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

Extended Family

Chapter 81 – Two Faces, One Coin

Takes place during chapter 46.

Daphne sighed softly and blushed when she heard the wolf-whistle behind her. She tried to fight the growing smile on her lips but much like the whistler, it was persistent and would not be denied.

"Hey Babe, has anyone told you that you're sexy?"

"Only one person," Daphne replied, not turning around from the counter. "And she says it often."

"Sounds like she's got good taste." Tracy leaned against the counter and batted her eyes at Daphne. "Come here often?" She smiled at the withering look Daphne gave her.

"Quite frequently, considering it is our home and our kitchen," Daphne said, trying her hardest to banish the smile on her lips. "You're ridiculous."

"And you're ridiculously sexy," Tracy said without an ounce of shame.

"I look like I swallowed a melon," Daphne protested.

"A sexy melon."

Daphne finally laughed. "You need to work on your vocabulary."

"I'll put it on my to-do list. Speaking of…" Tracy snorted when Daphne poked her.

"You're incorrigible," Daphne smiled.

"And you're…I got nothing for that," Tracy laughed. "How're you feeling?"

Daphne patted her abdomen. "I am feeling pretty good. Swollen of course and the other day it took me a few tries to summon something to me but feel good otherwise."

Tracy patted her bump gently. "That's good. You be good to Mummy; you hear me in there?"

"She hears you," Daphne smiled lovingly.

"What're you planning for today?"

"Just finishing up a report to send to Mistress Castor and then will make my way to Harry and Katie. I want to spend some time with Iris today."

"Want me to come with you? I can head into the office later."

"I can walk down the lane by myself. I am pregnant, not ill."

"I know, just saying."

Daphne smiled and patted Tracy's cheek. "I appreciate your concern but I will be fine. I feel fine and really want to help take care of our goddaughter."

"Maybe we should have waited a little while to have our own," Tracy said gently. "I know you want to help with Iris but you have to care for yourself too."

"True but I want our child to grow up with Iris. We were fortunate that the timing worked out where they will be less than a full year apart." Daphne looked troubled for a moment before shaking the expression away. "I am fully capable of being the best godmother to Iris while carrying and caring for our own child."

"I know."

Daphne narrowed an eye. "What is that look for?"

"What look?" Tracy's face was the picture of insincere innocence.

"Tracy."

"I'm just worried you'll try to overdo it," Tracy said hesitantly.

"Did I overdo it with Dahlia?"

"…Sometimes."

"What? When?!"

"You usually don't! Just when…well…when someone else is there…"

Something clicked in Daphne's brain. "That someone being Hermione."

"Yeah. And it's fine when you aren't pregnant and with Dally, well she has two other godmothers so that wasn't an issue. But sometimes when it was just you two, you both act like you usually do in trying to do better than the other."

"That has not been a problem before," Daphne said frostily.

"But you weren't pregnant before and I just don't want you to be overstressed or anything. And this time, with you and Hermione being godmothers, the stakes are higher."

"Your concern is appreciated but I can handle it," Daphne said. She snorted at Tracy's eyeroll. "I can and I will."

"Didn't say you couldn't," Tracy said soothingly. "Just…be careful, okay Babe?"

"I will," Daphne said softly.

"Good." Tracy's smile smoldered. "You're so sexy when you're careful, you know that?" She laughed when Daphne smacked her with a roll of parchment.

-0-

"Oh hello Daphne, how are you?"

Daphne looked up from Iris. "Doing well thank you. Yourself?"

"Doing fine thank you," Hermione said. She grinned down at Iris who waved both of her hands happily. "Aww, so good to see you too baby!" She looked back at Daphne. "I can take over."

"I am doing just fine," Daphne said, narrowing her eyes.

"Are you sure? I don't mind. I figured you might need to take it a little easy with everything going on."

"I am pregnant, not recovering from an illness or injury," Daphne said sharply. "I can do my duties just as well as you can."

"Okay, just saying," Hermione said, her own voice turning sharp. "You just look a little tired."

"So do you. Perhaps you would like the opportunity for some more rest?"

