Hell yeah! Another update in two days. You guys were so patient with me that I decided to gift you with another one. Thanks so much, all of you are awesome. On with the story!

EDITED: 8/5/17

Meant To Be

Chapter 11

Harry looked around the tidy house that he was going to be staying at for a while. It was a three bedroom house near on the outskirts of a muggle town. It would be the least likely place for him to be found.

"It's…nice," Ron commented looking around.

"I don't know. I rather like it," Hermione said.

"Yeah. I like it too," Harry said, running his fingers over the back of the new sofa.

The room was done up in simple browns and beige. The walls were white and bare, except for some landscape pictures. The carpet was light brown and led out into the hallway where there were 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. The sofa was a dark brown with beige pillows. A coffee table was in the middle of the room with a vase of flowers on it. A 19 inch TV sat in the corner on a stand against the wall.

"Whoa! What is this?" Ron asked going to the television and examining it.

"It's a TV, Ron. Muggle technology," Hermione said, "I guess you have electricity running here."

"But wouldn't magic disrupt it?" Ron asked.

Hermione thought for a moment, "Then it's probably running on magic. I wouldn't put it past Professor Dumbledore to know how."

"Cool."

"Well, at least I won't be completely bored. I'll be turning into a couch potato," Harry said and moved toward the kitchen.

"Before long, I don't think you'll be doing much moving anyway," Hermione said following.

The kitchen was small and bore all the essentials, including muggle-ware: stove, microwave, refrigerator, and toaster. The cabinets and drawers had dishes, cups and utensils and a complete set of pots and pans. The pantry and fridge was full of food.

"Wow. Dumbledore sure hooked you up," Ron said.

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley."

They all turned around at the voice to see Dumbledore at the front door. Ron blushed, but Dumbledore only smiled. "I hope everything is to your satisfaction, Harry."

"Yeah. It is thanks."

Dumbledore nodded, "I left the second bedroom bare. I thought you would like to decorate it into a nursery yourself."

"Ooh. How fun!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Indeed. There here are some pamphlets that have instructions. You can add whatever furniture you want or change the colors. I took the liberty of marking things that you would need." Dumbledore said.

"Thanks, professor," Harry whispered taking the papers.

"Harry? Are you alright?" Hermione asked looking at him worriedly.

"…yeah. It's just that…all this makes it all so real."

Hermione came forward and wrapped her arms around Harry in a hug. "Don't worry. You're not in this alone okay."

"Yeah and we'll come visit every week," Ron said.

"And I am always available by owl," Dumbledore said kindly.

Harry nodded and placed his hand on his stomach. He hadn't felt sure if he would be able to do this, but with his friends and Dumbledore on his side, he knew he could get through this.

xxx

After moving into his new house, Harry settled in fairly quickly. He didn't do much because he had nothing to do, plus he was severely limited by the things he could do due to his pregnancy. He mostly sat around and watched TV and movies.

Harry had even started a little flower garden out front; it kept him busy. But he had to stop at around his seventh month because he could no longer bend down to pull weeds, though he could still water them. But when the snow started coming down he had to stop that too.

Hermione had brought him some books to read on a whole variety of topics just like she had promised him and because he had nothing else to do, he read them. So he guessed in a way he was training. Reading up on all these new spells and hexes, though he couldn't cast them because his magic was on the fritz. One of the books on pregnancy said that the baby was pulling his magic to make its own magical core. Which was kind of cool, though not all the time because sometimes he couldn't do the simplest of spells.

That was how he spent his time there, in his three room little cottage at the edge of a Muggle town under all kinds of protective wards and spells. Just passing the time until his baby was born. Ron and Hermione came over often and they played board games or just talked; told him of the outside world. A lot of people were asking how he was doing but they couldn't tell them the truth. Though Harry didn't know what he was going to do when suddenly he came out with a baby.

Ron also brought news about him and what he was doing. It seemed that Voldemort's followers were trying to find him, with no luck. Of course, this made Voldemort angry and in retaliation, there were more raids. But Harry was safe from all of that, at least for now.

