Disclaimer: I don't own HP or "House at Pooh Corner." J.K. and Loggins and Messina do.

Count all the bees in the hive

Chase all the clouds from the sky

Felicity had been crying for hours. Severus and Hermione, both being brand new parents, didn't know what to do. Albus had warned them not to use magic on the baby; they should learn to deal with these hardships as they came.

It was the middle of the night, and the two of them had tried everything. Hermione had fed her. That didn't stop her crying. Severus rocked her for nearly an hour straight in the rocking chair in the nursery, but to no avail. They had changed her diaper, played peek-a-boo, gave her a bath—nothing worked.

Hermione now held the little one in her arms on the sofa, Severus sitting in the recliner, his elbows on his knees, head in his hands. He looked up at his wife, his eyes bloodshot.

"'Mione, I'm exhausted," he said hoarsely. She nodded.

"Me too, Sev. I don't know what else to do; we've tried everything!" she said loudly over Felicity's wails.

"I can't stand to hear her so unhappy. I want to make it better," Severus said desperately, crossing the room to sit next to his wife and daughter. She nodded again, looking at him.

"Did you cry like this when you were a baby?" she asked him.

He shook his head. "No, I was a very quiet baby," he replied.

"I wasn't. I squalled like this all the time, my mum and dad used to say," she said, a sad look crossing her face at the mention of her mother. Severus put his arm around her gently.

"What did they do to help you?" he ventured, not wanting to make her sadder, but he knew they needed a solution—and fast.

She shook her head. "I don't remember what they—wait!" she exclaimed, making Felicity cry even louder.

"What? What is it?" he asked, jumping slightly at her outburst.

"There was this… this song my mum used to sing to me. She sang it all the time… even when I was a teenager. It was her favorite song… she said she used to sing it to stop my crying," she said, her voice cracking slightly. Severus's hopes rose.

"What song is it, 'Mione? Can you remember it?" he asked.

"It's a Muggle song… it's called 'House at Pooh Corner.' Have you ever heard it?" she asked him.

Severus had never been very knowledgeable about Muggle music. He shook his head. "But maybe you can sing it to her… maybe she will stop crying," he said hopefully.

"But Severus, you know I can't sing. It'll probably just make her cry more. Your singing voice is much better," she said ruefully.

"No, 'Mione. Your voice will calm her. Felicity doesn't know what pitch or tone is. She wants to hear her mum's voice. And if this Pooh song worked on you, maybe it will work on her too. Do you remember the words?" he asked gently. She nodded.

"I could never forget them," she admitted. He put his hand on hers, the hand that was on Felicity's tiny one.

"Come on, sweetie, give it a try," he coerced.

"Okay, I'll try," she said, and closed her eyes. She began to sing.

Christopher Robin and I walked along

Under branches lit up by the moon

As Hermione sang, Felicity's cries subsided. Severus watched his wife sing the charming melody and sweet lyrics, and he didn't even think about the fact that she may have been a little off key. That didn't matter. His beautiful wife was singing to his beautiful daughter. He had never seen a more perfect sight.

By the time Hermione finished the song, Felicity had drifted into a peaceful slumber, her tiny fingers and toes curling in her sleep.

Severus looked at Hermione incredulously. "It worked, sweetie. Your mum's song comforted our baby," he said admiringly, kissing Hermione softly.

Hermione kissed him back tenderly, then looked up.

"Thank you, mum," she whispered. She looked at Severus, who's eyes were glistening, then back down at their sleeping child.

It's hard to explain how a few precious things

Seem to follow throughout all our lives.

tbc

Thanks for reading! Please review! Love, love!

-r