A/N: I don't own anything you recognize.
This is for the Harry Potter Fanfiction Challenges forum
Are you crazy Senough to do it Challenge
278. (magical creature/race) Phoenix
Harry Potter Fanfiction Challenges
If you dare challenge.
278. Topcoat
Harry stood on the rickety ladder, paint brush in his hand.
"It would be easier to use magic," Ginny commented from the doorway. She was leaning against the door frame, one hand over her swelled belly.
"I know, but I want to do this right, it feels right doing things the muggle way. The fact it's harder makes you feel like you accomplished something." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"If you say so. Have fun trying to paint the nursery. I'll be in the living room trying to learn to knit for the fiftyith time," Ginny said waving to her husband. Harry watched her leave and sighed.
The job was a lot bigger than he had first imagined. He'd already managed to lay the primer and was now starting the mural he wanted the baby to see. He'd sketched the outline of a phoenix on one wall. After buying nearly fifty shades of red, he was ready. He'd already gotten one wall done in blue with some merfolk and a grindylow. Ginny said it would give the baby nightmares. He'd changed it to a giant squid.
He refused to compromise on the phoenix though. He stroked the paint on the wall going feather by feather. Adding a touch of gold here, and a speck of orange there. Finally, he'd finished...the tail.
"This is going to take longer than I thought," he muttered, but he couldn't just magic it, that would be admitting defeat, and Ginny would never let him hear the end of it. So he persisted, more reds and oranges, more feathers and bits of golden flecks. The phoenix shone on the wall, a marvel of paint and hard work.
"Nice," Ginny commented walking past eating a sandwich.
"Just nice?"
"Yeah, ohh, the little one likes it at least." Harry smiled glad his child liked his work at least.
"Now, I've just got to put a topcoat on it and it'll be sealed and finished," he declared reaching for the stray can. Ginny rolled her eyes and walked off to see if there any cookies left. She hoped Harry would take as much care of the baby was he was the walls of the nursery.