A/N: James and Lily try to paint the nursery at Godric's Hollow. AU.
Submission for:
Hogwarts Fair 2014 Challenge/Competition: Hogwarts Bouncy Castle
The Sorting Hat's Challenge: What is your favorite color? - Red
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
He stood before the blank wall before him with his hand on his chin. They had began the move this morning and while the others were putting the other things away, he had decided to tackle this room himself. This was supposed to be a quick job, but he just couldn't decide on a colour. He waved his wand at the wall before him and it turned a deep midnight blue, reminiscent of the night sky.
"No, no, no," a voice from behind him as he heard soft yet heavy footsteps approach. "It's much too dark in here for dark blue."
He spun and looked at his pregnant wife and said, "Why not? I reminds me of the nights I use to run with the others." He aimed his wand somewhere above her head and a large white spot was made against the dark background. "See?"
She shook her head, trying to fight the smile away with a hard scowl, and said, "It's still much too dark. How about sky blue, like outside right now?"
He looked out the small window and then aimed his wand at the walls. "Ah!" he screamed as he shielded his eyes. "No, it's too bright."
"I think it's fine," she said as she drew her own wand and created a large yellow spot above his head. "Just like a bright, sunny afternoon."
The man frowned before making all the colours disappear and the previous white walls to return. "How about we stick to regular, solid colours?"
"Orange?" he asked, while changing the colour of the wall on her right.
She shook her head and then turned the adjacent wall another colour, "Purple?"
He shook his head and said, "Green like your eyes?" he asked with a green as he changed the wall next to her.
She blushed and said, "No, too much." She pointed her wand at the wall near her, "Brown like yours?"
He shook his head, "Too muddy and dark for a room."
He was grinning, happy for the little banter and carefree nature of this little task but then he looked over at her and noticed the change in her demeanour. She was biting her lip as she usually did when she was overwhelmed and close to crying. He knew how scared she was, about the pregnancy, the birth and about the world their baby was being born into. The whole reason they were moving from their flat to this home was due to safety. It was hard on everyone, but especially her as she was the one carrying the precious cargo. He walked over to her and said, "Don't worry. This is the easy part. We'll pick a colour."
He drew her into his as she nodded into his chest while she tried to pull herself together. It wouldn't do good to get so emotional over just trying to pick the colour of walls.
"Hey, guys, where should I put this crib?" a shaggy haired man said as he entered the small room.
The man released his wife and pointed to the wall adjacent to the window, "Right there, Padfoot."
He grinned and then looked towards his best friend's wife. After a silent conversation between the friends, the shaggy haired man said, "How about this then?"
He drew his own wand and twirled it, "Red."
Within a few months, Harry was born. On the first night home, his parents both stood over the crib as his mother rubbed the infant's back soothingly. His little fist was in his mouth as he lay within the red room with gold trimmings. He snuggled into his little red jumper with the gold blanket across his legs, oblivious to the world and the danger around him.
"Red," the woman said with a smile.
Her husband nodded and placed an arm around her shoulders, "Red."
