Chapter 10 Bringing Home Baby
The next morning, Harry woke up, slightly disoriented. He went to stretch, but he felt a dull ache in his stomach.
His hands shot to his stomach. Overnight the baby bump he had carried in his abdomen for nine months had deflated down enough that he just looked a little bloated. Then the events of the day and night before came flooding back to him.
Lily was here. He had a daughter. He couldn't believe it was over. Now they could start a new life, raising their daughter and sons.
"Are you awake, sweetie?" a familiar voice asked.
"Yeah." Harry gently turned over, wincing slightly at the slight pain he was feeling in his abdomen.
Ginny had woken up and seen Harry was still sleeping. Knowing he was exhausted from the day before, she let him sleep. She was sitting in the armchair next to Harry's bed when he woke up.
"How are you feeling?" Ginny asked as she sat down on Harry's bedside. She ran her fingers through his hair and handed him his glasses.
"Sore," he answered honestly. The muscles in his stomach were feeling sore from where Shanti had made the incisions to make the birth canal and from the cesarean.
"Shanti came in while you were asleep. She said that you can take a shower, eat and walk around if you need to. Until you've recovered completely she doesn't want you to lift either of the boys. It can open the incisions."
"Thank you for that mental picture," Harry muttered as Ginny helped him up and he staggered to the bathroom. Ginny helped him shower since he didn't have a lot of energy. Once he was done with the shower, Ginny helped him dry off and change into his lounge pants and his Holyhead Harpies t-shirt with Ginny's old jersey number on the back that she had packed for Harry to wear.
When he returned to bed, Ginny had him lay back in the bed.
"I need to rub the balm on your incisions to help the scarring and change the bandage," his wife explained as she pulled up his shirt.
Ginny changed out the bandage and rubbed the balm on the two-incision areas on Harry's abdomen.
"Let me know if you feel sick to your stomach and I'll get you some anti-nausea potion, baby."
Harry nodded and let Ginny take care of him. She slipped socks on his feet and covered him with the blanket from home. Then when Molly brought them breakfast, she fixed his breakfast.
"I left the boys in the waiting room with your dad. Andromeda should be here with Teddy soon."
Ginny turned to her mother. "I'll wait until Teddy gets here to bring the boys in and when they bring Lily." Molly left to give Harry and Ginny some time to themselves.
"I'll bring Teddy in with the boys. I was thinking we would let him hold Lily first and then the boys. I have the camera in my bag and maybe I could Andromeda to take a few pictures for me?"
A knock on the door interrupted any more conversations.
"Good morning, how are we doing this morning?" Shanti asked as she checked Harry's temperature and blood pressure.
"Fine, just feeling a little sore," Harry answered.
"That's understandable. A lot of the soreness you're feeling is the muscles from where the abdominal muscles were stretched for so long. The soreness will go away when the muscles recover."
"So how long do I need to be on restricted activity?" Harry asked.
"Three weeks, you need some time to rest. You can go to your family Sunday lunches. Take it easy on the stairs. No lifting either of the boys. You can lift Lily if she's not in the car seat. Try to rest as much as you can. Keep the boys and your nieces and nephews off your abdomen for a while, at least until it feels like it's recovered and the incisions heal. And…." Shanti turned to Ginny, who was listening to Shanti's instructions.
"No sex for six weeks." Harry pouted at that.
"That's the rule for everyone, Harry," Shanti explained. She looked at Ginny. "Have the boys met their sister?"
"Not yet, I'll have a talk with them before I bring them in."
"Good." Shanti made a note in Harry's file and replaced it in the holder on the wall. "I'll see you this afternoon. Find my mediwitch if you need anything."
"Okay, thanks Shanti." Ginny hugged her. "For everything."
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After Shanti left, there was a knock on the door.
"Special delivery!" a nursery worker rolled the cot in with Lily inside. She was wearing a pink hospital onesie with a hospital bracelet with Harry and Ginny's name on it.
