Lily's hair was still clinging uncomfortably to the side of her face. She was exhausted and sweaty and probably looked like a complete mess, but she didn't care. James was standing beside her new, clean bed, but neither of them were paying a whole lot of attention to each other. They'd only seen their son for a minute before the healers had whisked him away, but now he was in the arms of a plump blonde witch, clean and soft and wrapped in a light blue blanket that only his head popped out of.

The first thing Lily realised was that, despite being less than an hour old, he already had a fair amount of messy black hair. She laughed quietly, and James shot her a confused look.

"Here we go then!" said the healer kindly, coming to a standstill beside the bed, "time to go to mummy!" She lowered the baby down into Lily's waiting arms. He was only half awake, opening his eyes now and then to cast an unfocused gaze around him.

"Look how small he is," Lily whispered, looking up at James with teary eyes as the healer retreated. "I feel like he's going to break."

James had been beaming since the moment he'd seen his son, but now his smile flickered like a candle flame in a strong breeze. "He won't," he assured her. "We'll keep him safe."

He perched on the bed next to Lily, putting an arm around her shoulders and kissing her hair just above her ear. She leant into him and they gazed down with awe at their baby as he flexed his tiny fingers. "He's incredible," James murmured. "Our little boy."

"I know." Lily smiled up at him for a moment before returning her gaze to her son; neither of them wanted to take their eyes off him for long.

"Are we certain about his name, then?" James asked. "I think it suits him."

"Harry." Lily nodded, placing a gentle hand on the boys' head and smoothing back his hair. "It's perfect."

"Harry James Potter, you're going to be the luckiest little boy in the world," James grinned, addressing the bundle in his wife's arms, "you have the best mummy anyone could ever want, and you're dad's going to look after you, okay? I promise."

"I love you," Lily smiled, removing her hand from Harry's head and linking her fingers with James'. "Both of you."

He squeezed her hand. "I love you, too."

The healer came bustling back over to the bed, smiling pleasantly as she reached down and carefully took Harry from Lily's arms. James felt Lily tense beside him. "Time for a sleep, I think," the healer said, smiling at Harry before looking up at his parents. "I'll pop him in his cot down the hall so you can get some rest."

James exchanged a look with Lily. "I'll take him," he said, getting to his feet. "I'd rather keep him close by."

"If that's what you'd prefer." Giving him an indulgent smile, the healer handed Harry to James. "Back to daddy you go!"

James carefully cradled the baby in his arms, grinning as Harry peered up at him and made a small, squeaky noise. "Listen Lily, he's saying hello."

He turned around to look at her, but Lily was already asleep, her cheek resting against the pillow and her chest rising and falling steadily.

"You both be quiet," the healer said in a mock-stern whisper. "Don't wake up mummy."

James smiled. "Wouldn't dream of it."

The healer winked at him and left the room, leaving James alone with Harry. He wandered over to the window, pushing the blinds to the side with his elbow so he could look out at the streets of London below. "Look at all that, Harry," he murmured, smiling. "There's loads out there for you to see, and I'm lucky enough to get to show it to you. Welcome to the world, little guy."