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

Extended Family

Chapter 23 – Precious Duty

Takes place after Dahlia's birth.

"I don't know why I'm so nervous but I am," Katie said.

"Because it'll be the first time someone babysits Dally that isn't immediate family," Harry replied.

"Alicia and Angelina have babysat before though."

"Like I said, immediate family."

Katie smiled. "Don't you consider Hermione and Luna as family too?"

"Okay, immediate family with children then," Harry laughed. "Though you're not wrong, it does feel a little different when it's not Angelina or Alicia."

"I know they'll be good but I'm still a little worried I guess," she sighed. She looked at the little bundle that Harry held.

"They're coming in shifts and they're all very smart," Harry said. He looked like he was speaking aloud to calm his own fears a little. "And we're only a mirror call away."

Katie nodded. "Yeah and we could use a day off too here and there, or so Mum and Andi say."

"It'll be healthy for all of us." Harry smiled as Dahlia yawned. "Besides, Dally is a good baby. She won't cause trouble." He noticed Katie's crooked eyebrow. "What? She is."

"You haven't noticed that she's a little better with you?"

"Is she?"

Katie shook her head and smiled. "We should hit the liquor store on the way home. I have a feeling the others are going to need it when we get back."

"What aren't you telling me? What's wrong with Dahlia?!"

"Nothing," Katie soothed. "Nothing at all."

"She's a very good baby," he insisted.

"Yes, yes she is," Katie said. "For you," she whispered.

-0-

Harry blinked as Daphne put her bag down and undid the latches, rolling it out. All sorts of things appeared neatly and securely: bandages, potion ingredients, toys, among other things. "Uh, we have that stuff here."

"I know, but I came prepared," Daphne said.

"Wow, it's like a portable baby station bag," Katie admired.

"That's because it is one," Tracy said. "My mum and Daphne's mother almost had a heart attack when Daphne brought it home one day. Me too if I'm being honest."

"I told you that I bought it for Dahlia," Daphne sniffed while Harry and Katie laughed. "I told you that morning before I left."

Tracy snorted. "I know you did and I remembered but I still had a panic attack when I saw you with it."

"Well, I guess you really are prepared for anything," Katie said. "Her milk is in the cold box and warm it a bit before you give it to her. She's sleeping now and will probably be like that for a while yet."

"I did extensive research," Daphne said confidently. "Dahlia will be fine. You two can enjoy your day and rest assured nothing will happen."

"It's true," Tracy said. "She's been reading baby books and been practicing baby potions."

"Really?" Harry asked, touched.

"Of course, I take my role as 'Auntie' very seriously," Daphne said proudly.

"I feel better," Katie said sincerely. "Thanks again you two."

"Off you go then," Daphne said and she and Tracy waved as Harry and Katie left. Daphne tiptoed into Dahlia's room and looked down into the crib. "She is such a little angel," she cooed.

"She really is," Tracy whispered. "I normally don't think babies as cute really but Dahlia is really cute."

-0-

"Still think she is an angel?" Tracy asked an hour or so later. She lost track of time since it felt like Dahlia had been crying and screaming for ages. Once she woke up, Dahlia had been crying nonstop. Holding her, singing to her, walking with her did nothing. She had wailed for much longer and much louder than Tracy ever thought a baby could wail for.

"Yes," Daphne said through gritted teeth. She held her in one arm while paging through multiple books at once, making them float in front of her and flicking through the pages with her wand. "She is just a little upset and we have to figure out why."

"Babe, there's nothing wrong with asking for help," Tracy said as she took the screaming baby. She rocked her back and forth. "Admit it, we're a little out of our depth here."

"I will not concede defeat! We can do this. We are two intelligent witches and we can soothe a baby!" Her eyes moved in a blur. "Besides, who are we going to ask? Certainly not her parents, they'd never trust us again! My mother would simply direct me to a House Elf. Your mother is out of the country. Alicia would never let me live this down."

"And Andromeda and Samantha are unavailable too which is why we are in this situation," Tracy sighed. She flicked her wand and had stuffed animals dance in front of Dahlia. The baby ignored them and continued to cry. "Seriously, you got some good lungs little banshee."

"Do not call her that," Daphne said.

"She doesn't understand what I'm saying! She won't remember!"

"She's not hungry, she doesn't need changing, she isn't starved for attention, blast it all!" Daphne cast a diagnostic charm on her. "She isn't ill or in pain as far as we know. Oh what I would give to be a Legilimens!"

"I wonder if that's legal or not," Tracy mused, wincing when a particularly loud shriek tore into her ear. "Don't make Auntie Tracy put a silencing charm on you Dally." She twisted, holding the baby between her and a very angry looking Daphne. "It was a joke!"

