Harry let his husband do the honours again. "We're going to have a beautiful baby GIRL!"

Draco was beaming. "I knew it. I and Luna both said it would be a little girl."

Lucius groaned. "I guess I can't insist on the child being named Lucius can I? But I'm happy four you. I can see Sev you're absolutely happy."

Severus couldn't hide his delight in the gender. "I did have a secret hope it was a little girl. A boy would have been great too, but I'm really happy."

Harry smiled as he received a hug from Lucius. "You never know we could name her after you, maybe a little Lucy Snape."

Narcissa laughed at the expression on her husband's face. "I think that's as speechless as I have seen him ever. I don't think he ever considered a girl named for him."

Pansy hugged him. "I guess we didn't get our wish for two boys and two girls to date. Our son is going to be out numbered three to one."

Harry smiled. "He might think himself lucky that way, no competition for the girls' hearts. If he is anything like his dad, your son will be a little charmer."

Molly hugged him. "I can't wait to start knitting. I have all that pink wool from Victoire. I always love having something to work on."

Bill smacked him on the back. "Hope the baby looks like you, at least in the nose at the very least. Poor girl if she ends up with the Snape hook."

Severus tried to look slightly hurt but it didn't work. "Actually we already said that ourselves. It is unfortunately a common trait in my family."

Harry kissed his husband. "Then we just have to hope that my genes are a bit more stubborn then yours are. The Potter nose is far cuter."

Severus tweaked his nose. "That it is. Now how about we get this intended celebration going and head into Hogsmeade as plan and toast our daughter?'

Everyone agreed and they headed into town for the Three Broomsticks. Arthur raised a glass. "To Harry and Severus, and their little girl on the way."

Harry smiled at the toast which was followed by one from Bill. "All the blessings of easy pregnancy and delivery on Harry and health for the baby to be."

Molly thought she should add. "And patience and strong brandy if needed for Severus for the months of pregnancy ahead."

That made everyone laugh and Harry kissed his husband. "You've been amazing so far, I'm sure you'll continue."

Severus returned the light kiss. "Since my husband has moved passed the morning sickness stage I suggest we eat."

Everyone agreed and the food was ordered and brought to the tables. Even the other pregnant guests at the celebration had to groan at the sandwich of fried chicken, salt and vinegar crisps, cottage cheese and ketchup Harry ordered, and of course hot sauce for his fries.

Bill laughed as he watched Harry eating and turned to Severus. "Does he always eat like that?"

Severus nodded. "I am just grateful he has moved beyond the fried onions. I never wanted to kiss him with that breath."

Harry looked up from his food and looked at Bill. "You really should try this. Sev refuses but I swear it's amazing."

He was saved from answering by Pansy who called over to him. "You know we're going baby shopping next weekend, you should come with us."

Ginny nodded. "Mum and Fleur are taking us and I'm sure you're in need of maternity clothes and some things for the baby as well."

Harry was not in need of new clothes yet but if he kept eating this way he knew he would. "I'd like that. I want to get started on the nurseries soon."

Bill smiled gratefully that he bit the bullet about having to try any of Harry's interesting food experiments by the talk of shopping as Harry spent the rest of the lunch and trip back to the school gates discussing the shopping trip. The others left them at the gates to apparate home and Harry headed back to the castle with his husband for a bit of a nap for he was exhausted after the exciting game and the lunch.

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The next morning Harry and Severus were having breakfast in the great hall for once. It was a Sunday so breakfast was a bit later in the morning and Harry had decided he wanted to get up and have a walk. He was surprised but delighted when Hedwig made an appearance for it had been a while.

She dropped a package and a letter next to Harry and he smiled. "It's from your mother. She must have got the ultrasound picture we sent."

Severus tore open the letter. "She did. She says it is framed and on her mantle, and she is over the moon we are giving her a little granddaughter to spoil rotten."

Harry still held the unopened package in his hands. "I wonder what she sent us this time."

Severus read the last part of the letter. "PS I thought I'd start early. A little something to start your daughter's nursery off with."

Harry tore of the paper and opened the package. Inside he found a beautiful chenille baby blanket done in soft rosy pink, an equally soft stuffed velveteen rabbit in a paler shade of pink and two little onesies, one in pink with a bunny and one in yellow with to his laugh, a cauldron.

He looked up at his husband. "Have you asked your mother to try and help turn our daughter into a potions master even before she is able to talk?"