"I can do my duties just as well as you can," Hermione repeated snarkily.

"Good."

"Good."

-0-

Katie looked at the two women. "Is everything okay?"

"Fine," Daphne and Hermione said at the same time, pointedly not looking at each other.

"Okay," Katie said slowly. "I really appreciate all the help but if you need to take time for yourselves, you really should. I know you're doing a lot at work Hermione, not to mention still teaching the bunnies. And I know you've stepped back at work some Daphne but you're pregnant."

"We can handle things," Hermione said insistently.

"We want to help," Daphne said firmly.

Katie smiled soothingly. "I know, and hey you won't hear me ever saying you girls can't handle things but just saying, I know how serious you are about being godmothers but don't let it bother you."

"Being Iris' godmother is something I really want and it's not a burden at all," Hermione said.

"Agreed," Daphne said.

"Okay, just so we're clear," Katie said after a moment.

"Crystal," the two women said and looked at each other in surprise.

-0-

Katie watched Hedwig hooting musically to Iris, fluffed up beside her in the bassinet. Her smile was warm and loving as Iris gurgled happily, eyelids slowly drifting close and Hedwig snuggled close to the baby. The owl continued to hoot a lullaby, singing softly when Iris began to snore ever so slightly. The song impacted Dahlia as well, the older girl snoozing on the couch beside the bassinet.

Harry draped a blanket around Dahlia and tucked the edges in and kissed Hedwig on the head, the owl stopping to sing for a moment for a nuzzle and a love nip before going back to singing. He leaned against the table beside Katie. "I wonder if there's a market for nanny owls."

"The training will be incredible," Katie laughed.

"Yeah no kidding. Actually, are owls trained to do what they do?"

"We had to train Clapper a little bit on where to deliver certain things. I think if teams of owls deliver things, they get trained a little but I honestly don't know otherwise. I'll ask Luna or Hagrid next I see them." She looked up at him. "So I have a question and I'm not entirely sure how to ask it."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Did something ever happen between Hermione and Daphne?"

Harry leaned back and looked up, peering into his memories. "Something bad you mean?"

"Or something that makes them…act like how they do?"

"I can't think of anything. I never saw anything or heard anything from either of them. Did something happen recently that makes you ask that?"

"Well, it's about Iris. They take being godmother very seriously, which is great because that's why we wanted them to be the godparents, but they are taking it…really seriously. They're running themselves ragged a bit and also running each other a bit too. And I've been thinking back and they really are competitive with each other. Like incredibly competitive."

"Yeah, they've always been." Harry rubbed his neck. "In school they competed over marks for every shared class which was practically all of them. They were neck and neck all the way to the end, ending up first and second in our year with Hermione slightly ahead. Both scored super well on O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s too." He smiled softly. "I said once that Daphne was basically the Pureblood version of Hermione."

Katie laughed. "Gosh, that's not an unfair description, incredibly accurate really. How did they take that?"

"Neither heard me," Harry chuckled. "I said it to Tracy and she agreed." They lapsed into amused silence for a few moments before Harry spoke again. "It might be because of me."

"Are you trying to take responsibility when it isn't your fault?" Katie asked, looking at him with fond exasperation. "Or are you saying you actually did something to set them on each other like that."

"I hope I didn't do anything personally," Harry said hurriedly. "No but I mean…Ron and I were Hermione's first friends. She and Ron are good friends too but not quite like she and I. And I'm the first friend that Daphne made outside of Slytherin and that wasn't a part of Pureblood society."

"Ahhh. So they're constantly competing with each other so the other won't replace them. That makes sense." Katie hummed softly.

"I don't play favorites, do I?" Harry asked.

"Not that I've seen. You're awesome with everyone. Though you do sometimes treat Mum and MumAndi a little bit better than me…"

"Only when it's funny! And I make up for it!"

She giggled and pulled him to her, hugging him fondly. "I know. You probably do treat Hedwig the best though."

"She is very demanding." He and Katie snickered when Hedwig turned her head to glare at them, giving them a very flat look and they lowered their voices. "I mean, I've never said anything to them about one replacing the other and I always figured they kinda liked competing over things. It's their way of being friends."

