Chapter 1 – Births

Disclaimer: All characters you recognise belong to JK etc...

A stout, red faced man paced up and down the length of his office while fiddling with the rather large, brown moustache hanging from his upper lip. He then paused for a second, and scanned each of the four lifeless grey walls as if searching for something to curb his attention. Anyone watching would know how Mr Dursley was feeling, yet Mr Dursley did not know it himself. At least he wouldn't admit it. It was up to the women to feel nervous about trivial matters such as this.


Petunia was a little upset when Vernon decided not to be with her when the baby was born, but the part of her mind she believed to be rational rapidly reassured her that it was the only proper thing for him to do. She should not be seen in the state she would be in while giving birth. That was why none of her friends had come to the hospital with her either. Her relatives were also not present, but she wouldn't want them there even if they paid her. Okay, well maybe if they paid her but not otherwise. She sighed heavily, and another contraction was soon underway. She was only beginning labour and the contractions were agony. But I guess, she thought to herself, I will have a different opinion of agony after today.


Vernon had been behaving in much the same way all day, and his colleagues at Grunnings had soon worked out what was going on since they knew Petunia was nine months pregnant. Vernon had been looking at a faded mustard coloured stain on his office wall, pretending it was this that he was really interested in. He pretended he was actually thinking about the dreadful standard of cleaners these days, and he was about to call and complain, when the phone rang. His enormous hands were sweaty by now, so it took him longer than he would have liked to grab hold of the receiver.

"Hello! Vernon – is that you?"

He recognised Petunia's voice immediately – as he should, she was his wife after all.

"Yes, Petunia. It's me. Has the baby been born yet?"

Vernon was trying to sound interested, but not like he had been worrying all day.

"Yes! Oh, it's a boy, darling! With beautiful blonde curls and little blue eyes!"

She was speaking in a very excited tone sounded like she was struggling to string her words together properly.

Vernon was about to speak when Petunia cut him off, "Oh, he's like a baby ang…"

He said laughing, "Ang? What's an ang, Petunia?"

There was no answer. Vernon decided to wait on the line rather than rushing over, as work didn't finish for another hour, and he knew people would talk if he left early.


The hour had chosen to pass slowly but it was now five o' clock. And Petunia had not called back. After a short drive, Vernon stomped into the maternity ward of St John's Hospital. His watery eyes were bulging out of his sockets far more than they usually did.

"Could I have the room details for my wife? Petunia Dursley?"


The pain had subsided again. Petunia let out a sigh of relief, and then shouted while being careful not to swear so as not to hurt her reputation, "What was that?"

The oldest doctor, smiled awkwardly at her. She glared back.

"Well, Mrs Dursley. It seems we have made some - some huge mistakes."

"What? Is there anything wrong with me? Is there anything wrong with my son?"

He shook his head furiously.

"No, no, no. Nothing like that! It seems you were carrying twins."

She stared at him for a second in complete disbelief.

"Where is my other child?"

"She's just being cleaned up. She will be brought out as soon as possible, Mrs Dursley, I promise."

The other baby was out as he finished his sentence. Petunia smiled. Having twins won't be that bad. Now I have one of each anyway. The girl was placed in her arms and Petunia looked at her lovingly. At least - she looked at her lovingly until she registered what her second child actually looked like. Then her expression switched to one of horror. One lone tear somersaulted down Petunia's cheek. Vernon appeared at the doorway.

Petunia paused before bursting out the big news.

"I had twins Vernon."

"I know. I was told by one of the doctors. Apparently the doctor doing your check-ups, Dr Wheeze, was not actually qualified."

"He wasn't?"

Petunia was half horrified and half excited. She loved gossip and to her the situation was almost like being in one of her favourite soap operas. Vernon on the other hand was very angry. If 'Dr Wheeze' had of been there Vernon probably would have knocked him out.

"No. I've already warned the hospital that unless we get some sort of compensation we are going to complain. Apparently this man got the job even though he said his qualifications were from Bogwarts School for Stupid Muggle Twits!"

Petunia let out a wail.

"Bogwarts School for Stupid Muggle Twits," she said whimpering. She was now looking down at the baby in her arms with a look of pure hatred.

"Bogwarts School! Muggles! Haven't you realised, Vernon! Hogwarts is the school my freak of a sister went to, and muggles is what wizards call us, people without magic. That's how that man got the job – he was from my sister's twisted little world. He probably knows her and her horrible husband."

Vernon became completely silent. His wife hated magic, but he wanted nothing to do with it at all. He found it much easier to pretend it didn't exist. There was a moment of silence while both parents tried to erase any thoughts of magic from their heads. Petunia was still looking at her daughter – and more specifically – her daughter's pure, perfect, untainted blue eyes. They were the only hope she had right now.