Harry was allowed to go outside, just not for very long so no one recognized him. Also because he could not stay on his feet for very long, his feet would start killing him if he did. He usually only went out to just go to the market and he wore a baseball cap and jacket that had a charm on it that didn't show his stomach; to others, he looked normal. The people in town were nice, at least the ones he talked to were and everything went fine when he went out; he even made a few friends. It was nice to go out once in a while.

Spring melted into Summer, and Summer into Fall and finally to Winter. A fine sheet of snow covered the floor, the trees have lost their leaves and all the flowers were closed.

Harry was sitting on the couch watching TV and keeping an eye on the time. Ron and Hermione were due to come in any minute, good thing too because he was starting to go crazy by himself. He couldn't go anywhere because of the snow so he was stuck.

Two 'pops' were heard from outside the door and Harry grinned and hoisted himself up to get the door.

"Whoa! You've gotten huge!" was the first thing he heard.

"Thanks, Ron," Harry said dryly.

Ron grinned, "How are you doing mate?"

"Good. Bored out of my mind," he said and stepped aside to let them in.

"Ron's right Harry," Hermione said dragging her trunk behind her, "You've gotten pretty big."

"I know…um, what's with the trunks?"

Ron and Hermione grinned at each other then turned to Harry. "We took a few weeks off," Hermione explained.

"Why did you do that?"

"To be here of course," Ron said.

"You're due soon and we want to be here for you," Hermione said.

"You guys didn't have to do that," Harry said with a smile.

"We know, but we want to be here when the little guy comes out," Ron said.

Harry smiled, "And?" he prompted knowingly.

"And…vacation!" Ron exclaimed.

"I knew it. I'm just an excuse."

"Nah. I'm kidding. Sort of. Geez, you look ready to pop," Ron said patting Harry's protruding stomach.

"Ugh. Don't remind me. I don't want to think about it," Harry said sitting back down on the recliner.

"Why not?" Hermione asked taking a seat on the couch.

"You do know how they have to get it out right? They have to cut me open, pull him or her out. There's going to be blood everywhere…"

"Oh Harry, don't be so morbid," Hermione admonished him.

"It's true."

"Yuck," Ron said making a face.

Harry grinned, "You can hold my umbilical cord for me."

"Gross!"

They laughed.

"It will all be worth it in the end. You'll finally be able to see your baby."

Harry smiled and touched his stomach. "Yeah. That part I can't wait for."

"So it's cool if we stay?" Ron asked.

"Sure. You can stay as long as you like."

"Cool. We'll take the spare room."

"As long as there's no sex going on under my roof I'm good."

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed her cheeks turning pink.

Ron laughed, "No promises mate." He moved out of the way of Hermione's hand and took their trunks down the hall to the bedroom.

"A-Anyway," Hermione stuttered and cleared her throat. "You sure you don't want to know the sex now?"

"I'm sure. I want it to be a surprise," Harry said. He had decided that a long time ago.

"I don't think I would be able to do that. The suspense is killing me."

"Harry's the one having it," Ron said coming back into the living room and sat down next to Hermione on the couch.

"I know. But still…Have you found a name?" she asked.

Harry shook his head, "No."

"No? Harry, the baby is coming soon; you have to have a name."

"I know and I have looked. There are some that I like but none of them have jumped out, you know?"

"No," they both said.

"But I can see what you mean," Hermione said, "A name is everything."

"I think I just need to see him or her to know."

"Sounds good to me," Ron said.

Harry nodded, "So…who wants to watch a movie?"

xxx

Approximately three weeks and two days later, on December 12th Harry went into labor.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting around the coffee table playing monopoly. They had just finished dessert, a chocolate cheesecake that Harry had made and they were stuffed. Now they were just relaxing.

"Okay Harry your turn," Ron said passing the dice.

Harry reached for it and felt the baby move inside him, which wasn't unusual because he had felt it move a lot the past few months, but this time it hurt! He paused and waited for it to pass.

"Harry? You okay?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine," he said and took the dice. He shook them and rolled the die on the table. "Four." He took his little dog and moved. "One, two, th-" he sucked in a breath as a wave of pain hit him again.

"Harry?" Ron asked.

"God, that hurt," Harry gasped.

"It hurts? Where?" Hermione asked in alarm, scooting closer to him.

