his face. "What do you think?"

"Well, I kind of want to know what you think. You'll be donating after all."

Harry thought for a moment. "I…I want to help if we're all comfortable with it. They're so good with Dahlia and Iris and I don't know if you've noticed, but ever since Iris was born, Daphne's been a little…wistful."

"Now that you mention it, yeah. I always thought it was something about proving to be the better godmother over Hermione."

"I think that's part of it," Harry chuckled, "but she has been a little out of it here and there and I think she's been really wanting a child of her own."

"And if you had a choice on how to donate?" Katie asked with an arched eyebrow.

"In a vial," Harry said immediately. "Not the 'usual way'. You're the only woman for me."

Katie blushed prettily and hugged and kissed him. "Sorry, that was cruel of me to say it that way. I wanted to be sure."

"I don't blame you. It'd be too weird for me and they're pretty but you're my Katie and you're beautiful and all I ever want and need," Harry said softly and kissed her on the lips.

She kissed him back. "You're all I want too," she whispered. "You know, guy wise. I always want more food and chocolate. Maybe a new broom here and there."

He laughed heartily. "Deal." He hugged her close, burying his face into her neck. "So we're together on this, right?"

"You'll be doing most of the work," she smiled into his hair.

"Actually, they will," he said, enjoying feeling her laugh on his lips. "But you're still are a part of this. I never want to do anything you don't like or aren't comfortable with, aside from stupid Quidditch things of course."

"Of course," she said and bonked her head against his. "No, I'm fine with it. It's actually kind of exciting knowing how we can help them like they've helped us. Besides, this means we can spoil their children and enjoy watching them go through what we do."

"And it means more family for us," Harry smiled.

She loved the feel of his smile. "And that's always good," she said sincerely.

-0-

"Hey, come in!" Tracy smiled at Harry and Katie standing at their back door. "Hey Daffy! Harry and Katie are here!"

"Oh hello!" Daphne walked into the kitchen and smiled. "Good to see you!" She frowned at Harry. "You look a mess."

"That's what I said," Katie laughed.

"I even showered," Harry said lamely.

"Are you here to save us from having to think of dinner on our own?" Tracy asked, wincing when Daphne poked her.

"Partially yes," Harry smiled. "Also, we came over to say yes."

"Yes?" Tracy asked. Daphne's eyes widened. "Wait," Tracy said, catching on. "This fast? Really?"

"Really," Katie said. "I had a talk with Andromeda and Alicia and learned a lot and Harry and I talked when he got back. We want to help you. We have a few…I hate calling them conditions but that's what they are."

"Anything!" Daphne gasped. "Name it and it will be done!" Tracy nodded frantically, in full agreement.

"The children will be yours completely," Harry said softly but firmly. "Neither of your families have any pull over them for any reason. They aren't going to be used for any Society things, political things, none of it. If I have any say over that with me being a donator, I want that to be something."

"You…you would say that?" Daphne whispered in shock.

"Yes. And you can have that in writing if you want. No offense to either of your families but if they come after them with any kind of intent like that, if you will let me, I'll put a stop to it. One way or another."

"Thank you, Harry," Daphne whispered, tears building in her eyes. "That is more than I could ever dream of."

"People would kill for that kind of protection," Tracy gasped. "Seriously, thank you."

"We'd love to have a part in their lives too, just like how you two are a part of ours and Dahlia's and Iris'," Katie said.

"Of course," Daphne said fervently. "It will be no small part either. And rest assured, I will still be the best godmother to Iris that I can be and the best Auntie to Dahlia."

"Me too," Tracy said just as fervently.

"Never had a doubt," Harry said and Katie nodded.

"What else?" Daphne asked.

"That was it really. Oh, well wait," Harry turned bright red, "can we do the donation thing through the potion? I don't know if I could do it the other way…you know."

"Oh! Of course, yes, no problem," Daphne said, blushing furiously.

"I feel like I should make a joke here but I don't want to ruin things," Tracy said lamely.

That eased the tension and they chuckled.

"Well, then I guess we're agreed," Harry said.

"Seriously?" Tracy asked.

"Seriously. I don't care about alliances or money or deals or agreements. You two helped us, we want to help you. You two are some of our closest friends and well, we're kind of excited to be even closer family wise," Harry said easily.

Daphne burst into tears and she leapt forward, hugging Katie and Harry at the same time. "Thank you," she said over and over again. "Thank you, we cannot ever repay you," she wept.

Katie pulled a crying Tracy into the hug. "I like raspberry dark chocolate and Harry of course won't say no to treacle tart."

"I'll bury you both in as much as you want," Tracy cried.

-0-

A few weeks later.

Harry groaned, woken from a rare nap by the pounding door. "Whuh?" he grunted, trying to get his brain to function. "What's going on?" He saw Daphne from the window and she hammered on the door with both hands.

