Chapter seven

Harry was allowed to get out of bed the following morning, but he had to take things easy, his stomach still needed time. So after showering he sat next to the healer and Lily, not taking his eyes off his daughter.

'Is her breathing alright?'

'Yes, but her lungs aren't developed yet Mr. Potter. She is having trouble breathing, but the potions we give her is helping with that.'

'It's Harry,' he gave the healer a small smile before facing his daughter again, 'Please tell me the truth, can something still go wrong?'

'I think you know the answer to that, but yes, there are always complications that can arise. But that is another reason that she is always watched so if we notice anything, we can treat her straight away. But her heart is strong, she's already proving to be a fighter.'

'Just like her father,' Charlie said as he stepped beside Harry and gave him a kiss.

'Like both her father's love, but how were you last night?'

'Mum had Percy's room ready for me and stood over me to make sure I ate. She's going to bring you in a big lunch later.'

'Oh good, I love your mum's cooking. But did you have any dreams, you know?' Harry shrugged.

'A couple, Ginny ran in and woke me up. She wouldn't leave again until I fell asleep. Ron watched me a lot, so he didn't get a lot of sleep.'

'Ron's used to my nightmares. But you're mum knew you would head back there?'

'Yep, but they were all still there waiting for me. I think they wanted to hear from me that you were both okay,' Charlie knelt down and stared in at his daughter, 'Hi angel.' again he kissed his fingers and placed it on the glass, 'She's so little. I see Teddy and I saw him a month after he was born, he seems like a giant compared to her.'

'Yeah, it does seem like that. I held Teddy right after the fighting, first time I held a baby, but he took up my arms. Lily looks like she could fit in my hands. Oh Charlie, I want to hold her, but I can't.'

'You will, when she's stronger, we both will and you know what love.'

'What?' Harry tried to smile, but kept staring at his daughter.

'Once she's out of that thing, she's never going to be put down again. She can sleep in your arms or mine, mum's, Ginny's, Hermione, Ron, then add everyone else.'

Harry gave a small laugh but held his stomach, 'We might not get a chance to hold her with the size of your family Charlie, then add all my friends.'

'Which all send their best,' Minerva McGonagall and Hagrid stepped into the room, 'Oh my, she's so small Harry.'

'Yeah, she is, but what are you both doing here, you have a school to run?'

'Had to see ya Harry,' Hagrid gave him a small hug then a tight hug to Charlie.

'Yes, when Aberforth came and told us, we had to come. Filius is looking after Hogwarts. Now what did you call your daughter?'

Harry and Charlie looked at each other, 'Lily,' they both said.

Minerva nodded, 'I always thought you would call your daughter Lily. Your mother would be very proud.'

'I think she would, now I keep wondering if Lily might resemble her, Charlie with red hair, like mum, my eyes, like mum, so maybe she will.'

'She's got a few strands of hair there Harry, they seem to be very dark, but they could lighten,' the healer smiled.

'Yes, she might end up with your messy mop,' Minerva grinned making Harry, Charlie and Hagrid laugh, but again Harry held his stomach, 'Are you okay?'

'Yeah, Mrs. Weasley had to cut her out, so I'm healing, but a bit sore.'

'I was so panicked seeing all the blood, but mum had no time to explain what she was doing. She did try to stop Lily being born, but she couldn't. All I saw was blood pouring out of Harry,' Charlie put his hands on Harry's shoulders and Harry put his hands up on Charlie's.

'Yes, Aberforth explained a little about what took place. So with Ron, he upset you?'

'He never meant to, he went upstairs to think because he does have a habit of saying things before he thinks. He didn't want to upset me in case that happened.'

'Actually that was very smart of him and you just assumed he didn't like gay men?'

Harry shrugged, 'Yeah, I did just assume that, I thought I'd lost my best friend. We've had our fights but have always been there for each other, this time, I thought would be the last.'

'The healer explained that Harry went into labour so fast that nothing would have stopped it and it all came down to his life. Being relaxed to tense in a second, calm to danger, so he's body is used to reacting quickly so that's what happened yesterday,' Charlie explained.

'Yes, I saw Harry like that quite often. How long will Lily need to remain in this?'

Harry and Charlie looked at the healer to answer, 'Until she's at least three months old. Normally they have to stay until they would reach the age of the full pregnancy, but she is strong, has a strong heartbeat, so two months a half months minimum,' the healer explained.

'And you two are going to be here all the time, aren't you?'

'I am, every day,' Harry said.

