"Your wife is only in labor. Surely you do not need to be there for another few hours until after the child is born? My own wife was in labor for sixteen hours with our first child." The Healer told him.

Harry had no intention to correct the man that Hermione wasn't his wife. He didn't care anything about it. His main concern at the moment was for his bestfriend who looked too much in pain.

"It is my intention to be there every step of the way as the child is born, " insisted Harry feeling irritated that he had to explain his personal affairs to someone. He knew that Hermione felt guilty to leave him but right now he felt more guilty to not be there for her when she needed him the most. Though he was a man, Harry too knew that pregnancy was a very sensitive phase for a woman and during this period they needed more care then ever. It would have been a torture to spend these months alone. They all had each other but she was alone. He wouldn't leave her alone.

The Healer gave him a weird look but allowed him to stay in the room while he made arrangements for the birth.

Harry took a chair and sat down beside her bed as he stroked Hermione's head soothingly. God knew, Harry had no experience with a child. For Merlin's sake, he wasn't allowed to be a child ever in his life. How was he to know how to comfort the witch who was so much in pain. He wished Molly or Arthur were there. They had experience. Remus could be there too. He didn't have children. But surely he must have been there during his birth. Besides he was a sensible man and always knew what to do. Even Fred and George being there could help. They would irritate her enough to be distracted. But Harry couldn't do anything. He felt helpless sitting there. Hermione grabbed his hand that rested on her bed beside her. The Healer commanded her to push after several hours of pain. He couldn't tell if it was hours or days but the time seemed too much for him to register. She clutched his hand more tightly; her nails digging into the back of his hand, as a powerful contraction came on. "Ooooh!" she screamed, a trail of tears escaping her shut eyes. She sat up hoping to alleviate some of the pain, though not letting go of Harry's hand. Her breathing was ragged.

"Rub her back. It will help her." The Healer commanded.

Glad to have an opportunity to cause some relief to her. He climbed next to her on bed and adjust the pillows so that he could support her on his chest. He then proceeded to rub her back down, which seemed to calm her breathing a little. It didn't however lessen any of the contractions, which were now less and less apart. At her last contraction, Hermione had jerked her head backward in pain, narrowly missing Harry's jaw.

"The baby's almost coming', "said the healer, "Juliet, I'll need you to push."

As Hermione again pushed, screaming from the pain of her efforts, Harry wrapped his arms around her, allowing her to grasp his hands. Her breathing became even more ragged, and not for the first time, Harry feared he might lose her if her body ultimately was not able to physically handle the birthing of a magical child.

First came the release of the death grip Hermione had on his hand. Then, his exhausted friend fell back heavily against the pillows on the hospital bed. Finally, the small cry of a newborn filled his ears as well as the rest of the room. These were all signs that let Harry know that it was all over.

Harry looked at Hermione. Tired, yes, but Harry could easily see the traces of a smile on her face as he saw realization dawn on her. She also knew that fifteen hours of labor had ended. "My Baby..." she mumbled.

"Shh!" He said as he tucked a strand of hair plastered on her hair due to sweat behind her ear. He planted a soft kiss on her head.

"Congratulations Miss. Regnarg. You have a beautiful daughter."

As the Healer picked the baby up and wrapped it in a soft blanket and held it for Hermione to take, Harry saw her face. She was a tiny bundle around eighteen inches. The child opened its eyes and stared at him with her honey coloured eyes, Harry felt darkness fall around him.

It was a lullaby that woke Harry up. He felt instant pang in his head as he looked around himself and groaned.

"You hit your head pretty hard. Thanks. I don't know how I would have done it alone." A voice said and he raised his head to see Hermione lying on her side in the bed next to him with a baby pressed to her side. She was turned towards him and he could see that the past months have brought no change in her appearance. Okay, she had more weight than before. But she was the same woman. Her brown wild hair, and chocolate hair was ever the same.

"Lucas left a pain relief potion for you." She said when he got up but he ignored it as he went next to her bed and slid a hand under her as he picked her up and hugged her to his chest.

"Don't do that ever Hermione. Don't leave me ever again." He felt tear rise in his eyes and felt wetness on his shirt as well.

She pulled back when the baby made a small whimper and patted her gently. Harry looked at the beautiful face of the girl. He had never before seen a child being born. She looked like a tiny squirrel. When Fleur had given birth to Victorie , she had been in France and he didn't see Torie until she was two months. Hermione's daughter looked angelic as she laid against her side.

"You want to hold her?" She asked.

Harry nodded without even thinking and Hermione held the baby to him after instructing him to support her head with his elbow.

"She is beautiful Mione. Just like you. She is a mini you." He grinned at her friend. Just as Harry leant down to kiss the baby, she raised her hand and held his nose. He was absolutely delighted. This was the first time he felt so happy since the war ended. He wondered if this was how he was when he held his friend's baby, how would he react to his own.

"Have you thought of a name?" He asked Hermione who was looking at them with a sad smile. Harry realised that she must be thinking about the father. He would have been the one holding the baby if he were alive.

"I have one." She said. "Silvia Remiel Granger."

"Silvia." Harry said looking at the baby. "Little Liv aren't you." The baby again raised its fist that now rested on his jaw.

"I think she likes Uncle Harry." He told her happily.

"Glad she does. Otherwise how could I make you her godfather." Hermione teased.

Harry felt his whole body go rigid. Godfather? GODFATHER? He played her sentence again and again in his head.

"Harry. If you don't want to… I understand. You don't have to be." She said biting her lips and fidgeting with the side of the sheet that covered the bed.

"Of course I want to." Harry felt his face would split in two the way he was grinning. He couldn't recall a time like this before. Maybe one when his own godfather told him that he could live with him. But that had been so long before. He pulled Hermione into another hug with his free hand.

"I will try to be the best godfather Liv. I will never leave you." Harry said to the baby. "You will let me, right?"

"Of course Harry. I am sorry."

"You have to come back. Ron, Molly, Arthur. Everyone will be so happy Hermione."

"No Harry. Its too early. I can't face everyone and their questions yet."

Though Harry himself wanted to know about Liv's father, he respected her enough to not pry. She will tell him when the time was right.

"No one will ask you anything. I assure you." He promised holding her hand.

"One day Harry. But that is not now. I can't go back there and think about everything that reminds me of her father." She took the baby from him and kissed her cheek. "Its too soon. Give me time to grieve for a while. Then I will go back I promise."

Harry didn't argue.

"I can tell them?" He questioned though already knowing the answer.

"Please don't. I need space from everyone. And it won't be fair to them to tell them and refuse to meet everyone."

"Not even Ron?" He asked.

She shook her head. "They have all moved on Harry. You should have too. I wrote that letter so that you wouldn't blame yourself for my death."

"I couldn't." It was true. He still felt responsible for all the people who died in the war. "You will stay here and not go anywhere right?" He pleaded her more , than ask her.

"I promise. I will not keep Liv away from her godfather. And I will never stay away from my child and my best friend ever again."

"Good." Harry said. He took a gold bracelet out of his packet and placed on her hand. The bracelet shrunk to her hands size.

"Harry that is Potter's heirloom. You can't…"

"Mione I can and I will. I wanted to give that to you." He smiled at her. "But you are no longer my favourite girl. So I gave it to her. It belongs to her and she can't take it off." He announced.

The bracelet was a beautiful rose gold colour with Potter house emblem embedded in it. It was simple yet very pretty.

Hermione sighed in defeat when she looked at the determined expression on his face which she knew too well.

"She was just born today. Don't spoil my daughter."

"Stop me if you can." Harry gave her a wide toothed grin.