He jumped up and ran to it, yanking it open. "What's wrong?!"

"I need a diagnostic charm!" she nearly shouted.

He cast it swiftly. Then he cast it again. He looked at her.

"Well?" she whispered.

"You're pregnant," Harry said with a broad smile.

"I'm pregnant," she repeated, dumbly. "Are you sure?"

He cast it a third time. "I'm sure. Congratulat-"

Daphne tackled him to the ground. "I'm pregnant!" she screamed. "Thank you, oh friend of my heart, thank you a thousand times!" She burst into tears, hugging him tightly.

Tracy came running to the door, panting. "Dammit Daphne, you know I hate running!" She took the scene in. "Wait. Are…are we…is it-"

"She's pregnant," Harry confirmed, still smiling. "Congrat-" he coughed when Tracy leapt onto them both, sobbing with joy and crushing the air from Harry's lungs.

"Hug pile!" Dahlia came running down the stairs having heard the commotion and gleefully launched herself high to join the pile of people on the ground. "Oh no! I'm sorry!" Dahlia said loudly when she noticed Daphne and Tracy crying. "I didn't mean to hurt you!"

"You did not," Daphne said, twisting to hug her tightly. "Auntie Tracy and I are very happy about something, that is why we are like this."

"It's about something good right?" Dahlia asked, hugging her auntie back hard.

"We're going to have a baby," Tracy smiled through her tears.

"Just like Iris?!" Dahlia squealed.

"Close! You're going to have another little sister to play with!" Tracy said.

Dahlia squealed with joy and hugged her aunties tightly.

Katie walked in, eyebrows rising when she saw Daphne and Tracy hugging Dahlia and Harry squashed beneath them all. "What's going on?"

"Auntie Daffy and Taffy are having a baby!" Dahlia shouted.

"You're pregnant?!" Katie exclaimed. She shouted with joy and jumped onto the pair when they nodded. "Whoops, sorry love," Katie laughed down at Harry.

"'m fine," he grunted breathlessly.

-0-

Nine months later.

"Hey you two, get in here!"

Harry and Katie walked into the hospital room. Tracy linked an arm through both of theirs and pulled them to the bed where an exhausted but smiling Daphne lay.

"How're you feeling?" Harry asked.

"Exhausted and sore but so happy," Daphne said, glowing. "We wanted you two to be the first to meet her."

Katie cooed at the small baby lying in Daphne's arms. "She's darling! She looks just like you two!"

"I'm glad she's a blonde," Tracy said proudly, eyes bright as she looked down at her baby. "She's so beautiful."

"Open your eyes little one," Daphne said gently. The baby blinked. Her eyes were bluish-green, the color of the tropical ocean. She looked about, trying to focus on her mothers and the visitors.

"Oh wow," Harry breathed. "She's beautiful."

"Do we finally get to know the name?" Katie asked eagerly.

"Yes, we wanted to wait until now to tell everyone. Harry, Katie, meet Heather Kadence Greengrass-Davis. Heather, meet your namesakes and your godparents."

"You named her after us?" Katie asked, incredibly touched.

"And we're the godparents?" Harry asked softly.

"We could think of none finer for both the name and the godparents. You made this possible, the both of you. She will be so loved and cared for and we wanted to honor you," Daphne said.

"You gave us a family, in lots of ways," Tracy said. "We wanted to show you that you'll always be a part of our family in every way possible."

Harry accepted the little baby and held her in his arms. He smiled gustily at her yawn. "Hi Heather. You're going to love it here. Your mothers are going to be amazing."

Katie took her next and sighed softly. "You are so precious." After a long moment she handed the baby to Tracy and she smiled when Tracy sat on the bed beside Daphne. "This, this right here is what really made me say yes. I don't regret it at all. They look so happy."

Harry took her in his arms. "They really do." His heart softened at the smiles that Daphne and Tracy had.

"When can we start telling Heather embarrassing stories about them?" Katie whispered.

"As soon as she can start repeating them," Harry whispered back.

-0-0-0-

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - It was one of my favorites to write too. I randomly got the idea and went with it and it was nice to write after writing Unwanted. Glad you enjoyed.

guest - Hedwig chapters are my favorites too. Glad I could help you smile.

Imaginer.012 - Hey, was thinking about you the other day and hope you're doing better. You're a gem. I'm glad you liked the chapter. It really did turn out cuter than I thought and I glad you liked the quote, I thought it fitted well.

minerdude - Thank you, I'm glad you liked it. I thought it was a very nice way to borrow it and use it here.

Arnie1701 - Yup, I think I got their relationship well here.

alix33 - Potterlets was my second favorite word use in the whole chapter.

Urgwaew - I still laugh when I think of Butt Warmer. Thinking of nick names was a lot of fun. Hagrid's made me sad and it fit I think. Glad you liked it and I hope things are better for you. My best to you.