Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter and his universe in any way. I am a humble, inspired fan.
Harry Potter was nervous.
He knew this day was coming and that he would never be prepared for it. He had spent months thinking about it. No matter how many words of encouragement had passed his way, he still could not shake the odd feeling he had in his stomach. He knew he would have to be strong, keeping a positive attitude and a smile on his face. Still, when it came down to the end, he could not keep his feelings in check.
After facing the purest evil forces and conquering them, he was about to come face to face with his biggest challenge yet.
Harry Potter was a father
It was a bright, crisp day when Harry and Ginny Potter brought their newborn home in Godric's Hollow. It was a modest cottage, with a spacious garden behind the house. When they first heard about the cottage, Harry wasn't sure he wanted to live in the village where he lost his parents and where he was attacked by the foul snake, Nagini. But Ginny had convinced him to at least visit the place, promising that if he felt unsure there wouldn't be any pressure. However, when Harry walked though the gate of the white picket fence, he felt calm. As they walked through the cottage and found the garden in the back Harry squeezed Ginny's hand. It almost felt like coming home.
They moved into the cottage right after the wedding. Slowly they settled into a casual life and found themselves enjoying the small village. Then about a year after they moved in, Ginny walked into Harry's office. He brought some paperwork home and was finally making some headway.
"Harry?"
"Hold on a sec, I'm almost done with this stupid form." Harry was scribbling on a small piece of parchment.
Ginny put her arms around his neck. Harry dropped his quill and leaned back in his chair. "You are very distracting," he laughed as he kissed her cheek.
"Well, you better get used to some distraction..." Ginny smiled. "I'm pregnant."
Ever since that day, Harry would switch from really excited to incredibly nervous. News travelled very quickly after Ginny told him the news. Although it was to be expected, Harry did marry into a very large extended family. Hermione screamed and clutched onto Harry and Ginny so tightly that Harry thought his blood supply would be permanently cut off. Ron took a less violent approach, after prying Hermione off, and shook Harry's hand. Ron had long accepted Harry and Ginny as a couple but they still had their awkward moments.
Mrs. Weasley cried when they told her the news one night at the Burrow, while Mr. Weasley beamed and patted his wife's hand when she couldn't calm herself. "My baby's having a baby!" she sobbed happily.
Bill and Fleur sent them flowers. Percy and Charlie sent their congratulations and when George heard the news he gave a small smile, gave his sister a hug and quietly said congratulations. He was still struggling with Fred's death and the family never gave up hope that one day he would make peace with the past.
They also received cards from their friends like Neville, Luna and half of the members of Dumbledore's Army. Ginny's former teammates from the Holyhead Harpies sent a tiny toy broomstick for the little Potter. Hagrid sent them a package and Harry was almost scared to open it. Hagrid's ideas of presents could be a bit scary since he was keen on dangerous animals as pets. However, he sent them homemade fudge, a card, and two knitted lumps that suspiciously looked like booties.
News also spread quickly in the rest of the wizarding world. It had been almost seven years since the Battle of Hogwarts and Harry was still a very famous figure. He was the youngest head Auror in history and every time he was a at work there was a new person who wished him congratulations. The young Potters received scores of letters from well-wishers across the country. Harry and Ginny started to read them all but for every one they read five more would arrive. Ginny joked that they would have to build an owlery in the back garden if the letters kept coming.
Harry and Ginny tried to get on with their lives but that seemed to be quite a task. Mrs. Weasley popped in every week to "discuss" with Ginny about the preparations for the baby. Hermione had taken it upon herself to read every book on having children and would send a copy of every one she deemed useful to Ginny. Ron complained to Harry one morning, that she had even subscribed to the weekly magazine Wanda Witch's Parenting Tips. Ron had the unfortunate accident to open the volume on how to deal with a fussy toddler. The magazine would not stop screaming for days. Harry was secretly grateful that Ginny didn't bombard their house with such magazines.
As the days passed, Harry and Ginny became closer than ever. Ginny would rest her head on Harry's shoulder at night and the two of them would wait to feel the growing baby inside Ginny. Occasionally they would feel a foot or an elbow and it would be all the more real. They were tempted to know if it was a boy or a girl but decided to be surprised. Ginny bet a silver sickle that they would have a boy and Harry countered two more sickles that they would have a girl. They tried to talk about baby names but there were so many to choose from. The made a list which they added to and crossed names off of at least a dozen times. Every time Harry looked at Ginny he fell in love with her all over again. She was so beautiful, her red hair flowing past her shoulders, her eyes sparkling and alive. She was always so confident, so sure of everything. Harry wished he felt as confident as she did.
