Chapter Five:
Promises
September, 1999
Hermione sat propped up in bed, her newborn daughter held to her bosom. Harry sat in a chair next to the bed, staring in wonder at his wife and child. He held his hands out, and Hermione happily handed the tiny bundle to him.
Harry placed a light kiss upon the wisps of brown hair crowning the tiny, tomato-like face. Her eyes were squeezed tight, but the witch midwife had told them that baby Jaime had her father's eyes.
"So beautiful," Harry said breathlessly. "Just like you, Hermi."
Suddenly Harry froze, and Hermione looked at him with a flutter of alarm.
"What?" she said. "Harry?"
"Sorry," Harry smiled. "I just had a thought."
Harry looked down at his baby daughter, his face aglow.
"I'm giving you a new name, sweetheart."
"Not Jaime Lillian?" Hermione said in surprise.
Harry beamed.
"Jaime Lillian Hermione. J. L. H."
Hermione looked at Harry quizzically.
"J. L. H." Harry repeated. "Just. Like. Hermione."
The young couple exchanged a loving smile as Hermione took Jaime back and snuggled into her pillow.
"How's the nursery coming?" she asked, her eyes never leaving Jaime.
"Almost done," Harry said. "Be ready when you get home. Sirius has been a big help."
"Everything set with your mum and dad?"
"Mum's taking a year off," Hermione said softy so as not to disturb the now-sleeping Jaime. "As soon as I've served my internship, I'll qualify for 'home office' assignment."
"At our new house," Harry said with assurance. "I'll have saved enough for a down payment by then."
"It'll be perfect," Hermione purred. "Oh, Harry, we're going to be so happy!"
"I love you both so much," Harry said with the slightest quaver in his voice, as if unable to believe or accept how blessed he was. "I'll always be here for you, Hermi. For both of you. Always and forever. I promise."
Harry leaned in and kissed his wife on the forehead. Hermione closed her eyes, and Harry sat for a long time, his eyes damp with tears, watching the two most important people in his life sleep peacefully while he watched over them protectively.
Two weeks later, he was gone.
To Be Continued...
*~*
A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed Chapter 4: teazer, hi all, Everett Murvine, and the still loyal Augurey.
Oh, and Hi All? We're ALL crazy. Some of us just hide it better than others. ;-)
Note From Fae Princess: Oh no! The plot thickens! What's going to happen to Harry? What about Ron? Hermione? You'll have to come back and find out. And if you want to be extra nice, you'll leave a review. Au revoir, mes amies!
Promises
September, 1999
Hermione sat propped up in bed, her newborn daughter held to her bosom. Harry sat in a chair next to the bed, staring in wonder at his wife and child. He held his hands out, and Hermione happily handed the tiny bundle to him.
Harry placed a light kiss upon the wisps of brown hair crowning the tiny, tomato-like face. Her eyes were squeezed tight, but the witch midwife had told them that baby Jaime had her father's eyes.
"So beautiful," Harry said breathlessly. "Just like you, Hermi."
Suddenly Harry froze, and Hermione looked at him with a flutter of alarm.
"What?" she said. "Harry?"
"Sorry," Harry smiled. "I just had a thought."
Harry looked down at his baby daughter, his face aglow.
"I'm giving you a new name, sweetheart."
"Not Jaime Lillian?" Hermione said in surprise.
Harry beamed.
"Jaime Lillian Hermione. J. L. H."
Hermione looked at Harry quizzically.
"J. L. H." Harry repeated. "Just. Like. Hermione."
The young couple exchanged a loving smile as Hermione took Jaime back and snuggled into her pillow.
"How's the nursery coming?" she asked, her eyes never leaving Jaime.
"Almost done," Harry said. "Be ready when you get home. Sirius has been a big help."
"Everything set with your mum and dad?"
"Mum's taking a year off," Hermione said softy so as not to disturb the now-sleeping Jaime. "As soon as I've served my internship, I'll qualify for 'home office' assignment."
"At our new house," Harry said with assurance. "I'll have saved enough for a down payment by then."
"It'll be perfect," Hermione purred. "Oh, Harry, we're going to be so happy!"
"I love you both so much," Harry said with the slightest quaver in his voice, as if unable to believe or accept how blessed he was. "I'll always be here for you, Hermi. For both of you. Always and forever. I promise."
Harry leaned in and kissed his wife on the forehead. Hermione closed her eyes, and Harry sat for a long time, his eyes damp with tears, watching the two most important people in his life sleep peacefully while he watched over them protectively.
Two weeks later, he was gone.
To Be Continued...
A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed Chapter 4: teazer, hi all, Everett Murvine, and the still loyal Augurey.
Oh, and Hi All? We're ALL crazy. Some of us just hide it better than others. ;-)
Note From Fae Princess: Oh no! The plot thickens! What's going to happen to Harry? What about Ron? Hermione? You'll have to come back and find out. And if you want to be extra nice, you'll leave a review. Au revoir, mes amies!