November glanced out the window in front of her and saw her husband walking up the front steps. "Hermione?" she said into the phone receiver she had between her chin and shoulder. "Harry's home. I'm going to have to call you back." Without waiting for her to reply, she took hold of the phone with her hand again and clicked the "off" button. She left the dishes in the sink and the phone on the counter as she went to meet Harry at the door. Her wand, with which she had been washing the dishes from breakfast, lay forgotten by the phone. Somehow this seemed much more important.
She rushed over and flung the kitchen door wide open. "Hey hon, you're back," she greeted him with a bright smile. He glanced up at her and smiled back. It was obvious he had been lost somewhere deep within himself, and was only now returning to the world of the here and now. She accepted that; had been accepting it for years. In fact, in all their many years of marriage she had grown quite used to it. She'd noticed that he usually only drifted off into the past when he was left alone to daydream. Those moments were rare and precious, and she didn't dare disrupt them.
Harry, though, realized he'd faded out for a moment and shook his head of his fantasies. After all, what thing in the past did he have that could have been better than the beautiful woman that stood beaming before him? He wrapped one arm around her to draw her a bit closer and softly placed a kiss on her cheek.
"Hi, mi dulcita," he said, stepping inside. "What's the good word?" She laughed quietly, mostly to herself, and shut the door behind him. She loved it when he called her by pet names, especially in her native tongue. It proved he cared enough to make the attempt to learn Spanish, even if he didn't quite get everything right. This display of affection made her cheeks flush with red and calmed her excited voice. It was an incredible feeling to know that such an amazing man, the man who'd had her heart since the first time she saw him, was in love with her. To be loved by the one she loved…god, that meant everything, especially since what she had to say required such a strong relationship.
"Well, I…I do have something to tell you, love. Let's go sit in the living room," she began, continuing to smile from ear to ear. To her it felt as though her happiness started in her mind and filled every crevice, right down to her toes. It was as though someone had injected a warm liquid straight into her veins.
Harry knew full well something out-of-the-ordinary was going on, and though he didn't know what it was exactly he knew by her smile that it was something good. Of course, any time she smiled at him he had the irresistible urge to smile back, so he soon found a broad grin of his own crossing his face. He allowed her to take up both his hands in hers and gently lead him into the living room. It had to be something fairly important, he knew that much; why else would she insist he sit down with her for it?
His eyes shone with wild anticipation as she guided him gently toward one of the larger armchairs in the room. It had two plush cushions, and both were quite large and roomy. It sat right square in the middle of the room, directly in front of the fireplace with an enormous window to the left.
"All right, Em," said Harry, sitting on the couch and drawing his legs up beneath him, "what's this amazing surprise that I just had to sit down for?" Still not letting go of his warm, soothing grip on her hands, she sat herself comfortably beside him and turned to face him. In essence, she was really sitting in front of him. She toyed with his fingertips for a moment, unsure of how to start her explanation. She had done this before, but that had been more than eleven or twelve years ago. That felt like ages past. Where on earth did she start? She swallowed hard in a vain attempt to swallow her nerves.
"Well, I…all right, here goes," she reassured herself, taking a very deep breath while continuing to knead his fingers in her hands. "You know how, ever since Abby was born, you've been talking about having a son to carry on the name? You know, so the Potter family will live on, since Abby will eventually marry into another family? Well, I talked to the doctor today. It seems you and your daughter are both getting your wishes. I'm about six weeks along and I never knew it, so the doctor told me he could tell…we're going to have a new baby boy in the family. Abby will get a little brother to play with, and you'll be getting a son to carry on the Potter name when we're gone."
November couldn't believe she'd been able to say all that. She drew in a sharp breath and waited patiently for a reaction. It took a moment, because Harry was so surprised by the news that his entire body froze. He wondered briefly if it was true, if his luck was the sort to bring him a new life like this. As he stared unblinking into her eyes, every expression etched on her face seemed to point in the same direction: she spoke the truth. Understanding washed over him, and he smiled more brightly than he had in a very long time.