'I will after work and on weekends.'

'The reporters out there were all asking me what was wrong with you.'

'We haven't told them anything, we thought if they knew Harry had a baby then they would try anything to get in to get the first picture of Lily. I walked through them last night and just said Harry was fine, but they still didn't stop shouting questions.'

'So no one apart from a few knew you were pregnant.'

'Apart from you and Aberforth, no, then we told Bill and Fleur, she's pregnant as well, four months,' Harry gave a small smile, 'We got talking, you know all about being pregnant, morning sickness, the whole thing. We were like two old women the way we were going on.'

Charlie, Minerva and Hagrid laughed, 'We could just imagine you and Fleur doing that, comparing your pregnancy's. So yesterday was when you told everyone else?'

'We told mum and dad a week ago, we thought we'd have to give them some time, but they were fine, they knew I was gay.'

'They had Bill before you, Percy, George, Fred and Ron after you, so I'm sure they picked up on it.'

'That's what they said, all these years I've been worrying for nothing. If I knew they all be fine, I might have approached Harry earlier.'

'No one knew I was gay, that's why I dated Cho and Ginny, to hide the fact I was.'

'Do you know that Albus knew you were gay Harry?'

Harry turned and looked up at Minerva, 'Then why didn't he say something to me? We spent so much time alone, you think he would have.'

'He thought you had enough on your mind. He always planned to talk to you after, but sadly, he died before it ended. He is pleased about you and Charlie, he thinks you will be a good influence on Charlie, tame him Albus said.'

Harry chuckled, holding his stomach again, 'Actually, I like Charlie's wild side. Only one thing worries me about us, we're both stubborn and won't back down.'

'Then expect a few nights where sex will be denied,' Minerva said and laughed as she realised she'd just shocked Harry, Charlie and even the healer, something she has never done before.

At lunch time, Molly and Arthur turned up and Molly had a basket with her full of her Christmas dinner. Harry grinned, hugged her before she placed two plates on the table near Harry's bed. Then she took a third plate and handed it to the healer, surprising her but thankful. So she pulled a small table over and ate the wonderful and delicious food.

'You are the best Mrs. Weasley,' Harry said with a mouth full of food.

'Let's stop this Mrs. Weasley nonsense Harry, either call me Molly or mum you're choice, same goes for Arthur.'

Charlie watched Harry for a minute before Harry got up and hugged his mother.

'Thanks…mum,' Harry said softly.

'Oh Harry,' Molly gave a light hug before she patted his cheek, 'Now finish eating.'

'Okay,' Harry sniffed then got back on the bed and noticed Charlie watching him, 'What?'

'You have made mum very happy, she's thought of you as a son for years, now you're calling her mum, she couldn't be happier.'

'I've thought of your parents like that for years Charlie,' Harry grinned then started eating again, but watched as Molly spoke with the healer about Lily. Arthur was sitting near the cot staring at his granddaughter, 'Like us babe, they love her.'

'Yes, they do Harry, everyone does.'

Charlie leant forward and kissed Harry, 'I love you.'

'I love you too Charlie,' Harry grinned then started eating again, but as Harry and Charlie were finishing, Kingsley stepped into the room, 'Hi Kingsley.'

'You look a lot better Harry.'

'I feel better, still a bit sore, but okay.'

'I want to speak with both of you about something,' Kingsley pulled up a chair, 'Oh hello Molly, Arthur, I didn't see you both there.'

'Hello Kingsley, we're just visiting our first grandchild,' Arthur smiled.

'Okay, the waiting room and all the reporters. It's making it very hard for anyone that comes in and needs healing. So I had an idea that might help.'

'Alright, keep going Kingsley,' Charlie said.

'What if you do a one on one interview and allow a couple of pictures of Lily to be taken. That way everyone will know what is going on and they will see your daughter.'

Charlie looked at Harry, 'This is up to you Harry, you're the one that has to put up with this for years.'

Harry stared down at his hands then over at Lily, 'If I do this, it won't be the Daily Prophet, I want nothing to do with them. Oh, I know, Mr. Lovegood and the Quibbler, I trust that he will only write what I say. He did before and I'm sure Luna will take Lily's pictures.'

'I'll go speak with him, see if he can do this today. I had a feeling you would say the Quibbler, after the big interview you gave years ago.'

'Yeah, but he was honest, so even though most of the stuff he prints is a load of shit, he will print this.'

'Okay, if he will, then we'll be back later and let's hope this works, it's getting ridiculous out there,' Kingsley stood, 'Take it easy.'