"Thank you," Ginny called to the worker as she left the room. She moved the cot to the corner and lifted Lily out.
"Hi sweetheart," she cooed. She held her daughter for a moment before she looked at the clock and was surprised that it was already nine in the morning. She needed to get a shower before she brought the boys in to meet their sister.
She looked at Harry. "Want her while I take a shower?"
Harry responded by holding out his arms. "Hand her here." Ginny carefully carried her daughter to her husband.
"Come here, princess." Harry cuddled his newborn daughter, while Ginny headed to the shower.
He looked down at his daughter. "Well, Lily, your mummy and I waited for you for a long time.
For reasons you'll be explained when your older, Daddy had to carry you in Daddy's tummy, instead of Mummy."
Harry looked in his daughter's brown eyes, Ginny's eyes looking back at him.
"You'll meet your brothers soon. Now Mummy grew up with all brothers, your uncles. Then your grandparents, which knowing your grandma, as I do, she's already loved on you." Harry gently brought Lily's head up and kissed the top of her head.
"Now Daddy was an only child, my parents died a long time ago. You're named after your Grandma Potter."
Harry held his daughter, talking to her while Ginny showered.
As Ginny opened the door and started to leave the bathroom, she heard Harry say, "I wish you could meet her and your Grandpa Potter. They would have loved you and your brothers."
Ginny smiled at the sight of her husband holding their daughter.
"I hope you know that you're loved. Always remember that baby girl, Daddy loves you."
Ginny knew that Harry wanted to make sure that Teddy and the kids knew they were loved. She was the first person to say to him that she loved him. She wanted to hex his relatives for how they treated him. When she went with him to get his stuff from Privet Drive, she was surprised when Harry told off his aunt and uncle. Now, he was married and had three wonderful children.
Ginny approached the bed slowly. She leaned over and kissed her daughter and then kissed Harry.
"I'm going to go get the boys."
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Ginny walked down the hall to Harry's room carrying Albus and had a grip on James's hand.
Teddy held James's other hand, following Ginny to Harry's room.
Teddy was happy to have another godsibling. When Harry explained to him that he would be carrying the baby instead of Ginny, Teddy only asked if it meant that Harry would forget about him. Harry explained that to him that he was like another son to him and Ginny and they would always take care of him and be there for him.
Teddy, along with James and Albus, loved to feel Lily kick and move around in Harry's stomach. When they said it was a girl, Teddy didn't know what to think. He was around and played with Victoire, Dominique, Molly, Lucy, Roxanne, and Rosie. But when he went to Harry and Ginny's the only female in the house was Ginny. Now there would be two.
Teddy's thoughts were interrupted when Ginny stopped and bent down, looking at her sons, dressed in their matching Big Brother shirts, different than the ones they wore the day before.
"Listen to Mummy. Daddy has your baby sister. I'll allow you to hold her with my or Daddy's help. Understand?"
At her sons' nods, she continued. "Daddy has a boo-boo on his tummy so you can't climb on Daddy, okay?"
"Okay, Mama," Albus said. Ginny looked at James. "Do you understand, mister?"
"Yes, Mummy."
"Okay," Ginny said as she stood up.
She opened the door and the boys went into the room. Ginny lifted Albus and then James and they crawled to either side of Harry.
"Hello boys, this is your sister." Harry introduced Lily to James and Albus. James looked at his new sister and looked at his mother.
"What do you think, Jamie?"
"I think she's pretty," James said with a smile.
"Baby!" Albus squealed, pointing to Lily.
"That's your baby sister," Ginny told her youngest son, moving the messy black hair off his forehead.
"Albie's baby sister?"
"Yes buddy, this is James's and your baby sister," Harry explained.
"Baby sister come from Daddy's tummy?"
"Yes, Albie, this is the baby from Daddy's tummy." To Harry's chagrin, Ginny lifted up his T-shirt. "See? Daddy's tummy is now flat because the baby is here."
Ginny turned to Teddy. "Want to hold her?" she asked.