"I think they know that too but you know how people get with their insecurities."

"And with the added stress of things as they are now, it's maybe feeling a little worse," he murmured. He sighed gently. "Have they been bad?"

"Not too bad. Just a little extra snippy here and there with each other but anyone can tell that they're pushing themselves and all."

"And telling either of them to step back will probably make them double their efforts," Harry remarked.

Katie nodded. "Probably, knowing them. Dang, they really are really similar in a lot of ways. I just don't want them to build up any resentment with one another over Iris."

"Should I talk to them?" Harry asked.

"Normally I wouldn't recommend it. I mean, I don't know if I'd take anyone's advice regarding my friendships with Angelina or Alicia kindly but it is you and again, I just want everyone to be at peace and feeling better. Just be…you know…delicate."

Harry grinned. "I'll be as delicate as a biscuit."

"Okay, but more delicate than your latest batch." She started laughing at his look.

"Okay I might have overmixed that batch and overcooked them to boot and it's really rude of you to point that out! I'm very delicate about my cooking!"

"You're being sensitive, not delicate!" Katie shrieked when Harry started tickling her. They froze when an angry hiss cut through their laughter. She and Harry grinned sheepishly at a very irate looking Hedwig who radiated disapproval at them. "Sorry mama bird!" Katie whispered.

"Finally, someone else is mama bird," Harry whispered.

-0-

"Come in!" Hermione shouted when she heard knocking. She knew who it was, she had seen Harry walking up to her house. With a flick of her wand, the last of the books flew to their places on the bookshelves and she came out into the sitting room. "Hey there!"

She sighed when she saw Crookshanks munching on something with pleasure, his tail sliding back and forth. "Stop spoiling my cat."

"But he gets so upset when I don't bring him fish," Harry protested.

"And he's expecting me to cook for him most of the time! He's getting spoiled." She waggled her finger at Crookshanks who gave her an offended look. "You are!"

Crookshanks pulled on his dish moodily and plopped himself down on Harry's lap and continued to eat, staring at Hermione defiantly.

Harry scratched behind his ear, smiling at Hermione's huffing. "Don't worry, I brought you something too." He pushed a covered plate over to her, enjoying her happy smile.

"Cottage pie! Thank you." She frowned and looked at him. "Okay, what's wrong?"

"What do you mean?"

"You come here with my favorite dish and Crookshanks favorite fish? You're planning something."

"What if I'm just being friendly?"

"Not necessarily two exclusive objectives."

"Being a solicitor has made you suspicious." He coughed at her look. "Okay, maybe I wanted to talk to you about something."

Her frown deepened and she pushed the dish aside. "Okay, go on then."

"You're one of my best friends, you know that right?"

Hermione leaned over and touched his forehead with her hand. "You don't feel feverish," she said at his questioning look.

"That's because I'm not," he replied, bemused.

"What's all this about?" Hermione asked. "Of course I know that. You're my best friend. I hope you know that too."

"I do. It's just…" he sighed at her look, "it's about you and Daphne."

"What about me and Daphne," Hermione replied sharply.

"Just saying you two have been a little extra competitive recently."

Hermione crossed her arms. "We've always been competitive, from the moment we met."

"Really? Potions class first year?"

"Okay, maybe not the exact first moment. But when we started third year electives and we found each other sharing all sorts of classes, we've competed for better marks and things. She likes to wind me up."

"So do you," Harry said gently. "Don't pretend you don't."

Hermione waved a hand. "Okay fine, in some things. I think she's worse though." She narrowed an eye at him. "What's this all about?"

"I'm worried that you two might make it more personal when it comes to being Iris' godmothers."

"We're adults," Hermione sighed. "I can handle sharing godmother responsibilities with her and we can cooperate just fine. We certainly did as aunties to Dally."

"I know and you can but being an auntie is different than being a godmother. I'm grateful you don't treat Dally any different, not that I'm saying I expected it," he said hurriedly as Hermione swelled with indignation, "but it is different."

Hermione shrugged, not disagreeing audibly.

