Chapter Two

James and I are standing outside of the most beautiful home in all of Godric's Hollow. Our home. Two stories of brown and white, with two massive chimneys coming out of both sides.

We've been standing here for quite a while, just holding hands and breathing. I think I'm hesitating to go in because I'm afraid that I'll open the door, and then I will wake up, and all of this will have been a dream.

James exhales a very deep breath and unlocks the latch on the gate. As it squeaks open, he gives me one of his signature looks. Those looks are when his bright hazel eyes glisten with excitement and nervousness. The last time I saw one, was on our wedding day.

James walks forward, gently tugging me along. We walk until we're inside and standing in the foyer. Our foyer.

I'm very confused as I scan my eyes around the ground floor. Every room I can see has furniture in it. I know that my husband wouldn't even attempt to buy furniture without me. I look to him for an explanation.

"It was Sirius," he says simply, looking around. "Regulus is ... gone and Sirius rarely ever stays at his parent's place. He thought we could put some of the better looking stuff to use. It was just sitting around Grimmauld collecting dust, anyway. And don't worry love, I made sure it wasn't any of Walburga's signature gaudy shite."

Wow. Since when is Sirius Black so bloody considerate?

Regardless, I am beyond grateful that we don't have to start from scratch. Actually, Sirius probably only did it because he wants to move in as soon as we're settled. Typical Padfoot .. it's too bad I can't stay mad at him to save my life.

"Shall we take a tour, Mrs. Potter?" James teases in a formal tone.

"Why yes, Mr. Potter, I believe we shall." I laugh,

He leads me into the grand living room first. There are two large, comfortable looking sofas on top of a dark bearskin rug. The sofas face each other and to the side of them is massive brick fireplace with a mahogany mantle. The fireplaces really make the house feel like home ... and the Gryffindor Common Room. I love it.

We maneuver through the swinging door, into the kitchen. It looks almost identical to the one at Grimmauld Place, but there is plenty of room and the appliances are all new, which makes me excited to cook our first meal here.

We head to the opposite end of the house. There we find a study, painted the deep, warm red of Gryffindor. The wall behind the desk is a floor to ceiling bookshelf. It is furnished with dark mahogany furniture, a large leather chair, and best of all - a bay window that gives a perfect view of the small pond in our backyard.

James has to physically drag me out of the study and into the living room on the right side of our home, which is nearly identical to the one on the left. We quickly climb the stairs to the unexplored second floor and find one bathroom with a grand free-standing copper tub and an antique faucet. The guest room isn't anything extraordinary, but the fact that James and I live in a two-story home with three bedrooms is enough to easily make me the happiest girl on earth.

The master bedroom is nothing short of magnificent. A large canopy bed covered in handmade quilts sits in the middle of the room and stained oak wardrobes furnish the room. The room screams James and Lily to me - comfortable and cozy.

As we stand in the doorway, James starts to snicker. I look at him curiously and he points to the closed-door at the end of the hall.

"Go see for yourself, love."

I walk anxiously toward the door and slowly turn the knob.

A large crib sits in the middle of the room, complete with a beautiful mobile of owls. I can't help but smile at it. This is the crib where our baby will rest. In the corner of the room is a huge pile of toys and stuffed animals. I laugh as I picture a young toddler playing with the mountain of goodies. My laughter stops immediately when I see the writing on the opposite wall.

In bright red it reads:

This is for baby Prongs or Prongslett when he or she should happen to arrive. Sooner is better than later so get to it.

Love Always,

Pads

James came into the room without drawing any attention to himself. I turn around when I hear him rustling about. He has plucked a stuffed golden teddy bear from the pile and is stroking it's head fondly.

"James, look at this!" I shout and point to the message on the wall.

He looks and roars with laughter.

He is clutching his stomach and howling loudly as I walk toward him with a secretive smile.

I pull him into an embrace and rest my face against the side of his.

"You may be laughing now darling, but I'm quite sure you won't be in eight months." I whisper,

James looks utterly confused for a moment, until I place his hand on my still-flat stomach.

I shriek as Jay wraps his arms around me and whirls us around the room. James's laughter and joy mixes with mine and fills the nursery until we can barely breathe.

At this moment, I believe I am about to burst from happiness and I'm sure everyone in the hollow can hear it