"Okay, think. What would upset you like her?" Daphne said, looking intently at Dahlia.

"Oh boy, uh, lack of sleep which she has plenty of. She doesn't have to deal with my coworkers…" Tracy sighed at Daphne's glare. "Just saying. Maybe we should be thinking like Katie and Harry. What would they be doing right now?"

Daphne picked the baby up and tried to hold her like she had seen Katie and Harry have before. "I do not know," she fretted. "Please Dally, if you could tell us why you are so upset, that would help us greatly."

Dahlia cried louder.

"Talk about Quidditch?" Tracy looked around. "There's a lot less Quidditch stuff lying around for two people whose careers are tied to it."

"As much as it pains me to do this, perhaps there is something in her parents' room that would help. We will beg forgiveness later." Daphne carried the unmollified baby into Harry and Katie's room. "Tracy, do not snoop."

"I wasn't going to," Tracy said insincerely.

Daphne laid Dahlia down on the bed for a moment. "Do you see a special baby blanket or a toy or something?"

"I think those are Harry's technically," Tracy said, pointing at two stuffed rabbits sitting on the headboard of the bed. She frowned.

"What?" Daphne asked, seeing her expression.

Tracy snapped her fingers by her ear. "Dear Merlin I've gone deaf! I don't hear her crying!"

Daphne looked down. "Because she is not."

Dahlia laid there, cooing and content.

"Is it the bed?" Tracy whispered, wary of setting Dahlia off again.

"It should not be," Daphne said slowly. She reached out to pick the baby up and as soon as she rose into the air, Dahlia began to fuss once more. When she put the baby back down, Dahlia continued to whimper and struggle. "Now she is not happy anymore and I put her back."

"Put her on the jersey. That's where you set her down first." Tracy gasped when Dahlia immediately calmed down once more. "Really?! Quidditch?! This family is obsessed with it!"

"No, you dolt," Daphne scolded. "It's Harry's jersey. She probably feels happier because it has his presence on it or his scent." She scooped up Dahlia with the jersey and she smiled when Dahlia cooed and giggled in her arms. "There is our little angel! All happy once more."

"You'd think they'd tell us," Tracy groused.

"He is probably unaware as per usual," Daphne snorted. "Remember, Harry is rather thick."

"Oh my goodness look at her face." Tracy's eyes opened wide. "There's no way she understands us, right?"

"She should not but she does look very cross with me," Daphne marveled. "Your father is…not thick?" She blinked when Dahlia cooed and wriggled once more. "That is surreal."

"Amazing," Tracy laughed. "Lemme hold her." She took the baby and jersey together and she sighed as Dahlia smiled up at her.

"Such a darling," Daphne said softly.

-0-

"Oh hey there," Hermione said. She walked in, carrying a brightly colored bag over one shoulder. "I see the house is still in one piece."

Daphne frowned. "And what does that mean?"

"Just saying babies can be handfuls," Hermione said and plopped her bag down.

"That's a bit childish for you, don't you think?" Tracy snarked as she bounced Dahlia up and down.

"It's a baby bag," Hermione retorted. "And what's wrong with ducks?"

"My parents once tried to have ducks in the garden. They are vicious animals," Daphne said.

"I'll take your word for it. How's she been?"

"A perfect angel," Daphne sniffed.

"Eventually," Tracy said under her breath.

"That's good. I can take over now if you two want to go."

"We planned to be here the entire time," Daphne said severely. "You may leave if you like."

"No way, I've been looking forward to this all week. I'm sure Dahlia wants to spend time with her Auntie Hermione. Oh have you fed her? I can do that." Hermione walked into the kitchen.

Tracy grinned. "I know that look."

Daphne smiled back. "By all means, let us let Hermione take over for a bit and watch what happens."

"Think she knows what we found out?"

"I do not."

"Excellent."

-0-

"Please stop crying Dahlia," Hermione begged. She rocked the unhappy baby. "We were doing so well."

"Perhaps she does not want to spend time with her Auntie Hermione," Daphne said with a sharp smile.

"Don't even joke like that," Hermione said sharply back. "I'm sorry baby," Hermione cooed back at Dahlia. "Your Auntie Daffy is being very rude."

Daphne ground her teeth and pinched a snickering Tracy. "I still cannot believe you told everyone my childhood nickname."

"You should've," Tracy laughed.

"How about a nice book? Want me to read you a story?" Hermione asked. She winced as Dahlia shook her head, crying louder.

"Maybe she doesn't like books," Tracy offered.