Harry sighed. "Okay, I feel like I'm going to get hit for this but I'll just ask it, you don't think I'm going to replace you as my best friend with her, do you?"

Hermione looked away.

"Hermione…really?"

"I mean, not really," Hermione said at last. "But, I don't know if you've noticed, she and I aren't too dissimilar in many ways." He was grateful she was not looking at him when he managed to stifle a snort as she continued. "We both are very bookish and care about scholastic things and work. We both have a very strong desire to be right. We're stubborn. Really the only difference is that she's Pureblood and I'm Muggle-born and she's glamorous and I'm not."

He reached out and took her hand. "That's not the only difference. You both are completely different people with similar tastes and mindsets. And I'm not looking to replace one with the other. I wouldn't go to her with some things and I wouldn't go to you with some things."

"What wouldn't you come to me for?" Hermione asked, wounded.

"When I need to talk about Society things or protocol. Or when I need to think about fashion. You can't possibly tell me you care about those."

"No, not really," she confessed.

"And I know you go to others about things either I don't know or am not the authority in."

Hermione sighed. "No, you're right. I complain to Alicia and Katie about you after all." She smiled at his chuckle.

"Another dumb question, you are friends with Daphne, right?"

"Of course I am," she huffed. "It's just, our friendship is built on competing with each other. And in school we were practically fighting each other for the top spot and I just barely got ahead of her by the end. The only thing I know I truly…won…is that I was your friend first. And yes I know that's not fair completely because she was in a different House and she used to care more about Pureblood ideals and all that, but still. When she became more of a friend and less of a rival, I always worried about that and well…I guess I let some of that fear remain."

"Hermione." He waited for her eyes to meet his. "You are my best friend and I love you for all sorts of things. You are not a spare. You are not someone I can simply replace. Or replace with difficulty." He laughed when she pinched his hand. "You know Katie and I picked you and Daphne to be Iris' godmothers because we trust you both and we know our daughter will be safe in literally every way with you two. Nothing would get by both of you."

She sniffled and smiled. "Thank you. I knew that but it's very nice to hear." She sighed deeply. "I can reel it back some."

"I'm just saying don't worry," Harry said. "I know you both compete with each other because you like to but don't let it get bitter."

"That's fair. Are you going to talk to Daphne?"

"I was planning on it, yeah."

"Let me talk to her first. It's time to air things out." She pulled the covered plate to her and smiled when Harry tapped it with his wand, warming it up. "Thank you, it smells wonderful as usual." She frowned at Crookshanks licking his lips. "This is mine, you had yours already."

"Poor Crookshanks," Harry said, rubbing his back.

"Not poor at all," Hermione argued. "Actually, I've been meaning to ask you this. Has he been sneaking down to your home for treats?"

"I don't think he sneaks down, he's pretty obvious about it."

"I thought I saw a water and food dish for him last I visited," Hermione sighed.

"Dahlia made it for him. He only comes when you're not at home," Harry chuckled.

"I'm putting you on a diet, mister. Hey!" She glared at Crookshanks, or more accurately, at his rear when he turned around on Harry's lap and mooned her condescendingly. "You learned that from Hedwig!"

-0-

"One day, I will have my vengeance," Daphne said irritably.

Tracy bit her lip to stop herself from laughing as she gently daubed more cream on Daphne's cheek. "You already want vengeance on the baby?"

"No, you. I am not so cruel as to blame everything on the baby."

"How is it my fault?! I'm not the one making your magic go crazy!"

"I am transferring the blame onto you! She probably messed with my Summoning Charm at the right moment from your influence!" Daphne sighed and shook her head as Tracy roared with laughter, unable to prevent it from erupting. "Until she is born, I will just have to get the thing I want by hand I suppose."

"Or at least summon only soft things." She looked up when the door shook from someone knocking. "Huh, I wonder who it is." She walked to the door and peeked out the peephole. "Oh, huh." She opened the door and smiled. "Hey there, come on in."

"Thank you." Hermione stepped in carrying Iris. "Oh no, are you okay?"

