Dear Readers,
For those who have faithfully followed us from the very beginning of the Pegasus Patronus Series, welcome back! And for those new to our Alternate Universe, welcome! This is Part III, and we have been writing faithfully together for over six years. We have learned a LOT about writing but we are still not professionals. We hope you will forgive our mistakes. We try to keep them few and far in between. If you dislike or feel like we could improve upon something, please don't hesitate to let us know. We are open for constructive criticism! "Flame" type reviews are not welcome at all. It only shows one's immaturity if all he or she can do is swear at us about how much they dislike something and then leave it at that. Point being, we certainly hope you like what we have to offer. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Rae Carson and DJ Vivian
CHAPTER ONE:
SPECIAL DELIVERY
Harry rubbed the bridge of his nose as he looked at the clock. "Three in the morning," he sighed. He knew that late nights were going to be part of the Auror criteria, but it certainly did not make the process any easier. He had just graduated from the Academy two years ago, and was most definitely worth the four years of hard work. He had been grateful for the equal training and treatment he had received – no easy ride for the famous Harry Potter, not that he had been expecting it. But a lot had changed since school.
He had married his beautiful Shantiel just before he got accepted into the basic training program at the Ministry. The first year was hard with him being gone six months of the year, but she stood strong by his side; that alone made everything so much easier for him. She was also attending healer training at St. Mungo's with her mother. She wanted to work in the newly opened Children's Ward at the hospital.
Life changed again for the better before he went back for his second year of training. Shan was pregnant with their daughter, Abigail. Harry took that year off to be there for both of his girls to make sure that he missed not a moment of their lives. He was overflowing with joy when his wife told him. His dream of having his own family had sprung to life.
Harry paced nervously in the delivery room at St. Mungo's. It had been two hours ago when Shantiel told him that the baby was coming. In the past few months, Harry had set into action a plan just for this occasion. First, he had sent his Patronus to Madam Adonna telling her of the news. Then he got Shan into their car. Mr. Weasley had helped Harry enchant the thing; Harry wasn't going to take any chances by having Shantiel Apparate or use Floo powder to get to the hospital. It wasn't long after they arrived that one of Adonna's close colleagues took the girl back to the one of their delivery rooms as Harry walked every step of the way beside them. He was amazed at how strong Shantiel was through each contraction, and how her eyes echoed his excitement of their child entering this world.
"Are you okay? Need anything another potion, water?" Harry's questions flowed out of him with worry. Shantiel smiled weakly before she answered him with appreciation.
"No Harry, I'm fine," she said softly, breathing through the contraction. Harry stroked her hair and held her hand. She squeezed it as the pain worsened a bit and Adonna walked into the room.
"How are we doing, Shan?" she asked out of concern, while the head healer for Shan and her baby came in. He examined Shantiel and the baby.
"Okay. The contractions are closer together now," Shan reported to Healer Southgate. He nodded and checked once more.
"Well, the baby has moved into proper position. I have a potion that will numb the pain but you will still feel the pressure," said the male healer. He handed it to Shantiel. "I'll be right back. I need to get the rest of my team." The couple nodded as she walked from the room. Harry's stomach was doing somersaults inside of him. Was there something wrong with the baby? he thought worriedly as his anxiety grew by the moment. Southgate returned in about ten minutes with six other healers behind him, and immediately checked the baby's progress once more. The silence was killing Harry! Adonna smiled at him in reassurance.
"Harry, I want you to help Shantiel sit up a bit," instructed Healer Southgate. He quickly obeyed. "Shan, I need you to push whenever you are ready okay?" The blonde nodded. She bared down and started pushing. Harry ignored the slight lurch in his stomach as he instead focused with attention on his sweet wife.
"Come on, darling. You are doing so well," Harry said encouragingly.
"You can stop for a moment," Southgate said. Shantiel leaned back against Harry panting with the love in her eyes was stronger than ever. Harry kissed the top of her head. "Ready? Just two more good pushes and then a new little Potter will greet the world," the healer said with excitement. Shantiel resumed her position and pushed again. Both Harry and Adonna continued to coach the girl on.
Adonna looked up happily, "I see the head!" South gate asked Harry if he wanted to come see his baby being born. Immediately, he came around but there was so much red fluid that Harry's stomach lurched with more intensity. He felt the blood rushing to his ears. "Harry, are you are okay?" Harry barely heard someone asking him. Everything was starting to haze over and he was feeling ill.
"I…I…think I need…air…" Harry mumbled as he started to sway on his feet.
"Felicia, could you help Mr. Potter out to the hall-," Before she had finished her request, everything went dark as Harry's legs gave out from underneath him.
It seemed like a long while before he regained consciousness. He heard Adonna's voice from somewhere next to him.
"Harry, can you hear me?" Adonna asked him, curiously. He nodded slightly his vision started to become clear again. "You had fainted a bit ago but it's not unusual in this sort of case." Harry rubbed his head as his brain processed what happened before he passed out. How embarrassing. He could feel himself blushing.
"How's Shan and the baby? Are they okay?" He asked, his questions blending together to form one big jumbled one. Adonna smiled as she answered him.
"Yes, mother and daughter are doing just fine. She did beautifully," Adonna assured the now surprised young father. His heart stopped for a moment at the news. He had a daughter…
"I have a daughter…?" Harry spoke in shock but also in amazement. She nodded, smiling happily at him.
"Yes, you do, Daddy," Adonna replied with pride. Harry honestly wanted to leap up and run down the hall shouting loudly how happy he was to have a daughter. "Would you like to see her?" She asked, reading his mind. He again nodded as his heart almost burst with joy.
Adonna showed him to the other room. The sound of his wife's sweet voice humming a lullaby filled his soul. He was almost afraid to enter the room. The fear left him the instant he saw Shantiel holding the newborn little girl in her arms. She was looking down at the baby with such pure love.
"Hello, Daddy," Shantiel said as she looked up at her husband with tears of joy running down her face. "Come meet your little girl," she said with such happiness. Harry slowly walked over to the bedside. He looked down at his daughter's face that was surrounded by a blanket.
The baby raised a tiny fist as she yawned and Harry kissed her hand, rubbing it with his thumb. He spoke softly to the baby, "Hey there, Daddy is so happy to meet you." Shantiel smiled at the both of them. She gently gave the child to Harry. He held the sweet tiny girl to him as he sat in a nearby chair and slowly rocked her to sleep.
"I think we should name her, Abigail Ginevra Potter," Shantiel said softly, "Abigail means father's joy." Harry's eyes grew moist as he looked down at Abigail. He kissed her forehead.
"That she is…my sweet precious Abigail…," Harry said with tears streaming down his cheeks. He now knew the kind of love his parents had for him. The love engulfed him wholly. "Thank you for this amazing gift, Shan…" He leaned down and softly kissed his wife's lips.