"November," he breathed, hardly daring to speak, "are you sure? Are you absolutely positive?" She wasn't sure whether or not this was a positive response, so she nodded slowly in reply to his widened eyes. Fortunately for her, though, it was music to his ears. His smile grew until his cheekbones ached, and his eyes shone with a brilliant shade of green such as she hadn't seen since their wedding day. He seemed too thrilled for words, and simply flung his arms around her waist in an excited embrace. She gave a start of surprise and laughed with relief at his acceptance. It had scared her at first, because he'd questioned it as though he really didn't want it to be true. But there was no going back now, and it meant a lot to her that he accept this.
"Oh, this is great! This is fantastic!" he exclaimed, hugging her tightly around the middle. "A new member to the family…oh, Em, it's so exciting! I-I hardly know what to say! Wow…a son…and a daughter…and a beautiful wife. I never knew my life could be so good. A baby boy to live on through…it's like being born again. Not that I wasn't thrilled to have Abby; you and she are my life right now, but to have a son to really live through…and you know, I know just what to call him, too."
November drew herself away from her husband's loving hold so as to look straight at him. He seemed to be glowing more than she was, and she was the one carrying the child! "You're more than welcome to name him whatever you like," she invited with a chuckle. "It's all right with me. Just not Harry Jr. or anything like that. That's just ridiculous." She was allowed to make this comment, of course, because she knew he would never suggest such a thing. If there was anything she'd learned about Harry in all the time she'd known him, it was that he was very humble. He hated to discuss his accomplishments because in truth they were so great that they couldn't be considered anything else, no matter how objectively it was discussed. *Harry doesn't want to have an ego, lol* To name a child after him directly would be the very last thing Harry would ever want to do.
"No, no, of course not. But since he will be breathing new life into our last name, I think there's a first name I'd like to see live on as well," he said, his eyes twinkling as he pressed his forehead lightly against hers. "James."
She could do nothing but smile. Of course, she thought. That makes perfect sense. James Potter was a name highly revered in the wizarding world. He and his wife Lily were known to be two of the most powerful wizards to take a stand against Voldemort during the Dark times years and years ago, Albus Dumbledore notwithstanding. *did I use that right? It sounded good* Lily was widely known for her skill in charms, and James had a bit of a knack for potions, though he would never admit it. He was also still regarded as one of the best Chasers the game of Quidditch had ever seen. That required stealth, sure- (and light-) footedness, and animal-like speed, and his talent was very well known. James Potter had also been Harry's father. Harry had never known him, and now that he himself was a parent it only seemed right that he honor his hero in some way. His middle name was James, but that just wasn't enough. He wanted a child with the full, complete name to carry on the legacy, and she could understand that.
"All right," she slowly agreed, "but…I don't know, James Potter…it feels a bit…strange to use that name again. Maybe…maybe if we put 'James' on the birth certificate, and just call him Jimmy or Jim or something. I mean, only as a nickname, of course. Other than that, well, I suppose I can't argue."
He smiled brightly. He was far too pleased with the news in general to argue, and besides, he was essentially getting what he'd asked for. Ever since Abby had been born, he'd wanted to have a son and name him after his father. November knew that, and she understood there was something in that desire that was typical (for lack of a better term) of most men. That was why she had to allow him to use the name. *look out world; James Potter returns! LOL*
"Jimmy sounds wonderful," he agreed with a nod of his head. And with that, leaving his hands pressed gently against her hips, he leaned in and very softly kissed her lips. November could have melted. It felt like ages since he'd last kissed her so sweetly, and it was beautiful enough to bring a grown man to his knees. This was the sort of old magic so few wizards understood. It was the sort of magic Harry and Dumbledore alone knew to use. Love was the sort of magic November treasured in Harry. *~thinks to herself~ Okay, okay, have to remember, he's 12, I'm 17…he's 12, I'm 17…lol Andria!*