Teddy nodded and sat in the armchair next to the bed. Ginny gently handed him the baby girl wrapped in a pink blanket. Ginny reached into her purse and pulled out her camera. She snapped a few pictures of Teddy holding Lily.
James was next to move to the armchair. Ginny helped him hold her and when she felt that he can manage for a minute without assistance, she snapped a few pictures of James holding Lily.
Ginny transferred Lily back to Harry, who placed her in Albus's arms. She then picked up the camera and snapped a few pictures of Albus holding Lily with Harry's assistance.
"How precious is that?" she said when Albus bent his head to Lily's and kissed her forehead. She snapped a picture of the loving scene before her.
"Teddy, go get Gran and ask her to come in here."
The ten-year-old left, leaving Harry and Ginny with their new family of five.
Andromeda came in not too long later. "Oh, she's precious! May I?"
Ginny took Lily as Harry handed the baby to her. "Of course. You held the boys."
Once Andromeda was seated, Ginny handed her Lily.
"She's beautiful, Ginny. Harry, you outdid yourself." She looked at the new father of three.
"How are you?"
"Sore. Shanti said it will take a while before my stomach completely recovers from being stretched out for so long."
Andromeda smiled at Harry, remembering the grief-stricken teenager, she'd met ten years ago.
When Remus had said that he wanted Harry to be Teddy's godfather, she'd thought he was crazy. But Harry had proven her wrong time and time again. Harry was a father figure in Teddy's life. He saw that he had all of his needs and most of his wants. He's helped them out financially, so much so that Andromeda had lost count.
She really couldn't thank Harry enough for all he had done for her and for Teddy.
Ginny handed her the camera. "I was wondering if you could take a family picture for me?"
"Of course, Ginny." She took the camera from Ginny. She placed Albus on her lap and James beside her. Harry held Lily and had an arm wrapped around Teddy. He was a part of the family, another son to Harry and Ginny and a brother to James, Albus and now Lily.
"Smile!" Andromeda said before she pressed the button. When she did, she smiled at the happy family she saw before her.
"Thanks, Andromeda," Ginny said as she took the camera back.
"You're very welcome."
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Andromeda and Teddy had gone home an hour later, Arthur and Molly took the boys back to the Burrow since it was getting close to nap time. Ginny sat in a rocking chair, holding Lily, while Harry slept.
"You know, your Grandma Molly had to have six boys before she got a daughter. I'm just glad it took us only three tries. I guess Daddy and I will have to decide whether or not you're our last one."
She looked down at Lily's face. She got her eyes, but she got Harry's nose, the only thing she got from her father. Ginny wouldn't be surprised if she got Harry's stubbornness, though.
"We need to stick together. It's me and you in a house full of boys. But it's nothing that I can't handle."
Ginny looked over at Harry, still fast asleep. She knew he must be exhausted between not sleeping much when Lily was still in his belly, Lily's labor and delivery, and the pain from the incision areas.
"Daddy had to carry you in his tummy. I hope that you appreciate that. He sacrificed a lot to bring you into the world. I know you probably already have your Daddy wrapped around your little finger. I know he loves you. He may over-worry about things, he may freak out easily and he may be overprotective of you, but he loves you."
Ginny rocked Lily while she fed her. Shanti had given Ginny some potions to help her produce mother's milk. Ginny had spent the last few hours pumping breast milk since Lily wouldn't latch on.
Molly came in with lunch. She smiled at her daughter and granddaughter.
"Is she eating well?" she asked.
Ginny held up the bottle. "This was half full and now it's about empty."
Molly smiled and noticed Harry was asleep. "Poor dear, he's exhausted."
"He's been asleep for two hours. He fell asleep as soon as the boys left."
"Where did you find the big brother shirts?" Molly asked.
"I found them when I had to go and get Harry some new shirts. I think I was at TK Maxx or something like that. I got three of them because I couldn't decide which color and style I liked. I also got a little sister onesie for Lily."
Molly smiled. "She seems to be doing well. She's healthy. I can't believe my daughter has a daughter."