"Here," Harry said placing his hand on the bottom of his stomach where the baby was resting.

"Your stomach?" Hermione asked again.

"Yes," Harry said through gritted teeth, "I think something is wrong. I-" Another wave of pain. "What's happening?"

Hermione's eyes widened, "Harry. I think you just went into labor."

"I'm a guy. I don't go into labor!" Harry snapped.

"Well, obviously you did. The baby is looking for a way out."

"It's not going to find it. I don't have a fucking vagina! Fuck!" Harry yelled and wrapped his arms around his stomach.

"Harry. Where's that thing Dumbledore gave you to call the Healer?"

"Dresser," he grounded out.

"Ron…"

"On it," Ron said and ran out of the room.

What happened next was a blur. The healer arrived and so did Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey. Harry was taken into his bedroom, the comforter removed and towels spread out over the sheets so it wouldn't leave a mess. He was given something for the pain as he was cut open. He focused on the snow falling out the window instead of the pressure on his stomach. It's snowing… he thought distractedly.

Through the haze of pain and medication and Hermione and Ron's words of encouragement, Harry heard the first cry of his baby.

The cry was wondrous to Harry's ears. After nine months of carrying his baby inside him; talking to it, touching it, loving it…hearing that cry for the first time made his heart sore. His baby was here. Harry laughed and felt tears come from his eyes; he tried to sit up so he could see where his baby was but he couldn't hold himself up, he was groggy.

The healer smiled at him as he held a small bundle in his arms. "Congratulations Mr. Potter. It's a girl."

A girl? I have a girl? Harry thought as he relaxed back and closed his eyes. I have a little girl!

Harry opened his eyes and watched as the Healer gave his baby- no, his daughter, to Madame Pomfrey to clean up, while he moved back to clean and close him up. Ron and Hermione were looking at his daughter and smiling at her, their eyes bright with happiness.

Harry tried to lift himself up again. "I want to see her," he whispered.

The healer helped him sit up in the bed and Madame Pomfrey moved forward and gently placed the little bundle in his arms and Harry looked at his daughter for the first time.

Tears sprang into his eyes as he gazed at her tiny form. Her eyes were slightly open and Harry could see the green beneath the little eyelids. She had a tiny pink nose and mouth, rosy cheeks and a shock of black hair atop her head. She wasn't very big, a little smaller than the length of his arm. "She's perfect," Harry whispered as he counted all her fingers and toes. Ten of each.

"She is," Hermione said softly, sitting on his right side. "She's beautiful, Harry. You did great."

"Yeah mate. She looks like you," Ron said from the other side of him.

Like him too, he thought. His mind picked out the high cheek bones and slightly upturned nose. That was all him, there was no mistaking it. Harry pushed the thoughts away. This was a joyous occasion; there was no need to upset himself with useless thoughts. His baby was finally here, in his arms. Now that he had seen her, he was never letting her go.

"Wynter."

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Her name. It's Wynter."

Dumbledore looked to the window at the falling snow and smiled, "A good name."

"Yeah," Harry said and held his daughter close and kissed her forehead, "I thought so too."

"Wynter, huh?" Ron said thoughtfully, "I like it."

"Me too," Hermione agreed. "It's truly unique. Wynter Potter. It has a nice ring."

Harry nodded and looked down at Wynter as she opened her bright green eyes. "Hello, Wynter. It's nice to finally meet you."

Yay! The baby has been born. I love the name Wynter. I'm obsessed with names that go with seasons: Summer, Autumn, Wynter, thought I don't think there is one for Spring. If anyone knows tell me!

Anyways, I know to some of you it might have happened really fast but I wanted to get it out of the way. Tom will find out soon so don't you worry. Maybe in the next chapter...I haven't decided.

Please review, they make me really happy; seeing my inbox full of well wishes from my fans. It makes me want to write faster...

Okay, now I'm off to write the next one, hopefully I'll be able to get this one out soon too. Wish me luck!

phoenix

P.S. I am currently looking into getting an AO3 account so I can save everything there too. But the wait is forever long, so if someone out there that has an account can send me an invite, it will be very much appreciated. Just PM me. Thanks!