"That's not funny," Daphne and Hermione said at the same time. Looking at each other in surprise, making Tracy laugh harder.

The door opened and Luna walked in. "Oh hello everyone," Luna said brightly. Her face became concerned when she heard the crying baby. "Oh no, Dahlia is upset."

"I don't know why," Hermione fretted. "She doesn't need changing. She just ate and I burped her. She was just fine. Was she like this for you two?"

"No," Daphne said.

"In the beginning she was," Tracy said. "Come on Daph, we can't lie about everything."

"So you know what to do and you withheld it?!" Hermione passed Dahlia to Luna and she glared at Daphne. "Of all the sneaky underhanded things to do, making a baby suffer to play a game!"

"You take that back right now! I would never make Dahlia suffer!" Daphne jumped up and she and Hermione were almost nose to nose. "I have Cursed over less!"

"I don't believe it," Tracy groaned.

"You have seen me Curse others for lesser slights Tracy!"

"Not that," Tracy said. She pointed, "That!"

Hermione realized that Dahlia had stopped crying and she turned, seeing Dahlia calm and content in Luna's arms. "What?! How?!" Her eyes narrowed. "Wait, is that a jersey?"

Luna had wrapped the jersey around Dahlia and the baby girl was cooing and giggling as Luna tickled her gently. "Harry's jersey. She wanted to be close to her daddy." She blinked at Hermione's wide eyes. "It was lying on the couch, I assumed that's why it was there."

"We actually went into their room looking for something else and discovered that was the only thing that stopped her from crying," Tracy said. "She was crying for like hours before that."

"It was only one if that," Daphne sighed.

"Felt like hours," Tracy said. She shook her head. "It's not fair that you figured it out in like minutes."

Luna shrugged. "Harry's jerseys are very comfortable and comforting. I still wear mine and I feel more content when I've had a rough day when I do. Only makes sense that Dahlia feels the same." Luna nuzzled Dahlia's cheek, making her squeal. "She loves her daddy very much, doesn't she?"

"Oh, and no Cursing or dueling around the baby," she said severely to Hermione and Daphne, not even looking at them.

"I wasn't actually going to," Hermione protested.

"I was tempted," Daphne admitted.

"Take it outside if you do," Luna said. "Or if you have excess energy to use, let's put on a show for Dally with her toys."

"You're the best," Tracy said to Luna as she watched Hermione and Daphne start to make toys dance in the air. Dahlia's eyes were bright and open as she laughed, delighted by the display of magic. "You and Harry are the only ones that can get them to stop fighting sometimes."

Luna smiled at Dahlia's delight, bouncing her up and down in her lap. "They are good friends; they just prefer to show their friendship with sharp words and bouts of competition."

Tracy shook her head as the display got personal. The stuffed animals began to attack their opposite controllers. Dahlia laughed and laughed as she watched her toys be used in a proxy duel between Daphne and Hermione. "Are you going to allow this?" Tracy asked.

"Dahlia's enjoying it so why not," Luna said, smiling serenely.

-0-

"Oh boy, what happened," Katie asked as she walked in. Hermione and Daphne were sitting side-by-side, balancing a wiggling Dahlia between them on their laps.

"Just an exercise in teamwork," Luna said.

Dahlia saw Harry following Katie in and she squeaked and wriggled, almost falling out of their laps in her haste. Hermione caught her smoothly and got up. "Once you see your father you completely forget about us, I see," she said in a mock hurt tone.

Harry chuckled as he took her. "We can't have that. Give Auntie Hermione a kiss Dally." He held her to Hermione and Hermione sighed happily at the messy kiss from the baby. He then took her around to kiss the other aunties before bringing her back to Katie.

"Why do you have her wrapped in a jersey?" Katie asked as she took her baby.

"It's the only thing that kept her from crying," Tracy said. "Oh so yeah, we went into your guys' bedroom but don't worry, Daph wouldn't let me snoop."

"Is the material of her clothes uncomfortable or something?" Harry asked, worried. "Wait, no the jersey is on the outside so that shouldn't be the issue." He noticed Katie's look. "What?"

"Remember what I was saying this morning before we left?"

"Yeah. She was a good baby, right?" he asked the others.

"Once we wrapped her in the jersey, yes," Daphne said. "On a related note, you should be relieved to hear that her lungs are very healthy."

"Really?" he asked.

"Oh yeah, screamed for several hours straight," Tracy said.

"No I mean the whole-wait, hours?"

"Barely one," Daphne corrected, glaring at Tracy.

"She was very fussy when I got here and she wasn't wrapped in it," Hermione said, her turn to glare at Daphne and Tracy.