Harry had always wanted a family. His early years were spent longing for a family who cared for him, or for a family to even notice he was in the room. When he met the Weasley family, he was given a glimpse of what a loving family could be like and he felt lucky that they welcomed him into the group, despite the aura of danger that was always around him. Now during the years of peace, it seemed like his days of being alone were just a nightmare that he had finally awoken from. He got comfortable in his somewhat normal, wizard life. He had friends, loved Ginny more than life and there was always a small hope that children would be in the future. Everything he had dreamed of and more was now a reality but there was a nagging fear in the back of his mind...
How could he be a good father, when his own father had been taken away from him? How could he teach this young baby how to be a good person and make the right decisions? What if he couldn't provide a good life?
Harry tried to reason that all fathers felt this way at one point of the journey. But Harry wouldn't be a typical father. He had faced danger and defeated the darkest wizard of all time. He had spent months on the run and the following year after that making peace with his troubled past. In the past, Harry had half expected to not make it this far in his life and had never made a plan. He had gotten used to living from moment to moment. What if he couldn't be a good father?
Of course, he did have some sort of practice with his godson Teddy Lupin who was turning seven. Harry was always involved in Teddy's life and formed a strong friendship with Andromeda Tonks, Teddy's grandmother. Teddy was a constant visitor at the Potter cottage and slept over almost every Thursday night. When little Teddy found out about the baby he made plans to teach the baby everything he knew about life, which he thought would be quite impressive after his seventh birthday.
Harry loved his godson and tried to be there for him whenever he could. Ginny loved Teddy too and promised Harry that they would do anything for Teddy. She reminded Harry that he wasn't the only one who missed Remus and Tonks.
Ginny knew that something was bothering Harry. He never told her exactly what it was but she sensed it had something to do with the baby. Harry didn't want to tell her how he was feeling. He felt guilty. What if she thought he didn't want the baby, when he really did want a son/daughter? They almost talked about it when they were setting up the nursery. With a few flicks of their wands, the crib was built by invisible hands and the walls were painted a soft blue with white clouds.
Harry laughed as they put away some baby clothes Mrs. Weasley had dropped off earlier that morning.
"What's so funny?" Ginny asked.
"Everything's so tiny."
"I know, it's hard to imagine sometimes isn't it?" she smiled.
"I hope..." Harry trailed off as he picked up two little white socks that fit in the palm of his hand.
"You hope what?" Ginny looked at Harry, hoping he would open up.
Harry was silent for a moment and then he shook his head. "Nothing," he smiled. He put the socks in the drawer. Harry gave her a kiss and went back to decorating the room.
Ginny put her hand on his arm. "It's okay Harry. You can talk to me."
"It's nothing, really."
"We always promised we would be honest with each other, there's no reason to break that promise now."
Harry sighed and looked out the window. "How can I be a father Ginny? I wasn't raised like you, in a big family. As a matter of fact, I was raised to think I was nothing but an inconvenience and then I grew up with the world wondering whether I would make it past my 17th birthday or not. What if I screw up?"
Ginny walked over to him. "Yes, I grew up in a family with two parents. That doesn't mean I know how to be a mother. Parenting is something you and I are going to figure out together. I know you will be a great dad, I've never doubted that you would be."
"Easy for you to say," he said. "You're biased."
"Easy for me to say because I've seen the way you are with Teddy. Remember when his friend next door went camping with his father and Teddy cried because Remus isn't here. The only one who could calm him was you. Then pair of you went camping in the back yard and Teddy was so proud to talk about his godfather who took him camping. Or do you remember when Teddy and Victoire broke three eye of newt jars in Mom's kitchen and instead of getting them in trouble you quietly helped them clean it up?"
"How can I forget? It took us hours to find all the eyes...wait a minute? How did you know about that?" Harry asked.
Ginny smiled, "I grew up with six brothers, I know everything that goes on in the Burrow."
Harry laughed, "Of course."
"Plus look at how you care for your friends! How many times have you been the referee for Ron and Hermione? Look how gentle you are with George. You were the only one he would talk to at first when he wouldn't come out of his room after Fred died. It's been so hard on him you've tried to be there as much as possible. And you set up that support group for all the family members for the people that were lost during the battle."
"I know how it feels to lose someone you love," Harry said simply. Harry always felt responsible for taking care of the people who dealt with loss.
"Not to mention that whole saving the world thing," Ginny grinned.
"Yeah, yeah, back to your point," Harry grinned too.
"My point, Harry, is that you love so much, with your whole heart. In the end, that's all that really matters."
Harry turned and held Ginny, kissing her neck. "I love you."
"I love you," she smiled. "Don't worry Harry, as long as we are together, we can do anything."
"Speaking of doing anything," Harry said. He magically turned the lights off and whispered, "Astra Supremia".
Instantly the ceiling was covered with little twinkling stars.