Harry watched him leave, 'I hope it will ease off,' he looked over at Lily again, 'Healer Jones, will a couple of pictures of Lily hurt her?'

'No, just keep it to a couple.'

'Okay, thanks.'

'She'll be fine Harry, you need to learn to relax.'

'I know, she's just so small Charlie, I don't want anything to cause her any problems.'

'I know, I'm the same, but try to calm down,' Charlie moved and sat beside Harry on the bed put his arms around him and pulled him close, 'Let's just stay like this and watch our daughter.'

'I could live with that,' Harry moved a little so his head was on Charlie's chest, 'You feel so good.'

Charlie chuckled, 'I'm glad you think so, but we can't do anything for at least a week.'

'Oh, did you ask healer Swainly?'

'No, I asked mum, your wound needs at least a week because sex will put pressure on your stomach.'

Harry sighed, 'Okay, a week isn't that long,' he looked up at Charlie, 'But I can't wait to have you inside me again,' he whispered.

'Oh babe, neither can I, but charms or you don't bottom.'

'So is that another reason I fell pregnant, that I like you to take me and I didn't know about the charms?'

'Yes, I'm going to get you some books on male pregnancies. But even if you do forget the charms in the heat of the moment, then you do me.'

'Okay, since we do want a bit of time between each child, I'll either do the charms but if you attack me and it's quick, then make sure I'm giving and not you.'

Charlie laughed, 'Sometimes you attack me Harry, but yes, we'll try to remember charms, well, until we are ready for more kids. But are you sure you want to stay home and not work?'

'Yep, from the moment I knew about Lily, that's all I wanted.'

'We're off for a while to give others a chance to see you,' Molly said as she stepped over and collected the now empty plates and placed them back in her basket.

'Thanks for the food mum, that was exactly what I needed, I feel great,' Harry grinned.

'Yeah, we'll take more of that mum,' Charlie smirked.

Harry slapped Charlie's stomach, 'You eat worse than Ron.'

'I think of all my kids, yes, Charlie is the worst,' Molly hugged Charlie then Harry, 'Rest, heal and we'll see you tomorrow.'

'I'm resting, thanks again mum,' Harry smiled then hugged Arthur after he hugged Charlie, 'Thanks dad.'

'Anytime Harry, listen to the healers,' Arthur nodded then left with his wife.

'Let's sit and watch our daughter for a while.'

'You're on Charlie,' Harry waited until Charlie got off the bed then helped him slowly and gently get off, then they both sat and stared at their daughter, 'She's beautiful.'

'Yes she is, but I do hope she has your eyes, I love your eyes,' Charlie turned Harry's face to his, 'Ever since you got rid of your glasses, they really show how green they are, and not the normal green.'

'Yeah, I know, but I love your brown eyes Charlie, they look good on a red head. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see,' Harry put his head back against Charlie's shoulder as the two men stared at their daughter with healer Jones smiled as she watched them.

Healer Jones watched the men, then her small alarm went off. She opened the small glass cot and dropped some potion into Lily's mouth, examined her, from head to toe, then changed her nappy before closing it up again.

'I know both of you are anxious to touch her, but it's safer that you don't. All healers do a lot of spells to make sure we're sterile so we don't pass on anything to our patients.'

'We get it healer Jones, but you are right, we'd love to be able to touch her. But we're not going to do anything that could harm her. So you do what you need for her and we'll just watch,' Charlie gave her a smile.

'Do you get any sleep?'

'Yes, healer Swainly takes over for me so I can sleep, that's usually when you're asleep.'

'I don't want to get personal, but wouldn't your husband or boyfriend be missing you?' Harry asked.

'At the moment I'm single, but this is my job and I love it. Saving someone's life is a miracle to me and so rewarding. So my life is dedicated to looking after children like Lily.'

'She's like you love, saving people. You saved dad, Ron, Ginny, and your friends,' Charlie kissed Harry's head.

'I couldn't save all of them, Sirius, Fred,' Harry stared up at Charlie, 'It seems so strange even after all this time, to see George without Fred.'

'Yes, it is to us too, but it wasn't your job to save everyone Harry. You had to job of killing him and you did, which saved everyone else. So stop with the guilt will you.'

'Okay,' Harry put his head against Charlie again as he stared at Lily, Charlie also watching Lily. Healer Jones watching the two men who were watching their daughter and she could see how captivated they were, how much the loved her and she knew that this little girl was going to be loved and very protected.