"I just told her that it took you and Dad six tries to have me and it only took three for Harry and me."
Molly smiled. Ginny handed her the camera and showed her the pictures of the boys holding their sister. Ginny had even snapped a picture of Harry and Lily, both asleep.
"Aw, how precious is that?" Molly cooed when she saw the picture of Harry and Lily.
Molly sat and talked to Ginny for a while and eventually held Lily while Ginny ate her lunch.
Shanti had come in and checked on Harry. She asked Ginny how he was doing with pain and how the incision was doing. Without waking up Harry, Shanti managed to check the incisions, pulling off the bandage that covered them.
Harry was still asleep when Shanti ran the spell that checked his vitals.
"He seems to be going well for someone who had a baby less than twelve hours ago."
Ginny smiled at her sleeping husband. "How long did you say that Harry will be here?"
"Four days at most."
Ginny nodded, making a note to go home for some clothes for herself and Harry. And Lily, Ginny reminded herself. She thought she would go home when Molly brought dinner.
Shanti made notes on Harry's chart and told Ginny, she would check on him an hour later.
Ginny went to Harry's bedside and kissed him. She smiled, watching her husband sleeping and
then looking down at her daughter.
Twenty-four hours before, she only could feel her move in Harry's belly. Now she was out and healthy as can be.
Ginny smiled when she thought of her life. She had three wonderful children, two boys, and a girl, a godson who was like her own, a husband who loved her and she could be herself and not what someone else thought she should be. She had a successful career and her family, Mum, Dad, and brothers, were all healthy and happy.
She then realized how blessed she was.
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Ginny was reading a book her mother gave her about mothers and daughters when a knock came at the door.
"I hear congratulations are in order."
Ginny looked up and saw Holly, the Potter family healer. She smiled and got up and hugged her.
"Thank you, she's in the cot," Ginny said, motioning to the cot in the corner of the room. Holly walked over and smiled. "I saw Shanti not long after the ultrasound appointment. She told me that you and Harry were having a girl. I met her in the hall not too long ago. I never knew Harry was that tough, almost nine hours of hard labor!"
"I know!" Ginny laughed. "He did great throughout the pregnancy, didn't really gain a lot of weight, it was mostly all baby."
"So he was all belly and nowhere else?"
Ginny nodded. "He did well through the delivery. He hasn't really complained about pain."
"Good, will I be seeing her soon?" Holly asked.
"I picked you for James's healer and you've taken care of both of my boys." She paused for a moment, thinking. "Correction all four of my boys." She also looked after Teddy.
"You and Lily are outnumbered."
"I know, Mum and I were with all my brothers and Dad."
Holly smiled. "I'll stop in and check on her before you all go home, I'll also check on Harry."
Ginny nodded. "Thank you for stopping by."
"No problem."
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Harry had woken up an hour later after Holly had left. He looked at Ginny and smiled when he saw her holding their daughter.
"Hey, sleepyhead, how are you feeling?"
"Better. I don't feel as sore as I did," Harry said, adjusting himself to a more comfortable spot.
"How's your stomach?" she asked. She was concerned about post-op nausea. It seemed that anytime Harry was put under sleeping draught or anesthesia, he always felt extremely nauseous
after he woke up.
"Better. I did feel a little nauseous this morning, but after I ate something I felt better."
Ginny crawled into bed and sat next to Harry. "Does your stomach hurt from the incisions?"
"Not too bad," Harry told her.
"Okay, Holly came in while you were asleep. She'll stop by before we go home and look over Lily and you."
Harry made a whining noise. He hated going to the healer.
"You know, sometimes I feel like I have four children and with Teddy, five."
"Who are the fourth and fifth?" Harry asked.
"You," Ginny answered, folding a blanket she covered herself with the night before. Harry didn't say anything, it wasn't the first time they had this conversation. In reality, Ginny didn't mind Harry being clingy and needy when he was sick or hurt. He never was given the nurturing and love he needed growing up. Ginny felt that she made up for it every time she took care of Harry when he was sick or injured.