Daphne sighed ruefully. "I tried to summon a cup earlier. The baby," she patted her stomach, "interfered slightly. My first attempt made it skitter across the table and when I tried to put more power into the second attempt, it overpowered and the cup flew very fast and I did not catch it in time."

"I was there when it happened to Katie once," Hermione said sympathetically. "Luckily it was a biscuit but it did crumble into pieces when it hit her in the face. She was a good sport though, and said at least she caught most of the pieces with her mouth."

Daphne chuckled. "What brings you by?"

"Well I thought I'd bring Iris over for some godmother time and to have a chat with you."

"Should I go?" Tracy asked.

"No, I think it's fine if you stay. Daphne will either tell you everything later or you'll needle her too much." Hermione let Daphne take Iris and she clasped her fingers. "So, I guess our friendly rivalry has hit a peak of sorts."

Daphne looked at Tracy who coughed and looked away. "I think you are correct," she said finally.

"Harry came to talk to me and he wanted to make sure there weren't any bad feelings between us. I like to think there isn't but…is there?"

"No, there is not," Daphne said honestly.

"That's a relief," Hermione sighed. "I told him that we just compete over lots of things and we both are stubborn about it."

"You and I are remarkably similar," Daphne said. She sighed and glared at Tracy who giggled. "What now."

"Oh I just remembered something Harry said forever ago," Tracy said. "He said you were basically the Pureblood version of Hermione."

"Huh that's funny, that's what I said earlier today," Hermione said.

"Harry and I will be having words later," Daphne grumbled. Her eyes widened as Iris glared up at her. "Oh, does she do it too?"

Hermione laughed. "Yup, looks like it's a family thing. Badmouth or speak ill of Harry at your own risk."

"We will be having perfectly calm words," Daphne said hurriedly and smiled when Iris relaxed. "That is incredible."

"Anyways, I guess I was always a little worried that you'd…replace me," Hermione confessed. "I mean you're smart and studious like me and you're so glamorous and I think that's why I was always eager to compete with you, to show that I can hold my own against you."

"I am sorry for that," Daphne said, genuinely contrite. "I confess I always tried hard because I found you intimidating."

"Me?" Hermione said, incredulous.

"Yes. I was raised to believe Purebloods were the pinnacle in talent and intelligence and yet there you were: a proud Muggle-born that was smarter than the vast majority of the others. You work very hard but the point remains. I suppose I wanted to prove that I was more than my appearance to Harry and that I could provide a friendship as meaningful." Daphne's cheeks went red. "And I let it get to my head more often than not."

"Oh, that's kind of funny, that we both basically had the same insecurity," Hermione said shyly.

"Only on opposite sides of the line," Daphne said softly.

They both turned to stare at Tracy who was snickering to herself. "What? You two really are different versions of the other," she said with a big smile.

"I hope you find the couch comfortable to sleep on," Daphne said coolly and looked away from Tracy's hurt expression.

Hermione smiled. "Well, I wanted to come and chat and while I like competing with you on things, I did want to make sure that it was mutual and wasn't anything personal. At least anymore."

"I appreciate the gesture and yes, I enjoy the competition with you as well. I will do my best to not make it personal anymore either." Daphne smiled. "We are both this one's godmothers after all."

"Besides, Harry needs the both of us," Hermione said.

"He is exceptionally thick sometimes," Daphne giggled. "Only sometimes and I mean that fondly!" she said hurriedly as Iris grunted angrily, waving her fists.

Tracy scooped up the little girl. "Let's take a walk baby," Tracy laughed. "Let your mean godmothers be mean together instead of at each other, Merlin help us all."

-0-0-0-

jouve25 - I have a soft spot for songfics if you have not noticed and am always happy to hear when people are reminded of things when reading. I haven't listened to a lot of Prince and that was a fun song.

Ghostwriter - Glad you did. The Look is something so small and silly and I'm glad I carried it all this time.

guest - The bunnies are the cutest.

alix33 - They partied so hard they waddled home.

odonnellzoo99 - For good and amusement as we have seen. I'm glad you thought it was cute. It seemed like such a silly chapter concept but was pretty happy with how it came out.