Disclaimer: Everything you can recognize in the oncoming story belongs to the magical J.K. Rowling. Everything you don't belongs to the insecure idiot who thinks she might just be able to write something original one of these days (AKA: Me).

'PROLOGUE'

Healer Locke sprinted into the delivery room as the woman's cry filled the air once again. She would not have bothered leaving the room once she was dilated completely, but certain things in nature could not wait for the birth of a child. Locke had thought a quick stop in the ladies' room would do no damage. They'd had no reason to believe the baby would come this fast.

The mum-to-be was in much pain, nothing the Healer in question had not seen before. She bent down near the end of the bed and asked the nurse for a recap.

"The heart is beating as expected, Healer. The baby seems to be fine."

She did nothing but nod and look up at the woman. She was so very young, hardly more than nineteen. And this was her second child! The doctor had much respect for a woman who could be just out of school, finding a career, and handling two small children. Not to mention the husband she had.

Speaking of the husband, Healer Locke noticed his absence. "Where is the father?" she asked one of the nurses.

"Outside, he's a little nervous."

"They've already had one before!"

"Apparently he fainted, miss."

The Healer rolled her eyes. Typical. The men faint one out of every three times she had helped deliver a child and never understood why. The mother was the one in so much agony. They could bare a small amount of unpleasant sightings while witnessing the birth of their own flesh and blood.

"If he wants to see this, get him in here. It's happening now."

"OUCH! OH, MERLIN!"

"I'm here!" said the man, running in. "I'm here!" He took his wife's hand and let her squeeze it rather painfully.

"OW, OH IT HURTS!"

"That's it, baby. You're doing great. I love you..."

"I HATE YOU! THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL I'M EVER LETTING YOU TOUCH ME AGAIN!"

The Healer smirked. Why could the woman never come up with more original things to scream at her husband?

"You're doing brilliantly. I see the head. Now, you'll have to push extra hard to get the shoulders..."

The husband looked at her for a moment as if thinking she were mad. "Almost there, darling –"

"DON'T YOU DARE TALK TO ME, YOU BASTARD!"

"Great, one final push..."

"– OUCH! GET IT OUT, PLEASE!"

"That's it, dear. Great job." A baby's cry now filled the room as the young woman's pleas stopped. Healer Locke stood up and placed the child on her stomach. The man stroked his girl's hair and kissed her cheek softly.

Then, two nurses proceeded to take the baby and wash it of the unpleasant liquids mentioned earlier and bundled it up in a soft yellow blanket.

After it was calmly wrapped, the baby was set in its mother's arms and the father played with one tiny hand.

"Perfectly fine. Ten fingers and nine toes."

The two adults stared at her. "Only kidding. It's an old Healer joke."

They did not look at all amused

"Healer Locke, it's a b –"

She shook her head. "Congratulations, you two are the proud owners or a beautiful baby girl."

"No!" The mum said in surprise. And then her eyes filled with loving tears as she stared down at her new baby girl. The father's arms went around both of his girls and he smiled up at the Healer.

"I'll give you two a moment. But then we'll have to get you cleaned up," she said to the one lying in the bed.

As she left the room she heard a snippet of conversation from the parents.

"You did really excellent, Lily. I love you."

"I love you too, James."

Assuming a kiss had just taken place; Healer Locke smiled and shut the door as the father asked, "What shall we call her?"

The young woman murmured her suggestion. One she had been thinking about ever since she saw it in that Baby Name Book they'd looked at months ago.

"That's beautiful," said James.

Locke agreed. A beautiful name for a lovely daughter. A daughter with pretty red hair and what would be amazing green eyes. Just like her mother... and brother's.