Stay blue forever.


Dear Lily and James,

How are you both? We are very well at the moment. Vernon has been promoted to managing director at Grunnings and on the 22nd June our twins were born. Yes – twins, one boy and one girl, we didn't know either (thanks to a 'Dr Wheeze' who we think might be a friend of yours.). However, they are both beautiful.

Pictures are enclosed.

Yours sincerely,

Vernon and Petunia Dursley

Lily rolled her eyes. James looked over and smiled gently.

"Another brag letter from your sister?"

"She doesn't deliver anything less!"

"She's just jealous because she doesn't have a husband as devilishly handsome as me," he said laying his head back so he looked as cool as possible, or at least so he thought he did.

Lily ignored his last comment and opened the envelope wider, tipping out the enclosed photographs mentioned in the letter. She looked through each one of the eight photos slowly.

"They are all of the boy," she murmured to herself.

"Pardon?"

She handed James the photographs and he started laughing uncontrollably.

"Why have they sent you eight muggle pictures of a giant pink beach ball wearing different hats?"

Lily resisted the urge to laugh and instead replied, "That's their son James!"

"Should have guessed with her giant lug of a husband. Our son will be much better looking, don't worry."

He put him arm around her and patted her swelled belly fondly. She was nine months pregnant now. Lily didn't return his affection though – she was too focused on the letter.

"James, they had twins. One boy and one girl. Doesn't it seem odd to you that they have only sent us pictures of their son?"

"Maybe one of those pictures is of their daughter, and unfortunately she looks just like her brother."

Lily scowled at him, so James gave her a proper hug.

He also tried to reassure her, "They probably just forgot to put all the pictures in. I wouldn't make a big deal about it."

"No, James. I know my sister. She is the most organised person ever. She would never forget to put the photographs in."

"Organisation runs in the family then."

Lily hit him gently on the arm.

"James, there is a reason she hasn't put pictures of her daughter in. And we are going to find out what it is."

James groaned loudly.


But they wouldn't find out that day. Because that day, 31st July 1980, fate had something different planned.

Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew all rushed over and James was beaming at her. It felt good to know they were all there for her to lean on at a time like this.


"He's truly beautiful – not like that beach ball boy of your sister's," James whispered cradling the sleeping boy.

"Don't be silly. All babies are beautiful," Lily replied although silently she was agreeing with him.

"He's going to have your eyes, Lily."

"How can you tell? They are a sparkling blue now – they could end up any colour."

"I think any colour is a bit of an exaggeration," James said, pretending to sound exasperated. Lily poked him.

"No, look. They are almond shaped just like yours."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean they will end up green."

"Not necessarily, but I bet you a sickle they will."

"You're on."

James looked surprised that Lily had agreed, but he put his son in his cradle and gave Lily his hand to seal the bet. They both then stopped talking for a while, something rare in the Potter household since their relationship was mostly based on friendly arguments. They were both watching their child sleep. They were enthralled by each time his chest rose and fell when he breathed, enthralled each time he moved one of his perfect little fingers or toes. Enthralled by how much they could love someone they had only known for a couple of hours. James broke the silence.

"What shall we call him?"

"I don't know."

Silence fell again, and again James broke it.

"James Jr?"

"No, we are not calling our son James Jr."

"Why not?"

By this point Lily wasn't sure if James was serious or not.

"How about his middle name is James?"

James thought for a second and then nodded.

"I think that will suit him perfectly."

Lily smiled and said quickly, "But – then I get to pick his first name."

James said loudly, and clearly without remembering that he was not supposed to wake the sleeping boy, "What? Why would I agree to that?"

Lily raised her finger to her pursed lips signalling him to be a bit quieter, then put her arm around him and said, "Good to know that's settled. I want to call him…Draco."

James pulled away from her, "Draco? No son of mine is going to have a stupid name like Draco. I mean Sirius's name is bad enough but his parents are stuck-up pure blood ars-"

He stopped ranting when he noticed Lily stifling huge amounts of laughter.

"You're not serious, are you?"

Lily giggled and asked rhetorically, "What do you think?"

"So what do you really want to call him?"

She bit her lip nervously. She hoped James would see how much this name meant to her.

"I want to call him Harry," she said looking down at the floor, "my dad was called Harry."

There was another pause and she noticed James staring at her lovingly. He kissed her lightly and then said looking into the cradle, "Welcome to the world, Harry James Potter."

Lily too looked down into the cradle.

I know it's wrong to wish for a child to look a certain way. But I do wish you inherit my eyes. Welcome to the world, Harry James Potter.

Hope you liked it - would really appreciate any reviews. Even flames if you have to!