"Oh Harry! It's beautiful!"
Slowly the nagging in Harry's mind started to fade.
At exactly 2:33 a.m. that night Ginny shook Harry's arm.
"Harry? Wake up, my water broke."
"Huh? Oh, alright, I'll fix it tomorrow," Harry mumbled from his pillow.
Ginny hit him with a pillow, "HARRY!"
Harry shot up, "Hey! I said I'll...oh..." He jumped out of bed and frantically looked for a pair of pants. "Ok Ginny, don't panic, everything's okay!"
"We have to tell Mum and Dad," Ginny said, sliding out of her nightgown and into a loose dress.
"Right! I'll take care of it!" Harry yelled, running down the hall and pulling a t-shirt over his head.
"Don't forget Ron and Hermione!" Ginny yelled. A minute later she heard a crash. Before she could even ask Harry yelled, "I'm okay! Everything's okay!"
Ginny shook her head.
Somehow they managed to to apparate to the maternity ward of St. Mungo's in one piece. Within minutes Ginny was admitted to a room. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley arrived moments later.
"Oh Harry dear, this is so exciting!" Mrs. Weasley said as she grabbed Harry into a giant hug. "How are you Ginny darling? Are you alright? We got here as fast as we could!"
Ginny tried not to laugh, "Thanks mom."
"Molly, relax. She's in good hands here," Arthur said, wiping his slightly sweaty forehead with a worn handkerchief. "I've never seen Molly run so fast," Arthur said on the sly to Harry.
"Of all the times to have a baby, Ginny has to pick in the middle of the night," said a voice from behind. Ron and Hermione were just walking through the door.
"Ron!" Hermione shot Ron a reproachful look and punched him the arm.
"Ow!" Ron rubbed his elbow. "It was just a joke!"
"Little Ronnie, when will you leave the jokes to the professionals?" George appeared behind Ron.
"How did you know we were here?" Harry asked.
"Mum practically put an ad in the Daily Prophet." George grinned.
"I did no such thing!" Molly scolded.
"Angelina offered to babysit Victoire and off Bill, Fleur and I went. We just got here. Percy the magnificent sends his condolences but he will not be joining us due to a bad cold. He will be expecting updates throughout the night."
"Oh zis where everyone is!" Fleur stuck her head through the door. "We were wondering! Bill!" Fleur called into the hallway. "'Arry and Ginny are here! So is the rest of zee family!"
Chaos ensued as everyone started talking at the same time. Harry look across the room and saw Ginny wince with pain. She was trying to breathe but she was finding it hard to concentrate.
"Hey everyone?" Harry tried to get their attention but they kept on talking.
Ginny caught Harry's eye. Her breathing was faster and she mouthed 'get them out of here!'
"Oi!" Harry yelled and whistled. The talking stopped and the rest of the Weasleys looked at Harry.
"We appreciate you all being here but would you mind letting Ginny rest for a little while. We have a long night ahead of us."
"Are you sure you're alright?" Molly said.
Arthur took his wife's hand, "We'll wait outside. Come along dear." He gave his daughter a kiss on the forehead and patted Harry on the back.
"You call us eef you need us 'Arry," Fleur said as she and Bill exited the room.
George cleared his throat, "Yes, well, I can see you already have the father part down Harry. I admire the way you're throwing us unceremoniously from the room!"
"George don't tease!" Ginny said.
George laughed and joined his parents in the waiting room.
Hermione and Ron were the last in the room. Hermione gave both Ginny and Harry big hugs. "I've already mapped out the best routes to the bathroom and the snack areas so don't hesitate if you need anything," she said triumphantly.
Harry tried not to laugh, "Thanks Hermione."
Ron grinned at Harry. "See you later mate."
Ron closed the door behind him.
"Finally!" Ginny sighed. "Thanks for that," she smiled.
"Anything you want," he said.
It several, painful hours later when the newest Potter was born. Harry stayed by Ginny's side the whole time.
"Congratulations," the nurse said to the new parents. "It's a boy."
Harry couldn't stop smiling. The nurse handed the baby to Ginny. Wrapped in a blue blanket, tiny fists emerged and a small little cry was heard throughout the room.
"Ginny, he's perfect," Harry whispered as his son latched his tiny fingers around Harry's finger.
Ginny kissed Harry and then kissed her tiny son. "He's perfect. James Sirius Potter. Our son."
For a moment Harry felt a catch in his throat. Time seemed to stop as he held his wife and son in his arms. He had never expected life to feel this perfect. All the challenges he faced, all the danger and all the unknown worries of the future meant nothing. He thought he had seen some amazing magic in his life, but nothing was more magical than the moment he became a new father.
"James Sirius Potter. Welcome to the world."