He also sometimes acted like he was the boy's age.
Harry looked at a covered plate and points at it. "Is that lunch?"
Ginny nodded. "Mum brought it a couple of hours ago." She removed the cover and zapped the chicken sandwich with a warming charm. She handed the plate to Harry.
"Start to feel nauseous, tell me. Shanti left some stomach potions and potions for pain and nausea when she was in here last."
Harry ate half of the sandwich, feeling full. He looked at Ginny. "Where's Lily?"
"She's sleeping in her cot."
"Does it feel like a dream?" he asked.
Ginny looked her husband, puzzled by his question. "What do you mean?"
Harry took a drink of water before he answered. "Does it feel like a dream that we have a daughter?"
Ginny smiled. "It kind of does. I keep thinking I'll wake up and she's not here or she's still in your belly."
When Ginny mentioned Harry's stomach, he froze. "I'm afraid to look," he deadpanned.
"Look at what?" Ginny asked confused.
"My stomach. The swelling feels like it's gone down and we could tell what it really looks like
now."
Harry took a deep breath and got up with Ginny's help and headed to the bathroom. He stood in the mirror for a minute before he summoned enough courage to pull up his shirt.
Gone was the flat and muscular stomach, he had since he became an Auror, now it was floppy and saggy. It looked like a balloon had deflated. He turned to the side and was relieved when he saw from the side that it was flat.
Ginny, who was standing at the door, said, "It can be fixed, we'll talk to Shanti when we go for your follow up appointment or something."
"Yonas is going to have so much fun with this. I can already feel the muscles in my back and stomach hurting just thinking about how many sit-ups he'll make me do."
"He'll have to wait until you get the okay and maybe by then, your stomach will return to its pre-baby stomach."
"I hope so."
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Four days later, Harry and Lily were discharged from the hospital. Ginny had gone home to get Lily's car seat and with Audrey's help, she got the base installed in the car.
"Do you have two of these?" Audrey asked.
"Yes, one's for my car and the other is for Harry's."
Audrey stayed to visit with Ginny and Lily. While she was visiting, Holly checked on Harry before they discharged him.
"So, you'll see Shanti in a month for a follow-up correct?" Holly asked.
"Correct," Harry answered.
"Good. I'll sign the forms and then all you have to do is wait for Shanti and then she'll officially discharge you. I want to see you after the follow-up appointment with Shanti. I'll send an owl later to schedule a time. Take care of yourself."
"Thanks, Holly."
Harry didn't have to wait long for Shanti. She came in five minutes later.
"Today's the day! Ready to take Lily home?"
"God, yes," Harry answered.
"Okay, I'll have to check the incisions and schedule your follow-up appointment and then you're ready to go."
Harry laid back in the bed, pulling up his shirt. Shanti pulled off the bandages and checked the incisions.
"They're healing nicely. I see Ginny has applied the balm and changed the bandage."
"That stuff makes the lower half of my stomach feel numb," Harry said.
"Then it's doing its job," Shanti replied. "Okay, I think you're ready to go."
Harry sat up as Ginny was coming in with Lily in her car seat.
"Both of you seem to have a clean bill of health so we can go."
Harry and Ginny walked down the hall with Lily in between them in her car seat. They checked out with the welcome witch so Ginny could turn in the visitor's badge and they left the hospital.
Ginny had moved the car to be close to the entrance for St. Mungo's so that Harry wouldn't have to walk too far to get to the car.
Harry got in the back with Lily since Ginny had moved Albus's car seat to the passenger's side of the car. Ginny placed Lily's car seat in the base, shutting the door when they heard the click of the seat locking into the base.
Ginny smiled and shut the door, getting in the driver's seat. She drove home to Godric's Hollow.
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Molly was there to greet them when they got home. James was the first out the door, followed closely by Albus and Arthur.
"Hi, Mummy!" James greeted his mother with a hug, followed by Albus. Harry came up beside them.