With an arched brow, Harry gently took the jersey off of her. He looked at her while she gurgled normally in his arms. Luna gently took her from him and Dahlia immediately began to fuss.

"That's uh, well she's still a baby," he protested.

She immediately stilled when Luna handed her back to him. When Katie took her, she was much less fussy than when the others held her but she still wriggled in soft protest, making small noises.

"Oh, uh, I'm sorry," Harry said, face red and looking sheepish.

Katie snorted and gently passed him the baby. "Don't be sorry. She loves you."

Harry's face softened and he held Dahlia to him. "Oh. You love me already?" he asked her, voice heavy with emotion and wonder.

"Of course she does you idiot," Hermione said thickly, dabbing her eyes.

"Oh my goodness," Luna giggled mightily. "She's scowling at you!"

"Why?!" Hermione gasped. "Dally, why are you scowling at me?!"

"I knew it!" Tracy exclaimed. "She can understand us when we're making fun of Harry."

"You were mocking Harry behind his back to his daughter?" Luna asked sharply, a much louder and pronounced scowl on her face.

"I said he was thick," Daphne admitted, face red.

"Your father isn't an idiot," Hermione said hurriedly. "He's just a little slow." She gasped again when Dahlia turned her head away from her.

Harry laughed, long and loud and little Dahlia joined in, followed by the rest. "Be nice to your Aunties," Harry said to his baby, kissing her cheeks. "They mean well."

"Oh Merlin," Katie laughed. "I have to Floo Alicia later. She told me that Dahlia was making faces at her one time when she was watching her and couldn't figure out why."

"You play a little more with your Aunties while they visit, okay?" Harry said softly. "They came over today to spend a lot of time with you." He handed her to an eager Hermione. "We got groceries on the way home and I'm making dinner for thanks. How do burgers sound?"

"Delicious," Tracy said with Luna nodding. Daphne had gone over to coo at Dahlia while Hermione sat on the floor and summoned the stuffed animals again.

"Mum is going to love this," Katie said with a big smile. "She's going to think it's hilarious."

"Are magical babies that much more intuitive or something?" Harry asked.

"I have no idea, I'll ask her that too." She wrapped her arms around him. "I like to think that it isn't just magic though. You're getting the family you deserve."

He twisted in her arms to kiss her on the lips. "Only because you gave it to me."

"You two are gross," Tracy said with faux disgust. "Ow! Luna!"

Luna tucked her wand behind her ear. "Be nice," she chided.

By the time dinner was finished cooking, Dahlia had fallen asleep. They tucked her in her crib and left a Sensory Charm to alert them if she woke. Harry put a big platter of small burgers in the middle of the table. "These are called sliders," he said. "Smaller as you can see but you're supposed to eat a bunch of them."

"Oh these are a lot softer," Daphne commented.

"The buns are steamed instead of toasted or grilled," Harry said.

"They're different but I like them," Luna munched.

"Thanks again for watching the baby," Katie said as she poured drinks for everyone. "We really appreciate it."

"It was fun once we figured out the secret in keeping her happy," Tracy laughed.

"Such a lucky girl, so many people want to watch her," Katie smiled.

"Of course, she's our Dally," Luna smiled.

-0-0-0-

minerdude - You certainly cannot go wrong with them. They're the ebst.

Arnie1701 - They said it couldn't happen. But everything has a limit.

diffident-serpiente - Toriko was one of my favorite manga for the longest time though the ending got a bit odd. Same with Food Wars. Hope you like it too. This was one of my favorite chapters to write and I was very happy with how it came out. It was a lot nicer and had more depth than I thought the original idea would have. I'll always have Hedwig moments when I can. She somehow became one of my favorites to write for, even without dialogue.

guest - Pudgy bacon filled Hedwig is such a nice mental image.

Imaginer.012 - I thought that was such a silly idea, Harry and Hedwig and bacon, but it turned out rather sincere. You're amazing. Thank you so much.

jahl06 - I'll keep those ideas in mind and see if they fit. Thank you.

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Bring home the right bacon as we have learned. That's a fun idea for a future chapter, I'll keep it in mind. Thank you.

Urgwaew - We all thought it was impossible considering how she was once thought as a bottomless bacon pit but all things have a limit eventually. I just finished the Weasley chapter today for you. And don't worry. They won't be crossovers, but inspired by. I'm just wrestling if I want it to be serious or more over the top. They'll have to be AU, I don't know how to make it canon completely. Best of luck to you and good energy to you.

alix33 - Hedwig MVP

Guest - Glad you liked it. Fluffy chapters are very soothing and nice when they happen.

Mattyb4678 - As luck would have it, it is a Dahlia chapter. Enjoy.