Severus laughed as he fingered the cauldron on the onesie. "No. But remember my mum was potions whizz in school. If she hadn't married a muggle she'd probably have been a master herself, like my grandfather."

Harry remembered. "I guess it wouldn't be all that surprising if our daughter was the fourth generation potions master. As long as she still plays quidditch."

Severus snickered. "I'm sure she will. And remembering my history I think she'd be the eighth generation. It does seem to pass down in the family."



Harry grimaced. "She's doomed then. I guess I should just give up now. Was your Uncle Abraxas into potions or do I have any hope there?"

Severus shook his head. "No hope. He was a potions master, not the talent level of my mother but good. Our family actually made much of their fortune off of it."

Talk of potions was cut off when Remus took the seat next to Harry. "I see your little girl has got her first gift already? You must have told someone before us."

Harry nodded. "They are from Eileen. We sent word right after we had the ultrasound since we knew she couldn't come. How did you know?"

Remus laughed. "Even Molly would not have been able to do baby shopping on such short notice. I hoped to be first but Eileen got in ahead of me."

Harry smiled. "It's not a race you know or a contest. I'm sure when ever you give her a gift, it'll be amazing. You know she isn't due for six months yet."

Remus beamed. "That time will fly by you know? You have to get the nursery set up and everything for soon you'll have a little one in your arms."

Harry looked over his shoulder at his husband. "You sound like Severus you know. It's supposed to be the pregnant one who goes through the nesting phase?"

Severus laughed. "Just because I suggested we clean out a room at my house and have the school add a room here, does not mean I am nesting."

Remus came to his defence. "It does sound like he's just being practical. But you're right you have plenty of time and I'm sure you'll have at least one shower."

Harry knew probably two if Eileen and Molly had their ways. "Molly is talking about a joint one for me, Ginny and Pansy. I don't doubt there will be a second."

Severus reminded Harry. "And you have plans next weekend to go shopping with Molly and her daughter and daughter in laws as well as Pansy."

Harry smiled. "I should talk to Luna. She's been through this the most recently of anyone. I think she could give a few recommendations."

Severus agreed. "I think we should perhaps offer to take Ally again so we can get more practice."

Remus chuckled. "Turning your goddaughter into a guinea pig are you? I never took you as the hands on father type."

Harry snickered. "He was good until I suggested he change and burp her, and then he was trying to run for the door."

Severus shrugged. "I did it though and when it is my own daughter I'll be more hands on for sure. I'll be changing my own little one."

Harry decided after breakfast that his husband had made a good point and went to find Neville and Luna. They happily agreed to let him take Ally for an evening so he and his husband could have practice. Ally spent days either with her mum in the infirmary or grandma. Molly had already offered to take the baby when Harry went back to work in the fall as he was against leaving a baby with a house elf for a nanny. Neville and Luna were delighted to have a date night.

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Severus was true to his word for when Ally came after lunch that day to spend the rest of the day with them, he was far more hands on and didn't even run to the potions lab once to check on some made up potion.

Harry stood in the doorway and watched his husband with Ally as he fed her a bottle that afternoon. "You know you're amazing with her. You'll be a great dad."

Severus looked up from her. "She will have two amazing dads then because I already know you'll be terrific Harry. She'll be so lucky to have you."

Harry went and sat in his own chair. "I am glad we work here you know. When ours is first born Luna will keep her in the hospital wing and then when she's older she can go to Molly during the day while we work."

Severus nodded. "I doubt we could keep you away from teaching for too long could we?"

Harry shook his head. "As much as I am looking forward to being a daddy and I am, I'd go completely crazy being a stay at home dad."

Severus laughed. "Maybe you should go back to work and I take paternity leave. I could get used to this."

That made Harry laugh. "You'd be even worse at being a stay at home dad then I am. Unless you could take the baby to the lab with you."

Severus agreed. "No, no labs for the baby until she's at least two. And you're right, the arrangements we have made are best for both our sanities."

Harry scooped his goddaughter up to burp her. "You did it last time. I need practice burping and changing too."

Severus smiled and handed him the towel to cover his robes for burping. "You look so good with her you know; you'll be such a wonderful daddy."

Harry felt his heart flutter as he felt the warm baby pressed against him as he burped her. "I'm a bit scared but I know you're right. We'll make her proud."

They spent the evening in domestic bliss playing house with their goddaughter and getting more used to the actual feel of having a child in their lives. Neville and Luna said when they picked her up that they'd be happy to send her for more visits if they needed practice. They had enjoyed having an evening just the two of them.