"What, Daddy doesn't get a hug?" Harry pouted. James and Albus launched themselves into
Harry's arms. Since he wasn't allowed to pick up the boys, they would have to settle for hugs and kisses until Shanti gave the okay.
Ginny got Lily out of the car. "Come on boys, let's go in."
James and Albus ran to the back door where Molly was waiting. Arthur followed Harry, carrying the bags Ginny had placed in the back of her car.
Molly had fixed dinner and had prepared soups, casseroles and a few quick fixes Ginny could throw together quickly for dinner.
Ron and Hermione had driven over with Rosie and Hugo. Percy and Audrey followed them with their girls. Bill, Fleur and their children flooed over, and they were followed by George, Angelina, Freddie, and Roxanne.
"Hello!" they all chorused.
"Not to be rude, but what are you all doing here?" Ginny asked with her hands on her hips.
"I can't believe it!" Hermione exclaimed with a smile.
"What?" Harry replied.
Ron looked at his sister and to his best mate. "Do you know what day it is?"
Harry and Ginny both went to the calendar hanging on the wall next to the pegboard.
"Lily was born on July 26. That was five days ago and today's….."
"Your birthday," Ginny finished.
After dinner prepared by Molly and the family all visited with Lily again, Molly brought out the cake she had made, followed by Harry opening his presents from the family.
"So Harry, what's your favorite present?" Ron asked.
"Actually…I got it early." He looked at his sleeping daughter in his wife's arms. "Five days early."
Everyone smiled and looked at the newborn. It was no secret that Lily was Harry's birthday present.
Harry sat back in his seat, smiling to himself. He was 28 years old, happy, healthy, had a beautiful wife who loved him, a wonderful godson and three children, but most of all…a caring family. If someone would have told him that this would be his life ten or twenty years ago, he would never have believed it.
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Lily woke them up at midnight to be fed. Ginny jumped up and got Lily before Harry could get up.
"I forgot what it was like to have a newborn," Harry mumbled sleepily.
"I did, too," Ginny confessed. She was used to Albus sleeping through the night.
Harry had fallen back to sleep and didn't wake up until he felt a little finger tapping his cheek.
"Daddy, Mummy said it's time to get up," James told his father.
"Okay, tell Mummy, I'll be there in a minute," Harry told his son as he got up and slipped his
glasses on.
"MUMMY, DADDY WILL THERE IN A MINUTE!" James shouted as he ran out of the room.
"I could have done that!" Harry yelled to his son, shaking his head. He went into the bathroom where he relieved himself, washed his hands and face, and left the room.
He then padded downstairs to the kitchen. Ginny placed a plate with eggs, sausage and toast with strawberry jam. He started eating his breakfast as Ginny began the laundry.
After breakfast, Harry returned to their bedroom for a shower and to change clothes. He returned downstairs where he rested on the couch, watching the boys play. The boys were playing with some building blocks Arthur had given for Christmas.
"Can you play with us, Daddy?"
Harry picked up a pillow from the couch and sat on the pillow on the floor. He started building a tower with the boys.
"I see you're playing with the Legos." Ginny had come downstairs with a basket of laundry from the boys' bathroom.
She was about to head to the scullery where their washing machine was when there was a knock on the door.
"Expecting anyone?" Harry asked. If it was anyone in the family, they wouldn't knock, they would come right in.
Ginny opened the front door. "Luna! How are you?" Ginny exclaimed as she embraced her closest friend in a one arm hug.
"I'm good. I just got back from Romania. I'm surprised I didn't see Charlie," Luna explained. "I did see quite a few mumblepoofs, though."
"What brings you by?" Ginny asked, leading Luna to the kitchen.
"I heard about Lily's arrival and thought I would stop by and say hi," she explained.
"She's in the rocker," Ginny said, motioning to the rocking swing. Luna leaned over the rocker and smiled.
"She's beautiful, Ginny, she looks like you!"
"Luna, did you know that…?" Luna cut her off.
