Hello everyone. I am back with another short story. I know I have not posted any of my longer chapter stories in a while, but I will say that I am working on it and will be posting some revisions and new stories in the near future. And what I mean by "near future" is that maybe at the end of the month I'll have a new chapter or new story out for you that it's long. But in the meantime, enjoy this small short story about Harry/Hermione's domestic life with a small infant. If you are on AO3, you're in for a treat because I have a video that inspired me to write this.

Since the day Harry turned 29, his life has been picture-perfect. So much so that he was willing to do anything for his lovely wife and darling daughter. In the days, the months, and the years after the Battle of Hogwarts, he couldn't keep his mind off the thought of protecting his now growing family. But as life goes by, Harry's constant mindset of protection changes to a mind-numbing trance. To the point that his paying job is slowly turning him into a zombie-like state. When the day became night, sometimes Harry couldn't tell which was which. After many days of working as an Auror, Harry was beyond exhausted. Between the paperwork, the leads, and hunting down death eaters, Harry has found himself forgetting where he was, where he was going, and even where he had been. It was all the same to him. I think it would be best if you got some more rest more often. Those words: who said them again? Was it Ron? Or maybe Mrs. Weasley? Or maybe his secretary? Does it even matter? Because they're not wrong in their presumptions. Tonight, was a beautiful night. The air was crisp and the stars were brighter than usual. It would be perfect for a late-night stroll, but before Harry could bask in the thought, he was already turning his key to unlock his door at 12 Grimmauld Place.

"Oh, you are back early," his wife and best friend, Hermione, said as he entered the foyer.

"Ah, how are you, Hermione?" He replied absent-mindedly.

"I'm fine, but our little sweetheart has been fussier than usual today," Hermione replied as she noticed that he was struggling to get his coat off and went over to aid him. "I see that you picked up some curry before coming home. Did you get it from the little restaurant up the street?"

"Uh, I don't... remember," he mumbled, unsure of himself.

"Harry, you need to rest more."

He bowed his head slightly to give her a nod because Hermione was always right. She had always been right since the day he met her. Wait, how many people have been telling him this? Rest more.

"I'll take the food and take it to the kitchen," Hermione said, taking the bag from his hands.

"Where is Lilly-Rose?"

"In my arms, Harry."

"Oh," he said, raising his hand to his face in his stupidity. He widens his eyes to get a better look at Hermione, who stood in front of him in her long satin nightgown and robe with Lilly-Rose in her arms as she said. Lilly-Rose watched with curiosity as Harry's face grew into a sloppily made grin. "Merlin, maybe I need more glasses."

"You need some rest!" Hermione protested.

"Aw, can I get a hug from the two best girls in my life," Harry said ignoring what Hermione said not by his own volition though. Hermione dismissed him, ignoring her comment, and chuckled at the way that even in his sleepy stupor he still wanted one of her famous hugs.

"Come on Harry, I know you're tired. We can eat some of the curry you bought and then go to bed."

"Yeah," Harry sighed. He followed Hermione through the kitchen but dragged his feet, which slowly carried him to the dining room table. After he sat down, everything became a blur to Harry, and he could only recall the sounds of dishes clinking together and Hermione making baby noises for Lilly-Rose.

"Okay Harry, let's go to bed since you didn't eat a bite of your curry."

At this point in his stupor, Harry said something back to Hermione, but at this point in his stupor, the both of them didn't understand his mumbled speech. He carried himself to their shared bedroom, and once his body came into contact with the soft linen sheets, he immediately drifted off to dreamland. After a feeling of eternity, Harry could hear something instinctively and familiar. It was faint, like it was close but also far away. It was the sound of wailing. What was that sound? Where was it coming from? I must find this sound as soon as possible. Maybe it is a person who needs my help. I must go! I must find the source of the sound and comfort it. But Merlin, am I tired! Harry felt his body move unconsciously in a non-directional way. His body felt dreadfully heavy, like all the years that he had lived to this point were mounted on his back, but the heaviness was not going to stop him.

Harry, you don't-!

What was that? Who was that? Never mind there are still cries and I must help them.

The sound came closer as he moved down the hallway. Then he came upon a room that held the cries that were now louder and clearer. He went inside and found a baby in her crib. He carefully carried her out of her crib and for a brief moment, he understood who was crying. With her bushy black hair and green eyes, Lily-Rose continued to cry, even in her father's arms.

"Shh, shh, Lilly-Rose," he whispered, lulling her back to sleep. "Everything's going to be okay. How about we sleep together? I know that we both need to sleep at this hour. You just need someone to assist you."

Harry sat down in a nearby rocking chair and tried to lull his daughter back to sleep. As Harry sat down, he closed his eyes once more and continuously and nonchalantly patted his daughter on the back to try to calm her down, but the cries continued. She was going to be a fighter tonight. As he continued to the best of his abilities, he faintly heard a voice saying, "Hey."

He heard it a few times, but in his trance-like state, he ignored it. Maybe it was his mind playing tricks on him. But then, out of the darkness of the room, he felt a hand place itself on his shoulder. This spooked Harry so much that he screamed at the top of his lungs that he could barely hear a "wait" and "what" from this voice. Now, with adrenaline pumping through his veins. In the darkness, he couldn't see anything, but now he could fully hear Hermione laughing and his daughter quiet, probably confused as to why he was screaming in the dead of night.

"I'm sorry, Harry," Hermione apologized before going into another fit of laughter. "She continued to cry, so I had to come and assess what you were doing in here!"

Harry found himself laughing with her at the whole situation that he had put himself into. Finally, realizing the full scope of his groggy and sleep-like state. "Damn, I don't think I've ever been this tired in my whole life," he laughed.

"I tried calling out to you saying you don't have to check on Lilly-Rose, but you didn't stop."

Yeah, I got that far, but I thought it was all in my dream. The only thing that told me it wasn't a dream was when I picked up Lilly-Rose. Even at that, I ignored all the signs that you were talking to me."

Oh Merlin, Harry! I told you to take some time off so we could both take care of her together. I knew that juggling a job and a newborn was going to be tough on both of us."

"Yeah, I thought by keeping my Auror job I would be better at being a father, but I see that I'm more exhausted than usual and it doesn't help that my job works me at odd hours."

"Of course, Harry, now I'm taking our daughter and you go get some rest. I'll take over from here."

"Right," he nodded, passing their baby over to Hermione and kissing them both before leaving. "Goodnight, Hermione."

"Good night, Harry. Have a good rest," Hermione giggled.

If you are reading this on fanfiction, I advise you to go to my AO3 account and watch the video which inspired this little short story. Also, don't overwork yourself out there, and stay safe! See you guys later!