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Although tending to Harry was very hard work, Lily and James couldn't help but marvel at his every movement. They didn't know that it was possible to have so much joy at having a baby. Lily would squeal in delight everytime Harry moved, and snap away furiously on her camera. A stretch of his tiny body, a toothless yawn, or a frown that sometimes turned into a cry. But what Lily loved the most was seeing Harry smile and hearing him laugh. Upon hearing the happy gurgle of Harry, Lily would find herself smiling too, no matter if she was in a good mood or a bad mood.

James couldn't believe how small Harry was. He'd never had any experience with babies before, being the only child in his family, and having aunts and uncles that were about as nice as Padfoot's mother. Sometimes, James would just sit on the couch and watch Harry, taking in his every action and expression. Harry's hand was so small that James could only fit his pinkie into Harry's palm; his own palm was just a bit smaller than Harry's whole face.

Harry would often cry, not because he was hungry or his nappy needed changing, but as Lily and James had concluded, just so he could be held. It seemed, however, that Harry had preferences, when it came to being held by his parents. When Lily held him, his sobs would quieten down instantly. James on the other hand…

WAHHHHHHHH

Both Lily and James looked up from what they were doing, and rushed to Harry's room. James picked Harry up from his cot; they had just fed him, so it couldn't be that he was hungry, and he didn't smell anything unpleasant, so it shouldn't be his nappy that needed changing.

"Shh, what's wrong, Harry?" said James in a soothing voice as he rocked Harry back and forth.

Harry only looked at James and continued crying. James looked a little alarmed, and decided that some singing might cheer his baby son up.

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, hoggy warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please…"

Harry's cries quietened slightly, but then worsened again. "Harry! Don't you like your future school's song?" James asked.

"Whether we be old and bald,
Or young with scabby knees…"

This time, Harry's wails only grew louder and louder. Lily rushed back into Harry's room, startled to find her son crying loudly and her husband looking utterly terrified. Smiling slightly, she held her arms out for Harry, and James gave him to her, looking grateful. Whether it was Lily or Harry, James just couldn't deal with tears.

Lily rocked Harry back and forth gently, just as James had done and all the time singing softly to him. As soon as Harry was in Lily's arms, his sobs stopped gradually, leaving James looking slightly disgruntled.

"Why is it," asked James, "That you can make Harry stop crying just by holding him, and I can't even stop his cries by singing? Is my voice really that bad? He likes you better than me! Silly Harry, you're not supposed to have a favourite parent." Said James looking at Harry, slightly annoyed.

"No James, your singing isn't bad," said Lily, the corner of her mouth twitching as she fought back a smile. "Harry loves both of us equally, I'm sure. It's just because he and I spent have spent nine more months together than you and him have; so of course he knows me better. He recognises the smell of mummy, see?"

James pouted. "But still. What do you sing to him anyway?"

"Nursery rhymes, of course." Lily replied. "You know, those muggle songs all the children know."

"Like Lily had a little lamb?" asked James.

Lily giggled. "It's Mary, James. Mary had a little lamb. Not me."

James shrugged. "It's all the same, Mary, Lily; they both have two syllables and fit the song anyway."

Lily gave James a look. "You know, maybe I need to teach you these nursery rhymes as well."

James looked surprised. "But I do know them! Baa Baa Black sheep, Jack and Jess went up the hill, Eeney Miney Spider, London Bridge is falling down…"

"Yes James, but properly. See, you don't even know the names properly! You don't want Harry to grown up not knowing these nursery rhymes, do you?" Lily asked.

"No, I guess not." James sighed defeated. "You can teach me the nursery rhymes and we can sing them to Harry together."

And so it became a regular sight in the Potter household to see Lily singing nursery rhymes to Harry, whilst James listened intently, nodding along in concentration.


A/N: Thanks so much to tasha27 for beta-ing this for me!