"Harry carried her?" she finished for her. "I did, remember we met for lunch after the implantation procedure and I said that it will happen. I also said that you'll get a little girl."
Ginny smiled, remembering that day. "I think Harry wanted a daughter more than I did. I would watch with any of the girls, especially Rosie and his face would light up."
Harry entered the kitchen to get the boys juice boxes.
"Hello, Luna, how are you?" he greeted as he hugged her.
"I'm good, Harry. How are you?"
"I'm fine." Harry looked at Ginny with a smile as Luna turned her attention to Lily.
Ginny picked up Lily. "Would like to hold her?"
Luna nodded and followed Ginny into the family room. Ginny gently transferred her daughter to Luna.
"Hello, Lily," Luna greeted in her dreamy voice. Harry and Ginny smiled at each other, then
Harry nodded.
"How does it feel to hold your goddaughter?" Ginny asked her closest and best friend.
Luna looked at Ginny surprised. "What?"
Ginny looked up at Harry as she said "Harry and I decided to…" Ginny then turned to Luna "…make you Lily's godmother!"
"I'm very honored, thank you!" She hugged Ginny and then Harry.
"She's also your namesake. Her middle name is Luna," Harry told her.
"Wow. You named her after me?"
"After Ron and Hermione, you are the closest friend, we have."
Luna hugged Ginny and Harry, visiting for a while before she left.
Harry walked upstairs to the nursery and got the carrier he bought. The boys' naptime was coming and Harry and Lily were escaping, allowing Ginny to have some quiet time.
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Harry walked the now familiar pathway. Lily was in a carrier, attached to Harry's front, not making a sound. Harry would stop every now and then and look down at her to see if she was okay. She would coo from time to time, making Harry smile.
The village was quiet. Only a few people were out and about. Children were playing at the playground and laughing. Church bells rang, signaling the noon hour.
Harry walked to the church and in the kissing gate. If he was blindfolded, he would still be able to a find his parent's grave.
He reached the double headstone and swallowed hard.
"Well Mum, I have a daughter. I named her after you. I brought her here so you could meet her. Many times I wish that you and Dad were here. You would have loved Lily and the boys. I had to carry her, but maybe you already knew that. I'm sorry if I gave you any trouble when you were pregnant with me."
Harry looked down his daughter, Ginny's eyes looking at the double headstone.
"She's only got my nose – whether it was yours or Dad's, I'll never know. That was the only thing she got from me, she's all Ginny otherwise. I might be in trouble in a few years. Ron's already warned that she'll have me wrapped around her little finger."
Using his wand he conjured white and yellow lilies and laid them on his parents' grave.
"Dad, I know you probably thought I'd lost my mind when I agreed to carry her, but I promised myself when Ginny and I got married that I would do anything to make her happy. This time I think it made both of us happier actually. I never realized how much I wanted a daughter until I had one."
He paused to wipe the few tears that leaked from his eyes.
"I would do it all over again if I needed to."
Lily cooed and snuggled against her father. Harry rubbed the top of her head.
"Lily, I'll tell you about your grandparents and how it took many, many years for your Grandma to fall in love with your Grandpa."
He looked at his Dad's grave. "Blame Sirius he was the one who told me that story."
When Harry realized it was getting close to Lily's feeding time, he knew that would have to go home.
"I'll bring her by again sometime. I'd better get her home since it's about time for her to eat again." He got up and was about to walk to the kissing gate when he turned around.
"I love you, I love you both." He walked to the kissing gate and back to the house with a smile on his face.
He walked into the house, smiling when he saw Ginny asleep on the couch. He unhooked Lily from the carrier and carried her in his arms upstairs. After leaving the carrier in the nursery, he quietly went to check on the boys.
Both were sleeping and content. Harry returned downstairs, getting a bottle out of the refrigerator and settling in the rocking chair.
As he did so, he realized how much his life has changed and there was nothing he would want to change. After all these years, he had the family he'd always dreamt of.